NEW YORK  A 10-year-old girl was struck and killed Tuesday by a school bus in Brooklyn, police said.

The girl was crossing a street in the East New York neighborhood around 6:45 a.m. when she was hit by a bus as it was turning right, police said.

The child was taken to Brookdale Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The bus driver remained at the scene and has not been charged with a crime, police said.

New York City Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza issued the following statement:

This is devastating, and my heart goes out to the family and school community. We are providing all support necessary during this difficult time. The driver has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation, Carranza said.
The open carpark outside Decathlon stadium boulevard (Photo from Google Street View)

SINGAPORE  While driving in the open carpark at night outside the Decathlon outlet at Stadium Boulevard, a driver failed to see a pedestrian crossing the road and ran him over.

The pedestrian, 46-year-old Koh Swee Poh, died from head injuries sustained from the incident.

The driver, Kasmani Hashim was jailed for three weeks and disqualified from driving for five years on Tuesday (25 February) after the 56-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of causing death through a negligent act on 2 June 2019.

Failed to spot pedestrian, who was in dark-coloured top

The SBS Transit assistant station manager was driving the car about an hour after midnight at the open carpark outside the Decathlon outlet, with his family in tow. His son-in-law was seated in the front passenger seat.

With his headlights switched on, Kasmani was driving at about 10kmh. As he made a right turn towards the carpark exit, he failed to spot Koh crossing the carpark lane. Koh was dressed in a dark-coloured top and blue jeans and had his back towards the car.

Kasmanis son-in-law noticed Koh crossing the road and yelled someone ahead in Malay, but Kasmani was unable to stop the car in time. His car collided into Koh, causing the pedestrian to fall, and its left tyres then ran over Koh before Kasmani could stop the car.

Kasmani alighted from the car with his daughter to check on Koh. The daughter observed that Kohs right skull was cracked and bleeding.

Koh was conveyed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 1.45am.

Conditions were nightmare for driving

Kasmanis front-facing camera captured the incident, and the footage was played in court. The prosecution noted that there was no traffic at the time of the incident, the weather was fine and the visibility was clear. However the lighting in the carpark was dim.

The car was found to be in serviceable condition with no mechanical faults detected.

The prosecution sought no less than three weeks jail and five years disqualification from driving for Kasmani, noting that the incident was an unfortunate road accident that resulted in a death.

Story continues

Kasmanis lawyer said that his client had stepped on his accelerator in his panic. He asked for two weeks jail for his client, whom he said was deeply remorseful and extremely guilty over the accident.

Kasmani is the sole breadwinner of the family and intends to sell the car, the lawyer added. He had tried to find the victims family to apologise, but had his efforts rebuffed by the Investigation Officer.

The lawyer said that the conditions were a nightmare for any driver, pointing out that the area was dimly lit, with the pedestrian dressed in dark clothing and in Kasmanis blind spot. The streetlights were replaced after the incident, with more spotlights added, he said.

In sentencing Kasmani, District Judge Marvin Bay accepted that the driver had a clean criminal record and that he had tried to reach out to Kohs family.

He also noted the poor lighting in the area.

This case illustrates the tragic consequences of inattention while manoeuvring along a car park. I note the camera showing the victim coming into view two seconds before impact, said DJ Bay.

Mr Kasmanis lack of situational awareness is quite evident by the fact of his stepping on the accelerator upon impact and taking some seven seconds to come to a complete stop, despite the frenzied warning of his family members.

For his offence, Kasmani could have been jailed up to two years, or fined, or with both penalties.

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Other Singapore stories

Bodybuilder's death after celebrity Muay Thai match was due to 'natural cause': coroner

COVID-19: More work-pass holders, employers punished for flouting LOA rules
The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry today (February 17) organised a networking event at its headquarters to highlight investment opportunities in the emirates food and beverage (F&B) sector.



The event, held on the sidelines of the 25th Gulfood exhibition, brought together close to 350 participants from 60 countries, marking a 29 per cent growth from last years turnout. Some 27 VIPs, including ministers, ambassadors and consul generals in the UAE, also attended the event, where attendees explored the competitive advantages and opportunities Dubai offers in the F&B industries, said a statement.



Atiq Juma Nasib, senior vice president of Commercial Services at Dubai Chamber, said: Due to its strategic location and a growing tourism sector, Dubai offers immense opportunities in the F&B sector. This briefing comes at a time of rapid expansion for Dubai as the city prepares for Expo 2020.



Set to attract 25 million visitors over a six-month period, the upcoming mega event is among the key factors driving demand and growth in the UAEs food and beverage sector. Onsite F&B sales alone are expected to top $545 million, according to Expo 2020 and Alpen Capital, with up to 835,000 meals served to visitors each hour.



Nasib pointed to the UAEs leading global position in the F&B industries, where it is ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region and 18th in the world for attractive investment environment in the F&B sector in the first quarter of 2020 on the Fitch Connect Risk Reward Index. This, in turn, reflects the UAEs growing appeal to investors from around the world.



The SVP of Commercial Services called on global financiers to invest in Dubai, revealing the emirates tremendous investment opportunities in food processing, innovative agriculture and halal food, which is one of the fastest growing segments of the Islamic economy and forecasted to grow to $1.93 trillion by 2022.



More food brands and products, franchises and restaurants continue to enter the local market, while consumers continue to shift towards organic and healthier options and convenient delivery apps that are changing industry norms and providing new investment opportunities.



Mohammed Bin Sulaiman, senior manager  business relations at Dubai Chamber, talked about Dubais economic prospects and outlook, and Nizami Imamverdiyev, Economic Researcher  Economic Research & Business Development gave a presentation on the citys food sector outlook and opportunities.



According to Euromonitor data, the sale of fresh food items in the UAE will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2 per cent in the 2018-2023 period. Moreover, sales of meat products are set to increase by 7 per cent (CAGR) over the same period, while sales of grains and pulses expand by 5.5 per cent, nuts by 5.4 per cent, vegetables by 5 per cent, fruits by 4 per cent, eggs by 4 per cent, and fish and seafood by 3.7 per cent.



The Mena region ranks first in the world in F&B consumption forecasts for the 2018-2023 period, which reinforces Dubais attractiveness to investors, given its status as a gateway for FDI in the food industries.



According to Euromonitor, the US accounted for 11 per cent of Dubais F&B imports in that period, followed by India at 10 per cent, Brazil at 9 per cent and Australia at 4 per cent. Dubais top destination for exports of food and beverage in the same period were Oman with 11 per cent, Iraq with 8 per cent, Saudi Arabia with 6 per cent, and China with 3 per cent.



The main F&B items imported by Dubai in the Q1-Q3 2019 period were fruits and nuts, accounting for 15 per cent of the total imports, followed by meat products at 13 per cent, and dairy products at 8 per cent.



As part of the Dubai Chambers activities to promote the Gulfood exhibition, the representative offices in Baku, Azerbaijan, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has led two commercial missions to participate in Gulfood, and explore the advantages of trading with Dubai-based merchants.



The delegates held a roundtable discussion with UAE banks on factoring, and toured the Al Aweer Fruit & Vegetable market.



The delegates also held meetings with various vendors, such as Barakat, Kibsons, and Spinneys to get an overview of their business models and tour their facilities. They also held meetings with the DMCC Coffee Centre and Chef Middle East to get information about logistics of the food industry and the trade and investment potential, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Corn rootworm (CRW) is one of the most destructive corn pests in the United States and costs growers more than $1 billion annually in reduced grain yield and control measures. Long-term corn rootworm management requires a multi-year, whole-farm approach that includes the integration of multiple control measures, not a singular technology.

Growers concerned with CRW should have a plan in place for each field that includes multiple control strategies including crop rotation, corn rootworm-traited corn hybrids, soil applied insecticides, and adult beetle management. To provide growers with information to help guide multi-year CRW management decisions, Syngenta has announced it will assist growers with corn rootworm beetle tracking during the 2020 growing season to help them plan for 2021.

"Corn rootworm is one of the top pests on growers' minds when it comes to corn insect control. Without proper planning and management, this adaptable insect can wreak havoc on corn fields and negatively affect bottom lines," said Tim O'Brien, PhD, Agrisure traits manager for Syngenta. "Every farm is different and CRW management requires year-by-year, field-by-field evaluation. At Syngenta, we recommend tracking the current year's beetle numbers to gauge the following year's larval threat."

Tracking corn rootworm beetles is an effective method to help growers identify the level of pressure on their farms, delivering valuable information for future insect management decisions.

"Yellow sticky traps are a simple, convenient and reliable method for estimating CRW populations within a corn field," said Andy Heggenstaller, head of agronomy for Syngenta Seeds. "Our goal is to provide growers with the support and knowledge they need to monitor adult corn rootworm in their fields and ultimately make better, more informed management decisions that will pay off next year and in years to come."

Sticky traps should be placed in fields during June or July, though exact timing depends on geography. Growers seeking assistance in tracking CRW pressure and developing a plan specific to their area should contact their local, independent Golden Harvest Seed Advisor or local NK retailer this spring to ensure they are prepared to take action in the summer.

To help reduce unexpected damage in high-pressure CRW fields, growers should consider rotating to a non-host crop like soybeans, applying a soil insecticide, managing adult beetles, and utilizing pyramided trait stacks like Agrisure Duracade trait stacks. Growers looking for more control of more insect pests may want to consider Agrisure Duracade 5222 E-Z Refuge, as it controls 16 damaging above- and below-ground pests, more than any competitive trait stack.

"Because CRW is so adaptable and has historically demonstrated the ability to overcome some management practices and control technologies, it's important to show this pest something different to delay adaptation to control technologies," said O'Brien. "Agrisure Duracade trait stacks feature a unique mode of action that demonstrates strong performance against CRW and provide a new trait rotational option for a healthier corn crop."

Agrisure Duracade expresses a protein that binds differently in the gut of corn rootworm to show corn rootworm something different. The Agrisure Duracade trait provides a new trait rotation option for corn rootworm management when used in rotation with other industry trait technologies like Agrisure 3122 E-Z Refuge.

For more information on Agrisure Duracade trait stacks and to find additional resources about corn rootworm management, including a step-by-step Take Control of Corn Rootworm Management Brochure, visit www.agrisureduracade.com. Join the conversation online  connect with Syngenta at Syngenta-us.com/social.

About Syngenta

Syngenta is one of the world's leading agriculture companies. Our ambition is to help safely feed the world while taking care of the planet. We aim to improve the sustainability, quality and safety of agriculture with world class science and innovative crop solutions. Our technologies enable millions of farmers around the world to make better use of limited agricultural resources. With 28,000 people in more than 90 countries we are working to transform how crops are grown. Through partnerships, collaboration and The Good Growth Plan we are committed to improving farm productivity, rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. To learn more visit www.syngenta.com and www.goodgrowthplan.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Syngenta and www.twitter.com/SyngentaUS.

Web Resources:

Agrisure Duracade

Golden Harvest Seed Advisor

NK Retailer

Know More, Grow More

Syngenta Newsroom

Syngenta U.S.

Thrive

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as 'expect', 'would', 'will', 'potential', 'plans', 'prospects', 'estimated', 'aiming', 'on track' and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. For Syngenta, such risks and uncertainties include risks relating to legal proceedings, regulatory approvals, new product development, increasing competition, customer credit risk, general economic and market conditions, compliance and remediation, intellectual property rights, implementation of organizational changes, impairment of intangible assets, consumer perceptions of genetically modified crops and organisms or crop protection chemicals, climatic variations, fluctuations in exchange rates and/or commodity prices, single source supply arrangements, political uncertainty, natural disasters, and breaches of data security or other disruptions of information technology. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors.

2020 Syngenta, 2001 Butterfield Road, 16th Floor, Downers Grove, IL 60515. Important: Always read and follow label and bag tag instructions; only those labeled as tolerant to glufosinate may be sprayed with glufosinate ammonium based herbicides. Agrisure, Agrisure Duracade, E-Z Refuge, Golden Harvest, NK and the Syngenta logo are registered trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. HERCULEX and the HERCULEX Shield are trademarks of The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") or an affiliated company of Dow. HERCULEX Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. More information about Agrisure Duracade is available at http://www.biotradestatus.com/.

SOURCE Syngenta

Related Links

http://www.syngenta.com


[February 25, 2020] PTAB Confirms Key Claims of Neustar's Intellectual Property Covering Fundamental Call Authentication Techniques Using Calling Party Number

Neustar, Inc., a global information services and technology company and leader in identity resolution, announced that the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) issued a final written decision in an inter partes review (IPR) that confirmed the patentability of claims 8-11, 15, and 19-21 of TRUSTID, Inc.'s U.S. Patent No. 9,001,985, entitled Method of and System for Discovering and Reporting Trustworthiness and Credibility of Calling Party Number Information, acquired by Neustar in 2019. The PTAB found that the Petitioner, Next Caller, Inc. had failed to demonstrate that these key claims were unpatentable based on a preponderance of the evidence. Neustar announced that they would challenge the PTAB's decision as to other claims that were found unpatentable. "Neustar is very pleased with the PTAB's decision," said Ted Prince, Executive Vice President & President of Neustar's Analytics Solutions business unit. "These patents reflect years of research and development that led to innovative solutions that address very challenging issues with restoring trust in calling party number information used to help authenticate callers by call centers. This innovation is recognized by Neustar's customers who employ our technology to provide improved customer service and generate cost savings while reducing fraud." The '985 Patent is asserted against Next Caller in a pending lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Delaware in which Neustar/TRUSTID alleged false advertising and infringement of three of its patents (U.S. Patent Nos. 9,001,985; 8,238,532; and 9,871,913). This decision allows for a July 2020 trial to go forward to determine whether Next Caller infringes the '985 patent and two other TRUSTID patents. The present decision marks the second time Next Callr has failed to invalidate the claims of the '985 patent. Specifically, Next Caller tried and failed to invalidate the claims as being drawn to non-patentable subject matter before the U.S. District Court of Delaware. Additionally, Next Caller had previously failed to have two IPRs instituted against the '532 patent, which relates to the '985 patent, in an effort to invalidate the claims of the '532 patent. The PTAB also previously declined to review a challenge Next Caller filed against the '913 patent.



"This decision, in conjunction with our other enforcement wins, further demonstrates the significant strength of the Neustar's intellectual property," said Kevin Hughes (News - Alert), Neustar's Executive Vice President and General Counsel. "Importantly, the PTAB confirmed the validity of one of the claims asserted against Next Caller in the district court lawsuit, which gives us greater confidence in our pursuit of injunctive and damages remedies. Neustar remains committed to enforcing its rights against companies which willingly infringe our intellectual property." For more information about Neustar and its inbound authentication solutions, visit https://www.risk.neustar.

About TRUSTID Acquired by Neustar in January 2019, TRUSTID is a leading provider of caller authentication, identity and risk solutions. TRUSTID works with financial institutions and other enterprises to authenticate callers using a caller's phone as an ownership-based authentication token that puts trusted callers into the fast lane, before their calls are even answered, while assessing the risk of others. TRUSTID's inbound caller engagement solutions, along with Neustar's market-leading outbound phone-centric risk solutions, help clients reduce contact center operating costs, improve the customer experience and increase the efficiency of fraud-fighting efforts. About Neustar Neustar is an information services and technology company and a leader in identity resolution providing the data and technology that enables trusted connections between companies and people at the moments that matter most. Neustar offers industry-leading solutions in Marketing, Risk, Communications, Security and Registry that responsibly connect data on people, devices and locations, continuously corroborated through billions of transactions. Neustar serves more than 8,000 clients worldwide, including 60 of the Fortune 100. Learn how your company can benefit from the power of trusted connections here: https://www.home.neustar. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005730/en/

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The men and women of Australias military deserve our respect both for their bravery and their decency.

They risk their lives on distant battlegrounds, from Syria to East Timor, fighting against terrorism and keeping the peace. But at the same time as they serve Australias interests abroad, they must strive to prevent needless loss of life.

Nowhere has the task proved more difficult than in Afghanistan, where the war against an elusive enemy embedded in a civilian population is now approaching its third decade.

Broadly, we should be confident Australias troops perform admirably. However, it is now clear the actions of some soldiers should prompt deep introspection about what we expect of our troops.

In his annual report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force, James Gaynor, has revealed worrying new information about a long-running inquiry into allegations of misconduct by the Special Operations Task Group in Afghanistan from 2005 to 2016.
Proper structures must be instituted to ...
NEW DELHI  President Trump on Tuesday called the conviction of the former film mogul Harvey Weinstein on two felony sex crime charges a great victory for women that sends a very strong message about sexual misconduct, even as he sought to highlight the defendants ties to Democrats.

Asked whether justice had been done in the case, Mr. Trump first stressed that he had never liked Mr. Weinstein even though they knew each other through New York circles. He then noted that the Hollywood producer had been an active friend and fund-raiser for Democratic politicians over the years.

I was just not a fan of his, Mr. Trump told reporters at a news conference wrapping up a two-day visit to India. I will say the people that liked him were the Democrats. Michelle Obama loved him, loved him. Hillary Clinton loved him. And he gave tremendous money to the Democrats, and I guess my question is will the Democrats be asking for that money back because he gave a lot of money to the Democrats.

After another reporter pressed him again on the message the New York jury verdict might send to women who have been subjected to sexual harassment and assault, Mr. Trump said, I think from the standpoint of women, it was a great thing. It was a great victory and sends a very strong message, a very, very strong message.
The world must prepare for a potential coronavirus pandemic, the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned.

Tedros Ghebreyesus said the spread of the virus around the world is not yet at pandemic stage but acknowledged it has the potential to become one.

The WHO no longer uses an official scale to declare a pandemic, although spokeswoman Margaret Harris told the PA news agency it will start to use the term in communications if it believes a pandemic is reached.

Speaking in Geneva, Dr Ghebreyesus said the focus must still be on containing the virus in individual countries, adding that the world is not yet seeing large-scale severe disease or death.

He said the WHO was encouraged by the continued decline in cases in China, though more 77,362 cases have been declared there, including 2,618 deaths.

A specialist team sent to China found that the epidemic peaked and plateaued between January 23 and February 2, and has since been declining steadily, he said.

Dr Ghebreyesus said the death rate is between 2% and 4% in Wuhan city, where the virus originated, and 0.7% outside Wuhan.

For people with mild disease, recovery time is about two weeks, while people with severe or critical disease recover within three to six weeks.

Outside China, there are now 2,074 cases confirmed in 28 countries, and 23 deaths, including a rapid rise in cases in Italy, South Korea and Iran, he added.

The sudden increases of cases in Italy, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Korea are deeply concerning, Dr Ghebreyesus said.

Theres a lot of speculation about whether these increases mean that this epidemic has now become a pandemic.

Does this virus have pandemic potential? Absolutely, it has. Are we there yet? From our assessment, not yetTedros Ghebreyesus

WHO has already declared a public health emergency of international concern  our highest level of alarm  when there were less than 100 cases outside China, and eight cases of human-to-human transmission.

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.

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.

Does this virus have pandemic potential? Absolutely, it has. Are we there yet? From our assessment, not yet.

(PA Graphics)

He said the world was seeing epidemics affecting countries in different ways.

Using the word pandemic now does not fit the facts, but it may certainly cause fear, he added.

We must focus on containment, while doing everything we can to prepare for a potential pandemic. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.

In Italy, around 50,000 people are affected by a lockdown in the regions of Lombardy and Veneto, after the country reported more than 160 cases  the largest number in Europe.

In the UK, 13 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 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 the risk to individuals remained 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.

UPDATE on coronavirus (#COVID19) testing in the UK:



As of 2PM 24 February 2020, a total of 6,536 tests have concluded:

6,527 negative.

9 positive.



These figures don't include the four cases from the Diamond Princess cruise ship who are now in the UK.



https://t.co/CZh5JdyN2Q pic.twitter.com/orp9FgASv3  Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) February 24, 2020

The Foreign Office has not advised Britons against travel to Italy, but has updated its website with information about the situation there.

There are no figures yet on 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 authorities.

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.

Police checks in Casalpusterlengo (Claudio Furlan/Lapresse/AP)

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.

He said global infections could begin to drop as the warmer months come in, or could continue for another six to 18 months.

Cruise ship passengers at Arrowe Park Hospital (Danny Lawson/PA)

The four Britons from the Diamond Princess cruise ship are being treated at specialist centres.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.
Mr. Mubarak believed that only an Egypt under the control of a man of his strength and will could hold back the forces of extremism in the Arab world. The Middle East, he told CNN in 2002, will be the biggest source of terrorism, more and more. It will generate a new generation of terror. . . . We will have to be very careful. If you dont believe it, sometime youll believe what Im saying.
Today we'll take a closer look at Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings Company Limited (HKG:874) 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. On the other hand, investors have been known to buy a stock because of its yield, and then lose money if the company's dividend doesn't live up to expectations.

A slim 1.9% yield is hard to get excited about, but the long payment history is respectable. At the right price, or with strong growth opportunities, Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings could have potential. Some simple research can reduce the risk of buying Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings for its dividend - read on to learn more.

Explore this interactive chart for our latest analysis on Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings!

SEHK:874 Historical Dividend Yield, February 25th 2020

Payout ratios

Dividends are usually paid out of company earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. So we need to form a view on if a company's dividend is sustainable, relative to its net profit after tax. Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings paid out 22% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. Given the low payout ratio, it is hard to envision the dividend coming under threat, barring a catastrophe.

In addition to comparing dividends against profits, we should inspect whether the company generated enough cash to pay its dividend. Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings paid out 110% of its free cash last year. Cash flows can be lumpy, but this dividend was not well covered by cash flow. Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings paid out less in dividends than it reported in profits, but unfortunately it didn't generate enough free cash flow to cover the dividend. Were it to repeatedly pay dividends that were not well covered by cash flow, this could be a risk to Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings's ability to maintain its dividend.

Story continues

While the above analysis focuses on dividends relative to a company's earnings, we do note Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings's strong net cash position, which will let it pay larger dividends for a time, should it choose.

We update our data on Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings every 24 hours, so you can always get our latest analysis of its financial health, here.

Dividend Volatility

Before buying a stock for its income, we want to see if the dividends have been stable in the past, and if the company has a track record of maintaining its dividend. Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings has been paying dividends for a long time, but for the purpose of this analysis, we only examine the past 10 years of payments. Its dividend payments have declined on at least one occasion over the past ten years. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was CN0.04 in 2010, compared to CN0.42 last year. Dividends per share have grown at approximately 27% per year over this time. Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings's dividend payments have fluctuated, so it hasn't grown 27% every year, but the CAGR is a useful rule of thumb for approximating the historical growth.

It's not great to see that the payment has been cut in the past. We're generally more wary of companies that have cut their dividend before, as they tend to perform worse in an economic downturn.

Dividend Growth Potential

With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to evaluate if earnings per share (EPS) are growing - it's not worth taking the risk on a dividend getting cut, unless you might be rewarded with larger dividends in future. Strong earnings per share (EPS) growth might encourage our interest in the company despite fluctuating dividends, which is why it's great to see Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings has grown its earnings per share at 20% per annum over the past five years. Earnings per share have grown rapidly, and the company is retaining a majority of its earnings. We think this is ideal from an investment perspective, if the company is able to reinvest these earnings effectively.

Conclusion

Dividend investors should always want to know if a) a company's dividends are affordable, b) if there is a track record of consistent payments, and c) if the dividend is capable of growing. Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings has a low payout ratio, which we like, although it paid out virtually all of its generated cash. Next, earnings growth has been good, but unfortunately the dividend has been cut at least once in the past. Ultimately, Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings comes up short on our dividend analysis. It's not that we think it is a bad company - just that there are likely more appealing dividend prospects out there on this analysis.

Earnings growth generally bodes well for the future value of company dividend payments. See if the 6 Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings analysts we track are forecasting continued growth with our free report on analyst estimates for the company.

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.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Seoul, South Korea  Tue, February 25, 2020 08:34 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206657360 2 World #SouthKorea,#coronavirus,death-toll,patients Free

South Korea reported 60 more novel coronavirus cases on Tuesday, the smallest increase for four days in the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's morning updates.

The country now has 893 cases, the KCDC said -- the largest national total anywhere outside China -- adding one more person had died, taking the toll to eight.

For the previous three days, KCDC had reported triple-digit increases each morning as the outbreak took hold in South Korea, the world's 12th-largest economy.

The country has an advanced medical system, a free press and a strong culture of public accountability, and observers say that its health statistics can be treated with confidence.

Of the latest cases, 49 are in the southern city of Daegu and the neighbouring North Gyeongsang province, KCDC said.

Most of the country's infections are linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu, an entity often accused of being a cult.

Shincheonji claims its founder, Lee Man-hee, has donned the mantle of Jesus Christ and will take 144,000 people with him to heaven on the day of judgement.

A 61-year-old female member developed a fever on February 10, but attended at least four church services before being diagnosed.
NEW DELHI : Unpredictable as US President Donald Trump may be, India has made the most out of the Trump presidency by adroitly dealing with the administration, says Gautam Bambawale, a former Indian high commissioner to Pakistan and former ambassador to China and Bhutan. Though the much speculated trade deal is not happening during the 24-25 February Trump visit, there will be many tangible gains from the trip, including a pact on homeland security that will bolster Indian counter terrorism efforts, Bambawale says. The Namaste Trump" event is not to be dismissed as mere symbolism as it shows strong civil society support for an strengthened India-US strategic partnership, he adds. Edited excerpts from an interview.

Now that the trade deal is not happening, what in your view, are the tangible deliverables from this visit of Donald Trump?

There are several tangible gains from the visit. First, the fact that the US president is coming all the way to India is important. Two, his personal rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi will stand the relationship in good stead. Three, the Namaste Trump" event at the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad will indicate the support of the Indian people to a strong India-US relationship and will be the manifestation of the importance of people-to-people ties in our relations. Counter insurgency and counter terrorism cooperation are set to get a boost. Finally, the purchase of defence equipment from the US is a win-win for both nations. So, there will be many positives from this visit.

The centrepiece of the visit seems to be the Namaste Trump" event in Ahmedabad. How does this help cement the relationship? Does symbolism matter?

The Namaste Trump" event in Ahmedabad is very important as it manifests the strong civil society support for an expanded India-US strategic partnership. This is a crucial element in our ties. Remember, even when government-to-government ties were not this strong, people-to-people ties between India and the US were rock solid. Now the governments of the two countries have caught up with the strong supportive sentiments among the people of India and the US. The Namaste Trump" event will underline the rock steady civil society support for enhanced India-US relations. So please do not underplay its importance.

Why did the trade deal not happen?

My guess is that the trade deal did not happen because of infirmities and weaknesses in the Indian economy. Subsidies to our agriculture sector for power and fertilizers along with small land holding size and the fact that millions of our farmers are dependent on it for a living, make it uncompetitive. Our industrial sector too has not become sufficiently competitive. These are likely to have been considerations while negotiating a trade deal and may have been the reasons for it not happening. The lesson for India is very clear. We need to undertake reforms aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of our economy.

What impact will not having the trade deal have on our bilateral strategic partnership?

A strategic partnership includes strong political, economic, military, and civil society ties. If one of these aspects is not as strong as the othersin the case of India and the US, the economic componentit will prove to be a drag on the relationship. While our economic partnership with the US is quite good and strong, it needs bolstering. A trade deal would have done just that. We must continue to work on this aspect of our partnership.

Has the Trump presidency been good for India?

India has made the most out of the Trump presidency by adroitly dealing with the US during the last three years. Governments in both India and the US have steered the relationship from a realistic, as opposed to an idealistic, platform. That has been good for India. It has also been good for the US. It has been a win-win for both.

What is your view of the other candidates in the US presidential election fray? Do you see Trump as a better bet for India despite his unpredictability, his almost singular focus on trade?

If the Democratic Party in the US chooses a candidate to run for president who is very far left of centre, they may actually end up just as the Labour Party did in the recent UK elections. However, that is a matter entirely to be decided upon by the people of the US. India will deal with whoever is chosen as president by the voters in the US.

According to officials, India and the US are to sign an MoU on homeland security. How significant is this, if it comes through?

Given the continuing threat from international terrorism to all open societies, this is a very significant area of cooperation for the two countries. In particular, India stands to gain a great deal if it can obtain equipment, training, and resources for counter terrorism operations from the US. I believe this MoU constitutes an important outcome of the visit and of the ever strengthening partnership between our countries.

Again according to officials, the Indo-Pacific is expected to find key mention in the joint statement. What kind of reference do you think it will be?

This is an important area of convergence for both sides. So, I will not be surprised to find it mentioned in the joint statement. I believe it will be an unambiguous paragraph calling for a free and open" Indo-Pacific, with all nation states being committed to abiding by international rules. There will also be mention of the inclusive" nature of our cooperation, which is not aimed at any one country or entity. Both governments will strongly endorse their enhanced cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

How can India and the US strengthen their bilateral ties to meet the challenge China poses?

The India-US strategic partnership is on a growth path that is clear and consistent. It has been so for the past two decades. We must adhere to this growth curve and not shift away from it. Doing so, will be in the interests of both India as well as the US. It will also be good for the entire world.

What would be some of the key words that you would look for in the joint statement to conclude that ties are being put into a higher trajectory?

Actions speak louder than words. So, I would focus on what is actually done before, during, and after the visit. Joint statements are important too as they are the documents that provide the direction to what is aimed at being accomplished in the near future.

Phrases such as shared values", two democracies", strategic partnership", enhanced defence and economic ties", strong political relations" are likely to provide the flavour to the statement about how the two sides visualize their relationship.

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Maharashtra Water Conservation



Minister Shankarrao Gadakh on Tuesday said the 'Jalyukt Shivar' scheme launched by the previous BJP-led government would not be scrapped.

Gadakh said this in a written reply in the state Legislative Council to a question raised by Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) leader Jayant Patil.

"There is no question of closing down the Jalyukt Shivar scheme. The scheme was given extension till December 31, 2019 and as of now there is no question of closing it," the minister said.

He further told the House that from 2015 to 2019, 22,586 villages were selected for the scheme's implementation.

"So far, 6,32,708 works have been completed with total expenditure of Rs 9,707 crore," he said.

On recommendations of an expert committee about the quality of works, Gadakh said a committee headed by former chief secretary of Maharashtra has already submitted its recommendations to the Bombay High Court as a writ petition was filed in 2018.

The state also filed an affidavit in the court on June 17, 2019, informing about the action plan, he added.

BJP MLA Narayan Kuche on Monday appealed to the Shiv Sena-led coalition government not to wind up the Jalyukt Shivar water conservation scheme and the water grid project of the previous Devendra Fadnavis government.

"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," the legislator from Badnapur in parched Marathwada region said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Florence businessman and retired Navy officer Chris Lewis wants more for north Alabama and the nation as a whole.

As he challenges incumbent Rep. Mo Brooks in the Republican primary a week from Tuesday, the question will be if voters in the 5th Congressional District want Lewis to help lead that pursuit of more.

"I think we need to be better in the country," Lewis said. "We need to be better in the city. We need to be better in the county. We need to be better everywhere. What woke me up was just a total frustration."

Related: AL.coms coverage of the 2020 primaries

History says it wont be easy for Lewis to defeat Brooks, who has been re-elected four times  receiving more than 60 percent of the vote each time. Brooks also has that golden Republican card in his back pocket of an endorsement from President Donald Trump.

"Everything indicates that a majority of the Republican primary voters want to return me to Washington for another two-year term," Brooks said. "Certainly, President Trump's tweet, in which he stated that, 'Mo has my complete endorsement,' helps significantly in helping voters understand that I am strong on border security, national security, free enterprise, moral values and deficit and debt. All of those issues are very important to Republican primary voters. I have a record that proves my conservative leadership for America in the Tennessee Valley."

The winner of the GOP primary faces no party-qualified Democratic opponent in the general election.

While Brooks is well-known to voters across north Alabama  a staunch Trump supporter, perhaps the strongest congressman on border security, an unwavering voice on the nations rising debt and a penchant for finding controversy  Lewis is largely an unknown.

He's a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, served in the Navy for 23 years, retired in 2014 and returned to his Florence hometown with his wife and now runs a consulting firm and operates a small farm.

Lewis said his father and a longtime mentor probably laughed when he told them he was considering a run for Congress and his motivation is making the world a little better for his two sons.

"The pinnacle of life to me is my children," Lewis said. "It's the reason I'm in this. It's raising them. The challenges to me are my children. The pinnacle in who defines me is leading men and women in combat. It's building the confidence in individuals to trust you. It's understanding that you're not the smartest guy in the room at any point in time."

Like virtually all Republicans these days, Lewis pronounced support for Trump and said he disagreed with the impeachment charges brought by the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives.

Lewis has received endorsements from the Alabama Farmers Federation's Farm PAC as well as from the Professional Fire Fighters of Alabama as well as Huntsville defense contracting company Dynetics.

U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, criticized Democrats in the debate over border security.

Meanwhile, Brooks said he considers being sent back to Washington four times by north Alabama voters to be an endorsement of the work hes doing in Congress.

"The key to my re-election campaigns has always been job performance," he said. "Doing a good job for the people I represent is always the best campaign. I act honorably and I fight for our shared values in Washington. And the people know that. That track record beats by far any number of yard signs, TV ads, radio commercials or the like."

Brooks also touted his growing seniority on congressional committees, which by nature leads to a stronger and more influential voice. He's a member of the House Armed Services Committee as well as the Science, Space and Technology Committee  assignments tailored to Brooks' district that is defined by its defense and space technology.

Voters in the Tennessee Valley greatly understand and appreciate how my growing seniority on the Space and defense committees greatly enhances their congressmans ability to protect and promote the 40,000-plus space and defense jobs in the Tennessee Valley, he said.
We are doing everything we can to advance congestion pricing, Patrick J. Foye, the M.T.A. chairman, said in an interview. For the process to be held up by what Ill call a cynical use of the environmental review process is just wrong, he added.

M.T.A. officials met or spoke with federal authorities about congestion pricing on at least 13 occasions between April and December last year, according to Kenneth Lovett, a senior adviser at the M.T.A.

New Yorks congestion pricing plan requires federal approval because some roads within the designated congestion zone in Manhattan have used federal aid for construction.

Tolls are not generally allowed on such federally assisted roads, though the federal government has approved tolls for some roads and highways around the country to reduce congestion and pay for road construction.

On Thursday, Mr. Cuomo met with Mr. Trump to discuss the decision to end New Yorkers access to the Trusted Traveler programs. But the meeting sparked fresh tension, with both men attacking each other in interviews or on Twitter afterward.

Mr. Trump has not indicated whether he will personally intervene in the Federal Highway Administrations approval process or whether the two men discussed it during their meeting last week. It remains unclear how the president feels about congestion pricing and neither supporters nor opponents of the plan could recall Mr. Trump ever saying anything on Twitter or speaking publicly about it.

Some transportation advocates have questioned whether Mr. Cuomo is using tension with the White House as an excuse to slow down the rollout of congestion pricing. The state law approving the plan specifies that it can begin no earlier than next January, but does not mandate that it be put in place by then.
Judas Priest celebrates its 50the anniversary with a tour that will stop in Connecticut.

The legendary metal band will play the Grand Theater at Foxwoods on Sept. 12.

Tickets for the show are on sale beginning Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. through all Ticketmaster locations and outlets including ticketmaster.com and by phone at (800) 745-3000.

The 50 Heavy Metal Years Tour will also feature Sabaton as openers. In 2018, Judas Priest released Firepower which became the highest charting album of its career, reaching Number Five on the Billboard Albums chart.

Shop for concert tickets here: StubHub, SeatGeek, Ticketmaster.
He enlisted in the KGB in his 20s, acquired a bank in his 30s and a British newspaper in his 40s.

Now Russian billionaire Alexander Lebedev's career has taken another astonishing twist.

Alongside his partner, former model Elena Perminova, he has, I can disclose, become a baker and biscuit-maker  and the couple are launching their products next month in Britain.

He enlisted in the KGB in his 20s, acquired a bank in his 30s and a British newspaper in his 40s. Now Russian billionaire Alexander Lebedev's career has taken another astonishing twist

Improbable though it sounds, baking runs in Lebedev's blood.

'Alexander Lebedev's great-grand-father was a baker from Nizhny Novgorod, so he feels he is reigniting a family tradition,' one of his spokesmen tells me.

But it's fair to say that no bakery in Tsarist Russia ever quite matched the sophistication of what emerges from the Len & Grechka bakery, as the couple's Russian company is called.

Alongside his partner, former model Elena Perminova, he has, I can disclose, become a baker and biscuit-maker  and the couple are launching their products next month in Britain

Its loaves include organic, gluten-free quinoa, and organic, gluten-free turmeric, while its biscuits are of a Fortnum & Mason level of indulgence, such as organic, gluten-free 'tiger' chocolate chip cookies.

'Every mother will understand the difficulty of hunting not just for healthy but also for really delicious food,' Elena, 33, tells me.

She explains it took her and Lebedev almost two years to bake the perfect gluten-free bread, in the process establishing Russia's very first gluten-free bakery with more than 40 different products on the shelf.

'With Len & Grechka, we want to offer a greater choice for British people to make informed decisions about the nutrients they put in their bodies,' adds Elena.

'If we can get people to switch from nutrient-devoid white bread to our buckwheat, it would be a beautiful thing.'

A bag of eight chocolate chip cookies costs 3.30, while a loaf of gluten-free buckwheat and linseed sprouted sliced bread is 5.15  in Whole Foods and Planet Organic stores in London next month.

Bring on the revolution.

'Castaway' Kirsty and her luxury island item

Overseeing the finishing touches to the club last week was Soho House founder Nick Jones and his wife Kirsty Young

Welcome to the newest outpost of Soho House, in the Caribbean, which is due to open later this year in Canouan, an island in the Grenadines.

Overseeing the finishing touches to the club last week was Soho House founder Nick Jones and his wife Kirsty Young (pictured), former presenter of Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.

As host of the show, Kirsty would ask her 'castaway' guests what luxury items they'd take to a desert island, while discussing the reasons for their choices  all useful ideas for how to furnish her dream Soho House with more than the bare necessities.

'It's the island billionaires go to get away from millionaires,' I'm told.

Broadcaster Kirsty last year joined the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's charitable foundation as a director: perhaps Meghan and Harry will get preferential rates at the island hideaway!

Welcome to the newest outpost of Soho House, in the Caribbean, which is due to open later this year in Canouan, an island in the Grenadines

What are the most beautiful words in the English language? According to Stephen Fry, they are 'please, help me'.

The celebrated broadcaster, who has spoken publicly about his bipolar disorder, remarks: 'There's an episode of Star Trek and Captain Kirk says, 'Bones, someone out there is saying the most beautiful words in the galaxy.' And you think they're going to be 'I love you' or something. To which Bones [Leonard 'Bones' McCoy] asks, 'What are they?', and Kirk says, 'Please, help me'. I thought that is amazing, that's beautiful...'

Designer Celia Birtwell was surrounded last night by more than 25 images of herself at the opening of the artist's show at the National Portrait Gallery

Celia's life in Hockneys

A muse for David Hockney for over 50 years, the designer Celia Birtwell was surrounded last night by more than 25 images of herself at the opening of the artist's show at the National Portrait Gallery.

'It's like a kaleidoscope of my life, seeing all these different pictures,' said Celia (left). 'We speak almost every week, even while he is in France.

'We've always just clicked. Is there anyone better company and who has changed our view of the world?'

The opening of Drawing From Life was a rare sighting of the 82-year-old Hockney  in flat cap, red tie, green cardigan, white spectacles and sky-blue jacket  who spent most of the evening on a small balcony having a cigarette or three.

Hey Jude, Sadie can put son Rudy in the picture

When asked if he would help his children get into the film industry, Hollywood star Jude Law declared: 'No nepotism  that is rule No 1. They will have to work for their own.'

But his ex-wife, Sadie Frost, is taking a different approach.

The model turned film producer has brought their 17-year-old son, Rudy, onto the set of her new documentary about fashion designer Mary Quant, aka the queen of the mini-skirt.

'He's coming for work experience,' explains Sadie.

Since leaving school, their daughter Iris, 19, has taken to modelling, while son Rafferty, 23, has himself become an actor and will star as Oliver Twist in a forthcoming screen adaptation of the Dickens classic.

Socialite Amanda Eliasch has hung a 'Don't extradite Assange' banner outside her Cheyne Walk home  which she bought in 2010 after receiving a chunk of her ex's 400 million fortune in her divorce settlement.

'I voted for Boris Johnson and I cannot understand why the Government is not paying attention to the plight of Julian Assange,' she tells me.

'Democracy does not exist if there is no freedom of speech.'

Lady Melissa Percy is celebrating after giving birth to her first child, a daughter named Bluebell Rose

Hogwarts heiress has a little lass

The Duke of Northumberland's daughter, Lady Melissa Percy, is celebrating after giving birth to her first child, a daughter named Bluebell Rose.

Missy, 32, who grew up at family seat Alnwick Castle, where the Harry Potter films were shot, moved to the U.S. to live with her American billionaire financier boyfriend, Remy Trafelet, 49, and tied the knot with him in December.

She was previously married to Prince William's pal, Thomas van Straubenzee.

'Bluebell Rose Trafelet arrived two weeks early in New York,' Missy tells me.

'Everyone is overjoyed at her safe arrival and she's happy and healthy. My parents are with me and my siblings are also visiting.'

Let's hope Remy, who has three children from a previous relationship, changes a nappy or two.
Two militant associates who were conspiring to facilitate ultras to carry out attacks in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir were arrested, police said on Tuesday.

On specific information, the Pulwama Police arrested two terrorist associates, identified as Aquib Maqbool Lone of Ratnipora Pulwama and Naseer Ahmad Hurra of Gulbugh Pulwama, a police spokesman said.

As per police records, they were involved in assisting the active militants operating in the areas of the south Kashmir district, he added.

Incriminating materials, including explosive substance and ammunition, were recovered from their possession, the spokesman said.

He said the investigation has revealed the two were conspiring to facilitate the carrying out of terror attacks in the areas of Pulwama, thereby disrupting peace and normal activities.

A case under relevant sections of the law has been registered and further investigation in the matter is on, the spokesman said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kuldeep Singh Sengar, expelled from the BJP last year, has been disqualified from the membership of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, following his conviction in a rape case.

According to a notification issued in this connection, Sengar, who was elected from Bangarmau constituency in Unnao, has been disqualified as per the rules following his conviction by a Delhi court.

The Delhi court had pronounced its verdict of life imprisonment on December 20, 2019 and Sengar has been deemed disqualified from that date, it said.

His Bangarmau seat in Unnao district has been declared vacant from that date, the notification said.

Sengar, a four-term MLA, was expelled by the BJP in August 2019 following furore after his name cropped up in a rape case.

The case hit the headlines after the victim attempted self-immolation outside the chief minister's residence in April 2017 when the police did not take action on her complaint.

The victim's father, who had been arrested by the police, had died in police custody two days later, after he was beaten up in the lock-up by Sengar's brother, Atul Sengar.

The case was later handed over to the CBI and Kuldeep Sengar, his brother Atul and others were arrested.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Coronavirus concerns have reached the Grapefruit League in Florida.

The Boston Globe reports 20-year-old right-hander Chih-Jung Liu arrived at Red Sox spring training last week in Fort Myers, Fla. and was placed into quarantine in a hotel room to guard against the coronavirus after coming over from Taiwan.

Liu wrote on his Facebook page that he is being delivered three meals a day, doing some weight training, and going for an occasional run. He is otherwise spending his time online watching information about the team and reading. Liu said he feels fine and is scheduled to join the team Saturday.

According to the Boston Globe, a Red Sox spokesperson said the team was exercising an overabundance of caution with Liu because of concern about the virus. Liu flew directly from Taipei to San Francisco, Calif., then on to Fort Myers.

The Boston Globe reports that earlier this month, the Red Sox briefly quarantined infielder Tzu-Wei Lin, who also calls Taiwan home. I had been here for a week and they said I needed to go back to my apartment, Lin said. I was fine. I stayed away for one day and that was it.

The CDC reports there are 19 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States. But the numbers are much worse elsewhere.

The World Health Organization reports the U.S. and Taiwan are two of 33 countries with confirmed cases of coronavirus. The overwhelming majority of them are in China. Of the 80,239 cases worldwide, 77,780 are in China. Of the 2,666 deaths worldwide, 2,459 have been in China.

Buy Yankees tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek

As for Liu, hes expected to stay in extended spring training before being assigned to a team in the Red Sox minor-league system.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Ukraine's only remaining Crimean Tatar television channel, ATR, has submitted a plea to the European Parliament and European Commission asking the institutions for financial support as it faces imminent closure due to lack of funding.



Posted on its website on February 24, ATR's request cites a resolution by the European Parliament from February 4, 2016 that "deplored the wrongful closure of the ATR media outlet" on Ukraines Crimea Peninsula due to Russia's annexation two years earlier.



According to ATR, the resolution called on the European Commission to provide financial assistance to the Crimean Tatar channel as well as other media in exile in Ukraine.



"Nowadays, more than ever, ATR TV-Channel needs financial support from institutions of the European Union, because it is on the edge of closing and has lost all hope to receive financing in the nearest future from its own state," the letter said in English, Ukrainian, and Russian.



The statement said that since 2015, ATR has been mostly reliant on funding from the Ukrainian government but lately it has encountered bureaucratic obstacles in accessing allocated money from this year's state budget.



"The state funds, allocated to the ATR TV-Channel for the year 2020, are unavailable for us to receive and use due to some artificial bureaucratic hindrances, and controversial interpretation of laws by certain state authorities," the letter said.



ATR previously said it had received $610,000 on its account on December 28, but couldn't access the money because banks were closed that day, so it had to return the money as required by law.



A portion of the $2 million that was allocated this year was transferred to ATR's account, but the channel said the state treasury had blocked access to it.



ATR is a part of a media holding that is majority-owned by Crimean Tatar Lenur Islyamov and initially stopped broadcasting in Crimea after Russian authorities refused to issue a broadcasting license after annexing the peninsula.



It resumed broadcasting on June 17, 2015 in Kyiv via satellite throughout Ukraine, including in Crimea, supported mostly with government money.



Separately in January, Ukraine's public broadcaster shut down international broadcasting and closed its Crimean Tatar, Arabic, and English-language departments.
BOISE  In 2019, a Boise homeowner in the North End paid roughly twice as much in property taxes as in 2010. At the same time, Micron paid 17% more on its headquarters. Albertsons paid 10% more on its headquarters, and AgriBeef just 8% more.

In the last decade, taxes have increased modestly for businesses and farm owners  even falling in 2019  while homeowners have seen steady increases. And thats by design.

For years, lobbyists for the real estate and farm industries have fought what they say was an unfairly high property-tax burden on commercial real estate. Their efforts have succeeded in shifting the burden of property taxes from commercial real estate to residential property.

Commercial interests scored their most recent victory in 2016, when the Legislature passed a bill that removed the index on the homeowners exemption, which had increased on pace with home values, and capped the exemption at $100,000. But as housing prices increase, that $100,000 is worth less each year.

That bill was sponsored by the Idaho Association of Realtors and the Idaho Farm Bureau.

Property tax freeze

This year, amid an outcry over rising home values, discussion of the homeowners exemption has been eclipsed by the Legislatures focus on reining in local spending. House Majority Leader Mike Moyles proposal to freeze property taxes for a year has been supported by the Farm Bureau and the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry.

Homeowners could see a temporary tax cut. Moyles bill would almost certainly lower taxes for commercial and agricultural interests, so long as the value of residential property continues to grow faster than commercial property.

State Sen. Maryanne Jordan, a Boise Democrat, has a bill meant to provide longer-term relief to homeowners by letting counties opt into indexing the homeowners exemption. Another bill  sponsored by Sen. Grant Burgoyne, a Boise Democrat, Sen. Kelly Arthur Anthon, a Burley Republican and Sen. Dave Lent, an Idaho Falls Republican  would increase tax benefits for low-income seniors and others through the circuit breaker program.

The idea we can fix all this by limiting local budgets is not a fair representation of what the problem is, Jordan said. A big part of the problem with taxes is the cap on the homeowners exemption.

The chairman of the House Revenues and Taxation Committee has yet to give either bill a hearing. Moyles bill, H353, passed the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. The bill is set to go before the full House on Thursday, Feb. 20.

Russ Hendricks, director of governmental affairs for the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, argues that the real shift in property taxes happened when the homeowners exemption was created, because it shifted some of burden from residential to commercial and agricultural landowners.

Is it fair to the commercial property or the agricultural property or the rental property or the non-owner-occupied property that they pay more taxes than they otherwise would, because the homeowners are paying less tax than they would with the homeowners exemption? he said in an interview.

Homeowners exemption passed by voters, opposed by industry

The homeowners exemption was first passed by a citizens initiative in 1982, after years of frustration that the burden of property taxes was shifting from other types of property onto homeowners as home prices outpaced other types of property.

That law exempted half of the value of a property, up to $50,000. Supporting the initiative were labor unions, teachers and senior citizens. Opposing it were the Idaho Association of Realtors and the Associated Taxpayers of Idaho, whose board is made up of major business players throughout Idaho.

The next year, the Legislature cut the exemption to $15,000 from $50,000  but the bill was vetoed by Gov. John Evans.

In 1986, a group of farmers from Bonneville County sued the state over the exemption, arguing it violated the Idaho Constitution by charging different property owners at different rates. The court ruled that the exemption constitutional and said it was successful in fostering home ownership and equalizing the tax burden between residential and business properties.

Over the years, the Idaho Association of Realtors and the Farm Bureau supported measures that would chip away at the exemption.

We want to see Idaho grow, and this hinders growth, Mark Dunham, then the executive vice president of the Idaho Association of Realtors, told the Statesman in 1987. We dont want to hurt residential property owners, but we think all properties should be taxed the same.

Housing price index

In 2004, with taxes increasing, another initiative movement bubbled up in northern Idaho. In 2006, lawmakers raised the cap to $75,000, which brought the exemption closer to 50% of home values at the time. Lawmakers tied the cap to the Housing Price Index so it would rise or fall with house prices.

In the years leading up to and following the Great Recession, the value of the exemption fluctuated. In 2009, it hit $104,472. In 2013, it dipped to $81,000.

In 2014, the Realtors, the Farm Bureau and the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry  known as IACI, pronounced eye-ak-ee  pushed for legislation to fix the homeowners exemption at $90,000. IACI represents major Idaho businesses like HP, Chobani, Simplot and Micron.

The bill passed the House but failed in the Senate.

In 2016, as the homeowners exemption was poised once more to exceed $100,000, the industry groups pushed once more to cap it, this time at $100,000.

As before, they argued that a cap would provide more predictability for homeowners. The Realtors called the homeowners index a poorly conceived, poorly executed plan that has hindered economic development and market certainty in Idaho.

Tax shift to homeowners

Ada County Assessor Bob McQuade predicted in 2016 what capping the value of the exemption would mean: It will ultimately be a tax shift to the homeowners, as the value erodes, he told the Spokesman-Review, of Spokane, then.

McQuades prediction has come true.

Home prices have risen far faster than commercial properties. In Ada County, the median sales price for a single-family home increased from $237,638 in January 2016 to $363,000 in January 2020, according to the Intermountain Multiple Listing Service.

Thats resulted in taxes increasing more for residential owners than commercial owners, a problem exacerbated by the cap.

Twenty years ago, residential property owners paid 56% of all taxes collected by Ada County and commercial property owners paid 44%. In 2017, residential property owners paid 67%. Today, they pay 72%.

Market forces have combined with state policies to create this perfect storm, said Rep. Lauren Necochea, a Boise Democrat and a supporter of Jordans bills.

Fairness and fair share

Hendricks says the gap between the residential and commercial share of taxes shouldnt be used as a measure of the tax systems fairness.

Theres no optimal number  nobodys shooting for some specific portion of the property tax pie, he said. It makes absolutely no sense to say that somehow residential property owners are paying more than their fair share.

Both Hendricks and Alex LaBeau, president of IACI, say that the problem isnt the disparity between commercial and residential taxpayers.

The real problem lies in the expansion of local budgets, LaBeau said in an interview.

Just as industry interests did in 2004, LaBeau is urging the Legislature to pause property taxes for one year so that we can push them to have an actual sincere conversation about the reality associated with what we believe has been an irresponsible expansion of budgets.

Hendricks and LaBeau say Moyles proposal to freeze property tax budgets for localities will do that.

This will actually be real property tax relief for all property classes across the board instead of just selected preferred property owners, Hendricks said.

Still, even if city budgets are frozen this year, property taxes could go up for homeowners if their home values continue to increase faster than commercial property values.

Effects on city services, education

City and county leaders, which depend on property taxes, have lobbied against Moyles bill, saying it will affect their ability to provide services that are already strained as a result of rapid growth and shrinking state revenues.

They also say that state doesnt provide enough funding for education, which has forced local school districts to ask voters to pass supplemental levies, which add to property taxes. For residents of the West Ada School District, a third of the property taxes they pay goes to school levies.

Local leaders support a higher exemption and an expanded circuit breaker.

Seth Grigg, executive director of the Idaho Association of Counties, acknowledges that local budgets affect property taxes. But he said homeowners should be given consideration as their values are increasing.

That index should be brought back, and it should fluctuate with market conditions, he said.

Max Pond, government affairs director for the Idaho Association of Realtors, did not return phone calls asking for an interview. Instead, he sent an email saying the homeowners exemption should not be set on autopilot.

We absolutely believe the Legislature should look at this number (and maybe should happen more often) and have a debate about what is appropriate, Pond wrote. The Legislature should look at growth in statewide housing prices and consider carefully the impact of any tax shift onto other taxpayers.

Businesses dont vote, individuals do

LaBeau said its not surprising to hear counties advocate for a policy that would leave their budgets intact.

All they want to do is shift liability from people that can vote to people that cant  because businesses dont vote, individuals do, he said.

And how does he feel about having taken a stance contrary to the will of the voters who passed the homeowners exemption in the first place?

We would say they were wrong, LaBeau said. They were misled. And we would say that again today.

In a phone interview with the Statesman, Moyle said he has another bill drafted that would increase the homeowners exemption  but rather than shifting that to other classes of properties, any increase in the homeowners exemption would come out of local budgets.

So the homeowners will get the benefit, but we dont move the tax to the agricultural, the commercial or the timber group, Moyle said. The other side ... is looking at shifting the tax. Shifting the tax is not necessarily whats best for Idaho  whats best for Idaho is to solve the problem, not just give it to somebody else.

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3 A Canadian Car Dealer Committed Massive Fraud To Fund Curling's Super Team

As a sport where you aggressively clean ice, curling might be the most Canadian thing in the world. Sadly, it's never really caught on in countries where people don't have to hide on ice to avoid being taken by the Wendigo. That's why, back in the '90s, a Canadian businessman and curling super-fan named Merv Bodnarchuk was determined to get America to fall in love with the sport. He paid some of Canada's best curlers top dollar to play on his "super team," which he named the Anaheim Earthquake, even though A) there was no curling rink in Anaheim, and B) nobody on the team had ever set foot in the United States. At the time, most curling events had a prize fund of "whatever's in the lost-and-found box," so Merv's cash was a huge shock. There was just one catch: Merv insisted on playing himself.

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It's weird enough that the lead spot on the best curling team ever assembled had to be reserved for a middle-aged businessman who cost them game after game thanks to his fatal flaw of *checks notes* not being a professional athlete. (Yeah, we said it, curlers are athletes.) The real twist came after the Earthquake somehow managed to qualify for the end-of-season championships and Merv achieved his dream of curling on national TV. It was discovered that Merv had financed his dream team by defrauding investors in his car rental business. His teammates had noticed some troubling signs for a while, like how people kept coming to games and screaming that Merv owed them money. He was punched in the face before one game, and another time, a curler came outside to find his boss being beaten in the parking lot by a man demanding the $50,000 he was owed.
Police responded to a vandalism at Winding Lane. A woman said she found her Chevy Cruze damaged. All four door handles had been pried off. She said she saw a suspicious black SUV in the area the previous night and suspected it was her ex-boyfriend.

* * *

Anne Rushing, who works for the Sculpture Fields, said a sculpture that was located toward the back of the park had been vandalized. Police observed that a glass part of the sculpture had been removed and smashed on a sculpture nearby. Ms. Rushing said she did not know the exact time that the incident occurred, but believes it happened over a weekend. No suspect information is available at this time. Ms. Rushing valued the damage to the sculpture to be around $1,000. Police placed the Sculpture Fields on the watch list and will continue to check the area for suspicious activity.

* * *

A woman said she had gotten a call from someone stating that they were from the U.S. Marshal office and that she needed to send them $1,000 in bitcoin currency. She said the person impersonating the marshal was using scare tactics to keep her on the phone and she wasn't sure what to do. She ended up transferring the money and the "marshal" stated that another marshal would be on the way to talk to her shortly. She hasn't heard anything as of yet.

* * *

A resident of 3rd Avenue said her brother and his girlfriend showed up to the property and tried to get in. The woman would not let them in and that's when the girlfriend spat her gum in her direction, police were told. Shortly after they left the woman said she heard the window on the south side of the house break. She said she did not immediately look because she was afraid and, as a result, she could not be certain who broke the window. There was, however, a car muffler on the couch inside beneath the window which appeared to have been used in the vandalism.

* * *

An officer pulled up to a single motor vehicle accident at 3400 Rossville Blvd. He met with De'Untrea Havis and Shaniyah Jones. He was told that Ms. Jones was driving south on Rossville Boulevard in her black Hyundai Sonata with Havis in the passenger seat. Both were arguing when Havis continued to get angrier and angrier, it was stated. Then Havis, out of anger, jerked the steering wheel causing Ms. Davis to swerve and hit AT&T utility pole #P1221T. Ms. Davis said her right shoulder and chest were hurting from the airbags and the impact. The vehicle was picked up by Doug Yates Towing and taken to their tow yard. AT&T was called to fix pole #P1221T.

* * *

An officer driving on E. 3rd Street located a possible suspect in multiple shoplifting incidents at the Speedway at 1330 E 3rd St. Earlier in the shift the manager from the Speedway called police and stated that a skinny black male wearing a blue and brown raincoat who is known to shoplift items from the store was standing in the parking lot. When police arrived he had already left the scene. A short time later, while driving east on E 3rd Street, the officer observed a man matching that description at 1401 E 3rd St. The man gave his ID and stated that he stays at the address on the ID on E. 28th Street. He also stated that he sometimes hangs out at his girlfriend's house, which he said that he did not know the address but knows that it is near the Carver Rec Center.

* * *

Police checked out a suspicious vehicle by railroad tracks at 8310 Cleveland Pike. Officers found a truck parked near the tracks with a sign inside that read "Lost drone - searching tracks" and left a phone number. As police were attempting to call the number, two men were seen walking down the tracks toward the vehicle. One said that approximately two weeks earlier he was flying his drone in the area and lost it, and he and his friend were attempting to locate it.

* * *

Police responded to a counterfeiting/forgery at Circle K on Hixson Pike. An employee said a white male with a funny hat came in and paid for his merchandise with a counterfeit $20 bill. He had a white woman with him with dark hair and darker complexion. The female was also described as thinly built with a hat on. The counterfeit bill was seized.

* * *

Officers checked out a stalking that occurred near the 2300 block of N. Chamberlain Avenue. A woman said as she turned left off of 2300 N. Chamberlain Ave., three vehicles surrounded her vehicle. She said one vehicle was a white Ford F-150 truck driven by a woman she knows. Another was a white smaller car with the woman's son in it, and the other vehicle was a black smaller SUV. She said the woman screamed to her son, "That's her" in a loud manner. She said the son then exited the vehicle and smacked the window of her vehicle before she was able to drive away. She said there had been another such "stalking" incident a few days earlier.

* * *

A woman told police that someone had "hacked" her Walmart grocery account and ordered groceries. She says that the transaction was done online to be picked up at Walmart at 4444 W. Vine St., Kissimmee, Fl. The woman said the charge of $195 is currently pending on her account and has to clear the bank before they can put the money back in her account. The woman said she was going to attempt to get the Walmart store in Florida to prevent the order from being picked up.

* * *

Police responded to a theft from a motor vehicle at an address on Brainerd Road. A man said that on a Friday night the catalytic converter was stolen off of his girlfriend's vehicle. He was able to provide video footage of the incident. Police were able to see the suspect vehicle - a charcoal gray Hyundai Veloster occupied by two white males - pull into the parking lot and back into the space to the left of the vehicle. The license plate on the suspect vehicle was visible while it was backing up but was not readable due to the quality of the footage. The caller valued the catalytic converter at $350 and stated that the foreign-made vehicles' converters are worth more due to the larger amount of platinum used to make them. The next day an officer observed a dark gray Hyundai Veloster with a noticeable dent behind the driver side front wheel drive pass him at 3100 Crescent Circle. Earlier that day, he had observed intelligence and photos linking this clearly identifiable vehicle to numerous thefts of catalytic converters. Upon stopping the vehicle at 1112 E 32nd St., the driver was identified as Travis Walker. He stated that he knew the tag did not match the vehicle and that the vehicle belonged to Eric Webb. The officer asked him for consent to search him and the vehicle and Walker consented. The officer observed a vehicle jack on the floor by the back seat along with some miscellaneous ratchets and hand tools. Upon opening the trunk, the officer observed numerous battery-operated power tools including a reciprocating saw with spent and unspent blades. He also observed a used catalytic converter next to the tools. Walker was taken in for questioning and the vehicle was towed.
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One of the old sayings is that there are lies, damned lies and statistics, with the implication being you really cant trust most reported numbers. Still, weve often thought, at least with major vendors, that you could trust rankings.

One current set of rankings involves cloud providers. The general impression was that Amazon was first, Microsoft second, and Google third. However, both Google and IBM reported numbers this month  and surprise. Google isnt third, IBM is.

That isnt the only thing I found interesting this month. IBM did what few firms never seem to do and followed the best practice of another firm  in this case, Microsoft  in making its CEO choice. This suggests that IBM eventually should be able to challenge for the No. 1 spot in the cloud. If it does, it could point the way for other firms, like Dell, to pass Amazon as well.

Since the subject is the cloud, Ill shine a light on my new favorite cloud service: Nvidias GeForce Now, just released this month.

Cloud Rankings

The cloud is important. Much of what we now watch (Netflix) and buy (Amazon), as well as systems to guard our homes security (like Arlo and ADT Plus) reside in the cloud. Much of it resides on the Amazon, Microsoft or Google cloud. It seems like a no-brainer to rank the players in order, with Amazon first, Microsoft second and Google third.

The only issue is that until recently, we didnt know how much of Googles revenue came from their cloud. Yes, it uses its cloud for massive services like YouTube, but we typically rank vendors based on what they sell, not what they use internally.

For instance, if Shell Oil built its own trucks and used thousands of them, it still wouldnt displace GM or Ford in the rankings.

Google reported a decent US$2.6 billion in cloud revenue for the quarter, and $8.9 billion in cloud revenue for the year. However, IBM reported a whopping $6.8 billion for the quarter and $21.2 billion for the year. Note that IBMs quarterly cloud revenue is within the shooting distance of Googles annual cloud revenue.

IBM isnt behind Google, and it isnt a rounding error ahead either. It is almost three times the size of Google in the cloud market  which, by the way, suggests Google may be lower than fourth place.

If you think about it, it was Azure, Microsofts Cloud effort, that put the company back on the technology map and founded its valuation increase so it could challenge Amazon, Apple and Google for the most valuable company title. The same could happen to IBM as it further ramps its cloud efforts.

Dell has advanced its cloud offerings recently with the Dell Technologies Cloud, and I believe it also is in the hunt to take out Google and Amazon.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Why Google and Amazon Are Vulnerable

As much as you might like Samsung or Apple, would you buy a car from them? Some might, but most probably would feel, rightly, that cars arent these companies strengths, as both firms primarily make personal electronics.

IT buyers are even more pragmatic. Generally, they have avoided services  like Amazons  that come from a firm that doesnt specialize in them.

This specialization mismatch is one of the reasons Apples server failed. It wasnt a bad product  it was a decent server. It was that people didnt trust a personal technology vendor to build a good server. If something bad happened, the buyer would look stupid. Looking stupid as an IT buyer is a quick way to discover you suddenly have no job and need to search for a new career.

Amazons primary business is retail. Would you buy a cloud service from Walmart? The reason Amazon rose to power is that companies like IBM didnt have services like AWS  but they do now. Regardless of how many people now use AWS at the end of the day, IT buyers trust companies like IBM and Dell more than theyll ever trust a retail store vendor for an IT technology.

Google is worse, by almost any measure, because its business is selling user data. If you discovered your confidential information had leaked to a competitor or hostile foreign government  even if Google didnt do it  youd wonder if someone in Google sold it.

With the chief security officer asking you how the breach happened  often the sources arent found  the fact that you used a vendor that sold customer information certainly would make it look like maybe you were the problem that needed to be solved.

Since pointing at a scapegoat is common when theres an embarrassing breach, your decision to use Google wouldnt bode well for your job longevity. IT folks know that, which likely is why IBM was able to roar past Google to claim the No. 1 spot and why I expect Dell will follow.

IBMs Unusual Move

This progression of potential events takes us to IBMs unusual move. Now I say unusual, because, for whatever strange reason, companies dont like to copy other companys brilliant moves.

For instance, Apple put in a CEO who was marketing-oriented with Steve Jobs and became the most valuable company during his time. Not even Apple followed that example, and youd be hard-pressed to find any major company run by a marketing type today.

Microsoft replaced Steve Ballmer with a cloud subject matter expert (Satya Nadella) and now regularly challenges to be the most valuable company in the world. IBM just surprised the crap out of me and did the same thing, replacing Ginni Rometty with Arvind Krishna.

Both Microsoft and IBM are complex, and both firms have reputations that suggest their peers betray a lot of top executives in both firms, so this wasnt a trivial move by either firm, or for the executives who took the jobs. However, I think IBM now will replicate Microsofts success.

In Praise of Steve Ballmer and Ginni Rometty

Before we move off this subject, I want to point out that neither Microsoft nor IBM would be in this place if it werent for Steve Ballmer and Ginni Rometty, both of whom set the foundations for success in their respective firms. Both took over when their firms were in deep trouble, and both built up the foundational elements in their firms, including making the initial cloud investments that created the platform and the subject matter experts who later took the CEO job.

If Ballmer hadnt executed, there never would have been an Azure or a Satya Nadella. If Rometty hadnt bought Soft Layer and restructured IBM, there would be no Arvind Krishna. It often is easy to contrast successful CEOs with challenged ones and find the latter wanting, forgetting that the successful CEOs wouldnt have a place to be successful in, and often wouldnt even have been considered for the job, had their predecessors not done their job.

Neither Steve nor Ginni will go down in history as their respective firms saviors, but they should. Without them, there never would have been a Satya Nadella or an Arvind Krishna.

Wrapping Up

At the end of the decade, I dont expect either Amazon or Google to be at the top of the cloud market if we even call it that then. My expectation is theyll have to spin out their cloud businesses to get them away from their non-aligned core brands, or they will be passed by more focused vendors like Microsoft, IBM and Dell.

I also think few companies will follow Microsoft and IBMs lead and place CEOs in positions that require subject matter expertise  and that, as a result, the success of these policies will be lost to history. I truly hope I am wrong here, and the fact that IBM did follow Microsoft suggests I am. Lets hope Im right about being wrong in this case.

One of the most powerful demonstrations of what the cloud is capable of is cloud gaming. It has historically been an ideal way to see the weakness in these platforms, because PC gaming requires very high performance and very low latency.

I once got in an argument with Robby Bach, who then ran Microsoft gaming. I argued that cloud gaming was the future, and he felt I was mentally challenged because he believed youd never get the needed performance out of the cloud.

Now a cloud guy is running Microsoft, Robby Bach is gone, and even Microsoft is rolling out a cloud gaming platform  the xCloud.

Well, Nvidia just released its GeForce Now platform with 50 top-flight games initially  more are coming  and thousands that can be played with single-session installs.

One fascinating thing is that Nvidia has done this first, not any of the leading cloud vendors, although Nvidia typically isnt even on the cloud vendor list. As a specialized offering, this is an incredible service.

It does require decent Internet service and low latency, which means it will get a lot better when 5G rolls out. However, in anticipation of 5G, the telco and cable providers have been improving their infrastructure, and the service is very playable now.

I played League of Legends last week, and it played like it was on my gaming system, which is anything but underpowered. It was my product of the week last week. Oh, and that system is AMD-based, and GeForce Now had no issue with it.

The service works on both Windows and macOS machines, Android, and Nvidias Shield set-top box (one of the more powerful set-top box offerings). Service can be used for free with a one-hour play limit and no access to RTX technology. If the servers are at capacity, the free folks will have to wait to game. Priority access, at US$4.99 a month, comes with a 6-hour limit, and RTX turned on for better graphics.

Because this is a great game service  but mostly because I can now say neener, neener, neener to Robbie Bach  the GeForce Now service is my product of the week.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ECT News Network.
OTTAWA  David Milgaard is pushing the federal Liberals to immediately release people whom, as he was five decades ago, have been wrongfully convicted.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  David Milgaard is pushing the federal Liberals to immediately release people whom, as he was five decades ago, have been wrongfully convicted.

The Winnipeg native, who served 23 years in prison for a murder in Saskatoon he didnt commit, met Monday with federal Justice Minister David Lametti, seeking to help form a new process to review convictions for prisoners who argue theyre innocent.

"It's a really, really bright day. It offers hope to those people who are right now waiting inside cages," Milgaard, 67, told the Free Press.

Currently, Department of Justice officials review cases where a criminal argues theyve been wrongfully convicted. In other countries, independent commissions review those cases, and submit recommendations sooner than in Canada.

"We have to take this out of the hands of the criminal justice system. That way we don't have police investigating police, and we have accountability," Milgaard said.

Successive federal governments have pledged to reform this process, but Milgaard is hopeful the government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will actually follow through.

Last December, Trudeau assigned Lametti to "establish an independent criminal case review commission, to make it easier and faster for potentially wrongfully convicted people to have their applications reviewed." Its the very first of 21 priorities in Lamettis mandate letter.

Lametti has since created a working group, which includes Milgaard and his advocates, to help craft the commission.

Milgaard said its the first time hes met with a federal justice minister, and he said Lametti was passionate about the issue.

He also asked Monday for the creation of an interim law, while the commission is being formed, to allow the minister to release an inmate once they know theyve been wrongfully convicted.

He cited the example of Steven Truscott, who was cleared of a 1959 homicide in 2007. Ottawa had evidence hed be wrongfully convicted years prior, yet had to order a new trial in order for Truscott to be released.

"We must get these people out of prison now," Milgaard said.

He also said those who are rightfully convicted face dire living conditions in Canadas putative prison system. He is seeking more restorative-justice initiatives, which he said heal offenders, instead of having them repeat a cycle of criminality.

Any justice reform will require the minority Liberals to rely on other parties for support.

The NDP has been supportive of expediting reviews for those who felt theyve been wrongfully convicted, while Milgaard said hes hoping to meet with the Opposition Conservatives, and his fellow advocates are speaking with the Bloc Quebecois.

Milgaard also spoke Monday to roughly 100 University of Ottawa criminology students, and urged them to become advocates for criminal-justice reform. He recounted the particulars of his case, as well as trying times in prison and post-release dependence on alcohol.

"Prisoners and their family are people; they are not garbage," he said, urging the students to never lose their compassion.

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"We cannot let innocent people be disqualified from life, from beauty," said Milgaard, who now lives in Calgary.

Milgaards mother, Joyce, worked tirelessly to get his case reviewed, picketing alone on Parliament Hill with a sandwich board. Now in her 80s, shes still pushing for a broader reform, despite declining health.

"It's a good thing that this is going to happen while she's still alive," said Milgaard, who was put in jail at 17.

His voice trembles when he talks about young people who have come into adulthood behind bars, especially those convicted on dubious grounds. He paused to smoke a cigarette, to calm his nerves.

"It does affect me emotionally, and I'm going to be happy someday when I can walk away from it."

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
The peak bodies for aged care providers and older Australians have united to call for urgent action to address the overuse of psychotropic drugs, with residents' families continuing to raise concerns about their loved ones three months after the royal commission's interim report.

National Seniors chief advocate Ian Henschke said he was still fielding calls from family members concerned about the impact of drugs on their loved ones in aged care, with the long-term use of benzodiazepines like Valium and dementia drugs that cause confusion raising alarm bells.

"They're worried about the fact that their relative looks zonked out," Mr Henschke said.

Aged care providers and residents want action to prevent medicine overuse. Credit:Virginia Star

"Some of these Alzheimers drugs are only supposed to be used for a short period of time, but some people are on them for years."
For many years, tourists from all over the world have been travelling to Osaka to tuck into the famous Japanese 'jiggly' souffle pancakes.

But no longer will Australians have to jet overseas to enjoy the treat as the popular Gram Cafe & Pancakes has opened its first ever Australian store in the Sydney north shore suburb of Chatswood.

Diners can enjoy favourites like the ultra-fluffy three-tier pancakes, served with fresh whipped cream, butter and maple syrup.

Retailing at $18.90, the delectable pancakes have become the star attraction of the cafe, with their light texture carefully created in the kitchen.

Japan's famous Gram Cafe & Pancakes has opened its first ever store in Sydney's Chatswood

Known for its cloud-like desserts, diners can now enjoy fan favourites like the ultra-fluffy three-tier pancakes, served with fresh whipped cream, butter and maple syrup

The chefs whip egg-white batter on high speed until stiff peaks form. Next, they are steamed under metal domes, and then cooked on a hot plate until its golden on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside.

The cafe's executive chef was flown to Sydney from Japan to teach the team the secret to perfecting the famous souffle pancakes.

And since opening its door on February 21, the Chatswood store has proved popular after customers revealed having to line up in massive queues, with up to two hours of wait time.

'The line was so long I had to queue for two hours. But worth the wait, they were amazing. They were so fluffy and the handmade cream on the side was so smooth and delicious,' one diner said.

The range of toppings and sides include tiramisu, matcha or caramelised banana and honey apple with earl grey cream - or a savoury version served with smoked salmon or bacon.

Other items on the menu include brioche French toast, parfaits and smoothies.

The $18.90 pancakes have become the star of the cafe because of its super light and fluffy texture - and it all comes down to how they are made

Founded in Osaka in 2014, the Sydney venue is among the chain's 60 stores across Asian and North America

The Sydney store had initially offered a limited amount of pancakes per day but after drawing in large crowds since opening, the cafe will now be serving the souffle throughout the entire day.

'We hope everyone can understand that the response we have received over the last two to three days of the official grand opening has been incredibly overwhelming,' the cafe said in a statement.

'Our team are adapting their operations and trying to keep up with the demand... As such, there will be no limiting to the number of premium pancake portions per day, and we will be serving them throughout the day.'

The cafe said the ingredients are imported directly from Japan.

'The cream being used is not something you can buy in Australia, or else the fluffiness and flavours we have been able to achieve wouldn't be so unique,' the owners said.

Founded in Osaka in 2014, the venue at Chatswood Interchange, near the train station, is among the chain's 60 stores across Asian and North America.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has ruled out privatising TAFE but foreshadowed the private sector playing a bigger role in delivering courses.

The state government has appointed businessman David Gonski and former head of the federal public service Peter Shergold to review TAFE. Coming under pressure in question time from Labor about privatisation plans, Ms Berejiklian eventually ruled out any plans to sell TAFE.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced a review into the TAFE system. Credit:Janie Barrett

"I make this commitment, the NSW government currently invests billions of dollars in TAFE and that will continue," Ms Berejiklian said.

"But if the question is whether we are open to industry making a contribution on top of that ... if industry also wants to be involved in new courses, we would be open to that."
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday urged the Office of the Prime Minister of India (PMO) to deploy army in Delhi to curb violence in the wake of the protest against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

He also alleged that the police have failed to fulfill their duties and are "colluding with mobs."

Taking to Twitter, he said, "The situation in North East Delhi is only getting worse. If @PMOIndia wants to restore peace, it is incumbent on you that Army takes over the area. Cops have abdicated their duty and are colluding with mobs. The only way to secure lives and limbs is to hand over the area to the army."

Seven people, including one police head constable, have lost their lives and over 100 have been injured in North-East Delhi over a period of two days after clashes broke out between pro and anti CAA protestors.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two multinational home-renovation giants are planning to hire almost 300 Manitobans this spring.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two multinational home-renovation giants are planning to hire almost 300 Manitobans this spring.

Home Depot Canada wants to hire 190 people while Lowes Canada has put out the call for 100 positions this March.

Lowes Canada is planning to fill 75 seasonal positions and 25 regular positions in its Lowes and RONA stores in Manitoba.

"Our seasonal employees play a vital role in our organization by supporting our stores during out industrys peak months," said Marc Macdonald, senior vice president of human resources at Lowes Canada, in a news release Monday.

Lowes Canada and Home Depot Canadas peak months are spring and summer.

Economists predicted a gradual rebound for real estate in late 2019, which often leads to home improvement, resulting in more sales for stores like Lowes and the Home Depot.

On March 14, Lowes Canada is having a National Hiring Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. where people can meet the management teams at all Lowes and RONA stores.

Macdonald said Lowes Canada is seeking "driven, dynamic, and customer-focused applicants." There are almost 10 different positions available.

Home Depot Canada is looking to hire 190 new positions across Manitoba for the busy spring season. Available positions are full time, part time and seasonal, including overnight work.

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"Our team is built on a set of core values shared by four generations of associates working in our stores," said Aliana Rozenek, vice-president of human resources at Home Depot Canada, in a news release Monday.

People interested in working at Home Depot can text "Home Depot Jobs" to 97211 to apply. They can also visit careershomedepot.ca as there are no upcoming career fairs in their Manitoba stores.

There are two Lowes stores and three RONA stores with job openings in Manitoba. Home Depot has six locations in the province.

Lowes Canada employees have access to discounts, educational incentive programs, and continuing education.

Home Depot Canada offers employees company-paid health and dental benefits, profit-sharing programs, tuition reimbursement and employee assistance programs.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca
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Party Propaganda Machine Wants 'Heartwarming' Tales From Virus-Hit Central China

2020-02-24 -- The ruling Chinese Communist Party is cracking down on earlier signs of original news reporting coming out of Wuhan, the central Chinese city worst-hit by the coronavirus epidemic, replacing frontline video on social media with government-approved narratives about brave "heroes" on the front line.

As millions of people remain confined to their homes in central China, the party's powerful Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission has set up shop in Wuhan to take charge of the stories that emerge from that city, in spite of growing public anger over the lack of transparency in the early stages of the epidemic.

President Xi Jinping's right-hand man and party secretary of the commission Chen Yixin was dispatched to the city earlier this month. A directive detailing the sort of "propaganda work" Chen wants to see coming out of Wuhan followed soon after, dated Feb. 18.

With at least two prominent citizen journalists -- Chen Qiushi and Fang Bing -- 'disappeared' or otherwise silenced after they posted grim accounts and video clips of hospitals struggling to cope with the onrush of suspected coronavirus patients, the party is now taking charge of the story, ordering only "positive" coverage from state journalists already trained to sing its praises.

"[We must] step up strategic content planning and innovation ... promote positive energy and foster a climate of public opinion that is conducive to waging an all-out people's war on the epidemic," the directive said.

"We must project the positive image of the commission's police, grid operatives and other rank-and-file members of the mass surveillance team in the new era," it said.

"We get our orders and we move out, fearing no hardship, only selfless dedication," the directive said.

It requires all Communist Party political and legal affairs committees at regional and provincial level to implement the new propaganda requirements, as well as cracking down on "illegal and criminal acts that hinder epidemic prevention and control work."

'Singing and tears'

Propaganda work should include "moving stories about the noble deeds of ... staunch defenders against the epidemic," it said, calling for more human interest stories and emotional episodes to paint "a vivid picture of loyalty, selflessness, dedication, singing and tears."

Content should make targeted use of major social media platforms like Weibo and WeChat, it said, showing "vivid details, personal feelings and touching stories."

In tandem with Chen's arrival in Wuhan to take charge of stability maintenance, the party's central propaganda department has sent more than 300 journalists to Hubei, of which Wuhan is the provincial capital.

They have been tasked with producing propaganda illustrating the disease prevention and control effort from the front line, it said in a statement on Feb. 4.

A video was posted soon after to social media showing Health Times deputy editor Zhao Anping and reporter Zhang He setting off like heroes to report on the epidemic, as colleagues held up a red banner against a soundtrack of rousing music.

Zhang has since poured out a slew of positive stories including news about Wuhan's huge grain and oil reserves, more than 1,000 new beds in a hastily constructed cabin hospital for coronavirus patients, and stories about patients who have recovered from the COVID-19 coronavirus.

There was scant mention of flooding at the new hospital after the area was hit by high winds, however. Meanwhile, critical reports and commentary have been disappearing rapidly from China's tightly controlled internet.

Cutting edge opinion blog Dajia was deleted by social media giant Tencent on Feb. 19 and all of its archive removed from the internet after it criticized state media's coverage of the coronavirus epidemic, which it said was irresponsible and dangerously misleading.

The offending article, penned by veteran Chinese journalist Chen Jibing, had garnered hundreds of comments critical of the lack of press freedom under the Chinese Communist Party.

Vanishing freedom of speech

Dajia's editor-in-chief Jia Jia told RFA in a recent interview that he had taken the news calmly.

"I was cooking when people told me the news, and I remained very calm," Jia said. "I finished eating, washed the wok, and sat down. Then I started thinking about it."

"I can't really feel optimistic or pessimistic," he said. "I am an old man, and we journalists are used to this sort of thing."

He said that since President Xi took power in 2012 and starting an ever-widening crackdown on social media content, freedom of speech has disappeared in China.

"The biggest problem of all is the media," Jia said. "The epidemic is so serious, and the last Dajia article was titled 'Is there a link between freedom of speech and the public health of a country?"

"Wouldn't you say that was a huge problem?"

Jia said the government is also using existing censorship mechanisms to delete private groups on WeChat and to delete the accounts of anyone posting unapproved content about the coronavirus.

Wuhan-based journalist Ao Li said many of her friends on WeChat have had their accounts deleted.

"I had a lot of unanswered messages in the past few days, but when I came to reply to them one by one, I found that a lot of my old friends had had their accounts deleted," she said.

"Our country is sick, and I don't just mean the epidemic," she wrote via a messaging app.

"No news is being allowed to be reported at all out of Hubei and Wuhan," Ao said. "[Journalists] aren't allowed to do what [the authorities] call negative reporting."

"Caixin is still in business, but this whole [censorship] thing is beyond excessive," she said.

She said some journalists are still recording what they see and hear in Wuhan, but there is scant hope that it will ever appear in any publication in China.

"This is what it's like reporting in China. You can get it all on record, but when you can use it?" she said with a sigh.

A Beijing resident who gave only a nickname Sander said his Weibo account had been deleted after he retweeted a post calling on the government to apologize to late whistleblowing doctor Li Wenliang, who died of coronavirus on Feb. 6.

"My account was gone, with no warning," he said. "My friends told me to keep quiet."

Reported by Tang Jiajie for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.

Copyright  1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content February not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Big Data in Healthcare Market Highlights

Big data involves huge volumes of structured and unstructured data which can point to patterns in patients eating habits, medical history, and medicine intake. Big data in healthcare can pinpoint patterns to improve clinical outcomes, revenue of healthcare companies, and optimization of processes for higher productivity. The global big data in healthcare market report by Market Research Future (MRFR) contains factors, drawbacks, and predictions for the period between 2017 to 2027 (forecast period).

Latest Free Sample PDF Available @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/948

Big Data in Healthcare Market Scope

The global big data in healthcare market is expected to reach a significant valuation by 2027. Major factors influencing the market growth include government initiatives, technological breakthroughs, and pressure to curtail rising healthcare costs. Release of statistics and other pertinent data by healthcare organizations for reaching the root cause of the disease and its causes can bode well for the market and assisted by big data software.

Technological breakthroughs such as internet of things (IoT), wearable devices, and mHealth which can fuel the developments of big data can augur favorably for the market. According to a recent study, more than 60% of patients prefer wearables, while more than 30% want healthcare applications for monitoring of health. In addition, compliances in the healthcare sector, rising demand for analytics, generation of data in the form of electronic health records (EHRs), and biometric data are other factors which can considerably influence the global Big Data in Healthcare Market.

Population health management is one of the top priorities globally with business intelligence pegged to provide optimum solutions. Preference of cloud solutions instead of normal server and storage solutions can pave the way for new opportunities in the market. Prediction of illnesses and emphasis on preventive care management can work in favor of the big data in healthcare market in the coming years.

Big Data in Healthcare Market Segmentation

The global big data in healthcare market is segmented by hardware, software, analytical service type, and analytical service applications.

By hardware, it is segmented into data storage, email servers and access points, firewalls, routers, and VPNs.

By software, it is segmented into workforce management, practice management, revenue cycle management, and electronic health records (EHR).

By analytical service type, it is segmented into prescriptive, predictive, and descriptive.

By analytical service applications, it is segmented into operational analysis, financial analysis, and clinical analysis.

Big Data in Healthcare Market Regional Analysis

The Middle East & Africa (MEA), Europe, Americas, and Asia Pacific(APAC) are regions covered in the global big data in healthcare market.

The Americas can dominate the global big data in healthcare market till 2027. North America is expected to be the biggest contributor of the market due to advances in mHealth and IoT. High demand for analytical models on patient information for faster delivery of data and favorable government policies can bode well for regional market growth. Inclination towards personalized medicine and efforts by governments to push adoption of EHRs can work favorably for the market.

Europe occupies more than 50% share of the market due to the large expenditure on healthcare. On the other hand, the APAC region can exhibit the highest growth rate during the forecast period due to a large patient pool and a rise in clinical trials. Introduction of mHealth applications for fighting cardiovascular diseases and obesity can augur well for global market growth.

The MEA region can experience a modest growth rate during the forecast period. This is due to low development of the healthcare sector in the GCC and weak economies of countries in Africa.

Big Data in Healthcare Market Competitive Outlook

McKesson, Philips, Xerox, Optum, Epic System Corporation, Cognizant, Siemens, Dell, GE Healthcare, and Cerner Corporation are prominent players of the global big data in healthcare market.

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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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If the chef uses rotten eggs and adds salt instead of sugar, the cake's going to turn out to be a bloody mess.

That's the lesson learned from meet-the-family week on Married At First Sight, as fans finally worked out what's wrong with these 'children' by studying their parents.

So why does Hayley walk all over David? Why does Michael get away with murder? And does Steve tell everyone to shut up, or just Mishel? Let's find out.

Scroll down for video

What happened? It's meet-the-parents week, where we try to work out what went wrong with these 'bad eggs' by meeting the lucky cluckers who hatched them. Pictured: Hayley Vernon

Hayley and David

Glass case of emotion: 'I'm so fustrated (yes, F-U-S-T-R-A-T-E-D) with Hayley,' David told producers at the start of the episode

Hayley and David don't do anything 'vanilla'. Their grasp of the English language is about as rough as their bedroom encounters and they wouldn't have it any other way.

'I'm so fustrated (yes, F-U-S-T-R-A-T-E-D) with Hayley,' David told producers at the start of the episode.

The show cut to a commercial break on a cliffhanger, so you KNOW it must have been something huge.

In reality, his complaint turned out to be: 'I was just tryna watch the entire Rambo series and Hayley just wouldn't stop talking.

'She was all good during the first three movies, but we get to number four and she starts yapping about how the sun's already out and she's tired.

RamBORED: His complaint turned out to be something like, 'I was just tryna watch the entire Rambo series and Hayley just wouldn't stop talking!'

'What does a guy have to do to get 10 hours of interrupted silence these days? I miss the early 2000s.'

The tension continued at their family lunch, where Australia at last discovered how everything went wrong for these two.

Hayley's dad is a quiet type whose interests include posting in Sons of Anarchy forums, helping distant relatives move and being walked all over by his children.

The problem: The tension continued at their family lunch, where Australia at last discovered how everything went wrong for these two. Meet Hayley's dad, Dale, and best friend, Bek

Her best friend, Bek, is a John Aiken type who tries to solve problems by pointing out the obvious.

Joining David were his farm mates. There's Rake (the bigger one) and Biffo (the little one with big arms but no bite).

David tried to explain how he's losing his mind because Hayley 'never lets me finish my...'

David's back-up: Joining David were his farm mates. There's Rake (the bigger one) and Biffo (the little one with big arms but no bite)

'She won't let me...' David tried to explain how he's losing his mind because Hayley always interrupts him mid-sentence

'Potatoes!' Hayley interrupted.

'No, not potatoes,' he clapped back, 'senten...'

'Nah, it's potatoes, mate,' Hayley decided.

'POTATOES!' Hayley interrupted

After being silent the whole time, Hayley's dad finally spoke up. 'David, it sounds like you're saying it's all Hayley's fault?'

Hayley, you trained him well.

But as lunch wore on, dad worked out that everything was, in fact, Hayley's fault. So he decided not to push the issue.

'Hayley wouldn't like that,' he added sheepishly.

He speaks! After being silent the whole time, Hayley's dad finally spoke up. 'David, it sounds like you're saying it's all Hayley's fault?' Hayley, you trained him well

Michael and Stacey

Here's trouble! Michael was 'freaking out' over at his mum's place, because Stacey brought her best friend Brooke (pictured), and she hates him

'I'm freakin' out, because Stacey's brought her best friend Brooke, and she hates me,' Michael explained at dinner.

There for support was his Scottish mother, Julie, who lets him do whatever he likes as long as he visits once a week to help her delete photos off the iPhone.

It didn't take long for Brooke to bring up Michael's drinking.

'Stacey may look 35, but she's only 26, but she acts like she's 35, do you get me?' she said.

The enabler: Brooke brought up Michael's drinking. Michael's mum admitted it was a thing, but somehow turned it into a positive. 'He's a bit of a free spirit!' she yelped

When he didn't 'get her', she simplified this to: 'Stacey's done with all the partying.'

Michael's mother agreed with this, but still managed to pivot her opinion to make her son sound like an angel.

'Michael is a bit of a free spirit and that can be a bit intimidating for a girl!' she said.

Blessed: Michael's mum doesn't mind picking her son up from Star Casino three nights a week

So that's why Michael gets away with murder. Because all mum needs is a son who loves her!

'I don't mind picking my son up from Star Casino three nights a week, because the security guards call me "Mrs M" and respect is all I ask for,' she basically said.

Mishel and Steve

Mishel SPEAKS: Over at the retirement home, Steve was forced to stop telling Mishel to 'shut up' because she had one foot out the door at the commitment ceremony

Over at the retirement home, Steve was forced to stop telling Mishel to 'shut up' because she had one foot out the door at the commitment ceremony.

The morning before their family lunch, she brought up another issue.

'You didn't want to go to Bondi Beach with me, but I'm going away for a week and now on Facebook I saw you're going to Bondi with the boys!?' Mishel snapped.

A new issue: Mishel brought up another issue in the morning. 'You didn't want to go to Bondi Beach with me, but on Facebook I saw you're going to Bondi with the boys?' she barked

'No, I'm not going to Bondi!' he responded. 'I'm going to Coogee! It's different.'

Steve later broke down in tears after a boring lunch with Mishel's kids.

'Aw, what's wrong?' Mishel asked.

'No, I'm not going to Bondi!' he clapped back 'I'm going to Coogee! It's different!'

Steve was upset because he missed his own son, whom he left behind in England to pursue his dreams of becoming an Australian barber.

'I'm just happy that you're opening up to me. I think that it's all positives. It was just an emotional day,' Mishel said.

'Shut up, Mishel,' Steve whispered.

Sad! Steve broke down in tears after a boring lunch with Mishel's kids. Apparently, he missed his own son, whom he left in England to pursue his dreams of becoming an Australian barber

Connie and Jonethen

Who cares about these two?

That's a legitimate question, if you care about this boring saga, email Alex.Michael@mailonline.com and I'll start paying attention when they're on.

Married At First Sight continues Tuesday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine




South Korea lodged a strong protest Saturday against Japan's renewed claims to South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo.







Seoul's foreign ministry called in Hirohisa Soma, a senior official at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, and expressed regret over Japan's annual event meant to publicize its territorial claim to Dokdo.







"We again sternly urged Japan to immediately repeal" its event on Dokdo, the ministry said in a statement.







The protest came hours after the Japanese prefecture of Shimane held the Takeshima Day event and a senior Japanese government official attended the ceremony.







Shimane has held the annual event on Dokdo, which is called Takeshima in Japanese, since 2006.







South Korea has been in effective control of Dokdo, with a small police detachment, since its liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945.







Still, Japan claims sovereignty to the rocky outcroppings in the East Sea that divides the Korean Peninsula and Japan.







Dokdo has long been a thorn in relations between the two countries. (Yonhap)


The dockyard at Lothal. Photo: DARSHAN KUMAR/Shutterstock.com

This large rectangular, water-filled structure may look like a reservoir, but is in fact an ancient dock, and one of the oldest in the world. It is located at the site of the ancient city of Lothal situated about 85 kilometers south of Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat, in India. Lothal is one of the few sites within the Indus Valley Civilization that is accessible from India.

Lothal is believed to be at least 5,000 years old and was the only port-town of the Indus Valley Civilization. Lothals dock connected the city to the Sabarmati river which was an important trade route between Harappan cities in Sindh (now in Pakistan) and the peninsula of Saurashtra. At that time, the surrounding Kutch desert of was a part of the Arabian Sea.

The dock is roughly 200 meters long and about 35 meters wide. During high tides, the dock would have filled with seawater allowing ships and boats to move in an out of the dockyard. In fact, Lothals location was ideal for a dock because the Gulf of Khambhat has the highest tidal amplitude and ships can be sluiced through flow tides in the river estuary. The dock also possessed a lock in the form of a wooden door that could be lowered at the mouth of the outlet to retain a minimum column of water in the basin so as to ensure flotation at low tides. The warehouse, which was central to the city's economy, was built on a raised platform to protect the goods from flood. A ramp led directly from the dock to the warehouse to facilitate loading. Despite elaborate precautions, it was floods that brought the city's decline.

Photo: Avantiputra7/Wikimedia Commons

Like most Harrapan cities, Lothal had remarkable town planning with a quadrangular fortified layout intersected by wide streets running east-west and north-south, lime-plastered pavements, a sophisticated drainage system, rows of bathing platforms and even a bead-making factory.

When the site was first excavated in 1955, some archeologists argued that the basin was too small to house ships and conduct much traffic, and that the dock was actually an irrigation tank. But the discovery of marine microfossils, salt, and gypsum crystals has provided decisive prove that the structure once held seawater. Today, the site is not linked to the gulf by a waterway because the river had since change its course.

Lothal survived long after the core settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization, Mohenjo-daro and Harappa, had decayed away. But tropical storms and frequent floods caused immense destruction, and the city became unlivable and was eventually abandoned.

The dockyard at Lothal. Photo: DARSHAN KUMAR/Shutterstock.com

The drainage system at Lothal. Photo: Abhilashdvbk/Wikimedia Commons

5,000-year-old foundation in immaculate shape. Photo: DARSHAN KUMAR/Shutterstock.com

The bathroom-toilet structure of houses in Lothal, India. Photo: Bernard Gagnon/Wikimedia Commons

Ancient water well in the upper town of the site of Lothal, India. Photo: Bernard Gagnon/Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Orissa8/Wikimedia Commons
The Springfield City Council on Monday passed a moratorium on the local governments use of facial recognition technology, a controversial piece of software many view as inaccurate and invasive.

The measure, introduced to the legislative body by Springfield City Councilor Orlando Ramos in January, will now go to the office of Mayor Domenic Sarno, who is expected to sign the ordinance into law. The ban, which passed the council in an 11-2 vote, restricts the municipal use of facial recognition technology until the citys police department puts forward rules governing the software that the council then approves, Ramos said.

Springfield joins four other communities in Massachusetts in attempting to ban the municipal use of facial recognition technology. Somerville was the first in the state to restrict the local governments use of the outright in June 2019. Similar ordinances have been passed in Brookline, Northampton and Cambridge, and a statewide moratorium is currently under consideration.

Accurate or not, face surveillance threatens our most basic rights, enabling governments to identify who attends protests, church, or AA meetings on an unprecedented scale, Kade Crockford, director of the Technology for Liberty Program at the ACLU of Massachusetts, said in a statement. We are grateful for the Springfield City Councils leadership on this issue.

The unregulated use of facial recognition technology has prompted concerns from advocates, lawmakers and even some in law enforcement about the softwares impact on personal privacies and civil rights. Those who work with artificial intelligence have also pointed to the fact that the technology frequently misidentifies people of color, women and elderly people.

Last year, the ACLU of Massachusetts launched its Press Pause on Face Surveillance campaign, which aims to raise awareness about the potential risks of facial recognition and the need to pass a statewide moratorium.

Studies continue to demonstrate that face surveillance technology is biased on race, gender, and ageand far from ready for government use, Crockford said in her statement.

Initial drafts of the Springfield City Councils ordinance had the moratorium lasting until 2025. Ramos previously said he would like the issue to automatically reappear on the city councils agenda again in the coming years and that the legislative body could reconsider the measure.

The city councilor wants to allow police to come back to the council in the future if the software improves in accuracy and law enforcement wants to use it under limited circumstances, Ramos told MassLive in January.

Ramos told MassLive in December that he introduced the ordinance due to three main reasons: to avoid potential litigation, protect the public from unnecessary surveillance and prevent possible mistreatment of marginalized communities.

Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood, along with Sarno, opposed former versions of the ban. Both have argued the technology could prove effective in fighting crime someday in the future. The software is not being used by the city currently, and it is not being pursued, Clapprood said.

The council proposed another ban on facial recognition in 2019, though the measure died in committee. Sarno said in the past he would veto any such ordinance.

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Election officials are asking voters to do their homework on the March 3 primaries before heading to the polls, after some discovered that the candidates they wanted to vote for werent on the partys ballot they requested or took an unusually long time to cast a ballot when faced with unfamiliar races.

Numerous people have requested a Democratic or Republican ballot at one of the 38 early voting sites in Bexar County, then asked for a party switch when they did not see names they were seeking, county Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen said Monday.

The election official has to call us, so that we can cancel that first party (ballot), she said. Its not happening in droves, but its happening consistently throughout the day.

On ExpressNews.com: Early vote turnout high in San Antonio

Other voters have taken up to 40 minutes to cast a ballot. Links to generic ballots for both parties are posted on the countys elections website, and voters can study the races and propositions. The Democratic ballot has more than 100 contested races, including 75 for party precinct chair posts, and 11 propositions. The GOP ballot has more than 25 contested races, including 11 for precinct chairs, and 10 propositions.

There are so many different candidates that are out there, Callanen said. And weve had lots of calls from people that are disappointed and are upset that our election officials are asking them which ballot they want because they want to vote for people on both.

Under state law, Texas has open primaries, which means voters can cast a ballot in either party every two years, but not both in the same year.

Callanen said early voting, which began Feb. 18, has been ahead of the 2016 and 2018 primaries but well behind the record primary vote in 2008, when more than 138,000 ballots were cast.

By the end of early voting Monday, voters had cast 55,493 ballots  33,748 Democratic and 21,745 Republican. Callanen held out the possibility that some voters are still trying to make decisions in key races.

On ExpressNews.com: Check out candidate profiles in the Express-News voters guide

I think theyll awaken at some point. And it just may be well have a large Election Day, Callanen said.

With the countys new voting system, which produces a paper record in the form of a 17-inch ballot card counted by a tabulator and stored in a sealed bin, voters will be able to go to any of about 280 polling sites on Election Day.

Early voting continues daily through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. A map and addresses of the 38 locations are at bexar.org/elections.

shuddleston@express-news.net | Twitter: @shuddlestonSA
I want people to know that if I am the Democratic nominee these will be my Cabinet choices  my team of rivals. I want Amy Klobuchar as my vice president. Her decency, experience and moderation will be greatly appreciated across America and particularly in the Midwest. I want Mike Bloomberg (or Bernie Sanders) as my secretary of the Treasury. Our plans for addressing income inequality are actually not that far apart, and if we can blend them together it will be great for the country and reassure markets. I want Joe Biden as my secretary of state. No one in our party knows the world better or has more credibility with our allies than Joe. I will ask Elizabeth Warren to serve as health and human services secretary. No one could bring more energy and intellect to the task of expanding health care for more Americans than Senator Warren.
Michael Hertz, whose design firm produced one of the most consulted maps in human history, the curvy-lined chart that New York City subway riders peer at over one anothers shoulders to figure out which stop they want, died on Feb. 18 in East Meadow, N.Y. He was 87.

His son Eugene announced the death, at Nassau University Medical Center, but did not give a cause. Mr. Hertz also lived in East Meadow, on Long Island.

In the mid-1970s the Metropolitan Transportation Authority gave Mr. Hertzs firm, Michael Hertz Associates, the task of coming up with a map of the New York City subway system that would help riders make sense of that many-tentacled beast.

There was already a system map (or diagram, as some preferred to call it), a colorful Modernist thing created by the Italian designer Massimo Vignelli and introduced in 1972. It was fun to look at  the Museum of Modern Art in New York has that version in its collection  but few users loved it, in part because the Vignelli map didnt relate the underground to the aboveground.
Amazon has a full liquor selection in the Go Grocery store. Source: Lauren Thomas, CNBC

Amazon on Tuesday made its latest push into the grocery industry with the launch of its first, full-size, cashierless supermarket, not far from its Seattle headquarters. The Amazon Go Grocery store spans 10,400 square feet, making it significantly larger than the original Go convenience stores, which are typically range from 1,000 square feet to 2,000 square feet in size. The new space stocks about 5,000 items and relies on the same cashierless technology rolled out in the smaller Go stores. Shoppers walk in, scan the Amazon app on a turnstile and purchase products without waiting in a checkout line. Cameras and other sensors throughout the store monitor which items you take with you and charge you automatically when you leave. Amazon's physical retail footprint has expanded considerably in recent years to include its Go stores and Whole Foods stores, in addition to its Amazon 4-star stores and bookstores. It also plans to launch a totally new grocery store concept, with the first location opening near Los Angeles later this year. While Amazon has scaled up its physical retail offerings, the stores don't generate much revenue for the company. Amazon said in its fourth-quarter results that the physical stores segment, which includes Whole Foods, had $4.4 billion in sales, which was a 1% decline from the year-ago period. The new Go Grocery stores add another layer to Amazon's already complex brick-and-mortar strategy. Here's a brief overview of all the other physical retail initiatives Amazon has underway:

Whole Foods

Amazon made waves when it acquired Whole Foods Market for $13.7 billion in 2017. The company now operates more than 500 Whole Foods stores across North America and the U.K. Since it took over the grocery store chain, Amazon has incorporated its branding at Whole Foods locations and started offering exclusive discounts for its more than 150 million Prime subscribers. The company has also made a range of Whole Foods products available for delivery through AmazonFresh, its grocery delivery service. While similar in concept, Amazon told CNBC it's not trying to replace Whole Foods with its new Go Grocery stores.

Amazon Go

People shop at the newly opened Amazon Go Store on May 07, 2019 in New York City. The cashier-less store, the first of this type of store, called Amazon Go, accepts cash and is the 12th such store in the United States located at Brookfield Place in downtown New York. Spencer Platt | Getty Images

Amazon opened its first cashier-free convenience store to the public in 2018. Since then, Amazon Go stores have expanded far beyond the first location at the company's Seattle headquarters. The company now operates 25 Go stores across the country, with locations in Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Seattle. Unlike their larger Go Grocery counterpart, the stores are much more limited in what products they offer. Shoppers can purchase things like grab-and-go sandwiches, salads and coffee. So far, Amazon has taken a measured approach in its roll out of Go stores, but it may scale its cashierless technology more quickly. CNBC previously reported Amazon is in talks to bring the technology to other retailers, like airport shops and movie theaters. Amazon has signaled the growing importance of its Go stores. In the company's 2018 letter to shareholders, CEO Jeff Bezos said they are a prime example of Amazon's effort to "delight" customers, calling checkout lines "the worst thing about physical retail."

Grocery stores

Amazon also has plans to expand its grocery efforts beyond Whole Foods and Go stores. Last November, Amazon posted several job openings for a new grocery store that's slated to open next year in Los Angeles' Woodland Hills neighborhood. It's the first location of what is expected to be a new chain of grocery stores launched by Amazon. Amazon told CNBC the new chain will be "distinct" from Whole Foods, but declined to provide further details on what kind of products the stores will offer or future store locations.

Amazon 4-star

Lauren Thomas

Outside of grocery, Amazon has further expanded its physical retail presence by launching nine 4-star stores in cities across the country. The stores sell products from its website that are rated four stars or above, including everything from assorted kitchen items to Alexa-enabled gadgets. Amazon rotates inventory each week and displays digital price tags next to each item that show how many ratings an item has received and what the average rating is. CNBC toured a 4-star store in New York City's SoHo neighborhood, which included a range of products like travel essentials, board games and items that are "trending" in New York.

Amazon Books

Amazon's first New York City bookstore, Amazon Books, before its May 25, 2017 opening near Columbus Circle in Manhattan. TJ Fabian | CNBC

Amazon got its start in 1994 as an online bookseller, making it surprising that the company launched a range of of physical bookstores. There are 21 Amazon Books locations across the US, which feature thousands of titles and a selection of Amazon devices, like Echos, Kindles and Fire tablets. Similar to its 4-star stores, ratings and reviews are displayed alongside each item. Prime members are also offered items at a discount to regular customers, like they are online.

Pop up Stores

Amazon has five pop up stores across the country in states including California, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada and Texas. The stores are primarily based out of shopping malls and have a rotating cast of items available for purchase. Amazon says the pop up stores are meant to allow customers to "try before they buy" an item. Items are usually selected based on a theme or are trending on Amazon's website. Amazon currently features bedding products from its private-label business, AmazonBasics, at pop up stores located in cities like Las Vegas and Glendale, California.

Treasure Trucks

Amazon Treasure Truck
Philadelphia collecting evidence on West Dauphin Street on Feb. 21 after a shooting there left a 39-year-old woman and her unborn baby dead and a 40-year-old man wounded. Read more

A 21-year-old man has been arrested and charged with murder in the shooting deaths of a pregnant woman and her unborn child in North Philadelphia last week, police said Tuesday.

Razique Bumpas of the 4000 block of Maywood Street in Juniata Park also was charged with robbery and weapons offenses in the deaths of Ishan Charmidah Rahman, 39, and the baby she carried, who died after being delivered by an emergency C-section.

A 40-year-old man who was wounded in the Friday evening attack remained in critical condition, police said.

The woman was in the passenger seat of a Chevrolet van when the shooting occurred on Ninth Street between Dauphin and York Streets about 5:55 p.m., police said. Rahman was shot in the chest, and the driver also was hit in the chest and the left shoulder.

Despite his wounds, the man drove to Temple University Hospital, where Rahman, of East Germantown, died shortly after arrival.

Police did not say what led them to Bumpas or if robbery was the only motive.

He also was charged with first-degree murder of an unborn child, two counts each of criminal conspiracy, and related crimes.

Court records show Bumpas was out on bail in an aggravated assault case when the shooting occurred. It was not immediately clear whether that case was in any way related to the shooting.

According to the court records, Bumpas was arrested Feb. 18 and charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, and false imprisonment stemming from an incident that occurred Feb. 12. He was released the same day after posting 10% of $30,000 bail. Details of that case were not immediately available.

He was held without bail in the new case and faces a March 11 preliminary hearing.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 23:21:21|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- African countries and people's various support for China's battle against the COVID-19 outbreak has vividly illustrated the brotherly friendship of sharing weal and woe and helping each other between China and Africa, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday in a phone talk with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

In the conversation, Xi noted that at a crucial moment in the Chinese people's fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic, the prime minister has twice sent messages to express sympathies and also made the telephone call, which has reflected the profound friendship and mutual support between China and Ethiopia, two comprehensive strategic cooperative partners.

Xi expressed appreciation for Ethiopia's confidence in China as the African country keeps normal contacts and exchanges with China in line with the World Health Organization's advice.

Fighting the COVID-19 epidemic is currently the top priority for the Chinese government, he said, adding that with a highly responsible attitude towards the lives and health of both the Chinese people and people around the world, China has made good use of its institutional strengths and put in place the most comprehensive, thorough and rigorous prevention and control measures, which have achieved positive results and caused the situation to change for the better.

Xi recalled that in 2014, the Chinese government and people made positive contributions to African countries' victory over an Ebola outbreak by braving difficulties and dangers to take the lead in offering help.

This time round, he added, African countries and people have provided China with various forms of support in the COVID-19 battle, which has vividly illustrated the brotherly friendship of sharing weal and woe and helping each other between China and Africa.

Noting that African countries are also facing many challenges in epidemic prevention and control, Xi said China is willing to provide them with more medical supplies that are urgently needed, including test kits.

China, he added, also stands ready to accelerate the implementation of the health care initiative of the eight major initiatives unveiled during the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, promote the construction of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and strengthen China-Africa cooperation in public health and disease prevention and control.
Teacher in Baku beats student

NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22

OSCE Chairman-in-Office speaks on situation along Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Iran cancels travel ban on common borders

CSTO defense ministers council special session to be held Thursday

Dollar loses value in Armenia

Which NGOs, extra-parliamentary forces to be included in Armenia Constitutional Reform Council?

4,391 foreign nationals visit Artsakh in 2021

China calls on US to immediately close Guantanamo prison

State Department says more progress must be made to salvage nuclear deal

Measure ensuring implementation of law on addendum to law on Armenia state border is approved

Davit Minasyan is sworn in as new mayor of Armenias Parakar enlarged community

World Bank: Armenia economic growth expected to be 4.8% in 2022 and 5.4% in 2023

Azerbaijani Defense Minister receives new commander of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh

Biden names Kamala Harris as US president during Atlanta speech

Ombudsman: Azerbaijan is launching provocations in Armenia territories where it earlier invaded

Russia-NATO Council meeting kicks off in Brussels

Serdar Kilic is appointed Turkey special representative for Armenia

Armenia ambassador to Georgia informs Switzerland envoy about Azerbaijan's gross ceasefire violation

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

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

Pashinyan, Putin discuss Karabakh, Kazakhstan

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

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

3 more persons die of coronavirus in Artsakh

Criminal case launched into 3 Armenia soldiers killing by Azerbaijan shootings

Copper rises in price

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

About 80 Americans cannot fly from Afghanistan

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

Border situation in Armenias Gegharkunik Province was calm at night

French FM says talks on Iranian nuclear deal are progressing slowly

289 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Gold slightly rises in price

North Korea says it successfully tested another hypersonic missile

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

Oil is trading without a single dynamic

US State Department welcomes announcement on CSTO forces withdrawal from Kazakhstan

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

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

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

US concerned about EastMed natural gas pipeline project

Giant fish sold at auction for over 16 million yen

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

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

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

Queen Elizabeth II's favorite fast food revealed

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

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

Defense Ministry confirms Armenian side has 2 victims

Satanovsky on sending Armenian servicemen to Kazakhstan

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

CSTO and Kazakh Defense Ministry developing plan

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

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

White House announces $308 million humanitarian aid for Afghanistan

Erdogan angry at minister after efforts to strengthen lira failed

Armenian FM has phone call with US Assistant Secretary of State

India imposes one-week quarantine even for vaccinated tourists

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

Traction Programme to showcase 8 startups during the Digital Demo Day

Azerbaijan uses artillery and UAVs, 3 Armenian soldiers wounded

NEWS.am daily digest: 11.01.22

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

Armen Sarkissian and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discuss situation in Kazakhstan

Gulf, Iran and Turkey FMs to visit China

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

Armenia hands over wanted US citizen to United States

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

Armenia parliament speaker expresses condolences on European Parliament President death

Azerbaijan opens fire toward Armenia village sector, one soldier wounded

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

Azerbaijan official pledges to remove Armenian toponyms from Google Maps

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

Armenia attorney general travels to Moscow on working visit

Azerbaijan MOD blames Armenian side for soldiers death

Dollar drops in Armenia

Shirak Province captives families hold protest outside Armenia government building

Rolls-Royce sales rise to record high in 2021

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

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

Serbia's Orthodox Patriarch tests positive for COVID-19

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

Turkish authorities sanction arrest of 33 suspected FETO ties

Copper rises in price

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

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

New commander elected of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh

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

Millionaire Robert Durst dies aged 78

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

Great Armenian poet Razmik Davoyan dies

2 new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

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

243 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia MP: It would be right to put pressure on Azerbaijanis to remove their firing positions

Oil is getting more expensive

Nearly 10,000 people detained in Kazakhstan in connection with riots

Tokayev: CSTO peacekeepers will pull out from Kazakhstan within 10 days

Newspaper: Armenia businessmen pay customs duties to Azerbaijanis to go to Iran
The National Association of State Chief Information Officers has a new president in Denis Goulet of New Hampshire.Goulet, formerly the organizations vice president, is stepping into the post after former NASCIO President Eric Boyette made a career change. Earlier this month, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper appointed Boyette as secretary of the states Department of Transportation.Boyette didn't lead NASCIO for long; the organization elected him as president in October. The group's bylaws call for the vice president to step up when the presidency is vacated.As New Hampshires CIO, Goulet put out the states first IT strategic plan in more than 10 years emphasized digital government services and beefed up cybersecurity Goulet has been the states CIO for nearly five years and survived the transition from a Democratic governor to a Republican one  both of which are somewhat rare feats for people in his position.I want to thank my colleague, Eric Boyette, for his service to NASCIO and his leadership as NASCIO president. I will do my best to serve the association at the same level of dedication, Goulet said in a statement . I look forward to leading the association and working with the tremendously dedicated state CIOs across the country.NASCIOs executive committee will name the new vice president.
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Coronavirus shuts down 'Mission: Impossible 7'

The coronavirus has shut down production on "Mission: Impossible 7," the next movie in the action franchise starring Syracuse-born actor Tom Cruise. TMZ reports Paramount announced Monday that production has been paused in Italy "out of an abundance of caution for the safety and well-being of our cast and crew, and efforts of the local Venetian government to halt public gatherings in response to the threat of coronavirus." The cast and crew are being allowed to return home until filming resumes.

CNN reports Italy now has the highest number of coronavirus infections outside Asia, with 54 new cases detected Monday night, bringing the total to 283. Seven people have so far died from the virus in the country.

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'Little Shop of Horrors' remake

reports Chris Evans is joining the "Little Shop of Horrors" remake, playing the sadistic dentist played by Steve Martin in the 1986 movie. The new musical will reportedly also star Evans' Marvel co-star Scarlett Johansson as Audrey, along with Taron Egerton as Seymour and Billy Porter as the talking, singing, man-eating plant Audrey II. Filming is expected to begin this summer with Greg Berlanti directing.

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BTS takes over 'Tonight Show'

And K-pop group BTS essentially took over "The Tonight Show" on Monday night, following host Jimmy Fallon to several New York City landmarks. BTS performed "On" in Grand Central Terminal, answered questions on the subway, and ate sandwiches from Katz's Deli with special appearances by Fran Kebowitz, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tina Fey.

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More Buzz:

'Parasite' stream exclusively on Hulu next month ( SF

Ariana Grande sings with Jim Carrey on 'Kidding' ( RS

Christina Aguilera performs 'Ave Maria' at Kobe memorial ( E!

Ex-'Bachelorette' star Chad Johnson arrested for domestic violence ( TMZ

'Onward' features Pixar's first openly LGBTQ character ( SF

'Star Wars' reveals next chapter: 'The High Republic' novel ( TF

Billy Joel warns robbers not to hit his house again ( RS

'Jurassic World 3' may bring back Joseph Mazzello ( SF

Taraji P. Henson honors 'Hidden Figures' icon Katherine Johnson ( ET

Conor Oberset, Phoebe Bridges play 'Conan' PAs ( RS

The Chainsmokers taking break from social media ( BB

First look: Nicolas Cage trapped in 'Wally's Wonderland' ( SF

New Order going on tour with Pet Shop Boys ( RS

Judas Priest announces 50th anniversary tour ( RS

Kraftwerk announces 3-D tour in U.S. ( RS

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St. Joes Amp adds 25th concert to Syracuse lineup -- and its a hot one https://t.co/rKtgtidPHk  Geoff Herbert (@deafgeoff) February 25, 2020

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Upstate NY college student wows American Idol judges with original song https://t.co/5q2QkqkSly  Geoff Herbert (@deafgeoff) February 25, 2020

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Guillermo del Toro filming new Bradley Cooper movie in Buffalo https://t.co/3ONque8fpx  Geoff Herbert (@deafgeoff) February 24, 2020

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Good Morning America features influential musician who died in Syracuse https://t.co/sm6vusa2CY  Geoff Herbert (@deafgeoff) February 24, 2020
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden's foreign minister on Tuesday demanded Chinese authorities release Chinese-born Swedish citizen Gui Minhai, a day after he was sentenced to 10 years in jail on charges of illegally providing intelligence to foreigners.

Gui, a bookseller previously based in Hong Kong who sold books critical of China's political leadership, was detained by mainland police in 2018.

"We have always been clear that we demand that Gui Minhai be released so that he is able to reunite with his daughter, his family and that demand remains," Foreign Minister Ann Linde said in an interview on Swedish Radio.

"We, of course, demand immediate access to our Swedish citizen in order to give him all consular support that he is entitled to," she said.

(Reporting by Stockholm Newsroom)
But he also lashed out at the Trump administration which, through the solicitor general of the Department of Justice, urged the justices to send Brnovich packing.

This is why politics sucks, he told Capitol Media Services.

People out there on a national level, on a local level, they complain about California and how out of control they are, Brnovich said.

And here was a chance for someone to step in and say, You know what? We agree. Youre right. California is out of control. But apparently they had other priorities.

At the heart of Arizonas complaint is that doing business tax. Brnovich has no specific challenge to Californias authority to do that.

What is an issue, he argues, is a decision by California to decide that anyone who is an investor in a limited liability company doing business in California is also, by definition, doing business in the state and also subject to that $800-a-year levy.
Qatar on Tuesday invited Pakistan to attend the signing of the landmark peace deal between the US and the Afghan Taliban in Doha on Saturday.

Qatar's ambassador to Pakistan Saqr bin Mubarak, on behalf of the Qatari Foreign Minister, extended an invitation to Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.

Qureshi welcomed the peace deal between the US and the Taliban, saying Pakistan had always held the view that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict.

He said Pakistan and Qatar have played a "pivotal role" in furthering the Afghan reconciliation process.

Qureshi also expressed the confidence that the peace deal will lead to intra Afghan dialogue.

The deal would end America's longest war in Afghanistan where the US has lost over 2,400 soldiers since late 2001, when it invaded the country after the 9/11 terror attacks.

The US currently has less than 14,000 troops in Afghanistan, but military officials would not confirm the exact number.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BRUSSELS  Globalization, that awkward catchall for our interconnectedness, was already under assault from populists, terrorists, trade warriors and climate activists, having become an easy target for much that ails us.

Now comes the coronavirus. Its spread, analysts and experts say, may be a decisive moment in the fervid debates over how much the world integrates or separates.

Even before the virus arrived in Europe, climate change, security concerns and complaints about unfair trade had intensified anxieties about global air travel and globalized industrial supply chains, as well as reinforcing doubts about the reliability of China as a partner.

The virus already has dealt another blow to slowing economies, and emboldened populists to revive calls, tinged with racism and xenophobia, for tougher controls over migrants, tourists and even multinational corporations.
Thailand denies PM aided Malaysia 1MDB graft scandal

THAILAND: Thailands government threatened legal action yesterday (Feb 24) 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.

politicscorruption

By AFP

Tuesday 25 February 2020, 10:45AM

Future Forward Party spokeswoman Pannika Wanich. Photo: AFP

The stridently anti-military Future Forward Party (FFP), the third largest in parliament, was dissolved Friday (Feb 21) by a court and its key members banned from politics for a decade.

On Sunday (Feb 23), FFPs 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 yesterday 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 yesterday 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.

FFP 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 FFP came ahead of a censure debate beginning in parliament yesterday against Prayut.
The stink is back.

That was the news from a southern section of the county where residents once again reported a strong petroleum-like odor flowing into New Jersey and Delaware.

Around 11 a.m., we started getting calls in from Tinicum, Folcroft, Glenolden for reports of a gas odor, said Delaware County Emergency Services Director Tim Boyce Monday. The reports were very similar to the Veterans Day release and almost tracked the same way.

Boyce said his office had received more than 50 calls and PECO heard from even more as residents reported the mysterious odor that has been plaguing the county for months had once again appeared. No injuries were reported, he said, just a nuisance-level of odor consistent with prior events.

People who have done this two or times, unfortunately, are saying its consistent with that petroleum smell from before, said Boyce. People who have kind of been there are like, Oh my God, its back.'

Around 11:30 a.m., Boyce said the county activated the Wide Area Odor Investigation Task Force, which sends out an alert to several multi-state agencies and puts responders in the field to try to determine the source.

Every partner we have is sent a message that something is going on, he said. We subsequently learned that  New Castle County (Del.) and Salem County (N.J.) are all receiving similar reports, so its pretty wide spread.

Everyone involved in the task force also began collecting and sharing data, such as wind speed and direction. Boyce said the odor appeared to be tracking down the same area along Chester Pike and MacDade Boulevard that had previously reported the smell in November.

The smell or the stink has been a thorn in the countys side since it was first reported in October. There have been three or four additional events since then, all similar in nature: A heavy petroleum or gasoline smell that washes over a section of the county in a wave before dissipating or moving on.

He said last month that investigators had narrowed a search field to two or three areas it is watching very closely, including one in southern New Jersey.

The operating theory is its a fixed facility of some sorts, Boyce said at the time. A storage place, a manufacturer, a rail yard, the ships in anchorage  It doesnt appear that its a transient issue. Its just happened too many times.

Boyce said Monday that there was a report of some sort of slick on the river, which had traveled into Delaware by the early afternoon. He said if it is a river event, the U.S. Coast Guard would be the lead agency involved.

It does seem to start down by the river, said Boyce. Were certainly looking at the connection here, but we havent got it figured out yet.

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Spokesperson Joanna Wilson did not respond to a request for comment Monday.

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Virginia Cain said an air quality team had been activated and was out in the field Monday speaking with regulated facilities in the area to try to rule anyone out that they can, but no source has yet been identified.

Were just putting everything together, trying to get the full picture of whats going on, she said.
SILVER SPRING, Md., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, we provided an update on FDA-wide activities we are engaged in related to the novel coronavirus outbreak: COVID-19. We continue to take a multi-pronged approach to this public health emergency, including focusing on actively facilitating efforts to diagnose, treat and prevent the disease; surveilling the medical product supply chain for potential shortages or disruptions and helping to mitigate such impacts, as necessary; and leveraging the full breadth of our public health tools, including enforcement tools to stop fraudulent activity as we oversee the safety and quality of FDA-regulated products for American patients and consumers.

Today, we are providing updated and more detailed information about the status of FDA inspections in China and the agency's oversight of imported products from China, which have been impacted by this outbreak. While we are not able to conduct inspections in China right now, this is not hindering our efforts to monitor medical products and food safety. We have additional tools we are utilizing to monitor the safety of products from China, and in the meantime, we continue monitoring the global drug supply chain by prioritizing risk-based inspections in other parts of the world. The FDA is not currently conducting inspections in China in response to the U.S. Department of State's Travel Advisory to not travel to China due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. We will continue to closely monitor the situation in China so that, when the travel advisory is changed, we will be prepared to resume routine inspections as soon as feasible.

We already use other tools to help complement our inspections, including import screening, examinations, sampling, and import alerts, relying on a firm's previous compliance history, and we use information from foreign governments as part of mutual recognition agreements. Thus, at this time, we can rely on these other tools to give us comprehensive oversight of FDA-regulated products entering this country. This is all part of our agency's risk-based approach to ensuring quality, as well as compliance, with applicable FDA requirements.

It is important to reiterate that inspections are one of many tools that the agency uses to inform our risk strategy for imported FDA-regulated products and to help prevent products that do not meet the FDA's standards from entering the U.S. market. A wide variety of FDA-regulated products are imported from China, which makes it important to assure the public of the quality of these products. At this time, over 60% of FDA-regulated products imported from China are medical devices and 20% are housewares (like food packaging).

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the FDA will utilize, where appropriate, our authority to request records from firms "in advance or in lieu of" drug surveillance inspections in China. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the FDA Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA) of 2012, gives the FDA authority to request records "in advance of or in lieu of" on-site drug inspections. Congress enacted this provision to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of inspections, given the increasing globalization of drug production. Along with other FDASIA provisions, this inspection record request authority was viewed as a way to "level the playing field" between foreign and domestic drug inspections by allowing the FDA to review records ahead of time and take a more risk-based approach to conducting both domestic and foreign inspections. These records will help the agency when we resume drug inspections in China. By applying the use of paper records in our risk-based inspection framework, we can prioritize our early inspections on those deemed most needed, based on the records. By doing so, we hope to rapidly assess what could become a backlog number of on-the-ground surveillance inspections this fiscal year if travel restrictions persist.

In addition to records requests, the FDA will continue working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to target products intended for importation into the U.S. that violate applicable legal requirements for FDA-regulated products, which may come from a variety of sources, such as first time importers unfamiliar with regulatory requirements or repeat offenders trying to skirt the law. FDA has the ability through our risk-based import screening tool (PREDICT) to focus our examinations and sample collections based on heightened concerns of specific products being entered into U.S. commerce. The PREDICT screening continues to adjust risk scores as necessary throughout the COVID-19 outbreak. We are keeping a close eye out for indications of port shopping or cargo diversion and will continue our oversight of shipments through potentially higher-risk venues such as International Mail Facilities. We can refuse admission of products that fail sample testing or may violate other applicable legal requirements.

Fortunately, currently, we are not seeing the impacts of this outbreak resulting in an increased public health risk for American consumers from imported products. There is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with imported goods and there have not been any cases of COVID-19 in the United States associated with imported goods. As noted, this remains a dynamic situation and we will continue to assess and update guidance as needed.

We also continue to aggressively monitor the market for any firms marketing products with fraudulent COVID-19 prevention and treatment claims. The FDA can and will use every authority at our disposal to protect consumers from bad actors who would take advantage of a crisis to deceive the public, including pursuing warning letters, seizures, or injunctions against products on the market that are not in compliance with the law, or against firms or individuals who violate the law.

We know the public may have questions or concerns for the FDA as a result of this outbreak, including you and your family's risk of exposure, or whether your critical medical products are safe and will continue to be available in the future. We assure you that the FDA is working around the clock to monitor and mitigate emerging coronavirus issues through collaborative efforts with U.S. regulators, international partners, and medical product developers and manufacturers to help advance response efforts to combat the COVID-19 outbreak.

Additional Resources:

Media Contact: Stephanie Caccomo, 301-348-1956, [email protected]

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Related Links

http://www.fda.gov


Mid-Louth councillor John Sheridan, suggested at the Louth County Council February meeting that the use of Eircodes may have been helpful for Irish Water users to know if they were included in the Boil Water Notice (BWN), that had been active in Tallanstown since last year.

Cllr Sheridan welcomed the news that the Boil Water Notice (BWN) that had been affecting 600 Irish Water customers in Tallanstown had been lifted for most, with just 16 houses remaining under the BWN.

The Ardee councillor enquired if any major works were planned for the area as a follow on, as well as asking if there were lessons to be learned from the process, and commented that while communications from the Council on the situation were perfect, those with Irish Water itself were not.

He also put forward the suggestion that Eircodes should be used to link properties to Irish Water supplies.

Speaking to the Dundalk Democrat following the meeting, Cllr Sheridan explained that there were people in the area who thought they were under the BWN but actually weren't on it and had Eircodes been used, this may not have happened.

In terms of the more major works that would need to be carried out, he explained that there needs to be long term works at the Mullacrew plant to decommission it.

According to Irish Water, the 16 properties that are still under the BWN, are located on "Glyde road, between the junction of Glyde road and Tallanstown village to just beyond Rathbrist cottages".
New Delhi, Feb 25 : East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday visited DCP Shahdara Amit Sharma, ACP Anuj Jain and Head Constable Yashpal in hospital after they were seriously injured on Monday during the violent anti-CAA protests in northeast Delhi which have claimed seven lives so far, including a constable.

Gambhir strongly condemned the violent protesters and those making provocative speeches. The BJP MP said, "Nothing can be solved through violence. The solution of any issue comes only through dialogue. The government is ready to have a discussion and clear every doubt. There should be strict action against those who have indulged in violence. Violence is not the identity of Delhi. All of us have always lived with love and peace." On Monday, a Delhi Police head constable was killed 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.

Several areas including Jaffrabad, Maujpur, and Gokulpuri remained tense. The police used tear gas in a bid to control the violence.
YEADON  Two female juveniles were charged Monday in connection to a series of social media threats against William Penn Schools last week, officials announced.

The purpose of this press conference is to provide transparency in what occurred last week, to advise and educate the public and glean lessons learned from our experience that perhaps other municipalities can learn from, and we can all collectively learn in these trying times, said Yeadon Mayor Rohan Hepkins. After 20 hours of police work, the case was cracked and positively identified the two culprits; one was a juvenile female who lives in Yeadon, the other a juvenile female who lives in Darby and the sad part about it was they were only 13 years old.

The threats were made Thursday evening on Instagram, a popular social media site owned by Facebook.

Yeadon Police Chief Anthony Paparo said police were alerted by concerned residents, who had been advised by their children about the threat beginning about 8:25 p.m. Thursday. The threat was against Penn Wood 9th Grade Academy at 600 Cypress St. in Yeadon, and the main Penn Wood High School located at 100 Green Ave. in Lansdowne.

Yeadon and Lansdowne police joined efforts to investigate the threat with help from the FBI, Facebook and local officials. Resident members of the social media app Nextdoor were helpful in alerting police. Paparo said the threat indicated there would be a shooting, that many lives would be lost and this wasnt a joke.

Paparo credited the diligent work of Yeadon and Lansdowne detectives on the case.

About 10:50 p.m., Paparo decided to start texting the Instagram account, which had made the threat, Pennwoodshooter. Papero used the Yeadon police Instagram account to see, as he said, if I could get some kind of stir from the people who made the threat. Police also found two additional suspect accounts, PennWoodshooters and another one called Penn.woodshooters.

I started texting those accounts, and one of those accounts responded to me, Paparo said. Over the course of the next 30 minutes, the individual that was responding back and forth to me led me to believe that there was multiple people involved, at least two, and this may have been the result of some kind of fight or some kind of incident that occurred between the individuals posting the threats and other individuals in the schools.

Paparo said he warned the poster that he was speaking with a police officer and he would come to their house to arrest them.

Im going to find you. Im going to lock you up, Paparo said.

The suspect replied, if police came to their house, they would be shot.

About 11:30 p.m., one account had no activity and the account in which the threat against police had been made was deleted. Investigators continued through the night following leads and working with social media and decided schools could open safely with police at the schools.

The decision was made the schools could be kept open, with police present, searching students and make sure nobody was carrying any contraband or fire arms, said Hopkins. While at the same time police continue investigating.

Safety is our number one priority. It is your decision as to whether you send your child to school today, stated a William Penn School District message to parents.

Throughout the day, police got additional information which Paparo declined to detail, and at 3:45 p.m. that led police to a home in Yeadon.

We went there and knocked on the door. When the person opened the door I said hello, guess who I am, and with that the person basically admitted it at the front door, Paparo recalled.

The second child was confronted at her home in Darby a few hours later and she admitted her role at that time, Paparo said.

Parparo said acts like this are terrorism in schools.

The trauma it imposes on the kids and family  the sickening part is two 13-year-olds. What makes it more sickening is, the parents kept the kids home on Friday because of the threat, Paparo said. One of the things I want to get across to the general public and those thinking to harm kids or harm schools, know youre going to get caught, youre going to get found. Its just a matter of time, the army of people that came together and work tirelessly until it happens.

Were now 20 years past Columbine. We now know we cannot take any threat to a school community anything but seriously, said Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, who credited police for working so quickly on the case. Im glad you worked the moment you first learned about it, chief. We dont know how this would have ended if you hadnt been so proactive.

Paparo had a warning for any other students who may have been involved in the threats. If there is anyone else involved, come see me before before I come knocking on your door. Come see us before that, it will be easier for you. If not, remember that knock on the door is probably going to be me.

Paparo urged phone companies to distribute family safety programs to give them to parents for free.

Parents, monitor what your kids are doing online and on social media, Paparo said. I was talking to a 13-year-old girl who I thought was an adult, or at least high school-aged kid, at 11:30 at night where she was threatening to shoot me on her posts. Know what you kids are doing. Be involved.

Paparo praised the involvement of the residents and students for bringing the threats to the attention of police.

I want to give a shoutout to the community, I cant tell you enough how important and how blessed I was that phone calls were coming in to me. But my cops were getting phone calls, Did you see this post?'

Paparo said attendance at school was below 50 percent that day but he credited the district for working well with police to keep the kids safe.

We need to be better connected with these young people, said state Sen. Hardy Williams, D-8 of Philadelphia, who was one of the public officials in attendance. He also said no more information about the girls should be disclosed. Theyve made a mistake but should not be saddled with criminal justice system their entire life, he said.

Officials said the two children were not detained, but would be charged with making terroristic threats and unlawful use of a computer. The charges will result in them entering the judicial system and getting a mental health evaluation.

Social media has its positive and negatives, said Paparo. The biggest negative is when you type that message, that 13-year-old girl when she said she would shoot me if I showed up at her house, probably couldnt comprehend my shock when I read it. When you hit send, you dont see the emotion from the other person.

Papraro said the childrens parents were cooperative when they learned what had happened.

They were like, tell them what you did, so we can put this to rest, because you are scaring a lot of people by what you posted, said Paparo.They were very cooperative.

Both kids, by their age, they recognized that what they did was wrong, Paparo added, especially when when the police chief is walking in your door.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Bank of Nova Scotia is optimistic its international ventures are headed for success after a recent overhaul saw it slash and simplify its overseas operations.

The Toronto-based bank has spent recent months working to reduce its investment in TMB Bank Public Co. Limited in Thailand and selling its operations in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and El Salvador.

The moves were part of a plan the bank has to refocus its core footprint.

In the past four years, Scotiabank has announced its exit or its intention to exit 19 countries, which includes the divestment of its banking operations in nine Caribbean countries, but beefed up operations in Latin America.

Scotiabank chief executive Brian Porter said on a Tuesday call with financial analysts to discuss the bank's latest results that he considers the repositioning "substantially complete" and predicts the bank will now start to benefit from the moves.

"Our repositioning efforts, while time-consuming, have been substantial," he said. "We are now a leading bank in the Americas with competitive scale and diversification in our six core markets, which represent over 85 per cent of the bank's earnings."

His comments came as Scotiabank topped expectations as it reported a first-quarter profit of nearly $2.33 billion, up from nearly $2.25 billion in the same period a year earlier.

The bank said its profit amounted to $1.84 per diluted share for the quarter ended Jan. 31, an increase from a profit of $1.71 per diluted share a year ago.

It's revenue grew to total $8.14 billion in the quarter from $7.60 billion a year ago.

Provisions for credit losses in the quarter totalled $926 million, up from $688 million in the same quarter last year as the bank revised its methodology to add an additional "more severe pessimistic" scenario.

The change resulted in a pre-tax increase in provision for credit losses of $155 million, which was recorded in its Canadian banking, global wealth management, international banking and global banking and markets operating segments.

On an adjusted basis, Scotiabank earned $1.83 per diluted share in the quarter, up from $1.75 per diluted share in the same quarter a year earlier.

Analysts on average had expected an adjusted profit of $1.75 per diluted share for the quarter, according to financial markets data firm Refinitiv.
[phish.net kindly thanks you for your patience and understanding during the slight delay in getting these recaps posted. All of our recappers (and staff) are entirely volunteer; simultaneously taking on the tasks of our "normal" lives while also helping to maintain our great website and community. phish.net would like to thank user @peetasan (Instagram: @EpicFamilyFarms) for this recap. -ed]

Phish in Mexico is a singular experience. There is, literally, nothing to compare it to. Sharing the groove with the smallest crowd youll find, on the beach, with the Carribean Sea lapping the shoreline beside you (or around you!), in the middle of winter, in Mexico, after spending the day drinking mimosas and tequila, sunning on the beach, eating ceviche or strutting your best floaty at one of the many pool parties; it is nothing short of continually astounding that we get to do this. Its apparent that the band feels this way as well, because they are consistently relaxed and in a fun, playful mood. The return of Fishmans pink jacket and shorts (because how can you wear that only once??) on night 4 was an indication that the band was feeling loose and playful, with Fishman playing a rare set out of the dress.

I love this trip.



 2020 Phish (Rene Huemer)

An early 5pm start left many of us baking in the sun as we jockeyed for position close up. Despite the heat, everyone seemed in good spirits as we settled in. When the band was ready to go they tuned up, a Crowd Control opener. Get your shit straight people, were all in this together. Nothing special here, a standard rendition. Farmhouse is a beautiful song that rarely seems to breathe any life into its placement. Regardless, it was heartfelt and featured Page stepping out a bit on the wurlitzer. The band didnt linger here as they quickly moved into Breath and Burning. I love the sentiment of this song, as we certainly had been dancing here for days. While there were no big tempo or energy changes here, it was a solid and fun version, and the band and crowd really started to groove with Page taking the hammond out for spin.

The always welcome Divided Sky came next with Mike sounding large and in charge. Trey took The Pause to look out on the crowd, and the ocean and the scene, and marvel at it. Who gets to play a concert here? he mused in disbelief. Hey, you earned it, buddy! There was some other humorous banter that you should just hear for yourself. It will not be conveyed properly here. [Basically, Trey called all of us fans ugly. But, like, lovingly so. -ed, phish.net] The return of the melody was so sweet, special and quiet, and as the sun slipped below the horizon, Treys guitar lines bounced from cloud to cloud and ear to ear as the sky quickly turned to mauve and pink to celebrate the turn to night. Finally, Pages organ gently laid the sun to rest. Then, what better song to play at a beach party than Meat? Punchy, funky and tight, Meat got the peeps jivin' and strivin'.

 2020 Phish (Rene Huemer)

The first proper jam vehicle of the night arrived in the form of Everything's Right. Clocking in sat 18:06, it did not disappoint; soaring through a Trey driven jam into some rhythmic, synthy grooviness, with Fishman fully in the drivers seat. This section really got the hips swaying across the beach. The ever darkening sky allowed CK5 to step up with some sparkly touches. I dont like to compare versions of songs, so let me just say that everything here was so, so right. A Squirming Coil at sunset is already such a treat, add, on the beach(!) and, in Mexico(!) and youre onto something. Trey nailed the melody, and the band competently moved through the composed parts (more or less, but hey. Mexico). As the "Coil" was winding itself down with Pages beautiful piano solo trailing across the sky, a huge pelican buzzed the crowd, low overhead.

Its massive wingspan created a giant, graceful presence in the sky. In its wake came Wingsuit. I love this friggin song and with a light breeze off the Carribean, they delivered it with equal intensity and softness and absolutely flawless harmonies. It was as huge and soaring and graceful as the creature that inspired this song choice. David Bowie closed out the final first set of Mexico 2020, with the sky finally dark enough for CK5 to really add something to the festivities. Trey executed the composed section with more fluidity than he had been displaying with others, and as they moved through the jam section, Trey and Page were engaging in some inspired collaboration with Mike and Fish holding the space for them. At 11:05 Bowie proper kicked back in and the band cruised towards the climax with ferociousness. They brought it home solid. Take my advice and give the whole set a listen.

 2020 Phish (Alive Coverage)

Set breaks are sometimes an unfortunate but necessary reality. Dancing in the sand can be harder than you think, and this break was welcome as we all settled down for a breather and took advantage of the cooling air to get some water and, yknow. beer, tequila, etc Special shout out to whoever thought having Don Julio in the venue was a good idea. It was.

Set 2 began with the opening riff to Simple, always a good way to get people back on their feet. Its not like we needed much prompting anyway. The Simple > Golden Age > Fuego, combo comprised 44+ minutes of insane jamming, starting out with Treys Octavizer providing some extra depth and making space for Pages Wurlitzer wizardry. The band then settled into something more laid back and rhythmic. The key changed, Page hit his WTF button, and we moved on. After a brief visit from Iron Butterflys In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida, things kicked up another whole notch. Golden Age is a great cover. Groovy and utterly danceable, with inspiring lyrics that would be nice if Trey could actually remember, (but hey did I mention... Mexico?) The funk here did not disappoint, and we all knew we were in the right place. Bringing down the energy, the band moved quietly into Fuego and this version absolutely was en fuego. One of the most wonderful things about improvisational music is how a group recovers, or adapts to, a mistake. Someone missed a step in the middle fast part, and I enjoyed listening to the band work it out. The outro jam echoed the Simple riff, and some reverse-delay tactics from Trey pushed the jam into a deep, dark and undulating place.

Emerging from the Mexican swamp of Treys octave pedal was Undermind. For me, this was not my favorite choice for late set 2, but I admit it was more enjoyable upon relistening. As I moved through my personal process, Trey moved us through shout-outs to Manteca and Plasma, and then a very effortless segue into Back on the Train. Getting over myself and getting back into what was happening in front of me, "BOTT" absolutely crushed. With another Simple riff to start the jam, Treys delay then sent us off into an ethereal and ambient place. To round out set 2, Kasvot Vaxt arrived to remind us that we are only Passing Through this wonderful country. Only the 4th time ever performed, Passing Through lit up the crowd. Smiles were all around as everyone was bouncing and giving their all. After Mike took a moment in the spotlight, literally as well as figuratively, the band took their time with this final jam, and by its climax it felt like we were levitating. Smiles turned to a massive collective grin as the jam came together to wrap it all up in a glorious explosion of sound, light, and dancing. Mexico just doesnt suck.

 2020 Phish (Alive Coverage)

To encore, the Rise/Come Together actually made me a little weepy. With Bernie having just won Nevada with heavy Latinex support, and me reflecting on our wonderful hosts and the bad rap Mexico gets in general, Coming Together with our Mexican cousins is a sentiment I was feeling big time. This version had plenty of energy and Trey sung his heart out. Dropping our bags in the sand for The Horse > Silent in the Morning, this one is always a crowd pleaser and always well played. Heres hoping we get to sing it again next year. Then came the major bust-out: Fee! Who cares if Trey couldnt remember some of the verses (still in Mexico!) we all know the words its such a rarity and so fun to hear, with Fishs smooth, Carribean rhythms effortlessly moving the crowd. Mike then dropped an ode to all our amazing Phish ladies in the crowd with a truly nasty Funky Bitch. More was the perfect way to wrap up Mexico 2020 and left us all walking through sand fully vibrating with love and light. Everyone was being so lovey and there were hugs and pictures and no one wanted to leave.

As I mentioned earlier, Phish in Mexico is a singular experience and one of my absolutely all time favorite things to do. The people I run into on this journey are generally super wonderful and everyone is in it to make it the best time possible, and the band I dont even know what to say Its first rate Phish.

The Phish experience is so much more than 4 mediocre looking guys playing nerdy music to a bunch of mediocre looking people (see banter in Divided Sky for context). It is something we all create together that is so much greater than just the sum of its parts. You all did a great job! See you on the beach next year!
Australia is investigating more than 50 alleged war crimes by the country's special forces in Afghanistan, including the killing of civilians and prisoners, the military watchdog said Tuesday.

An annual report by the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force said 55 separate incidents were being investigated as part of a years-long probe into allegations



Australian soldiers committed war crimes while serving in Afghanistan.

These relate mainly to unlawful killings of "persons who were non-combatants or were no longer combatants" as well as "cruel treatment" of such persons, the report said.

"The inquiry is not focused on decisions made during the 'heat of battle'," it added.

It is also considering "cultural, psychological, operational and organisational factors" surrounding the alleged incidents.

The probe was launched in 2016 in response to what the watchdog called "rumours" of "very serious wrongdoing" over more than a decade by members of Australian special forces in Afghanistan.

Elite Australian commandos were deployed alongside US and allied forces in Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001 attacks. NATO and its allies pulled combat forces from the country in 2014.

The ongoing inquiry, led by judge Paul Brereton, has called 338 witnesses and is now "approaching the final stages of evidence-taking".

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds told Sky she expected the watchdog would provide a report to the country's defence chief within months and he would "decide on appropriate further actions".

At least four investigations into alleged abuses by Australian special forces in Afghanistan are currently under way.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Russia Denies That It Attacked Georgia

The government of Georgia has accused Russias military intelligence agency (GRU) of launching a massive cyber-attack on their government and business organisations on 20th February.

British and US Security Services have also issued official statements formally accusing the GRU and their 'Sandworm' unit for a cyberattack on Georgia, amid fears it could be the start of a wider destabilisation campaign.

Britain and US governments say the GRU was also responsible for carrying out a coordinated cyber-attack on thousands of Georgian websites which ocurred in October 2019 which knocked thousands of Georgian websites offline and disrupted national television broadcasts. This confrontation is considered the largest cyber-attack in Russian electronic history.

"The GRU's reckless and brazen campaign of cyber-attacks against Georgia, a sovereign and independent nation, is totally unacceptable," British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement.

"The Russian government has a clear choice: continue this aggressive pattern of behaviour against other countries, or become a responsible partner which respects international law."

The British government said its National Cyber Security Centre had decided Moscow was behind the Georgia cyber-attack "with the highest level of probability".

The US State Department said the incident demonstrated "a continuing pattern of reckless Russian GRU cyber operations against a number of countries".

"The stability of cyberspace depends on the responsible behaviour of nations," the US statement said.

Fake messages usiing the image of controversial ex- President Kikheil Saakasvilli were reported as appearing on sites for the Georgian government, courts, NGOs, news media, and local businesses. In some cases, the web host disruption also took down broadcasting services for some radio and TV stations.

But while the attack and its aftermath was superficial and easily reversible, the mass fake messaging campaign caused domestic political tensionsinside Georgia, primarily due to the use of Saakashvili's photo.

This statement is not the first time the US, UK, and their allies have accused Russia's military intelligence of orchestrating cyber-attacks against foreign governments.

Previously, allies have called out Russia's GRU for cyber-attacks such as:

BlackEnergy: December 2015 shut off part of Ukraine's electricity grid, with 230,000 people losing power for between 1 - 6 hours.

Industroyer: December 2016 shut off part of Ukraine's electricity grid, also known as CrashOverride. It resulted in a fifth of Kyiv losing power for an hour. It is the first known malware designed specifically to disrupt electricity grids.

NotPetya: June 2017 destructive cyber-attack targeting the Ukrainian financial, energy and government sectors and affecting other European and Russian businesses

BadRabbit: October 2017 ransomware encrypted hard drives and rendered IT inoperable. This caused disruption including to the Kyiv metro, Odessa airport, Russia's central bank, and two Russian media outlets

The October attack is not the first time Russia's state hackers attacked Georgia. In 2008, Russia fought a brief war with Georgia, which had made a botched attempt to regain control over the breakaway province of South Ossetia. Moscow then recognised the independence of South Ossetia and another breakaway Georgian province, Abkhazia, and set up military bases there.

The Russia's Foreign Ministry has denied the allegations that its was behind the large-scale cyber-attack on Georgia.

The Cyberwire: France24: Telegraph: Fifth Domain:



You Might Also Read:

Ukraine Battles To Combat Election Hackers:
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Some Congress leaders under the 'Telangana Congress Loyalists Forum'on Tuesday wrote to Congress president Sonia Gandhi to convene a session of the AICC at the earliest to entrust the party leadership to Rahul Gandhi.

In the letter, a copy of which was released to the press, senior congress leaders in Telangana, Marri Shashidhar Reddy, among others,said people in general are looking at the Congress party to save the country, under the prevailing "negative circumstances."



While the country has developed leaps and bounds under the Congress rule, the party has also played an effective role as an Opposition party and it is significant to note that all the strengthening and the subsequent revival happened under the leadership of a member of the Gandhi family, they said.

"It is our sincere belief that this time also strengthening and revival of the party would only be possible under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi.

In view of this, a session of the AICC may be convened at the earliest to entrust the party leadership to Rahul Gandhi.We are writing this letter to echo the sentiments and views of the rank and file of the Congress party, besides the people in general," they said.

Several congress leaders, including Shashi Tharoor and Sandeep Dikshit, have demanded fresh polls to the top post in the party.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Editors note: The City of Rio Rancho is holding a city council and bond election on March 3, with early voting underway.

City council seats representing districts 1, 4 and 6 are on the ballot, with two candidates running for the four-year term for each seat. Voters must reside in the city council districts in question to vote in those races. As per law, municipal elections are non-partisan.

For information on polling places, visit rrnm.gov/4405/Voting-Information.

In order to help our readers make informed decisions, the Observer gave each candidate a questionnaire to complete. Responses were edited for format as necessary, but not for grammar, spelling, punctuation or accuracy.

Paul M. Wymer questionnaire

Background: Architect, licensed in New Mexico. Planner Certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Years residing in Rio Rancho: 35 plus.

Contact information: Email: Paul@Wymer4RR.com. Cell phone (call me) 505-239-6009.

Web Site: www.WYMER4RR.COM

1. What makes you the most qualified person to hold this seat? I have lived in Rio Rancho for 35 plus years. I have seen numerous changes over that timeframe, including the creation of our great school district. I currently serve as the Chair of the Planning and Zoning Board which makes land use and zoning decisions as well as recommends similar direction to the governing body. I am in my fifth year providing this volunteer service to the City. With this, I have a clear understanding of City ordinances, policies, and expectations, as well as the decision-making needs of City staff and elected officials.

2. If elected, what will your top priorities be and how will you accomplish them? 1. Road conditions are a very high priority. There are strategic plans in place that are working to improve the deteriorating conditions of this critical infrastructure. I will work with the Mayor and my fellow Councilors to keep these efforts moving forward. 2. Bringing new business to the City and encouraging existing business to stay and expand are high priorities of mine. I will work with the Sandoval Economic Alliance in their efforts towards these causes.

3. What do you think should be done about road construction and repairs in Rio Rancho, and how will you accomplish it? Existing roadway repairs and improvements are two of my top priorities. There is a strategic plan in place to continue the successful work already completed (for example, Southern Boulevard), and I promise to support these efforts. I strongly support the extension of Paseo Del Volcan, as this will open incredible economic development opportunities to our City. It will also provide a new avenue for access to and from Rio Rancho from both major Highways, I-40 and I-25.

4. What will be your priorities, if any, for public safety if youre elected? I am a steadfast supporter of our public safety officials and educators. I do not believe they get the respect or support they deserve. As District 4 City Councilor, I will support our hard-working public safety team and educators. They have earned the esteemed reputation they deserve. I am the lucky husband of a Rio Rancho Public School teacher, as well as a father and brother-in-law to three wonderful Rio Rancho School teachers. I will coordinate with our public safety and educational leaders to understand their needs. I will then work with the governing body and City staff to implement solutions that achieve those goals.

5. If elected, what will you do to encourage economic development in Rio Rancho? I am currently employed at a national home building company that builds homes in many communities in the area, including Rio Rancho. I have seen how governmental regulation can stifle economic progress. Rio Rancho has a very positive reputation of embracing economic development, and I will not let this reputation diminish. I will instead work to make sure our City provides incentives and opportunities for a continued successful result for our community.

6. What is your stance on the water and wastewater system and rates? The rates are high compared to our neighboring communities. I will not support increased rates unless mandated by new Federal Government regulations.

7. What is your stance on governmental transparency with the public, and what actions would you take based on that stance if elected? Open government is critical. Call me. I will tell you my stance and listen to your side. My cell phone is (505) 239-6009.

8. What is Rio Ranchos greatest asset, and what will you do to preserve and enhance it if elected? The list is endless. Our hard-working public safety teams. Our Rio Rancho Public School teachers. Our Libraries. A Park Above. Joes Pasta House. Elevate Trampoline Park. What is not to like? I will support Rio Ranchos best interests with all my heart. I promise! Thank you for your time and consideration.
PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-26 00:08:13

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Not for Dissemination in the United States or Through U.S. Newswire ServicesCALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / February 25, 2020 / ICEsoft Technologies Canada Corp. (CSE:ISFT) (the "Company" or "ICEsoft") is pleased to announce its plans for a non-brokered private placement of up to 30,001,438 units (the "Units") through one or more closings, at a price of CAD $0.08 per Unit, which would raise aggregate gross proceeds of up to CAD $1,510,000 and provide for up to CAD $890,111 in debt settlement (the "Private Placement"). Each Unit will consist of (i) one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share"), and (ii) one half of a common share purchase warrant (each full warrant, a "Warrant"), with each full Warrant entitling the holder to subscribe for one additional Common Share at an exercise price of CAD $0.12 per share at any time prior to the day that is 24 months from the grant of the Warrant.It is anticipated that Company directors and/or officers and Related Persons shall participate in the Private Placement and shall purchase Units through a combination of cash payments and debt settlement. Total aggregate insider participation is expected not to exceed CAD$1,025,115.As part of the anticipated Private Placement, the Company has entered into an agreement with Cormark Securities Inc. ("Cormark") to assist with the financing and has agreed to pay Cormark a cash commission equal to 7% of the gross proceeds from the Private Placement and grant the number of warrants (the "Finder Warrants") equal to 7% of the number of Units sold under the Private Placement that are sourced through Cormark. The Finder Warrants shall be exercisable for a period of 24 months following the last closing date of the Private Placement at an exercise price of $0.12 per Common share.The net proceeds of the financing are expected to be used for general working capital and to accelerate sales and fund new market expansion efforts.The Private Placement is anticipated to close through one or more closings with an anticipated first closing to occur on or about Friday, March 6, 2020.The securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to a hold period under applicable securities laws, which will expire four months plus one day from the date of the applicable closing of the Private Placement. Closing of the Private Placement is subject to receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange.About ICEsoft Technologies Canada Corp.ICEsoft Technologies Canada Corp. is a software-as-a-service ("SaaS") company. ICEsoft's current software, which is available as freeware with a pay to use version, is used by some 150,000 developers, 20,000 companies, and some 400 paying customers. ICEsoft's newest product Voyent Alert! is an affordable Community Alerting Service specifically designed to meet the needs of small to medium sized municipalities, regional governments and campuses. The flexible platform serves the dual purpose of alerting and advising residents during a critical incident as well as providing targeted day-to-day communication services.For more information, please contact:Brian McKinneyPresident and Chief Executive OfficerTel: 4036633320The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.NEITHER THE Canadian Securities Exchange NOR ITS market regulator (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE Canadian Securities Exchange) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE THIS NEWS RELEASE, REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE CANADIAN LAWS, IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL SECURITIES AND THE COMPANY IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN 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.Forward-Looking Information AdvisoryCertain statements made herein may contain forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities laws. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans","expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates",or "believes" or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information herein include, but are not limited, to statements or information with respect to the completion of the Private Placement, expected insider participation, payment of fees to Cormark timing of closing andthe use of proceeds of the Private Placement.Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements or information. We have made certain assumptions about the forward-looking statements and information, including receipt of all approvals required for the Private Placement and the use of proceeds of the Private Placement. Although our management believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include the ability to receive the approvals necessary to complete the Private Placement, ability to complete the Private Placement and those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Listing Statement dated May 27, 2019 and in the Company's most recent Managem
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa will be heading to New Delhi on Tuesday to attend a banquet being hosted in honour of US President Donald Trump. President Ramnath Kovind will be hosting the dinner on Tuesday at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Kovind had sent invitations to all chief ministers across the country. While earlier, it was said that Yediyurappa wont attend the dinner, later on Monday evening, it was clarified that he would go to Delhi.

Yediyurappa, who has been travelling for the last two days, was supposed to hold a budget reading meeting with officials on Tuesday, which has now been postponed, said sources from the chief ministers office. The CM will be returning on Wednesday, after which he will be busy with budget preparations.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 25)  As the country marked the 34th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, President Rodrigo Duterte told Filipinos to "rise above petty political differences."

"Inspired by the freedoms that we secured in February 1986, let us all rise above our petty political differences so that we may, together, ensure that the legacy of EDSA will remain relevant in the years ahead," the President said Tuesday.

"Let us all have a meaningful commemoration," Duterte added, noting that the event served as an "important role as a catalyst for the restoration of democratic institutions" more than three decades ago.

Duterte has been a vocal ally of the Marcoses, particularly expressing his admiration for the Marcos brand of presidency in his past speeches. In 2016, he even approved the transfer of the late strongman's remains from Ilocos Norte to the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Meanwhile, Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo said Filipinos owe it to the EDSA revolution to reject attempts to fabricate information about abuses during the Marcos regime.

Recalling that she was among the millions who joined the 1986 military-backed civilian revolt against then President Ferdinand Marcos, Robredo warned of attempts to retell the revolution "in pursuit of one's own agenda."

"Naroon po ako, kasama ang milyun-milyon pang nagtipon upang igiit ang dignidad ng bawat Pilipino. Halu-halong damdamin ang nagdala sa amin doon: Pagkadismaya sa nangyayari sa lipunan; galit sa pang-aabuso ng rehimeng Marcos," she said.

[Translation: I was there, part of the millions of Fiipinos who gathered to fight for the dignity of every Filipino. We were filled with a mix of emotions at the time: disappointment over what has been happening in society; and anger against the abuses of the Marcos regime.]

"Ngayon, may mga nagtatangkang burahin ang alaala ng EDSA para sa pansarili nilang agenda," the Vice President said in a statement.

[Translation: Today, there are those who have been attempting to erase the memories of EDSA to pursue their own agenda.]

"Tatlumput apat na taon pa lang ang nakakalipas: kasama pa natin ngayon ang marami sa nagtipon noonsilang mga sumubaybay sa balita habang nagaganap ang rebolusyon, at malamang ay nakadanas din ng pagmamalupit ng diktadurya. Utang natin sa kanilang huwag bigyang-puwang ang mga kasinungalingan," Robredo said.

[Translation: Thirty-four years have passed: We are still with the people who monitored the news while the revolution was happening, and probably experienced numerous hardships brought by the dictatorship. We owe it to them to spare no room for lies.]

In January, former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said it is time for educational institutions to revise the content of history textbooks which supposedly revised historical information about his family.

Five ill-gotten wealth related cases by the government against the Marcoses have been dismissed.

The search has so far yielded 170 billion in jewelry, paintings, real estate properties, company assets, and cash, according to the Presidential Commission on Good Government. However, for the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), these forfeiture of cases does not clear the Marcoses from abuses they committed during martial law.

"It is in remembering that we protect our country against the many forms of human rights violations arising from authoritarian tendencies. We must learn from our history  knowing that our past informs our present and molds our future," the CHR said Tuesday.

Government officials held a simple flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremony at the People Power Monument along EDSA to commemorate the occasion.

Meanwhile, in Makati, former Vice President Jejomar Binay, former senator Rene Saguisag, and other supporters and veterans of the EDSA Revolution gathered in front of the monument of former senator Benigno Aquino Jr. along Paseo de Roxas.

The President did not attend any activities commemorating the People Power Revolution. However, he attended the Presidential Security Group change of command ceremony in the afternoon.
Hindustan Unilever rose 1.43% to Rs 2247.65 after it informed that its board has approved a proposal to form a new 100% subsidiary.

This 100% subsidiary will be incorporated with an authorized share capital of Rs. 2000 crore. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday.

This new subsidiary will leverage the growth opportunities in a fast-changing business environment and will help HUL in becoming more agile and customer-focused.

Hindustan Unilever (HUL) is India's largest fast-moving consumer goods company with its products touching the lives of nine out of ten households in the country.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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 New York jury on Monday convicted former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of criminal sex act and rape, US media reported. (Photo: File)

Washington DC: 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.

But he faces up to 29 years in prison on the two felony convictions.

The ashen-faced defendant, who attended the trial hunched over a walker, showed little emotion after the verdict was delivered to a packed New York courtroom. He was taken into custody pending sentencing, which was scheduled for March 11.

His lawyer Arthur Aidala said a shocked Weinstein was muttering 'I'm innocent, I'm innocent. How could this happen in America?'Lead attorney Donna Rotunno promised an appeal, saying the fight is not over and applauded Weinstein for taking the decision like a man.The mixed verdict offered a large measure of vindication for the dozens of women who made allegations against him.

It was the most high-profile sex assault conviction in the United States since Bill Cosby was found guilty in 2018 of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman 15 years prior.

The Time's Up foundation, formed in the wake of the Weinstein case, celebrated the outcome as marking a new era of justice.Abusers everywhere and the powerful forces that protect them should be on notice: There's no going back, it said in a statement.

Manhattan's top prosecutor Cyrus Vance praised the women who testified against Weinstein as having changed the course of history.This is the new landscape for sexual violence survivors. This is a new day, Vance told reporters outside the New York courthouse.

We all owe an immense debt to you, who had the courage beyond measure to speak your story to the world, to the courtroom, at great personal risk, and in great personal pain.

Public Service

More than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct since allegations against him ignited a global reckoning against men abusing positions of power in October 2017.

But with many claims too old to prosecute, the jury considered charges related to just two: ex-actress Jessica Mann and former production assistant Mimi Haleyi.

The predatory sexual assault charges included testimony from The Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, who said Weinstein raped her in her New York apartment in the winter of 1993-94.

Six women took the stand to say they had been sexually assaulted by Weinstein.

They were subjected to ferocious cross-examination as Weinstein's defense team argued that his relationships were consensual and transactional.

The prosecution cast Weinstein as a conniving predator who demanded sex in exchange for access to the film universe where he reigned, but presented no forensic evidence or third-party witness accounts.

The state's case instead rested on asking the jury to believe the women.

Ashley Judd, who has said Weinstein destroyed her film career after she rejected his sexual advances, tweeted thanks after the verdict dropped.

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, she said.

Next Stop, LA

Weinstein, who has always said his sexual relations were consensual, was charged with raping former actress Mann in the DoubleTree hotel in midtown Manhattan in 2013.

He was also charged with forcing oral sex on former production assistant Haleyi at his New York apartment in July 2006 while she was on her period.

The charges of predatory sexual assault, a serious sex crime committed against more than one person, were the most grave and carried a sentence of life in prison.

For the jury to convict Weinstein of that they would have had to believe either Mann or Haleyi plus Sciorra.

Sciorra's allegation was too old to be prosecuted as an individual crime but she was included in the indictment to bolster the predatory sexual assault charge.

Sciorra said in a statement Monday that her testimony had been painful but necessary, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Ex-model Lauren Young told the court Weinstein sexually assaulted her in the bathroom of a Beverly Hills hotel room in 2013 when she was a 22-year-old aspiring actress.

Eyes now turn to Los Angeles, where Young's allegations form part of a separate sex crimes investigation against Weinstein being carried out by prosecutors in the California city.

They accuse him of raping an Italian model in February 2013 and of assaulting Young the following night.
We do not want to give the impression that we served in some golden age when the Senate operated like clockwork and its members embraced one another as one big happy family. Of course, that was never the case. Senators have always advanced strongly held positions and have vigorously engaged in legislative combat. All of us have vivid memories of tense times with difficult colleagues. But that is just the point. By design, the Senate is the place where Americans with all their competing interests and ideologies are represented and where champions of those positions attempt to advance their causes and work through their differences. Many call the legislative process sausage making. That is a fair assessment. Legislating is often messy, but it is Americas way of holding together a diverse nation.
He will be placed in a special box at the regional infectious hospital

In Transcarpathia, a man with fever, who previously had been in contact with a Chinese in Hungary, was hospitalized. He will be tested for coronavirus infection, Mukachevo.net reports.

The patient was working for a Chinese citizen from Hubei Province and contacted him 21 days ago. He went to the doctors in Berehovi where they called an anti-epidemic commission. It made the decision to commit the man to a regional infectious hospital using special protective equipment.

He will be placed in a special box where he will be tested for coronavirus. It is reported that there are no test systems in the area yet.

As we reported earlier, the World Health Organization provided Ukraine with 30 sets of reagents for COVID-19 testing at the country's Virological Reference Laboratory.

The kits contain about three thousand reactions, which will allow testing 950 people.

According to Deputy Minister of Health Viktor Liashko, all kits are now located in Kyiv, the question of their redistribution at the level of the MoH's regional laboratory centers is being worked on.
Kenyan police officers checking vehicles after an ambush by gunmen in Lamu county, Kenya, on Jan. 2, 2020. (Stringer/AFP/Getty Images)

US Airstrike Destroys Al-Shabaab Compound in Somalia, Wounds 3 Terrorists

The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) coordinated with the Somalia government on Feb. 23 to carry out its seventh airstrike this month against al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda affiliate, the U.S. military said.

In a joint operation, an al-Shabaab compound in the vicinity of Dujuuma, Somalia, was targeted on Sunday, wounding three militants, according to a U.S. assessment. The strike came a day after a strike on a compound near Saakow, Somalia, killed two and wounded one, and four days after three people were killed during a strike near Wadajir, Somalia.

No civilians were injured or killed as a result of Sundays airstrike, AFRICOM said in a news release.

Gregory Hadfield, the U.S. Africa Commands deputy director of intelligence, said in a statement the support of the U.S. military in the region is vital for the counter-terrorism mission.

U.S. support to African-led counter-terrorism operations is crucial in East Africa, he said. China and Russia appear content to remain on the sidelines as our African partners, with U.S. support, fight extremism and pave the way to enhanced security and stability on the continent.

The United States carries out regular airstrikes in Somalia in support of a weak, United Nations-backed government in Mogadishu, which has fought al-Shabaab for years.

Al-Shabaab kills regularly and indiscriminately, said Miguel Castellanos, U.S. Africa Command deputy director of operations after Saturdays prevision airstrike which killed two terrorists and wounded one other.

This al-Qaeda affiliate exploits innocent Somalis, displaces families, and imposes illegal taxes through force and violence, he continued in a statement. They want to export their vision of destruction more widely. It is our collective international efforts and persistent pressure that prevents this from occurring.

AFRICOM said that Somalia is a key security environment in the region and its long-term stability is a necessity to advancing U.S. interests in East Africa. It added that it will continue to coordinate with the Somalia government in its effort to bring improved governance, development, and stability to the Somali people.

It said that al-Shabaab had expressed a desire to attack U.S. interests, but pressure placed on the al-Qaeda affiliate has left it incapable of striking the U.S. homeland.

Last month in East Africa, three Americans were killed by the group during an attack at a Kenya Defense Force in Manda Bay used by U.S. and Kenyan forces. Two Department of Defense personnel and one Army soldier were killed in the terrorist attack on Jan. 5, officials said.

The fatal attack also followed a Dec. 28 attack by the terrorist group that has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks in the region over the past decade or so. In that incident, at least 80 people died, according to the military.

U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo last week visited the region in a bid to reassure international partners that the United States is committed to combating extremist violence across the continent, despite the Trump administrations plans to remove forces from Africa to free up more resources to address challenges from Chinas military.
Share price of InterGlobe Aviation, parent company that operates IndiGo, fell on Tuesday after global rating firm Credit Suisse cut target price from Rs 1,850 per share from earlier Rs 1,900 per share.

Although the brokerage house maintained 'Outperform' rating on the stock of market leader Indigo, it has cut earnings estimates for FY20, FY21 and FY22 by 83%, 31%, and 18%, respectively.

Following the update, shares of InterGlobe Aviation touched an intraday low of Rs 1,334 apiece, declining 110 points or 7.6% against the previous close of Rs 1,444.30.

Stock price of InterGlobe Aviation trades higher than 50-day moving averages but lower than 5, 20, 100 and 200-day moving averages. The stock has moved below its 30 and 50-day simple moving average today.

It has fallen 3.14% in one week and over 5% in one month. However, it gained 6.8% year-to-date and 27% in one year. Market capitalisation of the large-cap stock stood at Rs 54,672 crore. Volume-wise, 1.5 and 35.5 lakh shares are changing hands on BSE and NSE counters, both above the 5, 10 and 30-day average volume.

Credit Suisse said it has estimated loss for Q4'FY20 for the Gurgaon-based low-cost carrier, on back of low current yields. Capacity addition by the airline is at a halt the brokerage said although it estimated strong earnings potential for the airline based on current pricing.

"We expect the company's earnings to revive as cost structure spike tapers off. Weak SpiceJet balance sheet and Air India divestment can be additional opportunities," it further added.

In January this year, the carrier reported a two-fold jump in net profit at Rs 496 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2019, helped by lower fuel prices coupled with higher passenger growth and higher operating income.

In another update, Confederation of Indian Industry in its recent report 'Novel Coronavirus in China and its impact analysis' said that IndiGo and Air India have halted operations to China and the temporary suspension of flights to China and Hong Kong would lead to the carriers missing out on gross revenue targets.

JM Financial in its report dated February 16 2020 'COVID-19: Mysterious virus, mixed impact' also suggested that the carriers SpiceJet and IndiGo will face a negative impact on revenues from weaker demand in South-East Asia due to virus outbreak. However, it added the airline's weak revenues are likely to be offset by falling crude oil prices.

Meanwhile, Kotak Institutional equities in its report on February 18, 2020 said, "Listed airlines such as IndiGo and SpiceJet have even lesser dependence on China. However, with COVID-19 situation still evolving, should it have a larger impact on international air travel due to travel restrictions as well as postponement/cancellation of discretionary travel by air passengers, it could have a negative impact on India's air traffic growth."

Edelweiss in its report published on February 19, 2020 also cut the target price for IndiGo stock to Rs 1,297 and rated it 'REDUCE'.

Stocks in news: TVS Motors, HUL, HDFC Bank, JSW Steel, Bharti Infratel and more

Share Market LIVE: Sensex, Nifty trade muted; HUL, ONGC, Coal India, Indian Oil top gainers
Channel 4 presenter Jon Snow has announced he is self-isolating after travelling to Iran, which is firefighting one of the largest coronavirus crises outside China.

The broadcaster, 72, will remain in quarantine for the next two weeks after visiting the country to cover its election.

Snow said that he does not have any symptoms of the virus and was not near the epicentre of the outbreak, which has infected 95 and killed 16.

He told Channel 4 News via a videolink from his home: 'I woke up this morning feeling rather tired, but that was from the trip.

'But we weren't actually anywhere near where the main virus outbreak has occurred.'

Workers in hazmat suits disinfect subway trains against coronavirus in Tehran, Iran

The broadcaster, who spoke to Channel 4 tonight via videolink, will remain in quarantine for the next two weeks after visiting the country to cover its election

He said that he is 'not really supposed to congregate with any crowds or go anywhere where there may be people', adding: 'So that means I'm sitting at home.

'To be honest, the absolute enormity of the prospect of 14 days hasn't really hit me.'

He added: 'Maybe if you call me again in 14 days you will have a headcase on your hands.'

Snow, his producer and cameraman are all self-isolating in accordance with government guidance.

People who have returned from Iran, 11 towns in northern Italy, areas of South Korea and Hubei province, China, since February 19 are all advised to 'call NHS 111 and stay indoors and avoid contact with other people even if you do not have symptoms,' according to the Department of Health.

'None of the team are currently showing any symptoms of Covid-19 but the official advice is to self-isolate regardless,' Channel 4 News tweeted.

The Foreign Office tonight updated its travel advice to Iran and urges Britons to steer clear unless absolutely necessary.

Snow said that he does not have any symptoms of the virus and was not near the epicentre of the outbreak, which has infected 95 and killed 16

Channel 4 said Snow was following Department of Health guidance

Iraj Harirchi, Iran's deputy health minister, has been diagnosed with coronavirus just a day after he appeared at a press conference sweating profusely while insisting the country had its outbreak under control

The head of Iran's virus task force today tested positive for the infection just a day after he gave a press conference playing down the risk posed by the country's outbreak.

Only China, South Korea, Italy and Japan have a greater volume of infections than Iran - but dozens of countries are now scrambling to get a grip of their outbreaks.

Ministers in Rome have locked down 11 towns in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto, which have been slapped with travel bans and had public events axed.

The drastic action as Italy suffered its eleventh death and the number of cases jumped to 322.

Police checkpoints have been enforced to prevent the virus spilling across Italian soil, but cases have already sprouted up in the south.

The UK Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the worst-hit regions.
The Duchess Of Cambridge stepped out this evening wearing a full-skirted grey boucle dress from British brand Eponine, which she accessorised with seriously bling accessories.

While Kate's thick black tweed dress was a chic and weather-appropriate choice, her silvery-grey glittery Romy 100 Jimmy Choo heels, proved stormy weather needn't mean sacrificing on the glam.

The mother-of-three last wore the pumps to the 2019 BAFTA awards, where she paired them with a white one-shouldered Alexander McQueen gown.

Kate, who was out tonight to watch a charity performance of "Dear Evan Hansen" in aid of The Royal Foundation at Noel Coward Theatre, this time doubled down on the bling, and chose to pair her pumps with the matching Ellipse clutch from the brand, which features the same glittery ombre hue.

The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at the Noel Coward Theatre in London / Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The clutch costs 650 and is available to shop online here, while the pumps cost 550 and are also available here.

Kate kept her makeup natural and finished the look with her signature bouncing blowdry.

The musical the royal couple were due to see ("Dear Evan Hansen") has won six Tony Awards after opening on Broadway in 2016, is about an anxiety-ridden boy struggling to connect in a hyperconnected world.
In 1985, at the peak of AIDS hysteria, The New York Times published an article canvassing the views of Americans on how best to deal with the epidemic. A majority favoured the quarantine of AIDS patients, while a sizeable minority supported the view of columnist William Buckley that people with AIDS should be tattooed.

Eve Van Grafthorst, right, was forced to leave Australia to escape prejudice. Credit:SMH

Australia fared little better. Many lost jobs and housing when they were merely suspected of carrying the virus. Eve van Grafhorst, who acquired HIV through a blood transfusion at the age of two, was banned from attending kindergarten. Her family were eventually driven from the country, and moved to New Zealand.

A toxic mix of stigma and scientific ignorance, fuelled by some politicians and sections of the media, created an environment where public health could be weaponised as a means to exclude people who were different.

AIDS disproportionally affected gay men, sex workers and injecting drug users at a time when the activities of these groups remained illegal, or barely legal (homosexuality, for example, was decriminalised in NSW in 1984, and in other states between 1975 and 1997). The epidemic threatened to roll back years of social progress. Suspicion, driven by fear, led to entire groups of people being shunned  in short, to a form of xenophobia.
PARIS, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ADYOULIKE, the leading native advertising technology, has been named as a French Tech 120 company for 2020. The prestigious accolade means that ADYOULIKE is one of the top 120 technology businesses based in France.

French Tech 120 is a growth-stage government backed program designed to support the 120 fastest growing technology companies in France. ADYOULIKE, which launched in Paris in 2011, and is a global pioneer and innovator in native advertising technology, and opened a new technology hub in Montpellier in 2019, has grown phenomenally since launch.

The company employees over 100 people, split between France, UK and US, invests heavily in cutting edge advertising technology and posted 2019 turnover in excess of $30M. 2020 promises to be a pivotal year for the established technology business as it rolls out a host of innovative new native formats, the Native Stories product among them.

Commenting on the accolade, Julien Verdier, CEO & Founder, says;

"We are delighted and honoured to be listed as a French Tech 120 Company. It's a great achievement for everyone at ADYOULIKE  in France and globally  to be acknowledged. We work in an intensely competitive marketplace, competing against and with, some of the biggest businesses in existence.

"To consistently grow our business, develop our technology and increase our business value to our advertiser and publisher partners is a remarkable achievement that I am proud of our team for delivering. This year we will be kicking things up a gear even further as we launch our new Native Stories formats for the Open Web and grow our presence and operations into new markets."

About ADYOULIKE

ADYOULIKE (www.adyoulike.com) is the leading global in-feed native advertising platform. Launched in 2011, it is a pioneer in native technology and creating advertising experiences for users that mirror the websites they are visiting. Using its own native supply-side platform (SSP) and native technology platform, the company enables brands to scale native advertising campaigns across premium publishers, while publishers benefit from access to ADYOULIKE's marketplace. Main ADYOULIKE offices are: London, Paris & New York.

About French Tech 120

Launched in September 2019 by the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, the French Tech 120 program illustrates the French government's desire to become the best possible support for the French Tech ecosystem.

The French Tech Mission brought together some 50 French Tech Correspondents within administrations and public services capable of supporting the growth of startups. The list of services, intended to grow continuously, covers five categories: international development, financing, access to the market, recruitment of talent and support in all relations with the administration. The French Tech 120 is aimed at innovative companies that have been established within the past 15 years, and that have not yet done an IPO or been purchased. Participants are selected according to objective criteria based on fundraising and turnover.

SOURCE ADYOULIKE
Over 10 people have been killed, hundreds injured in New Delhi riots, Reuters reported.

Clashes over a new citizenship law began over the weekend. Violence erupted again in many areas of northeast Delhi on Tuesday.

Indian capital turned out to be the center of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, which makes it easier for non-Muslims from three neighboring Muslim countries to obtain Indian citizenship.

Indian Deputy Interior Minister Kishan Reddy earlier told Reuters that the violence was a conspiracy to defame India, during a visit by US President Donald Trump.

However, some of those who protested against the citizenship law claimed that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its supporters, were persecuting Muslims and inciting violence.

The representative of one of the hospitals in New Delhi reported that 13 people were killed, over 150 injured were hospitalized, and many received bullet wounds. Another hospital reported two dead and 200 injured.
Posted on: February 25, 2020 3:16 PM

[ACNS, by Staff Writer] A spate of violence against Christians has included the murder of the Archdeacon of Eringeti, Ngulongo Year Batsemire, who was killed for refusing to denounce his faith. The Barnabas Fund reports that he was walking to his fields with his wife when they were surrounded by members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) who demanded he convert to Islam. When he refused, they killed him.

He was one of 36 Christians murdered by insurgents on 29 January in North Kivu region. Earlier this month, in three days of terror beginning on 7 February, another 30 Christians were killed in attacks in Toko-Toko and Makeke villages.

In western Burkina Faso, gunmen have attacked a church in Pansi, in the Yagha region, according to the international news agency Reuters. The regional governor, Colonel Salfo Kabore, said that 24 people, including the priest, were killed in the attack on Sunday 16 February. It is the second attack on Christians in the country this month. On 10 February, seven people were seized by suspected jihadists who raided the home of a pastor. Five bodies, including that of the pastor, were found three days later.

The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, condemned the attack, saying: I am profoundly sad that people who are gathered to worship suffer from such a senseless act of hate. These acts of violence are attacks on our one human family and we must continue to work together for justice and peace.

In Nigeria, the funeral has taken place of 18-year-old Nnadi Michael, who was murdered after being kidnapped from the Good Shepherd Seminary in Kaduna last month. Michael was amongst three seminarians kidnapped on 8 January. His body was found on 31 January alongside the body of Bola Ataga, who was kidnapped with her two children on 24 January.

For us Christians, this death is a metaphor for the fate of all Christians in Nigeria, but especially northern Nigeria, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, said. For us Christians, it would seem safe to say that we are all marked men and women today.

Two years ago, a Boko Haram faction, Islamic State West African Province, kidnapped 110 girls from their school in Dapchi, Yobe state. Most were released a month later following government negotiations, but the sole Christian amongst them, Leah Sharibu, was denied release because she refused to renounce her faith.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, his wife Caroline and Mrs Rebecca Sharibu in the chapel of Lambeth Palace

Photo: Church of Uganda

Last Thursday (20 February), Leahs mother Rebecca Sharibu marked the second anniversary of her kidnapping with a visit to London to raise awareness of Leahs kidnapping and to appeal to the British government to help. Later, she met the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and attended a Eucharist in the Lambeth Palace chapel. We were honoured to share the Eucharist with Rebecca Sharibu today, Archbishop Justin said on Twitter. A woman of profound courage and faith. . . We pray for you, and for Leah to be released free from harm.

In Bangladesh, the NGO Human Rights Watch says that at least 22 Christian Rohingya familes were attacked late January at the Coxs Bazar refugee camp. A pastor and his 14-year-old daughter were kidnapped in the attack.
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FEBRUARY 25, 2020  UTSA has been named a Gold Military Friendly School for 20202021 by Viqtory Inc. Published by Military Friendly, the Military Friendly Schools survey is the nations longest-running review of college and university investments in serving military and veteran students, and UTSAs gold designation reflects the universitys comprehensive support of its military-affiliated population.

UTSA exceeded all six of the standards set forth by the Military Friendly Schools survey but scored especially high marks in three categories: culture and commitment, admissions and orientation, and academic policies and compliance. UTSA was one of only three four-year research institutions in Texas to earn the gold designation.

The Military Friendly recognition is important to us as we are working hard to become more veteran-inclusive at UTSA, and that is why we continue to implement new policies and initiatives to help our military-affiliated students in their educational pursuits, said retired Air Force Col. Lisa Carrington Firmin, associate vice president for veteran and military affairs at UTSA.

That is why we continue to implement new policies and initiatives to help our military-affiliated students in their educational pursuits.

LISA CARRINGTON FIRMIN, Associate Vice President for Veteran and Military Affairs

In its selection Military Friendly suggested veterans and other military-affiliated students should attend UTSA for two key reasons. The first is UTSAs relationships with several military bases in the region, making the university part of a larger community supporting service members and veterans. The second is the universitys Office for Veteran and Military Affairs, which operates out of the new Center for Military Affiliated Students and provides consolidated services to military-affiliated students on campus. The offices efforts to advocate, innovate and collaborate to facilitate the inclusion and success of those students are highlighted.

VMA houses two VA VetSuccess on Campus counselors, provides federal and state certification, and provides programming, which includes priority registration, tailored orientation, mentoring, workshops, emergency funding, scholarships and community partnerships to ease education and career transitions, Military Friendly wrote.

Several of these items were recent successes implemented by the VMA office. UTSA now offers priority registration and an exclusive orientation tailored to veterans in addition to separate breakout sessions for all military-affiliated family members. Starting this spring, institutional scholarships are being awarded to veteran, guard/reserve, ROTC, active-duty and military-related students for their educational pursuits at UTSA.

Targeted programming such as veteran resource fairs, professional development, and wellness workshops have also been carefully honed and well-received. Firmin added that VMA is working hard to streamline federal and state educational benefit processing and putting more of it online to make the procedure easier for UTSAs military-affiliated students.

Visit UTSAs Office of Veteran and Military Affairs online.

 Follow UTSA Veteran and Military Affairs on Facebook Twitter and Instagram

VMA is also engaging in original research into a veterans sense of belonging that is informing its work on veteran culture and educating others about the student-veteran population. This research will be instrumental to many initiatives, including cross-cultural considerations training that teaches both veterans and UTSA faculty and staff members about the uniqueness of each culture.

According to the City of San Antonios Office of Military and Veteran Affairs, approximately 250,000 veterans live in San Antonio. About 16% of UTSAs total student populationor 5,220 studentsare active-duty military members, veterans, reserves/guard, ROTC and their family members.

Military Times selected UTSA as a 2020 Best for Vets university in November for the universitys accomplishments in serving its military-affiliated population.
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This anti-gun news bias is widespread among the urban elite who have very little personal experience with guns and yet write for influential newspapers like The New York Times, Washington Post, etc. Despite this bias, law-abiding private citizens owning guns does have positive impacts on American society that often go unreported  many of which are significant.

Criminals and the Armed Citizen

Perhaps the most notable impact of gun ownership on American society is how it influences the behavior of criminals.

The fact is, criminals fear armed citizens more than they do the police. Theres many reasons for this, but here are the most prominent:

Police are rarely onsite during a crime.

Police are bound by policy and procedures, and are trained to only use their firearms if its absolutely necessary.

Civilians are also less trained.

In a research study sponsored by the United States Department of Justice, James Wright and Peter Rossi interviewed over 1,800 incarcerated felons, asking how they felt about civilians and gun ownership. Thirty-three percent of these criminals admitted to being scared off, shot at, wounded, or captured by a gun-owning victim. Sixty-nine percent of them knew at least one other criminal who had similar experiences. Nearly 80 percent of felons also claimed that they intentionally avoid victims and homes that they believe may be armed.

This shows that at least one in three criminals has been deterred because of an armed citizen, and that four out five avoid victimizing people that have guns.

Law-Abiding Gun Owners & Defensive Gun Use

Advocates of civilian disarmament tend to scoff at the capabilities of everyday gun owners. Many believe that guns in the hands of normal people are crimes waiting to happen. However, thanks to the research of individuals such as John Lott, we now have evidence showing that gun owners are some of the most law-abiding segments of the American population.

Lott drew the example of concealed license holders when compared to law enforcement:

Concealed-handgun permit holders are also much more law-abiding than the rest of the population. In fact, they are convicted at an even lower rate than police officers. According to a study in Police Quarterly, from 2005 to 2007, police committed 703 crimes annually on average. Of those, there were 113 firearms violations on average. With 683,396 full-time law enforcement employees nationwide in 2006, we can infer that there were about 102 crimes by police per 100,000 officers. Among the U.S. population as a whole, the crime rate was 37 times higher than the police crime rate over those years  3,813 per 100,000 people.

Not only are gun owners very law-abiding, they are also quite capable of defending themselves against criminals. Criminologists Dr. Gary Kleck and Dr. Marc Gertz carried out a study that found 2.2 to 2.5 million cases of defensive gun use (DGU). Around 1.5 to 1.9 million of these cases involved handguns. There is reason to believe that DGU numbers completely overshadow the criminal use cases of guns.

However, in todays era of outrage politics, many incidents of DGU go under the radar because of their lack of shock appeal that does not make for good headlines.

A Sense of Security

Most people realize that law enforcement cannot be everywhere, yet so many rely on nothing but a 911 call to protect both their home and those inside it. For those who live in remote areas, it can take an hour or more for first responders to arrive after an emergency call, but in most cases, even five minutes is too long. But when a homeowner is armed and trained, the sense of security increases.

Thanks to modern psychology, we know that people need this sense of security in order to grow and develop into healthy adults. Not surprisingly, privately owned guns provide that. Sixty-three percent of Americans now believe that having a gun in the house increases safety. While some may dismiss the importance of feeling secure and safe, or claim that another persons desire for safety makes them feel unsafe, it is by far the most basic of human needs. And without it, people are left feeling frightened, angry, and defensive  often unable to reach, or even focus on, higher goals.

Gun Ownership and Public Safety

Concerning public safety, the media often portrays guns as the primary problem  stating things like, Guns kill people or Guns are not the answer. But gun control and restrictions are also not the answer. Whenever a community, city, state, or country has imposed a ban on guns, regardless if it was all guns or simply handguns, it has experienced an increase in murder rates. In 1997, Wales and England saw a nearly 50 percent increase in homicides immediately after implementing a ban on handguns.

Gun control advocates promote the idea that more gun policies and regulations make Americans safer, but its naive to believe that any type of law will stop someone set on murder or other criminal activity. The individuals that engage in these types of criminal behaviors do not obey laws, and are therefore rarely impacted by policies and procedures. But these implemented gun control laws do impact the law-abiding citizens who are only trying to protect themselves and those they care about.

The fact is, widespread gun ownership does reduce crime. Here are some of the ways:

Home and Business Protection

Every year, one million American home and business owners utilize a privately owned firearm to protect their property and lives. And when it comes to protection, resisting a crime with a gun is the safest route for victims. Its associated with lower rates of both victim injury and crime completion than any other victim action.

American criminals are also less likely to burglarize an occupied home due to fear of the homeowner being armed. In England, where only around four percent of the general population legally own a handgun due to heavy restrictions, 59 percent of homes are occupied when the burglar breaks in, compared to approximately 28 percent in the U.S. Even if the homeowner did own a gun, he or she would have to unlock it from its safe, then unlock another safe where the ammunition is kept, then load the weapon before self defense would be possible. In 2009, 13 years after the countrys handgun ban began, its handgun crime levels had nearly doubled.

Public Shootings

After personal and home protection, the biggest impact of gun ownership on American society is mass shootings. Since 1950, all but just over one percent of mass public shootings occurred in gun-free zones. That means perpetrators are likely to know theyre safe and could intentionally be choosing these places to act out their massacres.

Also, immediately after right to carry concealed laws are put in place, the amount of mass public shootings fall dramatically. Not only does their frequency fall, but because people have the ability to carry firearms, they therefore can stop the perpetrator  limiting the impact of violence and destruction. Within the last two decades, this has happened numerous times across the country, including at a middle school dance in Edinboro, Pennsylvania and the Trolley Square Mall in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Whats more, when police were interviewed regarding their position on gun control legislation, around 90 percent stated they believed that during an active shooter incident, having well-trained, armed citizens present would decrease the casualties. More than 28 percent agreed that more permissive carry concealed policies would be beneficial to the public, especially when it comes to large-scale public shootings.

For the counter-argument that states an armed civilian is likely to increase the causalities of a mass shooter incident, there is a risk of this  just as there is an increased risk any time police are involved in a shoot-out. But remember, if theres an armed shooter, things are already bad. And without interference, things are going to get worse. While the philosophy for protection during one of these situations is always run, hide, fight, if youre fighting for your life, having a gun on your side is more beneficial than anything else.

The Exponential Impact

Because criminals fear citizens with firearms, gun ownership does have a dampening effect on crime. Not only is it a deterrent, but every time an intruder is shot, injured, or captured by a civilian, he or she is less likely to commit another crime.

Consider this: In 1966, 2,500 women in Orlando, Florida, went through a specific, highly publicized handgun training. Without anything else happening, the prevalence of rapes fell substantially from almost 36 rapes per 100,000 women to four. Other crimes, such as home burglaries, also fell  demonstrating that the private ownership of guns does deter crimes.

Protecting Constitutional Rights

In 2014, America saw a switch in how people thought about gun control. For the first time since gun control became an issue, more Americans believed that protecting gun rights was more important than controlling gun ownership, 52 to 46 percent.
Orem city manager objects to creation of new legislative counsel office

Over the weekend, new Orem Mayor Dave Young and city council members held a retreat in which they talked about the most urgent issues in the city and some immediate changes the majority of the group would like to make. According to Young, the top three most important issues on his plate are the State Street master plan, a new Office of Legislative Counsel and director thereof, and changes to how members of the Planning Commission are selected. These last two are what will comprise Tuesdays regular council meeting. The resolution on the Office of Legislative Counsel also names Jesse ...
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 01:00:41|Editor: yan

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TIRANA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Council of Ministers of Albania has decided to open a Consulate General in the town of Struga, located in the southwestern region of North Macedonia, it was announced on Tuesday.

Via a Facebook post, Acting Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Gent Cakaj called the news "fantastic" for Albania and Albanians.

According to the minister, the decision is in line with the plan of the government to deepen interaction with Albanians in the region.

"This consulate will have a special role to play for further enhancing the economic, social and cultural relations between the region and Albania," he added.

The Consulate General will offer services for several towns in North Macedonia such as Struga, Ohrid, Bitola, Kicevo, and Gevgelija.
Norwegian energy giant Equinor has dumped plans to conduct deep-sea oil exploration in the Great Australian Bight, about 400 kilometres off the South Australian coast, saying the plan is no longer "commercially competitive".

The decision comes a month after the Wilderness Society filed documents in the Federal Court, backed by local government and traditional owners, challenging federal environmental approval for deep-sea drilling in the Bight.

The Great Australian Bight at sunrise. Credit:Alamy

The drilling was to have taken place within a section of the Great Australian Bight Marine Park classified as "mixed use".

In a statement, Equinor's Australian manager Jone Stangeland said the company remained convinced it could have undertaken the high-stakes oil exploration safely, but had concluded the plan did not make commercial sense.
HYDERABAD: Union minister of state for home affairs G. Kishan Reddy has advised people against acting in a manner that will disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the country. The central government has been patient for the past two months, he stated.

Speaking at the BJP state office on Tuesday, the Union minister declared that those responsible for violent incidents in New Delhi on Monday and Tuesday will be identified and punished severely.

Stating that the law and order situation in Delhi was completely under control, he maintained that incidents that took place in the countrys capital were not due to the failure of the Delhi police.

Kishan Reddy accused Lok Sabha member Asaduddin Owaisi of making baseless allegations against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

He is doing so with the support of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi. Even if a million Asaduddins oppose the CAA, it will be implemented, he asserted.

Taking a dig at the Owaisi-led AIMIM as well as the ruling TRS, the Union minister said, People of the country will soon teach a lesson to the family-run political parties. It is shameful that municipal corporations are also passing resolutions against the CAA, he remarked.

Kishan Reddy said the implementation of the CAA would not harm anyone in the country. The same has been repeatedly made clear by the Union government. Some people are intentionally misguiding the public on the CAA, he stated, challenging political parties opposing the CAA to present evidence of any Indian, who has been harmed by the new law.

The CAA is not against Pakistan and Bangladesh, he clarified, calling on members of minority communities not to believe false propaganda by some parties on the CAA.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was working hard to boost the countrys reputation and making India a rising economic power.

However, the opposition parties are unable to digest the PMs success, he stated.

The Union minister regretted that some groups have disrupted peace in Delhi during US President Donald Trumps tour. He wondered why protesters were carrying the National Flag while at the same time pelting stones at the police.
The back story

Accusations of sexual misconduct and assault have swirled around Mr. Weinstein for years. In 2015, he avoided prosecution in connection to a groping episode, but was indicted in 2018 in New York after dozens of women came forward to accuse him in the media.

Investigations in The Times (you can read it here) and The New Yorker had focused intense scrutiny on Mr. Weinsteins behavior.

Cyrus R. Vance Jr., the Manhattan district attorney, said on Monday that the verdict helped pull our justice system into the 21st century by declaring that rape is rape and sexual assault is sexual assault, no matter what.

Critics of Mr. Vance have said that he should have pursued charges against Mr. Weinstein sooner.

In 2015, an Italian model recorded the mogul discussing how he had recently groped her. Im used to that. Come on. Please, Mr. Weinstein is heard saying on the recording. Youre used to that? asked the model, Ambra Battilana. Yes, he said, adding, I wont do it again. Outside the Manhattan courtroom yesterday, Ms. Battilana said she felt pure joy at the verdict.

The next chapter

Mr. Weinsteins lead defense lawyer, Donna Rotunno, told reporters that the verdict absolutely would be appealed. The fight is not over, Ms. Rotunno said. When asked to describe Mr. Weinsteins reaction to the verdict, Ms. Rotunno said: Harvey is unbelievably strong. He took it like a man.

Another defense lawyer, Arthur Aidala, recalled Mr. Weinstein saying: Im innocent. Im innocent. How could this happen in America?

Mr. Weinsteins legal troubles extend beyond New York. Last month, Jackie Lacey, the Los Angeles County district attorney, unveiled new rape and assault charges against Mr. Weinstein. She said that over two days in February 2013, Mr. Weinstein assaulted two women in separate attacks.
After months of cajoling and jostling, Democratic White House hopefuls will learn Saturday who South Carolina voters think is the best candidate to take on Republican President Donald Trump.

To learn the arc of the South's first primary and the intangibles that will help decide the winner, here are 20 stories from The Post and Courier from the 2020 campaign.

Everyone needs a road map. Here's one to the S.C. primary.

Here is the map (literally) of where candidates have visited

The Post and Courier and Change Research have tracked with race with polls over the past year

We surveyed S.C. Democratic Party county chairs about which candidates are doing well

The Charleston church massacre site was a delicate stop for 2020 candidates

How South Carolina's population spurt is expected to shape the 2020 race

Even last summer, Joe Biden realized South Carolina was his "firewall"

Bernie Sanders says he learned lessons from his 2016 shellacking in South Carolina

Elizabeth Warren was Joe Biden's top threat in South Carolina last fall

The race's youngest candidate offered himself as a new choice for moderates

Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email

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Tom Steyer spending to win over S.C. black voters sparked some rebukes

Some S.C. Republicans say they plan to vote for Sanders in the Democratic primary

Congressman Joe Cunningham has not endorsed, but he issued an anti-endorsement

Who is winning the S.C. primary campaign staffing war

Who is winning the S.C. primary campaign endorsement war

It was the event of the S.C. primary season: Congressman Jim Clyburn's Fish Fry

One of the bigger controversies in the S.C. race

Health care consistently is the top issue among S.C. primary voters

South Carolina's long coastline makes climate change a major topic in the race

The real star of the 2020 campaign? The selfie
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 15:57:15|Editor: huaxia

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CHANGSHA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- After finishing his morning wash, Yang Fan, a local resident in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, darted toward a rice noodle restaurant just reopened, still in his spotted pajamas.

"I've never been so long between bowls of rice noodles in my 30 years of life," he said.

Yang, who used to frequent the restaurant, had suppressed his appetite for his favorite snack for a month since the province launched a top-level response to the major public health emergency on Jan. 23 due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), suspending all catering businesses in Changsha.

It was the same day when Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic in neighboring Hubei Province, locked down all public transport and outbound channels in the city.

For Changsha residents, a typical morning starts with breakfast rice noodles, often served in stewed bone soup, with toppings like diced pickled string beans stir-fried with minced pork and chili. Yet they seldom cook on their own.

The habit then feeds over 6,000 rice noodle houses all around the city, nurturing a unique breakfast culture of "Hunan slurp," or the word suofen in the local dialect, which describes the action of eating rice noodles.

Yang missed the distinguished, well-rounded flavor, as well as the smooth, tender and soft texture he had yearned for days and nights.

For Yi Jun, the owner of the 1,500-square-meter restaurant, however, the 100,000-yuan (about 14,258 U.S. dollars) monthly rent and 350,000-yuan monthly pay for his employees suddenly became a crippling burden.

In ordinary times, the restaurant can accommodate 400 customers and sell 5,000 bowls of rice noodles a day, Yi said.

He had spent hours driving along empty streets every day since the Spring Festival, just looking for any restaurants that were still open.

"If anyone reopens his restaurant, then I want to resume work too, bringing some vitality to the city," Yi said, waiting for the day that the epidemic would be contained.

He did not have to wait long.

As the number of new cases of infection dropped to nearly zero for several consecutive days, the local government provided timely suggestions and requirements for restaurants on resuming dining-in services, such as disinfection, expanding the space between the seats and taking the body temperature of customers.

Yi reopened his restaurant on Feb. 17 when he bowed to customers at the entrance in the morning with two of his employees in charge of taking body temperatures and registering the name and cell phone number of every customer.

The restaurant layout was altered. Big tables were replaced by small ones, with at least two meters between each one, holding only up to 50 people at a time. The opening hours have also been cut to 14 hours from 24 hours a day.

Yang sat down and ordered a bowl of rice noodles with shredded pork and a fried egg -- his favorite breakfast combo. Although served in a disposable box instead of a bowl, the taste was familiar to him.

"I feel refreshed slurping noodles once again after so many days staying at home," Yang said.

The restaurant sold some 5,000 bowls of rice noodles in the first three days since reopening, just equivalent to the sales volume of one day in the past. But Yi remained gratified.

"As long as we open the door, there is hope," he said. "Things will work out all right."
The oldest son of President Donald Trump has received a permit to hunt and kill a grizzly bear in Alaska, officials said Monday.

Donald Trump Jr. was granted the permit to hunt north and east of Nome later this year, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game said.

The Alaska governor has a limited number of 'dignitary' licenses and game tags that he can hand out, Fish and Game spokesman Rick Green said. Trump Jr. did not receive one.

Donald Trump Jr., left, has been granted the right to hunt a grizzly bear in northwestern Alaska near the Bering Sea town of Nome. He is pictured here in 2012 during a big game hunt in Africa with brother Eric, right

In 2012, Trump Jr and Eric were part of an Africa hunting trip that was met with fierce criticism

Trump Jr., left, was one of three people who applied for 27 spots for non-resident hunters targeting grizzlies in a designated region of northwestern Alaska

Trump Jr., won his hunting license in a lottery run by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Only three people applied for hunting licenses in a remote corner of northwestern Alaska

A wild Alaskan brown bear sitting on upper bank of salmon river in Katmai Preserve (file)

He instead applied for one of 27 licenses designated for out-of-state hunters in the area. Only two other hunters applied.

'We get thousands of applications,' Eddie Grasser, the wildlife conservation director for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, said. Whether anyone wins, he said, comes down to 'pure chance, luck of the draw.'

The state conducts periodic drawings for permits to hunt bears, caribou, moose and other animals in various regions. Winners are chosen by a lottery, and there are typically many more applications than hunting tags awarded.

Officials said permits near Nome likely are not in demand for a variety of reasons, including the remoteness of the area and the expense to get there.

The president's eldest son is an avid hunter and has made several trips to hunt in Alaska and Canada.

As an out-of-state resident, Trump Jr. must be accompanied by a licensed Alaska guide for his hunt.

The hunting season for his permit begins August 1 and lasts through May 31, 2021.

Trump Jr. regularly goes on fished expeditions and takes pictures for social media of his catch

Donald Trump Jr. posted an image to Instagram holding a semi-automatic rifle etched with medieval symbols associated with extremist groups earlier this year

Trump Jr., regularly boasts about his hunting weekends on social media

Taxidermy hunted by Donald Trump Jr. at the Safari Club International's 2020 annual convention held in Reno, Nevada

There was controversy in 2012 about Eric and Donald Trump Jr's bloody hunting photos

He will target a grizzly, the same species as Alaska brown bears.

Bears along the southern Alaska coastline, referred to as brown bears, have access to abundant salmon and rich vegetation.

That allows them to grow larger and live in higher densities, according to the department.

Smaller bears in the north and interior Alaska are referred to as grizzlies. Grizzlies target moose or caribou, especially calves.

Non-resident hunters where Trump can hunt harvested 11 bears in 2019. Resident hunters killed 40 more.

To follow through with the Nome-area bear hunt, Trump must pay a $1,000 non-resident tag fee and buy a $160 non-resident hunting license, Grasser said.

Trump already was scheduled for a hunt in November at the other end of the state where he will hunt deer and ducks.

The Safari Club this month raffled off a $150,000 seven-day 'dream hunt' expedition with Trump Jr as a fundraiser for a youth hunting program.

The raffle winner got the right to accompany the president's son on a luxury yacht traveling in November along coastal areas of the Tongass National Forest.

The presidents eldest son is an avid hunter and has made several trips to hunt in Alaska and Canada. He is pictured here with girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle

Donald Trump Jr. is pictured with Rep. Steve King after the Colonel Bud Day memorial pheasant hunt near Akron, Iowa, in October 2017

In 2012, Trump Jr and brother Eric were part of a hunting trip to Africa that was met with fierce criticism.

'We are both avid outdoorsmen and were brought up hunting and fishing with our Grandfather who taught us that nothing should ever be taken for granted or wasted,' the brothers said in a statement to E! News at the time.

'We have the utmost respect for nature and have always hunted in accordance with local laws and regulations. In addition, all meat was donated to local villagers who were incredibly grateful. We love traveling and being in the woodsat the end of the day, we are outdoorsmen at heart.'
Then-sniper suspect Lee Boyd Malvo (C) is brought into court to be identified by a witness during the murder trial in Virginia Beach Circuit Court in Virginia Beach, Va., on Oct. 22, 2003. (Davis Turner-Pool/Getty Images)

Beltway Sniper Sidekick Drops Appeal of Virginia Life Sentences

The Beltway Sniper co-defendant has withdrawn his appeal to the Supreme Court asking for reconsideration of life sentences without parole for murders committed when he was 17.

Virginia has enacted legislation making him eligible to seek parole.

Lee Boyd Malvo, now 35, partnered with John Allen Muhammad to commit 10 murders in a killing spree that lasted from Sept. 5 to Oct. 22, 2002. They shot victims from a rolling snipers nest they created by cutting a hole in a cars trunk. They reportedly shot 27 people around the nation, 17 of whom died, including the 10 Washington-area victims. Muhammad, an expert marksman who joined the Nation of Islam, was executed in 2009.

At Muhammads 2006 trial, Malvo testified that Muhammad turned him into a monster. Malvo admitted to shooting three people and serving as a spotter in other shootings, and was given four life sentences without parole in Virginia in 2004, along with six life sentences without parole in Maryland.

Even if Malvo is granted parole in Virginia, he will still be required to serve his life sentences without parole in Maryland. But Malvo is currently seeking resentencing for his Maryland convictions in a U.S. District court.

Brian Saccenti, chief of the Maryland Office of the Public Defenders Appellate Division, told The Washington Post that Marylands state courts had been putting off dealing with juvenile case resentencings until the Supreme Court ruled on Malvos request.

Maybe this will allow our cases to start moving forward, he said.

In 1995, Virginia abolished parole, but on Feb. 24, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, signed HB 35, championed by House of Delegates member Joseph C. Lindsey, another Democrat, which, when it takes effect July 1, will give juvenile offenders the right to parole eligibility after serving at least 20 years of their sentence.

The paperwork needed to seek dismissal of Malvos case was filed with the Supreme Court the same day.

In light of legislation signed today by the Governor of Virginia, the Stipulation of Dismissal asked Clerk of the Supreme Court Scott S. Harris to enter an order of dismissal pursuant to Rule 46.1.

The document was signed by Malvos attorney Danielle Spinelli and Virginia Solicitor General Toby Heytens. Heytens serves under the states elected attorney general, Mark Herring, a Democrat.

The jurisprudence on juvenile sentencing has been evolving.

In 2005, the Supreme Court ruled in Roper v. Simmons that executing individuals who were under 18 at the time they committed their crimes violated the Eighth Amendments ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

Oral arguments last October dealt with two key Supreme Court precedents, known as Miller v. Alabama (2012) and Montgomery v. Louisiana (2016).

Miller held that mandatory life without parole for those under the age of 18 at the time of their crimes violates the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishments.

In Montgomery, the court held that the Miller ruling announced a substantive rule of constitutional law that must be given retroactive effect.

The case found its way to the high court after a U.S. district court refused to review Malvos sentence. He appealed and the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with him.

With the backing of the Trump administration, Virginia appealed, arguing in a brief that Malvo committed one of the most notorious strings of terrorist acts in modern American history.
The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has finally accepted the six months suspension handed down to him by the Osun State Traditi...





The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has finally accepted the six months suspension handed down to him by the Osun State Traditional Rulers Council.





Agbowu of Ogbaagbaa, Oba Dhikurulahi Akinropo. The council in a meeting presided over by the Ooni of Ife, suspended the monarch from attending its meetings over his alleged faceoff with theAgbowu of Ogbaagbaa, Oba Dhikurulahi Akinropo.





Earlier, the Oluwo of Iwo initially described the suspension as Audio, insisting hes still on the throne and didnt need to attend their meetings. He appears to have had a change of heart as he has now accepted the decision of the council.





A statement issued by the Secretary to the Oluwo in Council, Kamoru Ademola, said the Council regretted the incident that transpired between Oluwo and the Agbowu of Ogbaagbaa, Oba Dhikurulahi Akinropo.

The statement reads; The Oluwo in council regrets the unfortunate incident that transpired between the Agbowu of Ogbaagbaa and Oluwo of Iwo last week.





We will also like to put it on record that the Oluwo did not at any time assault the Agbowu or any other Oba for that matter. However, we respect the decision of the Osun State Council of Obas to suspend the Oluwo from the Council of Obas meetings; though the suspension was harsh and undeserved, the Oluwo will abide by it.





Once again, we express our gratitude and respect to the Council of Obas and the leadership under the imperial majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi.




SPRINGFIELD  Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said Tuesday that he has agreed to ban police from using facial recognition technology for now, under a policy approved Monday night by the City Council.

Sarno had threatened to veto the ban, but both he and councilors said they reached a compromise before Mondays meeting. The council voted to ban the technology pending any policy and procedures presented by police.

The mayor said he and the council have reached a plausible and cooperative agreement, with no restricted timeline, for the future use of facial recognition technology.

The council debated the proposal, supported by the American Civil Liberties Union, for several months before Monday nights approval in an 11-2 vote.

Councilors who supported the ban on facial recognition technology say it is unproven, unregulated and can lead to false identification. They say studies show the technology has been especially problematic in misidentifying women and people of color. There have also been concerns raised about privacy rights.

The lead sponsor, Councilor Orlando Ramos, thanked Sarno and Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood for recognizing that there is a need to press pause on the use of this technology until it can be regulated.

In the end, we were able to work together in the best interest of our city, Ramos said in a statement. "This is the way government should work!

Clapprood, in previously opposing the ban, said Springfield police do not have the technology and are not pursuing it now. She objected to a five-year ban, saying it would shut the door before the technology is understood.

In December, Northampton became the third community in the state to ban facial recognition technology, following Somerville and Brookline.

Sarno said he supports the council vote in the name of public safety and under the proper policy, procedures and regulations and as part of an overall investigation.

Facial recognition technology can very well complement all of the other policing resources at our disposal, such as body worn cameras and our Real-Time Crime Analysis Center, that when used together would only enhance our Police Departments ability to address quality of life issues and deter crime, Sarno said. "Again, Im always glad to work with our City Council on good common sense measures for our residents and business community.

Councilor Malo Brown was praised by his colleagues for taking a lead role in negotiations with the mayors administration.

In a Feb. 3 meeting, the council debated the ban on facial recognition technology for more than two hours, deciding to hold off on a decision. Council President Justin Hurst scheduled Mondaya special meeting to continue the discussion.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 25)  A lawmaker has filed a joint resolution extending ABS-CBN's franchise until June 30, 2022, weeks after its scheduled expiration.

Congressman Raul Del Mar of Cebu City's first district filed House Joint Resolution 28, which prolongs the validity of the network's 25-year franchise, which is set to lapse May 4.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra earlier clarified that Republic Act 7966, which provides the Lopez-owned network's existing franchise, took effect May 4, 1995 despite its signing into law on March 30 of that year.

"Since there are only 11 session days left before the next adjournment of Congress on March 14, 2020, both the House of Representatives and Senate need additional time to review, assess and determine whether or not ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation shall be granted the renewal of its franchise," the joint resolution read.

The measure would then give a two-year extension of the TV station's franchise. A joint resolution is treated like a bill, which must be approved by both the House and the Senate before it can be signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

During the Senate hearing on ABS-CBN's franchise woes, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said it can issue a provisional authority for the network to remain on air, Justice Secretary Menardo Gueverra said Monday. However, NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said it would be easier for the regulator to issue the temporary franchise if the order comes from Congress.

READ: Congress can authorize NTC to grant ABS-CBN provisional license to operate  DOJ

RELATED: Even with Congress resolution, ABS-CBN still cannot operate past franchise expiration  ex-Chief Justice

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 subject to "conditions" which would be set by lawmakers.

READ: ABS-CBN did not commit violations  BIR, SEC

There are now 12 bills filed before the House seeking to renew ABS-CBN's franchise, but all remain pending before the Committee on Legislative Franchises.

A 1994 agreement between the House, the NTC, and the media group Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) provides a mechanism for media entities with expiring Congressional franchises. The memorandum of understanding states that the NTC "shall continue to issue and grant permits or authorizations to operate" for radio and TV stations for a two-year period as long as there is a pending bill seeking to renew its franchise.

"If the application for franchise remains unacted by the Congress without however being disapproved or denied, such temporary permit or authorization to operate shall be extendible for another two-year period," the three-page memorandum read.

The deal  signed by then-House committee chair Rep. Jose Ma. Zubiri, Jr. and Speaker Jose De Venecia, as well as KBP Chairman Andre Kahn and NTC Commissioner Simeon Kantanar  also states that the NTC can only withhold the temporary permit to operate if the franchise renewal is not granted after the four-year leeway.
UPSC Recruitment 2022: One day left to apply for several vacancies at upsc.gov.in, here's direct link

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi slams Amit Shah, PM Modi for Delhi violence

India

oi-PTI

Hyderabad, Feb 25: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has condemned the violence in Delhi over the amended Citizenship law that has claimed the lives of five people including a police constable, and urged the Centre to take steps to bring the situation under control.

Addressing a protest here on Monday night against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), he said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah your police, the Delhi police was hurling stones along with the rioters. We condemn it(violence).. it is a matter of shame that violence occurred."

"The president of a foreign country comes to Delhi and violence takes place. It is a matter of shame for the country..," the AIMIM leader said adding violence in any form was "condemnable."

He asked Amit Shah to take steps to check the violence in the national capital. Owaisi also said he would meet Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and request him to "impose a stay" on NPR.

Death toll in Northeast Delhi climbs to seven

The state cabinet had at a recent meeting, presided over by Rao, urged the Centre to abrogate the CAA. The Cabinet has decided to pass a resolution in the Assembly against the CAA.

Your cops @AmitShah are taking away Indians dignity & humiliating them for no reason. Act now. These cops deserve the highest possible punishment under the law https://t.co/BGppiccUfY  Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) February 25, 2020

In a tweet last evening, Owaisi alleged that the violence in Delhi was a result of "incitement" by an ex MLA and BJP leader.

Fresh incidents of stone pelting in Northeast Delhi: Situation very tense

"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, itll spread," he tweeted.

A head constable was among the seven people killed while at least 50 others, including several paramilitary and Delhi Police personnel, were injured as violence spiralled over CAA in northeast Delhi on Monday.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 11:22 [IST]
AUBURN, Ala., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicken Salad Chick, the nation's only southern inspired, fast casual chicken salad restaurant concept, announced today the expansion of its 'low country' footprint with its newest restaurant in Bluffton, South Carolina. Located at 20 Discovery Drive, the Bluffton restaurant marks the fourth location for multi-unit franchise owners Tim and Kelly Paslawski of Savannah Chick, LLC, and becomes the brand's 10th restaurant in South Carolina. The new restaurant will feature a drive-thru for added convenience and will celebrate its grand opening on March 10 by offering free chicken salad for a year to the first 100 guests.

During grand opening week, guests will experience the southern hospitality that Chicken Salad Chick is known for, with giveaways* and specials that include:

Tuesday, March 10  Free Chicken Salad for a Year  The first guest will receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year; the next 99 guests receive a free large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month.** Any guest not part of the first 100 in line can make a purchase and enter to win free chicken salad for a year.***

 Free Chicken Salad for a Year  The first guest will receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year; the next 99 guests receive a free large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month.** Any guest not part of the first 100 in line can make a purchase and enter to win free chicken salad for a year.*** Wednesday, March 11  The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a free Chick T-shirt.

The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a free Chick T-shirt. Thursday, March 12  The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a free Chick tumbler.

The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a free Chick tumbler. Friday, March 13  The first 50 guests to purchase two large Quick Chicks will receive a free Chick tote bag.

The Paslawskis journey with Chicken Salad Chick started in 2014 when they opened their first restaurant in Savannah, Georgia. The husband-and-wife team had always dreamed of becoming entrepreneurs and knew the brand's made-from-scratch chicken salads and culture of serving others was the perfect fit. Over the past six years, The Paslawskis have opened additional Chicken Salad Chick restaurants in Pooler and Statesboro, Georgia and will now be adding the Bluffton, South Carolina location to their portfolio.

"My wife and I have loved every part of owning and operating our Chicken Salad Chick restaurants," said Tim Paslawski. "From building relationships with guests to introducing limited-time, crowd favorite chicken salad flavors, there is never a dull moment. With our new opening in Bluffton, we get to experience those memories all over again and we couldn't be more excited. The Bluffton community has been so welcoming and we're eager to open our doors."

The Chicken Salad Chick concept was established in 2008 by founder, Stacy Brown. With more than a dozen original chicken salad flavors as well as fresh side salads, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches and delicious desserts, Chicken Salad Chick's robust menu offers a variety of options suitable for any guest. Under the leadership of CEO Scott Deviney and the Chicken Salad Chick team, the company now has more than 150 restaurants currently open in 16 states and remains a standout brand within the fast casual segment.

Chicken Salad Chick in Bluffton will be open Monday  Saturday from 10:30a.m.  8p.m. For more information, visit www.chickensaladchick.com. Follow Chicken Salad Chick on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and trends.

*Giveaways not valid in drive-thru.

**Eligible winners must be over 16 years of age, purchase a Chick Special and are required to download the Craving Credits app. Redemption will start 3/16.

*** Eligible winners must be over 16 years of age, must purchase a Chick Special and are required to download the Craving Credits app. 10 winners will be announced at the end of the day. Redemption will start 3/16.

For more information on giveaways and specials, visit https://www.facebook.com/ChickenSaladChickBluffton/

About Chicken Salad Chick

Founded in Auburn, Alabama, in 2008, Chicken Salad Chick serves full-flavored, Southern-style chicken salad made from scratch and served from the heart. With more than a dozen original chicken salad flavors as well as fresh side salads, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches and delicious desserts, Chicken Salad Chick's robust menu is a perfect fit for any guest. Today, the brand has more than 150 restaurants in 16 states and is continuing its rapid expansion with both franchise and company locations. Chicken Salad Chick has received numerous accolades including rankings in Franchise Times' Fast & Serious, Fast Casual.com's top Movers and Shakers and Entrepreneur's Top Food Franchises for the second consecutive year and QSR's Best Franchise Deals and Nation's Restaurant News' Next 15 in 2019. See www.chickensaladchick.com for additional information.

Contact:

Nikki Rode

Fish Consulting

954-893-9150

[email protected]

SOURCE Chicken Salad Chick

Related Links

http://www.chickensaladchick.com


The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has demanded for the review of the judgment of the 2019 Presidential Election by the Supreme Court between President Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar.

The PDP made the demand in a press Conference on Monday, which was read by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan at the Partys National Secretariat, Abuja.

The demand was in response to APCs request for the review of the recent Bayelsa State Guber Election judgment by the Supreme Court that sacked David Lyon few hours before inauguration.

The statement reads in parts.

Gentlemen of the press, the PDP wishes to bring to the attention of the world that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is all out to destabilize our nation and destroy our hard-earned democracy. The time has come for all Nigerians to stand in unity to defend our nation and salvage it from political marauders and oppressive elements.

Our nation is 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.

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.

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.

Moreover, 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.

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.
Species adapt to their local climates, but how often they adapt to their local communities remains a mystery. To find answers, researchers at McGill University and the University of British Columbia examined over 125 studies testing local adaptation in over 100 species of plants and animals in an article published in The American Naturalist.

"Local adaptation occurs when a population evolves to better suit its local surroundings. We already know that environmental pressures like temperature and drought can drive adaptation, but the impact of living pressures like competition or predator-prey relationships is less clear," according to Anna Hargreaves, an assistant professor of biology at McGill University.

By comparing transplant experiments that used relatively natural environments to ones that reduced stressors like weeds and predation, the researchers examined how often such interactions among species drive local adaptation.

Surprisingly, they found that although the interactions strongly affected how well species grew, survived, or reproduced, interactions did not necessarily spur adaptation. "We expected experiments to show us stronger local adaptation when stressful interactions were left intact. But we found that it wasn't stronger or common in these cases--except perhaps in the tropics," says Hargreaves.

According to the researchers, this is intriguing evidence that interactions might be more evolutionarily important in the tropics. Evolutionary biologists have long speculated that species might drive each other's evolution more often in the tropics, given the amazing diversity of tropical species, but evidence supporting this theory has been sparse until now. The authors say more direct tests of what drives local adaptation, especially studies of tropical species, are needed before we truly understand how interactions between species influence local adaptation.

###

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.

http://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/

http://twitter.com/McGillU
It was reported earlier this month that she often 'split[s] up and get[s] back together' with her much older boyfriend.

Things seemed to be as solid as ever between Sofia Richie and Scott Disick when she shared a video on Monday of a tasty treat he delivered for her before a private jet flight.

The 21-year-old model boarded to find a bag of McDonald's and a large drink waiting for her from the 36-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star.

Yum! Sofia Richie, 21, and Scott Disick, 36, were as solid as ever after she shared a video on Monday of a bag of McDonald's he delivered to her private jet; shown Thursday

Sofia shared a photo of the ultra cozy jet, which had seats that could lean back all the way to turn into beds for cross-country or international trips.

'Bed time apparently,' she wrote, adding, 'LA here we come.'

She shared a closeup of the fast food bag and drink, which were waiting by her seat as she climbed aboard.

'Look who sent me a gift for my flight home!' she gushed.

Ready to relax: Sofia shared a photo of the ultra cozy jet, which had seats that could lean back all the way to turn into beds for cross-country or international trips

Tasty: She shared a closeup of the fast food bag and drink, which were waiting by her seat as she climbed aboard

Special someone: 'Look who sent me a gift for my flight home!' she gushed, adding 'The cutest human alive'

Scott had laid a plain noted reading 'To Sofia, From Scott' in front of the bag.

'The cutest human alive,' added the daughter of Lionel Richie.

Next, she turned the camera to her friend one by one to elicit their opinions.

'So cute,' said one, while another friend just said, 'You're the best.'

Her pal Andy inspired some chuckles after he said, 'I'm jealous.'

Tumultuous: The loving display came after a report earlier this month in People that the couple regularly break up and patch things up again; pictured in May

Back and forth: 'Scott and Sofia are the type of couple that constantly split up and get back together,' a source said. 'Its all very dramatic, and then all good again'; pictured in 2018

The loving display came after a report earlier this month in People that the couple regularly break up and patch things up again.

'Scott and Sofia are the type of couple that constantly split up and get back together,' a source said. 'Its all very dramatic, and then all good again.'

A source who spoke with E! News seemed to concur.

'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.

'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.'

The couple have been together since the fall of 2017, and have so far weathered criticism about their large age gap.

Posing: Earlier on Monday, Sofia shared a stunning closeup mirror shot of her putting on a sultry gaze while snapping a selfie in the bathroom.

Time to dance: She also expanded her fashion boundaries when she posed in a white disco suit

Earlier on Monday, Sofia shared a stunning closeup mirror shot of her putting on a sultry gaze while snapping a selfie in the bathroom.

She also expanded her fashion boundaries when she posed in a white disco suit.

The look hung loosely on her trim figure, suggesting she might have borrowed it from one of her male friends.
DGAP-News: SAF-HOLLAND SE / Key word(s): Miscellaneous



The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

SAF-HOLLAND SE: Conversion into a European Company (SE) completed

Luxembourg, February 24, 2020. SAF-HOLLAND S.A. today completed its conversion into a European Company (Societas Europaea, SE) upon being entered into the Luxembourg Business Register and is now operating under the name of SAF-HOLLAND SE, effective immediately. "Due to our international orientation, the conversion is a logical step and another milestone for the strategic development of the company," says Alexander Geis, CEO of the SAF-HOLLAND Group.

The extraordinary general meeting on February 14, 2020, approved the conversion into a European Company by unanimous vote. The shareholders of SAF-HOLLAND S.A. have automatically become shareholders of SAF-HOLLAND SE upon the conversion taking legal effect. The listing of the shares of SAF-HOLLAND on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange remains unaffected by the change of the legal form. This also applies to shareholder rights and the financial reporting.

"In the coming weeks we will prepare the second step, transferring the registered office to Germany", says Dr. Matthias Heiden, CFO of the SAF-HOLLAND Group. By transferring the registered office, the plan of the spatial consolidation of the registered office of SAF-HOLLAND SE, as the holding company, with the operating functions of SAF-HOLLAND GmbH will be realized. At the same time, the persistent monistic governance system of SAF-HOLLAND SE remaining even after the change of the legal form, consisting of the Board of Directors and Group Management Board should be converted into a dualistic model consisting of a Management Board and Supervisory Board. In this way, the management structure of SAF-HOLLAND SE would be adapted to match the customary governance structure of its new country of domicile, Germany.

An extraordinary general meeting, which is likely to be held in the second quarter of 2020 after the Annual General Meeting has been concluded, will vote on the next steps - including a capital increase from company funds, the transfer of the registered office from Luxembourg to Germany and the restatement of the articles of association.

Together with the change of the legal form and transfer of the registered office, the company is planning to simplify its corporate structure.

You will find further information on the planned transfer of the registered office at: https://corporate.safholland.com/en/SE . About SAF-HOLLAND SAF-HOLLAND SE, located in Luxembourg, is the largest independent listed supplier to the commercial vehicle market in Europe delivering mainly to the trailer markets. With sales of approximately EUR 1,301 million in 2018, the Company is one of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of chassis-related systems and components primarily for trailers, trucks, buses, and recreational vehicles. The product range comprises axle and suspension systems, fifth wheels, kingpins, and landing gear marketed under the brands SAF, Holland, Neway, KLL, V.Orlandi and York. SAF-HOLLAND sells its products to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) on six continents. The Group's Aftermarket business supplies spare parts to the service networks of Original Equipment Suppliers (OES), as well as to end customers and service centers through its extensive global distribution network. SAF-HOLLAND is one of the few suppliers in the truck and trailer industry that is internationally positioned in almost all markets worldwide. With the innovation campaign "SMART STEEL - ENGINEER BUILD CONNECT" SAF-HOLLAND combines mechanics with sensors and electronics and drives the digital networking of commercial vehicles and logistics chains. Approximately 4,000 committed employees worldwide are already today working on the future of the transportation industry.

Contact Michael Schickling

Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

Tel: +49 (0) 6095 301 617

michael.schickling@safholland.de

Future-oriented statements This press release contains certain future-oriented statements that are based on current assumptions and forecasts made by the management of SAF-HOLLAND SE. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may lead to the actual results, financial position, development or performance of the company deviating considerably from the appraisals specified here. The company assumes no obligation to update future-oriented statements of this nature or adapt them to future events or developments.

Notes This announcement is for information purposes only and does neither constitute an offer to sell, purchase, exchange or transfer any securities nor a solicitation of any offer to sell, purchase, exchange or transfer any securities. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. SAF-HOLLAND SE does not intend to register any securities referred to herein under the Securities Act or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction in the United States in connection with this announcement.





Contact:

SAF-HOLLAND Group

Michael Schickling

Hauptstrae 26

63856 Bessenbach



Phone +49 6095 301-617

michael.schickling@safholland.de

24.02.2020 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.dgap.de


NEW HAVEN  An eyewitness to the slaying of Kenneth Cooper at a Whalley Avenue gas station testified Monday she locked eyes with defendant Joshua Council and screamed: Why did you shoot him?

The testimony by a passenger in the car Cooper was driving Jan. 12, 2018 came on the opening day of Councils trial. He is charged with murder and criminal possession of a firearm.

Cooper was 35 at the time of his death. He had been a New Haven resident but in January 2018 was living in Waterbury. The defendant, now 33, of Quinnipiac Avenue, was arrested the day after the homicide. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

The states first witness said Cooper picked her up at her New Haven residence at about 3:05 a.m., several minutes before the shooting. She recalled they drove to a nearby Exxon gas station at 775 Whalley Ave. so he could buy her a soda.

After he came back out of the mini-mart, she testified, she heard him speaking to somebody outside the car.

As he opened the door, the bullets just started flying, she said. It was loud. There was glass everywhere.

The witness said there were multiple gunshots. It was so close, my ears were ringing. Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow!

She said she had trouble getting out of the car because she couldnt get her seatbelt off. But she said after she managed to fall out of the car, she turned toward the shooter.

The witness began crying as she said, I seen Joshua Council standing there. I screamed at him: Why did you shoot him? Why did you do this? What the (expletive) is wrong with you?

She added, I just froze. I thought he was going to shoot me.

But she said he turned and ran off to a car that was waiting for him close to the gas station on Jewel Street. Then it drove off.

She recalled running back to Coopers car. Hes shot, hes bleeding. He said, Youve got to drive to the hospital. I cant feel my legs.

The witness said she managed to push Cooper into the passenger seat, then she sped to the St. Raphaels branch of Yale New Haven Hospital. I ran inside, told them he was shot and I needed help. A guy came out and we put him on the stretcher.

According to the police report, Cooper was transferred to the main hospital on York Street. He died at 5:44 a.m.

Under questioning by Senior Assistant States Attorney Stacey Miranda, the witness said she had known Council, who used the nickname J.O., for about 10 years. She identified him in the courtroom.

How sure are you he was the shooter? Miranda asked.

One thousand percent sure, the witness replied. No doubt in my mind.

The witness also said Cooper was in a witness protection program and was testifying in a murder trial. She said thats why he had moved to Waterbury.

The witness recalled approaching police the day of the shooting and telling them she knew who had shot Cooper. She showed a detective a photo of Council on Facebook.

In addition, the witness said she and Council had had an argument in the summer of 2017 about Cooper. He said Kenny gave a statement to the police against him. He said he was gonna (expletive) him up.

During a cross-examination by defense attorney Thomas Farver, the witness said she had been a paid informant for the New Haven Police Department. But she said that had nothing to do with this case.

Another witness who testified Monday, New Haven Police Detective Ryan Macuirzynski, said when he got to the hospital as Cooper was being treated, he realized he knew Cooper. I had spoken with Mr. Cooper before about some information on a police investigation.

Did Mr. Cooper provide information about the defendant? Miranda asked. The detective said this was true.

Did that result in his arrest? Miranda asked.

It did, yes, Macuirzynski replied.

randall.beach@hearstmediact.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 20:23:52|Editor: huaxia

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An Israeli soldier fires a tear gas canister at Palestinian protesters during clashes at Tayasir checkpoint near the West Bank city of Tubas, on Feb, 25, 2020. Dozens of Palestinian demonstrators clashed on Tuesday with Israeli soldiers at an Israeli army roadblock on a road leading to the Jordan Valley in the West Bank, medical and security sources said. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Palestinian demonstrators clashed on Tuesday with Israeli soldiers at an Israeli army roadblock on a road leading to the Jordan Valley in the West Bank, medical and security sources said.

Palestinian security sources said that around 1,000 Palestinians tried to cross an Israeli army roadblock to reach the Jordan Valley, adding that the soldiers at the checkpoint prevented them from entering.

Clashes broke out when Palestinian demonstrators threw stones at the soldiers who then fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters.

Medical sources in the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said that at least 40 demonstrators were injured and five of them were hospitalized after being shot by gunfire.

Motaz Bsharat, in charge of the Jordan Valley's affairs in the province of Tubas in the West Bank, told Xinhua that the Israeli army forces prevented people from reaching the Jordan Valley area.

He said several Palestinian anti-settlement and anti-wall groups called earlier for protests in the Jordan Valley area against the Israeli government's plans of expanding settlements and annexing the territory.
A member of a Myanmar civil society group wears a shirt protesting an internet service ban in war-ravaged townships in Rakhine and Chin states at a demonstration in Yangon, Dec. 24, 2019.

Authorities in Myanmar Monday charged nine students with violating the countrys Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law after they staged a protest Sunday against the governments suspension of internet services in restive Rakhine and Chin states, home to fighting between ethnic insurgents and Myanmars military.

The nine students organized and were part of a gathering of about 100 who demanded that the government reinstate mobile internet access in nine townships in Chin and Rakhine. Internet access was blocked in June of last year. In five of the nine townships, access was later reinstated, but then blocked again earlier this month.

Under section 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law, the students could face sentences of up to three months, because they did not receive prior permission to hold the protest.

Sources told RFAs Myanmar Service that police officers in plainclothes ventured onto the campus of Yangon University to make arrests. Six of the nine students who were charged were in custody, Reuters news agency quoted a participant in the protest as saying.

One of the accused students, Myat Hein Tun, secretary of the university's Rakhine Students Union, told RFA that he disagreed with the manner in which the arrests were made.

I think it is totally unacceptable, Myat Hein Tun said.

They should not make arrests on a university campus, the student leader added.

Another student, Htoo Khant Zaw, secretary of the Federation of Myanmar Student Union, told RFA that organizers felt they did not need permission to stage their protest because under a democratic government, they have the right to peacefully protest.

We are not allowed to express our opinions, Htoo Khant Zaw said.

If we had applied for permission to protest as mandated by Article 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law, [the authorities] would tell us what slogans we could use and which route the protesters could take, and they would tell us not to deliver long speeches, so it does not make sense, he added.

RFA contacted the police to inquire about the arrests, but an official from Kamayut Township Police Station said the police were not at liberty to answer questions on the matter.

During a news conference on Saturday, the government justified the internet shutdown in Chin and Rakhine states, saying it was for the benefit of the country. The government also said that access would not be restored while there is armed conflict in the region.

Ye Wai Phyo Aung, founder and research manager of Athan, a youth-led free speech advocacy group, told RFA that charging students for protesting against the internet shutdown was a double violation of human rights.

We have seen so many cases of the government charging people who are merely practicing the right to freedom of expression and to criticize the wrongdoing of the government.

Reported by Zarni Htun for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Khaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Stephanie Dishno's ceramic sculptures emerged from major life events or experiences. Aging, death, women's roles in society.

She thinks a larger-than-life scale "gives them more of a presence" and feels more weighty, important, substantial.

The works, in part inspired by Roman and Greek sculpture, and weighing hundreds of pounds and one at least 6 feet tall, certainly have presence in "Coalescent," her thesis exhibition for a Master of Fine Art degree from the University of Montana.

The largest piece in the Gallery of Visual Arts, "Telos," is a feat of construction. Her sculpture of a pregnant woman, seemingly seated on the ground with one arm raised to her breast and gazing forward with an ambiguous expression of concern, measures about 6 feet long, 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide, and weighs close to 500 pounds by her estimate.

A Greek word for "ultimate end," she said it grew out of thoughts about having children, how "for a lot of women, it feels like becoming a mother is the climax of your identity."

At the opposite end of the gallery, she placed "To-Be," a clay statue some 6-feet, 3-inches tall, of a woman in her underwear. She wanted the figure to appear vulnerable, contemplative and perhaps in a relaxed situation because of the clothing. It implies the potential to make decisions, a dichotomy with "Telos."

"I love the conversation that's happening between the two," she said, and the "distance between them and how there's this reflection happening between the two."

Each of the pieces, all large, have stories like these at their source, although it's deliberately ambiguous.

"I try to leave them open enough that the viewer can bring in their own narrative," she said.

The surface in most pieces is resin  red iron oxide of varying degrees that pours down the figures and busts  a reference to her material, clay, in case you forget they're made of something so fragile.

"Heartsink," a bust of a woman in her 20s, was sculpted with a look of deep pain  eyebrows raised high, lips seemingly ready to begin quivering. On the floor beneath her are two disembodied hands. Like the floor in the entire gallery, they are black.

She said the work was inspired by "a friend that passed away recently and unexpectedly." It set her thinking about the "moment of disbelief before things become real."

The colors, with white walls terminating in a black stripe where they reach the black floor, drew on the notion of "an inner and outer world that we create our narratives from."

Above the heart, the clay cracked and left a horizontal line. Following a traditional technique for repairing pottery, she filled it with gold leaf. She employed that motif again in "A Memoir," this time in a few elegant lines. This figure rests the back of her hand on her forehead, again disembodied not far below the wrist, as though it were a crumbling Greek or Roman statue, a source of inspiration for Dishno.

She was thinking about "how our scars and experiences leave marks on our personhood," both our present identity and who we become.

Trey Hill, a UM ceramics professor and Dishno's adviser who works on large-scale pieces too, said it's an "exceptional" show.

"It's not often that you have a student show that creates that big of a physical impact to the viewer when you walk in," he said. "The whole space feels incredibly cohesive and very thought-out."

Hill said the work is "extremely hard to build." The sculptures are hollow, and built from coils, like a rope of material, one row after another from the ground up.

"Building this out of wet clay, you're fighting gravity the whole time."

Dishno said she had to learn what internal clay structures to construct inside, a process of trial and error, and she's now confident in her technique. She uses straps and bricks to support them during construction. She's not as concerned about cracking as a utilitarian potter might be, and will fix things through various means that aren't at all obvious to the viewer.

"I can go in and saw off the arm after's fired and build it back up that way. I do a lot of post-firing alterations to the work," she said.

For her largest piece, "Telos," she learned to weld in order to give her a custom pedestal. Moving her from UM's Art Annex to the Gallery of Visual Arts required help from six men (and some yelling) but the piece arrived intact.

Hill said it's "uncommon for people to be able to build figures at this scale" and still make a successful piece of art, and noted that making big work won't always mean it's good.

While the scale is the first think you notice when walk into the gallery, hers succeeds because of the technical skill and feeling of cohesion and resolution as you "digest some of the surface and specifics of each figure," Hill said.

The exhibition is one of the last steps Dishno has to take before earning her Master of Fine Art degree at UM. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in ceramics at Herron School of Art and Design in Indiana. Like many ceramic artists, she pursued a post-baccalaureate before an MFA, spending two years at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and then coming to Montana for a short-term residency at the Red Lodge Clay Center before starting her MFA at UM in 2017.

She said UM "felt like a really great community to come into, and that was something that was really important to me." She's been able to work closely with faculty members like Julia Galloway and Trey Hill, who are active in their field nationally and internationally.

An MFA is a terminal degree required for teaching art at the college level. Dishno said she's likely pursue more residencies at clay programs.

Hill said students enter the MFA program will varied levels of experience and working modes, from abstract to representational.

"What we really work with them on is helping them articulate their thoughts and ideas about their body of work that they're building," he said, and then "help them find their place" in the art world, both in the contemporary and historical sense. After three years, they're often "making really different work, and their work has made huge strides."

She feels like she's "grown immensely here, both conceptually and technically." She wanted an MFA to "explore where my artwork could go, and expand it, and become a better artist, and that's really what it's done."

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Hemlock Public School District has partnered with Saginaw City School District at the Saginaw Career Complex in conjunction with Saginaw Intermediate School District to provide a high-quality career and technical education to more students.

This year, Hemlock High School has 26 students attending the Saginaw Career Complex with plans to expand next year and beyond. Recently, all Hemlock High School sophomore students visited and toured the Saginaw Career Complex to become informed on their educational options.

The Saginaw Career Complex is the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center for Saginaw County and has been a strategic educational partner with Hemlock High School for decades. The Saginaw Career Complex provides services to more than 500 high school juniors and seniors who attend for half of their school day and are making a daily investment in their future careers.

The Saginaw Career Complex allows Hemlock and other school districts across the county to offer more programming to students. Each of the 19 programs offered at SCC link learning by skills taught that help prepare students for college, advanced technical training, or skilled entry-level work. In addition, to learning in real-world, technology-rich labs, students can earn industry certifications that give them a head start in preparing for high-skill, high-wage careers.

"We are fortunate to partner with Saginaw City School District and the Saginaw Intermediate School District to expand learning opportunities for students across the county," said Hemlock Superintendent Don Killingbeck. "As a native of Saginaw and product of one of our CTE programs in this county, I cannot be prouder of the great things going on in Career and Technical Education in our county and region."

Students who attend have a common goal of getting a head start preparing for career success. Students enrolled in CTE programs at SCC have the opportunity to earn free college credit, upon successful completion of certain requirements and instructor approval. At the same time, academic credit can be earned to Michigan Merit Curriculum requirements for CTE; English; math; science; visual, performing and applied arts and online experience, depending on the program.

"Mr. Little and the staff at the Saginaw Career complex provide opportunities for our students that we cannot fully provide. Having expanded hands-on experiences at SCC will prepare our students for the world and career that they will be living in," said Principal Keith Green.

One of the many benefits to the program at Saginaw Career Complex is that throughout the school year, each student will participate in a paid and/or unpaid work experience. This opportunity takes place during the regular school day and is arranged by a placement program.
Harvey Weinstein arriving at a Manhattan courthouse for jury deliberations in his rape trial in New York on Monday.

Associated Press/Seth Wenig

Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of rape and sexual assault in New York City on Monday.

The Hollywood producer was remanded to jail on Rikers island, and his sentencing for the charges of third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual act is scheduled for March 11.

Many British and American newspapers featured the news on their front pages on Tuesday. Scroll down to see them.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Harvey Weinstein faces up to 25 years in prison after he was found guilty Monday of raping one woman and sexually assaulting another.

The Hollywood producer was convicted of third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual act and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 11.

Numerous newspapers across the US and the UK dedicated their front pages to the case, which represented a watershed moment in years of reporting and investigation.

Take a look at some of these front pages here:

The New York Daily News dedicated its front page to the Weinstein news, calling him a "sex-predator poster boy" and "monster mogul."

daily news front page

Daily News

The hashtag #WeToo is a play on #MeToo, which was popularized after The New York Times broke a story in 2017 that detailed multiple allegations against Weinstein.

The New York Post created an image of the film producer behind jail bars, adding the caption "HARV TIME."

NY Post front page

New York Post

The New York Times  which played a pivotal role in uncovering allegations against Weinstein  wrote in a rare all-caps headline: "WEINSTEIN GUILTY OF TWO SEX CRIMES IN LANDMARK CASE."

NYT front page

The New York Times

The Los Angeles Times dedicated its lead front-page story to Weinstein coverage, including analysis of the charges he has yet to stand trial for in California.

la times front page

Los Angeles Times

Prosecutors in Los Angeles brought four new charges against Weinstein  including forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by use of force, and sexual battery by restraint  in early January, just as his New York trial was starting.

Story continues

The Wall Street Journal's front page focused on the steep drop in US stocks but included a photo of Weinstein with the headline "Jury Convicts Weinstein in Mixed Verdict."

WSJ front page

The Wall Street Journal

Read more: US stocks drop the most in 2 years as coronavirus fears rattle traders

The Chicago Tribune made Weinstein its top story, with the headline "Weinstein guilty in landmark court case."

chicago tribune front page

Chicago Tribune

The Boston Globe took a different approach, running the headline, "This time, the women were believed."

boston globe front pages

The Boston Globe

The Washington Post used a large picture of Weinstein entering the courtroom as its main front-page image with a simple headline, "Weinstein is found guilty of sexual assault."

WaPo frontpage

The Washington Post

The Houston Chronicle previewed its Weinstein coverage above its masthead but did not include any stories about the verdict on its front page, which led with the coronavirus outbreak and the Bryant memorial.

texas houston chronicle front page

The Texas Houston Chronicle

The Philadelphia Inquirer made Weinstein its top story.

The Philadelphia Inquirer front page

The Philadelphia Inquirer

USA Today made the verdict its top story as well, saying, "Weinstein convicted of two sex crimes."

USA Today front page

USA Today

It added that Weinstein was found not guilty of more serious charges, like predatory sexual assault.

In the UK, The Guardian dedicated most of its front page to the Weinstein verdict, using the headline "Weinstein faces jail after being convicted of rape."

guardian front page

The Guardian

The Daily Telegraph let the picture do most of the talking, with a large cover photo of the disgraced mogul. Its headline simply said "Weinstein guilty."

telegraph front page

The Telegraph

Metro, a free UK newspaper, dedicated almost its entire front page to Weinstein's trial, with the headline "Guilty Weinstein is locked up at last." It also included photos of two accusers in the New York trial, Jessica Mann and Mimi Haleyi.

metro front page

Metro

The Daily Mail used stronger words in its headline, which said, "Arrogance of a monster."

dailymail front page

Daily Mail

The Financial Times focused on President Donald Trump's India trip and the coronavirus' impact on stocks in its top two stories but also had the headline "Weinstein found guilty of sex crimes in verdict hailed by #MeToo activists."

FT front page

Financial Times

Read the original article on Insider
A man who was allegedly kidnapped and bashed unconscious as part of a failed multi-million dollar ransom bid wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for three real estate agents.

The harrowing conditions of a workshop and nearby shed in western Sydney where the man was allegedly tortured last November have been revealed after a breakthrough in the three-month police strike force investigation.

A man, 36, was arrested on Tuesday following an early morning raid on homes in nearby Plumpton and Mount Druitt.

A man has been arrested and charged in relation to an alleged torture and kidnapping

The man was charged with kidnapping a person with intent to gain advantage, reckless grievous bodily harm and using an authorised pistol

He is due to appear in Mount Druitt Local Court later on Tuesday.

Police will allege two men assaulted the victim, 36, with a gun inside a workshop on Links Road in St Marys on November 25.

The unconscious victim was then allegedly kidnapped and taken to a shed at a nearby property at Shanes Park, where he was found bound and unconscious a day later with a fractured skull by real estate agents who were there to do an inspection.

He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition and has since recovered from his serious injuries.

The victim was allegedly confronted and bashed by two men at this St Marys workshop

The unconscious man was then kidnapped and taken to this shed (pictured) at a nearby property in Shane Park, where he was found bound and suffering from a fractured skull

'We believed that he was tortured in some way and further injuries inflicted upon him during the 24 hours,' Detective Acting Superintendent Grant Taylor told reporters on Tuesday.

'He was in a critical condition and if he didn't receive medical attention soon after he most likely would have died.'

Police have seized a number of items from the two homes raided on Tuesday morning, which will be forensically examined.

The other alleged offender remains at large.

Police investigations are continuing as part of Strike Force Methuen.
Sands China Ltd. (HKG:1928) saw significant share price movement during recent months on the SEHK, rising to highs of HK$45.00 and falling to the lows of HK$36.60. 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 Sands China's current trading price of HK$38.10 reflective of the actual value of the large-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at Sands Chinas 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 Sands China

What's the opportunity in Sands China?

Sands China appears to be overvalued according to my relative valuation model. In this instance, Ive used the price-to-earnings (PE) ratio given that there is not enough information to reliably forecast the stocks cash flows. I find that Sands Chinas ratio of 19.46x is above its peer average of 11.78x, which suggests the stock is overvalued compared to the Hospitality industry. But, is there another opportunity to buy low in the future? Given that Sands Chinas share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us another chance to buy in the future. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility.

What does the future of Sands China look like?

SEHK:1928 Past and Future Earnings, February 25th 2020

Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so lets also take a look at the company's future expectations. With profit expected to grow by 22% over the next couple of years, the future seems bright for Sands China. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation.

Story continues

What this means for you:

Are you a shareholder? 1928s optimistic future growth appears to have been factored into the current share price, with shares trading above its fair value. At this current price, shareholders may be asking a different question  should I sell? If you believe 1928 should trade below its current price, selling high and buying it back up again when its price falls towards its real value can be profitable. But before you make this decision, take a look at whether its fundamentals have changed.

Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on 1928 for a while, now may not be the best time to enter into the stock. The price has surpassed its industry peers, which means it is likely that there is no more upside from mispricing. However, the positive outlook is encouraging for 1928, which means its worth diving deeper into other factors in order to take advantage of the next price drop.

Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters  the fundamentals  before you make a decision on Sands China. You can find everything you need to know about Sands China in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Sands China, 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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 23:51:26|Editor: yan

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- As part of the campaign to rescue and rehabilitate people from the streets of Nepal's capital Kathmandu, around 750 people have been rescued in the past two months, according to authorities.

The campaign was launched by Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) on Dec. 15 last year, coinciding with its 25th Metropolis Day, to make the city free from street-dependent people.

According to Hari Bahadur Kunwar, director of Urban Management Department at KMC, at least 749 people have been rescued and rehabilitated from different parts of the metropolitan so far.

"We rescue the street people and put them in our screening center first to identify the causes, their physical and mental health state and monitor them for few days. Then, either we reunite them with their respective families or provide them decent shelter in a humanitarian organization," Kunwar told Xinhua on Tuesday.

Kunwar said that among the rescued, 605 were males, 123 females and 15 children, while remaining few died in the course of treatment owing to their health problems.

"Majority of the rescued from streets are from 40-60 age group followed by 16-40 years old people, while we have minimal number of children," the official said.

Among the rescued people, majority have been reunited with their families, some are undergoing treatment at hospitals, some are in screening center while others are rehabilitated at a non-profit social organization called Manav Sewa Ashram based in Makwanpur, neighboring district to capital city.

The rescued people were found to be spending nights in the open space, mostly near the world heritage sites and corners of temples and religious structures. Some of them were orphans, disabled and also beggars, according to the official.

According to Article 126 of the General Code, which is known as Muluki Ain, street begging is prohibited in Nepal, and anyone found violating the rule may face a fine of Rs 30,000 (261 U.S. dollars) or jail term of at least 3 months or even both.

According to KMC, there is no exact statistics on how many people are currently living on streets of Kathmandu; however it informed that the major reason of people being dependent upon street is poverty and unemployment.

"We found that those who have been reunited with families are also back on the streets, while new ones are being added gradually. So, it's a tough task, but we are coming up with strong programs and strict plans," Kunwar said.
All of them are crew members.

Head of the Crisis Management Center at the Consular Services Department of Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Maksym Kovalenko has said almost all Ukrainians on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship placed in quarantine off Yokohama port near Tokyo, Japan, over the China novel coronavirus are not going to be evacuated to Ukraine.

Read alsoNo COVID-19 coronavirus cases registered in Ukraine  health officials

In total, there were 25 citizens of Ukraine on board the ship, two of them are now in hospital. All of them are crew members, according to Hromadske Radio.

"Their obligations are determined by the contract, their desire is also taken into account. So far, 24 of them have said they are not going to return to Ukraine. We're establishing contact with another Ukrainian," the official said.

Ukraine is ready if they change their opinion, Kovalenko added. In this case, necessary measures will be taken. Yet, it is the citizens and ship owners who will take the final decision regarding their future.

As UNIAN reported earlier, 634 cases of COVID-19 virus were confirmed on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Four passengers died.

Two Ukrainians, a man and a woman who are crew members, also got infected with the coronavirus. Since February 19, passengers began to leave the liner after a two-week quarantine.
SINGAPORE  From Wednesday (26 February) 2359, new visitors with recent travel history to the Korean city of Daegu and county of Cheongdo within the last 14 days will not be allowed to enter or transit through Singapore, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Tuesday amid the worsening COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak in South Korea.

The announcement comes as South Korea continues to grapple with a surge in confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in recent days.

As of Tuesday night, South Korea reported 977 COVID-19 cases, including 11 deaths. The majority of them are linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu and over 100 to Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo.

Daegu and Cheongdo have been designated as special care zones.

The South Korean government has raised the alert level to the highest level of serious.

Residents in Singapore - Singaporeans and permanent residents - and long-term pass holders with recent travel history to Daegu and Cheongdo in the last 14 days will be issued with a Stay-Home Notice (SHN).

Those who are served with the SHN have to remain in their place of residence at all times for 14 days after returning to Singapore from Daegu and Cheongdo.

MOH on Sunday advised travellers to avoid non-essential travel to Daegu and Cheongdo, and exercise caution when travelling to the rest of South Korea.

On 1 February at 2359, a similar ban on all new visitors with recent travel history to China to enter or transit through Singapore took effect. The ban was expanded from an earlier curb for new visitors with travel history to the Chinese province of Hubei within the last 14 days.

L to R: A/Prof Kenneth Mak (Director of Medical Services MOH), co-chair of the COVID-19 taskforce and Health Minister Gan Kim Yong and co-chair of taskforce and National Development Minister Lawrence Wong at a media conference on 25 February 2020. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman/Yahoo News Singapore)

COVID-19 situation in Italy

At a media conference on Tuesday, the multi-ministry taskforce on the coronavirus said if the situation in South Korea were to worsen and affect more areas beyond Daegu and Cheongdo, it would impose further restrictions for travel to the country.

The taskforce was asked about the reasons for not imposing similar restrictions for recent travel to Italy. As of Tuesday, Italy has reported a total of 270 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and seven deaths from the outbreak, mostly in a number of towns in the Lombardy and Veneto regions.

Story continues

Lawrence Wong, co-chair of the taskforce and National Development Minister, said the government is very mindful of the travel-related risk from Italy as well.

The taskforce has looked at some of the measures that the Italian government has done to curb the outbreak and thus far, it has been strict and prompt in identifying the cases, and locked down affected places, Wong said.

If you look at the volume of travel from these places (in Italy) to Singapore, it's nowhere near the volume of travel that we are talking about with respect to South Korea and Singapore. So for all of these reasons, we have not applied the same travel restrictions that we did for the two Korean cities to these small cities in the Lombardy region.

Nonetheless, the taskforce is monitoring the situation in Italy very carefully, Wong said. He pointed out that Milan is in Lombardy, and there are direct flights between the capital of the region and Singapore.

additional reporting by Dhany Osman

(INFOGRAPHIC: Yahoo News Singapore)

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore.

Related stories:

S. Korea 'very grave', Moon says as coronavirus cases approach 1,000

COVID-19: Singapore confirms 1 new case; 5 discharged, 7 in intensive care

COVID-19: Two church-related clusters linked through Chinese New Year family gathering

COVID-19: Work pass holders who travel to Daegu, Cheongdo in last 14 days need MOM's approval to enter Singapore
Local leaders in Alabama say they will try to stop Americans who tested positive for coronavirus and evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship from being quarantined at a facility in Anniston.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Saturday announced plans to quarantine the evacuees at the FEMA Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston. Elleen Kane, an HHS spokeswoman, told AL.com the evacuees will be transported next week.

Here is AL.coms complete coverage of the plan to bring coronavirus patients to Alabama

The Anniston City Council and Calhoun County Commission on Sunday will convene emergency meetings about seeking court intervention to stop the federal governments plans . The county commission will also consider declaring a local emergency.

Were live at an Anniston City Council meeting called to discuss people infected with Coronavirus being quarantined at the FEMA Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston. Posted by al.com on Sunday, February 23, 2020

The city council will meet at 10 a.m. at the Anniston City Meeting Center. The commission will meet at 2 p.m. at the Calhoun County Offices. The Oxford City Council will meet at 3 p.m. in support of the leaders in Anniston and Calhoun County.

Local leaders said they were completely caught off guard" by the HHS announcement, which they learned about on Saturday afternoon through local news media.

UPDATE: We have been in contact with Congressman Mike Rogers and Senator Richard Shelby. The plan to house the... Posted by Calhoun County EMA on Saturday, February 22, 2020

Local officials announced Saturday night that they will ask a court to stop the transportation of the evacuees.

At a press conference earlier Saturday, Tim Hodges, chairman of the Calhoun County Commission, referenced a temporary restraining order issued by a federal judge to halt the transportation of anyone who has tested positive for coronavirus to Costa Mesa, California. City leaders there had asked the court to intervene.

That may be something that we need to do on behalf of not only Anniston but the entire county, Hodges said, because whether this happens or not or we can stop it or not, it cant happen this quick."

Local officials said they learned of the federal governments plan to transport the evacuees to Anniston through local news media around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. They said they were not consulted by the government beforehand.

This was a decision by the federal government  and the federal government solely, Anniston Mayor Jack Draper said at the press conference.

The City of Anniston, along with the Calhoun County Commission hold a news conference in response to a coronavirus quarantine. The City of Anniston, along with the Calhoun County Commission hold a news conference in response to a coronavirus quarantine. Posted by WVTM 13 on Saturday, February 22, 2020

Those who will be quarantined have tested positive for coronavirus, according to federal health officials, though they either dont have symptoms or have mild flu-like symptoms. Coronavirus can cause mild to severe symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The federal government has assured us these patients will not have any impact on our local community, and that no one is at risk, Draper said.

U.S. Rep Mike Rogers, a Republican of Anniston, said he spoke to President Donald Trump about the situation and both men agree transporting the evacuees to Alabama is the wrong decision.

I will continue to work with President Trump & HHS to find the best facilities that meet the needs for those Americans that have been exposed to this dangerous virus, Rogers said on Twitter. The CDP (Center for Domestic Preparedness) is not that place.

Earlier this evening, I spoke w/ @realDonaldTrump. He agreed with me that the decision by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to house those Americans exposed to Coronavirus (COVID-19) at the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) in Anniston is the wrong decision.  Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogersAL) February 23, 2020

Under the HHS plan, evacuees will stay in an area separate from the FEMA Centers training participants, officials said. HHS said it will provide the evacuees with basic medical care, and they will remain at the Center until being medically cleared.

Any of the evacuees who become seriously ill will be transported to pre-identified hospitals for medical care, says a news release from HHS officials.

The passengers were evacuated back to the U.S. by the federal government from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan. Local leaders in Alabama said they dont know how many of the passengers are being sent to Anniston.

As of Saturday, coronavirus cases have been reported in 28 countries, including the U.S., The New York Times reported. In the U.S., at least 34 people  18 of them evacuees from the Diamond Princess cruise ship  were infected as of Friday, according to the Times. President Trump was furious and surprised that Americans evacuated from the cruise ship were being flown back to the U.S. earlier this week, despite testing positive for the coronavirus, The Washington Post reported.

All of the U.S. cases are linked to international travel, the Times reported. As of Saturday, the virus was not spreading in U.S. communities, according to the CDC.

The overwhelming majority of coronavirus cases  more than 76,000  have been reported in China, where the virus originated in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, the Times reported. Of those cases in China, more than 2,300 have been deadly.

Read more: What you need to know about FEMAs Anniston facility

This story was last updated at 10:56 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  With three presidential nominating contests in the books  and one on the way this weekend  the state of the Democratic race to challenge Republican President Donald Trump has taken shape.

Still, with the Ohio primary three weeks away on March 17, how are each of the candidates chances in Ohio?

Well, if you ask any of the campaigns, they will tell you that their candidate, undeniably, is the favorite. They have the message, the organization or whatever buzzword you want to insert here to carry Ohio to the nomination.

We all know thats not true. So lets take a look at whos actually the favorite and why. Ill update this list as the race moves along.

1. Bernie Sanders

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by CNN/New York Times at Otterbein University, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, in Westerville, Ohio. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)AP

There simply isnt any way that Sanders isnt the odds-on favorite to win the Ohio primary at this point. He keeps winning states, including Nevada in dominant fashion. His vote totals are growing. Everyone elses campaign seems scattered compared with his organization.

Without some kind of abject failure in the near future, theres no reason to believe Ohio Democrats wont drift toward him if he consolidates enough support to become the consensus nominee.

Predictive markets have him as the heavy favorite. On PredictIt, futures contracts on him winning the Ohio primary are at 73-cents-a-share, more than triple the next challenger. FiveThirtyEights election forecast tool gives Sanders a 68% chance of winning the most votes and, projecting an average of 66 pledged delegates out of a possible 136 in simulations.

The downside is Sanders has some bad history on his side. Ohio Democrats arent known for picking the most liberal candidates in the race. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton dusted Sanders in 2016 by 13 percentage points. Clinton beat then-Sen. Barack Obama by more than 9 percentage points in 2008. In 2004, then-Sen. John Kerry demolished then-Sen. John Edwards 52%-34% (however, that figure evens out slightly more if we include hometown candidate and then-Rep. Dennis Kucinichs 9% into Edwards figure, making the split 52%-43%).

But everyone has said the same thing about Sanders and the moderate wing in other states and it hasnt led to a decline. Theres no reason to think it will here either.

2. Joe Biden

Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the Human Rights Campaign Columbus, Ohio Dinner at Ohio State University Saturday, June 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)AP

Bidens campaign doesnt look the healthiest at this point, though he did well enough in Nevada to stay afloat. Hes still the favorite to win the South Carolina primary, which may give him a little boost going into Super Tuesday.

If he makes it to Ohio, Biden stands to do pretty well. Hes consistently led the limited polling here by a pretty significant margin. Part of that can be explained by pure name recognition and familiarity, but the fact of the matter in Ohio is that Democrats generally do like Biden.

Bidens politics fit the state very well, which makes Ohio fertile territory for him. He has strong ties to labor unions and the black community, both significant constituencies in the Democratic primary. His former boss President Barack Obamas popularity among the party doesnt hurt either.

But Bidens shown time and time again that he is his own electoral kryptonite. His entire argument this election cycle is on electability, but after a pair of embarrassing losses in Iowa and New Hampshire, and an OK-not-great result in Nevada, he doesnt look very electable right now. A strong South Carolina and Super Tuesday could alleviate some of those concerns. A rebound could boost Biden ahead of Sanders in future rankings.

3. Mike Bloomberg

Democratic Presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg gestures while taking part in an on-stage conversation with former California Gov. Jerry Brown at the American Geophysical Union fall meeting Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)AP

Theres no beating around the bush: Bloomberg turned in a disaster of a debate performance last week. He looked out of touch, confused and weak for almost the entire two hours as the rest of the field danced circles around him. It was the debate equivalent of 2Pacs Hit Em Up. Maybe hell do better tonight in the debate in South Carolina, but its certainly not a given.

But, to stay with the rap analogies, Its All About The Benjamins and Bloomberg, with a net worth of $62 billion, has enough money to make him worth more than the entire country of Croatia. Bloombergs also shown hes more than willing to spend it, which does count for something.

Especially in Ohio, where Bloomberg is dumping money and resources left and right. That includes bombarding both television and radio airwaves with advertisements, hiring nearly 100 staff in the state and doing outreach in just about every conceivable way. Bloombergs campaign is also making a pretty aggressive play to Ohio power players for their support. A decent debate and strong Super Tuesday showing could easily bump up his chances here.

4. Elizabeth Warren

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., speaks in a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by CNN/New York Times at Otterbein University, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, in Westerville, Ohio. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)AP

Warrens debate thrashing of Bloomberg revived her presidential ambitions after underperforming in Iowa and New Hampshire. But it might be too little too late, especially in Ohio where she hasnt polled particularly well.

She raised a boatload of cash in the immediate aftermath, but her biggest problem was never really Bloomberg. Its Sanders. Without a Sanders crash, there dont seem to be many sources for Warren to pull support from. That includes Ohio, though she does have significant resources invested in the state already.

5. Pete Buttigieg

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign rally late Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)AP

Buttigiegs star seems to be burning out. Its not that hes done poorly, just that he was a longshot from the beginning and hes failed to dominate in any way.

Electability isnt really a quantifiable concept, but it does drive voters. Especially Democratic voters this year. Without a convincing win, Democrats in this state worried about picking someone too liberal will probably opt for Biden or Bloomberg.

Being a young, fresh face and having Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley as an active surrogate doesnt hurt. But Ohio isnt a state thats driven by the youth vote.

6. Amy Klobuchar

Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., speaks during a Democratic presidential primary debate Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, in Las Vegas, hosted by NBC News and MSNBC. (AP Photo/John Locher)AP

There doesnt seem to be any indication that Klobuchars minor blips on the radar are anything but that. Shes outperformed expectations, but the expectations were low to begin with.

7. Tom Steyer

Democratic presidential candidate businessman Tom Steyer waves before a Democratic presidential primary debate Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)AP

Barring a stunning victory in South Carolina, Steyer doesnt seem to be making any progress in Ohio. Even a South Carolina win probably isnt enough.

8. Tulsi Gabbard

Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii speaks to Democrats gathered at the Spratt Issues Conference in Greenville, S.C., Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)AP

Yes shes still running. No she doesnt have a chance, even with Dennis Kucinichs backing. If shes still in the race by the time Ohio votes, Ill assume its because someone forgot to announce she was dropping out.

Read more cleveland.com politics coverage:

Ohio Congress members want government action on coronavirus

What the Nevada Democratic caucuses tell me about the Ohio primary

Ohio bill would ban transgender females from girls and womens high school, college sports teams

Ohio recreational marijuana legalization measure could appear on November 2020 ballot

Ohio Attorney General tosses out GOP voting complaint against Democratic congressional candidate
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has made a prolific visit to Italy this week, reaching more than a dozen agreements, including in the defense sector. As Caspian News reports, a contract with Italys airplane manufacturer and defense corporation Leonardo was just one of the 17 agreements signed by representatives from Baku and Rome. Under the deal, Leonardos M-346 cutting-edge trainer jets are being purchased by Azerbaijans defense ministry.

It will be a very big deal to be implemented by Leonardo, President Aliyev said, referring to a memorandum of understanding signed with the Italian defense giant, according to the presidents official website. This will be the opening of a new page in our collaboration, which is a very promising project. Because we are at the stage of modernizing our defense infrastructure.

The M-346, designed for training pilots, is considered to be on par with next-generation combat aircraft such as the Eurofighter Typhoon and the F-35, which is designed by the American defense giant Lockheed Martin. Leonardos version forms part of the air forces of Italy, Singapore, Israel and Poland. Azerbaijan is the first country in the Caspian and South Caucasus region to purchase the model.

Azerbaijan already has the largest trainer jet fleet in the South Caucasus region, comprised also of Armenia and Georgia, with 29 aircraft, according to Global Firepower. Azerbaijan ranks 64 among 138 countries and is considered to be the strongest military in South Caucasus  a significant point, considering Azerbaijan having 20 percent of its internationally recognized territory under Armenia's occupation for more than a quarter century.

Azerbaijans air force has a total of 147 aircraft, including fighter, attack, transport and trainer jets, as well as civil and attack helicopters.

Cooperation between Baku and Leonardo began in 2012, at which time the company was branded as Finmeccanica. Then Augusta Westland, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, secured a  115 million ($125 million) deal with Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) to supply 10 helicopters for offshore transportation, emergency medical services, search and rescue, and VIP transportation services.

Leonardo is also involved in Azerbaijans energy sector. In 2017, it reached an agreement with the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) that has the company providing physical and cybersecurity services to protect the Southern Gas Corridor mega-natural gas pipeline that will begin supplying 10 billion cubic meters of Caspian gas to Europe by the end of this year.
A bipartisan group of Illinois lawmakers has gotten behind a proposal to repeal the states new car trade-in tax and replace it with a different fee structure.

As of Jan. 1, Illinois sales tax applies to any trade-in vehicle worth more than $10,000. That means trading in a $30,000 car for one worth $60,000 will cost the customer an extra $1,200 in additional sales taxes. Its estimated to bring the state $60 million annually, affecting what state officials insisted was a small portion of Illinois residents.

Legislation filed earlier last month would repeal the application of sales tax to trade-in value over $10,000. In turn, it would charge a tax based on the selling price of the car if its worth more than $15,000 or how old it is if valued at less than $15,000. It would take effect 120 days after its enacted.

Industry experts predicted the Jan. 1 change would have a profound effect on consumer buying habits and the change appears to have set in quickly.

Last year, we had about 26 trade-ins by now from the first of the year that were over $10,001, said Daniel Fontana, sales consultant at Mike Haggerty Buick GMC in Oak Lawn. Were only floating at 19 right now.

Fontana sells mid-level luxury cars, often taking trade-ins that clear $10,000 in value. The new change, he said, is likely going to cost the state sales tax revenue because drivers will hang on to their cars longer instead of trading up, allowing the dealership to sell their car.

Weve got a lot of people that are normally on a three-to-four year trade cycle and this might push them out to five-to-seven, he said.

Instead of the re-sale tax revenue, Fontana said, the older, more depreciated vehicle will be sold at auction.

The new legislation is sponsored by state Sen. Antonio Munoz, D-Chicago, and is cosponsored by Democrats and Republicans throughout the state.

Its awaiting a hearing in the Senate Revenue Committee, which meets Wednesday.
The suspect in a hit-and-run collision that killed a 12-year-old girl in Castro Valley on Monday afternoon surrendered to authorities on Tuesday morning, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol said.

Joshua Byrne, 24, of Hayward, who formerly lived in Castro Valley, was accompanied by an attorney when he turned himself in at the CHP's Castro Valley office at about 8 a.m., according to CHP Officer Gabe Walters.
The United States recorded the largest decrease in carbon dioxide emissions of any country last year, which representatives of Grow Americas Infrastructure Now credits to a transition from coal to natural gas.

The group, in partnership with the Midland-Odessa Transportation Alliance, participated Thursday in a panel discussion that focused on the Permian Basins role in driving the energy industry.

Data from the International Energy Agency released this month shows carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. were down 140 million metric tons, or 2.9 percent, in 2019 compared to the year before. The IEA states this decline correlates with a 15 percent reduction in coal use.

Natural gas is the reason CO2 emissions are down in this country, said Craig Stevens, former chief spokesman for the U.S. Department of Energy, during Thursdays panel.

He said that although the coal industry attempted to retrofit some of its plants, the availability of natural gas makes it an increasingly popular alternative.

IEA data shows natural gas now accounts for 37 percent of electricity generation in the U.S. Stevens said continued gas flaring at oil wells across the Permian Basin indicates theres still plenty available.

The Permian Basins gas production is expected to double by the year 2025, according to data from midstream energy company Enterprise Products Partners. To keep up with the demand, three pipelines are currently in the works to transport gas out of the region.

Despite widespread national coverage of pipeline protests, geologist Bill Godsey said during the panel that pipelines are the safest way to transport natural gas  far safer than by train or truck.

Pipelines are heavily regulated, he said. Its not just dig a hole and throw it in. Its an extremely lengthy and difficult process to permit a pipeline.

Godsey, president of Geo Logic Environmental Services and a former Texas Railroad Commission geologist, said there are several hurdles that must be addressed before beginning construction, including possible endangered species, local and regional ordinances, aquifers and regulations on the operation of the pipeline itself as well as the materials used for construction.

Theres a lot of obstacles before you can put a pipeline in the ground, he said.

Stevens said plans for future pipelines could be complicated by the outcomes of the November elections.

This shouldnt be a partisan issue, but its turned into a partisan issue, he said.

Pipelines have become a popular topic among candidates vying for the Democratic presidential nomination. U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and Tom Steyer have said they oppose pipeline expansion.

Weve got folks up there on day one that are going to shut down pipelines, Stevens said, referencing the Democratic candidates. It was really striking to me that there are people in this country who want to leave our natural resources in the ground.

Additionally, the panel discussed global crises that could curb demand for natural gas.

Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. James Spider Marks said the outbreak of the coronavirus will likely lead to a drop in demand for oil and natural gas, because several of the largest banks in the world are Chinese-owned. Great Britain leaving the European Union could also cause a decrease in demand for U.S. product, he said.

The challenge is a unified Europe. The EU is our largest trading partner, Marks said. If that starts to disintegrate, my concern is we could go back to what we had in Europe in the mid-1930s. Individual states in Europe will look towards Russia.

He said the effects of the coronavirus and Brexit on the oil and gas industry could be abhorrent if not corrected quickly.
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
The first ten Amendments to the United States Constitution, commonly known as the Bill of Rights, is the highest law of the land. If for some reason you happen to disagree with me about that (probably because of your public "education"), and with the Founding Fathers and the Supreme Court, there's no point in your reading further. Put it cybernetically, the Bill of Rights is the basic operating system of the country and the sole source of American exceptionalism. If we don't have that we have nothing. We might as well be Belgium.

The Second of those Amendments famously maintains that the government may not interfere, even in the slightest, with the individual right to own and carry weapons. Lesser lights than the Founders over the centuries have been absolutely terrified at the idea of a well-armed populace ("Your people, sir, are a great beast!" said Alexander Hamilton), and have attempted desperately to limit that right and gradually whittle it away.

The most pertinent and obnoxious example of that (only one of many) is the 1911 New York Sullivan Act, named after an infamously corrupt Tammany Hall (look it up) politician, meant primarily to disarm Italian immigrants that politicians were frightened by. The law was so egregious that even notorious gun-grabber Wyatt Earp questioned Sullivan's mental health. .....
Apropos the editorial Family Plots (February 25), the Congress, with or without the Gandhis, will continue to be under constant attack from the ruling party as long as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in power under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress at present is on the same boat as the BJP when it had been losing one election after another since 2004.

The crisis then was so bad that many from within the party started targeting each other. Former Union minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, Arun Shourie, had infamously said, BJP kati patang, ...
The Goa Government on Tuesday



moved the Supreme Court for interim relief, seeking to restrain neighboring Karnataka from carrying out any construction on the Mahadayi river.

Three riparian states -- Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka -- have challenged the award of the Inter-State Water Dispute Tribunal over sharing of the Mahadayi water by filing a special leave petition (SLP) in the SC.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the application was filed for interim relief to restrain Karnataka from carrying out any activity or construction regarding its Kalsa-Bhanduri dam project on the river pending the hearing of the SLP.

The SC would take up the application for hearing on March 2, he informed.

On February 20, the SC had notified the award given by the Tribunal, allowing Karnataka to take up work on the Kalsa-Bhanduri project.

Goa is opposed to this project, fearing that it would divert its share of water.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - In a state where elections and litigation are intertwined, add this to Floridas ballot box saga: A pair of Floridians are asking a court to remove Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Democratic front-runner for president, from the states March 17 primary ballot.

Although Sanders is registered as a Democrat with the Federal Election Commission, a lawsuit filed in Leon County asserts he is a political interloper and not a bona fide Democrat.

Defendant Sanders is clearly an Independent, and is clearly not a Democrat, by his own definitions. His current day job is as a United States Senator and he has consistently, proudly asserted his service in that role as Independent, contends the suit filed on behalf of the two registered Democrats who want Sanders off the ballot.

They say he should run as an Independent.

In our political climate today, Democrats need to have a voice, said George Brown, and 80-year-old former member of the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army.

Hes eliminating my vote as a Democrat, said Frank Bach, 82, a Korean War veteran who retired from the U.S. Air Force as an airman first class. Im very upset with the president we have right now.

Floridas ballot box has been the source of continuing legal strife, with cases currently being litigated over the right of felons to vote, early voting on college campuses and even the order in which names appear on ballots.

With Sanders now the clear front-runner to become the Democratic nominee for the White House, his rivals are looking to slow his momentum.

The lawsuit is ridiculous, said Juan Penalosa, the executive director of the Florida Democratic Party, which was named as a defendant in the lawsuit along with Sanders, the national Democratic Party and Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee.

Penalosa said the state party had unanimously voted to place Sanders on the Florida ballot.

Votes cast for the Senator are valid and must be counted, he said.
Director-producer Ram Gopal Varma is known for making controversial statements in the Indian film industry. The filmmaker has earlier taken a dig at many celebrities like Karan Johar, Amitabh Bachchan and others. Now, his new pick is US President Donald Trump.

The President of the USA is in India for two days. During Trump's India visit, he inaugurated the newly renovated Motera stadium in Ahmedabad with Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. The inauguration ceremony was attended by nearly 1 lakh people. However, the US publication reported that the Indian government gathered nearly 10 million people to welcome US President Donald Trump to India.

This report didn't go well with Ram Gopal Varma as he made a satirical comment over Donald Trump's visit . In the tweet, RGV wrote, "The only way @realDonaldTrump's claim there will be 10 million people to welcome him in india can come true is, if they manage to line up Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan , Amir Khan, Sharuk Khan , Rajnikant, Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone and SUNNY LEONE to stand next to TRUMP"

The only way @realDonaldTrump s claim there will be 10 million people to welcome him in india can come true is, if they manage to line up Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan , Amir Khan, Sharuk Khan , Rajnikant, Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone and SUNNY LEONE to stand next to TRUMP  Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) February 22, 2020

"We Indians spent thousands of crores in welcoming @realDonaldTrump, but will Americans spend even thousands of rupees in welcoming @narendramodi to the US ? That says about America and not India ...Just saying !," RGV added.

We Indians spent thousands of crores in welcoming @realDonaldTrump , but will Americans spend even thousands of rupees in welcoming @narendramodi to the US ? That says about America and not India ...Just saying !  Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) February 24, 2020

Commenting on Trump's revengeful nature, Ram Gopal Varma wrote, "I luv it that our PM played on @realDonaldTrump's obsession for crowds and lured him by saying 1 crore will come ..But now since instead of 1 crore only 1 lak came ,I hope Donnie baby won't sulk and cancel the trade deal with india ..Trump is known to be revengeful Flushed face"

I luv it that our PM played on @realDonaldTrump s obsession for crowds and lured him by saying 1 crore will come ..But now since instead of 1 crore only 1 lak came ,I hope Donnie baby wont sulk and cancel the trade deal with india ..Trump is known to be revengeful   Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) February 24, 2020

Dragging Baahubali director SS Rajamouli's name to this issue, Ram Gopal Varma tweeted, "The @realDonaldTrump should request @ssrajamouli to use his wizard cg multiplication techniques and make the 1 lakh people in Ahmedabad look like 1 crore and give that video as a gift to Trump".

The @realDonaldTrump should request @ssrajamouli to use his wizard cg multiplication techniques and make the 1 lakh people in Ahmedabad look like 1 crore and give that video as a gift to Trump  Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) February 24, 2020

RGV's tweets are indeed focusing on the major issues of Trump's visit to India. Meanwhile, the Bhoot director's next venture Geher is currently under production and is scheduled to release in 2020. The film stars Mithun Chakraborty, Amit Sadh, Flora Saini, Manav Kaul and Makarand Deshpande.

Also Read : Ram Gopal Varma Becomes Grandfather, SS Rajamouli Drops A Funny Comment To Wish Him
NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Spirit Aerosystems Holdings, Inc. (Spirit or the Company) (NYSE: SPR) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, for the Northern District of Oklahoma, and indexed under 20-cv-00077, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants who purchased or otherwise acquired Spirit securities between October 31, 2019 and January 29, 2020, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.



If you are a shareholder who purchased Spirit securities during the class period, you have until April 10, 2020, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

Spirit designs, manufactures, and supplies commercial aero structures in the U.S. and internationally.

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Companys business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Spirit lacked effective internal controls over financial reporting; (ii) Spirit did not comply with its established accounting principles related to potential contingent liabilities; and (iii) as a result, Defendants statements about Spirits business, operations and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

On January 30, 2020, before the market opened, the Company issued a press release announcing that Spirit had determined that it did not comply with its accounting procedures and that the Companys Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer had resigned.

On this news, Spirits stock price fell $2.56 per share, or 3.78%, to close at $65.08 per share on January 30, 2020.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

rswilloughby@pomlaw.com
OISTE.ORG to address the 43rd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Right to Privacy

Privacy is as a basic, fundamental human right

Geneva, February 25, 2020 - The OISTE Foundation, a non-governmental organization, in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC), will lead a panel on the human right to privacy during the 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council (March 3, 2020, at 14:00 - 15:00, in room XXVII) at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

Privacy is as a basic, fundamental human right. It is also an endangered right. New digital technologies track and scrutinize us all at this age of surveillance capitalism (Zuboff, 2018). The digital economy considers every click, search or like as an asset to be monetized. Our lives, reflected in cyberspace, are plundered for behavioral data for the sake of a system that converts our freedom into profit. We are quietly being domesticated into accepting as normal that decision rights vanish before we even know that there is a decision to make.

A new awareness infused by a human-rights based approach that consider each individual "netizen" as a dignified moral being, worth of respect, is required. Otherwise, our connectivity will continue to offer a perverse amalgam of empowerment inextricably layered with diminishment.

For these reasons, the Foundation OISTE, - building upon the various resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council touching on the protection and promotion of the right to privacy in the digital age - has set up a panel to address, inter alia, the following issues:

Identifying and clarifying principles, standards and best practices regarding the promotion and protection of the human right to privacy

Reinforcing the principles of non-arbitrariness, lawfulness, legality, necessity and proportionality in communications surveillance by the State.

Ensuring that profiling, automated decision-making and machine-learning technologies do proceed in accordance to agreed safeguards and do not affect the enjoyment of human rights

Introducing a gender perspective and ensuring that there exists effective domestic oversight and remedies for the violation of the human right to privacy

Addressing the issue of personal data management: often individuals do not provide their free, explicit and informed consent to the re-use, sale or multiple re-sales of their personal data

Addressing the issue of human rights impacts of artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on examples of discrimination and bias

The OISTE Foundation signed The International Principles on the Application of Human Rights to Communications Surveillance right after they were launched at the 24th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in 2013. OISTE invites other organizations to join: https://necessaryandproportionate.org/

About the Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention. It meets at the UN Office at Geneva.

About OISTE FOUNDATION

Founded in Switzerland in 1998, OISTE was created with the objectives of promoting the use and adoption of international standards to secure electronic transactions, expand the use of digital certification and ensure the interoperability of certification authorities' e-transaction systems. The OISTE Foundation is a not for profit organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, regulated by article 80 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code. OISTE is an organization in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) and belongs to the Not-for-Profit constituency (NPOC) of the ICANN.
Tiny tots dressed in traditional Indian attire welcomed her and students gifted her paintings they had made. But what caught the attention of US First Lady Melania Trump during her visit to a Delhi government school on Tuesday was a Bhangra performance by a 11-year-old Sikh student in the audience as other students danced on stage.

Students of Sarvodaya Co-ed Senior Secondary School in Moti Bagh sat quietly on the school grounds as students from other government schools performed for the American first lady. The first performance was the popular Rajasthani song padharo maro des (come to my country) to which the students cheered, waving the US and Indian flags.

As the second group of students began dancing to catchy a Punjabi number, Gagandeep Singh got up from among the audience and started doing his own Bhangra as a few teachers glared at him. As Gagandeep, a student of class 6, danced without inhibitions, Melania spotted him and encouraged him by clapping to the beats. The school principal followed suit and soon a dozen students got up from their rows and started dancing to the song.

By the end of the event, Gagandeep was a star and Melania called him aside. She told me you danced very well, he said, while his friends teased him about getting a US green card.

When asked what prompted him to get up and dance, he said, Dhol sunke mood ban gaya (I could not resist the beats).I felt like dancing so I danced.

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Vice President Mike Pence thanked Michigan framers for standing strong with the Trump administration while facing financial hardship under the presidents trade wars.

Pence attended the Michigan Farm Bureaus Lansing Legislative Seminar Tuesday on a bus tour through the state. The former Indiana governor was introduced as the son of a farm state before taking the stage to address an estimated 475 people from across Michigan.

The Trump re-election campaign has kept a focus on keeping the support of farmers after embarking on a lengthy trade war with China. The president campaigned in Michigan four years ago on promises to impose tariffs on Chinese goods to pressure the country into ending unfair trade practices.

Pence said Tuesday that past administrations stood by while China took advantage of the United States. He acknowledged the dueling tariffs imposed by China and the U.S. created some uncertainty," but argued it was necessary to level the playing field.

The era of economic surrender to China is over, Pence said. We stood strong. Michigan Farm Bureau and farmers across this country stood strong with us. The way farmers really stood in the pocket was inspiring.

Michigan farmers, particularly soybean and pork producers, were faced with declining sales after China imposed its own tariffs on several American agricultural commodities. Michigan Farm Bureau President Carl Bednarski said the trade war has been difficult, but new trade deals with China, Japan, Canada and Mexico make the ordeal worth the struggle.

We had a tough time, we had a tough year, but were seeing the fruits of those efforts, Bednarski said. Its a bright future for agriculture.

A January poll from the 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.

Bednarski said Monday that farmers saw the greater need to fix trade imbalances and were largely ready to take one for the team. The Michigan Farm Bureaus annual legislative conference is typically focused on state-level issues, but Bednarski invited Pence to attend this year.

China has committed to buy an additional $200 billion of American goods and services by 2021 in a new trade deal signed in January.

Pence said the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement will expand market access for Michigan egg and dairy products. The deal is expected to create $2.2 billion in new agricultural exports to Mexico and China.

Pence said the man who wrote the Art of the Deal got a great deal for the country, referencing the presidents 1987 business-advice book.

Michigan Democrats criticized the Trump administration for making farmers bear the brunt of an erratic trade war. Though the White House made $28 billion in subsidies available to offset the impact of retaliatory tariffs, 15 Michigan farms declared bankruptcy in 2019, an increase from the previous year.

Family farm bankruptcies across the country in 2019 increased by nearly 20% from the previous year.

Democratic primary hopeful Mike Bloomberg planned to park a truck bearing digital campaign advertisements outside Pences stops in Lansing and Troy. The billionaire activist spent nearly $11.6 million on ads in Michigan, according to an analysis by the Michigan Campaign Finance Network.

Donald Trump only cares about farmers when he needs their vote, reads one of the billboards on the truck. Mike Bloomberg will always support Americas agriculture.

Pence sharply criticized Bloomberg for recently resurfaced comments made about farmers in 2016. Bloomberg was discussing the challenge of educating Americans for high-skilled jobs at the University of Oxford in England. Bloomberg said it is harder to find people jobs in the information economy," than it was to train people for farming jobs in the past.

If you think about it, the agrarian society lasted 3,000 years, and we can teach processes, Bloomberg said. I can teach anybody  even people in this room, so no offense intended  to be a farmer. Its a process. You dig a hole, you put a seed in, you put dirt on top, you add water, up comes corn. You can learn that.

Pence noted that one-fifth of Michigans working people are employed in the agriculture industry. He scoffed at Bloombergs comments, though the Bloomberg campaign said he was not talking about modern farming.

I have never heard a more uninformed, ignorant statement about agriculture in my life, Pence said. Someone tell him to Google agri-science ... you all are the breadbasket of the world because this is a high-tech operation."

Speakers also celebrated the planned revision of a key phrase in the Clean Water Act that defined the extent of federal jurisdiction over waterways on private property. Pence said the Obama-era rule tried to take control of small bodies of water like ditches and wet spots.

Pence celebrated the repeal of eight federal regulations for every new rule put into the federal registry.

Pence arrived in Michigan shortly after 11 p.m., landing in Air Force Two at Capital Region International Airport in Lansing. The vice president was joined by Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. He was greeted by the U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, former Attorney General Bill Schuette and state Reps. Tristan Cole, R-Mancelona, and Joe Bellino, R-Monroe.

Pence greeted supporters and signed red Make America Great Again hats before boarding a large blue campaign bus. The vice president made an unscheduled stop at Fleetwood Diner in Lansing on his way to the Farm Bureau conference, where he purchased blueberry pancakes.

Pence is also scheduled to deliver remarks at a Keep America Great event at 5 p.m. in Troy.

Read more on MLive:

Pence using Michigan visit to reach pro-Trump farmers, blue-collar workers

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
NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Manhattan and Nassau County audiology group I Love Hearing announces the launch of its newly-designed website, complete with extensive resources on hearing loss, hearing aids, tinnitus therapy, and the practice's unique hearing aid shopping process which allows patients to choose from a multitude of brands and to try a model before buying.

The waiting room at I Love Hearing's Upper East Side location. Aviva Tilson has been revolutionizing hearing healthcare in Manhattan and Long Island for years.

"Our new website gives us a platform to educate prospective and current I Love Hearing patients," says I Love Hearing owner and audiologist Aviva Tilson. "We want to provide patients with the information they need right at their fingertips, and a new website was the perfect way to showcase that information and reach people who have questions about their hearing and audiology care."

According to Tilson, the hearing aid information center compiles dozens of frequently asked questions about the hearing aid selection and fitting process, which she said can be "overwhelming" without guidance to those exploring how hearing aids can help. The site also answers common questions about tinnitus, a condition which causes ringing or other persistent noise that interferes with hearing.

"The information we provide on our website gives patients the words they need to describe the issues they may be experiencing," Tilson says, "so before coming into our New York City hearing aid clinic or one of our Long Island locations, our patients can feel fully prepared to discuss their symptoms with us."

According to Tilson, the practice is set on disrupting how hearing aid fittings and sales have been conducted for decades. Typically a brand-specific process, I Love Hearing is one of the first and few brand-agnostic practices, offering fittings and repair services for nearly every hearing aid brand on the market, including Starkey, Widex, Signia, Sonic, Oticon and ReSound.

"Patients want to be a part of the hearing aid selection process, but information about hearing aids can get confusing as different brands compete for customers' attention," says Tilson. "When we arm patients with the right information and education, they can be full participants in their own care. Not every hearing aid is a fit for everyone, and we want to support patients as they explore which model is best for them."

I Love Hearing is also one of few NYC area audiology groups with practices both inside and outside the five boroughs. In addition to its Upper East Side flagship, I Love Hearing has four locations found throughout Long Island: Port Washington, New Hyde Park, East Meadow, and Great Neck. Contact information for each location can be found on the new website.

"We want as many people as possible to discover I Love Hearing," says Tilson. "With our new website, we provide our patients with all the information they could possibly need to make an educated, meaningful decision about their hearing care."

ABOUT I LOVE HEARING

I Love Hearing offers hearing aid fittings, hearing aid service, hearing aid testing, hearing protection products, hearing aid accessories, hearing aid classes and workshops, tinnitus therapy, and ear wax management under the care of experienced hearing professionals. I Love Hearing sells nearly every brand on the market, and services all brands of hearing aids and hearing protection. Locations include the Upper East Side of Manhattan and four in Long Island in Nassau County: Port Washington, New Hyde Park, Great Neck, and East Meadow. For more information, visit www.iLoveHearing.com.

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SINGAPORE  A drunken man who wanted to get an update on his case of reported theft climbed into a police station one night, in a case described as unusual by the judge who heard it.

Li Nan, a 23-year-old Chinese national, was fined $400 on Tuesday (25 February) after he pleaded guilty to one count of trespassing into a Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC), a ground belonging to the government.

The deliveryman told the court that his necklace, worth $800, and mobile phone had been stolen during the Lunar New Year. Li made a police report but broke into the station two days later when he did not get an update on his case.

Li was arrested on 27 January this year at about 1.14am after he was found within the gated grounds of the NPC. He was unable to provide a satisfactory excuse for being on the grounds.

He was then detained for further investigations, during which he admitted to climbing over a wall near the rear gate of the NPC. He claimed to have done so as he wanted to get an update on a case that he had reported two days earlier.

CCTV footage captured his foray over the wall.

Unrepresented in court, Li told District Judge Marvin Bay that he had consumed alcoholic drinks and was very sorry for the offence.

Asked by the judge why he had trespassed into the NPC, Li said through an interpreter that he had reported the stolen items during the festive period.

The necklace was worth S$800 he added.

Was the necklace ever recovered? asked DJ Bay, to which Li replied no.

Please tell Mr Li that this case is unusual and the fact that he trespassed into a police station, he told the interpreter.

I accept that you were inebriated, and of course there is a need to deter people from taking such extreme measures even if they are anxious to learn about the progress of their cases. Nevertheless, I accept your explanation, and I understand, and I am informed of your loss of property.

The judge strongly encouraged Li to pay the fine.

For trespassing into a ground belonging to the government without a satisfactory excuse, Li could have been fined up to $1,000.



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Press Release - Boston, London, Nice, Paris, Singapore, Tokyo, Feb. 25, 2020

Unsustainable Proposals

By failing to represent investors' interests and through its deficiencies, the proposal for the new European regulation on sustainable benchmarks is not the right answer to climate transition

In a comprehensive analysis of the recent proposals from the Technical Expert Group (TEG), which the European Commission mandated to assist it in drawing up delegated acts implementing the Regulation on Climate Benchmarks and Sustainability Disclosures of Benchmarks (2019/2089), Scientific Beta underlines that these proposals go against the legislator's goal of an ambitious reorientation of investment flows in support of climate transition and sustainability.

Where the Regulation was calling for explanations of how ESG dimensions are incorporated into sustainable benchmarks, the TEG champions the imposition of extensive and expensive ESG disclosures. These onerous reporting requirements would discourage the offering and adoption of benchmarks that pursue Climate Change or other ESG objectives. In addition, the proposed disclosures would fail to promote informed decision-making in terms of sustainability. This is both because they centre on ESG ratings whose inherent divergence frustrates the possibility of meaningful comparisons and because the TEG fails to standardise disclosures in respect of ESG metrics that could have relevance. Hence, the TEG proposals set out strong ambitions on ESG disclosure and allow each benchmark administrator to use its own definitions, for example in respect of controversial activities. In this, the TEG proposals not only do little to promote sustainability but also and most perversely allow ESG-washing to be performed under the falsely protective mantle of sustainability regulation.

Scientific Beta also questions the relevance and adequacy of the exotic carbon exposure metric introduced by the TEG. The recommendation of the TEG to deviate from the generally-accepted carbon exposure metric is supported neither by a literature review nor a cost/benefit analysis. In addition, Scientific Beta shows that this alternative metric suffers from significant biases and flaws and that it may lead to disregarding the efforts made by companies to mitigate their greenhouse gas emissions. This final effect is a pathetic travesty of the design of the regulation.

Last but not least, by anchoring the construction of Climate Benchmarks to cap-weighted references, the proposal fails to take account of the variety of benchmarks used by institutional investors and their desire, which has been expressed for many years, to distance themselves from inefficient cap-weighted indices. Here too, the poor quality of the proposals will be a hurdle to broad adoption of Climate Benchmarks by investors, who will be forced to choose between meeting fiduciary and ESG objectives.

In conclusion, Scientific Beta regrets that this text was drawn up hastily by a working group that was dominated by providers of ESG data and services and did not include pension funds and that it puts forward pointless and costly reporting obligations for which no impact study was carried out by the Commission.

The Scientific Beta white paper can be accessed through the link below:

Unsustainable Proposals, February 2020, Scientific Beta Publication

As part of its policy of transferring know-how to the industry, EDHEC-Risk Institute has set up Scientific Beta. Scientific Beta is an original initiative which aims to favour the adoption of the latest advances in smart beta design and implementation by the whole investment industry. Its academic origin provides the foundation for its strategy: offer, in the best economic conditions possible, the smart beta solutions that are most proven scientifically with full transparency of both the methods and the associated risks.

Scientific Beta, 1 George Street, #15-02, Singapore 049145. For further information, please contact: contact@scientificbeta.com, Web: www.scientificbeta.com.

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The pro-Second Amendment resolutions sweeping across conservative pockets of New Jersey are generating lots of attention, and thats about it.

Supporters of the resolutions acknowledge that the impassioned declarations carry no authority and do not override any federal or state gun control laws.

Still, the large crowds at public meetings and lengthy debates can make it look like something big is happening.

New Jerseys first pro-gun resolution was adopted two months ago by the West Milford council. It declared the rural Passaic County municipality a sanctuary" for a law-abiding gun owners, mimicking the provocative word choice on numerous pro-gun resolutions in Virginia and other states.

Ensuing resolutions have steered clear of calling themselves a sanctuary - a play on jurisdictions using the same term to express support for undocumented immigrants in their communities - with officials theorizing it might lead some to assume, mistakenly, that guns laws will not be enforced.

An exception was in Cape May County, where the freeholder board approved a pro-Second Amendment sanctuary resolution on Jan. 14, two weeks before President Donald Trump held a campaign rally in Wildwood.

Scott Bach, executive director of the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs, told NJ Advance Media that the non-binding resolutions are serving a purpose.

They raise public awareness of the issue. They make sure our government leaders are aware theres a Second Amendment that needs to be upheld. They force lawmakers to take a position, and thats a good thing Bach said.

Assemblyman Parker Space, R-24th District, in hat, with Sussex County Freeholder Herbert Yardley at the township committee meeting in Stillwater, Jan. 21, 2020Rob Jennings / NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

When the Sussex County freeholder board voted 5-0 to declare Sussex a Second Amendment / lawful gun owner county," following 80 minutes of discussion, supporters in the audience gave elected officials a rare standing ovation.

However, unlike pro-gun resolutions adopted elsewhere in New Jersey, the text of the boards resolution did not condemn red flags laws allowing a judge to order the removal of weapons from someone judged a threat to themselves or others.

New Jerseys red flag law took effect in September, with nearly 200 guns seized as of Jan. 22, and has been a rallying cry for gun control opponents.

The commentary surrounding pro-gun resolutions in New Jersey has been less strident than those in other states. In Virginia, a county sheriff was quoted stating that he would refuse to carry out a judges order to seize weapons if he considered it unconstitutional.

No officials in New Jersey have gone on record calling for anything like that.

The resolutions in New Jersey and elsewhere remain a source of concern for Brady, a Washington-based non-profit that works to prevent gun violence. The group is named after James Brady, who was President Ronald Reagans press secretary and among those shot in the 1981 assassination attempt that also wounded Reagan.

While these resolutions may not appear to have an immediate or practical impact, we cannot ignore that the call to oppose or even to imply that public safety laws will not be followed or respected is dangerous," the groups attorney, Josh Scharff, said via email.

All it takes is one instance where a law is unenforced, or laxly enforced, for a preventable situation to become a permanent tragedy. This is why we continue to encourage local citizens and governments to oppose these resolutions and the rhetoric they represent, Scharff said.

The pro-Second Amendment resolutions in New Jersey have offered a reminder, perhaps not intended, that those who are generally supportive of guns are not necessarily on the same page on every issue.

In January, when the all-Republican, Stillwater Township Committee adopted its resolution, there was a single dissenting vote.

Stillwater Mayor Lisa Chammings told the audience that, while she supports the Second Amendment, she was not comfortable with the part of the resolution claiming that red flag laws had been misapplied and misused and run afoul of the U.S. Constitution.

Chammings, whose late father was Stillwaters last police chief, alluded to incidents of domestic violence in the township, and also the suicide of a police officer.

The resolution was approved in a 3-1 vote.

Overflow crowd in Stillwater #NJ tonight as the township committee approves a pro-2nd Amendment resolution. Mayor casts lone no vote after explaining she was not on board with the part objecting to red flag laws. pic.twitter.com/onUEQg5G9A  Rob Jennings (@RobJenningsNJ) January 22, 2020

For supporters of loosening gun restrictions in Democratic-controlled New Jersey, their best hope is someday getting a favorable court ruling that results in a weakening of the states laws, currently deemed the second-toughest in the nation.

The pro-Second Amendment resolutions play no part in that process.

Six years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court came very close to hearing a challenge to New Jerseys justifiable need standard for granting a handgun carry permit. The lead plaintiff, John Drake of Fredon, ran a business servicing ATMs and routinely carried large amounts of cash, but was denied a carry permit.

I do agree with showing support for any amendment, the Second Amendment included, Drake said when reached by phone.

Asked about the resolutions, Drake said, I think theyre beneficial, in that they promote a conversation on both sides.

It is a conversation that is expected to continue.

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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 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."
CARROLLTON  Logan County States Attorney Bradley M. Hauge has endorsed Zachary A. Schmidt in his bid for circuit judge in Greene County.

Hauge cited Schmidts ethics and his work and diligence for the community.
In one of the few bipartisan applause lines of his January State of the Union address, President Trump asked Congress to support his plan to offer vocational and technical education in every single high school in America. This bipartisan support for Career and Technical Education (CTE) is also seen in state houses and school districts throughout the US. But despite the popularity of CTE, concerns remain about the availability of resources for different CTE pathways, their relative status, and the degree to which adults working within schools are problematically sorting students explicitly or implicitly into different course-taking pathways.

February is Career and Technical Education Month, a time to better understand CTE education. Accordingly, NEPC today is releasing a policy brief, Tracking and the Future of Career and Technical Education: How Efforts to Connect School and Work Can Avoid the Past Mistakes of Vocational Education, authored by Professors Emily Hodge of Montclair State University and Shaun Dougherty of Vanderbilt University, and Dr. Carol Burris, Executive Director of the Network for Public Education. The brief examines the tension that has often arisen between the desire to link learning to post-high-school work and the desire to avoid low academic expectations for students perceived as unlikely to attend college.

The briefs authors explore the question of how schools might meaningfully support career exploration and preparation, while avoiding the tendency of prior vocational education to disproportionately sort students into distinct tracks by ethnic, racial, and/or socioeconomic characteristics.

After summarizing the history of vocational education and its relation to tracking, the brief describes how vocational education evolved into CTE, which has emerged as a variety of school-based efforts as also described in the brief. The authors conclude with recommendations for enacting CTE in ways that support the equitable distribution of educational opportunity:



In whole-school models of CTE, school and district leaders should monitor enrollment at the school and program levels by student subgroups to ensure equitable access.

In comprehensive high schools, administrators should build a schedule that allows for participation in CTE electives without de facto tracking of students. Students should have access to a broad variety of coursework with minimal or no levels within subjects.

School district and state policymakers must ensure equitable distribution of resources across schools and for students across districts to avoid de facto tracking of specific subgroups of students into specific careers.

To avoid mistakes of the past that replicated social stratification, researchers should carefully monitor the racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic patterns of CTE in all of its forms.

Find Tracking and the Future of Career and Technical Education: How Efforts to Connect School and Work Can Avoid the Past Mistakes of Vocational Education, by Emily Hodge, Shaun Dougherty, and Carol Burris, at:

http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/cte

This policy brief was made possible in part by the support of the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice (greatlakescenter.org).

The National Education Policy Center (NEPC), a university research center housed at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, produces and disseminates high-quality, peer-reviewed research to inform education policy discussions. Visit us at: https://nepc.colorado.edu
B attle lines were drawn for a new Brexit showdown today as EU leaders called on Boris Johnson to agree to stay in step with EU high standards permanently.

European Union foreign ministers in Brussels approved a 46-page mandate for negotiations that stated Britain should over time use EU standards as its reference point in areas like the environment, state aid and employment rights.

Downing Street announced that the first round of talks will begin on Monday in Brussels, with a second round in London later in March.

The EU mandate said any deal should uphold common high standards, and corresponding high standards over time with Union standards as a reference point.

This would be required in the areas of state aid, competition, state-owned enterprises, social and employment standards, environmental standards, climate change, relevant tax matters and other regulatory measures and practices in these areas.

Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier threw his weight behind an Irish call for Britain to start preparing for checks / REUTERS

The EU document called for robust commitments, mechanisms to ensure effective implementation and a governing body - all at odds with the Prime Ministers insistence that Britain must be free to set different rules in future.

Another clash opened up over the Northern Ireland border. Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier threw his weight behind an Irish call for Britain to start preparing for checks on goods flowing from the mainland to the Province. Downing Street however rejected this, saying neither checks nor preparations would be needed.

In London, the Governments XS committee met to set Britains mandate, due to be published on Thursday. It is expected to seek a Canada-style free trade agreement with a broad commitment to match European standards for the level playing field but stripped of binding alignment.

The time pressure is immense. The interests are huge. It will be very hard work - a tough road ahead, warned Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok.

In London, Mr Johnson was drawing up his own negotiating mandate at a meeting with Dublin Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said prospects for a deal this year would be damaged significantly if UK failed to begin building infrastructure needed for border checks.

Mr Johnson was drawing up his own negotiating mandate at a meeting with Dublin Foreign Minister Simon Coveney / REUTERS

He was promptly backed by EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier who tweeted: We will keep a very close eye on the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement - this will be key for building a solid future partnership with the UK.

A dispute over fishing, with France leading calls for Britain to barter rights to EU trawlers in return for better trade terms is another flashpoint.

Dublin Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said prospects for a deal this year would be damaged significantly if UK failed to begin building infrastructure needed for such checks.

He was promptly backed by EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier who tweeted: We will keep a very close eye on the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement - this will be key for building a solid future partnership with the UK.

Responding to Mr Coveney, Downing Street sources stuck by the Prime Ministers view that no checks will be needed. The Protocol [on Northern Ireland] specifically allows the UK to ensure unfettered market access for goods moving from Northern Ireland to GB, said a source. We have not asked any ports to prepare for new checks or controls between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

On fisheries, the EU agreed to negotiate to "uphold the existing reciprocal access to waters" - a move at odds with the Government pledge to take control and boost the share for British fishermen.

Boris Johnson used a speech in Greenwich earlier this month to say, "British fishing grounds are first and foremost for British boats".

The EU document also include a controversial clause stating that Britain should "return unlawfully removed cultural objects to their countries of origin". The passage is thought to refer to the Elgin Marbles - ancient Greek sculptures brought to Britain more than 200 years ago and now on display in the British Museum.

UK Negotiator David Frost and his team will head to Brussels for the first round of negotiations on March 2, armed with the UK's own mandate.
West Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra, on Tuesday said he is concerned that GST cess, amounting to Rs 11,000 crore for February-March 2020 will not be paid by the Centre as it has fallen severely short of its targeted collection. My deepest concern is for February-March, we will not get paid, Mitra said at an event organised by the CII here.

He said that while the Centre had targeted GST collection at 21 per cent, the actual figure has been hovering at 1.5 per cent. According to Mitra, while the state is faced with financial issues and an alternative plan is ...
Over the past two decades, France has been no stranger to extremism and terrorism. The French nation has suffered from a rising level of radicalism within its borders that later was translated into bombings and killings on French soil. The rate of these attacks spiked after the rise of the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria and Iraq in 2014. The French capital among other major cities has been hit by terrorist attacks that have claimed the lives of hundreds of French citizens.

The shocking fact has been that these people were targeted by mostly French-born terrorists who were raised and educated in France. These criminals, many of them the sons and daughters of immigrants to France, did not hesitate to join the vile cause of the IS group and commit acts of mindless violence and terrorism in French cities.

This has forced French politicians to ponder what has gone wrong in their country concerning the education and integration of immigrant citizens, since the danger has come not from a foreign enemy but from people who are themselves French. It seems that these young terrorists have been visiting certain radical mosques and Islamic centres in France, and investigations have indicated that certain foreign governments, such as the Turkish or Qatari governments, have been flooding the country with radical imams who lead the prayers in such mosques and deliver speeches that call for attacks on infidels even if these so-called infidels are French citizens just like they are.

With the rise of IS in 2014 came a change in terrorist tactics, with calls now coming not so much for taking the fight inside Europe without the need for organised terrorist cells as for encouraging individuals to act on their own without any kind of formal backing. Stories of stabbings, random shootings and trucks ploughing into pedestrians have become all too common in France in recent years.

The horrific terrorist attacks of 13-14 November 2015 in Paris were the worst terrorist attacks in French history and saw the deaths of 131 people and the injury of 431 in incidents that will never be wiped from French memory. These attacks exposed a breach in French security, especially towards migrants from the Middle East and others involved in such horrific atrocities.

Earlier this year, French President Emmanuel Macron decided to take the battle to the breeding grounds of these so-called lone wolf terrorists in the radical mosques among the over 2,300 mosques and Islamic centres in the country. These receive donations as well as visiting imams from countries that endorse Islamism, such as Turkey and Qatar. Macron announced that his administration would restrict other countries from sending clerics and Islamic teachers to France after the end of 2020.

It is estimated that more than 300 visiting imams arrive in France annually from different countries across the world. While there is no evidence that all of these are involved in the radicalisation of young French men and women, the country has been unable to stop the deluge of those that are, and this has forced the French president to take the decision to restrict their entry because of the current threats.

Turkey has been expanding its reach in Western Europe, including in France and Germany, in recent years, with some Turkish nationals acting as preachers in the pay of the Turkish state. The issue now is the imams and teachers who are sent under the supervision of the Turkish government to France and have foreign loyalties and may encourage French citizens to give up their national loyalty on the basis of the Islamic faith.

For Macron, Turkey today can make the choice to follow the path of with us or not, but I wont let any foreign country feed a cultural, religious or identity-related separatism on our republics soil. We cannot have Turkeys laws on Frances soil. This was the first direct warning to Turkey that its imams have overstayed their welcome and that breaching French laws will no longer be tolerated.

The decision to halt the entry of foreign imams aims to end the consular Islam system that according to Macron is imperative to curb foreign influence and make all respect the laws of the French Republic. The decision will include imams from Tunisia and Morocco as well as Turkey, but France will continue to sign bilateral agreements with such countries to allow their teachers to work in France according to the countrys laws. France currently has nine such agreements that ensure that these countries can send their teachers to schools in France as long as they abide by French laws.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to open a number of Turkish schools in France to spread his neo-Ottoman ideology and create a double loyalty within their students. This goal contradicts French efforts to integrate immigrant families and ensure that their offspring become full citizens.

Moreover, Muslim Brotherhood-linked mosques in France have been a major issue that has longed irked the French authorities. Links to Qatari involvement in financing pro-Muslim Brotherhood mosques were exposed in a book entitled The Qatar Papers by French investigative reporters Christian Chestnot and Georges Malbrunot in 2019. They unveiled documents discovered by the Unit for Intelligence Processing and Action against Illicit Financial Networks (Tracfin), as requested by the French Ministry of the Economy. The French authorities had opened the investigation after evidence that the Qatari Royal Family was involved in money laundering schemes to finance terrorism in various countries across the world, including Syria and Libya.

The book revealed the involvement of the Qatari Royal Family in funnelling billions of dollars to terrorist groups in these countries and others. Moreover, it has provided some 71 million Euros to fund the construction of 140 mosques and Islamic centres in support of the Muslim Brotherhood organisation.

The book shocked French political circles, especially as it pointed the finger at agents of the Qatari state operating in Europe under the guise of either charity or as Islamic preachers, among them the disgraced Swiss-Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood member Tariq Ramadan, the grandson of Brotherhood founder Hassan Al-Banna. Ramadan is currently on trial for alleged rape in France, and French investigators have found that Qatar has been bankrolling him and enabled him to buy two upmarket apartments in Paris.

Macron has not designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group to put an end to the groups influence in France and pull the plug on Turkish infiltration and the Qatari financial donations that have been contributing to the growing radicalism in the country.

That said, his decision to restrict the arrival of foreign imams is a first step in addressing the elephant in the room and curbing the growing extremism that has been mostly the result of foreign influence in the country, especially from the likes of Turkey and Qatar through Islamist imams recruited from the North African countries.

It is one step in many that the French president will have to take to safeguard the countrys security after decades of leniency and complacency.

The writer is a political analyst and author of Egypts Arab Spring and the Winding Road to Democracy.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 27 February, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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On the weekend, Ghanas renowned dancehall artiste, Stonebwoy, had an official opening for his most spoken about Bhim Shop. The inauguration which was done at Ashaiman, hosted a huge crowd, mostly Stonebwoy fans, media persons and some residents from Ashaiman where the artist rep.

While some are enthused about this initiative and see it as a big move for the artist, others are unconcerned about it with regards to the condition of most of Ghanas celebrities business and shops. This now begs the questions: how far with Shatta Wale, Sarkodies to mention a few clothing lines and shops, are they operational and lucrative as anticipated?

READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Inside of The New Bhim Shop By Stonebwoy

Though people have been commending the beauty of the Bhim shop and how glamorous it looks, some are very concerned about the location of the shop. Although it has a deeper and emotional meaning to the artist, some believe it will make more business sense if other branches were opened in the heart of Accra so that patronage and business will thrive without buyers dreading the distance.

Another suggestion was the kind of commodities being sold at the Bhim shop. Some opine that instead of celebrities always or mostly going into fashion, they should also consider basic human needs like drinking water, soap, ingredients, cream, polish, toothpaste, drinks, etc., these products are more likely to be patronized more and daily since people always need them as compared to the shirts and footwear which will not be bought every day for use.

READ ALSO: Shatta Wale Calls Fellow Artists To Come Together To Solve Problems In The Music Industry

It expatiated that for such basic commodities, they could be patronized and used by everyone and any fan base without the fear of being tagged or relegated to being a Bhim fan. Unlike tagged clothes which automatically state ones affiliation restricting people from other camps to buy and use freely.

In place of opening many branches around Ghana, management of the Bhim Shop are also advised to partner with or distribute to credible shop owners like Zara and sellers from popular market places like Kantamanto, Tudu, Madina in order to make more money.

The star is also expected to make at least a monthly appearance at the shop, which could encourage his fans to visit the shop, mostly because they want to meet him and may, in turn, buy something while there.

READ ALSO: Adjetey Annan pens down an emotional letter to Sarkodie says he is an inspiration

In most situations, the prices of these Celebrity products are quite expensive, which considering the current state of Ghanas economy, makes it difficult for people to patronize such products. Prices are expected to be normal or possibly on the low side to encourage more and frequent patronage.

Bhim Shop is expected to be expanded with capable management heading the affairs of the business and projecting Bhim and Ashaiman to the world.

Watch video below


FLASHBACK!!! CONGRESSMAN CLEAVER ALSO ENCOUNTERED OUTRAGE OVER HIS STATEMENTS ON CUBA!!!

Congressman Cleaver: Well, the world operates at its best when theres diversity. Every nation does not need to be like the United States. And, frankly, we already have ties to diplomatic nations. And, frankly, if there is repression in Cuba we didnt see it.

Castro Legacy Contemplated

Sanders under fire from Democrats over praise for Castro regime Sen. (I-Vt.) came under heavy criticism from Democrats on Monday after he suggested in a new interview that it was "unfair to simply say everything is bad" under the late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro's rule.

Miami Sound Machine Blasts

Florida Dems in uproar after Sanders' Cuba comments MIAMI - Bernie Sanderssays he's the Democrat best-equippedto defeat Donald Trump in November. But Florida Democrats insist he'sthe worst-equippedafter Sanders's refusal Sunday night to thoroughly condemn the Cuban Revolution.

First Ladies Of American Debate Talk Cuba Literacy

Meghan McCain tries to shut down Behar as she defends Cuba's literacy program: 'Lets not' "The View" co-hosts unanimously panned Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on Tuesday but co-host Joy Behar ruffled some feathers in how she defended the 2020 candidate and his comments about Cuba's dictatorship. At one point, Behar seemed to try and tout Cuba's literacy program, which Sanders similarly used as a way to defend former dictator Fidel Castro's regime.

Cuban Heat Explained

This is why Sanders' comments on Cuba's education, health care have caused outrage in Florida MIAMI - Carmen Pelaez, a Cuban American playwright and filmmaker - as well as an active Democrat - said she was "gobsmacked" when she heard presidential candidate Bernie Sanders praise Cuba's education and health care system during a "60 Minutes" interview Sunday night.

Path To Redemption

What Bernie Sanders Should Have Said About Socialism and Totalitarianism in Cuba There are two ways to misinterpret the comments Bernie Sanders made in a "60 Minutes" interview that aired on Sunday night. When asked by the host, Anderson Cooper, to explain his long-ago praise of the achievements of Fidel Castro's regime, in Cuba, Sanders said, "We are very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba.

Unfair Commie Questions

Is Bernie Sanders a deep cover Communist revolutionary? Uh, no. Bernie Sanders has a problem. On a few occasions he has given qualified praise to dastardly Communist regimes in the Soviet Union and Cuba, thus proving his sympathy with the Red menace. So says both the army of Never Trump conservatives (numbering in my count at maybe two dozen, every one of which has a newspaper column somewhere), and various Democratic elites, including some of Sanders' presidential opponents.

Life Lesson For Bernie

I went to school in Cuba under Castro. Here's what it's like, Bernie Sanders | Opinion Miami Herald columnist Fabiola Santiago, pictured in third grade in Cuba, was ostracized for not wearing her school uniform with the required scarf of the young Communist pioneers. Family photo Look at the little girl in the picture.

His push for Prez earns front-runner status and now Senator Bernie Sanders confronts Conservative outrage over comments on Cuba amid continued questions about Democratic Socialism.A bit of context from savvy TKC readers . . .This is especially relevant given that the Congressman is an "establishment Democratic Party" denizen and has already offered his. Surprisingly, Kansas City's top ranking politico has alsoStill, this Cuba quote offers a bit more context on the touchy subject . . .One more note . . . For the record,Here's the local angle sent our way for consideration . . .And now, to provide more context let's take a look at the latest rhetorical challenge confronting the Bernie Bros locally and across the nation . . .Developing . . .
Policemen stand in front of vandalised shops following clashes between supporters and opponents of the Citizenship Amendment Act, at Bhajanpura area of New Delhi on February 24, 2020. (Photo | AFP)

New Delhi: As fresh violence broke out in northeast Delhi where seven people, including a police head constable were killed as Hindutva goons unleashed terror in Muslim majority neighbourhoods of Jaffrabad, Maujpur and Chand Bagh and the Muslims protesting against CAA retaliated on Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday held a meeting to discuss the prevailing situation. Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Commissioner of Police Amulya Patnaik, Congress leader Subhash Chopra, BJP's Manoj Tiwari and Ramvir Bidhuri attended the meeting.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Director of Intelligence Bureau Arvind Kumar were also present.

The move came after the home minister reviewed the law and order situation in the national capital on Monday night.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was reported by PTI as saying there was a need to seal borders to prevent outsiders from coming in to Delhi to foment more trouble, and that he would suggest it to Shah, under whose authority the Delhi Police functions.

On Monday, even as videos did the rounds of social media showing massive crowds shouting Jai Shri Ram menacing these mostly-Muslim neighbourhoods, and people shown collecting stones the night before to stock their stone pelting arsenal the next day, even as a man was captured by news agencies in crystal clear view shooting from a pistol on Monday, Delhi police which is seen accompanying the marauding crowd in some of the videos, issued boiler plate statements that the force was doing everything it could to bring the situation under control.

Chief Minister Kejriwal said the police were not able to take action without orders from above.

The violence that broke as the nation hosts US President Donald Trump in the national capital, came a day after BJP leader Kapil Mishra instigated BJP supporters saying the protesting Muslims should be forcefully removed from where they had been demonstrating peacefully until then.

And so, for the third consecutive day, on Tuesday mobs continued to vandalise shuttered shops and pelt stones in northeast Delhi as leaders of opposition political parties merely expressed platitudes.

Smoke was seen going up in some places and streets, including in the epicentre of the trouble Maujpur, were littered with stones, bricks and burnt tyres, testimony to the spiralling violence and bloodshed that took on a communal taint on Monday and injured about 150 people.

Schools were shut with exams being postponed and fearful residents stayed indoors as the area smouldered with tension.

Prohibitory orders, banning the assembly of more than four persons, were imposed on Monday and will continue to be in force till March 24.

A resident in Maujpur said he has seen a riot like situation such as this for the first time in 35 years. "The area had always remained peaceful," he told PTI, requesting anonymity.

According to police sources, 48 police personnel and 98 civilians were injured in Monday's clashes between pro and anti CAA groups at Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Chandbagh, Khureji Khas and Bhajanpura. Three firemen also received injuries while dousing flames in the area.

The death toll in the violence climbed to seven -- six civilians and Delhi Police head constable Ratan Lal -- on Tuesday, a senior police official said. While Lal died of injuries sustained during stone pelting in Chand Bagh, it is not yet clear what killed the others.

With US President Donald Trump in the city, Delhi Police ramped up security in the area. It is being assisted by paramilitary personnel.

Officials said police personnel are talking to local peace committees in a bid restore amity.

"Mischief-makers are being dealt with strictly on the spot," a senior official said.

There have been no arrests yet.
As any woman can attest, choosing between two shoes to wear with an outfit can be difficult. Good news! Mismatched footwear is having a moment.

After stepping out in two different-colored heels to attend the 8th Annual New York City Ballet Fall Fashion Gala back in September, Sarah Jessica Parker has just released a pair in her eponymous shoe line.

However, this isn't the first time we saw the bold sartorial move. From the television screen to the runway and the red carpet, wearing nonidentical shoes is trending!

Mismatched: After stepping out in two different-colored heels to attend the 8th Annual New York City Ballet Fall Fashion Gala back in September, Sarah Jessica Parker has just released a pair in her eponymous shoe line

Be different: Rogue, $385; sjpbysarahjessicaparker.com. 20% of Rogue's proceeds will be donated to The Empowerment Plan, an inspired Detroit based organization that provides employment and training to low-income individuals

Our girl: We first saw the actress rock mismatched shoes while playing Carrie Bradshaw on the HBO hit show Sex and The City

Sarah turned heads at the ballet in a hot pink voluminous gown. Underneath the garment's many layers of fabric were what's now her newly released shoe, the 'Rogue.'

The satin sandals were designed in partnership with Every Outfit on Sex & The City.

They retail for $385 with 20% of proceeds being donated to The Empowerment Plan, an inspired Detroit based organization that provides employment and training to low-income individuals.

The purposely mismatched pair are a not-so-subtle homage to a fun footwear moment from SATC.

We first saw the actress rock contrasting shoes while playing Carrie Bradshaw on the HBO hit show Sex and The City.

In the 'Escape from New York' episode (which originally aired in September 2000) Carrie steps out wearing a hot pink sandal and a blue sandal (both by Christian Louboutin) for a night out with the girls.

Sarah Jessica took to Instagram to explain the unlikely pairing: 'I'm sure approved by the great and legendary @patriciafield we had 2 pairs of what I believe are @louboutinworld scrappy sandal.

'Pat and I chose to do 1 of each. Perhaps because both were so delicious in color and seemed in harmony with the dress but also because we simply loved doing 1 of each.'

Her own league: In the 'Escape from New York' episode (which originally aired in September 2000) Carrie steps out wearing a hot pink sandal and a blue sandal (both by Christian Louboutin) for a night out with the girls

In 2016, SJP hit the red carpet of the 'Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology' Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art wearing a white look by Monse.

The white capri-pant and button-down-coat ensemble was inspired by the musical Hamilton. She added a pop pf color and pizzazz with blue pointy pumps featuring two different brooches.

Selena Gomez, Nicole Kidman and Naomi Harris have also embraced the uncommon look.

Selena attended the 3rd Annual InStyle Awards wearing a little black dress by Jacquemus. A pair of mismatched shoes by the same designer added edge to her elegant look.

Actor Nicole Kidman was right on trend when accepting the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her role in 'Big Little Lies' at the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

She wore a red Calvin Klein By Appointment dress and pink satin sandals featuring mismatched embellishment.

Naomi sported the same style in yellow for the 89th Annual Academy Awards.

Unbalanced: In 2016, SJP hit the red carpet of the "Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology" Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art wearing a white look by Monse

New heights: Selena attended the 3rd Annual InStyle Awards wearing a little black dress by Jacquemus

Hip: A pair of mismatched shoes by the same designer added edge to her elegant look

Red hot: Actor Nicole Kidman was right on trend when accepting the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her role in 'Big Little Lies' at the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards

Something's different: She wore a red Calvin Klein By Appointment dress and pink satin sandals featuring mismatched embellishment

Red carpet ready: Naomi Harris and Daniella Garcia-Lorido are on trend

In 2011, actress Helena Bonham Carter attended the 68th Annual Golden Globes in a floral printed tulle dress and two different-colored evening shoes.

The mismatched moment raised a lot of eyebrows, but fast forward 9 years and it's the 'cool' thing to do.

Actress Daniella Garcia-Lorido hit the "Coco" red carpet premiere at the El Capitan Theatre wearing opposite colored heels.

Trailblazer: In 2011, actress Helena Bonham Carter attended the 68th Annual Golden Globes in a floral printed tulle dress and two different-colored evening shoe

Before celebrities like SJP and Nicole Kidman were donning eccentric shoe pairings, they were coming down the runways of top designers including Celine and Calvin Klein.

Celine sent models with dissimilar-colored boots down her Spring/Summer 2017 catwalk, while Raf Simons designed heels with subtle embellishment differences for his Calvin Klein Spring/Summer 2018 collection.

While some naysayers may not agree, it's the perfect shoe trend for the indecisive. Put your best foot forward, but make it #fashun.

A touch: Celine sent models with dissimilar-colored boots down her Spring/Summer 2017 catwalk

Bling: Raf Simons designed heels with subtle embellishment differences for his Calvin Klein Spring/Summer 2018 collection
Jennifer Lawrence's latest look is spot on.

The 29-year-old actress donned a leopard-patterned teddy coat by J. Crew on a stroll with husband Cooke Maroney in New York City on Tuesday.

She looked fashionable as always as she also sported a brown blouse with gold buttons over skinny black jeans and matching leather boots on the outing with her husband of four months.

Spot on: Jennifer Lawrence donned a cheetah-patterned teddy coat on a stroll with husband Cooke Maroney in New York City on Tuesday

She wore her strawberry blonde locks down flowing over her shoulders as she wore sunglasses over her face which had natural, complementary make-up on it.

Cooke kept it casual in a black jacket with white trim over a navy blue sweater, black jeans and grey sneakers.

The happy couple tied the knot at the Belcourt Mansion in Newport, Rhode Island back in October.

Simply stunning: The 29-year-old actress looked fashionable as always as she also sported a brown blouse with gold buttons over skinny black jeans and matching leather boots on the outing with her husband of four months

They were engaged back in February after eight months of dating as a rep confirmed the happy news at the time.

Cooke works at New York's Gladstone Gallery, which represents artists including Lena Dunham's dad, Carroll Dunham, as well as Richard Prince, Anish Kapoor, and Bjork's ex, Matthew Barney.

He is known on the art party scene and previously worked at the prestigious Gagosian gallery.

While he is now very much part of the New York social scene, Cooke, like his new fiancee grew up in the countryside, spending his childhood on his parent's farm in Vermont.

Chill: Cooke kept it casual in a black jacket with white trim over a navy blue sweater, black jeans and grey sneakers

Maroney's father was an art dealer in Manhattan and previously served as the Head of American Paintings at Christie's before the family decided to move to the country.

While neither Jennifer or Cooke have spoken publicly about their relationship, insiders have gushed about their chemistry, with a source telling People in August: 'She is smiling like I have never seen her do with any of her previous boyfriends'.

Jennifer will soon be teaming up with Oscar-nominated director Adam McKay on his new Netflix comedy movie Don't Look Up.

The actress will play one of two 'low-level astronomers who must go on a giant media tour to warn mankind of an approaching asteroid that will destroy planet earth,' according to a Netflix press release.

Golden girl: Jennifer (seen in Paris in September) is teaming up with Oscar-nominated director Adam McKay on his new Netflix comedy movie Don't Look Up

Lawrence will play one of the two astronomers, with production slated to begin this April, and Netflix is expected to release the film later this year.

McKay is slated to direct from a script he wrote himself, and he will also produce through his Hyperobject Industries company with Kevin Messick.

'Im so thrilled to make this movie with Jen Lawrence. Shes what folks in the 17th century used to call a dynamite act," McKay said in a statement.

'And the fact that Netflix sees this movie as a worldwide comedy sets the bar high for me and my team in an exciting and motivating way,' he added.

Lawrence recently wrapped filming on director Lila Neugebauers Untitled film for A24, which she stars in and produces through her Excellent Cadaver company.

Writer-director: McKay is slated to direct from a script he wrote himself, and he will also produce through his Hyperobject Industries company with Kevin Messick




Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk)

Credit:Stan

When we last saw Jimmy McGill, he was pleading for his professional life, begging to be given another chance to practice law. But with his brother Chuck now gone, the way he practices is going to change forever. Rechristening himself Saul Goodman (Sall good, man!), Jimmys legal gloves are off this year as he embraces anyone, innocent or not, who can pay his fee.

Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn)

Credit:Stan

Always a character whose fate was hanging by a thread  she never appeared in Breaking Bad, after all, so what happened to her?  Kim appears to be running on borrowed time. The last good thing in Jimmys life, shes starting to slip into the grey areas at work, possibly influenced by her boyfriend. Is that the straw that breaks her love for him and sends her running, or is it a tragedy in waiting?

Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito)

Credit:Stan

Restaurateur, community leader and drug dealing member of a Mexican crime cartel, Gus Fring is  just as he was in Breaking Bad  the scariest bad guy in town. We know he eventually quits the cartel and what tips him over the brink was the murder of his friend (possibly boyfriend) Max. This year the rumour is well see that resignation in spectacularly bloody style.

Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks)

Credit:Stan

The former marine, then cop and now enforcer for Fring, Mikes descent into crime started in the very first season of Better Call Saul and (like Walter) continues to worse with slow steps. Last season we saw Mike cross a very big line when he murdered his friend (and drug lab builder) Werner to keep Guss secret. This year, all bets are off as he embraces his new role as assassin for hire.

Hank Schrader (Dean Norris)

Credit:Stan

Series producers Peter Gould and Vince Gilligan let slip that Hank would finally show up in Sauls storyline this year, as a younger, tougher and (somehow) cockier federal agent just starting out on his mission to crack the methamphetamine trade. Playing a greener Hank with swagger, actor Dean Norris said he had a ball, adding: I hope the fans enjoy it as much as I did.

Walter White (Bryan Cranston)

Credit:Stan

Walter is the big one of course, but as this latest instalment of Better Call Saul begins, hes still at school, teaching science and blissfully unaware that inside his body a cancer is spreading. Cranston has said hed love to make a Saul cameo, possibly just walking past in the background or bumping into the main characters at a supermarket. Is this the year that happens? Theres only one way to find out

The brand new season of Better Call Saul is now streaming, only on Stan  along with every single episode of Breaking Bad.
Fastnacht Day is the one day you can eat doughnuts without the guilt.

The deep-fried treats are historically eaten by the Pennsylvania Dutch on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday.

Plenty of churches, bakeries, restaurants and grocery stores carry fastnachts, often sold by the dozens in plain, powdered and cinnamon sugar. Just be sure to arrive early. Popular places draw big lines and the doughnuts have been known to sell out quickly.

The tradition of eating fastnachts on Fat Tuesday started with the Pennsylvania Dutch, who were looking for recipes to use up fat such as lard in the house before Lent. Fastnacht is a German word meaning night before the fast.

To ensure you dont miss out on all the deep-fried deliciousness, heres a list of places selling the doughnuts in the Harrisburg region.

Anna Rose Bakery & Coffee Shop

Ann Rose Bakery is selling fastnachts in plain, powdered sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon sugar for $15 a dozen.

205 Walnut St, Harrisburg, 717-236-3149

Ciao! Bakery

This city bakery with ties to Bricco restaurant is selling homemade fastnachts in cinnamon sugar, granulated sugar and powdered sugar for $1.25 a piece and $12 a dozen. The bakery is also selling another Fat Tuesday favorite, king cakes for $8.50.

304 Chestnut St., Harrisburg, 717-724-0236

Cornerstone Coffeehouse

The coffee house is selling fastnachts again this year in glazed, granulated sugar and powdered sugar. Price is $1.35 apiece, $7.50 for a half dozen and $14 a dozen.

2133 Market St., Camp Hill, 717-737-5026

Desserts Etc.

The bakery is selling fastnachts for $1.75 a piece and $18 a dozen. Varieties include plain, cinnamon sugar, granulated sugar, powdered sugar and glazed.

840 E. Chocolate Ave., Hershey, 717-533-7505 ext. 4

The Filling Station

Look for granulated sugar, glazed and plain fastnachts for $9 a dozen and $6 a half dozen. The restaurant is selling them individually from its bakery case starting at 5 a.m.

320 W. Main St., Palmyra, 717-838-9077

Giant Food Stores

The stores are selling plain, powdered and glazed varieties for $5.99 a dozen and $2.99 for a half dozen.

Multiple locations

Karns Quality Foods

Karns supermarkets are selling plain, glazed, powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar and granulated sugar. Prices are: $4 for a six-pack and $29 for a tray of 48 fastnachts.

Maple Donuts

Maple Donuts is selling fastnachts at its four bakeries in York County in powdered, plain and glazed for $1.09 cents apiece, $6.39 a half dozen and $9.99 a dozen.

Locations include:

3455 E. Market St. (East York) 717-757-7826 204

St. Charles Way (South York) 717-747-9147

970 Loucks Road (West York) 717-843-4276

50 Robinhood Drive, Goldsboro (North York) 717-938-5544

Oak Grove Farms

The market sells plain, glazed, powdered sugar, regular sugar and cinnamon sugar fastnachts for $4.99 a half dozen and $8.99 a dozen.

846 Fisher Road, Monroe Township, 717-766-2216

Prince of Peace Roman Catholic Parish

The parish is making fastnachts again this year. The pre-order deadline has passed. However, they will be selling those orders that are not picked up to the public on a first come, first served basis on Feb. 25. The price is $9 per dozen and $5 a half-dozen.

Parish Center, 815 S. Second St., Steelton

Pronios Market

Every year Pronios brings in fastnachts from St. Cecilias Catholic Church in Lebanon. This year the market is selling plain and granulated sugar fastnachts on Feb. 25. They arrive between 9 and 10 a.m. and will sell on a first come, first served basis.

236 W. Caracas Ave., Hershey, 717-533-2869

The Pennsylvania Bakery

The bakery is selling fastnachts for $12.95 a dozen in plain, powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, granulated sugar and glazed. King Cakes are selling in various flavors including cinnamon, cream cheese, cherry, raspberry, blueberry, apricot, apple, lemon, pineapple, or nut for $15.95 each. The cakes serve about six people.

The bakery is bringing back fastnacht cupcakes made with buttermilk, cinnamon, and brown sugar cake, topped with a cinnamon sugar buttercream, rolled in sugar and topped with a piece of made-from-scratch fastnacht. They sell for $3.75 apiece.

1713 Market St., Camp Hill, 717-763-7755

Schenks Bakery

Schenks is selling plain, powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar and glazed for $16.50 a dozen or $1.75 apiece.

1061 N. Mountain Road, Lower Paxton Township, 717-671-5133

Mary Ann Willever, left, of New Jersey, and Eileen Secoges, of Lebanon, sugar coat fastnachts at St. Cecilia Church in Lebanon in 2018. File photo by Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.comPENNLIVE.COM

St. Cecilias Catholic Church

This church is the most well-known spot for fastnachts in central Pennsylvania. Fastnachts will be available until supplies run out. The price is $5 for a half dozen and $10 a dozen, plain or sugared. Unfortunately, pre-orders for six or more dozen are no longer being accepted.

202 E. Lehman St., Lebanon, 717-272-4412

Weis Markets

The grocery stores are selling glazed, plain, powdered and sugared fastnachts for $5 a dozen and $3 for a half-dozen.

Multiple locations

Wegmans

The grocery store carries cinnamon sugar, glazed, powdered sugar fastnachts for 85 cents apiece and $8.50 for a dozen. King cakes are selling for $15, while paczki, a filled Polish pastry, is priced at $4.50 for a four-pack.

6416 Carlisle Pike, Silver Spring Township, 717-791-4500
(Alliance News) - A committee of the UK cabinet on Tuesday approved Britain's negotiating mandate for trade, security and defence talks with the EU, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman told reporters.

"It was a very smooth process to agree our approach, which will restore our economic and political independence," the spokesman said.

Earlier Tuesday, EU ministers formalized the bloc's negotiating lines for upcoming trade talks with Britain on Tuesday, while warning that the negotiations - which could start as soon as next week - will be difficult.

Britain left the EU on January 31 but EU rules still apply, changing little in practice.

The two sides now have until the end of the year to strike a deal on their future relationship - spanning trade as well as security and other issues - after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson ruled out an extension to the current transition period.

Failure to strike a deal before December 31 could result in a cliff edge, with no new rules governing areas such as trade, travel or security co-operation between Britain and the EU.

EU ministers for European affairs, meeting in Brussels, approved the mandate for EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier to conduct the talks with Britain on the bloc's behalf.

The British mandate is due to be published on Thursday.

source: AFP

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Around a thousand tourists who are staying at a hotel in Tenerife, in Spains Canary Islands, have been placed in isolation after an Italian guest tested positive for the Covid-19 coronavirus, police sources said on Tuesday. The H10 Costa Adeje Palace is located in Adeje, in the south of the island.

The patient is a tourist who hails from Lombardy, in northern Italy, which has seen a recent spike in coronavirus cases. He has been hospitalized at a medical center in the south of Tenerife, the news agency Efe reported. The man is a doctor by profession, and requested to be tested for the coronavirus after presenting symptoms such as a fever. He had spent a week in the hotel, along with his wife.

This was the third known case of the coronavirus in Spain, although the other two patients have already been discharged after being quarantined at hospitals in La Gomera (Canary Islands) and Mallorca (Balearic Islands). A fourth case was confirmed on Tuesday afternoon in Catalonia, by the regional health authorities. The patient is reported to be a 36-year-old Italian woman.

By Tuesday afternoon, a fifth case had been confirmed: the wife of the Italian man who was staying in the H10 Costa Adeje Palace. The patient has been isolated and is being treated in the Hospital de La Candelaria in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Pedro Murillo reports.

Officers from the National Police were on Tuesday guarding the hotel, but sources from the Canarian health department were avoiding using the terms isolation or quarantine, instead focusing on the health controls being carried out on the guests, according to protocols.

The Spanish government has announced the creation of an Interministerial Committee on the Coronavirus, to be presided by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of the Socialist Party (PSOE). The first gathering will take place on Tuesday following the weekly Cabinet meeting.

A new scenario

The situation in Italy, its proximity to Spain and the numerous ties between both countries have created a new scenario for health authorities.

This changes a lot of things, its the beginning of a new period, said Pere Godoy, president of the Spanish Epidemiology Society. Until now, the criteria for suspicion were simple: showing symptoms, and having spent time in [the Chinese province of] Hubei. It is now urgent to reformulate these criteria in a precise manner, and thats going to be complicated because the situation in Italy is changing fast and because of the deep ties between both countries.

The virus is very close, and there are few opportunities left to contain it Santiago Moreno, Ramon y Cajal Hospital

Experts from Spains major hospitals spent much of Monday trying to adapt to a situation that few had predicted would be changing so fast, so soon. The first step now is to change the protocols and have contingency plans ready for whatever may come, said Jesus Rodriguez Bano, head of the infectious diseases department at Virgen Macarena Hospital in Seville.

These contingency plans include elements such as reinforcing teams, protection measures for personnel, defining the spaces reserved for suspicious cases in the ER, and having hospital rooms ready for admissions.

Patient definition

But updating the protocols that determine who is a potential coronavirus patient is proving harder. On Monday, the advisory board of the European Center for Disease Control (ECDC) met in Stockholm in a bid to define the clinical criteria that should be followed across the EU to identify cases. But the board, made up of representatives of the public healthcare services of member states, failed to reach a consensus. Its still being debated and will be newly reviewed tomorrow or in the coming days, said a source at the ECDC.

Antoni Trilla, head of preventive medicine and epidemiology at Barcelonas Clinic Hospital, agreed that it is urgent to resolve this point in order to deal adequately with suspicious cases in the coming days.

The definition of what constitutes a case is the key tool Antoni Trilla, Clinic Hospital

The definition of what constitutes a case is the key tool, he said. It tells us what symptoms and personal background (trips, contacts...) we should take into account to decide whether a patient is likely or not to be infected with the virus, and to adopt all appropriate measures.

Spains Health Minister Salvador Illa has also mentioned the meeting of experts of the ECDC as a preliminary step for the central and regional governments of Spain to draft a new protocol.

In the meantime, hospitals have started to adapt their existing guidelines case by case and prudently, said a department head at another large hospital, speaking on condition of anonymity. The [existing] protocol is now dated, its no use any more. You get patients coming from Milan, and what good is it to know whether they have been to China?

Santiago Moreno, head of infectious diseases at Ramon y Cajal Hospital in Madrid, said that the time has come to make firm, negotiated decisions because the virus is very close, and there are few opportunities left to contain it.

English version by Susana Urra.
[February 25, 2020] NTT DATA Awarded Contract by the State of Oklahoma to Improve Employee Experience

NTT DATA Services, a recognized leader in global technology services, today announced the company won a five-year contract with the State of Oklahoma to improve its employee experience by deploying, managing and supporting end-user computing devices for the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES). NTT (News - Alert) DATA aims to increase efficiency and uniformity for employees by delivering a Device-as-a-Service solution that modernizes the State's service desk and field services. NTT DATA will also provide installation and ongoing service in collaboration with OMES that allows management and visibility of IT, while leveraging a continuous improvement model to foster innovation and agility. "By optimizing operations and redesigning the employee experience, NTT DATA will elp manage risks, control costs and minimize service disruptions for State employees," said Chris Merdon, SVP, Public Sector, NTT DATA Services. "Many state agencies struggle with similar challenges, but the State of Oklahoma serves as a guide for how to empower your workforce and achieve better outcomes for your employees, as well as your citizens."



NTT DATA, which was recently recognized as a Leader in Managed Workplace Services by Gartner, will work directly with the State's management workflow to automate service and incident requests. In addition, NTT DATA will set aside a portion of paid invoices to co-invest with OMES on innovative, transformational initiatives that support employees and the agency's role in providing IT services to State agencies. NTT DATA Services has more than 3,000 professionals in the U.S. serving federal, state and local governments, and other public sector clients. To learn more about the company's dynamic workplace offering, which supports approximately 4.4 million users with service desk, field services and workplace services, visit NTT DATA's website.

About NTT DATA NTT DATA partners with clients to navigate and simplify the modern complexities of business and technology, delivering the insights, solutions and outcomes that matter most. We deliver tangible business results by combining deep industry expertise with applied innovations in digital, cloud and automation across a comprehensive portfolio of consulting, application, infrastructure and business process services. NTT DATA Services, headquartered in Plano, Texas, is a division of NTT DATA Corporation, a top 10 global business and IT services provider with 120,000+ professionals in more than 50 countries, and NTT, a partner to more than 85 percent of the Fortune 100. Visit nttdataservices.com to learn more. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005023/en/

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Vivo sub-brand iQoo is making its India debut on February 25 with the launch of iQoo 3. The smartphone is expected to be priced in the premium category, based on teasers and leaked specifications.

The launch event is scheduled to begin at 12.30 pm in Mumbai. The company will host a live stream for its online audience on YouTube. Its Indias social media channels will also be streaming the launch.

The device is confirmed to come in 5G-ready and 4G models. iQoo 3 5G is expected to be priced between Rs 40,000 and Rs 45,000, whereas the 4G variant could be launched between Rs 35,000 and Rs 40,000.

iQoo is making its India entry with a premium offering. The company has confirmed that the iQoo 3 will be 5G-ready and also come in a 4G variant. iQoo 3 is confirmed to feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, which will make it the second smartphone after the Realme X50 Pro 5G to launch with the flagship processor.

The device will feature an LDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage, according to the iQoo 3 Flipkart microsite. Teasers have also confirmed a punch-hole display and a 48 quad-camera setup on the back.

There will be 55W Super Flash Charge support on the iQoo 3. Leaked specifications include up to 12GB RAM and 4,410 mAh battery. The smartphone is confirmed to launch with Monster UI based on Funtouch OS and Android 10.
Today we'll look at Springfield Properties Plc (LON:SPR) and reflect on its potential as an investment. Specifically, we'll consider its Return On Capital Employed (ROCE), since that will give us an insight into how efficiently the business can generate profits from the capital it requires.

Firstly, we'll go over how we calculate ROCE. Second, we'll look at its ROCE compared to similar companies. And finally, we'll look at how its current liabilities are impacting its ROCE.

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What is it?

ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. Generally speaking a higher ROCE is better. In brief, it is a useful tool, but it is not without drawbacks. Renowned investment researcher Michael Mauboussin has suggested that a high ROCE can indicate that 'one dollar invested in the company generates value of more than one dollar'.

So, How Do We Calculate ROCE?

The formula for calculating the return on capital employed is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

Or for Springfield Properties:

0.13 = UK17m  (UK181m - UK47m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to May 2019.)

So, Springfield Properties has an ROCE of 13%.

View our latest analysis for Springfield Properties

Does Springfield Properties Have A Good ROCE?

ROCE is commonly used for comparing the performance of similar businesses. It appears that Springfield Properties's ROCE is fairly close to the Consumer Durables industry average of 15%. Regardless of where Springfield Properties sits next to its industry, its ROCE in absolute terms appears satisfactory, and this company could be worth a closer look.

You can click on the image below to see (in greater detail) how Springfield Properties's past growth compares to other companies.

AIM:SPR Past Revenue and Net Income, February 25th 2020

When considering this metric, keep in mind that it is backwards looking, and not necessarily predictive. Companies in cyclical industries can be difficult to understand using ROCE, as returns typically look high during boom times, and low during busts. This is because ROCE only looks at one year, instead of considering returns across a whole cycle. Since the future is so important for investors, you should check out our free report on analyst forecasts for Springfield Properties.

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Do Springfield Properties's Current Liabilities Skew Its ROCE?

Liabilities, such as supplier bills and bank overdrafts, are referred to as current liabilities if they need to be paid within 12 months. Due to the way the ROCE equation works, having large bills due in the near term can make it look as though a company has less capital employed, and thus a higher ROCE than usual. To counter this, investors can check if a company has high current liabilities relative to total assets.

Springfield Properties has total assets of UK181m and current liabilities of UK47m. Therefore its current liabilities are equivalent to approximately 26% of its total assets. Low current liabilities are not boosting the ROCE too much.

The Bottom Line On Springfield Properties's ROCE

Overall, Springfield Properties has a decent ROCE and could be worthy of further research. There might be better investments than Springfield Properties out there, but you will have to work hard to find them . These promising businesses with rapidly growing earnings might be right up your alley.

For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
A new article in Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) discusses the difficulties faced by parents of children with food allergies in not transferring their own anxieties to their children.

Food allergies are scary for both parents and children, which is why it's important for parents to offer fact-based strategies in order to not increase their child's concerns. According to the allergists we interviewed, thoughtful and balanced communication and having credible information to share with your child go a long way toward helping your child with food allergies cope with their fears." Lisa Lombard, Ph.D., lead author of the article

Researchers conducted interviews with six board-certified allergists who treat a high volume of children with food allergies. The goal of the interviews was, in part, to get the allergists' perspectives on the major factors contributing to elevated anxiety in food-allergic patients.

"The allergists said the major factors contributing to elevated anxiety in kids with food allergies included fear of the epinephrine auto-injector needle, fear of anaphylaxis and apprehension about participating in oral food challenges or oral immunotherapy," said Ruchi Gupta, MD, ACAAI member and study co-author. "They also said that although allergic reactions and epinephrine can be scary and disruptive, those experiences were often opportunities for positive coping. For example, successfully using epinephrine can bring a sense of relief after the unknown is faced."

The allergists noted that with younger children in particular, the child might not be especially anxious, but the parents are. They also said that food challenges - where small amounts of a food a child might be allergic to are introduced in increasingly larger amounts - are an opportunity for families to lessen their fear of the unknown.

"Because children take cues from their parents, and their level of anxiety often reflects their parents' level of anxiety, parents need to recognize how they're communicating with their children about food allergies," says Dr. Gupta. "The allergists interviewed told us they sometimes have parents come in for counseling without the child because doing so helps them take care of the child and the family at the same time. One allergist suggested parents use reassuring dialogue like 'we'll get through this' with their kids rather than expressing their own anxiety of fear."

Allergists are specially trained to test for, diagnose and treat food allergies. To find an allergist near you who can help create a personal plan to deal with your food allergies, and help you live your best life, use the ACAAI allergist locator.
A true giant of Americas manufacturing past, the city of Buffalo is, like so many other post-industrial cities, coming back into its own after some tough times. After its boom period in the late 19th and early 20th century, when its proximity to Lake Erie and the hydroelectric power of Niagara Falls made it a commercial and industrial hub, the city suffered in the depths of the Great Depression. The flight of manufacturing jobs in the latter part of the 20th century caused a population fall of over 50%, a downturn that the city has only recently begun to recover from. And of course, there are the winters.

Modern Buffalo, like other formerly industrial cities such as Philadelphia, Detroit, and Pittsburgh, is embracing its past as it looks to the future: new businesses are occupying old buildings, a cutting-edge medical campus is attracting students from all over, and most importantly the coffee scene, once a relative wasteland, is surging.

There are still the old favorites like SPoT Coffee whose Buffalo location, after much upheaval, recently became one of only a few unionized coffee shops in the country. But around them a new and eclectic breed of cafes is starting to populate the city, each putting their own spin on Buffalos distinctive spirit.

As with all major cities, its impossible to list every coffee shop, but here are five of Buffalos best to get you started.

Public Espresso

Situating fancy coffee shops within hotels is a growing (and sensible) trend. Hotels have notoriously bad coffee, so it makes sense to hand over the reins to people who know what theyre doing. The gang at Public Espresso knows their stuff and, unlike many hotel coffee collaborations, this isnt a mere lobby kiosk or tacked-on afterthought: their flagship location is a full-scale cafe and bakery within the historic Lafayette Hotel in downtown Buffalo.

The cafe, big and airy, makes good use of the hotels elegant architectural lines. It boasts a Bellwether emissionless coffee roaster in one corner, providing the coffee that goes with the real star of the show here: the donuts. A full kitchen/bakery behind the bar provides an inventive and ever-changing lineup of donuts (think flavors like vegan cocoa crispy dipped and Earl Grey lemon), crullers, and other baked goods in addition to an all-day breakfast and lunch menu. The huge bar area features a three group Slayer espresso machine, Mahlkonig PEAK and EK43 grinders, and Hario V60 drippers for manual brew.

In addition to its hotel home, Public recently opened a second location in the Sheas Seneca redevelopment in South Buffalo and also continues to pay homage to its itinerant roots by popping up at farmers markets, weddings, and other events around the city.

Public Espresso has multiple locations in Buffalo. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook Twitter , and Instagram

Caffeology

On Buffalos north side, in a neighborhood abutting the huge Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Caffeology is a community coffee shop in the truest sense. Owner Hamada Saleh blends the old with the new, offering a welcoming space replete with hand-written menus alongside a decidedly diverse approach to coffee. Seven different brew methods are available, from siphon to Turkish coffee, and Caffeology also boasts several specialty lattesBuffalo Truffle, anyone?to tempt those looking for something sweeter.

The cafe space, with its warm lighting, burlap-covered stools, and eclectic decor, is inviting and comfortable in a way that many modern coffee shops are not. Espresso is brewed on a Nuova Simonelli Aurelia II, and alongside the array of manual brewing equipment is FETCO batch-brewed coffee to keep the medical students happy as they make their way to and from campus.

For such a small shop, Caffeology also features a substantial food menuan oft-rotating range of hearty soups, bagels, sandwiches, and baked goods complements the coffee selection and encourages customers to linger.

Overwinter Coffee

Having started as a wholesale roasting company a few years ago, Overwinter Coffee owners Ben Trojan and Joshua Halliman opened their bricks and mortar store in 2018 and are already planning an expansion. Their 375-square-foot cafe on Genesee Street in downtown has room for just a few seats (coffee is, understandably, roasted off-site) but takes advantage of the foot traffic from nearby offices. The cafe, while small, is warm and welcoming on a cold winters daythe window seats are a particularly coveted spot to watch the city go by.

Espresso drinks are prepared on a La Marzocco GB5, with support from Mazzer Super Jolly and Robur grinders. Bee House drippers take care of manual brew and a Marco Jet6 Twin brewer serves up batch drip coffee, while food options are provided by local companiespastries by Fairy Cakes Cupcakery and biscottis by Biscotti For Everybotti.

For those looking forward to the shops next location, Overwinters second cafe will open in the spring in Elmwood Village, allowing for more seating and, alongside their wholesale roasting business, an expanded presence in the Buffalo coffee scene.

Remedy House

Inspired by the all-day cafes of Paris, Remedy House keeps everybody happy by serving coffee all day and cocktails all nighta customer could conceivably enjoy their morning coffee and end up staying until last orders.

Occupying a unique wedge-shaped building at the confluence of Rhode Island and West Utica Streets, Remedy House has become a favorite in the Five Points neighborhood since opening in 2017. The space is small, but with high ceilings and windows running along two sides it feels much larger. Continuing the Parisian cafe theme, occupancy is boosted in warmer months by abundant sidewalk seating under brightly colored awnings.

Remedy House serves coffee from Toronto-based Propeller Coffee Company and occasional guests, with espresso brewed on a La Marzocco Strada and ground on a Mahlkonig K30 Twin. Theres batch brew too, and manual brewing via AeroPress and Hario V60. An extensive, all-day food menu is also on offer, with seasonally rotating items ranging from breakfast sandwiches to soups and cheese boards. A thoughtfully curated alcohol menu rounds things out, with natural wines and local breweries taking pride of place alongside creative cocktails.

Tipico Coffee

Located in a former grocery store in a residential part of Buffalos West Side, Tipico Coffee epitomizes the neighborhood cafe. Founded in 2015 by Intelligentsia and Gimme! Coffee alumnus Jesse Crouse, Tipico boasts what is believed to be North Americas largest kachelofen, a built-in masonry heater, running along one wall. Its intricate decoration makes it a focal point for the cafe, and its use as a bench makes it perfect for those freezing Buffalo winter mornings.

The rest of the interior has a lot to live up to and goes for the classic coffee shop style of exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and big windows (these open in summer to let the space meld with the outdoors).

Tipicos coffee is roasted a few blocks away on a Diedrich IR-12 and brewed via a La Marzocco Linea EE for espresso, FETCO for batch brew, and Kalita Wave for pour-over. Also on tap are two cold brew options: classic and coco (that would be lightly sweetened cold brew and house-made coconut milk). For those who like something to eat alongside their beverage, a sturdy selection of toasts and sandwiches balance out the coffee offerings. Adding to the theme, Tipico plans to open a second location in the spring which, like Overwinters new space, will be in Elmwood Village.

From the look of things, Buffalos coffee future is in good hands.

Fionn Pooler is a journalist based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the publisher of The Pourover. Read more Fionn Pooler on Sprudge.
The Defense Information Systems Agency, an arm of the U.S. Department of Defense that handles secure communications and IT for the president and others, confirmed that it experienced a data breach in the middle of 2019. The agency has revealed little about the incident.According to a DISA Feb. 11 letter that was sent to individuals whose personal information may have been compromised, the breach occurred between May and July last year. The letter further stated that DISA has since improved its security measures and protocols and that potential victims of identity theft would receive free credit monitoring.In an email to, DoD spokesman Chuck Prichard didnt reveal whether the breach involved more sensitive records than nonsensitive records, but he said the personally identifiable information included names and Social Security numbers.Prichard said that while DoD and DISA take cybersecurity and breaches very seriously, they do not plan on revealing certain details about this incident.For operational security reasons, the department does not comment on the actions taken to mitigate risks or vulnerabilities, he said.In a news and career advice article for ClearanceJobs, a defense- and security-focused job networking site, former senior military strategist Steve Leonard said he received the DISA letter and was not satisfied with its message.For once, Id like to receive a letter that actually explained what happened, Leonard said in his article. In this case, the breach occurred months ago, plenty of time for DISA to identify the cause of the breach and offer some sort of explanation.Last year was notable for the number of data breaches, according to multiple sources. Earlier this month, company Risk Based Security stated that 15.1 billion records were reportedly exposed by breaches in 2019, a 284 percent jump from 2018. A report from nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center estimates that the U.S. government and military experienced 83 data breaches in 2019, which accounted for 5.6 percent of the years total breaches and resulted in the exposure of 3.6 million sensitive records.
One of several events included a panel with representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. EPA and Indiana Department of Environmental Management on how schools, governments and other entities can secure grants helping them to switch to cleaner burning fuels.
Last Saturday, the Daily Mail reported that Meghan's best friend, Jessica Mulroney, had registered a website for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

According to the report, the registered site is sussexglobalcharities.com. It was registered through her charity, the Shoebox Project Foundation, which supports vulnerable women.

However, on Sunday, in a statement shared on Twitter, Jessica Mulroney revealed that she never acted on Prince Harry and Meghan's behalf.

"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."

The news of the royal couple's alleged website registration comes just days after it was announced that the couple cannot use the word "royal" in their branding.

A spokesperson for the couple told People Magazine, "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use 'Sussex Royal' in any territory post-spring 2020."

However, in a lengthy message posted on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's official website, they talked about in detail how the transition will take place while also insisting that Queen Elizabeth II does not have any ownership with the word "royal."

They said, "While there is not any jurisdiction by The Monarchy or Cabinet Office over the use of the word 'Royal' overseas, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use 'Sussex Royal' or any iteration of the word 'Royal' in any territory (either within the UK or otherwise) when the transition occurs Spring 2020."

Ungrateful Royals

When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released the said statement, critics have taken aim at them.

Piers Morgan was quick to find fault with it, saying that there is a "staggering disrespect" that they keep showing the Queen. He also called it "outrageous" and exclaimed "who the hell do they think they are?"

While the statement's intention was to clear rumors, one royal expert believes that it is very telling of how unhappy the couple is with the new arrangement.

Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun that the underlying message is that they do not like the arrangement because they want to use "Sussex Royal." Moreover, the expert questioned why did they have to say that the monarchy does not have the power to prevent them from using it.

"My hope is the bitterness they seem to feel with the current arrangement will become most positive as months progress," Fitzwilliams said.

New Plans

Over the weekend, the pair also outlined their plans for their charity efforts, noting that they do not intend to start a foundation but instead "develop a new way to effect change and complement the efforts made by so many excellent foundations globally."

They hope that by creating the "non-profit entity" will be an addition to their cause-driven work that they "remain deeply committed to."

In a report by People magazine, while there is precedent for other "titled members of the Royal Family" to seek employment outside of the institution, a review is still set to follow after 12 months -- at which the royal family will revisit the agreement.

Prince Harry's honorary military positions such as Major, Lieutenant Commander and Squadron Leader will not be used and no new appointments will be made to fill these roles before the 12-month review of the new arrangements is completed.

Prince Harry remains sixth in line to the throne.
TOKYO, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nippon Express USA, Inc. (hereinafter, "NE USA"), a local subsidiary of Nippon Express Co., Ltd., has relocated its principal location for West Coast ocean cargo transport and warehousing operations from Torrance to Long Beach, both in California. The new location in Long Beach, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, opened for business in January 2020.

Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202002217132-O3-M9KxbID5

An opening ceremony was held at the new location on Tuesday, January 28.

Photo1: Opening ceremony

https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M103866/202002217132/_prw_PI1lg_1QSJx8da.jpg

Photo2: Exterior view of new location

https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M103866/202002217132/_prw_PI2lg_1TKqb67K.jpg

Reflecting the robust U.S. economy, the Port of Los Angeles area has been seeing a sharp rise across the board in warehouse demand. NE USA's previous location comprised three buildings on the same site, but the new location will use a single high-ceilinged building in the interest of greater storage and operational efficiency.

This consolidation of locations with a Nippon Express Group company, Associated Global Systems, Inc., is expected to produce considerable synergy by efficiently integrating the trunk transport of cargo to/from Los Angeles.

The new site in Long Beach sits alongside the Port of Los Angeles' "Heavy Container Corridor," a roadway on which overweight container loads can be transported without special authorization. NE USA will be seeking to take advantage of this siting to step up its business efforts in the transport of large plant equipment and other heavy haulage as well as various transloading operations, and to acquire new forwarding business.

The new location is an air-conditioned facility equipped with frozen (-20 C) and refrigerated (2 C to 8 C) temperature control, enabling storage of perishables, pharmaceuticals and other goods requiring temperature control.

NE USA remains committed to further enhancing its community-rooted logistics services worldwide to support its customers' diversifying global business operations.

Profile of new location

Name: Ocean Service Division & Logistics Service Division, Los Angeles Branch; Household Goods Branch; Nippon Express USA, Inc.

Address: 1901 W. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, CA 90810, USA

Warehouse area: 16,570 square meters

Office: 1,535 square meters

Nippon Express website: http://www.nipponexpress.com/

Official LinkedIn Account: NIPPON EXPRESS GROUP

https://www.linkedin.com/company/nippon-express-group/

SOURCE Nippon Express Co., Ltd.
US to reduce more regulations: Trump promises

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Feb 25: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday promised to reduce more regulations in his country as he looked for overseas investment to boost American economy.

Speaking at a meeting with CEOs, he said a trade deal with India is in the works, but did not share any details. "It has been an honour to be here," he said on visiting India.

"We just did a lot of business with India where they will buy helicopters worth USD 3 billion." On Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, "he is very tough man, but he is also very nice man." "We create jobs here, he creates jobs there (in US)," he said.

Trump-Modi sign 3 key MoUs; finalised billion defence deal

The governments, he said can only aid in creating jobs and it's private industry that actually creates jobs. On regulations in the US, he said some of the regulations have to go through statutory process, but his government is committed to reducing a "lot more regulations."

Stating that he is going to win the coming US presidential elections that will cause the markets to boom, he said his government has done a lot for the economy, healthcare and military.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 17:07 [IST]
By Online Desk

Fresh violence broke out in parts of northeast Delhi with violent mobs going on the rampage on Tuesday. The death toll in the violent clashes over the amended citizenship law has touched 13, according to official sources.

Smoke was seen going up in some places and streets, including in the epicentre of the trouble Maujpur, were littered with stones, bricks and burnt tyres, testimony to the spiralling violence and bloodshed that took on a communal taint on Monday and injured about 150 people.

Schools were shut with exams being postponed and fearful residents stayed indoors as the area smouldered with tension.

Prohibitory orders, banning the assembly of more than four persons, were imposed on Monday and will continue to be in force till March 24.
After decades of decline, Buffalo touts a 'Refugee Renaissance.' Can it last?
Mark Ruffalo said he broke his own rules for portraying a real, living person in Dark Waters, a story that is still very much ongoing.

Ruffalo plays environmental lawyer Rob Bilott in the new film from Carol director Todd Haynes, which traces the litigation from its humble origins as the case of a single farmer through to the nationwide class action Bilott is currently pursuing through the US courts. In the past, Ruffalo says he would avoid contact with the real life person hes playing.

The prevailing thought in my industry is to keep the [real] person off the set, the 52-year-old Avengers: Endgame star said.

He added: I wanted Rob there as much as he was available because he was such a wealth of information.

Read more: Most exciting movies of 2020

There's such a huge responsibility for the people who are fighting this now, who are living with it.

This giant corporation would love to find any inconsistencies to poke holes into the veracity of the film. The level of responsibility is really high.

Mark Ruffalo as lawyer Rob Bilott in 'Dark Waters'. (Credit: Mary Cybulski/Focus Features/eOne)

Bilott, the real-life subject of the legal thriller has said he couldnt think of anybody better than Mark Ruffalo to portray him on the big screen.

Bilott has been crusading for more than 20 years to hold the DuPont company to account for the accumulation of chemical compound PFOA in the water surrounding a factory in West Virginia.

The chemical has been shown to be toxic to humans and linked to various illnesses, including kidney and testicular cancer.

Read more: Ruffalo discusses weight gain for TV role

The lawyer told Yahoo Movies UK that Ruffalo did an absolutely fantastic job in the film.

He added: His talents and passion for the whole project were just really amazing. I couldn't think of anybody better.

Rob Bilott and Mark Ruffalo attend the "Dark Waters" Photocall at White City House on February 06, 2020. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

Bilott admitted it was strange to see himself depicted on the big screen, but said it was crucial that people are finally being able to see this story and understand the scale of the issue.

He said: [I wanted] to really bring this information out to the rest of the world and to see folks finally seeing the scope of the contamination problem that goes way beyond West Virginia.

Story continues

It's affecting all of us.

Read more: Ruffalo tackles Boris Johnsons Hulk metaphor

In an investor call prior to the films US release in November, DuPont executive chairman Ed Breen said the companys legal folks were looking at the film, but no action has thus far been taken.

As well as Ruffalo, the movie stars Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, Bill Camp and Bill Pullman.

Dark Waters is released into UK cinemas on 28 February.
UPDATE: Christina Conrad, 25, and Barry McRae, 47, were extradited from New York and arraigned March 10, 2020, before District Judge Robert Weber. Conrad was held in lieu of $200,000 bail and McRae in lieu of $150,000. Their preliminary hearings are tentatively scheduled 9 a.m. March 20 in Webers court in Downtown Easton.

INITIAL POST: Authorities investigating the Feb. 5 armed robbery at a Downtown Easton gas station announced charges Tuesday against a former employee and her boyfriend.

Christina Conrad, 25, and Barry McRae, 47, face charges of robbery, conspiracy and theft in the holdup that netted 130 cartons of cigarettes, Northampton County District Attorney Terry Houck said.

Conrad, who did not have an address listed in court records, and McRae, of the Bronx, New York, were arrested early Tuesday morning in the 600 block of Barretto Street in the Bronx by Easton police detectives, New York City police and U.S. Marshals. McRae was leaving for work and Conrad was sleeping in his car, Houck said.

The suspects are awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania on the charges.

Conrad worked at the Easton convenience store a year earlier, and moved between the Lehigh Valley and New York for a period of time, but stayed in New York since the robbery, authorities said.

Criminal records show McRae was convicted of robbery in 1992 and of attempted murder in 1993, both in Kings County, New York, and paroled in 2015.

Court paperwork charging the pair was previously sealed, and the case involved the countys investigating grand jury. Investigators worked fast both to not lose any evidence, but also because of the violent nature of the crime, Houck said.

Court paperwork alleges Conrad reached out to former employees for help with the robbery. The person declined, but police are still investigating to see if anyone else was involved in the theft.

The pair allegedly robbed the SquareOne Exxon at 158 S. Third St. in the early morning of Feb. 5.

Houck said the sophisticated robbery appeared to be well-planned: The suspects were wearing masks and disguises, they both had weapons and used trash bags to take the cartons of cigarettes.

They went right to the cigarettes, they were stealing only cigarettes, the district attorney said. It wasnt a random thing. They knew what they wanted, they went in, got it and got out of there.

The employees were frightened for their lives, Houck said. As the robbery was underway, two patrons walked into the store, had guns pointed at them and the patrons left, Easton police Lt. Matt Gerould said.

Conrad and McRae fled in a dark older model Buick Enclave onto Larry Holmes Drive then across the free bridge into Phillipsburg, police said.

As they crossed the bridge, they threw several items out of the vehicle windows, police said. The items were recovered, including a silver Halloween mask, womens boots and pants, and a dreadlocks wig, Houck said.

Houck said several agencies assisted in the investigation, including Phillipsburg police.

A license plate reader recorded the Enclave in Phillipsburg, with a New York state plate registered to McRae, authorities said. The same vehicle with the same plate was recorded on Interstate 78 West a little after midnight in Clinton Township, and then on I-78 East in Warren County a few minutes after the robbery, court records say.

Detectives also used surveillance video and cellphone records, including evidence the couple shopped at the Lower Nazareth Township Walmart before the robbery, Houck said.

As they gathered information on the vehicle, a witness came forward the day after the robbery to report that Conrad reached out to a former employee for help with the robbery, police said.

Easton police interviewed a different former employee, who reported Conrad reached out to him on Facebook for help with the robbery, court records say.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
The College of Saint Rose is celebrating the success of one of its students who wowed judges recently on "American Idol."

Julia Gargano sang her original song "Growing Pains" for her "Idol" audition, and the performance was impressive enough to elicit a spontaneous hug from judge Katy Perry.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may have ditched Sussex Royal, but they still insist that Queen Elizabeth does not own the rights to the word royal. The couple originally planned to continue working with Sussex Royal following their exit from the monarchy, but Queen Elizabeth vetoed that idea. Although they do not plan on using their royal titles moving forward, the Sussexes made it clear that Her Majesty has no jurisdiction on the matter.

Queen Elizabeth, Meghan Markle, and Prince Harry | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to end Sussex Royal

One of the consequences of stepping down as senior members of the royal family is the end of Sussex Royal. Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, established the charitable foundation in 2019 following their exit from The Royal Foundation.

The pair left The Royal Foundation amid rumors of a massive feud with Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton. As royal watchers will recall, Prince Harry and William founded the organization back in 2009. Kate, Duchess of Cambridge joined after she tied the knot with William in 2011.

Britons back the Queen after she banned Prince Harry and Meghan from using Sussex Royal brand https://t.co/GA0m6ONyOB  Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) February 19, 2020

When they announced their exit from the royal family, Prince Harry and Markle planned on staying with Sussex Royal as they set up a second home-base in North America.

But after negotiating their departure with Queen Elizabeth, Her Majesty forced them to stop using their royal titles altogether. She also prohibited them from continuing work with Sussex Royal, a move that the couple confirmed on their website.

Inside the new agreement with the monarchy

Prince Harry met with senior members of the royal family in the weeks following the announcement on social media. Following the end of negotiations, Buckingham Palace released a statement detailing whats ahead for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

The statement revealed that the royals understand and support Harry and Markles decision to step away from the royal spotlight. Although they will be viewed as a valued part of the monarchy, the couple will not be allowed to use their royal titles for at least a 12-month period.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could earn over 85,000 per Instagram post in their bid to become financially independent  more than twice as much as Prince William and Kate Middleton, expert claims https://t.co/hMgEWfoPms pic.twitter.com/CPOUXBPjWP  David Icke (@davidicke) February 24, 2020

The preference of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex was to continue to represent and support Her Majesty The Queen albeit in a more limited capacity, while not drawing on the Sovereign Grant, the statement read. While there is precedent for other titled members of the Royal Family to seek employment outside of the institution, for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, a 12-month review period has been put in place.

According to Page Six, the palace added that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be stepping away from all of their royal duties and will not appear in public on behalf of Queen Elizabeth until after the review period has ended. At that time, everything will be re-assessed, though it is unlikely that things will change.

Harry and Markle later confirmed that their exit will officially take place on March 31. Once that happens, the couple will no longer accept funding from the crown.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle address using their royal titles

In light of the Buckingham Palace statement, Prince Harry and Markle updated their website to provide some clarity on the issue.

The pair confirmed that they will no longer be working with Sussex Royal. They also revealed that they will not use the word royal once their exit from the monarchy becomes official, but not before taking a dig at Queen Elizabeth.

Years ago #PrinceHarry made his position very clear about how he feels about media intrusion into his personal life! Why people can't understand n respect the decisions he has now made for him n #MeghanMarkle is mind boggling to me! Leave the man alone FFS!! pic.twitter.com/ixZJRUGZHj  Royal Cerebral (@Namaste_40) February 23, 2020

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, their website reads.

The royal family has not commented on Prince Harry and Markles latest statement. Inside sources, however, claim that the former Suits star is not happy about the added drama  and shes letting her friends know exactly how she feels.

How does Meghan Markle feel about leaving Sussex Royal?

While the royals continue to deal with Megxit, inside sources claim that Markle has told her friends that Queen Elizabeth cannot legally stop her and Prince Harry from using the word royal in their foundation.

She is also unhappy about the move because she feels as though it was a petty way to get back at her for leaving the royal family. Markle also allegedly told her friends that she was not planning on profiting in any way from the brand.

Meghan said shes done with the drama and has no room in her life for naysayers, and the same goes for Harry, the source shared. Meghan said the global projects they are working on speak for themselves and they chose that name to protect the royal name, not profit off of it.

Meghan Markle's friends are saying she's defiant and determined to use the Sussex Royal name despite Queen Elizabeth's ban. Ok, who are these so-called friends and why are they blabbing? https://t.co/0r1WZLaac1  Perez Hilton (@PerezHilton) February 21, 2020

Prince Harry and Markle have not revealed what will replace Sussex Royal after March 31. They are, however, continuing their work in the charitable and will be launching a new organization in the coming months.

It will be interesting to find out what they call their new endeavor and what the rest of the royal thinks about it. The only thing that is clear is that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not be using the word royal moving forward.
The first day of the British court hearing yesterday to determine if WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange will be extradited to the United States left no doubt that what is taking place is a legal travesty that threatens both Assanges life and fundamental democratic rights.

The Trump administrations application to render Assange to the US should have been thrown out within minutes, due to British laws that deny the extradition of individuals to face politically motivated charges.

Assange has been charged with multiple counts of espionage over WikiLeaks publication in 2010 and 2011 of leaked information that revealed US war crimes and diplomatic conspiracies. A more blatantly politically motivated case could not be imagined than a state seeking to prosecute those who exposed its criminality.

Instead of dismissing the case, however, Judge Vanesssa Baraister accepted the assertion of James Lewis QC, representing the US Department of Justice, that he [Assange] is not charged with disclosure of embarrassing or awkward information that the government would rather not have had disclosed.

This absurd and bald-faced lie is contradicted by the very indictment against Assange, which charges him with having unauthorized possession of, access to, and control over documents relating to the national defense, willfully and unlawfully caused and attempted to cause such materials to be communicated, delivered, and transmitted to persons not entitled to receive them by publishing them on the Internet.

That is, Assange is accused of having published documents the government would rather not have had disclosed, documents that were embarrassing to the American government because it showed that its military forces had killed thousands of the civilians in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The US case, foreshadowed in yesterdays opening statements, centres on the allegation that the names of American government and military informants and spies were not redacted from documents by WikiLeaks before they were published. US agencies, Lewis claimed, had identified hundreds of at-risk people who were named in documents. It had relocated some, he asserted, while others had subsequently disappeared. Assange, Lewis told the court, had knowingly put people at risk.

The same accusation was levelled against whistleblower Chelsea Manning and it was disproven and discredited during her military trial for passing the information over to WikiLeaks.

Brigadier General Robert Carr, the counter-intelligence officer who had overseen the investigation by the US Defense Department, admitted under oath in 2013 that I dont have a specific example of any person who came to harm due to the publication of the leaks. Carrs initial naming of one individual who was allegedly killed as a result of Mannings actions was stricken from the official record of the trial because the person had not even been identified in the documents.

Yesterday, in the British court, Lewis likewise admitted that the US cannot prove disappearance caused by the outing by WikiLeaks. Moreover, Edward Fitzgerald QC, representing Assange, pointed out, WikiLeaks only published the unredacted material after they had been published by others.

The extradition hearing is nevertheless proceeding on the false assertion that Assange committed a crime. In fact, he did what genuine journalists and publishers have always prided themselves for doing: he made available the evidence of criminality that those in power in Washington and elsewhere were seeking to conceal from the people. His actions as a publisher have historically been protected under the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

The legal travesty taking place in Londonand the one being prepared in the UScannot hide from the worlds population that Assange has been relentlessly pursued because he oversaw a damning exposure of the US government and the reality of imperialist wars and diplomacy.

Chelsea Manning was arrested, abused, tortured and condemned to 35 years imprisonment and spent seven years in a cell before her sentence was commuted in 2017. WikiLeaks was censored on the internet and Assange was slandered with false allegations of sexual assault. He was forced to wage a protracted fight in the British courts to try and prevent his extradition to Sweden. He was forced to seek asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London because British courts ignored the evidence that the Swedish case was a tissue of lies and the Australian government, which had the responsibility to protect Assange as one of its citizens, refused to intervene.

While in the embassy from June 2012 to April 2019, Assange was denied access to adequate medical care by the British government and even the ability to access direct sunlight. He endured what medical experts have classified as relentless physical mistreatment and psychological torture. As has now been thoroughly documented, UC Global, the security company supposedly protecting him and the embassy, was in fact spying on him on behalf of the US government. It recorded and handed over to the CIA his most intimate discussions, including those with his legal representatives.

In contravention of international law, the Trump administration threatened and bribed the Ecuadorian government into reneging on its provision of asylum. Assange was dragged away by police and has since been incarcerated in brutal conditions in the maximum security Belmarsh Prison awaiting the beginning of the extradition hearing. Manning has been reimprisoned for refusing to testify to a grand jury against Assange.

The case for the British government and courts to reject the US attempt to get its hands on the publisher of WikiLeaks is overwhelming and interconvertible. As is the case for the Australian government to intervene with the full weight of its diplomatic and legal powers demanding an end to the brutal vendetta against an Australian citizen and journalist.

The actions of the American state can be compared with those of a murderer who escapes justice but hunts down the people who provided evidence against him. Not a single politician, military officer or diplomatic official has ever been held to account for the mass murders and anti-democratic conspiracies revealed in the documents leaked by Manning and published by WikiLeaks. Instead, it is Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning who are in prison cells, and Assange facing the prospect of a life sentence of up to 175 years in the darkest corner of the US federal prison system.

Millions of people around the world, and dozens of organisations, are today raising their voices in defence of Assange and Manning. A powerful international movement is taking shape. But it must assimilate and base itself upon the lesson of the great past struggles to free class war prisoners and victims of state frame-up. Only fear of a mass political mobilisation of the working class will compel their persecutors to release them.

The freedom of Assange and Manning will not be won by appealing to the non-existent democratic and moral principles of political leaders such as Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Labour leadership in the UK, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor leader Anthony Albanese in Australia, let alone Trump or the Democratic Party establishment in the US that are determined to destroy WikiLeaks.

Rather, the defence of Assange must be based upon the growing struggles of the working class. All over the world, workers are engaged in a mounting wave of strikes and political protest and it is this social force that will free Assange and all other class war prisoners.

Workers must understand that the defence of democratic rights is inseparable from the struggle for social equality. As a speaker at a Socialist Equality Party rally in defence of Assange in Sydney, Australia said on February 22: We wont have a voice on any issue if we do not have honest information and freedom of speech.

The developing movement to defend Assange must direct its energy to mobilising the even greater movement that is underway in the working class against social inequality, the threat of fascism and dictatorship and the growing danger of war. The immense power of the working class is the force that can end the legal charade taking place in London and secure Assanges immediate and unconditional freedom.
Honda Vietnam is the countrys most-favoured producer of motorcycles and scooters, photo Le Toan

The countrys local motorbike giant, Honda Vietnam, recently required electric motorbike competitor Pega (formerly HKbike), to stop advertising its products by directly comparing them with the market leaders models. Honda had also threatened to take Pega to court if it did not reply by February 19.

In response to Hondas letter, Doan Ngoc Linh, CEO of Pega, said that there had been a misunderstanding and the launching ceremony was an internal event. Moreover, product comparisons would be nothing new and were global practice.

Linh did not offer any public apologies, but Pega later removed the livestream of the event on Facebook and confirmed there was no comparative advertisement of the two products left on any media channels.

Linh had compared his companys new Pega eSH with Hondas SH 2020 at a presentation on February 11, however, without any permission to use Hondas images or product details. For instance, criteria such as safety, noise, and level of environmental pollution had been compared. The Honda SH scooter is available in two versions, 125i and 150i, and is considered the current king of high-end scooters in the Vietnamese market. Prices for Hondas SH range from VND70 million ($3,000) to VND121 million ($5,260). Meanwhile, Pegas electric eSH scooter was launched with the competitive price of VND30 million ($1,300).

Pegas actions have seriously violated the rights and legitimate interests of Honda Vietnam, adversely affecting the image and brand of the SH Mode. At the same time, the act of advertising the eSH Mode by directly comparing it with our SH vehicles violated the provisions of the current law, said Honda Vietnam.

Honda Vietnam also demanded monetary compensation for the damage alongside the public apology and removal of the presentation from all of Pegas media channels.

It is not the first case of a heated conflict between makers of conventional and electric motorbikes and scooters. Previously, Piaggio Vietnam accused Pega of spreading false information by comparing fuel-based products with the companys own electric motorbikes.

Currently, Pega also features its Aura model which has a similar design to Vespas recent model. Founded in 2012, Pega is following a bold strategy by promising the defeat of petrol-based motorcycles in the next few years.

Electric two-wheelers, which include vehicles ranging from electric bicycles to electric scooters, are becoming increasingly popular and important forms of urban transport in Asian cities.

In Vietnam, the motorbike market is dominated by big players such as Honda, Yamaha, Piaggio, and Suzuki, but the market is slowly being shared with some new electric motorbike makers.

According to a report of the Vietnam Motorcycle Manufacturers Association, the total sales of motorcycles in 2019 of its members reached more than 3.2 million vehicles of all kinds. This figure decreased by 3.87 per cent compared to 2018.

Despite a weak first half, the market leader Honda Vietnam has been able to slam a new all-time sales record with 2.57 million sales, improving the gap over all others. Meantime, the top challenger Yamaha Vietnam has lost 19.7 per cent despite launching two new models.

Switching from fuel-powered vehicles to electric ones is an undisputed must-do to tackle climate change and pollution, according to a United Nations Industrial Development Organization report. Recent developments all over the world in both developed and emerging markets show that the expanding field of e-mobility can lead to innovative technologies, new business models, and new consumer structures, and eventually to new patterns of mobility and traffic.
FLINT, MI -- Flint Community Schools has scheduled three more meetings to discuss upcoming tax proposals on the March ballot.

Meetings will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, at Doyle-Ryder Elementary School, at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 3 at Freeman Elementary School and at 4:15 p.m. Thursday, March 5, at Holmes Elementary School.

The first meeting was held Monday, March 24 at Pierce Elementary School. Superintendent Derrick Lopez held a candid conversation with around two dozen people in attendance.

Flint school tax proposals topic of upcoming meeting

After deliberating for months on proposed school closures, the Flint Board of Education directed the districts administration to go back to the drawing board to come up with a new plan to reduce the districts massive yearly structural deficit.

Residents spoke out at meetings in past months, telling stories about how the closure of schools decimated neighborhoods, Lopez said. Students in neighborhoods where schools closed often moved to a charter school or a surrounding district.

The point of the matter is  we heard you and we saw you and thus we have the millage, Lopez said.

The district currently has a 4-mill sinking fund levy, which, if passed, would be renewed and reduced to a 1.18-mill tax through the ballot proposal.

If renewed, sinking fund dollars would fund new lighting in hallways, new roofs in remaining facilities and upgrades to building exteriors.

The second part of the proposal is a new $30.62 million bond proposal that would go directly toward eliminating the deficit of the school district, according to ballot language. The bond is estimated to levy 2.82-mills from property owners. The maximum time bonds may be outstanding is 25 years.

The district is waiting to see what happens in the March election before determining the next step in its enhanced deficit elimination plan, Lopez said.

It has been decided that no elementary schools will close, he said. However, Northwestern Junior High School is not yet off the table.

The debt repayment bond is a fairly new option for districts facing deficit and debt issues. Under a 2016 law change, which eliminated deficit borrowing and taxing restrictions adopted under Proposal A, bonds called school financing stability bonds can now be placed on voters ballots in Michigan school districts.

The law change came when Detroit Public Schools was facing massive debts and building deficits.

Now the Flint school district is facing a similar challenge: How to cope with legacy debt and a mounting structural deficit as enrollment declines and the percentage of students with special education needs increases to double the state average.

Lopez has said a $5.7 million yearly deficit accumulated by the district over the past five years is due to two things: legacy debt (about $2.1 million per year) and inflated special education costs (about $3.6 million per year).

Legacy debt began with a loan taken out by the district after it found itself in a $21.9 million deficit in 2014. It will cost the district $2.1 million a year through 2038, Lopez said at a November 2019 meeting. He said the yearly amount paid on the debt equates to about $450 per student.

Read more here:

Meeting postponed as Flint school board seeks more options to reduce deficit

North side residents speak out as Flint schools consider consolidation options

The cavalry isnt coming and Flint schools must make tough decisions, district leader says

Flints Eisenhower Elementary School taken off possible closure list

Flint school board votes to get bond proposals on March ballot

Flint school board votes to send deficit elimination plan to the state
Ben Affleck would like you to know that he is definitely not on any dating apps.

Since his very public split with Jennifer Garner, the actor appears to have embraced his role as a kind of sad divorced guy, even coming clean about his alcoholism and self-loathing in a recent New York Times interview in which he called his divorce the biggest regret of his life.

Unlike many a fellow 40-something divorce, however, Ben Affleck has not turned to dating apps. At least, not according to Ben Affleck, that is.

I am not on Tinder, Grinder, Grindr, Brinder, Grinder, Bumble, Humble. I am not on any of them, the actor told Diane Sawyer in a Good Morning America interview last week. I have no judgment about people who are, he added. Great But not me.

It makes sense that Affleck isnt on any of the dating apps he mentioned, especially considering most of the words he said are not actually the names of real dating apps.

However, despite Afflecks staunch denial that he is not on any dating apps, real or imagined, an inside scoop courtesy of Page Six suggests otherwise.

Back in October, the outlet reported that Affleck was looking for love on ultra-exclusive dating app to the stars Raya. According to Page Six, the actor was relying on the celeb-friendly app to find dates. While reports at the time suggested Affleck was using the app frequently, regularly updating his photos and bio, and even changing his profile song to Bob Marleys overtly weepy Guava Jelly, Afflecks latest comments seem to dispute these rumors.

I am not on any websites, I have no songs, the actor told Good Morning America.

This discrepancy, as various outlets have noted, suggests the possibility of a Ben Affleck catfish on the loose. But this, as Vice pointed out, begs yet another question: If youre going to impersonate a celebrity on a dating app, why, with all due respect, would you choose Ben Affleck?

There is, of course, the possibility that Affleck was once a regular on the app before deleting it. Back in October, a source reportedly told Page Six that the actor was no longer on Raya. While Affleck appeared to be take a fairly dismissive attitude toward the report in general when Sawyer brought it up during the GMA interview, he did not appear to specify that he is not now, nor has ever been, on a dating app. So while a Ben Affleck catfish may remain at large, its also possible that the catfish was the real Ben Affleck after all.

Yet another theory? Ben Affleck, having missed the memo that it is no longer 2013, could be lying about his dating app habits. Meanwhile, its also probably not entirely outside the realm of possibility that Page Six could have maybe fabricated their report a little. Anything could happen!

Either way, the good news is that despite Afflecks dismissive attitude, gay dating app Grindr (which Affleck called out by name and/or flagrant adulteration of name no fewer than three times in his list of dating apps he is definitely not on) is still willing to welcome the actor with open arms.

Dont knock it till you try it, Grindr tweeted at Affleck.

So which Ben Affleck is the real Ben Affleck? Avid Raya user? Liar? Victim of media rumor mill? Future Grindr user? We may never know. Maybe Ben Affleck himself was the real Ben Affleck catfish all along.

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The post Is a Ben Affleck Impersonator Catfishing People on Dating Apps? appeared first on InsideHook.
President Lyndon B. Johnson hands a pen to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. after signing the historic Civil Rights Act in the East Room of the White House on July 2, 1964. (AFP/Getty Images)

Retropolis The Past, Rediscovered
When Damon Patton was booked into the Pennington County Jail on an armed robbery charge last March, he was full of anger.

But the 39-year-old said a new Lakota cultural and healing program taught him to handle his emotions and connect with his culture.

"It helped me recognize my strengths and my weaknesses ... where I was right in life and where I was wrong in life. It helped me want to live a better life, make better choices," Patton said of the Seven Directions programs. "It also helped me want to learn my culture," said Patton, who is Lakota and African American.

Patton graduated from the 10-week class and, after taking a plea deal, was recently released from jail to begin his probation sentence. He continues to participate in Seven Directions classes at the Fork Real Cafe to make sure he stays on the right track.

The enthusiasm and success stories from people like Patton have encouraged the jail and Pennington County State's Attorney Office to expand the program in 2020.

"The pilot programs have shown great promise," State's Attorney Mark Vargo said at a news conference Monday.

Vargo said he wants people who commit crimes to be held accountable, but also be given a chance to succeed and change their behavior, which can be hard if people are released right back into the environment they came from with no treatment. Seven Directions gives people that chance by making sure they are released with a new mindset and skills, he said.

Jail Commander Rob Yantis said the program has had a "profound impact" on class students and the entire "dynamics of the cell blocks" since participants share the skills they learn with others.

Seven Directions is run by Chissie Spencer and Ruth Cedar Face, who have been working in the mental health and addiction fields since 1993. The pair began offering classes last spring in the jail and at the Fork Real Cafe for people on pre-trial release and probation, and for those participating in the adult diversion program, which expunges criminal charges for successful participants. Spencer and Cedar Face will soon expand their classes to the inpatient addiction program at the Care Campus.

"Everything we do is clinical but we use it in our traditional ways," said Cedar Face, a licensed addiction counselor from Porcupine.

The program aims to help people understand the root of their substance abuse or criminal behavior, Cedar Face said. She said some participants are surprised to realize that childhood trauma, like the death of a parent, still impacts their behavior today.

"Domestic violence, substance abuse, any kind of these social issues we see today ... those are symptoms of something deeper so we look at that something deeper," she said.

Participants learn about personal and intergenerational trauma and study cognitive behavioral therapy to learn how to change their thinking and behavior to align with Lakota values, Cedar Face said. The group burns sage, makes prayer ties, provides Lakota names to those who don't have them, and writes letters that Cedar Face later burns in a sweat lodge as a symbolic release of emotions and old behaviors.

The group also holds a wiping of tears ceremony led by a spiritual leader that involves smudging, eating sacred foods like wasna (a mixture of berries and bison meat), and prayers, Cedar Face said. During the ceremony, Patton said, people thought about how they've been hurt, how they've hurt others,and what's holding them back. When these feelings resurface in the future, he said, he now thinks back to that ceremony and prays.

Patton said he realized his anger issues stem from growing up in low-income environments in Denver and at the Lakota Homes apartments in Rapid City. He said the program taught him to recognize situations that can lead to anger, and identify symptoms before his anger becomes too intense.

Yantis shared that an inmate told him that he found himself in a situation that would have resulted in a fight in the past. But he remembered how he promised to change his behavior in front of the Seven Directions class.

"There was no way he could dishonor himself, or dishonor what he had learned or dishonor the program by engaging in something like that," Yantis said.

Incarcerated participants must demonstrate they can be respectful and safe in group environments, he said. The classes are open to people from any Native American tribe who need to address trauma or substance abuse, said Cedar Face. She said people may not graduate if they chose to drop out or are kicked out due to bad behavior. The programs are funded through the state's attorney office and MacArthur Foundation grant money, and is looking for more financial support as it expands, Vargo said.

Spencer, who is from Manderson and served multiple stints in jail when he was younger, developed Seven Directions while attending college in Washington state and visiting incarcerated people. He realized many CBT programs require people to read and complete worksheets, so he made his program inclusive for those who can't read and write.

"I had my own experiences being locked up and being in jail, and knowing what it means to sit there and not have anybody help you and talk to you when you have all these things going on inside your heart and your mind," he said.

Spencer later brought Seven Directions to the jail on the Pine Ridge Reservation where he said just 25 percent of participants recidivate within four years.

As part of their work, Spencer and Cedar Face write letters to judges or attend sentencings to ask for leniency for Seven Directions graduates. Spencer recently spoke at the sentencing of James Ladeaux, who was given a 10-year prison sentence for killing his brother Fred.

Patton said he plans to continue learning about his Lakota culture because he enjoys the "the way it teaches you how to love yourself and love your people and the respect it teaches us."

The electrician and CDL driver also hopes to open his own business and mentor others going through Seven Directions.

I want to "live different and get my life together and keep moving forward," Patton said.

 Contact Arielle Zionts at arielle.zionts@rapidcityjournal.com.

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The Hale County Commissioners on Monday voted to accept guidelines recommended by the Plainview/Hale County Business Park committee regarding future prospects interested in building at the business park.

The idea behind the guidelines is to set minimum standards for companies locating their company in the business park. During the commissioners meeting on Monday, Mike Fox, executive director of the Plainview/Hale County Economic Development Corporation, said a business park committee that includes two members of both the commissioners court and the Plainview City Council have been reviewing and working to set that criteria.

A few of the criteria highlighted during Mondays meeting details that potential companies interested in locating in the new business park must:

Must make at least a $2.5 million capital investment

Agree to create at least 20 new jobs

Potentially meet certain salary requirements

If they meet that criteria, the business park committee can choose to incentivize the investment with free land and reimburse them a portion of their property tax.

The criteria was part of a proposal accepted by the Plainview City Council earlier this month. The Commissioners Court on Monday voted 4-0 to accept the criteria. County Judge Jim Mull was absent.

While he presented the item to the court, County Attorney Jim Tirey also mentioned there could be exceptions that would have to be accepted by both the commissioners and the City Council regarding prospects that may not meet every guideline. The entities (county and the city) will take a case-by-case approach when reviewing a prospect, he noted.

Following the vote to accept the business park resolution, the commissioners approved consent for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to monitor a well at the Plainview-Hale County Airport.

Tirey mentioned the well is shallow and may have atrazine, which is a herbicide commonly used in crop dusting. TCEQ has been monitoring the well off and on since about 2014.

The court voted unanimously to authorize Judge Mull to sign the agreement with TCEQ to continue to monitor the well.

Other items approved by the court include:
A head constable was among five people killed and at least 50 others, including several paramilitary and Delhi Police personnel, were injured as violence spiralled over the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in northeast Delhi, reports suggest.

The area turned it into a battlefield on February 24 with frenzied protesters torching houses, shops, vehicles and a petrol pump, and hurling stones.

This was the second day of clashes in the city where US President Donald Trump arrived on February 24 evening on the main leg of his India visit.

Police fired tear gas shells and also resorted to lathi-charge as clashes broke out between groups pro and against the CAA at Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Chandbagh, Khureji Khas and Bhajanpura. Security personnel conducted flag marches and prohibitory orders were clamped to bring the situation under control.

However, sporadic clashes continued late into the night in Maujpur and other areas.

Ratan Lal (42), a head constable attached to the office of the ACP Gokalpuri, died after he sustained injuries during stone pelting at Gokalpuri.

Four other civilian succumbed to injuries in the clashes, reports suggest, 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 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.

However, Delhi minister and Babarpur Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Gopal Rai tweeted that rioting was continuing at night in his constituency.

"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," Sisodia tweeted at around 10 pm.

Delhi government ordered closure of all private and government schools in Northeast Delhi district will remain closed on Tuesday in the wake of the violence.

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.

Protestors in favour of CAA 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.

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 news agency 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 February 23. Mishra demanded that police remove the anti-CAA protestors within three days.

Political reactions

Delhi 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.

In a tweet, Deputy Chief Minister Manish 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 interim President Sonia Gandhi appealed to the people of Delhi to maintain communal harmony and defeat "ill-intentioned" forces that seek to divide the country on the basis of religion.

Expressing deep condolences over the death of head constable Rattan Lal, Gandhi also expressed solidarity with his family.

"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," the Congress leader said in a statement.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi 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.

(With inputs from PTI)
The first case of rubella in Ireland in more than 10 years has been confirmed.

The Echo is reporting that the case has been confirmed to them by Apple in Cork where the case was identified at its Hollyhill campus in the city.

The Department of Public Health for HSE South said it was notified of the case in recent weeks, but cannot comment on specifics.

They said all precautionary steps have been taken to alert anyone who may have been in contact with the individual.

Apple had sent an email to its staff saying it was told by the HSE about the case of rubella "at our Cork Hollyhill campus".

Apple said: "Our employees' health and wellbeing is our top priority, and we want to ensure all members of the local team are aware of the situation and the resources available to you.

The possibility of contracting rubella is low, and most cases are mild.

"HSE advice for pregnant women is to check your rubella immunity status with your GP however most likely this has already been checked by your antenatal team."

Concerned Apple employees have told The Echo that they fear the illness could spread.

Dr Nick Flynn, a representative on the Cork HSE Immunisation Steering Group and a Cork GP, warned that with mumps and measles on the rise, the Cork public could be facing a potential rubella outbreak.

If that person was infectious and they have been out and about around Cork, we could easily be looking at an outbreak, he said.

As a community, we dont appear to have 'herd immunity' when it comes to measles and mumps - mumps is spreading relatively easily and Ive been seeing two or three cases a week and we see the same increase with measles every now and again as well.

Theres no reason we couldnt see a similar outbreak of rubella because that is included in the MMR vaccine and it should, in theory, have the same level of immunity as the other two.

Dr Flynn explained that the MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) vaccine is effective in preventing these illnesses.

He said:

However, its clear that the low immunisation levels are coming home to roost in that regard.

There is also a concern that the illness can spread from areas of the world where immunisation rates are low.

The key message to get out there is to encourage parents to vaccinate their children as herd immunity is crucial, he added.

Officials said the best protection from rubella is to get the MMR vaccine.
Donald Trump reacted to Harvey Weinsteins sexual assault and third-degree rape conviction by attacking Michelle Obama and other Democrats.

The US president was asked about the former Hollywood mogul during a news conference in India, where hes traveling for a state visit.

Mr Trump called the conviction a great victory for women that sends a very strong message.

He was a person I didnt like, he said of Mr Weinstein. The people that liked him were the Democrats. Michelle Obama loved him. Loved him. Hillary Clinton loved him.

Mr Trump himself stands accused of sexual misconduct, including a rape allegation, by more than a dozen women when he was a private citizen. He has denied the allegations and has not been charged.

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

Back in October 2017, when the allegations against Weinstein became public, Mr Trump told reporters he had known Mr Weinstein for a long time, adding: Im not at all surprised to see it.

Mr Trump and his wife Melania Trump were photographed in 2009 with Mr Weinstein and his wife Georgina Chapman at an after-party in New York City.

Mr Weinstein was once a known Democratic contributor, prompting some politicians to return his donations in October 2017 after the scandal emerged.

In 2013, Mr Weinstein visited the White House for a student film symposium. He was praised on that occasion by Ms Obama as a wonderful human being, a good friend and just a powerhouse.

Ms Clinton reacted to Mr Weinsteins conviction on Tuesday at the Berlin Film Festival, where the documentary series Hillary, based on interviews with Ms Clinton, was being presented.

She acknowledged Mr Weinsteins past donations, stating: He contributed to every Democrats campaign and adding: I dont know whether that should chill anyone else from contributing to political campaigns, but it certainly should end the kind of behaviour that he was just convicted for.

The jurys verdict really speaks for itself, Ms Clinton said. It was time for an accounting.

In 2017, Barack Obama disavowed Mr Weinstein in a statement, saying: Michelle and I have been disgusted by the recent reports of Harvey Weinstein. Any man who demeans and degrades women in such fashion needs to be condemned and held accountable, regardless of wealth or status. We should celebrate the courage of women who have come forward to tell these painful stories. And we all need to build a culture, including by empowering our girls and teaching our boys decency and respect, so we can make such behavior less prevalent in the future.

The Independent has contacted Ms Obamas and Ms Clintons representatives for comment.

Additional reporting by agencies
After five years as a freelancer, Pam Lau has found a bookkeeping system that works for her.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After five years as a freelancer, Pam Lau (right) has found a bookkeeping system that works for her. The Toronto-based photographer shoots a photo of Dia R. In this undated photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Pam Lau

After five years as a freelancer, Pam Lau has found a bookkeeping system that works for her.

The Toronto-based photographer  who incorporated her business and applied for a company credit card as soon as she could after going freelance in 2014  has her record-keeping routine down pat.

She uses one credit card for all business-related expenses (such as equipment and transportation) which is synched to her accounting software, Freshbooks. The software automatically records and categorizes her expenses, and Lau backs this record up with a receipt log. She also lets Freshbooks handle her income-related tasks, like sending invoices and payment reminders to clients on an automated basis.

Lau checks and updates her books around the same time every week to make sure her software has correctly recorded all funds coming in and going out. She says staying regimented in doing so has made paying self-employment taxes much easier over the years.

"The bookkeeping, it has to be a constant process," she says. "I'm always checking up on how the expenses are synching up and categorizing them."

Come tax season, Lau hands all of these organized documents off to her accountant, who prepares and files her tax return for her. She says maintaining healthy bookkeeping habits year-round and turning to a third-party professional for help is always "a huge relief" come spring.

But Lau's bookkeeping process hasn't always been this seamless: Her first few months as a freelancer were characterized by "a lot of trial and error," she says. In fact, many self-employed Canadians struggle to establish sustainable book-keeping routines, which makes tax preparation all the more stressful.

That's where software like Freshbooks, Quickbooks, Zipbooks, Xero, and others comes in, products designed explicitly to help freelancers and small business owners stay organized and on top of their finances year-round.

Most of these products come with fees ranging from $10 to $50 per month, based on the desired level of service. While many entrepreneurs find accounting software worth the cost, others find it beyond their means and opt to keep their books manually, using Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or pen and paper.

The latter works for Victor Bateman, accountant at Artbooks, a Toronto-based tax office for artists and entrepreneurs. He's used the same system for his entire working career, most of which was spent self-employed as a musician.

"I had a book in which I kept the date  where I played, who I played with or for and how much money I made, and at the end of the year, I would just tally that up," Bateman says. "And for expenses, I kept receipts and put them in an envelope, and once the year was over at some point I would gather all the receipts and put them into categories, tally them up and deduct that from my gross."

Matt Baker, senior vice president of corporate development and international expansion at Freshbooks, admits the majority of freelancers still go the "analog route."

Baker says there's nothing wrong with manual record keeping, which may actually work better for new freelancers who are still wrapping their heads around the do's and don'ts of paying self-employment taxes.

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But those opting to go the analog route should keep in mind a few essentials, Baker says. Keep two separate logs, one for income and one for expenses, and be diligent about recording key details on both.

"You don't have to get super complicated," Baker says. "You don't have to have 35 columns of different information, but there are some key columns, like date, client, amount."

"You can also have a column where you match it to an invoice," he adds, noting that the key goal in bookkeeping is to consolidate information.

Gone are the days when handing a shoe box full of receipts to an accountant is the norm, he says, but it remains essential to keep all information on money in and money out in one place and, if possible, to back these records up on a hard drive or cloud-based program like Dropbox or Google Docs.

"Do the best that you can to stay diligent and just have good record keeping habits," Baker says. You'll thank yourself for it.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 25, 2020.
Mike Masilotti gets paid to get stoned.

At least once a week for the past several years, the Colonie native and professional comedian has consumed various forms of marijuana in a quantity that he calls a lot more than Id normally be comfortable with and then tries to tell jokes in front of an audience.

For a week and a half this month, hes doing it every night as part of a seven-state, 11-date East Coast tour that goes from Florida to Boston. Called "The Gateway Show," in a nod to cannabis hotly debated reputation among some as a precursor to use of harder drugs, the comedy evening comes to The Fuze Box in Albany on Friday night.

Promotional material says:

Stand-up comedians take to the stage and tell their BEST jokes, then they go to an undisclosed location to get WAY too high, only to come back to the stage and ATTEMPT to tell more jokes completely baked.

Its a great experience and certainly the most unique thing Ive ever done, says Masilotti, 34, chatting on the phone Tuesday morning from a tour stop in Washington. I feel more open and honest with the audience, he says, and with the majority of patrons high as well, Its this perfect dance: Im so vulnerable and the crowds are so good, so ready for you to talk to them. You look out, and its all smiles.

Masilotti, who graduated from South Colonie schools and attended Hudson Valley Community College and local trade schools before relocating to the West Coast a decade ago, is on tour with Billy Anderson, creator and host of "The Gateway Show." Held monthly for a number of years in Los Angeles and now a weekly feature at the Hollywood Improv club when not on tour, "The Gateway Show" is only partly about comedians telling jokes, says Anderson.

We say during the show that sometimes its insanely funny, and sometimes its just art, says Anderson, who hosts the show. It features him, Masilotti and three other comics, some local to each venue along the tour.

Theyre naturally funny people, he says of the comics, and when they perform while extremely high, for a crowd that understands the premise of the show and may also be under the influence themselves, Their vulnerability and natural funniness comes out, and you can see their most honest thought processes. Anderson continues, Youre watching somebody break down all the barriers.

Says Masilotti, Its really about talking honestly and sharing stories. Or random musings. In a video of a set performed after Masilotti had consumed a "huge handful" psychoactive mushrooms, he and the audience laugh often as he says things like, Home is where your house is. The video drew hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube. In a juxtaposition that amused him, Masilotti found out while on a tour dedicated to getting high that he's been selected to perform a set and special to be shown online at a Utah comedy club that doesn't serve alcohol and specializes in clean comedy.

Masilotti says he consumes cannabis daily, in edible and smokeable forms, but the level ingested during "The Gateway Show" is of significantly greater magnitude. Its like, Lets see how high I can get, he says. I think of myself as someone who can handle a lot, but what we do for the show is ridiculous. Its like the difference between drinking a beer and pounding a whole bottle (of vodka).

Complete coverage of marijuana issues in New York

He does not, he says, consume to such excess prior to non-"Gateway Show" comedy gigs or in his other job, as owner of a podcast studio in Los Angeles, where he now lives.

It wouldnt be good, he says. In the context of "The Gateway Show," however, We always say its the closest you get to being the comic you want to be.

Smoking, of any kind, is not allowed inside the venues that host the show. But, promotional material says, We DO take an intermission for a reason and what you do once you leave the venue is your own business. We won't stop you and we aren't snitches.

Anderson says "The Gateway Show" has never had a problem with authorities, either in states where recreational cannabis use is legal, like California and Oregon, or where it is fully illegal, including South Carolina, where "The Gateway Show" was performed twice last week. Marijuana has been decriminalized in New York, and for the second year Gov. Andrew Cuomo has included in his state budget a proposal to legalize recreational use in the state.

Were always very particular about it not happening in the venue, says Anderson, and were definitely not trying to cause any problems for anyone  the comics, the venue or the audience.

As for the name of "The Gateway Show," it is, Masilotti says, both a good-natured joke and a poke at the anti-cannabis hysteria of decades past.

It hasnt been a gateway for him. Hes not doing heroin or meth. Just pot often, sometimes overabundantly. My mom and dad dont love it, he says. But Ive been smoking for more than half my life, and Im OK.

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Scotland Yard today admitted there is 'credible' evidence the brother of Rev Richard Coles deceived a 19-year-old environmentalist into a sexual relationship while he working as an undercover police officer in the 1990s.

Andy Coles, who is a Tory councillor in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, was accused of seducing his victim after infiltrating animal rights groups posing as Andy Davey, a vegan removal van driver.

Mr Coles has previous blasted the claims as 'lurid' and denied he was intimate with the woman, who calls herself Jessica to retain her anonymity, but he quit as Cambridgeshire's deputy police and crime commissioner over her claims in 2017.

And today a Metropolitan Police probe ruled in Jessica's favour after she claimed Coles 'groomed and manipulated' her - and the force will now agree compensation with her for their sexual relationship.

In a letter sent to her by the Met's directorate of professional standards department, the force said: 'In all of the circumstances, it is credible that Coles met you during his deployment and a relationship developed'.

Tory councillor Andy Coles, left, brother of celebrity vicar Rev Richard Coles, right, was allegedly an undercover police officer in the 1990s who deceived a 19-year-old environmentalist into a sexual relationship, the Met Police has concluded

Mr Coles was accused of seducing his victim after infiltrating animal rights groups posing as Andy Davey, a vegan removal van driver (pictured)

The case only came to light after Mr Coles' brother, the broadcaster and former member of pop group the Communards the Reverend Richard Coles, referred in his 2014 autobiography to his older sibling living a double life as an undercover officer.

Jessica was 19 when she met Coles, who she believed was 24-year-old vegan Andy Davey, and he became her first serious boyfriend.

She claimed Mr Coles not only concealed his real job from her but failed to reveal he was married at the time.

It was only 24 years later she discovered his secret.

She told the BBC: 'I had a message from somebody on Facebook and they said: "Have you heard about these spy cops who were within our group?" He then directed me on to another Facebook page and I scrolled down - there was a picture of Andy.

'It was a total shock. You remember the things you said to one another, the times you were intimate with them and then think who was watching or listening?". The reason we know who he is because of his brother Richard Coles wrote about him in his autobiography'.

Describing the impact on her life she said: 'It was a whole weight that fell, finding out. I have problems sleeping and some pretty awful nightmares.

'I'm on medication and am trying to fight my way through this. If I'd known who he really was he wouldn't have got through the front door. It would never have happened'.

A member of the public tipped off the Undercover Research Group, who investigate the work of police spies, and a joint investigation was launched with the Guardian newspaper.

They found Mr Coles joined the Metropolitan Police in 1982 before working undercover between 1991 and 1995 for its Special Demonstration Squad.

Using the name Andy Davey, he posed as a removal van driver as he gained the trust of animal rights activists. Jessica said he became her first proper boyfriend in 1992 when she had just left home and was a 'naive, idealistic, unsophisticated and a very young 19'.

Mr Coles became a regular visitor to the house she shared with other activists and first kissed her as they watched a film together.

She claims she didn't know how to react and 'did not want to hurt his feelings'. She said: 'I feel my youth and vulnerability were used to target me. I was groomed by someone much older and far more experienced and I was manipulated into having a sexual relationship with him.'

Jessica has spoken to the BBC and claims that Coles 'groomed and manipulated' her

Jessica, which is not her real name, said that Coles used her age and naivety to develop a sexual relationship with her before he vanished (pictured together at a protest)

The ex-detective posed as an animal rights activist, seen here in Cambridgeshire demonstrating outside Huntingdon Life Sciences' premises

For nine months of their time together it was a long-distance relationship because she was working abroad.

In 1995, Mr Coles told activists that he was moving to eastern Europe to teach English and disappeared from the animal rights movement. The next year, he sent a letter from Hungary to campaigners implying that the police were investigating him.

Mr Coles returned to working as a detective at Scotland Yard after four years and the father of three grown-up daughters retired from the force in 2012.

He became a councillor in Peterborough, where he lives with his current wife Louise, before taking the post of deputy police and crime commissioner in 2016. He quit a year later but remains on the city council.

Rev Coles' book referred to his brother infiltrating 'sinister organisations while his wife and baby daughter made do with unpredictable visits'. It described him as having 'long and shaggy' hair and 'ears rattling with piercings'.

Mr Coles' wife said yesterday that her husband would be making no comment, while Cambridgeshire commissioner Jason Ablewhite failed to respond to a request for a comment.

Eight women have received compensation from the Met over the scandal of police spies abusing their positions by starting intimate relationships with them.

They include one known as Jacqui who discovered the man who abandoned her and her son 20 years ago was an officer called Bob Lambert who had pretended to be an animal rights activist.
Court has resumed.

Mr McDonald is now discussing the way the DNA profiles were generated from the fingernails.

He has been shown a number of documents that detail how each of the samples were extracted, combined and what testing they were subjected to.

The court heard when examining DNA samples, scientists would look out for a "Y-peak" in order to identify if a male profile was present.

Mr McDonald has said no DNA male profile was found on any of the fingernail samples, but an allele that did not belong to Ciara was found on AJM41; her left index fingernail sample.

"There was a possible indication of a trace level contributor. There was an additional peak in a possible allele within that DNA result," he said.

While no Y peak was identified - meaning there was no male profile detected - Mr McDonald said he could not rule out that the allele may belong to a man due to a phenomenon called "drop-ins".

Mr McDonald said drop-ins occurred often at a low level and could account for the allele located in the AJM41 sample.

Mr McDonald said the drop-in in this case did not necessarily indicate contamination, but it could also possibly indicate an "artefact" from being handled previously.

"The usual drop-in events are one or two allele, and if its more than that we'd start asking if there was a gross contamination event and we'd start looking at opportunities that that had occurred and we'd assess that," he said.

Mr McDonald again confirmed no other sample from the fingernails turned up an unknown male DNA profile.

Asked about contamination standards at Forensic Science Services in 1996, Mr McDonald said they were very different from today's.

"Over the years people have understood about the risks where contamination can occur and they've built in procedures to mitigate that," he said.

"Back in 1996 the major thing people were trying to do was to protect those involved from being contaminated, or prevent any sort of health risk from the items being examined."
BROOKHAVEN, Miss. - A man charged with killing a deputy sheriff and seven other people in Mississippi in 2017 said Monday that he did not want to testify in his own trial where he could face the death penalty.

I choose not to, Willie Cory Godbolt told the judge when jurors were not in the courtroom.

Godbolt told his defence attorneys later in the day that he had changed his mind and wanted to testify, but the judge would not allow it because that part of the trial had passed.

Godbolt, 37, has pleaded not guilty to four counts of capital murder, four counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, two counts of kidnapping and one count of armed robbery.

Prosecutors wrapped up their case Monday after calling several witnesses over nine days. Defence attorneys called only two witnesses before completing their case.

Closing arguments are set for Tuesday, and the case will then go to the jury.

According to testimony earlier in the trial, Godbolt had gone to his in-laws home on May 27, 2017, and argued with his estranged wife about their children. Lincoln County deputy sheriff William Durr, Barbara Mitchell, Toccara May and Brenda May were shot to death at that home that night.

Two more people  18-year-old Jordan Blackwell and 11-year-old Austin Edwards  were killed at a second home in the early hours of May 28, 2017.

Ferral Burage and Sheila Burage, a married couple, were shot to death at a third home a few hours later. Godbolt was arrested near a business as he walked from the Burages house, investigators said.

Jurors on Sunday were shown video of Godbolt in the hours after he was accused of killing the eight people. In one of the videos, Godbolt said: Im completely sorry and heartbroken about that deputy.

Lincoln County sheriffs Deputy Chuck Francis testified that Godbolt spoke to him about Durr shortly after Godbolts arrest, the Daily Leader reported.

If the deputy had family, let them know Im sorry. He was not part of my plan, Francis recalled Godbolt telling him.

Jurors also saw cellphone video of Godbolt sitting in handcuffs, bleeding from a gunshot wound to his right arm.
The number of days the average public transportation commuter will spend each year sitting on a bus or train (over 400 hours). A report analyzed 30 U.S. metropolitan areas across the nation and found that Boston, Mass., had the best transit system. ( Clever Real Estate  February 18, 2020)
The fascinating and highly efficient jumping mechanism in flea beetles is described in a new research article in the open-access journal Zookeys. Despite having been known since 1929, the explosive jump - which is also the reason behind the colloquial name of this group of leaf beetles - has so far not been fully understood.

By joining forces, a team of Chinese and US scientists, led by Dr Xingke Yang, Siqin Ge and Yongying Ruan of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Dr Alexander Konstantinov of the Agricultural Research Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, tested the existing theories, using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT scans), 3D reconstructions, high-speed filming and dissection. Following their experiments, the scientists provided comprehensive insights into the mechanics behind the spectacular jump in flea beetles and reported, for the first time, the role of a structure found in the legs of these insects, known as "elastic plate".

The flea beetles (members of the tribe Alticini) are plant feeders that belong to a hyperdiverse group of about 9,900 species and occur in various environments worldwide: from lowland tropical rain forests to high-altitude mountain meadows and deserts. Most of them live, feed and procreate on the upper leaf surface of their host plants, thus making them particularly vulnerable to predators, including birds, ants and spiders. One of their defence mechanisms is their incredible jumping skills, which allow the beetles to escape an approaching predator in an instant.

The apparatus responsible for this exceptional jump is hidden inside the beetle's hind legs and is relatively simple. It contains only three sclerotised parts and a few muscles. Yet, it is, in reality, a highly efficient "catapult", able to propel the beetle at a distance hundreds of times its body length. Using micro-computed tomography, 3D reconstructions and high-speed filming data, the scientists revealed that the acceleration during the jump can reach an explosive peak of 8,650 m/s2, which is 865 times the acceleration of gravity. The peak power output of the hind legs of the beetle peaked at 2.24  105 W/kg (per unit mass). This is about 450 times the capabilities of the fastest known muscle and 100~200 times that of a powerful rally car engine.

The 3D reconstructions revealed two processes inside the hind leg that amplify the power output of the beetle's muscles and reduce energy waste.

Firstly, the tibial extensor and tibial flexor muscles contract simultaneously and cumulatively build up elastic strain energy inside the femur (the longest segment of an insect's leg). The energy is stored in a sclerotised structure, called a metafemoral spring, while another two structures inside the leg, previously known as "triangular plate" and "elastic plate", act together as a trigger for the catapult mechanism. When the trigger is released, the metafemoral spring contracts and converts elastic potential energy into kinetic energy, which allows the flea beetle to attain an extraordinarily high acceleration. Instead of gradual acceleration throughout the jump, the flea beetle employs a 'high-efficiency mechanism' at the start, in order to store colossal strain energy to be released later on.

Thus, flea beetles avoid muscle fatigue (energy waste) and improve their jumping performance to the point where they can do over 30 consecutive jumps, as recorded by the scientists in their laboratory experiments. In nature, this mechanism is an adaptation for the insects to escape predators by quickly disappearing from the leaf surfaces where they normally spend their lives. In fact, it is this "explosive" jump that, according to the researchers, is amongst the key traits responsible for the high evolutionary success and remarkable species diversity in flea beetles.

In conclusion, the scientists note that the catapulting jump mechanism in flea beetles is so efficient and yet so simple that it might find an excellent use in robotics, as well as in engineering and industrial installations. In their research paper, they also propose a design of a bionic limb inspired by the studied beetles.

###

Original source:

Ruan Y, Konstantinov AS, Shi G, Tao Y, Li Y, Johnson AJ, Luo X, Zhang X, Zhang M, Wu J, Li W, Ge S, Yang X (2020) The jumping mechanism of flea beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Alticini), its application to bionics and preliminary design for a robotic jumping leg. ZooKeys 915: 87-105. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.915.38348

Contacts:

Dr. Yong-Ying Ruan, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Email: yongyingruan@hotmail.com

Dr. Alexander Konstantinov, ARS USDA

Email: alex.konstantinov@ars.usda.gov

Dr. Siqin Ge, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Email: gesq@ioz.ac.cn
On Feb. 18, Turkey marked the 68th anniversary of its NATO membership with enthusiastic messages of commitment to the alliance and a series of laudatory events, which could have drawn little attention were they not in sharp contrast to the dismissive atmosphere of last years anniversary.

Neither Ankara nor the media seemed to care about the 67th anniversary of the countrys NATO membership last year. The occasion was passed over with a mundane statement by the Foreign Ministry, while the year 2019 in general was abuzz with debates, mostly in the pro-government media, on whether Turkey should leave the alliance.

Indeed, a long list of issues marred Turkey-NATO relations in 2019, including:

A persisting crisis mode in Ankaras ties with Washington and frequent disputes with European countries;

Turkeys Operation Peace Spring in northeastern Syria against the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey sees as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the armed group that has fought Ankara since 1984 and is considered a terrorist organization by most of the international community;

Ankaras refusal to back a NATO defense plan for the Baltics and Poland in a bid to extract political support for its military campaign against the PKK-affiliated YPG forces in Syria;

Ankaras gunboat diplomacy in the eastern Mediterranean amid growing tensions over gas exploration;

Ankaras acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense systems, followed by preparatory tests and, most recently, the arrival of the systems missiles in December;

Ankaras signing of a maritime demarcation deal with Libyas Tripoli-based government in November and the ensuing criticism of Western governments;

Ankaras threats to review the NATO-mission status of key military facilities in Turkey such as the Incirlik air base and the Kurecik radar station;

Turkish accusations that NATO has protected Turkish officers with alleged links to the Gulenist network, which Ankara blames for the 2016 coup attempt, and that fugitive Turkish officers have been granted political asylum in some NATO member states through exclusive and expedited procedures;

The exclusion of Turkish officials from some critical NATO meetings.

In light of all those tensions, Turkeys pro-government media came to depict NATO as a top security threat. NATO became a hate object, accused of myriad misdeeds, from having a hand in orchestrating the coup attempt to plotting to divide Turkey.

On this years anniversary, however, things looked diametrically different. Ankara and the pro-government media seemed to have rediscovered NATO. The anniversary was celebrated with high-pitched gatherings, conferences and a government-backed social media campaign under the motto Turkey is NATO, we are NATO, which became a top trending topic on Twitter. In short, last years prevailing discourse that portrayed NATO as a shackle that keeps Turkey from acting independently to advance its national interests gave way to a narrative about NATO being an anchor bonding Turkey to the Western security bloc.

And what aroused this NATO fervor in a country where arguing in favor of NATO required much courage around this time last year? What happened in a couple of months to make Ankara remember NATOs importance as a security partner?

NATO itself did nothing special to win Ankaras affection. Yet, Turkeys relationship with Russia nosedived into a fresh chapter of chill as tensions shot up in Syrias rebel-held province of Idlib and Russias position in Libya shifted from impartial mediation to favoring Gen. Khalifa Hifter, the adversary of the Turkey-backed Tripoli government. As a result, Turkey and Russia have come to the brink of a military faceoff akin to the crisis of November 2015, when Turkey shot down a Russian jet at the border with Syria.

A quick survey of the pro-government medias coverage of Idlib and Libya would reveal a fast U-turn in sentiment since the Russian-brokered meeting between the Turkish and Syrian intelligence chiefs in Moscow on Jan. 13, when the Turkish-Russian partnership apparently began to crack.

Yet, judging by both Ankaras rhetoric on the importance of the Western security bloc and the publications of media outlets and think tanks close to the government, Ankaras outreach to NATO is a result of Turkeys predicament in Idlib and its need to counterbalance Russia rather than a sign of a structural, long-term reorientation.

For instance, in an article titled NATOs support of Turkey, a member of SETA, a staunchly pro-government think tank, asks the following questions: Can Turkey rely on NATO against Russia, [Syrian President Bashar al-] Assad and Iran in the problem it is experiencing in Idlib? Is NATO supposed to give Turkey practical support against those actors in Idlib? What does the Idlib crisis mean for NATO and its members? The author then proceeds to a cautiously optimistic conclusion on NATO backing.

And does Ankaras abrupt U-turn stem from conjunctural necessity or a new realization of its structural dependency on NATO?

The outlook suggests the change of heart is driven entirely by the dead ends that Turkey has hit in Idlib and Libya. To extricate itself from those dead ends, Turkey is attempting to counterbalance Russia and shift its bilateral relationship with Russia, which has spiraled out of balance and become a one-sided dependency, to a multilateral ground.

Ankara is obviously trying to draw NATO, the United States and European heavyweights into greater involvement in Idlib to readjust the balance, while Assad's forces are expected to forge ahead until they assert control over the strategic M4 highway.

And is NATO capable of deterring Russia in Idlib at all?

Recalling the case of Ukraine might be enough to answer the question. Looking like a giant that cannot bite in the Ukraine crisis, NATO appears unlikely to take the risk of armed confrontation with Russia over Idlib, which it sees as an out-of-area conflict and outside the scope of the NATO treatys Article 5 on collective defense. The most tangible sign of NATOs reluctance on Syria is its foot-dragging on taking some operational responsibilities in the fight against the Islamic State in the 2014-2019 period.

NATO is likely to swiftly return to its hate-object status in Turkey if NATO fails to meet Ankaras request for urgent assistance. Ankara is in constant need for enemies  real or imaginary  to be able to sell to the Turkish public its rapid U-turns in its foreign policy and the consequences of its political and strategic miscalculations. NATO tops the nominee list of outside foes because it remains a common enemy on which pro-government quarters and the still influential anti-Western and Euroasianist lobbies in Ankara can agree and cooperate.
BJP general secretary Ram Madhav on Tuesday said the visit of US President Donald Trump to India will result in a significant improvement in trade relations between the two countries.

The intent, content and optics of this visit clearly show that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump are determined to take India-US relationship to great heights, he said.

Speaking at an event organised by industry body FICCI, Madhav said this visit stands out as it shows global attention has been shifted to the Indo-Pacific and India is happened to be the most important country in the region.

Referring to agreements and defence deals signed between the two countries, he said this visit will lead to significant improvement in bilateral trade relations between India and US.

He further said 'Namaste Trump' event in Ahmedabad shows that people-to-people relations have always played a very important role in India-US relations.

The event is a reflection of people-to-people bilateral relations in the two countries. It shows how much Indians love America and its people, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The estranged son of Married At First Sight's Steve Burley has claimed that the star 'abandoned' him in England almost three decades ago - and never returned.

Tony Burley, 33, told Daily Mail Australia that after Steve, 51, and his mother split up in 1991, when he just was four years old, he 'never really saw his dad again' after he packed his bags and left their family home in Peterborough.

Tony spoke out after Steve broke down in tears to 'wife' Mishel Karen on Monday's episode of MAFS about missing his son, crying: 'I haven't seen him for so long.'

'We later found out he moved to Australia and that was it. I have seen him once in 29 years since and he's never met his grandchildren,' said Tony on Monday.

Family: The estranged son of Married At First Sight's Steve Burley has claimed that the star 'abandoned' him in England almost three decades ago. Pictured: Steve on January 14

Tony continued: 'When I was six I was living with my grandparents and he promised he'd come to see me and take me for a pub lunch  but he never turned up.

'I sat at the window all day waiting. I never spoke to him after that until I was an adult. My mum tried to get in touch with him, but nothing.'

Years later, Tony and his family discovered that Steve had a new life on the other side of the world in Australia, where he owns a barbershop in Melbourne.

Torn apart: Tony Burley, 33, tells Daily Mail Australia that after Steve, 51, and his mother split up in 1991 when he just was four years old, he 'never really saw his dad again' after that. Pictured: Steve and Tony in 1991

Hurt: Tony (pictured with his own two children), who lives in Winchester in southern England, says he has only seen his father once in the last 29 years and claimed his dad 'only cares about himself'

Tony claimed that the pair were reunited for the first time since Tony was a child, after Steve visited the UK while battling testicular cancer eight years ago.

But his hopes of putting the past behind them were soon crushed.

He explained: 'I last seen him about eight years ago when he came back to the UK. He told me that he had testicular cancer and I should get myself checked.

'I was angry at him for most of my life and didn't want to see him at first, but he promised he really wanted to build a relationship with me. And then nothing.'

'He said I should get myself checked': Tony last saw Steve eight years ago, allegedly for the first time since he was a child, when his father visited the UK while battling testicular cancer

Steve later returned to Australia and communication is said to have fizzled out, leaving Tony fuming: 'He only cares about himself and abandoned me.

'I really do think that things would have been different in my life if I had a male role model and a dad. He's never taught me anything.'

Tony, who is now a full-time single father, admits that his own troubled relationship with Steve has inspired him to do everything possible for his two children.

'The only thing that I've learnt from him never being around is to do the opposite of that and never leave my children. That's why I'm now a single full-time dad,' he said.

'I love my son and that's as far as it goes': When approached by Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday, Steve declined to comment on Tony's interview because it is a family matter

After Steve cried about being estranged from his son on Monday's episode of the show, Tony revealed it is 'bringing back so many emotions.'

'He's acting like a saint on TV,' added Tony, who claimed MAFS producers attempted to fly him to Australia to surprise Steve.

'A producer called me months ago wanting to fly me over and surprise him because apparently he was crying about missing me. I thought it was a joke.'

When approached by Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday, Steve declined to comment on Tony's interview because it is a family matter.

He said: 'I love my son, I'll always love him and that's as far as it goes.'

'I've got no family around me': Tony decided to speak out after Steve broke down in tears to 'wife' Mishel Karen (pictured) while discussing his estranged son on Monday's episode

On Monday's episode, which was filmed in early October, Steve cried: 'I've got no family around me. All I've got is my business and my friends.

'I love my son, Mishel. He was due to come over here. And I haven't said anything to anyone, or told anyone, because I was super excited about it.'

Steve concluded: 'I haven't seen him for so long... It would have been really good. It would have been really good to see him.'

His bio on Channel Nine's website claims he 'migrated from the UK to Australia 18 years ago and has a son in his 30s still living in England'.

Channel Nine declined to comment when approached by Daily Mail Australia.

Married At First Sight continues Tuesday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine
Officials issued an Amber Alert for an 8-month-old girl Monday night in areas including Houston and Galveston.

The Texas Department of Public Safety issued the alert just before 7 p.m., warning that the infant might be in grave or immediate danger.

Nyla Crockett was last seen in the 4800 block of N. Galloway Ave. in Mesquite about 11:15 p.m. Friday. She is described as a black girl with brown hair and eyes.

The alert lists Chernario Crockett, a 30-year-old black woman who is 5'6'' tall and weighs 172 lbs. in connection with the abduction. She has brown hair and eyes.

Surprise gesture: Alvin stranger pays for birthday cake, leaves heartfelt note

Chernario was last seen in a gray shirt, blue jeans and black or brown boots.

The alert does not make clear whether or how Chernario is related to Nyla.

Report any information to the Mesquite Police Department at 972-216-6241.

On HoustonChronicle.com: A cure to coronavirus may be sitting in a Houston freezer
High-Speed Real-Time RFID Monitoring Solution for the Beverage Industry Implementing the Filler Vent Tube Reader and Traceable RFID Enabled vent tubes now allows the filler operator to perform a vent tube check every revolution of the filler and report the position of each vent tube on a computer screen for the Quality Team to record, while never stopping the line.

FEIG ELECTRONICS, a leading global supplier of RFID readers and antennas, today announced that they will be featuring their partner, Dorcia Engineering High-Speed RFID Monitoring Solution for the beverage industry at RFID Journal LIVE!, April 28 to 30, in Orlando, Florida.

Dorcia Engineering deploys FEIG ELECTRONICs high-frequency RFID technology on automated speed filling lines to quickly monitor and identify problems and maintain the highest levels of uptime on these critical machines; maximizing production, reducing restarts, and avoiding product waste.

According to The World Counts, global non-alcoholic beverage sales reached the one trillion dollar milestone in 2019. Alcoholic beverage sales add another $1.5 trillion to this figure. The market is growing between 3% and 4% annually, driven by a worldwide increase in disposable income levels. In addition, according to Global Market Inside, beverage containers, a subset of this market, is valued at approximately $250 billion dollars.

Beverage companies rely on high-speed filling lines that can produce upwards of 2,500 items per minute per line. The slightest problem on these automated lines, such as a missing vent tube, can have a major operational impact.

A Pareto Analysis conducted by the Department of Industrial Engineering at the Durban University of Technology identified that 40% of the liquid loss from a bottle filling line can be attributed to the filler/crowner process.

Companies in the food and beverage industry can experience as much as 500 hours of halted operations on fill lines each year, losing thousands of dollars per each hour of downtime.

The process of checking for vent tubes is traditionally done manually and requires the filler operator to stop the production line every 30 minutes or every hour to perform a manual vent tube check, said Grant Cook, Co-Founder at Dorcia Engineering. Implementing the Filler Vent Tube Reader and Traceable RFID Enabled vent tubes now allows the filler operator to perform a vent tube check instantaneously with every revolution of the filler and report the position of each vent tube on a computer screen for the Quality Team to record or print, while never stopping the line. In our experience, the return on investment by implementing the Dorcia Engineering Filler Vent Tube Reader is realized within the first or second occurrence of a missing vent tube.

By implementing the Dorcia Engineering Filler Vent Tube Reader coupled with FEIG ELECTRONICS technology, large-scale bottling or canning companies can perform automated vent tube checks each revolution of the filler and will be alerted the moment a vent tube malfunction occurs. This innovative solution will allow RFID technology to be used as a control parameter in this high-speed process, yielding more uptime and decreasing consumer risk and product waste for large-scale bottling or canning companies, said Klaus Schoeke, FEIG ELECTRONICS National Sales Director.

Register for a free webinar, Advanced Real-time Monitoring RFID Technology Applied to High-Speed Can and Bottle Filling Lines, on Wednesday, February 26th

Time: 11:00 am EST.

Attendees at RFID Journal LIVE!, April 28-30 in Orlando, Florida will have the opportunity to learn more about this innovative technology. Klaus Schoeke, FEIG ELECTRONICS National Sales Director, will be on hand to meet attendees and answer questions at FEIGs booth #2613.

About FEIG ELECTRONICS, Inc.

FEIG Electronics, a leading global supplier of RFID readers and antennas, is one of the few suppliers worldwide offering RFID readers and antennas for all standard operating frequencies: LF (125 kHz), HF (13.56 MHz), UHF (860-960 MHz). A trusted pioneer in RFID with more than 50 years of industry experience, FEIG delivers unrivaled data collection, authentication, and identification solutions, as well as secure contactless payment systems. FEIG readers, which are available for plug-in, desktop and handheld applications, support next-generation contactless credit cards, debit cards, smart cards, NFC and access control credentials to enable fast, accurate, reliable and secure transactions. For more information, visit: http://www.feig-electronics.com/en.

About Dorcia

Founded in 2009, Dorcia Engineering provides patented state of the art traceable components and systems to reduce waste and downtime associated with the filling process. The companys full product line allows owners and operators to reliably and accurately detect malfunctions during the filling process.

Dorcia partners with some of the largest food & beverage manufacturers in the world, and is always working towards new and innovative solutions for its customers. For more information, visit: https://dorciaengineering.com/.
Hyderabad: Mohammed Mushtaq Malik, convener of the Telangana-AP Joint Action Committee against the CAA, the NRC and the NPR, alleged that the state government is hiding the fact that the NPR survey will be held in the state. The state government is trying to misguide the people by stating that the survey is no different than the census done every decade.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Mr Malik said NPR is the first step towards the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Based on the data collected during the NPR, the government will send notices to a certain quantum of people claiming that they are not lawful citizens of the nation and ask them to prove their citizenship, and if they dont have the required documents, send them to detention centres.

He said that the government is misleading in its claim that non-Muslim communities need not worry as they will be protected under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). But even other communities will not escape from the sword of the CAA as they will have to prove that they came into the country from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan due to persecution. He asserted that once a person claims that he is a citizen of India, how can he change his stand and plead that he was an intruder? Muslims are leading the struggle as we have realised the evil design in advance and want to safeguard all our countrymen, he said.

Mr Malik said that the Joint Action Committee has drawn up a line of action to avoid the NPR. A meeting of Ulema, Mashayekh (Sufis) and community leaders of Muslims will be held at Masjid e Sahaba Panjagutta on February 27 at 11 am. He said mohalla-wise committees will be constituted to put a check on the NPR. He threatened to lay siege to the Assembly if the Telangana government fails to put a stop to the NPR.
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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 17:02:24|Editor: huaxia

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JINAN/HEFEI, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Amid China's fight against the novel coronavirus, a number of foreign investment projects are signed through video conferences to avoid crowds.

The signing ceremony of 66 foreign investment projects in east China's Shandong Province was held simultaneously in its 16 cities through a video conference Tuesday, with an estimated total investment reaching 14.39 billion U.S. dollars.

The projects, involving manufacturing, high-end chemical industry, new energy and new materials and other industries, are mainly invested by 13 countries and regions including the Republic of Korea (ROK), Singapore, Japan, Germany, the United States and France.

Among them, 15 projects are from Japan and the ROK, with an estimated total investment of 2.82 billion U.S. dollars.

In the eastern Chinese city of Hefei, eight projects, some of which involving foreign capital, were signed through video calls Tuesday, covering areas including new energy vehicles, integrated circuits and medical and health care, totaling 102 billion yuan (about 14.53 billion U.S. dollars).

"We've signed a framework agreement with Hefei this time to set up our headquarters here in the city and Hefei will be taken as the center for our future business plan," said Li Bin, chairman of NIO Inc., a leading Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer.
Salesforce stock initially sank 3% in extended trading on Tuesday after the company said co-CEO Keith Block is stepping down. Marc Benioff, the other co-CEO, becomes sole CEO. The company also announced fiscal fourth-quarter results that beat expectations, along with an acquisition.

Block joined Salesforce from Oracle as president and vice chairman in 2013, he was promoted to operating chief in 2016, and he became Salesforce's co-CEO alongside Benioff in August 2018. He will stay on as an adviser for a year, Salesforce said in a statement.

"It's been my greatest honor to lead the team with Marc that has more than quadrupled Salesforce from $4 billion of revenue when I joined in 2013 to over $17 billion last year," Block was quoted as saying in the statement. "... After a fantastic run I am ready for my next chapter and will stay close to the company as an advisor. Being side-by-side with Marc has been amazing and I'm forever grateful for our friendship and proud of the trajectory the company is on."

Benioff told CNBC in a profile published in early 2019 that he elevated Block to co-CEO to enable a "divide and conquer strategy" and to give Benioff time to do the things he enjoys. For example, after promoting Block to co-CEO in August 2018, Benioff took two weeks to focus on Proposition C, a legislative effort to generate tax revenue to help San Francisco's homeless problem.

Block, for his part, said in 2018 that the title change was more about formalizing the dynamic of the relationship the two men had developed over the years.

"Our time together has been amazing," Benioff said on a conference call with analysts on Tuesday. "I am his biggest supporter. I am his close friend. I am here to help him on his journey and as he begins this new journey, we are all with you, Keith, and we're all very excited for you."
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday condemned the violence in North-East Delhi, saying that the Centre is not paying attention to it.

"Delhi's condition is extremely bad. It is saddening as it is India's capital. I regret that the government is not taking paying attention to it. Steps should have been taken within a few hours only but it has been two days and no the situation is getting worse," Azad told ANI.

"I appeal to the Home Minister, the Police Commissioner and the L-G to immediately bring the situation under control. The law and order situation should be improved. The government should ensure that riots should not take place in the name of religion. This is the Centre's responsibility," he added.

Azad further appealed to the people to maintain peace and said that this is not the time to fight with each other.

"If they do not have enough police force, they should use other forces. Distress calls are being received claiming that shops are burning and police are declining to provide security to those people," said Azad.

The senior Congress leader said that the police should remain neutral and the people responsible for the violence should be punished.

At least 13 persons have died and around 190 are injured in the violence that erupted in North-East Delhi on Monday.

Earlier today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a meeting with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik and other political leaders regarding the violence and the prevailing situation in Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Dr Helmut Marko thinks Red Bull-Honda is Mercedes' "first challenger" in 2020.

The Red Bull official was speaking before the final three days of winter testing in Barcelona this week.

"We will only get a clearer picture this week," he told Auto Bild.

"We'll be driving the Melbourne version on Friday and I assume the others will do the same. But I am convinced that we are Mercedes' first challenger.

"Ferrari has always driven with a lot of fuel and a low engine setting, but the statements from Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc show that they were not where they had hoped in the first week of testing," Marko added.

He thinks the gap to Mercedes is just two tenths of a second.

"They make up that time because they have no understeer in the tight corners. They do that with DAS," said Marko, referring to Mercedes' trick steering system.

Mercedes stunned the paddock with the DAS innovation last week.

"Incredible," said Daniel Ricciardo. "You'd think it would be the teams that are behind them, not the team that has been dominating, who would be doing these things."

But Mercedes' technical boss James Allison said the team needed to be bold.

"It was a strong temptation to continue to develop the old car, but we understood that a conservative approach would not be enough," he is quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"So we decided to build an aggressive car with impressive solutions."

(GMM)
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Michael Bloombergs daughter Georgina has opened up about her friendship with members of the Trump family.

During an interview with the Palm Beach Post, Ms Bloomberg, 37, a professional equestrian and animal activist discussed her passion for horseback riding, her fathers dedication to protecting the environment, and her friendship with both Eric Trump and his wife Lara.

Shes a very good friend, Ms Bloomberg told the outlet. I grew up with Eric. Ive known him since we were kids and were good friends as well.

Laura [sic] does great stuff with animals, she added. We do a lot of rescue work together. Shes great.

In March, Ms Bloomberg and Ms Trump were scheduled to co-host a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago to benefit rescue dogs. Neither woman attended the event due to scheduling conflicts.

The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Show all 25 1 /25 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Bernie Sanders The Vermont senator has launched a second bid for president after losing out to Hilary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primaries. He is running on a similar platform of democratic socialist reform Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Joe Biden The former vice president recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well and has since maintained a front runner status in national polling EPA The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts senator is a progressive Democrat, and a major supporter of regulating Wall Street Reuters The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Amy Klobuchar Klobuchar is a Minnesota senator who earned praise for her contribution to the Brett Kavanaugh hearings Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Michael Bloomberg Michael Bloomberg, a late addition to the 2020 race, announced his candidacy after months of speculation in November. He has launched a massive ad-buying campaign and issued an apology for the controversial "stop and frisk" programme that adversely impacted minority communities in New York City when he was mayor Getty Images The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but has faced tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Pete Buttigieg The centrist Indiana mayor and war veteran would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Deval Patrick The former Massachusetts governor launched a late 2020 candidacy and received very little reception. With just a few short months until the first voters flock to the polls, the former governor is running as a centrist and believes he can unite the party's various voting blocs AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Beto O'Rourke The former Texas congressman formally launched his bid for the presidency in March. He ran on a progressive platform, stating that the US is driven by "gross differences in opportunity and outcome" AP The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Kamala Harris The former California attorney general was introduced to the national stage during Jeff Sessions testimony. She has endorsed Medicare-for-all and proposed a major tax-credit for the middle class AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Bill De Blasio The New York mayor announced his bid on 16 May 2019. He emerged in 2013 as a leading voice in the left wing of his party but struggled to build a national profile and has suffered a number of political setbacks in his time as mayor AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Steve Bullock The Montana governor announced his bid on 14 May. He stated "We need to defeat Donald Trump in 2020 and defeat the corrupt system that lets campaign money drown out the people's voice, so we can finally make good on the promise of a fair shot for everyone." He also highlighted the fact that he won the governor's seat in a red [Republican] state Reuters The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has focused on restoring kindness and civility in American politics throughout his campaign, though he has failed to secure the same level of support and fundraising as several other senators running for the White House in 2020 Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam said he intended to run on a progressive platform against the "broken" federal government. He favours gun regulations and was a signatory to a letter from some 400 mayors condemning President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord Vice News The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017 AP The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Andrew Yang The entrepreneur announced his presidential candidacy by pledging that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18 Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Julian Castro The former San Antonio mayor announced his candidacy in January and said that his running has a special meaning for the Latino community in the US Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Marianne Williamson The author and spiritual adviser has announced her intention to run for president. She had previously run for congress as an independent in 2014 but was unsuccessful Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Eric Swalwell One of the younger candidates, Swalwell has served on multiple committees in the House of Representatives. He intended to make gun control central to his campaign but dropped out after his team said it was clear there was no path to victory Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Seth Moulton A Massachusetts congressman, Moulton is a former US soldier who is best known for trying to stop Nancy Pelosi from becoming speaker of the house. He dropped out of the race after not polling well in key states Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Jay Inslee Inslee has been governor of Washington since 2013. His bid was centred around climate change AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: John Hickenlooper The former governor of Colorado aimed to sell himself as an effective leader who was open to compromise, but failed to make a splash on the national stage Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Tim Ryan Ohio representative Tim Ryan ran on a campaign that hinged on his working class roots, though his messaging did not appear to resonate with voters Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Tom Steyer Democratic presidential hopeful billionaire and philanthropist Tom Steyer is a longtime Democratic donor AFP/Getty

The pair later co-hosted the second annual Rescue Dogs Rock gala in New York City in October.

According to Ms Bloomberg, their friendship continues despite the ongoing political competition between the Democratic presidential candidate and the President of the United States because the focus is only on the animals.

To me, being an activist is just trying to make a difference in whatever you care about, she said. And for me, thats always been animals.

The 37-year-olds comments come after she said she was grateful her father hadnt run against Donald Trump in March 2016.

Speaking to W Magazine, Ms Bloomberg said that although she would have supported her father if he entered the race, she was grateful to avoid the mud slinging as she and the Trump children were good friends.

Ive learned to separate the politician from the man, because its something I always had to do with my father, she said. Donald Trump and his family have always been very close [to me]. Im good friends with his kids. I was not looking forward to having to watch our fathers go against each other.

Ms Bloomberg has previously defended Mr Trumps daughter Ivanka as well.

In 2016, she told Politico that the president is a great father and that she understands the difficulty Ivanka faces.

Donald has always been, and still is, a great father, and I know she is very proud of him and what he has accomplished, she said. Just like me, this doesnt mean she has to agree with everything her father stands for - I certainly didnt agree with everything my father did or believes, but we are our own people.
The BJP, however, accused the ruling Trinamul Congress of giving a short time to the Opposition parties for poll preparation and campaign.

Kolkata: As West Bengal is gearing up for the municipal elections in the next few months, governor Jagdeep Dhankhar will take an update from state election commissioner Saurabh Kumar Das who will call on him at Raj Bhavan this week.

Their upcoming meeting assumes significance as the Mamata Banerjee government is in favour of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Election be held on April 12 while the civic polls in the rest 107 municipal bodies be held on April 26.

The BJP, however, accused the ruling Trinamul Congress of giving a short time to the Opposition parties for poll preparation and campaign. It has also threatened to move the court.

On Monday Mr Dhankhar tweeted, Will seek an update as regards upcoming Municipal Elections from the State Election Commissioner Saurabh Kumar Das on Feb 27. The Commission is a constitutional body for superintendence, direction and control of Municipal Elections under article 243K of the Constitution of India.

Later the Raj Bhavan stated, The elections are to be held in the municipalities in coming few months. The State Election Commission Dr. Sourabh Kumar Das would be calling on the Honble Governor Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar on February 27, 2020.
Nacho Alvarez, Spanish Secretary of State for Social Rights and senior official of the far-left Podemos party, was admonished after posting a tweet on Friday (Feb.21) on the official account of his department about his meeting with the so-called minister of social affairs and promotion of Women of the Polisario, Souilma Birouk.

Two days after this scandal, Nacho Alvarez was scolded by the Spanish foreign ministry and he deleted his tweet in which he committed to continue to cooperate in relief aid for the disabled and his solidarity with the Sahrawi people.

Alvarez removed his tweet after the telephone conversation Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita had on Sunday with his Spanish peer Arancha Gonzalez.

The top Spanish diplomat reaffirmed on this occasion that Spain does not recognize the SADR, and that it supports the efforts of the UN Secretary General to achieve a peaceful solution within the frame of UN Security Council resolutions.

The remarks made by Alvarez on this subject-matter do not reflect the position of the government, added Mrs. Gonzalez, stressing that Spains position on Western Sahara has not changed. It is a State policy.

Nacho Alvarez was also reprimanded on Monday by the leader of his own Podemos party, Pablo Iglesias, in an interview with Spanish public TV channel RTVE. Pablo Iglesias urged the member of his party to abide by the official stand adopted by Spanish State on the Sahara issue, distancing himself from his comrade Alvarez.

The Polisario leaders, who counted on their traditional Podemos support to change Madrids official pro-Moroccan position, were simply given a cold shower.
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On the campaign trail, Sanders, 78, has proclaimed that his is the campaign of energy, is the campaign of excitement, is the campaign that can bring millions of people into the political process who normally do not vote. In rallies in Texas over the weekend, as his resounding victory in Nevada was becoming clear, he conveyed an air of triumph, drawing enormous crowds as his campaign made plans to solidify his front-runner status by Super Tuesday on March 3.
Sony had announced its new flagship yesterday, but has not shared its price tag. Well, According to ArsTechnica, the Sony Xperia 1 II will cost a whopping 1,199 in Europe.

The Sony Xperia 1 II will cost 1,199, and compete directly with the Galaxy S20 Ultra

We were hoping that Sony will price its new flagship under 1,000, but that did not happen. In fact, it wasnt even close, as you can see. Sonys new flagship will be in the Galaxy S20 Ultra waters with this price tag.

Those are not great news for the company, as Sonys mobile brand is not as strong as it used to be. The company should have gone way lower with a price tag for this phone in order to be more competitive.

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Competing with the likes of Samsung and Apple with such price tags is not a great idea. Sony may prove everyone wrong, though, of course, but thats not as likely.

The Sony Xperia 1 II does seem to be a really compelling smartphone, on paper, but its quite expensive at 1,199. It will be interesting to see if Sony will be able to attract consumers in Europe.

It is worth noting that this handset is not yet available. In fact, youll have to wait quite a bit in order to get it. The Xperia 1 II will become available for purchase in late Spring.

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Regarding the US, Sony did not share any pricing information just yet. The company is expected to make the phone available in the States, though, were just not sure when will it happen.

When it finally arrives, however, it is expected to be quite expensive. If Sony plans to keep that pricing at the same level as in Europe, the device will cost around $1,300.

The device comes with front-facing stereo speakers, and a 3.5mm headphone jack

The Sony Xperia 1 II comes without display holes or notches. It does have some bezel above and below the display, but theres a good reason for it. Not only was the Sony able to avoid notches and display holes, but it also included front-facing speakers.

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Speaking of audio, the Xperia 1 II also comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack. The phone is IP65/IP68 certified for water and dust resistance, and it includes a physical camera shutter on the right.

The Snapdragon 865 fuels the Xperia 1 II, while the company included a 4,000mAh battery. The device supports fast charging, and wireless charging, while it also supports stereo recording.

You will find three 12-megapixel cameras on the back of this phone, with ZEISS optics. A single 8-megapixel camera is included on the phones front side, however. If youd like to know more about its specs, click here.
The Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns are freezing concession food prices at games for the 2020 season, the clubs announced Monday, though beer prices have gone up to $11.50 from $10.50 last year.

The Timbers said the beer prices remain the cheapest at a major-league venue in the Northwest.

Park Pricing will also return to Providence Park, with the teams offering $2.50 hot dogs, $2.50 nachos and select $6 beers for midweek Timbers and Thorns games. The $6 Beer of the Match options will be 16-ounce cans provided by sponsors Widmer, Modelo and Coors Light. Those prices are up slightly from 2019, when the midweek Park Pricing offered $2 hot dogs, $2 nachos and $5 beers.

Killer Burger also will join the list of concession options, coming to section 93 with a classic burger, peanut butter pickle bacon burger and an option available only at Providence Park: the Striker burger with bacon, grilled jalapenos, Sriracha ketchup, Havarti cheese, mayonnaise and grilled onions.

A new beer and cider stand, Crest & Craft, will offer 14 varieties of beer on 34 draft handles at section 99. The teams said the drink menus throughout the stadium will feature more Oregon craft beer and cider, including Widmer Brothers, 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Pelican Brewing, Breakside Brewery and Truly Hard Seltzer. Tanner Ridge will offer more wines, including The Prisoner and Rombauer Vineyards.

New additions for in-seat ordering for fans in Field Seats include a southwest quinoa bowl, buffalo cauliflower wrap and the Tillamook double cheeseburger.

The Timbers season opener is set for 4:30 p.m. PT Sunday against Minnesota United FC at Providence Park. The Thorns home opener will be Saturday, April 18, against the Utah Royals.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing to March 5 on the Centre's plea challenging the Delhi High Court judgement that four death-row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case couldn't be executed separately.

On February 14, the top court had said the pendency of the Centre's appeal, seeking separate execution of convicts, would not be a hurdle for the trial court to issue a fresh date of execution, now scheduled for March 3.

A Bench, headed by Justice R. Banumathi and comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and Navin Sinha, adjourned the hearing on the appeal filed by the Delhi Police and the Delhi government for 3 p.m. on March 5.

On February 5, the Delhi High Court dismissed the Centre's plea challenging the trial court order staying execution of death-row convicts. The HC said the authorities had not taken proper steps in the process of issuing death warrants.

On February 7, the trial court ordered fresh date for execution at 6 a.m. on March 3.

The four convicts -- Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Kumar Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar (31) -- in the Nirbhaya case are yet to exhaust all remedies. The President has dismissed the mercy petition of three convicts.

Akshay has not yet moved the top court against rejection of his mercy plea. Pawan has not yet filed curative petition in the top court or the mercy plea.

The top court had asked the convicts to file their responses on the Centre's plea.

Earlier, the top court dismissed separate pleas filed by Mukesh and Vinay against the President's decision to reject their mercy pleas.
(Newser)  On Monday, the deputy health minister leading Iran's counter-coronavirus task force rejected claims that the government was downplaying the scale of the country's outbreak. On Tuesday, authorities confirmed that the minister, Iraj Harirchi, had tested positive for the virus. The AP reports that he "had been sweating and looked uncomfortable" when he briefed journalists in Tehran on the outbreak Monday. Officials in Iran say at least 12 people have died from the virus. In other developments:

Virus hits two more countries in Europe. Croatia and Austria reported their first COVID-19 cases Tuesday, the Guardian reports. The Austrian infections were in the Tyrol region, just across the border from Italy, where the worst coronavirus outbreak in Europe has killed at least seven people.

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Iraq wants to seal border . Iraqi lawmakers called for the border with Iran to be sealed Tuesday after the number of infections in the country rose to five, including a family of four that had recently returned from Iran. Cleric Moktada al-Sadr told his followers to suspend anti-government protests, the New York Times reports. "I had called for million man protests and sit-ins against sectarian power-sharing and today I forbid you from them for your health and life, for they are more important to me than anything else," he said.

. Iraqi lawmakers called for the border with Iran to be sealed Tuesday after the number of infections in the country rose to five, including a family of four that had recently returned from Iran. Cleric Moktada al-Sadr told his followers to suspend anti-government protests, the New York Times reports. "I had called for million man protests and sit-ins against sectarian power-sharing and today I forbid you from them for your health and life, for they are more important to me than anything else," he said. Outbreak has "peaked" in China . The World Health Organization believes the outbreak may have "peaked and plateaued" in China, which reported another 71 deaths Tuesday, reports RTHK. Some provinces have reported no new cases for several days. The outbreak has killed at least 2,663 people in China, the vast majority of them in Hubei province.

. The World Health Organization believes the outbreak may have "peaked and plateaued" in China, which reported another 71 deaths Tuesday, reports RTHK. Some provinces have reported no new cases for several days. The outbreak has killed at least 2,663 people in China, the vast majority of them in Hubei province. Spanish hotel locked down . A hotel in Tenerife in the Canary Islands was locked down Tuesday after a guest tested positive for the virus, the BBC reports. The guesta doctor from Italyhas been hospitalized and a police cordon has been placed around the hotel, which has around 1,000 guests.

. A hotel in Tenerife in the Canary Islands was locked down Tuesday after a guest tested positive for the virus, the BBC reports. The guesta doctor from Italyhas been hospitalized and a police cordon has been placed around the hotel, which has around 1,000 guests. Mass testing in South Korea . In South Korea, which is experiencing the most serious outbreak of anywhere outside mainland China, authorities plan to test more than 200,000 members of a religious group linked to a surge in cases, reports Reuters. The country has now reported 10 deaths and almost 1,000 infections.

. In South Korea, which is experiencing the most serious outbreak of anywhere outside mainland China, authorities plan to test more than 200,000 members of a religious group linked to a surge in cases, reports Reuters. The country has now reported 10 deaths and almost 1,000 infections. Travel restrictions. Numerous countries are bringing in travel restrictions to try to halt the outbreak, including Bahrain, which has halted flights to Dubai, the AP reports. French health minister Olivier Veran said the country would not cancel mass gatherings or close its border with Italy. "We dont close borders because we would not be able to, we dont do it because it would be meaningless, he said. "Should we ban gatherings? Should we stop the Fashion Week? Should we suspend matches? Should we close universities? The answer is no."

(The WHO isn't ready to call the outbreak a pandemic .)
Parents were left fearing for the safety of their children on Monday as several schools in Perths south east were sent into lockdown due to a hunt for an armed gunman.

Schools in the area were slow to react when a residence on Dorothy Street was shot at about 9.30am and police shut down streets in Gosnells in an attempt to find the stolen car linked with the incident.

Despite police information an armed offender was in the neighbourhood, several parents said they were forced to contact the schools of their children to find out more when news broke about the manhunt.

Although some parents heard police sirens as they dropped their children off at school, they were unaware of the dangerous situation and werent advised what was going on.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- New Zealand company Jade Valley will be bringing their premium grade Manuka honey to the Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing (ECRM) Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, to meet with prospective U.S. retailers looking to put their Manuka honey on American shelves. The March 22nd through 25th program of ECRM is focused on products in the realm of Healthy Living, Vitamin and Nutrition, which means Jade Valley will have a chance to discuss the health benefits of their Manuka honey in a setting tailored to their expertise.

Jade Valley prides themselves on the quality of their Manuka range of products. Their business is 100% New Zealand owned and operated, so they have the highest degree of control over every aspect of their Manuka honey production, from hive to jar. Quality Manuka honey has seen a significant jump in sales over the past decade as more Americans begin to recognize the power of Manuka honey for its health and wellbeing properties.

Jade Valley honey is sourced from the Manuka bush from some of the most remote and beautiful areas in New Zealand. Jade Valley Manuka honey is pure, with no other added ingredients.

The honey produced from the pollen of the Manuka flower, a key component of Jade Valley's honey is often called the standard against which all other honey is compared. This highly sought-after flower helps create the Manuka honey with its distinct taste and aroma, found nowhere else in nature. It is so highly valued that there is a rating system based solely around the Manuka flower, called the Unique Manuka Factor, for which Jade Valley meets the stringent set of guidelines to earn themselves the UMF accreditation.

Jade Valley's impressive Manuka product range including; Manuka honey, Manuka lozenges and Manuka oils, doesn't just end there. Jade Valley uses their Manuka honey as an ingredient in their Gelven baby skincare range. Baby brand, Gelven has its roots in business going back to 1951, and now they are on the cutting edge of baby products like Diaper Cream, Body Cream, Bath and Body Wash and Baby Oil. Manuka honey has been shown to have antibacterial and anti-microbial properties and is one of the ingredients used in the Gelven baby skincare range. In addition to their first-rate honey, Gelven's products also contain some key ingredients like Vitamin E, Kiwifruit extract and Colostrum. Gelven's goal was to create gentle and effective skincare using the best ingredients to keep babies clean and healthy.

Jade Valley is a New Zealand brand that is not to be missed, and they will be meeting with U.S. retail brands at the Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing Conference at the Hyatt Regency at The Arch, in St. Louis, Missouri, March 22nd and 25th.

Please direct inquiries to:

Vincent Isom (954) 399-2207

[email protected]

SOURCE Jade Valley
Vijayvargiya abducted the minor girl in Mhow in Indore district on December 1, 2019, while she was sleeping on the pavement along with her parents who eked out their living by begging in streets.

Bhopal: A fast-track court in Indore on Monday sentenced a man to death for abducting, raping and then killing a 4-year-old girl in December last.

Special sessions judge Varsha Verma handed out death penalty to Ankit Vijayvargiya (28), after convicting him in the crime, local prosecution officer said.

Vijayvargiya abducted the minor girl in Mhow in Indore district on December 1, 2019, while she was sleeping on the pavement along with her parents who eked out their living by begging in streets.

He took the girl to a secluded area, raped her and then strangulated her to death. As many as 29 witnesses, including parents of the victim, were examined during course of the trial.

The convict was nailed in the case after the footage of CCTV installed in the area found him with the victim on the fateful day, besides the DNA tests, the prosecution officer said.

The incident had triggered a public outrage then forcing the state government to set up a fast-track court.
STAMFORD  A city teen already facing a gun possession charge was found with a stolen semiautomatic pistol and an illegal high-capacity magazine, in addition to more than four ounces of marijuana that he had for sale, police said.

Capt. Richard Conklin said officers in the Narcotics and Organized Crime Squad received tips that Elvis Almengot-Castillo, 19, of Severance Drive, was selling marijuana out of his home and was illegally in possession of the handgun.

After police obtained a search warrant, officers stopped Almengot-Castillo in a car and searched him, but turned up only $310 in cash and less than three grams of marijuana, police said. But when they went to his Severance Road home at about 7:30 p.m. police found a plastic shopping bag with 128 grams of marijuana as well as a digital scale. While talking to police he confided to that he had a gun in the basement and showed them where it was, police said.

The gun turned out to be a .9 millimeter Taurus semiautomatic with a huge 32-bullet magazine that had nine bullets in it, Conklin said.

Magazines larger than 10 rounds in size are prohibited for civilian use. When police do find larger magazines they are usually in the 15 to 17 round range, Conklin said. It is rare for the police to find such a large magazine on the street, he said.

When police ran the serial number on the gun, it came up stolen from a car parked around Covington, Georgia in October 2019. Conklin said that Almengot-Castillo admitted to purchasing the weapon on the street.

He was charged with criminal use of a weapon, stealing a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, possession of a high capacity magazine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of more than four ounces of marijuana and held over the weekend on a $200,000 court appearance bond. At his arraignment on the charges Monday, Judge John Blawie upped the bond to $250,000.

Conklin said police are going to send the shell casing that was found at the scene of a Jan. 2 incident in which a man was pistol whipped on Broad Street and a gun discharged to the states Forensic Science Laboratory for testing to see if it matches the confiscated weapon.

We believe that additional charges in that incident will be forthcoming, Conklin said. We were very lucky in that January incident that no one got hurt.

This was a very good case by NOC officers. Conor Canning was the lead investigator in the case and they did a good job working with the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Conklin said.

Almengot-Castillo was arrested last July allegedly in possession of a .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol and was released after posting a bond.

jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com
The presidents of Russia and Turkey, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, seem to still meet in early March and discuss the situation in Syria. In Idlib province, the parties were on the verge of a direct collision several times. Otherwise, according to military experts, this could not have happened: when large military forces appear on a small "patch" to pursue different goals, and even with the involvement of smaller, but quite militant forces, the conflict between them becomes a matter of time.

Meanwhile, according to The Guardian, while Moscow and Ankara demonstrate their persistence in supporting the various parties involved in the conflict, the number of refugees has reached almost a million. According to other sources, it even exceeded this catastrophic mark, and children in camps are threatened with death from hypothermia - tents, not all of which are equipped with at least some heaters, are not the most reliable refuge. And this is against the backdrop of ongoing clashes between Russian-backed troops of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and armed opposition groups, which are patronized by Turkey.

Idlib is the northern province of Syria, bordering Turkey. This is the only region in Syria that remains under the control of anti-Assad rebels. A strategic route passes through Idlib, which gives Syria access to the outside world, which, among other things, also explains the stubbornness of government forces in trying to establish control here. However, without Russia's help, Assad's army, exhausted by prolonged military operations and not very adapted to them, would have long been drowned in its own attacking actions.

Actually, the same can be said about opposition groups - without the help of Turkey, according to various sources, having deployed about 15 thousand troops and equipment to the region, the resistance to the Syrian government forces would have long been broken.

With this in mind, a natural question arises - how "legitimate" is the assistance that Russia and Turkey provide to the participants in the conflict? As for Russia, its actions in Syria can be characterized by the usual term - assistance to a friendly state, plus everything else that is behind this wording. Russia intensified in Syria after 2014. Then, after the imposition of Western sanctions because of the Crimea, Moscow was in a difficult position. Perhaps the calculation was that the situation in Syria could somehow be exchanged, i.e. for the settlement of the conflict in Syria, to receive, if not a complete abolition, then a relaxation of sanctions. This script did not work. Anyway, bye. And today, Russian aviation, based at the Khmeimim airbase, has become almost the main striking force in the struggle of government forces with opposition groups.

Turkey, on the other hand, is the leader of the Turkic world, considers itself responsible for the Turkic-speaking faithful inhabitants of Idlib. This is one thing. The second is perhaps the most important. Erdogan needs absolute control over the Syrian-Turkish border in order to avoid the interaction of Kurdish troops on the territory of Syria and in Turkey itself - this is a matter of vital strategic security. Third, according to the Turkish authorities, tens of thousands of refugees crossed the border from Syria to Turkey, which has already become a serious problem, and as many or more can cross over. The UN called the situation "close to the greatest humanitarian disaster of the twenty-first century," but did not recommend anything in terms of how to deal with so many people deprived of shelter and livelihoods.

Erdogan, by the way, addressed this question to European leaders, who intensified criticism of Ankara for actively interfering in the Syrian processes, but did not receive a clear answer. Maybe he will receive during the meeting in early March - according to unconfirmed official data, in addition to the Russian leader, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel may arrive in the Turkish capital. But Erdogan is hardly worth counting on too effective assistance from Berlin and Paris. In this situation, the United States remains in net gain: President Donald Trump the other day in Vegas said that he considered the American companies a wonderful prospect for Syrian oil production and regretted that such an opportunity was missed in Iraq, where Chinese companies were quicker. A frank and, of course, cynical statement, but Washingtons approach should not be surprised, it didnt appear yesterday.

At this stage, attempts by Ankara and Moscow to come to an agreement were more like an imitation of dialogue. But the situation has become threatening. Ankara announced its readiness to conduct a military operation in Idlib, and, perhaps, Erdogan will seek from Putin "move a little to the side." Moscow called this scenario the worst of the existing ones, which gives the right to assume that Putin will refuse to Erdogan in such a request, if it sounds. But they need to somehow agree, because the prospect of a collision looks real, and the grave consequences of this are unpredictable.
AVON, Ind.  Joanna Jo (Hall) Martin, 78, of Avon, Ind., passed away Friday (Feb. 21, 2020) at Avon, Ind.

She was born Nov. 5, 1941, in Evansville, Ind., to Alfred S. and Mildred E. Hall of Boonville, Ind. Following graduation from Boonville High School in 1959 as top ranking female student, she attended Indiana University, graduating in 1963 with a B.S. degree in physical therapy. She was a member of Alpha Phi sorority. She met and married her husband of 57 years in 1962. She was employed as a staff physical therapist at Crossroads Rehabilitation Center in Indianapolis while her husband finished his dental school training.

They settled in Bloomington-Normal, where she lived for 40 years raising three children. There they were active members of Grace Church in Normal. She was also involved in several other Christian organizations while living in Illinois, including Winning Women of the Midwest, Christian Women's Club and Bible Study Fellowship. In 2009, they moved to Avon, Ind., to be nearer their three adult children and families.

Jo is survived by her husband, Dr. Richard A. Martin; three children, John David (Sharon) Martin, Susan Lynn (Mark) Bruning and Peter Fredric (Megan) Martin; and 10 grandchildren. Also surviving are a number of nieces and nephews.

Jo was an active member of Plainfield Christian Church. A special thanks to her doctors, nurses, hospice team and others who cared for her during her battle with cancer.

Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday in Hampton-Gentry Funeral Home, 106 Shaw St., Plainfield, Ind. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Plainfield Christian Church, 800 Dan Jones Road, Plainfield, Ind. Inurnment will be at a later date in Maple Hill Cemetery, Plainfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Church, 1311 W. Hovey Ave., Normal, IL 61761, or the Plainfield Christian Church.

Condolences may be left at www.hamptongentry.com.
Information about

hit-run truck sought

MOUNT STERLING  Brown County Sheriffs Department is investigating a hit-and-run crash during the past week in the Pea Ridge area that involved a 1999-2004 black Ford F-250 pickup truck.

The vehicle likely has severe front-end damage and may be missing a headlight.

Anyone with information about the driver or the vehicle can call the sheriffs department anonymously at 217-773-2011.



Jacksonville Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Troy D. Fortune, 30, of 629 S. Diamond St. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 7:40 a.m. Monday on charges of aggravated battery against a peace officer and resisting a peace officer.

He is accused of failing to follow police commands and for spitting on an officer at the scene.

 Teresa M. Cox, 48, of 550 W. Bridgeport St., White Hall, was arrested at 2:44 p.m. Monday on a retail theft charge. She was accused of removing merchandise from a business in the 1200 block of West Morton Avenue without paying for it.

 Airyn D. Shanks, 23, of 623 S. Diamond St. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 5:14 a.m. Sunday on charges of driving under the influence and having no valid identification.

 Dustin M. Mead, 26, of 328 E. Beecher St. was arrested at 8:32 p.m. Sunday on a charge of driving while license is suspended after a traffic stop in the 1900 block of West Morton Avenue.

VANDALISM

 Someone tried to break into the coin box of washers and dryers at a business in the 1000 block of East Morton Avenue by prying open mechanisms.

No money was taken.

ACCIDENTS

 Linda M. Brown, 69, of Jacksonville was cited on a charge of improper backing after her vehicle and one being driven by Kristy A. Wagner, 41, of Jacksonville collided at 12:24 p.m. Monday in the 1000 block of Doolin Avenue.



Pike County

Sheriff

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Rhiannon M. Coy, 22, of Pittsfield was arrested at 7:37 p.m. Saturday on a charge of possession of cannabis by a passenger in a motor vehicle.

 Stacy E. Little, 36, of Pleasant Hill was arrested at 8:50 p.m. Saturday on a charge of possession of cannabis by a passenger in a motor vehicle.

 Kelly D. Adams, 33, of Pleasant Hill was arrested at 1:16 a.m. Saturday on a domestic violence charge.

 Stacy A. Zumwalt, 36, of Mount Sterling was arrested at 6:53 p.m. Friday on a charge of possession of cannabis by a passenger in a motor vehicle.

 Sean A. Robertson, 24, of New Canton was arrested at 9:31 a.m. Wednesday on a violation of an order of protection.

 Shelley D. Evans, 47, of Pittsfield was arrested at 11:12 p.m. Feb. 18 on a charge of possession of a controlled substance.

 Jordan M. Wallace, 28, of Pittsfield was arrested at 2:02 p.m. Feb. 17 on a charge of criminal trespassing to a residence.

Compiled by Marco Cartolano and David C.L. Bauer
The Sinn Fein leader, Mary Lou McDonal, has rejected suggestions that her party's public rallies this week are "an affront to democracy."

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar hit out at the party's rallies yesterday and said that they were a campaign of "intimation and bullying".

The Taoiseach also said that Sinn Fein are more interested in rallies than seeking to actually form a government.

Ms McDonald pushed back however and said Mr Varadkar and those criticising the rallies are just worried about change:

"I think all of this overreaction is just symptomatic of a political establishment now that sees change coming and is trying to push it back.

"I think that is a fruitless exercise. I think people should embrace the fact that the citizens now are hugely engaged with politics.

"They have identified for political system the core social issues that need to be addressed."

The Dublin Central TD also said that the Taoiseach's comments about Sinn Fein's rallies were "completely over the top."

Ms McDonald believes that now is the time for working together instead of being defensive.

"Rather than being defensive or worse being abusive towards those of us that have a mandate for change," she said.

I think now is the time for big ideas and for working together.

Describing last night's meeting in Cork City as "absolutely packed," McDonald believes that attendance will be at similar levels "right across the country."

Speaking at the rally in Rochestown Park Hotel,

Read More:

Almost 1,000 people attended the rally yesterday while a second is to take place in Dublin tonight.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin meets the Taoiseach today to discuss

Read More:
Delhi Violence Over CAA Protest Updates: Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a third high-level meeting as violence continued for the third day in Delhi. According to ANI, the meeting lasted for almost three hours and was attended by Delhi Police and home ministry officials.

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Home minister Amit Shah held a late night meeting in Delhi on Monday after clashes were reported in many parts of Delhi, including Chand Bagh, Bhajanpura and Maujpur. The meeting that started at 10 pm and concluded post midnight was attended by the Delhi Commissioner of Police, Home Secretary, IB chief and other senior officials, reported News18.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Traffic Police said the Wazirabad Raod has been opened for vehicular movement. Additionally, till around 4 pm, traffic is likely to remain heavy in the areas of Moti Bagh, Chanakyapuri, India Gate, areas around ITO, Delhi Gate and the adjoining areas of Central and New Delhi. In the evening, traffic is likely to remain heavy in Chanakyapuri, RML roundabout, Dhaula Kuan, Delhi Cantonment, Delhi-Gurgaon Road (NH-48) and adjoining areas. Necessary traffic diversions as per ground situation may also be enforced.

Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar Metro stations will continue to remain closed after tensions prevail in the areas after the clashes between anti and pro-CAA protesters on Monday night. Trains are being terminated at Welcome Metro station.

In a video of him that went viral, he opened multiple rounds of fire and even pointed the gun at the cops face point-blank range.

A man in a red-tshirt, who was seen brandishing a gun and confronting a lone policeman in Jaffrabad, has been detained, Delhi Police sources told ANI. The man was identified as Mohammed Shahrukh.

Fresh incidents of stone-pelting were reported in Brahmpuri anf Maujpur on Tuesday morning. Soon after the incident, police and the Rapid Action Force held a flag march in Brahmpuri, where two empty bullet shells were found later.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called an urgent meeting of AAP MLAs at his residence at 10.30 am. Officials belonging to the areas that were hit by violence since yesterday will also be a part of the meet.

A meeting was held by Home Minister Amit Shah on late Monday night with senior Delhi Police officers and top Home Ministry officials on the law and order situation in Delhi.

Security has been beefed up at the incident site and also in and around other areas of North-East Delhi. Five people, including one police head constable, lost their lives and 105 got injured in the clashes in North-East Delhi on Monday.

Following the incidents of stone-pelting in Brahampuri and Maujpur area, Police and Rapid Action Force personnel conducted a flag march in these areas after clashes broke out between two groups, reports ANI.

One Delhi Police head constable lost his life during the clashes on Monday. "The situation is very tense. We are continuously receiving calls related to incidents of violence from North-East Delhi," Delhi Police stated. The Commissioner of Police also held a meeting at Seelampur DCP Office on Monday night.

Sharma underwent surgery on Monday night and his CT Scan was done on Tuesday morning. He is safe and out of danger.

Shahdara Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Amit Sharma, who was injured during clashes between two groups in Delhi's Gokulpuri on Monday, has regained consciousness and is now out of danger at a hospital in the city, reports ANI.

The move came after the home minister reviewed the law and order situation in the National Capital on Monday night as violence rocked Northeast Delhi.

Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and representatives of different political parties were invited for the meeting. The home minister has convened a meeting to discuss the current situation in Delhi, a Home Ministry official said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday has called for a meeting at 12 pm to discuss the prevailing situation in the National Capital after violence in Northeast Delhi over the amended citizenship law that left four people dead.

Till Monday, authorities had said at least four people, including Lal, were killed in the violence. They said that the death toll has increased to seven on Tuesday.

The death toll in the northeast Delhi violence climbed to seven, a senior police official told PTI on Tuesday. A Delhi Police head constable, Ratan Lal, was among the seven killed in the violence that erupted on Monday over the amended citizenship law.

"India has lived with the Citizenship Act 1955 without the amendment. Why does the Act need an amendment now? The amendment (CAA) should be abandoned forthwith.

Chidambaram said the violence in Delhi on Monday and the loss of lives are most shocking and deserve the strongest condemnation. "The people are paying the price for putting in power insensitive and shortsighted leaders," he said.

In a series of tweets on Twitter, the Congress leader said the amendment to the CAA should be abandoned forthwith and the government should listen to the voices of the anti-CAA protesters by keeping the CAA in abeyance till the Supreme Court gave its verdict.

Condemning the violence in Delhi, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said that people are paying the price for putting in power "insensitive and shortsighted" leaders.

He also urged political parties to respect that US President Donald Trump is in Delhi, adding that talks can be held "regarding any issue".

Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddypromised strict action against those involved in the clashes in Delhi on Monday night. "Since two months, there was a dharna, but the Centre gave a chance for peaceful demonstrations and protests. However, yesterday's violence won't be tolerated," he said.

Security has been deployed in Gokulpuri area. Clashes had broken out between two groups in the area yesterday during which one Delhi Police head constable had lost his life and Shahdara DCP Amit Sharma was injured.

Additionally, the tyre market in the area was set on fire on Monday night.

Heavy security has been deployed in the Gokulpuri area, where violent clashes were reported yesterday. During these clashes, a Delhi Police head constable had lost his life and Shahdara DCP Amit Sharma was injured.

The order, which will be applicable till 24 March, also prohibits the assembly of four or more persons and any kind of demonstration without permission. Printing, circulation or dissemination of any communally sensitive and provocative material in any media, including social media platforms, that may endanger peace and tranquility in the area is prohibited, the order stated. It further stated that violation of the order will be punishable by Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code.

DCP (North East) Ved Prakash Surya in an order has prohibited the carrying of weapons, sticks or any other incendiary material that can be used for violence, keep in view the clashes witnessed in Delhi since Sunday.

Meanwhile, a plea has been moved in Delhi High Court by the Human Right Law Network regarding the violence in Maujpur, Jafrabad and adjoining areas in during the anti-CAA protests. The petitioner sought independent judicial inquiry and compensation for the deceased persons and the arrest of some prominent political personalities alleging their hate speeches incited violence.

The bench agreed to hear the matter on Wednesday. In the application, Habibullah, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad and social activist Bahadur Abbas Naqvi have also sought direction to authorities to ensure safety of women sitting on protest against the CAA at Shaheen Bagh and other places in the national capital.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an application filed by former Chief information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah and others seeking lodging of FIRs with regard to the recent violence in Delhi over the amended citizenship law.

Kejriwal further said there is a need to seal borders and make preventive arrests, since that MLAs from border areas told that people involved in the protests are coming from outside the National Capital.

He added, "The hospital authorities have been asked to be prepared and provide quality medical aid to the injured coming there. Fire department has been asked to coordinate with police and reach the affected areas on time."

Addressing the media ahead of his 12 pm meet with Home Minister Amit Shah, he said that the District Magistrate has been asked to take out peace marches in the affected areas. "MLAs of the affected areas informed me that there is a severe shortage of police force and police can't take action till they receive orders from the top," he said.

Appealing to Delhiites to maintain peace, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said after a meeting with his MLAs and some officials that the violence reported during clashes in north east Delhi on Monday was "unfortunate".

Alok Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police, told reporters, "We are continuously taking action and forces have been deployed in Brahampuri, Maujpur, Chand Bagh, and other areas. We are dispersing any gathering and peace committees are holding talks with people to maintain peace."

35 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in northeast Delhi along with Special Cell, Crime Branch and Economic Offences Wing (EOW) officials. Local police from different districts of Delhi have also been called in, keeping in view the sensitive law and order situation.

He added that nine police personnel are undergoing treatment at Max Hospital and 16 at GTB Hospital.

He added that Shah promised that as much police force required in Delhi will be deployed, after concerns were raised about the shortage of security personnel in violence-hit areas.

Talking after the conclusion of a meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah, Lieutenant General Anil Baijal an Congress and BJP leaders, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that it was decided that parties will rise above politics to make efforts to bring back peace in Delhi.

A similar plea pertaining to the clashes in Delhi will be heard by the Supreme Court too. It has been filed by former CIC Wajahat Habibullah, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad and social activist Bahadur Abbas Naqvi.

Filed by Harsh Mander, the plea seeks an FIR against Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Sahib Singh for hate speeches.

Delhi High Court agrees to hear on Wednesday plea seeking FIR and arrest of persons involved in violence in North East Delhi over CAA.

NDTV anchor and senior journalist Nidhi Razdan confirmed that two reporters of the TV channel were beaten up by pro-CAA protesters. They were only allowed to go after someone told the protesters they were Hindus and not Muslims.

Locals said mobs spilled on main roads, interior lanes and bylanes in residential areas, while the security personnel were deployed only on the main road, which leads to Bhajanpura, Rohini one side and Loni, Ghaziabad via Gokalpuri flyover on the other.

"I was returning from Ganga Ram Hospital where my grandson is admitted. It was really difficult reaching back home. I had to plead with folded hands with both the groups who were present on the roads after every few steps. "Only I know how I managed to return home," the elderly man, a resident of C Block in Yamuna Vihar, told PTI.

As angry mobs ran riot in the Bhajanpura-Yamuna Vihar area all through Monday night and Tuesday morning, residents recalled the fear they underwent, with an elderly man pleading with folded hands before the rioters to spare him as he returned from a hospital where his grandson is undergoing treatment.

The protesters at Shaheen Bagh have made appeals for peace in the city, following violence that has erupted in Northeast Delhi that started after clashes between groups supporting and opposing CAA.

Reports said that a journalist has been shot at in northeast Delhi as "waves of violence" continue for the third consecutive day in the district.

There was no police presence in the Khazoori Khas area of northeast Delhi even as violence continued for the third consecutive day over CAA protests. "Houses are being burned to the ground" in the area, CNN-News18 reported.

Stone pelting reportedly began again in the Khajoori Khas area of northeast Delhi, reports said. Both the carriageways on the road to Karawal Nagar have been closed for traffic.

Earlier in the day, he was part of a high-level meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi lieutenant governor Anil Baijal regarding the meeting.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, under fire for inaction regarding the continuing violence in northeast Delhi since Sunday, is likely to meet the injured who have been admitted to the GTB hospital in the district on Tuesday, News18 reported.

Shots were fired in the Kardampuri area of northeast Delhi. News18 reported that firing occured between two groups and three paramilitary buses were rushed to the spot.

Kejriwal is being criticised by journalists and lawyers for "inaction" regarding the violence that is ongoing since Sunday.

Speaking to the media, Kejriwal said, "The entire country is worried about the violence that took place in Delhi in past two days. There has been loss of lives & properties. If violence increases it will affect everyone. All us are here to offer our prayers to Gandhiji who was a follower of non-violence."

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and other AAP leaders have gathered at the Raj Ghat to "offer prayers" to Mahatma Gandhi in light of the violence that erupted in northeast Delhi over Citizenship Amendment Act protests.

Speaking to the media after a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Baijal said, "Both the chief minister and I want that peace and harmony should remain intact in Delhi. We should do everything possible to maintain peace and order. We should also help the police in this."

Delhi lieutenant governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday appealed for peace and order as violence continued for the third consecutive day in northeast Delhi areas.

Locals in Yamuna Vihar in northeast Delhi made a human chain to escort schoolchildren to safety as violence over CAA protests continued in the district on Tuesday. The Telegraph also reported that there was no Delhi Police presence at the site.

MHA sources were quoted by reports as saying that the issues of hate-mongering, coordination between the Delhi Police and MLAs, and methods to curb rumours were discussed in the meeting between Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, and other leaders.

Reports said that a journalist of the JK 24 News tv channel, who was shot at while covering the violence in northeast Delhi's Maujpur, has been admitted to the GTB hospital.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday met the injured who have been admitted in the GTB hospital. Seven people lost their lives in violence that erupted during Citizenship Amendment Act protests on Monday.

The wreath-laying ceremony of Delhi Police head constable Ratan Lal, who lost his life during clashes in northeast Delhi on Monday, is underway, ANI reported.

The toll in the violence that erupted in northeast Delhi has risen to nine, officials of the GTB hospital were quoted as saying by PTI.

Mobs are also checking reporters' phones for photos and videos of the violence, reports said.

Journalists reporting from the sites of violence in northeast Delhi tweeted that scribes were getting beaten up and and also being asked their religion. Some reports also said that in some cases, the journalists had escaped on account of being Hindu. Of the journalists who were beaten up, one Arvind Gunasekar has been admitted to the GTB hospital.

The Delhi Police told the MHA that it did not have adequate forces to control the northeast Delhi violence immediately, which led to the situation getting aggravated.

The non-availability of adequate forces was conveyed by Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik during his meeting with the top brass of the MHA.

The Delhi Police told the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday that it did not have adequate forces to immediately control the violence that hit parts of Delhi claiming nine lives, including that of a policeman, PTI reported.

Personnel of the Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force are conducting flag-march in Khajoori Khaas area of northeast Delhi as violence over Citizenship Amendment Act protests continued for the third consecutive day in the district. The toll in the violence rose to nine on Tuesday, which includes one constable.

Meanwhile, reports added that an armed mob had gathered at the Chandbagh area.

The situation remained tense in areas affected by the violence in northeast Delhi for the third consecutive day on Tuesday. Reports said that while the Delhi Police and RAF conducted a flag march in the Khajoori Khas area of the district, the fire in the Gokulpuri market continued unabated for more than four hours.

Fresh violence has erupted in the Gamri area of northeast Delhi, News18 reported, adding that five people have been injured as stone pelting continued in the area. The report also said that five shops were burnt and a total of 10 fire engines have been stationed on the spot.

CNN-News18 on Tuesday evening reported that rioters with lathis have vandalised vehicles on the Pushta road. Two men who were recording the violence on the mobile were also thrashed with lathis, the report said.

It was also decided in the meeting to enhance police-MLA coordination in the national capital and also reactive peace committees with representatives of all sections of society, religions and eminent local citizens, an official said.

This was conveyed at a high-level meeting convened by Home Minister Amit Shah and attended by Delhi's LG Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Commissioner of Police Amulya Patnaik, among others.

An armed battalion of Delhi Police, comprising around 1,000 personnel, is being deployed in violence-hit areas of Delhi while inter-state borders are being closely monitored, PTI reported.

The journalist of the JK 24 News channel who was shot at in the Maujpur area of northeast Delhi on Tuesday, Akash has sustained a bullet injury while covering the continuing violence. He has been admitted to the GTB hospital where his condition is serious.

"We talked about it for a long time and Narendra Modi said that (the government) values and wants religious freedom. I believe they are working very hard on it," he said.

US president Donald Trump, addressing the media on the last leg of his maiden visit to India, when asked about the violence that gripped northeast Delhi for the entirety of his first day in India on Monday, said that he had discussed "religious freedom in India" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Meanwhile, reports also said that the Congress is likely to hold a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) over the violence that has gripped the National Capital for the third consecutive day on Tuesday. The meeting is scheduled for 10 am on Wednesday.

Mobs have set fire to vehicles in the Jyoti Nagar area of northeast Delhi on Tuesday evening, reports said.

"We are appalled by the complete avoidance of the issue by the newly-elected Delhi government and strongly condemn the inaction on their part," the statement said.

A group called the 'Lawyers for Detainees' issued a statement slamming the newly-election AAP MLAs for "inaction" regarding the violence that continued for the third consecutive day on Tuesday in northeast Delhi.

"Home Minister Amit Shah has asked the Police Commissioner of Delhi to have senior police officers present in Police Control Rooms so that rumours can be dispelled as quickly as possible," the statement said.

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday evening were quoted by ANI as saying that Home Minister Amit Shah appeals to the public to desist from spreading rumours and added that "political parties should cooperate with police" to quell these rumours and dispel fear among public.He also appealed to public at large and media to communicate responsibly and avoid spreading rumours.

He said, "We appeal to all to maintain peace and condemn this act of violence in Delhi. Some communal powers, for their political gains, are working towards creating differences using religion. Every Congress worker will help the government to maintain peace, law and order in the National Capital."

Randhawa said, "I deny that there is any deficiency of police force. Sufficient forces have been deployed in the Northeast district. CRPF, RAF and additional resources of Delhi police are also active. 11 FIRs have been registered and few have been detained."

Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa said that there was no deficiency in the police force after violence continued in northeast Delhi for three consecutive days. The statement came after the force came under criticism for inadequate action to quell the violence over Citizenship Amendment Act protests.

AAP leader and recently elected MLA from Kalkaji Atishi on Tuesday evening said that police personnel, civilians, Hindus and Muslims had been injured in "large numbers" in the violence that continued for the third consecutive day over Citizenship Amendment Act protests.

"Delhi Police's Special CP Pravir Ranjan said that curfew has been imposed in violence-affected regions in northeast Delhi," the report said.

A curfew has been imposed in the Maujpur, Jafrabad, Chandbagh, and Karawal Nagar areas of northeast Delhi, India Today reported as violence continued for the third consecutive day over Citizenship Amendment Act protests.

"...asking to open closed roads is not a crime. To support CAA is not a crime. Telling the truth is not a crime. I don't fear this massive hate campaign against me," he posted on Twitter, as the violence continued for the third consecutive day on Tuesday and the situation remained grim across the district.

BJP leader Kapil Mishra who is being criticised for his 'ultimatum' statement on the CAA protests ahead of the eruption of violence in northeast Delhi for three consecutive days, said that he is receiving death threats "even from abroad".

Randhawa said 11 FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence. "We are responding to incidents involving anti-social elements. Sufficient force has been deployed in northeast Delhi. The RAF and CRPF has also been deployed," he said.

MS Randhawa, Delhi Police spokesperson said the situation in northeast Delhi is under control, even as several parts of the National Capital continued to reel under violence, PTI reported.

Delhi Police on Tuesday said 10 people, including one policeman, have been killed in the violence in northeast Delhi and they are responding to incidents involving anti-social elements.

Residents of Chandbagh made calls for police deployment saying that a mob had gathered in a section of the area, The Wire reported.

Rioters set afire to shops and pelted stones in a fresh wave of violence even as the police used tear gas to disperse the crowds, PTI reported. Paramilitary forces have also been deployed to bring the situation under control.

Even as the Delhi Police undertook steps to quell the continuing violence in several areas of northeast Delhi on Tuesday, incidents of arson continued on Tuesday evening in the Chandbagh area of the National Capital, reports said.

What am I supposed to do? What is my fault? I dont know or care about the CAA. I was not protesting. Why should I bear the brunt? This was my livelihood. Two days ago, I had bought oranges worth Rs 50,000 and so many of them are now destroyed. How will I manage funds? Its a big loss for me, she was quoted as saying by the report.

The cart of fruits of Fatima, a 62-year-old resident of northeast Delhi's Khajoori Khas, was set ablaze by a mob on Monday evening during the violence that erupted over Citizenship Amendment Act protests in the National Capital. It was her source of livelihood, The Hindu reported.

Randhawa on Tuesday was quoted by ANI as saying, "It's under investigation, our top priority was to control the situation which we've done. We will investigate all FIRs that have been registered & if a main conspirator is found action will be taken."

Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa, addressing a press conference on the spate of violence the National Capital witnessed for the third day on Tuesday, addressed the criticism against BJP leader Kapil Mishra's speech on Sunday in which he issued an "ultimatum" to the Delhi Police to clear roads occupied by protesters against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Opposition leaders, journalists have slammed Mishra, saying that his speech was incendiary.

The toll in the Delhi violence has risen to 11, News18 reported. Fresh incidents of violence continue to break out in areas like Chandbagh, which have been put under curfew.

He added, "Miscreants will not be spared, strict legal action will be taken against them. Sufficient police force, CAPF and senior officials deployed in the North East district. Section 144 imposed in some areas of the district."

Delhi commissioner of police, Amulya Patnaik on Tuesday evening said that there was an adequate deployment of forces in the areas affected by violence over Citizenship Amendment Act protests.

Home Minister Amit Shah has cancelled his visit to Thiruvananthapuram scheduled for Wednesday, News18 Delhi reported. Shah held a high-level meeting with Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal regarding the continuing spate of violence in northeast Delhi over Citizenship Amendment Act protests.

Meanwhile, a delegation of civil rights activists, including All India Progressive Women's Association secretary Kavita Krishnan, on Tuesday went to meet Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal at his residence to submit an appeal to protect the people in the city from communal violence.

CNN-News18 reported that the victims of the continuing violence in the National Capital said that the rioters aren't locals.

"All home examinations have been postponed. Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has been requested to postpone tomorrow's board exams," he added.

Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday said that all schools will remain closed on Wednesday in the northeast Delhi district in light of the violence that has gripped the district since Sunday.

The Delhi Police has issued "shoot at sight" orders in various places in northeast Delhi, reports said.

IPS SN Shrivastava was on Tuesday appointed as Special Commissioner (Law and Order) in Delhi Police, with immediate effect. A notification regarding this was issued by the Directorate General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Srivastava tenure with the CRPF was to continue till 30 June, 2021, News18 reported.

The situation may worsen tomorrow after President Trump leaves tonight. Please treat this as urgent as any delay will result in more loss of lives and damage, Mr. Khan said in his letter, demanding the imposition of curfew in the violence-hit areas.

In a letter to Baijal, DMC Chairman Zafarul Islam Khan expressed apprehension over the violence and its escalation after the departure of the visiting US president Donald Trump.

The Delhi Minorities Commission on Tuesday appealed to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal for the imposition of curfew in violence-affected areas, after 11 people were killed in clashes and arson over the Citizenship Amendment Act.

The Delhi Police on Tuesday evening clarified that no shoot at sight order has been issued for northeast Delhi area. "Jaffrabad road has been cleared and no shoot at sight order has been issued for North East Delhi," the statement was quoted by ANI as saying .

Delhi Police tweeted out an appeal for peace as violence continued on Tuesday. "Delhi Police is making all earnest efforts, including deployment of reinforcements and involving respectable citizens of the area, to restore normalcy," the statement said.

The Jaffrabad protest, which had women sitting in protest since Saturday, has been cleared by the Delhi Police. It was thi sprotest that BJP leader Kapil Mishra referred to in his 'ultimatum' remark, demanding that the police clear the road.

The toll in the continued violence in northeast Delhi rose to 13 on Tuesday night, reports said.

Central Board of Secondary Education: On the request of Directorate of Education, Government of Delhi and to avoid inconvenience to students, staffs and parents, the Board has decided to postpone Class 10 and 12 exams scheduled for February 26 in north east part of Delhi. pic.twitter.com/IFFtedikVR

The CBSE postponed Class 10, 12 exams in northeast Delhi which were scheduled to be held on Wednesday. However, exams in the remaining areas of the National Capital will be held as per schedule.

Confusion prevailed over something as important as "shoot at sight" orders. After intial reports confirmed that Delhi Police has issued "shoot at sight" orders in the northeast areas, residents from the region panicked. Several on social media shared their trepidation over the orders. However, ANI quoted Delhi Police who confirmed that "no shoot at sight order has been issued" in the area. Soon though, ANI again tweeted out a clarification saying, "#Correction Shoot at sight orders remain, earlier report of it being lifted was incorrect."

The Noida police said it was on high alert and Section 144 of the CrPC, which bars assembly of four or more people, was in place in the district, while the Police Armed Constabulary (PAC) has also been deployed in huge numbers, reported PTI. "Liquor shops near Delhi border areas were being closed and comprehensive checking was being carried out, the Noida Police said in a statement on Tuesday night.

Utterly disgusting!! Our ambulances are not allowed to reach Al Hind Hospital Mustafabad where 10 gun shot injured are waiting for help. Police said only govt ambulances are allowed, We are repeatedly calling 102 but they are not responding & further delaying treatment (1/n)

Earlier, Delhi Police had also said that injured were being brought to hospitals on bikes and vans as protesters were blocking ambulances.

Harjit Singh Bhatti, ex-president of the Resident Doctor's Association, AIIMS, claimed that ambulances were not being allowed to reach the Al Hind Hospital in Mustafabad, where over 10 people were reportedly nursing gun shot injuries. He also added that calls for help from 102, the ambulance helpline number went unanswered.

A News18 reporter said that BJP MLA Abhay Verma was leading a march of his supporters in the Mangal Bazaar area of Laxmi Nagar. He also retweeted a video in which his supporters could be heard chanting religious slogans and raising incendiary slogans.

The advisory asked channels to ensured that no content is telecast which is violative of the Programme and Advertising Codes as prescribed in the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act, 1995. "All private satellite TV channels are requested to ensure strict compliance," it added.

The advisory also cautioned TV channels against showing content which contains attacks on religions or communities or which is defamatory, false or half-true.

In an advisory issued to private news channels, the Ministry for Information and Broadcasting asked TV channels to exercise caution regarding content which is likely to incite violence or content which is likely to violate law and order. The advisory further advised TV channels against showing content which is likely to promote "anti-national attitudes".

"I have received calls by many to kill me. Many people including politicians and journalists are abusing me. But, I am not scared because I have not done anything wrong," Mishra told PTI.

Mishra also attacked Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal who held a meeting with MLAs of violence hit areas in north east Delhi on Tuesday. "Why did you not appeal in your speech to open the blocked roads in Delhi? Being the chief minister, you should immediately appeal for opening of roads. Why are yousaving rioters blocking the road?" Mishra alleged in a tweet

Facing flak for his speech during a gathering in favour of CAA at Maujpur Chowk in northeast Delhi, BJP leader Kapil Mishra remained defiant on Tuesday saying he was not scared of the "massive hate campaign" against him for "speaking truth" and supporting the amended citizenship law. Mishra, a former AAP MLA who unsuccessfully contested the recent Assembly polls on a BJP ticket from Model Town, led a gathering in support of the CAA at Maujpur Chowk in Jafarabad area on Sunday, after which violence erupted between pro and anti CAA groups.

Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a third high-level meeting as violence continued for the third day in Delhi. According to ANI, the meeting lasted for almost three hours and was attended by Delhi Police and home ministry officials. Newly-appointed Special Commissioner of Police SN Srivastava also attended the meeting.

Earlier in the day, two NDTV journalists were attacked by rioters while a journalist with JK 24x7 sustained a bullet injury.

It urged the Delhi Police to provide security to journalists and also asked the Home Ministry to investigate the attacks and punish those found guilty.

The Editor's Guild expressed concern over the attack on journalists during the violence which unfolded in northeast Delhi. Noting that attack on journalist is tantamount to an attack on press freedom, it said that the guilty must be brought to book.

A firefighter was injured as the Delhi Fire Service on Tuesday attended to 70 calls from violence-hit northeast Delhi, an official said. The department received fire-related calls from 8 am-8 pm. A firefighter was injured due to stone-pelting while five fire tenders were damaged, according to the official.

Delhi Violence Over CAA Protest Updates: Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a third high-level meeting as violence continued for the third day in Delhi. According to ANI, the meeting lasted for almost three hours and was attended by Delhi Police and home ministry officials. Newly-appointed Special Commissioner of Police SN Srivastava also attended the meeting.

In an advisory issued to private news channels, the Ministry for Information and Broadcasting asked TV channels to exercise cuation regarding content which is likely to incite violence or content which is likely to violate law and order. The advisory further advised TV channels against show casing content which is liekly to promote 'anti-national attitudes'.

The CBSE postponed Class 10, 12 exams in northeast Delhi which were scheduled to be held on Wednesday.

The toll in the continued violence in northeast Delhi rose to 13 on Tuesday night, reports said.

IPS SN Shrivastava was on Tuesday appointed as Special Commissioner (Law and Order) in Delhi Police, with immediate effect. A notification regarding this was issued by the Directorate General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Srivastava tenure with the CRPF was to continue till 30 June, 2021, News18 reported.

The Delhi Police on Tuesday evening clarified that no shoot at sight order has been issued for northeast Delhi area. "Jaffrabad road has been cleared and no shoot at sight order has been issued for North East Delhi," the statement was quoted by ANI as saying.

CNN-News18 reported that the victims of the continuing violence in the National Capital said that the rioters aren't locals.

Meanwhile, a delegation of civil rights activists, including All India Progressive Women's Association secretary Kavita Krishnan, on Tuesday went to meet Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal at his residence to submit an appeal to protect the people in the city from communal violence.

Even as the Delhi Police undertook steps to quell the continuing violence in several areas of northeast Delhi on Tuesday, incidents of arson continued on Tuesday evening in the Chandbagh area of the National Capital, reports said.

Rioters set afire to shops and pelted stones in a fresh wave of violence even as the police used tear gas to disperse the crowds, PTI reported. Paramilitary forces have also been deployed to bring the situation under control.

Rioters also set a bakery and several fruits carts on fire.

A curfew has been imposed in the Maujpur, Jafrabad, Chandbagh, and Karawal Nagar areas of northeast Delhi, India Today reported as violence continued for the third consecutive day over Citizenship Amendment Act protests.

"Delhi Police's Special CP Pravir Ranjan said that curfew has been imposed in violence-affected regions in northeast Delhi," the report said.

Mobs have set fire to vehicles in the Jyoti Nagar area of northeast Delhi on Tuesday evening, reports said.

Meanwhile, reports also said that the Congress is likely to hold a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) over the violence that has gripped the National Capital for the third consecutive day on Tuesday. The meeting is scheduled for 10 am on Wednesday.

The journalist of the JK 24 News channel who was shot at in the Maujpur area of northeast Delhi on Tuesday, Akash has sustained a bullet injury while covering the continuing violence. He has been admitted to the GTB hospital where his condition is serious.

The Delhi Police told the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday that it did not have adequate forces to immediately control the violence that hit parts of Delhi claiming nine lives, including that of a policeman, PTI reported.

The non-availability of adequate forces was conveyed by Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik during his meeting with the top brass of the MHA.

The Delhi Police told the MHA that it did not have adequate forces to control the northeast Delhi violence immediately, which led to the situation getting aggravated.

The toll in the violence that erupted in northeast Delhi has risen to nine, officials of the GTB hospital were quoted as saying by PTI.

Shots were fired in the Kardampuri area of northeast Delhi. News18 reported that firing occured between two groups and three paramilitary buses were rushed to the spot.

There was no police presence in the Khazoori Khas area of northeast Delhi even as violence continued for the third consecutive day over CAA protests. "Houses are being burned to the ground" in the area, CNN-News18 reported.

NDTV anchor and senior journalist Nidhi Razdan confirmed that two reporters of the TV channel were beaten up by pro-CAA protesters. They were only allowed to go after someone told the protesters they were Hindus and not Muslims.

A News18 TV anchor and journalist just reported that independent scribe and JNU alumni Arvind Gunasekaran and another NDTV reporter were beaten up by a mob that was setting a mosque on fire. The journalists were trying to film the act.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said the meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah was positive and all parties have stressed on restoring peace in the national capital. "Meeting with HM Amit Shah was positive and it was decided that all parties will take steps to restore peace," he told reporters after the meeting.

"The police are doing their bit and HM has assured that whatever force is needed, will be provided," Kejriwal said.

The Hauz Rani protestors called the police action on 23 February disproportionate and unprovoked. They said that there was no provocation at any point of the rlly from the people to incite police action.

Delhi High Court agrees to hear on Wednesday plea seeking FIR and arrest of persons involved in violence in North East Delhi over CAA. Filed by Harsh Mander, the plea seeks an FIR against Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Sahib Singh for hate speeches.

Talking after the conclusion of a meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah, Lieutenant General Anil Baijal an Congress and BJP leaders, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that it was decided that parties will rise above politics to make efforts to bring back peace in Delhi. He added that Shah promised that as much police force required in Delhi will be deployed, after concerns were raised about the shortage of security personnel in violence-hit areas.

Incidents of stone-pelting have been reported in Kabir Nagar area near Maujpur metro station, despite the deployment of heavy security after similar reports earlier in the morning. Fire at some shops has not been doused yet, after the tyre market in Gokulpuri area was set ablaze.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an application filed by former Chief information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah and others seeking lodging of FIRs with regard to the recent violence in Delhi over the amended citizenship law. Meanwhile, a plea has been moved in Delhi High Court seeking independent judicial inquiry and compensation for the deceased persons.

Appealing to Delhiites to maintain peace, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said after a meeting with his MLAs and some officials that the violence reported during clashes in north east Delhi on Monday was "unfortunate". Addressing the media ahead of his 12 pm meet with Home Minister Amit Shah, he said that the District Magistrate has been asked to take out peace marches in the affected areas.

DCP (North East) Ved Prakash Surya in an order has prohibited the carrying of weapons, sticks or any other incendiary material that can be used for violence, keep in view the clashes witnessed in Delhi since Sunday. The order, which will be applicable till 24 March, also prohibits the assembly of four or more persons and any kind of demonstration without permission, apart from the distribution of communally sensitive material.

The death toll in the northeast Delhi violence climbed to seven, a senior police official told PTI on Tuesday. A Delhi Police head constable, Ratan Lal, was among the seven killed in the violence that erupted on Monday over the amended citizenship law. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday called a meeting to discuss the prevailing situation in the National Capital after violence in Northeast Delhi over the amended citizenship law. Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and representatives of different political parties were invited for the meeting.

Till Monday, authorities had said at least four people, including Lal, were killed in the violence. They said that the death toll has increased to seven on Tuesday.

The home minister has convened a meeting to discuss the current situation in Delhi, a Home Ministry official said. The move came after the home minister reviewed the law and order situation in the national capital on Monday night as violence rocked Northeast Delhi.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called an urgent meeting of AAP MLAs at his residence at 10.30 am. The Fire Director of northeast Delhi told ANI that 45 fire calls were received between Monday and 3 am on Tuesday. Three firemen were injured and one fire tender was set ablaze.

Fresh incidents of stone-pelting were reported in Brahmpuri and Maujpur on Tuesday morning. Home minister Amit Shah held a late-night meeting in Delhi on Monday after clashes were reported in many parts of Delhi, including Chand Bagh, Bhajanpura and Maujpur. The meeting that started at 10 pm and concluded post-midnight was attended by the Delhi Commissioner of Police, Home Secretary, IB chief and other senior officials.

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 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 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. However, sporadic clashes continued late into the night in Maujpur and other areas.

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 civilians succumbed to injuries in the clashes, a Delhi government official said, adding 50 people with injuries had come to the hospital for treatment. 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.

However, Delhi minister and Babarpur MLA Gopal Rai tweeted that rioting was continuing at night in his constituency. "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," Sisodia tweeted at around 10 pm.

Delhi government ordered the closure of all private and government schools in Northeast Delhi district will remain closed on Tuesday in the wake of the violence. A protestor fired multiple rounds in the air as a policeman was seen trying to stop him. The man is yet to be identified.

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. 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 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.

Violence had occurred on Sunday also over the amended citizenship law near Jaffrabad over blocking off 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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 19:43:47|Editor: huaxia

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Iraqi people are seen wearing masks on street in Baghdad, Iraq, on Feb. 25, 2020. Iraq announced four new cases of novel coronavirus disease in the country's northern province of Kirkuk on Tuesday, bringing the total number in Iraq to five. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

BAGHDAD, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iraq announced four new cases of novel coronavirus disease in the country's northern province of Kirkuk on Tuesday, bringing the total number in Iraq to five.

A statement by the Iraqi Health Ministry said it has registered four new cases of coronavirus in an Iraqi family who paid a visit to neighboring Iran.

The family members were tested positive after applying the quarantine measures in accordance with the international procedures, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, the ministry said in another statement that the Health Minister Jaafar Allawi convened a meeting for a committee to follow up the coronavirus outbreak, and decided to form crisis teams in each province to monitor the implementation of health measures.

The statement also said that the committee decided to prevent gatherings in all parts of Najaf and suspend classes in the provincial schools and universities for 10 days, as well as prevent the travel to and from Najaf, some 160 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, which had witnessed the first case of COVID-19 in the country.

The committee also urged Iraqis to reduce the travel between the Iraqi provinces as much as possible except for necessity, and advised not to hold conferences, celebrations or unnecessary gatherings in all the country, the statement added.

The ministry announced on Monday the first case of an Iranian student learning religious studies in the city of Najaf.

The infected was one of the Iranians who entered Iraq before an earlier decision of the Iraqi authorities to restrict the entry of Iranian citizens on airports and border crossings.

On Feb. 20, the Iraqi authorities suspended the flights of the Iraqi Airways with Iran and suspended granting visas to the Iranian citizens directly on the border crossings after the news that a number of Iranians have been infected with COVID-19.
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BitLaunch, the anonymous VPS and Bitcoin VPS provider, announced today the launch of 3 new datacenter locations in Los Angeles, US, Amsterdam, NL, and London, UK. BitLaunch has been growing rapidly  with thousands of registered customers globally  by offering straight-forward on-demand cloud computing in exchange for cryptocurrency.

By accepting cryptocurrency as payment, BitLaunch allows people worldwide to utilize cloud computing, funded via cryptocurrency, eliminating barriers associated with traditional fiat payment systems. As well as the benefit of enhanced privacy, this facilitates access to best-in-class cloud computing resources to a large number of large developing ecosystems where traditional payment systems do not work.

The new datacenter locations feature fast KVM, SSD-enabled Windows and Linux cloud servers that are billed on-demand on an hourly basis.

"These new datacenter locations represent our ongoing commitment to providing our customers with the value, support, quality, privacy and availability we that sets our service apart  no matter where they are in the world," said Ari Jalava, COO.

Alongside these new datacenter locations, BitLaunch is releasing a number of "one-click" privacy focused applications such as WireGuard: A fast, modern, secure VPN tunnel, OpenVPN, Shadowsocks and ShadowsocksR applications for fast, easy and secure self-hosted set up.

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Choosing a company like BitLaunch grants you the freedom that comes with decentralized technology. You're no longer at the mercy of a bank or other single entity when it comes to making timely payments. You enjoy elevated levels of anonymity, privacy, and security as a result. BitLaunch users also get the peace of mind that comes with knowing they're supporting the development of an Internet that isn't subject to the interference of any bank, government, or single authority. Interested parties can join the movement and acquire their own services through BitLaunch today.

To learn more about BitLaunch visit https://bitlaunch.io/ and to learn more on the benefits of anonymous VPS hosting visit https://bitlaunch.io/blog/why-buy-vps-hosting-with-bitcoin/. For media inquiries please contact Ari Jalava at (888) 455-6558 or [email protected]

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Tuesday that his office is taking part in a bipartisan, 39-state investigation into e-cigarette company Juul Labs, whose products are popular among teens.

Paxton's office said the investigation was prompted by evidence that Juul Labs misrepresented the health risks associated with its products and promoted them to children who are not of legal age to purchase tobacco products.

Other leading states include Connecticut, Florida, Nevada and Oregon.

I am pleased to be working alongside other states to determine whether any of Juuls statements or business practices misled or otherwise harmed consumers, Paxton said in a statement. Protecting Texans from deceptive business practices is a high priority for my office, and I am committed to holding companies accountable for the quality, effects, and marketing of their products.

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said the investigation will look into the companys marketing and sales practices.

We are also looking at claims made by Juul regarding nicotine content and statements they have made regarding the risks, safety and effectiveness as a smoking cessation tool, Tong said. I will not prejudge where this investigation will lead, but we will follow every fact and are prepared to take strong action in conjunction with states across the nation to protect public health.

For subscribers: Texas raises age for buying tobacco, e-cigarettes to 21

The FDA and a congressional panel have ongoing investigations into whether the companys early marketing efforts  which included online influencers and product giveaways  deliberately targeted minors.

Austin Finan, a spokesman for Juul, said in a statement that the company has made changes to its sales and marketing plans in response to concerns, as it tries to earn the trust of society.

As part of that process in the U.S., we are preparing comprehensive and scientifically rigorous Premarket Tobacco Product Applications, stopped the sale of flavored pods other than tobacco and menthol in November, halted our television, print and digital product advertising, implemented a $1 billion restructuring plan, and support the administrations final flavor policy, Finan said. Our customer base is the worlds one billion adult smokers and we do not intend to attract underage users.

In June, Texas passed a law raising the minimum age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21. In December, President Donald Trump signed federal legislation doing the same.

For subcribers: Texas AG to lead multi-state antitrust investigation into Google

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said underage vaping has become an epidemic across the country.

I cannot sit on the sidelines while this public health epidemic grows, and our next generation becomes addicted to nicotine, Moody said.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford added: Preying on children and those looking for help to quit smoking is one of the most despicable examples of risking peoples lives for corporate profit.

Nine attorneys general have previously announced lawsuits against the company, most alleging that the company adopted the playbook of Big Tobacco by luring teens with youth-oriented marketing while failing to stop underage sales.

Earlier this month Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey sued the company, citing company records to allege that Juul bought advertisements on websites designed for teens and children, including Seventeen.com, Nickjr.com and Cartoonnetwork.com.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands before their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, on Feb. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

US and India See Relations Strengthened During Official Visit

President Donald Trump concluded his two-day trip to India on Feb. 25 after an extravagant reception and signing of a slew of important defense and economic deals. Indian analysts said the trip was mutually beneficial, and that the IndoU.S. strategic ties will endure across party lines.

During a joint press conference on Feb. 25, Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.

This relationship is the most important partnership of the 21st century. And therefore, today, President Trump and I have taken a decision to raise our partnership to the level of a comprehensive global strategic partnership, said Modi.

Aparna Pande, research fellow and director of the India Initiative at the Washington-based Hudson Institute, told The Epoch Times that this means upgrading the already existing partnership.

A joint statement released by the White House on Feb. 25 said the partnership is anchored in mutual trust, shared interests, goodwill, and robust engagement of their citizens.

Pande said this is the most important outcome of Trumps visit and upgrades IndiaU.S. strategic relationship.

President Donald Trump smiles while addressing the Namaste Trump rally at Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India, on Feb. 24, 2020. (Money Sharma/AFP via Getty Images)

Productive Exchange

Modi said the two sides had a productive exchange on defense and security, strategic energy partnership, technology cooperation, global connectivity, trade relations, and people-to-people ties.

The important deals signed on Feb. 25 include American exports of liquefied natural gas and the sales of U.S.-made military helicopters.

Earlier today, we expanded our defense cooperation with agreements for India to purchase more than $3 billion of advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo helicoptersthe finest in the world, said Trump.

These deals will enhance our joint defense capabilities as our militaries continue to train and operate side-by-side.

Modi highlighted that the United States has become an important source of oil and natural gas for India and that the energy trade volume in the past four years has reached $20 billion. Trump said that since he became president, high-quality energy exports to India have increased by 500 percent.

Trump also talked about the consensus between India and the United States on protecting citizens from radical Islamic terrorism.

Pande welcomed the defense and economic deals and the joint statements by both leaders, and suggested that more are coming.

Great visit on optics, discussions, and defense. The energy and defense deals exemplify the strong relationship, and many more such deals in both areas are expected in coming months, she said.

Trump also talked about increasing U.S. exports to India and said general exports have increased by 60 percent since he took office.

New Delhi Television reports that while talking about the trade deal, Trump complained about the high tariffs in India.

Relationship with India is magnificentbut deficit is 24 billion. They (the Indian government) have high tariffs  too high. You cant do that, he said.

A comprehensive trade deal between the two countries still had not been reached, but Trump expressed optimism about something in the future.

Our teams have made tremendous progress on a comprehensive trade agreement, and Im optimistic we can reach a deal that will be of great importance to both countries, he said.

President Donald Trump (R) and Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi wave at the crowd during the Namaste Trump rally at Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India, on Feb. 24, 2020. (Money Sharma/AFP via Getty Images)

Strategic Partnership in Indo-Pacific

Trump stressed strategic convergence for a free and open Indo-Pacific and talked about revitalizing the quadrilateral alliance between the United States, India, Australia, and Japan.

Since I took office, we have held the first Quad ministerial meetingI guess you would call it a meeting, but it seems like so much more than thatand expanded cooperation on counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and maritime security to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific, he said.

Pande said the quadrilateral alliance will boost Indias defense and military capability. Every such grouping that boosts Indias relations with partners and allies in Asia is useful, she said.

The joint statement mentioned that the two countries reached a strategic convergence for a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

It said the United States appreciates India as a net provider of security in the region and for its humanitarian and development assistance.

Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, President Donald Trump, and First Lady Melania Trump at Motera Stadium, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on Feb. 24, 2020. (Press Bureau of India)

Experts: Modi Needs Trump

Indian experts told The Epoch Times that Trump visited India when the politics inside the country are deeply divided, but the relationship between the two countries is of strategic importance and is here to last, irrespective of who is in power.

Chandra Mishra, an election strategist who works with various political parties across India, said Trumps visit will help support Modis political cause.

After the clean sweep in 2019 general elections, Modi is continuously losing the state elections. Modi wants to show his international clout to his home audience, specifically to his vote bank, so that larger-than-life image of Modi remains intact, said Mishra.

He said that even the situation in Indias neighborhood makes Trumps first trip to India significant.

Modi needs Trump very badly at this time, specifically when there are so many issues in India related to its neighbors, like abolition of 370, CAA, NRC, Rohingyas, Bangladeshi infiltrationwhere China is having a very strong strategic say, be it in the case of Pakistan, Rohingyas, or Bangladeshi infiltration, Mishra said.

He said the opposition parties inside India have been not very enthusiastic about Trumps visit, but thats because of internal politics and has nothing to do with the policies between the two partner nations.

Its a compulsion to be pro-USA in todays world for India, irrespective of whichever party comes to power, except for the communists, who have little chance, he said.

S. Chandrasekharan, director of the India-based South Asia Analysis Group, told The Epoch Times that Trumps visit is a personal victory for Modi, and the two leaders have seemed to hit off well.

Chandrasekharan said a change in the IndoU.S. strategic partnership that Trump and Modi have set up wont change, regardless of who is in power.

Not drastically, unless the [National] Congress [main opposition party] comes to power with substantial backing of the leftists, particularly the CPIM (Communist Party of IndiaMarxist), but the latter may not happen, he said.
NEW DELHI: A man wearing a red T-shirt who opened fire at police personnel during violence which broke out after clashes between the Citizenship Amendment Act supporters and protesters in North East Delhi has been identified as Shahrukh.

In a press conference late on Monday, the Delhi Police said that they have arrested the man in red T-shirt who opened fire at the cops.

As of now, at least 76 people were injured in the violence that broke out following clashes between Citizenship Amendment Act and anti-CAA protesters in the national capital on Monday. In view of the situation, Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed at ten locations in North-East district of Delhi. Heavy police deployment has been made in most sensitive areas like Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar.

Several trains are being terminated at the Welcome metro station as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, the government sources on Tuesday (February 25, 2020) said that the violence appears to have been orchestrated to tarnish President Donald Trumps ongoing visit to the country.



Four persons, including three civilians and one Head Constable of Delhi Police, lost their lives in the clashes 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. 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 the police, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Amit Sharma also sustained injuries in the clashes, which rocked parts of Gokulpuri area.

Later, 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 said.

According to top placed sources in the Home Ministry, the Home Minister himself took charge to control the situation in the capital and called for an urgent meeting late on Monday during which he instructed Home Secretary AK Bhalla, Delhi LG Anil Baijal and Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik ''to control the situation as soon as possible.

Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal 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.

Union Home Secretary informed that the agencies are keeping a close watch on the situation and the necessary arrangements have been done to restore peace in the area.

Several top political leaders cutting across the party lines have appealed to maintain peace and not exacerbate communal tensions in these disturbing times.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi said, "I appeal to the people of Delhi to maintain communal harmony and defeat the ill intentions of forces trying to divide India on the basis of religion."
A Kazakh activist who was repeatedly detained for participating in and calling for peaceful demonstrations has died in jail, police said Tuesday.

Dulat Agadil, 42, was detained at his home and taken to a jail in the capital Nur-Sultan Monday night on charges of disrespecting and insulting court officials, a police statement said, without providing further details of the charges.

Video footage shared on social media showed men in plainclothes apprehending a half-dressed Agadil before leading him out of his flat towards a black vehicle.

The police statement said Agadil was in a "drunken state" at the time and that there were "no injuries on the man's body".

The statement attributed Agadil's death to heart failure and said his cellmates had testified that Agadil had not been harmed while in the prison.

Agadil was most recently detained after opposition groups staged unsanctioned rallies on Saturday.

Police said 53 people were detained across the country as they tried to hold rallies without official permission, 10 of whom were held and charged with administrative offences.

An AFP correspondent saw more than a hundred detentions in Kazakhstan's largest city Almaty alone.

Activists also rallied on Tuesday in Nur-Sultan, not far from Agadil's village home, as a delegation from the European Parliament paid a visit to the country.

Agadil gained fame in November last year after he escaped from detention, only to be rearrested two days later.

He spent more than 60 days of last year in administrative detention.

In December, activists reported that he swallowed bolts and nails in protest at being sentenced to 15 days' detention for participating in an unsanctioned rally.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has styled himself as a moderate reformer since taking over as head of state from 79-year-old patron Nursultan Nazarbayev last year.

The former foreign minister has pledged to amend legislation on public assembly, which local rights groups describe as excessively restrictive, and to tackle torture in Kazakhstan's prisons.

However hardliner Nazarbayev, whose reign as president began before the former Soviet republic gained independence, is still widely believed to set policy in the oil-rich country of 18 million.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Haiti's capital was on lockdown Monday after police attacked the army headquarters to demand better working conditions, sparking a gun battle that left two servicemen dead and a dozen wounded.

The main roads through the city were blocked and smaller streets were deserted, leaving the capital cut off from the rest of the country.

In a statement, the Justice Department denounced Sunday's violence, which it said increasingly resembled a "coup attempt" against embattled President Jovenel Moise.

Moise is working on forming a new government, a source close to the country's leader told AFP, noting that it was up to the police to restore order to the streets.

The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti also expressed its "deep concern" over the "serious incidents" on Sunday and urged protesting police officers to avoid any escalation of violence.

Some of the protesting officers went as far as to seize the keys to the UN force's few vehicles and use them to block some roads.

The Haitian National Police Union released a statement asking officers to return home.

Late Sunday, the government said in a statement 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 Carnival," which was scheduled to take place Tuesday, the statement said.

The army said its headquarters was attacked Sunday by 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 during the assault.

He said soldiers had returned fire but did not give any casualty figures, nor could he say how many people were at the army headquarters, near the presidential palace, at the time of the attack.

One of the protesting officers, who had been among five policemen sacked from their jobs, said that at least one of his comrades had been killed and several others wounded in the gun fight with the army.

The Champ de Mars, the area where the clashes broke out Sunday, was still inaccessible a day later. Even guards from the presidential palace -- who normally conduct regular patrols there -- were avoiding it as too dangerous to enter.

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, 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.)
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Not only is somebody going to respond, but they are going to respond quickly.

Thats how Deputy Chief of Quakertown Fire Company Brad Patkochis described the North Hunterdon Fire Alliances Squad 51 program, through which the communities of Quakertown (Franklin Township) as well as High Bridge, Lebanon, Clinton and Annandale are each serviced by the fire companies of all five towns.

Through the program, between four and six firefighters from one of the five departments volunteer from 6 p.m. on Saturday through to 6 a.m. on Sunday on a rotational basis. If there is an emergency that occurs within that timeframe in any one of the five municipalities, firefighters from that town are dispatched to the scene in addition to the Squad 51 volunteers housed at a department in one of the four other neighboring municipalities.

If (Squad 51) is in Clinton Township and the fire is based in High Bridge on a Saturday night, High Bridge (fire department) gets called, but the Clinton Township truck is going to cover any call in those five municipalities. And a lot of times, because (the Clinton Township volunteers) are in the firehouse, theyre going to be there first, Patkochis explained.

According to Patkochis, roughly 75 of the between 140 and 150 firefighters that comprise all five departments have participated in the program, established in July 2017.

Accompanied by firefighters representing the four other towns serviced by Squad 51, Patkochis traveled to Sea Bright on Feb. 16 to discuss the alliances successful execution of the program. A total of 24 people representing several different volunteer fire companies in Monmouth County, including Sea Bright Fire Rescue, attended their presentation.

13 Squad 51 presentation in Sea Bright

In addition to building the retention rate of volunteers as a result of its being a shared obligation," the program has increased the efficiency with which firefighters arrive at incidents in the North Hunterdon area, Patkochis said.

He added that Squad 51 has made it a guarantee that a local first responder will arrive at the scene.

Having people in a firehouse is obviously much quicker than having to count on people coming from home. And the staffing is more sufficient as opposed to the volunteer model of hoping somebody shows up," Patkochis said.

Echoing Patkochis, Lebanon Fire Company Chief Kevin Saharic said that Squad 51 functions to answer the questions of what happens if somebody doesnt answer the call?" as well as "what happens if you have low manpower on a certain night?

You got to remember, people are home, theyre sleeping, theyre doing their chores -- and the pager goes off and they got to stop doing what theyre doing, get in their car, and they got to drive to the firehouse, and get their stuff on, Saharic said. But here you have 4 to 6 guys already in the firehouse at a certain time, after 6 oclock at night to 6 oclock in the morning, and theyre able to get on the truck and get right out the door.

In addition to benefitting the public, the program has also more closely united the members of the five fire departments, according to Saharic.

Everybodys on the same page and everybody works together," Saharic said. We have our own set of ways to do things ... (but) we work so well together and were so close."

Its improving the service, but its also made us so much better outside of this time period," Patkochis echoed. Weve just become better working partners, and its made a better working relationship between all the organizations.

Captain for the Sea Bright Fire Rescue Scott Shanker described the alliances presentation on Feb. 16 as a success, stating that members of his department have already discussed implementing a similar program with four or five different neighboring fire companies as a result of it.

The (presentation) yesterday opened up our eyes to a lot of different obstacles that we thought we would face that it seems that the alliance has already overcome," Shanker said.

Its something thats been long needed in the fire service, with volunteerism declining, the requirements to become a firefighter and maintain your certification ... its hard to get manpower. Looking at what theyve done in Hunterdon County, its revolutionary for us," he added.

Patkochis also recognized the statewide looming crisis created by declining levels of volunteerism within first responding units and exacerbated by a simultaneous increase in call volume. In response to it, the alliance met with leaders from all five municipalities in December of last year in hopes of establishing salaried positions for firefighters to implement Squad 51 program during daytime hours.

We think we could do one thing and spread that obligation of cost amongst a number of different communities and increase the service while keeping the cost to the taxpayers reasonable," Patkochis explained. We think this is something that could sustain and serve our communities moving forward.

Beyond meeting with municipal officials, Saharic said that the alliance continues to apply for grants and consider ways of instituting a stipend program of some sort in order to increase funding for and further expand Squad 51.

Volunteerism is dying, and everybody knows that. But the thing is, when somebody calls, we need to answer the call," Saharic said.

While expressing his eagerness to address the publics expectations that the fire companies do more with less," Patkochis nonetheless emphasized that the creation of Squad 51 remains an achievement in the county.

We thought this would work, and in the last two and a half years we have proven that it will work. And now its just a matter of how do we expand it when that time comes," Patchokis said.

Caroline Fassett can be reached at cfassett@njadvancemedia.com.

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LANSDOWNE  The William Penn School Board Monday night voted unanimously to hire Dr. Eric J. Becoats, assistant superintendent of Philadelphia schools as their new superintendent of schools.

Becoats agreed to a five-year contract that runs from May 2020 to May 18, 2015, at an annual salary of $195,000 per year.

Becoats is replacing current superintendent Jane Ann Harbert, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

School Board President Jennifer Hoff said the board was assisted by the Delaware County Intermediate Unit and conducted a national search for a new superintendent. In addition, a survey was distributed to each municipality in the district, focus groups were held, interviews conducted and numerous meetings took place.

The job of the school board is to select a superintendent and we were very diligent, Hoff said. As a board, we have a lot of faith in Dr. Becoats leadership.

Becoats has served as assistant superintendent of schools in Philadelphia since 2015. He was responsible for developing and implementing a strategic plan to support under-performing schools.

Becoats is a graduate of Lincoln University in Chester County, received his masters in finance from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and his doctorate in education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
BERLIN  A man intentionally drove a car into a crowd at a Carnival parade in a small town in central Germany, injuring around 30 people including children, officials said Monday.

The driver, a 29-year-old German citizen who lived locally, was arrested at the scene in Volkmarsen near Kassel, about 175 miles southwest of Berlin, prosecutors said. He is being investigated on suspicion of attempted homicide.

A spokesman for Frankfurt prosecutors, Alexander Badle, said in a statement that about 30 people were injured. They were taken to surrounding hospitals, some with life-threatening injuries. The suspect was also hurt, said Badle.

The investigation, especially into the circumstances of the crime, continues, he said. In particular, no information can yet be provided about a motive. The investigation is exploring all avenues.

This is a terrible act committed against people who simply wanted to celebrate Carnival, said Peter Beuth, the interior minister for the state of Hesse, where Volkmarsen is located. He declined to comment on reports that a second person was detained following the crash.

Beuth said about a third of those injured were children, who had come to watch the parade and collect candy thats traditionally thrown into the crowds at Carnival celebrations in Germany.

Emergency responders set up a makeshift clinic in a town pharmacy to treat casualties with minor injuries, the regional Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper reported.

Witnesses said the car drove around a barrier blocking off traffic from the parade, according to the paper.

Video from the scene showed a silver Mercedes with local license plates on a sidewalk, its front windshield smashed and hood dented, and its hazard lights blinking. Forensic experts could be seen taking photos and measurements around the crashed car.

The crash came amid the height of Germanys celebration of Carnival, with the biggest parades in Cologne, Duesseldorf and Mainz.

All other Carnival parades in the central state of Hesse were canceled Monday as a precaution.

Hesse state is still reeling from a racist shooting last week in the Frankfurt suburb of Hanau. A 43-year-old man killed nine people with immigrant backgrounds late Wednesday before killing his mother and then himself.

David Rising and Frank Jordans are Associated Press writers.
Saudi Maritime Congress 2020, a top maritime and logistics event held in partnership with Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and Bahri, is set to welcome some of the leading international and local officials in the transport and logistics sector.



Seatrade Maritime, organisers of Saudi Maritime Congress 2020, said that Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, will be delivering the keynote ministerial opening address on Day One (22 March) of the Congress, followed by the keynote address from Lawrence Barchue, assistant secretary-general and director, Department for Member State Audit and Implementation Support, International Maritime Organization (IMO).



Saad bin Abdulaziz Al-Khalb, president, Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani), Esben Poulsson, chairman, International Chamber of Shipping and Abdullah bin Ali Aldubaikhi, chief executive officer of Bahri, will be joining the keynote session panel to share insights and address key issues such as progress update of goals achieved under the Saudi Vision 2030 and opportunities for the domestic and international maritime and logistics companies in the Kingdom.



Day One agenda will also feature panel discussions on trade relationships and the development of the Kingdoms logistics infrastructure.



Day Two (23 March) will provide attendees with the opportunity to join the leading industry experts addressing various topics of importance, including outlook for oil and gas transportation; environmental concerns and alternative solutions for the maritime industry; the Kingdoms workforce and nationalization plans; data and analytics; risk management; and insurance.



Chris Hayman, chairman of Seatrade, said: Saudi Maritime Congress 2020 is intended to update the local and international maritime community with the leading developments and the hottest topics of concern within the Saudi maritime and logistics sector as the country continues to move ahead with the implementation of its goals under Saudi Vision 2030. We are proud to host high-profile local and international speakers who can shed light on the major questions facing the industry.



The two-day event in Dammam, Saudi Arabia expects to connect over 2,000 attendees this year and comprises both a conference and exhibition, which are free to attend for all visitors.  TradeArabia News Service
The Hamburg state election on Sunday gave a distorted expression to the widespread opposition to right-wing extremism in Germany. Four days after a right-wing terrorist attack claimed nine lives in Hanau, the Christian Democrats (CDU) and Free Democrats (FDP), the parties that formed an alliance with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to elect the minister president in Thuringia, lost large numbers of votes.

The Christian Democratic Union was hit hardest, recording its second worst state election result in history, with just 11.2 percent of the vote. The only time the party received a lower percentage of the vote was in Bremen in 1951, when it secured 9.1 percent of the ballots. Compared to its 2016 result of 15.9 percent, which was its worst ever in Hamburg until Sunday, the CDU lost another 4.7 percentage points. The CDUs best result ever came in 2004, when the party won 47.2 percent.

The CDU federal leadership responded to the electoral debacle Monday by calling an extraordinary party congress for 25 April to choose a successor to outgoing federal party leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. The new CDU leader is likely to become the candidate to replace Angela Merkel as chancellor in 2021 at the latest.

The Free Democrats lost 2.4 percentage points, meaning the party narrowly missed out on being represented in the new state senate. With 5.3 percent of the vote, the AfD just made it over the 5 percent hurdle for representation in the senate. In 2015, the AfD took 6.1 percent.

The Social Democrats (SPD) emerged as the strongest party, with 39 percent of the vote. But with a 6.6 percentage point decline in its vote, the SPD suffered the biggest drop of any party. Nonetheless, it celebrated the result as a victory. Polls several months ago had projected much larger losses, and the SPD at the federal level is currently polling at just 14 percent.

The biggest winners were the Greens, who increased their vote from 12.3 percent to 24.2 percent. The Left Party also recorded a slight increase of 0.6 percentage points, finishing with 9.1 percent of the vote. Voter turnout was relatively low at 63.3 percent, but this was still a significant increase from 2015, when just 56.5 percent of eligible voters went to the polls.

The Greens were able to benefit from being perceived as opponents of the AfD, even though they implement a similarly right-wing policy. Among first-time voters, aged 16 to 21, the Greens were by far the strongest party, finishing with 35 percent, compared to the SPDs 24 percent and the Left Partys 12 percent. Among this group, the AfD received just 3 percent.

The Greens also benefited from the urgency of the climate change issue. Two days prior to the election, Fridays for Future organised a large demonstration attended by Greta Thunberg from Sweden. The police estimated the crowd at 20,000, while the organizers said 60,000 attended.

By contrast, the SPD is largely a party of retirees. It obtained its best result, 59 percent, among voters over the age of 70.

Hamburg has long been considered an SPD stronghold. Since the end of World War II, the SPD has always held the position of mayor, apart from 1953-1957 and 2001-2011. The Hamburg SPD was typically more right-wing than the federal party and enjoyed the backing of the citys bourgeoisie.

The partys dominant figure for many years was Helmut Schmidt, who as German chancellor in 1975 initiated the turn towards gutting public spending and social services that has continued until today, and enforced NATOs decision to station nuclear-capable intercontinental missiles in Germany in the face of widespread opposition in 1979.

Peter Tschentscher, the outgoing and incoming mayor, took over the post two years ago from Olaf Scholz, who joined the federal grand coalition government as finance minister and vice chancellor and has implemented the same strict austerity agenda as that imposed by his predecessor Wolfgang Schauble (CDU) ever since.

Scholz ordered a ruthless police crackdown against anti-G20 protesters in July 2017 and initiated a European-wide campaign against alleged left-wing extremists, which put several young people behind bars for acts of petty crime.

The Greens, who have governed in a coalition with the SPD over the past five years, supported all of this. Deputy Mayor Katharina Fegebank, who led the Green Partys campaign, explicitly endorsed the police intervention to impose the return of AfD founder Berndt Lucke to Hamburg University in the face of student resistance. She condemned the student protests against Lucke as injustice in its purest form.

The Greens are a party of the privileged middle class. The party gained most in well-off inner city neighbourhoods, as well as some districts associated with alternative lifestyle milieus. In some wealthy areas they beat the SPD to become the strongest party. However, they won little support among workers and poorer sections of the population.

The Greens reputation as an environmentally friendly, democratic party is a myth. In the state of Hesse, where the terrorist attack in Hanau and the murder of Kassel District President Walter Lubcke took place, and where neo-Nazi groups are closely intertwined with the intelligence service, the Greens have governed in a coalition with the CDU for five years and helped conceal the right-wing conspiracy within the state.

The defeat for the CDU, the FDP and the AfD in Hamburg will not change the course of their politics. The SPD and Greens plan to continue their alliance, which has carried out law-and-order initiatives that have strengthened the right-wing conspiracy in the state apparatus and given succour to the AfD.
The flood control dam near the Fox Hill condominiums is being eyed for possible removal by federal and state officials, and the town is studying the potential effect on downstream properties at a time when concerns about flooding appear to be increasing due to climate change.

A meeting on the future of the dam, with various courses of action discussed and public comment taken, is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. in the Ridgefield Recreation Centers Charter Oak Room. (The snow date is March 5 at 5:30 p.m. in the same place.)

Currently, planning activities and analyses suggest the best course of action for this site may be dam removal with selective local floodproofing, says a public notice on the meeting from the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). This alternative will be presented in detail.

We have a public hearing at Parks and Rec. Were asking everyone to be there, First Selectman Rudy Marconi said.

Let the public comment on it, he said. There may be things that come up that we havent thought of yet.

At the meeting different potential courses of action concerning the dam will be presented by officials from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

Alternatives

A pubic notice from the NRCS offers some background:

The dam does not meet current NRCS design criteria and performance standards and is eligible for the NRCS Watershed Resource Program, the notice says.

To qualify for partial funding for rehabilitation improvement through the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (Public Law 83-566), NRCS and the DEEP first must develop a Supplemental Watershed Plan  Environmental Assessment (EA) with input from stakeholders and the public.

The plan evaluates the social, economic and environmental impacts for each of the alternatives being considered including: no federal action, decommissioning (dam removal), structural rehabilitation, and non-structural measures.

Planning activities will determine the best rehabilitation alternative that meets both current Connecticut Dam Safety Regulations and NRCS planning policy, design criteria and performance standards.

It is in the next sentence that the notice suggests dam removal may be the best course of action.

As a flood control dam, the structure doesnt normally hold back much water  its designed to let normal flows go through. But in times of heavy rain, it backs up a considerable pool of water, which can sometimes be seen innundating a portion of Farmingville Road near Ligis Way.

Calculations review

Taking the dam down is not yet a foregone conclusion, according to Marconi.

Their recommendation is that, but they need the cooperation of both the state and the local municipality, in this case Ridgefield, he said.

What we are doing now, were verifying all of the calculations that were done, indicating water levels as a result of removal of the dam  downstream water levels, the impact downstream, Marconi said. And the biggest question is: Will it now require flood insurance for any of those properties?

The decision will have a fiscal aspect, but that may not be the greatest concern  at least from the town perspective.

The cost is zero to the town, Marconi said. The state has to pay one third and the federal government pays two thirds. And I know the state is concerned about the financial impact.

Were always concerned about financial impact, he added.

But there are other considerations that would play into a decision on whether to remove the dam, or try to renovate and improve it.

In this case, one has to realize that there are those who believe in climate change and those who dont  so Im not going to debate that, Marconi said. But I dont think theres any argument that the storm pattern and intensity of the storms we get today have changed, and that the guidelines for flooding are no longer accurate today  that the 100-year flood will occur much more frequently.

Some people are forecasting that the 100-year flood will occur every year, at least once a year, he added.

So, looking into the effects of removing a flood control dam should be interesting.

This is what theyre recommendation. It doesnt mean were going to OK it, Marconi said. But Im as curious as anyone about their information. Well review it and make a decision sometime in the future. And that would involve the State of Connecticut as well.
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) London  Tue, February 25, 2020 19:07 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206690787 2 World Scotland,parliament,policy,sanitary-product,Women Free

The Scottish parliament on Tuesday is due to approve plans to make sanitary products freely available to all women - the first nation in the world to do so.

The legislation would make products such as tampons and sanitary pads free for all women in Scotland, available at designated public places such as community centers, youth clubs and pharmacies.

The plan is expected to pass its first vote in the devolved Scottish parliament on Tuesday.

The Period Products (Free Provision) Scotland Bill was proposed by Scottish lawmaker Monica Lennon, who first submitted a draft proposal in 2017. The cost is expected to be around 24.1 million pounds (US$31.24 million).

"These are not luxury items. They are indeed essential and no one in Scotland should have to go without period products," Lennon said, adding that the bill was about "period dignity".

"We are changing the culture and it's really exciting that other countries right around the world are watching very closely to see what we do," she said.

A consultation document proposed modelling the scheme on the card-based system for free condoms, where users register for a free card or voucher to exchange for the products.

Scotland in 2018 was the first government in the world to provide free sanitary products in schools, colleges and universities.

Sanitary products in the United Kingdom are currently taxed at 5% - the so-called "tampon tax". Former Prime Minister David Cameron's government said it wanted to end the unpopular tax but that its hands were tied by European Union rules which set tax rates for certain products.

The government announced it would drop the tax in 2016, but this has not happened yet, the issue having been pushed to the sidelines during the Brexit process.

There is no tax on period products in Ireland, Canada, Australia, Kenya, India, Columbia, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Nigeria, Uganda, Lebanon and Trinidad and Tobago, the Scottish government's briefing on the bill said.
A Cullman County judge who retired last week amid an ethics complaint was found guilty of the charges Monday by the Alabama Court of the Judiciary.

Kim Chaney, who served as a Cullman County Circuit Court judge from 1993 until his Feb. 15 retirement, was accused in a Judicial Inquiry Commission complaint of appointing his son, attorney Alex Chaney, to more than 200 indigent cases from August 2015 to July 2017 and presiding over some of those cases. Alex Chaney netted $105,000 from the appointments "exclusive of any monies paid pursuant to an indigent-defense contract, the commissions complaint said.

On Monday, the commission and Kim Chaney announced an agreement in which the Alabama Court of the Judiciary would find the ex-judge guilty of the allegations in the complaint and order him to pay $3,700 for the costs in prosecuting him.

Kim Chaney Deal by hkoplowitz on Scribd

The Court of the Judiciary accepted the deal Monday.

During the time of the allegations, Chaney was also a member of the commission. The body said he should have been disqualified from appointing his son to the indigent cases.
Weve all heard of mid-life crises, but this story is beyond ridiculous.



Located on the eastern coast of New Zealands north island, Pauanui beach is one of the southern hemispheres favourite surfing hotspots - many tourists show up every year to ride its formidable waves and relax at its many beach resorts.

Relaxing, however, was definitely not on the agenda for Nick Minogue, 60, of Auckland. The surfer decided to spend a day carving up the waves - only to be attacked by a fearsome great white shark earlier last Saturday.



 Facebook/Nick Minogue

The apex predator first chomped on Nicks arm, and then took a bite of his surfboard, latching on with lunch on its mind.



Fortunately for himself, Nick suddenly recalled that sharks are vulnerable to being struck in the eye and nose and proceeded to batter away at the beast while fighting for his life.

Speaking with the New Zealand Herald, Nick explained how he managed to whack the predator in the eye on the second attempt:

So, I actually shouted at it F*ck off! and went to punch it in the eye and missed. Then I pulled my fist back and shouted F*ck off! again and got it right smack bang in the eye. Its 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.

Nick found a nearby surfer (who came all the way from Germany) about 50 metres away from where he was attacked, and the pair teamed up to paddle back to shore and away from the shark.

It was a grey shark with a white bottom, probably a great white, said Nick. It was a big head and jaw. I kind of sat up in shock and decided to hit it. That was the only thing to do. Later on, shark expert Riley Elliott explained that the teeth marks on Nicks board, as well as his description of the animal, appeared to be consistent with a three metre-long great white shark.

 Reuters

While this isnt exactly huge for a great white (some of which can reach beyond 6 metres in length and weight over 2.5 tons), the species is famous for several reasons - from being Steven Spielbergs movie monster of choice in 1975s Jaws to possessing a host of incredible biological tools that keep it firmly at the top of the oceanic food chain.



Not only do they have three rows of rapidly regrowing, saw-like teeth - great whites possess unique organs that allow them to sense electromagnetic fields around them, meaning that they can hunt down even immobile prey by detecting their heartbeats.



Fortunately for Nick, his wetsuit seems to have saved him from the worst possible scenario.



There was blood dripping out the sleeve of my wetsuit, he said. Thankfully it wasnt too deep. Two teeth put holes in my wetsuit but only one punctured the skin. Ive still got an arm and fingers, it could have been a lot worse.
Delhi Cabinet Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam on Tuesday urged people to maintain peace and said that violence has never benefitted anyone.

"Nobody is going to benefit from this. No one has ever benefited from violence," Gautam told ANI here while appealing to people to maintain peace.

Gautam along with other AAP MLAs, including Sanjeev Jha and Prahlad Singh Sawhney attended a meeting at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence.

"Whatever is happening in North-East Delhi is condemnable. We were receiving calls from people. After that, we went to meet the Lieutenant Governor. We waited for four hours to meet him. I urge the people to hold talks peacefully," Jha said.

Sawhney also appealed to all to maintain peace.

After the meeting, Kejriwal told media persons, "I appeal to all Delhites to maintain peace. We are worried about the violence in North-East Delhi. Several policemen and civilians were injured and some lost their lives. Several houses were set ablaze and shops were damaged. It is very unfortunate."

"MLAs of the affected areas informed me that there is a severe shortage of police force and police can't take action till they receive orders from the top. I have also asked District Magistrates (DMs) to take out peace march with police in these areas," he added.

Protests related to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) took a violent turn at various places in North-East District of Delhi on Monday in which seven people, including one police head constable, lost their lives and 105 got injured in the clashes.

Delhi Police stated that the "situation is very tense".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As violent clashes over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) continued for the third straight day in several areas of North East Delhi on Tuesday (February 25), the Delhi Police issued shoot-at-sight order in some violent-hit areas to bring situation under control.

The death toll due to clashes between the pro-CAA and anti-CAA groups jumped to 13 on Tuesday and the tense situation forced the CBSE to postpone the exams, scheduled for Wednesday (February 26), at all centres in North East Delhi. Over 150 people have got injured in the riots which have affected Maujpur, Jaffrabad, Bhajanpura, Yamuna Vihar, Chand Bagh and Gokalpuri in North East Delhi.

Police and RAF personnel conducted a flag-march in the Khajuri Khas area where massive violence and arson were reported on Tuesday. Section 144 has been imposed in the area following the incidents of violence. Special Commissioner of Delhi Police Satish Golcha visited the area and said police will remain there till the situation comes under control.

Speaking to reporters he said, "We will be detaining miscreants and taking legal action against them. People should cooperate with us to maintain peace. We are here till the situation normalises. Else we will deploy more forces."

Meanwhile, Delhi Commissioner of Police, Amulya Patnaik, rejected reports of lack of adequate forces to tackle the situation on ground. "Some news agency ran the news that Delhi Police said that it has not got adequate forces from MHA, this information is wrong. MHA is continually supporting us and we have adequate forces. Delhi police denies this completely," he said.

Paramilitary forces have been deployed in the violence-hit areas to bring the situation under control. The Centre has appointed IPS officer S N Shrivastava as the new Delhi Police Special Commissioner (Law and Order) after repatriating him from the CRPF to take control of the violence in the national capital.

Live TV

Earlier on Tuesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened a high-level meeting with Delhi LG Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Commissioner of Police Amulya Patnaik. During the meeting, the leaders resolved to take steps to restore peace in the violence-hit areas. It was also decided that workers of political parties should join hands to restore peace in the city and the local leaders should reactivate peace committees in their respective areas to maintain peace. The meeting was also attended by Congress leader Subhash Chopra, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari and BJP MLA Ramvir Bidhuri.

Talking to the media after the meeting, CM Kejriwal said that the meeting was positive and Union Minister Shah has assured them that adequate police force would be deployed in the violence-hit areas to maintain law and order. The Home Minister had called a meeting today, it was a positive one. It was decided that all the political parties will ensure that peace returns to our city, he said.

The area had been witnessing violent clashes since Sunday (February 23) when a rally by BJP leader Kapil Mishra against the anti-CAA protesters was followed by incidences of stone-pelting between the two groups.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia Publishes an Article in The Washington Times - GeorgianJournal
Some of the teens' parents boast on social media, egging on criminal behaviour

Kids as young as 12 have filmed themselves reaching speeds of up to 190km/h

The 'northside' versus 'southside' gangs compete for infamy on social media

Teenage gangs are wreaking havoc in Australia attacking strangers, stealing cars and posting their crimes on social media.

Brisbane's 'northside' versus 'southside' gang rivalry has seen two groups of youths compete for infamy on social media.

Kids as young as 12 have filmed themselves reaching speeds of up to 214km/h on the city's streets.

Other videos show teenagers engaging in street brawls in broad daylight, smoking bongs, posing with guns and drag-racing down busy highways.

Kids as young as 12 have filmed themselves reaching speeds of up to 214km/h on Brisbane's streets

In a video posted last week, two northside gang members filmed themselves being cornered by police.

The passenger could be heard telling the driver to 'ram' the police car.

And some of the teens' parents are often found to be egging on their criminal behaviour.

The mother of 14-year-old Jacob Hopkins, who died last May when an alleged stolen car he was in slammed into traffic lights, regularly posts photos of herself posing with northside gang members.

Jacob's mother Kylie Stonebridge has also proudly boasted about being a 'northside Mumzy' on social media.

Queensland MP Michael Hart has called for the government to bring back breach of parole offences for youths to crack down on teen criminal activity.

'They wear it as a badge of honour that they've been to court, they haven't been convicted , they're back on the streets and they go out and do something again,' he told A Current Affair.

The mother of 14-year-old Jacob Hopkins, who died last May when an alleged stolen car he was in slammed into traffic lights, regularly posts photos of herself posing with northside gang members

Jacob's mother Kylie Stonebridge has also proudly boasted about being a 'northside Mumzy' on social media

Youth Development Foundation founder Gerry Lister said teenagers are trying to outdo one another, and putting their lives at risk in the process.

'I don't know if they're on drugs or if they are affected by anything else, but to be 12, 13, 14, 15 to even consider driving like that. There's no thought. There's no thought process to their actions at all,' she said.

'We need to go into families' [homes] and mentor mum and dad about how to get your 12-year-old daughter to understand it's not okay to get in a stolen car.'

Teen gang culture is also prevalent in Melbourne, where at least eight youth gangs terrorise shopping centres.

They are also running wild in regional areas, including Cairns and Townsville.

Five cars were stolen in the Gold Coast in a single night last week. Police caught a 12-year-old boy driving one of them with six of his friends packed inside.

On Australia Day, Kane Alexanderson, 18, was stabbed to death during a brawl at the iStay River City hotel on Brisbane's Albert St.

Jack Beasley, 17, was fatally stabbed in the chest and back after a fight broke out between two groups in Surfers Paradise last December.

A 15-year-old boy was charged with his murder.
Tamil actress Rekha's shocking revelation about the "unplanned kiss" by actor Kamal Haasan in filmmaker K. Balachander's 1986 film Punnagai Mannan has raised a storm on social media. Many netizens have said that the veteran superstar Kamal Haasan should apologise to the actress for the kiss that, she added, was filmed on her without her consent when she was just 16.

"I've said this a hundred times. They shot the scene without me knowing about it. People ask me the same question and I'm fed up of answering it," Rekha told The News Minute, insisting Kamal Haasan and the late Tamil cinema doyen Balachander tricked her into doing the scene.

She added that kiss helped the film in totality to bring out certain needed emotions.

"The kiss didn't look ugly or aggressive on-screen. There was a need for it, but I was a very young girl and I didn't know about it. He (director K Balachander) said, 'Kamal, close your eyes! You remember what I told you, right?' and Kamal said that he did. Then we had to jump when he said 1, 2, 3... we kissed and then jumped. It was only when I watched it in theatres that I realised it had such a huge impact," she said.

Rekha was only 16 when she did the film after completing Class 10. She also talked about being told that the Censor Board would not approve of the kiss.

She claimed, "They continued after that shot also, we had a location shift. Suresh Krissna and Vasanth were the associate directors, and I told them I wasn't informed about the kiss and that I wouldn't have agreed to it. But they told me to think of it as a big king kissing a small child. They told me it wouldn't be passed by the Censor. I asked them what the Censor was!"

Rekha says nobody believes her when she says the kiss happened without her consent and that Kamal Haasan is aware of it.

She said: "Only he and the unit that was there can confirm what I've said. Balachander sir is no more. Only those who were there at the shoot know that the kiss happened without my consent."

According to the portal, she also said that neither Balachander nor Kamal Haasan apologised to her after the scene.

"Why would they apologise? The film was a superhit! I got many films after that, too, with Ramarajan and Ilaiyaraaja, like Namma Ooru Pattukaran. We were all so busy in those days, going from one schedule to another," Rekha recalled.

She added that she would never have agreed to kiss if she was aware of the same in advance.

Rekha never demanded an apology from either Kamal Haasan or the late Balachander for the incident but, as the news spread, sections of social media said the actor should say sorry, reports sify.com.

"I don't know about getting an apology but it is a fact that I wouldn't have said yes to the kiss at that time. They just did the scene suddenly. It's over now and I don't want to revisit it," said Rekha.

Follow @News18Movies for more
A Belgian carnival parade featuring caricatures of Jews for the second year in a row has been defended as just fun by a spokesperson for the citys mayor.

The Aalst Carnival parade, which was denounced as hateful by Israels foreign minister, went ahead on Sunday despite accusations of antisemitism and racism last year over depictions of Orthodox Jews with bags of money.

Some participants wore costumes portraying Orthodox Jews as ants and posed alongside a mock-up of the Western Wall in Jerusalem, also known as the Wailing Wall, which is one of the holiest sites for Jews.

Another of around 60 floats included a caricature of an Orthodox Jew with boxes of diamonds, while some marchers wore fake elongated noses, side locks and giant fur hats.

A spokesperson for the mayor of Aalst characterised the parade as our humour... just fun.

Aalst carnival: Parade mocks Jews, Brexit and Greta Thunberg Show all 11 1 /11 Aalst carnival: Parade mocks Jews, Brexit and Greta Thunberg Aalst carnival: Parade mocks Jews, Brexit and Greta Thunberg Revellers wearing costumes portraying Orthodox Jews as ants pose alongside an effigy of the Western Wall in Jerusalem JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE/AFP via Getty Images Aalst carnival: Parade mocks Jews, Brexit and Greta Thunberg A float mocking Brexit, Boris Johnson and Queen Elizabeth REUTERS/Yves Herman Aalst carnival: Parade mocks Jews, Brexit and Greta Thunberg A float with an effigy of an ultra-Orthodox Jew REUTERS/Yves Herman Aalst carnival: Parade mocks Jews, Brexit and Greta Thunberg A float depicting Swedish ecology activist Greta Thunberg JULIETTE BRUYNSEELS/AFP via Getty Images Aalst carnival: Parade mocks Jews, Brexit and Greta Thunberg Participants wearing fake elongated noses, side locks and giant fur hats JULIETTE BRUYNSEELS/AFP via Getty Images Aalst carnival: Parade mocks Jews, Brexit and Greta Thunberg A Brexit themed float with images of Queen Elizabeth II and Boris Johnson AP/Francisco Seco Aalst carnival: Parade mocks Jews, Brexit and Greta Thunberg A float taking aim at Unesco, which removed the Aalst carnival from its list of intangible heritage AFP via Getty Images Aalst carnival: Parade mocks Jews, Brexit and Greta Thunberg Costumed revellers parade during the Aalst festival JULIETTE BRUYNSEELS/AFP via Getty Images Aalst carnival: Parade mocks Jews, Brexit and Greta Thunberg People dressed in carnival costumes with a Unesco theme take part in the annual carnival parade AP//Francisco Seco Aalst carnival: Parade mocks Jews, Brexit and Greta Thunberg People parade during the opening day of the Aalst carnival JULIETTE BRUYNSEELS/AFP via Getty Images Aalst carnival: Parade mocks Jews, Brexit and Greta Thunberg A Brexit themed float with a caricature of Boris Johnson AP/Francisco Seco

Peter Van den Bossche told the BBC: Its our parade, our humour, people can do whatever they want. Its a weekend of freedom of speech.

Israels foreign minister, Israel Katz, had called on Belgium to scrap the parade, tweeting: Belgium as a Western democracy should be ashamed to allow such a vitriolic anti-Semitic display.

He said authorities should ban this hateful parade.

Sophie Wilmes, Belgiums prime minister, said: Even though Aalst Carnival is much more than that, these facts detract from our values and reputation of our country.

She said stereotypes that stigmatise lead to division.

It endangers society, she added. Specifically when it comes to repeated and conscious actions.

However, Christoph DHaese, the mayor of Aalst, said: I did not see an antisemitic or racist parade. To the contrary, I saw a high mass of free speech and creativity.

He then posed with a carnival participant wearing a stereotypical hooked nose.

Other floats at the centuries-old parade poked fun at Brexit and climate change by mocking Boris Johnson, the British royal family, and Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.

Some people also walked around in Nazi SS uniforms.

The annual carnival was booted from the United Nations Unesco world heritage list last year over recurring repetition of racist and antisemitic representations.

Two floats featured effigies of local politicians holding toilet rolls with the words Unesco and censorship written on them.

The festival went ahead amid a resurgence of antisemitism worldwide.
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Feb. 24, 2020 | METROPOLIS

By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 24, 2020 | 07:45 PM | METROPOLIS

Two Metropolis residents were arrested in separate incidents over the weekend.



Metropolis Police responded to a domestic disturbance in the 300 block of East Third Street on Friday. Upon arrival, officers learned that the victim had been locked out of the home. While officers were trying to diffuse the argument, 25-year-old Janica Scott struck the victim twice in the face.



Scott was arrested and charged with domestic battery.



On Saturday, officers were called to a home on Crestview. The victim stated that 36-year-old Ryne Lee Collins had taken her phone and broken it. Collins had left the scene before police arrived, but was located a short time later. Collins was charged with theft over $500 and criminal damage to property. He was also arrested on a warrant out of Massac County for burglary.



Both Scott and Collins were lodged in the Massac County Detention Center.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a meeting Tuesday to discuss the economic impact of the new coronavirus on Israel.

Netanyahu reiterated the importance of "over preparedness," in reference to measures taken to deal with the spread of the new virus.

On Sunday, Italy and Australia had been added to Israel's restricted travel list.

Israel already cancelled all flights to and from China, and is requiring Israelis returning from China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore or Thailand to be quarantined at home for two weeks.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lior Haiat said Israel was feeling the economic impact of the virus because of its effect on tourism and trade.

Haiat added health concerns came first, stating "we will deal with any effect on the Israeli economy after we deal with the coronavirus."
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- After more than a year of work and two searches, the Grand Rapids Board of Education chose the districts next superintendent Monday, Feb. 24.

The vote was 7 to 2 for Leadriane Roby, assistant superintendent for Richfield Public Schools in Minnesota since 2014.

Roby beat out two other finalists interviewed last week. She comes to the district with a background as a teacher, principal and Success for All Coordinator.

We have spent a lot of hours over this last week, individually, on our own contemplating, said board president Kristian Grant.

The decision was hard because have three candidate who were really qualified and who really exhibited some enthusiasm to come to this district.

Even before the final round of interviews, the position appeared to be Robys to lose, based on feedback from parents, union leaders and educators.

When the national search firm, Ray and Associates, put together the questionnaires the board filled out before picking the three finalists, members said that Roby was a clear front-runner. For some members of the board, her interview further instilled their belief that she should get the job.

I left here last Monday feeling light for a change leaving a board meeting, board member Tony Baker said of the Feb. 17 final interviews. I felt very strongly that Roby was our superintendent.

Still, some board members voiced their preference for finalist Darrin Slade, assistant superintendent of school leadership at Kansas City Public Schools in Kansas City, Missouri. He was also among four finalists for the Kalamazoo superintendent job that went to Rita Raichoudhuri.

Three board members favored Slade over Roby, before the final vote was taken.

Board member Raynard Ross said he wanted more information about the strengths and concerns for both Roby and Slade from people they currently work with in their districts. However, he said that if had to choose, he leaned toward Slade.

I have a certain degree of confidence that, again, he would be someone to help take us from good to great, Ross said.

In the end, one member switched during the final vote and, Roby was approved by the board 7 to 2. Ross and Kimberley Williams votes against Robys appointment, while Jose Flores voted for Roby after initially voicing his preference for Slade.

Multiple board members, including Ross said after the vote that despite the decision not being unanimous, the board will fully support Roby.

Members of the community were invited to weigh in on the candidates for superintendent at focus groups and online. Board member Kymberlie Davis said that feedback is part of the reason she picked Roby.

I thought that there was lots of great input regarding all of the candidates, but that she stood out as being a level above, she said.

Roby was the only finalist to have ever worked for a school in Michigan. She was the principal for grades 6-12 at Covert Public Schools in Covert, Michigan from 2001-2006. She was also the principal for PreK-grade 5 at Covert Public Schools from 2006-2010.

She received her Ph.D. in K-12 Educational Leadership, Research, and Technology in 2012 from Western Michigan University. Roby has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Arts in Education Administration from Saint Marys of Minnesota.

Prior to joining Richfield, Roby worked for Minneapolis Public Schools from 2010 to 2014, as a PreK-8 principal for four years and a year an assistant associate superintendent.

Former Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal retired after seven years at the helm. Ronald Gorman, Assistant Superintendent of PreK-12 Instructional Support, has been the interim superintendent since July 1.

As of October, the school district reported an enrollment of 15,349 students. GRPS is the largest district in West Michigan.

Roby comes from a much smaller school district. The Richfield Public School District has 4,385 students.

The board has agreed to pay the next superintendent a salary in the range of $220,000. The hire is pending contract negotiations.

Last April, the majority of the board decided to hold a second superintendent search because the two finalists did not have enough of the qualifications they wanted.

There was an applicant pool of 39 candidates for this search. Five candidates were interviewed and three brought back for a final round of interviews. All of the interviews were live streamed for those unable to attend.

More from MLive:

School board grills three finalists for Grand Rapids superintendent

3 finalists named for Grand Rapids schools superintendent job

Grand Rapids school board closes superintendent search meeting

Grand Rapids school board restarting superintendent search
A celebrity collage occupies the wall over the sofa in Keyonna's home. Beautiful white women (most of them Natalie Portman) jockey for space in this magazine cut-out harem, with Whoopi Goldberg (the one black woman on the wall) watching over them like a stern madam. This "dream board" serves as a constant reminder of the Hollywood-manufactured ideals and aspirations that simultaneously fuel and frustrate the protagonist of C.A. Johnson's All the Natalie Portmans, now making its New York premiere at MCC Theater. For Keyonna is not a rich white woman from Hollywood, but a working-class black lesbian teenager living in Northeast Washington, DC.

Keyonna (a pugnacious, sharp-tongued, instantly lovable Kara Young) shares the modest apartment with her big brother, Samuel (Joshua Boone), and (when she's ever home) their mother, Ovetta (Montego Glover). Keyonna's father died years ago, and it was from him that she inherited her passion for film. Some day, she wants to be a powerful screenwriter and producer. Both Samuel and Ovetta work long hours to keep the family afloat, while Keyonna excels in her AP courses (when she's not cutting class). Samuel is particularly mindful of Keyonna's academic progress (Boone is a natural as the protective older brother). Both siblings are worried about mom. Despite Ovetta's claims of having "one drink" with landlord Mr. Epps (a barking Raphael Peacock), we somehow don't believe her.

Montego Glover plays Ovetta, and Joshua Boone plays Samuel in All the Natalie Portmans.

( Daniel J. Vasquez)

This is despite an impressively nuanced performance from Glover. While she looks exhausted when no one is looking, Ovetta is not a drunk who slurs her words and stumbles into furniture. Rather, she's the kind of practiced alcoholic who knows how to pull it together and work through a hangover. Samuel and Keyonna can discern the signs, but we get the sense than most of the outside world cannot, making this an incredibly realistic depiction of a high-functioning addict.

Johnson injects an element of magic into this domestic drama in the form of Natalie Portman (Elise Kibler, finding the emotional center of the role without resorting to strict impersonation). Portman pops up dressed in one of her iconic costumes (excellent approximations by Jennifer Moeller), itching to role-play with Keyonna. She is, of course, a figment of Keyonna's imagination. And while she brings Keyonna great joy, she increasingly feels like an addiction in her own right, as Keyonna's sober reality hurtles further and further from Natalie's intoxicating fantasy.

Elise Kibler plays Natalie Portman, and Kara Young plays Keyonna in All the Natalie Portmans.

( Daniel J. Vasquez)

Director Kate Whoriskey deftly stages a production that leaves room for both the magical and realistic. Donyale Werle's living-room-set-with-secrets gives us a strong sense of Keyonna's home life, although it is not always so successful at conveying the scenes that happen elsewhere. Stacey Derosier's assertive lighting helps to instantly create the dimension shift necessary for when Natalie comes out to play, as does Sinan Refik Zafar's cinematic sound design (the Star Wars segment is a delight). But in a time before Hollywood's discovery of Wakanda (the play is set in 2009), we begin to see the injustice of it all: Why is it that only actors who look like Natalie Portman get to live many lives, and go on fantastic journeys? The only adventure Keyonna seems primed to make is to her mother's car after they get evicted.

There's a gut-punch of a 90-minute play somewhere in All the Natalie Portmans (which runs two hours, 10 minutes). It's about the cruel unattainability of the American dream and the powers of persuasion that convince millions of us to chase it anyway. Unfortunately, Johnson gets bogged down in too many tangents, including a romantic intrigue involving Samuel's girlfriend, Chantel (an underused Renika Williams). Johnson is clearly a dramatist with a lot to say, but she need not say it all at once. After seeing the promising (if flawed) All the Natalie Portmans, I'm eagerly awaiting her next play.
Today we'll take a closer look at Tribune Resources Limited (ASX:TBR) 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.

Tribune Resources pays a 3.6% dividend yield, and has been paying dividends for the past three years. A 3.6% yield does look good. Could the short payment history hint at future dividend growth? There are a few simple ways to reduce the risks of buying Tribune Resources for its dividend, and we'll go through these below.

Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis

ASX:TBR Historical Dividend Yield, February 25th 2020

Payout ratios

Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. As a result, we should always investigate whether a company can afford its dividend, measured as a percentage of a company's net income after tax. Tribune Resources paid out 31% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. This is a middling range that strikes a nice balance between paying dividends to shareholders, and retaining enough earnings to invest in future growth. Plus, there is room to increase the payout ratio over time.

In addition to comparing dividends against profits, we should inspect whether the company generated enough cash to pay its dividend. Tribune Resources paid out 3.5% of its free cash flow as dividends last year, which is conservative and suggests the dividend is sustainable. 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.

With a strong net cash balance, Tribune Resources investors may not have much to worry about in the near term from a dividend perspective.

Story continues

Remember, you can always get a snapshot of Tribune Resources's latest financial position, by checking our visualisation of its financial health.

Dividend Volatility

From the perspective of an income investor who wants to earn dividends for many years, there is not much point buying a stock if its dividend is regularly cut or is not reliable. The company has been paying a stable dividend for a few years now, but we'd like to see more evidence of consistency over a longer period. Its most recent annual dividend was AU$0.20 per share, effectively flat on its first payment three years ago.

Modest dividend growth is good to see, especially with the payments being relatively stable. However, the payment history is relatively short and we wouldn't want to rely on this dividend too much.

Dividend Growth Potential

While dividend payments have been relatively reliable, it would also be nice if earnings per share (EPS) were growing, as this is essential to maintaining the dividend's purchasing power over the long term. It's good to see Tribune Resources has been growing its earnings per share at 33% a year over the past five years. Earnings per share have rocketed in recent times, and we like that the company is retaining more than half of its earnings to reinvest. However, always remember that very few companies can grow at double digit rates forever.

We'd also point out that Tribune Resources 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

To summarise, shareholders should always check that Tribune Resources's dividends are affordable, that its dividend payments are relatively stable, and that it has decent prospects for growing its earnings and dividend. Firstly, we like that Tribune Resources has low and conservative payout ratios. We were also glad to see it growing earnings, although its dividend history is not as long as we'd like. Overall we think Tribune Resources scores well on our analysis. It's not quite perfect, but we'd definitely be keen to take a closer look.

Now, if you want to look closer, it would be worth checking out our free research on Tribune Resources management tenure, salary, and performance.

We have also put together a list of global stocks with a market capitalisation above $1bn and yielding more 3%.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
(Bloomberg) Benefit Street Partners, the alternative credit manager acquired by Franklin Resources Inc. in 2019, has shut its credit hedge fund after returns slumped.

To read this article:
After Hasan Minnaj, Last Week Tonight show host John Oliver came out with scathing criticism of the Modi governments citizenship laws.

The episode was especially targetted at Trump's visit to India, making fun of him and his wife, Melania Trump, visiting Taj Mahal--the symbol of love--when they never look like a loving couple anyway.

In the 20-minute segment, Oliver starts off by slamming the POTUS for having called Modi the 'father of the nation'.

Calling Modi the father of India is completely inappropriate for multiple reasons, Oliver said on Last Week Tonight, not the least of which is that there is a certain Gandhi who already holds that exact fucking title.



Oliver goes on to explain why calling Modi the father of India is stupid at best, and dangerous at worst.





He says, "Modi has had big swing and misses too" slamming the demonetisation move which inconvenienced people for a long time. "Modis policy was a mess, it caused complete chaos and it didnt even make a dent in corruption and yet incredibly it didnt make him any less popular."

Oliver then points out PM Modis dangerous superpower of evading public anger one way or another.

From editing out religious pluralism out of history textbooks to bringing back memories of the Gujarat riots and how Modi offered tepid apologies about the incident, John Oliver methodically rips apart the current government leadership.

But the most drastic move yet is Modi's citizenship proposal, which Oliver stresses on. He takes a dig at the Citizenship Amendment Bill, saying they seem to be Marie Kondo-ing India and its only Muslims who dont seem to spark joy in them.

Here's what people had to say about the episode:

#1

Modi: @LastWeekTonight with John Oliver (HBO) https://t.co/3BiOUshPnt via @YouTube

India enduring symbol of love deserves more than .. temporary symbol of hate. Powerful words from multiple Emmy winning @iamjohnoliver Whole world can see how evil CAA-NRC-NPR agenda is except..  Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) February 24, 2020

#2

John Oliver hits the ball out of the park with this episode on India's Modi and how he and his party are driving their hate campaign against the country's Muslims.https://t.co/aOGcSsZNCe  Mark Amaza (@amasonic) February 24, 2020

#3

John Oliver on @narendramodi : Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) - YouTube https://t.co/EJDNZBypAH  Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) February 24, 2020

#4



STILL a few B&D anchors & actors past their prime who dont understand why people are risking their lives for past 2 months to oppose #CAA_NRC_NPR@iamjohnoliver explains CAA - as if to a 5yr old - and why you cannot separate it from the proposed NRC.https://t.co/RijEtC6sN1 pic.twitter.com/5XT27pmu3X  Akash Banerjee (@TheDeshBhakt) February 24, 2020

#5

Before the IT cell of a particular political party makes sure this video is taken off the net please watch this video https://t.co/aBH4glyXCA John Oliver you are a star   Saqib Saleem (@Saqibsaleem) February 24, 2020

#6

And just in time for #NamasteTrump, John Oliver delivers a fine Last Week Tonight episode. https://t.co/2MSQJokYLR  Abhishek Baxi (@baxiabhishek) February 24, 2020

#7

On a serious note, @iamjohnoliver summed it up best

India, home to this enduring symbol of love frankly deserves much more than this temporary symbol of hate #saynotocaa_nrc #CAA_NRC_NPR #LastWeekTonight pic.twitter.com/U3ILbpXlwm  Manish Muhuri (@dyslexcsatirist) February 24, 2020

#8

On 24 Feb's episode of @LastWeekTonight, host @iamjohnoliver called #CAA_NRC a "diabolical 2-step way" to "strip millions of Muslims of citizenship."



"It is incredibly depressing to see India heading in this direction," Oliver remarked.

@TheQuint https://t.co/WN2F7AJdUn  Sushovan Sircar (@Maha_Shoonya) February 24, 2020

#9

Leave everything and watch @LastWeekTonight @iamjohnoliver take down the extremist policies adapted by this regime endangering the very ideals of democracy, secularism and collective harmony. #JohnOliver #CAA_NRC_NPRhttps://t.co/o4Bjs0ScsKhttps://t.co/o4Bjs0ScsK  Ankit Maheshwari (@cosmicjocker) February 24, 2020

#10

As the Modi-Trump ego stoking fest ends in Ahmedabad, John Oliver has done a surgical strike on Modi, Shah, RSS, CAA-NRC.

My favourite bit is where he summed up CAA- NRC with "They're basically Marie Kondo-ing India and it's just the Muslims that don't seem to spark joy in them."  Dev Sharma (@Devs3) February 24, 2020





While the NRC, announced by Home Minister Amit Shah in parliament, would require all Indians to prove their citizenship with documents that many poor and illiterate do not possess, the CAA will grant citizenship to most of those left out 'as long as they are not Muslim,' he said.

The image is nauseating said Oliver, and the only glimmer of hope here is that for perhaps the first time in Modis whole career, his actions are creating a massive and sustained backlash.
Alleging fake encounters by the Uttar Pradesh Police, Samajwadi Party members on Tuesday walked out from the state assembly.

The matter was raised during Question Hour by BSP member Shyam Sundar Sharma, who sought to know details of fake encounters by policemen between July 1, 2017 and Sept 30, 2018 in the state.

In his reply, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said in this period one case was registered in Lucknow and two policemen were arrested and terminated.

When the member insisted that the figure was wrong, the minister said, "There is only one incident and there are no fake encounters in the state".

Leader of Opposition, Ram Govind Chowdhury of the Samajwadi Party alleged that police atrocities and fake encounters are on the rise in the state and demanded compensation for those killed in such encounters.

He later walked out of the House with SP members.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tonight, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg will be joining the Democratic presidential debate stage for the second time. At the last debate, he faced a sustained assault on his record, including questions about his support for the NYPDs stop-and-frisk policy, his comments on redlining, and his history of sexism and harassment complaints in the workplace. Not mentioned was the sprawling effort to spy on Muslims under his administration, which has received its own wave of scrutiny in recent days, with one outlet calling it a Stasi-style police and surveillance operation. Asked about the program at a campaign event, Bloomberg replied: Im the biggest supporter of the Muslim community. I supported the mosque. What are you talking about?

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I grew up in Newark, New Jersey, just outside New York City. I turned 13 in 2002, the first year of Bloombergs tenure as mayor, and the year Muslim surveillance first ramped up in and around the city. To grow up as a young Muslim man in the area then was to feel the constant sense that someone was watching you, a paranoia that, years later, turned out to be warranted. Im still not sure people realize the almost comic extent of the surveillance, the absurd resources that went into it, and how toxic its legacy really is.

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So I turned to Ramzi Kassem, a professor at CUNY School of Law and the founding director of CLEAR, a project to help Muslims and others fight law enforcement bias. He was also one of the architects of the legal fight against the surveillance program, and he previously helped me understand how it may have affected me in my own run-ins with the NYPD as a young man. Over the phone, Kassem explained how the program worked, how utterly ineffective it was, and how Bloombergs endorsement of it helped usher in Donald Trumps Muslim ban. Our conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

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Aymann Ismail: Lets just have you first explain how the NYPDs Muslim surveillance program worked.

Ramzi Kassem: Quite simply, it was a secret program that targeted every conceivable aspect of Muslim public life in New York City, and even beyond New York City. They kept secret police files on Muslim restaurants, Muslim bookshops, mosques, activist groups, Muslim student organizations at various universities and colleges, including the one where I work, the City University of New York, since various CUNY campuses were targeted.

Basically, it was this idea that the American Muslim community here in New York City had to be mapped exhaustively, the way a foreign occupying military force might map populations on hostile terrain. Except that here, we were talking about Muslim AmericansMuslim New Yorkers who were paying the NYPD to do this to them, unbeknownst to them.

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All of this happened under Mayor Mike Bloombergs watch and with his blessing. And when it became public in 2011, when these documents, these secret police reports mapping hookah shops and bookshops, were leaked to the press, Bloombergs defense of it was that it was harmless and that it was lawful.

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My organization, CLEAR, and other groups in partnership with the communities that were affected by this published a report titled Mapping Muslims, debunking the claim by Bloomberg and his police commissioner at the time, Ray Kelly, that surveillance was harmless. And we also sued, in partnership with the ACLU and the New York Civil Liberties Union, to challenge the legality and the constitutionality of the program. Thats a lawsuit we ultimately prevailed in.

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I was a student at Rutgers in New Jersey, so not particularly close to Manhattan. I remember going to meetings for Muslim students and noticing adults in the room. Im from Newark, so I know what it looks like when someones wearing a flak jacket underneath their shirt. And I remember noticing that, but thinking in the back of my head: Oh, I shouldnt be paranoid. Maybe they are just curious or want to get involved and help us in some way. And in hindsight Im wondering: Oh my God, maybe that was an NYPD officer. Maybe I wasnt being paranoid.

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"College students were afraid to discuss politics, civil rights, international affairs because they had internalized the assumption of surveillance."  Ramzi Kassem

Look, unfortunately, your reaction is not a sign of paranoia or craziness, and its not isolated or unique. Many in the American Muslim community in various spaces like the one that youre describinglike a student organization or association, many in places of worship, like mosques, many in youth centersall felt the same thing. And thats because that was happening. It was happening at the hands of the NYPD and other agencies like the FBI.

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We know from the NYPDs own previously secret records that they went beyond New York City. They went to New Jersey, they went to Rutgers, they went to Connecticut, they went overseas even. So they didnt limit their activity and their infiltration to just New York City. So you, being at Rutgers, in New Jersey, part of the student organization, its not at all far-fetched to think that the NYPD would have had informants there. In fact, thats been confirmed by their own records.

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Im actually shook because this whole time, I felt like no matter what I did, no matter how I felt on the inside, I was going to always just be considered another Muslim kid. And by being another Muslim kid, I was a potential threat.

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The effect is exactly what you felt and are describing. Its something we were able to document. College students were afraid to discuss religion. They were afraid to discuss politics, civil rights, international affairs because they had internalized the assumption of surveillance. And so that had a hugely disruptive effect, basically, to their ability to enjoy what should be a normal college life where you explore ideas freely without fear of government surveillance or retribution, because they were being spied upon.

Folks would say things to us when we interviewed them, like, You look at your closest friends and ask yourself, Are they informants?  Another person said, I dont want any new friends. If I dont know you or your family or know that you have a family that I can take you back to, I dont want to know you. So that kind of reaction, that kind of suspicion of new people who come into a mosque, that kind of suspicion of converts is a sort of natural result of surveillance.

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The kinds of effects that we saw are the reasons why we sued the NYPD to limit its ability to spy on constitutionally protected activities in that way.

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And that was a lawsuit we brought with the participation and support of a movement for police accountability here in New York City that drew the connections between stop and frisk and surveillance, that said these are twin forms of profiling. They grow from the same kind of flawed ideology that provides thin window dressing, false theoretical justification for both stop and frisk and surveillance. The other thing that both theories have in common is that theyre very thin window dressing for outright racial profiling. It raises constitutional legal problems, obviously. It chills peoples political and religious expression. But its a waste of law enforcement resources as well.

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What do you say to people who might say: This was post-9/11. The threat was unclear. What were they supposed to do?

Police should focus on methodology, not ideology. They should look for objective indicators that someone is about to do something. Are they purchasing weapons? Are they purchasing components that could be used to make an explosive device? Things of that nature are much more likely to get you to arrest somebody whos about to commit a criminal act, terrorism, or anything, really, rather than going after people who are critical of U.S. foreign policy on Twitter and placing student groups under surveillance because theyre organizing events and inviting speakers.

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I read that the whole program yielded zero leads. Did the NYPD uncover anything useful from this program?

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I mean, thats a great question for the NYPD. What you just said is totally accurate. I think youre basically paraphrasing what Thomas Galati, who was the commanding officer of what was then the NYPD Intelligence Divisionits now the Intelligence Bureausaid under oath in June 2012. And his direct quote from his sworn testimony in a deposition was, I never made a lead from the rhetoric that came from a demographics report, and Im here since 2006. So in six years, out of all of this activity by the Demographics Unitgoing into hookah joints and restaurants and cafes and all that, creating these detailed reports on how theres this deli on the corner of this street and theres a Muslim who makes sandwiches at that deli, reports like thathe said that out of all of that kind of reporting in six years, they didnt make a single lead. Once these reports were leaked to the Associated Press, all these secret police documents about restaurants and bookstores and the like

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Which got later used for fake Yelp reviews, right?

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Exactly. I cant lie, some of them are on point, though. I see some restaurants in there, Im like, Yeah, they do have great kebabs there. I got to agree with whoever it is that wrote some of the reports, on some points.

Remember, at the time, Bloomberg and his police commissioner, Kelly, they were saying that surveillance is harmless, and that surveillance is lawful. They were doubling down. They werent apologizing for it at the time. And so the people on the receiving end, our clients and other Muslims like them, said, We know from our experience that thats not true. So they asked us at CLEAR to put out a report that proved how harmful surveillance was, and that resulted in Mapping Muslims. And they also asked us to look into the constitutionality of surveillance. Just like you said, this cant be legal, they said the same thing.

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Should we hold Bloomberg specifically responsible for the surveillance of Muslims?

The program was founded and grew under his watch. He came into office in 2002. 2002 is when Bloomberg brought in David Cohen from the CIA to rebuild this program. So this was all done with the blessing of Mayor Mike Bloomberg at the time. Cohen, who led the NYPD Intelligence Division at the time, all of these people answered to Bloomberg. So its not a coincidence that he comes into office in 2002 and these things start to happen in 2002. The bulk of the program was developed and grown under his watch.

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And then when it became public in 2011, when the Associated Press started publishing these reports that were leaked from the NYPD showing how they were spying on Muslims secretly, what was his response? Again, his response was to defend it. He doubled down. He didnt apologize. He said, No, this is lawful and its harmless and its necessary. This is all falsewe demonstrated it to be false. But Bloomberg defended the program, the same way with stop and frisk. He defended stop and frisk for a very long time. I mean, now hes singing a different tune because hes trying to get elected to national office, and hes trying to get black folks to vote for him. But the reality is he was the main overseer for both stop and frisk and surveillance. Those things happened under his watch. These are plain, historical facts, not political campaigning on behalf of or against any candidate.

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The Muslim surveillance program didnt come up at the last debate. What question would you have asked Bloomberg?

Oh, thats a really good question. I would ask him if he thinks of the Muslim surveillance program the same way today that he did back when he was in power in New York city as mayor. And Id love to hear what he has to say. Has his opinion changed? Why? How has it changed?

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Maybe hed throw Muslims under the bus and say, Well, I dont agree with stop and frisk anymore, which hes already said publicly, but I still agree with what I did to the Muslims. Id be curious to hear how thats a tenable position. Because as you and I were talking about earlier, and as Ive explored in my own research and writing, both programs are fruit that are born of the same tree. Its the same kind of flawed logic and reasoning that leads you to both programs.

And frankly theres a straight line that connects that kind of racism to larger expressions of the same racism that weve seen with the Muslim ban under Trump. The fact that Mayor Bloomberg could be so open in his defense of stop-and-frisk and in his defense of the Muslim surveillance program set the stage for Trump many years later to be so open and brazen in his defense of the Muslim ban. Those things are not disconnected. Theyre not identical, but theyre on that same spectrum. And it may well be that Trumps antics wouldnt have been possible if people like Bloomberg hadnt laid the foundation for them.
1. Prepare for takeoff  Mission: Impossible  Rogue Nation

Only Tom Cruise would have the bottle to pull of a stunt as crazy as this incredible scene from Rogue Nation. The actor hangs off the side of an Airbus A400 travelling at 160mph in this incredible sequence, which marks the most high-profile stunt ever performed in the Mission Impossible movies. Im feeling the force of the wind hit me. Im actually scared s***less,he said while describing the scene in a video featurette  no wonder. The truly staggering thing is Cruise did eight takes of the heart-stopping scene, proving his status as one of the most committed actors in Hollywood.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 03:22:52|Editor: yan

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BAGHDAD, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Up to eight Islamic State (IS) militants and a security member were killed on Tuesday in an anti-IS operation in the Iraqi province of Salahudin, a security source said.

Iraqi army, police and a force of commandos of the Counter-Terrorism Service conducted an operation against IS positions in al-Khanogah mountainous area in the town of al-Shirqat, some 280 km north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, Mohammed al-Bazi from Salahudin provincial public security department told Xinhua.

The troops made their push with the support of heavy bombardment by the international coalition aircraft on the positions of the IS militants, al-Bazi said.

Five security members were wounded during the operation, which also resulted in the destruction of IS positions and hideouts, al-Bazi said, adding that the operation will continue until the whole area is cleared from IS remnants.

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.
A man wearing a face mask rides a bike filled with food supplies in Wuhan, the epicenter of the Novel Coronavirus outbreak, Hubei province, China, on Feb. 24, 2020. (Stringer/Reuters)

South Korea to Launch Mass Coronavirus Testing, US Pledges $1 Billion for Vaccine

South Korea aims to test more than 200,000 members of a church at the center of a surge in coronavirus cases, as countries stepped up efforts to stop a pandemic of the virus that emerged in China and is now spreading in Europe and the Middle East.

Fast-spreading outbreaks in Iran, Italy, and South Korea, and first cases in several Middle East countries, have fed worries of a pandemic, or worldwide spread of the virus.

We are close to a pandemic, but there is still hope the epidemics in Iran, Italy, South Korea, etc. can be controlled, said Raina MacIntyre, head of the Biosecurity Program at the Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales.

South Korea has the most virus cases outside China and reported its tenth death and 144 new cases, for a total of 977. President Moon Jae-in said the situation was very grave.

Buses are seen at a closed bus terminal in Wuhan, the epicenter of the Novel Coronavirus outbreak, Hubei province, China, on Feb. 24, 2020. (Stringer/Reuters)

In Europe, Italy has become a new front line, with 220 cases reported on Monday, up from just three on Friday. The death toll in Italy is seven.

Global stock markets stabilized on Tuesday after a wave of early selling petered out and Wall Street futures managed a solid bounce after a sharp selloff the previous day on fears about the spreading coronavirus.

If travel restrictions and supply chain disruptions spread, the impact on global growth could be more widespread and longer lasting, said Jonas Goltermann, senior economist at research consultancy Capital Economics in London.

Public Anxiety

About 68 percent of South Koreas cases are linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, where the outbreak is believed to have begun with a 61-year-old woman. It is not known how she became infected.

The church said it would provide authorities the names of all its members in South Korea, estimated by media at about 215,000 people. The government would test them all as soon as possible, the prime ministers office said.

A South Korean policeman wearing a mask to prevent the coronavirus (COVID-19) walks along the street in Seoul on Feb. 22, 2020. (Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

It is essential to test all of the church members, it said in a statement. Authorities said they were testing up to 13,000 people a day.

The U.S. and South Korean militaries have said they may cut back joint training due to the virus, in one of the first concrete signs of its fallout on global U.S. military activities.

The disclosure came during a visit to the Pentagon on Monday by South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, who said 13 South Korean troops had the virus.

The U.S. military said a woman who tested positive for the virus had visited one of its bases in the hard-hit city of Daegu. It was the first infection connected to U.S. Forces Korea, which has about 28,500 American troops on the peninsula.

The U.S. military urged troops to use extreme caution off base, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Americans should avoid non-essential travel to South Korea.

Iran Isolation

Outside mainland China, the outbreak has spread to about 29 countries and territories, with a death toll of about three dozen, according to a Reuters tally.

Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, and Oman reported their first new coronavirus cases, all in people who had been to Iran where the toll was 14 dead, media said, and 61 infected.

The outbreak threatens to isolate Iran further. The United Arab Emirates, which has 13 virus cases, suspended all flights with Iran for at least a week, state media said.

Women wear masks and gloves to help guard against the coronavirus in downtown Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 23, 2020. (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo)

Iraq extended an entry ban on travelers from China and Iran to those from five other countries over virus fears, its health ministry said.

In Japan, which has reported four deaths and 850 cases mostly linked to a cruise ship, Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said it was too early to talk about canceling the Tokyo Olympics due to start on July 24.

The United States pledged $2.5 billion to fight the disease, with more than $1 billion going toward developing a vaccine, with other funds earmarked for therapeutics and the stockpiling of personal protective equipment such as masks.

By Hyonhee Shin and Ryan Woo
A self-contained breathing apparatus and a photo of recruits inside a Washington State Patrol Fire Training Academy dormitory which has been designated as a Novel Coronavirus quarantine site, in Washington on Feb. 6, 2020. (Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images)

76 People Being Monitored for Coronavirus in Oregon, Health Agency Says

The Oregon Health Authority on Monday confirmed that 76 people are currently being monitored for coronavirus, adding that hundreds have been monitored since January.

The officials stressed that there are no confirmed cases, and of those monitored people, none of them have shown any symptoms of the virus, reported Fox12.

Oregon Health Authority spokesman Jonathan Modie said two people showed symptoms for the virus, but their test results came back as negative.

Because we dont have a case here in Oregon, we dont have that person-to-person transmission, that community transmission and that means that the risk for the general public is low here in Oregon. It remains low, he told the station.

The 76 people who are being monitored came into contact with an infected person or someone who recently traveled to China, where the outbreak started late last year. Health officials asked them to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Stay at home, dont go out but monitor yourself for any symptoms. Take your temperature and let us know if you do experience any symptoms, he added.

People wearing sanitary masks walk past the Duomo gothic cathedral in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 23, 2020. (Luca Bruno/AP Photo)

Officials said monitoring efforts have been relegated to people who have visited China, reported Oregon Public Broadcasting. Other places with outbreaks such as Japan, Iran, Italy, or South Korea have not yet been included.

Several other states have confirmed that hundreds of people are being monitored for the new virus that causes the COVID-19 disease.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services confirmed on Feb. 23 that it is monitoring 325 people, ClickonDetroit reported. All of those people under observation recently have been in mainland China or were passengers on a cruise ship that was held in medical isolation off the coast of Japan for two weeks.

All of the monitored people have been asked to self-quarantine at home to the best of their ability, a spokesperson for the state health agency told Fox17. Michigan also hasnt reported any COVID-19 cases.

Washington state health officials last week confirmed they are monitoring 712 at-risk people.

The number of people under public health supervision includes those at risk of having been exposed to Novel Coronavirus who are monitoring their health under the supervision of public health officials. This number includes close contacts of laboratory-confirmed cases, as well as people who have returned from China in the past 14 days and are included in federal quarantine guidance, the Washington State Department of Health said on its website.

The first COVID-19 case in the United States was confirmed in Washingtons Snohomish County, located near Seattle. The patient was eventually released from the hospital after treatment.
Washington Irving writes: There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.

I shared this quote with some of my friends and followers and received some interesting responses I would term resistance. There were two responses (both from women) that spring to mind. They said that I must be happy and strong and count my blessings, and work towards my goals. They didnt say it specifically, yet it was clear from the context that feeling ones feelings was not something they supported, particularly not tears and particularly not as a man. Men should be strong.

As a man, I felt an energy of suppression and it brought up feelings of shame. I recall as a 5-year old being teased and bullied about my tears, and making an oath that I would never cry again. Until I was much older, I managed to keep this austere exterior in tact. Yet it is a lie. At best a facade. And I dont want to lie or endorse the idea that men shouldnt cry. Quite frankly, I find it abhorrent and a rejection I feel with every fibre of my being.

Men are feeling beings. If men are ashamed to feel, to express emotions including tears, its a suppression of all we have been fighting for as a collective. And we will continue to lose as a society.

Sometimes the most appropriate thing to do is to burst  and release feelings. Emotions need to move. They ask of us not for judgement or repression, yet for embrace, acceptance and release.

The temperate and unpredictable nature of emotions scares people as feelings cannot be controlled.

And an uncontrolled man, can be a scary beast. I understand that. Ive been the recipient of male rage too many times to remember.

Using breath, movement and sound, we can move through strong feeling-responses to enliven and animate our beings and to release the water of emotion, so they dont need to stay with us too longer, or linger.

As a human being, I was born to feel. It is my right. I dont need to defend that rightsurely?

I am okay with embracing my nature, even if that includes tears. Are you okay with that? Are you okay as a man or woman to accept men who show emotions?

With every exhale, soften the heart.  MC Yogi

Are you ready to embrace all that it means to be a human being?

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 23:16:20|Editor: yan

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BEIRUT, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Total, an energy giant, announced Tuesday that the Tungsten Explorer drilling vessel has reached the exclusive economic zone in Lebanon to drill a well in Block 4 in the first oil and gas exploration activity in Lebanon's territorial waters, the National News Agency reported.

Total said that Block 4 is located off the Lebanese coast, about 30 km away from Beirut and the exploration takes place at a depth of 1,500 meters from the surface of the sea.

"Drilling the well aims at exploring reservoirs located at a depth exceeding 2,500 meters below the seafloor. It is estimated that the drilling will continue for two months, after which the ship will leave Lebanon," it added.

In February 2018, Lebanon signed its first offshore oil and gas exploration and production contracts for Blocks 4 and 9 with a consortium of France's Total, Italy's Eni and Russia's Novatek.

Lebanon hopes to boost its economy through offshore energy discovery.
A man charged with killing a deputy sheriff and seven other people in Mississippi in 2017 said yesterday that he did not want to testify in his own trial where he could face the death penalty.

'I choose not to,' Willie Cory Godbolt told the judge when jurors were not in the courtroom.

Godbolt told his defense attorneys later in the day that he had changed his mind and wanted to testify, but the judge would not allow it because that part of the trial had passed.

Willie Cory Godbolt, pictured, told a judge he did not wish to testify in his own trial where he faces the death penalty having been charged with murdering eight people including a deputy sheriff

Godbolt, pictured, has pleaded not guilty to four counts of capital murder, four counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, two counts of kidnapping and one count of armed robbery at the Pike County Courthouse in Magnolia, Mississippi

Godbolt, 37, has pleaded not guilty to four counts of capital murder, four counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, two counts of kidnapping and one count of armed robbery.

Prosecutors wrapped up their case Monday after calling several witnesses over nine days. Defense attorneys called only two witnesses before completing their case.

Closing arguments are set for today, and the case will then go to the jury.

According to testimony earlier in the trial, Godbolt had gone to his in-laws' home on May 27, 2017, and argued with his estranged wife about their children. Lincoln County deputy sheriff William Durr, Barbara Mitchell, Toccara May and Brenda May were shot to death at that home that night.

Godbolt, pictured, later told the judge he had changed his mind about testifying but was told that his decision was too late and that part of the trial had been concluded

Jurors at the trial in Pike County Court House had earlier been shown a black assault rifle that had allegedly been used in the shooting

A pistol was also recovered from the home of shooting victims Ferral and Sheila Burage who were shot dead in May 2017

Jurors were also shown this t-shirt worn by victim Brenda May, with the yellow triangles marking bullet holes on the shirt

Two more people - 18-year-old Jordan Blackwell and 11-year-old Austin Edwards - were killed at a second home in the early hours of May 28, 2017.

Ferral Burage and Sheila Burage, a married couple, were shot to death at a third home a few hours later. Godbolt was arrested near a business as he walked from the Burages' house, investigators said.

Jurors on Sunday were shown video of Godbolt in the hours after he was accused of killing the eight people. In one of the videos, Godbolt said: 'I'm completely sorry and heartbroken about that deputy.'

Lincoln County sheriff's Deputy Chuck Francis testified that Godbolt spoke to him about Durr shortly after Godbolt's arrest, the Daily Leader reported.

'If the deputy had family, let them know I'm sorry. He was not part of my plan,' Francis recalled Godbolt telling him.

Jurors also saw cellphone video of Godbolt sitting in handcuffs, bleeding from a gunshot wound to his right arm.
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Bob Iger will step down as Disney CEO and assume the role of executive chairman, Disney announced Tuesday. Bob Chapek, who most recently served as chairman of Disney parks, experiences and products, will assume the role of CEO, effective immediately, Disney announced. Chapek will continue to report to Iger and be appointed to the board of directors at a later date. Shares of Disney fell about 2.5% after hours. In an interview with CNBC's Julia Boorstin after Disney's announcement, Iger said the CEO reporting structure is a way to ensure a smooth transition. "We're not concerned at all about creating any confusion," Iger said of the arrangement. Iger will remain executive chairman of Disney through the end of 2021, according to the company. Iger had been planning his succession for a while, saying at Disney's investor day last year that "2021 will be the time for me to finally step down." Iger has been CEO of Disney since 2005. He's pushed back his retirement several times in recent years, and Tuesday's succession announcement came as a surprise.

On a call with investors shortly after the announcement, Iger addressed the timing of his announcement, which happened 22 months before he was expected to retire at the end of 2021. Iger said he decided to step down now because he wanted to focus on the creative side now that major projects like the Fox merger and launch of Disney+ were behind him. Iger said he would be able to help transition Chapek into the role while serving as executive chairman. "With everything else falling into place, the time seemed right," Iger said. Iger has been instrumental in making Disney a media powerhouse with key acquisitions and content plays. He launched Disney+, immediately making Disney a popular streaming service provider. Disney said the service had 26.5 million paying subscribers during the first quarter of 2020 after launching in November.

Bob Chapek, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Experiences, stands for a photograph at an unveiling event of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Walt Disney Co.'s Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, California, U.S., on Wednesday, May 29, 2019. Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Yi is the chairwoman of the Asian Complete Count Committee in Austin, a volunteer group that partners with the Census Bureau to raise awareness about the census among Asian-Americans. And this year, she said, it is more urgent than ever that Asian-American communities like the one in Austin  where Vietnamese-American men and women crowded into a ballroom in the middle of a strip mall last month to celebrate the Lunar New Year  be counted.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- What began as a regional continuing education (CE) event at East Tennessee State University to help dental professionals deliver better care to children who have sensory processing disorders is now reaching a national audience.

This month, which is National Children's Dental Health Month, a self-study CE course co-written by ETSU professors Dr. Dobbie Dotson and Dr. Michelle Johnson, and Milligan College professor Dr. Christy Isbell, was published in two national peer-reviewed continuing education journals.

The course, which appeared in Dimensions of Dental Hygiene and Decisions in Dentistry, is titled "Caring for children with sensory processing disorders." It offers education and techniques that can help prepare these patients for successful dental visits, and that can support optimal care while in the clinic.

"This information that we shared last year at a CE event for our region has been expanded to a national platform where dentists and dental hygienists across the country can benefit from this material," said Dotson, associate professor in ETSU's Dental Hygiene program. "We're pleased that we're hopefully making a difference in the education of dental professionals."

Information provided in the CE course includes tips for preparing children with sensory processing disorders for the dental visit, adapting the environment for their needs, and effective techniques for approaching and treating them.

Sensory processing disorder is a neurological disorder in which the sensory information that the individual perceives results in abnormal responses, according to the STAR Institute for Sensory Processing Disorder.

This disorder can make visits to the dental office very stressful for children, their parents and dental health providers, as the bright lights, lying back in the chair, dental instruments, loud sounds, and the smells and tastes of a dental office often can be overwhelming and create a negative experience for the child, according to Dotson.

Dotson's colleague, Dr. Michelle Johnson in ETSU's Department of Rehabilitative Health Sciences, experienced this issue firsthand.

"Through my own personal experience with my child who has sensory issues and through my discussions with dental professionals, I realized that while dentists received some training, dental hygienists didn't have access to the same training," Johnson said. "The dental hygienist spends the greater part of the visit with the child, so we thought it was really important to focus on this group."

Johnson and Dotson teamed up to study this issue and were awarded a Clinical Enhancement Grant from the ETSU College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences dean's office. This grant allowed them to survey dental hygienists across the state and put together a CE event at ETSU in May 2019.

More than 100 dental hygienists from East Tennessee and Virginia attended the CE event, which was filled to capacity and featured guest speakers Isbell, department chair and program director of the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program at Milligan, and Dr. Robert Tolliver, clinical psychologist and assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at ETSU's Quillen College of Medicine.

An interprofessional team of ETSU and Milligan students representing the Vanderbilt Consortium LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopment Disabilities) created a toolkit of visual materials to assist the dental professionals, parents and children with sensory processing disorders. Attendees received the packet, and the materials also are available electronically.

Last year, the Tennessee Dental Hygienists Association requested recordings of the CE sessions and materials to offer to its members on its website. In addition, the ETSU Dental Hygiene program makes the information available to its students.

"We want our students and all dental professionals to be well-trained and prepared," Dotson said.

ETSU's Dental Hygiene program is part of the Department of Allied Health Sciences in the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences. In 2019, the program celebrated its 50th anniversary of educating students and serving the community at its Dental Hygiene Clinic. To date, more than 1,500 students have graduated from the program.

To learn more about the Dental Hygiene program, visit www.etsu.edu/crhs/allied-health/dhyg.

East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular purpose to improve the quality of life for the people of the region. Today, the university offers more than 150 programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels and has more than 98,000 living graduates. The footprints of our students, alumni, faculty and staff can be seen across the region and around the world.

A photo available for download here.

Contact: Melissa Nipper, [email protected]

SOURCE East Tennessee State University
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers have revealed new details about how joint inflammation evolves in rheumatoid arthritis, and the cells that prolong the inflammatory attack.

In both laboratory models and human clinical samples, the research team pinpointed immune cells called natural killer (NK) cells as an unexpected source of the inflammatory protein GM-CSF in rheumatoid arthritis, the first clue that these cells contribute to inflammatory autoimmune diseases. The research also explained how GM-CSF signals to other immune cells to prolong joint inflammation, and how GM-CSF signalling to immune cells is kept in check in healthy joints.

These discoveries could indicate potential new therapeutic targets for reducing joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis, and could potentially reduce inflammation in other autoimmune disease such as multiple sclerosis.

The research was published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine by a team co-led by Professor Ian Wicks, Professor Nicholas Huntington and Dr Cynthia Louis, with Dr Fernando Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes.

At a glance

The cell signalling protein GM-CSF causes inflammation that occurs in joints during rheumatoid arthritis.

Our researchers have identified natural killer (NK) cells as a major source of GM-CSF in rheumatoid arthritis, the first time these cells have been implicated in an autoimmune disease.

The team also identified the protein CIS as a key molecular brake that dampens GM-CSF activity and inflammation, revealing a potential new therapeutic avenue for inflammatory diseases.

A surprising source of GM-CSF

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks joints and other tissues, causing inflammation, pain and long-term joint damage.

GM-CSF was originally discovered at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute as a growth factor for blood cells, but it is increasingly recognised as a key inflammatory mediator that drives a number of autoimmune diseases.

Professor Wicks said that his team's earlier research, together with colleagues at the University of Melbourne, had identified the signalling protein GM-CSF as an important contributor to joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. "When we removed GM-CSF, we could see a reduction in inflammation. This finding underpinned the development and current clinical trials of inhibitors of GM-CSF signalling as a new approach to treating rheumatoid arthritis," he said.

"Although we knew that GM-CSF signalling was important in joint inflammation, which cells were producing GM-CSF within joints, and how this protein signalled after binding to its receptor on other immune cells, was not well understood."

Dr Louis said the team discovered that GM-CSF in inflamed arthritis joints was produced by immune cells called natural killer (NK) cells. "This was a surprise because, until now, NK cells were thought to primarily be important for clearing virus-infected or cancer cells," she said. "This is the first time NK cells have been found to contribute to tissue inflammation in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

"As well as looking at our laboratory model of arthritis, we examined cells from the joints of people with rheumatoid arthritis and confirmed that NK cells are indeed a significant source of GM-CSF in patients.

"This discovery has solved one part of the puzzle about how inflammation occurs in rheumatoid arthritis," Dr Louis said.

Filling in the gaps

The team revealed that the protein CIS is important for 'switching off' GM-CSF signalling, a critical mechanism to restrain destructive inflammation in arthritis.

"In the absence of CIS, we saw hyperactivation of GM-CSF signalling and more severe arthritis," Dr Louis said.

"This research showed that if a new drug that mimics CIS were to be developed, it may help to reduce the debilitating effects of GM-CSF in rheumatoid arthritis, but also in other inflammatory diseases driven by GM-CSF, such as multiple sclerosis."

Professor Wicks said the research revealed new aspects of cell signalling that warranted further investigation. "We're very excited to have progressed our understanding of rheumatoid arthritis and potentially other inflammatory diseases," he said.

###

Professor Wicks is joint head of Clinical Translation at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and head of Rheumatology at The Royal Melbourne Hospital. Professor Huntington is now at Monash University's Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Dr Souza-Fonseca-Guiamares is now at the University of Queensland Diamantina Institute.

The research was supported by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, John T Reid Charitable Trusts and Victorian Government. Scientists involved in the research were also supported by the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Cure Cancer Australia, Harry J Lloyd Charitable Trust, Melanoma Research Alliance, Tour de Cure, Cancer Research Institute and Ian Potter Foundation.
Representative Lauren Underwood (D., Ill.) said at an event on Monday that no one running for the Democratic presidential nomination would be helpful to her in the 2020 general elections.

Some people are neutral and some people are not and no one in my opinion thats running on the Democratic ticket is helpful to me in my race, Underwood told an audience at the City Club of Chicago, responding to a question about whether the rise of Senator Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) would hurt down-ticket Democrats in November. Underwoods response drew a murmur from the crowd.

I guess thats controversial, Underwood said when she perceived the audiences reaction. I view [the] presidential candidates as neutral at best or very difficult at worst.

Underwood represents Illinoiss 14th congressional district, which traditionally votes Republican. The freshman representative managed in 2018 to unseat three-term incumbent Representative Randy Hultgren, a Republican, by five percentage points.

Sanders, the most progressive candidate in the Democratic primaries, is leading the race after winning the Nevada Caucuses and New Hampshire Primary, while taking a close second place in the Iowa Caucuses. The Vermont senators rise in the primaries is worrying more moderate Democrats who feel President Trump will defeat him in the November elections.

Sanders has also caused controversy among Florida Democrats following his repeated praise of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. Florida has one of the largest concentrations of Cuban immigrants in the U.S., many of them refugees who fled the communist country.

I find Senator Bernie Sanders comments on Castros Cuba absolutely unacceptable. The Castro regime murdered and jailed dissidents, and caused unspeakable harm to too many South Florida families, Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D., Fla.) tweeted on Monday. To this day, it remains an authoritarian regime that oppresses its people, subverts the free press, and stifles a free society.

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The Victorian Government is launching a $3 million Indian Cinema Attraction Fund to entice large-scale Indian film and television projects to film in Victoria.

The fund will be launched in Mumbai this week, with Film Victoria CEO Caroline Pitcher meeting with senior executives from Indias major production houses and studios. It is an Australian-first initiative for a state to partner with the Bollywood film industry.

Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley said: Victoria is home to renowned crews, screen businesses and diverse locations, making it attractive to filmmakers from across the world.

The Indian Cinema Attraction Fund will further strengthen ties between Victoria and India. We look forward to welcoming filmmakers from all over India to Victoria to discover all that our creative state has to offer.

Film Victoria CEO Caroline Pitcher said: The Indian Cinema Attraction Fund is an opportunity to celebrate, collaborate and create uniquely Indian films against a backdrop of Victorian vistas. This opportunity comes at a time when audiences around the world just cant get enough screen content.

Our state has long been a popular filming destination for productions from the US, UK and China, so were incredibly excited for our local creatives to have the chance to work alongside Indias best screen talent and have their work seen by the biggest and fastest growing audience in the world.

Previous Bollywood productions to shoot in Victoria include Chak De! India, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Salaam Namaste  the first Indian movie ever to be filmed entirely in Australia.

Feature film projects must spend at least $700,000 in Victoria and applications for the Indian Cinema Attraction Fund are open to Indian production companies or studios which have produced at least 10 feature films that have been shown on 1000+ screens in India.
3 places with unique museums to visit, right now

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A unique museum is a destination in its own right.

The following three museums offer not just unique experiences, but world-class collections.

Yale

Head to the Yale Center for British Art on the campus of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

The museum, which reopened in 2016 after an extension renovation, is as good as any of the famous museums in the big cities. In fact, it houses the largest collection of British art outside the British Isles.

Honolulu

Hawaii, one of the most popular U.S. destinations, has more than just beaches.

The former monarchy-turned-50th state has a rich cultural heritage. To discover that heritage visit the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, the state capital.

Toledo

Ohios fourth-largest city punches well above its weight, partly thanks to the Toledo Museum of Art.

The world-class museum includes a splendid collection of religious art, including medieval Gothic.

Spires and Crosses is a weekly travel column. Follow @dennislennox on Twitter and Instagram.
When asked whether Domino's Pizza or Google had a higher return for investors since their 2004 IPOs, most people would likely say the tech giant with the world's most visited website.

But Domino's, including its dividends, would have netted you a higher return.

If you had invested $1,000 in Domino's when it went public on July 13, 2004, that investment would be worth more than $56,000 as of last Thursday, according to CNBC calculations. Its share price on Tuesday was hovering around $374.

CNBC: Domino's stock as of Feb. 2020.

As for Google, a $1,000 investment made at IPO, on Aug. 19, 2004, would be worth more than $35,000 as of last Thursday. Its current share price was hovering around $1,426.

CNBC: Google stock as of Feb. 2020.

Other than the fact that people clearly love pizza, this data shows that companies don't necessarily have to dominate a trendy industry to have a top-traded stock.

Last week, Domino's reported its fourth-quarter earnings with news that it had beaten Wall Street expectations. As a result, its shares soared 25% that day.

But Domino's hasn't always been doing well. In 2009, the company received so many poor reviews over its menu items that it decided to overhaul its business model. "Microwave pizza is far superior" and "Domino's tastes like cardboard" are just a few of the critical remarks customers made. As part of its "Domino's Pizza Turnaround" campaign, the company heavily publicized the improvements it made to its recipe.

Following this brand revamp, Domino's saw its stock gain more than 2,000% from 2010 to 2017. It also outperformed big-name companies during that period, including Amazon, Apple and Netflix.

Today, Domino's has managed to stay successful even in the face of heavy competition. As a pizza delivery service, it's had to keep up with ever-growing pressure from others in the delivery space, such as UberEats and DoorDash. Despite the pressure, Domino's grew its U.S. same-store sales by 3.4% during Q4, beating the 2.3% Wall Street expected.
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On February 27, the Surfrider Foundation and leaders of the coastal recreation and tourism industry will present congressional leaders and White House officials with a surfboard signed by thousands of businesses, elected officials and citizens demanding immediate federal action to address the climate change crisis. Attendees of all ages, representing coastal communities across the nation, will meet with more than 100 congressional offices to urge comprehensive climate change policies that protect the ocean and coastlines for the future.

"Our ocean and coasts are under siege due to climate change," said Dr. Chad Nelsen, CEO of the Surfrider Foundation. "Extreme weather events, sea level rise and ocean acidification are putting our coastlines at risk, impacting everything from beachgoing to ocean recreation. The climate crisis is also increasingly taking a devastating toll on coastal economies and local communities. That's why we're adamant that federal leaders take action now to protect the nation's coasts for this and future generations."

Clean water and healthy beaches are critical to the nation's coastal economies, communities, and recreation industries. In fact, coastal recreation and tourism constitute about 2.4 million jobs and contribute more than $124 billion to the U.S. economy every year. Coastlines also play an essential role in protecting communities from extreme weather events and sea level rise resulting from climate change. In addition, natural marine and coastal environments are some of the most effective carbon sinks on the planet, pulling excess carbon out of the atmosphere.

However, the ocean and coasts are increasingly at risk. Warming water and melting glaciers are causing sea levels to rise at an accelerated rate, altering ocean circulation, starving the nation's waterways of oxygen and changing the ocean's chemistry. The ocean has already absorbed over 90% of the heat trapped in our atmosphere and nearly 30% of the excess carbon dioxide previously emitted. Scientists estimate that by 2050, 90% of coral reefs will die off from ocean warming and acidification due to climate change. Increased water temperatures are expected to produce more harmful algae blooms, resulting in closed beaches, killed wildlife, and severe illnesses to surfers and swimmers.

"Climate change represents perhaps the greatest single threat to the survival of our industry and a way of life enjoyed by millions of people," said Sean Smith, executive director of the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA). "SIMA and the surf industry join the Surfrider Foundation in demanding that federal leaders take action on the climate crisis."

The coastal recreation industry will demand federal action on several pieces of legislation to help communities prepare for climate change impacts through shoreline planning and coastal adaptation. They will also urge Congress to enact laws to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, end fossil fuel subsidies and promote renewable energy development.

"As we're seeing more extreme weather and climate change impacts around the world, it is imperative for our nation's state and federal governments to proactively prepare and take action," said Surfrider's Coastal Preservation Manager, Stefanie Sekich-Quinn. "If national policies are not immediately put in place to curb greenhouse gases and help communities adapt, we can expect to witness a drastic future for our communities, ocean and coasts."

For more information, find a nearby chapter , become a member or visit Surfrider.org .

About the Surfrider Foundation

The Surfrider Foundation is a nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world's ocean, waves and beaches through a powerful network.

SOURCE Surfrider Foundation

Related Links

http://www.surfrider.org


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.
Soft power co-opts people rather than coerces them. At the personal level, wise parents know that their power will be greater and will last longer if they exemplify sound ethical values for their children, rather than relying only on spankings, allowances or taking away the car keys. America gains soft power from our values (when we live up to them), and our policies (when they are seen as legitimate because they are framed with some humility and awareness of others interests). How our government behaves at home (for example, protecting a free press), in international institutions (consulting others and multilateralism) and in foreign policy (promoting development and human rights) affects others by the influence of our example. In all of these areas, Mr. Trump has reversed attractive American policies and made America weaker rather than greater.

Defenders of the administration reply that moral issues and soft power do not matter in international relations. Mr. Trumps acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, proclaimed a hard-power budget as he slashed funds for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development by 30 percent. Fortunately, America is more than its government. Unlike our hard-power assets, many soft-power resources are generated by our civil society.

Skeptics argue that the decline of American soft power does not matter much because countries cooperate out of self-interest. But that argument misses a crucial point: Cooperation is a matter of degree, and the degree is affected by attraction or repulsion. The status of our soft power also affects nonstate actors  for example, by aiding or impeding recruitment by terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State movement. In an information age, success depends not only on whose army wins, but also on whose story wins.

The open values of our democratic society are among the greatest sources of Americas soft power. Even when mistaken government policies reduce our attractiveness, the ability of America to criticize itself and correct its mistakes makes us attractive to others at a deeper level. When protesters around the world were marching against our governments policies during the Vietnam War, they often sang We Shall Overcome, the anthem of our civil rights movement, rather than the Communist Internationale.

That should give us hope for the current moment. Given past experience, there is reason to believe that the United States can still recover its soft power after the Trump presidency.

Joseph S. Nye Jr. is a professor at Harvard and the author, most recently, of Do Morals Matter? Presidents and Foreign Policy From FDR to Trump.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com.

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Mike Bloomberg was filmed last year telling a business forum that a father and son who both died of a heroin overdose at the same Brooklyn party were not a good family.

The former New York City mayor and current Democratic presidential candidate spoke at the Bermuda Executive Forum in Manhattan last March.

During the event, Bloomberg commented on the October 2017 deaths of Joseph and Carlos Andrade.

Daily News had a picture on the front page of a father and a son  they both ODd at the same party. I mean, its not a good family  craziness, Bloomberg says in the video unearthed by the New York Daily News.

Some in the audience were heard letting out a laugh.

COMMENTS BEGIN AT AROUND 19:10 MARK

Mike Bloomberg (seen above at a Manhattan business forum in March of last year) said that a father and son who died of a heroin overdose at the same Brooklyn party in 2017 were 'not a good family'

Several people in the audience were heard laughing in response to Bloomberg's comment

Joseph Andrade, 44, and his son Carlos, 22, died in Brooklyn in the early morning hours of October 29, 2017

Carlos was visiting Joseph in his Brooklyn apartment. The two then went out for a smoke, though in reality they snorted heroin mixed with fentanyl

Joseph Andrade, 44, and his son Carlos, 22, died in Brooklyn in the early morning hours of October 29, 2017.

Carlos was visiting his father from Maryland with his girlfriend and children for a family birthday party inside Josephs apartment.

The two then stepped outside for a cigarette.

Jasmin Santos, the 23-year-old mother of Carlos' 11-month-old and 4-year-old sons, grew worried when the two men disappeared after going outside, and found Carlos just inside the building's doorway with his face turning purple

At around 3am, they were seen struggling to breathe. Eventually, first responders were called to the scene, but attempts to resuscitate them failed.

Investigators say the pair snorted a mix of heroin and fentanyl.

First responders administered Narcan, which counteracts the effects of opioids, and the father and son were rushed to Lutheran Hospital, about two miles away.

Life saving measures were not effective and they were pronounced dead at around 4.10am.

Police were seen later Sunday morning investigating a red plastic baggie on the sidewalk near the scene of the incident.

Neighbors and family members told the New York Post that Carlos was a devoted father to his young sons, and wasn't known to have a history with drugs.

Joseph, on the other hand, had a checkered past with respect to illicit substances, those sources said.

In his remarks to the forum, Bloomberg blamed the opioid epidemic on the push to legalize marijuana.

And then we are going hellbent for whether in this country to legalize marijuana, another addictive drug, where weve never done the research to what it does to people, Bloomberg says.

Maybe, in the end, its going to turn out that it doesnt hurt, but preliminary evidence shows it reduces a teenage user of marijuanas IQ by 10 points and it doesnt come back.

Studies claiming that frequent marijuana use impacts IQ have been debunked, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

In the recent months since Bloomberg announced his entry into the Democratic race, controversial remarks have surfaced, shedding light on his attitude toward policing and other matters.

Last week, video of a 2011 interview given by the 78-year-old billionaire to PBS emerged.

In the clip, Bloomberg says that black and Latino men dont know how to behave in the workforce.

In the 2011 interview - conducted while he was serving a third term as New York City Mayor - Bloomberg attempted to gain support for a new initiative to enhance employment opportunities for young men.

He told interviewer Jeffrey Brown: 'There's this enormous cohort of black and Latino males, age, let's say, 16 to 25, that don't have jobs, don't have any prospects, don't know how to find jobs, don't know what their skill sets are, [and] don't know how to behave in the workplace where they have to work collaboratively and collectively'.

Since entering the race for the Democratic nomination, several past controversial remarks made by the former New York mayor have surfaced. Bloomberg is seen left next to Senator Elizabeth Warren during last week's debate in Las Vegas

Elsewhere, in the interview he asserted that 'blacks and Latinos score terribly in school testing compared to whites and Asians' and that minorities make up a majority of those incarcerated in the city's jails.

He went on to add: 'If you look at where crime takes place, it's in minority neighborhoods. If you look at who the victims and the perpetrators are, it's virtually all minorities. This is something that has gone on for a long time'.

The comment is similar to another Bloomberg made during a private speech in 2015 - which made front page news last week after leaked audio was shared on Twitter.

In that speech, given to the Aspen Institute, Bloomberg touted his controversial stop-and-frisk policy while stating that his strategy while Mayor was to 'put all the cops in minority neighborhoods' with the hope of tackling gun violence.

'Ninety-five percent of murders - murderers and murder victims - fit one M.O.,' he stated.

'You can just take a description, Xerox it, and pass it out to all the cops. They are male, minorities, 16-25. That's true in New York, that's true in virtually every city.'

'And that's where the real crime is. You've got to get the guns out of the hands of people that are getting killed,' he said.

'So one of the unintended consequences is people say, 'Oh my God, you are arresting kids for marijuana that are all minorities.' Yes, that's true. Why? Because we put all the cops in minority neighborhoods.'

'Yes, that's true. Why do we do it? Because that's where all the crime is. And the way you get the guns out of the kids' hands is to throw them up against the wall and frisk them... And then they start... 'Oh I don't want to get caught.' So they don't bring the gun. They still have a gun, but they leave it at home.'

Bloomberg apologized last Tuesday amid the uproar, in comments reported by Bloomberg News, which is part of the billionaire's media empire.

Mike Bloomberg is again under fire for his problematic comments on race, with a resurfaced 2011 video showing him claim that many young black and Latino men 'don't know how to behave in the workforce'

'I apologize. I own it. And there's nothing  I'm going to live with it. My heart, I think, was in the right place of trying to do something of reducing murders but the police  I didn't pay as much attention to them as I should have. And you know, I apologize,' Bloomberg said.

He later tweeted: 'This issue and my comments about it do not reflect my commitment to criminal justice reform and racial equity.

'I believe we need to end mass incarceration and during my tenure we reduced incarceration by 40% and juvenile confinement by more than 60%.

'We created the Young Men's Initiative to help young men of color stay on track for success, which President Obama built on to create My Brother's Keeper. And we overhauled a school system that had been neglecting and underfunding schools in Black and Latino communities for too long.'

The gaffes were seized upon by President Trump, who tweeted: 'WOW, BLOOMBERG IS A TOTAL RACIST'.

Bloombergs comments are likely going to make it harder for him to overtake the current Democratic front runner, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

The former mayor is also struggling to recover from a disastrous performance in his first debate in Las Vegas, where Senator Elizabeth Warren hammered him over nondisclosure agreements that female employees of his company signed.
YEREVAN.  It is the judicial power and the judiciary that play a key role in the administration of justice. Minister of Justice Rustam Badasyan stated this during today's parliamentary hearings on reforms in Armenias Judicial Code and related laws, responding to the question as to why the Ministry of Justice has decided to start the judiciary reforms from the countrys judicial system.

He noted that according to the respective legislative package, it is proposed to change the number of members of the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee to 8 persons. Two of them will be nominated by the NGOs operating in the country. "However, they must be scholar lawyers," the minister noted.

He said, in addition, it is envisaged to set up a committee on evaluation of the judges activities, to discuss the distribution of court cases among judges, their consideration within a reasonable time, and the conduct of judges during court hearings.

Introducing the proposed changes, Badasyan assured that the given legislative package is widely discussed, is studied internationally, and has received a positive conclusion from the Venice Commission.

The government is the creator of this legislative package.
US President Donald Trump was on Tuesday accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The US president was then accorded a tri-services guard of honour at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Trump's daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and several top officials of the US administration were also present at the ceremony.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
State Police photo

Police are asking for the publics help in identifying a suspect who stole around 30 cartons of cigarettes from a store at a Citgo station early Monday morning in Colchester.

The robbery at the South Main Street business happened around 2:40 a.m
Delhi: A policeman has been killed and dozens of people injured in Delhi as thousands demonstrating for and against a new citizenship law rioted for several hours before US President Donald Trump's maiden visit to the city.

Police used tear gas and smoke grenades but struggled to disperse the crowds, as both sides hurled stones and turned a wide boulevard into a rock-strewn battle zone about 17 kilometres from where Trump was to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for talks on Tuesday.

Violence broke out in Delhi over a new citizenship law before US President Donald Trumps visit to the city. Credit:AP

One police constable was killed, a police official said, declining to be named since he wasn't authorised to speak to media.

An official at Delhi's GTB Hospital said more than 35 people injured in the clashes were undergoing treatment. Reuters partner ANI reported one civilian had also died, but Reuters was unable to confirm it.
KALAMAZOO, MI -- U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, will seek re-election.

Upton announced his intentions to seek an 18th consecutive term in the U.S. House of Representatives in a Facebook post late Monday, Feb. 24.

There is unfinished business we have to complete - Cures 2.0, fighting the opioid epidemic, immigration reform, and protecting the Great Lakes, among others, he wrote in the post.

I am raising my hand and committing to work with anyone of any party to deliver results, protect our communities, and simply solve problems. That's why I am leader of a bipartisan problem solvers group. Despite what you hear, there are good people in both parties doing good work. We just need more of them.

Upton said there was speculation that he might not run because he became a grandfather earlier this month. The opposite is true, he said.

Some folks thought I might not run because I became a grandfather, he wrote. But actually, I'm running because of it. And I am committed to working with anyone who's willing to help build a better future for our kids and grandkids.

Upton was first elected to Congress in 1986. He represents the 6th District, which encompasses about 720,000 people in the counties of Kalamazoo, Van Buren, Cass, St. Joseph, Berrien and Allegan.

Most recently, in November 2018, Upton won re-election with 50 percent of the votes facing challenges from Democrat Matt Longjohn, who took about 46 percent, and U.S. Taxpayer Party candidate Stephen Young, who took about 4 percent.

That race was one of the districts most competitive ever. Upton had never won by such a close margin.

Two Democratic challengers -- state Rep. Jon Hoadley, D-Kalamazoo, and Kalamazoo teacher Jen Richardson -- are vying for Uptons seat.

Last week Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, also a Democrat, announced her endorsement of Hoadley.

In a statement on Uptons announcement, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Courtney Rice alleged Upton is beholden to pharmaceutical manufacturers.

The only group cheering Congressman Uptons decision to run for reelection are the drug manufacturers who have filled his campaign coffers and known they could count on his lockstep obedience in Washington," Rice said. "Come November, Michiganders will hold him accountable for putting Washington special interests ahead of voters in the 6th District, no matter how sad it makes Uptons pals in the drug manufacturing business.

Read more on MLive:

Gov. Whitmer endorses Jon Hoadley, Democrat seeking Fred Uptons seat

Kalamazoo teacher challenges U.S. Rep. Fred Upton for congressional seat

Recreational marijuana shop opens between Kalamazoo and South Haven
The discussion as to what exactly to expect from AMD's upcoming flagship GPU series (Big Navi) has been ongoing. Personally I expect a GDDR6 based product, however, there might be an enthusiast and enterprise-class product where some form of HBM2 memory is used. And guess what just popped up at Twitter?

We're not 100% sure what to make of the photo posted by a Twitter user named CyberPunkCat, but he claims to have obtained a photo originating from Hynix with a GPU listed as unknown. You can, however, see a 5950 XT reference in the text next to it, 5950 XT. And that name has been popping up several times now. Hynix refers to the GPU as D32310/15, which earlier on also has been spotted at an RRA entry, a South Korean organization that certifies chips.

Now the weird stuff, we'd have no idea as to why Hynix (memory makes) would list GPU specs, but the photo shows just that, as it reveals 80 compute units, multiplied by 64 shaders per cluster that is 5120 shaders processors. Which is double that of NAVI 10. You can see 320 texture memory units listed and 96 ROPs. If this is all true, then AMD might be able to double up perf as long as it's not a dual-GPU based product.

Of course, for Hynix, it is all about the inclusion of memory, and that is listed at 24 GB / 4096-bit HBM2e at 2,048 GB/s, e.g. an enhanced fabrication node of HBM2 which indeed would launch in 2020. In the past, HBM types of memory have proved to be a devil's dilemma, as yields dramatically decrease when applying it making it a very expensive process as well as the very expensive type of memory to purchase due to low its volume production. As such if this rumor is true, we're not even sure if the product is aimed at the consumer market.

This post falls within the typical rumor mill as we do seriously need to question the validity of the photo. We also place some questions at a configuration of 4096-bits and then 24GB (you'd expect 8, 16 or even 32 GB) as well as the actual ROP count. Hynix did announce HBM2e to be released in 2020 but talked 3.6Gb/s at the time, so we're not sure if anything faster has been planned or announced either. The more I look at the photo, the more I think it's a fake, as there are legitimate doubts as, it is the memory configuration that makes the whole picture seem unreliable. 4096-bits = four HBM stacks, not three stacks multiplied by eight GB per HBM2e chip. But I'll leave that as-is, to judge for yourself.

Update February 26th, 7:53 - The SK Hynix team has contacted us indeed verifying our expectations, as well the technical configuration did not make much sense. The photo is not a real one.:

Seoul, February 26, 2020 Regarding recent fake news about SK hynixs memory specifications and info sheet on AMDs next generation GPU, on which some media have reported since February 24 (PST), SK hynix hereby announces that the company has not created and distributed such specifications as well as the document asserted to be leaked by an internal source. link






Federal health officials continue to urge that it's not too late to contain coronavirus in the US if people remain informed and vigilant.

So when Osmel Martinez Azcue returned to Miami from China and came down with flu-like symptoms, he thought getting tested for coronavirus was the prudent thing to do for his family, friends and community.

But what might have been prudent for public health certainly wasn't for Azcue's wallet. He asked for a flu test, and tested positive for that, more commonplace virus, but the peace of mind came with a more-than-$3,000 price tag.

Azcue told the Miami Herald that he'd had to switch to a health care plan with more limited, complicated coverage and higher out of pocket costs after his premiums for his old plan shot up.

It comes as two major issues in the US heat up: the coronavirus outbreak that's spread around the world to sicken nearly 80,000 people (including 35 in the US), and the escalating debate over Medicare for All, other single-payer programs or the current US insurance system.

Osmel Martinez Azcue took every precaution when he developed flu-like symptoms after returning to Florida last month from China where the coronavirus outbreak began. He has flu, not coronavirus, but finding out left him with a bill of more than $3,000

Azcue is among about half of Americans whose employers don't provide them with health care.

But he buys his own insurance separate from his work for a medical device company and takes care of his own health and that of his family.

He had also been alarmed just as the rest of the world was when what began as a few cases of mysterious pneumonia in China turned out to be a never-before-seen virus that soon swept around the globe, killing thousands and sickening tens of thousands.

So when Azcue started to develop flu-like symptoms - difficulty breathing, fever, coughing - he wanted to be sure he hadn't brought coronavirus back with him after traveling to China last month.

World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials have warned that the new coronavirus - SARS-CoV-2 may be transmissible even in the absence of symptoms.

Azcue would normally have just ridden out the unpleasantness of flu at home with some over-the-counter medications.

But with a worldwide public health emergency ongoing, he wasn't about to take any chances.

At a Miami-area hospital, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Azcue informed staff of his travel history, symptoms and concerns.

He was whisked into an isolation room and the nurses assisting him zipped themselves into white protective gear.

Azcue told the Herald that some sort of smoke - what he guessed was an aerosol disinfectant - beneath the door before entering.

He told the Herald that the Jackson Memorial wanted to give him a CT scan as part of the process of confirming or clearing him of coronavirus.

But a CT can cost anywhere from $270 to $5,000 according to American Health Imaging.

And with his limited plan, Azcue knew it would be on the high end and out of pocket for him.

Azcue held his ground with the hospital.

Azcue showed his passport which documented his history of travel to China. His efforts to make sure he didn't contribute to the spread of coronavirus in the US cost him thousands

'This will be out of my pocket,' he recounted telling the hospital staff in an interview with the Herald.

'Let's start with the blood test, and if I test positive, just discharge me,' he said, meaning the flu test.

It's not clear if the CDC considers testing positive for flu a result that ought to rule out coronavirus, but that's how Jackson Memorial took Azcue's test outcome.

He was discharged with a flu diagnosis and a sense of relief.

Aczue never guessed that his new insurance would leave him with a $3,270 bill for a flu test.

Others have reported flu tests - the more thorough lab analyzed blood tests - as running as high as $900 before insurance coverage.

In addition to the flu test, Azcue may have been hit with charges for the protective gear, isolation and containment required to handle a patient who may have been exposed to coronavirus.

But something more bizarre was at play in his case as well. The National General Insurance plan he'd switched to last year has a clause that requires a new customer to prove they don't have any pre-consisting conditions, via offering up three years worth of medical records.

Aczue hadn't yet done that. So until he coughs up three years worth of medical documentation that there convinces his insurance company that he has no preexisting conditions that would lead him to develop flu, the health care provider won't cover his bill.

'When someone has flu-like symptoms, you want them to to seek medical care,' said Sabrina Corlette, a Georgetown University law professor and co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms.

'If they have one of these junk plans and they know they might be on the hook for more than they can afford to seek that care, a lot of them just wont, and that is a public health concern.'

In fact, the CDC has actually instructed hospitals and clinics in five US cities - Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Chicago - to start leveraging their flu tracing systems for coronavirus too.

Anyone who has flu-like symptoms and tests negative for flu is supposed to get tested for coronavirus.

And there's no telling how much that test would have cost Azcue, or how his insurance company would have handled the pre-existing condition question with regard to a screening test for a disease that didn't exist until a couple months ago.

High costs are cited as a reason that about half of Americans wait longer than they should or don't see a doctor at all.

But with a highly contagious outbreak teetering on the edge of becoming a pandemic, there's more even at stake than one's individual health and well-being.

'How can they expect normal citizens to contribute to eliminating the potential risk of person-to-person spread if hospitals are waiting to charge us $3.,270 for a simple blood test and a nasal swab?' said Azcue.


"On one hand, African Americans are unable to access clinical trials for medicine that could ultimately save their lives, and on the other hand, pharmaceutical companies are missing out on clinical data for an entire subset of the population. Which means we, and they, have no way of knowing how these drugs will interact with African American bodies. This is totally out of order, totally unacceptable, totally irresponsible, and frankly, its downright dangerous. ... This is medical injustice.
This is a historic moment in time for Texas, given that we are the first state to approve such a specialization and I am honored to be part of it in service to the State Bar, Hadley said.

Elizabeth Ross Hadley of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP will serve on the newly appointed committee that will vet applicants and develop the application for the newly approved Texas Legislative and Campaign Law specialization. Hadley is chair of the Legislative and Campaign Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and a shareholder in the Government Law and Policy and Litigation practices in the Austin office.

This is a historic moment in time for Texas, given that we are the first state to approve such a specialization and I am honored to be part of it in service to the State Bar, Hadley said.

Hadley currently serves as chair of the State Bar of Texas Legislative and Campaign Law section and will share her committee duties with former section chair, Austin attorney and lobbyist Andy Cates. During the past two years, as former chair, Cates spearheaded the efforts to have the Supreme Court of Texas approve the specialization. A separate committee will oversee the creation of the exam.

Greenberg Traurig Associate Aaron Gregg will serve alongside Hadley and Cates on the advisory commission, while Austin Managing Shareholder Thomas Bond will serve as a member of the exam commission.

There are 24 other legal specializations in the state of Texas. Lawyers looking to earn certification under a specialization must have extensive experience in select areas of law, complete a specified number of continuing legal education hours in the specialty area, and pass a rigorous exam. The Legislative and Campaign specialization will focus on legislative procedures, campaign finance, lobby laws, and the mechanisms of government. To learn more about the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, click here: https://www.tbls.org/

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP  Texas: Texas is important to Greenberg Traurig and part of its history. With more than 125 Texas lawyers in Austin, Dallas, and Houston, Greenberg Traurig has deep roots in the Texas business, legal, and governmental communities. Greenberg Traurig Texas works with clients to address their interdisciplinary legal needs across the state utilizing the firms global platform. The Texas attorneys are experienced in industries key to the states future, including: aviation, chemicals, construction, education, energy and natural resources, financial institutions, health care, hedge funds, hospitality, infrastructure, insurance, media, medical devices, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, real estate, retail, sports, technology and software, telecommunications, transportation, and video games and esports.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2200 attorneys in 41 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.
iWatch Africa, a non-profit organization, has launched a digital rights initiative in Accra to curb online harassment experienced by human rights activists and journalists in Ghana.

iWatch Africa in collaboration with the Commission on Human Rights Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the police will monitor and prosecute individuals who use various online platforms to trample on the fundamental human rights of the targeted group.

The Co-Founder of iWatch Africa, Gideon Sarpong in his address at the event to launch the initiative decried the impact of online harassment on the quality of journalism practised in the country.

He called on the general public to be conscious of their social media posts so they don't undermine the democracy and Constitution of Ghana.

The launch hosted 20 selected participants from diverse backgrounds to undertake the project which will help create a conducive environment for human rights activists and journalists in Ghana.

The Project Lead of iWatch Africa, Nana Boakye-Yiadom highlighted the adverse effect normalizing cyberbullying could have on the country and called on participants to refine their social media interaction modules.

The initiative is supported by the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), through the Africa Digital Rights Fund (ADRF).

iWatch Africa is among 14 organizations selected by CIPESA to advance digital rights in 18 different countries around the continent.

About iWatch Africa

iWatch Africa is a non-governmental media and policy organisation with considerable national repute and significance.

iWatch Africa has carved a niche in Ghana's policy and journalism environment by putting out objective, fact-based and independent assessment on many issues.

iWatch Africa tracks digital rights in Africa, trans-national organised crime, human rights abuse and government overall performance in Ghana.

Credit: iwatchafrica.org
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Dallas, Texas, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Flip Flops Market 2020-2025:

The global Flip Flops market size is expected to gain market growth in the forecast period of 2020 to 2025, with a CAGR of 5.0% in the forecast period of 2020 to 2025 and will expected to reach USD 12070 million by 2025, from USD 9939.8 million in 2019.



The Flip Flops market report provides a detailed analysis of global market size, regional and country-level market size, segmentation market growth, market share, competitive Landscape, sales analysis, impact of domestic and global market players, value chain optimization, trade regulations, recent developments, opportunities analysis, strategic market growth analysis, product launches, area marketplace expanding, and technological innovations.

Request a sample of Flip Flops report @ https://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/4174381



Flip flops are light weight sandals which are usually made up of rubber or plastic. In Flip Flops, there is string between the big and the second toe. Flip flops were first invented in Japan. During the World War II, rubber production was high in the country and thus flip flops originated. Also during the 1950s after the war, Japan started to export rubber flip flops to the United States. That time, flip flops were marketed as Zoris and Japanese thongs were made up of straws. Earlier flip flops have been related with beaches, hot weather and surfing. However, there has been a transition in fashion trends which has boosted and led to the use of several flip flops widely for regular use. Now, Flip flops are worn primarily by women throughout the summer season.

The major factors driving the growth of the flip flops market are increase in number of purchase by young population and also change in customer preference toward trendy footwear.

The major players covered in Flip Flops are: Havaianas, Fat Face, Deckers Brands, Ipanema (Grendene), Clarks, REEF, Tory Burch, Monsoon Accessorize, Crocs, Roxy/Quiksilver, Kappa, Kate Spade New York, Skechers, Nike, Adidas, etc. Among other players domestic and global, Flip Flops market share data is available for global, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and South America separately. Global Info Research analysts understand competitive strengths and provide competitive analysis for each competitor separately.

Browse the complete report @ https://www.orbisresearch.com/reports/index/global-flip-flops-market-2020-by-manufacturers-regions-type-and-application-forecast-to-2025

Market segmentation

Flip Flops market is split by Type and by Application. For the period 2015-2025, the growth among segments provide accurate calculations and forecasts for sales by Type and by Application in terms of volume and value. This analysis can help you expand your business by targeting qualified niche markets.

By Type, Flip Flops market has been segmented into EVA Flip Flops, PVC Flip Flops, Rubber Flip Flops, EVA+Rubber Flip Flops, Other Flip Flops, etc.

By Application, Flip Flops has been segmented into Women Flip Flops, Men Flip Flops, Girls Flip Flops, Boys Flip Flops, etc.

Make an enquiry of Flip Flops report @ https://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/enquiry-before-buying/4174381

In addition, Global Flip Flop market based on the applications can be classified into Girls Flip Flops, Boys Flip Flops, Women Flip Flops, Men Flip Flops, etc. Furthermore, on the basis of distribution channel, market can be split into online channel and offline channel. Further, the offline distribution market segment can be divided into local markets and stores. The distribution channel choice totally depends on the customers purpose. Customers prefer the local market when they want to purchase flip-flops for functional purpose.

Regions and Countries Level Analysis

Regional analysis is another highly comprehensive part of the research and analysis study of the global Flip Flops market presented in the report. This section sheds light on the sales growth of different regional and country-level Flip Flops markets. For the historical and forecast period 2015 to 2025, it provides detailed and accurate country-wise volume analysis and region-wise market size analysis of the global Flip Flops market.

The report offers in-depth assessment of the growth and other aspects of the Flip Flops market in important countries (regions), including United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Russia, Italy, China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia, Australia, Brazil and Saudi Arabia, etc. It also throws light on the progress of key regional Flip Flops markets such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America and Middle East & Africa.

Competitive Landscape and Flip Flops Market Share Analysis

Flip Flops competitive landscape provides details by vendors, including company overview, company total revenue (financials), market potential, global presence, Flip Flops sales and revenue generated, market share, price, production sites and facilities, SWOT analysis, product launch. For the period 2015-2020, this study provides the Flip Flops sales, revenue and market share for each player covered in this report.

Table of Contents

1 Market Overview

2 Manufacturers Profiles

3 Sales, Revenue and Market Share by Manufacturer

4 Global Market Analysis by Regions

5 North America by CountryContinued

Part-II

Global Womens Flip Flops Market 2020-2024:

Flip-flops are a type of sandal, typically worn as a form of casual wear. They consist of a flat sole held loosely on the foot by a Y-shaped strap known as a toe thong that passes between the first and second toes and around both sides of the foot or can be a hard base with a strap across all the toes (these can also be called sliders).

Request a sample of this report @ https://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/4297883

Flip flops are light weight sandals which are usually made up of rubber or plastic and typically worn as a form of casual wear. In Flip Flops, there is string between the big and the second toe in Y- shaped which is connected to a flat sole held loosely on the foot. Flip flops were first invented in Japan. During the World War II, rubber production was high in the country and thus flip flops originated. Also during the 1950s after the war, Japan started to export rubber flip flops to the United States. That time, flip flops were marketed as Zoris and Japanese thongs were made up of straws. Earlier flip flops have been related with beaches, hot weather and surfing. However, there has been a transition in fashion trends which has boosted and led to the use of several flip flops widely for regular use. Now, Flip flops are worn primarily by women throughout the summer season.

The major factors driving the growth of the flip flops market are increase in number of purchase by young population and also change in customer preference toward trendy footwear.

Global Womens Flip Flops Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers

Havaianas

Ipanema (Grendene)

REEF

Deckers Brands

Crocs

Monsoon Accessorize

Clarks

Fat Face

Roxy/Quiksilver

Tory Burch

Kate Spade New York

Nike

Adidas

Skechers

Global Womens Flip Flops Market Segment by Type, covers

EVA

PVC

Rubber

EVA+Rubber

Others

Global Womens Flip Flops Market Segment by Applications, can be divided into

Online

Offline

Make an enquiry of this report @ https://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/4297883

Global Flip Flop market can be split on the basis of various key segments such as types of the products, distribution channel, competitive landscape and key regions or key countries. On the basis of types, the Global Flip Flop market can be primarily divided into EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate), Rubber Flip Flops, PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) Flip Flops, EVA+Rubber Flip Flops, and other flip Flops, and others. Furthermore on the basis of distribution channel, market can be split into online channel and offline channel. Further, the offline distribution market segment can be divided into local markets and stores. The distribution channel choice totally depends on the customers purpose. Customers prefer the local market when they want to purchase flip-flops for functional purpose.

There are several key players which are presently functioning in this sector. The Players having a strong hold in the Global Flip Flop market are Skechers, Nike, Kate Spade New York, Adidas, Tory Burch, Roxy/Quiksilver, Fat Face, Clarks, Monsoon Accessorize, Crocs, Deckers Brands, REEF, Ipanema (Grendene), Havaianas and many others.

Regional analysis is another essential part of the research and study for any market movement. Looping on the basis of Geographical regions, major countries or regions which have good market are for production, consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate, and forecast of next five years, the following key regions including North America (United States, Canada and Mexico), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia), Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Russia and Italy), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and rest of south America) and Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa).

Table of Contents

1 Market Overview

2 Manufacturers Profiles

3 Global Women's Flip Flops Sales, Revenue, Market Share and Competition by Manufacturer (2017-2018)

4 Global Women's Flip Flops Market Analysis by Regions

5 North America Women's Flip Flops by CountryContinued

About Us:

Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.





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A city-based micro artist has created a miniature wax statue of visiting American President Donald Trump in the eye of a needle.

Mattewada Ajay Kumar, known for his miniature sculptures, came up with the unique idea of making a wax statue of Trump to mark the leader's visit to the country.

The height of Trump's statue is 1.25 mm and width 0.32 mm. A tiny US national flag is seen draped over the statue of the President.

The flag measures 0.94 mm in height and is 0.64 mm in width.

Ajay Kumar said he spent 13 hours to complete the miniature art.

Last October, his micro sculpture skill was recognised internationally.

He had bagged the first prize in 'Art in a capsule competition-2019', an international contest organised by ACG World Group, a pharmaceutical solutions and manufacturing company.

Ajay Kumar received 5,000 American dollars as prize money in the contest, which witnessed participation of around 80 micro artists from across India, USA, Latin America and European nations.

It may be recalled that Ajay Kumar created a miniature sculpture depicting Dandi March 'National Salt Satyagraha,' in the eye of a needle to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary celebrations, on October 2, 2018.

In the sculpture Mahatma Gandhi could be seen leading seven men and women following him and that amazing work is now showcased at National Salt Satyagraha Memorial (NSSM) at Dandi in Gujarat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the memorial to the nation on January 30 this year and expressed his amazement after watching the miniature sculpture created by Ajay Kumar.

He is the one of the 12 artists chosen from across India and the world to showcase their work at the NSSM.

Ajay Kumar comes from a family of goldsmiths. His parents are late Mattewada Venkata Chary, who was a Freedom Fighter and a famous goldsmith; and mother Hymavathi, who is now 85 years old.

Ajay Kumar's earlier creations, a functional miniature a lock and key, an electric fan, gold scissors and violin all made in gold earned him place in Limca Book of Records for five times, including a world record.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
MASCOUTAH  Bryan Johnson has been named by the St. Clair County Public Building Commission (PBC) as the new director of the MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah effective April 3.

Johnson will succeed Tim Cantwell, director of MidAmerica Airport for the past 17 years. He announced his retirement in October, committing to stay on the job until his replacement was hired.

Most recently served was a senior consultant for Aviation Management Consulting Group (AMCG) in Centennial, Colorado, Johnson has more than 25 years of aviation and transportation experience. He also has served as Airport Director at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield, Colorado and Assistant Director of Aviation at Quad City International Airport in Moline.

We selected Bryan following a national search that also reached international interests and drew applications from more than 60 applicants from around the world who were eager to be part of the operations here at MidAmerica Airport, said St. Clair County Chairman Mark Kern. Given his solid qualifications and his demonstrated ability to take what is in place and grow it, we are confident that Bryan is the best person to lead MidAmerica Airport into the future.

Johnson is currently an Accredited Airport Executive and is one of three Certified Member Instructors for the American Association of Airport Executives and a primary instructor for the ACE Finance Program. He earned his Master of Public Administration from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and has an undergraduate degree is in Aviation Management from Metropolitan State University in Denver.

He previously served on a governor-appointed transportation committee in Nebraska as well as the Illinois Aviation Trades Association. A commercial/instrument pilot, he also is a past board member for the Colorado Aviation Business Association.

I am honored to be confirmed as the next leader of a terrific team at the MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, Johnson said. I look forward to meeting the BLV team, our Scott Air Force Base partners, and working with Allegiant Airlines, Boeing, North Bay Produce and engaging with the local business community leaders.

Located in Mascoutah, MidAmerica St. Louis Airport has parallel runways of 8,000 and 10,000 feet and an annual capacity of 200,000 operations. Tenants include Boeing, North Bay Produce and AVMATS. It partners with Scott Air Force Base, the home to US Transportation Command, and Air Mobility Command. MidAmerica and the 375th Air Mobility Wing operate Scott AFB/MidAmerica St. Louis Airport.
DALLAS, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hunt Oil Company announced today that Travis Armayor, Senior Vice President, has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer (CFO). In this role, Armayor will oversee the Accounting, Corporate Finance, Treasury, Business Development, and Commodity Marketing functions for Hunt Oil, as well as provide financial leadership for all of Hunt Consolidated's energy activities.

"Travis has a proven track record at Hunt, where he has been responsible for leading global teams supporting multibillion-dollar operations within a changing market environment," said Mark Gunnin, President of Hunt Oil Company. "His experience leading during organizational transformations made him a natural fit for the CFO role at Hunt Oil," said Gunnin.

Armayor joined Hunt in 2009 as Vice President of Corporate Development and was Senior Vice President of Corporate Finance and Business Development prior to his current position. Armayor has more than 25 years of corporate finance experience, and prior to joining Hunt, he was an energy investment banker primarily at Merrill Lynch and predecessors to JPMorgan in New York, Houston and Dallas.

"As CFO, Travis' leadership capabilities combined with his financial expertise and technical knowledge in all aspects of corporate finance, financial planning, and accounting will allow him to support the entire energy organization, while enabling continued success and driving future growth across the energy space," said Hunter Hunt, CEO of Hunt Energy.

Armayor earned a BBA from Baylor University and an MBA from Vanderbilt University.

About Hunt Consolidated, Inc.

Hunt Consolidated Inc. is a diversified holding company directed by Ray L. Hunt, Hunter L. Hunt and Christopher W. Kleinert with its major subsidiaries engaged in oil and gas exploration and production, refining, LNG, power, real estate, investments, ranching and infrastructure.

Contact: Jeanne Phillips

Senior Vice President

Corporate Engagement & International Relations

(214) 978-8534

SOURCE Hunt Oil Company

Related Links

http://www.huntoil.com


GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Shellie Cole-Mickens empathizes with every woman that comes into one of her recovery houses for women with criminal histories. Shes lived their life.

Ive been in every phase of incarceration, Cole-Mickens said. From tether to county jail to prison to Grand Rapids Correction Center -- they no longer have that. But every kind of way you can be incarcerated, Ive been incarcerated over the years.

Like them, she knows what it feels like to leave prison and have nowhere to go.

"When I got out, she said, I paroled to the same drug infested neighborhood and living environment that I left.

Cole-Mickens, 59, doesnt want ex-offenders to encounter the same struggle she did, so she made it her mission to provide housing and share her experiences with women exiting prison. Shes a landlord with five Grand Rapids houses dedicated to that goal.

There is a high risk of recidivism facing ex-offenders who return to the same communities they left. Transitioning back into society presents challenges, particularly if parolees lack key support services when they get out  a major one being suitable, stable housing.

Thats a critical pathway to not returning to their previous ways that resulted in their incarceration in the first place.

RELATED: Ex-offenders struggle to find housing in Grand Rapids hot market

Before going to prison in the 1990s, Cole-Mickens had been in and out of jail several times for drug possession, shoplifting and trespassing. They were all related to an underlying crack cocaine addiction, she said.

When she got out of prison in September of 1996, Cole-Mickens said there was no housing support. No Offender Success Program like the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) currently has. No Michigan Prisoner Re-entry Initiative. Only a few transitional housing offerings existed.

So, she decided to try and change that, and in 1997, House of Blessings was born.

If you are reading this in your Facebook app, use this link to view the entire gallery of photos.

House of Blessings and its five houses is just for female parolees and is primarily focused on helping women who have had substance abuse or mental health issues, along with homelessness, domestic violence and prostitution.

House of Blessings purposely maintains a relatively low profile. It might pop up on a list of recovery houses, but it doesnt have a website. Cole-Mickens encourages women in need of housing to reach out to her via email at shelliec123@yahoo.com or phone at 616-634-1972.

Part of House of Blessings low profile is because of the nature of some of the womens crimes and concerns about what people would do if they found out where these women live.

People can be really cruel, she said. People can be really mean.

Cole-Mickens takes the confidentiality of her residents very seriously, in part, to ensure their safety and well-being.

This is recovery housing, she said. Its important to maintain an atmosphere and environment thats conducive to their recovery for their personal safety and support.

Instead, Cole-Mickens receives tenants through word of mouth and referrals from other organizations, including the Michigan Department of Corrections, different district courts, the drug court program, churches, probation officers and mental health organizations.

Im not some fly by night," she said. Ive been around for years.

People who work with parolees, or returning citizens, say finding them housing is one of the biggest challenges, if not the biggest, despite it being a necessity.

It gives them stability, said Angie Sprank, community coordinator for Region 4 of the Offender Success Program, which helps people recently released from prison get on their feet.

It gives them a safe place to go every day.

The Offender Success Program keeps a list of landlords that are willing to rent rooms to parolees.

Sprank said the list fluctuates between seven and 10 landlords.

In Cole-Mickens homes, there is no set timeline for how long someone can stay, unlike many other types of transitional houses. People can stay as long as they are moving forward in recovery.

The reason why I dont have a time limit on people living here is theres no time frame on trauma, she said. People say time heals all wounds. Thats not true. You know, help, and love and support heal wounds.

Cole-Mickens said every experience is unique to the individual. One woman, Ida Hunkins, has been in one of Cole-Mickens houses since she got out of prison almost four years ago.

I think its more because its home, if that makes sense, Hunkins said about her length of stay. I dont know how to explain it. Just home.

The rent is also unique to each individual.

Some people are able to pay for their rent, because theyre employed. Some people have Social Security, some people get help from agencies and organizations on the outside, Cole-Mickens said.

Shes flexible on what she charges for rent and doesnt have a flat rate because some people, dont have the income that other people have.

Cole-Mickens said she doesnt have a standard price range for rent. The goal is always to get the women safe and supportive housing, and then help them transition to their own housing.

When they do get to that point, it would be awesome if landlords would be willing to rent to them, she said.

People change, heres the point, people change. And people grow and people mature and people come out differently than when they went in.

The goal for Cole-Mickens is to make sure every house feels like a home. She doesnt like the idea of an institutional feeling in her houses.

Ive been in institutions from foster home to the penitentiary, personally, she said. This is a home-like environment and I work very hard to keep it that way.

Recovery and safety are two words that Cole-Mickens uses over and over again to describe the environment she tries to create at each of her homes.

"This is a womb, Cole-Mickens said, describing her houses.

Ive traveled the road that theyve traveled, you know what I mean? And I pour it into the House of Blessings to continue to keep this a home-like, safe and supportive environment.

For the women who have come and gone from House of Blessings throughout the years, Cole-Mickens said they are able to come home to a place where the people they live with care about them. At the end of the day, thats what keeps her opening her doors to woman after woman.

I wanted more for myself and I wanted more for women," Cole-Mickens said. Thats why I started the House of Blessings, it was born out of my own pain and experiences that I didnt want other women to have to navigate through.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 25

By Fidan Babayeva - Trend:

Azerbaijan aims to actively develop alternative energy in the coming years, increasing investments in this area annually, Rasim Sattarzade, head of the environmental policy department of Azerbaijans Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, told Trend.

Sattarzade noted that the potential of renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan will allow generating 62.8 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.

The department head said that in recent years Azerbaijan has been developing the sphere of renewable energy sources more actively, which are much safer than traditional hydrocarbons.

The sun and wind are environmentally friendly and arent depleted during consumption, Sattarzade added. Our country has great potential for the development of alternative energy.

The department head noted that a major part of Azerbaijans potential in this area accounts for solar energy, and this potential is estimated at 23,040 megawatts. Wind energy accounts for 3,000 megawatts, biomass - 380 megawatts, geothermal energy - 800 megawatts and the potential of small hydropower plants accounts for the remaining 520 megawatts, Sattarzade added.

A large number of projects have already been implemented, but starting this year, projects for the development of alternative energy will be implemented with greater intensity, said the department head. Major state investments are expected in alternative energy generation projects, as the state attaches great importance to this industry.

Sattarzade emphasized that hydropower is the most important source of renewable energy in Azerbaijan.

Most sites for the construction of hydropower plants are already in use, the department head noted. The number of dams and reservoirs that can be built on the river is limited. The energy taken by the power plant from the river can no longer be used downstream. If too many power plants are built on the river, economic conflicts associated with the distribution of water energy are inevitable.

Renewable energy sources are certainly important for Azerbaijan, however, with the exception of hydropower, there is no practice of their use.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  A spokesman for Irans Health Ministry says the head of the countrys counter-coronavirus task force has tested positive for the virus.

The announcement on Tuesday comes a day after Iraj Harirchi gave a news conference in Tehran in which he tried to minimize the danger posed by the outbreak.

On Monday, Harirchi had been sweating and looked uncomfortable during the conference.

On Tuesday, Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour confirmed Harirchi had the virus.

The announcement comes as countries across the Mideast say theyve had confirmed cases of the virus that link back to Iran, which for days denied having the virus.

The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday banned all flights to and from Iran over the outbreak of the new coronavirus, just a day after its spread from the Islamic Republic was announced across multiple Mideast nations. Iran meanwhile raised the official death toll from the virus to 15 killed amid 95 confirmed infections.

The UAE, home to long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad, remains a key international transit route for Irans 80 million people. The flight ban, which will last at least a week, shows the growing concern over the spread of the virus in Iran amid worries the outbreak may be larger than what authorities there now acknowledge.

The UAE announcement came after Bahrain said it would suspend all flights from Dubai and Sharjah, a neighboring UAE emirate that is home to Air Arabia, for 48 hours.

Bahrains Health Ministry on Tuesday raised the number of infected cases from the new virus to eight, saying that all had traveled from Iran via Dubai.

Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq and Oman also announced their first cases of the virus on Monday and connected them to travel with Iran.

Also Tuesday, Kuwait raised the number of its infected cases to eight, according to the state-run KUNA news agency.

Jon Gambrell is an Associated Press writer.
H arvey Weinstein has been rushed to hospital with chest pains after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault following an historic trial in New York.

The disgraced former Hollywood film producer was reportedly suffering high blood pressure and heart palpitations on his way to jail following his conviction on Monday.

A spokesman for Weinstein later said he was diverted to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, which has a unit that provides medical care for prison inmates.

It comes after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping a woman in 2013.

Harvey Weinstein arrives at court prior to being found guilty on two counts / AP

Weinstein's spokesman said he did not know why the former movie mogul went to Bellevue or how long he would be there. A number of US news outlets reported that he had complained of chest pains.

His attorney Donna Rotunno told CNN he was suffering heart palpitations and high blood pressure.

The once-powerful film producer 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.

Harvey Weinstein arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday / AFP via Getty Images

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.

Actress Rose McGowan, who had accused Weinstein of rape, wrote on Twitter following the conviction: "Today is a powerful day & a huge step forward in our collective healing."

A statement for the #MeToo movement said: "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."

Weinstein 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.

The jury of seven men and five women acquitted Weinstein on the most serious charges, which carried a potential life sentence.

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.

More than 80 women, including famous actresses, accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct stretching back decades. He 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, saying: "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.

Attorney Gloria Allred said she would see Weinstein at his next trial / AFP via Getty Images

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.

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".

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.

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."

During his trial, Weinstein often appeared feeble, entering the courthouse using a zimmer frame and sometimes leaning on his lawyer for support.

Critics 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.

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.
Royal experts have criticised Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 'unsustainable' security plans and warned costs could 'spiral out of control' as the predicted bill rocketed to 20million a year.

Experts claimed the couple's jet-set lifestyle and move to Canada could leave the police unable to cope as they undertake trips to various countries in order to establish their own brand away from the British Monarchy.

Royal author Phil Dampier told MailOnline: 'The cost of security was always going to be a major problem for Harry and Meghan and it doesn't surprise me that the bill seems to be going up and up.

'The travelling they do around North America is going to put an immense strain on resources as both they and their son Archie need to be protected 24/7 and Scotland Yard detectives will tend to work shifts of two weeks on two weeks off.

'If you add the costs of them having to travel to and from the UK for leave it could spiral out of control and become absolutely ridiculous. So in the long term I don't think it is sustainable.'

Taxpayers currently pay 600,000 for the Sussexes' team of royal protection officers, with previous forecasts suggesting the bill could rise to between 3million and 6million when they move abroad.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are pictured above earlier this month. It is said that costs to keep the couple safe are continuing to soar

Harry, Meghan and their son Archie (above) have all been in different places in recent months which is said to have added to their security costs

Harry and Meghan's travels this year and where they are expected to be going in March

Mr Dampier, author of Royally Suited: Harry and Meghan in Their Own Words, said questions were also being raised in Canada.

'Even the Canadians who are welcoming hosts are starting to query the costs to their police force of protecting them,' he said.

'I think it's a massive headache and if they are not going to be doing duties in the UK it's extremely hard to justify.'

Speaking to The Mirror, Dai Davies, former Met protection officer said their situation has called for a 'complete ripping up of the rule book'.

'In their current state the plans are unworkable.

'There is already a severe lack of trained officers and this is only adding to the Met's woes.'

The couple insisted in their statement last week that they need security 'to protect them and their son' amid controversy surrounding protection costs

Harry Meghan and their son Archie have been in different locations over the last few months and officers are believed to be drafting new plans to double their protection team.

They have previously been criticised for their carbon-heavy jet-set lifestyle despite frequently flaunting their eco credentials.

In a statement last week Prince Harry and Meghan said they 'will continue to require effective security to protect them and their son.'

They sparked fury by insisting the taxpayer should cough up 'based on the Duke's public profile by virtue of being born a royal, his military service, the Duchess's independent profile.'

Harry and Meghan's security bill could soar to 20 million a year, sparking anger and a row over who will foot the bill.

The couple had also previously taken security measures at the property they were staying at in Canada (above)

Now an internal memo seen by The Mirror has revealed that there is a staffing crisis within the team that supports the Royals and that Scotland Yard is facing increasing demand from them.

It calculated that estimations of 3million to 6million a year were 'inadequate' and that Harry and Meghan would need at least 12 protection officers, who earn salaries of 106,000.

It is believed to have stated that the Met has been told to deliver the calculations to the Government and that costs could reach 20 million.

The couple still require effective security for their young family and they had previously sparked fury after it was revealed they insisted the UK tax payer should still splurge on their safety.

The couple married in 2018 and earlier this year they announced they would be stepping back from their royal duties

Security sources last night said that there is 'no agreement or concrete plan' in place when it comes to who will actually fund their security team.

Labour MP Stephen Doughty said he supported the couple's choice to embark on a more private life but added that questions over costs needed to be addressed.

His comments come as cuts have been made to local police forces up and down the country, leaving many towns and cities struggling to police their respective areas.

It has been estimated that costs for their security include a 5 million bill for officers stationed at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor while the couple reside in the UK.

They are due to officially leave the British Monarchy on March 31.

The Met said they were unable to discuss matters of protective security. The palace has been contacted for comment.
An Arizona congressional candidate has suspended his campaign after suffering a drug overdose.

The now-former candidate is Chris Taylor, an Army veteran who also sits on the city council in the city of Safford, which is in the eastern portion of the state.

Today, I have suspended my campaign for the US House of Representatives and am seeking treatment for substance abuse disorder, Mr Taylor said in a statement to NBC News.

I will fully cooperate with local authorities on any matters arising from my recent relapse and overdose, he continued.

Mr Taylor was running in the Republican primary for the 1st Congressional District in the state.

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According to the Arizona Republic, Mr Taylor is a married father of two who had served two combat tours in Afghanistan, and had suffered from opioid addiction in the past.

That addiction appears to have motivated him in his public life as well, with his campaign claiming he founded a non-profit called Desert Eagle Addiction Recovery that is dedicated to helping individuals, especially fellow combat veterans, suffering from drug addiction.

Recommended Arizona official accused of smuggling mothers to US to give up babies

In his statement, Mr Taylor said he recently relapsed after having so many solid years in sobriety. I have to figure out where I went wrong. Thankfully I have every resource available to me through the Veterans Affairs Administration and I have the strongest support system one could dream of.

The only think I can do is face this head on in complete humility and put one foot in front of the other so that I can get the help needed to be the father and husband that my family deserves.

According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, combat exposure puts troops at a substantial risk for abusing opioids and heroin.

In the general population, the US has encountered an epidemic when it comes to opioid use, with an estimated 10.3 million Americans aged 12 and older abusing the drugs in 2018.
A suspected serial killer wanted for at least a half-dozen murders around Detroit is in a critical condition after shooting himself in the head as police closed in on his location.

Kenyel Brown is wanted for at least a half-dozen slayings and other crimes in and around Detroit, Michigan.

The 40-year-old was tracked down to a residential area and shot himself in the head while being pursued by police, authorities said on Monday.

He had been spotted by an adult bookstore clerk and is now in a critical condition at a hospital after the self-inflicted wound, Detroit Police Chief James Craig said.

As police were using trained dogs to search for Brown, officers spotted him jumping fences in neighboring Oak Park, said the chief.

Officers closed in on him in the backyard of an Oak Park home, officers heard a single gunshot and found Brown wounded, Craig said.

Kenyal Brown (left and right) was wanted for six murders in Detroit and shot himself in the head after being tracked down by police

Einstein Elementary went into lockdown for around 45 minutes as a precaution as police searched the area for Brown.

'The good news is no one else got hurt. Certainly, this could have been a very tragic situation whether we had encountered him at the bookstore or if one of our officers had first,' Craig said.

Brown is suspected in six slayings overall in Detroit, Highland Park and River Rouge, Craig said.

The first was on January 8 in River Rouge, with the most recent occurring Saturday in Detroit 'over a drug argument', he said.

Brown also was accused of two carjackings in the city within 19 minutes of each other, Craig said.

'Our team worked literally around the clock,' Craig told reporters. 'They knew this man was extremely dangerous in our community.'

Einstein Elementary in Oak Park went into lockdown for around 45 minutes as a precaution as police searched the area for Brown

Craig added that police believe others might have been working with Brown, so the investigation continues.

Wayne County prosecutors charged Brown with two counts of first-degree murder and other crimes in connection with the River Rouge incidents that left Dorian Patterson, 48, and Kimberly Green, 52, dead of multiple gunshot wounds. US marshals also had been pursuing him.

Brown had previously served 10 years in prison for manslaughter, according to court records.

He had been charged with second-degree murder and five vehicle-related felonies in 2000 but pleaded guilty in January 2001 to fleeing and eluding a police officer.

The other three charges, including the murder count, were dropped the next month.
India and US on Tuesday discussed "every important aspect" of their partnership, including defence and security, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the joint press statement with President Donald Trump.

"Today we discussed every important aspect of US-India partnership, be it defence and security, energy strategic partnership, trade or people to people ties. The strengthening in defence ties between India and the US is an important aspect of our partnership," said Modi.

India and the United States today signed several agreements including those on mental health and safety of medical products.

Modi again welcomed Trump and his delegation. "President Trump and his delegation are once again warmly welcomed in India. I am particularly happy that he has come with his family on this journey," he said.

"This is my fifth meeting with President Trump in the last eight months," the Prime Minister added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
KOCHVILLE TOWNSHIP, MI - Saginaw Valley State University celebrated a new permanent home for its business college Monday afternoon, with leaders and students sharing excitement about the new space.

The Scott L. Carmona College of Business now has a dedicated three-story facility on SVSUs campus, built as a 38,500-square-foot expansion of Curtiss Hall. The new space cost roughly $25.4 million, with $9.8 million in state funding and more than $15.6 million from a private fundraising campaign.

The new space includes research laboratories, classrooms and a trading lab with Bloomberg terminals, real-time stock updates and other analytics technology.

Curtiss Hall also saw renovations, including a new third-story walkway from existing business faculty offices into the new college, said SVSU spokesman J.J. Boehm.

At a celebration and dedication event Monday, Feb. 24, in the Malcolm Field Theatre, SVSU President Donald Bachand said the new facility is the largest change to university infrastructure during his tenure as president, which began in 2014.

This day is very special to me, it reminds me how fortunate we are to be part of a community that cares so much about our students and our university, Bachand said. "Its a great day to be a Cardinal.

After the celebration, attendees were able to walk through and check out the new space. A public tour of the facility is scheduled for between 9:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. Thursday.

Valory Altoft worked as a student volunteer at the event on Monday, answering questions and highlighting the Wolohan Finance and Data Analytics Lab, which hosts the new trading tech.

This is definitely my favorite room of the expansion," she said. A lot of the other rooms are exciting too, but as an accounting major this is kind of the bread and butter to me.

The most exciting part of the expansion is how it will benefit business students, Altoft said. The universitys goal was to provide students with the most up-to-date resources, and shes excited for the access to software and technology.

Youre going to get that real world experience, before I graduate and before I go out into the business world, Ill have experience with various different software," Altoft said. That kind of thing I think, as SVSU students, will set us apart."

Read more:

SVSU announces $25 million business addition

38 companies honored for Saginaw County investments

Saginaw Valley State University adds womens lacrosse as varsity sport
Colombo, Feb 25 : Former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to contest the country's upcoming parliamentary election from the Colombo district, a source from his United National Party (UNP) has revealed.

Wickremesinghe has already informed the UNP, which he heads and is the incumbent ruling party, that he will be contesting, amidst reports that the former leader may be offered a national list seat by former presidential hopeful Sajith Premadasa, who is now leading the newly formed Samagi Jana Balawegaya Alliance, of which the UNP is the main constituent party, the Daily Mirror newspaper quoted the source as saying on Monday.

The source said that Wickremesinghe's camp had also maintained that there would be no change in the electorates of any members and they will all contest from their respective constituencies.

This was in reference to reports that some UNP members were trying to contest from different electorates, causing disagreement within the party.

"No one will be able to make any changes to their electorates and this has been conveyed to all members. No one can be involved in any kind of trading," the Daily Mirror quoted the source as saying.

Meanwhile, a final decision on the party's symbol will be taken on March 1 when the leaders and working committee meet, after which the UNP and its alliance members can prepare their campaign for the elections.

The parliamentary election is expected to be held before December 1.

The election date was postponed by over a year to January 5, 2019, after Parliament was dissolved in November 2018 by former President Maithripala Sirisena, while calling for a snap election.

But the dissolution was suspended by the island nation's Supreme Court and ordered a halt to the snap election while moving the election date to 2020.
George Eustice hinted UK would be open to discussions over acid-washed meat

British food producers have warned against accepting chemically washed chicken to secure a US trade deal.

Both the British Poultry Council (BPC) and National Farmers' Union (NFU) fear the Government is clearing the way to accept food produced to lower standards than allowed here.

Environment Secretary George Eustice has hinted that the UK would be open to discussions over imports of acid-washed meat, which could be pivotal to trade talks.

The system is used in the US to disinfect carcasses. But British farmers and consumer groups argue it masks poor animal welfare conditions that would be illegal in this country.

Environment Secretary George Eustice (pictured) has hinted that the UK would be open to discussions over imports of acid-washed meat, which could be pivotal to trade talks

BPC chief executive, Richard Griffiths, said: 'British poultry producers don't dip their chicken carcasses in chemicals as we do not 'clean up at the end' or take any short-cuts.'

NFU president Minette Batters will tell members today that UK standards must not be 'undermined'.

She will warn: 'This isn't just about chlorinated chicken. This is about a wider principle.

'We must not tie the hands of British farmers to the highest rung of the standards ladder while waving through food imports which may not even reach the bottom rung.

'If the government is serious about animal welfare and environmental protection, and doing more than any previous government, it must put legislation in the Agriculture Bill.

British farmers and consumer groups argue it masks poor animal welfare conditions that would be illegal in this country (stock image)

'What is government waiting for? What is more important to our economy, our health and our environment than the very food that we eat?'

Meanwhile, ahead of Mr Eustice's speech to the NFU conference on Wednesday, the Government is publishing new details of its future Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELM), which will replace the EU's Common Agricultural Policy that mostly pays farmers for the amount of land they farm.

The new ELMs will pay farmers for work that enhances the environment, such as tree or hedge planting, river management to reduce flooding or creating or restoring habitats for wildlife, the Environment Department (Defra) said.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti  The Haitian Ministry of Defense said Monday that a soldier had died from wounds suffered during an exchange of gunfire with police officers protesting outside army headquarters.

Another soldier was in stable condition with a bullet wound, according to the ministry.

Haitian police officers exchanged gunfire for hours Sunday with soldiers of the newly reconstituted Haitian Army outside the national palace, in an escalation of protests over police pay and working conditions.

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.

Police protests began this month after a half-dozen officers were dismissed 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 the countrys shrinking economy and President Jovenel Moises inability to improve the quality of life.
New Delhi: US First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday (February 25) will be visiting a Delhi government school- Sarvodaya Vidyalaya Senior Secondary School- in Nanakpura where she will review the "Happiness Class" programme.

As a part of the programme, students are taught various activities including meditation, street plays, basic obedience aimed at reducing anxiety and stress levels among children.

Earlier, the US Embassy here stated that it had no objection to the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia during Melania Trump`s visit to the government school, but "it is best to ensure focus is on education, school, and students".

"While US Embassy had no objection to the presence of Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, we appreciate their recognition that this is not a political event and that it`s best to ensure focus is on education, school, and students," the US Embassy said in a statement.

Donald Trump and her wife, along with a US delegation, arrived in Ahmedabad on Monday. They later visited the Sabarmati Ashram and attended the `Namaste Trump` event at Motera Stadium. America`s first couple also visited the Taj Mahal in Agra.
Russian passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, who returned to Russias Primorsky Region, have been put in quarantine at a hospital for infectious diseases for two weeks, the regional government said.

"Seven Russians from the Diamond Princess ship arrived in the city of Vladivostok on February 23. All of them were brought to a hospital for infectious diseases and had their samples taken for laboratory tests. Doctors and experts from the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing continue to monitor their health," TASS cited the statement as saying.



According to the Primorsky Regions government, the Russians will remain under quarantine for 14 days, their samples will be tested for coronavirus at the hospital and at the Novosibirsk-based Vector State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology.

The Diamond Princess left Japans Yokohama for a 15-day cruise on January 20 and returned to the port on February 3. The cruise ship was put in quarantine after a man had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. A total of 691 people were eventually infected with the virus and four have died.
New mineralized structure drilled at Sam Otto South delivers 25 meters of 1.39 g/t gold

Posted by Publisher Internet

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 metres of 1.39 g/t gold (including 10.59m 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 2.0m 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 2.16g/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 5.0m of 1.56g/t Au and 3.3m of 1.05 g/t au.? TS020-053 intersected 39.69 meters of 0.53g/t gold in the main zone, including 2.0 meters of 6.24g/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 a 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 Corp

Gold 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 which 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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain 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 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. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information regarding the anticipated timing for the commencement of trading under the Company?s new name and trading symbol and the anticipated development of the Company?s YCG Project. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as the Company\-\-s actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of the factors discussed in the ?Risk Factors? section in the Company\-\-s most recent MD&A and annual information form available under the Company?s profile at www.sedar.com.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that would 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. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Except as required under applicable securities legislation and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information.
While some of our policymakers appear to have given up on the idea that home ownership is a realistic aspiration for almost everyone, our kids have not.

Home ownership may be becoming unattainable for more people, but is still ranks as a key aspiration for the young.

Home ownership, despite getting harder, is still a major aspiration of Millennials. Credit:Paul Rovere

It remains so entrenched that more than one-quarter of Millennials  those aged between 23 and 38  told a survey conducted on behalf of BankWest they would even put off having children to afford their own home.

Just under 20 per cent said that home ownership would never be achievable for them.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Five judges of the Supreme Court were infected by H1N1 virus causing swine flu, said the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare here on Tuesday. While three of them have resumed duties, two are recuperating and are being kept in isolation at home.

According to court sources, the two still suffering from swine flu are on the nine-judge Constitution Bench hearing the Sabarimala case. The hearing has been delayed due to the illness.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna, meanwhile, came to the court on Tuesday wearing a mask.

All judges had a meeting with Chief Justice S.A. Bobde on the implementation of remedial measures, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said in the court on Tuesday.

It was decided that the apex court would make available vaccines for inoculation of advocates, said Justice Chandrachud. The Chief Justice suggested that lawyers as well as the bar association chief should take the initiative for preventive measures against the flu, he added.

Later, Chief Justice Bobde and Supreme Court Bar Association President Dushyant Dave had a meeting over the health emergency.

Dave said the Chief Justice was deeply worried about this and suggested setting up of a dispensary in the court premises, and immediate vaccination, which could be done on Tuesday or Wednesday.

"Since the vaccination costs Rs 1,200, I have offered Rs 10 lakh for the people, like lawyers, junior lawyers, journalists and litigants, who visit the court and may not have resources for the vaccination," Dave told IANS.

Some foreign delegation members, who participated in a judicial conference at the apex court complex recently, were also infected by the virus, Dave said.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry said, "A H1N1 sensitisation workshop for lawyers and other staff members will be conducted at the Bar Council of India (BCI) office on Wednesday." H1N1 is a seasonal infection and occurs every year with two peaks (January-March and July-September).

According to the Health Ministry, everyone should take preventive measures, like covering nose and mouth with a tissue/handkerchief while coughing or sneezing, washing hands often with soap and water, avoiding crowded places, avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth, drinking enough water and sleeping well.

The Ministry has proposed preventive measures -- strengthening of the first aid post (FAP) of CGHS at the Supreme Court, judges be provided treatment as per the protocol, court rooms and residences be sanitized, and awareness regarding preventive measures be disseminated.
Lego Movie 2 wins big at 2020 Movieguide Awards; Kathie Lee Gifford receives Visionary Award

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The 2020 Movieguide Awards aired on Hallmark Drama Monday and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part took home the top prize at the faith and family Hollywood event.

The mainstream film won the honor of Best Movie for Families, and the hit film about Fred Rogers, A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood, won Best Movie for Mature Audiences.

There's nothing cooler than looking at a dad laughing at one of our jokes and he looks down at his 8-year-old daughter and she's laughing at the same joke. Its just so inspirational, The Lego Movie 2 Director Mike Mitchell told The Christian Post on the red carpet and then repeated when accepting the award.

I'm so thankful for you guys and [Movieguide founder and publisher Dr. Ted] Baehr to honor a film that's for the whole family. That's so great that everyone can laugh at, he added while on stage.

Co-director Trisha Gum celebrated and told the audience her mother was praying that their film would win.



Other award winners included:

Dolly Partons Heartstrings: These Old Bones  Faith & Freedom Award for TV

The Least Of These: The Graham Staines Story  Faith & Freedom Award for Movies

A Puppy Christmas  Genesis Animal Award

Aryn Wright-Thompson (Overcomer)  Grace Prize for Movies

Jonathan Roumie (The Chosen)  Grace Prize for TV

Overcomer and Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses  Epiphany Prizes for Movie and TV, respectively

Emmy Award-winning TV host Kathie Lee Gifford was also in attendance at the Movieguide Awards and was presented with the Visionary Award by former Regis and Kathie Lee co-host Regis Philbin.

When I sat in that darkened little movie theater in Annapolis, Maryland, when I was 12 years old, and watched a Billy Graham movie called The Restless Ones, it spoke to my heart. I felt like I heard Jesus himself say to me, Kathie, I love you. If you'll trust me, I'll make something beautiful out of your life, Gifford said in her acceptance speech.

Now, all these years later, I'm writing movies, I'm producing movies, and, by the grace of God, now actually even directing movies in Israel to the oratorios that God has been blessing me to write with some of the greatest writers in this world. I simply cannot believe God's grace and bounty in my life. I will forever praise Him and thank Him and, hopefully, make many, many, many movies to come.

The Movieguide Awards is now available for streaming on the Hallmark Everywhere app.
WASHINGTON - The United States and South Korea are considering curtailing joint military exercises due to concerns about the spread of coronavirus, officials said Monday.

After a meeting at the Pentagon to review a full range of issues, including a standoff over U.S. demands that Seoul pay a much bigger share of the cost of hosting American forces, Defence Secretary Mark Esper and South Korean Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo told reporters that coronavirus is a threat to their schedule of military exercises.

The exercises are held periodically throughout the year and are intended to prepare troops and commanders for potential combat against North Korea.

Esper said the top South Korean and American commanders in Seoul are looking at scaling back some training exercises due to concerns about the coronavirus. He added that he is confident that commanders will find a way to protect troops while also ensuring that both countries remain fully ready to deal with any threats that we might face together.

Jeong said the coronavirus situation in his country is quite serious and has compelled authorities to limit the movement of troops, which makes it more difficult to conduct exercises with American forces. He said there have been 13 confirmed coronavirus cases in the South Korean military.

Because movement has been limited between units, the situation is limited, he said through an interpreter.

South Korea has the second-largest number of cases in the world with 893 and has had a near 15-fold increase in reported infections in a week.

In their remarks to reporters, Esper and Jeong left no doubt that their governments are stuck in a difficult standoff over the U.S. demand for an unusually large increase in South Koreas share of the cost of maintaining U.S. forces on the peninsula.

Negotiations have reached a standstill. Jeong said a U.S. threat to furlough Korean workers who support U.S. forces is a very difficult pill to swallow.

Over the years, the amount that Seoul pays for the presence of about 28,000 U.S. troops has varied, and most recently it was almost $1 billion. But the latest agreement between the two countries expired at the end of last year, and a new pact has not been approved.

According to the Pentagon, the U.S. has so far been paying the salary costs of the Korean National workforce. But the U.S. funds will run out at the end of March unless the Korean government agrees to pay much more. If no agreement is reached, Esper said, the U.S. will furlough most Korean employees on April 1 and would also suspend some construction and other activities.

News reports have said the Trump administration is demanding a five-fold increase in South Korean contributions, to about $4.7 billion for 2020, but officials have not publicly confirmed the specifics.

Esper said that South Korea is a global economic powerhouse and should contribute more to the cost of having American forces on the peninsula. Jeong said that South Korea increased its contribution by 8.2 per cent last year and is considering a higher increase this year.

The so-called Special Measures Agreement helps to offset the significant cost of stationing U.S. forces., which have operated there since the Korean War, which lasted from 1950 to 1953. Contributions are divided across three categories: Korean National labour, South Korean-funded construction, and logistics, with the vast majority of South Korean contributions going back into its economy.
T ony Blair today called on Labour members to back their only Scottish MP for deputy leader saying he gets it.

In a video, the former prime minister endorsed Ian Murrays bid to replace Tom Watson as deputy leader.

Mr Murray, MP for Edinburgh South, also released endorsements from previous Labour heavyweights including ex-prime minister Gordon Brown, ex-chancellor Alistair Darling and former deputy leader Roy Hattersley.

Mr Blair said the party was facing a huge challenge, adding: All of the candidates are wrestling with the inescapable fact that Labours lost four times in a row and that it has to be able to win power in order to bring about real change in the country.

Ian understands that if Labour is to have any hope, its got to be able to win in every part of the UK. He gets it.

Labour MP and deputy leadership hopeful Ian Murray / Getty Images

Mr Blair, who won three elections, also said the party needs to have a bold vision and programme but warned it must be realistic enough to win power.

He added: Only in that way can we bring about a government for the future and not return to being a protest movement of the past.

Mr Brown said Mr Murray was the best candidate to take the party forward, while Mr Darling added: The party needs to change to return to power and defeat SNP and Tory nationalism.

Last night, the frontrunner in the deputy leadership race Angela Rayner spoke to ITV News about her mothers traumatic battle with depression.

She appeared with her mother Lynn Bowen, who said: I was in a dark place, she used to look after me. If it wasnt for her I dont think Id be here today.

The leadership ballot opened yesterday. Sir Keir Starmer, the frontrunner to replace Jeremy Corbyn, faces a battle for control of the party if he wins, according to Labour officials.
US President Donald Trump (R) and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi wave at the crowd during 'Namaste Trump' rally at Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, on February 24, 2020. Money Sharma | AFP | Getty Images

The rivalry between the U.S. and China is playing out in India, where American President Donald Trump will be wrapping up his state visit to the South Asian country. Experts said that Trump's first state visit to India signifies the growing strength of the relations between Washington and New Delhi, amid China's rising clout in South Asia. As part of his two-day visit which began on Monday, Trump was in New Delhi and Ahmedabad, the largest city in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat. The fact that Trump made time for India in an election year is a major win for the South Asian country, said Richard Rossow, senior advisor and the Wadhwani Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington D.C.-based think tank. U.S.-India trade is "defying gravity" and continues to grow despite trade barriers on both sides, Rossow told CNBC. "India is choosing  even as it puts trade barriers  to buy more from the United States in those sectors where the government of India makes the buys," said Rossow, referring to state purchases in gas and defense sectors as examples.

One area where India and the U.S. have increased co-operation is defense procurement. India recently approved plans to purchase 24 military helicopters worth $2.6 billion from American defense firm Lockheed Martin for the its navy, local media reported. India's longstanding defense supplier has traditionally been Russia. But in recent years, New Delhi has inked more and more defense deals with Washington, with purchases from the U.S. reaching $17 billion since 2007, according to Reuters. India was one of the top five military spenders in 2018, along with the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, and France.

'Tie that binds'

The Trump administration has championed the use of the term "Indo-Pacific" rather than "Asia Pacific" as it seeks to balance the rising power of China in the region. The Indo-Pacific strategy would place India at the center of the playbook. "China  at least on the defense and security relationship  is the tie that binds us together," said Rossow. Although Washington has been trying to engage India for sometime regarding closer security ties, New Delhi has been slow to respond till recently, said Rossow, pointing out that China is "playing a more active role across South Asia and the India Ocean region." The Chinese navy has also been an active operator in the Indian Ocean region, and has sent submarines to the region, he added. And India is beginning to feel the heat as Beijing has not only built up strong relations with Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Maldives, but China's economy and military are also bigger than India, he said. The underlying reasons for the security partnership between the U.S. and India are beginning to appear more complementary now, said Rossow.

Taking sides

Like many countries, India is finding itself caught between the world's two largest economies. One area the U.S.-China rivalry is playing out is in the area of technology, where both countries are vying to be the leader in 5G  the next generation mobile networks that promise super-fast data speeds. The competition could also create what has now been dubbed the "splinternet"  a future in which the internet is fragmented, governed by separate regulations and run by different services. "The technology world, the internet itself is beginning to fault," said Jayant Sinha, standing committee on finance in parliament, chairman and former Indian minister for finance and aviation. "India needs to decide which side it's on," Sinha told CNBC's Tanvir Gill.
Harvey Weinstein's conviction for rape is a "great victory" for women, US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, asserting that he was never a fan of the Hollywood movie producer and it was democrats like Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton who "loved" him.

A jury in New York on Monday found Weinstein guilty of a first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape but acquitted him on the two most serious charges of predatory sexual assault and one charge of first-degree rape.

"From the standpoint of women, I think it was a great thing...It was a great victory. And sends a very strong message, very, very strong message," Trump said at a media interaction here.

"I was never a fan of Harvey Weinstein," he said.

"I was just not a fan of his. I knew him a little bit, not very well. The people that liked him were the Democrats. Michelle Obama loved him. Hillary Clinton loved him," he said.

Trump said Weinstein gave "tremendous money" to the Democrats.

"And I guess my question is, will the Democrats be asking for that money back," Trump asked.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are to carry out the first official royal visit to Cyprus for 27 years.

Charles and Camilla will travel to the eastern Mediterranean republic for a four-day stay in March to recognise the work of the UN Peacekeeping Force and celebrate traditional Cypriot culture.

Their trip will be followed by a tour to Jordan, and beforehand, Charles will pay a solo visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina to pay his respects in the 25th anniversary year of the Srebrenica genocide.

Charles and Camilla in Jordan in 2013 (Chris Jackson/PA)

The tour of Cyprus  the first since the Queens visit in 1993  comes in the year marking the 60th anniversary of the islands independence from British colonial rule.

The Queens trip was met with protests amid objections to the monarch receiving the golden key to the capital, Nicosia.

Cypriot nationalists held the Queen personally responsible for the executions in 1955 of nine Eoka guerrilla fighters arrested during the violent independence struggle, saying she could have commuted their death sentences.

The Queen with then-Cypriot president Glafcos Clerides in Nicosia in 1993 (Tim Ockenden/PA)

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge went to RAF Akrotiri in December 2018, but the military base is in the Western Sovereign Base area  a British Overseas Territory.

Cyprus has been divided since Turkey invaded in 1974 after a failed coup by supporters of union with Greece.

The island joined the EU in 2004, but only the southern part enjoys full membership benefits.

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will jointly visit the Republic of Cyprus  and Jordan  next month. Prior to this, The Prince will also visit Bosnia and Herzegovina  Read more about Their Royal Highnesses forthcoming Spring Tour  https://t.co/R6wmPxKVUw pic.twitter.com/cGTB4Oeh7x  Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) February 25, 2020

The royal visit is aimed at celebrating ties between the island and the UK, and the programme will include a trip to the UN Buffer Zone to acknowledge the peacekeeping work being undertaken by the UN, and highlight initiatives aimed at building links between the communities of Cyprus, with the couple meeting both Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot community members.

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Cyprus is, according to legend, the birthplace of the ancient Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite.

Charles and Camilla will experience traditional Cypriot culture, food and crafts, visiting Nicosia, the Troodos mountains, and the Larnaca district.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the prince will carry out engagements in Sarajevo and Srebrenica.

He will visit the memorial at Srebrenica and pay his respects to the victims of the mass slaughter, accompanied by survivors and mothers who are still looking for their missing family members.

More than 8,000 Muslim men and boys were murdered by Bosnian Serb troops in the town in July 1995 in the worst atrocity in Europe since the Second World War.

24 years later, approximately 1,000 people are still missing from the #Srebrenica genocide as well as 12,000 from the region. Upholding a transparent and truthful account of what happened is essential for peace, @TheICMP Director-General @KatBomberger.https://t.co/o3jRH2f9Op pic.twitter.com/q0rgx9S2ll  Remembering Srebrenica (@SrebrenicaUK) July 25, 2019

Charles has previously met families of the missing, and has a long-standing commitment to post-conflict reconciliation in the Western Balkans.

In Sarajevo, the prince will call on the tripartite presidency, and also learn how the UK has been supporting survivors of wartime sexual violence.

He will also visit historic sites within the old town, and meet social entrepreneurs and activists working to create a sustainable future.

In Jordan, Charles and Camilla will hear how the country is supporting its large influx of refugees.

There are more than a million refugees in the Middle Eastern kingdom  the majority from war-torn Syria.

The prince has a warm relationship with the Jordanian royal family, and has visited the country a number of times.

King Abdullah and Queen Rania of Jordan greeting Charles and Camilla in Amman in 2013 (John Stillwell/PA)

Charles will join an interfaith discussion on religious freedom and tolerance led by King Abdullah II, while Camilla will see the work of Queen Rania aimed at protecting vulnerable children and mothers.

The couple will visit the capital, Amman, tour a unique hillside town once part of the Greek and Roman Decapolis, and travel to the city of Salt.

Charles will visit Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 17 and 18, be joined by Camilla in Cyprus from March 18 to 21, and they will be in Jordan together until March 25.
Guebert: Keep moving, nothing to see here
Prince William helps fit an airbag to a McLaren car with apprentice of the year nominee, Alex Machin, on the factory floor in Woking on 12 September 2017. (Chris J Ratcliffe/AFP via Getty Images)

A lack of skilled workers is a bigger challenge for UK manufacturing than Brexit, according to the head of a leading industry group.

Stephen Phipson CBE, head of Make UK, said: Every time you survey our members, every time you ask the question, the number one issues is skills, not Brexit. We need to concentrate on that issue.

Phipsons comments came during the keynote address at Make UKs annual conference in London on Tuesday.

Make UK, which represents 20,000 manufacturers across the country, surveyed members ahead of the conference and found that 46.5% wanted more incentives from the government to recruit apprentices.

Phipson, who himself began as an apprentice aged 16, is due to meet chancellor Rishi Sunak on Thursday and Phipson said he would ask him for help addressing the skills gap.

Read more: Manufacturers ask new chancellor Rishi Sunak for help in budget

Im committed to putting this skills agenda at the heart of government, Phipson said. Whatever opportunities we get from the new global Britain, we need a workforce with the skills to deliver it.

Growing talent and skills is right at the top of our agenda.

A survey by the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) last year found the UK manufacturing sector facing its biggest skills shortage for 30 years. Brexit and a lack of training for young recruits has been blamed.

Phipson warned Brexit could make the skills shortage worse in the short term.

The challenges are only getting tougher, he said. Outside the EU access to skilled labour will become harder and more expensive, weve seen that in the immigration proposals that the governments got now.

Read more: The UK's new points-based immigration system explained

The government has announced a new points-based immigration system that will take effect from January 2020. Under the new system, migrants looking to come to the UK must at a minimum speak English, have a job offer, and earn at least 25,600 (33,137) in role.
COHOES  Assemblyman John T. McDonald III formally announced online his re-election campaign for a fifth term Monday as he faces a Democratic primary challenge from an Albany County legislator.

McDonald, D-Cohoes, broke his tradition of not publicly announcing his re-election run but simply starting his campaign. McDonalds supporters are expected to begin collecting petition signatures Tuesday, the first day its permitted, for a June 23 primary fight against County Legislator Sam Fein, who represents Albanys South End, Historic Pastures and Mansion neighborhoods.

McDonald posted a two-minute video to Facebook Monday and emailed a campaign announcement. The former Cohoes mayor stressed his experience and delivering funds to projects in the 108th Assembly District, which includes Cohoes, Green Island, North Greenbush, Rensselaer, Waterford and parts of Albany and Troy.

McDonald promised not to personally campaign until the proposed state budget is approved. Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed a $178.6 billion budget with the state facing a $6 billion budget gap.

You wont see me campaigning until the budget is done because my responsibility, right now, is to you, McDonald said.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The state legislature has approved budgets that have been considered generally on time for the last nine years.

Some of the projects cited by McDonald that benefited his district are $250,000 to renovate Troy City Court, $325,000 for ball fields in Arbor Hill, $375,000 for park renovations and City Hall upgrades in Cohoes and $250,000 for the Mohawk Hudson Humane Societys new building.

Fein is mounting the first challenge to McDonald since he defeated former Albany Common Council President Carolyn McLaughlin in the 2012 Democratic primary. Fein has claimed residents have told him they are ready for change that will have an impact.
Pete Davidson is relishing Louis C.K.'s downfall.

The Saturday Night Live star, 26, said that he's happy to see the once-mighty comedian's career plummet after he admitted to repeatedly asking women to watch him masturbate, after five women accused him of sexual misconduct in a piece in The New York Times in the fall of 2017.

Professional consequences for Louis C.K. followed shortly thereafter, as he was dumped from an FX Networks deal and a Netflix special, while his film I Love You was shelved - music to Davidson's ears.

Schadenfreude: Pete Davidson, 26, speaking with Charlamagne tha God in a newly-released interview Monday, said that he's happy to see the once-might comedian Louis C.K.'s career plummet after he revealed himself to be two-faced and 'not a nice guy'

'Oh my God, it was amazing, it was amazing,' said the Staten Island, New York native said while speaking with Charlamagne tha God in a newly-released interview Monday.

'It felt great. I loved it, that guy hasn't been nice to many people, he's not a nice guy.'

In addition to his admitted acts of misconduct, Davidson said Louis C.K. was not to be trusted, acting nice to his face, while trying to sabotage his career behind his back.

Davidson recalled how Louis C.K. went to SNL boss Lorne Michaels at one point, urging the NBC exec to fire him over his admitted marijuana use.

'He just ratted me out to my boss - it was so weird - I never really got over that,' said Davidson. 'That dude's just a piece of s***. He's not nice to young comics.'

Candid: The SNL star chat with Charlamagne tha God in a newly-released interview Monday

Saboteur: Davidson recalled how Louis C.K. went to SNL boss Lorne Michaels at one point, urging the NBC exec to fire Davidson over his admitted marijuana use

Before the fall: Louis C.K. celebrated winning a Peabody Award in May of 2017, six months before the news was revealed about his past actions

Davidson pointed to the lack of support Louis C.K. has received from fellow comics, amid his efforts to reboot his career abroad following the scandal, as evidence to poor reputation among his peers.

'Well if something happens to somebody and they're a nice guy, people f***in' don't stop talking to you and your friends don't - he's doing shows in f***in' Israel! He had to leave the country,' he said.

Davidson credited veteran comics like Adam Sandler and Bill Burr for being positive and supportive presences from their positions of power.

"Sandman's the best ... he's very, very helpful and sweet, and checks in,' he said.

On an island: Davidson said of Louis C.K., 'That dude's just a piece of s*** ... he's not nice to young comics'
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Nothing goes without saying, and I have said and written many times that my father, Harry Weinstein, was crucial to my cooking and eating life. If you have browsed this blog over... Read more
Alabama voters have a big decision to make on March 3. Should we continue to elect our state school board members or should we trust the Governor to make those appointments for us?

AL.com has looked at what Amendment One calls for, whether theres any chance an appointed state school board could raise Alabamas national standing in education, and now were looking at how we got the elected board we currently have.

Alabama voters are being asked, via constitutional amendment, to undo the constitutional amendment they approved just over 50 years ago, when a slew of constitutional amendments aimed at improving education statewide were on the ballot after lawmakers considered recommendations from a blue-ribbon study commission.

But the study commission didnt recommend electing state school board members. In the 1968 report, the commission recommended the governor continue to appoint the board as it had done since 1919, nearly a half century earlier.

Then-Gov. Albert Brewer ignored the recommendation of the commission and called for legislation to allow voters to elect not only the state school board, but all school boards across the state, and for all superintendents to be appointed.

After the special session Brewer called to move education forward, what ended up on the ballot was a choice for voters to make: keep the appointed state school board or switch to an elected one?

On Dec. 9, 1969, just under 122,500 people9% of Alabamas registered voterswent to the polls to vote on those recommendations. And of those voters, 66,000 of them voted to start electing Alabamas state board of education.

Thirty-four constitutional amendments were on the ballot. Six of the nine statewide measures, including electing the state board of education, were approved, and 22 of 25 local amendments were approved.

When the final vote tallies were printed nine days after the vote, The Birmingham News called out voters for not showing up at the polls, claiming voters didnt care. One out of ten wants change in Constitution was the headline.

The results of the statewide vote to elect the Alabama Board of Education as reported in The Birmingham News, Dec. 18, 1969.

The change was carved in stone, amending Alabamas growing state constitution. (Newspaper editors also criticized the size of Alabamas constitution, and it had fewer than 300 amendments at the time. Now it has nearly 1,000.)

Prior to 1969, Alabama had a love-hate relationship with the idea of the state school board, starting out in 1854 without one.

When Alabama created a public school system on Feb. 15, 1854, supervision of the schools was vested in an elected state superintendent.

In 1868, during the Reconstruction, an elected state school board was established via the new constitution.

But seven years later, in 1875, Alabama again adopted a new state constitution and again did away with the state school board altogether. The state superintendent remained an elected position.

It wasnt until 1919, just over 50 years later, that Alabama lawmakers created a state school board. State school board members would be appointed by the governor. The state superintendent remained elected.

In 1969, Alabama voters approved the constitutional amendmentAmendment 1 on their ballotsto elect state school board members and have those elected board members appoint the state superintendent.

And here we are, another half century later, with another proposal to change how those in charge are chosen.

Related: Alabama to vote on whether to fire the state school board. Here are the facts.

Related: Can appointed state school board raise Alabamas national standing in education?

Related: Alabama school board member threatens lawsuit if Amendment One passes
C ommuters are being warned they face disruption after a fire broke out at a workshop near a London station.

The fire broke out next to Hackbridge railway station and trains were stopped from running in both directions through the station on Tuesday morning.

Twelve fire engines and 80 firefighters battled the blaze at a car repair workshop.

Operators Southern Rail and Thameslink later said all lines were open including train operations between Carshalton and Mitcham South but those using Hackbridge could still face disruption.

London Fire Brigade

Part of the workshop in south-west London was alight, while at least 60 gas cylinders had been removed and cooled to prevent any explosions.

Twelve fire engines were manned by crews from Wallington and surrounding fire stations to fight the blaze after being called at around 2am, the brigade added.

It has taken almost three hours to bring the fire under control / London Fire Brigade

At least 60 gas cylinders have been removed from the workshop and cooled down to prevent them from exploding.

The brigade was called at 2.05am and firefighters managed to get the fire under control by 4.42am.
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders addresses his first campaign rally after the Nevada Caucus in El Paso

Reuters

On Monday night, The Daily Beast published a story about a now-former Michigan field director for the Sanders campaign, who had sent many tweets mocking and degrading other candidates.

The piece generated a lot of chatter on Twitter, led to the staffer being fired, and to the reporter being harassed by Sanders supporters, or those claiming to be Sanders supporters, online.

On Monday night, Sanders was asked at a CNN town hall about the alleged behavior of his supporters, and he said that the majority of his supporters were "fantastic people," but condemned the "jerks" among them.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

After Scott Bixby, a national reporter at The Daily Beast, published an article exposing a staffer on Sen. Bernie Sanders' campaign for using degrading language about other candidates on a private Twitter account, Bixby was subjected to online harassment himself.

A regional field director in Michigan, Ben Mora, tweeted that Sen. Amy Klobuchar "looks like her name: pained, chunky, [and] confused origin/purpose," called Sen. Elizabeth Warren a "dumb Okie" and "an adult diaper fetishist," and disparaged her appearance. He also tweeted that former Mayor Pete Buttigieg "is what happens when the therapist botches the conversion."

Mora was fired soon after Bixby's story was published on Monday, according to the campaign's communications director, Mike Casca, who told the Beast, "We are running a multiracial, multigenerational campaign for justice where disgusting behavior and ugly personal attacks by our staff will not be tolerated."

Some prominent Sanders supporters spoke out to defend the campaign's decision to fire Mora.

"I am very sympathetic to anyone who faces career consequences for their online behavior, believe me," progressive journalist Dave Klion, who a few weekends ago faced backlash for propagating a Buttigieg conspiracy theory, tweeted. "But I also think denigrating women's looks on a private burner account is something one could simply not do and should avoid doing."

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But Bixby quickly became the subject of extensive online harassment from purported Sanders supporters. Bixby tweeted screenshots of thousands of text messages and voice mails he received in the hours after the story was published.

"Scott Bixby should literally be catapulted off the planet," one Twitter user wrote, parroting one of Mora's tweets.

Another argued that The Daily Beast is in the tank for establishment Democrats and therefore fundamentally biased against Sanders and others on the left. Others accused Bixby of being personally biased against Sanders and his policies.

Several Twitter users published public records showing the price and location of an apartment they claimed was owned by Bixby, and criticized the Daily Beast for its past Sanders coverage and for having Chelsea Clinton on its board of directors.

This all comes days after Sanders publicly condemned and distanced himself from online supporters, or so-called "Bernie Bros," who engage in harassment, including those who targeted the female leaders of Nevada's Culinary Union after the union criticized Sanders' Medicare for All plan.

During a CNN town hall on Monday night, Sanders again addressed the issue.

"I'm not going to tell you we don't have some jerks out there," Sanders said. "I do want to say to those folks: We do not want your support, if you think that what our campaign is about is making ugly attacks on other candidates. We don't want you."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The epidemic prevention flow chart created by Zhang Weiya, a community worker in Hangzhou City, capital of East China's Zhejiang Province [qnsb.com]

A flow chart manuscript recently went viral on the social media in China for its detailed responsibility division of all parties involved in the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) prevention and control efforts at the grassroots level.

The creator, Zhang Weiya, 43, is a community worker in Xihu District of Hangzhou City, capital of East China's Zhejiang Province.

Zhang and Yuan Cailan, president of the Women's Federation of Xiaojiang Community, went to offer logistical support at a meeting on January 23 held to deploy the epidemic prevention work in the community as part of the province's first-level response to major public health emergencies.

As requested by the community's working committee of epidemic control, they took charge of purchasing necessities, accepting donations, checking inventory, on-site distribution and information registration.

Zhang and Yuan took purchasing protective gear as the top priority, so they made a detailed shopping list that included facial masks, protective clothing, disinfectant and hand sanitizers.

On January 24, the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, the COVID-19 prevention and control work in the committee was in full swing. Zhang said it was her first time to join in such a mission and was a chance for her to improve her services.

She decided to keep a record, and finished an article of over 6,000 words with 17 pictures, including the flow chart, that night.

Zhang hoped that her article would help quarantined households feel at ease and let them know what the community workers, Party members and volunteers had done for the residents in the community.

Zhang also learned the good practices that were commended by renowned Chinese epidemiologist Li Lanjuan during the SARS outbreak in 2003, such as forming cordons around the houses of quarantined rural households.

The practice can still restrict the entry and exit of the families and visitors but leave some space for sunshine and outdoor exercises.

"The logistical support is critical to the success of the quarantine," said Zhang.

They bought all kinds of supplies and food, even baby milk powder, for the quarantined farmers. Special care was offered to quarantined non-natives.

Zhang and her colleagues mobilized local people to send non-natives vegetables and wrote letters to them to inspire them to overcome the difficulties.

In Zhang's long article, she also praised the efforts of local women involved in the work of the COVID-19 prevention and control.

She said she hopes the village will return to normal soon.

Zhang Weiya delivers vegetable to a quarantined resident. [qnsb.com]

(Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China)
Mr. Reeds family has not spoken to the news media since his arrest more than six months ago, wary of upsetting the Kremlin by making broad statements about what may be the motives behind his prosecution. But they argue that his being held in a Moscow detention center while awaiting trial is disproportionate to the charges against him.

In a bail hearing on Tuesday, the court declined an offer by Mr. Reeds father to post bail of $15,300 and guarantee that the former Marine would remain in Russia throughout the trial. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison. His next hearing is scheduled for March 11.

Mr. Reed, who was honorably discharged from the Marines in 2016, traveled to Moscow last May to learn Russian and spend time with his Russian girlfriend, whom he had met during a vacation in Greece and whom the court identified as Alina Tsibulnik.

On Aug. 15, he attended a party for his girlfriends colleagues at which he was encouraged to drink a large amount of vodka, according to a statement issued by his family. Mr. Reed has said that he has no memory of what followed.

There is also a possibility that he may have been given other substances without his knowledge, the statement said.
Mahathir Mohamad, 94, is a veteran politician who has been Malaysia's prime minister twice. Mohd Samsul Mohd Said l Getty Images

Mahathir Mohamad, a 94-year-old Malaysian politician, unexpectedly quit on Monday  leaving Malaysia in a political limbo and setting the stage for an unprecedented scramble among political parties seeking to form the next government. Mahathir's resignation from the highest political office in Malaysia set off events that broke apart a coalition of parties that ruled the country for less than two years. The political alliance, Pakatan Harapan, unexpectedly won the last general elections in 2018, after overthrowing a rival coalition that had governed Malaysia for 61 years before that. But Mahathir was appointed interim prime minister by the Malaysian king hours after he submitted his resignation  a development that some analysts said has set the veteran politician up to be the kingmaker of Malaysia's political future. As interim premier, Mahathir will continue to oversee administrative matters in the country until the appointment of a new prime minister and cabinet.

"I'm still willing to bet that it'll be Mahathir," said James Chin, an expert on Malaysian politics from the University of Tasmania, when asked who would lead Malaysia next. Monday's developments followed a weekend filled with speculation that the Pakatan Harapan coalition could lose power. Multiple local media, mostly citing unnamed sources, reported that Mahathir would shift allegiance by tying up with the opposition parties to form and lead a new government. CNBC breaks down what led to the latest political upheaval in Malaysia and takes a look at what could happen next.

Who is Mahathir?

Mahathir is a veteran politician who has been Malaysia's prime minister twice. He was premier from 1981 to 2003, during which he led a coalition of political parties called Barisan Nasional. The 94-year-old came out of retirement to form his own party and align with former political opponents to contest the 2018 general elections. Mahathir, and the Pakatan Harapan coalition that he led, beat Barisan Nasional in that election  and for the first time since its independence in 1957, Malaysia had a change in government.

What led to the resignation?

Mahathir didn't explain why he resigned, but analysts and local media reports speculated the issue of succession was likely a central issue. Before the last general elections in 2018, Mahathir had promised that Anwar Ibrahim  his protege-turned-rival before the two reconciled  would succeed him as prime minister. Multiple media reports since then said the 94-year-old was facing pressure from Anwar's supporters to set a timeline to hand over power.

To that, Mahathir often said he needed time to reduce the government's debt and set the country on the right path before stepping down. But he appeared to refuse to commit to a clear timeline on when to cede power, and that raised concerns among analysts and investors about Malaysia's future. Last Friday, leaders from the Pakatan Harapan coalition met to discuss succession, which ended with Mahathir saying a "unanimous" decision was made to allow him to step down whenever he wants to, according to local newspaper The Star. But speculation intensified over the weekend that Mahathir would pull his party out of the coalition and tie up with several opposition parties  including those in the Barisan Nasional coalition that he defeated in 2018.

What's next for Malaysia?

At this point, the Pakatan Harapan coalition has lost its parliamentary majority. Before Monday's events, the alliance was made up of four political parties that held 129 out of 222 parliamentary seats. They included: 50 seats: Parti Keadilan Rakyat, or the People's Justice Party, led by Anwar

42 seats: Democratic Action Party

26 seats: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, or the Malaysian United Indigenous Party, led by Mahathir

11 seats: Parti Amanah Negara, or the National Trust Party Mahathir's party announced their withdrawal from the coalition on Monday, while 11 members of parliament  including several cabinet ministers  left Anwar's party to form an independent bloc in the chamber. That left the ruling coalition with 92 seats, short of the 112 simple majority needed to form a government.

What they want is a new government as fast as possible and (that is) as stable as possible  and the only person who can glue everything together at the present moment is Mahathir. James Chin University of Tasmania
[February 25, 2020] Automotive Usage-Based Insurance Market 2020-2024|Flexible Pricing Schemes to Boost Growth | Technavio

Technavio has been monitoring the automotive usage-based insurance market and it is poised to grow by USD 37.25 mn units during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 7% 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/20200225005607/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Automotive Usage-based Insurance Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire) Flexible pricing schemes has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, security issues around telematics in vehicles might hamper market growth. Request a free sample report Automotive Usage-Based Insurance Market 2020-2024: Segmentation Automotive Usage-Based Insurance Market is segmented as below: Pricing scheme Pay-how-you-drive

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President Trumps proposed 2021 budget includes devastating cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. These cuts threaten tens of thousands of Oregonians and hundreds of thousands of Americans nationwide with food insecurity. To further restrict applicants access to SNAP, the Trump administration also wants to impose new restrictive work requirements and paperwork obligations starting April 1. Already, food banks nationwide are bracing for a sharp increase in people needing food assistance. If the president gets his way, budget cuts will also gut many other programs assisting children, elderly and lower-income Americans. Plans include converting Medicaid funding to block grants, which would threaten the health of the disabled and underserved. Congress must act now to stop these inhumane policy changes. Please join me in asking Oregons senators and representatives to fight to protect our nations vital safety net.

Mary Chaffin, Sisters
A number of highways that were closed Tuesday morning in Wyoming because of snow have reopened by Tuesday afternoon.

Interstate 25 was temporarily closed between Chugwater and Wheatland because of winter conditions, according the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

Stretches of Interstate 80 were also closed Tuesday morning because of the poor visibility, but they have since reopened.

Additionally, stretches of I-80 to the west are back open after large stretches were closed for a time on Monday.

Visibility between Cheyenne and Laramie was near zero at times because of the strong winds and snow, the National Weather Service said. The weather service said the snow would decrease Tuesday afternoon and evening from the west to the east.

Northern parts of Wyoming faced more severe conditions. Interstate 90 was temporarily closed between Buffalo and Gillette, and Wyoming 387 was closed for a time from Midwest to Wright. Wyoming Highway 59 was closed between Wright and Gillette before reopening as of 8:11 a.m. Tuesday.

Campbell County School District canceled classes for Tuesday.

Wyoming Highway 487 remains closed north of Medicine Bow, as of 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. The estimated opening time is unknown.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania will explore that potential for working dogs to detect chronic wasting disease in deer feces in one of three new research projects receiving $1 million from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

The project led by Cynthia Otto, professor and director of Penns School of Veterinary Working Dog Center, will receive $242,246.

CWD, which is an always fatal brain disease in deer and related cervid species that some in the media refer to as zombie deer disease, first was detected in Pennsylvania in 2012, in a captive deer herd in Adams County.

The department oversees Pennsylvanias deer farming industry and conducts diagnostic tests to determine whether deer that have died were CWD-infected. The department also offers genetic screening to help deer farmers determine how likely their deer are to contract the disease.

The two other projects will work toward the development of live-animal tests for chronic wasting disease. The only tests available now must be done on dead animals.

A grant of $561,000 will go to a project led by University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine biochemistry professor Anna Kashina, while $196,754 will go to a project by Davin Henderson, a protein chemist and founder of CWD Evolution LLC.

Scientists have made significant progress toward better understanding Chronic Wasting Disease in isolating genes associated with the disease, explained Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding.

These projects show potential to build on that progress by speeding diagnosis, helping scientists better understand how CWD progresses and ultimately, learn how to keep it from spreading.

In addition to its oversight of the captive-deer industry in Pennsylvania, the department also offers genetic screening to help deer farmers determine how likely their deer are to contract the disease. Learn more about the departments CWD program at.

The 2012 discovery of CWD in the state led to the creation of Pennsylvanias first disease management area, DMA 1, which has since been eliminated, but CWD has continued to be discovered elsewhere in Pennsylvania.

Subsequent discoveries of CWD led to the creation of three more DMAs: DMA 2, following the detection of the disease in multiple free-ranging deer in Bedford, Blair, Cambria and Fulton counties in 2012, and captive farm deer in Bedford, Franklin and Fulton counties in 2017; DMA 3, following detection in 2 captive deer farms in Jefferson County in 2014 and a free-ranging deer in Clearfield County in 2017; and DMA 4, following detection in a captive deer at a farm in Lancaster County in 2018. DMAs now cover more than 8,000 square miles of Pennsylvania.

Through 2018, 250 free-ranging CWD-positive deer have been detected within the state  246 of them within DMA 2.

Hunter reaction to the presence of CWD in Pennsylvania has been mixed to date. A year ago landowner resistance forced the agency to pull back from a pilot effort to control the spread of CWD in Bedford and Blair by reducing deer numbers through targeted removal. That situation led to the creation of an anti-targeted removal organization, Sportsmen for the Future.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has proposed a new plan for slowing the spread of CWD that includes targeted removal when needed. A public comment period on the draft Chronic Wasting Disease Response Plan that has already drawn more than 300 comments is open through Feb. 29.

After that, commission staff will review the comments, and the results of surveys done in the states three active DMAs. Then a second public comment period on the altered draft plan will run through April. The plan will be presented to the board in May, aiming for board approval in June, in time for the 2020-21 hunting seasons.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.

Contact Marcus Schneck at mschneck@pennlive.com.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) New York, United States  Tue, February 25, 2020 20:09 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20669273e 2 Entertainment Kraftwerk,concert Free

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.

Read also: Bandung band Taring to play at Germany's Wacken Open Air festival

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.

Topics : Kraftwerk concert
Last Januarys announcement that Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland would be one of four military bases in the country to quarantine evacuees over the coronavirus caused understandable concern about the potential spread of the respiratory disease locally.

But concern and fear should not cloud facts and compassion at a time of immense humanitarian need.

To date, roughly 80,000 people in 37 countries have been infected with the virus, officially known as COVID-19, which originated in Wuhan, China. Nearly 2,700 people have died worldwide, with new hot spots emerging in Iran, Italy and South Korea. What the World Health Organization calls a public health emergency of international concern has shown up elsewhere, including the United States. Officials have warned the spread of the virus across the United States is inevitable.

The first group of 91 evacuees arrived at Lackland in early February, followed by another 144 on Feb. 17 from the cruise ship Diamond Princess, which was in Japan. As of this writing, five of the passengers from the latter group have tested positive for the virus and are quarantined, in stable condition, at the Texas Center for Infectious Disease. Others are under observation.

Some have questioned why any of the evacuees were brought to San Antonio  or anywhere in the U.S.  instead of quarantined in military bases in the Far East.

First, they were transferred to the U.S. because theyre American citizens who were brought back home.

Second, the practical and logistical reason is the Department of Health and Human Services requested the use of facilities that could house at least 250 people in individual rooms through Feb. 29, with HHS responsible for all care, transportation and security.

Third is the larger and more philosophical question speaking to our values as a community and nation: Its the right thing to do, for all people.

The character and history of Americans isnt to shrink from crisis or shirk our responsibilities to others, whether on our shores or beyond.

When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, San Antonio and other cities welcomed the evacuees. Internationally, when an earthquake rocked Turkey or a typhoon tore through the Philippines, the United States mobilized to send humanitarian aid, including food, medical supplies, personnel, and military aircraft and vessels.

Historically, we welcome refugees escaping war and foreigners seeking lifesaving medical attention. So, of course, during an international public health emergency, wed host American citizens needing to be quarantined.

City and county officials have been dutiful in questioning federal procedures and minimizing the risk of exposure to the virus to the larger community. In a recent letter, for example, Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff requested evacuees remain at Lackland rather than be transported off base. Their concerns about exposure and bed space should be heard, but were heartened by the response so far.

Last week, the first 90 people quarantined in San Antonio were released and allowed to return to their homes throughout the United States. In a statement, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reminded the public these people pose no health risk to the surrounding community, or to the communities they will be returning to.

Fear of a highly contagious illness spreading throughout a community is as natural as it is ancient. But knowledge is an antidote for panic.

At a news briefing Monday at Plaza de Armas Gallery, Rear Adm. Nancy Knight, the director of the Division of Global Health Protection for the CDC, appealed to the media: Help reduce the stigma associated with these evacuees and correct the misinformation, including how contagious the virus is. She said that if shes not within 6 feet of a patient who has tested positive she doesnt wear protective garb.

Hysteria is not a solution to this crisis. It demands treatment, compassion and best public health practices. Thats whats happening here in San Antonio. We should be proud of this response and the communitys ability to serve others in a time of need.
One reason California lawmakers voted in 2018 to abolish cash bail for pretrial release  an issue state voters will consider in November  is that the pay-for-release system particularly harmed racial minorities. In its place, the new law would require local courts to use risk assessment tools to calculate whether a defendant is likely to flee or cause violence if freed before trial.

Now, one of the foremost advocates for changing the bail system, the nonprofit Pretrial Justice Institute, has concluded that the risk assessments themselves are racially biased, at least in their impact.

These tools are derived from data reflecting structural racism and institutional inequity that impact our court and law enforcement policies and practices, the institute said in a report earlier this month withdrawing its previous support for use of the assessments to determine conditions of pretrial release.

Leaders of the bail bond industry, which blocked the new law and kept the bail system in place by qualifying a referendum for the November ballot, say the reversal undermines the case for abolishing bail.

The Pretrial Justice Institute had long touted risk assessment tools as far more fair than the accountability-based cash bail system, the American Bail Coalition, an industry group, said in a statement.

Its executive director, Jeff Clayton, said the change of position by respected advocates makes it more likely that states and local governments will seek reforms within the current legal framework, which allows for the parties to request and judges to impose a monetary bail.

The Pretrial Justice Institute emphatically disagreed, saying it still opposes bail or any other financial requirements that allow some people to buy their freedom while others remain in jail.

But the loss of influential support for a principal alternative to bail leaves the future of pretrial release in California even more uncertain as the November vote approaches.

Opponents of mass incarceration in California have targeted post-arrest bail, in which defendants must post an amount based on the seriousness of the charges in order to be freed while awaiting trial.

Bail bond companies  whose main source of income is the 10% fee they charge for the bonds  and prosecutors who defend the system say it promotes public safety and encourages defendants to show up in court. But it also keeps many poor people locked up because they cant afford to pay their way out.

According to one recent state study, more than 48,000 county jail inmates in California, two-thirds of the jail population, were pretrial inmates not yet convicted of any crime, and most were being held because they were unable to post bail.

Opponents of the bail system include Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, who has called it outdated, unsafe and unfair, and supported SB10, the 2018 legislation signed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown. One other state, New Jersey, eliminated cash bail for nearly all crimes in January 2017, and reported a 19% decline in its jail population by 2019, with no significant increase in major crimes.

But some longtime opponents of cash bail dropped their support for SB10 after amendments were added that left release decisions largely up to individual judges, who would rely on computer-driven risk assessments. The late San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi said before Brown signed the bill that SB10 handed the key to the judges and might actually keep more people behind bars. The American Civil Liberties Union also withdrew its support.

The fate of SB10 may depend on whether those onetime supporters decide that an unsatisfactory overhaul of the system is better than leaving cash bail intact.

A lot of groups are still going through the (re-evaluation) process internally and have not yet taken a position, said Jonathan Underland, a representative of the pro-SB10 effort, which calls itself the End Predatory and Unfair Money Bail Campaign.

The bill would not allow pretrial release of defendants charged with capital crimes, those with recent serious or violent felony convictions, those charged with domestic violence, or anyone who had repeatedly failed to appear in court while free on bail in the past.

Those accused of nonviolent misdemeanors, like small-scale shoplifting, would be freed within 12 hours, with some exceptions. For others, the judge would use computerized risk assessment tools to decide whether they posed a low, moderate or high risk of fleeing or committing another crime, and what degree of supervision they would receive if released.

The assessments, used in localities across the United States, consider the current charges and other factors, such as the defendants criminal record, work history, community ties, present and past housing, and drug use. Although SB10 is not in effect, courts in 49 of Californias 58 counties are using some version of risk assessments in guiding pretrial release, said the bills lead author, state Sen. Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys.

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.

Another Hertzberg bill, SB36, which breezed through the Legislature without opposition last year, requires counties to examine their risk assessments at least once every three years, starting next January, to determine their accuracy and any adverse impact based on gender, race or ethnicity. That requirement will stay in effect even if voters reject SB10.

But the Pretrial Justice Institute says the assessment tools are unreliable and prone to bias.

For example, said Cherise Fanno Burdeen, the institutes executive partner, some judges issue arrest warrants for failing to show up for a hearing when a defendant is 10 minutes late, or is confined to a hospital, while other defendants miss hearings because they lack transportation or child care  costing all of them points in risk assessments.

Researchers in a number of states have also found that, in many communities that use the assessments, even if their jail population goes down, racial disparity goes up, Burdeen said. San Francisco, meanwhile, eliminated post-arrest cash bail in its courts on Thursday, under a legal settlement, after a federal judge ruled that the citys bail system discriminated unconstitutionally against the poor.

Under the new system, those accused of misdemeanors or nonviolent felonies must be released within 18 hours unless police convince a judge they are too dangerous to be freed. Those charged with more serious crimes will remain in jail unless they convince the judge they can be released safely without bail.

Sadik Huseny, a lawyer for inmates in the San Francisco case, said he hopes the settlement will show that pretrial release can be conducted both fairly and safely, regardless of the imperfections in current risk assessments.

We support any efforts to continue to improve risk assessment tools, he said, but these developments do not undercut the strong case against cash bail.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
A Hubli court in Karnataka has sent to police custody till February 28 three students from Jammu and Kashmir, who were booked under sedition charges for raising pro-Pakistan slogan in a video shared on social media.

A second Joint Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court on Monday sent the three students, identified as Basit Ashik Sophi (19), Talib Majid (19) and Amir Mohiuddin (23), to police custody till February 28 for questioning in the matter.

The court directed the police to make the accused undergo a medical evaluation before the interrogation and produce the medical certificates in the court before the next hearing.

The three students were last week transferred to Belgaum Hindalga jail from Hubli sub-jail and the case, registered in Gokul Road police station, was also transferred to the rural police station because the video was recorded in the college hostel room which is in the latter's jurisdiction.

The Kashmiri students were under judicial custody since February 17 following their arrest for raising pro-Pakistan slogans and posting a video of the same on social media on the night of February 16.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Politics as practised by political parties has been left behind by the spontaneous demonstrations and sustained protests by the gritty women who continue to sit night and day at Shaheen Bagh in Delhis Okhla area and the numerous similar sit-ins inspired by them. The protests are for a particular demand that is emphatically secular; the politics of identity has been repositioned through the insistence that those who live in India and vote in India are citizens, who cannot be categorised and so divided by community and religion which challenges the legitimacy of the claimant.

And then there is the politics of the party with the biggest presence, the BJP. By declaring the Delhi elections as the India-Pakistan match, instigated by the Opposition and vested interests to spread anarchy and plunge the nation into disorder, the BJP has refused to acknowledge, much less accommodate, the new emphatically secular demands being raised by lakhs of people/voters. This could be because of its limitations to grasp that there is a secular space within the political field that is insistent with its demand and firm in its position, having emerged as a metamorphosis in political consciousness and democratic action.

Between the hoary, antagonistic and loudly confrontationist binary of Hindutva as propounded by the Sangh Parivar  both the Rashtriya Swayamse-vak Sangh and the BJP, plus scores of smaller mass organisations  there is a third kind of politics, that of Soft Hindutva. The practice of this kind requires political parties to organise showy events to demonstrate their piety to a galaxy of Hindu gods and goddesses, spout Sanskrit or the sacred texts whatever those might be, and convey to touchy voters that despite their commitment to secularism, or their identification by the BJP as Muslim appeasement parties, their leaders remain staunch practising Hindus.

Ambivalence, blurring the lines are the bag of tricks deployed by these parties and their leaders to position themselves as somewhere in the middle, regardless of whether these leaders and their cadres are God-fearing.

As the next bunch of states prepare to engage through elections due at the end of this year and into 2021, political parties must work out what will be the winning idea. Will it be the idea of the nation endangered by protests that challenge the authority of the ruling regime in New Delhi to enact laws that in its view are good for the country, like the Citizenship (Amendme-nt) Act, alter the National Population Register to probe through scrutiny of legacy papers the legitimacy of residents in India, and the National Register of Citizens that will weed out the illegals from the legal citizens? Or, will the next series of elections reject the idea, entirely simplistic, of the binary of Hindus versus Muslims, who, in the provocative statements of Union minister for animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries Giriraj Singh, ought to have relocated to Pakistan in 1947?

The BJP is, it seems, certainly rock-like its determination to not only reclaim the Hindu nation as its exclusive domain in the next series of elections, it is also set to seek new endorsements for its manifesto that will change the fundamental values that permeate the Constitution as well as the institutions of the modern nation state established in 1947.

Leaving aside the BJPs dilemma, albeit of its own making, Jammu and Kashmir, where elections to the original state were due in January-February 2021, and in the current environment where organising credible elections in the newly-formed Union territories will be a challenge, there are other states where elections are due between November 2020 and April 2021.

In these states, the idea of secular politics, which is different from the pre-2019 politics of secularism, will fight for support against the politics of communal identities, alienation and division. The states where this confrontation has the greatest possibilities of establishing secular politics as the new politics of post-Independence India are West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The reason: the BJP has never ever won in these states.

West Bengal will be the most closely watched state in this contest. The BJP believes that its best chance of gaining new ground, devouring a once Left bastion and ejecting the soft Hindutva-Muslim appeasement Trinamul Congress is in 2021. The challenge and the opportunity for the BJP and the Trinamul Congress are compelling.

Can Mamata Banerjee overcome the negatives that incumbency automatically brings to a bid for re-election to a third term? It will require her to pull off a tough balancing act of increasing her appeal among Hindu voters without decreasing the loyalty and the votes of the substantial Muslim voters across the state.

For Mamata Banerjee, the run-up to the 2021 elections will be a choice between playing the election game by rules that she creates and so controls, or playing by the BJPs rules. If Ms Banerjee persists in her politics of appeasing both high-caste Hindus and Nama Shudra voters, especially one sect  the Matua  and appealing to the substantial Muslim voters by telling them what she has done for them, she will hand over the initiative to the BJP.

Staging exaggerated demonstrations of Hindu bhakti and Muslim piety would be perceived, quite correctly, as exercises in appeasement. It would distract from the performance of the West Bengal government on social security and infrastructure development. Given Arvind Kejriwals success in the recent Delhi polls, Ms Banerjee may want to reconsider her strategy for keeping the BJP at bay.

As the first chief minister to object to the CAA, NPR, NRC, Ms Banerjee is ideally positioned to occupy the secular political space that the sustained, coherent non-party protests have opened up. The demand is entirely secular and where the public has come out in support at rallies and sit-ins, the support cuts across class, caste and communal divides. West Bengals unique political history of establishing a secular politics after 1947 is the legacy that Mamata Banerjee needs to leverage against the toxic politics of division based on legacy papers that the BJP is deploying in West Bengal as well as nationally.

The moment is one that Mamata Banerjee could seize to catapult out of the corner into which she has been boxed in by the BJP and her critics in West Bengal, who harp on her past associations with right-wing communal politics, and her alleged current vulnerabilities that are open to exploitation by a regime that is unscrupulous in using institutional power to arm-twist select political opponents.

The writer is a senior journalist in Kolkata
YEREVAN.  At the main OSCE Parliamentary Assemblies, where the main discussions are taking place, Azerbaijan has always tried to put wording that is favorable to the interests of Azerbaijan at various times through its lobbying, the most diverse shadowy, caviar trickery. Hayk Konjoryan, head of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA), stated this today during a meeting with reporters in the NA, reflecting on the recent OSCE PA winter session in Luxembourg.

According to him, the Azerbaijanis had put forward some problematic points in Luxembourg, but the Armenian delegation managed to neutralize 99% of all the dangerous wording. "The most dangerous wording that, as a result of the lobbying of Azerbaijan, the former rapporteur had put in his preliminary text in very suspicious circumstances, was that the so-called '7 regions' of Azerbaijan wording," Konjoryan stated. Then, naturally, the same rapporteur withdrew that wording, realizing that it was an injudicious wording, and it does not take into account the common vocabulary of the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group. That was a total fiasco for Azerbaijan in that part because we were able to abort those attempts of theirs.

In Luxembourg, another very important point for us was that we were able to incorporate in the Luxembourg Declaration a provision on the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, which calls on the other member countries of the Parliamentary Assembly comprising 57 countries to follow the examples of France and Italy, as well as to take steps to prevent and condemn the Genocide."

The Armenian MP added that, usually, territorial integrity comes to the forefront in the cases of the Ukrainian and Georgian conflicts, and Azerbaijan is constantly trying to present Karabakh in that same "basket." "However, we have been able to convey the message to our international partners that conflicts are different, that if the provision of territorial integrity can be considered a priority in one conflict, the provision of nations' self-determination can be considered a priority in the case of another conflict," Konjoryan added. In the Artsakh issue, we argue that the right of nations to self-determination must be at least equally observable with the other two principles of the Helsinki Final Act.

In the Luxembourg Declaration we have specified a provision that clearly records that the Karabakh conflict must be settled on the basis of three principles of the Helsinki Final Act, and all three principles were enumerated, including the right of nations to self-determination. This is the first declaration in the last 10 years that states in the full context that the Karabakh conflict must be resolved on the basis of these three principles; this completely neutralizes all other attempts of Azerbaijan."
Two crime-fighting robots have accepted jobs at Childrens Hospital of San Antonio.

Meet Lightning Willie and Captain Violet, and youre likely to get a Good day to you or Hi. Theyll even give a polite but firm warning of Pardon me for anyone who gets too close.

The pair of 5-foot-tall, 398-pound autonomous robots patrol the outside grounds of the downtown hospital, providing an extra set of eyes and ears for its security team.

Theyre unarmed and move along predetermined routes up and down the walkways and sidewalks and in the parking garage at a speed of up to 3 mph.

The security robots are equipped with multiple cameras to continuously snap photos and stream video of their surroundings, said Roy Alston, vice president of security for Christus Health.

The robots will serve as a first line of defense to help detect and root out any potential security situations before they ever rise to the level of becoming a security threat, he said.

On ExpressNews.com: University Health System invests in new mobile app

They are built to look for anomalies that might suggest criminal activity  such as a person in a restricted area of the hospital  but the machines also serve as customer service representatives, Christus Health spokesman Kevin Dolliole said.

Hospital visitors can speak to human security staff members by pressing a duress button on the robot.

Now Playing: Two crime-fighting robots have accepted jobs at Childrens Hospital of San Antonio. Video: Kin Man Hui San Antonio Express News Staff photographer, Kin Man Hui Staff photographer

The kids are very curious, and they think its fun, Dolliole said as he pointed out each robots gadgets.

Patients came up with Captain Violets name, and the hospital staff designed her to look like a superhero with a purple cape.

Lightning Willie is a cute, cartoonish dog named after Willie Fontelroy, an environmental services employee who has worked at the childrens hospital for the past 46 years.

Patients and visitors have quickly warmed up to the robots, which resemble the famous R2-D2 droid from the Star Wars franchise  except theyre much bigger.

Created by Silicon Valley-based Knightscope, the outdoor machines run 24/7 and recharge themselves a few times a day.

Hospital officials declined to share terms of its annual contract, but according to Knightscopes website, the K5 model is sold on a subscription basis at a cost of $6 to $12 per hour.

Knightscope has built security robots for Houston Methodist Hospital and North Central Texas College in Gainesville, as well as for police stations, banks, malls, airports and casinos.

The companys first police client, in Huntington Park, Calif., saw an annual reduction in crime after deploying the robots in a city park. The client reported that the number of incidents decreased from 277 to 249 a year.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that security guard positions will grow 4 percent through 2028. Security officers make on average $13.72 per hour, according to the federal agency. But a lot of that work could be taken over by robots.

Oxford University researchers concluded in a 2013 study that security guards have an 84 percent chance of many of their tasks being lost to automation over the next decade or so.

But hospital security supervisor Noel Rivas said hes not concerned about being replaced by the robots.

On ExpressNews.com: Jefferson: Manufacturing is having its day in S.A.

Actually, it enhances our work and it helps us deter incidents and can assist us with investigations, he said.

He clicked on a computer screen inside the hospitals security office, and a live video popped up. Through Captain Violets eyes  or her cameras  he watched as she paused in the hospital driveway as a car pulled up to a valet. Once the path was clear, she continued to roll across the pavement looking for anything out of the ordinary.

Rivas, who has worked security at the hospital for eight years, said the robots are a good distraction for young patients being treated at the hospital.

They take pictures with it, and you hear parents say, The future is here, he said.

Laura Garcia covers the health care industry in the San Antonio and Bexar County area.
While some investors are already well versed in financial metrics (hat tip), this article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE) and why it is important. We'll use ROE to examine Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY), by way of a worked example.

Our data shows Occidental Petroleum has a return on equity of 3.0% for the last year. That means that for every $1 worth of shareholders' equity, it generated $0.03 in profit.

View our latest analysis for Occidental Petroleum

How Do I Calculate ROE?

The formula for ROE is:

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

Or for Occidental Petroleum:

3.0% = US$1.2b  US$41b (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2019.)

It's easy to understand the 'net profit' part of that equation, but 'shareholders' equity' requires further explanation. It is all earnings retained by the company, plus any capital paid in by shareholders. Shareholders' equity can be calculated by subtracting the total liabilities of the company from the total assets of the company.

What Does ROE Mean?

ROE looks at the amount a company earns relative to the money it has kept within the business. The 'return' is the 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 it can be interesting to compare the ROE of different companies.

Does Occidental Petroleum Have A Good ROE?

Arguably the easiest way to assess company's ROE is to compare it with the average in its industry. The limitation of this approach is that some companies are quite different from others, even within the same industry classification. If you look at the image below, you can see Occidental Petroleum has a lower ROE than the average (12%) in the Oil and Gas industry classification.

NYSE:OXY Past Revenue and Net Income, February 25th 2020

That's not what we like to see. We prefer it when the ROE of a company is above the industry average, but it's not the be-all and end-all if it is lower. Still, shareholders might want to check if insiders have been selling.

Story continues

The Importance Of Debt To Return On Equity

Most companies need money -- from somewhere -- to grow their profits. The cash for investment can come from prior year profits (retained earnings), issuing new shares, or borrowing. In the first two cases, the ROE will capture this use of capital to grow. In the latter case, the use of debt will improve the returns, but will not change the equity. In this manner the use of debt will boost ROE, even though the core economics of the business stay the same.

Occidental Petroleum's Debt And Its 3.0% ROE

Occidental Petroleum clearly uses a significant amount of debt to boost returns, as it has a debt to equity ratio of 1.21. The combination of a rather low ROE and significant use of debt is not particularly appealing. Investors should think carefully about how a company might perform if it was unable to borrow so easily, because credit markets do change over time.

But It's Just One Metric

Return on equity is a useful indicator of the ability of a business to generate profits and return them to shareholders. Companies that can achieve high returns on equity without too much debt are generally of good quality. All else being equal, a higher ROE is better.

Having said that, while ROE is a useful indicator of business quality, you'll have to look at a whole range of factors to determine the right price to buy a stock. Profit growth rates, versus the expectations reflected in the price of the stock, are a particularly important to consider. So I think it may be worth checking this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

If you would prefer check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss thisfree 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.
Its the end of an era -- at least, Seaside Heights hopes it is.

In a month, Karma and the Bamboo Bar  two of the towns party venues the Jersey Shore cast frequented for years  will be auctioned off, just a year after the clubs parent company filed for bankruptcy.

Those hoping to become the next owner will need to put up at least $1.2 million when the the two Boulevard venues begin accepting bids on March 26.

Three vacant lots and a Seaside Heights liquor license are also up for grabs. The liquor license has a minimum $450,000 bid, according to the Asbury Park Press.

While filing for bankruptcy in February 2019, the night clubs owner, Saddy Family LLC, said it owed more than $2 million to various entities, the APP reported. The money from the property sales will go toward paying back creditors, the news organization said.

Seaside Heights Mayor Anthony Vaz told NJ Advance Media the auctioning of the clubs is another step toward swapping Seaside Heights bar atmosphere for a family-friendly image. Developers have suggested turning the properties into retail stores, coffee shops or condominiums, among other ideas, he said.

The bottom line is were geared toward families  an image thats going to make everyone feel safe and happy and enjoy the beauty of the beaches," the mayor said. Were driven to a different environment.

The sale marks the end to a tenuous relationship between the nightclubs and the borough. In June, Seasides borough council voted for the second straight year to reject Karmas request for a liquor license. The club hasnt been open since the spring of 2018, when police made several underage drinking arrests at the venue.

The Bamboo Bar was open in the summer and occasionally during the fall of 2019.

The auction will take place at 1 p.m. on March 26 at The Bamboo Bar, located at 201-203 Boulevard.

Jenna Wise may be reached at jwise@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JennaRWise. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
The Islamic State's subcontinental branch has called on Indian Muslims angered by the Citizenship Amendment Act to abandon political protest, and instead turn to jihadist violence

New Delhi: The Islamic State's subcontinental branch has called on Indian Muslims angered by the Citizenship Amendment Act to abandon political protest, and instead turn to jihadist violence. "Democracy is not going to save you," asserts the terrorist group's new digital magazine, Sawt-ul-Hind, released on jihadist online fora late on Monday. "Only shariah implemented in its purity in the shade of Khilafah [the caliphate] can now save you."

The Islamic State magazine's release came amidst murderous communal violence in northeast Delhi, pitching protesters against supporters of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act just as President Donald Trump began a high-profile visit to India on Monday.

"Islamist groups have been trying to capitalise on Muslim fears and anxieties around the CAA to create some kind of legitimacy for themselves," said Khalid Shah, an expert on Kashmiri jihadist groups at the Observer Research Foundation.

"They are sensing an opportunity for themselves in these largely leaderless protests, but until now they did not appear to be getting a great deal of traction. That could, of course, change."

"O Muslims of Hind!," Sawt-ul-Hind [Voice of Hindustan] exhorts readers, "Has the time not come for you to wake up from the deep slumber, which has overtaken all of you to the point of an intoxicated stupor [sic]? Havent you yet realised that the idolatrous Hindus would never ever be pleased with you until you renounce the Deen [religion] of Islam?"

The magazine attacks Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging they are responsible for "vicious atrocities against the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent, and their unconcealed hatred and enmity against Allah".

But it also attacks Communist Party of India youth leader Kanhaiya Kumar, All-India Majlis-e Ittehad-ul Muslimeen Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi and well as Deoband-school scholars Mahmoud Madani and Arshad Madani, for "misguiding Muslim youth".

"Do you really think that this is the way that pure Kalimah [declarations of religious faith] is raised up to the throne of the Lord of the Worlds," the magazine asks? "Do you really think that rubbing shoulders with Communists, Atheists, Christians and Secularists will help you achieve what you desire?"

It attributes the problems of Indian Muslims to their syncretic accommodation with their milieu, saying they have "stooped so low that that you differ from the Hindus only in name".

The Islamic State announced the creation of its subcontinental wilayah, or province, in May 2019, soon after the police shot dead ethnic-Kashmiri jihadist Ishfaq Ahmad Sofi near Shopian. This issue of Sawt-ul-Hind  a name earlier used for at least two Islamic State-linked online fora  is the organisation's first digital publication. The issue is dated only to the month of Rajab, which corresponds to 25 February to 24 March, in the common era calendar.

Eisa Fazili, an engineering student turned-jihadist slain in 2018 and Mughees Mir, whose body was laid to rest draped in an Islamic State flag at Parimpora in 2017, are among several Kashmiri jihadists linked to the organisation of whom the magazine makes special mention.

The magazine also commemorates Pakistani jihadist Amir Sultan, also known as Abu Huzaifa al-Bakistani, who was killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan's Nangarhar region last summer.

Kashmir's fledgling Islamic State unit was, intelligence officials say, founded by Aijaz Ahanger, a Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen jihadist who fled India for Pakistan in 1996. Infuriated by the Pakistani State's growing confrontation with jihadists hostile to the United States, he travelled to Afghanistan in 2015 with his family, to join the Islamic State in Nangarhar. In 2016, he took charge of the jihadist group.

Abdullah Ibn Aijaz, Ahangers teenage son, was killed fighting rival Taliban jihadists in the summer of 2017, followed in short order by his father.

The Islamic State leader's older daughter, 1997-born Sabira Ahanger, was married to Amir Sultan, and is among a group of women now awaiting repatriation by the Indian government while being held in prison in Kabul, as first reported by News18.

Tooba Ahanger, Sabira Ahanger's younger sister, and mother, Rukhsana Ahanger, are also with her in prison.

Rukhsana Ahangers father, Badgam-based jihadist-turned-cleric Abdul Gani Dar, had founded the Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen  linked to the neo-fundamentalist Ahl-e-Hadith sect, from which several terrorist groups, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Islamic State have raised recruits.

Alleged to have organised the assassination of his rival in Kashmir's Ahl-e-Hadith, Shaukat Shah, Dar himself was found murdered in a Srinagar mosque earlier this year, a killing police say was linked to a personal feud.
Netcracker to Accelerate Service Innovation with Distributed Agile DevOps Collaboration

Netcracker Technology announced today that it has extended its strategic partnership with Swisscom to bring Agile and DevOps processes and tools to the operations environment. The Joint Development agreement creates an environment that allows Netcracker and Swisscom to collaborate on software development, delivery and deployment of operational software based on Netcracker's Digital OSS suite, delivering significant time-to-market advantages and total cost of ownership (TCO) savings.

Swisscom, the leading telecommunications service provider in Switzerland, offers customers throughout the country a full range of sophisticated products and services, including fixed-line and mobile telephony and Internet services, digital television and IT and networking solutions. The company is well known as an industry innovator, serving multiple geographic locations, where speed to market is essential to meet and exceed customer expectations.

Swisscom will leverage Netcracker's distributed Agile and DevOps collaboration capabilities to drive the organization towards a new operational model. By jointly incorporating continuous integration (CI) and continuous development (CD) processes and tools, Swisscom will improve service upgrades and deliver newer services faster, adapting swiftly to its customers' demands. By automating development and deployment, Swisscom expects to significantly reduce its TCO.

"With Netcracker's deep and proven expertise in distributed Agile and DevOps ways of working, we can transform our operations model to focus on quality, stability and agility, as well as cost efficiency," said John de Keijzer, Head of DevOps Software at Swisscom. "Netcracker's Digital OSS will help us optimize our operations and ensure that our infrastructure can keep pace with new market and customer changes."

"As long-term strategic partners, Netcracker is delighted to be taking this important next step with Swisscom in their digital transformation journey," said Benedetto Spaziani, Vice President of Strategic Accounts at Netcracker Technology. "By collaboratively moving to a new joint operational model, Swisscom will gain the agility it needs to innovate faster with new services."

About Netcracker Technology

Netcracker Technology, a wholly owned subsidiary of NEC Corporation, offers mission-critical digital transformation solutions to service providers around the globe. Our comprehensive portfolio of software solutions and professional services enables large-scale digital transformations, unlocking the opportunities of the cloud, virtualization and the changing mobile ecosystem. With an unbroken service delivery track record of more than 25 years, our unique combination of technology, people and expertise helps companies transform their networks and enable better experiences for their customers.

For more information, visit www.netcracker.com.

About Swisscom (Schweiz) AG

Swisscom, Switzerland's leading telecoms company, and one of its leading IT companies, is headquartered in Ittigen, close to the capital city Berne. Outside Switzerland, Swisscom has a presence on the Italian market in the guise of Fastweb. In 2019, 300 employees generated sales of CHF 11,453 million. It is 51% Confederation-owned and is one of Switzerland's most sustainable and innovative companies.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005140/en/

Contacts:

Erin O'Reilly

Netcracker Technology

+1-781-366-7049

Erin.Oreilly@Netcracker.com
LANSING, MI -- Democratic presidential hopeful Mike Bloomberg is welcoming Vice President Mike Pence to Michigan with a billboard truck parked outside the venue of two events Pence is scheduled to attend.

The vice president 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. Bloombergs campaign will display a series of digital ads on the side of the truck to highlight the former New York mayors work on infrastructure, health care, education and agriculture.

Bloomberg, a billionaire activist, flooded Michigan and other states with half a billion dollars in campaign advertisements since launching his presidential bid in November 2019. He spent nearly $11.6 million on ads in Michigan, according to an analysis by the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, running 40 different ads more than 19,000 times.

Bloomberg outspent the entire 2016 primary field in Michigan by nearly $1 million with a few weeks left before the March 10 Democratic primary. Bloombergs campaign declined to say how much the anti-Trump billboard truck cost.

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.

It could be an opportunity for Pence to bring up recently-resurfaced comments Bloomberg made about farmers in 2016, said David Dulio, head of the political science department at Oakland University.

Bloombergs political enemies have seized on comments he made while speaking about how to educate Americans for high-skilled jobs at the University of Oxford in England. Bloomberg said it is harder to find people jobs in the information economy," than it was to train people for farming jobs in the past.

If you think about it, the agrarian society lasted 3,000 years, and we can teach processes, Bloomberg said. I can teach anybody  even people in this room, so no offense intended  to be a farmer. Its a process. You dig a hole, you put a seed in, you put dirt on top, you add water, up comes corn. You can learn that.

Supporters of Trump, including his son, shared a portion of his remarks on social media. Donald Trump Jr. said it shows Bloomberg really hates regular hardworking Americans. The Bloomberg campaign said the social media clip was edited to remove important context.

One of the digital ads Bloombergs campaign will run in Lansing outside the Michigan Farm Bureau event criticizes the Trump administrations trade war. Michigan farmers were hit hard by retaliatory tariffs China imposed on U.S. farm products.

Donald Trump only cares about farmers when he needs their vote, the billboard states. Mike Bloomberg will always support Americas agriculture.

Trade damages from retaliatory tariffs impacted a range of U.S. commodities, and farmers were offered federal bailouts to offset some of the cost. Still, Fifteen Michigan farms declared bankruptcy in 2019, up from 10 in 2018.

Pence is also scheduled to hold a rally at the Detroit Marriott Troy hotel. The Keep America Great" rally is likely to draw Republicans in Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights, Shelby Township and other nearby cities that helped flip Michigan for Trump in 2016.

Another ad pledges to tell U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos youre fired, taking Trumps reality television catchphrase. Bloombergs campaign said DeVos, a Michigan native, dismantled public education over the past three years by calling for cuts to federal funding and rolling back protections for vulnerable students.

Bloombergs campaign is also focusing on Michigans crumbling roads, a top issue for lawmakers in Lansing. Trump also pledged to secure a bipartisan infrastructure funding bill this year, though an early attempt to work with Congress on the idea broke down without much progress.

Bloomberg is proposing investing $850 billion over 10 years to build and upgrade roads, bridges, dams and other infrastructure. Some of the funding would help local investments in drinking water utilities.

Bloombergs campaign said Trump has failed as a federal partner to Michigan, leaving the states transportation network in worse shape than before he took office.

The last billboard displayed on Bloombergs truck focuses on the high cost of health care.
Centre beefs up forces in Delhi as violence continues

The centre today deployed additional forces in violence-hit areas of Delhi even as the borders of Delhi with the states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have been placed under surveillance in view of the upcoming Supreme Court hearing relating to issues pertaining to Citizenship Law.

The decision has been taken at a meeting chaired by union minister of home affairs Amit Shah to assess the prevailing situation in Delhi. The meeting was attended by Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal as also senior officials and representatives of political parties.

The national capital has seen a third day of violence as the death toll from Monday's clashes went up to at least nine, including a policeman.

"Some of the people brought in had gunshot wounds," Dr Rajesh Kalra, additional medical superintendent at the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, said of Monday's violence.

Shah said adequate forces have been deployed in affected areas and the situation is under control, even as he appealed to political parties to maintain restraint and rise above party lines.

He urged political parties to avoid provocative speeches and statements which could flare up the situation.

Shah appreciated the participation of all parties and urged them to exercise restraint, rise above party lines to tackle the situation.

Shah noted that the professional assessment is that the violence in the capital has been spontaneous. He expressed confidence in Delhi Police and said that the force has shown maximum restraint to get the situation under control.

Shah appealed to all to desist from spreading rumours, and said that political parties should cooperate with police to quell these rumours and dispel fear among the public. He also appealed to the public at large and media to communicate responsibly and avoid spreading rumours. He asked the Police Commissioner of Delhi to have senior police officers present in Police Control Rooms so that rumours can be dispelled as quickly as possible.

Shah also spoke of the need to re-activate local peace committees and said that those committees should include representatives of all sections of society, religions and eminent local persons. The home minister urged political parties to ask their local representatives to hold meetings in sensitive areas and instructed senior police officers to visit vulnerable police stations at the earliest. He added that special officers would be deployed in affected areas. Feedback on the issue has been taken from local representatives and incorporated for further course of action after discussions with Lieutenant Governor and the Delhi Police Commissioner.

Shah noted that the Delhi Police is a professional organisation and is adequately empowered to be able to decide on the amount of force needed to diffuse tensions where necessary. Those present in the meeting expressed grief on the death of Head Constable Ratan Lal, who was killed in action yesterday.
By scouting through several crumpled up menu drafts, our extremely reliable sources were able to ascertain that the broccoli samosa was almost edged out by Brussels sprouts bhajiyas, dhokla sandwiches layered with berry compote, quinoa chaat, and minced kale kebabs.

Coming up with a menu for a Presidential visit is no easy feat, and while the world has been bowled over by the broccoli samosas that were specially served up for Donald Trump and his wife Melania's visit to Ahmedabad, FP Special Forces has been able to determine that there were several other delicacies that got left behind on the drawing (or chopping) board.

Through our deeply embedded sources (who may or may not have snuck in with a batch of murabba), we got the inside scoop on what other dishes could have been on the right side of a spatula.

Like the broccoli samosa  the very existence of which flies boldly in the face of culinary convention, to which odes such as that classic Bollywood hit, 'Jab Tak Rahega Samose Mein Aloo, Tera Rahoonga O Meri Shaloo', have been devoted  these discarded dishes too represented the best of East-West fusion.

By scouting through several crumpled up menu drafts, our sources were able to ascertain that the broccoli samosa was almost edged out by Brussels sprouts bhajiyas, dhokla sandwiches layered with berry compote, quinoa chaat, and minced kale kebabs.

Other dishes that were initially considered, and which FP Special Forces was able to independently verify, included artichoke vada, asparagus cutlets, truffle-topped khakra, and baked tinda canapes.

"The brief was simple: tickle the Trumps' tastebuds," a sous chef involved in the Presidential visit meal prep told FP Special Forces, on condition of anonymity. "While we knew the US President is fond of hamberders and such, we wanted to wow him with a mix of Indian finger foods with Western influences that would show Trump saab a gustatory madhur milan  a plated metaphor for Indo-US relations."

A blog post titled Kitchen Confidential, from another anonymous insider, had detailed how much pressure the chefs had been under in the run-up to the Trumps' visit, to design a menu that would please the American President's palate enough to convince him to sign a trade deal. The blogger also wrote of how the head chef, seemingly cracking under the strain, was seen throwing out vast quantities of lauki even as the Trumps landed in India, cursing the day the hapless vegetable had been discovered.
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The NSDC secretary believes such threat is "quite powerful".

The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine does not rule out the possibility of the Russian armed forces invading the territory of neighboring Belarus.

That's according to Oleksiy Danilov, the NSDC Secretary, who spoke with Radio NV.

Belarus is facing a threat of the same act of occupation Russia committed in relation to part of Ukraine's Donbas, Danilov believes.

"Moreover, this threat coming from the Russian Federation is quite powerful. If today they are failing to resolve issues, so to say, 'diplomatically'  as (the Russians] are now constantly pushing Belarus toward this  I don't rule out a possibility of an invasion," Danilov said .

Read alsoUkraine's Foreign Minister Prystaiko says there's threat of war between Belarus and Russia

As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko also admitted the possibility of a war erupting between Belarus and the Russian Federation.

"Of course, I still hope that I'm wrong. Belarusians are calm and patient. But we were also calm and patient people. This will prevail until they start killing you. And then, you, too, start to killing  even if the adversary is stronger. After all, what other options do you have?" Prystaiko said.
ArcelorMittal chief L N Mittal on Tuesday called on Union Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and discussed ways to boost domestic steel consumption and make the sector more competitive.

Pradhan in a tweet said that they had discussion on driving domestic steel demand and making the Indian industry more vibrant among other issues.

"Had a fruitful meeting with Mr. Lakshmi Niwas Mittal, Chairman & CEO of ArcelorMittal @ArcelorMittal. We had good discussions on sustainable energy, driving domestic steel demand, boosting steel consumption and making our steel and oil & gas industry more vibrant and competitive," Pradhan tweeted.

This was the second meeting between Mittal and Pradhan since December 2019.

ArcelorMittal made its foray into the Indian market by acquiring Essar Steel in December 2019 through insolvency process. ArcelorMittal has set up a joint venture with Nippon Steel Corporation, called ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Limited, which will own and operate Essar Steel. ArcelorMittal holds 60 per cent in the JV.

The global steel major had also entered into an MoU with state-run SAIL in 2015 for setting a high-end automotive steel plant under a joint venture in the country.

A SAIL official said that the steel PSU had received no response from the global steel company over the plans to set up a joint plant.

ArcelorMittal had earlier said that it needs time as it was busy with Essar Steel.

In December 2017, Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) board had approved a proposal to enter into a JV with ArcelorMittal for manufacturing high-end automotive steel.

The definitive agreement in this regard was to be finalised later.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) in the Senate subway area of the Capitol before President Donald Trump's State of the Union address in Washington on Feb. 4, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Sen. Collins Says Trumps Pick for DNI Lacks Experience

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said that Republican President Donald Trump should have nominated acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire to the position permanently, adding that Trumps replacement lacks experience.

Trump named U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell as the acting director of national intelligence (DNI) last week, replacing Maguire.

I would have much preferred that the president nominate acting director Maguire for the post, Collins told reporters Monday afternoon in Washington. I care deeply about that position and believe the person needs experience in the intelligence community which regrettably Ambassador Grenell does not have.

The post of director of national intelligence, which was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, oversees the 17 U.S. civilian and military intelligence agencies including the CIA. Collins helped write the law creating the position and is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Nominating people to serve temporarily in the top intelligence post lets Trump bypass the Senate, which hasnt always seen eye-to-eye with him despite being controlled by the GOP.

Maguires temporary term was due to expire on March 11 and Grenell will have to step down by that date unless the president nominates someone to serve in the position permanently. If a nomination is made, Grenell could serve up to six months as acting director.

Grenell said on Twitter that hes only serving in the position for a period of time. The president will announce the Nominee (not me) sometime soon, he said last week.

Richard Grenell at the Federal Defense Ministry in Berlin, Germany on Nov. 8, 2019. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Trump has only floated one name as a possible permanent DNI: Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.). Collins soon responded that he didnt want the job, citing his bid for a U.S. Senate seat. Trump said Friday that four great candidates are being considered and that hed announce his decision within the next few weeks.

Collins, one of the most moderate Republicans in the Senate, was the first to voice disapproval of Grenells being named to the DNI position.

Senate Republican leadership was scheduled to speak to reporters on Tuesday afternoon after their weekly caucus luncheon.

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), a member of the GOP leadership, told reporters on Tuesday that Grenell will do well.

Hes a capable person. Hell be able to do that job. Blunt said on Capitol Hill. He said that he understood that Grenell wouldnt be in the position permanently and that he prefers to have someone become DNI on a permanent basis.

Democrats have vociferously opposed the naming of Grenell.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) claimed that Grenell is a political lackey, a yes man.

He has no experience in the intelligence community and is simply known as an acolyte to President Trump, Schumer claimed on the Senate floor on Monday. The naming of Grenell was part of a pattern of actions from Trump that was bringing America closer and closer to a banana republic, Schumer said.
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A Russian man who had diplomatic credentials in Geneva was in fact a military intelligence officer linked to a secret hit squad accused of a spate of poisonings in Europe, according to a new report by the open-source investigative organization Bellingcat.



The report, released on February 25, was the latest to examine the operations of Russian security agencies, highlighting what experts warn are aggressive and far-reaching efforts by Moscow to conduct surveillance, sabotage, and even assassinations abroad.



President Vladimir Putin, who previously headed Russia's main intelligence agency, has made the country's military and spy agencies a priority during his tenure in office.



In March 2018, former Russian agent Sergei Skripal, along with his daughter, nearly died after being poisoned with what British experts said was a sophisticated military-grade nerve agent.



Bellingcat, along with other outlets, later identified a military intelligence unit -- known as Unit 29155 -- that was behind the incident, and two of the agents involved.



Bellingcat later published a report accusing Russia's military intelligence agency, unofficially known as the GRU, of also being responsible for the poisoning of a Bulgarian arms dealer in Sofia in 2015.



In December, Bulgarian officials said their investigation of the case focused on five alleged GRU agents, including a Russian general.



Last month, Bulgarian prosecutors announced charges against three Russians, and an Interpol arrest warrant was issued.



In its new report, released in conjunction with the Russian news site The Insider and the Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger, Bellingcat said one of the three Russians who was charged by the Bulgarians and who went by the name Georgy Gorshkov was in fact a Russian named Yegor Gordienko.



The report said Gordienko had official diplomatic status at Russias mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, and was first posted there in January 2017, with an expected assignment of three years.



But he was abruptly recalled from Switzerland in October 2018 after Bellingcat and The Insider published a report identifying the existence of a GRU team operating in Europe.



Bellingcat said Gordienko was also in regular contact with two other GRU agents who have been charged in Britain for their role in the Skripal poisoning.



Bellingcat said they confirmed Gordinenko's presence in Geneva based on official diplomatic lists provided by the WTO and the Swiss Foreign Ministry. And they published what they said was an online record of a road race that Gordienko apparently ran in 2018.



But Bellingcat said that, when their Swiss partner publication contacted the Russian diplomatic mission in Geneva, they were told no such diplomat named Gordienko had ever existed.



Russia's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking further comment from RFE/RL.



Bellingcat said that Gordienko left Geneva late on October 25, 2018, and arrived in Moscow early the next month. Electronic metadata for Gordienkos cell phone showed that he called his boss, the commander of Unit 29155, Major General Andrei Averyanov.



Averyanov wasn't widely known publicly until last year, when his name first surfaced in a New York Times report that examined the operations of Unit 29155.



A joint investigation by RFE/RL and Bellingcat later determined Averyanov attended the wedding of his daughter in July 2017 at a Moscow region country club.

Among those in attendance was one of the two Russian agents who were charged with the Skripal poisoning almost a year later.
An off-duty police officer allegedly shot at least three people when he fired into a crowd during a brawl at a carnival celebration in northeastern Brazil.

A bystander recorded the moment several carnival spectators exchanged punches and kicks in the middle of a street in Campo Grande in the Sao Bento region on Monday night.

A male, who has not been identified by the government of the state of Bahia, could be seen on the video firing one shot moments after another male attempted to kick another person and fell to the ground.

Authorities in the Brazilian state of Bahia are searching for an off-duty cop (pictured left in orange shorts) who reportedly fired into a crowd of carnival spectators Monday. At least three people suffered gunshot wounds in their legs and have been released from a local hospital

He subsequently got up from the pavement and ran for cover along with dozens of other carnival visitors.

The suspected shooter, who government officials said is believed to be an off-duty police officer, retreated into the crowd and disappeared before the video came to an end.

The three victims received treatment for their leg wounds on site and were transported to State General Hospital, according to a statement released by the Bahia state government.

All three were released from the hospital, according to the Secretariat of Public Security.

Authorities were reviewing public security cameras in hopes of finding the cop, who was reportedly involved in the fight.

Several spectators at a carnival in northeastern Brazil were involved in a fight Monday, sparking a shooting that left three people wounded. No arrests had been reported as of Tuesday afternoon

No arrests had been announced as of Tuesday afternoon.

Monday's incident was the second in two days that marred the festival.

On Sunday, 25-year-old Fernando Almondes was the victim of a homophobic attack when he was kicked and elbowed by a male spectator near a concert stage.

Almondes told Brazilian news outlet G1 that he was also kicked in the head and was treated at a local hospital where he received five stitches in his upper lip.

Billed as 'the biggest carnival in the world,' the Bahian Carnival in Salvador kicked off festivities last Thursday and will wrap up Wednesday afternoon.
By Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Arrested Assam RTI activist and leader of peasants body Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) Akhil Gogoi will launch a hunger strike inside jail.

While being produced in a court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Guwahati on Tuesday, Gogoi said he, along with other arrested KMSS leaders, would launch the hunger strike within the jail premises from March 1 to intensify the agitation against controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

His supporters, who congregated outside the court complex, shouted slogans demanding his release and that of other KMSS leaders.

Gogoi, currently in judicial custody, was arrested by the police in the wake of the violent protests against the CAA in December last year. Subsequently, the NIA took his custody for his alleged linkage with the CPI (Maoist). Earlier, a case in this connection was registered with the Chandmari police station in Guwahati.

In the same case, Professor Arupjyoti Saikia of IIT, Guwahati, was grilled by the NIA several times.


Delhi ministers Gopal Rai, Imran Hussain and other Aam Aadmi Party MLAs camped outside Lt Governor Anil Baijals residence late Monday night to discuss with him the law and order situation in parts of northeast Delhi.

Rai said situation has become tense in his constituency Babarpur and alleged that there is no police deployment.

I have reached the LG House to discuss deteriorating law and order situation. People indulged in violence are firing, Rai said in a video posted on Twitter.

Later, several AAP MLAs, including Dilip Pandey, Sanjeev Jha, Akhilesh Pati Tripathi, camped outside the Lieutenant Governor House and have been waiting to meet Baijal.

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.
- Zanele Mbokazi survived a horrific car accident on her way back from Swaziland last week

- Her car overturned and she could have easily died

- The entrepreneur and presenter thanks God for sparing her life

PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed!

Zanele Mbokazi's car overturned as she was on her back from Swaziland last week.

The media personality was passing Richard's Bay when she hit a guardrail.

She was driving a seven seater Nissan Elgrand.

Zanele posted about the near-death experience on her Instagram page.

READ ALSO: Musician Naak Musiq blesses himself with new ride: Fans love his choice

She posted an image of the overturned vehicle with the caption, "#LetMeTestify yesterday (morning) I was driving back from the #BackToTheCross crusade preparations Eswatini."

"I had a nasty accident around Richards Bay. I lost control, hit the guardrail then a tree."

She continued, "But God! I am alive. Thank you to my friend, Muzi Ngema, for rushing to the scene."

"I could smell death but Mercy said no. I am grateful to be alive. Thank you for all the prayers and messages."

Zanele's followers inundated her with messages of support.

Nhlanhla Nciza wrote, "Oh how I love our merciful God, we thank Him for your life sis."

See messages from Zanele's other followers below:

thinahzungu

"We bless the Lord. Im sorry ma"

rotondwaesther

"I can see God lifting His hands protecting you we give all the Glory to God #BackToTheCross. Continue doing his work you will witness his presence and mercy"

luezulu

"We thank God for his hand of protection"

sinikezo_mchange

"Yooo. We Thank God for his protection."

Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news!

Source: Briefly News
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan today received Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia Miroslav Lajcak.

Welcoming Lajcaks visit to Armenia, Pashinyan attached importance to the opening of the embassy of Slovakia in Armenia and stated that Armenia is interested in the development of cooperation with Slovakia in the bilateral format and within the framework of the European Union.

The Prime Minister expressed gratitude for Slovakias balanced position on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and conveyed his warm greetings to Prime Minister of Slovakia Peter Pallegrin.

Lajcak stated that Armenia is a key partner for Slovakia and that the opening of the embassy of Slovakia in Armenia will create good opportunities for intensification of the bilateral ties. He emphasized that Slovakia, as an EU member state, is ready to assist Armenia in the implementation of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the liberalization of visas. Touching upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs mentioned that Slovakia fully supports the efforts for a peaceful settlement within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Pashinyan and Lajcak also exchanged views on the cooperation within the scope of the Eastern Partnership Plan and touched upon the latest developments within the framework of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Speciality chemical manufacturer Rossari Biotech has received approval from the capital market regulator SEBI for an initial public offering.

Market sources said the issue size could be approximately Rs 700 crore.

The IPO comprises a fresh issue of Rs 150 crore and an offer for sale of up to 1.05 crore equity shares, as per the DRHP filed with SEBI.

The company had filed its DRHP with SEBI on December 18 last year.

The company proposed to utilize fresh issue proceeds towards repayment of certain debt, funding working capital requirements and general corporate purposes.

Founded in 1996, Rossari Biotech is one of the leading speciality chemicals manufacturing companies in the country based on sales for fiscal 2019.

The company provides customised solutions to specific industrial and production requirements of their customers primarily in the FMCG (home care & personal care), apparel, poultry and animal feed industries.

Rossari Biotech manufactured and supplied home, personal care and performance chemicals to over 284 customers as on September 2019.

Some of the significant customers for its home, personal care and performance chemical products category include RSPL (Ghadi detergent), IFB Industries, Hindustan Unilever, Panasonic India, BSH Household Appliances Manufacturing, CICO Technologies, Rentokil Initial Hygiene India and Millennium Papers.

The company also manufactured and supplied textile speciality chemical products to 335 customers in over 15 countries as of September 2019.

Axis Capital and ICICI Securities have been appointed the book running lead managers to the issue.
The worlds first fully electric fire truck will visit Rochester next week.

The Rochester Fire Department is inviting community members to join city officials for a brief program and apparatus demonstration at noon March 6 in the Minnesota National Guard Armory parking lot, 1715 Marion Road SE.

"The big red truck is an important piece of equipment that the Rochester Fire Department utilizes each and every day. We are honored and excited to host this new apparatus, as it shows the advancement of technology and sustainability measures being focused on by the industry," Fire Chief Eric Kerska said. "We hope this visit provides our community members the ability to see the future of fire response."

Rochester is one of only a handful of cities to be selected for a visit by the truck and its crew.

The apparatus is a product of Rosenbauer, a company based in Wyoming, Minn. The truck provides zero/low emissions and reduced noise levels. The use of electric drives enables a completely new kind of vehicle architecture that is 100 percent tailored to future response needs and sets new benchmarks in terms of functionality and ergonomics. The main application area for innovative CFT technology at the moment is municipal firefighting vehicles, but it will also be applied to other types of vehicles further down the line.

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The driving and operation demonstrations are slated to conclude at approximately 3 p.m. The program and demonstration are free and all are welcome to attend.
The anti-encroachment squad of



the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Tuesday demolished a bungalow of gangster Santosh Ambekar who is facing several criminal cases.

NMC commissioner Tukaram Mundhe had directed the anti-encroachment squad to demolish the illegally constructed bungalow on the Avdhut Mandir road in Hamalpura area, an official said.

The bungalow, with 8,640 sq feet of construction, was spread over three plots -- two of them belonging to Ambekar and his wife Neha and another belonging to one Amarchand Madanlal Mehta.

According to the NMC, the construction was unauthorized.

Ambekar was arrested on October 12 last year and currently he is lodged in the Nagpur central prison, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime) Gajanan Rajmane.

As many as 13 cases, including two cases of rape, are registered against him.

"We had registered a case under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against him and during investigation we came to know about this illegal property, so we informed the NMC," said Rajmane.

A huge police force was deployed during the demolition.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
B urglars drilled through the wrong wall and tunnelled into a deserted betting shop during a 300,000 raid on an upmarket jewellers, a court heard.

The thieves had hatched a sophisticated plot to steal gems from George Attenborough & Son in Fleet Street, sneaking into the building next door during a weekend last March.

They covered their tracks by painting over CCTV cameras and stealing security tapes at the jewellers, but left behind footage from the betting shop.

Prosecutor Philip Stott showed jurors footage of a man crawling through a hole in the wall at William Hill.

Out of the darkness a figure emerges, he said. He crawls out and moves a bin out of the way, looks round the corner where the door is and then he turns around. He then climbs back into the hole.

The Fleet Street branch of the William Hill betting shop / PA

Southwark crown court heard that nothing was stolen at the bookmakers.

They appear to have spent a considerable period of time drilling into the wrong wall  despite all the reconnaissance and all the planning, said Mr Stott. Having made the hole, they climbed through, have seen what had happened and gone back in. They went back up the stairs and drilled into the other wall.

Nicolae Sisca, 46, was identified as the man caught on camera climbing out of the hole in distinctive red shoes. He has pleaded guilty to involvement in the raid. Florin-Cristin Neagu, 46, and Sorin Munteanu, 44, are now on trial accused of being the other two men involved.

The letterbox of the Fleet Street branch of betting shop William Hill, which an official from the shop has said may have been used by burglars to open the door' and access the neighbouring George Attenborough and Son / PA

Mr Stott said the gang had scoped the building two weeks earlier as they plotted a sophisticated and daring burglary, in which 300,000 of jewellery was taken. Neagu is said to have been the lookout, sitting for 10 hours outside the building over March 23 and 24.

The thieves are said to have let themselves into the adjacent building by reaching through the letterbox, before covering cameras and returning later.

The court heard that an alarm was triggered in the jewellers on Sunday, March 24, but the manager did not see the alerts on his phone and the raid was only discovered early on Monday by a delivery driver at the bookies.
The British government will significantly damage chances of even a basic free trade deal with the EU if it fails to follow through on an agreement to avoid a hard border in Ireland.

That was the warning from Tanaiste Simon Coveney as he and European colleagues signed off on red lines from Brussels for forthcoming post-Brexit trade talks with the UK.

London is seeking ways to avoid the Irish protocol so as to not put in place checks and controls on goods moving from Britain to the North.

In Brussels, Mr Coveney said: "The implementation of agreements that have already been struck is the test of good faith and trust. Without good faith and trust, building a good-faith relationship is not going to be easy.

"If there isn't progress on the infrastructure needed to implement the Irish Protocol as part of the Withdrawal Agreement in the next few months, then I think that is going to be a very worrying signal for whether or not it's going to be possible to conclude something sensible before the end of the year.

"Michel Barnier and the Irish Government are at one on this. The WA involves significant commitments in the context of NI through the Irish Protocol that both the EU and the UK need to follow through on.

If that isn't followed through on then I think it will damage significantly the prospects of being able to get even a bare-bones trade agreement, along with a number of other things that need to be done, in place by the end of the year.

The EU is preparing to start the trade talks next week.

The proposals put into writing, warnings by Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, that Britain must sign up to a "level playing field" in any free trade agreement.

On fisheries, the EU General Affairs Council has also agreed to negotiate to "uphold the existing reciprocal access to waters" - a move that is set to flare tensions with Brexiteers and British fishermen.

The terms also include a controversial clause stating that Britain should "return unlawfully removed cultural objects to their countries of origin".

The passage is thought to refer to the Elgin Marbles - ancient Greek sculptures brought to Britain more than 200 years ago and now on display in the British Museum.

In Westminster, Mr Johnson chaired a meeting of his ministers on Brexit ahead of the publication of Britain's negotiating position on Thursday.

British ministers are expected to seek a Canada-style agreement with zero tariffs. That could lead to a clash with the EU after Mr Barnier ruled out such an agreement.

The tight time schedule for the talks - not to go beyond December - remains a key issue.
Stomach-churning video shows the moment a mystified angler confronts a freaky sea creature whose sting can cause hours of agonising pain.

Alyssa Ramirez, who landed the bizarre beast while fishing with her mother, initially thought she had pulled up a piece of seaweed when she reeled in her catch.

After pulling up her line, Ms Ramirez filmed the creature squirming on the pier in Port Isabel, in the US state of Texas.

'When I didn't feel any bites I assumed the fish had taken my bait - squid - and I reeled in my line to rebait the hook,' she said.

'At first glance I thought I snagged some seaweed. Then I laughed because that was definitely not a fish, nor seaweed.

Alyssa Ramirez, who landed the bizarre beast while fishing with her mother, initially thought she had pulled up a piece of seaweed when she reeled in her catch in Port Isabel, in the US state of Texas

After pulling up her line, Ms Ramirez (pictured) filmed the creature squirming on the pier

'It was like an oversized earthworm ready for combat.'

In her footage, the creature's dangerous bristles fan in and out as its red and white body writhes.

'It had the movement of a worm but with prickly spikes with red tips,' she said.

'I was extremely curious about it - I'm a marine life enthusiast - so I decided to record it and snap a few pictures, and send them to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.'

They identified her enigmatic catch as a bearded fireworm - and Ms Ramirez should count herself lucky that she didn't touch it.

In her footage, the creature's dangerous bristles fan in and out as its red and white body writhes

It carries a powerful neurotoxin, delivered through bristles that are capable of penetrating human skin.

The resulting wound is said to feel like it's on fire, with the pain lasting for hours, and sometimes causing nausea and dizziness.

It usually only comes into contact with humans when touched by a careless swimmer.

'That bearded fireworm was not messing around,' the angler added.

The seabeast carries a powerful neurotoxin, delivered through bristles that are capable of penetrating human skin

'I've never seen anything like this before, the only thing close to it might be a sand eel I've caught before - they are much bigger but are not dangerous.'

Ms Ramirez, 30, hopes that by sharing her encounter she will encourage others to take an interest in the natural world.

'I hope this brings curiosity for those like myself who love and enjoy adventures,' she said.

'I would like for everyone to enjoy the outdoors.

'Spend a little time outside and witness the natural beauty - you just might discover something fascinating!'
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Business activities in northeast Delhi continued to be hit on Tuesday as well in the wake of arson and clashes between anti- and pro-CAA groups.

Shops remained closed in Seelampur and Jaffrabad, with shopkeepers hesitant to open their premises due to fears that arsonists may target them.

Mateen, a cloth trader in Jafrabad, told IANS that he had shut his shop since Sunday due to tension prevailing in the area. He rued that he had suffered financial loss due to the volatile situation, which was the case with other traders and businessmen too.

Police has set up barricades on the light point in Seelampur, allowing traffic on only one side of the road. Police was also dispersing people standing in groups in the area so as to prevent any untoward incident.

Clashes had broken out in Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Chandbagh, and Bhajanpura areas on Monday, following which an unspecified number of houses and shops were damaged or burnt. Security personnel had conducted flag marches and prohibitory orders clamped to bring the situation under control.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the European Union (EU) Mission, have called on Libyans to engage in political talks scheduled for Wednesday in Geneva to discuss issues that divide them and to avoid any obstacles that could disrupt the dialogue
Media company Postmedia has apologized amid a backlash over a cartoon that featured a drawing of a drunken Indigenous person in a Lone Ranger-inspired image.

The apology follows a torrent of online criticism over the Close to Home cartoon by American illustrator John McPherson.

The cartoon was published Friday in the Calgary Herald, the Windsor Star and the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, and on Tuesday the company that owns the newspapers, Postmedia Network Inc., issued a statement, acknowledging the offensive image.

"Last Friday, an offensive cartoon appeared on the comics page of three Postmedia newspapers and online. We sincerely apologize to anyone offended by the content," wrote a Postmedia spokesperson by email Tuesday. The company said it would no longer be running the cartoon in question. The artist also apologized in the statement but did not respond to a request for further comment.

The company said that individual newspapers pick the cartoons that appear in print. Requests to speak to the managing editors of the papers were redirected to Postmedia.

The cartoon, copyrighted 2020 by the artist, depicts two men sitting at a bar. One man has two black braids and is outfitted in stereotypical Indigenous costume. He appears drunk and slumped over the bar, glass in hand, while the man next to him does not appear intoxicated. The caption reads: Kemosabe! Tonto hear last call coming! Maybe eight or ten minutes away

Tonto is a fictional character and companion of the Lone Ranger.

Close to Home belongs to American syndicate Andrews McMeel Universal, which apologized to any reader offended in a Tuesday afternoon emailed statement and expressed its regret at distributing the comic. The statement added that the character of Tonto has been part of American entertainment media for more than 85 years, and the Feb. 21 cartoon was not in any way an attempt to degrade Native Americans or members of any indigenous community.

The artist himself also apologized in the statement, saying he did not mean to characterize anyone in the comic in a racist way.

My comics are meant to entertain, and I'm sorry that this one was hurtful to some readers. As the great-grandson of a Shawnee woman, I have always been interested in and concerned with the plight of native people, and I would never disparage them intentionally, said McPherson.

Anishinaabe comedian Ryan McMahon was one of those who took issue with the cartoon online.

He told the Star cartoons or other such depictions of Indigenous people often go under the radar.

Its one of many microaggressions Indigenous people face every day, he said.

The fact of the matter is that Indigenous peoples have never had a say in the way that we are portrayed, he said.

McMahon said its not surprising to him that the artist is from the United States, where he said Indigenous people are 1,000 times less visible than Indigenous folks in Canada.

This isnt the first time a cartoon published in a Canadian newspaper has raised issues of how an artist depicts Indigenous people. In 2019, a cartoon in the Journal de Montreal relied on stereotypes of Indigenous people, drawing national furor.

After receiving news of Postmedias response, McMahon said in a Twitter message that he believes it was the appropriate one.

Michelle Robinson, a Sahtu Dene activist and host of the Native Calgarian podcast, said if the cartoon was individually chosen by editors, she would find that more reprehensible than if it was published blindly.

It's one thing to say we'll never print this cartoon again, she said. But if an individual chose to run this specific cartoon, she feels they should lose their job.

Robinson said she was already gobsmacked that the cartoon made it to print  it seemed to her like something from decades past.

Its so painfully obvious this was racist, she said. This is over-the-top racism.

McMahon said seemingly small things such as a cartoon have the power to shape national discourse and normalize harmful stereotypes, especially in a section of the paper many children read.

It's no wonder why we're fighting so hard against racism in Canada, he said.

Robinson agreed. Children mimic what they see. What if any child saw that? What have they known? Its okay to depict Indians as drunks.

It embeds into children racism in a way that is so evil and dangerous.

Robinson also said the timing of the cartoon could not have been worse, pointing to the Wetsuweten and other Indigenous blockades over the past several weeks.

This surfaced at one of the most critical national crises that were having since Idle No More, she said, explaining that a cartoon like this only furthers to deepen distrust in mainstream media.

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ColumbiaVictims.Com Logo If a prestigious Ivy League University such as Columbia is able to pay-off a $650,000 bribe to some well-connected attorneys to avoid a $200 Million Dollars Class Action on behalf of potentially thousands of victims of discrimination, almost anybody in America could be a helpless victim tomorrow.

Americans United for Equal Justice  a non-profit dedicated to bringing equal justice to all, including millions of low income victims of discrimination, sexual harassment, consumer fraud, and other illegal conduct across America  has just launched its ColumbiaVictims.Com website on the heels of a recently published report that showed complaints of illegal discrimination and sexual harassment had increased by nine percent from 2018 to 2019 at the 268-years old Ivy League university. A mobile app will also be released soon for downloading on any mobile device.

Because the Human Resources and so called EEO departments at most large organizations, including Columbia, only protect their respective managements and not the victims, ColumbiaVictims.Com could be the first of its kind to make those departments obsolete and could revolutionize the current system of victims complaint handling to seek justice against any illegally discriminating, powerful, and wealthy corporations without having to take the risk of hiring any expensive attorneys. By promoting fair and quick handling of victims complaints, ColumbiaVictims.Com type of websites could also disrupt the current justice system that appears to be trapped in a vicious cycle of unethical and inherently corrupt practices where an average victim with meritorious claims but modest means may never get any justice.

Americans United for Equal Justice was founded by a former Senior Management Analyst of the prestigious Columbia University, Randy S. Raghavendra, after having litigated a multi-million dollar race discrimination and retaliation case against Columbia during the past fifteen years. AUEJ launched ColumbiaVictims.Com website to specifically assist victims of illegal discrimination and or sexual harassment at Columbia. Recently, criminal charges were brought against a Columbia University doctor for sexually assaulting over 17 women, including the wife of Presidential hopeful, Andrew Yang. The website also lists the numerous cases against several Columbia professors who have either been sued or have resigned after having demanded sexual favors from their female students at the New York City based Ivy League.

Raghavendra said that ColumbiaVictims.Com intends to fight illegal discrimination and sexual harassment by raising funds primarily through donations and partnering with ethical attorneys across the United States for seeking meaningful relief for voiceless victims in an organized fashion not only through individual and class action litigation but also seeking criminal prosecution for protecting the rights of even the lowest income victims of illegal discrimination and sexual assault. To protect their personal identify and prevent any retaliation, ColumbiaVictims.Com would allow the confidential registration of complaints by simply using an anonymous email address without even revealing the victims name or other personal information.

The 59-years old Founder said, if ColumbiaVictims.Com existed some fifteen years ago, the victims of sexual harassment and illegal discrimination at Columbia would have been able to confidentially register their complaints and ColumbiaVictims.Com would have come to their rescue by appropriately organizing and obtaining the necessary relief.

ColumbiaVictims.Com is on a mission to be the first of its kind for creating customized anti-discrimination and fair equal opportunity enforcement organizations in each of the large corporations where illegal discrimination and harassment many be rampant and seeking any ethical attorney representation may not be affordable to most victims. At the present time, there are no other civil rights organizations that provide any individual attorney representation as even the ACLU and the NAACP do not provide any legal assistance in the David vs. Goliath cases for any low-income and other helpless victims. As a result, the existing civil rights laws are not taken seriously by most large corporations and organizations such as Columbia. Instead of providing any real equal opportunity, many large corporations view the civil rights laws merely as a nuisance or a small hurdle that needs to be overcome for continuing their discriminatory practices with impunity and by taking advantage to the maximum the lack of any ethical attorney representation for the overwhelming majority of victims of discrimination and sexual harassment.

The dark-skinned, Indian-American Founder said his own 15-years litigation is an excellent example of the plight of millions of low income discrimination victims today. His civil rights organization intends to provide ethical attorney representation in as many cases as possible. He said If a prestigious institution such as Columbia, which is expected to be promoting and protecting civil rights, is itself abusing the judicial system to the maximum and is able to pay-off a $650,000 bribe to some most unethical attorneys to deprive the basic constitutional rights of even a highly accomplished executive with two masters degrees and twenty five years of professional accomplishments such as him, almost anybody in America could be a helpless victim tomorrow.

A survey conducted by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the largest government agency to protect the equal opportunity rights in employment, found that 70 percent of people who experience harassment never talk to a supervisor or manager about it. Surveys suggest that workplace sexual harassment is widespread. However, research points to fear of retaliation and legal hurdles as reasons that workers often dont come forward with harassment claims, particularly in the low-wage workforce. Many employees, especially at small or male-dominated companies, dont believe their complaints will be taken seriously internally. But reporting to any companys human resources department or to external authorities can carry its own risks: Employers are notified of complaints filed with the EEOC and similar agencies, and although retaliation is illegal, there have been numerous cases of companies firing workers or altering their work schedules after they file complaints with management or a government agency.

Raghavendra pointed that the current justice system is designed to render justice only for the large and powerful corporations and a few already wealthy and or high-profile victims who can afford to pay tens of thousands of dollars in attorney fees. The average victim cannot seek justice in the current system as he or she simply cannot afford to retain a $500/hour attorney or a powerful law firm for obtaining any justice. He added that even the few attorneys and law firms that may represent a victim on a contingency fee basis are easily corruptible by the large and wealthy corporations as they can easily buy-off the loyalty of any such plaintiffs attorneys by making some kind of a deal where the plaintiffs attorneys are paid off to betray and or sell-out their clients.

In a study conducted by the American Bar Association, an overwhelming 69% of the respondents believed that Lawyers are more interested in making money than in serving their clients. Further, most consumers say that lawyers do a poor job of policing each other. A whopping 74% of respondents did not believe that the legal profession does a good job of disciplining lawyers. Even the American Bar Association itself is viewed as an Old Boys Network more similar to a union or club than a professional association. Consumers feel that they have no recourse if their attorney fails to properly represent them. Only 33% of the respondents expressed confidence in the judiciary system and the judges who are supposed to be the guardians of justice.

Statistics recently published by the Center for Public Integrity show that the EEOC had repeatedly failed millions of low-income and most vulnerable victims of illegal discrimination and sexual harassment across America over the years. Of the over one million discrimination complaints filed with the government since 2010, the agency completed an investigation in less than two percent of those cases and in more than half of that small number of cases, the worker received nothing (monetary or otherwise.) The EEOC initiated litigation in only less than three tenths of one percent (0.3%) of the complaints filed. Further, to add insult to injury, between the fiscal years 1980 and 2017, the EEOCs staffing declined by 39 percent to just 2,082 while the American workforce increased by 50 percent during the same period.

To fight any institutionalized discrimination practices AUEJ intends to seek simultaneous relief for multiple victims through class action litigation that provide victims real relief instead of just enriching any less than ethical attorneys. A report prepared by Mayer Brown, LLP for the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform showed that the vast majority of class actions produced no benefits to most members of the putative class at all -- even though in a number of those cases the lawyers who sought to represent the class often enriched themselves in the process (and the lawyers representing the defendants always did).

Columbias former Senior Management Analyst said that because ColumbiaVictims.Com is founded on the blood, sweat, and tears of his 15-years struggle against Columbia University, he is in an unique position to help millions of other victims of discrimination based on lessons learned from his own suffering and after having been subject to the worst kind of deception and harassment to prevent him from establishing the first anti-discrimination minority employees association and or from organizing at least a $200 million dollars class action during the period of its worst racial crisis that included anti-racism hunger-strikes, hanging nooses, swastikas, Plantation Mentality and Blacks Were Invented for Cheap Slave Labor articles at that 268-years old Ivy League university.

Raghavendra added that it is most unfortunate that, previously in 2003, Columbia had filed an absurd counter-suit against even the former Head of Equal Opportunity at Columbia, an African-American woman Zenobia White-Farrell,

to intimidate her and compel her to withdraw her class action on behalf of hundreds of Black employees at Columbia. He said ColumbiaVictims.Com may, therefore, be the only last hope for the victims of discrimination and sexual harassment at Columbia.

Contact Information:

Mr. Randy S. Raghavendra, M.Engg., M.B.A.

Founder, Americans United for Equal Justice, Inc.

http://www.VictimsFight.Com

http://www.StopCorruptionUSA.Org

http://www.ColumbiaVictims.Com

Direct Phone/Messages: 646-229-9971

E-Mail: President@VictimsFight.Com
A 66-year-old Iowa man who was arrested in 2018 for the brutal stabbing death of an 18-year-old girl in 1979 thanks to DNA evidence taken from a genetic genealogy web site has been convicted by a jury.

It took jurors about three hours to convict Jerry Burns, 66, of first-degree murder in the December 19, 1979, stabbing death of Michelle Martinko.

Her body was found the next day inside her family's car at a Cedar Rapids shopping mall.

Burns didn't testify, and his defense called only one witness.

Jerry Burns (left), 66, is handcuffed after being found guilty of murder at his trial at the Scott County Courthouse in Davenport, Iowa, on Monday. Burns was found guilty of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of Michelle Martinko (right) in 1979

It took the jury less than three hours of deliberations to return a guilty verdict in the case on Monday. Burns is seen above listening while his attorney delivers closing arguments

Family and friends of Michelle Martinko react at the guilty verdict in the trial on Monday

Investigators linked Burns to the crime scene by taking a sample of his DNA from a straw that he left behind in a restaurant before his arrest.

That DNA was then used to match samples taken from the crime scene 40 years ago.

The trial was moved to Scott County District Court in Davenport because of pretrial publicity in Cedar Rapids.

Sentencing will be held later. In Iowa, first-degree murder carries a mandatory term of life in prison.

'The murder of 18-year old Michelle Martinko in December 1979 had a profound impact on the community and Michelles family,' Wayne Jerman, Cedar Rapids Police Chief, said, in a statement.

Martinko was stabbed to death in her car outside a mall in Cedar Rapids on December 19, 1979. The case went cold for decades until investigators linked blood from the killer that was found on her dress to Burns using a cutting-edge forensic technique called genetic genealogy

'For nearly 40 years, police officers and investigators showed tenacity and dedication to finding the person accountable for this tragic death.

'With the assistance and direction of the Linn County Attorneys Office, the Cedar Rapids Police Department was able to make an arrest, and now the verdict today helps bring closure to a case that has haunted our community for decades.

'For Michelles family and friends, we know that the pain of losing a daughter, sister, or friend will never go away.

'You and Michelle will forever be in our thoughts and we are eternally grateful for your support, trust, and confidence over the many years.'

Martinko was stabbed to death in her family's car outside a mall in Cedar Rapids on December 19, 1979.

The case went cold for decades until investigators linked blood from the killer that was found on her dress to Jerry Burns of Manchester using a cutting-edge forensic technique called genetic genealogy.

Burns professed his innocence after his arrest in 2018 but was unable to offer a 'plausible explanation' for why his DNA was found at the crime scene. He pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.

After his arrest, it was reported that Burns owned a powder-coating company - Advanced Coating Concepts - and used to co-own a truck stop, the Des Moines Register reported.

During his trial, prosecutors outlined the crime in vivid detail, describing how Martinko was stabbed 11 times and bled to death.

She had lost about a third of her blood before police found her body the following morning, prosecutor Nick Maybanks said.

The Buick sedan Martinko was murdered in is seen parked outside the mall where police found her body the morning after she was killed

An investigator who worked the case in 1979 described finding Martinko's body slumped in the passenger seat of the car (pictured)

Several people who knew Martinko took the stand this week and recounted their final interactions with her. They described the victim as 'sweet, friendly, outgoing, upbeat'

Martinko's slaying was so brutal that she lost about a third of her blood, according to witnesses

Blood found on Martinko's dress showed that her killer had been cut as well.

Investigators recently submitted the DNA for testing and used genetic genealogical research to identify a pool of suspects, which included Burns.

Burns was arrested in 2018 after DNA found on a straw he discarded at a restaurant was matched to the crime scene DNA.

Defense attorney Leon Spies raised doubts about the accuracy of the investigation in his opening statement, arguing that DNA doesn't tell the whole story.

He told jurors that evidence will show Burns isn't guilty of first-degree murder.

Several people who knew the victim took the stand and recounted their final interactions with her.

On the night Martinko was killed, she attended a choir banquet at Kennedy High School before going to the mall to pick up a coat her mother had on layaway.

Cedar Rapids resident Tracy Price, who had known Martinko since elementary school, told the court that he and his friends ran into her at the mall at around 7pm.

Price and other witnesses described Martinko as a 'sweet, friendly, outgoing, upbeat' girl who didn't have issues or problems with anyone.

Retired Cedar Rapids police officer James Kinkead, who found Martinko's body, also took the stand during the trial.

He had been sent out to search for Martinko's vehicle on the morning after the murder and found it parked in the mall lot.

Kinkead said he looked through the car's frosted windows and saw a person who initially thought was intoxicated slumped in the passenger seat.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Fae Hoover looks through the verdict form before reading the jury's verdict on Monday

When he opened the car door he found Martinko covered in stab wounds with blood all over her.

She was fully clothed but her black dress appeared to be pulled up.

The court was shown a disturbing photo of her body during Kinkead's testimony.

Richard White, a since-retired officer who processed the crime scene, took the stand next.

He said he vividly remembers the day Martinko was found because it was his birthday.

He noted that Martinko's Buick was awkwardly parked, as if the driver had been in a hurry.

Patterns in blood spatter at the scene suggested that the killer had been wearing gloves, he said.

Dr Richard Fiester, a since-retired pathologist who performed the autopsy on Martinko the day her body was recovered, went through photos of the corpse and described the different wounds on her body.

He said she had 29 surface cuts, many of them to her face and neck, along with 11 stab wounds and a severe head injury indicating that she'd be struck in the skull.

Wounds on her hands indicated that she had fought off her attacker.

There were no signs of sexual assault, Fiester said.

A few other law enforcement officials who helped process the scene were also called to the stand to testify about how the evidence was handled.

In his cross-examination, Spies focused most of his questions on chain of custody in an effort to shed doubt on the integrity of the evidence.
Megxit will officially be completed in just over a month. Though things had appeared to be going smoothly initially  Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry have seemingly hit some snags with the British royal family. In fact, it now appears that the duo is getting much less than they originally asked for.

When the duke and duchess first announced their intent to step away from the royal family  theyd hoped to stay on as part-time royals who had financial independence away from The Crown. Unfortunately, that could not work. After a couple of weeks of negotiations, the duo agreed to step down completely.

Now, with their final weeks of being royal approaching, it looks like things might get ugly between the Sussexes and the British royal family.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are upset Queen Elizabeth has banned them from using Sussex Royal

Though they spent a great deal of time and money trademarking Sussex Royal and getting their website and Instagram page set up, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will have to rebrand. Queen Elizabeth II has banned the duo from using the term royal since they technically will no longer be working royals. Though the pair have agreed to these stipulations, they are not happy about it.

While there is not any jurisdiction by The Monarchy or Cabinet Office over the use of the word Royal overseas, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use Sussex Royal or any iteration of the word Royal in any territory (either within the UK or otherwise) when the transition occurs Spring 2020, they said in a recent statement regarding Megxit. 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.

This is what will happen if the Sussexes relationship with the British royal family sours

Since Megxit has never happened in the history of the British royal family  things could go left at any point. Royal fans are already furious about the alleged $1 million payout that the Sussexes received from a recent speaking engagement with JP Morgan in Miami, Florida. Since the royal family wont be supporting the duke and duchess after April 1, we doubt they will be allowing anyone to dictate their lives.

However, the royal family will be reevaluating these new roles in one year. The Sussexes revealed, It is agreed that the commencement of the revised role of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will take effect Spring 2020 and undergo a 12-month review.

The duo also has a back-up plan. He and Meghan have a back-up plan in place, a close friend of Prince Harry told Vanity Fair. [He] went into this knowing that he could lose his title, but his freedom is more important than any of that.

The Sussexes may have shaded Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie

In addition to letting their feelings about dropping Sussex Royal be known  the Sussexes also just address the royal familys biases while dragging Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie in the middle.

In their statement, the duo said, While there is precedent for other titled members of the Royal Family to seek employment outside of the institution, for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, a 12-month review period has been put in place.

Clearly the pair were talking about their cousins  the Princesses of York. A royal source told Mirror it was a dig. Its pretty clear they are referencing minor royals such as Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, they said.

Yikes. Hopefully, this doesnt get any messier.
tech2 News Staff

Samsung is all set to launch its Galaxy M31 in India today. As per the company, we already know that the smartphone will come with a waterdrop notch display, 64 MP quad-camera setup at the back and 6,000 mAh battery. As per the official teaser, this upcoming successor to the Galaxy M30 (Review), will also come in a blue colour option.

Samsung Galaxy M31 launch: How to watch it live

The launch event will begin at 1.00 pm today, so you can visit our website as we will be running a liveblog. You can also catch the live updates by visiting the company's YouTube page or official website.

Samsung Galaxy M31 expected specifications

As per previous reports, Galaxy M31 is likely to come in three colour options, black, blue, and red. It might be powered by the Exynos 9611 chipset. The report further reveals that the smartphone is expected to feature a 6.4 inch Super AMOLED Infinity U display that will have a resolution of 2,340 x 1,080 pixels.The smartphone will reportedly come with 15 W charging support.

It is also expected that Galaxy M31 might offer 6 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage that can be expanded up to 512 GB via microSD card.

As for pricing, it is expected that it might cost around Rs 15,000 in India.

Samsung has dropped a few details about this phone which confirms that it will house a 6,000 mAh battery and a 64 MP quad rear camera setup. As per a teaser, the smartphone will have the same rectangular camera module, just like we saw in all the phones that Samsung launched recently. It will come with a waterdrop notch display.

In terms of cameras, Galaxy M31 will come with a quad rear camera setup that might include a 64 MP primary sensor, 8 MP wide angle camera, 5 MP depth camera, and a 5 MP macro camera. On the front, there are chances that we will see a 32 MP camera for selfies.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse police say they are investigating a stabbing Monday night after a man walked into a hospital with multiple wounds.

The man, who police say is in his 20s, went to Upstate University Hospital Community Campus in the town of Onondaga after he was stabbed.

Syracuse police were notified at about 6:15 p.m. When officers arrived at the hospital, the man told them he had been stabbed on South Avenue, near West Onondaga Street -- about 2 1/2 miles away, city police spokesman Sgt. Matthew Malinowski said.

The man had multiple stab wounds to the midsection, but his injuries do not appear to be life-threatening, Malinowski said.

Syracuse police are asking anyone with information about the stabbing to call them at (315) 442-5222.

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Have a tip or a story idea? Contact Catie OToole: cotoole@syracuse.com | text/call (315) 470-2134 | Twitter | Facebook
By Kyle Martin

Bay City News Service

Hundreds of county workers packed the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors chambers Monday afternoon to address county officials for neglecting to meet their demands for a new, competitive contract.

Before the board met in closed session Monday, an open public comment session was held for the public to air out their concerns about the lack of a contract from the county for service workers represented by the Service Employees International Union Local 521.

Of the hundreds of people gathered - the vast majority of whom were SEIU Local 521 workers - dozens stepped up to the microphone to berate the board and county officials for denying the union's demands for higher wages and promises to fill open and vacant positions that have left holes in the county's labor force.

"I know too many coworkers working two jobs because day care is too expensive," Isabel Price, an employee of the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency, told the board. "I'm sorry to say that we are strike ready, and I hope you all realize that this will be a bad reflection on the county."

Now, without new contracts-since the old ones expired in June-12,000 unionized county employees are prepared to strike by the end of the week if the county doesn't make amends for the contract conflict.

The threat of another countywide strike, which could take place on Friday, was first announced by the union Sunday.

The crowd in the chambers roared their support for Teresa Nunes - a county worker of 18 years - after she told the board to think of her and her son sharing a 10-foot by 10-foot room because she cannot afford her own apartment in the county she lives in.

Then, board president Cindy Chavez warned the crowd that she didn't want to have to clear the room if things got too loud.

The crowd again hollered their support after Ruben Armas called out the county executive, Dr. Jeff Smith, for the county's repeated "last, best and final" offers, all of which the union has turned down at the bargaining table.

"Mr. Smith, you gave us you're last and worse offer," Armas, a county medical assistant of 13 years, said. "Well, we're prepared to give you our last and best punch."

By the end of Monday's public comment session, the union members shouted their demands again as they left the chambers.

"What do we want?" some said.

"Contracts!" the rest answered.

Another call: "When do we want them?"

Another answer: "Now!"

And finally: "If we don't get it?"

They shouted: "Shut it down!"

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
The Paramount Chief of the Nyagbo Traditional Area, Torgbui Ashui Nyagasi V (known in judicial circles as Justice Clemence Honyenuga), the judge sitting on the case between the state, on the one hand; and the former CEO of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Stephen Opuni and businessman Seidu Agongo, has told President Nana Akufo-Addo that his governments Free Senior High School policy is unparalleled.

Speaking at a durbar of chiefs and people of Golokwati, Afadzato South, in honour of Mr Akufo-Addo during his three-day tour of the Oti and Volta regions last week, Torgbui Ashui Nyagasi V told the President: We wish to congratulate you for the excellent manner you are governing this dear country of ours, Ghana, and the significant gains made in the economy in your first term, adding: It is true that you have won high admiration, not only in Africa but also in advanced democracies.

Your flagship programmes, like the Free Senior High School, Planting for Food and Jobs  which has increased food production and has even led to exports;  One District-One Factory, among others, has (sic) increased food production and has (sic) improved upon the standard of living of many Ghanaians, he said.

Indeed, he added: For special mention is the Free SHS, which has broken boundaries and has greatly bridged the gap between the rich and the poor, observing: This programme has also broken the record, which was held by the first President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who gave free education to our brothers and sisters in the northern part of Ghana.

The chief then praised the President thus: Your Free SHS programme is unprecedented in the history of Ghana, in a first term, as it covers the whole country.

We, in this district, have equally benefitted and we say ayekoo to Your Excellency and may God and our ancestors shower their blessings on you, give you longer life and deeper thoughts to move this nation forward.

It is our hope that with your vision and the gains made in your first term, Ghanaians may consider giving you another four years.

President Nana Akufo-Addo fulfilled his Free SHS campaign promise in the first year of his first term in 2017. Since then, the government says up to 1.2 million students have been enrolled.

Watch below:



---classfmonline
The issue of student absenteeism is again gaining the attention of government and community activists, but this time its with a difference.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

The issue of student absenteeism is again gaining the attention of government and community activists, but this time its with a difference.

As opposed to student attendance being seen as an economic driver as it has so often been seen as the past, it is now defined as a student welfare issue and a community safety and wellness issue, thanks to Point Powerline (Focus on root causes for downtown safety: advocacy group, Feb. 13).

Kudos to the two most recent ministers of education for picking up this issue and making it a priority in a study task force and the education review.

While there is little disagreement about the presumed benefits of childrens regular attendance at school, seemingly few education systems outside the totalitarian world have been able to achieve full and regular attendance. This in spite of the fact education is considered a universal human right and all governments have compulsory school attendance in their legislation.

The issue has variously been described as an implementation problem, a home problem, a school problem and a peer-group problem, with plenty of blame to go around. It is, of course, all of the above, none of which are solely to blame and all of which require significant supports, active (sometimes radical) interventions and concerted commitment by all parties involved.

What probably is true that it is more an issue requiring collaborative action than further blame or political pronouncements and policies.

The first task is to make sure children do not get lost in the system  a concern most urgent for those who move from school to school or between school systems. For example, most urban schools now contact the homes when students do not show up, but this is more difficult if there is no phone or if the student is not registered. Our tracking systems are haphazard, and follow-up from sending schools virtually non-existent.

The fault is not entirely with the system, as some children experience a great many moves, sometimes within the same year, and schools are not always informed when a family has moved or where they have moved to. When that happens, too often children simply disappear from the radar because the effort to find them appears hopeless. This situation obviously needs addressing and, with todays technologies, should be fixable.

Second, when children  particularly pre-teens and early teens, which is when most children opt out if they are going to  are absent, there needs to be immediate follow-up to determine the reasons and rectify the situations which are causing them to be absent. The longer the time between regular attendance, the less likely young people of this age will return to and stay in school.

The reasons vary as much as the children  lack of success in school, discipline and punishment as the consequence for being absent or late, or peer group pressure from others in the same circumstances, to name a few.

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Third, and I appreciate the premiers open frustration with this concern  one which this government has begun to address in its children-in-care system  is the issue of social-services territories. Schools, public health, social workers, probation officers and social assistance agencie have been reluctant to share information about children and families with each other, meaning each of them is disadvantaged by having only partial information about important matters.

While we need to be careful about protecting peoples privacy, childrens welfare and well-being  as in child protection  should trump most perceived privacy concerns. For that matter, each of these agencies already acts that way independently; current attempts to encourage open sharing and collaborative efforts are simply not meeting the mark.

Finally, no solution will work without the involvement of, and attention paid to, the caregivers of the children missing school and to the children themselves. This is primarily an adult issue, as children should not have the option not to attend as they generally do not understand or acknowledge the long-term consequences of their actions, but children must be involved in the solution.

My experience has been that they are very open about their non-attendance  revealing troubling home situations, feeling unwelcome or unsuccessful in school, recognizing their learning difficulties, and diagnosing their own fears and anxieties about matters like acceptance and bullying. This may be the hardest challenge of all.

Nevertheless, I am hopeful that the current efforts will bring a measure of attention and success we have not experienced to date. Hopefully, those systems that experience success will be willing to share their stories with others. And hopefully we will, for the sake of children and our world, not let children disappear from view, only to surface again in some unpleasant and destructive ways.

John R. Wiens is dean emeritus at the faculty of education, University of Manitoba. A lifelong educator, he has served as a teacher, counsellor, work education co-ordinator, principal, school superintendent and university professor.
A cop from Northern Ireland who allegedly made up a story to journalists about holding a dead child after the Manchester terror attack was exposed by a Police Ombudsman investigation into PSNI Twitter accounts.

Sunday Life can reveal that shamed Lee Howard was among a group of low-level officers and a pretend cop suspected of putting bogus information online about live investigations - claims that were later repeated as fact by some journalists.

They hid behind pseudonyms, with the most prolific hate account being @DonYeoo which spouted homophobic abuse and trolled Justice Minister Naomi Long.

A Police Ombudsman investigation into these accounts led officers to Howard, who worked for the Greater Manchester Police. Howard - who was born in Bangor but moved to Coleraine aged 11 - is understood to have been operating the @ni_incognito account which has since been closed.

At Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, he pleaded guilty to eight offences involving unauthorised access to computer data and disclosing personal data. However, the 32-year-old walked free from court after a judge was told he is mentally ill and undergoing treatment.

A prosecutor said none of the charges related to his claims over the Manchester Arena horror as no criminality was involved.

But he said Howard's claims to have been one of the first officers at the scene having self-deployed himself were not true.

"The reality," said the prosecutor, "is that the defendant wasn't involved in the immediate response to the bombing. He had been on patrol in his area of Ashton-under-Lyne and had moved to the central Manchester area with a group of colleagues from his patrol area. He actually arrived at the scene about an hour and 20 minutes after the explosion.

"He was posted to the outer cordon and he remained on the outer cordon throughout the remaining period of his duty."

A defence lawyer said that the matter was the subject of on-going police investigation.

It was also revealed that the probe into Howard's criminality began when Police Ombudsman investigators in Belfast found WhatsApp messages he had exchanged with a serving PSNI officer.

Other damning evidence found on his phone included:

A conversation with his wife about a cop whose son went to the school she worked in and whose private details he illegally accessed on police computers.

Details of a robbery suspect that were sent to his wife, along with "personal and disparaging" details about the female victim.

Images of an alleged rape victim including injuries to her face that were sent to a man breaching her right to anonymity.

A mugshot of a 15-year-old sent to a woman in Northern Ireland with the caption 'a hilarious mugshot of a kid in custody'.

Details of a nine-year-old in foster care sent to his wife, including a photograph of her natural mother and her criminal record.

While carrying out this disgraceful behaviour, Lee Howard was also giving radio and press interviews claiming to have held a dead child in his arms after the 2017 Manchester Arena terror attack when suicide bomber Salman Abedi killed 22 and injured more than 100 at an Ariane Grande concert.

He also made claims about trying to save victims in the minutes after the slaughter.

Howard told reporters: "She (the child) was in amongst these dead bodies crying and trying to find her mummy. You could still smell the cordite in the air.

"I just grabbed her by the arm and dragged her out. I never found out her name or what happened to her mother or her family. That's the thing that has stayed with me the most from that night."

Howard's claims were the stuff of fantasy, a fact recognised by Judge Menary who imposed a two-year community order, 150 days community service and 750 fine after hearing the defendant was mentally ill.

The judge accused the police officer of dealing in allegations that were "completely inaccurate, false and made up".

Howard appeared on radio shows including Stephen Nolan's BBC Radio Ulster show to talk about his experiences.

Defence lawyer, Peter Doyle, said: "This offending occurred when he was unwell. He had been a young officer, very much an ambassador for the police."

Mr Doyle added. "He is responding properly to medication and management but is still unwell."

He said that the former soldier, who has not been suspended by the force, will face a meeting with the Chief Constable, adding: "The likelihood is this officer will either face dismissal or in recognition of his mental illness, which we submit drove this conduct, a requirement to resign. This has less stigma but same consequences."

Howard's case has implications for the ongoing PSNI and Ombudsman probes into Twitter accounts. The accounts were shut in 2017 after detectives began investigating offences including harassment and data breaches. A file on one suspected officer has been sent to the PPS while another was referred back to police as the individual did not work for the police.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 15:58:15|Editor: huaxia

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GUANGZHOU, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Luigi Cormaci, an Italian trader living in the city of Foshan, south China's Guangdong Province, had a different Spring Festival with his family this year.

"This year's Spring Festival is cheerless, but as foreigners in China, we do feel warm," Luigi said.

The novel coronavirus outbreak started in central China's Hubei Province. But the deadly virus soon spread across the country.

To contain the contagion, Chinese provinces and regions rolled out a series of policies, while Guangdong Province, one of the country's major economic powerhouses, activated a level I public health emergency response to control the epidemic on Jan. 23, two days before the Spring Festival.

Cities in Guangdong, including Foshan, canceled all commercial celebrations and traditional New Year activities.

Luigi has been working in China since 2004. In 2014, he came to Foshan with his wife. For the past six years, celebrating the Spring Festival has been an annual tradition, like Christmas. But without cheers and jubilation, this year's Spring Festival left Luigi a profound impression.

In the following days, a multilingual notice was issued by Luigi's community for foreign residents, informing them to strengthen epidemic prevention and control and avoid outdoor activities.

Romeo Mattia, from Milan, who lives in neighboring Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong Province, also received a similar notice.

Romeo said that apart from the community's anti-epidemic efforts, the provincial government and the consulate general of Italy in Guangzhou also took actions to guarantee the safety of Italians amid the outbreak.

In addition, communities also checked their temperature, and foreign residents were asked to report their health conditions online.

Luigi said that China's urgent response and warm notices alleviated his anxiety about the virus. "My family in Italy was worried, but I didn't panic."

In 2003, when SARS broke out in China, Luigi was on a business trip in north China's Tianjin Municipality, which neighbors Beijing, one the worse-hit areas. He said China won the battle against SARS and he is confident in China's actions' against the new virus.

It should be a family reunion time for Chinese, but they made a great sacrifice by staying at home, Luigi said.

He said Chinese have also demonstrated their solidarity, selflessness and kindness throughout the epidemic.

"A courier gave me a face mask when I collected my package without wearing my own," Luigi said. "Chinese people always help each other, especially when they cope with a common challenge."

Luigi believes the virus will be defeated soon, and the finish line is in sight.

Guangdong lowered its emergency response on Monday, a positive sign in one of the most populous provinces.

Lucia Pasqualini, consul general of Italy in Guangzhou, said previously in an interview, "We all stand together undertaking the same mission. I am sure China is going to overcome this very difficult situation."
The ad campaign was approved by a bankruptcy judge in White Plains, N.Y., on Jan. 24 and Purdue developed it in partnership with the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors and a court-approved claims agent, Prime Clerk. The ads were designed to reach 95 percent of U.S. adults an average of six times per person, ensuring that even those in the nations most isolated communities  including people who live in rural areas, on Native American reservations, in U.S. territories and those experiencing homelessness  will see or hear the information.
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has started an inspection programme aimed at verifying the weights and sensitizing distributors on the quantity and safety requirements of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

The verification exercise was prompted by growing concerns of underweight LPG being sold on the market. The exercise is also aimed at providing distributors with information on the requirements of standards, codes of practice and processes.

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Uganda Standard US 971-4 Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPG)  Part 4: Specification addresses commercial liquefied petroleum gases consisting of either propane or butane or mixtures thereof. There are many uses for liquefied petroleum gases. Important uses include domestic, commercial, and industrial fuels, as a carbon source material in metal treating operations, as refinery raw materials for synthesis of gasoline components, and as petrochemical raw materials.

LPG, commonly known as gas has become a vital source of alternative energy especially in urban centres and is used in homes for cooking, heating and water heating in the residential and commercial markets. In agriculture, LPG is used for crop and animal production, grass cutting and weed control, and powering farm equipment such as irrigation pump engines. Industry relies on LPG for heating, drying, process heat and powering industrial trucks.

While its usage has become popular, there are unethical, unauthorized, or illegal practices that have emerged putting consumers at risk and creating unfair competition. It is likely that under-filling of cylinders is being done deliberately to cheat consumers. Over-filling of cylinders and containers may also be done due to poorly calibrated filling equipment which is dangerous and increases the probability of an uncontrolled loss of product.

UNBS is committed to enforcing policies and regulations that create a safe, equitable, and competitive environment for industry participants, and to ensure the benefits of LPG are not denied to those who rely on LPG for basic life needs.

The verification exercise will initially be carried out in the areas of Entebbe, Kampala and Mukono.
A father-of-three has been found guilty of murdering a retired grandmother, whose dismembered remains were found scattered across the Dublin and Wicklow mountains nearly three years ago.

The jury accepted the prosecution's case that 35-year-old Kieran Greene had inflicted "catastrophic injuries" on Patricia O'Connor (aged 61) in a sustained attack, which lasted up to 20 minutes and took place in the bathroom of her Rathfarnham home.

They agreed that Greene bludgeoned her to death with a hurley and that his claim of self-defence "did not hold any water".

It was the State's contention that there was no evidence of a single defensive wound on Mrs O'Connor's body and Greene bore an "ill-will" and "a particular animus or bad feeling" against the deceased.

Prosecution counsel Roisin Lacey SC said in her closing speech that Greene had adopted a highly aggressive stance and had told gardai in his interviews that he had felt angry as he hit Mrs O'Connor. Ms Lacey said the jury was entitled to infer that he had the requisite intention to kill or cause serious injury to her.

The panel of six men and five women rejected Greene's claim that Mrs O'Connor's husband, Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor, had killed his wife using a crowbar and he [Greene] had taken the blame.

Greene had pleaded not guilty to murdering the retired hospital worker at her home in Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29, 2017.

The jury took four hours and 24 minutes to come to their unanimous verdict.

As the jury filed back into court at 4pm, the forewoman had the issue paper in her hand and gave it to the registrar. Mr Justice Paul McDermott then asked the jurors to return to the court at 10.30am tomorrow morning. However, as the jury got up to leave for the day, the registrar noticed that a count had been entered in one of the boxes on the issue paper. The judge then called the 11 jurors back and asked them to take their seats again.

Following this, the registrar asked the forewoman of the jury if they had reached a decision on any count upon which they were all agreed. The forewoman replied "yes" and the registrar proceeded to read out Greene's unanimous guilty verdict.

Mr Justice McDermott told the jury that they could return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow morning to continue their deliberations in relation to the other three accused.

The seven-week trial heard that the body of Mrs OConnor was dismembered into 15 separate parts that were found at nine different locations over a 30km range in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10 and 14, 2017.

Patricia O'Connor.

Former Depute State Pathologist, Dr Michael Curtis, gave evidence that Mrs O'Connor's head was struck a minimum of three blows with a solid implement and the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.

Greene had given two accounts of Mrs O'Connor's death. In an interview with gardai in June 2017, Greene said he was in the bathroom when Mrs OConnor walked in and hit him with a hurl on the wrist, saying Get out, Get out'. He said he grabbed the hurl from her, hit her and did not know what happened next as when he woke up there was blood everywhere and he panicked.

Greene maintained in the June account that he had disarmed Mrs O'Connor and acted in self-defence by hitting her and as a result of that she may have died.

The trial heard that six months after he was charged with her murder, Greene changed his account of killing and dismembering his partner's mother. While on remand in Cloverhill Prison in December 2017, Greene told gardai that he had taken the rap and felt he was being set-up, as his girlfriend Louise O'Connor subsequently started going back out with her ex-boyfriend Keith Johnston.

Greene also told detectives in his December account that Mrs OConnor attacked him with a hurley. However, he said Mrs O'Connor's husband, Augustine 'Gus' OConnor, came into the bathroom after he fell to the ground and admonished his wife saying: What the fuck are you doing?

Greene told detectives that Mr O'Connor had killed his wife using a crowbar and he [Greene] had taken the blame.

Evidence was given that Gus OConnor was originally part of the trial but shortly before it began, he pleaded guilty to reporting his wife Mrs OConnor as a missing person to gardai at Rathfarnham Garda Station, Dublin 14 on June 1, 2017, when he knew that she was already dead.

In her closing speech, prosecution counsel Ms Lacey said that Greene had changed his "confession" of what happened to Mrs O'Connor six months after being charged with her murder because of the "oldest motive in the book - jealousy".

She argued that Greene had been jealous over what he thought was "a growing relationship" between his partner Louise O'Connor and her ex-boyfriend Keith Johnston. Ms Lacey said "the sea change" that came about in the December interview was not reliable.

Furthermore, Ms Lacey submitted that Greene's June interview reflected the reality of what occurred in the bathroom and dovetailed completely with Dr Curtis findings, that Greene alone was in the altercation with her, that he alone struck the fatal blow.

However, defence counsel Conor Devally SC argued in his closing speech that Greene told a "whole pack of lies" when he made a "so-called confession" to killing Mrs O'Connor in June.

He also said his client, who had been described as "nothing but a moron" and a "fool", had taken it on himself to be a martyr over the gruesome death of his partners mother. Counsel said the December statement was "full of truth" and the "proper story" and submitted that Gus O'Connor had been "intimately involved" on the night.

Mr Devally said it was obvious that Mrs OConnor had a go at him and a potential defence of self-defence had been mentioned. He said the jury should apply whatever defence was available on the evidence. He also submitted that his client had a "developmental difficulty" and was portrayed as "a donkey" yet he had supposedly buried Mrs O'Connor in a shallow grave in the middle of the night.

Mr Justice McDermott had told the jurors in his charge that they may find it useful to firstly consider the case against Greene and then move onto the separate trials of his three co-accused, who are charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene.

The jury will return to court at 10.30am tomorrow morning to continue their deliberations in relation to the deceased's daughter Louise O'Connor, her granddaughter Stephanie O'Connor and Keith Johnston.

The jury can now return two verdicts in relation to Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor and Keith Johnston, who are accused of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene, knowing or believing him to have committed an arrestable offence. These are: not guilty or guilty of knowing that Greene had committed murder.

Stephanie O'Connor, Keith Johnston and Louise O'Connor. Pic: Collins

Louise O'Connor (aged 41) and Stephanie O'Connor (aged 22), both of Millmount Court, Dundrum Road, Dublin 14, and Louise O'Connor's ex-partner Keith Johnston (aged 43), of Avonbeg Gardens, Tallaght, Dublin 24 are all charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene, knowing or believing him to have committed an arrestable offence, to wit the murder of Mrs O'Connor on May 29, 2017.

Mother-of-five Louise O'Connor has pleaded not guilty to agreeing to or acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie O'Connor disguising herself as Patricia O'Connor at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29, 2017 in order to conceal the fact that Patricia O'Connor was dead.

Stephanie O'Connor has pleaded not guilty to disguising herself as Mrs O'Connor at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 at a point in time after her murder on May 29, 2017 in order to conceal the fact that she was already dead.

Mr Johnston has pleaded not guilty to assisting Mr Greene in the purchase of various implements at Woodie's, Mr Price, B&Q and Shoe Zone, Tallaght, Dublin 24 on June 9, 2017, which were to be used in the concealment of the remains of Mrs O'Connor.
KALAMAZOO, MI  The Michigan Strategic Fund has extended project dates for construction of The Exchange building in downtown Kalamazoo, which was delayed because of issues with a contractor, according to the agency.

Phoenix Properties Principal and Owner Greg Taylor said on Tuesday, Feb. 25, the ownership group that includes his company, as well as Plazacorp and hired construction professionals, are now working directly with hired subcontractors to complete the final portion of the job. Weather while building through two winters also delayed the project schedule, Taylor said.

A temporary certificate of occupancy has been issued for the entire building and 45 of the 130 apartments are occupied, MSF said.

The remaining apartment units are projected to be completed in the next few months, MSF said, and the building has some other prospective commercial tenants.

In December 2016, the Michigan Strategic Fund Board approved a $6,400,000 Other Economic Assistance Performance Based Loan Participation Award and MBT Brownfield Credit Amendment to the Company for the purpose of redeveloping .6 acres of property located at 155 West Michigan Avenue in the city of Kalamazoo into a 15-story, mixed-use building with market rate residential units, an integrated parking ramp for about 319 spaces and commercial space.

On Feb. 25, 2020, the MSF approved the request to extend the interest only period for the lender and the MSF Shares from July 31, 2020 to January 31, 2021; change the Conversion Date to February 1, 2021; extend the start date of loan covenant testing to June 30, 2021; extend all deadlines relating to Milestone Three, Project Completion Status Submission by Lender, to February 28, 2021; and extend the due date for all conditions for the Certification of Conversion of the Loans from July 31, 2020 to February 28, 2021.

Tenants began moving into new apartments in August.

Taylor said he originally would have liked to see the project completed in 2019. On Tuesday, he estimated that the project would be completed in the first half of 2020.

More:

Eye care provider opens in Kalamazoo Exchange building
Mason E. Bryszewski was trying to pass another car on a Gloucester County road in 2018 when he slammed head-on into an oncoming vehicle, killing his father and the other driver.

That is not in dispute.

But Bryszewskis attorney argued in court Tuesday that his client couldnt get back into his own lane because the driver of the vehicle he was trying to pass wouldnt yield.

Attorneys presented opening arguments Tuesday in Bryszewskis trial on two counts of second-degree reckless death by auto. The defendant opted for a bench trial, with a judge deciding the case rather than a jury.

Bryszewski, 20, of Mantua Township, was driving a 2017 Lincoln MKZ on South Woodbury Road in Glassboro on the evening of April 16, 2018, and his father, Michael L. Bryszewski, 57, was in the front passenger seat.

The defendant was trying to pass a black Mercedes when he collided with a Jeep Compass driven by Lisa M. Maden, 47, of Pitman.

Both victims later died of their injuries and the younger Bryszewski, who was an 18-year-old high school senior at the time, suffered serious injuries.

Bryszewski was speeding and crossed a double yellow line, denoting a no-passing zone, in a residential area with a posted speed limit of 40 mph when the crash occurred, according to Assistant Prosecutor Temperance Williamson.

It is the states position that the way in which Mr. Bryszewski was driving on that particular day  shows that he was driving that vehicle recklessly, Williamson said. The state believes that once your honor hears all of the testimony  that you will find that the state has met its burden beyond a reasonable doubt as to two counts of death by auto.

Defense attorney Ronald Greenblatt told Superior Court Judge M. Christine Allen-Jackson that his client isnt criminally liable for the deaths.

Your honor, this case is a tragedy  but every tragedy is not a crime, Greenblatt said. Its our position that when you look at the facts and circumstances in this case and look at the law, its clear that, however tragic this case is, my client is not guilty.

The attorney described Bryszewskis unsuccessful effort to pass the Mercedes.

When he passed that car, for whatever reason, the black Mercedes wouldnt let him in. It stayed the same speed, it sped up, but it wouldnt let him in. And he tried to go past.

Because of a bend in the roadway, Bryszewski couldnt see the oncoming Jeep in time to avoid the collision, Greenblatt said.

He didnt know that a car was going to be coming. He didnt know that this car that he was seeking to pass wasnt going to let him pass.

Greenblatt described an eyewitness who was out walking his dog when he saw the crash and reported the Mercedes drivers actions to police.

The driver of that vehicle, who didnt stop, played a role in the fatal wreck, Greenblatt argued.

They were a contributing cause  Were not saying here that Mason was right for trying to pass there, but were talking about criminal liability here.

To prove that Bryszewski behaved in a criminally reckless manner, the state must show that he consciously disregarded the substantial risk that serious injury or death could result from his actions, Greenblatt said.

When Mason went to pass, he believed he could do that, his attorney said. He didnt see the other car. He didnt know about those risks.

In addition to hearing from witnesses and the Glassboro police officer who conducted the accident reconstruction investigation, the defense plans to present several character witnesses, including family members and people Bryszewski has known from work and school.

Many of Bryszewskis family members attended the trial on Tuesday, as did Madens husband, Paul, and another family member.

Lisa Maden and her husband are parents to three adopted children. She worked as a respiratory therapist at Inspira Medical Center Vineland.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Amit Shah to visit Ram Lalla, Hanumangarhi temple today, to address 3 public rallies in UP

Targeting Akhilesh, Shah asks why Lord Ram had to live in a tent

HM Shah seeks suggestions of MPs, other stakeholders on move to amend IPC, CrPC, Evidence Act

Shah calls for second review meeting on violence at northeast Delhi

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 25: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has called for a second review meeting, following the violence in northeast Delhi that has claimed seven lives so far.

The meeting would be attended by Delhi Lieutenant Governor, Anil Baijal, Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal and representatives from political parties. Shah has been reviwing the situation since Monday.

Shah had held a meeting late on Monday night after attending the Namaste Trump event at Ahmedabad. The meeting which began at 11 pm ended at 1.30 am, sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs tell OneIndia.

Death toll in Northeast Delhi climbs to seven

During the meeting, Shah reviewed the law and order situation in Delhi and directed officials to restore normalcy at the earliest.

Meanwhile the death toll in the northeast Delhi violence climbed to seven, a senior police official on Tuesday.

A Delhi Police head constable, Ratan Lal, was among the seven killed in the violence that erupted on Monday over the amended citizenship law.

Till Monday, authorities had said at least four people, including Lal, were killed in the violence. They said that the death toll has increased to seven on Tuesday.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 11:29 [IST]
Securecell expands its market activities in Asia and Israel by cooperating with Shanghai based Alit Life Science, South Korea based Biofors Global and Rehovot based Danyel Biotech as partners for marketing and sales activities in China, Korea and Israel.

URDORF (ZURICH), Switzerland, February 25, 2020 / B3C newswire / -- Securecell is proud to announce the partnership with Alit Life Science, Biofors Global and Danyel Biotech to build its market presence in China, Korea and Israel as a major step to further penetrate new markets.

Alit, Biofors and Danyel were selected based on the strong connection and network within China, Korea and Israel biopharma market as well as the existing competence in selling high value products to bioprocessing industries. It is an excellent addition to our expanding worldwide network of marketing and sales partners addressing the needs of a growing and demanding biopharma business. said Dr. Michele Bomio, CFO of Securecell.

Initially, the new partners will focus on distributing Lucullus PIMS software solution which has been Securecells flagship product for many years, as well as Numera autosampling and sample processing machine. In a second step, they will enrich their portfolio by adding Securecells new products tailored to improving perfusion cultures at the benchtop scale.

David Chen, founder of Alit Life Science commented: We are very excited to cooperate with Securecell in China. I believe there is a big market for their advanced products, both the software system and the automation sampling machine. Today China is one of the biggest worldwide players in the biotech field. I believe this new cooperation will help Chinese customers to use innovative and world leading software engineering technology to improve their processes in R&D and production, thanks also to Securecells PAT system, which helps to supply better biotech medicaments to help the improvement of human health. Our team is looking forward to working with Securecells people in order to realize our marketing goal in China.

Biofors CTO Keebung Rhee stated: Not only Lucullus will be the perfect solution for Korean biotech players as a part of MES in Smart factory environments but also Numera will be very helpful for automated sampling of bioprocesses in biopharma companies. Smart factory, PAT, DoE and QbD are a big issue in recent manufacturing technology in Korea and Securecell products will dramatically contribute to enlarge and improve the process technology developments in our country.

Luly Gurevich, CEO of Danyel Biotech, said: This new partnership with Securecell helps us to deliver high-end technological solutions in the biopharmaceutical industry and biological research fields. Lucullus will enable much better control of our customers processes and having Numera will open new opportunities, along with our wide portfolio of instrumentation, media, supplements and consumables for Upstream.

About Securecell AG

Securecell is the partner of biopharma innovators, enabling them to bring new therapies in a safe, efficient and economical way to the patient.

Securecell automates and manages bioprocess workflows.

Securecells product portfolio consists of a comprehensive Process Information Management System (Lucullus) and an automated sampling and sample processing instrument (Numera).

Securecells pipeline within the Biotech and Medtech industry is based on a revolutionary membrane technology.

Securecell is working on leveraging its patented membrane technology into Medtech applications where it will move diabetes care to a new level thanks to direct in blood glucose measurement and insulin application.

About Alit Life Science Co, Ltd

Headquartered in the high-tech district of Shanghai, after over 10 years of development, Alit Life Science has become one of the leading biotech lab instruments and technical suppliers in the Biopharma industry in China.

Over 120 employees, Alit is not only a distributor but also a manufacturer of a smart cell analyzer and an R&D provider. Today Alit is cooperating with a good number of American and European suppliers, servicing more than 1000 leading Chinese biotech companies, in the field of vaccine, antibodies and stem cells.

About Biofors Global Inc.

Biofors is an expertise turnkey bioprocess engineering organization distributing cost effective solutions to the Bioindustry and Biopharmaceutical sector across the globe. Built with a state-of-the-art facility and equipment, Biofors undertakes bioprocess equipment manufacturing, distribution, consultancy services, manpower training and bioprocess research. Decades of experience and good process knowledge of the bioprocess industry help us to find innovative and cost-effective solutions.

About Danyel Biotech LTD.

Danyel Biotech is one of the leading Israeli distributors, suppling high-end instrumentation, consumables and solutions for Israeli industry and academy, covering Upstream to Downstream, Protein Chromatography, Bio interaction systems, Biochemical, Next Generation Sequencing and advance Molecular Biology diagnostics products to the life science research laboratories in universities, research institutes, biotech-industries, hospital research, HMO diagnostics laboratories.

Danyel Biotech is committed to furnishing its customers thorough solutions to their needs by means of both close partnerships with its suppliers and a high level of customer service and technical expertise.

Contact

Securecell AG

Laura Bizzotto

+41 44 732 9070

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Keywords: Automation; Perfusion/instrumentation; Perfusion/methods; Industrial Development; Software; Information Management

Published by B3C newswire and shared through Newronic


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.
The NFU president urged the government to show 'global leadership' on food and farming by putting in legislation that call for rules on minimum standards for imports.

Minette Batters made her opening speech today (25 February) at the NFU Conference in Birmingham as concerns grow over Number 10's stance on lower-standard food imports.

It comes as George Eustice, the new Defra Secretary, recently refused to give a cast-iron guarantee that the UK will not import chlorinated chicken under any trade deal with the US.

As part of an interview with Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Mr Eustice initially refused twice to rule out the UK accepting chlorinated chicken or hormone beef.

Pressed a third time to make the commitment, he said the government 'won't make any moves on standards'.

Farming industry groups have consistently warned that granting lower standard food imports would effectively undercut domestic produce made to higher standards.

Some practices used in the United States are currently banned by the European Union due to perceived safety concerns.

These include genetically-modified crops, chlorine-washed chicken and the use of hormones in beef production.

Underlining this concern, Mrs Batters said that other countries must trade with the United Kingdom 'on our terms' to avoid any lowering of industry standards.

We must not tie the hands of British farmers to the highest rung of the standards ladder while waving through food imports which may not even reach the bottom rung, she insisted.

If the government is serious about animal welfare and environmental protection, and doing more than any previous government, it must put legislation in the agriculture bill.

What is government waiting for? What is more important to our economy, our health and our environment than the very food we eat?

The NFU president also called for government to show 'global leadership', and insisted that UK farms standards are the 'benchmark for climate-friendly farming around the world'.

"We must not allow those standards to be undermined by imports of goods which would be illegal for our farmers to produce here, she said.

In Japan, Australia, China, Canada, Brazil, Malaysia and India, the use of antibiotics is permitted for growth promotion. This isnt just about chlorinated chicken. This is about a wider principle.
NEW ORLEANS  A man was struck and killed by a Mardi Gras float during a raucous weekend 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 Saturday evening 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 name and cause of death after completing an autopsy and notifying his family.

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.

The death prompted an outpouring of sympathy from other parade participants, who were working quickly to adjust their parades.

The Krewe of Orpheus extends its heartfelt sympathy to the families of those whose lives were lost in the recent parade incidents, Krewe of Orpheus Captain Sonny Borey said in a statement, echoing those of other parade participants Sunday.

The fatality came as New Orleans was mourning the death of a 58-year-old woman who  witnesses said  was run over by a parade float Wednesday night.

Mayor LaToya Cantrell said Saturday night that the south Louisiana city was grieving.

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, Cantrell said in a statement.

On Sunday, Cantrell re-emphasized the need for safety precautions and said the issue will be examined in the coming days.

In the weeks and months ahead, we will be looking at further changes that need to be made to make our routes and our celebrations more safe  but the work starts right now, she said in a statement.

Also Sunday, a person riding on a float in the Thoth parade in New Orleans fell from a lower level and was injured. City officials tweeted via NOLA Ready, an emergency preparedness site, that the float rider was in stable condition at a trauma center. That person wasnt immediately identified.

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 tweeted. Each float will require its own tractor, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reported NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said.

The Krewe of Bacchus was splitting its tandem floats for its Bacchus Sunday evening parade at the citys request, the group said in a statement. The Krewe of Orpheus said it would follow the citys safety recommendations for its parade Monday.

The Carnival season is nearing its traditional all-out Fat Tuesday celebration, the raucous climax of a week or more of parades and partying.

The deaths also come just a year after a car sped into a bicycle lane near a parade route, hitting nine people and killing two bicyclists not far from where the Krewe of Endymion formation had just passed. A man identified as the driver was subsequently charged with two counts of vehicular homicide.

Before this year, the most recent Carnival float-related fatality in Louisiana happened in 2009, when a 23-year-old rider fell from a float and in front of its wheels in Carencro, about 120 miles (195 kilometers) west of New Orleans.

In 2008, a rider getting off a three-part float after the Krewe of Endymion parade in New Orleans was killed when the float lurched forward and the third section ran over him, police said.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
When Omar Alshakal, a 26 year-old Syrian refugee, arrived on the Greek island of Lesbos, having swum across the Mediterranean from Turkey in 2014, he found the Moria refugee camp to be flooded with young, Western volunteers.

After spending time almost a year in the camp, Alshakal began to notice a trend. When young people arrive from their countries, they see kids here and fall in love with them, says Alshakal, who founded his own organization, Refugee 4 Refugee, in 2017. They spend as much time with them as possible but after a few weeks, they go back to their country. But the kids stay in the camp and miss these volunteersthey ask for them long after they have left.

Thousands of volunteers have been flocking to Greeces shores since images of refugees arriving in overcrowded, makeshift boats began surfacing in 2015. Many individuals, who volunteer with the 425 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Greece, have played a vital role in managing the biggest refugee crisis Europe has seen in decades.

Because of the ad-hoc nature of volunteering on the islands, there are few reliable figures on how many individuals have come to provide assistance but Boris Cheshirkov, a UNHCR representative in Greece estimates that the number is in the thousands. But while refugees and other organizations working in the camps said volunteers of all kinds have played an outsized role in the humanitarian response, they said those without training risk making things worse for the people theyre trying to help.

Aid is still badly needed. Conditions in Greek refugee camps have continued to deteriorate, and remain dangerous and inadequate. Camps lack basic amenities. In the cold winter months, refugees are forced to build fires in their thin tents, which has caused fatalities. On Feb. 11, the United Nations called for the evacuation of the Moria camp on Lesboswhich hosts 18,342 people in a facility built for 2,200due to fear of overcrowding and disease outbreak.

Story continues

Looking over the 'Mount Syria' refugee camp located on a hillside above Samos Town on Samos, Greece. | Giles ClarkeGetty

The Greek government and the European Union have been criticized for failing to develop a cohesive response to the crisis and for providing insufficient support in the camps. Since a center-right government was elected in July, Greek authorities have taken a tougher stance on migration, making it more difficult for nonprofits to operate on the islands.

That leaves volunteersboth formal staff at non-profits and ad-hoc volunteersplugging holes in the system.

Nikolaos Trihas, an expert on volunteers in Greek refugee camps writes that the burden of managing the crisis has fallen almost exclusively on the shoulders of volunteers and local communities.

In this context, skilled volunteers play a pivotal role in providing services, ranging from free legal guidance to medical attention.

But a different kind of volunteer has also been arriving on Greeces shores; young, untrained and unskilled visitors, who can inadvertently exacerbate the problems they seek to address.

The importance of training

Many refugees and aid organizations recognize that unskilled volunteers fillalbeit imperfectlya massive gap in humanitarian aid on the islands. Amid a context of insufficient aid, untrained volunteers can help understaffed organizations provide necessary goods and services. Without volunteers, the camps would have been prisons, said Trude Jacobsen, the Secretary General of A Drop in the Ocean, an organization that coordinates volunteer air workers.

But unskilled volunteers can also aggravate the problems they seek to address. Around the world, unqualified volunteers have participated in medical procedures beyond their skill level, constant turnover of volunteers in schools has resulted in children developing attachment issues, and the popularity of orphanage tourism has led to a rise in family separation and child exploitation. Volunteer tourists, who are disproportionately white or Western, have also been criticized for perpetuating white-savior narratives.

These problems are especially pronounced in Greek refugee camps, where unskilled volunteers are thrown into crisis situations. I think what is especially troubling in this context is that many of the people living in these camps have faced severe trauma, says Alex Knott, a specialist in volunteer tourism who conducted research in Greek refugee camps. Few volunteers are equipped to deal with these realities; they might ask triggering or inappropriate questions about refugees journeys, or mightusually out of sympathymake promises they cant keep about trying to help with their asylum processes.

Refugees and humanitarian workers reported that these issues are common. In making promises to refugee childrenwho have traversed across land and sea, losing homes and people along the wayvolunteers put children at risk of developing attachment issues. The constant turnover of volunteers, who enter childrens lives, form close ties with them, and then leave, can exacerbate feelings of abandonment.

This is a serious issue , Cheshirkov says. Its why weve been calling for years now for the humanitarian response to be led by professional social workers.

Unskilled volunteers also cause problems by making false promises to refugee adults about their asylum cases. One volunteer lawyer working on Lesbos told TIME that this causes major problems for legal institutions working on the islands. She asked to remain anonymous as she continues to work closely with volunteers.

Unskilled volunteers jeopardize the work of skilled volunteers, she says. I would often have clients break down screaming or crying because a 20 year-old handing out blankets and water bottles mistakenly told them their asylum request was being processed.

Some refugees feel that unskilled volunteers overstep their roles and try to control refugees, by unnecessarily policing lines at food distribution centers or by encouraging refugees to change aspects of their culture. Knott similarly noticed this in her research.

At an organizational meeting, volunteers and coordinators were lamenting the number of pregnant women and children being born in the camps, Knott recounts. The volunteers discussed whether they should distribute birth control but worried that men might confiscate them. So one person suggested putting birth control pills in the water, Knott says. No one objected. The suggestion was not acted upon, Knott adds.

Volunteer tourism, which typically involves young people doing short-term volunteer work abroad, has become a global phenomenon in recent years. Nancy Gard McGehee, an expert on sustainable tourism, estimates that over 10 million people a year are spending $2 billion on volunteer tourism worldwide, which is the fastest growing sector of the tourism industry. Volunteering in Greek refugee camps has become the latest frontier in a rapidly evolving industry that sits at the intersection of tourism and aid.

Greek authorities have spoken out against the influx of unskilled volunteers and unregistered NGOs. In 2016, the mayor of Lesbos, Spyros Galinos told the Guardian that though he was grateful to the ones that immediately responded to our first call for help he warned against NGOs and individuals coming without official registration and showing no cooperation with our municipality, calling their presence disruptive. Since then, some refugee camps have prohibited unqualified volunteers from entering the site but there have been reported cases of volunteers trying to sneak into the camps.

Volunteers are part of the response and in many cases are doing selfless work, says Cheshirkov of the UNHCR. But it has to be understood that they are working with vulnerable people and that its a privileged position. They have to be trained, briefed and know the extent of their role.

This cant be for fun.

In response to these problems, many organizations operating on the islands have developed strict guidelines for unskilled volunteers.

The organization Humanity Crew, for instance, which provides psychological support to refugees in Greece, requires all its volunteers to be over the age of 24 and complete a 30 hour training program. Even once volunteers have completed the program, they are not guaranteed to be selected: Last year, Humanity Crew trained 2000 people but says it only selected 400 to volunteer.

Having rigid requirements for volunteers, however, comes at a cost.

Humanity Crew often loses volunteers to other organizations when people discover the organization requires participants to complete 30 hours of training and prohibits them from taking photos of refugees to post on social media.

This is how you lose volunteers, and funds, followers, support, says Dr. Essam Daod, the founder of Humanity Crew.

Like organizations, refugees can find themselves unable to speak out against problems with untrained volunteers, for fear that aid will be restricted.

We asked our own clients if they had complaints about our volunteers but it never happened because refugees dont want to complain to the center that could help them, said the volunteer lawyer on Lesbos. They dont want to bite the hand that feeds.

A migrant tries to warm himself in a temporary camp next to the camp in Moria by a small fire on January 22, 2020. | Angelos TzortzinisGetty

Some refugees, however, do not want to raise problems with unskilled volunteers because they appreciate their efforts.

They didnt cause problems, says Mohammad Wasim Hamidy, a 24 year-old refugee from Afghanistan who arrived on Samos in 2018. All the time, they were trying to help the people.

Some refugees note that because unqualified volunteers have little to offer in terms of skills, they are more willing to sit and listen to refugees than employees working for organizations running the camp.

The organizations that control the camp treated us like animals,says Yousef, a 28 year-old Syrian-Palestinian refugee who stayed on Chios for six months in 2018 who asked to remain anonymous as he waits to hear if he has been granted asylum. But volunteers talk to you like you are a human.

Many refugees agree that unskilled volunteers play a vital role, but say there is a need to redefine what helping refugees looks like. Of course we need volunteers, Alshakal says. But what we really need is for people to push their governments at home to help the situation here.

Knott believes that unskilled volunteering has the potential to make meaningful connections across difference but that the volunteer model has to change.

If we reframe volunteering in this context not as helping or saving but as seeking to form meaningful connections and challenge boundaries between us and them,I think it can be a powerful tool for social change, she says.

For Dr. Daod, the founder of Humanity Crew, the solution is more straightforward.

They need to have basic skills and know how not to do harm, he said. This cant be for fun.


73% Increase in Simon's Find Indicated Mineral Resources

------------------------------------------- Category *Tonnes(t) %TREO %Nd2O3+Pr6O11 ------------------------------------------- Indicated 784,000 0.57 0.30 sub-total 784,000 0.57 0.30 Inferred 141,000 0.53 0.25 ------------------------------------ TOTAL 925,000 0.56 0.29 ------------------------------------ *numbers may not add up due to rounding.

------------------------------------------- Category *Tonnes(t) %TREO %Nd2O3+Pr6O11 ------------------------------------------- Measured 4.15 1.15 0.43 Indicated 11.25 1.11 0.38 sub-total 15.4 1.12 0.39 Inferred 5.46 1.14 0.35 ------------------------------------- TOTAL 20.86 1.12 0.38 ------------------------------------- * denotes million

Perth, Feb 25, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - The Directors of Hastings Technology Metals Limited ( ASX:HAS ) are pleased to announce a significant change to the Mineral Resource classifications for the Simon's Find deposit.A Mineral Resource re-estimate for Simon's Find was instigated as part of a review of all Mineral Resources which commenced during 2019.This resulted in a material change of the Mineral Resource Categories for the Indicated and Inferred portions. Indicated Resource tonnages increased by 73% with a corresponding decrease of 84% for the Inferred tonnages when compared to the Mineral Resource estimate announced in November 2018 (ASX announcement titled "INCREASE IN MEASURED AND INDICATED RESOURCES AT YANGIBANA PROJECT" 28 November 2018).Total updated Mineral Resource now hosts approximately 5,178t of TREO and 2,719t of neodymium and praseodymium oxide.Charles Lew, Hastings Executive Chairman, said "this significant increase in Indicated Mineral Resources is a great result. We are confident that the increase in the Indicated Mineral Resource will lead to an expected increase in Ore Reserves and extend the mine life which underpins the project financing."Summary of Mineral Resource ChangesThe Simon's Find Mineral Resource as of February 2020 is shown in Table 1.Reporting of the following Mineral Resource is at 0.2% Nd2O3+Pr6O11 cut-off.Table 1: Simon's Find JORC (2012) Mineral Resource February 2020Compared to the previously announced Mineral Resource in November 2018;- Indicated Tonnes increased by 73% or 330kt- Indicated Nd2O3+Pr6O11 oxide tonnes increased by 49% or 779t- Inferred Tonnes decreased by 84% or 714kt- Indicated Nd2O3+Pr6O11 grade decreased by 14% to 0.30% Nd2O3+Pr6O11- Total Mineral Resource Tonnes decreased by 29% or 384kt- Total TREO Grade decreased by 12% to 0.57% TREOTotal Project Mineral Resources following changes to Simon's Find, for all deposits, at 0.2% Nd2O3+Pr6O11 now stand at:Table 2: Total JORC (2012) Mineral Resources February 2020The work undertaken to re-estimate Simon's Find was completed by Gill Lane Consulting and incorporates all the information and data that was used in the previous Mineral Resource estimate announced on 22 November 2018. No new data was used in the re-estimation process.GeologyThe near surface mineralisation throughout the Yangibana Project is hosted by iron oxides and hydroxides termed ironstone, being the alteration products of the primary hosts ferro-carbonatite and phoscorite intrusive dykes. The main rare earths-bearing mineral is monazite in association with subordinate bastnasite and apatite and florencite.The deposits occur as narrow but strike extensive dykes that have a range of dips from almost horizontal (10-20deg) to sub-vertical. Average true thickness varies from 2.2m to 3.5m throughout the Yangibana deposits although locally true thicknesses in excess of 20m occur.To view all tables and figures, please visit:About Hastings Technology Metals Ltd

Hastings Technology Metals Ltd (ASX:HAS) (FRA:5AM) is advancing its Yangibana Rare Earths Project in the Upper Gascoyne Region of Western Australia towards production. The proposed beneficiation and hydro metallurgy processing plant will treat rare earths deposits, predominantly monazite, hosting high neodymium and praseodymium contents to produce a mixed rare earths carbonate that will be further refined into individual rare earth oxides at processing plants overseas.

Neodymium and praseodymium are vital components in the manufacture of permanent magnets which is used in a wide and expanding range of advanced and high-tech products including electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, medical applications and others. Hastings aims to become the next significant producer of neodymium and praseodymium outside of China.

Hastings holds 100% interest in the most significant deposits within the overall project, and 70% interest in additional deposits that will be developed at a later date, all held under Mining Leases. Numerous prospects have been identified warranting detailed exploration to further extend the life of the project.

Brockman Project

The Brockman deposit, near Halls Creek in Western Australia, contains JORC Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources, estimated using the guidelines of JORC Code (2012 Edition).

The Company is also progressing a Mining Lease application over the Brockman Rare Earths and Rare Metals Project.

Hastings aims to capitalise on the strong demand for critical rare earths created by the expanding demand for new technology products.
TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Primis, the video discovery platform , has reached an agreement with Caters News Agency , the UK's leading independent photo and news agency, to distribute their online archive and access to millions of images and digital assets across the Primis network. This will allow Caters News Agency to tap into new audiences, while Primis will add the trusted and established content provider to its extensive video content library.

Caters is an international news, picture and video agency. They source and distribute exclusive news and feature stories to newspapers, magazines, online news sites and broadcasters worldwide.

"Caters offers a wide range of interesting and feel good stories, which will help us at Primis to enrich our ever-growing video library," said Omri Polak, Head of Content at Primis. "We're glad to partner with such an experienced company in the field of content creation and curation, who have been trailblazers in the news industry for generations and continue to innovate to this day."

Caters News Agency has recently begun to enhance their focus on videos, which are now being published and broadcast daily across websites and TV throughout the world. Partnering with Primis and its Video Discovery technology, allows Caters to further that initiative by presenting video content to highly relevant news consumers.

"Caters has an archive brimming with reliable and engaging video content and we're excited to be able to showcase this content to Primis users," said Lianne Ryan, Head of Licensing at Caters News Agency. "Taking advantage of Primis Video Discovery technology was a logical progression for us and just another step towards furthering our reach."

About Primis

Primis leverages machine learning technology to serve consumers with video content they are most likely to engage with. The discovery engine is applied in a fully customizable video unit designed to fit natively in all websites. Their video solution helps publishers add new monetization opportunities and drive deeper engagement with consumers. For more information, visit http://www.primis.tech .

About Caters News Agency

Caters is an international news, picture and video agency. Caters sources and distributes exclusive news and feature stories to newspapers, magazines, online news sites and broadcasters worldwide. https://www.catersnews.com/

Primis Press:

+972-3-7686898

[email protected]

https://www.primis.tech

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US President Donald Trump on Tuesday reiterated that India and the US are together in their fight against "radical Islamic terrorism" and his government was committed to "confront" terrorists operating from Pakistan`s soil. In a joint press briefing of the US and India, President Trump at Hyderabad House in the national capital said during his discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, "the two countries agreed to protect their citizens from radical Islamic terrorism".

Here is the full speech of US President Donald Trump and PM Narendra Modi in joint press brief:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi: My friend and President of the United States, Donald Trump; respected members of the American delegation; ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Once again, a very warm welcome to President Trump and his delegation in India. I am especially really happy that he has brought his family with him on this visit.

In the last eight months, this is the fifth meeting between President Trump and myself. Yesterday, the unprecedented and historic welcome for President Trump yesterday in Motera will always be remembered. Yesterday, it became clear once again that the relations between the United States and India are not just limited to the relations between two governments; they are people-driven and they are people-centric.

This relationship is the most important partnership of the 21st century. And therefore, today, President Trump and I have taken a decision to raise our partnership to the level of a comprehensive global strategic partnership. President Trumps contribution in raising our relations to this level have been invaluable.

Friends, during our discussions today, we had a productive exchange on every important aspect of our partnership, whether it is defence and security, our strategic energy partnership, technology cooperation, global connectivity, trade relations, or people-to-people ties.

The increasing defence and security cooperation between India and the United States is a very important aspect of our strategic partnership. Cooperation in ultra-modern defence equipment and platforms will enhance Indias defence capabilities. Our defence manufacturers are becoming a part of each others supply chains.

Indian forces are today doing the maximum training exercises with U.S. forces. In the last few years, there has been an unprecedented increase in interoperability between our armies, friends. In the same way, we are also increasing our cooperation in the area of homeland security and in fighting international crime.

Today, the decision taken on homeland security will further strengthen this cooperation. We have also taken a decision today to further increase our efforts in order to hold supporters of terrorism responsible.

President Trump has given priority to the fight against the drugs and opioid crisis. Today, we have also agreed on a new mechanism to fight serious problems, such as drug trafficking, narco-terrorism, and organized crime.

Friends, the recently established strategic energy partnership has become even stronger and, in this area, our mutual investment has grown. The U.S. has indeed become a very important oil and gas source for India. Over the last four years, our total energy trade volume is about $20 billion. Whether it is renewable energy or nuclear energy, indeed our

cooperation finds itself instilled with new energy, friends.

Similarly, in the area of new emerging technologies, India and U.S. partnership has attained new levels, in terms of innovation and enterprise.

In the fields of Industry 4.0 and of the new technologies of the 21st century, the talent of Indian professionals have reinforced U.S.s companies technological leadership.

Friends, India and the United States are committed to openness and fair and balanced trade in the economic sector. Over the last three years, our bilateral trade has witnessed double-digit growth and it has also become more balanced.

Whether it is energy, civil aircraft, defence, or a higher education, over the last four or five years, just these four sectors has contributed $70 billion to the relationship between India and the U.S. A lot of this is due to the policies and the willingness of President Trump, and Im fully confident that, in the years to come, this will further grow.

As far as bilateral trade is concerned, our commerce ministers have had very positive discussions. President Trump and I, we have both agreed that the understanding reached by our commerce ministers will take it forward to give it a legal shape. We have also agreed to initiate negotiations for a bigger deal. We are confident that this will yield good results that will be in our mutual interest.

Friends, cooperation between India and the U.S. at the global level is founded on our common democratic values and objectives, especially in the Indo-Pacific region and other global commons.

Both of our countries agree on the importance of sustainable and transparent financing in the development of connectivity infrastructure across the world. This mutual understanding and synergy between us is in the interest of not just our countries, but also in the interests of the world at large.

Friends: Indeed, the cornerstone of this special friendship between India and the United States is our people-to-people relations. Whether it is as professionals or students, the Indian diaspora in the U.S. has contributed the most to furthering these relations. These ambassadors of India are not only contributing to the U.S. economy with their talent and hard work, theyre also energing [sic] the American society with their democratic values and rich culture.

I have requested President Trump that the contribution of our professionals, in terms of social security, should be discussed further within the framework of a totalization agreement. This will be of mutual interest to both of us.

President Trumps visit has played a historic role in further strengthening our relationship in all its dimensions. Once again, I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to President Trump for coming to India and for taking Indo-U.S. relations to new heights.

Thank you. (Applause.)

US President Donald Trump: Well, thank you very much. And, Prime Minister Modi, this has been a very special visit  unforgettable, extraordinary. What can you say? Very, very wonderful to be with you. Thank you very much.

And Melania and I have been awed by the majesty of India and the exceptional kindness and generosity of the Indian people.

Well always remember the magnificent welcome the citizens of your home state showed us upon arrival. It was a profound expression of strength and of  of real love. Really, it was love. And I think everybody saw that; everybody witnessed that for themselves.

The First Lady and I also reflected on the memory of Mahatma Gandhi at his ashram. And this morning, in Delhi, we laid a wreath in his honour. We visited one of your nations most stunning cultural treasures: the world-famous Taj Mahal. And we look forward to continuing our visit tonight, doing a wonderful state banquet with President Kovind at the Presidential Palace.

I know Prime Minister Modi will agree that this has been a very productive visit for both of our countries. Earlier today, we expanded our defence cooperation with agreements for India to purchase more than $3 billion of advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo helicopters  the finest in the world. These deals will enhance our joint defence capabilities as our militaries continue to train and operate side-by-side.

In our discussions, Prime Minister Modi and I affirmed our two countries commitment to protecting our citizens from radical Islamic terrorism. In this effort, the United States is also working productively with Pakistan to confront terrorists who operate on its soil.

Together, the Prime Minister and I are revitalizing the Quad Initiative with the United States, India, Australia, and Japan. Since I took office, we have held the first Quad ministerial meeting  I guess you would call it a meeting, but it seems like so much more than that  and expanded cooperation on counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and maritime security to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.

As we deepen our partnership with India, we remember that our two countries have always been united by shared traditions of democracy and constitutions that protect freedom, individual rights, and the rule of law.

During our visit, we discussed the importance of a secure 5G wireless network and the need for this emerging technology to be a tool for freedom, progress, prosperity  not to do anything where it could be even conceived as a conduit for suppression and censorship.

To guarantee that the infrastructure of the future is built in a safe, transparent, and accountable manner, the United States is working with a range of partners, including Australia and Japan, to create the Blue Dot Network, a major initiative to ensure countries around the world to have access to private sector-led, sustainable, and trustworthy options for high-quality infrastructure development, and thats whats happening.

Another major focus of my discussions with Prime Minister Modi is forging bilateral economic relationships that is fair and reciprocal. Our teams have made tremendous progress on a comprehensive trade agreement and Im optimistic we can reach a deal that will be of great importance to both countries.

Since I took office, U.S. exports to India are up nearly 60 per cent and exports of high-quality American energy have grown by  thank you very much  500 per cent. Thats great.

As India grows, so do its energy needs. Yesterday, ExxonMobil signed a deal to improve Indias natural gas distribution network so that the U.S. can export even more LNG to India.

We are pleased to be joined by the Chairman of ExxonMobil LNG Market Development, Alex Volkov. Thank you, Alex, wherever you may be. Where is Alex? Hes here someplace. Alex, thank you very much. (Applause.) Thank you very much, Alex. And the CEO of Chart Energy and Chemicals Jillian Evanko. Thank you very much. Thank you both. Thank you, Jillian. (Applause.) Thank you very much.

Thats a big deal, Alex, right? Can you handle it? I think so, right? Its great.

To further strengthen our economic ties, the United States is pleased to announce that the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation will be establishing a permanent presence right here.

America is especially committed to working with India to improve development and empower women entrepreneurs. That is why my daughter Ivanka attended the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad to highlight womens economic empowerment. Ivanka, please  great job youve done. Thank you very much. (Applause.) Thank you.

We have since launched the W-GDP initiative, which is now spearheading projects supporting women in the economy from New Delhi to Kolkata.

In our meetings with the Prime Minister, we discussed and agreed to create a counter-narcotics working group to confront the growing threat of illicit fentanyl and opioid production. We must rid our societies of these lethal, horrible poisons. We will rid our societies of these bad drugs that are pouring in.

Prime Minister Modi, we have made tremendous advances for our people over the past two days. And, working together, I know that our two nations will continue to achieve new breakthroughs, unlock new potential, and forge even brighter futures in the years ahead.

We think were at a point where our relationship is so special with India. It has never been as good as it is right now and I think thats because the two leaders of each country  really, we feel very strongly about each other. And we have  we have done something thats very unique and weve made some wonderful deals for each of our countries.

Once again, we want to thank you and the entire nation of India for honouring the United States with its outstanding welcome. And Im pleased to say that the U.S.-Indian partnership is now truly stronger than ever before. This was a great visit with a tremendous friend and a tremendous leader, Prime Minister Modi.

We wont be taking questions now; Ill be having a news conference at 5 oclock and well take plenty of questions. Thank you all very much. Thank you. (Applause.)
STERLING, Va., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mvix, a leading provider of turnkey digital signage solutions with free content-rich software, has implemented digital signage at Eastern Kentucky University.

Founded in 1906, the university has six colleges and offers more than 40 undergraduate and graduate degrees. The campus sits on 675 acres and has a total undergraduate enrollment of 13,399.

Mvix Digital Signage

The school's digital signage network is spread amongst six health sciences buildings and is powered by the Mvix software to display announcements, event listings, and building directories.

The Challenge

Eastern Kentucky University was looking for a way to streamline its communication and effectively communicate with students and staff.

They need a solution that would:

optimize the costs associated with updating communications

effectively communicate with students to increase participation in school activities

update static building directories to add aesthetic appeal

improve and modernize the campus experience

The Solution

Eastern Kentucky University implemented nine screens within six of its College of Health Science buildings. These digital signs streamlined and modernized the university's communication strategy.

The Mvix platform provided:

remote access - staff members can update their campus displays remotely from any location

staff members can update their campus displays remotely from any location content-rich software - the school had access to over 150 content apps to display content that auto-updates

the school had access to over 150 content apps to display content that auto-updates advanced content scheduling - content creators can schedule content in advance for "set it and forget it" programming

content creators can schedule content in advance for "set it and forget it" programming multi-user access users - having multiple users with different permissions made collaboration easy

The Result

Eastern Kentucky University's campus experience greatly improved with digital signage.

"Mvix provided an innovative way to bring solidarity to our college. The adaptable features of their digital signage platform made it easy to create a steady stream of essential information to our EKU community," said Jagger Coffey, Technology Resource Manager at Eastern Kentucky University.

The Mvix platform allowed Eastern Kentucky University to:

communicate better with students, staff, and visitors and ensure they are well-informed

quickly and efficiently distribute their announcements

increase student participation in school events

enhance their campus experience

"It's great to work with an institution like Eastern Kentucky University which understands the value of engaging communication," said Dan Mersberger, Senior Solutions Consultant at Mvix. "Seeing the results that this has had on their student body is quite encouraging and we're more than happy to support them to scale this project even further."

To read the detailed case study, download a free copy here.

About Mvix

Mvix is a leading provider of turnkey digital signage solutions with free content-rich software. To date, their platform powers over 50,000 active screens for clients including Virginia Tech, NASA, Sodexo, Discovery Channel, Crowne Plaza and the University of Washington. The use cases include employee communication, wayfinding, emergency messaging and customer communications.

Learn more about Mvix at www.mvixdigitalsignage.com or call 703.382.1739.

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Mvix Digital Signage Enhances Communication at Eastern Kentucky University

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Linkedin Nguyen Kieu Giang and Ishika Mookerjee (Bloomberg) Hanoi, Vietnam/Singapore  Tue, February 25, 2020 10:39 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206666bc5 2 Business Vietnam,stock-market,China,fund-manager Free

Vietnamese stocks are some of the worlds most battered this year, yet market watchers are backing a turnaround.

Theyre pointing to valuations that havent been this cheap since 2017 and an economy thats been growing 5 percent or more each year for two decades. The nations benchmark gauge has almost completely erased its 2019 returns and now trades at about 12 times estimated earnings over the next year.

Concerns about trade and supply-chain disruptions due to the coronavirus have already wiped off more than 6 percent from the VN Index this year. With China delaying the reopening of land borders and travel restrictions, Vietnam expects industries related to tourism, agriculture, textiles and machinery to be hit hard. But analysts so far have remained positive, projecting that the nations companies will manage to post record earnings.

Vietnam is still one of my favorite countries in terms of growth prospects, valuations and dividend yield, said Federico Parenti, a fund manager at Sempione Sim SpA in Milan. I will surely add more shares once it will be more clear how the situation will evolve.

Many acknowledge earnings for the quarter ending in March will take a hit as visas for Chinese tourists -- which account for about a third of the total arrivals -- got halted, while meetings and festivals were canceled to avoid the spread of the virus.

Even though foreigners have pulled US$5.3 million from Vietnamese equity funds this year, thats much less than the outflows from peers such as Thailand, Indonesia or the Philippines. And while the Vietnamese equity index is still 25 percent below its 2018 peak, its proved to be resilient in the long run. Since 2012, it has rallied every year except one.

The recent sell-off is presenting interesting value opportunities in transport, energy and consumption, said Andrew Brudenell, the manager of a frontier-markets fund for Ashmore Group Plc. Ruchir Desai, a fund manager at Asia Frontier Capital Ltd., also likes travel-related stocks.

Vietnam remains one of the fastest growing economies in Asia, with an expansion rate of 7 percent for 2019, according to official data. While the government said it may slow to under 6 percent in 2020, that still places Vietnam above most countries. Investors also see the market as one of the biggest beneficiaries of a shift in supply chains away from China.

Vietnam Asset Management expects the ratification earlier this month of a free-trade agreement with the European Union to also have a significantly positive impact on the nations economy. Ngo The Trieu, chief investment officer of Eastspring Investments in Vietnam, says the revision of the countrys securities law and launch of new indexes will further grow the nations equity market.

Sectors that directly capture the growth drivers of the domestic economy will generate value for long-term investors, he said.
Nearly 50 years after the end of jungle combat in Vietnam, and decades of hot, sandy battles in the Middle East, the U.S. military has been quietly and urgently preparing for looming potential conflicts in frozen, mountainous terrain.

"Clearly we see the future and our defense of our nation is very critically dependent on our ability to operate in the Arctic," one top commander told Congress this month.

(MORE: Russia flaunts Arctic expansion with new military bases)

The Pentagon says the nation's top geopolitical rivals -- Russia and China -- merit close attention. Both regularly flaunt their military preparedness in harsh, wintry conditions as they continue to drive deeper into the Arctic toward America's northern frontier.

PHOTO: ABC News Senior Washington Reporter Devin Dwyer speaks with Master Sgt. Tom Bevins halfway up the mountain near Army Mountain Warfare School in Jericho, Vermont. (ABC News)

"We are now in an era of great power competition," Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters during a press conference last December.

To meet the threat, Congress late last year approved $30 million in new funding to bolster U.S. military readiness by expanding facilities at the elite Army Mountain Warfare School in northern Vermont.

On a recent visit to the school, ABC News saw firsthand how hundreds of soldiers learn to operate in the most extreme conditions each year and how growing demand for the training has strained available resources.

(MORE: Pentagon warns about China's increased activity in the Arctic, growing ambition to expand its presence)

Soldiers are taught how to lead their units over technically difficult and hazardous terrain, cutting paths through 4 feet of snow up a steep mountain face or scaling a field of boulders in scorching summer heat. They practice laying fixed ropes to traverse narrow ridge lines and rappelling down craggy cliffs.

Cold weather survival skills are a top priority.

PHOTO: A Small Unit Support Vehicle (SUSV) transported our ABC News team to the base of the mountain near Army Mountain Warfare School in Jericho, Vermont. (ABC News)

"Just surviving the environment is often the hardest part," said Maj. Steven Gagner, the commander of Army Mountain Warfare School.

The school also offers specialized training for mountain sharpshooting and medical evacuations -- skills which recent graduates said had proven valuable on subsequent tours in Afghanistan.

Story continues

(MORE: Regular US Navy Arctic submarine exercise takes on new importance)

Gagner, a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, allowed ABC News to accompany a squad preparing for its final test in the basic mountain course: an 1,100-foot climb through heavy snow, a traverse along a blustery ridge using ropes, and a 50-foot rappel down an icy cliff.

The conditions are so challenging that Army trainers said there are some soldiers who drop out from nearly every course, some by choice but others are told to leave if they can't keep up with the squad.

PHOTO: U.S. Army soldiers complete the culminating 'mountain walk' of the Army's basic mountaineering course at Army Mountain Warfare School in Jericho, Vermont. (ABC News)

The school's barracks, built in 1983, are dated and cramped. Drying equipment takes over classrooms, soldiers pack the bunk rooms and hallways and stairwells have become practice stations where clips and knots are bolted to the walls.

Roughly 1,000 service members graduate from courses here each year but demand has soared to 160% of capacity, Gagner said.

Active duty, National Guard and Reserve soldiers have all trained at the school since it was founded nearly 40 years ago, along with members of every military branch including the elite Navy SEALs.

Funding for a new facility will increase the number of beds from 64 to 140 and add a separate indoor climbing wall.

Just last year, Esper, then-secretary of the Army, cast a spotlight on the importance of winter mountain training during a visit to the school to climb the ice and meet with instructors.

"Your mission is a unique one that will prove critical in the future. We must be prepared to win the first battles of the next wars no matter what the environment," Esper wrote to the school leadership in a letter after his visit.

In 2017, ABC News saw firsthand how Russia is preparing for its military expansion into the Arctic, staking a claim on tundra that's becoming strategically important due to climate change. China and North Korea regularly publicize similar military winter training exercises in mountainous terrain.

"We train soldiers to fight and win and be more mobile and lethal and survive any environment they come into contact with," Gagner said.

This report was featured in the Feb. 26 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.

Inside Army Mountain Warfare School as Pentagon moves to expand elite training originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
"The Inca country has become a role model in terms of international tourism with a consolidated promotional strategy, which has turned the travel industry into one of the primary engines of its economy," Colombian Travel & Tourism Agency Association (ANATO) CEO Paula Cortez said.
Democrats take the stage for a debate in South Carolina on Tuesday in what could be the final opportunity for Joe Biden and the party's other presidential candidates to halt Bernie Sanders' drive to the nomination.

The 78-year-old senator from Vermont is in pole position heading into South Carolina's Democratic primary on Saturday.

Sanders finished in a virtual tie with former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg in the first nominating contest, in Iowa, and then went on to win in the next states to vote -- New Hampshire and Nevada.

Seven candidates will take part in the debate beginning at 8:00 pm in Charleston, South Carolina, on Tuesday night (0100 GMT Wednesday), the 10th debate of the campaign cycle.

Besides Sanders, Biden and Buttigieg, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, media magnate Michael Bloomberg and billionaire Tom Steyer will also be on the stage.

Bloomberg, 78, will be looking to rebound from his disastrous performance in his first debate and prove that he is a credible, moderate alternative to the leftist Sanders.

Biden, 77, has also been staking out the center and will be hoping to bounce back from his dismal performance in Iowa and New Hampshire, where he finished fourth and fifth respectively.

The former vice president came in second in the Nevada caucuses, but with 20.2 percent, he was well behind Sanders' 46.8 percent.

Biden has been counting on his strong support among African-American voters in South Carolina to recharge his flagging campaign.

But Sanders has been surging in the polls in the southern state in recent weeks and Biden's lead there has dwindled to single digits.

A Sanders victory in South Carolina, or even a close second, could set him up for a knockout showing on "Super Tuesday" on March 3, when 14 states go to the polls. Sanders came out relatively unscathed in the last debate but he is likely to face more fire from his rivals on Tuesday.

Some Democrats argue that Sanders, a self-avowed "democratic socialist," is too far to the left for many Americans and would be a weak opponent against President Donald Trump in November.

That is a line of attack which the 38-year-old centrist Buttigieg employed in the last debate, during which he called Sanders "polarizing." "Americans don't see where they fit if they've got to choose between a socialist who thinks that capitalism is the root of all evil and a billionaire who thinks that money ought to be the root of all power," Buttigieg said of the choice between Sanders and Trump.

Sanders, who advocates healthcare and free university for all and rails against "corporate greed," clearly believes that he is more in touch with the sentiments of Democratic voters.

He was asked over the weekend on CBS's "60 Minutes" program if the Democratic Party has moved away from the center and towards him on the left.

"In many ways, they have," he said. "And the ideas that seemed radical four years ago are now kind of mainstream." The Biden campaign signaled on Monday that the former vice president is likely to come out swinging on Tuesday.

Reacting to comments Sanders made over the weekend about Cuba's late leader Fidel Castro, the Biden campaign released one of its strongest attacks yet on the Democratic frontrunner.

Sanders in the "60 Minutes" interview said: "we're very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba but, you know, it's unfair to simply say everything is bad."



The Biden campaign said Sanders' remarks were "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." Jim Clyburn, an influential Democrat in the House of Representatives from South Carolina, said much was at stake for Biden in Saturday's vote but "it is not make or break." "It all depends upon how it comes out," Clyburn told ABC "I think make or break is probably the following Tuesday -- Super Tuesday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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.
Actor Salman Khan has reportedly been busy shooting for his next film, Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai. Now, a viral video has emerged online where he is seen spending time with a little girl, Yashika Wadke; he plants a kiss on her cheek and affectionately puts his arms around her.

In the video the little girl, in a pink top and a pair of denim jeans looks smilingly at Salman, who gives a kiss first and wraps his arms around her affectionately. The video is from the shoot of Radhe. The video got a lot of love from fans -- one user wrote how Salman should have a baby of his own soon! Will be the best and most goodlooking father while another asked: Is she his niece? Another fan said, She is karanveers daughter i think!

A couple of days back, celebrity photographer Dabboo Ratnani posted a picture of Salman with his kids.

Radhe, meanwhile, will feature as a cop in the film, being directed by Prabhudheva. This will be his third outing with South Indian director after Wanted and Dabangg 3. In the latter, he reprised his role as Chulbul Pandey. Radhe also stars Disha Patani, Randeep Hooda and Jackie Shroff.

Salman recently announced his next project after Radhe, to be called Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali. The film will be written and produced by filmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala; Housefull 4 helmer Farhad Samjhi will be directing the film. Announcing my next film... Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali. Story and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. Directed by Farhad Samji. Eid 2021, Salman tweeted earlier.

Also read: Mahira Sharma on being accused of forging Dadasaheb Phalke International award: Untrue and totally uncalled for

Salman, meanwhile, is all set to kickstart his live concert series in the United States. It will begin from April. Announcing the details of the concert, Salman on February 19 took to Twitter and wrote: Aa rahe hain hum April mein to be up close and personal with you all ... see you all soon.

Actors Sunil Grover and Daisy Shah will also perform along with Salman. The event will take place in both US and Canada. Starting from April 3, the Up, close and personal with Salman Khan will conclude on April 12.

(With agencies inputs)

Follow @htshowbiz for more
TEL AVIV, Israel and BETHESDA, Maryland, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCQB: CNBX), a leader in personalized cannabinoid medicine focused on cancer and its side effects, announced today that it has signed an agreement with NewCanna Hub, a company located in Colombia, under which the two companies will research the anti-tumor effects of cannabinoid profiles found in indigenous Colombian landraces, which will focus on gastrointestinal cancers.

NewCanna Hub is a multidisciplinary cannabis platform engaged in genetic advancement, stabilization, optimization, and commercialization of cannabis cultivars. The Company's research combines 21st-century technology merged with ancient ancestral knowledge provided by Caucannabis, the oldest established cooperative of indigenous cannabis cultivators in Colombia, in partnership with 1,600 micro licensed Colombian cultivators. NewCanna has amassed one of the world's most extensive assortment of legally registered landraces and hybrid cannabis cultivars. This portfolio includes several landraces, unique to Colombia.

Cannabis Landraces, such as Colombian Gold, Santa Marta Gold, Mango Biche, PatiMorada, and Punto Rojo, which will be studied, are native plant populations that have developed over the centuries and have adapted to the environmental conditions of their geographical location, developing unique characteristics over time. Having grown indigenously for so many years, landrace cultivars didn't experience variations from plant to plant and maintain compound consistency.

The very isolated Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains, home of the Colombian Gold landrace, is one of the world's highest coastal ranges reaching altitudes of over 18,000 feet and has a unique tropical mountain climate. Thus, Colombian landraces are also high in CBD and CBN. At the same time, their terpenoid and flavonoid profiles are unique and very promising in terms of their potential therapeutic effects.

The two companies agreed, upon the fulfillment of regulatory requirements and conditions in their respective territories, to conduct research that will utilize Cannabics' High Through Put Screening (HTS) facility in Israel to screen and study the anti-tumor effects of Colombian landraces on various types of gastrointestinal cancers. Findings obtained may be used to develop, cultivate, and optimize cultivars that exhibit anti-tumor properties for treating cancers of the digestive tract.

Mr. Santiago Londono, CEO and Founder of NewCanna Hub, said: "We are excited to partner with Cannabics Pharmaceuticals to study the anti-tumor properties of original Colombian landraces. By utilizing Cannabics' platform, we will be able to unlock insights that have been thus far out of reach. We hope that by repeatedly testing and optimizing, we may be able to successfully craft proprietary cultivars which are targeted to a specific need."

Mr. Eyal Barad, Co-Founder, and CEO of Cannabics Pharmaceuticals said: "We aim to continue advancing our cannabinoid compound library. By way of the present collaboration, we will gain access to the building blocks of medical cannabis cultivars today. This is another important step in our cannabinoid profile mapping for the personalization of cannabinoid-based medicine for cancer patients."

About NewCanna:

A privately held company headquartered in Bogota, Colombia, NewCanna is a vertically integrated global cannabis company with activities including genetic registration, large scale cultivation, research and development, manufacturing, and distribution.

The Company is devoted to the research, education, and sustainability of the cannabis industry in Colombia. It is comprised of renowned research organizations and providers who have come together to create high quality, locally sourced products. NewCanna Hub is focused on sustainable product regulations, ethical practices, and cannabis goods and services that emphasize the logistical, scientific, and social needs of cannabis cultivation and distribution. For more information, please see http://www.newcannahub.com/.

About Cannabics Pharmaceuticals

Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCQB: CNBX) is a U.S public company that is developing a platform that leverages novel drug-screening tools and artificial intelligence to create cannabinoid-based therapies for cancer that are more precise to a patient's profile. By developing tools to assess effectiveness on a personalized basis, Cannabics is helping to move cannabinoids into the future of cancer therapy. The Company's R&D is based in Israel, where it is licensed by the Ministry of Health to conduct scientific and clinical research on cannabinoid formulations and cancer. For more information, please visit www.cannabics.com .

For the latest updates on Cannabics Pharmaceuticals follow the Company on [email protected], [email protected], LinkedIn, and on Instagram @Cannabics_Pharmaceuticals.

Disclaimer:

Certain statements contained in this release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other U.S. Federal securities laws. Such statements include but are not limited to statements identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets," "projects" and similar expressions. The statements in this release are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our Company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those outlined in the forward-looking statements. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences, including, but not limited to, results of clinical trials and other studies, the challenges inherent in new product development initiatives, the effect of any competitive products, our ability to license and protect our intellectual property, our ability to raise additional capital in the future that is necessary to maintain our business, changes in government policy and regulation, potential litigation by or against us, any governmental review of our products or practices, as well as other risks discussed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, our latest 10-Q Report filed January 14th, 2020. We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement or any information contained in this press release or other public disclosures at any time. Finally, the investing public is reminded that the only announcements or information about Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc., which are condoned by the Company, must emanate from the Company itself and bear our name as its source.

For more information about Cannabics:

Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Phone: +1(877)424-2429

[email protected]

http://www.Cannabics.com

SOURCE Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Related Links

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NuCoal Resources Limited (ASX:NCR) shareholders might understandably be very concerned that the share price has dropped 38% in the last quarter. But over three years, the returns would have left most investors smiling In the last three years the share price is up, 100%: better than the market.

View our latest analysis for NuCoal Resources

We don't think NuCoal Resources's revenue of AU$23,373 is enough to establish significant demand. So it seems shareholders are too busy dreaming about the progress to come than dwelling on the current (lack of) revenue. It seems likely some shareholders believe that NuCoal Resources will find or develop a valuable new mine before too long.

We think companies that have neither significant revenues nor profits are pretty high risk. You should be aware that there is always a chance that this sort of company will need to issue more shares to raise money to continue pursuing its business plan. While some companies like this go on to deliver on their plan, making good money for shareholders, many end in painful losses and eventual de-listing. Of course, if you time it right, high risk investments like this can really pay off, as NuCoal Resources investors might know.

NuCoal Resources has plenty of cash in the bank, with cash in excess of all liabilities sitting at AU$4.1m, when it last reported (June 2019). This gives management the flexibility to drive business growth, without worrying too much about cash reserves. And given that the share price has shot up 100% per year, over 3 years , its fair to say investors are liking management's vision for the future. The image below shows how NuCoal Resources's balance sheet has changed over time; if you want to see the precise values, simply click on the image. The image below shows how NuCoal Resources's balance sheet has changed over time; if you want to see the precise values, simply click on the image.

ASX:NCR Historical Debt, February 24th 2020

In reality it's hard to have much certainty when valuing a business that has neither revenue or profit. Given that situation, many of the best investors like to check if insiders have been buying shares. It's often positive if so, assuming the buying is sustained and meaningful. You can click here to see if there are insiders buying.

Story continues

A Different Perspective

Investors in NuCoal Resources had a tough year, with a total loss of 29%, against a market gain of about 20%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 7.8% per year over five years. We realise that Buffett has said investors should 'buy when there is blood on the streets', but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. 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 4 warning signs with NuCoal Resources (at least 2 which don't sit too well with us) , 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 AU exchanges.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
With US President Donald Trump in town, the Centre and the Delhi government rushed to control the wanton violence perpetrated by an unruly mob against protesters, who have been demonstrating against the Citizenship Amendment Act, that left 11 people dead, including a police constable, and over 100 people injured in parts of Northeast Delhi on Monday. On Tuesday, stone-pelting continued along with attacks on buildings in Maujpur, Jafrabad, Chand Bagh, Bhajanpura and Gokulpuri.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to bring an end to the violence unleashed by the mob in the above-mentioned areas. Kejriwal blamed the Delhi Police top brass for not clearly ordering their subordinate officers to quell the violence, where police were seen siding with the mob. Home Minister Amit Shah is learned to have met senior officials of his ministry to put an end to this violence. Shah is said to have appealed for peace and for stifling rumours which were adding fuel to the already fragile law and order situation.

While it must be remembered that Delhi Police is under the Home Ministry, Kejriwal said AAP MLAs from the affected areas met Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal last night to initiate action against the mob. He said the northeast border of Delhi should be sealed in view of the violence since outsiders were fomenting trouble. Reports quoting Home Ministry sources said the Centre was against calling in the Army which inevitably means the police are not able to control the targeted riots. The reports said the MHA felt that the security forces deployed, Delhi Police and some riot police, will be able to curb the violence.

Also Read: Delhi violence: Head constable dies in stone-pelting, DCP hospitalised as clashes break out in north-east Delhis Maujpur, Jafrabad, Chand Bagh

High Court agrees to hear tomorrow the petition regarding violence held in Maujpur, Jaffrabad and adjoining area of North-east Delhi.Petition seeking constitution of an SIT consisting of officers from outside Delhi and direction to the Centre to request Army to maintain law&order pic.twitter.com/RmKQObV3Ve  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

On the other hand, East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir spoke out against provocative statements made by partys Model Town MLA candidate Kapil Mishra on Sunday, daring the police to clear the protesters in 4 days or let his supporters clear them. Gambhir said whoever made the statements should be held accountable for the violent aftermath.

Also Read: Donald Trump India Visit: PM Narendra Modi hugs US President, welcomes First Lady Melania Trump in Ahmedabad

GTB hospital official: Additional stretchers and wheelchairs being placed to transport the increasing toll of the injured. #DelhiViolence  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

7 people, including a policeman, were killed in violent clashes over controversial citizenship law in New Delhi, India https://t.co/uHjgIaqa4l pic.twitter.com/4vlNzJAinQ  China Xinhua News (@XHNews) February 25, 2020

Social media has been unsparing on the AAP government for not doing enough to control the violence and saved a similar jab for former Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Twitter and Facebook were replete with people exhorting opposition political leaders to rush to Northeast Delhis strife-torn areas to calm the situation. The Delhi Police also got a fair amount of social media bile for siding with the rampaging mob and beating up Muslims, who were either protesting or defending themselves from the mob, instead of protecting them.

When the protector turns perpetrator, where do we go?!

Shame on @DelhiPolice for disrespecting the value of human life. Is this how the Delhi Police fulfills its Constitutional duty to show respect to our National Anthem?

(Maujpur, 24 Feb)#ShameOnDelhiPolice #DelhiBurning pic.twitter.com/QVaxpfNyp5  Shaheen Bagh Official (@Shaheenbaghoff1) February 25, 2020

For all the latest National News, download NewsX App
A team of IMF experts arrived in Beirut last week at the new governments request to offer technical support.

Hezbollah on Tuesday spoke out against the International Monetary Fund managing Lebanons financial crisis but said it does not oppose the country seeking the IMFs advice.

We will not accept submitting to [imperialist] tools  meaning we do not accept submitting to the International Monetary Fund to manage the crisis, Hezbollah deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said. Yes, there is nothing to prevent consultations [with the IMF], and this is what the Lebanese government is doing, he added.

Iran-backed Hezbollah is one of the main parties that threw its support behind the new Beirut government, which has asked for technical but not financial assistance from the IMF. A team of IMF experts arrived in Beirut last week at the governments request to offer technical support.

Facing a huge public debt burden and an acute liquidity crisis, the Lebanese state appointed international investment and law firms as its financial and legal advisers on a widely expected restructuring of its sovereign debt.

One of the worlds most heavily indebted countries, Lebanon is tasked with deciding how to handle forthcoming maturities of sovereign debt including a $1.2bn Eurobond due on March 9.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally and one of Lebanons most influential figures, last week echoed Qassems view, saying Lebanon could not surrender itself to the IMF because the nation could not bear the IMFs conditions.

The government gave approval for US asset management company Lazard to act as Lebanons financial adviser and law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP to act as its legal adviser on the debt restructuring. Ratings agencies and investors expect the debt restructuring to happen.

Lazard has previously advised on some of the worlds largest sovereign debt restructurings including Argentina, Greece and Ukraine. Lazard Freres, a French subsidiary of Lazard, was one of the firms that advised Argentina in overhauling its debt after it defaulted on some $100bn loans during its crisis in 2002.
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.

More for you A Connecticut countess and Real Housewives icon takes the stage in Ridgefield

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
Interim PSD (Social Democratic Party) leader Marcel Ciolacu on Tuesday said it was normal for Ludovic Orban to resign as interim Prime Minister, since there existed a decision of the Constitutional Court in this regard and that, in his opinion, a government of specialists should be appointed until the next elections.

"It was normal for this to happen, since there is a ruling of the Constitutional Court which was very clear, with or without reasoning," Ciolacu told Digi 24 private television broadcaster.Asked what will be the proposal for PM that the PSD will make on Wednesday at the consultations with President Klaus Iohannis, Ciolacu said he will consult with his colleagues first."Basically, I stick to my opinion that we shouldn't bring any proposal, especially that the President has already spoke his mind and said that he will not consider any proposal coming from the PSD. (...) Our proposal is to have a government of specialists until the elections," he said.The Social-Democratic leader mentioned that the PSD could support an interim government until the parliamentary elections, but only if this government is one of specialists, and not a political government one.Ciolacu claimed that Romania is currently facing a political crisis created by the head of PNL - National Liberal Party [resigning PM Ludovic Orban - editor's note]."(...) After the Orban Government was dismissed by 261 votes in Parliament, PSD and Pro Romania came with a proposal [of a PM - editor's note]. It was declined. From that moment, the responsibility belongs to the PNL and the President. Things are very obvious. The PSD did not create this crisis," Ciolacu said.He added that the PSD delegation that will participate in the consultations will probably be the same as in the previous consultations.Marcel Ciolacu, Paul Stanescu, Titus Corlatean and Mihai Weber participated in those consultations.President Klaus Iohannis announced on Tuesday that Ludovic Orban has resigned as interim PM and that he has called the political parties and parliamentary groups for consultations on Wednesday.He showed that Ludovic Orban remains his first choice as Prime Minister.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 02:36:52|Editor: huaxia

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Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, speaks at a press conference at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 24, 2020.(Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Around half of the total, or 114 million euros, will support the WHO, in particular the global preparedness and response global plan, and 100 million euros will go to urgently needed research related to diagnostics, therapeutics and prevention.



BRUSSELS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) announced a new aid package worth 232 million euros on Monday, to boost global preparedness, prevention and containment of COVID-19.

The funding will "help detect and diagnose the disease, care for infected people and prevent further transmission," said the EU in a press release.

Around half of the total, or 114 million euros, will support the World Health Organization (WHO), in particular the global preparedness and response global plan, and 100 million euros will go to urgently needed research related to diagnostics, therapeutics and prevention.

"As cases continue to rise, public health is the number one priority. Whether it is boosting preparedness in Europe, in China or elsewhere, the international community must work together," said Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission.

Part of these funds will be allocated immediately to different sectors, while the rest will be released in the next months, according to the press release.

The latest EU action was made public as 219 confirmed cases and at least five deaths were reported in Italy, the heaviest in Europe. As a reaction to the developments in Italy, the Commission said it is stepping up its support to EU member states.

According to Stella Kyriakides, EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, a joint expert mission of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the WHO will depart to Italy this week to support the Italian authorities.
At least seven snow squall warnings have been issued in Colorado after a cold front moved into the state on Monday.

CBS4 reported that the first warnings were issued at around 8am in the Fort Collins, Loveland, and Greeley areas, forecasting a dangerous squall causing binding snow.

It is said that the areas saw about a half-inch of snow with winds of over 50mph.

CBS4 also said the cold front causing the squalls is associated with a winter storm moving into Colorado.

The warnings indicate the likelihood of sudden heavy snowfall along with strong winds.

French ski resort closed due to lack of snow Show all 7 1 /7 French ski resort closed due to lack of snow French ski resort closed due to lack of snow Tourists ride a chairlift up a ski slope that has closed due to lack of snow in The Mourtis ski resort on 10 February, 2020 Reuters French ski resort closed due to lack of snow View from above of ski resort The Mourtis on 10 February, 2020 Reuters French ski resort closed due to lack of snow Sign reads: 'Slope closed. Hikers only. Sledging prohibited' Reuters French ski resort closed due to lack of snow Chairlifts in The Mourtis ski resort on 10 February, 2020 Reuters French ski resort closed due to lack of snow Chairlft station at the summit of The Mourtis ski resort on 10 February, 2020 Reuters French ski resort closed due to lack of snow A small patch of snow on what would usually be a ski slope in The Mourtis resort on 10 February, 2020 Reuters French ski resort closed due to lack of snow Chairlifts in The Mourtis ski resort on 10 February, 2020 Reuters

Several other warnings were subsequently issued in Fort Morgan, Aspen/Snowmass, Salida/Buena Vista, and Interstate 70 between Floyd Hill and Summit County, CBS4 said.

Other impacted areas include Woodland Park, Cripple Creek, and north Colorado Springs.

CBS4 advised that by Tuesday temperatures would likely fall below freezing in many areas of Colorado.

The National Weather Service (NWS) states that squalls move in and out quickly, and typically last less than an hour.

Squalls can be highly dangerous for motorists as a result of gusty winds, falling temperatures and quick reductions in visibility.

The NWS warns that the sudden white-out conditions combined with falling temperatures can produce icy roads in just a few minutes and can lead to serious high-speed accidents.

Snow squall warnings were introduced by the NWS in November 2018 to help rapidly warn drivers of squalls to avoid severe road accidents.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 25

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Turkish Airlines (THY) temporarily extended the suspension of flights to Iran until March 10, 2020 due to the spread of coronavirus, with the exception of flights to Tehran, Trend reports referring to the Turkish media.

According to the Turkish media, air flights to China were also previously suspended until February 29 of 2020.

On February 24, THY temporarily suspended flights to Iran until February 27. Turkish citizens who want to leave Iran should contact the Embassy of Turkey in Iran.

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, 16 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 2,700 people have died and over 80,000 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.
Scenes of chaos, panic and grief were witnessed at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital on Tuesday as people injured in violence across northeast were brought to the facility.

Cries of "goli goli" and "firing mein lagi hain" echoed in the hospital as friends, relatives and locals rushed those injured to the casualty ward.

The injured, who were severely wounded, were brought in on motorbikes, autoricksaw, cars, ambulances and police vans.

A man who was suspected to have sustained a gunshot injury was rushed in to GTB hospital on a bike by two men.

Two men arrived at the hospital, screaming "goli goli" and asking for help, as they carried in a man who was bleeding profusely.

One of them said that their friend was injured in firing from Kabir Nagar side when he was at Maujpur Chowk area.

Some distance away from the casualty ward, 35-year-old Muddasir Khan's wife, Ashya was inconsolable as she learnt about her husband's death.

"I was inside my house with our two children and he was outside near a shop in our lane. Suddenly, I was informed that around 10-15 men arrived there and someone shot at him," Ashya said.

Khan's family members said he received a gunshot injury on his head. He lived in Kardam Puri area.

Aashu Khan, a friend of Muddasir said, "We brought him to the hospital with the help of an SHO, but the situation is very tense."



Shahrukh, 21, who works at a factory, was returning home after buying milk when he was shot at in Kabir Nagar Gali no 4.

"I was returning home after buying milk when I sustained injuries during firing by a mob. The gun shot pierced through my right hand and hit my stomach," he said while being taken on a stretcher for a CT scan.

Shahrukh said he immediately called up his friend who then rushed him to hospital.

A woman seemed distraught after she learnt that her husband, Rajbir Singh, had sustained severe injuries on his face and head.

She along with her 22-year-old son and neighbour, Himanshu Pal rushed Singh to the hospital.

Singh, a labourer, was sitting outside his house in Kabir Nagar when the mob attacked him, Pal said.

Another man who did not identify himself, said "There was firing in Maujpur Chowk area, I rushed a man who sustained injuries in the firing, despite not knowing his identity."



A 22-year-old student, Rahul Thakur, was also brought to the hospital on a bike after violence at Brij Puri in New Mustafabad area, his friend Saurabh Sharma said.

Meanwhile at the mortuary, aggrieved relatives of Shahid, a resident of Mustafabad, waited to collect his body.

"Shahid was not part of any protests. He was an autorickshaw driver and he was shot at when he was parking his auto on Monday," said his relative, Iram.

Iram claimed that they were waiting outside the mortuary since Monday to get an update about his autopsy.

Mohammad Furkan, 25, who dealt in handcrafts, also sustained injuries during the violence at Kardampuri on Monday.

"Furkan had gone outside his house for some work, but later I got a call that he sustained gunshot injuries. When I rushed to GTB, I saw him lying on a stretcher. He was innocent and not a part of any protests," one of his relatives said.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the U.S. Senate rejected the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, despite the best efforts of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other pro-life leaders. On the same day the Senate voted on these bills, Family Research Council released a newly-updated version of its publication, "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors: Just the Facts." Based on data from the only eight states that require reporting on babies born alive after an attempted abortion, FRC has identified at least 170 additional born-alive abortion survivors, beyond the 143 abortion survivors reported in the CDC's death statistics. Earlier this month, FRC's Director of Life, Culture, and Women's Advocacy, Patrina Mosley, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the need for stronger protections for babies born alive after botched abortions.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins made the following comments:

"Refusing to support a measure that would provide life-saving care to an infant who survives an abortion and is born-alive, is condoning infanticide. Continuing to allow this practice of either actively or passively allowing born-alive babies to die as Virginia Governor Northam has advocated is crossing the line from civilized to barbarous. The efforts in Congress to protect these babies should not stop, and voters have a moral duty to vote against those who condone infanticide," concluded Perkins.

Patrina Mosley, FRC's Director of Life, Culture, and Women's Advocacy, and a co-author of our updated publication, remarked:

"As we document in our newly-updated issue brief, and as I recently testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, infants are indeed being born alive after botched abortions. We have documented over 300 cases of such infants, and yet Congress has still failed to adequately protect them."

Connor Semelsberger, FRC's Legislative Assistant for federal pro-life advocacy, and a co-author of our updated publication, added:

"Today, with few exceptions, Democrat Senators refused to acknowledge that these infant patients both inside and outside the womb deserve protections under the law. Given the opportunity to pass even the most widely supported pro-life measures, Democrats balked, showing just how far removed they are from the rest of America."

To read FRC's newly-updated publication, visit https://www.frc.org/bornalive.

SOURCE Family Research Council

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Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday appealed people to help the police and security agencies in restoring peace, and maintaining law and order and communal harmony in the city.

He also attended a high-level meeting with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The meeting resolved to enhance police-MLA coordination, quell rumour-mongering and reactivate peace committees in various localities of the city.

In his address to the first session of the 7th Delhi Assembly, Baijal appealed people to maintain peace, law and order and communal harmony, and cooperate with security agencies in the wake of violence in parts of northeast Delhi over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The Lt Governor also met injured civilians and policemen at GTB hospital in Shahdara and Max hospital in Patparganj.

"Met the injured civilians & police personnel at GTB Hospital, Shahdara & Max Hospital, Patparganj. Instructed Medical Directors concerned to provide best possible treatment to the injured. I pray for their speedy recovery. My request to all to maintain public peace and order," he tweeted after the visit.

Baijal also extended his condolences to the kin of Delhi Police head constable Ratan Lal who died in the violence, and assured that they will be provided all possible help.

"My heart felt tributes to the brave Head Constable late Sh. Ratan Lal who laid his life in the line of duty. His valour and supreme sacrifice will be remembered by all. An irreplaceable loss for the @DelhiPolice. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family.

"I have instructed all concerned to extend all possible assistance to the family," he tweeted.

The Delhi Police on Tuesday said 10 people, including one policeman, have been killed in the violence in northeast Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former BJP MLA Narendra Mehta,



who was defeated in the last year's Maharashtra Assembly polls from the Mira-Bhayander constituency here by rival Geeta Jain, has resigned from all party posts.

In a video message shared on social media on Monday, Mehta said he was taking political "sanyas" (retirement), but would continue doing his social works.

The former MLA said his deeds in the past had brought a "bad name" to the BJP, and he has now realised that he has no place in the party. Hence, he was quitting all party posts.

Mehta said he remained with the BJP in good as well as bad times and tried his best to work for the Mira-Bhayander township.

Thanking senior party leaders for giving him ample opportunity to serve the people, he said off late, things became difficult for him, hence he was saying goodbye.

Geeta Jain, who was in the BJP before the last year's state polls, was denied ticket by the party which reposed faith in the then sitting MLA Mehta.

Jain, who had earlier also served as mayor of Mira- Bhayander township, contested the polls as an independent and defeated Mehta by over 15,000 votes.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles have major spring break plans.

Today, Clarence House announced that the 72-year-old Prince of Wales and his 73-year-old wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, are set to embark on a whirlwind royal tour of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Cypress and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan from March 17 to March 25.

The couple, whove been upping the royal tour ante in the last several years, will be dividing and conquering during the trip. Prince Charles will kick things off with a solo trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina, where hell shed light on the post-conflict resolutions in the Western Balkans. While there, hell visit Sarajevo and Srebrenica in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Bosnian genocide. Hell pay his respects to the victims of the tragic chapter in history and meet with their families.

From there, Prince Charles will continue on to Cyprus with Camilla, where theyll celebrate the friendship between the United Kingdom and the Mediterranean country. This will be their first time in Cyprus, so theyll tour the capital, Nicosia, as well as sight-see in pastoral areas like the Troodos mountains and the Larnaca district.

Lastly, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will head to Jordan to spend time with the Jordanian royal family. Most of their time will be spent in the capital of Amman, where they will enrich themselves in the cultural, environmental and religious sites featured there. They will also stop by Charless new patronage, the International Rescue Committee, to visit with the refugees whove found a new home in Jordan. The prince and duchess, who last visited Jordan in 2015 and 2013, respectively, will be accompanied by King Abdallah II and Queen Rania during various points of their visit.

Sounds like they have a full travel itinerary.

RELATED: Surprise: Camilla Parker Bowles Knows What CBD Is & She Thinks Its Fantastic
The Daily Beast

Scott Olson/GettyDonald Trump abruptly ended an interview with NPR on Tuesday after he was repeatedly called out on his baseless claims of election fraud in the 2020 presidential election.A video of the interview, published Wednesday morning, shows Trump becoming increasingly irritated as NPRs Steve Inskeep asks him why hes still pushing debunked conspiracy theories about his 2020 defeat.After Inskeep told the ex-president that his fraud claims have repeatedly been proven false, the reporter a
India has everything needed to be hub for medical tourism: PM Modi

In joint statement, Modi & Trump ask Pak to ensure its territory is not used to launch terror attack

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, Feb 25: In a strong message, India and the US on Tuesday asked Pakistan to ensure that no territory under its control is used to launch terror attacks and strongly condemned cross-border terrorism in all its forms.

A joint statement covering various key aspects of talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump said the two leaders called on Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks.

The two leaders also called for concerted action against all terrorist groups, including Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, the Haqqani Network, D-Company, Al-Qaeda, ISIS and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.

"Prime Minister Modi and President Trump denounced any use of terrorist proxies and strongly condemned cross-border terrorism in all its forms," the joint statement said.

"They called on Pakistan to ensure that no territory under its control is used to launch terrorist attacks, and to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of such attacks, including 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot," it said.

At a packed press conference, the US president also said that ways to deal with terrorism figured prominently in his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi who, Trump stressed, is determined to check the menace.

Trump said the challenge of terrorism was discussed "at great length", and that Modi has very strong views on it.

"Modi is a very religious man, he is a very calm man, but actually he is a very, very strong person, and very tough, actually. I have seen him in action. He has got that foremost on his mind (to deal with) terrorism. He will take care of it," Trump said.

After talks with Trump, Modi, in his media statement, said both sides have taken a decision to further increase efforts to hold supporters of terrorism responsible.

On his part, Trump said both the countries affirmed their commitment to protect their citizens from radical Islamic terrorism.

In his media statement earlier, Trump said the United States is working productively with Pakistan to confront terrorists who operate on its soil.
Lakhimpur violence: Minister's son doesn't show up before UP police, issued fresh summon for Saturday

Amid Delhi violence, all police stations in West Bengal put on high alert

India

oi-PTI

Kolkata, Feb 25: All police stations across West Bengal have been put on alert amid the violence in Delhi over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), officials said on Tuesday.

All deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners and officer-in-charges have been asked to remain "extremely alert", a senior Kolkata Police officer said.

They have been asked for regular patrolling and staying in touch with community leaders, he said. The officers have been asked to take action accordingly to avoid untoward incidents, he added.

With death toll at 8, northeast Delhi remains extremely tense

All officers of the West Bengal Police have been directed to maintain strict vigil in their respective areas, an officer of the state police force said. The violence, underway for the past two days, has left areas of northeast Delhi under a virtual shutdown.

Seven people, including a police head constable, were killed. West Bengal had witnessed violence over the contentious law from December 13 to 17 with several railway stations and other public properties damaged.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 17:00 [IST]
The United States voiced optimism Tuesday about reaching an accord to end the war in Afghanistan as a partial truce held with the Taliban, warning rival leaders in the Kabul government not to scuttle the "enormous opportunity."



The United States plans to sign an agreement with the Taliban on Saturday in Qatar if the week-long truce holds. Four days in, the number of Taliban attacks has fallen dramatically.

"So far the reduction in violence is working -- imperfect, but it's working,"



Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told a conference in Washington.

"We're on the cusp of an enormous, enormous political opportunity," he said.

The historic deal would see the US withdraw thousands of troops, winding down America's longest war which was launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks but has grown increasingly unpopular at home.

The Taliban would then open negotiations with the internationally recognized government in Kabul, which the Islamist militants have refused to recognize. But the administration is in disarray, with President Ashraf Ghani last week declared the winner of a new term in elections but his chief rival, Abdullah Abdullah, rejecting the results and vowing to form his own government.

The United States has conspicuously not congratulated Ghani, in contrast to the European Union and the Kabul government's regional ally India. In a statement Tuesday, the State Department said only that it "notes" the election announcement. It said Ghani had agreed to postpone his inauguration which was scheduled on Thursday.

Abdullah's spokesman, Fraidoon Khwazoon, told AFP that both Abdullah and Ghani were delaying swearing-in ceremonies planned for Thursday by two weeks. Asked about the election, Pompeo said the US wanted to make sure the results were "free and fair and accurate" and warned against "any one small group" blocking the peace process.

"There are those with an enormous vested interest in the status quo," Pompeo said, characterizing the current situation as "bloodshed, tears, economic challenges." "We want to make sure that... all the people who have an interest -- whether that's because of corruption of because of some ideological view -- cannot spoil what it is that the Afghan people so richly deserve," he said.

Ghani, while saying he hopes for peace with the Taliban, was critical as diplomacy gathered steam last year, especially over the militants' refusal to recognize the Kabul government.

President Donald Trump has called the Afghan war a waste of blood and treasure and his administration has called the truce a test of whether the Taliban can make good on its promises. The key US demand remains the same from 2001 -- that the Taliban not allow Afghan territory to be used by Al-Qaeda, or now Islamic State extremists, to plan international attacks.

Pompeo rejected a question on whether a US withdrawal would jeopardize the rights of women, who under the Taliban's ultra-austere 1996-2001 regime were forbidden from education and forced to wear all-encompassing burqas in public. "Our mission-set there has been much broader than that," Pompeo said.

He voiced confidence that "voices all across the Afghan political spectrum" including women "will go into the ultimate solution." US General Scott Miller, the commander of the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, also saw the partial truce succeeding.

"We're seeing what we would call a downward trend in violence, which is great for the Afghan people. It's great for the country of Afghanistan," he said in a statement.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an Afghan security source told AFP Taliban attacks had dropped from an average of 75 a day to about 15 since the truce began on February 22.

But underscoring the fragility of the situation, the interior ministry said five security personnel were killed in three attacks in rural areas Tuesday. US forces also forces announced the deaths of four Islamic State members in two airstrikes in Kunar province.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Apart from the Adani group, the Tata group, the Hinduja group, Indigo and a New York-based fund, Interups, are expected to submit EoIs.

The Adani group will join the race to acquire Air India and plans to submit an expression of interest (EoI) by next month, said a source close to the development.

The final decision of Adani will, however, depend on the outcome of the due diligence after submission of the EoI.

After the EoI process, prospective bidders will get access to data of the airline.

Apart from the Adani group, the Tata group, the Hinduja group, Indigo and a New York-based fund, Interups, are expected to submit EoIs.

The Adani group has ambitions to become Indias largest private airport operator with three airports already in its kitty - Lucknow, Ahmedabad and Mangalore.

It has also won the race for three more airports - Thiruvananthapuram, Ahmedabad and Guwahati - but is awaiting government clearance.

A spokesperson of the Adani group declined to comment.

Analysts, however, feel that the groups bid for Air India could face legal challenges given its ownership of airports.

While there are no restrictions on an airport developer to bid for Air India, bid conditions for six Airport Authority of India (AAI) airports won by the Adani group place ownership caps.

According to the bid criteria, an airline or a group owning an airline cannot own more than 27 per cent in these six airports.

This could complicate matters for the Adani group.

A similar clause restricting airlines or group owning airlines from owning more than 10 per cent in Delhi airport recently resulted in collapse of the Tata-GIC groups investment in GMR.

A banker, close to the sale process of Air India, said the present rules will not bar the Adani group from bidding for the airline.

We want as many companies to bid for the airline as it is a good asset after Rs 30,000 crore of debt was removed from the airline along with the governments offer for 100 per cent stake, said the source.

This is the second attempt made by the Centre to sell the airline after it failed to receive buyers in the first round last year.

Since then, the government offered to sell 100 per cent of the airlines stake instead of 76 per cent offered in the first round.

Air India and its subsidiary, Air India Express have about 120 aircraft at FY18-end and 126 aircraft till September last year.

Its fleet has both narrow-body aircraft from Airbus and wide-body planes from Boeing, making it simpler for an incoming bidder.

While the wide-body fleet is being used for international operations, the airline is using the narrow-body planes for domestic operations.

Sale of Air India to a private player is important for the central government as it had to pump in Rs 30,000 crore of tax payers money into the airline since 2012.

The airline, however, has not made money since the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines in 2007.

Apart from Air India, the government has also offered to sell Air India Express and its 50 per cent stake in Air India SATS Airport Services.

According to present aviation sector norms, foreign airlines can bid but acquire a maximum of 49 per cent stake due to sectoral caps on foireign direct investment.

Photograph: Regis Duvignau/Reuters
Democratic Presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg had an emotional moment during a campaign rally on Saturday, when a 9-year-old boy thanked him for his bravery in coming out as a homosexual.

Buttigieg, who is the first openly gay Presidential hopeful in the United States, was addressing crowds at Denver, Colorado when the incident occurred. The boy, identified as Zachary Ro, said to the former South Bend, Indiana mayor, "Thank you for being so brave". The boy further asked Buttigieg, "Would you help me tell the world I'm gay, too? I want to be brave like you."

The question was delivered to Buttigieg in a fishbowl. The boy, who attended the rally with his parents, was invited up to the stage to meet with Buttigig and also prsent him a bracelet that the latter wore onstage. Responding to Ro's question, Buttiged said that he did not think the boy needed any advice on being brave as he was already super courageous.

"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 you've never met that's, that's really something," CNN reported Buttigieg as saying.

This weekend, Pete Buttigieg shared a special moment w/ one of his youngest supporters in Denver. In front of thousands, 9-year-old Zachary Ro asked the mayor to help him tell the world he was gay. I hopped over to @NBCNewsNow to talk about the energy in the room at that moment. https://t.co/QD8RVqQOYI Priscilla Thompson (@PriscillaWT) February 25, 2020

The former Rhodes scholar who came out as gay in 2015 also gave the little boy some tips on how to navigate through life as a queer person.

"The first thing is that it won't always be easy, but that's okay, because you know who you are," he said, adding that knownong who you are gives you a centre of gravity that you can hold on to in times of chaos.

Additionally, Buttigieg urged the child to not be scaerd as you did not know who you were benefiting by taking a stand. "You'll never know whose life you might be affecting right now, just by standing here. There's a lot of power in that,: he said, adding that earlier he was afraid that if he came out he wouldn't be able to do good but what happened was the reverse.

Videos of the interaction in Denver went viral on social media with many praising Buttigieg for encouraging the little boy.

This man is saving lives on the campaign trail, just imagine the kids having a role model like this and chasten in the WH. IndyFan (@Maulik_IndyFan) February 25, 2020

This is such a beautiful and inspirational story. I wish I had a Pete Buttigieg when I was younger. Life might have been easier with role models. Michael Holloway (@Michael46483427) February 25, 2020

At 9 years old, I too had a very difficult time telling my friends... that I wanted to be Batman!WTF is wrong with this guy?! Kid hasn't even gone through puberty yet. I'm calling this totally staged! #LiberalismIsAMentalDisorder #LooneyLibs #MAGA https://t.co/5jg354U4se NineteenDelta (@NineteenDelta) February 25, 2020

Buttigieg's sexuality has been a widely covered aspect of his election campaign. Buttigieg, who has been married to his partner Chasten Buttigieg since 2018, recently defended his marriage against allegedly homophobic slurs made by American radio personality Rush Limbaugh. "I love my husband and I am faithful to him", Buttigieg said against what he called Limbaugh's "lectures on family values".

The United States is gearing for elections in November and Buttigieg is one of the Presidential hopefuls from the Democrat Party. His primary competition from within the party is Bernie Sanders, who recently made history by winning the Nevada caucus. Buttigieg had previously swept the Iowa caucus earlier in the month.
Britains farmers have taken a swipe at Boris Johnson, warning that slashing standards would be the work of the insane, after the prime minister attacked resistance to US food as mumbo jumbo.

The president of the National Farmers Union insisted that nothing is more important than what people will eat after Brexit. This is not hysteria. This is not mumbo jumbo, she said.

The comments are a direct response to the prime minister championing US food in a speech earlier this month, when he insisted pretty well-nourished Americans disproved hysterical fears.

And they come after George Eustice, the environment secretary, hinted that acid-washed chicken  if not chlorine-washed  would be allowed on sale in the UK after its departure from the EU.

To sign up to a trade deal which results in opening our ports, shelves and fridges to food which would be illegal to produce here would not only be morally bankrupt, it would be the work of the insane, said Minette Batters, the NFU president.

Speaking to members, she demanded a standards commission to oversee rules on food production after Brexit and for high standards to be guaranteed in law in the Agriculture Bill.

Ms Batters also warned that meat imports washed in other chemicals would be as unacceptable as chlorine  a clear reference to lactic acid, following Mr Eustices weekend hints.

What is more important to our economy, our health and our environment than the very food that we eat, she asked.

Ms Batters also appeared to question the honesty of ministers who have promised to protect standards in the UK, but left doubts about what will be allowed in trade deals.

Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Show all 66 1 /66 Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A message projected onto the White Cliffs of Dover Sky News/AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o'clock at night AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU The Union flag is taken down outside the European Parliament in Brussels PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU EU Council staff removed the Union Jack-British flag from the European Council in Brussels, Belgium EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to 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After half a century of membership and three years of tense withdrawal talks, the UK will leave the EU at midnight Brussels time (23.00 GMT) on January 31 Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man poses with paintings on Parliament Square Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People sporting Union Flags gather in Parliament Square Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man walks with a St. George's flag at Westminster bridge on Brexit day Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A British bulldog toy and other souvenirs at a souvenir store Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU British pro-brexit Members of the European Parliament leave the EU Parliament for the last time Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Jonathan Bullock waves the Union Jack as he leaves the European Parliament EPA

If you raise the bar at home but refuse to legislate in imports then I can only wonder, was the motive ever really about improving global standards in welfare or the environment at all, she asked.

This isnt just about chlorinated chicken. This is about a wider principle.

We must not tie the hands of British farmers to the highest rung of the standards ladder while waving through food imports which may not even reach the bottom rung.

Meanwhile, Carolyn Fairbairn, the director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, attacked Mr Johnson for saying he would settle for Australia-style trading arrangements, without a formal deal. We ought to do an awful lot better than that, she said.

Ms Batters called the Australia-style option catastrophic and a code for a no-deal Brexit, adding that US officials mouths dropped when she brought it up.

On Sunday, Mr Eustice said the government had no plans to change the law on chlorinated chicken, but failed to give a categorical assurance.

He then said: Im not quite sure why the US would make such demands, because actually chlorine washes on chicken are a very outdated technology and it is not really used by the US anymore anyway.

The environment secretary then argued that US farmers now used lactic acid washes instead of chlorine.

Responding to Ms Batters' comments, Mr Johnson's official spokesman said: "The UK has long been a world leader in food safety and animal welfare and we will continue to uphold our high food standards in all future trade deals."
US First Lady on Tuesday said she was inspired by the Happiness Curriculum after attending a 'Happiness Class' at a south Delhi government school.

"Thank you for welcoming me. This is my first visit to India. People here are so welcoming and kind," she said.

She said it is "very inspiring" that students begin their day with practising mindfulness and connecting with nature".

"A healthy, positive example has been set for educators to ensure a promising future," she said.
A man is accused of kicking another man in the head during an attack Monday night near a downtown Bethlehem parking garage.

Timothy OToole, 53, and the 57-year-old victim know each other, police said. Both are homeless and previously stayed at the same shelter.

Monday night, Gregory Prystasz was walking on West Walnut Street near the Walnut Street Garage, when he saw OToole on a nearby bench.

OToole shouted several expletives at Prystasz before punching him in the back of the head, police said. Prystasz fell, and OToole kicked him in the head two or three times, according to police.

OToole then fled, while Prystasz walked to the emergency shelter at Christ Church United Church of Christ, 75 E. Market St.

Police were called at 7:15 p.m. and took the report at the shelter.

Prystasz had a bruise and cuts on the right side of his face and on the left side of his nose, as well as ruptured blood vessels in his right eye, and bruises and scrapes on his left knuckles.

OToole was found by police on a bench on Walnut Street. OToole appeared drunk and a breath test showed a blood-alcohol level of 0.199, police said. OToole was taken to St. Lukes University Hospital for treatment. Drunken driving penalties, for context, begin for most drivers at a blood-alcohol level of 0.08.

OToole was arraigned Tuesday morning on charges of aggravated assault with an attempt to cause serious bodily injury, simple assault, harassment and public drunkenness.

He was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday informed the state assembly that the director general of police, Dinkar Gupta, has tendered an apology for his purported remarks made in connection with the Kartarpur Corridor.

The DGP has tendered an apology, Capt Amarinder said on the floor of the House and added, Anybody can make a mistake.

The chief minister lashed out at Pakistan, claiming that its spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence, had an objective to disturb peace in Punjab. We have to be on our toes, he said.

He expressed commitment of his government that the Kartarpur Corridor will not be allowed to be shut.

The chief minister gave details about the busting of several terror modules and the recovery of arms and ammunition over the past few months.

OPPN AAP, AKALI MEMBERS WALK OUT

DGP Gupta has been facing the ire of the opposition parties for his purported statement on the Kartarpur Corridor. The Aam Aadmi Party and Shiromani Akali Dal have been gunning for Gupta after he told a daily last week that Kartarpur offers a potential that you send somebody in the morning as an ordinary chap and by the evening he comes back as a trained terrorist. You are there for six hours, you can be taken to a firing range, you can be taught to make an IED.

The DGP also reportedly said some elements based in the neighbouring country were trying to woo pilgrims and making overtures to them. However, Gupta on Sunday said in case any remark made by him inadvertently has caused any hurt to people of the state, he expresses his sincere regret.

The DGP had on Saturday said that he was being misunderstood or wilfully misconstrued as his remarks strictly pertained to the security and safety of Punjab and India.

The opposition MLAs were, however, not satisfied and walked out of the House, demanding his dismissal. They created a ruckus in the assembly over the issue on Monday, too, forcing four adjournments.

CAPT TO ASHUS RESCUE

Akali members, led by former minister Bikram Singh Majithia, also demanded the removal of food and civil supplies minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu.

Capt Amarinder sought to downplay the controversy surrounding Ashu after a suspended police officer recently alleged that he harboured two Khalistani militants 28 years ago. The chief minister said that Ashu had been acquitted in the case.

However, Akali leaders marched to the well of the House, raising anti-government slogans and demanding Ashus dismissal before walking out.

KEEP WORD TO YOUTH, STAFF

Aam Aadmi Party MLAs, led by leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema, held a protest outside the assembly, demanding the Congress government fulfil its promises to youngsters and government employees.

The state government has not fulfilled its promises made to youngsters for giving them employment. The Ghar Ghar Rozgar Yojana scheme has failed, Cheema alleged.

He accused the state government of having failed to pay arrears and dearness allowance to employees. Why is the state government sleeping and not keeping its promises? Cheema asked as his party members raised slogans.
The Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal for setting up a police and forensic science university in the state.

The cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath cleared the draft of the Uttar Pradesh Police and Forensic Science University Bill 2020, which will be tabled in both the Houses of the state legislature, a government spokesman said.

Adityanath had said last year that a Police and Forensic University will be established in Lucknow for modernisation of the police force. The state government has proposed Rs 20 crore for the university in the recently announced budget.

The one-of-its-kind university in UP will help prepare a pool of forensic experts who will be used by the police department as well as other public sector organisations, the official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
EDITORS NOTE: On March 10, NJ Cannabis Insider hosts its first semi-annual, daylong industry conference, featuring leaders in the medical marijuana, hemp and legal cannabis industries. Tickets are now on sale.

A medical marijuana company has taken a second swing at blocking a new dispensary from setting up shop just blocks away from its new Jersey Shore location.

Compassionate Care Foundation, which has operated a dispensary in Egg Harbor Township since 2013, opened a new satellite dispensary Saturday on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. It comes just weeks after the state Department of Health gave another dispensary, MPX NJ, the green light to start growing marijuana in nearby Pleasantville with plans to open its own dispensary this year.

Compassionate Care has taken issue with MPXs potential proximity for a year, first filing for a stay in the process in February 2019, two months after the Health Department gave MPX one of six new coveted licenses.

A state appellate court last April denied the motion, ruling that the standard of irreparable harm was not met. MPX had argued against the stay, noting the appeal of the licenses would likely have time to play out before the dispensaries opened, according to the filing.

On Monday, Compassionate Care filed a new motion for a stay.

They placed a dispensary within a few blocks from our facility, said David Knowlton, chairman of the board of the company. The issue is not so much competition as it is access and fairness.

The states medical marijuana program began with just six dispensaries, leading to long drives and shortages in supply as the program has grown to include some 70,000 patients.

The health department put out a call for new licensees in 2018 and awarded six new dispensaries, including MPX. But Compassionate Care has argued such a decision does not further the health departments goal of expanding patient access to medical marijuana.

Atlantic City has welcomed the dispensaries as much-needed revitalization of the area.

Since that first filing, the those licensed for dispensaries have made moves. Rise, a dispensary in Paterson that received a license along with MPX in late 2018, has already opened its doors. Two others have begun to grow marijuana. Meanwhile, an appeal against the licensing decision brought by five rejected applicants continues to play out.

At the time of the denial, the court did say Compassionate Care could seek another injunction if circumstances changed and irreparable harm became imminent. Thats what happened when Compassionate Care opened its satellite dispensary Friday, according to the company.

If a stay is not granted now, MPX and the other applicants will soon open, likely rendering this appeal moot, the company argued in its motion filed Monday. CCF will thereby be irreparably harmed because it will have forever lost its ability to challenge the [health departments] decision to allow MPX to pursue its Atlantic City facility.

It also notes that a second Atlantic City dispensary will not cut down on commutes for those in South Jersey counties like Cape May, Burlington, Gloucester and Salem, where there are no dispensaries.

Beth Stavola, the chief strategy officer and director of MPX, did not respond to a request for comment Monday.

Amanda Hoover can be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Metro lines in Beijing will further intensify disinfection to better curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, Beijing subway authorities said Tuesday.

Disinfection will be conducted once an hour on all security devices, gate machines, ticketing machines, handrails, and lifts on all metro lines, and public areas including restrooms and office areas will be disinfected five times a day.

Trains will also be disinfected five times before departure and staff will disinfect the carriages before they return to the station.

Passengers are required to wear masks on board the train and keep a safe distance between each other. For those who insist on not wearing masks, staff will seek help from the police.

Beijing has been conducting daily disinfection and body temperature checks of passengers in 23 subways lines covering 405 stations since early February.
Egypt's former president Hosni Mubarak, who ruled for three decades before he was ousted amid the Arab Spring protests in 2011, died Tuesday at age 91. The once burly autocrat with the trademark sunglasses, who became witheringly frail after multiple surgeries towards the end of his life, spent years in custody for his role in the deaths of protesters but was freed in 2017 after the convictions were overturned. His son Alaa Mubarak wrote on Twitter: "This morning my father, president Mubarak, passed away". His death was confirmed by the presidency and on state television. Mubarak's brother-in-law, General Mounir Thabet, told AFP that the family was by Mubarak's side at the hospital. A military funeral was planned for Wednesday, to be followed by three days of mourning, said the office of President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi. Mubarak had long battled illness and was recently admitted to a Cairo military hospital's intensive care unit, as media speculated on whether he suffered cancer, heart troubles or respiratory ailments. Tributes poured in from leaders in the Middle East, where Mubarak's Egypt, a key ally of the United States, had at times served as a mediator, especially in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Mubarak's commitment to "peace and security" when he ruled Egypt, the first Arab state to make peace with Israel and establish full diplomatic relations. And Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said he mourned the death "with great sorrow" and hailed Mubarak's support of the Palestinian cause. - Dodged bullets - The long-time president started off as a military pilot and was commander of the air force in the 1973 war with Israel. President Sisi's office offered condolences and hailed Mubarak as one of the "heroes of the October 1973 war against Israel". Mubarak became vice president in 1975 before taking power in 1981, following the assassination of former president Anwar al-Sadat by Islamist militants. Mubarak was sitting near Sadat but survived, going on to dodge bullets during several more attempts on his life, including one by Islamist militants in 1995 in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. He remained head of state for three decades but was overthrown in 2011 after three weeks of mass protests that started on January 25. His ouster came amid mounting popular anger triggered partly by rampant police brutality and by 2010 parliamentary elections which were widely slammed as rigged. Mubarak faced multiple charges after his overthrow, including over the deaths of protesters in 2011 and for corruption. While Mubarak was locked away or in the dock, he was succeeded in 2012 by the Muslim Brotherhood's president Mohamed Morsi. Morsi was ousted in 2013 by then general Sisi, who took power the following year, reimposing strict police powers. Morsi died last year but with no public fanfare and a derision of his short reign across Egyptian media. In the years since, many Egyptians' aversion to Mubarak has gradually given way to indifference mixed with nostalgia, and many now remember his rule as a bygone period of stability. - 'History will decide' - Mubarak, a determined foe of Islamist radicalism, maintained a state of emergency for the entirety of his rule that gave sweeping powers to the country's feared security services. Internationally, Mubarak garnered respect as a regional power broker, including in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As a staunch US ally, Egypt took billions in military aid and agreed to liberalise its economy, especially in the crucial tourism sector. Anwar Gargash, the United Arab Emirates' minister of state for foreign affairs, hailed him as "a statesman ... who espoused nationalistic and historical positions". Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan described Mubarak as "an Arab leader who worked loyally for Arab unity and stability and stood firmly against extremism and terrorism". The former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed El-Baradei, who was a key opposition figure in the waning years of Mubarak, paid his respects. "May God have mercy on the former president ... and grant his family patience and comfort," he said on Twitter. Other opposition activists who were prominent in the revolution that unseated Mubarak, such as Wael Ghoneim, were also forgiving in their words on social media. "He was loyal and loving of Egypt ... He took on a great responsibility towards the Egyptian people," wrote Ghoneim on Twitter. "He was right a lot of the time and also wrong a lot of the time ... history will decide." Former presidential candidate Ayman Nour -- who ran against Mubarak in multi-candidate elections widely seen as fraudulent in 2005, lost and was subsequently jailed -- was also conciliatory in his tone. "I promise to God I personally forgive him," he said. Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak with his two sons Alaa (R) and Gamal during their trial in Cairo in September 2013 Mubarak with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad (L) at the pyramids in Giza in 2002 A 2009 photo of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak
They have been firm friends since their days as competitors on Strictly Come Dancing over 10 years ago.

And Lisa Snowdon and Jodie Kidd made a perfect pairing as they attended the 3rd Annual Restaurant Association Gala Dinner in London on Monday night.

Jodie, 41, wore a multi-coloured stripey sleeveless dress with crochet detailing and a pair of barely-there strappy heels for the event at the Savoy Hotel.

Old friends: Lisa Snowdon and Jodie Kidd made a perfect pairing as they attended the 3rd Annual Restaurant Association Gala Dinner in London on Monday night

The model let her golden hair fall down in a loose waves around shoulders as she gave a warm smile.

She used minimal makeup and a touch of nude lip to show off her natural beauty.

Lisa, 49, meanwhile rocked a sheer black Temperley dress with glittering embellishments formed into intricate patterns.

Chic: Jodie, 41, wore a multi-coloured stripey sleeveless dress with crochet detailing and a pair of barely-there strappy heels for the event at the Savoy Hotel

Stylish: Lisa, 49, meanwhile rocked a sheer black Temperley dress with glittering embellishments formed into intricate patterns

The radio presenter also wore a pair of barely-there heels as she made her way inside the venue.

She let her chestnut brown locks flow down over her shoulders and pushed one side back to reveal silver droplet earrings.

The pair beamed as they joined up on the red carpet together for the event in aid of Hospitality Action.

While the models may have been well acquainted beforehand, they famously met as competitors on the stage of Strictly Come Dancing.

Charmed: The model let her golden hair fall down in a loose waves around shoulders as she gave a warm smile

Perfect features; Jodie used minimal makeup and a touch of nude lip to show off her natural beauty (pictured with Joseph Bates)

They joined the 2008 series, partnering with professional dancers Ian Waite and Brendan Cole.

Both couples performed well at first, but in the 10th week Jodie found herself in the bottom two with Lisa, and following the dance off the judges unanimously voted to keep Lisa in.

Jodie finished in sixth as John Sergeant had decided to withdraw from the contest earlier in the week, returning to dance his last waltz on the show.

Lisa eventually came third in the final, despite receiving the highest combined score from the judges.

Fashion forward: The radio presenter also wore a pair of barely-there heels as she made her way inside the venue
The Republic of Azerbaijan plans to increase investment in Ukraine up to $1.5-2 billion this year.

"We want to raise this level [of investment] up to $1.5-2 billion overall. And now we intend to do this through our two trading houses - these are good sites and good economic opportunities, where business circles of Ukraine and Azerbaijan gather and discuss necessary and concrete things," Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Ukraine Azer Khudiyev said in a commentary to an Ukrinform correspondent.

The ambassador also noted that agreements had already been reached between Ukrainian partners "on more joint ventures established in one or another territory."

"We have intentions to invest here. So in this regard, I have recently talked to our economy minister. He will do the Ukraine-Belarus-Moldova tour soon. Our president gave an instruction to strengthen our economic positions in this region," Khudiyev added.

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Rose McGowan and a chorus of other women reacted to Harvey Weinsteins sexual assault and third-degree rape conviction on Monday, overall viewing it as a vindication for the #MeToo movement.

Weinstein was found guilty on two charges earlier in the day and acquitted on three other counts in his New York City criminal trial.

The former Hollywood mogul now faces up to 29 years in prison.

Rose McGowan, Rosanna Arquette and several other women who have come forward against Weinstein spoke out shortly after news of the verdict broke.

Many praised the women who have shared their own allegations against Weinstein and expressed hope that Mondays outcome will usher hope for other victims of harassment, assault and misconduct going forward.

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

Among them was Rose McGowan, who said: Today is a powerful day and a huge step forward in collective healing. Twenty 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.

Every one of us who has come forward, 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 hurts 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.

Rosanna Arquette thanked the jury who did use their common sense and saw past the victim-blaming defence and called the verdict a step in the right direction.

Arquette also celebrated the brave and honest women and witnesses who took the stand. Moving forward, we must actively pursue strengthening laws and closing loopholes in our criminal system so that more rapists will be prosecuted and rapists will be held accountable for their crimes, she added.

Sarah Ann Masse said: Today, I celebrate the conviction of my abuser, Harvey Weinstein. She said she was disappointed to see the former Hollywood mogul acquitted of predatory sexual assault but presented the verdict as a triumph for all survivors.

Let me say this: he is a convicted sexual predator, she added. "And this only the beginning. We will keep fighting."

Caitlin Dulany said during the call that shes incredibly grateful to the jury and its like the sky is blue again.

A court sketch showing Harvey Weinstein being handcuffed in court after being found guilty of sexual assault charges (REUTERS)

She told The Independent: This is the reckoning for Harvey Weinstein that I hoped it would be and as it should be. ...Today is a victory for all the women who have been brave enough to go on record about their assaults by Harvey Weinstein and I am particularly grateful to the brave women who testified in this case.

"These were the worst moments of all of our lives and for them to relive the trauma, the shame and the fear that accompanied their assaults and the aftermath takes courage and determination. It was their testimony that put Harvey Weinstein behind bars and I am forever grateful and in awe of their courage and moral fortitude.

However, I am devastated by what the women who took the stand were put through. This has to change. The absolute character assassination of women who come forward, the way victims of assault are painted as liars, their morality challenged and their choices attacked  this has to stop.

"Assault is a violent act and women have no choice when they are assaulted and they always have the right to say no, no matter the circumstances. And with this trial, once again, the emotional and psychological cost of the abusers wrongs were borne by the women, by the victims.

We have to do better as a society and I, and we, the silence breakers, wont rest until we do.

Additional reporting by agencies
A student suffered multiple facial fractures when two men mugged him in a side street in Cork city and one of the assailants has been jailed for four years.

Aaron Breen, formerly of Meadowbrook, Glanmire, Co Cork, and now living at Greenwood Estate in Togher, Cork, was sentenced by Judge Sean O Donnabhain to five years with the last year suspended.

Breen, aged 20, pleaded guilty to charges of assault causing harm and robbery.

Detective Garda Anne OSullivan read the victim impact report which concluded: I never thought such a malicious attack would happen to me. I am relieved I had no life-threatening injuries. I fear that the next person might not be so lucky.

The injuries the third-year college student sustained included fractures to his eye socket, cheekbone, and nose.

Det. Garda OSullivan said the young man was walking home to his student accommodation at the beginning of his third year in college on September 13, 2018.

It was 2.45am and he had just walked along Washington Street and on to Anne Street when Aaron Breen and his accomplice attacked him from behind.

They knocked him to the ground and kicked him when he was on the ground. They stole his phone and wallet and walked away.

A passer-by heard a man calling for an ambulance. He was taken to Cork University Hospital, Det. Garda OSullivan said.

Breen was identified from CCTV and later admitted assault causing harm and robbery.

Niamh Stewart, defending, said Breen apologised when interviewed.

He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. He had an addiction to tablets and drink. He was 18 at the time and is 20 now.

His brother died two years ago and this had a profound effect on him.

I would ask you to give him some light at the end of the tunnel, Ms Stewart said.

Judge O Donnabhain said: There was a significant amount of violence used.

Not alone was he struck but he was kicked when on the ground.

"It was quite an appalling attack on an innocent student going about his business.
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Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post)  Tue, February 25 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 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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When I was in Tokyo in 2017, I left my daypack in a taxi. I asked the person who was running a cooking class I was attending if there was anything I could do about it. He made a phone call and within an hour the backpack was returned. This article in Mental Floss explains why it's so easy to recover lost items in Japan. The reason is that large cities like Tokyo have lots of tiny police stations, called koban () in every neighborhood. People who find purses, wallets, etc., take them to the nearest koban. Here's how it works, according to Mental Floss:

In 2018, 4.1 million missing items were turned in to police, and the chances of reuniting them with their owners is pretty good. That same year, 130,000 of 156,000 lost phones (83 percent) were returned and 240,000 wallets (65 percent) went home.

Missing items are typically held at the local koban for one month in case the owner retraces their steps and comes back. After that, they're sent to a Lost and Found Center at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, where the item is cataloged, searched for information relating to its owner, and then put into an online database that the public can check. Belongings are held for three months. After that, they might be handed over to the person who found it. If not, they become the property of the local government, where they might eventually trickle down to secondhand thrift sales.
MIAMI - Like many young voters in Florida, Jared Machado is concerned about rising sea levels, college tuition and landing a job when he graduates from the University of Florida in a few months. But the political science and history major cant ignore how his father and grandparents came to the United States: as refugees fleeing communist Cuba.

As he considers his options for president in Floridas March 17 primary, Machado was disappointed and disturbed when U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, seemed to praise former Cuba dictator Fidel Castro in a recent interview.

He doesnt understand the traumatizing experience endured by the Cuban people, said Machado, 22, whose grandparents left the island more than a half century ago, carrying his father, then just a few months old.

Making inroads into Latino communities has been a priority among Democrats and Republicans alike  and Sanders big win in the Nevada caucuses Saturday demonstrated his progress toward that goal. But the 78-year-old senators remarks, aired Sunday as the candidate was still celebrating, may also show where Sanders outreach hits a speed bump.

Sanders socialist identification and his willingness to praise leftist regimes have given his Democratic opponents ammunition to question his electability in a state with a large Cuban American population that remains fiercely skeptical of leftist governments.

In Florida, where Hispanics account for nearly one in every five voters, that skepticism could present a major hurdle for Sanders in the states primary, and for Democrats hoping to win Floridas 29 electoral votes in November.

Candidates need to understand our immigrant communities shared stories, as well as provide solutions to issues that matter to all Floridians, Florida Democratic Party Chair Terrie Rizzo said Monday.

During an interview aired Sunday on the CBS news program 60 Minutes, Sanders said he opposes Cubas authoritarian regime but its unfair to simply say everything is bad.

He went on to say: You know, when Castro came in office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing, even if Fidel Castro did it?

A Sanders spokesman on Monday downplayed the controversy.

Senator 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, said the spokesman, Mike Casca.

During a CNN town hall on Monday night, Sanders forcefully stood by his comments, saying hed criticized authoritarian regimes all over the world, including Cuba, Nicaragua and Saudi Arabia, But he added that, after Castro took power in 1959, the first thing he did was initiate a literacy program.

I think teaching people to read and write is a good thing, Sanders said on CNN, adding: That is a fact. End of discussion.

Pressed about congressional Democrats from Florida who have criticized him as too sympathetic to Castro, Sanders shot back, All of those congresspeople just so happen to be supporting other candidates  accidentally, no doubt.

His rivals seized on the unforced error to deepen questions about his ability win support in November among independents and Hispanic voters in Florida, particularly those whose families escaped repressive regimes.

Fidel Castro left a dark legacy of forced labour camps, religious repression, widespread poverty, firing squads, and the murder of thousands of his own people, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg tweeted Monday afternoon. But sure, Bernie, lets talk about his literacy program.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, arguably the most prominent Cuban American in the country, also railed against his Senate colleague from Vermont.

While democratic socialism might sound benign, Rubio said in a video that he tweeted, at the core its Marxism and this fake offer of security, free healthcare and education.

The state Democratic party has hired scores of Spanish-speaking staffers to fan out into Hispanic communities in preparation for November. Republicans widely view Florida as a must-win state for President Donald Trump and Democrats are determined to force him into an expensive fight to defend it.

Nationally, two-thirds of Hispanic voters casting ballots in 2018 supported Democratic candidates for the U.S. House, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of voters. In Florida, only 53% favoured Democratic House candidates.

And Cuban Americans in Florida were more likely to support Republicans than other Hispanic voters, 56% to 42%.

According to the AP survey, about a third of Cuban American midterm voters identified as Democrats.

However, Democrats hardly have a lock on that vote in battleground Florida, particularly among the nearly 2 million Floridians of Cuban, Venezuelan and Nicaraguan origin.

In 2018, Republican Ron DeSantis narrowly won Floridas governors mansion. While more than two-fifths of Florida Latinos voters favoured DeSantis overall, a clear majority of Cuban American voters  57%  cast their support for the Republican.

Critics say Sanders needs to more strongly disavow Cuba and other authoritarian regimes.

Its not just about Cuban American voters, its Hispanic voters as well, many of whom would never consider voting for an avowed socialist ..., said Fernand Amandi, a Cuban American pollster based in Miami.

Geraldo Cadava, a professor of history and Latino studies at Northwestern University, says Sanders must address his stance on left-wing governments, such as when he travelled to Nicaragua to celebrate the sixth anniversary of the Sandinista revolution with Daniel Ortega.

He is in a bit of a difficult spot trying to figure out how to answer these questions, said Cadava, who wrote a book about how the Republican party has rallied Hispanics.

For the past decade, Cadava says, Democrats have courted the younger generation of Cuban-Americans, seeing that more new voters in the Miami area register as independent.

Machado, the University of Florida student, is among them.

Until the Florida primaries arrive, he said, he remains undecided  even if hes currently leaning toward supporting former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg.

Machado comes from a politically split household, the product of a Puerto Rican mother and Cuban father.

My parents definitely vote, but they split between Democrat and Republican, he said. Thats how you get a centrist child like me.

-

Calvan reported from Tallahassee, Florida. Associated Press reporters Hannah Fingerhut in Washington and Will Weissert in Houston contributed to this report.
The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that the coronavirus outbreak could cause severe disruption to the lives of ordinary Americans, and urged families and communities to start making preparations.

The extent of the spread of the virus in the US is uncertain, as the CDC stopped the distribution of coronavirus testing kits after they were found to be flawed. Working testing kits are now available in only a handful of states, and it is not clear when new kits will be ready.

Donald Trump told journalists in India on Tuesday that coronavirus is very well under control in our country and is going to go away.

The World Health Organization is recommending that people take simple precautions to reduce exposure to and transmission of the Wuhan coronavirus, for which there is no specific cure or vaccine.

The UN agency advises people to:

Frequently wash their hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or warm water and soap

Cover their mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue when sneezing or coughing

Avoid close contact with anyone who has a fever or cough

Seek early medical help if they have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, and share their travel history with healthcare providers

Avoid direct, unprotected contact with live animals and surfaces in contact with animals when visiting live markets in affected areas

Avoid eating raw or undercooked animal products and exercise care when handling raw meat, milk or animal organs to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods.

Despite a surge in sales of face masks in the aftermath of the outbreak of the coronavirus outbreak, experts are divided over whether they can prevent transmission and infection. There is some evidence to suggest that masks can help prevent hand-to-mouth transmissions, given the large number of times people touch their faces. The consensus appears to be that wearing a mask can limit  but not eliminate  the risks, provided they are used correctly.

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Justin McCurry

However, the head of immunization at the CDC, Nancy Messonnier, said that disruption to everyday life may be severe as the virus spreads among local communities.

As more and more countries experience community spread, successful containment at our borders becomes harder and harder, Messonnier said in a telephone press briefing.

Ultimately, we expect we will see community spread in this country. Its not so much a question of if this will happen any more, but rather more exactly when this will happen, and how many people in this country will have severe illness.

In the absence of a vaccine or medicines, other methods would be needed to contain the spread of the disease, including possible school closures, and telecommuting where possible instead of travelling to workplaces.

Related: What is coronavirus and what should I do if I have symptoms?

I understand this whole situation may seem overwhelming, and that disruption to everyday life may be severe. But these are things that people need to start thinking about now, Messonier said. I had a conversation with my family over breakfast this morning, and I told my children that  while I didnt think they were at risk  right now, we as a family, need to be preparing for significant disruption of our lives.

The CDC acknowledged that the test kits it began distributing to state authorities earlier this month have been found to be faulty. The agency said in a statement that performance issues were identified related to a problem in the manufacturing of one of the reagents which led to laboratories not being able to verify the test performance.

Messonier said that 12 states and localities had working test kits, but according to independent health experts, that overall number includes only five states.

I am frustrated like I know many of you are that we have had issues with our kit, and I want to assure you that we are working to modify the kit and hope to hand out a new version to state or local jurisdictions soon, she said, adding: We are working as fast as we can.

Jeremy Konyndyk, who led the Obama administrations response to the Ebola outbreak in 2014, said it was unclear why the US was lagging behind the rest of the world on testing.

It is puzzling to me that the government has been unable so far to resolve that problem, at a time when most other countries that are facing the disease have been able to do testing at a much larger scale, Konyndyk said. We have a lot of people in the government working very, very, very hard on this, but we do not have the kind of fully mobilized US government response that we need.

He also expressed alarm at the gulf between the Trump reassurances and the situation being presented by the presidents own officials.

The presidents overarching priority here seems to be much more about keeping the markets calm than taking every measure to keep Americans safe, and that worries me, Konyndyk said. And it also makes me wonder if they are leaving some [preventive] options on the table for fear of spooking the markets.

Stock prices plunged at new reports showing the the worldwide spread of the virus. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 877 points or 3.1% on Tuesday.

Related: Could the coronavirus mutate if a vaccine can't be found in time?

So far, 14 coronavirus cases have been identified in the US, including 12 travellers returning from abroad, and two patients who had contact with those returning travellers.

In addition, 40 Americans who tested positive on the Diamond Princess cruise ship have been repatriated, and three repatriated from China.

The coming week is going to be a very telling time in this outbreak, Saskia Popescu, an epidemiologist at George Mason University, said. Theres a lot of concern around the limited testing thats getting done in the United States right now.

Popescu said there was also a serious shortage of personal protective equipment, such as face masks .

The health and human services secretary, Alex Azar, asked for $2.5bn in emergency funding. He said the country currently has a stockpile of 30m surgical masks, but his department estimated that 10 times that number could be needed.

Senators questioned the administrations preparedness and pointed out that Azar himself had proposed drastic budget cuts. The Trump administration has also dismantled the office in the national security council that was set up in the wake of the Ebola virus scare to coordinate government responses to pandemics.

After receiving a classified Senate briefing on the coronavirus, Democrat Richard Blumenthal tweeted that it should have been made public.

They would be as appalled and astonished as I am by the inadequacy of preparedness and prevention, Blumenthal said.
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
Seoul (AFP) - The novel coronavirus outbreak in South Korea is "very grave", President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday as he visited its epicentre and the country's total number of cases approached 1,000.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) confirmed 144 new infections, taking the tally to 977, the largest national total anywhere outside China, where the virus first emerged.

Scores of events have been cancelled or postponed as the outbreak has spread in the world's 12th-largest economy, from K-pop concerts to the start of the K-league football season, with casualties on Tuesday including parliamentary sessions and the World Team Table Tennis championships.

More than 80 percent of the infections have been in South Korea's fourth-largest city Daegu and neighbouring North Gyeongsang province.

"The situation is very grave," President Moon Jae-in said on a visit to Daegu, wearing the uniform of a government emergency official and vowing full government support.

"We will achieve a victory in the fight against this virus," he added.

The streets of Daegu -- which has a population of 2.5 million -- have been largely deserted for days, apart from long queues at the few shops with masks for sale.

Authorities urged the public to exercise extra caution, advising citizens to stay home if they have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

South Korea's parliament cancelled sessions Tuesday as it closed for cleaning after confirmation a person with the coronavirus had attended a meeting last week.

The country's flag carrier Korean Air also reported a cabin crew member had tested positive, without giving details.

The staffer may have been infected by a group of South Korean pilgrims who flew to Israel, reports said, adding that the attendant subsequently flew from Incheon to Los Angeles and back last week.

And the US hinted at scaling back joint military exercises, with Defense Secretary Mark Esper telling reporters in Washington the two allies' militaries were "looking at scaling back the command post training due to concerns about the coronavirus".

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The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised travellers to "avoid all nonessential travel" to South Korea.

Hong Kong has said it will not allow arrivals from South Korea other than returning residents, while a Mongolian ban on flights to and from the South came into force Tuesday.

Organisers of the World Team Table Tennis championship, due to be held in Busan in March, said new dates in June had been "provisionally reserved".

The Korean Basketball League said it would hold matches behind closed doors "until the situation improves".

- Government list -

Three more people had died, the KCDC said, taking the toll to 10. But the case numbers it announced represented the smallest daily increase for four days.

South Korea has an advanced medical system, a free press and a strong culture of public accountability, and observers say that its health statistics can be treated with confidence.

Most of the country's infections are linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, an entity often accused of being a cult.

A 61-year-old female member developed a fever on February 10, but attended at least four church services in Daegu before being diagnosed.

KCDC director Jung Eun-kyeong advised Shincheonji followers to refrain from going outside "as much as possible".

With public criticism growing, Shincheonji's founder Lee Man-hee said the group would provide the government a list of all its members to have them tested for the virus.
Two-thirds of the worlds most polluted cities are in India and Delhi has the worst air among all national capitals, according to a new study of air quality readings from 98 countries that also showed how China has made big improvements while India  which has been dealing with the problem at a similar scale  has hardly been able to tackle it

The assessment  published in the 2019 World Air Quality Report by IQAir AirVisual -- was based on average yearly levels of PM2.5 concentration. PM2.5 particles measure up to 2.5 microns in size and can enter the blood stream via the respiratory system to travel throughout the body, causing problems such as asthma, lung cancer and heart disease

The report noted that the of the worlds top 30 most polluted cities during 2019, 21 are located in India, 27 in South Asia, and all the top 30 cities are within greater Asia. The numbers are a slight improvement over 2018, but the report adds that it is largely due to a slower economic growth.

Whilst cities in India, on average, exceed the WHO target for annual PM2.5 exposure by 500%, national air pollution decreased by 20% from 2018 to 2019, with 98% of cities experiencing improvements. These improvements are believed to be largely a result of economic slow-down, the report said.

Indian officials, however, were sceptical of the connection. How are they saying the improvement is because of slowdown? We cannot comment on it unless we know what data they have analysed to arrive at this conclusion. Air pollution control action is being taken in 102 cities under NCAP (National Clean Air Programme), said a senior Central Pollution Control Board official, who asked not to be named. We will look into it. We are still analysing our data from 2019, this person added.

Environmental experts said the reduction in the emissions must be looked at more closely. Economic slowdown is being attributed globally to emission reduction. It could be a factor but its very difficult to say at the moment what could have led to the reduction in India. Whatever the reason be, lets not lose the reduction, lets be ambitious and reduce PM 2.5 concentrations and exposure further, said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, Centre for Science and Environment

Several Chinese cities, including Beijing, have dramatically improved their air quality in recent years. Beijing, once synonymous with images of a metropolis shrouded in toxic smog, had an average PM2.5 concentration of 42.1g/m3  less than half of Delhis 98.6g/m3.

In the rankings part of the report, Delhi was the fifth most polluted city while its suburb Ghaziabad occupied the first rank. One Chinese city and two from Pakistan were the others in the top five.

India, China and other Asian countries remain disproportionately affected by toxic air as a result of factors ranging from crowded cities and vehicular exhaust fumes to coal-fired power plants, agricultural burning and industrial emissions.

The World Health Organization estimates that dirty air kills around 7 million people each year, while the World Bank says it drains the global economy of $5 trillion annually. The deadly air also kills roughly 1.2 million Indians each year, according to a recent study in the Lancet.

Across much of northern India, air quality remains catastrophic in the pre-winter and winter months when farmers take to burning crop residue as a cheap and quick way to clear their fields. The result is a toxic haze that has, in its worst episodes, caused schools to be shut down and vulnerable people to be restricted to living indoors.

In Beijing, its a priority -- in China, when they say something, they do it, they put the resources in, said Yann Boquillod, AirVisuals director of air quality monitoring, news agency Bloomberg reported. In India, its just starting. People need to put more pressure on government.

India, however, was far from the only country that remained deeply challenged by smog. Although several Chinese cities -- including Shanghai -- saw improvement in air quality, Kashgar and Hotan in the restive, western Xinjiang region were among the worlds worst.

Cities across Asia -- including Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Jakarta and Seoul -- saw sharp increases in PM 2.5 levels.

The problem is particularly challenging for South Asian countries. Using a weighted population average, Bangladesh was actually ranked the worlds most polluted country, while its capital Dhaka was the second worst after Delhi.

Pakistan was the second-most-polluted country, while Afghanistan, India and Nepal were all in the top 10.

(With agency inputs)
Arson, looting in Delhi day after anti-CAA violence leaves 5 dead

Northeast Delhi continued to witness arson and looting this morning, a day after protesters opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) clashed with pro-CAA demonstrators, threw stones and set vehicles and shops on fire in an unprecedented hate show on Monday that left five people, including a policeman, dead and nearly 100 others injured.

Around 20 police personnel were injured and have been hospitalised.

A wide swathe of north-east Delhi  from Jafrabad to Chand Bagh and Karawal Nagar  was wracked by communal riots and incidents of rampant vandalism on Monday as anti- and pro-CAA groups clashed for over seven hours.

Union home minister Amit Shah held a late-night meeting with the Delhi police chief, the union home secretary and other senior officials to review the prevailing situation in the city.

Delhi Police has also been put on very high alert following inputs by intelligence agencies that the riots in the city could intensify in order to put the international spotlight on Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) with President Donald Trump in the capital.

Three firefighters have been injured after a group of people set a fire engine ablaze and threw stones at another. The violence began on Monday hours before United States President Donald Trump, was expected in the capital. Trump is expected to spend the day in Delhi for the operative part of his state visit.

Delhi Police said that fresh stone-pelting incidents were reported in Maujpur and Brahampuri areas on Tuesday and the situation remains 'very tense'.

A man, identified as Mohammed Shahrukh, was caught on camera confronting a lone policeman. He then opened multiple rounds of fire with a crowd of around a hundred people egging him on from a distance. He even pointed the gun at the cops face point-blank. Later in the evening, he was detained by the cops.

Reports said Shahdara DCP Amit Sharma, who was injured during clashes between two groups in Gokulpuri yesterday, is now is now conscious.

Social media is abuzz with criticism of the state going soft on anti nationals blocking roads and disrupting traffic and the courts that open at night for terrorists and their supporters are quiet when vandal put lives of common man at risk.

Two empty bullet shells found by RAF team from Brahampuri area.

Meanwhile, Rapid Action Force (RAF) team from Brahampuri area found two empty bullet shells. More details are awaited.

The situation is very tense. We are continuously receiving calls related to incidents of violence from Northeast Delhi. Commissioner of Police held a meeting at Seelampur DCP Office last night, ANI reported.
Federal authorities have charged 11 defendants for operating a drug trafficking organization out of a housing complex in Newark, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced Tuesday.

One of the defendants, Michael Mayse, 33, is also charged with murder for allegedly killing a conspirator in last December over a debt relating to the sale of drugs.

According to the criminal complaint, federal authorities began investigating an open-air drug market in February 2019 at Stephen Crane Village, a 354-unit public housing complex on the border of Newark and Belleville.

Over the last year, federal authorities used multiple confidential sources and an undercover law enforcement officer to make more than 20 controlled purchases of heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine from the drug trafficking organization operating out of the public housing complex, according to the complaint.

Gary Shahid, 60, allegedly distributed heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine to members of the drug trafficking organization for street-level distribution, according to the complaint.

Authorities discovered that the defendants were allegedly conducting drug transactions within the courtyards of the complex and in Cashville, a designated area on the south side of Crane Village where they made hand-to-hand transactions with customers, according to the complaint.

The investigation revealed a brazen drug dealing operation going on right out in the open that used violence to accomplish its goals, said U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito

No one should have to live in fear in their homes or community, said Susan A. Gibson, the special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administrations New Jersey division. The defendants in this investigation were using Crane Village as their own personal drug market putting every resident at risk.

The drug trafficking organization, according to the complaint, also utilized a stash house on Franklin Avenue within Crane Village to package and store drugs for street-level distribution.

The stash house is where Newark police responded to on Dec. 15, 2019, around 5 a.m. for a report of shots fired.

Inside, police found a man who sustained fatal gunshots to his head and torso. Law enforcement also allegedly seized items consistent with drug distribution, including vials containing cocaine and glassine envelopes containing heroin.

The following day, local law enforcement arrested Mayse in the murder of the man in the stash house. During a search of Mayses residence, authorities recovered two 9mm handguns, 29 vials of cocaine and two glassine envelopes of heroin.

According to the complaint, Mayses jeans, boots and one of the handguns appeared to have blood stains on them. His blood-stained boots appear to match the bloody prints that were left a the murder scene and a ballistic analysis confirmed that the handgun fired the rounds that killed the man, according to the complaint.

The alleged murder was over a debt relating to the drug distribution ongoing within the housing complex, according to the criminal complaint.

Mayse has been held in state custody since his December arrest. He is also facing another murder charge for allegedly gunning down a Newark man in Orange in November 2019.

Mayse now faces federal charges of murder during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, distribution of heroin and cocaine base, and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substabnces.

All 11 defendants were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Dayquan Jordan, 25, Raquan Rawls, 21, Nasir Williams, 23, and Quadir Hatcher, 27, face an additional charge of distribution of heroin and cocaine base.

Federal authorities said seven of the defendants were arrested Tuesday while two, Mayse and Charles Mells, 36, were already in state custody. As of Tuesday afternoon, Rawls and Tyree Purkett, 23, were still at-large.

"Tonight, residents of the Stephen Crane Village Apartments, and the cities of Newark and Belleville, can rest a little easier, said Charlie J. Patterson, the special agent in charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

The defendants are scheduled to appear Tuesday afternoon before Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court.

Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Follow on Twitter @monavage.Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

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Until two weeks ago I had never heard of Caroline Flack. I don't watch 'Love Island' or read any celebrity news. She took her own life on February 15, and since then there has been relentless daily coverage.

So now, even without wanting to, I know about her love life, her mental health problems, her family, her childhood, and her court appearance - which are nobody's business except hers, her family's and her boyfriend's.

The tabloids and gossip magazines, and even worse, social media, have erupted with mouth-frothing analysis and commentary on the cause of her suicide. There have been criticisms of how she was treated by the UK Crown Prosecution Service for an alleged assault.

Her vulnerable personality has been mentioned and her family have released Instagram posts composed by her but left unposted before her tragic death. Her life and death are now an open book for all to cogitate over.

Some comments have been vitriolic, some lionising and all have been extremely disconcerting.

There have been calls for a law in her name to ban trolling on social media. The complexity of achieving this has been lost in the torrent of emotion but it did not stop almost three-quarters of a million people signing the petition.

The irony is that the social media and gossip magazines that promoted her celebrity status are now being condemned for their role in bringing about her death.

There is a further problem that those who are writing about Flack appear to have forgotten - that the frenetic focus on the suicide of a high-profile individual may itself trigger other suicides.

The history of this dates back to German literature and to a character called Werther. A classic by Goethe, called 'The Sorrows of Young Werther', captured the idea of suicide contagion.

Werther shot himself with a pistol after his love for a girl was met with rejection. After the publication of the book in 1774 many young men imitated this behaviour and it was banned for a time. The terms 'copy-cat suicide' and the 'Werther Effect' emanated from this novel.

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Far from being fanciful or outdated, the Werther Effect is now supported by a large body of research.

A simple case study carried out by Paul Yip, a suicidologist, considered the impact of the death of a famous pop star in April 2003 on the suicide rate in Taiwan.

There was extensive media coverage of the death and the president attended the funeral. The upshot was a significant increase in deaths by the same method in the immediate aftermath.

Both the number and the use of the particular method were in excess of what would have been expected compared to a previous time period. It was particularly marked in a subgroup of people of similar age and sex.

Further data-based studies of the contagion effect show that there may be clusters of suicide in schools or in the same locality after a high-profile suicide. The presence of protective factors such as close ties to family and being in employment reduce the risk.

It is likely that Caroline Flack, a celebrity, will have been a role model to millions of young women seeking fame. Amazingly, a survey of high school teens in the US found that 54pc wanted to be famous, with 1pc wanting office work and 4pc hoping to become teachers. In another study, over half of those aged 18 to 25 surveyed believed they would one day be famous.

Suicide is a legitimate issue for public discussion but there should also be moderation. We have to blend freedom of speech with a healthy discussion around the problem and its prevention.

Evidence has emerged that for individuals in crisis, the manner of reporting may have an influence.

The more information about the victim that is made public the more likely are individuals to identify the resemblance between their plight and that of the suicide victim.

Adulation of the person who has died may stimulate suicidal thoughts and fantasies of realising their fame in those lacking self-worth and seeking admiration.

Guidelines on reporting have been drawn up for the media and these have two objectives: one is to avoid idealising suicide or the victim, as positive or courageous; the other is focused on minimising the distress of the family in the manner of reporting.

The media guidelines point out that mentioning suicide in the headline, providing step-by-step details of the manner of death, and the content of the suicide note may increase the risk. The presence of a photograph and assigning a single cause for the death may also contribute.

Editors are clearly enthused by stories that sell their papers and magazines. But there are ongoing worries that the style and volume of coverage of Caroline Flack's death are paving the way for a spike in deaths by suicide. This places a huge responsibility on editors and on the readership.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article please contact Samaritans helpline 116 123 or Aware helpline 1800 80 48 48 or Pieta House on 1800 247 247.

Patricia Casey is a consultant psychiatrist in the Mater Hospital Dublin and Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at UCD
Bradley Cooper is back on daddy duty, after spending the morning with his mom Gloria Campano.

One day after his ex-partner Irina Shayk took the Missoni show by storm during Milan Fashion Week, the 45-year-old actor surprised their 2-year-old Lea with a new scooter in New York City on Monday.

The proud father looked protective over his little girl, as he swooped her up and carried her on his shoulders.

New toy: Before landing a ride on one of Hollywood's hottest stars, the precious toddler beamed while riding on her pink scooter in a white helmet

Cooper looked handsome with his dark brown hair tousled to the side while wearing a navy suit and light blue button up shirt, as he eventually ended up carrying his daughter's unicorn lunch box and scooter.

Before landing a ride from dad, the precious toddler beamed in a white helmet while soaring on her new set of wheels.

The director, who stepped out with his mother Gloria Campano also on Monday, took precaution while crossing the street with one hand firmly on Lea's shoulder.

Daddy duty: Bradley Cooper soaked up some quality time with their 2-year-old Lea in New York City on Monday

Lea seemed thrilled by the new toy, as she rode several blocks in a pair of red leggings and puffer jacket.

The famous duo's only child seemed to be a natural on the scooter, as she whizzed around the sidewalk with her cool dad never more than an arm's length away.

Her dad looked content by her side, as he watched over her in a pair of dark aviator sunglasses.

Cool dad: The famous duo's only child seemed to be a natural on the scooter, as she whizzed around the sidewalk with her cool dad never more than an arm's length away

It appears the Silver Linings Playbook star pushed aside his demanding schedule, which includes starring in upcoming remake of the 1947 film Nightmare Alley, to prioritize family time.

The eight-time Oscar nominee looked like he had endless amounts of energy with Lea, despite hitting the gym and hanging out with mom Gloria.

The outing comes after it was revealed he was recently contacted by producers over the possibility of playing the eldest of the Gibb brothers in an untitled film.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 03:34:54|Editor: yan

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CAIRO, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry travelled to Washington on Tuesday to participate in meetings with Ethiopia and Sudan on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), official Ahram Online reported.

Shoukry will participate with Ethiopian and Sudanese counterparts in the U.S.-sponsored ministerial-level meetings on Thursday and Friday, which will also be attended by the World Bank, the Egypt's state-run news website reported.

In a statement on Monday, the Egyptian cabinet said that the Supreme Committee for Nile Water, headed by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, held a meeting to review the latest developments of the GERD issue in preparation for the Washington meetings.

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.
William H. McRaven was absolutely correct in his Feb. 22 op-ed, If good men cant speak the truth, we should be deeply afraid. He stated that as Americans, we should be frightened . . . when good men and women cant speak the truth. He was referring to the many Trump administration officials who have been dismissed for questioning President Trumps conduct of the office he holds. However, these former officials need not remain silent now that they are out of the administration. They  Jim Mattis, John Kelly, H.R. McMaster, Sue Gordon and Daniel Coats (all mentioned in the piece)  should band together for public appearances and make the nation aware, in no uncertain terms, of what it was like working for Mr. Trump and of the threat that he brings to our country.
President Trump still ready to mediate on Kashmir issue

US President Donald Trump today said he stood ready to mediate between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue even as he said that India and the United States will work together against terrorism and together both the countries are making all possible efforts towards it.

On the second day of his maiden visit to India, the US President stressed on the need for an India-US trade deal even as he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, ''You have a very special Prime Minister, he really knows what he is doing", President Trump also interacted with business leaders in Delhi after which he addressed media at a press conference held in the US Embassy.

Addressing the media, the President touched upon the India-Pakistan row and said Kashmir obviously is a big problem between India and Pakistan, they are going to work out their problem. They have been doing it for a long time.

Trump said. I have good equation with Pakistan PM Imran Khan, they are working to control cross-border terrorism:

The US President also said, ''I don't think anyone has done more than I did on containing radical Islamic terrorism'' while addressing media in Delhi.

Ready to mediate on Kashmir issue if India and Pakistan agree on it: US President Donald Trump while addressing media in Delhi

If you look back India has worked hard for religious freedom. PM Modi wants people to have religious freedom in India: US President Donald Trump while addressing a press conference in Delhi.

On CAA, he said, ''I want to leave that to India and hopefully they will make the right decision for their people.''

''Did not discuss CAA with PM Modi'', said President Trump while addressing media in Delhi.

India, he said, is buying a lot of military equipments from the US. But he said, ''India is probably nation with highest tariffs, Harley Davidson has to pay huge amount of tariff.''

The US President was earlier given a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan after which he went to Rajghat along with First Lady Melania to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi. In the evening, President Trump will take part in the grand dinner programme being organised in the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

The President's Banquet for Donald Trump is scheduled to start at 7.30 pm at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Around 90 to 100 guests are expected to attend the Banquet. Both US President and Indian President will make a short speech. A multi-course menu has been prepared for Trump and his delegation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President said there was useful and comprehensive discussion on trade and that there was an appreciation that it increased steadily year on year over the last few years - US exports to India had a fairly dramatic increase.

What we have done for the healthcare sector is phenomenal, Trump said while addressing a press conference, adding that both countries are working out a trade deal and negotiations have already begun.

Our teams have made tremendous progress for a comprehensive trade agreement and I'm optimistic we can reach a deal of great importance to both countries. Since I took office, US exports to India are up nearly 60 per cent and exports of high quality American energy have grown by 500 per cent, he said.

Earlier today we expanded our defence cooperation with agreements for India to purchase more than $3 billion of advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo Helicopters - finest in the world. These will enhance our joint defence capabilities,Trump said.

Prime Minister Modi said the most important foundation of the special relationship between India and the USA is people to people contact. Professionals, students, the Indian diaspora in USA have a major contribution in this. We've also agreed to start negotiations on a massive trade deal. We hope that we will get positive results, benefitting both. At the global level, our relationship is depended on the similar democratic values we share, he said.
Rod Nickel, Steve Scherer WINNIPEG, Manitoba/OTTAWA (Reuters) - Teck Resources Ltds surprise decision to cancel a planned C$20.6 billion ($15.6 billion) oil sands mine in northern Alberta, citing uncertainty about Canadas climate policy, underscores a global struggle to balance energy growth with environmental concerns. The Frontier project became the latest casualty in oil-producing countries with robust environmental movements agitating to cut fossil-fuel development due to global warming. Pipeline and drilling projects in the United States and Canada, the largest and fourth-largest oil producers in the world, have been halted or delayed due to opposition to energy development. Teck on Sunday withdrew its application to the Canadian government to build Frontier. The world is changing .. you can no longer build a strong economy if you are not fighting climate change at the same time, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in Ottawas House of Commons. Delays in building new pipelines have forced the Alberta government to curtail oil production. Protests by indigenous groups linked to a planned gas pipeline have disrupted railways. On top of those challenges, Frontier required higher prices, expanded pipeline capacity and a partner, Teck Chief Executive Don Lindsay said last month. At an investor conference in Florida on Monday, Lindsay said Frontier landed in a national debate about energy development, indigenous issues and climate change. Those concerns have motivated opposition to TC Energy Corps Keystone XL pipeline running through both the United States and Canada, which has been in development for a decade. Literally over the last few days, it has become increasingly clear that there is no constructive path forward, Lindsay told investors in a speech. On Monday, Oklahoma-based energy giant Williams Companies Inc cancelled a natural gas pipeline that had been in development for eight years, in part due to ongoing opposition. CLIMATE CHANGE PLAN NEEDED Tecks withdrawal highlights the need for a credible climate plan for Canada to become carbon-neutral by 2050, Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and Natural Resources Minister Seamus ORegan said in a statement late on Sunday. Teck shares fell 2.7% on Monday and have lost 18% of their value since Wednesday. Investors are feeling terrible about the (Canadian energy) space, said Tim Pickering, chief investment officer of Calgary-based Auspice Capital Advisors, an asset and fund manager. The political climate and lack of cohesive agreement on how to address energy policy and climate (are) scaring investors away from Canada. An Alberta source directly familiar with the matter said Tecks board had recently expressed concern that Frontier could become a protest target, which would draw attention to its coal business. A Teck representative declined to comment. Tecks decision is a wake-up call to Alberta Premier Jason Kenney for not drafting a plan to lower the provinces overall emissions, a person familiar with the project said. Kenney, speaking to supporters in Edmonton, Alberta, said Frontiers approval should have been automatic after nine years of regulatory review. This decision was taken in large part because of regulatory uncertainty, endless delays created by the national government as well as the general atmosphere of lawlessness that we have seen take hold of parts of our country and much of our economic infrastructure in the past three weeks, he said, referring to protests. Pickering said he blames Ottawa for industry fears of abrupt policy changes. Frontier was approved by a joint Canada-Alberta regulatory panel, but Trudeaus cabinet was divided on whether to give final approval this week. ($1 = 1.3220 Canadian dollars) Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Steve Scherer and David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Marguerita Choy

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
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By Express News Service

DHARWAD: The lawyers representing the Kashmiri engineering students, arrested on the charges of sedition, were manhandled by the members of Dharwad Bar Association, and the car they had arrived in was damaged by stones pelted by some miscreants.



The lawyers also faced resistance from members of the Hubballi Bar, when they had come to receive documents pertaining to the case. The incident occurred despite the High Court stating that the advocates must be protected.

On Monday a large group of people and Dharwad Bar members gathered at the entrance of the court. They are supposed to file an application with the Principal Sessions Court, seeking bail for the three Kashmiri students, who are in judicial remand in a sedition case.



On reaching the Dharwad court, the public as well as Bar members raised slogans against the lawyers and tried to prevent them from entering the court complex.

The ruckus continued in the courtroom, with some Bar members raising slogans there too, but judge Ishappa Bhote cautioned the members. However, the lawyers failed to file the bail application, as they did not have necessary document.



The advocates who arrived from Bengaluru failed to get the file stitched in court and left to get it prepared. While they were travelling in the vehicle with security to get the file stitched, a few people pelted stones on their car, which resulted in its rear windshield breaking. Police brought the situation under control.



Sources in the court claimed that the advocates might come back again to file the petition, maybe on Tuesday.

A total of 406 policemen surrounded the court. Police Commissioner R Dilip himself was seen on the ground to ensure security, following the direction of the High Court to the Hubballi-Dharwad police to provide security for advocates who appear on behalf of the arrested Kashmiri students.
Week three in the 'Big Brother' house and still nothing has happened.

If politics often looks like some strange reality TV show, then the torpor which has descended on our elected representatives since we went to the polls back on February 8 means the scenes of boredom from 'Big Brother' are the ones that most immediately spring to mind.

But at least some parties are doing something and showing their base that they're not concerned with backroom deals and politicking.

Step forward Sinn Fein and its plan to hold a series of mass rallies this week, including tonight in Dublin's Liberty Hall.

Why? Well, nobody really knows.

Certainly, following a series of public relations disasters since the election, it desperately needs to get its message back on track.

According to Mary Lou McDonald: "The people voted for change on February 8 and Sinn Fein is determined to deliver on the desire of the people for a government of change."

But that still doesn't explain why a series of rallies - including one in Newry on the other side of the Border - will, in some Damascene moment, suddenly convince Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to start wooing it into a coalition.

As former Justice Minister Alan Shatter pointed out: "I don't think there is any precedent in Irish politics for a political party that has got 24.5pc of the vote holding a series of rallies to demand that they are part of government."

In terms of the bigger picture and the party's stated aims to use these gatherings to force the two main parties into talking to it, it hasn't a chance. But they are an undeniably good way of energising its supporters.

Few people in Sinn Fein would thank me for pointing this out, but the only other politician in recent memory who continued to hold rallies even after an election was Donald Trump.

In fact, there are certain similarities between the Sinn Fein surge and the Trump victory. Both relied on simple phrases. In Trump's case, it was 'Make America Great Again'. For Sinn Fein the mantra has been 'Change'.

It also tapped into a vast reservoir of public resentment which the political establishments had completely missed.

And guess what? They're still missing it.

While Sinn Fein busies itself with its own version of a tiki torch parade, the leading, centre parties should have had a plan in place.

Even before the election was held, you didn't need to be Nostradamus to figure out which way it was going to play. The Sinn Fein result was unexpected in its scale, but not in its essence.

Even before the first polling card was dropped into a ballot box, it was always looking to be a coalition between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, with the Greens holding the coats as the junior members of a three-way coalition.

While the parties bicker and play their own version of Lannigan's Ball, stepping in and then stepping out again, public irritation is growing at a wild rate and who could blame them?

Everyone accepts that we are going through an emergency at the moment; but as far as the political classes are concerned, it is an emergency with no urgency.

An opinion poll last week showed that nearly 50pc of the population would vote for any government which would do something, anything, to alleviate the housing crisis. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail picked up just short of a million votes and the onus is on them - and whoever else they can muster to make up the numbers - to stop their interminable bickering and do what they're so well paid for, to get back to work.

But the quotes from numerous unnamed TDs over the weekend don't augur well.

According to one Fianna Fail source: "Half the party will vote against going into coalition with Sinn Fein, the other half will vote against going into coalition with Fine Gael."

That is just not good enough. It's also precisely the kind of parochial arrogance which has turned so many people against the two parties.

Nobody other than a vestigial rump of either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael cares about their Civil War enmities - to borrow a phrase so popular with Sinn Fein, that's all in the past.

But what unites every Irish citizen, regardless of who we voted for, is a genuine concern about the future.

If anything, the situation has worsened since the election. We still have more than 10,000 homeless people. Patients in our hospitals still languish on trolleys.

Then, in news which will come as a surprise to precisely nobody, it emerged that we endure the fifth-longest commuting times of our European neighbours while Dublin is now the 17th most congested city in the world. The housing crisis has become so bad that even Naas is now considered part of the capital's commuter belt.

There may be more jobs available, but it doesn't feel like an improvement when people have to factor a journey of one or two hours to get into work, with the same unlovely prospect facing them when it's time to go home.

These are the painful realities of life in a country where the disconnect between the people and the political classes has never seemed so profound.

On top of that, Boris Johnson is living down to all our worst expectations. His sabre-rattling with the EU has become noisier in recent days. His decision to sack the popular Julian Smith as Northern Ireland Secretary sent shivers down the spine of all sides. Further, the fears that he could rip up the Withdrawal Agreement as he goes to diplomatic war with the EU are real and genuine.

That leaves us, once again, at the mercy of a UK/EU cat fight. These are the issues, not whether some ancient rivalries between the two main parties can be put aside for the greater good. And that is the crux of the matter - people vote for politicians to be public servants engaged in the greater good. Not for them to engage in a car-park standoff over who gets the most ministerial perks.

To the politicians, the people say this - get together and sort it out, and then start building houses. This paralysis is good for nobody.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 20:22:52|Editor: huaxia

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MALE, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Maldives Health Ministry on Tuesday said it had launched a national vaccination campaign against measles and rubella.

In a statement, quoted in local media reports, Health Minister Abdulla Ameen said national-level campaigns conducted in the past had successfully eradicated dangerous diseases during the time when modern resources were not available in the country.

He expressed belief the new vaccination campaign would once again eradicate measles from Maldives successfully.

He said the administration will ensure that all students across the country will be vaccinated under the campaign.

The Health Ministry said the campaign will be conducted over the next three months, targeting school children and individuals under the age of 40.

The campaign was launched in Male City, but the ministry said it will be conducted in the islands as well.

Measles had been officially eradicated from Maldives in 2017, before new cases were found last month. The Health Ministry said over 10,000 people have been vaccinated following the outbreak in January.
WASHINGTON  Senator Mitch McConnell is about to plunge the Senate into the nations culture wars with votes on bills to sharply restrict access to late-term abortions and threaten some doctors who perform them with criminal penalties, signaling that Republicans plan to make curbing a womans right to terminate a pregnancy a central theme of their re-election campaigns this year.

After months of shunning legislative activity in favor of confirming President Trumps judicial nominees  and a brief detour for the presidents impeachment trial  Mr. McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, is expected to bring the bills up for votes on Tuesday. Both lack the necessary 60-vote supermajority to advance, and the Senate has voted previously to reject them.

But by putting them on the floor again, Mr. McConnell hopes to energize the social conservatives who helped elect Mr. Trump and whose enthusiasm will be needed to help Republicans hold on to the Senate this year, while forcing vulnerable Democrats to take uncomfortable votes on bills that frame abortion as infanticide. The rhetoric around the measures is hot; Mr. Trump, for instance, has pointed to one of the bills to falsely assert that Democrats favor executing babies AFTER birth.

Mr. McConnell declined to be interviewed, though in past speeches he has said the legislation poses moral questions that Democrats must answer. And on Monday, noting that only seven countries allow the procedure after 20 weeks of pregnancy, he said the late-term abortion ban would bring our nations regard for the unborn off this sad and radical fringe and bring it more in line with the global mainstream.
The Block host Scott Cam was pictured on Friday smoking a cigarette at the show's $15million site in Melbourne.

The 57-year-old pulled out the tools to help tradesmen and women on set, before taking a smoke break.

It came after the new contestants of the show were revealed, with teams seen arriving to the site on Thursday.

Puffing away: The Block host Scott Cam took a break from helping out at the show's $15million site in Melbourne on Friday to smoke a cigarette... after the new contestants were revealed

Scott was seen on the day in a pair of beige shorts and a blue work shirt, which he teamed with brown boots and his tool belt.

He also wore a pair of glasses and could be seen holding a plank of wood as he walked.

Scotty helped build a wooden frame on one of the houses, being a professional carpenter with over 32 years of experience.

Working hard: The 57-year-old pulled out the tools to help tradesmen on set, before taking a smoke break

Builder's blue: Scott was seen on the day in a pair of beige shorts and a blue work shirt, which he teamed with brown boots and his tool belt

On ya, Scotty! Scotty helped build a wooden frame on one of the houses, being a professional carpenter with over 32 years of experience

Scotty first got his TV break when he was 37, when he appeared on Backyard Blitz back in 1999.

He first started hosting The Block back in 2010 and recently wrote on his blog how much he enjoys the role.

'Now I'm very lucky to be the host of The Block, a show I love to work on and hope to for more years to come.'

Meanwhile, the new contestants of The Block 2020 have been revealed.

He knows what he's doing! Scotty first got his TV break when he was 37, when he appeared on Backyard Blitz back in 1999. He first started hosting The Block back in 2010 and wrote on his blog how much he enjoys the role

Coming soon! Meanwhile, the new contestants of The Block 2020 have been revealed

Teams were spotted arriving on site on Thursday.

Five new teams introduced themselves to each other with wide smiles as they lugged their bags towards the weatherboard houses that they will be working on in coming weeks.

It is believed that filming began on the day, and will continue until May. It comes after neighbours were left in uproar over the development.

It's back: Teams were spotted arriving on site on Thursday. It is believed that filming began on the day, and will continue until May

Locals in Brighton, Melbourne, were in uproar last year over the new Block site, fearing that production of the show would 'ruin' their suburb.

Earlier last month, five run-down homes being transported onto the 2,761-square metre building site on New Street.

Producers had originally bought the land for $15million in April but renovations seem to have only started recently.

Making headlines: Locals in Brighton, Melbourne, were in uproar last year over the new Block site, fearing that production of the show would 'ruin' their suburb

Ready for a makeover: Earlier last month, five run-down homes being transported onto the 2,761-square metre building site on New Street

Pricey! The Andrina Nursing Home was based at the address until 2014, before it was knocked down with developers hoping to build 13 luxury townhouses. After these plans eventually fell through and the site was left empty for years, Nine's MicJoy Pty Ltd purchased the spot in April 2019 for $14.96million

Hands on: 'Now I'm very lucky to be the host of The Block, a show I love to work on and hope to for more years to come,' Scotty previously said of his time on the show

The Andrina Nursing Home was based at the address until 2014, before it was knocked down with developers hoping to build 13 luxury townhouses.

After these plans eventually fell through and the site was left empty for years, Nine's MicJoy Pty Ltd purchased the spot in April 2019 for $14.96million.

According to Domain, the company's application mentioned 'relocating five homes to the site' - similar to the show's 2017 season in Elsternwick.

Bigger than ever! According to Domain, the company's application mentioned 'relocating five homes to the site' - similar to the show's 2017 season in Elsternwick
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 07:38:18|Editor: Liu

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SANTIAGO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chile's President Sebastian Pinera on Monday called on Chileans to unite in favor of a "major agreement for democracy, against violence and for peace," amid ongoing social unrest.

"The cooperation of all Chileans of goodwill will contribute to healing the wounds and allowing Chile to resume the road to democracy, progress, justice and peace," Pinera said, after returning from vacation and meeting with his cabinet.

The president called on lawmakers to work on passing a series of reforms aimed at meeting protesters' demands, including raising the minimum wage.

Pinera's administration has also introduced bills to strengthen law and order, as well as allow the deployment of troops to shield critical infrastructure, such as hospitals, airports, power stations and potable water plants, during protests.

Demonstrations initially broke out in last October against a hike in subway fares in the capital Santiago, then spread across the country as Chileans expressed their discontent with the high cost of living, lack of public services and growing inequality.

Following months of often violent anti-government demonstrations, officials are bracing for another nationwide protest in March to continue pressing for better public services.

In response, Pinera's administration has organized a plebiscite in April on whether or not to change the Constitution to better address the growing wealth gap in one of Latin America's leading economies.

"Our government is going to guarantee this plebiscite, and it is also going to respect the decision that Chileans freely and independently make on April 26," said Pinera.
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kathleen Doherty, a career diplomat with the U.S. Foreign Service and a former ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus, has joined the senior leadership team of The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands as chief strategy and retreats officer.

Doherty is in charge of strategy, development, and implementation of the high-level retreats and meetings that have become a hallmark of the Trust that the late Ambassadors Walter and Leonore Annenberg founded at their 200-acre winter estate in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

Kathleen Doherty, chief strategy and retreats officer at The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands

"Sunnylands is making a difference as we address some of the greatest challenges of the day. It is a unique place for people to gather, to exchange ideas, and to come up with solutions. I am very happy to join the leadership team of Sunnylands," said Doherty, who began her new post on Feb. 10. She will work out of Sunnylands offices in Washington, D.C. and Rancho Mirage, Calif.

In a 30-year career with the State Department, Doherty was most recently a dean of the Foreign Service Institute, the nation's premier training facility for U.S. diplomats. From September 2015 to February 2019, she was the U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus. She also has served in senior leadership positions in the U.S. embassies in Rome, Moscow, and London, and in Washington, D.C.

"As a well-respected ambassador, Kathleen brings a deep level of international relations and negotiating experience to our retreat program," said Sunnylands President David J. Lane, who added that Doherty also will oversee activities related to global brand strategy and communications. "We couldn't be more thrilled to have her aboard."

Renowned as a venue for international diplomacy, Sunnylands convenes experts from around the globe for meetings and retreats that address an array of diplomatic and societal issues, from U.S.-China relations to hunger in fragile states. Recent events included a gathering that reunited luminaries of the civil rights movement; high-level meetings on the future of food systems; and deliberations among leading thinkers in the Indo-Pacific and Latin American regions.

Sunnylands hosted three head-of-state visits during President Barack Obama's tenure in the White House, including a two-day summit with President Xi Jinping of China in 2013. Previously, seven U.S. presidents had visited Sunnylands during the Annenbergs' lifetimes. The estate remains available to the U.S. president and secretary of state as a meeting place for world leaders to promote peace and international agreement.

The Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands

The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands, which operates The Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands and Sunnylands Center & Gardens, is a nonprofit operating entity. The Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands hosts high-level retreats that address serious issues facing the nation and the world. Sunnylands also offers programs through Sunnylands Center & Gardens to educate the public about the history of Sunnylands, its architecture, art collections, cultural significance, and sustainable practices.

SOURCE The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands

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http://www.sunnylands.org


Two suspected yahoo boys, a native doctor and kidnapper were on Monday killed and burnt by residents of Otuo community in Owan East local government area of Edo State.

The four persons were accused of killing a 17-year-old girl, Ohiole Glory, who was a student of Azama College, Otuo.

Sources said the victim, who was expected to write her WAEC and NECO later this year, lived in the same compound with the two suspected yahoo boys at Ikhueran Quarters Iyeu Otuo.

It was alleged that she was lured into the room of one of the boys where she was killed and her vital organs were harvested.

The source said one of the suspects popularly known as No Fuck Up was nabbed through investigation and he named his associates after severe beatings.

He was said to have been dragged to the Otuo Divisional Police Headquarters and killed in the presence of policemen and his corpse set ablaze.

A second suspect was allegedly caught few hours later and he was set ablaze.

It was gathered that the third suspect was later nabbed and after interrogation, he said they were sent by a female native doctor from Kogi State.

He reportedly told them she was supposed to use the human parts severed from the victim to perform a ritual for them.

She was picked up at her residence, killed and set ablaze along with the third suspect.

We gathered that besides the killing of the suspects, some buildings owned by families of the suspects were razed down.

When contacted, Edo Police Commissioner, Jimeta Lawan said he has been briefed by the Divisional Police Officer.

Lawan said operatives of the State Criminal Investigative Department (SCID) are carrying out thorough Investigation of the matter.
Reports say interim prime minister is eyeing unity government but the possibility for new elections also emerge.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  The political guessing game continues in Malaysia a day after Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamads abrupt resignation, prolonging the atmosphere of uncertainty in the nation of more than 30 million people.

While Mahathir stays on as premier in an interim capacity without a cabinet, efforts are under way on Tuesday to find the countrys next leader.

Now there are questions whether the 94-year-old leader will make another comeback, or will his would-be successor, Anwar Ibrahim, cobble enough support from a fractious coalition to become the next prime minister.

But the possibility of a dissolution of the parliament, which paves the way for new elections has also emerged.

Malaysias king is holding meetings with all members of parliament on Tuesday and Wednesday to determine who the majority wants to support and form a new government.

The king will be meeting all 222 MPs to find out who they support as PM. The person who has the support of at least 112 MPs will be the most likely one to be appointed as PM, a senior member of Mahathirs Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) coalition explained to Al Jazeera.

In the meantime, Mahathir runs the government with the kings backing and the help of civil servants, Kadir Jasin, Mahathirs media adviser, said.

On Tuesday, Mahathirs office confirmed that he met leaders of different parties across Malaysias political divide, including Anwar, as well as the opposition.

Reuters news agency is also reporting that he is proposing to lead a unity government, but it is unclear which political blocs would be willing to join such an arrangement.

On Tuesday night, UMNO, the main opposition party, has rejected a unity government with Mahathir, adding that its members favour a dissolution of parliament that would pave the way for a general election.





Mahathirs decision to resign came on Monday, following Sundays events in the outskirts of the capital, Kuala Lumpur, where some politicians from his ruling coalition and members of the opposition tried to forge an alternative group in a bid to deny Anwar the premiership.

In response, other members of the ruling coalition, including Anwars party, rallied behind Mahathir to continue as prime minister.

However, Mahathirs party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, bolted from the coalition alongside 11 renegade members of Anwars PKR party  the same group accused of instigating the political turmoil.

Asked whether Mahathir will have enough support to stay in power, Kadir, his media adviser, said: If you look at the number of MPs from different parties who have pledged their support to him, it looks like he has good support. But at the end of the day, it is still left to be seen.

Anwars uncertain future

The confusion has also left Anwar in a precarious position, despite a previous promise by Mahathir that he will turn over the premiership to his coalition partner.

Mohd Faizal Musa, a research fellow at the Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation at the National University of Malaysia, said the current political atmosphere is unfavourable to Anwar.

A figure with leadership qualities should also be one who has solid, undivided support from his party, Faizal said, pointing out that the PKR is being split into two factions.

Meanwhile, Xavier Jeyakumar, a PKR member and former cabinet minister, rejected outright the reported proposal of Mahathir to form a unity government.

We registered Pakatan Harapan, which was the majority in parliament. I do not know why we want to form a unity government. The people voted, and Pakatan was given the mandate.

The electoral reform group, Bersih 2.0 also issued a statement on Tuesday saying that it opposes such a plan as it goes against the spirit of democracy.

Having a unity government would mean there would be no parties to do effective check and balances to hold the government accountable.





As this developed, the senior coalition member, who earlier spoke to Al Jazeera on the condition of anonymity, said a new prime minister needs to be appointed as soon as possible. Otherwise, the country would be plagued by uncertainty which would not be good for the economy and stability.

The political drama led to huge selling in the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange on Tuesday.

Ratings giant Moodys Investors Service said Mahathirs resignation weighs on private investment and if prolonged, it will compound growth challenges and add downside risks to the countrys credit profile.

The latest political developments usher in a period of uncertainty for the country, because it is unclear as to how or when a new government will be formed, said Moodys analyst, Christian Fang, in a statement on Tuesday morning.

Malaysians should realize that @AzminAli has put his own political ambitions above the interest of the nation. At the moment when we are facing serious economic challenges, his 'move' has put the economic stimulus package in jeopardy  Ong Kian Ming  (@imokman) February 24, 2020

Moodys expects Malaysias 2020 real GDP growth to slow down to 4.2 percent from a 10-year low of 4.3 percent in 2019, with downside risks from ongoing global trade tensions as well as the coronavirus outbreak, which has also affected the country.

Return of the old regime?

Events in recent days have angered many Malaysians, who saw attempts to form a new government as a backdoor strategy for the old regime to regain power.

The 14th general elections [in 2018] was unprecedented in Malaysias history, as people came out in force to vote for change and rejected the corrupt and divisive politics of the past, Melissa Sasidaran, director of Lawyers for Liberty, said.

While Mahathirs coalition has faced some challenges, she said progress was also being made.

Unfortunately, the coalition has also been tainted by the relentless tussle for power, Sasidaran added, urging the elected members of parliament to prevent the country from reverting to the old corrupt and divisive politics that we voted to leave behind.
Exactly 22 years ago, James Camerons Titanic dropped only to become an iconic movie till eternity. No, this is not even an exaggeration and if you feel otherwise, then consider yourself a rare breed. Titanic is a class apart. Period. This 1997 film went on to bag 11 Oscars, including Best Picture. Not only that, it also launched the two biggest A-listers of Hollywood - Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

empire

Despite the whole debate around fiction vs reality, this movie is loved by all. It is not just another movie but a magical experience, a go-to flick for every mood. It wont be wrong to say that even for the generations to come, this will take no time to become a special part of their existence. What makes it so special is that even after several reruns, one keeps going back? Its not really hard to decode the reasons. Scroll!

1. In the words of Leo aka Jack Dawson - Make Each Day Count!

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True words have never been spoken! Remember the scene, when the so-called elite tried to put Jack down at the dinner table, making fun of his status and background? Our hero took it all in his stride and imparted words of wisdom that are nothing short of a life lesson. To rise above socioeconomic labels and embracing minimalism - living life with only the essentials sounds like a great idea, doesnt it?

He said,

I got everything I need right here with me. I got air in my lungs, a few blank sheets of paper. I mean, I love waking up in the morning not knowing what's gonna happen or, who I'm gonna meet, where I'm gonna wind up. Just the other night I was sleeping under a bridge and now here I am on the grandest ship in the world having champagne with you fine people. I figure life's a gift and I don't intend on wasting it. You don't know what hand you're gonna get dealt next. You learn to take life as it comes at you... to make each day count.

Whats more, after the moving speech the way he slipped a note to Rose which read,"Make it count. Meet me at the clock" was definitely swoon-worthy

2. It subtly touched on the topic of mental health, when it wasnt even a major concern for many.

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The scene where Rose is ready to give up on her life despite having it all makes way more sense now, doesn't it? Cameron showcased the downside of an unstable mind back in 1997 when most people didnt even know that they had such issues! One hour into the film and Rose was on the verge of committing suicide - Why? Because she felt trapped in that superficial world. No one understood her, not even her own mother. Despite all those riches, she was dealing with an overbearing and critical mother and an abusive fiance. It proved that money isnt everything. The way James Cameron addressed the issue of mental health so boldly in the film deserves all the praise in the world.

3. Money does not signify class, your mannerisms do. Period.

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Jack Dawson was shown as this low-class man who had no inkling of where his next meal was coming from. He had no fixed deposits, no direction in life. However, that did not reflect in the way he conducted himself. On one hand he was teaching Rose how to spit and on the other, he showed how to court a woman respectfully. He might not be perfect but he was respectable in every sense of the world, a quality that needs to be inculcated in every modern man.

4. Not just Rose and Jack, Titanic had several shades of love

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From repentance on Rose moms face when she finds out that the ship has sunk with her daughter on-board to that old couple Mr and Mrs Strauss welcoming death in each others arms to that father promising his daughter that hell take the next boat, love was all around albeit different forms. Remember that scene when Thomas Andrews, the maker of the ship remorsefully tells Rose that he couldnt make an unsinkable ship for her and then gives her his life-jacket? Did you feel that underlying emotion in that very scene? Molly aka Margaret Brown, who was disliked by the ladies had motherly love for Jack when she gave him her late sons suit. These little nuances werent just mere details but wide range of emotions and Cameron depicted them beautifully.

5. The signature - Im flying, Jack pose!

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This iconic scene has been recreated by everyone. From celebs to commoners, every individual has enacted this pose at least once in their lifetime, if not more. The sheer beauty of the scene lies in the fact that such a small thing brought so much happiness to not only the couple but even the onlookers in that film. And then the first kiss that followed has been etched in everyones memories. That one moment basically represents the film.

6. The great message of resilience, loyalty and unconditional love

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The film had such strong characters that it was hard to appreciate each one of them at that time. However, after several reruns most of us value and understand characters other than the main leads as well. For instance, the string quartet playing amid the sinking ship instead of saving their own lives. Even after disbanding they return to one another and continue playing. The need to play for the passengers and their own sakes is something that cannot be explained in words. The feeling of belongingness and the sense of loyalty to the ship and each other is shown beautifully. Jacks You Jump, I Jump dialogue, the Captain of the ship accepting his fate or crew member Murdoch shooting a passenger because he incited panic and then shooting himself after doing so, each and every moment gave a message.

7. Jack truly represented the ideal man that each and every girl deserves.

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Even though it was a young love for both Jack and Rose, it was real in true sense. He put her first and encouraged her to push her limits. From their first encounter on the deck to reminding her to be herself and not someone that the society expects, he taught her to live life the way she wants to. He told her that she would die slowly if she didnt break free (from her mom and fiance Cal,) and that the fire inside her will burn out eventually

8. The action, the parties and the background score - it had something for everyone

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Did you know that the movie was 195 minutes long? You never felt the long duration of it, did you? Thats probably because it had so much to offer and I might be going out on a limb but there was hardly a dull moment. It was so gripping because it had so much to offer. While the first half was the buildup for what was supposed to come along with Jack and Rose blossoming love and the underground merriment, the second half felt like we were actually living the nightmare with them. The sinking of the ship still manages to give goosebumps.

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The OST of the film is something that is still fresh in the minds of everyone. Celine Dion won hearts with her soulful track My Heart Will Go On. Basically, James Cameron hit the nail right on the head with this movie which went on to become the most successful film of all time.

9. The debate around how Jack could have been saved if Rose had scooched over

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For years at end, people debated over how Rose could have saved Jacks life by making room for him on that wooden door. Obviously, if we go by the logic and science behind it, there was this whole issue of balancing out the weight distribution properly, but a lot of people were disappointed that she didnt even volunteer to switch places with him for some time at least. This was the kind of vested interest that people had in the movie. Whats more, even Kate Winslet who played the leading lady said that Jacks death was ridiculous. On the Jimmy Kimmel show, she had said,

"There was plenty of room on the raft. I know, I know. I agree, I think he could have actually fitted on that bit of door."

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Well, this day definitely calls for yet another rerun of this fabulous film. And Monday movie night seems like a great plan, right? Bring out some wine and popcorn and relive this magnificent tale once again.

(Image courtesy: Ranak Mann)
The planned digital tax, a new bill that could impact encryption, developments on U.S. Googles antitrust case and Amazons challenge of the JEDI contract and other news is covered in this article. Here are the details-



Digital Tax



OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria set the tone for the G20 meeting in Riyadh when he said, "A coordinated answer is not the better way forward but, given the alternatives, the only way forward. Multilateralism has proven to be the most effective model on international tax management." While the summit is a regular occurrence that the worlds 20 largest economies use to discuss economic issues, digital tax was the hottest topic this year.



Most of the G20 agree that there should be a global consensus on how huge multinational digital companies like Alphabet GOOGL, Microsoft MSFT, Apple AAPL and Amazon AMZN are taxed. They are looking to have a basic framework by July and a full draft by year-end.



The main thing standing in the way is the U.S. election and the fact that most of these big companies are American. This puts the pressure, to a considerable extent on Washington, which doesnt really want to make a major change like this heading into the elections.



U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said, Let me emphasize: in the U.S., depending upon what the solutions are, these may require congressional approval. This seems to indicate that the issue wouldnt be resolved within the planned timeframe and could drag on.



As regards the U.S. call for a safe harbor, which France and Japan among others voiced doubts about because it appears to give companies the option to stick with the old system or choose the new one, he said, What a safe harbor is -- and theres lots of safe harbors that exist -- you pay the safe harbor as opposed to paying something else, and you get tax certainty, he said. People may pay a little bit more in a safe harbor knowing they have tax certainty.



France appeared appeased by this and said it was open to a phased implementation to help companies with compliance.



New Bill Threatens Encryption



The bill, proposed by the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, titled "The Eliminating Abuse and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act of 2019," or the "EARN IT Act," threatens the key immunity companies have under federal law called Section 230 unless they comply with certain "best practices," to be determined by a 15-member commission led by the Attorney General.



Section 230 indemnifies online platforms distributing publishers content from substance of that content that doesnt meet legal standards. Legislators are increasingly of the opinion that these protections offered to technology companies to help them grow have now become a liability, helping the spread of things like child porn, online crime, hate speech, violence and extremism. So they now want to remove this.



Technology companies and people/organizations backing them are concerned about the best practices because they feel it might discourage end-to-end encryption that has been vital for user privacy and a pain for law enforcement.



Jesse Blumenthal, leading technology and innovation at Stand Together, funded by billionaire Charles Koch, said, "This a deeply dangerous and flawed piece of legislation that will put every American's security at risk... it is deeply irresponsible to try to undermine security for online communications." Moreover, "There is no such thing as a back door just for good guys that does not create a front door for bad guys."



Google Antitrust Probe Update



Google has reached agreement with the 48 Attorneys General led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over the hiring of experts in their antitrust investigation of the company.



Even after providing 100,000 pages of information, the Attorneys General claimed that Google wasnt cooperating with them, simply because it was asking for certain restraints on how the experts were serving its competitors. These restraints are necessary because an investigation would include sensitive competitive information that shouldnt get into the hands of its competitors.



Google was particularly concerned about the states hiring of consultants like Cristina Caffarra, an economist with Charles River Associates, who has worked with its competitors and vocal critics News Corp, Microsoft and also Russias Yandex.



Following the agreement, Paxton released a statement saying that With this agreement, experts retained by the state will not be burdened with the unreasonable prohibitions sought by Google. They will be able to lend their important expertise to the state without fear of being frozen out of other employment within their field.



Amazon Seeks Pentagon Records



After seeking permission to question President Trump, Defense Secretary Mark Esper, former Defense Secretary James Mattis and the Pentagons chief information officer Dana Deasy, Bloomberg reports that Amazon is now seeking some confidential Pentagon documents explaining the circumstances that led to Esper recusing himself from making decisions.



Amazon alleges that Stacy Cummings, a deputy assistant secretary of defense who recused herself from the proceedings in Sep 2019, was also involved in the procurement. So its seeking her communications with the JEDI decision-making team, especially the meetings in which Esper was involved. Government lawyers have earlier argued via a filing that Amazon is not entitled to all the materials its asking for and that Cummings had a conflict of interest with Microsoft, that didnt impact the procurement.



Amazon also wants the informal notes between selection team members on digital channels and procurement documents presented to Esper and Deputy Secretary David Norquist.



It was reported that the circumstances of Espers withdrawal were a little strange, so Amazon was always expected to challenge it. But whether its enough to change the decision altogether in Amazons favor is something the courts will have to decide.



Google Sued for Collecting Childrens Data



This is the second time Google has been hauled up in as many years for violating childrens rights to privacy. The last time it was because YouTube was collecting personal information on underage children without requisite parental consent. YouTube ultimately had to cough up $170 million to settle with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).



This time around, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas has alleged that the company is spying on school children under the age of 13 and protected by the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act without verifiable parental consent.



The lawsuit says that through its Chromebooks and related educational software, Google is lapping up information such as physical locations, websites visited, videos watched, saved passwords and even contact lists. Brian McMath, assistant to Balderas said that while schools were transmitting the data to Google, there wasnt any evidence suggesting that Google actually used that information for commercial purposes. Nevertheless, the fact that the company is collecting the data without permission is something to be concerned about.



Google maintains that there hasnt been any wrongdoing. Its spokesman Jose Castaneda said, "G Suite for Education allows schools to control account access and requires that schools obtain parental consent when necessary," although the FTC earlier found that school districts, which control access and use of the resources usually provide the necessary parental consent.



Amazon's Bigger Cashierless Store



Amazon is all set to launch a new format of its cashierless store, this time in residential rather than office areas. The first of these is in Seattle's Capitol Hill.



The goal for these bigger stores, called Amazon Go Grocery, is to target householders who are more likely to shop groceries than quick meals, a market dominated by companies like Kroger.



But the specialty is same as in the smaller convenience stores, i.e., Amazon lets you check into the store with a smartphone app, so you can pick off the shelves (or put back, youll only be charged for what you dont put back) and then walk out. Amazon will charge your saved cards, so there will be no waiting in cue to pay.



Amazons VP of physical retail and technology explained how the company is going about this business: "Our goal is to be able to figure out how to be relevant for customers in whichever neighborhood that we're in. If we do a good job, good things happen. If we don't, we course-correct."



Apples Chinese Store Re-openings



Apple has re-opened 29 of its 42 Chinese stores although they will be manned by fewer staff and wont operate the usual business hours. Some will be open for as little as 8 of the normal 12 hours. In certain other cases, the stores will return to normal working hours by the end of this week.



Apples China sales, especially of its iPhones, have a significant impact on its overall results. The company has already warned that it wont make the guided numbers. And although stores are beginning to open again, the coronavirus fears have far from subsided. In fact, new cases are being discovered every day. In that backdrop, and considering that the manufacturing base is also within the country, the impact on Apples business will continue longer than initially expected.



HP Playing for Higher Stakes



As Chief Executive Officer Enrique Lores said in an interview, HP HPQ is 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.



And the company thinks that the $18.40 in cash and 0.149 Xerox shares that Xerox is offering for each HP share isnt a good deal. It also thinks that since 10% of the businesses overlap, the merger is likely to result in a billion dollars of savings and not $2 billion, as estimated by Xerox executives. Xerox, pushed by activist investor Carl Icahn, has also nominated 11 candidates for HPs board and started a proxy fight as it attempts a hostile takeover.



So, in order to discourage shareholders, HP pointed to strong recent results and said that it would return $15 billion to shareholders in buybacks, up from the $5 billion promised in October, which will also raise the adjusted EPS from $3.25 to $3.65. It expects an 8 cent impact on profits from the coronavirus in the current quarter.



Facebook to Pay Users for Voice Recordings



Apple, Amazon, Google and Facebook FB have all been caught red-handed recording user conversations. While the purpose was innocent enough, to improve speech recognition and thereby the service offered through their assistants, the fact that they didnt do it with user permission got them in trouble.



Now Facebook is offering a tiny reward to selected users with more than 75 contacts if they successfully record the words Hey Portal followed by the first name of a friend from their friends list. Doing this 10X gets them 200 points on the Pronunciations program in its newly-launched Viewpoints market research app. Points are redeemed at $5 per 1,000.



So, nothing exciting, but it achieves permission and consent for data use as everyone wanted of these companies.



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Last year, it generated $24 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $77.6 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.



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New Delhi, Feb 25 : For nearly one hour, US First Lady Melania Trump had the first-hand experience of the Delhi government's much-talked about 'happiness curriculum' at Sarvodaya School in South Moti Bagh, here on Tuesday.

The US first Lady was accorded a traditional welcome with 'aarti' and was garlanded by students. Sporting a tilak, Melania Trump spent the time at a classroom and watched 24 students and their teachers seeking nothing but happiness.

Siddharth, one of the students in the class, said the First Lady enquired about mindfulness and also the activities in happiness classes.

A girl students told IANS, "During the session, we had to express gratitude to someone. I expressed my respect towards the class teacher. She (Melania Trump) enquired whom did I thank and why." She played puzzles with students, and also briefly occupied the class teacher's chair and quizzed them. Paintings and stickers in the classroom, depicting human behaviour, caught her attention. She was impressed with thrust on compassion and empathy as part of the happiness curriculum.

"I can't think of a better way to start our day with than this," the First Lady said and added, she was "inspired" by the happiness curriculum. She advised students to be "good to each other" throughout their life and thanked teachers for inculcating good values in them.

While students were performing bhangra dance, one student -- Gaganjit -- started dancing spontaneously on the beats, much to the First Lady's amusement. While her security apparatus went into tizzy, Melania Trump enjoyed it thoroughly. As the cameras caught Gaganjit dancing away to glory, the First Lady could be seen laughing and clapping for him.

Before leaving, she wished students success and obliged almost everyone who walked up to her to shake hands. She also thanked the educators for their efforts. "I want to thank all educators for setting a positive example and giving skills, knowledge to students," said the US First Lady.

As part of the programme, students are taught various activities, like mindfulness, plays, and anxiety reducing techniques.

Launched in 2018, the 'happiness curriculum' was intended to shift focus from marks-oriented learning to art-based learning that not just teaches good behaviour but also helps in dealing with regular stress.

Slovenian-born model-turned-social activist, Melania, 50, moved to the US in 1996 and is the only First Lady to become a naturalised US citizen. Mother of Barron Trump, Melania spends a lot of time on her campaign against drug abuse and for the well-being of children. On her foreign trips, she often visits hospitals and schools.

On her visit, a proud Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted: "Welcome to our school @FLOTUS! We hope you would have a great time here in #HappinessClass It's just 18 months old initiative, but early results have made us confident that @HappinessDelhi is the ultimate solution to all violence & hate in mindsets that we r facing worldwide." However, the event didn't go without its share of controversies.

When the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) cried foul over omission of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Sisodia's name from the Melania Trump's visit to the school, the US embassy in New Delhi said, while it "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".

"It's best to ensure focus on education, school and students," said an embassy spokesperson.
The body of Punjab Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) vice-president's brother was found near a school in Gurdaspur district's Batala on Tuesday, police said.

Mukesh Nayyar (38), a commission agent in the local vegetable market and brother of Ramesh Nayyar, was killed at Bhandari locality on Monday night, the police said, suspecting it to be a case of robbery.

Senior Superintendent of Police Opinderjit Singh Ghuman said it was too early to say anything as assailants decamped with a bag carrying hefty amount of money in it.

The SSP denied any target killing behind the incident.

Mukesh Nayyar had grievous injuries on his head and neck as he was attacked with sharp-edged weapons, according to the officer.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 02:50:50|Editor: yan

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GENEVA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The first COVID-19 case in Switzerland has been confirmed in the southern part of the country bordering Italy, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) said on Tuesday.

The male patient, who was in his 70s and from Ticino canton bordering Italy, was in Italy on Feb. 15 to attend an event near Milan, and the first symptoms appeared two days later, according to FOPH. His infection was confirmed in a lab test in Geneva.

The patient, having remained with his family ever since, is now in isolation at a clinic in Lugano, Ticino canton.

FOPH said that cantonal and federal authorities will identify other people who may have been in contact with the patient in order to quarantine and monitor them for the next 14 days.

According to FOPH, this first COVID-19 case in Switzerland does not change the risk assessment -- COVID-19 currently represents only a moderate risk for the Swiss population.

Medical establishments in the country are ready to carry out early detection and diagnostic examination of suspected cases as well as to care for other sick people.

According to the Swiss Interior Ministry, around 300 suspected COVID-19 cases have so far been tested in Switzerland, without any confirmed cases until now.

FOPH officials said there were currently 70 suspected cases being tested in Switzerland, including several in the cantons of Bern and Basel, but only a small number in Ticino canton. Test results will be known in the coming hours.

The Swiss authorities announced Monday that they were beefing up measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from neighboring Italy, and that the situation in Switzerland is under control.

FOPH said Swiss Federal Councilor Alain Berset met in Rome with the health ministers of Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Croatia and Slovenia on Tuesday to strengthen cross-border collaboration to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
Protesters seeking statehood for



the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra staged a 'Rail-Roko' (railway blockade) agitation here on Tuesday.

The budget session of the Maharashtra legislature is currently underway in Mumbai.

Protesters gathered at Manish Nagar railway crossing under the banner of the Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti (VRAS).

They shouted slogans demanding separate Vidarbha state and also reduction in power tariff in the region.

Some of them were detained by the police before being released.

In a press release, VRAS demanded that the BJP fulfill its promise of creating a separate state of Vidarbha.

The Samiti had called for a shut-down across Vidarbha on May 1, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
If conservatives are genuinely frightened by Sanderss proposed downward redistribution of wealth, they might consider the sort of redistribution practiced by Trump  in particular, the many ways Trump has used his office to redistribute taxpayer dollars into his own pocket. Just last week, during a tour of western states, Trump elected to fly his entourage back to his hotel in Las Vegas each night rather than stay in the other cities he was visiting. Whatever Sanderss flaws, at least he doesnt try to steal everything thats not nailed down.
BEIJING - A court in eastern China has sentenced a Swedish seller of books that took a skeptical look at the ruling Communist Party to 10 years in prison for illegally providing intelligence overseas, in a further sign of Beijings hard line toward its critics.

Gui Minhai first disappeared in 2015, when he was believed to have been abducted by Chinese agents from his seaside home in Thailand. He and four others who worked for the same Hong Kong publishing company all went missing at around the same time, only to turn up months later in police custody in mainland China.

The Ningbo Intermediate Peoples Court announced Tuesday that it gave Gui, a naturalized Swedish citizen, a 10-year prison sentence. Gui admitted to his crime, agreed with the sentence and will not appeal, the court said.

Human rights groups have repeatedly accused China of extracting forced confessions from individuals it perceives to be opponents of the Communist Partys rule.

For years, Gui sold gossipy books about Chinese leaders in the semi-autonomous Chinese city of Hong Kong. His was among a spate of high-profile disappearances that stirred unease over the central governments growing reach in Hong Kong, a former British colony that has been promised greater democratic rights than are afforded the mainland.

China maintains tight control over all information and brooks no criticism of its ruling Communist Party. It has detained scores of lawyers, writers and public intellectuals. In recent months, police have reprimanded medical workers who warned about the ongoing outbreak of a new virus that originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

The court claims that Gui, who was born in Ningbo, applied to reinstate his Chinese citizenship in 2018. That would mean renouncing his Swedish citizenship, as China does not officially allow dual citizenship.

He was initially released into house arrest in Ningbo, then police detained him once again while he and two Swedish diplomats were on a train together bound for Beijing.

We have noted the reports and are now seeking official confirmation about the case, the Swedish Foreign Ministry said in an email to The Associated Press. We have consistently made it clear that we demand Gui Minhai be released so that he can be reunited with his daughter and family.

The Foreign Ministry said Sweden was not given access to the trial, and that officials there were unable to review the indictment or offer Gui access to legal counsel.

We demand  once again  that we immediately be given consular access, the ministry said.

Guis arrest has been a source of friction between Beijing and Stockholm as well as between China and the European Union, which said in a statement that it has raised the case with Chinese authorities on numerous occasions, both in private and publicly, including at the highest level, and will continue to do so.

We demand Gui Minhais release, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde told Swedens public broadcaster SVT.

She stressed that Sweden will use all diplomatic tools to protest.

We have the right to gain access to Swedish citizens, Linde told SVT. We have demanded it, but didnt get it.

She later told a news conference in Berlin that the Chinese ambassador to Sweden had been summoned to the Foreign Ministry to reiterate our demand that Gui Minhai be immediately released and that we immediately are getting consular access and also the possibility for a Swedish doctor to see Gui Minhai.

Repeating an assertion often made by Beijing when its judicial system faces scrutiny, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a daily briefing, China is a country ruled by law.

Gui Minhais legal rights and interests have been fully protected, Zhao said, adding that China opposes outside interference into its internal affairs.

Amnesty Internationals China researcher Patrick Poon said the verdict demonstrated that the Chinese authorities are not letting the coronavirus crisis distract them from repressing dissidents.

Despite the authorities claim that Gui has somehow handed over intelligence while in their custody, the reason for his targeting almost certainly relates to his attempted trip to Beijing with two Swedish diplomats in 2018, Poon said in an emailed statement.

___

Olsen reported from Copenhagen, Denmark. Associated Press writer Kerstin Sopke in Berlin contributed to this report.
SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. - Two illegal cannabis grows were shut down in Shasta County over the past few months by wildlife officers from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

On Monday some details were shared about a bust in Lakehead that occurred on Feb. 11, and one in Anderson that occurred on Jan. 30. The two sites may be connected to each other, according to Fish and Wildlife officers.

Warrants leading to the busts were based on suspected environmental violations associated with illegal commercial cannabis cultivation. Support for the warrant searched was provided by the U.S. Forest Service, Central Valley Regional Water Board, and Shasta County Environmental Health Division and Code Enforcement.

Neither site in Shasta County was in an area where commercial cultivation is allowed. Officers said no steps were taken to secure state licenses for the locations. Shasta County does not allow outdoor commercial cannabis cultivation, but there are a small number of permitted and licensed indoor cannabis grows in incorporated areas.

In Lakehead on Feb. 11, 2020 officers located structures with wooden floors on raised cinder blocks which held 4,302 cannabis plants and 24 pounds of processed cannabis.

Two illegal diversions were identified by scientists from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. They also said they found huge amounts of garbage near a waterway and evidence of a registered pesticide being applied to the plants, which is prohibited for use on cannabis and food productions. Improperly stored diesel fuel may have impacted groundwater and nearby tributaries.

In Anderson on Jan. 30, 2020 officers found 2,947 cannabis plants and 151 pounds of processed cannabis in structures similar to those found in Lakehead.

Officers also discovered several hundred gallons of illegal stored diesel fuel which they said had been discharging into the soil and had the potential to reach groundwater and nearby tributaries.

Officers said they did not find any dead of impaired wildlife but said they are continuing to monitor for the latent effects of the petroleum spill.

Four men and three women were detained during the operation, and according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, a formal complaint is being filed with the Shasta County District Attorney's Office for illegal cultivation and other multiple violations of the Health and Safety and Fish and Game codes. Other county violations may be included in charges out of the D.A.'s office.

David Bess, Deputy Director and Chief of the CDFW Law Enforcement Division said, "Illegal cannabis grows put compliant cannabis operators at a disadvantage and can be extremely harmful to the environment.'

"Black market cultivation will not be tolerated in California and those engaging in this behavior should take notice," warned Chief Bess.

You can report environmental crimes such as water pollution, water diversions and poaching to the CalTIP hotline by calling (888) 334-2258. CLICK HERE to learn more about CDFW's role in commercial cannabis cultivation.
The new Defra Secretary has refused to give a cast-iron guarantee that the UK will not import chlorinated chicken under any trade deal with the US.

George Eustice refused to give a firm commitment that the government will not allow food produced to lower standards to enter the UK under a US trade deal.

As part of an interview with Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Mr Eustice initially refused twice to rule out the UK accepting chlorinated chicken or hormone beef.

Pressed a third time to make the commitment, he said the government 'won't make any moves on standards'.

"We will be projecting our views on animal welfare on the international stage," he said.

"Weve got a clear position in this country that it is illegal to sell chlorine-washed chicken, illegal to sell beef treated with hormones. Weve no plans to change those things."

Despite this, he declined to give a concrete guarantee on the issue as he suggested the chlorine-washing method had largely been replaced with 'lactic acid washes'.

Im not quite sure why the US would make such demands, because actually chlorine washes on chicken are a very outdated technology and it is not really used by the US any more anyway, he said.

Former Defra Secretary Theresa Villiers, who was Mr Eustice's predecessor, insisted last month that chlorinated chicken will not be imported into the UK after Brexit.

Farming industry groups have consistently warned that granting lower standard food imports would effectively undercut domestic produce made to higher standards.

But the importance of the issue to the United States was summed up last month when Woody Johnson, US ambassador to the UK, said chlorinated chicken should not be banned.

It follows recently leaked trade documents between the two countries which show that the US tried to push the UK away from the EU's food safety standards.

American negotiators had the most angst about EU limits to the use of chemicals in food production, it says.

NFU President Minette Batters has previously questioned whether the public would accept chlorinated chicken masking lower welfare standards on farm or hormone-fed beef flooding supermarket shelves in exchange for a US trade deal.

She said British farming puts a level of 'trust and pride' in consumers when they buy food off the shelves.

Our farm-to-fork approach delivers not only some of the most robust levels of food safety and traceability in the world, but also animal welfare and environmental standards that we believe should serve as a model for food production globally.

She said some US food would be 'illegal' to produce in the United Kingdom: British farmers do not rely on chlorine-wash to ensure their chicken is safe to eat, nor do they feed growth hormones to their cattle, pigs or dairy cows.
Condemning the violence in Delhi, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday said people are paying the price for putting in power "insensitive and shortsighted" leaders.

He said the amendment to the CAA should be abandoned forthwith and the government should listen to the voices of the anti-CAA protesters by keeping the CAA in abeyance till the Supreme Court gave its verdict.

A head constable was among seven 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 on Monday.

Frenzied protesters torched houses, shops, vehicles and a petrol pump, besides hurling stones.

Chidambaram said the violence in Delhi on Monday and the loss of lives are most shocking and deserve the strongest condemnation.

"The people are paying the price for putting in power insensitive and shortsighted leaders," he said.

"India has lived with the Citizenship Act 1955 without the amendment. Why does the Act need an amendment now? The amendment (CAA) should be abandoned forthwith.

"Even now it is not too late. The government should listen to the voices of the anti-CAA protesters and declare that the CAA will be kept in abeyance until the Supreme Court pronounced on its validity," he said on Twitter.

The Congress leader said his party had warned that CAA was "deeply divisive" and should be repealed or abandoned.

"Our warning fell on deaf ears," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Shahrukh, the suspect who opened fire at police personnel during violence in Northeast Delhi on Monday, has been detained, Delhi Police sources said.

IMAGE: A protester brandishes a pistol during clashes between a group of anti-CAA protesters and supporters of the new citizenship act, at Jafrabad in northeast Delhi. Photograph: Ravi Choudhary/PTI Photo

On Monday, the police had identified the man in a red T-shirt, who had opened fire at the police, as Shahrukh.

Seven people have lost their lives in the clashes between pro and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protesters that took place at various places in Northeast district of Delhi on Monday.

Shahdara Deputy Commissioner of Police Amit Sharma was also injured during the clashes between the two groups in Delhi's Gokulpuri. He underwent a surgery on Monday night and is now safe and out of danger.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also held a meeting late on Monday night with senior Delhi Police officers and top home ministry officials on the law and order situation in Delhi.
HUEXCA, Mexico (AP)  The thermo-electric plant looms over the smattering of homes and cows munching on dried corn stalks in Huexca, a tiny farm community in central Mexico where many residents view it as a sleeping monster ready to roar to life.

During test runs of equipment in the still idle power plant, residents say, the noise reached more than 110 decibels, as loud as a jet engine at takeoff and roughly 50% above levels considered tolerable for the average human pain threshold. People say they experienced intense headaches, children vomited and some residents suffered hearing loss.

We didn't want the thermo-electric plant. They imposed it on us," said Teresa Castellanos, a lifelong resident of Huexca who has fought since 2012 against the government project.

Huexca means place of happiness in the indigenous Nahuatl language, but the town of fewer than 1,000 inhabitants has become a place of discord. Some people want the plant put into operation. Others are vehemently against it, saying it will destroy their rural life and possibly force them to abandon the only land they have ever known.

The power plant is part of a mega-energy project that includes a natural gas pipeline that traverses three states. Its at the heart of a years-long, contentious battle, and is now raising questions among some people about the commitments of the new leftist government to indigenous land rights.

Dozens of mostly indigenous communities along the 159 kilometers (nearly 100 miles) of pipeline have united to fight the project, which they believe will deprive them of water for their crops and contaminate the soil and air.

Hundreds of environmentalists marched in Mexico City on Friday to show their discontent with the government's big infrastructure plans. In addition to the mega-energy project, those plans include a tourist train through Mayan lands and a cargo rail line in the south that activists say put business interests ahead of the wishes of indigenous communities, while endangering flora and fauna.

The power project has advanced in fits and starts for more than a decade. It's essentially complete, but legal stays and blockades by locals have prevented connection of the last few hundred feet of pipeline needed to fire up the power plant.

Story continues

In the town of San Pedro Apatlaco, men from villages along the pipeline route take turns sleeping under a tarp on the banks of the Cuautla River to make sure the final tubes arent laid down. Those pipes would carry water between the thermo-electric plant and a water treatment facility. The men have camped there for over three years, next to abandoned tubes.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who took office Dec. 1, 2018, wants the stalled project up and running. Scrapping it would cost the country more than $1 billion, he says.

That is money from the budget, money of the people, Lopez Obrador said last week.

The first phase of the project involved building the pipeline under communities around the Popocatepetl volcano, which stands between the sprawling Mexican capital and the industrial city of Puebla.

Residents complained the construction began surreptitiously, without public consultations. They worry the pipeline could leak or even explode, this being a volcanic region. The national human rights commission agrees that the project trampled indigenous rights.

Last year, activist Samir Flores, who had drummed up opposition, was shot to death outside his home in the town of Amilcingo. Just days earlier, he had challenged government assertions about the power project at a public forum.

Castellanos said she has also received death threats. She has been beaten, she said, and told that her daughters would be sold into prostitution if she keeps fighting the plant.

She said the threats came from other residents of Huexca she accuses of being paid by government or private sources to generate local support for the project.

A tall metal fence topped with loops of concertina wire protects Castellanos modest, one-bedroom cinder block home.

This is how I live  like a caged bird, she said, while roosters crowed outside.

Standing up for the environment is a dangerous undertaking in Mexico. Amnesty International says 12 environmental activists were killed in the first nine months 2019, while London-based Global Witness counted 15 such killings in 2017 and 14 in 2018.

In January, Homero Gomez Gonzalez, who defended the monarch butterfly against loggers and farmers in Mexico's western state of Michoacan, was found dead with a head wound at the bottom of a holding pond.

Investigations rarely establish clear motives or lead to convictions in such cases.

In the killing of Samir Flores, family and friends say they dont believe Mexican authorities have made a genuine effort to find the culprit.

It has been a year and we have no indication that points to who the murderers were, said Liliana Velazquez, Flores widow and mother of his four children.

Velazquez, like Castellanos, opposes the power project.

We want these mega-projects out of our lands, she said.

___

Associated Press writer Maria Verza in Mexico City contributed to his report.
NEW DELHI  President Trump lashed out at two liberal Supreme Court justices on Tuesday, escalating his battle with the judicial system to new heights despite entreaties by his attorney general to refrain from attacks that complicate the administrations legal fights.

Weighing in on a domestic matter as he began a day of ceremony, meetings and a joint appearance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, Mr. Trump seized on a dissenting opinion last week by Justice Sonia Sotomayor and a years-old comment by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to demand that the two Democratic-appointed jurists recuse themselves from any cases involving him.

I just thought it was so inappropriate, such a terrible statement for a Supreme Court justice, the president said.

Besides ignoring the entreaties of Attorney General William P. Barr, the presidents attack on the two justices also risked provoking a reaction from Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. In 2018, Chief Justice Roberts admonished Mr. Trump for calling a federal judge who ruled against one of his administrations policies, an Obama judge.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Temples, mosques and gurudwaras will now be used to pacify protesters in the violence-hit areas of northeast Delhi. An appeal for peace will be made from the loudspeakers of the temples and mosques in the area. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has asked for this initiative to be taken, and has also urged the police to seal Delhi's borders due to the possibility of miscreants entering the city.

Kejriwal called a special meeting at his residence on Tuesday, which was attended by all the MLAs from the violence affected areas, the Delhi Chief Secretary and several senior officers.

After the meeting, the Chief Minister said "The Chief Secretary will talk to the Delhi Police Commissioner and ask him to increase the police presence in the violence-prone areas. The police commissioner will be asked to give the policemen, who are deployed in the violence-hit areas, the right to act to maintain peace." Kejriwal said "In the present situation, temples and mosques will appeal for peace in the areas. On the local level peace committees will be formed in which people from all religions and the local MLA will be the members." He added that "Violence cannot solve anything. The situation in the northeast part of the city is worrisome for the whole of Delhi. By sitting together, solutions can be arrived at." On Monday, several areas in northeast Delhi witnessed violence and arson. The violence continued on Tuesday also with stone pelting in certain pockets. Maujpur, Babarpur, Jaffrabad, Gokulpuri, Brijpuri were affected by violence on Monday in which seven people, including a Delhi Police head constable, lost their lives.
CONWAY, S.C.  South Carolina state Sen. Gerald Malloy is fine with a gay presidential candidate like Pete Buttigieg. His older male relatives are not  and that may be the defining challenge of Buttigiegs campaign.

As Buttigieg tries to sustain his early success in Iowa and New Hampshire, he has to prove that he can win over African American voters, who make up the vital core of the party base. A relatively small but nonetheless influential number of black South Carolinians may be resistant to him because of his sexuality.

Hes got to convince people like my dad and my uncles, when they still unfortunately subscribe to stereotypes, said Malloy, who is black and lives in Hartsville, a small town in rural northeast South Carolina with a black population of almost 50%.

A poll commissioned by Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, this month found that it made no difference in the decision-making to 79% of African American voters if a candidate for president is gay. The number was only slightly lower than white voters. Conversely, 16% of black voters said theyd be less likely to support a gay candidate, slightly higher than white voters, at 13%. But in a primary race with several candidates, that small percentage could make a major difference in the outcome.

Buttigieg is appealing for the support of black voters in part as a person guided by Christian faith and in part as a matter of inclusiveness. That approach worked among Iowas and New Hampshires vastly white electorates, where he finished in the top two. A poor showing in South Carolina, where black voters could make up two-thirds of the Democratic primary electorate, might suggest that he cannot win over black Democrats.

Buttigieg has been careful not to equate the struggle for acceptance among gays to that of African Americans seeking equality and civil rights. At the same time he has tried to reach voters with a message of belonging, with the hope that it resonates in the states robust Christian community.

I think for those who havent quite found their way all the way to the right side of history, its important to beckon them in the right direction, Buttigieg said during a CNN town hall last week, instead of clubbing them over the head and telling them theyre bad people until they see it just the right way.

Buttigiegs sexuality reappeared in the campaign when Rush Limbaugh said on his radio show that Americas still not ready to elect a gay guy kissing his husband on the debate stage.

With faith-minded South Carolina voters paying closer attention now, Buttigieg held up his marriage as an example in contrast with President Donald Trump, the thrice-married billionaire who has been shadowed by accusations of infidelity and sexual assault.

I mean, Im sorry, but one thing about my marriage is its never involved me having to send hush money to a porn star after cheating on my spouse with him or her, Buttigieg said during the CNN event. So they want to debate family values? Lets debate family values.

The defiance betrays the more subtle approach Buttigieg takes in courting black voters in South Carolina and referencing his Christian faith, often discussing a passage from the Book of Matthew.

Whatever happened to, I was hungry and you fed me? I was a stranger and you welcomed me?' Buttigieg told the audience at the South Carolina Democratic Party Convention in Columbia last June, invoking Scriptures metaphors for child welfare and immigration.

Buttigiegs team hasnt focused on winning over voters resolutely opposed to him based on his sexuality. Its not something we spend a lot of time thinking about, Buttigiegs national campaign spokesman Chris Meagher said. He is who he is.

And yet, the discomfort lingers in the minds of men like Henry Baldwin at an evening service at Mason Temple Church of God in Christ in Conway on Sunday.

I dont support that lifestyle, to be honest, said the 54-year-old Baldwin, who is black. A lot of church people dont support that lifestyle. Im supporting my beliefs.

Buttigiegs campaign has discussed internally the importance of reaching black women of faith, hoping his message of inclusiveness outweighs discomfort with his sexuality. There are at least some signs that it has.

The Rev. DeMett Jenkins, an associate minister in Charleston, South Carolina, said she was drawn to Buttigiegs eloquence, calm and intellectual depth, but sold by the faith he projects.

I just dont see him spending time trying to convince people to accept his sexuality. Nothing he says is going to matter unless they have a change of heart, Jenkins said. What I hear is a man who seems to care about all people, truly is guided by his integrity, his principles in life and his spirituality.

Yet there there remains an intransigence, even among the black women Buttigieg is targeting.

I just cant see him being a representative for the United States of America, said Karen Wilkerson, a 69-year-old retired teacher from Cheraw. When you think about all of the state things that he has to attend to, being in the public eye in a foreign stage and having to have the company of his partner with him. I guess, coming from my era, my age, it just bothers me. I dont think I will vote for him

Some African American pastors such as the Rev. Titus Thorn say Buttigiegs sexuality hasnt deterred congregants. He said those attending his small parish in Rock Hill have considered Buttigiegs candidacy, though he does hear a common refrain of doubt.

Individually, people say, Im not opposed to him,' Thorn said. But they worry Americas not ready for it.

There is a sizable pocket of voters in South Carolina for whom gay rights are paramount, the pro-gay rights group Human Rights Campaign reported Friday. Roughly 289,000 describe themselves as prioritizing gay rights when they vote, while about 137,000 voters in South Carolina identify as LGBTQ, the group reported.

The bigger problems in South Carolina for Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, may be that he has not campaigned frequently in the state and that many black voters mainly know him by the criticism of his citys police relations with minority residents, said former South Carolina state Rep. Bakari Sellers.

Petes problem with black voters is not that hes gay, said Sellers, who has not endorsed a candidate. The reason not that many black folk are with Pete is they dont know him, and by virtue of that, they dont trust him.

Though theres less than a week to convince voters, Buttigieg on Monday seemed aware of Sellers point as he addressed hundreds at a Baptist church banquet hall in North Charleston.

I also know when I am asking voters, and in particular black voters, to trust me in this election, Buttigieg said, that Im asking someone who has perhaps never met me to trust me with their lives.

In endorsing Buttigieg in an editorial posted Monday night, Columbias daily newspaper The State said Democrats needed an energetic, disciplined candidate who can offer voters a powerful yet pragmatic vision of a better America and bring people together.

The paper also said: Too often Buttigiegs critics have ignored his substantive efforts to earn the support of black voters, and Buttigiegs appeals to African Americans should be judged by this standard: Is his outreach genuine, and is it being undertaken in good faith?

___

Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa. Associated Press writers Meg Kinnard and Elana Schor in Charleston, South Carolina, contributed to this report.
A state banquet was hosted for US President Donald Trump at the majestic Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday night with its forecourt decked up to its glory for the last engagement of his two-day visit to India.

The architectural marvel, spread over 130-hectares, was lit up for Trump and his wife Melania were given a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt, which has a mixture of pink and cream sandstones.

As the Presidential Bodyguards lined up on the stairs leading to the Durbar Hall, Trump, who was received by President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife Savita, were taken to the hall where the visiting dignitary took a round.

The banquet was attended by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several of his ministerial colleagues, four chief ministers -- Sarbananda Sonowal (Assam), Manohar Lal Khattar (Haryana), B S Yediyurappa (Karnataka) and K Chandrashekar Rao (Telangana).

Chief Justice of India S A Bobde, Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat, Wipro founder Azim Premji, banker Kotak Mahindra, musician A R Rahman besides others also attended.

Later, the Kovind and Trump, along with their spouses posed for a picture before a 5th century statue of Gautam Buddha.

It was followed by official talks during which Kovind said importance of the Indo-US relations could be gauged from the fact that a large number of people came to welcome him.

"The US is a valued friend and India is deeply committed to the strategic partnership between the two countries," Kovind said in his opening remarks.

The US president said the last two days have been 'very productive'.

Both the countries are working for trade and military deals, Trump said.

He said coming to India has always been a learning experience and thanked President Kovind for the hospitality extended to him and his entourage.

A elaborate spread was laid out for the Trumps. The vegetarian delicacies served included coriander shorba, aloo tikki with palak papdi, zarkhez zameen (seasonal vegetable cooked in its juice) and dal raisina.

The non-vegetarian fare includes raan-ali-shaan (marinated lamb) and cajun spiced salmon (pink salmon marinated with cajun spices and roasted in clay oven).

For desserts, hazelnut apple pie with salty caramel sauce and malpua rabri roll were served.

In his banquet speech, Trump said he had 'tremendous two days' during which lot of business was done.

"It was very special two days. I love India, I respect Indians. We will be back, we will be back," he said.

President Kovind said the past two days were very special for India as the US-India relations were very deep.

"India views the US as a long-term friend and a natural partner. Our strong democratic credentials bind us together. Continued economic prosperity and geo-political leadership of the US is in India's interest.

"Similarly, India's growing political, economic and military footprint will be beneficial for the US interests in the region as well as globally," he said.

Kovind said as the world's largest democracies, India is deeply connected with each other through the people and their aspirations.

He said the bedrock of Indian and American society has been hardworking middleclass families and that's what makes everyone understand each other instinctively.

"Over 4 million people of Indian origin have made America their home. They are a living bridge between the American Dream and our vision of New India.

"Our bilateral canvas has many folds, but none more impressive than the one painted by the growing Indian student community in the US," he said.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he spoke to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping over coronavirus, adding that China is "working very hard" to control its outbreak.

"China is working very hard, I have spoken to President Xi. It looks like China is getting it under control," Trump said during India Inc event.

Coronavirus first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December and has since then killed more than 2600 people in that country alone, while cases have been reported in several countries across the world, including India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he discussed the issue of religious freedom with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his comprehensive talks and that the Indian leader wants people to have this freedom.

He also said that talked about his country's peace deal with the Taliban with Modi, and said that India will like to see it happen.

Addressing a press conference, Trump described Modi as a "terrific" leader and India as a "tremendous country".

"We did talk about religious freedom. Prime Minister Modi wants people to have religious freedom in India...If you look back India has worked hard for religious freedom," Trump said.

However, when asked if he discussed the violent incidents here during his visit, he said that he didn't discuss individual attacks with PM Modi and "that is up to India".

He also said that India is buying a lot of military hardware from the US.

To a question about reports of Russia trying to influence the US presidential poll, he said intelligence agencies never shared such information with him.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Donald Trump India Visit Day 2: After an eventful Day 1 of the two-day visit, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump would have another busy day. President Trump and Melania Trump were welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Trump inspected the Guard of Honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Following the visit to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Trumps headed to Raj Ghat where they paid their respects to Mahatma Gandhi. After paying their tributes, President Trump and Melania Trump headed to the Hyderabad House. At a press conference, PM Modi thanked President Trump for visiting India with his family. President Trump thanked PM Modi for hosting them and said that the last two days were wonderful.

Also read: Trump India Visit Day 2: POTUS has a busy day ahead; check full schedule

Follow the latest updates on US President Donald Trump's visit to India here:

6:10 pm: President Trump said, "India is going to be major player in next 50 to 100 years; India is going to have phenomenal future".

6:00 pm: President Trump said that anything that he and US can do to help in the Kashmir matter they would. "Kashmir has been a thorn in lots of people's sight for a long time. There are two sides to every story. We discussed terrorism at length today," he said.

5:57 pm: "India is probably nation with highest tariffs; Harley Davidson has to pay huge amount of tariff. uS has to be treated fairly," said President Trump.

5:54 pm: "The United States has a great relationship with Pakistan. India is a brave country and I have a great relationship with both the leaders -- Pak PM Imran Khan and Indian PM Narendra Modi. PM Modi is a calm person but very strong, and has some strict opinions on terrorism. He will deal with it," said President Trump.

5:44 pm: "We did talk about religious freedom. The PM said he wants people to have religious freedom. They have worked really hard on it. I heard about the individual attacks but I did not discuss it. It is up to India," he said while speaking about the CAA protests in the country.

5:40 pm: President Trump said spoke about the US peace deal with the Taliban. He said that he spoke with PM Modi regarding the deal and he believes that India would like to see it happen. "We are pretty close. Everybody is happy about it," said POTUS. He also said that he does not think that anyone has done more to contain radical Islamic terrorism than he has.

5:38 pm: President Trump said, "We had a great time. We had great meetings... This is a tremendous country. I think they like us more than they ever liked us. There is a great relationship between the Prime Minister and myself. "

5:35 pm: "At the CEOs roundtable, many CEOs expressed desires to invest in the United States. We had a great time in India. Both the countries signed $3 billion chopper deal," said President Trump.

5:30 pm: "India is buying a lot of defence hardware," said the US President.

5:25 pm: President Trump called Prime Minister Modi a "terrific leader" in press conference. "India is a tremendous country," he said.

4:55 pm: A protest has been staged in Amaravati against the decentralisation of the capital. "Trump save Amaravati" slogans were raised.

Amaravati: People raise 'Trump save Amaravati' slogan during a protest against the decentralization of Andhra Pradesh capital. pic.twitter.com/Np019mLoCf ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

4:20 pm: "On the trade side, the two leaders decided that we would conclude the ongoing discussions as soon as possible and give it a legal framework and the text could be finalized with legal vetting as soon as possible... I think the two leaders also decided to move towards what was referred to as a 'big deal' in the trade sector," said Foreign Secretary.

4:16 pm: "It has been an honour to be here. You have a very special Prime Minister, he really knows what he is doing. He is a tough man. He has done a fantastic job. We work very closely together," said President Trump to India Inc CEOs he was interacting with at the US Embassy.

4:10 pm: Indian side picked the issue of H-1B visa issue, said Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.

4:00 pm: Some of the industry leaders present at the President's interaction with the India Inc are Mukesh Ambani, Lakshmi Mittal, Ratan Tata, N Chandrasekaran, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Salil Parekh, and Ritesh Agarwal.

US President Donald J Trump interacts with business leaders in Delhi; Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani present at the meeting. pic.twitter.com/MiLgOKMO4J ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

3:59 pm: "If I were not elected the aluminium industry in the US would absolutely been dead. The steel industry would have been dead too," said the President.

3:58 pm: "Some of the regulations have to go through statutory process; we are going to reduce a lot more regulations," said President Trump.

3:53 pm: "I feel I am going to win the coming elections; when we win, markets will go up. Markets will jump thousands of points when I win," says President Trump.

3:50 pm: "I actually follow you guys to see where you are investing," says President Trump to India Inc. He is meeting some industry leaders at the American Embassy.

3:40 pm: POTUS spoke about the coronavirus threat. He said that he is talking to President Xi and they told him that they are working very hard on it.

3:30 pm: President Trump meets India Inc at American Embassy. The who's who of India Inc is present at the interaction.

2.30 pm: PM Modi to now host the Trumps for lunch.

2:10 pm: Visuals from Melania Trump's visit to the Delhi government school earlier. She also attended a performance prepared by the students of the school.

#WATCH Delhi: First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump watches a dance performance by students at Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School in Nanakpura. pic.twitter.com/dBCuTzvymF ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

2:03 pm: The President said that since he assumed term, US exports to India went up nearly 60 per cent and exports of high quality American energy has also gone up by 500 per cent. He said that both the teams have made tremendous progress for a comprehensive trade agreement. "I am optimistic we can reach a deal of great importance to both countries," he added.

1:55 pm: "We think we're at a point where our relationship is so special with India, it has never been as good as it is right now," said President Trump.

1:53 pm: President Trump: The US International Development Finance Cooperation, a government agency that finances private development projects, will establish a permanent presence in India.

1:51 pm: "During our visit we discussed the importance of a secure 5G wireless network and the need for this emerging technology to be a tool for freedom, progress, prosperity, not to do anything with where it could be even conceived as a conduit for suppression and censorship," said President Trump at the press conference.

1:50 pm: President Trump said, "In our discussions, PM Modi and I affirmed our two countries' commitment to protecting our citizens from radical Islamic terrorism. In this effort the US is also working productively with Pakistan to confront terrorists who operate on its soil."

1:48 pm: "Earlier today, we expanded our defence cooperation with agreements for India to purchase more than $3 billion of advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo Helicopters - the finest in the world. These will enhance our joint defence capabilities," said President Trump.

1:45 pm: "Melania and I have been awed by the majesty of India and the exceptional generosity and kindness of the Indian people. We will always remember the magnificent welcome the citizens of your home state (of PM Modi) showed us upon arrival," says President Trump.

1:40 pm: "Our commerce ministers have had positive talks on trade. Both of us have decided that our teams should give legal shape to these trade talks. We also agreed to open negotiations on a big trade deal," said PM Modi.

1:39 pm: The leaders said that the countries have decided to enhance the energy partnership as well.

1:37 pm: The Prime Minister said that the two countries have agreed on a new mechanism to conatin drug trafficking. He also said that both India and US have decided to enhance efforts to hold supporters of terrorism accountable.

1:34 pm: "We (India and USA) have resolved to step up efforts to make those who support terrorism, responsible," said PM Modi.

1:33 pm: The Prime Minister said, "We have decided to take Indo-US ties to comprehensive global partnership level."

1:30 pm: PM Modi said, "Today we discussed every important aspect of the US-India partnership, be it defence and security, energy strategic partnership, trade or people to people ties. The strengthening in defence ties between India and US is an important aspect of our partnership."

1:25 pm: "In the last 8 months this is the 5th meeting with President Trump. The unprecedented and historic welcome at Motera Stadium will always be remembered. It has become clear that the relationship between the US and India is people centric and people driven," said PM Modi.

1:16 pm: The students at the Delhi government school persented Melania Trump with Madhubani paintings before she left the school.

Delhi: Students of Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School in Nanakpura, gift Madhubani paintings made by them to First Lady of the United States Melania Trump. pic.twitter.com/f7yiQiwmaT ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

1:12 pm: "Namaste! It's a beautiful school. Thank you for welcoming me with a traditional dance performance. This is my first visit to India, people here are so welcoming and so kind. In the US, I work with children like you to promote similar ideas of well-being through my 'BE BEST' initiative. Three pillars of 'BE BEST' include dangers of drug abuse, importance of online safety and overall well-being of children," said Melania Trump in her address to the school. She spent about an hour in the school.

1:08 pm: Melania Trump attended a dance performance prepared by the students of the Delhi government school.

1:04 pm: Melania Trump is welcomed with garlands by students of the Sarvodaya Co-Ed school in Delhi. The FLOTUS interacted with the students and attended a happiness class at the school.

Delhi: Students greet the First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump at Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School in Nanakpura. pic.twitter.com/jmjPIWJzgm ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

12:50 pm: Prime Minister and President Trump meet at the Hyderabad House. The leaders thanked each other at the press conference. Images from the meeting:

12:45 pm: "The last two days, especially yesterday at the stadium, it was a great honour for me. People were there maybe more for you (PM Modi) than for me. 125 thousand people were inside. Every time I mentioned you, they cheered more. People love you here," said President Trump to PM Modi at the press conference.

12:32 pm: "Thank you, the last two days in India has been wonderful," said President Trump to PM Modi at the press conference.

12:30 pm: "I am happy that you came to India with your family. I know that you are busy these days and I thank you for coming to India," said PM Modi to President Trump during the press conference.

12:25 pm: Melania Trump interacts with students at the school. She also attended a happiness class.

Delhi: First Lady of the US, Melania Trump interacting with students at Nanakpura's Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School. pic.twitter.com/M3n72VE9pR ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

12:14 pm: "We sing, we play, we laugh," reads a black board at the Delhi government school. Melania Trump visited the school and attended a happiness class. She also interacted with the students of the school.

Delhi: Students at Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School in Nanakpura which the First Lady of the US, Melania Trump is visiting today. pic.twitter.com/0TozjRJGQq ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

12:08 pm: Melania Trump attended a happiness class at the Sarvodaya Senior Secondary School in Delhi.

Delhi: First Lady of the US, Melania Trump meets and interacts with students at Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School in Nanakpura. pic.twitter.com/8kX03rmnNV ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

12:02 pm: Images from Melania and Donald Trump's visit to the Raj Ghat. The Trumps paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi in their short visit.

11:58 am: Images from Melania Trump's visit to the Delhi government school. Students greeted her with flowers and Indian and American flags. Lot of students were dressed up in traditional Indian attire.

Delhi: First Lady of the US, Melania Trump arrives at Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School. She is visiting the school as part of her visit to the city today. pic.twitter.com/EnuVWjO7KB ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

11:50 am: Melania Trump was greeted by students with flowers. The school band also performed for the FLOTUS upon her arrival. The First Lady will attend a happiness class at the school.

11:45 am: FLOTUS Melania Trump arrives at the Delhi government school, Sarvodaya Senior Secondary School in South Delhi. She will attend a happiness class at the school.

11:35 am: Trump's daughter and adviser Ivanka Trump picked a white formal button-down suit for Day 2 of the visit. Her choice of dressing is keeping in line with the formal meetings and lunch scheduled for the day.

11:27 am: Images from Hyderabad House where the Prime Minister met the POTUS and FLOTUS.

Delhi: US President Donald Trump meets PM Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, First Lady Melania Trump also present. pic.twitter.com/rz9yYLc1Rb ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

11:20 am: Union Minister Smriti Irani will not accompany Melania Trump at her Delhi school visit to keep the visit apolitical, as mentioned in a report in India Today. Earlier Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia's names were dropped from the list of invitees to the event.

11:15 am: "The American people stand strongly with a sovereign and wonderful India - the vision of the great Mahatma Gandhi. This is a tremendous honor!," wrote POTUS on the visitors' book at Raj Ghat.

Delhi: US President Donald Trump's message in the visitor's book at Raj Ghat, 'The American people stand strongly with a sovereign and wonderful India - The vision of the great Mahatma Gandhi. This is a tremendous honor!' pic.twitter.com/Rr7dU7m44z ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

11:10 am: PM Modi welcomes the US President and the First Lady at the Hyderabad House. The two leaders will hold delegation-level talks at the Hyderabad House.

Delhi: PM Narendra Modi receives US President Donald Trump and the First Lady Melania Trump, at Hyderabad House. pic.twitter.com/aXFfNT0KwD ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

11:04 am: The US President and the First Lady wrote on the visitors' book at the Raj Ghat after they paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi. Visuals from the signing:

Delhi: US President Donald Trump & First Lady Melania Trump write in the visitor's book at Raj Ghat. pic.twitter.com/p43IMmCIg7 ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

10:58 am: President Donald Trump will hold closed-door meeting with PM Modi at Hyderabad House shortly. Once the meeting wraps up, PM Modi will host the US President, the First Lady and the US delegation for lunch.

10:50 am: Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri accompanied the Trumps at Raj Ghat. President Trump and the First Lady also planted a tree at the Raj Ghat.

10:46 am: After their quick visit to the Raj Ghat, Melania and Donald Trump will head to Hyderabad House before parting ways briefly. Donald Trump will hold talks with PM Modi. Melania Trump will head to the Delhi government school where she will witness a happiness class before heading for the lunch hosted by PM Modi.

10:40 am: Visuals from Raj Ghat where the Trumps paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

Delhi: US President Donald Trump & First Lady Melania Trump pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat. pic.twitter.com/ObQohvZhvr ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

10:35 am: The Trumps reach Raj Ghat. POTUS and FLOTUS pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

10:30 am: PM Modi has arrived at the Hyderabad House, while the Trumps are making their way to the Raj Ghat. The Trumps will pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. The Trumps also visited the Sabarmati Ashram on Day 1 of the visit.

10:25 am: US President Donald Trump will hold a press conference today at 5 pm. This will be separate from the joint press conference that is scheduled to be held by POTUS and PM Modi. There will be no questions and answer round during Trump's press conference.

10:23 am: Images from the Motera Stadium during the Namaste Trump event on Day 1 of the Trumps' visit.

During his speech at the #NamasteTrump programme, @POTUS @realDonaldTrump highlighted aspects of his vision for USA. He also spoke at length about Indias greatness as well as the greatness of our culture, ethos, people and more. I thank him for his kind words. pic.twitter.com/T2trutWPqY Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 24, 2020

10:19 am: President Trump, Melania Trump, President Kovind and Savita Kovind pose for a photo at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Delhi: US President Donald Trump, the First Lady Melania Trump, President Ram Nath Kovind, his wife Savita Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi pose for a group photo at Rashtrapati Bhavan. pic.twitter.com/qvd4rC6kJM ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

10:14 am: President Trump and Melania Trump will head to the Raj Ghat shortly before the POTUS heads to the Hyderabad House to hold talks with PM Modi.

10:10 am: Visuals from PM Modi, President Kovind and Savita Kovind welcoming Donald Trump and Melania Trump at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind, his wife Savita Kovind and PM Narendra Modi receive US President Donald Trump and the First Lady Melania Trump at Rashtrapati Bhavan. pic.twitter.com/3NKozPI644 ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

10:07 am: President Kovind and PM Modi welcome Donald and Melania Trump at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

10:06 am: President Kovind arrive at the Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt with his wife Savita Kovind.

10:02 am: Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School will host FLOTUS Melania Trump today where she will interact with the students. She is expected to reach there by noon. The government school has been fortified and beautified in the run-up to her visit.

Delhi: Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School all set to welcome First Lady of the US Melania Trump, as she will visit the school today. pic.twitter.com/TUxW6JtSqU ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

10:00 am: PM Modi arrives at the Rashtrapati Bhavan for the ceremonial reception of US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Rashtrapati Bhawan. US President Donald Trump will be accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan, shortly. pic.twitter.com/0CSXn1m1qh ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

9:58 am: President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold talks at the Hyderabad House today.

9:55 am: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said he is happy that Melania Trump who will visit a government school in Delhi will take back the message of happiness from their "happiness curriculum".

.@FLOTUS will attend happiness class in our school today. Great day for our teachers, students and Delhiites. For centuries, India has taught spirituality to the world. Am happy that she will take back the msg of happiness from our school Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 25, 2020

9:50 am: Visuals from the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Technavio has been monitoring the automotive usage-based insurance market and it is poised to grow by USD 37.25 mn units during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 7% 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/20200225005607/en/

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(Bloomberg) -- Indonesias Gojek denied a report that its discussing a merger with rival Grab Holdings Inc., a deal that would combine the leading ride-hailing businesses in Southeast Asia.

There are no plans for any sort of merger and recent media reports regarding discussions of this nature are not accurate, Gojek said in an emailed statement Tuesday.

Management teams from the two companies have talked occasionally over the past few years about a deal, and Grab President Ming Maa and Gojek Co-Chief Executive Officer Andre Soelistyo met earlier this month for the latest discussion, The Information reported, citing people familiar with the matter. While talks are believed to be ongoing, a big roadblock to a deal is agreeing on control of the combined entity, according to the report.

Any deal would also likely face regulatory hurdles because it would combine the top two players in the region, reducing competition in ride-hailing and newer fields like food-delivery and finance. Grab and Gojek, valued at $14 billion and $10 billion respectively, used to compete with Uber Technologies Inc. before the U.S. company sold its operations in the region to Grab in 2018, retaining about a 27.5% stake.

That deal drew the ire of regulators, who werent given a say ahead of time. Singapore ultimately fined Uber and Grab the equivalent of $9.5 million, but let the combination stand.

A Grab spokesperson declined to comment on the report.

To contact the reporter on this story: Yoolim Lee in Singapore at yoolim@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Peter Elstrom at pelstrom@bloomberg.net, Edwin Chan

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

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East BJP MP on Tuesday condemned the violence over the amended citizenship law, and demanded strict action against anyone, including his party colleague Kapil Mishra, if they gave "provocative" speeches.

The MP also asked those protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act to initiate dialogue with the government instead of indulging in violence.



"Whoever, no matter which party he belongs to, whether he is or anyone else, who gave speeches to provoke people, action should be taken against them," Gambhir told reporters after visiting injured police officers admitted at Max hospital in Patparganj.

He met Deputy Commissioner of Shahdara, Amit Sharma, ACP Anuj Jain and head constable Yashpal, who were seriously injured on Monday during violence in northeast

"If peaceful people can treat men in uniform like this, how will they treat ordinary people. What kind of protest is this," he said asking anti-CAA protesters to talk to the government which was ready to hear their grievances.

Provocative speeches from anybody, whether he is from the BJP, the AAP or the Congress, are not acceptable. Strict action should be taken against them, he said.

Mishra, who had contested the recent Assembly polls on a BJP ticket, led a gathering in support of the CAA at Maujpur Chowk in the Jafarabad area on Sunday, after which violence erupted between pro and anti-CAA groups.

"It is not a matter of any political party, it's an issue related to the people of who want to live peacefully. Strict action should be taken against anybody, whether he is or anybody else who gives such speeches. Whatever action is taken I will support that," he said.

Mishra had issued an ultimatum to police to vacate the roads blocked by anti-CAA protesters in Jafarabad and Bhahanpura areas in three days, warning that he will come back on the streets if no action is taken.

The violence that started on Monday spread to many parts of north east Delhi, leading to deaths of nine people and injuries to many including police personnel, so far.

(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.)
Australias Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, right, says China is not solely to blame for the foreign interference that a spy chief reports has reached unprecedented levels in Australia. (Rod McGuirk/AP)

Australia faces an unprecedented threat from espionage and foreign interference, the head of Australias intelligence service said in his first annual threat assessment.

In a rare public address, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) director-general Mike Burgess said the severity of the threat level stemmed from the scale, breadth and ambition of the interference.

He warned that almost every sector was at risk including government, media and universities.

Weve seen visiting scientists and academics ingratiating themselves into university life with the aim of conducting clandestine intelligence collection, Mr Burgess said.

This strikes at the very heart of our notions of free and fair academic exchange.

Senator Rex Patrick urged the Government to call out China on the issue (Rod McGuirk/AP)

Minor party senator Rex Patrick called on the Australian government to call out China, Australias biggest trading partner, as a major source of the interference.

One thing that is missing from the dialogue is calling out the state actor involved, Mr Patrick said.

Its almost certain that in a number of foreign interference circumstances that it is China and we should be calling them out, as the Canadians do, as the US does and the Czechs do.

Were not just talking about China. Were talking about Russia, were talking about Iran and were talking about others.Peter Dutton

However Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said the threat was multi-pronged.

Were not just talking about China. Were talking about Russia, were talking about Iran and were talking about others, Mr Dutton told Sky News television.

China has long denied any foreign interference.

Australia angered China in 2018 by enacting sweeping national security legislation that banned covert foreign interference in domestic politics and made industrial espionage for a foreign power a crime.

Individuals lobbying for foreign governments now have to be listed on a public register in a step toward making foreign influence on Australian politics more transparent.

Mr Burgess said the legislation is already bringing dividends and is likely to grow in importance for us.

The Counter Foreign Interference Task Force, established last year to protect universities from foreign meddling, would become a vital element of our strategy to defeat this threat, Mr Burgess said.

The task force also includes a research and intellectual property working group to protect academic freedom and intellectual property.

It also safeguards universities against deception and undue influence.
Bowser and Police Chief Peter Newsham said the program is instrumental in attracting District residents to the police force. The chief said about 70 percent of the participants enroll in the academy and become police officers, a higher rate of retention than that of recruits who start at the academy. Most of the officers who have come through the cadet program stay on the force at least five years.
Southern Charm star Kathryn Dennis says she and her ex Thomas Ravenel are not back together.

The 28-year-old reality star responded to a pointed Instagram post about the show which featured a meme of the couple that read, 'When you get good news that Southern Charm has finally started filming, but bad news that these two are officially back together.'

Dennis was quick to comment 'Not true' in the thread, garnering multiple supportive responses.

Not happening: Southern Charm star Kathryn Dennis, 28, says she and her ex Thomas Ravenell, 57, are not back together

Dennis and Ravenel, 57, share two kids - daughter Kensington, five, and son Saint Julien, four.

The couple was seen going to a party that had a James Bond theme in January, when a source told People that they'd been 'spending a lot of time together' and were 'on really good terms' as the new year unfolded.

'It started with co-parenting, but it quickly grew into something more,' the source said. 'Theres that spark, and theyre letting themselves explore it right now.'

Dennis was 'comfortable with [Ravenel] again,' the source said, and each 'kind of tossed aside any other relationships they had for each other.'

Nope: Dennis responded to a post on an Instagram account Bravo Bible that featured a meme of the couple, denying their reconciliation

Out and about: The couple was seen going to a party that had a James Bond theme in January

The insider noted that due to the mercurial past of the relationship, they were reticent to begin announcing they'd reunited: 'The thing with them is, this all can change in two days. That's how they are. It's always so up and down.'

The source said that the relationship was 'up and in a very good place,' adding that 'it's not like they've defined their relationship that they're back together right this second, but that's very much what's happening.'

Last month, Ravenel told a fan on social media that his ongoing interactions with Dennis were a byproduct of the coparenting process.

'We're doing some things together because it makes the kids very happy to see us getting along,' he said. 'And in this matter, our interests are perfectly aligned.'

The former couple posed in an Instagram shot with their two kids - daughter Kensington, five, and son Saint Julien, four

Clarification: Last month, Ravenel told a fan on social media that his ongoing interactions with Dennis were a byproduct of the coparenting process

Ravenel and Dennis have been back and forth in court over the past five years.

Dennis lost custody of the children after she tested positive for marijuana in 2016; she subsequently finished rehab and her custody was reinstated.

In 2018, she sought to get full custody of the kids when Ravenel, a one-time treasurer for the state of South Carolina, was accused of rape and arrested. He subsequently entered a guilty plea to allegations of third-degree assault and battery and paid $80,000 to a sexual assault nonprofit as result of his settlement.

The pair came to a custody agreement this past November, with Ravenel named the primary custodian of the kids, People reported.
Oakland Unified School District officials said Monday they hope to reopen McClymonds High School next week following a multi-day campus closure due to concerns of a toxic chemical in its air and groundwater.

The district closed McClymonds last week after the carcinogenic chemical compound trichloroethylene was found in the campus' groundwater with the concern that it could have evaporated into its air. The school's drinking water was unaffected, according to district officials.

McClymonds has been closed since Thursday morning and, according to the district, will remain closed for at least part of this week as well. Classes were canceled Monday in addition to last Thursday and Friday.

Oakland Unified spokesman John Sasaki said the roughly 350 students would be spread out to three other campuses in the coming days to ensure they can return to class by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Preliminary air sampling results from McClymonds have shown no signs of trichloroethylene, according to the district. State environmental health officials swarmed the school over the weekend to conduct air testing at roughly 50 locations around the campus, including every classroom. Final sampling results are expected later this week.

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.

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.

Fairfield police said a man suspected of striking and killing a 2-year-old boy with a vehicle Sunday was the child's uncle.

Cirilo Martinez Tellez, 32, of Fairfield, allegedly struck the boy around 2 p.m. in the 1400 block of West Texas Street, then abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot. The boy was taken to a hospital but died, and his name is not being released, police said.

Police reviewed video showing the suspect fleeing and asked the public to help find him, but Tellez returned to the scene around 6 p.m. and was taken into custody.

Tellez was booked into Solano County Jail on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and felony hit-and-run. Police said they will ask the Solano County District Attorney's Office to consider filing additional charges of murder, felony DUI causing death and violating probation.

The San Mateo County coroner's office on Monday confirmed the identity of a San Jose woman who died Sunday in a high-speed solo vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 101 near Whipple Avenue in Redwood City.

Silvia Chalista, 18, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash reported at 3:18 a.m. Sunday, the California Highway Patrol said.

The vehicle's driver, an 18-year-old woman who was taken to the hospital after suffering serious injuries, is facing a possible felony DUI charge, officers said.

The CHP had initially responded to a vehicle on southbound Highway 101 driving off the road at freeway speed and crashing into a utility pole. The vehicle, an Audi sedan, then rolled over, according to the CHP.

The Marin County Sheriff's office has identified a woman who died in a solo vehicle crash in her driveway in San Rafael on Sunday evening as Norma Jean Nixon, 83.

The crash was reported around 5:30 p.m. in the 300 block of Locust Avenue. Nixon was driving down a long paved driveway at her home when she lost control of her vehicle, drove off the road and crashed into a residential structure, according to the sheriff's office.

She was the only occupant of the vehicle, and paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.

A forensic postmortem examination and toxicology tests are scheduled for Tuesday, the sheriff's office said.

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.

Police early Sunday morning arrested a 54-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder after a female relative had suffered several major injuries from what officers called a "brutal assault" in American Canyon.

American Canyon paramedics were sent at about 4:45 a.m. Sunday to the 100 block of Via Pescara on the report of a "person down," police said.

Officers had first been told the woman was injured in a fall, and she was taken by ambulance to Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa. But an examination there revealed significant injuries inconsistent with a fall, so American Canyon police were notified and started an investigation.

American Canyon police officers, along with detectives from the Napa County Sheriff's Office, found evidence that the victim had been brutally assaulted by a relative, 54-year-old Fakaofilani Akaola of San Rafael.

Napa County detectives interviewed Akaola, who was subsequently booked into Napa County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder.

The Danville Police Department announced Monday the arrest of a karate business owner for alleged sexual misconduct with a student.

Danville police arrested San Geronimo resident Ramon Pruitt, 63, for allegedly engaging in inappropriate sexual acts with one of his underage students. Pruitt owns the karate studio Danville Karate International.

Danville police officers and detectives with the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office began investigating Pruitt last month after receiving a report of his alleged sexual misconduct with a student.

The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office filed charges against Pruitt Thursday on three felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child. According to police, Pruitt was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on $500,000 bail.

The Milpitas Police Department announced Monday the arrest of a woman who allegedly placed a potential incendiary device in a Walmart store last August.

Police announced the arrest of Kali Lynn Farrell on charges of arson and being in possession of an incendiary device and an outstanding $10,000 arrest warrant for a narcotics violation.

Farrell was arrested in September, according to police, but the information was held from the public until Monday to allow detectives to continue their investigation into the placement of the device.

The on-duty manager of the Walmart store at 301 Ranch Drive called the Milpitas Police Department at roughly 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 9 to report the smell of smoke inside the store. Milpitas Fire Department personnel subsequently found a suspicious device wrapped in plastic with black electrical tape and an exposed detonation cord.

Investigators believe Farrell allegedly placed the device in the store to test its efficacy prior to using it as a distraction for a future theft attempt.

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 northeastern part of national capital Delhi, stones, pieces of bricks and glass shards lay strewn on a 400-metre stretch of road and plumes of smoke billowed from houses on Tuesday morning. All these were reminiscent of the violence which singed Jafrabad, Maujpur and other areas yesterday.

There was fresh stone pelting in the Brahampuri locality in Northeast Delhi on Tuesday morning after which the security personnel conducted a flag march. The situation is very tense. We are continuously receiving calls related to incidents of violence from Northeast Delhi, the Delhi Police said.

Five people, including a policeman, were killed on Monday as shops were burnt and vehicles torched by people who were protesting for and against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA. Eleven police officers were injured as they were hit by stones trying to separate rival groups, the New Delhi police control room said, according to news agency Associated Press.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called an urgent meeting on Tuesday at his residence, of MLAs and officials of the violence-hit areas of Delhi. Kejriwal had urged the protesters to shun violence and resolve the issues through talks.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) which had closed five Metro stations in the Northeast district on Monday, has decided to extend the closure on Tuesday too. Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar stations on the Pink Line Metro will remain closed and trains are being terminated at Welcome Metro Station, the DMRC said on Twitter.

A meeting was held by Union Home Minister Amit Shah late on Monday night with senior Delhi Police officers and top Home Ministry officials on the law and order situation in Delhi.

Security personnel conducted flag marches on Monday to prevent any further flare-ups and maintain peace after the area witnessed heavy stone pelting and arson. Tear gas shells were hurled to disperse the protesters who were pelting stones at each other. Both the groups were armed with guns, swords, stones, sticks, rods and petrol bombs. The policemen tried to disperse the protesters to avert a face-off between the two groups, but the mobs kept returning to start a fresh round of stone pelting.

In a widely-circulated video, a protester brandishing a gun walked up to a Delhi Police personnel. He then walked away and fired a few rounds in the air. News agency PTI quoted Delhi Police sources as saying that the man in the video had been identified and appropriate action would be taken against him.

The communal clashes pointed to lapses in law enforcement and came just a few hours before US President Donald Trump landed in Delhi. Home Ministry officials familiar with the matter said the clashes seemed to have been orchestrated to coincide with the high-profile visit, although home secretary Ajay Bhalla refused to speculate on the issue. He said the situation was under control. Sufficient forces have been deployed; senior officers are in the field, he told reporters.

The police were yet make any arrest for Mondays violence.

Northeast Delhi has emerged as the latest flash point on CAA, which has triggered violent, and at times deadly, demonstrations across the country since December. Shaheen Bagh has so far been the epicentre of anti-CAA protests in the city, which has also witnessed clashes between the police and students of the Jamia Millia Islamia over the legislation.
Connecticuts marriage rate is one of the lowest in the nation, and has remained so for a decade.

Only 13.2 people for every 1,000 Connecticut residents said marriage vows during 2018, according to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Bill entitling citizens to freely sell secured assets submitted to State Duma

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

13:59 25/02/2020

MOSCOW, February 25 (RAPSI)  A bill giving Russias citizens the right to sell property pledged to banks as security at their own discretion at best possible prices has been submitted to the State Duma by Deputy Chair of the lower house of the Russian Parliament Irina Yarovaya.

The document is aimed to balance the interests of borrowers and lenders as much as possible, the MP's press-service notes in a statement on Tuesday.

An analysis of regulatory enforcement, according to Yarovaya, demonstrates that currently citizens, whose assets are pledged to banks, may sell such assets only through public sales or auctions. In practice, the assets are sold at low prices and require extra expenditures on the part of sellers, who are already in dire straits.

Proposed provisions aim to put in place a transparent legal procedure, applicable when citizens seek to obtain bank permission to freely sell pledged properties within a 6 months period at a price not lower than that set to compensate the remaining parts of respective debts.

The bill, if approved, is to provide opportunities for debtors to sell pledged assets at market prices and more actively search for potential buyers, as well as earn extra money to compensate past expenditures.

The initiative has been backed by the Federal Bailiff Service, the Central Bank, and the United Russia Party.
Thailand confirmed two new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, taking the total number of infections in the South Asian nation to 37. Sukhum Kanchanapimai, Health Ministry's permanent secretary, told a news conference on February 25 that both cases are of Thai nationals.

One of the two patients is a 31-year-old woman with a family member having a travel history of China. Sukhum said that officials are investigating other family members. The other case is of a 29-year-old male who works as a driver for Chinese tourists. While 22 patients have been cured and discharged, 15 patients are still undergoing treatment.

Meanwhile, Kuwaits civil aviation authority has suspended all flights to and from Thailand, South Korea, and Italy after the three countries reported more cases of coronavirus. Kuwait had already suspended all its flight to and from Iraq after it reported the first case of coronavirus. The total number of infected people in Kuwait has reached five.

Read: US, South Korea To Scale Back Military Command Post Training Amid Coronavirus Dread

According to the latest report, 71 new deaths in China due to coronavirus infections have been confirmed, taking the total death toll because of the deadly virus to 2,663. 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 reported deaths related to COVID-19.

Read: Coronavirus Outbreak: Fourth Person From Quarantined Cruise Ship In Japan Dies

Japan has also confirmed fourth death from coronavirus on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship, docked off the Japanese coast of Yokohama. There has been a total of five deaths in Japan but one of the deaths was unrelated to the quarantined cruise.

Debate over 'pandemic'

The epidemic has not been declared as pandemic yet and the World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General said that using the word pandemic does not fit the facts. This is not the time to focus on what word to use. That will not prevent a single infection today, said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during a press briefing on COVID-19.

Read: Mongolia Halts Flights From South Korea To Prevent Spread Of Coronavirus

Read: WHO Says It No Longer Uses 'pandemic' Category, But Coronavirus Still A Global Emergency

(With inputs from agencies)
TORONTO, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (TSXV: PTU) ("Purepoint" or the "Company") today provided an update of this winter's exploration program at the Hook Lake Project, a joint venture between Cameco Corporation (39.5%), Orano Canada Inc. (39.5%) and Purepoint (21%) in the Patterson Uranium District, Saskatchewan Canada. The Hook Lake Project lies on the southwestern edge of Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin and is adjacent to and on trend with recent high-grade uranium discoveries including Fission Uranium's Triple R deposit and NexGen's Arrow deposit.

"Our drill is currently setting up on the first of our two lake targets following the month-long construction of flood ice. This lake hole will represent the initial test of the conductive shear outlined between the Spitfire Zone and the Dragon area in 2019," said Scott Frostad, Purepoint's Vice President of Exploration. "In addition, this year's electromagnetic geophysical survey has been completed and has provided five new drill targets northeast of last year's hole HK19-105 that intersected numerous shear zones, strong hydrothermal alteration and elevated radioactivity (up to 125 ppm U over 0.3 metres). We anticipate testing at least one of these geophysical targets during this drill program."

Three holes have been completed on the southern portion of the "W" Conductor testing a strike length of approximately 1.5 kilometres. The electromagnetic (EM) conductor was explained by graphitic shear zones in these holes and a single hole was completed southwest of the Hornet zone explained the EM conductor. Assays are pending.

Three to four drill holes are still to be drilled this season.

The geophysical survey completed last month consisted of five lines of stepwise-moving loop EM surveying, 800 metres apart and has provided initial targets covering 4 kilometres of conductor strike length. At least one of these EM targets will be drill tested this season.

Complete program results will be made available once all drill data is returned, interpreted and reviewed by the joint venture partners.

Hook Lake JV Project

The Hook Lake JV Project is owned jointly by Cameco Corp. (39.5%), Orano Canada Inc. (39.5%) and Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (21%) as operator and consists of nine claims totaling 28,598 hectares situated in the southwestern Athabasca Basin. The Hook Lake JV Project is considered one of the highest quality uranium exploration projects in the Athabasca Basin due to its location along the prospective Patterson Lake trend and the relatively shallow depth to the unconformity.

Current exploration is targeting the Patterson Lake Corridor that hosts Fission's Triple R Deposit (indicated mineral resource 87,760,000 lbs U3O8 at an average grade of 1.82% U3O8  www.fissionuranium.com), NexGen Energy's Arrow Deposit (indicated mineral resource 256,600,000 lbs U3O8 at an average grade of 4.03%  www.nexgenenergy.ca) and the Spitfire discovery by the Hook Lake JV. The foregoing mineral resource disclosure is information about the properties adjacent to the Company's property and does not imply that the Company will obtain similar information from its own property.

About Purepoint

Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. is focused on the precision exploration of its nine projects in the Canadian Athabasca Basin, the world's richest uranium region. Established in the Athabasca Basin well before the initial resurgence in uranium earlier last decade, Purepoint's flagship project is the Hook Lake Project, a joint venture with two of the largest uranium suppliers in the world, Cameco Corporation and Orano Canada Inc. The Hook Lake JV Project is on trend with recent high-grade uranium discoveries including Fission Uranium's Triple R Deposit, NexGen's Arrow Deposit and the Hook Lake JV's Spitfire discovery.

Scott Frostad BSc, MASc, PGeo, Purepoint's Vice President, Exploration, is the Qualified Person responsible for technical content of this release.

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

Disclosure regarding forward-looking statements

This press release contains projections and forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information can include without limitation statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance of the Company. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results and the Company's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice.

SOURCE Purepoint Uranium Group Inc.

Related Links

http://www.purepoint.ca


A young Melbourne woman hid her face as she fronted court charged with recruiting for terrorist organisation Islamic State and associating with an Australian fighter in Syria.

The 22-year-old woman, who was arrested on Tuesday at a home in Hallam in Melbourne's south-east allegedly formed an "online association" with an Australian male fighter who was a member of IS in Syria, and supported him in 2015.

The following year, according to court documents, the woman intentionally recruited a person to join IS in Syria and Iraq between June 15 and 21, and tried to facilitate their travel.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, wore a black hijab over a red and black dress when she appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday afternoon, and pulled the hijab over her face to conceal her appearance.

A prosecutor told the court the woman was 17 at the time of one of the alleged offences. The court heard it was her first time in custody and she was vulnerable due to her young age.
Airlines scramble to slash ticket prices

BANGKOK: The unease caused by COVID-19 is expected to drag down Thai tourism for more than six months, triggering airlines to slash ticket prices to steer the market, while Nok Air and Nokscoot cut pilots and cabin crew to save costs.

tourismtransporteconomicshealthCoronavirusCOVID-19

By Bangkok Post

Tuesday 25 February 2020, 08:58AM

No passengers are seen at check-in counters of Thai AirAsia at 4pm on Thursday at Don Mueang airport as the coronavirus outbreak affects air travel. Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya / Bangkok Post

Thai Airways International (THAI) is partnering with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to offer discounts such as free domestic tickets to international tourists. Low-cost carriers plan to focus on local tourists opting for domestic travel as there is a limited number of outbound choices free from the virus.

Thai AirAsia is providing B100 discounts for any domestic routes within a designated period, while Nok Air is offering one-way ticket prices for domestic routes starting from B680 this month. Vietjet Air has marked down all routes across Thailand by 50%.

As the outbreak spreads to more countries, Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) believes the impact will last longer than six months, and the losses will be larger than the TATs projection of B250 billion, said Chairat Trirattanajarasporn, president of TCT.

Operators are ready to comply with stimulus plans from the authorities to secure at least 36 million international tourists this year. But the government has to think and act faster than this, or most businesses will collapse because of the impact," said Mr Chairat.

The THAI-TAT collaboration  Amazing Flight, Amazing Thailand  will be launched in March at ITB Berlin 2020, one of the biggest trade shows in Europe, for travel during May to October, said Tanes Petsuwan, deputy governor of marketing communications at TAT.

Under the six-month campaign, THAI will offer 10,000 tickets to Thailand to international tourists with at least a 20% discount, plus a round-trip ticket for a domestic route operated by THAI or THAI Smile Airways.

Well start with 10,000 tickets. If the feedback is good TAT will talk with THAI about increasing the number of sale tickets, said Mr Tanes.

This project has a budget of around B30 million , shared equally by the two parties. It expects to stimulate tourist spending of around B500mn.

NokScoot airline issued a statement that 11 pilots and 36 cabin crew were told to leave the company, while Nok Air axed four pilots. The airlines want to save on operation cost amid a severe economic situation and the virus outbreak. Nok Air has tried many attempts to control costs.

Read original story here.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : The Delhi Fire Services on Tuesday said that they received a total of 45 distress calls from the areas that were gripped by violence between pro and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protesters .

According to Atul Garg, Director, Delhi Fire Service, " Total 45 fire calls were received, one fire tender was stoned and one was completely burnt. Three firemen got injured." Several areas in north east Delhi for the past two days have been witnessing violence between the two groups of protesters.

Eight companies of the CRPF were deployed in violence-hit areas on Monday, including Maujpur and Jaffrabad, following the violent protests.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
I told him you can stand up there and give a speech for five minutes, seven minutes, if you want, but afterward, just stand, shake hands, talk to them  just give them 15 to 30 seconds to let them say whatever they want to say, said Thigpen, who has also appeared on a mailing with Sanders. They dont want to hear your stump speech as much as they want to know that youre there to listen to what they have to say.
Chinese SWAT teams have been filmed throwing nets over people's heads as they practise how to deal with unco-operative coronavirus patients.

Footage of a staged incident at an official checkpoint in Henan province shows a team of imposing officers, wielding firearms and riot shield, intercepting a suspected COVID-19 case.

The mask-wearing driver is questioned by police as part of the practice exercise, and when he fails to cooperate is stopped and forced from his vehicle before what looks like a common fishing net is thrown over his head.

Unable to counter the dramatic intervention, the hapless victim is surrounded by officials - with some of the police wearing uniforms with the word SWAT written on them in English.

The footage was posted on Weibo - the Chinese equivalent of Twitter - and TikTok by the local security authority.

In the video caption, the Tongbai County's Municipal Public Security Bureau says: "To win the epidemic defence, Tongyang police had armed exercises."

Henan is on particularly high alert for coronavirus cases as it borders Hubei, which is the epicentre of the outbreak.

:: Listen to the Daily podcast with Dermot Murnaghan on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker

The vast majority of the more than 79,000 cases worldwide are in mainland China - and most of those are in Hubei, specifically the city of Wuhan.

China has warned it will not be shy of taking action against those who do not take all possible measures to limit the spread of the virus.

Earlier this month, local officials in the city of Kunshan were seen forcibly removing people from their apartment following their refusal to self-isolate.

Chinese state media have also warned that everyone returning to the capital Beijing must self-isolate two weeks or face punishment - although they did not specify how.

As China continues to fine tune its coronavirus containment techniques, concerns are growing about the spread of the deadly illness in the UK and Europe.

Austria is assembling a coronavirus taskforce to discuss whether to introduce border controls with Italy, where a fourth person has died amid the biggest COVID-19 outbreak on the continent.

And in the UK, Britons rescued from a coronavirus-hit cruise ship off the coast of Japan have expressed anger after four fellow passengers tested positive for the illness, despite being cleared to travel home.
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Ottawa and Newfoundland and Labrador have reached an agreement to collaborate on protecting boreal caribou in Labrador.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Ottawa and Newfoundland and Labrador have reached an agreement to collaborate on protecting boreal caribou in Labrador.

The provincial government announced the agreement last week that will see Ottawa contribute $5.4 million towards efforts to preserve the dwindling sedentary herds.

Ottawa and Newfoundland and Labrador have reached an agreement to collaborate on protecting boreal caribou in Labrador. The provincial government announced the agreement last week that will see Ottawa contribute $5.4 million towards efforts to preserve the dwindling sedentary herds. Caribou gather near the Devil's Bite trail in Newfoundland In this August 2008 file photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Walter Anderson

The agreement will guide the conservation plan, to be implemented over four years, for Labrador's Lac Joseph, Red Wine Mountain and Mealy Mountains herds.

The species is considered threatened under the federal Species at Risk Act.

The two governments have agreed to collaborate with Indigenous governments to develop the conservation measures and incorporate Indigenous knowledge into the plan.

The agreement discusses habitat conservation measures and improving knowledge by using collars on some animals and conducting surveys five times a year that will involve representatives from Indigenous communities.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2020.
Southeast Lower Michigan is under a Winter Storm Watch. Here are some quick points about the coming snow.

The Winter Storm Watch is for a period from midnight tonight to late Wednesday evening. While we will have spotty light snow and rain today, the main period of steady snow will start late tonight and continue Wednesday and Wednesday evening.

Winter storm watch in effect for blue shaded areas. Huron, Sanilac and St. Clair Counties also are in the winter storm watch.

The back, northwest edge of the Winter Storm Watch shows the northward extent of over 4 inches of snow. The Winter Storm Watch includes Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Lansing and Saginaw on the northwest edge. All of southeast Lower Michigan, including Detroit, Ann Arbor, Jackson and Flint, are solidly in the heart of the Winter Storm Watch.

Grand Rapids, Midland and Bay City were in the Winter Storm Watch area, but have been pulled out of the watch area.

This shows the fine-tuning of the snow area that all of the data is showing. A sharp cutoff on heavy snow will occur in the northern fringe area of the Winter Storm Watch.

Heres one of the models with its total snow forecast. All of the model data we look at is very similar, varying only by an inch here and there.

Total snowfall forecast by the end of the snow late Wednesday night.

The snow should virtually end across southern Lower Michigan by 11 p.m. Wednesday. There may be some occasional spurts of snow for a few hours after, but the accumulating snow should be over.

Youll notice two things with this snow forecast. Southeast Lower is in the heart of a 5 to 8 inch snow. Detroit, Ann Arbor, Jackson and Monroe are in the middle of the heavy snow area. The second important point is the sharp decline in snow totals on the northwest edge of the storm. Snow totals will go from solid snow to one inch from Flint to the Saginaw area. Youll also see that big tapering of snow amounts from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids should get only light snow out of this weather system.

Wind will get gusty Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday evening. With colder temperatures, the last few inches of snow in southeast Lower will blow and drift Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

Temperatures will also get much colder by Thursday morning, meaning salt wont work as well on roadways.
The National Defense and Security Council underlined that the elections should take place only with the observation of the Constitution of Ukraine

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov states that he believes in possibility holding of the local elections in occupied Donbas this autumn only for 50% as liga.net reported.

Former U.S. Special Representative on Ukraine Kurt Volker earlier stated that he did not believe in the possibility of holding local elections in occupied Donbas at all.

Danilov commented on his words: I have great respect to Mr. Volker but the disengagement takes place only on condition of reciprocity. If one side does not step back then another also does not. Another matter that Volker does not believe in the holding of elections for 100%. I can say that I also do not believe in it, but for 50%.

According to him, he would like, firstly, deploy our border guards at our Ukrainian border; secondly, organizer the joint patrolling of the territories with members of the local communities.

It is the experience of Croatia. It was varied. I cannot say that the groups consisting of four people had no disputes. But we should head to it, he added.

Danilov stressed that the elections should take place only with the observation of the Constitution of Ukraine.

On February 15, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine agreed to joint border control with representatives of the uncontrolled territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions as a condition for holding local elections in Donbas.

Earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky announced his readiness for dialogue with the population that lives in the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk and Lugansk regions, but not with the so-called power in the occupied territory of Donetsk and Luhansk region.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 25, 2020) - Peekaboo Beans Inc. (CSE: BEAN) (OTC Pink: PBBSF) ("Peekaboo Beans" or the "Company") announces the launch of a new core style developed for the brand. Peekaboo Beans launched their children's sleepwear, "Bean Jammies", on February 20th, 2020. This new style meets children's sleepwear safety regulations, made of 100% cotton with the same environmental, sustainable and intentional designs for children's comfort and play the brand is recognized for. Given the sleep requirements for children and the number of hours kids are likely to be wearing sleepwear each day, this new style allows the brand to be children's go-to for every minute of every day. Peekaboo Beans sleepwear are backed by Dr. Deborah MacNamara, a clinical counsellor and developmentalist on faculty at the Neufeld Institute, with messages designed to be used as a tool to help bridge the nighttime separation between a child and parents. This unique element, combined with comfortable sleepwear, will make bedtime and sleep for children more productive - a win for children and their parents.

"We are excited about being able to offer a style that's been requested for years. Based on our consistent sales with our underwear program we are confident in a positive sell through of our Jammies. A new manufacture partnership in Peru has eliminated a need for duties and taxes so we can also appreciate higher margins. I'm happy to bring a child's comfortable and playful day to include comfortable and playful dreams".

About Peekaboo Beans Inc.

Peekaboo Beans is a children's apparel brand with a focus on environmentally responsible clothes that are intentionally designed to inspire play. Through an omni-channel approach, Peekaboo Beans engages sellers through social platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, as well as online retailers, to maximize revenue and build brand loyalty. The Company works to promote a playful lifestyle for children by designing comfortable clothes that are built to last.

To learn more about Peekaboo Beans, visit: www.peekaboobeans.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Peekaboo Beans Inc.

Ms. Traci Costa, President and CEO

(604) 279-2326

For more information, please contact the Company at:

IR@peekaboobeans.com

1-604-279-2326

Reader Advisory

This news release may include forward-looking information that is subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking. 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. 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, successes 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 are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. 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 its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52740
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.




Over 90% of Russians back social amendments to Constitution  poll

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

12:22 25/02/2020

MOSCOW, February 25 (RAPSI)  Over 90% of Russians are in favor of social amendments proposed to the Constitution, according to the director of the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center Valery Fedorov.

Nearly the same percent of the pollees are ready to vote for it, he said during the working group meeting on Tuesday.

According to Fedorov, 97% supported amendments concerning medical attendance, 96% backed a proposal to fix in the Constitution that children are the nation's patrimony and the state must socially protect them. Labor rights protection and minimum wage amendments to the Constitution were favored by 95% of the respondents, while annual pension indexation is expected to be supported by 94%.

President Vladimir Putin brought the bill before the parliament on January 20. He clarified the essence of the amendments proposed to the Constitution at a meeting with members of a working group established to elaborate the respective suggestions on January 16.

According to the President, the amendments are aimed to further the development of Russia as a social welfare state governed by the rule of law, as well as to achieve higher efficiency of its national institutions, strengthen the role played by its civil society, political parties, and Russias regions in working out most important decisions concerning the development of the state.

Vladimir Putin stated that Russia was to remain a Presidential republic, but a more open one, where the significance of its Parliament was to grow, whereas interrelations of lawmakers with the government were to be strengthened.

The President was to retain serious powers to dismiss from their posts those violating the law and those failing to be scrupulous about their duties on the basis of loss of trust, Putin said.

The Head of the State believes that these powers were imperative due to the complex state structure of Russia, its multi-confessional and multi-ethnic nature, and vast territory.

The working group on preparation of proposals concerning amendments to the Constitution was approved by the President on January 15. Among its members are representatives of the Federation Council, State Duma and other public figures.
The Ambulance Service has admitted that one in six of its shifts cannot be covered because of staffing problems.

Almost 5,000 gaps appeared in rotas in just nine months due to a shortage of emergency crews.

Staff vacancies, rostered leave and sickness absences all led to reduced cover.

The percentage of unfilled shifts has almost doubled - rising from 8.2% in 2017/18 to 15% in the current year.

The figures were released by Health Minister Robin Swann after an Assembly question from DUP MLA Paul Givan.

Mr Givan said: "These figures are unacceptable and will cause public concern."

Between April 2017 and December 2019, a total of 13,084 ambulance shifts were not covered - 13 a day on average.

A breakdown by year shows:

3,405 shifts not covered in 2017/18 - 8.2% of total shifts;





4,963 shifts not covered in 2018/19 - 12.2% of the total;





And 4,716 shifts not covered in the nine months to December 31 2019 - 15% of the total.

Mr Givan said: "My question was prompted by the experience of a family within my constituency.

"On each occasion there has not been adequate cover for shifts within the Ambulance Service the public are at increased risk."

A separate Assembly question from Mr Givan found huge overtime costs to plug gaps in the Ambulance Service's rotas.

Some 18,083,000 was spent to cover additional hours in the last three years.

Mr Givan added: "I welcome the Executive putting our health service at the top of its priorities and reform must be made across a wide range of issues.

"Progress has been made in dealing with the pay dispute but health service reform is a major but necessary task and will only be achieved through support from all sides of the Assembly."

Last summer ambulance crews had to be drafted from the Republic of Ireland to help cover major staff shortages.

During one weekend in August, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service was down by about 20 crews - roughly a quarter of its normal workforce.

According to the Ambulance Service, reduced levels of cover are mainly due to factors such as staff vacancies, rostered leave and sickness absences.

It said that whenever it has not been possible to provide full cover, contingency plans have been instigated to mitigate against an adverse impact on patients.

"Calls received in ambulance control are prioritised to ensure that the quickest response is provided to the most seriously ill or injured," a spokesman said.

He said demand has increased significantly in recent years without a corresponding increase in ambulance resources.

The spokesman said the service is working to address staff shortages and fill existing vacancies with ongoing regional recruitments and training.

He said over 300 additional operational staff will be required to meet demand and achieve response time targets.

Ambulance Service chief executive Michael Bloomfield acknowledged the problems caused by unfilled shifts on the public and staff.

"It is a source of regret to me whenever ambulance cover is depleted due to lack of available resources and the potential impact this may have on the community we serve," he said.

"I am mindful that as a result of reduced staffing levels some patients wait longer for an ambulance than would otherwise be the case.

"We continue to prioritise the most urgent calls, but regrettably some lower urgency calls will wait longer and I apologise to patients for that.

"I would like to express my gratitude to those staff, on the frontline and in ambulance control, who continue to work tirelessly to ensure that an ambulance response is provided to those who have an immediate and life-threatening need."

In January it was reported that the Ambulance Service had spent 3.2m on private ambulances in 2018/19.

The ambulances - run by private firms and voluntary organisations - were sent to 8,514 emergency calls.

The Red Cross, St John Ambulance and the Order of Malta are among those used to provide cover.

Health union Unison said increasing private ambulance use was concerning and was indicative of problems across the health service.
Coronavirus will spread to U.S. communities, federal health officials said Tuesday, in what was a dramatic departure from past assurances that the risk to Americans was low.

Ultimately, we expect we will see community spread in this country, said Dr. Nancy Messonier, one of the countrys top health officials. Its not so much a question of if this will happen anymore, but rather a question of exactly when this will happen, and exactly how many people in this country will have severe illness.

Nearly 77,000 people have so far fallen ill with the new coronavirus, called COVID-19, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention numbers, and nearly 2,500 people have died.

Oregon health departments are currently monitoring 76 people for coronavirus symptoms after their return from China. Another 178 people have completed two weeks of monitoring, the Oregon Health Authority said Monday. There are no cases of the new coronavirus in Oregon, the agency said.

There is no vaccine or treatment for the disease, Messonier said.

People should be concerned about the situation, she said, and should start preparing. Among other things, that means figuring out daycare for kids who have to stay home or figuring out how to work from home.

The Oregon Health Authoritys infectious disease experts said the coronaviruss spread to the state is likely. Theyre trying to get ready by anticipating an array of questions, such as whether it would be possible for doctors to provide any care remotely and whether some equipment can be reused.

Im worried that were going to see a lot of cases and that were going to have a lot of people hospitalized, said Dr. Paul Cieslak, Oregons public health physician.

There could be two phases to a coronavirus outbreak Oregon, he said.

In the first phase, local health departments and health care providers would isolate sick people and monitor anyone they had contact with, he said. But if that doesnt contain the spread, health officials would ask for broader steps to prevent infections, such requesting that people work from home or temporarily shutting down a school.

Thats when were in general containment mode, Cieslak said.

If theres an outbreak in Multnomah County, the local health departments primary focus will be on protecting health care workers, the elderly and people with underlying health conditions, county health officer Jennifer Vines said. Workers are much more likely to be exposed to the virus, she said, and the elderly and people with existing conditions are more likely to suffer severe consequences from an infection.

Vines said there are about 40 people people being monitored for potential coronavirus exposure in the northwest region of Oregon -- Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, Clatsop, Tillmook and Columbia counties -- out of 76 total in the state as of Monday.

For now, the Oregon Health Authority continues to recommend that people do the basic things they should already do to prevent infections of all kinds. That means washing hands, not sneezing on other people and staying home when sick.

In the U.S., hospitals and emergency workers for years have practiced for a possible deadly, fast-spreading flu. Those drills helped the first hospitals to treat U.S. patients suffering from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

Other hospitals are paying attention. The CDC has been talking to the American Hospital Association, which in turn communicates coronavirus news daily to its nearly 5,000 member hospitals. Hospitals are reviewing infection control measures, considering using telemedicine to keep potentially infectious patients from making unnecessary trips to the hospital and conserving dwindling supplies of masks and gloves.

What's more, the CDC has held 17 different calls reaching more than 11,000 companies and organizations, including stadiums, universities, faith leaders, retailers and large corporations. U.S. health authorities are talking to city, county and state health departments about being ready to cancel mass gathering events, close schools and take other steps.

The CDCs Messonnier said she had contacted her childrens school district to ask about plans for using internet-based education should schools need to close temporarily, as some did in 2009 during an outbreak of H1N1 flu. She encouraged American parents to do the same, and to ask their employers whether theyll be able to work from home.

"We want to make sure the American public is prepared," Messonnier said.

How prepared are U.S. hospitals?

"It depends on caseload and location. I would suspect most hospitals are prepared to handle one to two cases, but if there is ongoing local transmission with many cases, most are likely not prepared just yet for a surge of patients and the worried well,'" Dr. Jennifer Lighter, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at NYU Langone in New York, said in an email.

In the U.S., a vaccine candidate is inching closer to first-step safety studies in people, as Moderna Inc. has delivered test doses to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Some other companies say they have candidates that could begin testing in a few months.

Still, even if those first safety studies show no red flags, specialists believe it would take at least a year to have something ready for widespread use. Thats longer than it took in 2009, during the H1N1 flu pandemic  because that time around, scientists only had to adjust regular flu vaccines, not start from scratch.

This story will be updated.

- The Associated Press

-- Fedor Zarkhin

fzarkhin@oregonian.com

desk: 503-294-7674|cell: 971-373-2905|@fedorzarkhin

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OPEC and its allied oil-producing nations are still working well together and still have options to try to rebalance global crude markets, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said Tuesday. "We do communicate with each other, we use every opportunity to talk with each other," he said, speaking to reporters at the ICCUS conference in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. "We did not run out of ideas, we haven't lost our phones and there are always good ways of communicating through conference calls and technology is very helpful." His comments came amid speculation that there is tension in the alliance, known as OPEC+, over whether to cut oil production further. Prices continue to be weighed on by ample supply and falling demand and, lately, fears surrounding the coronavirus and its impact on the global economy. Prince Abdulaziz insisted that the producer countries in the alliance communicate and he was "confident of our partnership," adding that every producer was a "responsible" one.

Saudi Arabia's new Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman takes a tour at the exhibition during the 24th World Energy Congress in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates September 9, 2019. REUTERS | Satish Kumar | File Photo

OPEC and its non-OPEC allies, led by Russia, will meet in Vienna on March 5-6 but there is uncertainty over whether the entire group will agree to cut their collective oil output further with rumors that Russia is still undecided. As it stands, the alliance has reduced its total oil output by 1.7 million barrels a day in a bid to stabilize oil prices. The technical committee of OPEC+ met earlier in February to debate a possible oil output cut but the meeting ended with no solid recommendation. The Saudi minister referred to a statement made last week by his Russian counterpart, Energy Minister Alexander Novak, in which Novak said Russia had not yet made a decision on any further cut and that it continued to discuss the matter with its OPEC partners. Prince Abdulaziz said the statement showed that Novak remains "positively engaged." "I'm confident of our partnership as OPEC+, I'm confident that everyone in the OPEC+ is a responsible and responsive producer." Oil prices steadied on Tuesday after crude benchmarks slumped almost 4% in the previous session on concerns over the impact of the coronavirus on already dented global demand and a build in U.S. crude oil inventories. Brent crude for April delivery was trading at $56.79 per barrel Tuesday, while West Texas intermediate (WTI) was trading at $51.87. Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Bahrain's oil minister, told CNBC Tuesday that a cut of 600,000 barrels a day, as suggested by OPEC's joint technical committee, could be considered at next week's OPEC meeting. "If the market mechanism and the consensus is yes then, absolutely, yes," he told CNBC's Dan Murphy in Riyadh. "It's (the OPEC, OPEC+) mechanism has proven very effective to balance markets and that's what it's there for. There is a temporary need to make some measures," he said.
Longtime film producer Harvey Weinstein was sentenced in a New York court on Monday of sexual assault and rape, and hauled off to jail in handcuffs, a triumph for the # MeToo movement that influenced women to publicly accuse powerful men of misbehavior.

Once among the most prominent producers in Hollywood, Weinstein, 67, was found guilty of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping one-time aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013.

Before leading him away, officers aided Weinstein unstably to his feet. His lawyer said Weinstein was taken to the New York City's Rikers Island prison complex by a walker throughout the trial.

The structure renowned for its violence and negligence contrasted sharply with the elegant Four Seasons hotel, in which Weinstein, producer of well-known films such as "The English Patient" and "Shakespeare in Love", had breakfasts.

His hearing was scheduled for 11 March and his attorney promised to make an appeal.

Throughout the trial he told reporters he wanted to talk but his attorneys said that it was unnecessary as the case against him was feeble. For his defense, Weinstein never got to testify.

Actress Rose McGowan, who accuses Weinstein of assault, tweeted today that it is a strong day, and a huge step forward in their shared healing process.

Weinstein faces verdict of sexual harassment with up to 25 years imprisonment. He had also been convicted of third-degree rape-sexual intercourse without consent-which carries up to four years in prison.

Weinstein was convicted about the most serious charges by the jury of seven men and five women which brought a possible life sentence.

The jury foreman Bernard Cody was personally asked by the reporters outside the tribunal how the experience of a jury was for him and he only said that it was devastating. Cody refused to elaborate further.

In California, Weinstein also stands accused of sexual assault that were reported just several hours after his trial in New York to began on January 6 .Moreover, dozens of women brought civil proceedings against him.

'HELD ACCOUNTABLE'

Over 80 women, along with renowned actresses, had accused him over decades of sexual misconduct. He had denied the allegations and then said that all sexual relationships were consensual.

Sciorra, renowned from the "The Sopranos" television program, claimed that one night Weinstein forced his way home, assaulted her and forced oral sex on her. From the early 1990s, the allegation was too late to be prosecuted as a different offence.

Authorities depicted Weinstein as a sexual predator who had exploited women with offers to create opportunities in Hollywood, coaxing them into hotels or private residences, then overpowering and abusing them aggressively.

Under the statute, these "prior bad act" witnesses are allowed to display a pattern of violence in sex crime trials, and also to combat a defendant who claims the incidents were consensual, said Lisa Linsky, a former federal prosecutor for sex crimes.

The defense said guilt throughout the trial motivated the accusers to take consensual events and reframe them as crimes. Weinstein's lawyers zeroed in on warm communications and continued communication between Weinstein and the victims.

Attorneys pushed back on defense claims that its alleged victims were not credible and the notion that they were responsible for the alleged attacks.
Tian Rui said that in the past five months, Carrefour China has steadily improved its operating efficiency through the digital transformation of its stores and accelerated integration with Suning ecological system. The effect is magnificent, in Q4 2019, Carrefour China achieved its first quarterly profit among the last seven years.

After the acquisition, Carrefour China management team emphasized on consumers' needs, and strengthened the construction of commodities, operations, marketing and membership management as well. In terms of merchandise operations, Carrefour China took full advantages of imported goods supply chain and accelerated the integration with Suning FMCG supply chain. At present, Carrefour China has opened up the supply chain with Suning Convenience Store in the majority of regions in China, which has strengthened the supply chain capabilities of Suning Convenience Store and effectively reduced costs.

In terms of the digitalization of Carrefour China, existed 209 stores nationwide have completed smart retail transformation to meet the one-hour service within three kilometers of the surrounding area and the half-day service within 10 kilometers of the same city.

Carrefour China has integrated with Suning Logistics warehousing resources. In the future, it will cooperate with Suning Logistics to establish its own cold chain service capability and achieve better quality control. At the same time, Carrefour's 40 million members have connected with Suning members and linked Suning.com and other business formats to further strengthen membership privileges.

During the epidemic recently, Carrefour China actively secured the supply of residents' living materials, and at the same time vigorously developed Flash Delivery to satisfy consumer demands during the period.

On February 6, Carrefour China entered the Suning Convenience Store APP, covering all Suning Convenience Store across the country. Since its launch, the average daily order volume of Carrefour Flash Delivery has increased by 202% month-on-month on Suning Convenience Store APP. On February 21, the average daily order volume increased by 329% from the previous month.

"Carrefour China is the core business of Suning FMCG matrix. In 2020, we will accelerate store upgrades, supply chain construction, and other ecological integration with Suning to recreate the glory of Carrefour like seven years ago!" said Tian Rui.

SOURCE Suning Holdings Group

Related Links

www.suning.com


NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As Jewish National Fund-USA (JNF) enters the final week of Jewish Disability, Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month (JDAAIM), the organization's partners, its donors, are close to meeting a $1M match February funding challenge, with supporters encouraged to donate at www.jnf.org/disabilities.

Special in Uniform participants plant trees with JNF-USA Special in Uniform participants salute

Over the month of February, JNF has highlighted the important contribution that people with disabilities make within our community. JNF proudly supports programs in Israel that engage, empower, and care for Israelis with special needs such as: Special in Uniform, LOTEM, ALEH Negev, and Red Mountain Therapeutic Riding Center.

Special in Uniform inspired initiative to launch in the U.S.

On March 5, 2020, at Ronald S. Lauder JNF House, Chairman of the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, Chris Neeley, will address the community on his plan to launch Corps of Honor, an initiative inspired by JNF's Special in Uniform, that will create a framework in the U.S. military and other uniformed organizations that will allow people with disabilities to serve their country.

During a recent i24 interview, Neeley stated: "the IDF is doing exactly what all countries should be doing and that is including people with disabilities in the military. Importantly, it's great for all the soldiers, disabled and non-disabled, to have that cohesion and morale boost that comes from having those relationships." Neeley went on to mention, "I have met with JNF who helped start this program in Israel and I am working with them to replicate the program's success in the U.S. We are going to call in Corp of Honor and we're going to start local working with our National Guards in each state."

"I'm proud that JNF supports programs that empower people with special needs both in the U.S. and in Israel," said JNF Task Force on Disabilities Director, Yossi Kahana. "The fact that nearly 13% of people in both the US and Israel are considered physically or mentally challenged is an opportunity for us to live our values and embrace each and every member of our community."

JNF is the leading philanthropic organization for Israel that supports critical environmental and nation-building activities in Israel's north and south. Through its One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade, JNF is developing new communities in the Galilee and Negev, connecting the next generation to Israel, and creating infrastructure and programs that support ecology, individuals with special needs, and heritage site preservation.

To hear Chris Neeley speak about his vision for Corps of Honor, listen to JNF's latest IsraelCast episode in honor of JDAAIM here.

Contact:

Media Inquiries (JNF): Stefan Oberman, JNF-USA Director of Communications. E: [email protected]. P: 212.879.9305 x222

SOURCE Jewish National Fund-USA
Catholics who accept all of the church's teachings are most likely to vote for Trump: poll

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Catholic support for President Donald Trump has increased but theres a disconnect between Catholics who agree with all of the Churchs teachings and those who dont.

The Eternal Word Television Network and RealClear Opinion Research released the survey of over 1,521 registered self-identified Catholic and former Catholic voters Monday.

The results show that even though Trump is still trailing Democratic candidates in head-to-head polling, one of the most prevalent predictors of whether or not a Catholic voter will vote for Trump is whether or not he or she accepts the entirety of Catholic church teachings.

About 18 percent of the respondents said that they accept all the Churchs teachings, which conflict with Democratic Party positions on issues like abortion and same-sex marriage.

Thirty-eight percent of respondents said that they accept most of the Churchs teachings, while 29 percent said they do not accept some of the key teachings. Thirteen percent said Catholicism has a minor influence on them, while 2 percent identified as former Catholics.

[The 18 percent group] is the one that has opinions that are distinct from essentially the other 80 percent who indicate that their religion plays a less integral role in their lives, John Della Volpe, the director of polling at RealClear Opinion Research, said on a conference call with reporters.

While the majority of Catholics surveyed (53 percent) said they disapprove of the job Trump is doing as president, 59 percent of Catholics who say they accept all the Churchs teachings indicate that they are sure they will vote to reelect Trump in 2020. As well, 8 percent of devout Catholics said there is a very good chance they will vote to reflect Trump.

So thats 67 percent [of devout Catholics who] say they are sure to reelect him or there is a very good chance they will, Volpe said. This is a core group of that 18 percent. In addition to that, they are more likely to follow the news and they are much more likely than the other Catholics to indicate that they never miss an election. Seventy-five percent indicate that they vote in almost every federal election.

By comparison, 34 percent of the 1,521 total respondents said they are sure to vote for Trump in 2020 and 12 percent said there is a good chance theyll vote for him in 2020. Thirty-six percent of all respondents said they will never vote for Trump, while 10 percent said it is unlikely theyll vote to reelect the president.

About 8 percent of all respondents said that it is possible they will vote for Trump in 2020.

The poll is the second in a series of four polls on Catholic political and theological opinions during the 2020 election cycle to be conducted, the first of which was released in December. The respondents were surveyed online between Jan. 28 and Feb. 4 and the results have an error margin of 2.77 percent.

Trumps job approval rating among Catholics of 47 percent is in line with the national average, Volpe explained. In the December polling, Trumps job approval among Catholics was at 44 percent.

Historically, if the Catholic vote is evenly divided, you're looking at a close election, Real Clear Politics Washington Bureau Chief Carl Cannon said. It happened last time. The job approval rating in social sciences is the gold standard because the question has been asked the same [way] starting with George Gallup in the 1930s.  It's not always been a predictor of reelection. But with this president, it kind of feels like it is.

Volpe said that the 18 percent group of respondents who accept all the Churchs teachings is unique for different reasons.

One, he said, is they include more people of color (41 percent Hispanic), with nearly half of the demographic being white. He added that there are slightly more females (52 percent) in the group than males. Nearly one-third of the respondent group is below the age of 45.

Volpe said that 72 percent of those who say they accept the Catholic Churchs teachings attend mass at least once per week and 92 percent say they pray at least once per week.

Additionally, at least half of the Catholics who accept all the Churchs teachings are Republican and 38 percent are Democrats.

As for the less devout Catholics, about 30 percent consider themselves Republican.

Among Democratic Catholics, former Vice President Joe Biden, the only Catholic in the primary, seems to have a slight edge over his competitors.

Twenty-nine percent of respondents who said they are likely to cast a Democrat primary ballot said they are likely to vote for Biden and 24 percent said they are likely to vote for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Seventeen percent said they would likely vote for former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg and 10 percent indicated support for Massachusets Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

I want to note that when we think about the upcoming primary on a national basis, we see the race at the top level unchanged since the last wave was polled, Volpe said.

The poll also questioned respondents about their opinions on various political issues.



A major issue for Catholics over the years has been abortion, as Catholics have led the pro-life movement over the decades through events like the annual March for Life.

On abortion, 47 percent of all respondents said that they think abortion is intrinsically evil, while 71 percent who say they accept all the Churchs teachings said the same.

Twenty percent of all respondents surveyed said they think abortion should always be legal (20 percent). Thirty-one percent of respondents said they think abortion should be legal but want limits on late-term abortion. Thirty-three percent said they think abortion should be illegal except in cases of rape, incest or to save a mothers life. Eleven percent said they think abortion should always be illegal.

Among the 18 percent of Catholics who say they accept all the Churchs teachings, 23 percent said they think abortion should always be illegal and 32 percent said that it should be illegal except in the cases for rape, incest or to save a mothers life. Twenty-seven percent of devout Catholics think abortion should always be legal.

What it tells me is that even the most devout Catholics, they take the separation of church and state pretty seriously, Cannon said. They don't always just go with what their faith says. That doesn't mean they do it in their own lives. But they think they grant some space to the political sphere to work out these issues.

Catholics are divided when it comes to whether or not Christian business owners should have the right not to provide services for a same-sex wedding.

While 45 percent of all respondents said they think business owners should have that right, 40 percent said business owners should be required to provide services for same-sex weddings. Fourteen percent said they did not know.

About 55 percent of all respondents said they think that transgender individuals use of public restrooms should be consistent with biological sex. Meanwhile, 30 percent believe transgender individuals should be allowed to use bathrooms consistent with their gender identity.
Chandigarh, Feb 25 : Punjab will not allow any movie seeking to promote violence or gangsters in the state, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday asserted in the state Assembly, saying his government would also approach the Censor Board in this regard.

The Chief Minister made the remark on the third day of the ongoing Budget session during a discussion in response to a question raised by Khanna MLA Gurkirat Singh Kotli in the Zero Hour.

Kotli expressed concern over more movies like the recently banned 'Shooter' being in the pipeline for release.

Reiterating his firm commitment to ensuring a safe and secure social environment across the state, Amarinder Singh said nothing would be allowed to disturb Punjab's hard earned peace and communal harmony.

The state government would write to the Censor Board on such movies since the matter comes under its purview, he added.

Earlier this month, Amarinder Singh had ordered a ban on the movie 'Shooter', based on the life and crimes of notorious gangster Sukha Kahlwan.

Responding to another question raised by MLA Parminder Singh Pinky about the involvement of SAD local leader Iqbal Singh Mallah in anti-national activities, the Chief Minister assured that a thorough probe would be conducted and action would be taken as per the law.

Pinky had alleged that Mallah had links with Happy PhD, a Khalistan Liberation Force member who was killed in Pakistan recently.
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
It Would Be Foolish for Klobuchar or Any Democrat to Drop Out of Race

Commentary

As Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) gains steam en route to a delegate lead, calls for other Democratic presidential candidates to drop out of the race are being heard.

It would be foolish, however for the likes of Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to drop out of the race. At a brokered convention, she would be a plausible alternative and dropping out now would only diminish her chances.

The Democrats 2020 race is rolling along in predictable fashion.

Presidential primaries place a premium on experience, i.e., prior presidential runs, and organization. Add to that, the new age of crowded presidential fields and that adds up to Sanders having the edge on his rivals. For those reasons and others, a year ago, I predicted that he would be the Democratic nominee.

A look at the upcoming primary polls shows Sanders in first or second place in every state except Florida. Importantly, hes in first place in four of the largest states: New York, Texas, Michigan, and California. In California alone, which places the highest premium on organization, given its size, and where he has a massive polling lead, Bernie could get more than 10 percent of the delegates he needs for the nomination.

All is not well in Bernieland, though. The Democrat Establishment has declared open warfare on him. The Democrats dont want him as the nominee and will do virtually anything to stop him, as they did in 2016.

If they do, however, it wont be because someone else has enough delegates to secure the nomination prior to the convention. Indeed, there is virtually no way to stop Sanders from having the most delegates before the convention.

While he is either first or second in mostly every state, his competitors are left to divide up the rest of the vote and will fall far short of Sanderss delegate haul. So, its Bernie or no one as far as getting enough delegates before the convention to win on the first ballot.

So, shouldnt some of them drop out to save the Democrats from being burned by Bernie in the fall?

The short answer is no. Heres why.

Given his delegate lead, the Democrats strategy to stop Sanders must be to force a brokered convention. Then, at the convention, after committed delegates vote on the first ballot at the convention and Sanders falls short of a majority, Party rules allow for an additional 500 delegates to weigh in.

That additional pool of delegates, known as superdelegates and made up of Establishment Democrats, will broker who will be the nomineeand you can bet that it wont be Sanders.

So, who would it be?

The answer is it could be just about anyone from Hillary Clinton to Michael Bloomberg to Joe Biden to Klobuchar to Michelle Obama.

Bloomberg will tell Democrats that he will self-fund the race and they can spend all their money on congressional contestsa tempting proposition. Clinton will say she has the experience and the organization to run a presidential race. Michelle Obama could say she has the name, and Biden would say he is electable.

As for Klobuchar, she can tout her Midwest appeal and the fact that she ran a good race. She also can lay claim to being a new face on the block without the baggage of Hillary, Bloomberg, or Bidenor the inexperience of Michelle Obama.

To really make her case, however, Klobuchar needs to demonstrate that she has support across the country. To do that, she cant drop out of the presidential race. She must rack up delegates whenever and wherever. Each committed delegate she gets is a bargaining chip that the other candidates wont have. It also would place her in prime position to be the vice presidential nominee.

As for the other Democrats in the race, Pete Buttigieg and so on, they are in roughly the same boat but without Klobuchars semi-moderate appeal.

In sum, the Democrat nomination process remains totally up in the air. A difficult fight lies ahead for them. Giving up the fight for the nomination, however, would be a mistake for the candidates not named Bernie Sanders.

Thomas Del Beccaro is an acclaimed author, speaker, Fox News, Fox Business, and Epoch Times opinion writer, and the former chairman of the California Republican Party. He is the author of the historical perspectives The Divided Era and The New Conservative Paradigm.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand will be on a four-day visit to India beginning Tuesday.

The Ministry of External Affairs stated that Peters will arrive in Delhi at 11:30 a.m. Later in the day, he will visit Rajghat to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation.

On Wednesday, the Deputy PM of New Zealand will deliver a speech on Indo Pacific at the Indian Council of World Affairs followed by a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at Hyderabad House in the evening.

On February 27, Peters is scheduled to meet Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at Delhi Secretariat before departing for Mumbai on later in the day. On Friday, he will participate in the opening bell of the daily trading session followed by a speech at the Bombay Stock Exchange.

He is scheduled to depart from India at 11:35 pm on Friday night.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Damien has said he is frustrated over Matt Hancock seemingly going against Foreign Office travel advice.

A British traveller has accused the health secretary of making ridiculous comments about travelling to coronavirus-hit northern Italy.

Damien Hellewell, 36, from Cleckheaton in West Yorkshire, travelled to the country with his Italian girlfriend on Saturday to visit her relatives.

The Foreign Offices travel website tells visitors the Italian government has locked down 10 towns in the north of the country but does not recommend against travel, instead directing potential tourists to a travel advice website.

But today, when repeatedly asked on Sky News if he would be happy to travel to northern Italy, health secretary Matt Hancock said: Certainly southern Italy is perfectly reasonable to travel to.

Im not planning on (going to northern Italy) - put it that way.

We havent changed the official government travel advice but Im not planning on going.

That led Hellewell, who is in Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region, to criticise the health secretarys remarks  which he interpreted as suggesting Hancock was unwilling to go to the north of Italy because of coronavirus fears.

Emilia-Romagna has been affected by coronavirus but Modena is not under lockdown.

Matt Hancock told Sky he was not planning to visit northern Italy, though he added that the south was "perfectly reasonable" to go to (PA)

I think its ridiculous that a member of the cabinet can say he wouldnt go to the north of Italy when the official advice is its fine, he told Yahoo News UK.

Surely they have to be speaking with one voice on this, either its fine or its not.

If hes the health secretary he should be the one most knowledgeable of whats happening, he should be dictating what that advice is.

The advice is its fine to go to Italy, if you go back you dont have to be in quarantine unless you have symptoms, but hes saying he wouldnt go. Its not right.

Hancock said official advice is that if you go to affected regions in Italy and develop flu-like symptoms you should self-isolate for two weeks.

Modena is not in the quarantine zone where 50,000 people have locked down across towns, but Damien is worried that advice may change by the time he is due to fly back on Friday.

Story continues

He is not worried about catching the virus but has concerns about whether his ability to travel will be hindered, with some countries shutting their borders to places that have had a coronavirus outbreak.

Austria temporarily halted a train from Italy when fears rose that some of the passengers had flu-like symptoms.

Yahoo New UK has contacted the UKs Department of Health and Social Care for comment.
The 120 Romanian soldiers from the helicopter detachment "Carpathian Pumas" participating in the peacekeeping mission in Mali received medals from the United Nations on Tuesday (UN) during a ceremony held at the Camp Castor Military Base in Gao.

The participants in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) received the distinctions from Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General Mahamat Saleh Annadif, in the presence of a delegation of the Ministry of National Defence (MApN), led by the Commander of the Joint Forces, Major General Dorin Ionita.According to the MApN , "the Romanian troops meet all the eligibility conditions as members of the MINUSMA mission and have been rewarded with the UN medal for their professionalism and devotion proved in carrying out missions under the aegis of the UN in the almost five months since they arrived in the Mali theater of operations."The "Carpathian Pumas" helicopter detachment has been participating, starting with October 2019, in the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Republic of Mali. There it carries out medical evacuation missions, air patrol, search-rescue, research and reconnaissance missions, troop transport, VIP transport and transport of materials to provide logistical support.There are 120 Romanian soldiers at the Camp Castor Gao military base. The UN mission in Mali is one of assistance to the Government of this country, amidst the instability generated by intertribal disputes and the presence of terrorist groups.
Federal investigators are sending a team to the scene of a charter bus crash crash that killed three people and injured 18 others on a rain-slicked highway near San Diego, officials said.

The bus was on Interstate 15 in Pala Mesa on Saturday when it swerved, rolled down an embankment and landed on its roof, North County Fire Protection District spokesman John Choi said.

Several passengers were thrown from the bus, and one of the dead was trapped under the vehicle, Choi said. Another person who died was trapped inside, he said.

The National Transportation Safety Board said Sunday that it had dispatched a team of four to investigate the crash in Pala Mesa, an unincorporated community about 45 miles north of San Diego,

There was a pretty good rainstorm around the time of the crash, Choi said Sunday. It was too early to determine if the weather was a factor, officials said.

The bus had no seat belts, according to Choi.

The wounded were taken to three hospitals with varying injuries, Choi said.

One of the patients was in critical condition and three others suffered major injuries, California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Latulippe told the San Diego Union-Tribune on Saturday.

The bus driver suffered minor injuries and remained at the scene. He apparently swerved for an unknown reason and lost control of the bus, Latulippe said.

The driver, whose name was not released, voluntarily submitted a blood sample, which is standard to collect in such investigations. However, drugs and alcohol are not suspected of being a factor, authorities said.

The bus was going from Los Angeles to San Ysidro, the San Diego neighborhood just north of the U.S.-Mexico border, he said. Passengers included adults and children.

The charter is owned by Executive Lines, based in Baldwin Park near Los Angeles. The company runs a regular route through inland Southern California to San Ysidro, according to the companys website.

The business did not return a phone call or email seeking comment.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics California
Brussels/Tehran, Feb 25 : The remaining parties to a landmark nuclear deal signed in 2015 between Iran and six world powers will hold a Joint Commission meeting in Vienna on Wednesday, the European Union's (EU) diplomatic service says.

"The Joint Commission will be chaired on behalf of the EU High Representative Josep Borrell Fontelles by EEAS (European External Action Service) Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid and will be attended by representatives of China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and Iran," Press TV quoted the EEAS as saying in a statement on Monday.

The meeting comes as the EU3, the three European signatories to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal, had last month accused Iran of violating the terms of the accord and announced that they planned to trigger a dispute settlement mechanism that could eventually restore UN Security Council sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Under the mechanism outlined in the deal, the EU should also inform the other parties -- Russia and China -- as well as Iran itself.

There would then be 15 days to resolve the differences through the JCPOA Joint Commission. If no settlement is reached through the commission, Foreign Ministers of the involved countries will then discuss them for another 15 days.

If the need arises, an advisory board will be formed to help the Ministers.

The historic deal has been slowly crumbling since US President Donald Trump withdrew from it in May 2018 and re-imposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, Press TV reported.

After months of gradual steps to reduce compliance, Iran announced on January 5 that it would take the fifth and final step in scale back its commitments under the nuclear accord to both retaliate for Washington's departure, and trigger the EU3 to respect their obligations towards Tehran.
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...
US President Donald Trump praised PM Narendra Modi for backing people's religious freedom, boosting relations and business between India and the United States. He also offered to mediate on the Kashmir issues again.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, February 25, addressed the Indian media and lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for boosting relations with the United States (US). US President, who was on a 2-day visit to India with his wife Melania Trump, daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law and other officials, called India a great market to do business in view of $3 billion weapons deal. He raised the Kashmir issues again stating he is ready for the mediation if India and Pakistan want. However, he kept a distance from the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

PM Modi wants people to have religious freedom, his government has been working really hard, Donald Trump on the second day of his India visit, asserting that he has heard about some individual attacks but dont want to discuss it.

Also read: Coronavirus in India: How to make hand sanitizers at home?

Also read: Coronavirus in India: KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan says players, spectators health first

Notably, 9 persons lost their lives in the recent clash and more than 70 got injured, said reports.

US President Donald Trump on Kashmir and terrorism:

Donald Trump told the media that he discussed the sensitive Kashmir issue with PM Narendra Modi and again offered to mediate. Anything the US can do to mediate, will do it, said Donald Trump. He further added that both the leaders churned on terrorism at great length. Calling PM Modi a calm and composed man, he said the Indian Prime Minister is very tough on terrorism. Together India and the US will take care of terrorism, said Donald Trump.

On emanating terrorism from Pakistan, US President said it is clear that terrorism is the biggest problem today. Both the nations stand tall and together against it and have been continuously working on it, said Trump.

He also promised to do every possible help because as he is a good friend with leaders of both the countries (Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistans PM Imran Khan).

For all the latest National News, download NewsX App
YEREVAN.  Zhoghovurd daily of Armenia writes: By a decision of the committee to prevent the spread of coronavirus and the approval of the government, land communication with the Islamic Republic of Iran has been suspended for two weeks.

Of course, it is very important to carry out preventive work, but we also need to understand what economic damage can be caused by this government decision.

As it is known, the majority of Iranians prefer to celebrate Nowruz in Armenia, for this purpose Iranians come to Armenia from March 15, and stay until April 4.

Zhoghovurd daily spoke on this topic with tourism specialist Mekhak Apresyan, who provided us with some numerical data: During 2017, about 220,000 Iranian citizens arrived in Armenia. However, this figure dropped to about 160,000 in 2018. In 2019, 160,000 Iranian tourists have also arrived in Armenia.

However, the Ministry of Economy reports that it is not necessary to go ahead of time in order to make certain predictions. "Since the regulation has a two-week periodthat is, it is temporaryit is not considered the most active season for tourists visiting Iran from Armenia; so we do not expect much damage in this period," said Anna Ohanyan, spokesperson for the Minister [of Economy].
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 18:42:38|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Former defense minister and the last marshal of the Soviet Union, Dmitry Yazov, died at the age of 95 from a "serious and prolonged illness," the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

The ministry's Zvezda broadcasting service recalled that Yazov was assigned the rank of lieutenant and appointed as a commander of a small platoon in 1942.

During the confrontation of the United States and the Soviet Union in October 1962, known as the Cuban Missile Crisis, he was in charge of transferring a motorized rifle regiment to Cuba.

After returning to the Soviet Union, he commanded the Far Eastern Military District. From 1987 to 1991, Yazov served as defense minister of the Soviet Union.

Yazov was the last military leader to be given the country's highest rank of Marshal in the Soviet Union.

In early February, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu awarded Yazov the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", and the Jubilee Medal "75 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945."
A Republican running for Congress in Arizona announced on Monday he is suspending his campaign following a heroin overdose last week.

Chris Taylor is an Army veteran who served two tours in Afghanistan and a member of the City Council in Safford. He has a history of opioid addiction dating back to his high school years. "I'm not going to hide from this," Taylor told The Arizona Republic. "I'm not ashamed of what happened. I wish to sincerely apologize to the amazing people who have supported me."

Taylor told NBC News he is seeking treatment for substance abuse, having relapsed "after having so many solid years in sobriety. I have to figure out where I went wrong. Thankfully I have every resource available to me through the Veterans Affairs Administration and I have the strongest support system one could dream of. The only thing I can do is face this head on in complete humility and put one foot in front of the other so that I can get the help needed to be the father and husband that my family deserves."

Taylor was running in Arizona's 1st Congressional District, hoping to unseat Rep. Tom O'Halleran (D). In his campaign ads, Taylor promised to support President Trump, cut taxes, and defend the Second Amendment.

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By Abdul Kerimkhanov

Yerevans views on Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict are absolutely destructive, and its goal is to maintain the status quo, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev told reporters on February 24.

Hajiyev was commenting on the recent debates between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held within the framework of the Munich Security Conference on February 15.

He emphasized that the Armenian PM told lies and made unfounded allegations during the debate.

"Azerbaijani citizens, the entire world community witnessed the unmasking of Armenia in particular, how Armenian PM got into a difficult situation within the live debates," Hajiyev stated.

"After returning to Armenia, following his shameful performance, Pashinyan is trying to justify himself with various absurd ideas. However, the Armenian public, politicians have voiced their opinion and said that they were ashamed of Pashinyan.

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, Hajiyev said.

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 was held as part of the Munich Security Conference on February 15.

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the longest unresolved conflict in the post-Soviet space.

The two countries fought a lengthy war that ended with signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Nagorno-Karabakh is Azerbaijans breakaway region that along with seven surrounding district was occupied by Armenian forces during the war in the early 1990s. One million Azerbaijanis were displaced as a result of the occupation.

Armenia has so far failed to comply by the four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region.

---

Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
MPs in Portugal have cleared the way for the legalisation of euthanasia despite protests.

The proposals were set down in five bills backed by the ruling Socialist Party. The bills received the backing of a majority of MPs and will now be compiled into a single bill by a special committee.

The president has the power of veto but the bill is expected to pass. Once it does, Portugal will join a handful of countries in the world where euthanasia or physician assisted suicide is legal.

At the moment, people can be legally helped to die in Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland, as well as some US states. Both euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal in the UK.

The bills passed on Thursday in Portugal set the minimum age for euthanasia at 18 and restrict it to cases where patients are terminally ill and suffering unbearable pain, not a mental illness, Reuters reports.

Protests were held outside the Portuguese parliaments as lawmakers voted on the legislation.

The Catholic Church is opposed to the measures and wants lawmakers to call a referendum on the issue.

Some conservative MPs have also voiced opposition. Telmo Correia, a lawmaker from the Popular Party, said that the legalisation of euthanasia would be "a sinister step backward for civilization", Fox News reports.

Courtesy of Christian Today
With the endless supply of information, it is sometimes difficult to know what is true and what is untrue. It is commonly said that Generation Z, those born between 1995 and 2010 have grown up with endless information at their fingertips. Some even call it information overload. Im not sure how much is retained, but you can literally search just about anything on google.

And with all this information you are left wondering the actual level of accuracy of it all. Readily, information is reposted all over the internet and social media platforms. I have been guilty of it myself where you dont even check the accuracy of the original source (not just tag the last person who posted the quote you liked). Like many others I was taught in university that you always had to go to the original paper if you were to cite it somewhere in your work.

A cry for truth

Although we are being supplied with all this endless and good information, the greatest cry I hear is that, what is actually wanted is the truth. Not all information is bad information but not all information is truth. And what is needed/wanted is the purest version of the truth to be sifted out amidst it all.

Over the last couple of months, we have seen this information overload outplayed with the outbreak of the devastating fires here in Australia. I mean, despite your political opinion and the media-fuelled agendas, were left askingdid we do enough to help in the aftermath? What will we do differently next time?

An overconsumption of information can be confusing and misleading. But an accurate presentation of the facts brings clarity. What we actually need more now than ever before is the truth and people who carry the truth into conversations and to their platforms. Funnily enough I was recently viewing someones social media platform who openly shares from a biblical perspective on different topics. Suddenly this particular social media platform banned them from gaining any new followers.

This was a person just trying to carry the truth and speak up about it but was contained.

CNN recently reported that Dr Li Wenliang, a Chinese Doctor who gave an early warning about the potential devastating effect of the Coronavirus was reported to have become a target for police for rumour-mongering. According to reports he was later apologised to by authorities. Unfortunately, however, in trying to treat people with this virus he later died as a result of contracting it.

So what is the Truth and how can it be found?

John chapter 8, verse 32 Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

John chapter 14, verse 6 (NIV) says Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus is the truth and in Him there is freedom.

In John chapter 4, verse 24 it says that God is spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

Of course the enemy then would like nothing more than to persuade, pervert and dilute the truth, but the truth is pure/clean it has no agenda, there is no bias. Praise God for people who stand up for the truth, but even more so, those who carry the real Truth into their world.
NEW YORK  Peter Nygard is stepping down from the company he forged for more than a half-century, amid mounting allegations the Winnipeg fashion mogul has run a decades-long sex-trafficking ring with the complicity of countless business associates.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/2/2020 (686 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NEW YORK  Peter Nygard is stepping down from the company he forged for more than a half-century, amid mounting allegations the Winnipeg fashion mogul has run a decades-long sex-trafficking ring with the complicity of countless business associates.

On Tuesday morning, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and detectives from the New York Police Department raided Nygard's corporate headquarters in Times Square.

Peter Nygard has been under investigation for at least five months by a joint child-exploitation task force of the FBI and the NYPD, according to a report by the New York Times. (Phil Hossack / Free Press files)

By the end of the day, Nygard announced  through a spokesman  he would step down from the privately-owned clothing firm with corporate offices in Winnipeg, New York, and Toronto.

Nygard, 78, has been under investigation for at least five months by a joint child-exploitation task force of the FBI and the NYPD, according to a report by the New York Times. The investigation is overseen by the U.S. attorneys office in Manhattan.

Nygard, speaking through his lawyers, has repeatedly maintained his innocence.

A Free Press request to interview Nygard was declined Tuesday.

His lawyer, Jay Prober, told media he was unaware of the multi-millionaires current whereabouts.

Nygard spokesman statement Click to Expand Recognizing the priority of the welfare of the thousands of Nygard employees, retail partners, loyal customers, vendors, suppliers, and business partners, Peter Nygard has made the decision to step down as chairman of the Nygard companies and will divest his ownership interest... "Peter Nygard has decided that his legal battles with Louis Bacon will no longer be a distraction to the (Nygard) companies... The wonderful Nygard employees who rely upon the companies for their livelihoods must now be the priority. Peter Nygard thanks his employees for their years of dedicated service.  Ken Frydman, spokesman for Peter Nygard

However, Nygard was spotted exiting the international arrivals area of Winnipeg's Richardson International Airport early Tuesday morning. He and an entourage of three left the airport quickly, a witness told the Free Press.

The U.S. criminal probe went public as Nygard finds himself ensnared by mounting rape allegations.

Ten women  many of them under the age of 18 at the time of the alleged offences  accused Nygard of drugging, assaulting, raping and sodomizing them in a class-action lawsuit filed Feb. 13 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Dozens more women have since approached the firm handling the class-action lawsuit, also claiming Nygard raped them. The allegations span four decades and three continents, dating to 1977.

More than 20 are Canadians, and there is at least one accuser from Winnipeg, said Greg Gutzler, one of the lawyers for the plaintiffs.

On Tuesday morning, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and detectives from the New York Police Department raided Nygard's corporate headquarters in Times Square. (Ryan Thorpe / Winnipeg Free Press)

"Its more than three dozen now, and Ive had people reach out to me today with whom I have not spoken. Were over three dozen, and it keeps going up. So far, the majority have been Canadians; more than 20  Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg," Gutzler said Monday at his Manhattan office.

"Were not finding clusters; were finding a relatively even pattern of different people coming forward over the time frame. Weve had people from five countries now: the Bahamas, the United States, Canada, the U.K. and China."

While the Free Press was on scene Tuesday, law enforcement officials from the FBI could be seen leaving Nygard's New York headquarters. Some of the FBI agents covered their faces as they exited the building, walking quickly to nearby vehicles, before driving off.

They were followed by two people who identified themselves as lawyers, but refused to give their names, say who they represented, nor confirm they were affiliated with Nygard.

A few doors down in Times Square sits a Nygard retail shop, where a lone female employee was working. She said she was unaware of the rape allegations against the owner of the eponymous store until informed by a Free Press reporter.

Soon after, she closed the store for the day.

A law enforcement officer exits Nygard's headquarters in Times Square in New York. (Ryan Thorpe / Winnipeg Free Press)

The FBI confirmed the raid in a written statement, but declined further comment. A request for comment from the NYPD was not returned prior to deadline Tuesday.

A request for comment from a communications firm affiliated with Nygard was not responded to prior to deadline.

Earlier Tuesday, Prober said the FBI and NYPD would find no evidence of wrongdoing in their search of Nygards Manhattan headquarters.

Meanwhile, Gutzler said he suspects the class-action lawsuit will be expanded to add new accusers in the next 30 to 45 days, stressing the law firm has conducted an independent investigation into each allegation.

New accusers continue to step forward at an astonishing pace, he said.

"Weve seen a relatively consistent flow of people The most important thing to me is when youre hearing consistent stories from people who have never met, have never told anybody in the world what happened, and you see striking similarities in the patterns, practices and unique proclivities," Gutzler said.

He said the firm hired former law enforcement officers trained in sex-trafficking investigations to conduct the probe.

"We have confirming interviews. We have patterns. We have pictures. We have journal entries. We have a variety of different things across the gamut. You name it, weve got it Passport entries, passport exits," Gutzler said.

Prior to launching the lawsuit, Gutzler said he worked on the case for two years. He wont be paid for his work unless the alleged victims receive compensation.

Nygard has been involved in an ongoing feud with the American billionaire Louis Bacon for more than a decade. The two men are neighbours in the Bahamas, where Nygard owns a lavish estate, where sexual abuse is alleged to have taken place at "pamper parties."

Nygard, through his lawyers, has claimed the rape allegations are being orchestrated by Bacon. Attempts to reach one of Bacon's lawyers, Fred Smith, have been unsuccessful.

Gutzler pushed back against the idea, saying the Nygard-Bacon dispute  which has spawned dozens of lawsuits and allegations of murder plots  dates to 2009, while the rape allegations go back decades.

"When we see the allegations of rape date back to 1977, it entirely debunks any type of discussion of Louis Bacon," Gutzler said.

Nygard has announced his intention to petition the court to dismiss the class-action lawsuit.

The FBI raid on Nygards corporate headquarters came the morning after a verdict was reached in the Harvey Weinstein rape case.

Weinstein, a longtime power player in the Hollywood film industry, was found guilty in a New York court of two felony sex crimes. He was remanded into custody, pending sentencing.

An FBI agent, covering his face with his hat, leaves the offices Tuesday. (Ryan Thorpe / Winnipeg Free Press)

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Gutzler said the Nygard case is tied to the broader #MeToo movement, which helped lead to the criminal prosecution of Weinstein.

On Monday, the lawyer said he believes Nygard's alleged conduct was an open secret from Winnipeg to Toronto to Los Angeles to New York fashion circles to the Bahamas.

"Im just astonished that we as a society  American, Canadian, Bahamian  we never stopped it. None of us stopped it. How can that be?" Gutzler said.

"You know what freaks me out? The fact that this has gone on for so long and hes hurt so many people."

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @rk_thorpe
2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., appear at a rally at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek in Raleigh, Nov. 3, 2016. (AP photo/Andrew Harnik)

Hillary Clinton Says She Will Support Any Democratic Nominee

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that she will support the Democratic nominee for president even if it is Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

She was asked about her 2016 primary rival at the Berlinale film festival where she is promoting a new movie about her, Hillary. In January, a clip surfaced of the former first lady criticizing Sanders for being hard to work with and accomplishing little while in Congress.

Im going to wait and see who we nominate, Clinton told reporters, according to The Hill. I will support the nominee, and it wont surprise you to hear me say that I think its imperative that we retire the incumbent.

Clinton last month angered some of Sanders supporters after she claimed during a Hulu special that nobody likes the self-described democratic socialist before saying that as a senator, he got nothing done. The two were engaged in a hard-fought primary four years ago.

He was a career politician. Its all just baloney and I feel so bad that people got sucked into it, Clinton also said.

So far, Sanders has emerged as the Democratic front-runner after taking home victories in Nevada and New Hampshire, raising concerns among the Democratic establishment and fellow 2020 candidates.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks during a campaign rally in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 23, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

In the past, Clinton has said that she would support whoever the nominee is but that was before Sanders campaign started to pick up steam.

Ive said Im going to support the nominee, Clinton told Variety at the time. But I do think its important to look at somebodys record and look at what theyve gotten done and see whether you agree with that or not. I think thats what every voter paying attention should do.

When she was asked in the Variety interview about her nobody likes him comments, Clinton remarked that they were made more than a year ago.

I think we did that interview about a year-and-a-half ago. I wasnt thinking about the election by any means, she said.

Sanders last month didnt directly address Clintons comments but turned his focus on President Donald Trump.

Im sorry for what Secretary Clinton had to say. I know she said that nobody likes me, right. I mean, this is not the kind of rhetoric that we need right now when we are trying to bring the Democratic Party together to defeat the most dangerous president in American history, he told CBS News.

The longtime senator added that he hadnt spoken with Clinton for quite a while.
France and Ireland went on the offensive over the U.K.'s obligations in any post-Brexit trade deal as European Union ministers agreed on their objectives for the negotiations.

Arriving at a meeting of national governments in Brussels to approve the EU's mandate for the talks, representatives from Paris and Dublin warned Prime Minister Boris Johnson that the bloc won't back down on some of its most fundamental demands - including that Britain continue to play by the EU's rules, something Downing Street has ruled out.

The mandate gives the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, his objectives as he opens discussions with the British next week. Amid lobbying from France, the bloc toughened its demands that Britain should commit to a level playing field in areas such as state aid, competition law, labor standards and climate change. Without such commitments, EU member states are concerned the U.K. will undercut the bloc's economy.

The mandate "is to protect the interest of Europeans," said French Europe Minister Amelie de Montchalin, who insisted that the EU won't agree to anything if it doesn't come with guarantees to ensure fair competition and access to fish in U.K. waters.

For Ireland, it is just as important that Johnson sticks to the promises he made in Britain's divorce agreement with the EU to prevent the return of customs checks on the Irish border.

"Without good faith and trust building, a future relationship isn't going to be easy," Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said. "And so, if there isn't progress on the infrastructure needed to implement the Irish protocol as part of the Withdrawal Agreement in the next few months, then I think that is going to be a very worrying signal for whether or not it's going to be possible to conclude something sensible before the end of the year."

After the EU's 27 member states formally adopted the mandate on Tuesday, the U.K. said it will unveil its own on Thursday before negotiations between the two sides start on Monday. They have until year's end to reach an agreement or Britain will default to trading with the EU on terms set by the World Trade Organization, meaning the returns of tariffs and quotas.

The EU has toughened its conditions for a deal over time, in particular by requiring the U.K. to follow any future changes in EU rules. The final mandate requires that the U.K. "should uphold common high standards, and corresponding high standards over time with Union standards as a reference point."

Those demands set up a potentially irreconcilable conflict with Britain. Johnson is seeking a tariff-free deal on goods similar to the one Canada agreed with the EU. But Canada isn't bound by the EU's state aid rules and isn't required to follow any future changes to the bloc's rules. Johnson has warned that he would rather walk away without a deal than accept being bound by EU rules.

For the U.K., regaining political independence and freedom from the bloc's legal system will take priority over securing a trade deal by the deadline of the end of this year, according to the premier's spokesman.

A special committee of Johnson's Cabinet agreed to the U.K.'s negotiating mandate on Tuesday, spokesman James Slack told reporters. "It was a smooth process to agree our approach, which will restore our economic and political independence," he said.
Over the past decade, technology startups grew so quickly that they couldnt hire people fast enough.

Now the layoffs are coming in droves. Last month, robot pizza startup Zume and car-sharing company Getaround slashed more than 500 jobs. Then DNA testing company 23andMe, logistics startup Flexport, Firefox maker Mozilla and question-and-answer website Quora did their own cuts.

It feels like a reckoning is here, said Josh Wolfe, a venture capitalist at Lux Capital in New York.

Its a humbling shift for an industry that long saw itself as an engine of job creation and innovation, producing ride-hailing giant Uber, hospitality company Airbnb and other now well-known brands that often disrupted entrenched industries.

Their rise was propelled by a wave of investor money  about $763 billion washed into startups in the United States over the past decade  that also fueled the growth of young companies in delivery, cannabis, real estate and direct-to-consumer goods. Unlike low-cost software startups, these private companies frequently took on old-line competitors by spending heavily on physical assets and workers while losing money.

Now a pullback is unfolding in precisely the areas that drew the most hype.

Around the world, more than 30 startups have slashed more than 8,000 jobs over the past four months, according to a tally by the New York Times. Investments in young companies have fallen, with 2,215 startups raising money in the United States in the last three months of 2019, the fewest since late 2016, according to the National Venture Capital Association and PitchBook, which track startups.

And those are not the only signs of change. Casper Sleep, which billed itself as the Nike of sleep by selling mattresses online, flopped when it went public this month. Once-hot companies like Lime, the San Francisco electric scooter provider, have pulled out of some cities. Others, like e-commerce startup Brandless, game app HQ Trivia and electronics maker Essential Products, are on the verge of shutting down.

There are now frantic mini-moments of panic, as one thing after another happens, said Roy Bahat, an investor at Bloombergs venture arm in San Francisco. At some point, one rock after another will fall away from the cliff and well realize were not standing on anything in many, many companies.

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% late last year.

The retreats are being led by companies that were backed by SoftBank, the Japanese conglomerate with a $100 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 cant build on top of something thats 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 $2 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.

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, skepticism 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.

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 cant do it any longer, said Steven 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, 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 skeptical before just joining the party, said 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 $14.5 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 U.S. states loosened laws that criminalized the drug. Last year, more than 300 cannabis companies raised $2.6 billion in venture capital, according to PitchBook.

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. Kenney said he was stopping spending on new projects to survive the shakeout.

Even a startup named Unicorn hasnt been spared. The company, which sold personal electric scooters, raised just over $150,000 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.

He added that he was building a new company. While he declined to specify what it would focus on, he allowed that there would be a major difference this time: The startup, he said, had to be profitable from the beginning.

Erin Griffith is a New York Times writer.
[February 25, 2020] SECURITI.ai Named "Most Innovative Startup" at RSA Conference Innovation Sandbox Contest 2020

RSA Conference, the world's leading information security conferences and expositions, today announced that SECURITI.ai was selected winner of the fifteenth-annual RSAC Innovation Sandbox Contest. A panel of leading venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and industry veterans judged the contest and named SECURITI.ai RSAC's "Most Innovative Startup 2020." This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005396/en/ SECURITI.ai Named "Most Innovative Startup" at RSA (News - Alert) Conference Innovation Sandbox Contest 2020 (Photo: Business Wire) In its fifteenth year, the RSAC Innovation Sandbox Contest is a leading patform for startups to showcase their groundbreaking technologies that have the potential to transform the cybersecurity industry. Since its inception, the RSAC Innovation Sandbox Contest's top 10 finalists have collectively seen 56 acquisitions and received over $6.2 billion in investments. Past winners include companies such as Imperva, Phantom, and most recently, Axonius.



"We are honored to join such an impressive roster of past recipients," said Rehan Jalil (News - Alert), CEO of SECURITI.ai. "Privacy is a basic human right and companies want to honor individual rights of privacy and data protection. Privacy compliance and operations are only getting more complex for businesses around the world, and we're humbled that the judges recognized our vision for AI-powered PrivacyOps and data protection." SECURITI.ai is a leader in AI-powered PrivacyOps. Its PRIVACI.ai solution automates privacy compliance with patent-pending People Data Graphs and robotic automation. It enables enterprises to give rights to people on their data, comply with global privacy regulations and build trust with customers.

"The cybersecurity industry faces new threats, changes and challenges every day, which is why we've committed more than a decade to encouraging and rewarding innovation in the space through the RSAC Innovation Sandbox Contest," said Linda Gray Martin, Senior Director and General Manager, RSA Conference. "The finalists on stage, regardless of the competition's outcome, will undoubtedly make a lasting impact on the industry. SECURITI.ai, in particular, demonstrated a unique vision that addresses one of the biggest challenges that businesses face today, and we look forward to witnessing the company achieve great things for years to come." For more information regarding RSA Conference 2020, taking place at the Moscone Center in San Francisco this week from February 24-28, visit www.rsaconference.com/usa. About RSA Conference RSA Conference is the premier series of global events and on-demand programs where the world talks security and leadership gathers, advances and emerges. Whether attending in the US, the EMEA region, the Asia-Pacific region or online, RSA Conference events are where the security industry converges to discuss current and future concerns and get access to the people, content and ideas that help enable individuals and companies to win, grow and do their best. It's about bringing all people in the cybersecurity industry together and empowering the collective "we" of the cybersecurity industry to stand against cyberthreats around the world. RSA Conference is the ultimate marketplace for the latest technologies and hands-on educational opportunities that help industry professionals discover how to make their companies more secure while showcasing the most enterprising, influential and thought-provoking thinkers and leaders in security today. For information on events, online programming and the most up-to-date news pertaining to the cybersecurity industry visit www.rsaconference.com. RSA Conference logo, RSA, Dell, EMC (News - Alert), Dell EMC and other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005396/en/

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Petitioners protest that shooting people who are just walking down a street in Mexico does not involve national security, but that misses the point, Alito wrote. The question is not whether national security requires such conduct  of course, it does not  but whether the judiciary should alter the framework established by the political branches for addressing cases in which it is alleged that lethal force was unlawfully employed by an agent at the border.
SPRINGFIELD  As Illinois lawmakers consider new measures in Springfield, a controversial tax on stock market trades has been put back in line to be considered.

Supporters of the Financial Transactions Tax Act, dubbed the LaSalle Street Tax after the bustling Chicago street at the center of the business district, have hailed it as the solution to the states fiscal problems. But, even some of the states most progressive politicians have balked at the premise. Some said they worried the reaction would be an exodus of financial activity.

House Bill 23 was recently reassigned to the House Revenue and Finance Committee. By levying a $1 tax on any financial transaction completed in the state, supporters have said it would bring in estimated $6 billion annually, not accounting for any behavioral backlash.

The Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and the Chicago Board Options Exchange would all be targeted by the new tax.

When the bill was discussed, but not voted on in March of 2019, former trader Matt Harrington said it was crafted in a way that wouldnt be limited to companies in Illinois that trade in a Chicago-based market.

Weve re-written the bill to make sure that even if they have a footprint here and they clear their trades in New Jersey, they will be responsible, he said to the House Revenue and Finance Committee, which could hear the bill as soon as Thursday, but isnt required to call it for consideration.

The bill, like other proposals before it, would not apply the $1 per trade tax to securities held in a retirement account or transactions involving a mutual fund.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker shot down the idea while on the campaign trail. He said the markets would react to the new tax. Chicago Mercantile Exchange CEO Terry Duffy told Bloomberg shortly after the March hearing that he had made it clear to Illinois lawmakers that moving out of the state would not be difficult because the bulk of its trades were done electronically.

It would have been difficult for me to go to the state legislature and say, You know what, Im gonna move and I gotta take 6,000 traders with me and disrupt their families. Thats not the case anymore, he said, referring to CMEs transition to online trading. We sold our data center. We sold everything we have in agreement with that data center. They own 22 other data centers in the United States. They could move us into any one of them.

Illinois lawmakers have enacted a number of tax and fee hikes in recent years, including a permanent income tax increase to 4.95 percent in 2017. Lawmakers doubled the states motor fuel tax to 38 cents per gallon as part of the Rebuild Illinois infrastructure plan. The state has a backlog of bills estimated at $7.3 billion as of Monday.

A number of other countries have a form of financial transaction tax. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent running for president, is the sponsor of a bill that would levy a 1 cent financial transaction tax at the federal level.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a petition seeking independent judicial inquiry, compensation for deceased and arrest of political leaders for inciting violence in Delhi's north-east area.

A Division Bench of Justices Anup Jairam Bhambhani and G.S. Sistani listed the matter for tomorrow.

Violence erupted between pro and anti-CAA groups in north-east parts yesterday. Several areas including Jaffrabad, Maujpur and Gokulpuri are tense.

Petitioner and social activist Harsh Mander claimed that as many as 10 people have been killed "in cold blood by the Delhi police and members of the organisation connected to the party in power at Centre."

Mander has sought arrest of BJP leaders Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma and their prosecution.

"After provocative speech were given by the three prominent politicians liked to the assailants, the assailants carried out mutiple brutal attacks on unarmed persons who were protesting against CAA," the plea claimed.

He has requested the court to constitute a Special Investigating Team (SIT) headed by officers from outside the national capital.

The petition sought for a direction to the Central government to deploy Army to control law and order situation in the affected areas.

Among other prayers, it also sought an inquiry by a retired judge into "communal attacks".

The activist has requested the court to pay "exemplary compensation" to the families of those killed in the violence.

"For a writ of mandumus, direct the respondents to preserve the evidence and CCTV footage of all cameras in and around the protest site," the plea said.
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.
Rosneft has allocated April deliveries of the ESPO crude blend to commodity trader Trafigura instead of to Chinas CEFC, suggesting that Russias largest producer may have altered or even terminated the terms of a crude delivery deal with the Chinese company, four sources familiar with the issue told Reuters on Monday.

Rosneft has a five-year deal with Chinas CEFC to supply between 2018 and 2022 volumes of the ESPO crude grade, which is popular with the independent Chinese refiners, commonly known as teapots.

While the reason for leaving none of the ESPO supplies for April to the Chinese firm was not immediately clear, Reuters sources suggest that there may have been changes to the terms of the oil supply deal between Rosneft and CEFC, which had expressed interest to buy a large stake in the Russian oil giant three years ago.

Qatar Investment Authority paid some US$4.2 billion (3.7 billion euro) for a 14.16-percent stake in Rosneft, thus becoming the third-largest single shareholder after the Kremlin and BP, the Russian company said in November 2018.

The deal with the sovereign wealth fund of Qatar was the final episode of a saga in which a little-known Chinese company until that point, CEFC China, said in September 2017 that it had agreed with a consortium of Glencore and Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) the terms of sale of the consortiums 14.16-percent stake in Rosneft.

However, in March 2018, Chinese authorities started investigating the chief executive of CEFC China Energy, Ye Jianming, on suspicion of economic crimes. The investigation was part of a wider crackdown on private Chinese businesses after President Xi Jinpings government warned that no Chinese billionaire, no matter how well-connected, is safe from scrutiny and investigation.

The investigation and troubles of CEFC China Energy raised concerns over the agreement that it had signed to buy 14 percent in Rosneft from Glencore and QIA.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
After a year of negotiations, hotel workers at the Stamford Sheraton Hotel voted this week in favor of their first-ever union contract.

I am very proud of my co-workers for our new contract, said Mariela Sanchez, a housekeeper who has worked at the hotel for more than four years.

Sanchez had in November been among the hotel workers protesting what they called unsafe conditions at the hotel. A complaint filed with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration alleged that housekeepers routinely were forced to wheel around 100-pound carts with broken wheels, laden with toxic chemicals.

Hotel workers voted to unionize in 2018, and have since been members of Local 217 of Unite Here, a union representing about 3,000 hotel and food-service workers in Connecticut.

The new three-year contract limits the number of rooms housekeepers are responsible for cleaning to 16 rooms during every eight-hour shift.

The contract also makes sure that workers will have jobs if the hotel is sold  any buyers would be obligated to hire current employees, recognize their union and maintain wages, benefits and the union contract.

From a financial aspect, the new union contract increases pay $1.40 an hour over the three years of the agreement, with non-tipped employees getting $15 an hour, growing to $15.90 over two years.

We are very pleased with this settlement especially since it will allow the workers to improve their ability to care for their families, work with dignity and provide great service to the Sheraton guests, said Connie Holt, the unions chief negotiator and the secretary-treasurer of UniteHere! Local 217.

The union also represents employees at the Stamford Hilton and the Greenwich Hyatt. The contract covering employees at the Hyatt expires in September.
Ryan Ermey: Yeah. And believe it or not, I have been on a cruise. I was a kid, though. It was us and a bunch of other families when I think I was about 10. Honestly, aside from not being of drinking age or gambling age... I know some cruise ships actually have casinos on them. It was like the perfect vacation for a 10-year-old kid. We were the unsupervised urchins running around the ship, which doesn't seem to be what's happening aboard these coronavirus-stricken cruises. Sandy Block: Right, and I've heard from so many people who say they never want to go on a cruise again, and if they scheduled a cruise, maybe they want to get out of it. Well, here's the thing. Even if you bought travel insurance, which can be a very good thing to have if you spend a lot of money on a cruise or some kind of package trip where you might have to bail because a family member got sick or the place you were going became uninhabitable. Travel insurance can refund you for non-refundable cost. So, it's a good thing to have, typically costs from 4% to 10% of your trip. Sandy Block: I know when my family went on a big package tour to Hawaii about 10 years ago, we did buy travel insurance because there were lots of people involved. We just didn't know what was going to come up. But what I've learned over the last few days is that, as far as the coronavirus is concerned, you're probably out of luck for two reasons. One is most travel insurance policies exclude epidemics as a coverage event.

Ryan Ermey: Oh, wow. Sandy Block: They don't cover the epidemics. So, that's number one. Number two is even if your insurance policy does cover epidemics, it's now considered what's known as a named event, and basically... and this is something you may be more familiar with, with respect to hurricanes. Ryan Ermey: With storms. Sandy Block: That's right. If you book a trip after a hurricane has been named and you want to cancel it, you're out of luck. The travel insurance company will say, "You knew that you were traveling to a place where a hurricane was going to hit when you bought the insurance, so we're not going to cover you." Well, in the case of the coronavirus, insurance companies have picked various dates, but January 22nd seems to be the main one when it became official, when we knew that it was a thing, and if you bought insurance for a cruise or anything else after that date, your insurance probably won't cover it because they're going to say, "You knew the risk when you bought the insurance." Sandy Block: Now there is a kind of travel insurance. It's called coverage for any reason where they don't exclude things, but it's much more expensive, can be up to 40% of your trip. And even then, even a cancel for any reason -- the policy may have some exclusions including epidemics. Sandy Block: So I think the takeaway from all of this is that if you decide to buy travel insurance, and it can be a good investment, you really need to understand the terms. Read it very carefully to see what's covered, what's not, what could come up.

Sandy Block: The other thing I would say is, in the case of something like this, your first call should be to the travel operator. If you've booked a cruise and you've changed your mind because it's going into an area that you consider potentially dangerous because of the virus, call the cruise. These guys are already dealing with a lot of bad press and I have a feeling they would be amenable to maybe booking you at a later date or giving you another cruise. So whenever something like this happens, whether it's airline cruise, whatever, your first call should be to the travel operator and see what they can do for you. Ryan Ermey: Yeah. In general, our advice has always been that you need to shop and examine policies carefully for any kind of trip insurance, because, as you say, it can be a really important thing. You can pay for a medical evacuation in some cases, which is really expensive and not usually covered by your health insurance if you're sick or injured while you're traveling abroad and need to be transported. And, as you say, if you've booked something and a cruise falls under this with a lot of non-refundable parts, but like you say, you don't know exactly what it's going to cover. So, if you are indeed shopping for trip insurance for even non-coronavirus related things, if you're shopping for a trip during the upcoming hurricane season, for instance, you really need to check what these policies cover. We've always recommended SquareMouth.com for this. Sandy Block: It's a good comparison site. Yeah.

Ryan Ermey: So we'll put that up in the show notes. I mean, that's all I got on trip insurance. Anything else for you? Sandy Block: No, no. I would just say if you do like to cruise, I have a feeling there's going to be some discounts coming down the line. Keep an eye out. The cruise stocks have been hit pretty hard recently. Ryan Ermey: And don't let your 10-year-olds run amuck on the ship. Sandy Block: Oh, that's the beauty of a cruise. Ryan Ermey: We'll tell you the number one tax software and our ranking right after the break, but stick around for the rest of the talk. It's informative, we promise. Ryan Ermey: We are back and we're here with Kiplinger.com tax editor Rocky Mengle and we are talking a topic that I think is going to be of a lot of interest to a lot of people -- tax software. Rocky, thank you so much for coming on. Rocky Mengle: You're welcome. Glad to be here. Ryan Ermey: The two of you, both, worked on our ranking of various tax softwares, and, Rocky, I guess don't keep us in suspense. Who won? Rocky Mengle: Oh, you want to jump right to the winner? Ryan Ermey: Why not? Rocky Mengle: Do I get a drum roll? Ryan Ermey: Oh, sure. Ready? Rocky Mengle: Credit Karma. Ryan Ermey: Hey. Rocky Mengle: They came out on top this year for our rankings for the best value in tax software.

Ryan Ermey: Right and so you guys tested nine programs. What was the sort of methodology -- in terms of determining what programs offered the best value? Rocky Mengle: Well, first of all, I guess maybe just define best value a little bit. We were looking for the product that gave you basically the most bang for the buck. And so, that's not necessarily the product that had the most bells and whistles, especially if you had to pay a lot for that. On the other end, it's not necessarily the lowest priced product, especially if it was kind of a stripped down version. We were really looking for a combination of good price and a good product. Rocky Mengle: To determine that, I guess the first thing we did is we come up with 31 key factors that we wanted to focus on and they kind of fell in one of five categories: cost, functionality, navigation within the software, whether state returns were included, and, if so, for how much, and access to help with your tax questions. Rocky Mengle: So we came up with that list of 31 factors. Then we layered on kind of a point system where the product could get either positive or negative points for things like, just an example, if the price was below a certain amount, they got points. If it was above a certain amount, then we would subtract points. If you had, say, live chat with a tax professional available, you'd get some extra points. If some of the tax information was confusing or outdated, actually, we saw in some cases, then you would subtract points.

Rocky Mengle: Then we created a couple hypothetical taxpayers. One had a relatively simple return. It was a single taxpayer with just a W-2 wage income. It took a standard deduction, did have student loan debt and did contribute to an IRA, but again, it was relatively simple return, overall. And then we had a married couple with a child and they had a more complicated tax return... $100,000 in wages. They had dividend income and capital gains. They itemized, and they also contributed to IRAs, 401(k)s, and a health savings account, as well. For each taxpayer or tax software product, we prepared returns for those two taxpayers. And all along we were tallying up the points that are the pluses and the minuses. At the end, Credit Karma had the most points. They won. Sandy Block: So Rocky, we did do these two hypotheticals, but obviously everybody's situation is different. I'm wondering, what should someone consider when they're looking for a tax software program? And are there cases where you might want to pay a little more? Rocky Mengle: Yeah. It really kind of all depends on who you are and what your tax situation is. Price, of course, is always going to be a consideration for some people -- especially, if you're on a bit of a tighter budget. Also, how complicated your return is can and make a big difference, too. If you have income from a lot of different sources or if you're self-employed or you're taking a lot of deductions or credits, you might want to lean towards one of the products that has more of the bells and whistles that can help guide you through some of the more complex parts of your return a little bit easier and smoother, and then how much handholding you need, too, is an important consideration. If you're more comfortable with the idea of doing your own return and you know your way around the tax code a little bit, then having all those bells and whistles maybe isn't so important. On the other hand, if you're kind of nervous and don't know much about taxes, then maybe one of the more expensive ones will get you through the return a little bit better.

Ryan Ermey: What are some of the ones that have a little bit more, in terms of those bells and whistles? Rocky Mengle: Well, there's TurboTax, H&R Block. They probably are the top of the list, in terms of programs with the most functionality. They also, I think, are some of the more expensive ones, too. So, there's a trade-off there. I think that's why they didn't automatically rise to the top of our best value rankings. Again, because the price kind of affected that. Sandy Block: We have been hearing so much about free programs, and TurboTax has a big ad campaign where they say, "Everything is free." Ryan Ermey: Free, free, free, free, free, free, free. Sandy Block: Free, free, free, free. But in my testing, what I found was, it doesn't take a lot to make you not eligible for the free stuff. Can you talk a little bit about that? Rocky Mengle: Yeah. Our single taxpayer, for example, had that student loan debt and so you can deduct interest you pay on student loans, and that seemed to be a trigger in a lot of different... I don't know if it was for all of the programs that we tested. For a lot of them, that would trigger an automatic upgrade to a more expensive package. Sometimes, you know right away if you're being upgraded. It'll give you a little notice there, but other times, you don't know you're being upgraded until the very end when it's time to file and pay what's due. All of a sudden, you started with the free program, and like I said, you're ready to file, and all of a sudden, they say, "No, you owe us $50," or something like that.

Sandy Block: Yeah. I think that's one thing that taxpayers really have to be aware of, is not just that most of these programs let you do them for free. I mean, you can put... Rocky Mengle: You can start for free. Ryan Ermey: Yes. Sandy Block: You can start for free, and then you find out how much it costs when you file, and it's a little bit of a gotcha, because by the time you've put in all of that information, you're not going to necessarily change your mind. You're not going to say, "Oh, I don't want to spend $35 or $50," and do all this again. Sandy Block: The other thing that we note in our reviews that people need to be aware of is that most of the... and I guess this is why Credit Karma rates so highly, because you don't have to worry about this. Most of them engage in a little bit of surge pricing. The price you see right now when you go online and look at the products, they'll give you a price, but I don't think any of the ones that I looked at, and maybe I think this might be true of yours, too, Rocky, will guarantee that that's the price you'll pay on April 15th. None of them guarantee that the price will stay the same. As you get closer to the deadline, there's a very good chance that the price could go up.

Rocky Mengle: That's right and they're very vague about that. When I contacted the software providers, they just really danced around the topic. Sandy Block: They say, "We reserve the right to change our prices." Well, it sounds to me like you're going to change your prices. Ryan Ermey: Yeah. If you're going to take the time to reserve the right to do it, then you're probably going to do it. Well, and just to be clear, this is a ranking of paid... I mean, we say free in some cases, but like this is if you go to this company's website and use their service and not say the version that might be available through the IRS Free File program. Right? Rocky Mengle: That's right. Yeah. So if you have $69,000 or less of income, you can go to the IRS website, and it'll be prominently displayed, the link for the free file program. Follow that link and you'll be taken to a list of... I think it's 10 software providers that offer free tax preparation services. If you go through the IRS free file program, you're much more likely to end up with, actually, a free return in the end. Sandy Block: Because one of the advantages of free file is that they won't upgrade you, no matter how... If you qualify, if you have less than $69,000, and then the individual providers are allowed to have their own terms... Ryan Ermey: But those are listed on top.

Sandy Block: They're listed and there's a tool where you can find them. But if you qualify for a free file, it doesn't matter how many deductions or kids or other things that you have. They're not allowed to force you to pay. Now they may require you to pay for a state return, but the federal turn is free no matter how complicated it gets, and there's been a lot of talk about confusion -- because people hear that TurboTax has a free version and they think that's free file, and it's not. So if you really want to absolutely make sure that your tax return is free and you qualify, that's the place to go. Ryan Ermey: And I guess sort of the last thing that I would be curious about, because I've done our version of this for brokerages, and the ones that come out on top, they're the ones that our algorithm -- and I create the algorithm -- assign the highest scores to, but even among the ones that aren't necessarily like the first place, best ones, they have features that I like or that I think are helpful or cool. Did anything kind of stick out to either of you with any of these softwares that you thought that's a really neat thing for people? Rocky Mengle: I like the feature that will upload W-2 information into your return, instead of having to type it out, which is a pain in the butt. This saves you a lot of time, if you can just upload it automatically from ADP or some other...

Ryan Ermey: Like a PDF. You can just load it in. Take a picture of it. Rocky Mengle: No. Sandy Block: No, it just imports it. It just imports it... it's really kind of miraculous. Rocky Mengle: Yeah. It also makes your return more accurate, too, because there's no chance that you're going to type the wrong number. Ryan Ermey: Who's got that feature? Sandy Block: H&R Block and TurboTax, I think, have the most robust, because not only will they import your W-2, but they'll import a lot of information from your financial institutions, as well. So if you've got a lot of W-2s, a lot of financial documents, you may want to pay just for that, I think. Rocky Mengle: And 1099 sometimes, as well or importing information from our previous year's tax return. That can be helpful, too, and a time saver, and some of these companies will even import from a competitor's return from a previous year. So, that's a big plus. Ryan Ermey: All right. Well, listen, thank you very much for coming on. I'm sure people are eager to put down their headphones and go read the story, or read it while you're listening to the rest of the show. Why not? So, folks should head over to kiplinger.com to check it out, right? It's up online now. Rocky Mengle: It's up online. Sandy Block: And we'll also be featuring some of it in our upcoming April issue.

Ryan Ermey: All right, be on the lookout for that, folks. Rocky, thanks again for coming on. Rocky Mengle: You're welcome. Ryan Ermey: Coming up, we're talking political donations and flight booking strategies in the new edition of Financial Fact or Fiction. Ryan Ermey: We are back and before we go, a quick game of Financial Fact or Fiction. Sandy, what do you got? Sandy Block: Oh, okay. Fact or fiction, Ryan? You can deduct contributions made to a political candidate. Ryan Ermey: Certainly, an important thing to think about at this time of year, and I happen to know that to be fiction. Sandy Block: It is fiction, and I think it's important to point out right now, because we're hearing a lot about grassroots campaigns where maybe people who've never made a donation to a candidate before are sort of getting in on it. On the off chance that you still itemize, and some people still do, or maybe you're a really big giver, you need to know that contributions to a political candidate are not deductible. That also goes for contributions to a political party or a pack. Those are not deductible. So, if you do it, do it out of a sense of civic duty or fandom, but you can't deduct the contributions. Ryan Ermey: Now if you're looking for an action, so it has to be a 501(c)3 to get you a tax deduction. Right? For it to be a charitable organization.
Global companies with branch offices in Korea are restricting their operations here or have even closed their offices temporarily.

Intel, the world's top semiconductor company, in a video conference with executives in Seoul on Sunday, the day the Korean government raised a red alert for coronavirus, decided to ask all staff in its Seoul offices to work from home this week.

Intel Korea has a staff of 150 to 200 at offices in Yeouido and Samseong-dong, Seoul. An Intel staffer said the period can be extended depending on new developments.


Custom checks and Coronavirus to be discussed in House of Keys

A&E waiting times at Noble's Hospital, school teacher pay dispute and testing for coronavirus will be discussed in the House of Keys today.

Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper will ask the Treasury Minister about what work is underway on the Island to prepare for customs checks between the UK and European Union.

The sitting gets underway at 10am.
Luke Malpass at Stuff writes:

The New Zealand First Foundation is an entirely different beast. Set up in 2017, its trustees are former NZ First MP and party president Doug Woolerton, and NZ Firsts judicial officer and Winston Peters personal lawyer Brian Henry. On the evidence collected by Stuff and other media, it effectively acts as a second bank account for NZ First, raising and spending money on routine party matters, but outside the control of the partys elected officers. It appears to have had a website for a few days, before disappearing. The SFOs announced investigation suggests that the Electoral Commission thinks the foundation is dodging electoral law. Yet the foundations primary purpose actually appears to be to keep the control of money into the party in the hands of Winston Peters two closest confidants and away from the party hierarchy.

This is an important insight.

The Electoral Act requires party donations to be notified to the party secretary. The Electoral Commission has said that they believe the law was breached by the donations going into the NZ First Foundation and being hidden from the party secretary.

It appears to have been a deliberate strategy to do this. And who benefits from being able to exclude the Party Board from having oversight of income and expenditure? Well, obviously the party leader.

This is important because it means that the party  governed by rules, a constitution, party president and secretary and so on, who can make decisions at odds with those which Peters, Woolerton and his self-proclaimed dark shadow Henry might make  is sidelined. In short, the foundation is about concentrating power in the hands of the party leader.

So the democratically elected board were sidelined, to so that leader could make decisions on expenditure without having to bother with them.

This is very pertinent to the SFO investigation.

This is the second time NZ First has had such a structure. The first led to the Spencer Trust fiasco, in which donations that people thought were going to NZ First ended up in the Spencer Trust  at that time run by Peters brother Wayne, Peters adviser Roger McClay, and another lawyer. The common theme with both these trusts was that NZ First party officers were kept in the dark about its operations, or even existence. There is a veritable conga line of former NZ First officials and MPs who claim to have been forced out when they asked tough questions about party finances. There is a great tale that former party treasurer Colin Forster told about the Northland by-election in 2015  the party had $20 in the bank, he wouldnt let them take on a loan, and then suddenly there was money and a campaign bus.

Doing the same thing twice means it is no accident. It is deliberate.

Lester Gray, who resigned as party president in October last year, wrote to the board resigning and saying he was uncomfortable with the financial arrangements in place. Back in 2006, party president Dail Jones said that NZ First bills being paid by the Spencer Trust were totally going on behind my back.

As far as I can tell the role of Party President is to simply be a fall guy.

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Charged with espionage, the Hong Kong-based publisher was seized in Thailand in 2015. Under pressure, he gave up his Swedish citizenship. Communist China keeps cracking down on free voices. The sentence will likely spur Hong Kongs pro-democracy movement.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews/Agencies)  A Chinese court yesterday sentenced Gui Minhai, a Hong Kong-based publisher and a Swedish national, to 10 years in prison for providing intelligence overseas. The Ningbo Intermediate Court (Zhejiang) also deprived Gui of his political rights for five years.

The publisher is not appealing the sentence, a decision his friends and people close to him believe that this is due to the fact that he has already served part of the sentence.

Gui was seized by Chinese agents in Thailand in 2015 along with four associates and taken to China, where he was tried and convicted in connection with a fatal hit-and-run accident in 2003.

The others were released. One of them, Lam Wing-kee, later said that he was seized again by Chinese police as he crossed the border between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and that he was subjected to psychological torture. After his eventual release, Lam moved to Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Gui was released in 2017 after serving two years in prison, only to be re-arrested by Chinese police in January 2018 as he travelled to Beijing with two Swedish diplomats for a medical visit.

In an interview set up by Chinas Ministry of Public Security shortly after his second arrest, the publisher accused the Swedish government of "sensationalising" his arrest in order to create a political case.

Many believe instead that he was forced to make the statement, as well as give up his Swedish nationality to regain Chinese citizenship. Beijing does not recognise dual citizenship, and such a move gives Chinese authorities the means to deny Gui consular assistance from Sweden.

Sweden and the European Union have repeatedly asked for his release, arguing that the charges against the publisher are baseless. Swedish authorities have also complained that they were unable to attend the trial.

Gui ended up in Beijings crosshairs for publishing and selling books that delve into the personal lives of some top members of the Communist Party.

By going after him, the Communist regime is showing again its willingness to use repression and intimidation to limit freedom of expression, especially when its ruling class is depicted in bad light.

Gui's also also sheds light on the ability of Chinas security forces to carry out operations outside the territory of the Peoples Republic, a fact that has boosted the determination of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement to protest against their rulers, seen closely aligned with Beijing.

In June of last year, an extradition bill was the spark that set off street protests in Hong Kong. For its opponents, if it ever became law, the bill would have allowed the Chinese government to try political dissidents and human rights lawyers from Hong Kong.
SEATTLE, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DemandStar , the online network connecting local and national suppliers with government procurement officers, kicks off 2020 by announcing that over 150 new government agencies have joined the DemandStar network, continuing to transform current inefficiencies in the $1.5 trillion government purchasing market. The company welcomes the new agencies to its network of over 500 government agencies and hundreds of thousands of local, state and national businesses.



$1.5 trillion is spent in the local government procurement market, but billions of this is wasted due to lack of competition and outdated processes. Its time for a complete refresh in government procurement. DemandStar is the modern marketplace for government, bringing more businesses to the table through a network that is easy and equitable so governments can gain access to more competition and, ultimately, better value, said Ben Vaught, CEO of DemandStar. Most importantly, when governments and businesses work better together, everybody wins.

In what once was an inefficient market filled with slow processes and scarce competition, DemandStar opens the market up to a modern process. Governments and businesses in the network are now able to participate in a shared American supplier community allowing for unified, simple workflow. Thus, both sides save time and create millions in value for their communities. Businesses are now winning contracts they never knew existed and governments receive an increase in competition by three to five times and a savings of 15-20 percent.

Government agencies and businesses using DemandStar span across the country, from Florida to Kentucky to California, and includes industries of every type, including but not limited to construction, education, healthcare, landscaping, and much more.

Agencies and businesses looking to grow can learn more about or join DemandStar at https://network.demandstar.com/ .
In the 19th century, towns across the American South guarded themselves against yellow fever by refusing to allow anyone in. And in 1918, some towns shut down transportation and set up quarantines to keep out the Spanish flu.

But in outbreaks of disease since, states have largely asserted themselves as the authorities in the fight against contagion.

So the situation that unfolded Monday in a packed federal courtroom in Santa Ana, California, was unusual: The city of Costa Mesa was pleading that a judge block California from moving people infected with the new coronavirus into a state-owned facility in the city, where they would remain in isolation while recovering.

This is a new one in terms of claiming a right not to have infectious disease introduced into your community, said Polly Price, a professor of law and global public health at Emory University. Although cities and towns once claimed an absolute right to guard against disease, she said, state-level control over isolation and quarantine has been the norm for more than a century.

In a decision that could complicate Californias efforts to deal with the coronavirus crisis, Judge Josephine L. Staton on Monday kept a temporary restraining order in place that would prevent the infected patients from being moved to Costa Mesa. The judge said she would reconsider the issue after state and federal authorities provide more details about how they plan to protect the health of the community, as well as the people with coronavirus. She set a hearing for March 2.

The state has shown great empathy for the patients, the judge said in a ruling that drew applause, adding that she wanted to see the same empathy for the residents of Costa Mesa.

It was uncertain exactly how many people California intended to move into the facility in Costa Mesa, but they are among the 53 people in the United States who have tested positive for the virus, according to the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention. Nearly all of those people had traveled to Asia, and many of them have been staying on American military bases since returning to the United States on government-arranged flights.

In recent days, officials had announced that infected Americans at Travis Air Force Base who were not ill enough to be hospitalized would have to leave the base in Fairfield, California. Many of them had been evacuated from a cruise ship in Japan.

The proposal had set off a flurry of objections from Costa Mesa residents, who filled the courtroom to watch local officials argue that patients infected with coronavirus should not be brought to a former residential home for developmentally disabled people. The area, which is in Orange County, is too heavily populated to host people infected with such a dangerous virus, the local officials argued.

Given the Costa Mesa areas popularity with tourists, you almost couldnt pick a better disease vector, said Jennifer L. Keller, a lawyer hired by Costa Mesa to try to block the transfer.

Staton, of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, pressed state officials to explain why it selected a facility in the second-most populated county in the state of California.

The states lawyers argued that officials in Costa Mesa have no legal right  or good reason  to block the move, which the state said involved frail and elderly patients.

Authorities in California selected the site after the Department of Defense informed them that patients who tested positive for the virus could no longer stay at Travis Air Force Base. Federal officials had planned to move the patients to a facility in Alabama operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, court documents said, but officials in California thought that moving the group out of the state  most of the patients are said to be California residents  would be detrimental to their health and well-being.

The forced relocation of these Californian residents from California to Alabama for the duration of their isolation period, after having already undergone quarantine for weeks on a cruise ship, poses health risks to these repatriated individuals, many of whom are over the age of 65 and have chronic underlying conditions, wrote Xavier Becerra, the attorney general of California.

Complicating matters, Alabama officials also have objected to the prospect of housing the patients. Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, had raised concerns about the idea and said Sunday that President Donald Trump promised her that the patients would not be sent to her state.

Other options, Becerra wrote, were to put patients up in hotels near Travis Air Force Base or send them to hospitals, where there was a risk of infecting other patients. Other sites, including the Sonoma Developmental Center, Army National Guard Camp Roberts and closed youth correctional facilities, were considered and dismissed, he said.

The possibility of a local veto on deciding where to house patients would fly in the face of a compelling need for a centralized state authority to control and manage communicable disease outbreaks, Becerra wrote.

The standoff over where to send the patients underscored the unwieldy, decentralized nature of the U.S. health system, even as federal authorities were warning of serious risks from the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed more than 2,000 people in China. The federal government generally relies on states to carry out quarantine orders, and states are within their rights to refuse. Quiet negotiations often take place when it comes to isolating tuberculosis patients, with federal officials persuading states to house them. But cities cannot generally refuse a states order to assist.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
I ran's deputy health minister, who is leading the country's counter-coronavirus task force, has tested positive for the virus.

Iraj Harirchi tested postive just one day after giving a news conference in Tehran about the virus, during which he had been sweating and looking uncomfortable.

On Tuesday, Mr Harirchi admitted he has tested positive, and said that he has quarantined himself at his home.

Mr Harirchi, who denied covering up the scale of Iran's outbreak, promised that authorities would bring the virus under control.

Iraj Harirchi during a press conference on Monday / Sky News

There have been 95 cases of the virus and 16 deaths reported by the government, but the actual number is thought to be higher.

The country is one of the three hotspots outside China causing fears that the virus could become a pandemic.

The deputy health minister falling ill with the virus is just the latest woe to befall Iran as the UAE cut off Iranian flights from the country.

The UAE, home to long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad, remains a key international transit route for Irans 80 million people.

Iran's deputy health minister Iraj Harirchi (left) and the Islamic republic's government spokesman Ali Rabie / Iranian Presidency/AFP via Getty

The flight ban, which will last at least a week, shows the growing concern over the spread of the virus in Iran amid worries the outbreak may be larger than what authorities there now acknowledge.

The Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority made the announcement via the countrys state-run WAM news agency, just hours after Dubai International Airport, the worlds busiest for international travel, said there would be restrictions on flights there.

An Iranian woman wears a protective mask to prevent contracting coronavirus / VIA REUTERS

All passenger and cargo aircraft travelling to and from Iran will be suspended for a period of one week, and could be up for extension, the authority said.

The decision is a precautionary measure undertaken by the UAE to ensure strict monitoring and prevention of the spread of the new coronavirus.

Iraj Harirchi and Ali Rabiei at at press conference on Monday / AP

Emirates, the government-owned carrier based in Dubai, flies daily to Tehran. Its low-cost sister airline, FlyDubai, flies to multiple Iranian cities, as does the Sharjah-based low-cost carrier Air Arabia.

The novel coronavirus has infected more than 80,000 people globally, causing around 2,700 deaths, mainly in China. The World Health Organisation has named the illness Covid-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it.

Irans government said Tuesday that 15 people had died nationwide from the new coronavirus, rejecting claims of a much higher death toll of 50 by a politician from the city of Qom which has been at the epicentre of the virus in the country.

The conflicting reports raised questions about the Iranian governments transparency concerning the scale of the outbreak.

The new death toll came from health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour during an interview with Iranian state television. He said there were 95 confirmed cases of the virus in Iran, with many linked to Qom, a major Shia religious centre where other cases have emerged.

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani sought to reassure the nation in a speech on Tuesday, calling the new coronavirus an uninvited and inauspicious passenger.
Canceled: Former 60 Minutes Producer to Discuss Journalism Ethics at WSU

February 25, 2020

Per the advice of the Utah State Governor regarding the COVID-19 virus, Weber State University is canceling this event. Please check with the event organizer for more information.

OGDEN, Utah  Journalist Mary Mapes, former producer for CBS 60 Minutes, will speak at Weber State University, March 30 at 7 p.m. in the Val A. Browning Center Austad Auditorium. Tickets are $12.50-$25 for the public, $5 for students and are available at weberstatetickets.com or by calling 801-626-8500.

In 2004, Mapes broke two stories that changed her life. Her reporting on prisoner abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison in Afghanistan won a Peabody Award, the highest honor in broadcast journalism. Her reporting later that year on President George W. Bushs spotty National Guard record during the Vietnam War got her fired and led to the retirement of CBS anchor Dan Rather.

Mapes story, based on her book Truth and Duty: The Press, the President and the Privilege of Power, is dramatized in the 2015 movie Truth, starring Cate Blanchett and Robert Redford. It illustrates the battle over facts in a charged political climate and the damage the Internet can do. Mapes will speak about ethics in journalism.

Mary Mapes brings a unique perspective to the topic of journalism ethics, which begin with the Society of Professional Journalists tenet, Seek truth and report it, said Jean Norman, Signpost adviser. We think her story will spark a robust conversation.

Since her broadcast career ended, Mapes has continued to write for publications such as D Magazine and The Nation and works as a consultant.

Mapes presentation is sponsored by Weber State student newspaper, The Signpost, in conjunction with the Salt Lake Tribune, the Telitha E. Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities, Weber States Women & Gender Studies Program, Ethics in Journalism Fund, the Honors Program, the Department of Communication, the George and Beth Lowe Innovative Teaching Grant, Utah Headliners chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, NowPlayingUtah.com, the Ogden Chamber of Commerce and Weber State Credit Union.

A free public screening of Truth will be held March 16 at 7 p.m. in the Shepherd Union Wildcat Theater.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday urged everyone to refrain from indulging in violence, saying all issues can be dealt with through dialogue.

Kejriwal, while addressing media, said he will be meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah shortly to discuss the law and order situation in the national capital.

"There have been complaints that number of policemen are not enough and police is not able to take action without orders from above. I will discuss it with the home minister," he told reporters.

The chief minister also asked all hospital authorities to give best possible treatment to victims and asked them to stay on vigil.

"Fire department has also been asked to coordinate with police and reach the affected areas on time," he said.

He said there is a need to seal borders to prevent outsiders from coming and indulging in violence.

"I have asked district magistrate to conduct peace meetings where people from all religions participate. I have asked MLAs also to participate in them," Kejriwal said.
The final results of the Nevada Democratic caucuses were released on Monday, and the data appears to contain errors and inconsistencies similar to those that plagued the contests in Iowa a few weeks ago.

An analysis by The New York Times found flaws in the results of at least 9 percent of precincts, including some instances in which delegates appeared to have been given to the wrong candidates.

Like Iowa, the state party in Nevada released raw vote totals for its more than 2,000 precincts for the first time this year, allowing the public to check the math that determines which candidates get the delegates they need to win the Democratic nomination.

Shortly after the final caucus results were released, the Nevada State Democratic Party chairman, William McCurdy, said in a statement that the state should consider abandoning caucuses.

I believe we need to start having a serious conversation ahead of next cycle about the limitations of the caucus process and the rules around it, Mr. McCurdy said. Its time for our state party and elected leaders to look at shifting to a primary process moving forward.

Here are some examples of the errors uncovered in the analysis.

Vote counts are inconsistent: 120 precincts

The Nevada caucuses took place over two rounds of voting, and candidates had to meet a certain threshold of votes to reach viability and win delegates.

A common error was an increase in the vote totals in the second round of voting. In most cases, this was an increase of only a handful of votes, but some precincts recorded a large jump.

Candidate First Alignment Final Alignment Delegates Candidate First Align. Final Align. Delegates 3 2 2 2 1 0 0

The vote totals matter for calculating viability. In the precinct above, total attendance recorded for the first alignment was 91, which should mean a viability threshold of 14. But the total attendance for the second alignment was recorded as 149, which should make the viability threshold 23. Its hard to say which of the two counts is correct.

Nevada allowed early voting for the first time this year, and the volunteers who ran the caucuses were told to count early voters in each precinct as if they were present. This error could be the result of confusion about how to record the preferences of the early voters, or it could be a simple data entry mistake.

Candidates without enough supporters won delegates: 21 precincts

Candidates had to meet the viability threshold again in the final round of voting to win delegates. But in some cases, nonviable candidates ended up winning delegates.

Candidate First Alignment Final Alignment Delegates Candidate First Align. Final Align. Delegates 9 3 0 0 0 0 Total 88 87 14

In this example, from a precinct in Washoe County, the minimum votes required for viability was 14. There were only 13 supporters in the group for billionaire businessman Tom Steyer, but he still received two delegates.

Caucusgoers who chose Mr. Steyer should have had to make another choice, or to persuade members of other nonviable groups to join them. But since they did not, its impossible to know which candidate they might have chosen or how those choices would have changed the results.

Delegates calculated improperly: At least 43 precincts

The share of votes a candidate wins determines how many delegates they get. Caucus rules instruct volunteers to round up or down to the nearest whole number if necessary when awarding delegates. The process becomes more complicated if the rounding does not work out cleanly, and at many precincts, volunteers appear to have been tripped up by the rounding rules. But some fumbled even the most straightforward delegate math.

Candidate First Alignment Final Alignment Delegates Candidate First Align. Final Align. Delegates 3 3 0 0

This precinct in Nye County had 10 delegates to award. Senator Amy Klobuchar got 20 percent of the votes, which means she should have received two delegates. Instead, Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., was awarded two more delegates than he should have been, and Ms. Klobuchar received none.

Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont declared victory in the Nevada caucuses on Saturday with a sizable lead, and it does not appear that the errors in the results were large enough to have changed that outcome. Mr. Buttigieg, who trailed Mr. Biden in third place, called on the party to review inconsistencies in 200 precincts.
You dont look at New York City Ballet and think to yourself: Ah, swans. Even though there are full-length ballets in its repertory, City Ballet is not known as a storytelling company. Non-narrative dances, most of them by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, are its oxygen; happily we breathe them in.

But then there are times  like last week  when the company hauls out its two-act Swan Lake, which wrapped up performances on Sunday at the David H. Koch Theater. As productions go, this version of Tchaikovskys ballet is not the prettiest feather in the flock. A holdover from the days of the companys former ballet master in chief, Peter Martins, who choreographed it in 1996 and introduced it to City Ballet in 1999, its rushed yet ponderous. At times, the sets and costumes by Per Kirkeby make you want to crawl under your seat. The jester in orange and green decorated with a third-graders squiggles; the mans shiny purple skirt and open black vest for the Russian variation; and the mismatched greens of the Villager women? Its a lot of ugly for one stage.

When Odette, the princess transformed into a swan by an evil sorcerer, appears at the lakeside, you feel her pain.

This season, the Act 2 pas de quatre, a speedy and demanding divertissement for three women and one man, was cut to help streamline the ballet. A wise move  only the most virtuosic dancers could make it through that prickly footwork alive  though the production felt as long as it ever did.
Think you've been everywhere and seen everything in Kansas City? You haven't, we promise. Chances are, you've only been scratching the surface. Here are 43 secrets of Kansas City, from the haunting truth behind a canceled play at a local high school to a little-known shop selling returned Amazon products for pennies.
Donald Trump India Visit Day 2: After an eventful Day 1 of the two-day visit, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump would have another busy day. President Trump and Melania Trump were welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Trump inspected the Guard of Honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Following the visit to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Trumps headed to Raj Ghat where they paid their respects to Mahatma Gandhi. After paying their tributes, President Trump and Melania Trump headed to the Hyderabad House. At a press conference, PM Modi thanked President Trump for visiting India with his family. President Trump thanked PM Modi for hosting them and said that the last two days were wonderful.

Also read: Trump India Visit Day 2: POTUS has a busy day ahead; check full schedule

Follow the latest updates on US President Donald Trump's visit to India here:

6:10 pm: President Trump said, "India is going to be major player in next 50 to 100 years; India is going to have phenomenal future".

6:00 pm: President Trump said that anything that he and US can do to help in the Kashmir matter they would. "Kashmir has been a thorn in lots of people's sight for a long time. There are two sides to every story. We discussed terrorism at length today," he said.

5:57 pm: "India is probably nation with highest tariffs; Harley Davidson has to pay huge amount of tariff. uS has to be treated fairly," said President Trump.

5:54 pm: "The United States has a great relationship with Pakistan. India is a brave country and I have a great relationship with both the leaders -- Pak PM Imran Khan and Indian PM Narendra Modi. PM Modi is a calm person but very strong, and has some strict opinions on terrorism. He will deal with it," said President Trump.

5:44 pm: "We did talk about religious freedom. The PM said he wants people to have religious freedom. They have worked really hard on it. I heard about the individual attacks but I did not discuss it. It is up to India," he said while speaking about the CAA protests in the country.

5:40 pm: President Trump said spoke about the US peace deal with the Taliban. He said that he spoke with PM Modi regarding the deal and he believes that India would like to see it happen. "We are pretty close. Everybody is happy about it," said POTUS. He also said that he does not think that anyone has done more to contain radical Islamic terrorism than he has.

5:38 pm: President Trump said, "We had a great time. We had great meetings... This is a tremendous country. I think they like us more than they ever liked us. There is a great relationship between the Prime Minister and myself. "

5:35 pm: "At the CEOs roundtable, many CEOs expressed desires to invest in the United States. We had a great time in India. Both the countries signed $3 billion chopper deal," said President Trump.

5:30 pm: "India is buying a lot of defence hardware," said the US President.

5:25 pm: President Trump called Prime Minister Modi a "terrific leader" in press conference. "India is a tremendous country," he said.

4:55 pm: A protest has been staged in Amaravati against the decentralisation of the capital. "Trump save Amaravati" slogans were raised.

Amaravati: People raise 'Trump save Amaravati' slogan during a protest against the decentralization of Andhra Pradesh capital. pic.twitter.com/Np019mLoCf  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

4:20 pm: "On the trade side, the two leaders decided that we would conclude the ongoing discussions as soon as possible and give it a legal framework and the text could be finalized with legal vetting as soon as possible... I think the two leaders also decided to move towards what was referred to as a 'big deal' in the trade sector," said Foreign Secretary.

4:16 pm: "It has been an honour to be here. You have a very special Prime Minister, he really knows what he is doing. He is a tough man. He has done a fantastic job. We work very closely together," said President Trump to India Inc CEOs he was interacting with at the US Embassy.

4:10 pm: Indian side picked the issue of H-1B visa issue, said Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.

4:00 pm: Some of the industry leaders present at the President's interaction with the India Inc are Mukesh Ambani, Lakshmi Mittal, Ratan Tata, N Chandrasekaran, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Salil Parekh, and Ritesh Agarwal.

US President Donald J Trump interacts with business leaders in Delhi; Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani present at the meeting. pic.twitter.com/MiLgOKMO4J  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

3:59 pm: "If I were not elected the aluminium industry in the US would absolutely been dead. The steel industry would have been dead too," said the President.

3:58 pm: "Some of the regulations have to go through statutory process; we are going to reduce a lot more regulations," said President Trump.

3:53 pm: "I feel I am going to win the coming elections; when we win, markets will go up. Markets will jump thousands of points when I win," says President Trump.

3:50 pm: "I actually follow you guys to see where you are investing," says President Trump to India Inc. He is meeting some industry leaders at the American Embassy.

3:40 pm: POTUS spoke about the coronavirus threat. He said that he is talking to President Xi and they told him that they are working very hard on it.

3:30 pm: President Trump meets India Inc at American Embassy. The who's who of India Inc is present at the interaction.

2.30 pm: PM Modi to now host the Trumps for lunch.

2:10 pm: Visuals from Melania Trump's visit to the Delhi government school earlier. She also attended a performance prepared by the students of the school.

#WATCH Delhi: First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump watches a dance performance by students at Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School in Nanakpura. pic.twitter.com/dBCuTzvymF  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

2:03 pm: The President said that since he assumed term, US exports to India went up nearly 60 per cent and exports of high quality American energy has also gone up by 500 per cent. He said that both the teams have made tremendous progress for a comprehensive trade agreement. "I am optimistic we can reach a deal of great importance to both countries," he added.

1:55 pm: "We think we're at a point where our relationship is so special with India, it has never been as good as it is right now," said President Trump.

1:53 pm: President Trump: The US International Development Finance Cooperation, a government agency that finances private development projects, will establish a permanent presence in India.

1:51 pm: "During our visit we discussed the importance of a secure 5G wireless network and the need for this emerging technology to be a tool for freedom, progress, prosperity, not to do anything with where it could be even conceived as a conduit for suppression and censorship," said President Trump at the press conference.

1:50 pm: President Trump said, "In our discussions, PM Modi and I affirmed our two countries' commitment to protecting our citizens from radical Islamic terrorism. In this effort the US is also working productively with Pakistan to confront terrorists who operate on its soil."

1:48 pm: "Earlier today, we expanded our defence cooperation with agreements for India to purchase more than $3 billion of advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo Helicopters - the finest in the world. These will enhance our joint defence capabilities," said President Trump.

1:45 pm: "Melania and I have been awed by the majesty of India and the exceptional generosity and kindness of the Indian people. We will always remember the magnificent welcome the citizens of your home state (of PM Modi) showed us upon arrival," says President Trump.

1:40 pm: "Our commerce ministers have had positive talks on trade. Both of us have decided that our teams should give legal shape to these trade talks. We also agreed to open negotiations on a big trade deal," said PM Modi.

1:39 pm: The leaders said that the countries have decided to enhance the energy partnership as well.

1:37 pm: The Prime Minister said that the two countries have agreed on a new mechanism to conatin drug trafficking. He also said that both India and US have decided to enhance efforts to hold supporters of terrorism accountable.

1:34 pm: "We (India and USA) have resolved to step up efforts to make those who support terrorism, responsible," said PM Modi.

1:33 pm: The Prime Minister said, "We have decided to take Indo-US ties to comprehensive global partnership level."

1:30 pm: PM Modi said, "Today we discussed every important aspect of the US-India partnership, be it defence and security, energy strategic partnership, trade or people to people ties. The strengthening in defence ties between India and US is an important aspect of our partnership."

1:25 pm: "In the last 8 months this is the 5th meeting with President Trump. The unprecedented and historic welcome at Motera Stadium will always be remembered. It has become clear that the relationship between the US and India is people centric and people driven," said PM Modi.

1:16 pm: The students at the Delhi government school persented Melania Trump with Madhubani paintings before she left the school.

Delhi: Students of Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School in Nanakpura, gift Madhubani paintings made by them to First Lady of the United States Melania Trump. pic.twitter.com/f7yiQiwmaT  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

1:12 pm: "Namaste! It's a beautiful school. Thank you for welcoming me with a traditional dance performance. This is my first visit to India, people here are so welcoming and so kind. In the US, I work with children like you to promote similar ideas of well-being through my 'BE BEST' initiative. Three pillars of 'BE BEST' include dangers of drug abuse, importance of online safety and overall well-being of children," said Melania Trump in her address to the school. She spent about an hour in the school.

1:08 pm: Melania Trump attended a dance performance prepared by the students of the Delhi government school.

1:04 pm: Melania Trump is welcomed with garlands by students of the Sarvodaya Co-Ed school in Delhi. The FLOTUS interacted with the students and attended a happiness class at the school.

Delhi: Students greet the First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump at Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School in Nanakpura. pic.twitter.com/jmjPIWJzgm  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

12:50 pm: Prime Minister and President Trump meet at the Hyderabad House. The leaders thanked each other at the press conference. Images from the meeting:

12:45 pm: "The last two days, especially yesterday at the stadium, it was a great honour for me. People were there maybe more for you (PM Modi) than for me. 125 thousand people were inside. Every time I mentioned you, they cheered more. People love you here," said President Trump to PM Modi at the press conference.

12:32 pm: "Thank you, the last two days in India has been wonderful," said President Trump to PM Modi at the press conference.

12:30 pm: "I am happy that you came to India with your family. I know that you are busy these days and I thank you for coming to India," said PM Modi to President Trump during the press conference.

12:25 pm: Melania Trump interacts with students at the school. She also attended a happiness class.

Delhi: First Lady of the US, Melania Trump interacting with students at Nanakpura's Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School. pic.twitter.com/M3n72VE9pR  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

12:14 pm: "We sing, we play, we laugh," reads a black board at the Delhi government school. Melania Trump visited the school and attended a happiness class. She also interacted with the students of the school.

Delhi: Students at Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School in Nanakpura which the First Lady of the US, Melania Trump is visiting today. pic.twitter.com/0TozjRJGQq  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

12:08 pm: Melania Trump attended a happiness class at the Sarvodaya Senior Secondary School in Delhi.

Delhi: First Lady of the US, Melania Trump meets and interacts with students at Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School in Nanakpura. pic.twitter.com/8kX03rmnNV  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

12:02 pm: Images from Melania and Donald Trump's visit to the Raj Ghat. The Trumps paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi in their short visit.

11:58 am: Images from Melania Trump's visit to the Delhi government school. Students greeted her with flowers and Indian and American flags. Lot of students were dressed up in traditional Indian attire.

Delhi: First Lady of the US, Melania Trump arrives at Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School. She is visiting the school as part of her visit to the city today. pic.twitter.com/EnuVWjO7KB  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

11:50 am: Melania Trump was greeted by students with flowers. The school band also performed for the FLOTUS upon her arrival. The First Lady will attend a happiness class at the school.

11:45 am: FLOTUS Melania Trump arrives at the Delhi government school, Sarvodaya Senior Secondary School in South Delhi. She will attend a happiness class at the school.

11:35 am: Trump's daughter and adviser Ivanka Trump picked a white formal button-down suit for Day 2 of the visit. Her choice of dressing is keeping in line with the formal meetings and lunch scheduled for the day.

11:27 am: Images from Hyderabad House where the Prime Minister met the POTUS and FLOTUS.

Delhi: US President Donald Trump meets PM Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, First Lady Melania Trump also present. pic.twitter.com/rz9yYLc1Rb  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

11:20 am: Union Minister Smriti Irani will not accompany Melania Trump at her Delhi school visit to keep the visit apolitical, as mentioned in a report in India Today. Earlier Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia's names were dropped from the list of invitees to the event.

11:15 am: "The American people stand strongly with a sovereign and wonderful India - the vision of the great Mahatma Gandhi. This is a tremendous honor!," wrote POTUS on the visitors' book at Raj Ghat.

Delhi: US President Donald Trump's message in the visitor's book at Raj Ghat, 'The American people stand strongly with a sovereign and wonderful India - The vision of the great Mahatma Gandhi. This is a tremendous honor!' pic.twitter.com/Rr7dU7m44z  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

11:10 am: PM Modi welcomes the US President and the First Lady at the Hyderabad House. The two leaders will hold delegation-level talks at the Hyderabad House.

Delhi: PM Narendra Modi receives US President Donald Trump and the First Lady Melania Trump, at Hyderabad House. pic.twitter.com/aXFfNT0KwD  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

11:04 am: The US President and the First Lady wrote on the visitors' book at the Raj Ghat after they paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi. Visuals from the signing:

Delhi: US President Donald Trump & First Lady Melania Trump write in the visitor's book at Raj Ghat. pic.twitter.com/p43IMmCIg7  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

10:58 am: President Donald Trump will hold closed-door meeting with PM Modi at Hyderabad House shortly. Once the meeting wraps up, PM Modi will host the US President, the First Lady and the US delegation for lunch.

10:50 am: Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri accompanied the Trumps at Raj Ghat. President Trump and the First Lady also planted a tree at the Raj Ghat.

10:46 am: After their quick visit to the Raj Ghat, Melania and Donald Trump will head to Hyderabad House before parting ways briefly. Donald Trump will hold talks with PM Modi. Melania Trump will head to the Delhi government school where she will witness a happiness class before heading for the lunch hosted by PM Modi.

10:40 am: Visuals from Raj Ghat where the Trumps paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

Delhi: US President Donald Trump & First Lady Melania Trump pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat. pic.twitter.com/ObQohvZhvr  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

10:35 am: The Trumps reach Raj Ghat. POTUS and FLOTUS pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

10:30 am: PM Modi has arrived at the Hyderabad House, while the Trumps are making their way to the Raj Ghat. The Trumps will pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. The Trumps also visited the Sabarmati Ashram on Day 1 of the visit.

10:25 am: US President Donald Trump will hold a press conference today at 5 pm. This will be separate from the joint press conference that is scheduled to be held by POTUS and PM Modi. There will be no questions and answer round during Trump's press conference.

10:23 am: Images from the Motera Stadium during the Namaste Trump event on Day 1 of the Trumps' visit.

During his speech at the #NamasteTrump programme, @POTUS@realDonaldTrump highlighted aspects of his vision for USA. He also spoke at length about Indias greatness as well as the greatness of our culture, ethos, people and more. I thank him for his kind words. pic.twitter.com/T2trutWPqY  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 24, 2020

10:19 am: President Trump, Melania Trump, President Kovind and Savita Kovind pose for a photo at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Delhi: US President Donald Trump, the First Lady Melania Trump, President Ram Nath Kovind, his wife Savita Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi pose for a group photo at Rashtrapati Bhavan. pic.twitter.com/qvd4rC6kJM  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

10:14 am: President Trump and Melania Trump will head to the Raj Ghat shortly before the POTUS heads to the Hyderabad House to hold talks with PM Modi.

10:10 am: Visuals from PM Modi, President Kovind and Savita Kovind welcoming Donald Trump and Melania Trump at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind, his wife Savita Kovind and PM Narendra Modi receive US President Donald Trump and the First Lady Melania Trump at Rashtrapati Bhavan. pic.twitter.com/3NKozPI644  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

10:07 am: President Kovind and PM Modi welcome Donald and Melania Trump at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

10:06 am: President Kovind arrive at the Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt with his wife Savita Kovind.

10:02 am: Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School will host FLOTUS Melania Trump today where she will interact with the students. She is expected to reach there by noon. The government school has been fortified and beautified in the run-up to her visit.

Delhi: Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School all set to welcome First Lady of the US Melania Trump, as she will visit the school today. pic.twitter.com/TUxW6JtSqU  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

10:00 am: PM Modi arrives at the Rashtrapati Bhavan for the ceremonial reception of US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Rashtrapati Bhawan. US President Donald Trump will be accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan, shortly. pic.twitter.com/0CSXn1m1qh  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

9:58 am: President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold talks at the Hyderabad House today.

9:55 am: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said he is happy that Melania Trump who will visit a government school in Delhi will take back the message of happiness from their "happiness curriculum".

.@FLOTUS will attend happiness class in our school today. Great day for our teachers, students and Delhiites. For centuries, India has taught spirituality to the world. Am happy that she will take back the msg of happiness from our school  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 25, 2020

9:50 am: Visuals from the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Delhi: US President Donald Trump's daughter and senior advisor Ivanka Trump arrives at Rashtrapati Bhavan ahead of the ceremonial reception of the US President. pic.twitter.com/iTyjCRftf2  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

9:45 am: President Trump along with Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner have reached the Rashtrapati Bhavan for the ceremonial reception of the US President.
SEATTLE  Less than a year after Oregons Senate Republicans fled the state with passports in hand and hid out in Idaho cabins to avoid voting on a climate change bill, they have disappeared again.

With Democrats seeking to advance a new proposal to cap the states greenhouse gas emissions, most Republicans refused to attend a floor session on Monday morning, and a search by the Senate chambers sergeant-at-arms failed to find them.

That left the Senate with just 19 members on the floor  one short of a quorum needed to vote  and threatened to derail a range of bills in the final two weeks of the states legislative session.

Senate President Peter Courtney, a Democrat, called on senators to return to work, saying the climate bill had sufficient votes to pass in a chamber with a large Democratic majority.
Armed with a net worth that Forbes puts at $61.9 billion, Michael Bloomberg has emerged as a formidable contender for the Democratic presidential nomination. The former New York City Mayor thus found himself savaged by his rivals at last Wednesdays debate. The primary focus of their attacks was the NYPDs use of stop and frisk during his time in office.

Lost in the near-hysterical rhetoric is the fact that stop and frisk is a constitutionally valid street procedure whose use is essential to protect the lives and safety of police officers and the public they serve. The oft-heard claim that the courts struck down its use during the Bloomberg mayoralty as discriminatory against blacks and Hispanics is grossly misleading.

The right of police officers to stop and frisk individuals was established by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1968 in its landmark decision in Terry v. Ohio. Writing for the court, Chief Justice Earl Warren said: When an officer is justified in believing that the individual whose suspicious behavior he is investigating at close range is armed and presently dangerous he may properly conduct a carefully limited search of the outer clothing of such persons in an attempt to discover weapons which might be used to assault him.

Explaining why the operative standard is thus reasonable suspicion, not the more stringent probable cause, Warren said, we cannot blind ourselves to the need for law enforcement officers to protect themselves and other prospective victims of violence. The New York Court of Appeals reiterated precisely that in its 1996 decision in People v. Batista, observing that, in a confrontation with an individual suspected to be armed, the answer to the question propounded by the policeman may be a bullet.

Anti-police bias

On August 12, 2013, U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin ruled that the NYPD had been using stop and frisk in a discriminatory manner toward blacks and Hispanics. She called for broad reforms, including the use of body-worn cameras, to be overseen by a federal monitor. Scheindlin, however, was a judge with a well-documented history of anti-police bias. In fact, not only did she, herself, suggest that the lawsuit be brought, but she advised two attorneys how to ensure that it came before her. This, and other ethical violations, led to her being removed from any further proceedings in the case by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit.

In a largely favorable article about her appearing in the May 27, 2013 edition of The New Yorker, one of her former law clerks told Jeffrey Toobin, who penned the piece, What you must remember about this judge is that she thinks cops lie.

The City had presented a very strong defense of the NYPDs use of stop and frisk, arguing that crime drives where police officers go, not race. To that end, Mayor Bloomberg, speaking to NYPD leadership on April 30, 2013, said, The sad reality is on the streets of our city, 90 percent of murder suspects and murder victims are black and Latino. And black and Hispanics are the overwhelming majority of suspects in other violent crimes.

Flip-flop

Scheindlins finding that nearly 90 percent of the people stopped by police were released without charges being filed is not of all that significant since the standard is mere reasonable suspicion and not probable cause. In fact, given the very statistics Bloomberg cited, its perfectly natural that they would have been stopped and frisked in disproportionate numbers.

When Scheindlin, true to form, refused to grant the city a stay of her order pending appeal, the Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit not only issued a stay but, as noted, removed her from the case. Unfortunately, the citys highly promising appeal was never heard because Bloombergs successor, Bill de Blasio, ordered it withdrawn.

Shortly before Bloomberg entered the presidential race and, apparently in contemplation of doing so, he did an astonishing flip-flop. Speaking at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn on Nov. 17, he apologized for his stance on stop and frisk. I was wrong, he said. I didnt understand back then the full impact stops were having on the black and Latino communities.

The Democrats fixation with stop and frisk is consistent with their portrayal of blacks as perpetually victimized and themselves as their unrelenting saviors. Ignored by them  and now by Bloomberg too  are the overwhelming number of law-abiding black people victimized every single day by the armed and dangerous criminals about them.

Daniel Leddys column On the Law appears weekly. Follow him on Twitter. His email address is column@danielleddylaw.com.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 22:08:10|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has stressed the need to prioritize issues concerning agriculture, rural areas and farmers and improve weak links in order to provide strong support for winning the war to prevent and control the epidemic, as well as attaining objectives and targets set for economic and social development of the whole year.

"The more risks and challenges we face, the more we need to stabilize agriculture and ensure the safety of grain and major non-staple foods," Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a recent instruction on spring farming in the country.

Xi highlighted organizing timely spring farming in an all-out effort to secure a bumper summer grain harvest while rigorously implementing the differentiated epidemic control measures in accordance with local conditions and risk levels.

China will step up policies supporting grain production to keep sown areas and grain output stable, Xi said.

In this regard, efforts will be made to optimize modern rural infrastructures including high-yield farmland and water conservancy and agricultural mechanization projects, raise agricultural technological innovation capability and speed up promotion and application, and enhance the capability of grain production and disaster prevention and mitigation.

He also noted solid work on the prevention and control of major plant diseases and insect pests and animal diseases to ensure farm security.

Meanwhile, the country will speed up hog production and address the difficulties to resume production targets, Xi said.

Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, urged local departments to earnestly implement Xi Jinping's instructions to coordinate epidemic control with economic and social development while facilitating spring farming preparations.

The above instructions were delivered to the national teleconference on spring farming held Tuesday in Beijing, which was attended by Vice Premier Hu Chunhua.

Hu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, underscored coordination between rural epidemic control and spring agricultural production, urging those involved to tackle the protruding issues in spring farming to ensure a victory in summer grain production.
The turnout was higher than Tehran in smaller cities, where citizens have more incentive to vote if the candidates promise better schools and hospitals, improved roads, faster internet, more ethnic inclusion and even individual patronage. As the American sanctions have debilitated the Iranian economy, greater participation in parliamentary elections offers the provinces an opportunity to bargain for a better share of the shrinking pie from Tehran.

In Tehran and other major cities, the parliamentary elections signal not only the citizens preferences for particular factions within the regime but also its legitimacy as a whole. Participation rates in the major cities fluctuate more often and reflect the political diversity of the candidates.

In the 2016 parliamentary elections, a high turnout enabled moderate reformist candidates to secure Tehrans 30 seats in the Parliament. The conservative winners in Tehran, this weekend, were led by Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the former head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps air force wing, who is expected to be the speaker of the incoming Parliament. Victories like Mr. Qalibafs demonstrate that the Revolutionary Guard is ensuring its presence and domination of the Parliament as well.

Iranians who refused to vote expressed their anger and their disappointment with the Revolutionary Guards bloody crackdown on protesters in November, and its cover-up of the accidental shooting of a civilian airplane near Tehran in January. But the trouble with boycotting the elections is that it opens the doors of the Parliament for the most conservative wing of the political system.

Iranian society stands at an uncharted crossroad and the regime is bringing the apparatus of the state under the control of what it considers to be its most loyal elites, one election at a time. In a politically, economically and regionally tumultuous environment, doing so would allow an orderly transition to the next supreme leader.
KALAMAZOO, MI  Property owners, housing advocates and others gave their opinions about a new plan meant to stop landlords from discriminating against people with criminal convictions in Kalamazoo.

The Kalamazoo City Commission held a special meeting Monday, Feb. 24, to talk about the proposed ordinance intended to address structural racism and inequality in housing.

Related: Proposal would ban landlord discrimination against ex-offenders in Kalamazoo

The proposal would update Chapter 18 of the Kalamazoo Code of Ordinances, which addresses community relations and discrimination, to eliminate blanket housing rejections for any demographic. Among the changes proposed would be new protections for people using housing vouchers or county identification cards, as well as those who have previously been incarcerated, according to the city.

Additionally, rental housing application fees would be regulated and a civil rights board would be established to review contested cases of discrimination that would come under the purview of the ordinance.

About 20 citizens spoke at the meeting, with some for and some against the proposed changes. The meeting, originally set in the community room, was moved to the larger commission chambers because of the number of people attending.

Several landlords spoke against parts of the ordinance and asked to give more input on the potential changes.

I cannot allow somebody to make financial decisions for me, unless of course you want to sign my mortgage, then Im OK. But I dont think thats gonna happen," Mike Fleckenstein said, and asked city commissioners to spend more time working on the issue.

Rider Griffin spoke in support of the ordinance, and said he was there to represent people who couldnt be at the meeting, or didnt know about the meeting because they are out looking for housing.

Im not gonna say the Kalamazoo Promise doesnt matter, but theyre really not thinking about graduating right now," he said. Theyre trying to think about where theyre gonna be at tonight. So theyre missing a lot of school.

He added, Im speaking up for them. Im all for this ordinance.

Wendy Denning of Troff & Denning said she has been a landlord for over 35 years.

This (draft) as adopted would be the ruin of nearly every provider of low to moderate income property in Kalamazoo, Denning said. No landlord that I know was asked to take part in drafting this ordinance even though it directly affects us and how we do business.

She said all the money she puts into her properties impacts her retirement, and she needs renters to take care of the property as if it is their own.

When a person is a bad neighbor, who is responsible for their unacceptable behavior? How is a disruptive tenant dealt with? she said. Its extremely difficult time consuming and expensive to evict bad tenants.

David Dagher, owner of Trident Properties in Kalamazoo, which owns 354 units in the city, said his company should have been notified of the proposal sooner.

In regards to the blanket policies, evictions and for criminal, I think were all on the same page, that we have the same goals here, however, as folks have pointed out before me, the enforcement is gonna be a big big issue because we are now asked to make decisions that are not based on any hard and fast rules," Dagher said. Though he agreed with some aspects of the plan, he critiqued other sections.

I am now making judgment calls, of which we are taught daily, that in fair housing, you dont make judgment calls, you treat everyone the same, Dagher said.

He asked how the civil rights board would make its decisions.

Marshall Kilgore encouraged people speaking against the proposal to check your privilege."

We must do something, he said. We must start somewhere.

Rebecca MacLeery, the executive director of the Center for Transformation, thanked the commission for taking on the issue.

Access to housing has been the biggest issue for the people she works with at the center, she said. The organization helps previously incarcerated people rebuild their lives and become law-abiding, contributing members of the community in Kalamazoo, according to the groups web site.

Martha Aills, former special projects coordinator at the City of Kalamazoo and a current landlord of property in the city, wrote an email to the commission and to the Kalamazoo Gazette before the meeting.

Of course, fair and affordable housing is a very important, worthy goal. But there are many ways to address a complicated problem. There are many questions and concerns about this proposal, she said.

She criticized the citys communication on the issue and said the proposal would place increased costs and risks on all landlords, but disproportionately impacts small landlords because those costs are spread over a smaller number of units.

It appears that someone simplistically defined a problem and decided that the rental industry would solve it. Who defined the problem and made that decision? she said.

The proposal aims to prevent discrimination and would not require landlords to rent to people with convictions, Vice Mayor Patrese Griffin said.

Griffin, who has been working on the issue for more than a year and before she joined the commission, spoke at length about why the change is needed.

We have systematic issues that have been going on for years, she said.

Its a civil rights issue, Griffin said, and urgent. She addressed some of the comments.

I cant say this enough that good tenancy has nothing to do with a civil rights issue. Those two arent the same. They are very much a necessary issue to talk about but they dont go hand in hand. Nasty is nasty. A horrible tenant is a horrible tenant, Griffin said.

She talked about the idea of landlords thinking about a certain group people, such as people with housing vouchers.

If we let in these people -- whoever these people are -- theyre gonna tear our places up. Thats a problem to even think like that," Griffin said.

Griffin, who said she was homeless for more than a year after her family faced eviction from a rental home due to an electrical issue, said she has dealt with the challenges firsthand.

I was one of these homeless people that gets spoken of like these people, she said.

The meeting was a work session and no action has been taken on the proposal at this time. The city is planning to hold two additional meetings about the proposed housing ordinance changes in March, with dates and times to be determined.

More:

State trooper rescues dog after fall through ice

Kalamazoo Maple Sugar Festival celebrates 55th year

Recreational marijuana shop opens between Kalamazoo and South Haven
A 38-year-old commission agent, brother of a leader of the Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray)s Punjab unit, was murdered by unidentified persons in Bhandari Mohalla of Batala town on Tuesday morning.

The victim, Mukesh Nayyar, brother of Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) state vice-president Ramesh Nayyar, left home for the local vegetable market on a scooter around 4am, the family said.

When his employee called his son Tushar informing that he had not reached the shop, the family started searching for him. Tushar said they got a call from a neighbour around 6am that his fathers blood-soaked body with his throat slit was lying outside Adarsh Vidya Mandir School, a few hundred metres from their house. No other injury was found on the body, it was learnt.

Deputy superintendent of police (city) BK Singla said they are checking footage of CCTV cameras installed in adjoining buildings. Mukeshs scooter and a handbag, which his family says contained 1.5 lakh, are missing. We are told he was taking the cash to make payments at the mandi. We are working on different angles and the culprits will be caught soon, he said.

A case was registered under Sections 302, 148 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code against unidentified persons on the statement of the deceased brothers Ashok Kumar

Batala civil hospital senior medical officer (SMO) Dr Sanjeev Bhalla said a medical board was constituted and some samples from the body were sent to the forensic laboratory at Mohali. The exact cause of death can be ascertained after we get the reports, he added.

Right-wing activists stage protest against police laxity

Blaming laxity on part of police, hundreds of activists of the Shiv Sena led by its state president Yograj Sharma staged a massive dharna at Gandhi Chowk in the town and blocked the traffic for 2 hours.

They alleged that it is due to the negligence of the police that the families of Hindu outfit leaders were being targeted by anti-social elements who are trying to disturb peace and harmony in Punjab.

Batala SSP Opinderjeet Singh Ghuman reached the spot and assured the protesters that the culprits will be arrested within 48 hours, the protesters lifted the dharna.

Ramesh Nayyar claimed that a few days ago, he had received threat calls and had informed the police about this. The police didnt take my inputs seriously. Politicians from the Hindu community and their families are not safe, he said.

A fortnight ago, two unidentified youngsters opened fire at Shiv Sena (Hindustan Northern India) youth wing president Honey Mahajan in the Dhariwal area of Gurdaspur district. Mahajan was injured but Ashok Kumar, 23, a trader, was killed in the incident.
- European CNS Specialist Neuraxpharm acquires CNS product portfolio along with sizeable, established commercial team in Poland from Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd

- Jacek Sawicki appointed General Manager of Neuraxpharm Polska

WARSAW, Poland, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuraxpharm Group, a leading European specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, today announces the acquisition of Glenmark's CNS product portfolio in Poland. This move will further strengthen Neuraxpharm's position in the region.

Following the transaction, the Glenmark CNS commercial team in Poland will join Neuraxpharm Polska's existing sales and marketing organisation to create a strong player in the Polish CNS market, with excellent access to psychiatrists, neurologists and pharmacies. As part of this agreement, Jacek Sawicki, who has been Country Manager of Glenmark Poland since 2017, will join Neuraxpharm as General Manager for Poland as of 1st April, reporting to Dr Olaf Krampe, Head of the Central European Region. Jacek has a wealth of experience in the CNS market having spent eight years at a global biopharmaceutical company, UCB Pharma, before assuming the position of Specialty Business Unit Manager at Teva with responsibility for the company's CNS capabilities.

Glenmark's established portfolio of 20 proprietary CNS products in Poland comprise both prescription medicines and Consumer Healthcare products. Lead products include the branded generics Cital and Lamotrix, both relevant brands in their respective markets. With branded generics commanding the dominant share of market, Poland has the highest penetration of generics in Europe. The leading Consumer Healthcare brand is Revitanerw, a food supplement used for regeneration and nutrition of nerve cells.

The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Commenting on the news, Dr. Jorg-Thomas Dierks, CEO of Neuraxpharm, said: "Following the launch of Neuraxpharm Polska last year, we are very pleased to add Glenmark's complementary CNS portfolio to our operations in this region. We look forward to welcoming Jacek Sawicki along with his excellent established commercial team, as we work to significantly strengthen our Polish presence and reinforce our position as a leading CNS player in Europe. This acquisition will enable us not only to broaden our offer of established CNS products in Poland, but also to further strengthen our commercial power and our Consumer Healthcare segment."

Neuraxpharm Polska is part of the company's Central European region and is headed by Dr. Olaf Krampe , Neuraxpharm's Head of the Central European Region and General Manager of Neuraxpharm Germany. Starting distribution in Poland in 2014, Neuraxpharm Polska was officially launched in April 2019. Since then, Neuraxpharm has been building its position as a CNS specialist in the country offering nutraceuticals, standard generics and value-added medicines. Today's announcement reflects the company's commitment to the Polish market, its patients and medical community, and reiterates its strategy to offer a broad range of CNS products in the country which represents the seventh largest CNS market in Europe and is valued at over EUR 900m(1).

Neuraxpharm continues to invest in its pipeline, developing differentiated and complex products in CNS to be rolled out in Poland as well as other Neuraxpharm countries. The current acquisition follows Neuraxpharm's rapid growth in Europe over the past year which includes expansion in Eastern Europe, Switzerland and Austria through acquisitions, and the launch of new operations in Poland, UK and Portugal. Moreover, new products, including a probiotic, have been launched, and the company has strengthened its portfolio of branded Consumer Healthcare products and entered the market for cannabidiol (CBD) products.

(1) Source: IQVIA

About Neuraxpharm - the European CNS specialist

Neuraxpharm is a leading European specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of central nervous system disorders (CNS) with a direct presence in Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Slovakia, United Kingdom, Hungary and Portugal. Backed by funds advised by Apax Partners, Neuraxpharm has a unique understanding of the CNS market built over 30 years.

With its focus on CNS, Neuraxpharm develops and commercializes value added medicines, standard generics and Consumer Healthcare products, e.g. probiotics and other nutraceuticals, and is continuously striving to offer a wide range of effective, high quality and affordable CNS treatment options in Europe.

Present with its products in more than 50 countries, Neuraxpharm also manufactures pharmaceutical products and active pharmaceutical ingredients in its own manufacturing sites in Spain, Lesvi and Inke.

To learn more about Neuraxpharm, please visit: https://www.neuraxpharm.com

About Glenmark

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (GPL) is a global research-led pharmaceutical company with presence across Generics, Specialty and OTC business with operations in over 50 countries. Glenmark's key therapy focus areas globally are respiratory, dermatology and oncology. It is ranked among the top 80 Pharma & Biotech companies of the world in terms of revenue (SCRIP 100 Rankings published in the year 2019).

For more information about Glenmark, please visit: https://www.glenmarkpharma.com/
Union Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of a Crusher and Conveyor System to be readied with an investment of Rs 483 crore at aluminium major NALCOs Mining & Refinery (M&R) Complex in Damanjodi in Odisha.

The system will cater to feed bauxite for the 5th stream of Alumina Refinery of the state-owned Navaratna company.

The project is expected to be completed by April 2022 and would cost around Rs 483 crore.

We as a country aim to reach a $5 trillion economy by 2024 and I am sure NALCO will be a success story in this growth trajectory, Joshi said while interacting with employees of NALCO at M&R Complex in Damanjodi in Koraput district after laying the foundation stone.

The minister pointed out that Odisha has about 51 per cent of bauxite, 25 per cent of coal and 34 per cent of iron ore resources of the country apart from 96 per cent of chromite and 44 per cent of manganese resources.

Our government has taken a number of steps to unlock the mining potential of mineral-rich states for the benefit of the country as well as the population residing in these areas, Joshi said.

He also appreciated the state government for supporting mining activities in the region and highlighted that it will help in boosting the economy and bringing development to the state. Earlier on Monday, the Union minister had chaired a review meeting of NALCO at Visakhapatnam and directed the senior officials of the company to ramp up production to achieve the annual target by paying due attention to safety.

He expressed his happiness over NALCO becoming the worlds cheapest producer of bauxite & alumina for the 4th consecutive year.

He also praised NALCO for achieving capacity utilisation in the middle of challenges arising out of operating in a remote location.

Joshi also visited Panchpatmali bauxite mine located in Koraput district, the largest bauxite mine in Asia, having a bauxite deposit of approximately 310 million tones, a company official said. National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), a Navratna CPSE under Union Ministry of Mines, is one of the largest integrated bauxite-alumina-aluminium- power complex in Asia.

The company is listed on Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange.

The alumina refinery provides alumina to the companys smelter at Angul and exports the balance alumina to overseas markets through Visakhapatnam Port.

The normative capacity of the alumina refinery is 21 lakh MT per annum through four independent streams.

The refinery receives bauxite from its own captive Panchpatmali Bauxite Mines of the Eastern Ghats located 16 km away through a special type of conveyor belt called Cable Belt. Coal is received from Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, Caustic Soda Lye is received through their port facilities and water from Kolab Reservoir which is located in Koraput District.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
CenterPoint Energy, the regulated utility that delivers electricity to the Houston area, said Monday that it sold its natural gas retail business for $400 million to Energy Capital Partners of New Jersey, a private equity investor expanding in Houston.

CenterPoint said it will use the proceeds from the sale of CenterPoint Energy Services to repay a portion of its debt. The deal will strengthen CenterPoints balance sheet, the company said.

The deal, along with CenterPoints sale this month of two natural gas distribution and transmission pipeline contractors for $850 million, will re-focus the company on its utility business, which is expected to generate almost 90 percent of its earnings going forward, the company said. The contracting firms, in Minnesota and Indiana, were acquired last year as part of CenterPoints $6 billion purchase of Indiana-based Vectren Corp.

"The sale of our gas retail business further positions CenterPoint Energy to focus on the long-term performance of our core electric and natural gas utility businesses," interim CEO John W. Somerhalder II said.

The sale also expands Energy Capital Partners power sector portfolio in the Houston area. In 2017, it led a group of investors in the $17 billion acquisition of Calpine Corp., the nations biggest generator of natural gas-fueled electricity. The deal turned Calpine, which was struggling with lackluster earnings, a slumping share price and the changing economics of electricity markets, into a privately held company.

CenterPoints latest deal comes during a vulnerable time for the company. Its total return has declined by 15.1 percent over the past year, making it the worst performer in an S&P 500 utility index that gained 26.7 percent during the same period.

CenterPoint agreed last month to a deal that cut its return on equity  a proxy for profitability  to 9.4 percent from 10 percent after San Antonio based grocer H-E-B complained about reliability problems that had gone on for years. The agreement, negotiated with industrial power users and a coalition of cities, also slashed CenterPoints rate increase to $13 million, a fraction of the $161 million it had sought from state regulators.

The new rate plan could lower CenterPoints 2020 operating income by $40 million and funding from operations by $70 million, according to a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

And last week, CenterPoint announced the immediate departure of Chief Executive Officer Scott M. Prochazka, a move that stunned investors. The company has launched an effort to find a new CEO.

CenterPoint Energy Services is based in Houston and has 300 employees. Those working for CenterPoint Energy Services will become employees of Energy Capital Partners, CenterPoint spokeswoman Natalie Hedde said.

The sale of CenterPoint Energy Services doesnt include the natural gas utility service to Houston-area residential customers.

The sale is expected to be completed in the second quarter.

lynn.sixel@chron.com

twitter.com/lmsixel
By Trend

Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers has disseminated the information on measures which are taken in relation to coronavirus epidemic, Trend reports referring to the Cabinet of Ministers.

To prevent the threat that coronavirus spreading in China may pose to Azerbaijan, the governmental commission was created on January 28, 2020 under the chairmanship of Azerbaijani prime minister, while a plan of measures against the epidemic was approved on January 30, the statement said.

Since coronavirus became a global epidemic, preventive measures are taken at all border checkpoints in Azerbaijan, including airports, the statement said. Starting from January 30, all passengers arriving in Azerbaijan are thoroughly checked and until today no cases of coronavirus infection have been revealed in the country.

After the official information about an increase in the number of cases of coronavirus has been disseminated, including fatal cases in Iran, the checkpoints on the Azerbaijani-Iranian border switched to a special regime of operation, the statement said. The sanitary and disinfection work has been carried out at border checkpoints since February 22, as a result of which the passage through checkpoints has slowed down. The control of transit cargo transportation through Azerbaijan has also been strengthened, the statement said. The sanitary and disinfection measures are underway while exporting and importing the cargoes.

The population has been recommended to temporarily postpone the trips to the neighboring country without an urgent need in connection with the situation in Iran, the statement said. The sanitary-epidemiological situation in Azerbaijan is under special control. The appropriate structures have been instructed to work intensively. All necessary measures are taken to ensure the country's safety, and there is no reason for concern. Medical supplies are sufficient in the country to protect [the population] against the epidemic in the country.

As coronavirus is an international threat, there are cases of spreading disinformation, the statement reads. "We ask citizens to trust only the official information. In special cases, the public will be additionally informed."

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
[February 25, 2020] R9B Appoints Former Verizon Exec John G. Stratton To The Board of Directors

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- R9B (root9B, LLC), a leading provider of advanced cybersecurity products, services, and training, today announced that telecommunications industry veteran John Stratton has joined its Board of Directors. Stratton has held multiple executive and leadership roles at Verizon for 25 years, most recently as President of Global Operations where he had overall P&L responsibility for Verizon's $120B network businesses, with 140K employees serving in 36 countries worldwide. In 2012, former U.S. President Barack Obama appointed Stratton to the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee. Stratton is a proven innovator who helped drive growth across enterprise, wireless, consumer wireline, network and cyber services. "As evidenced by his leadership roles at Verizon and White House telecom board appointment, John has developed a unique track record that cuts across operations, marketing, product and sales that will prove invaluable joining our Board of Directors," said Eric Hipkins, R9B's founder and CEO. "He brings a wealth of knowledge about network security and the challenges that enterprises, governments, and mobile customers have when protecting thir networks."



Prior to his role as head of global operations, Stratton served as president of Verizon Enterprise Solutions, the group that oversees all of Verizon's solutions for its business and government customers. Verizon Enterprise Solution's portfolio includes the telecom vendor's enterprise mobility, cloud and IT, strategic networking and advanced communications offerings. Earlier, he served as EVP and Chief Operating Officer of Verizon Wireless, and also as Verizon's EVP and Chief Marketing Officer. Stratton joined Verizon's predecessor company, Bell Atlantic Mobile, in 1993 as director of retail sales and operations. "R9B is a proven innovator when it comes to developing advanced cyber security solutions to meet today's sophisticated threat climate  which is why it's threat HUNTing approach is resonating in the market," adds Stratton. "I am thrilled to join the Board of Directors and look forward to lending expertise from my roles across industry and government."

About R9B

Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., R9B is a leading provider of advanced cybersecurity products, services and training for commercial and government clients. Combining cutting-edge technology, tactics development, specialty tools, and deep mission experience, R9B personnel leverage their extensive backgrounds in the U.S. Intelligence Community to conduct advanced vulnerability analysis, penetration testing, digital forensics, incident response, industrial control system (ICS) security, and active adversary pursuit (HUNT) engagements on networks worldwide. R9B is a portfolio company of Tracker Capital Management, an early-stage investor focused principally on emerging technologies and companies with the potential to advance U.S. national security interests. For more information, visit www.root9b.com. Media Contact:

Erika Hipkins

[email protected]

719-534-3994 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/r9b-appoints-former-verizon-exec-john-g-stratton-to-the-board-of-directors-301010988.html SOURCE R9B

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CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, blaming BJP's Kapil Mishra for the violence in northeast Delhi and his open call to forcibly remove protesters from various sites.

The death toll in the violence over the amended citizenship law rose to nine on Tuesday, the GTB Hospital authorities said.

Four persons were declared brought dead by doctors at the hospital on Tuesday, they added.

Thirty-five people were also brought to the hospital with injuries, the authorities said.

"The tragic death of a police constable and the deaths of six citizens in the shocking incidents of violence in the capital are of deep concern. We strongly condemn those responsible for the death of the police constable and for the violence in Delhi. The Delhi Police and related agencies are under the control of your ministry and therefore, we are addressing this letter to you," Karat wrote to Shah and sought an appointment with the home minister.

She also said the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), led mainly by women, have been peaceful for the last two months, while adding that there were no instances of violence in Delhi "except those incidents of firing at the protesters by men who were incited to violence by a minister in the central government".

"This should have alerted the police and intelligence agencies to efforts being made by certain elements to disrupt the peaceful protests and give a communal colour to them. However, either the intelligence agencies failed or their reports were ignored.

"On Sunday, BJP leader Kapil Mishra had openly given a call for forcibly removing the protesters from various sites. Detailed reports and video images are available of the highly-provocative and communal slogans given by groups of men armed with lathis and bricks in the areas surrounding the protest sites," Karat wrote in her letter to Shah.

She said the need of the hour was an impartial and just intervention to ensure peace in the national capital.

"Your intervention for peace will allay apprehensions among the public that the incidents of the last two days are 'Badla' (revenge) against the people of Delhi for the election results. In this context, action against Kapil Mishra will bring confidence to the people that you are indeed taking impartial steps for peace and against troublemakers. All those involved in spreading hatred and violence, regardless of their political connections and colour, should be arrested," Karat said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 25, 2020) - Discovery Harbour Resources Corp. (TSXV: DHR) (the "Company" or "Discovery Harbour") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release of February 3, 2020, the Company has closed the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement ("Offering") to raise gross proceeds of $187,500 (the "First Tranche") through the sale of 1,875,000 units priced at $0.10 per unit (each a "Unit"). Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a "Share") and one half common share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant (each, a "Warrant") entitling the holder to purchase one additional Share at a price of $0.15 for a period of two years from the closing date, subject to an acceleration provision of the Company whereby, if for any ten (10) consecutive trading days the closing price of the Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") exceeds $0.25 at any time commencing (4) months after the closing date and until their expiry date, then the remaining term of the Warrants will be reduced to thirty (30) days, commencing seven (7) days from the end of such ten (10) consecutive trading day period. The Company expects to complete the balance of the Offering on or before March 19, 2020.

All securities issued in the First Tranche are subject to a four month hold period expiring June 26, 2020.

Finder's fees of 6% cash ($9,450) and 6% finder's warrants (the "Finder's Warrants") (94,500 Finder's Warrants) were paid to registered representatives on $157,500 of the First Tranche. Each Finder's Warrant is exercisable into one Share at a price of $0.15 per Share for a period of two years from the date of issuance.

The Company plans to use the proceeds from the Offering for development of the Company's Caldera project and for general working capital.

Completion of the Offering is subject to the approval of the Exchange. Any participation by insiders in the Offering will constitute a related party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") but is expected to be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101.

None of the securities sold in connection with the private placement will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and no such securities may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Discovery Harbour Resources Corp.

Discovery Harbour is a Canadian TSX Venture Exchange listed company (TSXV: DHR) focused on sourcing, exploring and developing mineral properties, with a strategic focus on gold projects, in order to enhance shareholder value. Its current focus is the Caldera low sulphidation epithermal gold project in southern Nevada.

For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.discoveryharbour.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DISCOVERY HARBOUR RESOURCES CORP.

"Mark Fields"

Mark Fields

President and Chief Executive Officer

Discovery Harbour Resources Corp.

Tel: (604) 681-3170

Fax: (604) 681-3552

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the expectations of management regarding the proposed Offering, the expectations of management regarding the use of proceeds of the Offering, closing conditions for the Offering, and Exchange approval of the proposed Offering. 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. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements including that: the Company may not complete the Offering on terms favorable to the Company or at all; the Exchange may not approve the Offering; the proceeds of the Offering may not be used as stated in this news release; the Company may be unable to satisfy all of the conditions to the Closing; and those additional risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except where required by law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52795
PRAGUE, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On February 17, IAOP unveiled The 2020 Global Outsourcing 100 list at the Outsourcing World Summit held in Orlando, Florida, the United States. The Global Outsourcing 100 features IBA Group  www.ibagroupit.com - for the eighth consecutive year.

"Companies that outsource, not only in the traditional sense but also through the wide array of the ever-changing collaborative business models, are scrutinizing their providers very closely, which is why choosing the right partners is more important than ever," said Debi Hamill, IAOP CEO. "The GO100 is the definitive guide to help companies research and compare service providers with whom they are considering relationships."

The 2020 Global Outsourcing 100 recognizes the world's best outsourcing service providers and advisors. This list is based on applications received, and judging is based on a rigorous scoring methodology that includes an independent review by an independent panel of IAOP customer members with extensive experience in selecting outsourcing service providers and advisors for their organizations.

For 2020, the judging panel considered companies' achievements in the following areas:

Customer References as demonstrated through value being created at the company's top customers. Awards and Certifications as demonstrated through the value being created through industry recognition, and relevant organizational and individual professional certifications. Programs for Innovation as demonstrated through specific programs and resulting outcomes that produce new forms of value for customers. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as shown through corporate programs and outcomes that address such topics as community involvement and development, labor practices, human rights, fair operating practices, environmental impacts, consumer issues, and organizational governance.

In 2019, IAOP compiled the Best of The Global Outsourcing 100 list to mark the organizations' tenth anniversary. The list comprised companies that were at the top of The Global Outsourcing 100 for a decade. Summarizing results over the entirety of The Global Outsourcing 100, the list distinguished IBA Group among Top Leaders, for Customer References, for Top Innovation, for Top CSR, and for Multiple Appearances.

About IAOP

IAOP is the global association that brings together customers, providers, and advisors in a collaborative, knowledge-based environment that promotes professional and organizational development, recognition, certification, and excellence to improve business service models and outcomes. Our members and affiliates worldwide are digging deep at IAOP conferences, learning at IAOP chapter meetings, getting trained and certified at IAOP courses and workshops, and connecting through IAOP social media, all with one goal: better business results. Whether you are a customer, provider or advisor, new to collaborative business models like outsourcing, or you are an experienced professional, IAOP connects you and your organization to our growing global community and to the resources you need to get the results your company deserves and demands. For more information and how you can become involved, visit www.IAOP.org.

About IBA Group

IBA Group is one of the largest IT service providers in Eastern Europe, performing software development, migration, maintenance, support, and IT consulting services with 3,000 IT and business professionals. Headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, IBA Group has offices and development centers in the United States, Germany, Czech Republic, Belarus, South Africa, Cyprus, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, and Bulgaria. IBA Group focuses on mainframe systems, enterprise and web applications, SAP solutions, and CAMSS (cloud, analytics, mobility, social media, and security), as well as IoT and RPA / ML / AI technologies. IAOP recognizes IBA Group as one of The Global Outsourcing 100 in the Leaders category. IBA Group is a winner of IT Europa's European IT & Software Excellence Awards and of GSA Awards by the Global Sourcing Association. For more information, visit http://ibagroupit.com

SOURCE IBA Group
Behind Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's historic visit to Oman lay a failed effort to restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and an embarrassing diplomatic incident that almost torpedoed the visit, Israeli officials tell me.

Why it matters: The October 2018 trip ranks as one of Netanyahu's signature foreign policy achievements, as he was the first Israeli leader to visit Oman in 22 years. But the story of what exactly took place has not previously been told.

Behind the scenes: Netanyahu was set to travel with only a small group of aides, officials involved in preparations for the trip tell me.

But two days before Netanyahu's departure for Muscat, his wife Sara asked to join.

Netanyahu updated his advisers accordingly, but the director of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, Yossi Cohen, explained that it would violate protocol and prior agreements with the Omanis.

Netanyahu asked his advisers to explain the situation to his wife and convince her to agree to stay home, Israeli officials told me.

Cohen and other senior officials met with Sara Netanyahu and explained that because Sultan Qaboos, who has since died, was not married, foreign leaders never brought their wives to Oman.

Those explanations didn't convince her. To the shock of the officials, the prime minister backed his wife. He asked Mossad to tell the Omanis that his wife would be joining him.

Sara pushed and pushed and Bibi just couldnt handle it," one Israeli official tells me.

A day before Netanyahu departed for Oman, a senior Mossad official was sent to brief the Omanis on the change of plans.

The Mossad official apologized, explained that Sara Netanyahu had a temper and said the prime minister was in a sensitive position.

The sultan's aides were amazed, but Qaboos agreed to the change when they briefed him.

Between the lines: That was in part because the sultan had an agenda for the visit: He wanted Netanyahu to accept his plan to restart the peace process.

Qaboos pitched a secret summit between Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Muscat.

The goal was to lower tensions and start a dialogue ahead of the expected release of President Trump's peace plan.

Netanyahu made no commitments upon hearing the plan, but Abbas said yes when offered the same proposal a few days later in Muscat.

When the Omanis went back to Netanyahu, he asked for further clarifications, Israeli officials tell me.

A few months later, in February 2019, the Omani foreign minister again raised the proposal with Netanyahu, this time in Warsaw and with clarifications the prime minister had sought.
Lucknow, Feb 25 : A high voltage drama was witnessed over the weekend after a BJP leader was caught with a female friend by his wife.

The BJP leader, Shrikant Tyagi, is a national executive member of the Kisan Morcha. He lives in Noida but has rented a flat at Greenwoods Apartment in Gomti Nagar extension, where he reportedly stays with a female friend Mandvi Singh.

Trouble began when Tyagi's wife Anu Tyagi got wind of his affair and tracked him down to the flat where he was present with Mandvi Singh, said to be a social activist.

The two women had a face off and the matter reached the Gomti Nagar police station where both the sides registered cross FIRs against each other.

Mandvi Singh is reported to have threatened the policemen with dire consequences and boasted about her "high connections".

The police have registered an FIR against Mandvi Singh in sections 352, 323, 504, 506 and 427 of IPC. A similar FIR has been registered against Anu Tyagi too.

While Shrikant Tyagi refused to comment on the matter, videos of the women fighting and the scene they created at the police station have gone viral on the social media.

The Tyagis have two sons aged seven and nine. The sons told the police that their mother had received injuries on her hand in the scuffle.

Police officials refused to comment on the case but said that investigations were underway.
Shell has commenced gas exploration and appraisal in central Oman as part of its role in the integrated gas development spearheaded by Oman's Ministry of Oil and Gas, said a report.

The first-of-its-kind, multi-billion dollar project is being carried out in partnership with international and local upstream energy firms, said an Oman Daily Observer report.

The move marks the return of the global energy heavyweight into the Sultanates upstream gas sector as an independent investor and operator, said Oman Shells Country Chairman Walid Hadi.

Shell, along with energy giant Total, have signed agreements with the Omani government to monetise gas resources in the Greater Barik area (encompassing Blocks 10, 11 and 12) in central Oman. Also participating in the integrated venture are Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and Oman Oil Company Exploration & Production (OOCEP)  part of OQ (formerly Oman Oil & Orpic Group), said the report.
(Newser)  Canada's assisted-death law could soon apply to people who aren't in immediate risk of dying. The proposed changes announced Monday would "remove the requirement for a person's natural death to be reasonably foreseeable," Justice Minister David Lametti said, per Reuters. People suffering solely from mental illness would be excluded from the law, which would require people with an incurable condition to prove "intolerable" suffering, reports the BBC. That means people with degenerative diseases could request doctor-assisted death for the first time. So, too, could people with an illness that could later affect decision-making. Audrey Parker complained in 2018 that she was forced to die months earlier than she'd hoped for fear she would lose her ability to consent. "No one should be faced with such an impossible choice," Lametti said, per the CBC.

story continues below

The move follows a September ruling by Quebec Superior Court, which found the condition that patients prove their natural death to be "reasonably foreseeable" infringed on the "life, liberty, and security of the person," per the BBC. The case had centered on two patients: one with cerebral palsy and one with post-polio syndrome. The government refused to appeal, though the Council of Canadians with Disabilities said the ruling gave the impression that "having a disability is a fate worse than death." Parliament previously left open the possibility of expanding the criteria of the law passed in 2016, which has allowed more than 13,000 people to end their lives, two-thirds of whom cited cancer. The bill proposed by the minority Liberal government needs to be passed by the House of Commons. The BBC reports it "has cross-party support." (Read more Canada stories.)
Six Supreme Court (SC) judges have contracted the influenza A (H1N1) virus -- commonly known as swine flu -- over the past two weeks, Justice DY Chandrachud said in open court on Tuesday.

The judge said Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde had held a meeting with other judges to discuss the steps that may need to be taken to address the situation.

Justice Arun Mishra also broached the subject when senior advocate C Aryama Sundaram, who was arguing a case, sought permission to be substituted by another lawyer on grounds that he wasnt feeling well.

It is a request to everyone here, dont come to court if you are not feeling well, justice Mishra said.

A statement issued by the health ministry on Tuesday stated that five SC judges had contracted swine flu and were provided treatment. The ministry said five SC judges are indisposed because of swine flu, but Justice Chandrachud remarked that six of his colleagues had contracted the virus. The statement didnt name the judges.

The statement also that three of the judges had returned to work and two are still under observation.

All the judges were provided treatment . Prophylactic treatment was also given to all who have come in contact with them including their family members. All five judges were kept in home isolation. Of these, three judges have already resumed their duty and two continue to be under home isolation/observation and are recovering, the statement said.

According to the statement, the court rooms of the SC and the judges residences were being sanitised. An H1N1 sensitisation workshop for lawyers and other staff members will also be conducted by the health ministry at the office of Bar Council of India on Wednesday.

Officials in the SC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said all judges had recovered and nobody was under treatment although one of the them is yet to resume duty.

Hearing in various cases in the SC had been affected because of the non-availability of judges, the Sabarimala case being the most prominent among them.

The 9-judge SC bench, which was constituted to decide legal questions surrounding the entry of women into Sabarimala shrine and similar issues among the Muslim and Parsi communities, was scheduled to sit on February 18. However, the hearing has not happened yet due to the non-availability of some of the judges on the bench.

The Supreme Court Bar Association has pledged Rs. 10 lakh to enable lawyers who are unable to afford vaccination costs to undergo inoculation.

On Tuesday, Justice Sanjiv Khanna was seen wearing a mask in court room 2.
International banks are suspending credit lines for some independent oil refiners worried about the growing risk of defaults across industries because of the coronavirus epidemic, Reuters reports, citing industry sources.

According to the sources, at least three private refiners, or teapots, have had credit lines to the tune of $600 million suspended by banks including French Natixis, Dutch ING, and Singapore DBS Group Holdings.

All our applications for new open-account credits are frozen ... these clean credits are pivotal as we buy 6 to 8 million barrels of oil each month, one source told Reuters.

Refiners, both private and state, have already reduced their run rates in response to the slump in fuel demand resulting from the outbreak, and now they have deepened these cuts, Bloomberg reported last week.

The average as of last Thursday was about 10 million bpd, down by 25 percent on the same time last year, when the average run rates were at a record high of close to 13 million bpd. Analysts expect the low run rates to continue at least until the end of this month, but if it spills into March, some refinersnotably independent refinerswill start experiencing a lack of storage space, too, after earlier this month they took advantage of low prices to stock up on crude.

Now, on top of that, the teapots that have accounted for a large portion of Chinas increased thirst for oil that was instrumental in oil price recovery after the crisis, are having financing trouble.

We were told by our banks that so long as the open-account credits are for oil heading to Shandong, it will be very hard chance winning approvals, another Reuters source said.

The three refiners refused credit line extensions have combined oil import quotas of about 240,000 bpd, Reuters reports. If more banks become wary of defaults among refiners, this could hit imports over a longer term.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Pakistan's Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered to fix for hearing a plea by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf against a decision by its registrar to not entertain his petition against a special court's high treason verdict.

A three-member tribunal on December 17 last year handed down death penalty to the 74-year-old retired general, now based in Dubai, after six years of hearing the high-profile treason case against him.

His trial was declared as "unconstitutional" by the Lahore High Court (LHC) through a short order on January 13, leading to the annulment of the death sentence against the ex-Pakistan Army chief.

A month later, the former army chief approached the apex court seeking to overturn the high treason verdict. But the registrar returned Musharraf's plea with observation that he should first surrender to the authorities before filing an appeal.

Musharraf filed the appeal in the apex court even though the Lahore High Court (LHC) 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.

Musharraf challenged the decision of the registrar and Justice Umar Ata Bandial after hearing in his chamber ordered that it should be heard by a three-member bench in the open court. He also asked the registrar to fix the hearing.

Musharraf's counsel Salman Safdar appeared on his behalf to present arguments.

The former ruler was convicted in absentia under Article 6 of the Constitution for the imposition of a state of emergency in 2007.

Some experts believe that Musharraf's conviction became ineffective after LHC decision but other say that it had not effect on the judgment.

Following the confusion, the Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) on Tuesday challenged the LHC decision in the Supreme Court.

It said that LHC had not jurisdiction and it requested the apex court to uphold the death sentence of Musharraf in the case.

Musharraf has been living in Dubai since March 2016 where he went in the middle of trial to get medical treatment but never came back.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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TORONTO, ONTARIO / ACCESSWIRE / February 25, 2020 / Galway Metals Inc. (TSX-V:GWM) (the "Company" or "Galway") is pleased to report assay results from drilling south of the Richard Zone in that area, and between the Richard and Jubilee Zones at the Company's Clarence Stream project in southwest New Brunswick, Canada (Figure 1 and Figure 2). The latest results are highlighted by the following 3 drill holes:Hole 87 intersected 10.6 g/t Au over 47.0m, plus 1.2 g/t Au over 32.0m. The two intervals in hole 87 line up well, and between previously-released step-out holes 72 and 78, located 22 metres northeast and 116 metres southwest, respectively. Hole 72 contained 20.7 g/t Au over 9.5m, plus 4.6 g/t Au over 29.65m, while hole 78 hosted 20.9 g/t Au over 4.75m, plus 2.7 g/t Au over 14.1m (Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, and Figure 5).Hole 93 extends the Richard Zone 97m to the southwest with an intersection that ran 4.5 g/t Au over 10.8m. This intersect is open immediately above the first sample, which ran 33.2 g/t Au over 1.05m, as only partial assays have been received. With this intersect, the gap between the Richard and Jubilee Zones has narrowed to 350m from 1-km originally. Galway continues to receive evidence from drill results that the GMZ, Richard and Jubilee Zones are part of the same 2.5 km-long mineralized system. Refer to the February 13, 2020 press release that noted an extension of the GMZ 230m toward Richard.Hole 81 intersected 0.8 g/t Au over 23.0m and is located 122m below and west of previous-released hole 68, which returned 3.0 g/t Au over 12.0m. Hole 68 extended the Jubilee Zone 227m northeast toward the Richard Zone.Robert Hinchcliffe, President and CEO of Galway Metals, said, "The wide and high-grade intersection in hole 87 is among the best in the company's history. Its location between two other wide and high grade intersects bodes very well for the Clarence Stream resource update scheduled for the 3rd quarter of 2020, both from the perspective of any pit-constrained or underground resource. Hole 93 is significant because it continues the process of closing the gap between the Richard and Jubilee Zones, just as the previous press release of two weeks ago closed the gap between the GMZ and Richard Zones. Of note is that NONE of the 36,377 metres of drilling that Galway has completed in the 2.5-km-long mineralized system that hosts the George Murphy, Richard and Jubilee Zones are in the existing Clarence Stream resource, which was last updated 2.5 years ago on September 26, 2017. That resource includes the South and North Zones only. All five deposits remain open for expansion in all directions. Galway's strong drill results demonstrate that Clarence Stream is an emerging new gold district in North America." Drill Hole Highlights20BL-87: 10.6 grams per tonne (g/t) Au over 47.0 metres (m) (including 495.0 g/t Au over 0.5m, 67.8 g/t Au over 0.55m, 57.9 g/t Au over 0.5m, 51.6 g/t Au over 0.65m, 42.4 g/t Au over 0.75m, 35.7 g/t Au over 0.85m, 21.3 g/t Au over 0.8m, and 20.6 g/t Au over 0.5m), plus 1.2 g/t Au over 32.0m (including 10.9 g/t Au over 1.0m, 9.9 g/t Au over 0.7m, and 3.8 g/t Au over 1.0m) starting at vertical depths of 151m and 105m below surface**19BL-72: 20.7 g/t Au over 9.5m (including 92.0 g/t Au over 0.75m, 51.9 g/t Au over 0.9m, and 23.5 g/t Au over 1.1m) plus 4.6 g/t Au over 29.65m (including 63.6 g/t Au over 0.8m, 49.1 g/t Au over 0.5m, 17.5 g/t Au over 0.75m, and 20.2 g/t Au over 1.0m) starting at vertical depths of 185m and 128m below surface**19BL-78: 20.9 g/t Au over 4.75m (including 54.5 g/t Au over 0.9m and 64.6 g/t Au over 0.6m), plus 2.7 g/t Au over 14.1m (including 15.7 g/t Au over 1.15m and 12.6 g/t Au over 0.65m) starting at vertical depths of 124m and 95m below surface20BL-93: 4.5 g/t Au over 10.8m (including 33.2 g/t Au over 1.05m) starting at a vertical depth of 178m below surface19BL-81: 0.8 g/t Au over 23.0m (including 10.0 g/t Au over 0.55m, 3.1 g/t Au over 0.6m, and 2.1 g/t Au over 1.05m), starting at a vertical depth of 210m below surface** 19BL-68: 3.0 g/t Au over 12.0m (including 13.3 g/t Au over 1.1m, and 8.3 g/t Au over 1.0m) starting at a vertical depth of 112m below surface**previously releasedFilling in the Gaps at the Richard Zone ExtensionHole 72, when it was released on November 13, 2019, extended the Richard Zone 91 metres southwest, and hole 78, when it was released on January 9, 2020, extended Richard a further 122m southwest (both extensions were toward the Jubilee Zone). Hole 87 succeeded in intersecting similar mineralization between these two high-grade step-out holes. In these three holes, the relatively shallow (+/- 100m vertical depth) and wide intersects align with each other (4.6 g/t Au over 29.65m in hole 72, 2.7 g/t Au over 14.1m in hole 78, and 1.2 g/t Au over 32.0m in hole 87) (Figure 2, Figure 4 and Figure 5). Similarly, the deeper and higher grade intersects also align with each other (20.7 g/t Au over 9.5m in hole 72, 20.9 g/t Au over 4.75m in hole 78, and 10.6 g/t Au over 47.0m in hole 87) (Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 5). Between the two mineralized intersects in each hole is low-grade waste (0.32 g/t over 25.7m in hole 72, 0.36 g/t Au over 19m in hole 78, and 0.14 g/t Au over 16.0m in hole 87). Galway's interpretation of these results, along with the tenor of other intersections further up-plunge, suggests that the mineralization is expanding to depth and the two structures may combine down-plunge.The intersections in hole 87 are 137m and 186m, respectively, southwest of the previously released discovery hole intersection at Richard in BL18-12, which returned 7.3 g/t Au over 36.7m, including 38.1 g/t Au over 6.5m in multiple quartz veins containing abundant visible gold, starting only 51 metres downhole and 36 metres vertical. The high grade intersect in hole 12 is thought to be a different vein than the high grades seen in holes 72, 78 and 87.The Gap Between the Richard and Jubilee Zones Has Narrowed to 350mHole 93, which ran 4.5 g/t Au over 10.8m, contains a section of remobilized quartz with 1-2% arsenopyrite (locally up to 10%) from 165.8 to 221.0 metres. This is at similar depths to the mineralization in holes 87 and 72 and is thought to be the same vein.Filling in the Gaps at the Jubilee Zone ExtensionThe intersection of 0.8 g/t Au over 23.0m in hole 81 is located 122 metres below and west of the inters
On the evening of Feb. 22, the chair of the Yisrael Beitenu party, former Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, dropped a bomb in the Channel 12 Meet the Press studio. He revealed  in violation of the military censors gag order  that the head of the Mossad and the military commander of Israels southern front had visited Qatar two weeks ago at the behest of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

They simply begged the Qataris to keep sending money to Hamas after March 30. The Qataris have said they will stop sending money on March 30, Liberman said, striking at his rivals soft underbelly. Suddenly Netanyahu appears as the defender of Hamas, as though it was an environmental organization, he added, reminding viewers that in 2019, Hamas fired 1,500 rockets at Israel, killing four civilians. This is a policy of submission to terror  and paying protection money [to Hamas to buy calm]," lashed out the man who holds the balance of power in Israeli politics these days and will likely determine who the next prime minister will be after the March 2 elections.

Unfortunately, the experienced interviewer, Rina Matzliah, failed to ask Liberman what he himself had talked about with Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani during a meeting on June 22, 2018, at Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus. Did then-Defense Minister Liberman not ask the Qatari minister to help the Gaza environmental group to preserve the enclaves wildlife?

The deluge of spins dumped on the Israeli public in these pre-election days makes a shambles of the collective memory and of the voters judgment. Who remembers now, as residents of the town of Ashkelon are under rocket bombardment from Gaza, the Likud partys 2006 election slogan, Strong on Hamas  Benjamin Netanyahu, and his 2009 pre-election pledge to residents of southern towns, We will bring down the Hamas terrorists. We will restore security to residents of Ashkelon, Ashdod, Sderot and Beersheba?

Addressing the annual Herzliya Conference a day later, on Feb. 4, 2009, then-opposition leader Netanyahu  the one currently sending emissaries to hit Qatar up for donations to advance a deal with Hamas  argued that the Kadima party government of those days was perceived by Hamas as weak. The 'tahadiya' [Arabic for "cease-fire"] helped Hamas produce more sophisticated rockets and increase their firepower and damage, he said, harshly attacking the government and then-Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni for halting the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) December 2008-January 2009 offensive against the Gaza Strip, dubbed Operation Cast Lead, without toppling Hamas.

In the best of political traditions, when the guns fire, so does the opposition. This week it was the turn of Blue and White party Chair Benny Gantz to promise that if he comes to power, the children of Ashkelon will sleep soundly. This illogical, ongoing situation forced upon you pains me, personally, Lt. Gen. (Res.) Gantz wrote on his Facebook page on Feb. 23, and I intend to rectify it.

And how does he intend to fix it? By reaching a long-term cease-fire arrangement with Hamas and bringing home the civilians and the bodies of two Israeli soldiers held in Gaza. There is no other option, he added. Still, who else other than the former chief-of-staff of the IDF, a veteran of inconclusive battles in the Gaza arena, knows that the word victory is not relevant when it comes to an asymmetric conflict between a state and a guerrilla organization waging war with its back to the sea? The lessons of the past decade prove that the oft repeated term arrangement is at best a hollow slogan and at worst a deception.

This is the state of Israeli policy on Gaza just this month, February 2020:

Feb. 1: In response to rocket fire from Gaza and the launch of exploding balloons, Israel decided to revoke 500 so-called merchant permits allowing Gaza residents to work in Israel and the West Bank. The decision was officially attributed to security considerations although the permits were granted after individual checks were conducted of the recipients under instructions from the security forces.

Feb. 5: Israel limits the Gaza Strips fishing zone from 15 to 10 nautical miles.

Feb. 9: The human rights group Gisha directs an urgent appeal to Defense Minister Naftali Bennett and Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Maj. Gen. Kamil Abu Rukun, demanding that they lift the punitive ban on travel permits for hundreds of Gaza merchants.

Feb. 13: A security source tells the media that if calm is maintained, Israel will restore the fishing zone to its previous width.

Feb. 15: COGAT announces that following rocket fire from the Gaza Strip at Israel, the civilian measures planned for the Gaza Strip  expanding the fishing zone, restoring 500 merchants permits and restoring the entry of cement  are canceled.

Feb. 18: COGAT announces that following relative calm in recent days and a halt to the explosive balloons, it has been decided following security consultations to restore the civilian measures suspended at the end of last week. The most important step for the Palestinians was Israels decision to grant an additional 2,000 work permits for Gaza laborers under the guise of commercial permits to traders. In the blink of an eye, the security considerations were gone, exposing Israels use of economic measures to impose collective punishment of the civilian population and the ongoing policy of separating Gaza and the West Bank.

Feb. 23: The Erez crossing into Gaza is shut down until further notice following renewed rocket fire at Ashkelon and additional towns in the region. In addition, the fishing zone is limited to 6 nautical miles. Islamic Jihad assumes responsibility for violating the temporary truce in response to an event, captured on camera, in which an army bulldozer was seen dragging the body of a Palestinian killed by Israel inside the Gaza Strip while allegedly trying to place an explosive device along the border.

The word relaxation of restrictions is a euphemism for the carrot-and-stick method used since olden days by foreign conquerors to rule the natives. However, the carrots Israel offers the enclaves 2 million residents  temporary work permits, expansion of the Gaza fishing zone and raising donations from Qatar  pale compared to the club wielded by Israels nearly 12-year blockade of the enclave. The blockade cuts the Gaza Strip off from the world and chokes its economy. In order to end the suffering of the Israelis living in Gaza border communities, the next government must replace the temporary, failed arrangements with a permanent agreement with Gaza that will provide hope for the Palestinians living there, too.
[February 25, 2020] FiscalNote Enters AI Data Annotation Market with New Product: DataHunt

WASHINGTON and SEOUL, South Korea, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- FiscalNote , a global technology and media company, today announced that they will be entering the AI data and annotation market with a new product called DataHunt. The new product provides a layer of labels and annotations on top of large volumes of images, videos, audio, text, and other data sources, using AI, machine-learning, and crowd-sourced gig economy workers. DataHunt supplies annotation capabilities and services for companies and organizations in a more AI-driven world. FiscalNote plans to continue to build on its previous expertise and strengthen its competency in data aggregation, cleansing, and labeling by partnering with customers in a wide range of industries. These relationships help FiscalNote better serve its core clients by gaining insights into more innovative tools and methods of data aggregation in the policy space and spread the cost over a larger, more diverse number of datasets. The product launch is part of a broader push to generate new lines of growth, commercializing FiscalNote's core data aggregation and processing technology with a more diverse range of information and to expand within Asia. "FiscalNotes core competency has always been in aggregating and processing large amounts of unstructured data for our customers to consume," said FiscalNote co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer Gerald Yao. "While we started in the legislative and regulatory data space, primarily labeling government documents and transcripts, we continue to innovate in the growing data labeling market by lowering the cost of operations with innovative applications and sharing our deep data management expertise with the broader world."



Tae Heun Kim (T Kim) will be leading the product line based in Seoul, Korea. Tae Heun was previously at $6 billion private equity fund Hahn and Co. and Citigroup. "We are excited about the opportunities within the data annotation space, especially at its nascent stages in Asia," said T Kim. "While the industry is expected to grow exponentially, we are already seeing strong demand from industry leaders and partners such as NHN and intend to provide solutions tailored to best address their needs. We are confident in our ability to deliver Asia's first integrated platform for machine learning assisted data labeling made possible by FiscalNote's cutting edge technology and expertise."

Seoul Mayor Park Won-Soon visited FiscalNote's Washington, DC headquarters in January to discuss FiscalNote's continued growth in Asia, as well as partnerships between the city and the company, including the new DataHunt product line. "FiscalNote's model is about collecting and analyzing legal and regulatory information coming from the government," said Mayor Park. "I am very proud of Mr. Hwang because of his vision of providing this data to businesses and governments. This model is needed in Seoul and I will do my best to support [FiscalNote] in Seoul." FiscalNote has built the product in stealth mode for several months and has already launched several pilot projects with large enterprises including NHN, one of Korea's largest technology companies. Based on early market success and strong demand, the company expects to expand the number of clients using its data labeling platform throughout Asia, America, and Europe. About FiscalNote: FiscalNote is a technology-powered global software data and media company that uses powerful machine learning to provide clients with the right policy information and insights, and at the right time so that they can better navigate market risk and uncertainty and maximize new opportunities. As the premier hub of domestic and global information for more than 5,000 clients worldwide, FiscalNote's tools, analysis, news, and award-winning journalism delivers context, clarity, and a competitive edge in a rapidly changing world. Media Contact:

Gerald Kierce

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fiscalnote-enters-ai-data-annotation-market-with-new-product-datahunt-301011063.html SOURCE FiscalNote

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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.
Washington - Democratic presidential front-runner Senator Bernie Sanders on Monday slammed President Donald Trump for selling weapons to India, saying that the US should instead partner with New Delhi to fight climate change to save the planet.

Sanders, who has won the Nevada and New Hampshire primaries and tied in Iowa, made the comments after Trump, who is on a two-day visit to India, on Monday announced that the US will sign defence trade deals worth USD 3 billion with India.

In an address at a massive "Namaste Trump" rally at Motera stadium in Ahmedabad, Trump announced that deals to sell state-of-the-art military helicopters and other equipment worth over USD 3 billion will be sealed with India on Tuesday.

Instead of selling USD 3 billion in weapons to enrich Raytheon, Boeing and Lockheed, the United States should be partnering with India to fight climate change, Sanders said in a tweet, the first by a Democratic presidential candidate on Trump's India visit.

We can work together to cut air pollution, create good renewable energy jobs, and save our planet, he said.

However, a former White House official defended the US' decision to sell arms and weapons to India.

I'm proud of my service in the White House, in which we poured enormous energy into deepening climate and green tech cooperation w/ India... and also advancing security cooperation and defense sales. I'd like to think both can be part of a strong, values-based partnership, Joshua White said.

According to the US State Department, India plays a vital role in the US vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

In 2016, the US designated India as a Major Defence Partner. Commensurate with this designation, India in 2018 was granted Strategic Trade Authorization tier 1 status, which allows New Delhi to receive license-free access to a wide range of military and dual-use technologies that are regulated by the Department of Commerce.

Bilateral defence trade with India in a little over a decade has increased from near zero in 2008 to USD20 billion.

Among some of the key foreign military sales notified to Congress include MH-60R Seahawk helicopters (USD2.6 billion), Apache helicopters (USD2.3 billion), P-8I maritime patrol aircraft (USD3 billion), and M777 howitzers (USD737 million).

India was the first non-treaty partner to be offered a Missile Technology Control Regime Category-1 Unmanned Aerial System  the Sea Guardian UAS manufactured by General Atomics.

The State Department is also advocating for the Lockheed Martin F-21 and Boeing F/A-18  two state of the art fighter aircraft that India is currently evaluating.

These platforms provide critical opportunities to enhance India's military capabilities and protect shared security interests in the Indo-Pacific region, it argued.

Since 2008, the US has also sold to India over USD 6.6 billion in defence articles via the direct commercial sales process, which licenses the export of the defense equipment, services, and related manufacturing technologies controlled under the 21 categories of the US Munitions List (USML). The top categories of DCS to India include aircraft, electronics and gas turbine engines.
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NSS Labs, Inc., a global leader and trusted source for independent cybersecurity product testing, today announced the launch of a new product ratings system. Product ratings inform consumers about a product's capacity to meet its obligationsenhancing transparency, and enabling consumers to focus on considerations that are most critical to their organizations. The first set of product ratings addresses products in the endpoint protection market.

The rating system ranges from 'AAA' to 'D'; the current round of Product Rating Reports published today received overall ratings from 'AA' to 'B.' No product in the test achieved an overall 'AAA' rating.

The new rating system considers the following capabilities: Management, False Positive Rate, Resistance to Evasion, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), and Block Rate, which includes Email Malware, HTTP Malware, Drive-by Exploits, Social Exploits, and Handcrafted (targeted) Attacks. NSS Labs used multiple commercial, open-source, and proprietary tools to employ attack methods currently being used by cybercriminals and other threat actors.

In the reports published today, most products fared well, with Management, False Positive Rate, and Resistance to Evasion receiving individual capability ratings ranging from 'AAA' to 'BBB.' However, handcrafted attacks (targeted malware), created by modifying the source code of keyloggers, ransomware, and destructoware, were a challenge for several of the products, resulting in ratings that ranged from 'A' to 'D.'

"A product rating is an educated opinion about a product's likelihood to meet its obligations to consumers," said Jason Brvenik, CEO of NSS Labs. "These ratings are a critical tool for measuring and managing cyber risk."

A product rated 'AAA' has the highest overall rating assigned by NSS Labs; its capacity to meet its commitments to consumers is extremely strong. Close behind is an 'AA' rating, which only differs from the highest possible rating by a small degree. The product's capacity to meet its commitments to consumers is very strong. A product rated 'A' is somewhat more susceptible to sophisticated attacks than higher-rated categories; however, its capacity to meet its commitments to consumers is still strong.

A product rated 'BB,' 'B,' 'CCC,' 'CC,' and 'C' is regarded as having significant risk characteristics. 'BB' indicates the least degree of risk and 'C' the highest. While such products will likely have some specialized capability and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposure to adverse conditions. A complete list of ratings through 'D' can be found here.

Product ratings will be published on an ongoing basis; additional endpoint protection ratings will be issued over the next few months. These product ratings are now available to subscribers:

Bitdefender GravityZone Ultra v6.6.16.216

Check Point Software Technologies SandBlast Agent v81.20.7425

Cybereason Professional v19.1.86.0

Elastic Endpoint Security v3.14.0

Fortinet FortiClient v6.2.2

Fortinet FortiEDR v3. 1.3.15

Palo Alto Networks Traps/Cortex XDR v6.2

Sophos Intercept X Advanced 10.8.3

Additional Resources

Subscribers can access the 2020 AEP Product Rating Reports here

Learn more about how NSS Labs approaches testing

To suggest a product for testing, click here

Follow NSS Labs on Twitter

Follow NSS Labs on LinkedIn

About NSS Labs, Inc.

NSS Labs tests the world's security products. Based in Austin, Texas, the company's research and testing laboratory is recognized globally as the most trusted source for independent, fact-based cybersecurity guidance. C-Suite executives and information security professionals from many of the world's most demanding global enterprises rely on NSS Labs to accelerate security decisions with greater confidence. For more information, visit www.nsslabs.com.

SOURCE NSS Labs, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.nsslabs.com


SEOUL  An apocalyptic sect whose leader claims he is an angel of Jesus has become the biggest cluster of coronavirus infections in South Korea, which now leads the world in cases of COVID-19 disease outside of China.

President Moon Jae-in has put his country on its highest alert for infectious diseases, ordering officials to take unprecedented, powerful steps to fight a soaring viral outbreak tallying 1,100 cases and 11 deaths, mostly linked to a congregation and a hospital.

Globally, more than 80,000 people have been infected in 37 countries, and more than 2,700 have died.

More than 400 of those infected have been directly linked to a single house of worship, a Daegu branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimonyviewed as a cult by mainstream Korean Christian organizationswhere a woman in her 60s attended two services before testing positive for the virus. Nationwide, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) attributed 501 of 977 cases (as of the last breakdown on Feb. 25) to Shincheonji members.

Officials are also investigating a possible link between churchgoers and the spike in infections at the Cheongdo hospital, where more than 100 people have been infected so far, mostly patients at a mental illness ward.

Health officials were screening some 9,300 church followers, and said that 1,261 of them have exhibited cough and other symptoms. Late Tuesday, Shincheonji provided a list of 212,000 members which the government pledged to screen for respiratory symptoms, reported Yonhap News Agency.

Among them, four had traveled abroad in recent months, including one to China, although that trip came in early January and was not near Hubei.

More than 1,000 churches and other facilities operated by Shincheonji in South Korea have been closed, and members have been told to instead watch services on YouTube. The sects teachings revolve largely around the Book of Revelation.

Health and city officials say the patient zero who first tested positive had contact with some 1,160 people, both at the church, a restaurant, and a hospital where she was treated for injuries from a car accident.

Shincheonji blamed the woman for the spread of the disease, saying it has been advising followers since late January to stay home if they had traveled overseas or were experiencing even mild cold-like symptoms. Sect officials said the woman assumed she was having the common cold.

Shincheonji, which translates as new heaven and new earth, was established in 1984 by Lee Man-hee, who has been accused by mainstream Christian groups as a false prophet or a cult leader. The sect describes Lee as the Promised Pastor, an attendant of Jesus sent to testify what he claims are the fulfilled prophecies from Revelation.

Shincheonji followers believe Lee Man-hee is immortal and has an eternal life, said Ji-il Tark at Busan Presbyterian University in South Korea. To propagate their belief, they often approach their relatives and acquaintances or sneak to other churches without telling them they are Shincheonji members.

Tark said Shincheonji followers are likely more vulnerable to virus infections as they often sit very closely on the floor during services. Attending the sects gatherings isnt an option, but a requirement.

This disease case is seen as the devils deed to stop the rapid growth of Shincheonji, Lee told his followers, according to images published by Yonhap and noted by Reuters. Just like the tests Job went through, it is to destroy our advancement.

The sect said in a statement it was fully cooperating with government quarantine efforts and accused mainstream church groups of spreading false claims, such as that it initially instructed followers to keep silent about the illness.

A petition asking Koreas president to dissolve Shincheonji gathered more than 750,000 signatures in four days, almost quadruple the threshold (200,000 in 30 days) that requires the Blue House to publicly respond. However, church leaders worry such a move could give the government an excuse to do the same to regular religous groups later, Yong J. Cho, general secretary of the Korea World Missions Association, told CT.

Cho said that many in Korean society "do not understand the differences well enough" between cultic groups and regular churches. He told CT that Shincheonji used to be secretive and kept a low profile in regular churches, but in November 2019 the group announced a graduation of almost 104,000 trainees (as noted on the massive banner above the now-closed Daegu church).

Almost all churches have been affected by the strong threats from [Shincheonji], said Cho. No Christian leaders say that we have to show [special] love to them. Individually, we have to treat and cure the patients same as any other ones in Korea.

Based on his review of Christian discussions on social network services such as KakaoTalk, Cho said its difficult to say what percentage of Korean Christians think that this is divine judgment on the cult. However, many do see it as the right time to disclose the dark side of the group.

Shincheonji is Korea's largest heretical movement, with branches in 40 countries, according to Bareunmedia (Right Media). In a June report entitled South Koreas Major Heretic and Pseudo-Religious Groups, the media groupwhich focuses on educating non-Koreans about Korean Christian heresiessaid Shincheonjis method of propagation through innocuous surveys and secretive Bible studies causes more problems for Korean missionaries sent abroad than any other issues with language or cultural differences.

Image: Lee Moo-ryul / Newsis via AP

President Moon said his government had increased its anti-virus alert level by one notch to Red, the highest level. The step was last taken in 2009 to guard against a novel influenza outbreak that killed more than 260 people in South Korea. Under the highest alert level, authorities can order the temporary closure of schools and reduce the operation of public transportation and flights to and from South Korea.

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 said.

Shincheonji tried to defend itself from growing public anger directed at the group.

In a video statement posted on its website, church spokesman Simon Kim said Shincheonji has shut down 74 local churches and other facilities since its church member in Daegu became the first patient to test positive for the virus on February 18.

Earlier Sunday, Daegu Mayor Kwon Yong-jin said there were concerns that the number of those infected in the city could see yet another massive increase because authorities were launching intensive examinations of church members with virus-related symptoms.

South Korea earlier informed Israel that a group of tourists who traveled to Israel and the West Bank for a week this month tested positive for the virus upon returning home. Israeli and Palestinian health authorities asked people who were in close contact with the tourists to quarantine themselves.

South Korean health authorities said Sunday that 18 of the 39 South Koreans who had made the group pilgrimage later tested positive for the virus. The 21 others were being tested. Forty-one Catholic churches in their neighborhoods halted Sunday Masses and other gatherings.

The news led a dozen nations to place warnings or restrictions on travel to and from South Korea, according to Yonhap.

Additional reporting by AP writer Hyung-jin Kim and CT editor Jeremy Weber.
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The California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) of 2018 went into effect January 1, 2020, but enforcement begins July 1, 2020. This Act expands the personally identifiable information (PII) categories to include name(s), addresses, account names, biometrics, geolocation data, employment information, social security, and drivers license and passport numbers; radically changing how organizations collect and manage PII.

Does CCPA impact Churches?

The Answer is Yes. The CCPA covers For-profit legal entities. Not-for-profit organizations, e.g. churches, appear to be exempt. In reality, most churches are probably not selling goods or services, yet their third party service providers do. For example, they collect and use PII for financial and membership management, fundraising and social media engagement.

How to Prepare?

You may have noticed, churches and their service providers updating website Cookie and Privacy policies and anonymize IP addresses to prevent data aggregation among other things. The reason being the 2018 European Union's General Data Protection Regulation does not exempt Not-for-profit organizations. From collecting and managing PII on donors, employees or even visitors to websites or mobile apps, the prospect for running afoul of GDPRs regulators motivated churches and their service providers to voluntarily comply.

Now in 2020, many churches and their service providers that are now GDPR compliant are hoping they are legally exempt or that being located outside of California protects them from CCPA compliance. This position is temporary.

We can expect to see similar data protection and privacy laws enacted across the United States based in part on CCPA and GDPR. That is why churches should require all service provider and partners to demonstrate CCPA compliance by offering California and eventually all citizens:

Access: A comprehensive view of collected PII

Delete: Digital means to delete or edit their PII

Disclose: Notification by digital means when and if any PII is collected, used or shared and to whom.

Opt Out: Allow them to be forgotten or decline the sharing of their PII to others.

Penalties for non-compliance include granting citizens a right to file class action lawsuits against organizations for damages per incident. In addition, the State of California can levy fines for intentional or unintentional violations. The costs can add up to millions of dollars.

Romans 13:1 reminds us to be subject to our governing authorities. Governments worldwide are enacting laws and regulations to respect and ensure peoples privacy. Churches should embrace not avoid such objectives.

Disclaimer: The Author is not a practicing attorney and as such is not offering legal advice
New Delhi, Feb 25 : US President Donald Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, on Tuesday, visited Raj Ghat here and paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi. They also laid a wreath at the Gandhi samadhi.

Trump also wrote in the visitor's book at Raj Ghat. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri was seen standing beside him.

Trump and the First Lady also planted a tree at Raj Ghat.

Earlier, US President and the First Lady arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhavan for ceremonial welcome, where they were greeted by President Ram Nath Kovind, his wife and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A guard of honour was presented to the US President at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Later in the day, Trump will go to Hyderabad House for bilateral talks.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy watches a college basketball game between Rutgers and Michigan on February 19, 2020, at the Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway, N.J. Read more

Gov. Phil Murphy wants businesses to cover a bigger portion of New Jerseys health-care bill when their employees receive Medicaid benefits from the state.

As part of the governors 2021 budget, to be unveiled Tuesday, Murphy will call for a corporate responsibility fee on private employers that have at least 50 workers on the Medicaid rolls, according to a source in the administration.

Murphys $40.85 billion budget proposal is expected to include nearly $4.7 billion to fund Medicaid coverage for more than 1.6 million people.

The corporate responsibility fee would generate an estimated $180 million  about six times the amount of a similar proposal Murphy put forward last year, but that wasnt enacted in the final budget.

Last years version envisioned a fee of $150 per employee on Medicaid. The fees in the 2021 proposal are heftier  and the more workers on Medicaid, the higher the per-worker fee a company would have to pay.

Companies with 50 to 500 workers on Medicaid, would be charged $325 per employee using state Medicaid benefits. Businesses would also have to pay the fee for their employees dependents on Medicaid.

The fee would go up to $525 at companies that employ 500 to 1,000 people on Medicaid. And it would riser to $725 for businesses with more than 1,000 workers receiving Medicaid.

The idea, the administration official said, is to give an incentive to businesses to offer better health-care benefits to their workers.

As it stands, the companies covered by the proposal employ about 200,000 Medicaid recipients, and those workers add another 250,000 people to Medicaid through their spouses and dependents, according to state estimates. Thats about a quarter of the population using Medicaid in New Jersey.

The governors budget proposal plans for $12.6 billion in total Medicaid spending, with 63%, or $7.9 billion, covered by federal funding and the rest picked up by the state.

Murphy, a Democrat, disclosed over the weekend that he has a tumor on his left kidney, and will undergo surgery in March to remove it.

Health care is a right, not a privilege for a select few, and skyrocketing medical costs are a national emergency, Murphy tweeted on Saturday. 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.

In his State of the State address last month, the governor announced that he was establishing an Office of Health Care Affordability and Transparency to cut health-care costs, and to work with the states Department of Banking and Insurance to track what residents pay for medical services.

On Tuesday, Murphy is also looking to revive two other budget proposals, which the New Jersey Legislature didnt take up last year.

The governor will again propose a fee on opioid manufacturers and distributors to help fund the states efforts to combat the opioid crisis, the administration official said. The measure would generate an estimated $20 million in revenue.

Another proposal would raise gun permit and license fees for the first time since 1966, generating about $8.5 million for the state.

For instance, the permit fee to purchase a gun would increase from $2 to $50, and a permit to carry would cost $400 instead of $20. The fee for a retail firearms dealer license would climb from $50 to $500.
Riverbeds and riverbanks within the city have been encroached on, and as a result, flash floods during the monsoons of 2019 resulted in 17 deaths.

Vandana Chavan, Punes Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament from the NCP and Sarang Yadwadkar, an environmentalist, have pictorial evidence to show rampant dumping of debris along a specific Mula-Mutha estuary has created a land mass where once water flowed.

The debris poses a severe threat to Naik bet (island), Chavan states in her letter to Pune municipal commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad, demanding that the dumping of debris be stopped immediately.

A dedicated centre must be provided for the debris being generated in the city to be disposed off, Chavan says.

Chavan claims a road has been constructed for trucks to pass the riverbed behind SSPMS College and Naidu hospital, thus blocking the flow of river endangering Naik bet.

Construction debris, unused pavement blocs and road demolition debris have been dumped in the riverbed. The height of this land-mass of debris is around 25 feet, Chavan alleges.

Yadwadkar, who is a co-signatory with Chavan on the letter and the filing with NGT, says this is not the first time this has happened in the city.

A virtual land mass has been created in the Mula-Mutha river due to rampant dumping. The land is created due to construction debris. We have raised the issue many times, but, no concrete action has been taken so far. This land mass brings down the flowing capacity of the river, Yadwadkar said.

In future this will create a major impact to the city as during the monsoon, there will be flooding and water will cross the river and entre the homes of the residents. The civic administration needs to wake up and take concrete steps, he added.

Prashant Waghmare, PMC city engineer said, PMC has taken a serious note of the dumping in the riverbed. We have issued notices to persons concerned. The civic body has asked them to remove debris urgently.

Yadwadkar claimed that this is happening despite successive orders from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to local authorities to crack down on incidences in specific areas, given that the rampant dumping will give rise to flooding, across connected locations.

Now, the encroachments and dumping has raised to the level that the Naik bet is in grave danger. The small island is spread over 50 acres and there are chances that whenever there is flooding, the water would over-run the island, said Yadwadkar.

If the PMC itself is dumping debris, then where can an activist seek justice? Yadwadkar asked.

Be in touch with nature, says wildlife warden

Naik bet is one of the most beautiful places in Pune that attracts many birds. If the dumping of debris and human interference is continued than the winged visitors will be compelled to leave this habitat. This in turn will harm the bio diversity. The Naik bet is losing its island status as it is now being connected to the mainland as a virtual road has been constructed. It is wrong to dump debris in a beautiful, natural place that is situated in the heart of the city.

Anuj Khare, honorary wildlife warden for Pune district, wildlife activist.

The impact

Naik bet, a 50-acre island, connected to mainland due to land mass created by debris

-Destruction of biodiversity

-Bottleneck after confluence

-Rise in flood levels of Mula and Mutha rivers
A summit of Sahel states heard appeals Tuesday to step up the fight against jihadists whose offensive across three countries has claimed thousands of lives and inflicted crippling economic damage. "More than ever, the Sahel requires heightened and coordinated attention from states in the region and the international community to brake the spiral of violence," said Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, chairing a one-day summit of the so-called G5 Sahel group. "We urgently need concrete victories against terrorism. The real challenge of this summit is to meet this existential need," said the chair of the African Union's commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat. He said civilians in the Sahel were bewildered by the failure to stop the violence. He called for a "step change" in implementing a much-touted 5,000-man joint force by the G5 Sahel countries, and for "more substantial" support from other African countries. The G5 Sahel comprises Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, whose region is in the front line of a nearly eight-year-old onslaught by armed Islamists. A localised revolt that began in northern Mali in 2012 has spread to the centre of the country and to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger. Around 4,000 people died in the three countries last year, a fivefold increase over 2016, according to UN figures. The bloodshed has escalated despite the presence of a 13,000-man UN peacekeeping force in Mali, and rattled coastal countries to the south of the Sahel. - 'Unprecedented humanitarian crisis' - Burkina President Roch Marc Christian Kabore on Tuesday warned that the Sahel faced an "unprecedented humanitarian crisis". France -- which has committed more than 4,000 troops to holding back jihadism in the Sahel -- added on Tuesday to demands for action. "I am here with you to say that a surge in mobilisation, coordination or prioritisation is necessary," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told the summit. He said the meeting in the Mauritanian capital was considered by France to be a key phase in implementing decisions made at a France-Sahel summit last month. Despite "frustrations" among Sahel leaders, "we cannot deny the ground that we have covered since 2014," he said. Since the January summit in Pau, southwestern France, "major progress has been achieved in a month," Le Drian said. He pointed to the deployment of so-called "reconstituted" units in the Malian army that include former rebels and the recently-announced arrival in the near future of a Chadian battalion in the badly-hit region where the borders of Burkina, Malia and Niger come together. Le Drian also noted France's announcement on February 2 to bolster troop numbers in its Operation Barkhane in the Sahel from 4,500 to 5,100; the supply of European military equipment; and the creation of a joint headquarters in Niamey, the capital of Niger. The G5 Sahel group was launched in 2014, with a secretariat based in Nouakchott. In 2017, the five countries initiated a planned 5,000-man pooled force, but it remains hobbled by lack of funds, poor equipment and inadequate training. Security worries in the Sahel have also been sharpened by Pentagon plans, which have yet to be detailed, to draw down the US military presence in Africa. Before the summit, Le Drian chaired the first general assembly of the so-called Sahel Alliance, set up in 2017 to muster international development aid. Pledges amount to 11.6 billion euros ($12.61 billion), Le Drian said. "The chief question is... how to spend (the money) on concrete projects that help the people of the Sahel," Le Drian said.
The former president commanded the country's air force from 1972 to 1975

A military funeral will be held on Wednesday for former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 91, a source told Ahram Online.

Mubarak commanded the country's air force from 1972 to 1975.

His long-time lawyer, Farid El-Deeb, had previously said that Mubarak was guaranteed the right to a military funeral under a 1975 law honouring the commanders of the 1973 war with Israel, also known as the October War.

The longest-serving ruler in Egypt's modern history, Mubarak graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1949, and was appointed the head of the academy in 1967.

Mubarak assumed Egypt's presidency after the assassination of Anwar Sadat in 1981 and remained president until his ouster in a popular uprising in 2011.

The funeral is set to take place at El-Mosheer Tantawy mosque in New Cairo following noon prayers, the source added.

The Egyptian presidency and the armed forces both issued statements on Tuesday mourning his death.





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The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has served notice that it will embark on a strike should the government fail to implement their signed Conditions of Service (CoS) by February 29, 2020.



An internal memo dated February 21, 2020, and jointly signed by the President of GMA, Dr. Frank Ankobea and General Secretary, Dr. Justice Yankson, said that although the implementation date for the signed Conditions of Service document was 1st January 2020 as agreed by all parties, government had failed to meet the deadline.



The Association has accordingly given the government up to Saturday, 29th February 2020 to ensure full implementation (including payment of all occasioned arrears) of the CoS document at both the National and facility levels. If any default on the part of Government occurs Vis-a-vis the stated deadline, there shall be immediate withdrawal of all services by members in all facilities, the memo warned.



The National Executive Committee of the Medical Association also observed that during the validation of February salaries, there was the absence of fuel allowance on the payslips of members; and urged members to put all discrepancies on notice for rectification.



In separate letters addressed to the Ministers for Health, and Employment and Labour Relations, the Association expressed grave concern over the development.



Both letters said the Conditions of Service document implementation has not taken place both at the National and facility levels despite numerous calls on the government to do so.



The Ghana Medical Association in July 2015 embarked on a 3-week strike over the absence of a codified condition of service.



The doctors called off the strike to return to the negotiation table and finally signed the agreement on the Conditions of Service between the association and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission in November 2019.

Source: Daily Guide









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Actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth's legal aide, advocate Ilamparudhi, on Tuesday appeared before a one-member commission headed by retired Madras High Court judge Aruna Jagadeesan probing police firing during an anti-Sterlite protest at Thoothukidi.

The advocate was handed over a set of questions for Rajinikanth, who is expected to give a written reply to the same.

If Rajinikanth cannot answer these questions, then he should appear before the commission in person, said retired justice Jagadeesan.

Earlier this month, Rajinikanth had sought exemption from appearing before the court and offered to send a written response on the Commission's queries in the matter.

Rajinikanth has reportedly claimed that anti-social elements had entered the anti-Sterlite agitation, and this had led to violence.

As many as 13 people were killed in May 2018 when police opened fire during a protest against environmental pollution allegedly caused by Vedanta's Sterlite copper smelter.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By aligning the systems many stakeholders and developing key industry partnerships, Warner oversees Farmobiles continued growth and expansion into existing and new markets.

Farmobile LLC, the Independent Farm Data Company, today announced the hire of Bradford Warner as vice president of business development, sustainability. Previously, Warner served as vice president of marketing, sustainability and customer engagement at Agspring, the global developer of sustainable agriculture supply chains.

In his role, Warner guides Farmobile's strategic efforts to collaborate with farmers and agribusiness companies to enhance food chain transparency.

By aligning the systems many stakeholders and developing key industry partnerships, Warner oversees Farmobiles continued growth and expansion into existing and new markets, including agricultural information systems, agribusinesses, consumer packaged goods companies, retailers and pragmatic non-government organizations (NGOs).

Todays organizations  from consumer brands to NGOs  are eager for data that can serve as a system of record for stewardship practices and regulatory compliance, and farmers hold the key, said Jason Tatge, CEO of Farmobile. Having developed initiatives across ag-food stakeholders throughout his career, Bradford is uniquely positioned to address these evolving needs and networking with partners and farmers to define solutions fueled by ground-truthed data.

Warner brings more than two decades of diverse experience with both industry and consumer markets through results-based sustainability and channel development. His career has been marked by the ability to connect farmers and businesses to beneficial technologies that allow them to increase logistical efficiency and agricultural productivity in economically viable ways.

We are at a watershed moment when it comes to our agricultural supply chain. The solutions that we invest in today will dictate whats possible in our future food systems, making it more important than ever before to equip farmers with tools that will allow them to increase their yield in a way that is sustainable, said Bradford Warner, vice president of business development and sustainability. We reduce the manual reporting workload on farmers with technology that feeds their chosen farm management system and provides their trusted advisors with information that enables real farm economics and empowers them to continue evolving how they steward their land effectively. This benefits their families, communities, the companies they sell to and, ultimately, all of us as consumers.

Farmobile helps farmers and their trusted advisors monitor and track their work and measure what is happening across fields from season-to-season. Its technology allows customers to collect real-time field and farm machine data, create standardized and shareable Electronic Field Records and data sets, store a historic look-back and view / export data 24/7  any time, any place. Farmobile combines spreading, planting, spray and harvest layers into visual field records to inform operational practices and empower users to make better decisions, as well as understand and uncover hidden costs to improve their bottom line.

For more information about Farmobile and the benefits and values of a collect-share-monetize farm data strategy, visit http://www.farmobile.com

About Farmobile

Farmobile LLC  The Independent Farm Data Company  builds foundational technology for the future of agriculture. Farmobile enables farmers and channel partners to collect, share and monetize data.

Agriculture doesnt use a standard data format. Farmobile does. We specialize in collecting second-by-second agronomic and machine data points across mixed fleets. The Farmobile DataEngineSM platform turns raw data into its own unique standardized, visual Electronic Field Records (EFRs) making it easy to gain insights, share with trusted advisors and power decision-making.

Data is among the most valuable commodities a farm produces and farmers should benefit from it. The Farmobile DataStoreSM exchange is the first to digitally connect interested farmers with data buyers for potential revenue opportunities. Based in Leawood, KS, Farmobile proudly resides in the heart of the Midwest.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : After two days of rampant violence in northeast Delhi, a shoot-at-sight order has been issued in the affected areas, police sources said on Tuesday.

According to sources in Delhi Police's north-east district department, the shoot-at-sight order was announced in Yamuna Vihar area.

Several localities, including Chand Bagh, Bhajanpura, Maujpur-Babarpur, and Jafrabad witnessed violence as pro- and anti-CAA protesters clashed.

Several incidents of firing by protestors as well as security forces were reported on Monday and Tuesday, as well as frequent instances of stone pelting and vandalism.

At least 13 have lost their lives during the clashes, while over a 186 others have incurred injuries during the riots.

Earlier in the day, the Union Home Ministry appointed senior IPS officer S.N. Srivastava the Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) to contain the law and order crisis in the national capital as it found that the serving officers were unable to control the situation which was deteriorating by the day.
The family of a Bay of Plenty couple killed in a crash in Cambridge want to thank everyone for their support during this tragic time.

Christopher O'Byrne and Brenda Kora died in a crash which also left their infant in critical condition on Saturday.

Eli, nine-months-old, remains in Waikato Hospital. Elis brother, Riley, wasnt in the vehicle but has lost his much loved Mum and step Dad, says a post on a givealittle page set up to raise funds to support the two boys.

We would like to make special mention of the members of the public and emergency services that did their very best to help Chris, Brenda and little Eli at the scene and afterwards, says the couples family in a statement from police.

You are our heroes and you have our undying heartfelt gratitude for all that you do.

The sudden tragic loss of Chris and Brenda has left us all devastated beyond measure.

We would like to thank everyone that has donated to Riley and Eli's givealittle page, we are humbled by the generosity you have shown us.

Riley is with family and Eli is still in Waikato Hospital where he is receiving outstanding care and is surrounded by family. We are pleased to report he is improving every day.

We thank everyone for their love and support as well as respecting our need for privacy at this traumatic time.
Do you remember the first time you held the world in the palm of your hand? One day when I was 8, my teacher took me aside and said, You are an excellent reader.

Thank you, maam, I said. Ill tell my grandmother you said so. She taught me to read.

The teacher smiled and said, I want you to represent our class in the schools reading contest.

It sounded important.

What would I have to do?

Just read, she said. Youll be fine. Ill pick a book and mark pages for you to practice.

Then she dropped the bomb: The contest would take place the following week in the school cafeteria in front of parents, teachers, administrators and the entire student body  or as my grandmother would say, in front of God and all his angels.

I didnt sleep that week. The teacher gave me Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey, a book about a girl who goes berry picking with her mother and meets a mama bear and her cub. I read it until I knew it by heart.

The evening of the contest, my stepfather had to work at the mill. Hed never learned to read, but liked to brag, he said, that his 8-year-old stepdaughter was in a reading contest. It took me a while to realize he meant me.

My mother left my brothers with a neighbor and we drove to the school. The starch she put in my dress made my neck itch.

Are you scared? she said.

No, maam, I lied.

She had quit school at 15 to marry and have babies, but she placed a high value on reading.

Youre a good reader, she said. Just read. Youll be fine.

The cafeteria was packed. Mama found a seat in back and I took my place down in front.

One by one, the readers read. They were good. I hoped theyd never stop. When my turn came, I couldnt find my mothers face in the crowd. But I recalled what she and my teacher had told me.

So I did what they said. I just read. When I got to the part where the bears showed up, I looked around the room and realized every eye was watching me, every ear was listening. I had the whole world, it seemed, right in the palm of my hand.

When I reached the page my teacher had marked for me to stop, I read another page. And another. Finally, I gave a quick curtsy and sat down. It was the first time Id heard applause just for me. Except the day my blind brother clapped when I showed him how to shoot a cap pistol.

I never expected to win that contest. Imagine my surprise when they handed the trophy for First Place  to me.

I dont know if Ive told all my grandchildren that story. Even if I have, Ill tell it again soon.

Last week, Henry, who is 8, was asked to read a few lines for a school assembly. So he invited me to come hear him.

Are you scared? I said.

No, Nana, he lied.

Youre a great reader, I said. Just read. Youll be fine.

And that is what he did.

I wish you couldve heard him.

That evening, we sat on a bench, Henry and I, watching the sunset and talking.

How did you feel reading at the assembly today? I asked.

He thought about it. Then he held out his hand, palm up, and said, It was wonderful, Nana. All those people were listening to me. I felt like I had the world in the palm of my hand.

Reading puts the world not only in our palms, but in our hearts and in our souls. It takes us on grand adventures to places weve never been and into the minds of people well never meet. It tells us truths that are thousands of years old and lets us pick berries with bears.

Whether we read to ourselves, or to a sleepy toddler, or to a loved one who is dying, or to a roomful of strangers who will suddenly become our friends  reading puts the world in the palm of our hand.

Just read. Youll be fine.

Collection: The latest from Sharon Randall Govt. & Politics alert top story North Iowa local elections list Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that Luella Rodemeyer has withdrawn as a candidate for Hampton City Council Ward 2. Sinc

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Punjab elections: You will never have to stage another dharna says Kejriwal

Covid-19 cases are rising in Delhi, but no need to panic as hospitalisation low, says Kejriwal

No lockdown in Delhi for now but some curbs, says Arvind Kejriwal amid Covid surge

Kejriwal appeals for peace says Delhi violence will affect all

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Feb 25: In the wake of violence in parts of northeast Delhi in which at least seven people were killed, Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal on Tuesday appealed for peace and said that the violence will affect all.

Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said,''I appeal to all Delhites to maintain peace. We are worried about the violence in northeast Delhi. Several policemen and civilians were injured and some lost their lives. Several houses were set ablaze and shops were damaged. It is very unfortunate.''

He also said that hospitals, fire department, police are on alert & working in coordination.

Earlier in the day, the death toll in the northeast Delhi violence climbed to seven, a senior police official on Tuesday.

A Delhi Police head constable, Ratan Lal, was among the seven killed in the violence that erupted on Monday over the amended citizenship law. Till Monday, authorities had said at least four people, including Lal, were killed in the violence. They said that the death toll has increased to seven on Tuesday.

Shah calls for second review meeting on violence at northeast Delhi

Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the prevailing situation in the city. The meeting was held late Monday night after Shah's return from Ahmedabad, where he had attended the 'Namaste Trump' event addressed by US President Donald Trump. Shah reviewed the law and order situation in Delhi and directed officials to restore normalcy at the earliest, a Home Ministry official said.

Those who attended the meeting included Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Director of Intelligence Bureau Arvind Kumar, Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, among others.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 11:40 [IST]
New Delhi, Feb 25 : The women protesters staging a sit-in at Jafrabad in north-east Delhi against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) called off their protest after elders of the community requested them, sources said.

However, soon after the women left the protesting site, the police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse a crowd.

Earlier in the day, Delhi Police opened fire in the air to disperse a crowd in Jafrabad area after a riot control vehicle was pelted with stones by hundreds of angry protesters.

The police first fired tear gas shells but when they saw the situation turning worse, they fired over 70-80 rounds in air, said police sources.

Additional police force, including the Rapid Action Force, has been sent to the area. A police team led by Northeast Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Atul Thakur held talks with senior community members in the Jafrabad area.

After the talks, elder members of the community convinced the women protesters to call off their protest from Jafrabad metro station and shift to Seelampur.

But as soon as the women protesters left the site, the police resorted to lathi-charge, injuring several people. The police then fired the tear gas shells.

The Jafrabad and the Maujpur areas in northeast Delhi have turned into battle zones since Sunday.

On Monday, there were reports of violence and arson from the areas as Delhi Police confirmed that 10 people, including a police head constable, had died in the rioting that has continued sporadically across several localities since Saturday.

Rioters from both anti and pro-CAA groups have used stones, sticks and country-made firearms.

The number of injured persons has also gone up at the GTB Hospital in northeast Delhi.
Harvey Weinstein - Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Harvey Weinstein was diverted to hospital on his way to prison after being convicted of rape in a watershed trial for the Me Too movement.

The 67-year-old was suffering from chest pains, according to multiple media reports, and was transferred to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan. A spokesman did not specify how long he was expected to stay there.

The disgraced film producer is next set to be taken to the infamous Rikers Island prison off the coast of Manhattan. He faces up to 29 years in prison after being found guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting another.

Actress Mira Sorvino broke down in tears as she described her relief at the guilty verdict against Harvey Wenstein on Monday.

She also expressed a tinge of disappointment that he was acquitted of the most serious charges, two counts of predatory sexual assault.

But most of all, she wanted to state her gratitude to the six accusers who were brave enough to testify - and the jurors who believed them.

"Harvey Weinstein has haunted many of our lives, even our nightmares, long after he initially did what he did to each one of us," Sorvino said shortly after Monday's verdict, in an emotional phone call with reporters and fellow accusers.

"We've finally taken that power back, we have exposed his evil," she said, her voice breaking.

"He will rot in jail as he deserves, and we will begin to have some closure," she said.

The beginning of #justice. More to come, my sisters. #weinsteinguilty  Mira Sorvino (@MiraSorvino) February 24, 2020

For accuser Zoe Brock, the relief was palpable: She had "expected the worst," she said from New Zealand, "because for sexual assault victims, the worst keeps happening."

Story continues

Brock said she had feared Weinstein would not only be totally acquitted, but that he'd "make a comeback and he'd go to the Oscars and win again."

"But that's not gonna happen," Brock said, "because now Harvey Weinstein is a convicted rapist, and right now he's sitting in ... jail, and I'm so happy about it."

In what was unquestionably a landmark moment for the MeToo movement, Weinstein was convicted of raping an aspiring actress in 2013 and sexually assaulting another woman in 2006, but found not guilty of predatory sexual assault, a charge that could have resulted in a life sentence. The most damaging conviction carries a maximum sentence of 25 years. Weinstein's attorneys vowed to appeal; he has maintained that any sex was consensual.

For most of the accusers, the most powerful image - captured in courtroom sketches - was of the once all-powerful producer being led away in handcuffs.

Harvey Weinstein is led out of Manhattan Supreme Court by court officers after after a jury convicted him of rape and sexual assault - AP

"For once he won't be sitting comfortably," said actress Rose McGowan, one of Weinstein's earliest accusers. "For once, he will know what it's like to have power wrapped around his neck."

McGowan called the verdict "a huge step forward in collective healing."

"Every one of us who's come forward, we have a name, we have a history, we have a life," McGowan said. "We are more than Weinstein. But today because of the brave women who bared their deepest hurts for the world to see, he's on Rikers Island."

His accusers said the day's biggest triumph was that women were finally being believed in their claims of sexual assault.

"I have a renewed sense of faith that women will be believed when they come forward," said Caitlin Dulany. "We were really hoping to change the world with this, and today is a good indication that we are on that road.

"It's like the sky is blue again," she said.

Many spoke of the need to shore up laws governing sex crimes. Among them was actress Rosanna Arquette.

"Moving forward we must actively pursue strengthening laws and closing loopholes in our criminal systems," she said on the telephone call, "so that more rape cases will be prosecuted and rapists will be held accountable for their crimes. But today, let's focus on the progress that has been made with the first guilty verdict in the MeToo era."

British actress Lysette Anthony alleges Weinstein raped her at her home in London in the 1980s.

The Hollyoaks star paid tribute to the women who testified in court and attacked Weinstein's defence team for how they attempted to shield a "very rich, serial, predatory, rapist".

She said: "This is the day that truth has won. This is a momentous day and this is the day that hiding behind vicious, petty, transactional defence was slaughtered.

"That's what we did and I am very proud to be part with you all."

Ashley Judd, whose sexual harassment claim against Weinstein was thrown out last month a technicality, thanked all the women who testified against the movie mogul.

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

Earning special praise from her fellow accusers was "Sopranos" actress Annabella Sciorra, on whose testimony the charges of predatory sexual assault hinged. Sciorra told the court that Weinstein had barged into her apartment, raped her and forcibly performed oral sex on her in the mid-1990s.

The actress called her testimony "painful but necessary."

"I spoke for myself and with the strength of the 80 plus victims of Harvey Weinstein in my heart," she said in a statement. "We can never regret breaking the silence."

Sorvino, describing the bonds that had formed between the accusers, spoke of getting an unexpected phone call from Sciorra in late 2017, when Sorvino had first made allegations against Weinstein. They'd known each other for years, but didn't know they had a darker connection.

They spoke for two hours on the phone, Sorvino said. Soon after, Sciorra decided to come forward with her own story, to journalist Ronan Farrow.

"The era of impunity for powerful men who rape people is over," Sorvino said. "We did this together."

Tina Tchen, president and CEO of the TIME'S UP Foundation, said it marked a "new era of justice".

"Legally Blonde" star Reese Witherspoon, a founding member of Time's Up, tweeted: "This is just the beginning."

She included a link to a Time's Up web page where people could add their names and "pledge to continue this fight."
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has requested all political parties to form so-called peace committees in various neighbourhoods in North-east Delhi, comprising their representatives and local community leaders to control the violence.

He also asked them to work with Delhi Police to restore order and quell rumours.

Both requests were made during a high-level meeting chaired by Shah and attended by the Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal, members of various political parties, and senior bureaucrats and police officers. As many as 13 people were killed in communal clashes in North-east Delhi.

Shah cancelled his visit to Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, although it wasnt immediately clear whether he was staying back to oversee the capitals return to normalcy. The home ministry did not immediately ascribe a reason for the change in his schedule.

During the meeting, the home minister asked all political parties to avoid provocative speeches and statements, the Union Home Ministry said in a statement. He lso wrote the family of Rattan Lal  the Delhi Police Head Constable who was killed when deployed Maujpur, one of the affected areas  expressing his grief and offering his condolences. In his letter to family, the Home Minister described Rattan Lal as a courageous and dedicated officer.

Shahs meeting with representatives of political parties, senior bureaucrats, and police officers including Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik was the second in 24 hours. On Monday night, he held a late-night meeting after returning from the Namaste Trump event at Ahmedabad. Shah advanced his return to Delhi from Ahmedabad after reports of rioting and arson reached him. The home minister was to reach Delhi late yesterday night; however, he flew out hours ahead of the scheduled departure reaching Delhi by evening, a senior home ministry official said on condition of anonymity.

The riots in Delhi, which started off as clashes between pro- and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protestors, came at an inconvenient time for the Centre -- during US President Donald Trumps inaugural state visit to India.

The borders of Delhi with the states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have also been under surveillance for the last three days and Delhi Police has been taking adequate steps, the home ministry said in a statement.

Shah also noted that the Delhi Police was a professional organization and adequately empowered to decide on the amount of force needed to diffuse tension where necessary, the ministrys statement added.

Although initial assessments indicated that Delhi Police was outnumbered by the rioters, Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik denied that there was a shortage of manpower leading to the riots spiralling out of control. We have enough manpower and total support of the government, he told news agency ANI. .

The home minister assured that Delhi Police will be deployed in full strength. It appears earlier that police deployment was less but we were assured it will be adequate,  Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal told reporters after the meeting. Army may be deployed if needed but at present police taking action,  he said when asked whether calling in the Indian Army to quell the violence was considered

We have all agreed to rise above politics and ensure the situation is brought under control, Manoj Tiwari Delhi BJP chief who attended the meeting told reporters after the meeting.

Senior Delhi Congress Subash Chopra who attended the meeting said inflammatory statements by political figures triggered the violence. These need to stop if the situation is to be controlled. 

Chopra was referring to statements by Delhi BJP leader Kapil Mishra.
Two men were jailed Feb. 22 after police said they had more than 13 grams of heroin hidden inside the pickup they drove over the Cow Key Channel Bridge and into Key West.

One is a user with track marks on his arms while the other man helps out people in Key West who need heroin, according to the police report.

Chadwick Arthur Meister, 30, and Jason Albert Tiller, 48, both of Key West, were arrested on felony charges of drug trafficking and possessing drug paraphernalia to transport drugs.

On Tuesday evening, both remained at the Stock Island Detention Center. Meisters bond is $60,000 while Tillers is $45,000.

Chadwick Arthur Meister

The heroin was found inside a silver insulated beverage container that had been taped to an engine hose, Key West police said.

A metal spoon and two syringes were also inside the container, police said.

It was a substantial amount of heroin, with the total weighing 13.31 grams or nearly half an ounce, said police spokeswoman Alyson Crean.

In Florida, four grams equals drug trafficking.

Key West police stopped a Toyota Tacoma at 12:52 a.m. Saturday because Meister was speeding, according to the arrest reports. They were assisted by an agent with Homeland Security Investigations.

Police, who searched the pickup with a K9 dog, also said they also found two pouches hidden beneath the dashboard: one containing Narcan nasal spray, which can reverse an opioid overdose, and the other one holding a fragment of a blue pill police could not immediately identify.

Narcan, the brand name of naloxone, is available from a pharmacist without a doctors prescription.

Jason Albert Tiller

At first, Meister, listed as an electrician, told the police he had only had the Tacoma for two months and that he knew nothing about the heroin.

Then he agreed to show detectives the inside of his arms.

Both of Meisters arms appeared to have injection marks from using heroin intravenously, wrote Key West Detective Jay Thomas Conaty.

Meister said he drives from Key West to Fort Lauderdale twice a week to buy heroin from someone he only identified as Shorty, according to the arrest reports.

Story continues

But he said the heroin found in the engine compartment belonged to Tiller, who helps out people in Key West who need heroin, Conaty wrote.

Meister said he drove to Exit 9 of Floridas Turnpike  Southwest 112th Avenue  parked the truck, and went to a Walgreens store while Tiller used the pickup to run errands, police said.

Meister told police he believed Tillers errands including buying heroin and he expected some in return for having driven him to the mainland.

Meister said he and Tiller have driven to buy heroin before and split the heroin between them evenly, Conaty wrote.

Tiller, listed as a carpenter, wouldnt speak to police except to ask if he could get out of the charges by setting up an undercover drug deal between him and men from Miami, police said.

Tiller said he could buy an ounce of heroin, plus some crystal methamphetamine and cocaine, police reported.

I told Tiller I could not make promises like that, Conaty wrote.
The benchmark indices were trading near the flat line in afternoon trade. At 13:24 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 58.20 points or 0.14% at 40,421.43. The Nifty 50 index was up 3.35 points or 0.02% at 11,832.75.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was down 0.25% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index slipped 0.36%.

The market breadth was negative. On the BSE, 904 shares rose and 1307 shares fell. A total of 165 shares were unchanged. In Nifty 50, market breadth was positive with 24 stocks advancing and 26 stocks declining.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Hindustan Unilever (HUL) added 1.07% to Rs 2239.65. HUL's board approved a proposal to form a new 100% subsidiary with an authorised share capital of Rs 2000 crore. This new subsidiary will leverage the growth opportunities in a fast-changing business environment and will help HUL in becoming more agile and customer-focused.

Index heavyweight HDFC Bank fell 0.76% to Rs 1200.75. The bank's managing director (MD), Aditya Puri, sold a total 12.52 lakh equity shares of the bank on 11 and 12 February 2020. The announcement was made after trading hours yesterday, 24 February 2020.

State Bank of India (SBI) was up 0.98% to Rs 326.05. The price band of initial public offering (IPO) of SBI Cards and Payment Services has been fixed in the price range of Rs 750-755 per share.

The issue will open for subscription on 2 March and close on 5 March. The IPO comprises a fresh issue of Rs 500 crore, while the offer for sale would see the promoters offload 13 crore shares.

JSW Steel rose 1.95% to Rs 263.85. The company said on Monday it has been declared as a preferred bidder for an iron ore mine in Odisha. The projected iron ore resource in this mine as per tender documents is 39.4 million tonnes.

Tech Mahindra rose 0.13%. The IT major said it has acquired Zen3 Infosolutions (America) for $44 million. A further $22 million will be paid out after three years, based on financial performance. The all-cash transaction is expected to close by 1 April. Tech Mahindra said that the acquisition would bring strong capabilities in AI enablement services. This will also help it to bolster its enterprise application practice.

NTPC gained 0.93% after the Competition Commission of India approved NTPC's 74.5% acquisition of THDC. The proposed acquisition is of issued and paid-up share capital of the THDC from the Government of India. THDC is a government company with 74.50% of its total shares held by the Government of India and 25.50% of its shares held by the Government of Uttar Pradesh as on 31 March 2019.

Global Markets:

European shares opened lower while Asian markets were trading mixed on Tuesday, following a heavy sell-off on Wall Street on Monday on heightened fears that the China coronavirus is rapidly developing in to a global pandemic that could cripple global supply chains and wreak far greater economic damage than first thought.

On Monday, the World Health Organization warned that a "sudden increase in new cases" outside of China is "deeply concerning," following a rise in infections of Covid-19 in Italy, South Korea and Iran.

However, the World Health Organization declined to declare the outbreak a pandemic, saying the rapidly spreading disease has pandemic potential but does not yet require that designation.

In US, the Dow finished more than 1,000 points lower on Monday, marking its third-worst daily point drop in history, as the spread of the COVID-19 illness beyond China raised worries that the hit to overseas economic growth could be more persistent than investors expected, hampering the prospects for a global recovery in 2020.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Georgia Fowler looked sensational as she showcased her toned figure while staying at Sir Richard Branson's Necker Island in the Caribbean on Tuesday.

The Victoria's Secret model showed off her incredible physique in a royal green Sommer Swim bikini as she soaked up the sun while posing for a photograph.

The 27-year-old looked every inch the beauty as she showed off her naturally tanned complexion as she rested on the private island.

Laid back! Victoria's Secret model Georgia Fowler (pictured) showed off her toned abs in a green Sommer Swim bikini as she soaked up the sun on Sir Richard Branson's Necker Island

Georgia appeared to be wearing little makeup for the photo, instead opting to wear a light shade of nude lipstick.

She kept things simple, accessorising her look with drop earrings and a pearl necklace.

The Island owned by Richard is located in the British Virgin Islands and a room on the luxury resort can be booked for a hefty price of AU$7,545 per night, with a minimum stay of three nights.

Natural beauty: Georgia appeared to be wearing little makeup for the photo, instead opting to wear a light shade of nude lipstick. She accessorised her look with drop earrings

Georgia's trip to Necker Island comes after the New Zealand born stunner confirmed her romance with restaurateur Nathan Dalah earlier this month.

On Wednesday last week, the couple looked as loved-up as ever as they enjoyed a romantic ski trip in Aspen, Colorado together.

The couple posed for a joyful selfie as they hit the slopes on Thursday.

Jet-setter! Last week, The Victoria's Secret model enjoyed a romantic ski trip with her boyfriend Nathan Dalah (right) in Aspen shortly after going public with their relationship

Nathan confirmed his romance with Georgia on social media, calling her his 'girlfriend' and sharing a series of snaps of the pair kissing and packing on the PDA at a recent event.

In photos posted on Instagram earlier this month, the couple looked nothing short of smitten as Georgia leaned in and hugged Nathan.

Nathan is also believed to have joined Georgia at a charity dinner in December and they recently holidayed together in the Northern Territory.
So far, the impact in the United States has been small, with 53 cases as of Monday, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the potential public-health threat posed by the virus is high globally and to the United States. An early challenge if the outbreak produces hundreds or thousands of infections in the United States will be a sufficient supply of diagnostics to identify those who are ill; an early test kit by the CDC had flaws and hopefully will be improved and augmented with commercial test kits. China already has commercial test kits in wide use. A second challenge might be hospital capacity. A surge of thousands of patients would tax facilities everywhere, and plans must be laid for the flood. Also, health-care workers are at the front lines. In China, hundreds have been infected. It might be months or more before a vaccine or antiviral is available. To make sure workers are protected, health-care systems must prepare now with personal protective equipment  masks and more.
High school students in government schools will be required to learn a mandatory and more thorough history of the Holocaust in an attempt to increase awareness of Jewish persecution and reverse the rising trend of anti-Semitism.

All year 9 and 10 students in state schools will be taught about the period in history when millions of Jews were killed in Nazi-occupied Europe.

Victorian Education Minister James Merlino. Credit:Jason South

The push to minimise prejudice among Victorian students will include a new hotline for schools, students and parents to report cases of religious or ethnic vilification.

State Education Minister James Merlino said it was troubling that, if asked, "most kids today wouldn't be able to explain what the Holocaust was".
WASHINGTON  A deeply divided Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the family of a Mexican teen shot and killed by a U.S. Border Patrol agent cannot seek damages because of the border that was between them.

The justices ruled 5-4 that Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca, 15, lacked constitutional protection against the use of excessive force because he was in Mexico. Had he been in Texas with Border Patrol agent Jesus Mesa, his family would have had a claim.

Associate Justice Samuel Alito wrote the opinion and was joined by the court's four other conservatives. The four liberal justices dissented.

"A cross-border shooting claim has foreign relations and national security implications," Alito said. "In addition, Congress has been notably hesitant to create claims based on allegedly tortious conduct abroad."

Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote the dissent for her liberal colleagues. She said the shooting occurred on the U.S. side of the border, so the majority's concern about applying the law abroad should not apply.

"Neither U.S. foreign policy nor national security is in fact endangered by the litigation," Ginsburg said. "Moreover, concerns attending the application of our law to conduct occurring abroad are not involved, for plaintiffs seek the application of U.S. law to conduct occurring inside our borders."

Hundreds of incidents involving deadly force occur along the U.S.-Mexican border every year. President Donald Trump has been trying to build a wall along the border and reduce both legal and illegal immigration.

Border Patrol agents in New Mexico train to respond to hostile crowds throwing rocks at a border fence on the U.S.-Mexican border.

In 1971, the Supreme Court gave private citizens an implied right to sue federal officials for civil rights violations, even though Congress had passed no such law. Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, joined by Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, wrote Tuesday that the precedent should be overruled.

"Federal courts lack the authority to engage in the distinctly legislative task of creating causes of action for damages to enforce federal positive law," Thomas said. "We are exercising legislative power vested in Congress."

Story continues

During oral argument in November, Mesa's attorney, Randolph Ortega, said the border "is real. It's a real line. And it can't be extended" to provide constitutional protection on the Mexican side.

The case, which was heard twice by the high court, stemmed from an incident in 2010 when Hernandez and friends were playing in a dry riverbed separating El Paso, Texas, from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Standing on the U.S. side, Mesa fired at least two shots across the border, striking Hernandez in the face and killing him.

Mesa's lawyers said he was responding to a group of suspected undocumented immigrants throwing rocks at Border Patrol agents. Cellphone videos show Hernandez unarmed and hiding beneath a train trestle when he was shot.

The boy's family sued, based on the case in 1971, when the Supreme Court said a homeowner could sue federal agents who forced their way into his home without a warrant. Judges have expanded on that precedent and allowed lawsuits against other federal officials.

The family's lawsuit was dismissed in lower courts, which ruled that Hernandez did not have constitutional protection against unreasonable use of deadly force under the Fourth Amendment, as well as due process rights under the Fifth Amendment, because he was not in the USA.

When the case first was heard at the Supreme Court three years ago, the court issued an unsigned opinion that gave the teen's family another chance. It ruled that the agent was not entitled to immunity, but it punted issues back to a federal appeals court, which again dismissed the case last March.

In November, Ortega and Jeffrey Wall, the Justice Department's principal deputy solicitor general, argued that the death of a foreign national on foreign soil does not trigger Fourth Amendment protections. They said the case touched on foreign affairs and national security, both of which are under the domain of the executive branch.

Ginsburg asked how national security was involved in "using excessive force to kill a child."

In his ruling, Alito said the matter is best left to the executive branches of both countries, rather than the judiciary.

"Both the United States and Mexico have legitimate and important interests that may be affected by the way in which this matter is handled," he said. "It is not our task to arbitrate between them."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cross-border shooting: Supreme Court clears Border Patrol agent
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
On the Frontline Against China, the US Coast Guard Is Taking on Missions the US Navy Can't Do

Competition with China has drawn more Pentagon resources to the Pacific, but the most visible U.S. military presence there...
[February 25, 2020] Wipro Recognized as 'Best Global Systems Integrator' by Looker

Wipro (News - Alert) Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company, today announced that it has been recognized as the 'Best Global Systems Integrator' by leading data platform company, Looker, during the 2019 Looker Partner Summit. Wipro received the award for its significant investment towards building the comprehensive Looker services practice in 2019. The award also recognizes a commitment to executive alignment, new business development, strategic planning, cross-selling, new offering development and overall partnership excellence. Wipro's global expertise complemented by Looker's technology portfolio, supports several large enterprises to realize the full potential of their cloud infrastructure investment and helps them in their transformation to Intelligent Enterprise. The partnership helps customers take smarter decisions by delivering insights on cloud data through extraction and loading, governed transformation, and discovery and visualizations. Together, Wipro and Looker provide a remarkable value, driven by collaboration, commitment and thought leadership around next-gen technologies. Keenan Rice, Vice President, Strategic Alliances, Looker said, "We are happy to recognize Wipro as the Best Global Systems Integrator 2019. Wipro empowers intelligent enterprises to simplify their Business Intelligence landscape and make the migration to powerful modern cloud database solutions and Looker, easier. We are always working together to help businesses of all sizes, geographies and industries achieve lower operating costs, improve time to market, increase flexibility, and achieve better collaboration and business decision-making." Jayant Prabhu, Vice President and Global Head, Data, Analytics & AI, Wipro Limited said, "Building a collaborative ecosystem as helped us innovate at speed and enabled business transformation for our clients. We are honoured to be the first choice as a partner for cloud-based insights implementation. This recognition strengthens our ability to leverage the partner ecosystem and provide world-class services to our clients. We are committed towards providing an exceptional customer experience for clients expediting their data to decisions journey, making them a truly Intelligent Enterprise."



About Wipro Limited Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO) is a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company. We harness the power of cognitive computing, hyper-automation, robotics, cloud, analytics and emerging technologies to help our clients adapt to the digital world and make them successful. A company recognized globally for its comprehensive portfolio of services, strong commitment to sustainability and good corporate citizenship, we have over 175,000 dedicated employees serving clients across six continents. Together, we discover ideas and connect the dots to build a better and a bold new future.

Forward-looking and Cautionary Statements Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in our earnings, revenue and profits, our ability to generate and manage growth, intense competition in IT services, our ability to maintain our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which we make strategic investments, withdrawal of fiscal governmental incentives, political instability, war, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property, and general economic conditions affecting our business and industry. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. We may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005581/en/

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[February 25, 2020] Check Point Software Technologies Recognized as a Microsoft Security 20/20 Partner Award Winner for Most Prolific Integration Partner

SAN CARLOS, Calif., Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Check Point Software Technologies today announced it has been named a Microsoft Security 20/20 award winner for the Most Prolific Integration Partner category. The company was honored among a global field of top Microsoft partners for demonstrating excellence in innovation, integration, and customer implementation with Microsoft technology.

At the inaugural Microsoft Security 20/20 partner awards, held February 23, Microsoft announced award winners in 16 categories that span security integration partners, system integrators and managed security service providers. Check Point Software Technologies is a winner for Microsoft Security 20/20 Most Prolific Partner award. Today, the cloud computing environment is the most complex it has ever been. The number of cloud services offered to enterprises has grown exponentially. The manner in which businesses store and scale data has changed dramatically. At the same time, the number of technologies deployable in the cloud has multiplied significantly, while application architecture has moved to micro-services, which has redefined the perimeter for security to that of the workload. All of these changes have made for a drastic increase in attack surface in todays cloud computing environment. Enterprises everywhere face the stern reality of multiple attack points - both ephemeral in nature and fragmented across a vast landscape in the cloud. To meet the unique security needs of todays cloud and that of Azure customers, Microsoft and Check Point began working together. Microsoft shares Check Points belief that prevention supersedes detection. That, if youve detected an attack - most likely in the form of a breach - it means that you are already undergoing damage control to your company and brand. As a result, multiple integrations connect Microsoft and Check Point CloudGuard security products, including Azure Security Center, Azure Sentinel and Intune. These integrations ensure the assets of Azure customers are fully protected while allowing them to benefit from the elastic, dynamic and cost effective nature of Azure cloud. Azure customers are choosing Check Point as their top choice in cloud security. Microsofts Most Prolific Integration Partner Award underscores Check Points leadership and vision in cloud security and further emphasizes Check Points ability to meet the new and complex nature that surrounds todays cloud.



Microsoft and Check Point have significantly aligned their efforts, said Itai Greenberg, VP, Product Management and Product Marketing Check Point Software Technologies. Security is continually cited as a key barrier to wide-spread enterprise cloud adoption and expansion. Together, Microsoft and Check Point deliver one of the most advanced threat prevention solution to Azure customers, keeping their cloud network, data and applications protected from the most sophisticated Gen VI cyberattacks today. Only through collaborations can organizations help customers get clarity and become more secure. The security ecosystem must work together to create a vision for the future where people, information, and companies are made safer. Microsoft Security 20/20 provides an opportunity to honor Microsoft partners that have developed and delivered exceptional Microsoft-based solutions and services during the past year.

Deployed by over 4,000 organizations worldwide, the Check Point CloudGuard portfolio of cloud security solutions addresses all aspects of the Cloud threat landscape. The solution delivers public and private cloud advanced threat prevention, posture management and compliance, runtime protection for cloud workloads, SaaS application security, as well as cloud threat intelligence and analytics. Follow Check Point via:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/checkpointsw

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/checkpointsoftware

Blog: http://blog.checkpoint.com

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/CPGlobal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/check-point-software-technologies About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. ( www.checkpoint.com ) is a leading provider of cyber security solutions to governments and corporate enterprises globally. Check Points solutions protect customers from 5th generation cyber-attacks with an industry leading catch rate of malware, ransomware and advanced targeted threats. Check Point offers a multilevel security architecture, Infinity Total Protection with Gen V advanced threat prevention, this combined product architecture defends an enterprises cloud, network and mobile devices. Check Point provides the most comprehensive and intuitive one point of control security management system. Check Point protects over 100,000 organizations of all sizes. MEDIA CONTACT:

Ekram Ahmed

Check Point Software Technologies

[email protected] INVESTOR CONTACT:

Kip E. Meintzer

Check Point Software Technologies

[email protected]

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Several ministries are in charge with limiting the impact of the coronavirus "pandemic" and the Government has issued an emergency ordinance to purchase, as a matter of urgency, the necessary equipment during such crisis situations, Interim Vice Prime Minister Raluca Turcan has stated on Tuesday.

"In respect to limiting the impact of the already coronavirus pandemic not just a single ministry is in charge, but several ministries, and the Government has also taken action, including through an emergency ordinance, for the quick purchase, as a matter of urgency, of the necessary equipment during such crisis situations. If you look in the emergency ordinances adopted prior to the dismissal of the Government, you will see that an office has been created to allow the purchase under a rapid procedure of all the necessary equipment and consumables in such crisis situations. Moreover, the thermo-scanner was purchased through this rapid public procurement office, and the procedure ends tomorrow [Wednesday], and also tomorrow the winner of this procurement procedure will be declared, just as the Minister of Transport said," interim Vice PM Turcan told a news conference at the Government.The World Health Organisation (WHO) doesn't use a procedure to declare a pandemic, however the COVID-19 outbreak remains an urgent situation at international level, a WHO spokesman mentioned on Monday."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," he added.The fear regarding a coronavirus pandemic has been increasing since Monday, after the sudden rise in the number of new cases of infection reported in Iran, Italy and South Korea, although China eased the travel restrictions in several areas, including in Beijing, in the context in which the new infections rates decreased.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged Tuesday to build 3,500 new settler homes in a super-sensitive area of the occupied West Bank, just a week before a tight general election.

Netanyahus controversial statement is the latest in a string of election promises on settlement construction as the premier faces not only a general election but the beginning of a corruption trial.

I gave immediate instructions for a permit to deposit (plans) for the construction of 3,500 units in E1, Netanyahu said.

The international community has warned repeatedly that Jewish settlement construction in the E1 corridor, which passes from Jerusalem to Jericho, would slice the West Bank in two and compromise the contiguity of a future Palestinian state.

We are building Jerusalem and Jerusalems outskirts, Netanyahu said at a conference in remarks relayed by a spokesman.

In 2013, Netanyahu vetoed construction in the E1 corridor in the face of pressure from the United Nations, the European Union and the United States.

The move to advance new homes, which would constitute a new neighbourhood of Maale Adumim, a nearby settlement town, were praised by the Yesha Council, a settler lobby group, which noted that plans for homes there have existed since 2004.

Advancing the issue will enable broad and strategic construction between Maale Adumim and Jerusalem, Yesha Council head David Elhayani said in a statement.

But Angela Godfrey-Goldstein, co-director of Jahalin Solidarity, an NGO working to prevent the displacement of Palestinian Bedouin living in the E1 area, said the construction could mean their forced expulsion and constitute a war crime.

If allowed to go ahead, this move will end the potential for a viable, sustainable Palestinian state, and is yet another example of how desperate Bibi (Netanyahu) is to buy votes so as to stay out of prison at the expense of our future, she said.

On Thursday, Netanyahu announced plans for thousands of new homes for Israelis in annexed east Jerusalem, with critics calling the move a last-minute incentive to nationalist voters ahead of next weeks election.

On Monday, Israeli authorities moved ahead with those plans, inviting tenders for 1,077 housing units for Givat Hamatos, which would be a new settlement neighbourhood.

Settlement watchdog Peace Now said the Givat Hamatos area was the last point enabling territorial continuity between Bethlehem and east Jerusalem, saying that the plan to build there was proof Netanyahu was doing everything to prevent peace.

Israel seized east Jerusalem in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community.

Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank are considered illegal by the United Nations and most foreign governments.

Netanyahu, 70, will stand trial next month after being indicted for bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

He denies wrongdoing but the indictment has complicated his bid to extend his tenure as Israels longest serving prime minister.

Two elections in April and September last year failed to produce a clear winner.

Recent polls are forecasting another tight race between Netanyahus right-wing Likud and the centrist Blue and White party led by former armed forces chief Benny Gantz.
NNIT and Microsoft collaborate on cloud based standard solutions

Two of the biggest players in the Danish IT-market connect to help Danish companies release their cloud potential.

Copenhagen, February 25, 2019 - Two of the largest players in the Danish IT industry, NNIT A/S and Microsoft Denmark, enter into an intensified collaboration to help Danish companies realize their cloud potential and support digital transformation.

The demand for cloud-based standard solutions continues to grow globally, as reflected in the double-digit growth rates in Microsoft's sales1. The sales growth leads to a growing demand for IT services and consulting services provided by NNIT when customers wish to realize the benefits of moving business in the cloud and strengthen innovation.

NNIT helps its customers make the most of the products across Microsoft's three clouds, Azure, MS365, and Dynamics 365. Many companies sit on an unresolved potential, which NNIT will help the, release, explains Jacob Hahn Michelsen, Senior Vice President, Public & Private, NNIT:

"Our customers are constantly demanding more cloud services, and with the help of our good people, they can quickly and safely get Microsoft's standard solutions clicked right into the business. NNIT wants to be Denmark's leading Microsoft house, so we are very pleased with the collaboration, which enables us to help more Danish companies make the most of buying cloud solutions."

The ambitions lead NNIT to invest heavily in competencies and capacity building. Through the first half of 2020, cooperation focuses on further training when further 200 NNIT employees will be certified across the three clouds. In addition, the ambition is reflected in NNIT's recruitment and acquisitions. With the successful acquisition of SCALES in 2017, NNIT became a leading provider of Dynamics 365 solutions in Denmark.

In January 2020, NNIT presented an adjusted strategy to provide Microsoft's standard solutions as an independent focus area. In addition, Microsoft products become crucial for many of the other focus areas of the strategy such as Data & AI, Cybersecurity and Digital workplace.

Claus Jul Christiansen, Commercial Partner Lead, Microsoft Denmark says about the collaboration: "In Microsoft, we are evolving from a focus on sales through partners towards a thorough partner philosophy in which we develop and sell each other's technology and solutions. Our collaboration with NNIT fits perfectly into this strategy, where our partners build on our technology and work with other partners to build repeatable solutions that can create increased value for our customers."

The collaboration concerns all three clouds but will focus in the first phase on managed services and security for Azure, security, enabling and end-user experience for M365, as well as Finance and Operations and Customer Engagement for Dynamics 365.

********

More information

Helga Heyn, NNIT Communications, +45 30 77 81 41, hhey@nnit.com

About NNIT

NNIT is an international consultancy in the development, implementation, validation and operation of IT for the life sciences industry and the Danish private and public sector. We create value for our clients by treating their IT as if it was our own, and of course, we meet the industry's strictest regulatory requirements. We apply the latest advances in technology to make our clients' software, business processes and communication more effective. NNIT A/S has more than 3,200 employees. For more information please visit www.nnit.com .

1 https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx'src=https://c.s-microsoft.com/en-us/CMSFiles/SlidesFY20Q2.pptx?version=40be8d22-5719-ad18-1797-ee46fb9b3b47

Attachment
"If a film promotes gangsterism, drugs and violence, we will not allow it in Punjab. I can assure you," the chief minister said in the House.

Chandigarh: Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday assured the Punjab Assembly that his government would not allow any movie which promotes gangsterism, drugs and violence in the state.

Responding to an issue raised by Congress MLA Gurkirat Singh Kotli during the Zero Hour on the third day of the budget session here, the chief minister said though the matter comes under the purview of the Censor Board, he would write to it with regard to movies which glorify violence.

The state government had imposed a ban on movie 'Shooter', which was based on the life and crimes of notorious gangster Sukha Kahlwan, saying it promotes "violence" and "heinous crimes".

Sukha Kahlwan was shot dead by gangster Vicky Gounder and his accomplices on January 22, 2015, when he was being brought back to Patiala Jail after a court hearing in Jalandhar.

"It is the job of the Censor board. We will also write to the Censor board. If a film promotes gangsterism, drugs and violence, we will not allow it in Punjab. I can assure you," the chief minister said in the House.

Responding to a question raised by ruling party legislator Parminder Singh Pinky on alleged involvement of a SAD leader in "anti-national activities, Amarinder Singh assured a thorough probe into the matter.

Pinky had alleged that the SAD leader had links with Happy PhD, a Khalistan Liberation Force member, who was killed in Pakistan recently.
To the Times:

The coronavirus is slowly, but inexorably spreading beyond China. Its progression to the status of pandemic seems virtually assured. Interestingly and ironically, the spread of this virus, and its entrance and growth into the U.S., may accomplish in November what the Democrats might not. The coronavirus might just sink mega-ship Trump in the turbulence wreaked upon us by the virus on the U.S. economy and stock market.

Donald Trump has been ridding high on the strength of the economy, even though it is hardly the economic miracle he has incessantly claimed it to be. All presidents receive too much credit and too much blame for economic conditions. But, no president has ever claimed more responsibility for our economy, nor tied his prospects more tightly to the economy than Mr. Trump. Perhaps, it is divine retribution for his arrogant boasting, based on lies and hyperbole, that the economy take him down.

Will this scenario play out -who knows? We are still moreo than eight months away from the presidential election, as pundits say, An eternity in politics. Even Donald Trump, a man who likes to control everything and take credit for everything, cannot control nature or how this imminent crisis may unfold.
Gardai are urging the public to help them trace a father-of-two who has been missing from his home in Dunboyne, Co Meath, for over a fortnight.

The disappearance of Terry Byrne, (45), was the subject of tonights Crimecall programme on RTE One in which Mr Byrnes brother, Paul Byrne, issued an emotional plea for any information on his brothers whereabouts.



If you know anything, just pick up the phone, he said.



He described his brother, a widower who lost his wife in 2012, as a doting dad to his two young sons.



For the past eight years, he was Mam and Dad, he said during an interview at the studio this evening.



Its totally out of character for him, he said of his sudden disappearance.



Seventeen days are gone now and no one knows where he is. The boys are credit to him, brave little lads. They just want their Daddy home, he said.



Gardai believe Mr Byrne left his home between 1am and 7am on February 7. The back door to the house he shared with his two young sons was unlocked.



Mr Byrnes family believes he was wearing a blue hooded top, navy tracksuit bottoms and grey trainers that they noted were missing from his wardrobe.



His car was left outside the house and his bank cards, passport and house keys were not taken with him, nor has there been any activity through his bank account and gardai have not been able to trace him on any CCTV cameras.



The last contact with him was when his mobile phone pinged at 6.02am on February 7 in Dunboyne before the battery died. The phone  a black LG G6 smartphone  remains missing.



Gardai said extensive searches of Dunboyne were undertaken by hundreds of local volunteers.



Searches involving the Civil Defence, water rescue units, search and cadaver dogs, the Irish Coast Guard and Garda Air Support Unit have failed to turn up any traces of Mr Byrne.

He is described as 56 in height, with a medium build and short fair hair.



Anyone with information is urged to contact gardai at the Ashbourne garda station, the Garda confidential line or any garda station.
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3 1 of 3 Odessa Police Department Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Odessa Police Department Show More Show Less 3 of 3





Odessa police have charged two teens in connection with a shooting death that occurred in January at the Parkway Inn.

Johnathen Payen Sanchez and Johnny Bryan Hernandez, both 17, have been charged with murder, a first-degree felony, according to a press release from the Odessa Police Department. They were arrested in Lubbock earlier this month by the U.S. Marshal Service and Lubbock Police Department.
In the wake of violent clashes in North-East Delhi between pro and anti CAA protestors, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad on Monday wrote to Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal expressing concern over the safety of people belonging to the Muslim and Scheduled Caste community.

He also said he wished to visit the areas affected by the violence and requested Baijal to direct Delhi Police to provide him adequate security for his visit.

"I am extremely concerned for the safety and security of people belonging to Muslim and Scheduled Caste community in many parts of North East Delhi and wish to visit the areas affected by violence. You are requested to kindly direct Delhi Police to provide adequate security for the visit," read the Azad's letter.

"I would be grateful if you could direct concerned police officials to inform me time and date preferably tomorrow (Tuesday) itself when I can undertake the visit," it said.

Earlier on Monday, four people including a head constable of Delhi Police lost their lives in clashes between pro and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (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.)
At this moment, we are confronted by a strange and serious threat to the food and beverage industry. Collectively, we have worked in the restaurant business in Houston for nearly 50 years. There is a deep network of entrepreneurs, growers, chefs and suppliers who have contributed to the success story of Houstons restaurant scene. Right now, their livelihood is imperiled by the proposed 100 percent tariffs on wines and other specialty goods imported from the European Union.

These tariffs stem from, of all things, a decades-old Airbus subsidies dispute. If allowed to take effect, these tariffs would prove devastating to many American businesses, especially restaurants.

We have built our reputations as champions of local foods and family-owned wines and stand firm by that creed. But as chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers and hospitalitarians, we are impassioned to create exceptional dining experiences, which sometimes require curating fine goods from around the world. In addition to essential ingredients such as olive oil and Parmigiano-Reggiano, arguably the most worrisome product at risk is wine imported from the EU.

Without a doubt, all restaurants will lose profit with the imposition of tariffs on wine. In an industry known for high risk and small margins, this is particularly treacherous. Worse still, wine is a finite product. You simply cannot make more without large investments in time and capital. Once new trade routes for these products are established, they will be difficult to bring back, breaking an accepted tenet of wise tariffing: Dont cause long-term damage for short-term action. So all you Cognac connoisseurs, Sancerre lovers, Burgundy enthusiasts, Prosecco fans, be warned: When these go away, they may never come back, and if they do, it will be in much smaller quantities and higher prices.

Perhaps the tariffs would be worth this danger if they had the desired effect on our trade adversaries. In October, 25 percent tariffs were imposed on French wine, and in November, U.S. imports from France fell 48 percent  but virtually all those lost imports were transferred directly to China, whose imports of French wine grew 35 percent. Despite the huge drop in French wine exports to the U.S., overall French wine exports actually increased the month after the tariffs, showing just how ineffective tariffs on wine are in punishing France.

Proposed 100 percent tariffs on wines have been delayed until at least 2021. For now, the White House has decided to stay the course with the current 25 percent wine tariffs for now.

If 100 percent tariffs are imposed, say goodbye to affordable, delicious wines by the glass. A sensible remedy is for us to buy more American wine and we will surely continue to do so. The domestic wine industry, however, lacks the value and diversity of the EU, where land, wineries and know-how have been passed down for generations. There is simply no better source of high-quality, value-priced wine anywhere in the world.

And the tariffs dont stop there. This threatens to become a penalty uniquely aimed at the restaurant industry. It includes olive oil, gourmet cheeses, pasta, whiskies, coffee, flatware, stemware, enameled cast iron and fine linens. Although we source a large portion of our goods domestically, we are just one of a variety of restaurants that contributes to the food and beverage economy.

As concerned small-business owners, friends of family-run wine businesses and employers of more than 200 Houston residents, we beseech you readers: Help us petition our lawmakers and put an end to this. The proposed tariffs on wine and specialty goods from the EU are inefficient, ineffective and do disproportionate harm to American businesses. We must encourage Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn to contact the United States Trade Representative and the highest levels of the administration and persuade them to remove wine and other specialty goods for the trade retaliation list. The penalty to the restaurant industry is unrelated and unfair, and the livelihoods of too many are at stake.

Shepherd is the chef/owner, and Pridgen is the wine director of Underbelly Hospitality.


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: Citadines OMR Chennai, a 269-unit



apartment hotel managed by The Ascott International Management India Pvt Ltd, has bagged the 'Best Hotel Apartment of the Year' award.

Established in 2017, Citadines was the only hospitality brand to win the award which was presented at the ET Now Business Leader of the Year Awards ceremony in Mumbai recently.

Ascott's city manager for Chennai Supriya Malhotra was presented the 'Woman Leadership Award for Excellence in Hospitality and Tourism' during the ceremony, a press release said here on Tuesday.

The award was presented to her at the ET Now Seventh World Women Leadership Congress and Awards.

Meanwhile, Ascott Ireo City Gurugram general manager Richard Barooah was honoured with the 'Hospitality Superstar' award for his contribution in the industry.

Ascott's regional general manager for Middle-East, Africa, Turkey and India, Vincent Miccolis said, "These awards are an affirmation of our team's dedication to deliver international standards of accommodation and customer service.'



"I am proud of the Indian team for garnering such high recognition," he said.

The award was instituted by ET Now in association with Stars Of The Industry Group, the release said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Stocks in Japan saw sharp declines on Tuesday following an overnight plunge on Wall Street as fears of the economic impact from the coronavirus outbreak spread. Returning from a Monday holiday, the Nikkei 225 closed 3.34% lower at 22,605.41 as shares of index heavyweight Fast Retailing dropped 4.15%. Earlier in the session, the index had plummeted almost 4%. The Topix index also declined 3.33% to end its trading day at 1,618.26. Shares of Fujifilm bucked the overall trend to gain 2.83% after local media reports that the Japanese government was considering the use of an anti-flu drug developed by a unit of the firm to treat the coronavirus.

Shares in mainland China were mixed on the day, with the Shanghai composite shedding 0.6% to around 3,013.05 while the Shenzhen component added 0.71% to 11,856.08. The Shenzhen composite gained 0.507% to about 1,943.17. South Korea's Kospi closed 1.18% higher at 2,103.61, following sharp losses seen on Monday as the country witnessed a spike in the number of coronavirus cases in recent days. On Tuesday, the country reported 60 new cases, bringing the number of infected cases to 893, to become the country with the most cases outside mainland China. Total fatalities now stand at 8. Seoul raised the coronavirus alert to the "highest level" over the weekend. Shares of Korean Air Lines rose 1.58% on Tuesday despite the airline announcing Tuesday that a cabin crew member had tested positive for the coronavirus, according to Reuters. Consumer confidence in South Korea dropped in February to a six-month low, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported Tuesday. The Composite Consumer Sentiment Index for February fell to 96.9, declining 7.3 points from its reading in January, according to data from the Bank of Korea. The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong was about 0.2% higher, as of its final hour of trading. Meanwhile, shares in Australia declined as the S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.6% to close at 6,866.60. Overall, the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index was 0.2% higher.

Political chaos in Malaysia

Elsewhere, markets in Malaysia were watched on Tuesday following recent developments that thrust the country into political uncertainty. The country's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad unexpectedly resigned on Monday, but reportedly agreed to stay on as interim leader until a successor is named. In afternoon trade on Tuesday, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index rose about 0.7%, after closing about 2.69% lower on Monday following news of the political upheaval. The country's central bank, Bank Negara Malaysia or BNM, said it was "closely monitoring conditions in the financial markets" after the latest political developments. "While ringgit movements will continue to be market determined, BNM's market operations will ensure sufficient liquidity and orderly financial market conditions," it said in a statement.

Coronavirus economic fears

In China, where the outbreak was first reported, 508 new cases and 71 additional deaths were reported as of Feb. 24. That brings the country's total to 77,658 confirmed cases, and 2,663 deaths. Concerns over the economic impact of disruptions caused by the virus outbreak have sent jitters across markets in recent weeks as some factories in China continue to remain shut due to containment measures. Becky Liu, head of China macro strategy at Standard Chartered Bank, told CNBC's "Street Signs" on Tuesday that China's first quarter GDP is expected to deteriorate "very materially" to only 2.8% while the full-year projection was at 5.5%. "This will be lower than the minimum GDP growth which is required to achieve so-called doubling GDP by 2020 target at 5.7%," Liu said. "From what we have seen so far this year, nothing is growing aside (from) something very small  such as online gaming," she said. "Even if the virus condition start(s) to get contained and we have real activities picking up in March, it's very difficult to see China having any material growth in the foreseeable future."

Even if the virus condition start(s) to get contained and we have real activities picking up in March, it's very difficult to see China having any material growth in the foreseeable future. Becky Liu Head of China Macro Strategy, Standard Chartered Bank

The outbreak in South Korea has also exacerbated concerns, given the country's importance in the global technology and semiconductor supply chains. "We've already seen how the China factory shutdowns have affected industry in the rest of the region as they haven't been able to get the intermediate goods that feed into their  production lines," said Alex Holmes, Asia economist at Capital Economics. While the effect on South Korea won't be as broad, "if they had to shut down factories across the country, then particularly the technology sector across the rest of the region who rely on Korea for things like  liquid crystal displays and semiconducting chips, they would really struggle," Holmes told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Tuesday. Outside of Asia, Italy has also seen a surge in the number of people infected, with at least 130 reported cases. "The jump in cases outside of China raises the risk of a sharper Q1 2020 global economic slowdown," Kim Mundy, currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, wrote in a note. "It also raises the risk that the economic disruption is more prolonged."

Overnight on Wall Street, fears of coronavirus contagion sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunging 1,031.61 points to close at 27,960.80. The S&P 500 slipped 3.35% to end its trading day at 3,225.89 while the Nasdaq Composite closed 3.71% lower at 9,221.28. The steep sell-off on Monday left the Dow giving up its gain for 2020, with the index now down 2% for the year. The S&P 500 also had its worst day in two years and wiped out its year-to-date gain as well.

Currencies and oil
New Delhi, Feb 25 : US President Donald Trump on Tuesday again offered mediation on Kashmir.

Extending his offer, Trump said, "Anything I can do to mediate or help, I would do." Bringing in Pakistan's reference, he said, "They (Pakistan) are working on Kashmir. Kashmir has been a thorn in lots of people's sides for a long time. There are two sides to every story. We discussed terrorism at length today." Earlier, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said, "Discussion was centred on positive developments in Jammu & Kashmir. Things are moving in the right direction."
Gordmans, the off-price retail brand from Stage Stores, is staffing up before its spring roll out of new stores in Texas, including two in Southeast Texas.

The company announced it will be hosting job fairs for four of its newly rebranded stores, two of which are in Beaumont and Vidor.

Both fairs were planned for March 3 at the Parkdale Mall Gordmans in Beaumont and the Crossroads Shopping Center in Vidor, but the company as rescheduled due to delays in opening for those stores. Representatives said dates for the fairs would be forthcoming.



Applicants are encouraged to apply online before attending at gordmans.com/careers .

Fairs will also be hosted in Sweetwater and Loredo during that same time frame.

The company said the stores should open in late spring or early summer.

Stage is continuing to convert over 500 of its other department store brands to Gordmans in 2020 after growing performance strength from the concept. It started conversion of stores in 2018 with 17 smaller markets in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Kentucky.

Like other retailers trying to create a profitable space between traditional brick-and-mortar and online commerce, Stage has introduced Amazon pickup centers in its stores and expects all of its 700 stores to be package destination by the end of its conversion.

Stage Stores has previously suffered some profit setbacks, posting a $87.71 million loss in 2018. It also received a warning about being delisted in June from the New York Stock Exchange after its shares sunk below $1 for several consecutive months.

Its stock peaked at over $9 in January after a beneficial holiday shopping season, but has since dropped down to $0.62 as of Feb. 21.



This story has been changed to reflect Stage Stores pushing back the opening date for both Southeast Texas locations.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/jdickjournalism
New travel advice for Brits returning to UK from north Italy.

Britons returning to the UK from northern Italy are being told to stay at home for 14 days, as part of a policy change from Britain's health department amid fears of Coronavirus contagion.

UK health secretary Matt Hancock, speaking on BBC television on 25 February, said that people flying home "north of Pisa" should self-isolate if they show flu-like symptoms.

Hancock said the advice applies in particular to those flying home from the Coronavirus-hit areas quarantined by the Italian government - whether they show flu-like symptoms or not - adding that if there any UK citizens in the lockdown towns they should contact the British embassy in Rome.

READ ALSO

The new UK travel advice comes as Washington advises "older adults and those with chronic medical conditions" to consider postponing "nonessential travel" to Italy.

Ireland's department of foreign affairs says there is no overall change to its travel advice for Italy however it is urging Irish citizens not to travel to the 11 north Italian towns under lockdown.

The towns are: Vo Euganeo, Codogno, Castiglione d'Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Fombio, Maleo, Somaglia, Bertonico, Terranova dei Passerini, Castelgerundo and San Fiorano.

The number of Coronavirus infections in Italy has reached 283, mainly in the north of the country, with seven deaths from complications arising from contracting the virus.

Photo praszkiewicz / Shutterstock.com
Reunited: Lucivaldo Araujo da Silva is greeted by his daughter Stephany, son Bryan, daughter Nicole and wife Danielle, as he arrived back home in Athenry. Photo: Ray Ryan.

At around 10.45am yesterday, Danielle Martins Ribeiro received the call she was dreading from her Brazilian husband in Cloverhill Prison.

Lucivaldo Araujo da Silva had been arrested in his family home in Athenry, Co Galway, on February 2, on foot of a deportation order.

Yesterday, the husband and father of three was allowed a six-minute phone conversation to tell his family he would be boarding a plane to Brazil and to say goodbye.

While Danielle said "today is the worst day of my life", so too was it "the best day" because, without explanation, the meat factory worker was taken back to his cell 30 minutes later and was told that not only will he remain in Ireland, but he will be released back to his family.

Too emotional to speak at length, Lucivaldo told the Irish Independent: "I can't tell you how I feel right now, but I'm very happy. I'm still worried about my kids and my family."

The Brazilian father avoided deportation after Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan intervened at the last moment, and his application to revoke the deportation was granted on "humanitarian grounds and the voice of the child".

His ability to remain in Ireland is not guaranteed yet, however, as his case will be reviewed. Danielle and the couple's 12-year-old daughter, Stephany, also have outstanding deportation orders.

Stephany was born in Ireland, so too were her siblings, Bryan (9) and Nicole (2).

Danielle said she was living in fear of deportation every day. "I felt devastated earlier. I just thought I couldn't handle it," she said.

"When he called to say he would be deported we all started screaming and crying.

"I don't know what I would have done. I still don't know what I'm going to do because it isn't over. We don't want to be separated and we don't want to leave Ireland.

"We just want to raise the kids here and give them the best opportunities," she added.

"We live our lives in fear. We're afraid all the time because we don't have freedom. We can't buy a house, we pay all of our tax but I never get child benefit or anything and I'm not looking for that, I just want a work permit to look after my kids.

"To be able to work and get them to college and all their rights. We are afraid, we live day-by-day because we don't know what is going on."

After Stephany started a petition for her father to remain in Ireland, Fianna Fail TD Anne Rabbitte and barrister Lorraine Lally worked to help the family.

While Lucivaldo avoided deportation yesterday, 17 other men did board the plane to Brazil.

Danielle said that her family were blessed, but that she felt for those not so lucky.

"My daughter worked so hard to let people know about her father, and she's an Irish girl, she said 'I was born by the fields of Athenry and I don't want to leave'. She said 'the people of Ireland are good and they're Catholic, they are not going to do this to our family, keep strong mom'.

"Her dream would be crushed. We're so lucky. Thank God the minister had compassion. He is a human being and he looked after us.

"I just hope we can get legally in the country. My kids are so happy. They keep screaming they can't wait to see their daddy. It's lovely, I'm so delighted.

"My daughter is right, Irish people are good."
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According to Market Research Future (MRFR)s latest assessment, the global concrete cooling system market is set to expand at a steady CAGR through the forecast period. The report underscores that the market is expected to grow from USD 900 Mn in 2015 to USD 1200 Mn by the end of the assessment period. Concrete cooling is used for mass concrete constructions such as dams for assuring its integrity and avoiding crackdowns. These cooling systems play a key role in the development of these projects and are likely to witness an upsurge in demand over the next couple of years.

Concrete cooling systems leverage the phenomenon that concrete is developed when the heat is evolved and the cement gets hardened. Thus, regions that undergo high temperature climatic conditions are likely to contribute more towards the expansion of the concrete cooling market in the upcoming years. Fast-developing economies in Asia Pacific and the Middle East & Africa are expected to contribute significantly towards the proliferation of the market. The presence of hot climate in these regions in conjunction with huge investments being made in infrastructural projects are forecasted to augment the concrete cooling market in the near future.

Industry leaders are focusing on durability, strength, and safety for capitalizing on potential signified by the market. Innovations and product developments are poised to dictate the growth pattern of the concrete cooling market across the projection period. Also, the strengthening global economy is poised to support the expansion of the construction sector. This, in turn, is prognosticated to propel the expansion of the concrete cooling market across the review period.

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The governments are emphasizing on the expansion of highways which is one of the primary drivers of market growth. Developing regions are likely to emerge as major contributors to revenue generation in the concrete cooling market. However, the stagnation witnessed in the construction sector of the developed economies is anticipated to lower down the pace of growth over the next couple of years.

Market Segmentation:

By type, the global concrete cooling market has been segmented into ice cooling, water cooling, air cooling, and liquid nitrogen cooling.

By application, the concrete cooling market has been segmented into infrastructure, commercial, industrial, and others.

Regional Analysis:

By region, the global concrete cooling market has been segmented into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East & Africa (MEA), and the Rest of the World (RoW). The Middle East & Africa is anticipated to dominate the growth trajectory of the market over the next few years. The massive investments in the development of infrastructure are likely to augment the concrete cooling market in the region. The thriving construction sector of the region is responsible for driving the proliferation of the market and is likely to exhibit a similar trend in the years to come. Also, the hot climate of the region is expected to unleash growth-inducive opportunities. Global leaders have shifted focus towards the region which is anticipated to further support the proliferation of the regional market over the assessment period.

Asia Pacific is also prognosticated to signify similar opportunities owing to the presence of hot climate coupled with rising infrastructural investments. Rapid developments in the construction sector of emerging country-level markets are supposed to propel the expansion of the market.

Competitive Dashboard:

The important players of the global concrete cooling market profiled in this MRFR report are Fujian Snowman Co., Ltd., KTI-Plersch Kaltetechnik GmbH, North Star Ice Equipment Corporation, LINTEC Germany GmbH, ConCool LLC, Coldcrete Inc., Recom Ice Systems, Icelings, Kirloskar Pneumatic Company Limited, and Focusun Refrigeration Corporation.
Emergency cars, police and fire brigade units standing at the scene after a man had driven his car into a carnival parade in Volkmarsen, Germany, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. (Uwe Zucchi/dpa via AP)

German prosecutors urged carnival organisers to review their security arrangements on Tuesday after a local man ploughed his car into a parade in the western German town of Volksmarsen, injuring more than 50 people, including 18 children.

The incident on Monday shook Germans still struggling to take in last week's racist gun attack on two bars in the town of Hanau which left 11 people dead.

A spokesman for prosecutors said there was currently no indication that the investigation into Monday's tragedy would be handed over to national prosecutors, suggesting they do not see a political motive.

The driver, who had been detained on suspicion of attempted homicide, was being treated for his own injuries. The prosecutors' spokesman said he had not been in a fit state to be questioned overnight, but was not drunk at the time of the incident. Tests for drugs were due in the course of the day.

While some carnival processions in the state of Hesse, home to Volksmarsen, were cancelled, others were due to take place in the region on Tuesday.

Rose Monday is the height of the carnival season in Catholic areas of Germany, especially in the Rhineland where tens of thousands of people dress up, drink alcohol and line the streets to watch decorated floats that often mock public figures.

Prosecutors said there was no concrete reason to think that the risks of attacks at parades had increased, but they urged organisers to review their security arrangements and adjust them if necessary, with policing potentially increased.

Security at public events in Germany has been tightened since a Tunisian man with Islamist militant ties ploughed a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin in 2016, killing 12 people. He was later shot dead by Italian police after fleeing.

Thirty five people were still in hospital on Tuesday, while another 17 had left hospital after treatment, police said on Twitter. Eighteen of the injured were children.

Police, who had detained the driver, a 29-year-old German from Volksmarsen, said his motive was still unclear and investigations were ongoing.

The man, who had been driving a silver Mercedes car, would appear before a investigating magistrate as soon as his condition allowed, state prosecutors said.

"There are so far no indications of politically-motivated criminality," Bild newspaper cited an investigator as saying.

"But we think that the perpetrator acted with intent, and that psychological problems may have played a role," the investigator added.

Prosecutors confirmed that a second man had been detained at the scene on Monday and was accused of filming the incident. The spokesman said prosecutors were investigating whether the man had links to the driver, including checking phone records.

The street where the incident happened in the centre of the small town was still cordoned off by police on Tuesday and several stores in the area were closed.

"It's terrible. I don't know how somebody could do this, especially to children," said Rainer Bellmann, a 58-year-old local resident.

Locals told Reuters that police had searched two homes in the town, including one apartment near to the scene that a police officer said was the home of relatives of the man.
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Linkedin Retno LP Marsudi (The Jakarta Post) Geneva  Tue, February 25, 2020 15:30 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206682936 3 Opinion Retno-Marsudi,Human-Rights-Council,human-rights,human-rights-abuse,human-rights-comments,human-rights-violations,women-rights,women-empowerment Free

With Indonesia on the Human Rights Council, there are some ways in which the country can use its role to provide leadership and achieve the goals it outlined in its campaign.

The 43th session of the Human Rights Council commenced this week with Indonesia at the table once again, along with 13 others elected in October 2019.

Indonesia sits alongside 13 new members, namely, Armenia, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Libya, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Namibia, Netherlands, Poland, the Republic of Korea and Venezuela. Indonesia has paid particular attention during its campaign and election. Credibility in human rights record is among the considerations made before a country is entrusted to uphold such a prestigious seat.

The Human Rights Council consists of 47 member states, elected by the members of the United Nations General Assembly by direct and secret ballot. It serves as the highest international body that deals with human rights issues worldwide.

Indonesias membership to the council is not without challenges. We see worrying trends in human rights situations around the globe. Trade wars, development gaps and poverty are hurting our efforts to bring about welfare to all. Women are still fighting hard for their rights and equality. Growing xenophobia, racism, intolerance  including Islamophobia  are rampant. Hate speech and the us versus them mentality are dividing more communities and nations. The denial of basic human rights for Palestinians is at its worst in the midst of a new plan to build another 9,000 illegal settlements in Har Homa and Givat Hamatoz.

The situation surrounding our work as a council create challenges for us to achieve our best result. The current UN financial crisis and its impact on the work of the council is worrying. There is persistent divide between the prioritization of civil and political rights vis-a-vis economic, social and cultural rights. The discrimination and politicization in addressing human rights issues have not been resolved. Overlapping mechanisms and the proliferation of resolutions among UN organs in resolving the same human rights issues is a big problem the council must address.

These are not just symptoms but issues that could hamper the promotion and protection of human rights. Immediate steps and improvement must be done to overcome these collective challenges.

Against this background, there are three points that can help the council in addressing these issues. First, the prevention mandate of the council must be strengthened. This can be done by redoubling our efforts on the promotion of human rights. There is a saying that prevention is better than the cure. With enhanced prevention, comes better promotion and protection of human rights.

Moving forward, the council must focus on how to best prevent human rights violations by strengthening of national capacities and resilience to prevent human rights violations. We also need to creating an ecosystem of peace, from national, regional to international levels and bridging technical as well as enhancing capacity-building cooperation among states in strengthening national capacities. Indonesia has benefitted from this. Indonesias cooperation and strengthened national mechanism has enabled us to promote Indonesias human rights and share our experiences with countries at regional and international levels.

At the regional level, Indonesia continues to improve the work of ASEAN Human Rights mechanisms. Indonesia has also able to transform the annual Bali Democracy Forum into an important platform for the promotion of democracy in the Asia Pacific. At the global level, as the coordinator of foreign policy and global health initiatives, Indonesia will encourage more innovative partnership and cooperation in global health.

Second, ensuring inclusivity. There should be efforts made for the wider involvement of all stakeholders, particularly women. Investing in women means investing in human rights. Empowering women and upholding their rights will be as equal as addressing the human rights of more than half of our population. Much remains to be done at the Human Rights Council as women and girls still face insecurity and violence, particularly in conflicts.

At the economic front, the challenges are also obvious to close the gap in economic empowerment. As part of our global responsibility, this year, we will focus on improving the role of women in conflict resolutions and human rights protection by providing capacity-building in improving womens economies and quality of living. We will also hold the second Regional Training on Women, Peace and Security event to empower women as agents of peace, mediators and negotiators. We will also strive to stablish the Southeast Asia Network of Women Peace Negotiators and Mediators, as well as the Afghanistan-Indonesia Womens Network.

Third, ensuring synergy and collaboration in the work of the council. Obviously, the Human Rights Council cannot work alone. It needs friends, partners, allies and supporters of its work. Partnership is crucial to ensure coordination between Geneva and New York while at the same, reaffirm this council as the main and trusted platform to address human rights issues. If this is the case, we can be optimistic that it can give birth to innovative solutions for long-standing issues such as the conflict in the Middle East, particularly in Palestine, and in Africa.

Better coordination will also resolve the issue of overlapping mechanisms and proliferation of resolutions among the council and other UN organs. Improvements in the effectiveness of the council will also enhance efficiency.

All in all, the councils work for the better promotion and protection of human rights is far from completed. There is no other option but to make the councils work efficient.

As a true partner for democracy, development and social Justice, Indonesia stands ready to advance the councils work with all its members and partners to achieve that.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
WASHINGTON  Rep. John Katko has turned to one of President Donald Trumps most vocal defenders to raise money at a $1,000 per person breakfast in Syracuse next month.

Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, will be the special guest at the March 7 breakfast, according to an invitation to the event.

The breakfast will be hosted by the Barclay Damon law firm in Syracuse, whose partners include Will Barclay, the Republican minority leader of the New York Assembly. The invitation did not disclose the location of the breakfast.

Katko, R-Camillus, endorsed Trumps bid for a second term last month, marking a dramatic shift in his previous efforts to distance himself from the president.

Katko refused to endorse or vote for Trump in the 2016 presidential election, and called for him to step down as the Republican nominee after an Access Hollywood recording surfaced of Trump making crude remarks about women.

Nunes will be the first prominent Republican to raise money for Katko in Central New York since he endorsed Trump.

Katkos campaign declined to confirm or comment about the event when reached Tuesday morning.

Nunes took the leading role defending Trump in the House Intelligence Committees impeachment hearings in December.

In 2018, Nunes alleged in a memo that the FBI abused its surveillance authority during the 2016 presidential election by monitoring a Trump adviser, Carter Page, in its investigation of Russian interference in the election.

The Justice Department later released documents showing the allegations were false or misleading.

Nunes last year filed a lawsuit against a private investigation firm over its role raising questions about Trumps ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit last week.

Nunes serves on the House Intelligence Committee with Upstate New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, who emerged as one of Trumps top defenders at the impeachment hearings. Katko has described Stefanik as one of his closest friends in the House.

Read more

Democrats choose Francis Conole to battle John Katko

Rep. John Katko votes against extending deadline to ratify Equal Rights Amendment

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751

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KYODO NEWS - Feb 25, 2020 - 22:18 | All, Japan

Japan's Supreme Court rejected Tuesday calls by three survivors of 1945 U.S. atomic bombings to be recognized as sufferers of radiation diseases, which would cut their medical payments, ruling they do not meet the conditions for those in need of treatment.

The health of the three female plaintiffs, who have such conditions as cataract and thyroid inflammation, has been monitored but they were not actively treated for the illnesses. High court rulings were divided over whether to recognize them as radiation disease sufferers.

"To be recognized as a radiation disease sufferer, there must be a special condition, such as a high risk of an illness deteriorating or recurring," which makes the follow-up itself indispensable for treatment, the top court ruling said.

"I worry every day about when and where an illness may materialize," said plaintiff Tsutae Takai, 84, at a press conference in Nagoya. She was 9 years old in Nagasaki when the atomic bomb was dropped around 5.4 kilometers from her home.

"My heart really broke," said another plaintiff, Toshiko Naito, 75, at a separate press conference in Tokyo. She was being carried by her mother at 11 months old in Hiroshima when the bomb was dropped.

"Everyone had supported us, so I'm really sorry that it has come to this," she said. "I don't know what to do right now."

The three plaintiffs had filed lawsuits seeking to nullify the government decision not to recognize them as radiation disease sufferers. Nagoya and Hiroshima high courts ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, while the Fukuoka High Court ruled against one of them.

"It was an unexpected ruling," said Sueichi Kido, executive director of the Japan Confederation of A-and H-Bomb Sufferers Organization.

People whose illness such as cancer is recognized by the government as caused by radiation from the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and who still require treatment are exempt from medical payments and can additionally receive a monthly special allowance of about 140,000 yen ($1,265).

Many rulings have been made over the link between an illness and the atomic bombings, but it was the first trial that centered on the need for treatment in state recognition of radiation disease suffers.

In order to be recognized as sufferers of the atomic bomb, individuals have to be suffering from an illness caused directly by radiation, and also have to be in a condition that requires medical treatment.

"There is a possibility that (the plaintiffs) would become eligible for medical payments depending on how their condition develops," presiding judge Katsuya Uga said during the ruling.

As of late March last year, 145,844 people were atomic bomb survivors, according to the health ministry. Of them, 7,269 were receiving a monthly special medical care allowance for radiation diseases.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare did not issue an official statement following the ruling, but a senior ministry official said, "The government's assertion was recognized."

"The necessary conditions to be accepted (as a sufferer) were clarified," the official added.

Related coverage:

California lawmakers apologize for Japanese American WWII internment

Ex-U.S. official ruled out nukes on Okinawa after return to Japan

Hiroshima to demolish 2 A-bombed buildings despite some opposition
US President Donald Trump will get a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan at 10:00 am on Tuesday followed by a visit to Rajghat where he will pay tributes to India's Freedom Fighter Mahatma Gandhi.

New Delhi: US President Donald Trump will have a packed schedule on Tuesday in New Delhi, where he arrived on Monday evening on the last leg of his India visit. The US President will get a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan at 10:00 am followed by a visit to Rajghat where he will pay tributes to India's Freedom Fighter Mahatma Gandhi.

The US President will lay the wreath at Rajghat and observe one-minute of silence. He will also be signing the Visitors' Book.

Trump will hold restricted and then delegation-level bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House. This will be followed by the signing of agreements between the two sides and press statement by both the leaders.

Among others, the two sides will sign deals worth three billion dollars for the supply of choppers for the Indian Army and Navy. Trump had himself confirmed this during his address at the "Namaste Trump" event in Ahmedabad on Monday.

"I am pleased to announce that tomorrow our representatives will sign deals to sell over USD 3 Billion, in the absolute finest state of the art military helicopters and other equipment to the Indian armed forces," Trump had said.

Meanwhile, US First Lady Melania Trump will be visiting a Delhi government school in South Moti Bagh where she will review the "Happiness Class" programme implemented by the government of the capital city.

After meeting kids, she is expected to attend 'Happiness Classes' started by the Delhi government. As a part of the programme, students are taught various activities including meditation, street plays, basic obedience aimed at reducing anxiety and stress levels among children.

In the evening, the US President will hold a presser before he drives to Rashtrapati Bhavan again for meeting President Ram Nath Kovind. He will also attend the state banquet hosted in his honour by President Kovind.

Later, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will also call on the visiting US President. Trump is scheduled to depart at 10:00 pm tonight.

Donald Trump on Monday reflected India's concerns on cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan as he spoke expanding bilateral military partnership and asserted that America will always be "faithful and loyal friend" to the Indian people.

Trump, who spoke at 'Namaste Trump' event at the packed Motera Stadium here after his arrival in India, lavishly praised on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership and spoke effusively of India's rise as a plural, diverse democracy.

He announced that the two countries will sign deals to sell over three billion dollars in for state-of-the-art helicopters and other equipment for Indian armed forces and said the US should be India's premier defence partner.

Trump, who was accompanied by his wife Melania, came to the stadium after a brief visit to Sabarmati Ashram where he spun charkha and garlanded the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi.

Trump's daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner are also accompanying him during the visit.

From Ahmedabad, the Trumps flew to Agra and visited Taj Mahal. They appreciated the grandeur of the Taj Mahal in the picturesque backdrop of setting sun before departing for Delhi.
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Elkins Kalt Weintraub Reuben Gartside LLP is pleased to announce that Robert K. Rasmussen has joined the firm as of-counsel in its Bankruptcy and Restructuring group.

One of the country's leading experts on bankruptcy law and corporate reorganizations, Rasmussen is a professor at the USC Gould School of Law and holds the J. Thomas McCarthy Trustee Chair in Law and Political Science. At Elkins Kalt, Rasmussen will advise clients in the areas of bankruptcy, commercial, secured transactions and corporate reorganization law.

Elkins Kalt Weintraub Reuben Gartside LLP

"We are thrilled to welcome Bob to Elkins Kalt," said Jeffrey Reuben, one of the firm's founding partners. "Bob is one of the foremost experts in bankruptcy law, and his depth of expertise and experience will be invaluable in helping our clients navigate the complex bankruptcy and corporate restructuring landscape. Bob is well-known and highly respected in the bankruptcy and academic fields, and he is a tremendous addition to our firm."

"I'm delighted to join the Elkins Kalt team," said Rasmussen. "I look forward to contributing to the firm's growing bankruptcy and corporate reorganization practice."

Rasmussen joined the USC Gould School of Law in 2007, serving as dean from 2007 to 2015. He previously taught at Vanderbilt Law School, and has been a visiting professor at the University of Chicago and University of Michigan law schools. Prior to teaching, Rasmussen clerked for the Honorable John C. Godbold, chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, and worked in the Civil Division Appellate Staff at the U.S. Department of Justice, handling litigation in the U.S. Courts of Appeals and the Supreme Court.

A widely-cited author and legal scholar, Rasmussen's work has been published in some of the country's leading law journals, including the Supreme Court Review, the University of Pennsylvania Law Review, the Stanford Law Review, and the Yale Law Journal, and his legal writings have played a role in shaping the jurisprudence of his field.

Rasmussen received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif, and was the comment editor of the University of Chicago Law Review. He received his BA, magna cum laude, from Loyola University of Chicago.

ELKINS KALT WEINTRAUB REUBEN GARTSIDE LLP is a full-service law firm with a focus on exceptional client results. Our expertise includes Real Estate and Finance, Land Use and Environmental, Tax, Estate Planning, Bankruptcy and Restructuring, Corporate, Securities, Hospitality and Leisure, Investment Advisor/Broker-Dealer, Litigation, Employment and Labor, and Family Law.

Media Contact: Vivian Cha

Email: [email protected]

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I hope our Italian authorities, and the rest of Europe as well, recognize that a complete shutdown of the facility is not just an Italian problem, he said in an interview. It will affect everyone. Ultimately our business  indeed, I think, most business in the world today  is part of a vibrant ecosystem. If you shut down one part of that ecosystem, inevitably its going to have effects on other parts.

The company, in a public statement on Monday, urged the Italian authorities to allow it to resume operations using one-tenth of its 600 workers. Otherwise, MTA warned, it would be unable to supply crucial parts to its customers, threatening to halt production at prominent automobile manufacturers across Europe, among them Renault, BMW, Peugeot and Jaguar Land Rover.

BMW said it was continuing to monitor the situation but had yet to encounter difficulties finding needed parts. A spokeswoman for Renault said the company was still assessing potential impact and declined further comment. Jaguar Land Rover declined to comment, and Peugeot did not immediately respond to questions.

The drama in Codogno underscored the worries afflicting the world economy as the coronavirus spreads.
Police search for missing 12-year-old Kansas City girl KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City, Missouri, police are searching for a missing 12-year-old Kansas City girl. Laji Stephens was last seen at 4:22 p.m. Monday getting off a school bus near East 70th Street and Olive Avenue in Kansas City. She wore a purple coat, blue jeans, brown boots and carried a panda backpack, according to police.

Here's the link for more deets and tonight's search amid growing danger for 2020 . . . Last night a. Now police are searching for another young person who might be in trouble. Checkit:
US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania on Tuesday paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the memorial of India's Father of the Nation at Rajghat here.

The US president and the first lady laid a wreath and paid floral tributes at Rajghat.

The Trumps reached Rajghat after a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Trump also signed the visitor's book at Rajghat, and the couple also planted a sapling at the memorial.

Union minister Hardeep Puri accompanied the Trumps to Rajghat.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Intuit announced Monday that it is buying consumer finance company Credit Karma in a $7.1 billion cash and stock deal.

The agreement would bring together the maker of well-known personal finance tools such as TurboTax and Mint, with a company that focuses on access to consumer financial products, such as finding the right loan or credit card.

Credit Karma, founded in 2007 and based in San Francisco, has more than 100 million members in the U.S., Canada and U.K. It generated nearly $1 billion in revenue in 2019, according to the companies.

Intuit, based in Mountain View, Calif., said it will pay for the deal in equal portions of cash and its own common stock. The deal value includes an estimated $1 billion in equity awards to be offered over three years.

The companies said they expect the deal to close in the second half of 2020, pending regulatory approval.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has set a task to Energy and Environment Protection Minister Oleksiy Orzhel to reduce coal and electricity imports.

"What kind of import can we talk about when the countries from which we import do not allow us to enter their markets?" the president said at the meeting of the workers of coal industry in Kyiv on Tuesday.

He said that import is possible exclusively regarding definite brands of coal, which are not extracted inside the country.

"Therefore, our coal, our miners, our electricity comes first," Zelensky said, adding that there is no place for coal imports in the Ukrainian coal industry.
NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Construction Chemicals market worldwide is projected to grow by US$21.7 Billion, driven by a compounded growth of 8.6%. Concrete Admixtures, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 10.1%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$14.4 Billion by the year 2025, Concrete Admixtures will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05442567/?utm_source=PRN

- Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 7.2% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$746.8 Million to the region's size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over US$631.2 Million worth of projected demand in the region will come from Rest of Europe markets. In Japan, Concrete Admixtures will reach a market size of US$493.2 Million by the close of the analysis period. As the world's second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 13% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$6.3 Billion in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders. Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies.



- Competitors identified in this market include, among others,

Akzo Nobel Chemicals AG

Antas Chemical Co., Ltd.

Ashland Inc.

BASF SE

Bostik Inc.

Franklin International Inc.

GCP Applied Technologies

H.B. Fuller Company

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

Mapei S.p.A.

RPM International Inc.

DAP Products Inc.

Tremco Incorporated

Sika AG

The Dow Chemical Company









Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05442567/?utm_source=PRN



I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE



II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



1. MARKET OVERVIEW



Construction Chemicals - Addressing the Diverse Construction Needs

Recent Market Activity

Current & Future Analysis

Demand in Linear Relationship with Construction Sector

Non-Residential Construction - the Primary End-use Market

Developing Economies Drive Momentum

Rise of New Production Facilities in Emerging Markets

R&D Investments Continue to Improve

Global Competitor Market Shares

Construction Chemicals Competitor Market Share Scenario

Worldwide (in %): 2020 & 2029





2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS



Akzo Nobel Chemicals AG (Netherlands)

Antas Chemical Co., Ltd. (China)

Ashland Global Holdings, Inc. (USA)

BASF SE (Germany)

Bostik, Inc. (USA)

Franklin International, Inc. (USA)

GCP Applied Technologies, Inc. (USA)

H.B. Fuller Company (USA)

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Germany)

Mapei S.p.A. (Italy)

RPM International, Inc. (USA)

DAP Products, Inc. (USA)

Tremco Incorporated (USA)

Royal Adhesives and Sealants LLC (USA)

Selena FM S.A. Group (Poland)

Sika AG (Switzerland)

The Dow Chemical Company (USA)





3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS



Demand for Cement Additives Gains Strength

Construction Chemicals Innovate to Improve Energy Efficiency

Demand on Rise in Roofing Restoration

Government Regulations Drive Demand for Green Construction

Chemicals

Sustainable Products Gain Popularity

Concrete Solutions Witness Notable Innovations

High Rise Building Projects Drive Demand for High Performance

Concrete

Demand for Ready-mix Concrete Boosts Consumption of Admixtures

Demand on Rise for Waterproofing Admixtures

Polycarboxylate Admixtures Grow in Demand

Strong Demand in Developing Economies to Boost Lignosulfonate-

based Concrete Admixtures Market

Demand for Low Maintenance Construction Benefits Demand for

Polyurethane Sealants

Infrastructure upgrades Spur Consumption of Bituminous Sealants

and Caulks

High Performance Colored Materials Attract Attention

Eco-Friendly & Odor-Free Adhesive Alternatives Gain Demand





4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE



Table 1: Construction Chemicals Global Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 2: Construction Chemicals Global Retrospective Market

Scenario in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 3: Construction Chemicals Market Share Shift across Key

Geographies Worldwide: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 4: Concrete Admixtures (Product Type) World Market by

Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025

Table 5: Concrete Admixtures (Product Type) Historic Market

Analysis by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017

Table 6: Concrete Admixtures (Product Type) Market Share

Breakdown of Worldwide Sales by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS

2025

Table 7: Protective Coatings (Product Type) Potential Growth

Markets Worldwide in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025

Table 8: Protective Coatings (Product Type) Historic Market

Perspective by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017

Table 9: Protective Coatings (Product Type) Market Sales

Breakdown by Region/Country in Percentage: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 10: Adhesives & Sealants (Product Type) Geographic Market

Spread Worldwide in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025

Table 11: Adhesives & Sealants (Product Type) Region Wise

Breakdown of Global Historic Demand in US$ Million: 2009 to

2017

Table 12: Adhesives & Sealants (Product Type) Market Share

Distribution in Percentage by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS

2025

Table 13: Waterproofing Chemicals (Product Type) World Market

Estimates and Forecasts by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018

to 2025

Table 14: Waterproofing Chemicals (Product Type) Market

Historic Review by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017

Table 15: Waterproofing Chemicals (Product Type) Market Share

Breakdown by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 16: Asphalt Additives (Product Type) World Market by

Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025

Table 17: Asphalt Additives (Product Type) Historic Market

Analysis by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017

Table 18: Asphalt Additives (Product Type) Market Share

Distribution in Percentage by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS

2025

Table 19: Other Product Types (Product Type) World Market

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018

to 2025

Table 20: Other Product Types (Product Type) Market Worldwide

Historic Review by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017

Table 21: Other Product Types (Product Type) Market Percentage

Share Distribution by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025





III. MARKET ANALYSIS



GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS

UNITED STATES

Market Facts & Figures

US Construction Chemicals Market Share (in %) by Company: 2020 &

2025

Market Analytics

Table 22: United States Construction Chemicals Market Estimates

and Projections in US$ Million by Product Type: 2018 to 2025

Table 23: Construction Chemicals Market in the United States by

Product Type: A Historic Review in US$ Million for 2009-2017

Table 24: United States Construction Chemicals Market Share

Breakdown by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

CANADA

Table 25: Canadian Construction Chemicals Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type: 2018 to 2025

Table 26: Canadian Construction Chemicals Historic Market

Review by Product Type in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 27: Construction Chemicals Market in Canada: Percentage

Share Breakdown of Sales by Product Type for 2009, 2019, and

2025

JAPAN

Table 28: Japanese Market for Construction Chemicals: Annual

Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Product Type

for the Period 2018-2025

Table 29: Construction Chemicals Market in Japan: Historic

Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type for the Period

2009-2017

Table 30: Japanese Construction Chemicals Market Share Analysis

by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

CHINA

Table 31: Chinese Construction Chemicals Market Growth

Prospects in US$ Million by Product Type for the Period

2018-2025

Table 32: Construction Chemicals Historic Market Analysis in

China in US$ Million by Product Type: 2009-2017

Table 33: Chinese Construction Chemicals Market by Product

Type: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025

EUROPE

Market Facts & Figures

European Construction Chemicals Market: Competitor Market Share

Scenario (in %) for 2020 & 2025

Market Analytics

Table 34: European Construction Chemicals Market Demand

Scenario in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 35: Construction Chemicals Market in Europe: A Historic

Market Perspective in US$ Million by Region/Country for the

Period 2009-2017

Table 36: European Construction Chemicals Market Share Shift by

Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 37: European Construction Chemicals Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type: 2018-2025

Table 38: Construction Chemicals Market in Europe in US$

Million by Product Type: A Historic Review for the Period

2009-2017

Table 39: European Construction Chemicals Market Share

Breakdown by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

FRANCE

Table 40: Construction Chemicals Market in France by Product

Type: Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for the Period

2018-2025

Table 41: French Construction Chemicals Historic Market

Scenario in US$ Million by Product Type: 2009-2017

Table 42: French Construction Chemicals Market Share Analysis

by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

GERMANY

Table 43: Construction Chemicals Market in Germany: Recent

Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Product

Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 44: German Construction Chemicals Historic Market

Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type: 2009-2017

Table 45: German Construction Chemicals Market Share Breakdown

by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ITALY

Table 46: Italian Construction Chemicals Market Growth

Prospects in US$ Million by Product Type for the Period

2018-2025

Table 47: Construction Chemicals Historic Market Analysis in

Italy in US$ Million by Product Type: 2009-2017

Table 48: Italian Construction Chemicals Market by Product

Type: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025

UNITED KINGDOM

Table 49: United Kingdom Market for Construction Chemicals:

Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by

Product Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 50: Construction Chemicals Market in the United Kingdom:

Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type for the

Period 2009-2017

Table 51: United Kingdom Construction Chemicals Market Share

Analysis by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

SPAIN

Table 52: Spanish Construction Chemicals Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type: 2018 to 2025

Table 53: Spanish Construction Chemicals Historic Market Review

by Product Type in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 54: Construction Chemicals Market in Spain: Percentage

Share Breakdown of Sales by Product Type for 2009, 2019, and

2025

RUSSIA

Table 55: Russian Construction Chemicals Market Estimates and

Projections in US$ Million by Product Type: 2018 to 2025

Table 56: Construction Chemicals Market in Russia by Product

Type: A Historic Review in US$ Million for 2009-2017

Table 57: Russian Construction Chemicals Market Share Breakdown

by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF EUROPE

Table 58: Rest of Europe Construction Chemicals Market

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type:

2018-2025

Table 59: Construction Chemicals Market in Rest of Europe in

US$ Million by Product Type: A Historic Review for the Period

2009-2017

Table 60: Rest of Europe Construction Chemicals Market Share

Breakdown by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 61: Asia-Pacific Construction Chemicals Market Estimates

and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 62: Construction Chemicals Market in Asia-Pacific:

Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by Region/Country for

the Period 2009-2017

Table 63: Asia-Pacific Construction Chemicals Market Share

Analysis by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 64: Construction Chemicals Market in Asia-Pacific by

Product Type: Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 65: Asia-Pacific Construction Chemicals Historic Market

Scenario in US$ Million by Product Type: 2009-2017

Table 66: Asia-Pacific Construction Chemicals Market Share

Analysis by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

AUSTRALIA

Table 67: Construction Chemicals Market in Australia: Recent

Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Product

Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 68: Australian Construction Chemicals Historic Market

Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type: 2009-2017

Table 69: Australian Construction Chemicals Market Share

Breakdown by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

INDIA

Table 70: Indian Construction Chemicals Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type: 2018 to 2025

Table 71: Indian Construction Chemicals Historic Market Review

by Product Type in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 72: Construction Chemicals Market in India: Percentage

Share Breakdown of Sales by Product Type for 2009, 2019, and

2025

SOUTH KOREA

Table 73: Construction Chemicals Market in South Korea: Recent

Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Product

Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 74: South Korean Construction Chemicals Historic Market

Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type: 2009-2017

Table 75: Construction Chemicals Market Share Distribution in

South Korea by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 76: Rest of Asia-Pacific Market for Construction

Chemicals: Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$

Million by Product Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 77: Construction Chemicals Market in Rest of

Asia-Pacific: Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Product

Type for the Period 2009-2017

Table 78: Rest of Asia-Pacific Construction Chemicals Market

Share Analysis by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

LATIN AMERICA

Table 79: Latin American Construction Chemicals Market Trends

by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018-2025

Table 80: Construction Chemicals Market in Latin America in US$

Million by Region/Country: A Historic Perspective for the

Period 2009-2017

Table 81: Latin American Construction Chemicals Market

Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Region/Country: 2009, 2019,

and 2025

Table 82: Latin American Construction Chemicals Market Growth

Prospects in US$ Million by Product Type for the Period

2018-2025

Table 83: Construction Chemicals Historic Market Analysis in

Latin America in US$ Million by Product Type: 2009-2017

Table 84: Latin American Construction Chemicals Market by

Product Type: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and

2025

ARGENTINA

Table 85: Argentinean Construction Chemicals Market Estimates

and Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type: 2018-2025

Table 86: Construction Chemicals Market in Argentina in US$

Million by Product Type: A Historic Review for the Period

2009-2017

Table 87: Argentinean Construction Chemicals Market Share

Breakdown by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

BRAZIL

Table 88: Construction Chemicals Market in Brazil by Product

Type: Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for the Period

2018-2025

Table 89: Brazilian Construction Chemicals Historic Market

Scenario in US$ Million by Product Type: 2009-2017

Table 90: Brazilian Construction Chemicals Market Share

Analysis by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

MEXICO

Table 91: Construction Chemicals Market in Mexico: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type for

the Period 2018-2025

Table 92: Mexican Construction Chemicals Historic Market

Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type: 2009-2017

Table 93: Mexican Construction Chemicals Market Share Breakdown

by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF LATIN AMERICA

Table 94: Rest of Latin America Construction Chemicals Market

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Product Type: 2018

to 2025

Table 95: Construction Chemicals Market in Rest of Latin

America by Product Type: A Historic Review in US$ Million for

2009-2017

Table 96: Rest of Latin America Construction Chemicals Market

Share Breakdown by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

MIDDLE EAST

Table 97: The Middle East Construction Chemicals Market

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country:

2018-2025

Table 98: Construction Chemicals Market in the Middle East by

Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 99: The Middle East Construction Chemicals Market Share

Breakdown by Region/Country: 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 100: The Middle East Construction Chemicals Market

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type: 2018 to

2025

Table 101: The Middle East Construction Chemicals Historic

Market by Product Type in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 102: Construction Chemicals Market in the Middle East:

Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Product Type for 2009,

2019, and 2025

IRAN

Table 103: Iranian Market for Construction Chemicals: Annual

Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Product Type

for the Period 2018-2025

Table 104: Construction Chemicals Market in Iran: Historic

Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type for the Period

2009-2017

Table 105: Iranian Construction Chemicals Market Share Analysis

by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ISRAEL

Table 106: Israeli Construction Chemicals Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type: 2018-2025

Table 107: Construction Chemicals Market in Israel in US$

Million by Product Type: A Historic Review for the Period

2009-2017

Table 108: Israeli Construction Chemicals Market Share

Breakdown by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

SAUDI ARABIA

Table 109: Saudi Arabian Construction Chemicals Market Growth

Prospects in US$ Million by Product Type for the Period

2018-2025

Table 110: Construction Chemicals Historic Market Analysis in

Saudi Arabia in US$ Million by Product Type: 2009-2017

Table 111: Saudi Arabian Construction Chemicals Market by

Product Type: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and

2025

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Table 112: Construction Chemicals Market in the United Arab

Emirates: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$

Million by Product Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 113: United Arab Emirates Construction Chemicals Historic

Market Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type: 2009-2017

Table 114: Construction Chemicals Market Share Distribution in

United Arab Emirates by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF MIDDLE EAST

Table 115: Construction Chemicals Market in Rest of Middle

East: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million

by Product Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 116: Rest of Middle East Construction Chemicals Historic

Market Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type: 2009-2017

Table 117: Rest of Middle East Construction Chemicals Market

Share Breakdown by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

AFRICA

Table 118: African Construction Chemicals Market Estimates and

Projections in US$ Million by Product Type: 2018 to 2025

Table 119: Construction Chemicals Market in Africa by Product

Type: A Historic Review in US$ Million for 2009-2017

Table 120: African Construction Chemicals Market Share

Breakdown by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025





IV. COMPETITION



Total Companies Profiled: 215

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05442567/?utm_source=PRN



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US aid agency said the suspension will start in late March if Houthi rebels do not stop blocking aid programmes.

Aid agency USAID has said it will suspend aid to Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, where most of the countrys people live, if the rebels do not remove impediments obstructing aid operations.

In a statement, the agency said it informed partners, including UN agencies, about the plan last week. It said the suspension will start in late March if Houthi rebels do not act to remedy the situation.

We continue to do everything we can to avoid a reduction in aid in northern Yemen, the agency said.

The US provided about $700m in aid to Yemen last year. It is among the largest donors to Yemen, where a UN aid programme totalling $8.35bn since 2015 is vital to keeping many Yemenis alive.

The Houthis took over the capital Sanaa in 2014 after overthrowing the government of Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and establishing their authority in much of Yemens northern region.

A Saudi Arabia-led coalition intervened in support of the Yemeni government in 2015 when Hadi fled into Saudi exile as the rebels closed in on his last remaining territory in and around Aden.

Worst humanitarian crisis

The war in Yemen has killed tens of thousands of people, most of them civilians, according to relief organisations. The devastating conflict has left millions facing the threat of famine in what the UN calls the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.

As the war enters its sixth year, 10 million people in the country are on the brink of famine and 80 percent of the population of 29 million is in need of aid, according to the UN.

More than three million people have been displaced, cholera epidemics have killed hundreds, and at least 2.2 million children under five suffer from severe malnutrition, the agency said.

Human rights groups have criticised the Saudi-UAE-led coalition for targeting civilians in hospitals, schools and markets, also condemning Western countries for providing it with arms.

Yemens Houthi rebels, who control most of northern Yemen, have blocked half of the UNs aid delivery programmes in the war-torn country  a strong-arm tactic aimed at forcing the agencies to give them greater control over the humanitarian campaign.
Eleven years ago, Sergeant Lamin Karbou was working at the Banjul International Airport as an anti-narcotic officer. His command center was in Brikama, a provincial town of West Coast region, about one hour drive from Banjul. Karbou was an agent of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency of the Gambia (DLEAG), an anti-narcotic agency. He had joined the DLEAG in 2008. Barely a year later, in May 2009, him and his colleague Lamin Sima were informed by their commanding officer Nfally Dambeleh to go to Kembujeh, a settlement about 15-minute drive from Brikama.

The two agents were to follow a cocaine transaction involving some unknown individuals. They were left in the dark as to the source of the tipoff. They followed the trail, and the information turned up to be accurate. Not known to them though was that this operation involved agents of Gambias National Intelligence Agency (NIA). NIA at the time was the most feared security institution in this country, said Karbou.

But that did not stop him and his colleague from intervening. At the scene, Karbou said they found two vehicles, including a taxi. Among the NIA officers he recognized were Lamin Darboe, Omar Jammeh, Mustapha Ceesay, Dembo Mbaye, Lamin Hydara, Modou Jarju alias Rambo, who was also a member of the Junglers, a paramilitary hit squad under president Yahya Jammeh. One of the NIA officers, said Karbou, fired a pistol in the air. Another hit Lamin Sima, who was approaching, on his chest and demanded that they backed off. They said it was a NIA operation, testified Karbou before Gambias Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) last week. In his view, this couldnt be: the NIA had no mandate in drug-related matters. They were there for their pockets, concluded Karbou.

Cover-up

Karbou and Sima could not make any arrest. However, now that two anti-narcotic officers knew about the operation the NIA agents arrested two people at the scene, Tijan Ndure and Karamo Drammeh, and a third one, Ansumana Fatty, later on and handed them to the Brikama police station. For Karbou, that was a cover-up. He was convinced that the NIA was involved in the drug trade. His boss Dambeleh called an anti-narcotic chief, Bun Sanneh, to inform him of what happened. Sanneh called the director of the NIA Bo Badgie. However, Badgie claimed no knowledge of the NIA presence at the scene. A bag full of money was kept by the NIA and never returned.

The NIA then began a sham investigation requiring Karbou to write a statement and lie about the incident. He refused. The agency was not used to being defied  especially under Jammeh. Karbou said both Jim Ebrimah Drammeh, a NIA operative, and Alagie Edrisa Jobe, a.k.a. Alagie Morr, a director of operations at the same agency, had engineered the whole operation. He claimed that both men were involved in dealing drugs with some nationals from Guinea Bissau. And now they tried to intimidate him to change his mind. Jim told me that his men [at the NIA] in their statement said they conducted arrests and some of the suspects escaped. I told Jim that I didnt witness that and did not see anyone running away because no one ran at the arresting ground, Karbou recalled.

Torture, illegal detention and fruitless prosecution

That was not the answer the NIA wanted. Karbou was taken to Alagie Morr whom, he alleged, supervised his torture. When I entered the room, I was grabbed by men. Alagie asked me whether I will comply with them and change my statement but I told him I wont. Alagie Morr tore my trousers with a scissors. They forced me on my knees while I was in cuffs. Alagie Morr connected an electric wire. He was the first to start beating me and the others joined. I got bruises all over my body, said Karbou. After his alleged torture, Karbou would endure four weeks of illegal detention at the NIA.

Karbou and Sima were later taken to court on charges of conspiracy, possession of drugs for the purposes of trafficking, among others. From 2009 to 2011 there was no single witness in our case, said Karbou. After several warnings by the court to the prosecution for lack of evidence, the case was finally withdrawn and the two accused discharged. While in detention, Karbou lost his daughter to malaria. He still lives with the pain of his cruel treatment.

Karbou attempted to get compensation for the treatment meted at him but it was unsuccessful. In 2012 he filed a case against his torturers and presented his medical papers and photos of his body. (Karbou, who is now 50 years old, shared with the Commission a photo of him showing bruises all over his body that he took three months after the event.) He said the judge only warned and let go Alagie Morr and Jim Drammeh after the then Secretary General and Head of civil service Dr Njogu Bah had intervened and asked the court not to jail the two NIA officials. After Morr and Drammeh were discharged they were transferred from the NIA to the DLEAG.

Alleged perpetrators still in office

And here was more trouble for Karbou: today, Jim Drammeh is his boss, serving as director of operations at the anti-narcotic agency.

Karbou doesnt seem to appreciate. Seeing [Drammeh] reminds me of what he did to me eleven years ago, he said. According to him, some of his other tormentors are also still serving in the system. Sheriff Ceesay, Lamin Darboe and Omar Jammeh are said to be working at the NIA. (Alagie Morr lives in the United States.) According to Karbou, one of the people who constituted the sham panel that interviewed him during his illegal detention was Ousman Sowe. Sowe, a former director of operations of the NIA, is now the director general of the institution.

After the regime change in January 2017, the government renamed the institution State Intelligence Services but, according to critics, the operational systems and agents remain the same. The same criticism is made against the military. Last year, before the TRRC, Lt Babucarr Sanyang complained that his former torturer, General Alagie Martin, is now his direct boss at the army headquarters. Sanyang was accused of involvement in an alleged coup and arrested in 2006. He was beaten by a team of junior soldiers supervised by General Martin, a charge General Martin himself admitted before the Commission.

And so behind Karbou and Sanyangs testimonies lies the sensitive issue of the need for a vetting process in the security sector in post-Jammehs Gambia.

Recommended reading Gambias TRRC encounter with a man once feared
Mauritius



By Park Si-soo



A newly wedded South Korean couple has been quarantined in Mauritius, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, over possible spread of coronavirus.



According to Gangwon Ilbo daily, the couple  who left for Mauritius after their wedding ceremony in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, on Feb. 22  was taken to a quarantine facility after a health checkup at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport.



While the husband claims they don't have typical symptoms of coronavirus infection, health authorities there reportedly say they have.






Seeds offer a level of resilience to the harmful effects of climate change in ecosystems across the globe. When seeds are dropped into the soil, often becoming dormant for many years until they are ready to grow into plants, they become part of the natural storage of seeds in "soil seed banks." These banks have been thought to better withstand extreme conditions than can the sprouted vegetation that exists above-ground.

A new study published in the Ecological Society of America's journal Ecological Applications examines how warming and increased precipitation (rain and snow) harms the seeds in the ground of the Tibetan Plateau and elsewhere.

"Soil seed banks are essentially the last resort of natural resilience in ecosystems," says Scott Collins, professor at New Mexico University and an author on the paper. "Too often we focus on what we see above ground and base management decisions just on the appearance of the plant community."

The Tibetan Plateau, a place that has been grazed for thousands of years, is an ideal place to study direct and indirect climate effects on vegetation in a fragile environment. The study states that as the highest plateau in the world, averaging over 12,000 feet (4000 meters) in elevation, it is regarded as the third pole of the Earth. The warming rate here is nearly 1.5 times that of global warming due to climate change and annual rainfall has increased in most areas of the plateau.

Because the growing season is relatively short on the plateau, the soil samples and the plant surveys were all collected in one year. Researchers from Lanzhou University in China visited 57 sample collection sites at different elevations and ecosystem types in the northeastern part of the plateau. They gathered 1026 soil samples and surveyed the aboveground plant community, which are composed of the grown plants that reflect the types of seeds dropped into the ground over time. Next, the researchers germinated the samples and grew them in experimental plots to study the growth and what different conditions affect the seed soil banks of Tibet.

While some plants appear to grow well under increasing precipitation and warming, these changes have different, harmful effects on the little seeds that lay dormant and resilient in the soil.

"Climate change effects the ability of seeds to germinate, grow and survive," says Collins. "Although climate change affects adult plants, seedlings are delicate and stress from climate - drought, freezing, etc. - can cause high mortality of seedlings."

The study states that temperature is a primary factor in controlling seed dormancy. With warmer temperatures, seeds may be triggered to sprout too early when conditions are not ideal for healthy growth. An abnormally warm spell of a few days - which is becoming more common - during an otherwise harsh winter can trigger those seeds to grow but ultimately make them fail. Many seeds might also be triggered to sprout too soon by higher moisture levels in the soil.

Increasing temperature and precipitation can also effect seeds indirectly, by changing the environment around them. Pathogens (microscopic disease-causing organisms) that are harmful to seeds can grow more prolific under warmer and wetter soil conditions. The acidity of the soil can also change, which strongly affects microbial communities and the abundance of those pathogens. Extra nitrogen in the soil, also brought on by changing conditions, allows some plant species to dominate others and leads to a decline in the overall species diversity, which translates to lower diversity of seeds in the ground.

Collins believes the study should compel ecosystem managers and scientists to pay attention to both the direct and indirect effects of global environmental change on belowground systems. "Even when the aboveground community seems badly degraded," he says, "the soil seed bank may still provide an important but underappreciated source of ecosystem resilience following prolonged disturbance."

With continued changing climate conditions, however, that resilience continues to be tested.

###

Journal article

Ma, Miaojun, et al. 2020. "Direct and indirect effects of temperature and precipitation on alpine seed banks in the Tibetan Plateau." Ecological Applications. DOI: 10.1002/eap.2096

Authors

Miaojun Ma and Guozhen Du; State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro?ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, China

Scott L. Collins; Department of Biology, University of New Mexico

Author contact:

Miaojun Ma mjma@zu.edu.cn

Scott Collins scollins@unm.edu

The Ecological Society of America, founded in 1915, is the world's largest community of professional ecologists and a trusted source of ecological knowledge, committed to advancing the understanding of life on Earth. The 9,000 member Society publishes five journals and a membership bulletin and broadly shares ecological information through policy, media outreach, and education initiatives. The Society's Annual Meeting attracts 4,000 attendees and features the most recent advances in ecological science. Visit the ESA website at http://www.esa.org.

Contact: Zoe Gentes, zgentes@esa.org">zgentes@esa.org, (202) 833-8773
Billionaire Warren Buffett, who owns 5.6 percent share of Apple shares, has reportedly switched to an iPhone for the first time. Buffett was previously using a $20 flip phone.

The man has been using a Samsung flip phone for years. During an interview with CNBC, Buffett said he has finally switched to an iPhone. "My flip phone is permanently gone. The number has been changed, Buffett said.

Buffetts new daily driver is the iPhone 11. He did not mention the exact model during the interview. The Berkshire Hathaway chairman and CEO stated that he uses the iPhone as a phone and not to play games like Fortnite or to scroll through social media feeds.

Youre looking at an 89-year-old guy whos barely beginning to get with it, Buffett said, though he doesnt use all its facilities like most people. He previously said he uses an iPad for conducting research and keeping track of stock prices.

Also Read: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Review

Buffett added that he did not buy the iPhone 11. In fact, he has been getting several iPhones as a gift from many, including Apple CEO Tim Cook, who had previously said that he would fly to Omaha, Nebraska, to help Buffet set up his new iPhone.
The shelter vote was 9-0, but it did not come without some rancor.

Commissioners Carolyn Coleman and Melvin Skip Alston said they were deeply disturbed that only 9.1% of the contract work  a total of just more than $1.2 million  would be going to businesses owned by African Americans.

It seems we may have to do something different. Every time we bid (a project) we cant get over 10%, Coleman said of participation by black-owned businesses.

County officials and Shelco worked diligently to recruit businesses owned by African Americans, but ultimately only three black-owned firms made the cut, said Cynthia Barnes-Phipps, director of the countys minority and womens business enterprise program.

Barnes-Phipps reported that overall, just less than $3.4 million or almost 27% of the project was going to businesses owned by minorities and women. Several commissioners praised Barnes-Phipps for her outreach efforts.

Black leaders, including Alston and Coleman, have been pressing county administrators to do a better job of including African American-owned businesses in public projects.
"Completion of our factory in Indonesia represents an important milestone in Fuling Global's strategy to become a global supplier of foodservice disposable products, offering innovative research and development and high-quality products, with international sourcing capability," said Mr. Xinfu Hu, CEO of Fuling Global Inc. "It is also by far our largest production plant outside of China and will enable us to provide our international clients with a comprehensive line of products."

The new Indonesia manufacturing facility spans nearly 194,000 square-feet. The Company expects to install 64 production lines of manufacturing equipment in two phases during 2020, including 20 straw production lines; 12 cup lid and packing box production lines; eight sauce cup production lines; and 24 paper cup production lines. Later this year, the Company plans to increase production to include paper bags. When both phases are done and fully operational, the Company expects to have approximately 500 employees at this facility and achieve annual production scale of approximately US$60 million, assuming sufficient customer orders.

About Fuling Global Inc.

Fuling Global Inc. manufactures and distributes environmentally-friendly disposable serviceware for the foodservice industry, with six precision manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Mexico, Indonesia and China. The Company's plastic and paper serviceware products include disposable cutlery, drinking straws, cups, plates and other plastic and paper products and are used by more than one hundred customers, including some of the world's most notable quick-service restaurants and retailers, primarily in the U.S. and European countries. More information about the Company can be found at: http://ir.fulingglobal.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains information about Fuling Global's view of its future expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results, including, but not limited to, completing the installation of manufacturing equipment and achieving annual sales at a rate of US $60 million, may differ materially from historical results or those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with its ability to raise additional funding, its ability to maintain and grow its business, variability of operating results, its ability to maintain and enhance its brand, its development and introduction of new products and services, the successful integration of acquired companies, technologies and assets into its portfolio of software and services, marketing and other business development initiatives, competition in the industry, plastic and oil pricing, general government regulation, economic conditions, the effect of novel coronavirus and other health matters on target markets, dependence on key personnel, the ability to attract, hire and retain personnel who possess the technical skills and experience necessary to meet the requirements of its clients, and its ability to protect its intellectual property. Fuling Global encourages you to review other factors that may affect its future results in Fuling Global's annual report and in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Fuling Global disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

SOURCE Fuling Global Inc.

Related Links

http://ir.fulingglobal.com/


AMHERST, Mass. - A new analysis of 92 studies from 27 countries conducted by ecologists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst suggests that many recent multi-species studies of wildlife communities often incorrectly use the analytical tools and methods available.

Technology such as trail cameras and drones have "revolutionized wildlife monitoring studies" in recent years, says organismic and evolutionary biology doctoral student Kadambari Devarajan, who led the study, "but if not properly used in well-designed research, they will compromise the reliability of the results obtained."

Devarajan and co-authors report that the number of studies reporting community-level data has dramatically increased from fewer than five in 2009 to more than 50 in 2019. They believe that given the growth of ecological studies at the community level, it is important to identify the pitfalls that could arise from incorrectly applying certain methods and inconsistencies in reporting results, as well as what should be improved going forward.

Reporting in a special issue of the journal Ecography, Devarajan and her collaborators Toni Lyn Morelli of UMass Amherst's Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center and Simone Tenan of the Museo delle Scienze, Trento, Italy, considered how published studies approached a variable known as 'species occupancy,' which among other things takes into account how easily detected each species is in the study area.

Devarajan explains, "If it's rare you can account for that, and if it's not rare, you can account for that as well, but a very important assumption made in occupancy is that you must identify the species correctly." However, that didn't always happen in the sample of studies they analyzed. "We lay out the consequences of violating assumptions associated with this method, and how to handle them correctly," she adds.

Devarajan, who has done field studies on carnivore communities in Zambia and India, points out that as methods and tools used to study single species in the past are modified to entire wildlife communities, there can be "a disconnect," reducing accuracy and precision in the inferences made. Her new paper not only points out difficulties but offers recommendations and guidelines for future work with a focus on multi-species occupancy models.

As she explains, "A trail camera set up to study black bears often captures the presence of other wildlife in the area, such as deer, bobcats, coyotes and rabbits. With the use of appropriate methods, scientists can use the trail camera data to simultaneously monitor populations of the entire wildlife community. At a time when human-driven climate and global change are affecting wildlife in myriad ways, multispecies methods are increasingly important as they are often more cost- and resource-efficient than conservation efforts for individual species."

In their analysis, Devarajan and colleagues show that under-reporting of necessary details about community-level patterns of wildlife occurrence were common. Researchers also failed to report crucial aspects of the study design such as justifying the choice of study sites and duration of the project, as well as placement of detectors such as camera traps and how long they were deployed.

With a background in computer science now applied to ecology and conservation, Devarajan also observed reporting bias and an increased potential for violation of assumptions. These factors could result in over- or under-estimating wildlife numbers, leading to spurious results, she notes. "Scientists are not always reporting assumptions and justifying the methods they used to support their conclusions, due to which the inferences drawn from such studies of wildlife communities have to be viewed with caution," she points out.

"To do these community-level studies well, you have to make certain assumptions and if you have a lot of reporting bias, there is increased potential for violating those assumptions," she adds. For example, one important assumption for mapping the distribution of multiple species in a defined area is correctly identifying the different species.

"In our paper we lay out the consequences for violating assumptions by looking at 10 years of studies of wildlife communities. We use this review of past studies to come up with a roadmap for how such studies should ideally be conducted and offer recommendations to make these studies more robust," she says.

Other issues explored by Devarajan and colleagues include whether research groups included a local collaborator for field studies, the kinds of organisms studied and how many community-level occupancy models looked at marine and aquatic environments compared to terrestrial. "It was good news to that for many of the studies, there is diversity in the research and inclusivity in taxa," she notes.

The researchers report that the studies they examined ranged from plants and insects to birds, mammals and reptiles, "a whole variety of taxa," but one bias they identified was little representation from marine environment or aquatic communities and an over-reliance on terrestrial systems, Devarajan notes.

###
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has become the latest US agency to ban TikTok, citing security fears with the hugely popular app.

New York senator Chuck Schumer wrote to TSA administrator David Pekoske raising concerns about the way the China-owned app handles user data.

TikTok is already banned by the Department of Homeland Security, as well as on government-issued mobile devices used by the US Army and US Navy.

The TSA responded to Mr Schumer's letter by announcing that employees will no longer use the app as part of the agency's social media strategy.

"TSA has never published any content to TikTok nor has it ever directed viewers to TikTok," the agency said in a statement.

"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."

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. 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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

Since it launched in 2016, TikTok has amassed more than 800 million users around the world.

Security concerns stem from claims that Chinese laws force the company to hand over user data in order to assist intelligence agencies.

A recent class action lawsuit in the US also claimed that TikTok comes pre-installed with "Chinese surveillance software".

According to the lawsuit, "TikTok clandestinely has vacuumed up and transferred to servers in China vast quantities of private and personally-identifiableuser data that can be employed to identify, profile and track the location and activities of users in the United States now and in the future".

TikTok owner Bytedance did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest ban but it has consistently denied that the data of US users is stored in China.

"We store all TikTok US user data in the United States, with backup redundancy in Singapore," the firm said in a statement last year.

"We remain committed to providing a safe and expressive app experience for our community."
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Linkedin A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 25, 2020 11:02 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206668f8f 1 National health-ministry,COVID-19,SARS-CoV-2,SARS,nCoV-19,WHO,Japan Free

A Health Ministry official said on Monday that the Japanese national who tested positive for the novel coronavirus upon his return from a trip to Indonesia was "not a case of COVID-19".

Secretary Achmad Yurianto of the Health Ministry's disease control and prevention directorate general said that according to Japanese authorities, the man was infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2"  or SARS-CoV-2  and insisted that SARS-CoV-2 was different from COVID-19.

There [in Japan], he was diagnosed by doctors to have been infected with SARS coronavirus type 2, Yurianto told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

When the Post asked Yurianto to elaborate on his insistence that the Japanese man did not have COVID-19 despite testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, he maintained his earlier statement.

In an earlier interview with kompas.com, Yurianto claimed that coronavirus disease 2019, officially named COVID-19, was different from SARS-CoV-2.

"What we have now is a COVID-19 epidemic. There are experts saying that COVID-19 is different from SARS CoV-2, and that the differences reach 70 percent, he said.

Yurianto said he believed that the two were different because in dealing with Indonesian crew members of the Diamond Princess cruise ship, Japan had consistently referred to their illness as COVID-19 rather than saying that they had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.

The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), which is responsible for naming and classifying new viruses, announced on Feb. 11 that the virus that causes COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) "has been named 'severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2' (SARS-CoV-2)".

The World Health Organization has also published a special webpage on naming the new coronavirus, which states that "the virus responsible for COVID-19" is named "severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

(SARS-CoV-2)". The subsequent section has the subheading "Why do the virus and the disease have different names?", and provides a clear explanation.

On Feb. 22, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced that the Japanese man was a Tokyo resident in his 60s. In related news published the same day, national broadcaster NHK reported that the man was diagnosed on Feb. 19 upon his return from a family vacation in Indonesia, but did not specify the local destination. It also said that he had gone to a medical facility on Feb. 12 with "cold-like symptoms".

Read also: BREAKING: Japanese man tests positive for COVID-19 after Indonesia visit: Report

Yurianto said that while the man was in Indonesia, he had only visited Bali and had not shown any symptoms of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Omni Hospital Pulomas vaccinologist Dirga Sakti Rambe said that similar cases could be going undetected, as several cases had been reported of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 who had not shown any symptoms of COVID-19.

[Asymptomatic] cases like this would not be detected at any airport around the world. This is what makes COVID-19 management difficult, Dirga told the Post.

Although ports of entry like airports should check the temperature of passengers according to guidance from the WHO, cases of infection could still miss detection, he said.

This is not the fault of the airports detection system, but the character of this disease. It is getting harder to control the outbreak because of asymptomatic transmission, said Dirga. Thats why it must be followed up, where he went, etc. Ideally, we should be tracking his [close] contacts.

On Monday, NHK reported that the Tokyo government had identified around 80 people as the man's close contacts and instructed them to remain at home in self-quarantine, and that it was continuing to surveil their condition.
SEOUL/BEIJING -- South Korea aims to test more than 200,000 members of a church at the center of a surge in coronavirus cases, as countries stepped up efforts to stop a pandemic of the virus that emerged in China and is now spreading in Europe and the Middle East.

More than 80,000 people have been infected in China since the outbreak began, apparently in an illegal wildlife market in the central city of Wuhan late last year.

Chinas death toll was 2,663 by the end of Monday, up 71 from the previous day. But the World Health Organization (WHO) has said the epidemic in China peaked between Jan. 23 and Feb. 2 and has been declining since.

However, fast-spreading outbreaks in Iran, Italy and South Korea, and first cases in several Middle East countries, have fed worries of a pandemic, or worldwide spread of the virus.

We are close to a pandemic, but there is still hope the epidemics in Iran, Italy, South Korea, etc. can be controlled, said Raina MacIntyre, head of the Biosecurity Program at the Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales.

South Korea has the most virus cases outside China and reported its tenth death and 144 new cases, for a total of 977. President Moon Jae-in said the situation was very grave.

In Europe, Italy has become a new front line, with 220 cases reported on Monday, up from just three on Friday. The death toll in Italy is seven.

Global stock markets stabilized on Tuesday after a wave of early selling petered out and Wall Street futures managed a solid bounce after a sharp selloff the previous day on fears about the spreading coronavirus.

If travel restrictions and supply chain disruptions spread, the impact on global growth could be more widespread and longer lasting, said Jonas Goltermann, senior economist at research consultancy Capital Economics in London.

Public anxiety

About 68% of South Koreas cases are linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, where the outbreak is believed to have begun with a 61-year-old woman. It is not known how she became infected.

The church said it would provide authorities the names of all its members in South Korea, estimated by media at about 215,000 people. The government would test them all as soon as possible, the prime ministers office said.

It is essential to test all of the church members, it said in a statement. Authorities said they were testing up to 13,000 people a day.

The U.S. and South Korean militaries have said they may cut back joint training due to the virus, in one of the first concrete signs of its fallout on global U.S. military activities.

The disclosure came during a visit to the Pentagon on Monday by South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, who said 13 South Korean troops had the virus.

The U.S. military said a woman who tested positive for the virus had visited one of its bases in the hard-hit city of Daegu. It was the first infection connected to U.S. Forces Korea, which has about 28,500 American troops on the peninsula.

The U.S. military urged troops to use extreme caution off base, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Americans should avoid non-essential travel to South Korea.

Iran isolation

Outside mainland China, the outbreak has spread to about 29 countries and territories, with a death toll of about three dozen, according to a Reuters tally.

Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait and Oman reported their first new coronavirus cases, all in people who had been to Iran where the toll was 14 dead, media said, and 61 infected.

The outbreak threatens to isolate Iran further. The United Arab Emirates, which has 13 virus cases, suspended all flights with Iran for at least a week, state media said.

Iraq extended an entry ban on travelers from China and Iran to those from five other countries over virus fears, its health ministry said.

In Japan, which has reported four deaths and 850 cases mostly linked to a cruise ship, Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said it was too early to talk about cancelling the Tokyo Olympics due to start on July 24.

The United States pledged $2.5 billion to fight the disease, with more than $1 billion going toward developing a vaccine, with other funds earmarked for therapeutics and the stockpiling of personal protective equipment such as masks.

China reported a rise in new cases in Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak. But excluding those, China had just nine new infections on Monday, its fewest since Jan. 20.

With the pace of new infections slowing, Beijing said restrictions on travel and movement that have paralyzed economic activity should begin to be lifted.

Low-risk areas ... are to restore order in production and life, cancel transport restrictions and help enterprises, state planner official Ou Xiaoli told a briefing.
French children returning from Italy's Lombardy and Veneto regions have been told to stay away from schools and creches for 14 days  as Rome puts 11 towns on lockdown to contain the spread of the virus.

In an unprecedented move, French education administrators sent letters to kindergartens, primary and high schools asking that parents follow strict rules during the 14-day stay-away period.

The advice includes: taking children's temperature twice daily, looking out for signs of respiratory infection, wearing a surgical mask when outside, regularly washing their hands, avoiding contact with frail people or hospitals and avoiding unnecessary trips to the cinema or restaurants.

The new measures, which also apply to people returning from China, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore and South Korea, come at the end of a two-week school holiday period during which many families may have travelled abroad.

In the event virus symptoms do appear, the school administrators are warned people not to travel to the doctor or the emergency room, but instead to contact the paramedics. In case of doubt, a seven-day toll-free number has been set up with operators on hand to answer questions about the coronavirus: 0 800 130 000.

France's Education Ministry has also asked school to postpone any trips to northern Italy, taking into account the local restrictions.

The most affected country in Europe, Italy has taken drastic measures to try to stem the spread of the coronavirus, which has already killed 7 people on its territory.

French anti-virus measures

Meanwhile, new French Health Minister Olivier Veran said the number of laboratories in France equipped with diagnostic tests would be increased to reach a capacity of several thousand tests a day, up from 400.

The number of hospitals able to receive and treat coronavirus patients has gone from 38 to 108, with at least one located in each mainland department of France.
Civil society groups and grassroots organizations condemned the Environment Ministrys decision to block Prey Lang community members, monks and human rights monitors from the annual tree blessing ceremony last week, calling the restriction indefensible.

More than 100 groups and communities released a statement on Tuesday saying they were appalled and outraged at the blocking of the tree blessing ceremony in the Prey Lang forest, alleging that the Ministry of Environment did not have proper legal justification for the restriction. Groups were congregating at the forest from Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, Kratie and Kampong Thom.

The Ministry of Environments use of masked armed rangers to prevent members of the Prey Lang Community Network (PLCN) from conducting an annual tree-blessing ceremony in the forest is an indefensible restriction on the communitys freedom of movement and harms conservation efforts in the forest, the statement reads.

The Ministry of Environment over the weekend had claimed that the PLCN was unregistered under the Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (LANGO) and questioned the groups monitoring of the protected area, alleging they produced data without appropriate scientific basis.

Using LANGO to prevent community members from blessing trees in a protected forest again demonstrates how harmful the legislation is in its current form, the statement reads.

Ministry of Environment spokesperson Neth Pheaktra said on Tuesday the PLCN was anarchical and dishonest in their work, again reiterating that the community was not registered.

"We cooperate only with legally registered communities and CSOs. Prey Lang Community Network is in the form of NGOs, but it has not registered yet though Ministry of Environment has advised many times, he said on Tuesday.

The statement pointed out that there was no documentation to show that people were restricted from entering the protected area, and that the protected area had not been zoned. This meant that no core zone had been created, which would have required prior permission to enter.

We have not seen any documents saying there is a core protected area in Prey Lang, said Licadho monitoring manager Am Sam Ath.

Sok Phloak, 34, a representative from Prey Lang in Kampong Thom province, said he was surprised the ministry prevented the ceremony this year.

They asked for permission letter from the high officials, he said. We do this every year and there is no problem.
A man from Uttar Pradesh has been apprehended by CISF personnel with over Rs 24 lakh "suspicious" cash at a Delhi Metro station, a senior official said on Tuesday.

The incident took place at the Azadpur metro station on Monday.

Rohit Kumar Yadav, 22, a resident of Ayodhya district in Uttar Pradesh, was nabbed by the CISF personnel as his bag had a huge amount of cash that looked suspicious, the official said.

A total amount of Rs 24.50 lakh in cash was recovered from his bag and the case was referred to the Income Tax department for further investigation, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The global coronavirus outbreak has caused a 75% drop in near-term demand for United flights to Asia on top of already canceled routes to China, the company said in a filing Monday. The airline has cut its revenue forecast for the year.

United, whose San Francisco hub accounts for 40% of the flights at the airport, said in the filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that we are managing our business to minimize the operational and financial disruption.

United Airlines shares fell 4.9% Tuesday morning to trade around $71.78, which is below the range the shares have traded since mid-2018.

The company said it expected reduced revenue on trans-Pacific routes to be partially offset by the decline in fuel prices and other cost savings in the first three months of the year.

However, due to the heightened uncertainty surrounding this outbreak, its duration, its impact on overall demand for air travel and the possibility the outbreak spreads to other regions, the company is withdrawing all full-year 2020 guidance issued on January 21, 2020, the airline said.

United flights to Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai and Hong Kong are suspended through April 24, accounting for 5% of the companys planned 2020 flight capacity. The other flights to Asia represent 10% of that capacity.

As of Tuesday morning, United as well as Korean Air and Asiana Airlines are still flying directly from SFO to Seoul, although United is offering waivers for refunds if passengers want to change or cancel their travel.

We did extend our waiver to cover South Korea yesterday, but those flights are still operating, spokeswoman Leslie Scott said in an email.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

U.S. government agencies have issued travel advisories warning citizens to not go to countries reporting high numbers of coronavirus cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added South Korea to its highest level of warning, urging citizens not to visit the country because of the rise in coronavirus cases on Monday. The agency also issued lesser warnings to practice enhanced precautions when traveling to Italy, Iran, and Japan, which have also seen a spike in cases. A low level warning to practice usual precautions is still in effect for Hong Kong.

New cases were reported Tuesday in Switzerland, Spain, Austria, and Croatia. The virus has now infected more than 80,000 globally, killing at least 2,700.

Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@mallorymoench
Photo credit: Department of Energy/Office of Public Affairs /Public Domain

From Popular Mechanics

In the early morning hours of February 27, 1940, chemist Martin Kamen sat in a cold, dark police station. Police officers apprehended the disheveled scientist, too tired to protest, outside of his laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley and hauled him to the station for questioning. They accused him of committing a string of murders that took place the previous evening.

But the police couldnt pin the crimes on Kamen because the scientist had been locked away in his lab for the past three days, lobbing deuteron particles at a tiny sample of graphite with his colleague, the chemist Samuel Ruben. After he was released, Kamen went home for a brief nap, returned to the lab, and then made one of the most important discoveries of the 20th Century: the carbon-14 isotope.

All life is made of carbon, atmospheric chemist Mark Thiemens of the University of California, San Diego, tells Popular Mechanics. The atmosphere has carbon dioxide. Its part of the process of photosynthesiscarbon dioxide is used by plants to make oxygen. If you want to understand anything related to biology, you start with carbon.

Undeniable Chemistry

Photo credit: US National Archives Public Domain Archive

Kamen was a child prodigy. Born in Toronto in 1913, he was a remarkably talented musicianeasily switching between the violin and violaand graduated from high school early. To help fund his studies in chemistry at the University of Chicago, he played music in Chicagos numerous speakeasies. After earning his Ph.D. and yearning for a change of scenery, Kamen took a position at UC Berkeley under the famed physicist E.O. Lawrence.



In Lawrences lab, he met Samuel Ruben, a talented chemist and boxer. Ruben was fixated on solving a biochemical conundrum. Scientists knew that, through photosynthesis, plants created oxygen. But what was the source? Was it carbon?

Kamen and Ruben conducted their experiments using a strange-looking machine called a cyclotron. The circular contraption accelerated atomic particles to a few percent of the speed of light along a cyclical path in order to create new nuclei and ions, according to John Marra, author of the book Hot Carbon: Carbon-14 and a Revolution in Science. This subatomic coliseum, a set of hollow electrodes called a dee, was sandwiched between two massive electromagnets.

Story continues

The scientists had to schedule their experiments for the dead of nightthe only time the machine was available. During the day, it was used for higher priority projects that sought new treatments for cancer. By irradiating hunks of graphite in the cyclotron, they were able to isolate the isotope, and forever change our understanding of life and its essential building blocks.

Atomic Love

Photo credit: Public Domain

Scientists are especially interested in an elements isotopes: atomic twins containing the same number of protons in their nucleus, but a different number of neutrons. When cosmic rays enter Earths atmosphere, they bombard nitrogenthe most common gas in our atmospherewith neutrons, causing them to lose a proton and turn into different isotopes.

Carbon has three naturally occurring isotopes. Each isotope has a slightly different mass, and is therefore uniquely identifiable. Carbon-12 has six protons and six neutrons in its nucleus. Carbon-13 has an extra neutron. Carbon-12 is the most common isotope, and, along with carbon-13, is completely stable.

Carbon-14, however, is the isotopic black sheep of the carbon family. It is the rarest isotope of carbon, occurring once out of every trillion carbon atoms. It has six protons and eight neutrons, which makes it radioactive and causes it to decay into Nitrogen-14 at an infrequent but measurable rate. The isotope, in essence, acts like a radioactive time-keeper.

Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5,730 years, which means that nearly every 6,000 years, the amount of carbon-14 atoms in a sample of organic material like, say, bone or wood will be cut by half. Because carbon-14s sister isotope, carbon-12, is so abundant in the atmosphere, its processed by plants through photosynthesis, and therefore found in almost all living things, too. Scientists are able to take a sample of material and analyze the ratio of stable carbon-12 particles to decaying carbon-14 particles.

Calculate It Yourself!

Scientists often use the following formula to calculate the rate of radioactive decay for a given sample:

N (t) = N 0 e -kt

N(t) is the number of carbon-14 atoms left in the sample after time.

N 0 is the number of carbon-14 atoms that the sample had when it died.

t is time, the variable we're solving for.

-k is the rate constant for the radioactive decay.

Next, we'll relate the rate constant to the half-life for the first-order kinetics:

k=ln 2/t 



Bringing the rate constant to:

k=ln 2/5.73103=1.21  104year1

Therefore, the first equation can be written like so:

N (t)=N 0 eln 2t/t 1/2

Tracking this ratio has been critical in unraveling mysteries in the fields of anthropology, archaeology, and paleontology, among countless others. But Kamen and Rubens discovery didnt go mainstream until 1946, when Willard Frank Libby, a professor of chemistry at the University of Chicago, conceived of a way to use carbon-14 to date organic matter.



In his tests, he compared the carbon-14 footprint of two samples: gas extracted from a fossil fuel, which, due to its age, wasnt expected to have any carbon-14, and a fresh sample of sewage from the city of Baltimores sewage system, which was.

Libby received the Nobel prize in Chemistry in 1960.

An Archaeologist's Dream Date

Photo credit: Public Domain





Previously, archaeologists and anthropologists relied on a method called relative dating to interpret how old a specimen might be. They read the geologic record: objects that were buried deeper were likely older than objects buried closer to the surface.

Suddenly, what was relatively earlier or relatively late could be tied to points in time, and we could do that with a relatively high degree of accuracy, Kurin says.

Using this prized isotope, scientists have estimated the age of ancient cave drawings carved into wasp nests; pinpointed when the mysterious Copper Age iceman Otzi, whose frozen, mummified body was pulled from the Austrian Alps, lived; and tracked the movements of ancient civilizations.

The general rule is that if you want to measure a process with a radioactive clock, the half life [of the isotope] has to be sort of around the right time scale of what you're measuring, says Thiemens. When they wanted to verify if the Shroud of Turin was real or not, carbon-14 was perfect.

This also illustrates one of carbon datings only weaknesses: it only works on samples younger than about 55,000 years. Anything older than that doesnt have enough quantifiable carbon-14 left.

If youre looking for organic remains that are under 50,000 years old, its kind of the gold standard, bioarchaeologist Danielle Kurin of the University of California, Santa Barbara tells Popular Mechanics. Its incredible that these residues of the past are available to us.

Dating in the Modern Age

Photo credit: United States Department of Defense

Most research labs now use an instrument called an Accelerator Mass Spectrometer to identify how many carbon-14 atoms are in a given sample. These highly specialized machines require much less sample material for an accurate readingjust a single milligram compared to the 50 milligrams that were required by previous radiocarbon dating methods.

That can make all the difference with fragile specimens. When we are sampling organic material, be they feathers or textiles or human remains, we want to do as little damage as possible, says Kurin. Still, in many cases, theyre prohibitively expensive, and theres always the concern that carbon could have been leached from its surroundings.

Monumental changes to the chemistry of Earths atmosphere can help scientists better constrain the dates provided by radiocarbon dating. Scientists have learned to calibrate their readings with information from other dating techniques. The amount of carbon in the atmosphere hasnt always been the same. Dendrochronology, which measures time using tree rings, can be used to constrain dates as early as 11,000 years.

When the U.S. and other countries began testing atomic weapons, the composition of the atmosphere changed forever. The explosive nuclear weapons introduced new isotopes, including carbon-14, into the atmosphere. Scientists have used carbon-14 dating to identify bottles of counterfeit Scotch Whisky, which, contrary to what their label says, were produced after the nuclear tests were conducted.

Because were releasing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than ever before, scientists will have to calibrate future measurements to take this influx of emissions into account.

Dating on Thin Ice

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Carbon isotopes have implications in other fields, too. In climate science, for example, its incredibly valuable. Scientists like Thiemens look at gas bubbles trapped in ancient ice to better understand ancient environments. Because of their stability and their longer half-lives, carbons stable isotopes specifically give scientists clues about what Earths climate was like millions of years ago. Even the radioactive, quick-decaying carbon-14 is useful.

As rocks become exposed to Earths atmsopherebe it through weathering, glacial recession, or the eruption of volcanic lavathey're also exposed to cosmic radiation and, in turn, carbon-14. Scientists can study how much carbon-14 is found in a particular sample to understand, for example, how quickly a glacier has been receding.

And of courseas Ruben intendedresearchers are able to follow the path of the carbon cycle thanks to carbon-14. Scientists can put a plant in a chamber, fill it with a known amount of carbon dioxide, and see how much of that gas the plant absorbs. These experiments help scientists better understand how plants take up carbon from the atmospherea critical measurement used to model how climate change will progress in the coming years.

Rise, Fall, Redemption

The importance of Carbon-14 80 years after its discovery is difficult to understate. While the isotope would fundamentally change entire scientific fields and our understanding of the past, its creators didnt fare quite as well.

Photo credit: UC Berkeley

Samuel Ruben, sadly, was killed three years after his famed discovery. On his second day on the job at the Office of Scientific Research and Development, he was exposed to deadly phosphine gas after a glass vial containing the toxic fume shattered.

Years later, after dining with a Russian diplomat, Kamen would be accused of yet another crime he didnt committhis time, it was espionage. Berkeley fired him, and in 1948, the House Un-American Activities Committee brought him in for questioning. It took Kamen decades to clear his reputation, and he later went on to serve appointments at Washington University, St. Louis, Brandeis University, and the University of California, San Diego. In 1995, he was awarded the prestigious Enrico Fermi award for lifetime scientific achievement by U.S. Department of Energy. He died in 2002.

Radiocarbon dating allows us to determine when empires rose and when they collapsed, and allows us to tie macro environmental fluctuation to certain moments in time that may be linked to great cultural change, says Kurin. "Were so lucky to have this carbon isotope.

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In 1945 six American B-24H Liberators accidentally bombed Zurich, in neutral Switzerland. Two airmen were court-martialed for the error.

Neutrality in warfare has existed as a legal or social concept for centuries. It is a lofty ideal: that a nation can declare to the world that it wants no part in any quarrel beyond its borders, and then rely on the forbearance of warring neighbors to respect that declaration. Far too often, they do not. It is hardly surprising, then, that violations of neutrality fill the historical record. The earliest iterations of neutrality in the Western world were religious in nature, as in medieval times, when all combatants were to spare the church and its clergy from depredation and attack. But the protection was often illusory, and cloister and cleric frequently suffered the ravages of war, just as their secular counterparts did.

Throughout history, violations of neutrality in wartime have been both deliberate (to achieve a strategic goal or to avert a greater calamity) and accidental. The opening weeks of World War I provided some notable examples. Belgium had been guaranteed independence and neutrality by the 1839 Treaty of London, but in 1914 Germany deliberately violated the terms of the treaty when it chose to use Belgian territory as the most expedient route, under its Schlieffen Plan, to envelop the French army. Britain, honoring its commitment to defend Belgiums neutrality, immediately took the field against Germany. It was perhaps ironic, then, that when the hasty British defense of Antwerp collapsed under the German assault in October 1914, an entire battalion of the Royal Naval Division crossed the Dutch borderin deliberate violation of Hollands neutralityto escape capture by the German army. In accordance with internationally recognized laws of war, the Dutch detained the British sailors for the duration of the war, an outcome the sailors no doubt preferred to imprisonment in a German POW camp.



Colonel James Stewart presided over a court-martial stemming from the accidental bombing of Zurich. (U.S. Air Force)

Accidental violations of a nations neutrality are much more common. In World War II, five major European countriesIreland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerlandrefused to become belligerents in the conflict, or at least declined to become active participants, as the conflict engulfed the rest of the continent. Of all the neutral states, Switzerland found itself at greatest risk because of the long border it shared with Germany. As Allied air attacks against German cities intensified after 1942, encroachments into Swiss air space also increased. From 1940 to 1945, the U.S. Army Air Forces and the British Royal Air Force released bomb loads on Switzerland no fewer than 70 times.

The massed bomber formation tactics used in both daylight and nighttime bombing missions during the war markedly increased the risk of major damage or loss of life whenever British or American aircraft misidentified Swiss cities as German ones. The formations required high-altitude flight patterns, which, particularly at night, understandably contributed to navigational and other errors that led bombers unwittingly off course and into Swiss territory. The single worst violation of Swiss neutrality, however, occurred in broad daylight. On April 1, 1944, a formation of nearly 50 Consolidated B-24H Liberators dropped 60 tons of bombs on the Swiss city of Schaffhausen. Forty people were killed, almost 300 were injured, and the city was severely damaged. The navigators and bombardiers in the formation lead had misidentified Schaffhausen as the German city Ludwigshafen am Rhein, about 146 miles to the north. An investigation determined that bad weather, high winds, and the misidentification of various terrain features had all contributed to the bombers error. The U.S. Army Air Forces issued an official apology, which was delivered in person by General Carl Spaatz (who reportedly chafed at the assignment), and the U.S. government paid more than $4 million in restitution for the error.

Allied aircraft bombed other major Swiss cities, including Geneva, Basel, and Stein am Rhein, during the war. The most notable incident came on March 4, 1945, when a formation of six B-24Hs of the 392nd Bomb Group (Heavy), Eighth Air Force, dropped 241/2 tons of mixed payload, consisting of high-explosive bombs and incendiaries, on Zurich. Five civilians were killed. Damage on the ground was considerably less than that inflicted on Schaffhausen the year before, but what made the Zurich case different from all others was its legal aftermath. After an initial investigation by the U.S. 2nd Air Division, two American officers were charged with violating the 96th Article of War.

Lieutenant William R. Sincock, the formations lead pilot, was accused of having wrongfully and negligently caused bombs to be dropped in friendly territory. The senior navigator aboard Sincocks aircraft, Lieutenant Theodore Q. Balides, was held primarily responsible for the navigational error on which Sincock had based his ill-fated selection of a target. Sincock and Balides were in serious legal trouble, but at least the officers sitting in judgment of their case had themselves experienced the chaos and carnage of the air war. The presiding officer of the court-martial was none other than James Stewart, the famous actor. Stewarts appointment had nothing to do with his celebrity. In 1945 he was a full colonel in the Eighth Air Force and an experienced bomber pilot in his own right, with numerous combat sorties over Germany to his credit.

The case against the two aviators was predicated on the question of negligencenamely, that they had failed to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the target they identified was in fact German. The prosecution argued that inexperience was not a valid defense because Sincock had flown 22 combat missions, 16 of them as flight lead. The 392nd Bomb Groups intended target for that days mission was the German city of Aschaffenburg, some 180 miles north of Zurich. Because it was a daylight raid, the altitude for the bomb runs was set at 20,000 feet. Sincocks aircraft, as flight lead, was equipped with three separate electronic navigational systems: the G and GH radio cathode systems, which could both be jammed by the Germans, and the H2X radar apparatus, known as the Mickey. Sincock seemingly had no excuse for flying so far off course and dropping his bombs on Switzerland.

As the defense team showed, however, the mission parameters that day began to fall apart almost immediately after takeoff. The G and GH systems on Sincocks aircraft both failed, necessitating a greater reliance on visual identification, or dead reckoning, of the ground target. Bad weather over the assigned assembly area, where the bombers were to form up to make their run on the target, forced the formation to scatter, with each fragmented group of aircraft looking for targets of opportunity that might appear on their return routes. The protocol in such situations was that any bomb dropped on Germany was a good bomb. Returning to England with an unexpended bomb load was regarded as full mission failure.

In the court-martial, Sincock readily took the stand in his own defense. He testified that the chaos in the skies above the assembly area meant that he had been forced to make a series of hard turns, both left and right, as well as several full circles. In all that violent maneuvering he lost visual contact with his formation commander, and repeated attempts to raise him on the radio received no response. With no operational electronic navigational aids, Balides and the two junior navigators aboard Sincocks aircraft found that their best efforts to track their constantly changing position by dead reckoning simply could not keep up with the situation. When the small group of aircraft following Sincocks lead finally broke away from the other bombers, the navigators consensus was that they were then probably 40 miles south of Stuttgart. They therefore believed they were near the Swiss border but still safely on the German side of the line. In fact, they had already strayed over the international boundary.

When the sporadically functioning Mickey scope showed a sizable town coming up on their withdrawal route, Sincock and his crew tried to identify it. Scanning the urban areas along the route on their charts, the crew thought the town was most likely the German city of Freiburg. As lead pilot, Sincock pressed his navigators for a more definite identification of this potential target, even though standard operating procedure dictated that anything that gave a return on the Mickey screen was a target of opportunity, as long as it was in Germany.

The navigators confirmed that the city they were approaching must be Freiburg. The bombardier, through his spotting scope, could only see portions of the town through the ground haze, but he identified several key terrain features that matched those of Freiburg, in particular a triangular patch of woods adjacent to a railroad marshaling yard. Antiaircraft fire began to rise up from the ground, further convincing the aircrews that they were over hostile territory (even though the Swiss regularly fired on Allied aircraft that intruded across the border). When the bombardier toggled the switch to release the payload, the aircrews believed they were above a German city.



Lieutenants William R. Sincock (back row, second from left) and Theodore Q. Balides (back row, far left) and their fellow B-24H Liberator crewmen. (National Archives)

When the court-martial convened on June 1, 1945, the defense mustered an impressive array of witnesses to speak to the challenges that had confronted Sincock and Balides. Navigators who had to rely on dead reckoning to track their course could deal with a hard turn or two, but repeated turns to the left and right made accurate navigation impossible. The defense didnt dispute the prosecutions charge that Sincock had led a bombing run on Zurich, but it offered compelling reasons why the court should view the incident as a tragic but absolutely inadvertent act.

Having each faced the operational problems that bedeviled Sincock and his crew, the experienced combat pilots on the board needed little convincing. Stewart kept his opinions of the case to himself while the trial was in session, but after Sincock and Balides were acquitted on all charges by a unanimous verdict, he said that he was pleased with the outcome.

The Zurich bombing incident was the only case in World War II in which American servicemen were formally prosecuted for an act that involved violating the neutrality of another country. The reason this case was brought to court-martial when other, more serious ones were not came to light shortly after the trial. The Adjutant Generals office concluded that the case went to court-martial so that the State Department, in its negotiations with the Swiss, could cite it as evidence of how seriously the United States viewed the incident. In 1949 the U.S. government agreed to pay $14.4 million in reparations to Switzerland for damages inflicted by American military operations during the war.

A similar bombing error occurred during the Korean War, when two American aircraft mistakenly attacked a Soviet airfield just inside the USSR border. The U.S. government formally apologized for the error and court-martialed the two aviators responsible for the attack. They were both acquitted, like Sincock and Balides, and for precisely the same reason: Navigational error was held to be the cause, not criminal negligence.

It has been suggested that Allied bombings of Swiss territory were sometimes deliberate rather than accidental, but the case of one German city demonstrates that aircrews were often more inclined to be cautious than cocksure. The German town of Konstanz is almost surrounded by Swiss territory. All through the war, Konstanz deliberately left its lights on at night, making it indistinguishable from the neighboring Swiss town of Kreuzlingen. Allied bombers knew that Konstanz was there but could not identify it with enough certainty to be sure they would not bomb Kreuzlingen by accident. By cloaking itself in its neighbors neutrality, Konstanz, even though it was a legitimate target with war industries in its environs, was never bombed and survived the war intact.

John A. Haymond is the author of Soldiers: A Global History of the Fighting Man, 18001945 (Stackpole Books, 2018) and The Infamous Dakota War Trials of 1862: Revenge, Military Law, and the Judgment of History (McFarland, 2016).

This article appears in the Spring 2020 issue (Vol. 32, No. 3) of MHQThe Quarterly Journal of Military History with the headline: Laws of War | Mistaken Targets

Want to have the lavishly illustrated, premium-quality print edition of MHQ delivered directly to you four times a year? Subscribe now at special savings!
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 01:05:42|Editor: zyl

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A family member of clash victim reacts at Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital in New Delhi, India, on Feb. 25, 2020. Violence in the Indian capital city New Delhi continued for the third consecutive day Tuesday, leaving 13 persons dead and nearly 200 injured. (Str/Xinhua)

NEW DELHI, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Indian police on Tuesday evening issued shoot-at-sight orders in the affected areas in New Delhi, as communal violence over the controversial citizenship law intensifies in the capital, officials said.

"Police deployment has been made in affected areas and order of shoot at sight have been issued to calm the tempers," a local government official said.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the violence over the citizenship law has risen to 13.

"The death toll has gone up to 13," a health official of the Guru Tegh Bahadur (GTB) hospital said.

Over 180 people including policemen were injured in the violence.

Meanwhile, a ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) official also wrote on twitter that shoot at sight orders have been issued.

"S N Srivathsava, Indian Police Service (IPS) of 1985 batch posted as Special Commissioner (Law and Order) of NCT of Delhi with immediate effect. Curfew and shoot at sight orders in four station limits," National General Secretary of BJP B L Santhosh wrote on twitter.

The clashes broke out between pro- and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) groups in the northeastern part of the city on Sunday and took an ugly turn on Monday.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in his third appeal during the day asked people to maintain peace and stop the "madness."

"Everyone has received injuries whether it is Hindus, Muslims or police personnel. No one will benefit from it and this madness must be stopped," Kejriwal told reporters.

Protests against the controversial new citizenship law broke out in December last year, after India's upper house of parliament passed the law.

The law aims at granting citizenship to illegal immigrants belonging to six religions - Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, Parsi and Christianity - from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, it has kept out Muslim immigrants from applying for citizenship.

Opposition parties and civil society members in India criticize the law as contrary to secular principles enshrined in India's constitution as it excludes Muslims.
A Cork-based Pakistani man with a deportation order hanging over him is in fear for his life.

Ali Mubashar (40), who is living in direct provision at the Glenvera Hostel in Cork city, arrived in Dublin in 2015, having been brought to Ireland by an agent at a cost of about 10,000. His father raised the money for the nine month-journey taking in Iran, Turkey, Italy, France, England and Ireland in trucks and containers.

When Mubashar and the agent went to a coffee shop in Dublin, the agent abandoned him. At the time, Mr Mubashar had no English, no money and no contacts. Initially, he thought Ireland was going to be the promised land.

But with an appointment on March 5 with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), he is afraid that he will be returned to Pakistan. Because he left Pakistan illegally, he will be arrested if and when he returns there.

He claims he is also threatened with a so-called honour killing over a land dispute in his birthplace of Gujranwala.

Despite his anxiety, Mr Mubashar has been doing voluntary work in a Cork city charity shop for the past four years and volunteers on a soup run for the homeless. He has also taken English lessons.

Susan Doyle, his solicitor, says there are grounds that could result in his deportation order being revoked. Or at least, we would like to apply for an injunction until such time as the minister for justice can review his documentation thoroughly.

She explains that asylum seekers never know when theyre going to be deported. This is to ensure they dont flee. The March 5 appointment will be Mr Mubashars third time meeting the GNIB. He is said to be well-liked and respected in Cork and a petition with about 2,000 signatures has been signed by supporters, asking the authorities to allow him to stay here.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The new citizenship law did not come up for discussion between visiting US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Tuesday, noting that the two leaders talked about religious harmony in a "positive way".

He said that India and the US held talks in five major categories - security, defence, energy, technology and people-to-people contact, with Trump assuring India highest consideration for collaboration in the defence sector.

Shringla said Modi and Trump also decided to move towards what was referred to as a "big deal" in the trade sector.

He said the two leaders have decided to conclude the ongoing discussions on bilateral trade as soon as possible and give it legal framework and text can be finalised with legal vetting as soon as possible.

"The two leaders also decided to move towards what was referred to as big deal in the trade sector," he said.

In response to a question on whether the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act that has led to violent protests across the country and the National Register of Citizens were discussed, Shringla said the new citizenship law did not come up in the talks.

"The issue of CAA did not come up, but with regard to what you mentioned, the term religious freedom, there was appreciation from both sides that pluralism and diversity are a common binding factor of both the countries," he said.

"You would have heard President Trump in his speech yesterday in Ahmedabad referred to religious diversity and harmony that is evident in India and discussions really to the extent possible were on these lines on this issue," Shringla told reporters.

In response to a question, he said, "Religious harmony was discussed in a positive way" between the two leaders and added that discussion on Jammu and Kashmir centred on positive developments in the region.

"Things were moving in the right direction," he said on the discussion on J&K during Indo-US talks.

In response to another question, Shringla said that Pakistan figured in the discussion between the two leaders and India's "concerns were put on the table" on cross-border terrorism.

He said the two countries have also decided to set up working groups on curbing narcotics trafficking and reinvigorating homeland security dialogue.

"President Trump has assured highest consideration to India for procurement, technology and joint collaboration in defence sector," he said.

Trump and Modi held talks for five hours to arrive at a slew of agreements, Shringla said.

He said that energy has emerged as one of the most important areas of bilateral cooperation and India is expected to source USD 9 billion from US in 2020.

"Indian side raised issue of H1 B visa and highlighted the contribution of Indian professionals in the high-tech sector," he said.

On trade, Shringla said there has been "very useful" and comprehensive discussions.

"There was an appreciation that trade has increased year-on-year steadily over the last few years. The US exports to India has increased fairly dramatically and there was noticeable adverse trade imbalance decline from USD 30 billion a few years ago to USD 25 billion," he said.

He said adverse trade imbalance is also gradually eroding with a greater amount of acquisitions we are making in areas of oil and gas and purchase of commercial aircraft.

"The US is India's largest trading partner and it accounts for 12 per cent of our total export and India is emerging as a very large market for the US too," Shringla said.

"There are complementarities in this because there are a lot of areas in which we require goods and technologies which we don't have from the US and vice versa and the is a mutuality of benefits in these complementarities. These are the areas we want to focus on when we start discussions on a large trade agreement," he added.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, in Akure, commended the Ondo State government for being one of the first set of states to commence the payment of the new minimum wage.

It is gratifying to note that Ondo State is one of the first few states in Nigeria that have started implementing the New Minimum Wage.

You have been able to achieve these feats in spite of limited available resources, Mr Buhari said.

Mr Buhari had earlier inaugurated the Ore Interchange Flyover on the ShagamuOreBenin Expressway in Ondo State with an assurance that the Federal Government will sustain massive investments in the provision of infrastructure across the country.

The President during a working visit to Ondo State also commissioned the Ondo-Linyi industrial hub.

Speaking at the inauguration of the flyover at Ore town in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, the President said the Interchange will boost economic activities in the State, ease traffic congestion as well as reduce accidents often experienced on the major road.

The President used the occasion to assure the government and people of Ondo State under Oluwarotimi Akeredolu that the Federal Government will meet its obligations to the State on the construction of this Interchange Flyover in due course.

President Buhari recalled that the re-designing and construction of the road to accommodate Interchange Flyover was overdue as a result of the growing population in Ore.

During the civil war and during my campaigns since 2002, I have become familiar with the terrain of Ore which is a connecting city between the Southwest and the Eastern parts of our country.

As a result of this, the city has a cosmopolitan population that is in the neighbourhood of 300,000.

This is a city that can be described as a mini-Nigeria as almost all ethnic groups of our country are happily represented here.

Let me commend Governor Akeredolu and his team for their great efforts and professionalism in putting this project in place.

This project is executed in line with the spirit and drive of the Federal Government which puts great emphasis on infrastructural development across our country, especially in the area of transportation,  he said.

President Buhari praised a consortium of Nigerian Engineers for the design and supervision of the impressive-flyover of international standards.

We are proud of you and we want to assure our people that we would continue to utilise the expertise and experience of local consultants who are competing favourably with their counterparts globally.

Let me also advise that a maintenance system should be in place to safeguard road users throughout the lifetime of this very impressive fly-over, he said.

More commendation

Commending the impactful performance of the current Ondo State Administration, the President affirmed that the Akeredeolu administration had cleared six months out of the seven months arrears of salaries/pensions owed by the previous administration.

He also lauded the state government for being up-to-date in the payment of salaries and pensions.

I am not surprised at this because available records show that Ondo State has recorded the highest percentage leap in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) among the States, due to the effort of the APC government here, he said.

Reaffirming the resolve of the Federal Government to continue to invest heavily in the provision of infrastructure, the President announced that his administration has expended more on the provision of railway services, rehabilitation and construction of roads and bridges.

We are confronting the infrastructure deficit head on.

At the inception of our administration, we were faced with decayed infrastructure on our road network and railways, because of long years of neglect and lack of investment.

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However, our administration, as a result of our commitment to bridge this deficit, decided to source funds and address the issue.

Let me commend the collaborative efforts between the Federal Government and Ondo State Government in respect of this project.

I commend this type of collaboration between the Federal Government and other State Governments.

No one tier of government can on its own achieve the overall development of our dear country, he said.

Earlier, the President while commissioning Industrial hub congratulated the Government and people of Ondo State on the remarkable achievement.

I am impressed with what is on ground here and anticipate on the positive impact this will have on the people of this State, he said.

Elated governor

Speaking at the Ore Flyover, Governor Akeredeolu told the President that the commissioning of the star projects were part of activities to commemorate the third year anniversary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration in the state.

While thanking the President for honouring the State with his esteemed presence, the Governor requested the refund of state funds spent on federal roads in the state.

He specifically appealed to the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, to facilitate the approval of the President, for the funds expended on all Federal Government projects in Ondo State, including the Interchange totalling about N10.9 billion.

The projects include Aboto  Olokola Road Project, Ore  Okitipupa Road Project, Construction of the Interchange Flyover across Lagos  Benin Expressway at Ore, among others.

At the industrial hub, the Ondo Governor announced that thousands of youth are directly employed in the industrial hub which already has several factories including a medium density fibre (MDF) factory, cassava to ethanol factory, high density Fibreboard and plywood production line and a paper production factory.

The employment ratio of Nigerians to expatriates here is in the range of 40:1 in favour of Nigerians.

Our farmers benefit directly from the supply of raw materials, and the multiplier effects have stimulated logistics, hospitality, construction, banking and other service sectors of our economy in Ondo State and Nigeria in general, he said.

Governor Akeredolu announced that in the near future a high volume vehicle assembly and production plant, wine distillery, dairy factory, a clothing production company and a metal production company would be established in the industrial hub.
An older person has been threatened by a man armed with a screwdriver during an aggravated burglary in west Belfast.

An occupant of a house in the Clonelly Avenue area reported to police that he had disturbed an unknown male inside his home at around 1pm on Tuesday.

The man, who was armed with a screwdriver, threatened the victim before making off from the property with a sum of money, in a grey coloured Citroen car.

Detective Sergeant OFlaherty said: We are appealing to anyone who was in the area around that time and who noticed any suspicious activity to get in touch. Please contact detectives at Musgrave on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 780 of 25/02/20.

"Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime."
The 27 European Union countries today expect to adopt their negotiating mandate for talks about their relationship with Britain after Brexit, paving the way for the launch of talks as early as next week, a senior EU diplomat indicated yesterday.

Britain left the EU on January 31 and the two sides have been talking tough in the run-up to a new round of negotiations.

The EU is demanding far-reaching guarantees of fair competition and London is saying it will not be bound by the bloc's rules on the so-called level playing field.

"The expectation is to adopt the negotiating mandate tomorrow, which would allow us to start negotiations very soon, even as early as next week," the diplomat said.

France had held up agreeing the EU's joint negotiating stance, seeking to strengthen the level playing field provisions, including to oblige Britain to follow the bloc's rules in exchange for access.

Reuters
Experts are scrambling to assess the potential fallout on the economy here should the coronavirus spread into a pandemic, with a leading commentator recalling the devastating effects of the foot and mouth outbreak on tourism and agriculture almost 20 years ago.

John Whelan, a former head of the Irish Exporters Association, who heads up the trade consultancy the Linkage Partnership, said the after-shocks from the economic fallout on China, the worlds second-largest, will spread to Germany and other economies, which hoped to stage recoveries this year.

From an Irish point of view, between Brexit and the virus, it is a worrying time for all businesses, Mr Whelan said.

The difficulty is that if other markets like China grind to a halt it does spell a situation where the Irish economy could spiral downwards. I cant see how the Irish economy can come out of this unscathed.

University College Cork economist Seamus Coffey, the former chair of budget watchdog the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, said the coronavirus outbreak is a left-field event that no one predicted, and businesses will be hoping that it does not grow to have a similar effect on the economy as the foot and mouth outbreak.

Peter Brown, who heads up Baggot Investment Partners, said it was also a pivotal time for investors and people saving for their pensions.

The coronavirus effects could mean the world economy is only slightly damaged but the global recovery is left unharmed.

However, if the virus were to bloom into a pandemic and world growth were to be permanently scarred, then stock markets would fall again and investors would flee shares, Mr Brown said.

Its on a knife-edge, the veteran market commentator told the Irish Examiner.

Conall MacCoille, chief economist at broker Davy, said the tourism and travel industries were the first and foremost exposed, in the short term.

But he said that typically if the disruption was shortlived over a month or two, that consumer spending would only be deferred and the economy would bounce back.

Mr MacCoille thought it unlikely that multinationals such as Google and Facebook which have significant facilities in Ireland, would be affected.

However, the supply chains of German car manufacturers and technology firms, which rely on rare earth materials, would likely be in the front line, Mr MacCoille said.
Jessica Beltramin, 28, of Sao Paulo, Brazil, was misdiagnosed for nine years. Operations and injections made her disabling bone disease worse. Read more

As a baby in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Jessica Beltramin had surgery to straighten her contorted legs, then spent a year in hip-high casts.

That was the beginning of biopsies, operations, and injections that made her torment immeasurably worse. At age 9, she was correctly diagnosed with one of the worlds rarest diseases: fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, FOP. People with the genetic disorder are progressively crippled and immobilized as their muscles, tendons and ligaments turn into bone. Any injury or attempt to remove the misplaced bone triggers explosive, painful new growth.

I dont suffer anything like I did before with all the treatments and all the medications," Beltramin, frail and bent but still walking at age 28, says in a new documentary. I suffered things I didnt need to at all.

The documentary, Tin Soldiers, is taglined More than a film, its a call to action.

The 79-minute movie is the centerpiece of a worldwide education and outreach campaign that aims to find the estimated 4,000 undiagnosed FOP sufferers and connect them to FOP families and experts  the small but mighty group that funded the film.

I am so proud to be associated with the Tin Soldiers documentary," said University of Pennsylvania physician Frederick Kaplan, who provides commentary as the worlds leading FOP researcher. We need to find everyone with FOP wherever they are to end isolation, to prevent harm, to lessen misery, to afford participation in clinical trials, and to build a truly global FOP community.

Amanda Cali of Mountain Lakes, N.J., executive producer of the film and a patient advocacy dynamo, said, I remember how isolated I felt 25 years ago when my son was diagnosed. There were only 83 known cases in the world. Now we have about 900 confirmed cases. So we dont have even a quarter of" the estimated total.

 READ MORE: New Mutter Museum exhibit grants final wish for woman who turned to bone

Ironically, recognizing a potential case is easy  if doctors know what to look for  because patients are born with bent big toes. Kaplan points out the bunion-like deformities while examining a boy in the movie.

Another irony: The obscure disease is a research hotbed thanks to the 2006 discovery by Kaplans lab of the gene mutation that causes it. Now, dozens of universities and drug companies are studying the molecular mechanics of FOP because it has implications for many bone diseases. As the documentary explains, seven potential therapies are in clinical trials for FOP, offering the first hope for more than just symptom relief.

But as Cali is acutely aware, trials need patients  even if their rare disease afflicts just 1 in 1.5 million.

About a year ago, Cali pitched the idea of a documentary to Odette Schwegler, a South African journalist and filmmaker who had done a segment on FOP for a TV news magazine.

The story [of FOP] just touched me on another level, said Schwegler, who has a history of supporting charities, especially in South Africas desperately poor communities.

What started with a plan to film at an FOP meeting grew into a sprawling, four-continent chronicle of resilience and courage. Schweglers crew trekked to big cities, small towns, affluent suburbs, and dangerous slums to follow FOP patients, their families, and doctors.

In Allentown, Stacey and David Scoble are shown holding the seventh annual Bingo for a Cure, inspired by their 13-year-old son, Joshua, who must use a wheelchair. The event has raised $1 million for research.

In Gugulethu, a township near Cape Town, South Africa, 52-year-old Thozamile Mciki talks about being shunned by neighbors who think he is bewitched, about hoping FOP becomes treatable, and about wishing the outhouse werent so far from his living quarters.

Anyway, I would say Im lucky to be this age, having FOP, he says, smiling.

In Manhattan, Whitney Weldon, 28, zips along in her motorized wheelchair, visiting restaurants to review their food  and accessibility  on social media. FOP is all about adaptation, she says.

In family videotapes, Calis son Ian is shown through the years, laughing in his high chair, playing softball, and roughhousing with his brother. Now 30 and a computer application developer, he discusses how anxiety about FOPs unpredictable flare-ups can be as disabling as the ossification.

I look back on all my major flare-ups. In my head, I had already jumped down the rabbit hole, he says. Now, I try to maintain my mental independence more than my physical independence.

The film premiered in Johannesburg in October and is slated to be screened at film festivals around the world. The co-producers are also getting invitations to showcase it at medical and educational gatherings. The University of Pennsylvania showed it last month; sites in Australia, Prague, Holland, Kenya and Namibia are upcoming.

Posters, public service announcements, and other pieces of the outreach campaign are now rolling out. A nonprofit, Tinsoldiers.org, has been created to raise funding and recruit volunteers.

The more we get, the more we can do, Schwegler said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.25

By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:

Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of Energy Resources at the US State Department Kurt Donnelly will visit Azerbaijan in late February, the US State Department told Trend.

Donnelly will attend the 6th meeting of the Advisory Council of the Southern Gas Corridor to be held on February 28 in Baku on behalf of the State Department.



The first meeting of the SGC Advisory Council was held on February 12, 2015, the second meeting - on February 29, 2016, the third meeting - on February 23, 2017, the fourth meeting - on February 15, 2018 and the fifth meeting  on February 20, 2019.

The Southern Gas Corridor project aims to increase and diversify European energy supply by bringing gas resources from the Caspian Sea to markets in Europe.

The Southern Gas Corridor comprises the following four projects: (i) operation of Shah Deniz natural gas-condensate field ("SD1" project) and its full-field development ("SD2'" project), (ii) the operation of the South Caucasus Pipeline ("SCP" project) and its expansion ("SCPX" project), (iii) the construction of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline ("TANAP" project) and (iv) the construction of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline ("TAP" project) (SD2, SCPX, TANAP and TAP collectively, the "Projects").

The Projects have an estimated investment cost of approximately $40 billion. Upon completion, the SD2 project will add a further 16 bcm of natural gas per annum to 10.9 bcma (maximum production capacity) already produced under SD1 project.

Total length of the newly constructed SCPX, TANAP and TAP pipelines will be more than 3,200 kilometres.
The Kaduna state high court has ordered the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), formerly known as Nigerian Prison Service, to allow I...





The Kaduna state high court has ordered the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), formerly known as Nigerian Prison Service, to allow Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), and Zeenat, his wife, to have access to full medical care.





Gideon Kurada, the presiding judge, gave the order on Monday after the comptroller of the Kaduna Correctional Service Centre appeared before the court.





The judge had ordered the comptroller to appear in order to explain why he refused to allow physicians attend to the IMN leader and his wife in the facility as directed.





On February 6, while adjourning the case till February 24 and 25 for them to appear in court and take their plea, the judge ordered that they should be granted access to medical care.





On Monday, Marshall Abubakar, one of the counsels of El-Zakzaky, said the comptroller 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 centre to allow the two defendants full access to all necessary services they need for them to be fit to appear and take their plea at the next adjourned date.





El-Zakzaky and his wife are being prosecuted by the Kaduna state government for alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of the public peace.





In November, while still in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), El-Zakzakys family had alleged that they paid millions as ransom just to get medication across to him.





He was also flown to India in August for medical care but abruptly returned and accused the federal government of disallowing him from getting treated.




Seoul, Feb 25 : South Korean tech giant Samsung has admitted that personal data of at least 150 users were leaked following "Find My Mobile" notifications error.

Thousands of premium Galaxy line up owners received a strange notification from the firm's "Find My Mobile" app last week.

The South Korean tech giant has admitted that another glitch occurred at almost the same time, resulting in a "small number" of users that were able to briefly access information from other Samsung users, including names, addresses and the last four digits of their payment cards, Tech Radar reported on Tuesday quoting Sam Mobile.

Late last week, many users posted on Reddit and Twitter getting a mysterious push notification on their Samsung devices that simply read "1/1".

The smartphone maker claims that the two issues were unrelated and that it was purely a coincidence that they occurred at around the same time. Samsung further clarified that the unintentional leak was the result of a technical error on the company's UK website, and only affected 150 customers, the report added.
Hundreds of students at a leading university face sharing "cramped" twin rooms after it 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 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 past three years.

In a statement, the university said the introduction of twin rooms would add 630 beds to its existing offering of 2,850.

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.

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UL Student Life, the college's students' union, described the accommodation situation as "appalling".

"These rooms were never designed for two students," said UL Student Life president Jack Scanlan. "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."

Daniel O'Reilly (19), a first year architect student, said the twin rooms denied basic privacy.

"The rooms will be so cramped you can basically kick someone in their sleep," he said. "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 are not limited to shared bedrooms.

In response to queries, UL said shared rooms were being introduced in an attempt to meet unprecedented demand in the shortest possible timeframe amid a national housing crisis.

"The option for twin 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 retrofitted for the shared option. These will all be en suite."
Australia has been urged to take a lead role in calming hostilities between China and Taiwan, with a think tank warning a major conflict in the region could trigger an Australian recession.

In a paper for the Lowy Institute, Asia-Pacific security expert Brendan Taylor said if key regional governments such as Australia failed to help de-escalate tensions, the consequences were "likely to be serious".

A Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam sails in the South China Sea. Credit:US Navy/AP

He said "lying low" was no longer an acceptable policy for Canberra as an all-out conflict between China and Taiwan would inflict serious damage on Australia's economy and security.

"The stakes for Canberra are high," the paper said, noting Taiwan was a critical link in global supply chains as a provider of advanced manufacturing, and some of Australia's largest trading partners  China, Japan and South Korea  were close by.
Oregon softball moved into the top 10 of the polls as it remains undefeated.

The Ducks (14-0) are No. 10 with 491 points in the NFCA/USA Today poll and No. 10 with 300 points in the USA Softball poll after beating Bethune-Cookman, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Idaho State and Northwestern at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. Thats up from No. 15 with 284 points and No. 17 with 168 points, respectively, last week.

Oregon heads to Tulsa and Oklahoma State to face Drake, Tulsa, Louisville, Oklahoma State and Illinois-Chicago starting Friday.
A hotel worker in China has been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus after eight consecutive tests failed to detect her condition when she was in quarantine, officials revealed.

The 56-year-old from Sichuan Province went into isolation earlier this month after one of her colleagues had been infected with the virus, a report said.

She was confirmed to have the deadly disease yesterday after being put under quarantine for three weeks.

The 56-year-old woman from Sichuan was confirmed to have the deadly disease yesterday after being put under quarantine for three weeks. The above photo shows a woman wearing a mask and goggles to protect herself while riding a bicycle on a street in Beijing on February 25

The case was revealed by health officials in Anyue County, Sichuan, and reported by Sichuan Online today.

It is said that the patient, known by her surname Tang, works in a hotel in Chongqing as a dishwasher.

She returned to her hometown in Anyue on January 23 to celebrate the Lunar New Year with her family.

After one of her colleagues was diagnosed with the coronavirus, Ms Tang was taken to a quarantine camp by the authority on February 2.

The report said Ms Tang had visited her local clinic the day earlier but did not explain why she had gone there.

The novel coronavirus has killed at least 2,705 people and infected more than 80,320 globally

During February 7 and 23, medical workers gave her eight tests by taking throat swabs.

The medics carried out nucleic acid detection tests using 'polymerase chain reaction' (PCR) techniques - a method for amplifying specific sequences of DNA - to see if Ms Tang was carrying the virus.

All of the eight tests came back negative.

The woman was classified as a suspected patient on February 16 while being quarantined at the Peoples Hospital of Anyue County.

She was transferred to the No. 1 Peoples Hospital of Ziyang on February 21. Doctors there yesterday diagnosed her with the coronavirus after combining the results from further clinical and laboratory tests.

The new coronavirus - known as COVID-19 - has killed at least 2,663 and infected more than 77,660 people inside China. The picture shows medics disinfecting themselves after coming back from the severe pneumonia inpatient wards at a hospital in Chongqing on February 1

Hubei, situated in central China, accounts for more than 80 per cent of the confirmed cases and 95 per cent of the deaths worldwide. The picture shows a medical worker treats a patient at an isolation ward at a hospital in Chongqing on February 1

The local health officials are currently looking for people who have been in close contact with Ms Tang.

The typical incubation period of the virus is two weeks, but Chinese experts previously said it could be as long as 24 days in rare cases.

The new coronavirus - known as COVID-19 - has killed at least 2,663 and infected more than 77,660 people inside China.

Hubei, situated in central China, accounts for more than 80 per cent of the confirmed cases and 95 per cent of the deaths worldwide.

Wuhan, the provincial capital with 11 million residents, went into lockdown on January 23 in the wake of the outbreak. The majority part of Hubei then followed suit.

Overnight, the Hubei health officials reported 499 new cases out of a nationwide total of 508 and 68 of the 71 new deaths across China.

Globally, the coronavirus epidemic has killed at least 2,705 people, infected more than 80,340 and spread to at least two dozen countries.
San Francisco, Feb 25 : A group of activists in San Francisco's Bay Area rallied outside the British Consulate General to demand WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's release from a prison in the UK.

Chanting slogans of "Free Julian Assange!" and "Free journalist whistle blowers!", the protesters on Monday said they did not want to remain silent on the issue, accusing the US government of "attacking" the freedom of speech, reports Xinhua news agency.

Marilyn Langlois, a community activist in San Francisco who used to work for the local government, said she believed Assange had committed no crime and was being held unjustly and tortured in Britain.

"He has simply published the information that was given to him, information that had evidence of US war crimes 10 years ago, and the American public needs to know about those war crimes that should be prosecuted," she told Xinhua.

Reportedly, the US government had formally requested Assange's extradition last June to face charges in the US, as the Department of Justice accused him of helping former intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning hack into computers of the Defense Department.

Having been in exile for years to escape the US government's prosecution, Assange was arrested last April after being forcibly removed from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he had been living since 2012.

The protesters in San Francisco also demanded a serious investigation of allegations and evidence of war crimes committed by the US government.

The event's organizers said Monday's rally is part of a global protest in solidarity with supporters in other countries who have risen to speak for the WikiLeaks founder.

The rally comes after the Woolwich Crown Court in London opened Assange's extradition hearing earlier this week.

Assange's lawyers have said that he could face up to 175 years in prison in the US if found guilty of one of the world's biggest data breaches.
T wo men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was stabbed to death in north west London.

Lennox Nigel Alcendor, 42, from Harlesden, was found injured in Anson Road, Cricklewood on Friday, February 21.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 42-year-old man and a 30-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of murder on Tuesday and remain in custody.

Forensics at the scene of an incident in Cricklewood / David Nathan

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Stancombe said: "Our investigation is moving at pace and though two arrests have now been made, I remain keen on hearing from anyone who witnessed the incident, which took place on a residential street.

I am sure that there are people who have not yet spoken to us but may have important information about what unfolded.

Every call is treated in strictest confidence and your information could help hugely. Please dont hesitate to make the call.

Detectives are particularly keen to hear from anyone who was either walking or driving in the area of Cricklewood Broadway or Anson Road at the time of the incident and may have seen, or have dash cam footage of a fight or altercation taking place.
A number of cases by former prisoners over having to 'slop out' have been mentioned before the High Court.

In one action, Susan McGovern, a former prisoner at Limerick Women's Prison, claims she was subjected to degrading treatment by the slopping-out regime between 2000 and 2003 and from April 2012 to May 2013.

McGovern with addresses at Hennessy's Road, and Manor Court, Cork Road in Waterford has sued the the Irish Prison Service, the Minister for Justice, Ireland and the Attorney General and the Governor of Limerick Prison.

She claims her rights were breached after she was made sleep on a matress in overcrowded cells that lacked toilets.

Cells 'poorly ventilated, chaotic and unhygenic', ex-prisoner claims

She claims she and her former cellmates were provided with a small bucket, and had to go to the toilet in the plain view of other inmates.

She had to queue with other prisoners while waiting to empty it, she claims.

The cells she claims were poorly ventilated, chaotic and unhygenic. She claims that the regime affected her physical and mental health, and deprived her of her human dignity.

As a result of the conditions of her incarcertaion Ms McGovern, represented in Court by Rachel McGovern Bl, has brought a damages claim against the State and the prison authorities alleging breaches of her Constitutional Rights and Rights under the European Convention on Human Rights.

The claims are denied.

The State parties represented by Frederick Gilligan Bl, say the claim should be dismissed on grounds including that the claim is statue barred.

When the matter was breifly mentioned before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds, counsel argued the case should be considered by a State redress board set up following a ruling in a one of many cases brought over the slopping-out regime in the State's prisons.

Constitutional right to protection of the person

Last year the Supreme Court said former prisoner Gary Simpson was enitled to 7,500 damages over having to slop out while he was in jail.

This was becasue he had to use a bucket as a toilet, and empty it each morning, for almost eight months in 2013 in Mountjoy Prison and this amounted to a violation of his constitutional right to protection of his person, and to substandard cell conditions.

Ms Justice Reynolds, who directed that the State parties file a defence to McGovern's claim within 12 weeks, adjourned the action.

Another slopping-out claim, taken by Christoper Coakley Empress Place, Dublin 1 arising out of his detention at Mountjoy prison in 2011 and in 2012, was briefly mentioned before the Master of the High Court.

He had claimed that during his incarceration he was placed with other inmates in cells that lacked toilets and any running water. He would have to defecate into a pot or bag, or newspapers in the presence of cellmates, and was present when he did the same, it was alleged.

The Master was due to deal with an application brought by Coakley's lawyers, in the wake of the Simpson ruling to remit the claim to the Circuit Court.

However the Master Edmund Honohan SC, was told that the case could be struck out as the claim had been resolved between the parties.
[February 25, 2020] Aura Hires eBay Veteran Joe Martin to Lead Engineering

Aura, a mission-driven financial technology company that offers affordable loans to hard-working families, today announced that Joe Martin has joined the company as Senior Vice President of Engineering. Mr. Martin reports to Aura CEO James Gutierrez and oversees all engineering and development for Aura's suite of financial services products. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005912/en/ Aura Hires eBay (News - Alert) Veteran Joe Martin to Lead Engineering (Photo: Business Wire) "Aura is thrilled that Joe is leading our engineering teams at a critical moment in our growth," said James Gutierrez, CEO of Aura. "Joe is an incredible leader, he brings deep engineering management experience, and his story as the son of Mexican immigrants makes him a perfect fit for Aura. Going forward, Joe will continue to grow our engineerng team, ensure that we build the best customer experiences and most innovative financial products available to low-income families today, and help Aura scale well beyond $750 million in loans."



Prior to joining Aura, Mr. Martin served as SVP of Engineering, Trust and User Operations for Indiegogo. In this role, he ran engineering and product while also managing operational issues such as trust and safety, customer happiness, and campaign strategy. Before that, he served as Senior Director of Engineering for eBay and Principal Development Manager for Microsoft (News - Alert). "I decided to join Aura for a very simple reason: Aura's mission is close to my heart," said Joe Martin. "I want to help families that are working towards financial prosperity. I look forward to continuing to build upon Aura's early success and talented engineering team, and, together, we will help millions of hard-working people make their dreams a reality."

Earlier in his career, Mr. Martin held engineering roles for a diverse set of Silicon Valley companies including Fogbreak Software, PlanetRX.com, PeopleSoft, JAS Systems, and ASK Computer Systems. Mr. Martin holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Stanford University, where he was a member of the Society of Latino Engineers and Scientists. He lives in Danville with his wife, Carla, and together, they raised three children. About Aura Aura is a technology-powered Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides small, affordable loans to working families in America. Aura's mission is to build financially healthy low-income communities by providing empowering financial services to America's 66 million underbanked and unbanked. Aura has pioneered a cloud-based lending technology that enables trusted local businesses to submit credit applications for centralized review and approval by its proprietary scoring algorithms. Currently available in over 1,150 locations across California, Texas, Illinois and Arizona, Aura has provided hundreds of thousands of credit-building, responsible loans to low-income households since launching in 2014. Aura was founded in 2012 by James Gutierrez, Kevin Kang and Randy Wong. All three founders helped create and scale Oportun, a CDFI and one of Time Magazine's Top 50 Most Genius (News - Alert) Companies in 2018. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005912/en/

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After transitioning from high school to university in 2018, 2019 was a year of familiarity and steadiness. Where before I was navigating traffic, stop starting and not quite sure where I was going, 2019 was a year of cruising. Cruising to a destination I was sure I was supposed to be.

Bring on the summer of 2019/20. I didnt know how deep I was in my comfort zone until change hit. The start of my first full time job, a change of house after 6 and a half years on the horizon and seemingly changing social dynamics among my friends.

Despite the fact I knew these were good changes, they were nonetheless disorientating. A friend summarised the feeling well when he said, having so much going on all at once makes you feel you cant get a breath of fresh air.

At times it felt as if I was suffocating. Like I was fighting for breath and grasping onto any forms of familiarity. Ive heard it said that change can be difficult, but I didnt believe it until this summer.

Its ok

The way I tried to deal with this discomfort was to not give myself permission to feel it.

You see, as a thinker, I often think that if I can cover myself with enough truth, I can convince myself to stop feeling a certain way.

So, with each wave of discomfort, my response would be to continually remind myself  no, forcefully remind myself  that this change is good, and I shouldnt feel this way. My idea of resilience was supressing emotion instead of dealing with it.

Now that was half the problem. I wasnt present with how I was feeling. Instead of allowing myself to experience these emotions and bring it to God, I tried to ignore them. I didnt validate my own feelings.

I think this is a significant contributor to suffering in our modern world. Instead of giving others and ourselves freedom to feel to feel, we attempt to shrug it off with rationale.

Mike Donehey gives a good example of when he was on tour and someone asked him how he was feeling. He said, lonely and sad. What was the other persons response? Oh no, dont feel that way. We are going to have a great show tonight.

But Mike offers some great wisdom in his response. He replied by saying hey, thats ok. Ive been away from my wife and kids for 4 days. If I didnt feel sad and lonely, there would be an issue.

Instead of trying to shrug off his feelings, he took time to understand them and deal with appropriately. Ive found the feelings pass faster and are more bearable when you confront them.

It comforted me knowing that even though Jesus knew that Lazarus would rise again, He still wept. He still experienced those painful emotions despite knowing all that truth (John chapter 11).

We see a similar scenario played out the night before His crucifixion. He knew He would rise again, but still felt the despair and dread regardless (Luke chapter 22, verse 42).

So, Im reminding myself its ok to feel uncomfortable, to experience difficulty. It doesnt mean my faith is insufficient, it just means Im human.

The sweetness will come

Going back to change, I was reassured knowing that the anxiety of the change and the discomfort doesnt make it any less good.

Strahan Coleman captures this sentiment beautifully:

Newness (change) is magnificent, refreshing and exciting. Its cool to the soul and brings new life to wounded places.

Newness is painful, destabilising and obscure. It creates discomfort where settling has occurred in our lives, forcing out the old stuff wed become accustomed to.

If you continually pour new water into an already full glass the new and the old will mix up for a while before the fresh stuff eventually sieves out the old.

The change from stagnant to fresh isnt instant, its unsatisfying like that. After the initial rush of cool water hitting the glass theres a battle between comfort and risk, safety and adventure, familiarity and newness.

Being forced out of our comfort zone can be hard, but it is essential if we are to grow. A quote from To Kill a Mockingbird has always stuck with me:

Its like bein a caterpillar in a cocoon, thats what it is. Like somethin asleep wrapped up in a warm place.

Its so easy to stay in that warm place and to choose comfort. But, when we do this, we prevent ourselves from becoming all that He wants us to be. If we remain a caterpillar, we can never become that beautiful butterfly He destined us to be (poetic, I know).

So, dont be afraid if God came to your life with newness and then things got crazy. Its the old making its way out, disorienting you.

The Spirit is making room in your life out of old things, and in just a moment all that will remain is the sweetness of a full resurrection.

An encouragement to us all: keep persevering, the sweetness will come.
Mark Rozell, dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, said Spanberger and Luria have the most to lose with Sanders at the top of the ticket. Sanders plans to barnstorm Virginia ahead of the primary, with rallies in Richmond on Thursday as well as in Wextons hometown of Leesburg and Virginia Beach, in Lurias district, on Saturday.
I am not really a wine writer. When asked, I always say that I write about food but I only drink wine. Partly this is because I dont have the discerning palate and nose of a wine loverwhen we go out to restaurants, it is always my wife who tastes the wine.

But mostly it is because I dont have the geographical range to be knowledgeable about wine. For most of my life, I have concentrated on one country: France.

I like good Italian red wines and drink them all the time (though I can do without Prosecco or Italian whites) and whenever I travel abroad I stick to the local wine. This means that I have some experience of Spanish, Portuguese, Austrian, Australian and New Zealand wines, but no real knowledge. And when it comes to Germany, it is all too complex for me. (I cant even pronounce the names.)

Within France, I like most wines (not wild about non-sparkling rose, though) but sadly, many are unavailable in India. Those that you can get are either basic or very high end (the great chateaux of Bordeaux for instance). Even with champagne, we get the big names - Krug, Cristal, Dom Perignon, etc.  but not the smaller growers champagnes that have taken the wine world by storm over the last decade.

Fortunately, our wine importers do bring in a reasonable quantity of what is probably my favourite wine in the world: white Burgundy. Unfortunately, all too often the bottles do not travel well and the wines are spoiled by the time they reach our tables. (I watched in mortification many years ago when my wife sent back three successive bottles of Burgundy at the Taj Palace. She was right. The wines were spoilt. But it is still an awkward thing to do at a top restaurant.)

If you like wine, you have probably drunk white Burgundy even if it has not been described as such. The most familiar white Burgundy is probably Chablis.

When I first started drinking it decades ago, prices were not too high and it had what we then regarded as classic Chablis character: acid and minerality. (The French use a term that translates as gunflint which sounds kind of ambiguous but which makes sense the moment you have your first sip.)

Over the years, the producers of basic Chablis (wine that is simply labelled as Chablis) have adopted different styles. Many have abandoned the traditional acidic edge to make smoother wines that beginners find easier to drink. Sadly, unless you know every producer and bottler in Chablis, it is not easy to be sure about what you are getting till the bottle is opened.

The great thing about all of Burgundy is that these days, very few grape varieties are planted. Nearly all of the white wine is made from one grape: chardonnay. This is a fairly bland grape which American wine-makers love because they can tart it up (new oak, lots of chemical tricks, etc.) during the wine making process.

In Burgundy, however, wine is an agricultural product so ideally there is minimal human intervention. Two villages a few miles apart will produce completely different wines. Even within a vineyard, the first row of vines may produce a better wine than the second row.

So, the best Chablis is made, even from undistinguished vineyards, by growers who know how to bring out the taste of the grapes and the soil. (Everyone agrees that the best producers are Dauvissat and Raveneau but good luck if you want to find their wines here.)

You will find quite bland Chablis in India (it is still drinkable) and more than often than not, sommeliers with fob you off with Petit Chablis which is not Chablis at all but is a region on the periphery of Chablis. Even when Raveneau makes Petit Chablis, it is not a great wine. So send it back if they serve it to you pretending that it is real Chablis.

The classic pairing for Chablis is oysters but that only works if you get real Chablis, with its mineral notes. Over a decade ago, my wife and I went to a restaurant in Chablis with our friends Aman and Madhulika Dhall. One of the dishes we ate was oysters in a sea water emulsion, served with cold Chablis. Madhulika and I still talk about that combination whenever we meet and it may be the most perfect Chablis pairing I have ever tasted.

Of the 5,500 hectares in the Chablis region, the best wines come from just 18 per cent of the vineyards. If you want classic Chablis character, order a Premier Cru (16 per cent of the region). There are 40 Premier Crus of which some (Vaillons and Fourchaume) appear on many Indian wine lists. They will exhibit real Chablis character and if you want to be sure of what you are getting, splash out on them.You will not be disappointed.

Chablis is a slightly strange region in the sense that the seven grand Cru vineyards (all on one hill) make a subtler, deeper, rounder wine which you may not immediately recognise as Chablis. They are all wonderful but my favourite is Les Clos. Currently the Grand Crus represent the best value of all the top wines of Burgundy.

I like Chablis because it usually costs less than other great white Burgundies and pairs wonderfully well with fish (not just oysters). I started drinking it when I was young because it was the only white Burgundy I could afford and it still has a special place in my heart.

The most famous white wine of Burgundy is Le Montrachet, a small vineyard which produces some of the worlds most expensive white wine. Few of us can afford the wine and I have drunk Le Montrachet only once and it more than lived up to its reputation.

Such is Montrachets fame that the surrounding villages have added its name to theirs. Puligny (where most of Le Montrachet is located) changed its name to Puligny-Montrachet. Its neighbour (and rival) Chassagne used to make lots of (so-so) red wine but since the fame of Montrachet has spread, the red vines have been pulled out and replaced with chardonnay.

There are greater Burgundies (Corton Charlemagne, for instance), all of which I cannot afford but I can drink Puligny with nearly everything. A few years ago, as an experiment, I served Puligny at home along with a nice Dum Pukht biryani to some French friends who had fallen for all the only-Riesling-with-Indian-food crap. They had to concede that the wine and the fragrant rice went perfectly.

The caricature view, at least in Puligny, is that Chassagne is the less complex wine. But it is hard to generalise because the wines differ from vineyard to vineyard. A Chassange from Domaine Ramonet will top most of Pulignys wines. And even Batard Montrachet (just below Montrachet on the map) which is supposed to be a lesser wine will rise to great heights in a domaine like Leflaive.

My solution (at least in India) is to be grateful for any kind of Montrachet. I even drink it with Chinese food at Delhis China Kitchen and it has never disappointed.(Actually it is the perfect pairing with the restaurants famous Peking Duck and goes with both, the thin slices of crisp duck skin and the hoisin sauce that comes with the duck.)

Which brings us to the big question: it is all very well to talk about these wines but given that we dont eat lobster and oysters every day, does it make sense to drink white burgundy regularly. My view is slightly perverse, I believe that you choose the wine first and worry about the food later.

If I have a good bottle of white Burgundy, then I might just lightly saute prawns in garlic and butter and open the bottle. The food doesnt matter that much as long as it doesnt interfere with the wine.

Two weeks ago, at Megu, the Japanese restaurant at the Leela Palace in Delhi, Gaurav Dixit, the young sommelier served us a 2011 Meursault, a 2011 Chassagne and a younger Puligny.

We had Japanese oysters with the Puligny (perfect) and scallop sashimi with the Chassagne. But the great flavour explosion came with the combination of a Puligny and raw sea urchin. I can still close my eyes and remember that marriage of flavours.

Meursault is supposed to be a fleshier wine, plumper than any of the Montrachets but once again, it is a mistake to generalise because producers in the village are now aiming for a less lush wine. But what is clear is that Meursault only reveals it secrets when you pair it with something that is umami-packed.

The Japanese chef at Megu braised some fresh and fleshy shitake mushrooms with soya and Japanese spices and created the dish of the evening. We had the mushrooms with the Meursault and nothing (not even the toro sashimi) tasted as good after that.

You may get some idea of my love for white burgundy from all of the above. I dont drink wine without food but I have yet to think of a meal (except a steak, may be) that does not improve with a good bottle of Burgundy.

It can be expensive but it doesnt necessarily have to be. There are lesser wines (say Saint Aubin) which are more reasonably priced because the global market (and sadly most Indian importers) has not discovered them. A decade ago, when I helped compile the wine list for Air-India, I packed it with cheaper and lesser known Burgundies. (Now alas, Air India is back to serving cats piss.) They didnt cost that much but they elevated every flight.

So, if you like wine or want to know more, heres my suggestion: start with white Burgundy. It will do things to your palate that you never thought were possible!

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Britain's 118million child abuse inquiry today concluded Tom Watson's 'sensational' claims about a VIP paedophile ring operating at the heart of Westminster were completely false.

Mr Watson's backing for convicted child abuse fantasist Carl Beech, who was called 'Nick' by police, was 'a significant factor' in setting up the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA).

But today the inquiry's damning report said there was 'no evidence' to back the former Labour MP's 2012 claims about 'clear intelligence suggesting a powerful paedophile network linked to parliament and No 10'.

The IICSA report said: 'Despite the inquiry engaging in an extensive evidence-gathering process, we have seen no material indicating the existence of a Westminster 'paedophile ring'. Similarly, no evidence of any attempts to cover up or suppress information about the existence of such a ring was found at MI5, SIS, GCHQ or in Metropolitan Police Special Branch records.'

Mr Watson quit as an MP before last year's general election and is rumoured to have been recommended for a peerage by Jeremy Corbyn despite his public backing for Beech, who was jailed for 18 years for falsely accusing a string of public figures including former Home Secretary Leon Brittan, who Watson called 'evil'.

But the inquiry has found that Westminster's institutions have 'turned a blind eye' to allegations of child sex abuse for decades with Margaret Thatcher accused of knowing Tory MP Peter Morrison had 'a penchant for small boys' but did nothing about it. She later made him her Private Secretary and gave him a knighthood.

The political establishment in Westminster 'repeatedly failed to deal with allegations of child sexual abuse', covering up claims and protecting high-profile MPs including Sir Cyril Smith, the damning report says, with Liberal leader Lord Steel accused of an 'abdication of responsibility' for failing to act.

Tom Watson had claimed that there was a Westminster child sex abuse ring based on Carl Beech's evidence - but the fantasist better known as 'Nick' was later jailed for 18 years for his web of lies

The 190-page report documenting the latest findings of the Independent Inquiry into child sexual abuse linked to Westminster was released today and rubbishes Watson's paedophile ring claims

How Tom Watson championed fantasist Carl Beech and helped spark inquiry that damned him today Tom Watson claimed in Parliament that he had seen 'clear intelligence suggesting a powerful paedophile network linked to Parliament and No 10.' Two years later he met with Beech, 51, who could therefore brag to police that Mr Watson was his confidante, protector and a key part of a 'little group supporting me' as he made baseless claims of sexual abuse and murder in Westminster. But last year these claims were destroyed after Beech was convicted of 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one of fraud. Mr Watson said previously: 'I met the man I knew as 'Nick' once, on 8 July 2014, two years after I had raised my question in Parliament. During that meeting Nick said very little and did not name any of his alleged abusers. 'I reassured Nick that the police had made clear that all allegations of historic sex abuse would be taken seriously and treated sensitively. 'It was not my role to judge whether victims' stories were true. I encouraged every person that came to me to take their story to the police and that is what I did with Nick.' Advertisement

The 190-page bombshell report on the Westminster strand of the inquiry, published today, has revealed:

Tom Watson's claims that there was a child abuse ring at the heart of Westminster had no foundation;

Tory bosses failed to tell police about child abuse allegations aimed at Sir Peter Morrison, a Parliamentary Private Secretary to Margaret Thatcher who died in 1995;

Ex-Liberal leader Lord Steel savaged for his 'abdication of responsibility' for failing to act on party colleague Sir Cyril Smith's child abuse;

10th Earl of Sandwich Victor Montagu, also a Tory MP for South Dorset, given a caution for indecently assaulting a 10-year-old boy;

The inquiry, chaired by Alexis Jay, heard from a host of high profile figures including Prince Charles, two ex-prime ministers, six former government ministers, a former Director General of MI5, three archbishops, one cardinal and 31 chief constables.

In addition, during the three weeks of public hearings about Westminster last year, the inquiry also heard from survivors, whistleblowers, cabinet ministers and MPs and police officers among others.

The inquiry, which is looking at 13 areas of public bodies where child abuse took place, will conclude in November 2020 with a final report expected next year.

Today's scathing report on its Westminster investigation revealed a significant problem with 'deference towards people of public prominence,' from the Whips' offices to the police and prosecutors.

David Steel blasted for complaining he is being made a SCAPEGOAT for violent paedophile Cyril Smith as he QUITS the House of Lords David Steel was blasted today after complaining he had been made a 'political scalp' today as he announced he would quit politics over his failure to unmask brutal and sadistic paedophile MP Cyril Smith. The ex-Liberal leader made the self-pitying remarks as he announced he would retire from the House of Lords after being castigated for his inaction in the 1970s and 1980s by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). The sickening acts of obese sex attacker Smith against young boys in care were known about more than 40 years ago but no action was taken before his death in 2010. But Lord Steel admitted last year he failed to pass on the allegations against the extrovert Rochdale MP even though he believed them to be true, because it was 'past history'. The peer, party leader until 1988, later recommended Smith for a knighthood and the violent predator went on to represent the Lancashire town for the Liberal Democrats until 1992. Announcing he had quit the Liberal Democrats this afternoon he made the staggering claim that he had been made 'proxy' for Smith because he is dead and cannot be prosecuted. But a representative of some of Smith's victims blasted his attitude. Richard Scorer, a specialist abuse lawyer at Slater and Gordon, said: '(Lord) Steel's total inaction after being told by Smith himself that he had molested young boys is unforgivable, most of all for those victims whose abuse he could have stopped. 'To suggest Steel is a scapegoat, as some have done, is grasping at straws - a pathetic attempt to excuse a man who admitted he knowingly turned a blind eye to Smith's crimes. 'He is not being blamed for them but for his own failure to stop Smith when he had the chance.' Advertisement

MPs including Sir Cyril Smith and Sir Peter Morrison, in the 1970s and 1980s, were known to be active in their sexual interest in children, but were protected from prosecution.

Giving evidence, former Liberal Party leader Lord Steel said that because allegations against Smith had arisen before he joined the party, he saw 'no reason, or no locus to go back to [it]'.

This failure to recognise the risks was an abdication of responsibility, and the fact the offences were non-recent was irrelevant, the report said.

Richard Scorer, a specialist abuse lawyer at Slater and Gordon, representing eight of Sir Cyril Smith's victims, said: '(Lord) Steel's total inaction after being told by Smith himself that he had molested young boys is unforgivable, most of all for those victims whose abuse he could have stopped.

'To suggest Steel is a scapegoat, as some have done, is grasping at straws - a pathetic attempt to excuse a man who admitted he knowingly turned a blind eye to Smith's crimes. He is not being blamed for them but for his own failure to stop Smith when he had the chance.

'This must surely now be the catalyst for a mandatory reporting law, compelling those who suspect child abuse to report their concerns, and for an end to this culture of deference towards those in power which allowed Smith to evade justice for so long.'

The report found no evidence of a coordinated 'paedophile ring' in Westminster, following claims by fantasist Carl Beech of its existence, and also stated there was no proof such a network was covered up by security services or police.

But it said institutions 'regularly put their own reputations or political interests before child protection'.

Professor Alexis Jay, who chaired the inquiry, said: 'It is clear to see that Westminster institutions have repeatedly failed to deal with allegations of child sexual abuse, from turning a blind eye to actively shielding abusers.

'A consistent pattern emerged of failures to put the welfare of children above political status although we have found no evidence of an organised network of paedophiles within government.

'We hope this report and its recommendations will lead political institutions to prioritise the needs and safety of vulnerable children.'

Ex-Liberal party leader Lord Steel failed to pass on child abuse allegations against prominent colleague Sir Cyril Smith (pictured together), even though he believed them to be true

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher with her private secretary Sir Peter Morrison, whose Tory colleagues have been accused of hiding his alleged child abuse from police

Professor Alexis Jay chaired the inquiry and said some politicians were better protected than the children they abused

The report identified how former prime minister Margaret Thatcher and ex-Conservative party chairman Norman (now Lord) Tebbit were aware of rumours about MP Peter Morrison having 'a penchant for small boys' but did nothing about it.

The report said the allegations 'should have rung alarm bells in government'.

But, instead, 'considerations of political embarrassment and the risk to security were paramount, while the activities of an alleged child sexual abuser who held senior positions in government and the Conservative Party were deliberately overlooked, as was the course of public justice'.

The Conservative MP for Chester, had also been caught by police molesting a 15-year-old boy on a train at Crewe. The report reveals that the Tory party made efforts to suppress these rumours rather than conduct a formal investigation.

What is the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and why was it set up? The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse is a public inquiry set up by the government in 2015 because of concerns that organisations had failed and continue to fail to protect children from sexual abuse. It was set up after investigations in 2012 and 2013 into the Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal revealed widespread abuse had been covered up. In 2014 Labour MP Tom Watson told the Commons there was evidence of a paedophile ring in Westminster linked to No 10. Months later Theresa May, then Home Secretary, announced the inquiry would take place the following year. Its scope included investigations into 13 areas of abuse: Children in the care of Lambeth Council

Children in the care of Nottinghamshire councils

Children in the care Rochdale Council by Sir Cyril Smith

Child sexual abuse in the Anglican Church

Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church

The sexual abuse of children in borstals and young offender's institutions

Child sexual abuse in residential and boardings schools

The internet and child sexual abuse

Child exploitation by organised networks

The protection of children outside the United Kingdom

Reparations for victims and survivors

Allegations of child sexual abuse linked to Westminster Advertisement

Indeed, the inquiry found there was a 'consistent culture for years' in the whips' offices to 'protect the image' of their party by 'playing down rumours and protecting politicians from gossip or scandal at all costs'.

It meant victims' interests were often overlooked, with many organisations failing to pass on allegations to police.

The report also found senior diplomat Sir Peter Hayman was the beneficiary of 'preferential, differential and unduly deferential treatment' over claims he sent obscene material in the post, following a meeting between his solicitor and the then-director of public prosecutions.

There was also 'striking evidence' of how 'wealth and social status insulated perpetrators of child sexual abuse' from being brought to justice, as in the case of Tory MP Victor Montagu.

The report stated: 'A consistent pattern that has emerged from the evidence we have heard is a failure by almost every institution to put the needs and safety of children who have survived sexual abuse first.'

Montagu's son Robert, who he also sexually abused for over five years, said the decision not to prosecute was 'entirely wrong and very indicative of the attitude towards people in public positions'.

The report concludes that these are examples of a political culture which 'values its reputation far higher than the fate of the children involved.'

The report's findings were also damning of modern political parties. As recently as 2017, Green Party election candidate Aimee Challenor was able to appoint her father as election agent, even though he had been charged with sexually assaulting a child and was later convicted.

The Inquiry also investigated the Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE), which campaigned in the 1970s to lower the age of consent, as well as public acceptance of paedophilia.

Thatcher knew of the abuse claims about ally Peter Morrison but 'did nothing' and gave him a knighthood Prime Margaret Thatcher and ex-Conservative party chairman Norman (now Lord) Tebbit were aware of rumours about MP Peter Morrison having 'a penchant for small boys' but did nothing about it. The report said the allegations 'should have rung alarm bells in government'. But, instead, 'considerations of political embarrassment and the risk to security were paramount, while the activities of an alleged child sexual abuser who held senior positions in government and the Conservative Party were deliberately overlooked, as was the course of public justice'. Morrison was later knighted. Advertisement

A number of its members sexually abused children, including Sir Peter Hayman, a former High Commissioner to Canada. The report concludes that PIE was given 'foolish and misguided' support for several years by organisations who 'should have known better.' Those organisations included the National Council for Civil Liberties and the Albany Trust.

The report made a number of suggestions including changes to the Honours system, re-examining the policy over posthumous forfeiture of honours - which would strip knighthoods from the likes of disgraced entertainer Jimmy Savile, and creating widespread and well-understood whistleblowing policies for all Westminster institutions.

The Government has also been urged to review its child safeguarding policies, and for all legitimate political parties to have a 'comprehensive safeguarding policy' overseen by the watchdog.

Much of the evidence for the inquiry stemmed from a public hearing in the Westminster investigation held from between March 4 and 29 last year.

As of September 30 last year, the cost of the inquiry was 118.25m. The mass inquiry required two and a quarter million pages of evidence processed.

It is expected to conclude with a final report next year.
Hyderabad, Feb 25 : Union Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy on Tuesday said some elements were still trying to resort to violence in Delhi.

"Reports are coming that even today attempts are being made to create violence. We will conduct high-level probe into this to find out who are behind this and place the facts before the people," the minister told reporters.

He said though some miscreants are still trying to foment trouble, Delhi police and the paramilitary forces were taking proper precautions.

He made it clear that the Centre would not tolerate killings of innocent people, damage to public and private property and attacks on the policemen doing their duty.

He reiterated that the violence in Delhi is pre-planned and aimed at tarnishing the image of India during US President Donald Trump's visit.

Stating that Trump and his family members are in Delhi for the second day, Reddy appealed to all political parties to exercise restraint and avoid use of provocative language. He said no issue can be solved through violence.

Reddy said the Centre would deal firmly with the rioters. "No matter which community or party is resorting to violence, the Centre will not spare anyone. It will take strong action against all anti-social elements," he said.

The minister alleged that unable to digest BJP's massive victory in the elections and with no issue to counter Prime Minister Narendra Modi politically, the detractors were using Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) to spread canard against the government and divide the people along religious lines. "This is not good for the country," he said.

He assured minority community that there is not a single word against them in the CAA and appealed to them not to believe the lies being spread by the opposition parties.

He challenged the political parties opposing the CAA to prove if there is anything in it against the citizens of this country. "CAA is not even against Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is only aimed at helping persecuted minorities of those countries on humanitarian grounds," he said.

Reddy condemned the alleged threats by the leaders of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) to attack enumerators visiting the houses for Census. He said Census was a constitutional obligation and it was being carried out for last 150 years.

Criticising the anti-CAA protesters, he said they were carrying national flag in one hand and a stone in the other to attack the police. "What kind of patriotism is this?" he asked.

The minister said since India was a democratic country and everyone has a right to protest, the Centre had been acting with restraint for last two months even though some of the protests were anti-national. He said the Centre did not act though the protesters at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi have shut a national highway for more than two months.

He remarked that some forces were mistaking the Centre's patience and restraint as its weakness and inefficiency.
The eighth meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council was held with participation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The heads of state addressed the meeting.

President Ilham Aliyev said:

- Dear Mr. President, dear brother!

I would like to sincerely welcome you to Azerbaijan. Welcome to Azerbaijan, to your homeland! Your visit is of great importance. Today, during our one-on-one meeting, we reviewed many directions of Turkish-Azerbaijani friendship and fraternal relations. We were further convinced that the ties between us are strategic in nature and rest on friendship and fraternity.

Last year was a successful one for our ties. We met several times. Huge success was achieved in all areas  political, economic, energy, transport. Among them, of course, we can mention the TANAP project reaching the border with Europe.

In a word, I am sure that the regular meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey Strategic Cooperation Council being held today will be very important for the further development of our ties. There are many issues on the agenda. Their discussion and the decisions to be made, as well as the bilateral documents to be signed, will significantly strengthen our ties.

Welcome again! I wish you and the delegation, the fraternal Turkish people success, the best of luck and good health!

***

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said:

- I would also like to express our deep appreciation to the distinguished Mr. President, my dear brother for the hospitality extended both to me personally and the delegation from the moment we arrived. During our one-on-one meeting, we had the opportunity to discuss Turkish-Azerbaijani relations in detail. We discussed in detail everything we can do and what has been done in all areas  political, military, economic, commercial, cultural. I also want to emphasize that we are pleased to chair such a meeting  the eighth meeting of the Council.

May Allah rest the soul of our Azerbaijani brother Ibrahim, who became a martyr yesterday. Prior to this, another brother of ours became a martyr, may Allah rest his soul too. On my own behalf, on behalf of the delegation and the people of Turkey, I also want to express my condolences to the entire Azerbaijani people.

During the meetings today, our ministers will hold the necessary discussions.

Last year, my brother Mr. Aliyev explicitly defined his opinion, saying: Nagorno-Karabakh is Azerbaijan and exclamation mark. Turkey supports these words, and I repeat them here. I hope the results of the 9 February elections to the Milli Majlis benefit our Azerbaijan. We are very pleased and happy that the elections ended in an atmosphere of stability and tranquility.

We also observe with approval the process of reforms being implemented under the guidance of my esteemed brother Mr. Aliyev. I want to express my readiness to share with you our experience in all areas to support the reform process.

We have implemented such gigantic projects together as the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, TANAP, the Star Oil Refinery. At present, our main goal is to increase our trade of $4.5 billion to $15 billion, as we outlined in 2019. My brother and I have reached agreement on this issue.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Veteran actor Rekhas shocking revelation on filmmaker Balachander and co-star Kamal Haasan about an unplanned kiss while shooting for 1986 Tamil film Punnagai Mannan has sent shock waves among netizens on social media. A clip from her latest interview to Cinema Vikatan in which she talks about the unplanned kiss in a crucial scene from Punnagai Mannan has gone viral.

In the film, theres a scene where Kamal Haasan had to kiss Rekha just before the characters were about to commit suicide. In the interview, Rekha revealed that Balachander planned the kiss scene without her consent. When the scene was shot and Rekha was kissed without her consent, she was worried that her father would be unhappy with the scene. Balachander, in his defense, told Rekha that it was normal. There is no vulgarity in it and we need to show the love and bonding between the characters.

Rekha added that the incident haunted her for few days. Even though she seemed relaxed recollecting the incident in the interview, the clip wasnt received lightly by netizens who have termed it another form of sexual harassment.

WTF! This would have made the headlines if it happened in Hollywood. This is proper sexual harassment at the workplace. Worst is, theyve even planned it. But since its Kamal saaaaar and Balachander saaaaar, it should be fine I guess, tweeted Sangeeth.

WTF!



This would have made the headlines if it happened in Hollywood. This is proper 'sexual harassment at the workplace'. Worst is, they've even planned it.



But since it's Kamal saaaaar and Balachandar saaaaar, it should be fine I guess. pic.twitter.com/alPAC7eXJy  Sangeeth (@Sangeethoffcl) February 23, 2020

Also read | Happy birthday Shahid Kapoor: 10 family pics with Mira Rajput, Misha and Zain that show hes the perfect husband, dad

Another Twitter user G Sundararajah wrote: I say this as his fan; if this is true @ikamalhaasan should unequivocally apologize to her publicly. The reaction of the interviewer shows how normalized sexual harassment is in our society. They are talking about it in a matter of fact manner.

Written and directed by K Balachander, Punnagai Mannan featured Kamal Haasan in dual roles apart from Rekha, Srividya, Revathi and Delhi Ganesh among others.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

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Uber has joined teams with an unlikely partner to add a new revenue stream with the hopes of finally turning a profit

The ride-hailing giant signed a deal with ad-tech company Adomni to introduce advertising displays on top of 1,000 vehicles in three cities across the US, AdWeek reports.

The display is a double-sided screen that shows different ads depending on geolocation and time of day.

The pilot program is set to roll out in Atlanta, Georgia, Dallas, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona by April 1st.

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Uber signed a deal with ad-tech company Adomni to introduce advertising displays on top of 1,000 vehicles in three cities across the US. The pilot program is set to roll out in Atlanta, Georgia, Dallas, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona by April 1st

Uber may be worth nearly $50 billion, but has lost billions over the years.

The firm has been in business for nearly a decade and no company has been able to raise more capital, grow faster and reach such an incredible valuation in such a short time  but yet, it still has not made a profit.

Experts have said it is a result of the unethical and legal problems it has faced.

Other sources noted that the fares Uber collects are just not enough to pay for its revenue and operating costs.

But now, the firm is hoping a new acquisition will change its luck.

The acquisition also creates a whole new advertising unit within Uber named Uber OOH (out of house) Powered by Adomni.

The pilot program will pay drivers $300 who install the ad-display on top of their own vehicles, as well as an additional $100 for every week they drive more than 20 hours with it on.

The display is a double-sided screen that shows different ads depending on geolocation and time of day

The pilot program will pay drivers $300 who install the ad-display on top of their own vehicles, as well as an additional $100 for every week they drive more than 20 hours with it on

Head of Uber OOH Brett Baker said in a statement: 'After exploring this idea for over a year now, we realized that the timing is perfect to launch this new ad network and we couldn't ask for a better partner than Adomni.'

Adomni CEO Jonathan Gudai said: 'We have all of these other screens  many of them outdoor  that are connected to our system, so advertisers can not only buy the Uber screens, but they can also have it stitched to have their story connected to the big screens,' Gudai added.

Choosing to join the advertising world will be a new revenue stream for Uber, which noted it may never be profitable when it filed for its IPO last year.

However, recently the firm seems to have become more optimistic with a prediction it will turn a profit by the end of this year.

The news comes just a week after Uber's rival, Lyft, announced it was teaming up with Halo Cars, which is also a digital car-top advertising startup.
Weinstein then grabbed Sciorra around her collar above her chest, the actor testified, and he shoved her onto the bed. "I was trying to get him off of me, I was punching him, I was kicking him," she said. "I was just trying to get him away from me. ... He put my hands over my head to put them back and he got on top of me and he raped me."
She acknowledged, for instance, that she could not recall precisely which month, or even year, the assault she described had had taken place. Mr. Weinsteins lawyers also elicited testimony from one of Ms. Sciorras old friends, Paul Feldsher, who said that shortly after the incident Ms. Sciorra had not described it as a rape but as a crazy thing she had done with Mr. Weinstein. The defense also called the manager of Ms. Sciorras building, who said that Mr. Weinstein would not have been allowed up to her apartment without her permission.

The verdict was a victory for Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., the Manhattan district attorney.

Although the jury acquitted Mr. Weinstein of more charges than he was convicted on, the verdict was a significant accomplishment for Mr. Vance and his office, which took a huge risk in bringing Mr. Weinstein to trial in the first place.

Mr. Vance, a Democrat who has long considered himself an ally of feminists, came under enormous pressure to bring a case against Mr. Weinstein after The New York Times and The New Yorker published bombshell articles in October 2017, that detailed the stories of scores of women who accused Mr. Weinstein of abuse and harassment reaching back to the early 1990s.

Mr. Vance was particularly susceptible to the pressure given his own history with sex-crimes cases.

In April 2015, his prosecutors declined to file charges against Mr. Weinstein after an Italian model, Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, accused him of groping her during a business meeting at his Lower Manhattan office. With the help of detectives, Ms. Battilana Gutierrez later recorded Mr. Weinstein appearing to admit that he had touched her. Prosecutors decided that she was a problematic witness because she had given inconsistent accounts in a separate sexual assault case in Italy.

Four years earlier, Mr. Vance dismissed rape charges against another powerful man, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the head of the International Monetary Fund at the time, after a hotel maid in Manhattan accused him of rape. Again, Mr. Vances office said it had doubts about the womans credibility: She had fabricated a story about a gang rape in her native Guinea.

After the verdict on Monday, Mr. Vance told reporters at a news conference, Its a new day because Harvey Weinstein has finally been held accountable for crimes he committed.

The verdict may lead to change in the prosecution of complex sex-crimes cases.

Prosecutors have traditionally been averse to bringing rape cases in which witnesses admit to having sex consensually with their assailants at other times.
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It's no longer 'a question of if...but when' the coronavirus will spread in the US, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials said on Tuesday as they told parents to prepare their children for the possibility of school closures.

The CDC said Americans may need to prepare for 'tele-schooling' should the virus continue to spread throughout the US.

So far, 57 cases have been confirmed - 14 in the nation, 40 from citizens repatriated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan and three evacuated from China.

And although the threat is currently low, Dr Nancy Messonier, CDC's director of the Center for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, says the public needs to be ready if the virus becomes a pandemic.

'It's not so much of a question of if this will happen in this country any more but a question of when this will happen,' she told reporters in a media call on Tuesday.

'We are asking the American public to prepare for the expectation that this might be bad.'

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Dr Nancy Messonier (pictured) of the CDC says the public needs to prepare if the coronavirus spreads in the US and suggested parents asks schools if they plans for doing classes over the Internet

Dr Messonier says that it's not a question of if, but when, spread will occur in the US as the virus continued to spread abroad. Pictured: Doctors look at a scan of a patient with coronavirus at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital, February 16

Dr Messonier is so concerned that she suggested that parents call their children's schools and ask if there are plans for children to attend class over the Internet or via video chat should the buildings need to close.

In fact, she told reporters she has already called her own children's school to ask how it would handle closures due to the outbreak.

Dr Messonier said although the threat of coronavirus in the US is currently slim, the infection's international spread abroad makes containment at the US border and within the nation increasingly difficult.

Therefore, she suggested recommendations that the public could take if the virus reaches pandemic-like levels.

At a community level, this means reducing face-to-face contact in schools and officers and replacing in-person meetings with teleschooling and teleconferencing.

'I had a conversation with my family over breakfast this morning, and I told my children that - while I didn't think they were at risk - right now, we as a family, need to be preparing for significant disruption of our lives,' Dr Messonier said.

She said she called her children's school and asked if they are plans for tele-schooling if the building needs to close due to the virus.

'[Parents should] ask schools, are there plans for teleschool? You should think what you would do for daycare if schools close?' Dr Messonier said.

However, other health experts have advised parents not to overreact and pull their children out of school.

They cite that the number of infections among children are low and that when symptoms do appear, they're mild.

'The literature is only reporting about 100 or so pediatric cases,' Dr Terri Lynn Stillwell, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan, told NPR.

Worldwide, more than 80,000 people have been infected with coronavirus and more than 2,700 people have died - mostly older patients with pre-existing conditions.

The White House has requested $2.5 billion to fund better tracking of the virus, treatment development. Pictured: Medical personnel work in the ICU of a hospital designated for coronavirus patients in Wuhan, February 24

President Donald Trump said in a press conference in India on Tuesday (pictured) that be believes coronavirus is 'a problem that's going to go away'

During the media call, Dr Messonier also gave an update on test kits, some of which were flawed, that were sent to state and local health departments.

Currently, 12 'states and localities' have working test kits, but it's unclear which states and cities have them.

'I am frustrated, like I know many of you are, that we have had issues with our test,' she said.

'I want to assure you that we are working to modify the kit and hope to send out a new version to state and local jurisdictions soon.'

She added that 400 samples were tested at the CDC on Monday night and that there is currently no backlog despite the defective tests.

Dr Messonier was also asked about President Donald Trump's comment on Tuesday at a press conference in India, in which he said: 'I think [coronavirus is] a problem that's going to go away.'

This contradicts statements made by top health agencies including the CDC, the World Health Organization and the US Department of Health and Human Services.

She said that she and her colleagues are 'hopeful' that the virus could be a seasonal illness that is more virulent in the fall and winter, but there is no way of knowing right now.

President Trump also stressed that the situation 'is very well under control' in the US and patients diagnosed with the virus were recovering.

'We've had very few people with it. The people that have it,' he said the press conference in New Delhi.

'The people are getting better - they're all getting better. There's a very good chance you're not going to die [if you are infected].'

Meanwhile, the White House has requested $2.5 billion to fund better tracking of the virus, treatment development, and ramped-up production of a stockpile of 300 million facemasks and protective gear for US health care workers.

'I'm deeply concerned we're way behind the eight ball on this,' said Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington, during a Tuesday Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing.

US LAWMAKERS PROBE HEALTH OFFICIALS OVER SECRET CORONAVIRUS MEETINGS US health officials have been conducting secret meetings with lawmakers, senators revealed at a Tuesday Appropriations Subcommittee meeting. Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire criticized the secrecy of a briefing that had taken place earlier that morning, and said that her constituents were 'concerned' that they weren't getting all the information that they needed about the outbreak. During that closed-door meeting, lawmakers were told 'there is a very strong chance of an extremely serious outbreak of the coronavirus here in the US,' Senatory Patty Murry, a Democrat from Washington said during the hearing. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar admitted that Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr had designated the meeting 'top secret' but claimed that ultimately nothing had come out in the briefing that hasn't been shared with the public. Azar was testifying in part to defend the $2.5 billion emergency budget request that the White House submitted to Congress Monday night to address the coronavirus outbreak, but the dubious committee suggested the funding is too little, too late. 'I'm deeply concerned we're way behind the eight ball on this,' said Senator Murray. She was among Senators from both sides of the aisle to criticize the US response to the coronavirus outbreak for being insufficient and the funding request for being too vague. HHS Secretary Alex Azar (pictured) fielded criticism that health officials have not been transparent and are requesting too little money too late to address the coronavirus outbreak from both sides of the aisle in a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee meeting Tuesday The HHS has requested more money to better track the spread of the virus in the US - which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Tuesday was inevitable - develop treatments for the killer infection and to ramp up production of 300 million masks and other protective gear to stockpile for healthcare workers. Some Senators used the outbreak and budget request as a vehicle to critique the Trump administrations prior health initiatives and funding cuts to the very programs that are being employed to combat the outbreak in the US. Azar, however, insisted that the funding request was carefully timed, would more than cover the US's needs for combating the outbreak, and announced that phase I clinical trials for an antiviral treatment are beginning at the University of Nebraska. He also admitted the US 'will likely see more cases' of the coronavirus that has now infected 57 Americans and more than 80,000 people worldwide. Azar said that the whopping $2.5 billion was necessary to cover the development of therapeutics like the one entering clinical trials in Nebraska and vaccines as well as for protective gear for healthcare workers and better surveillance of the virus. He said that surveillance - the CDC's data collection process, which helps officials track the spread of diseases - for coronavirus 'needs to be comparable to flu surveillance.' Azar's testimony comes after US experts speculated that the highly contagious virus that emerged in Wuhan, China in December, might become a regular seasonal occurrence, as the flu is. So far, it has proven less fatal but perhaps more contagious than other viruses of the same family, infection risk to the general public is still low in the US, but officials' tone has shifted to suggest that it won't stay that way and the virus will spread. In an attempt to brace for hat possibility, the HHS is seeking funds to prepare hospitals that are already stretched thin by a particularly bad flu season to handle a potential surge in coronavirus cases. Some of the $2.5 billion emergency funds - although the department has not yet determined how much - will go to increasing manufacturing capacity for stockpiles of protective gear for hospital workers, especially masks. Such manufacturing capabilities 'do not exist yet,' said Azar, who thinks the US needs about 300 million N95 masks. Senator Murray questioned whether stockpiles already exist. 'Of course not, or we wouldn't be asking for a supplemental [appropriations budget],' Azar snapped back. 'This is an unprecedented severe health challenge, potentially globally.' Senators were skeptical over the vagueness of the budget request, which Azar broke down into five broad categories. In addition to expanded surveillance he said 'we need more money to support contact tracing and communication with impacted individuals and lab testing, research, development and preucurment of vaccines and therapeutics, [and we] need to support the procurement of [personal protective equipment], especially masks into the national stockpile.' The first human clinical trials of an antiviral treatment for the coronavirus that's sickened more than 80,000 people worldwide are set to begin in Nebraska, US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar said Tuesday. Meanwhile, the drugmaker, Moderna, announced its candidate coronavirus vaccine has been shipped to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to begin phase 1 clinical trials in humans. Still, the lawmakers are dubious that the $2.5 billion isn't enough to pay for measures that the HHS isn't even sharing with full transparency for addressing the outbreak that seems to be approaching a tipping point into pandemic levels. 'If a pandemic is coming and we're disregarding scientific evidence and we're relying on tweets and an emergency supplemental [sic] without details...I just think this is not enough,' said Senator Murray. 'If you low-ball something like this, you'll pay for it later,' warned Senator Richard Shelby, an Alabama Republican. Advertisement
Please join us on Thursday, March 5th at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento to learn about what is new in the world of SAS and how to bring innovation and analytical acceleration to your organization in 2020! The following topics will be covered:

8:00am  8:15am  Registration and Welcome

8:15am  9am  National SAS Innovation Briefing, Marie Lowman

We welcome Marie Lowman , Senior Industry Consultant with SAS, for an engaging discussion of how States and Localities are innovating and addressing challenges using SAS, such as:

, Senior Industry Consultant with SAS, for an engaging discussion of how States and Localities are innovating and addressing challenges using SAS, such as: The Opioid Epidemic



Emergency Response Management



Child Well Being



Transportation Safety



Offender Management



Whole Person Care

9:00am  9:45am  Justice and Public Safety Demo, Colin Patterson

Join Colin Patterson , Senior Technical Architect with SAS, to learn how SAS is helping agencies in the space of Justice and Public Safety innovate, focusing on areas such as:

, Senior Technical Architect with SAS, to learn how SAS is helping agencies in the space of Justice and Public Safety innovate, focusing on areas such as: Human Trafficking Investigations



Confidential Informants and Intelligence Gathering



Suspicious Activity Reporting and Analysis



Investigative Case Management



Cell Phone Forensics and Call Detail Records



Public Safety Data Integration, Analysis and Visualization



9:45am  10:15am  Networking / Coffee Break

10:15am  11:00am  CDPH Presentation, Jing Feng Ph.D.

SAS welcomes Jing Feng Ph.D., DMU Supervisor with the Center for Infectious Diseases from the California Department of Public Health for a presentation on how CDPH uses SAS for conducting spatial-temporal aberration analysis to improve HIV surveillance in California.



11:00am  11:45am  Opioid Analytics Demo, Teemu Kettunen

Teemu Kettunen, Senior Systems Engineer with SAS, will demonstrate how departments across the country are attacking the opioid epidemic through dashboarding done in SAS.



11:45am  Noon  Wrap Up, Closing

Please register today for a ticket by following the link below. This is a limited seating event, so be sure to secure your spot now. If you have any questions, please reach out and we will be more than happy to help!
A man walks past the he National Debt Clock on 43rd Street in midtown New York City Feb. 15, 2019. (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

National Debt Isnt $23 Trillion, Its $122 Trillion, Group Says

WASHINGTONAmericas current national debt stands at roughly $23.3 trillion, according to the U.S. Treasury Departments Debt to the Penny website, which is so precise that visitors can pick a specific date in the recent pastsay Jan. 1, 2000and get the exact amount on that day: $5,776,091,314,225.33.

While based on those figures, the national debt has more than quadrupled in that time frame, its actually much worse than that, according to calculations by Bill Bergman.

This calculation highlights some of the pitfalls and perils of false precision, Bergman, the director of research for the Chicago-based nonprofit advocacy group Truth in Accounting (TIA), told The Epoch Times.

The U.S. government does not include the unfunded obligations for Social Security and Medicare under current law. These massive negative positions are so high that Truth in Accounting believes the true national debt runs north of $100 trillion.

$122,309,089,510,200, to be exact.

Because future obligations arent included in current-year accounting, a government budget can technically be balanced when, in truth, its anything but.

Thats because those unfunded obligations under Social Security and Medicare are benefits the government has promised to pay future beneficiaries, but for which there currently exists no dedicated funding.

The yawning gap between the Treasury Departments calculation of the national debt and TIAs reflects how the federal government keeps its books.

How does the U.S. government justify not counting these obligations as debts? The reasoning has been that the government controls the law, and can change it at any time, Bergman said.

We at TIA dont believe sound accounting allows for this degree of discretion. As long as current law is current law, the government should record these debts, and behave accordingly.

But thats not all.

Bergman said that a true national debt running almost five times as high as the reported debt may suggest deception is at work, but federal accounting also calls Social Security and Medicare entitlement programs, and [for annual budgeting purposes] calls entitlement expenditures mandatory spending.

In other words, officials can spend less now and save the difference, raise taxes now for future spending, or hope the economy keeps growing and generates added revenues and budget surpluses down the road.

Federal officials know these options well, and they even allude to them on the annual Social Security statement that future beneficiaries get in the mail: Your estimated benefits are based on current law. Congress has made changes to the law in the past and can do so at any time.

The annual trustees for Social Security and Medicare also issue annual reports that acknowledge the spiraling benefits and project the years when each system will be unable to pay promised benefits based on current assets if Congress continues to ignore the problem.

The problem of misleading accounting isnt unique to the federal government; its widespread at the state and local levels as well, according to TIA President Sheila Weinberg.

While governments consolidated or government-wide statements are prepared on an accrual basis, the general and other budgeted funds statements are prepared using the modified accrual basis, which loosely resembles the cash basis. These two sets of books lead to misleading and contradictory financial information, Weinberg recently told The Epoch Times.

Neither set of books includes the unfunded obligations.

Of course, government officials often point to the financial data from the fund statements, which leave out long-term liabilities and all the expenses incurred, because these statements make their financial conditions and budgets look better, she said.

Weinberg pointed to New York City under former Democratic presidential aspirant Mayor Bill de Blasio, saying: For fiscal year 2018, New York City claimed a $4.6 billion surplus, but that was achieved by not including $4.9 billions of earned and incurred compensation costs related to retiree health care benefits.

New York City used some of its $4.6 billion surplus for additional spending, even though its pension plans were unfunded by $51 billion and the city needs $106 billion to pay for retiree health care benefits that have already been earned. The citys government-wide statements reported a $3.2 deficit for the year.

The problem at the state and local levels is that officials rely on standards issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), a private entity established in 1984.

The board is made up of mostly current or former government officials and others who may have a vested interest in the standards they set, Weinberg said. GASB is currently deliberating about changing the standard that requires these two sets of books, but is leaning toward maintaining the status quo.

Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc

Correction: An earlier version of this article mistakenly included a reference to the Financial Accounting Standards Board and a comment about it. The Epoch Times regrets the errors.
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Apollo 13 was set to be NASAs third mission to the moon, however, the crew had to abandon their plans two days after launch  but not before they captured a stunning view of the lunar surface.

New data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter recreates the astronauts views in a video that reveals the dark side of the moon in 4K resolution.

The two-minute clip opens in darkness to honor the crew that were in pitch black for eight minutes while sitting between earthset and sunrise.

The sun then appears from around the corner, revealing the lunar surface's majestic craters and pot marks.

The world was said to have held its breath after Apollo 13 suffered an explosion on its way to the moon in April 1970.

The blast left the spacecraft crippled, prompting the famous line 'Houston, we've had a problem' from Commander Jim Lovell.

Scroll down for videos

The astronauts and mission control were both faced with logistical problems in stabilizing the spacecraft and its air supply, as well as providing enough energy to the damaged fuel cells to allow successful reentry into Earths atmosphere.

The crew, which included Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert, had to abandon the main command module and use the moon-landing Lunar module as a lifeboat to coast back to Earth.

NASA had to very quickly recalculate the emergency procedures which they later radioed through to the crew.

As the crippled spacecraft's navigation equipment was not working correctly the commander used the Earth as a reference point.

Apollo 13 was set to be NASAs third mission to the moon, however, the crew had to abandon their plans two days after launch  but not before they captured a stunning view of the lunar surface

New data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter recreates the astronauts views in a video that reveals the dark side of the moon in 4K resolution

The two-minute clip opens in darkness to honor the crew that were in pitch black for eight minutes while sitting between earthset and sunrise. The sun then appears from around the corner, revealing the lunar surface's majestic craters and pot marks

If the craft had been pointing in the wrong direction at the time of the burn the crew would likely have been shot into space with no hope of correcting their course to return home.

In the video, NASA takes viewers around parts of the moon for over a minute as music plays in the background  and then the Earth appears.

NASA says this is the moment when Apollo 13 reestablished radio contact with Mission Control.

The video ends by showing the trajectory the astronauts took around the moon to get home safely.

The crew, which included Fred Haise( left), Jim Lovell (middle) and Jack Swigert (right), had to abandon the main command module and use the moon-landing Lunar module as a lifeboat to coast back to Earth. On April 17, tragedy turned to triumph as the Apollo 13 astronauts touched down safely in the Pacific Ocean

In the video, NASA takes viewers around parts of the moon for over a minute as music plays in the background  and then the Earth appears

Although stunning, the video does not show the true hardships the crew suffered while their lives dangled by a thread. It took four days before NASA was able to bring the team home to Earth. During this time they suffered from dehydration, ate little food and fought off frigid temperatures

Although stunning, the video does not show the true hardships the crew suffered while their lives dangled by a thread.

It took four days before NASA was able to bring the team home to Earth.

During this time they suffered from dehydration, ate little food and fought off frigid temperatures.

On April 17, tragedy turned to triumph as the Apollo 13 astronauts touched down safely in the Pacific Ocean.
MOSCOW, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Russia, as this year's chair of an international body tackling the trade in conflict diamonds, will work to lift restrictions on the export of diamonds from the Central African Republic (CAR), deputy finance minister Alexei Moiseev said on Tuesday.

A total ban on diamond exports from CAR was imposed in 2013 but partially lifted in 2016, allowing CAR to resume sales of diamonds from five "green zones" where the government could certify the stones were conflict-free.

As the 2020 chair of the Kimberley Process, an 81-nation body that certifies ethical diamond exports, Russia will focus on helping the CAR government to improve its regulation of local diamond production with the aim of re-entering the export market, Moiseev said.

The Kimberley Process group defines conflict diamonds as those whose sales fund armed groups, but a project to broaden the definition is currently underway.

Moiseev said current restrictions had not affected CAR's total output of diamonds, instead increasing the amount of diamonds sold illegally and generating profits for middlemen rather than local communities.

"That's not what we want," Moiseev said.

Russia may play a role in monitoring the situation on the ground as well, should it be invited by Kimberley Process members to do so, Moiseev said, although he added that African countries should lead the way.

Russia has been increasing its presence in CAR and across the African continent in recent years, signing multiple military cooperation deals and mining and energy agreements, as well as ramping up trade.

Moscow will also push for all Kimberley Process member nations to adopt legislation that distinguishes between natural and synthetic diamonds.

It will work on launching an electronic database of certificates that trace the origin of diamonds, helping customers to differentiate between natural and lab-produced stones, Moiseev said. The project could take at least five years, he added.

Major diamond miners, however, are increasingly turning to blockchain technology to attach digital fingerprints to diamonds to trace their route from mine to jeweller and ensure their origin is conflict-free.

(Reporting by Polina Ivanova; editing by Kirsten Donovan)


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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 25, 2020) - HEMP FOR HEALTH INC. (CSE: HFH) (FSE: 9HH) (the "Company" or "HFH"), a cultivator and distributor of premium CBD products in Italy and other European countries, is pleased to announce that it has signed cultivation contracts with four different agriculture companies for the 2020 growing season.

The contracts to cultivate hemp on approximately 150 Ha of farmland in the Sienna province of Italy are expected to yield approximately 100,000 kilos of biomass and 12,000 kilos of dried flower (please see press release February 12, 2020). These contracts are based on a 5-year initial agreement with the option to renew for an additional 5 years including planting, watering, harvesting and natural fertilizers.

"These contract agreements are the first step in allowing our Company to bring an expanded offering to market, creating innovative products to deliver exceptional CBD experiences to consumers," reported Robert Eadie, C.E.O. and Director of the company.

About Hemp for Health Inc.:

Hemp for Health is a cultivator and distributor of premium CBD products contracting farmers in the Tuscan region of Italy for the purpose of yielding the highest quality hemp-based CBD. Our focus is to offer the absolute best in natural and organic CBD products to our customers, and that starts with pristine soil, seeds, and sun. (See further details available in the Company's filings on SEDAR. www.sedar.com)

ON BEHALF OF HEMP FOR HEALTH INC.

(sgd.) Robert Eadie

President & CEO

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Evan Eadie

Telephone: 416-640-1936 x 203

Toll Free: 1-866-602-4935

Email: evan@hempforhealth.eu

Reader Advisory

Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities law. In particular, forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to (i) the planting and harvesting of certain quantities of hemp during 2020, and (ii) the monetization of the Company's current inventory of hemp. In connection with the forward-looking statements, the Company has made numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: the ability to plant, grow and harvest hemp without significant loss due to adverse weather conditions or natural disasters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant risks, uncertainties and contingencies which could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. Risk factors include: general risks associated with agriculture including drought, infestation, fire, hail, flooding, and factors beyond the control of the Company; a material increase in the supply of hemp, regionally or worldwide which depresses the general price for hemp and hemp derived products; unanticipated operating delays or halts; competition from other growers or suppliers; failure to obtain or maintain all required approvals from regulatory authorities; and changes in regulations related to the growing, processing and distribution of hemp and hemp related products. A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company is disclosed in its prospectus dated November 1, 2019 as filed on SEDAR. All forward-looking statements herein are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statements or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52741
SOLANA BEACH, Calif., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Flock Freight , the only hubless business-to-business freight logistics company, today announced a $50M Series B funding round led by SignalFire and GLP Capital Partners .

"Flock Freight is pioneering the hubless shipping market, benefiting both the shipper and the carrier," said Oren Zaslansky, chief executive officer and founder of Flock Freight. "As we continue to prioritize exceptional service and affordability for shippers and increased revenue potential for carriers, we look forward to expanding FlockDirect and our partnerships with carriers throughout the U.S."

With this funding round, Flock Freight will expand FlockDirect, its hubless pooling product that utilizes proprietary algorithms to pool multiple less-than-truckload (LTL) and partial-truckload (PTL) freight shipments so they can be shipped via full truckload service, into a mid-market and enterprise-level solution for businesses across the country. Flock Freight will also redefine the antiquated pricing structure associated with the hub-and-spoke model for shipping freight and expand its partnerships with truckload carrier networks to ensure their trucks are completely filled.

Flock Freight's technology solution, FlockDirect, is revolutionizing the traditional freight logistics model by:

Eliminating terminals, freight arrives untouched from pick-up to delivery, resulting in less than 0.001% damage claims

Pooling freight, FlockDirect eliminates the need to switch trucks or stop at warehouses, optimizing the route which reduces fuel emissions up to 40%

Guaranteeing the delivery date to create a predictable shipping schedule for customers, Flock Freight provides an on-time delivery rate of 97.5% and offers a 100% money-back guarantee

"There are many companies trying to bring data or tech-enabled workflows to the transportation market, but what got us excited about Flock Freight was their ability go beyond that to offer a fundamentally better experience for customers with FlockDirect," said Chris Farmer, founder and chief executive officer of SignalFire.

"We strongly believe that logistics will be one of the most exciting and disruptive industries in the years ahead. Our partnership with Flock Freight reflects this conviction," said Alan Yang, chief executive officer of GLP Capital Partners. "Their FlockDirect system will build a more efficient and reliable less-than-truckload freight market, and we look forward to working with them to build a better logistics industry."

Flock Freight is transforming the $65B freight industry with its proprietary algorithms that ensure efficient and affordable shipping from coast to coast. This eliminates the traditional hub-and-spoke model that requires trucks to transport LTL and PTL freight to a processing facility for it to be distributed via another truck. Flock Freight's hubless system enables truckload carriers to maximize their full revenue potential by ensuring their trucks are filled and reduces the trucks' overall road travel, positively affecting their carbon footprint.

Every company, from small jarred food companies to large electronics companies, will find enhanced value in FlockDirect's system due to its damage-free and on-time guarantees. FlockDirect eliminates the potential for damage by never moving freight from the truck until it reaches its final destination and its guaranteed delivery date ensures that companies won't rack up the hefty fees associated with late deliveries.

About Flock Freight

Flock Freight , the only hubless business-to-business freight logistics company, is transforming the freight industry. With its proprietary pooling technology and algorithms, Flock Freight eliminates terminals and optimizes underutilized supply. Founded in 2015, the company works at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and human-centric logistics, prioritizing exceptional service and affordability for the shipper and increased revenue potential for carriers. Backed by SignalFire, GLP, Google Ventures, and several other leaders in the digital supply chain transformation, Flock Freight (formerly AuptiX) is headquartered in Solana Beach, CA.

SOURCE Flock Freight

Related Links

https://www.flockfreight.com


SAN DIEGO, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Shareholder Rights Law Firm Johnson Fistel, LLP is investigating potential violations of the federal securities laws by Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE: TUP) ("Tupperware") and its officers and directors.

On February 24, 2020, Tupperware announced it was conducting an investigation in its financial accounting and warned of a 2019 profit shortfall. The Company said it expects 2019 net earnings per share in the range of breakeven to $0.34 versus $3.11 in the prior year, and adjusted EPS of $1.35 to $1.70, which is below consensus estimates of $2.79. Tupperware is investigating the accounting for accounts payable and accrued liabilities and estimates that the total pre-tax impact for 2019 to be about $50 million to $52 million. As a result of the investigation, the Company would not be filing Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2019, on a timely basis.

Following this news, Tupperware's shares plummeted over 20% in pre-market trading on February 25, 2020.

If you have information that could assist in this investigation, including past employees and others, or if you are a Tupperware shareholder and are interested in learning more about the investigation, please contact Jim Baker ([email protected]) by email or phone at 619-814-4471. If emailing, please include a phone number.

Additionally, you can [click here to join this action]. There is no cost or obligation to you.

About Johnson Fistel, LLP:

Johnson Fistel, LLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm with offices in California, New York, and Georgia. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit http://www.johnsonfistel.com . Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Contact:

Johnson Fistel, LLP

Jim Baker, 619-814-4471

[email protected]

[click here to join this action].

SOURCE Johnson Fistel, LLP

Related Links

http://www.johnsonfistel.com


Georges and Marlene Belfort, husband-and-wife scientists who live in Slingerlands, stood in the Pinelands Jewish Cemetery in Cape Town, South Africa and pondered the imponderable.

Theirs was a journey of 8,000 miles, completed against incalculable odds, an enduring love story set against a complicated history of religious persecution and racial oppression.

They had come to the cemetery with their two sons to pay tribute to the couples iron-willed mothers. Both women had managed to escape the Nazi Holocaust and built lives in Cape Town's large Jewish enclave, enduring divorce, financial hardship and the suicide of a husband.

The Belforts traveled in December to their hometown to accept rare dual honorary degrees from their alma mater, the University of Cape Town. Both were overwhelmed by the unexpected symmetry.

They had met as teenagers. She thought he was ruggedly handsome. He was smitten by the fact that she was studying on the beach for her trigonometry finals. He was five years older and was later hired as her mathematics tutor. A romance blossomed.

He graduated while she was in the first year of undergraduate studies. They made their way separately to the U.S. after college and married in 1967, while both were graduate students earning their doctoral degrees at the University of California at Irvine.

The couple was honored in South Africa for exemplary dual scientific research careers  she as a molecular biologist at the University at Albany and he as a chemical engineer at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Both are distinguished professors who run research labs and have received major grants and leading scientific recognitions.

I wished my mother could have seen us receive the honorary degrees, which was the privilege of a lifetime, said Marlene Belfort, 74. My mother told me there would be losses in my life, but each loss was an opportunity. I miss my mother very much when I return to Cape Town, which is a very complicated place for me.

Her father committed suicide when she was 13, a trauma that inexorably reshaped the arc of their lives.

Her mother, Grete Duschinsky, escaped the rise of Hitler with her parents from their home outside Frankfurt, Germany in 1936. She was 21. They arrived in Cape Town destitute after a wealthy relative in Switzerland paid $100 required for a South African visa. Her mother became a seamstress and earned a penny for each buttonhole she sewed. She sold mens socks at a profit and saved enough to open a small mens clothing shop that grew to three stores.

Georges Belforts mother, Sophie Belfort, escaped with her parents from their home in Paris shortly before the French capital fell to Nazi forces on June 14, 1940. They found refuge in England. His mother eventually relocated to southern Africa where her brother became the chief rabbi of Rhodesia (Zimbabwe today). His mother married a Jewish man in Johannesburg, but divorced after a year or so and settled in Cape Town in 1942. She raised her son a single mother in an era when that was uncommon.

I owe all I have to my mother, said Georges Belfort, 79. She lost everything when she got divorced. She convinced me to work as hard as I could and never give up.

In Cape Town, Marlenes parents were not observant Jews and attended their synagogue only on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Their daughter Marlene identified herself as an atheist from the time she was a young girl.

Georges mother, by contrast, was strictly observant. She enrolled her son in Hebrew classes and brought him to synagogue with her every Saturday for Shabbat morning worship. Id carry my rugby gear to the synagogue and rush out to play as soon as I could get away on Saturdays, he recalled. My mother dragged me there. Im not religious at all and I have trouble understanding the existence of a super being up there.

Still, Belfort attends Yom Kippur services at Congregation Ohav Shalom in Albany. It keeps me connected to my mothers memory and its a tradition I value, he said.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Neither experienced anti-Semitism in Cape Town as part of a rich Jewish history. The Cape Town Hebrew Congregation, the first established in South Africa, was established in 1841 and members built the first synagogue eight years later. Jews were leading merchants, held positions of influence and contributed significantly to Cape Towns cultural and civic life. Jews were an affluent group in Cape Town and numbered more than 25,000 out of a population of 1.1 million.

The Belforts came of age amid the South African policy of apartheid. The system of racial segregation had a white ruling minority with about 20 percent of the countrys population who oppressed the countrys black majority of about 80 percent from 1950 to 1994, when apartheid was abolished.

We were absolutely opposed to apartheid and we tried to reach across the color barrier to help the cause, but we felt intimidated because you could be imprisoned, recalled Marlene Belfort, who grew up with racial segregation at public beaches and public parks, where benches were marked: Whites Only.

Marlene and I were focused on our scientific studies in college and we felt powerless and fearful about supporting the resistance, Georges Belfort said. We had friends who stepped up and challenged the government. Some of them had to go into hiding or were thrown into jail. I respected their courage.

When the Belforts returned to the University of Cape Town in December, the students were more than 50 percent black, compared to less than 1 percent black during their years in attendance.

Georges and I both revered Nelson Mandela and we marveled at his vision and how he pulled off the post-apartheid transition without bloodshed, she said. It was inspiring.

The couple were moved beyond words when asked to sign the University at Cape Towns Golden Book, a ledger of notable guests. Their signatures joined those of Desmond Tutu, Mandela and Barack Obama.

When they go to their weekend home on Cape Cod and walk on the beach near Woods Hole, they often discuss the intersection of their research. She is interested in the pure science of discovering new protein elements. Hes a pragmatist focused on how to apply her discoveries to create new medications more cheaply.

On the walks, their minds travel back six decades to a beach in Cape Town, when she was a teenager studying trigonometry on the sand beneath a blazing sun. And the world stretched before them.

Paul Grondahl is the director of the New York State Writers Institute and a former Times Union reporter. He can be reached at grondahlpaul@gmail.com
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The best teacher of medicine I ever had was during my medical residency. He was a tough, old-school physician, trained at one of the premier institutions in the country, and specialized in pulmonology and intensive care. Before I had even rotated through the ICU, I had seen him around on the medical floorsand must admit I didnt like him very much at first. He seemed extremely serious, not particularly friendly to any staff around him, and was very strict about what was happening with any of his patientsalways wanting things done in a certain way. He wasnt overtly rude, just not a warm and fuzzy type in any shape or form. A co-resident told me that he was a great physician, and despite any lack in social skills, was the doctor I would always want caring for any sick relative of mine.

My ICU rotations started mid-way through my intern year (this was back in the day when we still did grueling 30-hour calls, often every three days). Having him as my attending though, quickly changed any negative perceptions I may have prematurely had. Quite simply, he was an absolutely brilliant doctor, who knew just about everything there was to know about critical care. He could quote any major paper or research study from the last decade and remembered every little detail about each one of his patients, who actually really liked and respected him (he always communicated surprisingly well with patients and their families.

Teaching-wise, he was completely no-nonsense, and always had us on our toes. We made sure we had everything right before we presented to him, and he would tear us to shreds if we stuffed up on any important issue. We looked forward to his inevitable rapid-fire questions and read around every disease that we were dealing with. He was a tough, tough bossbut without question the outstanding teacher whom we all wished to learn from. If you wanted to be treated nice or mollycoddled, he was not the one. He would evaluate us and be brutally honest about any areas we fell short.

At the end of my residency, I stayed behind for an extra week unpaid, just to rotate with him one more time and learn whatever I could. Ill never forget that during that last week, he pointed to two rooms that had patients of similar age and medical histories. They had both been admitted the day before with a similar degree of pneumonia. One was sedated on a ventilator, and the other was sitting up, looking well, and ready to leave the ICU. He said something along the lines of: Look at that, such similar people and such different responses to the same illness. I predict that during your career, the biggest breakthrough will be in the field of genetics. Well be able to do a saliva test and predict exactly how people will respond to any illness. I wouldnt bet against that coming sooner than we think. As I shook hands with him on my last day and said goodbye before embarking on life as an attending physician, he paid me one the best compliments of my residency: Call me when youre Chief of Medicine very soon. Although that didnt end up being my chosen career path, I was delighted that a man of his distinction said that to me, and it gave me quite a boost.

He remains my favorite teacher, as I know he has been for many others too. He won an array of teaching awards and accolades. My fear, however, is that we are fast losing mentors like him in our modern culture of learning. Teachers like him are becoming a dying breed because a very different sort of teaching environment is now being encouraged. In fact, we are rapidly approaching a point where an attending like him would be frowned upon. Im sure though, if you honestly ask most medical students, interns and residentsthey would rather be taught by a tough attending like him any day. The current trend (and this applies everywhere, not just medicine) is for teachers to be more like their students friend. I believe this is a big mistake. From talking to some of the younger teachers of medicine at some of our larger academic institutions, I even get the feeling that many of them are almost afraid of getting negative evaluations from their students, so want to please them as much as possible. Again, another big mistake and paradigm shift. I can assure you that if theres one thing the doctor above didnt care about, its what his students thought about him or trying to be their best friend.

When I was a medical student in the United Kingdom, I also came through the system at a time when I got to work with some proper old-school professors. Some of them, if they ever saw the male medical students slouching when we were walking around together on rounds, or folding our arms casually, would physically grab our back and shoulders and tell us to stand up straight! At the time none of us minded whatsoever (we actually found it funny). I am not suggesting a return to military-style academics, or allowing any inappropriately strict or condescending behavior, but I hope in this new era, we can balance the need for a more gentle approachwith that more traditional respected tough teacher approachthat any student worth their salt secretly likes and craves. I hope future generation learners of medicine, or any profession, always have a chance to be taught by someone like my ICU attending.

Suneel Dhand is an internal medicine physician, author, and co-founder, DocsDox. He can be reached at his self-titled site, Suneel Dhand, and on YouTube.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
TPC Group will eliminate as many as 100 positions and stop chemical production in Port Neches for at least three to five years as it rebuilds from a devastating explosion and fire, the company announced Tuesday.

Brent Roy, secretary treasurer with United Steel Workers Local 13-228 and a member of the workers committee representing TPC Group employees, said the company called a morning meeting to make the announcement but didnt reveal how many layoffs it was considering.

USW has 60 days to negotiate terms with the company, meaning union representatives from the local, district and international levels could be meeting with TPC Group until the end of April.

The numbers and all that are negotiable, Roy said. They throw out a number and we try to save as many we can.

> > EXCLUSIVE: Communications after TPC Group blast give more information about asbestos discovery, official response

The companys Port Neches site has 183 employees, 133 of which are represented by five different unions.

In a document shared with The Enterprise, company representatives wrote that 11 of the 100 positions expected to be eliminated would be salaried. The number of hourly employees would decrease to around 45 positions.

Hourly employees are expected to continue receiving benefits and pay until April 30.

In a late Tuesday morning situational report from the company, representatives wrote that TPC Group had decided the Port Neches site will work as a terminal and distribution point for their products.

The company does not expect that we will need employees beyond those necessary to operate as a terminal for more than three to five years, representatives wrote. The downsizing will impact salaried employees as well as union/hourly employees.

TP said some positions could potentially return once the rebuilding is complete, and laid-off employees could apply for those positions.

> > RELATED: Texas AG sues TPC Group for explosion, emissions

The company also released information on exactly how long it could take to rebuild the plant.

A timeline contained in a preliminary third-party engineering report estimated 2 years for design and permitting, followed by up to 2 years for construction, the document viewed by the Enterprise shows.

The company does not believe the production or staffing changes will affect its overall financial stability.

TPC Group continues to believe it has a sound plan for the path forward and sufficient liquidity to weather this difficult period, representatives wrote.

Workers have remained fully employed since the Nov. 27 explosions and fire at the Port Neches site, Roy said, monitoring leaks and doing whatever else is needed at the scene.

> > TOP HITS: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox

Those workers have also been helping with the latest phase of cleanup, removing chemicals from areas of the plant that are stable enough to work in.

The company reported Tuesday that 96% of high-purity butadiene had been transferred offsite, along with 50% lower-purity butadiene. TPC plans to transfer less volatile chemicals in the coming weeks.

While crews have been cleaning up debris and clearing lines previously blocked by rubble, occasional leaks have been detected at the site. The latest was Tuesday morning, when a crew detected butadiene around the site while they were working on equipment, TPC Group spokeswoman Sara Cronin said. She said the workers responded quickly.

Operations personnel took immediate action to secure the emissions using water vapor suppression and isolating the source, Cronin wrote in an email. Our onsite teams conducted air monitoring at the fence line and in the community with no detections. Fire water continues to be utilized as a precautionary measure.
Once upon a time, manufacturers marketed their product based upon the product's merits. In recent years, companies have been selling not their products, but their politics. So what's a company to do when a disfavored buyer purchases the product in the free market? According to Britain's social justice warriors ("SJWs"), the company is still responsible and must be punished.

Yorkshire Tea is just what it says it is: a company that sells tea. Its roots go back to 1886, and it is the most popular traditional black tea brand in Britain. In 1962, the current owners took over the company, rebranded the tea from "Taylors" to "Yorkshire Tea," and have been selling the tea ever since. The company is still family-owned and has been holding its own against teas like Unilever, Tata (Tesco), Twinings, and Typhoo.

The company is still old-fashioned enough to advertise its product's virtues and ties to lovely Yorkshire, often quite humorously:

Yorkshire Tea has pretty much avoided the modern trend of virtue-signaling that so many other companies engage in, both in England and America, to position themselves in the marketplace.

Gillette is an excellent example of virtue-signal marketing. It first attacked "toxic masculinity"  meaning that it attacked its product's primary customers  and then attempted to create a new customer base by celebrating women who take male hormones and therefore have to shave.

Because Britain is still a free-market economy, although Yorkshire Tea shies away from positioning itself with specific political or social demographics, it has no control over who ultimately buys its products. The free market's effect of letting anyone buy a product, and even boast about the product, is why SJWs in England are trying to destroy Yorkshire Tea.

Rishi Sunak, the conservative chancellor of the Exchequer in Boris Johnson's government, decided it would be good to tweet out that he was making a big pot of Yorkshire Tea. Presumably, with Brexit going into effect, he did so to highlight homegrown British industries:

Quick Budget prep break making tea for the team. Nothing like a good Yorkshire brew. pic.twitter.com/zhoQM9Ksho  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) February 21, 2020

The SJWs went ballistic. We'll let Yorkshire Tea tell the tale:

We've spent the last three days answering furious accusations and boycott calls. For some, our tea just being drunk by someone they don't like means it's forever tainted, and they've made sure we know it.  Yorkshire Tea (@YorkshireTea) February 24, 2020

Speaking directly now, as the person who's been answering these tweets, I know it could have been much worse. It's easier to be on the receiving end of this as a brand than as an individual. There's more emotional distance and I've had a team to support me when it got a bit much.  Yorkshire Tea (@YorkshireTea) February 24, 2020

But for anyone about to vent their rage online, even to a company - please remember there's a human on the other end of it, and try to be kind.  Yorkshire Tea (@YorkshireTea) February 24, 2020

That play didn't stop the SJWs:

Tories are shamelessly trying to offer fig leaves to the North, like having the Red Wall ex-Labour voter in the flat cap in their promotional video. Now theyre talking about moving treasury offices up. The North needs massive investment & flood defences not tacky empty gestures!  Rose Shillito #RLB4Leader #Richard4Deputy (@rozzleberry) February 24, 2020

Being endorsed by the @Conservatives is not a good look.



Thankfully, other teas are available.#AvoidYorkshireTea#BoycottYorkshireTea  Am I the only one? (@aitoo001) February 24, 2020

Ive stopped using Yorkshire tea since then as I dont want to use a product that received publicity from an xenophobic fascist racist Political Party. I got rid of Yorkshire tea from all three of my offices and from home. All staff and other family and friends feel same.  Limited Ferry Services (@Wade73605662) February 24, 2020

SJWs, aka leftists, are awful people. Back in the 1960s, the feminists used to say, "the personal is political." Thanks to the leftists, everything is now political.

To co-opt leftist language, there are no longer any "safe spaces" for people who want to live their lives the old-fashioned way in a free country: thinking about a product's virtues and price point; buying the product; and recognizing that people whom they might not like might buy the product, too.

Indeed, that's what used to be meant by the dying phrase, "You can do it in the streets as long as you don't scare the horses. After all, it's a free country." Sadly, if there's one thing leftists hate, it's a free country.
British soldiers from 21 Air Assault Battery Royal Artillery are silhouetted against the sky as they provide security for a meeting with the Afghan National Police at the fortress Qala-e-Bost in Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province, on May 17, 2006. (John D. McHugh/AFP via Getty Images)

Make Rules of Ranging Your Rules for Business: Part 10

Commentary

In 1757, in the middle of the French and Indian War, Maj. Robert Rogers composed a list of 28 rules intended to serve as operational guidelines for his legendary and groundbreaking light infantry force, the original special operations unit known as Rogers Rangers.

These Rules of Ranging were a hybrid combination of Native American combat techniques and his own blend of guerrilla warfare, revolutionary in their own time and still a foundational element in special operations units such as the U.S. Armys 75th Ranger Regiment.

This list of combat-proven knowledge isnt just applicable to the battlefield. In the final part of this 10 part series, well conclude discussing how you can adapt these strategies in your professional daily life.

Rule 28: When locating an enemy party of undetermined strength, send out a small scouting party to watch them. It may take all day to decide on your attack or withdrawal, so signs and countersigns should be established to determine your friends in the dark.

Or Have a plan in place to address initial planning taking longer than forecasted.

To paraphrase Robert Burns, The best-laid plans of mice and men go oft awry. Or, as we so often heard in the military, No plan of operations extends with any certainty beyond the first contact with the main hostile force.

In other words, do the best you can in your planning phase but be prepared for variations. This is especially relevant in the earliest of phases; theres no value in rushing initial planning. Rather, be prepared that it may take time to get it right the first time and have plans to flex timing down the line.

Having signs and countersigns in place to determine your friends in the dark can also be taken as advice to not shoot the messenger whos telling you more time is needed to determine the best course of action.

During every single training evolution, a Special Forces soldier hears, Slow is smooth and smooth is fast, at least a half dozen times. A well-thought-out plan takes time, so you need to slow things down so your team can have the time to develop a well-thought-out plan. It sounds redundant, but its easy to lose sight of this when you let a sense of urgency override the functions of your frontal cortex. Thats why rules like Rule 28 are written down, so their truths arent lost when the pressure is on.

Rule 29: If you are attacked in rough or flat ground, it is best to scatter as if in rout. At a pre-picked place you can turn, allowing the enemy to close. Fire closely, then counterattack with hatchets. Flankers could then attack the enemy and rout him in return.

Or Tactical withdrawal is always preferable to a retreat.

Business can be an extremely competitive and brutal thing, in which little to no mercy is given to the competition. While I think theres a fantastic opportunity to have a Thomistic discussion about the morality of this, the ground truth is still the same at this time: Whether or not you would offer mercy, your competition will likely offer no quarter for your surrender.

When it comes to planning and strategy development, its foolish to not consider the most dangerous courses of action that any opposition could take. In the military, theres a reason that the PACE model was used when planning for every operation: While originally referrring to the communications plan, the concept of having a Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency plan is valuable in a wide variety of circumstances.

When things are in motion, its wise to have a rally point thats a pre-planned position that everyone knows to move toward in the event of the worst-case scenario becoming a reality. Here, leaders can take up a position that will allow them to make decisions that can stop the competitions momentum and reverse the tide.

When it comes to competition, the only reason to take defensive action is to allow oneself to safely maneuver into a position to go back on the offensive. The difference between retreat and tactical withdrawal is the difference between panicking and deliberate action; while a tactical withdrawal is not the ideal course of action, it still allows you to remain in control of your team. With a plan in place, it presents the opportunity to counterattack and regain your forward momentum. This still counts as a victory.

In Conclusion

In the 10 installments of this series on Rogers Rules of Ranging, weve discussed everything from how we as leaders must never compromise our integrity, to how silos make organizations weak and complacency kills.

I hope its been informative and helped you to rethink how you lead, manage, and inspire, as well as helping your organization become more efficient and agile. I also hope that its demonstrated the value of what Special Operations veterans can bring to the civilian sector. If you want to take your organization to the next level, introducing a Green Beret into the mix is sure to revolutionize the way in which you experience mission success.

Chris Erickson is a combat veteran and former Green Beret, with extensive experience deployed to various locations across the world. He now works in the communications industry. You can follow him on Twitter @EricksonPrime.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 22:32:14|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Upholding the spirit of a community with a shared future for mankind, China has not only been doing its best to protect the lives and health of its own people, but made positive contributions to safeguarding global public health security, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday in a phone call with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

In the conversation, Xi noted that at a critical moment when China is sparing no effort to fight the COVID-19 outbreak, the crown prince lost no time in publicly voicing support for China's endeavors, and the government and people of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have for multiple times provided China with medical supplies.

That, said the Chinese president, has fully demonstrated the profound friendship of supporting each other through thick and thin between the two nations and the high level of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.

He stressed that since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, China has always placed the lives and health of the people in the first place, and has given full play to its institutional strengths and adopted the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough prevention and control measures to resolutely contain the spread of the epidemic.

Thanks to China's arduous efforts, the situation is witnessing positive changes across the country, Xi said, adding that China has full confidence, capacity and certainty to win the battle against COVID-19.

While making all-out efforts in epidemic prevention and control, China is also promoting an orderly resumption of work and production and pushing for continuous and healthy economic and social development, Xi said.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government has always acted with an open, transparent and responsible attitude, sharing information in a timely manner, actively addressing the concerns of various parties, and boosting cooperation with the international community, said the president.

China, he added, will continue to take effective measures to safeguard the life and health of all foreign nationals in the country, including UAE citizens, and stands ready to work with the UAE to maintain close communication on the latest development of the COVID-19 and share experience in epidemic prevention and control.
The Supreme Court will hear on March 5, a petition, filed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, seeking directions 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, said, we will hear the petition on March 5 at 3 pm.

This comes as a fresh death warrant has been issued for the four death row convicts -- Vinay Sharma, Akshay Thakur, Pawan Gupta, and Mukesh Singh -- in the case for their hanging at 6 am on March 3.

Additional Solicitor General KM Natraj, appearing for the Union of India today, submitted to the apex court that the Delhi High Court had given a week's time to execute the death warrants.

The Centre had moved the top court after the Delhi High Court had rejected its petition.

The Delhi High Court had, on February 5, stated that the death warrant of all convicts in the Nirbhaya case should be executed together.

The Delhi 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".

The case pertains to the brutal gangrape and killing of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012, by six people including a juvenile in Delhi. The woman had died at a Singapore hospital a few days later.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
One of our primary responsibilities at the Department of the Interior is to steward our nations historical treasures and preserve landmarks central to our national identity and culture. During this national African American History Month, we have a special opportunity to reflect on the lasting legacies of African American leaders throughout our history and celebrate African Americans far-reaching contributions to our nation.

At the Department of the Interior, part of our effort to improve visitors experiences at our national parks and public lands is through finding new ways to strengthen our role in educating the American people about our shared past. We are tasked with protecting national treasures that honor and memorialize extraordinary African American history. From abolitionist leader Fredrick Douglass home here in Washington to the Booker T. Washington National Monument near Roanoke, Virginia, to the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka, Kansas, Interior fulfills its mission to bring African American heritage into focus for current and future generations of Americans.

Through the National Park Service, the department also preserves sites that commemorate, honor and interpret the significant time period from 1939 to 1968 as part of the African American Civil Rights Network, which was created by President Donald Trump in January 2018.

To freedom: Modern griots retell black history through oral stories of escapes from slavery

Internal conflict: Don't pit slavery descendants against black immigrants. Racism doesn't know the difference.

Retelling black history: 3 women on navigating personal encounters with racism

Black History Month essay: I searched a continent a world away, hoping to find 'home'

In February 2018, the Mitchell Jamieson mural, depicting Marian Andersons 1939 performance on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, was the inaugural site in the network. It was followed by several others, including the Peace Memorial in Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Indiana and the Shelley House in Missouri, central to a case that held that restrictive covenants in housing violated the Equal Protection clause of the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment. In October 2019, the National Park Service announced 22 new sites and programs as part of the growing network.

Story continues

Visitors view a room used by Martin Luther King Jr. at the National Civil Rights Museum on April 2, 2018, in Memphis, Tenn. The museum was formerly the Lorraine Motel, where King was assassinated April 4, 1968. King was in Memphis to take part in a sanitation workers strike.

To date, 28 sites are designated in this network, including New Orleans NAACP attorney A.P. Tureaud's home in Louisiana and the Medgar and Myrlie Evers home in Jackson, Mississippi, where Evers, the state's field secretary for the NAACP, was assassinated  a turning point leading to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Also included is the Lorraine Motel, now the National Civil Rights Museum, where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.

A visit to a national park or monument central to African American history reminds us, therefore, of the rich history and the long, noble struggle for civil rights that took place across this country  and the work that lies ahead in building a more just and perfect union. Our park rangers and interpreters bring these histories to life for all who visit. Nothing helps one more fully understand the prejudice and tribulations encountered by civil rights leaders than walking in their very footsteps and grappling with the challenges they faced.

As our department celebrates African American history this month, we also take the time to reflect on the intersection of African American history with the history of our department and the lands and landmarks that we steward. For me, one particular anecdote stands out: At the turn of the 20th century, two cavalry regiments of Buffalo Soldiers  the name for all-black regiments initially formed in the aftermath of the Civil War  were dispatched westward and assigned to oversee Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks.

Buffalo Soldiers of Arizona come down a parade route during the MLK Day Parade on Jan. 21, 2019, in Mesa, Ariz.

These Buffalo Soldiers cavalry and infantry units became Americas first park rangers, enforcing laws, planning and constructing infrastructure projects and working to preserve natural beauty. Charles Young, the third African American to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, was among the Buffalo Soldiers in the West.

Young worked his way up the ranks to serve as the nations first African American national park superintendent at Sequoia National Park. He and his servicemen were integral in helping preserve this natural wonder for future generations of Americans. And their legacy, in many regards, helps define the National Park Service to this day  even aesthetically. (The iconic, creased hat donned by park rangers owes its heritage to the Buffalo Soldiers.) The next time you visit Yosemite, Sequoia or Kings Canyon National Park, take a minute to remember the Buffalo Soldiers and their early and significant contributions to our national parks system.

At the Department of the Interior, my colleagues and I are proud to play a role in celebrating African Americans great contributions to our national identity. We remain committed to educating current and future generations of Americans  and all who visit our national parks, landmarks and memorials  on the stories of those who advanced the cause of civil rights and implored America to honor her founding creed.

David L. Bernhardt is the 53rd U.S. secretary of the interior.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: National parks preserve legacy of black history and civil rights
A view of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, California, on June 12, 2017. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Appeals Court Upholds Trump Administration Rule Prohibiting Title X Funds for Abortion

A federal appeals court has allowed a Trump administration family-planning rule to take effect that prohibits medical clinics from using a federal grant program, known as Title X, to perform or refer abortions.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Feb. 24 ruled 7-4 to lift injunctions ordered by courts in Oregon, California, and Washington state, while the cases play out in the courts. A three-judge panel from the court had previously lifted the injunctions, prompting abortion-rights groups and states to appeal the case to the full court of the circuit court for review.

Title X of the Public Health Service Act, a grant program enacted in the 1970s, provided funding for certain types of pre-pregnancy family planning services. In 1988, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) put regulations in place to forbid clinics receiving Title X funds from providing counseling or referrals for abortion as a method of family planning. While those regulations were suspended several years later, the Trump administration is now seeking to reinstate the 1988 rule, which was upheld in the 1991 Supreme Court decision Rust v. Sullivan.

In 2019, HHS issued a rule that prohibits the use of Title X funds to perform, promote, refer for, or support abortion as a method of family planning, the department stated in a release. The rule also requires clear financial and physical separation between Title X and non-Title X activities.

The rule addresses the complaints of abortion opponents, who have argued that Title X funding helps abortion providers, and Planned Parenthood, in particular, to free up other money that can then be used to fund abortions. Meanwhile, proponents of abortion have characterized the Trump administrations move as a gag rule.

Following its promulgation, several states and private Title X grantees sued the Trump administration to challenge the rule. Three district courts in separate states ordered preliminary injunctions against the implementation of the rule.

In the Feb. 24 decision, the court referenced the Rust case in its opinion to allow the rule to move forward.

In light of Supreme Court approval of the 1988 regulations and our broad deference to agencies interpretations of the statutes they are charged with implementing, plaintiffs legal challenges to the 2019 rule fail, Judge Sandra S. Ikuta wrote in the courts opinion (pdf).

Ikuta also said the 2019 rule is less restrictive than the 1988 rule, because a counselor providing pregnancy counseling may discuss abortion so long as he or she does not refer or encourage the procedure, adding that there was no gag on abortion counseling.

Meanwhile, Judge Richard Paez argued in the dissent that since the Rust decision, Congress had barred HHS from imposing rules that frustrate patients ability to access health care. He called the ruling a throwback to the paternalism of the past.

The majority would return us to an older world, one in which a government bureaucrat could restrict a medical professional from informing a patient of the full range of health care options available to her, Paez wrote. Fortunately, Congress has ensured such federal intrusion is no longer the law of the land.

Justice Department spokesperson Mollie Timmons said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times that the department is pleased by the en banc Ninth Circuits decision upholding HHSs rule forbidding the use of taxpayer money to subsidize abortion through Title X grants.

Congress has long prohibited the use of Title X funds in programs where abortion is a method of family planning and HHSs recent rule makes that longstanding prohibition a reality, she said. We look forward to continuing to defend this vital rule against all challenges.

Meanwhile, opponents of the rule issued statements criticizing the ruling. Californias Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement that the 2019 rule is troubling. California is one of the states challenging the rule.

The Gag Rule interferes with healthcare decisions that should remain between women and their healthcare providers, Becerra said.

Similarly, the American Medical Association (AMA), another challenger of the law, also issued a statement expressing disappointment over the ruling, saying that the the judges failed to properly take into consideration the AMAs legal arguments or the decisions impact on either health care or the patient-physician relationship.

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham welcomed the decision in a statement on Feb. 25, saying that the ruling upholds the Title X regulation that will ensure compliance with that law.

President Trumps commitment to protecting the most vulnerable is unwavering, and we applaud yesterdays Ninth Circuit decision upholding our Title X regulation. This regulation protects the unborn by ensuring Title X grants are allocated as Congress intendedand not as abortion providers or abortion advocacy organizations would prefer, Grisham said in the statement.

By law, Title X prohibits grant funds from going to programs where abortion is considered a method of family planning.

Petr Svab, Zachary Stieber, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The article has been updated with a statement from the White House on Feb. 25.
The rise in shaming women by politicians just because they can is a dangerous and upsetting trend. No one should be creating policy just to be a bully, and the time to stop it is now.

Take, for example, Senate Bill 299 proposed by Republicans this year and moving through the General Assembly. The bill actually requires abortion providers to ask every woman if she wants to cremate or bury the remains of her abortion, including women who receive a medical abortion. This doesnt even make sense because when a woman chooses a medical abortion, that procedure does not take place at a provider. She takes the first pill at the clinic, then is given another pill to take at home two days later. She will then have what amounts to a heavy menstrual cycle. Telling her to choose between burial and cremation is a false choice.

Id like to say here that discussing such personal matters for women in medical detail makes me uncomfortable; I dont enjoy it. But if the Republicans are going to insist on inserting big government into these personal matters, then I will continue to fight them with medical accuracy.
With a foreword by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Juggernaut Books has posthumously published Arun Jaitley's A New India: Selected Writings 2014  19. Read an excerpt here.

Arun Jaitley was a senior advocate of the Supreme Court and member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). From 2009-14 he served as Opposition leader in the Rajya Sabha and from 2014-19, as Union Minister of Finance. With a foreword by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Juggernaut Books has posthumously published Jaitley's A New India: Selected Writings 2014  19. In it, he discusses the big political trends of the country, from the fissures in regional powers to the Congress' crisis. He also lays down arguments for the BJP's policies between 2014-19, from GST and demonetisation, to Kashmir.

This excerpt is taken from chapter 14  'The Emergency and How Indira Gandhi Exceeded Hitler'  in which Jaitley recounts important the Emergency, drawing parallels between it and events in Nazi Germany. It has been reproduced here with permission from the publisher, Juggernaut Books.

***

The Emergency Revisited  Part 3: How It Ended

Posted on 26 June 2018

As the Emergency continued, there was one major pressure on Mrs Indira Gandhi. The international media and world leaders were aghast at the very suggestion that Pandit Nehrus daughter had abandoned the path of democracy and turned dictatorial. She was always at pains to explain to her international audiences that this was a temporary phase and would not last forever. The party, however, was of the opinion that since the term of Parliament had been extended by two years, elections could wait till 1978.

Her political feedback and that of the intelligence agencies was that since there was no Opposition, she should immediately call for a snap poll, give the Opposition little time to prepare and the Congress could comfortably sweep the polls. The latter view prevailed and on 18 January 1977, she addressed the nation and announced a general election to be held in the month of March. The Opposition leaders were still in prison, the Emergency was still on and would continue. It was decided that a snap poll would take the Opposition by surprise, ensure her victory and give her government the legitimacy it needed.

Since the Tihar Jail was the centre of Opposition activities, all the political detenues met immediately after the announcement. There were two clear views. George Fernandes and CGK Reddy strongly argued that it would be a farcical election and hence must be boycotted. The others believed that they must use the election as a platform to campaign against the Emergency and for democracy.

This view was shared with senior leaders in other jails. JP, who had been released on account of ill health, took the first initiative and announced that he would participate and bless the coalition of the Opposition only if all the political parties in Opposition joined hands and formed a single party. The release of detenues started within a day or two. But some, like George Fernandes, Nanaji Deshmukh and those belonging to the RSS, were not released till the elections were over. Press censorship was relaxed but not removed.

I was released from detention on 25 January 1977. On 27 January, my ABVP friends, took me in a large procession to every college of the university campus. I had suspected that we would meet student audiences filled with fear and awe. But contrary to my expectations, we witnessed an aggressive participation of students wherever we went. Amongst the released political leaders of Delhi, some of us met in that evening at 7 Jantar Mantar, which eventually became the Janata Party headquarters.

On 30 January, Shri Morarji Desai and Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee were to address a rally. Unaware of the undercurrent, we initially sought permission to hold the rally at Chandni Chowk. The police declined the request due to the dangers of a stampede and the venue of the rally had to be forcibly shifted to Ramleela Maidan. The rally turned out to be a big success. The fear was cracking up. People were willing to speak and come out. After almost nineteen months, they were all restless and waiting to hear the Vajpayee oration. When Atalji stood up to speak at the Ramleela Maidan, he was cheered for several minutes with slogans. In his customary poetic style, he started with a couplet:

      ,

      ,

      ,

      

Events were happening very fast. On 2 February three Congress leaders, Babu Jagjivan Ram, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna and Nandini Satpathy, resigned from the Congress party and formed Congress for Democracy. They decided to align with the Janata Party. On 6 February they addressed, along with other Janata leaders, a massive rally at Ramleela Maidan.

As a student leader representing the face of youth of this alliance, I was asked to be the first warm-up speaker at the rally followed by some other leaders till Bahuguna and Jagjivan Ram spoke. Unquestionably this was the largest ever audience I have ever addressed. Mrs Gandhi had accused Jagjivan Ram of betrayal. She charged him for not informing her during the Emergency about what was going wrong. A powerful and a crafty orator, Babuji responded at this rally by saying:

   ?          

The size and enthusiasm of this rally sent a signal in the entire country that a Janata wave was building up. VC Shukla tried a petty trick. Before the rally he announced that the popular film Bobby would be shown on Doordarshan at the time. But so powerful was the anti-Congress mood that people preferred to attend the rally rather than watch Bobby. To attend this rally, the crowd had to walk a few kilometres since the bus service was also suspended.

I got my first opportunity to participate in an election campaign. I toured north Indian states and went through the entire heartland of Uttar Pradesh spending the last one week entirely in Rae Bareli and Amethi where Mrs Gandhi and Sanjay were contesting. Campaigning through Rajasthan, I went till Mumbai and eventually Pune. Almost everywhere, we could see a mass citizens participation in the campaign. Both Mrs Gandhi and Sanjay lost their own seats.

When the results were announced, states in north India voted en masse for the Janata Party. In the entire north India and the Hindi heartland, the Congress could win one seat in Madhya Pradesh and one seat in Rajasthan. It lost all the seats of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Punjab etc. However, it managed to win some seats in the South where the atrocities of the Emergency were relatively less. The Janata Party got an absolute majority. Before resigning, Mrs Gandhi revoked the Emergency and slowly all the detenues were released from the prisons. There was an air of freedom in the entire country.
A photo of a woman hugging her toddler son at her college graduation is spreading a powerful message to mothers on social media.

Soncya Williams of Nashville, Tennessee, recently shared the image on Instagram where it's being shared by thousands. In the picture, Williams is wearing her cap and gown and embracing her little boy Elijah, who is holding a sign which reads "She did it for me!"

"My goal ultimately was to graduate. But after finding out I was expecting [a child], I didn't want it to keep me from reaching my goals," Williams told "Good Morning America." "If anything, he inspired me to keep going. This photo is a reminder, 'I did it for you then and I'm going to continue to do it for you now.'"

Williams, 28, said she found out she was pregnant while attending Lemoyne-Owen College in Memphis. Knowing she'd have to take a break from school when her baby arrived, she took summer classes.

MORE: 'I am 2. I am not terrible': Powerful Facebook post hits home for toddler parents

Williams then moved in with her mother to save money -- giving up the full tuition ride she had at Lemoyne-Owen and transferred to Tennessee State University so she could be closer to her support system in Nashville.

PHOTO: Soncya Williams of Nashville, Tennessee, is seen in a photo taken in 2019 with her son, Elijah, 7. (Soncya Williams)

"That was a trying time for me," Williams recalled. "Now I'm having to pay for school, pay for a little boy. It was a matter of my trying to figure out, 'How can I get this done?'"

"I was fearful," she added. "I was fearful of the way people would look at me because I [was a mother and] wasn't married. I was fearful of men not wanting to be with me because I had a child."

On her graduation day, photographer Montelewa Smith snapped a photo of Williams' 1-year-old greeting her after the commencement at Tennessee State.

PHOTO: Elijah Fields, 7, is seen in a recent photo snapped by his mom, Soncya Williams of Nashville, Tennessee. (Soncya Williams)

Williams said the image is reminder to her of all she went through to graduate, and the important lesson in learning to love herself.

Story continues

She shared the picture on Instagram writing the following:

My child, it is because of your presence that God blessed me with this vision.

I type this with tears in my eyes because at one point, out of fear, I questioned keeping you.

Once you were born, I questioned how other people would view me having a child out of wedlock.

As a single parent even to this day, I question if your presence is apart of what keeps me single.

In the past Ibe been guilty of hiding you because I thought Id lose friendships and potential relationships because "Men" DONT want to date women with a child.

But most recently I keep you close. We are a package deal. And truth be told I would not be the woman I am today with out you!!!

My joy, my vision, my courage to keeping going comes from you.

And any relationship or friendship I have that does not embrace me AND you is a relationship I do not need.

It took mommy a while to learn that, so I say all that to say this I STILL DO IT FOR YOU!!!!!

Thank you for loving me just the way I am.

MORE: Woman who was a teen mom now set to graduate medical school

Williams earned her bachelor's degree in business administration with a hospitality concentration in 2014, but the photo gained new life after the blog Working Momkind re-shared it Sunday.

Women commented on the post and thanked Williams for her honesty in sharing her fears as a single parent.

"I went through a stage to teach myself to teach myself to be self appreciative," Williams said. "I think a lot of times as women we are scared to put the truth out there of what we went through ... I realized I have a gift to inspire."

Williams, who is an assistant branch manager at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, said she recently started a community for mothers who work called MOMllennials.

PHOTO: Soncya Williams of Nashville, Tennessee, recently shared an image on Instagram of her hugging her toddler son at her college graduation. (Soncya Williams)

She hopes to inspire women to achieve their goals while focusing on self-love, she said.

"Trials, tribulations and circumstances will blur your vision but the light is there," Williams added. "You've got to keep fighting through the storm to appreciate the sunshine."

Single mom inspires with sweet graduation photo hugging her son originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
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".

(Image Credits: AP)
COLUMBIA, SC / ACCESSWIRE / February 25, 2020 / While Monaco has a population of only 38,695 and expands across 499 acres, this luxurious country has a lot to offer visitors. Monaco is a sovereign city, state, and country located on the French Riviera and borders France. Travelers visit Monaco due to its decadence, casinos, and Mediterranean atmosphere. Bennett Velasquez loved his experience in Monaco, and he shares the top things to consider before visiting.

Tipping Culture is Different

For those visiting from the United States, the tipping culture in Monaco can be a bit of a shocker, explained Bennett Velasquez. While in many countries, tipping is custom, visitors shouldn't feel obligated to do it in Monaco. When it comes to most services such as hotel service, the service fee is included in the bill. Those who feel like leaving a little extra for their server are certainly allowed to do so, explained Bennett Velasquez.

Beware of Visiting During the Grand Prix

Unless visitors want to attend the Grand Prix, Bennett Velasquez recommends they stay away during this time. Not only will travelers face more massive crowds, but the main roads will be closed off in preparation for the race.

Monaco is Not a Budget Destination

While it's possible to visit many places on a budget, Bennett Velasquez points out that Monaco is not that type of destination. Even by European standards, visitors to Monaco will pay a lot more for meals and accommodations. There are a few things to do for free, but for the most part, people travel to Monaco for a decadent experience, says Bennett Velasquez.

Be Prepared to Fight the Crowds

As we mentioned before, Monaco is a small country, and it's densely populated for its size. With a population of 38k plus tourists, there can be a lot of people at once. Bennett Velasquez recommends those travelers who are not a fan of big crowds to visit during the off-season.

Put on Walking Shoes

As a country that sits on two square kilometers, there's no need to travel long distances. Bennett Velasquez mentions that visitors to Monaco should be prepared to do a lot of walking. Besides walking, the only other way to get around Monaco is by city bus or taxi, and taxis are quite expensive. Even though walking can get challenging due to the hilly terrain, it's the best way to enjoy what this city has to offer, Bennett Velasquez adds.

Bennett Velasquez is a young traveler who has visited England, Italy, Spain, Monaco, Colorado, France, Hawaii, and many other places. He hopes to inspire others to travel the world.

CONTACT:

Caroline Hunter

Web Presence, LLC

+1 7865519491

SOURCE: Web Presence, LLC

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/577870/Bennett-Velasquezs-Top-Things-to-Know-Before-Visiting-Monaco
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 25, 2020 / Optex Systems Holdings Inc. (OTCQB:OPXS), a leading manufacturer of precision optical sighting systems for domestic and worldwide military and commercial applications, today announced that it will be presenting at the third annual LD Micro Virtual Conference on Tuesday, March 3rd at 8:40 AM PST / 11:40 AM EST. Danny Schoening, CEO of Optex Systems Holdings Inc., will be giving the presentation and answering questions from investors.

You can register for the event and access the live presentation at the following link: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2019/33279

"We received great feedback from this event last year and are excited to participate again in 2020," stated Danny Schoening, CEO of Optex Systems Holdings Inc. "We look forward to sharing our distinct position within the market and our continued path towards increases in revenue, gross margin, and earnings."

"We are delighted to be hosting our third virtual event in order to showcase some of the truly unique names in micro-cap" stated Chris Lahiji, President of LD Micro. "There are a many people and companies who are unable to attend our live events, due to any number of reasons, so we are happy to offer an additional way for companies to present to investors without taking a lot of time out of their day-to-day operations. While virtual events will never replace the experience of sitting in the same room as other humans, it is a great format for updating the investor community and getting increased exposure."



The conference will be held via webcast and will feature over 40 companies in the small / micro-cap space.

View Optex Systems Holdings Inc. profile here: http://www.ldmicro.com/profile/OPXS

Profiles powered by LD Micro - News Compliments of Accesswire

ABOUT OPTEX SYSTEMS

Optex, which was founded in 1987, is a Richardson, Texas based ISO 9001:2015 certified concern, which manufactures optical sighting systems and assemblies, primarily for Department of Defense (DOD) applications. Its products are installed on various types of U.S. military land vehicles, such as the Abrams and Bradley fighting vehicles, Light Armored and Armored Security Vehicles, and have been selected for installation on the Stryker family of vehicles. Optex also manufactures and delivers numerous periscope configurations, rifle and surveillance sights, and night vision optical assemblies. Optex delivers its products both directly to the military services and to prime contractors. For additional information, please visit the Company's website at www.optexsys.com.

About LD Micro

LD Micro was founded in 2006 with the sole purpose of being an independent resource in the microcap space. What started out as a newsletter highlighting unique companies has transformed into an event platform hosting several influential conferences annually (Invitational, Summit, and Main Event).

In 2015, LDM launched the first pure microcap index (the LDMi) to exclusively provide intraday information on the entire sector. LD will continue to provide valuable tools for the benefit of everyone in the small and microcap universe.

For those interested in attending, please contact David Scher at david@ldmicro.com or visit www.ldmicro.com for more information.

Contact:

IR@optexsys.com

(972) 764-5718

Source: Optex Systems Holdings Inc. via LD Micro

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/577887/Optex-Systems-to-Present-at-the-2020-LD-Micro-Virtual-Conference
A heated exchange took place between the United States President Donald Trump and CNN journalist Jim Acosta at a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday after the former raised questions over the integrity of the TV network.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump gestures during a news conference in New Delhi, on Tuesday. Photograph: Al Drago/Reuters

After Acosta asked Trump if he would pledge to reject any foreign interference in the upcoming presidential polls and also questioned his move to appoint a new acting Director of National Intelligence who apparently does not have any intelligence experience, the US President said he does not want any help from any country and hasn't been given help from any country.

Trump also spoke of an 'apology' CNN reportedly made recently for reporting false information.

Acosta shot back, "Mr President, I think that our record on delivering the truth is a lot better than yours sometimes, if you don't mind me stating."

Continuing the verbal sparring, Trump said, "Let me tell you about your record. Your record is so bad you ought to be ashamed of yourself."

"I'm not ashamed of anything and our organisation is not ashamed," retorted Acosta.

The US president also accused the CNN of having the worst record in broadcasting.

Acosta and Trump have clashed numerous times in the past.

The White House in 2018 had suspended Acosta's press pass after a heated exchange during a presidential news conference, barring him from the White House.

The Trump administration went on to suspend Acosta's White House pass, but it was reinstated by a judge after the network sued the White House.
[February 25, 2020] ForgeRock Joins Identity Defined Security Alliance

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ForgeRock , the leading provider in digital identity, today announced that it has joined the Identity Defined Security Alliance (IDSA). The IDSA is a non-profit that facilitates community collaboration to help organizations reduce risk by providing education, best practices and resources. The Alliance and ForgeRock share a strong belief that Identity is at the center of security. "ForgeRock is thrilled to join the IDSA, working with other industry leaders to promote and demonstrate the value of taking an identity-centric approach to security," said Ben Goodman, senior vice president, global business and corporate development, ForgeRock. "The ForgeRock Identity Platform is a comprehensive digital identity solution for customers, employees and things, and our goal is to help people simply and safely access the connected world. ForgeRock's participation with the IDSA gives our customers access to even more best practices, frameworks and common use cases to extend their identity strategies. IDSA: An Ecosystem of Trust

The IDSA is a group of identity and security vendors, solution providers and practitioners that acts as an independent source of thought leadershp, expertise and practical guidance on identity centric approaches to security for technology professionals. ForgeRocks expertise, award-winning technology and industry thought leadership brings a welcomed and new perspective to the Alliance. The companys strong push into Identity Governance and Administration combined with its cloud-first approach to Identity and Access Management is driving growth and customer success.



As our State of Identity report indicated, organizations are overwhelmingly concerned about identity-related breaches and believe that strong workforce and customer identity management practices can help mitigate the risk, said Julie Smith, Executive Director of the IDSA. The addition of ForgeRock to the Alliance, brings another leading voice to the conversation and helps us expand our thought leadership and resources to the customer identity management and IoT security challenges that organizations are facing. About ForgeRock

ForgeRock, the leader in digital identity, delivers modern and comprehensive Identity and Access Management solutions for consumers, employees and things to simply and safely access the connected world. Using ForgeRock, more than a thousand global customer organizations orchestrate, manage, and secure the complete lifecycle of identities from dynamic access controls, governance, APIs, and storing authoritative data  consumable in any cloud or hybrid environment. The company is privately held, and headquartered in SanFrancisco, California, with offices around the world. For more information and free downloads, visit www.forgerock.com or follow ForgeRock on social media: Facebook ForgeRock |Twitter @ForgeRock | LinkedIn ForgeRock | Media Contact:

Dave De Jear

ForgeRock Communications

[email protected]



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2020 Hyundai Sonata Chicagoland Review By Larry Nutson

2020 Hyundai Sonata With Smaht Pahk

By Larry Nutson

Executive Editor and Bureau Chief

Chicago Bureau

The Auto Channel

The timing couldnt have been any better for my upcoming week. I would be driving the all-new 2020 Hyundai Sonata. Among the Super Bowl LIV tv spots was Hyundais Smaht Pahk Sonata commercial that went viral by hilariously spoofing Boston vernacular. And, later in the week at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show Hyundai would be making the global introduction of the new 2020 Sonata Hybrid.

I was surrounded by the Hyundai Sonata vibe.

And yes, I did the obvious. I went and tried out smaht pahk for myself. More correctly, its called Remote Smart Parking Assist. And it works just like the tv commercial shows. My Sonata parked itself between two parked vehicles, although it wasnt as tight a space as shown on tv. I see a real everyday usage for the smart park assist by all of us who have a very crowded garage with all those kids toys and household yard tools. Just hit the clickah!

But, I have wondered about squeezing in a too-tight parking space. Why? How do the folks next to me get in their vehicles? That would be interesting to watch. Perhaps it could be the subject of a YouTube video.

The Sonata has been completely redesigned with eye-catching new styling and a host of refinements. Sonata rides on an all-new platform and now sits on a longer wheelbase with corresponding longer length, but with reduced overhangs. It also is a bit lower overall. The low front hood falling into the wide grille, interesting character lines along the side that caught the sunlight in my Shimmering Silver Pearl test car, and the full-width rear taillight design with their interesting aero fins in top of the main light lenses all make for quite a shapely statement.

Powering the Sonata Limited I drove is a 180-horsepower 1.6-L turbo driving the front wheels through an 8-speed automatic. I really liked this powertrain combo with plenty of good torque off the line and smooth shifting up and down throughout the gears. Were seeing new variations in transmission gear selectors appearing in various new vehicles. I found the Sonatas center console mounted push buttons easy to use. After a bit of familiarization and muscle-memory development, quick shifting between drive and reverse for tight maneuvering became second nature.

The 2020 Sonata is available in SE, SEL, SEL Plus and Limited trims. The 180-HP engine is equipped on the SEL Plus, as well as the Limited. The SE and SEL use a 191-horsepower 2.5-L four cylinder also with an 8-speed automatic. Dont be misled by the higher power. The 1.6-L turbo, through hi-tech valve train design, makes more torque at lower RPM and therefore does the better job of getting you going.

The 2.5-L does have the better EPA fuel economy ratings at 32 combined mpg, with 28 city mpg and 38 highway mpg. The 1.6-L turbo is EPA rated slightly lower at 31 combined mpg, with 27 city mpg and 36 highway mpg.

The Limited trim I drove was loaded with features that really made getting around in a crowded city easier and more comfortable. LED headlights, forward collision assist, rear cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera system, and blind spot display all help you see and maneuver. On the inside, leather upholstery, power seats, heated and ventilated front seats, sunroof, a head-up display, 12-speaker Bose Audio, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen all making living in the drivers seat a lot nicer.

The blind spot display I mentioned shows the view to the rear on the left or right in the instrument cluster when you put on the respective turn signal. It is great for making a check for bicyclist before making a turn.

The driver controls for various functions are a mix of mechanical and digital. I liked the well placed and easy to use HVAC switches and knobs at the base of the instrument panel above the center console.

A hands-free trunk, proximity key and the new digital key make for easy getting inside. The digital key lets you use your smart phone to open the car and it also stores driver profiles.

The eighth-generation Sonata is on sale now. Prices start at $23,600 for the SE and go up to $33,500 for the Limited, plus $955 for shipping and handling.

Making its North American debut at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show, the Sonata Hybrid is powered by a 2.0-L 4-cylinder engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The gasoline engine is rated at 150-horsepower and mated to a 39kW electric motor for 192-horsepower total system output.

The Sonata Hybrid is all about low fuel consumption, especially in city driving. The Blue trim level has EPA ratings of 52 mpg combined with 50 mpg city and 54 mpg highway, for up to 686 miles of driving range. EPA ratings of 47 mpg combined with 45 city mpg and 51 highway mpg are for the SEL and Limited trims. Aerodynamic body and trim changes are used to gain in efficiency.

A unique Solar Roof System uses roof-mounted solar panels to charge the hybrid battery as well as the cars regular battery. It can increase the driving range by a couple of miles after six hours of charging.

Sometime this year we are expecting the Sonata N-lime to return with a promise from Hyundai of having at least 290-horsepower, according to various reports.

Stay tuned. Meanwhile, visit www.Hyundaiusa.com to get a more complete look at the 2020 Sonata lineup.

 2020 Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy
As of 6:00 pm, February 24, 229 cases of COVID-2019 coronavirus infection were recorded in Italy. Ukraine's Ambassador to Italy Yevhen Perelyhin announced this during a briefing, which was broadcasted by 112 Ukraine TV Channel.

"As of 18:00, there were 229 infected people in Italy, 172 of them were in the Lombardy region, 32 in Veneto and the rest in Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont and Lazio. All 229 of them were non-Ukrainian citizens. Citizens of Ukraine did not contact embassies or consulates general," the ambassador said.

He also noted that the embassy had liaised with headquarters in two quarantined provinces that day and was working with Lombardy and Veneto regional authorities.

As we reported earlier, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs knows about 15,632 citizens of Ukraine registered in Italy as of January 1, 2020. 9,158 of them are registered in Milan consulate.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has decided to start temperature screening at Ukrainian border posts where passengers from Italy arrive.
KAMPALA  The Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for the Great Lakes region, Xia Huang, and the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for the Great Lakes region and Burundi, Basile Ikouebe, has welcomed the communique of the Quadripartite Summit, which took place on 21 February 2020 in Katuna at the border between Rwanda and Uganda.

They welcome the progress made as well as the firm commitment of both President Yoweri Museveni and President Paul Kagame to implement the Memorandum of Understanding signed in Luanda, Angola, on 21 August 2019 with a view to normalizing the relations between their two countries.

Xia Huang has also to expressed high appreciation about the decisive involvement of President Joao Lourenco and President Felix Tshisekedi Tshilombo in this process from the outset.

Both United Nations and the African Union have since reaffirmed their readiness to accompany the efforts towards enhancing trust among leaders, the improvement of relations and the strengthening of cooperation between the countries of the region in line with the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region.

The Katuna meeting recommended that Uganda within one month verifies allegations of the Republic of Rwanda about action from its territory by forces hostile to the government. If the allegations are proved, the Ugandan government should take all measures to stop it from happening again.

The summit also resolved that once the recommendation is fulfilled and reported to the heads of state, the facilitators will convene within 15 days, a summit at Katuna for the solemn reopening of the borders and subsequent normalization of the relations between the two countries.

Related
The Haryana Assembly on Tuesday witnessed the ruling BJP members and main opposition Congress legislators exchanging barbs over the disbanded Haryana State Industrial Security Force.

During the Zero Hour, Congress MLA Kiran Choudhary raised the plight of a large number of personnel of the disbanded force who lost their job over a decade ago.

The force was formed by the then Indian National Lok Dal government, but was disbanded due to various technicalities and objections during previous Congress regime after which nearly 3,000 personnel lost their jobs.

Later, the Congress government adjusted some of the personnel in the police department while the BJP government later engaged some of them as Special Police Officers on contract basis.

Kiran Choudhary wanted that some permanent solution should be found to adjust them as contracts were only annual.

On this home minister Anil Vij claimed that it was the previous Congress government which had disbanded the force.

"Did you ever raise the issue during the past decade," former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda told Vij, who retorted by saying, I did, but you (Hooda) behaved like a dictator and never listened to the opposition voice (BJP was in opposition then)".

As soon as Vij had said this, Congress MLAs were up on their feet and sought an apology from Vij.

Intervening in the issue, Chief Minister Khattar said that Zero Hour does not mean that House decorum will not be maintained.

"Do not politicise the issue," Khattar told opposition Congress members.

The din continued for a while till Hooda asked Khattar to mention about Congress government's gesture to adjust some of the personnel of the disbanded force like the BJP government.

Kiran Chaudhry said it was on humanitarian grounds that she had raised this issue of the personnel of the disbanded force and while targeting Vij, she said, unfortunately, Mr Vij has to intervene in everything and he twists entire debate into a different scenario.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 23:59:27|Editor: huaxia

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Military personnel and civilians gather around a bombed-out vehicle in Damascus, Syria, on Feb. 25, 2020. An explosive device ripped through a car in the capital Damascus on Tuesday evening, wounding one person, state TV reported. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

DAMASCUS, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- One civilian was killed and another one wounded on Tuesday when an explosive device ripped through a car in the capital Damascus, state news agency SANA reported.

The explosive device tore through the vehicle near the Tishreen stadium in Damascus, said SANA. It added that "terrorists" put the explosive under the car.

The target is still unknown but such small scale explosions have taken place more often recently.

On Feb. 20, an explosive device ripped through a pickup truck in the heart of the capital Damascus.

On Feb. 18, five civilians were wounded by a blast caused by an explosive device affixed under a car in the Bab Musalla area.

On Feb. 10, one person was wounded by a similar explosion in the western Damascus' Mazzeh area.

Damascus has remained calm since the army dislodged the last rebel group from the Eastern Ghouta countryside in May 2018. Still, sporadic explosions happen with seemingly random targets.
Hosni Mubarak, born in May 1928, was vice president on 14 October 1981, when his mentor, president Anwar Sadat, was assassinated by Islamic extremists while reviewing a military parade.

Cairo: Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian leader who for nearly 30 years was the resolute face of stability in the Mideast before being forced by the military to resign after 18-day nationwide protests that were part of the Arab world's 2011 pro-democracy upheaval, died on Tuesday, the country's state-run TV said. He was 91.

Throughout his rule, he was a stalwart US ally, a bulwark against Islamic militancy and guardian of Egypt's peace with Israel. But to the tens of thousands of young Egyptians who rallied for 18 days of unprecedented street protests in Cairo's central Tahrir Square and elsewhere in 2011, Mubarak was a relic, a latter-day pharaoh.

They were inspired by the Tunisian revolt, and harnessed the power of social media to muster tumultuous throngs, unleashing popular anger over the graft and brutality that shadowed his rule. In the end, with millions massed in Tahrir Square and other city centers around the country, and even marching to the doorstep of Mubarak's palace, the military that long nurtured him pushed him aside on 11 February, 2011. The generals took power, hoping to preserve what they could of the system he headed.

The state TV said Mubarak died at a Cairo hospital where he had undergone an unspecified surgery. The report said he had health complications but offered no other details. One of his sons, Alaa, announced over the weekend that the former president was in an intensive care after undergoing surgery.

Though Tunisia's president fell before him, the ouster of Mubarak was the more stunning collapse in the face of the Arab Spring shaking regimes across the Arab world. He was convicted along with his former security chief on June 2012 and sentenced to life in prison for failing to prevent the killing of some 900 protesters during the 18-day period, who rose up against his autocratic regime in 2011. Both appealed the verdict and a higher court later cleared them in 2014.

The acquittal stunned many Egyptians, thousands of whom poured into central Cairo to show their anger against the court. The following year, Mubarak and his two sons  wealthy businessman Alaa and Mubarak's one-time heir apparent Gamal  sentenced to three years in prison on corruption charges during a retrial. The sons were released in 2015 for time served, while Mubarak walked free in 2017.

Since his arrest in April 2011, Mubarak spent the nearly six years in jail in hospitals. Following his release, he was taken to an apartment in Cairo's Heliopolis district.

For the man who was long untouchable  even a word of criticism against him in the media was forbidden for much of his rule  prison was a shock. When he was flown from the court to Torah Prison in Cairo in 2011, he cried in protest and refused to get out of the helicopter.

Over the years, Mubarak tinkered with reform but shunned major change, presenting himself as Egypt's sole protection against Islamic militancy and sectarian division. The US tried pushing him harder for reforms, but succeeded only in alienating him. Fearful of losing its alliance with the most powerful Arab country, Washington backed off.

But the failure to fulfill repeated promises of change steadily deepened public despair, and those seeking a democratic future were dismayed to see Mubarak making apparent moves to set up a dynastic succession in the shape of his businessman son, Gamal Mubarak.

Hosni Mubarak, born in May 1928, was vice president on 14 October 1981, when his mentor, president Anwar Sadat, was assassinated by Islamic extremists while reviewing a military parade. Seated next to Sadat, Mubarak escaped with a minor hand injury as gunmen sprayed the reviewing stand with bullets. Eight days later, the brawny former air force commander was sworn in as president, promising continuity and order.
About 140 people joined the Socialist Equality Partys rally to defend Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning at the State Library in central Melbourne yesterday, before marching to nearby Federation Square.

Free Assange and Manning rally and march in Melbourne, February 23, 2020

Those participating included SEP members and supporters, contingents from the SEPs youth movement, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), from the University of Melbourne and Victoria University, supporters of the Australians for Assange and Melbourne4WikiLeaks campaign groups. They were joined by other workers, retirees and young people outraged by the international persecution of Assange, the WikiLeaks founder.

Sue Phillips

Some attended the rally after travelling several hundred kilometres from regional Victorian centres, such as Euroa. The event was part of a series of rallies organised by the SEP in Australia and Socialist Equality Group in New Zealand, and events organised by our movement and others internationally. The fight to free Assange has been stepped up around the world ahead of the hearing in London that threatens him with extradition to the US on trumped-up espionage charges and imprisonment for life.

SEP National Committee member, Sue Phillips, chaired the rally. She explained from the outset: The cruel and tortuous treatment of both Assange and Manning expresses the ruthless attitude of the ruling elite in every country against the democratic rights of the entire working class as governments move toward authoritarian forms of rule and dictatorship. Assange and Manning are political prisoners, class-war prisoners of the 21st century and must be defended.

Evrim Yazgin

Evrim Yazgin, the IYSSE president at the University of Melbourne, then connected the oppression of Assange and parallel growth in internet censorship with the fear in ruling circles of the explosive development of social movements internationally against social inequality, climate change, and austerity attacks on wages and conditions. This growing movement of the working class is also a movement of the younger generation. It is, therefore, a movement that will shape the future, he explained.

Those under 30 now comprise over half the worlds population and over 65 percent of the population in the worlds fastest growing regionsSub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and South and Southeast Asia. Each month in India, one million people turn 18. In the Middle East and North Africa, an estimated 27 million young people will enter the workforce in the next five years. More and more young people are getting their daily news outside the mainstream mediawhich they increasingly recognise represents the interests of the tiny, wealthy minority. Social media and alternative news platforms are being utilised to spread information and organise protests and meetings.

Will Marshall

Will Marshall, a member of the SEP and the Committee for Public Education, called on workers everywhere to move resolutions and form committees at their workplaces defending the WikiLeaks founder. At the school where I work, previously called Footscray City College and now Footscray High School, on three occasions teachers and education support staff have voted to support Julian Assange and Chelsea Manningin June 2018, in February 2019 and last December.

Marshall said teachers were acting on the advice of Assange himself, to take his defence into workplaces. Assange said in a letter to a supporter: You ask what you can do to fight for my freedom? Use your strategic skills, friends, resources and associations. If you are a nurse, gather nurses, form a bloc in the nurses union.

Marshall emphasised: Teachers and education workers acted against the deafening silence of the unions, including the Australian Education Union, which has been more than happy to leave Assange and Manning hung out to dry.

Teachers for Assange and Manning in Melbourne

In her speech, online writer and longstanding WikiLeaks supporter Caitlin Johnstone referred to the important role played by UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer, in publicly defending Assange, after initially being misled by the propaganda against Assange.

The power behind his [Melzers] testimony comes from the fact that he realised that he had been dupedand if he, a very intelligent, well read, worldly, informed and educated person could be duped, then anyone can be, Johnstone explained.

No one is immune. Human minds are hackable. Were all very busy with our lives. Were all kept busy by capitalism, and very few of us have the time to do what he did and sit down and take a look at the facts and assess them.

Caitlin Johnstone

Johnstone urged those present to talk to their family and friends and encourage them to look at the facts and change their minds. Reassure them that its not going to be the end of the world if they change their mind. In fact, it may be the end of the world if they dont.

The full text of Johnstones speech is published here.

SEP National Committee member James Cogan, who has played a leading role in the fight to defend Assange and Manning, read greetings sent to the rally from Joseph Kishore, national secretary of the SEP in the United States and its 2020 presidential candidate. Kishore demanded the immediate freedom of Assange and Manning and described the extradition hearings in London as a legal travesty and abomination.

Cogan concluded the rally by outlining an independent perspective through which the working class can defend Assange. At this rally, we are certainly demanding that the Coalition government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison act immediately to compel the Johnson Tory government in Britain to reject the extradition, release Julian Assange and allow him to return to Australia without any conditions, if he chooses to do so, with guaranteed protection from any US extradition application, he explained.

James Cogan

We are demanding that the Trump administration end its vindictive imprisonment of Chelsea Manning, restore her freedom and drop the outrageous fines that have been levelled against her. But we have no illusions that Morrison, Johnson or Trump, or the political establishment in any country, are going to listen to moral appeals over the injustice of the situation or undergo some type of overnight transformation into defenders of democratic rights.

After the addresses at the State Library, rally participants marched down central Swanston Street. Chants included: Free Assange, free Manning! No US extradition! and Assange and Manning must have freedomNo fake trial and no rendition! Many people in the city centre expressed support for the march as it passed, taking leaflets and donating money, while some joined the rally. The march concluded with further remarks from James Cogan, who emphasised that the fight to free Assange would be a protracted one and that further actions would follow.

The SEP (Australia) and members of the Julian Assange Brisbane Facebook Group will be a holding a rally in Brisbane, the Queensland state capital, this Saturday to demand the immediate and unconditional release of WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange and whistleblower Chelsea Manning.

Rally Details:

Saturday February 29, 2:00 p.m.

Reddacliff Place, Brisbane

(corner Queen and George Street)
In an episode on SBS's variety show, Running Man, had Song ji Hyo, Shin Hye Sun and Bae Jong Ok as guests in the episode. Song Ji Hyo is a South korean actress and a model. She carries the stage name, Song Ji Hyo but her real name is Cheon Soo Yeon.

She is famous for her roles in korean dramas such as A Frozen Flower in 2008, New World in 2013, and the TV series Emergency Couple in 2014. She has the upcoming film called The Trespasser which will be out in March. While Shin Hye Sun is a South korean Actress internationally famous for her lead role in Angel's Last Mission: Love in the year 2019.

Bae Jong Ok is also a South Korean Actress and is famous for her roles in The chase, The Last Blossom and many more. Shin hye Sun and Bae Jong Ok together have an upcoming show which will also premiere in March. Song ji Hyo made everyone laugh when she jokingly became competitive after knowing about the upcoming film of Shin Hye Sun and bae Jong Ok.

An episode on the Running Man on the 24th day of February, allowed Shin Hye Sun and Bae Jong Ok to promote and announce the release date of their upcoming film, Innocence. As they introduced the film, they mentioned that their film will be released in the month of March.

The whole situation was then realized when HaHa asked if Shin Hye Sun and Bae Jong new film will go up against Song Ji Hyo's film since they both have the same release dates. Song ji hyo looked flustered and shocked as she asks asks when will be Shin Hye Sun's film be released. Shin Hye Sun was confused as she answered March as the release date.

Song Ji Hyo and Kim Moo Yeol's upcoming film, The Trespasser is also set to be released the same month as them. Everyone then tried to recover from the realization of what has happened and tried to cheer for both of the films. Shin Hye Sun clapped and said the both of the films will do well and the other Running Man cast members joined and cheered for Shin Hye Sun and Song Ji Hyo's upcoming films.

Song ji Hyo made everyone watching the episode burst out of laughter when she directly looked at the camera and called out to Moo Yeol saying the he should be in the show, saying the word Geez in the end.

Later on in the episode, Yoo Jae Suk tried to cheer and support for the upcoming film of Song Ji Hyo but he accidentally made a mistake. He was supposed to give good luck to Kim Moo Yeol good luck but he mentioned his name wrong saying Choi Moo Yeol instead of Kim Moo Yeol in which was immediately corrected by Song Ji Hyo. He became embarrassed while realizing his mistake and apologized to Kim Moo Yeol saying "I hope i did not hurt your feelings while I was trying to help"

Both upcoming dramas, Innocence and Trespasser will be released in the month of March.
YouTuber Annalise Mishler already accused Bachelor Nation star Chad Johnson of punching a hole into her wall during a drunk rage on Sunday.

By Monday evening, the 32-year-old reality star has been arrested by members of the Los Angeles Police Department on felony domestic violence and robbery charges.

Mishler had previously shared footage of Johnson appearing to shout threatening things from outside her apartment.

In custody: Disgraced Bachelorette contestant Chad Johnson, 32, was arrested by the LAPD Monday evening on charges of felony domestic abuse and robbery after he allegedly fought with his girlfriend Annalise Mishler; pictured in 2018

According to Mishler, the altercation began after her boyfriend got 'drunk for the first time in 50 days' over the weekend.

Talking directly to the camera in another video, Annalise explained how things began when she confronted him after seeing alerts from the dating app Hinge on his phone.

But instead of explaining himself, Chad allegedly exploded.

'He went crazy,' she said, 'On me. Like, how dare I have the audacity.'

The Sunday night posts included shots of fist-sized holes in the apartment walls, as well as a followup video of what appeared to be the reality persona verbally attacking Mishler while she tried to get back into her apartment.

Outburst: Mishler accused Johnson of lashing out at her and punching a hole in her apartment's wall during a drunken rage. The pair are seen in November 2019 above

Hole in the wall: The Sunday night posts included shots of fist-sized holes in the apartment wall

Illustrating the damage, Annalise told followers: 'So Chad just got drunk for the first time in like 50 days and punched a hole in my wall, for no f***ing reason.'

'This is the reality of my life, which is great,' she said sarcastically, then showing her 'traumatized' calico cat.

Her next posts seemed to show her boyfriend of several months Chad allegedly screaming from outside of her apartment.

Phew: Annalise noted that she was lucky to have already asked for her key back; pictured in May

Annalise noted that she was lucky to have already asked for her key back.

She is then heard confronting Chad from within her apartment, telling him to look at the damage, which he denies he had anything to do with.

'Go home, you're scaring me,' Mishler said.

The clip takes a shocking turn as Johnson then tells Annalise 'Good f***ing luck then. I hope you f***ing die' while continuing to bang on the door.

Unreasonable: Illustrating the damage, Annalise told followers: 'So Chad just got drunk for the first time in like 50 days and punched a hole in my wall, for no f***ing reason'

Witness: 'This is the reality of my life, which is great,' she continued, then showing her 'traumatized' calico cat

Unacceptable: Her next posts showed her boyfriend Chad screaming from outside of her apartment and trying to maneuver his way inside

Things continued to escalate according to Mishler's video.

On top of another clip, she wrote: 'Then he screamed the r-word at me over and over and all my neighbors came out and I heard him screaming at them.'

Strangely, she then blamed herself for the incident telling the camera: 'Look, I know I'm the idiot. I'm aware, OK?'

Hours later Annalise returned to Instagram with an update.

Protecting herself: She is then heard confronting Chad from within her apartment, telling him to look at the damage, which he denies he had anything to do with

Awful: The clip takes a shocking turn as Johnson then tells Annalise 'Good f***ing luck then. I hope you f***ing die' while continuing to bang on the door

Reasons: Talking directly to the camera in another video, Annalise explained how things began when she confronted her boyfriend after seeing alerts from the dating app Hinge on his phone

She thanked everyone who reached out to her, writing: 'Wow so many nice messages today.'

Johnson allegedly returned again on Monday, and the couple were engaged in another argument.

'Things escalated this morning and are being taken care of now. Update soon maybe, I'm being guilted for sharing this/"ruining his life" and i know that's not true but it's still scary ya know.'

'He took my phone and chucked it while I was calling 911 this morning so if you've tried texting/calling that would be why i'm not responding lol.'

By Monday evening, the police had arrested Chad, a standard step that occurred after they reportedly saw red marks on Annalise's face.

The robbery charge appears to stem from him taking her phone as she tried to call 911.

Back for more: Johnson allegedly returned again on Monday, and the couple were engaged in another argument; still from The Bachelorette

Double trouble: By Monday evening, the police had arrested Chad, a standard step that occurred after they reportedly saw red marks on Annalise's face. The robbery charge appears to stem from him taking her phone as she tried to call 911

Chad later gave a quasi-apology to TooFab in which he claimed he had blacked out during the altercation and didn't remember it.

'I had a little relapse... well I wouldn't call it a little relapse,' he said. 'Big relapse.'

He tried to excuse his behavior by attributing it to him and Mishler breaking up.

'I've been so stressed man, just sitting in my car crying sometimes, just losing my mind. And to top it all off, the one person I'm closest to doesn't get me a lot of times,' he continued. 'I just lost it.'

'I don't remember actually seeing her,' he continued. 'I drank to the point where I didn't even know I was with her. I just gotta take the Instagram Story's word that I was there.'

Freak out: 'He went crazy,' she said, 'On me. Like, how dare I have the audacity'

Better times: Chad and Annalise have been dating for several months

This isn't the first time Chad's violent temper has gotten him into trouble.

The reality star first appeared on JoJo Fletcher's season of The Bachelorette in 2016 where he was portrayed as the villain and earned the nickname Bad Chad.

He was invited back to Bachelor In Paradise the same year but was given the boot after he got drunk and slung violent threats at fellow cast members.

Before hooking up with Annalise, Johnson was rumored to have had a relationship with former Playboy pinup Kendra Wilkinson.
PHOENIX, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Newswise -- As part of the 2020 UN Global Compact SDG Pioneers program, Global Compact Network USA today launched its national search for professionals who are committed to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Later this year, the Network will recognize an employee of a participating company as the Global Compact Network USA SDG Pioneer. Additionally, the selected individual will be nominated by the Network for inclusion in the final search of global SDG Pioneers to be recognized during the 2020 UN General Assembly in September in New York City.

In 2020, the UN Global Compact will recognize a new class of SDG Pioneers who are setting ambitious SDG targets for scale and impact across their companies through a principles-based approach.

Global Compact Network USA welcomes the leadership of companies participating in the UN Global Compact to nominate their employees to the program and join them during the recognition that follows.

"Leadership in this new decade of action requires change agents," said Lise Kingo, CEO & Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. "Change agents don't sit around waiting for the future to happen. They create it. They do not choose the path of least resistance. They stay the course, even when they are ridiculed or opposed. In the end -- they win. They have the future on their side," Kingo said.

"We face immense challenges as a planet, but we know where we need to go to create the world we want," said Adam Roy Gordon, Engagement Director of Global Compact Network USA. "The SDGs outline a world of sustainability, peace, and prosperity that we can achieve by 2030 with the right leadership and ambition. U.S. business leadership on the SDGs is critical and this is not possible without individual leadership within these companies. These SDG Pioneers will be celebrated," said Gordon.

Young professionals are also welcome to submit their own stories on contributions to sustainable development or nominate a colleague for consideration in the program before April 9, 2020.

About the SDG Pioneers Program

As part of UN Global Compact Making Global Goals Local Business campaign, each year the initiative recognizes a class of SDG Pioneers -- business leaders working at any level of a company, who are using business as a force for good to advance the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDG Pioneers play an important role to drum up interest in the Global Goals and in how the UN Global Compact is empowering businesses to advance them. In 2020, the UN Global Compact will again recognize professionals working at any level in a participating company of the UN Global Compact who are setting ambitious SDG targets, scale and impact across their companies through a principles-based approach.

About Global Compact Network USA

Launched in 2007, the Global Compact Network USA (GCNUSA) is the local network chapter of the United Nations Global Compact. Working closely with Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University, Network USA identified next-generation sustainability leaders for the SDG Pioneers Competition. Network USA is a non-profit organization that supports U.S.-based entities in:

Operating in alignment with the Ten Principles of the Global Compact

Engaging with and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals

Leveraging their association with the Global Compact and United Nations and its global resource network

Facilitating and creating opportunities for multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder collaboration

FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU MAY ALSO CONTACT:

Global Compact Network USA



Adam Gordon



Engagement Director



Tel: +1 (203) 832-0984



Email: [email protected]

About Thunderbird School of Global Management

Thunderbird School of Global Management is a unit of the Arizona State University Knowledge Enterprise. For more than 70 years, Thunderbird School of Global Management has been the vanguard of global management and leadership education. Thunderbird creates sustainable and inclusive prosperity worldwide by educating future-ready leaders capable of tackling the world's greatest challenges. Thunderbird's Master of Global Management was ranked #1 in the world by the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education. Arizona State University is ranked #1 in innovation by U.S. News & World Report.

About ASU

Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American Research University, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it.

____________



Provided by Newswise, online resource for knowledge-based news at www.newswise.com

SOURCE Thunderbird School of Global Management

Related Links

https://thunderbird.asu.edu/


A day after police dismantled an anti-pipeline blockade that had brought a portion of CN Rails network to a halt, parts of Canadas railway system faced additional disruptions as protests continued in parts of the country.

Several new blockades appeared Tuesday, including one in Hamilton, Ont. that disrupted the Go Transit commuter service between Hamilton and Niagara Falls. Another blockade was put in place late Tuesday afternoon, blocking service in Toronto. A group called Rising Tide Toronto claimed responsibility for the blockade.

On Monday, Ontarios provincial police had dismantled a rail blockade on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near Belleville, Ont., arresting several protestors in the process. The blockade, which had been in place for more than two weeks, had brought some of CNs operations to a halt.

Story continues

CN spokesperson Jonathan Abecassis did not confirm whether the railway had resumed service following the removal of the blockade, or when it is expected to.

The situation is being closely monitored, he said.

Many industries have warned that if the blockades are not removed, businesses will be forced to cut production and layoff employees as inventory runs out. CN and Via Rail, which uses CNs railway track, have temporarily laid off approximately 450 and 1,000 workers, respectively.

According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), nearly a quarter of businesses said they have been negatively affected by the rail blockades, losing an average of $60,000 since demonstrators put up the blockades. The CFIB said in a statement released Tuesday that one business owner has lost over $80,000 and has laid off all staff as the cost of shipping skyrocketed.

Were now at the point that this is affecting a huge cross section of businesses, right across the industry spectrum and right across the country, Dan Kelly, CFIBs chief executive, said in an interview. He said that, at first, the impact of the blockades were being felt largely by the agriculture, natural resource and manufacturing industries. It has since spread.

This will now have a significant impact on restaurants, on retail and the wholesale business. There are few areas of business that are not affected, Kelly said.

Some grocery stores may also be facing product shortages if rail service is not fully restored, an industry group is warning.

Some parts of the country are already grappling with a shortage of products, particularly western Canada, said Gary Sands, vice president of public policy at the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG). If regular rail operations do not resume, the shortages will be exacerbated.

Its already starting to be felt, but what weve heard from our members is that in another three to five days its going to become more pronounced in terms of food shortages, Sands said in an interview.

Thats going to result in financial losses and could increase prices for consumers.

With files from the Canadian Press

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android and sign up for the Yahoo Finance Canada Weekly Brief.
Hyderabad, Feb 26 : Flash protests were held at few places here on Tuesday night, condemning the violence in Delhi and the alleged complicity of Delhi Police.

Candle-light protests were held at Toli Chowki, Seven Tombs Road, King Koti and Yakutpura.

Protestors including women raised slogans against Delhi Police, condemning their brutality. They were also carrying placards demanding withdrawal of the CAA, NPR and NRC.

However, police foiled a candle-light march on Neklace Road abutting Hussain Sagar lake in the heart of the city.

Some activists had called for the march to condemn Delhi Police's brutality and right-wing violence. Large number of policemen were deployed in the area and the road was deserted even before 9 p.m.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar had appealed to citizens to remain alert and united to see that no mischief maker tries to take advantage of the disturbing news from Delhi. "Our Patrol cars and Bike patrols are your closest friend. Don't allow rumor mongering. Take pride in our beautiful city Hyderabad," he said.

He also urged the national media not to show the disturbing visuals of Delhi riots. "It disturbs the mind of common peace loving people. These are testing times for all of us and we all have to work together and ensure that mischief makers do not take advantage," he said.
German authorities scrambled Tuesday to determine the motives of a man who ploughed his car into a carnival procession, injuring dozens and further unsettling a country rocked by a fatal mass shooting last week.

In an afternoon statement, police said the number injured had now reached almost 60 and asked those hurt in the incident or with possible evidence to come forward.

Investigators said the 29-year-old German driver had not been drunk at the time of the incident on Monday, but could not yet rule out that he was under the influence of drugs, national news agency DPA reported.

The suspect has still not been questioned because of his own injuries, a police spokesman told reporters near the scene of the incident in Hessian town Volkmarsen.

Among the injured in the ramming were 18 children aged from just three years.

It followed just days after a gunman with suspected racist motives killed nine people with migrant backgrounds in Hanau, also in western Hesse state, prompting fears of a repeat attack.

Officials cancelled all carnival parades across the state Monday, while a childrens procession was called off Tuesday in state capital Wiesbaden.

But authorities have stopped short of calling the incident an attack until they know more about the drivers motives.

I saw him drive off, he looked as if he was on drugs and said soon Ill be in the papers, a neighbour of the suspect told German broadcaster RTL.

Nevertheless, prosecutors in Frankfurt have opened an investigation on suspicion of attempted homicide.

Prosecutors said they had also arrested a second person who filmed the car rampage, citing a privacy law against gawkers.

- Children lying on ground -

Eyewitnesses described how the man ploughed his silver Mercedes at high speed through a barrier and into crowds at the traditional Rose Monday parade in Volkmarsen, a small town in Hesse state.

My wife called me and I ran out there straight away. I saw my daughter lying bleeding on the ground, 33-year-old Sven Hirdler told mass-market daily Bild.

Hirdlers four-year-old child Emilia escaped with relatively light injuries and a concussion.

On Tuesday morning, carnival floats and balloons were still in place around Volkmarsen, while emergency vehicles remained at the scene as the perpetrators car was hauled away.

Hessian police said that among the injured, 35 remained in hospital while 17 had already returned home.

- Climate of fear -

As in many parts of the country, residents in Volkmarsen were celebrating Rose Monday, a highlight of annual carnival festivities that sees adults and children dress up and attend parades where people play music and throw candies from floats.

The party, traditionally celebrated mostly in western Germany, had been a welcome relief for a country shaken by Wednesdays deadly Hanau shootings.

The rampage fuelled concerns over the countrys increasingly emboldened far-right scene, after a pro-migrant politician was murdered in June and an anti-Semitic attack on a synagogue left two dead in the city of Halle last October.

Meanwhile the sight of a car ploughing through crowds recalled Germanys deadliest terror attack in recent history, when a jihadist drove his truck into a crowded Berlin Christmas market, killing 12 people in December 2016.

The attacker, a failed Tunisian asylum seeker, had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.

After the Hanau shootings, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer on Friday vowed to put more police at mosques, train stations, airports and borders.
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Gabe Adams travels on an adventure of a lifetime spanning Utah to Nashville with Grammy Award winning record producer & hit songwriter Joe West , Together, the duo accomplish things that they thought might not be possible and along the way encourage others to push a little harder, reach a little higher and see the world in a different light.

Limb-itless: Adventure Songwriting Gabe Adams & Joe West appear on the Adam Carolla Show

Adams was born in Brazil with Hanhart Syndrome, a genetic disorder, leaving him with no limbs. Gabe's tragic beginning was not his tragic end, but rather the seed of a story that would eventually become a self-authored masterpiece with all the ingredients needed to change the world.

Grammy Award winning producer West saw Gabe's story on Facebook (his video story alone has more than 200 million views), and was so moved that he reached out directly to Gabe. Said West, "The goal was to thank him and let him know how inspired I was by his story. After watching Gabe I felt like I could do anything I didn't know how or what, but I knew I had to collaborate with him."

Their collaboration is documented in this viral video, "Limb-itless: Adventure Songwriting," which is available now on YouTube .

Adams and West head off into the canyons of Utah to find friendship and a song then fly back to Music City to turn their creation into a record, all while the true story is subliminally unfolding With enough perseverance, passion and heart any goal is achievable!

Appearance on the Adam Carolla Show: Link

"Watching Limb-itless was like going to an attitude chiropractor."

- Jimmy Wayne #1 Billboard Hit Recording Artist, New York Times Best-Selling Author

Contact info: "Limb-itless: Adventure Songwriting"

Contact Person: Joe West

Website: www.limb-itless.com

Company: www.inspired-docs.com

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +1 (615) 517-7025

YouTube link: https://youtu.be/A6r9QILMfwc

SOURCE Joe West and Gabe Adams
WASHINGTON, N.Y., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of Women's History Month, Women Who Tech , the largest organization that's combatting the severe lack of funding for women-led tech startups, opened applications for the 10th Women Startup Challenge to showcase and fund early-stage women-led ventures. Despite the pledges by VCs to increase funding for startups led by diverse founders, the numbers are barely budging. In 2019, only 2.8% of investor funding went to women-led startups, up a mere 0.1% from 2017, according to Pitchbook.

"If we're going to create products for the masses and build breakthrough technologies that solve the biggest problems, we need to make shift happen by building a culture and inclusive economy that accelerates women entrepreneurs," said Allyson Kapin, founder of Women Who Tech. "The funding gap is dire and not really moving - but we're here to change that."

Winning ventures will be awarded $75,000 and pro bono services. Women Who Tech will award a $50,000 cash grant and the W Fund is committing a $25,000 investment. The W Fund will also be convening an investor mentoring day where founders will meet one-on-one with several investors to expand their access to VC networks, which have traditionally been off limits to underrepresented founders.

The Women Startup Challenge will showcase 10 of the best women-led startups to pitch their tech companies at Google in NYC this June 2020. Women Who Tech's esteemed investor jury includes:

Susan Lyne , President and Managing Partner, BBG Ventures

, President and Managing Partner, BBG Ventures Andrew Beebe , Managing Director, Obvious Ventures

, Managing Director, Obvious Ventures Shelly Kapoor Collins , Founder, The Shatter Fund

"The tech industry can't afford not to support diverse founders or else we lose out on innovation. It's programs like the Women Startup Challenge and allies working together that are needed now to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech," said Craig Newmark, founder of craigslist and Craig Newmark Philanthropies, and a member of the Advisory Board for Women Who Tech.

Applications for the Women Startup Challenge are open to tech startups with at least one woman founder or co-founder based in North America. Criteria and submission details can be found on the Women Startup Challenge website . Applications close March 29, 2020, at 11:59pm PT.

"We're excited for the opportunity to invest in one of the great companies taking the stage at the Women Startup Challenge," said Kate Brodock, founding partner of the W Fund. "We firmly believe that the next wave of $1B companies will be led by women and underrepresented founders. Women Who Tech has been a consistent leader in showcasing that potential and pushing the ecosystem closer to that reality."

About Women Who Tech

Founded in 2008, Women Who Tech is helping to draw global attention to the significant gender bias in venture capital funding by shaking up a culture and an economy that has made it exceedingly difficult for women to launch and scale their startups. The nonprofit provides capital, mentoring, direct access to leading investors, and other resources for women who are creating the most innovative tech companies, with the ultimate goal of closing the funding gap for good.

Women Who Tech's flagship Women Startup Challenge is one of the largest global programs with a pipeline of over 3,500+ women-led startups. The event showcases and funds women-led tech startups, hosting thousands of women innovators across the world including New York, Silicon Valley, London (co-hosted by the Office of Mayor Sadiq Khan), and Paris (co-hosted by the Office of Mayor Anne Hidalgo). To date, $72M+ has been raised by Women Startup Challenge cohorts. For information, visit www.WomenWhoTech.com .

About Craig Newmark Philanthropies

Craig Newmark Philanthropies was created by craigslist founder Craig Newmark to support and connect people and drive broad civic engagement. The organization works to advance people and grassroots organizations that are getting stuff done in areas that include trustworthy journalism, voter protection, gender diversity in technology, and veterans and military families.

For more information, please visit: CraigNewmarkPhilanthropies.org .

Women Who Tech has been supported by Craig Newmark, founder of craigslist and Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Google, The Pineapple Fund, W Fund, Mozilla, Rad Campaign, Donna Griffit Corporate Storyteller, and more.

Media Contacts

Women Who Tech

Allyson Kapin

240-475-3362

[email protected]

SOURCE Women Who Tech

Related Links

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A Chinese man has dressed up as an astronaut to protect himself from the coronavirus while going out shopping.

The man, known by his surname Li, purchased the 13 full-body costume online for 'extra protection' as the deadly disease sweeps through the country.

He said: 'I thought the costume was adorable and it could protect me [from the virus].

A Chinese man has dressed up as an astronaut to protect himself from the coronavirus while going out shopping. Pictures show him wearing the costume before going to the shop

'I am wearing a face mask underneath as well. It's double protection,' added Mr Li from Fujian Province as he spoke to video news outlet Pear.

The Chinese resident asked his friend to film a video of him donning the inflated outfit and cruising around his complex in the city of Sanming on a scooter.

He received mixed reactions from other residents after sharing the video online.

Mr Li did not explain how much he had spent on the apparel, but a similar costume costs 125 yuan (13.6) on average on Chinese e-commerce site Taobao.

The Chinese resident asked his friend to film a video of him donning the inflated outfit. He is seen cheerfully jumping and strolling around his complex on a scooter

Due to the increasing demand of face masks, people in China have been scrambling to get hold of them. People are pictured waiting outside a pharmacy in China to purchase face masks

'Some people said it was cute, others joked they would try to deflate my costume when they see me,' Mr Li said.

Health experts have warned these creative outfits would not protect people from the deadly disease.

The public is advised to wear face masks and maintain good personal hygiene as basic measures against the coronavirus.

A woman told Pear Video that she bought the puffed-up outfit, along with another alien costume, due to the shortage of face masks. The pictures show her visiting the hospital

People in China have been scrambling to get hold of protective masks as the demand for them grows rapidly.

A Chinese woman has recently shown up at a hospital with a giraffe costume to avoid catching the novel coronavirus.

She claimed she had to resort to the full-body outfit after failing to get hold of any face masks.

The Chinese woman was spotted dressing up as a giraffe at hospital today after failing to get hold of any face mask. She is pictured seeing the doctor and picking up medicine in Sichuan

The novel coronavirus has claimed 2,705 deaths and infected over 80,344 people globally

The novel coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, has claimed at least 2,705 deaths and infected over 80,344 people globally.

Experts believe that the new coronavirus has been passed onto humans by wildlife sold as food, especially bats and snakes.

People are pictured wearing protective masks and riding bicycles on a street in Shanghai
GREENWICH  Officers responded to an incident at Greenwich Country Day School off Cardinal Road in which a dog was killed by another dog Saturday afternoon, police said.

A person was walking and training a dog, a Labrador, off-leash at the school property, according to the incident report. Dogs are not allowed on the school grounds, police said.
The driver killed in a one-car crash last week has been identified by Washington Township police as a longtime resident and local business owner.

Randy A. Hemmel, 62, from the Long Valley section of town, was killed when his car went off the side of Flocktown Road on Thursday, Washington Township police said. Hemmels car was the only car involved.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Police said they found Hemmels car on its side just off the road. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hemmel owned Sky High Pics, a drone photography business known locally for its sweeping areal shots of the town, his obituary says. He also played in a 70s cover band.

Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieKausch. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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New Delhi, Feb 25 : As the violence continued in the northeast Delhi on Tuesday, the Congress slammed the government for not listening to the voice of the people and going ahead with the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act.

Expressing shock at continuing violence, former Union Minister P. Chidambaram said, "We had warned that CAA was deeply divisive and should be repealed or abandoned. Our warning fell on deaf ears. The people are paying the price for putting in power insensitive and short-sighted leaders." Senior Congress leader also reiterated that its not too late and the CAA could be put in "abeyance" till the apex court pronounced the validity of the law.

"Even now it is not too late. The government should listen to the voices of the anti-CAA protesters and declare that the CAA will be kept in abeyance until the Supreme Court pronounced on its validity," added Chidambaram.

The Congress leader also said that India has citizenship law since 1955 and it does not need to be amended.

"India has lived with the Citizenship Act 1955 without the amendment. Why does the Act need an amendment now? The amendment (CAA) should be abandoned forthwith." Reports of violence and arson in the northeast Delhi continued on Tuesday even as Delhi police confirmed the death of seven people, including a police head constable, in the rioting since Monday.

Rioters used stones, sticks and country-made firearms as pro and anti-CAA groups clashed. Injured persons continue to come in at the GTB hospital in east Delhi area, where violence started on Sunday.
Dublin, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Precision Source Measure Unit Market by Current Range (1A-1mA, 1mA-1A, Above 1A), Application (Aerospace, Defense & Government Services, Automotive, Energy, Wireless Communication & Infrastructure), Form Factor (Benchtop, Modular) and Region - Global Forecast to 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global precision source measure unit market size is projected to reach USD 637 million by 2024, from an estimated value of USD 394 million in 2019, growing at a CAGR of 10.1% during the forecast period.

The growth of the precision source measure unit industry can be attributed to the high level of integration & flexibility of the precision source measure unit, and growing demand from the automotive and medical industries. The availability of alternatives and certain technical constrains with operating precision source measure units also acts as a restraint for the growth of the market.



The players operating in precision source measure unit market includes Tektronix (US), Keysight Technologies (US), National Instruments (US), Chroma ATE (Taiwan), Yokogawa Electric (Japan), VX Instruments (Germany), Rohde & Schwarz (Germany), Ossila (UK), and Marvin Test Solutions (US).

The modular precision source measure unit segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2019 to 2024



The modular precision source measure unit segment is estimated to be the fastest-growing segment of the precision source measure unit market, by form factor, from 2019 to 2024. A modular source measure unit is an essential instrument for design and test engineers. With the development of modular source measure units, designing a multichannel system has become possible.

The North American and Asia Pacific regions have shown the highest demand for such source measure units, and are expected to dominate this segment during the forecast period. The increasing demand for modular source measure units in the Asia Pacific region is primarily due to the growing investments in the test and measurement industry in China, Japan, South Korea, and India.



Automotive: The largest application for precision source measure unit



The automotive segment accounts for the largest share of the precision source measure unit market in 2018 and is expected to dominate during the forecast period. The automotive industry has adopted automation on a massive scale for manufacturing vehicles. The number of electronic components and parts in new-generation vehicles is increasing enormously.

With the increasing number of electronic parts in vehicles, there is a pressing need to ensure that these parts perform their functions accurately and flawlessly. The growing demand for precise test and measurement solutions in the automotive industry is expected to drive the market for automotive precision source measure units during the forecast period.



North America: The largest market for precision source measure unit



The North American market is currently the largest precision source measure unit market, followed by the markets in the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, and South America. The North American market is projected to grow at the second-highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is driven majorly by the emergence of aerospace & defense equipment manufacturing industries in the US.

According to the National Academies Press, Boeing is the largest exporter within the US, and the US aerospace industry is the single largest contributor to the nation's positive surplus of trade. The increasing demand for test and measurement solutions in the aerospace & defense industry as well as the automotive industry in the North American region is expected to drive the market for precision source measure unit during the forecast period.

Key Topics Covered



1 Introduction



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Premium Insights

4.1 Attractive Opportunities in the Precision Source Measure Unit Market

4.2 Precision Source Measure Unit Market, By Current Range

4.3 Precision Source Measure Unit Market, By Form Factor

4.4 Precision Source Measure Unit Market, By Application

4.5 North America Precision Source Measure Unit Market, By Application & Country

4.6 Precision Source Measure Unit Market, By Region



5 Market Overview

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Market Dynamics

5.2.1 Drivers

5.2.1.1 High Level of Integration and Flexibility of Precision Source Measure Unit

5.2.1.2 Growing Demand From the Automotive and Medical Industries

5.2.1.3 Growing IoT Market Leverages Precision SMUs for Device Testing

5.2.2 Restraints

5.2.2.1 Technical Factors Inhibiting the Market Growth of Precision Source Measure Unit

5.2.2.2 Availability of Alternatives

5.2.3 Opportunities

5.2.3.1 Advent of 5G Technology and Deployment of LTE Networks

5.2.3.2 Adoption of High-Density Precision Source Measure Unit for Testing

5.2.4 Challenges

5.2.4.1 Matching Pace With Constantly Evolving Technologies



6 Precision Source Measure Market, By Current Range

6.1 Introduction

6.2 1 a - 1 Ma

6.2.1 Semiconductor Component Test & ATE Systems Drive the Demand for 1 a - 1 Ma Segment

6.3 1 Ma - 1 A

6.3.1 Easy System Integration Drives the Demand for 1 Ma - 1 A Current Range

6.4 Above 1 A

6.4.1 Triaxial Connectivity and Source Adapt Technology are the Major Growth Drivers for the Above 1 A Segment



7 Precision Source Measure Unit Market, By Form Factor

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Benchtop

7.2.1 Design Engineering and Troubleshooting Applications Drive the Demand for Benchtop Source Measure Units

7.3 Modular

7.3.1 Multichannel System Design Application is Expected to Drive the Modular Source Measure Unit Market



8 Precision Source Measure Unit Market, By Application

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Aerospace, Defense & Government Services

8.2.1 ATE Systems and Calibration Services Applications Drive the Demand in Aerospace, Defense & Government Services

8.3 Automotive

8.3.1 Increasing Demand for EVs is Expected to Increase the Demand for Multipoint Test & Measurements

8.4 Energy

8.4.1 Wide Adoption of Solar Technology and Its Growing Applications Lead the Development of Solar (PV) Products

8.5 Wireless Communication & Infrastructure

8.5.1 Growing Iot Market Demands Precision Source Measure Units for Device Testing

8.6 Others

8.6.1 Increasing Demand for Consumer Electronic Products Drives the Market for Precision Test & Measurement Equipment



9 Precision Source Measure Unit Market, By Region

9.1 Introduction

9.2 North America

9.3 Asia Pacific

9.4 Europe

9.5 Middle East & Africa

9.6 South America



10 Competitive Landscape

10.1 Overview

10.2 Ranking of Players, 2018

10.3 Competitive Scenario

10.3.1 New Product Launches



11 Company Profiles

11.1 Original Equipment Manufacturer

11.1.1 Keysight Technologies

11.1.2 National Instruments

11.1.3 Chroma ATE

11.1.4 Tektronix

11.1.5 Yokogawa Electric

11.1.6 Rohde & Schwarz

11.1.7 Artisan Technology Group

11.1.8 VX Instruments

11.1.9 Ossila

11.1.10 Marvin Test Solutions

11.2 Distributors

11.2.1 Amplicon Liveline

11.2.2 Mouser Electronics

11.2.3 Entest

11.2.4 Dan-El Technologies

11.2.5 Testequity

11.2.6 Transcat

11.2.7 Vigven

11.2.8 TTID (Thurlby Thandar Instrument Distribution)

11.2.9 Element14

11.2.10 Testpower



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/pwhjsk

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.
A new partnership programme between the New Zealand Police and Fiji Police will focus on combatting trans-national organised crime and enhancing investigative skills.

This is the message from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who made the announcement on the first day of her visit to Fiji.

The programme will see:

 New Zealand Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) support to the Fiji Police forensic laboratory to ensure successful prosecutions following drug seizures.

 Enhancing Fiji Police leadership and capability through provision of technical assistance to the Proceeds of Crime Unit and provision of New Zealand Police trained tracker dogs.

 The roll out of the UNDP First Hour programme in Fiji.

Cooperation to reduce crime in the Pacific, especially around drug trafficking, is a priority for both the New Zealand and Fijian Governments, says Jacinda.

The New Zealand Government will be investing $11 million over three years into the programme which will enhance the capability of the Fijian Police while helping to disrupt drug trafficking in our region.

In the same way we cooperate on issues that affect the whole Pacific like climate change, Fiji and NZ will work together to combat transnational crime and drug trafficking, which are having an increasingly negative impact across the region.

The more we can do to prevent countries like Fiji being used as a transit point for trafficking, the more we can stop drugs arriving on New Zealands borders.

This police partnership programme highlights the deepening of relations between New Zealand and Fiji and is an important step in the strengthening of a key institution in Fiji."
Sold Under the Brand Name "Four Robins, Ltd.," Pieces Include Special Gifts for First Communion, Confirmation and Other Christian Milestones

PITTSBURGH, PA / ACCESSWIRE / February 25, 2020 / For the husband and wife artistic team of Greg and Nicole Horgan, their Catholic faith is a source of both guidance in life and creative inspiration. Residing in Saxonburg, PA, just outside of Pittsburgh - a town founded and designed by F. Carl Roebling, who engineered and built the Brooklyn Bridge - the Horgans have built a successful and unique business making leather art that celebrates the region's Catholic immigrant heritage as well as Catholicism itself. Sold under the brand name Four Robins, Ltd., their work incorporates Catholic imagery and Gospel verses into numerous gift items such as leather paper trays, leather valet trays and leather Christmas ornaments. Available for purchase through their website, Amazon and other online retailers, their most popular items commemorate Christian milestones such as Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation.

The Horgans founded their company in 2010. Since then they've produced thousands of items of giftware, sophisticated office products and home accents using natural, vegetable-tanned leather which is hand-formed and results in a rigid, durable final form. All items are handmade in the USA. Toyota Motor Company and other multinationals have used Four Robins products for corporate gifts. Their work has been featured on HGTV Design Blog, ABC-TV, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Chicago Tribune, as well as exhibited at arts events such as the American Craft Council.

Greg & Nicole's most recent large-scale piece is a sculpture titled "San Pedro," named both for St. Peter, the apostle of Christ, who witnessed Divinity firsthand, as well as the psychoactive Andean San Pedro Cactus, Echinopsis Pachanoi. Created over six months using 48 square feet of leather, the piece is shaped like a cluster of San Pedro cacti, colorfully painted with mystical and religious imagery, much of it inspired by St. Peters Basilica, Ukrainian Easter Eggs and shamanic geometry. Around the base of the cacti are 1,500 keys, symbolic of the keys to Heaven that St. Peter is said to hold. A 12-minute video on the making of the piece can be viewed on the Four Robins website.

"We chose the San Pedro Cactus because it reflects the trans-national history of our faith, and the metaphorical ways Catholic missionaries communicated historically in environments where there was not a common language," explains Greg Horgan. "Further, we wanted our artwork, aside from our business, to be a gesture of solidarity between Catholics around the world, who have not only shared history, but shared metaphor. This powerful message has already caught the attention of reporters in Poland and Mexico who have written about us."

In addition to their line of Christian gifts, Four Robins, Ltd., also makes recovery gifts, to provide daily inspiration to anyone working to overcome addiction. They also produce leather anniversary gifts (the third year of marriage is traditionally celebrated with a gift made of leather).

For more information and to view the Horgans' Catholic gifts and other items, visit www.FourRobins.com.

CONTACT:

Greg Horgan

+1-412-916-7000

greghorgan150@gmail.com

SOURCE: Four Robins Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/577760/Pennsylvania-Couple-Celebrate-the-Regions-Catholic-Heritage-with-Handmade-Leather-Art
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KINGSTON, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 25, 2020 / Delta Resources Limited ("Delta" or the "Company") (TSXV:DLTA) is pleased to announce it will be attending PDAC 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. PDAC, the world's premier mineral exploration and mining convention will be held on March 1 through March 3, 2020 at the Toronto Convention Center.Delta Resources will be located at Booth# 3032 in the Investor Exchange. In attendance will be Andre C. Tessier, President, Michel Chapdelaine, VP Exploration and Frank Candido, Chairman and VP Corporate Communications.About Delta Resources LimitedDelta Resources Limited is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on growing shareholder value through the acquisition of high-potential gold and base-metal projects in Canada, exploring these projects with state-of-the-art methods, and potentially developing these projects into mines.Delta owns a 100% interest in the Bellechasse-Timmins gold deposit in southeastern Quebec, Canada which contains a 43-101 gold resource of 171,000 ounces at an average grade of 1.83 g/t gold in the indicated category and an additional 95,000 ounces at an average grade of 1.36 g/t gold in the inferred category (SGS Canada Inc., Bellechasse-Timmins Property Resource Estimate, Southeastern Quebec, August 1, 2012).The company's focus is currently to build a strong portfolio of mineral exploration properties with a high potential for economic discoveries in Canada while evaluating the long-term potential of its 100% owned Bellechasse-Timmins gold deposit in southeastern Quebec.On October 3rd, 2019, Delta announced the acquisition of the Eureka Gold Discovery in the Thunder Bay area and on October 16th, 2019, the acquisition of the Delta-2 Property which hosts the R-14 Gold Prospect in the Chibougamau Mining District of Quebec.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DELTA RESOURCES LIMITED.Andre C. TessierPresident, CEO and DirectorWe seek safe harbor. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The TSX Venture Exchange has not approved nor disapproved of the information contained herein.For Further Information:Delta Resources LimitedFrank Candido, Chairman, VP Corporate CommunicationsTel : 514-969-5530fcandido@ deltaresources.ca orAndre Tessier, CEO and PresidentTel: 613-328-1581atessier@ deltaresources.ca Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking InformationSome statements contained in this news release are " "forward looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward looking information include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the use of proceeds of the non-brokered private placement and payment of the debt settlements. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words and phrases (including negative or grammatical variations) or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and involves risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual facts to differ materially. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by management. The forward-looking information contained in this press release constitutes management's current estimates, as of the date of this press release, with respect to the matters covered thereby. We expect that these estimates will change as new information is received. While we may elect to update these estimates at any time, we do not undertake to update any estimate at any particular time or in response to any particular event.SOURCE: Delta Resources Limited
After making a successful debut with Karan Johar's production venture Student of the Year 2, Ananya Pandey is now making all the right moves professionally. The young actress gave a fine performance in her second outing Pati Patni Aur Woh despite sharing screen space with stars like Kartik Aaryan and Bhumi Pednekar.

And now the gorgeous lady has bagged a coveted project co-starring South hottie Vijay Deverakonda. Yes, we are talking about her film Fighter which will be helmed by noted filmmaker Puri Jagannadh. With this one, Vijay will make his grand debut in Bollywood and therefore everyone is eagerly waiting for Fighter to arrive in cinema halls.

Just a few days back, fans went crazy when the movie was officially announced on social media. While Ananya and Vijay's chemistry will definitely be the highlight of the film, for now, we are totally digging how Ms. Pandey is all praises for her new co-star. Yes, while talking to the leading tabloid Mumbai Mirror, Ananya not only revealed about her role in Fighter but also got candid about the Arjun Reddy hero.

While talking about her much-awaited Pan-India film, Chunky Panday's daughter said, "My character is quite like the real me. I think young girls will be able to relate to her cute, funny and charming personality. I am working on my Telugu too, learning a few words every day on the set. I will try to dub for myself in as many languages as possible."

When asked if she has had a discussion with Vijay regarding his controversial film Arjun Reddy, Ananya simply replied, "No, I haven't, I thought he acted very well. Besides, portraying a certain character doesn't mean you are that person in real life. Vijay is kind, smart, well-spoken and knows how to hold a conversation." Well, someone already seems to be impressed with Vijay and his talent, no?

CONFIRMED! Vijay Deverakonda To Romance Ananya Panday In Puri Jagannadh's Pan India Venture
India and the US on Tuesday inked three MoUs, including one in energy sector, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the two countries have decided to take to comprehensive global partnership level.

The unprecedented and historic welcome given to Trump in India will be remembered, Modi said and added that the relations between the two countries are not merely confined to governments but are people-driven.

"Defence cooperation between two countries is reflective of rising strategic partnership between India and US. We also agreed on new mechanism to contain drug trafficking" the Prime Minister said.

In his brief remarks at the start of official talks, Modi welcomed the US president and thanked him for taking time out for the visit to India.

President Trump, in turn, said the last two days in India were amazing, especially the event at the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad.

"It was a great honour for me. I would imagine they (the people) were there maybe more for you than for me... 125,000 people were inside. Every time I mentioned your name, there were cheers. People love you," Trump told Modi in front of the media.

Earlier, Trump was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Modi welcomed Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The US president also received a tri-services guard of honour at the presidential palace.

The Trumps, who also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial Rajghat here, arrived in Ahmedabad around noon on Monday for the first leg of their 36-hour India visit.
A elaborate spread was laid out for United States President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at a state banquet hosted at the majestic Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday night.

IMAGE: President Ram Nath Kovind with his wife Savita Kovind welcomes US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania to a state banquet hosted by the former at Rashtrapti Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday evening. Photograph: ANI Photo

The vegetarian delicacies served included coriander shorba, aloo tikki with palak papdi, zarkhez zameen (seasonal vegetable cooked in its juice) and dal raisina.

The non-vegetarian fare includes raan-ali-shaan (marinated lamb) and cajun spiced salmon (pink salmon marinated with cajun spices and roasted in clay oven).

For desserts, hazelnut apple pie with salty caramel sauce and malpua rabri roll were served.

Trump, Melania relish Bukhara's naan and shikandari raan

Trump and the First Lady relished 'naan' and 'sikandari raan', a non-vegetarian dish, at the Bukhara restaurant of ITC Maurya Hotel, where the couple stayed during their visit to the national capital, sources said.

Trump's daughter Ivanka and his son-in-law Jared Kushner were also at the Bukhara, they added.

Sources said the president and the first lady liked 'naan' and 'Sikandari Raan', which were key features of the over four-decades-old restaurant's menu.

The hotel, however, remain tight-lipped.

The entire hotel was booked for the US delegation accompanying Trump.

The president stayed in the Grand Presidential Suite of the five-star property, which has hosted his predecessor Barack Obama and other US presidents like George W Bush and Bill Clinton.

Trump, who was on his maiden visit to India, landed in the national capital on the evening of February 24 after attending the 'Namaste Trump' event in Ahmedabad and visiting the Taj Mahal in Agra.
United States President Donald Trump fired a fresh salvo at India on the high tariff regime on imported motorcycles in the country, citing the example of cult US cruiser maker Harley Davidson. In an alarming situation, six of the 34 Supreme Court judges are down with H1N1 virus, Justice DY Chandrachud said on Tuesday adding that he had requested Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde to issue necessary directions to tackle the emergency arising in the apex court. The First Lady of the US Melania Trump visited the Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary school in Nanakpura, Delhi. Read for more top stories from the world of business and economy:

1. Trump's fresh 'high tariffs on Harley' jibe at India -- he's right and wrong!

Trump has often railed against countries like India with whom the US has a negative trade balance but the pointed reference to Harley Davidson has repeatedly put the spotlight on the company.

2. Donald Trump's India visit: 13-point growth agenda for Indo-US trade push

CII said the report has been launched at a time when there is a significant opportunity to give a major fillip to the US-India relationship, given the trade tensions with China.

3. Bengaluru to Meerut to Delhi, H1N1 virus spreading fast; time to hit the panic button?

37 tested positive for Swine flu in Meerut; 6 SC judges down; SAP closes India offices after 2 cases.

4. Average job creation falls to 4 month low in December: EPFO

For the month of November 2019, the EPFO made a downward revision of 1.54 lakh jobs, which is the biggest revision made for any month in the current fiscal.

5. Melania Trump attends 'happiness class' with students at Delhi govt school

FLOTUS also interacted with students and teachers at school in South Moti Bagh.
A hilarious picture of a newborn looking at a doctor with a frown has gone viral on social media.

In the picture, Isabela Pereira de Jesus, born on February 13 via Caesarean section at a hospital in Rio de Janeiro, seemed unimpressed when the obstetrician encouraged her to make a noise or cry before cutting off the umbilical cord.

The moment was captured by photographer Rodrigo Kunstmann and his click is now creating a buzz on social media.

The newborn was seen giving a grumpy look to the doctor, unlike other babies who tend to scream or wail.

Daily Mail cited Kunstmanns interaction with Brazilian magazine Crescer, where the photographer said, "She opened her eyes wide, but did not cry. The doctor even had to say, 'cry Isa!' she made that serious expression and only started crying after the umbilical cord was cut."

Kunstmann shared 10 photos of the newborn's first moments on his Facebook account. But the one in which the baby is seen giving an angry stare down has become a widely used meme.

Here are a few tweets on the newborn viral baby:

When you're just born and parents say "mera beta to doctor banega" pic.twitter.com/Du3eB8QsMD DILLI_dur_AST (@PATHANBLOGS) February 23, 2020

Me to my parents because I never asked to be born https://t.co/C7KbH5aZIS avant-garde bitch (@ysasabel) February 20, 2020

"DID I TELL YOU I WAS READY FOR THIS ???!?!!?!" https://t.co/bqqiddMrpQ si cantek (@m4lynd) February 19, 2020

"why you wake me up" https://t.co/IoPIrHgk5b N U E K (@nuekkkkkkk) February 19, 2020

Talking to LadBible, the photographer said he knew the picture had great potential to become a meme the moment he shared it on social media.

The mother of the newborn, Daiane, said her baby was born "courageous". "It's a meme already. She always wrinkles her forehead when changing diapers and nursing. Isabela was supposed to be born on the 20th, but she chose her day showing her personality," Daiane told Brazilian news outlet G1.
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The U.S. Forces Korea went on high alert for coronavirus on Monday after a USFK dependent recently tested positive for the virus.

The USFK on Monday said the wife of a retired soldier living in Daegu has "tested positive for COVID-19. The patient, a 61-year old female, visited Camp Walker's Post Exchange" twice in February.

The USFK has already limited temporary-duty travel and assignments to Camp Walker in Daegu, and the school on the base was closed on Feb. 20.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has raised the travel advisory for Korea to the highest level on Monday, recommending that Americans "avoid all nonessential travel" to Korea.

The CDC "recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to [Korea]. There is a widespread, ongoing outbreak of... coronavirus that can be spread from person to person," it said. "There is limited access to adequate medical care in affected areas."


But though he is in effect the last man standing, Robertson and his comrades did not see eye to eye toward the end, and though Brothers acknowledges that situation, giving him pride of place invariably unbalances the film. Add to that the not surprising deference the 25-year-old director shows to a 76-year-old superstar with a willingness to self-mythologize, and regretting that the other Band members could not be seen and heard more than they are in archival interview clips is unavoidable.
Major General William Azure Ayamdo, the outgoing Chief of the Army Staff, has called for officers and men of the Ghana Army to give strength to his successor, Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, for him succeed.



He said, Maj. Gen. Oppong-Peprah was familiar with the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) especially the Army, having served in various capacities and staff appointments - the Chief Staff Officer of the General Headquarters (GHQ), the General Officer Command (Southern Command) and Chief of Staff at the GHQ.



"He is a distinguished Army General and he has proven himself to be loyal, capable, effective and more importantly, he has the right heart for the officers - both men and women of our dear Army," he added.



The outgoing Military Chief was speaking at his Pulling Out and Handing Over ceremony in Accra.



Maj. Gen. Ayamdo expressed his gratitude to the officers and men of the Army for their support during his tenure.



He urged them to continue to main high sense of integrity, provide ethical and appropriate leadership to be successful at all time.



"I need to thank all my superiors who created this opportunity for me to command and I am honoured to serve my country especially as the Chief of Army Staff," he said.



Maj. Gen. Ayamdo served three years as the COAS after he was appointed to the position by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo on February 9, 2017.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Distance Learning

Students Continue Learning Through Coronavirus School Closures with AI-Based Tech

With schools in Asia shuttered in response to the coronavirus outbreak, a UK company has offered its education technology software free to affected students so they can continue taking classes in digital form. According to London-based Century-Tech, more than two dozen schools have already taken advantage of the offer.

Century's program is an online learning platform that the company said uses artificial intelligence to create learning pathways tailored and adapted for each student. Students can use the online program to continue lessons in English language arts, math and science. The program tracks every "click, score and interaction" and feeds that into AI algorithms that assess how each individual learns and plots the most effective route through learning material. Differentiated lessons are provided based on a student's focus, difficulty levels and pace of learning. Teachers can intervene with their own lessons and track student progress through a dashboard.

The company was founded by Priya Lakhani, who also co-founded the Institute for Ethical Artificial Intelligence in Education, based at the University of Buckingham. Century's software also been used in Lebanon to augment the education delivered to refugee students from Syria.

The initiative launched in Asia began by focusing on reaching 201 schools in Hong Kong and others in China using the British curriculum. However, the company said that it would provide free logins to any British curriculum or English-speaking schools in Hong Kong and China.

"The closure of schools presents a wealth of challenges for teachers and students. At international schools, like here at Kellett School, we have to find ways of continuing to prepare our students for the upcoming British public examinations," said Hong Kong school principal Mark Steed said in a statement. "We are most grateful to Century for making their AI learning platform available to our students free of charge during this testing time. This will give our teachers the tools they need to help our students to continue to progress throughout the disruption."

"I am incredibly pleased that Century will support our students with their learning," added Oliver Wells, headteacher of Rong Qiao Sedbergh School in Fuzhou, China. "During the next three weeks of isolation at home due to the virus in China they will make tremendous progress and also provide teachers with diagnostic data on the areas where they still need human support."
Rampur, Feb 25 : Trouble for Samajwadi Party MP Azam Khan, seemed to have increased after the Additional District and Sessions Judge Dhirendra Kumar Kamboj rejected his anticipatory bail petition and also that of his wife Tanzeen Fatima and their son Abdullah Azam in connection with a forgery case.

The pleas were rejected on Monday. The accused have been chargesheeted under sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 467 (forgery of valuable security, will), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

On January 3, 2019, local BJP leader Akash Saxena had lodged a complaint alleging that Azam and his wife helped their son in obtaining two fake birth certificates -- one from Lucknow and another from Rampur -- following which an FIR was registered in Ganj Kotwali.

Additional District Government Counsel (ADGC) Ram Avtar Saini said, "The court rejected the anticipatory bail applications of Azam Khan, his wife and son in three separate cases related to Abdullah's date of birth certificates, PAN cards and passport." The court ordered the MP to surrender his passport to the police, but added that Azam could travel abroad after seeking its permission.

A local court had declared the three as 'absconders' and had issued non-bailable warrants against them after they failed to appear before it.
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - As the presidential campaign transforms into a national contest, former vice president Joe Biden is alone among the candidates in sticking completely to South Carolina, a focus that shows how central this state is to his third bid for the White House.

Biden will hopscotch across South Carolina this week while his rivals crisscross the country, all but ignoring the Super Tuesday contests that come just three days after the South Carolina primary. Biden has long trumpeted his appeal to nonwhite voters, and a weak showing here, particularly among the African Americans who make up nearly two-thirds of the Democratic electorate, could damage his electability argument.

His South Carolina supporters worry about how much ground he may have lost because of poor showings in early voting states and less-than-stellar debate performances. Fletcher Smith, a former state legislator and one of a group of informal Biden advisers calling themselves the Bidenites, said competitors - including first-time candidates such as businessman Tom Steyer - have been able to eat into Biden's support.

"I think Biden should have locked up the black vote in South Carolina months ago," Smith said. "Instead, you have all of these politicians who are split between Biden and Steyer going to Steyer."

It's a remarkable moment for Biden, who now finds his political career hinging on the 23rd-biggest state in the face of a surge by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., a self-described democratic socialist who has never been part of the Democratic Party.

Even Biden's most devoted supporters say they've given other candidates a look. Smith said that for a time during this cycle, he supported Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio. He has seen other influential black leaders back Steyer over Biden.

But after the bashing in New Hampshire, the Biden campaign called Smith, asking for his support. Smith said he is back on Biden's side, but acknowledged lost opportunities.

Sanders, meanwhile, has made significant inroads in the state. According to a RealClearPolitics aggregation of polls, he's polling at about 21% in the state, second to Biden at 27%.

Sanders will host three rallies in South Carolina this week, and surrogates say his campaign knocked on 33,000 doors over the weekend.

Sanders' focus on South Carolina comes after a poor showing in the 2016 primary against Hillary Clinton. While campaigning in that race, Black Lives Matter protesters interrupted events, saying Sanders wasn't paying enough attention to matters of race. In the end, Sanders lost South Carolina to Clinton by nearly 50%.

Even last year, Sanders faced criticism for hosting events at black churches in South Carolina that mostly drew white supporters.

Since then, he has surrounded himself with black surrogates, including former state senator Nina Turner of Ohio and young South Carolina legislators such as Terry Alexander, Krystle Matthews and Ivory Thigpen.

Those surrogates say their job isn't simply to speak positively of Sanders to others. They also help the man from the mostly white state of Vermont connect with audiences of color, like the people at Rehoboth Baptist Church, the Columbia, South Carolina, congregation where Thigpen serves as pastor.

"I told him you can stand up there and give a speech for five minutes, seven minutes, if you want, but afterward, just stand, shake hands, talk to them - just give them 15 to 30 seconds to let them say whatever they want to say," said Thigpen, who has also appeared on a mailing with Sanders. "They don't want to hear your stump speech as much as they want to know that you're there to listen to what they have to say."

Thigpen said he thinks Sanders' economic populist message resonates with black voters. But he worried that Sanders needed to be a better retail politician in South Carolina.

"I told him you need to show you can be around us," he said. "If you can be comfortable in our presence, then we know you're real."

Other candidates are also hoping to use South Carolina to address key critiques of their campaigns.

Former mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., have been criticized for their lack of support among African American voters. Both have struggled to gain traction in South Carolina, in large part because of their unpopularity with minority voters.

Klobuchar said that's because her shoestring budget hasn't allowed her to advertise much in South Carolina - her first ads went up after an infusion of money following her widely praised New Hampshire debate performance. Buttigieg, 38, has said he lacks the name recognition that other candidates have.

Joe Darby, a minister who leads Nichols Chapel AME Zion church in Charleston, said the candidates' inability to connect with black people in South Carolina is about tone as much as name recognition, and also pointed to how much time and energy they've invested in the state.

"I finally got a call from someone on behalf of Amy Klobuchar, who wanted to talk to me. But my first question is going to be where have you been?" Darby said on Saturday.

According to their public schedules, Klobuchar and Buttigieg will spend the week before the South Carolina vote campaigning in Super Tuesday states. Both have begun running ads in South Carolina, although Darby was critical of their messages.

"The basic message to me is 'Hello, I'm Pete Buttigieg, and I like black people. Clearly, black people like me too because I'm surrounded by them. Amy Klobuchar's too," Darby said. "I'm waiting for dashikis and the Afro wigs to come out."

He said he has instructed everyone who has asked him for advice to vote their conscience, but also to pay attention to who has invested time and effort in South Carolina.

"They know who's been here and who hasn't been here," he said. "They know who's alien and who's familiar. They know who fell in love with the state recently and who has history. And I think they'll respond accordingly."
The WCO Secretary General, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, welcomed the Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, Dr. Rolph Payet, as the keynote speaker at the opening session of the 40th Enforcement Committee meeting held on 24 February 2020 at WCO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

In line with the Committees theme of Customs Enforcement fostering Sustainability for People, Prosperity and the Planet, Dr. Payet outlined the importance of Customs in combating environmental crime and other illicit trade. Such crime and illicit trade generate illegal profits for organized criminal networks, thus hampering sustainable development.

Secretary General Mikuriya told the Committee that Customs activities were contributing substantially to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including through building safe and secure societies, improving the business climate and securing necessary resources, and protecting the planet for future generations. He affirmed that the WCO could provide tools, platforms for exchanging information and best practices, and partnerships to further strengthen the role of Customs in achieving sustainability.

Dr. Mikuriya and Dr. Payet subsequently had a bilateral meeting to explore areas for future cooperation between the WCO and the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. These include developing training material for Customs, utilizing online training, and enhancing networks between Customs and experts on multilateral environmental agreements in areas including wastes, hazardous chemicals and persistent organic pollutants.

They both agreed to enhance dialogue and collaboration enabling Customs and relevant environmental authorities to work together effectively on the ground, and notably to join forces during future operations.
The chief of staff position returns to Midland ISD this week, when Katie Atkins joins the district.

The school board approved Atkins hiring last week. She comes to Midland from Tomball, where she served as district curriculum director of English/Language Arts and Dyslexia. Atkins said last week she also has worked in another Houston-area school district  Klein ISD, where she was the district program coordinator of Reading/ELA.

Atkins said one of her first goals is to understand the community where she is working and to understand what Midland ISD parents want. She said administrators, parents, staff and teachers are all working together to make education better for students.

As educators, our role is to build capacity in students to reach their potential, so they are able to apply knowledge in meaningful ways, resulting in positive interactions," Atkins said. "Leaders in education must be dedicated to supporting this philosophy and must lead by example.

District officials brought the chief of staff position back to the district. Ed Zachary held the position as recently as 2012, according to previous Reporter-Telegram articles.

The chief of staff will serve as a liaison between Superintendent Orlando Riddick and district administrators. The salary range for the position is $113,820 to $133,849 annually, according to MISD. The press release introducing Atkins to the community did not state a specific salary. Atkins was expected to start her tenure at MISD on Monday.

The district stated last week in a press release that (t)he chief of staff position serves several critical functions, including but not limited to actualizing the goals of the board of trustees and superintendent through districtwide planning, direction, program initiatives and benchmarking and providing support to the district's operations, performance management, communication and parent and student involvement groups.

District officials said Atkins initial focus will be on strategic initiatives to improve academic performance in district.

"The addition of Dr. Atkins to the Midland ISD team will help realize our goal of preparing students for college and career as we innovate to offer an education that befits the 21st century student, Superintendent Orlando Riddick said in a press release.
Political representatives from Northern Ireland have backed calls for banning the importing and exporting of hunting trophies across the UK.

A UK-wide public consultation on adding further restrictions on hunting trophies entering or leaving the country is due to end this morning.

A letter published in The Times yesterday from the animal welfare groups Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting and Humane Society International included several local signatories, including SDLP MP Claire Hanna and DUP MP Gavin Robinson.

North Down MP Stephen Farry also signed the letter and called for a complete ban on the activity.

"A recent poll showed the majority of people see trophy hunting as morally unacceptable," said Dr Farry.

"We need to see a comprehensive ban on imports and exports of hunting trophies.

"Morally, ethically and every other way, it is the right thing to do."
Women can fall pregnant in swimming pools 'even without penetration' if men with 'strong sperm' ejaculate into the water, an Indonesian child protection boss has claimed.

Sitti Hikmawatty, the comissioner for health, narcotics and addictive substances at the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), made the extraordinary claims in an interview with the Tribun Jakarta last week.

Ms Hikmawatty - whose surname translates as 'wisdom' - has apologised for her comments, saying they were made in a 'personal capacity', after she faced backlash on social media.

Doctors in Indonesia have said it would be impossible for women to get impregnated in this way.

Sitti Hikmawatty - whose surname translates as 'wisdom' - made the comments in an interview with the Tribun Jakarta last week

'There is an especially strong type of male sperm that may cause pregnancy in a swimming pool,' said Ms Hikmawatty.

'Even without penetration, men may become sexually excited (by women in the pool) and ejaculate, therefore causing a pregnancy.

'If women are in a phase where they are sexually active, (such a pregnancy) may occur. No one knows for sure how men react to the sight of women in a swimming pool.'

The Indonesian Doctors Association told the Jakarta Post that women cannot be impregnated in swimming pools.

Indonesian blogger doctor, called Blog Dokter, said in response to her claims: 'Once again, I remind you, if you do not understand health problems, it's better to be quiet. Instead of your comments causing anxiety and panic.

'I will emphasise here, swimming with the opposite sex will not cause pregnancy. Not all men who swim ejaculate and sperm cannot live in chlorinated pool water, let alone swim into the vagina.'

The head office of the Indonesian Child Protection Office (KPAI) pictured in the capital Jakarta

She has faced ridicule on social media. Photos have been uploaded of her shaking hands with a senior commissioner with the reflection of pool water pasted over the top.

One Twitter user wrote: 'When there is a flood. Ordinary people: Save ourselves and other valuables. Sitti Wisdom: Please separate men and women so that no one gets pregnant.'

A cartoon strip has also been posted online showing a women getting pregnant after she enters flood waters with a man.

The chairman of the KPAI, Susanto, has issued a statement saying her claims do not represent the views of the organisation.

'We hereby state that KPAI's understanding and attitude are not reflected in the online news narrative.'

Ms Hikmawatty issued an apology on Sunday. 'I apologise to the publi for giving an incorrect statement,' she said. 'It was a personal statement and not from KPAI. I hereby revoke the statement. I plead with all parties not to disseminate it further or even make it available.'
Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidson is still venting about his experiences in Syracuse, this time in a new standup comedy special on Netflix.

Pete Davidson: Alive from New York premiered on the streaming service Tuesday and featured jokes about disgraced comedian Louis C.K. (who Davidson says tried to get him fired from SNL), his ex-fiancee Ariana Grande, and his controversial remarks about Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), a Navy SEAL who lost his right eye when he was hit by an IED blast in 2012. Davidson also appeared to reference getting pulled over by police in Manlius, N.Y., in August 2018 while he was filming the movie Big Time Adolescence in Central New York.

I get in trouble a lot. Like, I got pulled over today on the way here, Davidson joked.

And does anybody when they get pulled over put on, like, Billy Joel? Cause you think the officers going to come up, like, License and reg Billy Joel! Get the f--- out of here, dude! Youre not a piece of s---. I thought youd be listening to 2 Chainz or something. All right.' Its even more awkward when it doesnt work. Then youre just sitting there and hes like, License and registra can you turn off Bill Withers?

Davidson never mentioned Syracuse in the special, but he made national headlines when was pulled over pulled over by Manlius police in nearby Fayetteville. Davidson was never arrested, but his friend and passenger Joey Gay was charged with marijuana possession. Gay pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of marijuana last year in a plea deal; he paid $225 in cash in fines.

Davidson called Syracuse trash in an interview with Howard Stern afterwards and later accused police of targeting him while he was filming Big Time Adolescence for the Liverpool-based American High.

It sucked... The whole town of Syracuse blows, the 26-year-old comedian told Variety last year while promoting the movies premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. To be honest, they just found out I was there and tried to arrest me the entire time... Theres nothing going on there so they were hunting me down the entire time... Never again, Syracuse."

Town of Manlius Police Capt. Kevin Schafer told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that its officers do not target anyone: When we stop a vehicle, we dont know whos in it.

Big Time Adolescence," starring Davidson, Griffin Gluck, Jon Cryer and Colson Baker (aka rapper Machine Gun Kelly), hits select theaters on March 13 and begins streaming on Hulu. Pete Davidson: Alive from New York is now streaming on Netflix. Both are directed by Jason Orley.

The Netflix special includes photos of Orley and Davidson during the closing credits, including shots from behind the scenes of Big Time Adolescence in the Syracuse area.

Note: Trailers below contain explicit language not suitable for younger audiences.

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.
Ever since Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif attended a Diwali bash together last year, there have been strong whispers doing the rounds about them being a couple. While the two continue to maintain silence about their rumoured relationship, the dating rumours once again gained momentum when recently, the Bharat actress attended the special screening of Vicky's film, Bhoot Part One: The Haunted Ship.

In an interview with Mid-day when asked about these rumours, Vicky told the tabloid, "There are no cons to dating. It's a beautiful feeling," hinting that there might be something brewing between the two actors.

Further when told how the alleged lovebirds are often papped together which adds more fuel to the dating rumours, the actor continued, "I understand that the paps are doing their job. I also understand that people have an interest in our personal lives, by the virtue of us being public figures. That's fair. But it's completely up to me if I wish to share. I am not comfortable opening up my personal life for discussion. It's important to me that I guard the good things."

Well, it looks like we will have to wait a bit longer for the couple to stop playing coy.

Before this, Vicky was rumoured to be in a relationship with actress Harleen Sethi. Apparently, the two met through common friends at a party in 2018 and began dating. However due to unknown reasons, the couple decided to split and go their separate ways last year. Since then, Vicky has been linked with Katrina.

Vicky Kaushal On Relationship Rumors With Katrina Kaif: 'I Don't Want To Open Up About Anything'

Vicky Kaushal Finally Breaks His Silence On Dating Rumours With Katrina Kaif
Oil tumbled on intensified fears that the coronavirus will harm global growth as the contagion spread to more than 30 countries.

Futures fell more than 5% in New York on Monday, the largest drop since early January as the deadly virus spread more widely outside China, raising the threat of a global pandemic. Infections spiked again in South Korea and Iran, while Afghanistan, Bahrain and Kuwait all reported their first cases.

The growth of the contagion outside of China is starting to raise the prospect that this becomes a pandemic, said Daniel Ghali, a commodities strategist at TD Securities. If that occurs, the hit to oil demand would be far greater than what weve seen thus far.

The decline reflects a broader market sell-off as the spread of the virus outside China spooks investors. Asian and European equities slumped along with U.S. futures, while the Australian dollar retreated along with the offshore yuan. The OPEC+ alliance led by Saudi Arabia has struggled to agree on a collective response, dropping the idea of an early emergency gathering amid opposition from Russia.

EARLIER: Oil stumbles on renewed fears of virus moving beyond China

West Texas Intermediate for April delivery fell $2.62 to $50.76 a barrel as of 11:45 a.m. local time on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Brent for April settlement declined $3.01 to $55.49 on the ICE Futures Europe exchange. Until Friday, Brent crude had been on the longest run of gains in more than a year thanks to Chinese fiscal stimulus and new threats to supplies from Africa and Latin America.

How the Virus Is Interrupting Supply Chains From Watches to Lobsters

The International Monetary Fund cut its global growth forecast and warned that its also looking at more dire scenarios. Investors are concerned that risks to raw-material demand are worsening.

Amid the flight to haven assets, gold prices climbed to seven-year highs and bonds also advanced.

CLIMATE: As climate change looms, oil companies look to biofuels for salvation

Industrial commodities were also hit hard, with copper sliding 1.4% and rubber sinking more than 2% in Singapore. Agricultural commodities werent spared, with U.S. wheat among the biggest losers. May corn futures in Chicago sank 4.6%, with soybeans also dropping.

The uncertainty around how cases outside of China evolve is likely to keep market participants nervous, and therefore markets are likely to remain volatile, ING Bank commodity strategist Warren Patterson said.

Other news:

Gasoline futures fell 4.3% to $1.5794 a gallon.

After the U.S. sanctioned Rosneft Trading SA for helping Venezuela sell oil, another company affiliated with Rosneft PJSC that isnt sanctioned is ramping up shipments.

Majors including BP Plc have told their traders to stay away from IP Week receptions, while at least 13 other banks, brokers and refiners have canceled events.
 Flash

The chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) said Monday that although COVID-19 has the potential to become a global pandemic, it has yet to be there based upon WHO assessment.



"Does this virus have pandemic potential? Absolutely, it has. Are we there yet? From our assessment, not yet," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a daily briefing.

Outside China, there are now 2,074 cases of COVID-19 in 28 countries and 23 deaths, as Italy, Iran and South Korea witnessed sudden increases of cases, prompting speculation about whether these increases mean that this epidemic has now become a pandemic.

"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," the WHO chief said.

"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," he continued. "Using the word pandemic now does not fit the facts, but it may certainly cause fear."

The WHO chief urged again that it's "not the time to focus on what word we use," but "a time for all countries, communities, families and individuals to focus on preparing."

At the daily briefing, the WHO chief also pointed out that COVID-19 can be contained based upon the findings of a WHO-China team which had just concluded its mission in China.

"The key message that should give all countries hope, courage and confidence is that this virus can be contained," he said.




BRF maintains meat exports to China amid port congestion issues



The Brazilian company said it is monitoring China's port congestion due to the coronavirus outbreak, adding that cargo movements have progressively resumed, reported Reuters.

Ports in China have run out of refrigerated containers meant for imported meat products as the coronavirus outbreak and subsequent quarantine meant that the ports have not enough workers to offload frozen meat and other food products currently in storage.

BRF said in a statement that the company's shipments to China are currently shipped as per normal, with no storage issues in Brazil. However, it adds that the company understands that cargo destined for China will arrive under a controlled logistics situation.

China is trying to restore trade operations, as Maersk, the biggest container line in the world said the coronavirus outbreak will heavily affect earnings.

BRF said there has been no added costs for shipping goods to China, answering a question from Reuters about a US$1,000 congestion fee imposed by shipping companies per container for refrigerated cargo destined to China.

ABPA, a chicken and pork producer association in Brazil said there have been delays to refrigerated products at ports in China. But APBA changed its stance this week, as the associated said there is an improved cargo flow at Chinese ports. APBA referred to information provided by its member companies and the government of Brazil.

ABIEC, a beef processor group from Brazil said they have no information from its members about rerouted beef shipments due to congestion at Chinese ports.

ABIEC added that the announcement by China's transport ministry to waive toll fees at expressways until epidemic control work was completed in the country will assist to resume commercial flows.

- Reuters
STOCKHOLM, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- EQT Credit, through its Direct Lending investment strategy, is pleased to provide committed senior debt facilities to support Mayfair Equity Partners ("Mayfair"), a buyout and growth capital investor providing capital to dynamic businesses in the TMT and Consumer sectors, in its acquisition of a majority stake in atHome Group ("atHome" or the "Company"). Oakley Capital ("Oakley") will retain a minority stake in the Company.

atHome is a leading online classifieds platform in Luxembourg, with the number one position in its core property classifieds market, as well as a growing presence across the automotive and mortgage broking verticals.

Vivian Ngan, Director at EQT Partners' Credit team, Investment Advisor to EQT Credit, commented: "We were particularly attracted by atHome's strong competitive position and impressive track record of growth achieved by its first-rate management team. We would like to thank our sector experts who, as senior executives in the classifieds sector, provided key support and insight to the deal team throughout the due diligence process."

Andrew Cleland-Bogle, Partner at EQT Partners' Credit team, Investment Advisor to EQT Credit, added: "atHome is a well-established player with strong brand awareness in the Luxembourg classifieds market. This transaction represents another example of the Credit platform's ability to provide long-term capital as a committed partner to sponsors and management teams as they continue to grow their businesses. The Credit platform is delighted to be backing Mayfair, Oakley and the management team on this deal and look forward to supporting them in their continued development of the Company."

About EQT

EQT is a differentiated global investment organization with more than EUR 62 billion in raised capital and around EUR 40 billion in assets under management across 19 active funds. EQT funds have portfolio companies in Europe, Asia and the US with total sales of more than EUR 21 billion and approximately 127,000 employees. EQT works with portfolio companies to achieve sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.

More info: www.eqtgroup.com

Follow EQT on Twitter and LinkedIn



About EQT Credit

EQT Credit invests through three complementary strategies: Senior Debt, Direct Lending, and Special Situations. Since inception, EQT Credit has raised over EUR 7 billion of capital and invested in over 160 companies. EQT Credit's Direct Lending strategy seeks to provide flexible, long-term debt solutions to support European businesses, across a wide range of sectors. These businesses include privately-owned companies seeking growth capital as well as those that are the subject of private equity-led acquisitions or refinancings.

More info: www.eqtgroup.com/business-segments/credit/strategies/

About Mayfair Equity Partners

Mayfair Equity Partners is a buyout and growth capital investor providing capital to dynamic businesses in the TMT and Consumer sectors. Its primary focus is on building strong partnerships with exceptional management teams. Mayfair is an investor in OVO Energy, a high-growth tech-enabled challenger brand in the energy space, YO!, a multi-brand multi-channel sushi platform with operations across the UK, Canada and the US, SuperAwesome, a global high-growth digital marketing business whose technology platform enables brands and agencies to deliver kid-safe digital advertising to under-thirteen audiences and Pixomondo, the VFX house behind the Emmy-winning HBO series Game of Thrones and the Oscar-winning 2011 film Hugo, as well as seven other promising growth businesses.

Contact



Andrew Cleland-Bogle

Partner at EQT Partners

+44-20-7430-5510

EQT Press Office

+46-8-506-55-334

press@eqtpartners.com

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Paula M. Rauchfuss

Steptoe & Johnson PLLC has launched S&J Land Administration Services LLC, a company founded to assist the energy industry with administrative land-related functions. Paula M. Rauchfuss is its first Director of Land Administration. Rauchfuss will oversee all operations including staffing, budgeting, and business development.

S&J Land Administration Services assists the energy industry with lease and right of way setup, contract administration, lease maintenance, and support for transactions, among other things. It utilizes industry advanced technology coupled with the full strength of Steptoe & Johnsons energy, mineral title, and transactional teams.

Businesses dealing with land issues have unique needs. That is where S&J Land Administration comes in, said Steptoe & Johnson CEO Susan S. Brewer. Under Paulas capable leadership, our team can handle the administrative and regulatory functions that result from land transactions providing our clients additional options for land administration services whether on a day-to-day basis, for special projects, or at peak times.

Rauchfuss has more than three decades of experience in the oil and gas industry, specifically in land and land administration. Throughout her career, Rauchfuss has been responsible for all areas of land administration, including the upkeep of all contract, surface, right of way, lease, well, and ownership information. She is skilled in acquisitions and divestitures as well as preparing documentation for the Colorado and New Mexico Oil and Gas Conservation Commissions. Her work spans multiple basins including the Permian, Bakken, Piceance, Powder River, San Juan, and Denver-Julesburg. Rauchfuss has been responsible for leadership and performance for large teams of lease and division order analysts. She has in-depth experience writing narratives for processes and compliance of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

She excels at implementing software solutions to assist energy producers with land, mapping, and documentation. Her experience includes training and roll-out of numerous versions of Quorum as well as Landworks, ArcGIS, and Excalibur Land.

She joins Steptoe & Johnson from Centennial Resource Development Inc. where she was land administration manager.

About Steptoe & Johnson

Steptoe & Johnson PLLC is a law firm nationally recognized for its strengths in energy law with more than a century of know-how in the areas of business, employment, and litigation. Steptoe & Johnson has nearly 300 attorneys practicing in 14 offices in Colorado, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia. Visit http://www.steptoe-johnson.com and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

For more information, contact Betsy Spellman, Chief Marketing Officer, at (304) 933-8000 or by email: press@steptoe-johnson.com.
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.

The coronavirus has now spread well beyond Asia, hitting the Middle East, Europe, the U.S., and other parts of the globe.

As new cases continue to erupt, what should American consumers do if theyre traveling outside the U.S., where the virus is much more prevalent than it is here?

First, check the website for the Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. health protection agency, which tracks the coronavirus around the world.

The CDC currently recommends that travelers avoid nonessential to China, where the virus originated, as well as to Iran, Italy, and South Korea. The agency also has lower-level warnings about travel to other countries. Check the website for the latest travel notices on specific countries.

What If Youve Already Booked Travel?

If you dont want to risk traveling during the outbreak, you may have trouble getting refunds for travel youre already booked.

The reality is that there is no one set of rules for canceling a trip and it largely depends on the destination and route of your flight, says Kyle Valenta, Executive Editor at expert travel review site Oyster.com.

Valenta says that some airlines have offered to re-route passengers free of charge if they have connecting flights in areas that have seen coronavirus outbreaks. Others are offering refunds if your final destination is China, Hong Kong, or Macao.

However, flights to areas like Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnamplaces that arent on the CDC or World Health Organization list for highest alert levelsare generally not subject to refunds.

The situation changes daily, so it's best to check with your airline.

If you booked your hotel online, make sure you check the cancellation window on your booking. These are often fairly generous, says Valenta.

Many cruise ship operators have been giving vouchers to travelers who want to change their plans, according to Charles Leocha, president & co-founder of Travelers United, a passenger advocacy organization. But whether you get a voucher or a refund depends on the rules in your home country and the cruise lines or tour operators, says Valenta.

Story continues

The CDC says travelers, especially those with underlying health conditions, should not go on cruises.

Travel insurance may help, but not as much as you might think. Besides, most consumers dont buy it.

Coverage can vary from policy to policy, so its important for travelers to read the terms and conditions, says Beth Godlin, president of Aon Affinity Travel Practice.

For example, travel insurance plans that include a Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) benefit allow travelers to do just thatcancel for any reason, including the fear of contracting the coronavirus, she says. However, its important for consumers to understand that with some CFAR plans, they may just get a partial refund, receive future travel credits, or both.

Plus, Godlin stresses that not all plans provide the CFAR option. However, most traditional travel insurance plans would provide coverage if a traveler contracts the virus or another illness during their trip. Coverage could including emergency medical expenses and even a medical evacuation back home, she says.

What If You Haven't Booked Travel?

If youre planning a trip outside the U.S. there are steps you can take to protect yourself.

For example, travelers should get refundable rates when making reservations at hotels and rental cars.

These are usually just a little bit more expensive than the non-refundable rates, but worth it if your plans change for any reason, says Leocha of Travelers United.

Book defensively, he says. Homeaway and Airbnb, two popular lodging sites, have very good cancellation clauses, but you have to make sure that you choose the refundable room rates, otherwise you could be stuck.

Airlines are also beginning to adjust their policies to reflect the uncertainty over travel. Jet Blue, for example, said it will waive fees for changing or canceling flights booked from Feb. 27 through March 11 for travel completed by June 1. Those canceling their plans will get a credit good for one year.

American Airlines says it is suspending operations to and from Milan, Italy, and New York (JFK) and Miami (MIA). Flights to Milan are scheduled to resume April 25.

Delta Air Lines says beginning on on Monday, March 2, it too is temporarily suspending flights between New York (JFK) and Milan (MXP). Its service to and from Milan will resume starting on May 1.

Again, it's best to check with the individual airline before you book.

Watching and Waiting

Some Americans who have already booked big trips for this summer are waiting anxiously and hoping for the best.

Mery Diaz, a 42-year-old professor of social work at the City University of New York, is one of them. After saving and planning for over a year, she and 10 family members will spend the month of July in France, celebrating her mother-in-laws 80th birthday.

This is a giant investment, Diaz says. Its my mother-in-laws dream trip and weve been setting aside money for it all year.

Diaz has been keeping up with news of the rapidly spreading virus.

Im trying to avoid panic and misinformation about the coronavirus, she says. But we are going to be traveling there at the height of the tourist season with young kids and older people.

Diaz worries about crowds and the susceptibility of her family members.

Weve just started talking about taking precautions. she says. Im wondering if were being too relaxed.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect changes in some airlines' ticketing policies. This article was originally published Feb. 24.





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India should look at ways to hike foreign direct investment (FDI) caps in sectors such as multi-brand retail, defence and insurance as these are the areas where US technology and expertise could help bring in much needed resources and infrastructure, a CII report said.

It also said that both India and the US must take a long-term and comprehensive view on issues pertaining to e-commerce sector by taking all concerns into account before finalising any policy.

India's e-commerce policy has engendered a whole host of issues that impact both domestic and foreign players, including definition of private versus community data; prohibition on cross-border data sharing; mandate to establish data centres; and domestic versus Indian product definitions, the CII-USIBC report said.

"India should review the feasibility of increasing FDI caps or additional provisions for foreign ownership in sectors like defence (49 per cent except in specific cases where the foreign company is bringing a high end or sensitive technology), insurance (49 per cent but with control remaining with the domestic partner), multi-brand retail (though 51 per cent foreign ownership is allowed, onerous additional provisions have inhibited growth in this sector)," it said.

It added that these are high growth areas in India, where US technology, expertise and know-how could help bring in much needed resources, capacity building, infrastructure, and consequent job creation.

On data, it said, cross-border flow of data is a reality as well as necessity in the hyper-connected global information and communications technology ecosystem and supply chain, most visible in the way the internet operates.

"India must also bear in mind that such a policy could prompt reciprocal action by the US and other countries which may demand that the data for their citizens stay within the confines of their geographical boundaries," the report said.

This could have an enormous deleterious impact on Indian IT and BPO companies that have grown over the past several decades essentially by processing, analyzing and storing sensitive health, financial, insurance.

Both sides, it said, must take a long-term and comprehensive view on this issue, taking all concerns into account before finalising any policies that have a bearing on one of the most dynamic, growing and innovative industries in India.

The report also said that India should consider bringing down the import duty on high end motorcycles (that include Harley Davidson motorcycles) to zero for both Complete Built Up (CBU) units and for Completely Knocked Down (CKD) units.

"The zero per cent rate could apply to all motorcycle imports being sold in India over Rs 5 lakhs (about USD 7,100)," the report.

Regarding price controls on medical devices, it said the issue needs to be taken up in a comprehensive manner with domestic firms and MNCs to come to consensus on a pricing mechanism that balances access to healthcare with enabling innovation and competitiveness amongst private sector firms.

On the politically sensitive dairy sector, it suggested that considerate understanding and detailed dialogue on production, classification and labelling norms could help the US producers comply with existing regulations and lead to a feasible solution.

The report stated that the reinstatement of GSP benefits, an export incentives given by America to about 1900 Indian products, by the US will not only allow the small businesses in India to remain competitive, but it would be a symbolic win for the relationship.

Further non energy sector, it said the US should look to be a larger crude oil and shale gas supplier to India, but also look at ethanol for export expansion.

"In the meantime, waivers from US sanctions for importing oil from Iran and Venezuela should be granted to India to allow it time to diversify its energy sources without impacting its economic progress in the process," it suggested.

The report further said that a formal defense dialogue involving private sector is needed.

"It would help provide a formalized avenue of engagement for defence and aerospace companies and relevant government officials in both countries. If co-production and co-development is to happen in a meaningful way, the private sectors of both countries must have an opportunity to network and become familiar with each other's systems and processes," it said.

On a proposed mini trade deal, it said concluding a deal in the short term even on a very limited basked of issues would send a positive signal to the business community and pave the way for more comprehensive trade talks down the road.

"India and the US should consider launching a comprehensive consultation process, involving sustained dialogue with industry, to examine all facets of the US India partnership to determine the best course of action regarding a formal trade agreement," according to the report.

Given the enormous consequence of India's geopolitical, strategic and economic future for the US, a trade architecture that serves both countries well is of utmost importance, it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kao Corporation (TOKYO:4452), a leading manufacturer of personal care, household and cosmetics products, has once again been selected by U.S. think-tank Ethisphere Institute for inclusion in the World's Most Ethical Companies 2020 list, which was announced on February 25, 2020. Kao has been chosen every year since the Institute began compiling its list in 2007, making Kao a recipient of this recognition 14 years in a row, the only Japanese company with this honor. Kao has made the securing of inclusion in the World's Most Ethical Companies list a key performance indicator (KPI) for its executive officers.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005366/en/

*"World's Most Ethical Companies," "Ethisphere" and their logos are registered trademarks of Ethisphere LLC.

The Ethisphere Institute is a leading international think tank focused on developing and sharing best practices in business ethics and corporate social responsibility. For the World's Most Ethical Companies list, which honors business enterprises that have demonstrated outstanding performance in relation to transparency, integrity, ethics and compliance, the Institute surveys and evaluates companies the world over in five categories: ethics and compliance programs, corporate citizenship and responsibility, culture of ethics, governance, and leadership and reputation.

The Kao Group emphasizes the concept of Integrity, which has been passed down from the company's founder, and which serves as the starting point for all of the enterprise's activity. Integrity means acting in accordance with the requirements of the law and with ethical standards, and undertaking sound business activity in an honest and upright manner. So that this vision can be realized on a daily basis, Kao has formulated a corporate code of conduct-the Kao Business Conduct Guidelines-and is striving to ensure that this is instilled in all Kao Group employees throughout the world, by implementing training in each country and region that is tailored to the special characteristics of Kao's operations in that area, and makes use of local case studies.

Responding to the awarding of this commendation to Kao, Michitaka Sawada, Kao's President and CEO, noted that "We are deeply honored to have been recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for 14 consecutive years. Last year, the Kao Group announced a major new development in our ESG management strategy, with the implementation of initiatives that position Integrity-a value which constitutes a core value of the Kao Way-as the foundation for ESG activities. In addition, we have made the securing of inclusion in the World's Most Ethical Companies list a key performance indicator (KPI) for our executive officers, so that we can all work together to thoroughly implement Integrity."

"Congratulations to everyone at Kao Corporation for earning this recognition," said Ethisphere's Chief Executive Officer, Timothy Erblich. "Kao is the only company in Japan that we have honored on the World's Most Ethical Companies list every year since the award's inception. This honor underscores Kao commitment to integrating Integrity as one of the core values to its company management since its establishment. In tune with increased expectations of society for companies to contribute to a sustainable society, we hope that Kao will continue to promote ESG management and lead the industry across the globe in advancing ethical standards and practices."

The Kao Group announced its ESG strategy, the Kirei Lifestyle Plan, in April 2019. Kao aims to integrate ESG as the foundation of its management to accelerate business growth and create products and services of better value for consumers and society. In the future, by rolling out ESG activities that embody Kao's core values on a global basis through a commitment to and thorough implementation of high ethical awareness, besides helping to realize enriched lifestyles that bring joy and satisfaction to people all over the world, Kao will also be contributing towards the sustainable development of society.

About Kao

Kao creates high-value-added products that enrich the lives of consumers around the world. Through its portfolio of over 20 leading brands such as Attack, Biore, Goldwell, Jergens, John Frieda, Kanebo, Laurier, Merries and Molton Brown, Kao is part of the everyday lives of people in Asia, Oceania, North America and Europe. Combined with its chemical division, which contributes to a wide range of industries, Kao generates about 1,500 billion yen in annual sales. Kao employs about 33,000 people worldwide and has 130 years of history in innovation. Please visit the Kao Group website for updated information.

https://www.kao.com/global/en/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005366/en/

Contacts:

Media inquiries:

Makiko Takahashi

Corporate Communications

Kao Corporation

pr@kao.co.jp
The pope ordered detailed engravings of the image to be made and printed on linen. Each image was touched to the Veil of Veronica, touched to the True Wood of the Cross and touched to the lance that pierced Christs side, she said. The images were given to dignitaries and issued out to different places around the world.
In April 2019, the Hard Times (my personal favorite satire site) posted a piece titled, "I Was Brainwashed by the Liberal Media. Then I Saw a Video of a Man Ranting Alone in a Truck."

I Was Brainwashed by the Liberal Media. Then I Saw a Video of a Man Ranting Alone in a Truck https://t.co/Ysk94jjOA3  The Hard Times (@REALpunknews) April 20, 2019

If you've somehow been fortunate enough to avoid this trend, I can assure you: truck rants are a whole sub-genre unto themselves.

And just the other day, Florida Senator Marco Rubio offered his own contribution to the genre:

Democratic Socialism sounds benign. It's not. It's built on Marxism. pic.twitter.com/VoFZlkSIgT  Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 24, 2020

Aside from the fact that Rubio was engaged in potential illegal behavior by transmitting data while driving a motor vehicle, his understanding of Marxism is also questionable at best. "At the core of democratic socialism is Marxism," he explains:

At the core of Marxism is this fake offer that if you turn over more of your individual freedom, we're going to provide you security, we're going to provide you free health care, we're going to provide you free education. But the problem is, when they can't deliver on it, or when you're not happy with it, you can't get your freedoms back.

Granted, I haven't read everything that Marx wrote. But in the things I have read, I have yet to find him advocating to "Seize the means of doctor selection." And while there have certainly been authoritarian governments inspired by the Marx's visions of communism, some of them have in fact provided excellent and affordable healthcare despite their other flaws. When it came to education, Marx (along with Engels) was more concerned with how private industry would be incentivized to limit and control the education of its workers, while the workers themselves would inevitably learn to see the ruling class like Rubio for exactly what they are.

What Marx did say, however, was that, "History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce." And judging by the sequence of the Hard Times' satire followed by Rubio's ill-informed contribution to the truck rant film genre: Marx was certainly right about that.

Image: Michael Vadon / Flickr via CC BY-SA 2.0 / Public Domain
Excited students dressed in traditional attire welcomed US First Lady Malania Trump as she arrived at a Delhi government school in south Moti Bagh area on Tuesday to attend a session of the 'Happiness Class'.

Sarvodaya Co-Educational Senior Secondary School was decked up with floral garlands and motifs to welcome the US First Lady.

Floral rangolis were also drawn at multiple places in the school and a student band welcomed her playing bagpipes.

As soon as she entered, lensmen scurried to get a perfect shot. The children welcomed the First Lady by applying 'teeka' on her forehead. She was also handed over a bouquet after which she lit the ceremonial lamp.

She proceeded to take a tour of the school and also attend a session of the 'Happiness Class'.

Before her arrival, children were seen rehearsing outside the gate of the institution. Massive security was also put in place for her visit.

Ahead of her arrival, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had tweeted to welcome her.

"@FLOTUS will attend happiness class in our school today. Great day for our teachers, students and Delhiites. For centuries, India has taught spirituality to the world. Am happy that she will take back the msg of happiness from our school," Kejriwal said.

The children were dressed in bright-coloured sarees and traditional attire like 'ghagra-choli' to welcome Melania Trump. Some of them were carrying bagpipes and other musical instruments.

"Welcome to our school @FLOTUS! We hope you would have a great time here in #HappinessClass It's just 18 months old initiative but early results have made us confident that @HappinessDelhi is the ultimate solution to all violence & hate in mindsets that we are facing worldwide," tweeted Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio.

In another tweet, he said,"Its a proud moment for my Team Education of Delhi today. All are excited to see @FLOTUS in one of our school. She just visited 'room to read' now she would move for #HappinessClass and then address the kids in assembly."

Kejriwal and Sisodia were to welcome Melania at the school and brief her about rationale behind introduction of the 'Happiness Classes' as well as the Delhi government's overall reform initiatives in the education sector but the US embassy had later communicated to the city administration that their names do not figure in the list of invitees for the event.

The 'Happiness Class' was started by the Aam Aadmi Party in 2018. As part of the programme, students are taught various activities, including meditation, street plays, basic obedience and aims to reduce anxiety and stress levels among children.
Move over Tinder. Theres a new app that social media-savvy candidates in New York are turning to: TikTok, the video-centric platform that allows users to share short, often funny, videos set to music, which has made viral sensations out of its more successful creators.

Love it, hate it or utterly perplexed by it, TikTok is just the latest social media platform that political candidates are using in an attempt to reach out to voters and spread awareness of their campaigns. A handful of young insurgents running for the state Legislature and for Congress are attempting to reach voters on the app, which is wildly popular with Gen Z  the generation born between the mid-1990s and the early to mid-2010s, many of whom are reaching voting age.

Young challengers across the country are using the app to run for office, and in local races, especially, a bit of internet popularity can be valuable, said Joshua Tucker, a professor of politics and co-director of the Center for Social Media and Politics at New York University. If you think that people have limited bandwidth for politics, except when we're really close to elections, and then you think how much of that bandwidth is being sucked up by the 2020 presidential election  let alone, things going on in the Senate and the House  if you're farther downstream, trying to get any bandwidth in front of people is really tough, Tucker said. And so doing something like making a TikTok video, it's something that at least potentially can get talked about. But it also has the potential of making you look cool, especially to a younger demographic.

For some candidates, TikTok has offered the one modern campaigning imperative thats desperately sought but difficult to fabricate: internet virality. Everybody wants to be the next Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, garnering millions of Twitter followers and hundreds of thousands of retweets daily  and very few people have former New York City Mayor Michael Bloombergs resources to buy virality through memes posted on Instagram.

Where underdog candidates can gain some ground, however, is through both cheap advertising on digital platforms like Facebook and Google, and organic  meaning not-paid  content on platforms like TikTok and Twitter. For young candidates who are already fluent in the language and trends popular on TikTok, the latter is not only free but can appear effortless. It gives a tool to challengers who may not have as much money or as much name recognition when they go into the election against entrenched incumbents, Tucker said of campaigns using social media  especially platforms like TikTok or Twitter, which dont allow political advertisements, and where the cost of content is just the labor involved to create it.

Skyler Johnson, a 19-year-old Suffolk County Community College student, is running in a crowded Democratic primary this spring to replace retiring Republican state Sen. Kenneth LaValle on Long Island, with a progressive platform supporting proposals like the New York Health Act and reforming the prison system. When volunteers for Johnsons campaign pressed him to sign up for TikTok, he was initially unsure but eventually embraced the idea, and posted a video poking fun at detractors who called his support for affordable medical care and climate change action radical.

The video follows a popular format on TikTok of users filming themselves pointing at floating text boxes with music playing in the background. I went to bed that night and it had about three likes and I was happy that at least some people liked it, Johnson said of the night in early January when he first posted the video. I woke up to find that it had 300, and I was very surprised. By the end of the day it had 1,000 and I was very shocked as it continued to grow, and within eight days it had over 20,000 likes. Today, the video has over 87,000 views and nearly 31,000 likes.

Other videos Johnson has posted follow similar formats, though they havent quite reached the high viewership that his first one did. One video hit nearly 18,000 views, another over 12,000 views. It allows us to reach a larger group quickly, and even with techniques such as email blasts, we're only able to reach people that have previously subscribed to our list, Johnson said. Social media, people see us on their custom feed, and they engage with us.

While Johnson, like many candidates, has also used campaign funds to buy cheap digital ads on platforms like Facebook and Google, he said he thinks voters his age connect more with social media outreach that isnt paid for. Voters like just seeing a quick 15-second video of who we are, because it excites them to see someone using it on a level that's very down to earth, very much what they're doing too, Johnson said. A lot of times, people feel frustrated because they see the paid ads spamming their timelines.

Johnson has also helped other candidates get hooked on TikTok, like Democrat Cameron Koffman, who is mounting a primary challenge against Assemblyman Dan Quart in the 73rd District on the Upper East Side. A recent graduate of Yale University, Koffman is the great-grandson of the real estate mogul Samuel LeFrak. Despite being a 22-year-old political newcomer, Koffman, in contrast to Johnson, has raised nearly half a million dollars since declaring his candidacy last October, thanks in part to large donors like former Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch, who donated $4,700. Koffman points out that his campaign also had a number of smaller donations, with over 750 donors total.

While Koffman may not need TikTok for campaign donations, he said he thought it couldnt hurt to try out the platform, and has so far been pleased with the results.

Koffmans first video has amassed fewer than 500 views, but he posted another one on Monday, and hopes to push it out on other platforms to get more engagement. I think it remains to be seen whether or not TikTok is going to be an important social media political platform, he said. But I think that if there's anybody who should be trying it, it is someone running at 22 for the New York state Assembly.

And then theres Lauren Ashcraft, a democratic socialist challenging Rep. Carolyn Maloney in the Democatic primary, who has also developed a modest presence on TikTok, with her most popular video reaching more than 14,000 views. Ashcraft said that Twitter, where she has roughly 20,000 followers, is still one of her favorite platforms. But her campaign is continuing to try new ways of reaching voters. A few days ago, Ashcraft said, the campaign made an account on Twitch, a popular video platform that video gamers can use to livestream and chat while gaming. I have enjoyed playing games in the past and if that can also be a way to start dialogue with people, then why not? Ashcraft said.

A group of democratic socialist candidates running for office in New York City also recently released their first video on TikTok, and say they plan to post more. Incidentally, higher-profile candidates and presidential candidates have not yet bought in to TikTok. Extensive security issues have been reported with the China-owned app, and agencies like the Transportation Security Administration have been barred from using it after Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer raised security concerns over the weekend. The U.S. military and State Department have already banned use of the app on government phones.

Compared with some of the biggest creators on TikTok, who rack up millions of views per post, the performance of candidates like Johnson and Ashcraft is modest. And more importantly, Johnson and Ashcraft still trail their competitors in fundraising. Though Johnson is no longer facing an incumbent, two of his Democratic primary opponents  attorney and social worker Laura Ahearn and Southampton Town Councilman Tommy John Schiavoni  have each raised more than $100,000, while Johnson has raised about $7,000. But Johnson points out that those contributions came from more than 100 separate donors, and argues that TikTok has helped build that grassroots support. Johnson told City & State that while TikTok doesnt provide analytics showing which state views come from, the app shows that 95% of his viewers are in the United States. His campaign also knows that a number of his campaign donors reached the donation page of his website through a link on his TikTok profile.

So can a handful of modestly viral TikToks make a meaningful difference in a campaign? Probably not. In local races, voters tend to vote down the ballot or go with an incumbent. But social media popularity could be a jumping-off point for an otherwise unheard-of candidate. It can't hurt to suddenly get attention for anything when you're running in a crowded field, if you're a 19-year-old kid trying to beat better-funded Democrats in the primary, Tucker said of Johnson.

But the kind of virality that can push a candidate over the edge is rare, Tucker said. If you suddenly pick up the endorsement of Taylor Swift or something like that because she sees you on TikTok and suddenly you've got a situation where you're someone who's expecting to be able to raise $10,000, and suddenly you can raise $1.5 million  well, that might change things in a local election, he said. But I don't think we should overstate it.

While the actual power of social media apps like TikTok to get someone elected has yet to be proven, if nothing else, the app is steadily catching on as a political platform in New York. Case in point is Suraj Patel, whose social media allegiances have shifted since 2018, when he infamously reached out to voters on dating apps like Tinder during his campaign against Rep. Carolyn Maloney. This year, Patel is challenging Maloney again, wielding a different social media app. Patel spokeswoman Cassie Moreno said the 36-year-old plans to make a TikTok account in the coming days.

Correction: This story originally misstated Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer's title.
Several journalists were attacked. Saurabh Shukla, a reporter with New Delhi Television, said he and a colleague were on an overpass filming damage to a mosque Tuesday when they were spotted by rioters. The rioters came and began punching and beating his colleague with sticks, damaging three of his teeth. He and his colleague were allowed to leave only after Shukla showed them a string of prayer beads to prove he was Hindu and deleted the footage from their phones, Shukla said.
Lyu Lieyang is a doctor of the oncology department of Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. [China Women's News]

Yuan Miao, Lyu Lieyang's husband, is a police officer fighting the novel coronavirus on the frontline. [China Women's News]

Lyu Lieyang and her husband Yuan Miao had not met each other for half a month until they had a brief reunion on February 8. Their separation was due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei Province.

The couple had been working for the COVID-19 prevention and control on the frontline for weeks and Lyu was designated for home isolation for medical observation as she was suspected of being infected with the virus.

Lyu is a doctor of the oncology department of Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She was assigned to work at the fever clinic after the epidemic outbreak.

On January 24, Yuan told his wife that he would go to work at the railway station the next day, just as Lyu sent him a message that she would be on a 24-hour shift at the hospital.

Lyu kept busy giving medical services to about 50 or 60 patients, checking CT images and results of blood samples with great patience. Her mild tone helped ease the patients' anxieties and fears.

Lyu could not go home, so she could only have a video call with her husband once a day.

Yuan said he heard her cry on the phone, adding that she did not cry out of fear but because she felt helpless caring for so many patients.

On February 2, Lyu felt sick and even vomited. She was suspected of being infected with COVID-19 and was asked to quarantine herself at home for medical observation.

However, Yuan still stayed at his post, patrolling the railway station, checking entrances and exits at communities, and transferring patients with his colleagues.

He was assigned to screen patients in a community on February 16 and was then dispatched to a mobile cabin hospital in Wuhan on February 19.

According to Yuan, because there were not many police officers in the cabin hospital with a large number of patients, their tasks were arduous.

He said the patients were generally in an optimistic mood with the efforts of medical staff, and some patients also volunteered to keep order, which helped them a lot.

They definitely felt some pressure, but the optimistic patients helped ease their anxiety so they could do their jobs as usual, Yuan said.

In a recent phone interview, Yuan said his wife had been ruled out from infection and no longer required medical observation. Lyu said she is ready to return to her post.

(Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China)
Q  I request the recipe for the Brussels sprouts from Eleven Eleven Mississippi.  Don Richardson, Maryville

A  The caramelized Brussels sprouts served on the Tuscan- and California-inspired menu at Eleven Eleven Mississippi remain the best-selling dinner side item season to season. The simple preparation of sprouts caramelized in olive oil, simmered in stock, finished with white balsamic vinegar and seasoned only with salt and pepper allows this once-humble vegetable to shine.

The Brussels sprouts have been on our menu forever, General Manager Bob Colosimo says. Its a very simple recipe, but people really like them. A lot of places shied away from Brussels sprouts in the past, but now theyre the new in thing in side dishes and salads.

What pairs well with the sprouts? Pork and cabbage have a natural affinity for each other, he says. Any pork dish would suffice. It goes really well with a lot of choices, but pork is a go-to for cabbages.
HYDERABAD: Union minister of state for home G. Kishan Reddy on Monday dedicated to nation the National Cyber Research and Innovation Centre (NCR&IC) established at the Central Detective Training Institute (CDTI) here.

Speaking on the occasion, he said cyber research is the need of the hour. With proliferation of information technology, life has become easier, which is good. But technology is a double-edged weapon, which can also be misused by criminals for their ulterior motives, he pointed out.

The Cyber Research Centre is one of the seven verticals under Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). Its formation highlights the growing relevance of continuous research and innovation in the countrys fight against cyber crime. The Union minister hoped the centre would help bridge any gap in investigation and cater to the needs of law enforcement agencies across India. He wished the centre well in finding research-based solutions for threats emerging in cyber space and imparting state-of-the-art cyber training to stakeholders.

Kishan Reddy said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted on several occasions that while cyberspace is a source of great opportunity, cyber security has become a major concern. The government has anticipated the danger of cyber threats and has taken several landmark steps in the recent past. A dedicated division was created in October 2017 under the Ministry of Home Affairs for addressing cyber security threats, he pointed out. The minister said innovation in cyber crime research is highly important. Criminals, who exploit vulnerabilities of smart devices and high-end technology, are clever and crafty. Therefore, the responsibility of this centre is greater. Emerging technologies across the globe need to be understood and research carried out to see if they could be used negatively. This will help develop deterrent measures accordingly, he stated.

In his welcome address, V.S.K. Kaumudi, DG, Bureau of Police Research and Develop-ment (BPRD) said, The inauguration of this centre is an important landmark for BPRD and specifically for CDTI. Dependence on the internet has left us with that much more vulnerable in every walk of life. It is just the beginning of the process to make the society safe, vigilant and sustainable, which is the underlying concept of United Nations sustainable development goals 2030. Kaumudi pointed out that CDTI, Hyderabad, has been declared a Centre of Excellence in Police Information Technology and Cyber Crimes. He hoped the centre would live up to its high standards, enhance the skills of investigating officers, and find solutions and tools to combat cyber crimes and emerging threats to the country.
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday



called for reconstitution of the panel of lawyers who represent the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), noting that its lawyers often can not assist the court properly.

The court was hearing a petition about a project undertaken by construction groups HDIL and RKW Developers.

RKW Developers is owned by Dheeraj Wadhawan from the Wadhawan family which also owns the beleaguered HDIL.

A division bench of Justices S J Kathawala and R I Chagla was hearing a petition filed by Cyril Mecwan claiming that there were irregularities in the slum rehabilitation project undertaken by RKW Developers in Bandra.

During the hearing on Monday, the bench had asked the SRA -- a state authority for rehabilitation of slum-dwellers -- for some details.

The SRA lawyer as well as its officer present in the court could not give a satisfactory reply. The bench then directed SRA CEO Deepak Kapoor to remain present.

On Tuesday, the court told Kapoor that in several matters SRA's lawyers and even its officers could not assist the court.

"At the end, your organisation is suffering. Are you not interested in getting the cases represented properly? You have to consider reconstituting the panel of advocates," Justice Kathawala said.

As per the plea, while RKW developers were constructing resale component (the part which the developer can sell off in open market) of the project, HDIL was to construct the rehabilitation building for the original tenants (slum dwellers).

In October 2018, the SRA issued stop-work notice over alleged violation of project terms.

Mecwan sought a direction to the SRA and HDIL to complete the construction of the rehabilitation building, stating that the project had started in 2006 and since then the original tenants were staying in transit homes.

Senior counsel Prasad Dhakepalkar, appearing for RKW Developers, stated that as HDIL is in liquidation, RKW Developers would file a proposal before the SRA, seeking permission to complete the rehabilitation building.

The bench then directed the SRA CEO to consider RKW Developers' proposal on merit, and adjourned the hearing for four weeks.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Riot police were sent to the Greek islands of Lesbos and Chios on Tuesday, using tear gas to try and disperse angry locals protesting against their governments plans to build new migrant detention centres.

Locals of the islands, which have seen hundreds of thousands of migrants land on their shores hoping to reach mainland Europe, tried to block construction workers from bringing ashore building materials for the new camps.

Witnesses reported about 500 islanders clashing with riot police on the streets as they tried to stop heavy machinery being unloaded onto Lesbos.

In the end, the police fired tear gas in an attempt to control the crowd, which had set fire to rubbish bins and tried to blockade the port using council-owned rubbish lorries. Similar scenes unfolded on Chios also, leading to three people being taken to hospital with breathing difficulties after inhaling tear gas. There were no reported injuries in the clashes in Lesbos.

The conservative Greek government which took power last year has been taking a more hardline approach to the migrant crisis, in an effort to deter would-be asylum seekers.

It announced last month it would build five new migrant centres on several outlying Greek islands including Lesbos and Chios to replace the current overcrowded open camps.

Although the authorities claimed this would improve safety, many islanders strongly oppose the new centres and instead want the government to move the tens of thousands of migrants off the overcrowded islands.

Moria camp on Lesbos alone currently holds about 18,000 people in conditions repeatedly condemned by humanitarian groups.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC), which works in Greece, said it was gravely concerned at the break down in order on the islands.

Dimitra Kalogeropoulou, the organisations Greece director, said the rise in tensions came as no surprise.

She said: Local communities have been impacted by the governments policies towards asylum seekers, especially the containment policy, which has trapped over 40,000 people on the islands.

Tensions like what our teams witnessed last night, increase the complexity of an already very challenging situation, but one thing is clear: overcrowding on the islands is good for no one; local communities feel their islands have been transformed into giant prisons, while asylum seekers are forced to live in dangerous conditions.

But the Greek authorities have insisted the best solution is to press ahead with building the new, more permanent migrant centres. In particular, officials said they would help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Tear gas swirls around bin lorries commandeered by protesters to block the roads (Reuters)

It is clearly evident that matters such as the coronavirus can be dealt with swiftly and effectively in a closed facility and not an anarchic, open facility which is a health time bomb, a government spokesman, Stelios Petsas, said.

However, there have not yet been any confirmed cases of the virus in Greece.

The IRC also condemned Greece for attempting to control the migrant crisis alone and called on other EU nations to step up in solidarity and share responsibility for protecting people in need.

Although numbers are significantly down since the EU signed a deal with Turkey in 2016 to limit the flow of those taking the Mediterranean route, they have been steadily climbing for months.

According to the UNs refugee agency, some 60,000 migrants arrived on Greek islands in 2019  nearly twice as many as the year before.
Photo credit: Samir Hussein - Getty Images

From Harper's BAZAAR

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are attending a charity performance of the hit musical Dear Evan Hansen in London today.

Duchess Kate dressed up for the occasion in a black dress with sparkly silver pumps and a matching clutch.

The royal was previously seen wearing the glittery footwear at a gala last summer.

The Duchess of Cambridge is putting some sparkle in her step. While attending a performance of Dear Evan Hansen in London with her husband, Prince William, today, Duchess Kate dressed up in a black tweed midi dress by Eponine London, but added some shimmer to the ladylike look with a pair of silver Jimmy Choo pumps. Coordinating her accessories, she also toted a matching shiny clutch for the evening affair.

While sequins and glitter may not be part of the future queen's daily attire, Kate has actually worn the glamorous heels before. Last summer, she sported the footwear to a gala hosted by one of her patronages, Action on Addiction, with a white off-the-shoulder number by Barbara Casasola.

Photo credit: Chris Jackson - Getty Images

As if the shoes and bag didn't add enough shine to Kate's outfit, she also wore a pair of the queen's diamond chandelier earrings to complete the ensemble.

Photo credit: Samir Hussein - Getty Images

Tonight's performance, taking place at the Noel Coward Theatre, is hosted by the Royal Foundation, the umbrella organization for the charities supported by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Next week, Duchess Kate and Prince William are set to embark on a three-day trip to Ireland. Shortly after, we can expect them to reunite with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the rest of the royal family for Commonwealth Day festivities.

Shop the duchess's glittery pumps below.

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An investigation has been launched after a 17-month old boy died in hospital after being found in cardiac arrest in south London.

Officers were called to the home on Colson Road, Croydon, at 11.26am on Tuesday after London Ambulance Service alerted them to the incident.

The toddler was taken to hospital by paramedics where he was later pronounced dead. His death is being treated as unexplained.

Police have launched an inquiry after a 17-month-old boy was found in cardiac arrest at a south London home (pictured) and later died in hospital

His family have been told and a forensic scene is in place.

Two investigators wearing blue protective suits were seen arriving at the house on Tuesday afternoon and a police car was parked outside.

The inquiry is being led by detectives from the South Area Command Unit. Officers have not many any arrests.
Evangelical Christian and former mail carrier Gerald Groff is suing the United States Postal Service for forcing his resignation after he refused to work on Sundays.

According to the Associated Press, Groff claimed that the government agency placed increasing restrictions on him and needlessly disciplined him. The lawsuit alleges that USPS even suspended him for as long as two weeks when he would not work on Sundays.

The Pennsylvania mail carrier offered to work on Saturdays, evenings, and holidays in order to make up for missed time.

In a free and respectful society, government should recognize the differences among us that make us great, rather than punishing those differences, particularly when those differences result from our sincerely held religious beliefs, said David Crossett, an attorney representing Groff.

According to Faithwire, USPS enforced the new Sunday delivery rule shortly after it partnered with Amazon.

Groff hopes that the lawsuit will allow him to go back to his work with religious accommodation, as well as receive back pay for the time after he was forced to resign. Hes also asking for an unspecified amount for emotional damages.

Employers are actually required to provide reasonable accommodations, said Jeremy Samek, another attorney representing Groff. [A]t the end of the day, Mr. Groff wants his job back. Its important for him, but its also important for lots of other people who work for the federal government or the post office that they be able to continue their employment and to continue to observe their religious beliefs.

Late last year, the USPS was hit with another religious freedom lawsuit when the government agency prohibited customers from requesting custom stamps with religious content.

USPS offers its own version of a religious stamp, but, ironically, it will not allow religious Americans to personalize stamps containing an expression of their own religious beliefs for their own use, said Jeremy Dys, an attorney with the First Liberty Institute, which is suing the USPS.

Photo courtesy: Pope Moysuh/Unsplash

Mikaela Mathews is a freelance writer and editor based in Dallas, TX. She was the editor of a local magazine and a contributing writer for the Galveston Daily News and Spirit Magazine.
OTTAWA - The United Nations' top disarmament official says governments need to pay more attention to the "dark side" of artificial intelligence, including the implications of so-called killer robots that could take military decisions out of human hands.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The United Nations' top disarmament official says governments need to pay more attention to the "dark side" of artificial intelligence, including the implications of so-called killer robots that could take military decisions out of human hands. U.N. high representative for disarmament affairs Izumi Nakamitsu arrives for interviews during a break of a conference on nuclear disarmament, at the Vatican, Friday, Nov. 10, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andrew Medichini

OTTAWA - The United Nations' top disarmament official says governments need to pay more attention to the "dark side" of artificial intelligence, including the implications of so-called killer robots that could take military decisions out of human hands.

The benefits of AI will be groundbreaking but governments need to take stronger measures to prevent bad military applications, including potentially catastrophic hacks of nuclear arsenals, said Izumi Nakamitsu, the UN's undersecretary-general for disarmament affairs.

Nakamitsu offered those views in a recent interview, just before the Trudeau government announced a new partnership with Britain on Monday to develop AI projects that could lead to breakthroughs in driverless vehicles and health care for seniors.

The government has made AI a pillar of its economic-growth strategy because it views the development of the technology as a means to attract foreign investment and of creating a new sector of high-skilled jobs.

The government is using developments by leading researchers in Montreal and Toronto in "machine learning," the advanced algorithms that new supercomputers use to think in a way somewhat like humans.

"In all likelihood, I'll be in Japan in my old age, looked after by a robot. So it has a huge potential," Nakamitsu said on a trip to Ottawa.

"All we are saying is let's try to make sure that the dark side, the negative impact, will be minimized. We need to make sure these technologies will benefit us, not the other way around."

The government said little about the security risks surrounding AI in the announcement with Britain, except that it needs to do more to protect the privacy of Canadians because the technology relies on amassing massive amounts of personal data.

On Monday, Industry Minister Navdeep Bains announced a $5-million investment in a joint British-Canadian venture to fund research into AI challenges, including the development of transport systems, assisting neurosurgeons and helping to better detect and monitor global disease outbreaks.

Bains said in an interview that his top priority is hearing back from an advisory panel on how to make legislative changes to better protect data privacy.

"For artificial intelligence to really flourish and a have a positive impact on society, you need vast amounts of data as well," said Bains. "As we move forward with that, hopefully we'll be able to tackle some of these issues with respect to weaponization, military and ethical use of AI."

While there could be positive military applications for the new technology, including making missile targeting more precise to minimize civilian casualties, Nakamitsu said legitimate questions remain about whether the weapons themselves could make the actual decisions about when to open fire and what to shoot at  something that should be left to humans.

She said she supports the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, an international movement that has spread to about 60 countries including Canada, that is advocating for a treaty to ban autonomous weapons.

Nakamitsu said she's worried about threat of hacking of nuclear arsenals.

"More and more hacking is now automated hacking, enabled by AI," she said. "Every 39 seconds there is hacking happening somewhere in the world. So that's pretty scary."

Nakamitsu wants Canada to do more to promote nuclear disarmament, especially if it succeeds in its campaign for a two-year temporary seat on the UN Security Council.

"If Canada becomes a member of the Security Council, I really do hope that Canada will put arms control and disarmament issues as one of its priority issues," she said.

There is little sign of that happening.

Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne made no mention of disarmament issues as he outlined Canada's priorities on foreign policy as it campaigns for the June election to the UN body.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office has not responded to multiple requests by the Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, a coalition of non-governmental organizations, to take up the mantle of fighting for nuclear disarmament.

"I'm not closely monitoring what the ministers are saying on those issues, but in my encounters, in my working relationship with various Canadian officials, we are very close partners, and Canada very much supports the work we are doing," said Nakamitsu.

In Ottawa last week, Nakamitsu met with parliamentarians and grassroots anti-nuclear advocates, but she had no meetings with Trudeau's cabinet or his staff. In Europe, the reception she receives is at a higher political level. She recently addressed the European Parliament's defence committee.

She said Europeans are concerned because the U.S. and Russia scuttled their Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces, or INF, treaty that dated back to the Cold War. They are also seized by the Trump administration's withdrawal of the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal that included France, Britain, Germany and China, which was designed to keep Tehran from developing nuclear weapons technology.

"The regime, the international instruments, the arrangements that we've had, which basically kept the world stable and secure  in front of our eyes, they are starting to collapse. They are being eroded as we speak."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2020.
Donald Trump told a business leader roundtable in New Delhi on Tuesday that, if he loses re-election in November, the stock market will 'crash like you've never seen before.'

'If I don't win, you're going to see a crash like you've never seen before,' he predicted.

The president has made a strong U.S. economy the central platform for his re-election effort but his warning during an event at the American Embassy were some of his harshest words to date.

He also pointed out a Trump victory in November would make be a boon.

'When we win,' he said, 'I think the market's going to go up like a rocket ship.'

Donald Trump predicts massive stock market crash if he losses re-election

The president did conceded if Democrats nominate Bernie Sanders that could stabilize market

However, he also threw a bone to Democrats when he said that if front runner Bernie Sanders continues to do well and becomes the Democratic nominee, it will 'keep the markets down' for a while.

But he also slammed his Democratic competition, claiming voters wouldn't find any of the contenders inspiring.

'I don't think there's going to be anyone on the other side who's very inspirational,' he said.

The Dow plunged 1,000 points on Monday, posting its worse day in two years, amid fears of a spike in cases of the coronavirus.

The president addressed fears of an outbreak, saying: 'We think we're in very good shape in the United States.'

But he also warned the market could be volatile over the next few months because of the election.

'If the wrong person gets elected everything will come to a halt,' he said, adding that the economy 'is being held back because we have an election coming up.'

The president is wrapping up a two-day trip to India where he's commented a few time on the upcoming election in between visits to the Taj Mahal and meetings with Prime Minister Modi.

On Monday, 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.'
A new wearable sensor that works in conjunction with artificial intelligence technology could help doctors remotely detect critical changes in heart failure patients days before a health crisis occurs and could prevent hospitalization, according to a study led by University of Utah Health and VA Salt Lake City Health Care System scientists. The researchers say the system could eventually help avert up to one in three heart failure readmissions in the weeks following initial discharge from the hospital and help patients sustain a better quality of life.

This study shows that we can accurately predict the likelihood of hospitalization for heart failure deterioration well before doctors and patients know that something is wrong, says the studys lead author, Josef Stehlik, M.D., M.P.H, co-chief of the advanced heart failure program at U of U Health.

Being able to readily detect changes in the heart sufficiently early will allow physicians to initiate prompt interventions that could prevent rehospitalization and stave off worsening heart failure, adds Stehlik, who also serves as medical director of the heart failure and heart transplant program at George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center in Salt Lake.

The study appears in Circulation: Heart Failure, an American Heart Association journal.

About 6.2 million Americans live with heart failure and it is the top hospital discharge diagnosis in the U.S. Up to 30% of these patients will likely be readmitted to the hospital within 90 days of discharge with recurrent symptoms including shortness of breath, fatigue and fluid buildup. In many cases, hospitalization diminishes a patients ability to care for themselves independently.

Those individuals who have repeated hospitalizations for heart failure have significantly higher mortality says Biykem Bozkurt, M.D., Ph.D., a study co-author, director of the Winters Center for Heart Failure Research at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Even if patients survive, they have poor functional capacity, poor exercise tolerance and low quality of life after hospitalizations. This patch, this new diagnostic tool, could potentially help us prevent hospitalizations and decline in patient status.

The researchers followed 100 heart failure patients, average age 68, who were diagnosed and treated at four VA hospitals in Salt Lake City, Utah; Houston, Texas; Palo Alto, California; and Gainesville, Florida. After discharge, participants wore an adhesive sensor patch on their chests 24 hours a day for up to three months. The sensor monitored continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) and motion of each subject.

This information was transmitted from the sensor via Bluetooth to a smartphone and then passed on to an analytics platform, developed by PhysIQ, on a secure server, which derived heart rate, heart rhythm, respiratory rate, walking, sleep, body posture and other normal activities. Using artificial intelligence, the analytics established a normal baseline for each patient. When the data deviated from normal, the platform generated an indication that the patients heart failure was getting worse.

Overall, the system accurately predicted the impending need for hospitalization more than 80 percent of the time. On average, this prediction occurred 10.4 days before a readmission took place (median 6.5 days).

Theres a high risk for readmission in the 90 days after initial discharge, Stehlik says. If we can decrease this readmission rate through monitoring and early intervention, thats a big advance. Were hoping even in patients who might be readmitted that their stays are shorter, and the overall quality of their lives will be better with the help of this technology.

Next, the researchers plan to conduct a large clinical trial that will not only use the system to alert doctors of changes in a patients condition but also track if early intervention based on these alerts lead to fewer rehospitalizations for heart failure.

###

In addition to Drs. Stehlik and Bozhurt, University of Utah Health researchers Jose Nativi-Nicolau, Peter Wohlfahrt and Heather Hanson contributed to this study. Collaborators from other institutions include C. Schmalfuss, S. Wegerich, K Rose, R. Ray, R. Schofield, A. Deswal, S. Anand, H. Hanson, D. Richards,M. Pipke, J. Sekaric, and M. Phram. The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Information & Technology and VHA Innovation Ecosystem funded the study. PhysIQ, Inc developed the analytics platform. PIpke, Wegerich, Rose, Anand, Sekaric and Richards are employed by PhysIQ. Stehlik is a consultant to Medtronic and Abbott.

University of Utah Health provides leading-edge and compassionate medicine for a referral area that encompasses 10% of the U.S., including Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and much of Nevada. A hub for health sciences research and education in the region, U of U Health touts a $356 million research enterprise and trains the majority of Utahs physicians and more than 1,250 health care providers each year at its Schools of Medicine and Dentistry and Colleges of Nursing, Pharmacy and Health. With more than 20,000 employees, the system includes 12 community clinics and four hospitals. For nine straight years, U of U Health has ranked among the top 10 U.S. academic medical centers in the rigorous Vizient Quality and Accountability Study, including reaching No. 1 in 2010 and 2016.

The VA Salt Lake City Health Care System is committed to providing compassionate, state-of-the-art healthcare to Veterans of the Intermountain West. Our health care system consists of the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah and nine community clinics across Utah, Idaho and Nevada spanning across 125,000 square miles. We provide healthcare to over 67,000 eligible Veterans across one of the largest geographical areas in VA. The George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center is a teaching hospital, providing a full range of patient care services, holistic medicine as well as education and research in partnership with the University of Utah and other institutions of higher education.
A man was shot and six others were injured after a gunshot was fired in a flea market while a dance event was being held in the evening of Sunday in Houston, according to an article from CNN.

The Crime Scene

Sheriff's deputies had reported that seven people in the shooting in Houston were affected by the gunshots at the Mercado SabaDomingo flea market located in the northern part of the city. It was also reported that the incident occurred around seven o'clock in the evening during a family dance event.

The investigators of the crime revealed that only one individual was shot from the shooting in Houston. They revealed that the man who was at the family dance event was shot in the leg. Six other individuals also received injuries from the event when the bullet passed through the leg of the man and hurt other people in the event. The six people received minor and non-critical wounds from the incident.

All of the seven individuals who were affected in the incident were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals.

In the crime scene, lots of children were found in the area. The children were reported to have been joining the dance. None of the children who participated in the dance receive injuries in the incident.

According to the sheriff, the results of the incident could have been worse. He believes that the outcome of the incident, with only one person being seriously injured, was a miracle. He was glad that no children were affected by the incident.

The Suspect

A man, the suspect to the crime, was detained when he was found at the shooting in the Houston crime scene. He is currently under questioning by the sheriff.

The man was captured by the authorities after one witness from the family dance event reported that he saw the man in possession of a gun before the gunshot was fired and heard. The suspect then answered interrogations and admitted that he have a gun but said that it was in his pocket.

According to the sheriff, the suspect has been drinking during the event. The story he told was not consistent with the evidence gathered by the investigators. The sheriff then commented that a combination of guns and alcohol are not a good combination.

The investigators of the crime are trying to determine if the suspect had intentionally fired the shot or the gunshot was accidental.

Threats of Gun Violence

The United States of America holds the 28th place in 2017 with the highest number of deaths from gun violence in the world. This means that out of 100,000 residents, 4.43 deaths are recorded from gun violence incidents. This is an alarming truth compared to other first world countries.

Per US state, the rates of death from gun violence are even greater. In Colombia, 16.34 people in every 100,000 individuals lose their lives from gun violence. This is the highest reported rate in the entire United States.

The gunshot violence rate in Texas is close to the national rate at 4.74 deaths per 100,000 people. Also, Ohio reports similar statistics with 4.60 deaths from gun violence out of 100,000 citizens.
Xiaomi released the Redmi K30 and Redmi K30 5G with dual-punch hole and four cameras on the back in December. In fact we already reviewed it and one of the few complaints we have is the chipset that is unable to take full advantage of the 120Hz screen.

Today, the brands own Weibo page confirmed a Redmi K30 Pro will arrive in March to address that. It will also have 5G connectivity as befits a flagship these days.

The teaser reveals the phone will skip the dual punch-hole in the screen and is likely to have a selfie shooter inside a periscope-type elevating mechanism, just like its predecessor Redmi K20 Pro. Specs are yet to be confirmed, but we expect a Snapdragon 865 chipset with Qualcomms Snapdragon X55 modem for 5G.

Glorious new chapter for tech in #India! 



Proud to announce that upcoming #Redmi phone will be 1st in world to feature @isro's #NavIC - Nation's own satellite navigation system! 



Great meeting Dr. K Sivan (Chairman #ISRO) & team to finalize this!#Xiaomi  #NavICinXiaomi pic.twitter.com/GcE1EEocmL  Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) February 25, 2020

Meanwhile Xiaomi confirmed that the next Redmi phone, likely the K30 Pro given the timing of the announcement, will have ISROs own NavIC - that is the satellite navigation system of India. The managing director of Xiaomi India posted some photos from a meeting with the ISRO chairman on Twitter, where he also gifted him a Redmi K20 Pro.

Source (in Chinese)  Source 2 | Via
As new cases of the ongoing Covid-19 (coronavirus) are being reported in more countries, health experts have called on countries to get prepared for a possible coronavirus pandemic situation.

The possibility of the disease attaining a pandemic status is considered due to the fast spreading nature of the disease.

Covid-19 virus was first detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province in China, but has since spread around the country and to over 28 countries.

A pandemic is an endemic disease which spread across a large region; for instance- multiple continents, or worldwide. A disease becomes pandemic when it spreads easily from person to person.

However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday said it is too early to say the outbreak is pandemic. Though agreeing it has the tendency of becoming such, the UN health agency has advised countries to strengthen their preparedness, should it get to that point.

China

As of 6am Geneva time on Monday, China reported a total of 77,362 cases of COVID-19 to WHO, including 2618 deaths.

WHO said within 24 hours, China has reported 416 new confirmed cases, and 150 deaths.

While new cases are still being confirmed in some countries across the world, China said new confirmed cases are beginning to dwindle as cases dropped below five or to zero in all provinces other than Hubei.

Also, about 22888 people had been discharged from hospital after recovery. 5299 people discharged in Hubei, 8171 people in Wuhan.

The number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan province had risen to 105 in total, according to the commission.

A WHO team, which had travelled to China to evaluate the situation found that the epidemic peaked and plateaued between January 23 and February 2, and has been declining steadily since then.

The team also found that there has been no significant change in the DNA of the virus.

Outside China

Meanwhile, outside China, there are now 2074 cases in 28 countries, and 23 deaths, WHO said.

The reports of cases in Italy, South Korea, Iran have begun to raise new questions on the status of the disease and if WHO is right it with pronouncement of the disease.

WHO in January had pronounced the disease a public health emergency of international concern, however, the new trends in the outbreak seems to be questioning if the disease has not gotten to a pandemic status.

The outbreak is also beginning to have a toll on the world economy as stock markets are recording a sharp fall due to panic caused by the disease and partial shutdown of industries in China.

Although most infections are in China, the origin of the virus, the disease seems to be spreading fast and about 2,600 people have died since it was first detected in December.

Africa

Meanwhile, in all these outbreaks, Africa seems to be spared for now as only one confirmed case of the disease was reported from the continent.

However, the world is being scared of the disease being transported to Africa because African health systems would be ill-equipped to respond to the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said WHO has conducted a survey with countries to assess their overall readiness for COVID-19 and found the regional readiness level was an estimated 66 per cent.

WHO finds there are critical gaps in readiness for countries across the continent. We need, urgently, to prioritize strengthening the capacities for countries to investigate alerts, treat patients in isolation facilities and improve infection prevention and control in health facilities and in communities.

Pandemic?

WHOs Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said during the daily briefing on the status of the disease that the sudden increases of cases in Italy, Iran and the Republic of Korea are deeply concerning.

Mr Ghebreyesus said there is a lot of speculation about whether these increases mean that this epidemic has now become a pandemic.

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We understand why people ask that question. WHO has already declared a public health emergency of international concern  our highest level of alarm  when there were less than 100 cases outside China, and eight cases of human-to-human transmission.

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.

The WHO chief said 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.

He said though the virus absolutely has pandemic potential, but are we there yet? From our assessment, not yet.

Mr Ghebreyesus described the current situation as a sporadic outbreak which requires for all countries, communities, families and individuals to focus on preparing.

Using the word pandemic now does not fit the facts, but it may certainly cause fear. 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, he said.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday stressed that the Americans stand strongly with a sovereign and wonderful India, which he said was a vision of "great" Mahatma Gandhi.

In his message in the visitor's book after paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, the US President wrote: "The American people stand strongly with a sovereign and wonderful India - the vision of the great Mahatma Gandhi. This is a tremendous honor!"

Earlier, the US President paid tributes at Rajghat, the memorial dedicated to India's founding father, Mahatma Gandhi.

Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, laid a wreath at the memorial and also observed one minute of silence. He was gifted a bust of Mahatma Gandhi by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

The Trumps also planted a tree at Rajghat.

Trump, a short while ago, was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

On Monday, the US President had addressed the 'Namaste Trump' event at Ahmedabad's Motera Stadium along with Modi, where both the leaders had hailed the growing ties between the two countries.

Trump and his wife later visited the Taj Mahal in Agra. They will depart for the US tonight.

Later today, the US President will hold a presser and attend a state banquet hosted by President Kovind in his honour before departing at 10 pm.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
UPDATED March 11, 2020: Man arrested in Old Town Chinatown shooting, Portland police say

***

One man was injured in a shooting in Portlands Old Town neighborhood Monday night, police said.

Around 10 p.m., police responded to reports of gunshots near the corner Northwest 1st Avenue and Northwest Couch Street. The first officers on the scene found the victim, who was not identified, suffering from a gunshot wound.

The victim was taken to a nearby hospital, but the extent of his injuries was unclear and his medical status was not released as of Tuesday morning.

Police cordoned off the area and streets were closed for a while, but no arrests were made and officials did not offer any further details about the shooting.

Investigators asked anyone with information about the incident to contact police using the non-emergency line at 503-823-3333.

-- Kale Williams

kwilliams@oregonian.com

503-294-4048

@sfkale

Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.
Some kind of travel restriction on Daegu citizens might have been helpful to contain the virus, but it was just out of the question, said Choi Eun-hwa, a professor of medicine at Seoul National University and a member of an expert panel that met Moon on Monday. The South Korean government cant afford to enforce that kind of restriction, as it would spark a huge backlash.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Tuesday issued an advisory to all private satellite TV channels asking them to be cautious about content that may incite violence or promote "anti-national" attitudes.

Fresh violence tore through northeast Delhi on Tuesday, killing six more people and taking the toll in the communal clashes over the amended citizenship law to 11.

"It is herby reiterated that all TV channels are advised to be particularly cautious with regard to any content which is likely to encourage or incite violence, or contains anything against the maintenance of law and order or which promotes anti-national attitudes," the advisory said



The advisory also called on private channels to be cautious of content that contains attack on religious or communities or visuals or words contemptuous of religions groups or which promote communal attitudes.

It also cautioned against content that may carry "defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half truths".

The advisory asked channels to ensured that no content is telecast which is violative of the Programme and Advertising Codes as prescribed in the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act, 1995.

"All private satellite TV channels are requested to ensure strict compliance," the advisory added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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The 2019 Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act brought with it significant changes to New Yorks rent regulation system. Among the new restrictions implemented as part of the sweeping state tenant protection law, landlords can no longer raise rent on rent-stabilized apartments by up to 20% when a tenant leaves, which was known as a vacancy bonus. Allowable rent increases associated with rent-stabilized building and apartment improvements have also been capped.

But industry experts have begun educating New York City landlords on the few methods still available to raise rents on rent-stabilized apartments, while tenant advocates are already giving thought to closing the potential loopholes.

One of the only legal ways left to significantly raise rents on stabilized apartments is what real estate attorney James Marino referred to as first rent, which can be used by landlords in certain circumstances to raise the rent when an apartment is vacant. He described the practice at a January seminar, hosted by his firm Kucker, Marino, Winiarsky, & Bittens, for landlords on the new rent laws, focused in part on functioning under the new rent regulation laws. Vacancies arent what they used to be, Marino told the crowd. So how do you tackle that?

Previously, landlords with a vacant rent-stabilized unit could count on a rent increase as much as an extra 20% on top of the yearly increase. In New York City last year, landlords of these apartments could only raise rents by 2.5%.

The concept behind first rent is that when landlords have a new apartment in a rent-stabilized building, they can charge whatever they want for the apartment initially, before the ensuing increases are subject to regulation by the city. Rent stabilization is based on the rental history of an apartment, so if there is none, the first rent the landlord charges becomes the base.

Landlords can set first rents on new apartments, of course, but they can apply in other cases as well. First rent can also be used when building entirely new apartments on top of existing buildings, and modifications made to vacant apartments can make an apartment eligible as well, Marino told seminar attendees. Splitting a large apartment in two is one such instance. According to the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal guidelines, both apartments would be considered new and therefore they have no rental history. The same could be achieved by combining two apartments into one, like converting to a duplex or even adding a significant amount of hallway space to increase the size of a single apartment. The important part is changing the perimeter of the apartment, not the internal layout. However, Marino warned against simply shifting rooms from one apartment to another, because at least one judicial ruling found that such a conversion would not qualify for first rent.

In an interview after the seminar, Marino told City & State that its hard to estimate how common the practice of converting rent-stabilized apartments for a first rent is. It has come up over the years as something that landlords have the ability to do, Marino said, suggesting that renovations explicitly to set a first rent likely dont happen often. You do need circumstances that lend itself to it. He added that converting, splitting or combining apartments doesnt always mean a landlord will get more rental income. For example, the combined rent of two small apartments could be less than the amount collected for one large apartment.

Still, the practice is on the radar of tenant advocates, who are keeping an eye out for the potentiality of an abuse of the practice. Its a huge problem, were already seeing it emerge in landlord webinars, Cea Weaver, campaign coordinator for Housing Justice for All coalition, told City & State, while acknowledging that she has not yet heard any specific complaints about abuse of the first rent practice. I havent heard it from a renter, but its still shaking out, Weaver said.

Michael McKee, the treasurer for Tenants PAC who heads up policy for Housing Justice for All, said that advocates may want to wait and see how landlords use first rent before potential action. On the issue of Frankenstein apartments, this is a potential loophole that needs to be closed, there needs to be a legislative solution, McKee told City & State, suggesting that the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development could set new rents in rent-stabilized buildings. He said that problems can arise when a vacancy occurs and a landlord may try to force out the neighboring tenant to reconfigure the building.

McKee also said that he has not heard any complaints, but that there has been a huge amount of speculation among tenant attorneys about whether landlords would start using first rent more widely in order to boost their revenue in rent-stabilized buildings. However, addressing the practice, while on advocates radar, is not as high a priority as other goals, like establishing new rules to protect tenants against eviction, reregulating apartments and beefing up enforcement of new rules.

Marino said that while he agreed there needs to be a crackdown on bad landlords, many in the industry believe the new state legislation went too far. I think the landlords would look at a change like that as being more punitive than addressing a particular need, Marino said of closing what tenant advocates consider a potential loophole. I dont really see the need the legislature would be addressing here. He added that from the consumer standpoint as well, keeping even this minimal incentive helps renters by either creating more housing stock or developing larger, more family-oriented apartments within existing rent-stabilized buildings.

There is no evidence this is happening, Real Estate Board of New York spokesman Jamie McShane said in a statement to City & State when asked about use of the first-rent practice and concerns from tenant advocates. Instead of legislating solutions to problems that dont exist, we would expect lawmakers to focus on plans that will create more affordable housing for the neediest New Yorkers.
By Trend

Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (Turkic Council) commemorates the martyrs who lost their lives in Khojaly with deep respect and conveys its condolences to the government and people of Azerbaijan, Secretary General of the Turkic Council Baghdad Amreyev said, Trend reports with reference to the statement.

Over the night from 25 to 26 February 1992, an unprecedented massacre was committed against the Azerbaijani civilians of Khojaly town in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan. This tragedy, which is one of the bloodiest crimes in the history of mankind, became to be known as the Khojaly genocide, involved the extermination or capture of the thousands of Azerbaijanis, Amreyev wrote.

He reminded that as a result of the brutal atrocities, 613 people were killed, including 106 women, 63 children and 70 elderly and 487 people were crippled.

Moreover, 1,275 innocent people were taken hostage, and the fate of 150 people remains unknown. Civilians were shot at close range, scalped, and burned alive. The elderly, children and women who were captured were subjected to unprecedented torture, abuse and humiliation, he said.

He added that as the Turkic Council, it commiserates deeply with its Azerbaijani brothers and sisters over this violent attack and massacre, which they suffered exactly 28 years ago today in Khojaly, and wholeheartedly share their pain.

We also stand hand in hand with the government of Azerbaijan in their world-wide Justice for Khojaly International Awareness Campaign and show the necessary sensitivity to this fact.

With these feelings, we commemorate the martyrs who lost their lives in Khojaly with deep respect and convey our condolences to the government and people of Azerbaijan, Amreyev wrote.

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.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
For quite a while now, the social media teams of various state police have been making creative efforts to make their posts go viral and have been succeeding in disseminating information with their witty tweets.



 BCCL

From Pune Police to UP Police, the social media handles of these police departments have time and again come up with savage posts to create awareness and their timely replies to the public have gained the trust of people to an extent that now people depend on them.



Recently, a twitter user tagged Uttar Pradesh police in a tweet asking for help while travelling in UP State Transport (UPSRTC) bus on 24 February.

Check out the tweet here-

Dear @uppolice I'm travelling in UPSR bus and some guys sitting next to me harassing me and asking for my number . Plz plz plz help me I'm very scared right now This is my ticket and bus no. pic.twitter.com/dQURpA15yp  Ciggy (@caustic_kanya) February 24, 2020

She wrote tagging UP Police, Dear @uppolice I'm travelling in UPSR bus and some guys sitting next to me harassing me and asking for my number . Plz plz plz help me I'm very scared right now this is my ticket and bus no.

To which, the emergency services from UP Police replied to her tweet.

Heres the post-

Event ID- P24022006529

Ma'am, don't worry emergency help is reaching shortly.  Call 112 (@112UttarPradesh) February 24, 2020

Later, UP Police also tweeted and asked for the womans exact location to take necessary action.



Please share exact location for necessary action.  UP POLICE (@Uppolice) February 24, 2020

As soon as local police were informed through tweets, the bus was stopped and both men were taken in for questioning.



Thankyou for your response amd concerns guys. I have now received help from UP police. They have taken away the two boys in their van. Im fine and safe now.

Thankyou @Sirchahal , @GadhviLaxman and @Uppolice @112UttarPradesh Ill be forever grateful https://t.co/fu3e1B3pYG  Ciggy (@caustic_kanya) February 24, 2020

Public transport is often a place wherein almost every woman has faced sexual harassment once in a lifetime. However, this incident was hailed by the netizens for UP Polices fast response and action in the aid of the woman.



Heres what the people have to say-

Proud of UP Police!

She's fine now ,Meri baat hui h ciggy se or police un dono ko pakad ke le gai hai... Everything is ok now.... Thank God



Big thanks to @Uppolice  sa (@Mostlycute_) February 24, 2020

Well done, UP Police!

Good news that the police have acted. Thank God you are safe. Such actions need a strong response. @Uppolice well done  Maj Gen Harsha Kakar (@kakar_harsha) February 24, 2020

Too good...



https://t.co/aEP9LexOQ5

Rescued already

Thank God

N thank UP Police  HEAD CONSTABLE RATAN LAL (@being_tabas) February 24, 2020

Great!



Welldone UP Policehttps://t.co/MKJpPVGuP0  Akash Shukla (@JournoAakash) February 24, 2020

Indeed.



Proud of @Uppolice and @myogiadityanath administration, such fast action is appreciated by all citizens irrespective of caste & religion 



All must read this thread  Rakesh #Indian_  (@romy1965) February 24, 2020

Praise-worthy!



Great



People praised UP Police for their swift response in catching the culprits.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 01:02:42|Editor: yan

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NAIROBI, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Kenya and Germany on Tuesday launched 39.4 million euros(4.3 billion shillings)youth empowerment vocational training program that will equip the youth with requisite skills to enable them to contribute effectively to the country's development.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the program at the Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) will foster skills development in the East African nation.

Kenyatta termed the launch as a big boost to the country's quest to empower its youth with technical know-how needed to grow the country's economy.

"Our quest to foster skills development in Kenya once again gains greater momentum, as we unveil the partnership between the Government of Kenya and the Federal Republic of Germany," he said according to a statement issued in Nairobi after the launch.

The program will be implemented in two phases with the first phase costing 26.4 million euros where the German government will provide 25 million euros while Kenya will contribute 1.4 million euros.

Kenyatta said the targeted institutions in the first phase of the program include Thika Technical Training Institute, Nairobi Technical Training Institute and Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology which are expected to benefit in the areas of automotive engineering, bodybuilding and welding as well as industrial mechatronics.

The second phase will be worth 13 million euros out of which Germany and Kenya will contribute 12 million and one million euros respectively.

Kenyatta emphasized that equipping the youth with relevant technical skills will bring about the socio-economic liberation that forms the greatest task of the current generation.

He also encouraged the youth to take advantage of the educational opportunities offered under the program as well as the robust scholarship program under the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) to gain skills that will enable them to earn decent incomes.

On his part, Steinmeier said the laying of the foundation stone at KIST symbolizes the beginning of a new a robust partnership between Kenya and Germany.

"This partnership aims at jointly tackling one of the greatest challenges Kenya is facing today, creating gainful employment for young people," he added.

The German president said he was impressed by the government of Kenya's dedication to focus on boosting youth employment and developing the Kenyan manufacturing sector, which is one of the goals of the development plan, dubbed the Big 4 Agenda comprising of food security, affordable housing, manufacturing and universal healthcare.
Children line up to enter a tent at the Homestead Temporary Shelter for Unaccompanied Children in Homestead, Fla. Read more

LOS ANGELES  Nearly two years have passed since the separation of thousands of migrant children and their parents under the Trump administrations zero-tolerance policy. Months after some reunions, experts found that severe psychological trauma remained.

On Tuesday, Physicians for Human Rights published a report based on in-depth psychological evaluations of 26 asylum seekers  nine children and 17 adults  who were separated under the policy.

Medical experts documented psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. In nearly every case, the groups medical evaluators noted that the trauma suffered by the parents and the children warranted further intervention and ongoing therapeutic support.

The report concluded that the forced separation in those cases constituted torture and enforced disappearance, in that there was a period where parents did not know where their children were and were not able to contact them.

The purpose of linking events with these kinds of human rights violations is because it calls attention to the obligation of the state, said Kathryn Hampton, a PHR Asylum Network senior program officer and coauthor of the report. We are calling for accountability and for the U.S. government to take responsibility.

The total number of children separated from a parent or guardian under Trump remains unknown. At least 471 parents were deported without their children, and some have yet to be reunited.

Family separations exacerbated any existing premigration trauma, according to the report, and, following reunifications, families were not provided with psychosocial services to recover.

A Honduran father recounted that following reunification and release from detention, a psychologist tried to work with his son on four different occasions. The boy would throw things at the therapist, according to a medical affidavit.

It appears his son was afraid of strangers, afraid they will take him from his father, a medical expert stated.

When nervous, the boy would pace and suck his thumb, according to the report.

Children showed symptoms of regression, such as bed wetting, being excessively fearful and not willing to leave their parents side.

The reunification was not at all the solution or the treatment, said Dr. Ranit Mishori, PHRs senior medical advisor and coauthor of the report. The trauma remains.

Dr. Stuart Lustig, a San Francisco-based board-certified child psychiatrist and member of the PHR Asylum Network, evaluated a 7-year-old girl separated from her parent for a month. At the time of the evaluation, it had been 10 months since the separation and she was still quite symptomatic.

Symptoms of the girls severe anxiety included difficulty at school, which Lustig corroborated by speaking with her principal. She also struggled to sleep alone.

Most 7-year-olds can do that, he said. That was a new struggle compared to the sleeping arrangements back in her home country.

Lustig said the girl  who likes to draw  was inhibited in a drawing game that most kids do quite well at.

We tend to think of kids as being very resilient and parents having a great deal of wisdom and understanding to process whats going on, Lustig said. Those assumptions may or may not be true, but the fact is that we know from the psychiatric literature that these kinds of trauma typically haunt people for years to come.

Lustig called it vital that these families receive treatment.

Virtually all of the people that we studied  did have pretty significant symptoms of trauma, Lustig said. The effects of the separation are pervasive and obviously long-lasting and I would predict, as a psychiatrist, that certainly without treatment these people are going to be symptomatic for years to come.

That treatment could soon happen. In November, U.S. District Judge John Kronstadt, of Los Angeles, ordered the government to begin providing mental health screenings and treatment to families who were separated under the family separation policy.

The government had appealed the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. Last week, that appeal was withdrawn.

Weve been operating under this cloud of uncertainty, said Amy Lally of the Sidley Austin law firm, which brought the case along with the nonprofit Public Counsel. Its really a huge relief.

The government did not respond to requests for comment.

Those bonds that hold a parent and child together are really damaged by this type of family separation, Lally said. What were hopeful for is that families will be able to heal and that theyll be able to be made whole.



2020 Los Angeles Times

Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.



PHOTO (for help with images, contact 312-222-4194):
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges investors in Sasol ADRs (NYSE: SSL) who have suffered significant losses to submit their losses now . A securities class action has been filed and certain investors may have valuable claims.



Class Period: Mar. 10, 2015  Jan. 13, 2020

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Apr. 6, 2020

Sign Up: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/SSL

Contact An Attorney Now: SSL@hbsslaw.com

844-916-0895

Sasol Limited (SSL) Securities Class Action:

According to the Complaint, Defendants misled investors by misrepresenting and failing to disclose that; (1) Sasol conducted insufficient due diligence into, and did not account for multiple issues with, Sasols Lake Charles chemical plant (LCCP), as well as its true cost; (2) construction and operation of the LCCP was plagued by control weaknesses, delays, rising costs, and technical issues; and (3) Sasols top-level management exacerbated these issues by engaging in improper and unethical behavior concerning financial reporting for, and oversight of, the LCCP.

Investors began to learn the truth through a series of disclosures, including on May 22, 2019, when Sasol abruptly raised the projects cost estimate by $1 billion and disclosed an internal review into the projects costs and construction schedule. The company admitted to weaknesses in the projects integrated controls, as well as significant additional concerns related to the projects forecasting process.

Then, on Oct. 27, 2019, Sasol terminated its co-CEOs following an internal probe showing that the Lake Charles project management team acted inappropriately, lacked experience, and was overly focused on maintaining cost and schedule estimates instead of providing accurate information.

Finally, on Jan. 13, 2020, Sasol disclosed an explosion and fire at its Lake Charles projects low-density polyethylene unit, requiring the company to shut down the unit.

Each of these disclosures caused the price of Sasol ADRs to decline sharply.

Were focused on investors losses and proving Sasol misled investors about the Lake Charles projects cost, timing and internal controls, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

If you purchased Sasol ADRs and suffered significant losses, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman .

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Sasol should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email SSL@hbsslaw.com .

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a national law firm with nine offices in eight cities around the country and eighty attorneys. The firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the firm and its successes is located at hbsslaw.com . For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw .
The Pakistan's Punjab government on Tuesday refused to grant permission to former prime minister Naswaz Sharif to extend his stay in London on medical grounds and asked him to either return to the country or face court.

Sharif, 70, left for London in November last for treatment after the Lahore High Court allowed him to go abroad on medical grounds for four weeks.

According to Sharif's physician, the three-time prime minister is suffering from complex multi-vessel coronary artery disease and substantial ischemic and threatened myocardium for which he is due to undergo surgery.

The court directed Sharif to seek further permission in his stay in London from the Punjab government. The Islamabad High Court had given Sharif bail in the Al-Azizia Mills corruption case in which he was serving seven years imprisonment at Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail, allowing him to go abroad for medical treatment.

On the recommendations of the government medical board that examined the reports of Sharif, the Punjab government on Tuesday announced that "no further extension to his stay abroad can be granted and he must return."



Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat and his Cabinet colleagues told a press conference that the Punjab government committee has decided in principle not to grant permission to Nawaz Sharif in his stay abroad further.

The ministers said the Islamabad High Court had granted bail to Sharif for eight weeks in October 2019.

"Till a decision by the Punjab government, this bail was to be automatically extended for 16 weeks. But till today Sharif has not been admitted in any hospital in London and nothing specific about his health shared with the government," minister Basharat said.

The Punjab government has decided not to grant Sharif further extension in his stay in London as there is no legal, moral or medical ground which could provide basis for it, Raja said and adding the Punjab government will inform the LHC about its decision.

Reacting to the Punjab government's decision, the Opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has termed the decision of the Punjab government "a political victimisation of fascist regime of Prime Minister Imran Khan."



PML-N president and Nawaz Sharif's younger brother Shahbaz Sharif said: "The Imran Khan regime is trying to snatch the right of living from the three-time premier."He said as the government has miserably failed to deliver it is doing on the health of Sharif to divert the attention of the masses from the real issues.

"We do not accept the government's decision and will continue getting his treatment in London," Shahbaz said.

The PML-N lawmakers also held a demonstration outside the Punjab Assembly to protest against the decision.

The PML-N has said that it will take up the health case of Sharif with the high court.

Meanwhile, the medical reports suggest that Sharif requires continuous monitoring by the doctors in London. The medical reports prepared by the London doctors have not so far advised Sharif about air travel.

Dr David Lawrence, a cardiac surgeon known for performing minimally invasive chest surgery and lung cancer surgery, penned the report detailing Sharif's medical history from 2003 to 2019 as well as his current treatment plan.

"The stability of health care management is of vital importance for the patient, hence he (Nawaz Sharif) should remain under the care of his healthcare providers in the UK until his diseases are adequately addressed," Dr Lawrence said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
American firm Boeing on Tuesday (February 25) welcomed Indias decision to acquire six AH-64 Apache helicopters and lifecycle services support for the Indian Army. Boeing said in a statement that the AH-64E Apache will be a force multiplier for the Indian Army just as it is today for the Indian Air Force.

"We congratulate the US and Indian governments on this key milestone and welcome the positive momentum in the bilateral defense trade and industrial partnership. Through our local entity, Boeing Defence India, we are supporting the P-8I, C-17, CH-47 Chinook, and AH-64 Apache with holistic lifecycle support to assist with Indias defense modernization effort and mission-readiness at competitive costs. This new contract is a testimony to the trust and long standing partnership Boeing has nurtured over the years with our Indian customers and we are committed to delivering on our commitments in the future as well," said Boeing India President Salil Gupte.

It may be recalled that Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by PM Narendra Modi had approved the acquisition of six additional AH-64E Apache attack choppers on February 19.

The Apache contract for six helicopters for the Indian Army follows a contract for 22 helicopters ordered by the Indian Air Force in 2015. Notably, Boeing has already delivered 17 of 22 Apaches to IAF and the remaining five will be delivered by the end of March 2020.



Fuselages and secondary aerostructures for the Armys Apaches will be manufactured at Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL) in Hyderabad. TBAL is already manufacturing fuselages for multiple Apache operators around the world.



It is expected that deliveries of the apache helicopters for the Indian Army would begin in 2023. The Apache sale is a hybrid procurement  Direct Commercial Sale (DCS) between Boeing and MoD and Foreign Military Sale (FMS) between the GoI and USG.



The FMS contract for the Apache includes munitions, training, aircraft certification, and components including engines, EO sensors and the radar. The direct commercial sale portion of the contract primarily consists of the aircraft (less engines/sensors), logistic support, spares and services.



The AH-64E Apache is by far the the most advanced multi-role combat helicopter in the world and it is the backbone of the US Army attack helicopter fleet. These choppers incorporate 26 new technologies designed to enhance its capabilities. To date, more than 400 AH-64E model Apaches have been delivered worldwide.

The AH-64E features Advanced digital connectivity, Joint Tactical Information Distribution System, more powerful T700-GE-701D engines with upgraded face gear transmission to accommodate more power, capability to control unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and new composite main rotor blade.



The US Army Apache fleet has accumulated more than 4.5 million flight hours. With more than 2,400 Apaches delivered to customers around the world, Boeing is committed to the continuous modernization of the program to ensure that AH-64 capabilities outpace adversaries to maintain battlefield dominance today and for decades to come.



According to Boeing, optimizing readiness for Apache fleets around the globe is one of the primary missions of the country. "From Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) and integrated fleet support to modifications, repairs and training, Boeing provides a broad spectrum of products and services which directly support and enhance capabilities while reducing the total cost of ownership. Boeings services range from transactional spares to complete lifecycle support solutions that are uniquely tailored to the requirements of each AH-64 Apache customer," said Boeing.
What would you do for travel? Clean grease traps? Flaunt your curves on a sugar daddy website? Sell your house? Live stream your wedding?

Everyone has a price.

Anyhow, once youre on the gravy train, whether its a week in Polignano a Mare or a year bouncing around Europe, youre going to want to juice it pulp and all.

That involves mentally flatlining, physically relaxing and making your friends as jealous as possible. What it doesnt is staying in sub-standard accommodation and whinging.

Unfortunately, if Tripadvisor is anything to go by, thats what a lot of tourists (both Australian and otherwise) end up doing.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ryan & Sam | Travel (@ourtravelpassport) on Feb 5, 2020 at 11:58am PST

How did we realise this? Well, we were innocently strolling through reviews of Polignano a Mare properties, doing a little vicarious living, as one does at 5pm on a Tuesday afternoon, and what we found made our eyes roll.

Tourists complaining in paradise.

While Lord Of The Flies proves idyllic surrounds dont guarantee a happy community, we thought given its amenities, culture and relatively uncorrupt legal structure, Polignano was a safe bet to visit.

Alas, we found the sort of scathing reviews we thought were reserved for New Yorks seedy underbelly, Paris outdoor dunny hotels and Londons most stone-faced staff.

While those big cities have more negative (and outlandish) reviews, and while most travellers admittedly sing about their Polignano sojourn, the fact that quite a few have mismatched expectations with what they get and what they (thought they) are paying for surprised us.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vanya Donnici (@vanyadonnici) on May 1, 2018 at 2:40am PDT

But first: context. What the hell is Polignano? Polignano a Mare is a town on Italys southern Adriatic coast, which the 557,604 Instagram posts with the hashtag #polignanoamare attest, is one of the most photogenic places in Italy.

Known for beaches like the white-pebble Lama Monachile, which is bordered by a Roman bridge, Polignanos most famous feature is a cove nestled at the bottom of a cliff.

It also has a Museum of Contemporary Art, food to get IBS for, a Romanesque church, a 16th-century tower and a controversial city-wide cover charge (in peak season).

Oh and it also, as we mentioned earlier, has a few disgruntled tourists, whose complaints we have curated below for your convenience.

Lets begin with a peak season (June) dispute from 2018. A family who appear to be from Florida came for the holiday of their dreams  or so they thought. Unfortunately, though, whoevers side in the argument you take, their stay was marred by a misunderstanding.

We went with the family to this hotel and reserved two apartments, the story, posted on Tripadvisor, begins. They were located in the historical center and the car can not enter, so you and your family must drag the luggage several blocks. Then there is no parking lot . You should walk like half a mile from the historic center to the parking lot.

So far so disgruntled.

But it gets worse: The apartments are very small and with two levels with ladders so you should go downstairs each time you want to go to bathroom. One of the apartments is in front of the square where there are celebration until late so you can not rest or sleep until midnight and you dont know which apartment you will be assigned.

The staff is very impolite.

The apartment managements response? Its true! Our apartments are settled in the historical centre, that obviously is a no parking area, anyway we have a parking lot 350 m far from the historical centre, so, just 6 minutes by walk.

Sarky.

You must drag your luggage for 50 m because you refused to be helped from the rickshaw service, and refused my help too, and Im so sorry if you cant walk even to go to toilet.

Ouch.

Most of our apartments are typical apulian houses, and you choose it, you can look photos for each one, so is not our fault if you didnt likewhat you choosed, the clapback continues.

About celebrations, it was our sain patron celebration, tradtional celebration and a lot of tourists come in Polignano just to live it, its a shame you cant respect it.

In the end, Im so sorry to be impolite, but we were a little bit embarassed until your sister slammed the door into my face.

This is far from the only absurd dispute, with the annals of Tripadvisor showcasing some complaints that are harder to wrap ones head around than Sartres Nausea.

One of our favourites is entitled bad timing and comes from a Mr Ramsay from Frankfurt, who took to Tripadvisor to share what sounds like a bizarrely self-made problem: Middle of the day, crowded, wrong light to take pictures, had an espresso at the wrong place. Found nothing memorable.

Finally we have an even weirder review, in which the tourist claims to have been left hungry after a 1k bill at reataurant Contrada San Giovvani: Terrible. Simply terrible. No other words.

Charged from r things we hadnt even ordered. After 1k bill left hungry.

Moral of the story? Maybe you dont always get what you paid for. But if you do a little research before going somewhere (or chucking your credit card details at someone or something) you tend to get ripped off less.

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Climate activist groups protest in front of the U.S. Supreme Court as oral arguments are heard in U.S. Forest Service and Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC v. Cowpasture River Assn., in Washington on Feb. 24, 2020. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Supreme Court Seems Sympathetic to Pipeline Crossing Appalachian Trail

WASHINGTONSupreme Court justices seemed skeptical of environmentalist arguments that an appeals court was right to invalidate a U.S. Forest Service permit needed for a planned $8 billion natural gas pipeline.

The Atlantic Coast Pipeline proposed by Richmond, Virginia-based Dominion Energy Inc. is supposed to run 604.5 miles, bringing fracked natural gas from the Marcellus Shale basin in West Virginia to Virginia and North Carolina. With a diameter of 42 inches, the pipeline would have a capacity of up to 1.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day.

Dominion is developing the pipeline with Charlotte, North Carolina-based Duke Energy Corp., and hopes to get construction started mid-year and finished by late 2021. A regulatory review of the impact of the project on endangered species is not yet complete.

After other regulators approved the project, the U.S. Forest Service, which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, decided to allow the pipeline to cross underneath a portion of the nearly 2,200-mile Appalachian National Scenic Trail that winds through 14 states stretching from Georgia to Maine, but the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with environmentalists and overruled the agency.

The Trump administration supports Dominion Energys pro-development position.

The appeals court said the authority to grant pipeline rights-of-way ought to rest instead with the National Park Service, which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior, because the pipelines footprint runs through the George Washington National Forest in Virginia and West Virginia and Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia.

Supporters of the pipeline say the appeals court incorrectly substituted its judgment for that of Congress and the executive branch. They say the appeals court was wrong to find that the Forest Service lacked authority under the federal Mineral Leasing Act to approve a right-of-way for a pipeline that crosses the Appalachian Trail.

Anthony A. Yang from the U.S. Solicitor Generals Office said during oral arguments Feb. 24 that without the right-of-way, the whole enterprise is done, adding the parties involved would have to start over.

If a tree falls on forest lands over the trail, its the Forest Service thats responsible for it, Yang said. You dont call the nine Park Service employees at Harpers Ferry and ask them to come out and fix the tree.

The environmentalists theory is inconsistent with the [National Trails Systems] Act and would dramatically change the national trail system, he said.

During oral arguments, the two consolidated appeals that formed the case were heard together: U.S. Forest Service v. Cowpasture River Preservation Association and Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC v. Cowpasture River Preservation Association. The association is a nonprofit headquartered in Millboro, Virginia.

Dominion Energy and the Trump administration take the position that even though the National Park Service manages the Appalachian Trail, the land on which it sits is part of a national forest, which means it is within the jurisdiction of the Forest Service.

Justice Elena Kagan seemed perplexed, telling Yang that separating the trail from the land was a difficult distinction to wrap ones head around.

Chief Justice John Roberts differed, comparing the trail to an easement, in which someone owns the land itself, but others have the right to cross it.

This just doesnt strike me as that unusual a concept, he said.

Roberts also seemed incredulous at the arguments advanced by Michael K. Kellogg on behalf of the association.

The jurist asked Kellogg if it was his position that the Appalachian Trail constituted an impermeable barrier between the natural gas pipeline and the communities to its east that need the energy it would bring.

Absolutely incorrect, Your Honor, the lawyer replied, saying that there are 55 pipelines currently running under the Appalachian Trail, 19 of which are on federal land by virtue of permanent easements, and two of which are on state and local lands.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor told Kellogg he didnt appear to have proven the parade of horribles that have been put forth.

She said her most serious concern was the view that the entire trail can be used to stop pipelines or other things across the country.

Kellogg said that in the past 50 years, there has not been a single new pipeline right-of-way through federal lands under the Appalachian Trail, though some have been granted on state, local, and private lands.
On October 20, 2011, people around the world watched on their screens the images of a bloody man who was lynched by a hysterical crowd. A few moments later, two swollen bodies lying next to each other, on dirty mattresses placed on the floor were also shown to the world. The bodies were the Libyan leader, Muammar Qadhafi and his son Al-Mu'tasim-Billah al-Qadhafi.

The event marks the end of a bombing campaign against Libya by NATO forces and the ground battles of their occasional allies, the Libyan revolutionaries, who it will later turn out to be were fundamentalists and jihadists but the West - Paris, London, Brussels, and even the UN Secretary-General welcome the new era of Libya.

Why Africa is never allowed to grow despite all the resources on this big continent? Qadhafi was described as a megalomaniac and bloodthirsty dictator, whose relatives were enriched by diverting the country's oil wealth to the detriment of the Libyan people. He was also accused as a sponsor of international terrorism.

This is what the world was forced to believe about Qadhafi, described to be a monster and Qadha the reasons for the fatal war that the NATO powers have to wage against his country.

Do we have to believe the US government, NATO forces and its allies that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, yet when the Iraqi leader was captured and killed, nothing was found?

Well, it is now part of world history that George W. Bush and former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair were the two biggest liars and friends.

However, before the death of Muammar Qadhafi, on April 5, 2011, in Tripoli, Muammar Qadhafi poured out these emotional words, I prefer to call it The Lamentations Of Qadhafi. :

For 40 years, or perhaps more, I have done all I can to give the people homes, hospitals, schools and when they were hungry, I gave them food. I transformed Benghazi from a desert into fertile land, I resisted the attacks of the cowboy Reagan when trying to kill me, he killed an orphan, my adopted daughter, a poor innocent child.

I have helped my African brothers and sisters with money for the African Union. I have done everything to help the people understand the concept of true democracy, in which the popular committees govern our country.

For some, this was never enough, people who had 10-room houses, rich clothing, and furniture. Selfish as they are, they asked for more at the expense of others, they were always dissatisfied and told the Americans and other visitors that they wanted democracy and freedom.

They did not want to realize that it is a cutthroat system, where the biggest dog devours everything. They were enchanted by these words, not realizing that in the USA there were no free medicines, free hospitals, free houses, free education, and guaranteed food.

For them, nothing I did was enough, but for the others, I was the son of Gamal Abdel Nasser, the only true Arab and Muslim leader we had since Saladin, a man who returned the Suez Canal to his people as I have Libya claimed for my people.

It was his footsteps that I tried to follow, to keep my people free from colonial rule, from the raiders who would like to rob us. Now I am under attack from the greatest military force in history.

My little African son, Obama, wants to kill me, take away our country's freedom, our free homes, our free medicine, our free education, our safe food, and replace it with the US-style thief called capitalism. But we all in the Third World know what that means. It means that businesses govern countries, the world and that people suffer.

So there is no alternative for me, I have to resist and, if Allah wills, I will die following the way, the way that has enriched our country with fertile fields, food, health and has even allowed us to help our African and Arab brothers to work here with us in Libyan Jamahiriya.

I don't want to die, but if I had to get there, to save this land, my people, the thousands of my children, then it may be. Let this testament be my voice to the world, say that I opposed the attacks of the NATO crusaders, cruelty, betrayal, the West and its colonialist ambitions, that I resisted together with my African brothers, my real Arab and Muslim brothers.

I tried to shed some light when buildings were being built elsewhere; I lived in a modest house and tent. I have never forgotten my youth in Sirte, I have not wasted our national wealth and like Saladin, our great Muslim leader who saved Jerusalem for Islam, I took little for myself ...

Captured Muammar Qadhafi

In the West, someone called me crazy and insane. They know the truth, but continue to lie. They know that our land is independent and free, not subject to colonialism. They know that my vision and my path have always been honest and in the interest of my people. They know that I will fight to the last breath to keep us free. God help us.

Six months after pouring out this lamentation, Qadhafi was captured and brutally murdered. Libya is now in ruins, IS jihadists resist in the city, while a good part of the Libyan population is facing chaos and regrets.

In life, you will only miss your water when your well runs dry. This is a lesson to all African leaders easily deceived by the developed world. We are never loved because of the colour of our skin but loved because of what they get from Africa
Monster year, mini raise.

Yankees shortstop Gleyber Torres, coming off a 38-homer run season, will get just a raise of $70,400 for 2020, according to USA Todays Bob Nightengale.

Gleyber Torres had a marvelous season for the #Yankees in 2019 with his 38 homers, but it results in only a $70,400 raise. He'll earn $675,600 this season_his final year before being eligible for salary arbitration.  Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 25, 2020

Torres, the 23-year-old star, will make just $675,000. Hell enter arbitration next year.

Torres also hit .278 with 90 RBI and a .871 OPS in 546 at-bats en route to making his second All-Star team in as many years.

In 2018, his rookie year, Torres hit .271 with 24 bombs and 77 RBI.

The Yankees will be asking more from Torres this year, too. With the departure of Didi Gregorius to the Phillies, Torres will shift from second base to shortstop full time. DJ LeMahieu will be the Yankees every day second baseman.

Earlier in the spring, Torres was among the many Yankees who lashed out against the cheating Astros, saying that he believed they cheated in 2019, too. An MLB investigation found that Houston used an illegal sign-stealing scheme in 2017.

Ive heard too many people say hey Houston has something on the field. But I cant believe because how you know they have something like media or cameras and everything, he said.

Hes particularly disappointed in Jose Altuve. Torres and Altuve are from Venezuela and theyre close.

For me, its hard to see that, Torres said. I dont want to say something exactly to Altuve because of the relationship, were from the same county. But if he does all the stuff he does, its not fair.

Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.
U.S. health officials are issuing an elevated warning about the spread of coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Ultimately, we expect we will see community spread in the United States," said Nancy Messonnier, a top official at the CDC, during briefings with lawmakers and reporters Tuesday.

Its not a question of if this will happen, but when this will happen and how many people in this country will have severe illnesses.

Officials scrambled to halt the spread of a burgeoning virus Tuesday, from northern Italy where troops were dispatched to enforce quarantines and schools were shuttered, to South Korea, where some neighborhoods in a city of 2.5 million were brought to a near standstill.

New clusters of the illness popped up far from its apparent point of origin in China, fueling apprehension in world financial markets and political institutions. The spread fueled an increased sense of urgency among officials in some of the wealthiest nations in Europe and Asia, as well as in countries like Iran, with far fewer resources to stem the disease. But many remained uncertain about how best to contain it.

At a press conference during his visit to India on Tuesday, President Trump made a number of claims about the virus, which has sickened 80,000 and killed 2,700.

"I think that's a problem that's going to go away," Trump said of the virus, which has expanded this week in Italy, Austria, Croatia and Iran. In Iran, a day after the health minster appeared publicly to make clear that all was well, it was announced he had coronavirus.

In that news conference, Trump alleged that "we're very close to a vaccine."

However, there is no available evidence that a vaccine is "close," in fact, most infectious disease experts say developing a vaccine for the virus is roughly a year away.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tennessee), who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, told CNN's Manu Raju Tuesday morning that "the vaccine for the coronavirus is moving more rapidly than any vaccine we have already tried to approve -- but it will take a year or 18 months. The way to stop (an outbreak) is quarantine and monitoring."

Trump also claimed in the news conference that all the U.S. coronavirus patients "are getting better ... they're all getting better."

The latest tally shows 53 confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States as well as several other Americans with the virus in Japan.

In Italys north, where more than 200 people were sickened, a dozen towns were sealed off and police wearing face masks patrolled.

Two neighbors of Italy  Croatia and Austria  have reported their first cases of the virus. And an Italian doctor staying at a hotel in the Canary Islands tested positive for the virus, prompting the quarantine of hundreds of guests.

China reported 508 new cases and another 71 deaths, 68 of them in the central city of Wuhan, where the epidemic was first detected in December. The updates bring mainland China's totals to 77,658 cases and 2,663 deaths.

The World Health Organization said Monday the fatality rate was between 2% and 4% in Wuhan and 0.7% elsewhere in China.

Dr. Bruce Aylward, the WHO envoy who led a team just back from China, told reporters Tuesday the reason for the large discrepancy was partly because the disease hit Wuhan early and fast, when people didnt know what we were dealing with, were learning how to treat this.

At the beginning of the outbreak, people were finding severe disease, thats why the alarm bell went off, Aylward said. But now with more aggressive testing, mild cases are being diagnosed and isolated.

Still, he expressed frustration at people saying, 'Oh, the mortality rates not so bad because theres way more mild cases.' Sorry, the same number of people that were dying, still die.

While China remains home to the vast majority of cases, the world's attention has increasingly moved to where the outbreak would spread next. Iran was eyed as a source for new transmissions in the Middle East, including in Iraq, Kuwait and Oman, which were grappling with the spread past their borders.

The Associated Press and CNN contributed to this story.






President Moon Jae-in visits the Daegu Medical Center on Feb. 25, 2020. Yonhap



By Do Je-hae



President Moon Jae-in visited the southeastern city of Daegu to check on its response to COVID-19, Tuesday, and vowed strong support for the city and adjacent areas that have been hit hardest by the virus.



Moon presided over a government meeting held at the Daegu City Hall to discuss support measures for the city, where hundreds of confirmed cases have generated widespread public fear. Concerns have also been rising over the economic impact of the epidemic on the sagging local economy. The President's visit was aimed at assuaging the mounting public concerns and ensure the people that the government will take effective steps to contain the virus at an early date, according to the presidential office.





Gov't vows all-out quarantine for Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province Consumer sentiment suffers steepest drop since MERS outbreak Parents of preschoolers at loss over delayed spring semester In particular, he called on the need for noticeable progress in containing the virus by the end of this week. "We must see a turnaround this week," Moon said. "The government has been operating a pan-national support system by deploying the military and police forces and also getting help from the medical sector. Starting today, the Prime Minister will stay in Daegu and lead the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters."



It is the first time for the Prime Minister to take charge of the headquarters which has traditionally been run by the interior minister during national disasters. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun arrived in Daegu later in the day. This is seen to reflect Moon's resolute determination to settle the crisis at an early date.



Moon underlined the need to help Daegu overcome the epidemic. "The government is working on special measures to help ease the socioeconomic damage that Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province are experiencing. The government will expedite the implementation of the emergency budget, including special grants and reserves. The situation is so severe that declaring the region a special disaster zone will not be enough. To ensure sufficient financial support, we will actively consider the supplementary budget with parliamentary consent," Moon added.




Ajay Munde, Dr. Santosh Munde & Dr.Vijay Randad - taking care of aprenatal baby - 'SHIVKANYA' - found abandoned in thorny bushes near railway tracks in Parli, Beed. Maharashtra NCP Minister Dhananjay Munde has decided to become her 'Godfather' bear a Image Source: IANS News

Ajay Munde, Dr. Santosh Munde & Dr.Vijay Randad - taking care of aprenatal baby - 'SHIVKANYA' - found abandoned in thorny bushes near railway tracks in Parli, Beed. Maharashtra NCP Minister Dhananjay Munde has decided to become her 'Godfather' bear a Image Source: IANS News

Ajay Munde, Dr. Santosh Munde & Dr.Vijay Randad - taking care of aprenatal baby - 'SHIVKANYA' - found abandoned in thorny bushes near railway tracks in Parli, Beed. Maharashtra NCP Minister Dhananjay Munde has decided to become her 'Godfather' bear a Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Feb 25 : In a heart-warming gesture, Maharashtra Social Justice Minister Dhananjay Munde has rushed to the aid of a severely malnourished, pre-natal female baby dumped on thorny bushes near railway tracks in his native village Parli in Beed district.

On Monday, some people passing by the railway line heard painful wails of a baby and were shocked to see the newborn, precariously lodged on a thorny bed of the acacia plant.

"Someone called me up from there and informed me of this shocking find. I immediately called up the doctors at the hospital and directed them to take proper care of the baby," Munde told IANS.

A father of three young daughters himself, Munde said he was deeply moved after hearing the plight of the rejected female child, and decided to help her on humanitarian grounds.

"The infant weighs barely 1.5 kgs and it is imperative that she should gain weight to at least 2-2.5 kgs over the next one month or so. She is under good care now," Munde added.

Maharashtra NCP Youth Wing Vice President Santosh Munde said the child was first rushed to the local Civil Hospital, but as her condition appeared very critical, "(Minister) Mundeji asked us to shift her to a private hospital and we rushed her to the Randad Hospital in Parli in the evening".

"She was put under the care of Dr. Vijay Randad," he said.

Randad said that the girl's medical examination revealed that she was a prematurely born baby, aged between 28-30 weeks (around seven-and-half months) but grossly underweight.

"We immediately started her treatment last night... She had suffered a lot of injuries from the thorny bushes but none appear to be very serious as of now. Today, we put her on IV fluids and started feeding her. She has accepted one feed successfully and we will gradually increase the quantity," Randad told IANS.

However, he admitted that though critical she is stable, but will need to gain weight to lead a healthy life and all efforts are underway to ensure this.

Randad said he was "90 percent confident" that the child will overcome the ordeal successfully after proper treatment without any permanent scars.

An anxious Munde - who was on the phone monitoring the baby's condition till early on Tuesday - was finally relieved and slept only after the doctors declared she was "out of danger", revealed an aide.

For starters, the minister has named the baby as 'Shivkanya' and decided to take care of her complete treatment expenses and later get her admitted to a good orphanage for her upkeep.

"There will be many legal formalities to be completed, but I have not yet decided on formally adopting her yet," Munde added.

Impressed by her colleague's gesture, NCP chief Sharad Pawar's daughter and MP Supriya Sule has also decided to chip in and promised to take care of Shivkanya till she attains marriageable age, if necessary.

Locals say it is a miracle that the baby emerged unscathed from attacks by wild creatures or reptiles or insects and has got a new lease of life thanks to the minister.

Meanwhile, taking serious cognizance of the desertion, the Beed police have launched a hunt to nab the couple which had thrown her away to her certain death, said an official.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in)
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Several major Spanish hospitals are starting to check patients being treated for bilateral pneumonia (i.e. in both lungs), and who do not have other causes such as pneumococcus or complications from the flu, for the Covid-19 coronavirus, health sources have confirmed to EL PAIS.

The measure is being taken due to the conviction among health professionals that the virus could have been circulating in Spain for several days already. If we havent detected it, its because we havent been looking for it, and now we need to take that step, said a department head from a large Spanish hospital.

A person can take between seven and 12 days to develop pneumonia due to the coronavirus, explained a microbiologist from another major health center in Spain. This is what started to be seen in Italy on Friday, but before that the virus had been circulating for some time. It is very likely that it will arrive in Spain and we are going to check for that now.

Existing protocols are beginning to be swept aside due to the speed of events

The protocol being followed until now only allowed for specific tests to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as the coronavirus has been designated, when patients met two criteria: they were suffering respiratory symptoms, and they had some kind of link (a trip, personal contact, etc.) with the epicenter of the epidemic in China.

This protocol is now starting to be swept aside, in some cases on the initiative of the health center itself and in others on suggestions from the regional public health services.

A large hospital with 600 to 1,000 beds can normally have one or two patients a day with bilateral pneumonia that has not been diagnosed due to the usual causes, meaning that we could be talking about 10

Many health chiefs now believe that it will be impossible to stop the spread of Covid-19

0 to 150 patients in this situation in Spain, a health source explained. In fact, the large majority will be due to other illnesses. But they are a good sample to see whether there are already patients with pneumonia caused by the virus or if there are cases found in the coming days.

Not all of the regions nor all hospitals have started to apply these new tests. We are doing this kind of on the fly because of the speed of events in Italy, and the lack of agreement yesterday in the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control [ECDC] has created a certain sensation of a vacuum, explains a third hospital chief. But it is a question of hours or days before they are all doing it. The source, like the others, requested anonymity given the current uncertainty.

Sources with knowledge of the meeting on Monday by the ECDCs advisory board  made up of public health chiefs from the EUs member states  said that two major debates overlapped. The first, with Italy on one side, was concerned with maintaining the current criteria for defining cases and limiting the places considered to be at risk to the localities put under quarantine in the north of the country. Other states, meanwhile, wanted to expand the risk zone to the rest of Italy given the fast spread of the virus.

Impossible to stop

But many health chiefs now believe that it will be impossible to stop the spread of Covid-19. If they couldnt do it with the draconian measures imposed in China, which is thousands of kilometers away, it would be naive to think that we can do this with the virus on our doorstep, the sources explained.

Its not that quarantines and other containment measures are not useful, the same sources said. They can give us more time and slow down the propagation speed. But you have to pose another scenario, whereby we assume that the illness is going to be here, the population will have to be educated and the hospitals prepared. That is what a number of countries were arguing for in the ECDC last night.

It is better to start to do all of this before the virus arrives or is diagnosed, said the head of an infectious diseases department at a large Spanish hospital. Doing it once the trickle of cases has begun and the population is alarmed is a lot more difficult.

It is important that the ECDC retakes the lead, because if not, countries will start taking measures unilaterally and everything will be a lot more complicated, concludes the head of preventive medicine from another major health center.

Five cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed so far in Spain. The first two patients identified have already been discharged after being quarantined at hospitals in La Gomera (Canary Islands) and Mallorca (Balearic Islands). An Italian guest and his wife tested positive while staying at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace on the Canary Island of Tenerife, leading authorities to isolate the 1,000 or so guests at the hotel. And a fifth case was confirmed on Tuesday afternoon in Catalonia by the regional health authorities.

English version by Simon Hunter.
Saudi court sentences a citizen to death and seven to jail time on charges of treason and spying for Iran.

A Saudi criminal court has sentenced one citizen to death and seven others to prison on charges of treason and spying for Iran, state television reported.

The Saudi national sentenced to death was accused of betraying his country and offering intelligence to Iran, Al-Ekhbariya television said on Twitter on Tuesday.

Seven others were sentenced to a total jail term of 58 years for having associated and cooperated with people working in the embassy of Iran, it added.

The broadcaster did not identify the people nor explain with which Iranian embassy they were accused of cooperating.

Saudi-owned publication Al-Arabiya said the death sentence was handed down to a person who was proven to have leaked confidential information to Iranian intelligence.

The confidential information which was leaked affects Saudi national security and includes intelligence on two foreign embassies, such as their entrances, exits, and security presence, Al-Arabiya reported.

Last year, Saudi Arabia executed 37 nationals in connection with terrorism, on charges of adopting extremist terrorist ideologies.

The United Nations decried that decision, describing it as shocking and abhorrent.

Sunni Saudi Arabia snapped diplomatic relations with Shia-dominated Iran following the 2016 attacks by demonstrators on its missions in Iran after the kingdom executed revered Shia Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

Tensions have risen in recent months after a series of attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf and Saudi oil installations.

Washington and Riyadh have accused Iran of being behind those attacks, a charge denied by Tehran.

Saudi Arabia and Iran have taken opposing sides on various conflicts in the Middle East, including the wars in Yemen and Syria.

Riyadh has also backed Trumps maximum pressure campaign against Iran, in which the US leader imposed punishing sanctions against Tehran after Washington abandoned a landmark deal that curbed Tehrans nuclear programme.
A NSW private school that erected a statue resembling a celebrated former teacher accused of inflicting physical and sexual abuse upon students has removed the sculpture within days of a public outcry from alleged victims.

But despite its distinct similarity to Desmond Lyle 'Jim' Graham, an Order of Australia recipient and veteran staff member of The Armidale School (TAS), headmaster Alan Jones and chairman Sebastian Hempel repeated previous assertions the bronze figure unveiled during a tribute concert for the late teacher was not him.

The Armidale School has removed a statue resembling late housemaster Desmond Lyle Jim Graham, seen (left) at a party.

"However, it is clear that a number of former students who see a likeness to Jim Graham associate the statue with their painful and unhappy experience at TAS," the pair said in a letter to the school community on Tuesday afternoon.

"While acknowledging the positive contribution Jim Graham made to many TAS students and created a strong legacy in creative arts during his 43 years at the school, in light of these fresh allegations, the school has decided the statue will be removed out of respect for those to whom it causes pain and suffering."
Medical workers in protective suits work on diagnostic testing of throat swabs and other fluid samples at a coronavirus detection lab in Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak. Read more

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday warned that coronavirus will penetrate U.S. borders and spread within communities, despite containment efforts, so families should prepare for disruptions such as schools and workplaces closing.

Its not so much of a question of if this will happen in this country anymore but a question of when this will happen, physician Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said during a teleconference.

At the same time, she acknowledged that testing capacity remains very limited because a diagnostic test kit developed by the CDC and sent to state labs 19 days ago had a faulty reagent, a substance used in a chemical reaction. Health departments in New Jersey and Pennsylvania said Tuesday that they had yet to receive working kits.

Only a dozen U.S. labs outside the CDC have usable tests. The CDCs website says it has tested only 426 people who meet narrow criteria  respiratory symptoms and recent travel to China or close contact with a confirmed case. Some experts worry that undetected infection may be spreading because many people who get sick have only mild symptoms.

Messonnier said a new version of the test will be shipped soon.

Im frustrated, she said, but added that we have to make sure we keep to the highest level of quality assurance.

 READ MORE: How the coronavirus 'jumped' to humans is a story as old as evolution

The new virus, which causes an upper respiratory illness that ranges from mild to deadly, has spread to 33 countries since it emerged in Wuhan, China, in late December, and more countries report infections almost daily. Although most of the 80,239 confirmed cases are in China, the World Health Organization on Monday said the epidemic could become a pandemic, defined as an outbreak of a new disease-causing germ that spreads easily, person-to-person, around the globe. So far, 2,700 people have died, including 34 outside of China, according to WHO.

The CDC has issued guidelines to try to minimize community spread, such as canceling big gatherings and closing schools, but Messonnier warned that disruptions to daily life may be severe. She said families should think about issues such as child care, missing work, and telecommuting.

I understand this whole situation may seem overwhelming, she said. But these are things that people need to start thinking about now. I had a conversation with my family over breakfast this morning, and I told my children that, while I dont think they are at risk right now, we as a family need to be preparing for significant disruption of our lives.

The CDCs test was authorized for emergency distribution but has not gone through the normal government approval process. The test uses PCR (polymerase chain reaction), a Nobel Prize-winning technology that has revolutionized molecular biology since its invention in 1986. It creates unlimited copies of DNA using an original strand from a sample of blood or other body fluid.

Big companies such as Roche have automated components of PCR tests to make them faster, less laborious, less prone to cross-contamination, and usable in hospitals and clinics. The CDCs test, in contrast, has room for error.

The CDC came up with a stopgap, said Michael Mina, an epidemiology and infectious-disease specialist at Harvard University. But they sent a conventional PCR kit that would be used in research labs, not a plug-and-play cartridge. There are some tubes that require filling. And the CDC isnt in the business of making reagents.

Countries with sizable outbreaks, including South Korea, have come up with coronavirus tests and run them on thousands of samples.

In the United States, dozens of companies and academic labs are racing to develop better tests. Among the innovators are Biomeme, a Philadelphia biotech start-up, and Haim Bau, a computational and fluid mechanics expert at the University of Pennsylvania.

But obtaining samples of the virus to validate new tests is a major obstacle for many developers.

If we can, we will try to test our assay in China with samples from there, Bau said.

Max Perelman, cofounder of Biomeme, said the company has shared its PCR test technology  a handheld platform that runs on a smartphone  with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, although the company has not given its assays for COVID-19 testing.

Theyre very tight-lipped," Perelman said, about plans for emergency use authorization of COVID-19 tests other than the CDCs.

Messonnier on Tuesday said commercial tests are coming, but not how soon.

Meanwhile, the Association of Public Health Laboratories, which represents state and local laboratories, has sent a letter asking the FDA for permission to develop and use their own tests, according to the Washington Post.

This is an extraordinary request, but this is an extraordinary time, Scott Becker, chief executive of the association, told the Post.

In an earlier briefing, the World Health Organization announced findings from its experts who have been deployed in China:

Aggressive quarantines and other restrictions in that country likely prevented hundreds of thousands of cases.

The genetic code of the virus has not mutated much since it was initially identified, suggesting that ongoing efforts to produce a vaccine will be useful.

Among people in Wuhan who were known to be infected with the virus, the fatality rate was between 2% and 4%, and 0.7% outside Wuhan. But epidemiologists say the true fatality rates are likely much lower, as many people who were infected were never identified.

Children have not been hard-hit by the illness. Most fatalities have occurred in those aged 70 and up. In addition to age, underlying illness and smoking also increase the risk of severe symptoms.

People with mild symptoms have recovered after two weeks. Those with a severe or critical form of the illness, if they recover, do so within three to six weeks.

Staff writer Tom Avril contributed to this article.
A doctor has called on Bernie Sanders to release a key indicator of his heart health - months after the presidential candidate suffering a heart attack on the campaign trail.

Sanders says he doesn't plan to divulge additional information about his health after releaseing 'comprehensive' medical records.

The campaign waited until New Year's Eve to put out letters from three doctors attesting to his health - a move traditionally deployed to avoid scrutiny. But the three letters are not the same as medical records.

The president of the American College of Cardiology, Richard Kovacs, tells NBC News that if Sanders released one simple indicator of his heart health, it could put to rest any lingering questions.

The indicator, known as the left ventricular ejection fraction, is given to any patient after a heart attack and is a measure of how much blood volume the heart pushes out with an individual heartbeat.

It can correlates with the risk for future cardiac events and mortality rate.

Questions about Sanders' health have lingered ever since he checked into a Las Vegas hospital with chest discomfort on October 1 and had two stents inserted

'Normally the heart will push out 60 percent,' Kovacs said. 'If you go down to 40 or 50 percent, we regard that as mild impairment of the left ventricle. Thirty to 40 percent would be moderate. If you get to 30 percent, that would be severe.'

Sanders has not revealed what his number was at the time of his heart attack or what it is currently.

The three letters, Kovacs says, 'imply with the heart attack that he (Sanders) had diminished heart muscle strength,' or a lowered fraction.

'It's a patient's personal private information but there's the importance of the number,' Kovacs said. 'They've chosen not to reveal the ejection fraction.'

Sanders, the oldest candidate in the race, released a two-page review from his primary care doctor, and two cardiologist notes, each a long paragraph

The ejection fraction rate is a good indicator of the progress of Sanders' recovery, Kovacs said.

When Sanders was asked whether he would release more details, he simply responded: 'you can start releasing medical records and it never ends.'

'I think we have released a detailed medical report, and Im comfortable on what we have done,' the 78-year-old Vermont senator said during a recent town hall.

'We have released as much' medical information 'as any other candidate,' he told Meet the Press earlier this month.

Questions about Sanders' health have lingered ever since he checked into a Las Vegas hospital with chest discomfort on October 1 and had two stents inserted.

His campaign didn't acknowledge that he had suffered a heart attack until his release several days later.

Sanders' campaign has decided not to release an indicator, known as the 'left ventricular ejection fraction', which is given to any patient after a heart attack and show heart health

'Full transparency would be to release his ejection fraction,' said another cardiologist Dr. Hadley Wilson.

'A subsequent stress test in January and the other information about his clinical response were all very positive and encouraging,' Wilson said.

'I don't really know why Sanders wouldn't release it', he added. 'It is an important baseline but it does have to be taken into the whole clinical context, including the fact that Sanders hasn't had additional incidents, which is all positive', he said.

BERNIE SANDERS' MEDICAL NUMBERS Age: 78 Height: 6ft 0ins Weight: 174lbs Body Mass Index: 23.6 (healthy range is 18.5 to 24.99) Blood pressure: 102 over 56 - 'normal' Total cholesterol: 117 mg/dL Martin LeWinter, Bernie Sanders' cardiologist, was one of the three doctors signing letters. He is professor of medicine and attending cardiologist at the University of Vermont Medical center LDL ('bad') cholesterol: 58 mg/dL('optimal') HDL ('good') cholesterol: 32mg/dL ('high risk for heart disease') Blood sugar: 84 mg/dL (normal) Medications: Atorvastatin, aspirin, clopidogrel, levothyroxine, and lisinopril Exercise regimen: 'Exercise regularly.' Treadmill test after heart treatment rated his ability above average for 78-year-olds, was cleared to 'resume vigorous activity without limitation' Tobacco: No history of tobacco use Drugs: Not addressed Alcohol: 'Seldom' drinks alcohol Medical history: Most significant treatment was in October after a heart attack, with two stents inserted after acute blockage of a coronary artery. Received medication to improve heart function and provide anti-platelet therapy and was released after three days. Blood thinning and beta-blocking medication was later discontiuned. Has also been treated for gout, hypercholesterolemia, diverticulitis, laryngitis secondary to esophageal reflux and lumbar strain. Has had superficial skin lesions removed. Advertisement

After winning Saturday's Nevada caucuses and with momentum growing following strong performances in earlier contests, Sanders is facing additional pressure to reveal more.

Last week, campaign spokeswoman Briahna Joy Gray sought to deflect health-related inquiries during an appearance on CNN and suggested that such line of questioning was akin to a 'smear campaign.'

'Heres what we know about Sen. Sanders: In October 2019, he had a medical incident in Las Vegas. He didn't tell the public for days and the full details have never been released,' Bloomberg campaign manager Kevin Sheekey said.

Bloomberg had two stents inserted after his doctors performed a heart stress test in 2000, but he did not have a heart attack.

After returning to the campaign trail in late October, Sanders pledged to release detailed information before the year's end.

'I want to make it comprehensive,' Sanders said in an interview with The Associated Press at the time.

Whether he's lived up to that is open to interpretation.

Jeff Weaver, senior adviser to Sanders, told reporters he doesn't understand why theres a recurring question about the senators health records and said 'its actually a little bit ridiculous.'

'He's released as much or more than any other candidate on that stage, released a letter from the attending physician of the U.S. Capitol, Brian Monahan, who has been his doctor for 29 years. You know, this is not one of those Trump-rent-a-doctors - this is the attending physician at the U.S. Capitol - and two leading cardiologists who have had him under their care. All of them say he is fully able to handle the rigors of the presidency,' Weaver said.

'I think any of you who follow him on the campaign trail know that he can handle the rigors of that probably better than many of us standing here,' he added.

Monahan said Sanders is in 'good health' and has stopped taking several medications that were required after the heart attack.

Sanders, the oldest candidate in the race, released a two-page review from his primary care doctor, and two cardiologist notes, each essentially a long paragraph.

Sanders' health is arguably of most concern because of his heart attack, and together those doctors' notes did reveal some important information: Hed undergone an exercise stress test after recovering, and it showed that his heart, which had sustained 'modest heart muscle damage,' was functioning well when challenged.

Trump (left) released a letter from Dr Harold Borstein (right) before he was elected president saying his health was 'astonishingly excellent'

Letter from Trump's doctor, Harold Bornstein, saying his health was 'astonishingly excellent'

None of that information sheds light on one concern in particular for older candidates: the chances of their memory and cognitive ability declining during their time in office.

Sanders would become the oldest president ever elected if he was voted into the White House - beating Donald Trump who was 70 when he first took office in 2016.

Biden, 77, who would also beat Trump's record, released a doctor's letter in December saying he is 'healthy, vigorous' and 'fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency.'

During the 2016 election campaign, Trump released a letter written by his physician Dr. Harold Bornstein saying his health was 'astonishingly excellent' and that he would be 'the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency.'

Dr Bornstein later claimed Trump dictated the letter and that he wrote it in five minutes while a limo sent by the candidate waited outside his office.

A second letter said Trump had normal levels of cholesterol and blood sugar and a colonoscopy and chest X-ray had shown no problems and he had a low risk of prostate cancer.

Trump boasted afterwards: 'I am fortunate to have been blessed with great genes.'
Later this spring, the Missouri Supreme Court will hear a highly unusual case. A mans life hangs in the balance. So, too, does the authority of Kim Gardner, St. Louis top prosecutor, whose efforts to free him have been stymied by a power structure she says is allied against her because she is progressive and because she is black.

Gardners fight for Lamar Johnsons freedom has become a reckoning moment over the power of progressive prosecutorsparticularly women of colorand whether the systems theyve vowed to reform will let them.

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The strange twists and turns of State v. Lamar Johnson have exposed a conviction that appears gangrenous with police and prosecutorial misconduct. Johnson was convicted in 1995 of the first-degree murder of Marcus Boyd and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Gardner, who in 2017 became the first black circuit attorney for the city of St. Louis, received a federal grant to open a conviction integrity unit to look back at cases like Johnsonsmarred by credible allegations of state malfeasance and claims of innocence.

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Gardners investigation revealed that the sole eyewitness against Johnson was paid more than $4,000 to make a false identification that he later recanted, detectives fabricated four other witness statements, and the true perpetrators had come forward and said that Johnson had nothing to do with it. On July 29, 2019, Gardners office sought to vacate Johnsons conviction and grant him a new trial because they believed that the evidence of his innocence was overwhelming.

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Traditional prosecutors rarely advocate to upend a conviction, and other officials quickly stepped in. Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Hogan denied Johnsons release. But first, in an eyebrow-raising move, Hogan appointed Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt to intervene in the case. According to the judge, Gardner suffered from a conflict of interest because she was investigating misconduct by the police and the trial prosecutor, who no longer worked in her office.

The attorney general has not disputed that Johnson was wrongfully convicted, but is nonetheless spearheading the effort to keep Johnson in prison. In August, Schmitt argued, and the judge agreed, that Gardners motion was improper [and] untimely, rejecting a line of Missouri cases that permit an exception to prevent a manifest injustice. If this argument prevails in the states highest court, it will establish a legal precedent that would deal a death blow to Johnsons case, Gardners conviction integrity unit, and the chance at freedom for scores of other wrongfully convicted people in Missouri.

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Johnsons case, and the treatment of Gardner, made headlines across the country. Forty-five prosecutorsRepublicans and Democrats, from urban and rural districtsfiled a brief in support of her position. Addressing past injustices such as wrongful convictions is a core duty of an elected prosecutor, they wrote, calling the appointment of the attorney general an invitation for prosecutorial turf wars over phantom conflicts. One hundred and six law professors weighed in with a brief of their own, noting that Gardners actions were not only correct but ethically required. (I was one of them). More than 25,000 people signed a Color of Change petition protesting the attorney generals actions in the case.

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Lets be perfectly clear: A prosecutors primary duty is to serve as a minister of justice. Entombing the innocent under a smother blanket of technicalities is anathema to that mission. In conviction units across the country, prosecutors routinely look into misconduct by police and prosecutors to overturn wrongful convictions. To date, these efforts by have resulted in more than 350 exonerations.

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So what is going on here? Gardner claims that the resistance she faces in Johnsons case is part of a larger effort to upend her reform agenda and drive her from office by a police department with a history of racism.

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Invoking the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, Gardner filed a federal lawsuit in January accusing the city, the police department, and other officials of engaging in racially motivated conspiracy. The named defendants, she claims, have done everything in their power to try to remove her from the position to which she was duly electedby any means necessaryand perhaps to show her successor what happens to Circuit Attorneys who dare to stand up for the equal rights of racial minorities in St. Louis.

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There is evidence to suggest Gardner is right. Although St. Louis population is 46 percent black, the citys police department is 66 percent white. (The chief of the police department is black, but most of the top positions are filled by white officers). It has been tarred by accusations of racism. From 2014 to 2019, more than 40 current and former officers posted racist messages on social media. These included public Facebook posts calling for black residents to move to a different country to pay their own welfare and promoting the logo Black Lives Splatter Because Blue Lives Matter.

Gardner has received hate mail and even notes on her car windshield full of vile, racist expletives.

In her 2016 campaign, Gardner vowed to take on racial justice issues raised by the Black Lives Matter protests in nearby Ferguson. She pledged to divert low-level felony offenses, set up an independent entity to investigate police shootings, and enact policies to address racial disparities within the system. This agenda has met with resistance from power brokers within the St. Louis police department from the outset. The departments union, the St. Louis Police Officers Association, has also publicly criticized Gardners decision to decline cases involving 28 of its officers because of concerns about their history of dishonesty and, she says, successfully blocked her attempt to seek city funding for an independent team of investigators to look into officer-involved shootings.

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But it was Gardners decision in 2018 to pursue a case against former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens that triggered an especially explosive conflict with the police department. The initial charge, felony invasion of privacy, followed accusations by Greitens hairdresser that he sexually assaulted her, took a picture of her naked body, and threatened to send it everywhere. The woman, who testified under oath before state lawmakers, was found credible by both Republican and Democratic legislators. Gardner hired a retired FBI agent, William Don Tisaby, to investigate the case because, she claims, the St. Louis Police Department and the FBI showed no interest in investigating the allegations. (John Hayden, St. Louis police chief, adamantly denies this.) The St. Louis Police Department then asked for an independent prosecutor to investigate Tisaby, whom they claimed was lying and tampering with evidence in his investigation of Greitenswith Gardners knowledge. The judge agreed and appointed an attorney in private practice who is a close friend of Greitens lead counsel. As part of the investigation, Gardner alleges, the police executed a search warrant of her office and seized a server containing all of her employees emails and files in 40 investigations into police misconduct. Last June, the special prosecutor indicted Tisaby for perjury and evidence tampering; the case is scheduled to go to trial in March. Gardner, meanwhile, ultimately dropped the case against Greitens in exchange for the governors resignation. But the investigation into her office is ongoing, and her lawsuit cites the investigation as an example of how shes been relentlessly undermined.

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The St. Louis Police Officers Association called Gardners lawsuit the last act of a desperate woman and demanded her ouster. But the local black police officers unionyes, in St. Louis, there is one union for black officers and one union for white officershas come to Gardners defense. That lawsuit is legitimate, the unions president said. The nations largest organization of black law enforcement officials is standing by her.

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Progressive district attorneys across the country have also rallied to Gardners side, including 11 black female prosecutors who signed a joint statement praising her strength in facing down what they called the citys corrupt and racist political establishment. Pointing to their own experiences in office, they say that the pushback they face is qualitatively different than that of their white male counterpartsriven by racism and misogyny designed to terrorize them into leaving their jobs.

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Gardner has received hate mail and even notes on her car windshield full of vile, racist expletives. One such message Gardner shared with Slate vowed, Youre not going to beat these white boys. This vitriol is familiar to many of the prosecutors who are supporting her. Baltimore States Attorney Marilyn Mosby has been locked in a battle with Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who has called upon the states attorney general to take over violent criminal prosecutions in the city, stating that the crime rate is unacceptable. In January, after declaring her support for Gardner, Mosbywho has received death threats since taking office in 2015received a racist voicemail message. On it, the caller describes Mosby and Gardner as birds of a feather, bitch. Thats what you are. You hate cops. You hate white people.

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Kim Foxx, the states attorney for Cook County, Illinois, is dealing with her own special prosecutor, appointed to investigate her decision to drop the charges against black actor Jussie Smollett for alleging he was the victim of a hate crime that he staged himself. (A few weeks ago, the special prosecutor indicted Smollett for lying to police in connection with that incident). In April 2019, white nationalist groups showed up at a rally organized by the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police to publicize their opposition to Foxx. She, too, has received death threats. And Aramis Ayala, the district attorney for Orange and Osceola counties and the first black person ever elected to the top prosecutor position in Florida when she won in 2016, was sent racist letters and a noose in the mail after she announced that her office would no longer seek the death penalty. Floridas then-governor, Rick Scott, responded by transferring 29 murder cases in Ayalas district to another county, a decision that the Florida Supreme Court upheld. Ayala has stated that she will not run for reelection in 2020, citing a direct conflict between her agenda and the states power structure.

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Gardner is not giving up. She views the upcoming battle in the state Supreme Court over Johnsons conviction as part of a larger struggle. If anything, she says, the threats and vitriol have strengthened her resolve to free Johnson and fight for her right to do her job in the way she sees fit: as a prosecutor elected to bring systemic change to a city that, she says, is ground zero for criminal justice reform. The establishment power structure, she told me, is trying to make an example out of me, take my bar card, ruin my career, and run me out of town. It is not going to happen.
The Bihar assembly on Tuesday passed a unanimous resolution holding that there is no need for NRC in the state and updating of the National Population Register (NPR) should be done according to the 2010 format.

The all-party resolution followed a debate on adjournment motion moved by leader of the opposition Tejashwi Yadav and others in the House.

It got the approval of the house in the post-lunch session.

Earlier, while replying to the debate on the motion, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had reiterated his opposition to "additional clauses" having been inserted into the NPR.

He told the house that the state government has written to the Centre requesting that these be dropped.

Kumar told the assembly that there should be "no confusion" regarding how the NPR exercise would be carried out in the state and that nobody would be asked to furnish information like place and date of birth of one's parents.

Reading out the text of the letter to the Centre, he said it has also been proposed by the Bihar government that "transgenders" be included in the gender column of the NPR.

A strong opponent of National Register for Citizens (NRC) despite his alliance with the BJP, Kumar, however, disapproved of 'hauva' (bogey) of NRC being raised by the opposition despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's categorical statement that its countrywide implementation was not on the anvil.

Kumar said that CAA is a central act passed by Parliament which is currently pending with the Supreme Court.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
When it comes to elections conducted by the City of Rio Rancho, I am proud to say we are making great strides.

Right after my election as mayor in 2014, I had several priorities when it came to Rio Rancho elections.

First and foremost, I wanted to make sure that citizens had the opportunity to vote for or against improving their roads and public-safety services. As simple and appropriate as that sounds, this had not been the case for several years.

In fact, placing a road-improvement question on the 2016 ballot came about only when I broke a tied city council vote.

Over the past four years, the people of Rio Rancho have had the opportunity to support or not support improving their roads and public safety on several occasions. In 2016, 63 percent supported a road improvement bond.

In 2018, 78 percent endorsed a road-improvement bond, and 73 percent said yes to investments in public-safety vehicles and equipment.

As part of the upcoming March 3 Rio Rancho ballot featuring city council seats, citizens will once again have the opportunity to vote on bond questions that support necessary road work and public-safety vehicle, equipment and facility needs. If approved, neither bond question will raise your property tax rate.

Visit the citys website, rrnm.gov/2020election, for complete election and bond question information.

Along with ensuring citizens are allowed to vote on matters that affect them, I have also strongly supported making voting more convenient through additional polling sites, and that election-related information is communicated in a robust manner.

For the 2016 and 2018 Rio Rancho elections, an additional early voting site was funded and made available. For this upcoming election, and in accordance with recent state law changes, more voting sites will be in place as compared to the past.

Communicating and making election-related information widely accessible has evolved over the years. Traditional forms (website, paid advertisements, brochures and public information meetings) continue to be utilized, but methods such as social media, short videos and online question-and-answer sessions have become part of city efforts as well.

Lastly, recent state law changes approved by the New Mexico Legislature and governor have imposed new mandates and made different options available to cities like Rio Rancho regarding conducting elections. One such option was to move our March election to this past November and join a ballot featuring entities like the school district.

The city council and I rejected this option because, in order to make this change, voter photo-identification requirements had to be eliminated administratively by city officials.

In 2012, Rio Rancho voters, by an 80 percent margin, added to the citys charter/constitution a photo-identification requirement for municipal government elections. I do not support Rio Ranchos elected officials administratively overriding a vote of the people.

I am hopeful that state government officials will revisit the election laws they have created in the near future so that cites like Rio Rancho are not put in such an untenable position going forward.

(Gregg Hull was elected to his second four-year term as Rio Rancho mayor in 2018.)
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If youve ever felt frustrated when a website asks you to select photos of traffic lights in order to prove that youre not a robot, or struggled for a way to keep all your internet passwords straight, then digital-age satire Delete History was made with you in mind. Like the spam folder on your Google Mail account, its stuffed to bursting with wry observations about how smartphones, social media and the modern world in general  innovations that were putatively intended to simplify our lives  appear to be complicating it instead.

In this laugh-out-loud, low-concept comedy from French directing team Benoit Delepine and Gustave Kervern (known for renegade road movies Aaltra and Mammuth), the thinnest of storylines unites a loose collection of gags involving a trio of middle-aged, middle-class neighbors each suffering from a host of 21st-century headaches. The big joke, such as it is, hinges on the idea that they simultaneously reach a snapping point  to peter un cable, in French  where they vow to take on the tech companies that are ruining their lives.

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Drowning in debt and unsure how to protect his daughter from cyberbullying at school, lonely widower Bertrand (Denis Podalydes) takes comfort in long, intimate conversations with a Mauritian telemarketer named Miranda. Single mom Marie (comedian Blanche Gardin) didnt make a penny off the 700-million-viewer viral cat video she made, which makes it tough to pay the ransom a blackmailer (Vincent Lacoste in a game cameo) is asking not to upload a sex tape. And premium-TV bulimic Christine (Corinne Masiero) cant stop bingeing her favorite series, which got her fired from her day job and isnt helping her backup as a low-rated ride-share chauffeur.

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In addition to the films obvious digital targets, Delete History comes across as a parody of Frances disgruntled working class (Christine keeps a yellow vest in her glove compartment, a sign that she identifies with the countrys recent economic protests). Although all three own ugly suburban homes in Hauts-de-France (to the north, near the Belgian border) and enjoy the privilege of having phones and cars and personal computers, theyre each just scraping by  like slaves to a consumerist culture, although slaves implies some degree of forced labor, and theres very little of that in evidence.

For the first 80 minutes or so, the three actors do their best to cope with the absurdities of technology, bureaucracy and their own idiocy  all of which are represented in easily relatable scenarios, many of them as little more than one-off setups. In one scene, Benoit Poelvoorde plays an Alimazone messenger who nearly suffers a nervous breakdown trying to deliver two dozen water bottles to an online shopper. Later, Marie is impressed to see a teenager with a book and wants to know what hes reading. How to Choose the Right Cell Phone, he answers. And so on.

Six years ago, Jason Reitman made a reasonably starry movie focused on a lot of these same concerns called Men, Women & Children, and hardly anybody saw it, which suggests it would take a miracle for Delete History to make much of an impact in the States. That doesnt mean Delepine and Kerverns vaguely out-of-touch, dad-joke version isnt satisfying in the zero-calorie, aspartame-aftertasting way that a Seinfeld routine can be: No doubt, most of the vignettes they dramatize here would be better suited to stand-up comedy, or broken out into sketches on a show like Saturday Night Live.

But it would be remiss not to acknowledge the deeper critique that underlies Delete History, made clear when the three friends manage to track down a wild-eyed hacker who calls himself God (Bouli Lanners), and even he claims to have no dominion over the Cloud  the new artificial intelligence that man has created to outsmart himself. Taking matters into their own hands, the trio divide and conquer.

Marie flies to Silicon Valley, where she infiltrates the data center where virtual sex tapes from around the world are stored on massive hard drives. My pys in the Cloud! she screams, making a Borat-style scene of things. Christine hauls a chain saw in to her Uber-esque employers office. And Bertrand follows his heart to Mauritania (though Kervern was born there, the locals are depicted like one-dimensional ethnic stereotypes out of a Tintin cartoon  and its even worse for a service somewhere in the Middle East that can boost your star ratings and social-media likes).

If Network was the hyper-articulate, mad-as-hell takedown of what television had wrought on American culture, then Delete History is its slapdash answer for the Facebook/Google/Alimazone generation. The difference  apart from a general ambivalence in matters of lighting, lensing and narrative form: Delepine and Kerverns offering has a short sell-by date, and isnt likely to be remembered in 50 years, or five, for that matter. A soundtrack of English-language songs by outsider (analog) musician Daniel Johnston suits the films loose form. In a wink to their own oeuvre, the directors cast Michel Houellebecq as a suicidal man (he spent an entire film trying to end his life in their 2014 provocation Near Death Experience), although here, they seem to have more hope for the human race.

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BUDAPEST, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Hungarian Parliament on Tuesday voted to suspend compensation payments to inmates who have sued the state over conditions in overcrowded prisons, the Hungarian news agency MTI reported.

"Until June 15, no compensation due to prison congestion can be paid, Parliament decided on Tuesday with 139 votes in favor, two against and four abstentions," MTI said.

The legislation was submitted by Minister of Justice Judit Varga and has been passed in the framework of an extraordinary procedure.

The new legislation also stipulates that, based on the results of a "national consultation" next month, the government must prepare a proposal for rules concerning the payment of compensations by May 15.

To date, some 12,000 lawsuits have been launched against the Hungarian state for violating the European Union's prison standards, leading to penalties of over 10 billion Hungarian forints (32.2 million U.S. dollars) in total, according to the Hungarian government.

Hungary will begin an ambitious prison-building program in an attempt to stem the tide of costly lawsuits by inmates complaining of overcrowding, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said last month.
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NEW DELHI  A huge cheering crowd. Baseball caps with his name on them. A life-size cutout of himself flashing the thumbs-up.

President Donald Trump got all the pageantry hed been promised on Monday, Day One of his first trip to India since taking office.

But Trump also made some remarks that may not be as well received by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: He highlighted the very good U.S. relationship with Pakistan and the importance of unity among Indias various religions.

On stage he announced a $3 billion deal to sell American-made military equipment to India, a move he cast as a sign of the deepening ties between the two countries.

I believe the United States should be India's premier defense partner, and that's the way it's working out, Trump said.

The carefully coordinated event in Ahmedabad, a city about 580 miles from New Delhi where both leaders spoke, was part of a two-day spectacle that Modi had promised to deliver for Trump. They stepped on stage to raucous cheers from a crowd that appeared to fill the 110,000-capacity stadium, exchanged hugs and stood side-by-side as the U.S. and Indian national anthems played.

In his own speech, Modi heaped praise upon Trump, repeatedly calling him a friend. President Trump thinks big, he said.

President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrive for a

Trump was equally effusive about Modi, but he also kicked off his first trip to India by touching on a major geopolitical flashpoint for his host country by praising the U.S. relationship with Pakistan.

The president noted that his administration has positive ties with Pakistan as the two countries try to combat terrorism on the Pakistani border. Our relationship with Pakistan is a very good one. Thanks to these efforts, we are beginning to see signs of big progress with Pakistan, Trump said.

The Indian government is likely to bristle at Trumps expression of support for Pakistan while on Indian soil, given longtime tensions between the two countries, particularly over control of Kashmir. Trump also twice remarked on the importance of unity among Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians and Jews, at a time when Modi is under pressure for cracking down on religious minorities.

But Trump also appears to have built up a wealth of good will with Modi, who could use the boost that a visit from the U.S. president provides. Trumps approval rating in India is 56 percent, according to a recent Pew Research Center poll.

The U.S. and India were unable to reach a trade agreement in advance of Trumps visit, but he said hes optimistic that working together ,the prime minister and I can reach a fantastic deal.
KIERAN Greene has been found guilty of murdering grandmother-of-seven Patricia O'Connor, who he battered to death with a hurley and butchered with a hacksaw before scattering her remains in the Wicklow mountains.

A jury delivered the unanimous guilty verdict at the Central Criminal Court today, after four hours and 24 minutes of deliberations. The jury will continue considering verdicts tomorrow in the cases of three other people accused of impeding his prosecution for murder.

Greene, wearing a red-buttoned up anorak over a grey tracksuit sat with his hands clasped in front of him, facing the jury as the verdict was handed down.

He blinked rapidly and looked around, but otherwise showed no reaction.

Greene (35) killed his partner's mother (61) at the family home they shared in south Dublin, then temporarily buried her body in a shallow grave in Co Wexford before digging it up days later and dismembering it, dumping the pieces along a mountain road.

The father-of-three had pleaded not guilty.

Greene was one of four people on joint trial over the retired hospital cleaner's death in 2017.

Patricia's daughter Louise (41) and granddaughter Stephanie O'Connor (22) and Keith Johnston (43) are charged with impeding Greene's prosecution.

Expand Close Kieran Greene (in hood) denied murdering Patricia OConnor. Picture: Frank McGrath / Facebook

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Whatsapp Kieran Greene (in hood) denied murdering Patricia OConnor. Picture: Frank McGrath

Before the trial started, Patricias husband Gus OConnor admitted falsely reporting she was missing on June 1, 2017 when he knew she was dead.

She was murdered on May 29, 2017 at the house at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham she shared with family including Gus, Louise and Stephanie OConnor and Mr Greene.

Mr Greene was Louise's partner at the time, while Mr Johnston, Stephanie's father, was Louise's ex-boyfriend.

Today, when the jury returned around 4pm, Mr Justice Paul McDermott asked the forewoman if they had reached a verdict in any of the cases in which they were all agreed.

"Yes," she replied.

The court registrar said the verdict that had been recorded on the issue paper on the one count against Greene was that he was guilty of murder. She asked if this was the verdict of all the jury.

"Yes," the forewoman replied.

Judge McDermott then asked the 11 jurors to suspend deliberations on the remaining cases and return tomorrow morning.

Patricia O'Connor's dismembered remains were found scattered in the mountains between June 10 and 14, 2017.

A post mortem examination found she died of blunt force trauma to the head caused by at least three blows from a solid implement.

More to follow...
Rosewood Abu Dhabi, the ultra-luxury waterfront hotel, has been named a Four-Star Hotel on the 2020 Forbes Travel Guide Star Rating list.

Rosewood Abu Dhabi is a two-time ranked Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel providing a luxury experience and world-class service. Based on the experiences of a highly qualified team of anonymous inspectors who assess nearly 1,700 entities against 900 objective industry standards, the world-renowned and only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas, offers designations for Five-Star, Four-Star and Recommended properties.



Here at Rosewood Abu Dhabi, we pride ourselves on quality and innovation, and recognising the importance of offering something unique while leading the conversation, whether that be on travel, art, history or culture in the region. To be awarded with this prestigious accolade, cements our position as one of the UAEs leading luxury properties, said Roland Duerr, managing director at Rosewood Abu Dhabi.



Rosewood Abu Dhabi, the first UAE property from the Rosewood brand, offers a sumptuous stay with quality service in the heart of the city. Well-situated on Al Maryah Island amid the international financial centre and renowned shopping destination The Galleria, this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel allows guests to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, whilst still being in the centre of the action.



The only independent, global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas, Forbes Travel Guides annual list has been revered as a global authority on travel since its launch in 1958. - TradeArabia News Service
Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu and former Deputy Minister of Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has stated that it is morally reprehensible and absolutely unconscionable for MPs and Ministers of State to be seek government scholarships despite their enormous privileges provided for under article 71 of the constitution.



A report released hours earlier has it that some top government officials have benefitted from GETFund scholarships meant for brilliant but needy students.



The Executive Secretary of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), Dr Prince Armah, who was named as a beneficiary, in a statement, said although he was a beneficiary of a GETFund award, it was well-deserved and predated his appointment as NaCCA boss.



Education Minister Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, for his part, noted that he has not been a beneficiary of GETFund scholarship since becoming a minister in 2017. According to him, he was a recipient of a GETFund award in 2014 to participate in a three-week certificate programme at the Kennedy School of Govt, Harvard University.



This has caused some level of outrage on social media among Ghanaian nationwide.



Amidst the rage, Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa who was the Deputy Education Minister in charge of Tertiary Education intimated that his Ministry did not approve the scholarships as they were not brought to their attention.



According to him those seeking to justify or defend the national disgrace by creating fake lists and adding names of other innocent colleagues to muddy the waters such as the dubious and criminal GNPC Scholarship list in circulation rather cut a very pitiable image of themselves.

May I also caution that attempts by some beneficiaries and their spokespersons to rely on paragraph E of Section 2(2) of Act 581 to justify their conduct is untenable as contrary to the law, there was no Ministerial approval secured for these scholarships since they were not brought to our attention when we served at the Ministry of Education, he wrote on his Facebook wall.



He further advised that a code of conduct barring all MPs, Ministers and other high-ranking officials of state from directly benefiting from such schemes intended for the gifted but needy.



Below is his full post on Facebook



Let us be honest: it is morally reprehensible and absolutely unconscionable for some MPs and Ministers of State despite all our Article 71 privileges to be actually scrambling with the poor masses over already woefully inadequate government scholarship opportunities.



As I noted earlier today at the forum to commemorate Ghanas Day of Shame when Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumahs government was overthrown 54 years ago, this is not the example Nkrumah taught us with the selflessness and genuine patriotism which underpinned his character as a true servant of the people.



I believe we can all emulate Nkrumahs worthy example of shunning greed and a corrosive entitlement mindset. Public officers must create more opportunities for the masses and not encumber the few they are elected to administer. That is a monumental breach of trust and a betrayal of the masses.



Those seeking to justify or defend this national disgrace by creating fake lists and adding my name and that of other innocent colleagues to muddy the waters such as the dubious and criminal GNPC Scholarship list in circulation rather cut a very pitiable image of themselves.



The Auditor-General must be commended once more for his courageous and nationalistic effort.



By all means lets give former and current GETFund functionaries between the audit period 2012 to 2018 and the stated beneficiaries the opportunity to be heard particularly as they will soon have to appear before Parliaments Public Accounts Committee.



May I also caution that attempts by some beneficiaries and their spokespersons to rely on paragraph E of Section 2(2) of Act 581 to justify their conduct is untenable as contrary to the law, there was no Ministerial approval secured for these scholarships since they were not brought to our attention when we served at the Ministry of Education.



Moving forward, let us establish a clear code of conduct barring all MPs, Ministers and other high ranking officials of state from directly benefiting from such schemes intended for the gifted but needy.



May we all as politicians work to restore the confidence of the nation in public office as we take inspiration from the sacrificial and selfless legacy of the Osagyefo whose senseless overthrow by traitors is observed today.













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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A Brazilian national has been arrested at the Delhi airport for allegedly possessing cocaine worth around Rs 9 crore, a Customs official said on Tuesday.

The foreigner, who arrived at the T-3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport from the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on Saturday, was intercepted by the Customs officers at the IGI.

On Friday, the person had reached Addis Ababa from the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo.

The passenger was intercepted after he had crossed the Green Channel. For the purpose of Customs clearance of arriving passengers, a two-channel system has been adopted under which the Green Channel is for passengers not having any dutiable goods, while the Red Channel for those having dutiable goods.

On a detailed personal and baggage search, 1,915 grams of cocaine worth approximately Rs 9 crore, concealed in three plastic pouches, were recovered, the official said.

The cocaine has been seized under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the person placed under arrest, the Customs official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- Edinson Cavani is currently unsettled at PSG after falling down the pecking order under Thomas Tuchel

- Van Persie now believes the Uruguayan hitman will be a perfect fit for the Red Devils

- The Dutch legend has also urged United to add another midfielder in the summer to partner Bruno Fernandes

Robin van Persie has urged Man United to go all out and sign unsettled Paris Saint-Germain forward Edinson Cavani.

Van Persie believes there is every need for United to sign a world class striker, insisting Cavani fits the bill.

READ ALSO: Esse Akida: Harambee Starlets ace makes Besiktas debut

READ ALSO: Tyson Fury appears to lick blood off Deontay Wilder's neck during heavyweight clash

"I would definitely go for Cavani. Hes very fit, hes a proven goalscorer, a goal machine, he has proven it at Napoli, PSG and Uruguay. With him, if he starts, he will get you 25 goals a season," Van Persie told SPORTbible.

"Ive watched him play, Ive played against him, he is like a proper goalscorer. He lives by scoring goals so Id go for him," he added.

READ ALSO: Liverpool wary of Man City in title push - Jurgen Klopp

The Dutch legend further pointed out need for the Red Devils to strengthen in the midfield with a key player to partner new boy Bruno Fernandes.

Fernandes has enjoyed a bright start to life at Old Trafford weeks after joining the Premier League outfit from Sporting Lisbon.

PAY ATTENTION: Install Pitch Football app for FREE to easily access stats, news and live updates

"Though to be fair I watched Bruno Fernandes against Chelsea and he looks very good to me, very silky," the former Netherlands international noted.

"But I would add one other one to put next to him, then with one player who stops the opponent attacking, that is what I like to see," he continued.

The Portuguese star played an integral part in United's 3-0 win over Watford as he scored the opener and set up the third scored by Mason Greenwood.

Meanwhile, the victory fired the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer-tutored side to fifth on the log with 41 points as they intensify their push to seal a Champions League place.

Do you have an inspirational story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Tuko news.

I cheated on my wife, now I am paying the price - Caleb Odhiambo | Tuko TV

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Click here to read the full article.

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.

Story continues

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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Gandhinagar, Feb 25 : The budget session of the Gujarat assembly will begin on Wednesday with the presentation of the budget for 2020-21. The Vijay Rupani-led BJP government is expected to face questions by the opposition Congress on a number of issues during the session.

The Budget would be presented by Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, who also holds the Finance portfolio. The house will meet for 22 days, starting February 26 till March 31.

The BJP government has 103 MLAs in the house. The party is likely to face stiff opposition from the Congress Party which has a sizeable strength of 73 members in the Assembly.

The opposition Congress will be trying to corner the BJP on issues like the Lok Rakshak Dal (LRD) recruitment woes and the related agitation, besides various other agitations underway in the state.

The Congress will also raise issues like the "mysteriously formed" 'Donald Trump Nagrik Abhivadan Samiti', the committee formed to welcome the US President for the event 'Namaste Trump' and the extravagant expenditure in Ahmedabad to welcome the First Couple.

The Congress would also corner the BJP on the alleged persecution of the Scheduled Caste community, the inadequate compensation to farmers for crop insurance, the disgruntled BJP MLAs who have alleged that the administration is not paying heed to their concerns.

The Congress will also try to corner the BJP government on the Trump wall, the wall constructed at the Indira Bridge circle to hide the slums and huts from the US president's view.

The budget session was scheduled to begin on February 24 (Monday) but was postponed to February 26, in view of Trump's visit to Ahmedabad on Monday.
The Shiv Sena on Tuesday hit out at its former ally BJP for boycotting the customary tea party on the day of commencement of the Budget session of state Assembly.

"By boycotting the customary tea party, opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis has clearly stated what his stand will be in the Budget session in the state. The opposition should have attended the tea party and should have discussed with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on issues concerning the people," Shiv Sena said through its editorial Saamana.

"Fadnavis, while boycotting the tea party, made claims that MVA cannot hold discussions with its own allies. How is it then possible to have a discussion with the MVA," the party added.

"This statement from Fadnavis is laughable as there have been discussions among our allies and people of Maharashtra have confidence about that. The combination of ideologies of different parties in the MVA government is reflective of this fact," it further said.

The Sena asked the BJP to tell the people of Maharashtra that why it did not hold any discussion with it. "Shiv Sena has given them (BJP) support on Hindutva for the past 24 years," it said.

Budget session in Maharashtra Assembly began on Monday and will continue till March 20.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Attorney General William Barr told Senate Republicans on Tuesday that the Trump administration could support a clean extension of contentious surveillance laws set to expire next month. And Barr said he could make changes on his own to satisfy President Donald Trump and his allies who have railed against the use of the law to monitor his 2016 campaign, according to senators at a party briefing.

But Barr also clashed with GOP critics of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which has three key provisions set to lapse on March 15. And with House Democrats eyeing their own changes to the law, some Senate Republicans fear a deal to extend the law might be nearly impossible.

Republicans emerged from the lunch meeting mostly supportive of a clean extension of the law to avoid a gap; doing so is a top priority of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

The attorney general just wanted to underscore again the importance of these provisions that were enacted in the wake of the 9/11 attack. Theyre still relevant to our effort to go after terrorists today like they were after 9/11, McConnell told reporters.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., joined by the GOP leadership, speaks to reporters just after meeting with Attorney General William Barr to discuss expiring provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and other government intelligence laws, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

But Barr also sparred with skeptics, primarily libertarian-leaning Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Rand Paul of Kentucky, according to two people familiar with the meeting. Barr told Lee his criticisms of surveillance law are dangerous, while Paul said Americans shouldnt be subject to secret FISA courts, one of the people said.

Lee followed up the lunch by tweeting a lengthy rebuttal to Barrs arguments in the caucus meeting.

At the Senate GOP lunch today I made a long case against a simple reauthorization of the FISA program. Some are arguing the program needs no reform and that DOJ can put in place internal quality control mechanisms. Thats not good enough, Lee said.

Lee also called for ending the call-records program and requiring more evidence for the government to conduct surveillance.

Not everyone is in agreement that we should just leave it alone, said an attendee at the lunch.

Story continues

That comment extends across the Capitol, where House Democrats are pushing their own version of FISA reforms. On Wednesday, House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) will begin advancing a reauthorization that would end the seizure of call records and extend roving wiretap and lone wolf surveillance authorities with some reforms.

Senate Republicans and Barr are unlikely to accept those changes anytime soon. And those dynamics have some fretting the programs will briefly expire, just as they did in 2015 when Paul and McConnell clashed over reforming the much-criticized bulk data collection program.

I dont even know if were going to do an extension. I think this is the beginning of the conversation. Im not sure. Letting it lapse and then revisit it? I dont know, said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). A brief expiration of the law is possible. I think thats probably whats going to happen.

Senate Republicans prefer kicking a broad FISA debate to as late as 2022, when other pieces of the law expire. In the interim, Barr would make administrative changes to address complaints from conservatives that surveillance authorities were abused during Trumps campaign  something the president continues to seethe over.

Youve got three provisions to deal with. I think itd be smart to keep them in place. It would give us some time to work on FISA writ large, weve got three years, said Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who is preparing hearings on FISA.





Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., left, speaks during the Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative one-year anniversary event event co-hosted by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Senior Advisor to the President, Ivanka Trump, at the State Department in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. A Republican and a Democratic senator are leading a legislative effort to have a global women's economic initiative spearheaded by President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka written into law. The senior White House adviser made the announcement Wednesday during a State Department anniversary event for her Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

Barr indicated his desire to do whatever he can to prevent the corruption and the abuses that we saw in the Crossfire Hurricane, said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), referring to the counterintelligence investigation of the Trump campaign. Were not going to shoehorn a bunch of other unrelated things into an extension before the March 15 deadline.

But a clean extension would be no layup in the House, where progressives are eager to finally snuff out the collection of call records and metadata after more modest reforms ultimately passed in 2015 over McConnells objections.

The possibility of swallowing a clean extension is something senior Democrats have only just started to seriously discuss in recent days, according to Democratic aides. And with the House not back from recess until Wednesday, Democratic leaders have been unable to take the temperature of the caucus.

Theres internal politics on both sides to contend with: a clean extension would likely be opposed by liberal Democrats and potentially even some Republicans, all of whom have been advocating for overhauling the current law in various ways.

And now Republicans have whiplash over the mixed messages about what the president wants  from a Wall Street Journal report over the weekend detailing White House hopes to completely overhaul the program to Barr saying Tuesday those reforms could be achieved administratively.

The House legislation also contains provisions generally supported by members of both parties, including repealing the controversial cellphone metadata program and reforming the FISA court. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) wrote to colleagues this month to say that he hopes to bring a reauthorization to the floor during this work period after the bill clears committee.

But privately, Republicans are reluctant to support a measure Trump could publicly reject at any moment. And GOP lawmakers like House Judiciary ranking member Doug Collins of Georgia have panned the proposal, saying it does nothing to address the FISA abuses related to Trump campaign aide Carter Page that were outlined in a December report from Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz.

Given those dynamics, fears are rising that nothing will happen at all before Congress goes on another recess on March 13. As Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) observed dryly: Things arent happening very fast up here.

A lot will happen between now and March 15. We may do a placeholder and take it past March 15. Weve got to get this right, said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.). Anybody who reads the Horowitz report on misfire hurricane will understand what Im talking about.

Marianne LeVine contributed to this report.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday described the Kashmir issue as a "big problem" and a "thorn" for a long time, and offered to mediate in de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

However, he clarified that he is not offering to mediate on the Kashmir issue.

At a packed press conference, the US president also said ways to deal with terrorism figured prominently in his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi who, Trump stressed, is determined to check the menace.

"We talked a lot about Pakistan. I have a very good relationship with Prime Minister Khan. We talked about it today at length with Prime Minister Modi. No question it is a problem. It is a problem, they are working on it," Trump said.

He further added: "We just hope, and I just said I'll do whatever I have to do, if I can do that because my relationship with both gentlemen is so good. But there has been difficulty in Pakistan. We are seeing what we can do about it. Anything I can do to mediate, anything I can do to help I would do."



Later, asked about India's rejection of his earlier offer to mediate on Kashmir, the US president said he is not offering to mediate on the issue.

"Kashmir has been a thorn in a lot of people's sides for a long time. There are two sides to every story," said Trump.

Since withdrawal of Jammu and Kashmir's special status, Trump has made his offer to mediate on Kashmir at least four times



India's position has been that Kashmir is a bilateral issue and there is no question of any mediation.

On terrorism, Trump said the issue was discussed "at great length", and that Modi has very strong views over it.

"Modi is a very religious man, he is a very calm man, but actually he is a very very strong person, and very tough, actually. I have seen him in action. He has got that foremost on his mind (to deal with) terrorism. He will take care of it," Trump said.

After talks with Trump, Modi, in his media statement, said both sides have taken a decision to further increase efforts to hold supporters of terrorism responsible.

On his part, Trump said both the countries affirmed their commitment to protect their citizens from radical Islamic terrorism.

In his media statement earlier, Trump said the United States is working productively with Pakistan to confront terrorists who operate on its soil.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
We revolted against injustice, his plans to force his son on us and police brutality, Fawzy said. In a way, he is a direct accomplice in the situation we are facing now. He created a state of political voidness. . . . There was no politics under Mubarak, no one was on the political scene but him, and this is what has left us where we are now.
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam speaks to the press about a mass shooting in Virginia, Beach, Virginia on June 1, 2019. (Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images)

Virginia Senate Committee Advance 7 Gun-Control Bills

A Virginia Senate committee on Monday advanced seven House bills related to firearms restrictions that are now set to face a full vote on the Senate floor this week.

The seven bills were among a package of eight gun violence prevention legislation that Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) had announced in a July 2019 special legislative session of the Virginia Assembly after a shooting at Virginia Beach that killed 12 people on May 31, 2019. That meeting ended without a vote and was adjourned to Nov. 18, 2019.

Last week, lawmakers voted against one of the eight measures Northam advocated fora bill that would have banned Virginians from selling so-called assault weapons and owning high-capacity magazines. At the time, four Democratic senators broke with their party and joined Republicans to reject the measure in a 105 vote.

The seven bills advanced by the senators on Monday include universal background checks (House Bill 2), a limit on handgun purchases to one per month (House Bill 812), a red flag law (House Bill 674), penalizing gun owners who dont report lost or stolen guns within 24 hours (House Bill 9), and allowing localities to ban arms from government buildings (House Bill 421).

Other bills included one that would restrict gun ownership for those convicted of domestic abuse and another that would make it a class 1 misdemeanor to allow a child under 14 access to a loaded gunthe offense is currently a class 3 misdemeanor.

This is a historic step towards commonsense gun safety in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Northams spokesperson Alena Yarmosky wrote in an email to The Epoch Times. Virginians are demanding real action to combat gun violence and save livesthats exactly what these bills will do.

If the seven bills are passed in the Senate, they will have to be signed by Northam to become law.

Previously Northam has indicated that he would sign gun control measures into law.

Democrats in late 2019 won control of the states House and Senate chamber and promised to enact stronger gun control policies, saying it will help reduce shootings and deaths. The party now has full control of the General Assemblyfor the first time in over two decadesand Virginias governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general are Democrats as well.

The state has become the latest focal point for the contentious American debate around the right to bear arms. Gun-rights groups contend that the U.S. Constitution guarantees their ability to possess any firearm. Those opposed say gun laws would help lessen the number of people killed by guns each year.

On Jan. 20, a gun-rights rally drew at least 22,000 Second Amendment advocates who called on state lawmakers to protect their right to bear arms.

Bowen Xiao and Reuters contributed to this report.

This article was updated to include a statement from Gov. Ralph Northams office.
NEW DELHI: Thanking President Donald Trump for accepting his invitation to visit India along with his family, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the ties between the two countries is 'people-driven and people centric.'

"Today, we discussed every important aspect of US-India partnership, be it defence and security, energy strategic partnership, trade or people to people ties. The strengthening in defence ties between India and US is an important aspect of our partnership, PM Modi said while addressing a joint press conference with the visiting US leader.

"President Trump and I have met five times over the last 8 months. We are elevating our relationship to Comprehensive global strategic partnership level. We are increasing our cooperation in homeland security. We have decided to increase our efforts to fight terror to fight organised crime, drugs, narcotics cooperation will be stepped up," the PM said.

India and the US also inked three MoUs, including one in the energy sector, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the two countries have decided to take ''Indo-US ties to comprehensive global partnership level.''

"The unprecedented and historic welcome given to President Trump in India will be long remembered, PM Modi said and added that ''the relations between the two countries are not merely confined to governments but are people-driven.

"Defence cooperation between two countries is reflective of rising strategic partnership between India and US. We also agreed on a new mechanism to contain drug trafficking" the Prime Minister said.

"The most important foundation of the special relationship between India and the US is people to people contact. Professionals, students, the Indian diaspora in US have a major contribution in this. ur commerce ministers have had positive talks on trade. Both of us have decided that our teams should give legal shape to these trade talks. We also agreed to open negotiations on a big trade deal,'' the PM said.

In his speech, the PM also informed that the two great democracies of the world have resolved to combat terrorism and hold those who promote it responsible for it. We (India and the US) resolved to step up efforts to make those, who support terrorism, responsible for it,'' the PM said.

In his brief remarks at the start of official talks, PM Modi welcomed the US President and thanked him for taking time out for the visit to India. President Trump, on his turn, said the last two days in India were ''amazing'', especially the event at the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad.

"It was a great honour for me. I would imagine they (the people) were there maybe more for you than for me... 125,000 people were inside. Every time I mentioned your name, there were cheers. People love you," Trump told PM Modi in front of the media.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump earlier held extensive talks at the Hyderabad House covering the entire spectrum of bilateral ties, including the key areas of defence, security, and trade and investment.

Earlier, Trump was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Modi welcomed Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The US President also received a tri-services guard of honour at the presidential palace.

The Trumps, who also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial Rajghat here, arrived in Ahmedabad around noon on Monday for the first leg of their 36-hour India visit.
The Supreme Court Tuesday agreed to hear an application, filed by former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah and others, seeking direction to the police to lodge FIRs on the complaints regarding the ongoing violence in Delhi over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The application was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench of Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, which said it would be heard on Wednesday.

The death toll rose to nine on Tuesday in the violence over the amended citizenship law that has rocked northeast Delhi.

The bench is already scheduled to hear two pleas seeking removal of protestors from Shaheen Bagh, the epicentre of agitation against the CAA for over two months.

The fresh application, filed by Habibullah, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad and social activist Bahadur Abbas Naqvi, has also sought direction to the authorities to provide adequate security and ensure safety of women protestors at Shaheen Bagh and other places in the national capital.

They have already filed an intervention application in the top court in the pending plea seeking removal of protestors from Shaheen Bagh.

In their fresh application, they have alleged that on February 23, "Kapil Mishra, who is known for making speeches to instigate crowds with violence and vandalism, carried out a pro-CAA rally next to the Maujpur-Babarpur metro station which is 2 km away from peaceful protests that were going on at Jaffrabad".

Referring to media report, the application alleged that Mishra first gathered supporters near the Maujpur-Babarpur metro station and in an "orchestrated move", he left the place after having incited the crowd, after which violence erupted in Jaffrabad and the peaceful protestors were forced to run for safety.

It alleged that the persons who were hurt in the attack on February 23, had filed complaints with the police but no action was taken against the perpetrators of violence.

"Open threats are now been given to the protestors at Shaheen Bagh that they will meet the same fate as meted out to the peaceful women protestors at Jaffrabad, Chand Bagh. It is therefore imperative that appropriate orders are passed to put a stop to this violence on peaceful protestors and the guilty are brought to book," the application, settled by advocate Mehmood Pracha, alleged.

It claimed that violence has escalated through the day with "horrific incidents of violence and arson" but the police has refused to lodge FIRs against the attackers.

"As per various reports, anti-social elements from the surrounding villages of UP have entered Delhi in buses and trucks and have been attacking the residents of Delhi and the peaceful protestors," the application claimed.

It sought a direction to the police to register FIRs on the complaints that are being made in respect of the attacks that started in the evening of February 23 and which escalated throughout the day of February 24.

On Monday, the Supreme Court-appointed interlocutors had filed their report in a sealed cover in the apex court following their talks with protestors at Shaheen Bagh.

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 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.

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 National Register of Citizens (NRC).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The celebrated NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, who you may know from the book or film Hidden Figures, passed away today at the age of 101. Johnson is perhaps best known for helping NASA prepare for the orbital mission of John Glenn, but that was far from her only achievement or contribution to space exploration.

Mathematician. Leader. Heroine.



Katherine Johnson not only helped calculate the trajectories that took our Apollo astronauts to the Moon  she was champion for women and minorities in the space program and the world as a whole. We honor her memory today. https://t.co/kH9qEEvdMY pic.twitter.com/A341ukDFTl  Women@NASA (@WomenNASA) February 24, 2020

Johnson was born in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia in 1918. Her clear mathematical aptitude placed her several grades ahead. At 13, she was attending the high school on the campus of the historically black West Virginia State College. By 18, she was enrolled in the college. After graduating with the highest honors, Johnson took a teaching job at a black public school in Virginia. In 1939, Johnson was selected as one of three black students to integrate West Virginia's graduate schools. She enrolled in West Virginia University's graduate math program but left to start a family and later returned to teaching.

In 1953 Johnson took a job with the all-black West Area Computing section at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics' (NACA's) Langley laboratory, where she was assigned to a project in the Maneuver Loads Branch of the Flight Research Division.

There, Johnson contributed to NACA's (which later became NASA) first forays into space travel. She worked on the trajectory analysis for Alan Shepard's May 1961 mission Freedom 7, America's first human spaceflight. And in 1962, as John Glenn prepared for his orbital mission, he asked engineers to "get the girl," Johnson, to run the same calculations as the computer. If they matched, he said, he was "ready to go." That flight was a turning point between the US and the Soviet Union in space, and Johnson played a critical, but long underappreciated, role.

Story continues

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

Johnson was also a prolific research author. In 1960, she co-authored a report laying out the equations for orbital space flight, marking the first time a woman in the Flight Research Division received credit as an author of a research report. She went on to author and co-author a total of 26 research reports.

Johnson retired in 1986 after 33 years at Langley, and in 2015, President Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor. For many, Margot Lee Shetterly's novel Hidden Figures, and the subsequent film, was the first introduction to Johnson. Now brought to light, Johnson's legacy won't be forgotten and will hopefully lead to recognition for other black women too-long overlooked due to racism and sexism.

"At NASA we will never forget her courage and leadership and the milestones we could not have reached without her. 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," NASA said in a statement.
After huge welcome in India, Trump clinches $3 billion military equipment sale U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to attend a ceremonial reception at the forecourt of India's Rashtrapati Bhavan Presidential Palace in New Delhi

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India will buy defence equipment worth more than $3 billion from the United States, President Donald Trump said on Monday, the second day of his two-day visit to the South Asian nation.

The United States was working productively with Pakistan to counter terrorism on its soil, Trump said at a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in capital New Delhi.

New Delhi and Washington are yet to sign a trade deal, but the two countries would begin talks to strike a comprehensive agreement, Trump and Modi said.

Trump also said he discussed with Modi, whom he calls his "dear friend", the importance of a secure 5G telecoms network in India, ahead of a planned airwaves auction by the country.

The United States has banned Huawei, arguing the use of its kit creates the potential for espionage by China - a claim denied by Huawei and Beijing - but India, where telecoms companies have long used network gear from the Chinese firm, is yet to make a call.

(Refiles to correct lede to say Trump is visiting India for two days not three)

(Reporting by Sankalp Phartiyal; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Hyderabad: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Tuesday revoked the suspension of Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Jasti Krishna Kishore, who is facing a probe for financial irregularities, and directed the Andhra Pradesh government to repatriate him to his parent department--the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).

The state government in December suspended Kishore, a 1990-batch IRS officer who joined the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB) in 2014 on deputation as the CEO, over the alleged financial irregularities. It also turned down Kishores request seeking cancellation of his deputation and repatriation to his parent department, where he was expecting promotion as a principal commissioner (income tax).

The tribunal allowed the government to continue the ongoing Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Crime Investigation Department (CID) investigation against Kishore

Kishore faces cases including under Indian Penal Code Sections 420 (cheating) and 120 (b) (criminal breach of trust). He was asked not to leave Vijayawada after the ACB and CID began investigating the charges against him on December 12.

Kishore moved the CAT against his suspension and got a stay on December 17. The tribunal also asked the government to clear his salary dues.

Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu has accused chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy of hounding the IRS officer because Kishore worked during his rule. He argued that there was no scope for irregularities in the APEDB as it was a body meant to attract investments into Andhra Pradesh and has no powers to allot land or grant incentives to the investors.

Kishore was among the Income Tax department officials, who investigated the alleged disproportionate assets case of Reddy. He assessed the income of the Jagati Publications owned by Reddy and levied Rs 122.78 crore tax on it in 2010. He also pointed out irregularities in the Jagati Publications shares.

Kishore refused to comment on the tribunal order.

Repeated calls to Praveen Prakash, principal secretary in Chief Ministers Office did not elicit any response.

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Ahram Online presents a timeline of the major milestones in the life of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak

Ahram Online presents a timeline of the major milestones in the life of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, covering his rise to power in the 1980s up to the aftermath of the 2011 uprising that deposed the longtime autocrat.

* 4 May 1928: Mohamed Hosni El-Sayid Mubarak was born in Kafr Meselha, Menoufiya governorate in the Nile Delta, Egypt.

* 2 February 1949: Mubarak left the military academy and joined the Egyptian Royal Air Force Academy.

* 13 March 1950: He graduated as a pilot officer.

* 1959: Mubarak married Suzanne Thabet.

* November 1967: He was appointed as the director of the Egyptian Air Forces Academy.

* 23 April 1972: Mubarak was appointed as the commander of the Egyptian Air Forces.

* 16 April 1975: Then-president Anwar El-Sadat appointed Mubarak as his vice president.

* 24 October 1981: Mubarak became the fourth president of the Egyptian republic, succeeding President Sadat after his assassination on 6th October 1981.

* 25 April 1982: Mubarak raised the Egyptian flag over the Sinai Peninsula after its complete restoration from the Israeli occupation.

* 25 February 1986: Riots erupted in Cairo sparked by angry security conscripts, and the unrest was violently quelled by Mubaraks security forces.

* 19 March 1989: Mubarak raised the Egyptian flag in Taba, the last Egyptian territory occupied by Israel in 1967, following talks and an international arbitration battle. * 2 June 1989: Egypt under Mubarak returned to the League of Arab States as a full member, after its membership had been suspended over of its peace treaty with Israel in 1979.

* 1990-1991: Under Mubarak, Egypt joined the international coalition formed to liberate Kuwait after the Iraqi invasion.

* 26 June 1995: Mubarak survived an assassination attempt shortly after his arrival in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa to attend the African Unity Summit.

* 17 November 1997: Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya terrorist group killed 62 people, mostly tourists, in a terrorist attack in Luxor.

* 22 December 1999: Egypt started exporting gas to Israel in a controversial agreement that would later be challenged in court.

* 27 September 2005: Mubarak was sworn in as president for the fifth consecutive term following his victory in the first multi-candidate presidential elections, after amending the constitution in May of that year.

* 6 April 2008: Egypt witnessed its first major strike in the 21st century, mostly in the industrial city of Mahalla, over economic grievances.

* 27 March 2010: Mubarak returned to Egypt after three weeks recovering from gallbladder surgery in Germany.

* 11 February 2011: Mubarak was ousted following popular protests that broke on 25 January 2011. The uprising resulted in the deaths of 846 people, according to official numbers, and the injury of thousands across the country.

* 13 April 2011: Mubarak and his sons Alaa and Gamal were arrested by Egyptian authorities pending investigations into charges of corruption and the killing of protesters.

* 3 August 2011: The trial of Mubarak and his sons started in Cairo, with the media dubbing it "the trial of the century." The ousted president denied all the charges against him during trial.

* 2 June 2012: Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison in a first degree court ruling.

* 9 May 2015: Mubarak and his sons Gamal and Alaa were found guilty of corruption and embezzling public funds, and were sentenced to three years in prison and fined a total of EGP 125 million. They were also required to pay an additional EGP 21 million to the state.

* 9 January 2016: A final appeal against the conviction for embezzlement was rejected, making Mubarak the first Egyptian president ever convicted of corruption.

* 2 March 2017: Egypt's Court of Cassation acquitted Mubarak for conspiring to kill protesters during the 2011 uprising, and he was released on 24 March.

* 22 September 2018: The Court of Cassation rejected Mubarak's appeal in the so-called presidential palace case making the conviction of corruption final.

* In October 2019: Mubarak's family released a video of him on YouTube speaking about his role as the commander of the Egyptian Air Forces during the 1973 war.

* In January 2020: Mubarak underwent critical surgery.

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By Emmy Tiderington

Senator Robert Menendez on Thursday called for an open primary for president in New Jersey, in order to insulate the presidential race from any undue influence on New Jerseys other elections.

That influence, of course, would come from a ballot design uncommon in other states: the county line.

This ballot design feature, which usually allows county party officials to anoint their chosen candidates, suddenly has a major flaw.

The law allows for a candidate at the top of a ticket to align with candidates further down the ballot, which normally helps party-approved candidates. Whats different this year? Progressive candidates have emerged as frontrunners for the Democratic presidential nomination. If these candidates were able to align with down ballot candidates of their choosing, strong support for them here in Junes primary could threaten incumbent freeholders, congressional representatives, and even Menendezs fellow senator, Cory Booker.

That is why the party machine, with Menendez as its spokesperson, is calling for insulation. This time around, they just cannot afford to let people associate their preferred presidential candidates with progressives running against local incumbents.

The irony here is that the county line has long insulated New Jersey politicians from important elements of our electoral system. It insulates voters from having to learn what their representatives stand for. It insulates those representatives from having to explain and defend how they govern. It insulates them from debate. It insulates them from the people.

The county line insulates New Jersey from democracy.

So while some, such as Hudson County Democratic Organization Chair Amy DeGise applaud Senator Menendez for calling for an open primary, we choose to call out his hypocrisy. There can be no line for me, but not for thee.

We should not allow the machine to have its lines and columns when they help their candidates, only to get rid of them when they do not. Menendez is right that the line has undue influence -- not just on this election, but on all elections.

If we want truly open primaries, the best choice, for Menendez, DeGise, and Democratic party officials all over the state, is to end the county line once and for all.

Dr. Emmy Tiderington is a committee member of the Hudson County Democratic Organization and a founding member of the Hudson County Progressive Alliance.

Tiderington says this op ed was also supported by more than 160 individuals, including many on county and local Democratic Committees, and the following groups:

Cape May County Indivisible

Central Jersey Democratic Socialists of America

Central Jersey Progressive Democrats

Cooper River Indivisible

Force the Issue NJ

Good Government Coalition of New Jersey

Indivisible NJ 5

JOLT USA

New Jersey Progressive Democrats of Union County

Our Revolution Essex County

Our Revolution Ocean County

People for Progress

Real Democrats of New Jersey

South Jersey Progressive Democrats

South Jersey Women for Progressive Change

STAND Central NJ

The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
A father and daughter died after their car crashed into a water-filled dyke near a primary school yesterday.

Daniel Plaice, 52, was pronounced dead at the scene after his white Fiat Punto went careering into the waterway at Tyler's Bridge in Chapel St Leonards, Lincolnshire at around 3.30pm.

His daughter India, 21, who was also in the car, was rushed to hospital with serious injuries but died shortly after.

Emergency services were scrambled to the scene on Monday afternoon around the time parents were collecting their children from the nearby Chapel St Leonards Primary School.

Ms Plaice worked at a local cafe, which remained closed today as a mark of respect.

Daniel Plaice, 52, and his daughter India, 21, (pictured together) died after their car crashed into water at Tyler Bridge, Chapel St Leonards, Lincolnshire yesterday

Pictured: Colleagues of India Plaice posted a heartfelt tribute to her online after her tragic death in a car crash with her father

The white Fiat Punto came off the road in Chapel St Leonards, Lincolnshire, at around 3.30pm yesterday

In a Facebook post, her colleagues paid tribute to her saying: 'It is with the heaviest of hearts and with great sadness that we have lost one of our Seascape family.

'We and the team are devastated and will spend the day remembering he beautiful girl we have lost.

'India - one of the most beautiful souled people we had the pleasure of knowing. The life and soul of any party.

'Listening to your stories and funny thoughts at work had us all in laughter for hours. A day at work with you was never a dull moment. We will miss you greatly and you will forever be in our thoughts.'

Ellie Nesbitt added: 'Oh my God. India Place. I'm in absolute shock. I can't believe it.

'We have so many amazing memories together. You'll always be one of the funniest girls I know.

Emergency services were scrambled to the scene, near Chapel St Leonards Primary School, but the man was pronounced dead

'Life is so cruel. I'm just speechless. Thank you for being one of the best people I have ever met. I will miss you forever. Rest in paradise, baby girl.'

Ellice Manning also paid tribute, writing: 'Living in a small town you come across a lot of people. Everyone knows everyone so when something awful happens it shakes everybody to the core and has a lasting impact.

'People you love and people you know  their lives will never be the same.

'Will absolutely be holding the people I love a bit tighter from now on. Absolutely heartbreaking news.

'Rest in peace India place and Dany. Thoughts are with family and friend at this devastating time.'

Another friend of India's said: 'She was just loved by so many people. She was so bright and bubbly and the life and soul.'

Police have confirmed there was no one else in the car when it went off the road and into the water at 3.22pm yesterday.

Lincolnshire Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward and any dashcam footage but say it is too early to give a cause of the crash.

One local resident described the corner where the accident occured as 'very dangerous' and said it was very blustery at the time of the accident.

Local weather reports had predicted wind speeds of up to 45mph and ditches in the low lying area were full of recent flood water.

A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said: 'We can confirm that the people who died in this incident were 21-year-old India Plaice, and her father, Daniel, who was 52 years old.

'The family of India and Daniel ask media to respect their privacy at this very difficult time.'
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Ohio Highway Patrol troopers arrested two men with several fake IDs and credit cards after a high-speed chase that ended with troopers crashing into the mens SUV on Pearl Road in Brunswick.

The chase began after the men sped away from a trooper who said he smelled weed in their SUV at a rest stop on the Ohio Turnpike, according to the highway patrol.

Larel Littleton, of Edinburgh, Indiana, and Kijuan Clemons, of Riverdale Illinois, face several felony charges including counterfeiting, identity theft, obstructing official business, fleeing and eluding and tampering with evidence after their Feb. 9 arrest. But neither man is accused of using or possessing drugs.

Littleton, 28, is being held in Cuyahoga County Jail on $250,000 bond after his initial appearance in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court last week. Clemons, 24, was released after posting 10 percent of a $50,000 bond after his first appearance.

The case against the men was bound over to a county grand jury for consideration of felony charges.

Dashboard camera released to cleveland.com this shows the chase reached speeds of more than 100 mph on both the countys highways and along Pearl Road through Strongsville, Brunswick and approaching Medina.

Sgt. Ray Santiago, a spokesman for the patrols Cleveland post, said the entire pursuit will be reviewed to ensure troopers followed pursuit policies.

Clevelands police department which generally only allows its officers to chase suspects of violent crimes, but troopers do not have such restrictions. Lt. Craig Cvetan said supervisors monitor pursuits and take into account the seriousness of the crime that precipitated the chase, the amount of traffic, road and weather conditions and whether troopers know the identity of the suspects.

A supervisor must continually evaluate the pursuit based on these criteria and make the determination on whether the pursuit should continue, be terminated or whether to deploy intervention tactics, Cvetan said. Several of these tactics were used during the second part of this incident in an effort to make this apprehension with as little risk to the public as possible.

The chase started when trooper Eduard Manu walked up to their rental Nissan Rogue SUV at a rest stop on the Ohio Turnpike. Manu later told supervisors during the pursuit that he was going to tell the driver to move the Rogue into a parking spot, but he asked the driver to get out of the car when he smelled marijuana, according to dashboard camera video.

The driver refused and took off from the rest stop. Manu hopped into his cruiser and chased after them.

The chase continued on several highways toward Cleveland, until the SUV exited onto Snow Road in Brook Park.

Headed east on Snow Road. Speed 75. Nolight traffic, light snow, Manu said over the radio, according to the video.

The supervisor replied that the trooper might want to think about terminating there if he was on Snow Road.

Im not on Snow. I said lightly snowing, he said.

The video showed the trooper was still on Snow Road. Three seconds later, the SUV turned onto Delores Boulevard, then onto Rademaker Road, both dimly lit residential streets lined by one-story bungalow homes with small front yards. A dusting of snow covered the roads, the video showed.

The chase continued onto Fry Road, then back out onto Snow Road and back toward I-71 before the supervisor gave a crackled order for the trooper to terminate the pursuit.

Say again, the trooper replied.

Terminate it, the supervisor said.

Six seconds passed from the time the trooper first got the terminate command to when he turned off his lights and siren. But the video showed the trooper followed the SUV at high speeds for five seconds, then the SUV gets back on Interstate 71.

I just saw him get back south on 71. Can I, go after him? the trooper asked.

The pursuit resumed, with more troopers joining in.

Santiago told cleveland.com Monday that Manu, a trooper with two years on the job who is based out of the Hiram post, may have just misspoke when he wrongly said he was not on Snow Road.

It was a trooper with not very much time on, in a high-stress situation, in an area he was not familiar with, Santiago said. Between giving the roadway condition of snow or snow covered multiple times and actually exiting onto a road named Snow Road, I believe he may have just misspoke. Nevertheless, that portion of the pursuit will be reviewed along with everything else.

The SUV got off on Pearl Road and sped through Strongsville, where local police and more troopers joined the chase.

They put up stop-sticks on Pearl Road at Progress Drive, right outside the citys main square at its busiest intersection with Royalton Road. The SUV ran over the sticks and a few seconds later lost a front tire. Seconds after that the SUVs fender fell off, but the pursuit still continues at speeds of 100 mph down Pearl Road into Brunswick.

Someone inside the SUV threw a duffel bag out the window during the chase, troopers said.

Another trooper executed a pit maneuver and rammed the back of the speeding SUV. The impact knocked it off course. The SUV traveled across three lanes, launched off the curb into a no-parking sign and a utility pole before it flipped on its side stop.

Troopers got out of their cars with guns drawn. One smashed the cars back glass with a nightstick, and screamed for the men to get out of the g--------d car.

You just put everyone in danger, one of the troopers screams at the men. Whats wrong with you?

Troopers identified Littleton as the driver of the car, Santiago said. Clemons is accused of throwing the bag, which troopers found filled with several IDs and credit cards, Santiago said.

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New Delhi: The destruction caused during violence that erupted on Monday over the Citizenship Amendment Act in northeast Delhi; on Feb 25, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: Sandeep Mahankal/IANS

New Delhi, Feb 25 : The US media did not mince words in highlighting the violence in Delhi around the Citizenship (Amendment) Act amid US President Donald Trump's two-day India trip, even as the Indian media gave a vast and expansive coverage to Trump's first-ever standalone tour.

Some of the write-ups published in leading US media outlets spoke in detail about the tension and violence that has gripped east Delhi since Sunday that started with a clash between pro and anti-CAA groups, resulting in the death of 10 people, including a policeman.

Even as Trump refused to comment on the CAA, citing it as India's internal matter, the US media has described the new citizenship law -- being opposed by a section of people in India -- as "anti-Muslim".

"Wrapping up a two-day trip to India, President Trump declined on Tuesday to condemn India's new citizenship law, which discriminates against Muslims..." was the opening line of a news piece in a major American newspaper.

The CAA has been a major bone of contention in the Indian political circles since it was passed by Parliament in December last year.

India has witnessed violent protests across the country, with many claiming the the Act "discriminates" against the Muslims as it seeks to provide citizenship to only non-Muslims of Pakistani, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who have faced persecution in those Muslim-majority countries.

The Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly stated that Muslims in India won't be affected by the CAA. However, the assurance has failed to do anything significant to quell the fears.

On Tuesday, the American media said Trump seemed to have backed Modi government's CAA, as the US President refused to criticise the Act during a press conference in New Delhi.

"Trump appeared to back Modi's concern that the majority-Hindu country is being overrun by Muslims," one of the reports that appeared in a leading US newspaper read.

The US media said Trump refused to answer anything on CAA when he was asked about it. "I don't want to discuss that, and hopefully they're going to make the right decision for the people," he said.

Another leading US newspaper, well known for its criticism of Trump, reported the Delhi violence from a "communal" perspective.

The paper, in its report, also spoke about "Modi's Hindu nationalism" and related this with the tension in the neighbourhoods of east Delhi.

It wrote: "The fighting in Delhi signalled a dire new phase in the country's internal divisions under Modi.

An opinion piece by the same newspaper also discussed about a ban on Modi by the US post 2002 Gujarat riots, which was eventually lifted after he became Prime Minister in 2014.

"When he became prime minister in the spring of 2014, the travel ban was lifted, and later that year, Modi made his first triumphant visit to the United States, where he had a private dinner with President Barack Obama." The write-up also said: "Trump is popular in India, where 2019 polling by the Pew Research Centre found 56% of citizens expressed confidence in him to handle world affairs -- one of just a half-dozen nations to register a majority on that question. In many other countries, he is more apt to draw crowds of protesters than admirers. Attendees at Monday's rally (in Ahmedabad's Motera) seemed dazzled."
Danilov said the work continued to gain access to the black boxes.

The National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine is considering three "classified theories" about why Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) flight PS752 was downed by Iran early in January 2020.

"There are three classified theories we are working on. Including who was interested in this and who else took part," NSDC Secretary Oleksiy Danilov said in an interview for the Ukrainian media outlet Liga.net.

Read alsoIran says Ukrainian plane's black box damaged  media

He said the work was on to gain access to the black box recorders of UIA's Boeing plane.

"Technical processes are now underway along with the approval of procedures. We are in touch with Iran on a daily basis. We are working," Danilov added.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Kyiv-bound UIA flight PS752 crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport in the early hours of January 8. It was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members on board. Two passengers and the crew members were Ukrainians. There were also 82 citizens of Iran, 63 citizens of Canada, 10 citizens of Sweden, four citizens of Afghanistan, three citizens of Germany and the United Kingdom each. There were no survivors.

On January 11, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani officially admitted that the Ukrainian airliner had been shot down by accident as a result of a "human error" and that those responsible would be held accountable.

On February 2, intercepted communications between Tehran Airport's air traffic control tower and the second pilot of Iran's Aseman Airlines flight at the time of the crash of flight PS752 were released by TSN.Tyzhden. Tehran blamed the Ukrainian authorities for leaking what it described as confidential evidence, and said it would no longer share investigation materials with Ukraine.

On February 14, the Iranian Foreign Minister said Iran did not plan to hand the black boxes over but it would not decrypt their data without the participation of the parties concerned.
U.S. Senate Democratic leaders have urged the administration of President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on Russia after U.S. intelligence officials briefed members of Congress that Russia was again trying to interfere in a national election.

Senators Chuck Schumer (New York), Bob Menendez (New Jersey), and Sherrod Brown (Ohio) wrote to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin stipulating that the administration "immediately and forcefully" sanction the Russian government and any individuals involved in influencing this year's presidential election.

Their letter comes days after accounts surfaced of a closed-door briefing intelligence officials had given to lawmakers in the House of Representatives.

During the briefing, the lawmakers were told that Russia and other countries were threatening the integrity of the November election.

It focused on efforts Russia might be taking to aid Trump's reelection. Democratic candidate Senator Bernie Sanders (Vermont) has said he was told that Russia was seeking to bolster his chances as well.

A Russian presidential envoy denied the allegation in an interview with the Kommersant daily.

"We strictly and meticulously observe the principle of noninterference in the domestic affairs of the United States, sealed back on November 16, 1933, when Soviet Russia and the United States restored their diplomatic relations," said Andrei Krutskikh, special presidential envoy for international cooperation on information security.

He added: "The [Russian] president has repeatedly stressed that Russia had never interfered and was not going to interfere into U.S. internal affairs, including electoral processes."

Separately, a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) official said Russia wanted to watch Americans "tear ourselves apart."

David Porter, an assistant section chief with the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force, spoke at an election security conference in Washington on February 24 where he accused Moscow of spreading disinformation and sowing doubt in the integrity of U.S. elections.

He said Russia was engaged in "information confrontation," whereby fact and fiction is blurred.

"The primary objective is not to create a particular version of the truth but rather to cloud the truth and erode our ability to find it, creating a sentiment that no narrative or news source can be trusted at all," Porter said.

With reporting by AP, Reuters, TASS, and Kommersant
Thousands of terrorists might have been airlifted out of Kabul: Trump slams Biden

Never in history has withdrawal from war been handled so badly: Trump

Anything I can do to mediate, I would do: Trump repeats Kashmir offer

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Feb 25: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday reiterated his offer of mediating between India and Pakistan, saying: "India and Pakistan are working on their problem. My relationship with both PMs is strong. Anything I can do to mediate, I will."

"We talked a lot about it at length today. No question it is a problem. They are working on it. I said I will do whatever I can do to help because my relationship with both gentlemen (Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan PM Imran Khan) is so good. Anything I can do to mediate, I would do," he said.

"They (Pakistan) are working on Kashmir. Kashmir has been a thorn in lots of people's sight for a long time. There are two sides to every story. We discussed terrorism at length today," added the American President, who arrived yesterday for a 36-hour visit, his first ever.

India had rebuffed the American president's earlier offers of mediation, insisting that Kashmir was a bilateral issue with Pakistan.

He has made more than half a dozen offers to mediate between India and Pakistan on Kashmir. The latest one was last month in Davos when told Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan he wants to "help" resolve the Kashmir issue.

One of Trump's offers to mediate came after Imran Khan met him ahead of the UN General Assembly session last year.
A senior adviser to Immigration Minister David Coleman says he can't remember conversations or briefings about a Tamil asylum-seeker family fighting deportation to Sri Lanka.

Parents Priya and Nadesalingam and their Australian-born daughters Kopika, 4, and Tharunicaa, 2, have been detained on Christmas Island since August last year, when an eleventh-hour court injunction stopped the government deporting them.

They were first detained when police raided their home in the regional Queensland town of Biloela in March 2018, after Priya's bridging visa expired.

Priya and Nadesalingam and their Australian-born daughters Kopika and Tharunicaa. Credit:Twitter/@HometoBilo

Their fate now rests on their youngest daughter Tharunicaa, whose case has been heard over two days in the Federal Court.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : The IPO Committee of SBI Card has set the price band for its initial public offering (IPO) in the range of Rs 750-755 per equity share.

In a regulatory filing, State Bank of India late on Monday evening said that a discount of Rs 75 per share will also be offered to the "eligible employees".

"State Bank of lndia has been informed by SBI Cards that the IPO Committee of SBI Cards in consultation with the Book Running Lead Managers have finalised the price band to range between Rs 750 and Rs 755 per equity share. An employee discount of Rs 75 per equity share will be offered to eligible employees in accordance with the terms and conditions stipulated in the Red Herring Prospectus dated February 18, 2020," it said.

Further, the IPO Committee has finalised the bid lot for the offer at 19 equity shares and in multiples of 19 equity shares thereafter.

SBI Cards will launch its IPO on March 2 to raise about Rs 9,000 crore. The proceeds are to be used by the parent SBI to enhance credit growth.

The IPO comprises a fresh equity issue worth Rs 500 crore and an offer for sale of up to 130,526,798 equity shares. This will include up to 37,293,371 share sale by SBI and up to 93,233,427 shares on offer by Carlyle Group, the company said in its prospectus.

The bidding process will close on March 5.

SBI Cards is second-largest credit card issuer in India, with an 18 per cent market share.
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The Silver Telegram , A media-focused PR agency for technology brands, launches The PR Playbook Podcast, a show about the business of communications and DIY instructions educating brands on modern public relations. The PR Playbook Podcast is a spinoff of The PR Playbook , a book published as an essential PR guide for startups, entrepreneurs and lean organizations.

The PR Playbook Podcast

"The Silver Telegram always produces impressive results when it comes to media relations," says Patrick Pharris, CEO of Pharris Media. "As an agency partner and client for more than seven years, I have always relied on Ronjini to develop well-crafted strategies and execute media relations at the highest level. She consistently gives clear advice on how, when and why to get the best out of our PR programs and it's exciting to hear that she'll be putting that valuable information into a podcast."

Podcast episodes cover the basics of public relations, including topics like PR strategy, developing a press kit and launching new products to market. The show will also feature interviews with brands, CEO's, journalists, digital marketers, agencies and social media professionals to give brands a full view of how they can create dynamic and successful communications programs within their companies.

"I'm very excited to finally launch The PR Playbook podcast. This podcast has been in the making for about four years," says Ronjini Joshua, CEO and founder of The Silver Telegram. "I decided to create this show because over the years we have worked with so many companies that don't understand PR and have had horrible agency experiences. It makes it even harder for them to adopt and take advantage of public relations. We want to arm brands, entrepreneurs and marketing pro's with the basic information they need about PR so that they can either start PR programs themselves or work more effectively with an agency when they are ready to."

The PR Playbook Podcast episodes will air weekly on Tuesdays and is currently available via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, IHeartRadio and others. You can view the full list of episodes and subscribe to helpful tips and the weekly newsletter through the agency's website at www.thesilvertelegram.com/theprplaybookpodcast .

About The Silver Telegram

Established in 2011, The Silver Telegram is a public relations agency focused on building brand awareness through media relations for technology companies. The agency has worked with large brands and startups alike, focusing on strategic integrated communications programs that expand traditional PR to include social media and marketing practices. To learn more about The Silver Telegram visit the website at www.thesilvertelegram.com

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NHS hospitals have been banned from stockpiling masks used to protect staff from the coronavirus infection amid fears of a shortage in supply, it has emerged.

As stock markets around the world plunged and parts of Italy remained in lockdown, NHS bosses confirmed on Monday that they have barred trusts from over-ordering respirator masks after some hospitals were said to be panic buying.

Hospitals have been warned that local stockpiling is unnecessary and, from Thursday last week, hospitals were only able to order their normal amount of masks.

Dentists and GPs have already experienced difficulties in buying masks direct from wholesalers who source the items from China, the centre of the outbreak where supplies have almost dried up.

NHS Supply Chain, the body that handles equipment stocks for NHS hospitals, said it is now imposing controls to maintain continuity of supply across the network.

The intervention comes amid fears that the Covid-19 virus could become a pandemic, with northern Italy hit by more than 220 cases and South Korea reporting more than 800 infections.

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

Hospitals in the UK are battling to prepare for a possible surge in the number of patients who may have the coronavirus.

All hospitals have been instructed to install standalone pods, costing up to 70,000, where patients can be assessed and given advice without going into A&E departments where they risk spreading the virus to already sick and injured patients.

A spokesperson for NHS Supply Chain said: We have seen an increased demand for personal protective equipment products over the last two weeks as NHS trusts have put in place preparedness measures.

As a result, NHS Supply Chain is implementing controls on excessive order quantities to ensure stocks are managed fairly for all of its customers.

They added that while there was no shortage at the moment, exceptionally large orders or unplanned stockpiling at a local level places unnecessary strain on the supply chain, and therefore we are having to manage any adverse ordering patterns from individual organisations.

The UK has a stockpile of protective equipment, including masks, for use in the event of a pandemic virus spreading through the country.

This stockpile has not yet been used, but the World Health Organisation has warned that countries need to be prepared for the coronavirus to become a pandemic.

The NHS has also started home testing for patients to prevent those suspected with being infected from travelling.

A total of 6,536 people in the UK have now been tested for the Covid-19 virus, with nine positive cases as well as four people infected with the virus while aboard the Diamond Princess cruise liner in Japan.

Earlier this month, the government said it would stockpile some products as a precaution against the impact of the virus in China hitting supplies.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: We maintain large stockpiles of a range of medical products, including face masks, to help ensure the uninterrupted supply to the NHS.

In line with well-established procedures, the NHS is managing a rise in demand for certain types of face mask across the NHS above normal levels. Local stockpiling is unnecessary and could inadvertently cause shortages.

The best way to protect ourselves from infections like coronavirus is to wash our hands, carry tissues and dispose of them after use.
The U.N. statement was approved by all 15 council members, including the United States, and made no mention of Trumps plan. It also did not directly address Palestinian demands for an independent state that would include all of the West Bank and East Jerusalem  areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war  and the removal of many of the more than 700,000 Israeli settlers from those areas.
Identity and access management in 2022 - what will the future look like?

As we enter into 2022, there is still a level of uncertainty in place. Its unclear what the future holds, as companies around the world still contend with the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote working has been encouraged by most organisations and the move to a hybrid working system has become business as usual, for the majority of businesses. Some have reduced their office space or done away with their locations altogether. Following best security practices With all this change in place, there are problems to deal with. According to research, 32.7% of IT admins say they are concerned about employees using unsecured networks to carry out that work. Alongside this, 74% of IT admins thought that remote work makes it harder for employees to follow best security practices. This need to manage security around remote work is no longer temporary. Instead, companies have to build permanent strategies around remote work and security. The coming year will also create a different landscape for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). Here are some key predictions for next year and what to start preparing for in 2022: The reality of SMB spending around security will hit home SMBs had to undertake significant investments to adapt to remote working SMBs had to undertake significant investments to adapt to remote working, especially in comparison to their size. They had to undertake significant digital transformation projects that made it possible to deliver services remotely, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Weve seen a shift in mindset for these companies, which are now more tech-focused in their approach to problem solving. According to our research, 45% of SMBs plan to increase their spending towards IT services in 2022. Around half of all organisations think their IT budgets are adequate for their needs, while 14.5% of those surveyed believe they will need more, to cover all that needs to be done. Identity management spending to support remote work For others, the COVID-19 pandemic led to over-spending, just to get ahead of things and they will spend in 2022, looking at what they should keep and what they can reduce their spending on. Areas like identity management will stay in place, as companies struggle to support remote work and security, without this in place. However, on-premise IT spending will be reduced or cut, as those solutions are not relevant for the new work model. Services that rely on on-premise IT will be cut or replaced. The device will lead the way for security We rely on our phones to work and to communicate. In 2022, they will become central to how we manage access, to all our assets and locations, IT and physical. When employees can use company devices and their own phones for work, security is more difficult. IT teams have to ensure that theyre prepared for this, by making sure that these devices can be trusted. Wide use of digital certificates and strong MFA factors Rather than requiring a separate smart card or fingerprint reader, devices can be used for access using push authentication There are multiple ways that companies can achieve this, for example - By using digital certificates to identify company devices as trusted, an agent, or strong MFA factors, like a FIDO security key or mobile push authentication. Whichever approach you choose, this can prevent unauthorised access to IT assets and applications, and these same devices can be used for authentication into physical locations too. Rather than requiring a separate smart card or fingerprint reader, devices can be used for access using push authentication. Understanding human behaviour Alongside this, it is important to understand human behaviour. Anything that introduces an extra step for authentication can lead to employees taking workarounds. To stop this, it is important to put an employee education process in place, in order to emphasize on the importance of security. The next step is to think about adopting passwordless security, to further reduce friction and increase adoption. Lastly, as devices become the starting point for security and trust, remote device management will be needed too. More companies will need to manage devices remotely, from wiping an asset remotely if it gets lost or stolen, through to de-provisioning users easily and removing their access rights, when they leave the company. Identity will be a layer cake Zero Trust approaches to security Identity management relies on being able to trust that someone is who they say they are. Zero Trust approaches to security can support this effectively, particularly when aligned with least privilege access models. In order to turn theory into practical easy-to-deploy steps, companies need to use contextual access, as part of their identity management strategy. This involves looking at the context that employees will work in and putting together the right management approach for those circumstances. For typical employee behaviour, using two factor authentication might be enough to help them work, without security getting in the way. How enterprises manage, access and store identity data There will also be a shift in how enterprises manage, access, and store that identity data over time For areas where security is more important, additional security policies can be put over the top, to ensure that only the right people have access. A step-up in authentication can be added, based on the sensitivity of resources or risk-based adaptive authentication policies might be needed. There will also be a shift in how enterprises manage, access, and store that identity data over time, so that it aligns more closely with those use cases. Identity management critical to secure assets in 2022 There are bigger conversations taking place around digital identity for citizenship, as more services move online as well. Any moves that take place in this arena will affect how businesses think about their identity management processes too, encouraging them to look at their requirements in more detail. Overall, 2022 will be the year when identity will be critical to how companies keep their assets secure and their employees productive. With employees working remotely and businesses becoming decentralised, identity strategies will have to take the same approach. This will put the emphasis on strong identity management as the starting point for all security planning.
An elderly woman died at Greenwich Hospital after a fire in her home in Rye, N.Y., early Saturday morning, fire officials said.

The City of Rye Police and Rye Fire Department were dispatched at 12:10 a.m. to a residence at 490 Midland Ave., Rye, said a statement from Robert Falk, Ryes public safety commissioner.

When police arrived, they found fire coming from the second floor of the residence. Rye firefighters made an aggressive attack inside the residence and found heavy fire on the second floor.

Firefighters conducted a search-and-rescue operations and found an unconscious woman on the second floor, the statement said.

They provided immediate emergency medical care with assistance from Rye Brook Portchester Emergency Medical Services.

The woman, identified as 85-year-old Cecelia Kussner, was transported to Greenwich Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The fire was upgraded to a second alarm, bringing in firefighters from the Town of Harrison, Town of Mamaroneck, and the Village of Mamaroneck.

It was extinguished within 45 minutes, and no other injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Rye Fire Department, Westchester County Cause and Origin Team, and the Rye Police Department were working to determine the cause of the fire.
The next week is being viewed as crucial for the chances of the Irish tourism industry withstanding the threat to business posed by the coronavirus.

Pat Dawson, chief executive of the Irish Travel Agents Association, said there remains up to 40% available overseas summer capacity still to be booked by Irish holidaymakers; and they, along with airlines and hotels are becoming increasingly nervous. Airline shares have already been rocked this week by virus uncertainty.

"One incident in Tenerife will not close down the Canary Islands, but if we're seeing four, five or six cases, things will change," Mr Dawson said.

No new cases being reported in Europe up to Friday of this week might indicate that this thing might be contained and people may become more relaxed. This week will be crucial.

The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) said it has not yet seen any cancellations of inbound overseas visitor bookings, but is "anxiously monitoring" the situation.

Inbound travel is worth around 7bn to the Irish economy, with most visitors coming from North America, mainland Europe and the UK. About two million North Americans visit Ireland every year.

ITIC chief executive Eoghan O'Mara Walsh said that market remains buoyant and demand for Irish visits has never been higher.

"Tourism is our largest indigenous industry, with 265,000 people employed, and is uniquely vulnerable to external factors. We saw this with 9/11 and the Icelandic ash clouds and the SARS epidemic in 2003. Global pandemics coming out of left field can damage the industry. But, traditionally, tourism bounces back very quickly," he said.

Mr O'Mara Walsh said that Irish people holidaying at home might become more important than ever, particularly if overseas markets soften.

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has called on the next government to put the tourism industry front and centre of the economic agenda in the next programme for government.

"As an island nation, we are vulnerable to external shocks, given our exposure to the economic environment of our major source markets. Brexit demonstrated that clearly with the substantial fall in UK visitors over the past three years," said new IHF president Elaina Fitzgerald Kane.

"While it remains to be seen what impact the coronavirus will have on the global economy, we can expect to experience some reverberations here too. The economic consequences of threats such as these are largely outside our control so it is imperative that we mitigate the risks to Irelands economy where we do have some control," she said.

The Dalata Hotel Group, meanwhile, said it has not seen any material impact on its business from the coronavirus. The group - which owns the Clayton and Maldron chains - said it grew pre-tax profits by just under 3%, to 90m, last year, with revenues rising more than 9% to just over 429m. Its shares rose by over 3%.

Dalata said it is confident of withstanding staffing pressures in the UK if Britain's proposed tough new immigration laws are passed. It also said it expects an improved sterling and more budget accommodation in Dublin to boost UK visitor numbers to Ireland this year.
CHICAGO, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "High Temperature Insulation Materials Market by Material Type (Ceramic Fibers, Insulating Firebricks, Calcium Silicate), End-use Industry (Petrochemical, Ceramic, Glass), Temperature Range, and Region - Global Forecast to 2024" Published by MarketsandMarkets, the high temperature insulation materials market is expected to grow from USD 6.0 billion in 2019 to USD 8.9 billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 8.2% during the forecast period.

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The major factors driving the high temperature insulation materials market include the need for energy-saving materials to lower manufacturing cost and reduce emission levels, and their high demand in different end-use industries, such as petrochemical, ceramic, glass, aluminum, iron & steel, cement, refractory, and powder metallurgy.

The ceramic fibers segment is the largest type of high temperature insulation materials

The high temperature insulation materials market has been segmented based on material type into ceramic fibers, insulating firebricks, calcium silicate, and others. Among these types, the ceramic fibers segment accounted for the largest share of the market in 2018 and is likely to witness significant growth during the forecast period. The market growth in this segment is attributed to their superior properties, which include low weight and flexibility, and their ability to reduce the emission level to a great extent due to their excellent chemical stability at high temperatures.

The 600C-1100C (1112F-2012F) segment is the largest temperature range of high temperature insulation materials

The temperature range of 600C-1100C (1112F-2012F) is estimated to be the largest segment of the market because all the insulation materials (ceramic fibers, insulating firebricks, calcium silicate, and perlite, vermiculite, and microporous materials) are used in this temperature range.

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The petrochemical end-use industry is expected to register the highest CAGR in the global high temperature insulation materials market during the forecast period.

The petrochemical industry is growing rapidly due to an increase in the production of oil in various countries. The increase in the production of petrochemicals has resulted in the growing demand for high temperature insulation materials. Petrochemical prices are directly interlinked with energy costs, and the use of high temperature insulation materials is important for controlling greenhouse emissions and saving manufacturing costs. The key applications of high temperature insulation materials in the industry include the insulation of pipelines, heat processors, reformers, and thermal crackers.

APAC is expected to hold the largest market share in the global high temperature insulation materials market during the forecast period.

APAC is estimated to be the largest as well as the fastest-growing market for high temperature insulation materials. The growth is attributed to the development of end-use industries, such as petrochemical, ceramic, and glass, in the emerging economies of China and India. Rising population and urbanization, along with the growing concerns related to emission control, are some of the factors that are expected to drive the market in the region during the forecast period. Moreover, several high temperature insulation materials manufacturers, such as RHI Magnesita, ETEX, and Calderys, are investing and expanding their manufacturing facilities in this region to cater to the high demand from end-use industries.

Morgan Advanced Materials (UK), Luyang Energy-Saving Materials (China), RHI Magnesita (Austria), ETEX (Belgium), Calderys (France), Unifrax (US), and Almatis (Netherlands) are the leading High Temperature Insulation Materials Market players globally.

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High-Performance Insulation Materials Market by Type (Aerogel, Ceramic Fiber, Glass Bubble, EPS, XPS), Application (Oil & Gas, Industrial, Construction, Transportation and Power Generation, Automotive, and Paints & Coatings) - Global Forecast to 2021

Microporous Insulation Market by Product Type (Rigid boards & panels, flexible panels, machined parts, moldable products), Application (Industrial, Energy & Power, Oil & Gas, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive), and Region - Global Forecast to 2023

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JESUS WASNT KILLED BY THE JEWS: Reflections for Christians in Lent. Edited by Jon M. Sweeney. Foreword by Rabbi Abraham Skorka. Afterword by Amy-Jill Levine. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2020. 128 pages. Edited by Jon M. Sweeney. Foreword by Rabbi Abraham Skorka. Afterword by Amy-Jill Levine. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2020. 128 pages.

The question of who killed Jesus is a complicated one. According to the Gospels, the Romans executed him, but they had input from the local religious leaders. There is also the possibility that a mob was stirred up by this consortium, to give the execution the appearance of popular support. There is little to go on beyond the Gospels, and the authors of these books have their own purposes in writing what they do. Why is this relevant for Christians to consider during Lent? One could answer the question with a reminder that Lent is a season of reflection and penitence. Since Christians have a history of condemning Jews as Christ-killers, this might be a good time to consider that legacy. Its also relevant because Lent leads into Holy Week, and its during Holy Week that this issue becomes the most problematic. Texts are read that not only blame Jews for the events of Good Friday, but these texts have been used to encourage violence against Jews on that very day. So, at a time when anti-Semitism remains a significant problem, we need to make sure we keep our facts straight.





Nostra Aetate as a foundation for the book. This document, which addresses Catholic engagement with other Christians and other religious traditions, explicitly set aside earlier teachings on the role of Jews in the death of Jesus and made changes to liturgies that had tarred Jews as Christ-killers. Sweeney wants to remind readers of this turn of events as a call to address the ongoing issues that feed anti-Semitism in the current era. This legacy led Jon Sweeney, who serves as Publisher at Paraclete Press and the author of numerous books to edit this book for this particular season. As a Roman Catholic, he draws on the key Vatican II document known asas a foundation for the book. This document, which addresses Catholic engagement with other Christians and other religious traditions, explicitly set aside earlier teachings on the role of Jews in the death of Jesus and made changes to liturgies that had tarred Jews as Christ-killers. Sweeney wants to remind readers of this turn of events as a call to address the ongoing issues that feed anti-Semitism in the current era.





Jesus Wasnt Killed by the Jews is a collection of essays. Sweeney wrote several of them, along with the introduction. He organizes this small book around two themes: Foundations and Progress. The book opens with a foreword by Rabbi Abraham Skorka titled "Antisemitism Yet Again, giving a Jewish context for the importance of dealing with the question. One part of that context was the mass shooting at a Jewish synagogue in Poway, California. The question of Jewish involvement in Jesus death and the attempt to use it as fodder for persecution and more simply wont go away. This leads to Sweeneys introduction in which the editor sets the agenda for why the book is necessary. We need to get the story straight as it is a life and death concern. The book closes with Amy-Jill Levine's "Afterword." I have to say her brief essay is probably the most impactful segment of the book. She engages with the previous essays, correcting some proposals and giving her guidance for the way forward. is a collection of essays. Sweeney wrote several of them, along with the introduction. He organizes this small book around two themes: Foundations and Progress. The book opens with a foreword by Rabbi Abraham Skorka titled "Antisemitism Yet Again, giving a Jewish context for the importance of dealing with the question. One part of that context was the mass shooting at a Jewish synagogue in Poway, California. The question of Jewish involvement in Jesus death and the attempt to use it as fodder for persecution and more simply wont go away. This leads to Sweeneys introduction in which the editor sets the agenda for why the book is necessary. We need to get the story straight as it is a life and death concern. The book closes with Amy-Jill Levine's "Afterword." I have to say her brief essay is probably the most impactful segment of the book. She engages with the previous essays, correcting some proposals and giving her guidance for the way forward.





Essayists in the book include Walter Brueggemann, Mary Boys, Nicholas King, Richard Lux, Robert Ellsberg, Wes Howard-Brook, Massimo Faggioli, Bishop Richard J. Skalba, Greg Garrett, and Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso. They explore such issues as Israel's origins as well as that of Christianity. There is an essay suggesting that the New Testament was written entirely by Jews (Nicholas King), which is intriguing, but I think Amy-Jill Levine is correct in saying we simply don't know for sure about authorship. This is especially regarding Luke. While it's possible that the author of the Gospel was Jewish, it's difficult to prove one way or another. There is also an essay on supersessionism/replacement theology (Richard Lux), which is a good primer on the problem that continues to plague Christian interpretation of Scripture and Christian theological formulation (this includes Progressive Christians). Sweeney has brief essays focusing on how we practice Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. Regarding Maundy Thursday, his words of advice concerning Seders needs to be heeded. We need to be careful about Christianizing a Jewish festival. In my mind, unless you have a Rabbi leading it at your church, don't try it.





Ioudaioi, most often translated as the Jews (especially in the Gospel of John), as Judeans to be compelling. I think that Levine deals with that suggestion effectively. Sweeney designed the book to be read during Lent. Its not a daily devotional nor is it a book thats specifically designed for group study (there isnt a study guide or questions provided). However, it could easily be used by groups to stir a conversation about an important issue. As the afterword by Amy-Jill Levine reminds us, the authors arent always on the same page, but they are all committed to addressing this lingering challenge to the church and to the world. Beyond its use during Lent, it should prove useful in furthering the conversation about Jewish-Christian relations. It may help some Christians understand why many Jews are hesitant to talk about Jesus. They may come to understand why Jews are uncomfortable with Good Friday. As noted earlier, Amy-Jill Levine's essay helps clarify a number of points, including authorship of New Testament books and the way we refer to Jews. Personally, I didn't find Wes Howard-Brook's suggestion that the Greek wordmost often translated as the Jews (especially in the Gospel of John), as Judeans to be compelling. I think that Levine deals with that suggestion effectively.





If we are to undo the legacy of Christian anti-Judaism, we will need to listen to our Jewish neighbors and read the Gospels and other Christian texts with care, so that we do not repeat the errors of others. Its not enough to simply affirm that Jesus was Jewish or that the authors of the Gospels might have been Jewish. We need to deal with the legacy of nearly two thousand years of Christian anti-Semitism. This book wont answer all the questions we might have, but it provides the foundation for a conversation that continues to be needed. This makes it a worthy read for Lent.




One man was killed and another injured Monday evening in a double shooting in Lynn, authorities said.

Police responded to a report of shots fired near 4 Jones Terrace around 6 p.m., according to a joint statement from Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett and Lynn Police Chief Michael Mageary.

Upon arrival, they found two men suffering from gunshot wounds, the statement said. A 34-year-old male was pronounced dead at the scene."

A 22-year-old man was taken to Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington. He is expected to survive.

No arrests have been made. The incident remains under investigation.

Editors note: This story has been updated to note the victim shot to death was 34 years old. Previously, the district attorneys office said the victim was 33 years old.
Phi Phi construction barge goes up in flames

PHUKET: An estimated B1 million in damage was caused by a fire that broke out on a construction barge at a major pier on the east side of Phuket Town last night (Feb 24).

marineSafety

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Tuesday 25 February 2020, 11:57AM

Phuket City Police Chief Col Theerawat Liamsuwan was at the scene last night. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Phuket City Police Chief Col Theerawat Liamsuwan was at the scene last night. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Damage caused by the fire was estimated to be more than B1 million. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Firefighters took nearly an hour to douse the flames. Photo; Eakkapop Thongtub

Firefighters took nearly an hour to douse the flames. Photo; Eakkapop Thongtub

Lt Col Thada Sodarak of the Phuket City Police was notified of the fire at at 11:05pm.

Police together with fighters of Rassada and Phuket City Municipality Fire Department and Kusoldharm rescue workers arrived at the scene, the Jian Wanit Pier in Rassada, to find the construction materials barge Or Phalanukorn 1 ablaze.

Firefighters took nearly an hour to extinguish the blaze, but kept soaking the materials already loaded on board to prevent the fire from flaring up again.

The captain of the boat, Wirut Chinkarn, 39, was on board when the fire broke out. He was taken to Phuket Provincial Hospital for treatment of burns to his face and feet.

No other people were reported as injured from the fire.

Pier manager Thiamta Palanukorn explained that the steel-hulled boat was used for delivering construction materials to Phi Phi Island.

At the time the fire broke out the boat was already ready loaded with planks of wood, bags of cement and other construction materials, she said.

The damage caused by the fire may cost more than B1 million, Ms Thiamta said.

Phuket City Police Chief Col Theerawat Liamsuwan, who was at the scene last night, made no mention of whether police were investigating the possibility of arson.

However, he added, At this stage we believe that the fire started in the boats control room [the bridge/wheelhouse], but we still have to examine the scene to find the cause of the fire and question the boat captain.
An artist's depiction of machinery working in a permanently shadowed crater on the moon.

NASA has awarded nearly $1 million to student teams looking to deploy robots, towers and other technologies alongside moon-roaming astronauts .

The agency's Artemis program plans to return humans to the lunar surface in 2024 supported by a suite of robotic helpers, many of which will be delivered through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, which includes several commercial companies .

The students now receiving Artemis funding, however, are focusing on a narrow challenge: creating instruments that will work in permanently shadowed craters on the moon. Such craters are useful areas for human exploration, because their shadows can retain water ice , which could be used to support missions by providing drinking water or rocket fuel.

Related: NASA's Artemis moon program just photobombed a spacewalk (photo)

But these regions are also incredibly hostile. The equipment will need to withstand the cold and be powered in some way that keeps rovers and other machines going in permanent darkness.

NASA selected eight teams to receive between $80,000 and $165,000 apiece to continue developing their projects. In a previous statement, NASA said that once conceptual testing is complete, it may give students a chance to launch their payloads to the moon if the student ideas are deemed viable. Presumably, this would also depend on mission requirements, which strictly limit instruments, based on the goals of a particular flight.

The projects include an Arizona State University proposal to launch spherical sensor-laden probes from a catapult attached to a lunar lander, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology proposal to develop a lightweight tower that can serve as a communications relay and instrument platform, several rover concepts, and a couple of proposals for using lasers to power other equipment.

"I look forward to seeing the inventive designs come to life, as well as how they can advance our exploration capabilities in permanently shadowed craters on the moon," Drew Hope, game changing development program manager at NASA's Langley Research Center, said in a statement .

Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook .
KYODO NEWS - Feb 25, 2020 - 15:05 | Feature, All, Coronavirus

Desperate to protect themselves against the coronavirus that is sweeping parts of the planet, but unable to buy face masks due to shortages, people in Japan are going to unusual lengths with DIY solutions.

While fearful Chinese people are forced into some extreme, if strange, measures such as using fruit skins, plastic bottles, sanitary pads, and even bras as makeshift face masks, many Japanese are coming up with ingenious solutions of their own.

Fears from COVID-19, as the disease has been named by the World Health Organization, have led to worldwide mask shortages, not only triggering panic buying but also a crime wave as opportunists get their hands on masks to sell at inflated, fear-driven prices.

(Metropolitan Police Department tweet in 2017 on how to make a face mask from kitchen paper to block out sand and dust)

Recently, thieves stole 6,000 surgical masks from a hospital in Kobe, western Japan, and armed robbers stole 600 rolls of toilet paper after mugging a delivery man outside a Hong Kong supermarket as fears of supply shortages mount.

In Japan, those who have come across only empty store shelves and who refuse to pay the exorbitant prices set by online gougers have turned to depression-era kinds of frugal creativity.

Handmade masks are trending on social media, with Instagrammers posting tutorial videos on how to construct them using handkerchiefs, scarves, or even coffee filters and elastic bands.

While some experts advise handwashing is more effective than wearing a face mask or go as far as saying reusable masks are dangerous to your health, many still believe that any mask is better protection than no mask at all.

(Photo taken Feb. 4, 2020, shows face masks at a drug store near JR Shimbashi Station in Tokyo. Customers there are limited to two packs of face masks per group, as the spread of a new coronavirus has led to a shortage.)

Virologists, on the other hand, have doubts about the effectiveness of masks against airborne viruses, although there is some evidence to suggest they can help prevent hand-to-mouth transfer.

Handicraft magazine Cotton Time, published by Shufu To Seikatsu Sha Co., recently shared a step-by-step guide instructing how to make a DIY face mask on its website using a free downloadable sewing pattern (https://www.cottontimemagazine.com/page/10), and was surprised to see a giant spike in page views.

"Our magazine is published bi-monthly, but we couldn't afford to wait, so we decided to put it up on our website. At times like these, you simply help because that's the right thing to do," said Yumi Ishida, editor-in-chief of the magazine.

"We're getting 10 times more traffic than we normally get. A lot of people have been sharing DIY masks on social media, but we've used our craft expertise to come up with this 3D mask pattern. You don't need a sewing machine. Even if you haven't sewn since your home economics class in school, you'll figure it out."

According to the Japan Hygiene Products Industry Association, more than 5.5 billion disposable face masks were manufactured in Japan in 2018, of which 4.3 billion were for private use.

In ever-trend-conscious Japan, masks have become a fashion accessory worn to make a statement, with many giving no consideration to health and hygiene when masking up.

For some, it is about conforming to a social norm. For others, it is like an addiction.

But the coronavirus has made face masks and hand sanitizers essential, especially for the elderly.

(An employee inspects disposable face masks on the production line of the Yokoi Co. Ltd. factory on February 06, 2020 in Nagoya, Japan.)[Getty/Kyodo]

DIY mask instructionals have been making the rounds on YouTube and social media, with some craftspeople selling handmade pieces and others sharing their creative hacks on how to make a mask with a few basic supplies found in most homes.

Yuki Inomata, a blogger and fabric crafter who goes by @neige__y on Instagram, says she expected an influx of visitors to her blog when the news of the coronavirus broke because of what she experienced during the SARS epidemic in 2002-2003.

"At that time, page views soared from a typical 500 per day to 4,000. When I saw what was happening (with the new coronavirus), I had to put my jobs on hold and focus on helping by sharing my skills with others," Inomata said.

"I see people using their hands to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze. I don't know if masks actually keep people from getting or giving viruses, but at least it stops the flecks of saliva from flying into the air," she said.

With surgical masks from major retailers near impossible to buy in Japan, Inomata says working out how to stitch your own version is so much easier today with a skill-sharing platform like social media.

You will find an illustrated guide to making masks using paper towels, rubber bands and staples on @nekohnd's Twitter account.

A tweet from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's Disaster Response Division (@MPD_bousai) teaches you how to wear masks and dispose of them properly, while a free DIY mask instruction manual is available in English, Chinese and Korean on the Oita prefectural government's website (https://www.pref.oita.jp/site/bosaianzen/shingatacorona.html).
How big is America? Is it very far? These were some of the questions posed by kindergarten students to US First Lady Melania Trump, who visited a Delhi government school on Tuesday.

The First Lady, who spent over an hour at Sarvodaya Co-Educational Senior Secondary School in south Delhi, also interacted with students from different grades.

At an activity room for kindergarten students, the First Lady, joined the tiny tots who were engaged in clay modelling.

Encouraged by their mentor about what would they like to ask the First Lady, an excited girl asked, "How big is America?".

"Is United States very far?," asked another girl.

Smiling at the questions, the First Lady answered their queries and asked them what they were making with clay.

Moving to the another group of students, who were playing with building blocks, the First Lady joined them in the activity.

"What do you do as the First Lady?," asked an excited girl.

The First Lady also meditated with class 4 students in their "Happiness Class".

"I am feeling very relaxed," she said after the brief meditation as part of "mindfulness" activity of the 'Happiness Class'.

The 'Happiness Class' was started by the Aam Aadmi Party in 2018. As part of the programme, students are taught various activities, including meditation, street plays, basic obedience and aims to reduce anxiety and stress levels among children.

Melania Trump arrived in India on Monday with US President Donald Trump, who is on a two-day visit to the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[February 25, 2020] Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, a Leading Securities Fraud Law Firm, Announces Investigation of Tupperware Brands Corporation (TUP) on Behalf of Investors

Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM"), a leading national shareholder rights law firm, today announced that it has commenced an investigation on behalf of Tupperware Brands Corporation ("Tupperware" or the "Company") (NYSE: TUP) investors concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of the federal securities laws. If you suffered a loss on your Tupperware investments or would like to inquire about potentially pursuing claims to recover your loss under the federal securities laws, you can submit your contact information here or contact Charles H. Linehan, of GPM at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, via email [email protected] or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com to learn more about your rights. On February 24, 2020, after the market closed, Tupperware issued a press release announcing preliminary financial results for fiscal 2019. Therein, the Company discosed an "investigation primarily into the accounting for accounts payable and accrued liabilities at its Fuller Mexico beauty business" and estimated that the pre-tax impact of these issues would be approximately $50 million to $52 million. Moreover, due to the investigation, Tupperware stated that it could not timely file its annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2019. The Company said it expects 2019 net earnings per share "in the range of breakeven to $0.34 versus $3.11 in the prior year," and adjusted EPS of $1.35 to $1.70, which is below consensus estimates of $2.79.



On this news, Tupperware's stock price fell more than 43% during intraday trading on February 25, 2020. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.

Whistleblower Notice: Persons with non-public information regarding Tupperware should consider their options to aid the investigation or take advantage of the SEC (News - Alert) Whistleblower Program. Under the program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Charles H. Linehan at 310-201-9150 or 888-773-9224 or email [email protected]. About GPM Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP is a premier law firm representing investors and consumers in securities litigation and other complex class action litigation. ISS Securities Class Action Services has consistently ranked GPM in its annual SCAS Top 50 Report. In 2018, GPM was ranked a top five law firm in number of securities class action settlements, and a top six law firm for total dollar size of settlements. With four offices across the country, GPM's nearly 40 attorneys have won groundbreaking rulings and recovered billions of dollars for investors and consumers in securities, antitrust, consumer, and employment class actions. GPM's lawyers have handled cases covering a wide spectrum of corporate misconduct including cases involving financial restatements, internal control weaknesses, earnings management, fraudulent earnings guidance and forward looking statements, auditor misconduct, insider trading, violations of FDA regulations, actions resulting in FDA and DOJ investigations, and many other forms of corporate misconduct. GPM's attorneys have worked on securities cases relating to nearly all industries and sectors in the financial markets, including, energy, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, real estate and REITs, financial, insurance, information technology, health care, biotech, cryptocurrency, medical devices, and many more. GPM's past successes have been widely covered by leading news and industry publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Bloomberg (News - Alert) Businessweek, Reuters, the Associated Press, Barron's, Investor's Business Daily, Forbes, and Money. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005965/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
CoolBitX, a Taipei, Taiwan-based blockchain security company, raised USD $16.75M in Series B funding round.

The round was led by SBI Crypto Investment Co., Ltd., with participation from Monex Group, BitSonic, and the National Development Fund of Taiwan.

The company intends to use the funds to expand its product lines presence beyond the APAC region.

Founded in 2014 by Michael Ou, CEO, CoolBitX Technology Ltd. (CBX) is an international blockchain security company that is building the infrastructure necessary to close the gap between the mainstream market and crypto industry. The company provides solutions for the blockchain industry in order to foster the mass adoption of virtual assets through its two product lines: CoolWallet S and Sygna. CoolWallet S is a credit card-sized hardware wallet that allows for Bluetooth-enabled pairing with users mobile phones. The Sygna line of regulatory compliance products are tailored toward Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), simplifying the process for VASPs to meet the compliance standards of the traditional financial industry and improve the reputation of the virtual currency industry.

FinSMEs

25/02/2020
The Delhi Police told the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday that it did not have adequate forces to immediately control the violence that hit parts of Delhi claiming nine lives, including that of a policeman, officials said

New Delhi: The Delhi Police told the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday that it did not have adequate forces to immediately control the violence that hit parts of Delhi claiming nine lives, including that of a policeman, officials said.

The non-availability of adequate forces was conveyed by Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik during his meeting with the top brass of the MHA.

The Delhi Police told the MHA that it did not have adequate forces to control the North East Delhi violence immediately, which led to the situation getting aggravated, a senior official said.

It also conveyed to the MHA that it was deploying a battalion (around 1,000 personnel) of its armed police in the violence-hit areas, he added.

Another official said the police was provided with a total of 35 companies of paramilitary forces, of which 20 companies were given to it in the last three days to enhance the security of the national capital during US President Donald Trump's visit.

A head constable was among the nine persons killed and at least 50 people, including paramilitary and Delhi Police personnel, were injured as violence spiralled over the amended citizenship law in North East Delhi on Monday.

Frenzied protesters torched houses, shops, vehicles and a petrol pump, besides hurling stones at security personnel.
Misinformation is today a major threat to democratic governance and the development of a reliable media that can serve the purpose of a civil community, Ghanas Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, warned Tuesday in Accra calling for an urgent response that can restore confidence in public institutions and in our democracy.

Mr Nkrumah made the call in his keynote address at the launch of Dubawa at the Swiss Spirit Alisa Hotel Accra where he spoke on the damaging effects of misinformation, saying it erodes public confidence in government institutions, media and democracy.

Misinformation has a number of effects on the information industry generally. The first is that it defeats confidence in public institutions and our democracythe other effect is that it is also increasing the propensity for catastrophe because as people churn out fake materials and false narratives etc. the propensity for society to get to the brink is now also getting higher, he said.

He welcomed the start of Dubawa in Ghana saying it comes at an opportune time considering the upcoming 2020 general elections.

We couldnt have found a better time to start this project. Because as I am sure you are aware, 2020 is a big deal for us here in Ghana.

It is a major election year for a number of reasons  we have the two traditional parties that are at it again. We also have two candidates who have been at it for a while now taking another shot at it  the incumbent president and the former president taking a shot at it.

So the stake is a bit higher in the 2020 elections. It is, therefore, heart-warming also at this time that Dubawa is being rolled out to combat this threat of misinformation within the space Nkrumah remarked.

The minister stressed on the particular effect of misinformation on the media industry warning at what he called its propensity of eroding confidence in the media or information industry because after a while people begin to say the things that you read online you can no longer trust them, even mainstream media can fall prey to them.

His views were reinforced by Josephine Nkrumah, the Chairman of the National Commission for Civic Education, who chaired the event, and who also noted that the impact of technology, the insidious growth of fake news as a tool to destabilise and breed extremism cannot be dismissed with the phenomenal and pivotal social media as a tool in politics particularly during election campaigns.

Caroline Anipah, Dubawa Programme Officer and Country Lead, said Dubawa is a response damaging threat posed by the pernicious regime of information disorder to democracy and good governance.

In highlighting the role that Dubawa will be playing in Ghana, Ms Anipah said Dubawa will work collaboratively with the government, media, technology companies and other institutions in order to stem the spread of misinformation in Ghana.

Our primary targets will be working collaboratively to improve the capacity of our companions in the media industry in the technical and digital skills that help to improve professionalism, she said, adding We would be happy to be partners with the government at various levels to improve curriculum and pedagogy on digital literacy even as we help government information officers, particularly those working outside the capital cities, on how to engage in digital literacy at cost-effective ratios.
Saudi Aramco has signed 66 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and strategic and commercial collaborations valued at more than $21 billion with international partner companies and entities from 11 countries in several industrial and business sectors under its In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) Programme.

This was reavealed as the 5th IKTVA Forum & Exhibition opened in Al Khobar on Feb 24, in the presence of Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy, and Prince Ahmed bin Fahd bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Eastern Province. Since its inception in 2015, Saudi Aramcos iktva programme has demonstrated the inherent benefits of creating successful partnerships with business, government, and academia. The synergy driven by the iktva programme has delivered greater levels of prosperity for the kingdom, the local business community and Saudi Aramco with 56% of procurement spent in-Kingdom in 2019.

In addition, Saudi Aramco has signed a joint venture agreement with Baker Hughes to establish a 50/50 non-metallic joint venture (NM JV).

The joint venture will be a multi-sectorial non-metallic investment platform designed to innovate, develop and manufacture composite materials for both oil and gas as well as non-oil and gas applications. The JV will leverage polymer materials and state-of-the-art manufacturing processes to deliver transformational non-metallic products, starting with reinforced thermoplastic pipes (RTP) and an investment of around $110 million. The JV facility will be located at the King Salman Energy Park (Spark), and will serve the Mena region.

Saudi Aramcos participation in the NM JV aims to help promote the use of RTPs which consume less energy and are less carbon intensive compared to conventional steel pipes.

The NM JV is in line with Saudi Aramcos strategy to support R&D, and deploy lower carbon intensity applications and products that are derived from oil.

Amin H Nasser, Saudi Aramco president and CEO, emphasised the impact of partnerships in creating a highly efficient, cost-effective and reliable supply chain by stating: Future readiness is forged from a culture of excellence - by giving people the skills they need to succeed in the jobs of the future. Were enabling a vibrant commercial ecosystem that will drive efficiency and reliability of our operations. Through effective governance, iktva has created infrastructure, streamlined processes, and built capabilities that improve return on investment and leverage greater value for our company.

Nasser said the IKTVA programme has a win-win nature in creating a sustainable vibrant multi-sector ecosystem. IKTVA continues to open new doors of opportunity by enhancing the business environment for young Saudis, for entrepreneurs and for businesses, big and small. Ultimately, what counts is the impact it has on peoples lives  thats iktva in action, Nasser said.

The MoUs and commercial collaborations were with Hyundai Heavy Industry, Seimens, Aasia Steel, Oilfields Supply Center (OSC), Al-Khorayef Petroleum, Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Schneider Electric, Honeywell, Advanced Electronic Company (IT), XDM 3D Printing, Shengong New Materials, XINFOO and Saudi Exports Development Authority.

In addition to the signing of MoUs and commercial collaborations, an awards programme was held to celebrate the programmes success stories for the year.

The IKTVA 2020 Excellence Awards winners:

Highest Overall iktva Performance:

In services sector: Arabian Drilling Company

In construction sector: Nasser Saeed Al-Hajri (NSH)

In manufacturing sector: Saudi Steel Pipe Company

Best in Training & Development:

Halliburton Energy Services

Best in Supplier Development:

Schlumberger Middle East

Best in Saudisation:

In manufacturing sector: Advanced Electronics Company Ltd.

In services sector: Baker Hughes

Best in Female Employment:

Tamimi Global

Best in Exports:

In manufacturing sector: Jeddah Cable Company

In services sector: JGC Gulf International

The "IKTVA" programme has attracted 468 investments from 25 countries with an estimated capital expenditure of $6.5 billion, resulting in 44 industrial facilities completed to-date, with another 64 facilities under construction. These investments contribute to building an integrating Saudi supply chain and bringing new capabilities to the kingdom, such as the first facility for plate casing, the first reinforced thermoplastic pipe (RTP) plant, and the first facility for drilling motor relining. -- Tradearabia News Service
Update - 4.05pm: It is being reported that gardai are investigating whether a man was stabbed to death by a woman in Dublin over a parking space.

Officers arrested a woman in her 30s near the scene of the stabbing and they have found no evidence of a relationship between the two.

The man's body is said to have been found between two cars on the street in front of house at Brownsbarn Wood estate, in Kingswood near Citywest.

It is believed the victim lives in a different part of Dublin and may have parked his car on the street overnight while he stayed with his partner.

The woman lives on the street where the stabbing happened and detectives are looking into whether she had objected to where the man had parked.

Earlier: Woman arrested after man dies in Dublin stabbing

A woman in her 30s has been arrested following a fatal stabbing in Dublin.

The stabbing occurred earlier this morning, at around 7am, in the Brownsbarn Estate, Kingswood area near City West.

A garda spokesperson said a man in his late 20s "received fatal injuries" in the incident and his body remains at the scene.

The Garda Technical Bureau is currently at the scene and the State Pathologist has been informed.

Gardai said the woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently detained in Clondalkin Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

Gardai said they are investigating all the circumstances surrounding the fatal stabbing as there is no known motive at this time.

In a statement, they said: "Gardai are appealing to anyone who was in the Brownsbarn Estate and Kingswood area between the hours of 6am and 7am today 25th February 2020 who may have information in relation to this incident to come forward.

"Gardai are particularly appealing to road users who may have camera footage."

Anyone with any information should contact Clondalkin Garda Station on 01 666 7600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.

Earlier: Man dies following stabbing in Dublin

Gardai are attending the scene of a fatal stabbing incident in Dublin.

The incident occurred at Brownsbarn Estate, Kingswood near City West.

Gardai said it happened in the early hours of this morning, at around 7am.

Gardai stated that it is understood from initial enquiries that a man was injured. They said it is believed he received serious injuries.

It has since been reported that the man has died.

The area has been sealed off for a technical examination.
NAY PYI TAW, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's military donated protective equipment to help China in its battle against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak on Tuesday.

The donation including 90,000 pieces of surgical masks, 90,000 pieces of N-95 respirators and 90,000 pairs of safety goggles were handed over to Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai at the Nay Pyi Taw International Airport.

"The donation is as part of humanitarian assistance to portray closer military cooperation with China," said General Mya Tun Oo, chief of general staff of Myanmar Army, Navy and Airforce, extending wishes for speedy recovery from the epidemic in China.

Ambassador Chen said it is a critically important moment for China in fighting against the virus now and expressed his belief that China will win the battle against the COVID-19 soon.

A military aircraft loaded with the protective gears left Myanmar's airport to Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan province, on Tuesday after the donation ceremony.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 18:20:35|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Norwegian energy giant Equinor has abandoned its plan to drill for oil off the coast of South Australia (SA).

In a statement released on Tuesday, the company said it has come to the conclusion that exploratory drilling in the Great Australian Bight was "not commercially competitive" compared to other opportunities.

It follows similar decisions by BP in 2016 and Chevron in 2017.

The 200 million Australian dollars (132.3 million U.S. dollars) project was expected to boost annual state and federal tax income by 1.7 billion Australian dollars (1.1 billion U.S. dollars) and create more than 1,300 jobs in SA.

"Following a holistic review of its exploration portfolio, Equinor has concluded that the project's potential is not commercially competitive compared with other exploration opportunities in the company," Jone Stangeland, Equinor's country manager for Australia, said in the statement.

"We will engage with the federal and state authorities regarding our decision to discontinue the exploration program."

"We hold an exploration permit offshore of Western Australia and will maintain other ongoing interests and activities in Australia."

Drilling in the bight, an open bay spanning thousands of kilometers, has been strongly opposed by environmental groups.

Modelling released by Equinor in November 2018 warned that worst-case oil spill in the bight would see oil pollute beaches spanning from Western Australia (WA) to New South Wales (NSW) on Australia's east coast.

Greenpeace hailed Equinor's decision as an "incredible win" for coastal communities, Indigenous traditional owners, surfers, the seafood industry, tourism operators and other local businesses.

"The only way to protect coastal communities and the Great Australian Bight's unique marine life is to rule out drilling permanently," Chief Executive of Greenpeace Australia Pacific David Ritter said.

Federal Minister for resources Keith Pitt said that the decision was "disappointing" but expressed his support for future plans to drill in the bight.
Valtteri Bottas is aiming to conduct his contract negotiations this year away from the "headlines".

Last year, before his Mercedes deal was extended for one more season, speculation in the media about the Finn's future was rife and he said it affected his performance.

So he is already starting to think about how the talks will go in 2020.

"It's no secret that my contract expires at the end of this season, so it is natural that you want to start discussions quite early," he told Finland's MTV.

"However, it doesn't make much sense to do it too early, when we are focusing on the car's performance."

Bottas says his relationship with Toto Wolff is "good", and he says talks with his boss are always done "openly".

"At the same time, we want to improve the way we do it compared to last year. It can be done more smoothly and with slightly fewer headlines," he said.

Bottas, 30, also said he would like to end his run of single-year contracts.

"Is Toto here?" he smiled. "It helps to have a longer contract.

"If you know what your future is and feel comfortable, it's a win-win situation. If a team wants a driver for a long time, the driver is happy and you can just focus on developing the car and not thinking about the future.

"The team also doesn't have to hide anything from the driver," he added.

"It doesn't always happen in Formula 1, which is a political sport. There are always a lot of drivers who want a seat and many of the teams keep their options open.

"At the end of the day it's too early to think about next year," Bottas concluded.

(GMM)
A garment worker walks with her child from the factory after her shift in Phnom Penh, Jan. 29, 2019.

Workers and factory owners in Cambodia remain uncertain about how the suspension of trade preferences with the European Union will affect the countrys key garment industry, representatives said Tuesday, weeks after the bloc announced an end to tariff-free access to its market.

The EU in mid-February announced plans to suspend tariff-free access to its market under the Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme for around one-fifth of Cambodias exports, citing rollbacks on democracy and human rightsa decision that would reinstate tariffs on garments and footwear beginning Aug. 12, unless it is overturned by the blocs governments or its parliament.

The decision will result in a loss of around U.S. $1.1 billion of the countrys annual U.S. $5.8 billion in exports to the bloc, some 75 percent of which are made up of clothing and textilesa crucial industry in Cambodia that employs one million people.

Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has shrugged off the EUs move, on Monday pledged to cut taxes for up to a year for garment producers facing new tariffs, while promising that workers will be provided with 60 percent of the current minimum wage for up to six months in the event that production is suspended.

On Tuesday, government spokesperson Phay Siphan said the tax cuts will allow Cambodian garment producers to remain competitive in the EU, but acknowledged that no other plans are in place to subsidize the industry. Discussion on the issue will take place during a forum between the government and the private sector scheduled for next month, he said, without providing a specific date.

Ath Thun, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union (CCAWDU), told RFAs Khmer Service that the reinstatement of tariffs on Cambodian exports to the EU could leave 80,000 workers from more than 1,000 garment factories in Cambodia jobless if buyers from the bloc stop placing orders because of increased costs.

If they keep buying, it wont affect thingswe believe this will only be the case if the EU proceeds with the suspension of the EBA in August, and buyers are no longer able to purchase at a discount, he said.

The scale that we are talking about could involve the closure of some 40 factories, although we believe it could be more, for obvious reasons.

He said he welcomed proposals by the government and companies on measures to limit the impact on the industry, such as tax exemptions, but noted that such measures would likely result in a loss of income for the government.

If the government reduces taxes, does not charge taxes on profits, or allows an exemption on import taxes for raw materials  it will limit national income, he said.

So, apart from acceding to the EU's demands [to improve human rights] to reinstate EBA benefits, there will be no profitonly losses.

Employers unsure

RFA also spoke with Ken Loo, the secretary-general of the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC), who said that with the reinstatement of tariffs at a rate of around 12 percent, garment products will be subject to a tax of U.S. $120 milliona number that will increase to U.S. $150 million when shoes and bags are added.

As the cost will be passed on to buyers, factory owners in Cambodia will need to see how the reinstatement of tariffs will affect product orders from the EU, and that will determine whether workers will be laid off.

We do not yet know how many workers will be affected or how many factories are going to close, he said.

If buyers are required to pay tax, prices for products from Cambodia could be more expensive than those from neighboring countries, so the employers in Cambodia may face some problems if buyers scale back on orders.

Loo said that GMAC is investigating ways to reduce production costs and plans to discuss them with government representatives at next months meeting.

Nguon Channara, a deputy secretary-general of the Cambodian Shoes Association, said he had no comment on the CCAWDUs expectations of how a partial loss of EBA status could lead to layoffs, but acknowledged that if the decision is implemented in August it will definitely impact footwear factories in Cambodia.

The industry will really be affected if [the EBA withdrawal] happens, he said.

Whether it will have a small or large impact, we dont yet know, so we are now looking into all the ways that association members could be affected.

Appealing to investors

Meanwhile, the government on Tuesday introduced measures to encourage investors to keep their businesses in Cambodia as they face suspension of EBA privileges, including relaxing regulations and fees on cargo shipping, reducing the cost of electricity for industrial factories, cancelling seven public holidays beginning this year, and new legislation on investment and special economic zones.

After announcing the plan, Hun Sen called on China to invest in Cambodia and appealed to Beijing to help make his country a more attractive market, saying he will never bend to the EUs demands that he reverse his crackdown on the countrys political opposition, NGOs, and the independent media.

I have nothing to say to [the EU], because they have the right to make this decision, he said.

But they have to respect our position. The Khmer people are living in a very difficult situation, and they will lose a lot of profit if they are required to pay U.S. $100 million or more in taxes.

Moeun Tola, a human rights campaigner and the executive director of the Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL), told RFA he does not believe the new measures will encourage factory owners to continue to invest in Cambodia without EBA benefits.

It is difficult for major companies, because they havent prepared business plans that accommodate a drop in buying orders, he said.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Pheap Aun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Over the weekend, tens of thousands of people again took to the streets in dozens of German cities to demonstrate against right-wing terror. Many demonstrators addressed the complicity of the security authorities and the right-wing policies of all the parties in the Bundestag (federal parliament), which paved the way for right-wing terrorism.

A section of the demonstration in Hanau

The largest demonstration took place in Hanau on Saturday, with 7,000 participants. Only three days before, nine immigrants were shot to death there in a right-wing terrorist attack. The rally was dominated by the mourning for the young people whose lives the murderer so brutally ended.

Eslem, Lilli, and Chaymaa came to the rally together. We are here because we want to support the relatives and show them that we are strong together, said Chaymaa. To call the perpetrator mentally ill downplays the danger, says Lilli. The attack was clearly directed against Muslims and immigrants.

Eslem, Lilli and Chaymaa (from left)

When foreigners commit murders, the media likes to talk about a terrorist attack, Chaymaa added. In this case, however, they have avoided the word. Yet it is almost as bad as last year in Christchurch. Eslem, who knew some of the victims by sight, explained that she finds it incomprehensible how racism can still exist in the 21st century.

Seda

Seda, who also lives in Hanau, knew one of the victims personally. I am at a loss for words, she says, Hanau is such a multicultural city, I never thought that something like this could happen in my circle of friends. He was educated here, we often went out together. He was such a good man.

Eylem, who came with her family, said, I am here because it could have been any of us. Those killed have fallen victim to a morbid and poisonous ideology that seeks to set people of different nations against each other. For me, the [far-right Alternative for Germany] AfD is primarily responsible, but in reality, this is politics in Germany today. This ideology also dominated under the Nazis and it never really ended. This fact should not be swept under the carpet, I think.

In the past few days, several state and federal politicians had laid flowers in Hanau and voiced words of sympathy to the press. Eylem had not a bit of confidence in them, she said, They appear here briefly and thats it. Thats it for them.

Eylem (right) with family

She continued, Nationalism and racism do not simply come out of people. Both are constantly being encouraged in the background. This is how people are to be set against each other. Those who ultimately carry it out are not the main culprits.

When asked who bears political responsibility for the murders, Seda replied, Somehow, everyone is responsible. I feel abandoned by all the parties. Of course, the left-wing parties say they are against it. But still something like this happens! They should do something about it and not just talk.

Birgit, a pensioner from Hanau, carried a self-made sign. For her, the appearance of leading politicians in Hanau was nothing but mendacious chatter.

Birgit with poster

In reality, the killer was picking up what the politicians have been sowing for years. Its not just about the AfD, it goes much deeper. The rise of the AfD is a result of the right-wing policies that the major parties have been pursuing for decades. For me, this includes the inhuman practices of the immigration authorities, the right-wing hate speech about problems with immigration, the talk of alleged overpopulation and, above all, the social policy of the last 30 years. This began with [Social Democratic] Chancellor Schroder and his Agenda 2010, a social policy that has led to endless divisions.

Ben, who was demonstrating together with Markus and other friends from the youth movement Fridays for Future, raised the question about the role played by the security authorities. These murders took place just two days after a major operation allegedly aimed at undermining right-wing terrorism. While the government fights against so-called left-wing extremism, right-wing violence continues to kill people.

Markus

In reality, the right wing is encouraged at every level, said Ben. The AfD is increasingly being legitimizedunder Hocke, but also overall. Meanwhile, theres general agreement about so-called left-wing extremism.

Im afraid this attack may encourage more copycats. In my opinion, the media, such as [the tabloid] Bild are partly to blame. They have ruthlessly spread right-wing propaganda for years. Of course, no one among the politicians wants to be blamed for the terror. Everyone says: We dont make common cause with Nazis. But then they do, as they did recently in Thuringia. Kemmerichs statement that he knew nothing is completely unbelievable.

Christoph, who has to commute between Frankfurt and Hanau every day for work, added with regard to Thuringia and the Free Democratic Party (FDP), Lindners party has also fanned the flames of the right wing. Their cooperation with Hockes AfD in the East has ensured that these people now feel strengthened.

If the security authorities are to be given even more powers, then this is not a preventive measure, says Markus. On the contrary. The case of the right-wing radical former head of the secret service, Hans-Georg Maassen, had shown this. Even now that Maassen is gone, the dangerous structures in the secret service remain.

Joachim is a philosophy teacher and adult education lecturer in Hanau. In discussion with Christoph and the WSWS, he recalled the case of the neo-Nazi Thuringia Homeland Security and the series of murders committed by the National Socialist Underground (NSU), In Thuringia, the secret service fomented the fascists and financed the right-wing scene. It cant be that, as in the case of Halit Yozgat, official files are shredded. Actually, there should be no secret service at all, the whole concept must be completely restructured.

Dismantle the Domestic Intelligence AgencyA banner at the demonstration in Hanau

In my opinion, you have to get down to the causes, said Christoph. One must ask oneself, How did xenophobia develop? How are people played off against each other? And how was this prepared?

Markus sees things similarly. Germany obviously has a racist problem again, he says. He sees the main cause in capitalism. Without capitalism, there is no racism. You have to ask yourself the question, Where does it come from if its not about dividing and exploiting people? Capitalism is the key. You have to start there.

Chiara is a ninth grade student in Miltenberg. In her eyes, the reason for the rise of right-wing forces is that the gap between rich and poor is widening.

Chiara

The richest 1 percent at the top owns as much as all the others combined. And then the right-wing projects the bogeyman image of refugees to divide people so that they dont rebel against capitalism but attack refugees.

Despite all the dangerous parallels to the rise of the National Socialists (Nazis), Seda also sees important differences from the 1930s. Back then, you could almost believe that everyone was behind the Nazis, she explained. Today, everyone is against them and yet these murders happen!

That the shift to the right actually comes from above, I can well imagine, she said. That would suit the government well. The way I see it, either they dont care what happens here or they think its really quite all right. Why else would they allow this to happen?

Demonstrators in Hanau

Only a few days before the massacre in Hanau, the right-wing extremist history professor Jorg Baberowski (Hitler was not vicious) had physically attacked a socialist student and was subsequently defended by the university leadership. I cant stand it when I hear that someone is publicly trying to celebrate Hitler, says Chiara. Its really irresponsible.

Seda adds, It is precisely such statements that lead to the crimes of the Nazis being downplayed. Such a thing should not exist at a university. If this chapter of history is no longer discussed with shame, it will lead to its repetition one day.

Duisburg

In Duisburg, about 500 people marched through the city centre to commemorate the victims of Hanau and to demonstrate their willingness to stand up against the fascist terror.

Demonstrators in Duisburg

Many of the participants were aware that the right-wing terrorist attack in Hanau was not the result of a mentally ill individual. They also were not seduced by the official announcements of the Berlin parties to look for the guilt of the fascist terror only in the AfD. No one has been oblivious to the role of other parties, the state apparatus and the media in recent years.

Cihan has been a steelworker at Thyssenkrupp for about three decades. For him, it is not only against the fascists but also for more humanity, he said. He sees politicians and the media as bearing a major responsibility, which made the AfD socially acceptable in the first place. The AfD was made popular by politicians and the media No matter what news programme you watch, the AfD always gets a say. The same was the case with the press. The AfD is being given far too much space.

Cihan

He was stunned by how one person could kill nine humans and then his mother and himself. For 200 years, Hanau has been associated with fairy tales, he saysthe Brothers Grimm were born there. Now, like other cities, it stands for racist murders.

The steelworker was not sure whether everything has really been uncovered. In the attack in Keupstrasse in Cologne, it was also only years later that it was discovered that the NSU had done this. Who knows what else will come out of this case. Maybe the bomber had accomplices or backers.

Unfortunately, this is not simply a problem in Germany either, he said. Nationalism is also popular again in Turkey, France, the USA and in many countries. We must stand up against it everywhere.

Twenty-six-year-old Oliver told the WSWS he came to the demonstration because he feared that history will repeat itself and that what happened before will happen again. We should learn from history so that such brutal crimes do not happen again, the worker said.

Oliver

When asked who was responsible for the resurgence of fascism, he said, The entire political establishment. Now they are trying to distance themselves from the AfD, but they dont do anything for the enlightenment of society.

He comes from Hannover and had previously lived in Luckenwalde in eastern Germany. There, I met people who said that politics had failed. So they voted for the AfD in protest. I am completely against the AfD and its anti-refugee policy. My grandmother was a refugee. I dont want to become a refugee and I want to help refugees so that everyone can live well.
The population of endangered dolphins has come down by half in Odisha's Bhitarkanika National Park and nearby Gahirmatha seawaters, Forest officials said.

Only 62 dolphins were spotted during the latest headcount of these aquatic species this year, down from 126 found during last year, they said.

The dolphin census report was released on Monday.

The forest officials spotted only 62 dolphins during the census conducted this year on January 19, while last year it was 126, Deputy Conservator of Forest (Wildlife Management) Pradipta Kumar Sahoo said.

In the 2018 census, 307 dolphins were spotted. It dropped to 126 in 2019 and this year only 62 were spotted, he said.

The drop in the population of dolphins, accorded endangered status in the International Union for the Conservation of Natures (IUCN) Red List, has apparently assumed alarming proportion, officials said.

Conservationists are worried about the decline in dolphin population in Bhitarkanika National Park and its nearby areas.

Bhitarkanika National Park is spread over 145 square km in Kendrapara district. The park is one of the richest storehouses of mangrove genes.

The deputy conservator of forest (wildlife management) said factors leading to the drop in the number of dolphins in Bhitarkanika and Gahirmatha are being studied.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As virus spreads in northern Italy, number of confirmed cases rises to 322 with at least 11 deaths.

The coronavirus has been spreading fast with new cases reported in the Middle East, Europe and other parts of the world, with more deaths in Italy.

The virus has now infected more than 80,000 globally, killing at least 2,700.

Here are the latest updates:

Tuesday, February 25

Algeria confirms first case

Algeria has confirmed its first case of the coronavirus, an Italian man who arrived in the country on February 17, state television reported.

The man has been put into quarantine, state television said, citing the health minister.

Number of deaths in Italy rises to 11

At least 11 people have died as the coronavirus continues to spread in Italys northern region, according to the head of the countrys Civil Protection Department, Angelo Borrelli.

With at least 322 cases, Italy is the worst-hit European country and there are fears the outbreak could affect its neighbours. In Spain, an Italian doctor at a hotel in Tenerife was confirmed to have the virus  that hotel is now on lockdown. And in the UK, three schools have closed after students returned from skiing trips.

Mission Impossible shoot in Italy postponed

A planned three-week shoot in Italy for Tom Cruises new Mission: Impossible film has been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak, movie studio Paramount Pictures said.

Filming was due to have started on Monday in Venice, where the final two days of the lagoon citys annual Carnival festival was cancelled on Sunday.

Switzerland confirms first case

A 70-year-old man tested positive for the coronavirus in Switzerlands southern canton of Ticino, on the border with Italy, Swiss health authorities said, confirming their countrys first case.

The infected person was in Italy about ten days ago and participated in an event near Milan, the Swiss health ministry said in a statement.

People he had been in contact with were currently being identified and put in quarantine for 14 days.

Three more deaths reported in Italy

Three more people infected with the coronavirus have died in northern Italy, the chief of the civil protection agency said, bringing the death toll from the worst outbreak of the illness in the country and Europe to 10.

Angelo Borrelli told reporters that the three dead had all been in their 80s and came from the worst impacted region, Lombardy.

He added that the number of confirmed cases had risen to 322, the vast majority of them in the north of the country

Bahrain reports six more cases

Bahrain has identified six more new cases of coronavirus all coming from Iran, bringing the total number in the kingdom to 23, the state news agency BNA reported, citing the health ministry.

Coronavirus keeps spreading as new cases are announced around the world [AFP]

Thailand confirms new cases

Thailand confirmed two new cases of the coronavirus, taking its total number of infections to 37, health officials said.

The two new cases, both Thai nationals, were people who were being monitored because they had been in contact with someone who had travelled to a risky country, said Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai, director-general of the Department of Disease Control.

We are gradually investigating related individuals and quarantining anyone found with a fever, he said.

Zarif calls for cooperation against coronavirus

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has called for regional cooperation against the coronavirus.

Like other viruses  incl terrorism  #COVID19 knows no borders and doesnt distinguish between ethnicities or faiths, he tweeted.

To combat it, neither should we. In line with #HOPE, Iran calls for more regional cooperation incl long overdue Joint Center for Disease Control & Prevention, he added.

Like other viruses  incl terrorism  #COVID19 knows no borders and doesn't distinguish between ethnicities or faiths. To combat it, neither should we. In line with #HOPE, Iran calls for more regional cooperation incl long overdue Joint Center for Disease Control & Prevention.  Javad Zarif (@JZarif) February 25, 2020

Spain reports new case

Spanish health authorities have identified a case of coronavirus in Catalonia, the first case in mainland Spain, according to the La Vanguardia newspaper.

The case is the countrys fourth after three infected tourists from Germany, Italy and Britain were detected in the Canary Islands and in Mallorca.

Bahrain, Oman confirm more cases

Oman has identified two new cases of coronavirus, while Bahrain has confirmed nine new cases, the two countries health ministries reported.

Both Bahrain and Oman reported their first cases on Monday.

Austria confirms first case

Austria has confirmed its first two cases of coronavirus, a spokeswoman for the health authority in the province of Tyrol has said.

The infected individuals are two Italians who live in the province and were probably infected in Italys Lombardy region, Tyrol governor Guenther Platter was quoted as saying by local media.

Croatia confirms its first case

Croatia has confirmed its first case of coronavirus infection in a patient hospitalised in the capital Zagreb, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has said.

The patient is in the Zagreb clinic for infectious diseases. It is a younger person and has milder symptoms. He is in isolation and his condition is good at the moment, Plenkovic told a news conference.

Health Minister Vili Beros said that the patient had stayed in Milan from February 19 to 21.

Iran deputy health minister and MP have coronavirus

Irans deputy health minister and an MP have been infected with the new coronavirus, according to a ministry official and the MP in question, amid a major outbreak in the Islamic republic.

The coronavirus test for Mr Harirchi, the deputy health minister who was on the front lines combating the coronavirus, was positive, Alireza Vahabzadeh, a media adviser to the health minister, said in a tweet.

Iraj Harirchi coughed occasionally and appeared to be sweating during a news conference on Monday with government spokesman Ali Rabiei.

MP Mahmoud Sadeghi wrote on Twitter: My corona test is positive  I dont have a lot of hope of continuing life in this world.





Health officials confirm hundreds of tourists in Tenerife hotel lockdown

Hundreds of people were confined to their rooms at a Tenerife hotel Tuesday after an Italian tourist was hospitalised with a suspected case of coronavirus, health officials in the Canary Islands said.

Hundreds of hotel clients are being monitored for health reasons and the degree of supervision will be assessed during the day, but so far, were not talking about quarantine, health authority spokeswoman Veronica Martin told AFP, confirming that the Italian tourist was staying at this hotel while on holiday in Tenerife.

Saudi Arabia warns against travel to Italy, Japan

Saudi Arabia has advised citizens and residents to avoid travelling to Italy and Japan amid fears of a coronavirus outbreak, state-owned Al Arabiya TV has reported.

Iran confirmed cases rises to 95

Iranian health officials said the number of confirmed cases in the country has risen to 95, with 15 confirmed deaths.

It will be safer for people to stay at home. There were 34 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, including 16 people in Qom city, Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told state TV.

Iranian women wearing protective masks to prevent contracting a coronavirus walk at Grand Bazaar in Tehran. [Reuters]

Turkish health minister says passengers, crew of plane will be quarantined

The Turkish health minister has said that the passengers and crew of a Turkish Airlines flight that was diverted to Ankara while travelling from Iran to Istanbul will be quarantined for 14 days.

The Turkish health minister said all 132 people on board, all Turkish citizens, will be tested for coronavirus.

China planner says regions at low risk must resume activity

Chinese regions deemed at low risk from the coronavirus outbreak should fully resume normal activities and end transport bans, an official at the state planning agency said on Tuesday.

China needed to take a more nuanced approach to controlling the epidemic to ensure the economic impact is minimised, Ou Xiaoli of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) told a news briefing.

Low-risk areas  are to restore order in production and life, cancel transport restrictions and help enterprises solve employment, raw material, funding, equipment and other difficulties, he said.

UAE halts Iran flights, cargo over coronavirus

The United Arab Emirates, Irans biggest Gulf trading partner, has suspended all passenger and cargo flights to the Islamic republic in what it said was a precaution against the coronavirus.

The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority suspended all passenger flights and cargo to and from Iran starting today and for one week that can be renewed, a statement carried by the official WAM news agency said. The decision is a precautionary measure undertaken by the UAE to ensure strict monitoring and prevention of the spread of the new coronavirus, the statement said.

Turkish Airlines plane from Iran diverted to Ankara

A Turkish Airlines plane flying from Iran was diverted to Ankara on Tuesday at the Turkish Health Ministrys request, an aviation source told Reuters News Agency, and an aviation news website said one passenger was suspected of being infected by coronavirus.

Turkeys Demiroren news agency broadcast video showing ambulances lined up beside the plane, with some of the personnel wearing white protective suits on the tarmac. The plane was flying from Tehran and had been scheduled to land in Istanbul.

Canary Islands hotel under lockdown

One hotel in the Canary Islands was put under lockdown after one coronavirus case was identified the day before, El Pais newspaper reported.

Spanish health authorities could not immediately confirm the lockdown but said hundreds of tourists and staff in the hotel were being tested for the virus.

We are checking people who had contact with the patient including the people in the hotel, a spokeswoman for Canary Islands health department.

Iraq reports four new cases

Iraq has detected four new cases of coronavirus in Kirkuk province, the health ministry has said, bringing the total cases in the country to five and marking the first instance of Iraq patients.

The patients are an Iraqi family who had been on a trip to Iran, the ministry said in a statement. They have been placed in quarantine. Iraq reported its first case of the virus on Monday, an Iranian theology student in the holy Shia city of Najaf.

Omans Khasab port suspends shipping to and from Iran

Omans Khasab port is suspending the import and export of goods to and from Iran from February 26 because of new coronavirus outbreak, its operator Marafi said on Twitter on Tuesday.

Oman reported its first two cases of the virus on Monday.

Coronavirus a game changer for globalisation: French minister

The new coronavirus is a game changer that will require a rethink in global supply networks, especially for health and medicine, the French finance minister has said.

The coronavirus epidemic is a game changer for globalisation, Bruno Le Maire said during a visit to Athens, noting that the outbreak has highlighted an irresponsible and unreasonable reliance on China.

Outbreak has infected more than 80,000 globally

A viral outbreak of coronavirus, that began in China in December, has infected more than 80,000 people globally, according to the WHOs most recent figures.

The vast majority of cases have been reported in mainland China, followed by Japan, where 691 cases have been confirmed on the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama, and South Korea, which raised its tally to 977 confirmed cases on Tuesday.

UAE limits flights to Iran from Dubai

Dubai International Airport, the worlds busiest for international travel, has said that the United Arab Emirates is limiting flights to Iran over the outbreak of the new coronavirus, just a day after it spread across multiple Mideast nations from the Islamic Republic.

The UAE, home to long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad, remains a key international transit route for Irans 80 million people. While Dubai International Airport said flights to Tehran would continue under close watch, it shows the growing concern over the spread of the virus in Iran amid worries the outbreak may be larger than what authorities there now acknowledge.

South Korean president calls situation very grave

The coronavirus outbreak in South Korea is very grave, President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday as he visited its epicentre and the countrys total number of cases approached 1,000.

The situation is very grave, the president said on a visit to the hard-hit city of Daegu. We will achieve a victory in the fight against this virus.

Italy PM Conte blames an outbreak of coronavirus on hospital

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has blamed the management of a hospital in northern Italy for one outbreak of the new coronavirus.

At this point, we know that the way one hospital facility was managed was not entirely appropriate, Conte told Italian TV on Monday evening, without naming the hospital. That certainly contributed to the spread.

A policewoman wearing a protective mask stands next to carnival revellers at Venice Carnival [Ohad Zwigenberg/Reuters]

Iraqs Sadr suspends protest call over coronavirus fears

Populist Iraqi Shia leader Moqtada al-Sadr has suspended a call for his followers to hold massive protests against his political opponents due to fears over the spread of coronavirus, minutes after the health ministry urged citizens to avoid public gatherings.

I had called for million-man protests and sit-ins against sectarian power-sharing and today I forbid you from them for your health and life, for they are more important to me than anything else, he said in a statement.

Iraq bans entry of travellers from seven countries

Iraq indefinitely extended an entry ban on travellers from China and Iran and instituted similar bans on travellers from Thailand, South Korean, Japan, Italy and Singapore, the health ministry has said.

Iraqi nationals, diplomats and official delegations are exempt from the ban, the ministry said. Schools and universities have also been suspended for ten days in Najaf, where the first case of coronavirus was reported on Monday, and citizens are urged to avoid travelling to and from the province.

South Korea confirmed cases rise to 977

South Korea has reported 84 new cases of the coronavirus, raises the total to 977, the state news agency Yonhap reported.

The majority of the cases have been traced to a hospital in the southeastern county of Cheongdo and a minor Christian sect in the southeastern city of Daegu, home to 2.5 million people.

An employee from a disinfection service company sanitizes the floor of a traditional market in Seoul, South Korea [Reuters]

Iran death toll rises to 15: State media

Iranian officials have said that 15 people have died from the coronavirus, state media reported.

Two of the dead were elderly women in the northern province of Alborz and the other was a patient in the central province of Markazi, state news agency IRNA said.

South Korea aims to test 200,000 linked to church

South Korean health authorities have said they aim to test more than 200,000 members of a church at the centre of a surge of new coronavirus cases that has taken the countrys tally to 893.

South Koreas fast-spreading outbreak has fuelled fears that the coronavirus, which is thought to have begun in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December, is developing into a pandemic. About 68 percent of South Koreas cases have been linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, where the first case was reported in a 61-year-old woman, but it is not known how she became infected.

Hong Kong extends school suspension

Hong Kong has further extended the suspension of schools until at least April 20 to contain the spread of the coronavirus, authorities in the Asian financial hub said as cases of the disease surged outside China.

The citys Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung said classes would be suspended until after the Easter holiday with April 20 being the earliest date to return. Students had previously been due to return to lessons on March 16.

China says to strengthen joint response with South Korea, Japan

Beijing is working closely with the governments of South Korea and Japan to strengthen the countries joint response to the coronavirus outbreak, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a daily news conference.

South Korea has the most virus cases in Asia outside China and reported its ninth death and 60 new cases on Tuesday, for a total of 893 cases. Japan has had four deaths and 850 cases mostly on a cruise ship docked near Tokyo

Britain advises travellers self isolate after north Italy trips

The UK has said that people who had visited northern Italy should self isolate if they had any flu-like symptoms.

The official advice which will be formally updated at eight oclock this morning is going to change so that those who have been to northern Italy  that is essentially anybody who has been to Italy north of Pisa  should, if they have flu-like symptoms, self isolate, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said. If people have been to the affected areas that the Italian government has quarantined, then they should self isolate whether or not they have symptoms.

Number of cases in Kuwait rises to eight

The number of cases confirmed in Kuwait has risen to eight, all stemming from travel to Iran, the state news agency KUNA has reported.

On Monday, the number of Middle Eastern countries with confirmed cases grew to eight, with Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Iraq all reporting their first cases. Israel, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates had previously confirmed cases, while the outbreak in Iran has left 14 dead among at least 64 cases.

Iran confirms two more dead

Two more Iranians infected with the coronavirus have died in Iran, local media website Eghtesaonline has reported, citing the head of the Medical Science University of Saveh, raising the death toll in the Islamic Republic to 14.

Tests showed they had the new coronavirus, the official said, according to Eghtesaonline.

Irans

China aviation regulator says flights outside of Hubei to resume gradually

Flights in China halted in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak will resume gradually as factories and businesses reopen but those to Hubei province, the viruss epicentre, will remain suspended, the countrys aviation regulator has said.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) will also urge other global aviation regulators to resume international flights to China to make sure the country is connected to the outside world, CAAC said in a statement, quoting comments by its director Feng Zhenglin on Monday.

Travellers wear face masks as they walk outside of the Beijing Railway Station in Beijing [File: Mark Schiefelbein/The Associated Press]

Mission: Impossible VII halts Italy filming over virus: report

Production on the latest film in the Mission: Impossible series starring Tom Cruise has been stopped in Italy following the outbreak of coronavirus cases, according to US media.

According to entertainment specialist The Wrap, the seventh instalment of the Paramount Pictures franchise was scheduled to shoot in Venice for three weeks. A paramount spokesperson said the decision was made out of an abundance of caution.

Japan urges telecommuting, staggered shifts

The government of Japan has urged companies to recommend telecommuting and staggered shifts for workers in a bid to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.

The plan, approved at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, also urged people with symptoms of cold or fever to stay at home and asked event organisers to carefully consider whether to proceed with their plans.

Japan postpones Cup games due to coronavirus concerns

Japans J-League says it has postponed seven Levian Cup matches scheduled for Wednesday due to concerns about the coronavirus outbreak and is considering postponing all domestic soccer games through the first half of March.

The J-League said the decision to postpone Wednesdays matches was part of efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

The J-League will make maximum efforts to prevent infection and prevent its spread, it said in a statement.

Thailand reports two new virus cases, bringing total to 37

Thailand confirmed two new cases of the coronavirus, a senior health official said, bringing the total infections in the country to 37.

Both of the new cases are Thai nationals, Sukhum Kanchanapimai, the health ministrys permanent secretary told a news conference on Tuesday.

One patient is a female, 31, and has a family member with a history of travelling from China, Sukhum said adding that officials are investigating the rest of the family.

The second, is a 29, male driver for Chinese tourists, he added. A total of 22 patients have been discharged and 15 are still being treated.

All 16 of Vietnams coronavirus sufferers cured

All 16 people in Vietnam infected with a new coronavirus have been cured, the health ministry said on Tuesday, adding that no new cases have been recorded since February 13.

The last known patient, a 50-year-old man infected by his daughter who returned from Chinas central city of Wuhan, where the virus first emerged, has recovered and is in good condition, the ministry said in a statement.

It was not immediately clear when the last patient would be discharged from hospital.

The rest, including a three-month-old baby, are improving, the ministry added.

Vietnams first report of the virus was about two Chinese citizens infected on January 23.

Members of anti-coronavirus team spray chemical onto vehicles on a road in Thai Nguyen province earlier this month [File: Kham/Reuters]

Bahrain temporarily stops Dubai, Sharjah flights over virus

The tiny island nation of Bahrain suspended flights on Tuesday to the worlds busiest airport for international travel in Dubai over fears about the spread of the new virus.

The move by Bahrain, a small island off the coast of Saudi Arabia, suggested its monarchy had doubts about screenings of incoming passengers in Dubai and nearby Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. It said the ban was immediate and would last at least 48 hours.

Bahrain counted its first case of coronavirus on Monday in a school bus driver who transited Dubai while coming from Iran. Later, it confirmed a second case, also a traveller from Iran via Dubai.

Philippines flying back Diamond Princess crew members

The Philippine government has started repatriating hundreds of Filipinos, who are working aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, docked in Japan.

Manila has dispatched two chartered Philippine Airlines flights to pick up the crew members, who have been stranded in a port in Yokohama, after hundreds of people were infected with coronavirus aboard the vessel.

Those Filipinos who have been infected, will not be among those who will be flown back, but will instead stay in Japan for treatment.

LOOK: At the port of Yokohama, PH embassy and health officials prepare for the disembarkation of the ship's roughly 400 Filipino crew members who will be flown to the Clark Airport in Pampanga. They will then be quarantined for 14 days. Photo from the DFA. @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/RTvaaWrBLQ  JC Gotinga (@JCGotinga) February 25, 2020

Fourth passenger from cruise ship dies in Japan  NHK

A fourth passenger from the cruise ship Diamond Princess moored in Japan has died from the coronavirus, NHK public television said on Tuesday. The passenger was in their 80s, NHK said.

Japan has come under fire for its handling of the situation on the cruise ship, which is operated by Carnival Corp and where hundreds became infected.

The number of patients is rising around Japan, with the government set to announce a set of measures to combat it later on Tuesday.

S Korea reports 60 new coronavirus cases, raising total to 893

South Korea reported 60 new cases of the coronavirus, increasing the total number of infected patients in the country to 893, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said on Tuesday.

Of the new cases, 16 were in the southeastern city of Daegu, where a church that was at the centre of the outbreak is located, and 33 from North Gyeongsang province, KCDC said.

Workers spray disinfectant as part of preventive measures against the spread of the coronavirus, at the National Assembly in Seoul on Monday [Yonhap/AFP]

US, South Korea weigh scaling back training over coronavirus concerns

The US and South Korean military are considering scaling back command post training due to heightened concerns about the coronavirus, the defence ministers of both countries have announced.

Im sure that we will remain fully ready to deal with any threats that we will face together, Mark Esper, the US defence secretary, told a news conference, standing alongside his South Korean counterpart at the Pentagon.

Trump asks for $2.5bn to fight virus

United States President Donald Trumps administration is asking Congress for $2.5bn to fight the fast-spreading coronavirus, the White House said on Monday.

Of the $2.5bn request, $1.5bn represents new funding. The rest would come from funds already budgeted by Congress, such as unused money to fight the Ebola virus. The administration requires congressional approval to redirect that money. Read more here.

Trump says coronavirus under control in the US

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the coronavirus was under control in the United States, and added that he thought the stock market, which tumbled on Monday on worries about the fast-spreading disease, was starting to look very good to me.

The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA, Trump, who is visiting India, said on Twitter.

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 said.

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 under 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.

Read updates from Monday, February 24 here.
A high-level committee (HLC) on implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord formally submitted its report to Chief Minister here on Tuesday.

Clause 6 of the Assam Accord pledges to provide constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate, to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.

Justice (retd) B K Sharma, the chairman of the MHA- constituted panel, handed over the report to the chief minister, in the presence of the state cabinet.

Sharma, during the hand-over of the sealed document, said the committee has met people across Assam before preparing the report.

Sonowal is scheduled to submit the report later in the day or on Wednesday to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, state finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters.

All Assam Students' Union (AASU) Chief Advisor Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya, president Dipankar Nath and general secretary Luringjyoti Gogoi -- all part of the HLC -- however, were not present on the occasion.

(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.)
The Bachelor Episode 9 Season 24 Episode 9 Editors Rating 3 stars * * *  Previous Next  Photo: ABC

Somewhere, from within the pouch of a kangaroo, a heartless ABC executive pulls out her iPhone.

What do you mean shes walking away? Goddamn it. Did anyone try to stop her?  Well, did anyone place Peter near a fence? What am I paying you boneheads for? Fine. ILL HANDLE IT MYSELF.

She hangs up the phone and pops her head outside the kangaroos pouch.

Listen up, Im not sure if youre a tiny deer or a big-ass bunny, but I need you to get me across town. I paid for the whole hour but Im not going to fucking use it because these two aspiring country music video stars are completely incapable of having an adult conversation about their needs. So, hop hop!

Is there anything to say really? This all feels like the last act of Oedipus. We came in with all the information that we could have possibly needed and we all felt the tragedy coming a mile away. This is the denouement, and frankly, its boring and frustrating. For all of Madisons posturing about how she wont be judged for saving herself for marriage, shes managed to do all of this in the most unreasonable way, leading me to believe that she hoped for a sympathetic edit and a rise to the top of the list of Bachelorette contenders, but shes coming off a little inconsistent.

Lets get to it.

The episode starts with Madison pulling Peter aside in the airplane hangar because were still in L.A., goddamn it. She says this is really the time to tell him how shes struggling and to get things off her chest. Youd think this would be the perfect time to tell him or at least hint at the fact that shes a virgin and saving herself for marriage. What she does do is say, Umm  I just  Umm  I dont even know, when Peter asks her to clearly tell him how shed feel if he slept with other women. She keeps repeating that itd be really hard for her and that she doesnt want to give him an ultimatum but in her mind, she is giving him an ultimatum. Shes telling the camera that shed be ready and willing to walk away from her relationship with Peter.

BUT HERES THE THING THOUGH: She can be saving herself for marriage without requiring him to save himself for her. These things arent exactly related, and shes hoping that asking for Peters chastity throughout the next week will explain that shes saving herself for marriage. Shes telling him the what without telling him the how or the why.

The other thing is, Peter desperately wants to bang and he also cannot lose Madison, the woman he loves the most. This is his tragic flaw. If he were a Greek hero, a deus ex machina dressed as a giant windmill would come down from the ceiling to explain to us the tale of Peter. All of this would probably be much easier for everyone involved if Peter and Madison JUST TALKED ABOUT what the issue is. Madison wants to leave it at actions speak louder than words, as if that means literally anything, and Peter hopes that hell be able to have three nights of sex because  I dont know  straight man?

Before we go any further, we also have to do this: You can choose to abstain from sex before marriage, before your 21st birthday, before going to Freaknik 2020, whatever. You can also choose to have as much sex as you want and livestream the whole thing and give the proceeds to Australian charities. Both of those things are fine and you should do whatever you want. Unfortunately, so much of the Evangelical Christian (and other conservative religious movements) belief about abstaining from sex is ultimately patriarchal and leads more often to the shaming and persecution of girls and women. Its not a stretch to think that Madison is participating in what we would think of as purity culture. Remember when her dad referred to her as pure and prayed about his infant daughters future husband?

That kind of purity culture teaches that women shouldnt have sexual desires, that a womans worth is tied to her virginity, and that, in many cases, sexual abuse is often a failure of the survivor to avoid tempting or resisting their abuser. So so so so much about saving yourself for marriage within a traditional religious mind-set is linked to misogyny and the patriarchy, so its difficult for me to listen to Madison talk about this decision as just a set of standards shes choosing to live by, when that set of standards does harm to many people.

But again  so much of what Madison is obliquely demanding of Peter isnt Dont ask me to have sex with you because Im saving myself for marriage, but You cant have sex in your other relationships because of choices that Ive made. Madison says over and over that shes fine that they have different views and have lived their lives in different ways, but when it comes down to accepting that Peter is an adult person that has sex with other adult persons, shes unable to do it.

If thats the case, Madison, then yeah, you need to go home. Peter and Madison are two people with completely incompatible sets of foundational beliefs.

The other tell is that when the time comes for Madison to finally explain to Peter that shes saving herself for marriage, she begins to list grievances and sacrifices that shes made, as a contestant on a game show, for him. If you have a problem with someone youre interested in kissing other people, DONT GO ON THE BACHELOR and certainly dont wait until youre in the top three to bring it up! Im getting carried away here.

Okay. Okay. Victoria F. and Hannah Ann are also in Australia. Peters date with Hannah Ann is completely unremarkable. Hes totally smitten by her because shes completely uncomplicated and has devoted her every waking moment to reassuring him that all his decisions are correct and he has no reason to doubt himself or her.

The truly remarkable and diabolical thing about this episode is that the producers have decided that the women are going to share a hotel suite for the Fantasy Suite dates. Whoever made this decision should be given a raise and then promptly shot into the moon because, holy shit, this is amazing and terrible. Weve all dated someone who was actively texting someone else while we were lying naked next to them. Imagine if you had to stay in an Airbnb with those people? This allows ample opportunity for the ladytestants to chat about how difficult it is to watch someone else go on a date with Peter and try to pinpoint exactly where in the date the other ladytestant is, and then have to pivot when someone walks in.

Yknow, honestly, if Peter is in bed with Victoria F. right now, I dont even know why Im he  Heyyyyyyy love! You look sooooooo skinny. I would scream and let a great white shark eat me if I had to compliment another woman when she came back from sleeping with the guy I was sleeping with.

Before the episode fully dives into Madisons tendency to jump out of her chair, pace, and stare out a window, weve got Victoria F.s date to contend with.

Yknow when you talk to your friend because you dont like her new girlfriend but she keeps telling you, But when its good, its really good? And youre just sitting there waiting for the entire thing to implode because your friend has taken all the red flags and sewed them into a snappy jacket? Yeah. This is like that. Peter keeps saying that this one day with Victoria is the best day theyve had together and the only thing they need to work on is communication. Umm  thats the whole thing, then.

Then Peter tells on himself when he finally says that Victoria has that fire. Some people might say its too much, but it will never be a boring relationship. Oh noooooo. Hes confused instability and an unreliable personality with excitement! Hes confused being manipulated as passion! Hes confused the peace and calm that comes with a consistent level of affection as boring! This is all season three Carrie Bradshaw! He decides that the best way to deal with being told Victoria has broken up multiple relationships is to not ask her about this again or ask her any follow-up questions about anything and just say he wants a fresh start! Peter, no!

Victoria F. explains her behavior by saying she was with a partner who never let her express her emotions, so when Peter does, she doesnt trust his motives and thinks its a trap. Like Peter, she doesnt have the insight to realize that she learned how to manipulate a partner in a relationship and her distrust manifests in extreme paranoia and hostility when questioned. She probably views herself as some tragic figure who is a shrinking violet in the face of conflict but instead  shes the conflict. She jokes to Peter at one point, We havent fought yet! Peter, no! Run!

Peter heads to bed with both Hannah Ann and Victoria F. because of course this dummy did, and when Madison tells him that she couldnt handle him having sex with someone else then getting engaged to her six days later  but thats not an ultimatum though  he tells her that he had sex with someone else. What needs to happen is Madison needs to say, These are my expectations (even if those expectations seem to conflict with some of her other words and actions), and Peter needs to say, These are my expectations and what Im expected to do as the Bachelor on this television program. Then these two fools would realize that their expectations cant be met in the other person. Then they would have a calm and reasonable breakup.

Instead, Madison gets up from the table and heads outside to cry. Peter eventually follows her and holds her head in his hands. The kangaroos are watching. Madison says that shes hurt and disappointed. Her feelings are her feelings but, and I cannot stress this enough, shes on a game show where Peter is expected to do this, had expressed he wanted to have the fantasy suites, and offered no promise that he would do what she wanted. He never said he would. He never said he wouldnt. You could say that he has dodged the question with her in other moments, but she decided that Peter was going to do this without really consulting with him to see if it was possible or realistic.

Then Peter gives the whole game away when he tells Madison that he cant lose her. He can see their forever and she cant walk away. He likes her the most and her leaving would be the manifestation of him loving someone more than she loves him and abandoning him. Oedipus has married his mother. Antigone is in the cave. Madison is walking away.
Alabama Power Foundation, the Altec/Styslinger Foundation and Regions Bank are each pledging $1 million to the Birmingham Promise, Mayor Randall Woodfins apprenticeship and scholarship program for Birmingham City Schools students.

The collective commitment between the three groups totals $3 million.

The Birmingham Promise provides Birmingham students with apprenticeship opportunities with local businesses and scholarships for in-state colleges and universities.

Every student deserves the opportunity to succeed," Woodfin said. Im very grateful to the Alabama Power Foundation, Altec/Styslinger Foundation, Regions and our business community and academic partners for helping us put people first. The steps we take today are the building blocks for Birminghams future workforce.

In addition to the financial commitment, Styslinger, Turner and Alabama Power CEO Mark Crosswhite are serving as fundraising co-chairs for the Birmingham Promise.

Birmingham Economic Development Director Josh Carpenter said this announcement marks the beginning of the public fundraising campaign for the Birmingham Promise. The ultimate goal, he said, is to raise $35 million.

The Birmingham Promise is an important investment in the future of our workforce and the growth of our economy, said Tony Smoke, vice president of Alabama Powers Birmingham Division. I encourage others in Birminghams business community to get involved in this initiative and help elevate our students and our community.

Through Birmingham Promise, educators, city leaders and the business community stand united around a tremendous opportunity to help more students succeed, said John Turner, president and CEO of Regions. New investments are being made in todays youth--investments that will benefit students, employers and our entire community for years to come.

$3 million for college tuition reimbursement.



Thank you Regions.

Thank you Alabama Power Foundation.

Thank you Altec\Styslinger Foundation.



We no longer want the limitless potential of Birmingham City School students to be handcuffed by circumstances. #BirminghamPromise https://t.co/QZGuqvhL7W  Randall Woodfin (@randallwoodfin) February 25, 2020

The Birmingham Promise is critically important to workforce development in our region, said Lee Styslinger III, chairman and CEO of Altec Inc. Altec joins the city, our educators, and business community in taking the next step to support building a better Birmingham through a commitment to our students.

During the press conference, Birmingham City Schools Superintendent Lisa Herring reminded students that the deadline to apply for the FAFSA is March 1. All students who want to use Birmingham Promise scholarship funds must submit a FAFSA application.

In the apprenticeship program, students can earn $15 per hour while working part-time at a local business during school hours. The business pays $7.50 per hour and Birmingham Promise Inc. pays $7.50 per hour.

The Birmingham Promise scholarship will pay for students remaining tuition balance after other scholarships and grants are awarded. Its set up so it benefits students who have attended Birmingham City Schools for at least 12 years. This means, if a student attended Birmingham City schools for 12 years, graduates and is accepted into college, has received grants and scholarships, but still has a balance, the Birmingham Promise will pay for the remainder of that students tuition.

However, if a student only attended Birmingham City schools for four years, the Promise will only pay 4/12 (one-third) of the remaining balance.

In January, the University of Alabama at Birmingham announced it would partner with the Birmingham Promise by paying half tuition for each promise student who attends the university. The Birmingham Promise will pay the other half of the tuition bill.

Major announcement regarding the Birmingham Promise Major announcement regarding the Birmingham Promise Posted by City of Birmingham Government on Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Editors note: Alabama Media Group is participating in the Birmingham Promise apprenticeship program by employing one student apprentice this spring.
Arunachal Pradesh civil aviation minister Nakap Nalo on Tuesday urged the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to put in efforts to complete the greenfield airport at Hollongi within the targeted time frame.

Chairing a meeting with AAI officials and representatives of the Dinesh Chandra R Agarwal Infracon Pvt Ltd, the Ahmedabad-based firm engaged to construct the project, Nalo assured them to extend all possible help in completing the airport.

The minister asked the construction firm and the AAI to coordinate with the state government departments for the smooth execution of the project, a statement said.

The representatives of the firm informed the minister about the approach road to the project site which is not suitable for movement of heavy machinery besides shifting of high and low tension electric lines passing through the project site at the earliest for construction work to begin.

Nalo, assured to shift the electric line by May this year and construction of the approach road on top priority, the statement added.

The contract for construction of the airport project has been awarded to Dinesh Chandra R Agarwal Infracon Pvt Ltd recently through a tender process. The work once awarded has to be completed within a period of 30 months.

After physical completion of the work, the firm shall enter in supplementary agreements with the AAI for operation and maintenance for a period of seven years, including two years of Defect Liability Period (DLP).

The tender process for the terminal building of the airport is also in the pipeline.

The foundation stone of the Hollongi Airport was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 9 last year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mumbai, Feb 25 : The famed 220-year-old Siddhivinayak Temple will contribute Rs 5 crore towards the Maharashtra government's recently-launched Rs 10 'Shiv Bhojan Thali', a top temple official said here on Tuesday.

"A unanimous decision to this effect has been taken by the temple management today to donate the amount to the CM to be utilised for the 'Shiv Bhojan' scheme for the poor," Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple Trust (SSGTT) Chairman and film actor Aadesh Bandekar said here.

He added that the temple authorities were impressed by the welfare scheme intended to give a wholesome meal costing Rs 10 per person to people all over the state and hence decided to contribute its mite to the initiative.

"The proposal will now go to the state Law & Judiciary department for approval and then to the government. We hope to make a contribution to the government at an early date," Bandekar said.

The pet scheme of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, 'Shiva Bhojan' thali was launched on January 26, and has become extremely popular among the poor masses with daily sales of more than 15,000 plates at around 140 distribution centres in the state in the pilot project.

Ranked among the wealthiest temple trusts in the state till 2017, the SSGTT used to receive annual donations worth around Rs 3.20 billion, which has now touched over Rs 4.10 billion, mainly due to the good work done by it, said Bandekar.

The SSGTT used the funds to help thousands of needy people upto Rs 25,000 and spent over Rs 38 crore on this so far, besides other social, educational and community activities undertaken round the year.

The Siddhivinayak Temple is among the most revered in Mumbai among commoners and celebs like the Thackerays, the Ambanis, the Bachchans, etc. who throng there on various festivals, auspicious or family occasions.

'Shree Ganesh' is the first to be worshipped prior to taking up any auspicious venture since he is considered the 'Vignaharta' or destroyer of obstacles, and known by many other names.

The temple was consecrated on November 19, 1801, when it was a tiny structure housing a black stone idol of Shree Siddhivinayak, around 2.5 feet wide.

The unique feature here is that the deity's trunk is tilted to the right side, the idol has four arms (Chaturbhuj) with a lotus, a mini-axe, holy beads and a bowlful of his favourite sweet, 'modak'.

Flanking the idol on both sides are Riddhi and Siddhi, the goddesses signifying sancrity, fulfillment, prosperity and etched on the deity's forehead is an eye resembling the 'Third Eye' of Lord Shiva.

Over the years, the temple grew in size, dimensions and drew tourist-devotees from around the country, attaining huge popularity among its devotees who make huge donations annually in cash, gold, silver, precious stones, etc.
There are many aspirants for the two RS seats. Sources close to Mr Rao said that he may not give a ticket to a BC leader as the party has four Rajya Sabha members already. Mr Chandrasekhar Rao is of the opinion that there is no strong MP in Parliament and is searching for one.

Hyderabad: With the announcement of the schedule for biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha, political activity is set to pick up in both Telugu states. Elections will be held on March 28 for two seats in Telangana state and for four in AP.

This time the political activity will be confined to the ruling parties as the Opposition parties do not have the required number of MLAs to win even a single seat. Both Rajya Sabha seats from Telangana state will go to the TRS and all the four from AP to the YSRC. Most probably the elections will be unopposed.

Three Congress MPs  Dr K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, T. Subbarami Reddy and M.A. Khan  and one MP from each from the TRS (Dr K. Kesava Rao), BJP (Garikapati Mohan Rao) and the TD (Thota Seetharama Lakshmi) will be retiring on April 9. The election notification to fill their seats will be issued on March 6.

Political circles waiting to see if Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will send his daughter and former MP K. Kavitha to the Rajya Sabha. Another point of interest is whether Dr Kesava Rao, the TRS secretary-general, will be renominated or not.

There are many aspirants for the two RS seats. Sources close to Mr Rao said that he may not give a ticket to a BC leader as the party has four Rajya Sabha members already. Mr Chandrasekhar Rao is of the opinion that there is no strong MP in Parliament and is searching for one.

TRS leaders said former MPs B. Vinod Kumar and Ms Kavitha were suitable to coordinate with the other MPs and raise a strong voice in Parliament. Former Khammam district MP Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy who sacrificed his seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections was promised a Rajya Sabha ticket by the Chief Minister.

Mr Chandrasekhar Raos close relative Santosh Kumar is already a Rajya Sabha member. If Ms Kavitha is also sent to the Upper House, two of the seven TRS Rajya Sabha members will be from his family and this may attract criticism from the Opposition and from withing the party.

According to one strand of opinion, Mr Chandrasekhar Rao may not prefer candidates who lost in last years Lok Sabha elections. If this holds, Ms Kavitha and Mr Vinod Kumar will be out of the race and Dr Kesava Rao may retrain his seat.

In AP, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has promised to send about 30 leaders to the Legislative Council. But the decision to dissolve the Council will leave them adrift; besides, two ministers will lose their Cabinet berths. Either of the ministers, Mr Mopidevi Venkataramana and Mr Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose, will get an RS ticket.

In addition, there are several senior leaders aspiring for Rajya Sabha seats. One of them is former MP and TTD chairman Y.S. Subba Reddy, who gave up his Ongole Lok Sabha seat in the general elections. Mr Mantri Rajasekhar from Guntur district, a strong follower of the YSR family, sacrificed his Assembly seat in the 2019 elections.

Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy in his election campaign had announced that Mr Rajasekhar will be made an MLC and will be made a minister. That plan will be affected with the dissolution of the Council. YSRC circles said that Mr Rajasekhar who is from the Kamma community may get Rajya Sabha ticket.

YSRC leader Ayodhya Ramir Reddy may also get Rajya Sabha ticket. There are speculations former Union minister K. Chiranjeevi and Ms Y.S. Sharmila, the sister of Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, may make it to the Rajya Sabha but this was denied by sources close to the CM. Former MLA from Nellore district Bidam Masthan Rao who joined the YSRC from the TD may get a Rajya Sabha ticket.
China, which is the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, is a major exporter, accounting for almost 23 percent of global electronic goods

The coronavirus outbreak is slowly creating a scarcity of white goods in India. Being highly dependent on markets like China and South Korea for the supply of key electronic goods and product components, India is seeing the number of goods shrinking even as prices rise.

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.

Why is COVID-19 a concern for India?

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.

https://youtu.be/n3y2Th4q1WA

Meanwhile, LG Electronics has asked workers in Daegu (South Korea), which has seen a spike in cases, to work from home.

Prices rise

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 U.S. military is bracing for coronavirus cases to rise in Germany, potentially putting thousands of troops on lockdown or restricted movement, according to the head of U.S. European Command.

"We're anticipating an increase in the number of cases reported in Germany," Air Force Gen. Tod Wolters said in response to questions from Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Tuesday.

The general's comments come as the virus has spread rapidly in recent weeks, with more than 80,000 cases diagnosed in 34 countries and at least 2,700 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. Germany has 16 confirmed cases, Deutsche Welle reports, though that number is expected to grow.

Wolters, who also serves as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said the military preparations are underway following recent base facility closures in Vicenza, Italy.

Roughly 7,000 U.S. service members are stationed in Vicenza. About 70% percent of those troops are on accompanied tours with spouses and children and are unable to access on-base schools and child care facilities, gyms, chapels and other public buildings. Approximately 35,000 troops reside in Italy altogether, according to Wolters.

Related: Coronavirus Outbreak in South Korea Could Scale Back Joint Training Exercises

Wolters said there is a "50-50" chance that the closures in Vicenza will be extended following an Army guideline issued Sunday that closed community and public gathering venues through this week, as reported by Stars and Stripes. According to Reuters, Italy had recorded 322 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of Monday, mostly in its northern regions. No cases have been reported in Vicenza.

Similar military measures are underway in the Pacific.

At a joint Pentagon press briefing with South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said that Army Gen. Robert Abrams, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, is "looking at scaling back" training exercises with Republic of Korea forces until the coronavirus cases are contained.

"The situation is quite serious," Esper said Monday.

One U.S. military dependent has tested positive for the coronavirus, named COVID-19 by the WHO, and there are at least 13 confirmed cases among South Korean service members. The dependent, believed to be the first-known U.S. military case, is the widow of a retired soldier living in South Korea.

Last week, U.S. Army Garrison Daegu, about 200 miles southeast of Seoul, also recommended military personnel avoid public places, stressing that those who attended a local church service in recent weeks linked to an outbreak of cases should self-quarantine, Stars and Stripes reported.

"[Defense Department] families and civilians are discouraged from traveling to and from Daegu," garrison officials said in a Feb. 19 Facebook post.

"All visitors who are not performing mission-essential or official business will be denied access to USAG Daegu military installation for the next 24 hours. This directive will be reassessed daily," according to the post.

Last month, Adm. Phil Davidson, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, banned travel to China for all service members and civilian personnel under his authority; he also ordered those in China "to leave immediately."

Davidson's direction "restricted all Defense Department travel to the People's Republic of China (PRC)," Marine Maj. Cassandra Gesecki, deputy director of media relations for INDOPACOM, said in a statement Jan. 31.

The military's recent actions come as the Centers for Disease Control warned the coronavirus may spread to pandemic levels and urged additional precautions in the U.S., where it said the virus will likely spread.

"It's 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 have severe illness," Dr. Nancy Messonnier, head of CDC's Prevention's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said during a briefing Tuesday.

"We are asking the American public to prepare for the expectation that this might be bad," she added, as reported by The New York Times.

-- Richard Sisk contributed to this report.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Read more: EUCOM Commander Wants 2 More Destroyers Based at Rota to Deter Russia
PARIS  As the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc across the world, SMCP, the group that owns Sandro, Maje and Claudie Pierlot, said the outbreak is significantly impacting sales and profitability in Chinaa key market for its contemporary French fashion labelsand weighing on other regions as well, due to the decline in Chinese tourists.

Since late January, SMCP has temporarily closed a large proportion of its stores in Mainland China and Macau, with limited opening hours for boutiques that are open.

While we cannot predict the duration of the crisis, we have been taking appropriate measures to mitigate the impact on our business, said Daniel Lalonde, chief executive officer of the Paris-based company. The group also postponed its investor day, initially scheduled for April 2, to Sept. 30.

SMCP said it had performed strongly in the first three weeks of January in Mainland China. Executives issued a profit warning in December, lowering their annual earnings margin target, citing lower foot traffic and store closures in Hong Kong.

The French group has been rapidly expanding its store network abroad, particularly in Asia and the Americas, while downsizing its network in France.

Listed on the Paris stock exchange in 2017, SMCP is controlled by Chinese textile conglomerate Ruyi Group.

SMCP will publish annual results on March 25.

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President Donald Trump attacked Democrats including Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton for being 'fans' of Harvey Weinstein in his first comments on the rapist's conviction Tuesday.

'The people who liked him were the Democrats. Michelle Obama loved him, loved him. Hillary Clinton loved him,' he said a press conference in New Delhi in response to a question from DailyMail.com.

'I was never a fan of Harvey, as you know,' he said. 'He was a person I didn't like.

'I knew him because he was in New York.' In fact he, his wife Melania and Weinstein and his wife Georgina Chapman were photographed together in 2009.

Attack: Donald Trump used a press conference in New Delhi to claim Michelle Obama 'loved, loved' Harvey Weinstein as he spoke in the wake of the movie mogul's rape conviction

'Michelle Obama loved Harvey Weinstein.' Donald Trump's accusation apparently referred to the then first lady calling the movie mogul a 'powerhouse' and 'wonderful' at a White House workshop on careers for high school students in 2013 also attended by Blake Lively

Democratic donor: Harvey Weinstein was a major donor and also a 'bundler' who persuades others to donate. Hillary Clinton was among the recipients of his generosity. The Clinton Foundation has refused to return up to $250,000 he donated to it

'I knew him because he was in New York.' Donald Trump and his wife Melania went to the premier of Weinstein Company movie NINE in 2009 where they posed with the now convicted rapist and his wife Georgina Chapman

Family tie: Malia Obama was an intern with the Weinstein company in summer 2017

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

Trump said that Weinstein gave 'tremendous amounts' to the Democrats and added: 'My question is will they return the money?'

He also called the conviction a 'great victory' for women that 'sends a very strong message' for the #MeToo movement against that kind of behavior toward women.

'I think from the point of view of women, it is a great day, a great victory.'

Trump himself stands accused of sexually inappropriate behavior by more than a dozen women when he was a private citizen and has denied the allegations.

Weinstein's links to the Democratic party are well-documented.

Weinstein and his family have donated more than $1.4 million to political causes in the 1992 election cycle, according to the Associated Press, mainly to Democrats.

Specifically, the disgraced movie mogul gave $3,000 to former President Bill Clinton's reelection campaign in 2000, more than $26,000 to campaigns or political action committees Hillary Clinton's various political bids since 2000, and more than $45,000 to campaigns or super PACs supporting Barack Obama in his two presidential races.

Weinstein also donated $250,000 to The Clinton Foundation, which it has refused to return, saying it had spent it already.

The Obama family was also directly linked to Weinstein by their eldest daughter Malia being an intern at his company in the summer of 2017.

In 2013, Michelle Obama called Weinstein 'a powerhouse' and 'wonderful' as she praised him at a White House reception.

However Trump's claim to simply know Weinstein 'because he was in New York,' and that he was 'never a fan' is despite photographs showing him attending the premier of NINE in 2009, one of the disgraced movie mogul's productions, and posing with him and both their wives.

Weinstein was in Bellevue Hospital in New York when Trump spoke about him in India, having been taken there after claiming he was unwell while on his way to Riker's Island where he was to be held to wait for sentencing next month.

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'.

An ambulance carrying Harvey Weinstein is escorted from a Manhattan courthouse Monday

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)

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

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.

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.
About 680 Jeanswest employees will keep their jobs after the iconic brand was saved from closure.

The company went into voluntary administration last month after falling victim to the retail downturn which has destroyed more than a dozen Australian brands in the last three years.

But on Tuesday, administrators from KPMG confirmed they had found a buyer in Harbour Guidance Pty Ltd, an Australian partner company to Hong Kong based Harbour Guide Ltd.

The sale should be completed by mid-March.

About 680 Jeanswest employees will keep their jobs after the iconic brand was saved from closure

Approximately 106 stores will be retained in the sale and the new owners hope to reinvigorate the business, known for its denim and maternity lines.

All 680 employees are expected to keep their jobs in the sale.

The acquisition will not save the 37 stores which have already been flagged to close down.

All 263 of the employees within those stores are expected to be made redundant.

'This is a great result for all parties,' KPMG restructuring partner James Stewart said on Tuesday.

The brand is most famous for its line of denim (model pictured in denim dress) and maternity wear

'Retail is a people business and the administrators greatly appreciate the resilience of the Jeanswest staff through the administration process.'

George Yeung, the managing director of Harbour Guidance, said his company hoped to give the brand a new lease on life.

'The acquisition of Jeanswest business will present an opportunity to rejuvenate this iconic brand well known to the Australian community,' he said.

'We are committed to continue servicing Australian communities and grow the Jeanswest brand organically.'

Jeanswest stores that will still close down amid the sale include: Castle Towers, Macarthur, Miranda, Burleigh, Maroochydore, Karrinyup, Mandurah, Docklands and Eastland.

While Jeanswest has been saved, a growing list of Australian businesses have collapsed as a result of decreased customer spending in store.

The new owner hopes to reinvigorate the brand to bring in new customers as well as old

THE VICTIMS OF AUSTRALIA'S RETAIL APOCALYPSE 2016: Dick Smith, Masters hardware, Payless Shoes 2017: Topshop Australia 2018: Avon, Espirit, Toys 'R' Us, Max Brenner, Roger David 2019: Ed Harry, Diana Ferrari, Napoleon Perdis, Ziera, Bardot, Harris Scarfe, Criniti's 2020: Jeanswest, Colette Hayman, EB Games, Co-op bookstore, Ishka Advertisement

Most recently, Harris Scarfe, Bardot and Colette Hayman announced they would be forced to close.

Iconic Australian car brand Holden is also shutting up shop and will stop manufacturing and importing cars after first opening in 1856.

Restaurant chains have also not been immune.

In 2018, most Max Brenner stores were forced out of business while the end of 2019 also signalled the end of Criniti's stores across the nation.

Another high-profile administration was makeup line Napoleon Perdis.

But the beauty brand was later saved by a creditor, similar to the current Jeanswest deal.
According to Secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council, he was able to reach "certain agreements" during his visit to Iran

Secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defense (NSDC) Council Oleksii Danilov said that Ukraine had three closed versions of the UIA plane crash over Iran, liga.net reports.

The NSDC secretary noted that Ukraine was finding out who might be interested in the plane crash.

"We have three closed versions that we are working on. Including who was interested in this and who was involved in it," Danilov said.

He also added that he had been able to reach "certain agreements" during his visit to Iran.

It should be noted that Oleksii Danilov paid a working visit to Iran on February 15-17 in order to discuss the problematic issues of investigation of the PS752 plane crash.

As we reported earlier, according to Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami, the black box of the Ukrainian plane PS752, downed on January 8, 2020, in Iran is heavily damaged and it is impossible to get the information from it.

It was decided to finish the repair of the black box first and then to try to decrypt it. Currently, they are behind on the repairs, the minister said.
Delhi Police on Tuesday said 10 people, including one policeman, have been killed in the violence in northeast Delhi and they are responding to incidents involving anti-social elements.

Mandeep Randhawa, Delhi Police spokesperson said the situation in northeast Delhi is under control, even as several parts of the national capital continued to reel under violence.

Randhawa said 11 FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence.

"We are responding to incidents involving anti-social elements. Sufficient force has been deployed in northeast Delhi. The RAF and CRPF has also been deployed," he said.

Senior police officers are also monitoring the situation closely, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Bihar Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution to not implement the Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state. The Assembly also passed a resolution to implement the Population Register (NPR) but in its 2010 form, with an amendment.

"The Bihar government has written to the Centre seeking the omission of 'contentious clauses' from the NPR forms," said Chief Minister Kumar in the state assembly.

Speaking further in the Assembly, Chief Minister Kumar said: "I myself do not know the date of birth of my mother. In no case should NRC be implemented in the state. Whatever issues the state assembly has discussed will be sent to the Central government."

"Our demand is that caste-based census should be held in the country," he added.

Earlier on January 13, the Bihar Chief Minister said that there is no question of implementing the NRC in the state and asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has clarified his stance on the proposed exercise.

"No question of NRC in Bihar. It was in discussions only in the context of Assam. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also clarified on it," Kumar had said in the state assembly, whose JD-U is an ally of the BJP.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Flare-up: Syrian air defence intercept an Israeli missile over the Syrian capital Damascus. Photo: SANA/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli military jets targeted sites linked to Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, hours after militants from the group fired more than 20 rockets into Israeli territory.

The exchange came after a Palestinian news agency posted graphic footage showing an Israeli army bulldozer dragging the body of a Palestinian man - who Israel said was part of a "terror squad" - who was killed as he placed an explosive device along the border fence.

Expand Close Attacks: Benjamin Netanyahus handling of Gaza has been criticised. Photo: Reuters / Facebook

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Whatsapp Attacks: Benjamin Netanyahus handling of Gaza has been criticised. Photo: Reuters

The sudden flare-up followed weeks of relative quiet as Egypt attempts to broker a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas, the militant Islamist faction that rules the Gaza Strip.

Israel and Hamas have fought three wars in the past decade, and there have been many other flare-ups in violence.

It also comes a week before Israelis return to the polls for a third general election in less than a year.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the long-running Gaza situation came under sharp criticism over the weekend.

The Israeli military said more than 20 projectiles and rockets were fired from Gaza.

Most were intercepted by the Iron Dome aerial defence system. Videos shared on social media showed civilians in the cities of Ashkelon and Sderot crouching for cover as warning sirens blared in most of the Israeli communities that surround Gaza.

Emotions in Gaza were high after the video clip, filmed by a photographer working with the West Bank-based news agency al-Hadath, showed the Israeli military bulldozer scooping up the body.

An army tank is seen accompanying the bulldozer in the video, which was shared widely on social media.

Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad issued statements condemning Israel's actions and swore revenge.

The dead man was identified as Mohammed al-Naem, a member of the Islamic Jihad, the second-largest militant faction in Gaza after Hamas.

Abu Hamza, a spokesman for the group's armed wing, the al-Quds Brigades, said Israeli military vehicles had entered Gaza, and he warned that there would be consequences.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said Mr Naem was "defenceless" and was killed deliberately.

"The abuse of his body right before the eyes of the entire world is a heinous crime that can be added to the other crimes against our people," Mr Barhoum said.

Islamic Jihad took responsibility for the rocket fire, saying it was in response to Mr Naem's killing.

The video also drew criticism inside Israel.

Human rights groups called on the military to investigate the incident.

Adalah, the Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, said in a letter to the army's legal representative that the actions "depicted in the video were viewed as war crimes and blatant violations of international criminal law, and international human rights and humanitarian law".

Defence Minister Naftali Bennett defended the army's actions, saying on Twitter that it had "killed a terrorist and collected his body".

"This is how it should be done, and this is how it will be done," he wrote.

Some far-right leaders, including Mr Bennett before he became defence minister, have called for Israel to respond with greater force to rocket fire and other violence from Gaza.

There has been fierce criticism of what appears to be an attempt by Mr Netanyahu to reach a long-term understanding with Hamas.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday wooed Indian industry leaders to invest more in America, promising to reduce more regulations in his country as he looked for overseas investment to boost the economy there.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump speaks with Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani during a meeting with business leaders at the US embassy in New Delhi on February 25, 2020. Photograph: Atul Yadav / PTI Photo.

Speaking at a high-profile CEO round-table which included captains of the Indian industry such as Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, Mahindra group chairman Anand Mahindra, Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran and Aditya Birla group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, Trump reassured that regulations "will only get better" for investment in the US.

The Indian industry leaders apprised the US president of their ongoing respective businesses and investments in the country.

"I want to thank you all. Congratulations on your success. Hope you come to the United States and invest more billions because I view it not as billions, I view it as jobs. We have great people...," he told the gathering.

When pointed out that businesses still have to go through regulatory challenges -- especially administrative and in the legislative environment -- in the US, Trump said, "Some of the regulations you have to go through are statutory process ... We are going to cut lot more regulations ... A lot of them will be cut and you will see a big difference and it will only get better."

Stressing on the need for companies of the US and India to invest in each other's country, Trump said governments can only aid in creating jobs and it is the private industry that actually creates jobs.

Stating that he has been working closely with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump said, "We create jobs here, and he creates jobs over there through yourselves."

On Modi, he said, "Somebody said he is such a nice man and I said well he is actually he is a very tough man but he is a nice man. He is doing a fantastic job."

During the interaction, he said a trade deal with India is in the works but did not share any details.

"It has been an honour to be here," he said on visiting India. "We just did a lot of business with India where they will buy helicopters worth USD 3 billion."

Claiming that he is going to win the coming US presidential elections that will cause the markets to boom, he said his government has done a lot for the economy, healthcare and military.

Trump reiterated that under his leadership the US economy has grown and has "never been as good as it has been" but has been held back by the upcoming elections.
MEXICO CITY  The Mexican government is on track to dramatically increase the number of extraditions of criminal suspects to the United States this year, as the Trump administration has pressured Mexico to step up its fight against organized crime.

With the first two months of this year not yet over, the government already has extradited at least 30 suspects to the United States, a sharp acceleration of extraditions from the more leisurely pace of recent years. In all of 2019, 58 suspects were extradited to the United States, according to Mexicos attorney generals office, with 69 sent in 2018, and 57 in 2017.

The increased number of extraditions in the early months of 2020 comes as President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of Mexico, who took office in December 2018, has struggled to show gains in his governments effort to rein in organized crime groups and the violence they sow.

The security of the region is a shared responsibility, Mexicos foreign ministry said in a statement late Monday. All of Mexicos actions on security, including extraditions, comply with our current legal framework and respond to the national interest and the commitment to provide security for Mexicans.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) on Monday doubled down on his praise of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, and added praise for aspects of the Chinese authoritarian regime.

Truth is truth. All right? Sanders said at a CNN town hall event when challenged on his previous praise for Castros regime. If you want to disagree with me, if somebody wants to say thatand by the way, all of the Congress people you mentioned just so happen to be supporting other candidatesbut you know, the truth is the truth. And that is what happened on the first years of the Castro regime.

Sanders then expanded his comments on Cuba to include praise of China.

China is an authoritarian country, becoming more and more authoritarian, Sanders said. But can anyone deny, the facts are clear, that they have taken more people out of extreme poverty than any country in history?

In an interview on CBSs 60 Minutes aired Sunday, Sanders highlighted Cubas literacy program as an example of good done by Fidel Castro.

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?

The Vermont senators comments have drawn bipartisan criticism, particularly among Florida lawmakers. Florida has one of the largest populations of Cuban immigrants in the U.S., many of whom fled the oppressive Castro regime.

Donald Trump wins Florida if Bernie is our nominee, warned State Representative Javier Fernandez, a Democrat whose District 114 encompasses part of Miami. If Bernie Sanders is atop the ticket, its going to make it tougher for all of us to win in Florida.

More from National Review
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dragged one Ojo Temitope Francis before Federal High Court in Lagos following a petition against him and his firm, Asej Global Services, by First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

In a 20-paragraph affidavit filed in support of the motion on notice, the EFCC is seeking the permanent forfeiture of the sum of $54,000 which was deposited in the domiciliary account of Asej Global Services, operated by Ojo Temitope Francis.

Following the petition by FCMB, the investigating officer with EFCC, Peter Chidinma, told the presiding judge, Justice Muslim Hassan, that the deposited funds were suspected to be from cyber fraud activities.

Chimdinma said: The petitioner, First City Monument Bank, enquired about the nature of the funds and the account holder (Francis) claimed that they were from his friend and associate, George Edwards Cook, residing in the United States and that the funds were for the purchase of properties on behalf of the said friend and business associate.

That upon further enquiry, the suspect provided a copy of the drivers licence of a white man, purporting that it belonged to the said friend and business associate residing in the United States and could not provide information on the nature of their business.

That in the course of investigation, a letter of request for assistance was sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to assist in locating and interviewing the said business associate, Mr George Edward Cook.

That in response to the letter of request for assistance sent to the FBI, it was revealed that the said George Edward Cook had been flagged by the US Department of Treasury and US Banking Financial Security Network as a known fraudster.

Investigation further revealed that as of December 2017, George Edward Cook utilised counterfeit cheques to deposit $44,480 but was denied and is currently unable to secure any new US-based bank account under his name due to his ban by FINCEN.

That so far, the team has been able to establish that one Ojo Temitope Francis, hiding under the cover of the suspect, Asej Global Services, operated a domiciliary account in FCMB and received funds from George Edward Cook, who has been identified as a US-based fraudster.

That the whereabouts of the said Mr George Edward Cook is unknown and he is likely trying to transfer his ill-gotten funds from the US to Nigeria through the domiciliary account of the suspect.

Following an ex parte application by the EFCC, Justice Hassan had earlier made an order for the temporary forfeiture of the $54,000 to the Federal Government.

On Monday, counsel for the EFCC, S.I. Suleiman, said the anti-graft agency had last year August published the interim forfeiture order in The Nation newspaper, for anyone interested to see and come to court.

Suleiman said as no one had come forward to oppose the application for the permanent forfeiture of the funds, the judge should order same forfeited to the Federal Government.

After hearing the lawyer out, Justice Hassan fixed March 27 for judgment.

ALSO READ: EFCC Arrests Yahoo Kingpin Who Scammed US Bank, Seizes His Mansions & Fuel Station [Photos]
On 26 February, an all-inclusive meeting of Yemeni political forces was held in the Jordanian capital Amman under the auspices of the UN mission to Yemen which is based in Jordan, to discuss the possibility of relaunching the Geneva settlement track. The Geneva process was proposed to settle the Yemen crisis which erupted after the Houthi rebellion against the internationally-recognised government (in September 2014), but was suspended due to war and conflict conditions. The Stockholm process was launched at the end of 2018 as a tributary track between Houthis and the legitimate government, but it too failed in resolving the Yemeni crisis.

Participants in the gathering told Al-Ahram Weekly before the meeting that the Geneva process is a comprehensive settlement track that discusses all aspects of the crisis. So-called active political forces in Yemen were expected to participate in the meeting; namely, political forces that are politically and militarily involved in Yemen, including the General Peoples Congress Party, the Reform Party, the Houthis, the Transitional Council and the Supreme Council of the Revolutionary Movement of the South.

Fouad Rashed, chairman of the Supreme Council of the Revolutionary Movement of the South, expected the agenda in Amman to discuss three main issues. First, agreeing to relaunch the comprehensive Geneva track. Second, forming the platforms that will participate in it, since there is still debate about the South participating with a delegation independent of the legitimate government. Also, whether the issue of the South will be included on the agenda of talks or if it will be under the umbrella of the recognised government. The Houthi platform will be led by Mohamed Abdel-Salam, the leader of the movement at Stockholm. Third, setting a deadline to launch the initiative, either within one month after the Amman meeting, at the end of March, or in April. If agreement is reached on the process and timeline, the agenda will be discussed.

Other sources at the meeting said there has been Saudi-Houthi rapprochement recently and they have almost reached agreement amongst themselves. The source said the recognised government in Yemen is aware of these steps which began in parallel with the Riyadh agreement between the government and the Transitional Council in the South. Recently, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan hinted at the Munich Security Conference and during a meeting with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas this week that there are communication channels open with the Houthis. Although he did not give positive signs, if these contacts come to fruition, they will positively impact the overall settlement process.

The source said the Stockholm track will be assessed since its status is debatable. Some believe it has failed completely and therefore there is a need to return to the Geneva track. Others feel the two tracks can move in parallel since the Amman meeting is taking place alongside the prisoner exchange deal between Houthis and the government. This means Stockholm is alive and well, and its fate will be decided in Amman since it is uncertain if all parties will agree on relaunching Geneva, and this is an attempt to revive the overall settlement process.

Mohamed Abdel-Hadi, member of the Southern Movement, said there are consultations underway on forming the Southern platform for Geneva. It is likely that three platforms will be formed: the legitimate government; the Houthis and southerners. All other political forces will send representatives under the umbrella of the government. There was a suggestion of forming two delegations, [the Houthis and] the government which would also include the South, he said. But I dont think that will be approved because there is another problem: southerners are not united amongst themselves.

Many meetings were held in several capitals to form a united front in the South under UN auspices. In fact, the Transitional Council believes it officially represents the South based on the Riyadh agreement and the approval of the coalition. However, there are other forces that formed the southern peaceful movement in 2017.

Other than the procedural problems facing the Geneva track, there are other complications about the topics to be discussed at the negotiating table. Abdel-Hadi said: Due to the long conflict, balances of power, alliances and retribution are taking shape, and there will be many disputed issues, including the type of state and political system. Both depend on each other; will it be a state with two regions or more? Perhaps six regions, as proposed in the national dialogue? This would lead to more fragmentation, and the same for the political system. It is most likely this will be the central pivot in discussions.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 27 February, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the title: Back to Geneva

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TROY, MI -- Vice President Mike Pence targeted Bernie Sanders and Mike Bloomberg while telling voters to reject socialist" Democrats running to challenge President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Michigan.

Pence laid out Trumps accomplishments during a roughly 30-minute speech given in front of a Keep America Great banner an estimated crowd of 600 people in Troy, the largest city in Oakland County. Pence traveled to Lansing and Troy on his third bus tour through Michigan in the last three months, previously campaigning on Trumps behalf in Portage, Holland and Saginaw.

You heard it from me, Pence said. President Donald Trump is the real deal. Hes never stopped fighting for the people of Michigan and now its our turn to fight for him. With your continued support, every day between now and Nov. 4, were going to keep on winning."

Pence was accompanied by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, who spoke before the vice president at the Lansing Michigan Farm Bureau conference and Keep America Great rally in Troy. Perdue told voters they cannot allow "socialism to take over America.

The vice president agreed, calling on voters to reject Democrats socialist agenda as U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., emerges as the presidential frontrunner. 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.

Pence visited Michigan on the same day Democrats were set to debate in South Carolina. Pence said the debates are more like a demolition derby," but the race will be decided by a monster truck with a 'T' on the front."

Sanders and Bloomberg were the only Democrats the vice president named during his appearances in Michigan.

Sanders collected the largest number of Democratic delegates after posting a blowout victory in Nevada.

Polls have consistently found Sanders, who won Michigans 2016 Democratic primary, performing well against Trump in Michigan. A new battleground state poll released Sunday by the University of Wisconsin-Madison found Sanders beating Trump by 7 points in Michigan.

Pence criticized Sanders for calling Trumps killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani an assassination.

I have a message for Bernie Sanders, Pence said. Solemani was not some government official, he was terrorist.

Michigan deserves to know that every one of the Democrats running for President criticized President @realDonaldTrump's decision to take out the worlds worst terrorist, Qasem Soleimani. Bernie Sanders even called the Presidents decision assassinating a government official.  Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) February 26, 2020

Pence told reporters that Sanders wont be a threat to Trump due to his Medicare for All proposal, which would put all Americans on a government-run health care system and eliminate the private insurance market.

Telling hundred of thousands of UAW workers that theyll lose their health insurance doesnt sound like a winning message," Pence said.

David Dulio, head of the political science department at Oakland University, said Sanders could be Trumps preferred opponent because it would allow him to push an economic message of capitalism versus socialism.

I think that if hes the nominee, you will see the Trump campaign beat that drum over and over and over again, he said.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg rose to third in national polls since launching his campaign last November, fueled by $510 million worth of advertising. Bloomberg park a truck bearing digital campaign advertisements outside Pences stops in Lansing and Troy.

Pence also slammed Bloomberg for recently-resurfaced comments he made about farmers in 2016 at the University of Oxford in England. Bloomberg said it is harder to find people jobs in the modern information economy," than it was to train people for farming jobs in the past.

Pence said he didnt know what was worse, "believing that socialism works or farming is easy.

Trump supporters in Troy said they are frightened by the prospect of Sanders winning the Democratic nomination. Republicans expressed shock with some of the policies proposed by Sanders, including free college and a government-run health care system that would eliminate private health insurance.

It got really scary that last election, Dehort said. If Hillary was elected we would have been on some really hard times. Now theyre not even hiding the socialism stuff, its right in your face. Its really scary.

Several supporters in line before the event said they are fearful of what America would look like under a self-described democratic socialist.

Trump is getting things done," said Tina Holland. "He is for the women, he is for everybody. We dont want the Democrats coming in here. Were afraid. Free stuff? How are they going to pay for all this, thats what I want to know.

The swing through Michigan comes after Pence embarked on similar trips through Wisconsin and Minnesota, with more campaign appearances planned in Nevada, Colorado, Virginia and other states that will hold primaries and caucuses during the next few weeks.

Pence celebrated record Republican turnout in the Iowa caucus and said Trump earned the largest vote total in New Hampshire of any incumbent president in the last half-century. He said that while Democrats are still divided about who their nominee will be, the GOP is united.

Michigan is going to say yes to four more years of President Trump, Pence said.

Dulio said Pences visit to Troy targets voters Oakland and Macomb counties, two battleground areas that could decide the 2020 election. While Trump did not win the city of Troy or the surrounding Oakland County, the rally venue is a close drive for Republicans in Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights, Shelby Township and other suburbs north of Detroit.

Much of Pences speech matched previous appearances in Michigan, touting the presidents work to fight international terrorism, appoint conservative judges, roll back federal regulations and improve the economy.

Michigans unemployment rate is at 3.9%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the lowest in two decades. There are 100,000 more Michigan residents working since Trump took office in 2017.

Pence highlighted Trumps work to finalize trade deals with China, Japan, Canada and Mexico during the last several months, making good on campaign promises to renegotiate trade partnerships that Trump said was putting Americans behind.

Anthony Dehort, a 61-year-old Plymouth resident, said he was surprised Trump won the election, let alone Michigan, in 2016. Now he feels far more confident about Trumps prospects, pointing to low unemployment figures and record stock market performances.

Hes going to get it, Dehort said. Now hes got a record to run on.

State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, said the Trump administrations recent decisions affecting health care will hurt his chances in Michigan. The president has supported efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and proposed cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security in his latest budget recommendation.

McMorrow represents the eastern slice of Oakland County, including Troy. She told reporters her focus on protecting health care coverage for vulnerable Michiganders helped her flip the formerly Republican district in 2018.

Trump lost in Troy by 311 votes in 2016. The city supported Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer by 11 points two years later, a huge difference from Republican Gov. Rick Snyders victory in 2014, where he won Troy by 21 points.

Dr. Rob Davidson, executive director of the Committee to Protect Medicare, joined McMorrow on a press call Tuesday morning to share results of a new poll of 2,993 voters in Arizona, Iowa, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The poll found a majority of voters believe Trump will cut Medicare, which provides health coverage to people older than 65.

A video of Davidsons confrontation with Pence over potential cuts to both Medicare and Medicaid went viral on social media.

Pence spoke before a primarily white audience in Troy Tuesday, though the city has become more diverse in recent years. The city is home to a large population of Asian Americans, and 28% of Troy residents were born outside of the country.

May Lisa, a 22-year-old Ypsilanti resident, was one of a handful of African American Trump supporters in attendance. Lisa said her parents and most of her friends are Democrats, but she resonated with the presidents America first message.

I think he has the potential to make America great, starting with the minorities, Lisa said. Theres not a lot of African Americans who are willing to see his potential. It meant a lot to come out here and say hey, Im a Republican and Im voting for Trump."

Julie Murphy, 25, drove three hours from Cleveland with her husband, an automotive mechanic, and their young child to attend the rally in Troy. Murphy said it was the first Trump campaign event shes attended, and though she would have liked to see the president, Murphys said she thought seeing Pence was the next best thing,

While Trump flipped Michigan by a narrow margin in 2016, support for the president was more solid in Murphys home state of Ohio. Trump won Ohio by an 8-point margin, and hes expected to win there again in November.

Murphy said one of her top reasons for supporting Trump and Pence is their opposition to abortion rights. Pence called Trump the most pro-life president in American history while on the campaign trail in Michigan.

I couldnt be more proud to stand with a president who supports the right to life, Pence said. Let me say this to every pro-life American: You have a home in the Republican Party."

Pence slammed Democrats in the U.S. for voting against the Block Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which would require doctors to provide medical care to infants that survive abortions. A person in the crowd shouted evil in response.

Its a humanitarian issue, Murphy said. Babies are being killed every day and (Democrats) try to dehumanize them, just like we did with slavery, just like we did with the holocaust. They get to decide who is human and who is not. Life begins at conception.

Hours before Pence took the stage, the White House released a statement applauding a federal appeals court decision to uphold Trump administration rules withdrawing funding from medical facilities that provide abortions.

Michigan Republican Party Chairman Laura Cox said Trump and Pence promised to fight for the state. She encouraged voters to participate in the March 10 primary, though Trump faces no serious competition for the GOP nomination.

Holland, 68, is from Clarkston Township, which supported Trump by a 15-point margin in 2016. She said voters in her community are motivated to give Trump four more years in the White House.

Look at all these people, Holland said while turning to the line of supporters waiting to enter the venue. Were not done with him. We love him here and were going to fight tooth and nail with these Democrats.
By Rania El Gamal and Marwa Rashad

Riyadh (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's energy minister said on Tuesday he was confident that OPEC and its partner oil-producing nations, the so-called OPEC+ group, would respond responsibly to the spread of the coronavirus.

He also said Saudi Arabia and Russia would continue to engage regarding oil policy.

"Everything serious requires being attended to," the minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, told reporters at an industry conference in Riyadh.

An OPEC+ committee this month recommended the group

deepen its output cuts by an additional 600,000 barrels per day.

Saudi Arabia supports the further oil production cut, but Russia is yet to announce its final position on the matter.

The minister said he was still talking with Moscow and that he was confident of Riyadhs partnership with the rest of the OPEC+ group.

"We did not run out of ideas, we have not closed our phones. There is always a good way of communicating through conference calls," he said.

Regarding the coronavirus, which has impacted OPEC member Iran, he said OPEC+ members should not be complacent about the virus but added he was confident every OPEC+ member was a responsible and responsive producer. The flu-like SARS-CoV-2 virus which first broke out in China has now spread to more than 20 countries. "Of course there is an impact and we are assessing, but well do whatever we can in our next meeting and well address that issue, UAE energy minister Suhail al-Mazrouei said at the same industry conference. Saudi Aramco [2222.SE] CEO Amin Nasser on Monday said he expected a short-lived impact on oil demand and consumption to rise in the second half of the year."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 told Reuters.

Aramco had seen minimal impact from a drop in oil demand due to coronavirus spread, he said during a panel discussion in Riyadh.

Story continues

"We expect by the second half things are back to normal. There is an impact on markets but Aramco has dealt with many crises before," Nasser said, adding the impact on the company was "minimal".

The CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) also described the impact as "temporary" at the same event.

"Nobody can deny that there has been a temporary impact from coronavirus, we have seen that on global markets in terms of demand," Sultan Al Jaber said.

Oil climbed on Tuesday as investors sought bargains after crude benchmarks slumped almost 4% in the previous session, although concerns about the global spread of the virus capped gains.

(Reporting by Rania elGamal and Marwa Rashad; writing by Dahlia Nehme; editing by Louise Heavens and Jason Neely)
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.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  Palestinian archrivals Fatah and Hamas have something new to argue about.

The factions appeared, briefly, to be moving closer to one another, united in their rejection of US President Donald Trump's Mideast peace plan, dubbed the "deal of the century." But even their common condemnation of the plan that was unveiled Jan. 28 has failed so far to produce anything more than mutual blame.

The PLO, which officially represents Palestinians on the world stage but does not include Hamas, had agreed to send a delegation including Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah representatives to meet with Hamas in Gaza to discuss how to confront the US plan. Palestinians say the plan heavily favors Israel; the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League agree with that assessment.

But the meeting has yet to take place. Fatah says Hamas has yet to send an official invitation, but Hamas says Fatah is insisting on a bilateral meeting without the other Palestinian factions in Gaza. Hamas wants to involve the Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

On Feb. 15, PLO Secretary-General Saeb Erekat told Al-Najah news website that Hamas was holding up the PLO delegations visit as it has yet to invite the PLO factions. He said the PLO factions are ready to go to Gaza whenever invited.

Also that day, Azzam al-Ahmad, a member of both the PLO Executive Committee and the Fatah Central Committee, told Sabq 24 news that the delegation still intends to visit Gaza but is waiting for Hamas to set an official date.

Hamas replied in a Feb. 16 statement that it would "overlook" the statements blaming it for the delay. Yet it added that such declarations aim to obscure the PA's efforts to obstruct unity.

In early February, the two sides did get as far as trying to schedule a PLO delegation meeting in Gaza. Two Fatah Central Committee members arrived Feb. 7 in Gaza for that purpose, but left Feb. 12 without an agreement.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told Al-Monitor that Hamas was the first to take the initiative, contacting Fatah as soon as Trump announced his plan. He said Hamas wants to hold a meeting with all the factions to present a unified front.

We want to enhance joint work instead of bilateral work," he said. That means including forces active on the ground because everyone is targeted by the US plan, and Hamas is still ready to welcome the Fatah movement in Gaza.

Mukhaimar Abusada, a political science professor at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, told Al-Monitor that Abbas only mentioned holding a meeting in Gaza as an initial reaction to Trumps announcement of his plan. Abbas, he said, doesn't really believe that national ranks need to be unified, that division needs to end and that a way out of the current Palestinian crisis needs to be found.

Abusada said the rationalizations provided by both Fatah and Hamas show that they don't really want to hold the meeting.

Hamas allowed the US [an American evangelical charity] to establish a hospital in the Gaza Strip at a time when the US is seeking to liquidate the Palestinian cause. Also, Abbas isn't looking to end security coordination [with Israel] as the latter works on implementing Trumps Mideast plan," he said.

Hamas knows that Abbas position and political project  which is based on negotiations and finding a settlement [with Israel]  have become very embarrassing [since the plan's details were revealed]. So it does not want to rescue him by holding a meeting ... and agreeing on a national strategy that will take him out of his quandary, especially considering that Hamas is deemed the leader of the resistance project.

Abusada pointed out that Hamas insistence on a multilateral meeting may be intended to force Fatah to deal with all the Palestinian factions that Hamas recognizes in Gaza. Fatah does not acknowledge the national factions and forces that were established in Gaza following the Palestinian division in 2007. But Qassem said that is not Hamas' goal, as the work of these factions already shows they cannot be ignored.

Abusada also said Hamas is seeking help from the factions that reject both a settlement and coordinating security with Israel, to pressure Fatah. He said he doesn't expect a meeting to be held soon, and even if one does take place, it won't yield any positive results.

Mustafa al-Sawaf, a political analyst close to Hamas, told Al-Monitor the factions have failed to schedule a meeting because elements within Fatah want to exclude some Gaza factions.

Gaza is one entity and whoever wants to hold a meeting should meet with everyone there, he added.

Like Abusada, Hassan Abdo, a political analyst close to the Islamic Jihad, sees blame on both sides. If Hamas really intended to meet, he told Al-Monitor, it would have overcome all obstacles and agreed to a bilateral meeting. Also, he said, if Fatah had a real desire to meet with Hamas, it would have accepted Hamas conditions.
Bethel Music's Sean Feucht has released his brand new single "Raise Our Voice." Co-written by Feucht with Mia Fieldes (Darlene Zschech, Vertical Worship, Jesus Culture), the song speaks about making a difference for the sake of the future generations. You can now download the song for FREE by clicking here.

Feucht writes: "It's a song for the unborn, the forgotten and for the future of our children. I pray it brings joy to your soul and courage to your heart as you hear these little voices sing out.

Songs go to places where sermons can never go. We've been teaching our kids in this season about how if we want to change the world (not just the church), we have to stand up for what we believe in. This song embodies that call. Even if this is just for them, they will never forget it."

Sean Feucht is a husband, father, missionary, musician, speaker, author and founder of a grassroots global worship, prayer and missions organization, Burn 24/7. Feucht travels to 20-30 nations per year planting furnaces of worship and prayer, training, mobilizing, leading worship and speaking.

Sean has produced, recorded and released 20 music albums, co-authored 5 books, numerous teaching resources and has ignited several global missional initiatives. He and his wife, high school sweetheart, Kate, have three children, Keturah, Malachi and Ezra. In August 2016 Feucht and his family moved from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Redding, California to be a part of the Bethel Music community. Feucht's latest album, Wild, is available now.

Tags : bethel music Sean Feucht Sean Feucht new album Sean Feucht Wild Album Review Sean Feucht news sean feucht new single
Most of these stories dont make the news at all. Other times the news is saturated with them  the other day, Mr. Trump, Julian Assange, Mr. Weinstein, the Jeffrey Epstein-backer and Victorias Secret owner Leslie Wexner and Michael Bloomberg  he of the multiple nondisclosure agreements  were all on the front page of a leading newspaper, along with a German mass shooter whod also murdered his mother. Nothing indicated that most of these figures and some of these stories were all about the same thing: gender violence and gendered silence.

President Trump bought Stormy Danielss silence just before the 2016 election; she received some money in return for becoming a person who would never have words, never tell her story (and then, as many women have done since 2017, she finally did.) The president has asked for a delay in E. Jean Carrolls lawsuit against him for defamation  because he called her a liar when she said he raped her  so he can deal with another lawsuit from another woman he called a liar when she said he groped her.

Theres an illuminating overlap to be found in the fact that Alan Dershowitz was friends with and provided legal services for both Jeffrey Epstein and Mr. Trump  the former for sexual abuse, the latter in his impeachment trial. The historian Heather Cox Richardson wrote of that trial, but for Trump and his enablers, this trial is not about the truth; it never has been. It is about dominance and power. Forcing someone to accept what they know to be untrue reinforces the dominance of the person telling the lies.

To be powerless means that your facts and truths can be overwhelmed by the powerful, who prefer these facts or voices or stories not be heard. And what it means in the end is that truth and fact and evidence only prevail, whether its science or personal stories, in a democracy  not just a democracy in the electoral sense but a world in which power differentials dont corrupt what stories get told. Where what facts prevail depends on the strength of those facts, not the status of the speaker.

Imagine if Mr. Weinstein had committed his first sexual assault in a world in which his victim had the audibility, credibility, value and resources he did. There would likely not have been a second, or six women testifying in a trial, or 90 women with stories no one made space for before something changed in 2017. More likely there would not have been a first in a world where he knew he could not overpower her facts and voice, even if he could overpower her physically. When I hear these stories, I think of my own youth as a person who was voiceless, not because I could not speak, but because they would not listen. I, like so many others, then and now.

For myself, I wanted Mr. Weinstein found guilty and imprisoned not as revenge  though he richly deserves it  but as a warning to men like him that the age of impunity is over, that there are people willing to listen to women, and sometimes what we say has consequences. The most important change will be found in what we cannot measure  all the crimes that dont happen because would-be perpetrators fear the consequences, now that there are consequences. All the potential victims who know that if they speak up, someone might hear them and heed them. I want more than that, though: I want a society where the desire and entitlement to commit sexual violence wither away, not out of fear but out of respect for the rights and humanity of victims.

But even the idea that Mr. Weinsteins conviction is a watershed is optimistic: from offices to agricultural fields to college campuses, sexual violence is still harming millions directly and making survival extra work that too many women must do daily. We have democratized storytelling and truth to the extent that we now sometimes hear about the consequences of inequality, but not enough to end those stories. We  well, some of us  have begun a process that matters more than anything. What just happened to Weinstein was, maybe, a step forward, but we have miles to go.

Rebecca Solnit is the author of the forthcoming book Recollections of My Nonexistence, a memoir about her youthful encounters with silence and violence.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com.

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L aurence Fox has taken an extended break from social media, saying he had become shocked and depressed by messages he's received from fellow Twitter users.

The actor, 41, was thrust into the limelight following a row on BBC Question Time, in which he accused a mixed-race university lecturer of racism for branding him a white privileged male.

But on Monday night, the 41-year-old announced the backlash had got too much for him in an emotional 13-part statement in which he pointed to the deadly consequences of societys so-called cancel culture.

Question Time Audience Member Clashes With Actor Laurence Fox

The Twitter thread read: 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

A number of Twitter users responded by calling him a hypocrite and accusing him of spreading hatred himself.

However, others urged him to stay online, expressing concern for his mental health.

Piers Morgan issued his own response calling out the PC-crazed virtue-signalling mob for "hounding" the actor.

He tweeted: 'Laurence Fox hounded off Twitter for daring to challenge the virtue-signalling mob.

The repulsive abuse & threats these shameless "liberal" (*illiberal) hypocrites spew out on here to anyone who refuses to sign up to their PC-crazed world view is disgraceful.
Madrid: A tourist hotel on the Canary Island hotel of

Tenerife was placed in quarantine Tuesday after an Italian doctor staying there tested positive for the new virus from China that has infected thousands worldwide.

The press office for the town of Adeje said Tuesday that the H10 Adeje Palace hotel was in quarantine.

Spanish news media reported that some 1,000 tourists staying at the complex are not allowed to leave.

The Canary Islands, an archipelago located some 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of the African coast, is a popular vacation destination that attracts many northern Europeans all-year-around.

The Italian doctor who is positive for the COVID-19 disease has been quarantined in a local clinic while samples are analyzed in a hospital near Madrid to confirm the initial diagnosis, the archipelagos President Angel Victor Torres announced late on Monday in a series of tweets.

Spanish private news agency Europa Press, citing the regional governments health department, said the visiting tourist had arrived from one of the areas in northern Italy where a cluster of the coronavirus has infected hundreds. The patient voluntarily went to a clinic in Tenerife on Monday when he began feeling unwell, Europa Press reported.

Its Spains third case of COVID-19 and the second in the islands that lie some 100 kilometres (62 miles) west of the African coast. A German tourist was quarantined earlier this month in the island of La Gomera and a British citizen in the Mediterraneans Balearic Islands. Both were released after recovering and showing no further symptoms of the illness.

The Spanish government has convened a special commission of various ministries Tuesday and a separate meeting with health authorities of all the Spanish regions to assess preparations for a possible uptick in cases.
Photo: Contributed

Chinese Canadians whose family members remain in Hubei province, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, are urging the federal government to send a third evacuation plane to bring home Canadians and permanent residents.

Wuhan and other cities across Hubei province went into lockdown on Jan. 23 as the Chinese government tried to contain the spread of the COVID-19, leaving citizens to have close to zero chance of leaving the city.

Residents across the Lower Mainland who are originally from Hubei province, set up a WeChat group last week and sent an open letter to Global Affairs Canada on Saturday, hoping to reunite with their loved ones who are still trapped in Hubei.

Simon Zheng, a small business owner who works in Richmond and is also part of the WeChat group, told the Richmond News that at least 50 families are still stuck in Hubei, and each family has at least one Canadian citizen in it.

According to the letter, these families failed to board either of the previous chartered flights due to poor communication and misinformation, language barriers, isolation and mass panic.

"We estimate that the real number of Canadian families still confined in the province of Hubei is in reality much higher than what we have accumulated over the last three days The longer this ordeal carries on, and the longer the lockdown continues for these unfortunate individuals, the more danger it will impose on the Canadians stuck there," the letter reads.

"We cannot bear the thought of losing our family members if something were to happen in the next few weeks."

Melanie Huang, a former Richmond resident, is concerned about both of her dad's and grandfather's situation in Wuhan as the coronavirus has claimed more than 2,600 lives so far.

Huang said her dad flew to China on Jan. 13 to celebrate Chinese New Year with her 89-year-old grandfather, but now he can't return to Canada since all train stations and airports have shut down.

"The virus has spread quickly over the past few weeks, and hospitals only accept coronavirus-related patients. If seniors slip at home or hurt themselves, they won't get treatment in time," said Huang.
At Least Six Killed In Afghanistan Despite 'Reduction Of Violence' Deal

February 24, 2020

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

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/attacks -in-afghanistan-despite-reduction-of- violence-deal/30452041.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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Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 17:22:26|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's technology market has seen more than 484,000 technology contracts in 2019, with the total volume of transactions at 2.24 trillion yuan (about 318.6 billion U.S. dollars), new data showed.

These figures represented year-on-year increases of 17.5 and 26.6 percent, respectively, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

It marked a record-high transaction value for China's technology market, exceeding 2 trillion yuan for the first time.

Among all types of technology contracts, those related to technical services achieved a transaction volume of 1.24 trillion yuan, a 28.9-percent year-on-year increase.

Contracts related to technological development, technology transfer, and technology consulting all saw a significant increase in the volume of transactions.

Among all technologies, new energy and high-efficiency technologies achieved the largest increase of 82.7 percent in contract value.

Enterprises dominate Chinese technology trading. In 2019, enterprises contributed more than 321,000 technology contracts in China with a transaction volume of more than 2 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 28.3 percent and representing 91.5 percent of all technology trading transaction value nationwide.

Following enterprises, colleges and universities, as well as scientific research institutions are also major players in the country's booming market for technology trading.

Tech contracts related to intellectual property contributed 41.5 percent of the country's total technology transactions. The total transaction value for this type of contracts exceeded 928.7 billion yuan in 2019.

China highly values science and technology through various incentive measures in policies and investments.

The country's expenditure on research and development (R&D) has seen double-digit growth for three consecutive years. China's spending on R&D hit a record high at 2.19 percent of its GDP in 2018, up 0.04 percentage points compared with 2017.

Meanwhile, China has been improving the incentive mechanism and policy environment, issuing a series of reform documents concerning the promotion of sci-tech development, transformation of sci-tech achievements as well as the national science award system.
The mullahs have so far announced twelve deaths, which means that Iran is second only to China in terms of coronavirus infections, and the Turkish Health Minister cited his Iranian counterpart, saying that 758 people could be infected. Even the mayor of Tehrans District 13 has been infected and the City Council as shut for a week.

Worse still, these numbers are likely just the tip of the iceberg. Last week, people in Qom reported that, in their area alone, at least 12 people died and 200 tested positive.

The problem is that the regimes secrecy has left the Iranian people uninformed about the symptoms, what to do if infected, or anything else, which has meant that the virus can spread with abandon.

This has led the Iranian people to take to the streets in Lahijan, Talesh, Rudbar, and Isfahan to demand that the regime take adequate measures to protect them

In Talesh, people protested four coronavirus patients from Rasht being moved to a hospital in their city, but the state security forces fired tear gas at the protesters to disperse them.

Students in Tehran and Ilam demanded that their campuses are closed, and they be allowed to return home as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Maryam Rajavi, head of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), called on the WHO to dispatch supervisory and medical teams to Iran.

She wrote on Twitter: Ignoring peoples lives and well-being, the criminal mullahs covered up coronavirus cases in a bid to bring crowds for February 11 revolution anniversary and the sham election. Now, the virus has rapidly spread across the nation because people were kept in the dark.

I again urge WHO to dispatch supervisory and medical teams to Iran and request physicians and nurses to advise and assist the people to confront the virus. The regime must put medical resources monopolized by the mullahs and the IRGC at the disposal of the people, hospitals and physicians.

The WHO called the spread of the coronavirus in Iran concerning, as the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon report more cases of people returning or arriving from Iran testing positive and urged the mullahs to give needed information to the Iranian people.

Read More:

Shocking Confession of Iranian Regimes Secrecy Over the Coronavirus / Two Doctors Die in One Night

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Congress leader Udit Raj on Tuesday alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are behind the violence in the North-East Delhi in which seven people have been killed so far.

"BJP is behind yesterday's violence. They want to break the country. It is a matter of grave concern and shame that BJP leader Kapil Mishra is making such inflammatory statements in the presence of Delhi Police. Delhi Police which works under Union Ministry of Home Affairs is not able to control the situation", Udit Raj told ANI.

He also accused Delhi Police of giving a free hand to people who were wearing saffron clothes and chanted 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans.

"Police have given a free hand to people wearing saffron clothes and raising 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans. They have beaten the Muslims."

He also appealed to everyone to maintain peace and refrain from violence.

Meanwhile, violence continued in several areas of North-East Delhi, including Bhajanpura and Maujpur for the second consecutive day on Tuesday.

On Monday, clashes broke out between groups opposing and supporting the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and NRC.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mr. Gui, 55, was put on trial in January on charges of providing intelligence overseas, the Ningbo Intermediate Peoples Court said in a brief notice announcing the verdict. It said he had applied to restore his Chinese citizenship in 2018, implying that he would give up his Swedish citizenship, and that he did not wish to appeal the verdict. The details could not be independently verified.

Swedens foreign ministry said Mr. Gui remained a citizen of Sweden. It urged China to free him.

We have consistently made it clear that we demand that Gui Minhai be released so that he can be reunited with his daughter and family, the ministry said in a statement. This demand still stands. We also demand access to our citizen so that we can provide the consular support he is entitled to.

Mr. Guis sentence was the latest turn in a murky and long-running effort to clamp down on a market for sometimes salacious books on the Chinese leadership that are published in Hong Kong. Such works could not be published in mainland China, but found a booming market among mainland visitors to Hong Kong, a semiautonomous part of China with strong press freedoms.

Mr. Gui was the co-owner of Mighty Current Media, a Hong Kong imprint that had five employees who were held in the mainland, including one, Lee Bo, who was apparently taken off the streets of Hong Kong. All except Mr. Gui were eventually released after giving confessions that were broadcast by Chinese state media.

Most kept silent, but one, Lam Wing-kee, went public after returning to Hong Kong in 2016. He described lengthy isolation and intimidation in an effort to get him to reveal names of writers and customers. He said his confession was written by the authorities, and he had no choice but to deliver it. He later moved to Taiwan, citing fears of growing Chinese influence and control over Hong Kong.
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Mallinckrodt (MNK) is finalizing a plan that would put its U.S. generic drug business into bankruptcy, according to The Wall Street Journal. The move would help deal with liabilities stemming from the opioid crisis. Palo Alto Networks (PANW) reported adjusted quarterly earnings of $1.19 per share, 7 cents above estimates. However, the cybersecurity company's revenue was well below Wall Street forecasts and Palo Alto's own guidance. The company also issued lower than expected guidance for the current quarter and the full year, pointing to the impact of sales incentives. Shake Shack (SHAK) reported an adjusted quarterly profit of 6 cents per share, compared to expectations of a 1 cent per share loss. However, the restaurant chain's revenue missed forecasts, and same-restaurant sales fell by a larger-than-expected 3.6 percent during the quarter. Hertz Global (HTZ) lost an adjusted 24 cents per share for its latest quarter, 3 cents less than analysts had been expecting. The car rental company's revenue was essentially in line with forecasts. HP (HPQ) came in 11 cents ahead of estimates with adjusted quarterly earnings of 65 cents per share, with the computer and printer maker's revenue also slightly above Street projections. HP also pledged to return $16 billion to shareholders in a bid to stave offer a hostile takeover bid from Xerox (XRX). Expedia (EXPE) will cut 3,000 jobs, or about 12 percent of its workforce, as the travel website operator streamlines its business. General Electric (GE) cut about 78,000 employees last year, according to its newly issued annual report, leaving it with about 205,000 workers at the end of 2019. That drops employee levels at GE to 1951 levels. Tenet Healthcare (THC) earned an adjusted 99 cents per share for its 4th quarter, beating estimates by 1 cent. The hospital operator's revenue also beat forecasts, with same-hospital admissions up 2.6 percent. Tesla (TSLA) was downgraded to hold from buy at Jefferies, although it did raise its price target on the automaker's stock to $800 from the prior $600. Jefferies said it needs a clearer view on potential profitability, particularly in the battery business.

WATERCOOLER
If we are to believe it, Julian Assange of WikiLeaks, the man behind showing the ugliness of power, is the one responsible for having abused it. It is a running theme in the US case against this Australian publisher, who has been given the coating of common criminality hiding the obvious point: that the mission is to make journalism on official secrets, notably those covering atrocity and abuse, a crime.

The first day of full extradition hearings against Assange at Woolwich Crown Court was chocked with a predictable prosecution case, and a robust counter by the defence. Central to the prosecutions case for extradition to the US is the emphasis on the ordinariness of Assanges alleged criminality, to diminish the big picture abuses of empire and focus on the small offences of exposure. In so doing, that seemingly insurmountable problem of journalism becomes less important. If you publish pilfered material from whistleblowers, you are liable, along with those unfortunates who dared have their conscience tickled.

As James Lewis QC advanced at Londons Woolwich Crown Court, 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 the people who had put themselves at risk to assist the United States and its allies.

Here, the rhetorical shift is clear: there were those who assisted the US, and Assange was being very naughty in exposing them via the State Department cables and the Iraq and Afghanistan war logs. In doing so, he had also conspired with US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to hack a password and conceal his identity in accessing and downloading relevant files.

Relegating Manning to the status of wooed conspirator was a ploy convincingly swatted by defence barrister Edward Fitzgerald QC. He merely had to consult Mannings own court martial, in which she clearly stated that the decisions I made to send documents and information to the WikiLeaks website were my own decisions and I take full responsibility for my actions.

According to Lewis, the disclosures by WikiLeaks had grave consequences. Fascinatingly enough, enough, these were not the sort identified by Pentagon studies which took a less punitive view on the subject. Unconvincingly, the prosecution argued that, 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 [emphasis added]. This is almost incompetent in its measure: to accuse WikiLeaks of inflicting such harm, only to suggest that proof of causation was absent.

Lewis was also keen to shrink the panoramic view of the proceedings against Assange, preferring to see it as a hearing rather than a trial on the merits of the case. He does not want broader issues of reporting or journalism to be considered, nor thinks it relevant. The only issue on that front, insisted the prosecution, was whether crimes alleged by the US would also constitute crimes in the UK, a matter surely not in dispute from the defence. Fitzgerald begged to differ on that point as the Official Secrets Act that accords with the US Espionage Act contravenes the freedom of expression and information right outlined in Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The US Department of Justice indictment, which makes essential if grotesque reading, links journalism on national security matters to the punitive nature of the national security state, cocooned, as it were, by the US Espionage Act of 1917. Counts 15 to 17, as was noted by Gabe Rottman in Lawfare last year, represent a profoundly troubling legal theory, one rarely contemplated and never successfully deployed. Under these counts, the Justice Department now seeks to punish the pure act of publication of newsworthy government secrets under the nations spying laws.

The very fact that the documents in question were posted is what is central to them. They do not even lie in any conduct of inducement or seduction. For even the most reserved legal commentators, this suggests a gluttonous overreach on the part of the imperium.

The issue was raised in questioning by Judge Vanessa Baraitser. In making their remarks, the prosecution was stopped to clarify what was meant by obtaining classified documents. Could anybody obtaining them, even in the absence of aiding and abetting, be the subject of prosecution? The response, after hesitation was: Yes. Newspapers and media outlets, beware.

The defence effort was sharp and to the point. The entire prosecution against Assange, submitted Fitzgerald, was an abuse of process, constituting a political offence which would bar extradition under the US-UK Extradition Treaty of 2003. The judge was reminded that the alleged offences took place a decade ago, that the Obama administration had decided not to prosecute Assange, and that the decision to do so in 2017 by the Trump administration saw no adducing of any new evidence or facts. The decision by Trump to initiate a prosecution was an effective declaration of war on leakers and journalists. The US presidents own disparaging remarks on the Fourth Estate were cited. Assange was the obvious symbol of all that Trump condemned.

Trumps own erratic behaviour  instructing US Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher to take a message to Assange in the embassy in 2017  was also noted. The message was uncomplicated enough. Should Assange disclaim any Russian involvement in the 2016 Democratic National Committee leaks, he would be pardoned. Fitzgerald was cool on the presidents blanket denial that this ever took place. He would, wouldnt he?

More broadly, the entire prosecution and extradition effort was based on the naked political act of state, spiced with a good deal of violent endeavour. The destruction of legal professional privilege, the principle protecting the confidences of Assange and those of his defence team, suggest that point. We know, submitted Fitzgerald, that the US intelligence agency was being provided with surveillance evidence of what was being done and said in the Ecuadorean Embassy.

And thats not the half of it. According to Assanges barrister, various extreme measures against the long-time embassy tenant were also considered. Kidnapping or poisoning were high on the list. With such rich attitudes, it is little wonder that the defence reiterated the dangers facing Assange should he make his way across the Atlantic to face the US judicial system. In the Eastern District of Virginia, punitive sentences are all but guaranteed. Special Administrative Measures would spell mental ruin and death. The second day awaits.

Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: [email protected]
In a trenchant observation, the



Bombay High Court said on Tuesday that there has not been any "effective progress" in the trial of 2008 Malegaon blast case where BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur is an accused.

The HC also asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to explain the delay.

A division bench of acting Chief Justice B P Dharmadhikari and N R Borkar was hearing an application filed by another accused, Sameer Kulkarni, claiming that the prosecution, NIA and some of the fellow accused were deliberately delaying the proceedings.

Kulkarni pointed out that in October 2018 the HC had ordered the special NIA court in Mumbai to expedite the trial, but in the last six months only 14 witnesses were examined.

In January 2019, the HC had asked the NIA court's judge to submit reports in sealed cover if any person was not cooperating with the trial court.

After going through two reports submitted by the trial court on Tuesday, the HC said, "Prima facie, we find that there has been no effective progress in the trial as of now."



The bench directed the NIA to explain why the trial was being prolonged, and adjourned the hearing to March 16.

Six people were killed and 100 injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in the North Maharashtra town of Malegaon, about 200 km from here, on September 29, 2008.

Pragya Singh Thakur, who won Lok Sabha election from Bhopal last year, is one of the prime accused in the case. Other accused include Army officer Lt Col Prasad Purohit, Ramesh Upadhyay, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi and Sudhakar Chaturvedi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An Upstate New York college student is among the first standouts on season 18 of American Idol.

Julia Gargano, a 21-year-old senior at the College of St. Rose in Albany, impressed judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie on Sunday nights episode of the ABC singing competition. She won a golden ticket to Hollywood and a hug from Perry, who said Gargano has potential to be a top five contestant and could win this.

If you see my face on the episode, my face literally screams 'What the heck is about to happen when Katy was walking over to me, Gargano told SILive.com. That was the craziest part of the day.

Gargano performed an original song called Growing Pains and earned praise from all three judges.

Thats big time music, big time presentation done by a 21-year-old -- that was classic and done well," Bryan said.

According to SILive.com, Gargano auditioned in Washington, D.C., in October, with support from her family, who lives in Staten Island.

So many of my family came to support me at the audition -- my parents, stepparents, siblings, my best friend, grandparents, and some aunts and uncles. It was so cool to have them there, she told the publication. The family also cheered her on Sunday night, watching the episode with 100 friends and relatives in Westerleigh.

According to WTEN, Gargano celebrated her audition success with a watch party at the Madision Theatre in Albany on Sunday.

Seeing it on a huge screen like that made the whole thing a little more surreal but It was a blast, Gargano told SILive.com. My friends, classmates, professors, and Albany locals all came out to support me and it was overwhelming. I was filled with gratitude and love. When I got the golden ticket everyone went crazy, it was so fun!"

American Idol airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC. Fans can also live stream the show on Hulu + Live. Gargano will appear next in the Hollywood round.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday there was no agreement yet for the leaders of Turkey, Russia, France and Germany to hold a summit over the escalating violence in northern Syria.

The Kremlin indicated a two-way meeting between Turkey's Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin was also not on the cards.

Erdogan on Saturday had announced he would hold a four-party summit with Putin, France's Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on March 5.

But he told reporters Tuesday in a televised press conference before travelling to Azerbaijan "there is no full agreement" on holding the meeting.

The Turkish leader on Tuesday said he might instead hold face-to-face talks with Putin on March 5, either in Istanbul or in Ankara.

Russia and Turkey have over the last years been working in close coordination to end the conflict in Syria but strains have soared in recent weeks over the escalating violence in the Syrian province of Idlib.

The tensions are seen as the biggest threat to Ankara-Moscow ties since Turkey shot down a Russian warplane over Syria in November 2015.

In Moscow, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied that a bilateral meeting between Erdogan and the Russian leader was planned.

"We are not talking about bilateral contacts. But the possibility of a meeting in a multilateral format is being worked out," he told reporters.

"For now, no decision has been taken, as not all the potential participants have given their agreement," he added.

But Peskov did not confirm that such a multilateral summit would involve France and Germany in a four-way meeting, and instead indicated a tripartite summit with Iran could be planned.

"The Iranian variant" is being looked at, he said. Putin, Erdogan and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani have repeatedly met on Syria in the past.

Turkish troops have come under deadly fire from Syrian government forces this month in the northwestern Idlib province -- the last rebel enclave.

The clashes have prompted negotiations between Turkish and Russian delegations in Moscow and in Ankara which have so far proved fruitless. Moscow, along with Tehran, is the chief backer of the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Erdogan said a Russian delegation would come to Turkey on Wednesday for another round of talks.

The United Nations warned on Monday against an imminent "bloodbath" as the fighting in Idlib was coming "dangerously close" to encampments holding around a million displaced people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In wake of the ongoing protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Northeast Delhi, the DMRC (Delhi Metro Rail Corporation) has closed five metro stations on the Pink Line. These metro stations are Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar. The train services are being terminated at the Welcome metro station.

The DMRC tweeted, "Security Update. Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar remain closed. Trains are being terminated at Welcome metro station."

The DMRC had shut the entry and exit gates of Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur metro stations on Sunday as well given the ongoing violent protest against the CAA.

Security Update



Entry & exit gates of Maujpur-Babarpur are closed. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) February 23, 2020

Stone-pelting between pro and anti-CAA factions was reported from Delhi's Gokalpuri area where an anti-CAA rally took place on Monday. Tensions also escalated to areas like Maujpur, Jaffrabad and Chand Bagh. The protesters burnt down vehicles, shops and houses in these areas. In Bhajanpura, the agitators even burnt down a petrol pump.

Also read: Anti-CAA protest: Stone hurled at Kapil Mishra's rally in Maujpur, police lob tear gas

Five people, including one policeman, have died and around 50 people have been injured due to the ongoing clashes. Delhi Police Head Constable Ratan Lal lost his life, while trying to manage the situation on ground. A Deputy Commissioner of Police was also injured during the clashes in Maujpur in Delhi on February 24.

Also read: Delhi Violence: One head constable killed; forces deployed to stop clashes

Meanwhile, Section 144 has been imposed in Northeast Delhi as pro and anti-CAA protesters are still out on the streets. The Delhi Police has also urged the citizens to maintain calm and refrain from believing in rumours. Joint Police Commissioner (Eastern Range), Alok Kumar told the media that police forces have been strategically deployed in Jaffrabad, Seelampur, Maujpur, Gautampuri, Bhajanpura, Chand Bagh, Mustafabad, Wazirabad and Shiv Vihar, where there is a possibility of disturbance.

Also read: Delhi Violence: Entry, exit gates of 5 Pink Line metro stations closed
(Bloomberg) --

Omans new ruler is embarking on possibly unpopular steps to improve the Gulf nations finances, in a test of his authority just weeks after succeeding a cousin who had ruled for five decades.

The largest Arab crude producer outside OPEC plans to lower its debt and review state companies, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said said on Sunday in his first televised address. Oman has posted deficits since oil prices slumped in 2014, with this years shortfall projected at 8.4% of gross domestic product and the International Monetary Fund forecasting no surpluses until at least 2024.

Resources will be redirected to raise revenue, the sultan said, and there will be a complete revision of activities and employment at government companies to improve their performance.

These are the types of rationalizations that have been planned for some time, and are necessary, said Richard Segal, senior analyst at Manulife Investment in London. The first priority would be to slow the growth in debt, he said.

Sultan Qaboos, who died in January at age 79, transformed a country with barely any paved roads into an independent nation of 4 million people with a $79 billion economy. He gave women the vote in the early 1990s and enabled them to stand for public office, unprecedented moves for the Gulf, while retaining total control over major political decisions. But in recent years he avoided making tough economic decisions.

Whos Omans New Sultan Haitham bin Tariq? Q&A

Last year, Oman found some success as it sought to diversify sources of revenue. The government began a quest to privatize a number of sovereign entities, including the first major deal with Chinas State Grid Corp. to acquire a 49% stake in Omans state-owned power transmission company.

Although economic growth stagnated last year, according to the IMF its expected to grow this year, driven by an acceleration in the oil sector. The government said it plans to borrow 2 billion rials ($5.2 billion) this year to bridge the bulk of the deficit, and aggregate revenue is expected at 10.7 billion rials, up 6% from a 2019 estimate.

Story continues

The country has four dollar bonds maturing in 2021 and 2022. Oman should easily be able to refinance issuances dated June next year, Segal said, as it has plenty of market access. Omans debt is rated junk by all three major rating companies.

Standard Chartered expects Oman to emerge from a recession this year on the back of rising gas output, investment in manufacturing, logistics and tourism. The lack of meaningful fiscal stimulus, however, will constrain non-oil growth, Carla Slim, the banks economist for the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, said last month.

The country has to balance the need to ensure fiscal sustainability with allowing the economy to grow and labor markets to survive, said Segal, so it would be unwise to retrench too quickly.

To contact the reporters on this story: Abeer Abu Omar in Dubai at aabuomar@bloomberg.net;Farah Elbahrawy in Dubai at felbahrawy@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Claudia Maedler at cmaedler@bloomberg.net, Mark Williams, Amy Teibel

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

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[February 25, 2020] TwoConnect's Azure Insights & Performance Monitoring Service Now Available in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace

MIAMI, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- TwoConnect, Modern Integrated Applications and Data Solutions Experts, today announced the availability of its Azure Insights & Performance Monitoring: 3-Day PoC consulting service in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, an online store providing applications and services for use on Microsoft Azure. TwoConnect customers can now take advantage of the scalability, high availability, and security of Azure, with streamlined deployment and management. As a Microsoft gold cloud partner for Azure and BizTalk, TwoConnect can help you with all your digital transformation initiatives. TwoConnect's three-day Azure Insights & Performance Monitoring proof of concept identifies business integration scenarios, plans an integration approach, and establishes Azure Application Insights services as part of the scope and setup. It covers how to design dashboards that help you analyze your most impactful business scenarios to support business strategies. Dashboards validate business decisions and ensure you have information about the impact of your strategic choices when you need it. This PoC takes you through the steps for adding Application Insights API, deploying dashboards, configuring the alerts, and determining the right support, maintenance, and service plans for your organization. You'll leave this session with your own roadmap for success and clarity on how to proceed. TwoConnect's award-winning BizTalk Support and Azure ManagedServices team focuses exclusively on supporting, maintaining, and adapting all your integration solutions to ensure the seamless continuity of your business operations through its BizTalk Server Application Management (BSAM) solution, which lets you focus on your core business while TwoConnect focuses on BizTalk.



TwoConnect can help you move your data to the cloud, giving your company the ability to scale up or down at will, increase reliability, improve compliance, and greatly impact high availability of your workloads. Take advantage of serverless integration to easily connect data, apps, and devices anywhere, keeping all your disparate systems up to date in real time, and then easily collect, transform, and visually analyze your most strategic data. With Azure, integration has never been easier. "TwoConnect builds modern, integrated software apps and data solutions," said Javier Mariscal, President, TwoConnect. "We successfully merge the worlds of Microsoft and open source to bring powerful business solutions to organizations everywhere. We simplify modern software development for everyone through our team of amazing Microsoft MVPs, certified development managers, trainers, and our extended worldwide community of integration experts with whom we've partnered for over two decades."

"Through Microsoft Azure Marketplace, customers around the world can easily find, buy, and deploy partner solutions they can trust, all certified and optimized to run on Azure," said Sajan Parihar, Senior Director, Microsoft Azure Platform at Microsoft Corp. "We're pleased to welcome TwoConnect's solution to the growing Azure Marketplace ecosystem." The Azure Marketplace is an online market for buying and selling finished Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications and premium datasets. The Azure Marketplace helps connect companies seeking innovative, cloud-based solutions with partners who have developed solutions that are ready to use. About TwoConnect

TwoConnect simplifies modern software development. Imagine a new software universe where implementing software changes goes from six to eight weeks to six to eight minutes. TwoConnect's team of Microsoft-certified Azure Logic Apps consultants and developers are available on-site or remotely to help you with implementation, architecture, performance, or technical issues. They are a member of the elite Microsoft BPI Virtual Technical Specialist team (one of only 18 worldwide) and a Microsoft gold Application Integration Partner. For more information, press only:

Javier Mariscal, TwoConnect, 877-896-2666 and [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/twoconnects-azure-insights--performance-monitoring-service-now-available-in-the-microsoft-azure-marketplace-301010473.html SOURCE TwoConnect

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The Uddhav Thackeray-led



government has cancelled appointments of Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant and party MLA Ravindra Waikar as the chairman of the Maharashtra State Parliamentary Coordination Committee and Chief Coordinator in Chief Minister's Office, respectively.

According to two separate government resolutions (GRs), dated February 20, both Sawant and Waikar conveyed to the administration that they were not willing to take up the roles.

A Parliamentarian from Mumbai-South seat, Sawant had in a letter dated February 14 conveyed to the government that he was not willing to take up the role, the GR said.

Similarly, Jogeshwari legislator Waikar had expressed his unwillingness to take up the job in a letter on February 11.

The respective GRs do not mention the reasons cited by Sawant and Waikar.

In a meeting of MPs from Maharashtra on January 27, which was chaired by Thackeray, it was decided that Sawant would be appointed as the chairman of the three-member state-level parliamentary committee set up to follow up pending proposals related to the state with the Centre.

A GR to this effect was issued on February 14.

Sawant was also given the rank of a Cabinet minister.

Waikar was appointed chief coordinator in CMO and also allotted the rank of a Cabinet minister and the GR to this effect was issued on February 11.

He was assigned the responsibility to coordinate with public representatives and the chief minister on fast-tracking of projects and fund allocations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Oscar-winning songwriter Lady Gaga announced Tuesday that she's releasing her first new music in two years this Friday at midnight EST.

The pink-haired pop diva - turning 33 next month - did so by posting a snap of a billboard promoting her single Stupid Love for her captive, combined 194.5M social media following.

Gaga's (born Stefani Germanotta) Little Monsters are speculating she titled her upcoming sixth studio album Chromatica because of the graffiti tag scrawled sideways on the billboard.

Countdown! Oscar-winning songwriter Lady Gaga announced Tuesday that she's releasing her first new music in two years this Friday at midnight EST (pictured February 14)

Turning 33 next month! The pink-haired pop diva did so by posting a snap of a billboard promoting her single Stupid Love for her 194.5M social media following

Stupid Love was produced by BloodPop and Tchami, but other LG6 tracks are rumored to have been conceived by Scottish DJ Sophie, German DJ Boys Noize, as well as her Joanne producer Mark Ronson.

The nine-time Grammy winner has been teasing the record as far back as a year ago when she tweeted: 'Rumors I'm pregnant? Yeah, I'm pregnant with #LG6.'

Perhaps Lady Gaga's new song was inspired by her San Francisco-based beau, Parker Group CEO Michael Polansky.

Could it be? Gaga's Little Monsters are speculating she titled her upcoming sixth studio album Chromatica because of the graffiti tag scrawled sideways on the billboard

'I'm pregnant with #LG6!' Stupid Love was produced by BloodPop (L) and Tchami, but other LG6 tracks are rumored to have been conceived by Scottish DJ Sophie, German DJ Boys Noize, as well as her Joanne producer Mark Ronson

Muse? Perhaps the nine-time Grammy winner's new song was inspired by her San Francisco-based beau, Parker Group CEO Michael Polansky (R, pictured February 17)

Leading man: Lady Gaga was first pictured kissing the 35-year-old Harvard grad on New Year's Eve before making their relationship 'Instagram official' over Super Bowl weekend (pictured February 14)

The Joe Biden supporter was first pictured kissing the 35-year-old Harvard grad on New Year's Eve before making their relationship 'Instagram official' over Super Bowl weekend.

Mother Monster met Michael through former Napster founder Sean Parker, whose Holmby Hills home she performed La Vie en Rose at back in 2016, which inspired Bradley Cooper to cast her in his directorial debut, A Star Is Born.

The Shallow hitmaker doesn't kick off the fifth leg of her 48-date Enigma concert residency until April 30 at the Park MGM's Park Theater in Las Vegas.
- The ward reps were warned against travelling to the United Arab Emirates due to a debt of KSh 2.35 million

- The hefty debt reportedly accrued due to the frequent trips ward representatives made to the UAE

- Speaker Beatrice Elachi warned the Assembly members against any more trips to the country until the matter was resolved

A huge debt Nairobi county Assembly owes a Dubai-based legal firm has come back to haunt ward representatives at City Hall.

A report read by speaker Beatrice Elachi to the House indicated the debt of KSh 2.35 million accrued due to frequent trips the Members of County Assembly (MCAs) made to the United Arab Emirates.

READ ALSO: Uasin Gishu: Elected leaders condemn incitement remarks during Narok BBI rally

Speaker Beatrice Elachi warned the Assembly against travelling to the UAE. Photo: The Standard.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Bungoma residents can't wait to feast on locusts which have invaded area: "They will serve as good stew"

In the letter, Birmingham Leadership Development Centre wrote to the ward representatives seeking payment of the unsettled legal fees allegedly incurred in 2019.

Following the revelation, Elachi called for a stop to trips to the UAE pending investigation and determination of the matter.

Members are advised to cease any official travel or otherwise to the United Arab Emirates or transit as the Assembly service board addresses the matter, the Speaker added.

READ ALSO: Jackie Maribe amtumie babake ujumbe mzito siku yake ya kuzaliwa

The letter dated February 8 was received from Abdullah Mohammed Rasoul Ali Alharmoodi Advocates & Legal Consultants on behalf of Dubai courts, courtesy of a court ruling made in favour of the complainant.

City Hall buildings in Nairobi. The Nairobi county Assembly has a debt of KSh 2.35 million. Photo: The Star.

Source: Depositphotos

"Honourable members, in the letter by lawyer Abdullah Bin Hatem, under instructions of his client and plaintiff, is claiming an outstanding legal and court fees amounting to USD 23,500 which was arrived vide Dubai court judgment No. 656/2019 and 1952 of 2019," Elachi read.

It was established from the letter that the suit whose outcome favoured the complainant came as a result of Jacob Ngwele failing to pay the owed amount without citing convincing reasons for the flout.

In his response, Ngwele who is at loggerheads with the Assembly after he was thrown out of office said the case came about as a result of a trip seven MCAs took to Dubai in June 2018.

"The Assembly was supposed to pay KSh 1.2 million and not KSh 2.35 million as claimed. The required amount was paid. It is sad the firm is trying to blackmail us now, Ngwele responded.

Story by TUKO correspondent, John Papanoo

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By Helen Coster

(Reuters) - Netflix Inc <NFLX.O> on Monday announced plans to launch a new Top 10 feature that will allow users to see the most popular TV series and films in their country.

The Los Gatos, California, company has guarded its viewership data for years and only recently started revealing information about how many people watch its shows.

Director of Product Innovation Cameron Johnson wrote in a company blog post https://media.netflix.com/en/company-blog/see-whats-popular-on-netflix that Netflix will update the Top 10 feature daily. It will include an overall top 10 list as well as lists for the most popular TV series and films.

Shows that make these lists will be designated with a "Top 10" badge elsewhere on the platform. The streaming giant has been experimenting with top 10 lists in Mexico and the United Kingdom for the last six months, wrote Johnson.

Netflix uses an algorithm to serve up content based on a user's viewing history, but still faces criticism that it is difficult to browse. The Top 10 list addresses that criticism, and also reflects a trend by the company to be more transparent about how its shows are performing.

In December Netflix released a list of its most popular shows and films of 2019 in the United States, based on the number of households watching at least two minutes of a series, movie or special during its first 28 days on the service. The numbers were not verified by a third party.

(Reporting by Helen Coster; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
Married At First Sight's Hayley Vernon and Stacey Hampton had a huge blow-up in the street during filming last year in scenes that didn't air on TV.

They had a tense conversation in Sydney's CBD on October 7, just days after Hayley had been caught kissing and allegedly having 'dry sex' with Stacey's 'husband', Michael Goonan, in another couple's apartment.

'Stacey was waiting for Hayley to return from the gym and ambushed her outside their apartment building,' an onlooker told Daily Mail Australia.

Scroll down for video

Brides at war! Married At First Sight's Hayley Vernon (right) and Stacey Hampton (left) had a huge blow-up in the street during filming last year in scenes that didn't air on TV. Pictured on Kent Street in Sydney's CBD on Monday, October 7

The source added: 'Hayley wasn't expecting to be confronted like that. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but Stacey was really upset over something.

'She was pointing at Hayley and getting really worked up as they argued with each other.'

In Daily Mail Australia's exclusive pictures, Hayley looked blindsided as Stacey spoke to her outside the Skye Suites apartment complex on Kent Street.

The secret's out! They had a tense conversation just days after Hayley had been caught kissing and allegedly having 'dry sex' with Stacey's 'husband', Michael Goonan, in another couple's apartment

Ambushed: 'Stacey was waiting for Hayley to return from the gym and ambushed her outside the [Skye Suites] apartment building,' an onlooker told Daily Mail Australia

Their argument comes after Hayley's 'husband', David Cannon, revealed on Tuesday's episode that he'd discovered her affair with Stacey's partner, Michael.

In a video diary filmed in his apartment at 1am, he explained: 'I've been told that Hayley is making out with Michael.

'My darling wife is making out with another husband. I'm sure that it will all come up at the dinner party and commitment ceremony.

'I want to go home': Their argument comes after Hayley's 'husband', David Cannon (pictured), revealed on Tuesday's episode that he'd discovered her affair with Stacey's partner, Michael

'Why am I smiling? Because I just want to go home and put this nightmare of a marriage behind me.'

David later alleged in a podcast interview that Hayley and Michael weren't just kissing, but were having 'dry sex' on another couple's bed.

It's believed he was referring to outercourse or 'dry humping'. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting any penetrative sex took place.

'You macked on with me, sweetheart': A trailer for Wednesday night's dinner party shows Hayley and Michael telling the group different versions of their night together

A trailer for Wednesday night's dinner party shows Hayley and Michael telling the group different versions of their night together.

'You macked on with me, sweetheart. You did it. Man up!' yells Hayley, as Michael appears to deny anything happened between them.

Married At First Sight continues Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine
With keyless car theft on the rise, Halfords has today launched a new product that it hopes can tackle the spate of high-tech vehicle crime Britain.

The Fingerprint T-Bar Steering Lock - which costs 59.99 - is the world's first security device activated by a driver's fingerprint using biometric technology you'd expect to see developed by Q Branch for James Bond's most valuable Aston Martin rather than a motoring retailer to protect Joe Bloggs' Ford Focus.

By placing a digit over a sensor on the device, it unlocks in moments, meaning there will no longer be any keys for owners to lose or locks that thieves can pick.

World's first fingerprint-activated steering lock: The 60 device uses biometric technology you'd expect to see developed by Q Branch in the latest Bond film rather than Halfords

The new advanced steering lock uses a sequence of actions provided in its instructions to store a user's fingerprint.

It can hold up to 20 different prints at any one time, so family and friends can also access it, while they can also be deleted and replaced at any time.

The print-recognising sensor is electronic, meaning the lock has to be charged via a USB port when the battery level drops.

Halfords says the battery will last for six months between charges.

The internal covering of the head of the lock has a foam lining, preventing scratching to the material of the steering wheel and it fits all types of wheel, including those with airbags.

Halfords said the device is compact enough to store easily inside the vehicle, such as in a glovebox, under a seat or in a door pocket.

Pavan Sondhi, Halfords' car crime expert, said: 'While the humble steering lock remains an extremely effective and visual deterrent to car thieves, we couldn't help but give the thumbs up to upgrading this classic security device.

'By adding biometric technology to this old-school solution we are creating another barrier against the latest relay theft techniques and making it harder for thieves to get through that last line of defence.'

By placing a digit over a sensor on the device, it unlocks in moments

The new advanced steering lock uses a sequence of actions provided in its instructions to store a user's fingerprint

It can hold up to 20 different prints at any one time, so family and friends can also access it, while they can also be deleted and replaced at any time

The motoring retailer has launched the product after surveying 2,000 motorists and finding that almost one in five had never used any sort of security devices on their cars, despite the significant rise in keyless car crime.

In fact, of the driver it polled, almost a third said they have been the victim of a car crime in recent years.

This is because many of the UK's newest and most popular cars are at risk of being stolen in seconds due to their keyless entry systems.

Keyless technology was originally designed by manufacturers for an owner's convenience, as it lets the driver open and start their car without taking the key out of their pocket.

However, organised criminals have been mastering the art of 'relay' thefts to infiltrate them.

Technology bought cheap online allows organised gangs to duplicate the sensor in a keyless fob - even when they are metres away, such as in the safety of the owner's home - to gain access to the vehicle and drive it away undetected.

This type of theft has reached epidemic levels, with car crimes rates in England and Wales ballooning by 50 per cent in the last five years, says the Office for National Statistics.

This is Money revealed last year that gangs are sharing information about shopping lists of pricey premium models to target that they can steal using keyless relay tactics.

Vehicle protection and management technology provider, AX, claims that thieves aren't just focusing on expensive models; they are also stealing some of Britain's most in-demand cars and selling them on the black market for between 1,000 and 3,000.

The huge rise in keyless car thefts have seen vehicle crime almost double in the last 5 years, ONS data shows

AX said a source had provided them with a list of expensive premium cars and the fees criminal networks pay to take them off thieves who've stolen them

It has resulted in one vehicle being stolen every five minutes, according to latest figures.

Data from police forces around the UK revealed there has been a 45 per cent rise in reported thefts since 2014, before which there had been a six-year decline in motor crime.

In 2017/18 alone, 112,174 vehicles were pinched from owners - the equivalent of 307 every day.

The Association of British Insurers has also confirmed that motor policy providers had paid out their highest volume of claims against car thefts last year than they had done since 2012.

The rise has seen the demand for steering locks - security systems that many people thought went out of circulation years ago - has doubled in the last 12 months.

Halfords said the increasing popularity of the devices showcased the true scale of the keyless theft issue in the UK.

Fightback: New tests of the latest vehicles has revealed that more manufacturers are using motion sensor technology to block relay attacks

Car makers are trying to tackle keyless car crime themselves...

Car makers are also fighting back against the epidemic of keyless car crime.

Six of the latest models from major manufacturers including Audi, BMW, Ford and VW received the highest security rating available in a new round of assessments that scrutinises how well vehicles stand-up against relay thefts.

It found that many of the latest cars with keyless entry and keyless start systems now have motion sensors built into the fobs to block organised gangs who use cheap hacking devices bought off the internet to steal motors.

These motion sensors inside the keyfobs detect when it has been stationary for a period after being put down by the rightful car owner.

When a certain amount of time has lapsed, the system them triggers an automatic sleep mode.

This means the fob will no longer respond to thieves attempting to relay its signal.

Full functionality is only restored when the key is moved again by the owner.
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.
WASHINGTON  Describing windows rattled by industrial blasts and windowsills covered in toxic ash, an African American resident of Texas oil hub joined Democratic lawmakers, state officials and others Tuesday in urging the Trump administration to drop a proposed rollback that they said would silence disadvantaged communities battling big polluters.

The objections came at the last of two hearings by the White Houses Council on Environmental Quality on its proposal to cut back environmental reviews and restrict public comment on new highways, pipelines and other projects under the 1970 landmark National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA.

The Trump administration, which has expressed frustration at environmental objections that it says are unnecessarily slowing approval for interstate oil and gas pipelines and other big projects, is proposing restricting the timelines for environmental reviews and public comment. Other changes would explicitly allow businesses a role in crafting the environmental assessments of their projects and allow federal officials to disregard a projects role in cumulative effects, such as climate change.

Many of those speaking at the Washington hearing in an Interior Department auditorium were African American, Latino and tribal local activists from communities already dealing with pollution from oil refineries, chemical plants, government facilities and other big sources. They credited the half-century-old NEPA with giving poorer communities without much political or economic clout a platform to negotiate with government regulators and big industries. Such communities historically are disproportionately exposed to air pollution and other health hazards.

Hilton Kelley, a restaurant owner in Port Arthur, Texas, east of Houston, described neighborhood teenagers so accustomed to industrial explosions and plant leaks in Texas industrial hub that they continued to play basketball during dangerous chemical releases.

Kelley described his windows shaking from one of at least six major industrial explosions or other accidents in his part of south Texas over the past year.

Many people are still trying to come back from those explosions, Kelley told those at the hearing. When youre talking about weakening NEPA and expediting a process, this is what happens. Dont lessen the regulation. Dont silence our voices.

An African American woman from Garysburg, North Carolina, said the public input enshrined in the targeted environmental rollback was what gave her community tools to deal with current and proposed projects for the area, including a pipeline, factories and industrial-scale hog farms.

You act like youre listening, and Im not going to say youre not. But we see the results of these hearings, the woman, Belinda Joyner, told the listening panel of Council on Environmental Quality staffers and officials.

I ask you to do whats right for the people. Listen to us as well as people who got all this money, and feel like they can do what they want, Joyner said.

The proposed rollback is among the broadest and most consequential of scores of environmental and public health reversals and changes that the Trump administration is seeking.

President Donald Trump has sought to scale back regulations that he sees as needlessly costing businesses money or slowing their work, especially with regard to the oil and gas industry. The American Petroleum Institute and other oil industry organizations were among those pushing the Trump administration for action on changes to NEPA.

Business representatives at Tuesdays hearing complained about yearslong environmental reviews under the current rules. The Trump administration proposal would limit those environmental studies to an average of no more than two years and restrict public comment periods to months.

The proposed changes meant timely federal permitting decisions for critical infrastructure projects, encouraging projects like road and bridge building that would ease traffic, reduce highway pollution and improve public safety, said Chad Whiteman, a vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Increasing investor certainty for these projects will unlock investment for infrastructure improvement, Whiteman said.

Mary Neumayr, chairwoman of the White House environmental panel, called the rollback a modernization that will not only help our economy, but also our environment.

Two Democratic lawmakers and a New York state assistant attorney general were among the opponents speaking out in the daylong hearings first hours. They faulted the Trump administration for allowing only 60 days of public comment and two public hearings for such major changes, as well as criticizing the proposed rule changes.

This was designed to ignore and silence the public, said Christy Goldfuss, the chairwoman of the Council of Environmental Quality under former President Barack Obama.

She faulted the part of the proposal that would let businesses help write their own environmental reviews as self-dealing. Shame on you! Goldfuss told her former colleagues on the White House environmental panel.

The White House used an online ticket reserve system for the Washington hearing and the earlier one in Denver. Both days of hearings sold out within minutes. Activists and lawmakers complained Tuesday the administration had ignored their requests to add more public hearings.

A reporter asked Neumayr about those complaints several times at Tuesdays hearing. Neumayr ignored the questions, instead turning to look silently at her panels press aide each time.

Council spokesman Daniel Schneider said later in an email that the White House environmental council had engaged in extensive public outreach. Members of the public could still submit written comments, Schneider said.
In the northeastern state of Ceara, the national guard troops and the army have been sent by the current leader of Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro, who said an article from Latin Times. This is the leader's response to cease the chaos and violence that were caused by many of the Brazilian police officers who had organized a strike.

The Shooting of Senator Cid Gomes

Upon learning of the shooting of Senator Gomes in Sobral, Camilo Santana had requested for backup and called for troops to come and help control and stop the strike.

Previously, it was reported in Fox News that senator Cid Gomes was shot and injured while trying to stop the chaos being caused by the strike of many police forces. It was told in a report that Senator Gomes had driven a backhoe towards a barricade that the protesting policemen had created. The strike was done in the city of Sobral in Brazil.

According to the brother of Senator Cid Gomes, he disagrees that the guy, in his 20s, who has the strength to shoot a senator of the country has loyalty to the president of the country. Gomes' brother was blaming the shooting of the senator to President Jair Bolsonaro. However, some of the supporters of the current president of Brazil are seeing the shooting incident as a form of self-defense.

The Message of President Bolsonaro to the Policemen on Strike

Bolsonaro had said a warning to the people in the country who were committing crimes. He said that they should be warned that the country's forces (who are wearing green) are coming and the results of their response to control the strike will not look good.

President Jair Bolsonaro was a former captain in the Brazilian army. His past had caused him lots of criticisms from many critics. It was observed that President Bolsonaro had been expressing his support for the violent actions of the Brazilian police officers. Another thing that had caused Bolsonaro to achieve criticisms from various critics was his statement about wishing that criminals die on the streets like "cockroaches."

The Strikes of Police Forces in Brazil

The group of military police held their strike at Ceara. They performed the strike to make sure that their demand for higher pay is given by the government.

The strikes are representations of the dissatisfaction of the country's entire police force. According to the lawmaker named Davi Maia, the governor had given a big number of promises to the military police that was not transformed into action.

In the different regions of Brazil, police forces had been expressing their disappointment through strikes. An example is a strike that occurred in Paraiba where military police in the area had conducted a strike for 12 hours straight on February 19. This was also effective in other states such as in Minas Gerais. After a threat of a strike by the military police in the area, a 42 percent increase was granted.

The threats of strikes had resulted in many violent cases in the Ceara state. These strikes had resulted in the deaths of more than 88 individuals in the previous three days.
By PTI

MUMBAI: To tackle the crime against women, the Maharashtra government will introduce a bill on the lines of the `Disha Act' of Andhra Pradesh in the ongoing Budget session, an official release said here on Tuesday.

Andhra Pradesh's 'Disha Act' provides for speedy trial and awarding of death penalty for crimes against women and children.

The decision to introduce the bill in the ongoing session was taken at a meeting at Vidhan Bhavan here.

It was attended by Assembly Speaker Nana Patole, Chairman of the Legislative Council Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar, deputy chairperson of the Council Neelam Gorhe, School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad, Women and Child Welfare Minister Yashomati Thakur, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and Minister of State for Home Satej Patil.

Deshmukh, who recently visited Andhra Pradesh and held discussions over the legislation with Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Home Minister M Sucharita and others, said he had set up a committee to study it and prepare a draft bill.

"The draft would be approved by the cabinet and the bill would be tabled in the legislature," the home minister was quoted as saying in the release.

Existing laws for women would be integrated into the new bill, he added.
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- Gold Resource Corporation (NYSE American: GORO) (the Company) declares its monthly instituted dividend of one-third of a cent per common share for February 2020 payable on March 23, 2020 to shareholders of record as of March 11, 2020. Gold Resource Corporation is a gold and silver producer, developer and explorer with operations in Oaxaca, Mexico and Nevada, USA.



The Company has returned $113 million to its shareholders in consecutive monthly dividends since July 2010 and offers its shareholders the option to convert their cash dividends into physical gold and silver and take delivery. For more information on Gold Resource Corporations physical dividend program, visit the Company website at http://www.goldresourcecorp.com/gold-silver-dividends.php .

Dividends may vary in amount and consistency or be discontinued at the Board of Directors discretion depending on variables including but not limited to operational cash flows, Company development requirements and strategies, construction, spot gold and silver prices, taxation, general market conditions and other factors described in the Cautionary Statements below and the Company's public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

About GRC:

Gold Resource Corporation is a gold and silver producer, developer and explorer with operations in Oaxaca, Mexico and Nevada, USA. The Company targets low capital expenditure projects with potential for generating high returns on capital. The Company has returned $113 million back to its shareholders in consecutive monthly dividends since July 2010 and offers its shareholders the option to convert their cash dividends into physical gold and silver and take delivery. For more information, please visit GRCs website, located at www.goldresourcecorp.com and read the Companys 10-K for an understanding of the risk factors involved.

Cautionary Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. When used in this press release, the words plan, target, "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the statements regarding Gold Resource Corporations strategy, future plans for production, future expenses and costs, future liquidity and capital resources, and estimates of mineralized material. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to Gold Resource Corporation on the date of this press release, and the company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this press release. In particular, there can be no assurance that production will continue at any specific rate. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the Companys 10-K filed with the SEC.

Contacts:

Corporate Development

Greg Patterson

303-320-7708
A Portland Community College driving instructor, accused by nearly two dozen girls or women of sexually abusing them during lessons, was sentenced Feb. 20 to six months in jail, the Washington County District Attorneys Office said.

Paul Douglas Burdick, 48, pleaded guilty to six counts of third-degree sex abuse, a misdemeanor, in January, court records show. He had faced another 15 counts of sex abuse, which prosecutors later dismissed.

Burdick was accused of groping driving students during practice or test drives and would instruct some of the young women to perform jumping jacks to record them on his cellphone, authorities said.

Paul Burdick (Washington County Sheriff's Office)

The Washington County Sheriffs Office said the suspected abuse occurred between 2012 and 2018 while Burdick taught driving courses at the schools Willow Creek Center in Hillsboro. Portland Community College fired him in April 2019 amid the criminal investigation.

Burdick also served as a bishop at the Hillsboro Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which later removed him from the post.

After Burdicks arrest in September, three of the sex abuse victims filed a lawsuit against him, seeking $2 million each.

-- 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.
ST. JOHNS, N.L.The high snowbanks that have been a distinctive feature in St. Johns, N.L., since a record-breaking January blizzard have created a new opportunity for would-be thieves.

Police in the provincial capital are advising residents to clear snow banks around their homes after a recent string of break-ins.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says officers responded to several residential break and enters in the citys Waterford Valley neighbourhood over the weekend.

The force says people should clear high snow banks around doors and windows that are not usually accessible from the ground.

A news release also advises people to lock all doors and windows.

The break-ins are under investigation and police are asking people to share any information with police or Crime Stoppers.
H SBC is to close 27 branches across the UK in a bid to ensure the bank is fit for the future.

Staff in 10 of the branches could face losing their jobs - with almost 50 jobs at risk - as the bank ceases operations from the sites, while workers at the remaining 17 sites will be moved to other posts.

The bank said it would invest nearly 34 million in its remaining branches, including the refurbishment of 49.

The closures follow a detailed review of its network across the country, revealing a need to adapt to keep up with evolving customer habits.

The way our customers bank with us has changed significantly over the last five to 10 years, and that change is something we cannot ignore, said Stuart Haire, HSBC UKs head of retail banking and wealth management.

Nine in 10 customer exchanges with the bank now happen via telephone, internet or smartphones, it said in a statement.

Ninety-nine per cent of cash withdrawals are made at cash points rather than in-branch.

Retaining a sustainable branch network is extremely important to us and we need to ensure it is fit for the future,  the statement added.

Earlier this month HSBC said its global headcount would be reduced by 35,000 over the next three years.
Peter Webers season of The Bachelor is nearing the end. However, the more fans watch, the more they dislike Weber. Hes made some sketchy decisions this season  including keeping Victoria Fuller around for so long. Lets take a look at why Bachelor Nation feels he does not deserve Madison Prewett after his Fantasy Suites week.

[Warning: The Bachelor Season 24 spoilers ahead]

Peter Weber | Francisco Roman via Getty Images

Heres what happened during Fantasy Suites

My faith is literally everything to me, Madison told the cameras. I have saved myself for marriage.

She tells Weber that its going to be hard for her if he sleeps with someone else. Madi says she is not giving him an ultimatum but that actions speak louder than words.

Madi means so much to me, Weber said. Shes the first person I was falling in love with. She wont be okay with me being intimate with anyone else.

Yet, he proceeds to have sex with both Hannah Ann and Victoria F. during Fantasy Suites. He admits to Madi that he has been intimate with the other women. Although he doesnt outright say the he had sex with both, Reality Steve confirms that he did.

Fans feel Peter Weber has no respect for Madison

So, he says he is falling for Madison but did not respect her enough to keep little Pete in his pants and slept with both girls, wrote one Instagram user. He really does not deserve Madison at all.

Fans cannot believe that he went ahead and slept with the other women even. Madi told him before Fantasy Suites that she could not move forward with their relationship if he slept with someone else, but he did it anyway.

So right there, by sleeping with the other girls after telling Maddi he loved her, shows his word doesnt mean much, added another fan. With her beliefs, I think that was a total betrayal for her.

Certainly, she knew hes slept with other women in the past, but thats before the show and before he supposedly fell in love with her, the fan continues. That being said, I dont think hes the one for her at all. She wants someone like her Dad, and I dont think Peter is going to fill that bill at all.

Bachelor Nation knows that Madison and Weber will never work

So he implies that he wants to be on the same page, one viewer wrote. And the first time, she gave him the opportunity to show her, that he really shares her values and that he really loves her, he failed.

She did say that actions speak louder than words, and he is showing her by his actions that he cannot be faithful.

Exactly, agreed another viewer. I think deep down he knows he doesnt share the same faith as her, but [Weber] went with I think it could be stronger, rather than just straight up telling her he isnt one.

And I think he did this because he does like her and doesnt want her to leave, the fan continued. But come onnnn. He honestly is so mean to drag her on like this and give her false hopes. Just tell the truth! The man deserves Victoria, hahaha.

Fans think he should be with the girl who treats him terribly. He does love Victorias fiery personality. Viewers do not want Weber to choose Madi because she deserves so much better. We will find out who gets the final rose on March 9, 2020.

Read more: The Bachelor: Fans Are Shipping Madison and Tyler Cameron after He Crushes on Her Basketball Skills
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 21:00:59|Editor: huaxia

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Staff of Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education arrange boxes of donated masks by China in Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 25, 2020. China's Ambassador to Tehran Chang Hua on Tuesday delivered 250,000 masks to Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education as a support to protect Iranians against the outbreak of novel coronavirus in the country. (Photo by Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua)

TEHRAN, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's Ambassador to Tehran Chang Hua on Tuesday delivered 250,000 masks to Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education as a support to protect Iranians against the outbreak of novel coronavirus in the country.

"Today, I, as the representative of China's Embassy in Iran, donated 250,000 masks to Iran," the ambassador tweeted in Persian language.

"More contributions are on the way. Be strong, Iran," he said.

Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education announced Tuesday that the novel coronavirus outbreak in the country has affected 95 people and 19 of them have died over the past week.
An innovative aquaculture technology offers the maximum utilization of available resources as different types of fishes in Pakistan

February 25,2020 | Source: Urdu Point

In-Pond Raceway System (IPRS), an innovative aquaculture technology offers the maximum utilization of available resources as different types of fishes, particularly high value species can be simultaneously cultured in different raceways in same pond to meet the demand of market and export. This was stated by speakers in an interactive seminar on IPRS Technology, Innovative Solution for Sustainable Commercial Aquaculture in Pakistan at a hotel here on Monday. Speaking on the occasion, consultant IPRS, R.S.N. Janjua, who is leading industrial partner in the project discussed about IPRS technology and briefed the audience with regard to benefits and outcomes of pilot project in Pakistan.



He explained that 50 kilograms per cubic meter fish production was easily achieved 'in the first pilot project by using IPRS technology, while next year's target is 75-150 kilograms per cubic meter fish production subject to stringent practice of IPRS and pond management. He said that continuous water flow, rich aeration and removal of solid waste from raceways maintain good quality of water therefore; there is no need to discharge water for maximum three years. Director, ORIC, Lahore College For Women University, Prof. Dr. Farkhanda Manzoor welcomed the guests and introduced the efforts of LCWU and ORIC in promotion of women education and entrepreneurship in Pakistan. She further mentioned that this is the first project of LCWU in collaboration with the industry to progress in applied sciences.



Principal Investigator of HEC partially funded project, Dr. Shafaq Fatima introduced the objectives of Technology Development Fund program of HEC, research and development activities under this project in investment of industrial partners. The IPRS technology is combination of open pond, raceways, white water units, baffle wail and waste collection unit feeding, which was developed by Auburn University, USA to increase the production efficiency, yield per acre and conserve environmental resources. Pakistan is the 50th country which has adopted IPRS technology in Aquaculture after China, Egypt, Vietnam, India.



In Pakistan, this technology has been first time introduced through first iPRS demo site established in Southern Punjab by collaboration of Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, SoyPak, private limited, Punjab Fish Farm and Lahore College For Women University. Pilot scale trial project of IPRS successfully completed its first production year. Guest of honor of the ceremony, Director General Fisheries, Sindh, Mr. Mir Allah Dad Talpur appreciated the efforts of project team in introducing this modern technology in Pakistan and sharing this with other stakeholders in provinces other than Punjab. Several other guests including entrepreneurs, fish processor, progressive fish farmers, academia and researchers, Sindh Fisheries Department participated in this seminar and expressed their keen interest in innovation.
The Kasoa Central District has arrested one Abdulai Hakuy, a Nigerien for attempting to obtain a Ghana Card at the ongoing National Identification Authority registration exercise at Adam Nana a suburb of Kasoa last week.



According to the District Police Commander of Kasoa, Superintendent Samuel Odame, on February 20th, the suspect appeared at the registration centre with one other person by name Nurudeen Mohammed, who claimed to be a Ghanaian to guarantee for Abdulai Hakuy (the suspect).



He said however, the registration officials became suspicious and decided to interrogate the two people.



The commander said in the course of the interrogation, the two took to their heels but suspect Hakuy was arrested and handed over to the Police.



Mr Odame said during Police investigations, the suspect admitted not being a Ghanaian but rather from Niamey, Niger.



He said a search conducted on Hakuy revealed Nigerien National Identification Card bearing his name and a Ghanaian voter ID Card which he claims was done for him at a polling station at Kasoa Zongo Electoral Area during the recent limited registration exercise.



The suspect is currently in police custody to be arraign.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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When sexual misconduct allegations against Harvey Weinstein first emerged, his wife of a decade was swift to leave him.

Not only had Georgina Chapman been betrayed by her husband, but his behavior also threatened the survival of her business, the fashion brand Marchesa.

Chapman, the British-born designer, filed for divorce in 2017 citing his 'unforgivable actions' for the reason for their break-up.

She then set about rebuilding her life, and securing her company.

The 43-year-old has kept a relatively low-profile during Weinstein's rape and sexual assault trial in New York, that concluded with guilty verdicts of sexual assault and rape, but not guilty on predatory sexual assault.

And as the verdicts were declared at New York City Supreme Court on Monday, Chapman was not present.

Chapman is now said to be 'smitten' in a new relationship with Oscar-winning actor Adrien Brody, two years after she divorced Weinstein.

Brody and Chapman, who initially met through Weinstein, were introduced 'properly' at a swimwear launch in Puerto Rico, where they reportedly 'bonded over cocktails'.

Producer Harvey Weinstein and his former wife Georgina Chapman arriving on the red carpet for the Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood in 2013

Adrien Brody and Harvey Weinstein during 2003 Cannes Film Festival (left) and (right) Weinstein and Chapman at the Oscars in Los Angeles in 2017

Weinstein and Brody at Dior's Oscar Dinner at Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles in 2011

Brody, who was formerly a friend of Weinstein, has appeared in two productions made by the producer's company, Miramax.

In 1994 he starred in Jail Breakers and in 2005 the Oscar-winning actor featured in Hollywoodland alongside Ben Affleck and Bob Hoskins.

As accusations against Weinstein began piling up, revelations that the mogul once bullied stars into wearing his wife's designs also emerged.

The Daily Beast claimed to have found a series of connections between Marchesa and a company linked to Weinstein listed as 'doing business as' Marchesa.

Weinstein went to his then-wife's Marchesa fashion show after the New York Times published their sexual misconduct expose in 2017.

Harvey Weinstein, 67, spent the night at Manhattan's Bellevue Hospital Center after being convicted of raping and sexually assaulting two women

He was being taken from court to Rikers Island prison via ambulance on Monday afternoon when he started suffering from chest pains

Weinstein is expected to be transferred to the prison once he is released from hospital but it is not yet clear when they will be

Weinstein was convicted of sexually assaulting ex-production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann in a hotel room in 2013

He was acquitted of first degree rape and the two most serious counts of predatory sexual assault, which each carried a potential life sentence

It was feared the brand, which had dominated the red carpet for years, may have suffered irreparable damage to its reputation as Hollywood stars distanced themselves from the label.

At the 2018 Golden Globes Chapman's high-end brand failed to make an appearance with not one single star choosing to wear one of her designs.

The Globes the previous year, Marchesa dressed the likes of Chrissy Teigen and Heidi Klum and in 2016, Zendaya, Viola Davis and Lily James.

In January 2018, Chapman canceled a runway show for Marchesa's collection, which fueled rumors the brand sh co-founded with Keren Craig was in trouble.

Last June Craig left the luxury fashion label to pursue new 'creative opportunities'.

Marchesa has regularly been worn on the red carpet by A-listers such as Jennifer Lopez, Sandra Bullock, Scarlett Johansson, Kate Hudson, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Blake Lively and the Duchess of Cambridge.

But nearly three years since the scandal first rocked Hollywood, stars have begun to return to the clothing line.

Brody and Chapman, who initially met through Weinstein, were introduced 'properly' at a swimwear launch in Puerto Rico, a source said, where they 'bonded over cocktails' (Pictured: Weinstein and Brody in 2006)

Adrien Brody starred in Miramax films Hollywoodland alongside Ben Afflect and Bob Hoskins (left) as well as Jail Breakers as a young actor in 1994 (right)

Weinstein arrives at New York City Supreme Court on Monday where he was convicted of third-degree rape and committing a first-degree criminal sexual act

Many celebrities have offered support to Chapman in the wake of her ex-husband's court case, with Johansson picking a Marchesa gown to wear to the Met Gala ball in 2018.

She said at the time defending her decision: 'I wore Marchesa because their clothes make women feel confident and beautiful and it is my pleasure to support a brand created by two incredibly talented and important female designers.'

Vanessa Hudgens followed Johansson's lead and wore a Marchesa gown to the premiere of her film Dog Days in August of that year.

Chopra also rallied behind her friend, saying it was unfair to punish Chapman over something her husband was alleged to have done.

She told WWD in 2018: 'Georgina's a friend of mine, and it's not her fault. I don't think it's right to take it out on a self-made woman what somebody in her life did.

'That's the wrong attitude. I've known her for years, and that was a beautiful gown and deserved to be worn by a bride-to-be. And it made me feel like a princess. It was the right choice. Women supporting women: that's what we're all about.'

At the Met Gala last year Chapman made her first red carpet appearance since the Weinstein scandal.

At the event actress Constance Wu wore a silver Marchesa gown.

Appearing on The Late Show in May 2018, the Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour told Stephen Colbert: 'Georgina is a brilliant designer, and I don't think that she should be blamed for her husband's behavior.'

Chapman married Weinstein in 2007 and they have two young children, India, nine, and Dashiell, six.

Harvey Weinstein and Georgina Chapman at the Marchesa 2015 after party in London (left) and (right) at the amfAR Gala Cannes in 2017

Scarlett Johansson at the Met Gala in New York in 2018 wearing a red Marchesa dress

Eva Longoria-Parker at the Met Gala (left) and (right) Cindy Crawford arriving at The Fashion Awards 201 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, both wearing Marchesa

The British designer announced their split in 2017, saying: 'My heart breaks for all the women who have suffered tremendous pain because of these unforgivable actions.'

Following the break-up, she took their children from their Los Angeles home and sold the property.

Weinstein will reportedly pay Chapman a divorce agreement worth roughly $15million to $20million.

The pair began dating in 2004 and married in Connecticut in December 2007, before she filed for divorce following allegations by at least 80 women against the producer for sexual misconduct, harassment, and sexual assault.

When asked by Vogue in 2018 if she was ever suspicious about her husband's behavior, she replied: 'Absolutely not, never.'

Chapman told Vogue how she felt 'naive' when the allegations first broke.

She added: 'There was a part of me that was terribly naive - clearly, so naive. I have moments of rage, I have moments of confusion, I have moments of disbelief.'

The London-born clothing designer went on to describe how 'caring for my young children is my first priority'.

She said: 'And I have moments when I just cry for my children. What are their lives going to be? What are people going to say to them? It's like, they love their dad. They love him. I just can't bear it for them.'

Weinstein and Chapman at the OK! Magazine and Gen Art party in New York in 2008. The couple divorced in 2017

Miriam Weinstein, producer Harvey Weinstein and Georgina Chapman at a reception for the screening of 'The Intouchables' at the French Embassy in New York in 2012

Weinstein was convicted on Monday 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.

He was due to be sent immediately to Rikers Island prison following the jury's verdict but was rushed to hospital with chest pains and heart palpitations.

At the start of the case in January, Weinstein's legal team objected to which jurors were chosen and what evidence the jury was allowed to hear. He also faces a trial in Los Angeles later this year on similar allegations.

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.

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

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.

Weinstein 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 taken away from the courthouse by an ambulance with its emergency lights and sirens on.

Outside court, Weinstein's lawyer Donna Rotunno said he took the verdict 'like a man' and that they were 'absolutely appealing' the conviction.

Weinstein is expected to be transferred to the prison once he is released from hospital. It is not yet clear when that will be.

Harvey Weinstein victim Mimi Haleyi says she was 'relieved' the jury believed her at 'terrifying' rape trial and convicted him of sex assault as lawyer Gloria Allred urges women to come forward ahead L.A. case

By JENNIFER SMITH FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

One of the women Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of sexually assaulting at his historic rape trial on Monday has said she is 'relieved' the jury believed her.

Mimi Haleyi courageously testified at Weinstein's trial about how he forcibly performed oral sex on her in 2006.

The jury convicted him of criminal sexual act in the first degree for it. It carries a potential sentence of up to 25 years behind bars.

On Tuesday, as Weinsten dodged jail in a hospital bed after spending the night there for 'chest pains' and 'heart palpitations', Mimi appeared on Good Morning America and CBS This Morning.

'There was a huge sense of relief that the jury believed me and I was heard. I was just grateful that they got it.

Mimi Haleyi, one of the women Weinstein was found guilty of assaulting, appeared on Good Morning America on Tuesday to say she felt relieved the jury believed her

Harvey Weinstein is shown arriving at court on Monday before being found guilty of rape and sexual assault

'It was terrifying. Terrifying. But after a lot of thought i just felt it was the right thing to do and something I wanted to follow through with so that's why I did it,' she said of her decision to speak at the trial.

She added that she thinks the entire trial and the verdict gives her 'hope'.

'I just feel like we're being educated about the reality of sexual assault and sexual assault victims. A lot know their attacker and they have some sort of relation to that person and that brings with it a whole layer of emotional confusion that you need to process through.

'That's what we need to realize,' she said.

Later, on CBS This Morning, she revealed she did not know which way the verdict would go.

'I mean, I am still processing I think, but [it's] just a relief.

'I wasn't sure what was going to be happen to be honest.

'The statistics say most rapists walk, so I didn't know which way it would go.

'I'm just very relieved and grateful and happy that it feels like we're making progress,' she said.

Rowena Chu, another of Weinstein's accusers, appeared on Today to say she felt overwhelmed when she heard the verdict was guilty. Her claims, that he attacked her, never went to court. There are now 90 women who have accused him of misconduct; Monday's verdict represents only two of them

She was joined by her lawyer, Gloria Allred, who commended her for her bravery.

'Mimi had to face very intense cross-examination on the stand.

'Hours and hours of cross-examination.

'I want to say how proud I am of her and of Lauren Marie Young, who was one of the Molineux witnesses who also testified, and Annabella Sciorra who is really a role model in courage and very inspiring.

'She did what she did... she testified, she made many sacrifices because it was in the interest of justice to do so,' she said.

The jury was not asked to charge on Annabella's story - that Weinstein raped her in the 1990s.

Instead, she had been called on to testify about it to demonstrate a pattern of predatory behavior to convict on a more serious charge, predatory sexual assault, which can carry a life sentence.

The jury acquitted Weinstein on two counts of predatory sexual assault but Allred said it was not a 'reflection' on Annabella or her story.

'It's a very high burden of proof. She told her truth. She refused to be intimidated and she was very authentic. Many people said she was an exceptional witness.

'This is about the empowerment of women. Women refusing to stand silent when they have been the victims of violence.

'Because of Mimi's courage, he may never come out of prison,' she said.

Rowena Chu, another Weinstein accuser who has spoken in the past about him allegedly assaulting her but whose claims have not been taken to court, told Today that she was 'overwhelmed' by the verdict and that she felt 'incredibly sad' for the women he has abused.

There are now 90 women who have accused him of misconduct.

Monday's verdict represents only two of them.

Mimi said she intends to give a victim impact statement at his sentencing on March 11 but that she has not decided what she wants to say to him.

In the meantime, Gloria is urging any women who believe they are victims of Weinstein to come forward in order to testify at his L.A. trial.

'It's not over until it's over. And it's not over yet,' she said.

Weinstein's attorney said on Monday that he took the verdict 'like a man' and that he would continue to fight it. They immediately filed an appeal.

Within a few hours, he had been taken to a hospital in the city - instead of Rikers Island - and his other attorney revealed he'd cried out: 'I'm innocent! I'm innocent! How can this happen in America?'

He will return to court on March 11 for his New York sentencing.

Now, attention is turning to the Los Angeles trial which may have a wider scope of women.
US First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday visited a government school in south Delhis Moti Bagh where she attended a class featuring the happiness curriculum with students who welcomed her in the traditional Indian way, performed Yoga and danced for her. Melania said she couldnt think of a better way of starting her day.

The curriculum, introduced by Delhis Aam Aadmi Party government in all its schools in July 2018, includes meditation, storytelling, other activities aimed at de-stressing students, and question-answer sessions. The event was organised by the US embassy. A short while ago, I visited a classroom and observed its happiness curriculum. It is very inspiring that students begin their day by practising mindfulness, talking to each other and connecting with nature. I cannot think of a better way to start our day, Melania told students, teachers and reporters at the Sarvodaya Co-ed Senior Secondary School in Moti Bagh.

The US first lady arrived at the school at around 11:45 am and was showered with rose petals, as students performed an aarti, put a tilak (vermilion mark) on her forehead and presented her a bouquet apart from gifting her Madhubani paintings made by them.

At the end of the happiness class, when every one was asked to write down who they would like to thank in their lives, Melania left a note saying: Family, friends, freedom. You and your teachers for your beautiful welcome.

Students of the army pipe band from Arvind Gupta DAV Centenary Public School in Model Town played the tunes of the popular Uttarkhand song bedu paku to welcome her. Melania also visited the activity room for kindergarten students and saw a group of students perform the Surya Namaskar.

Students from Delhi government schools in Janakpuri and Dallupura performed Rajasthani and Punjabi folk dances to the beats of which the school children also danced, much to the surprise of the principal, teachers and the bevy of security personnel present at the venue. This was followed by a brief speech by the first lady.

I learnt that your schools name, Sarvodaya, means prosperity for all and as I walked around I was able to see how the concept exists in the curriculum, she said.

I also visited one of your primary schools reading classrooms and learnt about your reading programme. Encouraging students to explore books of their own interest is very impacting and increases reading habitsYour learning is valuable and will make a difference in your lives and those among you, the first lady said.

The children, who were mainly from classes 4 to 6, said they had a great time. Some referred to the first lady as foreigner maam. They shook hands with the first lady and interacted with her.

Nisha Kumari, a class 4 student, got a chance to ask the first lady what her favourite cartoon was. Tom and Jerry, Melania replied with a gentle laugh.

Shafia, a class 6 student who lives in Shri Ram JJ Camp, a slum, and was part of the group that displayed their yoga skills to the first lady said Melania was very loving.

After our yoga session, she told all of us well done.

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Medallia, Inc. (NYSE: MDLA), the global leader in experience management, today announced Calzedonia has selected Medallia for digital experience management of its e-Commerce sites. The solution enables Calzedonia brands to capture feedback from customers on the Web and integrate it with data from retail stores, contact centers and other channels. By combining, organizing and analyzing customer feedback data, Calzedonia can better understand customer behavior and act in real-time.

Calzedonia is aware that customers require top notch Web and mobile experiences, and with Medallia Digital they can engage customers during their digital journey in real-time to understand the "why" behind their behaviors. By combining the user's perspective with analytical data, Calzedonia can gain a deep understanding of its clients' experiences as they are happening and along their journey.

Medallia's best practices have allowed Calzedonia to accelerate time-to-value by leveraging projects already carried out with the world's leading digital companies.

The objective of the Medallia program is for Calzedonia to listen to its clients everyday across various channels in 10 countries and 10 languages, to understand their experiences in real-time, anticipate their needs and act to optimize them across all brands.

About Medallia

Medallia (NYSE: MDLA) is the pioneer and market leader in Experience Management. Medallia's award-winning SaaS platform, the Medallia Experience Cloud, leads the market in the understanding and management of experience for customers, employees and citizens. Medallia captures experience signals created on daily journeys in person, digital and IoT interactions and applies proprietary AI technology to reveal personalized and predictive insights that can drive action with tremendous business results. Using Medallia Experience Cloud, customers can reduce churn, turn detractors into promoters and buyers, and create in-the-moment cross-sell and up-sell opportunities, providing clear and potent returns on investment.

www.medallia.com

2020 Medallia, Inc. All rights reserved. Medallia, the Medallia logo, and the names and marks associated with Medallia's products are trademarks of Medallia. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About Calzedonia

The Calzedonia Group is an Italian company that owns 7 brands linked to the clothing sector and marketed in single-brand stores (approximately 4,600) in over 50 countries.

The Calzedonia Group was founded in Verona in 1986. Its founder, Sandro Veronesi, is today the Chairman and major shareholder of the Group. Below are the brands owned by the group Calzedonia, Intimissimi, Tezenis, Falconeri, Atelier Eme, Intimissimi Uomo, Signorvino.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005428/en/

Contacts:

PR Contact:

Valerie Beaudett

press@medallia.com

+1 (650) 400-7833

IR Contact:

Carolyn Bass

ir@medallia.com
Cap and trade grows more complicated every Oregon legislative session as more exceptions are carved out. And the worst may be yet to come. If it passes, Oregon regulators would have two years to create complex rules for cap and trade. Thats a green new deal for lawyers and lobbyists hired to carve more holes in the tax for their clients and align new taxpayer-funded grant programs to their businesses. Previous Oregon Legislatures made similar energy policy with the Business Energy Tax Credit. Unfortunately, they didnt fully understand the laws consequences until developers gamed it, it ate a huge hole in the general fund, the Department of Energy was in tatters, and participants went to prison.

In 2017, Knute Buehler, the Republican candidate for governor, warned cap and trade would be a billion-dollar slush fund for politicians and their favored green energy special interests bigger than the Business Energy Tax Credit. Instead, Buehler supported a revenue-neutral carbon tax, returning taxpayers carbon fees to taxpayers on a per-capita basis. A net reward for Oregonians who do cut their emissions: a refund greater than the carbon tax they paid. Thats similar to British Columbias revenue-neutral carbon tax, which enjoys growing bipartisan popularity in its 12th year. Not only has it reduced global warming emissions, but eight other Canadian provinces have followed it.

Where are todays smart Republican proposals? A walkout is not a policy proposal. We call on Oregon legislators to fashion carbon-reduction legislation acceptable across the aisle.

Tad Everhart, Portland
Dr. Seify has published a wide range of scientific articles, a medical book, and medical textbooks chapters on the subject of plastic surgery.

The Haute Beauty Network well known for its exclusivity, and luxurious lifestyle publication Haute Living, is privileged to present Dr. Hisham Seify as a leading Body Expert and our newest addition to the Haute Living partnership.

Haute Beauty offers a prominent collective of leading doctors nationwide. The invitation-only exclusive network maintains elite as ever, with only two doctors in every market. This partnership allows Haute Beauty to connect its affluent readers with industry-leading doctors.

Visit Dr. Hisham Seify's Haute Beauty Profile - https://hauteliving.com/hautebeauty/member/dr-hisham-seify/

ABOUT DR. HISHAM SEIFY

Dr. Hisham Seify is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS).

Dr. Seify graduated from Cairo University with honors in 1992. He spent 13 years in post-graduate training, earning a Masters Degree, a Ph.D. and board certification in plastic surgery. He finished his plastic surgery Fellowship at Emory University in 2005. He furthered his surgical training with a fellowship in Oculoplastic and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

He is currently an Associate Clinical Professor at the David Geffen UCLA School of Medicine in addition to being in private practice in Newport Beach CA. Newport Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Associates, Prestige Surgery Center and LaBoutique Medspa were established in 2006 to offer a comprehensive practice for all plastic surgery procedures under one roof.

Dr. Seify has published a wide range of scientific articles, a medical book, and medical textbooks chapters on the subject of plastic surgery. He has lectured and presented scientific papers nationally and overseas. Since 2008, he has been a visiting professor and guest speaker to hospitals overseas to perform surgeries on both civilians and veterans.

He is the Winner of the 2007 prestigious Sherrell Aston Award form the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS). He is the winner of the 2013-2019 Orange County Physicians of Excellence award as well as being the winner of the 2012- 2019 US News Top Doctors In America award by Castle Connolly and US News. He is the immediate past president of the Orange County Society of Plastic Surgeons as well as being an active member of the California Society Organizing Committee and the American Society CME Committee.

He has been the chairman of the Board of ECN, a non-profit for cancer, since 2011. Dr. Seify is widely respected in the medical field, and continues to implement advanced methods in research and scientific application. He has received many awards and honors which have distinguished him as a professional practitioner. His guest speaking has changed the lives of many, and given them a hope for the future of cancer research and development. His genuine passion for the science is what has propelled him forward to new heights of exploration and discovery. Plastic surgery comes naturally to his practice, as he continues to develop new methods and invest his time into worthy causes across the vast expanse of the plastic surgery medical field.


The Dail's speaker, Sean O Fearghail, has explained the circumstances which led him to write a reference for a convicted sex abuser in his constituency in 2006.

Mr O Fearghail, re-elected as Ceann Comhairle last Thursday, has come under fire in recent days for writing a reference for Joseph Dempsey, who was jailed for six years for the rape and 15 counts of indecent and sexual assault against his nephew Shane, who waived his anonymity.

Shane and his sister Emma-Jane have been calling in recent days for an apology from the Ceann Comhairle and for an end to politicians writing references for people in such circumstances.

But they have rejected Mr O Fearghail's statement saying it lacked any apology and accused it of being self-serving.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Shane said: Speaking about my abuse was hard enough but to be confronted by this TD writing a letter in support of my abuser was a slap in the face. I am not even really looking for an apology, but I just want to show people the impact this has had and to ensure this does not happen again.

An apology would have been nice, but it has gone past that for Shane, Emma-Jane said.

The statement was self-serving from our point of view. This came up while a convicted paedophile was looking for a lighter sentence.

"Who writes a reference for the victims? So we are hurt."

In a statement issued in response to online queries, Mr O Fearghail said his writing of the letter was not done to seek a lesser sentence for a convicted paedophile, but to provide a reference as requested.

I wish to state categorically that I did not then, nor do I now, condone rapists and inferences to the contrary are unspeakable and untrue.

I cannot begin to imagine the devastation, destruction and horror experienced by those who are abused by the wrongdoing of paedophiles. The actions I took were not done to seek a lesser sentence for a convicted paedophile but to provide a reference as requested, he said.

In his statement, which he said was strongly caveated, Mr O Fearghail said: I stated that I knew him [Dempsey] to be a member of a very large, well known and well-respected local family.

I stated that I had been acquainted with the person through my constituency work and by also being a local resident. I also said that during those contacts I had never had any reason to question his decency or integrity, he said.

I added that, while I was not at all familiar with the circumstances surrounding the crimes of which he had been convicted, I knew that they were grievous in nature and I offered the testimonial not to in any way condone what had happened but simply to illustrate his standing in the community, he added.

The Ceann Comhairle said he did not attend in court on behalf of the individual convicted in order to provide a character reference during the case.

He said he never wrote to the court asking for leniency and he said he acknowledges that the victim in this case has suffered horrendously.

I am sure it would be impossible to measure the scale of the damage done to the victim in these proceedings, he said.

Full Text of Sean O Fearghail's response to online queries today:

Dear XXXX,

You contacted me in response to a recent campaign, conducted on social media, in respect of a character reference written by me 14 years ago.

You and others have communicated your views in relation to the provision, by me in 2006, of a character reference.

The fact that I wrote the character reference is true, but there are a number of caveats to my actions that are not in the public domain.

I wish to explain these issues, not in any way to validate my actions but to explain the reason and background to the action.

Before detailing my actions, I wish to state categorically that I did not then, nor do I now, condone rapists and inferences to the contrary are unspeakable and untrue.

Apart from being a public representative, I am a husband, a father, a brother and an uncle. I cannot begin to imagine the devastation, destruction and horror experienced by those who are abused by the wrongdoing of paedophiles.

The actions I took were not done to seek a lesser sentence for a convicted paedophile but to provide a reference as requested.

I provided what I regarded as a strongly caveated statement TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. Within that letter I stated that I knew him to be a member of a very large, well known and well-respected local family.

I stated that I had been acquainted with the person through my constituency work and by also being a local resident. I also said that during those contacts I had never had any reason to question his decency or integrity.

I added that, while I was not at all familiar with the circumstances surrounding the crimes of which he had been convicted, I knew that they were grievous in nature and I offered the testimonial not to in any way condone what had happened but simply to illustrate his standing in the community.

I do not know if the character reference was ever presented to the Court.

I wish to make it clear that (i) I did not attend in Court on behalf of the individual convicted in order to provide a character reference during the case, (ii) I have never written to the court asking for leniency; (iii) I acknowledge that the victim in this case has suffered horrendously,(iv) I am sure it would be impossible to measure the scale of the damage done to the victim in these proceedings.

I trust that you will accept that the above information provides context to this matter and assures you that I did not and nor would I ever seek to provide protection or ask for leniency for anyone charged or convicted of such horrific offences.

And finally, since 2006 I have a policy in my office of never providing any correspondence in respect of individuals before the Courts except in certain cases of family home repossessions.

Kind regards,

Sean O Fearghail
An attempt to steal from businesses and run away from police ended up all wet, according to police.

Four men were arrested after attempting to steal from three businesses in Hammond near the Illinois/Indiana state line Monday afternoon, including two establishments in downtown Hammond, and trying to get away by running into the Little Calumet River, according to police.

Hammond Police were called about the attempted thefts at 1:40 p.m. Monday, Hammond Police Department Public Information Officer Lt. Steven Kellogg said.

"The first location was in the 1800 block of 165th street and the suspects went to two locations in the 100 block of Sibley Street," Kellogg said. "They were believed to possibly be armed."

The suspects crossed the state line into Illinois, where they were tracked down by the Calumet City Police Department and the Lansing Police Department.

"The suspect vehicle crashed and the suspects fled on foot," Kellogg said. "Four suspects believed to be involved in the incidents have been taken into custody by Calumet City police. They fled on foot and ran into the Little Calumet River where I believe two of them were captured. All four are in custody. "
Initially, birdwatchers in New York's Central Park rejoiced at the rare sighting of a common merganser, an elegant-looking duck with a regal auburn crest.

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 behaviour indicative of it not being well, of it being starved, said David Barrett, a Manhattan twitcher 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.

On Monday, the agency said it would send park rangers onto Central Park Lake in kayaks to rescue the duck during its rare visit to New York. A common merganser may only be seen in the city perhaps once a year during migratory travels north.

Mandarin duck charms New York Show all 10 1 /10 Mandarin duck charms New York Mandarin duck charms New York The now famous Mandarin Duck, nicknamed Mandarin Patinkin, makes an appearance at a pond in Central Park AFP/Getty Images Mandarin duck charms New York In the weeks since it appeared in Central Park, the duck has become a celebrity AP Mandarin duck charms New York The now famous Mandarin Duck, nicknamed Mandarin Patinkin, makes an appearance at a pond in Central Park AFP/Getty Images Mandarin duck charms New York The now famous Mandarin Duck, nicknamed Mandarin Patinkin, makes an appearance at a pond in Central Park AFP/Getty Images Mandarin duck charms New York People try to get pictures of a Mandarin duck, center, in Central Park AP Mandarin duck charms New York The now famous Mandarin Duck, nicknamed Mandarin Patinkin, makes an appearance at a pond in Central Park AFP/Getty Images Mandarin duck charms New York In the weeks since it appeared in Central Park, the duck has become a celebrity AP Mandarin duck charms New York In the weeks since it appeared in Central Park, the duck has become a celebrity AP Mandarin duck charms New York In the weeks since it appeared in Central Park, the duck has become a celebrity AP Mandarin duck charms New York In the weeks since it appeared in Central Park, the duck has become a celebrity AP

The Parks Departments efforts came after failed rescue missions over the weekend by several birdwatchers who were concerned that the plastic was preventing the duck from diving for food.

It cant close its throat, so when it dives, water rushes in and prevents it from feeding, said Bradley Kane, a bird photographer in Manhattan whose close-up photos of the duck on Twitter on Saturday clearly showed the plastic problem. Its a wild bird  its not going to take bread from strangers.

Mr Barrett said that the duck was likely getting progressively weaker from not eating.

Central Park is one of the best birdwatching sites in the country. Birds can become social media sensations within hours, as with the famous mandarin duck, and the red-tailed hawk known as Pale Male.

For New York City twitchers, the duck seemed to illustrate the specifics of a global problem. Many disturbing accounts exist of whales, dolphins, sea turtles and other sea creatures dying after ingesting plastic bags and other debris.

There was the sperm whale that washed up on a Scottish beach in December with more than 100kg of netting, rope and plastic in its stomach. There was the 2015 viral video showing scientists in Costa Rica laboriously removing a plastic straw from a sea turtles nostril.

With the increasing awareness of plastics in our oceans, including huge expanses of discarded items hundreds of miles wide, here was the issue writ small: A rare visitor to the park was starving to death because of a piece of discarded plastic.

Recommended Brightly coloured Mandarin duck draws crowds to Central Park

I hope it gets rescued and that word gets out about plastic being a problem, said Mr Barrett.

Rita McMahon, director of the Wild Bird Fund, a wildlife veterinary center in Manhattan's Upper West Side district, said it was not uncommon to see ailing rare birds touching down in Central Park after running foul of fishing line or other discarded items.

Ms McMahon said it was unclear where the duck encountered the plastic ring, adding: Whether it happened here or elsewhere, its in trouble.

The duck has remained around the lake since Thursday, said Mr Barrett, who tried in vain on Sunday to approach the duck to remove the plastic.

Common mergansers spend the colder months in the US south and tend to fly to northern states and Canada around this time of year, Mr Barrett said.

The attention, he said, is not good for the bird, but one benefit from it being in the most visible park in world, its going to raise attention.

The New York Times
WHO Academy to be the worlds largest and most innovative lifelong learning platform in global health

Frances Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO met at the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations in Geneva to discuss the WHO Academy, which will be the worlds largest and most innovative lifelong learning platform in global health.

The WHO Academy aims to reach millions of people worldwide, offering high-tech learning environments at a hub in Lyon with spokes in the six WHO regions. The Academy will provide learning opportunities for leaders, educators, researchers, health workers, WHO staff and the broader public, and will deliver high quality, multilingual learning, both online and in-person, alongside a cutting-edge simulation centre for health emergencies.

The discussion follows a Declaration of Intent signed by Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic and Dr Tedros on 11 June 2019, and a pledge by France in the amount of US$ 100 million ( 90 million) to WHO to support the creation of the WHO Academy, which will be established as an internal division within WHO.

By propelling and strengthening digital innovations and lifelong learning opportunities around the world, the WHO Academy will play an instrumental role towards achieving WHOs triple billion goal by 2023 and the health Sustainable Development Goals: 1 billion more people will benefit from universal health coverage; 1 billion more will be better protected in health emergencies, and 1 billion more will enjoy improved health and wellbeing.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 11:53:46|Editor: yhy

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SYDNEY, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Software provider Lucidchart officially opened a new Asia-Pacific headquarters in the Australian city of Melbourne on Tuesday, which is likely to boost the local tech sector.

The company, founded by the United States, has around 15 million users on cloud-based data visualization software across 180 countries and regions, including some of the world's biggest organizations such as Google, Adobe, Netflix, Amazon and Microsoft.

The tech sector in the State of Victoria, which includes Melbourne, is employing more than 137,900 people across more than 19,300 businesses, generating 36.6 billion Australian dollars (24.2 billion U.S. dollars) in annual revenue.

"It's clear that Melbourne has a burgeoning tech scene that will only continue to grow," Lucidchart Chief Executive Officer Karl Sun said.

"We couldn't be more excited to be a part of the community, benefit from its talented workforce and better serve our customers in the Asia-Pacific region."

The company's investment is hoped to create even more jobs for local tech specialists and help Melbourne fulfil its ambition to be Australia's leading tech city.

"Tech companies are choosing to invest in Melbourne because of our skilled workforce, culture of innovation and thriving tech sector," Minister for Economic Development Tim Pallas said.

"International investment is a critical contributor to Victoria's economy, helping to build our capabilities and boost other businesses."
Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, will on Wednesday visit a front-line base in Kashmir that launched fighter planes last February to engage Pakistan Air Force aircraft a day after Indian Mirage-2000s struck targets in Pakistans Balakot, commemorating the first anniversary of IAFs unprecedented, peacetime cross-border strikes, two senior officials said on Tuesday on condition of anonymity.

Bhadauria will visit the air forces Srinagar-based No 51 squadron, which is also known as Sword Arms, and interact with personnel who were involved in the February 27, 2019, air action against the neighbouring air force over the Line of Control (LoC), said one of the officials cited above.

The air chiefs visit is aimed at commemorating the Balakot strikes and the air action the following day. A seminar will also be organised in Delhi to commemorate the air strikes, said the second official cited above. The seminar will be themed on the IAFs role in No War, No Peace.

He added that the air chief could also fly in a MiG-21 from the Srinagar base.

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was later awarded the Vir Chakra, took off from the Srinagar base in his MiG-21 Bison within minutes of the enemy aircraft being detected on February 27 last year. The dogfight took place a day after the IAFs Mirage-2000s struck a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror base in Balakot in response to the Pulwama suicide attack in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force men were killed on February 14.

The IAFs Mirages hit three targets in Balakot with five Israeli-origin Spice 2000 bombs with penetrator warheads that allowed them to pierce through the rooftops before exploding inside to cause maximum damage. Each bomb carried around 80kg of explosives in a 900kg steel casing, with the explosion caused by time-delay fuses sending lethal shrapnel that would have instantly killed the occupants of the buildings. The air force zeroed-in the terror base in Balakot as its target because it was an isolated facility with the least probability of collateral damage.

Pakistan reacted the next day by launching air strikes against Indian Army installations along the Line of Control. The hostile jets were armed with advanced beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missiles and modern air-to-ground stand-off weapons. Their attempts to strike targets, however, failed.

Both air forces lost one fighter plane each in the aerial engagement, according to IAF, with Varthaman ending up in Pakistani custody after his MiG-21 Bison crashed in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The wing commander engaged the enemys aircraft despite their immense numerical and technological superiority, said Varthamans Vir Chakra citation, published in the Gazette of India in December 2019.

It said his aggressive manoeuvres forced the enemy aircraft into tactical chaos.

Varthaman scripted military aviation history by downing an F-16, seconds before his own MiG-21 Bison was hit by a missile forcing him to eject. Pakistan returned him to India on March 1 after holding him captive for almost 60 hours.

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Beijing, Feb 25 : Apple has started reopening its retail stores in China and according to the company's regional Chinese website, 29 out of 42 stores were open for business on Monday, though under limited hours.

Apple Seven Treasures in Qibao is open from 11 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. until March 1, while other outlets like Apple Hong Kong Plaza, will adhere to the restricted schedule until further notice, Appleinsider reported on Tuesday.

Due to an 'abundance of caution' as the coronavirus threat loomed, Apple closed all retail stores, corporate offices and contact centres in Mainland China.

Last week, Apple warned that coronavirus outbreak will affect its business in the January-March quarter as worldwide iPhone supply will be temporarily constrained.

In an investor update late Monday, the tech giant said it no longer expects to meet the revenue guidance it provided last month for the upcoming quarter.

"While our iPhone manufacturing partner sites are located outside the Hubei province -- and while all of these facilities have reopened -- they are ramping up more slowly than we had anticipated," said the company.

"All of our stores in China and many of our partner stores have been closed," it added.

The tech giant closed all 42 retail stores in the country from February 1 based on the latest advice from leading health experts.

"We are gradually reopening our retail stores and will continue to do so as steadily and safely as we can. Our corporate offices and contact centers in China are open, and our online stores have remained open throughout," Apple informed.

According to Apple, outside of China, customer demand across its product and service categories has been strong to date.
The Indians stranded in coronavirus-ground zero Wuhan are likely to be evacuated Wednesday night in an Indian air force (IAF) transport aircraft thats coming in with medical supplies to help China fight the outbreak.

For the second time within a week, the Indian embassy in Beijing sent out a social media message to the Indians in locked down Wuhan -- where the covid-19 is said to have originated -- to be ready for departure tomorrow.

About 90 had registered for the evacuation flight.

Until Monday midnight, 2666 had died and nearly 77800 infected in China, the majority in Hubei and Wuhan.

The last time the same message was sent to the anxious Indians, the embassy had to rescind it, saying a technical issue had forced postponement.

That technical issue was Beijings reluctance in handing out a unique clearance number required for foreign aircraft to land in China.

Beijing is learnt to have given the required clearance for the transport aircraft to land in Wuhan on Monday after keeping New Delhi waiting for more than a week.

Usually, such clearances are given within 48 hours.

The embassys message on Tuesday was cautious  seemingly keeping a window partially open for another round of postponement.

We are working on our plan to operating the relief flight tomorrow (February 26) evening/night, it told the Indians.

Embassy representatives who are already in touch with individually will directly advise you regarding the exact time of pick up. We are making arrangements for your pick up and onward movement to Wuhan airport by vehicles hired by the Embassy.

You are requested to prepare for departure tomorrow morning bearing in mind the points mentioned in the advisory already issued on this group.

Kindly note that these arrangements are still tentative, and subject to change. We appreciate your understanding, the embassy message pointed it out to the Indian nationals.

India has already evacuated 674 Indians from the central Chinese of Hubei, and its capital, Wuhan, earlier this month in two special Air India flights; seven Maldivians had also taken the same flight out of Wuhan.

Those who will be evacuated Wednesday night will have to go through similar a 14-day quarantine period in two different facilities after reaching New Delhi.

All the Indians from the last two rounds of evacuation had tested negative for the coronavirus.

New Delhi and Beijing had a few terse exchanges in the run-up to the third round of evacuation of Indians from Wuhan with the former saying China had deliberately delayed it.

It is not easy to put a finger on the reason behind the delay  Beijing has denied any delay on its part  but the number of extra days it took for the clearance to be given could have been because of Indias ban on the export of anti-epidemic protective clothing when China, facing a massive shortage in Hubei, needed it.
Kuzma/iStock(NEW YORK) -- Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced former Hollywood producer, was found guilty of criminal sexual assault and of rape in the third degree in a New York court Monday. He was found not guilty of the more serious charges of predatory sexual assault and of rape in the first degree.



Donna Rotunno and Damon Cheronis, Weinstein's defense attorneys, said in a statement they will be filing an appeal, claiming there were "extremely troubling" "issues" with this trial.



The outcome is seen as a landmark moment in the #MeToo movement, which was spurred into mainstream awareness after allegations against Weinstein were first reported in October 2017 by The New York Times and The New Yorker.



The judge in the case remanded Weinstein, 67, into custody without bail against his attorneys' request. Rotunno said in court Monday she was requesting "house arrest," citing "letters from his doctor," as he "was found not guilty of the most serious charges he was charged with."



Weinstein had been using a walker throughout the trial, and Rotunno and Cheronis said in their statement they are working to have Weinstein brought to Rikers' Island's North Infirmary Unit at the Anna M. Kross Center complex "or in protective custody so that he can get the best medical supervision and care possible."



The former producer may be sentenced by the judge on March 11.



One accuser, Miriam "Mimi" Haleyi, a former production assistant who had worked for Weinstein, claimed he assaulted her at his apartment in 2006. The jury found that Weinstein forced a sex act on Haleyi.



The charge of rape in the third degree came from Jessica Mann, who is now being named by ABC News as she told the district attorney's office she does not object to being named publicly. That charge came with sentencing guidelines of probation up to four years.



Cy Vance, the district attorney of Manhattan, said at a press conference that the case -- and the women who testified against Weinstein -- "pulled our justice system into the 21st century."



In 2015, Vance, as district attorney, chose to not arrest or prosecute Weinstein for a misdemeanor sex crime after another woman, Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, worked with police to report her allegation that Weinstein groped her.



"Rape is rape whether it's committed by a stranger in a dark alley or a domestic partner in a working relationship," Vance said, adding that he owes "an immense debt" to the women who "had the courage beyond measure" to testify.



Weinstein was charged with raping one woman, now acknowledged as Mann, in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and performing a forcible sex act on a different woman, who has identified herself as Haleyi, in 2006. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and claimed any sexual encounters were consensual.



In addition to the two women behind those charges, four others testified in support of prosecutors' efforts to demonstrate a pattern of sexual predation.



Prosecutors were attempting to convict him on two predatory sexual assault counts, both of which carried possible sentences of 10 years to life. Ronan Farrow, one of the journalists who reported on the extensive allegations against Weinstein, told Good Morning America in January that prosecutors were taking a "big risk" by seeking those charges.



"It is difficult this element of proving not only the charges at issue but also a course of conduct, a pattern -- sets a very high goal. It's atypical," Farrow said, adding that it's not a "slam-dunk" case. "More often, you'd see something like a prior conviction being the predicate that establishes the pattern. Here, they have to prove brand new additional fact patterns."



Heading into Monday, the jurors had deliberated for 16 hours, including about four hours of testimony being read back.



The jury had indicated some trouble in coming to a decision, which included days of deliberation. On Friday, they had asked the judge if they could "be hung on [counts] 1 and or 3" -- the predatory charges -- "and unanimous on the other charges."



In total, 28 witnesses were called in the trial.



"While it is disappointing that today's 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 people who have accused Weinstein of assaults, said in a statement Monday. "This conviction would not be possible without the testimony of the courageous women and the many women who have spoken out."



Me Too, a movement founded in 2006, said in a statement, "We would do well to ask ourselves how many of these women's names we can actually remember, beyond the boldface few? Certainly, Harvey's name will be seared in our collective memories, but many of the survivors will be quietly taking stock of the impact."



If you or someone you know experienced sexual assault and is seeking resources, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Sonam Kapoor, who debuted in 2007, has worked in numerous projects. Her performance in films like Khoobsurat and Aisha has bagged lauds from the critics and the audience. And when it comes to her finest performance, undoubtedly it was 2016's release Neerja. Not only appreciations but Sonam Kapoor lifted a National Award as well for the film. Neerja, a Ram Madhvani directorial, unfolded the life of a brave air hostess Neerja Bhanot.

READ | Sonam Kapoor Reveals She Let Go Off An 'interesting Film' After 'Neerja', Here's Why

The film picturised the real-life event, that is Libyan-backed Abu Nidal Organisation's hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi, Pakistan, on 5 September 1986. The narrative of the film also gives an insight into late Neerja Bhanot's personal life. The music album of the biographical drama was an instant hit. The heart-wrenching story of Neerja won hearts. Here are a few scenes from the film that are unmissable.

READ | Sonam Kapoor Calls Taapsee Pannu A 'clutter Breaker'; 'Thappad' Actor Responds

Check out below:

In the below video, Neerja played by Sonam Kapoor was reciting the letter given by Shekhar Ravjiani's character, who was actually proposing Neerja for the marriage. For the unversed, it was Neerja's birthday on the day the plane was hijacked. Shekhar Rajwani's character asked her to open it later. Seeing no possibility of escaping from there, scared Neerja read the letter and opened the cookie that was attached to it.

Sonam Kapoor's screentime starts when she arrived in a taxi in the film. She was seen having a conversation with her taxi driver. Later, when the taxi driver blessed her with long life, she had a perfect reply for it. She said a dialogue of her favourite star, Rajesh Khanna. Watch it below:

READ | Mr India Row: Fans Ask Sonam Kapoor If She Had A Word With Boney Kapoor, Actress Clarifies

In the below clip, Neerja was asked forcefully to sing a song by a member of the Palestinian terrorist group. Initially, she refused but when he threatened her and pointed his gun on children, she agreed and started singing. She sang the song while crying.

The film delivered one of the most heartwrenching scenes when the group of Palestine terrorists asked all the air hostess to collect the passports, so they can differentiate and target specifically Americans. But Neerja quietly instructed everyone to not show their American passports. She threw a few aside to save the American passengers in the flight.

READ | Deepika Padukone To Sonam Kapoor: Celebs Who Rocked Deep V Neckline

(Cover Image Courtesy: Sonam Kapoor Instagram)

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
Harvey Weinstein's conviction for rape and sexual assault showed that it was "time for an accounting", Hillary Clinton said Tuesday, before defending her political ties to the disgraced Hollywood producer.

"The jury's verdict really speaks for itself," Clinton told journalists at the Berlin film festival.

"It is obviously something that people had looked at and followed because it was time for an accounting, and the jury found that." Weinstein, who produced multiple Oscar-winning films, was accused of sexual assault and rape by numerous women in revelations which sparked the #MeToo movement in late 2017.

The now convicted rapist was also a generous donor to the Democratic Party in several US presidential elections.

"It's true he contributed to every Democrat campaign. He contributed to Barack Obama's campaign and John Kerry's campaign and Al Gore's campaign and everybody's campaign," said Clinton on Tuesday.

"I don't know whether that should shield anyone else from contributing to political campaigns, but it certainly should end the kind of behaviour he was convicted for." Clinton is in Berlin for the screening of a new four-part documentary about her life.

The documentary has grabbed headlines for caustic remarks Clinton makes about former rival Bernie Sanders, who took pole position in this year's Democratic primary with a key win in Nevada on Sunday.

Yet on Monday, Clinton said she would back the Democratic candidate, even if it were Sanders.

"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 said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Advancing regime forces have conducted summary executions of civilians that refused to leave their homes reports Zaman Al Wasl.

On Sunday, Syrian activists reported the summary executions of civilians by regime forces in the western countryside of Aleppo province.

Activist Suhali Abdul Rahman said Saturdays executions followed the capture of the towns of al-Mansoura and Kafr Dael, where regime forces arrested civilians who refused to flee their homes.

Several men were executed in front of their wives and children, according to Abdul Rahman.

The Russian-led assault in northern Syria has allowed the regime to reclaim swathes of territory in the south of Idleb province and in neighboring Aleppo province.

The assault has also caused an unprecedented wave of displacement, with around 900,000 people  more than half of them children  forced to flee their homes and shelters since December, according to UN figures.

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.
Aria CV, Inc., a St. Paul, Minn.-based developer of medical devices treating Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), completed a $31m Series B round of financing.

The round was led by Xeraya Capital, with participation from Longview Ventures, Catalyst Health Ventures, BioStar Ventures, Cedar Point Capital, Frontcourt Group, and three strategic investors. As part of this financing, Jason Rushton will join Darshana Zaveri (Catalyst Health Ventures), Maria Berkman (Longview Ventures), Renee Masi (BioStar Ventures) and Dan Gladney, on the Board of Directors.

The company intends to use the funds to conduct the first clinical study in the United States designed to evaluate long term implants of the Aria CV Pulmonary Hypertension System (Aria CV PH System) in PAH patients.

The round was closed one week after the Aria CV PH System was granted Breakthrough Device Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is intended to expedite the FDA review and approval of designated devices that may provide more effective treatment of life-threatening diseases.

Founded in 2010 by Drs. John Scandurra and Karl Vollmers, following development work the two had done at the University of Minnesotas Earl E. Bakken Medical Devices Center, and led by Dan Gladney, CEO and President, Aria CV has performed an acute first in human clinical study in Vienna, Austria and is now preparing for the U.S. clinical trial under the FDAs Early Feasibility Study Program to evaluate long term implants in PAH patients.

FinSMEs

25/02/2020
Excited students dressed in traditional attires waited patiently for US First Lady Melania Trump at a Delhi government school in south Moti Bagh area, even as teachers and staff members scurried around to make the day perfect for the visiting dignitary.

Sarvodaya Co-Educational Senior Secondary School was decked up with floral garlands and motifs, welcoming the US First Lady. Floral rangolis were also drawn at multiple places in the school and a student band was waiting to welcome her.

Amid massive security, children were seen rehearsing just outside the gate of the institution.

The US First Lady will attend a session of the 'Happiness Class' here.

"@FLOTUS will attend happiness class in our school today. Great day for our teachers, students and Delhiites. For centuries, India has taught spirituality to the world. Am happy that she will take back the msg of happiness from our school," Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted.

The children were dressed in bright-coloured sarees and traditional dresses like 'ghagra-choli' to welcome Melania Trump. Some of them were carrying bagpipes and several other musical instruments.

"Welcome to our school @FLOTUS! We hope you would have a great time here in #HappinessClass It's just 18 months old initiative but early results have made us confident that @HappinessDelhi is the ultimate solution to all violence & hate in mindsets that we are facing worldwide," tweeted Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the portfolio.

The 'Happiness Class' was started by the Aam Aadmi Party in 2018. As part of the programme, students are taught various activities, including meditation, street plays, basic obedience and aims to reduce anxiety and stress levels among children.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Online dashboards that track the number of COVID-19 cases are popping up worldwide as health officials scramble to contain the virus, but one aspect that may be underused is the ability to use artificial intelligence to predict what regions might experience an outbreak next.

Location intelligence software and GIS technology is powering many of the dashboards that organizations worldwide, including the World Health Organization, are implementing to monitor the flu-like illness.

Johns Hopkins Universitys (JHU) Center for Systems Science and Engineering was the first to stand up and regularly update an online dashboard showing statistics about the number of confirmed cases, deaths and recoveries. Launched Jan. 22, the dashboard displays a map that shows at a glance places with high infection rates as well as areas that remain untouched as yet. Since then, dashboards in Chinese, Spanish, Lithuanian and other languages have emerged.

But theres more that could be done, said Este Geraghty, Esris chief medical officer.

When you do statistical analysis that considers geography, its a little bit different from traditional kinds of analysis. Things that are closer together are more likely to happen in a similar way vs. things that are further apart, Geraghty said. You can take that idea -- we call it spatial autocorrelation -- and use that to make predictions and to see patterns and trends geographically over space and time. That data opens the possibility for predictive analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence applications.

Esri makes available many datasets for free in its Living Atlas repository of geographic data, including data contributed by users such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which shares its Social Vulnerability Index, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which has county community health rankings. Now, JHU is sharing the data its collecting from sources such as the Chinese government and social media data feeds. Plus, the company contributes its own curated data -- in particular, demographic data that can help health officials determine areas populations and identify groups that may be more susceptible to a virus.

There are many, many tools that you can use to do analytics, Geraghty said. You might start with something like a hot spot analysis to see where things are flaring up.

The maps on JHUs dashboard dont incorporate spatial analytics, but if they did, officials might be able to detect other patterns that could show the direction of coronavirus spread and then correlate that with other datasets such as airline travel, public transportation or cities with higher density, where person-to-person transmission may be more likely. All of those factors could be put into a predictive model along with data on humidity and temperature because viruses like colder temperatures, which is why you dont see it as much in southern latitudes, Geraghty said.

An AI platform was among the first to issue a warning shot about the coronavirus. Canadian firm BlueDot, which uses AI-powered algorithms to identify disease outbreaks and forecast their spread, warned customers on Dec. 31, 2019, to avoid Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus originated. That was about 10 days before WHO issued its notice.

An article last year in the International Journal of Health Geographics touts GeoAI -- the combination of AI and GIS -- and health intelligence, which it defines as the specific application of AI and data science methods and tools to provide accurate, efficient, and productive insights into healthcare and medicine.

The article cites several applications, such the use of deep learning neural networks to track real-time flu forecasting at regional and city spatial scales in the United States based on spatial big data from Google Flu Trends and climate information from the National Climatic Data Center. Another study developed a machine learning model to detect foodborne illnesses using anonymous and aggregated Google search-and-location data to estimate the number of people who visited a particular restaurant and subsequently searched for terms related to food poisoning, with the idea of better targeting restaurant food inspections.

The value of geography in monitoring and managing health crises of many kinds goes well beyond a map, Geraghty said. Location intelligence helps explain not only whats going on, but to take actions in more meaningful and directed, evidence-based ways, she said.
A company has been fined 30,000 after a car enthusiast died when his Mazda fell down a ridge and rolled over on a remote race track.

Joshua Pillinger, 24, suffered serious injuries when his car left the track - which was a converted access point for feeding animals - near Ceredigion, west Wales.

The court heard while going around a bend on the track he lost control and attempted to correct the manoeuvre but was unable to do so as the track left racers 'little chance of correcting a mistake'.

The vehicle fell down a ridge adjacent to the track and rolled over before coming to a rest.

Swansea Crown Court heard it was 'immediately apparent' that Mr Pillinger had suffered significant injuries, which proved to be fatal, but no first aid was provided.

The company responsible for the site, Mid Wales Activity Limited, has been fined 30,000 for breaching health and safety regulations and failing to ensure the safety of Mr Pillinger while using the track.

Josh Pillinger, 24, and his girlfriend Emily Dean. Mr Pillinger died after suffering serious injuries when his car left the track - which was a converted access point for feeding animals - near Ceredigion, west Wales

Accident investigator Aled Thomas said the elevations of the track left drivers with little chance of recovery if they made a mistake.

Mr Pillinger had visited the track as a member of a group of Bristol-based car enthusiasts Pum Racing on June 3, 2018.

Prosecutor Craig Jones said members were told by Mid Wales Activity director Martyn John Jones some potholes on the track had recently been filled in with tarmac which they would find 'dotted around the course' and would need to be avoided.

They were also informed it would cost 600 for 20 drivers to use the track and for camping, which was provided on their arrival, but they did not get a receipt in return.

Flags, high-visibility jackets, and fire extinguishers were spotted within the area by members but they were told it would cost them more to use them.

Mr Pillinger drove his own Mazda MX5 vehicle around the track slowly as he was not familiar with it, the court heard, and after carrying out a few laps chose to change his tyres as he felt they would offer more grip.

Mr Pillinger had visited the track as a member of a group of Bristol-based car enthusiasts Pum Racing

The company responsible for the site, Mid Wales Activity Limited, has been fined 30,000 for breaching health and safety regulations. Pictured is the race track used for rallies, quad bikes and extreme sports

Mr Pillinger, from Bristol, carried out timed laps of the circuit with a woman named Kashelle Mathias also in the vehicle.

The court heard while going around a bend on the track he lost control and attempted to correct the manoeuvre but was unable to do so.

On June 4, Ceredigion council, which brought the prosecution in the case, was notified of the incident but the court heard the authority was unaware of the existence of a track at the farm.

A police investigation found the track was 2.7m wide from verge to verge and there was no signage to alert motorists of any undulation or deviation of the track, nor were there signs to indicate areas where there should be a speed limit.

A 'skid test' would usually be carried out in such investigations but it was considered too dangerous to do so on the track, the court heard.

In a police interview on December 5, 2018, company director Mr Jones said the track was originally constructed in 1980 and was originally to access an area to feed sheep and cattle.

Mr Pillinger and members were told by Mid Wales Activity director Martyn John Jones some potholes on the track had recently been filled in with tarmac which they would find 'dotted around the course' and would need to be avoided

In 2000, he explained a decision was made 'to diversify' and he would run four track events a month, charging 600 each time, to 'put jam on the bread.'

He told officers he had spoken to Mr Pillinger's group and informed them the track was demanding but thought they would 'only be sussing it out'.

He added that had he known they were going to compete he would have looked at safety procedures such as caging and paramedics.

Sentencing the company, Judge Keith Thomas said: 'There was a failure by the company to address any risks created by any areas of the track sloping, limit the speed in certain areas, or install barriers.

'There was no attempt to gauge the level of skill and there were no plans in place to deal with an accident.

'I accept the state of the track did not contribute to the accident, but those who manage such facilities have a duty to reduce the risks to those using it.

'This is about the failure of the company to manage and limit risk.'

Mid Wales Activity Limited was fined 30,000.

In a statement issued through police following his death Mr Pillinger's family said: 'If you ever had the pleasure of meeting Josh, I'm sure you will never forget him.

'He was one of those people who had such a positive impact on the lives of everyone fortunate enough to meet him.

'We miss him and the way he used to make us all laugh so much, every single day.'

Craig Jones, prosecuting, said: 'Martyn John Jones, a director of the company, had agreed to hire the unlicensed track to Pum Racing, a group of off-road racers from Bristol, and charged them 600.

'A member of the group had asked him about fire extinguishers, but was told that they would cost more to hire even if they were not used.

'The director warned the member that he had filled in some potholes using tarmac and drivers should avoid the repairs.'

Mid Wales Activity Limited admitted charges under the Health and Safety at work act.
Security has been stepped up here as a precautionary measure following violence in Delhi over the amended citizenship law, a senior police official said on Tuesday.

Despite no untoward incident taking place in any part of the city on Tuesday, officials concerned maintained strict vigil in all sensitive areas, he said.

While most shops in minority-dominated localities, including Upper Kot and Jiwangarh, remained closed on Tuesday, the business establishments in Dodhpur and Amirnishan which were closed on Monday reopened today.

The district authorities are making efforts to persuade shopkeepers to open their establishments and facilitate normalcy.

On Sunday evening, violence had broken out in Upper Court locality followed by clashes between anti-CAA protesters and the police in Jamalpur locality in the early hours of Monday morning.

District Magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh said additional police force, including some senior officers, has been deployed to monitor the situation round-the-clock in all sensitive areas of the city.

Senior Superintendent of Police Muni Raj said more than 350 people have been booked in 12 separate cases filed in three different police stations, including Kotwali, Delhi Gate and Civil Lines.

They have been booked under different sections of the IPC, including Section 307 (attempt to murder) and 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion).

Among those booked is a prominent BJP leader of the city, Vinay Varshney, who has been named in an attempt to murder case filed by the family of Mohammad Tariq. He received gunshot injuries and was admitted to an intensive care unit of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital.

On Tuesday, AMU Vice Chancellor Tariq Mansoor visited the JNMC Hospital where a number of patients injured in the Sunday violence are undergoing treatment.

AMU spokesman Omar Peerzada said the V-C met the family members of those injured in the violence and assured them that patients would get best possible treatment at JNMC hospital.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[February 25, 2020] Surna Issues Shareholder Letter and Announces Q4 2019 Earnings Call

Letter Details Strategic Plan and Vision for 2020 Boulder, Colorado, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Surna Inc. (OTCQB: SRNA), a designer, engineer and manufacturer of environmental control and air sanitation systems for commercial, state- and provincial-regulated indoor cannabis cultivation facilities, announced today the issuance of a letter to shareholders from the Companys Chief Executive Officer, Anthony K. McDonald. The letter is available at Surnas website www.surna.com/investor-relations. The shareholder letter outlines a series of inter-related strategic initiatives that the Company intends to pursue during 2020, including: (i) broadening its product line, (ii) extending leadership into more advanced technology products, and (iii) engaging in more strategic relationships. All shareholders and other interested parties are encouraged to read this letter. The Company has announced that it has scheduled its Q4 2019 earnings call for Thursday, March 26, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Companys CEO, Mr. McDonald, will provide an update on Q4 2019 financial results, recent developments, and discuss the strategic initiatives described in the shareholder letter. To access the investor call via telephone :

Dial-In Number: 1-973-528-0008

Access Code: 418277 To access the investor call via the Internet :

Webcast URL: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2020/33335 Interested parties, with contact information supplied, may submit questions to the Company prior to the call to [email protected]. These questions, along with all live questions, will be answered in the time available.



https://surna.com/investor-relations/ beginning on March 27, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (and will remain available until April 28, 2020). About Surna Inc.

Surna Inc. ( www.surna.com ) is a Boulder, Colorado-based company that designs, engineers and manufactures environmental control and air sanitation systems for commercial, state- and provincial-regulated indoor cannabis cultivation facilities in the U.S. and Canada. Our engineering and technical team provides energy and water efficient solutions that allow growers to meet the unique demands of a cannabis cultivation environment through precise temperature, humidity, and process controls and to satisfy the evolving code and regulatory requirements being imposed at the state, provincial and local levels. We have been involved in consulting, equipment sales and/or full-scale design for over 800 grow facilities since 2006 making us a trusted resource for indoor environmental design and control management for the cannabis industry. Forward Looking Statements This press release and the shareholder letter may contain statements of a forward-looking nature relating to future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions. These statements reflect our current beliefs, and a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in this press release and shareholder letter, including the factors set forth in Risk Factors set forth in our Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and subsequent filings with the SEC. Please refer to our SEC filings for a more detailed discussion of the risks and uncertainties associated with our business, including but not limited to the risks and uncertainties associated with our business prospects and the prospects of our existing and prospective customers; the inherent uncertainty of product development; regulatory, legislative and judicial developments, especially those related to changes in, and the enforcement of, cannabis laws; increasing competitive pressures in our industry; and relationships with our customers and suppliers. Except as required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The reference to Surnas website has been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such website is not incorporated by reference into this press release. Statement about Cannabis Markets The use, possession, cultivation, and distribution of cannabis is prohibited by U.S. federal law. This includes medical and recreational cannabis. Although certain states have legalized medical and recreational cannabis, companies and individuals involved in the sector are still at risk of being prosecuted by federal authorities. Further, the landscape in the cannabis industry changes rapidly. This means that at any time the city, county, or state where cannabis is permitted can change the current laws and/or the federal government can supersede those laws and take prosecutorial action. Given the uncertain legal nature of the cannabis industry, it is imperative that investors understand that investments in the cannabis industry should be considered very high risk. A change in the current laws or enforcement policy can negatively affect the status and operation of our business, require additional fees, stricter operational guidelines and unanticipated shut-downs. Though our customers do, we neither produce nor sell cannabis. Surna Marketing Jamie English

Managing Director of Marketing

[email protected]

(303) 993-5271

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
US First Lady Melania Trump will visit a Delhi government school in Nanakpura here on Tuesday.

She will visit the Sarvodaya Vidyalaya Senior Secondary School where she will review the "Happiness Class" programme implemented by the Delhi government.

As a part of the programme, students are taught various activities including meditation, street plays, basic obedience aimed at reducing anxiety and stress levels among children.

Melania Trump, accompanied by her husband President Donald Trump, are on their first official visit to India.

Earlier, the US Embassy here stated that it had no objection to the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia during Melania Trump's visit to the government school, but "it is best to ensure focus is on education, school, and students".

"While US Embassy had no objection to the presence of Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, we appreciate their recognition that this is not a political event and that it's best to ensure focus is on education, school and students," the US Embassy said in a statement.

Donald Trump and her wife, along with a US delegation, arrived in Ahmedabad on Monday. They later visited the Sabarmati Ashram and attended the 'Namaste Trump' event at Motera Stadium.

America's first couple also visited the Taj Mahal in Agra.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Dublin man is awaiting sentence after he admitted fraudulently claiming the dole while working as a civilian employee at the Garda headquarters.

Denis Curran, 56, with an address at Dunard Avenue, Dublin 7, faced 11 counts of theft and two charges under the Social Welfare Consolidation Act for making false declarations.

He appeared at Dublin District Court today where he pleaded guilty. Judge Bryan Smyth adjourned sentencing until September.

Garda Sergeant Bryan Hunt said that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed summary disposal of the case at district Court level. After hearing an outline of the allegations, Judge Bryan Smyth accepted jurisdiction.

It was alleged that on 11 occasions over 2019, the accused was granted social welfare benefits and twice on a date in August last year he made false declarations to the department.

He did not disclose that he had been working as a civilian member of staff at the Garda HQ in the Phoenix Park, and at Mountjoy Garda station in Dublin city-centre, Garda Sergeant Hunt said.

The court heard he obtained 2,466.

Defence solicitor Michael Kelleher had been furnished with disclosure of prosecution evidence.

Pleading for leniency, he told Judge Smyth his client, who has no previous convictions, has been repaying the money. He said construction worker Curran had lost his job during the economic crash in 2008.

He sent out CVs and got some general labour work at Garda HQ.

He is currently employed and 30 a week is being deducted from his social welfare payments.

Garda Sergeant Hunt agreed that Curran had co-operated with the investigation.

Sentencing was adjourned for him to pay back all the money.
The company, however, is trying to normalise the issue as soon as possible

In its exchange filing, the company said that its direct dependency on China for the import of automobile components has been limited. China is a key part of the global automobile supply chain. Some Tier II suppliers have been impacted adversely which would lead to an estimated 10% drop in the planned production for the month of February 2020.

The company is trying to normalise the issue as soon as possible.

Commenting on the probable weak sales data this month, K N Radhakrishnan, the director and CEO of TVS Motor Company, said, At TVS Motor Company, we have completely transitioned to BS-VI in the month of January 2020. To minimise the impact on production of BS-VI vehicles, we are consistently monitoring developments with those of our suppliers who are sourcing certain components from China. The company is also exploring suppliers in other regions and are looking to localise within India. Endeavour is to ensure that the impact on customers and operations is minimal.

The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 24 February 2020.

On Monday, 24 February 2020, TVS Motor Company declined 1.95% to end at Rs 437.50 on BSE.

TVS Motor Company is engaged in the manufacturing of motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, three wheelers, parts and accessories. The firm's motorcycles include Apache Series RTR, Phoenix 125, Victor, StaR City+, Sport and Max4R. Its scooters include Jupiter, Wego, Scooty Zest 110, Scooty Streak and Scooty Pep +. Its mopeds include XL 100, XL Super and XL Super Heavy Duty.

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FMCG major HUL on Monday announced its plans to set up a new subsidiary, which would be primarily engaged in manufacturing activities

New Delhi: 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 percent from the previous 25 percent 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 percent without any exemptions or incentives and to 15 percent from 25 percent 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 Rs 38,224 crore.

On 3 December, 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 percent, on the BSE.
Turn this small-time indie project into reality by supporting the Kickstarter here , watching the trailer on YouTube here , and visiting the brand new Steam page here .
Croatias president has joined LGBT+ activists in condemning the burning of an effigy showing a same-sex couple with their child at a festival over the weekend.

A large effigy showing two men embracing was torched in front of cheering festival goers to the sound of funeral music on Sunday during a carnival in the southern town of Imotski.

Zoran Milanovic, Croatias president, has described the incident as an inhumane, totally unacceptable act and demanded an apology from the organisers of the event.

The event was observed by many children who could witness the spreading of hatred and inciting to violence, Mr Milanovic said in a statement.

The president's condemnation was followed by Croatias government, which said it was opposed to any form of hate speech or aggression and any act that insults the feelings of the Croatian people and contributes to the divisions within society, according to the countrys Hina news agency.

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The incident on Sunday followed a recent ruling by Croatias top court against discrimination towards same-sex couples who are acting as foster parents.

The Constitution Courts ruling in January was hailed as a major step forward for LGBT+ rights in the country and angered some of the predominantly conservative Catholic population.

Burning effigies is a satirical tradition at Croatian carnivals, with past incidents including the burning of a childrens book about same-sex families in 2018 and the torching of an effigy of a Croatian Serb politician last year.

Same-sex partnerships have been allowed in Croatia since 2014, when Mr Milanovic was the prime minister, but gay couples are not allowed to adopt children.

Mr Milanovic was elected as the president of Croatia in January after defeating conservative former president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic in a runoff vote.

Brian Finnegan, a spokesperson for the LGBT+ rights organisation ILGA-Europe, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation on Monday that the burning of the effigy represented another sign of the rise in hate in Europe that is being fuelled by anti-LGBT rhetoric.

This is a clear expression of hatred, Mr Finnegan added.

The Imotski carnival organisers have not responded to a request for comment by Reuters via their Facebook page.

Additional reporting by agencies
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall will visit the Republic of Cyprus next month, to recognise the work of the UN Peacekeeping Force and celebrate traditional Cypriot culture.

The overall week-long visit, which kicks off on the 17th March, will mark the first time a royal has visited the country since the Queen in 1993.

Prince Charles, 71, and Camilla, 72, will also tour Jordan, where they will meet King Abdallah II and Queen Rania of Jordan and take in a number of other sites of cultural, religious and environmental significance across the country.

Charles will also vist Bosnia and Herzegovina, and will see the memorial at Srebrenica to mark the 25th anniversary of the genocide.

The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall (seen in Auckland last November) will visit the Republic of Cyprus next month, to recognise the work of the UN Peacekeeping Force and celebrate traditional Cypriot culture

Confirming the news on their Clarence House Instagram today, they wrote: 'The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will jointly visit the Republic of Cyprus and Jordan next month'

Confirming the news on their Clarence House Instagram today, they wrote: 'The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will jointly visit the Republic of Cyprus and Jordan next month.

'Prior to this, The Prince will also visit Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the year of the 25th anniversary of the genocide, The Prince will visit Bosnia and Herzegovina where he will highlight reforms to improve citizens lives.

'The Prince and The Duchess will make their first official visit to The Republic of Cyprus to recognise the work of the UN Peacekeeping Force and celebrate traditional Cypriot culture.

'Their Royal Highnesses will visit The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to learn what the country is doing to support refugees and showcase its rich cultural history.'

Prince Charles, 71, and Camilla, 72, will also tour Jordan, where they will meet King Abdallah II and Queen Rania of Jordan (seen in France last March) and take in a number of other sites of cultural, religious and environmental significance across the country

Charles will kick off the tour on the 17th March, visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina to demonstrate the UKs increased commitment to BiH and the Western Balkans region, its support for reforms to improve citizens lives.

The Prince of Wales will then be joined by the Duchess of Cornwall on the 18th March, as they visit to The Republic of Cyprus to celebrate the historic ties between the United Kingdom and Cyprus.

The last leg of the tour will see Charles and Camilla return to Jordan from the 21st to the 25th March, to highlight their close ties with Jordan, underpinned by the long-standing, warm relationship between the two Royal Families.

The couple will see how the country supports its one million refugees fleeing conflict, and meet members of the Jordanian Royal Family.
Khambhat town in Gujarat's Anand district, where communal clashes broke out on Sunday, remained on the boil on the third consecutive day with a mob torching two roadside cabins and motorcycles on the day of bandh organised by some Hindu community groups on Tuesday, officials said.

Majority of schools, colleges and markets remained shut in the town since the morning.

Inspector General of Ahmedabad Range, I K Jadeja, said a mob set two roadside wooden cabins and some motorcycles on fire.

Police have detained five persons after the incident, he said.

The IG said the bandh call was given by various Hindu outfits demanding a strict action against those involved in the violence that happened on Sunday and Monday.

He said several persons gathered at Gavara Chowk and staged protests on Tuesday noon.

"While leaving the area, some of them torched two wooden cabins roadside and few motorcycles. We have detained five suspects," he said.

Jadeja said the situation is under control in the town, as adequate number of police personnel have been deployed following the violence.

Two companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and four companies of the State Reserve Police (SRP) were also deployed.

Each company comprise around 80 armed personnel.

Police have so far arrested 85 persons for arson and stone-pelting since February 23.

Incidents of arson and stone-pelting were reported from Akbarpur area on Sunday, following which police arrested around 50 persons.

Violence spilled over on Monday as well with fresh incidents of stone-pelting and attack on police personnel reported. Police later arrested another 35 persons.

According to police officials, more than 20 houses and as many vehicles were torched by mobs since Sunday in separate incidents in the town.

Khambhat has the history of communal clashes, with the latest such incident reported in January this year, also from Akbarpur area.

Some locals claimed that the people arrested in the January clash and since out of jails were behind the Sunday violence.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
" " Tiia Monto /Wikimedia Commons/( CC By-SA 3.0 The bidet is a piece of toiletry hardware with a long history, though far more common in Europe than in the U.S.

Americans are very interested in hygiene, and yet the country that popularized hand sanitizer does not, in general, support the use of bidets. But what's more hygienic than really, actually cleaning your butt after you poop? Not much, but though Europe and Asia have been on the bidet bandwagon for a long time, Americans are fine cleaning their bottoms less well than the natives of other lands.

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Humble Bidet Beginnings

This might have to do with the bidet's long, illustrious history. Popular in fancy European households since the 1600s, the original bidet was a little chair or stool with a tub of water built into the seat. The user, after doing all his or her chamberpot business, straddled this device and performed a really deep clean on the old undercarriage. In fact, the word bidet means "pony" in French, which goes a long way in helping the user understand how to use it.

Over the centuries, bidets became popular in bathrooms all over the world  eventually, they were a plumbed fixture in the bathroom, sitting right next to the toilet  but they never took off in the U.S. One reason for this might be that, during World War II, American soldiers visiting brothels in Europe and Japan noticed bidets were common in these establishments and began to associate bidets with sex work  it's possible they thought bidets were used as a douching method, which was thought at the time to be a legit contraceptive practice (for those of you who have not benefited from adequate sex ed, it is not!). So, even though the style of bidet most commonly used throughout the world today was developed in the States, it had to be exported somewhere else to become truly great.

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A Brave New Bidet

"The old type of bidet  the style that's a separate unit that sits next to the toilet  is harder to work on, they require a few thousand dollar remodel to install and they take up a lot of space," says Sarah Shearer, owner of Clear Water Bidets in Sequim, Washington, in an email interview. "Most Americans only see them when they're on vacation in Europe, but they're still sold sometimes."

More common these days are the bidet seats  an attachment that affixes to your toilet, replacing your old toilet seat. This device sprays your bum with a jet of water (it can be warm or cold, depending on how much you want to pay) and there's a front wash for cleaning the lady parts. Not only is the bidet attachment less expensive  you can buy a nice one and stick it on your toilet yourself for less than $400, and some more basic models for much cheaper  it's more accessible than a traditional bidet, which requires the user to do their business on the potty, stand up, scooch over to the bidet and sit back down to do the freshening up. Here's a helpful video that demonstrates the ease of installation of the typical seat-model bidet attachment:

"The first rudimentary bidet attachment was created in the U.S. in the 1920s," says Shearer. "It didn't get very popular in America, but it really caught on in Asia, where it has been engineered into what it is today. In Japan, for instance, bidet attachments can be found in 80 percent of homes and in public restrooms. Most are produced in South Korea and some in China."

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Steps for Using the Bidet

Using a bidet may sound like a difficult process and may be a bit intimidating at first, but it's really very simple and depends on the type of bidet that you are using:

Use the toilet as you normally do, both for urination and for defecation. The bidet can be used after you wipe with toilet paper or without the use of toilet paper  a totally personal preference.

Locate the bidet. There are three basic types of bidet: standalone, seat mounted or wall hanging. For the standalone type, you must move off the toilet and straddle the bidet, either facing the water jet or with your back to it. Again, personal preference. For the type of bidet attached to the toilet seat, locate the controls, which will either be mounted on the wall or attached to the seat itself. The wall hanging type of bidet will function much as a hand-held shower device.

Dry yourself after you are finished. Some bidet models have an air drying system, which you will operate with the controls and which can, of course, be used in combination with toilet paper should you feel the need. Some models don't include the air dry feature and necessitate the use of toilet paper.

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Medical Uses  and Possible Downsides  of Bidets

Although bidets definitely can't ward off pregnancy or STDs, they're a healing balm for other private-parts-related sorrows.

"We see them used most in the U.S. for people who have a medical need," says Shearer. "Crohns, colitis, colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome  the symptoms that make life hard with these conditions can be alleviated with bidet seats. General Practitioners, OB-GYNs and occupational therapists send patients to us for a variety of conditions. We have people who used to get urinary tract infections (UTIs) once or twice a month come in and tell us they're down to three or four times a year after getting a bidet seat. It can make an extreme difference."

Not only that, as we age, it's more difficult to keep clean down there, particularly if old age is exacerbated by arthritis  it's harder to maneuver a wipe or wash when our hands don't work properly. Bidets can help with this.

"For a lot of aging people, the main thing that's going to keep them independent and at home the longest is their ability to toilet themselves," says Shearer.

One major reason for this is that a UTI, which is pretty manageable (or even asymptomatic) for a youngster, can really make life hard for an older person, resulting in trips to the hospital. Although there's little research supporting the connection between bidet seats and fewer UTIs, hormonal changes during and after menopause can affect the way a woman's body grows bacteria, and many doctors recommend bidet seats for keeping clean. Regardless, increased ease in staying fresh can't be a bad thing for a population that needs a little extra assistance in a department that young people take for granted.

And although some research shows bidet seats can ease the symptoms of hemorrhoids, anal fissures and itchy anus (it's a real thing), preliminary research suggests at least one type of anal fissure stopped only after the patients quit using a bidet. Similarly, a 2011 study in Japan suggests habitual use of a warm-water bidet seat can actually knock vaginal microflora communities out of whack, resulting in more vaginal bacterial infections.

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Bidets Save Water and Trees

When it comes down to it, though, bidets might be low-key to saving the planet.

"In places like Japan where there's more concern about conservation than in the U.S., bidet seats help them manage in a place where space and resources are very limited, they can't take showers as often as we do, but there's a need in their society to stay clean and hygienic," says Shearer.

And it's true that bidets use water, but it's not as much as a luxurious shower. But the real savings come in when you consider how much toilet paper you don't have to use if you're using a bidet.

Almost 90 percent of toilet paper sold in the U.S. comes from the virgin boreal forests of Canada, which cover about 60 percent of the country. They're making the air we breathe, in addition to the toilet paper, and the American lack of interest in bidets means that although the country accounts only about 4.5 percent of the world's population, its citizens use about 20 percent of the world's toilet tissue.

Which is why America probably needs to jump on the bidet bandwagon.

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Now That's Interesting It's said that, as Marie Antoinette was awaiting her turn at the guillotine in a "dank, fetid jail cell," she was at the very least allowed a bidet.
(Photo : ESO/P. Kervella/M. Montarges et al., Acknowledgement: Eric Pantin) Betelgeuse Update: Nope, Supernova Won't Happen Near Soon as Supergiant Star Starts to Brighten Again (Photo : ESO/M. Montarges et al.) Betelgeuse Update: Nope, Supernova Won't Happen Near Soon as Supergiant Star Starts to Brighten Again

Betelgeuse, a Supergiant star that was reportedly experiencing major decrease in its brightness, has now redeemed its original brightness as of today. This means that the reported Supernova or big explosion of the Supergiant star may not happen near soon since the dimness has officially stopped, according to astrologists.

False alert: Betelgeuse is NOT going to explode, but something's covering it, What is it?

On Saturday, Feb. 22, The Astronomer's Telegram released a report about the update of Betelgeuse. It said that the star has now officially stopped dimming its lights and may soon revive its original brightness once this phase continues over time.

As reported, "the star reached a mean light minimum of = 1.614 +/- 0.008 mag during 07-13 February 2020. This is approximately 424+/-4 days after the last (shallower: V ~ +0.9 mag) light minimum was observed in mid-December 2018. Betelgeuse has definitely stopped dimming and has started to brighten slowly. Thus this "fainting" episode is over, but additional photometry is needed to define the brightening phase."

Hoax: Supergiant star Betelgeuse will explode on Feb. 21

On Feb. 13, Tech Times reported that one of the biggest stars in the galaxy that is 20 times bigger than the mass of the Sun and as big as the estimated diameter size of both Mars and Jupiter's orbits will soon explode. After that, it would go Supernova for the next six months that will be seen on planet Earth.

Reportedly, the Supergiant star will be on its dimmest state on Feb. 21 wherein the planet Earth is expected to see major darkness all over the world since

It was reported that Betelgeuse-- one of the brightest stars-- started to dim its light on last year and early this year. It became a huge topic that the star will soon explode since Supernova starts in this phase.

However, now it is confirmed that the Supergiant star is starting to relive its original brightness again as Feb. continues-- meaning that there will be no firework explosion for planet Earth.

"As mentioned above, the star subsequently dimmed to ~1.6 mag during mid-February 2020. Observations of all kinds continue to be needed to understand the nature of this unprecedented dimming episode and what this surprising star will do next," said on the report.

Why does Betelgeuse dim back then

Belgian astronomer Miguel Montarges said that there are a lot of other possibilities of why the Supergiant star Betelgeuse has been dimming for the last couple of months. One of these is that it is just a normal phase that Supergiant experiences since Betelgeuse already cooled and puffed out into a red Supergiant back 40,000 years ago.

Another factor is that there might be a major giant dust cloud that resulted in its vast amount of materials and might block the star-- a region that is about the size of the orbit of Jupiter.

Anyways, it is final now that planet Earth will not be sighting a giant firework display with Betelgeuse.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Last year, the US Treasury intervened to facilitate talks between Egypt and Sudan, as tensions over the GERD mounted

Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry travelled to Washington on Tuesday to participate in US-sponsored ministerial-level meetings with Ethiopia and Sudan on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), as the three countries aim to seal a deal on the controversial dam by the end of the month.

According to a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry, Shoukry will participate with Ethiopian and Sudanese counterparts in the meetings on Thursday and Friday, in the attendance of the World Bank.

Last year, the US Treasury intervened to facilitate talks between Egypt and Sudan as tensions over the under-construction dam as talks ended in deadlock.

Tensions had been building between Egypt and Ethiopia in the previous months after talks on the technical details governing the operation of the dam had failed to make progress.

Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan are planning that the final agreement on the filling and operation of the dam be signed by the end of this month.

Earlier this month, the three countries agreed to entrust the US and the World Bank with the preparation of the final agreement on the filling and operation of the dam, to be signed by the end of this month.

On Monday, Sudans Irrigation Minister Yasser Abbas said the draft deal prepared by the US Treasury Department had been sent to all three countries.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi stressed on Saturday his "commitment to the success of negotiations" on the dam, saying that the agreement would secure a balance between all parties involved.

Ethiopia hopes that the massive $4.8 billion megaproject on the Blue Nile, which has been under construction since 2011, will allow it to become Africas largest power exporter.

Cairo fears the dam will diminish its water supply from the Nile, on which it relies for the vast majority of its fresh water.

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After a beautiful weekend in San Antonio, a cold front will arrive in San Antonio on Tuesday, dropping high temperatures almost 20 degrees by Wednesday. With the front, there is a potential for frigid temperatures and the possibility of a freeze Thursday morning.

Tuesday (High 70 and Low 48) After the cold front arrives, temperatures could still be warm on Tuesday with a high of 70 degrees. Although rain is not expected with the cold front, expect winds between 10 and 15 mph. Temperatures will drop overnight into the 40s.
Thousands of terrorists might have been airlifted out of Kabul: Trump slams Biden

Never in history has withdrawal from war been handled so badly: Trump

'Path-breaking visit' says PM Modi as US Prez, first lady depart

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Feb 25: As Donald Trump left for the US after his nearly 36-hour-long visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday night thanked the US President for coming to India.

Modi also said, "We have covered great ground as far as strengthening bilateral relations are concerned." This visit, he said, has been a "path-breaking one".

"India-USA friendship benefits the people of our nations and the world," Modi said in a series of tweets.

"Thank you @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS @MELANIATRUMP for coming to India...I am delighted that @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS @MELANIATRUMP saw different aspects of Indian culture and hospitality," he said.

The people of India welcomed them with immense warmth, Modi said. In another tweet, the prime minister said India is happy to have hosted President Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner.

"Your liking towards India is clearly visible ... My best wishes to you in your endeavours to further empowerment and enterprise among women," he said.

Modi hoped to see the two "back in India soon". He was responding to a tweet by Ivanka about her visit to Sabarmati ashram on Monday.

"Visiting the Gandhi Ashram at Sabarmati; home to the ideology that set India free and a wellspring of inspiration and guidance," she had written.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 23:18 [IST]
February 25 : Actor and Politician Shatrughan Sinha just took to his social media profile and fondly wish his co-star from many film veteran actor Danny Denzongpa a very happy birthday and calls him Tulip.

Shatrughan Sinha and Danny Denzongpa have studied together in FTII and has worked together in more than a dozen films, such as, Mere Apne, Do Ustad, Zulm O Sitam and more.

Warm & happy birthday wishes for a thorough gentleman, a very dear friend, #FTII batchmate, versatile actor #DannyDenzongpa. He has worked in several regional films also over a career of over forty years. He worked in some International films, namely 'Seven years in Tibet'  Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) February 25, 2020

Actor Shatrughan Sinha wrote, Warm & happy birthday wishes for a thorough gentleman, a very dear friend, #FTII batchmate, versatile actor #DannyDenzongpa. He has worked in several regional films also over a career of over forty years. He worked in some International films, namely 'Seven Years in Tibet' starring the handsome, debonair #BradPitt

He has shown tremendous flair both in villainous & positive roles with great ease. His directorial debut 'Phir wahi raat' won him laurels as one of the best horror films of Indian cinema. May you be blessed abundantly. Happy birthday Tulip

Danny Denzongpa has mainly worked in Bollywood films, though he has also appeared in several Nepali, Tamil, Bengali and Telugu films. He has acted in about 190 Hindi films since 1971.

Denzongpa was awarded the Padma Shree, India's fourth-highest civilian honour in 2003. His film career spans more than 4 decades.

His best known villainous roles are in Dhund, 36 Ghante, Bandish (1980), Jeeo Aur Jeene Do, Dharm Aur Qanoon and Agneepath whereas his best known positive roles were in Fakira, Chor Machaye Shor, Devata, Kalicharan, Bulundi and Adhikar.

His directorial venture Phir Wahi Raat was considered among the top five best horror suspense films of Hindi Cinema.
A Swedish bookseller has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by a court in China for illegally providing intelligence to overseas parties.

Gui Minhai, a naturalised Swedish citizen based on Hong Kong, was one of five people affiliated with Causeway Bay Books, which was well-known for selling books on Chinese politics that were unavailable in mainland China.

All five people disappeared in 2015 and turned up months later in police custody in mainland China. Mr Gui, 55, went missing while he was in Thailand late that year.

He was seen three months later in a controversial public confession broadcast on Chinese state media.

In the so-called confession, Mr Gui said he returned to the mainland and surrendered to the authorities of his own volition.

China destroying Uighur burial grounds Show all 6 1 /6 China destroying Uighur burial grounds China destroying Uighur burial grounds Teywizim cemetery in Hotan (before and after) China is destroying burial grounds where generations of Uighur families have been laid to rest, leaving behind human bones and broken tombs in what activists call an effort to eradicate the ethnic group's identity Earthrise/AFP/Getty China destroying Uighur burial grounds A cemetery in Xayar (before and after) Earthrise/AFP/Getty China destroying Uighur burial grounds A graveyard in Aksu (before and after) An image of a graveyard in Aksu in 2015, where Uighur poet Lutpulla Mutellip was buried and the same view in 2018 and then again in 2019 showing a new park called "Happiness Park" Earthrise/AFP/Getty China destroying Uighur burial grounds A cemetery in Xayar (before and after) Earthrise/AFP/Getty China destroying Uighur burial grounds Sulanim cemetery in Hotan (before and after) Earthrise/AFP/Getty China destroying Uighur burial grounds A cemetery in Xayar (before and after) Earthrise/AFP/Getty

The other four booksellers were also taken to China and were later freed, but Mr Gui is the only one who remained in detention.

The court claimed Mr Gui applied to reinstate his Chinese citizenship in 2018, effectively renouncing his Swedish citizenship as China does not allow dual citizenship.

A spokesman for Chinas foreign ministry told a news briefing on Tuesday that Mr Guis rights and interests have been fully guaranteed.

He said consular visits in general were put on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak.

But Swedens foreign minister Ann Linde called for his release and referred to him as a citizen on Tuesday.

She said: We have not had access to the trial. The government continues to demand that Gui Minhai be released and that we have access to our citizens to provide consular support.

The sentencing also drew criticism from human rights groups, who have repeatedly accused China of extracting forced confessions from people it perceives to be enemies of the Communist Party.

Amnesty Internationals China researcher Patrick Poon, who said it demonstrated that the Chinese authorities are not letting the coronavirus crisis distract them from repressing dissidents.

Mr Poon told Hong Kong Free Press: Unless China can provide concrete, credible and admissible evidence of the crimes Gui has allegedly committed, he must be released immediately and unconditionally.

The detention of Mr Gui put a strain on bilateral relations between China and Sweden, which were exacerbated in November after Swedens culture minister Amanda Lind awarded Mr Gui the annual Tucholsky literary prize despite the Chinese ambassador threatening to ban her from entering China.

At the ceremony in Stockholm, she said it was crucial for culture and democracy that artists and authors can work freely.

The Independent has contacted Mr Guis daughter, Angela Gui, for comment.

Additional reporting by agencies
With this virtual loyalty programme of SmartPay, merchants will no longer have to worry about printing out cards or keeping track of members progress with every purchase

Understanding the time and cost merchants have to invest to issue and manage loyalty cards, SmartPay has recently launched an in-app loyalty programme to help merchants accept payments via SmartPay to and easily set up their own loyalty programmes with a few swipes and taps.

Regarding this new development, Lu Duy Nguyen, head of product, and Zhangozina Aigerim, marketing director, had shared: We believe that the virtual loyalty programme will help merchants reduce the average service time per customer while boosting the number of customers returning and revenue figures. For individual users, this virtual loyalty programme will free them from the struggle of having to keep all of their loyalty cards in their physical wallets as, through SmartPay, all of their digital loyalty cards are stored in their e-wallet. This development can be recognised as our first step towards implementing convenient features to facilitate cashless payments in Vietnam.

Individual users can easily find all available loyalty programmes set up by merchants in the Tich iem oi thuong section

To set up a loyalty programme, merchants only need to follow the simple steps below:

Step 1: Tap on the Merchants' section, choose the number of transactions that a customer would need to make in order to be qualified for a reward.

Step 2: Set up a confirmation code that will be given to customers completing the required number of transactions to receive their reward.

Step 3: Upload branded loyalty card designs or choose from the free templates stored in the SmartPay mobile app.

After the loyalty programme is activated, a virtual loyalty card per customer will be automatically activated after they make the first Scan2Pay transaction with the merchant. Once a customer has completed the number of required transactions to be qualified for a reward, merchants will automatically receive a notification in their SmartPay mobile app.

The app development team at SmartPay

Upon being asked about their future plans, Lu Duy Nguyen and Zhangozina Aigerim said: In the upcoming update, merchants with activated loyalty programmes will be promoted to individual users for free through the 'Merchants around us' map. We are also planning to develop another in-app feature that allows merchants to set up their own digital discount vouchers.

Click here for more information about SmartPay's virtual loyalty programme.

The SmartPay mobile wallet is available for both Android and iOS operating systems on AppStore and GooglePlay. Click here to download.

Since its launch in May 2019, SmartPay e-wallet has acquired more than 700,000 individual users and a network of 60,000 merchants across Vietnam accepting payments via SmartPay. In addition to the virtual loyalty programme, SmartPay has also recently launched several features to enhance user experiences, such as bus ticket booking and loan applications.

There is also a wide range of special offers for newly-registered merchants as well as an exciting referral programme for both individual users and merchants accepting payments via SmartPay.
Patna, Feb 25 : The National Register of Citizens (NRC) will not be implemented in Bihar. A proposal for not implementing the NRC in the present form, instead implementing it with an amendment in the National Population Register (NPR) in the format of 2010, was passed by the state Assembly for common consent on the second day of the Budget session on Tuesday.

On the second day, after Finance Minister Sushil Kumar Modi presented the Budget for the financial year 2020-21, a proposal was presented for not implementing the NRC. The proposal received a nod from all the members, thereafter, Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary announced the decision.

Earlier, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made it clear that there was no question of implementing the NRC in Bihar. He also quoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement about the NRC.

Nitish said in the Assembly that people in the rural areas do not have birth proofs. In view of all these, a letter has been sent to the Central government. The letter sent by the Bihar government on February 15 clearly states that the NPR should be implemented in the old format.

The Chief Minister, while appealing to the opposition parties not to remain in 'Confusion', said that an amendment to the letter has also been requested to add transgender to the gender column.

After the resolution for not implementing the NRC passed in the Assembly, RJD leader and Leader of Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, congratulated and thanked the colleagues of all the parties including his party.

He said that the Rashtriya Janata Dal became a voice of the people and fought on this issue from street to house. The result of this is that the ruling party was forced to surrender today.
Photo: The Canadian Press

A New Brunswick doctor who specializes in treating veterans with PTSD apologized today for comments he made about the Department of Veterans Affairs during testimony before a fatality inquiry in Nova Scotia.

Paul Smith was testifying before a provincial inquiry that is investigating why Lionel Desmond, a mentally ill former soldier, killed three family members and himself in Big Tracadie, N.S., on Jan. 3, 2017.

On Monday, Smith offered a harsh assessment of how Veterans Affairs deals with those who are leaving the military for medical reasons, which was the case for Desmond in June 2015.

Desmond had been diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression in 2011 after he served in Afghanistan in 2007.

Smith told the inquiry that soldiers given medical discharges for PTSD are chastised, treated like "lepers" and "cast to the wind."

The family doctor, who mainly treats veterans with PTSD using medical cannabis, also suggested Veterans Affairs lacked warmth when dealing with clients and placed too much emphasis on pills and psychotherapy, which he described as "pathetic."

"The discharge programs are lacking tremendously," Smith told the inquiry on Monday. "We have other nations that do it correctly." He later mentioned Israel as an example.

Smith said communication with the department was lacking, which eroded trust.

"A typical conversation with DVA is  I'm on the phone for half an hour listening to music, and when they do talk to you, it's like they don't know anything about you," Smith said Monday. "You're just a number."

During testimony on Tuesday, Smith apologized for those comments when challenged by a lawyer representing the federal government.

Lori Ward said the inquiry can expect to hear testimony from Desmond's Veterans Affairs case manager, who will testify how she tried to bend the rules to ensure the former infantryman received proper "continuity of care."

Ward said the woman is also expected to tell the inquiry that she volunteered to drive Desmond to the airport in March 2016 when he was scheduled to take part in a residential treatment program at a hospital in Montreal.

"Does that sound like a lack of warmness to you?" Ward asked Smith.

Smith replied: "There's good people in the DVA system, and I apologize for a sweeping statement that may have presented otherwise. (However), it remains the attitude of many vets is that it's a constant struggle to deal with DVA in terms of attitude."

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 in 2017.
Andrey Babko has been holding the post of Russia's Trade Representative in Armenia since 2013

Andrey Babko has been appointed as Russia's Trade Representative to Ukraine. He held the post of Russian trade representative in Armenia since 2013. The corresponding decree of the Government of the Russian Federation is published on the official portal of legal information.

It should be noted that the position of Russias Permanent Trade Representative in Ukraine has been vacant since February 2012, when the previous representative Sergey Ivanov retired. Since then, the duties of Trade Representative have been performed by Sergey Solomin.

As we reported earlier, according to Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, the Kremlin is ready to exchange ambassadors with Ukraine. Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported that on February 10.

"It seems someone mentioned Zelensky's possible decision to return the ambassadors. We do not mind," Lavrov said.

However, Ukraine has no plans to appoint an ambassador to Russia in the near future.

"It is not planned to fill the vacant position of the head of Ukraines diplomatic office in the Russian Federation at the moment," the statement said.
The violence which unfolded in the national capital on February 23 has so far taken seven lives and injured more than 150 people. Even as peaceful protests continue at Shaheen Bagh and other parts of the country, the national capital witnesses deadliest riots in two month since the protests are on.

The protest-turned-communal violence can be traced back to an inflammatory speech made by BJP leader Kapil Mishra. Bhajanpura, Maujpur and Jaffrabad had been on the edge since Sunday when a rally by BJP leader Kapil Mishra to counter CAA protests was followed by stone pelting. Mishra released a video of him surrounded by his supporters, issuing a clear warning to clear Shaheen Bagh in three days, failing which they will not listen to anyone.

He threatened anti-CAA protesters next to the protest venue in Jaffrabad; he tweeted after the violence that till (Trump) is in India, we are leaving the area peacefullyafter that, we wont listen to you (police).

On February 23, taking to Twitter, Kapil Mishra said, "Dilli mein doosra Shaheen Bagh nahi banne denge [will not another Shaheen Bagh in Delhi]." Anti-CAA protest at Shaheen Bagh has been going on for the past two months.

         Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) February 23, 2020

He earlier said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was right in calling the Shaheen Bagh protest "an experiment".

"A stage is being set in Jaffrabad. Another area where the country's laws will not be followed. PM Modi had rightly said that Shaheen Bagh was an experiment. Roads, markets, streets all will be blocked one by one. Keep quiet till they do not knock on your doors," Kapil Mishra said.

Soon after his inflammatory speech, violence erupted in parts of northeast Delhi, leading to the death of several civilians and a police constable. Men from Maujpur and Jaffrabad area started the encounter with stone pelting. Delhi Police personnel were outnumbered.

As houses are being burned to the ground in Khazoori Khas in North East Delhi- there is NO police present in the area.

This is 3rd day of #DelhiRiots. Why is this still on? pic.twitter.com/ZEzRZEN6Do  Runjhun Sharma (@Runjhunsharmas) February 25, 2020

The clashes erupted between thousands of people demonstrating for and against the new citizenship law. Police used tear gas and smoke grenades, but struggled to disperse the stone-throwing crowds that tore down metal barricades and set vehicles and a petrol pump alight.

While there is little clarity on who threw the first stone, both communities blame each other. On Monday, violence grew thick in Maujpur. Video footage of the violence reveals that among those pelting stones were also some policemen.

Reuters

"Some of the people brought in had gunshot wounds," said Dr Rajesh Kalra, additional medical superintendent at the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital in New Delhi.

Tensions in parts of the city remained high on Tuesday with schools remaining shut in some areas amid news reports of fresh clashes. At least five metro stations in the city were closed.

On Monday, Mishra appealed to the public to stop violence and maintain peace.

"I appeal to everyone to stop the violence, which will not lead to any solution. Whether it is the people who are supporting CAA or those who are against it, I appeal to everyone to maintain peace. Delhi's brotherhood should remain intact," Mishra told ANI.

However, his pacifying remarks came in when the damage had been done.

BJP leader and East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday called for stringent action against his party leader, Kapil Mishra, for making inflammatory statements.

BJP MP Gautam Gambhir on Kapil Mishra's speech: No matter who the person is, whether he is Kapil Mishra or anyone else, belonging to any party, if he has given any provoking speech then strict action should be taken against him. #NortheastDelhi pic.twitter.com/pBmtBORxIY  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

Two complaints have been filed against Kapil Mishra, BJP leader for inciting mobs in Sunday and Mondays violence.

One complaint filed by AAP Corporator Reshma Nadeem and second by Haseeb ul Hasan.

The written complaints filed with police say that during protest Mishra incited people by his inflammatory speeches which led to the chaos. However, as of now no action has been yet taken against Mishra.

BCCL

Even on Tuesday, the situation remained tense since morning in northeast Delhi with incidents of stone pelting reported from the area.

Home Minister Amit Shah, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and several other ministers were part of a meeting on Tuesday morning to take stock of the situation in Delhi. Kejriwal said the meeting with Shah was positive and all parties have stressed on restoring peace in the national capital.

Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is chairing a meeting with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Lt Governor Anil Baijal, Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, Congress leader Subhash Chopra, BJP leaders Manoj Tiwari & Rambir Singh Bidhuri and others. #NortheastDelhi pic.twitter.com/iz2ohNeSNo  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

"Meeting with HM Amit Shah was positive and it was decided that all parties will take steps to restore peace," he told reporters after the meeting.

"The police are doing their bit and HM has assured that whatever force is needed, will be provided," Kejriwal said.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On Feb. 25, the ceremony to celebrate the mass production of NIO EC6 was held at the JAC NIO Advanced Manufacturing Center in Hefei, according to a post on NIO's WeChat account. Meanwhile, the startup signed a framework agreement with Hefei municipal government to launch its China headquarters in the capital of Anhui province.

Photo source: NIO)

The EC6 all-electric coupe SUV will be the third model mass produced at the Hefei-based JAC-NIO manufacturing base, said NIO. Offering the first glimpse at the 2019 NIO Day, the company plans to announce the price and configuration of the EC6 in July, and kick off the delivery in this year's September.



Reportedly, under the significant program of NIO, the startup will set up its China headquarters in Hefei, build there the base of R&D, sale and production, and develop a national operational system with Hefei as the focus.

Over RMB10 billion are set to be raised for the program's R&D business, the construction of marketing system, the building of production facilities and corporation operation.

In April 2016, NIO and JAC Motors signed a strategic cooperation agreement worthy of about RMB10 billion, confirming a plan to produce 50,000 cars in the first phase. From then on, the Hefei-based automaker became the contract manufacturer for the high-profile EV startup.

On May 28, 2019, NIO's second SUV production model, the ES6, officially rolled off the production line at the JAC NIO Advanced Manufacturing Center.

NIO has already launched three mass-produced modelsthe ES8, the ES6 and the EC6, of which the former two have been put onto the market. As of December 31, 2019, aggregate deliveries of the ES6 and the ES8 reached 31,913 vehicles, of which 20,565 were delivered in 2019.

After the extended shutdown caused by the coronavirus outbreak, NIO's Hefei plant and Nanjing-based XPT factory have already resumed operation, according to a post on NIO's app.
WASHINGTON  Public charter schools  caught between growing Democratic disenchantment and a Trump administration shift toward private schools  are preparing for political battle, as the long-protected education sector finds itself on the verge of abandonment.

Betsy DeVos, the education secretary, proposed major changes this month to a federal education fund that for decades has driven growth of charter schools, which typically are run independently but funded publicly and available, often through a lottery, to any child in a school district. In President Trumps budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins in October, the stand-alone charter schools fund would be dissolved into a broad educational block grant to the states, leaving charters to fight for money with competing educational priorities.

Presidential budgets usually hold little weight, especially when the House is held by the opposition party. But for charter schools, the Trump administrations shift in emphasis toward private school support comes at a precarious time  Democratic lawmakers have targeted the same federal charter fund.

Last year, the Democratic-led House appropriations subcommittee that oversees the education budget sought to cut the federal charter school fund by $40 million, though funding ultimately remained flat from the year before. This year, charters are bracing for the House to try to zero it out altogether.
Students stage a protest against the Delhi police on Manuu campus in the city on Tuesday.  DC

Hyderabad: Hundreds of students at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (Manuu) staged a midnight protest against the Delhi police to condemn their alleged inaction on Monday night. The protest was continuing till Tuesday evening.

Elsewhere, the University of Hyderabad Students Union also gave a statement condemning the violence in Delhi.

The main gate of the Manuu campus remained closed and the entry was restricted for outsiders. About 300 students joined the protest after a call from the Manuu students union.

Classes were also boycotted in some of the departments and some internal exams were also not held as the students were away.

Manuu Students Union president Umar Faruq said that the students would condemn the Delhi police. The Delhi Police were biased in their action as they silently watched when the peaceful protesters, who were protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act, were attacked. Students holding the National Flag shouted slogans against the Delhi police. Police officials were deployed at the Manuu main gate to avoid any untoward incidents.

On the UoH campus, the Hyderabad Central University Students Union (HCU-SU), in its solidarity statement said, HCU-SU condemns the brutal force deployed by the Delhi Police and the home minister on the peaceful protesters. HCU-SU stands together with the dissenting protesters of the country in the struggle against the fascist government and their divisive policies.
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

Police in San Francisco are investigating a robbery caught on video, in which suspects robbed a man collecting recyclables on Monday.

The robbery reportedly happened on Osceola Lane in the city's Bayview neighborhood.

In the video, suspects appear to rob an elderly Asian man of the recyclables he had collected. A suspect also appears to attempt to strike the victim with a weapon.

As onlookers film and taunt the victim, someone in the background can be heard saying, "I hate Asians." The video has been widely shared on social media.

According to police, officers are currently investigating the incident. They're trying to locate the victim, as well as the suspects.

The office of Supervisor Shamann Walton, whose supervisorial district includes the Bayview, issued a statement on Monday denouncing the actions of the suspects.

"We absolutely do not tolerate any type of senseless violence or racism towards any of our community members especially towards our most vulnerable. It is heartbreaking to see this type of violence occur in our community, and no one should ever have to endure this," the statement read.

"Our office is committed to stopping this heartless violence from occurring in the future. We are working on bringing together leadership from all communities and city departments to unify our efforts in bringing peace to our neighborhoods," Walton's office said.

Mayor London Breed also issued a statement about the video.

"The actions depicted in this video are shameful and are not reflective of the San Francisco we can, and should be. Violence, bullying and harassment are unacceptable and have no place in our city. We need to work to bring our communities together, not sow hatred and division," she said.

Walton said he's working with Bayview Police Station Captain Troy Dangerfield on the case.

Anyone with information about the case is being asked to contact police's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or to text a tip to TIP411 with SFPD at the beginning 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.
Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald meets local residents looks at flood prevention measures in the Mill Bank area of Athlone, in County Westmeath. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has met with "frustrated" residents living in the worst affected areas of severe flooding.

Ms McDonald again called for a single statutory body to manage the River Shannon as flooding in areas around the Shannon worsens.

Met Eireann issued a status yellow snow and ice warning across Ireland from 6am this morning to 9am on Wednesday.

The body issued warnings of wintry showers, mainly of hail and sleet, throughout Tuesday, leading to icy patches.

Flooding remains in Athlone in Co Westmeath and in Carrick-On-Shannon in Co Leitrim.

Ms McDonald, with party TDs Sorca Clarke and Claire Kerrane, spoke to to flooding victims at a hotel in Athlone on Tuesday.

Expand Close Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald looks at flood prevention measures in the Mill Bank area of Athlone, in County Westmeath. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald looks at flood prevention measures in the Mill Bank area of Athlone, in County Westmeath. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire

She said: "We need a single statutory body that takes charge from Waterways Ireland and the ESB and local authorities, we need a coherent structure that can manage, that can plan and that can renew the River Shannon."

Local residents told Ms McDonald about their experiences in dealing with the latest flooding to hit the area.

"I know that there is considerable frustration and considerable anger that there is almost a cycle, we return every number of years to this situation, where people's homes, farms and farm lands are flooded, where roads are impassable," she added.

"Local people tell me that the big difficulties that there are not being listened to.

"The big difficulty is that the Shannon is not being managed and it seems to local people there is a lack of political will and a lack of seriousness, in terms of not just providing flood defences, but also flood warnings and having a coherent management plan and structure in a single statutory body to actually manage the Shannon.

"I always believe there is great local wisdom, that smart government, smart policy makers should happen, so we are here to listen today.

"We need to do something here definitively, we cannot go from one crisis to another and I am very conscience that it turns people's lives upside down.

"It causes enormous stress and hardship so we need to crack this one.

"People here aren't going to tolerate cycles of flooding again and again."
To be honest, I was not the slightest bit surprised to hear the costly inquiry into the nonsensical allegations of a paedophile ring at the heart of Westminster found there was nothing to see.

This tissue of lies, this politically motivated nonsense erected by the former deputy leader of the Labour Party Tom Watson, was a pile of legal nonsense.

I discovered that, very shortly after I went to see Mr Watson in his House of Commons office back in November 2012. Back then I was in charge of Operation Fairbank, the Metropolitan Police's investigative vehicle that covered VIP sex allegations, among other things.

Historically I had veered away from child abuse inquiries  they weren't for me  and instead focused on counter-terrorism, intelligence and murder inquiries, often those that required delicate hand and were of a confidential nature.

This tissue of lies, this politically motivated nonsense erected by the former deputy leader of the Labour Party Tom Watson (pictured), was a pile of legal nonsense, writes Paul Settle

From the start I was sceptical about the notion of an organised paedophile ring in Westminster. We had gathered about 400 allegations, half of which were nothing more than internet tittle tattle.

Among them was a claim of rape made against former Tory Home Secretary Lord Brittan dating back to 1967 by a woman known only as 'Jane'. She had spoken frequently to Watson but the plain truth was there was  and never has been  any evidence to back up her claims.

It was in September 2013 that I recommended dropping the rape probe into Lord Brittan. I had refused to interview a man who was wholly innocent yet continued to be hounded.

But Watson wrote to the Director of Public Prosecutions in April 2014, demanding more action in relation to Jane's claims. Again, I urged caution and told my seniors my concerns. I was told to mind my own business  and removed from the job.

Watson had been  and continued to be  a consistent presence throughout the investigation. The level of pressure and interference he exerted, which he claims was well meaning, disrupted the operation and led to a climate of fear within senior officers at the Yard.

When the probe began, it would be based on fantastical claims of child murder and abuse made by Carl Beech (pictured)

My contemporaries were well aware of what Watson had done to me  he had written an unfounded letter to the DPP making spurious allegations about my professional ability.

I wouldn't have minded had my competence been an issue, but this was nothing more than a vehicle for Watson to continue to hound Lord Brittan. I was merely collateral damage.

I was equally horrified by Operation Midland which triggered the pursuits of Lord Brittan (again), former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor, and retired war hero Lord Bramall.

When the probe began, it would be based on fantastical claims of child murder and abuse made by Carl Beech the now utterly discredited  and subsequently jailed  witness known as Nick. In fact, I had previously looked at Mr Proctor in depth, and had concluded that his only offence was to be a gay man in the 1980s.

Sadly, given the obsession of Watson regarding these high-ranking Tories, I can only deduce that while he claims to have been pure of motive, it was in fact nothing more than a politically motivated attack on former servants of this country.

I took pride in the work my team and I undertook. I never lost sight of what we were there to do  to objectively examine the allegations and follow the evidence, our only master being the law.

What I will always find unpalatable is that because of Watson's ignorant and politically motivated interventions, the family of Lord Brittan, Lord Bramall and Harvey Proctor live in the shadow of wholly unfounded accusations of the worst possible kind.

The House of Lords is hallowed ground, and the thought of Watson sitting in it makes me wonder why I ever bothered to enforce the law when people like him can ride roughshod over it and be rewarded.

I find it inconceivable that anyone could think it is a good idea to let somebody with the track record of Watson take a seat in higher chamber of the Palace of Westminster.

The saddest part  as I told Watson by text the night he announced he wouldn't be seeking re-election  is that his legacy is not one of crusader but of making it harder for real victims of abuse to be believed, and their abusers punished.

I very much regret this deeply regrettable episode eventually forced me to leave the police service I gave my life to.

That is bad enough. But the idea that Tom Watson should now be given a place in the Lords is not just an insult to all those he wronged, it is a stain on our democratic system.

Labour MP's lurid claims of VIP paedophile ring were 'baseless', concludes abuse probe

By Stephen Wright, Associate News Editor

Tom Watson's bombshell claim about a VIP paedophile ring operating at the heart of Westminster was baseless, the 150million child sex inquiry has concluded.

The then-backbench Labour MP's dramatic statement in the House of Commons in 2012, alleging there had been a 'powerful paedophile network linked to Parliament and Number 10', was a 'significant factor' in the decision to set up the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

But yesterday its scathing 170-page report ruled there had been no organised child sex ring and no attempt to cover it up.

The verdict prompted renewed calls for Mr Watson  who stood down as an MP and the Labour Party's deputy leader before December's general election  to be refused a peerage.

Mr Watson is reported to have been recommended for a seat in the Lords by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn

Mr Watson is reported to have been recommended for a seat in the Lords by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn despite being widely criticised over his links to the fantasist 'Nick', whose real name is Carl Beech, and his hounding of former Tory home secretary Leon Brittan over bogus child sex claims.

Beech was jailed for 18 years in July for falsely accusing a string of public figures of historic child sex abuse, including Lord Brittan.

IICSA, which is still investigating a number of different strands of historic child abuse, said: 'There is ample evidence that individual perpetrators of child sexual abuse have been linked to Westminster. However, the inquiry has found no evidence to support the most sensational of the various allegations, that there has been a powerful paedophile network operating within Westminster.'

Former top Scotland Yard detective turned whistleblower Paul Settle told the Daily Mail: 'Tom Watson's claims were politically motivated from the outset.

'Despite claims to the contrary, he was only interested in pursuing allegations against Conservative politicians, insisting on them being hounded despite there being no credible evidence.

'It is grossly offensive to those families which he caused so much hurt and pain that he should even be considered for a peerage let alone recommended.' Days after Lord Brittan died in January 2015, Mr Watson branded the ex Tory Home Secretary as 'close to evil as a human being could get'.

A report by former High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques, which was published in October, found Mr Watson had piled pressure on detectives investigating the false claims made Beech, sending hundreds of pieces of information to the Metropolitan Police.

Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor, who was also falsely accused of child sex abuse and murder by 'Nick', said last night: 'Mr Watson should not be ennobled.'

It is understood that Mr Watson's nomination was discussed earlier this month by the secretive House of Lords Appointments Commission, which vets the propriety of all those put forward.

It is not known what they finally recommended.

Mr Proctor said last night: 'Tom Watson shamefully hood-winked the country for years to advance his own personal and political position. The police and the CPS should now consider arresting him and charging him for the wholesale damage he has done to the likes of the late Field Marshal Lord Bramall, Sir Edward Heath, Lord Brittan and others, including myself.'

In October, Mr Watson said he was 'genuinely very, very sorry' for his role in the fake claims about a VIP paedophile ring, saying that he had been trying to 'do the right thing'.

The Daily Mail has asked Mr Watson to comment.
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Octavo Systems, an ST Authorized Partner, today expanded its support of the OSD32MP15x System in Package, the smallest available STMicroelectronics STM32MP1 module, with a production release at speeds up to 800MHz, and two new development boards.

OSD32MP15x System in Package in Production at Speeds Up to 800MHz

OSD32MP15x System in Package integrates STM32MP1x Processor from STMicroelectronics, STPMIC1A, DDR3, EEPROM, Oscillator, and Passives into a 18mm X 18mm BGA Package. OSD32MP157C-RED Full Featured Development Platform and the OSD32MP157C-BRK Flexible Prototyping Platform

The OSD32MP15x System in Package has entered full production and can be ordered through Octavo Systems distribution partners now for delivery by the end of March.

The OSD32MP15x, already shipping to customers for engineering development, integrates the STM32MP1 Dual Core Arm Cortex A7 + M4 microprocessor, up to 1GB of DDR3L RAM, STPMIC1A Power Management IC, EEPROM, MEMs Oscillator, and over 100 passives into a production cost saving, BGA Package. The OSD32MP15x provides complete access to all the features and performance of the STM32MP1, including the recently announced 800MHz clock speed, while removing tedious tasks like DDR routing and power sequencing. At 18mm x 18mm, the OSD32MP15x is up to 64% smaller than an equivalent system made from discrete components.

"The Octavo Systems OSD32MP15x SiP solution delivers MPU performance while allowing customers to remove complexity from their designs thanks to the MCU-like implementation, so they can focus on the value-added features of their applications," said Ricardo De Sa Earp, General Manager of the Microcontroller Division, STMicroelectronics. "The OSD32MP15x SiP's small size makes it ideal for space-constrained environments, while also optimizing system cost thanks to the ability to use 4-layer PCBs."

OSD32MP1-BRK Flexible Prototyping Platform

Octavo Systems also announced two hardware platforms to speed customers' development with the OSD32MP15x.

The OSD32MP1-BRK, a breakout platform, provides easy access to the I/O on the STM32MP1. The OSD32MP1-BRK features the OSD32MP157C-512M-BAA System in Package, a microSD card, 32KHz crystal, a USB port, and 2 2x30 100 mil (2.54mm) spaced headers.

"The OSD32MP1-BRK provides designers a completely flexible prototyping platform. By maximizing the number of I/O that are brought out, designers can quickly build a proof of concept that more closely matches their actual system without creating their own board", said Erik Welsh, CTO of Octavo Systems. "And since the board uses standard 100 mil headers, designers can prototype everything on a breadboard!"

The OSD32MP1-BRK is designed and manufactured by Allied Component Works, LLC, a member of the Octavo Systems partner network. The product ships in April with all design files freely available on the Octavo Systems web site.

OSD32MP1-RED Complete Development Platform

The second development platform is the OSD32MP1-RED Reference, Evaluation and Development board. Developed by Octavo Systems, and shipping in May, it features the OSD32MP157C-512M-BAA SiP, a WiFi and Bluetooth Module, 1GB Ethernet, 8GB eMMC, and HDMI. The OSD32MP1-RED expands easily by providing connectors that are compatible with Raspberry Pi, MikroElektronika mikroBUS Click, and STMicroelectronics Motor Control Header. The OSD32MP1-RED also provides connectors for a DSI display and a camera.

"The OSD32MP1-RED is a great platform for anyone developing IoT applications or applications needing a high-end HMI," adds Greg Sheridan, VP of Strategy for Octavo Systems. "With the connectors and peripherals provided the OSD32MP1-RED makes it easy to quickly begin prototyping your system."

About Octavo Systems: Octavo Systems builds highly integrated system building blocks utilizing System-in-Package (SiP) technology. Octavo strives to make electronics easier and more accessible by abstracting away the tedious complexities that go along with designing an electronic system. Octavo's products integrate popular standardized systems into easy to use BGA packages that can be utilized in a wide variety of applications.

Media Contact:

Greg Sheridan

512.861.3400 x155

[email protected]

SOURCE Octavo Systems
Nearly five months following Tunisias Oct. 5 parliamentary elections, the country is still struggling to form a government. Prime Minister-designate Elyes Fakhfakh finally submitted his list of proposed ministers to President Kais Saied, and parliament is to vote on the Cabinet lineup Feb. 26. But even now the bitter political wrangling has not subsided, raising questions about whether parliament will vote in this government and avoid the risk of fresh elections.

On Jan. 10, the previous prime minister-designate, who had been nominated by Ennahda, lost his confidence vote. Habib Jemli's very long list of some 43 technocratic ministers was rejected by 140 votes out of 219, and Tunisia found itself once again in political limbo, with outgoing Prime Minister Yousef Chahed holding the fort.

The responsibility of choosing a new prime minister-designate then fell to the president. On Jan. 20, Saied chose an outsider, Fakhfakh, who served as tourism minister and then finance minister during the first post-revolution troika government. He is the leader of the center-left Ettakol party, which has no seats in parliament.

Meanwhile, hopes of political unity were immediately dashed when Fakhfakh announced that his proposed government would not include Qalb Tounes, the party holding the second largest number of seats (38) in parliament.

At first, the moderate Islamist Ennahda Party, which holds the largest number of seats in parliament (52), appeared magnanimous, gently warning Fakhfakh in a Shura council statement Jan. 26 to expand consultations to include the various parliamentary blocs in order to provide a broad political belt. The party added that it is ready to fight another election round should there be yet another vote of no confidence.

Enahda took a big hit from Qalb Tounes in the January vote that rejected its nominee and his 43 ministers. Yadh Elloumi, a senior member of Qalb Tounes and a member of the partys political bureau, told Al-Monitor, Why do you need 43 ministers, it is too much. He said his party also opposes a government of technocrats. Qalb Tounes announced ahead of the Jan. 10 vote that it would vote against the Jemli government, and other parliamentary blocs followed suit.

Fakhfakh, for his part, took the path of exclusion in choosing his Cabinet. Shortly after he was designated, he dismissed the possibility of working with Qalb Tounes, declaring he would work with the so-called social democratic parties, such as Mohammed Abbous Democratic Current and Echaab (The People's) Movement  which holds 15 seats in parliament  as well as Youssef Chaheds Tahya Tounes (14 seats).

With Qalb Tounes, the Karama Coalition and the Free Destourian Party left out in the cold, the risk of a second vote of no confidence appeared probable. A second failure to approve a government could, under the constitution, lead the president to dissolve parliament and call for fresh elections. A survey published by polling company Sigma Conseil on Jan. 25 showed that in snap elections,16.6% of voters would vote in favor of Abir Moussis Free Destourian Party followed by Ennahda with 15.9%.

Abdelkarim Harouni, the head of the Ennahda Shura Council, told Al-Monitor, Ennahda is very aware of the rise of populism in Europe and wants to avoid these problems by ensuring a strong government of unity.

Ennahda had previously ruled out any collaboration with Qalb Tounes. But the head of parliament, Ennahdas Rachid Ghannouchi, has been playing the role of mediator between Fakhfakh and alienated parties, mainly with Qalb Tounes leader Nabil Karoui, who lost to Saied in last year's presidential election. On Feb. 5, Ghannouchi declared that any newly proposed government would not pass without Qalb Tounes.

However, when Fakhfakh finally announced the proposed list of ministers, it had two ministers proposed by Ennahda  while Qalb Tounes remains on the sidelines and considers whether to vote in the new government. Ennahda, which had been championing the need to include Qalb Tounes, seemed to change its tune, with Harouni saying in a statement that Qalb Tounes participation was no longer necessary for Ennahdas support of the government.

Yassine Ballamine, a former editor of the now-defunct Huffpost Maghreb, said that one of the main barriers obstructing the formation of the government is the composition of the Tunisian parliament, [which] is so heterogeneous that it seems consensus is extremely difficult to achieve.

Qalb Tounes political bureau member Yadh Elloumi told Al-Monitor, It is not just Ennahda that is opposed to the exclusion of Qalb Tounes, it is practically all the other parties, including Tahya Tounes, Machrou3 Tounes and independents. Elloumi, who has been persistently critical of Fakhfakh, added, The responsibility of the head of government was much greater than that of the president of the republic. Elloumi accused Fakhfakh of being a presidential pawn content to be just a prime minister in a presidential system.

Fakhfakh has been widely criticized for being a faux revolutionary and an author of Tunisias economic woes. Fakhfakh was finance minister when Tunisia signed a loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund in 2013, which many see as the main reason behind Tunisias painful downward economic spiral and the country's delayed post-revolution economic recovery.

Initially, it seemed that the new government would be a coalition of minority parties from the social democratic bloc, including the Democratic Current, Tahya Tounes, Machrou3 Tounes and the People's Movement. However, on Feb. 10, a leaked list of proposed ministers was published in the press. Fakhfakh seemed to be repeating the mistakes of Jemli by choosing unelected technocrats, some of whom were suspected of corruption. It was seen by some, including the People's Movement, as a betrayal of the multiparty dialogues.

Ossama Aoudit, a member of the People's Movements political bureau, told Al-Monitor, We initially decided to participate on the basis of a coalition of political parties. Aoudit criticized Fakhfakhs approach and attempts to create a nonpartisan government of independents, saying the idea of independent ministers is a contradiction.

After the leaked list was circulated, there was a frantic series of meetings between Fakhfakh and Ghannouchi. Ghannouchi, playing up to his nickname of The Patriarch, has been playing the role of the powerful elder statesmen bringing the divided factions together for talks, and even threatening to vote against the new government if Fakhfakh did not open the doors to Qalb Tounes.

Ballamine said the political game at this point in time needs the two largest parties and Fakhfakh to come together. Ennahda is losing ground, Qalb Tounes has lost all credibility with the electorate and Fakhfakh and his Ettakatol party have an incredible chance of returning to the circle of power, Ballamine said.

Tunisia finds itself at a political crossroads with political and personal differences applying major stress on a system that needs coherent governance, Aoudit said. Theres a need for a stable government to rectify the social situation; it is necessary to have a government focused on social reform, transport and education, he said.

Both Ennahda and Qalb Tounes said they want a strong stable government of national unity. However, Aoudit  like others in the social democratic bloc  remains resolutely against Ennahda and Qalb Tounes, saying neither party has a social agenda. Ennahda and Qalb Tounes are purely liberal; Ennahda is the new liberal party, he said.

Harouni said the new government needed to represent the choice of the people and not be a government of minority.

Some minority parties such as the Karama Coalition and Afek Tounes are still threatening to vote against the government.

Ballamine views the final choice of the government as a mix between a government of opportunity and a government of capacity.

On the one hand, Fakhfakh has chosen people he considers well suited to certain ministerial roles, and then we have those who have been imposed by certain parties, Ballamine said, adding that Ennahda keeps what it calls a stranglehold on the university [higher education] and food sovereignty [agriculture].

Ballamine added, For me, this government will pass and whatever its future, Fakhfakh will be the biggest winner for addressing the situation in Tunisia.

Aoudit said he was not entirely convinced of the ministerial choices, but we want it to pass because Tunisia can't stand the delay anymore.
New Delhi: Ten people have been killed and more than 150 injured in clashes between opposing groups of protesters in New Delhi, overshadowing US President Donald Trump's first visit to India.

The clashes, the worst in the capital since unrest over a new citizenship law began in December, started at the weekend but turned deadly on Monday. Fresh violence erupted in multiple areas of north-eastern Delhi on Tuesday, just kilometres away from where Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met for talks.

A vandalised street following violence between two groups of protesters in New Delhi, India. Credit:AP

Local television showed huge clouds of smoke billowing from a tyre market that had been set ablaze. Witnesses saw mobs wielding sticks and stones walking down streets in parts of north-eastern Delhi and further incidents of stone-throwing.

"At least nine civilians and one policeman are confirmed dead," said Anil Mittal, a police officer, adding that more than 150 people had been injured since Monday.
Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday condemned the violence in the capital over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and appealed to maintain peace.

"We are deeply disturbed and concerned about what and why is happening in Delhi. We are watching it," Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief told reporters at Kolkata Airport.

She said that there is no place for violence in the country.

"In our country, there is no place for violence. We the people of India want peace and we appeal everyone to maintain peace," she added.

Meanwhile, the toll in the incidents of violence that took place in various areas of the capital over the past two days has increased to 10 while 186 people are injured.

Earlier today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a meeting with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik and other political leaders regarding the violence and the prevailing situation in Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Police looking for shooter who fired into home, struck juvenile KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City police are asking for the public's help to catch the person who shot at a home and left a young person who was inside injured. While police did not release their age, they did say the victim was a juvenile.

Police still investigating this drive-by shooting in a Southeast neighborhood that's has endured an uptick in gunfire along with the rest of KCMO. Checkit:
LONDON, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Maymon-Pomeranchik joins advisory board and Ben Iversen appointed as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) within British company aiming to be a world leader in the production of high-grade cannabis oils and isolates for the medical, nutraceutical and cosmetic markets.

AVIDA Global, the British producer of high-grade medicinal cannabis oils and isolates, today announced a new CFO and a new advisory board role for world renowned medicinal cannabis expert, Dr. Maymon-Pomeranchik.

Based in London, England, the company successfully raised 1.9m in its second funding round in December 2019. This followed the award of cultivation licences in Colombia together with licence approval from the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA).

Chaired by Lord Mancroft, who has been described as the 'most knowledgeable parliamentarian on the subject of drugs', AVIDA Global aims to be the world's leading B2B producer of high-grade cannabis oils and isolates.

Dr. Inbar Maymon-Pomeranchik, one of the world's leading experts on medicinal cannabis, joins AVIDA Global's advisory board. A scientist and Biotech Investment consultant, specialising in Life Science, Biotech, Ag-tech and the Medical Cannabis Industry, Dr. Maymon-Pomeranchik is also globally recognised as a specialist speaker and lecturer. With a PhD in plant science and molecular biology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Post Doctorate from the Weizmann Institute, Maymon-Pomeranchik is also the founder of Biodiligence, an advisory business for investors and biotech companies.

Speaking of her role, David Kirby, CEO, AVIDA Global, said: "Dr. Inbar Maymon-Pomeranchik has been working with us from pretty much our inception. Her skills and experience are invaluable to us and we share an ambition and vision for how we believe the medical and wellbeing cannabis market should evolve. Elevating her position within AVIDA Global to be on our advisory board means she will play a more active role in our strategy, market focus and our genetics programme."

"I am so pleased to be working more closely with Avida Global," commented Inbar. "I have been involved in the medical cannabis market since the start of its growth and have worked with many global cannabis companies. AVIDA Global impressed me from the outset. Their total focus on quality and consistency is backed-up with solid investment and an exceptionally talented team. I am very excited about the future."

Ben Iversen was most recently the CFO and co-founder of FlowStream Commodities, the first scaled oil & gas royalty and streaming company outside of North America. Prior to FlowStream, Ben spent 23 years in investment banking working for Cazenove, Merrill Lynch, Lehman Brothers and Nomura in London, Hong Kong and Singapore. He has extensive corporate finance, capital raising and IPO experience.

David Kirby, CEO, said, "As our operation develops, Ben's immense experience will be critical in helping us scale. As a senior professional with three decades of relevant experience behind him, he is well placed to help us achieve our ambition of being a leading B2B producer of the highest quality cannabis oils and isolates."

Lord Mancroft commented, "I'm delighted to formally welcome Inbar and Ben to AVIDA Global. It's a company that is going about medical cannabis production in a very controlled, careful, business-like and scientific manner. That's the way it should be done. It's very focussed, thoughtful and alert to the issues and by bringing in the right team, it is also a business with potential for huge growth."

Notes to Editors:

About AVIDA Global

AVIDA Global is based in London, England, and was incorporated in 2018. It has 40 hectares licenced for growth on a dedicated farm in north-east Colombia, considered to be one of the best global locations for cultivation of its top-quality plants and availability of highly skilled experts.

All of its facilities will operate to the highest GMP standards and the first commercial batch of high-quality oils will be available in Q4 2020. As a business-to-business supplier it will supply more than 10 tonnes of oil and isolates to the global market.

About the market

Global Cannabis market is estimated to be c. US$150 billion today

today Expected to grow to $272 billion by 2028

by 2028 Medical cannabis market alone expected to reach US$55 billion by 2023

by 2023 CBD market is expected to grow to US$17.3 billion by 2026

About Lord Mancroft, Chairman AVIDA Global

Lord Mancroft is a distinguished UK political figure. He has been a member of the House of Lords for more than 30 years and also has huge experience in business and the third sector. He is a former Chairman of the Drug and Alcohol Foundation and has been President of the Lotteries Council since 2005. He is involved in a number of health charities and has been described as the most knowledgeable parliamentarian on the subject of drugs.

About David Kirby, CEO Avida Global

David comes from a VC background guiding early-stage businesses through to success. Prior to this he spent 16 years at Capgemini where he sat on the UK Board and the European Management Team, responsible for some 1,200 people. He then spent a number of years with Shell in the Netherlands where he sat on the Global IT Leadership Board managing a projects' budget of over $1.3bn. For the last 2 years, David has been instrumental in setting up and driving the success of Avida Global.

SOURCE Avida Global Limited
The Malaysian Institute of Defence and Security (MiDAS) held the Perwira Dialogue 2020 in Kuala Lumpur on February 24 under the theme Malaysias Inaugural Defence White Paper: Ideas and Implementation.

Chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces Haji Affendi Buang speaks at the Perwira Dialogue 2020 on February 24

In his speech, Chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces Haji Affendi Buang said this was the first time his country had revealed the Defence White Paper which sets up strategic orientations for defence in the next 10 years.

He said one of the highlights of this paper is the affirmation that Malaysia is a maritime nation and its governments commitment to pursuing the three pillars of the defence strategy, namely concentric deterrence, comprehensive defence and credible partnerships.

In the Defence White Paper, Malaysia said it needs to focus on dealing with non-traditional security issues like terrorism, piracy and maritime security, cyber crime and security, and transnational crimes, as well as to apply modern technologies to defence.

At the event, participants from countries in the region like Brunei, Singapore, Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam presented assessments of the regional situation and their countries defence  security relations with Malaysia.

Tran Viet Thai, Deputy Director of the Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies under the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry, said Vietnam and Malaysia should increase information sharing, personnel training and patrols, as well as multilateral cooperation.

He emphasised ASEANs importance in safeguarding security, along with ensuring peace, stability and development in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region./. VNA
SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio  The Ohio Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that ramp closures and a traffic pattern shift scheduled to begin Wednesday along the Ohio 8 construction zone in northern Summit County have been postponed due to snow and rain in the forecast.

ODOT has not indicated when it plans to close some entrance and exit ramps and shift northbound traffic along the six-mile stretch through Cuyahoga Falls, Stow, Hudson and Boston Heights.

Crews are in their second year of the three-year, $58.6 million project to reconstruct the pavement on the freeway between Graham Road and Ohio 303. They have completed work on the median and are preparing to repave the northbound lanes this year. The southbound lanes are set for pavement reconstruction in 2021.

According to the National Weather Service in Cleveland, a mix of rain and snow will move into the area Tuesday night and is expected to continue through the week. In northern Summit County, the forecast calls for rain on Tuesday night and Wednesday, then snow showers on Wednesday night through Saturday.

Due to incoming winter weather, the SR 8 ramp closures have been delayed until further notice. Stay tuned to our social media pages for updates. https://t.co/HF41o4AxCM  ODOT Akron (@ODOT_Akron) February 25, 2020

Once the weather clears, northbound traffic will be split into two separate lanes. The left lane will cross over onto Ohio 8 southbound, while the right lane will use the northbound median lane, ODOT said.

Drivers who plan to exit at Seasons Road, Steels Corners Road or Ohio 303 need to travel in the right lane, since those in the left lane will not be able to access those exits, according to ODOT.

Traffic on Ohio 8 northbound between Graham Road and Ohio 303 will split into two lanes beginning Feb. 26, according to ODOT.

Crews will also temporarily close several ramps, including the ramp from Graham Road to Ohio 8 northbound, the ramp from Ohio 8 northbound to Ohio 303, the ramp from Steels Corners Road to Ohio 8 northbound and the Ohio 8 northbound ramp to Steels Corners Road.

Between 50,000 to 60,000 vehicles drive on the six-mile stretch of road each day, according to ODOT.

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UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th February, 2020) The UN Security Council on Tuesday failed to reconcile two dueling resolutions, submitted by the United Kingdom and Russia, that outline the renewal of the sanctions regime on Yemen.

According to the UN program of work for Tuesday, the vote on the two drafts was scheduled to take place at 10:00 a.m. EST (3:00 p.m. GMT). However, shortly after the council's members convened in the chamber to act on the documents, they decided to continue the discussions behind closed doors and reconvene for the vote at 3:00 p.m. local time.

While both documents, obtained by Sputnik, agree to extend freeze of assets and travel ban sanctions until 26 February 2021, as well as the mandate of the Yemen Panel of Experts until 28 March 2021, the two drafts included many differences in their texts.

The UK resolution expressed concern that the Houthi forces continue to violate the arms embargo imposed in 2015 and receive weapons "that have technical characteristics similar to arms manufactured elsewhere and [expressed] particular concern at the provenance of these weapons.

"

The Russian draft, in turn, recalls the need to comply with the arms embargo, but it omits to name the Houthi rebels in relation to the breach.

The texts also clashed over the provision in the UK document that requests the Panel of Experts to provide a report by July 28, 2020, on "commercially available components" that have been used by Houthis to assemble aerial vehicles and other weapon systems. The Russian draft does not include such a paragraph in the text.

Additionally, the UK draft reaffirms that conflict-related sexual violence or the recruitment of children in conflict violates the provision of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, as outlined in resolution 2140 of 2014. The Russian text does not include this specification but condemns such acts as they breach the rules of armed conflict and the human rights law.
Three people have been sentenced to prison for covering up the methamphetamine-fueled murder of a Virginia teenager whose body was mutilated, dismembered and burned.

Megan Metzger was 19 years old in 2018 when she was shot in the face during a gathering in Spotsylvania County, Virginia State Police agents have said.

Members of the group were using methamphetamine together when David Newton, 22, accused Metzger of being a 'f***ing narc,' which is a slang term for a police informant, and fatally shot her in the face, according to court testimony from police and the defendants.

Butchered: Megan Metzger was 19 years old in 2018 when she was shot in the face by fellow meth addicts and dismembered in Virginia

Juan Benavidez III, 20 (left), Keelyn Codynah, 25 (center), and Robert Keating, 27 (right), on Monday were handed prison terms ranging from 13-21 years for their roles in the cover-up of Metzger's murder, which involved body dismemberment and mutilation

Juan Benavidez III, 20, and Keelyn Codynah, 25, were accused of then concealing the killing by cutting off the victim's head, fingers, toes and tongue, and disposing of remains by burning and burying them in different locations, prosecutors alleged.

Robert Keating, 27, owned the home where the grisly crime took place and was accused of trading the murder weapon for drugs in Washington DC, among other actions taken as part of the cover-up.

Newton was convicted of first-degree murder last month and is serving a 40-year sentence, the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star reported.

On Monday, Spotsylvania Circuit Judge William Glover ordered Benavidez to serve 13 years, Codynah to serve 16 years and Keating to serve 21 years for crimes including defiling a dead body and being an accessory after the fact to murder, the newspaper reported.

In January, David Newton was convicted of first-degree murder in Metzger's death and sentenced to 40 years

Metgzer's mother, Patricia, was in court for the sentencing and delivered an impact statement conveying her anguish of having to repeatedly hear how her daughter's body was mutilated.

'This is the worst horror you can ever imagine,' she said, addressing the defendants. 'You all deserve life [terms].'

Metzger went missing in Spotsylvania County on July 17, 2018. Her remains were discovered throughout King George County the following day.

According to courtroom testimony, the four defendants and the victim had spent several days at Keating's home doing drugs together, even though some of them were virtual strangers to each other.

Metzger had come to the house at the invitation of Newton, whom she allegedly had met at a mental health facility a couple of years prior.

During the gathering, Metzger and Newton stepped outside, allowing Keating the chance to look through the woman's purse. His search turned up a card that led him to mistakenly identify the teen as a police informant.

When Metzger returned, Keating told Newton about his find, who confronted the 19-year-old, calling her a 'f***ing narc,' then pulled out a gun and shot her in the face, according to evidence presented at trial.

The group of suspects left Keating's home and went to a neighbor's trailer, where they continued using drugs.

Later, according to testimony, Newton ordered Benavidez and Codynah to return to the crime scene, dismember Metzger's body and clean up the evidence.

Benavidez and Codynah told police after their arrests that Newton threatened them with violence if they refused to cooperate with him.
India and the United States reiterated a 'strong strategic partnership' over security and defence, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said here on Tuesday, adding that the ongoing talks over bilateral trade between the two sides is due to materialise into a legal framework very soon.

"On security and defence, there was an understanding that we have a strong strategic partnership that is now referred to as a comprehensive strategic global partnership. This is a partnership that has encompassed an extraordinary increase in both exchanges as well as cooperation in various security domains," Shringla told reporters following the delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.

Shringla also stated that there was a noticeable decline in adverse trade balance from USD 30 billion a few years ago to 25 billion UDS today. The adverse trade balance is gradually eroding with the greater amount of acquisitions that India is making from the US, he added.

Expanding its defence cooperation with Washington further, New Delhi earlier today agreed to purchase more than USD 3 billion of advanced American military equipment including Apache and MH-60 Romeo helicopters.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had given its nod to the acquisition of the choppers, designed for hunting submarines and conducting search and rescue operations at sea, just days ahead of Trump's visit.

The US had in April last year approved the sale of these choppers under its Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.

The Lockheed Martin-built helicopters would replace India's ageing fleet of British-made Sea King choppers.

The MH-60 Romeo choppers are being acquired by the Navy after several failed attempts to replace their Sea King fleet.

The US President said that the deals will "enhance" joint defence capabilities between the two countries.

Shringla noted also the two leaders have decided that the ongoing discussions on trade will conclude as soon as possible and it would be given a legal framework. The text of the deal could be finalised with legal vetting as soon as possible.

"I think the two leaders also decided to move towards what was referred to as a 'big deal' in the trade sector," the Foreign Secretary said.

Trump today said that a major focus of his discussions with the Prime Minister has been forging bilateral economic relationship that is fair and reciprocal and the two countries have made tremendous progress on a comprehensive trade agreement.

The US President and his wife, First Lady, Melania Trump are in India on a two-day state visit, along with a 12-member delegation of ministerial officials, including Trump's daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
U.S. Senate Democratic leaders demanded that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin imposed sanctions on Russia for alleged attempts to interfere elections in the United States, the Axios news portal said.



The letter, signed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (New York), Senate Foreign Relations Ranking Member Bob Menendez (New Jersey) and Senator Sherrod Brown [Ohio], calls on Pompeo and Mnuchin "to identify and target for sanctions all those determined to be responsible for ongoing elections interference, including President Putin."



According to Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin expects that as the U.S. presidential election approaches, there will be an increasing number of reports about Russias alleged attempts to interfere in the vote. "This is another in a series of paranoid reports, and we regret to say that their number will grow as the election approaches," TASS cited him as saying.
The bluster of Turkeys Erdogan will soon run out of steam in Syria, and perhaps elsewhere also, writes Hussein Haridy

After two days of failed talks in Moscow that ended Tuesday, 18 February, Syrias Idlib province has been on high alert. In these talks, Turkey and Russia tried to negotiate a climb down between Damascus and Ankara in the northwest of Syria.

Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that if Syrian forces do not return to their positions prior to February 2020, Turkey would launch a massive attack before the end of February. Already, the Turkish army has been sending reinforcements across the Turkish-Syrian borders. These reinforcements have two aims. The first is to help Syrian rebel groups to hold their lines after they had retreated before the advancing Syrian army, which has successfully regained full control of a highly strategic highway, the M-5, that links Aleppo to Damascus. The second is to advance deeper into Syrian territories if Russia fails to halt the advance of the Syrian army in regaining full control of Idlib province, the last rebel-held enclave in Syria.

Already, skirmishes between the two armies have taken place, and led to the death of several Turkish soldiers.

Last Saturday, 22 February, Erdogan warned that the Turkish army could attack at any moment.

Moscow has been strongly aiding Damascus by using Russian air forces to target rebel groups, inflicting substantial losses on these groups. Sustained Russian air support is a coded message to Ankara that Moscow has not changed its full support for the Syrian government, nor will it sacrifice its entrenched position in Syria for the sake of Turkish interests.

However, the Russians have kept the Turks engaged in diplomatic conversations and contacts in order to discourage Turkey from attacking the Syrian army. It has stressed that Syria is exercising its sovereignty on its territories. Meanwhile, Russia accuses Turkey of failing to honour the Sochi Agreement of September 2018 which committed Ankara to separate Syrian armed groups from terrorist groups, for example, Tahrir Al-Sham, the Al-Qaeda-affiliated previously named Al-Nusra Front group.

It goes without saying that the Turkish president has no interest in going to war with Russia, nor is he interested in creating tensions in his relations with Russias President Vladimir Putin. The two talked over the phone last week after the failure of the Moscow talks 18 February. However, the two sides gave different interpretations of their conversation, in a diplomatic tug of war.

The Turkish warning by Erdogan referred to above means that Moscow has not changed its calculus in Syria, and while its support for Damascus is as strong as ever, it remains keen on cementing relations with Turkey. In this context, the Russians talked about a summit meeting in the Iranian capital, Tehran, for the Astana powers  namely, Russia, Turkey and Iran. Till the time of writing of this article, Ankara had not made its position known. Probably, the Turkish president would prefer to attend such a summit in a stronger position than he is now in northwest Syria. But that is not guaranteed; nor a major military advance by Syrian rebel groups is certain. So, the proposed Tehran summit could provide him with an honourable escape route from his strategic dilemma in Syria which is turning into a bloody quagmire for his policies. Meanwhile, he acknowledged Saturday, 22 February, that Turkey has lost some soldiers in Libya without giving more details. The more his forces are mired in battles, the more body-bags will return to Turkey. His self-made image of invincibility is about to crumble under unsustainable overreach. He probably knows that Russia is his saviour, and not Washington nor NATO.

Attending the Tehran summit could provide him with a face-saving way out.

Erdogans balancing act between East and West is quickly approaching a certain demise. And even the four-country summit hurriedly proposed by both Germany and France last week to take place in Istanbul with the Russian and Turkish presidents will not be a diplomatic plus for Erdogan. The summit will not take place unless Putin says he will attend.

His attendance has a price, which is de-escalation on the part of Turkey in northwest Syria. The summit is slated to take place 5 March.

True to this balancing act, the Turks have asked the all-too-eager Americans to provide them with the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system. The US administration is willing to look into the matter. Turkey has said that it needs this weapon system to deny enemy aircraft from operating in the skies of northwest Syria. Which enemy aircraft? The Russians or the Syrians? Is the Turkish president desperate enough to risk a showdown with Moscow? Downing a second Russian plane, as in 2015, will cost him Russian understanding and cooperation in Syria, to say the least.

The Turkish president is about to begin the process of calculating his losses. The strongman who could help him execute a face-saving retreat from the brink is not the US President Donald Trump, but rather Russias Putin.

The illiberal demagogue, as The Washington Post has rightly called Erdogan, has overplayed his cards.

The writer is former assistant foreign minister.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 27 February, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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The nine-member group of independents have met with both Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin today and urged both leaders to get on with it in terms of forming a government.

The group also made clear to both leaders that they stand ready and able to play their part in the process of forming a government if they are required.

The group of independents - Sean Canney (Galway East); Denis Nughten (Roscommon-Galway); Michael Lowry (Tipperary); Peadar Toibin (Meath West); Verona Murphy (Wexford); Noel Grealish (Galway West); Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth); Cathal Barry (Kildare South); and Matt Shanahan (Waterford)  held a short meeting in Leinster House amongst themselves after they left their meeting with Mr Martin.

Aontu leader Peadar Toibin declined to attend the earlier meeting with Mr Varadkar as he had voted against him in the Dail but he was present in the group's meeting with the Fianna Fail leader.

In both meetings, sources have said the group told both leaders that there is an urgency to forming a government and urged both of them to get on with it.

While no detailed policy details were discussed, sources have confirmed the main purpose of the meetings were to emphasise to Mr Varadkar and Mr Martin the need for a government to be formed as quickly as possible.

One source told the Irish Examiner: We only formed as a group last Thursday but we have similar views as to what needs to happen. We feel we can play a role and have told both Leo and Micheal that we are ready to help if needed to form a government.

From the perspective of the two party leaders, the attraction of such a group of aligned independents in a government is significant, as such arrangements have proven very stable in previous governments.

The two meetings come ahead of the first face-to-face meeting between Mr Martin and Mr Varadkar since the General Election later today.
Vietnam's reliance on Chinese materials has been clearly exposed during the Covid-2019 crisis, as imports from China have declined.

A report of the General Department of Customs (GDC) showed that of the $253 billion worth of import turnover in 2019, $75 billion came from China.

This included $14.9 billion worth of machines, equipment, tools and input materials for domestic industrial production. The figure represented the 28 percent increase compared with 2018.

Cotton, fiber, fabric and input materials for the textile & garment and footwear alone were worth $11.52 billion.

Textile and Garment industry suffered the most from the material interruption caused by Covid-19, because 80 percent of input materials needed are imports from China.

According to Phan Van Viet, president of Viet Thang Jeans, large companies (that make products for export and use 80 percent of import materials from China) only store enough materials for production in February and March. If they cannot import more materials by mid-March, they will lack materials for production in April and May.

In case they cannot import materials by the end of March, the situation will be extremely difficult because the structure of the global supply chain will be broken.

In case they cannot import materials by the end of March, the situation will be extremely difficult because the structure of the global supply chain will be broken.

Small and medium enterprises (50 percent of products for export and 50 percent for domestic consumption) will bear the same fate as they rely on large enterprises in material supply.

Meanwhile, the companies which make products for domestic consumption, will not only lack materials, but also see consumption affected.

A representative of the HCMC Association of Garment and Textile (Agtek) said member companies have been put on tenterhooks as they cannot find alternative suppliers.

Chinese partners informed that they will resume normal operation from February 20. If so, Vietnamese enterprises will have to wait more days for deliveries. If they still cannot resume operation, the situation will be extremely tense, he said.

The representative said his company can place orders for input materials with South Korean enterprises, but the prices are high. His clients had designated Chinese suppliers. If he uses South Korean materials, he will have to re-negotiate the contracts.

The Vietnam Plastics Association (VPA) has sent a document to ministries asking to assist plastics companies to overcome difficulties in Covid-19 epidemic.

VPAs chair Ho Duc Lam said China is Vietnams fourth largest export market for plastics, while a high number of Vietnams plastics manufacturers use material imports from China. If the epidemic lasts until the end of Q1, enterprises wont have materials for production.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Quoc Anh, chair of the HCM City Rubber  Plastics Association, said most enterprises in the industry have enough materials for production until mid-March or early April.

Kim Chi

Da Nang cancels int'l fireworks festival due to coronavirus fears The central city of Da Nang has decided to cancel the 2020 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival to prevent the novel coronavirus, or Covid-19, spreading in the region.
Chinese police wear protective masks as they stand guard on a main road in Beijing, China, on Jan. 31, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Hundreds of Chinese Police Infected With Coronavirus as Regime Struggles to Contain Epidemic

At least 813 current or retired police officers in Chinas Hubei Provincethe epicenter of the deadly coronavirus epidemicand their close family members have been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to an internal government document obtained by The Epoch Times.

The document, dated Feb. 21, details how officials in Hubei are trying to cope with the crisis.

The tally includes 371 police officers, 61 retired officers, and 381 family members of officers, while another 277 officers are suspected to have the virus. At least four have died.

While limited, the data offers yet another glimpse of the dangers that police personnel face.

Controlling the Narrative

The officers are on the front lines of the official response to the outbreak. They are tasked with controlling public opinion to ensure it aligns with the regimes narrative, which the Chinese regime commonly refers to by the euphemism maintaining social stability.

Screenshot of leaked documents. (Screenshot)

The cases among the police compound the challenge for the Chinese regime to contain the virus.

As of Feb. 21, as many as 120,000 police officers were stationed at all hospitals designated for treating COVID-19 patients, the nations police chief, Li Jingsheng, said at a Feb. 21 press conference. The officers are tasked with protecting doctors at the facilities, Li said, explaining that some coronavirus patients or their relatives may attack medical workers when they feel exasperated.

The document, however, reveals that the officers tasks go far beyond Lis explanation.

Hubei has mobilized roughly 40,000 officers, who are assigned to 244 designated hospitals, 678 fever clinics, and 1,958 quarantine sites. They have arrested 84 people over outbreak-related criminal offenses, placed 39 people under home surveillance, detained 1,344 without trial, and issued other forms of punishment for 2,525 others.

A pro-democracy activist (C) from HK Alliance holds a placard of missing citizen journalist Fang Bin, as she protests outside the Chinese liaison office in Hong Kong on Feb. 19, 2020. (Isaac Lawrence/AFP via Getty Images)

Guns and Pens

Wuhan, the capital of Hubei, has been recruiting police personnel from other cities, according to videos and Chinese media reports. Qin Han, a New York-based political affairs commentator, says the move either indicates that Wuhans police force is severely reduced because of the infections, or that there is a growing need to maintain power and stability.

The province has also hired more than 1,600 censors to erase sensitive information about the virus on the internet.

The Feb. 21 internal document revealed that censors have deleted 3,248 sensitive or harmful posts and issued 199,000 positive posts about officials efforts. Meanwhile, the police have identified 610 cases of rumors and reprimanded 601 people involved.

The document stresses the importance of enhancing the security presence around government offices and virus treatment centers, strengthening internet censorship to eliminate rumors, and finding solutions for possible stability-related incidents.

Police hold rifles, and rifles and pens complement each other, Qin told The Epoch Times. When lies dont work, [police] resort to violence. When someone tries to speak about truths that go over the authorities limit, they will be put down.

Li Wenliang, a doctor in Wuhan who tried to warn his medical peers about the dangers of the virus in late December, was tracked down by police. He was accused of making false statements and was forced to confess to the offense of rumor-mongering. He has since died of the disease after contracting it from a patient he was treating.

Two outspoken citizen journalists, Chen Qiushi and Fang Bin, have also gone missing after posting videos documenting the outbreak in Wuhan. After Fang captured footage of a van at a local hospital with eight bodies inside, police broke into his apartment and took him away. He hasnt been heard from since.

Qin said that such arrests are common.

The Chinese Communist Party, as usual, would not apologize [for its missteps]  if someone protests and raises a different voice, their first reaction is to arrest them, he said.

He noted, however, that such forcible measures could create a backlash.

With more problems brewing, the sentiment challenging [the Party] could only grow stronger, he said.
Will banning brokers fees actually save renters money?

The question is being asked around the world as governments try to reduce move-in costs for renters. Over the past decade, Germany, Britain, Scotland and Spain have ruled that landlords, not renters, should pay brokers fees.

In a surprise ruling this month, New York also adopted fee reforms. A judge temporarily blocked the changes after real estate groups sued the New York Department of State.

Investigating reforms abroad offers insight into what might happen in New York. The preliminary findings? A ban looks like it would be a good deal for apartment hunters.

Will landlords raise rents?

Real estate agents in New York have argued that if landlords are forced to pay brokers fees, they will pass those costs on to tenants.
Our Tennessee physicians are proud to be a part of InterWell Health, so they may collaborate with other leaders in nephrology and help to shape population health models in the U.S. for the benefit of our patients. - Dr. Soni, Nephrology Associates President & InterWell Board of Directors member

Nephrology Associates, P.C. has announced its participation and investment in a new entity aimed at improving healthcare outcomes for Americans living with kidney disease. This new population health management company, InterWell Health, is an alliance currently consisting of over 650 nephrologists and the nations leading provider of kidney care products and services, Fresenius Medical Care North America. InterWell Health participants are many of the most influential in their field, and more provider groups will be invited to join.

Its a privilege to be able to focus our expertise on ensuring kidney health is a priority in our country, said Dr. Ashish Soni, Nephrology Associates President and member of InterWell Board of Directors. Our Tennessee physicians are proud to be a part of InterWell Health, so they may collaborate with other leaders in nephrology and help to shape population health models in the U.S. for the benefit of our patients.

This partnership was formed to support nephrologists nationwide towards a more rapid adoption of value-based care models in an environment that promotes the full continuum of care for renal patients. The focus spans the CKD and ESRD populations with collaboration on care models to slow progression, to maximize the availability of transplant and home therapies, as well as prioritize optimal starts on dialysis. Programs developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services increasingly use quality metrics and physician reimbursement structures to guide practices toward value-based care. New models are challenging practices to reduce expenses while improving patient outcomes and patient experience across the continuum of kidney disease, from first diagnosis to transplant or dialysis.

Were committed to delivering first-in-class care to our patients not only in Middle Tennessee but throughout the state, said David Arrieta, Nephrology Associates CFOO. InterWell Health is unique in providing broad physician collaboration in new care models that address the needs and goals of our patients, physicians and payers.

InterWell Health establishes a platform for physician collaboration to improve the quality and efficiency of kidney care. The physician investors are experienced leaders in value-based care, many having played key roles in value-based arrangements like the federal End Stage Renal Disease Seamless Care Organization, or ESCO. InterWell physicians and practice administrators bring the experience needed for innovative healthcare delivery, better early stage patient care, and reduction of unnecessary healthcare expenses to the public and private healthcare systems.

By sharing resources, guiding other practices, and representing the field of nephrology as part of a patients continuum of care, InterWell Health investors will shape and advance healthcare for people with kidney disease.

For more information about InterWell Health, visit http://www.interwellhealth.com.

Nephrology Associates, PC is a leading provider of renal care for all aspects of kidney disease and related conditions. Founded in 1985, Nephrology Associates is the largest nephrology practice in the Nashville community and has established a tradition of excellence in helping patients achieve their highest level of independence, while managing their disease process. As the recipient of the 2019 RPA Exemplary Practice of the Year Award, Nephrology Associates dedication to excellence is evidenced by the credentials of its 29 physicians who serve in a variety of office-based and acute care settings as well as on an array of hospital committees including managed care, critical care, nutritional support and ethics. Additionally, Nephrology Associates has been at the forefront of networked computer medical records, which facilitate timely and accurate transfer of information between locations, as well as leading the transition into accountable care by being part of the Music City ESCO, which is a disease specific Alternative Payment Model for CMS. Nephrology Associates understands well that quality of care is key for every patient and is dedicated to providing comprehensive, holistic and personalized care for its patients. To learn more about Nephrology Associates, visit http://www.tnkidney.com.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday yet again offered to mediate on Kashmir issue if India and Pakistan agree on it. Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Trump said, "Ready to mediate on Kashmir issue if India and Pakistan agree on it. Anything I can do to mediate or help, I would do. Kashmir has been a thorn in lots of people's sight for a long time. There are two sides to every story. We discussed terrorism at length today. I said I will do whatever I can do to help because my relationship with both gentlemen (PM Narendra Modi and Pakistan PM Imran Khan) is so good."

On being asked about terrorism emanating from Pakistan, Trump called it a problem. "No question it is a problem. They (Pakistan) are working on it."

Trump described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "terrific" leader and India as a "tremendous country" stating that PM Modi wants Indians to have religious freedom, adding that India has worked hard for religious freedom. The US President said, "We did talk about religious freedom. PM Narendra Modi wants people to have religious freedom in India. If you look back India has worked hard for religious freedom."

Speaking on the violence in the national capital on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Trump said, "I heard about the individual attacks but I did not discuss with PM Modi. I want to leave that to India and hopefully, they will make the right decision for their people."

He also said that India is buying a lot of military hardware from the US, adding that the Indo-US cooperation in the energy sector is expanding.

On the trade relations between India and US, Trump said, "The US has to be treated fairly." He also spoke on tariffs in India, saying, "India is probably nation with highest tariffs and Harley Davidson has to pay a huge amount of tariff."

He also said that talked about his country's peace deal with the Taliban with PM Modi, and said that India will like to see it happen. "Yes, I spoke to PM Modi on it. I think India would like to see it happen. We are pretty close. Everybody is happy about it," said Trump.

"We had a great time. We had great meetings... This is a tremendous country. I think they like us more than they ever liked us. There is a great relationship between the Prime Minister and myself," added Trump.

Speaking on containing global radical Islamic terrorism, Trump said, "I don't think anyone has done more than I did. Russia, Syria and Iran should tackle it."
ANSONIA  Its almost time to bowl another strike against domestic violence.

BHcares 32nd annual Bowl-2-Benefit The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence will take place March 7 at AMF Circles, 525 Main St. in East Haven.

And this years bowlathon is taking a step back in time  to the 1980s.

Since the first benefit took place in 1988 at the former Valley Bowl in Derby, organizers are paying homage with an 80s theme, complete with tunes from the era and a Blast From the Past photo booth (sponsored by Yale New Haven Health), and are encouraging participants to come dressed in 80s garb from stonewashed jeans to neon T-shirts. And of course, big hair is welcome.

In 1988, we held our first B2B event, said Tracy Bruno, marketing and communications manager for BHcare. Thirty-two years later, B2B is the largest event of its kind in the area. Year after year, we continue to raise awareness and funds for domestic violence services.

To register for this years event online, visit https://secure.qgiv.com/event/b2b20.

Proceeds from the bowlathon benefit The Umbrella, which provides services to more than 7,700 victims of domestic violence and their children each year throughout Greater New Haven and the Lower Naugatuck Valley. The Umbrella, with locations in Ansonia and New Haven, provides emergency safe shelter, 24-hour crisis services, counseling, court advocacy and other crucial services.

According to statistics provided by BHcare, there were 14 domestic violence confirmed homicides in Connecticut last year, and each year, nearly 40,000 victims seek help for domestic violence in Connecticut.

Last years bowlathon raised nearly $60,000, according to Bruno.

The money raised is used for programs and services to help victims and their children leave dangerous and abusive situations, Bruno said. It helps bridge the funding gaps for our much-needed services that are not funded by the state or local grants.

Bowlers of all ages and skill levels are welcome to participate in teams of four to five, in one of five bowling sessions scheduled for 10:30 a.m. and 12:30, 2:30, 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. Bowlers pay a $10 registration fee and are asked to collect pledges to support their efforts. Each bowler will receive 90 minutes of bowling, event giveaway, shoe rental and soft drinks. The event is ideal for clubs, schools, organizations, corporations and families, Bruno said.

There also are sponsorship opportunities available, with levels starting at $100.

The 32nd B2B is sponsored by the Bassett Family Fund, The Candid Group, Milford Vascular Institute, Shoreline Pharmacy Rx, Yale New Haven Health, Valley Community Foundation, VNA Community Healthcare & Hospice, Gulish & Associates, Guilford Rotary Club, Guilford Savings Bank, Tomasella, Schlitter, & Burrell, P.C., Derby-Shelton Rotary Club, Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, 4Imprint, Eye Center of Southern Connecticut, Subway, Underwater Construction Corporation, Jamie Cohen, WPLR 99.1-FM, Star 99.9-FM and Zip06.

For more information about domestic violence services, call 203-446-9739, ext. 1856, or visit www.bhcare.org. To reach the 24-hour hotline, call 1-888-774-2900.
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

London: 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 a decade ago 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 victimised by a lawless American government that wanted to make an example of him. Attorney 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. And 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.

Lewis said some informants and others who had been assisting the Americans had to be relocated after the leak, and others subsequently disappeared."

While acknowledging that US authorities could not prove that anyone had been killed, Lewis said WikiLeaks' information had helped America's enemies. Documents from WikiLeaks were found in al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan after he was killed in a US attack, the lawyer said.

Assanges lawyers argued that the US 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."

Fitzgerald said his client had been subjected to a long campaign of US intrusion and harassment. The lawyer accused the US intelligence services of directing a private security firm to spy on Assange while he was living inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and said American authorities had pressured the south American country to withdraw his political asylum. Fitzgerald said those were the actions of a lawless state bent on adopting any means necessary to bring him down.

Assanges legal team also alleges that the Australian was offered a pardon by the Trump administration if he agreed to say Russia wasn't 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. Fitzgerald noted that "President Trump denies everything  and we say, 'Well, he would, wouldn't he?'"

Defense lawyers also say the long sentence and segregated conditions Assange would face in US prison would put him at very high risk of suicide". Fitzgerald said Assange was an extremely vulnerable person with a long history of clinical depression and an established risk of suicide.

Both sides in the case plan to present evidence for their allegations later in the hearing process. Fitzgerald said it was unlikely Assange would testify.

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 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 because so much time had elapsed, but Assange remains in prison as he awaits a decision on the US extradition request.

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 isn't expected to rule until several months after that, with the losing side likely to appeal.

Lewis, attorney for the American government, said it wasn't 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.
Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, sentenced a former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Olisa Metuh, to 7 years in prison for laundering N400 million.

Mr Abang who delivered the judgement had earlier declared Mr Metuh guilty of the seven-count charge, which includes fraudulent receipt of N400 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser in November 2014 and use of the money for political activities of the PDP and for his personal purposes.

The matter had been on for four years.

The judge also convicted Mr Metuh for doing transactions with $2 million in cash without going through a financial institution.

He sentenced Mr Metuh to seven years imprisonment for counts 1, 2, 4 and 7, five years imprisonment for count 3, and three years in respect of counts 5 and 6.

He, however, said the prison terms will run concurrently, meaning Mr Metuh will spend a maximum seven years in jail unless his conviction is upturned by a higher court.

Mr Abang also directed Mr Metuh to pay a fine of N375 million to the Federal Government Nigeria.

He also ordered Destra Investments to pay N25 million to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The judge also ordered that the accounts of Destra (the second defendant) in Diamond Bank and Asset Resource Management be closed and their proceeds forfeited to the federal government.

He also ordered the winding up of Destra, Mr Metuhs company.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 00:24:30|Editor: yan

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JERUSALEM, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday he was advancing a controversial plan to build thousands of settlement homes east of Jerusalem, days before the national election.

Netanyahu told a conference of the right-wing newspaper, Besheva, that he will reopen a long-stalled plan to construct about 3,500 new housing units in E1, a highly contentious area between Jerusalem and the West Bank settlement of Ma'ale Adumim.

He said he gave "an immediate directive" to move the plan to the next phase in the Higher Planning Committee of the Civil Administration.

E1 is a 12-square km area connecting the Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank, both are areas Israel has been controlling since capturing them in the 1967 Middle East, despite international criticism.

Israeli construction in this area would effectively expand the settlement of Ma'ale Adumim and connect it with Jerusalem. It will create a contiguous Israeli wedge between East Jerusalem and the West Bank, physically disconnecting Palestinians in East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank.

Plans for settlements in E1 were first drafted in 1995 but have been repeatedly frozen following pressures by the United States, Europe, and the United Nations.

Attempts to revive it has sparked in the past Palestinian protests and strong international condemnations.

Last Thursday, Netanyahu announced he was promoting the building of about 5,200 new settlement homes in sensitive areas of East Jerusalem.

The announcements came amidst Netanyahu's tight race against his main rival, centrist Benny Gantz, ahead of the March 2 national election.

Statements on the expansions of the settlements are appealing to Netanyahu's right-wing electoral base.
At the event (Photo: VNA)

The meeting aims to conduct the mid-term review of the implementation of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint and SOCA Retreat, attracting nearly 60 senior officials and cadres in charge of ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community from 10 ASEAN member states, ASEAN Secretariat and Vietnamese ministries.

Speaking at the event, ASEAN Deputy Secretary General Kung Phoak said since the groupings foundation, stable strides have been made in regional integration, economic growth, common prosperity and social progress. Meanwhile, efforts to build the ASEAN Community keep yielding fruits.

Participants discussed indexes and roadmap for the mid-term report on the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint, thus conducting national- and regional-level reviews 2020 to lay foundation for the implementation of the blueprint for the 2021-2025 period.

Head of SOCA Vietnam delegation and deputy head of the MoLISAs Department of International Cooperation Ha Thi Minh Duc said 2020 marks the 25th year of Vietnams ASEAN membership.

Given the theme of Cohesive and Responsive chosen by Vietnam for ASEAN Year 2020, ASEAN and its Socio-Cultural Community will continue improving peoples lives and building a better future for partners, she said.

The outcomes of the meeting will be reported to the 28th SOCA and the 23rd ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council Meeting scheduled for April 5-8 in the central city of Da Nang, ahead of the 36th ASEAN Summit.
SALEM, Ore.  On Tuesday, Oregon House Republicans decided to join their state Senate colleagues in boycotting the legislature in protest against the cap-and-trade bill.

Republican senators announced their intention to walk off the job on Monday after Senate President Peter Courtney passed the cap-and-trade bill, SB 1530, out of the final committee and toward the Senate floor.

From the first day of this short session it has been clear that Governor Brown and the majority party have not had an interest in respecting the legislative process and have repeatedly refused to compromise. Each and every amendment we offered on Cap and

Trade in committee has been rejected," said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan, R-Canby.

The move by House Republicans marks the second time in two weeks that they have boycotted a vote in symbolic protest against the bill.

I have routinely reached out to Republicans in a genuine effort to hear their ideas and compromise where we can. My door is always open," said House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, in response to the walkout. "For now, they have chosen to walk off the job. We may disagree on policy, but one thing is for sure  we cant reach consensus if the Republicans dont show up for work.

CONTEXT: Oregon Senate Republicans walk out to deny cap-and-trade vote

Rep. Drazan stuck by what Republicans have insisted most frequently of late  that cap-and-trade should be referred to the voters as a ballot measure instead of passed through the legislature by the Democratic supermajority.

"I had remained optimistic up until yesterday that a compromise could be reached. Unfortunately, our attempts to achieve a bipartisan consensus that would take into account the views of all Oregonians were denied," Drazan said. "Oregon House Republicans are taking a stand, with working families, in opposing Cap and Trade and this rigged process. We will continue to keep all lines of communication open. I call on Governor Brown and the majority party to refer Cap and Trade to the people.

Opponents of SB 1530 have argued that it will raise fuel and energy costs to the point that it will force businesses in Oregon's major industries  particularly timber, trucking, and farming  to shut down or move out of the state, disproportionately impacting rural Oregon counties.

Democrats argue that the bill, particularly with its latest amendments, shields rural Oregon from the brunt of additional costs and only slowly grows to include some of those counties over the next decade. According to a statement from House Democrats, the current bill has been largely shaped by input from Republicans and their outspoken constituents.

For the last three years, Democrats across the Oregon Capitol have worked in good faith with Republicans to find compromise on carbon legislation," said House Majority Leader Barbara Smith Warner, D-Portland. "In just the last year alone, we have held more than 35 hours of public hearings, gone on a statewide tour, had countless hours of conversations between stakeholders and made significant changes in response to our Republican colleagues concerns. The reality is, in todays Republican party run by Donald Trump, nothing will ever be enough for them."

California passed and adopted a similar cap-and-trade bill in 2013. Washington state continues to debate its own version of a cap-and-trade program.

This is a developing story and will be updated with more details as they emerge.
In brief: Customer support horror stories are a dime a dozen but occasionally, you hear of one in which a company goes above and beyond to accommodate its customers. This is one of those rarities.

SoraNews24 points to a story published in the February 21 edition of Asahi Shimbun, one of Japans top national newspapers. Per the sites translation of this Twitter post, 70-year-old Kuniko Tsusaka recounts a time when her 95-year-old mother had fallen ill. The woman loved playing Tetris on the original Game Boy and as luck would have it, the handheld  the third original she had owned  stopped working just as she got sick.

After coming up empty-handed in their quest to find a replacement locally, Tsusakas son suggested to his grandmother that he contact Nintendo customer support for help. She did just that, penning a hand-written letter and sending the broke Game Boy along with it.

Surprisingly enough, Nintendo responded, saying they couldnt repair her old Game Boy due to a lack of parts but did find a brand new one in their warehouse and sent it over along with the reply. According to Tsusaka, her mother lived for another four years before dying at age 99.

Nintendo launched the original Game Boy in 1989 and discontinued it after a lengthy run in 2003. To put that into perspective, Microsofts Xbox and Sonys PlayStation 2 were already on the market by the time Nintendo finally stopped producing the original Game Boy.

The one key piece of information missing from the story (or perhaps, just the translation, as I cant read Japanese) is  when did this actually take place? We know that it was at least four years ago, but there is nothing I can find to confirm or deny that it didnt happen much earlier and that the story is only just now being told.

Also, why didnt they simply opt for a second-hand Game Boy, or turn to the Internet for some new old stock via eBay or similar auction sites?

Tetris courtesy Kraft74.
Vendors threw vegetables outside a newly built market complex in Cox Town, East Bengaluru, on Monday, in protest against the delay in giving them possession of shops built therein.

Vendors said the market was completed years ago but the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) hadnt yet given them shops in the building.

Local residents joined the vendors in the protest, complaining that the delay had put them to hardship because shopkeepers were forced to encroach upon the footpath and road, and obstruct traffic.

N S Ravi, the president of the Bharatainagar Residents Forum, said the old market was demolished about 17 years ago. The vendors were then moved to makeshift shops that had temporary roofs.

Footpath encroached

They built 21 shops adjacent to the road, which are being occupied by vegetable, meat and flower vendors now. The pavement has been encroached upon, causing inconvenience to pedestrians. As buyers park their vehicles by the road, traffic movement slows down, Ravi said.

He said hygiene in the place was compromised.When local leaders were approached previously, they said the issue was with water supply. They said a borewell had to be sunk, due to which the inauguration of the complex was postponed. He wondered why cant East Bengaluru have a decent market when South Bengaluru had already got one.

We were promised new shops 15 years ago. But even to this day, we still operate from structures built from sheets. The BBMP built a market but is not letting us occupy it, said Mohammed Zamrud, a vendor.
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
By Online Desk

US President Donald Trump reiterated his offer to mediate on the Kashmir dispute at a press conference in Delhi on Tuesday.

When asked about the clashes over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act which turned into a riot in Delhi claiming 13 lives, he said that issues involving the CAA are up to India and asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants people to have religious freedom.

Earlier, in a joint press briefing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump announced that India and the US have finalised defence deals worth USD 3 billion. During his joint statement with PM Modi in New Delhi, Trump said it was a great honour to see thousands of people gathered to welcome him at Ahmedabad on Monday.

The President also held a meeting with top Indian business honchos, where he claimed that the stock market would crash if he lost the upcoming US presidential elections scheduled in November.

The POTUS received a resounding welcome during his Ahmedabad roadshow followed by the 'Namaste Trump' event at the Motera stadium where both the leaders heaped praises on each other.



Meanwhile, First Lady Melania Trump attended a 'happiness class' at a Delhi government school and was welcomed with flowers and tilak by students.


LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Aerospace, defence and energy company Meggitt Plc (MGGT.L) reported Tuesday that its full year 2019 profit before tax grew 33 percent to 286.7 million pounds from 216.1 million pounds last year. Earnings per share increased to 28.8 pence from 23.2 pence a year ago.



Statutory profit for the year includes a non-cash gain of 15.0 million pounds from the marking to market of financial instruments, principally currency hedges against future transaction exposures, a gain of 23.5 million pounds from disposals completed during the year, and operating exceptional costs of 26.2 million pounds primarily related to the new Ansty site.



Underlying profit before tax was 370.3 million pounds, compared to 334.8 million pounds last year. Underlying basic earnings per share were 37.3 pence, compared to 34.2 pence a year ago.



Revenue for the year grew 9 percent to 2.28 billion pounds from 2.08 billion pounds last year. Organic revenue grew by 9 percent, reflecting strong performance in growing end-markets; with 8 percent growth in civil aerospace, 11 percent in defence and 10 percent in energy.



Orders rose 10 percent to 2.47 billion pounds. The company noted that organic order growth was also 10 percent, underpinning expectations for long term revenue growth.



Further, the company recommended a final dividend of 11.95 pence, giving a full year dividend of 17.50 pence, an overall increase of 5 percent.



Looking ahead to fiscal 2020, Meggitt expects to deliver Group organic revenue growth of 2 percent to 4 percent, and an increase in underlying operating margins of 30 to 50 basis points.



The company noted that strong content and exposure to the fastest growing and hardest worked platforms will continue to underpin organic revenue and profit growth.



However, sector specific factors including the production halt of the 737 MAX and supply chain disruption, as well as the wider macroeconomic impact of COVID-19 are expected to hold back margin progression in the short-term.



The company expects to deliver low to mid-single digit organic revenue growth and underlying operating margin in the range of 18.5 percent to 19.0 percent in 2021.



Meggitt said that its chairman, Sir Nigel Rudd, intends to step down from the Board by to spend more time on his business and other interests. He will remain as Chairman until a successor is appointed, but will not seek re-election at the 2021 AGM.



Sir Nigel was appointed as Chairman in 2015. Guy Berruyer, Senior Independent Director, will lead the search for Sir Nigel's successor.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Following the FATF notice, some fund managers knocked on SEBI's door overnight, raising concerns over validity of FPI registration done through the tax haven.

New Delhi: Market regulator Sebi on Tuesday said foreign investors from Mauritius will continue to be eligible for FPI registration with increased monitoring as per international norms.

The announcement comes after the tax haven was put on the "grey list" of Financial Action Task Force (FATF)  an inter-governmental policy-making body that sets anti-money laundering standards.

A significant percentage of foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) investing in the Indian market is registered in Mauritius.

The island nation is the second-largest source after the United States from which foreign portfolio investments come into the country.

As per January NSDL data, assets under custody of US FPIs are worth Rs 11,62,579 crore and those from Mauritius stood at Rs 4,36,745 crore.

Following the FATF notice, some fund managers knocked on SEBI's door overnight, raising concerns over validity of FPI registration done through the tax haven.

The regulator on Tuesday said, "Foreign investors from Mauritius will continue to be eligible for FPI registration with increased monitoring as per FATF norms".

For several years, there have been apprehensions about Mauritius being a money-laundering route for FPIs due to its limited regulatory oversight. But, the Indian Ocean island nation has been taking several steps in recent years to address the concerns.

Jurisdictions under the "grey list" face increased monitoring. They work closely with FATF to address strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.

Currently, there are 18 jurisdictions identified as having "strategic deficiencies", including Mauritius and Pakistan, as per the FATF.

Equity benchmark BSE Sensex was trading 43.29 points higher at 40,406.52, and the broader NSE Nifty was up 10.10 points at 11,839.50.

On a net basis, FPIs sold equities worth Rs 1,160.90 crore on Monday, data available with stock exchanges showed.
Internal documents leaked to The Intercept show that the European Union (EU) is creating the legislative framework for implementing an international facial recognition database that will likely be integrated with a similar system already in place in the US.

The Intercept reported on Friday that an unnamed European official who is concerned about the networks development leaked information revealing that Austria is leading 10 EU police departments to introduce and interconnect such databases in every member state. The Austria-led report states that face recognition is a highly suitable method for identifying suspects and should be implemented as quickly as possible.

The report was circulated in November 2019 among EU officials and representatives from individual countries as part of ongoing discussions about the development of a continent-wide biometric data repository. Known as the Prum system, the database enables DNA, fingerprint and vehicle registration data to be mutually searched by law enforcement and EU intelligence services across all 27 member countries.

The Intercept report states that the preparations for the legislation have included an investment of 700,000 (US$750,000) in a study by the consulting firm Deloitte on possible changes to the Prum system, with one part of the work looking at facial recognition technology and 500,000 paid to a consortium of agencies to map the current situation of facial recognition in criminal investigations in all EU Member States.

One of the leaked documents was a project presentation that was sent to national representatives in Brussels that outlined the goal of the initiative as moving towards the possible exchange of facial data among EU countries.

The Intercept report explains that legislation was passed by the EU last April that established a database that will hold the fingerprints, facial images, and other personal data of up to 300 million non-EU nationals, merging data from five separate systems. When Deloitte initially proposed to the 10 police forces that facial images be integrated into this system, the idea was met with unanimous opposition from law enforcement officials.

However, the police organizations recognize the value of having all European facial recognition systems linked with each other and with the US. The Intercept writes that as early as 2004, the US Embassy in Brussels was calling for expansive exchanges and sharing all forms of data, including personal data. Since 2015, the Department of Homeland Security has demanded data sharing agreements with countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program.

Other US biometric databases have been integrated with Europeans more recently. According to Reinhard Schmid, a senior official in the Austrian criminal intelligence service who spoke to The Intercept, Austria began running fingerprints against the FBIs criminal fingerprint databases in October 2017. Since then, about 12,000 prints have been checked, leading to 150 matches. Schmid said, Around 20 of these identified persons were under investigation and suspected of membership of terrorist organizations, while in 56 cases individuals had attempted to use a false identity.

According to a report in RT News, beginning in 2001 the US negotiated agreements to share both analytical and personal data between Europol and US law enforcement. However, Europols inability to collect the data itself meant it was dependent on what was supplied by member states. A facial recognition database in every nation, hooked into a central data-sharing network, creates an enviable transatlantic trough at which everyones law enforcement can feed.

It is clear that facial recognition data is being gathered by local, national and international law enforcement organizations from states throughout the world and that the ability to link and integrate this information on globally searchable networks is becoming the norm. In the US, the mass surveillance of the population with facial recognition software is combined with scrubbing of social media accounts for facial images and other identity details.

There are no US laws governing this unconstitutional activity, which is a violation of at least the First and Fourth Amendments. A face image gathered by security services at an airport or at a highway toll booth can be combined with travel details and license plate information and stored into a federal criminal database without the permission or knowledge of the individual being photographed.

Discussing the EU moves to consolidate and share face profiles among states, Neema Singh Guliani, senior legislative counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union, told The Intercept that once the information sharing agreements are in place, there is nothing stopping data collected by the local police from being shared with additional levels of U.S. law enforcement, such as the FBI, Homeland Security, the Central Intelligence Agency or the National Security Agency.

Guliani went on, Their logic here is, When I have a serious crime and I want to run someones photo against a database, why shouldnt I have this? Yet, she added, the privacy implications are enormous. Once you have the access, you ultimately have the ability to identify almost anyone, anywhere.

The Intercept also spoke with Edin Omanovic, advocacy director for Privacy International, who said, This is concerning on a national level and on a European level, especially as some EU countries veer towards more authoritarian governments. Omanovic also said he worries about a pan-European face database being used for politically motivated surveillance.

With the growth of class conflict rising as well as the refugee crisis intensifying on every continent, the use of advanced artificial intelligence systems by the state to monitor the movement of every single person by way of biometric data is a serious threat. The use of authoritarian methods against individuals who have spoken up against injustice or anyone who has been labeled an enemy of the state will be on the rise.

At the center of these changes is US imperialism, where facial recognition tools are being perfected as part of a global system of perpetual surveillance, harassment, imprisonment, rendition, torture and assassination of its enemies. The working class can place no confidence in the bourgeois political order of any country to defend basic democratic rights. All talk of creating legislative frameworks for the use of facial recognition systems is both a cover-up of the advanced stage of their use today and the legitimization of their use tomorrow.
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday trashed former Ludhiana Deputy Superintendent of Police's (DSP) charges against Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, saying had someone like Balwinder Singh Sekhon made such allegations against a senior commander in the Army, he would have been court-martialled.

Reacting to former DSP's allegations against Ashu, which were raised by some Opposition members in the Punjab House a day earlier, the Chief Minister said in the state Assembly that the former was only trying to conduct a media trial with his baseless charges.

"Unfortunately, this was not the Army and Sekhon could not be court-martialled," said Singh, asserting that if the departmental inquiry currently in progress against Sekhon finds him guilty, "he (the Chief Minister) would personally ensure the officer's dismissal under Article 311".

Ashu had already been given a clean chit at every level, by the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (TADA) court and other courts, the Chief Minister said, adding that all cases referred to by Sekhon had been scrutinised through the judicial processes and no fresh evidence had been filed by the DSP.

Responding to Leader of Opposition Harpal Cheema, Singh later said Ashu had mentioned all these cases in his election affidavits.

"Sekhon was thrown out of police force and even dismissed from duty on many serious charges but was reinstated later. Now, he is now making charges against my minister," Singh said, questioning the former DSP's locus standi in making any statements or allegations against Ashu.

Sekhon was placed under suspension on account of his unauthorised absence from duty and conduct and behaviour unbecoming of an officer and a member of the disciplined force. A charge sheet, as specified in Clause (v) to (ix) of rule 5 of the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules 1970, was served to the delinquent officer on February 19.

"Further, as per record, five criminal cases were registered against Sekhon and he was dismissed under Article 311 in 2002 for indulging in corrupt practices and his connections with bad elements," the Chief Minister said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WILMINGTON, Del.  When migratory fish follow their ancestral instinct to swim up Delawares Brandywine Creek during this springs spawning season, they will find, for the first time in more than 200 years, that their route is not blocked by a dam.

The fish  American shad, hickory shad and striped bass  have been unable to return to their traditional spawning grounds in the Pennsylvania section of the creek about 25 miles to the north since a series of dams was built across the creek by early American settlers, starting in the mid-18th century.

This year, the fish will be able to swim past the site of a dam that was demolished by the city of Wilmington last fall, allowing them to move as far as the next barrier, Dam 2, about three-quarters of a mile upstream, where large numbers are expected to create a sudden bonanza for anglers.

Beginning next month, there will be thousands of American shad sitting here, said Jerry Kauffman, a University of Delaware professor. This area will be full of fishermen because it will be a big fish magnet. Its going to be like Christmas.
(HedgeCo.Net) The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has announced that following a bench trial the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama entered a final judgment against defendants Husam Tayeh of Illinois and his companies, Dinar Corp., Inc. and My Monex, Inc., both Nevada corporations. The courts ruling orders the defendants to pay more than $22.6 million in disgorgement and civil monetary penalties in connection with Tayehs fraudulent foreign currency (forex) scheme. The court previously found the defendants liable for violations of the Commodity Exchange Act, including fraud.

This ruling reaffirms the CFTCs commitment to working in parallel with our enforcement counterparts at the federal, state, and local level, said CFTC Director of Enforcement James McDonald. The CFTC remains committed to working closely with other regulators and criminal authorities to root out fraud in our markets. Im grateful to the Alabama Securities Commission, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Alabama, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local law enforcement for their assistance in this matter.

We applaud the work of the CFTC in its successful judgment, and we will continue to assist and engage in cooperative enforcement efforts with our federal partners to combat fraudulent practices in currency and commodity trading, said Alabama Securities Commission Chief Deputy Director Amanda Senn.

The verdict in this case stems from a July 27, 2015 complaint filed by the CFTC. [See CFTC Press Release No. 7206-15] The complaint charged the defendants with fraudulently soliciting customers to engage in financed retail forex transactions, primarily involving Iraqi Dinar and Vietnamese Dong, misappropriating customer funds, and various registration violations. The complaint also charged Theodore S. Hudson, II and his company, My Monex, Inc., an Alabama corporation, as relief defendants for receiving funds that were obtained as a result of the defendants fraud and to which they have no legitimate claim. The CFTCs charges against Hudson and his company were resolved via consent order of statutory and equitable relief entered by the court on February 12, 2018.

On February 6, 2018, the court entered an order finding the defendants liable on each of the four counts alleged in the complaint and imposing a permanent injunction. The defendants consented to liability but left the issues of disgorgement and civil monetary penalties to be determined by the court. The parties proceeded to trial on August 12, 2019. On February 14, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew L. Brasher resolved those issues by entering a final judgment against the defendants, ordering them to pay disgorgement of $22,559,153 and a civil monetary penalty of $140,000. The court also entered a memorandum opinion with findings of fact and conclusions of law in the matter.

Court Releases a Pallet of Currency to the CFTC as an Offset Against the Final Judgment

In a separate order, the court released to the CFTC a pallet of Iraqi Dinar and Vietnamese Dong that had been seized from the defendants as an offset against the final judgment, which, at the time of seizure, was valued at more than $2.5 million USD.

Related Criminal Action

In a related criminal action, on June 7, 2016, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Alabama charged Tayeh by criminal information with one count of wire fraud. [See United States v. Tayeh, Case No. 1:16-cr-213 (M.D. Ala.)]. Tayeh pleaded guilty on June 11, 2016. He was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of one year and one day and ordered to both forfeit more than $8 million and pay $151,517 in restitution to identified victims.
Education

Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu.

Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu.

Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events:

International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu.

EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu.

Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale  an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s  will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets  June Homecoming: Participant  $18 per person; Sustainer  $25 per person; Benefactor  $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler  Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events:

SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available  for information call 610-275-1960

Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above)

SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m.

Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.

Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.  4 p.m.  computers are available during those hours.

Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863.

Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376.

Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com.

The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes:

Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at

other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020.

CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313.

The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events:

Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m.

Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30.

Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301.

For Kids & Families

The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443.

Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950.

Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required.

The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950.

Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus.

Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage.

Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun.

Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train.

Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world!

Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class.

Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org.

Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583.

Community Events at the Ambler Y:

-YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register.

Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org.

Health

Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot.

The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information.

Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245.

Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net.

Spring Aquatic Programs  UDHS Pool:

-Summer is just around the corner  Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required.

 Shallow Water Aerobics  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR.

 Adult Swim Instructions  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR

-Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21.

-Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday  Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m.

-Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons.

-Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates.

Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994.

SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com.

Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org.

Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs:

FITNESS CLASSES

Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month.

Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30  9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000.

Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30  7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047.

New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m.  12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30  4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931.

Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325.

Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes.

Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com.

Librarytalk

Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744

www.upperdublinlibrary.org

APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS:

Storytimes: Please register in the library.

o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m.

o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m.

o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m.

o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6.

APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS:

North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee

APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS:

NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org.

One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register  contact info above.

Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744.

o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register.

Meetings:

Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m.

Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m.

Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org.

For children and teens at Blue Bell:

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m.

* May 14  Despicable Me

* June 11  Alpha and Omega

* Special Events

* April  watch for date of spring/Easter events

* April 14 at 4:30 p.m.  Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children.

* April 14 at 7 p.m.  Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided.

* April 16 at 1 p.m.  Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King.

* April 16 at 1:30 p.m.  Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes?

* April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button.

* April 30 through May 3  Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults.

* May  sign up for Science in the Summer

* June  sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children

* June  sign up for Summer Reading, all ages

For adults at Blue Bell:

* Daytime Book Discussion Group  fourth Tuesday, Jan  April at 1:30 p.m.

* April 26  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Night-time Book Discussion Group  third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.

o April 19  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges

o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked?

*Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs

* Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class.

* Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class.

* Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m.

* Giant Book Sale, April 29  May 3

o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults!

o Held during library hours.

o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m.

o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join.

* Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series

o May 11 at 1 p.m.  Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society

* Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room.

* Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read.

* Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome.

* Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome.

*Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older.

* Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours

* Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours

* Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday!

Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library.

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* For adults:

* Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn.

* Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net

* Special Events:

* April 14 at 1:30 p.m.  Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian.

* April 19 at 7 p.m.  Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m.

* April 21 at 7 p.m.  Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades.

*May 2 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

*May 10  Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*May 12 at 1:30p.m.  Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman.

*May 17  Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*June 13 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

Meetings and Lectures

The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833.

The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200.

The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/.

LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings.

Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org.

Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org)

-Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them.

The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter.

For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps.

Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin.

Special Events

The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County.

The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065.

Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members.

Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex.

The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com.

The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348.

The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org.

Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163.

The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu.

The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com.

The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net.

Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages.

13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries.

Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family.

The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler.

JPRN  Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them  Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike.

Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies.

Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately.

Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways.

Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table.

Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp  Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall:

-Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store.

Music and Theater

The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220.

Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html.

Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free.

The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org

Religious News

The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276.

Reunions

St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net.

Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572.

Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779.

Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net

Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net

The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411.

Support

New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149.

PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931.

The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296.

Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656.

Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group  every other Wednesday, 7  8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support  second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner  Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers  Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information.

CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7  8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich,
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday said the United States was "deeply concerned" Iran may have covered up details about the spread of coronavirus, and he called on all nations to "tell the truth."

"The United States is deeply concerned by information indicating the Iranian regime may have suppressed vital details about the outbreak in that country," Pompeo told reporters, as he also criticized Beijing for what he characterized as the censorship of media and medical professionals.

"All nations, including Iran, should tell the truth about the coronavirus and cooperate with international aid organizations," he said.

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Joe Biden is staring down what could be the end of his political career.

The former vice-president's campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination is hobbling toward its do-or-die moment this weekend in South Carolina.

Biden is in desperate need of a win to maintain credibility as a candidate given his fourth place finish in Iowa, his fifth place finish in New Hampshire and his second place finish in Nevada last weekend.

While second place is an improvement, his team had still hoped for a better turnout.

Can he make an impact during tonight's televised debate in Charleston, S.C.? Can he win the primary on Saturday after publicly predicting he would? And can he finally start building momentum based on support from the black community now that a state with a diverse population is about to have its say?

There are signs the 77-year-old is worried it may be too late for his campaign.

Lowering expectations

Biden is lowering expectations ahead of Saturday's vote, backing away from his claim that South Carolina is his "firewall"  the state where his support among black voters would finally come into play and help him secure a win.

Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

During his time as a lawmaker and as vice-president, Biden spent years building ties with diverse communities.

However, during an appearance on CBS's Face the Nation this week, Biden claimed he never used the word "firewall" to describe South Carolina.

"No, it's not a fire  I said I'm going to do well there. And I will do well there, and I will do well beyond there as well," he said, taking issue with the specific word.

But Biden has used that word. In fact, he did so just before the Iowa caucuses earlier this month, as he tried to downplay expectations before that contest.

He argued his surge of support would come later in the nomination race, telling NBC News: "I think I have a real firewall in South Carolina. And then we go into the Super Tuesday states that have a significant number of minorities and African Americans."

Story continues

Stumble in Iowa

After enjoying a comfortable run where he was seen as the front-runner in the national polls, Biden started to struggle once the actual counting of votes began.

His challenges were on full display earlier this month in Iowa, where his biggest rally ahead of caucus day fell flat.

On an unseasonably warm Sunday afternoon in Des Moines, about 1,100 people crammed inside a middle school gymnasium.

The crowd grew restless when the start time was delayed for unknown reasons, which is not unusual for a political event.

Supporters became increasingly uncomfortable as the temperature in the gym crept up, prompting many to shed layers of winter clothing and to use campaign signs as makeshift fans.

When the preshow finally began, eight speakers took their turn introducing Biden, some with curious messages that didn't seem to energize the crowd.

"America needs Joe Biden a hell of a lot more than Joe Biden needs to be president," said Harold Schaitberger, the general president of the International Association of Firefighters. Two members of Congress from Iowa, Rep. Abby Finkenauer and Rep. Cindy Axne, urged the crowd to help get Biden elected, in part so they can keep their own jobs in Washington.

"We've got to make sure that we've got the support from everybody in this room to make sure that there is a person at the top of the ticket that will help us keep our seats," Axne said. "That person is Joe Biden."

When you compare that sentiment to some of the themes in other campaigns  for example, the Bernie Sanders slogan "Not me. Us"  it's perhaps not surprising it didn't hit the mark in the gym.

When Biden finally took the stage, his stump speech focused mostly on President Donald Trump.

At times, he yelled in frustration, accusing Trump of stoking division, especially on issues related to race.

'It's like a hostage-taking'

In the audience that day was Chad Rogers, a former Conservative strategist who is now a partner at Crestview Strategy. He'd travelled from Toronto to Des Moines with his friends to see the caucusing process in person.

"It's like a hostage-taking," he said at one point during Biden's event.

Mike Blake/Reuters

In a followup conversation by phone this week, Rogers elaborated on what he'd meant by the comment. He said the Biden bid has morphed into a classic imperial campaign.

While Biden is well liked and people at his events believe they should be there to support him, once you get into the room, no one actually wants to be there and it just doesn't work, Rogers said.

"If that campaign was milk, you'd look at the date and throw it out," he said.

Tall order, even with a win in South Carolina

Obviously, one bad rally doesn't define an entire campaign.

But Biden has been unable to shake off his underwhelming start to the nomination race. While he pitches himself as the best candidate to defeat Trump, he is trailing Sanders in the race for the Democratic nomination, a candidate whose more progressive promises, such as Medicare for All, Biden considers unrealistic.

Sanders is the front-runner in the delegate count so far, and a new poll shows he's gaining ground in South Carolina ahead of Saturday's vote.

Randall Hill/Reuters

According to the CBS News poll, Biden is still holding on to the lead, with 28 per cent support. Sanders is not far behind, picking up momentum with 23 per cent, followed by businessman Tom Steyer in third at 18 per cent.

Perhaps most troubling for the Biden campaign is the poll suggests his support among black voters dropped 19 points since the fall, from 54 per cent to 35 per cent.

There are also signs Sanders is chipping away at that support  he finished second among black voters in the Nevada primary, garnering 27 per cent of the votes to Biden's 39 per cent, according to entrance polls.

Biden's depleted coffers a serious drag on his chances

Saturday's primary is Biden's last test before Super Tuesday, on March 3, when contests are held in 14 different states, including delegate-rich California and Texas.

Even if Biden were able to hang on and win in South Carolina, he would have just three days to try to translate that into gains on Super Tuesday and slow down the momentum of Sanders. That kind of effort could benefit from a flood of ads, but Biden is not among the campaign leaders when it comes to fundraising or spending.

Still, if Biden is going to have any shot at convincing a lot more voters to pick him on Super Tuesday, he'll need to be able to point to evidence he is capable of galvanizing supporters.

Without a win on Saturday in South Carolina, that becomes nearly impossible.
U.A.E. Bans All Flights With Iran As Coronavirus Death Toll Reaches 15

02/25/20

Source: RFE/RL

The United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) has suspended all flights to and from Iran, where the outbreak of the new coronavirus has already killed at least 15 people -- the highest death toll outside the disease's epicenter in China.



People in Tehran wearing protective

(photo by Islamic Republic News Agency)

Fears of a coronavirus pandemic grew this week after sharp rises in new cases in Iran, Italy, and South Korea. The virus has infected more than 80,000 people globally, causing around 2,700 deaths, mainly in China.

A spokesman for Iran's Health Ministry told state television on February 25 that three more people infected with the new virus died in the country amid 95 confirmed cases.

"It will be safer for people to stay at home. There were 34 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, including 16 people in Qom city," said the spokesman, Kianoush Jahanpour.

Qom is a popular place of religious study for Shi'a from across Iran and other countries that is 120 kilometers south of Tehran.





A media adviser to the health minister later announced that Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi had been infected.

"The coronavirus test for Mr. Harirchi...who was on the front lines combating the coronavirus, was positive," Alireza Vahabzadeh wrote in a tweet.

Meanwhile, the U.A.E. General Civil Aviation Authority "suspended all passenger flights and cargo to and from Iran starting today and for one week that can be renewed," a statement carried by the official WAM news agency.

The statement described the decision as a precautionary measure undertaken to ensure strict monitoring and prevention of the spread of the virus.

The U.A.E. has recorded 13 cases, with the latest two involving an Iranian tourist and his wife.

The Arab state is Iran's biggest trading partner in the Persian Gulf. Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel, is a major transit point for passengers travelling to and from Iran.

On February 24, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman reported their first cases of the coronavirus -- all involving people who had come from Iran.

The Iraqi government extended an entry ban on travelers coming directly or indirectly from China and Iran and banned those from five other countries over coronavirus fears.

Oman's Khasab port is suspending the import and export of goods to and from Iran from February 26 because of the outbreak, operator Marafi said on Twitter.

With reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters
It is a remarkable document, and not only for its title, which I will quote in full: The Life and Adventures of Prof. Robert Emmet Odlum, Containing an Account of His Splendid Natatorium at the National Capital. His Diary  the Swimming Drill, illustrated  Reminiscences of Great Swimmers  Stories of the Land and Sea  His Great Swims, Jumps, &c., with the Letters of Thanks from Persons he Rescued from Watery Graves  The lifesaving Service, &c., &c., Together With Other Valuable Information.
It took a while to find that focus for the foundation. Torah founded the organization in February 2018 after years of therapy and life-saving medical treatment stemming from feeling disenfranchised in her efforts to hold Enos accountable.

In 2010, Torah approached the Columbia County Sheriffs Office to file a police report against Enos for his alleged actions in 1996, but the trauma caused her to back off. She was assigned a new detective in 2015 who was distracted by a homicide case, and then another detective took it before the report was assigned to another, Det. Sgt. Michael Haverley, just weeks later, she said. Torah remembers speaking with victim services out of the Columbia County District Attorneys Office and exchanging emails with Det. Sgt. Michael Haverley and finding the process dichotomous.

In one set of exchanges, supportive services were telling her they were aware of an impending statute of limitations deadline and not to worry, that they were waiting on a report from Haverley. In another, she was dealing with a detective who seemed only grudgingly willing to help.

It was like he hoped I would just go away or forget about it, Torah said.
A little-noticed group of voters could turn out to have a big impact on a purple Pennsylvania that Donald Trump won by less than a percentage point four years ago.

The number of immigrants in Pennsylvania who will be able to cast ballots in November surged 7.9% in a year to 465,395 people, according to New American Economy (NAE), a bipartisan, business-focused research organization in New York. NAE gathered data on all 50 states to determine the growth or decline of eligible immigrant voters  that is, newly naturalized American citizens over the age of 18.

That figure grew by about 34,000 people in Pennsylvania from 2017 to 2018, a new report from NAE said  not much less than the 44,000 votes by which Trump beat Clinton in the state in 2016. Nationally, the number of potential new voters increased by more than 700,000 in the same period, for a total of 21.4 million eligible immigrants, the study found.

Theres a really large voter base out there, relatively new to the community, making contributions, said Nan Wu, deputy director of quantitative research for NAE. We hope this can help the public better understand not only the general immigration population but this growing electoral power in local communities.

The organization found that Pennsylvania ranked 17th among states in percentage growth of eligible immigrants. But its a state in play, unlike most of the states ranked above it, which tend to reliably vote Republican or Democratic.

What remains to be seen is how many of those eligible voters have registered or will register, and then actually cast ballots  not to mention how those votes break for or against a president who has hardened immigration regulations at all levels and routinely disparages people who enter the country illegally.

It is difficult to predict how individuals will vote, said Richard N. Gioioso, director of Latin American and Latinx studies at St. Josephs University. But it is safe to assume that newly-minted naturalized immigrants will consider U.S. immigration policy an important aspect of any candidates platform.

Trumps position on immigration is clear, and is likely to hurt his popularity among many naturalized Americans, Gioioso said. So the 34,000 potential new voters in Pennsylvania could very well impact which way it sways in the 2020 presidential election, tipping the scales away from Trump and toward the Democratic candidate.

 READ MORE: In Pennsylvanias conservative heartland, a historic cloister explores the immigrant struggle

Immigration promises to be at least as polarizing in 2020 as it was in 2016.

The bigger hurdle for immigrants is getting registered, said Ricardo Ramirez, an associate professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame, where his studies include the politics of race and ethnicity. Once theyre registered, they vote at rates outperforming the native-born.

In 2018, the voter turnout rate for naturalized Latino and Asian citizens who were registered to vote was higher than among their U.S.-born counterparts, according to the Pew Research Center. Latinos and Asians are the nations two largest immigrant groups.

The turnout rate for naturalized-citizen Latinos was 44.2%, compared to 39.0% for U.S.-born Latinos. The gap between the two groups narrowed from 2014, when turnout was 35.2% and 24.2% respectively, Pew said.

For Asians, naturalized citizens had a turnout rate of 42.7% compared with 36.7% for those born in the United States. Both figures were up from 29.6% and 22.4% in 2014.

Among all eligible voters in the country, the 2018 turnout rate of naturalized citizens trailed that of the U.S.-born, 45.7% to 54.2%, Pew said.

The total number of naturalized-citizen voters reached almost 10 million in 2018, up from 6.6 million in 2014, according to Pew.

Nationally, the top immigration policy goal for Hispanics is establishing a way for most undocumented immigrants to stay in the country legally, according to a Feb. 11 national Pew Research Center survey. More than half deemed that that goal very important, Pew found.

In a February poll by Univision Noticias and the Latino Community Foundation, 73% of Latino registered voters said they would almost certainly vote in the presidential election. They listed protecting immigrant rights as the fourth-most important issue, behind lowering the cost of health care, improving incomes, and creating more jobs.

There were predictions in 2016 that there would be a swell of naturalized Latino citizens voting in the presidential election," said Stella Rouse, director for the Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement at the University of Maryland, "but the numbers did not materialize at the rate that many were hoping for. Whether this changes in 2020 remains to be seen. There are signs that there may be an increase in their turnout, based on this and other data that show the dislike for Trumps policies on immigration and minorities.

In 2016, the Latino voter turnout rate held roughly steady, at 47.6%, compared with 48.0% in 2012, according to Pew. The number of Latino voters reached a record 12.7 million in 2016.

Trump did far better among Latino voters than expected, winning 29% of the vote, compared to his 20% in pre-election polling, according to the Edison Research national exit poll. Clinton polled above 70% among Latino voters, but won just 65%.

Some may wonder how Latinos could support Trump, given his stance on immigration and his harsh remarks about migrants. But Latinos dont vote as a monolith. Their heritage lies in many different nations and their politics can be just as diverse.

 READ MORE: Enough kids to open a day care: Activists push anew to shut down Berks detention center

NAE works to make an economic case for immigration, measuring the value of migrant contributions in everything from taxes to health care, and advocating for immigration policies that create jobs and grow the economy.

Its new research did not break down eligible voters by race or age. It relied on the latest microdata in the American Community Survey, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Montana saw the greatest growth, a 19.8% increase in eligible migrant voters. But the number itself is small, increasing only about 2,200 people from 11,161 to 13,369, and the state is safely Republican in presidential elections.

Similarly, second-place, reliably red Alaska experienced a 17.9% increase in immigrant voters, though that represents only 5,264 people, from 29,435 to 34,699. Since becoming a state in 1959, Alaska has voted Republican in every presidential election except the Lyndon Johnson landslide of 1964.

The NAE figures showed potential impact in battleground states, however, with eligible immigrant voters growing 6.5% in Michigan, 6% in Colorado, 5% in Florida, and 4.5% in Ohio.

Eleven states saw declines, led by Nebraska, Delaware, West Virginia, and New Mexico.
On Monday night, the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) held a town hall campaign event featuring SEP national secretary and 2020 presidential candidate Joseph Kishore and WSWS International Editorial Board Chairman David North at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

The live-streamed event was viewed by thousands of international participants on six continents. The recording of the event is available below. Sign up at Socialism2020.org to join our international campaign for revolutionary socialism today.
Amid continued violence in parts of northeast Delhi that has claimed 13 lives, the Congress top brass is likely to deliberate on the issue on Wednesday at a meeting of its working committee, sources said on Tuesday.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and other top leaders will meet at the party headquarters where they are likely to discuss the issue at length and chalk out the party's strategy on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the sources said.

The party's highest decision making body may come out with a resolution on the issue after deliberating on it, they said.

The Congress is against the CAA and has urged the government to keep it in abeyance or take it back as it is causing concern among a major section of India's population, especially the Muslim community.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
T he European Union has approved a mandate outlining its negotiating stance with Britain for post-Brexit trade.

A 46-page-document was confirmed by leaders in Brussels this morning, ahead of a formal announcement expected this afternoon.

Boris Johnson and his top trade team are discussing their stance this morning and will outline details later this week.

A copy of the EU mandate, seen by the BBC, said the "envisaged agreement should uphold common high standards, and corresponding high standards over time with Union standards as a reference point".

Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, will lead the bloc in talks / REUTERS

This rings true with public statements from the bloc that Britain must respect some level of alignment in order to retain access to the single market.

Michel Barnier, the European Union's chief negotiator, has insisted that Britain must sign up to a "level playing field" in any free trade agreement.

Boris Johnson is coordinating Britain's stance on trade / Getty Images

The bloc stated that any future relationship with the UK should be "underpinned by robust commitments to ensure a level playing field for open and fair competition, given the EU and the UK's geographic proximity and economic interdependence".

After the Brexit date of January 31 Britain entered an 11-month transition period, in which the prime minister has insisted he will secure a fresh agreement with the bloc.

However, its figureheads have said they feel this timeframe might be too tight.
A man holds a laptop computer as cyber code is projected on him in this illustration picture taken on May 13, 2017. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

Australia Faces Unprecedented Threat of Foreign Espionage, Spy Chief Warns

Australias domestic intelligence agency has warned the country faces an unprecedented threat of foreign espionage and interference, as it revealed it had uncovered a sleeper agent who spent years running spy rings and building business links.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Director-General Mike Burgess warned of the rise of espionage, interference and right-wing extremism in the country at ASIO headquarters in Canberra on Feb. 24 as he unveiled the agencys annual threat assessment.

The level of threat we face from foreign espionage and interference activities is currently unprecedented, Burgess said. It is higher now than it was at the height of the Cold War.

Indeed, some of the tactics being used against us are so sophisticated, they sound like theyve sprung from the pages of a cold war thriller, he added.

Burgess said several nations were working hard to influence lawmakers, government officials, media figures, business leaders and academics; however, he did not elaborate on the countries infiltrating Australia.

Burgess said espionage operations have been rife in Australia in recent years, and the agency has been consistently detecting and regularly disrupting activities. He said foreign interference and espionage laws were delivering dividends, with international intelligence services forced to change their tactics.

Wherever possible, ASIO seeks to detect and protect before damage is done, he said.

He explained that when the agency had in the past identified foreign agents attempting to travel to Australia, it recommended visa cancellations and intercepted the individuals at Australian airports.

He referred to a sleeper agent sent to Australia by a foreign intelligence service. The agent lay dormant for several years, building business and community links before he started to supply information about expatriate dissidents. That information, Burgess said, was used to harass the dissidents in Australia and their relatives overseas.

In exchange for significant cash payments, the agent also provided on-the-ground logistical support for spies who travelled to Australia to conduct intelligence activities.

ASIO disrupted the operation.

Visiting academics and scientists had been infiltrating universities to collect intelligence information, while foreign spies had entered Australia intending to set up sophisticated hacking infrastructure, he added.

The intent is to engineer fundamental shifts in Australias position in the world, not just to collect intelligence or use us as a potential back-door into our allies and partners, he said.

Australias leading universities last year agreed to more transparency in financial dealings with other countries and to share cyber intelligence with security agencies in a bid to curb foreign interference.

Meanwhile, the threat of home-grown right-wing extremists had also increased, Burgess added.

In suburbs around Australia, small cells regularly meet to salute Nazi flags, inspect weapons, train in combat and share their hateful ideology, he said.

Responding to ASIOs warnings, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said they served as a wake up call for the country.

Universities need to heed the message, we need to make sure people in business, in academia, across government, hear the message that they are being targeted, he told 2GB radio.

And we need people to take appropriate steps  I think its a big wake-up call.

Dutton added that individuals who pose a threat to Australia would be dealt with regardless of their background.

Terrorism and extremism come in many different flavours and many different colours, and its important that all of our efforts are keeping Australians safe, Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters.

Reuters contributed to this report.
The White House has accused Huawei of including security vulnerabilities in its hardware that would allow Beijing access to information crossing the system. Officials have refused to disclose the intelligence behind the accusation, citing a need to protect sources and methods.

The administration is working on ways to combat Huawei's dominance of emerging 5G telecommunications technology , as President Donald Trump seeks to clamp down on a Chinese hardware manufacturer that he sees as a spying threat to countries that use its equipment.

"How do we deal with that when the largest player is in essence the Mafia?" said the official, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the subject. "What do you do? It means there is some kind of a role for government," he said. But the official declined to specify how the U.S. government will respond: "That conversation's still ongoing," he said.

In comments to CNBC, the official denounced Huawei as an "utterly nonmarket player" that wants to wipe out competition through dumping, theft and racketeering.

WASHINGTON  The White House ratcheted up its war of words against Huawei on Tuesday, as a senior administration official denounced the Chinese telecom as "the Mafia" and suggested it could spy on the British Parliament.

Huawei has denied allegations that it colludes with Chinese intelligence. A company spokesman rejected the senior administration official's "Mafia" comment.

"That's just crazy. We're one of the largest private enterprise run companies in the world. Our senior management is more akin to the way American executives think and act," said Glenn Schloss, vice president of corporate communications for Huawei. "To liken Huawei to organized crime is disingenuous, and a PR stunt. We're operating in 170 countries in the world connecting a third of the world's people. And we operate in a free market structure."

He added: "We do receive some subsidies R&D funding from the Chinese government, but it's not significant. We also receive subsidies and R&D funding from governments in Europe."

Administration officials in recent weeks have raised a number of possible ways to combat Huawei's rise. New acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell suggested the United States would cut off intelligence cooperation with Germany if that country doesn't keep Huawei out of its telecommunications network. And federal prosecutors announced new charges this month against the company and two of its subsidiaries, including allegations of racketeering and plotting to steal trade secrets.

Attorney General William Barr suggested earlier this month that the United States might simply purchase controlling stakes in telecom manufacturers based in allied countries, such as Ericsson and Nokia.

White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney broached the subject of Huawei with his counterparts at 10 Downing Street in London on Feb. 20 amid reports that Trump held an angry phone call with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the wake of the U.K.'s announcement that it would allow Huawei products in its 5G networks.

On Tuesday, the senior administration official voiced continued frustration with the British government, suggesting that it may be able to keep intelligence secrets safe from Huawei equipment, but would leave the rest of British society vulnerable to spying.

"So when the U.K. keeps saying, 'Oh no, we think we can protect our most precious secrets'  maybe, or maybe not," the official said. "And what about your people? Every single business that operates in your country  you've invited the Chinese Communist Party to view all of your data, all of your personal secrets, your corporate secrets. The British people know better. Their government usually does the right thing  sometimes after exhausting the alternatives."

The official also raised the prospect of the Chinese government developing the ability to blackmail members of the British Parliament.

"It's everything  it means that they're able to collect information to blackmail members of Parliament," the official said. "The degree of fidelity  it's like a pipeline into the private lives and thoughts of the entire British people and the people of any other country that goes this route."
Moscow (AFP) - The last marshal of the Soviet Union Dmitry Yazov, who was a key player in the political turmoil that precipitated the collapse of the USSR, died in Moscow on Tuesday aged 95.

Yazov, who was then the Soviet Union's highest ranking military official, played a central role in the 1991 attempted coup against Mikhail Gorbachev and in the bloody repression of pro-independence uprisings in Lithuania.

Yet he remained a revered figure in Russia and was awarded military decorations by both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Putin expressed grief over Yazov's death, describing him as "a man of exceptional courage and fortitude" whose "professional and personal qualities had earned him undeniable authority and respect."

"He was and will remain a legend," Shoigu said in a statement to AFP, describing Yazov as "a brave, decisive fighter, wise, and a responsible commander."

The defence ministry said Yazov died following a "serious and prolonged illness". He is due to be buried at the Federal Military Memorial Cemetery outside Moscow on Thursday.

- 'Threat of breaking apart' -

Yazov was one of just 41 men to have held the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union, the USSR's highest military rank.

Others to have held the title included Georgy Zhukov, who masterminded the defence of the USSR against the Nazi invasion in World War II, top wartime commander Konstantin Rokossovsky and Joseph Stalin himself.

Yazov was the last surviving holder of the rank.

Defence minister of the Soviet Union between 1987 and 1991, Yazov participated in the August 1991 coup attempt against Gorbachev.

The coup, which was led by hardline communists unhappy with Gorbachev's liberal reforms, failed. Its leaders were arrested three days later but the attempted overthrow heralded the collapse of the Soviet Union, which was finally dissolved in December 1991.

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The leaders of the attempted overthrow claimed that Gorbachev was unable to perform his duties due to health reasons. They declared a state of emergency and drove tanks into central Moscow.

Yazov was released from prison in 1993 and granted amnesty in 1994.

In an interview with the Komsomolskaya Pravda tabloid last year, he explained that it was the "threat of the country breaking apart" which had led him to try to overthrow the Soviet leader.

His death leaves just one leader of the failed coup still alive, Oleg Baklanov, a member of the Communist Party's central committee.

- Oversaw crackdowns -

Last year, Lithuania convicted Yazov in absentia along with more than 60 former Soviet officers for war crimes during a 1991 anti-Soviet uprising. Fourteen people were killed and hundreds injured in a crackdown on protests.

"It took very long but he finally was given a proper verdict when he was charged and convicted," Lithuania's first post-Communist leader Vytautas Landsbergis told AFP on Tuesday.

Russia's foreign ministry slammed the 10-year jail term handed down by Lithuanian judges and accused the Baltic country of "falsifying obvious facts".

Yazov was also defence minster during crackdowns on pro-independence demonstrations in Azerbaijan in January 1990, which saw Soviet troops firing into crowds of protesters in Baku, killing hundreds.

Born in the Omsk region of Siberia in 1924, Yazov was a veteran of World War II and was injured twice. He wrote a number of books on military strategy and history.

On February 4, Shoigu awarded Yazov the "For Merit to the Fatherland" decoration for his work with veterans, after being twice decorated by Putin in recent years.

Footage of the meeting re-aired on TV news channels Tuesday showed an elderly Yazov in a medal-laden military uniform but unable to stand from his chair as he received the award from Shoigu.

Making no mention of the marshal's role in the coup bid, Putin said in his tribute that Yazov was an "outstanding military chief and a great representative of a legendary generation of victors."
Hyderabad: The state government on Tuesday requested the High Court to decide on the public interest petitions (PILs) filed against the proposed demolition of Secretariat buildings and shifting of offices from the complex to various locations.

Advocate General B.S. Prasad made a mention before the Bench headed by Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan to hear the cases for its decision. The bench earlier had directed the state to not demolish the Secretariat buildings at Saifabad, until its further directions.

The interim directions were issued by the bench when the state government was not in a position to submit the architectural plans of the new Secretariat complex. Without preparation of the plans and Budget estimation to construct the new Secretariat, the government was in a hurry to demolish the existing buildings, the court had noted.

With the request of the state government to hear the cases soon, the bench on Tuesday said that it will hear the petitions on March 3.

The court is hearing a batch of PILs filed separately challenging the government decision to demolish the Secretariat, filed by Congress MLA T. Jeevan Reddy, advocate Tera Rajinikanth Reddy and the Forum for Good Governance, an NGO represented by its secretary M. Padmanabha Reddy, Congress MP A. Revanth Reddy and Prof. P.L. Vishweshwar Rao, vice-president of the Telangana Jana Samiti.
An Iranian street vendor sells protective masks in the capital Tehran on February 20,2020. Atta Kenare | AFP | Getty Images

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  Iran's health ministry on Tuesday confirmed 15 deaths from the coronavirus, the most fatalities of any country outside of China, where the deadly illness originated. Iran also said there are 95 current cases. And Iran's deputy health minister, Iraj Harirchi, has tested positive for the virus after downplaying outbreak concerns just days prior. Amid accusations from within Iran of a government cover-up, it's widely suspected that the number of cases and deaths are higher than officially reported. The majority of Iran's cases have been linked to Qom, a major religious destination for Shiite pilgrims 85 miles south of Tehran, Iranian's health ministry spokesman said on state television Tuesday. An official from Qom claimed Monday that 50 people had died in the city; Tehran quickly rejected the figure and denied hiding anything. The virus's rapid spread in Iran signals a greater risk to the wider region. And Iran's links to the rest of the Middle East through travel by religious pilgrims and workers  as well as its dire economic situation  make it particularly ill-prepared to handle the intensifying outbreak, regional experts say. "Iran is perhaps the first example of a high incidence of COVID-19 in a country with relatively weak public health infrastructure," Hasnain Malik, Dubai-based managing director for frontier markets equity strategy at Tellimer, told CNBC. Iran has about 1.5 hospital beds per 1000 people, which is about half the level of the U.S. or Saudi Arabia, Malik said. "It is inevitable that we will see more examples across Asia and, perhaps, Africa."

Regional repercussions: Middle East hubs, airlines at risk

Several new countries  Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Bahrain and Oman  reported their first coronavirus cases on Monday, which they say are all linked to Iran, raising fears of a greater outbreak spread to the whole region. Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and even Canada have reported cases they say stemmed from Iran.

"The regional repercussions are greatest for the tourist and pilgrimage centers like Dubai, Mecca and Karbala (in Iraq) and any associated companies," Malik said. "Regional airlines, particularly those already squeezed by high debt, are among the companies being most severely hit," he added. Iran's role as a major regional hub for religious pilgrimage exacerbates the outbreak risk. "Large numbers of people are congregated in often densely packed premises, thereby increasing the risk of transmission," Osman Dar, a project director at Chatham House's Global Health Programme, told CNBC via email.

Sanctions hurting access to medical equipment

Large movements of refugees and pilgrims over historically porous borders with Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq mean cases may have moved across land borders into these countries, Dar said. Some 30,000 people reportedly returned to Afghanistan from Iran in January alone, and millions of Shiite pilgrims and workers move between Iraq and Iran annually. U.S. sanctions on Iran, which dramatically intensified since the Donald Trump administration withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, have crippled Iran's economy. As a result of the sanctions, Dar said, Iran is "less able to access quality-assured medical equipment and countermeasures necessary for combating the outbreak... and so is more limited in its response capacity than some neighboring countries."

That equipment includes personal protective gear and medicine, Dar said, which "may be accounting for some of the increased mortality rate that we've seen."

Iran's neighbors are shutting their borders

Already nearly all of Iran's neighboring countries have shut their borders and suspended flights to Iran. Turkey, Armenia, Pakistan and Afghanistan have closed their borders and Iraq says it has blocked travel to and from Iran while Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have suspended all flights to the Islamic Republic. Iraq has also closed its only border with Kuwait, which has three confirmed cases, all reported to be from individuals who had traveled from Iran. Iran has not yet suspended air travel to and from China, with which it has strong trade links.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday chaired a high level meeting with Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and representatives of various political parties, Delhi Police Commissioner and officials of the ministry to review the situation in the aftermath of violence in northeast Delhi.

After the meeting, Kejriwal briefed the media about the steps taken by the government to stop the violence.

He said, meeting with Shah remained positive and all necessary measures to stop violence were discussed. Kejriwal said Delhi police have been asked to maintain peace and deploy adequate forces to maintain law and order.

Shah assured all steps from his ministry and asked the forces to deploy as much personnel as required to bring peace.

He also said that all parties have been asked to cooperate to ensure peace and tranquillity in Delhi.

Ongoing protests against the CAA turned violent on Monday as the two opposite groups clashed in the northeast Delhi in which seven people including a policeman have lost their lives and dozens of people are reportedly injured.

After reviewing the situation of the national capital, the home minister had called a high level meeting to discuss the steps to deal with situation and bring peace and harmony in the area and elsewhere in the city.

BJP state chief Manoj Tiwari also told the media that home minister has appealed to the political parties to cooperate in maintaining peace in Delhi.
The violence that has been playing out on the streets of Delhi in the past few days is unprecedented, at least in the past few decades. The violence that began on Monday has shown no signs of slowing down and in fact is only turning more violent by every passing hour.

Anindya Chattopadhyay, the assistant photo editor of The Times of India who was in Jafrabad on Monday shared the harrowing experience he went through while covering the riots.

"My horrifying experience began when I reached Maujpur Metro Station around 12.15pm. I was taken by surprise when a Hindu Sena member suddenly approached me offering to put tilak on my forehead saying it would make my work easier. He could see me with cameras, which identified me as a photojournalist. However, he was insistent. You are also a Hindu, bhaiya. What is the harm?

BCCL

Around 15 minutes later, stone-pelting began between two groups in the area. Amidst slogans of Modi, Modi, I spotted black smoke billowing in the sky. As I rushed towards the building on fire, a few men near a Shiv Mandir stopped me. When I told them I was going to take photographs, they told me not to go there. Bhai, aap bhi to Hindu ho? Kyun jaa rahe ho? Aaj Hindu jaag gaya hai. (Brother, you are also a Hindu. Why are you going there? Hindus have woken up today, said one of them.

I stepped aside and after a short while navigated along the barricades to reach the spot. As soon as I started taking photos, a few men wielding bamboo sticks and rods surrounded me. They tried to snatch my camera, but my reporter colleague, Sakshi Chand, stepped in front of me and dared them to touch me. The men decided to slink away. A short while later I realised they were following me. A youth accosted me and asked, Bhai, tu zyada uchhal raha hai. Tu Hindu hai ya Musalman? (Brother, you are acting very smart. Are you a Hindu or a Muslim?)

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They threatened to take off my pants to confirm my religion. I then folded my hands and said I was just a lowly photographer. They then gave me a few threats, but let me go. I stepped aside and after a short while navigated along the barricades to reach the spot. As soon as I started taking photos, a few men wielding bamboo sticks and rods surrounded me. They tried to snatch my camera, but my reporter colleague, Sakshi Chand, stepped in front of me and dared them to touch me. The men decided to slink away.

A short while later I realised they were following me. A youth accosted me and asked, Bhai, tu zyada uchhal raha hai. Tu Hindu hai ya Musalman? (Brother, you are acting very smart. Are you a Hindu or a Muslim?) They threatened to take off my pants to confirm my religion. I then folded my hands and said I was just a lowly photographer. They then gave me a few threats, but let me go.

Desperate to leave the area, I started looking for my office vehicle, but it was nowhere to be found. I then walked a few hundred metres towards Jafrabad when I spotted an autorickshaw. The driver agreed to take me to ITO. I later realised that the name embossed on the auto could land us in trouble with the mob around. As fate would have it, we were soon stopped by four men. They caught hold of our collars to drag us out of the auto. I pleaded with them to let us go, saying I was a press member and the auto driver was innocent. When the driver dropped me off, I realised he was shaken to the core. I have never been questioned about my religion in this grotesque manner in my life, he said before parting ways.



Times of India reporter Sakshi Chand also wrote about her experience

Walking from Jafrabad metro station towards Maujpur-Babarpur station, I could never imagine that the second day of the protests would be as ugly as what unfolded in front of my eyes.

As I stood a few metres ahead of Maujpur-Babarpur station, I could hear rounds being fired one after the other. My first instinct was that it was a gun going off, but after seeing a white plume of smoke I realised that police were firing tear gas shells. Minutes later, I saw two men running carrying an injured policeman on their shoulder. The cop was rushed away in a police Gypsy.

Some youths were putting tilak on the forehead of passersby and when they approached me, I politely refused. The loudspeakers at Maujpur Chowk were constantly blaring Jai Shri Ram.

I soon saw anti-CAA protesters on one side of the road near Kabir Nagar and pro-CAA agitators on the other side. The small bridge over the drain was the only saving grace as police stood guard there creating a no mans land. Mediapersons trying to move ahead were asked to stay back as stones were being hurled. The stone-pelters were wearing helmets.

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Even as police tried to defuse the situation, news of protesters setting a house on fire spread. I ran towards the chowk and saw a tower of smoke coming out from near a garbage dump. I saw a mob breaking the locks of shops with lathis and throwing something on fire inside.

When I tried to capture it on my cellphone, a youth shouted: Snatch her phone. The media is recording us and not them. I quietly put away my phone. A mob soon came charging towards us and I managed to hang on to a railing with the help of TOI photojournalist Anindya Chattopadhyay. This happened twice.

I walked back to Maujpur Chowk and saw a 60-strong mob asking a man walking out of Kabir Nagar for his identity and then thrashing him. Police rushed in and the man with a bloody face was carried away by four people. I next saw a man breaking the nameplate of a bakery with the others around him clapping gleefully.

The biggest fear I witnessed was walking out of the area. Walking over the stones and bricks, people thought I was a stone-pelter. Luckily, I and two other reporters managed to reach our car. The fear of a stone being thrown from a rooftop hitting me still haunts me. I will carry a helmet tomorrow.

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Times Now reporter Prashant Kumar who is also on the ground wrote about his experience on Twitter.

They are asking for everyones full name, checking the Kapda and daadhi before deciding what to do with the reporters! Never have we felt so unsecured in our own city. Was out on streets the whole night ystdy, police virtually allowed people to gather on streets! Appalling! https://t.co/Q6NauAzxFq  Prashant Kumar (@scribe_prashant) February 25, 2020

They are asking for everyones full name, checking the Kapda and daadhi before deciding what to do with the reporters! Never have we felt so unsecured in our own city. Was out on streets the whole night yesterday, police virtually allowed people to gather on streets! Appalling!

Vijayta Lalwani, a reporter with Scroll wrote about a middle-aged man with a saffron tikka on his forehead repeatedly asked reporters to stop filming the arson. Bade dinon ke baad Hindu jaaga hai, he said. Hindus have woken up after long. He did not want to identify himself, other than as a supporter of the Citizenship Amendment Act.

While they were lucky two others Arvind Gunasekar and Saurabh Shukla of NDTV were beaten up for covering the arson.

Two of my colleagues @arvindgunasekar and @saurabhshukla_s were badly beaten by a mob just now in Delhi, they only stopped beating them after realising they are our people- Hindus. Absolutely despicable.  Nidhi Razdan (@Nidhi) February 25, 2020

One more #Journalist attacked.Jk 24X7 news journalist shoot today while coverage . He was covering the #DelhiViolence. Many #Journalist Has been attack in last few days during #DelhiCAAClashes #DelhiBurning . Hope now @IndEditorsGuild will do something and not to be spectator . pic.twitter.com/MN1LqCq5Pd  Sumit Chaudhary (@sumit0707) February 25, 2020

Akash Napa, a reporter with JK 24X7 news channel was allegedly shot while covering the violence. Akash has been admitted to a hospital and is critical.
We don't hear about campaign finance these days. It got drowned in the flood of money loosed by Mike Bloomberg. With billionaires Trump and Bloomers taking over presidential campaigns, this issue just doesn't matter much anymore.

Rather than putting their money behind someone else, the real rich guys are getting into the batting cage themselves. While preferable to us not really knowing where a given candidate's money comes from, this does raise the hoary old fear of only the rich being able to run for president.

But it's always been only the rich who could run for president. While paying your own way is rather in-your-face, it's not very different in principle from having someone else pay your way. It's the principle of paying for your date or getting your date to foot the bill. You both get there; it just looks different when somebody else pays for you. And you're now somewhat in the other's debt.

Mike Bloomberg earned billions in technology, Donald Trump in construction. The former is tech-oriented, the latter more people-dependent. We know (because he's told us) that Bloomberg is a manager. We know (because we've seen it) that Trump is a leader. Each was very, very good at what he did. Since both managerial and leadership qualities matter, it comes down to what you think is more needed in the highest political office in the land: a manager or a leader.

We've seen examples of both in recent presidents and presidential races. Reagan was a leader. Both Bushes were managers. Clinton was something of a mix. Obama was neither manager nor leader, though he flattered himself as a leader. Ditto Hillary.

Bernie is a rare phenomenon of a confluence of ideas that he did not create yielding an atmosphere in which his strangeness makes him seem like a leader. In this sense, he may parallel that German guy back in the thirties. In less unusual times, that dude would never have made it in politics. Were our times not so unusual, Bernie would never have been considered presidential material.

In any case, if November pits Mike against Donald, it will be a manager going up against a leader. If it's Bernie versus Donald, it will be a weak leader with no executive experience against a strong leader with a wealth of it. It's also two guys nobody would have given a chance a decade ago.

The world has been down this path before. Our polity today has much in common with early 20th-century Germany. In those days, Germans were looking for a man of action who would stop talking and do something. Their education system had trained them for a hundred years to think that way, creating an atmosphere where a strange Austrian actually seemed appealing.

Something similar has happened here. For too long, we let it go as the education system subverted our kids to communism. We didn't want to confront their unpleasantness; it was just their youth, we thought, and they'd get over it. But now those kids have created the atmosphere where a creature as odd as Bernie Sanders, neither a manager nor a leader, has to be taken seriously. Our Left is ready, as Germans were a century ago, to burn down the old order to get the one they want.

James Hodgkinson and Kyle Jurek, Brownshirts in all but name, fly to the Bern like a moth to a flame.

If Trump wins again, we'll have four more good (or at least decent) years. If either the criminal Left (of the Deep State) or the Idiot Left (of the Bern) gains the presidency, this time or in the foreseeable future, it's all over. Our lassitude is coming back to haunt us, the bill coming due, the worm turning, the chickens hatching, the swan singing. It was tragedy when this happened a century ago. A second time around, it will not be farce, but apocalypse.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr.
By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) agreed to pay $90,000 to an aviation safety inspector who faced retaliation for raising concerns about unqualified flight safety inspectors, a U.S.

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) agreed to pay $90,000 to an aviation safety inspector who faced retaliation for raising concerns about unqualified flight safety inspectors, a U.S. agency said Monday.

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) said the whistleblower aviation employee disclosed flight inspectors were certifying pilots and conducting safety "check rides" even though they lacked necessary formal training and certifications.

OSC, an office that reviews whistleblower allegations, said the FAA's Office of Audit & Evaluation "substantiated the whistleblower's allegations, calling into question the operational review of several aircraft, including the Boeing 737 MAX and the Gulfstream VII."

The FAA said it "takes all whistleblower allegations seriously and does not tolerate retaliation against those who raise safety concerns."

Boeing Co declined to comment. Gulfstream, a unit of General Dynamics Corp , said the G500 and G600 were certified by the FAA in 2018 and 2019 and have flown more than 5,000 hours since then. "We are confident we surpassed the requirements necessary to successfully certify the pilot training program for the G500 and G600," a company spokeswoman said.

In September, OSC said the FAA appeared to have been "misleading in their portrayal of FAA employee training and competency" in providing Congress information about some safety inspectors who were involved in assessing training requirements for the Boeing 737 MAX.

The 737 MAX has been grounded since March after crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed a combined 346 people. The certification process for the MAX has come under scrutiny.

The FAA said in September that all of "the Aviation Safety Inspectors who participated in the evaluation of the Boeing 737 MAX were fully qualified for those activities." The agency denied misleading Congress.

The FAA found that after disclosing the problem, "the whistleblower faced retaliation. The whistleblower decided to take a new position in another city in order to escape what he believed was pervasive harassment," the OSC said. "After he made the disclosures, his managers also allegedly removed his duties and denied training requests, flight certifications, and job training opportunities."

OSC said that during the investigation, the whistleblower's then-manager retired, so it did not seek disciplinary action.

The head of the Office of Special Counsel, Henry Kerner, said in September the "FAA's failure to ensure safety inspector competency for these aircraft puts the flying public at risk."

(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington; Additional reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle, Allison Lampert in Montreal and Tracy Rucinski in Chicago; Editing by Franklin Paul and Matthew Lewis)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
STAMFORD  Michael Handler, a member of Mayor David Martins cabinet and architect of a controversial plan to rebuild five public school buildings by turning them over to a private developer, has stepped down.

Martins office issued a press release Tuesday saying Handler, who is director of the Office of Administration and head of the Stamford Asset Management Group overseeing the school repair and reconstruction program, will retire on Friday.

According to the statement, Martin will appoint an interim director for now. The mayor has candidates under consideration, and an executive search firm will be used to identify a permanent director, it says.

Mike has done a phenomenal job managing the citys financial operations. His strong work ethic and enthusiasm will be missed. I wish him the very best, Martin said in the statement.

Handler told Martin of his plans to leave city government, where he has served for eight years, at the end of February, the statement says.

Handler first was appointed by former Mayor Michael Pavia, Republican, in 2012. Martin, a Democrat, reappointed Handler in 2013.

I cannot express how proud I am of all that we have accomplished over the past eight years, Handler said in the statement. I am truly grateful to Mayor Martin for the opportunity, and am confident that the city is in a terrific position. I will surely miss working alongside terrific people and knowing that our collective efforts truly make a difference.

Martin said in the statement that Handler helped improve the overall financial health of the city, and led the financial, operational and environmental turnaround of the Water Pollution Control Authority and the private transaction to ensure that the Smith House nursing home, once owned by the city, did not close. Handler also helped negotiate difficult labor contracts and was a leader of the combined city and Board of Education effort to improve school buildings, the mayor said.

The city appreciates Mikes efforts and accomplishments, and we all wish him well in whatever the future holds, Martin said in the statement.
NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) has unveiled the redesign of Fox Trial Finder (michaeljfox.org/trial-finder)  the Foundation's online tool to match patients and families to Parkinson's clinical studies that need them. Originally launched in July 2011, Fox Trial Finder now aims to provide users  the more than 91,000 patient and family participants to date  with a simplified experience to more easily find opportunities to advance breakthroughs in Parkinson's treatments and ultimately a cure.

Across all research, 85 percent of trials face delays and 30 percent never get off the ground due to a lack of volunteers. Fox Trial Finder lists all actively recruiting Parkinson's and atypical parkinsonism studies  both interventional trials that test new therapies and observational studies that examine health and disease. Using an intuitive, customizable search feature, prospective participants can use the tool to perform a guided search to find studies they may be eligible to join in their area. With no registration or fees required, participants then instantly and directly connect with research teams via phone or email.

"Whether you're new to clinical trials or you've been participating in them for years, the new Fox Trial Finder is here to help better connect patients and families to research," said MJFF Deputy CEO Sohini Chowdhury. "We heard our community's feedback and redesigned the tool to better fit their needs. Using state-of-the-art technology, Fox Trial Finder will create onramps for people to connect with trials that urgently need them. In doing so, we can reduce the burden of recruitment and help bring new treatments to patients faster."

As part of its commitment to increase the flow of participants into clinical studies, The Michael J. Fox Foundation continues to build practical, user-friendly resources to help more people get involved. The new Fox Trial Finder currently houses more than 500 actively recruiting studies from 40 countries. And since the platform's original launch nearly a decade ago, more than 1,600 research teams have used the tool to expand outreach and connect with potential volunteers. By using the Fox Trial Finder platform, the Phase III STEADY-PD trial  a National Institutes of Health-funded study to evaluate the potential of repurposing isradipine for Parkinson's  completed recruitment of newly diagnosed individuals six months ahead of schedule.

"When I was newly diagnosed with Parkinson's, I was in search of a way to get involved with research. Simply put, I wanted to help find a cure," said MJFF Patient Council member Claudia Revilla of Peoria, Illinois. "Fox Trial Finder provided me with an accessible and user-friendly resource to take that first step toward research. If thousands more people volunteer for clinical studies, we can get closer to the answers that we're seeking about how to cure the disease."

New features of Fox Trial Finder include:

Intuitive design for desktop, tablet and mobile devices  allowing users to navigate and browse clinical studies

Simplified guided search for eligible studies based on willingness to travel, health history, diagnosis, etc.

No registration or profile creation required to take part

Easy-to-use experience directly connecting interested participants to research teams

Optional email signup for alerts about new studies

Increasing ease-of-use for multiple languages powered by Google Translate. To date, languages available include Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Simplified), French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Javanese, Korean, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish

Fox Trial Finder's new technology is provided by WCG iConnect, the world's leading provider of solutions that measurably improve the quality and efficiency of clinical research to support thousands of trials worldwide.

About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

As the world's largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson's disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson's patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding more than $900 million in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson's research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson's disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson's awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world.

For more information, visit us on the web , Facebook , Twitter and LinkedIn .

SOURCE The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research

Related Links

www.michaeljfox.org


Dublin, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Microgrid Monitoring System Market, By Grid Type (On grid & Off-grid), By Component (Hardware & Software), By Ownership (Public & Private), By End-user, By Region, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Global Microgrid Monitoring System Market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of over 11% during 2019-2024, owing to increasing demand for power, rising emphasis on alternative energy production, improving and evolving technologies, refurbishment of ageing infrastructure, and investments in smart grids and energy systems.



Increasing investments in transmission & distribution infrastructure and massive investments in smart grids and energy systems, globally, would further drive the Global Microgrid Monitoring System Market during the forecast period.



In terms of component, hardware segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate during 2019-2024. The hardware components of microgrid monitoring system include physical components such as CPU module, digital input module, digital output module, analog input/output module, local Controller, data logger, data recorder, relays, meters and communication network. The increasing number of microgrid projects in large power plants and high demand from process industries such as manufacturing, oil & gas, mining, steel and chemicals would further drive the hardware segment of the microgrid monitoring system market.



Asia-Pacific accounted for a significant portion of the Global Microgrid Monitoring System Market in 2018 and is expected to register strong growth during forecast period as well, on the back of increasing investments in grid expansion projects by developing nations such as China and India to boost their distribution grid reliability. Among the countries in the region, China was the largest market for microgrid monitoring system in 2018. China has the highest installed power generation and distribution capacities, which is turn is resulting in huge demand for microgrid monitoring system.



The Global Microgrid Monitoring System Market is characterized by a diverse group of regional and international manufacturers. The market for microgrid monitoring system is moderately fragmented in nature. There is very minimal product differentiation which induces vendors to retain their market shares by pricing their products and services competitively. Additionally, established international vendors face intense competition from regional vendors which provide customers with comparatively low-priced and customized products.



Some of the major companies operating in the Global Microgrid Monitoring System Market are Siemens, General Electric Company, ABB, Schneider Electric, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories and Emerson.



Years considered for this report:

Story continues

Historical Years: 2014-2017

Base Year: 2018

Estimated Year: 2019

Forecast Period: 2020-2024

Objective of the Study

To analyze and forecast the Global Microgrid Monitoring System Market size.

To forecast the Global Microgrid Monitoring System Market based on grid type, component, ownership, end-user and regional distribution.

To identify drivers and challenges for the Global Microgrid Monitoring System Market.

To examine competitive developments such as expansions, new product launches, mergers & acquisitions, etc., in the Global Microgrid Monitoring System Market.

To conduct the pricing analysis for the Global Microgrid Monitoring System Market.

To identify and analyze the profile of leading players operating in the Global Microgrid Monitoring System Market.

Key Topics Covered



1. Product Overview



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Voice of Customer

4.1. Factors Considered while Selecting a Supplier

4.2. Product Awareness and Applicability & Usage Analysis

4.3. Challenges/Issues Faced Post Purchase

4.4. Unmet Needs



5. Global Microgrid Monitoring System Market Outlook

5.1. Market Size & Forecast

5.1.1. By Value

5.2. Market Share & Forecast

5.2.1. By Grid Type (On-grid; Off-grid)

5.2.2. By Component (Hardware; Software)

5.2.3. By Ownership (Public; Private)

5.2.4. By End-user (Utilities; Campuses & Institutions; Industrial; Commercial and Others)

5.2.5. By Region (Asia-Pacific; Europe; North America; South America; Middle East & Africa)

5.2.6. By Company (2018)

5.3. Market Attractiveness Index (By Grid Type; By Component, By Ownership, By End User, By Region)



6. Asia-Pacific Microgrid Monitoring System Market Outlook



7. North America Microgrid Monitoring System Market Outlook



8. Europe Microgrid Monitoring System Market Outlook



9. Middle East & Africa Microgrid Monitoring System Market Outlook



10. South America Microgrid Monitoring System Market Outlook



11. Market Dynamics

11.1. Drivers

11.2. Challenges



12. Market Trends & Developments



13. Competitive Landscape

13.1. Competition Outlook

13.2. Company Profiles

13.2.1. Basic Details

13.2.2. Financials (as reported)

13.2.3. Supply Chain Analysis

13.2.4. Key Market Focus and Geographical Presence

13.2.5. Planned Investments

13.2.6. Pricing of Target Products

13.2.7. Market positioning

13.3. Global Players Profiled (Leading Companies)

13.3.1 ABB Ltd.

13.3.2 Siemens AG

13.3.3 Eaton Corporation

13.3.4 General Electric Company

13.3.5 Emerson

13.3.6 Schneider Electric

13.3.7 Spirae

13.3.8 Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL)

13.3.9 Etap

13.3.10 S&C Electric Company

(Note: The companies list can be customized based on the client requirements)



14. Strategic Recommendations



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/z0lf9m

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.



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Visitors watch as Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft, produced by Airbus Group NV in Qatar Airways Ltd. livery, prepares to land.

American Airlines and Qatar Airways are renewing their code-share partnership, ending a more than two-year strained period in which Qatar's outspoken CEO insulted the U.S. carrier's employees while aggressively pushing to expand into North America.

The agreement is a clear sign the animosity and very public split between the two companies has healed.

"The issues that led to the suspension of our partnership two years ago have been addressed," American's Chairman and CEO Doug Parker said in a statement. "We believe resuming our codeshare agreement will allow us to provide service to markets that our customers, team members and shareholders value, including new growth opportunities for American Airlines."

Those opportunities could eventually include American adding service to the Qatari capital Doha, which would create more connections to destinations in the Middle East. A few years ago, such a move would have been considered unthinkable as American and Qatar engaged in their spat.
(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.









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Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/25/2020 -- According to the report, published by Fortune Business Insights, in a report, titled "Global Small Satellite Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, 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" the market size was valued at USD 4.18 Billion in 2018.



The global small satellite market size expected to reach USD 18.30 Billion by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 20.28% during the forecast period. The rising integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) in various industries will boost the small satellite market growth in the forthcoming years.



As IoT provides secure and high-availability data services for professional users along with high level of service reliability for active IoT deployments has led to the higher implementation of IoT. Additionally, the connectivity offered by (IoT) in industrial application for machine control & production of satellites will create new opportunities for the market in the foreseeable future.



Request a Sample Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/small-satellite-market-101917



List of the Major Companies in the Global Small Satellite Market Include:



Sierra Nevada Corporation

Singapore Technologies Engineering Limited

Surrey Satellite Technology LTD.

Planet Labs Inc.

Airbus S.A.S

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (Space X)

Boeing

Thales Alenia Space

Millennium Space Systems Inc.

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Geooptics Inc.

Oneweb LTD.

Harris Corporation

Surge in Satellite Communications to Facilitate Growth in North America



North America was valued at USD 2.57 Billion in 2018 and is predicted to lead the market during the forecast period. The rising adoption of the triband antenna will have a positive impact on the market in North America. Furthermore, the introduction of SKYWAN technology by NASA, a unique hybrid modem which competes with MF-TDMA and DVB-S2X, allowing for real-time transmission with high throughput, the best transport per application will augment healthy growth of the market in the forthcoming years.



Contract Between Lockheed Martin Corporation and the U.S. Air Force to Spur Growth Opportunities



The increasing collaborations between key players and government organizations will bolster the small satellite market growth in the foreseeable future. For instance, Raytheon Company (US) and the U.S. Air Force signed a contract with a valuation of USD 37 million to support anti-jamming efforts for satellite communications. Furthermore, the growing concerns regarding national safety and security will boost the small satellite market trends during the forecast period. For instance, In November 2019, Lockheed Martin Corporation. and the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center signed a contract with a valuation of USD 3,300 million for support services on classified military communications satellites.



Moreover, the launch of an orbit surveillance satellite by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will boost the small satellite market share in the forthcoming years. For instance, In 2019, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) technology used by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). PSLV C-45 satellite is a low-earth orbit surveillance satellite, mainly launched for military purposes, and helps to monitor the locations of enemy radar sites deep in their territory.



Browse a summary of this research report enabled with table of content and figures: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/small-satellite-market-101917



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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.



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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 25, 2020) - Plata Latina Minerals Corporation (TSXV: PLA) ("Plata Latina" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Plaminco S.A. de C.V., that Metalurgica Reyna S.A. de C.V. ("Reyna"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Fresnillo plc, has formally exercised its option to purchase the Company's Naranjillo Property ("Naranjillo" or the "Property") in Mexico. The February 8, 2017 Agreement (the "Agreement") provided Reyna a three-year term in which to conduct exploration and exercise the option.

The Naranjillo Project is a grassroots epithermal silver-gold discovery made by the Company in 2012 and is located in the Mexican Silver Belt, approximately 35 kilometers southeast of the Guanajuato mining district. Plata Latina's ore concept model and extensive experience along the Mexican Silver Belt led to the staking of the Property. Drilling by Plata Latina from 2012 to 2014 further delineated the silver-gold vein system. Upon entering the Agreement in 2017, Reyna continued with the drilling through 2019.

Summary of Reyna Agreement

The Agreement provided Reyna the right to explore and acquire 100% of Naranjillo during a three-year exploration period that started on February 8, 2017.

The terms of the option agreement were as follows:

Provided Reyna the right to explore the Naranjillo Property for a total cash payment to Plata Latina of US$1,650,000 over three years, based on staged payments. The last of the staged payments was received by the Company in August 2019.

During the three-year option period, Reyna was required to spend a minimum US$3,000,000 in exploration on the Naranjillo Property, which was completed.

In January 2020, before the end of the three-year option period, Reyna notified the Company of the exercise of its option to purchase the Naranjillo Property for a payment of US$500,000 and the granting of a 3% net smelter return royalty to Plata Latina (the "Royalty").

Reyna will make advance royalty payments of US$100,000 annually until either 1) a maximum of US$1,000,000 has been paid or 2) commercial production commences from the Naranjillo Property. Advance royalty payments will commence in February 2021. The advance royalty payments will be deducted from future royalty payments if commercial production commences from the Properties.

Reyna has the right to 1) buy the first 1% of the Royalty by paying US$1,000,000, 2) buy the remaining 2% Royalty by paying US$5,000,000, and 3) the right of first refusal in case that Plata Latina decides to sell and/or transfer the Royalty to third parties.

The transaction and transfer of the Property to Reyna was closed on February 24, 2020.

Qualified Person

This news release has been reviewed and approved by Mark G. Stevens, a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument (NI) 43-101. Mr. Stevens is V.P. Exploration for Plata Latina Minerals and has worked in the mining industry for more than 35 years, including evaluations of epithermal deposits from around the world.

About Plata Latina Minerals

Plata Latina Minerals is a Canadian exploration company with a portfolio of three silver-gold properties situated in the prolific Mexican Silver Belt and is focused on exploring these through its partners. Its highly experienced management team and board are focused on developing its portfolio of high-potential targets and exploring additional value-creation opportunities.

For more information on Plata Latina, please contact:

W. Durand Eppler, President & CEO

Telephone: +1 800 933 9925

Email: info@plminerals.com

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

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this release. Except as required by applicable law, Plata Latina disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Forward-looking information reflects the current expectations or belief of the Company based on information currently available and such information is subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including risks related to exploration, uncertainties related to financings, the uncertainties of interpreting exploration results and other risks associated being a mineral exploration company.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52780
President Donald Trump said Monday the United States will sign an agreement to sell $3 billion worth of U.S. helicopters and other equipment to India's military.

The announcement came as Trump spoke at a welcome rally called "Namaste Trump" in the city of Ahmedabad, where a crowd of more than 100,000 people had gathered to hear from him and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Ahead of the visit, Trump had said a new major trade deal between the two countries would not be part of this trip. But in his address he promised the two countries will be making "among the biggest ever trade deals," and said he is optimistic that he and Modi can reach "a good, even great deal" for both sides.

Modi also struck an optimistic note about a potential trade agreement, saying ties were expanding in spheres ranging from defense, the energy sector and information technology, and that a resurgent India would present new opportunities for the U.S.

Calling the two countries "natural partners," Modi said they can help bring peace, progress and security not just in the Indo-Pacific region, but in the entire world. "We are inspired by a long-term vision, not just short term considerations," Modi said.

During a mainly off-the-record conversation with reporters on the short flight from Ahmedabad to Agra, Trump was asked by VOA if there was any single contentious sector holding up a big trade deal. "I am in no rush" to conclude a trade pact, responded the president. "We are doing well with India, we are making deals."

Despite no announcement of a trade deal, analysts say the visit is mutually beneficial to both leaders. "They both want to be seen as strong leaders," said Aparna Pande, director of Hudson Institute's Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia, adding that both leaders see parallels in each other as they are nationalist-populists who want their economy to grow and the military to be powerful.
Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company, today announced that it has been recognized as the 'Best Global Systems Integrator' by leading data platform company, Looker, during the 2019 Looker Partner Summit.

Wipro received the award for its significant investment towards building the comprehensive Looker services practice in 2019. The award also recognizes a commitment to executive alignment, new business development, strategic planning, cross-selling, new offering development and overall partnership excellence.

Wipro's global expertise complemented by Looker's technology portfolio, supports several large enterprises to realize the full potential of their cloud infrastructure investment and helps them in their transformation to Intelligent Enterprise. The partnership helps customers take smarter decisions by delivering insights on cloud data through extraction and loading, governed transformation, and discovery and visualizations. Together, Wipro and Looker provide a remarkable value, driven by collaboration, commitment and thought leadership around next-gen technologies.

Keenan Rice, Vice President, Strategic Alliances, Looker said, "We are happy to recognize Wipro as the Best Global Systems Integrator 2019. Wipro empowers intelligent enterprises to simplify their Business Intelligence landscape and make the migration to powerful modern cloud database solutions and Looker, easier. We are always working together to help businesses of all sizes, geographies and industries achieve lower operating costs, improve time to market, increase flexibility, and achieve better collaboration and business decision-making."

Jayant Prabhu, Vice President and Global Head, Data, Analytics AI, Wipro Limited said, "Building a collaborative ecosystem has helped us innovate at speed and enabled business transformation for our clients. We are honoured to be the first choice as a partner for cloud-based insights implementation. This recognition strengthens our ability to leverage the partner ecosystem and provide world-class services to our clients. We are committed towards providing an exceptional customer experience for clients expediting their data to decisions journey, making them a truly Intelligent Enterprise."

About Wipro Limited

Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO) is a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company. We harness the power of cognitive computing, hyper-automation, robotics, cloud, analytics and emerging technologies to help our clients adapt to the digital world and make them successful. A company recognized globally for its comprehensive portfolio of services, strong commitment to sustainability and good corporate citizenship, we have over 175,000 dedicated employees serving clients across six continents. Together, we discover ideas and connect the dots to build a better and a bold new future.

Forward-looking and Cautionary Statements

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in our earnings, revenue and profits, our ability to generate and manage growth, intense competition in IT services, our ability to maintain our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which we make strategic investments, withdrawal of fiscal governmental incentives, political instability, war, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property, and general economic conditions affecting our business and industry. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. We may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005581/en/

Contacts:

Nisha Chandrasekaran

Wipro Limited

nisha.chandrasekaran@wipro.com
Himachal Pradesh Governor Bandaru Dattatreya on Tuesday expressed the state government's support to the Centre on the new citizenship law and nullification of Article 370, praising the strong leadership in Delhi.

In his two-hour address that marked the opening of the assembly's Budget session, Dattatreya said the state government has fulfilled most of its poll promises.

He also welcomed the Supreme Court's Ayodhya verdict that has paved the way for the construction of a Ram temple.

Dattatreya said a single Constitution is now in force after the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370, bringing the entire nation from Kashmir to Kanyakumari under one tricolour.

This became possible only because of the guidance of a strong leadership in the country, he said, reflecting the views of the two-year-old BJP government in the state.

My government endorses these decisions and congratulates the Centre for taking these unprecedented decisions, he said.

The Governor listed out the policies and programmes of the Jai Ram Thakur government, saying it has lived up to the promises made during the assembly polls.

He said the Centre has sanctioned to the state 327 schemes amounting to Rs 2,896 crore under 'Jal Jeevan Mission' on drinking water.

Dattatreya said Rs 597 crore has been disbursed till January 21 among the 8.46 lakh farmers in the state under the centrally sponsored PM Kisan Samman Nidhi'.

The state government has provided free gas connections to 2.76 lakh families under the Himachal Grihini Suvidha Yojna, he said.

No eligible family which had applied up to December 2019 is left out, he said.

On the Global Investor Meet in Dharamshala in November, he claimed the state government signed 736 MoUs worth Rs 97,700 crore and these could provide employment to 1.96 lakh youths.

In the current financial year, 67 more villages have been connected by road, the Governor said.The state now has 37,374 km of motorable roads.

An MoU has been signed with the Airports Authority of India to develop an airport in Mandi district, he said.

The state archives digitised 16.91 lakh pages of ancient manuscripts and other archival material, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Holly Grimet on Facebook

A Rosharon woman was left a "crying mess" Saturday after she found her child's birthday cake was paid for  accompanied by an emotional note from the unknown mother who bought it.

Holly Grimet posted a photo of the note to Facebook Saturday afternoon along with her own reaction to the incident at an Alvin Kroger, where she went to pick up her child's birthday cake early Saturday.
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Linkedin Nezar Patria, Esther Samboh and Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 25, 2020 07:30 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206654b83 1 Business omnibus-bill,job-creation,investment,job-opportunities,Airlangga-Hartarto,Coordinating-Economic-Minister,interview,economic-growth,GDP,economy Free

The government is upbeat that the sweeping omnibus bill on job creation will bolster investment and open up more jobs for Indonesians, as it braces for tough public scrutiny during the bills deliberation at the House of Representatives.

Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto said that the omnibus bill on job creation could help the government inch closer to its 6 percent economic growth target through Rp 1,200 trillion (US$87 billion) in projected investment.

Under a business as usual scenario, he added, Indonesia would attract between Rp 800 trillion and Rp 900 trillion in investment per year, therefore the bill could add more than Rp 300 trillion in investment into Indonesia. The country booked Rp 810 trillion in investment in 2019 from domestic and foreign investors, Coordinating Investment Board (BKPM) data shows.

To reach the [economic] growth target of 6 percent, we need faster decision-making, a faster licensing process and to ease the doing of business for small and medium businesses, Airlangga added during an interview with The Jakarta Post. He referred to gross domestic product (GDP) growth targets in the 2020-2024 National Medium Term Development Plan (RPJMN).

We are targeting 3 million new jobs in the manufacturing sector, start-up companies and part-time workers. Indonesia at present adds around 2 million jobs per year. With a young and growing population, this number is not sufficient to keep up with high school and university graduates entering the labor market.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto in Jakarta on Monday, February 24. 2020. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)

President Joko Jokowi Widodos administration submitted the omnibus bill on job creation on Feb. 12 to the House, expecting deliberations to be concluded within 100 working days so as to attract more investment to help boost the countrys flagging economic growth rate.

Airlangga added that the governments planned omnibus bill would open up financial access for small and medium businesses (SMEs). He went on to say that the proposed bill would also relax regulations to allow SMEs to become formal companies. This will change the informal sector into a formal one.

Indonesias economy grew 5.02 percent last year, the lowest growth rate in four years, as investment and exports cooled. Investment  the second-largest contributor to GDP growth  expanded 4.45 percent last year, a far cry from the 6.67 percent growth rate recorded in 2018.

The omnibus bill is the governments plan to boost investment and we really need to kick-start economic growth. The misnomers we are seeing right now are being caused by a lack of communication between the government and related stakeholders, such as investors and labor unions, Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) Indonesia research director Piter Abdullah told The Post.

Indonesia needs a breakthrough and the omnibus bill is that breakthrough. But the government should have communicated the proposed plan more clearly. The omnibus legislation should be drafted carefully and not be rushed.

Read also: Guide to omnibus bill on job creation: 1,028 pages in 10 minutes

The 2020-2024 RPJMN planning document shows that Indonesias mid-term economic growth target is well short of the ambitious 8 percent target stipulated in the previous 2015-2019 plan. The government now hopes to realize growth of between 5.4 percent and 6 percent.

This years economic growth target of 5.3 percent, as documented in the 2020 state budget, has been criticized by economists as unrealistic, especially now that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is expected to drag down economic growth in China, Indonesias largest trading partner and second-largest foreign investor.

A drop of just one percentage point in Chinas economic growth rate will result in a drop of 0.3 to 0.6 percentage points in Indonesias [growth], Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said during a recent media briefing in Jakarta.
T he East Anglian town of Ipswich has today been named as an emerging destination in TripAdvisors annual Travellers Choice Awards.

According to data from the TripAdvisor team, Ipswich has emerged as a global tourism hotspot, alongside Tulsa in the US, Luxor in Egypt and Antwerp in Belgium.

It placed 14th on the list of 25 emerging destinations, with Kaliningrad in Russia, Saranda in Albania and Beirut in Lebanon taking the top three spots respectively.

Of Ipswich, TripAdvisor said: A destination thats managed to keep its historical charm intact, Ipswich is a cultural hub of activity. From strolling through the arboretum at Christchurch Park, taking in a show at the famous Regent Theatre, viewing Constables art at Christchurch Mansion, its little wonder travellers are falling in love with Ipswich. With superb transport links, an excellent range of accommodation options and ever-growing list of theatres, dance houses and things to, Ipswich is attracting some well-deserved traveller attention.

TripAdvisors top emerging destinations for 2020 1. Kaliningrad, Russia 2. Saranda, Albania 3. Beirut, Lebanon 4. Luxor, Egypt 5. Naoussa, Greece 6. Rugen Island, Germany 7. Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam 8. Monopoli, Italy 9. La Paz, Mexico 10. Curacao, Caribbean 11. Ile d'Oleron, France 12. Guayaquil, Ecuador 13. Tulsa, United States 14. Ipswich, United Kingdom 15. Franschhoek, South Africa 16. Tangier, Morocco 17. Takamatsu, Japan 18. Cala d'Or, Spain 19. Petropolis, Brazil 20. Antwerp, Belgium 21. Mirissa, Sri Lanka 22. Alvor, Portugal 23. Winnipeg, Canada 24. Darwin, Australia 25. Agra, India

Alongside the pick of emerging destinations, TripAdvisor has also listed its global trending destinations, with Kochi in India at the top of the list, followed by Luzon in the Philippines and Porto in Portugal.

The only UK destination to make the trending list was Scotlands Edinburgh, praised for its heritage, culture and festivals.

TripAdvisors top trending destinations for 2020 1. Kochi, India 2. Luzon, Philippines 3. Porto, Portugal 4. Porto Seguro, Brazil 5. Gramado, Brazil 6. Lombok, Indonesia 7. Da Nang, Vietnam 8. Zakynthos, Greece 9. Tel Aviv, Israel 10. Krakow, Poland 11. Island of Malta, Malta 12. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 13. Cusco, Peru 14. Buenos Aires, Argentina 15. Vienna, Austria 16. Fuerteventura, Spain 17. Mexico City, Mexico 18. Chiang Mai, Thailand 19. Fes, Morocco 20. Budapest, Hungary 21. Zanzibar Island, Tanzania 22. Cartagena, Colombia 23. Edinburgh, United Kingdom 24. Cebu, Philippines 25. Moscow, Russia

Emma Shaw, TripAdvisor spokesperson said in a statement: From the hot trending destinations our TripAdvisor travellers are currently loving, to fascinating new places whetting the appetite of more adventurous explorers, these winners are all ones to watch.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 25

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

The number of tourists from Turkmenistan visiting Turkey amounted to 18,989 people in Jan. 2020, which is 10.29 percent less compared to Jan. 2019, Turkeys Ministry of Culture and Tourism told Trend.

The share of Turkmen citizens in the total number of foreigners visiting Turkey in Jan. 2020 amounted to 1.06 percent.

Over 1.7 million tourists visited Turkey in Jan. 2020, which is 16.11 percent more compared to Jan. 2019.

Over 1 million tourists visited Istanbul and 152,976 tourists visited Antalya during the reporting month.

The number of tourists from Turkmenistan visiting Turkey amounted to 297,706 people in 2019, which is 17.71 percent more compared to 2018.

The share of Turkmen citizens in the total number of foreigners visiting Turkey in 2019 amounted to 0.66 percent.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
From the razor-sharp opening paragraph to the dramatic ending 863 pages later, Hilary Mantels The Mirror & The Light is superb, right to the last crimson drop.

The portrait of Thomas Cromwell that started with Wolf Hall (2009) and continued with Bring Up the Bodies (2012)  both Booker Prize-winning novels  concludes with another masterpiece of historical fiction. The Mirror & The Light opens with the execution of Anne Boleyn in May 1536. She was killed by a hired Frenchman, who used a sword made of Toledo steel from Spain. Its doubtful the so-called Calais Executioner, the foreigner brought in to separate the Queens skull from her neck, would have ranked highly on Priti Patels points-based immigration system. A head is heavier than you might expect, the executioner notes drolly, as one of Annes attendants swaddles the severed remains in linen to carry away for burial.

Cromwell is in his early fifties by the time of Annes death. As Lord Privy Seal, deputy head of the church in England and chief minister, he is left to organise a new Queen and maintain English power in Europe, while outmanoeuvring enemies close at home. Cromwell, we are told, is always there to shovel up the shit.

Mantels depiction of royal court intrigue is excellent. She captures the atmosphere of a place choking on itself, where councillors take turns at being humiliated. Cromwell, a former cloth merchant, a self-made man, is at the centre of most machinations. He is constantly watchful. He posts guards at every door. The times being what they are, a man may enter the gate as your friend and change sides while he crosses the courtyard, he remarks. Everything is a performance for this scheming, hateful man with small, quick eyes and a black heart.

Book plot twists Show all 17 1 /17 Book plot twists Book plot twists We Need to Talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver (2003) Lionel Shrivers dark novel is set in the aftermath of a high-school massacre, told from the perspective of the killers mother, Eva. She is coming to terms with her son Kevins actions, as told through a series of letters to her husband, Franklin. The twist comes when it is revealed that Franklin and their daughter, Celia, are in fact dead, having been murdered by Kevin before he travelled to the school, in a final act of hatred towards his mother. Book plot twists The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant (1884) Guy de Maupaussant was known for his signature twist endings, but arguably his best known is in his short story The Necklace. It tells of a lowly Frenchwoman, Madame Mathilde Loisel, who describes her poor fortune as an accident of fate. After her husband receives an invitation to a party thrown by the Ministry of Education, she borrows a spectacular diamond necklace from her friend, Madame Forestier, only to lose it. Desperate to find a replacement, she and her husband sell everything they own. It is a decade later, when Mathilde bumps into Madame Forestier, that she learns the original necklace was in fact a fake, and worth a mere 500 francs. Book plot twists Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (1847) The course of true love never did run smooth, and Charlotte Brontes beloved novel is a classic example of that. When the courageous orphan Jane Eyre accepts a job as a governess at Thornfield Hall, she quickly falls in love with her brooding employer Mr Rochester. After she reveals her true feelings, he proposes marriage and, despite consternation from those around them, they head to church. Yet Jane is dealt a crushing blow when it is revealed that Mr Rochester is already married, to a woman named Bertha Mason. He drags her back to Thrornfield Hall and makes the dramatic introduction with yet another twist: Bertha is mad, and has been living in the attic for years. A devastated Jane flees Thornfield, unable to compromise her Christian values and remain with a married man. Book plot twists Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier (1938) This classic of gothic literature is a masterfully plotted suspense novel about a young and naive woman who becomes the second wife of the cold and aristocratic Maxim de Winter. Its heroine comes to his Cornish mansion, Manderley and finds herself competing with the ghost of her husband's dead wife, Rebecca. The narrative is built upon two unexpected twists. First, we realise that Rebecca, despite all the housekeeper, Mrs Danvers has led us to believe, was in fact evil, and that Maxim never loved her  in fact, he murdered her. In another shocking twist, Rebecca is revealed to have been terminally ill when Maxim killed her, and not pregnant with her cousin and lover, Jack Favell's child, as she had claimed. Book plot twists Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling (2007) In the seventh and final Harry Potter novel, readers discover that Professor Snape, one of Harry's lead tormentors throughout the series, has been looking out for him all along. After Snape's dramatic death at the hands of the evil Lord Voldemort, he uses magic to share his memories with Harry and reveal the truth. In a heart-wrenching twist, it emerges that Snape not only loved Harrys mother but agreed to watch over him at Dumbledores request, and risk his life as a double agent pretending to serve Voldemort. Book plot twists The Turn of the Screw by Henry James (1898) An unnamed governess narrates the strange experiences of seeing ghosts at Bly, a country house in Essex, as she cares for two children, Miles and Flora, who are under the guardianship of their uncle. Those ghosts turn out to be Ms Jessel, the childrens last governess and Peter Quint, a former valet. Nobody seems to see the ghosts except the governess  or do they? Just as you expect Miles to be released from a ghost's control, as Flora was before him, he dies in the arms of the governess. More than 100 years after the novel was first published, readers still can't decide whether the ghosts were real, or if the governess was simply mad. Book plot twists My Sisters Keeper by Jodi Picoult (2004) This 2004 novel is about 13-year-old Anna, who takes her parents to court in order to win the right to refuse to continue donating organs to her sick sister, Kate. While her parents try to paint her as selfish, it emerges that Kate is the one urging Anna to take action. A tragic and cruel twist of fate takes place when, just as the judge has ruled in Annas favour, she is injured in a car accident with the lawyer who is given power of attorney. A doctor informs her parents that Anna is brain-dead before asking if they have considered organ donation. Anna's lawyer gives her permission before Annas life support machine is switched off. Book plot twists Shutter Island by Denis Lehane (2003) US Marshal Teddy Daniels and his partner Chuck Aule investigate the disappearance of a murderer from a hospital for the criminally insane. But just as the reader is identifying with Teddys noble fight for justice in a corrupt system, everything is turned on its head. Teddy is not a US Marshal after all, but a man named Andrew Laeddis  the most dangerous patient on the island  who murdered his wife after she drowned her three children. His partner, meanwhile, is actually a psychiatrist who has staged the events of the previous days in order to help him confront his past. Book plot twists Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1893) Fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyles popular detective stories were devastated upon reading The Adventure of the Final Problem, in which Sherlock Holmes apparently perishes after falling off a cliff while battling his greatest nemesis Professor Moriarty. Readers were furious, and wrote angry letters to The Strand magazine, which published the stories, threatening to cancel their subscriptions. Such was the uproar that Conan Doyle decided to concede and publish The Adventures of the Empty House in 1903, in which he reveals that Sherlock managed to survive the Reichenbach Falls. Book plot twists Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding (2013) Bridget Jones fans didnt see this one coming. In Helen Fieldings third book, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, set 14 years after the events in the second novel, it is revealed that Bridget is a widow after the death of Mark Darcy. But we all thought they lived happily ever after? The revelation was not received well by fans, to the point where directors of the film adaptation decided to chance the plot completely and write out Darcy's death. Book plot twists Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (2012) When Amy Dunne disappears on her wedding anniversary, her husband Nick Dunne becomes the prime suspect in her murder. But in one of the most talked-about twists of the year, it emerges that Amy is still alive and is trying to frame her husband after learning he has been unfaithful. Book plot twists The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (2015) This psychological thriller novel sets up three main suspects in a woman's disappearance: her husband Scott, Dr Kamal Abdic, and Rachel, an alcoholic divorcee who may have killed her in a sudden fit of rage. Of course, it was none of the above: Rachel's gaslighting ex-partner Tom had been having an affair with Megan, his child's nanny and his lover. It emerges that before he left Rachel, he had used her blackouts to trick her into thinking she had been violent or aggressive. Book plot twists Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (2002) The orphan Sue Trinder is sent to help Richard Gentleman Rivers to seduce a rich heiress, Maud Lily. By pretending to be her maid, Sue has to persuade the lady to elope with Gentleman, after which he plans to commit Maud to a mental asylum. Sue and Maud develop a physical attraction towards each other, but Sue, feeling she has no choice, persuades Maud to marry Gentleman. Yet when they arrive at the asylum, it is Sue, rather than Maud, who is admitted. Sue realises she has been conned, and the readers learn that Sue and Maud were switched at birth. Book plot twists Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk (1996) The unnamed narrator, a troubled insomniac, forms an underground fight club with soap salesman Tyler Durden. After a string of misadventures, the narrator realises that Tyler is actually a result of his multiple personality disorder. Book plot twists And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (1939) It's impossible to read an Agatha Christie whodunit and not be surprised  its never who you expect. This 1939 story happens to be the world's best-selling mystery novel, and centres on 10 strangers who are gathered on an island off the coast of Devon by the mysterious Mr and Mrs Owen. As each of the guests is killed off, It appears the killer must surely be the last person standing (in this case Vera, who then kills herself). But it turns out that it was, in fact, Justice Wargrave all along. How did he get away with it? Simple. He faked his own death. Book plot twists Before I Go to Sleep by SJ Watson (2008) This psychological thriller tells the story of Christine Lucas, who is suffering from anterograde amnesia. She wakes up on a daily basis with no idea who she is and has to reacquaint herself with her husband Ben, who helps her remember her life. On her doctors advice, she uses a journal to try and piece her memories together. The clever twist? The man claiming to be Ben is not Christines husband but is the man she had an affair with, who attacked her and caused her memory problems. She is reunited with her real husband and son, who she had been told was dead. But will she forget all of this the next day? Book plot twists Atonement by Ian McEwan (2001) Briony Tallis is a precocious child who stumbles upon her older sister, Cecila, in a compromising position with their housekeeper's son, Robbie. Already believing him to be a maniac, Briony makes a false accusation of rape against him after her cousin, Lola, is attacked. Robbie is sent to prison and then enlisted to serve in World War II, after which the reader informed that he is reunited with Cecilia so they can finally live out their lives together. In a crushing revelation, an older Briony then tells the reader that their reunion is another lie, that Robbie died in the war and Cecila perished during a bomb raid. The novel she has written about the couple is her attempt to make amends for ruining their real-life chance at happiness.

Mantels Cromwell trilogy, set in such an accessible period for historical fiction, has deservedly struck a real chord with the reading public  and this concluding instalment has understated messages for our own era of conflict and unbridled ambition. The Mirror & the Light takes place from 1536 to 1540, a time of rebellion, when England is collapsing in on itself, like a house of straw. Henry worries that Europe regards England as low-hanging fruit, exhausted game.

Mantel depicts a king capable of turning on those closest to him at any moment. When Henry is sporting a turban (he liked dressing up in Turkish costumes), Cromwell kneels at his feet, but does not praise the outfit. There is a limit to how much awe a man can feign, Mantel notes. Even a master of dissimulation such as Cromwell can run out of luck, but maybe he always knew his end would be bleak. This is what life does for you in the end; it arranges a fight you cant win, he says, sitting in jail like a piece of broken meat.

The Mirror & the Light is another shrewd character portrait of Cromwell, and it is also a complex, insightful exploration of power, sex, loyalty, friendship, religion, class and statecraft. A single reading hardly seems sufficient to grasp the intricate treasures of Mantels novel  but it is enough to know for sure that The Mirror & the Light is a stunning conclusion to one of the great trilogies of our times.

The Mirror & the Light by Hilary Mantel is published by 4th Estate on 5 March, 25
When darkness falls, the sky starts revealing what the powerful glare of the sun was hiding. Millions of bright stars huddled together in clusters, streaks of light made by comets and other heavenly bodies hurtling from one end to the other, and many other celestial bodies yet to be identified. Night skies have been a human fascination from the moment they appeared on the planet. It has inspired literature and art and continues to do so even today. Ancient religions have based their beliefs on heavenly objects like the moon and the stars believing they are the abodes of the gods. Here are ten of the fascinating objects that can be seen in the night sky.

A Full Sturgeon Moon

A full sturgeon moon rises behind Storke Tower. Image credit: Glenn Beltz

A sturgeon moon refers to the appearance of the moon in its entirety in August when the sturgeon fish are caught in abundance. The legend originated from Native Americans who referred to it as the red moon owing to the reddish appearance it sometimes had. The breathtaking appearance of the moon at its biggest size is a sight to behold at night, and many people spend their night outdoors, viewing it through their telescopes and taking pictures using high-end zoom cameras.

Meteor Showers

Perseid Meteor Shower Peak Night at White Sands National Monument. Image credit: nps.gov.

The space is full of debris and asteroids make up the most. It is estimated that there are more than 150 million asteroids in the solar system. Once in a while, some get close enough to be pulled into the earths atmosphere by gravity. As they fall, they burn brightly, giving the impression of a falling star. Such sights are magnificent to behold, and many cultures around the world believe they are harbingers of good luck. Earth receives a minimum of 30 meteor showers in a year, and these only accounts for the visible ones. Most meteors and asteroids burn up in the atmosphere even before they go far.

Constellations

IThe Big Dipper is a large asterism consisting of the constellation Ursa Major. Image credit: NASA / Public domain

Stars have been at the center of mythology and astronomy for as long as man has existed on earth. The desire to attribute everything to a higher power led to humans gaze to the nearest thing they could see, constellations. There are about 88 constellations that have officially been recognized by astronomers, and they cover the entire sky. The 12 significant constellations have been used for ages to predict peoples fortunes. They are now referred to as the 12 horoscope signs. The most visible constellations are the Great Bear in the northern hemisphere. The Orion hunter and Taurus. Others worth mentioning are Aquila, Aries, Canis Major, Leo, Pisces, Ursa Major, Cassiopeia, the Northern Cross, Gemini, and Scorpius.

Planets

The Venus-Jupiter-Moon conjunction happens about once a year. Image credit: Stephen Rahn

Other planets are rarely visible to the naked eye from earth. The nearest planet to Earth, Mercury, is 48 million miles away. However, there are certain times of the year when some of the closest planets to earth can be viewed. Both Mercury and Venus can be visible in the eastern sky just before dawn. Being the two planets closest to the sun is the reason why the two are the easiest to spot is because of their brightness, which could be due to their proximity to the sun. It is easy to confuse the two with natural stars. Jupiter and Saturn are also visible for brief moments at some points in the year.

The Milky Way

The Milky Way. Image credit: universetoday.com

The Milky Way is one of the many galaxies in the universe, and the one planet earth together with the whole solar system is part of. It is made up of millions of stars, and on some occasions when the night sky is free of clouds, it can be seen from earth. The milky way is shaped like a spiral, but when viewed from earth, it looks like a straight band of stars. This is because the earth, being part of it, is located on one side of the galaxy. The Milky Way is most visible during the summer months.

Nebulae

A nebula. Image credit: ESA/Hubble / Public domain

The nebulae refer to interstellar clouds of dust and gases such as helium, hydrogen, and other ionized gases that are so vast and visible to the naked eye all from our planet earth. What makes the nebulae visible are the gases that react to generate heat and light emitted by stars. The reaction causes a fluorescent effect that appears to be a glowing pattern of various bright lights. There are about 3,000 nebulae in the milky way galaxy alone and countless more in other galaxies. The closest nebula to earth is the Helix Nebula.

Spacecrafts And Satelites

A satelite in the night sky. Image credit: Universetoday.com.

The exact number of spacecraft in space is not publicly known, but it is estimated that there are over 2,200 satellites that orbit the earth. These human-made objects have become part of the space, and some can be spotted from the earth as they slowly orbit the planet. Various countries have set up space stations in their effort to crack the mysteries of space.

Globular Clusters

Globular cluster. Image credit: NASA, The Hubble Heritage Team

Globular clusters refer to a conglomeration of thousands of stars that are packed together to give the appearance of a large fuzzy star when viewed with the naked eye. However, on a closer look using a powerful telescope, a globular cluster is an array of glittering stars tightly bound together by gravity, which is responsible for their spherical appearance. The closest and the brightest globular cluster is called the M22 and can be seen nestled in the same area as the Sagittarius constellation. The M22 is located 10,000 light-years away from the earth.

Andromeda Galaxy

The Andromeda Galaxy. Image credit: Space.com

The Andromeda galaxy is the furthest thing in space that can be viewed by the naked eye. Andromeda is also the closest galaxy to our Milky Way galaxy. It is estimated to be located 2.5 million light-years away from the earth. The Andromeda galaxy has over a trillion stars, which is five times more stars compared to the Milky Way galaxy. The brightness of the Andromeda is what makes it visible from the earth with the naked eye.

Northern Lights

The Northern Lights is one of the most beautiful sights in the night sky. Image credit: Cameron Pickett/Wikimedia.org.

Better known as Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon caused by disruptions in the magnetic forces present in the atmosphere caused by solar winds. The Aurora Borealis is, without doubt, the most entrancing and magical sights of the night sky confined to specific areas of the planet. The colors associated with northern lights include green, pink, violet, blue, and orange. Alaska, Canada, and the Scandinavian regions are some of the best locations for viewing the northern lights.

The Night Sky Is Vanishing

It is getting harder and harder to fully view the night sky in its natural state thanks to interference with artificial lights that urban centers emit. Light pollution has become a problem for astronomers forcing them to set up stations in places as far away from human settlements as possible. The Milky Way is massive enough to be seen by almost everyone on earth. However, light pollution has blocked that from a third of humanity. Cities have become so big that their lighting creates skyglow that is too strong for natural light in the sky, obscuring visibility. Highly developed continents like Europe barely have any space left that is free from light pollution. The only places that still possess large areas where the sky can be viewed without any interference are Africa and Australia. These pockets of light free spaces where people can view the sky in its natural state are called dark-sky refuges.
Before US first lady Melania Trump visited a Delhi government school, a wave of happiness took over Gorakhpur. A member of the core team of six of the happiness curriculum, is from there.

Shravan Kumar Shukla, a government school teacher in Chiluatal is the person in question. He has been on deputation to Delhi since 2016 as part of the Delhi school project.



In a chat with TOI, he shared how a chance meeting with Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia set things in motion.



"In 2004-05, I had gone to Chhattisgarh and attended camp on human values. There, I met Manish Sisodia who at the time was neither in politics nor associated with Anna Hazare. He was working for RTI. We shared a frequency as in many ways. When he came to power in Delhi in 2015, he called me on deputation and I became a member of the core creative team of six people for the happiness curriculum in schools there. I am happy that the programme has achieved recognition and praise. Nepal has asked us to share the curriculum for their schools as also countries like UAE and Afghanistan. It is a great honour that Melania Trump is visiting Delhi happiness classes, he said.



He completed his education from Gorakhpur and in 1999 started teaching at a basic education school.

Since childhood, I believed that all human beings irrespective of location, religion, caste and sex share immense similarities. A set of values is common to everyone. However, instead of nourishing those values, we have blindly adopted an education system and forgotten what makes us happy and good human beings, he added.

I would love to work for my home state. The results of the happiness classes would be understood after 20 years when Delhi will be a better place to live in. So far, no one from UP government has contacted me for the curriculum, he went on to say.

Mrs Trump was clearly a big fan of it and it is no wonder why the likes of UAE, Nepal and Afghanistan are looking to follow this examples in their schools.
U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will all be among the featured speakers at a four-day conference that features some of the most influential conservative voices in the country.

All three Republicans are part of the annual Conservative Political Action Conference that drew more than 19,000 attendees in 2019, according to organizers. CPAC has long been considered a launching pad for Republican political candidates, dating back to 1974 when future-President Ronald Reagan spoke at the group's first meeting.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak to the group on Saturday and Vice President Mike Pence delivers his own address on Thursday.

For Crenshaw, its the second invite in a row. Hes scheduled to host a session on Wednesday at 3 p.m. CST focused on what Crenshaw calls the deep cultural challenges that the rise of socialism is putting on the nation.

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When the thought leader of one of our countrys major political parties is a socialist, it speaks to deeper division than just policy differences, Crenshaw said in previewing a part of his presentation. It speaks to deep cultural differences.

Crenshaw, a Houston Republican and retired Navy SEAL, has become an in-demand speaker in conservative politics after his come-from-behind victory in his first Congressional race in 2018. Though he is a new member of Congress, Crenshaw has already been on Sunday morning talk shows, and has appeared as a guest on ABCs The View and even NBCs Saturday Night Live. The exposure has helped him become one of the biggest fundraisers in Congress despite just starting his second year in office.

Cruz, meanwhile, has been a regular at CPAC since 2013. This year, however, hes doing more than just giving a speech. The Houston Republican is scheduled to do his new podcast, Verdict, live from CPAC with Michael Knowles his co-contributor. They are expected to have Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel on the program starting at 12:20 p.m. CST.

Know the candidates: Houston Chronicle 2020 primary election voter guide; San Antonio Express-News 2020 primary election voter guide

Cruz started the podcast during the impeachment trial of the president and announced hes going to continue doing it.

Paxton, a Republican from McKinney, will be part of a panel discussion on Friday at 3 p.m. CST entitled: Rewarding Lawbreakers: Sanctuary Cities & Porous Borders. That session will include U.S. Rep. Brain Babin, R-Woodville.

CPAC streams the events during the four-day conference, held this year in National Harbor, Maryland, on its website at https://cpac.conservative.org/attend/live/
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She's been showing off her modelling prowess during the busy fashion calendar.

And Kaia Gerber was sure to turn heads as she stormed the runway for Saint Laurent's Fall/Winter show for Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday.

The model, 18, looked sensational as she put on a very busty display in a latex bra, which she paired with matching high-waisted skirt and boots.

Stunning: Kaia Gerber put on a VERY busty display in a latex bra as she stormed the runway for Saint Laurent show at Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday

Adding a pop of colour to her look, Kaia donned a mustard-yellow coat over her revealing ensemble, while she accessorised with a yellow-and-green scarf.

Her brunette locks were brushed into a sleek, straight style, and she wore a slick of red lipstick to accentuate her plump pout.

Completing the runway ensemble, Kaia wore a striking gold chain-link necklace and large gold floral earrings.

Stylish: Adding a pop of colour to her look, Kaia donned a mustard-yellow coat over her revealing ensemble, while she accessorised with a yellow-and-green scarf

Gorgeous: The model looked sensational as she in the latex bra that was paired with matching high-waist skirt and heeled boots

Sizzling display: Kaia wore a sultry expression as she walked down the runway with purpose

Leader: Kaia was front and centre of the runway show as she walked with her fellow models in the Saint Laurent ensembe

Hailey Bieber looked incredible as she arrived at the glittering YSL fashion show, and displayed her cleavage and toned legs in a thigh-skimming glittering mini dress paired with vertiginous heels.

The halterneck dress exhibited her taut midriff and wrapped around her slender waist, adorned with shimmering silver stripes.

The tiny garment displayed the star's honed legs, with the star pairing this with metal tipped stilettos.

Making an entrance: Hailey Bieber looked incredible as she arrived at the glittering YSL fashion show, and displayed her cleavage and toned legs in a thigh-skimming glittering mini dress paired with vertiginous heels

Pretty: Hailey's blonde tresses were styled in soft waves while her gorgeous features were enhanced with smoky shadow, kohl liner and a slick of rose gloss

All that glitters: Hailey accessorised her glittering ensemble by wearing a pair of dangling silver earrings

Enjoying herself: Hailey was sat on the front row with Game Of Thrones star Kit Harington, who looked dapper in all-black

Dressed to impress: Kit wore eyeliner for the occasion, which complemented his black co-ord suit

Time to party! After the show, Kit was seen outside the Yves Saint Laurent Party in Paris

Low-key exit: After the show, Hailey was seen heading to her hotel with a female pal

Her blonde tresses were styled in soft waves while her gorgeous features were enhanced with smoky shadow, kohl liner and a slick of rose gloss.

Brooklyn Beckham and and Nicola Peltz looked smitten as they stepped out for the event, and posed up a storm as they arrived at the glitzy event.

The aspiring photographer, 20, and his actress love, 25, wore matching all-black outfits as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

Nicola teased a glimpse of her honed abs in a black top paired with satin panelled culottes and platform shoes.

Loved-up: Brooklyn Beckham and and Nicola Peltz looked smitten as they stepped out for the event, and posed up a storm as they arrived at the glitzy event

Stunning: Nicola teased a glimpse of her honed abs in a black top paired with satin panelled culottes

Dressed to the nines: Brooklyn looked dapper in an open-necked shirt and blazer, which he teamed with matching trousers as he embraced Nicola

Heading home: Brooklyn and Nicola were seen walking arm-in-arm as they made their way out the venue

Smitten: Joe Keery and girlfriend Maika Monroe kept close to each other's sides as they posed at the event

Cosy: The happy couple sat close together as they settled in on the FROW ahead of the show

The edgy top boasted padded shoulders and silk embellishments, with the star accessorising her look with a leather handbag.

Her blonde locks were styled in soft waves while a rich palette of make-up enhanced her pretty features.

Brooklyn looked dapper in an open-necked shirt and blazer, which he teamed with matching trousers as he embraced Nicola.

Wow! Lily Collins also made a stylish entrance at the event, and looked incredible as she slipped into a sequinned playsuit for the occasion

Intricately detailed: Lily's ensemble was adorned with a black floral corsage to finish off the look

Great company: Lily sat beside Kit and Hailey on the FROW, as they posed for photos together before the show began

Enviable figure: The daring garment showcased the star's slender legs as she boosted her height with the gold-tipped heels, and she wore ash tights to complete the look

Enjoying the night: Cara Delevingne and Ashley Benson were not seen on the FROW, but they did go to the YSL party

Stepping out: Lily was seen showing off her slender legs as she left the Yves Saint Laurent party

Lily Collins also made a stylish entrance at the event, and looked incredible as she slipped into a sequinned playsuit for the occasion.

The Love, Rosie star, 30, showcased her toned legs and braless decolletage in the plunging black number paired with pointed metallic heels.

Lily's shimmering dress teased a glimpse of the star's sideboob, and the ensemble was cinched in at her slender waist with a statement belt.

The daring garment showcased the star's slender legs as she boosted her height with the gold-tipped heels, and she wore ash tights to complete the look.

Bond villain: Rami Malek put on a dapper display in an all-black ensemble that made him a picture perfect Bond villain

Reunion! Rami's No Time To Die co-star Ana de Armas was also in attendance at the event, and she looked stunning in a pleated black dress that she paired with a black blazer

Dazzling: Ana wore her brunette locks in loose waves, and used light touches of make-up to highlight her pretty features

Bonding time: Father and daughter duo Lenny and Zoe Kravitz attended the event together

Chatty: Lenny and Zoe could be seen talking animatedly with fashion mogul Francois-Henri Pinault

Paint it black: Lenny and Joe both rocked their all-black ensembles as they headed to the Yves Saint Laurent party

Monochrome: Polish supermodel Anja Rubik (R) put on a stylish display in an oversized white jacket which she wore over a plunging vest top and black shorts

Power suits: Blackpink star Rose (L) wowed in a velvet blazer that she wore with a sleek white shirt, while actress Charlotte Gainsbourg (R) put on an androgynous chic display in a red co-ord suit

Dressed to impress: Model David Alexander Flinn, Charlotte Casiraghi and actor Vassili Schneider enjoyed a prime spot on the FROW together

On the runway: Kaia led the models on the catwalk as they showed off the brand's designs

Latex galore: The models donned form-fitting trousers of various colours for the runway

Glamorous ensembles: The models looked sensational as they showed off the striking ensembles

Luscious locks: Joe Kerry showed off his stunning head of hair as he climbed into the back of his car
As central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) march into view, a privately run version of digital fiat is adding a key tech partner.

Utility Settlement Coin (USC), the blockchain-based payments system involving commercial and central banks, will be working with ConsenSys-backed startup Adhara, CoinDesk has learned. Adhara was behind Project Khokha, which used enterprise blockchain client Quorum to see how zero-knowledge proofs performed with the South African Reserve Bank (SARB).

The move is one of only a handful of public overtures by Fnality, the company that oversees the development of USC. Fnality raised $64.5 million in June 2019 from 14 shareholders including banking giants Barclays, Santander, BNY Mellon, ING and others.

Related: Chinas DCEP Unlikely to Impact Crypto Markets in the Long Term, eToro Analyst Says

We think adding Adhara is going to really help us. Theyve got experience of doing some of this type of stuff in other places, said Fnality CEO Rhomaios Ram.

The sensitive nature of Fnalitys discussions with central banks means it likes to keep a low profile. To date, USCs only known technology partner was London-based Clearmatics Technologies. (Clearmatics, which uses a fork of ethereum, played a key part in the inception of USC, along with Swiss lender UBS, back in 2015.)

At Fnality we are pursuing a multi-partner strategy, Ram said. Part of that is associated with risk and part of that is associated with we want more people involved in this ecosystem.

The USC is commercial bank money, as opposed to a pure CBDC, which is issued and backed by the domestic central bank and carries sovereign risk. However, the design of USC allows it to carry some of the characteristics of central bank money because the cash collateral backing the USC is held at a domestic central bank.

Related: Mainstream Moments and the CompuServe of Crypto, Feat. Andreas M. Antonopoulos

As stated in a mandate to its shareholder commercial banks, Fnalitys plan is to represent five currencies on its blockchain  USD, euro, JPY, GBP and CAD  and solve the so-called cash on ledger problem, allowing wholesale banking transactions to happen instantly, cross-border and 24/7.

Story continues

An industry source close to Fnality said adding Adhara makes sense because the work the startup has already done in South Africa could evolve into a Fnality payment system. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) was also mentioned by the source as a possible custodian of Fnalitys tokenized cash.

Asked if SARB was going to be in the cards when it comes to including more central banks within Fnality, Ram said: We cant look ahead that far. Our mandate from our investors is to focus on the five [currencies] and then, depending on how successful we are with those five, we will come to the others as and when, depending on what our investors say at that time.

Ram acknowledged CBDCs have risen on the agenda since his companys June 2019 fundraising, adding that Fnality has held very casual, informational conversations with some people, but he had no idea what their intentions were or whether it was just educational.

Neither SARB nor SNB returned requests for comment.

The Libra effect

The landscape has changed dramatically regarding central banks and digital currencies thanks to Facebooks audacious plans for its Libra stablecoin.

A key question for any large-scale, privately backed initiative in this area now is whether Libra is a good or a bad thing.

A positive scenario is that central banks now move more quickly on initiatives like USC; another possible outcome is the central banking fraternity actively discouraging private-sector experiments from encroaching any further into the territory of the state.

Ram agreed Libra cut both ways. It was literally both good and bad, he said. It was good because obviously these types of things gather a lot of attention and people that didnt take us seriously before started to. But at some level, if you are not in the detail of this it all looks the same. That can be a good or bad thing.

John Whelan, Santander Banks innovation chief who is also on the board of Fnality, said it was not a question of competing with CBDCs at all.

We see these things as entirely complementary, and its quite likely given the regulations and the impact potentially on monetary policy  that something like Fnality will come into existence [before CBDCs]. But they are totally compatible, said Whelan.

In light of Libra, Ram was philosophical about possible outcomes for Fnalitys ambitious plan to tokenize fiat held in the coffers of major central banks.

If the only thing that this [Libra] does is force the conversation and force some speed up on CBDCs  from a personal perspective that might not be great but from the investors perspective that might still work for them [Fnalitys shareholder banks], he said.

2020 vision

Fnalitys task, to create a regulatory framework and rulebook that five large central banks can digest, is ambitious in itself, nevermind coordinating the build of the various parts of the stack plus all the integration work that has to be done.

A second source familiar with the project said Fnalitys strategy regarding its contracting framework and execution plan seemed quite confused.

Whenever you have a lot of people involved in something  and theyve grown their headcount quite aggressively  if you dont have a clear program and execution plan at the beginning, theres a natural tendency to kind of end up going all over the place, the source said.

Regarding the scale of the organizational challenge, Ram said: That is kind of the special sauce of Fnality, organizing all of these different stakeholders. Thats what we are aiming to be good at  that and driving all the legal and regulatory.

The plan announced with last years fundraising was to come out with one of the main five currencies on the network by the end of 2020.

We have got no reason to change our minds yet. So all looks still possible, Ram said.

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The Ojibwe, one of the largest indigenous groups in North America, with communities from Quebec to Montana, are revitalizing the  berry fast , a coming-of-age ritual for girls.

Ojibwe women historically conducted a ritual for their girls when they started their first menstruation, part of which included fasting from eating strawberry, or heart berry, known as Odeimin, for an entire year. This was also a time to learn valuable wisdom from women elders.

A time for growth

As a scholar of the environment and indigenous peoples, I have studied how Native Americans find religious meaning in the natural world. Indigenous people often view menstruation as a time when girls and women are spiritually powerful.

It is also believed to be a time when young women can have visions. Such stories are often told by the elders within the Ojibwe community. In one such story, a girl born in 1830 had a vision of a great bear. The story goes that as the bear walked toward the girl it got smaller in size, and when it was right beside her, she suddenly became the bear. She felt wonderful  powerful and strong.

She became known as Bear Woman. It is said that she had a long life and overcame many challenges with a strong heart and the courage of a bear.

Historically, women built a small wooden house for a girl to live in seclusion during her menstruation each month. It would serve as a place for personal reflection as well as a space for learning from elders.

Today, Ojibwe girls do not live in a separate house during menstruation, but instead seclude themselves from family and community interactions. For the Ojibwe and other indigenous people, seclusion was seen as a special time without chores, when the girl worked on personal growth and learned from elders.

At the end of the year a feast is held for the whole community to celebrate the girls transition. At the feast the girl receives gifts from her community, and in turn she gives gifts. Strawberries and other berries are served to the young woman to eat as she ends her berry fast.

Power of womanhood

Many Ojibwe women discontinued this ritual when most of their religious and cultural practices were made illegal by the U.S. and Canadian governments in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

But the knowledge was not lost.

Today, many Ojibwe communities are reawakening such female-centered cultural practices.

As one Ojibwe cultural leader recently told me, after a berry fast, the young woman is looked up to as a leader by her peers. It is a beautiful and intentional year-long consideration of the power of womanhood, she said.

[Youre smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversations authors and editors. You can get our highlights each weekend .]

Rosalyn R. LaPier is an Associate Professor of Environmental Studies at The University of Montana . She is an award winning Indigenous writer and ethnobotanist with a BA in physics and PhD in environmental history. Rosalyn studies the intersection of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) learned from elders and the academic study of environmental history and religion. Rosalyn is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe in Montana and Metis.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article

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HYDERABAD: Authorities of the Osmania University (OU) were on Tuesday questioned by the states Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission regarding non-implementation of Rule of Reservation in appointing professors in various departments.

As per the rule, 15 per cent of vacancies should be reserved for SCs and six per cent for STs. However, as per information obtained by Deccan Chronicle, 32 departments of the Osmania University do not have a professor from either the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes.

As per an official document of the university, out of 1,267 sanctioned posts, only 448 have been filled in the university.

There has been no recruitment of new professors after formation of Telangana State even as several professors are scheduled to retire in 2020.

In this regard, Dr. Errolla Srinivas, chairman, Telangana SC and ST Commission, at a meeting held with university registrar on Tuesday and directed that a five-member internal committee be formed for appointment of teaching staff, to examine why the rule of reservation has not been implemented, and how the issue could be rectified.

With regard to non-teaching staff, the commission chairman asked the university to write to the state government requesting for immediately recruitment for vacant posts.

When contacted, university officials said appointments are made as per guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC). Accordingly, the teaching staff were recruited group wise while adhering to the roster system. However, when it comes to departments, professors were allotted based on the student-teacher ratio and subject requirement.

At Tuesdays meeting, the commission also sought details of measures being taken for welfare of SC and ST students in the university.

The meeting was attended by registrar Professor Gopal Reddy, Professor Krishna Rao, deans of various faculties, principles of various campus and constituent colleges, non-teaching staff and students.
In blending Cognac cask-aged rum from Africa with ex-bourbon cask rum from the Caribbean, Equiano Rum brings together liquid from Barbadoss Foursquare Distillery and Grays Distillery of Mauritius in one exquisite bottling. Here, we talk with global rum ambassador and Equiano co-founder Ian Burrell 

A combination of aged molasses rums sourced from Barbados and Mauritius, the worlds first African-Caribbean rum is the brainchild of global rum ambassador Ian Burrell and Foursquare Distillerys master distiller and blender Richard Seale. The duo were looking to create a unique rum that tasted good, was a little bit different, and could talk about terroir, says Burrell. Great rums are often influenced by where theyre fermented, distilled and aged, so we wanted to have something that combined two different cultures and two different styles.

Equiano begins its journey at Grays distillery in Mauritius, where molasses is fermented and distilled in a column still, before being aged in ex-Cognac casks made from French limousin oak, owing to the French influence on the island. Then the rum is shipped to Foursquare Distillery, where master distiller and blender Richard Seale blends it with his traditional-style Barbados rum, a blend of pot still and column still distillates aged in first-fill bourbon casks, which is the tradition in the Caribbean since the fifties, says Burrell. The liquids are married and later bottled at Foursquare.

While the Caribbean has long been renowned for its rum-making prowess, Africa has lagged behind. Although sugarcane is grown on the continent, it isnt used for rum on the same scale, so its very limited for the style and the types of rum we could use, says Burrell. Despite limited production, there are pockets of superb producers to be found all across South Africa, the Seychelles, and, of course, Mauritius, he says  with a few smaller, more local rums coming out of Ghana, Nigeria, and Madagascar.

The rums name comes from Olaudah Equiano, a writer and abolitionist from the 1700s, whose personal life journey is reflected in the journey of the rum. An enslaved man who bought his freedom and wrote compellingly about his experiences, it says in the British Library catalogue, Equiano was an extraordinary man who became a prominent figure associated with the campaign to abolish the slave trade. It goes on to say: Equiano was born in what is now Nigeria and sold into slavery aged 11. After spells in Barbados and Virginia he spent eight years travelling the world as slave to a British Royal Navy officer, who renamed him Gustavus Vassa. His final master, an English merchant in Montserrat, let him buy his freedom for 40  almost a years salary for a teacher, but Equiano made it in three years of trading on the side.

After working as an explorer and merchant for 20 years, he settled in England, where he later published his memoirs  titled, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African  in 1789. One of the first books in Europe to be penned by a black African writer, the book was hugely successful and sold out immediately, with a second edition published later the same year. It was pivotal in swaying public opinion about slavery. By 1807 Britain had formally abolished the trade, though sadly Equiano didnt live long enough to see it, having died just a decade earlier.

It was important for us to have that journey of the rum coming from Africa, going to the Caribbean and then ending up in England, because thats the journey Equiano made when he was enslaved, says Burrell. He was a revolutionary and an entrepreneur, and we felt a brand like Equiano should represent the people who want to learn about the world and travel and push their own boundaries. He went on to say: Equianos values distil our beliefs perfectly and that is why were giving 5% of company profits to ground-level freedom and equality projects annually, and celebrating a man who we all aspire to be more like.

Designed to be a modern and matured sipping rum, Equiano is 100% natural, which means no additives, sugar, spices, colourants or sulphites. It ought to be enjoyed however you please  neat, on the rocks, with a mixer  but were particularly keen to see it stirred into a classic cocktail, think: Manhattan, Old Fashioned, or even a Daiquiri.

Curious about how it tastes? Well leave you with Burrells characterful tasting notes

Nose: Like any quality premium rum, Equiano subtly delivers tropical warmth as soon as its aroma touches your nose. Rich, notes of dried fruits such as raisins and sultanas combine with sweet toffee, butterscotch and caramel culminating with a suggestion of orange peel, vanilla and buttered wood.

Palate: Equiano delivers all the natural sweet notes of a well-aged rum from American white oak ex-bourbon casks. It has a warm toffee and butterscotch mouth-feel, with chewy raisins and brown sugar flavours that emerge from the liquid as it caresses your tongue.

Finish: Although Equiano is a naturally sweet rum with no added sugar or spices, it has a medium to sweet ending with touches of oak, anise, sweet pepper with a hint of bitter orange peel.

Equiano is available from Master of Malt.
It took a jury of seven men and five women a little over 26 hours to find Harvey Weinstein guilty on two counts: criminal sexual assault in the first degree, based on the testimony of former 'Project Runway' production assistant Miriam Haley, and rape in the third degree, based on the testimony of aspiring actress Jessica Mann.

That verdict will be heard by many as "guilty, but not guilty enough". But make no mistake, this is still a victory for the six women brave enough to take the stand over the past month - and a victory for MeToo.

The moment actress Alyssa Milano reacted to the first reports of sexual assault by Weinstein on the night of October 15, 2017 with the tweet "If you've been sexually harassed or assaulted write 'me too'" was the moment the producer became an emblem of everything MeToo was fighting to highlight and stamp out - from predatory sexual behaviour to abuses of power in and out of the workplace. It was clear that if this went all the way to court, it wouldn't just be Weinstein on trial, but the entire MeToo movement.

As, one by one, those six women took the stand, however, we were reminded this wasn't about abstract ideals and the reparations due to every woman who has suffered in silence at the hands of men, but the horrifying detail of these women's individual testimonies. Miriam Haley hung her head as she recalled the children's drawings on the walls of the room in which she was assaulted in Weinstein's New York apartment in 2006.

Jessica Mann was urged to "take a deep breath" hours into a cross-examination in which she recounted how the 67-year-old movie mogul had ripped her trousers off when she had tried to end their consensual relationship and screamed: "You owe me one more time!"

Giving that evidence will have been harrowing. Add to that the exposure of their private correspondence, and the judgments made by a public quick to question "what kind of a woman" accepts meetings with men in hotel rooms and maintains contact with their aggressors after being assaulted (a much higher number than you'd think).

Then there's the awareness that because of those "bad choices" you may have betrayed not just yourself but a whole movement for which you have become a figurehead. That "they knew what they were getting into" narrative was the reason so many women refused to testify.

Yet one US legal source tells me the verdict will have a powerful impact on victims who have lost faith in the legal system: "We've seen an increasing number of women willing both to report sexual aggressions and wave anonymity since the start of MeToo.

"And yes, women still get judged in a way men don't when they're up there on the stand, but we're also seeing both the law and jurors disregard the kinds of things once used to condemn female victims: the short skirts, the decision to go back to a man's apartment, the drinks had before an assault."

A greater understanding of those complexities is just one of the positives to come out of MeToo. The phrase was used 200,000 times on Twitter within the first 24 hours after Milano stuck a hashtag in front of it that October night, and more than 19 million times within the first year, prompting the original founder, Bronx-born civil rights activist Tarana Burke, to worry that the slow, steady work she had been doing with young victims of sexual violence under that mantra since 2006 might be drowned out by Hollywood's drum-beating.

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Burke had named the movement MeToo because of a promise she had made herself after a little girl, named Heaven, had approached her in a youth camp for troubled children in Selma, Alabama, and confided "that her step-daddy was doing things to her". That Burke didn't have the courage to help or murmur "me too" had haunted her in the years since.

The activist admitted to me she "spent the first part of that [October] day feeling like the work I had invested my life in was going to be erased by a simple Tweet. And then I realised: my work is happening right in front of me."

Both of those impulses were proved right. As the full scale of the sexual intimidation and violence taking place in virtually every industry, everywhere, was exposed, MeToo became less about what so many had endured and more of a battle cry.

But it didn't take long for the movement to start floundering. There was in-fighting in celebrity "survivor" cliques and Burke worried "MeToo seems to have been defined as the public naming and taking down of powerful men", often without due process.

Today, as one of the most powerful men in Hollywood has been taken down, many of those who said "me too" are being validated.
This is not from me. This is from just about everybody that saw, they saw that in the history of India, which has a long history and a brilliant history in so many different ways, theres never been a reception given to somebody like was given to him, Trump said. And I would like to say for the United States of America that nobody else that came here got the kind of reception we have, Trump said, touting the size of crowds that turned out to see him in Ahmedabad and New Delhi.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS. Armenia remains fully committed to the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the internationally mandated format of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmanship and underlines the priority of security and status for Nagorno-Karabakh. The people of Nagorno-Karabakh have the right to freely determine their political status without limitations, and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development by virtue of the right to self-determination. This is at the core of the peaceful resolution, Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan announced in his speech at the 43rd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, Mnatsakanyans speech runs as follows,

Thank you, Madam President,

I am delighted to be back in the Human Rights Council to represent a country that is now a full-fledged member of this august body.

As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations we strongly believe that its mission should be reemphasized and strengthened. The three pillars of the United Nations are important and mutually reinforcing. We recognize the centrality of human rights exactly in the context of its powers to release talent and capacity of the human being for the individual and common good in any society, which values freedom and unrestricted civil participation. We also share the concern of Secretary General Antonio Guterres, that human rights are under assault. Reflecting on his wake up call globally, Armenia extends its full support to the Call for Action and the seven target areas as defined by the Secretary General.

Madam President,

Our accession to the HRC accompanied the important progress Armenia has been making since the victory of the non-violent, peaceful Velvet Revolution in April and May 2018. Our reforms are widespread, they are based on staunch support and massive mandate of the Armenian people, and the strong political will of the Government to advance democratic transformation with tangible deliverables to the principal beneficiary of the reforms, the citizen of Armenia. Our reforms embrace every aspect of securing fair and solid institutions to sustain democracy, the rule of law and human rights. Achieving a genuine independent and impartial judiciary is a cornerstone of our present reform agenda. The Constitutional referendum to be held on 5 April is aimed exactly at advancing the reform of the judiciary with the direct participation of the citizenry of Armenia.

Armenias progress has been duly reflected in several international rankings and indexes. According to Corruption Perception Index of the Transparency International, in 2019 Armenia has improved its ranking by 28 points. In the World Press Freedom index of the Reporters without borders Armenia made an improvement of 19 notches within just one year. Last year Armenia recorded significant progress on freedom of internet and ranked among the top 10 free countries.

Armenias accession to the HRC coincides with the third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review that we have undergone this January. We are grateful and most encouraged by the broad recognition of Armenias reform efforts, as reflected in many interventions during the UPR. I would also wish to emphasize the centrality of the national level of responsibility for human rights, as our responsibilities are first of all before our people. Of course, we recognize the UPR as a jewel of the crown in the HRC framework and will do our best to further consolidate it.

Armenias transformation firmly relies on strong involvement and active political participation of women and youth. This is also an important premise in our international cooperation. Armenia is presently chairing the 64th and 65th Sessions of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. We will continue to consistently work towards building international consensus for the empowerment of women.

The Human Rights Council remains a critical platform within the United Nations for the strengthening of international capacities to prevent mass atrocities and genocide, a subject that Armenia has been championing for many years. We intend to table an updated draft resolution on the Prevention of Genocide for consideration at this session of the Council. We are looking forward to open, engaging and constructive informal consultations with States and other stakeholders. We are convinced that this Council, its special procedures, as well as the Office of the UN Secretary Generals Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide should sustain their leadership in promoting and strengthening the prevention of massive violations of human rights, genocide and mass atrocities.

Madam President,

The people of Nagorno-Karabakh continue to face a threat of force and coercion from Azerbaijan, whose persistent obstruction of human rights, intolerance, hatred, discrimination and outright aggression against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh are the root causes of the conflict. Massacres, ethnic cleansing and forced expulsion of the Armenian minority population from Baku, Sumgait, Kirovabad and other towns and villages of Azerbaijan, the war and aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh in 1990s, glorification of murderers of Armenians represent such consistent aggressive policies of Azerbaijan. They constitute an existential physical security threat to the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. We were reminded about this threat in an attempted renewed aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh in April 2016.

Armenia remains fully committed to the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the internationally mandated format of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmanship and underlines the priority of security and status for Nagorno-Karabakh. The people of Nagorno-Karabakh have the right to freely determine their political status without limitations, and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development by virtue of the right to self-determination. This is at the core of the peaceful resolution. Armenia also underlines the importance of denouncing hatred and intolerance and investing serious effort in promoting human contacts. Equally, the threat of force is firmly ruled out. Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh are committed to building further on the modest results achieved in 2019.

Promotion and support to full enjoyment of human rights for people residing in conflict areas must represent a collective objective for the international community. Human rights and those who exercise them cannot be defined as a problem. They are the solution. I recall yesterdays powerful message of the Secretary General, Every measure to uphold human rights helps ease tensions, deliver sustainable development and sustain peace. On 31 March the people of Nagorno-Karabakh will cast their votes at presidential and parliamentary elections in fulfilling their legitimate right of organizing their lives in a democratic manner. The commitment of Nagorno-Karabakh and its people who endured war, siege and aggression, who continue to face the threat of war, to sustain a strong democratic society and institutions for the protection of human rights deserve full international support. Human rights and fundamental freedoms should be respected, protected and promoted without distinction of any kind, including the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs.

In conclusion, Madame President, Armenia reiterates unwavering commitment and support to the United Nations human rights machinery, as it represents an essential platform for international cooperation. At the same time, the primary responsibility firmly rests with member states. The efficiency of the human rights system is addressed and tested exactly on such grounds.

Thank you very much.
Governor Tom Wolf has expressed interest in having Pennsylvania join two regional cap and trade programs to cut carbon dioxide along with other Northeast states. One focuses on reducing power plant emissions, and the other, which hasnt kicked off yet, cracks down on pollution from cars and trucks.

Promoters of these greenhouse gas initiatives claim the fees dont fall on citizens like a tax because its the power companies or fuel distributors who will paybut that is very misleading when its clear those costs are passed down to consumers in the form of higher energy bills and much higher prices at the pump.

Raising gas and energy prices significantly on Pennsylvania families, drivers, and small businesses doesnt make much sense when Pennsylvanias air is significantly cleaner now and getting better every day. Innovation and free market forces have led to the evolution of new technologies, alternative fuels, electric cars, LEDs and other conservation and resiliency measures that are working. Why should consumers pay these huge backdoor taxes, when the value these two programs would add is debatable?

It is very hard to measure the benefits of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) that the Governor wants to join. RGGI is a regional authority that sets a cap on how much carbon dioxide power plants in the participating states can emit. Then, those that emit more carbon pay for carbon allowance credits, which they purchase at auction. Proceeds are divvied up for state programs promoting energy efficiency.

A 2019 report from the independent Congressional Research Service found RGGIs carbon cap  . . . likely had limited direct impact on the regions power plant emissions. . .  The report also explains its hard to evaluate the benefits of this cap and trade program, that various studies give different results, and in terms of global emissions, its reductions are arguably negligible. Its important to note that right now, while not participating in RGGI, Pennsylvanias energy prices are a lot cheaper than the states that signed on to the programwhich is very likely to change if the state joins.

Governor Wolf has also talked about having Pennsylvania join the Transportation and Climate Initiative, a similar regional, multi-state cap and trade program still in the development stages, which is meant to reduce car and truck carbon dioxide emissions. TCIs return on investment is even worse than RGGI. The crafters of the plan announced in December gas prices could rise as much as 17 cents per gallon, clearly admitting the cost on fuel suppliers WOULD be passed down to drivers.

It was also revealed that even with no TCI program, carbon reductions are expected to go down by 19% over the next ten years as more people drive electric cars and other fuel efficiencies come about. TCI would only decrease carbon emissions by another 1 percent to 6 percent---at a mammoth cost to Pennsylvania businesses and consumers.

Urban dwellers may benefit when the proceeds of this program go to expand things like public transportation, and those buying electric cars have access to more charging stations. But rural dwellers and small businesses will be paying big time. Just imagine the cost for delivery and service providers, construction crews, field sales, and many more, who have no choice but to drive long distances.

Bullying government programs like these that use penalties to modify behavior--in this case discouraging ordinary people from driving as much or using as much electricity--never work as well as the natural flow of the free market and the solutions its already providing. Let's hope Gov. Wolf and state lawmakers see that and stay away from these two flawed cap and trade initiatives.

Gordon Denlinger is state director of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), an association with 13,000 small business members in Pennsylvania
The two-day meeting gathered nearly 60 delegates including senior officials in charge of socio-cultural affairs from 10 ASEAN member countries, ASEAN Secretariat, representatives from Vietnams functional ministries and sectors, and international experts.

In his opening speech, Deputy Secretary General, Kung Phoak, eulogised that since its establishment, ASEAN has shown significant progresses in regional integration, economic growth and social progress. He also spoke highly of fruitful efforts in building the ASEAN community.

For her part, Ha Thi Minh Duc, Deputy Director General of the International Cooperation Department under Vietnams Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, noted that, the year 2020 is an important year for Vietnam as it marks the 25th anniversary of Vietnam's accession to ASEAN and further affirms the role of Vietnam in the region and to the United Nations Security Council.

Duc, who is also head of the SOCA Vietnam delegation, stressed that ASEAN and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) in particular will continue to focus on improving peoples lives and building a bright future with all their partners.

Participants at the meeting assessed the mid-term implementation of the ASCC Blueprint, thus conducting national- and regional-level reviews in 2020 in order to step up the implementation of the blueprint for the 2021-2025 period.

The outcome of the meeting will be submitted to the 28th SOCA and the 23rd ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council Meeting, which are scheduled for April 5 to 8 in Vietnams coastal city of Da Nang.
She recently celebrated her 39th birthday with a fun-filled bash in LA alongside long-time friend Kim Kardashian.

And in a new interview with Cosmopolitan UK, Paris Hilton revealed just how proud she is of the reality star, after Kim recently credited her own success to her.

The heiress also revealed all about her 2018 split with former fiance Chris Zylka, revealing it was the 'best decision Ive ever made in my life.'

Good pals: In a new interview with Cosmopolitan UK, Paris Hilton revealed just how proud she is of pal Kim Kardashian, after Kim recently credited her own success to her

In a new interview and photoshoot with the publication, the star gushed over her friendship with the Keeping Up With The Kardashian favourite, 39, after Kim appeared to credit her for her career success.

Kim and Paris have been friends for years, with Kim beginning her career with cameo appearances in Paris reality show The Simple Life when she worked as the heiress assistant and stylist.

She said: 'We have conversations about it. She travelled the world with me and we have so many amazing memories. What shes said is, "I really appreciate everything Ive learned from you," and we just always talk [about] how proud of each other we are because weve known each other since we were little girls.

Moving on: The heiress also revealed all about her 2018 split with former fiance Chris Zylka, revealing it was the 'best decision Ive ever made in my life'

'Shes sweet and kind and brilliant. Im so proud of her and impressed with her becoming a lawyer; its incredible that shes using her voice and her platform to help others.'

And while Paris was happy to heap praise on her friendship, the same couldn't be said for her relationship with actor Chris Zylka, 34, with the blonde beauty insisting he wasn't 'right' for her.

Paris and Chris split in November 2018, just 10 months after he proposed with a $2million ring.

Way, way back: Kim and Paris have been friends for years, with Kim beginning her career with cameo appearances in Paris reality show The Simple Life when she worked as the heiress assistant and stylist (pictured in 2006)

Celebrating Oktoberfest: Paris Hilton with pal Kim Kardashian West at the famous beer festival 'Oktoberfest' in Munich, Germany, in 2006

Matching mates: The pair both wore matching Louis Vuitton bags at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, 2006

Speaking on whether it was a tough decision to call off her engagement to Chris, she explained: 'No. It was the best decision Ive ever made in my life. I just dont think [he] was the right person and I feel like Im an incredible woman and I deserve someone so amazing. It just didnt feel right. Ive worked way too hard to just give my life to someone. They have to be perfect.'

In fact, the DJ added that she's loving single life as it feels great to 'not have someone controlling me.'

She cryptically added that dating 'certain people' increases the risk of 'not trusting them', and implied that if she went away, she fears they'd 'do something to embarrass me.'

Ex factor: Paris and Chris split in November 2018, just 10 months after he proposed with a $2million ring (pictured October 2018)

Not to be: Paris said she just didn't think Chris Zykla (pictured with Paris) was the right person: 'I feel like Im an incredible woman and I deserve someone so amazing'

The star went on to say that she's 'lucky' to no longer have that fear now she's an 'independent' woman.

Meanwhile, Paris' pal Kardashian made sure to provide her 160million followers with some behind the scenes footage from inside Hilton's over-the-top birthday celebration on Thursday.

'Sliving,' a slang term penned by Paris that combines the words 'slaying' and 'living,' was the night's theme and the hotel heiress made sure it was drilled into the eyes of all those in attendance.

And other exes: Paris Hilton and Nick Carter dressed up in a matching all white look at Sean Combs annual white party in 2004

Bunny ears: Former boyfriend Rick Salomon with Paris in 2001, he is known for making an explicit video with the socialite in 2004

Musician boyfriend: Paris Hilton and ex Nick Carter in 2004, Nick is known for being a member of The Backstreet Boys

Free and fabulous: In fact, the DJ added that she's loving single life as it feels great to 'not have someone controlling me'

Those entering the party were greeted by a 'Slivington Manor' neon sign that glowed in Paris' favorite color.

The unique theme was embraced further through the use of a 'sliving' Instagram filter created specifically for the now 39-year-old, as well as a custom technicolor BMW that guests could pose with.

The Simple Life star was treated to two birthday cakes, one decorated in a barrage of Barbie and another dressed more simply in white and red icing that read 'Happy Birthday Paris.'

Happy Birthday Paris! The now 39-year-old star graced her party guests in a stunning silver dress that glistened in every direction

Sister Nicky was in charge of presenting Paris with her first cake, which would require the Simple Life star to make her big birthday wish.

The stunning siblings later danced upon a marble table top, after Paris had grabbed a microphone to address her party's crowd.

Hilton documented all of her birthday shenanigans on her Instagram page, which included an array of gorgeous seflies, as well as videos of the party's ambiance.

The April issue of Cosmopolitan is on sale from 27th February.

Barbie girl: The heiress has numerous cakes, but one cake in particular featured a major nod to her 'sliving' theme as well as her love of Barbie
Olisa Metuh, a former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been sentenced to 39 years in prison for money laundering...

Olisa Metuh, a former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been sentenced to 39 years in prison for money laundering.



Justice Okon Abang handed down the sentence in his judgement on Tuesday on seven counts of money laundering and criminal diversion of funds to the tune of N400 million.





The charges were filed against Metuh and his company, Destra Investment, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).





The trial judge sentenced Metuh after convicting him and found him guilty of all the charges brought against him by the anti-graft agency.





This followed a protected trial of the former PDP spokesman which lasted about four years and witnessed a series of drama and adjournment over health-related matters.





Giving his judgement, Justice Abang sentenced Metuh to seven years imprisonment in respect to Counts One to Three.





On Count Four, the PDP spokesman was sentenced to five years while he got seven, three and seven years for Counts Five, Six, and Seven years respectively.





He, however, held that all the sentences should run concurrently, with effect from February 25, 2020, meaning Metuh would spend only seven years in prison. meaning Metuh would spend only seven years in prison.





The trial judge also sentenced Dextra Investment to pay a fine of N25 million with respect to Counts Five and Six, while Metuh was also ordered to pay a fine of N375 million.





Justice Abang further ordered that the account of Dextra Investment should be forfeited to the Federal Government and the company be dissolved.
The timely help by a Kolkata Police traffic sergeant ensured that a Madhyamik candidate could write her Mathematics paper on Monday, police said.

Madhyamik is the class 10 West Bengal state board examination.

She was denied entry at the examination centre because she had left her admit card back home, the police said.

Suman Kurrey then approached Sergeant Chaitanya Mallick, who was on duty near the centre, and narrated her situation to him.

Her examination centre was at Jaiswal Vidyamandir for Girls near Maniktala and her residence was at Sahitya Parisath Street near Khanna crossing, a police officer said.

Sergeant Mallick then contacted the candidates mother, went to her house, brought the admit card and handed it over to Kurrey.

The girl finally got her admit card in time and she was able write her paper, the police officer said.

I will be indebted to him throughout my life. I wrote my paper well and that was possible only because of him, Kurrey said.

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Former New York mayor and multibillionaire Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg, four years ago at Oxford, England, dismissed farming, ancient and modern. He lectured that agriculture was little more than the rote labor of dropping seeds into the ground and watching corn sprout  easy, mindless, automatic.

I could teach anybody, Bloomberg pontificated, even people in this room, no offense intended, to be a farmer.

He contrasted such supposedly unintelligent labor of the past (and present) with the skill set of the current information economy that requires how to think and analyze. In this new economy, he said, you have to have a lot more gray matter.

Gray matter?

For all his later denials and efforts to contextualize those remarks, Bloomberg seems to see both ancient and modern agriculture, and farmers, as either unskilled or not very smart, as if the genetically inferior gravitate to muscular labor far from the skill sets of those like Mike Bloomberg. He certainly has no idea about either the sophistication of ancient agriculture or the high-tech savvy of contemporary farmers  much less just how difficult it is, and always was, to produce food, much less that history is so often the story of mass famine rather than bounty and plenty.

Bloombergs apparent dismissal of rural people might seem odd, given that Democrats profess allegiance with the working classes and muscular labor. But, in fact, his disdain is perversely logical and indeed predictable.

In the earlier 2008 campaign, then-progressive candidate Barack Obama wrote off the rural voters of Pennsylvania, a state he lost in the primaries to Hillary Clinton. Of those who apparently did not vote for him, he claimed: They get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who arent like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.

A contrite Obama knew relatively little about rural Pennsylvania other than the stereotypes he had embraced about country life from his Hawaiian prep-school cocoon, Occidental College, the Ivy League, and his subsequent elite, identity-politics cursus honorum.

Story continues

His then-opponent Hillary Clinton pounced and attacked Obama as elitist and out of touch  and she soon transmogrified, as Obama put it, into Annie Oakley Hillary. Remember that, in those few days of her failed first bid to capture the Democratic nomination, Hillary drank boilermakers, talked guns, bowled, and bragged about her solid support among the white working classes.

Of course, eight years later Hillary herself wrote off the base of her 2016 opponent Donald Trump as a basket of deplorables. And after smearing them as racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic  you name it, she boasted that some of them were irredeemable, but thankfully, they are not America. When candidate Clinton went to impoverished West Virginia, she lectured poor and often out-of-work coal miners, promising, Were going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business. This from someone who gave inane 20-minute talks to Wall Street grandees for over $12,000 a minute  on their expectation that shed be a compliant quid pro quo political investment.

Former vice president and current presidential candidate Joe Biden said of Trumps working-class voters, Theyre a small percentage of the American people, virulent people, some of them the dregs of society.

Biden, by 2019, had also metamorphosed from good ole Joe Biden of rural and coal-mining Scranton, Pa., to the grandee who could advise doomed coal miners to learn how to program computers: Anybody who can throw coal into a furnace can learn how to program, for Gods sake!

A coal miner might have replied to Joe Biden: Anybody who cannot do much of anything other than get mired in drugs and illicit affairs can certainly learn how to make $80,000 a month as a consultant to a foreign energy company.

The disdain for the working and middle classes shown by wealthy liberals who supposedly champion labor is matched by the disdain of progressive government bureaucrats, media, and left-wing Hollywood celebrities. In one amorous exchange to his paramour Lisa Page, fellow FBI agent and Trump hater Peter Strzok said, Just went to a Southern Virginia Walmart. I could SMELL the Trump support.

Strzok, who was the highest-profile FBI employee in most of the major scandals of the past four years  the Clinton email fiasco, the setup of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, the Crossfire Hurricane FBI investigation of Russian collusion, and the Mueller special-counsel investigation  was apparently representative of the FBI hierarchy. One anonymous attorney wrote to another in a text disclosed by the inspector general, Trumps supporters are all poor to middle class, uneducated, lazy POS.

Marquee reporters often got caught expressing the same sort of disdain felt by progressive politicians and the federal bureaucratic elite. Describing the crowd at a Trump rally, Politico reporter Marc Caputo tweeted, If you put everyones mouths together in this video, youd get a full set of teeth.

The locus classicus of elite progressives disdain for working-class Trump supporters was a recent panel on the show of CNN host Don Lemon. Pundits Rick Wilson and Wajahat Ali took turns ridiculing the accent and intelligence of the supposedly Neanderthal rural voter. Or as Wilson put it, Trump plays to the credulous Boomer rube demo that backs Donald Trump that wants to think   and here Wilson adopted a faux-Southern accent  Donald Trump is the smart one and yall elitists are dumb.

Then, as host Lemon doubled over in laughter at their impressions of supposed white trash, his two guests adopted redneck accents and indulged in an extended parody of the allegedly stupid Trump voter:

Ali: You elitists, with your geography and your maps and your spellin . . . 

Wilson: Your math and your readin . . .

Ali: Yeah, your readin, your geography, knowin other countries, sippin your latte.

Wilson: All those lines on the map.

Ali: Only them elitists know where U-kraine is!

Progressive derision of the working class, and especially lower-middle-class white America, pre-dated Trump. Remember the decade of hatred that Hollywood expressed for Sarah Palin, her family, and her supposed class, both during and after the 2008 campaign.

Late-night talk-show host David Letterman joked on his show that Sarah Palins 14-year-old daughter Bristol had been knocked up in the dugout by star Alex Rodriguez during a New York Yankees game  as if rural, stupid, and inbred Alaskans are eager to be statutorily raped in their groupie eagerness to seek out celebrities, even in dirty dugouts amid a crowd of thousands.

The list of disparagement could be expanded  do we remember how the media assured us that Harvard Law graduate Adam Schiff was to destroy his counterpart, supposedly hick farmer Devin Nunes  at least until Inspector General Michael Horowitz found the information in the Nunes majority report factual, and by implication found that the Schiff minority version was an assemblage of falsehoods and half-truths?

Why do so many liberal journalists, politicians, and celebrities harbor such contempt for, and show such snobbery about, the white working, and often rural, classes of the American heartland?

The most obvious answers are that the media, elite politicians, and government hierarchy are liberal or left-wing, and the objects of their hatred are mostly conservative. Just look at any election map, color-coded by either congressional districts or Electoral College states, and the nation, geographically, is a sea of red, bookended by two long blue corridors on the coasts, the home of the nations tony universities, network news, media hubs, the bureaucratic borg, Silicon Valley, Hollywood, and Wall Street.

Second, there is no cultural, career, or political downside in stereotyping millions of Americans as stupid, crude, and culturally repugnant. Had Don Lemons two guests mimicked the dialect of inner-city youths and suggested they were uneducated and thus gullible supporters of Barack Obama, they would have been banned from CNN for life. Or had Peter Strzok suggested that he could smell Obama supporters at Walmart, federal attorneys would probably have found a way to have him indicted by now.

Third, politics, academia, the media, and entertainment dont necessarily draw in particularly wise people, especially if knowledge is broadly defined as social skills, empirical education, common sense, and pragmatic experience. According to the rules of the elementary playground, one becomes exalted by ridiculing others. High-school dropouts such as Robert De Niro and Cher seem to appear sophisticated by ranting about Trump and his supposedly ignorant supporters. Don Lemons skills seem mostly limited to reading a teleprompter  when he ventures into commentary and analysis, he usually sounds either banal or adolescent. Howling at stupid jokes about the supposed ignorance of the red-state drawler apparently lend the insipid Lemon an air of cosmopolitan sophistication. Michael Bloomberg, for all his billions and cunning, cannot fathom in a debate that, by joking about TurboTax, he only further alienates millions who use it because they cannot hire his legions of attorneys to reduce their tax exposure.

Finally, there is also a psychological explanation for why coastal elites negatively stereotype the churchgoers, farmers, gun owners, and Walmart shoppers of the nations interior. Our elite, especially those of our white elite establishment, are not especially comfortable with either poor people or minorities  at least not in the sense of living among them, working alongside them, schooling their children with them, or marrying among them. They sense that such concrete unease  their fear and insecurity  is at odds with their well-meant desire to help the underprivileged in the abstract.

Elites help square that circle of wishing to aid the Other while not being anyway near the Other through the use of medieval-style virtue-signaling. That is, they deplore white racism and privilege by attributing it to supposedly ignorant and less enlightened poor white people, whose illiberality and un-wokeness they can lazily stereotype as responsible for the plight of the underclass.

Our best and brightest cannot be the good white people unless there are plenty of the bad white people. Smearing the latter is a convenient  and cheap  way of showing abstract solidarity with the nonwhite. In reductionist terms, those with undeniable white privilege damn as privileged those who have never been near it, thereby erasing their own privilege and spiritually placing them at the virtual barricades beside those they otherwise keep carefully distant.

Of course, there is also an element of fear, even apprehension, in such demonic generalization, a result of segregation from and ignorance about the physical world. Barack Obama, who once complained about the price of arugula and either had never heard or never spoken the word corpsman, knew that he knew nothing about farming or guns or clinging working people. Did he realize that his food, his safety, the maintenance of his home and car depended on others who could do things to keep his world viable that he not only could not do but also could not even imagine? Ask Obama and his class to replace a 30-amp breaker, or prune a peach tree, or drive a semi, and one could see that he assumes others who are supposedly less gifted provide his power, food, and consumer goods, using skills he lacks.

Ditto Hillary Clinton and Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg claims he could teach anyone on an Oxford stage how to be a farmer. But he knows that he has no knowledge of farming, ancient or modern, and has no detailed notion of where or how his fruits, vegetables, grains, and choice cuts arrive at his various estates and hence his table. He may even sense that while the world could do without Bloomberg News, it could not survive without skilled farmers. So he is a bit edgy when he thinks about the physical world of muscle that allows him to be Mike Bloomberg, multibillionaire Socratic dunce.

We need to move beyond the idea that the elite caricature the deplorables because they are insensitive and arrogant. True, they are, but they also do it because they are insecure  and terribly afraid of those they dont like, but also sense they desperately need.

More from National Review
Memorial for victims of the Ngarbuh killings HRW (2020 Private)

Human Rights Watch, an international non-governmental organization headquartered in New York City reports that at least 21 civilians, including women and children, were deliberately killed Friday, February 14, 2020 by Government Forces in Ngarbuh, a locality in Cameroons North West Region.

According to the human rights watchdog, Government forces and armed ethnic Fulani killed at least 21 civilians in Cameroons Ngarbuh village, including 13 children and one pregnant woman, on February 14, 2020. They also burned five homes, pillaged scores of other properties, and beat residents. Some of the bodies of the victims were found burned inside their homes. The government denies that its troops have deliberately committed crimes.

Human Rights Watch research suggests that the killing of civilians in Ngarbuh 3 was deliberate. Witnesses and residents said that between 10 and 15 security force members acted jointly with a group of about 30 ethnic Fulani men who wore civilian clothes and were armed with machetes, clubs, and hunting guns, a portion of a February 25, 2020 report reads.

It furthers that: Three witnesses said that the attack in Ngarbuh 3 took place at around 5 a.m. on February 14, 2020. Soldiers and armed Fulani attacked four houses, fatally shooting some residents. They also set the houses on fire, burning the bodies.

In one house, soldiers killed seven people, including five children, all from the same family. A 45-year-old relative who rushed to the scene after the killing said that four of the children were younger than 12. In a second house, soldiers and armed Fulani killed nine people, including seven children and two women.

A resident who was among the people who buried the bodies told Human Rights Watch: When I arrived at the scene, I could not believe my eyes. It was horrific. Some of the bodies were burned beyond recognition. Survivors were shocked and in panic. But many fled into the bush fearing for their lives.

In the chilling report, Human Rights Watch reveals that: In a third house, military and armed Fulani killed two people, including a pregnant woman. In a fourth house, military and armed Fulani killed three people, including a child. A woman living in the house was severely wounded but survived. A relative of the victims said he found the sole survivor with machete wounds all over her body.

Egregious crimes should be effectively, independently investigated - Ilaria Allegrozzi

The gruesome killings of civilians, including children, are egregious crimes that should be effectively and independently investigated, and those responsible should be brought to justice, said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. Denying that these crimes have occurred adds another layer of trauma to survivors and will only embolden government troops to commit more atrocities.

Human Rights Watch says it interviewed 25 people, including three witnesses to the killings and seven relatives of victims, about these events that took place in Ngarbuh, Donga Mantung Division, in the North West region. It says this area has been severely affected by violence between government forces and armed groups seeking a separate state for the North West and South West anglophone regions. Ethnic Fulani also live in and around Ngarbuh. They are known as Mbororo and are mainly pastoralists.

Human Rights Watch also obtained lists of the victims names from five sources and spoke to people, including relatives of the victims and residents who carried out the burials, who independently confirmed the victims identities.

Witnesses said that between 10 and 15 soldiers, including members of the Rapid Intervention Battalion, the elite unit of the Cameroonian army, and at least 30 armed Fulani first entered Ngarbuh 1, a neighborhood in Ngarbuh, on foot at about 11 p.m. on February 13, looting scores of homes. Some of these forces then continued to the Ngarbuh 2 neighborhood, looting homes and beating civilians. At around 5 a.m. on February 14, a group of soldiers and armed Fulani attacked the Ngarbuh 3 neighborhood, killing 21 civilians in four homes, then burning the houses.

Human Rights Watch also reviewed satellite imagery taken before and after the attack in Ngarbuh 3. The post-attack image, taken at 10:24 a.m. Cameroon time on February 14, shows several homes in Ngarbuh with damage that is consistent with burning.

A 32-year-old man who witnessed the killing of his whole family, including seven children, said: I heard gunshots and left immediately to hide beside my house. From there, I saw the military shooting my family members one by one as they attempted to escape. They shot our mother first. Then, they shot the children, whose bodies all fell on her. Then, they set my home on fire.

Looting and Beatings

Human Rights Watch also reports looting and beatings: Twelve witnesses described how security forces and armed Fulani pillaged homes in Ngarbuh 1 and in Ngarbuh 2, forced people outside, and beat them.

A 32-year-old woman said that soldiers threatened to kill her if she did not give them money. They kept beating me with the back of their guns and asking for money, she said.

Another resident of Ngarbuh 2, a pastor, said: The military were with a group of armed Fulani. They broke into and pillaged all the homes in Ngarbuh 2. They pulled people out, including me, and gathered us together at the village square, near the market. Some people were tied up with ropes. We were forced to the ground on our bellies. We could not raise our heads. When you looked up, they would beat you with machetes. We were eventually released.

Human Rights Watch reports that it made several attempts to contact a senior member of the government but did not receive a response.

Cameroons defense minister issued two statements on February 17. He first announced that the government had opened an investigation and that its findings would be made public. In a second statement later that day, he stated that the investigation findings could be published at an appropriate time. Both statements asserted that armed terrorists attacked government security forces and that the fighting led to an explosion of fuel containers, which destroyed several homes and killed one woman and four children. This assertion was restated on February 18 in a news release from the communication minister.

However, witnesses and residents with whom Human Rights Watch spoke said that there was no confrontation between armed separatists and security forces, that they heard no explosions, and that the killings were deliberate.

Residents said the attack was to punish civilians suspected of harbouring separatist fighters. Twelve witnesses said that, after the killings, the military addressed residents in Ngarbuh 2, warning that their village would be destroyed if they continued to shelter separatists.

During and after this speech, soldiers threatened people, admitting that they had killed children in Ngarbuh 3, and saying that they would do the same in Ngarbuh 2. The military broke into my house, a 45-year old woman said. They said my children were Amba fighters [separatists] and they searched for guns. They found none, but they beat me and said: We have already killed children in Ngarbuh 3, so we can kill you too.

On February 16, a joint team of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees attempted to carry out a humanitarian needs assessment in Ngarbuh, but Rapid Intervention Battalion soldiers blocked them in Ntumbaw, the village closest to Ngarbuh, where the UN teams had started interviewing those displaced by the attack. Witnesses said that the soldiers photographed those who were being interviewed and prevented the UN team from doing its work.

The UN secretary-general in a February 17 statement expressed concern over the killing of civilians in Ngarbuh and urged the government of Cameroon to open an investigation and hold those responsible accountable. The following day, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights spokesperson said that Cameroonian authorities should ensure that its security forces abide by applicable international law norms standards during the conduct of their operations. On February 21, four UN officials, including the special representative for children and armed conflict, the special representative on sexual violence in conflict, the special representative on violence against children, and the special adviser on the prevention of genocide, issued a joint statement expressing their deep concern about reports of increasing violence in the Anglophone regions, including the attack on Ngarbuh, and called on the Cameroon government to ensure full respect for human rights.

The United States called for the government to authorize an independent investigation and ensure safety for witnesses. The killings in Ngarbuh were also condemned by other countries, including France, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

This is not the first time that the Cameroonian authorities have denied that its troops killed civilians. In 2018, an investigation conducted by Amnesty International, the BBC, and investigative journalists showed that Cameroonian soldiers depicted in a video carried out extrajudicial executions of two women and two children in the Far North region. The communication minister initially dismissed the video footage as fake news. However, seven soldiers were later arrested in connection with the killings. The trial is ongoing.

The government of Cameroon should allow an independent investigation, with participation from the UN, into the Ngarbuh massacre, and make its findings public, said Allegrozzi. To be certain that assistance is not facilitating the commission of atrocities, Cameroons partners should halt military cooperation pending the results of such an inquiry.

Background

Ethnic Fulani living in and around Ngarbuh are also known as Mbororo and are mainly pastoralists. Prior to the escalation of the crisis in the Anglophone regions, conflicts had occurred between the Fulani and local farmers over resources, including grazing land. This has been exacerbated since 2017, when violence erupted in the North-West and South-West regions. Armed separatists have targeted ethnic Fulani for their cattle in the North-West region and have accused them of joining vigilante groups sympathetic to the government. Armed Fulani groups have also attacked communities where armed separatists are known to operate.
The New Mexico Film Office is getting a new leader.

On Tuesday, Amber Dodson was named the director of the film office.

Dodson is currently the film liaison for the Albuquerque Film Office. She will begin her new job on March 9.

She replaces Todd Christensen, who is leaving the film office for the private sector. Christensen has held the position since May 2019. His last day will be Friday, Feb. 28.

Dodson will make $107,681.

Christensens annual salary was $104,000.

Nick Maniatis, Film Office director under Gov. Susana Martinez, received $87,000 a year. And Lisa Strout, who headed the office under Gov. Bill Richardson, was paid $97,000 a year.

During his tenure, Christensen was tasked with rebuilding the Film Office.

There were only three of us running the office for three months, he said. There are seven people now, and its really coming together.

Christensen said he is particularly grateful to have been able to help lay the foundation for the future of the Sen. John Pinto Native Filmmakers Memorial Fund. The fund provides $100,000 each year in grants for Native American filmmakers registered with one of the 19 pueblos or four tribes of New Mexico.

We put the (Sen.) John Pinto Fund out in January, Christensen said. I want to stay involved with the pueblos and the culture to get more inclusion. I want to be more effective with this. I feel like thats one of the areas I want to concentrate on. I really think that indigenous stories are overlooked.

In recent years, the amount of work for the New Mexico Film Office has grown, because of an of increase in the number of productions coming to the state.

While at the Albuquerque Film Office, Dodson launched initiatives to increase diversity and local engagement in the film industry, streamline and digitize film permitting, expand resources for local businesses and connect residents to job opportunities on productions.

Recently, Albuquerque was ranked No. 1 by MovieMaker as the best place to live and work as a moviemaker in the big cities category. It was the second year in a row the city received the ranking.

Albuquerque was also chosen by Deadline as the first location for its HotSpots series, which takes a look at filming outside Hollywood.

I am excited to implement my hands-on industry knowledge and my experience in government and collaborate with the great team already in place at the New Mexico Film Office to showcase New Mexico and all we have to offer, Dodson said in a release.

Economic Development Secretary Alicia J. Keyes said Dodson has the leadership qualities that will put the New Mexico Film Office at the forefront of customer service and innovation.

New Mexico has become a world-class production destination and Amber Dodson has shown she has the skills and vision to lead the Film Office as it takes on new challenges to be the best in the industry, Keyes said in a release.
Rudy Thomas plucked a leatherbound book off a shelf and opened its crinkled cover.

Elemens de Chymie, French for Elements of Chemistry, was published in 1624  just eight years after England mourned the death of William Shakespeare. Today, the book is among hundreds of rarities in the University of Cincinnatis chemistry library and museum known as the Oesper Collection.

Even by our standards, this book is old  very old, said Thomas, a research associate in UCs College of Arts and Sciences. Everything is relative. I come from a geochemistry background as an inorganic chemist. Some of the minerals I study date back 600 million years.

Besides rare books, the collection on the fifth floor of Rieveschl Hall houses laboratory equipment dating back two centuries. Its odd instruments, custom glassware and bottles of inert compounds would look at home in a Harry Potter movie.

The chemistry museum recognizes the foundations of science even as UC researchers lead advances in the field as part of UC's strategic direction called Next Lives Here.
A hearing into the proposed extradition of Ian Bailey to France, where he faces a 25-year prison sentence over 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 his surrender in relation to the death of Ms du Plantier, whose body was found outside her holiday home in Schull, Co Cork, in December 1996.

Mr Bailey, of The Prairie, Liscaha, Schull, was convicted of the murder in his absence in a Paris court last May.

The three-judge Cour d'Assises in Paris imposed a 25-year prison sentence.

The Englishman (63) denies any involvement in the mother-of-one's death.

He did not attend the French court and had no legal representation in the proceedings, which he described as a "farce".

Lawyers for the Minister for Justice told the High Court yesterday that they had received an affidavit from Mr Bailey's solicitor, Frank Buttimer, which was "voluminous", and they required time to consider it.

Counsel for Mr Bailey, Marc Thompson, asked the court to reserve May 5 as a date for the hearing of the case.

Mr Justice Donald Binchy fixed that provisional date for the hearing in the High Court.

He remanded Mr Bailey on continuing bail.

Mr Bailey's senior counsel Ronan Munro 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 points of objection to the present attempt.

The court also heard that Mr Bailey swore an affidavit setting out certain matters, particularly in relation to his health.

Abuse

The Supreme Court refused to extradite Mr Bailey in 2012, and a second French extradition request 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.

He said the Director of Public Prosecutions had concluded "long ago that there is no basis for either 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.
Head of Egypts spy agency Abbas Kamel embarked Monday on a tour of North African countries, including the eastern region in Libya, to curb Turkeys influence in the region.

The Egyptian officials tour is aimed at building intelligence cooperation among North African government and ways to confront terrorism in the region, reports Middle East Monitor (MEMO) citing Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

Egypt and Turkey have seen their relations further strained over the crisis in Libya where the two countries support rival sides and have equipped their respective proxies.

Egypt has been a pillar of support for eastern Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar who has been since April seeking to topple the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), headquartered in Tripoli.

Egypt and Haftar and several European countries have rejected maritime and security cooperation agreements signed between Ankara and Tripoli in November.
Domestic acquisition expands franchisor to 24 brands, more than 3,900 franchise owners and over 900 associates across nine countries

WACO, Texas, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Neighborly, the world's largest franchisor of home service brands, today announced the acquisition of Dryer Vent Wizard, a professional dryer vent cleaning services franchisor headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The addition includes almost 100 Dryer Vent Wizard franchise locations across the U.S. and Canada, bringing Neighborly's network to more than 3,900 franchisees representing a total of 24 home service brands.

"We kicked off 2020 with a vision to 'Own the Home' through Neighborly's community of home service experts, and welcoming Dryer Vent Wizard to our family of franchise brands marks an exciting milestone in this pursuit," said Neighborly President and CEO Mike Bidwell. "In the 15 years since its inception, Dryer Vent Wizard's cleaning, installation, inspection and repair service offerings have earned high customer satisfaction ratings. We see tremendous opportunities to grow the brand to the next level, making this a great partnership for all parties."

As a result of this acquisition, Dryer Vent Wizard will now benefit from new tools for growth and enhanced exposure to Neighborly's nine million customers who rely on Neighborly brands for everything from painting to plumbing and nearly everything in between.

"Every day, we look for opportunities to enhance value for our franchisees, our employees and our investors," said Jason Kapica, President of Dryer Vent Wizard. "We believe that being a part of Neighborly will not only allow us to give back to our investors but will also bring added benefits to our Dryer Vent Wizard associates and franchisees, advancing us into the next growth stage of our business."

The Dryer Vent Wizard franchise system was founded in 2004 by David Lavalle, who is also the founder of Neighborly's own Mr. Handyman franchise network.

"As I've seen firsthand with Mr. Handyman, Neighborly has a proven track record of helping brands expand their presence to achieve growth goals through franchise development," said Lavalle. "I'm excited that another brand I started is teaming up with this respected and successful franchisor, and I am eager to see Neighborly's support help existing Dryer Vent Wizard franchisees realize their same store sales potential moving forward."

Boxwood Partners acted as financial advisor to Dryer Vent Wizard. For more information about Neighborly's service brands visit www.neighborlybrands.com.

About Neighborly

Neighborly is the world's largest home services franchisor of 24 service brands and more than 3,900 franchise owners serving 9 million+ customers in nine countries, focused on repairing, maintaining and enhancing homes and businesses. The company operates online platforms that connect consumers to service providers in their local communities that meet their rigorous standards as a franchisor across 14 service categories at www.getneighborly.com in the United States and www.getneighbourly.ca in Canada. The company was founded in 1981 as Dwyer Group and is based in Waco, Texas. More information about Neighborly/Neighbourly, and its franchise concepts, is available at www.Neighborlybrands.com.

SOURCE Neighborly

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Steve Ross, a Holocaust survivor who founded the New England Holocaust Memorial in Boston, died this week, officials said.

Ross, who was in his 80s at the time of his death, was born the youngest of eight children in Lodz, Poland in 1931, The Boston Globe reported. Nearly his entire family, including his parents, Basia and Josef Rozental, were killed in the Holocaust, the systemic genocide of approximately 6 million Jewish individuals by the Nazis during World War II.

Ross and one of his brothers were the only members of the family to survive the Holocaust. The brother, Harry Ross, later died in the 1980s, according to the newspapers report.

Boston lost a giant, and the world quite honestly lost a giant. Heres a man who could have given up several times in his life and he didnt. Im very sad today at the loss of Steve Ross, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh tweeted.

The Globe reported that Ross, who died Monday evening, had lived in Newton for many years and was previously a resident of the Dorchester and Jamaica Plain neighborhoods. He came to the U.S. in the late 1940s as a refugee after World War II.

In the 1990s, Ross sought a formal way to remember his family members as well as other victims of the Holocaust and the soldiers who liberated the death camps, according to the memorials website.

German authorities, during the 1940s, targeted several groups who they saw as racially inferior, including disabled individuals as well as Romani and Slavic people. Others were persecuted for their political beliefs, religions and sexual orientations, among them Communists, Jehovahs Witnesses, members of LGBTQ community and Socialists.

He wanted this memorial to serve as a lesson to future generations, the website says of Ross.

The Holocaust survivor formed a committee to put together a proposal for the memorial, and several public officials in Boston, including then-Mayor Raymond Flynn, supported the effort. The New England Holocaust Memorial was dedicated in a public ceremony on the steps of Boston City Hall Plaza in 1995, the website says.

Ross, whose birth name was Szmulek Rozental, was imprisoned at the age of 9 and survived 10 different concentration camps from 1940 to 1945, according to the memorials website. During that time, he suffered abuse, serious injury and atrocity.

His back was broken by a guard who caught him stealing a raw potato; another time he was hung for eating a potato, the memorials website says. Tuberculosis wracked his body. He once hid in an outhouse, submerged to his neck in human waste, to save himself from being shot."

The survivor was eventually liberated from the Dachau concentration camp in southern Germany. He was one of more than 32,000 prisoners freed in 1945, according to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

A photograph from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration shows Ross, as a child, behind a fence at the camp, holding up his arm with a smile during the day of liberation.

Prisoners with access to records said 9,000 people died of hunger, disease or shooting within the past three months at Dachau. Four thousand more perished during cold winter months," records from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration say. When Americans entered the camp, they found 50 open railway cars standing on a siding, apparently full of dirty clothing but actually found to contain hundreds of corpses piled on top of each other.

Survivors of the Nazis' Dachau concentration camp cheer the arrival of American liberators. Among those pictured are Juda Kukieda (middle) and Szmulek Rozental, who later took on the name of Steve Ross, (to the right of Kukieda). David Moszkowicz (third from the left) and Gyorgy Laszlo Spiegel (far left) are also pictured, according to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. (National Archives and Records Administration, College Park)

Ross, then 16 years old, was brought over to America through the U.S. Committee for Orphaned Children in 1948, the memorials website says. He later earned three college degrees and worked for the city of Boston for more than 40 years. The survivor provided guidance and clinical services to youth and families in the community.

Steve had one dream, one vision and one mission. He wanted to remember, with a memorial, his lost family members among the six million Jewish victims and other innocent people who lost their lives in the Holocaust, those soldiers who liberated the concentration camps; and all the soldiers who helped end the war, the website says.

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Winona County Sheriffs Office

Thursday

5:08 p.m.: Cullen Isaac Olsen, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of marijuana and possession of brass knuckles after a sheriffs deputy reportedly witnessed Olsen on his phone near Gilmore Avenue and Hwy. 61. According to the deputys report, Olsen had a bloodshot eyes and detected the odor of marijuana upon making contact with Olsen. The deputy also found a sheathed blade, extendable baton, brass knuckles and a knife in Olsens vehicle, according to the report.

Saturday

2:17 a.m.: Olivia Rose King, 20, of Grayslake, Ill., was arrested and charged with fourth-degree DWI and third-degree test refusal after a deputy reportedly witnessed King fail to stop at a stop sign at Main and 10th streets.

Winona Police Department

Friday

9:14 p.m.: Brandi Alex Plank, 24, was charged with misdemeanor violation of an order for protection after reportedly messaging a person who has a restraining order against her.

10:12 p.m.: Nicole Angelica Klink, 32, of Winona was ticketed with theft by shoplifting from Walmart.

Saturday

1:21 a.m.: Hunter Darrell Patrick Oviatt, 18, of St. Charles was ticketed with minor consumption at 10th and Franklin streets.

2:13 p.m.: Kristen Serena Vian, 30, of Winona was ticketed with theft by shoplifting from Target.

6:41 p.m.: Gary Allen Kowalewski, 58, of Winona was arrested and referred to the county attorneys office for making terroristic threats on the 50 block of Lenox Street. According to the police report, Kowalewski got into an altercation with an acquaintance and pointed a pellet gun at them and pantomimed firing it. Kowalewski denies the allegations.

8:49 p.m.: A man reported that the hood on his vehicle on the 250 block of Mark Street had been keyed between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

9:24 p.m.: Samantha Jean Oreskovich, 34, of Buffalo City, Wis., was ticketed with theft by shoplifting from Walmart.

11:50 p.m.: Hunter Charles Zenk, 21, of Minnesota City was arrested and referred to the county attorney for fifth-degree possession of marijuana after police received reports of a suspicious vehicle on Fifth and Sioux streets.

Sunday

12:20 a.m.: Juan Nava, 32, of Pharr, Texas, was ticketed with drunken disorderly conduct and subsequently sent to detox after police were called to a disturbance on the 500 block of West Fourth Street.

1:25 a.m.: Heidi Lea Colvin, 20, of Germantown, Wis., was ticketed with Under 21 Consumption while Driving after getting pulled over Seventh and Winona streets for having a headlight out.

2:34 a.m.: Sergio Antonio Gasca Valtierra, 24, of St. Charles was arrested and charged with third-degree test refusal and fourth-degree DWI after getting pulled over for crossing the center line at Sarnia and Market streets.

8:54 a.m.: A woman reported someone kicked her apartment door in on the 100 block of West Third Street. The complainant reported two pairs of shoes, a TV stand and a speaker were taken. The reporting party said she does have a suspect.

12:54 p.m.: A man reported the window of his Honda Accord had been broken out overnight on the 150 block of East 10th Street.

1:22 p.m.: A man reported that a side-view mirror on his vehicle was broken off sometime overnight on the 350 block of West Mark Street.

1:27 p.m.: A woman reported that a window to her residence on the 250 block of East Eighth Street was broken out by a marble.

10:59 p.m.: Sarah Rose Davis, 39, of Winona was ticketed with theft by shoplifting from Walmart and subsequently served a trespass notice.

11:46 p.m.: A man reported that his prescription medication was taken from his unlocked vehicle sometime overnight on the 650 block of West Fourth Street.

41 alternate side-parking tickets were issued.

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Shahid Kapoor Birthday: Ishaan Khatter calls Him OG Bade Miya, Wife Mira Rajput Wish The Love Of Her Life
Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah has described actions exhibited by minority Members of Parliament (MP) at last Thursday's State of the Nation Address as disgraceful to their party.



He said reasons for their action whiles President Akufo-Addo was about to deliver the State of the Nation Address [SONA] does not merit expectations their electorates expect from them.



What has the ECs new voter register got to do with us or the President to warrant a walk out when SONA is being read by the first gentleman of the land? he asked.



In an interview on UTVs Adekye Nsroma newspaper discussion segment, the Tema West MP argued that minority Members of Parliament will never discuss the 2020 SONA anywhere if they had shame.



He wondered why most of them tuned in to listen to the address on radio and watched on television when they had decided to walk out.



" . . I blame the media, because you shouldn't even give the one who didn't listen to the address the chance to debate.



 . . If you had any shame, what you didn't sit to listen, you won't debate on it, he argued.



Listen to him in the video below







Source: Elizabeth Semiheva Bedi/ peacefmonline.com / [email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Chaturvedi family of Agra huddled near a barricade in Taj Nagari to catch a glimpse of the convoy of US President on Monday, the patchy condition of the street on their side stood in stark contrast to the refurbished road on the other side.

Trump briefly visited Agra last evening to see Taj Mahal, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner and his delegation.

Ahead of his visit, the city administration had given the city a "major makeover", especially along the route to be used by Trump's convoy.

"Look at this patchy street on the side where the common man is standing, and the VVIP zone across the barricade where flags and flowers have been used to decorate the streets to welcome the visiting head of state. The contrasting pictures tell the whole story," said Ashok Kumar Chaturvedi, who lives in Taj Nagari.

He came along with his wife, son and daughter to see the convoy of the US President, but was tad disappointed as police personnel did not allow public to stand near the barricade and asked them to move further back.

"Agra has been spruced, walls cleaned of illegal advertisements, new heritage-design lampposts installed on main roads, uniform signage for shops in many areas. All for Trump! But will the city be kept smart, clean and beautiful even after he is gone," Chaturvedi asked.

In Tajganj area that neighbours the iconic complex, tourists earlier would be greeted with garbage dumps and illegal cables and unkempt pavements, but all of that has changed in the last few weeks.



ALSO READ: Melania Trump says she is inspired by Happiness Curriculum in govt school

"The city has been transformed overnight, with a speed it has never seen before. Elections come and go, but things don't move, a US President decides to come to Agra and authorities work in full swing. Trump should again visit Agra maybe that's how our city will remain maintained," said Mohit Kumar, who works in a hotel in Tajganj.

A day ahead of the visit, workers were giving spray-paint job to electrical wiring boxes along the route and broken walls were being fixed and painted afresh.

The city administration had made massive arrangement for Trump's short visit in Agra on Monday evening, giving Agra a makeover in a very short span of time, seeking to present the "best face of Agra" to him.

Streets were spruced up, walls beautified with thematic paintings and the lawns of the iconic bedecked with shimmering flowers for welcoming the US President.

At many places, artworks greeting Trump were made by artists and water was being sprayed regularly to ensure there was no dust.

Victorian-style lampposts were installed in many areas to improve the aesthetic look of the city, especially along the nearly 13-km route that was taken by the US President's convoy.

Agra District Magistrate Prabhu N Singh said the work started in preparations for the US President's visit "will continue".

"Agra is a part of the Smart City project and during the last few weeks, we expedited many schemes under it, from street lighting to wall beautification and uniform shop signage to pavement refurbishing, and it will continue. It was not just for President's visit, we want our city to look clean and beautiful all the time," he told PTI.

Many youths of Agra are happy that the city has been beautified, but questioned the "selective way" in which only the area along the convoy route largely was being given a facelift.

"Go and see other areas, you will see the difference. City administration and local body worked in full swing in the last few days. It means we Indians can do it but apathy and corruption stops our cities from having a good urban quality. And people should also respect their city and help keep it clean," said Suryansh Chaturvedi, a class nine student.

He incidentally wrote his school exam in the morning and came in the evening to catch a glimpse of the 'Beast', the official luxurious limousine of the US President but was a tad disappointed to not see it.

District authorities later said the armoured luxury car of the US President was "not part of the convoy" in Agra.

Guide Abdul Khan, however, also gushed about Trump's visit, saying it will "boost the stature of Agra and further boost tourism".

Satyendar Shukla, an auto-rickshaw driver said, "It is good that the city has been cleaned and beautified, but the administration and people should keep it like this regularly, not just for a VVIP visit."



"Agra should be smart and beautiful for us also, not just for foreign guests," he said.
A New York couple hired the securities arbitration law firm Soreide Law Group to recover their alleged losses of more than $4,000,000 from investments made with former Berthel Fisher broker Jeremy Rosen (Rosen) who currently works in Eason, Pennsylvania. According to FINRA Broker check Rosen left Berthel Fisher in 2019 for National Planning Associates. Rosens broker check report reflects two other pending customer complaints. Berthel Fisher is not named in the action.

The Claimants filed their case alleging Rosen caused them dramatic losses in: Gulfport Energy (GPOR), Exone, Co (XONE), Range Resources Corp. (RRC) and Approach Res (AREX). The lawsuit alleges that Jeremy Rosen recommended these positions to the Claimants in large concentrations. The Claimants allege they did not want to be exposed to the risk these alleged unsuitable investments created which resulted in devastating losses to their portfolio.

The lawsuit filed on behalf of the Claimants alleging that financial advisor Rosen committed negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, and negligent supervision. Berthel Fisher was not named in the action and Jeremy Rosen have yet to file Answer to the allegations.

The lawsuit is being arbitrated through Finra case number 20-00521. If you were a former customer of former Berthel Fisher broker Jeremy Rosen and sustained substantial losses contact Soreide Law Group today for a free consolation. We represented investors nationwide through the FINRA Dispute Resolution Forum and only get paid out of the successful settlement or award proceeds should we able to recover your losses. For more information call (888) 760-6552 or visit https://www.SecuritiesLawyer.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 25, 2020) - EMX Royalty Corporation (NYSE American: EMX) (TSXV: EMX) (the "Company" or "EMX") is pleased to announce the acquisition of a 2% Net Smelter Returns ("NSR") royalty on various exploration licenses totaling just over 1,000 hectares (the "Kaukua Royalty") in Finland from Akkerman Exploration B.V., a private Netherlands company ("Akkerman"). The Kaukua Royalty licenses host palladium-rich platinum group element ("PGE") mineralization at Palladium One Mining Inc.'s ("Palladium One") flagship Lantinen Koillismaa ("LK") project in Finland. An updated mineral resource estimate for the LK PGE project's Kaukua deposit was announced in September, 2019 by Palladium One1, and the current Kaukua Technical Report can be found at www.Sedar.com. The Kaukua deposit lies within the Kaukua Royalty property.

The Kaukua Royalty was acquired from Akkerman by EMX for C$125,000 and the issuance of 52,000 EMX shares. EMX's NSR royalty applies to all future mineral production from the Kaukua Royalty licenses. Palladium One can purchase 1% of the NSR royalty prior to the delivery of a "bankable feasibility study" for 1 million. The remaining 1% of the NSR royalty is uncapped, and cannot be repurchased.

Palladium One has made the Kaukua project an emphasis of their exploration efforts in Finland, and features the project on their website and in corporate presentations. Palladium One also recently announced plans for a 5,000 meter drill program that will further test the Kaukua project and other targets on the LK property2.

EMX, one of the leading holders of mineral rights and royalty properties in Fennoscandia, recognized the Kaukua opportunity during assessment of nickel-copper-PGE deposits throughout the region. The acquisition of the Kaukua Royalty is another example of the Company's successful execution of its royalty generation business strategy, whereby EMX's in-region expertise is leveraged to identify royalty acquisition and strategic investment opportunities.

Kaukua Overview. PGE-nickel-copper-gold mineralization at the Kaukua deposit is hosted by the Koillismaa Layered Igneous Complex ("KLIC"), a 2.4-2.5 billion year old layered mafic intrusive complex located in north-central Finland. The KLIC forms part of an east-west trending belt of similar intrusions and nickel, copper and PGE deposits that cross through Finland and into Russia.

Palladium One's Technical Report3 outlined a pit-constrained mineral resource for the Kaukua deposit at a cut-off of 0.3 g/t palladium (Pd) summarized as (note "Pd Eq" is palladium equivalent)4:

Mineral Resource Estimate for the Kaukua Deposit - September 2019 Class Ktonnes Pd g/t Pt g/t Au g/t Ni % Cu% Pd Eq g/t Pd Eq oz Indicated 10,985 0.81 0.27 0.09 0.09 0.15 1.8 635,600 Inferred 10,875 0.64 0.20 0.08 0.08 0.13 1.5 525,800

The entirety of the Kaukua deposit's pit-constrained resources are covered by EMX's NSR royalty ground. EMX notes the Technical Report's metal prices of US$1,100/oz palladium and US$1,300/oz gold are well below current spot prices. This embeds considerable upside exposure to increased metal prices in future years.

The Company's Kaukua Royalty also covers multiple additional exploration targets including the majority of the "South Zone", a drill defined zone of mineralization which occurs 500 meters south of the main Kaukua deposit. The Technical Report also highlights exploration potential to the east and west of the Kaukua deposit, concealed beneath shallow overburden.

Kaukua History. PGE-rich styles of mineralization were first recognized at Kaukua by Outokumpu Oy in the late 1980's. The Geological Survey of Finland ("GTK") commenced a focused research and exploration program in the area in 1996, drilling the Kaukua project for the first time in 2004, resulting in drill defined zones of PGE-rich mineralization. Akkerman acquired the Kaukua licenses in 2007 via direct application, and subsequently optioned the rights of those applications to Nortec Ventures Corp. ("Nortec").

After acquiring the Kaukua property, Nortec drilled additional holes and completed a resource estimate and NI 43-101 technical report in 2011. The Kaukua licenses were ultimately acquired by Nickel One Resources Inc. in 2017. Nickel One Resources Inc. subsequently changed its name to Palladium One Mining Inc. in May, 2019, and Palladium One continues to advance the project, as discussed above.

Note: It is the opinion of EMX that the acquisition of the Kaukua Royalty is not a material development for EMX, and therefore the requirement to file an independent technical report under National Instrument 43-101 does not apply in this case.

Dr. Eric P. Jensen, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified and approved the disclosure of the technical information contained in this news release.

About EMX. EMX is a precious and base metals royalty company. EMX's investors are provided with discovery, development, and commodity price optionality, while limiting exposure to risks inherent to operating companies. The Company's common shares are listed on the NYSE American Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol EMX. Please see www.EMXroyalty.com for more information.

For further information contact:

David M. Cole

President and Chief Executive Officer

Phone: (303) 979-6666

Dave@EMXroyalty.com

Scott Close

Director of Investor Relations

Phone: (303) 973-8585

SClose@EMXroyalty.com

Isabel Belger

Investor Relations (Europe)

Phone: +49 178 4909039

IBelger@EMXroyalty.com

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

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain "forward looking statements" that reflect the Company's current expectations and projections about its future results. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties, exploration results and budgets, mineral reserves and resource estimates, work programs, capital expenditures, timelines, strategic plans, market prices for precious and base metal, or other statements that are not statements of fact. When used in this news release, words such as "estimate," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "will", "believe", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which, by their very nature, are not guarantees of the Company's future operational or financial performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors may include, but are not limited to: unavailability of financing, failure to identify commercially viable mineral reserves, fluctuations in the market valuation for commodities, difficulties in obtaining required approvals for the development of a mineral project, increased regulatory compliance costs, expectations of project funding by joint venture partners and other factors.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date otherwise specifically indicated herein. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified in this news release, and other risk factors and forward-looking statements listed in the Company's MD&A for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 (the "MD&A"), and the most recently filed Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2018, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. More information about the Company, including the MD&A, the 20-F and financial statements of the Company, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the SEC's EDGAR website at www.sec.gov.



1 See Palladium One news release dated September 9, 2019.

2 See Palladium One news release dated February 18, 2019.

3 "Technical Report for the Kaukua Deposit, Lantinen Koillismaa Project, Finland", dated September 9, 2019.

4 From Table 1-1 of the Kaukua Technical Report, with explanatory notes that include: "CIM definitions have been followed for the Mineral Resources; Bulk densities of 2.9 t/m3 have been assigned for all lithologies within the block model except the overburden which has a bulk density of 2.1 t/m3 assigned; The optimization used metal prices (in USD) of $1,100/oz for Pd, $950/oz for Pt, $1,300/oz for Au, $6,614/t for Cu and $15,432/t for Ni; Mining dilution and recovery factors have been assumed at 5% and 95% respectively; Pd Eq is the weighted sum of the Pd, Pt, Au, Ni and Cu grades based on the commodity prices as outlined; and Errors may occur due to rounding to appropriate significant figures." EMX notes that recoveries and net smelter returns are assumed to be 100% for the Pd Eq calculation.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52738
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We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve.
A good rule of thumb when youre trying to eat healthy is to beware of any food you see advertised. The most beneficial fare  whole grains, fruits, vegetables  tends not to have a marketing budget.

Similarly, investments that are enthusiastically pushed by commission-earning salespeople may not be the best for your financial health. Before you buy any of the following, youd be smart to investigate lower-cost alternatives and to consult an objective, knowledgeable third party, such as a fee-only financial planner.

EQUITY-INDEXED ANNUITIES

Equity-indexed annuities are insurance products that base their returns on stock market benchmarks. Theyre often promoted as a way to benefit from stock market gains while being protected from losses.

But the contracts typically limit how much investors get when the stock market rises, says certified financial planner Anthony Jones of Groveport, Ohio. Two clients, who had purchased equity-indexed annuities before joining his firm, received only a fraction of last years 30% increase (as measured by the Standard & Poors 500 benchmark).

They expected bigger returns in 2019 and were very disappointed, Jones says. They each had less than a 3% return.

Equity-indexed annuities typically come with high commissions and surrender charges that can make it expensive to get your money out, says CFP Scott A. Bishop of Houston. The contracts can be extremely complex, and many buyers dont understand what theyre getting, he says.

They are not necessarily bad products, but they are really more like bond alternatives than stock alternatives, Bishop says.

REVERSE MORTGAGES

Reverse mortgages allow homeowners 62 and older to convert some of their home equity into a lump sum, a series of monthly checks or a line of credit. Borrowers dont have to make payments on the loan, which doesnt have to be paid back until they die, sell or move.

But borrowers dont always realize that their debt is accruing monthly interest. The amount they owe may grow so high they no longer have any equity in their homes, says Barbara Jones, an attorney with the AARP Foundation.

Story continues

Reverse mortgages typically arent a good fit for people who may need to rely on their equity for future expenses, such as medical bills or nursing home care. Reverse mortgages could be a way to avoid foreclosure if a homeowner cant afford to make payments on a regular mortgage, Jones says. There may be no equity left for their heirs, but at least the person gets to age in place, Jones says.

NON-TRADED REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS

Real estate investment trusts allow people to invest in commercial real estate without having to buy and manage the properties themselves. Most REITs are publicly traded so its easy to buy and sell them.

Non-traded REITs also invest in real estate but are designed to reduce or eliminate taxes. The trade-off is that your money could be locked up for years. Also, non-traded REITS tend to have high upfront fees that reduce the return on your investment.

Non-traded REITs make my heart sink when I see them in a new clients portfolio, says CFP Jonathan P. Bednar of Knoxville, Tennessee. These are very complex products, with high fees, and oftentimes not the greatest-quality underlying holding.

Bednar prefers that clients own investments they can easily sell if needed, such as an exchange-traded fund that invests in real estate.

CASH-VALUE LIFE INSURANCE

Cash-value life insurance combines a death benefit with an investment component. (Whole life, universal life and variable life policies are all types of cash-value life insurance.) Sometimes the policies are promoted as a tax-efficient way to invest for high earners who have maxed out their other retirement savings options, says CFP Alex Caswell of San Francisco.

But the premiums arent deductible, and the policies tend to have high costs, Caswell says. Many investors have better alternatives, such as using a tax-efficient investment strategy in a regular brokerage account, he says.

Also, premiums for cash-value policies tend to be much higher than premiums for the same amount of term insurance, which has a death benefit but no investment component. The higher premiums can lead buyers to skimp on coverage or to drop the policy because its too expensive. And sometimes policies are sold to people who dont need life insurance at all, such as single people with no financial dependents, says CFP Tess Zigo of Lisle, Illinois.

Zigo says the higher commissions paid by cash-value policies can lead insurance agents to recommend them even when there are better alternatives.

If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail, Zigo says.

This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet.

Liz Weston is a columnist at NerdWallet, a certified financial planner and author of Your Credit Score. Email: lweston@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lizweston.

RELATED LINK:

3 reasons to hire a fee-only financial planner

http://bit.ly/hire-fee-only-planner
Former movie producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted of sexual assault and rape in a New York court on Monday and taken off to jail in handcuffs, a victory for the #MeToo movement that inspired women to publicly accuse powerful men of misconduct.

Once one of Hollywoods 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.

Officers helped Weinstein unsteadily to his feet before leading him away. His lawyer said Weinstein, who has used a walker throughout the trial, was ordered to be taken to a medical facility at New York Citys Rikers Island jail complex.

His sentencing hearing was set for March 11. The attorney vowed to appeal.

Weinstein never testified in his defense. He told reporters during the trial that he had wanted to speak but his lawyers said it was unnecessary because the case against him was weak.

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.

A statement for the #MeToo movement said: 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.

BREAKING: The #silencebreakers released this powerful statement on Harvey Weinsteins two guilty counts. And their voices are just getting stronger. #TIMESUP pic.twitter.com/OLUkm983ur TIME'S UP Legal Defense Fund (@TIMESUPLDF) February 24, 2020

From Margot Robbie to Dua Lipa to Elizabeth Banks, a number of Hollywood celebs took to social media to hail Weinstein's conviction. Take a look:

I am heartened for his victims and for all those who said #metoo and #TimesUp that some justice has been done. https://t.co/5PYPfhRPjq Elizabeth Banks (@ElizabethBanks) February 24, 2020

Thanks my best pal. This is still a huge victory and know that it will give hope and courage to others to speak their truth. #WeinsteinGuilty #TimesUp #AnnabellaSciorra https://t.co/TlthIg6NGs Rosie Perez (@rosieperezbklyn) February 24, 2020

Harvey Weinstein is no longer an alleged rapist.Harvey Weinstein is a convicted rapist. Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) February 24, 2020

I applaud the women who bravely stepped forward to help forever alter the conversation around what they  and all of us  have to put up with. Gratified to see some justice being served here. #MeToo https://t.co/wR4f66uecj Anthony Rapp (@albinokid) February 24, 2020

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

Weinstein 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.

The jury of seven men and five women acquitted Weinstein on the most serious charges, which carried a potential life sentence.
Wendy Williams just added another insensitive remark to her growing list of offensive comments.

While speaking about her late friend B. Smith's death on Monday's show, the 55-year-old host publicly slammed widow Dan Gasby for entering a new relationship, before the his wife of 23-years passed away from Alzheimer's disease.

Despite the couple penning a heart-wrenching book together about their journey with her disease, the talk show diva seemed unsympathetic toward Dan's loss.

Controversial: Wendy Williams, 55, publicly slammed widow Dan Gasby for entering a new relationship, before the his wife of 23 years passed away from Alzheimer's disease

'Dan went on to fall for another woman, who I understand he is still not with now,' she fired just two days after B. Smith's death. 'But he fell for her when Barbara was living with Alzheimer's in the fabulous mansion in the sky, and he moved the other woman.'

She went on to describe to the audience seeing the three of them out in public made her 'uncomfortable' and she recalls thinking, 'What is he doing?'

Williams expressions ranged from distressed to disdain, as she voiced her thoughts in a bronze skirt, white sneakers and a patterned, sleeveless turtleneck on her popular Hot Topics segment.

Her callous remarks came as a 'friend,' despite seeming to forget B. Smith gave her husband permission to move on.

She pondered the thought before concluding: 'Was he right? I am not sure.'

Not sorry: She went on to describe to the audience seeing the three of them out in public made her 'uncomfortable' and questioned his rationality

There until the end: The author, who married her husband in 1992, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's in 2013 at the age of 63

Before closing off the cringe-worthy segment for good, she gathered enough respect to say, 'Dan, I am sorry to hear about Barbara. Barbara, rest in peace.'

Dan confirmed the lifestyle guru's death on Saturday in a Facebook post revealing she passed 'peacefully' in a hospice care at her home in Long Island, New York.

The author, who married her husband in 1992, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's in 2013 at the age of 63.

'It is with great sadness that my daughter Dana and I announce the passing of my wife, Barbara Elaine Smith,' Gasby wrote.

'Thank you to all the friends and fans who supported B. and our family during her journey. Thank you to everyone for respecting our privacy during this agonizing time.

Understanding: In the face of fierce backlash over the new relationship, Gasby revealed that his wife had told him to move on with his life before her Alzheimer's worsened

'Heaven is shining even brighter now that it is graced with B.'s dazzling and unforgettable smile.'

Gasby, Smith's husband of 28 years, cared for her at their East Hampton home up until her death, with help from his daughter Dana and his girlfriend Alex Lerner, whom he began dating after his wife's Alzheimer's diagnosis.

Smith's marriage to Gasby made headlines in late 2018 after he announced his relationship with Lerner, a Manhattan chef, who was helping to care for Smith.

In the face of fierce backlash over the new relationship, Gasby revealed that his wife had told him to move on with his life before her Alzheimer's worsened.

Embarrassing: This year alone, she has come under hot water for tastelessly mocking Joaquin Phoenix's 'cleft lip' and saying that gay men should not be able to wear heels; pictured earlier this month

William's missing sensitivity chip on Monday is among many jarring instances, which included a cruel Price Is Right jab mocking the death of Drew Carey's ex-fiancee Dr. Amie Harwick.

Williams drew gasps from the audience after describing how Harwick, 38, was allegedly thrown from her balcony and making crass use of Carey's catchphrase: 'She was killed... not by Drew, but by the ex ... come on down.'

This year alone, she has come under hot water for tastelessly mocking Joaquin Phoenix's 'cleft lip' and saying that gay men should not be able to wear heels.
The Bernie Mac Show aired on FOX for five seasons. The comedy series starred comedian Bernie Mac and chronicled the Hollywood actor as he and his wife Wanda raised his two nieces and nephew. The children give Bernie a tough time as he takes on the primary parenting duties as his wife works a traditional 9-5.

The Bernie Mac Show cast 2002 | Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

The show had a loyal viewership but suffered due to the networks constant time period changes. Despite such, the show won several awards and surpassed 100 episodes, taking it into syndication territory before its eventual cancellation. Mac died just two years after the shows end, leaving a lasting legacy.

It remains a fan favorite and is available on multiple streaming services, including Netflix. The actors have gone on to star in other projects but will always be remembered for their roles on the show. Heres an update on whats been going on with the cast since the show has gone off the airwaves.

Bernie Mac

Mac was the star and co-creator with the show, leading his family with tough love and comedy. Prior to the show, Mac was already a successful actor and standup comedian. He was one-fourth of the insanely successful comedy tour The Original Kings of Comedy. Hed had starring roles in Life, The Players Club, Guess Who, Charlies Angels: Full Throttle, Head of State, and Guess Who to name a few.

After the series ended, Mac faced health issues, revealing he suffered from sarcoidosis, a disease of unknown origin that causes inflammation in the tissue. The illness often attacked his lungs. Sadly, he died from complications from pneumonia in 2008 at the age of 50. His memorial was attended by more than 7,000, including Hollywood powerhouses and his co-stars.

Kelita Smith

Smith played the leading lady in Macs life  his wife, Wanda. Unlike the typical Hollywood housewife, Wanda is a VP at AT&T and takes a backseat to duties at home, allowing Mac to take the lead. Shes the patient one out of the two who builds her own special bond with the children, oftentimes being seen as the cool parent.

Smith spoke to The Real about getting the gig. It was one of those roles where probably every African American woman wanted this part and it probably took them the span of a month and I was told no twice, she revealed. A Chicago native like Mac, they became close friends off-camera.

Source: YouTube

Since the show ended, Smith continued acting. Shes had roles in television films such as A Deadly Adoption and Sharknado 3. Shes also done some standup comedy.

Camille Winbush

Winbush starred as Vanessa, the eldest child in the Mac household and gave her uncle the most trouble thanks to her smart mouth and sometimes rebellious attitude. She acts as a surrogate mother to her younger brother and sister. Over time, her relationship with Mac improves.

Winbush continues to book acting roles while also following her passion of music. Her singing ability was highlighted in an episode of The Bernie Mac Show that featured India.Arie. In 2002, she recorded One Small Voice and The Night Before Christmas Song for the compilation album Schools Out! Christmas. She also sang on the soundtrack of the Disney musical Geppetto. Shes performed at several fundraising galas throughout Los Angeles.

Source: YouTube

In terms of acting, Winbush has appeared on ER, Strong Medicine, Criminal Minds, and Greys Anatomy. On her downtime, she spends time with family and friends while sharing her precious moments on her Instagram account.

Jeremy Suarez

The nerdy yet troublesome middle child of the bunch, Suarez played the role of Jordan. Peculiar yet intelligent, he vies for his uncles attention as Mac tried his hardest to make Jordan more cool. They eventually settle on Jordans personality and develop a close relationship. Jordan also develops more social skills as he ages and gains confidence.

Suarez is extremely close with his television siblings and they meet often to spend time with one another. Like the rest of the cast, hes continued acting, with roles in The Fix. Hes also led his voice to do voiceover work for video games.

Dee Dee Davis

The baby of the family and Macs favorite, Davis played Bryana, affectionately called Baby Girl by her uncle. Mac believes Baby Girl is sweet, innocent, and naive, though she terrorizes Jordan.

Davis has focused more on her personal life than acting after the show. Shes a mother to a toddler son and into fashion, showcasing her life on her Instagram account.
The average house price in Northern Ireland rose by almost 8% in the last year to nearly 179,000, new research has found

The average house price in Northern Ireland rose by almost 8% in the last year to nearly 179,000, new research has found.

Ulster University's latest Quarterly House Price Index found a 7.8% increase from the last three months of 2018 to the end of 2019.

The average house price of 178,800 was also a 2.8% increase from the third quarter of 2019.

Ards and North Down was the council area with the highest average house price at 203,124.

It was followed in the list by Lisburn and Castlereagh (195,362), with Belfast (174,427), Causeway Coast & Glens (168,781) and Mid-Ulster (153,122) making up the rest of the top five.

Dr Martin Hinch, research associate in Performance & Analysis of Residential Property Markets at Ulster University said that with the report showing average house prices to be at their highest level since 2008, "there is much to be positive about for 2020 and beyond".

"The market has shown resilience in the face of external economic and geopolitical challenges, and as we establish more stable government at both local and UK level, we can be optimistic about continued growth.

"Of course, there are still real challenges in relation to Brexit and trade negotiation outcomes for the longer term. However, Stormont's return and the UK's formal EU exit has at least alleviated some of the uncertainty we've experienced over the past three years."

The average house price in Antrim and Newtownabbey was 150,964. The rest of the rankings saw Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon at 149,131, followed by Mid & East Antrim at 134,517, Fermanagh & Omagh at 131,061) and Derry & Strabane at 129,013 - making it the cheapest place to buy a home.

Michael Boyd, deputy chief executive at Progressive Building Society, said: "While Q4 2019 was very fluid both economically and politically at a national level, the passing of October 31 without a cliff-edge Brexit and the signing of the UK EU withdrawal agreement provided much needed stability at a local level.

"To build on the confidence within the market and maintain sustainable growth, the upcoming trade negotiations between the UK and the EU and the ease of flow of goods and services for NI businesses, need to be carefully navigated."

Separate research by government body Land and Property Services in November last year said house prices had grown by 4% over the previous 12 months to reach an average of 139,951. The residential property price index said there had also been growth of 2.3% during the last quarter.
The markets regulator on Tuesday clarified that foreign investors from Mauritius will continue to be eligible for registration in India but will face tougher disclosure requirements.

The Securities and Exchange Board of Indias (Sebi) statement comes after the island nation, a tax haven and the second-largest source of foreign portfolio investments into India after the US in 2019, was placed on an international terror-financing watch list. Funds coming from Mauritius will now be subject to stricter know-your-client (KYC) disclosures, compliance and regulatory scrutiny, a Sebi spokesperson said. Fund managers were, however, sceptical whether Sebi will allow them to register as foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) under the regulations.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a Paris-based monitoring group to tackle terrorism financing and money laundering, last week put countries, including Mauritius, Pakistan and Cayman Island on its grey list, which indicates the jurisdictions have weak rules to prevent money laundering and terror financing. The list also includes countries that have committed to resolving identified strategic deficiencies within agreed time frames and are subject to increased monitoring.

Richie Sancheti, head of investment funds at law firm Nishith Desai Associates, said that Sebis move is pragmatic. The guidance from FATF to its members (which includes India) in such cases is to take this into account in their risk analysis. Accordingly, the view taken by Sebi to not restrict participation by Mauritius-based FPIs and new applicants is pragmatic. Had Mauritius been classified as a non-cooperative country in addition to a bar on FPI participation, it could have also triggered restriction on LRS (liberalised remittance scheme) remittances to Mauritius-based outbound structures, said Sancheti.

Non-FATF countries were seldom a favourable destination for US or UK investors. But for funds looking for treaty benefits in certain type of investment instruments, Mauritius has always been a favoured route. The Sebi clarification is a big boost for Mauritius since the cloud of negativity is now gone. However, we may still see enhanced monitoring on FPI as well as FDI investments, said Neha Malviya, director of Wilson Financial Services.

Sebis clarification comes as a positive for investors but it may not resolve all concerns around Mauritius.

A fund set up in a FATF grey list jurisdiction may not find favour with certain sophisticated institutional investors. They typically route their investments through jurisdictions that do not attract high strictures from FATF. So even if Sebi continues to grant registrations, we may see fund managers, particularly those raising institutional capital, shy away from Mauritius until its out of the grey list, said Tejesh Chitlangi, senior partner at law firm IC Universal Legal.

Putting Mauritius on the watch list was seen as the second blow for the nation as funds from the country also attract additional tax due to indirect transfer provisions.

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The UN's Libya mission and world powers on Tuesday urged the country's warring parties to engage in peace efforts, as doubts hung over talks set to start the next day in Geneva.

The negotiations are supposed to gather delegates from a Tripoli-based unity government and representatives of an eastern-based parliament backed by Libyan National Army (LNA) led by commander Khalifa Haftar, who is leading a months-long offensive to seize the capital.

Both sides had said Monday they would not take part in the negotiations in Switzerland, citing different reasons.

The eastern-based parliament said the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) had not approved all of its representatives.

Meanwhile the High State Council, the equivalent of a senate which backs the unity government, said it would not participate in the talks until progress was made in military negotiations.

But UNSMIL spokesman Jean Alam insisted Tuesday that the "Libyan Political Dialogue will start tomorrow as planned."

The UN's Geneva spokesman Rheal Leblanc also confirmed the talks would take place Wednesday.

Political sources in Tripoli and the eastern city of Benghazi told AFP that UN officials were working to salvage the talks and persuade both sides to take part.

Five western powers and the European Union also voiced support for the talks.

"The embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States (as well as the EU mission) welcome the considerable progress in the UN-facilitated talks in Geneva toward a lasting ceasefire in Libya," they said in a joint statement.

"We call on all parties to reject obstructionism and engage in good faith as Libya moves forward with its democratic transition."

Turkish troops killed

LNA launched an offensive against Tripoli, seat of the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), last April.

His fighters have since stalled on the edges of the capital, but fighting has left more than 1,000 people dead according to the UN.

A joint military commission with five members from each side wound up talks Sunday in the Swiss city with a "draft ceasefire agreement" to be finalised in March, according to the UN mission.

But the pro-GNA 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".

Libya has been rocked by violence since a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 overthrew and killed veteran dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

Since 2015, the GNA -- headed by Fayez al-Sarraj -- has been vying with LNA for control.

A ceasefire backed by LNA's ally Russia and pro-GNA Turkey was announced in January but has been regularly violated.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that two of his country's troops had been killed in Libya, where Ankara has sent dozens of military trainers since signing a deal with the GNA last year.

Last week, Erdogan confirmed pro-Turkish Syrian fighters were in Libya alongside the training teams.

Russia is also widely reported to have sent mercenaries to back LNA.

Western powers are keen to stabilise Libya -- home to Africa's largest proven crude oil reserves -- because of concerns Islamist militants and migrant smugglers, already active, will take advantage of the chaos.

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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 history lauds those rare successes, those that fail are often forgotten; who remembers Pets.com?

Given this risk, we thought we'd take a look at whether Ooma (NYSE:OOMA) shareholders should be worried about its cash burn. For the purpose of this article, we'll define cash burn as the amount of cash the company is spending each year to fund its growth (also called its negative free cash flow). We'll start by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves in order to calculate its cash runway.

View our latest analysis for Ooma

How Long Is Ooma'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 October 2019, Ooma had cash of US$27m and no debt. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through US$12m. Therefore, from October 2019 it had 2.3 years of cash runway. Notably, however, analysts think that Ooma will break even (at a free cash flow level) before then. If that happens, then the length of its cash runway, today, would become a moot point. The image below shows how its cash balance has been changing over the last few years.

NYSE:OOMA Historical Debt, February 25th 2020

How Well Is Ooma Growing?

One thing for shareholders to keep front in mind is that Ooma increased its cash burn by 270% in the last twelve months. That does give us pause, and we can't take much solace in the operating revenue growth of 17% in the same time frame. Considering both these metrics, we're a little concerned about how the company is developing. Clearly, however, the crucial factor is whether the company will grow its business going forward. So you might want to take a peek at how much the company is expected to grow in the next few years.

Story continues

How Hard Would It Be For Ooma To Raise More Cash For Growth?

Ooma seems to be in a fairly good position, in terms of cash burn, but we still think it's worthwhile considering how easily it could raise more money if it wanted to. Generally speaking, a listed business can raise new cash through issuing shares or taking on debt. Many companies end up issuing new shares to fund future growth. By looking at a company's cash burn relative to its market capitalisation, we gain insight on how much shareholders would be diluted if the company needed to raise enough cash to cover another year's cash burn.

Since it has a market capitalisation of US$281m, Ooma's US$12m in cash burn equates to about 4.2% of its market value. That's a low proportion, so we figure the company would be able to raise more cash to fund growth, with a little dilution, or even to simply borrow some money.

So, Should We Worry About Ooma's Cash Burn?

As you can probably tell by now, we're not too worried about Ooma's cash burn. In particular, we think its cash burn relative to its market cap stands out as evidence that the company is well on top of its spending. While we must concede that its increasing cash burn is a bit worrying, the other factors mentioned in this article provide great comfort when it comes to the cash burn. It's clearly very positive to see that analysts are forecasting the company will break even fairly soon. Looking at all the measures in this article, together, we're not worried about its rate of cash burn; the company seems well on top of its medium-term spending needs. Notably, our data indicates that Ooma insiders have been trading the shares. You can discover if they are buyers or sellers by clicking on this link.

If you would prefer to check out another company with better fundamentals, then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt or this list of stocks which are all forecast to grow.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
PHOENIX, AZ - February 25, 2020 (Investorideas.com Newswire) SinglePoint Inc. (OTCQB: SING) is pleased to announce Direct Solar of America is continuing to expand its national solar brokerage footprint meeting increased consumer and customer demand for solar solutions for their homes and businesses by announcing the addition of two additional markets, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Direct Solar of America model allows for national scalability which enables us to increase revenues by entering new markets without significant operational start up costs due to the leverage from our existing infrastructure.

As reported in the Star Tribune, Legislators in Minnesota recently outlined their 2020 agenda including a requirement that all the electrical energy generated for the state come from carbon-free sources such as wind and solar power. Solar power is getting its time in the sunlight. "It's growing at about 30 percent per year," explained Greg Nemet, professor of public affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "There are studies that say solar could be 50 percent of our electricity within 10, 15 or 20 years." "Solar is for real now and ... people are installing solar because it's the cheapest way to make electricity, even in a place like Wisconsin. I would expect to see more of that."

"This is an exciting time for the company as the appetite for solar and energy storage solutions continue to rise, we look forward to continuing to add markets such as Wisconsin and Minnesota to fuel our growth in the residential and light commercial sector," states Greg Lambrecht, Chairman & CEO of SinglePoint. "The solar and clean energy solutions (both in the Americas and globally) have undergone enormous change over the last decade and we feel the acquisition of Direct Solar of America has firmly positioned SinglePoint and its stakeholders to take advantage of the opportunities created by these changes as we move into the next 10 years that is being described as the Solar+ Decade."

Enhanced revenue outlook, powered by solar, continues in 2020

Last week the company reaffirmed previous announcements regarding the 2019 Unaudited Gross Revenue of $2,000,000 in its residential solar business unit. It is important to note that these revenue numbers are only from the time period from acquisition, May 2019 until the end of the year and do not represent what the full annualized revenue opportunity. Direct Solar of America continues to track a minimum of $8-$10 Million in 2020 Residential Solar Sales and is on pace to meet or exceed total targeted solar bookings in February 2020.

Solar Jobs Expanding Across the United States, reflecting rapid national expansion and demand for Solar and energy storage solutions

The Solar Foundation, a nonprofit educational and research organization, issues the National Solar Jobs Census each year to provide comprehensive and reliable data on the U.S. solar workforce. Since the first Solar Jobs Census was published, American solar jobs have increased 167%, from just over 93,000 jobs in 2010 to 249,983 jobs in 2019.

This job growth reflects the rapid expansion of the U.S. solar industry, driven by the plummeting cost of solar technologies and its increased popularity among individuals, businesses, and electric utilities. In the five-year period between 2014 and 2019, solar employment increased 44%, five times faster than job growth in the overall U.S. economy.

Solar jobs also increased in 31 states in 2019, and growth well outpaced the national average in many emerging solar markets. The state with the most jobs added in 2019 was Florida, followed by Georgia, Utah, New York, Texas, Illinois, and Virginia.

Globally and Domestically Solar Energy is Huge

As recently mentioned in this Bloomberg Article, all of a sudden, solar energy is huge. In many countries around the world solar is trending to become the dominant power supply. Globally, the Number of Megawatt projects have skyrocketed and the US is appearing to follow suit. Recently Warren Buffet's NV Energy company received the green light to proceed with the US's largest solar project to date. While these large scale projects continue to grow, residential and smaller commercial sized opportunities targeted by SinglePoint are becoming more abundant.

More Consumers and Businesses are going Solar

As environmental awareness becomes a priority for everyday people, solar energy has seen exponential growth. Homeowners and property owners are looking for ways to offset their own power consumption and make the move to a more green and sustainable energy source.

As an inexhaustible resource that doesn't produce CO2 emissions, projections for the future indicate that the solar industry will continue to thrive. More people are choosing solar power for one key reason: it has the potential to save the average household thousands of dollars. Purchasing solar panels has never been more affordable and more efficient than it is today. Solar panels are one of the most innovative technologies of our time, playing a vital role in reducing the demand for fossil fuels.

Utilizing solar power is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint as well as boost your electricity independence. The sun soaks the Earth hourly with enough light and heat to fulfill global needs for a whole year; in other words, solar radiation can satisfy our energy needs 4,000 times over.

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, Clean Energy, Renewable Energy, Solar Stocks, Solar Companies

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SinglePoint Inc.

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A Syrian man who was displaced with his family has offered to sell his kidney, in exchange for enough money to buy a tent reports Brocar Press.

A Syrian displaced person has put his kidney up for sale in exchange for the price of a tent to shelter his family in Idleb, which is witnessing unprecedented overcrowding from the sheer number of displaced people from across Syria.

Activists on social media exchanged images of the displaced Syrian carrying a sign on which was written: I have a kidney for sale for the price of a tent to shelter me and my family. Only God is with me.

Brocar Presss correspondent in Idleb said that the image was taken on Monday in Bab al-Hawa on the Turkish-Syrian border and that the young man was from among the newly-displaced coming from the town of Anjara in the western Idleb countryside, which was recently taken by regime forces and Iranian militias.

The young man did not provide contact details, but Brocar Press learned from sources close to him that humanitarian organizations have provided him with shelter.

The massive waves of displacement to the Syrian-Turkish border are continuing with the pace of attacks by the Syrian regime and its allies to take control of the area.

The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, warned that the continuing attacks by the Syrian regime and its allies could cause one of the worst humanitarian disasters of the 21st Century.

Lowcock said that there was no longer any safe place in Idleb, with babies and other young children dying in the cold in this area, in which more than three million displaced people from different parts of Syria live.

Meanwhile the population density in Idleb is bigger than most world capitals, Lowcock said, adding that, there are reports about the Syrian regime and its allies bombing 16 residential areas in Idleb and four residential areas west of Aleppo, according to Anadolu agency on Saturday.

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.
India's (IPR) regime is robust and legally sound and not "deficient" at all, a top government official said on Tuesday.

The response came in the wake of a US official questioning the India's IPR system.

Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Guruprasad Mohapatra said that the country's IPR regime is in compliance with all international best practices.

"In fact, some of the countries are emulating our ideas because we do not provide ever-greening of certain patents which completely outlived their utility.

"The way our IPR works in the pharma sector particularly, it provides low cost, affordable and high quality medical care...but let us not at all think that our IPR system is any deficient," he said.

He added India will always engage with the US on IPR related issues.

An US official stated that in the pharma sector, IP protection in India is still not where it could be.

When asked about what India should do in IPR as it continues to remain on the US 'Priority Watch List' for alleged violations of IPR, America's Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross' chief of staff Michael Walsh said: "...I would focus on the IP protection. Particularly in the pharma industry, IP protection here in India is still not where it could be...there are a number of different groups through which the US patent office that will help move forward on that.."



India continues to remain on the US 'Priority Watch List' for alleged violations of and for posing new challenges that have negatively affected American right holders over the past year.

On this, Mohapatra said: "I feel tempted to give a clarification to Michael Walsh that India's IPR regime is a very robust, strong and legally sound".

Further on data localisation, Walsh said that business community should persuade the Indian government to perhaps go in a slightly different direction on this.

"There are great international standards on data privacy. The European model is effective. I would encourage businesses to encourage India to consider these alternative because data localisation is not something worth fighting over.

"It makes it harder for foreign companies to do business in India and in order to take full advantage of the digital progress and data economy, it would be very very helpful to work on the data localisation issues".

He also said that regulatory predictability helps attract investments and string infrastructure is key to attract FDI.

"Future of digital is obviously 5G and we need to get reliable and safe equipment providers. We really need to focus on data security...(It is) important to secure 5G networks from malign influence".

Further the DPIIT secretary said that the coronavirus outbreak has raised an important question that the supply chain has to be diverse and located in various places.

"We have been interacting with a large number of international and US companies and we find a strong desire that many of them look at India as an alternative place for production because that is where, the more we spread out, less is the risk of a coronavirus type of pandemic disrupting the supply chain in the world, that is an important lesson for us," Mohapatra said.

He said that global firms are looking at India as a separate and alternate investment destination.

Citing example of bulk drugs, he said earlier India used to produce APIs for its requirement but "today we ceded that market to just one geography which is not a healthy indicator for the whole world".
Another Important Historic Nevada Mining District Consolidated by Ely Gold Royalties

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 25, 2020) - Ely Gold Royalties Inc. (TSXV: ELY) (OTCQB: ELYGF) (FSE: A2JSL0) ("Ely Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a purchase option agreement with Blackrock Gold Corp (TSXV: BRC) ("Blackrock") for the Company's Tonopah West Project, located in Nevada, for total proceeds of US$3,000,000 (the "Option Agreement"), with Ely Gold retaining a 3% net smelter returns royalty. The Option Agreement is expected to close on or before April 1, 2020 and is subject to certain closing requirements* and approvals including TSX-V approval (the "Closing").

Jerry Baughman, President of Nevada Select commented, "Ely Gold's consolidation of four separate patented and unpatented claim groups in the Tonopah District represents the first time in history that this part of the district will be explored as a single project. This is exactly the kind of high-quality property we continue to generate and option to exceptional exploration partners. Blackrock intends to explore the high-quality target ready zones that have been identified at Tonopah West."

Tonopah West

The Tonopah West Project consists of 97 patented and 17 unpatented lode mining claims covering mineral rights on approximately 4.5 square kilometres (1,100 acres) located in Esmeralda and Nye Counties, Nevada. The project will now consolidate the historic West End, Victor, 76, Extension and a portion of the McNamara Mining Company holdings under a single ownership and will provide an opportunity for modern exploration on the western portion of this historic and storied district.

Ely Gold's wholly owned subsidiary, Nevada Select Royalty, Inc ("Nevada Select") currently controls 23 patented and 17 unpatented lode mining claims. As part of the Option Agreement, Nevada Select will complete the purchase of Cliff ZZ LLC's 75 patented claims which will then be included in the Option Agreement. (See Ely Gold press release dated February 3, 2020).

Tonopah is referred to as the "Queen of the Silver Camps" and has historically produced over 174 million ounces of silver and 1.8 million ounces of gold from approximately 7.5 million tons of high-grade silver-gold epithermal quartz veins (refer to: Ashley, R., USGS Bulletin 1852-H). The main mineralization hosts are volcanic rock of the Mizpah andesite and the West End Rhyolite. These host lithologies are present on the Tonopah West Project.

Trey Wasser, President & CEO of Ely Gold stated, "Ely Gold continues to successfully execute its business plan with this key property consolidation and sale of an important and historic Nevada mining district. The Tonopah West Project will now constitute a cornerstone asset in our Royalty Sale Portfolio".

The Option Agreement

Blackrock Gold Corp.'s wholly owned US subsidiary is acquiring the Tonopah West Project under an option to purchase agreement. The 4-year option has payments as follows:

US$325,000 on Closing;

US$325,000 on the 1 st Anniversary of Closing;

Anniversary of Closing; US$650,000 on the 2 nd Anniversary of Closing;

Anniversary of Closing; US$700,000 on the 3 rd Anniversary of Closing; and

Anniversary of Closing; and US$1,000,000 on the 4th Anniversary of Closing (the "Final Payment").

After Blackrock makes the Final Payment, Nevada Select will retain a 3% net smelter returns royalty with no buydown and Blackrock will then pay Nevada Select an annual advance minimum royalty payment of US$50,000 commencing once the option is exercised. The Option Agreement also includes a one-mile area of interest. There are no work commitments associated with the Option Agreement or after the Final Payment.

* As a condition of Closing, Nevada Select will complete the acquisition of the Cliff ZZ land package consisting of 75 patented lode mining claims on or before March 28, 2020.

Qualified Person

Stephen Kenwood, P. Geo, is a director of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Kenwood has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release.

About Ely Gold Royalties Inc.

Ely Gold Royalties Inc. is a Vancouver-based, emerging royalty company with development assets focused in Nevada and Quebec. Its current portfolio includes 36 Deeded Royalties and 22 properties optioned to third parties. Ely Gold's royalty portfolio includes producing royalties, fully permitted mines and development projects that are at or near producing mines. The Company is actively seeking opportunities to purchase existing third-party royalties for its portfolio and all the Company's option properties are expected to produce royalties, if exercised. The royalty and option portfolios are currently generating significant revenue. Ely Gold is well positioned with its current portfolio of over 20 available properties to generate additional operating revenue through option and sale agreements. The Company has a proven track record of maximizing the value of its properties through claim consolidation and advancement using its extensive, proprietary data base. All portfolio properties are sold or optioned on a 100% basis, while the Company retains royalty interests. Management believes that due to the Company's ability to generate third-party royalty agreements, its successful strategy of organically creating royalties, its equity portfolio and its current low valuation, Ely Gold offers shareholders a low-risk leverage to the current price of gold and low-cost access to long-term mineral royalties.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Signed "Trey Wasser"

Trey Wasser, President & CEO

For further information, please contact:

Trey Wasser, President & CEO

trey@elygoldinc.com

972-803-3087

Joanne Jobin, Investor Relations Officer

jjobin@elygoldinc.com

647-964-0292

FORWARD-LOOKING CAUTIONS: This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding its current assets, including future mineral production prospects and revenue gains, and Company acquisitions of additional royalty interests. These matters are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks of declining precious metals prices, failure of projects in which the Company has an interest may underperform current management forecasts, the Company may not be able to identify suitable new royalty acquisitions, and the political uncertainties and regulatory or legal disputes or changes in the jurisdictions where the Company carries on its business that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effect.

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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52776
Kenyan operator Safaricom is one of a number of technology companies that has joined an initiative for disability inclusion.

The initiative is the Valuable 500, a movement that brings together CEOs responsible for huge organisations to put disability inclusion on the global business leadership agenda. Safaricom is the first company in Kenya and the fourth in Africa to join the movement.

Its aim is to boost innovation in the accessible world and help advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In fact more than 250 companies, including operators BT, NTT Docomo, O2 UK, Orange, Telefonica, Beeline, and Vodafone Group, support The Valuable 500 campaign, which aims to sign up 500 global business leaders and CEOs before the UN General Assembly in mid-September.

The Valuable 500 also has automobile manufacturer Audi, IT service management company CGI IT UK, Mastercard, Sky and hotel booking website Trivago among its signatories. The campaign was launched at the 2019 World Economic Forums Annual Meeting.

Commenting on the news, interim Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph highlighted the operators commitment to drive the disability inclusion agenda in the communities it serves, in alignment with the UN SDGs.

The Valuable 500s founder Caroline Casey has called for the technology sector to prioritise inclusion for the 1.3 billion disabled people worldwide. Casey is an award-winning social entrepreneur. Over the past two decades she has set up several organisations and initiatives centred on disability business inclusion.
Stocks in the news today: Here is a list of top stocks that are likely to be in focus in Tuesday's trading session based on latest developments. Investors are also awaiting December quarter earnings that are scheduled to be released today. Companies set to announce their earnings are Asian Paints, Dr Lal PathLabs, Sanofi India, Wonderla Holidays, Stovec Industries, Navin Fluorine International among others.

TVS Motors: The automaker announced today that the virus outbreak has led to impact on supply of certain components for the production of BS-VI vehicles. While company's direct dependency on China is limited to components, some Tier II suppliers have been impacted adversely which will lead to a 10% drop in the planned production in February 2020, the filing added.

Hindustan Unilever: The company board has approved formation of a new 100% owned subsidiary. The company will be incorporated with an authorised share capital of Rs 2,000 crore, as per company filing. This new subsidiary has been formed to leverage the growth opportunities in fast-changing business environment and will help HUL in becoming more agile and customer-focused, the filing added.

HDFC Bank: The lender announced that Aditya Puri, the Managing Director of HDFC Bank has sold bank's 12.52 lakh equity shares to exercise stock options.

Suzlon Energy: The solar company informed BSE its directors will hold a meeting on February 27 to consider raising funds via equity or equity linked instruments or convertible securities of the company.

JSW Steel: The steel major has been declared as 'Preferred Bidder' in the auctions of Jajang Iron Ore Block in Odisha. As per the filing, projected iron ore resource as on March 31, 2020 in the mine is around 39.40 million tonnes.

IndiGo: The airline announced today that it would launch daily direct flights connecting Pune to Chandigarh and Indore, effective from March 15, 2020 and May 01, 2020 respectively.

Bharti Infratel: The board of the company has extended the deadline for the closure of its merger with Indus Towers by another two months to April 24, 2020 and said that the implementation of the deal will depend on impact of the current AGR crisis facing the telecom industry and the extent of its impact on the company's major customers.

HCL Infosystems: The company informed the boures that Raghavan Rangarajan has expressed his intentions to step down from the position of the Managing Director of the company due to personal reasons. The Board of Directors of the company has approved his resignation with effect from the closing hours of March 31, 2020, the filing further added.

Bharat Forge: The company said that its board has approved payment of second interim dividend for FY19-20 of Rs 2 per equity share.

Avanti Feeds: The company has declared an interim dividend of Rs 5 per equity share.

Ajanta Pharma: Company promoters have released pledged shares of quantity 1 lakh shares (0.11% stake) and 1.6 lakh shares (0.18% stake) on February 20, respectively. The reason for the release was repayment of loans by promoters for personal business purpose, the filing added.

Q3 Earnings Today: Asian Paints, Dr. Lal PathLabs, Sanofi India, Wonderla Holidays, Stovec Industries, Navin Fluorine International, Kama Holdings, Plastiblends India, Elantas Beck India, Petron Engineering Construction, Bharat Bijlee, Mysore Paper Mills, Mideast Integrated Steels, Asahi Songwon Colors, JBF Industries, Ishwarshakti Holdings & Traders, Brahmaputra Infrastructure among others will release their December quarterly results today.
Congress has essentially ignored President Donald Trumps previous education spending blueprints and approved relatively small overall increases for the U.S. Department of Education in each of the past three federal appropriations bills. Theres no particular reason to think Capitol Hill will treat his latest budget proposal much differently.

But the presidents plan to shrink U.S. Department of Education funding by nearly 8 percent in part by consolidating 29 major programsincluding Title I aid for disadvantaged students and funding for charter school expansioninto a single, $19.4 billion block grant is still managing to kick up plenty of dust.

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and other Education Department officials say the grant would provide states with newfound flexibility. Different states will spend their share of the block grant differently, and thats OK, DeVos said during a presentation of the spending proposal earlier this month. In fact, thats what we hope they will do.

In a presentation on the budget, the department highlighted that states could support charter schools with their block grants.

Others, however, focused on the overall funding cut and the end to several line-item programs in the proposal, which would reduce the Education Departments budget by $5.6 billion, lowering it to $66.6 billion.

Daniel Domenech, the executive director of AASA, the School Superintendents Association, said in a statement that, Once again, unsurprisingly, the president has released a budget proposal that is bad for students, bad for schools, and bad for public education.

And charter advocates, who in past years saw the Trump administration try to increase money for charter school expansion, panned the proposal to fold that program into a new block grant.

Secretary DeVos wants to be known as the secretary who has promoted school choice, said Nina Rees, the president and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. So in light of that, it is ironic that they would lump this program into a large block grant with all these other set-asides and programs that they normally dont support.

Trumps new Elementary and Secondary Education for the Disadvantaged block grant would represent a $4.7 billion cut from the combined current funding levels for the 29 programs that would be merged, including the $440 million Charter School Program grants.

Democratic candidates for president Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts have proposed halting the $440 million grants for charter expansion altogether. Education Department spokeswoman, Angela Morabito, said drawing parallels between that proposal and how Trumps budget would handle charter school expansion grants was ludicrous.

This administration is the most choice-friendly, pro-education-freedom administration in history, she said in a statement.

Other programs whose funding would be merged into this new block grant include Title II grants for educator preparation (which currently gets $2.1 billion in federal funding); 21st Century Learning Centers, which back after-school programs ($1.3 billion); and Title IV block grants for academic enrichment and student well-being ($1.2 billion).

Dodging Cuts

Not every area of the departments budget would get a trim, however. Trumps fiscal 2021 spending blueprint would provide $2 billion to career and technical education, an approximately $700 million increase. The president signed a reauthorization of the federal law for CTE in 2018.

The proposal also includes the administrations year-old plan to create a $5 billion program to fund vouchers and other services called Education Freedom Scholarships. The tax credits for the scholarships would be administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury.

Trumps budget proposal marks the fourth straight time the president has sought to cut the Education Departments total budget. Last year, he proposed chopping 10 percent off the agencys roughly $71 billion budget.

However, the spending bill Trump signed at the end of 2019 increased the departments budget by $1.3 billion, up to $72.8 billion. None of the 29 programs he sought to eliminate funding last year was axed. And Title II and Title IV grants got increases, as did aid for disadvantaged students under Title I and special education funding for states.

Funding for Head Start under the Department of Health and Human Services would decline by $58 million, to $10.6 billion.

Meanwhile, the proposed budget for the U.S. Department of Agriculture would impose new restrictions on the Community Eligibility Program, which lets schools or districts with high enrollments of students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals serve free meals to all students, without individually enrolling them in the National School Lunch Program. Specifically, the budget would close a loophole under which some districts qualified all their schools or groups of schools by combining their enrollment and meal data.
Mubarak had entered the intensive care unit after undergoing surgery two weeks ago

Egypt's former president Hosni Mubarak, who ruled the country for 30 years, died in hospital on Tuesday at the age of 91.

A military funeral will be held for the former air force commander on Wednesday afternoon at a mosque in New Cairo, a source told Ahram Online.

Mubarak's son Alaa said on Twitter that his father had passed away on Tuesday morning. Mubarak was receiving treatment at an intensive care unit after undergoing surgery two weeks ago.

The former president was ousted following massive protests during the popular uprising that started in January 2011. The autocrat ruled Egypt from 1981 until 11 February 2011.

Mubarak was arrested two months following his overthrow and stood trial in a number of criminal cases on various charges. He was convicted of corruption in 2015, alongside his sons Alaa and Gamal, for using public funds to renovate family properties. Mubarak had already served his sentence in detention while awaiting trial in other cases.

He was sentenced to life in prison for conspiring to kill protesters during the popular uprising, but walked free in 2017 after being acquitted of the charges.

The Egyptian presidency mourned Mubarak's death, describing him in a statement as one of "the leaders and heroes of the [1973] war" and the military hailed him as "one of its sons."

The United Arab Emirates announced flags would fly at half mast in mourning for the long-serving leader, and Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash said the Arab world had lost a "statesman who took major national and historic positions."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hailed Mubarak for his support for the Palestinian cause, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called him a "personal friend" who "led his nation to peace and security, to peace with Israel."

Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa also offered their condolences.

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A brazen porch pirate was surrounded by undercover officers after stealing a package from a front door in a dramatic police sting.

A doorbell security camera captured the thief being arrested just moments after she swiped the box lying on a porch in Edmonton, the capital of Canada's Alberta province.

In the clip, an unnamed woman wearing a cap can be seen walking up a snow-covered path to a house on a suburban street.

Looking around her as she approaches the door, she pauses for a moment before grabbing a brown package and calmly walking away.

In the clip, filmed in in Edmonton, the capital of Canada's Alberta province, an unnamed woman wearing a cap can be seen walking up a snow-covered path to a house on a suburban street

She barely makes it to the end of the street before an unmarked police truck pulls up and blocks her from crossing the road.

The woman appears to look confused as yet another car pulls up from a different direction as a plain clothed police officer yells at her to drop the package.

The thief is ordered to drop to her knees as yet another unmarked car races towards towards the scene in the dramatic police sting.

The security camera captures police officers handcuffing the burglar following the robbery.

Looking around her as she approaches the door, she pauses for a moment before grabbing a brown package and calmly walking away

Police across the US and Canada have been cracking down on so-called 'porch pirates' who target unattended packages - often containing vital medicine.

Officers have been known to attach tracking devices to catch criminals in the act.

The clip, which was posted to Reddit, was met with outrage - with many users saying they had also been the victim of a porch pirate.

One user wrote: 'I lost three miserable days to pain last week after some a**hole stole my medication from the mail.'

The thief is ordered to drop to her knees as yet another unmarked car races towards towards the scene in the dramatic police sting

Elsewhere, one penned: 'Over the holidays I walked past a couple of guys carrying a box that I bet didnt belong to them. I waited around, watched them open it and leave it on the street.

'I went back and picked it up and returned it to the address it was stolen from. It turned out to be diabetes medicine. Some people deserve worse than karma.'

Meanwhile, one wrote: 'My dad gets big boxes of humira for his crohns and its always been my fear that someones gonna steal it one day.'
Trump in India: First Lady of the US, Melania Trump, will visit a government school in Delhi today. She will witness various activities as part of the 'happiness curriculum' at the school. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that it is a "great day for our teachers, students and Delhiites".

"FLOTUS will attend happiness class in our school today. Great day for our teachers, students and Delhiites. For centuries, India has taught spirituality to the world. Am happy that she will take back the msg of happiness from our school," said the Chief Minister.

.@FLOTUS will attend happiness class in our school today. Great day for our teachers, students and Delhiites. For centuries, India has taught spirituality to the world. Am happy that she will take back the msg of happiness from our school - Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 25, 2020

Melania Trump will reach the school in South Delhi around noon and spend over an hour there. She will take a tour of the school, go to different classes, interact with students and witness activities as part of the 'happiness curriculum'.

Security has been tightened around the school. All roads leading to the school has been fortified and trees have been pruned on the directions of the security agencies. The roads have also been repaired and the sidewalks have been freshly painted. Saplings have also been plated as beautification measure in the vicinity of the school.

However, CM Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, who were earlier scheduled to welcome the FLOTUS to the government school, do not feature in the list of invitees anymore. The ministers expressed their anguish over the exclusion of their names from the list and said it is "protocol" and "convention" that state leaders are present when foreign leaders attend events in their respective states.

Also read: Trump India Visit Day 2: POTUS has a busy day ahead; check full schedule

The Kejriwal-led AAP said the names of the leaders were dropped upon the request of the Modi-led BJP. The US Embassy on Sunday stated they had no objection to the presence of Kejriwal and Sisodia during FLOTUS' visit, as mentioned in a report in news agency PTI.

Manish Sisodia, who is also the education minister in Delhi, said in a statement: "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. 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."

As part of the 'happiness curriculum' that was introduced in July 2018, students studying in Classes I-VIII attend a 45-minute 'happiness class' every day and participate in activities like storytelling, meditation and question and answer sessions.

Also read: Trump in India: POTUS to meet India Inc CEOs on Tuesday

Also read: Honoured to return to India, says Ivanka Trump
RSA Conference 2020: News Recaps through February 24

RSA Conference 2020 started today at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The event runs through February 28.

Business Wire is the official news wire partner for RSA Conference 2020. Listed below is the news recap through February 24.*

02/24/2020 - 02:22 PM

Devo Security Operations Recognized with Multiple Awards at RSA Conference 2020

02/24/2020 - 01:30 PM

Intertrust Launches First and Only Enterprise-Ready White-Box Cryptography Solution for Web Applications

02/24/2020 - 01:15 PM

Tufin to Showcase New Hybrid Cloud Security Solution SecureCloud at RSA Conference 2020

02/24/2020 - 01:05 PM

McAfee Releases Major Updates to MVISION Platform to Protect Data and Defend Against Threats From Device to Cloud

02/24/2020 - 01:01 PM

McAfee Introduces Unified Cloud Security Platform to Deliver Secure Access Service Edge

02/24/2020 - 01:00 PM

PreEmptive Announces JSDefender

02/24/2020 - 01:00 PM

McAfee Offers Managed Threat Detection and Response Platform Collaborating With DXC Technology

02/24/2020 - 01:00 PM

McAfee Releases Innovations to Its MVISION Cloud Platform to Protect Cloud-Native Application Infrastructure

02/24/2020 - 12:35 PM

Waratek Receives InfoSec Award for Cutting-Edge Web Application Security

02/24/2020 - 11:47 AM

Attivo Networks Sweeps 2020 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards, Garnering Six Product and Service Category Wins

02/24/2020 - 09:47 AM

Elastic Debuts Integrated Security Offering at RSA 2020

02/24/2020 - 09:10 AM

Onfido Wins InfoSec Award for Best Next Gen Fraud Prevention Product at RSA Conference 2020

02/24/2020 - 09:00 AM

Menlo Security Wins Award for Cutting-Edge Anti-Malware and Named Editor's Choice for SaaS/Cloud Security During RSA Conference 2020

02/24/2020 - 09:00 AM

LogicGate Debuts Integrations at 2020 RSA Conference

02/24/2020 - 09:00 AM

Pindrop to Unveil Deep Voice 3 at RSA, Extending Company's Lead in Voice Security

02/24/2020 - 09:00 AM

White Ops Named Winner of the Coveted InfoSec Awards during RSA Conference 2020

02/24/2020 - 09:00 AM

Stellar Cyber Named Winner of the Coveted InfoSec Awards during RSA Conference 2020

02/24/2020 - 09:00 AM

Silverfort Named Winner of the Coveted InfoSec Award 'Most Promising Cybersecurity Startup of the Year' during RSA Conference 2020

02/24/2020 - 08:05 AM

FireMon Delivers New Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services Integrations to Improve Public Cloud Visibility, Control and Security Management

02/24/2020 - 08:04 AM

Attivo Networks Honored with Five 2020 InfoSec Awards from Cyber Defense Magazine

02/24/2020 - 08:00 AM

NEW RESEARCH: Nearly 60% of Security Professionals Believe Cloud Deployments Surpass Security Capabilities According to FireMon's 2020 State of Hybrid Cloud Security

02/24/2020 - 08:00 AM

BigID Introduces Next Generation Data Security Capabilities For Finding and Protecting Crown Jewel Data

02/24/2020 - 08:00 AM

Secure Channels Inc. to Exhibit at RSA Conference 2020

02/24/2020 - 07:27 AM

Securonix Enables Use Case Testing at Full SOC Scale with New Analytics Sandbox Capability

02/24/2020 - 07:00 AM

QuoLab Advances the Security Operations Market with a Collaborative, Data-Centric Platform

02/24/2020 - 07:00 AM

Titan IC to Exhibit at RSA Conference 2020

02/24/2020 - 06:16 AM

Cloud Security Alliance Opens the Call for Papers for SECtemberSM

02/24/2020 - 06:15 AM

Adaptiva Introduces Endpoint Health With 111 Health Checks for Clients and Servers

02/24/2020 - 06:06 AM

Cloud Security Alliance 2020 Initiatives Changing the Face of IT Audit and Cloud Assurance

02/24/2020 - 06:05 AM

Checkmarx Simplifies Automation of Application Security Testing for Modern Development and DevOps Environments

02/24/2020 - 06:00 AM

ExtraHop Extends Cloud-Native Detection & Response Leadership with Industry's First Fully Integrated Hosted NDR Solution for Hybrid Enterprises

02/24/2020 - 06:00 AM

GreatHorn Unveils Biometric-Based Account Takeover Solution

02/24/2020 - 06:00 AM

CSA Continues to Drive Leadership in Cloud Security with New Research

02/24/2020 - 06:00 AM

Trustifi's New OCR Tool Brings AI to Email Security, Auto-encrypting Sensitive Images

02/24/2020 - 06:00 AM

Cygilant to Highlight the Need for Encrypted Traffic Visibility at RSA Conference 2020

02/24/2020 - 06:00 AM

DFLabs Reveals Its New IncMan SOAR Platform With Advanced Features for Enterprises And MSSPs

02/24/2020 - 05:30 AM

Revolutionary Mellanox ConnectX-6 Dx SmartNICs and BlueField-2 I/O Processing Units Transform Cloud and Data Center Security

02/24/2020 - 05:30 AM

RSA Conference 2020 Kicks Off in San Francisco

02/24/2020 - 05:30 AM

CyberArk Releases First-of-Its-Kind Privilege Deception Capabilities

02/24/2020 - 05:17 AM

Fortanix Announces Availability of Self-Defending Key Management Service on VMware Cloud Marketplace

02/24/2020 - 05:11 AM

Venafi to Exhibit at RSA Conference 2020

02/24/2020 - 05:00 AM

Spirion Extends Proven Data Privacy Manager Platform to the Cloud

02/24/2020 - 05:00 AM

CrowdStrike Introduces Endpoint Recovery Services to Accelerate Incident Response and Remediation

02/24/2020 - 05:00 AM

FireEye Unveils New Cloud Security Innovations

02/24/2020 - 05:00 AM

Intelligence Squared From Hillstone Networks Debuts at RSAC 2020







02/24/2020 - 05:00 AM

Introducing the FireEye Mandiant Threat Intelligence Suite

02/24/2020 - 05:00 AM

CrowdStrike Brings Industry-Leading Visibility through the Cloud-Native Falcon Platform to All Workloads Across All Environments

02/24/2020 - 04:00 AM

F5 Empowers Customers with End-to-End App Security

02/24/2020 - 04:00 AM

Anitian Introduces First-Ever Cloud-Based Documentation Automation to Provide Security and Compliance with a Single Click

02/24/2020 - 03:00 AM

Lucy Security Wins Three Gold 2020 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards

02/24/2020 - 03:00 AM

Cybersecurity Marketer of the Year Winners Announced

02/24/2020 - 03:00 AM

CyberSaint Named Winner of Five Gold Cybersecurity Excellence Awards, Including Best Integrated Risk Management Solution

02/24/2020 - 12:00 AM

Americans Divided on Perceptions About Personal Data Privacy Control

02/23/2020 - 10:00 PM

ISACA's Cybersecurity Study Shows Skills Gaps, Hiring and Retention Struggles Persist

02/23/2020 - 09:01 PM

McAfee Helps Partners Build Competitive Edge With Open Platform Approach to Cloud Security

02/21/2020 - 02:45 PM

ExtraHop Executives to Speak About Enterprise Security, Decryption, and Privacy at RSA Conference 2020

02/21/2020 - 11:18 AM

Thales: Trusted Access, Cloud Security and Data Discovery to Take Center Stage at RSA Conference 2020

02/21/2020 - 05:00 AM

Zimperium Delivers Record Revenue in 2019 Marked by Triple Digit New Customer Growth, Innovative Product Enhancements and Compelling Strategic Partnerships

02/21/2020 - 03:00 AM

STEALTHbits Awarded '2020 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards' - Named Best Cybersecurity Company, Best Privilege Access Management Product

02/20/2020 - 03:30 PM

The MITRE Corporation to Exhibit at RSA Conference 2020

02/20/2020 - 03:30 PM

MITRE Engenuity to Evaluate Cybersecurity Products Based on Carbanak and FIN7 Groups

02/20/2020 - 11:42 AM

Gurucul Automates and Advances Threat Hunting with AI/ML for Intelligent Threat Detection and Faster Response Times

02/20/2020 - 09:30 AM

CyberX Announces Integration with Microsoft Azure Security Center for IoT, Joins Microsoft Intelligent Security Association

02/20/2020 - 09:00 AM

Mobile Security Leader Lookout Announces Nearly 250% Jump in Business Customers, 320% Increase in Phishing Protection Licenses and Over 100 Million Apps Analyzed

02/20/2020 - 08:48 AM

STEALTHbits to Present On Active Directory Privilege Security Pitfalls and Unveil Corporate Rebrand Design at RSAC2020

02/20/2020 - 06:03 AM

Zero Networks Launches Industry's First Autonomous Network Access Orchestrator, Announces $4.65 Million in Funding

02/20/2020 - 06:00 AM

Code42 Data Exposure Report: Collaborative Work Environments, Dynamic Workforce Exacerbate Insider Threat Problem

02/20/2020 - 05:00 AM

FireEye Mandiant M-Trends 2020 Report Reveals Cyber Criminals Are Increasingly Turning to Ransomware as a Secondary Source of Income

02/20/2020 - 03:00 AM

Virsec Launches Solution for Continuous Application Protection from Development through Production

02/20/2020 - 03:00 AM

Virsec Launches Solution for Continuous Application Protection from Development through Production

02/19/2020 - 11:00 PM

BrandShield Launches ElectionShield Product to Protect Political Campaigns From Online Threats

02/19/2020 - 10:00 AM

Cymatic Presents Unified Web Defense at RSA 2020

02/19/2020 - 07:00 AM

BluBracket Introduces First Comprehensive Security Solution for Code in a Software-Driven World

02/19/2020 - 06:00 AM

Fidelis Cybersecurity Announces Significant Enhancements to Its Elevate Platform to Help Organizations Proactively Defend Their Cyber Terrain

02/19/2020 - 06:00 AM

Jitsuin to Showcase Digital Security Twins for IoT at RSA Conference 2020

02/19/2020 - 06:00 AM

Cyware Labs Enhances Suite of Cyber Fusion Solutions with "The Human Element"

02/19/2020 - 05:30 AM

New CISO View Report Highlights the Importance of Risk Reduction for Robotic Process Automation

02/19/2020 - 05:00 AM

New DivvyCloud Report Finds Breaches Caused by Cloud Misconfigurations Cost Enterprises Nearly $5 Trillion

02/19/2020 - 12:00 AM

Spikes in High-Risk Vulnerabilities and Public Cloud-Based Attacks Dominate Threat Landscape, Imperva Researchers Find With New Cyber Threat Index

02/18/2020 - 10:19 AM

MediaPRO's Lisa Plaggemier to Share Insights on Advancing Cybersecurity Awareness Programs at RSAC 2020

02/18/2020 - 08:59 AM

CORRECTING and REPLACING Byos Cautions RSA Conference 2020 Attendees, Travelers and General Public to "Dirty Half-Dozen" Public Wi-Fi Risks

02/18/2020 - 08:45 AM

ZeroNorth Demonstrates the Path to Secure DevOps at RSA Conference 2020

02/18/2020 - 06:30 AM

Signal Sciences Named a Gartner Peer Insights Customers' Choice for Web Application Firewalls Two Times in a Row

02/18/2020 - 06:08 AM

Kingston Encrypted IronKey D300 Series Achieves NATO Restricted Level Certification

02/18/2020 - 06:01 AM

TrueFort CEO Invited to Present on Securing Enterprise Applications at RSA Conference 2020

02/18/2020 - 06:00 AM

NCP engineering to Exhibit its Remote Access VPN Solutions at the RSA Conference 2020

02/18/2020 - 06:00 AM

SentinelOne Unveils Singularity, THE Platform to Defeat Every Attack, Every Second of Every Day

02/18/2020 - 05:00 AM

Arctic Wolf Names Dan Larson as Senior Vice-President of Marketing

02/18/2020 - 03:00 AM

SIRP Launches S3 Scoring Module to Help Organizations Prioritize Threat Response

02/18/2020 - 12:00 AM

Discover Entrust Datacard and nCipher High Assurance Digital Security Solutions at RSA Conference 2020

02/17/2020 - 05:00 AM

LookingGlass Cyber Solutions Expands and Strengthens Partner Program

02/14/2020 - 07:13 AM

Virsec and Tech Mahindra Collaborate to Deliver Advanced Cybersecurity Solutions to Customers Globally

02/14/2020 - 06:00 AM

Cybersecurity Author Richard Stiennon Publishes New Book Chronicling History of IT Security, "Security Yearbook 2020"

02/14/2020 - 05:00 AM

Will Briggs of Arctic Wolf Recognized on CRN's 2020 Channel Chiefs List

02/13/2020 - 09:22 AM

Gurucul Automates Threat Detection and Response for MITRE ATT&CK Framework Providing Highest Security Coverage

02/13/2020 - 07:04 AM

Spirent Expands CyberFlood Data Breach Assessment Solution with Even Greater Capabilities for Evaluating Network Security Attack Exposure

02/12/2020 - 06:50 AM

Devo Technology Introduces Next-Gen Security Operations Platform to Transform the SOC and Scale Security Analyst Effectiveness

02/12/2020 - 06:00 AM

AppOmni Selected as Finalist for RSA Conference 2020 Innovation Sandbox Contest

02/12/2020 - 05:00 AM

RSA NetWitness Platform Bolsters Threat Detection and Incident Response

02/11/2020 - 06:44 AM

Nightfall Announces Group of All-Star Investors and Extends Slack DLP Integration to Enterprise Grid

02/11/2020 - 06:00 AM

MediaPRO Research Reveals Almost Two-Thirds of U.S. Employees Unaware if the CCPA Applies to Their Organization

02/11/2020 - 06:00 AM

Entrust Datacard Simplifies High-Assurance Authentication With Next Generation Passwordless Workforce Login and Fully Digital Customer Identity Proofing

02/11/2020 - 05:30 AM

RSA Conference 2020 Expands Education Programs

02/10/2020 - 08:00 AM

Keysight to Highlight Solutions that Help Organizations Accelerate Defenses with Dynamic Network Intelligence at RSA 2020

02/05/2020 - 07:00 AM

Secure Code Warrior and Manicode Security to Lead Unleash Your Inner Security Champion Learning Lab at RSA Conference 2020

02/05/2020 - 05:30 AM

RSA Conference Reveals RSAC Launch Pad 2020 Participants

01/30/2020 - 11:49 AM

CORRECTING and REPLACING 2020 Cybersecurity Marketer of the Year Nominees and Judges Announced

01/30/2020 - 09:00 AM

Media Alert: Intel at RSAC 2020

01/30/2020 - 07:48 AM

Tala Security Selected as Finalist for RSA Conference 2020 Innovation Sandbox Contest

01/30/2020 - 04:30 AM

NETSCOUT Reports Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2020 Financial Results

01/29/2020 - 12:00 AM

nCipher Introduces Cloud-first Architecture, Bringing Security and Control to Public and Private Clouds

01/28/2020 - 02:13 PM

RSA Conference Announces Finalists for RSAC Innovation Sandbox Contest 2020

01/28/2020 - 06:13 AM

Elevate Security Selected as Finalist for RSA Conference 2020 Innovation Sandbox Contest

01/28/2020 - 03:00 AM

STEALTHbits Enters 2020 With an Expanded Sales Team and Aggressive Growth Plans

01/23/2020 - 06:00 AM

ESET to Lead Linux Malware Workshop and Showcase Groundbreaking Amazon Echo KRACK Research at RSA 2020

01/09/2020 - 05:00 AM

PacketViper Deception360 Available for Microsoft Azure

12/17/2019 - 07:00 AM

Cloud Security Alliance Announces Speakers for CSA Summit at RSA Conference 2020

12/04/2019 - 06:00 AM

Swimlane Launches Level-Up Initiative with Inaugural RSA Conference Raffle to Embolden Industry Analysts

12/03/2019 - 06:01 AM

Gurucul Labs Shortlisted as Best Managed Security Service in 2020 SC Awards

12/03/2019 - 05:30 AM

RSA Conference Announces Initial 2020 Keynote Speakers

11/14/2019 - 03:06 PM

RSA Conference 2020 Introduces the RSAC Engagement Zone

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Peter Nygard will step down from his company and sell his stake, his spokesperson said Tuesday, amid revelations the Canadian fashion mogul is the target of a police investigation in the Bahamas involving allegations of sexual assault.

The announcement in a statement comes just hours after FBI investigators raided Nygard's New York offices earlier in the day. An FBI spokesperson confirmed the search took place but would not provide any further details.

Ten women have filed a civil class-action lawsuit against Nygard, whose fashion company is based in Winnipeg, accusing the clothing manufacturer of raping them at his seaside mansion in the Bahamas and operating what they refer to as a "sex trafficking ring."

Police in the Bahamas are now investigating allegations made by four women who are part of the lawsuit, who told police Nygard sexually assaulted them when they were younger than 16, the age of consent in the Bahamas.

The FBI would not confirm whether Tuesday morning's raid was related to these allegations.

But Nygard's lawyer said he believed the raid was a direct result of the allegations, which he called a "conspiracy" created by Nygard's former neighbour, Louis Bacon, with whom Nygard has been in a legal feud for more than a decade.

"They'll find no evidence of wrongdoing," Jay Prober said.

However, he said he hasn't read the FBI's warrant yet and doesn't know exactly what they were looking for.

Nygard 'will divest his ownership interest'

In a statement Tuesday evening, spokesman Ken Frydman said Nygard would be stepping away from the company that bears his name.

The statement included no admissions of wrongdoing, but instead continued to point a finger at "Louis Bacon and his operatives."

"Recognizing the priority of the welfare of the thousands of Nygard employees, retail partners, loyal customers, vendors, suppliers and business partners, Peter Nygard has made the decision to step down as chairman of the Nygard companies and will divest his ownership interest," the statement reads.

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"Peter Nygard has decided that his legal battles with Louis Bacon will no longer be a distraction to the [Nygard] companies."

Lawsuit alleges assault, rape

The lawsuit filed in New York alleges Nygard "recruited, lured and enticed young, impressionable and often impoverished children and women, with cash payments and false promises of lucrative modelling opportunities to assault, rape and sodomize them."

The alleged rapes happened between 2008 and 2015, and three of the women were 14 at the time, the lawsuit says.

No criminal charges have been laid and none of the allegations have been proven in court. A statement of defence has not yet been filed.

Prober has vigorously denied the allegations against his client, saying earlier this month the police investigation "will go nowhere, absolutely nowhere."

"Anybody who makes a complaint like that, whether it's true or not, the police are obligated to investigate it. The investigation will amount to nothing," Prober said.

He said Nygard's lawyers in New York are currently preparing a motion to dismiss the class-action lawsuit.
Oil held losses after the biggest drop in almost seven weeks as investors attempted to gauge the economic impact of the fast-spreading coronavirus and the potential response from producers.

Futures held above $51 a barrel in New York after tumbling 3.7% Monday amid a broad market selloff driven by a rise in cases of the virus in South Korea, the Middle East and Europe. Prices ticked higher earlier Tuesday when Saudi Arabias Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman expressed confidence in the OPEC+ partnership, while saying the group hasnt made a decision yet on whether to extend or modify its production-cut agreement.

Crude had rallied over the past couple of weeks on optimism the virus would be mainly contained within China and the global economy would avoid a major slowdown. Those assumptions are now in doubt following the rapid spread over the past few days, which is also likely to put more pressure on the Organization of Petroluem Exporting Countries and its allies to take action to stabilize oil markets.

PREVIOUSLY: Oils suffers its biggest drop since January

The longer the crisis drags on the more severe the economic consequences would be meaning further downward revisions in GDP and oil demand forecasts, said Tamas Varga, an analyst at PVM Oil Associates Ltd. In London

West Texas Intermediate for April delivery slipped 27 cents to $51.16 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange as of 10:52 a.m. in London. It slumped $1.95 on Monday to close at $51.43, the lowest since Feb. 13. Brent for April settlement fell 17 cents $56.13 on the ICE Futures Europe exchange after falling 3.8% on Monday.

FUEL FIX: Now more than ever, you need our energy news in your inbox

Vitol Group, the worlds biggest independent oil trader, estimates the virus is currently reducing Chinas oil demand by about 4 million barrels a day, or around 4% of global consumption. While Vitol and others are positioning for a demand rebound, forecasts for when that will come may now need to be pushed back as the outbreak goes global.

Russia -- which had asked for more time before committing to additional production cuts recommended by OPEC+ officials -- may be forced to agree to the reductions if the rapid spread of the virus pushes oil prices down further, according to Vandana Hari, the founder of Vanda Insights in Singapore.

--With assistance from James Thornhill.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said two Turkish troops have been killed in Libya where they back the UN-recognised government in the North African states conflict.

Turkey provides military support to the Government of National Accord (GNA), which is based in the capital, Tripoli. Since April, the city has been under an assault by forces loyal to renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar, who is aligned with a rival administration based in the countrys east.

Last year Ankara and Tripoli signed a military cooperation deal and Turkey has since sent troops and allied Syrian fighters there.

We have two martyrs there in Libya, Erdogan told reporters on Tuesday before leaving for Azerbaijan on an official visit. The president had previously said that Turkey had several martyrs in Libya.

Erdogan also stressed that fighters from the Syrian National Army  a Turkey-backed rebel group fighting against pro-Damascus forces in northern Syria  were working with Turkish personnel in Libya.

Those going from Syria, from the Syrian National Army there have a common goal. They are there within the framework of these common goals  Our brothers who are with us in Syria see being there with us as an honour, Erdogan added.

On Sunday, Haftars Libyan National Army (LNA) said they had killed 16 Turkish soldiers in recent weeks. Since the deployment of Turkish soldiers and sophisticated equipment to the GNA, the LNA has lost some of its gains. The LNA is backed by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

At a summit in Berlin last month, world powers agreed that hostilities must stop in Libya while a political process takes place. Ankara has since accused Haftar of violating the ceasefire, saying its guarantees regarding a UN arms embargo to Libya were dependent on a durable truce.

Ceasefire talks between Libyas warring sides, which resumed last week after a pause over clashes on the ground, were in the right direction, the UN envoy for Libya said on Friday. But, legislators based in areas under Haftars control said on Monday they would not participate in talks with politicians allied to the GNA.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday (February 25) said that he held a meeting with election strategist Prashant Kishor on plans to devise a strategy for the revival of the party in the state.

"I have spoken to him (Prashant Kishore)...With a view to organising politically in Karnataka for the future. First round of discussions has happened. I will tell you later," Kumaraswamy told the media. Top JD(S) sources had recently said that Kumaraswamy decided to meet Prashant Kishor after the party serious setbacks in successive polls.

It may be recalled that the JD(S) had won only 37 of 225 seats in the 2018 assembly polls but Kumaraswamy managed to become the chief minister of Karnataka with the support of Congress. The party fared badly in 2019 Lok Sabha poll too as it succeeded in winning only one seat out of 28 in the state.

The performance of JD(S) was so bad in Lok Sabha poll that even party patriarch and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda faced defeat in the parliamentary polls. The downfall of JD(S) continued in December 2019 bypoll too as the party did not win even a single seat out of 15 assembly constituencies in the state.

Prashant Kishor's Indian Political Action Committee (I- PAC) had joined hands with the Aam Aadmi Party ahead of Delhi Assembly election and the party's splendid performance is another example that the strategies devised by Kishor often prove helpful for the political parties.

Notably, I-PAC had also helped in the election campaign of Narendra Modi in 2014. Kishor's team had also worked with JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ahead of 2015 Bihar Assembly election.

Kishor, who was the Janata Dal (United) national vice- president, was recently expelled from the party after his public spat with CM Nitish Kumar over Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens.

When asked to comment on the B S Yediyurappa-led BJP government in the state, Kumaraswamy said, "I don't want to discuss about the current government. There is no need for it as there is nothing worth discussing about this government. When there is no development, what (is there) to discuss? Let's wait and see, they (BJP) have asked for six months."
US health officials have been conducting secret meetings with lawmakers, senators revealed at a Tuesday Appropriations Subcommittee meeting.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire criticized the secrecy of a briefing that had taken place earlier that morning, and said that her constituents were 'concerned' that they weren't getting all the information that they needed about the outbreak.

During that closed-door meeting, lawmakers were told 'there is a very strong chance of an extremely serious outbreak of the coronavirus here in the US,' Senatory Patty Murry, a Democrat from Washington said during the hearing.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar admitted that Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr had designated the meeting 'top secret' but claimed that ultimately nothing had come out in the briefing that hasn't been shared with the public.

Azar was testifying in part to defend the $2.5 billion emergency budget request that the White House submitted to Congress Monday night to address the coronavirus outbreak, but the dubious committee suggested the funding is too little, too late.

'I'm deeply concerned we're way behind the eight ball on this,' said Senator Murray.

SCROLL FOR VIDEO

HHS Secretary Alex Azar (pictured) fielded criticism that health officials have not been transparent and are requesting too little money too late to address the coronavirus outbreak from both sides of the aisle in a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee meeting Tuesday

Murray was among Senators from both sides of the aisle to criticize the US response to the coronavirus outbreak for being insufficient and the funding request for being too vague.

The HHS has requested more money to better track the spread of the virus in the US - which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Tuesday was inevitable - develop treatments for the killer infection and to ramp up production of 300 million masks and other protective gear to stockpile for healthcare workers.

Some Sentators used the outbreak and budget request as a vehicle to critique the Trump administrations prior health initiatives and funding cuts to the very programs that are being employed to combat the outbreak in the US.

Azar, however, insisted that the funding request was carefully timed, would more than cover the US's needs for combating the outbreak, and announced that phase I clinical trials for an antiviral treatment are beginning at the University of Nebraska.

He also admitted the US 'will likely see more cases' of the coronavirus that has now infected 57 Americans and more than 80,000 people worldwide.

Azar said that the whopping $2.5 billion was necessary to cover the development of therapeutics like the one entering clinical trials in Nebraska and vaccines as well as for protective gear for healthcare workers and better surveillance of the virus.

He said that surveillance - the CDC's data collection process, which helps officials track the spread of diseases - for coronavirus 'needs to be comparable to flu surveillance.'

Azar's testimony comes after US experts speculated that the highly contagious virus that emerged in Wuhan, China in December, might become a regular seasonal occurrence, as the flu is.

So far, it has proven less fatal but perhaps more contagious than other viruses of the same family, infection risk to the general public is still low in the US, but officials' tone has shifted to suggest that it won't stay that way and the virus will spread.

CDC spokesperson Dr Nancy Messonnier said Tuesday that it's no longer 'a question of if this well happen in this country any more but a question of when this will happen,' she told reporters in a media call on Tuesday.

Dr Messonnier said she had already called her children's schools to ask if they're ready for closures and tele-classes in the event the coronavirus outbreak forces school closures.

HHS, meanwhile, is seeking funds to prepare hospitals that are already stretched thin by a particularly bad flu season to handle a potential surge in coronavirus cases.

Some of the $2.5 billion emergency funds - although the department has not yet determined how much - will go to increasing manufacturing capacity for stockpiles of protective gear for hospital workers, especially masks.

Such manufacturing capabilities 'do not exist yet,' said Azar, who thinks the US needs about 300 million N95 masks.

Senator Murray questioned whether stockpiles already exist.

'Of course not, or we wouldn't be asking for a supplemental [appropriations budget],' Azar snapped back.

As of Tuesday, there are 57 Americans with coronavirus, including 40 who were evacuated via cargo planes (pictured) from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that spent two weeks quarantined in Japan

'This is an unprecedented severe health challenge, potentially globally.'

Senators were skeptical over the vagueness of the budget request, which Azar broke down into five broad categories.

In addition to expanded surveillance he said 'we need more money to support contact tracing and communication with impacted individuals and lab testing, research, development and preucurment of vaccines and therapeutics, [and we] need to support the procurement of [personal protective equipment], especially masks into the national stockpile.'

The first human clinical trials of an antiviral treatment for the coronavirus that's sickened more than 80,000 people worldwide are set to begin in Nebraska, US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar said Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the drugmaker, Moderna, announced its candidate coronavirus vaccine has been shipped to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to begin phase 1 clinical trials in humans.

Still, the lawmakers are dubious that the $2.5 billion isn't enough to pay for measures that the HHS isn't even sharing with full transparency for addressing the outbreak that seems to be approaching a tipping point into pandemic levels.

'If a pandemic is coming and we're disregarding scientific evidence and we're relying on tweets and an emergency supplemental [sic] without details...I just think this is not enough,' said Senator Murray.

'If you low-ball something like this, you'll pay for it later,' warned Senator Richard Shelby, an Alabama Republican.
The horrors of Holocaust get a twist of Tarantino-esque violence, and larger-than-life drama is played out to the point of absurdity at times, in Amazon Primes new 10-episode show.

That mood of the show, though served with relish, would seem ironic, considering the series has been touted as a topical watch. It is meant to be a conversation of sorts, about the silent Nazi infiltration reportedly happening in modernday United States.

David Weil's creation is said to be inspired by real-life 'Nazi hunters' in the US of the mid-20th century, and also by Operation Paperclip -- a secret American program in which over 1,600 German scientists, engineers, and technicians, were 'imported' to the US from Germany between 1945 and 1959. The motive was to use these Germans, many of whom evidently were Nazis, to gain Cold War advantage over the erstwhile Soviet Union.

The series, marking Hollywood icon Al Pacino's entry into the OTT space, is set in New York of the late seventies. At the centre of the story is Jonah Heidelbaum (Logan Lerman), a bright young Jew who has chucked college to peddle weed because he needs quick cash. After a mysterious masked killer shoots down Jonah's grandmother (Jeannie Berlin), he finds a support system in the imposing Meyer Offerman (Al Pacino), who had survived concentration camp along with her. Soon, Jonah learns Offerman is the leader of a secret group of Nazi trackers, whose mission is to hunt down and kill any Nazi who might still be living in the US. As Jonah is drawn to Offerman and his cause, his life is about to take a dramatic turn.

The impression one would have had watching the trailer, and given that plot backdrop, is "Hunters" is bound to be gritty stuff that did not lose out on the gravity of the historic tragedy it highlights. Yet, two episodes down the line, you realise you are watching a show that is too conscious about merely being a stylish swag-fest and little else.

As the episodes roll, and the violence gets brutal in parts, a lot of absurdity creeps in, too. A 'human chess' sequence, where concentration camp prisoners have to act as pieces on a chessboard and take each other's lives, seems too bizarre to be true (certain Jewish groups in the West have actually objected to the scene). The Holocaust background as well as the revenge drama become a mere excuse for a revelry of gore and death.

It is almost as if executive producer Jordan Peele and team were out creating Holocaust pop for the teenybopper crowd that loves its action drama soaked in lots of blood.

Despite those flaws, "Hunters" is a goodlooking show. It is technically rich and visually appealing. Even the most unpalatable sequences involving death camps and extreme violence are smartly executed, if at all contributing very little in terms of narrative value. The show is all about pulp action and drama, served with wanton comicbook sensibility.

You could of course argue this is not the first time an American production has served Nazi-tinted fiction with over-the-top zest -- Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" is an automatic recall.

The impact is different. Unlike Tarantino's World War thriller, "Hunters" barely manages a lasting impression. The show is too pulpy to resonate in your mind. Also, with episodes that have runtime between 57 and 90 minutes, portions of the show seem needlessly stretched.

You would check it out in for Pacino's much-flaunted presence, of course, and the Hollywood veteran has lost none of his maverick edge. However, the show belongs to Logan Lerman's Jonah. In an authorbacked appearance, the young actor gets to essay a part that demands a gamut of emotions, from vulnerability to cold fury to quiet resilience.

(Vinayak Chakravorty can be reached at vinayak.c@ians.in)
Photo Illustration by Kristen Hazzard/The Daily Beast / Photo Getty

Bernie Sanders looks increasingly likely to be the first self-declared socialist to head a major party in the history of the United States, especially after romping through Nevada on Saturday. The reasons for the socialist revival are clear. Inequalities are shocking, student debt levels are staggering, and living standards have been stagnant or declining for all but the 1 percent since the 1970s. Sanders brand of democratic socialism, which really differs little from New Deal liberalism, seeks to address these inequities.

But there also exists a latent, darker impulse that has persisted throughout American history: panic about socialism. Anti-socialist hysteria was not exclusive to the 1950s Cold War. It has recurred in various forms in the United States for more than 150 years.

If Sanders wins the Democratic nomination, his ascendancy, combined with extensive paranoia about immigration, Muslims, and the decline of the white majority, means America is due for another Red Scare. And what might this Red Scare look like?

MSNBC Analyst Calls Out Colleague Chris Matthews for Comparing Bernies Nevada Win to Nazi Invasion

There will likely be congressional hearings into left-wing organizations, individuals, and associations. Justice Department resources could be unleashed on anyone connected to Venezuela and other countries that call themselves socialist. And Trump, Republicans, and Fox News will target not just democratic socialists like Sanders, but liberals in general and the whole Democratic Party, who must unite to fight it.

Throughout our history, socialism has been branded as anti-American because collectivism conflicts with ingrained American notions of individual rights, self-reliance, republicanism, and anti-statism. Nonetheless, socialists and other radicals have made enormous contributions, notably in the Progressive Era, when their efforts were crucial to to the first serious successes in reforming capitalism, resulting in laws regulating monopolies and food and drug companies and establishing and improving environmental conservation, public education, and working conditions.

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But alongside these achievements sprouted a terror of socialism that has periodically swept the country and reached the highest levels of state. The first Red Scare from 1917-1920 was unique in its scope, scale, and intensity. The hyper-nationalism and suppression of civil liberties accompanying World War I, combined with the Russian Revolution, homegrown strikes, and mail bombings, led Attorney General Mitchell Palmer to launch raids on leftists of all kinds, and Jewish and Italian immigrants. Thousands were arrested and deported.

Of course, the onset of the Cold War in the late 1940s inspired the best-remembered Red Scare. The interrogations of thousands of individuals and organizations by government officials, blacklists, imprisonment of leftists and televised hearings, all within living memory of millions, was a uniquely American response to Cold War pressures.

The Cold War ended in 1991, but even after it, weve seen the same impulse at work. Following decades of demographic shifts that gradually reduced the dominance of white people, Barack Obamas presidency inspired a smaller-scale Red Scare. Although he was a mainstream liberal with a Harvard University degree and white Kansan mother, his part-African heritage was inevitably going to spark some sort of panic among conservatives.

When Obama tried in the wake of the housing collapse to help underwater homeownerspeople Republicans tarred as irresponsible, lazy minorities the panic took the form of the Tea Party, which initially claimed to be more angered about the presidents alleged socialism than his race or religion. Donald Trumps targeting of Muslims, immigrants, and Mexicans clarified that what had animated the concerns about socialism were actually concerns about cultural change. The two have always mixed together in the American mind.

If Sanders becomes the nominee, Republicans will repeat the pattern that has recurred since the Civil War era: they will unleash another Red Scare. Comfortable as lawmakers have become with sham investigations into things like Benghazi and the IRS non-scandal, there will almost surely be congressional investigations into anyone and anything tarred as left-wing.

Although Sanders and other contemporary socialists are democratic and anti-authoritarian, they will be conflated with the horrors of Venezuelans government, just as American Muslims and Arabs are made to answer for the acts of jihadists. Individuals from Latin America could be deported, legally or otherwise. Immigration from countries south of the border could be halted. There could be Justice Department raids on the Democratic Socialists of America, the organization whose membership has mushroomed in the wake of Sanders rise since 2015.

In the states, the socialists who have been elected to legislatures from New York to Seattle to Georgia in recent years are likely to be harassed. Also at the state and local levels, laws banning socialists or socialism will almost surely be passed in some states. Between voter suppression and gerrymandering, Republicans routinely defy majority opinion and the rule of law to maintain powerthey will not hesitate to use anti-socialist hysteria to do the same thing now.

Importantly, the current socialist movementand the Democratic Party as a wholeis broadly supportive of immigrants and racial justice. Previous labor movements, conversely, have sometimes been nativist and racist. Trump and Fox News will increase their racist attacks on the four congresswomen known collectively as the SquadReps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts.

All are women of color, and all but Pressley have spoken favorably of socialism. Organizations like the Council for Islamic-America Relations could be designated as terrorist groups, with conservatives fabricating claims of associations with terrorists.

Since Sanders is Jewish, the new Red Scare will likely have an anti-Semitic component. Vandalism and assaults on individual Jews could surge, and Trump may well begin to question the loyalty of Jews and make more overt antisemitic statements than he has in the past. When they inevitably protest, groups like the Anti-Defamation League will come under attack from Republicans.

President Trump is unique among presidents in his overt bigotry, affection for authoritarianism and cruelty, social Darwinian worldview, and disdain for the rule of law and judicial independence. He is now the conductor of the Republican orchestra, directing his players to annihilate the Democratic Party by any means necessary. Any decent conservatives wishing to opt out of Trumps whirlwind of noise are simply kicked out of the ensemble.

The contemporary Republican Party represents an ideologically and demographically homogeneous chunk of the country, determined to maintain its grip on power, even if it means using undemocratic methods. Their control of the presidency, the Senate, and the Supreme Court mean their potential to enact harm as part of their anti-socialist agenda is enormous. Even if Sanders defeats Trump and becomes president, Republicans will continue to wage war on socialism and liberalism.

Whatever they think of Sanders, all Democrats must join with leftists in opposing the new Red Scare. Anything but a united front will mean devastation to the party as a wholeTrump and his associates will not discriminate between socialists and traditional liberals and Democrats. More importantly, it will be incumbent upon moderates and liberals to join with leftists in protecting civil liberties and the rule of law.

Since the 1960s, a greater focus on preserving liberties has emerged. Stronger efforts and institutions exist to protect the vulnerable today than existed in the 1950s. Perhaps a stronger left will be better equipped to defend itself this time around.

Or perhaps Trump will unleash the powers of the federal government in ways that America is unable to withstand.

Either way, another Red Scare is coming.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Sanofi SNY announced that it plans to spin-off its active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) business into a separate standalone European company. The new API company will combine Sanofis API commercial and development activities with six of its European API production sites located in Italy, Germany, Britain, France and Hungary. Active pharmaceutical ingredients or APIs are the chemicals or biologicals which are used in the composition and the production of any drug.

The new API company, to be headquartered in France, is expected to be the world's second largest API company with sales expected to be approximately 1 billion by 2022. Meanwhile, Sanofi will decide on whether the API company should be listed via an initial public offer (IPO) on Euronext Paris by 2022. Sanofi plans to hold a 30% stake in the new API company and also intends to become its customer.

In Europe, most of the pharmaceutical companies rely on companies in Asia, mainly in China, for supply of the APIs used in their drugs. Sanofi believes that the new company will ensure adequate supply of APIs in Europe and lower the need for sourcing API from China. With the deadly coronavirus outbreak ravaging China, Europe-based pharmaceutical firms are facing supply disruptions.

Sanofis shares have outperformed the industry in the past year. The stock has risen 20.5% in the said time frame compared with the industrys increase of 8.8%.

Last week, Sanofi joined forces with Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to quickly develop a vaccine for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, also called 2019-nCoV. Sanofi said it will advance the development of the COVID-19 vaccine by leveraging work on a pre-clinical vaccine candidate for SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome).

In the same week, J&J JNJ also expanded its partnership with BARDA to accelerate development of potential treatments for COVID-19. J&J and BARDA will mobilize resources to screen potential compounds with promising antiviral activity against 2019-nCoV. Several other drugmakers are working on making vaccines or antivirals to help those infected with this deadly disease.

Story continues

Earlier this month, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals REGN also entered into an expanded agreement with HHS to develop a 2019-nCoV vaccine. Moderna and Inovio Pharmaceuticals have received grant from CEPI, a public-private nonprofit organization, to develop a similar vaccine. Moreover, Glaxo GSK is making its established pandemic vaccine adjuvant platform technology accessible to CEPI to develop a 2019-nCoV vaccine.

Sanofi currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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LONDON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Northwest European gasoline refining margins edged higher to around $6 a barrel on Monday as crude prices fell by over 5% on demand concerns from the global spread of the coronavirus. * Lyondell Basell Industries is repairing the gasoline-producing unit at its 263,776 barrel-per-day (bpd) Houston refinery, Gulf Coast market sources said on Monday. * The 90,000-bpd gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracking unit (FCCU) may restart as early as the first week of March if repairs to a crack in the unit's reactor go as planned, the sources said. The unit was shut by a Feb. 16 fire. * Naphtha exports from the Mediterranean to Asia edged lower so far in February by 15% on the month to 500,000-600,000 tonnes, comprising of cargoes mainly from Algeria, Greece, Cyprus and Italy, according to Refinitiv data. * Exports from Northwest Europe were unchanged on-month at under 100,000 tonnes. * Total naphtha flows into Asia for February are expected to close at 5.5-5.6 million tonnes, contracting sharply from January's revised volumes of around 6.5 million tonnes. Gasoline (in tonnes) Trades Bids Offers Prev. Sellers Buyers (vol.) Trades Ebob $517 $519 Barges MOC Platts E5 (fob ARA) <EUROBOB- ARA> Ebob $517 Barges E10 Platts(fo b ARA) Ebob $522 $540-$548 Gunvor Shell, Barges (6KT) (12kt) Total, Argus Varo E5(fob AR) Ebob $523-$52 $545 Total Varo Barges 4.50 (4kt) E10 Argus (4KT) (fob AR) March. $540.75 swap fob ARA Premium $521 $530 Unleaded (fob ARA) <PU-10PP- ARA> Cargoes (fob MED) Cargoes (cif NWE) Naphtha (cif NWE) <NAF-C-NW E> Ebob crack (per barrel) $6.016 prev. $5.525 Brent futures Rbob Rbob crack <RBc1-CLc1> (Reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar, editing by Ed Osmond)
Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar on



Tuesday urged people in the metropolis to take part in the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation's Ease of Living Index exercise.

The EoLI aims at providing a holistic view of cities, starting with services provided by local bodies, effectiveness of the administration, the outcomes generated through these services in terms of livability within cities and, finally, the citizen perception of these outcomes.

The exercise is being held in 100 'smart cities' and those with a population of over 14 million, as per Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation.

It started from February 1, and as on February 25, only 14,000 of Mumbai's 1.25 crore residents had participated, said a BMC official. It will continue till February 29.

"At least two per cent of the population of a city is expected to give feedback," the official said.

In press conference here, Mayor Pednekar said, "There is no doubt Mumbai is one of the best cities in the country to live in. Being a Mumbaikar everyone should show their love by giving feedback for the survey."



She said a participant needs to answer 21 questions related to water-logging, sanitation, housing, roads, health facilities among others.

The mayor asked corporators to popularise the EoLI in their wards.

The EoLI survey of 2018 had placed Mumbai third behind Pune and Navi Mumbai, though the metropolis was first among the country's mega cities.

According to civic body officials, citizen feedback, also called 'Citizen Perception Survey', was not involved in the earlier editions, but, for the first time, it will now carry a 30 per cent weightage.

Jayshree Bhoj, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern) said awareness activities for the survey had been done, including placing advertisements in 13 newspapers, 18 hoardings and over 4,000 posters.

The EoLI 2019 will facilitate assessment of ease of living of citizens across three pillars, namely quality of life, economic ability and sustainability, which are further divided into 14 categories across 50 indicators.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
TAMPA  A small step for the big right fielder.

Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was slated to graduate his right shoulder rehab to soft toss inside the batting cage on Monday, manager Aaron Boone told reporters before a game against the Pirates at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Hell hit after here in the cage, soft tossing and tee work. So its kind of the next progression. But going well, Boone said.

Judge, 27, is dealing with soreness in the joint. He hasnt taken batting practice with the team since full-squad workouts started. The Yankees havent allowed him to swing a bat for approximately two weeks  since he started feeling the shoulder pain.

Boone said he didnt know when Judge might appear in his first spring game.

Hell progress and well take it slow because of where we are in the calendar," Boone said. But were doing well.

Boone added, His last throwing was out to 90 feet. More of that (Monday). Hell continue to progress in that way, too, along with how his hitting goes.

The Yankees are dealing with injuries to several prominent players.

Buy Yankees tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek

Luis Severinos right forearm soreness forced the Yankees to send him to New York City, where doctors were set to give him more tests Monday through Wednesday. Boone said he didnt have an update on the right-handers progress.

James Paxton (lower back surgery) could be out until June.

Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.
Former Oakland Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick, who was terminated last week without cause, spoke out about the reasons she believes factored into her firing.

On Thursday, the Oakland Police Commission voted to dismiss Kirkpatrick, who has been the city's police chief since being hired by Mayor Libby Schaaf in 2017. The Police Commission, created by the passing of Measure LL in 2016, is a watchdog group comprised of Oakland residents. It has seven members, all volunteers, who have the unilateral power to fire a police chief with cause. If there is no cause, the mayor must sign off on the move; in Kirkpatrick's case, Schaaf did so.

In the wake of her firing, Kirkpatrick now says she is evaluating her legal options.

"I think, obviously, they were trying to get 'just cause' ... and they couldnt get it, she told The Chronicle. "So I guess thats why I got fired without cause."

At a press conference last Thursday, Schaaf said the trust between the Police Commission and Kirkpatrick was "irrevocably broken."

"Since the Commission's inception, the Commissioners, along with the rest of the citizens of the City of Oakland, observed the Oakland Police Department's failure to increase compliance with court-ordered reforms," Regina Jackson, chair of the Police Commission, said in a statement.

Kirkpatrick claimed she may have been fired in part due to her response to an incident with Oakland Police Commissioner Ginale Harris. According to Kirkpatrick, Harris' personal vehicle was towed in 2018 and she "demanded" to be reimbursed for the towing fee. Kirkpatrick says she refused this "special treatment" and expressed "concern about retaliation."

Harris and the Police Commission have denied these allegations.

The Oakland police force has been under federal court supervision since the 2003 settlement of a civil rights lawsuit that accused officers of planting evidence, beating suspects and other wrongdoing. Kirkpatrick took over the troubled department in January 2017 amid allegations that a group of officers throughout the San Francisco Bay Area were having sex with the teen daughter of an Oakland dispatcher.

In a meeting with local media this week, Kirkpatrick said she plans on asking the Department of Justice to investigate Oakland's federal oversight program. It was only supposed to last five years.

"I am truly, deeply concerned about these 17 years of federal oversight," Kirkpatrick told The Chronicle. "Something is wrong."

While she mulls over legal action, Kirkpatrick is moving from Oakland to Washington. Kirkpatrick was a longtime Washington state police officer and served as the Spokane police chief.

"I'm not angry. I will tell you that I'm disappointed," Kirkpatrick told KGO. "I'm embarrassed. It's humiliating to receive calls from all over the country."

Darren Allison, assistant chief of police, will serve as acting chief until an interim leader is appointed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Katie Dowd is an SFGATE Senior Digital Editor. Contact: katie.dowd@sfgate.com | Twitter: @katiedowd
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 01:57:46|Editor: yan

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FRANKFURT, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The number of the injured has risen to almost 60, including at least 18 children, after a car plowed into a carnival crowd on Monday in the western German town of Volkmarsen, local authorities said Tuesday.

A silver Mercedes car was driven into the crowd during the Rose Monday carnival parade in Volkmarsen, a town with about 6,800 people, at 2:45 p.m. local time on Monday.

The driver, a 29-year-old German national from the town, was arrested at the scene and was then being treated in hospital for injuries associated with the crash, prosecutors in Frankfurt and police of the state of Hesse said on Monday.

Authorities said in a follow-up statement on Tuesday that the case is being probed on suspicion of attempted homicide, but the motive of the perpetrator is still subject to ongoing investigation.

German news agency dpa quoted prosecutors as saying that the driver had not been under the influence of alcohol, contrary to what some media had previously reported. German newspaper Bild quoted an investigator as saying that psychological problems may have played a role.

Authorities also confirmed on Tuesday that a second man was provisionally arrested at the scene on Monday and was accused of filming the incident.

On Monday, many places in the western part of Germany were celebrating Rose Monday, the height of the country's carnival season. Shortly after the incident, the police of Hesse announced that all carnival parades in the state on Monday were called off as precaution.

The Hesse police noted on Tuesday that although more carnival processions were planned for Tuesday, there was no concrete indication that the risk has increased, but they advised the organizers to intensify security if necessary.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday that her thoughts were with the injured people of Volkmarsen and their relatives, and wished the victims a speedy recovery, according to government spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer on Twitter.

The Volkmarsen car incident came just days after a racist gunman shot and killed 11 people, including himself, in the city of Hanau in Hesse last week.
Representative Image

Accusing the Maharashtra government of not keeping the loan waiver promise made to farmers, the BJP staged protests in parts of the state on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters outside the Legislature building here, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Devendra Fadnavis said the protests will continue till the cultivators get justice.

Protests were being staged by the BJP outside tehsil offices in the state, he said.

Fadnavis, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil and former state finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar took part in a protest over the issue at the Azad Maidan in Mumbai.

A BJP delegation will raise the issue with Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari later in the evening, Fadnavis said.

"There are 1.45 crore farmers. But the government has released a list of only 15,000 farmers (for grant of loan waiver)," the former chief minister said.

He claimed that not even 25 per cent of farmers in are part of the list.

"We are trying to raise the issues concerning farmers before the government. Our struggle against the government will continue till the farmers get justice inside the House and outside it as well," he said.

He also said that more than 50,000 farmers from Kolhapur district have written a letter to Koshyari, alleging false loan waiver promise.

The letter will be submitted to the governor in the evening, the BJP leader said.

The Maharashtra Assembly was on Tuesday adjourned for the day after pandemonium over the farm loan waiver issue.

The state government on Monday released the first list of 15,358 beneficiaries of the 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 with funds.

"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 said the scheme's implementation has been done within 60 days of its announcement, and credited the state machinery for the speedy execution.

The scheme to write off debts of farmers whose crop loan outstanding is up to Rs two lakh till September 30, 2019, was announced by the chief minister in December last year, after he took charge of the coalition government.
Australia faces an unprecedented threat from espionage and foreign interference, the head of Australias intelligence service said in his first annual threat assessment.

In a rare public address, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) director-general Mike Burgess said the severity of the threat level stemmed from the scale, breadth and ambition of the interference.

He warned that almost every sector was at risk including government, media and universities.

Weve seen visiting scientists and academics ingratiating themselves into university life with the aim of conducting clandestine intelligence collection, Mr Burgess said.

This strikes at the very heart of our notions of free and fair academic exchange.

Senator Rex Patrick urged the Government to call out China on the issue (Rod McGuirk/AP)

Minor party senator Rex Patrick called on the Australian government to call out China, Australias biggest trading partner, as a major source of the interference.

One thing that is missing from the dialogue is calling out the state actor involved, Mr Patrick said.

Its almost certain that in a number of foreign interference circumstances that it is China and we should be calling them out, as the Canadians do, as the US does and the Czechs do.

However Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said the threat was multi-pronged.

Were not just talking about China. Were talking about Russia, were talking about Iran and were talking about others, Mr Dutton told Sky News television.

China has long denied any foreign interference.

Australia angered China in 2018 by enacting sweeping national security legislation that banned covert foreign interference in domestic politics and made industrial espionage for a foreign power a crime.

Individuals lobbying for foreign governments now have to be listed on a public register in a step toward making foreign influence on Australian politics more transparent.

Story continues

Mr Burgess said the legislation is already bringing dividends and is likely to grow in importance for us.

The Counter Foreign Interference Task Force, established last year to protect universities from foreign meddling, would become a vital element of our strategy to defeat this threat, Mr Burgess said.

The task force also includes a research and intellectual property working group to protect academic freedom and intellectual property.

It also safeguards universities against deception and undue influence.
The kits contain about 3000 reactions, which will allow testing 950 people

The World Health Organization has provided Ukraine with 30 sets of reagents for COVID-19 testing at the country's Virological Reference Laboratory. Ukraines Center for Public Health reported this on its Facebook page.

The kits contain about three thousand reactions, which will allow testing 950 people.

WHO seeks to help Ukraine prepare for the emergence of new cases of COVID-19 coronavirus infection.

As we reported earlier, according to Deputy Healthcare Minister of Ukraine Viktor Liashko, Ukraine is ready to hold one more evacuation of the Ukrainians from the zone of coronavirus spread.

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, he stated.
The man was stopped and searched under anti-terrorism legislation, the court heard.

Police breached the rights of a Derry man repeatedly stopped and searched under anti-terrorism legislation, the Court of Appeal ruled on Tuesday.

Senior judges identified failures in recording the basis for the actions taken against Steven Ramsey.

The former member of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement may now sue the Chief Constable for damages, his lawyer said.

Mr Ramsey (41) went to court claiming his right to privacy was breached by powers used to detain him without justification by any suspected dissident republican associations.

He has stated that he does not belong to any illegal organisation or political party and has no convictions for paramilitary activity.

His challenge centred on stop and search actions carried out under the Justice and Security (NI) Act 2007.

According to Mr Ramsey's lawyers there were more than 150 incidents between 2009 and 2013.

Notes from some of the searches indicated that he was stopped due to "suspected dissident republican links" or "as a result of confidential briefings".

But proceedings issued against the Chief Constable and Secretary of State only focused on seven incidents after a code of practice was introduced in 2013.

The applicant, from Londonderry's Creggan area, argued that the power to detain him contravened Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

In 2018 the High Court found that PSNI failures to record the grounds for searches under scrutiny were inconsistent with a code of practice.

But a judge dismissed the challenge after deciding the evidence established there had been a basis for each incident.

Appealing that ruling, counsel for Mr Ramsey insisted the stop and search authority is not subject to adequate legal protections and amounted to harassment.

She submitted that it amounted to an arbitrary power used more than necessary.

The court heard that being categorised as a dissident republican, through not supporting the Good Friday Agreement, was not enough reason for the action taken against him.

Concerns must relate to any suspected munitions or wireless apparatus, it was contended.

Appeal judges concluded that the scheme as a whole contains sufficient safeguards to protect the individual against arbitrary interference.

Police are required, however, to identify the basis for exercising the power.

There was a breach of Article 8 in the searches carried out on Mr Ramsey due to the failure to record the basis for the action at the time or shortly afterwards, the court confirmed.

Following the ruling Mr Ramsey's solicitor, Fearghal Shiels of Madden & Finucane, said the recording requirement was regarded as critical for monitoring and supervision of the powers.

"In Mr Ramsey's case, the PSNI effectively ceased subjecting him to stop and search once he brought these proceedings in the High Court and officers were required to submit sworn evidence to the court," Mr Shiels added.

"His position in bringing these proceedings has been totally vindicated by today's decision, and he will now be advised in relation to an action for damages against the Chief Constable."


By Jung Min-ho







U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) has denied media reports that joint military training between South Korea and the United States will be delayed over coronavirus concerns.





"A recent media article reporting United States Forces Korea proposing the postponement of future combined training is inaccurate," USFK said Tuesday.





"Any decision regarding combined training will be an U.S.-ROK Alliance decision and not a unilateral decision."





Citing South Korean sources, local paper

reported Monday morning that the two countries share concerns about COVID-19, which has killed more than 2,600 people and infected nearly 80,000 worldwide, and that they may delay the military drill planned for two weeks from March 9.





"When any USFK decisions or announcements are made  regardless of the topic or scenario  they will be made through official USFK channels, platforms or agencies and not through rumors or speculation," USFK said.





"USFK's commitment to the ROK-U.S. alliance is ironclad and unbreakable and we will continue to provide a robust combined defense posture to protect the Republic of Korea against any threat or adversary."


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Linkedin Salma Khalik (The Straits Times/Asia News Network) Singapore  Tue, February 25, 2020 14:16 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20667bbf0 2 Health coronavirus,COVID-19 Free

There is no robust proof that the coronavirus can be spread by someone with no symptoms of the disease, said Dr Shawn Vasoo, clinical director of the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID).

A letter in the New England Journal Of Medicine on Jan 30 saying that this has happened has since been proven to be wrong, he said.

The letter by doctors from the University Hospital of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich had said a German businessman had caught the infection from a Chinese woman whom he had met when she was in Germany.

They said the woman had only become sick on her flight home to Shanghai and was later found to be infected with the coronavirus.

This had led to fears of asymptomatic transmission, which would be difficult to stem.

However, it later transpired that the doctors had not spoken to the woman at all, and had merely taken the German man's word that she had been well when they had met.

However, when she was interviewed in Shanghai, she disclosed that she had been sick while in Germany.

Since then, there have been other anecdotal reports, including a letter in the Journal Of The American Medical Association on Feb 21 by a team of doctors from China.

They described five members of a family in Anyang, China, who were infected by another family member who was "presumed" asymptomatic. She had been in Wuhan, where the family and the doctors believe she was infected by the virus.

However, the doctors, who were more cautious in claiming it as an asymptomatic transmission, said: "The sequence of events suggests that the coronavirus may have been transmitted by the asymptomatic carrier."

Dr Vasoo said this report is limited in that is not so clear about whether the patient in question had infected the others, or was infected by them. It was presumed that she was the source of the infection simply because she had been to Wuhan, the outbreak's epicentre.

He added that in this case, environmental contamination or exposure to other infected persons cannot be excluded.

Read also: China discharges 22,888 recovered patients of coronavirus infection

Professor Paul Tambyah, an infectious diseases expert at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, said of this report: That is the only case in the peer reviewed literature so far and I am not totally convinced about it.

But he added that while there is no concrete proof, I think it is certainly possible that people who are about to get ill may be able to transmit the infection.

People with influenza or chicken pox viruses can infect others the day before the onset of symptoms, so it is possible that the coronavirus does too, he said.

Dr Robert Redfield, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, had also said in an interview with CNN about a week back that the virus can be spread by someone with no symptoms.

But he said this belief was based on information from his colleagues in China.

Dr Vasoo said that as far as is currently known, "transmission is predominantly still through symptomatic persons".

Some who are said to be "asymptomatic" may actually have "mild symptoms that people do not make much of", he said.

He added: "While it is plausible that viral diseases may transmit in varying degrees and durations in the pre-symptomatic phase, we do not have robust data that it happens or to what extent it is for Covid-19."

When asked about international reports of asymptomatic carriers of the virus, a Ministry of Health (MOH) spokesman on Monday (Feb 24) noted the case in Germany was later retracted and said it was aware of the case report from China.

But I think apart from that case report, we dont really have much information about the circumstances in which it occurred, he said.

The spokesman added that with nearly 80,000 patients worldwide, it was not surprising to find one or two outliers, and that there will be more outliers as the number of cases grows.

Instead of focusing on asymptomatic transmission, people should think about what we can all do to protect ourselves, he said, reiterating the importance of personal hygiene.

We are quite confident that based on the vast majority of cases theres a certain pattern to transmission, theres a certain pattern to how the disease evolves, he said.

And we do have to tailor the way we manage this outbreak based on the best advice or the best knowledge that we have at that point in time.
A summit of Sahel states heard appeals Tuesday to step up the fight against jihadists whose offensive across three countries has claimed thousands of lives and inflicted crippling economic damage. "More than ever, the Sahel requires heightened and coordinated attention from states in the region and the international community to brake the spiral of violence," said Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, chairing a one-day summit of the so-called G5 Sahel group. "We urgently need concrete victories against terrorism. The real challenge of this summit is to meet this existential need," said the chair of the African Union's commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat. He said civilians in the Sahel were bewildered by the failure to stop the violence. He called for a "step change" in implementing a much-touted 5,000-man joint force by the G5 Sahel countries, and for "more substantial" support from other African countries. The G5 Sahel comprises Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, whose region is in the front line of a nearly eight-year-old onslaught by armed Islamists. A localised revolt that began in northern Mali in 2012 has spread to the centre of the country and to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger. Around 4,000 people died in the three countries last year, a fivefold increase over 2016, according to UN figures. The bloodshed has escalated despite the presence of a 13,000-man UN peacekeeping force in Mali, and rattled coastal countries to the south of the Sahel. - 'Unprecedented humanitarian crisis' - Burkina President Roch Marc Christian Kabore on Tuesday warned that the Sahel faced an "unprecedented humanitarian crisis". France -- which has committed more than 4,000 troops to holding back jihadism in the Sahel -- added on Tuesday to demands for action. "I am here with you to say that a surge in mobilisation, coordination or prioritisation is necessary," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told the summit. He said the meeting in the Mauritanian capital was considered by France to be a key phase in implementing decisions made at a France-Sahel summit last month. Despite "frustrations" among Sahel leaders, "we cannot deny the ground that we have covered since 2014," he said. Since the January summit in Pau, southwestern France, "major progress has been achieved in a month," Le Drian said. On February 2, France said it would bolster troop numbers in its Operation Barkhane in the Sahel from 4,500 to 5,100. France has lost 41 troops in the mission so far. The G5 Sahel group was launched in 2014, with a secretariat based in Nouakchott. In 2017, the five countries initiated a planned 5,000-man pooled force, but it remains hobbled by lack of funds, poor equipment and inadequate training. Security worries in the Sahel have also been sharpened by Pentagon plans, which have yet to be detailed, to draw down the US military presence in Africa. France has promised to boost its contingent of soldiers in the Sahel region UN, African and French forces in the G5 Sahel region
A 21-year-old student has been bombarded with text messages calling her 'babe' and 'hot' from a man, 48, who has phoned her 'every morning and every night' since the pair exchanged details after a smash.

Chloe Murray, from Perth in Western Australia, ran her car into the back of the unidentified man's car after she accidentally put her foot on the accelerator instead of the brake over the weekend.

Describing the incident as 'traumatic', the law student said she was 'a mess at the scene, crying my eyes out and apologising' because his children were in the car and were visibly shaken.

Ms Murray said he wouldn't stop calling and messaging her on the night of the accident (pictured)

As the pair exchanged details, Ms Murray - whose ex-boyfriend arrived on the scene to help - said the man 'kept whispering things into my ears that were hell inappropriate'.

'He kept saying my ex wasn't good enough for me, he could take me out and treat me better and that we should catch up the next day.'

While she said the man was 'really nice about everything' and kept assuring her his children were ok, the situation took a turn when she got home.

'The night of [the accident] I got home at like 11pm and he would not stop calling me.'

She asked members of a Facebook group for advice and shared a range of messages he sent her in the days following the accident.

'R u ok,' he asked.

'My kids are ok.

'Ur ex is an idiot.

'Text me once ur able to ok.

'We can talk.'

The man continued to her her out on dates, called her 'babe' and asked if she wanted a hug

Ms Murray replied and explained she submitted a police report, that her car had been towed and she was 'just trying to calm down'.

'Ur ex bf is a d**k cause u look amazing,' he replied, ignoring her concerns and asking her if she wanted to 'catch up tomorrow afternoon sometime and talk'.

She explained she had classes the next day and thanked him for his help.

But the messages continued.

'Morning how r u feeling today,' he asked the next day.

When she didn't reply after 12 hours, he asked again.

Ms Murray said she felt stressed after paying $1200 excess on her car.

'Damn babe x,' he replied.

'Do u want a hug.

'Ur such a gorgeous pretty girl x.'

The messages and phone calls continued whether she responded or not.

Eventually, Ms Murray realised she had to decline his date invitations.

'You are really lovely and I'm glad you were understanding. I'm still so much in shock. I'd be happy to have a coffee but I'm not in a dating mindset at the moment ... Living at my ex's house isn't ideal and I'm just trying to get myself back on my feet.'

She then asked for photos of his car boot after the accident for insurance purposes.

He sent the photos and asked, 'do u think Im ok looking?'

Eventually, Ms Murray realised she had to decline his date invitations. He then asked, 'do u think Im ok looking?'

Ms Murray, who had whiplash from the accident, felt at a loss.

'He has called me every night and every morning sine the accident and he has my address,' she wrote in the Facebook group.

'I can't deal with these texts ... It's affecting my metal health as I already have terrible fear of men from past experiences.

''I'm scared he might react if I reject him ... I keep on replying to him because I don't want him to f**k me over and claim I did something way worse or was on my phone. I feel like I need to appease him but the calls are relentless.'

In Australia, sexual harassment is form of sex discrimination and includes any form of sexually related behaviour that is unwelcome and that offends, humiliates or intimidates.

The penalty for sexual harassment can include jail time.
The coronavirus outbreak has driven a demand for medical disinfectants in China.

Chinese cities have set up 'disinfection tunnels' and dispatched spray trucks to help sanitize streets, buildings, and even people.

The demand has sent workers into overdrive  but experts say the sterilization techniques might not actually work.

View more episodes of Business Insider Today on Facebook.

Following is a transcript of an episode of Business Insider Today. Watch the full episode here.

This machine can supposedly disinfect people in seconds  and many are using it to combat the coronavirus. But experts aren't so sure it actually works.

The sterilizing system installed in the Chinese city of Chongqing is part of a larger effort to control the virus outbreak.

All sorts of misting mechanisms and spray trucks are cropping up in cities and towns across China.

But are these efforts actually working?

The coronavirus originated in the city of Wuhan. It's killed over 2,800 people and infected more than 80,000. The virus spreads quickly, primarily through coughing and sneezing.

Reporter: "How many times are the elevators disinfected every day?"

Community worker: "At least two times a day. Sometimes four to five times."

Chinese cities have set up 'disinfection tunnels' that spray a mist that purportedly kills 99% of viruses.

Reuters

In Wuhan, on top of the quarantine measures, authorities recently ordered all residential areas to introduce a lockdown management system.

Tian Wenbo, Wuhan resident: "As the virus continues to spread, control measures are becoming more stringent. People cannot easily get in and out of the neighborhoods. Nonresidents cannot enter."

But quarantines can't solve everything, and as a result, many localities are resorting to sprays consisting of a mixture of bleach and water.

One company in Shanghai set up a passageway with a mist that purportedly kills 99% of viruses.

The need for disinfectants has gotten so extreme that one of the largest bleaching powder companies in China is running at full capacity to meet demand.

Story continues

Hu Qiwen, Sinopec Jianghan Salt and Chemical Complex: "For this type of bleaching powder, 20 barrels make up a ton. Every ton can formulate disinfectant enough for 10 hospitals equipped with 1,000 beds per day."

Chinese cities have undertaken widespread sterilization efforts to control the coronavirus outbreak.

Reuters

But there's no evidence to suggest that bleach sprays are effective against the coronavirus, and they could actually be doing more harm than good.

Mark Tucker, Chief Scientific Officer, Decon7 Systems: "Chlorine bleach doesn't actually penetrate bodily fluids. It doesn't penetrate grease and grime on surfaces, things like that. It doesn't actually get to the virus."

"If they're directly inhaling the bleach, that's not something, you know, you'd want to expose humans to."

Mark Tucker works for Decon7 Systems, a US disinfectant manufacturer that's sending literal tons of product to China.

Tucker: "Another hundred tons will be arriving in China before the end of the month, and we expect the demand next month to be essentially the same or maybe even greater than it is this current month."

The need for disinfectants has gotten so extreme that one of the largest bleaching powder companies in China is running at full capacity to meet demand.

Reuters

Many disinfectants are capable of killing off 99.9% of germs, which is another way of saying that none are 100% effective.

Experts like Mark say these public displays won't do much to stop the spread of the virus.

Tucker: "The coronavirus tends not to last very long outdoors anyway. The most effective disinfectant processes tend to be something that's done indoor."

And most disinfectants only last for 24 hours, meaning frequent reapplication is necessary.

Until the fear of infection subsides, many residents are taking a more basic  and practical  precaution: staying indoors.

Chen Lanying, Wuhan resident: "I feel inactive staying at home. I used to dance in many public places. But now I don't dare go out."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Climate change activist Greta Thunberg has met with the Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai at Oxford University.

Yousafzai, a global figure for the rights of girls to have an education, shared an image of herself with the Swedish activist on Tuesday.

Thunberg, 17 , and Pakistani activist Yousafzai, 22, are seen sat on a bench together in the photograph.

Yousafzai wrote "Thank you @gretathunberg" along with a heart emoji in the post.

It is not year clear why the two women met on Tuesday.

Thunberg and Yousafzai both became global figures for their relevant causes as teenagers.

The Swedish activist was 15 when she started spending her school days sat outside Sweden's parliament calling for stronger action on climate change.

Thunberg later addressed the 2018 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

The activist inspired school strikes across the world in 2019 with millions of children taking part.

She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 and 2020.

Yousafzai became a global figure for female education after she was shot by the Taliban aged 15.

The assassination attempt came after she wrote a blog under a pseudonym which detailed her life in Pakistan under Taliban occupation.

Yousafzai was transferred from Pakistan to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, UK, after she was shot.

She stayed in the UK after her recovery and now studies at Oxford University.

Yousafzai became the youngest ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, for her "struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to an education".
Joe Biden warned gun manufacturers during a speech in South Carolina on Monday night that Im coming for you, and Im taking you down.

Biden has cast himself as a relative moderate in recent months on gun-control. His campaigns gun control plan, which was released in October, proposed reinstating an assault-weapons ban and universal background checks, but would not force the current owners of semiautomatic rifles to sell the guns to government, as a number of his opponents proposed.

While hes avoided aggressively targeting gun owners, Biden has previously emphasized his commitment to holding gun manufacturers liable when one of their products is used in the commission of a crime.

A guy has 12 assault weapons with bump stocks, which means you can fire it faster. You can pull the trigger faster, Biden said last week during a CNN town hall, referencing the Las Vegas hotel shooting. Why in Gods name should anyone, anyone, anyone, anyone be able to own that? Its just wrong, and weve got to  and I promise you, as president, I am going to get these guys.

I promise you that if I am elected president, we will hold gun manufacturers accountable for the carnage they have caused. pic.twitter.com/b1HLGdFyeF  Joe Biden (Text Join to 30330) (@JoeBiden) February 24, 2020

As Senator Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) has risen in the polls, Biden has taken to criticizing the Vermont lawmakers early career record on gun control, pointing out that Sanders, who was endorsed by the NRA in his 1990 congressional race, voted against gun control legislation on a number of occasions as a young House member.

Its just flat-out immoral, its just flat-out immoral, Biden said Thursday at a meeting with members of the anti-gun group Moms Demand Action in Nevada. You know, committed Republicans and some Democrats  like Bernie Sanders  voted five times, five times against background checks and waiting periods; notwithstanding the fact that millions of people were denied having access to weapons of destruction because they didnt qualify.

More from National Review
Dorothy Perkins is selling a similar trench coat to Meghan Markle's. (Getty Images)

Yahoo Lifestyle is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex may have taken a step back from royal duties, but that doesnt mean Meghan Markles sartorial power has subsided.

In 2019, Markle was named the most powerful dresser of the year by global fashion search engine Lyst - and in 2020 women around the world continue to try and emulate her effortless modern style.

The 38-year-old royal had a slew of contemporary royal wardrobe staples including shirt dresses, trendy handbags and camel coats.

The former actress also championed numerous tailored trench dresses for many prominent royal occasions, including a white design by British designer Grace Wales Bonner to present baby Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor to the world in May 2019.

Meghan wearing a tuxedo dress in October 2018, May 2019 and July 2018. (Getty Images)

Markle has also been seen in several variations, from a short above the knee number during a royal tour of New Zealand in 2018, to a blush midi number at the Nelson Mandela Centenary Launch in July 2018.

Markles most recent trench dress debut took place during the Sussex families royal tour of South Africa in October 2019 when Markle wore a 95 camel-hued design by American brand, Banana Republic.

The double-breasted tan design with flattering waist belt was the most affordable Markle-approved option to date and promptly sold out.

The Duchess of Sussex wore a Banana Republic dress to visit to the University of Johannesburg in October 2019. (Getty Images)

But, if youre still searching for an affordable way to channel Markles go-to ensembles, youre in luck.

British high street store, Dorothy Perkins, is currently selling a similar Beige Sleeveless Trench Dress for under 20 - and its available in sizes 6 to 22.

The garment, which boasts the same trench wrap style and matching fabric belt has currently gone in the sale, down from an already affordable 28 to 19.60.

So, if youve been searching for a budget-friendly way to emulate one of Markles signature looks we suggest you pop this number in your basket before a slew of Markle fashion fans find it.

Story continues

Buy it: Sleeveless Trench Dress | 19.60 from Dorothy Perkins

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo Style UK:
TPC Group employees were informed Tuesday morning that layoffs are coming and the company announced as many as 100 positions could be eliminated as it plans on ending chemical production in Port Neches for at least three to five years during a rebuild.

Brent Roy, secretary treasurer with United Steel Workers Local 13-228 and a member of the workers committee representing TPC Group employees, said the company called a morning meeting to make the announcement but didn't reveal how many positions it was considering.

USW has 60 days to negotiate the terms of the layoff with the company, meaning union representatives from the local, district and international levels could be meeting with TPC Group until the end of April if a resolution isn't met sooner.

The numbers and all that are negotiable, Roy said. They throw out a number and we try to save as many we can.



The companys Port Neches site has 183 employees, 133 of which are represented by five different unions.

In a document shared with the Enterprise by TPC Group, representatives with the company wrote that 100 positions were expected to be eliminated, including 11 salaried employees. The number of hourly employees would decrease to around 45 positions under this plan.

MORE ON TPC: Communications after TPC Group blast give more information about asbestos discovery, official response

Hourly employees are expected to still receive benefits and pay until April 30.



It said some positions could potentially return once a rebuild process is complete, and impacted employees could apply for those positions.

In a late Tuesday morning situational report from the company, representatives wrote that TPC Group had decided the Port Neches site will work as a terminal and distribution point for their products.

The Company does not expect that we will need employees beyond those necessary to operate as a terminal for more than three to five years, representatives wrote. The downsizing will impact salaried employees as well as union/hourly employees.

RELATED: Texas AG sues TPC Group for explosion, emissions

The company also released information on exactly how long a rebuild of the plant could take.

A preliminary third-party engineering report gave a construction timeline up to 2 and a half years for a rebuild, representatives wrote in a document shared with the Enterprise, on top of a two and a half year process for upfront engineering and permitting results

The company doesn't believe the production or staffing changes will affect its overall financial stability.

TPC Group continues to believe it has a sound plan for the path forward and sufficient liquidity to weather this difficult period, representatives wrote.

Since the Nov. 27 explosion at the Port Neches site in the early morning hours, Roy said workers have been pulling full shifts working the scene where they are needed and monitoring leaks.

Those workers have also been helping with the latest phase of cleanup, removing chemicals parts of the plant stable enough to work in.

TPC Group reported Tuesday that 96% of high purity butadiene had been transferred offsite, along with 50% of butadiene at lower a purity.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

/jdickjournalism
With six Supreme Court judges infected with H1N1, Chief Justice of India S A Bobde Tuesday held a meeting with judges and suggested that lawyers and court staffs be vaccinated to curb the infection.

The issue came to the fore after Justice D Y Chandrachud told lawyers in his court room that judges of the apex court held a meeting with the CJI to take remedial steps to check the spread of H1N1.

Justice Chandrachud said that it was decided in the meeting to make H1N1 vaccination available for advocates for inoculation.

Later, the CJI also held a meeting with office bearers of the Supreme Court Bar Association to discuss the issue.

Due to the meeting, the bench led by CJI Bobde sat late at around 11.08 am against the scheduled time of 10.30 AM.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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It is worrisome that ZACC is inundated with false corruption reports from politicians, businesspeople and other individuals. This then will force us to waste our resources in pursuance of the false leads, said Commissioner Chaibva.
Stock markets across Europe including in London fell for the second day in a row today as fears continued over the economic impact of coronavirus.

The FTSE 100 index of leading UK companies had fallen 132 points or 1.85 per cent to 7,024 by late afternoon, after opening up by 0.5 per cent in early trading.

This represented a drop of 40billion, one day after it accounted for 62billion of losses on global markets yesterday on what was its worst day since 2015.

Europe's markets also fell, as Frankfurt's DAX 30 index lost 0.3 per cent to 12,992 and the CAC 40 in Paris dropped 0.5 per cent to 7,157 - despite both also opening up.

The FTSE 100 index of UK firms fell yesterday (left) and again today (right) [CLICK TO EXPAND]

It comes after stock prices London lost 3.3 per cent yesterday over coronavirus fears, while Frankfurt and Madrid fell by 4 per cent and Paris shed 3.9 per cent.

News that the virus is claiming lives far beyond China had sparked a rout on trading floors globally, with the Dow on Wall Street suffering its worst day in two years.

But investors are now considering whether the further cases outside China raise hopes of further monetary stimulus to limit the damage to the global economy.

Fears of a pandemic wiped nearly 1.2trillion off global equity markets yesterday, including almost 361billion off the value of Europe's listed companies.

Panicked investors pushed gold to an all-time high in sterling terms yesterday as they scrambled to protect their savings from the coronavirus contagion.

The FTSE 100 index of top UK firms is displayed over the past 12 months [CLICK TO EXPAND]

They dropped travel firms and miners, amid fears that the outbreak would deter travel and stymie industrial activity, and rushed to the relative safety of gold.

The precious metal, which is seen as a safe haven in times of uncertainty, hit a record 1,300 per ounce before settling later in the day at 1,293.

The FTSE 100 index of Britain's biggest listed companies accounted for 62billion of losses on global markets yesterday in what was its worst day since 2015.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: 'While stocks still have a long way to go to make up for Monday's losses, it is encouraging to see share prices starting to move up.

A currency dealer wears a face mask in a dealing room today at a bank in Seoul, South Korea

'It would suggest there are plenty of investors confident enough to go shopping for bargains rather than widespread fear.'

But Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets, said it was likely that markets were only pausing for breath.

He said: 'There is no question financial markets are coming round to the realisation that this particular crisis is likely to have a slightly longer shelf life than many thought was the case a couple of weeks ago.

'There appears little prospect that financial markets look likely to settle down in the short term, which means investors will have to get used to an extended period of uncertainty and volatility.'

A pedestrian wearing a face mask walks past a board displaying the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo today

And the price of oil plummeted as traders began to worry that the economic effect of the coronavirus would be worse than originally anticipated.

Brent crude was trading down 5.3 per cent at $55.42 per barrel, well below the $69 level at the turn of the New Year.

But US billionaire Warren Buffet, who has been dubbed the Sage of Omaha for his investing prowess, advised investors to be cautious of selling on impulse.

He said the coronavirus was 'scary stuff', but added that most investors should keep a long-term outlook.

Traders at the New York Stock Exchange yesterday as the Dow had its worst day in two years

The coronavirus death toll climbed to seven in Italy yesterday and several Middle East countries were dealing with their first infections.

This has fed worries the virus could turn into a pandemic, with China's death toll already standing at 2,705.

More than 80,000 people have been infected in China since the outbreak began, apparently in an illegal wildlife market in the central city of Wuhan late last year.

However the World Health Organization has said the epidemic in China peaked between January 23 and February 2 and has been declining since.
Bernie Sanders: More opinions on the 2020 candidate

Read Post op-eds by Sanders:

Explore recent columns from Post opinion writers:

See The Posts View from a recent editorial: Bernie Sanders shifts his tone, but will it last?

Get more information on Sanderss candidacy and policy positions.

How are Warren and other candidates faring in the Post Pundit 2020 Power Ranking? Heres the latest installment.

Want more on the 2020 elections? See all of The Posts coverage.
T enerife is one the latest areas to be affected by coronavirus, as over 1,000 guests of the 4-star H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel are on lockdown.

On Tuesday, February 25, a hotel in the south of the Spanish island was placed into quarantine after an Italian doctor who was staying at the resort tested positive for Covid-19.

Health authorities in the Canary Islands have confirmed the case. The Italian national visiting the region is thought to be from Lombardy and holidaying with his wife.

Here is the latest travel information for Spain and Tenerife, amidst the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus.

AP

Is it safe to travel to Tenerife?

At this time, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have yet to provide official travel safety guidelines for those visiting the region.

For those currently in Tenerife with questions and concerns, a helpline has been set up to offer immediate advice. You can call it on (+34) 900 112 061.

In accordance with advice issued by regional and Spanish government authorities, the four-star Costa Adeje Palace hotel has been placed in quarantine, following reports a guest has tested positive for coronavirus.

Employees wearing protective masks arrange water bottles in the lobby of a hotel under lockdown after a coronavirus case was identified in Adeje. / via REUTERS

Holiday package firms like TUI and Jet2holidays are currently operating as normal, with their flying programme remaining unchanged.

In an official statement to PA, a spokesperson for Jet2 said: We are aware of reports that a non-Jet2holidays customer staying at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace in Tenerife has tested positive for coronavirus.

Under the advice of the regional and the Spanish government authorities, the hotel has been placed under quarantine.

The health and safety of our customers is our absolute priority, and we will release more information as it becomes available.

In line with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advice, our flying programme remains unchanged.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Tui UK said: Were aware of a reported case of Covid-19 at the H10 Palace Hotel in Costa Adeje, Tenerife.

All guests have been asked to remain in their rooms and are being looked after by the hotel.

Our holiday programme to Tenerife continue to operate as planned for all other hotels.

We will provide a further update as soon as we have more information.

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

According to the NHS, the main symptoms of Covid-19 include coughing, shortness of breath and having a high temperature.

Those with weakened immune systems, like the elderly or those with long-term conditions such as diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease are more likely to suffer with these symptoms.

What measures and precautions should be taken?

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has issued an urgent appeal for the public to follow new self-isolation advice if returning from northern Italy, Iran and parts of South Korea.

In an official statement, he urged: Every single person can do something to try to help this country avoid this virus becoming big and that is to wash your hands. If you sneeze to make sure you cover it up, catch it, kill it and bin it, he stressed before updating the Cabinet on the crisis.

He dismissed calls for a ban on flights from countries hardest hit by Covid-19, describing such restrictions as a Maginot Line, referring to the huge French fortifications which failed to stop the German Second World War invasion.

Scientists believe swift quarantine action, rather than trying to rely on travel restrictions, are key to containing the virus.

The following precautions and steps should be taken to help avoid the spread of the disease:

- Carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then you must bin the tissue, wash your hands and/or use sanitiser gel.

- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport. Use sanitiser if soap and water not available.

- Don't touch your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

- Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.

- Follow the advice for self-quarantine if you have arrived back from China or other specified countries.

Is there a treatment for coronavirus?
ALBANY  A wage board was formed this week, tasked with holding hearings to suss out the effects of a new law that entitles farm workers to overtime pay if they work more than 60 hours a week.

But one organization  whose president serves on that board  says they're worried that the timing of those hearings won't allow enough opportunity for the board to hear farmers' opinions about the new law.

The board was formed by the state Department of Labor under the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act. The law, which went into effect Jan. 1, gives benefits to farm workers including the ability to form a union and to overtime pay if they work more than 60 hours per week, or during their designated day of rest. Agriculture trade groups have opposed the law, claiming it is contradictory and could be burdensome to small, family-owned farms.

The three-member panel will include Buffalo Urban League President Brenda McDuffie, former New York State AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes and David Fisher, President of the New York Farm Bureau. The board will hold five hearings in farming communities across the state, starting this week.

According to the law, the board must have held its first hearing by March 1, with a report due by December.

But in a statement released shortly after the formation of the board, the NYFB said the hearings are held too soon in the year, when "crops are not even in the ground for the spring planting season," when farmers have "no real-world examples of how this new law will impact harvest season."

"It will be incredibly difficult for board members to reasonably determine if the overtime threshold should be justifiably lowered," the NYFB said in a statement. "Farmers have just started to implement changes on their farms to comply with the new law and are still determining what is best for their small businesses and employees. ...This short window of time also does not allow any ability to see how different growing conditions due to extreme weather can impact overtime needs."

The Farm Bureau said it "believes it will take data from multiple growing seasons to appropriately evaluate the economic realities and labor challenges facing New York agriculture as a result of the new overtime threshold implemented only weeks ago."

Until that data are available, the NYFB said, the overtime threshold should not be lowered.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Fisher was unable to comment because of his position on the board. But Jeff Williams, the NYFB's public policy director, said farmers intend on bringing up concerns about the law's timeline to the panel.

"We've had less than 60 days to try to implement the 60 hours threshold," Williams said. "There's not much farming going on in New York in January or February so there's not much data."

The Albany hearing will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the New York State Museum Cultural Education Center.

Michael.Williams@timesunion.com or 518-454-5018.
Eighteen children were among those injured after a man drove his car into a crowd at a carnival in the German town of Volkmarsen.

A total of 35 people are still in hospital following the incident, while seventeen others have been treated and released.

The scene of the crash in Volkmarsen, central Germany (AP)

Police are still looking for a motive behind the 29-year-old suspects actions, but they believe it was a deliberate attack.

According to Bild newspaper, the man was from the local area and was also injured.

Forensics officers comb the suspect's car (Getty)

Police spokesperson Henning Hinn gives a statement on Tuesday morning. (Getty)

He is reportedly in hospital with serious head injuries, and police have not yet been able to question him.

The crash in the town of about 7,000 near Kassel, north of Frankfurt, came at the height of Germanys carnival season, with the biggest parades in Cologne, Duesseldorf and Mainz.

All other parades in the central state of Hesse were ended on Monday as a precaution.

A spokesman for Frankfurt prosecutors, Alexander Badle, said in a statement that about 30 people were injured, including children. They were taken to surrounding hospitals, some with life-threatening injuries.

The suspect was also injured, said Mr Badle.

The investigation, especially into the circumstances of the crime, continues, he said. In particular, no information can yet be provided about a motive. The investigation is exploring all avenues.

The incident took place at the height of German carnival season (Getty)

This is a terrible act committed against people who simply wanted to celebrate Carnival, said Peter Beuth, the interior minister for the state of Hesse.

He declined to comment on reports that a second person had been detained.

Chancellor Angela Merkel sent her condolences to those injured in the crash, wishing them a speedy and full recovery. She also thanked police and medical personnel involved.

Read more: 35 people still in hospital following German carnival crash

Emergency responders set up a makeshift clinic in a town pharmacy to treat casualties with minor injuries, the regional Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper reported.

Witnesses said the car drove around a barrier blocking off traffic from the parade, according to the paper.

Video from the scene showed a silver Mercedes with local licence plates on a pavement, its front windscreen badly smashed and bonnet dented, and its hazard lights blinking, while emergency crews walked by.


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Green Growth Brands (GGB.CN)(GGBXF) has announced a plan to sell a majority stake in its CBD business to BRN Group, a company whose chief executive previously ran Sean Combs portfolio of businesses.

Ohio-based Green Growths CBD line spans infused face toners, body lotions, oral drops and gummies. The products are sold in hundreds of American Eagle and Abercrombie & Fitch locations, as well as through DSW outlets and kiosks in malls across the United States.

The full financial terms of the deal were not disclosed in a release on Monday. Green Growth Brands said it plans to hold up to a 20 per cent interest in the CBD business once the deal is completed after a 30-day go shop period. The company said the proceeds will allow it to grow its network of dispensaries and cannabis operations that currently span Nevada, Massachusetts and Florida.

Chief executive officer Peter Horvath said the decision to sell Green Growths CBD business is the result of challenges related to costs and constraints on liquidity that prevented the company from growing that side of the business to its full potential.

"With high-potential in the future comes material overhead costs and other obligations in the near term, he said in a release on Monday. In light of these factors, we have determined it necessary and appropriate to sell the CBD business and focus on executing our MSO business plan.

BRN Group is a cannabis consulting collaboration between Green Growth Brands, Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits, digital agency Tygershark, and other marketers.

Dia Simms, CEO of BRN Group, told Yahoo Finance Canada in October that her company will focus its early efforts on hemp-derived CBD, as cannabis with THC remains illegal at the federal level in the United States. She described BRN Group as a first of its kind, privately-held, global brand development, management and distribution company that licences, manages and distributes superior cannabis brands worldwide.

Combs, who has invested in CBD beverages, told Yahoo Finance Canada that he may be working with Simms again very soon.

Story continues

Green Growth Brands reported its second quarter financial results after the closing bell on Monday. The company booked a before-tax loss of $34.8 million for the three months ended Dec. 28, 2019. CBD accounted for $11 million of the $21.1 million in total revenue during the period.

Shares have collapsed more than 92 per cent over the past year.

Green Growth Brands also announced a corporate reorganization aimed at saving the company $4 million in annual costs. Prior to the announcement, the website Columbus Business First reported that the company will cut an unspecified number of jobs in Columbus, Ohio.

Green Growth Brands abruptly cancelled Mondays quarterly call with analysts, rescheduling for Feb. 26 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
(CNN)  You shouldn't believe everything you see on the internet. A popular YouTuber proved that, once again, to be true.

Natalia Taylor posted a series of photos on her Instagram that made it seem like she had traveled to a far-off exotic destination. There she was lounging in a fancy bathtub. In another, she posed in front of a floral print mirror.

"The queen has arrived," she wrote in the caption. Her location: Bali, Indonesia.

But in a video she later posted to YouTube, she revealed the photos were staged in an Ikea.

The Instagram photos were all fictitious. And that, Taylor said, was the point.

"Sometimes, people want to lie about who they are," she said in the YouTube video. "It's not hard to do."

Taylor and photographer Ally Amodeo held a photo shoot in different sections of the nearby Ikea.

The first set of photos featured a flower print mirror -- it sure looked like a fancy hotel room. The baby blue wall phone only helped set the scene. The next shots showed Taylor posed on a sun lounger and in a bathtub, dressed in a white robe with a towel wrapped around her head.

At the same time, she also posted videos of Bali to her Instagram story. Some were sent from friends who had visited. Others she found online.

Her fans, of which there are more than 300,000, lapped it up.

"She really out here living her best life," one observed. "Our Bali Princess," said another.

There was one who noticed something awry -- an Ikea price tag on a chair in the mirror's reflection. It didn't matter. The photos got tens of thousands of likes.

Bali, Taylor explained, was "the perfect place to fake an influencer vacation and lie to all of my followers."

But she wasn't trying to hoodwink them and cash in. She wanted to make a point.

"Today it is easier than ever to become anyone you want. That's wonderful! But with great power comes great responsibility," she told CNN. "As we all know, not everyone is transparent online."

"We could all use a fun reminder to take social media less seriously," she added. "And don't believe everything you see online."

So be warned -- that influencer you are jealously watching travel the world might not be telling you every piece of the story. There's a chance they never even left home at all.

This story was first published on CNN.com "A YouTuber's fancy Bali vacation sure looked nice. Nope, the photos were taken in an Ikea"
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 25, 2020 14:30 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20667ef94 4 City Jakarta-flood,hole,Central-Jakarta,motorists,road-accident,rscm Free

A motorcyclist identified as Rahmat Hidayat was found dead after attempting to ride through a flood on Jl. Gajah Mada in Central Jakarta on Tuesday morning.

Central Jakarta Police traffic unit head Adj. Sr. Comr. Lilik Sumardi confirmed the accident to tempo.co, saying that Rahmats motorcycle had hit a pothole that was covered by water.

The motorist lost control and was thrown from his vehicle before hitting his head on the sidewalk, which was also inundated by the floodwater. He died instantly.

Read also: Widespread flooding in Greater Jakarta causes chaos for commuters

Rahmats body has been taken to Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) in Central Jakarta, said Lilik.

Mild to severe flooding occurred across Greater Jakarta on Tuesday following heavy rain throughout the previous night. Flooding paralyzed traffic on several major streets and brought several public transportation services to a halt.

The capital and its surrounding areas have been experiencing constant rainfall since the rainy season started late last year. Massive flooding occurred on New Years Eve, claiming at least nine lives and displacing thousands of others. (syk)
Syrian Kurds, who are holding a large number of Islamic State suspects, have requested judicial and technical help from other countries writes Asharq Al-Awsat.

Syrias Kurds on Sunday renewed their appeal for international aid to put on trial thousands of captured members of ISIS, including Western nationals.

Almost a year since the March 2019 fall of the last ISIS bastion in Syria, the victorious US-backed and Kurdish-led forces still hold about 12,000 suspected ISIS members in the countrys northeast.

Most of them are Syrian or Iraqi nationals but their ranks include between 2,500 and 3,000 nationals from around 50 other countries.

In the face of Western hesitation to repatriate their own nationals, the Kurds have resigned themselves to having to put those detained on trial in Syria.

The semi-autonomous Kurdish authorities need international cooperation, Fener al-Kait, a foreign affairs official, said in the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli.

We need a lot, at the judicial and technical levels, he told Agence France Presse, adding that several countries were expected to come forward with assistance in a month or two, without identifying them.

Kait on Sunday met with a parliamentary delegation from Belgium, 15 of whose nationals are held by the Kurds, while more than 60 Belgian women and children remain in camps for suspected ISIS family members.

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.
(TNS)  Nearly two years after the arrest of the suspected Golden State Killer revitalized DNA forensics, some state lawmakers around the country are pushing to stop or restrict police searches of genetic code databases.Other lawmakers, meanwhile, want to make it even easier for police to use the technique, known as investigative genetic genealogy, to catch criminals.Inspired by the capture of the alleged Golden State Killer, police across the United States are uploading crime-scene DNA to GEDmatch and other databases where purchasers of genetic testing kits from companies such as 23andMe and Ancestry can share their DNA in hopes of finding long-lost relatives.Arrests have been made in dozens of cases  many that had been considered cold. Advocates of the practice tout the ability to find people who committed horrible crimes and exonerate those who did not.I believe, 100%, that DNA is the greatest tool ever given to law enforcement to find the truth, whatever that is, said Anne Marie Schubert, independent district attorney of Sacramento County, Calif., where the suspected Golden State Killer was arrested.But law enforcements use of the DNA databases has opened another front in the growing battle over digital privacy. Should third parties  in this case, police  have access to personal data people generate by using consumer technology? And should investigators be allowed to use the technique to solve all crimes, or only the most violent ones?Americans are divided on whether police should use investigative genetic genealogy to solve crimes, according to a recent study released by the Pew Research Center. (The Pew Charitable Trusts funds the center and Stateline.) In a June survey of more than 4,200 U.S. adults, 48% said they were OK with DNA testing companies sharing customers genetic data with police. A third said it was unacceptable, and 18% were unsure.What we have right now we can call the Wild West. There arent a lot of rules on the ground, Natalie Ram, an associate professor of law at the University of Maryland, said in an interview. State legislatures are one of the best-situated bodies to engage in rule-making in this area.A state representative in Utah introduced a bill that would ban genetic genealogy searches by police. A Maryland lawmaker introduced a bill to regulate searches  after a proposal last year to ban them failed. In New York, a state senator has proposed a policy to allow the searches. A Washington state proposal would allow only searches requested through a valid legal process.And three direct-to-consumer testing companies have formed a coalition and are lobbying Congress for federal oversight to restrict police access to their databases and protect consumer privacy.Schubert expressed skepticism about legislative proposals cropping up.If they want to weigh in on it, thats fine, as long as they understand what it is, how it works and what it does and doesnt do, she said. It shouldnt be a race to see who can be the first to ban it or vice versa.The man accused of being the Golden State Killer, Joseph James DeAngelo, was arrested after investigators uploaded crime-scene DNA to online genealogy database GEDmatch, matched it partially to his great-great-great-grandparents, built family trees of relatives and eventually traced it to him. Police obtained surreptitious samples of DeAngelos DNA to confirm the match.After DeAngelos arrest, Schubert started a nonprofit with a few other law enforcement figures called the Institute for DNA Justice. They aim to educate the public about investigative genetic genealogy. And they encourage people to upload their DNA to GEDmatch or FamilyTreeDNA, another open database, to help police.Schubert said police dont get behind-the-scenes, unlimited access to peruse DNA databases, despite what many people believe. Instead, investigators upload a DNA profile and get a list of matches and partial matches like the average user, she said in an interview.The rest is traditional police work: using leads to narrow down the matches to a person who fits the description of the suspect, gathering a surreptitious sample and comparing it with the crime scene DNA profile.It is a blend of science and traditional law enforcement, she said.More than 15 million people worldwide had undergone direct-to-consumer DNA testing by early 2018, according to a report from the journal Science. Researchers estimated that 60% of searches of a database with 3 million U.S. residents of European descent could lead to a third cousin or closer match.By the end of 2019, GEDmatchs database had been used to solve at least 70 U.S. violent crimes. Verogen, a forensic genomics company, bought GEDmatch in December, and said that the use of its database as a crime fighting tool  for people who share DNA and opt in to police searches  would continue.Forensics company Parabon Nanolabs has relied on public databases such as GEDmatch to identify 83 crime suspects and 11 homicide victims since May 2018, when it began offering genetic genealogy service to law enforcement agencies, said Paula Armentrout, the companys vice president, in an email. The company charges law enforcement $1,500 to process DNA and another $3,500 for the genealogy research time.GEDmatch faced criticism last year when a BuzzFeed investigation revealed the company allowed police to upload a DNA profile to investigate an aggravated assault. The website, which was started by a DNA hobbyist, previously restricted police searches to homicide and rape cases. GEDmatch changed its policy so that users had to opt in to law enforcement searches.About 1.4 million people have profiles on GEDmatch, and more than 200,000 have agreed to law enforcement searches of their DNA, according to Verogen spokeswoman Kim Mohr.We support responsible use of consumer genetic databases by law enforcement and would not be in favor of legislation that prohibits such searches of people who have opted in, Mohr said in an email.The Utah bill would bar law enforcement from performing genetic genealogy searches in consumer databases. The sponsor, Utah state Rep. Craig Hall, a Republican, was not available for an interview.But Michael Melendez, policy director of Libertas Institute, a free-market think tank based in Lehi, Utah, that helped Hall craft the bill, said traditional consent and warrant models dont apply to DNA databases.You wont see a warrant for an entire town to knock on everyones door and search everyones house, Melendez said. In the same sense, with a digital DNA database, we dont believe you can go in and just get a warrant to do a mass search.But the Utah Cold Case Coalition, a three-year-old nonprofit that helps people dig into cold cases and advocates for genetic genealogy searches, opposes the bill.The groups director, an attorney named Karra Porter, started it after the family of 6-year-old Rosie Tapia, who was raped and murdered in 1995, asked her for help. (The case remains unsolved.)In a few months, Porters group plans to open a lab called Intermountain Forensics in Salt Lake City and provide at-cost DNA tests including genetic genealogy tests for law enforcement, Porter said.Even if Halls bill, which is in committee, becomes law, Porter said her lab will be fine: The lab already has potential clients from other states. But, she added, Were going to have a whole lot of unsolved rapes and murders in our state because of this bill, if it goes through.Ram, the Maryland professor, acknowledges that DNA databases are useful to police. The question, she said, is whether the investigative advantages outweigh the threat to peoples privacy.Theres no doubt that law enforcement could solve more crimes if they could have more access to more people all the time, Ram said. Privacy is an essential human good. Its necessary for human flourishing and for liberty.Ram testified in support of a bill to ban genetic genealogy searches proposed by a Maryland lawmaker last year. The bill died in committee.The same lawmaker, Democratic state Sen. Charles Sydnor III, introduced a new bill this session to regulate searches instead. The measure would limit law enforcements use of genetic genealogy databases to felony cases including homicide, rape and burglary.I had never looked at it in that respect, of people who had committed violent crimes, Sydnor said in an interview. This is cutting-edge stuff. Were all trying to figure it out.In New York, a state senator is again proposing a policy that would allow searches in cases of violent crimes where all other investigative leads have been exhausted. State law allows police to do only whats called a familial search, or a search for a partial DNA match, in the state DNA database.When I hear of major crimes being solved in other states and our law enforcement officials do not have the same ability, Republican state Sen. Phil Boyle said, I want to make sure New York law enforcement officials have all the tools they need.The Washington state bill is similar but aimed at consumer companies. The bill, proposed by state Rep. Shelley Kloba, a Democrat, would require direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies to follow a legal process before giving genetic information to law enforcement without customer consent.Proposals to define when police can use DNA searches align, at least in part, with the federal legislation a trio of big player DNA companies  Ancestry, 23andMe and Helix  support.The companies formed a group called the Coalition for Genetic Data Protection to push to require police to follow a valid legal process, such as a court order or warrant, to search consumer databases, according to coalition Executive Director Steve Haro, who is also a principal at Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas, the Washington, D.C., lobbying firm that runs the coalition.According to their privacy policies, the three companies block law enforcement searches unless legally required.But in practice, not even the legal threshold has been enough: These companies will exhaust all legal measures to ensure their customer privacy is protected, Haro said.For example, last year Ancestry received a warrant seeking access to its database but challenged the warrant on jurisdictional grounds and didnt provide information, according to its transparency report.With something as important as consumer privacy, Haro said, it deserves to be dealt with at the federal level with one comprehensive piece of legislation.The coalition registered to lobby members of Congress about a year ago, according to disclosure records.The U.S. Department of Justice released an interim policy in September for law enforcement using forensic genetic genealogy: Use it as a last resort and with caution, the guidelines say.The eight-page policy sets case eligibility (a violent crime with no matches in the federal DNA database CODIS or unidentified human remains). It also requires the work to be done in a special lab. Final guidelines are expected this year.But including a line  in any policy  for use as a last resort still leaves a lot of room for interpretation, said David Kaye, an emeritus law professor at Penn State University who writes about the admissibility of scientific evidence in court.Its politically appealing to say, Im only going to use it as a last resort, he said in an interview. The thing is you, youre still left with saying what cases fall into that.The Justice Department policy is at least better than nothing, said Christopher Slobogin, director of Vanderbilt Law Schools criminal justice program. He has studied the Fourth Amendment and privacy issues for 30 years.Aside from a few cases related to privacy, there havent been many court decisions directly applicable to genetic genealogy, Slobogin said. They could come, as DNA databases grow and so do genetic genealogy-related arrests. He thinks the best guidance will come from parameters set by the courts and filled in with state legislation.Its possible that ultimately the same rule ought to apply across the country, Slobogin said. At the same time, barging in with a federal law might be a little premature.Thats the reason we have 50 states, he said. We can experiment a bit.
Work to reschedule an Ulster Rugby match in Italy is continuing after it was called off due to coronavirus restrictions.

Ulster fans had been due to travel to Treviso in northern Italy for the PRO14 game against Benetton on Saturday before local authorities stepped in to tackle the spread of the virus.

Irish health minister Simon Harris has also said "careful consideration" is needed over Ireland's Six Nations clash with Italy in Dublin on March 7.

In what has become Europe's biggest outbreak, it was reported yesterday that seven people have died from Covid-19 in Italy and over 200 have been infected.

Benetton said around 100 Ulster supporters had bought tickets for this weekend.

Some disappointed Ulster supporters accepted the news yesterday while others questioned if they would now be out of pocket.

On the Ulster Rugby Facebook page, one said: "Very unlikely to be played at all this season. Not anyone's fault." Another said: "Not good but def best not to risk!"

One woman asked easyJet on Twitter: "Are you going to refund the many disappointed (Ulster Rugby) supporters who planned to travel to Treviso this weekend. Match cancelled."

A spokeswoman for easyJet said there were no plans to cancel any flights at present.

"We are aware that the Italian authorities are taking some additional measures in response to cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country," she said.

"There is currently no change to advice for airlines or customers, so our flights are operating as normal and standard terms and conditions on tickets continue to apply."

She added: "We would like to reassure customers that our existing policies and procedures are in line with the guidance provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and EASA. We remain in regular contact with the authorities and will amend our procedures if and when required if guidance changes."

On the Italy game in Dublin, Mr Harris said: "This situation is evolving. The weekend's activities have shown there is still an awful lot unknown about the coronavirus and about the path it might take. There will be some big decisions in the coming days. Most particularly, I'm thinking of the Ireland-Italy game."

An expert group in the Irish Department of Health will meet today to consider the matter.

Cancellation would mean a multi-million-pound loss of spending in the Irish capital.

A statement from PRO14 Rugby said the restrictions for this weekend apply in the Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto regions of Italy.

"To ensure the safety of our players and spectators PRO14 Rugby fully supports the preventative measures taken in Italy and will adhere to the directives from the World Health Organisation and local authorities."

The restrictions are currently in place until this Sunday, with PRO14 to keep in daily contact with the FIR (Italian rugby union) and World Rugby.

Ulster supporters who were due to travel can contact standup@ulsterrugby.com for information.

Ryanair operates a weekly service from Belfast International to Bergamo Airport.

The region has seen four cases, including one in which an elderly man died.

Ryanair and Aer Lingus have insisted that their flights to Italy will operate as normal despite the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs advising people not to travel to 10 towns in the north of the country for now.
Mir Najaf Ali Khan (Centre) pays floral tributes to his grandfather Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur, the last Nizam of Hyderabad, on his 53rd death anniversary at Masjid Jodhi, King Kothi, on Monday. (Photo: S. Surender Reddy)

Hyderabad: The 53rd death anniversary of the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, was observed in a simple manner. Members of the erstwhile royal family and of various social organisations paid floral tributes at his mausoleum at Masjid Jodhi, King Kothi. A prayer congregation for absolution of the departed soul was also held here. Members of the family, historians, social activists and students of Osmania University, which he founded, paid floral tributes. Captain L. Pandu Ranga Reddy and Dr Chiranjeevi Kolluri, both historians, Najaf Ali Khan, grandson of the Nizam, Mohammed Affan Quadri, secretary of Mehr Organisation, Mohammed Farooq, founder secretary of the Maulana Gouse Khamo-oshi Trust, Abdul Sattar Mujahid, president, Muslim League, Shaikh Mahboob Multani, vice president TNGOs, Subia Jaweria, secretary, Rabta Foundation, and students of Osmania University attended the absolution prayer. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi, which used to remember Mir Osman Ali Khan on his birth and death anniversaries during the struggle for statehood and elections, sent no representative this time.

The Urdu department of the Osmania University College for Women, Koti, has organised the first Mir Osman Ali Khan Memorial Lecture on February 26 at the college premises. A collection of handwritten poetry of the last Nizam written during his last days will be displayed on the occasion.

Students of Osmania University also commemorated the death of the last Nizam at an event organised by the Dalit Minority Students Association (DMSA) in which several students and professors participated.

The student community has demanded that a permanent vice-chancellor be appointed to the university and all vacant posts be filled as soon as possible.

Speaking on the occasion, DMSA state president Dudapaka Naresh said: The Nizam was one of the great secular kings in the country.
The upcoming Xbox Series X will be able to play games from the original console, Microsoft has confirmed.

The new hardware  due out towards the end of this year  will support "four generations of gaming", the company said.

The feature was revealed as part of a wider release of new information about the Xbox Series X given by Microsoft as the release date approaches.

It also showed off some of the new specs of the upcoming console and the features that hardware would enable.

Microsoft said that despite the changes in hardware, eveything that is available on the Xbox One will be playable on the Xbox Series X, too. Accessories made for the Xbox One will also be compatible with the new console, as Microsoft has previously announced.

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

"Our commitment to compatibility means existing Xbox One games, including backward-compatible Xbox 360 and original Xbox games, look and play better than ever before," wrote Xbox head Phil Spencer in the announcement.

"Your favourite games, including titles in Xbox Game Pass, benefit from steadier framerates, faster load times and improved resolution and visual fidelity  all with no developer work required. Your Xbox One gaming accessories also come forward with you."

Recommended Microsoft reveals range of new details about Xbox Series X

Microsoft has stressed backwards compatibility in many of its announcements around the new Xbox Series X. The company has suggested that the name is intended to suggest it is an iterative update on the Xbox, rather than a complete break with the previous generation.

New features on the Xbox Series X will also increase the backwards compatibility of the new console, Mr Spencer wrote.

They include "Smart Delivery", which is intended to allow games to playable across the various generations of Xbox. It will mean that plays can buy a game once  whether on the Xbox One or the Xbox Series X  and have it available across the rest of the consoles.

"Were making the commitment to use Smart Delivery on all our exclusive Xbox Game Studios titles, including Halo Infinite, ensuring you only have to purchase a title once in order to play the best available version for whichever Xbox console they choose to play on," Mr Spencer wrote. "This technology is available for all developers and publishers, and they can choose to use it for titles that will be release on Xbox One first and come to the Xbox Series X later.
Lomo Saltado (beef tenderloin, potatoes, roasted tomatoes, braised green onions and soy dressing topped with a sunny side egg) at Alma. Photo: Greg Morago

David Guerrero still smarts when he talks about Alma Cebiche + Bar, his short-lived project in the Energy Corridor he opened in 2012. That concept  heavy on iterations of Peruvian ceviche  came after his turn at Samba Grill that first gained him notice on the Houston restaurant scene and before Andes Cafe, the EaDo restaurant that endeared him to city foodies.

Andes Cafe closed in January after a solid six-year run. But by the time it served its last lomo saltado Guerrero was already putting the finishing touches on his new concept, Alma, which quietly opened in Highland Village a few weeks ago. The handsome, cozy restaurant fairly oozes River Oaks sophistication but it very much has the original Alma and Andes in its DNA.

Guerrero chose to reclaim the Alma moniker in part because the new restaurant is partially a redemption play  a chance to finish what he couldnt with his first attempt at celebrating South American flavors.

Its part of my personality  I never give up, he said.

And then theres the very meaning of alma  soul in Spanish  that Guerrero finds important. Hes invested a lot of it in his new project.

But make no mistake: Alma is nothing like that ceviche bar. And certainly far more elegant and nuanced than Andes Cafe. Guerrero continues to write his great love story of the foods of South America, more specifically the flavors of cuisines from countries hugging the Andes: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. At Andes Cafe those dishes were presented in a populist manner  essential, direct, lusty  and were clearly referenced by country on the menu.

Alma takes an entirely different path to the pan-Andean heart with a menu that is Guerrero at his most refined and mature. He continues to find new ways to telegraph the great romance of his travels to seven South American countries in 2016 and the six months he worked at Maido, the Nikkei restaurant (Japanese meets Peruvian) that has been ranked on the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants list. He calls his style of cooking cocina de autor: Its a very personal menu. Its my life, my childhood, my travels, my journey.

XIN CHAO: Blind Goat chef Christine Ha and partners plan a new, modern Vietnamese restaurant

At Alma that dinner journey begins with raw oysters with smoky chili mignonette and popped grains of kiwicha (amaranth or mini quinoa) or wood-roasted oysters with kimchi butter, queso de hoja and panko bread crumbs. Raw bar options include yellowtail tuna tartare, seafood ceviche with blood orange leche de tigre, and lump crab and avocado roll. Small plates: lobster gratin with green plantain; roasted baby carrots; pork cracklings with aji amarillo; grilled cauliflower with jalapeno and currants; corn cakes with pork belly; and grilled octopus with smoky Peruvian chili sauce. Large plates: Scallops with butternut squash and quinoa cake; pork rib confit with sweet plantains, white hominy and fava beans; beef short ribs with grilled figs; Peruvian fried rice seafood paella; whole grilled snapper wrapped in banana leaf and bone-in ribeye with Andean cheese potatoes.

These dishes -- intelligently realized and gorgeously constructed  are sent out into the dining room that once was Drexel House in Highland Village. The snug, trapezoid-shaped dining room holds 30 with additional seating for 40 on the patio. The space is simple and handsome with slate blue walls, inky blue banquettes and dark wood tabletops set with white hydrangeas.

A brief wine list offers several South American wines. The cocktail list includes an uptown Pisco Sour and clever drinks such as a Paloma made with sotol; a pisco swizzle flavored with elderflower liqueur and mint; and a pisco and dry sake martini.

Guerrero barely had time to take a breath between the time Andes Cafe closed and Alma opened. But one senses that this is the moment his career has lead up to: an opportunity to lay out his best cards on a game hes been studying for years.

He said hes cooking his heart out. Its all my emotions together in one plate, he said. You might as well go ahead and call it soul food.

Alma, 3974 Westheimer, 713-960-0501; almahtx.com. Open weekends for lunch and dinner, weekends for brunch and dinner.

Greg Morago writes about food for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter. Send him news tips at greg.morago@chron.com. Hear him on our BBQ State of Mind podcast to learn about Houston and Texas barbecue culture.
Reversing a key decision of the previous BJP government, the Maharashtra legislature on Tuesday passed a bill allowing election of Sarpanch (village head) from members of local bodies instead of a popular mandate amid ruckus by BJP members over issues of farmers.

The rule for direct election of the sarpanch (village head) was brought in by the previous BJP-led Devendra Fadnavis dispensation.

In the Lower House, the Maharashtra Village Panchayat (Amendment) Bill 2020 was tabled by Rural Development Minister Hasan Mushrif.

Mushrif said the provisions of the current legislation were modified to ensure smooth functioning of panchayats.

The bill was passed amid ruckus by MLAs of the BJP who raised demands like a blanket farm loan waiver and flagged "rising" crimes against women in the state.

The MLAs said the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress dispensation has "failed" to fulfil various assurances made to farmers like freeing the 7/12 Land Extracts of all encumbrances.

The Fadnavis cabinet had, on July 3, 2017, decided to amend the respective clauses of Maharashtra Gram Panchayat Act of 1958 to facilitate election of sarpanchs (gram panchayat heads) directly from among the people of the village.

In the Legislative Council also the bill was passed amid din by BJP members over farmers' issues.

During proceedings, BJP members insisted on holding a special discussion on farmers' issues and also tried to move an adjournment motion, which was rejected by the council Chairman Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar.

Nimbalkar then called for tabling of the bill and read out the recommended amendments.

Speaking to PTI outside the council, Mushrif said, "The bill will enable the elected representatives to govern the (local) body for which they have been elected. We expect the Maharashtra governor to sign the bill soon so that the Act will come into effect".

He said after the bill becomes Act, Sarpanchs will be elected indirectly.

When asked about several villages which do not have Sarpanchs because of resignation by the incumbents, the minister said, "In such villages, the elected body will select its new head and the person will become sarpanch or village head. We have made such provision in the amended bill".

As per the State Election Commission (SEC), polls for posts of the sarpanch and members in 1,570 gram panchayats in 19 districts will be held on March 29.

Counting of votes will take place on March 30, the SEC said.

Mushrif said, "We will inform the SEC that election for the post of sarpanch should be through indirect method. This means elected members will choose a sarpanch from among themselves".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 12:41:51|Editor: yhy

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ROME, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Italian stocks on Monday suffered their biggest two-day drop in nearly a year and a half, as investors were worried about the impact of COVID-19 on the country's economy.

The blue-chip index on the Italian Stock Exchange fell 5.4 percent on Monday, following a drop of 4.3 percent on Friday, marking the biggest two-day decline since October 2018.

The back-to-back drops at least temporarily sliced more than 50 billion euros (54 billion U.S. dollars) off the market capitalizations of companies listed on the exchange.

Not a single share on the Milan-based Borsa Italiana exchange gained value during Monday's trading session.

"There are lots of uncertainty in the market right now, and that is scaring people," Riccardo Puglisi, an economist and commentator with the University of Pavia, told Xinhua, adding that the novel coronavirus is expected to have a negative impact on the country's economic growth in the first quarter of 2020.

The epidemic has already taken its toll on Italy's tourism sector, one of the country's most reliable economic drivers. Italy's tourism association Federturismo on Monday called on the Italian government to aid the sector's operators.

Italy on Monday reported seven deaths caused by novel coronavirus infection and more than 220 confirmed cases of the disease, most of which occurred in the economically vibrant and industrialized northern part of the country.

In response to the crisis, local authorities have locked down 10 towns in the northern region of Lombardy and one in the northeastern region of Veneto.

The Italian government have also issued bans, closing several gathering spots and prohibiting people from entering or leaving the affected areas.

Several economic measures have been taken in the virus-hit regions, including suspending tax and mortgage payments and asking workers to stay home.

"At this point, it's impossible to estimate the final impacts of the coronavirus with any accuracy," said Alessandro Missale, a political economist at the State University of Milan.

Puglisi said the next two weeks would likely determine how severe the economic impact will ultimately be.

"The key will be to watch whether we have a V-shaped recovery, where everything sinks and then goes back up quickly, or a U-shaped recovery, which would take much longer," Puglisi said.

"With a V-shaped recovery, production falls, but then it picks up again and can almost compensate for what was lost. That's the best we can hope for," Puglisi added.
A damning coroner's report into the 2016 Dreamworld tragedy revealed a shortage of registered and qualified engineers working on amusement parks, with Queensland's peak engineering body saying they will "digest" the findings.

The scathing 300-page report by coroner James McDougall, handed down on Monday, detailed a litany of safety and regulatory failings at Dreamworld, including a failure to maintain proper risk assessments, records of ride maintenance, and ride alterations.

Ardent Leisure CEO John Osborne (left) and Chairman Gary Weiss (right) leave Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday after hearing the coroner's scathing report. Credit:Dan Peled - AAP

Four people - Cindy Low, Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett and Roozi Araghi - were killed on the popular Thunder River Rapids Ride on October 25, 2016 when their raft collided with an empty raft after a water pump failed.

The coroner referred Ardent Leisure, Dreamworld's parent company, to the Office of Industrial Relations to consider whether criminal charges will be laid.
Srinagar, Feb 25 : J&K Police arrested a woman drug peddler and recovered contraband substance from her possession from Ganderbal district.

The investigation revealed the involvement of another woman in drug peddling.

Pertinently, Ganderbal police had earlier arrested a woman for drug related offences and she happens to be the sister of this woman.

Subsequently, the woman drug peddler was arrested by Ganderbal police.

Contraband substances including 800 grams of charas powder, 520 grams of charas and 14 litres of illicit liquor was recovered during investigation.

During investigation, the police found that both the ladies involved in drug peddling were also involved in selling drugs to the youth of Kangan, Ganderbal.

Notably, 400 grams of charas and Rs 4,22,750 believed to be the proceeds of narcotic crime has been recovered in this case. Further investigation into the case is going on.

Police have requested community members to come forward with any information regarding drug peddlers in their neighbourhood. Persons found indulging in drug peddling will be dealt as per law.
Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg has put his money where his presidential campaign is, on television.

Now, at least in Michigan, he is investing in a ground game by opening several campaign offices in the state.

One of those officially opened Saturday in a strip mall at Mound and 12 Mile roads in Warren, as Bloomberg views Macomb County and Michigan as keys to winning the Democratic primary and defeating President Trump in November.

This is the battleground county in the battleground state, said Chris Marchione, Bloombergs deputy political director in Michigan.

The office was one of four to open in Michigan as part of a nationwide Weekend of Action. Offices also opened in Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills and Flint, with additional locations to come in the weeks ahead, according to the campaign.

The Michigan Democratic primary is March 10, a week after Super Tuesday.

Several supporters said at the opening celebration they believe Bloomberg is the Democratic candidate who can beat Trump.

Jann Clanton, 65, of Warren, said she supported Bernie Sanders in 2016 but now backs Bloomberg because he is more moderate and can out-debate Trump.

I still like Bernie, she said. But like most people, I want someone who can beat Trump. Thats my concern. I think Mike can get on the debate stage and tear apart Donald Trump. Hell eat him up and spit him out.

Im not sure the other Democratic candidates can do that well against Trump, said Shari Leikert of New Baltimore. Mike has the money, the experience, and seems to be a pretty decent guy.

Marchione, a Warren resident and Macomb County native, believes voters dont want a radical leftist candidate on the heels of the current presidents words and actions.

Most people, I think, just want to see things get back to normal, Marchione said. They dont another extreme. Which is not to say Mr. Bloomberg is not progressive on issues. On social issues, he is very progressive.

Visitors to the gathering could pick up campaign posters, T-shirts and buttons, and sign up to volunteer.

Wendy Manguf, 65, of Roseville, attended because she has narrowed her choice to Bloomberg and former South Bend mayor Peter Buttigieg.

When Mike Bloomberg entered the campaign we got someone who is more centrist who can pull votes from both sides, Manguf said. Im interested in Mike because he is more a centrist. He will be fiscally conservative but is socially conscious.

For Carly Coleman, 50, of Clinton Township, clutching a couple of Bloomberg T-shirts, her backing is personal. Her son was shot to death three years ago in Clinton Township.

Hes the only one Ive heard talking about gun control. She said.

Marchione said even if Bloomberg doesnt win the nomination, he is committed to the Democrats defeating Trump. He will turn over campaign assets to the nominee.

Mr. Bloomberg said himself, this operation that were building, which is already massive, this is here for whoever the nominee is, Marchione said. Were not going anywhere. Mr. Bloomberg recognizes s the most important thing is beating Donald Trump.

Bloomberg did not participate in Fridays Democratic debate and was not on the ballot in Iowa and will not be on the ballot in New Hampshire primary on Tuesday. Marchione said the former mayor is focused on Super Tuesday, March 3, followed by the Michigan primary a week later, when he will be on ballots.

He expects Bloomberg to visit Michigan multiple times, particularly in the week before the March 10 primary.

Bloomberg on Saturday received the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Rochester Hills. Locally, Rep. Sander Levin, who 9th district encompasses Warren and most of Macomb County south of M-59, told The Macomb Daily in an editorial board session recently he is backing Elizabeth Warren.

The Bloomberg office, located at 29359 Mound Road, will be open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays.
The city of Midland wants to exchange land with Midland College near Airpark.

An item on Tuesdays agenda calls for the council to authorize the city manager to negotiate a land exchange with Midland College. Any agreement will come before the council for approval.

The reason for the negotiation and sought exchange of land is that oilman David Arrington wants to drill near Airpark. Specifically, he wants to drill on an area of land currently owned by Midland College. In May, it was reported that Midland-Petro DC Partnerships, LLC sought its own agreement with Midland College. The Reporter-Telegram article stated, on the northeast side of the campus, approximately 10 feet off the Midland Airpark fence, Midland-Petro would place an 11.4-acre drilling site with eight to 10 all-weather concrete cellars that would house 32 to 34 wells, said Midland-Petro President David Arrington. An additional six-tenths of an acre would be used for a road to enter and exit on Garfield Street.

Previous discussions with Midland-Petro DC Partnerships, Midland College and the city have been unsuccessful.

Midland City Councilman Spencer Robnett told the Reporter-Telegram that drilling would allow for citys Airports Department to gain mineral revenue from the wells drilled underneath Airpark. That revenue could be used for future airport projects, either at Airpark or Midland International, or to be placed inside the citys general fund.

In the May article, it was reported that the city would receive about $155 million in royalties. Midland College stood to gain about $20 million royalties from Midland-Petro DC Partnerships.

Robnett said the city is ready to swamp acreage with the college.
Fishers in Tamil Nadu demand primary cooperative bank

February 25,2020 | Source: The Hindu

Fishers have been demanding a primary cooperative bank for themselves -- on the lines of the primary agricultural banks used by farmers. Though the Central government has agreed to give us Kisan Credit Cards, no bank is agreeing to provide us with loans. They are all asking us for collateral, or details of previous loans taken and repaid. Fishers live in coastal poromoboke lands and do not have pattas: what property can we pledge, asks Nanjil Ravi of the Akhila India Meenavar Sangam. M.D. Dayalan of the Indian Fishermen Association said the Reserve Bank of Indias norms stipulate that banks should not ask for surety or property collateral for loans of up to ?10 lakh. But every bank in the coastal areas in the State ask for these things. The children of fishers dont even get educational loans. Only managers who understand the situation and personally know the fisher agree to provide loans. And these are very few and far between, he said.



Joyce Victoria, the associations secretary, explained that in neighbouring Kerala, village-level banks provide loans to fishers based on the recommendation of associations that are recognised by the State government. Members of an association can avail of loans. Say, for instance, if the member owns a boat and is in need of a loan, the association would recommend it and the bank gives the loan. The repayment happens through the sale of fish. The bank becomes the owner of the fish, it pays the salaries of labourers, the owner and even transfers payments to the ice factory and diesel pump, she said. A retired official of the Fisheries department said that the bank had been a long-pending demand of fishers. There is a lot of money belonging to fishers in primary agricultural banks, if that is moved to fishermens cooperative banks, it would help. The Kisan credit cards meant for fishers could be routed through these banks. In Colachel, the local fishermens cooperative society gives jewel loans, he pointed out.
Yesterday's Supreme Court decision in the Graham Dwyer case was much anticipated, to the point where the judgment was shown live on television. But viewers expecting a clear outcome might have been left nonplussed by the apparently inconclusive result.

Instead of making a final judgment, the Supreme Court decided to refer questions of law to the European Court of Justice - postponing the final outcome for at least several months and possibly a year or more.

The Chief Justice did, however, make several points in his judgment which, taken together, tell us a great deal about this case and the wider issues involved.

First, the decision reinforces the fact that an eventual ruling in favour of Dwyer is very unlikely to result in his conviction being overturned.

While the Chief Justice was keen to stress that this case was about the validity of a particular law - not the conviction itself - yesterday's judgment relied heavily on the 2015 Supreme Court decision in a case known as JC which held that evidence obtained in breach of constitutional rights can still be used where the breach results from "developments in the law which occurred after the time when the relevant evidence was gathered".

In the Dwyer case the investigation, arrest and charge took place over 2012-2013, before the first judgment of the European Court of Justice finding this kind of surveillance law invalid, making it very likely that the telephone evidence would still be admissible under the JC principle.

Indeed, the Chief Justice went further and suggested eliminating any retrospective effect, saying that if allowed by EU law, "any finding of invalidity should not apply to events which occurred prior to that finding being made".

While the eventual result may not go this far, it is clear that the Supreme Court would like to avoid revisiting prior criminal trials which used evidence gathered under this law. This is very much a judgment which aims to avoid unscrambling the egg.

Second, as a more general matter the judgment confirms that Irish surveillance law is in urgent need of reform. Despite its anodyne title of "data retention", this kind of surveillance involves what the Chief Justice describes as "universal retention of bulk undifferentiated data" - requiring telecoms providers to store one year's worth of internet data and two years' worth of telephone and location data on the entire population, without any suspicion and without any safeguards for particularly sensitive communications.

In its cases the European Court of Justice has found this to be "a wide-ranging and particularly serious interference" with fundamental rights.

However, it is clear that Irish law does not properly regulate this interference. In his judgment the Chief Justice stated that he is "inclined to conclude that the Irish regime does not provide adequate safeguards" against abuse, in particular because it allows gardai to access these telephone and internet records without requiring permission from a judge or other independent body.

The analogy is with searches of the home - while we give gardai the power to search houses, it is a constitutional requirement they should have a search warrant from a judge to do so.

In the 2012 judgment of Damache, the Supreme Court made it clear why this is so, stating that "for the process in obtaining a search warrant to be meaningful, it is necessary for the person authorising the search to be able to assess the conflicting interests of the State and the individual in an impartial manner".

The same principle applies in relation to access to telephone and internet records, and the failure to provide for independent authorisation makes it almost certain that Dwyer will eventually succeed in having Irish law ruled invalid.

This outcome has been clear for some time now.

In April 2014 and again in December 2016 the European Court of Justice held that general and indiscriminate data retention laws were contrary to EU law.

In October 2017 the retired Chief Justice John Murray concluded that Irish data retention law was an illegal system of "mass surveillance" (in a report commissioned by the Department of Justice and Equality itself) and recommended that the system should no longer be used.

Despite this, a matter which the State's representatives described as being of great significance to the criminal justice system has been allowed to carry on in knowing illegality for years rather than accept the findings of the European Court of Justice.

This refusal to comply is simply the most serious example of the State's general response to data protection law - from the Public Services Card to CCTV schemes it has sought to go beyond what is lawful and has ignored criticism until held to account in the courts - but it comes at a high price.

Since the High Court judgment in the Dwyer case, investigations have been hampered and prosecutions undermined by the failure to legislate in a way compatible with EU law - and the blame for this lies squarely at the door of the Department of Justice and Equality and successive ministers.

Dr TJ McIntyre is an Associate Professor in the UCD Sutherland School of Law, chair of Digital Rights Ireland and consultant with FP Logue Solicitors
DUBLIN, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "The US Jewellery Market: Size, Trends and Forecasts (2020-2024 Edition)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The 'US Jewellery Market: Size, Trends and Forecasts (2020-2024)' provides an in-depth analysis of the jewellery market in the US including detailed description of market sizing and growth. The report provides analysis of the US jewellery market by value and by metals and stones. The report also provides detailed analysis of the US gold, diamond, platinum and other gems and jewellery market.



Moreover, the report also assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the overall US jewellery market has also been forecasted for the period 2020-2024, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends.



The jewellery market has been segmented on the basis of type, assortment, platform, branding, metals and gender. The two main types of jewellery are fine jewellery and costume jewellery. On the basis of assortment, the market has been divided into rings, neckwear, earrings, etc. The jewellery market can also be segmented on the basis of branding into branded and unbranded jewellery. Various kinds of metals included in the jewellery market are gold, silver, diamond, platinum, gems etc. On the basis of the platform, the market has been divided into the online and offline jewellery market.



The US jewellery market has witnessed continuous growth in the past few years and is projected to grow even further during the forecast period (2020-2024).



Key Topics Covered:



1. Executive Summary



2. Introduction

2.1 Jewellery: An Overview

2.2 Jewellery Segmentation: An Overview



3. The US Market Analysis

3.1 The US Jewellery Market: An Analysis

3.2 The US Jewellery Market: Metals and Stones Analysis



4. Market Dynamics

4.1 Growth Drivers

4.1.1 Rising Per Capita Disposable Income

4.1.2 Growing Number of Digital Buyers

4.1.3 Soaring Urban Population

4.1.4 Rising Female Labor Force

4.1.5 Growing Number of Social Network Users

4.1.6 Increasing Female Population

4.1.7 Escalating Retail E-commerce Sales

4.1.8 Increasing Number of Smartphone Users

4.2 Challenges

4.2.1 Decline in Weddings

4.2.2 Reduced Number of Independent Jewellers

4.2.3 Low Influx of Funds from Banks and Financial Institutions

4.3 Market Trends

4.3.1 Increasing Demand for Jewellery by Millennials

4.3.2 High Demand during Holidays and Special Occasions

4.3.3 Growing Demand for Smart Jewellery



5. Competitive Landscape

5.1 The US Jewellery Market Players by Revenue CAGR

5.2 The US Jewellery Market Players by Number of Stores

5.3 The US Diamond Jewellery Market Players by LFL Sales Growth



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/scewwf

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Its official, as of April 1, 2020  Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry will no longer be working members of the British royal family. This decision has come as a result of nearly two years of bullying and harassment aimed at the duchess from the U.K. public and press. Though the royal family has typically adopted a stiff upper lip policy to negativity and rumors  the Sussexes decided enough is enough.

The duo will be dropping the Sussex Royal brand and living their lives between North America and the U.K. Thus far, the prince and the duchess have spent the last couple of months on Vancouver Island in Canada where they have been enjoying their time as a family with their son, Archie Harrison.

Now  the pair are preparing to return to the U.K. for their final royal events. Still, Megxit might not be the final phase for the Sussexes. If it doesnt work the duke and duchess have a back-up plan.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are dropping the Sussex Royal brand

Though they are seeking financial independence away from the royal family so that they can have a quiet and more peaceful life  the Sussexes are giving up their brand name.

After April 1, the duo will no longer be using Sussex Royal. 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 puts a major wrench in the Sussexes plans considering theyve spent a great deal of money filing to trademark the brand, building their website, and their Instagram page. The royal aspect of their brand was also worth billions of dollars. There are rumors that their brand and new charitable enitiy might be named Sussex Global Charities.

Megxit could fail

Since Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harrys exit from the royal family is unprecedented  things might not work out the way the Sussexes or the royal family expect. In fact, all of this and a possible move to Los Angeles for the summer 2020  might put more eyes on the couple.

Harry and Meghan have thrown the dice, gambling that the initial flurry of attention will fade, allowing them to forge a high-profile path through the commercial and philanthropic worlds while also controlling how much information is released about their most private moments, Canadian royal expert Patricia Treble revealed.

The British royal family will be reexamining the terms of Megxit in 12 months.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have a back-up plan

In their latest Megxist statement, the Sussexes revealed, It is agreed that the commencement of the revised role of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will take effect Spring 2020 and undergo a 12-month review. Apparently, if Megxit goes awry at some point n the next year, the Sussexes have a backup plan.

If their relationship with the royal family goes left or the transition is a hot mess express, they have something up their sleeves. He and Meghan have a back-up plan in place, a close friend of Prince Harry told Vanity Fair. [He] went into this knowing that he could lose his title, but his freedom is more important than any of that.
A teenager is due to face court after being charged with murder after a relative of an Islamic State terrorist was shot dead.

Omar Elomar, 18, died in a pool of blood outside a park on Cabramatta Avenue in Miller, in Sydney's west, around 11.10pm on February 15.

Noah Albert, 18, was last week charged with concealing a serious indictable offence allegedly related to Mr Elomar's killing and was arrested on Tuesday night and charged with murder.

Albert was refused bail and is to appear before Central Local Court on Wednesday.

Noah Albert, 18, (pictured) will face court on Wednesday after being charged with murder following the death of Omar Elomar

Omar Elomar (pictured) died after he was shot in the chest on February 15 in Sydney's west

Mr Elomar was found next to his P-plated silver Lexus and died of a single gun shot wound despite the efforts of a local who performed CPR.

The 18-year-old was an aspiring lawyer and police believe the shooting was a result of an altercation the previous day.

The teenager's death gained additional attention because he is related to ISIS fighter Mohamed Elomar.

Daily Mail Australia understands Omar is a direct relative of Ibrahim Elomar, an uncle to Mohamed and Ahmed Elomar.

Mohamed was infamously pictured holding severed heads in his hands while fighting for Islamic State in Syria.

NSW Police say investigations under Strike Force Cero are continuing.

Hundreds of mourners turned out at Lakemba Mosque in western Sydney to farewell the teenager last Wednesday.

Tributes have flowed for him in the days since his death, with relatives telling how he desperately wanted to become a lawyer and leave the notoriety over his family name behind him.

Omar was an aspiring lawyer and is a direct relative of Ibrahim Elomar, the uncle of former ISIS fighter Mohamed Elomar
Realme may be the lesser-known spin-off from Oppo, but thanks to its aggressive pricing and the occasional collaborations with design icon Naoto Fukasawa, it's been doing quite well in Asia. And just last month, the company brought us the Realme X50 which happens to be the most affordable phone with a 120Hz display; not to mention that it's also a mid-range 5G device. So what's next? The Realme X50 Pro, of course.

Unsurprisingly, the "Pro" here is mainly referring to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, which is the staple for practically all 5G flagships so far this year. This means the phone will connect to more 5G bands (including Europe and India, where it will also launch) to take full advantage of its 360-degree surround antenna. Likewise, you'll get to enjoy WiFi 6 connectivity here. Another bonus with this chipset is the speedy LPDDR5 RAM stacked on top of it, which ensures the phone will respond quicker in general.

Realme X50 Pro Realme X50 Pro

Other "Pro" bits include better cameras, Dolby Atmos stereo speakers, a beefed-up in-display fingerprint reader, an improved vapor-cooling system and 35-minute, 65W "SuperDart" flash charge (it's basically a rebranded version of Oppo's "SuperVOOC 2.0"). These are all packaged into a low-profile "Moss Green" or "Rust Red" body, featuring a smooth frosted glass back which shows a subtle metallic shine at certain angles.

Oddly enough, Realme kind of went the opposite direction with the X50 Pro's 1080p display. Rather than keeping the X50's 6.57-inch 120Hz LCD (from JDI and BOE), the Pro model has to make do with a smaller, slower 6.44-inch 90Hz Samsung AMOLED panel. While some may be disappointed by the lack of a 120Hz AMOLED panel, this was most likely a price-conscious decision made by the brand. Not that this is a bad thing, mind; 90Hz AMOLED is already a noticeable upgrade for most people, and we liked it on both the OnePlus 7 Pro and the Oppo Reno Ace.

Story continues

The X50 Pro maxes out at 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM with 256GB of UFS 3.0 storage. It comes with a 4,200mAh battery along with the usual NFC (Google Pay friendly), dual-SIM tray and dual-mic noise cancellation. But nope, no headphone jack here.

Realme X50 Pro rear cameras

Much like the X50, the X50 Pro has a set of quad cameras on the back and dual cameras for selfies, but with a slightly different set of sensors and optics. The rear group is led by a 64-megapixel Samsung GW1 chip with a f/1.8 aperture for super high-resolution shots, or for 4-in-1 pixel-binning to boost sensitivity in low-light scenarios. Below that is an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera, which also handles macro shots at down to 3cm. The top camera is a 12-megapixel telephoto shooter, which offers up to 5x optical hybrid zoom (or a gimmicky 20x hybrid zoom, if you're really desperate). Last but not least, there is a 2-megapixel f/2.4 monochromatic camera at the bottom which assists the main camera's portrait mode.

One of the main photography features that Realme is pitching for the X50 series is "Nightscape 3.0," which comes with a "Tripod Mode" that does super long exposure of up to 50 seconds for some interesting night shots, so long as you can mount your phone onto a tripod. "Nightscape 3.0" also has an "Ultra Nightscape Mode," which essentially boosts the camera's sensitivity to take bright images even when illuminance is down to just 1 Lux. As for video, it's just the usual 4K@30fps recording with two levels of video stabilization, and there's also real-time bokeh effect video if you want to try something different.

Realme X50 Pro

On the other side of the phone, you get a 32-megapixel f/2.5 main selfie camera along with an 8-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide shooter, both powered by Sony sensors and are stuffed into the screen's top-left punch-hole. Again, there's real-time bokeh effect video recording here, but users will likely be more interested in taking slow-motion selfies at 1080p@120fps (just don't call them "slofies").

The Realme X50 Pro runs on Android 10 with Realme UI -- essentially a near-stock Android experience with some goodies ported over from Oppo's ColorOS, such as gesture navigation and smart assistant features. And of course, the software runs even smoother on the 90Hz display. One cool feature here is Dual Mode Music Share, which lets you play music through wired (USB) earphones and Bluetooth earphones simultaneously, and you can even pick up calls with the earphones you're wearing while letting your friend continue listening to music with the other pair.

There's no word on US availability just yet, as Realme is targeting Europe for now, with Spain being the launch market in April. The Realme X50 Pro will start from 599 euros (about $650) for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage version, and topping at 749 euros (about $810) with 12GB of RAM + 256GB storage. These are cheaper than even some of the recent 4G flagships, but apparently the China prices will be even lower when the phone launches there locally.
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan -- Pakistani authorities have released a prominent ethnic Pashtun rights activist, weeks after he was arrested on charges including sedition.

Manzoor Pashteen left a prison in the city of Dera Ismail Khan in the northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on February 25, according to his lawyer and local activists.

The lawyer, Saeed Akhtar, said his client was released after being granted bail and ordered released.

The 28-year-old Pashteen was arrested in Peshawar on January 27 on charges including sedition, hate speech, incitement against the state, and criminal conspiracy.

He is the leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), which has campaigned for civil rights for Pashtuns, the country's largest ethnic minority, since 2018

The group has attracted tens of thousands of people to public rallies to denounce the powerful Pakistani Army's heavy-handed operations in the militancy-hit tribal regions and the military's alleged connection with Islamist militants.

The PTM has been calling for the removal of military checkpoints in tribal areas and an end to "enforced disappearances," in which suspects are detained by security forces without due process.

Pakistan's government rejects allegations that security forces or its intelligence service are responsible for the disappearances.

Human Rights Watch had urged Pakistani authorities to release Pashteen and drop the charges against him, saying that "using criminal laws to chill free expression and political opposition has no place in a democracy."

The activist had been "arbitrarily detained for exercising his human rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly," according to Amnesty International.
A photo taken on May 4, 2018 shows a general view of the central railway station in Pyongyang.

Authorities in North Korea have isolated about 1,300 residents in a makeshift quarantine station at a hotel in the capital Pyongyang, as worries about the possible spread of the novel coronavirus intensify in the isolated country.

Named in honor of the April 25, 1932 foundation of the Korean Peoples Revolutionary Army, the 4.25 Hotel has a capacity of 20,000. Sources say that the focus on Pyongyang is disproportionate to the rest of the country as the countrys leadership seeks to protect itself from the virus, also known as COVID-19.

Those who cough or have a fever are classified as suspected coronavirus patients, a Pyongyang official told RFAs Korean Service Saturday.

The suspected patients will be closely monitored by the emergency quarantine committee of Pyongyang over the next 20 days, the official said.

Currently the number of suspected patients is around 1,300. Another 500 have already been discharged because their symptoms have eased, the official added.

[They] are either quarantined in solitary rooms or shared rooms, depending on [the severity] of their symptoms. They are receiving medical treatment from those doctors at the Ministry of Public Health, who are a part of Pyongyangs emergency quarantine committee, said the official.

Pyongyang is the priority

According to the official, the extreme quarantine measure is part of a national strategy, of which protecting the city of Pyongyang is vital.

The authorities declared the new coronavirus quarantine as a matter of national survival, so they are focusing their efforts on protecting Pyongyang, where the supreme leadership of the government is located, the official said.

The central government has been generously supplying quarantine suits, medical equipment and medicine to the 4.25 Hotel, the official added.

The response to the COVID-19 epidemic in the provinces has been different.

RFA reported Friday that a hospital in Chongjin, the largest city in North Hamgyong province cremated 12 patients, claiming they had died of pneumonia or the flu. Residents near the hospital suspect that the 12 might have actually been infected with the coronavirus even though North Korea has not officially reported a single confirmed case.

Many, including South Korean media outlets, have said that it is unlikely that the virus has failed to reach North Korea.

A second source in Pyongyang told RFA that the emergency quarantine has been kicked into high-gear as reports of deaths due to secondary infections trickle in daily from China to the Central Committee (of the Korean Workers Party).

Pyongyang residents with the symptoms of pneumonia are put in isolation along with anyone they or their families have had contact with, the source said.

Workers at the emergency quarantine committee are asking for two reports each day about the numbers of residents suffering from infectious diseases in each district. They also set up a hotline for Pyongyang residents to voluntarily report their symptoms to each district hospital, the source added.

But despite all the citys efforts, the source said Pyongyang was ill-equipped for a potential epidemic.

In February, the city supplied free masks to citizens twice, but they dont have enough quarantine equipment, medicine or medical facilities.

As of Monday afternoon, there are 79,553 confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide, including 77,150 in Mainland China and 833 in South Korea.

Reported by Hyemin Son for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper and his South Korean counterpart said Monday that already-curtailed joint training exercises could be cut back again or possibly postponed because of the novel coronavirus outbreak on the peninsula.

"The situation is quite serious," Esper said. One U.S. military dependent has tested positive for the Covid-19 coronavirus, and there are at least 13 confirmed cases among South Korean service members.

At a joint Pentagon press briefing with South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, Esper said that Army Gen. Robert Abrams, commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), is "looking at scaling back" training exercises with Republic of Korea (ROK) forces until the coronavirus cases are contained.

Jeong said Abrams is coordinating with Gen. Park Han-ki, chairman of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, on how training exercises might be curtailed or rescheduled, but stressed that any changes would not affect overall readiness.

Related: Dependent in South Korea Is First US Military Coronavirus Case: Officials

Last year, the U.S. and South Korea announced that the huge annual training exercises known as Foal Eagle and Key Resolve were being canceled and would be replaced by a number of small-unit exercises in an effort to cut tensions on the peninsula.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had repeatedly claimed that Exercises Foal Eagle and Key Resolve were practice sessions for an invasion.

At the Pentagon press briefing, Esper and Jeong also appeared to remain far apart on resolving the issue of South Korea's compensation for the U.S. military presence.

The cost of keeping 28,500 U.S. troops in South Korea "cannot fall disproportionately on the American taxpayer," Esper said.

Jeong countered that South Korea is prepared to increase its contribution, but only "at a reasonable and fair level."

The Special Measures Agreement on funding for the U.S. presence lapsed at the end of 2019 and, unless a new agreement is reached, both Esper and Jeong said that 9,000 civilian workers who work on U.S. bases will begin being furloughed April 1.

"We are considering a higher rate" of funding, Jeong said, but the U.S. wants more.

"We need to do our best to narrow the gap," he added.

South Korea currently funds the U.S. presence at about $900 million annually. The U.S. has suggested increasing the payment to $5 billion a year.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

Read more: Navy and Marine Corps to Ban Personal Firearms for Foreign Troops
Shares of Mastercard fell on Monday after the credit card company issued a warning that the fast-spreading coronavirus could hurt its revenue this year.

"Cross-border travel, and to a lesser extent cross-border e-commerce growth, is being impacted by the Coronavirus," the company said in a statement on Monday after the bell. The company said its first-quarter revenue growth will be about two to three percentage points lower than previous guidance.

"If the impact is limited to the first quarter only, we expect that our 2020 annual year-over-year net revenue growth rate would be at the low end of the low-teens range," the company added.

Shares of Mastercard fell nearly 3% in after-hours trading on Monday.

The stock market suffered its worst sell-off in two years on Monday after a sharp jump in coronavirus cases outside of China stoked fears about a prolonged global economic slowdown. Many major companies including Apple and Procter & Gamble have sounded alarmed on the epidemic.

Mastercard reported better-than-expected quarterly results last month as customers spent more on its cards during the holiday shopping season.

Subscribe to CNBC PRO for exclusive insights and analysis, and live business day programming from around the world.
The Minority caucus of Parliament has snubbed the debate on the President's State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered to Parliament last Thursday 20th February 2020.



The Minority caucus refused to participate in the debate which commenced in Parliament today after Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of Information and MP for Ofoase-Ayirebi, moved the motion on behalf of the House to thank the President for his address.



By convention, a member from the Minority caucus should have seconded the motion, but the Minority Chief Whip, Hon. Muntaka Mubarak told the House that the Minority caucus has decided as a matter of principle not to participate in the debate following their walkout from Parliament before the President, Nana Akufo-Addo delivered the address in Parliament.



Hon. Muntaka Mubarak later in an interview with journalists said the action of the Minority is in protest against the bad governance of President Akufo Addo.



Speaking to journalists on the Minority's decision not to participate in the debate, Hon. Mathew Nyindam, the MP for Kpandai and Deputy Majority Whip said the Minority members have disappointed their constituents and the whole nation by their decision of not participating in the debate on the SONA.



Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Minority side on Thursday boycotted the 2020 State of the Nation Address (SONA) by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



Clad in black, the Minority MPs chanted the National Anthem as they walked out of the chamber shortly after President Akufo-Addo took his seat Thursday morning in the chamber.



"And help us to resist oppressors rule with all our will, and might forevermore, they chanted as they walked out of the chamber.



The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs last week announced that they would boycott the 2020 SONA if the government failed to release five percent of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).





Source: Emmanuel Akorli/Parliamentary Correspondent/Peace FM









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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The Samil Citizens' Apartment complex stands with severe fire damage on March 2, 2005. Courtesy of Ron Bandun



By Ron Bandun



I got my start urban exploring in Korea 15 years ago next week. I'd read up on the dangers and ethics of entering abandoned buildings and consulted experienced explorers active in other countries, but this was not something that was done here. Then Paul, a Korean American punk, showed me Korea had its own abandoned buildings hiding their own secrets.



He regaled me with tales of an abandoned apartment complex along Cheonggye Overpass, at the time being disassembled to reveal Cheonggye Stream underneath.



When we visited on March 2, 2005, he pointed to Lotte Castle, which replaced the Samil Citizens' Apartment complex he had seen there years earlier.



The 24-building complex dates back to 1969, originally intended to rehouse occupants of a nearby shanty town in 1,243 units, as well as block the view from Cheonggye Overpass of more shanty towns. It was a showcase of Korean modernity, but the traffic noises from the overpass must have been loud for the residents. After opening, 22 businessmen were arrested in connection with shoddy construction practices.



Paul showed me around Hwanghak Market, where one could find stores selling power tools and hardware supplies alongside children's toy shops and record stores. This market has been disappearing slowly bit by bit, although parts of it still stand today, including Dol Record, a great vinyl record store dating back to 1975.

We didn't have to look far to find more signs of abandonment and gentrification.



Cheonggye Stream at the time was still underground, with much work being done to prepare it for its return to the surface world.



Across the stream, we saw the remaining Samil apartment buildings. They were long, thin buildings, about seven stories high, in a row along Cheonggye's northern side. And their exteriors were scorched with fire damage. But despite the fire damage higher up, we found the bottom two floors still housed active market businesses.



We scouted the ground floor of one building, checking for dangers and threats, assessing ways in. There were various external staircases, but they were heavily protected by barbwire. So we just entered through one street-level door and walked up the stairs, simple as that. There were no elevators, only stairs.



Once we rose above the market floors, we found the rest of the building an uninhabitable husk. Everything inside was encrusted with black soot. The fire must have been strong. I learned later it came from a series of fires intentionally set in December 2004. Nobody had been caught for it, but it seemed like a good thing for then-Mayor Lee Myung-bak's plan to revitalize (or gentrify) the area through building a huge fountain through it, a plan that didn't work out for this area but helped elect him as president.



Not knowing how serious security would be at a site like this, we spent no more than five minutes inside. On our way down, we passed a sign all in Korean, except for four ominous English letters: CCTV.



Had our intrusion been observed, and might some authority be rushing to apprehend us? We turned into the alley behind the building and made a beeline toward Dongmyo Market, which seemed like the best direction to shake any pursuers.



As we walked, a police car pulled into the alley behind us and headed our way. Paul, dressed in typical punk attire for the day  a leather jacket and black leather combat boots  was stressed about the police catching us. But instead we decided to play it cool.



The police car pulled up right behind us and gave us a blast of its siren. We stepped aside cordially for it to pass, and it did. I could see the driver chuckling to himself, which we interpreted as him noting we were foreigners and therefore clueless about entering that building.



After this first adventure, I discovered just how many forgotten spaces like this exist in Korea's urban folds.



I returned in 2008 to check in on the buildings. What I saw gave me quite a surprise.



The bottom two floors of the remaining 12 Samil Citizens' Apartment buildings remained, some with the exact same tenant businesses I'd photographed back in 2005. Only, the buildings had been shortened: the top five residential levels had somehow been removed, leaving the bottom two floors totally intact.





The remaining 12 Samil Citizens' Apartment buildings /Courtesy of Ron Bandun
Wangsu.org scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 19 Apr 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the wangsu homepage on Twitter + the total number of wangsu followers (if wangsu has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the wangsu homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. The total number of people who shared the wangsu homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the wangsu homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if wangsu has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the wangsu homepage on Delicious.

Basic Information

PAGE TITLE ||| DESCRIPTION  KEYWORDS , , ,  OTHER KEYWORDS adsl,



The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The title found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage.

Domain and Server

DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE GB2312 DETECTED LANGUAGE SERVER Microsoft-IIS/6.0 (ASP.NET) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003

Operative System running on the server. The language of wangsu.org as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Character set and language of the site. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Type of server and offered services.

Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world.

Referring domains for wangsu.org by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines.

Facebook link

FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND

The type of Facebook page. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The URL of the found Facebook page.

Twitter account link

TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND
Just under a month ago Facebook switched on global availability of a tool which affords users a glimpse into the murky world of tracking that its business relies upon to profile users of the wider web for ad targeting purposes.

Facebook is not going boldly into transparent daylight -- but rather offering what privacy rights advocacy group Privacy International has dubbed "a tiny sticking plaster on a much wider problem".

The problem it's referring to is the lack of active and informed consent for mass surveillance of Internet users via background tracking technologies embedded into apps and websites, including as people browse outside Facebook's own content garden.

The dominant social platform is also only offering this feature in the wake of the 2018 Cambridge Analytica data misuse scandal, when Mark Zuckerberg faced awkward questions in Congress about the extent of Facebook's general web tracking. Since then policymakers around the world have dialled up scrutiny of how its business operates -- and realized there's a troubling lack of transparency in and around adtech generally and Facebook specifically.

Facebook's tracking pixels and social plugins -- aka the share/like buttons that pepper the mainstream web -- have created a vast tracking infrastructure which silently informs the tech giant of Internet users' activity, even when a person hasn't interacted with any Facebook-branded buttons.

Facebook claims this is just 'how the web works'. And other tech giants are similarly engaged in tracking Internet users (notably Google). But as a platform with 2.2BN+ users Facebook has got a march on the lion's share of rivals when it comes to harvesting people's data and building out a global database of person profiles.

It's also positioned as a dominant player in an adtech ecosystem which means it's the one being fed with intel by data brokers and publishers who deploy tracking tech to try to survive in such a skewed system.

Story continues

Meanwhile the opacity of online tracking means the average Internet user is none the wiser that Facebook can be following what they're browsing all over the Internet. Questions of consent loom very large indeed.

Facebook is also able to track people's usage of third party apps if a person chooses a Facebook login option which the company encourages developers to implement in their apps -- again the carrot being to be able to offer a lower friction choice vs requiring users create yet another login credential.

The price for this 'convenience' is data and user privacy as the Facebook login gives the tech giant a window into third part app usage.

The company has also used a VPN app it bought and badged as a security tool to glean data on third party app usage -- though it's recently stepped back from the Onavo app after a public backlash (though that did not stop it running a similar tracking program targeted at teens).

Background tracking is how Facebook's creepy ads function (it prefers to call such behaviorally targeted ads 'relevant') -- and how they have functioned for years

Yet it's only in recent months that it's offered users a glimpse into this network of online informers -- by providing limited information about the entities that are passing tracking data to Facebook, as well as some limited controls.

From 'Clear History' to "Off-Facebook Activity"

Originally briefed in May 2018, at the crux of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, as a 'Clear History' option this has since been renamed 'Off-Facebook Activity' -- a label so bloodless and devoid of 'call to action' that the average Facebook user, should they stumble upon it buried deep in unlovely settings menus, would more likely move along than feel moved to carry out a privacy purge.

(For the record you can access the setting here -- but you do need to be logged into Facebook to do so.)

The other problem is that Facebook's tool doesn't actually let you purge your browsing history, it just delinks it from being associated with your Facebook ID. There is no option to actually clear your browsing history via its button. Another reason for the name switch. So, no, Facebook hasn't built a clear history 'button'.

"While we welcome the effort to offer more transparency to users by showing the companies from which Facebook is receiving personal data, the tool offers little way for users to take any action," said Privacy International this week, criticizing Facebook for "not telling you everything".

As the saying goes, a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. So a little transparency implies -- well -- anything but clarity. And Privacy International sums up the Off-Facebook Activity tool with an apt oxymoron -- describing it as "a new window to the opacity".

"This tool illustrates just how impossible it is for users to prevent external data from being shared with Facebook," it writes, warning with emphasis: "Without meaningful information about what data is collected and shared, and what are the ways for the user to opt-out from such collection, Off-Facebook activity is just another incomplete glimpse into Facebooks opaque practices when it comes to tracking users and consolidating their profiles."

It points out, for instance, that the information provided here is limited to a "simple name" -- thereby preventing the user from "exercising their right to seek more information about how this data was collected", which EU users at least are entitled to.

"As users we are entitled to know the name/contact details of companies that claim to have interacted with us. If the only thing we see, for example, is the random name of an artist weve never heard before (true story), how are we supposed to know whether it is their record label, agent, marketing company or even them personally targeting us with ads?" it adds.

Another criticism is Facebook is only providing limited information about each data transfer -- with Privacy International noting some events are marked "under a cryptic CUSTOM" label; and that Facebook provides "no information regarding how the data was collected by the advertiser (Facebook SDK, tracking pixel, like button) and on what device, leaving users in the dark regarding the circumstances under which this data collection took place".

"Does Facebook really display everything they process/store about those events in the log/export?" queries privacy researcher Wolfie Christl, who tracks the adtech industry's tracking techniques. "They have to, because otherwise they don't fulfil their SAR [Subject Access Request] obligations [under EU law]."

Christl notes Facebook makes users jump through an additional "download" hoop in order to view data on tracked events -- and even then, as Privacy International points out, it gives up only a limited view of what has actually been tracked...

And it's just ridiculous. FB doesn't show me the list of visits they recorded from a certain website in their web interface, no! I have to 'download my information', which takes a long time. And then, I'm sure this is not all data they record when tracking a VIEW_CONTENT event: pic.twitter.com/qBO87Zp5YH  Wolfie Christl (@WolfieChristl) January 29, 2020

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

"For example, why doesn't Facebook list the specific sites/URLs visited? Do they infer data from the domains e.g. categories? If yes, why is this not in the logs?" Christl asks.

We reached out to Facebook with a number of questions, including why it doesn't provide more detail by default. It responded with this statement attributed to spokesperson:

We offer a variety of tools to help people access their Facebook information, and weve designed these tools to comply with relevant laws, including GDPR. We disagree with this [Privacy International] articles claims and would welcome the chance to discuss them with Privacy International.

Facebook also said it's continuing to develop which information it surfaces through the Off-Facebook Activity tool -- and said it welcomes feedback on this.

We also asked it about the legal bases it uses to process people's information that's been obtained via its tracking pixels and social plug-ins. It did not provide a response to those questions.

Six names, many questions...

When the company launched the Off-Facebook Activity tool a snap poll of available TechCrunch colleagues showed very diverse results for our respective tallies (which also may not show the most recent activity, per other Facebook caveats) -- ranging from one colleague who had an eye-watering 1,117 entities (likely down to doing a lot of app testing); to several with several/a few hundred apiece; to a couple in the middle tens.

In my case I had just six. But from my point of view -- as an EU citizen with a suite of rights related to privacy and data protection; and as someone who aims to practice good online privacy hygiene, including having a very locked down approach to using Facebook (never using its mobile app for instance) -- it was still six too many. I wanted to find out how these entities had circumvented my attempts not to be tracked.

And in the case of the first one in the list who on earth it was...

Turns out cloudfront is an Amazon Web Services Content Delivery Network subdomain. But I had to go searching online myself to figure out that the owner of that particular domain is (now) a company called Nativo.

Facebook's list provided only very bare bones information. I also clicked to delink the first entity, since it immediately looked so weird, and found that by doing that Facebook wiped all the entries -- which meant I was unable to retain access to what little additional info it had provided about the respective data transfers.

Undeterred I set out to contact each of the six companies directly with questions -- asking what data of mine they had transferred to Facebook and what legal basis they thought they had for processing my information.

(On a practical level six names looked like a sample size I could at least try to follow up manually -- but remember I was the TechCrunch exception; imagine trying to request data from 1,117 companies, or 450 or even 57, which were the lengths of lists of some of my colleagues.)

This process took about a month and a lot of back and forth/chasing up. It likely only yielded as much info as it did because I was asking as a journalist; an average Internet user may have had a tougher time getting attention on their questions -- though, under EU law, citizens have a right to request a copy of personal data held on them.

Eventually, I was able to obtain confirmation that tracking pixels and Facebook share buttons had been involved in my data being passed to Facebook in certain instances. Even so I remain in the dark on many things. Such as exactly what personal data Facebook received.

In one case I was told by a listed company that it doesn't know itself what data was shared -- only Facebook knows because it's implemented the company's "proprietary code". (Insert your own 'WTAF' there.)

The legal side of these transfers also remains highly opaque. From my point of view I would not intentionally consent to any of this tracking -- but in some instances the entities involved claim that (my) consent was (somehow) obtained (or implied).

In other cases they said they are relying on a legal basis in EU law that's referred to as 'legitimate interests'. However this requires a balancing test to be carried out to ensure a business use does not have a disproportionate impact on individual rights.

I wasn't able to ascertain whether such tests had ever been carried out.

Meanwhile, since Facebook is also making use of the tracking information from its pixels and social plug ins (and seemingly more granular use, since some entities claimed they only get aggregate not individual data), Christl suggests it's unlikely such a balancing test would be easy to pass for that tiny little 'platform giant' reason.

Notably he points out Facebook's Business Tool terms state that it makes use of so called "event data" to "personalize features and content and to improve and secure the Facebook products" -- including for "ads and recommendations"; for R&D purposes; and "to maintain the integrity of and to improve the Facebook Company Products".

In a section of its legal terms covering the use of its pixels and SDKs Facebook also puts the onus on the entities implementing its tracking technologies to gain consent from users prior to doing so in relevant jurisdictions that "require informed consent" for tracking cookies and similar -- giving the example of the EU.

"You must ensure, in a verifiable manner, that an end user provides the necessary consent before you use Facebook Business Tools to enable us to store and access cookies or other information on the end users device," Facebook writes, pointing users of its tools to its Cookie Consent Guide for Sites and Apps for "suggestions on implementing consent mechanisms".

Christl flags the contradiction between Facebook claiming users of its tracking tech needing to gain prior consent vs claims I was given by some of these entities that they don't because they're relying on 'legitimate interests'.

"Using LI as a legal basis is even controversial if you use a data analytics company that reliably processes personal data strictly on behalf of you," he argues. "I guess, industry lawyers try to argue for a broader applicability of LI, but in the case of FB business tools I don't believe that the balancing test (a businesses legitimate interests vs. the impact on the rights and freedoms of data subjects) will work in favor of LI."

Those entities relying on legitimate interests as a legal base for tracking would still need to offer a mechanism where users can object to the processing -- and I couldn't immediately see such a mechanism in the cases in question.

One thing is crystal clear: Facebook itself does not provide a mechanism for users to object to its processing of tracking data nor opt out of targeted ads. That remains a long-standing complaint against its business in the EU which data protection regulators are still investigating.

One more thing: Non-Facebook users continue to have no way of learning what data of theirs is being tracked and transferred to Facebook. Only Facebook users have access to the Off-Facebook Activity tool, for example. Non-users can't even access a list.

Facebook has defended its practice of tracking non-users around the Internet as necessary for unspecified 'security purposes'. It's an inherently disproportionate argument of course. The practice also remains under legal challenge in the EU.

Tracking the trackers

SimpleReach (aka d8rk54i4mohrb.cloudfront.net)

What is it? A California-based analytics platform (now owned by Nativo) used by publishers and content marketers to measure how well their content/native ads performs on social media. The product began life in the early noughties as a simple tool for publishers to recommend similar content at the bottom of articles before the startup pivoted -- aiming to become 'the PageRank of social' -- offering analytics tools for publishers to track engagement around content in real-time across the social web (plugging into platform APIs). It also built statistical models to predict which pieces of content will be the most social and where, generating a proprietary per article score. SimpleReach was acquired by Nativo last year to complement analytics tools the latter already offered for tracking content on the publisher/brand's own site.

Why did it appear in your Off-Facebook Activity list? Given it's a b2b product it does not have a visible consumer brand of its own. And, to my knowledge, I have never visited its own website prior to investigating why it appeared in my Off-Facebook Activity list. Clearly, though, I must have visited a site (or sites) that are using its tracking/analytics tools. Of course an Internet user has no obvious way to know this -- unless they're actively using tools to monitor which trackers are tracking them.

In a further quirk, neither the SimpleReach (nor Nativo) brand names appeared in my Off-Facebook Activity list. Rather a domain name was listed -- d8rk54i4mohrb.cloudfront.net -- which looked at first glance weird/alarming.

I found this is owned by SimpleReach by using a tracker analytics service.

Once I knew the name I was able to connect the entry to Nativo -- via news reports of the acquisition -- which led me to an entity I could direct questions to.

What happened when you asked them about this? There was a bit of back and forth and then they sent a detailed response to my questions in which they claim they do not share any data with Facebook -- "or perform 'off site activity' as described on Facebooks activity tool".

They also suggested that their domain had appeared as a result of their tracking code being implemented on a website I had visited which had also implemented Facebook's own trackers.

"Our technology allows our Data Controllers to insert other tracking pixels or tags, using us as a tag manager that delivers code to the page. It is possible that one of our customers added a Facebook pixel to an article you visited using our technology. This could lead Facebook to attribute this pixel to our domain, though our domain was merely a 'carrier' of the code," they told me.

In terms of the data they collect, they said this: "The only Personal Data that is collected by the SimpleReach Analytics tag is your IP Address and a randomly generated id. Both of these values are processed, anonymized, and aggregated in the SimpleReach platform and not made available to anyone other than our sub-processors that are bound to process such data only on our behalf. Such values are permanently deleted from our system after 3 months. These values are used to give our customers a general idea of the number of users that visited the articles tracked."

So, again, they suggested the reason why their domain appeared in my Off-Facebook Activity list is a combination of Nativo/SimpleReach's tracking technologies being implemented on a site where Facebook's retargeting pixel is also embedded -- which then resulted in data about my online activity being shared with Facebook (which Facebook then attributes as coming from SimpleReach's domain).

Commenting on this, Christl agreed it sounds as if publishers "somehow attach Facebook pixel events to SimpleReach's cloudfront domain".

"SimpleReach probably doesn't get data from this. But the question is 1) is SimpleReach perhaps actually responsible (if it happens in the context of their domain); 2) The Off-Facebook activity is a mess (if it contains events related to domains whose owners are not web or app publishers)."

Nativo offered to determine whether they hold any personal information associated with the unique identifier they have assigned to my browser if I could send them this ID. However I was unable to locate such an ID (see below).

In terms of legal base to process my information the company told me: "We have the right to process data in accordance with provisions set forth in the various Data Processor agreements we have in place with Data Controllers."

Nativo also suggested that the Offsite Activity in question might have predated its purchase of the SimpleReach technology -- which occurred on March 20, 2019 -- saying any activity prior to this would mean my query would need to be addressed directly with SimpleReach, Inc. which Nativo did not acquire. (However in this case the activity registered on the list was dated later than that.)

Here's what they said on all that in full:

Thank you for submitting your data access request. We understand that you are a resident of the European Union and are submitting this request pursuant to Article 15(1) of the GDPR. Article 15(1) requires data controllers to respond to individuals requests for information about the processing of their personal data. Although Article 15(1) does not apply to Nativo because we are not a data controller with respect to your data, we have provided information below that will help us in determining the appropriate Data Controllers, which you can contact directly. First, for details about our role in processing personal data in connection with our SimpleReach product, please see the SimpleReach Privacy Policy. As the policy explains in more detail, we provide marketing analytics services to other businesses  our customers. To take advantage of our services, our customers install our technology on their websites, which enables us to collect certain information regarding individuals visits to our customers websites. We analyze the personal information that we obtain only at the direction of our customer, and only on that customers behalf. SimpleReach is an analytics tracker tool (Similar to Google Analytics) implemented by our customers to inform them of the performance of their content published around the web. d8rk54i4mohrb.cloudfront.net is the domain name of the servers that collect these metrics. We do not share data with Facebook or perform off site activity as described on Facebooks activity tool. Our technology allows our Data Controllers to insert other tracking pixels or tags, using us as a tag manager that delivers code to the page. It is possible that one of our customers added a Facebook pixel to an article you visited using our technology. This could lead Facebook to attribute this pixel to our domain, though our domain was merely a carrier of the code. The SimpleReach tool is implemented on articles posted by our customers and partners of our customers. It is possible you visited a URL that has contained our tracking code. It is also possible that the Offsite Activity you are referencing is activity by SimpleReach, Inc. before Nativo purchased the SimpleReach technology. Nativo, Inc. purchased certain technology from SimpleReach, Inc. on March 20, 2019, but we did not purchase the SimpleReach, Inc. entity itself, which remains a separate entity unaffiliated with Nativo, Inc. Accordingly, any activity that occurred before March 20, 2019 pre-dates Nativos use of the SimpleReach technology and should be addressed directly with SimpleReach, Inc. If, for example, TechCrunch was a publisher partner of SimpleReach, Inc. and had SimpleReach tracking code implemented on TechCrunch articles or across the TechCrunch website prior to March 20, 2019, any resulting data collection would have been conducted by SimpleReach, Inc., not by Nativo, Inc. As mentioned above, our tracking script collects and sends information to our servers based on the articles it is implemented on. The only Personal Data that is collected by the SimpleReach Analytics tag is your IP Address and a randomly generated id. Both of these values are processed, anonymized, and aggregated in the SimpleReach platform and not made available to anyone other than our sub-processors that are bound to process such data only on our behalf. Such values are permanently deleted from our system after 3 months. These values are used to give our customers a general idea of the number of users that visited the articles tracked. We do not, nor have we ever, shared ANY information with Facebook with regards to the information we collect from the SimpleReach Analytics tag, be it Personal Data or otherwise. However, as mentioned above, it is possible that one of our customers added a Facebook retargeting pixel to an article you visited using our technology. If that is the case, we would not have received any information collected from such pixel or have knowledge of whether, and to what extent, the customer shared information with Facebook. Without more information, we are unable to determine the specific customer (if any) on behalf of which we may have processed your personal information. However, if you send us the unique identifier we have assigned to your browser... we can determine whether we have any personal information associated with such browser on behalf of a customer controller, and, if we have, we can forward your request on to the controller to respond directly to your request. As a Data Processor we have the right to process data in accordance with provisions set forth in the various Data Processor agreements we have in place with Data Controllers. This type of agreement is designed to protect Data Subjects and ensure that Data Processors are held to the same standards that both the GDPR and the Data Controller have put forth. This is the same type of agreement used by all other analytics tracking tools (as well as many other types of tools) such as Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Chartbeat, and many others.

I also asked Nativo to confirm whether Insider.com (see below) is a customer of Nativo/SimpleReach.

The company told me it could not disclose this "due to confidentiality restrictions" and would only reveal the identity of customers if "required by applicable law".

Again, it said that if I provided the "unique identifier" assigned to my browser it would be "happy to pull a list of personal information the SimpleReach/Nativo systems currently have stored for your unique identifier (if any), including the appropriate Data Controllers". ("If we have any personal data collected from you on behalf of Insider.com, it would come up in the list of DataControllers," it suggested.)

I checked multiple browsers that I use on multiple devices but was unable to locate an ID attached to a SimpleReach cookie. So I also asked whether this might appear attached to any other cookie.

Their response:

Because our data is either pseudonymized or anonymized, and we do not record of any other pieces of Personal Data about you, it will not be possible for us to locate this data without the cookie value. The SimpleReach user cookie is, and has always been, in the __srui cookie under the .simplereach.com domain or any of its sub-domains. If you are unable to locate a SimpleReach user cookie by this name on your browser, it may be because you are using a different device or because you have cleared your cookies (in which case we would no longer have the ability to map any personal data we have previously collected from you to your browser or device). We do have other cookies (under the domains postrelease.com, admin.nativo.com, and cloud.nativo.com) but those cookies would not be related to the appearance of SimpleReach in the list of Off Site Activity on your Facebook account, per your original inquiry.

What did you learn from their inclusion in the Off-Facebook Activity list? There appeared to be a correlation between this domain and a publisher, Insider.com, which also appeared in my Off-Facebook Activity list -- as both logged events bear the same date; plus Insider.com is a publisher so would fall into the right customer category for using Nativo's tool.

Given those correlations I was able to guess Insider.com is a customer of Nativo. (I confirmed this when I spoke to Insider.com) -- so Facebook's tool is able to leak relational inferences related to the tracking industry by surfacing/mapping business connections that might not have been otherwise evident.

Insider.com

What is it? A New York based business media company which owns brands such as Business Insider and Markets Insider

Why did it appear in your Off-Facebook Activity list? I imagine I clicked on a technology article that appeared in my Facebook News Feed or elsewhere but when I was logged into Facebook

What happened when you asked them about this? After about a week of radio silence an employee in Insider'com's legal department got in touch to say they could discuss the issue on background.

This person told me the information in the Off-Facebook Activity tool came from the Facebook share button which is embedded on all articles it runs on its media websites. They confirmed that the share button can share data with Facebook regardless of whether the site visitor interacts with the button or not.

In my case I certainly would not have interacted with the Facebook share button. Nonetheless data was passed, simply by merit of loading the article page itself.

Insider.com said the Facebook share button widget is integrated into its sites using a standard set-up that Facebook intends publishers to use. If the share button is clicked information related to that action would be shared with Facebook and would also be received by Insider.com (though, in this scenario, it said it doesn't get any personalized information -- but rather gets aggregate data).

Facebook can also automatically collect other information when a user visits a webpage which incorporates its social plug-ins.

Asked whether Insider.com knows what information Facebook receives via this passive route the company told me it does not -- noting the plug-in runs proprietary Facebook code.

Asked how it's collecting consent from users for their data to be shared passively with Facebook, Insider.com said its Privacy Policy stipulates users consent to sharing their information with Facebook and other social media sites. It also said it uses the legal ground known as legitimate interests to provide functionality and derive analytics on articles.

In the active case (of a user clicking to share an article) Insider.com said it interprets the user's action as consent.

Insider.com confirmed it uses SimpleReach/Nativo analytics tools, meaning site visitor data is also being passed to Nativo when a user lands on an article. It said consent for this data-sharing is included within its consent management platform (it uses a CMP made by Forcepoint) which asks site visitors to specify their cookie choices.

Here site visitors can choose for their data not to be shared for analytics purposes (which Insider.com said would prevent data being passed).

I usually apply all cookie consent opt outs, where available, so I'm a little surprised Nativo/SimpleReach was passed my data from an Insider.com webpage. Either I failed to click the opt out one time or failed to respond to the cookie notice and data was passed by default.

It's also possible I did opt out but data was passed anyway -- as there has been research which has found a proportion of cookie notifications ignore choices and pass data anyway (unintentionally or otherwise).

Follow up questions I sent to Insider.com after we talked:

1) Can you confirm whether Insider has performed a legitimate interests assessment?

2) Does Insider have a site mechanism where users can object to the passive data transfer to Facebook from the share buttons?

Insider.com did not respond to my additional questions.

What did you learn from their inclusion in the Off-Facebook Activity list? That Insider.com is a customer of Nativo/SimpleReach.

Rei.com

What is it? A California-based ecommerce website selling outdoor gear

Why did it appear in your Off-Facebook Activity list? I don't recall ever visiting their site prior to looking into why it appeared in the list so I'm really not sure

What happened when you asked them about this? After saying it would investigate it followed up with a statement, rather than detailed responses to my questions, in which it claims it does not hold any personal data associated with -- presumably -- my TechCrunch email, since it did not ask me what data to check against.

It also appeared to be claiming that it uses Facebook tracking pixels/tags on its website, without explicitly saying as much, writing that: "Facebook may collect information about your interactions with our websites and mobile apps and reflect that information to you through their Off-Facebook Activity tool."

It claims it has no access to this information -- which it says is "pseudonymous to us" but suggested that if I have a Facebook account Facebook could link any browsing on Rei's site to my Facebook's identity and therefore track my activity.

The company also pointed me to a Facebook Help Center post where the company names some of the activities that might have resulted in Rei's website sending activity data on me to Facebook (which it could then link to my Facebook ID) -- although Facebook's list is not exhaustive (included are: "viewing content", "searching for an item", "adding an item to a shopping cart" and "making a donation" among other activities the company tracks by having its code embedded on third parties' sites).

Here's Rei's statement in full:

Thank you for your patience as we looked into your questions. We have checked our systems and determined that REI does not maintain any personal data associated with you based on the information you provided. Note, however, that Facebook may collect information about your interactions with our websites and mobile apps and reflect that information to you through their Off-Facebook Activity tool. The information that Facebook collects in this manner is pseudonymous to us -- meaning we cannot identify you using the information and we do not maintain the information in a manner that is linked to your name or other identifying information. However, if you have a Facebook account, Facebook may be able to match this activity to your Facebook account via a unique identifier unavailable to REI. (Funnily enough, while researching this I found TechCrunch in MY list of Off-Facebook activity!) For a complete list of activities that could have resulted in REI sharing pseudonymous information about you with Facebook, this Facebook Help Center article may be useful. For a detailed description of the ways in which we may collect and share customer information, the purposes for which we may process your data, and rights available to EEA residents, please refer to our Privacy Policy. For information about how REI uses cookies, please refer to our Cookie Policy.

As a follow up question I asked Rei to tell me which Facebook tools it uses, pointing out that: "Given that, just because you aren't (as I understand it) directly using my data yourself that does not mean you are not responsible for my data being transferred to Facebook."

The company did not respond to that point.

I also previously asked Rei.com to confirm whether it has any data sharing arrangements with the publisher of Rock & Ice magazine (see below). And, if so, to confirm the processes involved in data being shared. Again, I got no response to that.

What did you learn from their inclusion in the Off-Facebook Activity list? Given that Rei.com appeared alongside Rock & Ice on the list -- both displaying the same date and just one activity apiece -- I surmised they have some kind of data-sharing arrangement. They are also both outdoors brands so there would be obvious commercial 'synergies' to underpin such an arrangement.

That said, neither would confirm a business relationship to me. But Facebook's list heavily implies there is some background data-sharing going on

Rock & Ice magazine

What is it? A climbing magazine produced by a California-based publisher, Big Stone Publishing

Why did it appear in your Off-Facebook Activity list? I imagine I clicked on a link to a climbing-related article in my Facebook feed or else visited Rock & Ice's website while I was logged into Facebook in the same browser session

What happened when you asked them about this? After ignoring my initial email query I subsequently received a brief response from the publisher after I followed up -- which read:

The Rock and Ice website is opt in, where you have to agree to terms of use to access the website. I dont know what private data you are saying Rock and Ice shared, so I cant speak to that. The site terms are here. As stated in the terms you can opt out.

Following up, I asked about the provision in the Rock & Ice website's cookie notice which states: "By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookies" -- asking whether it's passing data without waiting for the user to signal their consent.

(Relevant: In October Europe's top court issued a ruling that active consent is necessary for tracking cookies, so you can't drop cookies prior to a user giving consent for you to do so.)

The publisher responded:

You have to opt in and agree to the terms to use the website. You may opt out of cookies, which is covered in the terms. If you do not want the benefits of these advertising cookies, you may be able to opt-out by visiting: http://www.networkadvertising.org/optout_nonppii.asp. If you dont want any cookies, you can find extensions such as Ghostery or the browser itself to stop and refuse cookies. By doing so though some websites might not work properly.

I followed up again to point out that I'm not asking about the options to opt in or opt out but, rather, the behavior of the website if the visitor does not provide a consent response yet continues browsing -- asking for confirmation Rock & Ice's site interprets this state as consent and therefore sends data.

The publisher stopped responding at that point.

Earlier I had asked it to confirm whether its website shares visitor data with Rei.com? (As noted above, the two appeared with the same date on the list which suggests data may be being passed between them.) I did not get a respond to that question either.

What did you learn from their inclusion in the Off-Facebook Activity list? That the magazine appears to have a data-sharing arrangement with outdoor retailer Rei.com, given how the pair appeared at the same point in my list. However neither would confirm this when I asked

MatterHackers

What is it? A California-based retailer focused on 3D printing and digital manufacturing

Why did it appear in your Off-Facebook Activity list? I honestly have no idea. I have never to my knowledge visited their site prior to investigating why they should appear on my Off Site Activity list.

I remain pretty interested to know how/why they managed to track me. I can only surmise I clicked on some technology-related content in my Facebook feed, either intentionally or by accident.

What happened when you asked them about this? They first asked me for confirmation that they were on my list. After I had sent a screenshot, they followed up to say they would investigate. I pushed again after hearing nothing for several weeks. At this point they asked for additional information from the Off-Facebook Activity tool -- namely more granular metrics, such as a time and date per event and some label information -- to help with tracking down this particular data-exchange.

I had previously provided them with the date (as it appears in the screenshot) but it's possible to download additional an additional level of information about data transfers which includes per event time/date-stamps and labels/tags, such as "VIEW_CONTENT" .

However, as noted above, I had previously selected and deleted one item off of my Off-Facebook Activity list, after which Facebook's platform had immediately erased all entries and associated metrics. There was no obvious way I could recover access to that information.

"Without this information I would speculate that you viewed an article or product on our site -- we publish a lot of 'How To' content related to 3D printing and other digital manufacturing technologies -- this information could have then been captured by Facebook via Adroll for ad retargeting purposes," a MatterHackers spokesman told me. "Operationally, we have no other data sharing mechanism with Facebook."

Subsequently, the company confirmed it implements Facebook's tracking pixel on every page of its website.

Of the pixel Facebook writes that it enables website owners to track "conversions" (i.e. website actions); create custom audiences which segment site visitors by criteria that Facebook can identify and match across its user-base, allowing for the site owner to target ads via Facebook's platform at non-customers with a similar profile/criteria to existing customers that are browsing its site; and for creating dynamic ads where a template ad gets populated with product content based on tracking data for that particular visitor.

Regarding the legal base for the data sharing, MatterHackers had this to say: "MatterHackers is not an EU entity, nor do we conduct business in the EU and so have not undertaken GDPR compliance measures. CCPA [California's Consumer Privacy Act] will likely apply to our business as of 2021 and we have begun the process of ensuring that our website will be in compliance with those regulations as of January 1st."

I pointed out that GDPR is extraterritorial in scope -- and can apply to non-EU based entities, such as if they're monitoring individuals in the EU (as in this case).

Also likely relevant: A ruling last year by Europe's top court found sites that embed third party plug-ins such as Facebook's like button are jointly responsible for the initial data processing  and must either obtain informed consent from site visitors prior to data being transferred to Facebook, or be able to demonstrate a legitimate interest legal basis for processing this data.

Nonetheless it's still not clear what legal base the company is relying on for implementing the tracking pixel and passing data on EU Facebook users.

When asked about this MatterHacker COO, Kevin Pope, told me:

While we appreciate the sentiment of GDPR, in this case the EU lacks the legal standing to pursue an enforcement action. I'm sure you can appreciate the potential negative consequences if any arbitrary country (or jurisdiction) were able to enforce legal penalties against any website simply for having visitors from that country. Techcrunch would have been fined to oblivion many times over by China or even Thailand (for covering the King in a negative light). In this way, the attempted overreach of the GDPR's language sets a dangerous precedent. To provide a little more detail - MatterHackers, at the time of your visit, wouldn't have known that you were from the EU until we cross-referenced your session with Facebook, who does know. At that point you would have been filtered from any advertising by us. MatterHackers makes money when our (U.S.) customers buy 3D printers or materials and then succeed at using them (hence the how-to articles), we don't make any money selling advertising or data. Given that Facebook does legally exist in the EU and does have direct revenues from EU advertisers, it's entirely appropriate that Facebook should comply with EU regulations. As a global solution, I believe more privacy settings options should be available to its users. However, given Facebook's business model, I wouldn't expect anything other than continued deflection (note the careful wording on their tool) and avoidance from them on this issue.

What did you learn from their inclusion in the Off-Facebook Activity List? I found out that an ecommerce company I had never heard of had been tracking me

Wallapop

What is it? A Barcelona-based peer-to-peer marketplace app that lets people list secondhand stuff for sale and/or to search for things to buy in their proximity. Users can meet in person to carry out a transaction paying in cash or there can be an option to pay via the platform and have an item posted

Why did it appear in your Off-Facebook Activity list? This was the only digital activity that appeared in the list that was something I could explain -- figuring out I must have used a Facebook sign-in option when using the Wallapop app to buy/sell. I wouldn't normally use Facebook sign-in but for trust-based marketplaces there may be user benefits to leveraging network effects.

What happened when you asked them about this? After my query was booted around a bit a PR company that works with Wallapop responded asking to talk through what information I was trying to ascertain.

After we chatted they sent this response -- attributed to sources from Wallapop:

Same as it happens with other apps, wallapop can appear on our users Facebook Off Site Activity page if they have interacted in any way with the platform while they were logged in their Facebook accounts. Some interaction examples include logging in via Facebook, visiting our website or having both apps opened and logged. As other apps do, wallapop only shares activity events with Facebook to optimize users ad experience. This includes if a user is registered in wallapop, if they have uploaded an item or if they have started a conversation. Under no circumstance wallapop shares with Facebook our users personal data (including sex, name, email address or telephone number). At wallapop, we are thoroughly committed with the security of our community and we do a safe treatment of the data they choose to share with us, in compliance with EUs General Data Protection Regulation. Under no circumstance these data are shared with third parties without explicit authorization.

I followed up to ask for further details about these "activity events" -- asking whether, for instance, Wallapop shares messaging content with Facebook as well as letting the social network know which items a user is chatting about.

"Under no circumstance the content of our users messages is shared with Facebook," the spokesperson told me. "What is shared is limited to the fact that a conversation has been initiated with another user in relation to a specific item, this is, activity events. Under no circumstance we would share our users personal information either."

Of course the point is Facebook is able to link all app activity with the user ID it already has -- so every piece of activity data being shared is personal data.

I also asked what legal base Wallapop relies on to share activity data with Facebook. They said the legal basis is "explicit consent given by users" at the point of signing up to use the app.

"Wallapop collects explicit consent from our users and at any time they can exercise their rights to their data, which include the modification of consent given in the first place," they said.

Users give their explicit consent by clicking in the corresponding box when they register in the app, where they also get the chance to opt out and not do it. If later on they want to change the consent they gave in first instance, they also have that option through the app. All the information is clearly available on our Privacy Policy, which is GDPR compliant."

"At wallapop we take our communitys privacy and security very seriously and we follow recommendations from the Spanish Data Protection Agency," it added

What did you learn from their inclusion in the Off-Facebook Activity list? Not much more than I would have already guessed -- i.e. that using a Facebook sign-in option in a third party app grants the social media giant a high degree of visibility into your activity within another service.

In this case the Wallapop app registered the most activity events of all six of the listed apps, displaying 13 vs only one apiece for the others -- so it gave a bit of a suggestive glimpse into the volume of third party app data that can be passed if you opt to open a Facebook login wormhole into a separate service.
WASHINGTON  A sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the death sentences for an Arizona inmate who was convicted of killing two people in home burglaries nearly 30 years ago and now wants a jury to consider abuse he suffered as a child.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing for the courts conservative justices, rejected the arguments of James Erin McKinney that he deserved a new sentencing hearing so a jury could decide whether he should face death or life in prison. He was first sentenced to death by a judge.

McKinney also argued that courts have not fully considered the horrific physical abuse he suffered as a child.

The courts four liberal justices dissented. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote that she would hold McKinneys death sentences unconstitutional.

The high court ruled in 2002 that juries, not judges, must impose death sentences. The court has also ruled that mitigating factors, including childhood deprivations, must be factored into sentencing decisions.

The justices had to decide whether McKinney should be able to take advantage of the ruling, even though the court has said it does not typically apply to older cases. They also had to determine whether the issue of McKinneys past must be handled in a trial court or could be dealt with by the Arizona Supreme Court, which upheld his sentence in 2018 after it said it gave some weight to his childhood deprivations.

McKinneys attorneys say the state Supreme Court erred in upholding his sentences, arguing their client had a horrific childhood in which he was physically abused, frequently deprived of food and water and locked outside the home with little clothing.

Prosecutors said McKinney shouldnt get a sentencing retrial, arguing his case was considered officially closed years before the 2002 U.S. Supreme Court decision that required death penalty decisions to be made by juries, not judges.

Prosecutors also said McKinneys evidence of post-traumatic stress was considered by Arizona courts and that the review of his sentences didnt lead to his cases being reopened.

Kavanaugh said McKinney was not entitled to re-sentencing by a jury and that the Arizona high court review was sufficient.

Sharmila Roy, one of McKinneys attorneys, said she suspected from the questions posed by the justices that it would be a 5-4 decision against her client. I had hoped Chief Justice (John) Roberts would have weighed in on our side, Roy said.

Roy said other inmates sentenced to death by judges will have to ask the Arizona Supreme Court to conduct an independent review of lower-court findings on aggravating and mitigating factors, rather than seek a sentencing retrial.

McKinneys half brother, Charles Michael Hedlund, also was convicted of murder in the deaths of Christine Mertens and Jim McClain during a series of burglaries in the Phoenix area. Hedlund also has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review his death sentence on similar grounds.

If McKinney had won the appeal, it could have affected as many as 15 of Arizonas 117 death row inmates.

We have an obligation to the victims, their families and our communities to uphold the rule of law and to see that death sentences of convicted murderers are carried out, said state Attorney General Mark Brnovich.

___

This story has been corrected to say the number of death row inmates in Arizona is 117, not 104.
Condemning the violence in Delhi, the Congress on Tuesday demanded that the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the Chief Minister of Delhi come forward to ensure peace and maintain brotherhood while rising above partisan

"This is Gandhi, Nehru, Patel's India, can any Indian accept this mindless violence? Congress appeals to the people of Delhi to maintain communal harmony and thwart all attempts of the forces dividing the country on the basis of religion," Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told reporters.

Unabated violence and incidents of stone-pelting and murder in the national capital have shattered the nation, he said, while referring to the riots in northeast Delhi over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act that continued for the third day, and demanded stern action against the culprits.

"Our appeal to the prime minister, the home minister and the Delhi chief minister is, can you rise to the occasion, leave aside your political partisanship and views, and become really not leaders of your parties but leaders of the society so that harmony, peace and non-violence prevail," he said.

The Congress party will stand with the Centre and the Delhi government in every way to maintain brotherhood and harmony in the society, he said.

"Do not fail this country because you belong to different political parties," Surjewala said, adding this was a sincere appeal "on behalf of people of Delhi and the country" to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

"There is no place for violence in Gandhi ji's India... Today there is a need to establish peace on the ground and maintain brotherhood," he said.

Surjewala said the party also prays for the speedy recovery of DCP Amit Sharma and the hundreds of other people who have been injured in the violence.

"We also condemn the firing at three journalists Arvind Gunasekar, Saurabh Shukla and Akash and pray for their good health," he said.

"We strongly condemn these brutal riots and demand that the culprits be identified and stern action is taken against the real culprits and miscreants. The Congress mourns the death of Head Constable Ratan Lal and others in the violence," Surjewala said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp, who previously accused Kevin Spacey of making sexual advances at him when he was teenager, is praising the women whose testimonies helped convict Harvey Weinstein on two counts of rape and sexual assault.

Shortly after Mondays verdict was announced  in which Weinstein was convicted on two of five counts in a New York City court: criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree  Rapp tweeted out his support for the victims and thanked them for adding their voices to the #MeToo movement.

I applaud the women who bravely stepped forward to help forever alter the conversation around what they  and all of us  have to put up with. Gratified to see some justice being served here, Rapp tweeted.

RELATED: Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty on Rape and Sex Assault Charges

In an October 2017 Buzzfeed article, Rapp alleged that then-26-year-old Spacey invited him to his Manhattan apartment for a party in 1986. (They were both starring in hit Broadway plays at the time.) Rapp says he was the only teen at the party and spent most of the evening in a bedroom watching television when he realized everyone had left and he was alone with Spacey.

Anthony Rapp | Steve Mack/WireImage

After Rapps account was published in Buzzfeed, Spacey issued a statement saying he doesnt remember the alleged incident, apologizing for for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior and announcing, I choose now to live as a gay man.

In his first TV interview about the allegation, Rapp said he hoped more victims would feel empowered to come forward with their own stories.

I could only tell my story, but I knew there were more stories, Rapp, 48, said CBSs The Talk. So I was just hopeful that coming forward, it would encourage other people to tell the truth.

Slaven Vlasic/Getty; JNI/Star Max/GC Images

He added: I knew it was a risky thing, I knew that he was very popular, and certainly a respected actor, but at the same time I knew I was trying to protect people. And I was incredibly gratified by the enormous wave of support.

Story continues

The backlash to Rapps accusation was swift: several more people accused Spacey of sexual harassment or assault, and in November 2017, Spacey entered a treatment facility. Spacey has not commented on any of the allegations since Rapps.

Spacey was also fired from the final season of his Emmy-winning Netflix drama, House of Cards.

Harvey Weinstein | Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock

On Monday, a jury of seven men and five women found Weinstein guilty of criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree, The New York Times reports. He was acquitted on three other charges.

Although more than 80 women have claimed they were victimized by Weinstein, according to The New York Times, the charges in the Manhattan trial were focused on only two women: former production assistant Miriam Mimi Haleyi and aspiring actress Jessica Mann.

Another four whose who alleged incidents occurring outside the reach or time frame to bring charges in New York were put on the stand by prosecutors who hoped the womens experiences would illustrate a pattern of predatory behavior by Weinstein.

The verdict, reached Monday morning by a jury of five women and seven men in State Supreme Court in Manhattan, means Weinstein could be sent to prison when he is sentenced at a later date.
By Trend

Azerbaijan's State Customs Committee (SCC) has begun a thorough check of luggage of passengers arriving in Azerbaijan from all customs checkpoints on the Iranian border, Head of the SCC Press and Public Relations Department Natig Akhundov told Trend.

Akhundov noted that sanitary-quarantine control has been particularly tightened at Astara and Bilasuvar customs checkpoints.

"The customs service seizes all livestock products without factory packaging, as well as those that have not undergone heat treatment. At the same time, import of meat products in baggage from Iran is already prohibited," Akhundov added.

According to the head of the SCC department, customs officers work in medical masks, gloves, special suits and use disinfectants. The luggage of any passenger can be scanned and weighed.

A certain decrease has been recorded in Iran's trade turnover with Azerbaijan, including exports of fruits and vegetables, Akhundov said, noting that this is due to the expanding coronavirus outbreak in Iran.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
[February 25, 2020] INVESTOR ALERT: Law Offices of Howard G. Smith Announces Investigation of Tupperware Brands Corporation (TUP) on Behalf of Investors

Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces an investigation on behalf Tupperware Brands Corporation ("Tupperware" or the "Company") (NYSE: TUP) investors concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of federal securities laws. On February 24, 2020, after the market closed, Tupperware issued a press release announcing preliminary financial results for fiscal 2019. Therein, the Company disclosed an "investigation primarily into the accounting for accounts payable and accrued liabilities at its Fuller Mexico beauty business" and estimated that the pre-tax impact of these issues would be approximately $50 million to $52 million. Morever, due to the investigation, Tupperware stated that it could not timely file its annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2019. The Company said it expects 2019 net earnings per share "in the range of breakeven to $0.34 versus $3.11 in the prior year," and adjusted EPS of $1.35 to $1.70, which is below consensus estimates of $2.79.



On this news, Tupperware's stock price fell more than 43% during intraday trading on February 25, 2020. If you purchased Tupperware securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020 by telephone at (215) 638-4847, toll-free at (888) 638-4847, or by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005881/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
The coronavirus outbreak could hit global oil demand growth more than currently expected, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Tuesday, adding that the agency could additionally trim its oil demand growth projections.

We certainly see the lowest oil demand growth in the last 10 years and we may need to revise it ...downwards, the IEAs executive director Fatih Birol told Reuters at an energy conference in London today.

In a sign that the coronavirus outbreak is spreading to international events, the International Petroleum Week in London this week is being held regularly, but many participants have canceled receptions and events at the conference due to the outbreak. Major international oil traders and refiners have canceled networking events, sources told Reuters last week.

The comments from the head of the Paris-based agency come a day after oil prices plunged by more than 4 percent as the coronavirus spread outside Asia, threatening global economic growth and raising fears of additional loss of oil demand growth.

Earlier this month, the IEA said in its Oil Market Report (OMR) that the coronavirus outbreak would lead to the first quarterly contraction in global oil demand in more than 10 years. The IEA slashed its 2020 oil demand growth forecast by 365,000 bpd to just 825,000 bpdwhich would be the lowest oil demand growth since 2011.

Now, according to the IEAs Birol, even this lowered projection could be further revised downwards due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Earlier this month, OPEC also slashed its global oil demand growth forecast for 2020, expecting the coronavirus outbreak to weigh heavily on fuel demand in the worlds oil demand growth driver, China. OPEC slashed its oil demand growth estimate by 230,000 bpd from last months assessment and now sees global oil demand growth at just below 1 million bpd this yearat 990,000 bpd.

The EIA also cut its oil demand growth forecast by 378,000 bpd for this year due to coronavirus outbreak.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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The Covid-19 has prompted churches in Asian countries to take precautions to contain the virus, the U.S. Christian media outlet Church Leaders reported recently.

Singapore currently has 77 confirmed cases of Covid-19 patients, six of whom are reported to be in critical condition, according to the report. Singapore's Ministry of Health announced that while churches may continue worship services, they should "work toward prevention, such as halting or delaying unnecessary programs." Some churches are said to have suspended all worship and meetings for two weeks because the virus has been confirmed among parishioners.

In addition, Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) issued a home quarantine order to all employees who had contacted an infected person at Grace Assembly of God, one of the largest churches in Singapore.

Reverend Wilson Teo was admitted to Singapore's National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) last week after being infected with the virus. At least one other employee was also hospitalized for treatment.

Reverend Theo recently told the parishioners that his fever had subsided. He also shared more about God in NCID, "My time in NCID has allowed me to wait for God while controlling my feelings for all the recent events. Although we may not fully understand why God allowed this to happen at the General Assembly of Grace, I am sure that we will overcome the current situation with unity and courage because our eyes look at him and are focused on God in our hearts."

Through a prayer gathering called the "Ground-up Prayer Movement" initiated by parishioners, members of the church, from young to old, are praying and fasting for the church and the nation, the media reported. Certain church members, aged between 15 and 25, have vowed to "pray for the church every night."

"In times like this, we have to pray for the public and for Singapore, for the hospital staff, and for China," Vincent Chu, Singapore's pastor, said while speaking at the rally on a live YouTube channel.

Meanwhile, preventive measures in Hong Kong have been on a steady rise, with Cardinal John Hon Tong of the Catholic Church in Hong Kong approving the mass online, the media reported. The Catholic Church has also asked those attending in person to wear masks. Songs were forbidden except for short hymns. But Tong announced that the Mass will be suspended for two weeks thereafter. It is also said that even Wednesday's event marking the beginning of Lent's Day has been canceled.

In addition, the Christian non-profit organization, "Gospel for Asia," asked Christians around the world to spend time praying for those affected by Corona19, according to the media.
The Supreme Court Tuesday said it would hear on March 5 the plea filed by the Centre challenging the Delhi High Court verdict which held that the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya case have to be executed together and not separately.

The apex court had made it clear on February 14 that pendency of the Centre's appeal seeking separate execution of the four convicts would not come in the way of trial court's issuing a fresh date for their hanging, which is now scheduled for March 3.

The appeal filed by the Centre and the Delhi government came up for hearing before a bench of Justices R Banumathi, Ashok Bhushan and Navin Sinha which adjourned the matter for next week.

"List the matters on March 5 at 3 PM," the bench said in its order.

The high court on February 5 dismissed the Centre's plea against the trial court's order staying the execution of death sentence of the four convicts.

It also faulted the authorities concerned for not taking steps for issuance of death warrant after the rejection of appeals of the accused by the Supreme Court in 2017.

The trial court on February 17 issued fresh date for execution of death warrants for March 3 at 6 am for the four convicts -- Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Kumar Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar (31) -- in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case.

The top court had asked these four condemned prisoners to file their replies on the Centre's appeal.

The mercy petitions of three convicts -- Mukesh, Vinay and Akshay -- have already been dismissed by the President.

The fourth convict, Pawan, has till now neither filed a curative petition in the top court nor the mercy petition before the President.

The apex court had earlier dismissed separate pleas filed by Mukesh and Vinay challenging the rejection of their mercy petitions by the President.

Akshay has not yet challenged the rejection of his mercy petition.

On December 16, 2012, a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern, who later came to be known as 'Nirbhaya' (fearless), was gang raped and savagely assaulted in a moving bus in South Delhi. She died after a fortnight.

Six people, including the four convicts and a juvenile, were named as accused. Ram Singh, the sixth accused, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar jail days after the trial began in the case.

The juvenile was released in 2015 after spending three years in a correctional home.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hammerson, the owner of Birmingham's shopping centre Bullring, has warned it will slash its 2020 dividend as the collapse of a raft of retailers has dented its rental income.

The retail landlord, which last week sold another nine retail parks in a bid to reduce its debts, said net rental income fell 11.2 per cent to 308.5million last year.

The decline prompted it to 'rebase' its dividend for the current year to a 'sustainable level', slashing it by 46 per cent to 14p - a more drastic cut than expected by city analysts. It has kept its 2019 dividend unchanged at 25.9p.

Falling rents: Hammerson, like rival Intu, has been hit a raft of retailers entering administration

'Tenant restructuring, in the form of company voluntary agreements and administrations, has been the largest single factor reducing income,' it said.

Hammerson, like its rival Intu, has been hit by the retail crisis.

It said 33 of its retailer partners entered administrations or went for so-called Company's Voluntary Arrangements, which usually entail drastic cuts to rents. Hammerson said CVAs affected 94 units across its shopping centres.

Like-for-like net rental income from UK retailers fell 6.7 per cent, only partially offset by an increase of 2.1 per cent in France.

'Tenant restructuring made the single largest impact in the year, reducing total NRI by 6million,' Hammerson said.

Lower rental income means it dived to a 573.8million pre-tax loss in the year to December 31, widening from a 173.3million loss in 2018.

Net asset value per share - a key measure - fell by 18.6 per cent to 601p a share, down from 738p last year.

Struggling under a mountain of debt, which Hammerson said it reduced to 2.4billion last year, the company offloaded several sites over the past couple of years.

Last week it said it will exit from the retail park sector, having agreed a 455million sale of nine of its retail parks. In total in 2019, it t sold 542million worth of assets, ahead of its 500million target.

David Atkins, chief executive of Hammerson, said: 'Against a challenged retail and investment backdrop, we have exceeded our 2019 disposal target, exited the retail parks sector as we said we would and reduced debt by a third. This delivered nearly 1billion of transactions in the process.

'In strengthening our balance sheet further, we will create a more resilient business and also generate significant liquidity which could, at the appropriate time, be deployed to create enhanced returns for shareholders.'

Hammerson shares closed 2.4 per cent higher at 227.50p on Tuesday.

Rival Intu this month said it was in talks with its largest shareholder John Whittaker's Peel Group and new investors to raise funds to shore up its balance sheet.

Russ Mould at AJ Bell said shareholders have seen a 'disastrous few years', as Hammerson shares have fallen 60 per cent since May 2018.

'Hammerson is taking important steps to protect its business, which includes last week's news that it will exit from the retail park sector,' he said.

'There are some bright spots such as the scale of debt reduction and an encouraging performance from its premium outlets.

'However, the structural changes in the retail sector mean that Hammerson will still have to keep adapting to be match fit for the future.'
South Korean tourists to Israel arrived at Incheon International Airport, Feb. 25, via an Israeli chartered flight after they were banned entry to the country due to a concern of coronavirus infection. Yonhap



About 220 South Korean tourists returned home from Israel on Tuesday on a chartered flight that the Middle Eastern nation arranged for them over concerns about the new coronavirus.



They arrived at Incheon International Airport at around 9 a.m. on an El Al Israel Airlines plane. It is the first of two chartered flights the Israeli government arranged to send back about 400 South Koreans after they imposed the entry ban.



The second flight carrying the rest of the tourists is due to arrive in Incheon in the afternoon.



The flights were arranged at the Israeli government's expense following a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in South Korea. As of Monday, there were a total of 833 confirmed cases, with eight deaths.



On Saturday, Israel banned entry of some 130 South Koreans who arrived in Tel Aviv on a Korean Air flight. The next day it announced an entry ban on all foreigners who have traveled to South Korea or Japan.




Americas longest, costliest and most frustrating war may be nearing an end. Or the latest negotiations could splinter once again, leaving Afghanistan the bloody battleground it has been for nearly two decades.

The answer may come within days as a one-week trial period tests whether Taliban and U.S. forces can stick to pledges to reduce military actions. If it works, it will give way to broader and more consequential talks on U.S. withdrawals and the Talibans future role in the Afghan government. Its a peace plan with potential and pitfalls.

Theres every reason to root for results. The war has cost thousands of American lives and trillions of dollars over 18 years. A new U.N. report finds that more than 100,000 civilians have been killed or injured during the last decade of the war alone.

Pushing the peace process forward is a top priority for President Trump, who has pledged to end the war. Despite his many other hollow claims, a peace pact would be a glittering achievement for his re-election bid.

Years of talks have brought the two sides to this turning point. For the Taliban, its a chance at legitimacy and a formal role in a government they ran before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. For Washington, its a chance to exit an unwinnable and unpopular conflict thats filled cemeteries and emptied the treasury.

Nothing will be easy. The Taliban may not be in full control of all its fighters. This weeks test isnt a conventional cease-fire but rather an attempted reduction in violence. The climb only gets steeper afterward as Afghanistan faces integrating Taliban leaders into its weak, corrupt central government.

The United States is willing to withdraw its forces, now numbering 12,000, but wants to maintain a fighting force to go after al Qaeda, Islamic State and other terrorist groups that arent part of the bargain. Pakistan, a troublemaking neighbor that has worked to destabilize Afghanistan, is promising to support the negotiations for now.

Trump is beset by rightful skepticism. His allies in Congress are deeply suspicious of Taliban peace pledges, while Democrats suggest the president is either naive or too eager for a campaign-trail win.

The slow walk toward a serious peace is the best argument against these criticisms, allowing American negotiators to proceed cautiously. The risk of dealing with a dangerous foe cant be minimized, but the need to end this war cant be ignored.

This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.
Trading of Nifty 50 index futures on the Singapore stock exchange indicates that the Nifty could rise 57 points at the opening bell.

Overseas, Asian stocks were trading lower on Tuesday following a heavy sell-off on Wall Street on Monday on heightened fears that the China coronavirus is rapidly developing in to a global pandemic that could cripple global supply chains and wreak far greater economic damage than first thought.

In US, the Dow finished more than 1,000 points lower on Monday, marking its third-worst daily point drop in history, as the spread of the COVID-19 illness beyond China raised worries that the hit to overseas economic growth could be more persistent than investors expected, hampering the prospects for a global recovery in 2020.

Back home, domestic shares slumped on Monday as the spread of the coronavirus outside China spoiled investor sentiment with infections and deaths rising in South Korea, Italy and the Middle East. The S&P BSE Sensex, lost 806.89 points or 1.96% at 40,363.23. The Nifty 50 index fell 242.25 points or 2.01% at 11,838.60.

The trading activity on that day showed that the foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 1160.90 crore yesterday, 24 February 2020, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 516.21 crore, yesterday, 24 February 2020, as per provisional data.

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Former model and actress Namrata Shirodkar has shared an adorable picture of her family on Instagram. The picture, which features her husband Mahesh Babu and both the children (Sitara and Gautham) has been shot on a busy street in New York, where they were last holidaying to celebrate the success of Mahesh Babus blockbuster hit Sarileru Neekevvaru.

In the picture, it can be seen that the father-son duo are sharing a light moment while Sitara can be seen in a goofy mood. Namrata, who quit her acting career post-marriage to take up household responsibilities calls Mahesh, Gautham and Sitara a three of a kind people.

The post, which has already received as many as 50 thousand likes already, has been captioned as, These two have their own equation while this middle person has her own mind three of a kind where does that leave me.

Namrata, who was crowned as the Miss India in 1993, tied the knot with Mahesh Babu after dating him for five years and the duo till date continue to be one of the most adorable couples of Tollywood.

On February 10 this year, Mahesh and Namrata completed 15 years of marriage and on the occasion the actor took to Instagram to wish his wife with an adorable picture. He said, Happy 15 my love!! Love you a little more each day @namratashirodkar.

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Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is trying to dislodge Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his post.

"The day United States President Donald Trump landed in India, Delhi saw violence. I have said it earlier and I repeat that the relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah is not good," Baghel told reporters at an event here.

"After the abrogation of Article 370, 35A and promulgation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Prime Minister Modi said the Register of Citizens (NRC) will not be implemented. But Amit Shah said that the government will not go back even one inch on the recent decisions. Who is speaking lies among the two? In reality, Amit Shah is trying to dislodge Prime Minister Modi from his post," he added.

On the violence in Delhi, Baghel said: "The BJP does not want to resolve the problems but it wants to aggravate the issues and spread anarchy. This is what is happening in Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Worcester man who sold fentanyl and heroin from the parking lot of an E-ZPass contractor in Auburn was sentenced to prison in federal court Tuesday.

Freiber Betancourth previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute fentanyl and heroin and one count of distributing fentanyl and heroin. He was sentenced to serve one year and a day in prison and three years of supervised release.

Betancourth worked for a Massachusetts Department of Transportation E-ZPass contractor in Auburn.

Between June and September 2018, Betancourth distributed heroin and fentanyl on multiple occasions, including in the parking lot outside of his workplace, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. In addition, he stored drugs in his office.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents learned Betancourth was dealing the heroin and fentanyl and worked with another person to get the drugs.

In September 2018, agents said Betancourth sold drugs to a person in the Auburn parking lot.

Federal authorities arrested three other people in connection with the investigation.

Betancourth obtained the drugs from Albeiro Gomez, a Worcester man who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin and cocaine possession. He is awaiting sentencing.

Gomez, who worked as a livery driver in Worcester, used his livery vehicle to pick up and sell drugs around Worcester.

Authorities said he would get the drugs from Erotides Mendez, a Dominican national previously residing in New York City who also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl and drug distribution charges. He is also awaiting sentencing.

According to court documents, investigators intercepted communications to and from the defendants phones which evidenced their drug trafficking activities, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Mendez was involved in the acquisition of heroin and fentanyl in New York and the transportation of these drugs for sale in and around Worcester.

In November 2018, investigators stopped a passenger van headed from New York City to Worcester and spotted Mendez, who was a passenger, throw a bag containing approximately 150 grams of heroin from the van.

In December 2018, agents stopped a car in which Mendez was a passenger and located approximately 150 grams of heroin and 138 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin, authorities said.

Jonathan Francisco Bobadilla Rosa, a Dominican national previously residing in Worcester, was also snared in the investigation. He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, false representation of a Social Security number and aggravated identity theft. He is also awaiting sentencing.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 14:08:58|Editor: ZD

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MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Five people including a civilian have been confirmed dead as the Taliban fighters stormed a security checkpoint in Charkent district of the northern Balkh province on Monday, district governor Salima Mazari said Tuesday.

A group of the armed militants, according to the official, attacked a security checkpoint in Parabarat village of the restive district at 03:30 a.m. local time on Monday, killing four pro-government militia members and a woman villager.

Six more villagers were wounded due to the firing of insurgents, the official said.

Taliban outfit has yet to make comment.

The violent incident happened amid observing the seven-day "Reduction in Violence" or partial ceasefire by the Taliban begun on Saturday to pave the way for inking a peace deal between the armed group and the United States to end the war in Afghanistan and facilitate the withdrawal of foreign forces from the country.
Sebi not to bar, but keep tab on Mauritius funds after FATF grey listing

Indias market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has clarified that investors from Mauritius will continue to be eligible for registration with it even as the island country has been placed on the grey list by Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

While Sebis clarification is a positive for investors, foreign funds based in Mauritius will be subject to higher know your client (KYC), compliance and regulatory scrutiny, Sebi said.

Mauritius funds that account for the bulk of foreign fund flows into Indias capital market, were skeptical whether Sebi will allow them to register under foreign portfolio investor (FPI) regulations after the FATF, at its latest review of the status of member countries put Mauritius along with Pakistan, Cayman Island and some other countries, on the grey list.

FATF is an intergovernmental body that monitors and forms policies around anti-money laundering and prevention of terror funding.

A grey list indicates weak rules to prevent money laundering or terror financing in that jurisdiction. The list also lists out such jurisdiction that has committed to resolve identified strategic deficiencies within agreed time frames and is subject to increased monitoring.

An FATF grey list is big red flag for sophisticated investors. They typically want to route their structures out of jurisdictions that do not attract high strictures from FATF. So even if Sebi will continue to grant registration we may see migration of funds away from Mauritius to other jurisdictions," said Tejesh Chitlangi, senior partner, IC universal legal.

This is the second blow for Mauritius as the funds coming from the country also attract additional tax due to indirect transfer provisions.

In 2019, funds and investors based in Mauritius made portfolio investments of Rs4,30,000 crore in India, becoming the second-largest source of foreign investors in Indias secondary markets, after the US.

While a majority of foreign funds were exempted from indirect transfer provisions in 2017, the Finance Bill of 2020 has removed exemptions for category II FPIs, which include hedge funds, and funds that are set up in countries not compliant with the FATF.

It is noted from FATF website that when a jurisdiction is placed under increased monitoring, it construes that the country has committed to resolve swiftly the identified strategic deficiencies within agreed timeframes and is subject to increased monitoring. The FATF does not call for the application of enhanced due diligence to be applied to these jurisdictions, but encourages its members to take into account this information in their risk analysis, Sebi noted.

The intermediaries should take note of the same. Additionally, FATF identifies jurisdictions that have significant strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and financing of proliferation. For all such countries, the FATF calls on all members and urges all jurisdictions to apply enhanced due diligence, and in the most serious cases, countries are called upon to apply counter-measures to protect the international financial system. This list is often referred to as the black list.

It is mentioned in FATF website that this was previously called "Public Statement". Therefore, FPIs from Mauritius continue to be eligible for FPI Registration with increased monitoring as per FATF norms, Sbi stated.
Acting Homeland Security chief Chad Wolf on Tuesday stumbled over questioning from GOP Sen. John Kennedy about the Trump administration's coronavirus response.

Wolf struggled to offer Kennedy clear numbers on the expected spread of the virus, among other topics.

"You're supposed to keep us safe. And the American people deserve some straight answers on the coronavirus  and I'm not getting them from you," Kennedy said to Wolf.

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President Donald Trump shakes hands with acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf during an LA 2028 Olympic briefing in Los Angeles, California, February 18, 2020.

Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Chad Wolf, the acting head of the Department of Homeland Security, on Tuesday morning stumbled over basic questions from GOP Sen. John Kennedy on how the Trump administration is responding to coronavirus.

The Louisiana Republican excoriated Wolf as he deferred to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on questions ranging from how far the US government was to developing a vaccine for the virus to how many people are predicted to become infected.

"You're supposed to keep us safe. And the American people deserve some straight answers on the coronavirus  and I'm not getting them from you," Kennedy said to Wolf during the tense exchange before a Senate appropriations subcommittee.

Wolf replied, "I disagree."

"We do anticipate the number will grow. I don't have an exact figure for you, though," Wolf said when asked about the potential spread of the virus in the US.

As Wolf struggled to provide a clear answer, Kennedy eventually went on to say, "Don't you think you ought to check on that, as the head of Homeland Security?"

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday urged Americans to prepare for a coronavirus crisis in the US. The CDC said the number of cases in the US had risen to 57 as of Tuesday, per CNN.

"It's not so much a question of if this will happen any more, but rather more a question of exactly when this will happen and how many people in this country will have severe illness," Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC, said during a media briefing.

Story continues

Wolf, like many other Cabinet-level officials in the Trump administration, has been serving as the head of a massive government agency in an acting capacity (without Senate confirmation) for months.

The Trump administration has set up a coronavirus task force, which is being spearheaded by HHS Secretary Alex Azar and national security adviser Robert C. O'Brien, to coordinate the US government's handling of the virus.

But President Donald Trump is facing bipartisan criticism over his administration's response to coronavirus as it's spread out of China and into other countries across the globe, from Iran to Italy, which has rocked financial markets.

Trump on Monday requested $2.5 billion from Congress to address coronavirus, which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said was "long overdue and completely inadequate to the scale of this emergency."

Meanwhile, Trump has also faced criticism from congressional lawmakers over his prior decisions to scrap the global health security units on the National Security Council and at Homeland Security, which Democratic lawmakers have said puts the US at a disadvantage in facing this virus.

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President Trump has landed in India for his first state visit, "and at the center of it will be Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a man for whom Trump seems to have a great deal of affection," John Oliver said on Sunday's Last Week Tonight. While Modi may have charmed Trump, however, "within India he's an increasingly controversial figure, because his government has pursued a steadily escalating persecution of religious minorities  persecution so intense that for the last two months, Indians across the country have been taking to the streets in anger."

The charismatic, previously Teflon-coated Modi has both a "cult of personality" inside India and a new groundswell of opposition, Oliver said, "and if citizens in the world's largest democracy, home to over a billion people, are either wearing masks of Modi or marching in the streets, it seems like tonight it might be worth exploring why that is" and "where things could be heading."

One of Modi's "defining beliefs" is Hindu nationalism, the idea that "India is a fundamentally Hindu nation  which is provocative, given that India's founders, Gandhi and Nehru, explicitly disavowed that," Oliver said. While they created India as a secular nation, Modi's BJP party "has served as the political arm of a hard-core Hindu nationalist paramilitary group, the RSS," whose founders admired Hitler's aim to purify the race, he noted. India is home to the world's second-largest Muslim population, and while Modi doesn't say much publicly about Muslims, "those closest to him are comfortable saying a lot."

And "since winning re-election, Modi has moved from quiet support for religious intolerance to concrete action," his government working to "strip millions of Muslims of citizenship, and they did it in a diabolically clever two-step way," Oliver said. "They're basically Marie Kondo-ing India, and it's only Muslims that don't seem to 'spark joy' in them." Now, "the government is now building detention camps for all the illegal immigrants that they are creating," and "the only glimmer of hope here is that for perhaps the first time in Modi's whole career, his actions are creating a massive and sustained backlash." Oliver ended with an image of the Taj Mahal and a message: "India, home to this enduring symbol of love, frankly deserves a lot more than this temporary symbol of hate." There is NSFW language. Watch below.

More stories from theweek.com

The coronavirus recession?

The real third way in 2020

Top member of Trump's coronavirus task force asks Twitter for help accessing map of virus


That artificial intelligence (AI) applications can be sometimes be biased is no longer unusual, and when that happens, Microsoft  one of the biggest proponents of AI  has a lot to worry about.

But Satya Nadella, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Redmond-headquartered tech giant, also has a simple solution to do away with such biases. Currently on a three-day visit to India, the Hyderabad-born Nadella says its not the AI engine, but the teams that build it as well as the algorithms to make it intelligent have to be diverse and inclusive, so that the solutions ...
Stone's motion sought to disqualify Judge Jackson for referring during Thursday's sentencing to "the jurors who served with integrity under difficult circumstances" while he is still challenging one juror as biased (stock photo)

The federal judge who oversaw Roger Stone's trial and sentenced him last week to 40 months in prison dismissed as a baseless smear his demand that she be taken off the case.

"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 a statement for public consumption that has the words 'judge' and 'biased' in it," wrote US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson.

Stone's motion sought to disqualify Judge Jackson for referring during Thursday's sentencing to "the jurors who served with integrity under difficult circumstances" while he is still challenging one juror as biased.

Judge 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 favour ... and... repeatedly resolved bond issues in his favour, 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."

That term, she noted, was significantly less than called for under sentencing guidelines.

She also dismissed Stone's technical argument, saying: "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 Washington Post

 Washington Post
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canada Carbon Inc. (the Company) (TSX-V: CCB) is pleased to announce that the Commission de protection du territoire agricole (CPTAQ) has resumed the review of Canada Carbons Miller Project as reflected on the CPTAQ website under file #427126.



The legal settlement between Canada Carbon, GSLR and the CPTAQ, announced on February 19, 2020 is now available on Canada Carbons website: https://www.canadacarbon.com/docs/CCB-Signed-Settlement-Agreement.pdf .

Executive Chairman and CEO R. Bruce Duncan remarked, We are delighted at how quickly the CPTAQ has undertaken to resume its analysis of the Miller project file.

CANADA CARBON INC.

 R. Bruce Duncan

CEO and Director

Contact Information

E-mail inquiries: info@canadacarbon.com

P: (905) 813-8408

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Switzerland reported its first case of new coronavirus on Tuesday, after outbreaks were identified in its main neighbours Austria, France, Germany and Italy.

"It's confirmed," a spokeswoman for Switzerland's federal health office told AFP, adding that more details about the case would be released later on Tuesday.

The case was found in the Italian-speaking Ticino canton on the border with Italy, the canton said on its website announcing a press conference for 1600 GMT. Switzerland on Monday had said the country was in a state of "heightened vigilance" because of a surge in Italy.

Prior to this case, the country had tested some 300 suspect cases that were all found to be negative.

The government said on Monday that it had stepped up testing on patients with flu-like symptoms and was working to raise awareness at all border points.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A bizarre condition caused a woman to 'brew' alcohol in her bladder (Getty)

A womans bladder brewed alcohol due to a bizarre condition, a report has revealed.

The unnamed patient, 61, from the US state of Pennsylvania, was refused a life-saving liver transplant after urine tests repeatedly came back positive for alcohol.

She was accused of hiding an alcohol-use disorder, despite insisting she was sober.

Tests later came back negative for metabolites that get released when alcohol is broken down.

Read more: Bizarre condition makes man 'brew beer' in his gut

Doctors discovered the patient, who is diabetic and never appeared drunk, had microbes in her bladder that were fermenting surplus sugar into alcohol.

Scientists named the condition urinary auto-brewery syndrome or bladder fermentation syndrome.

Once diagnosed, the woman was reconsidered for a liver transplant. It is unclear how she is doing now.

This case is similar to the equally bizarre  but recognised  auto-brewery syndrome, which occurs when the gut converts sugary and starchy foods into alcohol.

Even eating carbohydrates or sugary foods can leave these patients drunk.

In the womans case, the alcohol produced in her bladder did not enter her bloodstream, resulting in her never becoming intoxicated.

Read more: Man Gets Drunk From Rare Condition That Makes Alcohol in His Stomach

The patient, who suffered from scarring of the liver, was told by doctors at an undisclosed hospital she needed treatment for alcohol addiction and they would not give her a transplant until she was clean.

It is unclear if the scarring was caused by her condition.

The woman then went to the University of Pittsburghs Presbyterian Hospital.

Doctors again accused her of having a substance-abuse problem, before noticing her urine tests were missing the metabolites ethyl glucuronide and ethyl sulfate.

At least one of these should be present for several days after a person drinks alcohol, Dr Kenichi Tamama told Live Science.

The womans blood tests also came back negative for ethanol, which is the principle ingredient in alcoholic beverages.

Story continues

The woman had the fungi Candida glabrata in her urine, a species that is closely related to brewers yeast (Getty)

Doctors noted her diabetes was poorly controlled, leading them to wonder whether microbes in her bladder were fermenting sugar into alcohol.

To put this theory to the test, they froze a sample of the patients urine.

The sample was then incubated at body temperature (37C/98F), leading to remarkably high levels of ethanol production.

This did not occur when the urine was incubated at 4C/39F or when a fermentation-blocking chemical was added.

We concluded the discrepant test results were best explained by yeast fermenting sugar in the bladder, the scientists wrote in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

Tests also revealed the woman had the fungi Candida glabrata in her urine, a species that is closely related to brewers yeast.

Brewers yeast is used by beer makers to convert carbohydrates in grains into alcohol.

Read more: How much is one unit of alcohol? And what are the risks of overindulging?

The woman was reportedly prescribed oral antifungal drugs to rid the fungus from her bladder.

Few reports have linked diabetics with alcohol-fermentation in that particular organ.

Those that are exist are limited, with one study being carried out post mortem, Live Science reported.

Auto-brewery syndrome, however, is better known.

An unnamed 46-year-old was pulled over by police in 2014, with a breathalyser showing he was five times over the legal limit.

The man claimed he had not drank a drop of alcohol, which both the police and his family refused to believe.

It was not until 2017 that doctors discovered yeast that produce alcohol had overgrown in his gut.

His condition is so rare, there is said to have been just five reported cases in the past 30 years.
(Alliance News) - Brussels has demanded the UK continues to allow EU fishing fleets access to British waters to strike a post-Brexit free trade agreement.

European ministers agreed to red lines for the negotiations in a meeting of the General Affairs Council on Tuesday, but the mandate has set the EU on a collision course with the UK Government.

The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier told a press conference after the talks that fishing rights must be included in the deal or there "won't be any agreement at all".

He insisted there must be "robust, level playing field safeguards" to avoid "unfair competitive advantages" in social, environmental, tax and state aid matters.

The mandate says the EU will seek to "uphold the existing reciprocal access to waters" and quota shares a a move that is set to cause tensions with Brexiteers and British fishermen.

"Let me remind you that most of the British processed fisheries products are traded, are exported, are sent to us, to the European market," Barnier said.

"So fisheries is part of a package as regards our trade relations, which are to be discussed, and that package is one you can't break up. There will be no ambiguity at all around that.

"The trade agreement will be associated with a fisheries agreement and an agreement about a level playing field or there won't be any agreement at all."

Barnier said the UK would be the EU's third largest trading partner, but its proximity meant the rules "cannot be the same" as deals with Canada.

He warned that if there was to be any chance of a deal by the end of the year, there could be no "backtracking" by the UK on commitments made in the Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration.

"If we want to build up a future relationship in the long term based on trust with the UK, we need to make sure that we have trust in the short term," he said.

"This is predicated on the proper implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement that has already been signed and ratified.

"If you read the Political Declaration that was signed by Boris Johnson, that was negotiated by him and his team, we are not that far apart. In Political Declaration every single word counts."

It follows reports that the prime minister has ordered his Brexit team to find ways to "get around" the Northern Ireland protocol which aims to avoid the introduction of a hard border on the island of Ireland.

Barnier also said the negotiations would be "complex, demanding and difficult" but a in an apparent reference to Johnson's Get Brexit Done election slogan a urged both sides to "get this negotiation done and off to a good start".

Downing Street said the government wants the same treatment as other major economies who have signed trade deals with the EU.

A tweet from the Number 10 press office read: "The EU has respected the autonomy of other major economies around the world such as Canada and Japan when signing trade deals with them. We just want the same.

"We agree the UK's trade with the EU is significant. The US's is on the same scale a yet that did not stop the EU being willing to offer the US zero tariffs without the kind of level playing field commitments or the legal oversight they have put in today's mandate."

Johnson used a speech in Greenwich earlier this month to announce that, once free of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy, "British fishing grounds are first and foremost for British boats".

The EU's terms also include a controversial clause saying Britain should "return unlawfully removed cultural objects to their countries of origin" a an apparent reference to the Elgin Marbles.

Johnson chaired a meeting of senior ministers on his Brexit committee earlier on Tuesday ahead of the publication of the UK's negotiating position on Thursday.

The first round of talks is expected in Brussels on Monday, with a second round in London later in March.

British ministers are expected to seek a Canada-style agreement with zero tariffs, a proposal Johnson and his Europe adviser David Frost have set out in speeches in recent weeks.

The tight time schedule for the talks remains an issue, with European ministers voicing concerns over the prime minister's unwillingness to extend the deadline beyond December.

Barnier said the bloc would not agree a deal "at any price" and warned that the deadline set by the UK could limit the scope of the agreement.

"In a very brief period, you can't do everything, we will do as much as we can under pressure of time," he said.

By Harriet Line, PA Deputy Political Editor, and Gavin Cordon, PA Whitehall Editor

source: PA

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
IMAGE: Security personnel conduct flag march during clashes in north east Delhi, on Tuesday. Photograph: Ravi Choudhary/PTI Photo

Indian Police Services officer S N Shrivastava has been appointed as the new Delhi Police Special Commissioner (Law and Order) after the Union Home Ministry repatriated him from the Central Reserve Police Force on Tuesday night to take control of the situation in the wake of communal violence in the city, officials said.

An order issued by the Home Department of the Delhi government said the 1985-batch AGMUT cadre officer is being appointed to the new post with 'immediate effect'.

The CRPF, where Shrivastava was serving as the Special Director General (Training), also issue an order reliving the officer after the Home Ministry ordered his "premature repatriation" from the paramilitary force.

Officials said Shrivastava, who served the Delhi Police in various capacities in the past, has taken over the new charge and is already interacting with police officials and meeting cops on ground to control the violence that has engulfed parts of north-east Delhi since the last two days and has claimed 13 lives, including that of a policeman.

Shrivastava, who holds a B Tech and LLB degree, is also tipped to take over as the new Delhi Police chief after incumbent Amulya Patnaik's extended tenure ends on February 29.

He is scheduled to retire in June next year.
Without volunteer drivers, the women would not even be able to attend their scheduled doctors appointments.

One network of volunteers in Wuhan is trying to help women find hospitals that still offer prenatal and postpartum care. The group  which includes psychological workers and drivers  is working with more than 600 pregnant women and new mothers in and around the city, and offers 24-hour service to help deal with emergencies.

Jane Huang was recently connected with the volunteers. The 40-year-old mother of one is 17 weeks pregnant, but the district hospital where she is registered is no longer open to pregnant women. Ms. Huang worries that if she does not find a hospital soon, neither she nor her baby will survive because of her hypertension and fragile kidney.

I worry every day about whether my child will die in my belly. I worry if there is an early delivery, it will not be able to survive, Ms. Huang said by phone. I worry about the financial burdens if I have to do dialysis or even change my kidney, I worry that if my child has an abnormality, should I bring it into to the world.

I think about a lot of things every day, she said.
The Portland International Film Festival, better known as PIFF, has cultivated a reputation for spellbinding cinema, created here in Oregon and around the globe. The 43rd annual PIFF will still be a celebration of inventive movies, but this years festival will incorporate new events into its 10-day spread March 6-15.

In this day and age where you could just stay home and watch things on your TVor if youre 10 years old like my son, you watch it on your phonewe felt strongly that we wanted to offer something just a little left of center, a little unbound, and make sure that we were being as inclusive as possible and allowing artists to tell the stories that they wanted to tell and the way they wanted to tell, says Amy Dotson, the new director of the NW Film Center, which hosts PIFF. Dotson joined the center from New York in September, when Bill Foster retired after 37 years at the helm.

For the first time, PIFF is partnering with the Oregon Symphony, folding in the Northwest Filmmakers Festival, holding a juried competition for filmmakers and hosting a benefit awards program to support its education programs. Add to that a six-hour live performance by John Cameron Mitchell as he presents his omnibus podcast, Anthem: Homunculus.

This years theme is cinema unbound. Dotson says its apropos for the 2020 festival lineup, but also for the overall mission of the NW Film Center. We are really looking with a global lens in the sense that cinema is changing the notion of what can be cinematic: Who makes work, how work is made and for whom.

Cinephiles, fear not, plenty of innovative, boundary-pushing films will be screened at venues across Portland. In fact, this year the festival is opening in grand fashion with three films: Two shorts and The Climb, a buddy comedy feature that screened at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. Heres a look at seven of the most exciting films showing at the festival.

Maronas Fantastic Tale

This animated film is a buoyant deviation for Romanian animator Anca Damian  most notably Crulic  The Path to Beyond. In Maronas Fantastic Tale, the audience experiences

the simple, comfort-seeking world through Marona the dog, from a puppy to her final moments, and all the humans she affected in between. Its a must for dog lovers.

4 p.m., Saturday, March 7 and 12:30 p.m., Saturday, March 14, Cinema 21, 616 N.W. 21st Ave.

- Luca Marinelli plays "Martin Eden." Courtesy Kino Lorber

Martin Eden

Loosely based on Jack Londons 1909 novel of the same name, this decades-spanning, historical romance-drama follows Martin Eden as he endeavors to improve his uneducated, proletarian upbringing by becoming a successful writer. Director Pietro Marcello (Lost and Beautiful), transports Londons novel from Oakland to 20th century Naples, creating a visually rich setting. Luca Marinelli as Martin gives a stunning, committed performance. (In Italian with English subtitles.)

5:45 p.m., Wednesday, March 11, Whitsell Auditorium, Portland Art Museum, 1219 S.W. Park Ave., 8:30 p.m., Friday, March 13, Cinemagic, 2021 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.

- Nipawistamasowin: We Will Stand Up. Courtesy National Film Board of CanadaNational Film Board of Canada

nipawistamasowin: We Will Stand Up

First Nation Cree filmmaker Tasha Hubbard dissects the case of Colten Boushie, a 22-year-old Cree man who was shot and killed on a farm in Saskatchewan, Canada, on Aug. 9, 2016. Farmer Gerald Stanley was tried for second-degree murder in the case. His trial and acquittal later became a lightning rod about racism in Canada. This compelling documentary interweaves Hubbards own personal history and the larger story of indigenous displacement and creates an intense, sometimes hopeful film centered on injustice.

3 p.m., Sunday, March 8, and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 15, Cinema 21, 616 N.W. 21st Ave.

- "Sophie Jones."Courtesy Jessie Barr

Sophie Jones

This coming-of-age story follows Sophie, a 16-year-old whose mother died one year ago. She deals with the challenges of high school, crushes and the constant barrage of social media. Her older sister handles everyday life much better, making it all the harder for Sophie in this honest portrayal of adolescence. This debut feature is by director Jessie Barr and co-written and acted by her cousin Jessica Barr.

6 p.m. Friday, March 13, Whitsell Auditorium, Portland Art Museum, 1219 S.W. Park Ave., 3 p.m. Saturday, March 14, Cinema 21, 616 N.W. 21st Ave.

- "Sybil." Music Box FilmsMusic Box Films

Sibyl

What would you do overcome writers block? Justine Triets funny, unpredictable Sibyl, is about the lengths one women will go for a good story. Psychotherapist Sibyl (Virginie Efira) shutters her practice to return to her true love: creative writing. But shes bereft of ideas, so she keeps busy with her one remaining patient, Margot (Adele Exarchopoulos), a distressed actress whos pregnant with a co-stars child and unsure what to do. Its just the creative jumpstart Sibyl needs. (In French, Italian, and English with English subtitles.)

6 p.m. Monday, March 9, Cinema 21, 616 N.W. 21st Ave., 6 p.m. Monday, March 13, Cinemagic, 2021 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.

- "To the Ends of the Earth." Courtesy of KimStimCourtesy of KimStim

To the Ends of the Earth

Filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa, who has directed horror films and dramas, innovates with mixing genres again in To the Ends of the Earth. Intrepid reporter Yoko (Atsuko Maeda) works with an all-male crew to create a travel television show. During their latest episode in Uzbekistan, Yoko maintains a sunny, on-camera disposition, but Kurosawa explores her inner state as wacky, sometimes funny, occurrences happen behind the scenes. (In Japanese and Uzbek with English subtitles.)

8:30 p.m. Thursday and Sunday, March 12 and 15, Cinema 21, 616 N.W. 21st Ave.

"First Cow" is the seventh film from director Kelly Reichardt. Courtesy of A24Courtesy of A24

First Cow

First Cow closes PIFF (debuting at the festival before a theatrical limited release on March 20). Its the seventh film for director Kelly Reichardt, who also co-wrote the screenplay based on The Half-Life, the novel by Portland author Jonathan Raymond (who also co-wrote the screenplay). Cookie Figowitz (John Magaro) is a loner cook who teams up with King-Lu (Orion Lee). The two start a new venture revolving around a wealthy landowners prize milk cowwithout the landowners knowledge. Reichardt illuminates life in the Pacific Northwest frontier, circa 1820, and the two mens unlikely friendship.

8:30 p.m. Sunday, March 15, Whitsell Auditorium, Portland Art Museum, 1219 S.W. Park Ave.

Other Noteworthy Events at the 43rd PIFF

At this years PIFF, its not all masterpiece movies. Here are two more cant-miss events.

Anthem: Homunculus Live Listening Party

Calling it a musical podcast, doesnt quite encapsulate the spirit of John Cameron Mitchells Anthem: Homunculus. Yes, its a podcast featuring music, but it also includes enthralling narratives, theater and more. John Cameron Mitchell and guests will perform Anthem: Homunculus live in a six-hour tour-de-force performance. Its centered on Ceann, who creates an online telethon to raise money to survive a brain tumor.

Sunday, March 8

Berios Sinfonia by Rose Bond

PIFF partners with Oregon Symphony for a performance of Luciano Berios Sinfonia, set to Portland animator Rose Bonds immersive, experimental animation portrait of daily life in New York in the late 1960s.

7:30 p.m. Saturday and Monday, 2 p.m. Sunday, March, 14-16; Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 S.W. Broadway; tickets: orsymphony.org

43rd Portland International Film Festival

When: March 6-16

Where: Various locations.

Tickets: $14 general , $12 for Portland Art Museum Members, students and seniors, $10 for children ages 12 and younger. Festival passes available for $350; cinemaunbound.org or 503-221-1156.

 Tiffany Hill, special to The Oregonian/OregonLive

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Dana Ghazi Mustafa was charged with assaulting a federal officer

A female passenger allegedly said she wanted to 'stab everyone on the plane, then kill herself' as she fought with air marshals and flight attendants.

Dana Ghazi Mustafa was on board a United Airlines flight from Frankfurt to Dulles International Airport in Virginia on Saturday when the alarm was raised.

The 27-year-old was allegedly seen by a federal air marshal entering the plane's bathroom with a lighter after setting off a smoke alarm.

The marshal then tried to stop her and was assaulted, according to court documents.

Flight attendants were earlier altered to a smoke detector going off outside the lavatory and found Mustafa in the toilet.

She was told smoking was not allowed on board and told to return to her seat. But Mustafa was soon acting in an agitated manner and tried to go back to the plane bathroom.

One she returned to her seat, Mustafa began crying and told flight attendants that she was flying home to see her family but said they had died in a car accident caused by a drunk driver.

Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia. Mustafa was arrested after landing at the airport on a United flight from Germany

She was moved to another seat in a bid to help her calm down, according to Fox 5.

While in her reassigned seat, Mustafa allegedly punched a TV monitor on her seat and threw a coin at the bulkhead.

She was later seen getting up and walking to the rear cabin of the plane while striking the flint of her lighter.

One air marshal who saw Mustafa with the lighter said she smelled of alcohol, according to a sworn affidavit.

Flight attendants tried to stop Mustafa from entering the lavatory with the lighter, but she pushed the attendants and tried to shut the door.

She also fought back against two air marshals on board who attempted to restrain her and place handcuffs on her, and Mustafa repeatedly kicked one of the marshals in the shins.

Mustafa was on board a United Airlines flight from Frankfurt to Dulles International Airport in Virginia on Saturday when the alarm was raised (a file image of a United plane)

During a struggle with two air marshals, Mustafa was allegedly heard shouting: 'I'm going to stab everyone on this plane. Then kill myself. I'm Palestinian. That's how we get down.'

She was eventually handcuffed and seated next to the air marshals who found a half-empty liter of Absolut vodka visible at the top of her open bag and said Mustafa complained that 'I was allowed to drink my duty-free bottle of vodka on my previous flight.'

When the plane landed in Virginia, FBI agents arrested Mustafa, who admitted that the story about her family's deaths was a lie.

Mustafa, from North Carolina, was charged with assaulting a federal officer and faces a maximum penalty of eight years in prison if convicted.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The head of an Iranian government task force on the coronavirus who had urged the public not to overreact about its spread has tested positive for the illness himself, authorities said Tuesday, as new cases emanating from the country rapidly emerged across the Middle East.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A public bus driver, right, and commuters wear masks to help guard against the Coronavirus in downtown Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. On Sunday Iran's health ministry raised 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)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The head of an Iranian government task force on the coronavirus who had urged the public not to overreact about its spread has tested positive for the illness himself, authorities said Tuesday, as new cases emanating from the country rapidly emerged across the Middle East.

Only a day earlier, a coughing and heavily sweating Iraj Harirchi said at a televised news conference in Tehran that the situation is almost stable in the country."

The acknowledgement of Harirchi's illness underscores a growing crisis of confidence felt by many in Iran after nationwide economic protests, a U.S. drone striking killing a top Iranian general and Iran accidentally shooting down a commercial jetliner and insisting for days that it hadn't.

Iran on Tuesday also saw a crucial air link cut to the United Arab Emirates, home to the world's busiest airport for international travel in Dubai, as Bahrain announced more confirmed cases of the virus from passengers who transited through the UAE. The number of cases also increased sharply elsewhere in the region.

A worker disinfects a public bus against coronavirus in the city of Ahvaz in southwestern, Iran, in early morning of Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. Iran's government said Tuesday that more than a dozen people had died nationwide from the new coronavirus, rejecting claims of a much higher death toll of 50 by a lawmaker from the city of Qom that has been at the epicenter of the virus in the country. (Alireza Mohammadi/ISNA via AP)

Qatar Airways, one of the Mideast's biggest carriers, also said it was essentially halting operations to Iran and South Korea until further notice.

Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour confirmed Harirchi had the virus. Harirchi himself posted an online video saying he had it and that he had quarantined himself at home. He promised that authorities would bring the virus under control.

I wanted to tell you that, rest assured that with efforts of your servants at the Health Ministry ... and backed by you people, the government and all elements of the establishment, we will be victorious in our combat against this virus within the next few weeks, Harirchi said.

On Monday, however, he had offered a far different assessment while repeatedly wiping his brow while standing beside government spokesman Ali Rabiei.

Currently the situation is almost stable in the country and we could manage to minimize the problem," Harirchi said. He also said that "quarantines belong to the Stone Age."

In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian Presidency, President Hassan Rouhani speaks in a ceremony inaugurating a new highway that connects Tehran to the north of the country, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. Rouhani sought to reassure the nation in a speech on Tuesday, calling the new coronavirus an "uninvited and inauspicious passenger." "We will get through corona," Rouhani said. "We will get through the virus." (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)

That optimism, while no longer held by Harirchi, also appeared to be undercut by Jahanpour himself on Tuesday. The Health Ministry spokesman suggested it may take at least until Nowruz, the Persian New Year on March 20, for Iran to reach a point where the virus was contained. He added that a more pessimistic assessment suggested Iran would contain it by late April.

"We don't expect a miracle in the short term," Jahanpour said.

A prominent pro-reform lawmaker, Mamoud Sadeghi of Tehran, also said in a tweet that he tested positive for the virus.

The coronavirus has infected more than 80,000 people globally, causing about 2,700 deaths, mainly in China. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19.

Jahanpour on Tuesday said 15 people had died in Iran so far amid 95 confirmed cases. However, experts remain concerned Iran may be underreporting cases and deaths, given the rapid spread from Iran across the Persian Gulf.

Pedestrians wear masks to help guard against the Coronavirus in downtown Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. The head of Iran's counter-coronavirus task force has tested positive for the virus himself, authorities announced Tuesday, showing the challenges facing the Islamic Republic amid concerns the outbreak may be far wider than officially acknowledged. The announcement comes as countries across the Mideast say theyve had confirmed cases of the virus that link back to Iran, which for days denied having the virus. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

A hard-line lawmaker in Iran alleged Monday there had been 50 deaths in the Iranian city of Qom alone, which was denied by authorities.

What do you have to say about those buried in Qom cemetery? tweeted lawmaker Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani. Practitioners in hospitals write respiratory problems as the cause of death. But you know that they are from those quarantined for corona.

While Farahani's politics make him eager to undercut moderate President Hassan Rouhani, his earlier warning that Qom's top doctor fighting the coronavirus also had been infected has proven to be true.

Rouhani said he opposed closing public and government offices.

This is one of the plots by the enemy to shut down the country through spreading fear," he said in a speech, although he also urged people to avoid crowds, including at major Shiite shrines.

In this Monday, Feb. 24, 2020 photo, Shiite pilgrims wear masks outside the shrine of Imam Ali in Najaf, Iraq. The Health Ministry said four new cases of coronavirus were diagnosed in the northern province of Kirkuk. It said the afflicted were members of an Iraqi family who had returned from a recent trip to Iran. Iraq announced the discovery of the first coronavirus case in the country on Monday in Najaf. Iraq had earlier closed its border with Iran to Iranian nationals but apparently Iraqis can still cross the boundary. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. is deeply concerned that Iran may have suppressed vital details about the outbreak.

All nations, including Iran, should tell the truth about the coronavirus and co-operate with international aid organizations, he said.

The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority said it would halt all flights to and from Iran. The announcement came hours after busy Dubai International Airport said there would be restrictions on flights there.

The UAE, home to long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad, remains a key international transit route for Iran's 80 million people.

All passenger and cargo aircraft travelling to and from Iran will be suspended for a period of one week, and could be up for extension, the authority said.

Passengers on a Mahan Air flight from Tehran to Dubai on Tuesday said their flight was delayed some two hours, only to repeatedly circle the UAE city-state, then land and sit for another two hours before authorities agreed to let them off. The passengers, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution, said authorities let them walk off one at a time while being monitored with a thermal scanner.

Emirates, the government-owned carrier based in Dubai, flies daily to Tehran. Its low-cost partner airline, FlyDubai, serves several Iranian cities, as does the Sharjah-based low-cost carrier Air Arabia.

The announcement came after Bahrain said it would suspend all flights from Dubai and Sharjah, a neighbouring UAE emirate home to Air Arabia, for 48 hours. The small island nation off Saudi Arabia announced its first cases of the virus on Monday. By Tuesday, Bahrain said it had 23 confirmed cases.

Dubai had been screening passengers on flights from China, where the outbreak began in December. Emirates and Etihad still fly to Beijing as the UAE works to maintain close ties with China.

Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq and Oman also announced their first cases of the virus Monday and connected them to travel with Iran. The UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula, has reported 13 cases of the virus. Most of those were connected to Chinese travel.

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.

Also Tuesday, Kuwait raised the number of its infected cases from five to eight, according to the state-run KUNA news agency. It said the three latest cases involved Kuwaiti citizens just back from Iran. The five previously reported cases were passengers on a flight from the Iranian city of Mashhad, where Irans government has not yet announced a single case of the virus.

Iraqs Health Ministry said four new cases of coronavirus were diagnosed in the northern province of Kirkuk. It said the afflicted were members of an Iraqi family who had returned recently from Iran. Iraq announced its first case Monday in the Shiite Muslim holy city of Najaf: an Iranian student who has since returned to Iran.

The northern region, which shares a border with Iran, is a hub of economic activity and the primary gateway for the Kurdistan Regional Government to import Iranian goods and fuel, and Kurds in Erbil lined up for gas, fearing shortages. The KRG also suspended working hours across educational institutions for a month.

Harirchi, the ailing Iranian official, had the following advice for worried Iranians: Take care of yourselves. This virus is a democrat virus! It does not differentiate between the rich and the poor or official and nonofficial and anyone could get it.

___

Associated Press writers Aya Batrawy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Nasser Karimi, Saeed Sarmadi, Mohammad Nasiri and Mehdi Fattahi in Tehran, Iran; Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey; Munir Ahmed in Islamabad; and Samya Kullab in Baghdad contributed.
Gardai at the scene of the accident in Buncrana in which Dylan Kelly (11) lost his life after being struck by a van

The parents of a young boy who is the latest victim on Ireland's roads have been left "shattered" by his death.

Students at the national school attended by Dylan Kelly yesterday offered prayers for the youngster.

Dylan (11) was hit by a van while walking along Slavery Road, Tullyarvan, near Buncrana, Co Donegal, at around 5.30pm on Friday.

He was transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, where his parents maintained a bedside vigil. However, he died from his injuries on Sunday afternoon.

Devastated

Locals yesterday said a sadness had descended on the town after Dylan, who was originally from Dublin, lost his life in the tragic accident.

Fr John Walsh, who is the chairman of Dylan's national school, Scoil Iosagain, attended to him and the family while he was in the ambulance following the accident.

"His parents are absolutely devastated. Shattered is the word I'd use, but they are very brave," he told the Herald.

"People are absolutely stunned. Any death is sad, but for a young person to die like this, it's a tragedy.

"And the fact that it happened so suddenly exacerbates the situation."

Students at the school, including those in his two brothers' classes, have been given counselling since the tragedy.

They will be able to attend the funeral on Thursday, at The Oratory, Buncrana, if they are accompanied by a parent, said Fr Walsh.

"It's an absolutely desperate situation for both sides. It's just sadness here," said David McConnell, chairman of the local Buncrana GAA club.

"It's just horrific for the poor boy's family, and for the man who was driving, too. Our thoughts are with them."

He said the driver of the van was also a well-known man in the community.

Dylan, who was originally from Cabra, had moved to the north west in recent years.

"He went to Scoil Iosagain and I know there were prayers being offered," he added.

Dylan, who had two younger brothers and a younger sister, was a fifth-class student at the school. Speaking over the weekend, Buncrana councillor Rena Donaghey said the community was ready to rally round the boy's family and offer their support.

"Buncrana is no stranger to tragedy but this is yet another horrific accident and the wee boy was only 11," she said.

"It was an isolated incident on that particular road but driving conditions were absolutely horrific. It was dark from 4.30pm. It was just an awful evening weather-wise.

"I want to offer my wholehearted support and I know that the community will rally round. Whatever we can do will absolutely be done," the councillor added.

Gardai have appealed for witnesses to come forward, particularly anyone who travelled along Slavery Road between 5.15pm and 5.45pm on Friday.

The driver of the van, a man in his 50s, was uninjured.

Separately, a man (36) died when his car hit a wall in Co Clare at around 3am on Sunday.

He was named locally as father-of-three Michael Powell, from Truagh, Sixmilebridge.

The crash happened near his original family home at Roo East between Ardnacrusha and Broadford.

Mr Powell worked with agricultural machinery and was described as "a gentleman".

On Saturday, a man in his 40s died when his van hit a tree in the Goresbridge area of Co Kilkenny. And on Sunday night, a man in his 40s died when his car ran into a ditch near Glenealy village, Co Wicklow.
TORRINGTON  Every day of the week, Petricones Pharmacy bustles with customers, ringing phones and staff filling prescriptions behind the counter.

To the left, a black and white photograph of the founder, Fiore Petricone, keeps watch over all that activity, day in and day out. Drivers are in and out the door with prescriptions for customers, traveling in a custom van with the business logo. And Petricones remains on East Main Street, where it first opened 90 years ago.

Joe Petricone, the third-generation owner, oversees the stores pharmaceutical practice, as well as its medical supply business, which was added in the 1980s when stores such as Petricones needed a boost. Other pharmacy giants, along with a growing number of mail-order companies, left small pharmacies unable to keep up with the competition. One by one, those smaller entities closed. But Petricones is thriving, and a second family-owned pharmacy is opening in March in New Hartford.

Another Petricones

Maureen Zeiner, who has been a pharmacist with us for more than 30 years, will manage the New Hartford store, Petricone said. Its opening at 4 Bridge St. in March. Were renting a space that used to be a hardware store. It was recently renovated and we saw an opportunity.

Its a much smaller version that this one in Torrington, he said. Theres not as much medical supply, but it will have a full pharmacy and front-end retail area.

Petricone said the plan to open a second location has been a dream for years. I found paperwork on a new pharmacy that we were talking about six years ago, he said. First Selectman Dan Jerram in New Hartford and (resident) John Burdick approached me, after their only pharmacy closed. Its all about timing ... this is the right time.

Family roots

Joe Petricone grew up around the pharmacy, watching his grandfather and father work.

My grandfather Fiore Petricone opened in 1930 in this same space, but a lot smaller, he said, while standing near the pharmacy counter. My grandma Edith owned the building. Eventually it was expanded to the whole lower level, but in the beginning it was just one small room.

Health and beauty aids and a selection of greeting cards are on display, along with cough syrup, aspirin and cold medicine. The top shelves of the small store show memorabilia from the old days, including vintage glass prescription bottles, framed certifications and old pharmacists tools.

My grandfather was here for the flood of 55, and theres a notch on the wall here, he said, indicating the mark about 4 feet from the floor in the doorway of his office. Thats how high the water was. (Fiore Petricone) worked out of St. Peters Hall until the pharmacy was ready to reopen again.

Fiore died in 1975. Joes father, Joe Petricone Sr., was already a pharmacist, running the place with his dad, by 1968.

He was a pharmacist in the U.S. Army and when he came back, he started working here, Petricone said. My mom Anne was with him. We grew up on Cardinal Circle in Torrington, and my brother John and I went to St. Peter School.

I washed floors, replaced the greeting cards, swept the sidewalks ... I did whatever my dad needed, after school, Petricone said. As I got older, my dad would ask me to help out. I drove the delivery van, or stocked shelves.

When his father died in 1972, Petricone was already part of the business. After earning a degree in biology from Stonehill College, Joe Petricone Jr. attended Northeastern University in Boston and earned his pharmacy degree.

Taking over wasnt sudden  I was doing a lot already, learning the ropes, Petricone said. I worked in the pharmacy from 1994 to 2015. After that I had to separate myself from the bench where we fill the medications, to being the administrator. I went back and forth, but we have a very experienced team here. I was able to run the business from the administrative end.

He lives in New Hartford now with his family, including his wife Deirdre, daughter Cecilia, 21, a political science major at Boston College, and son Daniel, who attends Gulf Coast University and studies marketing.

In 20 years, I hope to be retired, Petricone said with a smile. This business can really burn you out.

Growth and change

Petricones medical supply business has steadily grown since it was added in the 1980s. The store stocks a full line of diabetic supplies: stockings, shoes and testing equipment, as well as walkers, commodes, chairs and hospital beds.

Back then, my dad wanted to diversify, Petricone said. He said, You cant focus on just one thing. We work with group homes, assisted living facilities and nursing homes, providing the equipment they need.

Petricones also now provides medications in bubble packs for patients, following a national trend intended to help people remember to take them, as well as eliminating plastic bottles.

Theyre color coded, and it makes life a lot easier for people, Petricone said. Sometimes we have to redo them, if a prescription is changed after theyre done, but it makes a big difference for many of our customers to have them done this way.

Another 90 years?

Petricones has survived the world of dispensing prescription medications for a number of reasons.

The corporate pharmacy models are tough to live up to, and we have to make money to survive, Petricone said. Sometimes, especially with insurance, situations are out of our control, but we try to work with people when it comes to the cost of the drugs theyre taking, for whatever reason.

Theres no room for mistakes, he said. But we all make them, and we do our best to correct them quickly and work with the customer and the insurance companies to make it right. Insurance fees are tough, too. Sometimes people are billed for fees for a prescription, months after its been filled, and the customer has to pay for it. They dont always understand why things like that happen. Thats just the way it is.

The pharmacy has also faced the opioid addiction crisis with the same approach: they try to help. Petricone serves on the board of the McCall Foundation, which provides behavioral health and addiction services to the greater Torrington community. The crisis, Petricone said, is a national problem.

Ive attended and helped with awareness events, and we are allowed to dispense Narcan (a drug used to revive a person who has overdosed on opioids, including oxycodone, fentanyl and heroin). Its an issue. When opioids were first prescribed, pharmacies were told one thing about how they can impact people, and it took a little while to figure out what was happening (with the opioid crisis). We do our best to counsel people about pain medication, and show them that things like Tylenol and ibuprophen can really help if taken correctly, to manage pain. Its affected everyone, everywhere.

If a person is having a problem, we try to have a conversation with them about it and get them help, Petricone said.

The most important reason for the pharmacys success, Petricone said, is based on his fathers advice.

My father used to say, Joe, we dont have customers, we have friends. Thats the way we try to look at every person who comes through that door. If you look at them in that way, it changes the way you see people. We try to treat people like friends.

To reach Petricones, call 860-489-5511 or visit petriconespharmacy.com
Students are pictured wearing face masks to protect them against the coronavirus Covid-19 while taking part in an unrelated protest outside Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok on 24 February. (Getty Images)

The coronavirus Covid-19 cannot yet be considered a pandemic, officials have said.

The previously-unknown strain emerged at a seafood and live animal market in the Chinese city Wuhan at the end of last year.

It has since crossed national borders into more than 20 countries, with 13 cases reaching the UK.

Read more: Coronavirus Covid-19 'mild' in more than four in five cases

Out of the more than 79,500 confirmed incidences worldwide, 77,150 are in mainland China, according to John Hopkins University data. The countrys death toll exceeded 2,500 on Monday.

The infection is taking hold thousands of miles away from its epicentre, with 833 cases and eight deaths in South Korea alone.

Italy is faring worse than anywhere else in Europe, with its 215 patients and six deaths prompting several small towns in the Lombardy and Veneto regions to be put on lockdown.

All this means not everyone is convinced by the officials reassurance, with one expert calling the outbreak a pandemic in all but name.

A man is pictured wearing a face mask outside Milan's famous cathedral 'Duomo di Milano' on 24 February. Italy is experiencing the worst outbreak in Europe, with 215 confirmed cases and six deaths. (Getty Images)

What is a pandemic?

A spokesperson from the World Health Organization (WHO) claims it no longer declares outbreaks a pandemic.

It made Covid-19 a global emergency on 30 January after people who had not visited China caught the virus from those who had recently been.

According to the WHOs old definition, a pandemic is the worldwide spread of a new disease.

For example, a virus that emerges and travels globally, with most people having no immunity.

Unlike seasonal infections - such as flu - anyone can be vulnerable to a pandemic, even the young and otherwise well.

Swine flu, the first global emergency, caused most of its severe or fatal disease in younger people, both those with chronic conditions, as well as healthy persons.

The vast majority of Covid-19 fatalities reported so far have been in the elderly or otherwise ill.

Lack of immunity tends to make infections have greater impact or severity.

In extreme cases, Covid-19 triggers pneumonia.

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This comes about when the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs become inflamed and filled with pus or fluid.

Without treatment the end is inevitable, said the charity Medecins Sans Frontieres.

Deaths occurs because of asphyxiation.

Read more: How is the coronavirus Covid-19 diagnosed?

Nonetheless, scientists from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) found early cases of Covid-19 were mild in four out of five cases.

Covid-19s death rate is up for debate.

A report by the CCDC estimated the province Hubei - of which Wuhan is capital - has a fatality rate of 2.9%, compared with the rest of Chinas 0.4%.

Overall, it predicted a 2.3% death rate.

Earlier this month, scientists from Imperial College London calculated Hubeis case-fatality rate could range from 1% up to 18%.

They noted the credible interval goes from 11% up to 81%.

Among travellers outside mainland China, the case-fatality rate was estimated at between 1.2% and 5.6%, with substantial uncertainty.

Taking into account both asymptomatic and symptomatic incidences, the Imperial scientists calculated the likely overall case-fatality rate to be around 1%.

The WHO previously defined pandemics as potentially following unusual epidemiological patterns, with some being surprisingly worse in summer.

Yahoo UK reported, however, Covid-19 may ease as it gets warmer, before re-emerging in the northern hemispheres winter.

Overall, the UK is well prepared to deal with the infection, with the risk to individuals remaining low, the BBC reported.

Sir Simon Stevens - head of the NHS - warned, however, more people will likely have to self isolate to stem the spread of infection.

The WHOs director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday the window of opportunity to contain Covid-19 was narrowing.

Symptoms tend to be flu-like and vague, namely fever, cough and breathlessness.

Patients may be infectious before they feel ill and carry the virus unknowingly for more than 14 days.

While the WHO no longer officially uses the term pandemic, it may be said colloquially.

A spokesperson told the BBC: If it became clear [Covid-19] 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 countries are managing to prevent the virus spreading too far for now.

Speaking at a Covid-19 briefing, Dr Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: For the moment we are not witnessing the uncontained global spread of this virus and we are not witnessing large-scale deaths.

Using the word pandemic does not fit the facts.

Does this virus have pandemic potential? Absolutely, it has.

Are we there yet? From our assessment, not yet.

Read more: How to stay calm amid the coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak

Not everyone is convinced, however.

We now consider this to be a pandemic in all but name and its only a matter of time before the WHO starts to use the term in its communications, said Dr Bharat Pankhania from the University of Exeter.

Professor Mark Woolhouse from the University of Edinburgh, added: A pandemic means an infectious disease is spreading out of control in different regions of the world.

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 I would expect the WHO to declare a pandemic.

The immediate implication is many different countries around the world may be sources of Covid-19 infections.

This will make large and difficult to control outbreaks more likely in the UK and many other countries.

Professor David Heymann, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, called the term pandemic distracting.

What is necessary is to understand the current situation in each country, he said.

An Italian police officer, wearing a respiratory mask, is pictured stopping a vehicle at a road block in the 'locked down' town Casalpusterlengo, south-west of Milan, on 24 February. (Getty Images)

What is the new coronavirus Covid-19?

Covid-19 is one of seven strains of the coronavirus class that are known to infect humans.

Others range from the mild common cold to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak that killed 774 people in 2004.

Most of the people who initially became unwell worked at, or visited, the Wuhan market.

The only know method of transmission is face-to-face via infected droplets that have been coughed or sneezed out.

While no one can say for sure where the virus came from, bats seem most likely.

The nocturnal creatures are thought to have been behind Sars and fellow coronavirus Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (Mers).

Scientists from Peking University in Beijing suggested snakes may have been the intermediate host for Covid-19.

A team from South China Agricultural University have since found it could have jumped from bats to humans via pangolins.

To prevent infection, the NHS recommends regular hand washing and avoiding those with suspect symptoms.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has convened an urgent meeting on Tuesday afternoon for which he has invited representatives of different political parties including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to apprise them on the ongoing status of Delhi violence.

The meeting, which has been convened at 12 noon on Tuesday, is believed to be political outreach of sort. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal will also be present in the meeting.

Sources say, all political parties have been requested to send their representatives to the meeting where Amit Shah is expected to tell them what prompted the unprecedented violence in Delhi and how far it has been contained.

Earlier on the intervening night of February 24 and 25, Shah flew back from Ahmedabad to Delhi to take stock of the situation.

On Monday, five people including a Delhi Police head constable were killed as pro-and anti-CAA groups battled each other even as Baijal and Kejriwal appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony.

Several areas including Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Gokulpuri remained tense. The police used tear gas in a bid chase away the protesters.

Interestingly, the violence unfolded amid US President Donald Trump's visit to India.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- The European Union has agreed to a naval deployment in the Mediterranean to enforce a much-violated arms embargo, announced in Berlin in January, against the warring parties in Libya. This new operation is in line with the declaration by the EUs foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, at the recent Munich Security conference: Europe has to develop an appetite for power.

But Borrell has since clarified that the naval vessels could be withdrawn if they became a pull for migrants trying to reach Europe via Libya. Indeed, this fear was the reason ships have been withdrawn before, and was the main contention over this latest deployment. Europe, it would appear, loses its appetite for power when faced with rickety boats filled with migrants.

In Munich, Borrell lamented that the EUs consensus system often restricts action. There is no greater shackle on the EUs foreign policy than the collective paranoia about migration, especially irregular migration. An obsession with blocking migrants has weakened the EUs ability to credibly press for policy changes among its southern neighbors; it has at times allowed those neighbors to extort payments from the terrified Europeans.

In 2015, following a surge in asylum seekers coming from Turkey to Europe via Greece in 2015, the EU agreed to deliver 6 Billion Euros to Ankara, to cover the cost of hosting as many as 3.6 million refugees. The implementation of this agreement has been spotty, but Turkey has largely delivered on its end of the deal: migrant flows along the Eastern Mediterranean route dropped from 882,000 in 2015, to 82,000 in 2019.

But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, keenly aware of Europes fear, has repeatedly threatened to open the gates during disputes with the EU. Most recently, he threatened to do so in response to European officials labeling Turkish military operations in Syria as an invasion.

Perhaps the most disturbing manifestation of the EUs fear of migration is its funding of Libyan coast guards, generally aligned with militias, to intercept boats carrying migrants. The list of abuses by these militias is as extensive as it is horrifying, ranging from imprisoning migrants in a zoo, to torture and murder. They are accused of selling migrants into slavery, including sexual slavery.

Story continues

Although EU and United Nations officials are aware of the problem the funding of these militias continues.

The former head of the EUs foreign service, Pierre Vimont, argues that the rise of xenophobic populist leaders in Europe is to blame for the EUs Libya policy and will increase the number of migrants trapped in Libya. But in fact, it is the fear of losing votes to populists that has informed the approach of many in Europes political establishment. Too often, they accept the populist narrative of a migration crisis rather than counter it with a sober review of the facts.

As a result, the Europeans are deferential even to Middle Eastern and North African countries that are not substantial transit points for irregular migrants. A leaked paper from the European External Action Service and European Commission suggests that the EU views Egypt, with its population of 100 million, as a potential source of more irregular migrants. Egyptian officials are happy to use fears of an economic crisis that would precipitate mass migration to pressure European officials, whether to suppress criticism or secure concessions.The irony is that Europe needs migrants in order to address its labor shortages. As its population ages, the European commission predicts the ratio of working-age members of society to pensioners will fall from 3.3 in 2016 to just 2 in 2070. This will place enormous strain on the labor market and on state budgets to provide for retirees. A significant increase in migration can help mitigate this challenge, while allowing countries with more labor than jobs relieve pressure on their markets.

Borrell himself insisted on this solution when he was Spains foreign minister in 2018, arguing that Europe needs new blood and criticizing the use of the term mass migration as sensationalist and inaccurate. As early as 2016, studies indicated the arrival of a large number of asylum seekers would significantly and quickly add to GDP growth in receiving nations.

As the EUs foreign-policy chief, Borrell should convince member states to recognize what he did as Spains foreign minister. Otherwise, the EUs foreign policy will always be a hostage to its unfounded fear of migrantsand its southern neighbors will continue to capitalize on this fear. And his efforts to mobilize Europe into action will result in untenable naval deployments that can be compromised merely by the appearance of boatloads of migrants.

To contact the author of this story: Timothy Kaldas at KaldasTimothy@gmail.com

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Bobby Ghosh at aghosh73@bloomberg.net

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Timothy Kaldas is an independent risk adviser and nonresident fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy.

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

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Describing one of the complexs medical facilities, North Infirmary Command, Martin Horn, a former commissioner of the citys Department of Correction, said it was not luxurious but was not draconian either. It contains about 10 cells on a block as opposed to the nearly 30 on a typical Rikers cell block. The facility was built in 1932 as a hospital for inmates and once housed people with acute conditions like tuberculosis.

A second medical unit, known as West Facility, has the features like private cells with showers.

Mr. Horn said it was not unusual that correction officials would house Mr. Weinstein in a secluded setting for his protection inside a jail complex known for violence. North Infirmary Command, for instance, houses inmates whose safety may be at risk if they are placed in the general population, according to two people with knowledge of the facility. Such inmates could include celebrities, rape victims or, in some cases, transgender people. There is also an area reserved specifically for police officers.

We have an obligation to protect every prisoner irrespective of what they did and who they are, Mr. Horn said.

On Tuesday afternoon, one of Mr. Weinsteins lawyers, Arthur Aidala, went to visit him at Bellevue, telling reporters that the former film producer looked like he was in good shape.

He is somewhat flabbergasted by the verdict, Mr. Aidala said, adding that Mr. Weinstein wanted to continue to fight the charges.

Mr. Aidala and his partners on the defense team are working along two separate lines of legal attacks. Their primary goal is to get him out of jail on bail before he is sentenced at a hearing scheduled for March 11 in front of Justice James M. Burke. At the same time, they are marshaling arguments for a broad appeal they hope will overturn his conviction.

During the trial and at the hearings leading up to it, the defense objected strongly to several rulings by Justice Burke and called for a mistrial more than once, laying the groundwork for an appeal. Among other things, they complained the judge was biased, the prosecutors withheld evidence and one of the jurors was not objective.
Google seems to be taking extra steps to please EU regulators worried that it's abusing its search dominance. Search Engine Land has discovered that Google is highlighting rival directory services like Yelp when you search for businesses in European countries like France and Spain, placing prominent "find results on" cards above Google's own. Clearly, it's hoping this will fend off potential EU criticism that it's favoring its own results in local searches over those of competitors.

The company appeared to have tested this in Germany before rolling it out to a wider audience that includes the UK.

There's no certainty this will prevent another antitrust case against Google. The competing directories are clearly visible, but they're ultimately dwarfed by Google's own info. Also, these may be a little too familiar. Yelp and others complained about Google's "rival links" proposal back in 2013, and the EU ultimately rejected the concept. This isn't terribly far off. Even so, it's notable that Google is trying to preempt European legal action rather than waiting for the next antitrust case to implement changes.
By Steve Scherer and Denise Paglinawan

OTTAWA/TORONTO, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Protesters in Canada blocked train lines, Vancouver's port entrance and at least one highway in Quebec on Tuesday in response to the arrest of 10 indigenous protesters on Monday as police cleared a three-week rail barricade in southern Ontario.

On Monday, police arrested some of the Tyendinaga Mohawk campaigners who had barricaded the line in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en from British Columbia, who are seeking to stop construction of a gas pipeline over their land.

The new rail blockade is located at a junction of three busy Canadian National Railway lines, for both freight and passengers. That led to the closure of four stations on the GO Transit passenger line to Toronto from Hamilton, which is owned by Ontario's Metrolinx, although freight traffic was still moving.

"Right now we're monitoring the situation," Hamilton Police Constable Jerome Stewart said in a live interview broadcast by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. "Hopefully we can resolve this as soon as possible."

The group, which on Facebook calls itself "Wet'suwet'en Strong: Hamilton in Solidarity," said police served them with an injunction, which they burned, late on Monday.

"We're shutting down an effective junction that handles all rail traffic in and out of Hamilton. For each day we shut it down, it takes them twice that or more to recover!" the group said on Facebook.

CN did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A rail union source said the new blockade was at a "strategic location."

"As long as that blockade is up, nothing is going to move," the union source said.

Tuesday's protests are part of an increasingly tense standoff between authorities and the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs, who have been battling the gas line for a decade. Other First Nations and climate activists across Canada have taken up the Wet'suwet'en cause.

The indigenous-led protests are testing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's pledge to reconcile Canada with its indigenous groups, who face higher levels of poverty and violence and shorter life expectancies than the national average.

Story continues

An injunction was granted to clear a line south of Montreal blocked by Kahnawake Mohawk, CBC reported on Tuesday, and the Quebec premier said the barriers should be dismantled.

Also in Quebec, Kanesatake Mohawk are stopping traffic on Highway 344, and in British Columbia protesters continued to block a major intersection near the Port of Vancouver's main entrance.

Indigenous youth also slept overnight in protest on the steps in front of British Columbia's legislature.

(Reporting by Denise Paglinawan in Toronto and Steve Scherer in Ottawa; Editing by Dan Grebler)
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
The Army Corps headquarters did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

We can only speculate, but I think the tweet gives a clue as to the reason for the suspension, said Robert Freudenberg, vice president for energy and environment at the Regional Plan Association, an urban research and advocacy group. This is a president who gets good headlines for his base out of acting against blue states, and theres a disturbing pattern of stalling or trying to end projects that are important to the Northeast.

Julia Arredondo, a City Hall spokeswoman, called cancellation unacceptable and dangerous. She urged the decision makers to reverse course immediately and finish evaluating the options they are considering to protect New York City and the region.

According to the Corps official in charge of the project, Clifford S. Jones III, it is highly unusual for a Corps project to lose funding after more than three years of work at a cost of several million dollars.

This doesnt happen, Mr. Freudenberg said. This is an in-progress study.

In recent months, the Trump administration has tangled with officials in New York  his birthplace and a center of liberal opposition to his policies. It has, for instance, barred New York residents from Trusted Traveler programs, such as Global Entry, because of the states immigration policies. The administration may also delay congestion pricing, the states plan to charge drivers a fee to enter the heart of Manhattan.

The sea barrier project had drawn criticism because it addressed flooding only from storm surges, not from sea rise and storm water runoff. Some environmentalists and planning experts had criticized the wall options that the Corps was focusing on, saying the structures would create flooding outside the walls and trap pollutants, harming the recovering ecology of the Hudson River and New York Harbor.
on Tuesday suggested setting up of a high-level coordination group of countries, including Pakistan and Afghanistan, to deal with desert locust menace.

The issue was discussed in detail at a high-level meeting, chaired by Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal.

Strengthening of joint coordinated efforts with Locust Warning Organization, state government, Border Security Force (BSF) and farmers in the country was also discussed.

During the meeting, secretary said a coordination group meeting of countries namely India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Bangladesh may be convened, according to an official statement.

For next year, it has been proposed to strengthen control capabilities and logistics, both at states and central level, to deal with the menace.

The plan for next year was discussed after taking into account inputs from different stakeholders keeping in view this year's experience as well as prevention and control measures taken to protect crops from locust attack in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Further, the central government would conduct awareness campaigns and training for state government officials, BSF personnel, revenue department officials and farmers at village level.

Senior officials from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana as well as from external affairs and home ministries and Disaster Management Authority and CMD of HIL (India) Ltd, among others, were present at the meeting.

The secretary also directed officials to organise training and awareness programmes in four states -- Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana.

As per the release, locust control operations conducted from May 2019 to February 2020 was also reviewed at the meeting.

Losses caused by locust attack in Rajasthan and Gujarat and status of support under central and state disaster response fund was discussed.

A report of a Senior Locust Forecasting Officer of UN body FAO, who visited on January 16-17, was also discussed at the meeting.
A train driver and his pilot died in a horrific accident when the Sydney to Melbourne XPT (express passenger train) derailed 45 kilometres north of Melbourne on February 20. Of the 153 passengers on board, 12 were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries, while others were treated nearby.

The death toll could easily have been higher. Five carriages were scattered across rail lines, leaving shaken passengers scrambling from the wreckage. Emergency services called to the scene, north of Wallan station, led injured and confused passengers through the bush to a nearby fuel station where a triage unit was set up in a carpark.

The tragedy occurred on Australias main interstate rail line, linking the countrys two largest cities. The XPT was owned by Transport for NSW (New South Wales) and operated by NSW TrainLink, but was running on track controlled by a federal government entity, the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC).

Due to ongoing signalling and track problems along the Victorian section of track, the experienced XPT driver, 54-year-old John Kennedy from the Australian Capital Territory, took on board a pilot, 49-year-old Sam Meintanis from Castlemaine, Victoria, before crossing the border into Victoria to assist as a safety precaution. This is normal procedure when track conditions change.

The train was 12 hours into its journey, having left Sydneys Central Station at 7.40 a.m. The derailment occurred near a point where the main line diverged into two, otherwise known as a railroad switch. A week earlier, Victorian train drivers had declared this corridor unsafe due to signal failure and refused to drive through it.

Trains had been going straight through the switch for several weeks. But due to track cleaning on the day of the accident, a circular was issued to drivers of Victorias rural rail operator V/Line, a day earlier, warning that trains travelling on that track would be temporarily diverted through the Wallan Loop, with a 15km/h speed limit.

There normally would be electronic signals along the track telling drivers which way switches would be set. But all the electric signals 15km north and south of Wallan had been blacked out and switches were being operated manually after a fire damaged a signalling hut on February 4.

The track and signalling section involved is owned and maintained by the ARTC. Rather than making it a priority to repair the signalling damage, the ARTC put in place a manual system of forms and authorities to move trains through the corridor.

Several passengers told the media the train was accelerating after being held up for some time. This could indicate that the driver and pilot were not aware that the train was to be diverted onto the loop with a speed limit of 15km/h. If the electronic signals were operational, there would have been ample warning.

Rail workers have been left reeling after the deadly incident, especially those in regional towns north of Melbourne. Drivers have complained for decades about poor track quality on the Melbourne to Sydney line, resulting in rough riding, mud holes and speed restrictions.

Driver John Kennedy had emailed his friend with concerns about the lines safety in the weeks leading up to the crash. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that in an email sent on February 3 to Clive Williams, a Canberra rail enthusiast and law professor, Kennedy wrote: [M]y last six Melbourne return trips have been very late or cancelled mainly due to train fault issues, 3 of the six runs I was down to one engine, on another trip I had no speedo.

Williams told the newspaper: John said he half expected to be derailed the first few times he went to Melbourne because of 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.

In 2010, the Australian Broadcasting Corporations (ABC) TV program 7.30 Report interviewed train drivers who called the Sydney to Melbourne rail line a disaster waiting to happen. The rail line is the busiest in Australia, with XPT services running daily, plus around 30 freight trains.

A driver told the 7.30 Report: The way the tracks are at the moment, it is a matter of time before a train derails. Freight operator Pacific National warned: There is a high potential for rough track to cause injuries to drivers, damage to locomotives, wagons and loading.

Engineers and the ARTC agreed that the underlying problem was the mud plains over which the track was built. David Marchant, the ARTCs CEO in 2010, admitted that the Victorian section of the track, constructed in 1970 using inferior ballast, was not up to standard. Drivers said that in some sections of track the sleepers were invisible due to mud being pushed up when trains drove over them.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Michael McCormack on Friday attempted to head off any suggestion that government negligence played a part in the accident. No authority in Australia would allow a train to travel on an unsafe track, he said. That just wouldnt happen. I know the ARTC monitors these things closely and regularly.

If this is true, how was it that the ARTC allowed the train to operate on a section of track on which V/Line drivers had refused to drive?

A Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) spokesperson, Luba Grigorovitch, claimed that the derailment may have been avoided if the XPT had operated under Victorian rules, instead of national regulations. V/Line and Metro Trains Melbourne impose an automatic speed restriction of 25km/h along dangerous areas of track that require a driver to be navigated by a pilot. National rules allow trains to travel at main line speeds.

But if the RTBU, which covers the rail workers, had declared the passing loop unsafe, why did it not instruct its members to refuse to switch trains onto the track, using its legal rights under occupational health and safety laws?

The Victorian Nationals deputy leader Steph Ryan claimed that she raised concerns about the rail line with the state Labor Party government days before the crash and after another train was derailed farther up the line in January. In a desperate damage control bid, Victorian Transport Minister Melissa Horne said on Friday the investigation into the incident would be absolutely comprehensive.

However, the state governments Chief Investigator of Transport Safety will lead the inquiry, under delegation from the federal Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). The ATSB is due to release a preliminary report in about a month, and a final report in 18 months.

Every attempt will be made to cover up the years of budget cuts to transport and dismissal of the numerous warning signs that indicated the poor and dangerous state of Australias rail infrastructure.

Despite numerous warnings about the condition of the track, the federal government only awarded a $235 million contract to upgrade the Victorian section of the Sydney to Melbourne tracks last December. Even if the contract is delivered on time, the upgrade will only be carried out by the middle of next year.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 25

Trend:

Amadeus delegation headed by Maher Koubaa, Executive Vice President, Airlines, Middle East, Turkey & Africa has arrived in Baku for a working visit.

The successful integration of Amadeus Altea Passenger Services Systems (PSS) new solution by Azerbaijans National air carrier was discussed at a meeting with AZAL President Jahangir Asgarov. This solution will allow AZAL to personalize passenger services and will qualitatively improve the functionality of the booking system, take-off control, inventory database and income management systems.

The advantages of Altea will also be noticed by the airline's travel agents. The quality of stock-taking and booking management systems will be significantly improved due to the centralized storage of passenger name records (PNR).

"We continue our active cooperation with Amadeus, a leading aviation IT solutions provider. Switching to the new Altea PSS system will allow us to improve the quality of services provided to AZAL passengers", - Jahangir Asgarov noted.

According to Jahangir Asgarov, due to the maintenance to the new system, passengers have encountered some inconveniences with online booking for a certain period. However, the system is now functioning normal and almost all these issues have been resolved.

By implementing Amadeus Altea PSS and Revenue Management solutions, Azerbaijan Airlines can provide its customers with an even greater level of service. The countrys flag carrier will be able to support the growing travel demand to Azerbaijan as it forms part of the Altea global community of airlines working to provide seamless travel solutions for travelers, Maher Koubaa noted.

It should be noted that Amadeus solutions are actively used at Heydar Aliyev International Airport as well. The capitals airport, having implemented the latest Amadeus solutions last summer, became the first airport in the world to fully switch to cloud technologies.

"Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) is a major air carrier and one of the leaders of the aviation community of the CIS countries. Total route network of the airline is 40 destinations in 25 countries. Azerbaijan Airlines and its subsidiary low-cost carrier Buta Airways carried a total of more than 2.6 million passengers in 2019.
Adenomyosis is only found in women who are in their reproductive years. This is because the hormone estrogen is required to develop this condition and it eventually goes away after menopause when the level of estrogen in the body drops.

Adenomyosis or Bulky Uterus is a benign (not life-threatening) condition of the uterus in which the cells that normally line the inside of the uterus (endometrium), grow into the muscle layer (myometrium) of the uterus.

Even after invading the myometrium tissue, the endometrial cells continue to function as they would, during each menstrual cycle. The endometrial cells thicken, break down and result in menstrual bleeding. This results in thickening of the uterine walls and diffuse enlargement of uterus and heavy periods. Though Adenomyosis is not life-threatening, frequent pain and heavy periods can affect a womans quality of life.

The symptoms are noticed either during pregnancy or after having children. The prevalence is estimated to be 20% to 30% in the general female population.

About 30% to 50% of women with Adenomyosis have no symptoms.

The causes of Adenomyosis are not yet understood, but the disease typically disappears after menopause.

Surgery: Incisions made in the uterus during surgery such as Cesarean Section or removal of fibroids may promote the direct invasion of the endometrial cells into the wall of the uterus.

Incisions made in the uterus during surgery such as Cesarean Section or removal of fibroids may promote the direct invasion of the endometrial cells into the wall of the uterus. Uterine inflammation: An inflammation of the uterine lining during childbirth or surgical procedures on the uterus might cause a breakage in the usual boundaries of cells that line the uterus and result in cells from inner layer to be embedded into the muscle layer of the uterus.

An inflammation of the uterine lining during childbirth or surgical procedures on the uterus might cause a breakage in the usual boundaries of cells that line the uterus and result in cells from inner layer to be embedded into the muscle layer of the uterus. Developmental: It is speculated that the endometrial tissue is deposited within the uterine muscle in the developmental stages when the uterus is formed in the fetus and this endometrial tissue proliferates in the adult years resulting in Adenomyosis.

It is speculated that the endometrial tissue is deposited within the uterine muscle in the developmental stages when the uterus is formed in the fetus and this endometrial tissue proliferates in the adult years resulting in Adenomyosis. Stem cell invasion: It is speculated that bone marrow cells stem may invade the uterine muscle wall and cause Adenomyosis.

Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding.

Painful periods. There is severe cramping or sharp, stabbing pelvic pain before and during menstruation (dysmenorrhoea). The pain may last throughout your period and worsen as you get older.

Pain during sex.

Bleeding in between periods.

Tenderness and swelling in lower abdomen.

Blood clots during menstrual bleeding.

A pelvic examination : This physical test is performed to determine if your uterus is swollen or tender. Most women with Adenomyosis have a uterus that is two or three times the normal size.

: This physical test is performed to determine if your uterus is swollen or tender. Most women with Adenomyosis have a uterus that is two or three times the normal size. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the uterus : This test is done if the doctor is unable to confirm a diagnosis using an Ultrasound. The MRI scan is done to obtain high resolution images of the uterus. An MRI uses a magnet and radio waves to produce detailed images of your internal organs.

: This test is done if the doctor is unable to confirm a diagnosis using an Ultrasound. The MRI scan is done to obtain high resolution images of the uterus. An MRI uses a magnet and radio waves to produce detailed images of your internal organs. Ultrasound: This test uses sound waves to produce moving images of your uterus. This test is helpful in diagnosing the condition and also ruling out the possibility of tumors within and on the uterus.

Adenomyosis usually goes away after menopause, so the treatment may depend on how close you are to your menopausal period. The treatment options for Adenomyosis include:

Anti-inflammatory Drugs: Your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications, such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen to control the pain. These medicines are taken two to three days before your menses begin and continued throughout your period. These medicines help to relieve the severe spasmodic pain and also reduce the menstrual flow. However, you should not use these medications if you are pregnant.

Your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications, such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen to control the pain. These medicines are taken two to three days before your menses begin and continued throughout your period. These medicines help to relieve the severe spasmodic pain and also reduce the menstrual flow. However, you should not use these medications if you are pregnant. Hormone Medications: Birth Control pills (oral contraceptives) which contain combined oestrogen and progesterone hormones, or progesterone only contraceptives may be used to help control increased oestrogen levels that may be causing heavy bleeding and severe pain associated with Adenomyosis. Hormone patches or intra uterine devices may also be used.

Hysterectomy: Removal of uterus is advised if your pain is very severe and your menopausal period is many years away. During the surgery the ovaries are usually not removed. It is only used in severe cases and in women who do not plan to have any more children.

is advised if your pain is very severe and your menopausal period is many years away. During the surgery the ovaries are usually not removed. It is only used in severe cases and in women who do not plan to have any more children. Endometrial Ablation: In this procedure the endometrium or lining of the uterine cavity is removed or destroyed. This technique will not work if the endometrial cells have invaded the muscle layer of uterus very deeply. This is performed as an outpatient procedure and has a quick recovery time.

In this procedure the endometrium or lining of the uterine cavity is removed or destroyed. This technique will not work if the endometrial cells have invaded the muscle layer of uterus very deeply. This is performed as an outpatient procedure and has a quick recovery time. Uterine Artery Embolization: Uterine Artery Embolization involves cutting off the blood supply to the affected area. With the blood supply cut off, the Adenomyosis shrinks in size.

Since the causes of Adenomyosis are not yet known, there are no known preventive measures.

Adenomyosis is not a life-threatening illness. There are many treatments available to help alleviate your symptoms. Moreover, Adenomyosis does not affect your fertility levels much and goes away on its own after you reach your menopause.
Dina Paterimos is the only girl out of five children, she said. Kenneth was the second-youngest child, after her. As adults, he was like the glue of the family, making sure they all stayed in touch and got together. He was so supportive of everything any of us have done. Its almost like he was our hype man, she said.
Britain and the European Union are heading for a bust-up in talks on a trade agreement beginning next week, after EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier warned Boris Johnson that Brussels will not accept a deal at any price.

Speaking after the remaining 27 member states agreed their negotiating position, Mr Barnier said that the UK must agree to a level playing field on rules and regulations and access to fishing waters or there wont be any agreement at all.

His comments set the scene for a no-deal Brexit at the end of 2020, after Downing Street made clear that the prime ministers top priority is to secure freedom to diverge from Brussels rules, even if it means leaving on World Trade Organisation terms.

EU foreign ministers agreed a hardened negotiating mandate requiring the UK to match future regulations in return for access to the single market. The paper confirmed a target date of June for agreement on fishing rights, but ditched a commitment  included in last years political declaration at British insistence  to conclude assessment of one another's financial services regulations by the same date, as well as a deadline for a data equivalency concord.

It demanded continued access for EU boats to UK fishing waters on existing terms, crossing Mr Johnson's clear red line that access must be renegotiated every year and ensure that "British fishing grounds are first and foremost for British boats".

In a Brussels press conference, Mr Barnier warned the prime minister against backtracking on the commitments he signed up to in Octobers withdrawal agreement, including on new checks and controls on goods travelling between the British mainland and Northern Ireland.

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

He voiced surprise at suggestions from London that the UK had given no instructions to ports and airports to make preparations for additional checks following the imposition of a customs border down the Irish Sea at the end of this year.

And he dismissed Downing Streets suggestion that its priority is to secure the economic and political independence of the UK, saying: The political and economic independence of the UK doesnt have to be negotiated. It has been done. It is achieved. That is not the purpose of these negotiations.

A committee of cabinet Brexit hardliners, chaired by Mr Johnson, agreed on Tuesday morning to a negotiating mandate which puts a clean break from Brussels rules ahead of smooth trading relations.

Alongside Mr Johnson, members of the XS (Exit Strategy) committee included fervent Brexiteers Michael Gove, Dominic Raab, Priti Patel, George Eustice, Suella Braverman and Rishi Sunak, with business secretary Alok Sharma the only one to have campaigned to Remain in the 2016 referendum.

The PMs official spokesman said the document  due for publication on Thursday  set the scene for constructive engagement on a free trade agreement (FTA) similar to existing deals between the EU and other major countries such as Canada and Japan.

No 10 said: The EU has respected the autonomy of other major economies around the world such as Canada and Japan when signing trade deals with them. We just want the same.

We agree the UKs trade with the EU is significant. The USs is on the same scale  yet that did not stop the EU being willing to offer the US zero tariffs without the kind of level playing field commitments or the legal oversight they have put in todays mandate.

But Mr Barnier said a Canada-style deal was not on offer, adding that the UKs geographical closeness and economic integration with the EU put it in a unique situation which meant it was not comparable with the US.

The UK will be the EUs third-largest trade partner, 10 times bigger than Canada, he said. At the same time, Canada is some 5,000km away. It is clear that the rules cant be the same. It is logical. It is simple.

Mr Barnier warned: We are ready to offer a highly ambitious trade deal to the UK, but the UK cant expect high-quality access to the single market if it is not prepared to accept guarantees that competition remains open and fair, free and fair.

Brexit adviser David Frost will lead talks with the EU next week (Reuters)

There must be robust level playing field safeguards to avoid unfair competitive advantages on social, environmental, tax and state aid matters.

The PMs official spokesman said: The EU are trying to use our proximity to add additional requirements for trade. The fact is proximity is not a determining factor in other FTAs around the world, including some of the world's largest economies."

Trade deals between the US and Canada or Australia and New Zealand had not involved the sort of "onerous" commitments being sought by the EU, he said.

The spokesman said Mr Johnson was not trying to renege on the commitments made in the political declaration but said that the EU's mandate itself "moves away from" what was agreed in October.

On fishing, the PMs official spokesman said: The UK didnt vote twice to take back control of its fishing waters only to give that control up again.

As a matter of fact, it doesnt matter what the EU puts in its mandate as we become an independent coastal state on 31 December 2020. That means we automatically take back control of our waters and others' right to fish in them under the UN convention of the law of the sea. This does not have to be negotiated nor will it be."

Four days of talks are due to commence in Brussels on Monday, with the UK side led by Mr Johnsons chief negotiator David Frost. A second round will take place in London from 16 March, with further talks expected over the remaining 10 months before Mr Johnsons 31 December deadline.

These will be complex, demanding, very difficult negotiations. In order to be successful, this will require trust and confidence, said Mr Barnier. That is possible. It requires negotiation in good faith.

The short period for negotiation was chosen by the British government, he stressed, adding: In a very brief period, you cant do everything, we will do as much as we can under pressure of time.

And he warned: If we want to succeed in the very short time that Mr Johnson has chosen, we need to make sure we dont start backtracking where we should be making progress.
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The hands on the iconic Doomsday Clock moved to just 100 secondsto midnight last month. That is the closest they have come to the final hour since its creation in 1947.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Scienceand Security Board, in consultation with the Bulletins Board ofSponsors, made the unprecedented decision to express the time remaining in seconds rather than minutes when the time was adjusted from 2 minutes to 100 seconds to midnight.

The time displayed on the clock has moved closer to midnight in three of the last fouryears. The last time it moved was in 2018, with a forward jump of 30 seconds. It moved to 2 1/2 minutes to midnight in 2017 from its prior setting of 3 minutes tomidnight. There was no adjustment last year, but withthe arrival of 2020 the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists noted new threats.

In addition to the two simultaneous existential dangers ofnuclear war and climate change, the world now faces the threatmultiplier of cyber-enabled information warfare.

The decision to movethe hands forward by 20 seconds was made in part because world leadershave allowed the international political infrastructure forcontaining this potential cyberthreat to erode.

It is 100 seconds to midnight, warned Rachel Bronson, president andCEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. We are now expressing howclose the world is to catastrophe in seconds  not hours, or evenminutes. It is the closest to Doomsday we have ever been in thehistory of the Doomsday Clock. We now face a true emergency  anabsolutely unacceptable state of world affairs that has eliminated anymargin for error or further delay.

December 2020 will mark the 75th anniversary of the first edition ofthe Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. It originally was a six-page,black-and-white bulletin, which evolved into a magazine. It wascreated in response to fears that the atomic bomb, which had been usedagainst Japan in August of 1945 to end the Second World War, would beonly the first of many dangerous presents from the Pandoras Box ofmodern science.

Origins of the Clock and Nuclear Armageddon

The Doomsday Clock, which has been maintained since 1947, isessentially a metaphor for threats to humanity from uncheckedscientific and technical advances. The clocks original setting in1947 was 7 minutes to midnight, and over the years it was setbackward and forward a total of 24 times.

It typically is assessed in January of each year.

The largest-ever number of minutes to midnight was 17 in 1991, when theUnited States and Soviet Union signed the first Strategic Arms ReductionTreaty (START I), followed by the Soviet Union dissolving on Dec. 26 of that year. The fall of the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain,along with the reunification of Germany a year earlier, already had added 4 minutes to the clock.

In 1995, global military spending, as well as concerns aboutpost-Soviet nuclear proliferation, moved the clock 3 minutes closerto midnight  14 minutes in total. That number was reduced to 9minutes to midnight three years later, following Indias and Pakistanstesting of nuclear weapons.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Two more minutes were cut in 2002 due toconcerns over a nuclear terrorist attack and the fears that vastamounts of weapon-grade nuclear materials were largely unsecured orotherwise unaccounted for worldwide.

2010 saw the last time a minute was added. That followed a newSTART agreement, as well as the 2009 United Nations Climate ChangeConference, which called for the developing and industrialized nationsto agree to take responsibility for carbon emissions.

New Fears

Most perceptions about the Doomsday Clocks time to midnight are thatit always has been based on the threat posed by nuclear weapons andthe potential for an atomic war. However, other factors have beenconsidered by the Bulletin of the AtomicScientists, including energy, weapons, diplomacy and climatescience. In recent years they also have considered terrorist threats and climate change.

Bioterrorism and artificial intelligence also could be seenas potential sources of threats that could inch humanity closer todoomsday.

Cyberwarfare is a new factor  specifically cyber-enabledinformation warfare. It could include everything fromstate-sponsored propaganda to deepfakes to the spread ofmisinformation online. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists warnedthat cyber-based disinformation could cause corruption of theinformation ecosphere on which democracy and public decision makingdepend.

Moreover, many governments are utilizing cyber-enabled disinformationcampaigns as a way to sow distrust among rival powers. It has beencalled out as threat to the common good.

In the wrong hands, technology absolutely creates a threat tohumankind that is on the same scale as current weapons technology,warned Bill Santos, president of Scottsdale, Arizona-base Cerberus Sentinel.

Improperly used or maliciously deployed, technology can cripplecritical infrastructure, upset financial systems, and disable many ofthe systems we depend on for our survival and happiness, he told TechNewsWorld.

Reducing the Threat Vectors

New arms treaties and greater cooperation among nations have allowedthe doomsday clock to be set back  gaining precious seconds, or insome cases even minutes. However, the new threats are so great thatthere may be no easy way of addressing them and regaining timebefore the hands strike the proverbial midnight.

The risk of cyberwarfare is on par with nuclear risk and climatechange  and it may even pose a greater risk than both, explainedMarc Gaffan, CEO of Israel-based cybersecurity firm Hysolate.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A decade ago, cyberthreats had somewhat manageable impacts  datatheft that would rock the stability of the organization, or monetaryloss that would affect performance and a companys stock price for acouple years, he told TechNewsWorld.

Today cyberattacks can result in serious business disruption that isfar beyond either data theft or monetary losses. A cyberattack couldpose a threat to all aspects of infrastructure, from power grids tocommunication networks.

Nation-state attacks like this stem back to 2010 with Stuxnet, noted Gaffan.

The Stuxnet attack, which likely was conducted as a jointAmerican-Israeli effort, successfully crippled Irans nuclear program. Iranian hackers were believed to be responsible for a 2018 cyberattack against a Saudi petrochemical facility.

There was no loss of life in either attack, but each increasedregional tensions. Moreover, such attacks could result in physicalequipment failures that would lead to human casualties.

Its far too easy for malicious attackers to cause physical damage said Gaffan, and the impact is far too great for this to not be a significant factor driving us closer to midnight.

Even more worrisome is the fact that much of our modern infrastructureisnt as secure as it could be.

The unfortunate truth also is that the power grid and other nationaloperations that literally keep the lights on are not built with themost sound security in place to prevent an attack from causing acatastrophic blackout or causing fatal medical device failures, said Gaffan.

Turn Back Time

It might be difficult to put time back on the Doomsday Clock,but its not impossible. Here is where cybersecurity as a defensive toolcould be crucial. The world could be safer if more governments, companies andindividuals all paid greater attention to cybersecurity.

Education and awareness can help move the hands back, said Gaffan.

Ultimately, we as a society need to start thinking of securityfirst  and not as an afterthought  in everything we do, he urged.

To that end, security needs to be built into the core architecture ofeverything  from the software and applications that are being builttoday to the improvement of legacy systems and infrastructures thatare currently in place.

However, due to advancements in technology, the risk of cyberwarfare will always be with us, warned Gaffan.

The best we can do is mitigate the risk by staying one step ahead ofattackers in building devices and an infrastructure that aresecure-by-design, he argued.

The defense against this threat goes beyond thetechnology itself, suggested Cerberus Sentinels Santos.

We need to create a comprehensive culture of security at thegovernment, corporate and individual level that is aware of thisthreat and understands the steps each can take to address it, he said.

This could begin with education to better understand the unique set ofrisks a completely connected civilization faces.

It is followed with an understanding of what can be done, at everylevel, to address or reduce these risks, said Santos. We need tothink of security holistically, understanding that it is anexistential risk that affects aspects of our interconnected lives. Weare far too dependent on technology to address our security needs.True cybersecurity is a culture.
Union home minister Amit Shah reviewed the prevailing situation in New Delhi in the wake of violence in parts of northeast Delhi in which at least four people, including a head constable, were killed, officials said on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Protesters throw brick-bats during clashes at Jafrabad in North-East Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

The meeting was held late Monday night after Shah's return from Ahmedabad, where he had attended the 'Namaste Trump' event addressed by United States President Donald Trump.

Shah reviewed the law and order situation in Delhi and directed officials to restore normalcy at the earliest, a home ministry official said.

Those who attended the meeting included Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla, Director of Intelligence Bureau Arvind Kumar, Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, among others.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said he is "very worried" about the prevailing situation in certain parts of the city and called an urgent meeting of all party MLAs of the violence-hit areas.

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.

In a tweet, the chief minister also urged everyone to shun violence.

"Am v worried abt prevailing situation in certain parts of Del. All of us together shud make all efforts to restore peace in our city. I again urge everyone to shun violence (sic)," he tweeted.

"Am meeting all MLAs (of all parties) of affected areas along wid senior officials in a while," Kejriwal added.

Sources said the meeting will take place at the chief minister's residence at 10.30 am.

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 on Monday.

Frenzied protesters torched houses, shops, vehicles and a petrol pump, besides hurling stones.
Pharmacy store chain Walgreens will close three of its New Jersey stores in March, a company spokeswoman told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday.

Walgreens announced in 2019 that about 200 stores would be closing. The decision came after a review of the real estate footprint in the United States," according to an SEC filing.

These are the three New Jersey stores closing, along with their closing dates, according to the spokeswoman:

Westampton: 800 Woodlane Rd. (March 2)

Lindenwold: 1001 Berlin Rd. (March 3)

Hackensack: 360 Essex St. (March 9)

Customers prescriptions and records will be transferred to the next-closest Walgreens location.

Customers need take no action; the transfer is automatic and our teams at those stores look forward to serving them," the spokeswoman said. Pharmacy patients will receive a letter in the mail providing more information about their prescription records.

The majority of employees affected by the store closings will be placed in jobs at other stores in the area, the spokeswoman said.

There are currently 99 Walgreens stores in New Jersey, according to the companys website.

Walgreens was founded in 1901. Its the second-largest pharmacy chain in the United States.

Nicolette Accardi can be reached at naccardi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter: @N_Accardi. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

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Rev. Jeon Kwang-hoonn of the Christian Council of Korea was arrested on February 24th.

The Seoul Central District Court's warrant judge issued a warrant for Rev. Jeon on Monday night.

Kim Dong-hyun, a senior judge at the Seoul Central District Court, said Rev. Jeon's arrest warrant was issued because he was involved in a series of pre-election campaigns against a large audience ahead of the general elections.

"As the significance of free and fair elections in representative democratic countries is expected, serious and strict punishment is expected, there are also fears of flight," Kim explained.

Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon was arrested with five charges by the civic group Peace Tree. He was arrested on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act for appealing for support for a particular political party at a rally in Gwanghwamun.

Rev. Jeon Kwang-hoon, however, leads the weekly Gwanghwamun rally, 'A Pan-National Center to Fight Moon Jae-In's Resignation', raising questions about the court's concern that he would flee.

Moreover, it is unprecedented for the head of a coalition representing the Christian community to be arrested in court.

In addition, the Seoul Metropolitan Government filed a complaint with the police on Monday against 10 people related to the rally including Rev. Jeon Kwang-hoon, who held a two-day rally of thousands of people at Gwanghwamun Square from July 22-23.

"War is not a weapon, it's a spirit," Rev. Jeon Kwang-hoon said in a statement to the nation before the hearing, vowing to protect the Republic of Korea even if he is arrested.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 25, 2020 09:58 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2066615e4 4 SE Asia Indonesia,Malaysia,State-Palace,Mahathir-Mohamad,Jokowi Free

The State Palace has extended its well wishes to neighbor Malaysia following the resignation of its prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad

Presidential spokesman Fadjroel Rachman answered journalists questions on Monday regarding the response of President Joko Jokowi Widodos office to what many dubbed as a surprising move by the 94-year-old, the worlds oldest elected leader.

[Indonesia] is hoping for the best for Malaysia and for relations of the neighboring countries to continue on good terms, Fadjroel said as quoted by Antara on Monday.

Mahathir submitted a letter of resignation to Malaysias king at 1 p.m. local time on Monday, according to the prime ministers office, amid rumors that he might form a new coalition, Reuters reported.

While leaving the fate of ruling coalition Pakatan Harapan in limbo, Mahathir  who returned from retirement to run in the 2018 election  also resigned as chairman of Bersatu, the political party he had formed shortly before the race.

His resignation followed a weekend full of speculation that the ruling coalition could lose power and that Mahathir would form and lead a new government with the opposition without his designated successor, Anwar Ibrahim, although the latter insists the former leader will not side with the previous administration.

Several coalition partners have asked Mahathir to remain as caretaker prime minister. (syk)
Seoul: South Korean health authorities said on Tuesday they aim to test more than 200,000 members of a church at the centre of a surge of new coronavirus cases as President Moon Jae-in said the situation was "very grave".

South Korea's tally of cases of coronavirus cases rose to 977, fuelling fears the outbreak, which is thought to have begun in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December, is developing into a pandemic.

South Korea has now surpassed Japan as the country with the second-highest number of cases after China.

A member of a Korean Air cabin crew tested positive for the virus, the airline said, prompting it to shut its office near Incheon International Airport, where the crew briefing room is located.
Despite insurgent attacks in Afghanistan, the week-long partial truce agreed between the Taliban, American, and Afghan forces continued for the fourth day on February 25. If the reduction in violence pact is upheld for seven days, the stakeholders are expected to sign a historic deal in Doha which would lead to the United States pulling out thousands of troops from Afghanistan.

While Afghanistan is still witnessing attacks from the Taliban, the numbers and intensity have fallen dramatically in the past few days. The United States is also continuing the attack on Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan and killed four terrorists on Tuesday, confirmed US Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR) spokesperson Sonny Leggett.

The US conducted two airstrikes today in Kunar, #Afghanistan, killing 4 #ISIS fighters. We continue to eliminate ISIS terrorists wherever they hide to protect Afghanistan while honoring US-Afghan-Taliban agreement to reduce the violence.  USFOR-A Spokesman Col Sonny Leggett (@USFOR_A) February 25, 2020

Read: Taliban Is 'tired Of Fighting', Hopes To Reach Deal With US: Donald Trump

On February 21, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the US-Taliban deal will be signed on February 29 as the authorities are working on an agreement on reducing violence across Afghanistan. The much-awaited peace deal will mark a historic step in nearly two decades of Afghanistan conflict.

After decades of conflict, we have come to an understanding with the Taliban on a significant reduction in violence across #Afghanistan. This is an important step on a long road to peace, and I call on all Afghans to seize this opportunity.  Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) February 21, 2020

Read: 'Spoke To PM Modi On Taliban Peace Deal, Everybody Is Happy,' Says POTUS Donald Trump

Controversy over poll results

The partial truce agreement was reached amid political turmoil in Afghanistan after the Independent Election Commission (IEC) declared incumbent Ashraf Ghani as the winner of the presidential elections but the main opposition leader Abdullah Abdullah rejected the result saying he will form his own inclusive government.

The Taliban has also denounced the results calling the election fake and staged. Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson of the Taliban, said in a statement that it rejects the meaningless appointment and considers it a failed effort at throwing dust in the eyes of the nation.

Read: Pakistan's Foreign Minister To Attend Signing Of US-Taliban Peace Deal In Doha

Read: Taliban Attacks Afghan Forces Hours After Implementation Of 'reduction In Violence'

(With Agency Inputs)
Harris County on Tuesday approved a taxpayer-funded legal services program for immigrants, including those in the country illegally who face deportation, at the request of County Judge Lina Hidalgo.

Commissioners Court voted along party lines, with the two Republican members opposed, to become the first county in Texas to enact such a program.

The Houston area was the largest in the country with no taxpayer support of deportation defense. In Texas, the cities of Dallas, Austin and San Antonio have similar programs.

Were very excited to propose a measure thats going to inject a measure of fairness into our justice system, Hidalgo said before the vote. Ive seen the impact of a federal immigration system that is so broken and convoluted that folks are desperate to have an answer to their case.

The Republicans Jack Cagle and Steve Radack said the county should not wade into a federal immigration issue.

Hidalgos resolution directs the Community Services Department to design, administer funds for, and oversee an immigrant legal services program for county residents, subject to final approval by Commissioners Court.

Hidalgos office estimated the program would cost $500,000 the first year and would require an additional employee to administer it. She said the county would explore partnerships with nonprofits that could help defray some costs to taxpayers.

The county judge said public support of immigrant legal services in other places has been effective in reducing unnecessary detentions and deportations and allowing immigrants to remain in the country legally. Hidalgo said last year she visited a Texas immigrant detention center where men told her they were despondent because their cases had no end in sight. Houston immigration courts have some of the highest backlogs in the country, with nearly 52,000 cases pending.

Legal representation is crucial for defendants to receive due process, Hidalgo said, adding that children sometimes are forced to represent themselves in immigration cases. Unlike in the criminal justice system, immigrants facing deportation are not provided attorneys by the federal government if they cannot afford them.

Hidalgo said children suffer when their parents are unable to navigate the complicated immigration legal system.

The children of detained and deported parents face enormous health and mental health challenges that can lead to poor performance in school and increased risk of poverty, placement in foster care, incarceration, and food and housing insecurity, Hidalgo wrote.

Harris County is home to more than 400,000 immigrants who are in the country illegally and Hidalgo said they contribute to the economy and are a critical part of the labor force.

Undocumented immigrant households in Houston earned $11 billion in total income in 2016, paying $742 million in federal taxes and $448 million in state and local taxes, resulting in $9.8 billion in remaining total spending power, the resolution reads.

Hidalgo, herself an immigrant, was born in Colombia. She moved with her family to Houston in 2005.

About two dozen speakers urged Commissioners Court to support the proposal at Tuesdays meeting.

Javier Hernandez, who came here illegally from Mexico as a child and received temporary protection through the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, said access to counsel can be a matter of life or death for immigrants who face violence in their countries of origin.

Rabbi David Segal, who does advocacy for the Reform denomination of Judaism in Texas, likened discrimination his Jewish ancestors faced to the current plight of immigrants here illegally.

Families belong together, and everyone deserves due process, Segal said.

Maria Espinoza, a Republican candidate for Congress in Texas 7th District and founder of The Remembrance Project, which advocates for victims of immigrant violence and has been termed anti-immigrant, was one of a handful of residents to speak in opposition to the fund. Espinoza worried about the cost immigrants here illegally place on local governments for health care, law enforcement and education.

The Harris County taxpayer should not foot the bill and hold the bag for those who intentionally cross (the border) illegally, she said.

Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a national organization advocating for reduced immigration, also slammed the defense fund and others like it as a misallocation of scarce public resources.

Nearly 27,000 people face deportation in Houston immigration courts, said Andrea Guttin, legal director of the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative.

She said the county also spends $1.6 million on detaining immigrants in local jails until Immigration and Customs Enforcement can take them into custody, more than any other county in the nation.

The federal agency last year issued more than 5,000 so-called detainers in Harris County , the most in the country, according to an analysis of federal data by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University.

Many cities across the nation have stopped cooperating with ICE in holding immigrants on such detainers, in part because of concerns over the constitutionality. Some courts have found detaining immigrants without a warrant if they are otherwise eligible for release is illegal. Texas law, however, requires local jurisdictions to comply with all immigration detainers.

Guttin, of the legal services collaborative, said about 250,000 children in Harris County have at least one parent at risk of deportation because they are here without legal status.

Children who are separated from their deported parents may never reunite with them, she said.

She noted that almost every big city in the state and country including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago have similar taxpayer funds for deportation defense.

This is a due process issue, Guttin said. There has been a trend across the country and across Texas to put taxpayer dollars to this funding.

zach.despart@chron.com

lomi.kriel@chron.com
Advertisement

Chinatowns around some of the country's major cities have been left deserted amid the Coronavirus outbreak.

Images of areas popular with the Chinese demographic and tourists show empty streets and businesses in New York, Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco as the number of confirmed cases in the United States hit 53.

The White House has asked Congress for $2.5 billion to respond to the illness known as COVID-19 that has killed more than 2,600 people in mainland China, as New York-based Chinatown Partnership founder said Chinese small businesses have been negatively impacted anywhere from 30-80 percent.

Scenes of the streets and business in Chinatown, located in Downtown Los Angeles. As the day comes to an end the streets, tourist spots and local businesses seemed quieter than usual last Monday

Coronavirus fear in SF Chinatown A young man wears a face mask in Chinatown on Saturday, February 15 in San Francisco

Manhattan, Chinatown near Mott Street, Canal Street, and Mulberry Street is seen less busy than usual

An empty market in Boston's Chinatown the evening after the mayor and city officials urged residents to overcome their concerns about the COVID-19 Coronavirus. To date there has been one confirmed case of the disease in a man returning to Boston from Wuhan, China

'So many Chinatowns across North America and elsewhere have been dragged into this whirlpool even though they do not have anything to do with something that is thousands of miles away right now,' Wellington Z. Chen told DailyMail.com.

Chen started Chinatown Partnership in 2006 to bring residents, business owners and communities together to rebuild Chinatown post-9/11.

Chen said the decline 'depends on the type of business and their niche market' when looking at business affected.

'There are specialties that do deliveries, such as florists and food, that are not in the above categories,' Chen told DailyMail.com.

'There has also been a slight uptick since the initial plunge but not back to the pre-Covid level.'

Mayor Bill de Blasio recently visited the oldest restaurant in New York City's Chinatown, Nom Wah Tea Parlor where manager Vincent Tang said the restaurant would usually be full by lunchtime but business had dropped 40 percent.

Locals are hoping the hashtag #supportchinatown will encourage more foot traffic.

Manhattan, Chinatown is show at nighttime by Mott St, Canal Street, and Mulberry Street

A woman walks by a Chinese restaurant in Manhattan, New York's Chinatown last week

The crowds were not out in Manhattan Chinatown last week despite efforts to reassure people it's safe

Chinatown Partnership founder told DailyMail.com: 'So many Chinatowns across North America and elsewhere have been dragged into this whirlpool even they do not have anything to do with something that is thousands of miles away right now'

'There are specialties that do deliveries, such as florists and food' that are not affected, Chinatown Partnership founder told DailyMail.com

NYC-based Chinese Partnership said the decline 'depends on the type of business and their niche market' when looking at business affected

Chinese Partnership said: 'There has also been a slight uptick since the initial plunge but not back to the pre-Covid level'

Mayor Bill de Blasio recently visited the oldest restaurant in New York City's Chinatown in an effort to help

The Boston Chamber declined to comment to DailyMail.com about how Chinatown may have been affected by coronavirus.

But Mayor Marty Walsh has been encouraging people to show that they are visiting Chinatown by sharing images on social media under the hashtag #lovebostonchinatown.

The launch of his campaign - which involves a 'small business bingo' card for social media - coincided with Chinese New Year.

'Chinatown is one of the many vibrant neighborhoods in Boston, and I encourage all our residents and visitors to support the small businesses that make us a diverse and world-class city,' said Mayor Walsh. 'Our small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities, and you can help support Chinatown businesses as we celebrate the Lunar New Year.'

It's difficult to avoid the Main Street area. It's nearby the South Station, which serves as a major rail and bus hub for Boston, as well as the Tufts Medical Center.

Business didn't appear as badly affected as other cities last week.

In Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is encouraging people to share images under #lovebostonchinatown

'Chinatown is one of the many vibrant neighborhoods in Boston, and I encourage all our residents and visitors to support the small businesses that make us a diverse and world-class city,' said Mayor Walsh (right)

Pedestrians pass beneath the Chinese Gate at the entrance to Boston's Chinatown the evening after the mayor stepped out

Empty tables predominate in one restaurant in Boston's Chinatown the evening after the mayor and city officials urged residents to overcome their concerns about the COVID-19 Coronavirus

Patrons wait for tables at the Gourmet Dumplin House in Boston's Chinatown the evening after city officials urged residents to overcome their concerns

It could be a great time to visit Chinatowns around the US amid a panic. A Chinese restaurant in Boston is pictured last week

A child looks out the window as his family waits for a table at a restaurant in Boston's Chinatown. The area still had business but not as much as usual

One restaurant manager in San Francisco said business was down 50 percent.

Reza Sefida, owner of Camera Zone in San Francisco Chinatown said businesses is down to half due to the hysteria of the coronavirus. He said he had never experienced such a slowdown before.

The San Francisco the Chamber of Commerce was unable to give a specific figure when asked how business had been affected in recent weeks but confirmed the unfortunate drop in popularity.

'Dim sum lines on a Saturday and Sunday morning would be around the block with wait times of one of two hours,' Public Policy Director Jay Cheng told DailyMail.com on Tuesday.

'But the past two weekends I've noticed the attendance and seating just isn't there,' he added. 'It's hard to see.'

The city in California has popular Chinese areas in the Richmond District as well as three in the Sunset District and one in Visitacion Valley.

When asked about the lack of people in the streets in the usually thriving area, Cheng said 'foot traffic is down' and they are 'seriously concerned' about the impact.

The Chamber of Commerce said its goal is to 'reverse the trend of misinformation'. Part of that is a marketing campaign.

'We're trying to support businesses and let people know there's no need for paranoia,' Cheng continued to DailyMail.com.

Cheng himself thinks that with people avoiding Chinatown, it's actually a great time to go.

He suggests worried business owners reach out to their local government which he says has been 'extremely proactive in their action to help regain trust'.

Coronavirus fear in San Francisco Chinatown: Kanokwan Chaiwong, right, wears a mask on Saturday, February 15

Coronavirus fear in SF Chinatown Chinatown's Dragon Gate at Grant Ave. and Bush St. on Saturday February 15

Coronavirus fear in SF Chinatown Chinatown's businesses showing slowdown due to fears on Saturday February 15

A woman passes out flyers for a restaurant on Saturday, February 15 in San Francisco, California

A young man wears a mask at ChinatownOs Dragon Gate at Grant Ave. and Bush St. on Saturday, February 15 San Francisco

A woman wears a face mask due to her fears of the coronavirus on Saturday, February 15 in San Francisco

A San Francisco restaurant appear empty on Saturday February 15. But the Chamber of Commerce says it's a great time to go

This restaurant manager said business was down by half due to fears of the coronavirus on Saturday, February 15 in San Francisco

A hand sanitizing station is seen seen in a San Francisco restaurant but it didn't appear to help business

A Boba Tea business was lacking customers in San Francisco last week amid the coronavirus outbreak

Reza Sefida, right, owner of Camera Zone in SF Chinatown said businesses is down to half due to the hysteria of the coronavirus. He said he had never experienced such a slowdown before

A young man wears a face mask in Chinatown San Francisco on Saturday February 15

Mark Romero, who owns a SF Chinatown business, says it's very slow on Saturday, February 15 in San Francisco

Mimi, Albert Chang and Jenny Feng's cat, sits in an empty store on Saturday, February 15 in San Francisco

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-California, looks over items at The Wok Shop during a tour of Chinatown Monday

In San Francisco, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took a walking tour of Chinatown on Monday to let the public know the neighborhood was safe and open for business.

Pelosi chatted with shop owners at the Canton Bazaar and addressed media after a meeting with business owners at Dim Sum Corner Restaurant.

Chinatown is where she put on her first ever event running for Congress 30 years ago.

Pelosi said in a statement: 'You should come to Chinatown. Precautions have been taken by our city. We know there is concern about tourism throughout the world but we think it's very safe to be in Chinatown and hopefully, others will come.

'Its lovely here. The food is delicious, the shops are prospering, the parade was great. Walking tours continue.'

Pelosi also took aim at Donald Trump's response to the outbreak.

'Americans need a coordinated, fully-funded, whole-of-government response to keep them and their loved ones safe,' she tweeted. 'The President's request for coronavirus response funding is long overdue and completely inadequate to the scale of this emergency.'

It was after Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Shop owner Kevin Chan said: 'Business is slow. People don't want to come, they are scared.'

In a statement Wednesday, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said it 'strongly supports the appointment of a czar to coordinate a holistic government response to protect Americans from the Coronavirus'.

'At this critical time, we need clear accountability and data-based guidance so the public and American businesses can take the proper precautions to mitigate the impact. We encourage Congress and the administration to provide all necessary support to contain the spread of the virus,' the statement continued.

'The American business community plays a vital role in combating outbreaks of viruses like Coronavirus. The Chamber is working closely with U.S. and foreign government officials, large and small businesses, and our entire federation of state, local, and international Chambers to ensure access to the most up-to-date and relevant information so that we are all adequately prepared to protect Americans at home and abroad. The more prepared we are as a business community and society, the better we will manage the impact of the virus.'

As the day comes to an end the streets, tourist spots and local businesses seemed quieter than usual in Los Angeles

A woman is pictured walking through Chinatown in Downtown Los Angeles last Monday

Chinese New Year celebrations were quiet in Los Angeles, California last week

Tables appear empty at a Downtown Los Angeles restaurant that was open for business last Monday

The statue built as a tribute to deceased martial artist, Bruce Lee, who died at age 32 in 1973, is seen in a deserted LA area
Acting Health Minister Victor Costache announced at a press conference on Monday that Romania has a roughly 4,000-strong coronavirus quarantine capacity.

"We have a roughly 4,000-strong quarantine capacity nationwide - a comfortable figure considering the situation we are in. The hospitalization capacity stands around 2,500 beds in all the country's infectious diseases wards and hospitals, 95 of which are intensive care beds," Costache said.Interior Minister Marcel Vela detailed that "4,172 places are available in 125 locations in 121 localities of 40 counties".Minister Costache said that about 1,000 people are currently isolated at home.Head of the Department for Emergencies, Raed Arafat, added that two people who arrived from Wuhan and six from the Diamond Princess ship docked in Yokohama are being quarantined in Bucharest, but that they show no symptoms of illness.Also, eight persons who came from Italy's Lodi area have been placed under quarantine in Dolj County, and another three people have been quarantined on Sunday evening in Galati. AGERPRES
Businesses in the Portland area that bring in more than $5 million a year in gross Oregon revenue would face a 1% tax on their profits to help fund services to aid people experiencing homelessness and housing instability if voters approve a revised proposed May ballot measure.

The Metro Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday whether to place the so-called Supportive Housing Services proposal on the May 19 ballot. The measure would also implement a 1% tax on the incomes of individuals in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties who earn at least $125,000 a year and couples who earn more than $200,000. A previous proposal called for couples earning more than $250,000 a year to be taxed.

Together, the income and business revenue taxes are expected to generate $250 million a year, believed to be the largest amount of funds ever dedicated to helping reduce homelessness in the Portland metro area.

The taxes would be scheduled to end Dec. 31, 2030, unless voters approve continuing them. Metro plans to forge an agreement with a state taxing agency to collect the revenue or collect the funds itself if no agreement can be reached.

A proposal on the table last week only had the income tax on high earners, which was expected to bring in $135 million a year.

The latest proposal was announced Friday with support from the Metro Council, the chairs of Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties, the Portland Business Alliance, Portland Mayors Office and homeless advocacy coalition HereTogether. Williamette Week reported the business alliance recently sent a letter to Metro Council president Lynn Peterson saying they supported a business payroll tax over a tax on high-income earners.

Amy Lewin, a Portland Business Alliance spokesperson, said the group ultimately agreed to include a business tax as a possible solution to the Portland areas homeless crisis.

We know there are providers who could do more if they had more resources and this is a top priority for our organization, she said. Its difficult to say yes to more taxes and its hard to have this conversation, but its an important problem for us to solve as a region.

Lewin said the alliances board hasnt yet endorsed the ballot measure itself but does support the funding mechanism.

According to a Metro memo detailing the latest proposed measure, the revenue would fund affordable housing aid as well as short- and long-term rental assistance, mental and physical health services, eviction prevention, financial literacy, fair housing advocacy and other services designed to help people who are homeless or on the verge of it. The memo also said the program and funds will be prioritized in a manner that provides equitable access to people of color and other historically marginalized communities.

A 20-person regional oversight committee would be created to oversee the program, adding two more spots than the previous proposal. Both called for five members each from Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties nominated by county commissioners as well as one representative each from the three county boards. The new proposal adds a representative from the Portland City Council and the Metro Council.

No less than 95% of the total revenue would be allocated to the three counties. The rest can be kept by the regional government for administration and oversight costs, according to the memo.

The majority of the revenue funds are slated to go to Multnomah County  45.3%. Washington County is allocated to receive 33.3% and Clackamas County 21.3%. The percentages would be set for the first two years the taxes go into effect and could be adjusted afterward.

If voters approve the program, it would include annual financial audits. It would also be subject to performance audits by the Metro Auditor.

Its not immediately clear from available documents how many people the initiative aims to help annually. Nick Christensen, a Metro spokesperson, said the goal of the measure is to help everyone in the Portland area in need of help to address chronic homelessness, but he said he didnt know of any annual benchmarks the regional government expects the program to hit.

A memo to the Metro Council last week said around 3,100 to nearly 5,000 households in the Portland metro area are estimated to need supportive housing services and 17,500 households require rent assistance to either prevent or end being houseless. The memo estimated it would cost almost $100 million a year to provide supportive housing for all households that need it and $150 million a year to provide an average of $10,000 in rent assistance to 15,000 households.

-- Everton Bailey Jr; ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 | @EvertonBailey

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Hubei prison officials punished after #COVID19 outbreak confirmed

Global Times

Source:Global Times Published: 2020/2/25 10:58:07

More than 20 prisons officials in Central China's Hubei Province have received severe punishments after more than 300 COVID19 infection cases were confirmed in the province's prisons.

Both the Party secretary and the warden of Wuhan Women's Prison were removed from their positions and one prison official was put under investigation after 279 infections there were confirmed, according to a press release by the Political and Legal Affairs Committee under the Communist Party of China Central Committee on Tuesday.

Shayang Hanjin prison in Jingmen is screening suspected cases and implementing quarantine and treatment for infected people. A makeshift prison hospital is currently under urgent construction.

Chen Yixin, a deputy head of the central guiding group on Hubei, inspected the prison management authority on Monday, stressing the importance of understanding the difficulty and complexity of epidemic prevention and control work in prisons.

He emphasized "wartime discipline", saying those who work with due diligence will be rewarded, dereliction of duty will be punished and "deserters" will be dismissed on the spot.

There were 323 confirmed COVID19 cases in prisons in Hubei as of Sunday, with 279 from the women's prison, 43 from Shayang Hanjin hospital and one from a reformatory for juvenile delinquents.

No deaths have been reported, and the spread of the virus in prisons has been brought under control, said the press release.

A total of 508 new coronavirus infections, 61 new deaths were reported on Monday in the Chinese mainland. The total infection number soared to 77,658, with 2,663 deaths.

Hubei reported 499 new cases of novel coronavirus pneumonia on Monday, with 68 new deaths and 2,116 cases of recovery. The total number of infections in the province climbed to 64,786 with 18,854 recovered and 2,563 dead.

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Editors note: The City of Rio Rancho is holding a city council and bond election on March 3, with early voting underway.

City council seats representing districts 1, 4 and 6 are on the ballot, with two candidates running for the four-year term for each seat. Voters must reside in the city council districts in question to vote in those races. As per law, municipal elections are non-partisan.

For information on polling places, visit rrnm.gov/4405/Voting-Information.

In order to help our readers make informed decisions, the Observer gave each candidate a questionnaire to complete. Responses were edited for format as necessary, but not for grammar, spelling, punctuation or accuracy.

Daniel J. Stoddard questionnaire

Background: Christian, Veteran, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Business Owner (Retired). Served as Curry County Commissioner, Clovis City Commissioner, State Commissions, NM Municipal League Board, NM Assoc. of Countys Board, Leadership New Mexico/Local Govt. Leadership Program, Eastern NM Area Workforce Development Board, Clovis Chamber of Commerce Executive Board VP Govt. Affairs, Commissioner Sandoval County P&Z, Sandoval County Ordinance Committee

Years residing in Rio Rancho: Rio Rancho Resident 7.5 years, resident of NM over 30 years.

Contact information: (Cell) 505-672-8344; danstoddard.com

1. What makes you the most qualified person to hold this seat? As I walk through my district, listening to needs, (and they are many and diverse) citizens dont feel as if District 6 has been well represented. Many have shared that they dont know the current Councilor nor do they feel they have a connection to him/her. As listed in my background above, I have held positions at the local, county, and state levels of government. I believe Rio Rancho is positioned to be the leader in economic development in our state. Along with my diverse governmental roles and my private business experience, I bring a practical point of view and a fresh set of eyes.

2. If elected, what will your top priorities be and how will you accomplish them? I would promote the positive aspects of Rio Rancho by working with the City of Rio Rancho Economic Development and SEA teams in an ongoing effort to promote economic growth. The POV project must remain a priority to ensure continued economic opportunities. The Council must have a sense of urgency and actively seek a way to make it a reality.

3. What do you think should be done about road construction and repairs in Rio Rancho, and how will you accomplish it? This decades old issue is top of mind and first priority. I feel we should continue to support the Road Bond. When elected to the Council, I would first identify the worst roads in my district and fight to make them a priority. Communities like Vista Hills and Unit 17 have been flatly ignored. I will also be as aggressive as possible with road construction and repairs, finding long term solutions to this ongoing situation.

4. What will be your priorities, if any, for public safety if youre elected? Having served in the military, I know first-hand what it means to serve. I support our first responders and as Councilor for District 6, I will work hard to make sure that our first responders have the resources and tools available to care for their families and ours. I will also fight to assure that first responders are compensated, assuring our finest dont seek employment elsewhere.

5. If elected, what will you do to encourage economic development in Rio Rancho? I will engage with private partners to develop viable opportunities for sustainable projects. Working with all the available tools (TIDDs, GRIP, IRBs and PIDs) for economic growth. I will draw on my experiences with similar Public/Private/Partnerships to develop growth projects.

6. What is your stance on the water and wastewater system and rates? Water rates are a contentious issue. From day 1, I will work with the administration to stabilize rates and more importantly work to secure Rio Ranchos long-term water needs for future generations.

7. What is your stance on governmental transparency with the public, and what actions would you take based on that stance if elected? Transparency in government is the only way to earn the citizens trust. While laws currently dictate transparency requirements, I will fight to ensure maximum transparency at all times.

8. What is Rio Ranchos greatest asset, and what will you do to preserve and enhance it if elected? Rio Ranchos greatest asset is its youth. They are our future and we must focus on creating opportunities to keep them here. Additionally, great assets include amenities such as affordable housing, public parks, aquatic center, top ranking public schools and libraries. Along with the finest police, firefighters, and city employees. I will fight for continued investment in each of these to preserve the great quality of life here in Rio Rancho.
NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Microwavable Foods market worldwide is projected to grow by US$43.4 Billion, driven by a compounded growth of 5.4%. Frozen Microwavable Foods, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 5.6%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$117.6 Billion by the year 2025, Frozen Microwavable Foods will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05485922/?utm_source=PRN



- Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 4.1% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$1.5 Billion to the region's size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over US$1.2 Billion worth of projected demand in the region will come from Rest of Europe markets. In Japan, Frozen Microwavable Foods will reach a market size of US$6.6 Billion by the close of the analysis period. As the world's second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 8.6% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$12.9 Billion in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders. Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies.



- Competitors identified in this market include, among others,

Ajinomoto Foods North America, Inc.

Bellisio Foods, Inc.

BRF S.A.

Campbell Soup Company

Conagra Brands, Inc.

Cremonini S.p.A.

Dawn Farm Foods Limited

General Mills, Inc.

Gunnar Dafgard AB

Hormel Foods Corporation

Itoham Foods, Inc.

Kellogg Company

Maple Leaf Foods Inc.

McCain Foods Limited

Nestle S.A.

Pinnacle Foods, Inc.

Birds Eye Group, Inc.

San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc.

Schwan's Company

the Kraft Heinz Company









Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05485922/?utm_source=PRN



I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE



II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



1. MARKET OVERVIEW



Microwavable Foods: Meeting Ever-Changing Culinary Demands &

Enabling Cooking Perfection in Few Hot Minutes

Recent Market Activity

Microwave Packaging Advancements Transform the Microwave

Cooking Experience

Global Market Outlook

Global Competitor Market Shares

Microwavable Foods Competitor Market Share Scenario Worldwide

(in %): 2020 & 2029





2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS



Ajinomoto Foods North America, Inc. (USA)

Bellisio Foods, Inc. (USA)

BRF S.A. (Brazil)

Campbell Soup Company (USA)

Conagra Brands, Inc. (USA)

Cremonini S.p.A. (Italy)

Dawn Farm Foods Limited (Ireland)

General Mills, Inc. (USA)

Gunnar Dafgard AB (Sweden)

Hormel Foods Corporation (USA)

Itoham Foods, Inc. (Japan)

Kellogg Company (USA)

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. (Canada)

McCain Foods Limited (Canada)

Nestle S.A. (Switzerland)

Pinnacle Foods, Inc. (USA)

Birds Eye Group, Inc. (USA)

San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc. (The Philippines)

Schwan's Company (USA)

The Kraft Heinz Company (USA)





3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS



The Frozen Food Renaissance & the Ready Meals Revolution Drives

Healthy Growth in Demand for Microwavable Foods

Food Processors Try to Eliminate Myths about Frozen

Microwavable Foods

Frozen Ready Meals Lead the Pack

Value-Added Microwave Oven Blanched Frozen Fruits and

Vegetables Gain Prominence

Growing Interest in Frozen Microwavable Seafood Meals Augur

Well for the Market

The Millennials and their Preference for Cooking at Home

Benefit Market Demand

Global Millennial Population Facts & Figures: Important

Opportunity Indicators

Shelf-Stable Microwavable Foods Witness Steady Growth in Demand

Innovations in Shelf-Stable Microwavable Foods Packaging to

Spur Growth

Changing Landscape of Packaging for Shelf-Stable Foods

Convenience Factor Drive Adaptation of Popular Snack Foods to

the Microwave

Microwavable Popcorn Feels the Heat with Growing Competition

from RTE Popcorn

Growing Focus on Health and Wellness Drives Innovation in

Microwavable Foods

MATS: Long Term Freshness of Prepared Meals without Refrigeration

Select Innovative Healthy Microwavable Meal Options

Packaged Foods Demand Patterns Focus on the "Microwavability"

Factor

Microwavable Ethnic Cuisine: The Order of the Day

Healthy Eating Brings the Spotlight on Steam Cooked Vegetables

Revival of Interest in Microwave Ovens & Steady Launch of

Technically Advanced Models Signal Opportunities

Whirlpool Smart Front Control Range

Smart Microwave Cover

Tovala 'Smart Oven' to Cook Food Better

Microwave Oven with Radio Frequency Technology

Freescale's New Microwave Model Replace 50-Year-Old Technology

Microwave Ovens: Improved, Altered & Perfected to Meet Native

Requirements

RF Microwave: A New Wave of Cooking?

Microwaving Bakery Products Unravel the Complications of a

Longstanding Problem

Microwavable Food Packaging: Redefining Convenience and

Simplifying Food Preparation

Convenience Packaging: The Precedent to Efficient Microwavable

Packaging

Innovations in Microwavable Food Packaging Contribute to Market

Growth

Favorable Demographic Trends Strengthen Market Prospects

Expanding Global Population

Shrinking Family Size

Burgeoning Middle Class Population

Rapid Urbanization

Rising Women Workforce

Aging Population

Kids Emerge as a Lucrative Demographic Target for Microwavable

Foods





4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE



Table 1: Microwavable Foods Global Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 2: Microwavable Foods Global Retrospective Market

Scenario in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 3: Microwavable Foods Market Share Shift across Key

Geographies Worldwide: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 4: Frozen Microwavable Foods (Segment) World Market by

Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025

Table 5: Frozen Microwavable Foods (Segment) Historic Market

Analysis by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017

Table 6: Frozen Microwavable Foods (Segment) Market Share

Breakdown of Worldwide Sales by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS

2025

Table 7: Chilled Microwavable Foods (Segment) Potential Growth

Markets Worldwide in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025

Table 8: Chilled Microwavable Foods (Segment) Historic Market

Perspective by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017

Table 9: Chilled Microwavable Foods (Segment) Market Sales

Breakdown by Region/Country in Percentage: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 10: Shelf Stable Microwavable Foods (Segment) Geographic

Market Spread Worldwide in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025

Table 11: Shelf Stable Microwavable Foods (Segment) Region Wise

Breakdown of Global Historic Demand in US$ Million: 2009 to

2017

Table 12: Shelf Stable Microwavable Foods (Segment) Market

Share Distribution in Percentage by Region/Country: 2009 VS

2019 VS 2025





III. MARKET ANALYSIS



GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS

UNITED STATES

Market Facts & Figures

US Microwavable Foods Market Share (in %) by Company: 2020 & 2025

Market Analytics

Table 13: United States Microwavable Foods Market Estimates and

Projections in US$ Million by Segment: 2018 to 2025

Table 14: Microwavable Foods Market in the United States by

Segment: A Historic Review in US$ Million for 2009-2017

Table 15: United States Microwavable Foods Market Share

Breakdown by Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

CANADA

Table 16: Canadian Microwavable Foods Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Segment: 2018 to 2025

Table 17: Canadian Microwavable Foods Historic Market Review by

Segment in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 18: Microwavable Foods Market in Canada: Percentage Share

Breakdown of Sales by Segment for 2009, 2019, and 2025

JAPAN

Table 19: Japanese Market for Microwavable Foods: Annual Sales

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Segment for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 20: Microwavable Foods Market in Japan: Historic Sales

Analysis in US$ Million by Segment for the Period 2009-2017

Table 21: Japanese Microwavable Foods Market Share Analysis by

Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

CHINA

Table 22: Chinese Microwavable Foods Market Growth Prospects in

US$ Million by Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 23: Microwavable Foods Historic Market Analysis in China

in US$ Million by Segment: 2009-2017

Table 24: Chinese Microwavable Foods Market by Segment:

Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025

EUROPE

Market Facts & Figures

European Microwavable Foods Market: Competitor Market Share

Scenario (in %) for 2020 & 2025

Market Analytics

Table 25: European Microwavable Foods Market Demand Scenario in

US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 26: Microwavable Foods Market in Europe: A Historic

Market Perspective in US$ Million by Region/Country for the

Period 2009-2017

Table 27: European Microwavable Foods Market Share Shift by

Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 28: European Microwavable Foods Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Segment: 2018-2025

Table 29: Microwavable Foods Market in Europe in US$ Million by

Segment: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017

Table 30: European Microwavable Foods Market Share Breakdown by

Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

FRANCE

Table 31: Microwavable Foods Market in France by Segment:

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for the Period

2018-2025

Table 32: French Microwavable Foods Historic Market Scenario in

US$ Million by Segment: 2009-2017

Table 33: French Microwavable Foods Market Share Analysis by

Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

GERMANY

Table 34: Microwavable Foods Market in Germany: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Segment for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 35: German Microwavable Foods Historic Market Analysis in

US$ Million by Segment: 2009-2017

Table 36: German Microwavable Foods Market Share Breakdown by

Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ITALY

Table 37: Italian Microwavable Foods Market Growth Prospects in

US$ Million by Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 38: Microwavable Foods Historic Market Analysis in Italy

in US$ Million by Segment: 2009-2017

Table 39: Italian Microwavable Foods Market by Segment:

Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025

UNITED KINGDOM

Table 40: United Kingdom Market for Microwavable Foods: Annual

Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Segment for

the Period 2018-2025

Table 41: Microwavable Foods Market in the United Kingdom:

Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Segment for the

Period 2009-2017

Table 42: United Kingdom Microwavable Foods Market Share

Analysis by Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

SPAIN

Table 43: Spanish Microwavable Foods Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Segment: 2018 to 2025

Table 44: Spanish Microwavable Foods Historic Market Review by

Segment in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 45: Microwavable Foods Market in Spain: Percentage Share

Breakdown of Sales by Segment for 2009, 2019, and 2025

RUSSIA

Table 46: Russian Microwavable Foods Market Estimates and

Projections in US$ Million by Segment: 2018 to 2025

Table 47: Microwavable Foods Market in Russia by Segment:

A Historic Review in US$ Million for 2009-2017

Table 48: Russian Microwavable Foods Market Share Breakdown by

Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF EUROPE

Table 49: Rest of Europe Microwavable Foods Market Estimates

and Forecasts in US$ Million by Segment: 2018-2025

Table 50: Microwavable Foods Market in Rest of Europe in US$

Million by Segment: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017

Table 51: Rest of Europe Microwavable Foods Market Share

Breakdown by Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 52: Asia-Pacific Microwavable Foods Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 53: Microwavable Foods Market in Asia-Pacific: Historic

Market Analysis in US$ Million by Region/Country for the Period

2009-2017

Table 54: Asia-Pacific Microwavable Foods Market Share Analysis

by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 55: Microwavable Foods Market in Asia-Pacific by Segment:

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for the Period

2018-2025

Table 56: Asia-Pacific Microwavable Foods Historic Market

Scenario in US$ Million by Segment: 2009-2017

Table 57: Asia-Pacific Microwavable Foods Market Share Analysis

by Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

AUSTRALIA

Table 58: Microwavable Foods Market in Australia: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Segment for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 59: Australian Microwavable Foods Historic Market

Analysis in US$ Million by Segment: 2009-2017

Table 60: Australian Microwavable Foods Market Share Breakdown

by Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

INDIA

Table 61: Indian Microwavable Foods Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Segment: 2018 to 2025

Table 62: Indian Microwavable Foods Historic Market Review by

Segment in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 63: Microwavable Foods Market in India: Percentage Share

Breakdown of Sales by Segment for 2009, 2019, and 2025

SOUTH KOREA

Table 64: Microwavable Foods Market in South Korea: Recent

Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Segment for

the Period 2018-2025

Table 65: South Korean Microwavable Foods Historic Market

Analysis in US$ Million by Segment: 2009-2017

Table 66: Microwavable Foods Market Share Distribution in South

Korea by Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 67: Rest of Asia-Pacific Market for Microwavable Foods:

Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by

Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 68: Microwavable Foods Market in Rest of Asia-Pacific:

Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Segment for the

Period 2009-2017

Table 69: Rest of Asia-Pacific Microwavable Foods Market Share

Analysis by Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

LATIN AMERICA

Table 70: Latin American Microwavable Foods Market Trends by

Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018-2025

Table 71: Microwavable Foods Market in Latin America in US$

Million by Region/Country: A Historic Perspective for the

Period 2009-2017

Table 72: Latin American Microwavable Foods Market Percentage

Breakdown of Sales by Region/Country: 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 73: Latin American Microwavable Foods Market Growth

Prospects in US$ Million by Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 74: Microwavable Foods Historic Market Analysis in Latin

America in US$ Million by Segment: 2009-2017

Table 75: Latin American Microwavable Foods Market by Segment:

Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025

ARGENTINA

Table 76: Argentinean Microwavable Foods Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Segment: 2018-2025

Table 77: Microwavable Foods Market in Argentina in US$ Million

by Segment: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017

Table 78: Argentinean Microwavable Foods Market Share Breakdown

by Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

BRAZIL

Table 79: Microwavable Foods Market in Brazil by Segment:

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for the Period

2018-2025

Table 80: Brazilian Microwavable Foods Historic Market Scenario

in US$ Million by Segment: 2009-2017

Table 81: Brazilian Microwavable Foods Market Share Analysis by

Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

MEXICO

Table 82: Microwavable Foods Market in Mexico: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Segment for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 83: Mexican Microwavable Foods Historic Market Analysis

in US$ Million by Segment: 2009-2017

Table 84: Mexican Microwavable Foods Market Share Breakdown by

Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF LATIN AMERICA

Table 85: Rest of Latin America Microwavable Foods Market

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Segment: 2018 to

2025

Table 86: Microwavable Foods Market in Rest of Latin America by

Segment: A Historic Review in US$ Million for 2009-2017

Table 87: Rest of Latin America Microwavable Foods Market Share

Breakdown by Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

MIDDLE EAST

Table 88: The Middle East Microwavable Foods Market Estimates

and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 89: Microwavable Foods Market in the Middle East by

Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 90: The Middle East Microwavable Foods Market Share

Breakdown by Region/Country: 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 91: The Middle East Microwavable Foods Market Estimates

and Forecasts in US$ Million by Segment: 2018 to 2025

Table 92: The Middle East Microwavable Foods Historic Market by

Segment in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 93: Microwavable Foods Market in the Middle East:

Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Segment for 2009, 2019,

and 2025

IRAN

Table 94: Iranian Market for Microwavable Foods: Annual Sales

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Segment for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 95: Microwavable Foods Market in Iran: Historic Sales

Analysis in US$ Million by Segment for the Period 2009-2017

Table 96: Iranian Microwavable Foods Market Share Analysis by

Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ISRAEL

Table 97: Israeli Microwavable Foods Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Segment: 2018-2025

Table 98: Microwavable Foods Market in Israel in US$ Million by

Segment: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017

Table 99: Israeli Microwavable Foods Market Share Breakdown by

Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

SAUDI ARABIA

Table 100: Saudi Arabian Microwavable Foods Market Growth

Prospects in US$ Million by Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 101: Microwavable Foods Historic Market Analysis in Saudi

Arabia in US$ Million by Segment: 2009-2017

Table 102: Saudi Arabian Microwavable Foods Market by Segment:

Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Table 103: Microwavable Foods Market in the United Arab

Emirates: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$

Million by Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 104: United Arab Emirates Microwavable Foods Historic

Market Analysis in US$ Million by Segment: 2009-2017

Table 105: Microwavable Foods Market Share Distribution in

United Arab Emirates by Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF MIDDLE EAST

Table 106: Microwavable Foods Market in Rest of Middle East:

Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by

Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 107: Rest of Middle East Microwavable Foods Historic

Market Analysis in US$ Million by Segment: 2009-2017

Table 108: Rest of Middle East Microwavable Foods Market Share

Breakdown by Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

AFRICA

Table 109: African Microwavable Foods Market Estimates and

Projections in US$ Million by Segment: 2018 to 2025

Table 110: Microwavable Foods Market in Africa by Segment: A

Historic Review in US$ Million for 2009-2017

Table 111: African Microwavable Foods Market Share Breakdown by

Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025





IV. COMPETITION



Total Companies Profiled: 48

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What TV channel is the Charleston Democratic presidential primary debate on? How can you watch for free online?

The Democratic presidential primary debate on Tuesday, February 25, at the Gaillard Center in Charleston, SC, is the third and final primary debate this month and the 10th Democratic primary debate of this election cycle. It takes place just a few days before the South Carolina Democratic primary on February 29, and marks just one week before Super Tuesday, when voters in 14 states will have primaries and American Samoa will hold its caucuses.

Seven candidates have qualified for the Charleston debate, leaving just one candidate off the stage who remains in the race. Thats one more attendee than at last weeks Democratic debate in Las Vegas.

After a dominant performance in the Las Vegas caucuses, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders pulled ahead of his closest competitor, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, to strengthen his grip on the race so far with 39 pledged delegates total. Former Vice President Joe Biden also got a much-needed boost, finishing second in Nevada and adding seven delegates, enough to catapult him ahead of Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

All five candidates have qualified for the Las Vegas debate, as have former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and hedge-fund manager Thomas Steyer, having met the four-poll criteria of at least 10%. Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is the only candidate still in the race who did not qualify for Tuesdays debate.

After being neck and neck with Sanders in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primaries, Buttigieg lost steam in Nevada. He picked up just two pledged delegates, falling well behind the 18 new delegates pledged to Sanders and allowing Biden, with a total of 13 pledged delegates, to move up into the top three candidates.

Buttigiegs campaign has called Nevadas early voting process plagued with errors and inconsistencies, and alleged that volunteers running the caucus did not follow its rules. Bidens campaign also announced that a precinct captain witnessed organizers making errors and even switching vote numbers multiple times for different precincts.

What time is the Charleston, SC, Democratic presidential primary debate?

The debate is at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020.

What TV channel is the Charleston Democratic debate on?

The debate will be broadcast on local CBS channels (in Harrisburg, CBS21) and BET.

How to watch the Charleston debate for free online

The following streaming services will broadcast the debate:

It can also be streamed on CBS All Access (free 7-day trial). The CBS All Access App is available on Amazon Fire, Apple and Android devices, Apple TV, Chromecast, PS4, Roku, Xbox One, and more.

It can also be streamed in a web browser at the CBS News website or via the CBS News app, available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, XBox, Amazon Fire and other devices, without a cable provider login.

Finally, this debate will stream live on Twitter, free to view for anyone, at at @CBSNews.

Who is debating?

Candidates needed at least 10% in four DNC-approved polls or at least 12% support in any two polls from South Carolina. Candidates who also have at least one delegate at the Democratic National Convention based on the results of the Iowa and Nevada caucuses and New Hampshire primaries also automatically qualify.

These criteria gave stage space to:

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders

Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Former Vice President Joe Biden

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg

Hedge-fund manager Thomas Steyer

Only Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard remains in the race, but did not make the cut for the South Carolina debate.

Who is moderating the debate?

CBS Evening News anchor Norah ODonnell, CBS This Morning co-host Gayle King, Face the Nation moderator Margaret Brennan, CBS chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett and 60 Minutes correspondent Bill Whitaker will moderate the debate, which is being hosted by CBS News and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute in Charleston.
There will be no service during the morning rush hour along the Go Transits Lakeshore West line between Aldershot and Hamilton stations after protestors blocked train tracks in support of the Wetsuweten nation Monday night.

A group on Facebook called Wetsuweten Strong: Hamilton in Solidarity says they are blocking trains in response to the OPPs dismantling the rail blockade in Tyendinaga, close to Belleville in eastern Ontario.

Our intention is to stay here indefinitely and we are calling on others to join us, a post on the Facebook group read.

About 20 to 30 protesters stationed themselves in a CN rail yard near the Lakeshore West line that goes toward Niagara Falls around 5:45 p.m. Monday, said Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins. The tracks dont belong to Go Transit but nonetheless prevented trains from running through Hamilton and West Harbour stations.

We dont have access to those tracks so were going to be stopping trains at Aldershot to stay safe, she told the Star Monday night.

Trains wont running through the Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Hamilton, and West Harbour stations during the Tuesday morning rush hour as a result, Marie Aikins said. Shuttle buses from Aldershot station will provide service in the meantime.

Because our trains got stopped, they didnt get to go where theyre supposed to go, and so they are in the wrong position for the morning service, Marie Aikins said. They have settled in it looks like, there are chairs, and fires, and so forth.

Hamilton police, CN Rail police and Metrolinx security have been monitoring the situation, she said.

The group was served an injunction around 10:30 p.m. Monday, which was happily burned, according to a statement on their Facebook page.

Protestors across Canada have been blocking trains ever since the RCMP enforced an injunction to begin construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline through the nation in early February.

With files from Katrina Clarke from The Hamilton Spectator.

Miriam Lafontaine is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @mirilafontaine

Read more about:
PHOENIX, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- At the opening session of its 30th Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA today, the Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP) announced that Jennifer Szaro will assume the role of President and CEO beginning April 6, 2020. She replaces John Hargrove who is retiring after more than 40 years in the energy industry and six years of serving as AESP's CEO.

Prior to joining AESP, Szaro was with the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) for five years as its Vice President of Research and Education, leading its content development as well as managing SEPA's extensive portfolio of conferences and educational offerings. Szaro also spent nine years as the Renewable Energy Manager for the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) leading their renewable energy, corporate sustainability and electric vehicle programs. She also conducted applied photovoltaic systems research for eight years as Senior Energy Analyst for the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC).

Szaro holds a Bachelor of Science Degrees in Environmental Science and Chemistry from Florida International University and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from University of Central Florida. She is a LEED Accredited Professional and serves on the UCF College of Engineering and Computer Sciences as well as the Florida Solar Energy Center Advisory Board. She is also a founding board member of Drive Electric Florida.

In a video introducing herself to AESP members Szaro said, "Working together, we can achieve a cleaner, more efficient and modern grid. I can't wait to get started."

"I am so pleased to see that Jennifer will be leading the good work done here at AESP," said Hargrove. "Among our priorities here is helping our members navigate the transition in DSM as a result of the increasing role of DERs and decarbonization goals, and Jen is the ideal person to lead AESP on this path using her extensive experience and expertise. I can't imagine a better person to take the reins."

Under Hargrove's tenure, AESP launched two new certificate programs -- in DSM program management and impact evaluation. John continued, "With her experience in research and developing educational content, AESP will continue to bring relevant and needed educational opportunities to our members."

SOURCE AESP

Related Links

http://www.aesp.org


The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that there are a "number of Irish nationals staying in the area" where a hotel in Tenerife that has been placed in quarantine due to coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) is set to meet later today.

The H10 Costa Adeje Palace in the town of Adeje

Read More:

Spanish media said some 1,000 tourists staying at the complex are not allowed to leave.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said: "The Department and our Embassy in Madrid are closely monitoring the situation.

"We are in touch with the local health and tourist authorities.

"A number of Irish nationals staying in the area have been in contact directly with us.

"We are providing consular advice. Anyone who has specific concerns regarding Irish citizens currently in the affected area can contact the Department on 01 4082527."

Ireland's NPHET is meeting this afternoon to discuss the increased number of coronavirus cases in Italy.

The team is made up of experts on virology, infectious diseases and emergency medicine.

The team offers advice and guidance to the Government on what the national response should be to outbreaks such as Covid-19.

The meeting was called to discuss the situation in Italy, where seven people have died and over 200 others are infected.

Meanwhile, Mount Anville Secondary School in Goatstown in Dublin has issued advice to parents after a group of students and teachers returned from a ski trip in northern Italy over the midterm.

They have suggested that students with a compromised immune system be kept at home and hand santisers have been placed throughout the school.
The Sahrawis, sequestered for more than four decades in the Tindouf camps, will stage a sit-in in front of the Polisario Front HQ in Rabouni camp on Monday (Feb.24 ) to demand freedom of movement and respect of the right to free movement.

Since the start of the Hirak in Algeria last year, Polisario leaders have drastically reduced, on orders of the Algerian authorities, exit permits issued for cars and other vehicles transporting people and goods.

Furthermore, the Algerian security deployed around the Tindouf camps has been significantly strengthened to prevent, according to well-informed sources in Rabouni, weapons circulating in Tindouf camps from being transferred to other parts of Algerian territory or to neighboring countries in the Sahel.

Following the tightening of the blockade, food and fuel prices soared to unprecedented levels and paralyzed the activity of smugglers who regularly supplied the shops in the camps.

Moreover, the numerous protests organized by local shopkeepers were violently suppressed by armed Polisario militias who used tanks and military vehicles to intimidate the protesters.

The living conditions of the populations in the Tindouf camps are deteriorating due to a drastic drop in international humanitarian aid, which is delivered intermittently to poor families.

This situation has weakened further the Polisario leaders, already suffering from the serious diplomatic setbacks in their showdown against Morocco over Western Sahara. Yet, the Algerian-backed separatist group continues to cling to an unworkable and unrealistic self-determination referendum, and to stubbornly reject the Moroccan offer of broad autonomy in Sahara.
Staff Sgt. Roy Benavidez had sustained 37 wounds from small-arms fire, grenade shrapnel, bayonet thrusts and a rifle butt to the head. His eyes were pasted shut by dried blood, and he was too weak to move and unable to speak. But he had enough wits about him to sense when medics placed him in a body bag. As a doctor leaned down to check for a pulse, Benavidez did the only thing he couldhe spat at the doctor.

A Texan of Mexican and Yaqui Indian parentage, Benavidez enlisted in the Texas Army National Guard at age 17 in 1952, later switching to active duty in the U.S. Army. In 1959 he completed parachute training and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. He later joined the Army Special Forces. On being sent to Vietnam in 1965, he was severely wounded by a land mine. But by 1968 Staff Sgt. Benavidez had recovered and was back in Vietnam.

On May 2 of that year at Loc Ninh he overheard a radio call from a 12-man Special Forces patrol under enemy fire that needed immediate extraction. Three helicopters had responded but were unable to land due to the heavy fire. They returned to Loc Ninh with their wounded before making another attempt. Benavidez jumped aboard one of the aircraft. It was an instant reaction, he recalled.

At the scene Benavidez directed the helicopter to a clearing, then jumped out and ran 80 yards through what his Medal of Honor citation described as withering small arms fire to the trapped men, in the process suffering wounds to his right leg, face and head. Working through his pain, he positioned those team members still able to fight to cover the landing zone and threw smoke canisters to direct the aircrews. Benavidez then carried or dragged half the team members to a responding helicopter and ran alongside, providing covering fire, as it hovered in closer to collect the others. As he struggled to recover the body of team leader Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Wright and the classified documents on his person, the enemy fire intensified, and Benavidez took an enemy round to his abdomen and grenade shrapnel to his back.

At the same moment enemy fire killed the pilot of the helicopter, which crashed. Though bleeding heavily and losing strength, Benavidez secured the documents and made his way to the wreckage to aid the wounded and organize the able-bodied into a defensive perimeter. All the while he kept on his feet, distributing water and ammunition to the men and, his citation notes, re-instilling in them a will to live and fight. Benavidez then called in tactical air strikes and directed the fire of supporting gunships to clear the path for another rescue attempt. While aiding one of the wounded, he took another enemy round to the thigh.

When a second helicopter landed, Benavidez helped a wounded man aboard. As he returned for the others, an enemy soldier clubbed him in the mouth with a rifle butt, then lunged at him with a bayonet. Benavidez grabbed the blade, sustaining deep cuts, and killed his attacker with a knife. He then picked up a discarded AK-47 and shot two more enemy soldiers approaching the helicopter. With his little remaining strength Benavidez made a final sweep to bring in the wounded and ensure all classified material had been secured. He then collapsed into the helicopter.

When the startled doctor at the field hospital realized Benavidez was alive, thanks to the sergeants well-aimed spit, he sent the wounded man to a rear area hospital. It took more than a year for Benavidez to recover. He had saved at least eight lives and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and four additional Purple Hearts.

In 1981 Benavidezs DSC was upgraded to the Medal of Honor. That February 24 President Ronald Reagan presented the intrepid sergeant his hard-earned award. MH
How big is America? Is it very far? These were some of the questions posed by kindergarten students to United States First Lady Melania Trump, who visited a Delhi government school on Tuesday.

IMAGE: US First Lady Melania Trump waves as she leaves after witnessing a happiness class, during her visit to a government school in New Delhi. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo

The US First Lady, who spent over an hour at Sarvodaya Co-Educational Senior Secondary School in south Delhi, also interacted with students from different grades.

At an activity room for kindergarten students, the US First Lady, joined the tiny tots who were engaged in clay modelling.

Encouraged by their mentor about what would they like to ask the US First Lady, an excited girl asked, "How big is America?"

"Is United States very far?," asked another girl.

Smiling at the questions, the US First Lady answered their queries and asked them what they were making with clay.

IMAGE: US First Lady Melania Trump watches students perform yoga during her visit to a government school in New Delhi. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo

Moving to another group of students, who were playing with building blocks, the US First Lady joined them in the activity.

"What do you do as the First Lady?," asked an excited girl.

The First Lady also meditated with class 4 students in their "Happiness Class".

"I am feeling very relaxed," she said after the brief meditation as part of "mindfulness" activity of the 'Happiness Class'.

The 'Happiness Class' was started by the Aam Aadmi Party in 2018. As part of the programme, students are taught various activities, including meditation, street plays, basic obedience and aims to reduce anxiety and stress levels among children.
Officials at Huu Nghi Border Gate in Vietnam's northern province of Lang Son complete health declarations for passengers coming from China, February 4, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy.

Provinces and cities are to send staff able to understand and communicate in Chinese and Korean to border areas, as per Ministry of Health request.

The move followed reports that most border areas across Vietnam are ill equipped to communicate quarantine procedures to Chinese and South Korean arrivals and so prevent the coronavirus from spreading.

Following increasing infections in South Korea, all arrivals from the country are to be isolated, according to a Ministry of Health document issued Sunday.

Those with symptoms like high fever, coughing and breathing difficulties will be put under quarantine.

The document is currently available in English, Chinese and Korean.

A lack of staff able to communicate in the three languages hamper efforts to isolate, monitor and treat travelers from related epidemic stricken areas, as well as those with whom theyve had contact, according to the ministry.

To cope with the situation, the ministry demanded all cities and provinces supply interpreters at all border points.

Saigon and Da Nang are currently quarantining 83 people from South Korea's Daegu City, where a major coronavirus outbreak has been detected.

South Korea is making headlines internationally after it became one of the worst-hit countries and territories by the coronavirus epidemic, recording 893 infections by Tuesday, many in Daegu. The countrys number of infections is second only to China, the epicenter.

Vietnam has so far recorded 16 coronavirus cases, of whom 15 have recovered and been discharged from hospitals.

The remaining patient, a 50-year-old man 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, has been tested negative twice and is ready for discharge.

The global death toll has reached 2,701, mostly in China, followed by Iran with 12, South Korea with nine and Italy with seven.
25.02.2020 LISTEN

"We dare not misbehave as journalists in the discharge of our duties or face the wrath of God," says Dr. Affail Monney, President Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).

The above caution suggests that all isn't well with journalistic practice. Even though all or many media organisations have ethics and standards in place, there are still bad apples among us that often try to go wayward or be sleazy.

Can any profession survive a day without ethics? Imagine if journalists had no rules to regulate their day-to-day activities.

I can only imagine this: They'dl possibly bombard Satan with slanderous articles.

Satan would sue them. They'd fight against the suit and by the power of the sword (pen) bring hell to its knees and have him caged at the Nsawam prison. Some of them would write that Mars is melting and Earth has already melted. But how'd they survive the meltdown?They were on Mars, of course.

Indeed if there were no ethics, the practitioners would become more powerful, bossier, and.ruder. They'd feel untouchable and walk shoulder high with that air of pomposity around them. And just imagine how many of us would be able to differentiate even right from wrong?

So we better not throw away the high standards and the reputation this profession exudes because of our selfish interests or whims.

What are ethics?

Journalistic ethics and standards comprise principles of ethics and good practice applicable to journalists. This subset of media ethics is known as journalism's professional "code of ethics" and the "canons of journalism".

The basic codes and canons commonly appear in statements by professional journalism associations and individual print, broadcast, and online news organisations.

While various codes may have some differences, most share common elements including the principles of truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness and public accountability as these apply to the acquisition of newsworthy, information and its subsequent dissermination to the public.

Basically, we cannot do good journalism without followingt these principles and the ethics named above. And Dr. Monney was right, journalists must abide by. the ethics and laid down standards to ensure that we don't misinform the public.

Speaking at a Thanksgiving Service by the Assemblies of God End-Time Centre, Adentan in Accra Dr Affail Monney, stressed: "Journalism is not about perpetuating false information to the public or creating unnecessary tension it's about responsible reporting, involving a well-researched fact to the public devoid of bias or prejudice."

He admonished journalists to abide by the ethics of the profession and avoid intemperate language that could derail the countrys peace ahead of the December polls.

We dare not misbehave as journalists in the discharge of our duties or face the wrath of God. If we talk by heart on television, radio or any media platform and abuse freedom of speech, God will not bless us with Grace, he said.

Dr Monney therefore urged the media to continue to uphold decorum and circumspection in their reportage, serving as guardians and promoters of free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.

According to him the country had had successful and peaceful elections and it was imperative to sustain that feat for national cohesion and development.

He advised journalists to cross-check every piece of information gathered and be impartial to all subjects of the news.

Also, the GJA President implored journalists not to report rumour as facts, emanating from party officials, to preserve the integrity of the profession and avoid needless rancour ahead of the polls.

Let's use our medium to preach peace. We're confident of peaceful and free and fair elections in the impending polls.

In conclusion, Dr. Monney urged all stakeholders, particularly the Electoral Commission, political parties, the electorate, and civil society to accord all media professionals the necessary assistance to aid their work.

By Gordon Offin-Amaniampong
Energy stocks had a rough start of the week on Monday, as the newfound panic sets in about just how far the coronavirus will reach and how devastating the effects of the virus will be on the global economy.

So far, the coronavirus has claimed the lives of nearly 2,600, with 77,262 infected.

On Monday, the coronavirus reared its ugly head in Kuwait, Bahrain, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Oman, bringing the total number of Middle Eastern countries that have incidence of the infection to nine. Iran already has reported nine deaths due to the coronavirus.

Also on Monday, Italy saw an uptick of cases, so far reporting seven deaths, with 229 confirmed cases.

The growing trend is for countries who have not had a major outbreak yet to restrict travel with countries who are having trouble containing the virussuch as China, South Korea, and Iranand this trend is causing unease in the market.

The Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE)the largest energy equities ETF--was trading down over 4.5% on Monday at $51.68 at 3:55 pm EDT. Vanguard Energy EFT (VDE) was also trading down more than 4.5% at $69.07. The third largest energy ETF, the SPDR S&P Oil and Gas Explore & Production ETF (XOP) was trading down even more, by 6.09% on the day.

The oil majors were trading down on Monday afternoon as well, with Shell trading down 3.8%, Exxon by 4.67%, Chevron by 3.94%, Occidental by 6.24%, Apache by 5.86%, Phillips 66 by 3.04%, EOG Resources by 5.79%.

Some smaller stocks such as Valaris PLC (-15.95%), Nabors Industries (-15.0%), and Kosmos Energy (18.71%), all saw double digit losses.

The S&P Energy Sector is, overall, trading down 4.5%.

And energy stocks arent the only stocks taking a beating; airline stocks, hit particularly hard by the lowered demand and by fears that even more travel may be restricted as the virus rages on.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
OPEC

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, said on Tuesday that OPEC+ countries should not be complacent about the coronavirus.

"Everything serious requires attendance," he told reporters on the sidelines of an industry conference in Riyadh.

Prince Abdulaziz said he was confident that every member in the OPEC+ alliance was a responsible and responsive oil producer.

An OPEC+ committee recommended earlier this month the group

deepen its production curbs by an additional 600,000 barrels per day to counter the oil demand loss brought about by the new coronavirus outbreak.

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

Saudi Arabia had been supporting a further oil production cut, but Russia was yet to announce its final position on that.

Prince Abdulaziz said he was still talking with Moscow and that he is confident of Riyadhs partnership with the rest of the OPEC+ group.

"We did not run out of ideas, we have not closed our phones. There is always a good way of communicating through conference calls."

Oil steadied on Tuesday as investors sought bargains after crude benchmarks slumped almost 4% in the previous session, although concerns about the coronavirus spreading out of China and curbing fuel demand capped gains.
The People of the State of New York vs. Harvey Weinstein has been an epic production that ran nearly seven weeks -- underwritten by the state, cast by Manhattan prosecutors and starring perhaps the most recognizable accused sexual predator in the nation.

The trial has delivered all of the drama, suspense, bombshell plot twists, comic relief and cinematic sweep of a Hollywood blockbuster  mixed with the noir-ish darkness of disturbing allegations of violent degradation and depravity said to be lurking just beneath the surface.

Each day began around 4 a.m. as reporters lined up in the icy twilight outside the sprawling criminal courts complex at 100 Centre St. in lower Manhattan. After sunrise, the line started to creep forward in sections on the half-hour, a press army advancing in slow motion. Reporters passed through security at 8 a.m. and ascended to the 15th floor courthouse hallway to line up again inside aluminum pens lining the narrow courthouse hallway.

PHOTO: Defense attorneys (from left) Arthur Aidala, Donna Rotunno and Weinstein public relations representative Juda Englemayer, Feb. 14, 2020. (ABC News)

About 9:15 a.m., Weinstein rolled in on his wheeled walker flanked by a cadre of defense attorneys. Fifteen minutes later, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice James Burke appeared on the bench and began most mornings settling a variety of roiling disputes between the opposing counsel, ranging from serious accusations of misconduct to brief, noisy displays of mutual pique over perceived personal slights.

PHOTO: The criminal courthouse at 100 Centre Street in lower Manhattan, Jan. 30, 2020. (ABC News)

Another peculiar mainstay of Weinstein trial coverage was this: daily and without fail, a chorus of piercing sirens rose up from the streets below, ricocheted off three walls that form the pre-war courthouses towering entrance, and came screaming in through the open windows of the high-ceilinged courtroom.

The sound was so overwhelming that it regularly interrupted testimony, and multiple court microphones proved no match. At times, testimony simply halted for lengthy stretches until the noise subsided.

Inside the old courtroom, the temperature pinballed between two extremes: so cold that rows of reporters donned scarfs, ski hats and winter coats, or so hot they visibly perspired, wearily fanning themselves with flimsy press passes.

Story continues

During testimony, court officers prowled the aisles like hunters, relentlessly scanning for cellphones. Hourly, court officers bellowed warnings to remind those packed into wooden rows in the gallery that even the sight of a cellphone in hand would trigger an immediate ejection. Every day or so the officers caught and removed a bewildered reporter new to the trial, a cautionary tale for the rest.

This vigilance took root the dramatic first day of jury selection, when a furious Burke threatened in a burst of hyperbole to jail Weinstein for life for repeatedly violating the cellphone ban.

Weinsteins legal team fired back with a motion that cited the rebuke and other issues in seeking the judges recusal  a dicey move at the start of any criminal trial.

Before the day was out, Los Angeles prosecutors -- who had been probing Weinstein for two years -- indicted him on four new felony charges for alleged attacks on two women within the same week in February 2013. Weinstein has denied the charges.

That prompted the following mornings cinematic spectacle of defense attorney Arthur Aidala holding aloft one New York newspaper front page after the next featuring Weinsteins West Coast charges  part of a vigorous but unsuccessful bid for a cooling off period that could help prevent prejudicing the jury pool.

Hollywood to Montauk

Weinstein's trial has featured multiple celebrities and weeks of testimony peppered with Hollywood insider anecdotes and enough bold-faced names to pack the New York Post's Page Sixs gossip column for a week.

Reporters tapped out frenzied alerts to their editors when Victorias Secret supermodel Gigi Hadid, who studied criminal psychology at the New School, briefly appeared in the jury before being dismissed.

Actress Ellen Barkin attended the first day of testimony and sat in the back of the courtroom, mouthing gestures of support to her friend on the stand, "Sopranos" actress Annabella Sciorra, who testified Weinstein raped her nearly 30 years ago.

The next day, actress Rosie Perez took the stand, and broke down in tears when she acknowledged later sharing Sciorras account with MSNBC anchor Nicole Wallace.

The night Sciorra alleges she was raped, she testified, she and Weinstein had been out with a small group that included actress Uma Thurman.

Brazilian actress Talita Maia testified that Weinstein had referred her to Jose Padilla, the director of the blockbuster Netflix series Narcos, though the two never connected.

Actress Kara Young said that she first met Sciorra when both women and actor Gary Oldman stayed at filmmaker Julian Schnabels home in Montauk in the late 1980s and attended a nearby outdoor Paul Simon concert together.

Would-be defense witness Warren Leight -- who appears to have escaped testimony at least in part by retweeting high-profile, pro-prosecution tweets -- is a "Law & Order: SVU" show runner who says he penned an episode of the series based on the Weinstein case. The episode, called "I'm Gonna Make You a Star" was the 21st season premiere and first aired in Sept. 2019.

PHOTO: ABC News investigative reporter Chris Francescani covers the Weinstein trial, Jan. 16, 2020. (ABC News)

He also produced a 1993 Weinstein-backed movie "The Night We Never Met," starring Sciorra and Matthew Broderick. The back story of that production played into a key part of the trial testimony.

Leight has said he had written the part for Brodericks wife, actress Sarah Jessica Parker, but she was unavailable for a reading Weinstein requested, so Weinstein insisted that Sciorra read the part, and then refused to bankroll the production unless she starred opposite Broderick.

The trial also shined a light on the seamier side of one of the nations most ruthless and competitive industries.

Crude remarks about accusers allegedly made by the defenses first witness, producer Paul Feldsher, which were revealed under cross-examination, have been the target of angry Hollywood actresses for two weeks.

Feldsher called Weinsteins appetite for professional success and women voracious (and later testified that he assumes Weinstein is a sex addict). He called Sciorra an a------, opined that Well, the rape version [of Sciorra's account] got her a CAA agent, so theres that, and, with a line still ricocheting through the Hollywood Hills, wrote that I think the dogpile of women who are suddenly bravely recalling repressed memories is hideous."

(MORE: Weinstein accuser breaks down on stand as judge ends testimony)

During the same time, according to testimony, Feldsher texted Sciorra:

"Bella, Meryl Poster [former president of television at The Weinstein Co.] asked me for your number. I should have asked you before I gave it, sorry, sorry about a bunch of stuff. Bewildered, too, can't imagine what the kids are like at this point. Would love to see a pic. Would love healing and peace and a friend back ... Current events are way too much for text but obviously acknowledgment goes to that awfulness."

Jekyll & Hyde

At the center of the trial is Weinstein himself.

Weinsteins skin appeared perpetually pale and he wore sometimes ill-fitting suits with unkempt hair and orthopedic sneakers -- a sharp contrast to the pictures displayed in court of Weinstein in the 2000s and early 2010s wearing expensive, tailored suits and appearing well-groomed and healthy.

In court, Weinsteins daily routine took shape over time. Each morning, an attorney handed the diabetic 67-year-old a fistful of candy and mints that he chomped on throughout the day. He spent long stretches of the trial writing notes on yellow legal pads, and breaks reading books. He displayed little visible emotion over weeks at the defense table.

(MORE: In closing arguments, prosecutor calls Harvey Weinstein an 'abusive rapist' and a 'predator' )

During testimony he studied the women accusing him intently as they testified. He tried to wave to Perez when she identified him from the witness stand and offered a similar greeting to Sciorra, who stared straight back, ignoring the gesture.

But during each cross-examination, Weinstein turned his body fully 45 degrees, and studied his defense attorneys intently, appearing to soak up each gesture and facial expression as if he were casting a movie.

The accumulated accounts put forth by the six accusers painted a vivid picture of a powerful, abusive Hollywood titan who could swing suddenly between beguiling charm and volcanic rage -- between inspiring professional conversations about any aspect of cinema, and unspeakably degrading sexual demands.

(MORE: Weinstein's lawyers wrap up defense: 'This is not a monster')

"If he heard the word 'no,' it was like a trigger for him," Jessica Mann, who accused Weinstein of rape, testified. "It was like Jekyll and Hyde." (ABC News has not previously identified Mann, but the district attorney's office said she does not now object to being identified publicly).

The prosecution testimony included accounts of Weinstein bragging about having guys with bats," bragging about having slept with famous actresses to convince lesser-well-known women to submit to his sexual demands, and unseemly accounts of him telling one accuser not to worry that he hadnt used a condom because he had a vasectomy and reassuring another: Dont worry. I cant have kids. (He has five).

Conversely, the trove of emails entered into evidence suggested an unfailingly polite and courteous correspondent, given to small kindnesses and goofy signature phrases, like replying Kool & the gang in place of the word cool.

Witness testimony also suggested that one of the most powerful Hollywood figures in a generation, weighing in at nearly 300 pounds, was once terrorized by a Chihuahua named Peanut.

He denied this outside of court, replying Do I look like Im afraid of Chihuahuas?

Inside the Harvey Weinstein trial: Reporter's notebook originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
While some investors are already well versed in financial metrics (hat tip), this article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE) and why it is important. We'll use ROE to examine Pental Limited (ASX:PTL), by way of a worked example.

Pental has a ROE of 3.6%, based on the last twelve months. Another way to think of that is that for every A$1 worth of equity in the company, it was able to earn A$0.04.

See our latest analysis for Pental

How Do I Calculate Return On Equity?

The formula for return on equity is:

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

Or for Pental:

3.6% = AU$1.9m  AU$53m (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 the money paid into the company from shareholders, plus any earnings retained. 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, as a general rule, a high ROE is a good thing. That means it can be interesting to compare the ROE of different companies.

Does Pental Have A Good Return On Equity?

Arguably the easiest way to assess company's ROE is to compare it with the average in its industry. However, this method is only useful as a rough check, because companies do differ quite a bit within the same industry classification. As is clear from the image below, Pental has a lower ROE than the average (12%) in the Household Products industry.

ASX:PTL Past Revenue and Net Income, February 24th 2020

That certainly isn't ideal. We prefer it when the ROE of a company is above the industry average, but it's not the be-all and end-all if it is lower. Nonetheless, it might be wise to check if insiders have been selling.

Story continues

How Does Debt Impact ROE?

Companies usually need to invest money to grow their profits. The cash for investment can come from prior year profits (retained earnings), issuing new shares, or borrowing. In the first and second cases, the ROE will reflect this use of cash for investment in the business. In the latter case, the debt used for growth will improve returns, but won't affect the total equity. That will make the ROE look better than if no debt was used.

Pental's Debt And Its 3.6% ROE

Shareholders will be pleased to learn that Pental has not one iota of net debt! Although I don't find its ROE that impressive, it's worth remembering it achieved these returns without debt. 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. A company that can achieve a high return on equity without debt could be considered a high quality business. 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. Profit growth rates, versus the expectations reflected in the price of the stock, are a particularly important to consider. Check the past profit growth by Pental by looking at this visualization of past earnings, revenue and cash flow.

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.
Kate Hovers BVSC Cert SHP MRCVS told the meeting at the Royal Welsh Showground that it was important to think about journeys, transport and food waste. She said nearly a third of food was wasted between the point of production and the table  with nearly 70% of that in the home.

She said:

Things like bread and salad are higher up on the waste, but whatever it is we can all make changes and think about how to reduce waste and how many times to make a journey in a car with one person in it.

Then we can enjoy seeing our sheep in a natural environment where the grass may be locking in carbon and certainly helping to stop the water running down the hillside.

The comments reflected unease at the meeting over increased criticism of sheep farmers. Outgoing Chairman, Tim Ward, worried about proposed plans to plant more trees in the uplands under payment for public goods.

NSA Development Officer Helen Roberts voiced concern over criticism of the sheep industry by the anti-farming lobby and, in some quarters, during the unprecedented flooding. She said the meeting would demonstrate how the National Sheep Association was working to show that sheep farming is a sustainable, resilient industry.

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker told the meeting of the strong story the industry had to tell. He criticised the general anti farming climate, saying that sheep farming is a sustainable industry supporting rural economies and social infrastructure.

He quoted IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) figures that gave context to claims that methane produced by livestock is contributing to climate change. And he called for the IPCC to take account of the new carbon metrics coming from the GWP model (Global Warming Potential) as developed by Oxford University earlier this year.

This work shows that methane has a relatively short life cycle and contributes far less to climate change than previous figures suggested. It demonstrates the beneficial effect of grazing livestock, especially in the uplands of which 80% of Wales is made up, against the effect of fossil fuel dependant forms of farming and food production.

Phil Stocker added:

Here in Wales, as with much of the UK, our approach to red meat production is so different to that in other parts of the world.

Here our sheep spend most of their lives outdoors feeding on grass and forage crops, with a positive relationship with nature and involved in a carbon cycle that has been going on for thousands of years. We have been demonised by the media as being environmentally damaging and the watching public have understandably taken a lot of this on board.

As an industry, too much time has been spent on defending with our backs to the wall rather than being out there proactively and accurately communicating the reality of grassland livestock farming. We cant be complacent and we should always think of where we can do more, and do better, but we have a fantastic story to tell and the NSA will continue to tell it.

Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion Wales figures also displayed the strong story of non intensive agriculture. Communications Manager, Owen Roberts, showed a video featuring new NSA Wales/Cymru vice chair and former NSA Young Ambassador, Caryl Hughes, as part of a 250,000 advertising campaign to promote PGI Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef.
When the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness issued its terrorism threat assessment for 2020 last week, it noted a marked shift.

The threat level from violent, homegrown extremists, and specifically white supremacists, was marked in red as the top category: High. The threat from the Islamic State, Al Qaeda and their ilk was demoted to third, in green: Low.

Terrorism experts believe that holds true for the entire United States.

In the U.S., more people are killed by far-right extremists than by those who are adherents to Islamist extremism, said Mary McCord, a Georgetown University law professor and a former senior Justice Department official for national security. Her comments came at a discussion last week at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, which commemorates victims of the most notorious attack by international terrorists on American soil.

Even as the menace from homegrown extremists grows more explicit, however, law enforcement is wrestling with how to combat it. That challenge has spawned a fervent debate over whether the United States needs a new law to specifically criminalize domestic terrorism, or whether such a statute would threaten basic First Amendment rights.
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I've always been a student of revival.

Since I was a teenager I have studied revivals and spiritual awakenings with a voracious appetite. I have scoured books about them and have listened to sermons on them, looking for the keys to revival, longing to be a part of the next great move of God on earth.

Books like George Whitfield...Life and Times of the Great Evangelist of the 18th Century Revival (Volumes 1 & 2), Lectures to my Students by Charles Spurgeon, Movements that Change the World by Steve Addison, Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret by J. Hudson Taylor, The Life of Dwight L. Moody by William R. Moody and so many more...have been on my reading and re-reading list for decades.

But, as much as I've loved reading these books and others like them, I'm tired of just reading about revival and awakening.

I want to be a part of one.

Just a few weeks ago I was invited to speak at an event called Go2020 USA. My good friend Dave Gibson is the North American Executive Director of Go2020 and he asked me to do the closing challenge to 110 key national ministry leaders attending this catalytic meeting.

Go2020 is a global Gospel advancing movement that is mobilizing 100 million believers worldwide to share the Gospel with one billion people in the year 2020. Of course, this is a movement that everyone at Dare 2 Share, the ministry I lead, is excited about! After all our vision at Dare 2 Share is "every teen everywhere hearing the Gospel from a friend!"

Speaking to these leaders was a great privilege that I did not take lightly. By the time I boarded the plane from Denver to Orlando my sermon was complete. I was going to preach on the 5 characteristics of a movement based on Steve Addison's book, Movements that Change the World.

But once on the plane, the Spirit of God convicted me that this was not the sermon He wanted me to preach. After praying, He guided me to my new sermon. It was entitled, 3 ways to kickstart a movement based on Acts 4:31-33.

I was ready to preach it...or so I thought.

After a day full of strategic meetings at the Go2020 meeting and just moments before I walked to the stage to preach, I suddenly realized that the 3 points to my sermon were already in full play, not just nationally, but globally.

There was no kickstarting a movement, the movement had already begun, long before I boarded any plane. As I scanned my sermon and looked at the 3 keys to kickstarting a movement, and thought back to all that had been shared that day, it struck me, these 3 keys were starting to happen nationally and were in full swing globally.

Right there I changed my sermon title to "3 Signs a Spiritual Awakening has begun" based on Acts 4:31-33. If there ever was an example of spiritual awakening its the book of Acts and this passage contains all the elements that reflect a true and sweeping spiritual move of God.

Here is the passage and the 3 points I preached that day to these ministry leaders.

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And Gods grace was so powerfully at work in them all. Acts 4:31-33

The first sign a spiritual movement has begun is that...

1. Prayer is being prioritized.





After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 4:31

Just like the early church prioritized prayer, more and more believers are prioritizing prayer like never before in the US and around the world. Prayer movements are starting to sweep the nation and are sweeping the planet. There's the National Day of Prayer, 24/7 houses of prayer and student led prayer movements like See You at the Pole that prove this is true.

In addition you have vibrant ministries like IHOP (prayer, not pancakes), Moms in Prayer and so many more that are praying for and pushing for revival!

Do we need more prayer movements? Yes! Are we heading in the right direction? Yes!

As the old revival quote goes, "Satan laughs at our strategies, mocks all our labor but trembles when we pray."

The first sign that a movement has begun is that prayer is being prioritized. If it's not currently prioritized in your life, youth group or church, it's time to start!

2. Believers are being mobilized.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Acts 4:31

What does that word mobilize mean? It means to prepare for action. It includes the idea of inspiration, equipping and unleashing.

This is also happening.

Just last week The Send 2020 Brazil, inspired 140,000 young people to advance the Gospel across Brazil and the world! I watched some videos from this event and, suffice it to say, an army of Brazilians have been set on fire to preach the Good News of Jesus!

There's a national movement called Whose Your One led by Pastor Johnny Hunt and Shane Pruitt that is inspiring tens of thousands of believers to share the Gospel with others, starting with the one person God is putting on their hearts. This campaign is gaining tremendous traction in Southern Baptist churches and re-igniting this denomination's passion to lead the way in spreading the Gospel.

But inspiration is just the first step toward mobilization. Next comes equipping.

At Dare 2 Share, we are seeing thousands download our Life in 6 Words app and using it to spread the Gospel. This super-interactive digital tract is very effective as an outreach tool and shockingly simple to use. As we tell teenagers, "If you can swipe and read you can share the Gospel."

Of course there are many other methods for sharing the Gospel. But what matters, more than the method you use, is the Gospel message. After all, you dont go into a steak house for the plate, but for the steak. The method/app/tract is merely the plate upon which you serve the Gospel steak.

But mobilization is more than just inspiration and equipping. Its also unleashing believers to do it. Its creating space for story telling in our services. Its giving our people both opportunity and accountability.

And this brand of mobilizing is happening at unprecedented rates. Thousands of churches and youth groups have adopted the Gospel Advancing values. At Dare 2 Share we get a constant stream of stories from youth groups that unleashing their teens to spread the Gospel friend to friend and classmate to classmate.

Mobilization is also happening through events.

This summer Claim Your Campus is doing a huge event in Kansas City to mobilize young people to pray for, care for and share Jesus with their peers at school.

Also this summer, I'll be training 80,000+ men at Promise Keepers (July 31st - August 1st) to share the Gospel with one person before the stroke of midnight.

In addition, Dare 2 Share will be doing a live simulcast training called Dare 2 Share Live in potentially hundreds of cities across the nation this October. Teens from the inner city to the suburbs to the farmlands to the reservation will be inspired, equipped and unleashed to share the Gospel on 10/10/2020 at Dare 2 Share Live.

And, of course, Go2020, although not an event, is a Gospel advancing mobilization movement that is currently in 140 countries and rapidly gaining momentum!

More than any other example we are witnessing the rapid expansion of the Gospel in places like Iran, China, Pakistan, Vietnam and other places, typically closed to the Gospel. Churches are being planted like never before. People are dying for their faith like never before. And the blood of the martyrs makes fertile ground for unprecedented Gospel expansion.

The 3rd and final sign that a spiritual awakening has begun is that...

3. Unity is being maximized.

What was the result of the early believers praying and proclaiming? The answer is in verses 32 and 33 of Acts 4.

"No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And Gods grace was so powerfully at work in them all.

Just like the early Christians shared their resources with each other, more and more churches, ministries and denominations are sharing ideas, strategies and resources with each other to get the job done.

In a sense this is the answer to Christs high priestly prayer in John 17, that we may be one as he and the Father are one! This is the same Trinitarian brand of unity that, more and more, is binding the Church together, not in some gooey ecumenical way, but in a deeply missional and unwaveringly Biblical way.

This doesn't mean that we all agree on the sub-points of every area of theology. But it does mean that we are all together on the main points of what I call 5 G Theology (God, God's Son, God's Spirit, God's Word and Gospel.) As it has been said, "In major things unity, in minor things diversity, in all things charity."

This kind of Biblically based, Gospel Advancing unity is happening like never before in the United States. The National Network of Youth Ministries is helping to launch networks of youth leaders committed to advancing the Gospel in every community. There theme is "Better Together."

And we are!

City Gospel Movements is exponentially expanding to cities across the nation and around the world. This ministry is a platform to unite and ignite networks of churches and youth groups in every city to pray for their cities, care for their cities and share the Gospel of Jesus to everyone in their cities.

Together 2020 is another exciting example of Biblical unity. On June 20th hundreds of thousands of young believers will unite in Washington DC together to worship Jesus, honor his Word and spread his Gospel to the ends of the earth.

The countless examples of prayer, mobilization and unity are more impressive and encouraging than ever before!

When I preached at Go2020 in Orlando I saw this level of unity happening right before my eyes, Leaders from various denominations united for Christ and his Cause.

And then I preached these three points passionately. I made my case that the next spiritual movement of God had already begun.

When I was finished with my sermon and was about to sit down, the President of Cru, Steve Douglass, came to the front of the room. I knew that this was unscripted. When he took the microphone from Dave Gibson while whispering something to him, I got a little nervous. I honestly thought that he may have had a problem with something I said and felt compelled to deal with it publicly.

Instead, he addressed the audience by saying that he had a scripted message that he had prepared to share in closing, but he felt compelled by the Spirit not to share it. He was so overwhelmed by the day and the realization that a spiritual move of God may have already begun, he said that the only response was for us to get on our knees in prayer.

That's exactly what this room full of national ministry leaders did. We got on our knees and prayed.

And, just like in the book of Acts, the place where we were meeting was shaken in prayer. They were tear-filled prayers as we called out to God to enable us to steward this awakening well in our individual ministries. That day in that room we all realized that a great move of God had already begun and that we had the great privilege of playing a part in it.

And so do you.

I'm convinced that we are at the beginning of the next Great Awakening. Let's keep prioritizing prayer, mobilizing believers to share the good news of Jesus and centralizing unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

As I shared with the leaders at Go2020 in closing, "A movement of God has begun. Let's not screw it up."

And all God's children said...

Originally posted at dare2share.org
Shares of Hindustan Unilever (HUL) were trading nearly 3 per cent higher after the company said its board had approved a new manufacturing subsidiary which is expected to benefit from the new corporate tax rate.

On the BSE, the stock opened at Rs 2,216.15 and went on to gain as much as 2.84 per cent to touch a high of Rs 2,279. It was quoting at Rs 2,249.60, up 1.52 per cent, at 1150 hours.

Similarly, on the NSE, the scrip gained 2.91 per cent to Rs 2,279.70. After shedding some early gains, it was trading 1.55 per cent higher at Rs 2,249.55.

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 FMCG major 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 said in a statement.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
DES MOINES  After spending 40 days clearing away legislative underbrush, majority Republicans are finding the path ahead still isnt very clear as they wrestle with an approaching decision whether to raise the states sales tax.

GOP leaders say they are still working to build consensus on Gov. Kim Reynolds multipronged Invest in Iowa initiative that seeks a penny sales tax increase while cutting income taxes, funding water quality and easing property taxes by shifting mental-health costs to the state.

The governor has embarked on a statewide tour to build public support for her plan to revamp Iowas tax code and provide a reliable, sustainable funding source for mental-health services and quality-of-life improvements, but her toughest sales pitch will be at the Statehouse.

Im going to work on it but I think Iowans are going to ultimately be the ones to convince them to do it, Reynolds told an Iowa PBS Iowa Press audience Friday. Were traveling the state holding town halls and we are receiving just phenomenal support and excitement about the Invest in Iowa Act.

Legislators say they like pieces of the complex package with multiple moving parts and are keeping an open mind, but carrying the entire plan across the finish line in the remaining two months of the 2020 session may be too heavy of a lift before they hit the election-year campaign trail.

My sense is theres not a lot of excitement about it, but I have a rather limited focus, said Sen. Ken Rozenboom, an Oskaloosa Republican who has been working on the funding formula that would be used to distribute part of the sales tax proceeds to environmental, natural resources and outdoor recreation projects.

A bill like this, theres a process that people have to understand and learn and react to and question, Rozenboom noted. It seems like a lot of things have to happen for it to move forward. From my perspective, Im not hearing a groundswell of support at this point. But he added Im not ready to bury this thing by any means, either.

House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, said its still relatively early in the process and there is much more in-depth analysis that is going to be needed to understand the interplay of the various elements of the plan and to bolster lawmakers comfort levels.

Its a very difficult process to work through, said Grassley. Is there a willingness to raise the sales tax? Thats where it starts and then, if you do, what do you do with it? Its a big piece of legislation.

Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, R-Ankeny, said there is interest within his GOP caucus, which holds a 32-18 majority, to address the mental-health piece, to revamp and accelerate the triggers in the 2018 tax reform efforts to make tax cuts faster, and to further slash income and property taxes.

Whether thats accomplished using the Invest in Iowa framework or some other approach remains to be seen and likely will take the entire schedule 100-day session to play itself out, he noted.

Its going to be a heavy lift, we all knew that, said Sen. Tim Kapucian, R-Keystone. That whole bill needs a funnel date to narrow our focus.

Under Reynolds plan, legislators are being asked to approve a one-cent sales tax increase with a share going to fulfill a 2010 constitutional amendment to the Iowa Water and Land Legacy trust fund.

Part of the $540 million raised annually by going to an 8 percent tax of each dollar of eligible sales would fund water quality, conservation and outdoor recreation programs using a formula revised from what was established by the Legislature in 2010, when voters approved a referendum to create the trust.

The rest of the sales tax increase would go reduce income tax rates and brackets, and establish a new permanent state funding mechanism for mental health services currently paid for by county property tax levies.

Rep. John Wills, a Spirit Lake Republican who is the third-highest leader in the Iowa House, said the governor has offered a bold plan but indicated it may not stay intact as it works its way through the legislative process.

I have no idea where were at on that, said Rep. Rob Bacon, R-Maxwell, one of the House GOPs 53-member majority who noted his constituents views have ranged from full speed ahead on the governors plan to opposition to raising the sales tax. Its taken 10 years just to get it this far. There are 53 in our caucus and 53 ideas.

Sen. Michael Breitbach, R-Strawberry Point, said his experience with complex legislation or big programs is that there are a lot of details that get hammered out but with the Invest in Iowa package I dont see the necessary things happening for me to feel confident that the bill is going to move forward.

I just dont think theres enough people on treadmills getting it going, he said.

And even though the entire plan is being packaged as a net tax decrease, Breitbach added, people are still going to see it as a tax increase, I think.

I just dont think theres been enough conversation that I could see this large of a bill move. I think its going to be a multiyear thing, he said.

Rep. Lee Hein, a Monticello Republican who chairs the House Ways & Means Committee, said even though the 2020 session just cleared the first funnel deadline that pares down legislators workload, the clock is ticking on a major legislative initiative with many unanswered questions.

Its just a matter of are we going to move the whole package, are we going to move part of the package or are we going to sit back and go out and talk about it on the campaign trail and then come back after giving it a good, thorough vetting with the public? I mean theres lot of options, he said.

Across the Capitol rotunda, Heins counterpart, Sen. Jake Chapman, chairman of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, said the focus of Senate Republicans is making significant tax cuts. He said the governor has spelled out some bold, ambitious goals but there is concern whether those cuts should be coupled with a sales tax increase and how that would play in border communities competing with other states.

The conversation as to whether its appropriate to increase the sales tax to reduce income taxes  for us that would have to be a pretty substantial cut before we have those serious conversations as to whether or not we would increase the sales tax, he said. Right now, Chapman said, the overall projected net tax reduction of about $7 million is not enough for me to be excited about.

This is a caucus that put out a billion-dollar tax cut in 2018, Chapman noted. He said the governors call for a 10 percent across-the-board income tax cut is a bold proposal but he added personally, I just dont think its deep enough. Were going to look at ways to cut taxes even deeper.

Chapman said everything is on the table at this point but he added he did not campaign to make Iowas sales tax one of the higher rates in the nation. That, in my opinion, is not a winning message. I did not run on that. I ran on smaller, efficient government that puts more money back into the pockets of Iowans.

Even though theres a net tax reduction associated with the governors plan, said Kapucian, somebodys going to end up paying more. Thats just the way those things work out.

Some legislators have expressed concern that the trust fund proceeds from the sales tax increase would be used to supplant existing state revenue without necessarily increasing the overall commitment and would hurt elderly and poorer Iowans who would not benefit from income tax cuts but would pay more in sales tax. Most notably food and prescription medications are exempt for taxation in Iowa.

I think the proposal has too many moving parts and has too many bad things connected to it. Thats my impression but well see, said Sen. Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids. I dont see how parts of it move because theyre all interconnected in the governors proposed budget. I just think its got too many negative features to it to get the support of a majority in both chambers."

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The Agricultural Development Bank has presented an amount of Gh 536,000 to the 2019 Best Farmer, Charles Gyamfi.

Managing Director of ADB, John Kofi Mensah, stated that the bank has received the utilization plan for the money from Mr. Gyamfi and we are happy to announce that the Bank is satisfied with the proposed plan.

According to him, Mr. Gyamfi in his proposal indicates that part of the award money will be used to expand his existing farm by purchasing productive inputs; part will be used to acquire and install irrigation facilities, a noble proposition in the light of erratic weather conditions.

He added that Mr Gyamfi also intends to construct a warehouse to store his farm produce; improve access roads to his farm through gravelling and construction of drains.

Part of the award would also be utilized to construct additional farm houses to house new staff to be employed, he said.

The Managing Director added that with the proposed expansion, the 2019 National Best Framer proposes to employ additional 30 permanent staff.

I believe these projects as outlined by Mr. Gyamfi are critical to the expansion of his business and as a Bank we will be providing him with a dedicated Relationship Officer to assist in ensuring the proper utilization of the money, he added.

He explained that ADB remains committed in ensuring that agriculture sector continues to play its critical role in Ghanas economic growth.

The Minister of Food and Agriculture Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, expressed excitement about the utilization plan of the money, saying the money is being allocated in a way that will bring about prosperity to the business of the award winner.

He said the benefits from the money will not go to the farmer alone and his immediate family but to the general society.

He commended ADB, but warned once again that the bank exists for farmers and not traders and as such 100 of its loans should go to farmers.

Farmers Day Celebration is a day to honor farmers whose works have sustained Ghana, the Minister stated.

The best farmer, he said, hitherto, were presented with a house by ADB but the Ministry took a decision to end that and ensure that the money is given to the farmer to be used for other investments.

---Daily Guide
This coming G20 Summit, climate change is major concern due to its impact to all nations. Dealing with it will address the problems needed to add environment, but the U.S. keep dodging the issue.

In Riyadh at Saudi Arabia, officials from the worlds' richest nations at the G20 Summit in 2020 will have climate changes as the topic to be discussed for the first time by the administration of President Donald Trump. Despite the urgency of the environment, the U.S. did not call it a major risk.

The United States did not acknowledge the risk of worsening environmental debacle as a great risk to economic growth. Most of the nations agreed that the environment is an important concern, but they did not make it a major concern. Some reference the Financial Stability Board's work the impact of a sound environment to financial stability.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin did not emphasize the role of the term used, it is a 'purely factual' reference to current work done the FSB on climate change. Some G20 respondents said there has been progress in dealing with the dangers of climate change.

" I did not bend to pressure from the Europeans," Mnuchin remarked. He told the reporters after communique, he was not pleased with the actuation of one reporter.

The Saudi finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaann for the summit meeting in Riyadh said that climate change is a major concern for the Saudi G20 presidency agenda. There are talks about the 'financial risk' that are connected to the issue.

Climate and environmental protection will be part of the ministerial meetings and technical groups all year round, according to the Saudi minister.

U.S. officials have avoided concerns about climate change that is a threat to the economy, from the time President Trump began in 2017. His first official act as POTUS (President of the United States) was to rescind the Paris Climate Accord, signed into by another U.S. administration.

Also related: Single-Family Housing Registers Better Numbers in U.S. Housing Market

G20 diplomatic sources revealed a compromise over this weekend, after the Americans did not agree with some points, saying that economics are related to keeping a sound pro-active environment policy.

In the final version of the communique text, climate change and environmental concerns were removed from the leading paragraph. The only mentioning of the term 'climate concerns' is done by the FSB as an excerpt.

The communique from G20 states that "mobilizing sustainable finance and strengthening financial inclusion is important for global growth and stability. The FSB is examining the financial stability implications of climate change."

An additional part of the agenda is the participation of the private sector and the utmost transparency in this concern.

The G20 finance ministers and from central banks were in Riyadh on Saturday or Sunday, with economic challenges and the spreading coronavirus contagion.

Climate changes continue to impact countries and their economies have put pressure on advocate reduced carbon emissions that will be part of the Saturday and Sunday talks that will be taken ahead of the United Nations climate talks.

One report issued by the world's financial services sector is that over a $1 trillion will be the losses if there is a failure to address climate change, and paying extra for an excess carbon tax.

Addressing the problems of climate change in the G20 Summit is a grave concern with environmental problems on the rise.

Related article: Is a Trade War Looming Between U.S. and India?

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The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission says it is Weighing options against Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi. ...





options against Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi. The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission says it is Weighingoptions against Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi.





Justice O. A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Kano, last Friday, quashed the preliminary report of the commission which recommended the suspension of Sanusi pending investigations into alleged financial misappropriation of the emirates account.





On Monday, a statement by the Commission Chairman, Mr Muhyi Magaji-Rimingado, confirmed that the body was in receipt of the ruling.





He recalled that Sanusi approached the Court to seek the nullification of the probe report dated May 31, 2019, and submitted on June 6, 2019.





Magaji-Rimingado noted that the court in its wisdom quashed the interim investigation report on the basis of non-invitation of the applicant.





He said having studied the ruling, 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 noted that the interim report under reference was submitted because of obstruction of the ongoing investigation by the Applicant.





The Commission is exploring suitable options available at its disposal as the matter is still under investigation, Magaji-Rimingado added
Its beginning to seem as if many leading elected officials in California believe state government knows best about almost everything in virtually every phase of life. That goes on both macro and micro levels.

Over the last year, this state has threatened city after city with lawsuits for not authorizing enough new housing units to satisfy state officials, even when developers have no great interest in building them. A state commission is demanding other lawsuits if cities and counties dont do more to reduce homelessness, even where many of the homeless arent particularly interested in moving into new shelters, and even while courts in some other states continue issuing bus tickets to California to minor criminals in lieu of sending them to jail.

The Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom reversed voter wishes on rent control, setting up the nations toughest regulations on evictions and rent increases less than a year after voters decisively turned down a ballot initiative with the same aims.

Over strong opposition from supposed beneficiaries, they passed a law written by San Diegos Democratic Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez called Assembly Bill 5 that forces contract workers and freelancers to accept full-time employment from their client companies whether they want it or not, ostensibly so they can be unionized even where only one or two persons are involved.

Thomas D. Elias: California Public Utilities Commission getting key roles despite scandals, conflicts Governors and the state Legislature continue placing immense trust in this benighted agency, which has never demonstrated it is trustworthy.

Newsom wants to send every California 4-year-old to preschool whether their parents want it or not, and his proposed budget would pay to enroll at least 10,000 as a first move.

And the state Senate almost passed the newest version of Senate Bill 50, the housing density mandate from Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco that threatened to make almost every California city as jammed as the Castro District where he lives, which is filled with older wooden apartment buildings that are potential firetraps.

On the micro level, Wiener, whose influence in Sacramento sometimes appears disproportionate to his status as just one of 40 state senators, also proposed a ban on some surgeries for babies born with ambiguous or conflicting genitalia. That bill was decisively voted down in the Senates Business and Professions Committee, but as with SB 50, Wiener pledges to keep hammering at it until resistance softens.

The bill, SB 201, would prevent medically unnecessary surgery on so-called intersex babies until those children are six years old. It included a ban on correcting hypospadias, a common male malady in which there can be multiple urethral openings on the underside of the penis.

Thomas D. Elias: Can lawmaking really fix the housing problem? If theres a solution to this problem, it may be geographic. Why not build much of the new housing where land is cheap rather than forcing cities in the states most expensive, affluent ZIP codes to allow more construction?

For Wiener, parents choices dont matter when it comes to turning a mild malformation into a normal opening. Thats on the principle that infants cannot express an opinion on whether they want the procedure or not.

Never mind that corrective surgery on this condition is far easier and less painful when the patient is very young; children younger than six, Wiener has said, have not yet developed their sex or gender identity. And six-year-olds have?

If theres a condition where parental and medical decisions ought to govern, this is probably it.

No matter, Wiener believes he and the state know best about the most intimate matters, just as he thinks they do about housing density, where he views single-family homes on spacious lots as abominations. Talk about a nanny state.

Of course, some state mandates and actions are needed. Its likely no accident that California has seen no epidemic of measles or whooping cough since toughening vaccination laws over loud objections from some parents.

Thomas D. Elias: New vaccination bill improves on original plan Only rarely does a legislative compromise that waters down an originally tough proposed law end up creating something better.

And Newsoms plan to provide $1 billion in aid for sheltering the homeless also appears to be proving positive, starting with his using 100 trailers as a temporary palliative measure. While 100 trailers wont put much of a dent in the states homeless populace of more than 150,000, they are providing temporary solutions for some individuals and families.

The need here is for restraint in enforcing legislators personal preferences on everyone, but with Sacramento now essentially a one-party capital governed by a full slate of Democratic statewide officials and supermajorities in both houses of the Legislature, there are few restraints on the majority.

So theres a strong need for self-restraint, an awareness that just getting elected makes no one omniscient.

Thomas D. Elias writes the syndicated California Focus column. He is author of the book, The Burzynski Breakthrough: The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Governments Campaign to Squelch It.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- In just over two weeks, medical marijuana patients on Staten Island will have a brick-and-mortar location to visit without paying a bridge toll or fighting city traffic.

A spokeswoman for marijuana retail chain Be. -- formerly CITIVA -- confirmed Tuesday that a soft opening is planned at 338 New Dorp Lane on March 11, followed by a grand opening March 26.

The New Dorp location -- part of a national retail chain owned by iAnthus Capital Holdings -- will provide local patients access to products containing marijuanas THC and CBD properties that previously required a trip to Brooklyn or Manhattan. Patients currently have the option of delivery to their home.

Products offered at the store will include oils for vaping, pills, or tinctures to mix with drinks.

Qualifying ailments for patients in New York include cancer, PTSD, epilepsy, and pain that degrades health and functional capability as an alternative to opioid use or substance use disorder, according to the companys website.

The store initially was set to open in November, but plans were delayed due to a combination of landlord and construction issues, according to Dr. Jack DAngelo, chief medical officer for Be.

DAngelo addressed Community Board 2 last week, saying were pretty confident that were not going to get delayed any further.

During a tour in September of the companys Brooklyn location, store pharmacist Nelson Cuevas said customers have spoken about reducing the use of painkillers such as gabapentin and opioid-based products with medical marijuana.

Theyre not totally off of [painkillers], but they reduce the amount they take daily, said Cuevas. So theyll end up at the end of the month with a half a bottle of pills, whereas before they were on cannabis therapy, they were actually a couple days early needing a refill.

Of the 40 or so patients the companys Downtown Brooklyn location was serving each day, as of September, many were senior citizens and many were traveling from Staten Island.

14 A look inside Citiva: A medical marijuana dispensary in Brooklyn, soon coming to Staten Island

Some community board members last week expressed concerns with the stores proximity to New Dorp High School.

DAngelo said the company has rigorous standards and security that are regulated by the state.

In addition, he said, you have to have a card and a license to get in there.

Medical marijuana was legalized in New York in 2014, and is legal in 21 other U.S. states.

A push led by Democratic lawmakers in Albany in the coming weeks to legalize recreational use of marijuana will face opposition from many Republicans and groups such as Smart Approaches to Marijuana, which last year was behind billboards, flyers and other marketing strategies.

In New Mexico, a state Senate committee recently tabled a bill to legalize in a vote that included two Democrats.
Doomsday couple Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow are entangled in a complex web of mysterious deaths and missing children.

Courtesy of Rexburg Police Department

Idaho Gov. Brad Little said he's hoping to speed up the process of bringing doomsday mom Lori Vallow back from Hawaii.

Vallow, who's two children have been missing since September, was arrested on charges related to their disappearance last week.

She is entangled in a web of death investigations.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little said he's hoping to speed up the extradition process to get doomsday prepper Lori Vallow back from Hawaii to face trial for charges connected to the disappearance of her two children.

Vallow and her new husband, Mormon author Chad Daybell, were vacationing in Hawaii when a judge ordered her to turn her children over to the state of Idaho. Vallow failed to deliver the children, and on Thursday she was arrested in Kauai and taken to the Kauai Community Correctional Center where she is being held on a $5 million bond. She has been charged with two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of children, along with misdemeanor resisting and/or obstructing an officer, solicitation, and contempt.

Vallow, who is connected to the group "Preparing the People" fled her home in Idaho in November when police came to check on her 7-year-old autistic son Joshua "J.J." Vallow. J.J. and his 17-year-old sister Tylee were last seen in September.

Little is hoping to transport Vallow back to Idaho as soon as possible. "We'll run it through the system, and we'll send it back and it'll go to Hawaii for extradition," Little told KMVT about extradition paperwork. "I hope there is justice, and I hope the children are found."

Dead bodies and unanswered questions surround Vallow

Vallow's fourth husband, Charles Vallow, her brother Alex Cox, and Daybell's former wife Tammy, have all died within the past nine months. Police in multiple states are investigating the string of deaths.

Story continues

There is also an ongoing investigation into the attempted killing of Brandon Boudreaux, who was married to Lori Vallow's niece, Melani Boudreaux.

In recently filed documents seeking custody of their children, Boudreaux alleged that his ex-wife tried to have him killed for his life insurance policy. Money from the policy was intended to go toward supporting the "cult" she and Vallow are a part of, Boudreaux said in the case.

He also alleged that his ex-wife knows where Tylee and J.J. are, but refuses to cooperate with police.

The children are still missing

Police are also continuing their search for J.J. and Tylee.

Tylee was last seen on September 8, when she, J.J., Vallow and Vallow's brother Alex Cox went on a day trip to Yellowstone National Park. A photo uploaded to Vallow's iCloud account showed Tylee in Yellowstone on that day, according to 12 News. A week later, video footage captured J.J. playing in his yard at 565 Pioneer Rd., in Rexburg.

565 Pioneer Rd., where Lori Vallow lived with her children J.J. and Tylee.

Google Street View

J.J. was last seen at school on Sept. 23. His mother withdrew him from Kennedy Elementary School in Rexburg, Idaho, the next day and said she would homeschool him, according to East Idaho News.

Read the original article on Insider
In the first six months of current fiscal (2019-20), US supplied 5.4 million tonnes of crude oil to India. (Photo | Crowley Maritime)

New Delhi: US oil supplies to India have jumped ten-fold to 2,50,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the last few years, visiting US Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette said on Tuesday.Speaking at a business meeting alongside US President Donald Trump, he said Indian imports of US oil were 25,000 bpd a couple of year ago, and have now risen to 2,50,000 bpd.

US is India's sixth largest oil supplier.

India began importing crude oil from the US in 2017 as it looked to diversify its import basket beyond the OPEC nations. It bought 1.9 million tonnes (38,000 bpd) of crude oil from the US in 2017-18 and another 6.2 million tonnes (1,24,000 bpd) in 2018-19.

In the first six months of current fiscal (2019-20), US supplied 5.4 million tonnes of crude oil to India.

Iraq is India's top crude oil supplier, meeting close to one-fourth of the country's oil needs. It sold 26 million tonnes of crude oil to India during April to September.

India, which is 83 per cent dependent on imports to meet its oil needs, bought 111.4 million tonnes of crude oil from overseas during April-September.

Saudi Arabia has traditionally been India's top oil source, but has been relegated to the second spot, exporting 20.7 million tonnes of crude oil in the first six months.
They are followed up by recent videos in which Trump pretty much says the same things. One of them shows Trump saying at a rally last year, only half-jokingly, that, Under the normal rules, I'll be out in 2024, so we may have to go to an extra term.
As armed companies of the Delhi Police marched on the Jafrabad main road on Monday afternoon, stone-pelting, vandalism and arson continued unabated in the area where the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protesters have been on a sit-in protests since Saturday.

By the time the flag march was ended, multiple vehicles were lying burnt, buildings were gutted, and shops and houses ransacked. The main road between the Jafrabad Metro station and Maujpur-Babarpur Metro station was littered with stones, bricks and shattered bottles  the remnants of petrol bombs.

Some anti-CAA protesters contended that the violence was not of their doing, and blamed pro-CAA demonstrators who, they alleged, carried out the violence with police support. But many of them admitted that there was stone-pelting from their side, claiming it was in retaliation.

Many from the anti-CAA group who resorted to violence were masked, and carried stones, bricks, rods and sticks. At least one person on this side was seen carrying a pistol, pointing it at a policeman, and later firing at people across the divider on the pro-CAA side. Various videos of him shooting went viral on social media.

Many of the protesters also targeted media personnel, tried snatching their cameras and phones to ensure that no videos or photographs could identify them .

This doesnt look like a residential area anymore. Look at the houses and shops. Every building has its glasses broken and shops have their boards and hoardings torn apart by rioters who are in support of the CAA. Parked vehicles were burnt; a three-wheeler gutted. At the end, whose loss is it? said one anti-CAA protester, refusing to identify himself.

This vandalism and arson will only be our loss. The supporters of CAA who resorted to violence are not residents of this area. Some from our group also threw stones but a probe will reveal that they, too, were outsiders. Until then, we alone will be held accountable. The residents will face police action; they will be detained and harassed, contended another anti-CAA protester.

A man in his mid-30s, claiming to be on the anti-CAA side, his face covered with a handkerchief, said: Not just media, we are asking locals to not record videos. If it is shared on messaging groups, it will reach the police. It will show an incomplete picture and our people will be in trouble, one of the rioters, his face covered by a handkerchief, said.

By 5pm, groups of anti-CAA protesters gathered under the Jafrabad Metro station and sat on a protest, just ahead of the area occupied by women protesters since Saturday night.

Mohammad Adil, 29, a local resident who was not involved in the violence, said: We will not move. The rioters will not be allowed to reach our women and daughters. If they come here, we will retaliate. Police must support us since ours is a peaceful protest. There should be strict action against rioters.

Behind women protesters, companies of women police in anti-riot gear have been deployed. Police said the area will be under heavy deployment until tensions are put to rest.

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When asked for life advice, RuPaul Charles keeps it simple: beauty comes from within. "But a little make-up doesn't hurt," he adds. The 59-year-old host of RuPaul's Drag Race and RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars plays loud and colourful, but concedes he had never anticipated the personal impact the success of the series, and its spin-offs, would have on him.

"We didn't know what we were going into, we knew that the stories of people who dance to the beat of a different drummer are always inspiring and interesting, but we didn't know it would go so close to the heart," Charles says. "We didn't know that it would be so emotional. I've been on that judge's panel where I couldn't hold back the tears because the stories are so real and so touching."

Explaining the fandom which surrounds Drag Race and its various spin-offs is difficult. The loyal audience is passionate. Both programs sit in the competitive reality series, but both try to emphasise the sense of community between the competitors rather than push cliche competitive wedges into the narrative. An episode of Drag Race is, for example, far more likely to end in tears than a tribal council.

Speaking at an intimate armchair keynote at the annual television conference Mipcom, Charles says the series is something of a love letter to anyone afraid to step into their own skin. "We all were little boys who society said 'there's no place for you here'. We start there. We start in that commonality of the struggle. Things are said sometimes that are salty, but it always comes back to, 'you are my sister, you are my brother and we come from the same place'."
So far there has been little change for most Brits living in Spain since the UK officially left the EU on 31 January. It might have been a timely reminder for those still needing to apply for residency, exchange driving licences and register on their town hall 'padron', but on the whole, for those living here legally or in the process of doing so, it is business as usual. Few will have felt much different waking up on 1 February as a non-EU citizen. In practice, virtually all existing rights remain unchanged up to 31 December 2020 and beyond if registered by then.

That said, there are many consequences of Brexit which some argue have been overlooked in the Withdrawal Agreement, especially those affecting people of working age and with EU partners. The good news is that organisations like Bremain in Spain have said that they will continue to campaign for citizens' rights as negotiations take place throughout the year.

Take the case of Hayden Burge, 49, a UK citizen living and working in Barcelona. His work in IT means that he currently spends a lot of time in Lisbon and in the future it could take him to a number of different EU countries. He is worried that the Withdrawal Agreement (WA) does not go into enough detail about cross border workers. He is concerned that extra paperwork could make him "uncompetitive" and lose out on contracts as he may need extra time to apply for visas, or even simply not be eligible for work as he is no longer an EU citizen. "If the [future trade] agreement does not grant continued freedom of movement of labour through the EU, then I lose existing rights that affect my ability to earn a living," he says.

Hayden is also worried about losing the right to take his Spanish partner to the UK should he have to move back for work or family reasons. "I have no clarity - despite having read the Withdrawal Agreement - if my husband and I wish to move back to the UK to care for my elderly parents, that [he] would have the right to join me and work there."

The campaign group British in Europe has published six reports which analyse and explain the Withdrawal Agreement. According to their interpretation, Brits wanting to return to the UK with their EU-citizen partner or family member have until 2022 to do so under existing EU family reunification rights. After that, those people will be "subject to UK immigration laws."

Cross border workers can still work in other countries as long as they return to their host country every day, or at least once a week.

Furthermore, Brits have the right to leave their host country for a maximum period of five continuous years, once they have lived in the original host country for five years, but any more time would mean the loss of acquired rights.

Theresa O'Shea has lived and worked in Spain for 30 years and is married to a Spaniard. "Never really in my heart of hearts have I been worried about my personal situation," she says. However, like Hayden, Theresa worries about the future. She had considered applying for Spanish citizenship before Brexit. She is now worried about the impact doing so could have if she had to return to the UK for an extended period of time to look after her mother. "Potential issues about obtaining citizenship never occurred to me before Brexit and I was always on the fence about it," she explains.

A recent post on the British Embassy in Madrid's Facebook page explains, "Dual citizenship is allowed in the UK. This means you can be a British citizen and also a citizen of other countries. You can apply for foreign citizenship and keep your British citizenship [...] Spain does not recognise dual citizenship with the UK." The Embassy urges people considering applying for Spanish citizenship to seek professional legal advice before doing so. While the information goes so far, there are other unanswered questions regarding eligibility for UK pensions and inheritance as a Spanish citizen.

Steven Craven, who has played the trumpet with Malaga's philharmonic orchestra for almost 30 years, worries about being able to continue to tour. While he is legally resident in Spain and therefore has no concerns about his status here, like Hayden, the cross-border nature of his job is a worry. "No one knows and it's this uncertainty that is frightening. For example if our orchestra is likely to travel on tour in Europe it's worrying to have to think I'm going to have to have a so-called blue passport."

Ben Cooper, who lives in Malaga province explains that he and his wife own a house, are registered as self-employed and pay their taxes in Spain and their son was born here. However, their business means that they work with UK clients. Ben is also unsure of the future. He says, "While I loathe Brexit, I've never been particularly worried about what it means for us living in Spain." However, he admits that he could be forced to make a "radical change" if the UK economy took a nosedive. "Demand for our consultancy services could do too," he says, concluding, "So it's a case of holding on to our hats for us, as it is for everyone."

Hayden sums up the current situation up for many Brits: "The Withdrawal Agreement doesn't go far enough."
CASS COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI)  A Royal Center woman is in the hospital after intentionally crashing into a state police car early Tuesday morning. According to police, around 12:48 a.m. Cass County Sheriff's Deputies tried to pull over a minivan on State Road 35 near State Road 24 in Cass County.

Deputies said the minivan was weaving from lane to lane. The driver, Melissa K. Smith, then led the officers on a 19-minute chase that ended at State Road 25 at Rockfield Road in Carroll County.

The chase ended when the minivan hit the back of Indiana State Police car. The car was off the roadway blocking the Rockfield Road intersection. A trooper was almost hit while out trying to put down stop sticks.

Investigators say Smith crashed into the police car on purpose. She was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

No one else was hurt.
U.S. First Lady Melania Trump is garlanded by two children at Sarvodaya Co-Educational Senior Secondary School in New Delhi, India, on Feb. 25, 2020. (Altaf Qadri/AP Photo)

Melania Trump Visits Happiness Class at Indian School

U.S. First Lady Melania Trump visited a happiness class at a government-run school in the Indian capital on Feb. 25.

The curriculum dovetails with her Be Best initiative to teach children and young adults to be kind, avoid drugs and take care of themselves.

A student band at the Sarvodaya Co-Educational Senior Secondary School played bagpipes as they greeted the first lady at the school, which was decorated with floral garlands and motifs.

U.S. First Lady Melania Trump walks with two children at Sarvodaya Co-Educational Senior Secondary School in New Delhi, India, on Feb. 25, 2020. (Altaf Qadri/AP Photo)

She sported a floral wreath around her neck as she stopped at a reading room, spent time with kindergarten students and watched a yoga practice.

She later told them during brief remarks that Sarvodaya means prosperity to all.

U.S. First Lady Melania Trump speaks during her visit to Sarvodaya Co-Educational Senior Secondary School in New Delhi, India, on Feb. 25, 2020. (Altaf Qadri/AP Photo)

Mrs. Trump stopped at a reading room, spent time with kindergarten students and watched a yoga practice. She also meditated with students as part of a mindfulness activity and said after the exercise that she felt relaxed.

The first lady said during brief, formal remarks that it inspired her to know that students start each day by practicing mindfulness.

U.S. First Lady Melania Trump meditates along with children during a happiness class at Sarvodaya Co-Educational Senior Secondary School in New Delhi, India, on Feb. 25, 2020. (Altaf Qadri/AP Photo)

From mindful breathing, telling a story to a friend, listening to another classmate or simply connecting with nature, I cannot think of a better way for all of us to start our day, she said.

She also told the students that seeing the program and hearing from their teachers proved to her that the principles of Be Best are not just limited to the United States but can be found throughout the world.

U.S. First Lady Melania Trump shakes hand with children at Sarvodaya Co-Educational Senior Secondary School in New Delhi, India, on Feb. 25, 2020. (Altaf Qadri/AP Photo)

The New Delhi state government began offering happiness classes 18 months ago to teach students meditation, street plays and basic obedience aimed at reducing their levels of anxiety and stress.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who oversees education, tweeted that the programs early results had inspired confidence among local officials that the happiness classes are the ultimate solution to all violence & hate in mindsets that we are facing worldwide.

By Al Emrun Garjon
NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Horizon Media and Altice USA (NYSE: ATUS) announce today Performance+, a first-to-market, innovative product to help advertisers map business outcomes against their media spend throughout the entirety of the marketing funnel  a media mix that now can include integrated sponsorships and performance media across the Altice News family of networks in one unified package.

By partnering with Altice USAs News and Advertising business, including a4  which offers IP-based targeting of more than 64 million homes using linear and Connected TV inventory -- and news properties such as Cheddar, News 12, and i24NEWS, Horizon is now able to bring its clients full-funnel attribution that combines unique brand building integrations across local, national and international media.

In an industry first, Horizon and Altice USA have announced that the pricing of all sponsorship packages will be closely linked to business outcomes that they deliver for brands. Together, the companies believe that this shared commitment to partnership in driving growth for their clients will prove a compelling and rewarding proposition for ambitious, performance driven marketers.

Our partnership with Altice USA allows us to bring our clients advertising solutions measured by business outcomes with integrated sponsorships on Cheddar, News 12, or i24 as part of one holistic offering, said Stan Fields, EVP Chief Client Officer of Horizon. No longer is it a choice between performance advertising and brand advertising. The answer now is just YES.

We know advertisers today are challenged with not only standing out amongst the crowd, but also how their work drives the business forward, said Jon Steinberg, President of Altice News and Advertising. This marriage of brand sponsorships, OTT, CTV, and linear media across properties with deeply engaged audiences along with accountability to the metrics that matter is a win for everyone involved.

Performance+ is available exclusively for Horizon and Altice USA News and Advertising clients.

About Horizon Media

Horizon Media, Inc. is a leader in driving business-based outcomes for marketers. The company was founded in 1989, is headquartered in New York, and has offices in Los Angeles and Toronto. With estimated billings of $8.7 billion and over 2,300 employees, Horizon is the third largest U.S. media agency according to COMvergence data.

Recognized as one of the worlds ten most innovative marketing and advertising companies by Fast Company, Horizon Media has been named Media Agency of the Year by MediaPost, Adweek and AdAge and is known for its highly personal approach to client service. Renowned for its culture, Horizon is also consistently named to all the prestigious annual Best Places to Work lists published by Fortune, Forbes, AdAge, Crains New York Business and Los Angeles Business Journal; including Best Workplaces for Diversity, Best Workplaces for Women, and Best Workplaces for Millennials honors.

Bill Koenigsberg, President, CEO and Founder of Horizon Media, has earned almost every industry accolade and, in 2019, garnered the marketings highest honor when he was inducted into the American Advertising Federation (AAF) Hall of Fame.

About Altice USA

Altice USA (NYSE: ATUS) is one of the largest broadband communications and video services providers in the United States, delivering broadband, pay television, mobile, proprietary content and advertising services to approximately 4.9 million residential and business customers across 21 states through its Optimum and Suddenlink brands. The company operates a4, an advanced advertising and data business, which provides audience-based, multiscreen advertising.

For further information please contact

For Horizon Media: Stephen Hall: shall@horizonmedia.com
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The spread of the coronavirus in Italy has led Syracuse University officials to evacuate a study abroad program there, officials announced today.

A total of 342 students are currently studying at SUs Florence campus, the university said in a press release. The university is closing the program and assisting students with return to the United States beginning immediately, according to the press release.

International health officials say in Italy there are 283 confirmed cases of COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus. One of those cases is in Florence, SU said in the press release. As the virus has spread globally, SU officials said they have monitored its effects as well as preventative measures.

In Italy, government officials have taken an aggressive stance, SU said in the press release. Officials have restricted public gatherings, including closing the University of Florence.

SU officials said they chose to follow suit after reviewing students safety and well-being, as well as the restrictions on their ability to move freely around the city.

We believe this is absolutely necessary to reduce the risk of our students being unable to leave Italy due to Italian confinement efforts, said Steven Bennett, SUs senior vice president for international programs and academic operations.

Bennett said SU would work with students who want to return to the main campus in Syracuse. He said the university would make every effort possible to minimize the effect on studies and coursework.

Florence is the second study abroad program SU has closed prematurely during this school year. It cut short the Hong Kong study abroad program due to concerns about conflict between protesters and police there in November.

Bennett noted in his email that students from China have also been deeply impacted by the spread of coronavirus. Many students who are on campus in Syracuse now will not be able to return home during spring break in March, Bennett said.

We are working with our schools and colleges, and with others to help accommodate the evolving needs of this important part of our campus community, Bennett said.

Public Affairs Reporter Julie McMahon covers courts, government, education and sometimes fun stuff like treasure hunters. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992

Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work
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Weekly News Digest February 25, 2020  In addition to this week's NewsBreaks article and the monthly NewsLink Spotlight, Information Today, Inc. (ITI) offers Weekly News Digests that feature recent product news and company announcements. Watch for additional coverage to appear in the next print issue of Information Today. For other up-to-the-minute news, check out ITIs Twitter account: @ITINewsBreaks.



CLICK HERE to view more Weekly News Digest items. Tennessee Bills Propose the Installation of Parental Oversight Boards for Public Libraries Kelly Jensen writes for Book Riot, Following in the footsteps of Republican lawmakers in Missouri, a pair of bills aimed at public libraries are making their way through both the House and the Senate of Tennessee. Senate Bill 2896, sponsored by Senator Paul Bailey (R-Sparta), and House Bill 2721, sponsored by Representative Andy Holt (R-Dresden) seek to create parental oversight boards for public libraries. Those boards, one for each library, would make final determinations on whether or not sexual materials are age-appropriate. The board members would be appointed by local government officials, not library representatives. Hearings would be public, with community members welcome to share their opinions. Like the bill in Missouri, librarians would be subject to misdemeanor violations and fines in instances where they do not comply with board decisions. The state can also revoke funding for libraries not found in compliance. Jensen continues: For advocates of small-government, these bills sponsored and backed by Republican state politiciansboth in Missouri and in Tennesseecounter that narrative. They seek to remove the power of librarians from providing materials, including not just those for lending, but also events, speakers, and programming, for their entire communities. Instead, inalterable decisions would be made by an unrelated body of those without the training, education, or knowledge of the whole of their communities, undermining the purpose of a public library all together. These bills directly discriminate against minority communities, and in particular LGBTQ+ people. By not having access to programs that celebrate and educate about their histories and their futures, and equally encouraging enjoyment, fun, and play, theyre pushed further into the shadows due to fear and bigotry of the most vocal. For more information and a list of actions you can take to protest these bills, read the article.

Send correspondence concerning the Weekly News Digest to NewsBreaks Editor Brandi Scardilli
Since he was appointed as minister in charge of Egypts antiquities in March 2016, Khaled El-Enany has established an ambitious roadmap to solve the ministrys budgetary problems, develop its infrastructure, revitalise the development of archaeological sites, safeguard antiquities, resume archaeological excavations, and raise the cultural awareness of the public.



Today, some 60 days after being re-appointed as minister of tourism and antiquities, he describes the challenges ahead and his vision to revive international tourism, attract more investment, encourage and promote tourism to Egypt, build up Egypts tourist branding as well as open the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), complete archaeological projects, and link cultural tourism to coastal and maritime tourism.



El-Enanys re-appointment to the joint portfolio had not been unexpected. His track record as minister of antiquities will allow him to manage Egypts tourism and antiquities portfolios more efficiently, as well as develop plans to attract more tourists to Egypt, promote the countrys diverse destinations, and remove any obstacles that stand against achievements in the tourism sector.



His fast rhythm has enabled him to complete the archaeological projects that were on hold over the past four years, as well as to encourage more archaeological excavations and announce new discoveries, with these attracting the attention of the world to Egypt and its unique heritage and distinguished civilisations.



Since taking office, El-Enany has embarked on tours of different archaeological sites such as the Virgin Mary Tree in Matariya, the Hanging and Saint Sergius Churches and the Coptic Museum in Old Cairo, the Gabal Al-Teir Monastery and the Domes and Mausoleums of the Prophet Mohameds family members in Minya, the Hurghada Museum, the Karnak and Luxor Temples and the Avenue of Sphinxes, the GEM, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation (NMEC), and the Baron Empain Palace in Heliopolis in order to inspect the work being achieved.



He has also travelled to Hurghada, El Gouna, Sharm El-Sheikh and Luxor to visit tourist destinations and meet tourism investors to hear their requests, solve their problems, and engage them to think with the ministry outside the box in providing ways to improve the infrastructure at Egypts archaeological sites and tourist destinations with a view to encouraging and promoting tourism as well as attracting investment to the country.



El-Enany has met with more than two dozen foreign ambassadors to Egypt and pioneering tour-operators and international tourism companies to strengthen cooperation as a means to spruce up tourism to Egypt and encourage new promotional campaigns and programmes to increase the number of tourists visiting the country. Among them have been the ambassadors of Britain, France, Greece, Cyprus, Japan, Belarus, Singapore, Kazakhstan and Ireland, as well as the US Tour Operators Associations, the TUI Group, and others.



Yet, in his office in Zamalek, everything is as it has always been. Nothing has been changed. Replicas of ancient Egyptian and Islamic art masterpieces decorate several corners, and an ibis bird decorates the central entrance while the walls are covered with ceramic gravures depicting coloured foliage patterns. A replica of the well-known ancient Egyptian painting of the Medium Geese decorates the office entrance wall, while a large map of Egypt showing the countrys archaeological sites is on the wall at the offices far end.



The side tables are decorated with golden replicas depicting the lioness god Sekhmet, the justice goddess Maat, and the boy-king Tutankhamun astride a panther and hunting on a papyrus skiff. A bust of queen Nefertiti decorates a large side table. El-Enanys desk is almost empty except for a few files, his computer, i-pad, small notebook and mobile phone.



He welcomed Al-Ahram Weekly with his usual friendly smile to talk about how much he has achieved and what still remains outstanding.





STARTING OUT: I started my duty as minister of tourism and antiquities by visiting sites and destinations in Egypt as much as I could in order to see them with my own eyes and because field visits are much better than reading reports in the office, El-Enany said.He said that tourism and antiquities complement one other and are two faces of the same coin. Egypt is very distinguished because of its unique heritage and rich civilisations.I am confident in the success of this newly established joint ministry, especially in the light of the attention that the political leadership and government are giving to the tourism and antiquities sectors, El-Enany said, adding that the government had decided to merge the ministries at a time when several archaeological mega-projects are taking place such as the Grand Egyptian Museum, the NMEC, and the Avenue of Sphinxes in Luxor.This is the second time that the ministries have been merged, as this happened in 1962 and was extended to 1966 before they were separated.The support of the government continues as a Ministerial Committee for Tourism and Antiquities (MCTA) has been created for the first time to discuss issues and solve problems related to tourism. It is headed by the prime minister and includes representatives from seven ministries, including tourism and antiquities, the environment, local development, culture, finance, health and urban housing, and civil aviation, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Interior and the chairman of the Egyptian Tourism Federation.During its first meeting, El-Enany announced that the committee had approved a recommendation suggested by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to establish a permanent committee to issue operational licences for hotels.In an attempt to link cultural tourism to coastal and maritime tourism, new flights connecting the Nile Valley to the Red Sea are operating, El-Enany said, explaining that in collaboration with the ministry of civil aviation a once-a-week flight linking Luxor to Sharm El-Sheikh had been started on 20 February after a stop of several years.To encourage bookings, the ministry offered the passengers of the first flight a free visit to queen Nefertaris tomb on Luxors west bank that is normally priced at LE1,400. Another flight linking Luxor to Hurghada is also in the works.The UK has removed its flight ban to Sharm El-Sheikh, and the operator TUI has resumed flights from London to Sharm El-Sheikh as a result. EgyptAir is to operate a new flight from Gatwick south of London to Sharm El-Sheikh soon, and later this year the company Easy Jet will operate a new flight to Egypt.Several more decisions have been taken to promote tourism to Upper Egypt during the summer, El-Enany said, adding that under the slogan Spend your summer in Upper Egypt, a discount of 50 per cent on all tickets for foreigners and Luxor Pass holders had been provided for visitors going to archaeological sites in Qena, Luxor and Aswan during the months of July and August.Another half-price discount has also been provided for foreign students studying in Egypt.NEW INITIATIVES: Realising the importance of tourism in Egypt, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has come forward with an initiative to support tourism in Egypt until the end of 2020, in a bid to boost job opportunities and stimulate other industries.The initiative, in the amount of LE50 billion, is designed to take advantage of the current expansion of tourism and to use it to stimulate development.A decision to digitise the revenues of the ministry, allowing electronic reservations for tickets to museums and archaeological sites by using the Internet and mobile applications, should help to reduce queues at the ticket counters of museums and archaeological sites. Replicas and archaeological books will also be sold via the Internet.In the coming weeks, several archaeological sites will be opened after the completion of restoration work, among them the Djoser Step Pyramid in Saqqara, the Baron Empain Palace in Heliopolis, and the Hurghada Museum, which is the first museum to be established in partnership with the private sector.The museum and its antiquities will be under the full supervision and administration of the ministry of tourism and antiquities, and the private sector has provided the building and equipped it according to the ministrys requirements. The private sector will also manage the facilities and services for visitors.Also mentioned by the minister was the transport of the ancient Egyptian royal mummies and their sarcophagi from their current display at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation (NMEC) in Fustat, where preparation work is underway to ensure that the halls are ready to receive them. Roads and squares on the path of the royal mummies are under development to ensure that the transport of the objects takes place without incident.The transport includes a collection of 22 royal mummies and 17 royal sarcophagi from the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th dynasties that will be transported to the NMEC, including 18 mummies of kings and four of queens. The mummies include those of kings Ramses II, Seti I, Seqnenre, Tuthmoses III, and queens Hatshepsut, Meritamun, the wife of king Amenhotep I, and Ahmose Nefertari, the wife of king Ahmose.Tahrir Square is also under development, and an obelisk of Ramses II has been restored, reassembled, and re-erected at the square, while four ram-headed sphinxes will also be installed.The ministry will continue to develop archaeological sites to be more tourist-friendly, El-Enany said. Several archaeological sites have been developed by installing signboards, sunshades, benches and walks for the disabled.The signboards do not only include details of a site or a museum and their opening and closing hours. They also include guides telling visitors how to preserve the site or the museum by not touching its artefacts, not disfiguring the monuments by writing on them or breaking them, and keeping the place clean by disposing of rubbish properly.The ministry is now working hard to promote the opening of the GEM, with a campaign now being planned in order to prepare its grand opening in the last quarter of 2020.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 27 February, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The notice re-issued on Admiral Karannagoda is returnable on March 20. This case is to be next called before the High Court Trial-at-Bar on that day.









The Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar yesterday re-issued notice on the retired Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda.





Karannagoda on the right with alleged corrupted looter Nimal Perara. Perera has been implicated in the controversial Airbus-SriLankan scandal with revelations being made in court that a sum of US$ 800,000 was transferred from the account maintained by former SriLankan Airlines, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kapila Chandrasenas wife, Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayaka to an account owned by Sabre Vision Ltd.

The other 14 accused indicted in respect of the disappearance of 11 youth, from Colombo in the year 2009, were present in Court.





The notice re-issued on Admiral Karannagoda is returnable on March 20. This case is to be next called before the High Court Trial-at-Bar on that day.





The Criminal Investigation Department informed the Court that Admiral Karannagoda could not be found at his residence to serve notice.





Anil Silva Presidents Counsel appeared with Anuja Premaratne Presidents Counsel for the accused.





The Additional Solicitor General, Sarath Jayamanna Presidents Counsel appeared for the Attorney General.





The High Court Trial-at-Bar comprised, Champa Janaki Rajaratne, Amal Ranaraja and Navaratne Marasinghe.
(ANSAMed) - ATHENS, 25 FEB - Tension and clashes on the Greek islands of Lesvos and Chios where police clashed violently with protesters in the early hours of tuesday to allow the construction of controversial new "closed" refugee camps on both islands, as well as Samos.



A huge police operation began in the early hours of Tuesday morning with ferries arriving at both Lesvos and Chios with over 300 riot police in total sent to the North Aegean islands to clear blockades and protests in the areas where the proposed new facilities will be built.



The operation sparked outrage among the local media and general public alike, with ugly pictures of riot police using tear gas, water cannons and flashing smoke bombs on local citizens, as well as videos emerging on social media showing officers striking female and pensioner-age protestors with batons.



Locals had gathered around each of the sites, blocking roads in an attempt to stop the authorities from transferring police, bulldozers and and containers from the respective ports on the islands.



Even though the locals also have the full support of the Regional North Aegean Governors, who have ceased all cooperation with the state, the government insisted that it was determined to move ahead with plans to build the new facilities on appropriated land, and they have promised to close down the existing camps where hellish living conditions due to mass overcrowding have got even worse in recent months.



"The government is determined to implement its plan regarding the refugee issue," government spokesman Stelios Petsas told reporters. He added that "This project is in the best interests of both the country and the local communities in the long run." Many of the local communities and the local authorities have vehemently opposed the plans, after struggling with the burden of the related problems since 2015, arguing that the migrants and asylum seekers should be transferred to the Greek mainland.



Following the clashes on Tuesday morning, the Lesvos Workers Union announced that there would be a general strike and a rally at the central Sapphos Square. In its announcement, the Workers Union stated: "The riot police have come in and have been striking the people of Lesvos. The police forces that the government has sent to subdue our island, from the early hours of today, have used tear gas, water cannons and flash bombs on its own citizens." The statement added: "We call on all the workers, the people of Lesvos, and all the organisational bodies and associations of our island to stand beside each other and continue to oppose the government's plans to turn our island into a prison of souls." On the island of Samos, building materials, containers and bulldozers have already arrived and work has started on the smaller closed center which is planned in the Zervou area near the islands capital.



It remains to be seen how things will develop, but based on the tension that exists on Lesvos and Chios, it's difficult to envisage that there will be no more incidents or clashes between police and locals.



The saga marks another black page for Greece's New Democracy government, who seem to have lost the faith of the people as far as it handling of the refugee crisis.



A new report which has been published by Kapa Research revealed that 87% of those polled believed that the state's management of the issue has been negative.



New Democracy, Greece's center-right government, has only been in power for seven months but, like SYRIZA before them, is struggling to cope with the migration crisis.



While they have brought in several measures to try to combat the ongoing issues, such as those to speed up asylum application processes, transfers of people from the islands to the mainland, as well as tougher legislative measures and border security with the help of Frontex, the Greek state is still struggling under the weight of the problem.



And things are not getting any easier as vessels carrying migrants from the Turkish coast are still arriving almost daily.



According to figures released by the Greek arm of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), close to 75,000 (74,348) refugees and migrants arrived on Greek shores in the calendar year of 2019 and were absorbed into the various reception facilities on the mainland and on the North East Aegean islands.



That represents a 47% increase when compared to 2018, an alarming spike considering that measures such as the Turkey-EU agreement and increased security has been put in place.



According to the North Aegean's General Police Directorate, approximately 46,000 people arrived at the islands of the northern Aegean in 2019, meaning that the region is handling 62% of the total arrivals. (ANSAmed).


All police stations across West Bengal have been put on alert amid the violence in Delhi over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), officials said on Tuesday.

All deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners and officer-in-charges have been asked to remain "extremely alert", a senior Kolkata Police officer said.

They have been asked for regular patrolling and staying in touch with community leaders, he said.

The officers have been asked to take action accordingly to avoid untoward incidents, he added.

All officers of the West Bengal Police have been directed to maintain strict vigil in their respective areas, an officer of the state police force said.

The violence, underway for the past two days, has left areas of northeast Delhi under a virtual shutdown. Seven people, including a police head constable, were killed.

West Bengal had witnessed violence over the contentious law from December 13 to 17 with several railway stations and other public properties damaged.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Massachusetts investors are slated to get an extra dose of regulatory protection.

But not everyone agrees that's a good thing.

Last week, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin put the finishing touches on a new fiduciary standard for broker-dealers and broker-dealer agents operating in the state.

The new regulation requires those businesses and professionals to "provide investment advice and recommendations without regard to the interests of anyone but the consumer," according to the announcement of the news.

"This standard will protect Massachusetts retirees and their hard-earned retirement savings from conflicted investment advice, which has been shown to cost investors billions of dollars each year," Galvin said in a statement.

More from Personal Finance:

The fight over Massachusetts' proposed investor protection rule

Programs aim to help millions with no retirement savings plans

How much you lose if you don't grab your job's 401(k) match

With the announcement, Galvin also took aim at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which he said has "failed to enact a meaningful conduct rule to protect working families from abusive practices in the brokerage industry."

The SEC is in the process of moving forward on a new rule, called Regulation Best Interest, that requires broker-dealers and associated professionals to make retail investors' best interests a priority when making recommendations.

That regulation, called Reg BI for short, went into effect on Sept. 10, 2019. But firms have until June 30 of this year to comply with the rule.

The SEC was authorized to come up with a fiduciary-type rule through the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which was signed into law in 2010.

But critics, including Galvin, complain that Reg BI doesn't go far enough to create a fiduciary standard, and the definition of best interest is too fluid.
Photo: Glacier Media Prince George courthouse

A woman who drove over a toddler in a Prince George parking lot has been prohibited from driving for five years.

Barbara Joan Husband, 85, was issued the penalty in provincial court on Feb. 13 in relation a Dec. 19, 2018 incident along Ospika Boulevard near Massey Drive.

According to RCMP, Husband was entering the parking lot from the southbound lane and had been traveling against traffic flow for a short distance to bypass a meridian in the process.

The child was standing near a parent who was tending to a younger child when the toddler was struck by a small SUV. One tire drove completely over the three-year-old's midsection, RCMP said.

"Fortunately, the child was transported to hospital for treatment and miraculously, is expected to fully recover," RCMP said.

In an email to the Citizen, the child's father said she was in critical condition when she was taken to hospital and rushed into trauma immediately.

"Fortunately she is stable now and we are hoping for a full recovery thanks to the amazing team of doctors and nurses at our hospital," he said.

Alcohol was not a factor, RCMP added.
SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- Republican lawmakers on Monday boycotted the Oregon Senate in an effort to deny Democrats a quorum and doom a contentious climate change bill.

RELATED: ENVIRONMENTALISTS DEFEND CAP AND TRADE AHEAD OF TIMBER UNITY RALLY

A legislative panel approved the legislation after a proposed GOP amendment that would put the issue on the ballot in November was rejected.

The so-called cap-and-trade bill calls for the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to at least 45% below 1990 emissions levels by 2035 and to at least 80% below by 2050.

'THE BILL IS DEAD': OREGON GOP ANNOUNCES END OF SENATE WALKOUT

The bill would force big greenhouse gas emitters to obtain credits for each metric ton of carbon dioxide they emit.
Huawei CEO Richard Yu has confirmed that the companys P40 smartphone range will launch on 26 March in Paris, reports GSMArena.

Yu was speaking at the global launch event of the companys foldable Mate Xs smartphone.

The Huawei P40 lineup is set to compete with the top devices from Apple and Samsung and is expected to comprise three devices  the P40, P40 Pro, and P40 Lite.

Yu did not provide any further details about the devices.

Coming to South Africa

Huawei South Africa CBG VP Likun Zhao and Huawei South Africa CTO Akhram Mohamed told MyBroadband that the range would be available in South Africa.

The next flagship devices are coming to South Africa, Zhao said.

The only difference will be that the new flagships will launch in South Africa without Google Mobile Services (GMS) and with Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) instead.

HMS is not the implementation of Huaweis Harmony OS operating system; it is a replacement for Google Mobile Services, which enables certain Google services and integrated features.

This means that while users will be able to access Google services like Gmail, YouTube, and Chrome, they will not be able to access them through the traditional, pre-loaded apps that usually come with Android devices.

Instead, Huawei has implemented its own software to allow users to access these services.

The menus, settings, etc., will all look and feel the same, Mohamed said.

Over and above that, HMS is the replacement of core services for GMS. A consumer does not engage on core services level, they engage on an app level.

Rumoured features

The GSMArena report indicated that the P40 Premium Edition will boast a five-lens camera system, including a 10x optical zoom periscope telephoto lens and a 52MP primary lens.

All three models are set to offer Wi-Fi 6+ connectivity  capable, in theory, of reaching speeds of 1,200 Mbps.

The P40 range will also reportedly offer dual-mode 5G connectivity across the board.

Note: The image used in this article is of the Huawei P30 Pro.

Now read: iPhone 9 launch date leaked
On Saturday night, after Mr. de Blasio, a surrogate for Mr. Sanders, tweeted at Mr. Buttigieg, saying, Dude, show some humility, Mr. Lockhart immediately replied to the New York mayor, Who cares what you think?

Four or five years ago, Mr. Lockhart said in an interview, he would have had to phone a reporter to weigh in, and the mainstream press, acting as gatekeeper, might or might not have quoted him.

Now, theres the ability for people to have their own platforms, he said. I tweeted it, and got back to my dinner.

David Pepper, chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, lamented that the last debate, which smashed records as the most watched Democratic presidential debate ever, was so intensely negative. My worry is that everyone looked so mad at each other, he said. When every person on the stage has their oppo ready to go and delivers it with such ferocity, you may win that individual skirmish, but youre giving away the bigger picture  the need for people to be inspired.

Yes, there are many examples of Democratic rivals turning negative in past primary races. Strategists for Hillary Clinton in the 2008 race dangled Mr. Obamas youthful drug use. In 2016, Mrs. Clinton accused Mr. Sanders of smearing her for receiving donations from rich people.

But those digs feel innocent compared with this year, when a burst of gloves-off negativity seems to have been set off by the prospect of a staunchly leftist nominee in Mr. Sanders, the late entry of Michael R. Bloomberg and a fierce fight over which moderate candidate ought to be Mr. Sanderss leading foil.

On Sunday night, Mr. Sanders praised Fidel Castro for Cubas literacy program on CBSs 60 Minutes. Many responses were searing from fellow Democrats, including two congresswomen from Florida with sizable Cuban electorates. 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, Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, one of the Florida congresswomen, said on Twitter.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday demanded that two sitting U.S. Supreme Court justices recuse themselves from all Trump-related matters, insisting without evidence that they have treated him unfairly.

While elections have consequences, I only ask for fairness, especially when it comes to decisions made by the United States Supreme Court! Trump said in a pair of tweets posted from Delhi, India, where he was completing a state visit 7,000 miles from Washington.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting at Roosevelt House in New Delhi, Feb. 25, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)

Trump singled out Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg  both appointed by Democratic presidents -- for comments he alleged reflect animus toward him. Both should recuse themselves on all Trump, or Trump related, matters! he said.

....on all Trump, or Trump related, matters! While elections have consequences, I only ask for fairness, especially when it comes to decisions made by the United States Supreme Court!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 25, 2020

The tweets are the first time Trump has directly attacked members of the Supreme Court by name since taking office. Justices, who are appointed for life, decide on their own when it's appropriate to recuse from cases.

The criticism comes one month before the court will consider the legality of subpoenas for Trumps financial records and as the justices weigh rulings on major Trump administration policies, including the cancellation of DACA. It also follows reports that Justice Clarence Thomas' wife Virginia has been closely advising the president and top aides on ensuring White House staff are loyal to Trump.

PHOTO: Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Supreme Sonia Sotomayor arrive to applause for a panel discussion celebrating Sandra Day O'Connor, at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2019. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said the justices have no comment.

In his tweets, the president cites a Fox News report that claims Justice Sonia Sotomayor recently accused GOP appointed justices of being biased in favor of Trump.

This is a terrible thing to say, Trump said in his tweet. Sotomayor, in fact, has not leveled such a pointed accusation.

Story continues

Legal experts said statements attributed to Sotomayor and others by Justice Ruth Ginsburg do not meet the recusal standard applied to all federal judges.

The extraordinary exchange stems from a narrow Supreme Court decision issued Feb. 21 lifting a lower court hold on the Trump administrations new public charge rule for immigrants in the state of Illinois.

The courts conservative majority offered no explanation for allowing the policy to take effect as legal challenges continue; Justice Sotomayor dissented in a seven-page statement.

"Perhaps most troublingly," she writes, "the Courts recent behavior on stay applications has benefited one litigant over all others.

While clearly passionate in her objection, Sotomayor never names Trump or the administration, instead referring to the Government as is customary.

This Court often permits executionswhere the risk of irreparable harm is the loss of lifeto proceed, justifying many of those decisions on purported failures 'to raise any potentially meritorious claims in a timely manner,' she writes in the dissent. Yet the Courts concerns over quick decisions wither when prodded by the Government in far less compelling circumstances.

Sotomayors position is consistent with her long running and much publicized views that her colleagues often too quickly dismisses appeals from death row inmates and inconsistently address nationwide injunctions issued by lower courts.

She concludes, "I respectfully dissent."

The White House did not respond to questions about whether Trump had read Sotomayors opinion or only the Fox News characterization of it and why he believes Sotomayor was trying to shame some into voting her way as he alleged on Twitter.

The president also revived criticism of Justice Ginsburg who had referred to Trump as a faker during the 2016 campaign. She later apologized.

MORE: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Bashes Donald Trump, Calls Him 'a Faker'

She went wild during the campaign when I was running, Trump said of Ginsburg during a press conference in India. I don't know who she was for. Perhaps she was for Hillary Clinton, if you can believe it.

None of the justices has publicly revealed his or her votes during the 2016 presidential election.

The idea being advanced by President Trump - that a justice becomes conflicted if she disagrees with the executive branchs legal strategy or constitutional theory - is not only wrong but also degrading to the independence of our judiciary, said Gabe Roth, executive director of Fix the Court, a nonpartisan advocacy group.

The notion that a dissent like Justice Sotomayor's could somehow be construed as an invalid attempt to shame other justices into coming to different conclusions would come as a surprise to many jurists throughout the country and throughout American history, he said.

ABC News' Ben Gittleson contributed to this report.

Donald Trump accuses Supreme Court justices of bias in 1st direct attack as president originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Sandburg Home welcomes new writer-in-residence

Tony Robles

The new writer in residence at the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site will host a writing workshop at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 4, at the Sandburg Home.

Tony Robles was born in San Francisco and is the nephew of Filipino-American poet, historian and social justice activist Al Robles. A shortlist nominee for poet laureate of San Francisco in 2017 and the recipient of the San Francisco Art Commission individual literary artist grant in 2018, he has written two books of poetry and short stories. Cool Dont Live Here No MoreA letter to San Francisco and Fingerprints of a Hunger Strike take on the issues of eviction, gentrification and police violence in communities of color. He is also the author of two childrens books, Lakas and the Manilatown Fish and Lakas and the Makibaka Hotel.

Since moving to Hendersonville last year, Robles has become a volunteer with the Friends of the Library of Henderson County and Meals on Wheels. He is deeply honored to be selected as Writer-in-Residence and sees it as an opportunity to honor the legacy of Carl Sandburg as a peoples poet and to give something back to a community that has welcomed him with much warmth and graciousness. During his residency he will work on a novel in progress Fillmore Flip, which is based on his familys life in the Fillmore District of San Francisco, and promote poetry to honor the legacy of Carl Sandburg.



The Writer-in-Residence program offers local residents of all ages an opportunity to learn from writers through outreach and education programs held at the site and in the community, Sandburg Home Superintendent Polly Angelakis said. We are delighted to welcome Tony and offer him a place to continue practicing his craft and eager to offer our community opportunities to learn from him.

Space in the writing workshop is limited to 16 participants. To sign up, call the park at 828-693-4178. Robles will also be a guest speaker for the North Carolina Writers Network on Wednesday, April 8, at the Brandy Bar on Seventh Avenue. He will give a reading during the main program at 7 p.m. followed by an open mic forum from 8 to 9 p.m.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 04:01:57|Editor: yan

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UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday wrote to offer condolences to the government of Egypt and to the family of former President Hosni Mubarak, following the announcement of his death.

The secretary-general, in a letter, wrote that Mubarak played an important role in diplomatic efforts throughout the Middle East, including in promoting peace between Israelis and Palestinians and supporting the endeavours by the League of Arab States to end conflict in the region.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Guterres, said that the UN chief has "reaffirmed the commitment of the UN to continue working alongside the government and people of Egypt in advancing the country's democratic development, respect for human rights, and economic prosperity for the benefit of all Egyptians."

Mubarak died at the age of 91. He had served as Egyptian president for nearly 30 years until he resigned as a result of mass protests that erupted in the country in 2011.

He was jailed for years on charges of corruption and killing protesters, but was freed in 2017 after being acquitted of most charges.
OAKLAND (BCN)

About 200 Oakland police officers gathered at their police union headquarters late Tuesday morning to say an emotional goodbye to police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick, who was fired without cause Thursday night after three years on the job.

Kirkpatrick seemed touched by the outpouring of support on short notice, fighting back tears as officers hugged her and gave her flowers.

In brief comments to reporters, Kirkpatrick said, "These officers are the best of the best and haven't deserved the criticism they've gotten."

Kirkpatrick, who began her job on March 1, 2017, said her firing by the Oakland Police Commission and Mayor Libby Schaaf "will destabilize the Police Department and the community."

Kirkpatrick added, "I'm saddened I have to say goodbye."

Without being specific, Kirkpatrick said some people in Oakland had been "looking over my shoulder" and asking her to do things she didn't think were right.

She said she didn't want to do anything inappropriate and "wanted to be an honorable leader and keep my integrity."

Schaaf said Thursday that the trust between the Police Commission and Kirkpatrick was "irrevocably broken" and keeping the chief in her job would prevent the city from moving forward.

Police Commission Chair Regina Jackson said the Police Department has still failed to comply with reforms that were ordered in a federal court settlement 17 years ago.

Interim Assistant Police Chief Darren Allison is acting chief of police until a permanent chief is selected.

Oakland Police Officers' Association president Barry Donelan said at the gathering for Kirkpatrick on Tuesday that "the process in which she fired was terrible and an abomination."

Donelan said, "The cops will still do their duty but they will be wondering what new chief will want to work here and how long a new chief will last."

Donelan said Kirkpatrick had brought some stability to a Police Department that has now gone through nine different police chiefs since he became the union's president in 2012.

Rocky Lucia, the union's attorney, said the gathering for Kirkpatrick was impressive because it was only announced a few hours beforehand and was attended by both sworn and non-sworn officers, such as technicians.

Lucia, who was been the union's attorney for many years, said the gathering was the largest he's seen except for occasions when officers were killed in the line of duty.

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.
Joe Biden, buoyed by a strong debate showing, received the endorsement of an influential black lawmaker on Wednesday, boosting his hopes of winning the South Carolina primary in what may be his last chance to derail Bernie Sanders' drive to the Democratic presidential nomination. Jim Clyburn, the third-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives, announced at an event in North Charleston, South Carolina, that he was endorsing the White House bid of the 77-year-old former vice president. "South Carolina should be voting for Joe Biden," Clyburn said. "It is time for us to restore this country's dignity, this country's respect. And I can think of no one better suited, better prepared." The endorsement of the popular South Carolina congressman carries considerable weight in the southern state, where black voters make up a majority of the Democratic electorate. South Carolina holds its primary on Saturday, the last major test before "Super Tuesday" on March 3, when 14 states go to the polls and a whopping one-third of all delegates who pick the nominee at the party's July convention are up for grabs. Biden, who served as vice president for eight years to America's first black president, Barack Obama, is counting on strong support among African-American voters in South Carolina to recharge his flagging campaign. "Joe will build on President Obama's legacy," Clyburn said. Biden was considered the front-runner after jumping into the race but he came in fourth in Iowa, fifth in New Hampshire and a distant second to Vermont Senator Sanders in Nevada. The 78-year-old Sanders, a self-described "democratic socialist," finished in a virtual tie with former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg in Iowa and then went on to win in New Hampshire and Nevada. A strong performance in South Carolina could potentially allow Sanders to deliver a knockout blow to his rivals on Super Tuesday and all-but lock up the top spot on the Democratic ticket against Republican Donald Trump in November. - 'Chaos' - Biden is leading in the polls in South Carolina but Sanders has cut the deficit to single digits in some surveys. Billionaire activist Tom Steyer has pumped millions of dollars into ads in South Carolina and is projected to finish third in the state. Another billionaire, Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York, is the only major candidate not on Saturday's ballot, having chosen to skip the four early voting states to make a splash on Super Tuesday. Ahead of Saturday's vote, the candidates took part in a free-wheeling debate in Charleston on Tuesday night, aiming their fire at the front-runner Sanders and making appeals to black voters. Steyer advocated reparations to African-Americans for slavery while Biden said that if elected he will put a black woman on the Supreme Court. Biden accused Sanders of being soft on gun control while Bloomberg claimed Russia wanted the Vermont senator to win the nomination -- betting he would be defeated by Trump in November. All of his rivals ganged up in describing Sanders as too radical to appeal to a broad swathe of Americans. Fellow progressive Elizabeth Warren and centrists Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar laid into his ability to deliver on costly programs such as universal health care and tuition-free public college. Buttigieg, a 38-year-old military veteran presenting himself as a unifier, warned a Sanders fight against Trump would spell "chaos" and divide the nation. "I tell you what it adds up to," Buttigieg said. "It ends up as four more years of Donald Trump." Sanders hit back at the charge his policies were too "radical," insisting such ideas "exist in countries all over the world," including the notion that health care is a human right. Biden put in a spirited performance and snapped back at moderators who tried to cut him off, telling them: "I'm not going to be quiet anymore, OK?" Like Buttigieg, Bloomberg sought to cast a Sanders nomination as a sure path to losing. "I'm the one choice that makes some sense," said Bloomberg, touting his experience running America's largest city for 12 years. The 78-year-old billionaire found himself under assault too, including by Warren, who called him "the riskiest candidate" on stage. "I don't care how much money mayor Bloomberg has. The core of the Democratic Party will never trust him," the senator from Massachusetts said. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden (L) receiving the endorsement of influential South Carolina congressman James Clyburn (R) Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks at a rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren is reflected in a student's glasses as she speaks at South Carolina State University Democratic presidential hopefuls Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders are considered the favorites in the upcoming South Carolina primary Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren joined others in laying into Bernie Sanders' ability to deliver on costly programs such as universal health care and tuition-free college Democratic primaries and caucuses
Ireland said its citizens should not travel to parts of Italy affected by an outbreak of the new coronavirus.

Italy's government has moved to close off the worst-hit areas in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto, and the death toll in the country from the disease rose to five on Monday.

"There has been an increase in the number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Italy... Citizens are advised not to travel to affected areas," the foreign ministry said on its website on travel advice updated on Monday. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
The coronavirus surge in northern Italy, which has seen ten people killed and 322 infected, is spreading to neighboring countries Austria, Switzerland, Spain, and Croatia.

All fatal cases in Italy involved elderly people who also had other medical issues.

An Austrian couple, both 24, turned themselves in at an Innsbruck hospital when they fell ill after they returned after a trip from Lombardy.

A young Croatian man also picked up the virus after visiting Milan, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic confirmed.

Researchers in the United States started a clinical trial of #Gilead Sciences #remdesivir drug, which has been tapped as a possible treatment for the new #coronavirus https://t.co/hcLUwDD5t1  Epoch Times Canada (@EpochTimesCan) February 25, 2020

A 70-year-old Swiss man from the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino also tested positive after returning from Milan.

Spain also announced the first person on the Spanish mainland from Barcelona to test positive on the coronavirus, or COVID-19, as it is called, the Health Ministry affirmed.

The coronavirus has reached Europe for the first time in a situation where we dont understand every chain of infection, and they cant be connected directly to China, said German health minister Jens Spahn, who attended an emergency summit among health ministers of several European states in Rome on Tuesday. This means we have a new situation to deal with. I have said it could get worse before it gets better, and this assessment still stands, he added.

Meanwhile, in the Codogno region, southwest of Milan, the capital of Lombardy, which is considered the epicenter of the latest spike of coronavirus outbreak, at least ten villages have gone on lockdown.

Also, in Italy, an 80-year-old man died in Milan on Tuesday, 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.

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.

Russia, Spain, Belgium, Finland, and Sweden have reported one or two cases each.

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. Authorities began shutting down bars, schools, and offices in towns after cases were confirmed in Codogno and other locales.

Epoch Times reporter Zachary Stieber contributed to this report
Clyburn doesnt plan to formally announce his endorsement until Wednesday, the day after the debate, but Democratic officials familiar with his planning say he intends to endorse Biden.

Clyburn represents the largely black precincts in and near Columbia and Charleston, and he is considered the most powerful Democrat in the state. Heres our national political correspondent Jonathan Martin, with his breakdown of what the news will mean for Biden:

Clyburns support could not come at a better time for Biden. Not only is the former vice president under immense pressure to win South Carolina, a state he has long portrayed as his firewall, but he must also demonstrate to the other Democrats in the race that he is the preferred candidate of African-American voters. Clyburns endorsement could help on both fronts, helping to hand Biden a much-needed victory before Super Tuesday that would come in part thanks to the support of South Carolinas black voters. Over half of the primary electorate on Saturday is expected to be African-American, and if Biden performs well with such voters it could bode well for his chances in other Southern states voting on Super Tuesday: Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas and Texas.

Buttigieg tries to fight for $15, but gets a fight over his record instead.

CHARLESTON, S.C.  Pete Buttigieg joined scores of workers in Charleston on Monday who were demanding a $15 minimum wage and better working conditions, but he was confronted at the protest by a group of black women who said he was not workers best choice, and many residents who lived near the protest said they either hadnt heard of him or favored other candidates.

Buttigieg joined the chanting group of mostly black protesters as they moved toward a local McDonalds where some of them worked, and he helped to hold a large banner that read, Unions for All. But as the group marched through the McDonalds drive-thru, about a dozen black women confronted Buttigieg, saying that he had not done enough for workers as the mayor of South Bend, Ind.

Pete cant be our president. Where was $15 in South Bend? chanted the women, who were members of the Black Youth Project 100, a national group that supports progressive candidates and whose members came to Charleston to advocate for a higher minimum wage.

Buttigieg responded only as he hustled to his black S.U.V. Jamecia Gray, one of the Black Youth Project organizers, said he told her as he left that he supports raising the federal minimum wage to $15, including for disabled workers and those who work for tips.

Hes flipped on that issue more than once, and what I want and what our people want is for him to create white pages and real policies to really change the structural barriers to hold corporations like McDonalds accountable so every American person can live in this country, said Gray, who traveled from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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Families that were uprooted in to make way for the Xe La Nong 1 dam in southern Laos Savannakhet province are still facing difficulties despite close to nine months passing since relocating to a new village, they told RFA.

Construction of the 70 megawatt Xe La Nong 1 dam began in 2017 and it is set to be completed in 2021. The 88 families were moved to a new village last June.

A villager who was relocated told RFAs Lao Service that the group has yet to receive any kind of compensation from the Chinese developer, despite being promised 40 million kip (U.S. $320) for each hectare (2.47 acres) of land that they lost to the project.

Making matters worse, the villager said, the new village has no nearby arable land. The tract they were given to grow food on is mountainous and unsuitable for rice and other crops, on top of not being cleared.

With no land to farm and no alternative jobs for them, the 88 families havent had any income since moving and are struggling, the villager said.

The new village that was built for the families remains unfinished. Some houses have no walls, there is no running waters or toilets, and the village has no school or health center, the villager added.

Villagers also complained about the infrastructure in their resettlement village. A road that was built for their use was damaged during the rainy season and was covered with mud. In the dry season the mud turned to dust, making some parts of the road impassable.

Satellite imagery shows how the dam construction has radically changed the local environment. This short video compares the site of the Xe La Nong 1 Dam site between October 2016, before construction began, and February 2020 with construction nearly complete.

Reports about the hardships of relocated villagers are common in Laos, which is undertaking a massive buildout of hydropower projects in its rush to become the battery of Southeast Asia. For almost every project, people living nearby must be relocated in order for construction to proceed.

The lack of adequate compensation or suitable living arrangements are common complaints of the people forced to relocate.

An official involved in the project told RFA that the villagers have to wait until the dam developers owner returns Laos from China.

According to the official, the owner is unable to travel due to the ongoing novel coronavirus epidemic, but has not reneged on the companys promise to pay. On his return to Laos will discuss the matter with the villagers, he added.

We dont have a concrete plan to help the people as they are demanding, the official said.

We can only listen to their problems and concerns and relay them to the dams owner, so he can help them as quickly as possible.

The Ma Xe La Nong 1 dam project has four investment partners, the largest of which is YEIG International Development of China, which owns a 70 percent share of the $150 million project. The power produced from the dam is intended for domestic consumption.

Reported and Translated by RFAs Lao service. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday visited Mahatma Gandhi's memorial in Rajghat and said violence will not benefit anyone as he called for restoration of peace in the national capital in the wake of violence in northeast Delhi, which claimed seven lives.

Kejriwal visited Rajghat along with his MLAs.

"Six civilians and one policemen have died. Violence will not benefit anyone. Mahatma Gandhi was a worshiper of non-violence, we prayed for restoration of peace in Delhi," he said after the visit.

He is expected to meet the family of the deceased head constable Ratan Lal in Burari.

Kejriwal will also meet the injured persons at GTB Hospital and Max Hospital.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
: In the wake of violence in



Delhi,Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar on Tuesday appealed to citizens of the cityto remain alert and not allow rumour-mongering.

He tweeted: "Appeal to all citizens of Hyd. We have to remain alert and united to see that no mischief-maker tries to take advantage of the disturbing from Delhi."



"Our patrol cars and bikes are your closest friend. Don't allow rumour-mongering. Take pride in our beautiful city Hyd.," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Fashion brand Jeanswest has been saved from the executioner's axe, with the company's former owners buying the business back following the closure of 37 stores.

Administrators from KPMG announced on Tuesday morning a sale contract was signed on Monday with Harbour Guidance Pty Ltd, the Australian subsidiary of Hong Kong-based company Harbour Guide Pty Ltd, owned by Mr Chun Fan Yeung.

Fashion chain Jeanswest has been bought out of administration by its former owner. Credit:Chris Lane

Mr Yeung's family investment vehicle, Howsea Ltd, was the former parent company of Jeanswest, having bought the company from its previous owner Glorious Sun Enterprises in 2017 in a $41 million deal.

Mr Yeung was also a former director of Jeanswest prior to its collapse. Jeanswest owes $20 million to related party creditors, which include Howsea.
Finance Minister Tito Mboweni will deliver his 2020 Budget Speech on 26 February, and most economists expect him to announce big tax increases.

Efficient Group chief economist Dawie Roodt said South Africa is in deep financial trouble, which means the government will either have to cut spending or increase taxes.

With the governments unwilling to cut the public sector payroll or state spending, the only other option is to increase taxes.

Momentum Investments economist Sanisha Packirisamy added the countrys poor economic growth over the past 5 years is putting pressure on the fiscus.

This weak growth is caused by chronic policy uncertainty, stretched government finances, infrastructure constraints, and low business confidence.

Considering the dire situation the country finds itself in, Sygnia CEO Magda Wierzycka said the 2020 budget is not going to be pretty, with tax increases expected on all fronts.

If we dont cut spending and reduce debt levels quickly, todays drop in equities, which destroyed everyones savings, will look like a ripple before a tide, she said.

Some of the expected tax increases include a 1% VAT hike, higher sin taxes, larger fuel levies, and reallocating taxpayers medical scheme tax credits.

Wierzycka went even further, suggesting that a 2% VAT hike, a 4% once-off on all retirement fund savings, and a 5% once-off tax on income could be implemented.

Taxpayers are tired of government incompetence

Minister Mboweni invited South Africans to share their views about economic conditions and other issues they would like government to highlight in the budget speech on 26 February 2020.

Many tax-paying South Africans openly shared their views as requested, but they may not have been what the minister wanted to hear.

People highlighted that the government is to blame for the financial problems the country is in and that they are tired of paying for the governments incompetence.

Unless the government addresses corruption, mismanagement, and out-of-control spending, there will never be enough tax money to fill the hole in the budget.

Here are some of the proposals from ordinary taxpayers on what Minister Mboweni must do to solve the countrys financial problems.

1. Cut public sector wage bill

The government will spend R675 billion  35% of its budget  on public servant salaries in the next financial year. This bloated workforce is unsustainable, and taxpayers want to see a leaner and more efficient public workforce.

2. Close or sell unprofitable SOEs

State-owned enterprises (SOEs) have been a tremendous drain on the economy with the government spending billions to bail out these companies each year. There is a clear message from taxpayers  close down or privatise loss-making SOEs like SAA, Denel, and the SABC.

3. Privatise Eskom and open up the grid

Eskom is the biggest threat to the South African economy, but the government continues to protect the failed power utility to the expense of taxpayers and the economy. People want to see big staff cuts, opening up the grid to competitors and selling off non-performing assets.

4. Stop expropriation of land without compensation immediately

Economists and business experts, including US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, agree that the governments plan to expropriate land without compensation will destroy South Africas economy. Even just talking about it scares investors. Property rights are core to any good economy and messing with it is always disastrous, as shown in Zimbabwe and Venezuela.

5. Stop the National Health Insurance

The governments grand plan to the use a National Health Insurance (NHI) to provide all South Africans with essential healthcare sounds great, but there is no money for it and will fail. Instead of wasting time and money on this system, rather focus on improving state hospitals and clinics.

6. Get spectrum into the hands of operators

Operators have waited for over a decade to get additional spectrum which will allow them to offer improved services and cut data prices. This is easy to achieve, and spectrum should be auctioned as a matter of urgency.

7. Simplify the tax system and lower taxes

South Africa has some of the highest taxes and most complicated tax laws in the world. To make it easier for taxpayers and attract foreign businesses to the country, a simple tax system with lower taxes are encouraged.

8. Business-friendly labour laws

Aggressive unions and restrictive labour laws are making it difficult for businesses to operate. To make the country more attractive to investors, business-friendly labour laws are needed.

9. Deal decisively with corruption

South Africa has been gutted by corruption and state-capture. However, none of the high-profile individuals implicated in these crimes have been jailed. Taxpayers want to see justice for their tax money being stolen.

10. Remove red tape around businesses
CHICAGO, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Water Street Healthcare Partners, a strategic investor focused exclusively on the health care industry, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to invest in Solvias AG. Headquartered in the biotech hub of Basel, Switzerland, Solvias is one of the largest independent pharmaceutical laboratory platforms in Europe. Water Street, which has years of experience in the pharmaceutical services sector, will partner with the company's management team to build Solvias into a premier global pharmaceutical laboratory services business.

Formed in 1999, Solvias has a deep history of collaborating with the world's leading pharmaceutical organizations to develop, test and analyze a wide range of new products. The company has grown to serve a diverse base of more than 600 biotech, medical device, cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies as it has expanded its platform of testing and analytical services to support biopharmaceutical products and emerging cell and gene therapies. Highly regarded for its scientific expertise and technical capabilities, Solvias operates nearly 200,000 square feet of laboratory space in Switzerland and France in accordance with the highest industry standards, including ISO, cGMP and GLP.

"Solvias stands out for its deep expertise, outstanding quality of work and commitment to continuous innovation to support its clients with bringing new products to market. We're excited to collaborate with Karen Huebscher and her leadership team to continue expanding their platform. Working together, we will invest in organic initiatives and strategic acquisitions that will extend Solvias' capabilities into new and complementary areas and expand their geographic reach on a global scale," said Peter Strothman, partner, Water Street.

Karen Huebscher, PhD, chief executive officer, Solvias, added, "Water Street is the right partner to help us take our strategic expansion to the next level. Its team possesses extensive industry knowledge and a network of resources to build on our strong foundation of expertise and services to bring greater value to our customers and position Solvias as a global leader at the forefront of our industry."

Dr. Huebscher and her management team will continue to lead Solvias once the transaction closes, which is expected to occur in the second quarter of this year. Financial terms of Water Street's agreement with Solvias are not being disclosed.

About Water Street

Water Street is a strategic investor focused exclusively on health care. The firm has a strong record of building market-leading companies across key growth sectors in health care. It has worked with some of the world's leading companies on its investments including Humana, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic and Walgreen Co. Water Street's team is comprised of industry executives and investment professionals with decades of experience investing in and operating global health care businesses. The firm is headquartered in Chicago. For more information about Water Street, visit waterstreet.com.

SOURCE Water Street Healthcare Partners

Related Links

http://waterstreet.com


DUBLIN, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.

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

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Learning Tools

Studytable Connects Students for Tutoring Help with Difficult Coursework

A Purdue University-affiliated startup has launched a software service that offers a twist on tutoring. Studytable enables students to identify peers who can help them with difficult coursework.

To use the software, a student downloads a free app (currently available for iOS), describes the problem he or she is having with the coursework and then opens a digital "study table." Other students who want to earn money apply to host a study table, and then the user can read reviews and personality traits to select the preferred host. The two students then schedule a time, decide on a location, and the timer in the app starts and finishes the session. The price for an average session is around $20. The app also includes a payment feature that lets families send a digital "care package"  money  to help cover the costs of sessions.

According to Studytable Founder Wesley Crouch, the program was initially called Tudr. (It's still called that in a listing on the Apple App Store. The company changed the name after market research, to "avoid any stigma associated with conventional tutoring."

As Crouch explained in a statement, "Students often describe conventional tutoring as too formal or impersonal. We don't draw a distinction between a student and a host. Users can create one profile and easily provide or receive help from other students as needed."

Recently, the program was introduced at Purdue. It's also in use, the company said, on campuses in Indiana and California.

The mobile service received a boost when it was chosen to be supported by Purdue Foundry's Double Down Experiment. DDX is a year-long, invitation-only accelerator program designed to help companies troubleshoot their unique challenges and grow through consulting services and other resources. The Foundry is an entrepreneurship and commercialization hub whose professionals help Purdue innovators create startups. It's housed in the Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration in the Discovery Park District, located on the west side of the Purdue campus.
Gibraltar Drama Festival 2020  Adjudicator Announcement

Gibraltar Cultural Services is pleased to announce that the adjudicator for the 2020 Gibraltar Drama Festival is Mrs Jan Palmer Sayer B.Ed. MA GoDA.

Mrs Palmer Sayer studied at Trent Park College and at Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance. In 1998, she was awarded an MA in Theatre and Performance Studies at the same time as running her own theatre company  Shattered Windscreen. Five years ago, she retired as Headteacher of Hertswood, a Specialist Arts College featured in a BBC autumn education series with Professor Dylan Wiliam.

In 2014, Jan was commissioned by the Arts Council, Isle of Man, to direct a community passion play at Easter as the island celebrated its year as the first Island of Culture. Jans directing credits include A Matter of Life and Death, a promenade production of Arthur Schnitzlers La Ronde, The 39 Steps and Our Man in Havana. Earlier this year, she trod the boards once again playing Hanna Kennedy in Peter Oswalds adaptation of Mary Stuart, and Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter.

Her theatrical exploits have taken her as far afield as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where her production of The Fall of the House of Usher was awarded 5 stars by The Scotsman. In 2015, at the other end of the country, her production of The Grapes of Wrath, the Steinbeck classic adapted by Frank Galati, was one of a sequence of regular appearances by her theatre company at the famous Minack Theatre. This gained the company another 5-star review as well as the coveted Minack Trophy for the best production of 2015.

Jan was appointed as a GoDA adjudicator in 2001. She returned to GoDAs Council in 2014 to organise the 2015 National Festivals Conference, held in London. She is the current Chairman of the Guild of Drama Adjudicators, and one of its busiest members. This year, amongst her many engagements, she will be adjudicating in Munich, Ulster and Edinburgh and next year she will return to Florida to adjudicate at the aactWorldFest but for now, she is very much looking forward to her first visit to Gibraltar.

Tickets for the festival will be on sale on weekdays at the John Mackintosh Hall as from Wednesday 26th February 2020, between 9.30am and 4.30pm. During performance days, tickets will be on sale at the venue an hour before the session begins.

Tickets are priced as follows:

Each Performance Session  5.00

Gala Night  10.00

Season Ticket -  25.00

Student Season Ticket - 20
Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai has taken a break from her classes to meet with teenage activist Greta Thunberg.

The young women, who campaign on global issues climate change and women's education, smiled in a snap taken of them sat on a bench at the University of Oxford.

Malala is a student at the university and she and Greta found time to chat ahead of the climate activist's appearance at a school strike in Bristol on Friday.

Malala Yousafzai, 22,took a break from her classes at the University of Oxford to meet with climate chnage activist Greta Thunberg, 17, on Tuesday

The 22-year-old posted a photo on Instagram of herself and Greta with their arms around each other, writing caption: 'Thank you, @gretathunberg' and a heart emoji.

She also shared the picture on Twitter, writing to her 1.5million followers: 'She's the only friend I'd skip school for'.

Greta was also happy with the meeting, calling Malala 'a role model' and sharing snaps of their time together. She wrote: 'So... today I met my role model. What else can I say?'

Greta, 17, is in the UK to join the school strike on Friday. She became a well-known name after skipping school in Sweden to protest against climate change.

Malala, who now studies Philosophy, Politics and Economics, was shot in the head by the Taliban in Pakistan for campaigning for girls to be allowed to go to school.

In 2014, Malala became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy of education. She became a global symbol of the resilience of women in the face of oppression.

Dozens of people, inclusion politics lecturer Dr Cassidy, took to Twitter to praise the two young women activists after their meeting

Greta also posted a picture of her meeting at Oxford on Tuesday, calling Malala 'a role model'

Greta could soon join Malala, as she was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 and 2020. The winner is set to be announced later this year.

After their meeting today dozens of people took to social media to say they were excited about the women meeting in person.

One wrote: 'You Greta and Malala should be heading world leaders. The world would be a kinder safer place.'

While someone else wrote: 'Greta and Malala met at Oxford today, proof that your age, situation or background should not hold you back from helping to make a better world.'

Malala praised Greta in September for her work in bringing awareness to climate change through school strikes, but this is thought to be the first time the pair have met in person.

The Nobel Prize winner tweeted: 'I'm so happy to see that young women around the world are leading the climate movement. Thank you to girls like @GretaThunberg for using your voice, speaking truth to power  and encouraging other young people to do the same.'

Greta, now 17, also addressed United Nations Climate Change summits in 2018 and 2019 as part of her campaign to raise awareness over global warming.

Last year she became Time magazines youngest ever Person of the Year after regularly trading barbs with US President Donald Trump.

Ina abook, being serialised by The Observer, Greta's family have revealed how the teenager became involved with climate change campaigning.

Mother Malena Ernman said her daughter became unwell aged 11 and struggled with autism and an eating disorder.

Psychiatrists diagnosed Greta with autism, which Ms Ernman described as high-functioning Aspergers, as well as obsessive compulsive disorder.

She wrote: She [Greta] was slowly disappearing into some kind of darkness. She stopped playing the piano. She stopped laughing. She stopped talking. And she stopped eating.

Greta Thunberg addressed the United Nations Climate Change summits in 2018 and 2019 as part of her campaign to raise awareness over global warming (pictured in Hamburg on Friday)

However Ms Ernman told of how Greta's epiphany over the climate crisis shifted her mood and how after watching a film in class about rubbish in the oceans, she became gripped with concern.

Describing how her daughter then planned a climate-change strike from school, Ms Ernman wrote: Svante [Greta's father] has promised to take her to a building suppliers to buy a scrap piece of wood that she can paint white and make a sign out of it.

School Strike for the Climate it will say. And although more than anything we want her to drop the whole idea of going on strike from school  we support her.

Because we see that she feels good as she draws up her plans  better than she has felt in many years. Better than ever before, in fact.
Monday, Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon said a couple of people were in the building he would have preferred hadn't been there, but the bulk of the group was fine. He understood some people are going to be afraid of guns and some aren't.

Hilgers said the State Patrol had an increased presence Friday, and the Judiciary Committee was informed about what could be expected at the hearing. Communicating that to all senators, if it would happen again, will be discussed, he said.

Laurie Churchill, a member of Standing in for Lincoln, was outside the Capitol on Monday with about nine other group members, to protest peacefully about the presence of guns at the hearing. Churchill said she supports "common-sense" gun laws and did not like that people with guns were allowed in the hearing Friday.

"I would not have stayed. I would have been scared," she said.

Churchill said she would like to know if state leaders who opposed the bills would have received black men or Muslim men at the hearings with guns in the same way. Both men at the hearing with guns were white.

She also was dismayed about the discussion of white nationalism.

"I guess I knew that it was in the dark corners of our state, but I don't like it becoming public and vocal now," she said.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSLegislature

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Joseph V. Micallef is a best-selling military history and world affairs author, and keynote speaker. Follow him on Twitter @JosephVMicallef.

Geopolitics refers to the study of how physical geography influences the political and economic landscape and, in turn, the national power and foreign policy of a state.

The concept isn't new. Aristotle wrote about geopolitics, as have a host of political theorists since then.

The subject was particularly in vogue at the beginning of the 20th century when strategists like Alfred Thayer Mahan and Halford Mackinder explored the consequences of new technologies on national power. Their conclusion was that, even in the age of railroads, the internal combustion engine and far-ranging ships, geography still mattered and still shaped national outlooks and state power.

Even today, in an age of intercontinental-range ballistic missiles, long-range bombers and remotely controlled drones, the conclusion remains the same: Geography still matters. Technology may shape how we interact with it, but geography still exerts a powerful influence on how national power is created, expressed and projected.

We don't normally think of disease as a matter of geopolitics. Medical technology and pharmaceuticals are ubiquitous and highly transportable. Other than for very remote locations or the absence of the appropriate infrastructure, medical services are not typically constrained by geography.

On the other hand, the extent that particular regions are more susceptible to outbreaks of disease, are more likely to be a source of transmission, or are more severely affected by its consequences makes, at least some diseases, a topic of geopolitical concern.

Globalism and Disease

Anytime different gene pools come into proximity with one another, there is a greater risk of a disease epidemic developing -- either because a particular population gets exposed to disease organisms they have no immunity to or because the exchange of genetic material creates new, virulent diseases.

The most spectacular example of this phenomenon is what historian Alfred Crosby termed the Columbian Exchange. The arrival of Europeans to the Americas represented the commingling of three distinct gene pools: Nordic/North European and Hispanic/Mediterranean with West African and Native American ones. That genetic exchange brought, among other things, corn, cacao and turkeys to the Old World and coffee, wheat and horses to the New World. It also brought yellow fever and malaria from Africa; smallpox, measles, diphtheria and influenza from Europe; and syphilis and polio from the Americas.

That exchange made the Caribbean, whose different range of climates created a genetic hot zone, a lethal, disease-prone environment. That 95% of native Americans succumbed to mistreatment and Old World pathogens is well-known, but 70% of Europeans and Africans also died within two to five years of arriving in the Americas. Moreover, since the European and African populations in the New World were predominantly young to middle-aged males, and did not have a large component of very young or old who were more susceptible to disease, the disease lethality between the different groups was actually much closer.

Nor was this phenomenon limited to the exploration of the New World. Throughout history, the commingling of disease organisms facilitated by long-distance exchanges has been associated with outbreaks of disease and, often, deadly pandemics. It is not a coincidence that the pandemic of plague that ended the Pax Augustana in the 2nd century AD, crippling Rome, occurred at a time when fleets of Roman ships were routinely traveling to Asia to trade, or that the recurring plagues that decimated Medieval Europe, especially the 14th century Black Death, occurred at a time when the Mongol conquest of central Asia made trade along the Silk Road trade routes between Asia and Europe more prevalent.

What today we term globalization is not the cause of disease, but it makes the consequences of disease outbreaks that much more far-reaching. In doing so, it creates a geopolitical dimension. The comparative advantage of global trade and cost-effective international supply chains is in part offset by the comparative disadvantage that outbreaks of new diseases can create around the globe and the consequences on both health and international trade.

The Coronavirus

Viruses are among the simplest of all organisms. Essentially, they are a strand of ribonucleic acid (RNA) surrounded by a coat of protein molecules. RNA is a primitive form of DNA. It consists of a single strand rather than the double helix of DNA. Its simple structure makes it prone to mutation, especially via the incorporation of other genetic material into the RNA strand.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause respiratory illnesses ranging from the common cold to influenza. The physical structure of the virus resembles a crown, hence the term corona. In recent years, they have also been the cause of more severe respiratory diseases such as SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) or MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome). In November 2019, reports emerged of a new coronavirus-induced disease in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

The Covid-19 virus has never been encountered before. Like other coronaviruses, it is a zoonotic disease: an infectious disease caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites that spread from non-human animals (usually vertebrates) to humans. Many of those initially infected either worked or frequently shopped in the Wuhan seafood wholesale market. The market also sells large quantities of wild animals. The origins of the virus are still disputed. The original case, termed patient 0, does not appear to have had any contact with the seafood market.

Those who have fallen ill report suffering coughs, fever and breathing difficulties. In some cases, it can lead to pneumonia and, in a small number of severe cases, to organ failure. As this disease is viral, antibiotics are of no use. Moreover, as it is genetically different from other coronaviruses, the existing antiviral drugs against flu/influenza will not work. Recovery depends on the strength of the patient's immune system. Many of those who have died were old or already in poor health.

As of Feb. 24, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there had been a total of 77,042 confirmed cases in China, which had resulted in 2,445 deaths. An additional 1,769 cases had been reported across 28 other countries, which had resulted in 17 deaths. Six hundred and thirty-four of those cases, and two of those deaths, are associated with the cruise ship Diamond Princess currently docked in Japan; 602 cases are in the Republic of Korea; and 76 in Italy. The U.S. currently has 35 cases. There have been reports on social media of an outbreak in Iran, but Tehran has officially reported only 28 cases.

When developing models of disease outbreaks, epidemiologists focus on two principal factors: the transmission rate and lethality. The transmission rate refers to the number of additional people an infected person will transmit the disease to. Lethality refers to the number of patients that will die from the disease. These factors are expressed as R0 and R1.

Hemorrhagic fevers like Ebola, for example, have a very high lethality, as much as 90%, but have a low transmission rate -- partly because they require an exchange of body fluids to spread, cannot exist for very long outside the body, and because they are so fast acting and so deadly that carriers die before they have much opportunity to infect others.

Measles or the common cold, on the other hand, have a very high transmission rate because they can be spread by aerosols created when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Moreover, they can live outside the body for several hours, so it is possible to get infected even if you are nowhere near someone who is sick. The transmission rate for measles, for example, is R18. That means, on average, someone with the measles will infect another 18 people. That's why measles epidemics in schools, for example, can wreak such havoc. The R0 for influenza is 1.3, while Covid-19 is estimated at 2.2.

In the case of Covid-19, the lethality is 2%. Virtually everyone who comes down with the disease will recover, although those who come down with pneumonia will require extended medical treatment. To date, victims have mostly been the old or those whose immune system was already compromised in some way. Medical personnel involved with treatment can be particularly vulnerable, both because of the potential for repeated exposure and because many are working long hours with little sleep, a condition that can compromise the effectiveness of their immune systems.

SARS, in comparison, had a lethality of 10%. There is some question, however, on the reliability of the data that the Chinese government has released. In the case of SARS, it is quite likely that the number of reported cases was significantly underreported. The lethality of SARS was likely less than 10%. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, which is working closely with its counterparts in China to stem the outbreak, has expressed satisfaction with Beijing's current disclosure, but doubts persist.

The incubation period for Covid-19 is approximately two weeks. An infected person can transmit the disease over this period without showing any symptoms of being ill. How long the virus can exist outside the body is unclear. There have been reports that it can survive for up to 24 hours.

Not surprisingly, the outbreak of Covid-19 has given rise to no shortage of conspiracy theories that the virus is manmade. The presence of the Wuhan Institute of Virology at the epicenter of the outbreak, which is the only Level 4 facility in China and works with infectious diseases, has reinforced those theories. To be clear, there is no concrete evidence that the Covid-19 virus is manmade, or that the outbreak was caused by its "escape" from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. There is, however, some circumstantial evidence suggesting that possibility.

Zoonotic diseases are quite common. Disease pathogens jump from animals to humans all the time. In many cases, the consequences are minimal. On occasion, however, they can be far-reaching and deadly. The source of the SARS virus was civet cats. The source of the MERS virus was camels. A recent study identified more than 400 different coronaviruses carried by bats in China. What effect any of these viruses would have on humans is unknown. Moreover, it is not just the viruses themselves that are of concern. It is also how the genetic material they embody could get transferred into another coronavirus to create a new, deadly pathogen.

Take influenza, for example. Most years bring new, hitherto unseen influenza viruses. Many of these viruses incorporate genetic material from avian influenza viruses. In general, avian influenza does not affect humans and is not carried by them, limiting the opportunity for the transfer of genetic material. Pigs, however, can be a host for both avian and human influenza, even though neither virus affects them.

The proximity of both types of virus in pigs makes it more likely that genetic material will be exchanged and a new influenza virus capable of infecting humans will be created. Those parts of the world where fowl, pigs and humans live in proximity to one another are particularly prone to be the source of new influenza viruses. Precisely such conditions are found in many areas of rural east Asia, especially in China. That's why Asia has been the leading source of new influenza viruses in recent years.

Since 2010, according to the CDC, influenza has resulted in between nine million and 45 million illnesses; between 140,000 and 810,000 hospitalizations; and between 12,000 and 61,000 deaths annually. The hospitalization rate of the typical influenza epidemic is around one percent and its lethality is around .13%. So far, this season, there have been an estimated 29 million illnesses, 280,000 hospitalizations and 16,000 deaths from flu in the U.S.

To be clear, Covid-19 is just a particularly severe form of an influenza-like disease. The public panic surrounding Covid-19 would have been far worse had it been called the Wuhan flu. Calling it the coronavirus makes it seem different from the yearly flu epidemics, but it is caused by the same type of virus.

That doesn't mean that Covid-19 isn't dangerous. A 2% lethality rate still means that hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people could die from a global pandemic. Moreover, there is always a risk that an outbreak could simply overwhelm existing medical facilities. Pneumonia doesn't typically lead to death, but if left untreated, as would happen if the medical system simply runs out of available beds (as has happened in Wuhan's hospitals), it can easily result in death, especially among the young and very old. The U.S. has around 900,000 hospital beds. With a population of 350 million people, it wouldn't take much to overwhelm hospitals.

The Geopolitics of Coronavirus

An increasingly interconnected world means that the global impact of what have historically been local disease outbreaks can have far-reaching political, social and economic consequences. East Asia's and, in particular, China's, increasing role in the world -- the prevalence of Asian tourists and Asian-based supply chains -- facilitates the spread of such diseases and makes it more likely they might mushroom into full-blown pandemics.

It's not that Asia is a particularly rich reservoir of disease organisms. Rural Africa or the Amazon basin is likely just as rich, maybe richer. Consider that the African hemorrhagic fevers are also zoonotic. But rural Africa or the Amazon basin do not attract a lot of visitors, nor are they a source of many tourists or the location of many international supply chains.

Does disease and, specifically coronavirus-linked influenzas, have a geopolitical consequence? The answer is yes. A variety of factors: rural farming practices in China and east Asia, local consumption of wild animal species, the number of visitors both to and from China, and the presence of global supply chains centered in east Asia all mean that the risk of local disease outbreaks morphing into global pandemics is higher in east Asia than elsewhere.

That's not a reason to abandon Asian supply chains or to stop going on Asian cruises. It is a reason, however, to acknowledge that the region poses a higher level of risk and to make sure that individuals, companies and governments have a fall-back plan should another Covid-19-like outbreak occur.

What the recent experience with the Covid-19 virus clearly demonstrates is that most companies do not have a Plan B for dealing with such outbreaks or the impacts on their supply chains and operations. There is insufficient coordination between different countries on how to respond and, notwithstanding the advisory role of the World Health Organization, WHO lacks authority to enforce its recommendations.

SARS was a warning, as was MERS, to the potentially devastating effects of an influenza-like/coronavirus pandemic. Covid-19 is another reminder.

-- The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
Korean tourists leave Incheon International Airport, Tuesday, after returning home on an Israeli charter flight following the Israeli government's entry ban on Koreans out of concerns over the coronavirus. / Yonhap



By Kang Seung-woo



With more countries banning or restricting the entry of Korean citizens due to a sharp rise in coronavirus cases here, the government has stepped up efforts to ask nations to refrain from taking "excessive" measures.



Kim Gunn, the deputy minister for political affairs, held a closed-door briefing session with officials from foreign diplomatic missions in Korea at the foreign ministry in Seoul, Tuesday. He informed them of the nation's ongoing efforts to tackle the epidemic and furthermore, expressed concerns of "Korea-phobia."



The move came after at least seven countries, including Israel and Hong Kong, have imposed entry bans on Koreans and another 10, including Britain and Thailand, have placed tighter entry restrictions on travelers from South Korea following the recent rapid spread of the virus here. Since the 31st case was confirmed, Feb. 18, the total number of infections nationwide has increased to over 900.



Seoul had earlier lodged a protest against the Israeli government's decision to ban the entry of Korean tourists without prior notice. On Saturday, Israel blocked some 150 Koreans aboard a Korean Air flight from entering the country after nine Korean tourists who stayed there earlier this month tested positive for the virus upon returning home. The stranded passengers returned home on the same flight the next day. Israel also arranged its own charter flights to send more than 1,000 Korean travelers who had been staying there back to Korea, with the first two groups of Koreans returning on Tuesday.





Newly married Korean couple quarantined in Mauritius over coronavirus spread South Korean tourists on 1st chartered flight return from Israel after entry ban Foreign Minister calls Israel's entry ban on Koreans over new coronavirus 'excessive' Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, who is now attending international conferences in Geneva, Switzerland, called the Israeli government's entry ban an excessive response.



"Restricting entry and repatriating people who have already entered the country are two totally different issues," Kang said in a media interview. "Korean diplomatic missions in other countries are closely talking with the governments in which they're stationed to prevent those governments from overreacting."



She also voiced concerns over travel restrictions against people from coronavirus-affected countries and stressed the need for joint efforts to prevent their implementation.



"I am deeply concerned about incidents of xenophobia and hatred, discriminatory immigration controls and arbitrary repatriation programs against individuals from the affected countries," she said at the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council.



"As more and more countries become affected by this disease, it is crucial that governments take steps to prevent these incidents and join forces in a global campaign to end it based on scientific evidence rather than taking action that will fan public panic."



More and more countries are urging their people to avoid unnecessary visits to Korea.



Hong Kong is one of them. "From 6 a.m. on Tuesday, non-Hong Kong residents travelling from Korea and those who have been to the country in the past 14 days will be barred from entering Hong Kong," Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu said at a press briefing on Monday night. The government also warned its residents to avoid the destination.



Less than a week after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended people practice "enhanced precautions" in Korea, it raised its alert level for travel to Korea to its highest  Level 3  which recommends its citizens to avoid all nonessential travel to the country.




Metrolinx, the company behind the transit system that many people rely on to get around the Greater Toronto Area, says they will continue to provide the public service despite an Indigenous solidarity protest, which blocked commuter travel on Tuesday.

In total, the GO train runs seven lines in and around the GTA. On Tuesday evening, GO Transit warned of developing safety incidents near Kipling and Guildwood stations, adding to what provincial police called a solidarity demonstration blockade on the Lakeshore West line earlier in the day.

Demonstrators initially erected blockades to the GO Transit tracks in Hamilton. The protest was in response to the Ontario Provincial Polices move to put an end to a roadblock on a rail line on Monday by the Mohawks of Tyendinaga close to Belleville, about two hours east of Toronto.

As a result, the ongoing police investigation is impacting the ability to run trains through Aldershot station in Burlington, through to Hamilton, St. Catherines and Niagara. At the initial time of publication, the only trains that were running on the Lakeshore West line were between Aldershot and Union station in downtown Toronto.

Commuters who need to go to one of the two stations in Hamilton or beyond needed to take a GO bus from either Aldershot or Burlington station.

Its not ideal for people going on their normal rush hour train, says Scott Money, a media relations advisor at Metrolinx. If those are your trips, youll be impacted. Youll have to get on a GO bus...but were doing everything we can to get people where they need to go.

Preparing for more disruptions

Officials from the transit system are in close contact with local law enforcement, as well as the companys operations and transit safety division. Money says that theyre staying on top of the situation and will be ready to jump into action to plan different scenarios, should things change.

We are experienced in this regard, he says about the disruption to service. There are service interruptions all times of year...so we are able to plan alternate arrangements. Were adaptable and nimble. We have people working on this 24/7 and ready to get people where they need to go.

GO Transit is a regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada, serving the Golden Horseshoe region. (Photo by Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images)

As for the results of the impact of these distributions, Money says GO and Metrolinx are a public entity and its their job to provide a public service.

(The blockade) does affect our job to run trains in and out of Hamilton but we are going to keep running buses and well keep doing it, he says.

Money adds that layoffs in the company arent being considered at this time. In recent weeks, Via Rail and CN have announced the need to discharge a number of employees as a result of the transit disruptions.

Were a public agency and we fall under a provincial jurisdiction and well continue to run that service, he says. Thats not a consideration at the moment.

Service announcement updates for GO trains can be found here.
There's far more tied up with the destiny of Bettina Arndt's Order of Australia than just the question of, "If someone says something many find deeply offensive, should recognition for everything else they've done be cancelled?"

Bettina Arndt. Credit:Joshua Morris

This is not about free speech. If Arndt keeps an award that sets her values and standards apart as exceptional, this is a reflection of who we are.

The real guts of this question is this: do we value the right of women and children to be safe from acts of violence, with no exceptions or qualifications, or are we happy to have that casually dismissed?

Bettina Arndt makes her living from her opinions, and those she has had published and broadcast advocating for men's gender equality are the service to the community that attracted the Order of Australia.
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Bogota, February 24, 2020  Ecuadorian authorities should conduct a quick and transparent investigation into a death threat received by journalist Andres Mendoza, determine whether it was connected to his work, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

On February 19, two unidentified men on a motorcycle traveled to the home of Mendozas parents, in the southern city of Guayaquil, where the journalist often stays, he told CPJ in a phone interview. When his parents said he was not there, the men said they intended to kill him, Mendoza said.

Mendoza, a reporter and general manager of the Facebook channel Judio TV, based in the nearby city of Naranjal, said that he reported the threat to the local branch of the attorney generals office.

Mendoza said that the threat may be related to an investigation he began two months ago into criminal groups that smuggle food, household goods, and other products from Peru and resell them in Naranjal. Mendoza said that his sources for the investigation had recently stopped answering his phone calls.

Ecuadorian authorities should promptly investigate the death threat against Andres Mendoza and hold those responsible to account, said CPJ Central and South America Program Coordinator Natalie Southwick in New York. Authorities in Naranjal must ensure that journalists can report safely and without fear that they will be attacked.

Mendoza said he intends to finish his investigation and broadcast the report on Judio TV, which often airs stories about local political corruption.

Also in Naranjal, an explosive device detonated in the house of journalist Victor Aguirre on February 8, as CPJ documented at the time. Neither Aguirre nor his pregnant wife, who were in the house at the time, were harmed in the blast, as CPJ documented.
The tiny relative of the jellyfish is parasitic and dwells in salmon tissue

Researchers at Tel Aviv University (TAU) have discovered a non-oxygen breathing animal. The unexpected finding changes one of science's assumptions about the animal world.

A study on the finding was published on February 25 in PNAS by TAU researchers led by Prof. Dorothee Huchon of the School of Zoology at TAU's Faculty of Life Sciences and Steinhardt Museum of Natural History.

The tiny, less than 10-celled parasite Henneguya salminicola lives in salmon muscle. As it evolved, the animal, which is a myxozoan relative of jellyfish and corals, gave up breathing and consuming oxygen to produce energy.

"Aerobic respiration was thought to be ubiquitous in animals, but now we confirmed that this is not the case," Prof. Huchon explains. "Our discovery shows that evolution can go in strange directions. Aerobic respiration is a major source of energy, and yet we found an animal that gave up this critical pathway."

Some other organisms like fungi, amoebas or ciliate lineages in anaerobic environments have lost the ability to breathe over time. The new study demonstrates that the same can happen to an animal -- possibly because the parasite happens to live in an anaerobic environment.

Its genome was sequenced, along with those of other myxozoan fish parasites, as part of research supported by the U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation and conducted with Prof. Paulyn Cartwright of the University of Kansas, and Prof. Jerri Bartholomew and Dr. Stephen Atkinson of Oregon State University.

The parasite's anaerobic nature was an accidental discovery. While assembling the Henneguya genome, Prof. Huchon found that it did not include a mitochondrial genome. The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell where oxygen is captured to make energy, so its absence indicated that the animal was not breathing oxygen.

Until the new discovery, there was debate regarding the possibility that organisms belonging to the animal kingdom could survive in anaerobic environments. The assumption that all animals are breathing oxygen was based, among other things, on the fact that animals are multicellular, highly developed organisms, which first appeared on Earth when oxygen levels rose.

"It's not yet clear to us how the parasite generates energy," Prof. Huchon says. "It may be drawing it from the surrounding fish cells, or it may have a different type of respiration such as oxygen-free breathing, which typically characterizes anaerobic non-animal organisms."

According to Prof. Huchon, the discovery bears enormous significance for evolutionary research.

"It is generally thought that during evolution, organisms become more and more complex, and that simple single-celled or few-celled organisms are the ancestors of complex organisms," she concludes. "But here, right before us, is an animal whose evolutionary process is the opposite. Living in an oxygen-free environment, it has shed unnecessary genes responsible for aerobic respiration and become an even simpler organism."

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SACRAMENTO, Calif.  A man was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the U.S. Forest Service for growing marijuana on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

26-year-old Dimas Ortiz of Michoacan, Mexico was sentenced on Monday.

Ortiz oversaw the marijuana growing operations of several other men in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, according to court documents.

Law enforcement officers executed a search of the grow and eradicated over 2,500 marijuana plants, on Aug. 7, 2017. Authorities located a camp site where the on-site workers had camped. Ortiz helped finance the operation, provided the supplies for the grow site, and directed the activities of his co-defendants.

Ortiz expected the operation to yield 800 pounds of processed marijuana, worth $500,000, which he would have received 25% of, Scott said.

In 2016, Ortiz was the driver for the same grow site and him among others harvested 800 pounds of processed marijuana.

The environmental damage to the forest was documented by a non-profit group, Integral Ecology Research Center.

According to the investigation report, at this grow site, a half-full 33.8-oz bottle of carbofuran was found hidden among the fertilizer bags and a bag containing around 20 pounds of suspected powder carbofuran.

Carbofuran is a toxic pesticide that is banned in the United States. A food bottle found at the site had been reused and contained a mixture of refried beans and carbofuran (suspected bait for animals).

The environmental assessment concluded that the carbofuran and other pesticides and fertilizer at the grow site likely posed a significant direct risk to a number of endangered species, including the bald eagle, the northern spotted owl, and the coho salmon.

The report also said four cisterns were discovered with water diverted from mountain streams for use in the marijuana grows irrigation system with an estimated 4,500 feet of plastic irrigation lines for water and over 2,200 pounds of soluble fertilizer.

The report estimates that the operation used over 15,000 gallons of water per day. Open campsite latrines were also found in proximity to waterways that would cause watershed contamination from the latrines fecal matter after the next substantial rain.

About 1,000 pounds of trash and 500 pounds of plastic irrigation lines were hauled out of the site. Tests on samples of the marijuana plants determined that carbofuran was present in the plant material, Scott said.

Sebastian Martinez Arreola, of Michoacan, Mexico, who had been in the grow site 11 days at the time of his arrest, pleaded guilty to marijuana cultivation charges, and on Feb. 28, 2018, was sentenced to 20 months in prison. Carlos Gutierrez Gonzalez, 25, of Michoacan, Mexico, was sentenced to 50 months in prison.

On Dec. 17, 2018, Armando Mayorga Garcia pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 30.
PARIS (AP)  A Christian woman acquitted of blasphemy after spending eight years on death row in Pakistan, and who faced death threats from Islamic extremists, said she is going to request asylum in France.

Asia Bibi will receive her diploma Tuesday as a Citizen of Honor of the city of Paris, a title she was awarded in 2015. She will meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, officials said.

Bibi has lived in Canada since she was released by Pakistan last year. She expressed her desire to live in France in an interview on French radio RTL on Monday.

Macron's office said French authorities are "ready to welcome Asia Bibi and her family in France if this is what they wish to do."

Bibi was convicted of blasphemy in 2009 after a quarrel with two fellow farm workers, who refused to drink from the same water container as a Christian. Five days later, the women said Bibi had insulted Islam, a crime punishable by death. Bibi was charged with blasphemy despite repeatedly denying the accusation. The Supreme Court overturned her conviction last year, and she had been in protective custody since then.

Islamic extremists have rioted over the case and threatened to kill Bibi.

The case has brought international attention to Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law, which carries an automatic death penalty. The mere suspicion of blasphemy against Islam is enough to ignite mob lynchings in the country. Blasphemy allegations have also been used to intimidate religious minorities and to settle scores.
Boris Johnson has been warned that a failure to fulfil commitments on the Irish border which he signed up to in his Brexit divorce deal last October will significantly damage the UKs chances of a favourable trade agreement with the EU.

Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney said that the implementation of checks and controls on goods passing from the British mainland to Northern Ireland will be a test of good faith and trust for Mr Johnsons government, without which future relations will not be easy.

And the EUs chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier voiced surprise at signals from London that the UK has not begun the process of preparing for checks which are due to begin at the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December.

He said that a joint committee, including a representative of the European Commission, will be established next month to monitor preparations and ensure the UK is rigorously living up to its obligations.

Looking ahead to trade talks due to begin on Monday and conclude by the end of the year, Mr Barnier warned: If we want to succeed in the very short time that Mr Johnson has chosen, we need to make sure we dont start backtracking where we should be making progress.

Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Show all 66 1 /66 Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A message projected onto the White Cliffs of Dover Sky News/AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o'clock at night AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU The Union flag is taken down outside the European Parliament in Brussels PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU EU Council staff removed the Union Jack-British flag from the European Council in Brussels, Belgium EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to 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Under the terms of a protocol to the agreement hammered out last autumn, Northern Ireland is to have a special position after Brexit, retaining the rules of the EU single market in a number of areas but remaining part of the UK customs territory. This was designed to avoid the need for physical infrastructure and controls at the Irish border which might destabilise the peace settlement.

Brussels and Dublin insist that checks will be needed on goods coming from Britain into Northern Ireland, in case they then enter the EU by crossing the border into the Republic. Meanwhile, companies sending goods from the North to Britain are expected to face additional bureaucracy, notably the need to file export declaration forms

But Mr Johnson has repeatedly claimed that there would be no checks on goods travelling between different parts of the UK. And suspicions about his intentions have been fuelled in Brussels by reports that he has told his Brexit team to find a way round the implementation of controls.

Despite the need for any new paperwork, inspections and border staff to be in place by the end of this year, the PMs spokesman said on Monday that ministers have not asked any ports to prepare for new checks or controls between GB and Northern Ireland.

Goods moving from Northern Ireland to the mainland would continue to enjoy unfettered market access while those travelling in the other direction would not be subject to additional measures beyond the limited changes introduced by the protocol, he said.

German Europe minister Michael Roth warned that the UK must not breach the commitments made in last years agreement.

My message is crystal clear to our friends in London  keep your promises, based on the protocol, he said.

And Mr Coveney warned: The withdrawal agreement involves significant commitments in the context of Northern Ireland through the Irish protocol that both the EU and the UK need to follow through on.

If that doesnt happen then I think it will damage significantly the prospects of being able to get even a bare-bones trade agreement  in place by the end of the year.

Mr Coveney added: In some ways the implementation of agreements that have already been struck are a test of good faith and trust, and without good faith and trust building a future relationship is not going to be easy.

And so if there isnt progress on the infrastructure needed to implement the Irish protocol as part of the withdrawal agreement in the next few months then I think that is going to be a very worrying signal for whether or not it is going to be possible to conclude something sensible before the end of the year.

Asked whether he feared the UK was backsliding on its obligations with regard to the Irish border, Mr Barnier said: I dont want to impugn anyones motives as regards the British attitude. We have certain points where we will remain vigilant and I think there are reasons for us to be vigilant, because the British minister in charge of Northern Ireland has come up with some very surprising statements.

He added: We entered into commitments together on 17 October, commitments entered into with Boris Johnson on the conditions for Brexit and an orderly divorce, including the sensitive issue of the stability of peace in Northern Ireland.

All of this is part of a treaty which has been ratified by the chamber of the House of Commons in London and become British law. We will respect our commitments and we expect the UK to do likewise.
Malian Foreign Minister Tiebile Drame told Sputnik on Tuesday that the national army's return to the country's northern provinces would be an important step in reuniting and restoring peace in Mali after years of political and social unrest

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th February, 2020) Malian Foreign Minister Tiebile Drame told Sputnik on Tuesday that the national army's return to the country's northern provinces would be an important step in reuniting and restoring peace in Mali after years of political and social unrest.

In 2012, Malian soldiers staged a coup d'etat in protest of the government's handling of a Tuareg rebellion in the north, which sparked a civil war throughout the country as Islamists took control of the weakened territories.

"The return of the army forces to [the northern city of] Kidal is an important stage of the stabilization process in Mali. It will be in the whole northern part of the country. This process is ongoing. We knock on the wood, we pursue this determination so that Mali can be reunited. The final goal is the reunification of Mali and restoration of peace," Drame told Sputnik.

A peace agreement was reached in the Malian capital of Bamako in January, which assumed a military deployment plan. As a result, in early February, the Malian army forces entered rebel-controlled Kidal and will soon head to the two other northern cities of Menaka and Gao.

Drame added that the implementation of the Malian peace agreement, signed in Algeria in 2015, had gained a new impetus in the West African country over the past year.

"I invite the observers, the journalists to witness the new reality forming now under the peace process in Mali. What the actors in Mali have realized is that they've lost a lot of time, that there was a delay and they decided to turn the page to engage for the new path. And with this new dynamic we will try to catch up on this time that was lost," the top Malian diplomat said.

In 2013, the French military intervention secured fragile peace in Mali. That same year, in an effort to provide stability in the region, the United Nations founded two missions, the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and the European Union Training Mission Mali. Since its opening, 177 MINUSMA peacekeepers out of about 15,000 delegated to Mali have been killed, according to UN figures.
WASHINGTON, DCCable news anchor Chris Hayes characterized this as the week President Donald Trump goes full Mad King.

Trump appears to be engaged in a purge of his administration, in which career professionals in senior roles are dismissed for perceived disloyalty and replaced by those whose primary qualifications are pro-Trump partisanship.

Its extremely concerning, and it is unusual, says Scott Anderson, an expert on governance with the Brookings think tank who is senior editor of the publication Lawfare, which analyzes national security issues. In most presidential administrations, Anderson says, theres a tension between political appointees and career civil service experts that results in a push and pull and some eventual convergence of opinion.

But you dont see that happening with the Trump administration, because they have come in with a very adversarial view. They view anybody departing from it, or raising questions about it, as somebody who is somehow categorically opposed to them, as opposed to somebody trying to advise them on ways to make their policies better. And that really should be immensely concerning.

Prompting that concern are multiple reports over the past week characterizing a psychological shift for Trump since his acquittal in the impeachment trial, as he has turned to rooting out snakes in a systematic effort to clean house. Alongside a wave of recent firings and staffing shuffles, and public comments lashing out at judges and suggesting targets for the Justice Department, staff have been asked to identify political appointees insufficiently loyal to Trump so they can be replaced.

Former navy Adm. William McRaven recently wrote about one prominent case  the firing of the director of national intelligence Joe Maguire to replace him with German ambassador Richard Grenell, who has no intelligence experience.

When good men and women cant speak the truth, when facts are inconvenient, when integrity and character no longer matter, when presidential ego and self-preservation are more important than national security  then there is nothing left to stop the triumph of evil, McRaven wrote in the Washington Post.

The case of Maguire is a particularly stark illustration: Reportedly, a senior employee of Maguires briefed legislators on intelligence that Russia is again meddling in the presidential election, in aid of Donald Trump. Trump was angered by this, fearing it would give his political opponents ammunition, and dressed down Maguire, then fired him, according to the Washington Post. Then Trump replaced Maguire with Grenell, who has no apparent qualifications for the highest national intelligence job in the country.

Everyone knows he has no qualifications for this job, Mark Groombridge, a former aide to former National Security Adviser John Bolton told Foreign Policy, reflecting a consensus of public comments by intelligence experts, one echoed even by some Republicans in the Senate.

It certainly looks like a transparent politicization of the intelligence apparatus, redirecting its significant resources to protecting the president rather than the country. It comes immediately on the heels of evidence of a similar politicization in the Justice Department, in which Trump has publicly intervened to lobby for lighter treatment of his allies and harsher investigation of his opponents. Tuesday, Trump began attacking two Supreme Court justices as biased against him.

Anderson says in the Justice Department, Trumps tendency to buck criticism is more dangerous in certain ways because the Justice Department is responsible for enforcing the law and has always demanded a degree of objectivity and separation from political influence.

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the impeachment trial, Trump fired or demanded resignations from key witnesses who testified in the investigation or didnt publicly defend him.

Johnny McEntee, a longtime Trump loyalist recently brought back to the White House as head of the personnel department is asking staff for lists of insufficiently loyal appointees within the administration to root out snakes and bad people, according to reporting by Axios.

Axios also reported on a memo to Trump that suggested Jessie Lius nomination for a key Treasury Department role was withdrawn because, as a U.S. Attorney, she didnt bring prosecutions against opponents of Trump and Republicans, and participated in those against Trump aids Roger Stone and Michael Flynn.

The systematic attempt to sweep out officials perceived to be disloyal has, according to a New York Times report, led to a a season of turmoil inside the White House.

The appearance from the outside is of a redirection of government resources to serve the presidents interests  and an administration increasingly unconcerned about giving that impression.

The thing here is that the Trump administration doesnt even really seem interested in receiving advice (from non-partisan experts), Anderson says. They say, We want a unified view about what it is were working for, and were not interested in alternatives. Thats a dangerous way to drive policy. And its so counter to our usual conceptions of what good governance is.

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SAN JOSE, Feb 25 (Reuters) - An indigenous leader from Costa Rica was killed on Monday night during a violent land dispute between groups native to the south of the Central American country and outsiders, police said on Tuesday.

Yehry Rivera, a leader of the Broran ethnic group, died of gunshot wounds in the Terraba region, a year after the murder of another indigenous leader in the neighboring Salitre territory, both in Puntarenas province, police said.

The chief suspect is a farmer who turned himself in injured to the authorities hours after the fight with guns and knives broke out, the Ministry of Public Security said.

Rivera was killed during a bid to expel landholders occupying part of the land granted by law to the indigenous population of various ethnic groups, authorities said.

President Carlos Alvarado condemned the killing of Rivera and expressed his regret at the violence in the region.

National indigenous lobby MNICR and the National Front of Indigenous Peoples (Frenapi) accused the government of failing to provide adequate security in the region, and criticized it for allowing their lands to be illegally occupied.

In a statement, Frenapi urged the government to uphold measures ordered in 2015 by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) aimed at protecting the indigenous groups in the Salitre and Terraba territories.

The United Nations representative in Costa Rica, Alice Shackelford, also condemned Rivera's murder and said the rights of indigenous peoples and their land must be respected.

The Broran form part of one of eight indigenous groups that have 24 territories recognized by law in Costa Rica, where 2.4% of the population is considered indigenous, according to a 2011 census. (Reporting by Alvaro Murillo; editing by Dave Graham and Grant McCool)
An unprecedented global health challenge

The top U.S. health official warned that the coronavirus outbreak, which has already sickened nearly 80,000 people in 37 countries, could hit the country hard, as chaos in the rest of the world drew attention to the need for a global game plan.

We cannot hermetically seal off the United States to a virus, the official, Alex Azar, said. And we need to be realistic about that.

The emergence of Italy, Iran and South Korea as new hubs for the virus shifted the focus in many countries from prevention to reaction. A 14-day isolation period has become standard, but that can be difficult to implement, and its effectiveness has been called into question.

Restricting the movement of goods and people seemed to have worked in China, where the rate of new infections has plunged, according to the World Health Organization  though the economic ramifications of those measures remain to be seen. South Korea has tried something entirely different, warning residents while keeping businesses running.
Australian-listed oil and gas producer Oil Search has flagged a desire to revive negotiations with Papua New Guinea's new government over its plans to dramatically expand PNG's gas fields after talks were abruptly suspended this month.

Oil Search is involved in a $20 billion plan to double PNG's exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) including constructing and feeding three additional liquefaction units at the P'nyang and Papua LNG fields. But PNG Prime Minister James Marape stopped negotiations over the P'nyang part of the project  an ExxonMobil-led joint venture involving Santos and Oil Search  saying the "gas belongs to PNG's people" and blasting Exxon's terms as unacceptable.

Australian-listed Oil Search operates oil fields in PNG.

Oil Search's outgoing managing director Peter Botten on Tuesday said lengthy talks on P'nyang had "disappointingly" failed to reach agreement, but indicated its partners had signalled a willingness to return to the negotiating table with the PNG government.

"Both ExxonMobil and Total have indicated their support for renewed discussions with the government," Mr Botten said.
Burma Myanmar to Upgrade Urban Infrastructure in State Capitals, Border Town

The Than Lwin bridge that connects the city of Mawlamyine with Mottama in Mon state. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

YANGONThe Myanmar government is planning to upgrade basic infrastructure and enhance urban management of three major cities in Mon and Karen states that lie along Japans planned East-West Economic Corridor for the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).

Minister of Construction U Han Zaw said Monday that his ministry will take a leading role in developing the cities using US$80 million in loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and a $23.4-million loan from the Neighboring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA).

The proposed cities for the GMS Corridor Towns Development Project are the Mon capital of Mawlamyine, the Karen capital of Hpa-an and Myawaddy, a major town on the border with Thailand in Karen state.

Projects are underway to upgrade water sanitation, improve waste management and build capacity among civil servants in Mawlamyine and Hpa-an using the ADB loans. The Ministry of Construction also said there are projects to maintain historic buildings in Mawlamyine and draw up plans for a Hpa-an industrial zone and a Myawaddy-Mae Sot joint spatial development project.

The cities will use NEDAs loans to carry out similar water sanitation, waste management and civil servant training projects in Myawaddy. U Han Zaw said the projects in Myawaddy will help improve economic conditions and enhance bilateral trade and cooperation between the two countries.

The minister of construction added that the state governments will help facilitate the projects.

Myanmar carried out a feasibility study on the project to upgrade towns along the East-West Economic Corridor with the help of the ADB.

Within Japans grand plan, Myanmar sits on two major economic corridors: the East-West Economic Corridor connecting Vietnams Dong Ha City with Yangons Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) via Cambodia and Thailand; and the Southern Economic Corridor connecting central Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand to the planned Dawei SEZ in southeastern Myanmar.

Japans grand plan aims to improve connectivity between Bangkok and Yangon and help businesses in Bangkok to extend their supply chains to Yangon and the Thilawa SEZ.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is looking to build an inland highway from Thilawa to Bangkok as a transportation shortcut. Transportation routes from Singapore to Thilawa currently run a combined length of 4,000 km and take 21 days to negotiate.

Myanmars section of the East-West Corridor currently does not function as an international highway due to bottlenecks from one-way traffic, unpaved roads, traffic difficulties in the rainy season and weight limitations.

JICA plans to shorten transport time by constructing three bridges in Karen and Mon statesthe Gyaing-Kawkareik Bridge, the Gyaing-Zathabyin Bridge and the Atran Bridgeas part of the East-West Economic Corridor. The Japanese development agency says it expects it will take one-and-a-half days to transport goods over 870 km from Thilawa to Bangkok.

On the Southern Economic Corridor, proponents of the planned Dawei SEZ say it is crucial for Japans GMS connectivity. The Dawei SEZ is an $8-billion project in Tanintharyi Region that includes a deep seaport and it would be Southeast Asias largest industrial complex.

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After their visit to the Raj Ghat, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, in their note on the visitor's book, said the American people stood strongly with a "sovereign and wonderful India". The US President and the First Lady went to the Raj Ghat to pay their respects to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.

Delhi: US President Donald Trump's message in the visitor's book at Raj Ghat, 'The American people stand strongly with a sovereign and wonderful India - The vision of the great Mahatma Gandhi. This is a tremendous honor!' pic.twitter.com/Rr7dU7m44z - ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

The US President and the First Lady arrived at the Raj Ghat after the ceremonial reception by President of India Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. Here, the POTUS inspected the Guard of Honour. After paying their tributes at the Raj Ghat, the POTUS and the FLOTUS have headed to the Hyderabad House.

As of now, Melania Trump is at a government school in Nanakpura, Delhi. Union Minister Smriti Irani has reportedly decided not to accompany the FLOTUS in order to keep the visit apolitical. Here, the FLOTUS will witness various activities that are a part of the 'happiness curriculum' at the school.

Melania will spend about an hour at the school. She will take a tour of the school, go to different classes, interact with students and witness activities that are a part of the 'happiness curriculum'. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also took to Twitter to say that this is a "great day for our teachers, students and Delhiites."

.@FLOTUS will attend happiness class in our school today. Great day for our teachers, students and Delhiites. For centuries, India has taught spirituality to the world. Am happy that she will take back the msg of happiness from our school - Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 25, 2020

Also read: Donald Trump in India LIVE updates: PM Modi greets Donald, Melania Trump at Hyderabad House

Also read: Honoured to return to India, says Ivanka Trump
Burma Myanmar ICJ Defender to Give Lecture in Yangon

William Schabas defends Myanmar at the International Court of Justice on Dec. 12, 2019. / ICJ Live

Yangon  Professor William Schabas, who defended Myanmar at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against genocide charges in December, will deliver a lecture at Yangon University on March 5.

The Canadian-born academic is professor of international law at Middlesex University in the UK.

He was among three senior members of Myanmars delegation at the ICJ. In December at the ICJ, Schabas denied genocide took place during the military clearance operation in Rakhine State in 2017 against the Rohingya community in which hundreds were killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.

Schabas will give a lecturer on legal affairs at Yangon Universitys Convocation Hall in the morning, director-general of the Higher Education Department Dr. Thein Win told The Irrawaddy.

The event is mainly intended for law students so that they can learn from a foreign academic to broaden their horizons, he said.

Around 1,000 students and staff from Yangon University, East Yangon University and Dagon University are expected to attend the lecture, he said.

Ko Naing Lin Khant, a final-year law student at Yangon University, said he hoped Schabas would share his knowledge of international law.

We are pleased he is giving the talk. We hope he will give an informative lecture about the importance of law for Myanmar to protect its interests on the international stage, he said.

The law department of Yangon University has not asked students to register for the lecture, he said.

Schabas is a Canadian human rights, genocide and death penalty specialist. He supervises PhD students in international criminal and human rights law, genocide, transitional justice and the death penalty at Middlesex University.

He has written numerous books on human rights and international criminal law, including the popular The Trial of Kaiser, which is about the attempted prosecution of Germanys Kaiser Wilhelm II after the First World War.

He served as the president of the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) from 2009 to 2011.

The IAGS asked Schabas earlier this month to cut his ties to the Myanmar government.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko

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Dear Editor:

I recently met Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-Rhinebeck, along with five other constituents from diverse environmental justice groups. We were encouraged to learn he is considering signing on as a supporter of the national landmark legislation to Break Free From Plastic Pollution, and will make a decision within two weeks.

He appeared reluctant, however, to support the national fracking ban bill, introduced Jan. 31 in the Senate and House. This law would require fracking operations be set back 2,500 feet from schools and homes, protecting children and families at risk for asthma, cardiovascular problems and endocrine problems, among others, due to fracking chemical pathways into air, water and soil. The bill then would ban fracking nationwide by 2025.

We hope constituents will call our good congressman over the next two weeks to let him know we must protect our state and nation from radioactive fracking waste, urging him to support both the fracking ban and the Break Free From Plastic Pollution bill.

Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., is a sponsor of the proposed national fracking ban. We cannot deny the overwhelming scientific consensus any longer  fracking is a threat to our health, safety and environment, Soto said. If we want to transition from fossil fuel emissions as we work toward building a 100 percent clean economy, pulling back from fracking is a critical first step.

Plastics manufacturing uses fracked ethane, a natural gas liquid. Heres a golden opportunity to protect our people, climate and water from these toxic industries.

Iris Marie Bloom

Stone Ridge, N.Y.
Authorities say an autopsy has confirmed that the body found near Flagstaff, Arizona, last week is that of Sasha Krause.

Krause, a member of the Farmington Mennonite Church in New Mexico, had been missing since Jan. 18.
Casper Start-Up Challenge Winners Pitch for Seed Fund, Move into WTBC

The three winning companies from the 2019 Casper Start-Up Challenge applied for their share of the challenges $50,000 seed fund during a pitch event Feb. 7.

The companies -- Symmetry Trailers, Piggyback Cocktail Co. and NevRA -- were given 30 minutes each to make their pitches in front of a judging panel that was tasked with deciding what amount each company received.

This is the toughest part of being a judge, says Justin Farley, president/CEO of Advance Casper. We wish we could give each company $50,000, because they are all so good.

The Casper Start-Up Challenge is sponsored by Advance Casper, Hilltop Bank, First Interstate Bank, the Wyoming Business Council, Oil City News, WIDC Frontier CDC and the University of Wyoming.

Each company also will receive a year of free rent and business incubation from the Wyoming Technology Business Center (WTBC). All of the companies went through the Casper Start-Up Challenge last year and spent the past few months perfecting their seed fund pitches to the judges.

Each company is incredibly unique, and we at the Wyoming Technology Business Center are extremely excited to work with them, says WTBC-Casper Director Eric Schlidt. The companies will have the ability to interact with the other current incubator clients and learn from their invaluable experience.

The WTBC in Casper is located at 2435 King Blvd. and provides business incubation to startup companies in central Wyoming. The incubator houses multiple companies that receive business incubation from the staff there.

Other panel judges were Brook Kaufman, CEO of Visit Casper; Nicholas Grooms, shareholder of Grooms & Harkins PC; Samantha Benton, vice president/commercial loan officer at First Interstate Bank; and Shawn Houck, founder and CEO of Adbay.com.

The Casper Start-Up Challenge opens in the late summer, and finalist presentations occur in the fall.
Nicolas Cage and a mystery woman were spotted holding hands in matching leather outfits as they checked out the actor's tomb in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The movie star and his female companion went to the famous cemetery in New Orleans' French Quarter to view the nine-foot tall pyramid tomb that Cage bought for himself in 2010.

This is the first time Cage has been pictured with a rumored girlfriend after his short-lived Las Vegas marriage to a makeup artist which lasted just four days before the actor, 56, filed for divorce.

Actor Nicolas Cage was spotted in New Orleans, Louisiana visiting his own tomb hand in hand with a mystery woman, DailyMailTV can reveal

Cage and his mystery woman were matching in leather jackets, leather pants, white t-shirts and white sneakers

The actor bought his nine-foot pyramid- shaped tomb for himself in 2010 at the St. Louis Number 1 Cemetery in New Orleans' French Quarter. It is inscribed with the Latin phrase 'omnia ab uno', which translates to 'everything from one'

This is the first time Cage has been pictured with a rumored girlfriend after his short-lived Las Vegas marriage to makeup artist Erika Koike

Cage proudly held hands with the unidentified woman as he arrived at St. Louis Cemetery Number 1 on Saturday at around 1pm during the Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans.

The National Treasure star and his companion donned the same leather pants, leather jacket and white t-shirt ensemble with matching Mardi Gras beads around their necks.

An onlooker, who filmed the couple, said: 'They pulled up in a private car with a driver. He just walked in with the woman.

'He was probably in there for 15 minutes looking at his tomb and then he came out.

'He waved to everyone and said: ''Have a great Mardis Gras''''

Cage's tomb is inscribed with the Latin saying 'omnia ab uno', which translates to 'everything from one' and is housed in the same ancient cemetery where Marie Laveau, the queen of Voodoo, is buried.

The actor has not explained the eccentric purchase but he is well known for his eclectic buying tastes. Two islands in the Bahamas and a pet octopus are just a few of the things he has spent his movie millions on.

Cage sought an annulment just four days after marrying Erika Koike in March 2019, arguing that he had been too intoxicated to understand his actions when they tied the knot

They were spotted at the Clark County Court House Marriage Licence Bureau in downtown Las Vegas in March causing a raucous as they went to get a marriage licence

Cage sought an annulment just four days after marrying Erika Koike in March 2019, arguing that he had been too intoxicated to understand his actions when they tied the knot.

The divorce was granted in May and Cage confessed that the experience had upset him.

'That was a recent breakup,' he said in an interview with The New York Times Magazine. 'I don't really want to talk about it. I was pretty upset about that and the way things happened.'

The star famously wed Elvis Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie, in 2002 but the pair filed for divorce just two months after their lavish Hawaii nuptials.
China sentences Swedish bookseller abducted in Thailand to 10 years

WORLD: A Chinese court has sentenced Swedish book publisher Gui Minhai to 10 years in prison on charges of illegally providing intelligence abroad in a case that has rattled relations between Beijing and Stockholm.

Chinesepolitics

By AFP

Tuesday 25 February 2020, 12:45PM

Gui Minhai (right), one of five Hong Kong-based booksellers known for publishing salacious titles about Chinese political leaders was snatched by Chinese authorities while on a train to Beijing in February 2018. Photo: AFP

Gui, one of five Hong Kong-based booksellers known for publishing salacious titles about Chinese political leaders, was snatched by Chinese authorities while on a train to Beijing in February 2018, the second time he disappeared into Chinese custody.

The court in the eastern city of Ningbo said Gui was convicted yesterday (Feb 24) and that he had his Chinese citizenship reinstated in 2018, but it was not immediately clear if he had given up his Swedish nationality.

Gui first vanished in 2015 while on holiday in Thailand and eventually surfaced at an undisclosed location in China, confessing to involvement in a fatal traffic accident and smuggling illegal books.

He served two years in prison but three months after his October 2017 release, he was again arrested while on a train to Beijing while travelling with Swedish diplomats.

His supporters and family have claimed his detainment is part of a political repression campaign orchestrated by Chinese authorities.

The Ningbo court also sentenced Gui to five years of deprivation of political rights, which in practice means he cannot lead state-owned enterprises or hold positions in state organs.

China does not recognise dual citizenship and foreigners are required to renounce their foreign nationality once they gain Chinese citizenship.

Rights prize

A video released by China three weeks after Guis disappearance showed him purportedly confessing wrongdoing and blaming Sweden for sensationalising his case and instigating law-breaking behaviour.

Guis friend, dissident poet Bei Ling, said at the time that Guis confession was likely made under coercion.

Chinese criminal suspects often appear in videotaped confessions that rights groups say sometimes bear the hallmarks of official arm-twisting.

Guis detention has put a strain on relations between Sweden and China in recent years, with Stockholm repeatedly calling for his release.

China called off two business delegation visits to Sweden after Culture Minister Amanda Lind defied a Chinese threat of counter-measures and presented a rights prize to Gui in November.

Swedens former envoy to China, Anna Lindstedt, is being investigated for allegedly overstepping her duties and arranging an unauthorised meeting with Chinese businessmen and Guis daughter to get him freed.

Yang Hengjun, a Chinese-born Australian writer known for his series of spy novels, has also been detained in China since January and was recently charged with spying.

Yang reportedly once worked in Chinas foreign affairs ministry in Hainan province - although this has been denied by Beijing.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : Demanding swift action by Delhi government to help the victims of North-East Delhi violence and to bring normalcy back in the region, the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) reached Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence here at Civil Lines on the intervening night of Tuesday-Wednesday.

In a charter of demands, the students urged direct intervention of the Chief Minister into the violence affected areas and also to organise peace marches along with regional MLA's to de-escalate tensions prevailing in North-East Delhi.

"Activate all Delhi government services and infrastructure to rescue, facilitate medical facilities and provide shelter to citizens," the students demanded in their charter.

The students-led by JNUSU Vice-President Saket Moon also urged for action against the culprits involved in the communal violence.

"Identify perpetrators of communal violence, including police officials who have participated in it and take action against them," the students said.

Earlier in the day, addressing a press conference, Delhi Police spokesperson, DCP Mandeep Singh Randhawa said that 10 people had died while 186 people injured in the violence which erupted on Sunday. However, later in the night the death toll rose to 13, GTB hospital authorities said.

Randhawa also claimed that the situation was under control in Jaffrabad, Gokulpuri and Maujpur areas as the police and government officials were alerted and security had been beefed up in the areas.

He said that of 186 injured, 56 are policemen, where condition of DCP Amit Sharma is still said to be critical.

As of now, 11 FIRs have been registered in this regard and several arrests were made, the DCP added.
Two crime-fighting robots have accepted jobs at Childrens Hospital of San Antonio.

Meet Lightning Willie and Captain Violet, and youre likely to get a Good day to you or Hi. Theyll even give a polite but firm warning of Pardon me for anyone who gets too close.

The pair of 5-foot-tall, 398-pound autonomous robots patrol the outside grounds of the downtown hospital, providing an extra set of eyes and ears for its security team.

Now Playing: Two crime-fighting robots have accepted jobs at Childrens Hospital of San Antonio. Video: Kin Man Hui San Antonio Express News Staff photographer, Kin Man Hui Staff photographer

Theyre unarmed and move along predetermined routes up and down the walkways and sidewalks and in the parking garage at a speed of up to 3 mph.

The security robots are equipped with multiple cameras to continuously snap photos and stream video of their surroundings, said Roy Alston, vice president of security for Christus Health.

The robots will serve as a first line of defense to help detect and root out any potential security situations before they ever rise to the level of becoming a security threat, he said.

They are built to look for anomalies that might suggest criminal activity  such as a person in a restricted area of the hospital  but the machines also serve as customer service representatives, Christus Health spokesman Kevin Dolliole said.

Hospital visitors can speak to human security staff members by pressing a duress button on the robot.

The kids are very curious, and they think its fun, Dolliole said as he pointed out each robots gadgets.

Patients came up with Captain Violets name, and the hospital staff designed her to look like a superhero with a purple cape.

Lightning Willie is a cute, cartoonish dog named after Willie Fontelroy, an environmental services employee who has worked at the childrens hospital for the past 46 years.

Patients and visitors have quickly warmed up to the robots, which resemble the famous R2-D2 droid from the Star Wars franchise  except theyre much bigger.

Created by Silicon Valley-based Knightscope, the outdoor machines run 24/7 and recharge themselves a few times a day.

Hospital officials declined to share terms of its annual contract, but according to Knightscopes website, the K5 model is sold on a subscription basis at a cost of $6 to $12 per hour.

Knightscope has built security robots for Houston Methodist Hospital and North Central Texas College in Gainesville, as well as for police stations, banks, malls, airports and casinos.

The companys first police client, in Huntington Park, Calif., saw an annual reduction in crime after deploying the robots in a city park. The client reported that the number of incidents decreased from 277 to 249 a year.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that security guard positions will grow 4 percent through 2028. Security officers make on average $13.72 per hour, according to the federal agency. But a lot of that work could be taken over by robots.

Oxford University researchers concluded in a 2013 study that security guards have an 84 percent chance of many of their tasks being lost to automation over the next decade or so.

But hospital security supervisor Noel Rivas said hes not concerned about being replaced by the robots.

On ExpressNews.com: Jefferson: Manufacturing is having its day in S.A.

Actually, it enhances our work and it helps us deter incidents and can assist us with investigations, he said.

He clicked on a computer screen inside the hospitals security office, and a live video popped up. Through Captain Violets eyes  or her cameras  he watched as she paused in the hospital driveway as a car pulled up to a valet. Once the path was clear, she continued to roll across the pavement looking for anything out of the ordinary.

Rivas, who has worked security at the hospital for eight years, said the robots are a good distraction for young patients being treated at the hospital.

They take pictures with it, and you hear parents say, The future is here, he said.

Laura Garcia covers the health care industry in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her stories and more local coverage on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | laura.garcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @Reporter_Laura
Hussain Haidry, writer of Karan Johars forthcoming film Takht, and a lyricist, goes on Twitter, tweeting this, and we have some something to say.

Hussain Haidry

This tweet above is self-explanatory; you all know what it means. Impressive!

There are ISIS, Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabab, Hamas, Asbat Al-Ansar, Al-Mourabitoun, Islamic Jihad Union, Jamaat al Dawa al Quran, and a 100 more designated Islamist terrorist organizations, but the confidence with which Hussain Haidry calls Hindus terrorists  quite impressive, no?

Countries that have been identified as sponsors of terrorism, such as Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, and the Islamic republic of Pakistan enjoy worldwide notoriety of being safe haven for terrorists, but  according to this guy  it is the Hindus who are terrorists. Amazing!

Do we applaud this confidence? Because, I have been told, Hindus are not supposed to be offended: we are just supposed to wear that secularism band on our sleeve all the time, right?

I tried hard to recollect, but dont remember the last time a Hindu flew his plane into a giant tower, rammed vans into markets preparing for Christmas, ran with a knife, killing people on the London Bridge, or fired at a crowd of people praying peacefully at a Church or enjoying a drink at a bar. Hindus are present across geographies, but no nation turned into the rape capital of modern world after taking in Hindu refugees.

Thing is every valid point I make in this piece will be met with one word: Islamophobia. You are forbidden from discussing the real issues because every rude, brutal fact is hushed down with one word: Islamophobia. Oh my God! Did you just say that those who bombed Ariana Grandes concert were from one community? You suffer from Islamophobia. Dont you know terrorism has no religion? This has kept everyone silent, while a rabid Hindu-hater like Hussain Haidry, promised impunity from the secular camp, goes on typing Hindu terrorists..

Trevor Phillips, former head of Britains Equalities and Human Rights Commission, who had coined the word Islamophobia to silence all criticism of Islam, admits after decades: For a long time, I too thought that Europes Muslims would become like previous waves of migrants, gradually abandoning their ancestral ways, wearing their religious and cultural baggage lightly, and gradually blending into Britains diverse identity landscape. I should have known better.

Story continues

He acknowledges that the sexual grooming and rape scandals that has plagued Britain (which are often been attributed to Asian men by liberal media) are not by Asian men alone.

Last week, Farah Khan revealed how she made a conscious attempt at not giving the bad guy in Main Hoon Na a Muslim name. Her villain was named Raghavan. Anyway, her deliberation wasnt very different from the act of sending Ajmal Kasab as a Kalava-wearing Samir Chaudhury to kill Indians by Lashkar-e-Taiba. Even the LeT made a conscious effort of not giving their man a Muslim name.

Hindus, by nature, are calm and secular and have never taken these obnoxiousness to their heart. While music maestro A R Rahman got slapped by a fatwa for composing music for Muhammad: The Messenger of God, we have laughed our guts out seeing Aamir Khan chase Lord Shiva like a cat chases a puny mouse in PK. This calm of the Hindus has been horribly mistaken as the absence of valour by the likes of Farah Khan. They have played with Hindu emotions crossing one limit at a time, and here we are, standing quietly by, looking at a Hussain Haidry calling Hindus terrorists.

Over 5 lakh displaced Kashmiri Pandits were looted, raped, chased out of their homes and have seen their dear ones being slaughtered by radical Islamists who were ostensibly friends and neighbours. They too could have reached for the gun, but unlike Adil Ahmad Dar, who rammed his explosives-laden van into an Army convoy after being disciplined by the Army, the Hindus persecuted by Islamists, have awaited justice patiently.

Had Hindus been terrorists, they wouldnt have waited for 5 centuries to get the Ram Mandir built in Ayodhya. Had Hindus been terrorists, instead of decorating him with the Padma Bhushan, M F Hussain would have been hounded no end. Had Hindus been terrorists, anyone who suggested that all upper caste Hindus be beaten would have been smashed to pulp.

Had Hindus been terrorist, Hussain Haidry wouldnt have found the intestinal fortitude to type those words repeatedly on Twitter.

Now, he has deleted the tweet and also deactivated his account. So much for courage of conviction.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. These opinions do not reflect the views of Yahoo.
Trump said that China is working very hard to contain coronavirus outbreak and it looks like they are getting it more and more under control.

US President Donald Trump promised to reduce more regulations in his country as he looked for overseas investment to boost the American economy. During an interaction with Indian business leaders in Delhi on Tuesday, Trump said a trade deal with India is in the works, but did not share any details.

US President Donald J Trump interacts with business leaders in Delhi; Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani present at the meeting. pic.twitter.com/MiLgOKMO4J  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

Stating that he is going to win the coming US presidential elections that will cause the markets to boom, he said his government has done a lot for the economy, healthcare and military.

On regulations in the US, Trump told a group of Indian business leaders that some of the regulations have to go through the statutory process, but his government is committed to reducing a "lot more regulations".

The high profile CEO roundtable with Trump included captains of the Indian industry such as Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, Wipro's Azim Premji, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla and Infosys CEO Salil Parekh.

"It has been an honour to be here," he said on visiting India. "We just did a lot of business with India where they will buy helicopters worth $3 billion."

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, "He is a very tough man, but he is also a very nice man."

US President Donald J Trump interacting with business leaders in Delhi: It has been an honour to be here. You have a very special Prime Minister, he really knows what he is doing. He is a tough man. He has done a fantastic job. We work very closely together pic.twitter.com/NJ507uXLiu  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

"We create jobs here, he creates jobs there (in the US)," he said.

The governments, he said can only aid in creating jobs and it's private industry that actually creates jobs.

On the forthcoming US presidential election later this year, Trump expressed the confidence that he would win. The US president said that his government has done a lot for the economy, healthcare and military.

"If I win, the markets (in the US) will jump thousands and thousands of points, if not the markets will crash. I feel we are going to win the elections. Democrats out of control," he said.

Catch US President @realDonaldTrump in conversation with Mukesh Ambani

Chairman & MD, Reliance Industries on Day 2 of his #India visit#NamasteTrump #CNBCTV18 pic.twitter.com/Da2EpZaGec  CNBC-TV18 News (@CNBCTV18News) February 25, 2020

Trump said that China is working very hard to contain coronavirus outbreak and it looks like they are getting it more and more under control.

"China is working very very hard, I have spoken to President Xi they are working very hard. They had a rough patch and right now it seems they are getting it under control, they are getting it more and more under control so I think it is a problem that is going to go away," Trump said.

Asserting that the situation in the US is under control, Trump said the US also does business with other nations and wants other countries to be "happy healthy and well".

"Let us see how it works out but I think it is going to work out fine. I hope so. We are working very hard, we are spending a tremendous amount of money also ...about $2.5 billion on getting everything ready just in case something should happen and also helping other nations who are unequipped to do it," Trump added.

Earlier in the day, a letter of cooperation was signed between Indian Oil Corporation Limited and Exxon Mobil India LNG Limited and Chart Industries Inc, US.

 With PTI inputs
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 25

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Increasing trade turnover with Azerbaijan is a priority for Turkey, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend.

According to the ministry, the main goal of Turkey is to increase trade turnover with Azerbaijan up to $5 billion, as these countries have the potential for trade turnover growth.

The trade turnover between Turkey and Azerbaijan exceeded $2 billion in 2019.

The main exporters to Azerbaijan among Turkish cities are Istanbul and Ankara.

In January 2020, exports from Istanbul to Azerbaijan increased by 45.49 percent compared to January 2019, amounting to $69.6 million.

In that month, exports from Ankara to Azerbaijan dropped by 8.61 percent, compared to January 2019, and amounted to $6.3 million

Turkeys exports to Azerbaijan increased by 33.58 percent in January 2020, compared to the same month of 2019, amounting to $118.3 million.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Turkeys pressure campaign on Kurdish-controlled northeastern Syria took a fresh sinister turn this week when Turkish-backed Syrian rebel forces reportedly halted service at the Alok pumping station in the Turkish-occupied town of Ras al-Ain. The facility supplies water to approximately 460,000 people, including hundreds of thousands of internally displaced Syrians as well as Islamic State captives and their families.

The Turkish-backed sources entered the water station [Feb. 24] and forced it to stop its work and threw out the technicians as well, wrote Sozda Ahmed of the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration in Northeast Syria. She told Al-Monitor via the Rojava Information Center in emailed comments, As a result the city of al Hasakah, Tell Tamar and the rest of the Hasakah region  including Hol and Shedadi  have been left without water. Arisha camp, Hol camp [housing Islamic State fighters families] and Washokani camp [housing internally displaced Syrians from Ras al-Ain] have all been affected.

Ankara has long been accused of seeking to suffocate the Syrian Kurdish-run region economically as well as militarily and politically, all part of a campaign to torpedo Kurdish aspirations of self-rule. Turkey's borders with the Kurdish-administered northeast from Manbij all the way to the Iraqi border further east remain sealed, including to humanitarian organizations.

Water is a weapon that Turkey has used against Syria in the past and it will likely continue to do so, Fabrice Balanche, Syria expert and associate professor at Frances Lyon II University, told Al-Monitor.

With all eyes trained on the rebel-held province of Idlib, where Russian-backed Syrian government forces and the Turkish army have been clashing since the start of this month, the Alok affair has largely slipped under the radar. A Russian delegation was expected to arrive in Ankara tomorrow to break a deadlock over Turkish demands for a cease-fire as close to a million displaced civilians remain massed along the Turkish border, reported the state-run Anadolu news agency.

At least 16 Turkish military personnel have died so far, some of them victims of Russian airstrikes.

Balanche reckons that despite all the hawkish rhetoric, the two sides will eventually agree. A putative deal might include Russia letting Turkish forces take the Kurdish-controlled town of Kobani and move people displaced from Idlib there, Arabizing Kobani as was done in Afrin, the Kurdish-majority enclave Turkey invaded in early 2018. All depends on whether the Kurds cut a deal with regime and tell the Americans to go or not, Balanche noted.

Meanwhile, coming amid a global scare over the coronavirus epidemic, a sustained water cut could spell disaster for Hasakah as local authorities struggle to cope with overcrowded displacement camps crammed with infants and children.

Ahmed said that the reasons for the stoppage were not clear to the local authorities. We only know the station has been prevented from working. We dont know why they did this or what they want from us. Nor was it clear whether Turkey gave the orders.

The technicians who were allegedly evicted from the Alok facility are believed to be members of a Syrian government team that routinely visits the station for maintenance purposes and has continued to do so following Turkeys October Operation Peace Spring invasion of Ras al-Ain. Alok was first put out of service by shelling during the Turkish push, the United Nations reported on Oct. 18.

Kurdish authorities blamed Turkish artillery fire. Service was partially restored with the facility operating at about 20% of capacity.

Well-informed sources familiar with humanitarian relief efforts in northeast Syria said they had heard matching accounts of the situation at Alok from local authorities.

Alok water station remains a critically important source of clean water for nearly half a million people in northeast Syria. As was done last year, when the station was damaged in hostilities, the UN and humanitarian partners are advocating to parties to ensure the station runs uninterrupted, Danielle Moylan, spokesperson for the UNs Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told Al-Monitor. In addition, the UN and humanitarian partners are planning emergency water supplies to affected families in the area.
Former Council for the Order of Australia representative Kerri-Anne Kennerley says the Australia Day honours are "not the Logies", and that these days "they've been giving them out willy-nilly".

On Tuesday a bipartisan Senate motion was passed condemning comments made by honours recipient Bettina Arndt, a sex therapist, as having "the potential to bring the Order of Australia, instituted by the Queen, into disrepute".

Ms Arndt is facing calls to have her appointment to the Member of the Order of Australia terminated after she congratulated police "for keeping an open mind" on whether Rowan Baxter, who burnt to death his wife and children in Brisbane last week, "might have been 'driven too far'."

"Note the misplaced outrage. How dare police deviate from the feminist script of seeking excuses ... and explanations when women stab their partners to death, or drive their children into dams but immediately judging a man in these circumstances as simply representing the evil violence that is in all men," Ms Arndt tweeted following the murders.
A Houston man charged in a fiery car crash that killed three people in Spring was self-medicating with PCP to combat paranoid schizophrenia, his attorney said on Tuesday.

The appointed defense attorney also relayed an apology from his client, but ultimately said that the medical system failed Gregory Allen Smith before he got behind the wheel on Feb. 5.

He is prayerful for them, he is sorry that the accident occurred, attorney Bryan Savoy said. What the media isnt reporting is that my client suffers from mental health issues.

Smith, 30, made his first court appearance on Tuesday after being hospitalized for a broken leg and shoulder pain. He rolled his wheelchair into court and kept his head down as Judge Greg Glass spoke to him.

Authorities say Smith was high on PCP when he drove through two red lights near Antoine Drive and North Sam Houston Parkway and crashed into two cars. Piedad Romero, Diana Soriano-Escobar, and Soriano-Escobars 3-month-old son, Ricardo Daniel Escobar Jr., all died in the wreck after their van caught fire.

An 11-year-old was ejected from the vehicle and is recovering well, said Sean Teare, chief of the Harris County District Attorneys Offices vehicular crimes division. A passenger in the car Smith was driving was also injured but is in an unknown condition.

Smith faces three counts of intoxication manslaughter stemming from the wreck, as well as a separate, prior charge of assault of a public servant. Glass set bond for all four charges at $200,000 each.

I think he is a danger to the community at this point, the judge said.

Savoy said that Smith  who is accused of being on PCP during the wreck  didnt have the money to buy proper medication for his schizophrenia. His family took him to three hospitals for treatment in the 10 days before the fatal crash, Savoy said.

At the time of his arrest, Smith was on bond for another DWI charge from July.

On Feb. 5, Smith and his passenger were not the registered owners of the vehicle and werent authorized to be driving it, enhancing the crime, Teare said. The district attorneys office anticipates filing upgraded charges of felony murder in the coming weeks, he told the judge.

Smith faces up to 70 years for the three intoxication manslaughter charges and the assault of a public servant charge.

samantha.ketterer@chron.com
25.02.2020 LISTEN

The US imperium is rattled, so much so its letting everyone else know about it. Move over the trade war with its bitchy insistence on redressing imbalances, surpluses and deficits; the next phase of conflict with China is being waged in matters of technology, with Huaweis 5G prowess featuring prominently. As the veteran Australian journalist Tony Walker soberly notes, The ultimate destination of this conflict is unclear, but its ramifications will scar international relationships for decades to come.

The Munich Security Conference saw US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mark Esper particularly vocal on the issue of Huawei. Both intended their visit to be a warning against European states who might succumb to Chinas 5G temptation. Reliance on Chinese 5G vendors, warned Esper, could render our partners critical systems vulnerable to disruption, manipulations and espionage. Cue the necessary critique of Beijing, which sounded like a faux Churchillian warning about imminent danger. The Chinese Communist Party is heading even faster and further in the wrong direction with more internal repression, more predatory behaviour, more heavy-handedness and a more aggressive military posture. It is essential that the international community wake up to this challenge.

Instructions were also relayed from the White House to Germanys US ambassador Richard Grenell to make clear that any nation who chooses to use an untrustworthy 5G vendor risked compromising intelligence sharing arrangements with the US at the highest level.

Even President Donald Trumps opponents made an appearance. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was grim before delegates attending the MSC; dealing with the Chinese telco only offered absolutes, not degrees. This is about choosing autocracy over democracy on the information highway. Making arrangements with the company was akin to putting the state police in the pocket of every consumer in these countries, because of the Chinese way. Not exactly culturally fleet-footed, to say the least.

Pelosi had appeared in the full rhetorical regalia of a wounded, challenged empire. This is the information highway of the now, and why should we want to give license to the Chinese to direct the traffic on that information highway of the future?

The US has also been enlisting its support from loyal, unflinching deputies on the Huawei bashing circuit. Consider the solemn note in The Strategist by the Australian director of the signals directorate, Simeon Gilding. Its tone is one of sad resignation, regret, and schoolmarmish, notably on the British decision to permit Huawei some limited role. It is disappointing that the Brits are doing the wrong thing on 5G, having not exhausted other possibilities. Instead they have doubled down on a flawed and outdated cybersecurity model to convince themselves that they can manage the risk that Chinese intelligence services could use Huaweis access to UK telco networks to insert bad code.

Australia, in fact, has gone beyond the call of ingratiation, a point that has not been lost on Beijings good offices. In 2018, Andrew Shearer, then deputy head of the Office of National Intelligence, and Alastair MacGibbon, formerly of the Australian Cyber Security Centre, took it upon themselves to demonise Huawei, paving the ground for the companys exclusion from supplying 5G technology that same year. Both made it their missions to convince the United Kingdom to stay clear of the company.

As an unnamed source reported in The Sydney Morning Herald claimed at the time, We made representations to the UK on why our stance was taken  its been respectful. Its a bit like a fight at a family lunch where people might go home sore but they quickly realise blood is thicker than water.

Last year, Australian officials scurried to New Delhi to drum up support against Huawei from their Indian counterparts. Indian officials, according to the Australian Financial Review, were keen to get an understanding of how the Turnbull government arrived at the decision to ban Huawei, and multiple discussions have been held on the matter.

This whole endeavour has been a bit much for Chinas ambassador to Australia, Cheng Jingye, who has been particularly vocal on the subject, describing the measure as politically motivated, a discrimination against the Chinese company. At the same time, it doesnt serve the best interest of the Australian companies and consumers. For the ambassador, approaches have been made to the authorities in Canberra to explore what security risks or concerns [they] have. And also they have pledged, I think publicly, to conclude a no-backdoor agreement.

Gains made by the US side of the table at the Munich Security Conference, certainly on the issue of Huawei, were minimal. The Munich Security Report published this year spoke of Westlessness, though the US delegation bellowed the point western values were winning, whatever shape victory had taken. The only thing missing in Pompeos delivery was the draping of the Stars and Stripes. A sense of which way the wind was blowing was gathered in the opening remarks of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who landed a neat blow against Trumps foreign policy. The US, he suggested, had rejected the very concept of the international community  Great again but at the expense of neighbours and partners.

European counterparts such as French President Emmanuel Macron are intent on taking a line similar to the UK. The position on China is unsurprising, a traditional Gallic resentment at the flexing of US muscle. French junior economy minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher told BFM Business television in November last year that, The government will not exclude anyone. We are not following the position of the United States. Huawei, she noted, had a 25 percent market share along with such tech giants as Nokia and Ericsson. Samsung, she added, was also keen to be involved in supplying 5G in the French market.

US legislators detected some hope in Germany, with lawmakers from Chancellor Angela Merkels Christian Democratic Party backing a strategy paper with the potential to prevent Huaweis involvement in the countrys 5G plans. But no outright ban is countenanced, with Merkel taking the cautious line that all companies be subject to similar security safeguards.

The outcome of the chattering, bickering and sides swiping from Munich, apart from limited success in the Huawei bashing stakes, was this: expect the information highway over the coming years, whoever is controlling it, setting the tolls, adjusting the metres, to be a rather potholed one.

Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: [email protected]
WALTHAM, Mass., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO), the world leader in serving science, today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a quarterly cash dividend of $0.22 per common share, payable on April 16, 2020, to shareholders of record as of March 16, 2020. This reflects a 16% increase over the previous dividend payment of $0.19.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue exceeding $25 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies or increasing productivity in their laboratories, we are here to support them. Our global team of more than 75,000 colleagues delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services and Patheon. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.

Media Contact Information:

Ron O'Brien

781-622-1242

[email protected]

www.thermofisher.com

Investor Contact Information:

Ken Apicerno

781-622-1294

[email protected]

SOURCE Thermo Fisher Scientific

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The Truman Presidential Seal was established in 1945 when President Harry S. Truman issued an Executive Order which officially defined the Presidential Coat of Arms and Seal for the first time. An eagle's head, which originally faced right toward a bundle of thirteen arrows held in its talons, was turned to face left toward the olive branch it held, symbolizing peace.

Brooks Brothers, established in 1818, is America's oldest retail brand and has the unique distinction of serving forty American Presidents since its founding.

Items in this collection can be purchased online at shop.whitehousehistory.org or in these retail locations:

White House History Shop

1610 H Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20006

White House Visitor Center

1450 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20230

Items in this collection vary in price ranging from $55-$89.50.

The White House Historical Association will continue its partnership with Brooks Brothers with additional exclusive collections introduced later this year.

About The White House Historical Association

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. In 1961, the White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion's legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association's mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the White House Historical Association has contributed more than $50 million in fulfillment of its mission. To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit www.whitehousehistory.org .

SOURCE The White House Historical Association

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The slender 15-year-old shifts restlessly from one knee to the other on the wooden floor of his familys houseboat. He has just finished a dinner of rice and fish, but he cant play with the other children: his ankle is shackled, and he can move only within a three-foot radius.

Our boy has a mental problem, says his mother, Seam, a shy woman in her early 40s with long hair and a broad smile. We put him in chains because he likes to smell petrol, and when he does that too much, he damages his health. So we need to keep him from getting out.

With seven other children to manage and no mental health clinic in their area, Seam, who asked not to be identified by her full name or her sons for fear of retribution from the community, says she had no other choice.

Her sons fate is not an isolated case. The few mental health facilities in Cambodia, a nation plagued by poverty, are poorly funded and ill-equipped, leaving patients languishing at home without adequate treatment.

People with mental disabilities are often chained up by relatives because their families dont have the resources to care for them, says Chhim Sotheara, director of the Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation Cambodia, adding that a lack of treatment options and reliance on traditional healing methods compound the problem.

The windows are barred, and there are no mattresses on the iron bed frames. Thick padlocks hang in front of beige doors

His organisation is working with dozens of families to treat mental health problems and has unchained more than 100 individuals over recent years, he says. His team recently received eight cases in one week.

A consultation room for individual therapy at Cambodias first mental rehabilitation facility (Leonie Kijewski/Washington Post) (For The Washington Post)

Last year, the government opened the Kandal Stueng health centre, the only facility in Cambodia that provides housing, treatment and rehabilitation for people with mental illnesses. But it lacks resources, and patients freedom is severely restricted.

We have the rule that the people who have a mental problem cannot go out from this centre by themselves, says Nguon Kosal, the centres director. We do that because we want to protect them.

Designed for 200 patients, the centre, located about 15 miles from the capital, Phnom Penh, is housing 20 men and 28 women during an indefinite trial phase; most were brought in from the Prey Speu detention centre, where they had been held until July.

Five patients are locked in each 200-square-foot room. The windows are barred, and there are no mattresses on the iron bed frames. Thick padlocks hang in front of beige doors.

The Washington Post interviewed some of the patients, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the centres officials were concerned about possible reprisals and patients privacy.

One resident, a 32-year-old man who says he is from the coastal city of Sihanoukville, says he had tried to escape dozens of times since he came to the facility several months ago, an account confirmed by Kosal and Reach Seila, the centres deputy director.

I want to leave because they try to strangle me, the man says, placing his hands on his neck. They hit me and they grab my legs, he adds, without naming his purported tormentors. The Post could not confirm this account, but Seila says it is possible other patients teased him.

The 32-year-old says there is nothing to do but sit on the bed. He wants to work and do something with his life, he says. Maybe study at a pagoda or go to Thailand.

For some people with anxiety disorders caused by the war, Sotheara says, poverty has exacerbated the issue

His roommate, a shy man also in his early 30s, expresses similar sentiments. After two years at Prey Speu, which houses homeless people swept up in authorities urban beautification initiatives, he says he cannot bear life at the new centre.

I dont like staying here, he says. Im not happy.

Kosal says patients are allowed to leave only when a doctor has certified they are ready.

Mental health issues are prevalent in this Southeast Asian nation, where years of war and conflict didnt fully come to an end until the 1990s. Under the autocratic Khmer Rouge regime, from 1975 to 1979, millions worked in slavery-like conditions, and an estimated 1.7 million people were killed or perished from malnutrition, starvation and disease.

Fighting in that era and beyond left the nation further traumatised and with a legacy of unaddressed mental health issues, Sotheara says.

With the survivors of the Khmer Rouge, they dont express their problems straightaway. But when we start digging into the problems, we can see a lot of them have depression and trauma, he says.

Some studies have found that trauma can be passed on through generations and that hardship and violence can potentially alter the expression of a persons genes. Although little analysis has been conducted on the topic in Cambodia, Rachel Yehuda, director of the Traumatic Stress Studies Division at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, and her colleagues have found that stress experienced by Holocaust survivors before the birth of their children had an impact on their childrens genes, and that trauma, in short, could lead to detrimental alterations.

Studies on Cambodia have shown trauma can be perpetuated by a lack of educational measures to address past horrors. For some people with anxiety disorders caused by the war, Sotheara says, poverty has exacerbated the issue.

Sotheara says younger people often come to him with anxiety about their education, job prospects and family issues, while older people feel more isolated. Many Cambodians emigrate because of a lack of job opportunities at home, interrupting traditional caretaking patterns in which children are expected to look after ageing parents.

People think its not acceptable to have a mental disorder. They call us the crazy hospital Yim Sobotra

Kosal says anxiety disorders and schizophrenia are common among patients at the new centre.

Women living there seem more at ease than their male counterparts, he says, and their doors are kept unlocked more often because they are less likely to try to escape.

Over bowls of rice at the centres canteen, several women  all with short hair after their heads were shaved at Prey Speu  tell the Post they are happy at the centre.

If they provide sweets after lunch, one of them says with a big smile, referring to mango and other fruits, I dont want to leave.

Chak Sopheap, executive director of the Cambodian centre for Human Rights, says while it could be legal in some instances to detain a person suffering from a mental illness, it should not be the default solution.

Patients should be detained inside a facility only when doing so is the least restrictive treatment option for their health needs, she says.

Officials from the health ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

Reach Seila (left) and Nguon Kosal oversee the clinic (Leonie Kijewski/Washington Post) (For The Washington Post)

Yim Sobotra, director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at the state-run Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital in Phnom Penh  whose clinic with 16 doctors receives 600 to 800 patients daily but does not provide residential care  says stigmatisation and discrimination often keep patients from seeking early treatment.

People think its not acceptable to have a mental disorder. They call us the crazy hospital. So they take time to come here, and only when their moderate anxiety becomes severe, they come, he says.

Back at the houseboat near Siem Reap, Seam is all too familiar with the difficulties of caring for someone with a mental disability.

Its hard to pay for the medicine, so I have no choice but to borrow money, she says.

Sotheara says his organisation has seen cases nationwide of people selling their property or going into debt to pay for medicine.

Care at the Kandal Stueng centre is theoretically free, but a lack of resources means health workers cannot provide all the services they would like. Individual therapeutic consultations take place only once a week, says Seila, the deputy director. And with barely any money for teachers, classes in sewing and other skills are irregular.

To make ends meet, Kosal says, the staff introduced a new rule. When families come to visit relatives at the centre, they need to buy things for all the other patients as well, he says.

 The Washington Post
Passengers wearing protective face masks travel on the subway in Shanghai on Feb. 25, 2020. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images)

Reporters Without Borders Calls on Beijing to Stop Censoring Internet Posts About Coronavirus Outbreak

Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a nonprofit advocating for press freedom, has urged Beijing to free journalists and political commentators and stop censoring information about the novel coronavirus outbreak in China.

RSF pointed out that two citizen journalists, Chen Qiushi and Fang Bin, and two political commentators, Guo Quan and Xu Zhiyong, were arrested in early February in connection with their social media posts about the outbreak, in a statement published on Feb. 24.

Censorship is clearly counter-productive in the fight against an epidemic and can only aggravate it or even help turn it into a pandemic, said Cedric Alviani, the head of RSFs East Asia bureau, in the statement.

Only complete transparency will enable China to minimize the spread of false rumors and convince the population to follow the health and safety instructions recommended for curbing the epidemic.

Both Chen and Fang had been documenting the situation in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak in China, before they went missing.

One of Fangs captured videos went viral in China. It showed a funeral home van carrying eight dead bodies. His friends said police broke into his home and took him away on Feb. 10.

Chen, a 34-year-old lawyer-turned-video-blogger, had published more than 100 social media posts from Wuhan within a time span of roughly two weeks, before his mother appealed for help to locate him after he went missing on Feb. 7.

That same day, his friend and martial artist Xu Xiaodong said in a YouTube video that Chen had been forcibly quarantined for 14 days, even though he didnt have symptoms of the virus.

Guo, a human rights activist and a former assistant professor at Nanjing Normal University, was arrested on Jan. 31 after he posted about the coronavirus. He was then held at a detention center in Nanjing, the capital of eastern Chinas Jiangsu Province, according to Radio Free Asia.

Xu, a former lecturer at the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunication, was taken away by police in Chinas southern city of Guangzhou on Feb. 15, after he wrote an essay blaming the Chinese leader for mishandling the outbreak response, according to The Guardian.

RSF lambasted authorities for having significantly tightened their grip on social media and discussion groups where certain journalists and bloggers had dared to post independent reports.

Chinese censors have also ramped up propaganda efforts, including by hiring internet trolls to write social media posts that praise the governments efforts to contain the virus.

Zhang Xiaoguo, director of the news bureau at the Propaganda Department, announced during a news program on Feb. 3 that publishing propaganda about Chinas control and prevention measures is the departments top priority.

And on Feb. 4, Chinese news portal Sina reported that Chinas central propaganda department plans to send more than 300 journalists to Wuhan and Hubei Province to cover the disease.

RSF criticized the regimes efforts: In recent weeks, Beijing has also instructed the media to cover the heroism of the responders rather than the suffering of the population or the shortcomings of the measures taken by the government.

Beijing also censored early medical warnings about the outbreak.

Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist, was one of eight whistleblowers who first publicized information about an unknown pneumonia outbreak, on Chinese social media on Dec. 30, 2019. Four days later, he was summoned to a local police station where he was reprimanded for rumor-mongering.

Li died of the coronavirus in Wuhan in the morning on Feb. 7. He contracted the virus while treating a patient.
The organizing committee for the Greater Accra Maulid has expressed its readiness for the annual Greater Accra Maulid (celebration of the Holy Prophet) slated for February 29, 2020 to be held at Shukura a, a suburb of Accra.

The Maulid organized jointly by the Islamic Foundation for Peace and Development (IFPAD) and the Supreme Council for Tijaniya Islamic Affairs, Ghana under the leadership of Sheikh Yahaya Amin will bring together individuals from across the globe.

The committee headed by Alhaji Rufai Mallam Mei-Gaisuwa engaged a number of stakeholders to deliberate on how to make the event a success. At a meeting held on Friday February 21, 2020 at the conference hall of Lords Wembley Plus, the organizing committee indicated its readiness for the 53rd Maulid celebrations.

Addressing stakeholders, the Secretary and PRO of Sheikh Yahaya Amin: Ibrahim Anyass (Sir Ghosh) outlined a number of measures which have been put in place to make the celebrations a success. Key among these measures was security and how to ensure the safety of participants. He indicated the security services have assured the committee of a high powered security detail.

After several deliberations with stakeholders, the organizing committee took stakeholders to the venue of the Maulid to assess the venue and practically examine the sitting arrangements and a host of other issues. The committee expects some 6,000 individuals to join in this years celebrations.

Stakeholders however expressed their worries about the use of motorbikes. In order to curtail the rampant invasion of motor bikes into the event grounds, the maulid committee indicated it had made adequate provisions for motor bike users. A place has therefore been designated as a parking place for these motor bikes. The chairman on behalf of the committee added that, there will be a sensitize programme for the youth on the new arrangement on how to manage the motorbikes without any stress.

The stakeholders included political party representatives, the Member of Parliament for the Ablekuma Central Constituency, the representative of the MCE, some assembly members, opinion leaders and a cross section of the media.

The stakeholders advised the committee not to allow any political party to use the event as a rally grounds adding that the celebration of the Prophet's Birthday is a highly religious and a spiritual event hence the need to desist from any form of political talk which may mar the beauty of the event.

Dr Lord Oblitey Commey, a key stakeholder advised that any political party with the intent to campaign at the maulid grounds may have to look elsewhere. We cannot turn this event into a political program. Any politician who wants to campaign should engage the citizenry in their homes, he added.

The maulid event shall be graced by Sheikh Mohammed Lamin Niasse (son of sheikh Ibrahim Niasse) of Senegal, the Imam of Kano and the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana , Dr. Mahamud Bawumia as Guest of Honor. The National Chief Imam of the Republic of Ghana- Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, former president and presidential candidate of the NDC- John Dramani Mahama shall also grace the occasion.

Source: Muhammed Faisal Mustapha
A protester brandishes a pistol during clashes between a group of anti-CAA protesters and supporters of the new citizenship Act, at Jaffrabad in north-east Delhi on Monday. (PTI)

New Delhi: A civilian succumbed to injuries hours after a police head constable was killed in the clashes that broke out between pro-and anti-CAA groups in the aftermath of the tension that escalated in northeast Delhi on Monday afternoon.

About 50 people, including 30 police personnel and a deputy commissioner of police (Shahdara) were also injured in the violence. Protesters also torched a petrol pump, two houses, seven shops, a dozen-odd vehicles and a fire tender in Jaffrabad and Maujpur, where clashes occurred for the second consecutive day.

A total of eight CRPF companies have been deployed in North-East Delhi area, including two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and a company of women security personnel.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said all government and private schools to be shut on Tuesday in violence affected North East Delhi. He said he has requested HRD minister to postpone board examination scheduled on Tuesday in North East District of Delhi.

BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi on Monday said 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 Trumps visit and likened it to the massacre of Sikhs in Chattisinghpura in 2000 during the then US president Bill Clintons 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 Clintons 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.

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury held the Centre responsible for the violence that has erupted in Delhi over the CAA and appealed to all to maintain peace.

Four cases have been registered in connection with the violence during protests between pro and anti-CAA groups in northeast Delhis Jaffrabad and nearby areas, police said on Monday.

One FIR has been registered at Welcome police station while another has been lodged at Jafrabad police station. Two other FIRs have been registered at Dayalpur police station, they said.

The Congress, meanwhile, questioned the silence of Home Minister Amit Shah 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 Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for having shaken off his responsibility, saying people of Delhi are paying the price of a political blame game.

Gandhi said peaceful protests are a sign of a healthy democracy, but violence can never be justified. The violence on Monday in Delhi is disturbing and must be unequivocally condemned. Peaceful protests are a sign of a healthy democracy, but violence can never be justified, he tweeted.
Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - February 24, 2020) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it updated its Public Alert: Unregistered Soliciting Entities (PAUSE) list by adding 25 soliciting entities and four fictitious regulators. Additionally, the SEC is announcing enhancements to the PAUSE website, where the SEC provides the list of entities that falsely claim to be registered, licensed, and/or located in the United States, as well as entities that impersonate genuine U.S. registered securities firms and fictitious regulators, governmental agencies, or international organizations. This will allow Main Street investors to better inform themselves and avoid being victims of fraud.

The entities on the PAUSE list have been the subject of investor complaints. The latest additions are firms that SEC staff found were providing inaccurate information to solicit primarily non-U.S. investors about their affiliation, location, or registration. Under U.S. securities laws, firms that solicit investors generally are required to register with the SEC and meet minimum financial standards and disclosure, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements.

"Today's updates to the PAUSE list reflect one way the Commission uses tips and complaints to protect and inform Main Street investors," said Jennifer Diamantis, Chief of the SEC Enforcement Division's Office of Market Intelligence. "The new enhancements to the PAUSE website will allow investors easy access to resources to help protect their investments and avoid fraud."

The enhanced PAUSE website is now more streamlined and user-friendly with revised descriptions, relevant educational material, and new search capabilities. Furthermore, the new layout allows investors using internet search engines to easily find the Public Alerts.

In addition to alerting investors to firms falsely claiming to be registered, the PAUSE list flags those impersonating registered securities firms and fictitious "regulators" who falsely claim to be government agencies or affiliates. Inclusion on the PAUSE list does not mean the SEC has found violations of U.S. federal securities laws or made a judgment about the merits of any securities being offered.

The PAUSE list is periodically updated by the Office of Market Intelligence in coordination with the Office of Investor Education and Advocacy and the Office of International Affairs.
The Bombay high court (HC) on Tuesday said there has been no effective progress in 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case in which BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur is an accused. Thakur is out on bail.

The division bench of acting chief justice BP Dharmadhikari and justice NR Borkar was hearing an application filed by Samir Kulkarni, another accused in the case. Kulkarni had complained that despite a number of orders passed by the apex court and the HC, advocates of some of the accused were seeking adjournments on flimsy grounds and are thus unnecessarily and deliberately delaying the trial. He said the prosecution, fellow accused and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is handling the probe, are delaying the proceedings.

He had also pointed out that section 19 of the NIA Act, 2008, mandates the trials in all cases handled by the NIA be conducted on a day-to-day basis, so that trials are concluded swiftly. But only 14 witnesses were examined in the past six months, he said.

In January 2019, the high court had asked the NIA courts judge to submit reports in sealed cover if any person was not cooperating with the trial court. After going through two reports submitted by the trial court on Tuesday, the HC said, Prima facie, we find that there has been no effective progress in the trial as of now.

The bench directed the NIA to explain why the trial was being prolonged, and adjourned the hearing to March 16. On September 29, 2008, a powerful bomb exploded outside a religious shrine in which six people were killed and about 100 others were injured. On October 23, 3008, Maharashtra Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested Thakur and two of her associates, the first arrests in the case. On January 20, 2009, ATS filed a chargesheet in the case after completing its probe. On April 1, 2011, the Centre transferred further probe into the case to NIA. The HC gave bail to Thakur in April 2017. All her fellow accused are also out on bail.
Julian Assange telephoned the White House to warn that American lives would be put at risk because top secret cables were about to be dumped online - but Hillary Clinton's office told him to call back later, his extradition case heard today.

The 48-year-old Australian is fighting extradition to the US, where he is wanted to face 18 charges over the leaking of hundreds of thousands of classified documents in 2010 and 2011.

Prosecutors claim he knowingly put hundreds of sources around the world at risk of torture and death by publishing unredacted documents containing names or other identifying details - and some agents in Iraq and Afghanistan 'disappeared' afterwards.

But Mark Summers QC, representing Assange, argued at Woolwich Crown Court today that the extradition request by the Trump administration 'boldly and brazenly' misrepresents the facts, calling it 'lies, lies and more lies'.

Mr Summers said on August 25 2011 the WikiLeaks founder made a phone call to the White House and asked to speak to then secretary of state Hillary Clinton as 'a matter of urgency' over fears the information was about to be dumped online completely unredacted.

The QC said Assange had warned Mrs Clinton's office: 'I don't understand why you're not seeing the urgency of this. Unless we do something, then people's lives are put at risk' - but was told to call back in two hours.

Julian Assange, sketched in the dock at Woolwich yesterday, says the case against him is 'lies, lies and more lies' and he tried to call Hillary Clinton (pictured in Berlin today) to warn her about unredacted documents being dumped online after a password blunder

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's lawyers Barry Pollack, Jennifer Robinson and Baltasar Garzon (pictured today) are battling to prevent his extradition to the US on human rights grounds and claim their client was repeatedly strip-searched and handcuffed at Belmarsh jail yesterday

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's father John Shipton talks to the media as he arrives at Woolwich Crown Court today where his son is in the dock again

Mr Summers blamed the publication of the unredacted database of documents on a 2011 book from the Guardian newspaper about WikiLeaks, which contained a 58-key password.

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: 'Far from being a reckless, unredacted release, the world knows, every reporter in this room knows, the US government knows, that what actually occurred was that one of the media partners published a book in February 2011 and published the password to the unredacted materials, which then enabled the entire world to publish those unredacted materials in a book and they circulated on the internet, not on the WikiLeaks site, but on other sites.

'None of them have been prosecuted, some of which are US-based, all of them published first, some of them are still there.'

Mr Summers said it was not until months later that it was discovered the password could be used along with a mirrored site to access the unredacted database, which was revealed by German news outlet Der Freitag on August 25 2011.

It was then Assange picked up the phone and tried to speak to Hillary Clinton.

Assange is also accused of encouraging Manning to steal classified documents, which allegedly included a bid to crack a password 'hash' (a scrambled password) on US department of defence computers to anonymously access a classified network called the Secret Internet Protocol Network.

But his lawyers point to evidence given by Manning at her own 2013 court martial, which they say refutes these claims.

Assange also claims he is being mistreated in Belmarsh Prison after being strip-searched twice, handcuffed 11 times and moved from cell-to-cell on the first day of his extradition case yesterday.

Assange's main barrister, Edward Fitzgerald QC, complained about his client's treatment inside high-security Belmarsh prison yesterday, at the start of the second day of the hearing today.

He said: 'Yesterday, Mr Assange was handcuffed 11 times and stripped naked twice at Belmarsh and put into five separate holding cells.

'What I think the court can do is give an indication to the prison authorities if there is a risk that treatment of this nature will impinge on his ability to participate in these proceedings.'

The lawyer said papers handed to Assange in court had been taken from him at Belmarsh after he left next-door Woolwich Crown Court, which is sitting as a magistrates' court.

Mr Fitzgerald said his client's treatment 'could be a contempt of this court'.

But District Judge Vanessa Baraitser said she has no powers to issue directions to the Prison Service and can only act if there is evidence that Assange is unable to participate in the case.

'If it comes to that, please let me know. Unless and until it does, unless you are asking this court to make a finding of contempt, I'm afraid my powers are very limited in this respect.'

US spies hatched a plot to kidnap or even poison Julian Assange using shady Spanish private detectives after he leaked 250,000 top secret documents online, his extradition hearing was told yesterday.

The WikiLeaks founder's human rights barrister Edward Fitzgerald, who has previously represented Moors Murderer Myra Hindley and hate preacher Abu Hamza, said an attack inside London's Ecuadorean embassy would have looked like an 'accident'.

The QC said private security from a Spanish company, acting on behalf of the US authorities, were involved in 'intrusive and sophisticated' surveillance of his client, but were outed by a mysterious Iberian whistleblower known only as 'witness two'.

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.

Spanish private eyes were said to be involved in planning to attack Assange inside Ecuador's London embassy, which was also under surveillance using laser microphones inside and out

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.'

'It's simply untrue' that Julian Assange put US sources' lives in danger, says his father 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.' Advertisement

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'.

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.

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 taken 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.

Opening his extradition case for the US Government, 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

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 yesterday

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'.

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), 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

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.

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.'

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.
Photo credit: SOPA Images - Getty Images

From Popular Mechanics

If you use Firefox, you'll see a change to your browser's security encryption starting today.

According to a blog post from Mozilla, Firefox's parent company, the browser will be moving to DNS over HTTPS (DoH) standard.

What's that? It's a fancy term that basically increases user privacy and security by preventing man-in-the-middle attacks.

Let's say you're an engineer and you want to send a confidential set of graphics to your attorney, complete with specs for a new patent application you want to file soon. So your lawyer emails you back: "Just click this link to my firm's page and upload it there," she writes. "That's easiest for me."

Fair enough. You trust her, so you send over the goods. There's just one problem: That website might have looked legitimate, but it was actually a fake. You've been tricked into forking over valuable intellectual property to a total stranger in what's known as a man-in-the-middle attack. Whoops.



To prevent these kinds of hoodwinks, FirefoxMozilla's web browser and a popular alternative to Google Chromehas announced a new security protocol to avoid such shams. It's called "DNS over HTTPS," also known as DoH, and it's a way to ensure that data traveling between your computer and a company's server is encrypted, keeping middleman hackers out of the equation. DNS stands for Domain Name System and HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure.

This cybersecurity approach is being embraced by other browsers and websites, too, just not necessarily by default. You can enable DoH in Chrome, for instance, and even Facebook supports a move to more secure DNS.

{% verbatim %}

DNS, HTTPS, DoH, it's a lot of acronyms.



The most important thing to know is we're basically saying FU to attackers on the network and 3rd parties who have access to data that ties your computer to the sites you visit.https://t.co/S6GpzuMEJR  Firefox  (@firefox) February 25, 2020

{% endverbatim %}

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The DoH rollout will be a default setting only in the U.S. If you live in another country, you can enable the security protocol by going to Settings > General > Networking Settings > and clicking the Settings button on the right. Enable DNS over HTTPS by ticking the checkbox next to that prompt.

First, Let's Talk About HTTP

Photo credit: Mozilla Hacks

Mozilla Hacks, a blog that the company's Developer Relations team publishes, has put together a useful series of cartoons that offer a clear-cut explanation of what's going on here.

Let's start with HTTP, the internet browser protocol that you usually see at the start of a domain name, like http://gmail.com. These links are now shortened to, in this example, mail.google.com, but if you type in "http://" before the site name, you'll still find the same page.

When a browser downloads a web page, it makes what's called a GET request, which basically retrieves information from the server. Then, the server sends a response, containing an HTML file. This whole process is referred to as HTTP, which stands for hypertext transfer protocol, since it's all about sending information back and forth.

Photo credit: Mozilla Hacks

But your computer probably isn't all that close to Google's servers in that Gmail example. Instead, the request needs to get from the browser to that server, passing through multiple channels before it gets there. Mozilla Hacks likens it to passing notes in school:



I think of this like kids passing notes to each other in class. On the outside, the note will say who its supposed to go to. The kid who wrote the note will pass it to their neighbor. Then that next kid passes it to one of their neighbors  probably not the eventual recipient, but someone whos in that direction.

But this method opens a can of worms. Anyone along the server's path can basically read the contents. Worse yet, there's really no way to know which path your information will flow through to get to that main server. It could end up in the hands of bad actors, looking to perpetrate man-in-the middle attacks.

Why DNS Is Vulnerable

Photo credit: Mozilla Hacks

Domain Name Systems are what allow us to easily type web addresses like wikipedia.com without having to memorize a long string of numbers that technically house a site's IP address. The process of converting the number string to an intelligible IP address that's simple to remember is called domain name resolution. The issue? Some of the resolvers helping you to connect to a website are controlled by cybercriminals.

During the resolution process, your IP address or other information about your identity is accessed to help you find the domain you're looking for. That means every sever along the path to helping you reach the website sees the sites you're looking to find. "But more than that, it also means that anyone on the path to those servers sees your requests, too," according to Mozilla Hacks.

That puts your data at risk in two main ways: tracking and spoofing.

Tracking

Bad actors can create a record of all of the web sites theyve seen you look up. That's valuable data, because companies will pay big money to see what you're searching.

Spoofing

A hacker along the path between you and the DNS server can actually change the response. Instead of telling you the real IP address for Wikipedia, for instance, a spoofer will give you the wrong IP address for a site, according to Mozilla Hacks. "This way, they can block you from visiting the real site or send you to a scam one."

Here's an example from Mozilla Hacks:

...Lets say youre shopping for something at Megastore. You want to do a price check to see if you can get it cheaper at a competing online store, big-box.com.

But if youre on Megastore WiFi, youre probably using their resolver. That resolver could hijack the request to big-box.com and lie to you, saying that the site is unavailable.

Man-in-the-Middle Attacks





Here's where it all comes together.

This is your classic middleman scenario, except nobody is trying to sell you anythingjust striving to intercede your communications. Three players are involved: the victim, the entity the victim wants to communicate with, and the so-called middle man, who interprets all of the victim's communications. Meanwhile, the victim has no idea their communications are being surveilled.

Here's how it goes down, according to NortonLifeLock, a cybersecurity software services firm in Mountain View, California. First, let's assume you've received an email from what appears to be your bank, asking you to log in to confirm your contact information. Seems innocuous, enough, right? So you click the link in the email and you're taken to a page that really does look like your bank's website. You log in and perform the action that your "bank" requested.



Meanwhile, according to Norton, that email was generated by a man-in-the-middle perpetrator, who wanted to make the message look legitimate. Yes, this involves some rudimentary phishinggetting people to click on fraudulent linksbut this trickery takes things a step further. The bad actor went through the trouble of creating a website that mirrors your real bank's home page, to keep from rousing any suspicion. So in the end, you're not giving that sensitive contact information to your bankyou're giving it to a man-in-the-middle hacker who just duped you.

How to Protect Yourself

Even if you don't use Firefox, you can take several precautions within any web browser to protect yourself from man-in-the-middle attacks. Here's some advice, per Norton:

 Make sure "HTTPS"with the Sis always in the URL bar of the websites you visit.

 Look out for potential phishing emails from attackers asking you to update your password or any other login credentials. Instead of clicking on the link provided in the email, manually type the website address into your browser.

 Never connect to public WiFi routers directly, if possible. A VPN encrypts your internet connection on public hotspots to protect the private data you send and receive while using public WiFi, like passwords or credit card information.

 Since man-in-the-middle attacks primarily use malware for execution, you should install a comprehensive internet security solution on your computer. Always keep the security software up to date.

 Make sure your home WiFi network is secure. Update all of the default usernames and passwords on your home router and all connected devices to strong, unique passwords.

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Last summer marked the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, the NASA mission that first placed our species on the moon. And while that event will remain the apogee of human achievement, we are on the verge of yet another accomplishment in the cosmos. NASA recently unveiled the design for its first-ever space modules. To complete this difficult feat, the government agency joined forces with Texas-based startup Axiom Space in creating at least one structure that would have the ability to house private citizens visiting our solar system by 2024.

To design the interiors of each unit, NASA and Axiom turned to French-born designer Philippe Starck. The 71-year-old virtuoso has made a career of designing an eclectic range of products (including watches and yachts). But its his most recent design, which will house private citizens in outer space, that will allow us to witness the furthest reaches of his imagination. According to Starcks website, the design will be a home base for professional astronauts and private explorers. While the prospect of ordinary people rocketing into space is exciting, the project has facets to it. The modules will provide housing to national astronauts from countries that are not currently part of the International Space Station (ISS) partnership (or those that are but do not currently receive as many flight opportunities). All Axiom flights to outer space will be commanded by professionally trained astronauts. Whats more, any government or person that pays the cost of the flight (which has been reported to be at least $35,000) and passes a basic physical examination may board a flight. Prior to the launch, however, private citizens will be trained by Axiom professionals at its facilities in Houston. The trips will last roughly 10 days, with eight of them spent aboard the ISS.

Our goal was not to create a copy of life on earth but to create the best environment for human beings in this infinite territory, says Starck. My vision is to create a comfortable egg, friendly, where walls are so soft and in harmony with the movements of the human body in zero gravity. To this end, each livable unit will be outfitted with padded walls embedded with touch screens and LED lights, as well as handrails for navigating oneself in zero gravity. The current plan calls for the space homes to be attached to the ISS, with the goal of eventually having a cluster of homes branching off and turning into self-sustaining structures.

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Perhaps the most appealing part of living within one of these space modules is the views afforded from within. Each module will be fitted with large windows, allowing for unparalleled views of Earth and beyond. Some of the convenience of conventional life will be on board the space module, including high-speed Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi aside, there will be nothing easy in creating a module in outer space. A space station is ruled by a fundamental law: zero gravity. And it changes everything, explains Starck. Life on Earth is held down by gravity, but life in space is a multidirectional freedom: There is no horizontal, no vertical, even no diagonal. And functions are new, sometimes unknown. At the same time, it is a difficult place, with difficult rules, but it also gives an infinity of solutions.

If we ever wondered whether Starck was up for the task of creating private modules in outer space, the answer was always there, hidden in plain sight: The description of his website reads, Enter Philippe Starcks universe. Construction of the first modules will begin this year.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
Soldiers open fire on board the guided-missile destroyer Haikou during an international maritime exercise. [Photo by SHAO LONGFEI/FOR CHINA DAILY]

By ZHAO LEI

The Central Military Commission, China's top military authority, recently published a document tightening rules governing the connections military personnel have with nonmilitary organizations and civilians.

The document was jointly drafted and issued by the commission's Political Work Department, Logistic Support Department and Discipline Inspection Commission. It aims to close loopholes regarding interactions between military and civilian entities.

It includes 13 types of banned activities such as receiving money or securities from nonmilitary organizations or individuals during their visits to military units; asking nonmilitary organizations or individuals to provide money or commodities; irregularly giving gifts or souvenirs to nonmilitary organizations or individuals; offering housing, car or personnel to nonmilitary organizations or individuals; and using military assets to attract investment or publish advertisements.

Such activities have been common among some military units, leading to corruption and the risk of misconduct, observers said.

A sweeping anti-corruption campaign over the past several years has brought down more than 100 senior officers at the rank of major general or higher, including Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou, both former vice-chairmen of the Central Military Commission.

The Chinese military also stopped all commercial activities before 2019 to eradicate the risk of corruption and focus all of its attention on combat training.
Sixty-two miles north of Grand Rapids, MI sits the village of Mecosta with a population of only 450. Right off Main Street, tucked away in an arbor of oaks and ferns, stands a large brick house. Here, what was once a furniture repair shop has now become a home and a haven for conservative study and discourse. This is the home of Annette and Russell Kirk.

Russell Amos Kirk was born in 1918 in Plymouth, MI. He set out to make the ideas of past conservative-thought leaders more accessible to a new generation through his work as an author, editor, and lecturer. He was uninterested in promoting a party agenda. Rather, he sought to promote a way of life and a moral societal order guided by what T. S. Elliot called the permanent things. Russell was about conserving conservatism as a philosophy and was opposed to ideology. In fact, he describes conservatism as the negation of ideology. While Russell is well-known for his highly-esteemed books and essays, Annette has played and continues to play a large role in the preservation of his work.

Russell wrote many influential books and essays in which he critiques culture, discusses morality, analyzes political theory and outlines the tenets of conservative thought. He is best known for his 1953 historical narrative and apologetic, The Conservative Mind, which relays the development of conservatism throughout history. Thanks to his commitment to careful thinking and the permanent things, conservatism has a respected voice. Thanks to his wife, Annette, conservatism has a home.

At the age of twelve, Annette Yvonne Cecil Courtemanche Kirk became involved in politics, working beside her mother, Mary Cullen, to help with presidential campaigns and local initiatives. This early participation is where Annette says her passion for politics and for ideas was born. Politics was, in fact, a family affair in Annettes family. So many times on the night we would be at the subway station at Parsons Boulevard, handing out flyers for whatever the cause was, she told us. And that is how I became interested in doing things outside of the house and also for the good of the community.

In February 1960, Annette, still an undergraduate at Molloy College for Women in New York City, gave a presentation on Russells book The American Cause. Unbeknownst to her, Russell sat in the audience. Bradley Birzer, professor of history and chairman of the Russell Amos Kirk American Studies at Hillsdale College, recounts in his biography about Kirk that Russell admired the young Annette. Russel recounts how, Her carriage was perfect, and she spoke clearly, with a high seriousness, her eyes demure. Hers was an exquisite beauty, a unique one, difficult to describe.

They met shortly afterwards, and in Annettes words, their common interests confirmed them as kindred spirits. While Annette finished college, she strategically invited Russell to speak at events she was organizing over the span of two years. Through this maturation of their friendship, Annette describes how her respect for Russell only grew. So that is how I got to dovetail my understanding of mission with my appreciation of his thought and then with his person, because I came to see him  as opposed to an objective view, in a more subjective view. More speaking events and trips to Europe followed, and Russell wrote her daily for a full year. As Annette put it, their marriage became inevitable. On September 19, 1964, Russell and Annette exchanged vows, and they moved to Russells place in Mecosta to make their home.

Upon settling in Mecosta, Russell and Annette regularly hosted students, professors and the vulnerable in their home. Russell once wrote that [The conservative] thinks that happiness comes from duty done and from understanding the vanity of human wishes. Russell took these words not just to heart, but to hand, and the Kirks quickly became known for their hospitality and generosity. Russell and Annette became known for offering hospitality to those in need. While in Mecosta, they housed a homeless man, escapees of communism, single mothers and many others as needs arose, all while raising four daughters.

At the local level, Annette played her part in reviving Little River School and the Morton Township Library. She also assisted Laura Bushs Foundation for Americas Libraries and was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the National Commission on Excellence in Education.

In 1995, a year after Russells death on April 29, 1994, Annette and her son-in-law, Jeff Nelson, established the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal. With Annettes energy and Russells library of 15,000 books, their home has since been a lively center for conservatism. Twenty-five years later, Annette continues to head the Center and promote Russells work and ideas. At the age of 79, she graciously hosts students, scholars and conservatives of all backgrounds from around the country. Students come to the center to participate in seminars, explore the Kirks library and even sit down for a meal with Annette herself.

The Wilbur Fellowship was one of the first tangible projects to this end. Starting in 1979, last year the Wilbur Fellowship Program celebrated its 40th anniversary. The fellowship is named in honor of Marguerite Eyer Wilbur, an academic peer and friend of Russell. In his own words, the foundation is designed for the nurturing of the moral imagination among those who write and read. Since its inception, Cecilia Kirk, second daughter of Annette and Russell and the Publications Manager at the Kirk Center, says that over 300 scholars have participated in the program. Kris Beers, administrative assistant at the Kirk Center, admits that, you look at Mecosta on a map, and you dont expect much of it [but] we do have this magic bookstore down the street. We do have these quality restaurants  You have places that you can be intellectually stimulated and sound within, what is the remnants of a moral context within the family bounds. We talked over the phone with Dr. Michael Jordan, long-time friend of the Kirks and Wilbur Fellow alumnus (80-82) who is now a professor at Hillsdale College, about the impact of the Kirks. He said that, The Kirk Center actually continues the legacy of Dr. Kirk and perpetuates the vitality, community, and beauty of the Piety Hill of old, when Dr. Kirk was living.

Wesley Reynolds, a friend of the Kirks for almost a decade now and a Wilbur Fellow alumnus (13), confirms the character of Piety Hill where, unlike think tanks or other conservative institutions, [it] shares a family structure with its family-oriented ethics of the permanent things. For the Kirks, this means an open-door policy to anyone who comes knocking. Beers says that since Russells death, [Annette has been] the light bearer from that moment that [Russell] was unable to continue writing. And she accomplished this because of her foresight to set the foundation at the home so that he could do everything that he needed to do.

As an observer, John Rau, the local book-keeper of Mecosta Bookstore on Maine Street, says that I like the Kirk Center because I can definitely say to people that its a compassionate, conservative think tank Ive been saying that even before the last several years. John explains how compassion is a matter of integrity, its doing the right thing at the right time even if it doesnt seem compassionate. Annette Kirk is just thata woman of integrity who does the right thing, particularly carrying on the work of her husband Russell for the sake of future generations.

And now its twenty-five years since he died, and so itll be almost thirty years, another five years, Annette says. And it will be half my life spent with him because I didnt know him before that.  So most of my life has been concerned with his thought and working with him and now for his legacy.

The reputation of the Kirk family is admirable. In the words of Wesley,the Kirk Center exists as a haven for all those wearied from battling the degeneracy of our own age, and Mrs. Kirk has refurbished the armor of many a way-worn pilgrim [Annette] exhibits the lady-like elegance of a more refined age in America; one which many believe passed forever with the closure of Camelot in the early 1960s, but which Russell Kirk knew would live on in her. She combines genuine hospitality and wit with penetrating reason; a rare combination Therefore, I consider the Kirk Center a moral rather than a social force.

William F. Buckley once said of Annette that, Never has a widow emerged more capable of carrying on her husbands legacy. Indeed, few other widows have the determination, much less the follow-through, to continue the work of their husband. However, Annette cannot lead the Kirk Center forever, and questions about the Centers future remain. Annette herself hopes that by promoting Russells legacy I am fulfilling what I think God wants me to do. And so I think that its not as important that its actually his legacy and that his name is attached to the ideas and convictions that we are trying to espouse. I think whats important is that those ideas get out there.
Photo: Secwepemc Women's Sacred Fire Council

Three people are in police custody after protesters set up a blockade on the Canadian Pacific rail line near Chase.

RCMP spokesman Jesse O'Donaghey says members were called to assist CP Rail Police after about two dozen protesters erected a blockade on the tracks.

"The RCMP were requested to assist, and three individuals were subsequently arrested for breach of the civil injunction, by allegedly refusing to leave CP Rails private property (rail tracks). They were transported to Chase RCMP detachment for processing," said O'Donaghey.

"The remainder of the group of protesters removed their belongings from the tracks."

The RCMP Division Liaison Team was also on site.

Police were enforcing a court-ordered injunction CP obtained to remove protesters from its tracks.
[February 25, 2020] IAOP Includes IBA Group in The 2020 Global Outsourcing 100

PRAGUE, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On February 17, IAOP unveiled The 2020 Global Outsourcing 100 list at the Outsourcing World Summit held in Orlando, Florida, the United States. The Global Outsourcing 100 features IBA Group  www.ibagroupit.com - for the eighth consecutive year. "Companies that outsource, not only in the traditional sense but also through the wide array of the ever-changing collaborative business models, are scrutinizing their providers very closely, which is why choosing the right partners is more important than ever," said Debi Hamill, IAOP CEO. "The GO100 is the definitive guide to help companies research and compare service providers with whom they are considering relationships." The 2020 Global Outsourcing 100 recognizes the world's best outsourcing service providers and advisors. This list is based on applications received, and judging is based on a rigorous scoring methodology that includes an independent review by an independent panel of IAOP customer members with extensive experience in selecting outsourcing service providers and advisors for their organizations. For 2020, the judging panel considered companies' achievements in the following areas: Customer References as demonstrated through value being created at the company's top customers. Awards and Certifications as demonstrated through the value being created through industry recognition, and relevant organizational and individual professional certifications. Programs for Innovation as demonstrated through specific programs and resulting outcomes that produce new formsof value for customers. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as shown through corporate programs and outcomes that address such topics as community involvement and development, labor practices, human rights, fair operating practices, environmental impacts, consumer issues, and organizational governance.



 compiled the Best of The Global Outsourcing 100 list to mark the organizations' tenth anniversary. The list comprised companies that were at the top of The Global Outsourcing 100 for a decade. Summarizing results over the entirety of The Global Outsourcing 100, the list distinguished IBA Group among Top Leaders, for Customer References, for Top Innovation, for Top CSR, and for Multiple Appearances. About IAOP

IAOP is the global association that brings together customers, providers, and advisors in a collaborative, knowledge-based environment that promotes professional and organizational development, recognition, certification, and excellence to improve business service models and outcomes. Our members and affiliates worldwide are digging deep at IAOP conferences, learning at IAOP chapter meetings, getting trained and certified at IAOP courses and workshops, and connecting through IAOP social media, all with one goal: better business results. Whether you are a customer, provider or advisor, new to collaborative business models like outsourcing, or you are an experienced professional, IAOP connects you and your organization to our growing global community and to the resources you need to get the results your company deserves and demands. For more information and how you can become involved, visit www.IAOP.org. About IBA Group IBA Group is one of the largest IT service providers in Eastern Europe, performing software development, migration, maintenance, support, and IT consulting services with 3,000 IT and business professionals. Headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, IBA Group has offices and development centers in the United States, Germany, Czech Republic, Belarus, South Africa, Cyprus, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, and Bulgaria. IBA Group focuses on mainframe systems, enterprise and web applications, SAP solutions, and CAMSS (cloud, analytics, mobility, social media, and security), as well as IoT and RPA / ML / AI technologies. IAOP recognizes IBA Group as one of The Global Outsourcing 100 in the Leaders category. IBA Group is a winner of IT Europa's European IT & Software Excellence Awards and of GSA Awards by the Global Sourcing Association. For more information, visit http://ibagroupit.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iaop-includes-iba-group-in-the-2020-global-outsourcing-100-301010654.html SOURCE IBA Group

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The Hamilton County Health Department on Tuesday reported 745 new positive COVID-19 cases. The total number of cases in the county now stands at 77,290. There have been five more deaths from the virus in Hamilton County, for a total of 916. It is reported the deaths were three men and two women; three white and two black; one age 41-50, two age 51-60, and two age 61-70. The ... (click for more)
We have been curious about the possibility of portable solar power for years. The technology wasnt quite ready, until recently. We are excited to now offer solar-based backup power solutions to our customers.

CD & Power is pleased to announce the immediate availability of portable hybrid solar trailers for rent across its Northern California service area. In order to meet the demand for backup or remote power options that use renewable energy, produce fewer emissions, and provide a quieter alternative to diesel, CD & Power field tested several configurations in 2019. The company now has multiple hybrid solar trailers in stock and available to rent.

About the companys decision to begin offering solar-based generators, President Jill Collaro explained, [w]e have been curious about the possibility of portable solar power for years. The technology wasnt quite ready, until recently. We are excited to now offer solar-based backup power solutions to our customers.

Here are just a few applications that can be handled by one of the units CD & Power offers:



Remote telecommunications equipment

Emergency or disaster recovery power for tools and electronics

Construction site trailers and power tools

Communications for oil & gas exploration or other remote sites

Events requiring clean, green, quiet power

Each portable unit consists of solar panels (modules), a bank of batteries to store collected energy, and an inverter to deliver power. One configuration includes eight 335-Watt PV modules, a 75 kWh battery pack, and supplemental gas generator. A second option is configured for specific telecommunications applications requiring -48 Vdc power. That unit consists of two 335-Watt PV modules and a 12 kWh battery contained in a durable, compact cabinet.

Sometimes a diesel generator isnt the right tool for the job, pointed out Lisa Carter, General Manager. The location might be remote, making it difficult to deliver fuel. Also, the noise or exhaust of a diesel engine can be a problem in some places. We are now in a position to offer clean, green, quiet backup power for those situations.

About CD & Power

CD & Power is the Largest Independent Generator Service Company in Northern California. Since 1985, the company has been the go-to expert for diesel engine and generator maintenance and repair. From its Martinez, CA headquarters the company rents diesel generators from 10 kW to 1 MW in size as well as a range of portable, hybrid solar generators. Additionally, the company sells, installs, maintains, and repairs most brands of commercial generators. The companys Sacramento office is the home base to an additional team of generator service technicians, providing timely support to customers across the capitol corridor and central valley areas.
Iran is closer to an effective shutdown amid a worsening coronavirus epidemic that was first reported last Wednesday in the city of Qom, the center of its powerful clergy and home to much-visited holy shrines. As of Feb. 26, the official death toll from the countrys Health Ministry stood at 19, a figure likely to jump as suspected cases approach the 1,000 mark in at least 11 affected provinces.

The figures differ widely in various reports. Ahmad Ami-Abadi, one of the lawmakers representing Qom in Iran's parliament, claimed that the toll was well above 50, pressing the Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi to resign. Harirchi has sparked fury by rejecting demands for imposing a full quarantine on Qom, describing such measures as outdated World War I practices. The health official himself has now tested positive, a sign that others could already be in the same boat following back-to-back meetings and joint pressers.

We will definitely kill the disease in the weeks to come, Harirchi vowed with a raised fist in a viral video after officially joining the list of confirmed cases. This virus does not differentiate between authorities and ordinary people, [but] we do possess the remedy.

Hours later, Mahmoud Sadeghi, a Reformist lawmaker and a vocal civil rights defender, came out with a similar message about his positive test. On Twitter, he also urged Irans judiciary leader Ibrahim Raeesi to order the temporary release of political detainees to protect them from a possible outbreak inside the prisons.

Earlier, the mayor of Tehrans district 13 was among the first to be diagnosed. According to the latest reports, the Qom-based top Shiite cleric Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani has been quarantined after a member of his close circle, another cleric, died from the disease.

The epidemic has already led to a shortage of masks and disinfectants in pharmacies. Judiciary officials have warned of severe punishment for hoarders after police found and raided several warehouses that have been stockpiling the materials.

At newsstands, anger is being openly vented at the governments mishandling of yet another crisis. The virus of irresponsibility is worse than coronavirus, shouted Reformist newspaper Aftab-e-Yazd. Arman, another pro-Reform daily, questioned the governments refusal to quarantine Qom, a measure that might have kept the epidemic from spiraling out of control.

Officials are now considering whether a current nationwide closure of schools ought to be stretched beyond the Persian New Year holidays. The measure could keep children indoors until the second week of April. Meanwhile, fears for the elderly have forced the postponement of the annual summit of the Assembly of Experts, a body of Irans most senior clerics in charge of supervising the countrys supreme leader.

Nonetheless, in a speech addressing the inauguration ceremony of a highway outside Tehran, President Hassan Rouhani appeared optimistic. We managed to overcome influenza B, Rouhani proudly declared. Coronavirus is not tougher, he added.

In an effort to soothe public worries, Irans Health Ministry has also announced that at least two dozen patients are recovering. On social media, where rumors can be hard to distinguish from reliable reports amid an incessant flow of mixed information, one video showed a group of excited physicians surrounding an infected doctor they said was making significant progress toward recovery.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 25)  The Department of Health is urging Filipinos to postpone their travel to some parts of South Korea that have seen a spike in the number of people with coronavirus infection.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III told CNN Philippines Newsroom, I discourage absolutely any travel to Daegu city and Cheongdo county in north Gyeongsang province, which reported local cases of human-to-human transmission of the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease. Duque also said those going to South Korea must monitor developments on the viral disease as precaution.

The Philippines has yet to impose a travel ban to and from South Korea, but authorities are considering the possibility of doing so.

The decision on whether or not to order travel restrictions similar to that imposed on mainland China and its special administrative regions Hong Kong and Macau will most likely come out on Wednesday, after the Philippines task force on emerging diseases meeting to discuss recommendations for the management of COVID-19.

The top health official said the decision to impose a travel ban on a country or territory will depend on the volume of travelers, the rate of infection, risk of exposure to the virus, and economic impact on tourism and transportation sectors.

However, he said public health will prevail over other factors.

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Sunday advised travelers to avoid non-essential trips to South Korea, and "comply" with health authorities efforts to curb the spread of the virus.

South Korea recorded 893 confirmed COVID-19 cases with eight deaths, CNN reported Tuesday, quoting state officials. Over half of total cases are linked to the Shincheonji religious group in Daegu City, according to South Korea's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
NEW YORK - A hospitalized Harvey Weinstein was upbeat and energized about appealing his sexual assault and rape conviction, one of his lawyers said Tuesday as one of Weinstein's accusers said the verdict made her feel grateful to be heard and believed.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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)

NEW YORK - A hospitalized Harvey Weinstein was "upbeat" and "energized" about appealing his sexual assault and rape conviction, one of his lawyers said Tuesday as one of Weinstein's accusers said the verdict made her feel grateful to be "heard and believed."

Weinstein remained in a jail unit at Bellevue Hospital, where he was taken after the verdict Monday to be checked out for heart palpitations and high blood pressure.

Attorney Arthur Aidala on Tuesday called the hospitalization "a precautionary measure to take him here and make sure his vitals and everything were OK" and said it wasn't clear how long Weinstein would be at Bellevue.

FILE - In this Oct. 24, 2017, file photo, Mimi Haleyi appears at a news conference in New York. Haleyi is expected to appear on the witness stand Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, at Weinstein's New York City trial. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

After Monday's verdict, he had been destined for jail to await sentencing, set for March 11.

In the meantime, Weinstein greeted his lawyer, unhandcuffed, in a large hospital room with jail officers outside and was looking forward to visitors, Aidala said.

"Hes in pretty good spirits. Hes energized," the attorney told reporters.

He said the 67-year-old former Hollywood studio boss was insisting on his innocence and "somewhat flabbergasted by the verdict," but determined to fight on.

FILE - In this Jan. 27, 2020 file photo, Mimi Haleyi, right, arrives to testify in Harvey Weinstein's trial on charges of rape and sexual assault in New York. Haleyi, one of the women Harvey Weinstein was convicted of sexually assaulting, said Tuesday, Feb. 25, that the verdict made her feel grateful to be heard and believed. Weinstein faces a possible sentence of five to 29 years after a Manhattan jury convicted him of sexually assaulting Haleyi and raping an aspiring actress in 2013. He was acquitted of first-degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

"There is a portion of him where hes just scratching his head and he doesnt know how this happened, but hes cautiously optimistic" about prevailing on appeal, Aidala said.

His remarks came after Mimi Haleyi, a former production assistant who accused Weinstein of forcing oral sex on her in 2006, called the verdict "a huge relief."

"I just think that were being educated about the reality of sexual assault and sexual assault victims," Haleyi said on "CBS This Morning."

"Its not always just a stranger. Its very often somebody that the person knows, and with that comes an entire other layer of processing," she said.

"Whatever the verdict had been, it wouldnt have changed what happened to me, but obviously it was terrifying to think that I wouldnt be believed," she added later on MSNBC.

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.

Weinstein faces a possible sentence of five to 29 years after a Manhattan jury convicted him of sexually assaulting Haleyi and raping an aspiring actress in 2013. He was acquitted of first-degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault.

Weinstein has maintained that any sex between him and his accusers was consensual.

Asked about Weinstein on Tuesday, President Donald Trump called the disgraced producer's conviction a "great victory" for women that "sends a very strong message."

"He was a person I didn't like," Trump told reporters during a news conference in India. "The people that liked him were the Democrats. Michelle Obama loved him. Loved him. Hillary Clinton loved him."

Trump himself stands accused of sexual misconduct, including a rape allegation, by more than a dozen women when he was a private citizen. He has denied the allegations and has not been charged in any of the alleged sexual assaults.

The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sex crimes unless they grant permission, as Haleyi did.
Katherine Johnson, a mathematician who calculated rocket trajectories and earth orbits for NASA's 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, Va., family attorney Donyale Y. H. Reavis said.

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 NASA's 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, Va., that wasn't 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 NASA's Langley Research Center eventually shifted to Project Mercury, the nation's 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 Shepard's 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 Glenn's 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, women's 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 America's Space Race. But in 2015, President Barack Obama awarded Johnson  then 97  the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's 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 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.
Floridas presidential primary Tuesday will be a referendum on state and county elections officials efforts to build a wall to stop hacking attempts that are constantly bombarding the system.

At a time when 59% of the public doesn't trust the election process, state elections officials have thrown a veil of secrecy over that work, refusing to disclose details about the weaknesses detected in their systems and whether theyve been fixed.

Florida has doubled down on secrecy since federal officials reported at least four counties were hacked in 2016. The state forced all 67 elections supervisors to sign nondisclosure agreements before they could receive federal funding for elections security, be briefed about vulnerabilities found by cybersecurity experts or even hook up to the states voter registration system.

It just felt coerced, said Polk County Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards, a former member of the Legislature. We have a broad public records law for a reason, so having to sign a nondisclosure agreement didnt sit well with me  not only to receive funds, but information too.

The far-reaching confidentiality pacts, including a nondisclosure agreement that public records experts call bizarre and unenforceable, threaten to make a casualty out of transparency in the Sunshine State.

Because of the bureaucratic shroud the state has pulled over its voting systems, Florida residents still dont know:

Which four counties were hacked in 2016 by Russian intelligence operatives.

What vulnerabilities the state discovered through a risk assessment and whether they've been fixed.

Where $18 million in federal and state taxpayer dollars went that were intended to address those weaknesses.

Which vendors got that money.

Transparency is key," said Anthony J. Ferrante, global head of cybersecurity and senior managing director for Washington, D.C.-based FTI Consulting, an independent global business advisory firm. "It is important for every voter to know they have accessibility, integrity and reliability and that their vote is reported and true and accurate."

Story continues

Without that transparency, residents will lack confidence their votes will count, said Ben Wilcox, research director for the nonprofit ethics watchdog Integrity Florida.

"If there is a complete lack of confidence in the integrity of the voting system, it will have a chilling effect," Wilcox said. "If people become so cynical that the election is predetermined or hacked by foreign countries ... then people may not vote."

A recent Gallup poll showed only 40% of Americans trust the election system, up from 30% in 2016.

Keeping secrets also doesn't help get the additional resources to harden networks, create backup systems and make sure people cant hack into our systems, said U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, a Democrat whose congressional district includes Orlando. Murphy and fellow Florida Rep. Michael Waltz, a Republican, have introduced legislation that would require federal officials to immediately notify state and local officials and members of Congress if an election system is hacked.

We are not able to do that because of the lack of transparency with what happened in 2016," Murphy said. "We are victims of an info war."

Florida's official veil of secrecy

When it comes to patching up those vulnerabilities, Florida officials would rather tell residents to trust them than show what theyve done. Too much specific information would just make it easier for foreign agents to access voter information, they say.

I find Florida to be probably the most secretive state as far as not telling people where these hacks occurred. It only fuels the symptoms of suspicion, said William Theobald, who writes about election security at the national level for The Fulcrum, an online news organization funded by nonprofits including the Hewlett Foundation.

"Its the opposite of what they ought to be doing, and it seems like they are protecting local supervisors of elections from embarrassment, Theobald said.

Floridas heightened need for security is fueled by daily attacks and ever-present threats of future hacks, something state officials became aware of only after the 2016 elections.

Every single day, foreign and domestic actors attempt to penetrate our network, Secretary of State Laurel Lee, a lawyer and former judge who was appointed a year ago by Gov. Ron DeSantis, told the USA TODAY Network-Florida.

To fight those breaches, DeSantis in June reauthorized $2.3 million left over from a $15.1 million federal election security grant that Congress had approved the year before. That money was in addition to $2.8 million approved by the Legislature last session for election security.

As more information came out about the extent of the 2016 hacking, the federal government declared elections systems to be critical infrastructure. With that designation came a heightened need for confidentiality.

The FBI made DeSantis and Lee sign nondisclosure agreements, or NDAs, before being briefed on which Florida counties were hacked. And despite promising as much transparency as possible, Lee created a bureaucratic wall of paperwork to control the flow of money and information.

This layer of bureaucracy seemed to stem from Homeland Securitys new involvement in the states elections system, said Edwards, Polk Countys elections supervisor.

There is a whole byzantine, bureaucratic stratus associated with that ever since Homeland Security named the electoral system as critical infrastructure, Edwards said. All of a sudden  they were not willing to share any information without an NDA to the secretary of state.

Lee created the Joint Elections Security Initiative, or JESI, so the 67 elections supervisors could share cybersecurity information and receive training and support from the states cyber navigators. But to participate, they had to sign a memorandum of understanding and a Cyber Security Non-Disclosure Agreement that said they wouldnt divulge any of the vulnerabilities they had found or the defense measures they took to beef up their cybersecurity.

Elections supervisors had to sign the NDA to see what the cyber navigators discovered during their risk assessment, according to an email they received in July and obtained by the USA TODAY Network. Two reminders went out in September to supervisors who still hadnt signed the agreement.

Elections officials also had to sign memoranda of understanding as part of the application process to receive the leftover federal grant money.

It was made clear that receiving JESI grant funds and assistance from the Department of State cybernavigators was dependent on signing the agreements, Edwards said.

The NDA came up around the same time the risk assessments were coming out, she said.

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This copy won't show up in the digital presentation or print package. It's a placeholder for the longform template. Please don't delete it or add H2 headers above this point. --Rachael Thomas, Florida DOT Digital Producer rlthomas@gannett.com

I think its when they started giving the reports back that tripped this confidentiality issue, Edwards said. Some supervisors didnt want it known that they had problems. Say Sunshine County had not configured its firewall correctly, for instance, she said.

Elections supervisors were concerned about information from the risk assessment getting out that showed both strengths and weaknesses in the elections system, said Helen Aguirre Ferre, a spokeswoman for DeSantis. The NDA was a way to guarantee that potentially compromising information wasnt released to the public, she said.

Nobody was coerced, Ferre said.

The agreement was voluntarily signed by each supervisor of elections, said David Frady, a former spokesman for the Department of State.

The NDAs first draft didn't go over so well, said Mark Earley, Leon County's elections supervisor and a Democrat. Supervisors objected to some of the language, he said, but both sides worked together to iron out those differences, and then all supervisors signed as well as the state.

The NDA outlines a list of election-related records, documents, data and other material that might be deemed confidential under state and federal statutes, including:

Identifying and fixing cybersecurity vulnerabilities in critical election infrastructure and information systems.

Cyber threat indicators and defensive measures.

Cybersecurity risk assessments.

Security threats to the data, information and information technology of the states election system.

Any other information that should be reasonably recognized as confidential or exempt.

Edwards said no NDA would stop her from being transparent with voters.

Its not cramping my style in any way, Edwards said. I am telling people everything they need to know to feel we are doing all we can to protect our system. I am comfortable saying we had a vulnerability test and took appropriate action. We need to provide a level of confidence without telling anyone where the hole in the dike was.

Little Sunshine for public records requests

The USA TODAY Network-Florida sent two detailed public records requests to all 67 county elections offices to find out two things: who was warned by the FBI about hacking efforts prior to the 2016 election and how counties spent the money to prevent it from happening again.

What we know about the 2016 Russian hacking of Florida's election system comes from several sources: Special Counsel Robert Mueller's 2019 report and indictments related to his investigation, leaked National Security Agency documents and thick, heavily redacted reports submitted to the House and Senate intelligence committees.

Heres what they reveal:

Months before the November 2016 general election, inter-connected election-related networks in 21 states were potentially targeted by Russian government cyber actors.

In Florida, Russian cyber actors connected to the G.R.U., the Russian military's foreign intelligence service, sent a spear-phishing email to 120 email accounts containing Trojan horses. One of them was spotted by Volusia County Elections Supervisor Lisa Lewis, who sent out warnings to voters not to open the email.

They also launched a spear-phishing campaign to infiltrate VR Systems, a Tallahassee-based company that makes the software used by several states and now all 67 Florida counties to manage voter registration data and electronic poll books.

Despite state election officials statements to the contrary, the spear-phishing operation managed to install malware onto the companys operating system and that in turn enabled the G.R.U. to gain access to the network of at least one Florida county government.

Gov. Ron DeSantis was told during an FBI briefing last May that at least two counties were infiltrated, but he signed a nondisclosure agreement saying he would not divulge which counties were affected.

Washington County, a rural Republican bastion in the Florida Panhandle, was one of the counties that was hacked, according to the Washington Post. The supervisor of elections there, Carol F. Rudd, has refused to confirm the breach.

A report to the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee in July identified four Florida counties that were notified of an attack before the 2016 election and failed to act despite repeated warnings from the FBI and Homeland Security.

Legislation introduced in August by Florida U.S. Reps. Stephanie Murphy and Michael Waltz is pending that would require federal officials to immediately notify state and local officials and members of Congress if an election system is hacked. State and local officials would have to alert voters who might have been affected.

In January, the FBI pledged to update its notification policies about election system breaches. In addition to letting local officials know if they were hacked, the FBI will let the state know when a local system is breached. But the agency still won't tell the public or members of Congress in the state where the breach occurred.

While this is welcome news, I will continue to press for voters to be eventually included and notified of breaches and will continue to push for full transparency, Waltz said in a news release.

Contact Jeff Schweers at jschweers@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @jeffschweers.

The NDA explained the uniform responses and heavily redacted records that came from the nearly three dozen elections supervisors who responded to the records requests. The exemptions seemed inconsistently applied among supervisors. Some provided partially redacted records. Some provided totally redacted records. Others provided no records at all.

The first records request was based on details in a federal intelligence report submitted last June to the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee. The records request asked nine questions about information shared with the FBI and Homeland Security about hacking, spear-phishing, scanning and other attempts to breach voter registration files, as well as offers of assistance from both agencies.

The second records request asked what type of financial assistance the counties received from state and federal agencies. Invoices, bills, contracts and other records were requested to find out how they spent federal, state and county funds on software, equipment and training to improve election security.

About two-thirds of the counties responded to both requests. About a dozen never replied after acknowledging the request, while 10 wanted payment up front, ranging from $20 to almost $400.

One county, Duval, ultimately decided to waive its $180 fee.

For the request about security spending, about 30 sent heavily redacted documents, blacking out the names of vendors and descriptions of equipment purchased. Several provided no documents at all, saying the records themselves were exempt.

Sixteen counties provided complete, non-redacted records without charge.

On the hacking questions, most said either they had no records related to the request or that the records were protected under the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 or Florida statutes related to security plans and information technology.

"At first glance, most of this is exempt from public records under the Cyber Security Information Sharing Act of 2015," Lisa Lewis, elections supervisor for Volusia County, said in an email about the records requests.

Lewis had told reporters and officials that she spotted suspicious emails prior to the 2016 election but caught it before Volusias voter registration system could be infiltrated.

In a follow-up phone call, Lewis said suspicious emails made to look like they came from the voter registration system vendor, Tallahassee-based VR Systems, came to the addresses belonging to her, the previous elections supervisor, a deputy supervisor and the elections office email.

VR Systems is a technology company that provided voter registration information management to more than 50 Florida counties in 2016 and now provides that service to all 67 counties and more than a dozen states.

I felt we were lucky, Lewis said. We were responding to lots of emails in the middle of an election, and this caught my eye and the eye of my deputy, too.

Lewis said no system is 100% protected, but she is confident theyve done everything they can to make the elections system more secure.

Prior to the NDAs, all security procedures were a matter of public record, Lewis said.

While supervisors want the elections to be transparent, we cant divulge any security measures that would make it that much easier for our enemies to take someones vote away," Lewis said.

Most counties said they cooperate with the FBI and Homeland Security and receive regular updates on activities. But to say more would provide information of value to those seeking to breach the security of our elections system," said Lana Self, Duval County's deputy supervisor of elections.

Robert Phillips, the chief elections officer for Duvals elections supervisor, didn't redact any supposedly critical information before sending it.

"These have been our vendors of record for several years, and we have done other local media stories in which we disclosed our vendors," Phillips said.

Joyce Griffin, Monroe Countys elections supervisor, would share only that she spent all but $18 of the $100,746 in federal election security funds she received. I have to sleep at night, she said. You want to write a story that I think is dangerous. Why would I give you any information about security if I want to keep the system secure?

Only two counties  Alachua and Orange  acknowledged they were contacted by the FBI before the 2016 election about hacking attempts, but Orange County said it had no records related to the request.

Alachua County produced emails recounting at least two conversations with the FBI in October and November 2016 alerting them to malicious phishing attempts.

"The only confirmed malicious phishing email we are aware of targeting our office was the email from November 1, 2016 posing as a notification from one of our vendors which was widely reported on in 2017, based on an NSA report," Will Boyett, Alachua Countys chief deputy supervisor of elections, said in an email in response to a records request from another news agency.

The Supervisor of Elections Office does a manual count of ballots for Agriculture Commissioner in 2018. Ballots are checked for stray marks, no voter intent and clear voter intent.

"We confirmed at the time that no copies of said email were opened in our office and conducted a security review to ensure no corruption or penetration of any elements of our network occurred at that time," Boyett said.

That vendor was VR Systems.

A glimpse into how counties are protecting elections

The counties that did provide unredacted, detailed records on what they spent gave a glimpse into what was done to improve election security. And those in turn point to what vulnerabilities they were patching up.

For example, they replaced outdated voter check-in equipment with new, more secure EVID electronic devices from VR Systems to ensure that voters are properly identified and matched to the voter rolls.

They bought Albert sensors, which monitor for malicious emails.

They updated old firewalls, software and servers with enhanced security features, including auto-encrypting hard drives to prevent access by bad actors even if the drive itself was stolen.

They also beefed up their backup capabilities for vote tabulation equipment.

They even updated their Windows 10 laptops with self-encrypting hard drives.

And they invested in staff training to help them identify and respond to phishing and other social engineering attacks against users.

They also installed extra security cameras and door latches and put key cards on doors leading to rooms with sensitive election information and equipment.

Voter guide: Learn more about 2020 national elections

Secrecy pacts 'unenforceable'

Sunshine law experts raised serious concerns about the NDA and whether the exemptions cited are valid.

Its bizarre, but we do see these kinds of nondisclosure agreements on occasion," said Barbara Petersen, immediate past president of the First Amendment Foundation and a lawyer who continues to monitor Sunshine Law violations.

Cases decided by the 1st District Court of Appeal and the Florida Supreme Court have ruled officials cannot "contract away" their obligations under the state Public Records Law either by NDAs or via settlement agreements, she said.

"If you could, we'd have no public records," Petersen said.

Ultimately, though, the NDA is unenforceable, she said. "The NDA itself is meaningless."

The NDA cites four state statutory exemptions, two of which she said are identical and apply only to plans for physical security.

My understanding is its related to the physical security of a building, not IT security, she said.

The other exemptions deal with information technology but apply only to state agencies under the executive branch, she said. In other words, they apply to the Department of State but not the elections supervisors, who are independently elected constitutional officers in every county except Miami-Dade, which appoints its supervisor.

A researcher for the First Amendment Foundation said the federal Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act could apply but only to specific records related to cyber threat indicators and defensive measures, Petersen said.

However, she added, the supervisors "must redact that which is exempt and provide you with access to the remainder."

Voters 'have a right to know'

In the end, its the voters who are the real victims, Rep. Murphy said. They have the right to know if they were in the counties that were hacked.

The legislation cosponsored by Murphy and Waltz is still pending.

Provisional ballots are organized and ready for review at the Tallahassee Supervisor of Elections canvassing meeting on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.

The FBI pledged in January to update its notification policies about election system breaches. In addition to letting local officials know if they were hacked, the FBI will let the state know when a local system is breached. But the agency still won't tell the public or members of Congress in the state where the breach occurred.

While this is welcome news, I will continue to press for voters to be eventually included and notified of breaches and will continue to push for full transparency, Waltz said in a news release.

The fact that the FBI wont allow us to publicly release the names of the ... counties that were hacked means voters cant verify their county wasnt affected or deleted, Murphy said. Again, we need to give this information to the people who need it."

Contact Jeffrey Schweers at jschweers@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @jeffschweers.

More in this series

Who can vote? Florida's reworked voting laws come only after fierce court fights

Broward County: Florida's elections problem child vows to do better in 2020

2020 elections: There's an 'inactive' voter list. Are you on it?

Editorial: The current 'trust us' approach to election security hasnt been earned

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Voting access: Florida is 'most secretive state' on election security
NEW YORK - From shoes and T-shirts to dolls and tote bags, more companies and brands are getting into the business of Black History Month but trying not to leave the impression that African American consumers are important just once a year.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/2/2020 (686 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In this Feb. 20, 2020, photo, items from H&Ms new street wear collection are displayed at a store in New York. The collection was designed in collaboration with Ruth Carter, the Academy-Award winning designer behind the costumes for films such as Black Panther and Malcolm X." It debuted as more companies and brands are getting into the business of Black History Month but also trying not to leave the impression that African American consumers are important just once a year. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

NEW YORK - From shoes and T-shirts to dolls and tote bags, more companies and brands are getting into the business of Black History Month but trying not to leave the impression that African American consumers are important just once a year.

Some businesses are using February to show off the diversity of their year-round product lines or to draw attention to the creative talent of their African American employees.

Target rolled out a Black History Month assortment that spotlights black-owned brands such as Honey Pot feminine products, Lip Bar cosmetics and Scotch Porter, which specializes in men's grooming. The collection includes books, music and food that are favourites among Target's African American employee resource group, which has more than 1,000 members. The company has been promoting the products through blogs and commentary from its staff.

H&M has a new street wear collection designed in collaboration with Ruth Carter, the Academy-Award winning designer behind the costumes for films including Black Panther, Malcolm X and Amistad." The pants, shirts, totes and hats  featuring the pan-African flag colours of red, black and green  debuted in February, but the collection was not billed as a Black History Month tribute.

Companies are getting smart about making it integrated into the rest of the year, as opposed to one month when you give money to the NAACP or run an ad, as opposed to treating it as an expense, just one of those things we have to do otherwise well get in trouble," said Brenda Lee, founding director of the marketing research firm Vision Strategy and Insights, which researches African American, Hispanic and Asian consumers.

Ezinne Kwubiri, H&M's head of inclusion and diversity for North America, said she notices more companies publicly marking Black History Month, but the next thing is to challenge them to do more during the year." The Carter collection, for instance, will be a long-term collaboration, she said.

Lets not make this about one month of recognition, said Kwubiri, who was hired to her position following an uproar two years ago when H&M featured a black child model wearing a "monkey in the jungle" T-shirt on its website in the U.K.

In this Feb. 20, 2020, photo, items from H&Ms new street wear collection are displayed at a store in New York. The collection was designed in collaboration with Ruth Carter, the Academy-Award winning designer behind the costumes for films such as Black Panther and Malcolm X." It debuted as more companies and brands are getting into the business of Black History Month but also trying not to leave the impression that African American consumers are important just once a year. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

While companies have been marking Black History Month for years, the events are getting bigger, and more brands are joining in, seeking to connect with increasingly diverse generations of consumers.

Target launched its Black History Month assortments five years ago and has since increased the number of products to more than 100, carried in more than 600 stores. Melanie Gatewood, director of multicultural merchandise, said Target was able to tap into black-owned businesses that it has been working with for years. More than one-third of the products in the assortment this year are from black-owned or founded businesses.

Nike launched a special edition sneaker 15 years ago for Black History month with the pan-African colours. This year, it has an entire collection modeled by young black leaders including artist Shani Crowe and McKinley Nelson, founder of Project sWish, a Chicago foundation dedicated to inner city youths.

Michaels, the arts and crafts retailer, has a collection of black heritage products this year, a project that originated with its African American and black employee resource group. The products include printed vinyl rolls that have proved so popular that Michaels plans to include them in its permanent collection.

A major part of avoiding missteps is being authentic in anything you do, said Davette Angelo, a merchandising product manager, adding that he and designer Sharae Averhart pulled on our experiences and backgrounds to put this collection together.

Still, there have been mistakes along the way, especially when there is no consensus on what crosses the line into exploitation and trivialization.

Barnes & Noble this month pulled a widely condemned line of classic literature reissued with covers featuring dark-skinned versions of characters like Alice in Wonderland. The organizers of Diverse Editions relied on artificial intelligence to review more than 100 older books to identify which ones to reissue.

That was a great example of that being all about pushing the books and nothing about promoting the community," Lee said. "What about that was grounded in African American history?

Even companies rooted in the black community can't always escape criticism.

OneUnited Bank, the countrys largest black-owned bank, released a debit card in mid-February with Harriet Tubman on it as a way to highlight the stalled effort to put the abolitionist icon on the $20 bill. There was an instant backlash from Twitter users who chafed at the image of the former slave on a debit card.

Frederick Knight, an associate professor of history at Morehouse College, said it might have been more meaningful to elevate a lesser-known figure more directly tied to black economic empowerment, pointing to Maggie Lena Walker, who chartered a bank after the Civil War.

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.

There are more appropriate people they could have used this opportunity for, rather than take advantage of an iconic person like Harriet Tubman, Knight said.

But the bank stands by its decision, noting that the card is the ninth in a series with black faces on them, including one launched in partnership with the Black Lives Matter movement. It stems from a re-branding the company undertook in 2015 to put its black identity as the centre of its marketing. OneUnited Bank President Teri Williams said the Tubman card has been its bestseller.

Adriana Waterston, senior vice-president of insights and strategy for Horowitz Research, said companies are responding to customers that take pride in seeing their heritage represented in powerful brands.

Especially in todays racially polarized environment, showing up and supporting one community speaks volumes, Waterston said. If you are only showing up once a year, black consumers will easily see through this and consider you disingenuous.

-

This story has been updated to correct the number of Target stores carrying Black History Month assortments. It's more than 600, not 700.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with US President Donald Trump as First Lady Melania Trump looks on prior to a meeting at the Hyderabad House, in New Delhi, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. A PTI Photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): India and the US on Tuesday finalised defence deals worth USD 3 billion, and signed three MoUs, including one in energy sector, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the two countries have decided to take Indo-US ties to comprehensive global partnership level.



The unprecedented and historic welcome given to Trump in India will be remembered, said Modi at a joint press meet with Trump and added that the relations between the two countries are not merely confined to governments but are people-driven.



Trump announced that the two countries have finalised defence deals worth USD 3 billion and asserted that their focus was on having a comprehensive trade deal.



The relations between the two countries have never been as good as they are now, Trump said, adding that the countries have made "wonderful deal".



In his brief remarks at the start of official talks, Modi said "Defence cooperation between two countries is reflective of rising strategic partnership between India and US. We also agreed on new mechanism to contain drug trafficking" the Prime Minister said.



Modi welcomed the US president and thanked him for taking time out for the visit to India.



President Trump, in turn, said the last two days in India were amazing, especially the event at the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad.



"It was a great honour for me. I would imagine they (the people) were there maybe more for you than for me... 125,000 people were inside. Every time I mentioned your name, there were cheers. People love you," Trump told Modi in front of the media.



Earlier, Trump was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Modi welcomed Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The US president also received a tri-services guard of honour at the presidential palace.



The Trumps, who also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial Rajghat here, arrived in Ahmedabad around noon on Monday for the first leg of their 36-hour India visit.



"Visit has been unforgettable, extraordinary and productive," President Trump added.


A call has been made to end the use of lead and single-use plastics in shotgun ammunition for live quarry shooting within five years.

Nine shooting and countryside groups highlight how significant recent advances in technology have enabled the transition to take place.

For the first time, biodegradable shot cups for steel shot, with the necessary ballistics to ensure lethality, are available.

The move will benefit wildlife and the environment, and also safeguard the growing market for healthy game meat, according to the organisations.

Groups who have made the call include the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, British Game Alliance and Countryside Alliance.

A joint statement said: "The shooting community must maintain its place at the forefront of conservation and environmental protection.

"Continued development of non-lead shot and recyclable and bio-degradable plastics means the time is right for a complete transition."

They add that the five-year proposal allows for a smooth transition giving both the shooting community and the industry time to adapt.

This is a significant announcement, but one the shooting community should not fear," the rural organisations said.

"British wildfowlers and other European countries have already moved away from lead without detriment to participation or performance.

While tradition is important in shooting and should be defended where possible, so is evolution if we are to continue to maintain our position at the heart of the British countryside.

"Shooting has changed greatly over the years and this move is just the next step in that illustrious history."

The organisations are urging the shooting community to support the Gun Trade Association and cartridge manufacturers as they further develop ammunition for every situation involving live quarry.

The joint statement was issued by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, British Game Alliance, Countryside Alliance, Country Land and Business Association, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, National Gamekeepers Organisation, the Moorland Association, Scottish Land & Estates and Scottish Association for Country Sports.
Actress Rose McGowan today claimed movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was running a 'rape factory' and feared he would be exonerated in his New York trial.

The 46-year-old, who was one of the leading #MeToo activists after accusing Weinstein of sexual assault, also said she feared he would hire a hitman to kill her in the wake of her claims.

On Good Morning Britain, McGowan also alleged Weinstein could be 'one of the biggest rapists in history'.

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 producer was acquitted of the most serious charge of predatory sexual assault but faces a lengthy jail term that could be up to 29 years.

McGowan told GMB today the guilty verdicts were a 'huge moment' and that she hoped it would lead to more predators being convicted.

Speaking via video link in New York, McGowan admitted she thought Weinstein would be found not guilty.

Rose McGowan spoke on Good Morning Britain via video link from New York to give her reaction to the Harvey Weinstein verdict

Actress Margot Robbie posted a message on Instagram celebrating a 'victory for survivors everywhere' after the guilty verdicts in the Weinstein case

She also went on to claim he could be 'one of the biggest rapists in history' and alleged he was running a 'rape factory behind the scenes'.

McGowan said: 'This is a huge victory for all of us who have ever been effected by Harvey Weinstein. This effects so many. It's a huge moment. I thought he was going to exonerated.'

'I never really had hope you see. I realized the last time I had hope was the moment before I was raped by him and after that it became survival.

'I didn't have hope but not because of the jury, I'm very grateful to that jury for getting further than most jury's get in rape cases.

'I was worried, it's hard to speak publicly about it without getting sued. But it's an extraordinary moment and it's a watershed moment.

'It's a never-ending kind of situation. This is an unbelievable achievement to have a woman who was raped by an accuser in court and saying ''you did this to me''. That is a privilege. There's an astounding number of victims who never get any kind of measure of justice.

'So, I found it, we were winning by even having it in court. That's how little we've been taught to expect.'

The actress went on to say she felt 'isolated' and alleged Weinstein tried to silence her with a 'machine of monsters', even fearing she could be killed over the accusations she was making.

Harvey Weinstein arriving at New York City Supreme Court on Monday before he was found guilty of third-degree rape and committing a first-degree criminal sexual act

McGowan admitted she thought Weinstein would be found not guilty and said the conviction was a 'huge moment'

She told GMB: 'I'm really glad people are starting to talk about the trauma of it. You see people and you wonder why they disappear from the screen or their workplace, can you imagine having something so traumatic and you have to keep it isolated in your own soul? That's a brutal form of torture.

'He [Weinstein] very much came after me, he and his giant machine of other monsters. People he paid to do dastardly things.

'Things that sound like they're out of a spy novel but they're my life. I was sitting at home thinking I should do the laundry and then thinking, ''I wonder if he's convicted will he hire a hitman to kill me''.'

Speaking about how making such public accusations affected her career, McGowan said she was shunned by some in Hollywood.

She added: 'It [my career] immediately collapsed. You get punished over and over again. You get punished by strangers who look at you with this knowing look in their eyes.

'For a lot of women, I imagine they would look at how I was treated and say, why would I want to do this? For some, it's extremely important to have a voice when they've been silenced for so long. Others can deal with it by speaking to people in their own life.

'It was incredibly isolating and lonely. I would go to events and sit next to people in Hollywood who I won't name, and they would turn away from me like I had something that they didn't want to catch.'

Margot Robbie at the Birds of Prey film premier in London last week. She sent a message of support following Harvey Weinstein's verdict in New York

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)

Talking about whether a sentence of 29 years behind bars was long enough, she concluded: 'For me, personally, I would just rather he ceased to exist. The world would be better off but I am happy there is one less serial predator on the streets.

It's an incredible momentIt's an overwhelming amount of emotions. Just this kind of flood gates of stress that are just starting to recede after being so high for so long. [But] This whole thing is a tragedy. None of this had to happen.'

McGowan summed up by saying: 'I'm still in shock, to tell you the truth. I was really expecting to have to deal with a flood of 'Is this the end of Me Too' [if he had been found not guilty]I'm kind of spun right now, but I can tell you the young girl I was, is giving a high five to the woman I am today.'

'What this shows, is that the old ways of treating rape victims on the stand in trial by slut shaming them but now thankfully juries will start to see through it.'

The guilty verdicts were hailed as a landmark moment for the #MeToo movement, with accusers, activists and attorneys lining up to congratulate prosecutors.

Margot Robbie posted a message on Instagram celebrating a 'victory for survivors everywhere' after the guilty verdicts.

TV journalist Lauren Sivan, who alleged Weinstein cornered her in the hallway of a New York restaurant and masturbated in front of her by a potted plant, also celebrated the verdicts.

She told Lorraine Kelly on GMTV: 'Absolutely relieved and grateful this is wonderful news for women everywhere for people everywhere because this shows men will be held accountable for these types of sexual crimes.

'So many women didn't speak out and even the ones that did were silenced, he would trash them to other producers directors to prevent them from working again.

'The sheer number of us is startling but so many of them couldnt or wouldnt testify and didnt want to go forward because it is traumatic to watch those brave women be torn apart by his defense team - it was gut wrenching.'

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 in a Twitter post after the verdict.

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

'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.

McGowan tweeted immediately after the verdict: '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.'

Gloria Allred, attorney for Sciorra and Haleyi, told reporters outside court that, 'It's no longer business as usual in the United States.'

Rose McGowan, who has said Harvey Weinstein will finally know how it feels to have 'power wrapped around his neck' after the disgraced film mogul was convicted of rape and sexual assault

'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...'
A Radio Farda investigation shows that the Revolutionary Guard owned Mahan Air has continued its flights to four Chinese cities in the past three weeks despite consistent denials by Iranian officials.

The information has been collected from flight-tracking websites such as Flightradar24. As seen on Flightradar24 website in the screenshot below Mahan Air's flight W576 from Shanghai was scheduled to land at Imam Khomeini Airport of Tehran at 6:31 am local time on February 25.

Our investigation revealed that from February 4 to February 22 Mahan Air flew at least fifty-five times to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen and back to Iran from Tehran's Imam Khomeini Airport.

On Tuesday the Spokesman of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) refuted the accusations against Mahan Air and its possible role in the coronavirus outbreak in the country by continuing to fly to China.

Reza Jafarzadeh said after the government decided to cease all flights to and from China but there have been a few authorized flights including a flight to evacuate students and other Iranian nationals from China and a few cargo flights, all of them under the supervision of the Health Ministry and with all due preventative sanitary measures.

The government had decided in early February to stop all flights to China. After an emergency cabinet meeting on February 14, Health Minister Saeed Namaki told reporters that flights from and to China had stopped. No coronavirus cases had been reported in Iran at the time.

In an Instagram post on February 23, Mahan Air said it had last flown to China on February 3 and 4.

Reports of continuation of Mahan Air flights to China despite the ban have drawn criticism from lawmakers and the public. A member of Iran's Parliament on Tuesday said flights between Iran and China have not stopped despite the official "suspension" of flights.

On February 2 the Chinese envoy in Tehran posted photos of a meeting with Hamid Arabnejad, the CEO of Mahan Air, on Twitter and said he has announced that the airline wanted to "continue cooperation with China".

Mahan airline is partly owned by the Revolutionary Guard. It 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".
Description

GIS - 25 February, 2020: The Attorney General, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Maneesh Gobin, made a statement, yesterday, in the National Assembly pertaining to the arbitration proceedings between Thomas Gosling; Property Partnerships Development Managers (UK) Limited; Property Partnerships Developments (Mauritius) Ltd; Property Partnerships Holdings (Mauritius) Ltd; TG Investments ltd; and Mauritius on the dispute of two areas in Mauritius, namely at Le Morne Brabant and Pointe Jerome.

The case, he said concerns a dispute submitted to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) on the basis of the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Mauritius for the Promotion and Protection of Investments which entered into force in October 1986 (the BIT) and the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States (the ICSID Convention).

The Tribunal, he said, decided, by majority, to dismiss all claims on the merits and also ordered that each party shall pay for its own arbitration costs; and 50% of the fees and expenses of the members of the Tribunal and the administrative fees and direct expenses of the ICSID Secretariat.

The Minister added that the proceedings were held in Washington and were closed in February this year. The applicable laws applied by the Tribunal were the provisions of the BIT as interpreted in accordance to the rules of interpretation set forth in Article 31 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of the Treaties, he said.

He indicated that the Claimants claimed that Mauritius had violated Articles 2, 3 and 5 of the BIT in relation to their investments in Le Morne and Pointe Jerome projects and prayed the Tribunal to order Mauritius to pay damages and compensation to the tune of EUR 18 million and EUR 5.7 million respectively for both projects as well as, interests and costs.

The Attorney General further mentioned that the Tribunal found that Mauritius was within its contractual rights to cancel the lease and concluded that the lessee had breached the Lease and that Government had the right to cancel the lease de plein droit as permitted by the terms of the Lease and, therefore, without exercising any other rights than its contractual rights.
DUBLIN, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese Ambassador to Ireland, Mr He Xiangdong, recently visited Novaerus, an Irish company that manufactures and sells patented medical-grade, clean air solutions. The visit marks an important day for Irish - Chinese solidarity as a donation of Novaerus patented air dis-infection technology leaves for two hospitals currently battling the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China. Tom Cusack, Regional Director - Asia Pacific at Enterprise Ireland, Mary Kinnane, Director - Greater China at Enterprise Ireland, Elaine Coughlan, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Atlantic Bridge and delegates from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Ireland were also in attendance.

The recent COVID-19 outbreak is causing global concern. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly inhaled into the lungs.

As hospitals across China struggle to contain the spread of the newly identified virus, it is clear that standard infection prevention and control protocols need reinforcement.

Novaerus has donated several air dis-infection devices to two hospitals in Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the COVID-19 outbreak; Wuhan Xincheng Hospital and Wuhan Third People's Hospital. Among the donation of goods is a Defend 1050 for each facility, the company's latest innovation in infection control. The Defend 1050 is a mobile solution designed for rapid remediation in large spaces and situations with a high risk of infection.

"To successfully control the spread of pathogens we need to close the infection control loop; hands, surfaces and air," says Dr Kevin Devlin, CEO at WellAir, the parent company of Novaerus. "Cleaning the air is a fundamental component of managing infectious outbreaks, and we have a unique technology to do this."

Due to the small size of viruses, many clean air solutions, including standalone filtration, are unable to trap viral particles. Novaerus portable air dis-infection units use a non-selective, rapid killing, patented plasma technology, offering a unique and safe solution to kill airborne viruses 24/7. The technology has also been independently tested to reduce MS2 Bacteriophage, a commonly used surrogate for SARS-CoV* (Coronavirus) by 99.99%.

Novaerus recently partnered with seven established distributors across China, in regions such as Hubei, Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Guangzhou City and the Chinese special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau. The new partnerships will provide health facilities across China access to Novaerus patented clean air technology.

About Novaerus

Novaerus is part of WellAir, an Irish company on a mission to reduce indoor airborne pollutants to create living, working, and healing spaces that foster rather than detract from human health, productivity, and wellbeing. WellAir and its brands, Novaerus and Plasma Air, can be found installed in hundreds of hospitals, senior living facilities, schools, casinos, railway stations, residences, and industrial facilities in more than 40 countries around the world.

For more information, visit www.novaerus.com.

*(2010 - Evaluation of filters for the sampling and quantification of RNA Phage Aerosols, Louis Gendron et al.)

Media Contact:

Elizabeth Daly Ni Bhroin

Marketing Manager

Novaerus

+353-1-907-2750

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1095112/Novaerus_Donates_Dis_infection_Technology.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1095113/Novaerus_Shipment_Wuhan.jpg
Economic growth generated through digital payments could add up to 3.5 percent to Egypt's GDP, according to Visa.

The company, which describes itself as the worlds leader in digital payments, hosted on Monday the Egypt Payment Security and Digital Solutions Conference in partnership with the Egyptian Banking Institute (EBI).

Attended by leaders from Egyptian banks, traders, and fintech firms, the conference featured presentations by Visa experts on the latest cyber-security trends and digital solutions.

Visa also presented its security roadmap for Egypts payments ecosystem, which is based on the strategic security pillars of devaluing data, protecting data, harnessing data and empowering consumers.

It includes facilitating the deployment of best-in-class digital solutions such as contactless cards and tokenisation  a process whereby personal data is protected by replacing it with a randomly generated number, or token -- to support both in-store and online payments, as well as data-driven authentication and risk scoring solutions, and transaction controls for more seamless cardholder payment experiences.

The roadmap also promotes stakeholder compliance with data security standards that protect payment ecosystems from breaches and theft of cardholder data.

Visas General Manager for North Africa Ahmed Gaber said that Visas roadmap for Egypt is designed to support risk governance, digital innovation and security.

Visa is committed to driving security across the payment ecosystem to make the environment more secure, while improving the cardholders payment experience," he said.

He noted that "no entity can protect the system itself, and that is why engagements such as our conference that foster collaboration and the collective responsibility of all stakeholders are so important."

Egyptian Banking Institute Executive Director Abdel Aziz Nossier noted that Egypt is entering a new era of digital economy with the rapid proliferation of mobile phones and the increasing push for businesses to digitise their payment experiences.

"At EBI we are seeking to promote sustainable, inclusive and secure digital commerce that will help drive economic growth and extend the benefits of digital payments to all Egyptians, he said.

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The Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Oyo state is seeking inclusion of its members in operation Amote...





The Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Oyo state is seeking inclusion of its members in operation Amotekun, a security outfit.





will be beneficial for the development of peace in the state. Speaking at a public hearing on the Oyo state security network agency bill 2020, also known as Amotekun bill, on Monday, Yaqub Bello, a former chairman of MACBAN in the state, said incorporation of Miyetti Allah memberswill 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.





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.








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The Queen likes difficult things tidied up quickly and quietly. Elizabeth II is eager to get Megxit over and done with and is reluctant to talk about the subject anymore, a royal source has told Vanity Fair. Boris Johnson remains reluctant to talk about Brexit and believes a trade deal with the EU can be done quickly (if not quietly) to get the B-word process over and done with. But as the PM signs off on his negotiation mandate today, he has been warned he cannot blackmail Brussels into rushing into an agreement. Her Majesty may wish to look away  its about to get messy. Im Adam Forrest, and welcome to The Independents daily Inside Politics briefing.

Inside the bubble

Our chief political commentator John Rentoul on what to look out for at Westminster today:
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  The head of an Iranian government task force on the coronavirus who had urged the public not to overreact about its spread has tested positive for the illness himself, authorities said Tuesday, as new cases emanating from the country rapidly emerged across the Middle East.

Only a day earlier, a coughing and heavily sweating Iraj Harirchi said at a televised news conference in Tehran that the situation is almost stable in the country."

The acknowledgement of Harirchi's illness underscores a growing crisis of confidence felt by many in Iran after nationwide economic protests, a U.S. drone striking killing a top Iranian general and Iran accidentally shooting down a commercial jetliner and insisting for days that it hadn't.

Iran on Tuesday also saw a crucial air link cut to the United Arab Emirates, home to the world's busiest airport for international travel in Dubai, as Bahrain announced more confirmed cases of the virus from passengers who transited through the UAE. The number of cases also increased sharply elsewhere in the region.

Qatar Airways, one of the Mideast's biggest carriers, also said it was essentially halting operations to Iran and South Korea until further notice.

Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour confirmed Harirchi had the virus. Harirchi himself posted an online video saying he had it and that he had quarantined himself at home. He promised that authorities would bring the virus under control.

I wanted to tell you that, rest assured that with efforts of your servants at the Health Ministry ... and backed by you people, the government and all elements of the establishment, we will be victorious in our combat against this virus within the next few weeks, Harirchi said.

On Monday, however, he had offered a far different assessment while repeatedly wiping his brow while standing beside government spokesman Ali Rabiei.

Currently the situation is almost stable in the country and we could manage to minimize the problem," Harirchi said. He also said that "quarantines belong to the Stone Age."

Story continues

That optimism, while no longer held by Harirchi, also appeared to be undercut by Jahanpour himself on Tuesday. The Health Ministry spokesman suggested it may take at least until Nowruz, the Persian New Year on March 20, for Iran to reach a point where the virus was contained. He added that a more pessimistic assessment suggested Iran would contain it by late April.

"We don't expect a miracle in the short term," Jahanpour said.

A prominent pro-reform lawmaker, Mamoud Sadeghi of Tehran, also said in a tweet that he tested positive for the virus.

The coronavirus has infected more than 80,000 people globally, causing about 2,700 deaths, mainly in China. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19.

Jahanpour on Tuesday said 15 people had died in Iran so far amid 95 confirmed cases. However, experts remain concerned Iran may be underreporting cases and deaths, given the rapid spread from Iran across the Persian Gulf.

A hard-line lawmaker in Iran alleged Monday there had been 50 deaths in the Iranian city of Qom alone, which was denied by authorities.

What do you have to say about those buried in Qom cemetery? tweeted lawmaker Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani. Practitioners in hospitals write respiratory problems as the cause of death. But you know that they are from those quarantined for corona.

While Farahani's politics make him eager to undercut moderate President Hassan Rouhani, his earlier warning that Qom's top doctor fighting the coronavirus also had been infected has proven to be true.

Rouhani said he opposed closing public and government offices.

This is one of the plots by the enemy to shut down the country through spreading fear," he said in a speech, although he also urged people to avoid crowds, including at major Shiite shrines.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. is deeply concerned that Iran may have suppressed vital details about the outbreak.

All nations, including Iran, should tell the truth about the coronavirus and cooperate with international aid organizations, he said.

The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority said it would halt all flights to and from Iran. The announcement came hours after busy Dubai International Airport said there would be restrictions on flights there.

The UAE, home to long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad, remains a key international transit route for Iran's 80 million people.

All passenger and cargo aircraft traveling to and from Iran will be suspended for a period of one week, and could be up for extension, the authority said.

Passengers on a Mahan Air flight from Tehran to Dubai on Tuesday said their flight was delayed some two hours, only to repeatedly circle the UAE city-state, then land and sit for another two hours before authorities agreed to let them off. The passengers, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution, said authorities let them walk off one at a time while being monitored with a thermal scanner.

Emirates, the government-owned carrier based in Dubai, flies daily to Tehran. Its low-cost partner airline, FlyDubai, serves several Iranian cities, as does the Sharjah-based low-cost carrier Air Arabia.

The announcement came after Bahrain said it would suspend all flights from Dubai and Sharjah, a neighboring UAE emirate home to Air Arabia, for 48 hours. The small island nation off Saudi Arabia announced its first cases of the virus on Monday. By Tuesday, Bahrain said it had 23 confirmed cases.

Dubai had been screening passengers on flights from China, where the outbreak began in December. Emirates and Etihad still fly to Beijing as the UAE works to maintain close ties with China.

Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq and Oman also announced their first cases of the virus Monday and connected them to travel with Iran. The UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula, has reported 13 cases of the virus. Most of those were connected to Chinese travel.

Also Tuesday, Kuwait raised the number of its infected cases from five to eight, according to the state-run KUNA news agency. It said the three latest cases involved Kuwaiti citizens just back from Iran. The five previously reported cases were passengers on a flight from the Iranian city of Mashhad, where Irans government has not yet announced a single case of the virus.

Iraqs Health Ministry said four new cases of coronavirus were diagnosed in the northern province of Kirkuk. It said the afflicted were members of an Iraqi family who had returned recently from Iran. Iraq announced its first case Monday in the Shiite Muslim holy city of Najaf: an Iranian student who has since returned to Iran.

The northern region, which shares a border with Iran, is a hub of economic activity and the primary gateway for the Kurdistan Regional Government to import Iranian goods and fuel, and Kurds in Erbil lined up for gas, fearing shortages. The KRG also suspended working hours across educational institutions for a month.

Harirchi, the ailing Iranian official, had the following advice for worried Iranians: Take care of yourselves. This virus is a democrat virus! It does not differentiate between the rich and the poor or official and nonofficial and anyone could get it.

___

Associated Press writers Aya Batrawy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Nasser Karimi, Saeed Sarmadi, Mohammad Nasiri and Mehdi Fattahi in Tehran, Iran; Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey; Munir Ahmed in Islamabad; and Samya Kullab in Baghdad contributed.
This is the shocking moment a raging bull gores two festival goers in the bullring during a traditional event in Spain.

The incident took place during the Carnaval del Toro festival in the town of Ciudad Rodrigo in the north-central Spanish province of Salamanca and three people were reportedly injured in total.

In the footage, a 20-year-old man from Lisbon is seen approaching the bull and slipping over in front of it before being gored.

The incident took place during the Carnaval del Toro festival in the town of Ciudad Rodrigo in the north-central Spanish province of Salamanca and three people were reportedly injured in total

In the footage, a 20-year-old man from Lisbon is seen approaching the bull and slipping over in front of it before being gored

Reports said the man was taken to the Hospital Virgen de la Vega in Salamanca with gore wounds to his lower abdomen and lumbar area

Reports said the man was taken to the Hospital Virgen de la Vega in Salamanca with gore wounds to his lower abdomen and lumbar area.

In the other video, a 27-year-old man from Laguna de Duero in Spain is seen being tossed in the air by the bull and he reportedly suffered broken ribs and internal bleeding.

Another victim was a 72-year-old woman who fell from the stands and passed out for several minutes.

Local media said that two others were injured during the capea event, but were treated by Red Cross members at the scene and were released the same day.

The running of the bull event, which took place shortly after the capea, saw around 10 people require treatment at the bullring for minor injuries.

The Carnaval del Toro in Ciudad Rodrigo dates back to 1736 and the running of the bulls event is a major feature of the carnival celebrations.
At least 15 people drowned and dozens are unaccounted for after a boat carrying Rohingya refugees sank off southern Bangladesh early Tuesday, officials said. Some 130 people -- mainly women and children -- were packed on a trawler that was trying to cross the Bay of Bengal to reach Malaysia, coast guard spokesman Hamidul Islam told AFP. Seventy people had so far been rescued. Many of the 700,000-plus Rohingya Muslims who fled a military crackdown in Myanmar in 2017 have tried to leave overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district on boats headed for Malaysia. The boat, barely 13 metres (40 feet) long, was one of two vessels attempting the hazardous 2,000-kilometre (1,250-mile) journey before the monsoon season starts. Four navy and coast guard boats were searching the seas near St Martin's island, officials said. "They were lured by traffickers," said border guard commander Faisal Hasan Khan. With few opportunities for jobs and education in the refugee camps, thousands have attempted to reach other countries in Southeast Asia. Malaysia is the favoured destination for the Rohingya as it is a Muslim-majority nation with a sizeable Rohingya diaspora. - 'Tragedy waiting to happen' - Shakirul Islam, a migration expert whose group works with Rohingya to raise awareness against trafficking, said desperation in the camps was making refugees want to leave. "It was a tragedy waiting to happen," he said. "They just want to get out, and fall victim to traffickers who are very active in the camps." Islam said that in the past two months dozens of Rohingya had reported approaches from traffickers to his OKUP migration rights group. Since last year, Bangladesh law enforcement agencies have picked up over 500 Rohingya from rickety fishing trawlers or coastal villages as they waited to board boats. Trafficking often increases during the November-March period when the sea is safest for the small trawlers used by the traffickers. At least seven suspected traffickers were shot dead in 2019 in clashes with police. An estimated 25,000 Rohingya left Bangladesh and Myanmar on boats in 2015 trying to get to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Hundreds drowned when overloaded boats sank. Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a repatriation deal to send back some Rohingya to their homeland, but none have agreed to return because of fears for their safety.
Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins said the employee injured in a shooting outside of Brigham and Womens Hospital on Feb. 7 was shot by Boston police.

Rollins said the man authorities initially thought to be have fired shots, 41-year-old Mattapan resident Juston Root, had a replica gun on him.

The investigation revealed that the weapon recovered on scene in Norfolk County was not a working firearm, Rollins told reporters on Tuesday. We can therefore determine that the valet was struck by a bullet discharged by a Boston police officer.

The 49-year-old valet employee was discharged from the hospital on Thursday. He had been critically injured in the shooting.

Rollins said the employee suffered a detached retina, and that there are some indications that his injuries were a result of a ricochetted bullet.

Authorities first responded to a report of a person shot in the area of 60 Fenwood Road at roughly 9:20 a.m. Feb. 7. Boston police said that a suspect pulled out and pointed directly at the responding officers what appeared to be a firearm.

Rollins said that Root initially threatened a security officer at the hospital. He was later shot and killed by police after a car chase that began at the hospital, where the valet employee was injured, and ended on Route 9 in Brookline.

A GoFundMe page, which was set up for the valet employee, identified him by his first name, Justin.
[Ashley Judd and other Weinstein accusers spoke to The Times about the verdict.]

The #MeToo movement helped propel the prosecution. Mr. Vance, the district attorney, had drawn criticism for failing to prosecute Mr. Weinstein in 2015 after an Italian model complained to the police that the producer had grabbed her breasts and tried to force his hand up her skirt. And some of Mr. Weinsteins accusers who had not previously gone to the police were then willing to participate in the criminal justice process if it meant supporting and protecting other women.

I just wanted to add my voice in support, and share my experience with the hopes of helping anyone else who was victimized, Miriam Haley, a former production assistant, said on the witness stand.

I did it for all of us, Dawn Dunning, who served as a supporting witness in the trial, said in an interview on Monday. I did it for the women who couldnt testify. I couldnt not do it.

Joan Illuzzi, the lead prosecutor, did not have much by way of forensic evidence or direct witnesses to prove wrongdoing. Instead, her team strove to establish a pattern of predation, putting four additional women on the stand who told similar stories of rape or abuse by Mr. Weinstein. Those types of supporting witnesses had proved crucial in the successful prosecution of Bill Cosby in 2018. In the Weinstein trial, they provided testimony that was much larger than the sum of its parts, reflecting the collective power of womens voices at the core of #MeToo.

For decades Mr. Weinstein used high-priced lawyers and secret settlements to silence women with allegations of sexual misconduct against him. But during the trial, which began in early January, he was the one who could not speak. On the advice of his lawyers, he did not take the stand. Instead, he listened as six women testified about what they said he had done to them.

Many of the women described being humiliated by the producer. As they spoke, Mr. Weinstein often appeared humiliated. At one point, as one accuser, Jessica Mann, described his genitals, Mr. Weinstein hung his head.

To counter the allegations, Mr. Weinstein and his legal team drummed home the message that #MeToo had spun out of control.
Molekule Air

Molekule, a San Francisco, CA-based air purification company, closed $58m in Series C funding.

The round was led by RPS Ventures with participation from Founders Circle Capital and existing investors Foundry Group, Crosslink Capital, Uncork Capital, and TransLink Capital, and new investor Inventec Appliances Corp (IAC).

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate channel growth, focus on technology innovation, and continue to prioritize product expansion.

Led by Dilip Goswami, Molekule has developed patented photo electrochemical oxidation (PECO) technology that destroys a whole range of tiny pollutants, including VOCs, mold, bacteria, viruses and allergens. The company offers Air, a device designed to destroy pollutants in large spaces like master bedrooms, living rooms & family rooms, and recently launched Molekule Air Mini, which is designed to destroy pollutants in small spaces like studio apartments, kids bedrooms & home offices.

FinSMEs

25/02/2020
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 03:52:56|Editor: yan

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MUSCAT, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Omani Ministry of Health revealed on Tuesday that the number of COVID-19 cases in Oman has risen to four.

The ministry said in an official statement that there are two new infections discovered on Tuesday. The two are Omani citizens who had traveled to Iran.

The ministry emphasized that all cases are in stable conditions. It called upon travelers from countries with COVID-19 infections to contact the ministry so that they can be instructed regarding quarantine procedures for a period of 14 days and follow other preventive measures.

The ministry announced on Monday the first two cases of COVID-19 who were two Omani women arriving from Iran.
She's been married to the screenwriter for nearly seven years after meeting on the set of adventure film Big Sur back in 2011.

And Kate Bosworth looked completely besotted with her husband Michael Polish as they touched down in France's Charles-de-Gaulle airport for Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday.

The Still Alice actress, 37, nailed casual chic in a fluffy buttoned coat and leather joggers as she held hands with an equally-stylish Michael, 49.

In the city of love: Kate Bosworth looked completely besotted with her husband Michael Polish as they touched down in France's Charles-de-Gaulle airport for Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday

Opting for comfort, the thespian strolled along the terminal in a pair of white trainers, and carried her essentials in a pale blue handbag.

The Beyond The Sea star displayed her naturally radiant complexion as she went make-up free, and rounded things off with cat-eye shades.

Handsome Michael, meanwhile, looked effortlessly cool in black straight-leg trousers, a hooded jumper and a sharp blazer as the gentleman lugged their suitcases.

Close display: The Still Alice actress, 37, nailed casual chic in a fluffy buttoned coat and leather joggers as she held hands with an equally-stylish Michael, 49

Less is more: Opting for comfort, the thespian strolled along the terminal in a pair of white trainers, and carried her essentials in a pale blue handbag

The blonde beauty typically keeps a low profile, but has been back in the spotlight after promoting her new Netflix series, the I-Land.

Kate and Michael - who has a daughter Jasper, 20, from his previous marriage - met when he directed her in a cinematic adaptation of Jack Kerouac's 1962 novel Big Sur in 2011.

The couple tied the knot two years later in a romantic ceremony in Philipsburg, Montana, in August 2013.

Speaking in an interview with British Marie Claire magazine in January 2015, the screen star admitted she was cautious about rushing into a relationship with her director while they were filming on set in California.

She explained: 'There are so many people that hook up on movies, and you wonder if that's real, so we didn't go there.

'I think we were both experienced to know that if this was the real deal, we could wait to see what would happen.'
Huawei Consumer Business Group (BG) has launched its next foldable device via virtual press conference themed "TOGETHER, Connecting Possibilities". The Mate Xs was scheduled to be launched at Mobile World Congress Barcelona between February 24-27, but it was called off due to the growing concerns around coronavirus.

"The Huawei Mate X was our first foray into the foldable category and it has set the standard for the industry. The Huawei Mate Xs is raising the bar further with even more powerful connectivity and integrated user experiences. It's the fastest 5G smartphone of its class. Prepare to meet the unprecedented - again," says Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group.

Priced at Euro 2,499, the Mate Xs features an 8-inch outward folding display with a new mechanical hinge design. When folded, there will be a 6.6-inch main screen and a 6.38-inch secondary screen. And it becomes an 8-inch tablet when unfolded.

For the foldable bit, it has the Falcon Wing design with more than 100 interlocking parts working in harmony to reinforce the display. Made with a zirconium-based liquid metal, the upgraded hinge is claimed to be much more durable, facilitating a satisfying full 180-degree fold. The Falcon Wing was first used in last year's Mate X foldable device. The foldable display is manufactured using a Huawei-pioneered technique adhering to two layers of aerospace-grade polyimide with an optically clear adhesive. This unique material allows the display to produce great image quality, colour saturation and brightness while retaining a high degree of durability.

It natively supports Multi-Window which allows for two apps to be displayed side by side and interact with each other. Text, images and documents can be transferred using drag and drop between the apps. A dock at the bottom of the screen provides a space for users to assign apps for quick launch. And a floating window can be used to open the third app when two apps are open concurrently. The Huawei Mate Xs runs on EMUI10.0.1, an Android Open Source Project-based operating system, supports the multi-screen collaboration feature. It will be the first device to come up with the revamped Huawei AppGallery, Huawei's official app distribution platform.

Kirin 5G SoC, the octa-core CPU comprising two super-sized custom Cortex-A76 cores, two large custom Cortex-A76 cores and four small Cortex-A55 cores along with integrated 5G modem powers the Mate Xs. Huawei claims that this unique cooling system utilises flexible graphene with microscopic crevices that allow it to fold along with the device and cover the full surface area for even and effective cooling. For imaging SuperSensing Leica Quad Camera system with a 40MP main camera (wide-angle, f/1.8), 16MP ultra-wide angle camera (f/2.2), 8MP telephoto camera (f/2.4, OIS) and 3D Depth Sensing Camera. The camera system supports a combination of OIS and AI Image Stabilisation for super steady shots and up to 30X hybrid zoom.
Section 1 Content

Campus leaders gathered in Washington Feb. 15 to exchange ideas on internationalization as a sustainable social good at the ACE/AIEA Internationalization Collaborative 2020, a meeting held each year in conjunction with the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) Annual Conference.

The Collaborative comprised four main sessions interspersed with group discussions and networking opportunities. During the first session, Melissa Liles, chief global engagement officer at AFS Intercultural Programs, pointed out that expanding how we look at global citizenship means thinking about interculturalizing U.S. institutions, not just internationalizing.

The second session addressed environmental sustainability and how to balance the environmental impact of international mobility with the benefits of internationalization. Panelists represented a range of perspectives from climate science, to associations, to institutions.

After lunch, six panelists discussed the economic and societal contributions of internationalization. Each speaker presented a concrete initiative that could inspire and serve as a model for participants and then facilitate a small group conversation related to their project. Initiatives ranged from global health partnerships in Africa, to Smart Cities initiatives in the United States, to hydrology research in Ecuador.





From left to right: Philip Rogers, ACE senior vice president; Jenifer Cushman, chancellor of Penn State Beaver; Kristi Behme, intern at CliftonLarsonAllen and undergraduate student at Penn State Beaver; Akshay Peshave, entrepreneur and PhD candidate at University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Freeman Hrabowski III, president of University of Maryland, Baltimore County.



The final session focused on presidential and student reflections on the topics of the day. PhD student Ashkay Peshave and undergraduate student Kristi Behme recognized the vital knowledge, skills, and attitudes they learned in college that are preparing them to be citizens of a globalized world, such as being adaptable and working and communicating across cultures. They also talked about their own responsibility to address global challenges and promote social good, whether by supporting ethical businesses and brands or exploring and debating hot issues with their classmates. Penn State Beaver Chancellor Jenifer Cushman and University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Freeman A. Hrabrowski III talked about how their institutions are preparing students to be global citizens and gave advice to other top campus leaders on how to advance internationalization on their campuses.

Hrabowski emphasized the importance of building internationalization into the mission of ones institution. Its not icing on the cake, he said, but part of the cake. 

This event was sponsored by IES Abroad.

Information about the ACE/AIEA Internationalization Collaborative 2021 will be available later this year. 




Translator: In the name of Allah, the most 00:00:02.916 > 00:00:05.560 gracious, most merciful, my fellow countrymen  This is Michael Slackman for The New York Times. Hosni Mubarak, who ruled Egypt for almost 30 years, never intended to be president. His rise was described by many as an accident of history, set in motion by the assassination of his predecessor, Anwar el-Sadat, in 1981. Mr. Mubarak, then vice president, was seated beside Mr. Sadat when gunmen opened fire. That experience helped set the principles by which he ruled Egypt for the next three decades. He focused on security and stability. He maintained a tight grip on society through the police and the intelligence services, an approach that ultimately led to his downfall. During his years in office, Hosni Mubarak maintained an emergency law that gave his forces the ability to arrest and detain without cause. He kept in place a ban on the Muslim Brotherhood. He also silenced popular secular political movements and leaders that might have challenged his monopoly on power. In many ways, Hosni Mubarak was a very reliable ally to Washington and other Western capitals. He provided a check, or so they believed, against an Islamist takeover of Egypt. He provided a counterbalance to Iran also, but perhaps most importantly to the West, he preserved the peace treaty with Israel, and in return, received billions and billions of dollars in aid. For years, Mr. Mubarak appeared invincible, having survived multiple assassination attempts. But as life grew harder for most Egyptians and the social contract frayed, Mr. Mubarak was increasingly viewed as an isolated autocrat who promoted or at least allowed corruption and cronyism. It finally took a wave of popular revolts across the Middle East to threaten his iron grip. For 18 days, tens of thousands  at some points, it appeared millions of Egyptians  poured into Tahrir Square, Muslims and Christians, rich and poor, secular and religious, united behind the ideas of democracy, freedom, opportunity, and ultimately, Hosni Mubarak was forced to resign. [cheering] In 2012, after Mubarak was removed from power, Mohamed Morsi, a leader in the banned Muslim Brotherhood, a group that for decades was suppressed by Egypts rulers, came to power. But after a year in office, Morsis increasingly autocratic and ineffective rule ignited a new wave of protests. The military moved in, and ousted him from power. Eventually it installed Gen. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as Egypts next president. Hosni Mubarak initially thought he would be able to ride out retirement in quiet, but that was not to be the case. He was arrested, and his two sons, Alaa and Gamal, along with many of his government allies, were put into prison. Mr. Mubarak was taken to court. It was a spectacle no Egyptian had thought they would ever see. He was wheeled in on a hospital stretcher into a cage in a courtroom, and remarkably, treated like any other defendant. Getting ousted, replaced by his nemesis from the Muslim Brotherhood and imprisoned was a painful fall from grace. But once the military took back the reins of power, the former president was left to live in the relative comfort of a military hospital overlooking the Nile. With Mubarak gone, and his security services in shambles, Egypt fell into chaos. Ultimately, his former allies returned to public life, and many of the very protesters who helped to topple him in the first place, were arrested. In 2017, Mubarak himself was quietly released and returned to his family, but few Egyptians seemed to care. The man once spoken of as Egypts modern-day pharaoh quietly slipped from public view, half-forgotten by the people he had once ruled.
Susan Kime

My cultural education takes unusual turns when least expected. And, it was least expected when I took a Viking River Cruise to Portugal, a country I knew little about. What I did know, dealt with three diverse areas: religious shrines, great explorers, and fortified wines.

I knew least about the Portuguese religious shrines, and even though I am not religious myself, I signed up for a day long journey, to two famous religious places: the Batalha Monastery/Cathedral and the Fatima Shrine. On this journey, I was on a Viking transport full of devout people, who were excited to see these two places, as they all knew what I had yet to learn: the symbiosis of history and mystery in each setting.

The first area we visited was the Batalha Cathedral and Monastery, Batalha meaning battle. Such an ironic name for a cathedral! I had to admit my ignorance to my fellow travelers, as I knew nothing about this edifice, its history, or who was buried there. At first glance, it was gigantic, and, unlike many cathedrals, it was distant from any city -- the only sounds were those of nature: the rustling of pink Oleander bushes and green Ash trees.

Susan Kime- Rotunda Ceiling, Batalha.

I learned the cathedral and monastery were built to thank the Virgin Mary for the Portuguese victory over the Castilians in the battle of Aljubarrota in 1385, fulfilling a victory promise of King John I of Portugal. It took well over a century to build, starting in 1386 and ending in 1517, spanning the reign of seven kings and the services of fifteen architects. It was a somber place, the exterior filled with turrets and gargoyles, and the interior filled of candles and crypts.

Bev Renagon/Pinterest - Holding hands

But for me, there were two cathedral dimensions that transcended religion, culture, and war. The first was the dual tombs of King John of Portugal who died in 1433, and his wife, Philippa of Lancaster who died in 1415, after having given birth to nine children. Their statues lie together in full marble regalia, but with one detail I had never seen before. They were holding hands. This detail in this formal, silent Gothic cathedral, seemed so earthly, yet so eternal.

And, the second: wandering through this cathedral, I noticed something else. Suddenly, there were patterns of colored light on the ancient pilasters, columns, and floor. It was noon, and the sunlight came through the high stained glass windows, creating dazzling, ephemeral tints to the 13th century colorless granite. It was a spiritual shock when such vibrant color happens in such unexpected places. As the sun moved, or as the clouds shifted, the colors faded, leaving the Batalha Cathedral interior as it was, a somber sentinel to Portuguese history.

Susan Kime - Stained Glass Reflections, Batalha

It was mid-afternoon when we came to the Fatima Shrine. Though Batalha was indeed full of Portuguese antiquity, it was the Fatima shrine that most travelers on our pilgrimage wanted to experience. It is said this shrine is the second most visited religious site for all Catholics in the western world, the first being Lourdes.

Susan Kime-The Basilica Of Our Lady Of The Rosary/Fatima, Portugal

Fatima is the area where it is said, the Virgin Mary, or the Marian Apparition, first appeared to three young shepherd children, on May 13, 1917. According to the children and others, she appeared many times after that. The Sanctuary of Fatima, also known as Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, is a group of Catholic religious buildings built near the Cova da Iria, where the three children witnessed the Marian apparitions.

Wikipedia -Church Of The Holy Trinity, Fatima, Portugal

I had no idea what I would see, but was surprised at the quiet of this large area. The tall building that dominates the area is the Basilica of Fatima, a traditional Catholic sanctuary.

But then, in remarkable contrast, is the Church of the Most Holy Trinity, now Portugals largest church and the fourth largest Catholic church in the world. I have been to many Catholic churches  but this one surprised me, as it is modern, really modern, and looks like no other I have ever seen.

Susan Kime -Contemporary Interior of The Church Of the Holy Trinity

The church interior is huge, with 9000 seats, and an altar that allows multiple priests to lead prayer in large celebrations. It was designed Alexandros Tombazis, a renowned Greek architect. The cornerstone of the church came from a marble fragment of St. Peter's tomb, located under St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The outside wall of the church is designed with reflective writings depicting the Mysteries of the Rosary, and on this wall, they are written in many languages. It was a beautiful, though mysterious (to me) work of art.

Outside the Church, is a large bronze statue of Pope St. John Paul II. He made three historic pilgrimages to Fatima during his papacy. In addition, he credited Our Lady of Fatima for saving his life following a 1981 assassination attempt that took place on her feast day,May 17th. One of the bullets lodged in his body that day rests in the crown atop the statue of Our Lady of Fatima in the Chapel of the Apparitions.

Susan Kime

Exterior of Church Of Holy Trinity, Reflecting Wall Depicting Mysteries Of The Rosary

Susan Kime

This statue was fascinating to me, mainly because of one thing  all the flowers at the foot of the statue were real. There was no plastic anything. The scent of Persian lilies, carnations, and rose geranium were strong, and in a way, joyous.

With these experiences, our tour became a pilgrimage. We spoke quietly about what we had seen as we traveled back to the Viking cruise ship. My colleagues felt as if they came to know well the places they had only read about as Catholic children. But I, even as a religious outsider, felt I had gained something also: experiencing the sanctuaries, the vivid sun colors, the hands being held through time, walking near the place where the apparitions occurred. I came to understand yet again, how the past illuminates the present, so we  both the believers and the curious -- can more clearly see the depth and consequence of lifes brevity, and feel soul-comfort in this knowledge.

Susan Kime

Sign Upon Entering The Fatima Shrine and Church areas..

Susan Kime

Up Close, Holding Hands

Susan Kime

Stained Glass Relfections 2, Batalha
The combination of performance features and comparatively low price point has the industry taking notice such as ElectricBikeReview and Electrek. It's a reflection both of the hot eBike market and how hungry North American riders are for eBikes with more range, more power and more value than established European luxury brands.

Though the DOST brand is new, the team has been in the industry since 2014, with founder Sam Atakhanov previously heading two prominent Canadian eBike companies before going out on his own. Here Sam discusses the company philosophy:

"Between the thousands of miles we've ridden ourselves, and the thousands of conversations we've had with our customers we know what people want, but we just didn't see any bikes out there that "ticked all the boxes". For us the winning formula combines performance, utility and comfort, and that starts with the very first pencil sketch. It's really unbelievable what a bike can do when you have so much battery capacity combined with such a powerful mid-drive motor on a purpose-built frame. Trekking, hauling capacity, hill-climbing, speed it's all there in one bike."

DOST will initially offer two hard-tail designs: the Drop with a low-step frame and the Kope, a stiffer more traditional mid-step frame. Both bikes are available in one size to fit riders between 4'10" and 6' and will offer these standard features:

Dual Battery System - The ultra-long range is made possible by a dual battery system - the primary Samsung 14 Ah (672 Wh) paired with the optional Samsung 11 Ah (528 Wh) battery creating a whopping total capacity of 25 Ah (1200 Wh).

- The ultra-long range is made possible by a dual battery system - the primary Samsung 14 Ah (672 Wh) paired with the optional Samsung 11 Ah (528 Wh) battery creating a whopping total capacity of 25 Ah (1200 Wh). Powerful 750W Mid-drive Motor - The Bafang BBS02 motor is one of the most powerful mid-drives available and puts out 120 Nm of torque. Known for being an indestructible workhorse, the motor offers Shift Sensing technology for seamless shifting.

- The Bafang BBS02 motor is one of the most powerful mid-drives available and puts out 120 Nm of torque. Known for being an indestructible workhorse, the motor offers Shift Sensing technology for seamless shifting. Throttle + Pedal Assist - The motor is engaged either by pedalling or using the thumb throttle so riders can choose whether to pedal or not.

DOST Bikes will be sold across North America through a network of dealers and directly to consumers through DostBikes.com, with free shipping in Canada and the continental USA. DOST is taking pre-orders now.

Join DOST Bikes' Facebook Group to get updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dostbikes

SOURCE DOST Bikes Inc.

Related Links

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An incident of fire has been reported at a tyre market in Karawal Nagar today at 8.24 am, but the Delhi Fire Service has not been able to reach the spot as they were unable to secure police protection. The area has been witnessing sporadic incidents of violence over the last two days as clashes erupted between two groups, causing the death of five, including one Delhi Police personnel in these incidents.

More details are currently awaited. Vehicles were also set on fire in Karawal Nagar on Sunday.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Eastern Range) Alok Kumar, on Monday said that four cases have been registered in connection with the incidents of violence that occurred on Sunday (February 23) at different locations across Delhi.

"Four cases have been registered - one each in Jaffarabad and Welcome, and two cases in Dayalpur. The people involved are being identified," Kumar said.

On Sunday, clashes started after two groups, one protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the other supporting it came face to face in Maujpur. They pelted stones at each other. The police fired tear gas shells to disperse the mobs.

Meanwhile, five people, including one police head constable, lost their lives and 105 got injured in the clashes in North-East Delhi on Monday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Waste Management is threatening to pull its service from Kansas City, Kansas, accusing the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, of defaulting on its contract. Waste Management sent a letter Feb. 21 to the Unified Government, saying it will terminate the contract on March 22 unless the UG addresses the company's complaints.
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.
(Photo : Photo by Arthur Osipyan on Unsplash)

For the past few months now, the banning of Huawei devices by the US government has been one of the much-talked-about news in the tech industry. As a result, the mobile device manufacturer has been forced to look for an operating system other than Android, so it can continue to run its new phones. Almost everybody has heard Huawei's stand on the issue, and this Chinese-owned firm has since revealed its very own multiplatform operating system. However, Google took the support forum recently to answer why it has disallowed Huawei from using its apps.

Tristan Ostrowski, Android & Play legal director, explained as posted on BGR Media that "including Huawei on the Entity Lists" forbids all American companies which include Google, from being in collaboration with Huawei. The company official added Google is only lawfully allowed to work with one of today's leading mobile phone makers, on devices that came out on or before March 16, 2019. However, some people, especially the Huawei device users, still have questions on the impacts on the ban, which Ostrowski tried to answer so hard to answer as much as he could.

ALSO READ: Protesting Google Employees Say the Company Wants Them Afraid and Silent

Only for Play Protect Certified Devices

Because of government boundaries, the apps and services of Google become unavailable for side-load or preload on the new Huawei mobile devices. Moreover, to protect the data privacy and security of the users, and safeguard their overall experience, Google Play Store, and the core apps of Google, including YouTube, Maps, Gmail, and others, are available only on devices that are Play Protect-certified.

A mobile device is considered Play Protect-certified if it has gone through a thorough security review, as well as the compatibility testing procedure, which is initiated and conducted by Google. This process is for the assurance that the app information and user data are kept secure and safe. The legal director added that the gadgets "Should also come from the factory with our Google Play Protect software which provides protection from the mobile devices from being compromised."

ALSO READ: Huawei's Revenue Breaks its $122B Record Last Year Despite US Approvals; Predicts a 'Difficult' 2020

Huawei's New AppGallery

During the product launch, an overnight event, Huawei revealed a few details about its intentions, as well as its vision for the AppGallery, the company's very own app store that will serve as the key to developing non-Google apps for Huawei's Android devices. This is not the first time the tech firm is announcing its own version of the app store. In fact, this apps menu has already been existing since 2018.

To date, Huawei is doubly working on privacy, quality, and security for AppGallery. And, aside from its announcement of its own version of the Android app store, the company also announced that it is never letting developers onto its system unless they have their rea names verified, and apparently, this extends to what the fir calls, "some contact or verification within a corporate structure" for other companies like the Epic Cames, whose installer of Fortnite is accessible in AppGallery.





 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Phan Son Hai, director of the Da Lat Nuclear Research Institute, when asked about about the institutes achievements, put emphasis on radioactive isotope production.

The Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (Vinatom) in 2019 obtained harmony between scientific research and strengthened application of research results in many different industries and spheres, Russian Counseller to Vietnam Sergei Tanakov said during the 2019 reviewing ceremony.

Phan Son Hai, director of the Da Lat Nuclear Research Institute, when asked about about the institutes achievements, put emphasis on radioactive isotope production.

In 2019, we produced 600 Ci while only 300 or 400 Ci were produced in previous years, Hai said.

To achieve this result, the workers there operated the reactor "as an industrial facility. While other state employees work for 2,000 hours a year, the workers in the reactor work for 2,900 hours a year.

The greatest significance of the production work is providing radioisotopes at prices much lower than import prices. The higher the supply is, the bigger the benefits.

The volume of radioisotopes the Da La nuclear reactor provides to radiology and nuclear medicine all over the country has been increasing steadily (up by 63 percent compared with 2018 and 140 compared with 2011-2018).

The volume of radioisotopes the Da La nuclear reactor provides to radiology and nuclear medicine all over the country has been increasing steadily (up by 63 percent compared with 2018 and 140 compared with 2011-2018).

The supply frequency has also increased, from once every three weeks to once every two weeks and then once a week. This reduces the number of patients receiving treatment at the same time, thus helping cutting overloading at hospitals.

In order to have new medicines, the process of preparation of Yttrium (Y-90) used to treat primary and metastatic liver cancer, the product of a research project under the KC05 Program (Ministry of Science and Technology), will be ready in 2020.

The contribution of atomic energy to the economic development in 2019 could also be seen in the participation in maintenance activities and non-destructive evaluation in large facilities such as Nghi Son and Dung Quat Oil Refineries and the thermal power plants of Vinh Tan, Vung Ang, Phu My, Duyen Hai and Mong Duong.

One of the most important jobs done in 2019 was the examining of carbon steel in stainless steel welds at Nghi Son Oil Refinery conducted by CANTI (Center For Applications Of Nuclear Technique In Industry).

According to Nguyen Huu Quang, director of CANTI, the service helped Nghi Son settle the serious problem.

There were problems in thousands of welds. But there was no method to check which welds had problems, he explained.

CANTI then designed and installed a specialized machine capable to detect faulty welds and then classified the welds. Finally, Nghi Son found the errorneous welds and fixed them.

Kham Pha

Vietnam settles amicably with Russia, Japan after canceling nuclear power project Japan and Russia, partners with Vietnam in the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project, said they regret Vietnams decision to stop the project.
Excited students dressed in traditional attire welcomed US First Lady Malania Trump as she arrived at a Delhi government school in south Moti Bagh area on Tuesday to attend a session of the 'Happiness Class'.

Sarvodaya Co-Educational Senior Secondary School was decked up with floral garlands and motifs to welcome the US First Lady.

Floral rangolis were also drawn at multiple places in the school and a student band welcomed her playing bagpipes.

As soon as she entered, lensmen scurried to get a perfect shot. The children welcomed the First Lady by applying 'teeka' on her forehead. She was also handed over a bouquet after which she lit the ceremonial lamp.

She proceeded to take a tour of the school and also attend a session of the 'Happiness Class'.

Before her arrival, children were seen rehearsing outside the gate of the institution. Massive security was also put in place for her visit.

Ahead of her arrival, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had tweeted to welcome her.

"@FLOTUS will attend happiness class in our school today. Great day for our teachers, students and Delhiites. For centuries, India has taught spirituality to the world. Am happy that she will take back the msg of happiness from our school," Kejriwal said.

The children were dressed in bright-coloured sarees and traditional attire like 'ghagra-choli' to welcome Melania Trump. Some of them were carrying bagpipes and other musical instruments.

"Welcome to our school @FLOTUS! We hope you would have a great time here in #HappinessClass It's just 18 months old initiative but early results have made us confident that @HappinessDelhi is the ultimate solution to all violence & hate in mindsets that we are facing worldwide," tweeted Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the portfolio.

In another tweet, he said,"Its a proud moment for my Team of Delhi today. All are excited to see @FLOTUS in one of our school. She just visited 'room to read' now she would move for #HappinessClass and then address the kids in assembly."



Kejriwal and Sisodia were to welcome Melania at the school and brief her about rationale behind introduction of the 'Happiness Classes' as well as the Delhi government's overall reform initiatives in the sector but the US embassy had later communicated to the city administration that their names do not figure in the list of invitees for the event.

The 'Happiness Class' was started by the Aam Aadmi Party in 2018. As part of the programme, students are taught various activities, including meditation, street plays, basic obedience and aims to reduce anxiety and stress levels among children.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
China's military manufacturing unlikely impacted by semiconductor ban: insiders

Global Times

By Shen Weiduo and Liu Xuanzun Source:Global Times Published: 2020/2/24 20:08:33

As 42 countries including the US are reportedly planning to restrict weapon-capable semiconductor parts exports in a move to prevent technologies from "leaking" to China, insiders said on Monday that the restriction will unlikely hinder development of China's military manufacturing, but will only further promote the country's independent efforts in the sector.

The insiders' comments came after a group of 42 countries, including Japan and the US, agreed to include military-grade cyber software and manufacturing technology of weapon-capable semiconductor parts for export control - a move aimed at "curbing the proliferation of technology to countries such as China and North Korea," Kyodo News reported on Sunday, citing sources close to the matter.

The agreement was reached at a meeting in December of the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies, a Vienna-headquartered international nonbinding regime that restricts exporting commodities and technologies that may be diverted to military and weapons use, according to these sources.

China is fully capable of independently manufacturing military-related integrated circuits, as the country understands that this technology is crucial to national security, a military expert who asked not to be named told the Global Times on Monday.

Semiconductors are basic components in many modern weapons systems, and China would not expect Western countries to provide aid to China's military programs, the expert said.

China Electronics Technology Group Corp, a state-owned company in the arms industry, has developed a series of machines to make chips, which greatly reduced reliance on foreign products, according to the expert.

"In fact, some Chinese military firms have been included in the US entity list for a long time - we were forced to grow independently over the past few years," an insider working at a military-related factory told the Global Times on Monday, saying that the move is "within expectations."

However, the insider disclosed that although China has the ability to produce, China's imports for military semiconductors are still huge, as "the cost will be higher if produced domestically."

According to an industry report obtained by the Global Times, military semiconductors account for around 2 percent of China's total weapons expenditure, and the annual market potential is expected to reach 6 billion yuan ($853.36 million).

"Imported semiconductors also generally have a better performance compared with domestic ones. Take the night vision goggles as an example, foreign goggles made with foreign parts could be used for 15,000 hours, while domestically made ones could only last for around 10,000 hours or even less," said the insider.

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Flesh And Blood

Rating:

Murder 24/7

Rating:

Not so much a whodunnit as a 'who-got-done-in', Flesh And Blood (ITV) turns the traditional crime drama upside-down.

We see a body at the start  but we're left to guess the victim. What a clever and original trick.

Except, of course, it isn't. This brilliant twist on classic murder mysteries was invented by bestselling writer Liane Moriarty in her saga of jealous school mums, Big Little Lies.

The book became a stunning TV adaptation in 2017 starring Nicole Kidman and Reece Witherspoon, with Hollywood icon Meryl Streep joining for the second series. The show aired on Sky, but it's not as if anyone at ITV can pretend they haven't heard of Big Little Lies.

A killer twist works a treat in Flesh And Blood, a tale of a family thrown into turmoil when widowed mum Vivien (Francesca Annis) gets a new boyfriend

There's no copyright on ideas, though. Anyone can nick the concept of a chart-topping thriller and recycle it, without fear of legal repercussions. And because it's such a strong idea, Miss Moriarty's killer twist works a treat in this tale of a family thrown into turmoil when widowed mum Vivien (Francesca Annis) gets a new boyfriend.

Her children loathe the very thought. Big sister Helen (Claudie Blakley) thinks the interloper is after their inheritance, little sis Natalie (Lydia Leonard) is a clingy mess and brother Jake (Russell Tovey) behaves like a stroppy toddler who wants to fight any man who so much as looks at his mum.

All the children have marital problems of their own. We're quickly up to speed, thanks to another storytelling technique conceivably borrowed from Big Little Lies: the police are here, and they're grilling witnesses.

The detective (David Bamber) starts with Vivien's next-door neighbour, sweet old Mary  played by Imelda Staunton as a bustling innocent who sees only goodness in everyone. She's eager to help the police with a rush of gossipy details, but cannot believe that any crime has been committed.

Staunton was so convincingly nice as Mary that I was shocked to realise she was spying on her neighbours with binoculars and steaming open their mail. Why, the wicked bat!

Stephen Rea was excellent too as the smarmy lover-boy, showering Vivien with gifts and flowers before whisking her off to Le Touquet to propose.

Culprit of the week: MasterChef (BBC1) is back with its insanely long pauses as winners and losers are named. Loads of shows use the trick now, but who started it? Chris Tarrant tells me it was him, on his 1990s radio quiz, Double Or Quits. So blame him! Advertisement

Maybe he's just an old romantic, but I can't help thinking she should count her gold fillings every time he kisses her. The seaside setting is a bonus. So many crime dramas use bleak aerial shots of forests or rain-soaked fields to break up the scenes, but Flesh And Blood has picturesque interludes of waves washing pebbles on the shore.

And I don't care what hideous deeds have been committed there: I'd love that seafront bungalow of Vivien's, with its front path leading down to the sands. That's a home to die for. The question is: did she?

Death by the seaside was the theme, too, of the police documentary Murder 24/7 (BBC2), following a team of detectives and forensics experts in Southend, Essex, as they investigated the killing of a man in a block of flats. One suspect was swiftly arrested, but it was frustrating to see how easily she was able to stonewall the inquiry by answering 'no comment' to every question.

The man was killed in her flat and she made no effort to deny she was there, yet the police had to let her go. Just barmy.

A starring cameo appeared in the form of a 90-year-old downstairs neighbour who heard the slaughter and described it with relish to detectives. It made more racket than 'Japanese sumo wrestlers,' she said.

'Sounded like someone was murdering somebody,' she added knowingly. The coppers, naturally, made no comment.
IRVING, Texas, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Darling Ingredients Inc. (NYSE:DAR) today announced that its joint venture with Valero Energy Corporation, Diamond Green Diesel ("DGD"), has entered into a long-term lease agreement with IMTT. The agreement will allow DGD access and use of the St. Rose IMTT Terminal as a logistics hub for DGD's existing and expanding renewable diesel facility located in Norco, LA. IMTT will, pursuant to the agreement, construct two 5-mile long pipelines connecting its St. Rose, LA terminal with the DGD Norco, LA renewable diesel facility. IMTT will also repurpose approximately 790,000 barrels of existing storage capacity from heavy and residual petroleum service to storage of renewable diesel feedstock and finished product as a part of the project. The pipeline build and the storage capacity transition are expected to be in service prior to the end of 2021, coinciding with the anticipated startup of DGD's current 400-million-gallon expansion project.

"We are extremely pleased to be working with IMTT. What is so often overlooked when discussing the critical success components of renewable diesel economics is the supply chain, which is both complicated and costly to manage," said John Bullock, EVP, Chief Strategy Officer for Darling Ingredients. "Having a world-class terminal like IMTT St. Rose accessible by pipeline with the capability to receive feedstocks and ship product via multiple modes of transport creates a significant competitive advantage for us. DGD has been a leader in the industry and developing a sophisticated and flexible supply chain is a continuation of our leadership position. We would not be in this business without a thorough plan that provides for flexibility in raw material sourcing and finished product marketing. This agreement places us in a position to economically source renewable diesel feedstock while allowing us to supply the best markets for our renewable diesel and naphtha."

About Darling

Darling Ingredients Inc. is a global developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients, creating a wide range of ingredients and specialty solutions for customers in the pharmaceutical, food, pet food, feed, technical, fuel, bioenergy, and fertilizer industries. With operations on five continents, the Company collects and transforms all aspects of animal by-product streams into useable and specialty ingredients, such as gelatin, edible fats, feed-grade fats, animal proteins and meals, plasma, pet food ingredients, organic fertilizers, yellow grease, fuel feedstocks, green energy, natural casings and hides. The Company also recovers and converts recycled oils (used cooking oil and animal fats) into valuable feed and fuel ingredients and collects and processes residual bakery products into feed ingredients. In addition, the Company provides environmental services, such as grease trap collection and disposal services to food service establishments. The Company sells its products domestically and internationally and operates within three industry segments: Feed Ingredients, Food Ingredients and Fuel Ingredients. For additional information, visit the Company's website at http://www.darlingii.com and to review the Company's Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Factsheet at http://www.commitment.darlingii.com/metrics/esgfactsheet.

About IMTT

IMTT, International-Matex Tank Terminals (IMTT) is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana and is an industry leader in the handling and storage of bulk liquid products through its ownership and operation of 19 terminals throughout North America. The terminals handle petroleum, biofuels, commodity/specialty chemicals, and vegetable/tropical oil products for customers including refiners, commodities traders and chemical manufacturers and distributers.

Darling Ingredients contacts

Investors:

James Stark, Vice President Investor Relations Email: [email protected] Phone: 972-281-4823

Media:

Melissa A. Gaither, VP Global Communications & Sustainability Email: [email protected] Phone: 972-281-4478

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

{This media release contains "forward-looking" statements regarding the business operations and prospects of Darling Ingredients Inc., including its Diamond Green Diesel (DGD) joint venture, and industry factors affecting it. These statements are identified by words such as "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "would," "could," "may," "will," "should," "planned," "potential," "continue," "momentum," "assumption," and other words referring to events that may occur in the future. These statements reflect Darling Ingredient's current view of future events and are based on its assessment of, and are subject to, a variety of risks and uncertainties beyond its control, each of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, changes to worldwide government policies relating to renewable fuels and greenhouse gas emissions that adversely affect programs like the Renewable Fuel Standards Program (RFS2), low carbon fuel standards (LCFS) and tax credits for biofuels both in the Unites States and abroad; and risks associated with the DGD renewable diesel plant in Norco, Louisiana, including possible unanticipated operating disruptions and issues related to the announced expansion project. Other risks and uncertainties regarding Darling Ingredients Inc., its business and the industries in which it operates are referenced from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Darling Ingredients Inc. is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.}

SOURCE Darling Ingredients Inc.

Related Links

http://www.darlingii.com


The agreement was signed during the MRO Middle East exhibition which took place in Dubai on 25-26th of February and was attended by Edminas Bagdonas, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lithuania to the UAE.

According to the agreement, Rhinestahl CTS will be responsible for managing the entire engine stand fleet including LEAP, CFM56, CF6 and CF34 and will ensure its readiness. The agreement covers service of in all of the hubs, including Amsterdam, Dubai and Guangzhou, making Rhinestahl CTS exclusive engine stands maintenance service provider for Magnetic MRO.

From now on, all ES24 stands in all our hubs worldwide will receive the technical support from Rhinestahl who has their service stations in all the locations where ES24 hubs are located. This partnership allows us to use their extensive knowledge and experience while helping us to reach our ultimate goal  provide customers with serviced engine stands that meets the highest industry standards. In addition, it will also allow us to have stands serviced in a timely manner therefore our engine stands pool will always be updated and prepared for the lease whenever our customers need them, said Daiva Zemaite, Head of EngineStands24.

With this maintenance and repair agreement, we have strengthened our partnership with two world class providers of total technical care for aircraft operators and lessors, to provide solutions that cover the full life cycle of engine stands, said Director of aftermarket services, Brandon Lafferty. We have expanded our facilities globally and are well-positioned for growth in the engine stand, tooling maintenance and repair market. We are very excited about this opportunity and the continued growth we will see throughout our partnership with EngineStands24 and Magnetic MRO.
Researchers at the University of Nebraska at Omaha have spent years tracking the social media activities and charting the organizational structure of terrorist and extremist groups threatening to do harm around the world.

Their work tracking the so-called Islamic State, al-Qaida, the Taliban and the Haqqani network has won the team led by Gina Ligon grants, contracts and acclaim from federal agencies.

UNO will build upon its work over the next decade through a new $36 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as it becomes a Center of Excellence for Terrorism Prevention and Counterterrorism Research, the 10th active center established by the department since 2002.

The grant  the largest in UNO's 112-year history  will help establish a "consortium of academic, industry, government and laboratory partners" geared toward stopping terrorism, according to a news release from UNO.

Called the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education Center of Excellence, or NCITE, UNO will lead researchers at 16 other universities in identifying and preventing individuals from becoming radicalized, as well as responding to stop attacks.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, OYC, has mocked the Ango Abdullahi-led Northern Elders Forum, NEF, and the Arewa Youth Cons...





Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, OYC, has mocked the Ango Abdullahi-led Northern Elders Forum, NEF, and the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, following Gov. Nasir El-Rufais declaration that the South should succeed President Muhammadu Buhari come 2023.





El-Rufai was quoted as saying at the weekend that the North has no justification to remain in power beyond 2023.





Ohaneze lauded El Rufai for being sincere to the fact that the unwritten principle of rotation of power between North and South should be respected and honoured in 2023.





According to the Igbo youth organisation, Governor El Rufai has buried all instigations and fear that North will succeed Buhari by 2023.

Ohanaeze said this move has made the clamour by NEF and AYCF for the North to retain power in 2023 inconsequential and irrelevant.





The organisation called on Abdullahi-led Northern Elders Forum and the Arewa youth groups to emulate their political leaders, especially Governor El Rufai, who had previously jettisoned zoning.





Definitely its time to bring in a Nigerian President of Igbo stock 2023, a new Zik of Africa will emerge, OYC added in a statement signed by its President-General Okechukwu Isiguzoro and secretary-general, Okwu Nnabuike on Monday.
Protestors hurl brick-bats during clashes between a group of anti-CAA protestors and supporters of the new citizenship act, at Jafrabad in north-east Delhi, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (Photo | PTI)

New Delhi: Residents of Bhajanpura-Yamuna Vihar area spoke of the fear and narrow misses they encountered all through Monday night and Tuesday morning as rampaging mobs wreaked terror on people in the locality.

An elderly man, who was not named by the news agency PTI, pleaded with the rioters to spare him as he returned from hospital where his grandson was undergoing treatment.

"I was returning from Ganga Ram Hospital. It was really difficult getting back home. I had to plead with folded hands with both groups after every few steps.

"Only I know how I managed to return home," the elderly man, a resident of C Block in Yamuna Vihar, told PTI.

A petrol pump was set on fire in Bhajanpura on Monday.

Residents said the mobs marauded not only through main roads, but on interior lanes and bylanes in residential areas as well, whereas police and other security personnel were deployed only on the main road that leads to Bhajanpura, Rohini and Loni, Ghaziabad via Gokalpuri flyover.

"The forces are inadequate. Also, they are there but not doing anything...I fail to understand why," said another Yamuna Vihar resident said, requesting anonymity.

Mobs went on a rampage at market places, set shops on fire even as large groups gheraoed homes of some people, attacking their main gates with sticks and stones.

"A house in my neighbourhood was targeted by a mob of around 200 in the night. They kept calling us and others for help. They called up police also. But nobody could help them.

"This morning they showed me footage of the attack caught in their CCTV camera and it was terrifying. Everyone here is scared," a prominent resident of Yamuna Vihar said requesting anonymity as he "feared" giving out his name could put his "family into trouble".

At least seven people, including a police head constable, have died since Monday as mobs went on a rampage in Maujpur, Jaffrabad, Babarpur, Bhajanpura, Yamuna Vihar, Chandbagh areas in northeast Delhi.
Law enforcement authorities and his father have given a chilling account of what transpired Feb. 14. They say that after Norwood fatally shot his mother and brother, he put their bodies under blankets in the living room of their brick home and then waited for the arrival of his father. Once his father opened the door about 6 p.m., they say, Norwood fired a shot from the basement that wounded his dad in the head.
https://www.aish.com/ci/a/Hunters-Should-Killing-Nazis-be-Entertaining.html

The controversial Amazon series means well but misses the mark.

Should killing Nazis be entertaining? Should we watch a shoot em up comic book stylized TV series about Holocaust survivors who try to hunt down and murder Nazis in 1970s America while they are trying to reconstitute a Fourth Reich? If your answer is no, then dont watch Hunters.

Hunters is a new Amazon Prime video series created by David Weil and executive produced by Jordan Peele. It follows Peter Parker-esque Jonah Heidelbaum whose Holocaust survivor grandmother is murdered. When he tries to find her killer he runs into wealthy and enigmatic Meyer Offerman (think Bruce Wayne meets your Zadie) and his motley crew of Nazi killers (think any bank heist movie). The whole thing is kind of like Quentin Tarantino meets Holocaust survivors.

Hunters is not based on a true story. Its about as fake as Al Pacinos Yiddish accent.

But should Quentin Tarantino really be meeting Holocaust survivors? Spoiler alert: the answer is no.

Hunters is not based on a true story. Its about as fake as Al Pacinos Yiddish accent. But there are kernels of truth buried beneath the surface which unfortunately get lost. There were indeed Nazi hunters who existed after the war, the most famous of whom was Simon Wiesenthal who helped find Nazis including Franz Stangl, the commander of the Treblinka and Sobibor camps. In 1977 Rabbi Marvin Heir created the Simon Wiesenthal Center and hired Ephraim Zuroff as their resident Nazi hunter whose work helped lead to the trials of more than 40 Nazis and their collaborators. But the operative word there is trials. There was no revenge taking vigilante murders. There were trials by courts of law.

Hunters tries hard to cloak itself in Jewish values. In fact, at the outset of the series Meyer Offerman says as much: This is not murder, this is a mitzvah. Later, Mindy Markowitz, one of the gang of hunters tells Jonah, Your savta had no choice but to be involved in this because she went through the war, but you do Jonah. She chose the darkness so that you could have the light. But thats not the Jewish approach, is it? We never fostered a culture of Holocaust survivors bent on bloodthirsty revenge. Their best revenge has been to rebuild vibrant Jewish families with children and grandchildren who carry on the faith that the Nazis tried to snuff out.

But Hunters creator David Weil had other ideas. He said, to be able to show a Jewish superhero with might, with power, with strength, not just a Jew who is as the media often portrays us, as ineffectual or intellectual only or nebbishy  that was so important to me. Great idea, poor implementation.

Heres a thought: maybe there are lots of Jewish superheroes out there but people are just using the wrong definition of what makes a superhero?

Jews dont believe in turning the other cheek. We practice robust self defense, not vengeance.

Now, some anti-Semites out there might say, Of course theres a gang of bloodthirsty Jews seeking murderous revenge  its called the Israeli Army! But we know how to answer those anti-Semites, dont we? Israel is the lone Jewish country in the middle of a sea of hostile Arab nations many of whom are committed to Israels destruction. There are countless terrorist groups operating inside Israels borders and the Israeli army has to do whatever is in its power to defend its citizens. Thats why the Israeli army is called the I.D.F.  the Israeli Defense Forces. Mistakes surely happen in the fog of war, but even still the IDF is the most moral army in the world.

Well, our anti-Semite may retort, What about the film Munich that documents how the Mossad hunted down those responsible for killing the 11 Israeli Olympic athletes? Those terrorists were still actively engaged in operations against Jewish people. As the Talmud says, If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first. Jews dont believe in turning the other cheek. We practice robust self defense, not vengeance. Thats the crucial difference.

The way we honor the memory of the six million is by committing ourselves never to forget. We rebuild our Jewish families and our Jewish state in their honor. We perform acts of loving kindness, not acts of vengeance. Thats the Jewish definition of a hero. And we want to be heroes, not hunters.
The United States is aging in every possible way. The infrastructure that drove the postwar boom is in need of upgrades and repair, and those who helped build and maintain it are starting to retire. But few skilled workers are around to replace them.

One Navy veteran is out to fix that: He wants American military veterans to be the skilled workers of the future.

Hernan Luis y Prado of San Diego believes that his Workshop for Warriors has the answer to what he calls the "Silver Tsunami," made up of American skilled laborers exiting the workforce with no one to replace them. There will also be no one around to train new workers.

"The last Bureau of Labor Statistics study for manufacturing was in 2013," he said. "Based on 2010 Department of Labor data, it found that the median age of America's advanced manufacturing employee was 59 years old."

Ten years later, those workers are at or nearing retirement.

The United States also has a high number of 20- and 30-somethings entering the workforce from the military, workers who have high career expectations, according to Luis y Prado.

"They want to make a lot of money, but don't necessarily have the skill sets or the experience," he said. "On one hand, you have a huge pool of retirees and, on the other, this force of unskilled workers, and there's no inbetween. No nationally viable training pipeline in manufacturing."

Except for Workshops for Warriors.

The organization was founded in 2008 while Luis y Prado was still in the Navy, but he'd been considering the issue of the "Silver Tsunami" and how to solve it since 2005. He spent a total of 15 years in the military, first as an enlisted hospital corpsman and later as a commissioned surface warfare officer.

"Every time we mentioned it to someone, they would say, 'Oh, well, we have trade schools, colleges, universities, city, you know, community colleges. Don't worry about it,'" he recalled. "And then I thought, 'Well, why won't that work?'"

Hernan Luis y Prado is a 3-time combat veteran with service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Then he met a friend from Iraq at a mall one day and learned that he had stepped on a mine and lost both legs. In that moment, Luis y Prado realized he had found his reason why.

"Our audience is that young Marine or that young sailor that was not a college graduate, that didn't have a very strong high school base or just wanted to work with their hands," he said.

He left active duty in 2013, sure that this was his calling. He and his wife Rachel Luis y Prado (who is today chief operations officer for Workshops for Warriors) were going to develop the program full-time.

It began with veterans coming over to his garage to tinker and build. They weren't doing anything productive at first. He knew he had to come up with a structured means of teaching skills to interested veterans. So he developed what is today the only accredited school in the nation that offers training, certification and placement of veterans, wounded warriors and transitioning service members into advanced manufacturing careers throughout the country.

Though Workshops for Warriors isn't yet eligible for tuition assistance, the costs for many veterans to attend could be covered by the GI Bill.

The school's key is its training regimen. Since 2008, a full 95% of its graduates have been placed and retained in full-time, certified jobs with an average salary of $60,000 per year. To accomplish that, Luis y Prado borrowed from the military's own training style.

Workshops for Warriors is structured like a military A-School, C-School, AIT or Tech School -- whatever your branch calls it, it's the job training school all troops attend after basic training. It focuses on two main disciplines: machining and welding fabrication.

The Advanced Manufacturing course is 16 weeks long, 9 hours a day, 5 days a week. If a student is tardy three times, it counts as an absence. Five absences mean immediate disenrollment.

It's worth the effort. Workshops for Warriors places graduates with nationally recognized credentials in positions with companies such as SpaceX, Google, Tesla and SnapOn, and even in civilian positions in the Navy and Coast Guard. Many students have job offers in their hands before they graduate.

"There are 2.3 million advanced manufacturing jobs unfilled right now, due to lack of skilled labor, and that number is rising to 3.4 million over the next 10 years," Luis y Prado said. "That's just unfilled jobs. That's not training people for new and more innovative jobs."

Workshops for Warriors currently has a waiting list of up to 550 people for each of the courses it offers every semester. So while the United States is experiencing an erosion of its skilled labor workforce, the school is operating at peak efficiency to stem the tide. Its rigorous work schedule allows for training skilled laborers with stackable credentials in a compressed time frame, placing those new workers in jobs that earn high wages with upward mobility.

Luis y Prado says that an unskilled worker who starts at $13 an hour will have a difficult time ever getting out of that pay rate. But once they touch the bottom rung of a skilled labor market, they will have a much easier time rising in pay and position.

"If you start off at $18 an hour, it's very likely that you'll go from $18 an hour to $25 an hour in three to five years," he said. "It's very likely that you'll go from 25 to $35 an hour in the next 10 years, or get promoted into a leadership or salary position."

The next step for Workshops for Warriors is expansion. Luis y Prado sees his school's graduates not just as the solution to a coming labor problem, but as a force multiplier for any company that hires them. He also sees the school as a means to help veterans transition smoothly into civilian life.

"You're going to see that, 150 years from now, people are going to look back and they're going to see Workshops for Warriors and San Diego [as] the birthplace for America's green manufacturing renaissance," he said.

It costs the school $25,000 to fully train and certify a student going through one of the workshop's programs. While it can be paid in full with GI Bill benefits, it still needs help.

The school has 7 years of GuideStar Platinum financial ratings.

To learn more about Workshops for Warriors or to donate, visit the school's website. If you really want to help, consider attending its annual gala in April to get a real-world view of the school's graduates and successes.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com.

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Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], Feb 23 (ANI): President's Rule should be imposed in Kerala as the state has become a terror factory, tweeted BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje on Sunday after 14 live bullets were found abandoned with the Pakistan Ordinance Factory (POF) marking.



"Earlier, bullets and rifles were found missing from the state police armoury and then 14 live bullets are found abandoned near a bridge in Kulathupuzha in Kollam district," Karandlaje tweeted.

She also said that the Hindus are facing persecution in Kerala for supporting the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The BJP leader has asked Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to resign.

On Saturday, the Kerala Police recovered 14 live bullets from near a bridge in Kulathupuzha in Kollam district.

Police said the 'POF' marking was found on the bullets. However, a detailed probe is needed to ascertain the fact. (ANI)
When it comes to how much we should worry over COVID-19, the disease stemming from the new coronavirus that, so far, has infected some 75,000 people in mainland China, theres a real range of opinion.

The current president of the United States, for example, recently shrugged it off with the suggestion that a lot of people think it will go away in April with the heatwhich might happen, but since its a new virus, nobody could say for sure. On the other end of the panic spectrum are the people trolling Canadas Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam on Twitter to promote biological weapon conspiracy theories and demand a full travel ban. That doesnt seem based in very solid epidemiology either.

Somewhere in the middle of all of this are the alternative medicine and home remedy promoters, who have made claims for kimchi, red ginger and garlic broth as a coronavirus cure. While it seems unlikely that a team of the worlds best virologists and medical researchers have overlooked fermented cabbage, Im happy to engage in this particular strain of magical thinkingany excuse to eat more kimchi.

Some of the other alternative cures Im hearing about though, like arsenicum album 30, colloidal silver and chlorine dioxide, sound a lot less appetizing. Are they safe? Do they work? I went to Joe Schwarcz, professor of chemistry and director of McGill Universitys office for science and society, to find out, starting with arsenicum.

This is a homeopathic remedy, says Schwarcz. And homeopathy is perhaps the most absurd of all of the so-called alternative treatments out there because its based on the notion of non-existent molecules curing existing diseases. Its 200-year-old bunk and, in this case, its especially dangerous because these people are claiming that it has either a preventive or curative effect on the coronavirus and that is just not the case.

A lot of homeopathic remedies are so diluted that the active ingredient is essentially non-existent, which happens to be a really good thing in this particular case, given that the ingredient in question is arsenic (as the name arsenicum suggests). So, you cant get arsenic poisoning, but Schwarcz says its still dangerous in that it might give folks a false sense of security.

Unlike the arsenic-free arsenicum, there is actual silver in colloidal silver supplements, an old patent medicine (not homeopathic) thats currently being peddled by televangelist Jim Bakker as a coronavirus cure. The presence of real silver might seem like a selling point, and it would be, if it werent for the fact that its not good for humans to eat or drink silver. We cant process it, so it just builds up in the system. And, if too much builds up, it could develop into a condition called argyria, which turns peoples skin bluish-grey. You might want to do a Google Image search on that right now.

When silver compounds are exposed to light, they turn dark so people taking this colloidal silver in high enough doses run the risk of permanent skin discoloration if theyre exposed to sunlight, explains Schwarcz. And there is zero evidence that any viruses, including the coronavirus, can be treated or prevented by ingesting colloidal silver.

Although colloidal silver has been promoted as an anti-bacterial and anti-viral in wellness circles for ages, it got a little boost in the past few years when Gwyneth Paltrow told Dr. Oz that she sprays a little under her tongue whenever she gets on a plane, to protect herself from all the viruses onboard. What? Paltrow flies commercial? Isnt there a GOOP plane?

Anyhow, to hear Health Canada tell it, this is really not a good idea. In 2019, it issued a warning against colloidal silver supplements and, at the time, recalled some products. Its still pretty widely available online, however.

Finally, theres the Miracle Mineral Supplement, a chlorine dioxide solution thats been marketed as a cure for cancer, HIV and autism and is now being floated as a potential cure for the coronavirus, especially in doomsday prepper and QAnon conspiracy theorist circles.

Why? MMS pioneer Jim Humble says it works on most diseases of mankind, so it should work on this, too.

There are no studies to support this. Worse, the active ingredient, Schwarcz tells me, is chlorine dioxide, which he characterizes as essentially industrial bleach that could, in large enough doses, cause nausea, vomiting and/or precipitous drops in blood pressure.

We can expect more bogus cures and misinformation in connection with the coronavirus, were sure. Theres something about the idea of a potential pandemic that brings out the panic (and opportunism), despite the fact that health authorities say we should be more worried about the flu right now.

Thats how peoples minds work, says Vikram Misra, professor in the University of Saskatchewans department of microbiology, You start to ignore risks that you see in everyday life and get used to and then over-react to things that, statistically, are a lot less significant.

At the same time, we do very little to prevent things that we can prevent, he continues, I mean, we should have been able to eradicate measles by now but, unfortunately, with peoples attitudes towards vaccination, we havent been able to. And measles kills way more people then the coronavirus probably ever will.

And with the noise, opportunism and medical disinformation found on social media and emanating from the highest office in the country to the south of us, its unlikely were going to focus on the risks staring us down right now anytime soon.

Consider me worried. But not necessarily about COVID-19.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday held a meeting with Delhi Police and Home Ministry officials in the wake of violence that has been raging in the capital for the past two days, according to Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sources.

Newly-appointed Special Commissioner of Delhi Police (Law and Order) SN Srivastava also attended the meeting. It was the third meeting chaired by the Home Minister in less than 24 hours.

The sources also claimed that the meeting started at around 7 pm and lasted till 10 pm.

Earlier today, Shah chaired a meeting with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik and other political leaders regarding the violence and the prevailing situation in Delhi.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police Special Commissioner (Crime) Satish Golcha informed that the protesters have left the Jafrabad metro station and Maujpur chowk is clear as well, and that the situation is under control.

At least 13 persons have died and around 190 are injured in the violence that erupted in North-East Delhi on Monday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  Shiite shrines that attract tens of millions of visitors annually have come under focus in Iran as the country grapples with the spread of the coronavirus.

The outbreak of the virus in Iran prompted the government to request the closure of major shrines in cities like Qom, Mashhad and Shiraz, but Irans powerful clerics have rejected or ignored the notices. The decision to keep the shrines open shows the power of Irans religious establishment and the Shiite theocracys approach to the widening crisis.

While the government has suspended school across much of Iran this week and canceled soccer matches and screenings at cinemas, the continued access to the shrines has raised questions about the governments willingness to respond decisively and rapidly to the virus, which has infected people in several cities and been confirmed in travelers from Iran in eight countries.

On Tuesday, a government official repeated a request for the shrines to be closed.

At the moment we absolutely support the temporary closure of any type of human gathering, including tourist areas and pilgrimage sites, Iranian Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told The Associated Press.

The shrines, housed in gloriously built mosques, attract not just daily worshipers but also millions of visitors each year who touch or kiss the tombs protective bars. The virus is believed to be spread through droplets when people cough or sneeze, although specialists dont think the virus can survive on surfaces for very long.

Iraqi authorities on Monday closed the gold-domed shrine of Imam Ali, the revered 7th century founder of the Shiite sect. The rare move came after a 22-year-old Iranian student was confirmed positive for the virus in the city of Najaf, marking the first case in Iraq.

Iraqi health officials in masks and gloves disinfected the shrine, as pilgrims and clerics also in masks walked in the courtyard outside. Health workers also were seen in Najafs old quarter, a maze of alleys and old homes, apparently going door to door to test classmates and neighbors of the infected student. Nearby hotels for pilgrims were almost deserted after authorities closed the borders to Iranian nationals.

Iran has nearly 11,000 shrines for Shiite saints, with the most popular located in the northeastern cities of Mashhad and Qom.

The Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad is the largest complex housing a tomb in Iran and its most visited, drawing about 20 million people a year. Kuwait has reported that five travelers returning from Mashhad tested positive for the virus, but Iran has yet to confirm a single case in the city.

Ali Akbar Hosseininejads, a cleric in Qom, questioned why it was necessary to shut the shrines.

Closing shrines carries a bitter message. Here is a sanctuary for people, and people seated in a corner of the shrine will cause no problem, he was quoted in the official IRNA news agency saying on Saturday.

He added that foreigners, mainly from Pakistan and India, had a larger presence at the shrine in Qom than Iranians.

Another cleric and head of the shrine, Mohammad Saeedi, said the spread of the virus in Qom was exaggerated. The enemy wants to spread fear in the hearts and portray Qom as an unsecured city, he said.

Religious seminaries and schools in Qom were closed last week to prevent the spread of the virus after the first confirmed cases in Iran were reported there. The religious schools in Qom attract Shiites from across Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Bahrain and other countries, but so too does the holy citys shrine of Fatima Masumeh, which has remained open and is disinfected daily.

The Health Ministry said 15 people in Iran have died out of 95 people infected nationwide.

A lawmaker from Qom publicly disputed the official figures, saying 50 people had died in that city from the virus, although the government rejected his assertion. The lawmaker, Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani, also alleged on Twitter that deaths from the virus are being labeled as respiratory illness, suggesting a cover-up by government-run hospitals.

His criticism reflects deep-seated mistrust of President Hassan Rouhanis government and frustration with how the regime has handled a range of recent crises.

Irans national broadcaster showed the streets of Qom teeming with crowds Tuesday. A woman was interviewed saying she had recovered from the virus.

Despite the storys upbeat spin, state TV also confirmed the provincial health department chief in Qom, Mohammad Reza Qadir, had been infected and was now under quarantine.

About 100 Pakistanis, mostly Shiite pilgrims, are quarantined at a government building in Pakistan after returning from Iran, where they had visited holy sites. There are still more than 7,000 Pakistani pilgrims in Iran. Pakistani authorities say all citizens returning from Iran will be tested for the virus.

The novel coronavirus has infected more than 80,000 people globally, causing around 2,700 deaths, mainly in China. A team of World Health Organization officials was expected in Iran on Tuesday amid concerns over whether the country could become a seeding ground for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health care systems. In addition to Iraq, a case was confirmed in Afghanistan in a person who recently visited Iran.

At least 34 people with links to Iran have tested positive for the virus. Some of those cases were confirmed in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon and Canada.

Countries bordering Iran have sealed their crossings and barred Iranians from entry. With the exception of Qatar, Gulf Arab states also suspended flights to Iran, and Bahrain halted indirect flights there through Dubai.

Lebanon has suspended flights taking pilgrims to Shiite holy sites in both Iran and Iraq.

___

Associated Press writers Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Pakistan, Nasser Karimi in Tehran and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed.
Two candidates were caught red-handed while allegedly trying to click question papers of Mathematics in West Bengals North Dinajpur district on the fifth day of the Madhyamik examination on Monday.

According to the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (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.
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When Jessica Owley was in high school, one of her teachers predicted the zealous young woman might become secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Owley had another idea.

I thought, secretary of labor? How about head of the Environmental Protection Agency? she joked recently.

An expert in land conservation and climate change, Owley joined the University of Miami School of Law this fall, broadening the environmental faculty at a time when interest in the area is booming.

Yet Owleys concern for the environment has been a lifelong passion. As a girl, she chided her mother for buying plastics that were hard to recycle, but her outlook crystallized when she left her urban Milwaukee home to spend her junior year of high school on a farm in Norway. Owley was astonished by the meager amount of garbage Norwegians generated.

It was probably one of the best decisions I have made my entire life, she said. I was outdoors more than Id ever been before, and it was absolutely amazing and informative. It also changed my perspective about waste.

Environmentalism is so integral to her being that Owley weighs the possible detriment to the Earth with every major decision. She thought twice about moving to Miami, which is ground zero for rising seas induced by the changing climate.

The idea of living in Miami seems counterintuitive, but then I looked around and felt like the amount of work I could do here counterbalanced the drawbacks, she said.

An environmentalist, Owley makes an effort to shrink her carbon footprint daily. She often rides her bike to work. She uses reusable cups and straws, and she carries wooden utensils in her purse. She attends the March for Science each Earth Day and supports the Fridays for the Future movement, started by Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg. The movement called for students to leave school on Fridays and head to local city halls to protest the lack of government action to reduce climate change. In the United States, it has evolved into Fire Drill Fridays as well, with a large social media following.

Owley will board a plane for particularly important events though; and recently, she and Ileana Porras, senior lecturer in the School of Law, took a group of students to Madrid for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Earlier that month, Owley applied for the University to become a United Nations accredited observer, paving the way for more students to attend the conference in Glasgow next year. She sees the annual meeting as an invaluable learning tool for students in her U.N. Negotiations course.

Frankly, its interesting for anyone interested in international law, and it is a unique experience to see the structure of treaty negotiations among countries who are global players, she said.

Owley during her environmental law class, where she often elicits students' opinions on the interpretation of statutes. Second-year law student Bethany Blakeman described Owley as approachable and the class as stimulating. Photo: Evan F. Garcia/University of Miami.

ELUCIDATING THE FIELD

After two years of practicing environmental law and more than a decade teaching it, Owley is helping to define the budding field of climate change law. While the profession began with attorneys navigating mitigation laws to soften the impacts of global warming, like tree restoration programs and incentives for building fuel-efficient cars, it grew into larger regulations like the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. Today, the field correlates directly to property law, because it deals with the way that land is changing, Owley said. And lawyers must now grapple with adaptation laws, which are created to respond to inevitable changes in the climate, such as sea level rise or increasing temperatures, she said.

It is even more important that young lawyers in Miami understand the changes that will impact every industry in the nation, Owley stated.

We are in a location where climate change law is going to become so important; and if our students can navigate that, theyll be ready for this work that is already here and coming faster, she said.

Owleys research focuses on an inventive method for maintaining greenspaces called land conservation easements. These are agreements that private landowners make with nonprofit organizations or the government to protect their property from future development. Today, more than 1,500 U.S. organizations pay private landowners to sign conservation easements for their land, Owley reported.

Not only do we have them all over the United States, but now other countries are looking at the U.S. and saying, Wow thats a creative idea, maybe we should do that,  she said. I think they are good and bad; but around the world, when we have increasing inaction on the environment by the government, this may be one of the only opportunities to protect the land.

Natalie Barefoot, director of the law schools Environmental Justice Clinic, said Owley has filled a need for more faculty members in an area with rising student interest. Barefoot noted that soon after Owlery arrived, she established an environmental law area of focus, which allows law school graduates to have that designation on their diploma.

In Florida, we live and breathe climate change daily, so having [Owley] here is incredibly important for the Universitys future growth, said Barefoot, who joined the University after directing the nonprofit organization Cet Law, which works to legally protect whales, porpoises, and dolphins.

ROOTS OF INTEREST

Soon after returning to the U.S. from Norway, Owley entered Wellesley College, where she majored in physics.

But she never strayed from her passion. One summer, she helped NASA scientists design biology experiments for the space shuttle. She spent her junior year of college living in England, India, the Philippines, New Zealand, and Mexico learning how governments and nonprofits were working to preserve each nations natural resources.

Owley later joined AmeriCorps and worked in Georgia doing restoration projects in the Okefenokee Swamp and mapping rivers. The experience motivated her to pursue a masters degree in environmental planning and forest science at the University of California, Berkeley, where she also earned a law degree and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management.

After law school, she worked at San Francisco law firm Morrison and Foerster, where she helped work on a case against the U.S. Navys use of sonar that was harming the whales in the Pacific Ocean.

Now, Owley wants to create a concentration and program for environmental law so that students will have more course options at the University.

Contract law, building law, environmental law, insurance lawclimate change is going to come into play everywhere, and we can build a law school that has students better prepared for this than anyplace else, she said.

To listen to podcasts with Owley discussing developments in climate change and the Endangered Species Act, visit:

https://soundcloud.com/user-312003365-898363102/s4-e3-another-us-climate-change-fail

https://soundcloud.com/user-312003365-898363102/s3-e2-gutting-the-endangered-species-act
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says when the US will sign a deal with Taliban, CNN reported.

According to him, the US will sign a deal with the Taliban "if and only if" the week-long reduction in violence is successful.

As Pompeo noted, "so far, the reduction in violence is working." "It isn't perfect, but it's working," he said. "It's got to work for a long time while this political resolution is driven forward."

The deal is expected to be signed in Doha on February 29.

A partial truce had been preserved from Saturday, while the number of Taliban attacks has fallen sharply. A military victory was unlikely for the US in Afghanistan, he added.

There are currently about 12,000 US troops in Afghanistan. Pentagon head Mark Esper previously said if the seven-day truce is successful, the US will reduce its troops to about 8,600 people.
Two Peruvian brothers, ages 14 and 17, died on February due to inhaling toxic gases while working in a mine to earn money to pay for their school supplies for the upcoming school year. The informal mine had not been registered with the Ministry of Mines and thus was operating illegally.

This is yet another tragedy added to the toll of thousands of miners killed in mines where the government has expressly denied registration for failure to comply with safety regulations, or those like the one where the two impoverished youth were killed that do not even attempt to register because of appalling conditions.

The two brothers and another 16-year-old teenager were hired a few weeks ago to work at the mine located in the village of Llacuabamba in the Andean region of La Libertad, in the north of the country.

The newspaper La Industria reported that the youth were on site when suddenly it started to emanate toxic gases that spread all over the place. The two brothers ran to the mouth of the pit, but inhaled the gas and vanished.... The other child was able to leave the scene and was taken to the sector hospital, where he has been recovering.

Relatives of the minors are demanding justice for this crimethat the case be investigated and the mine owners prosecuted. An aunt of one of the youth said: They work without having the necessary safety equipment and were exposed daily to toxic gases, unfortunately on Tuesday they were no longer able to leave the site.

Several of the illegal mine ownerssome locals and others living in lavish neighborhoods in the capital Limahave hired gunmen to oversee the exploitation of the mines and their workers. Peru21 reports that The head of the Third Police Macroregion of La Libertad, General Lucas Nunez, warned that crime has spread to the Andean area, like Pataz [district in Parcoy Province], the region where the three teenagers inhaled toxic gases in Llacuabamba. He pointed out that the violence has increased because illegal mine owners hired hitmen who have been released from prison because of overcrowding. Peru21 further reports that the gunmen are mainly composed of released convicts known as Los Topos del Frio (Moles of the Cold). El Comercio reports that 18 members of this gang were captured earlier this month with almost US $10 million in gold... extracted from pit mines of the La Libertad Andes mountains, and sent to Europe and Asia by two foreign financiers. Authorities retained more than 200 kilos of gold ore from the criminal organization in warehouses.

A Chinese citizen was arrested in a building which operated as a front business through which the illegal gold was exported.

The center of operations of this criminal network were the Pataz district villages of Retamas and Llacuabamba, where the two youth recently died. It had tentacles extending into up to five regions of the country.

The Moles of the Cold are not the only criminal band involved in the exploitation of the miners. Other organizations are The Octopuses and The Damned of Triumph, which include ex-convicts as well as ex-army personnel, according to El Comercio. In 2019, 169 people were assassinated in 19 robberies in the mining areas of La Libertad.

Such killers are responsible for the January murder of five miners in Trujillo, the capital of the La Libertad region, arising from a dispute between illegal mining operations. Their bodies were found in reed beds near the Moche River, each shot in the head, execution style. The executed miners had been operating a truck with 30 tons of minerals, mostly gold ore.

The scale of illegal mining operations is vast. According to a 2016 study by Jose de Echave titled Illegal Mining in PeruBetween informality and crime:

Along with the mining boom across the country, Peru has seen illegal mining grow in its territory. In the ranking of the main criminal activities according to the amount of money they mobilize, illegal mining continues to share the first places with drug trafficking and illegal logging, despite the fall in mineral prices on the world market. Illegal and informal miners have even succeeded in deploying effective influence strategies and built bridges to politics.

According to de Echave, in the last years of the boom formal, registered mines and illegal mining operations often worked side by side:

In many of these areas, the gold rush has caused entire communities to turn to extraction in areas close to operations and concessions from large and medium-sized formal mining companies. In some of these cases, coexistence ends up generating competition and open dispute over access to concessions.

Crimes in the last few years against Peruvian miners, who are forced by poverty to work in informal, unsafe operations, without safety equipment and other basic safety protections, include:

In April 2019, eight miners died and three more barely survived after poisonous gases filled an informal gold mine in El Toro mountain located in the Andes in La Libertad, that is, the same mining region where the teenagers died on February 11.

In June 2018, a 17-year-old and a 12-year-old died from gas intoxication inside the informal mine in Gran Chimu, in the Ancash region, south of La Libertad.

In January 2017, seven Peruvian miners were buried under an avalanche of mud and stones that trapped the men in a tunnel hundreds of feet underground. The tragedy at the Las Gemelas mine occurred when heavy rains unleashed a flood that covered the entrance and exit of the mine, which is located in a remote area in the district of Acari, in the Arequipa region. Initially, there were 15 miners in the mine, but eight managed to get out before the barrage covered its entrance and exit.

De Echaves reference to of illegal minings bridges to politics finds expression in President Martin Vizcarras recently sworn in Minister of Energy and Mines. Susana Vilca Achata.

Vilca Achate acknowledged while serving as Deputy Minister of Mines under former President Ollanta Humala (2006-2011) that she owned mining concessions. What Vilca Achata failed to declare was that she was accused in Congress of owning 17 informal mining concessions in different areas of the country... since 2003, the Brandon HV mining concession, located in the Ancash region, as La Industria reports in its February 13 edition.

The proliferation the illegal mining operations is tolerated due to corruption at the highest levels of the Peruvian government as well the direct involvement of members of the political establishment.
Janata Dal-United leader Ajay Alok on Tuesday said that violence in Maujpur, wherein seven people, including a police head constable, lost their lives, was intended to spoil India's image in front of the world.

"With Donald Trump visiting India, this kind of violence was intended to destroy India's image to the world. However, I am sure that the culprits will soon be found as the security forces have been challenged," Ajay Alok told ANI.

He also said that the joint press conference to be held today evening by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump will give new heights to their friendship.

On the Supreme Court Judge Deepak Kumar's statement saying that criticism of any institution, be it legislative, executive, judiciary or the armed forces, by anyone cannot be termed as anti-national, Ajay Alok said, "Protesting against the Central government is definitely not anti- but indulging in anti- activities or giving such slogans cannot be tolerated.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sweden's foreign minister Ann Linde on Tuesday demanded that the Chinese-Swedish bookseller Gui Minhai be released after he was sentenced to 10 years in prison in China.

"We have always been clear that we demand that Gui Minhai is released in order to reunite with his daughter and family. That demand remains," Linde said in a statement.

Gui, one of five Hong Kong-based booksellers who fell foul of the authorities for selling critical works on top Chinese leaders, was snatched while on a train to Beijing in February 2018, the second time he disappeared into Chinese custody.

A court in the eastern city of Ningbo said Gui was convicted on Monday on charges of illegally providing intelligence abroad.

The court also said that he had his Chinese citizenship reinstated in 2018 but it was not immediately clear if he had given up his Swedish nationality.

Gui first vanished in 2015 while on holiday in Thailand and eventually surfaced at an undisclosed location in China, confessing to involvement in a fatal traffic accident and smuggling illegal books.

His supporters and family have claimed his detainment is part of a political repression campaign orchestrated by Chinese authorities.

Relations between Sweden and China have been strained for several years over Beijing's detention of Minhai, and Sweden has repeatedly called for his release.

Chinese ambassador to Sweden Gui Congyou in November threatened "counter-measures" after Sweden's culture minister awarded a rights prize to Gui Minhai.

Two Chinese business delegations to Stockholm were subsequently cancelled.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amid the ongoing AGR crisis, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran on Tuesday met Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, even as an official said the telecom ministry is prepared to issue a notice to Tata Teleservices for paying only part of its dues as full and final settlement.

Emerging from the meeting which lasted for over 30 minutes, Chandrasekaran declined to comment on the details of his discussion. He later also met Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash.

The crucial meeting comes at a time when the government is looking to issue a detailed notice to Tatas for paying only Rs 2,197 crore as full and final settlement, whereas the government's calculation put Tata Teleservices' dues at about Rs 14,000 crore.

A senior government official asserted that the telecom department is not convinced with the company's dues assessment. A notice will be sent to the company in a day or two questioning its AGR calculation, the official said.

With the sector reeling under the impact of statutory dues burden, Vodafone Idea Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla also met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last Tuesday.

In all, 15 telecom 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 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.

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.

Meanwhile, the government is also asking 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. The exercise will help the DoT examine the AGR calculations being made by the telecom players.

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.

Amid a deepening crisis in the telecom sector, the government is looking to strike a balance between complying with the Supreme Court order on statutory dues, ensuring the health of the sector and safeguarding consumer interest.

Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal, and VIL's Birla met 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".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Nidhi Verma and Shu Zhang

NEW DELHI/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Indian refining companies are snapping up rare crude grades as the coronavirus outbreak curtails China's demand for processing, executives and traders said, with prices for some grades falling by as much as 15%.

Chinese refiners have slashed output by at least 1.5 million barrels a day in February, or over 10 percent, after the virus outbreak hit domestic fuel demand, leading to swelling stocks.

"Opportunity for Indian markets is more in the context of what is happening in China and in recent times we received crudes which are appearing to be attractive as compared to their value earlier," said R. Ramachandran, head of refineries at Bharat Petroleum Corp.

Refiners in India, the world's third-biggest oil importer, rarely get the opportunity to buy suitable grades from areas like the Mediterranean and Latin America due to higher freight rates.

However, shipping rates have plunged by nearly half since the virus outbreak, and after the U.S. partially lifted sanctions on part of Chinese shipping firm COSCO.

BPCL will receive a million barrels each of Brazil's Sapinhoa and Mediterranean CPC blend in April, Ramachandran told Reuters.

It is also scouting for a million barrels each of Angola's Palanca, a grade BPCL processed years ago, and Nigerian Okoro "as pricing appears attractive" for April, he said.

"This is an opportunity for Indian refiners to buy new and rarely purchased grades that are available at cheaper rates," said Sri Paravaikkarasu, director for Asia oil at consultancy FGE.

Asia's spot premiums for Middle East, Russian, West African and Brazilian crude have all dropped this month with grades favoured by Chinese buyers, such as ESPO, Lula and Angolan, hurt the most.

"For the Brazilian and CPC blend we have seen crude cost lower by 10-15% compared to what we used to see," Ramachandran said.

Ample crude supplies allow other buyers to shop around and buy crude cargoes at cheap prices, although some Chinese refiners are also still chasing cheap supplies.

Story continues

"For March-loading, April-arrival West African crude cargoes, premiums have dropped across-the-board," said a West African crude trader.

"Different crude grades are reacting differently... In general, most grades were down more than $1. Rare grades are very cheap," the trade source said.

National oil companies in China buy a lot of Middle Eastern heavy crudes and medium grades, while independents process medium-to-heavy sweet grades from Latin America and Africa.

"In spot tenders we are seeing a reduction in premiums. We are seeing offers for sale of new grades. Opportunities have increased," said M. K. Surana, chairman of Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL).

"We are seeing offers for rare grades from Africa like Angolan Nemba and U.S. crude like WTI Midland at very competitive rates."

(Reporting by Nidhi Verma and Shu Zhang; Editing by Florence Tan, Muralikumar Anantharaman and Richard Pullin)
Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu attends on Tuesday, in Brussels, the General Affairs Council meeting, its agenda featuring the post-Brexit situation and the Multiannual Financial Framework, a briefing of the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Regarding the next steps in EU-UK relations, the meeting is expected to adopt the negotiating mandate for relations with the UK post-Brexit, shows a release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) sent to AGERPRES.At the same time, according to the practice, the ministers will have an exchange of views regarding the European Commission 2020 Work Programme, namely on the legislative priorities in this year's negotiation process.On the occasion of the meeting, the European Commission will present its proposals regarding a new methodology for the enlargement of the Union, and the Croatian Presidency of the Council will provide information on the results of the meeting of the Special European Council on 20-21 February 2020 dedicated to the negotiations on the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework, informs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. AGERPRES
Lawmakers in NDA-ruled Bihar on Tuesday resolved against implementing a National Register of Citizens and decided to only go along with the national population register on the condition that the home ministry excludes the new contentious questions added to the questionnaire.

The two assurances were bundled in one resolution that was passed by the assembly in response to an adjournment motion moved by Leader of Opposition in the assembly Tejashwi Yadav.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had responded to this effort by the Rashtriya Janata Dal to corner the government, declaring that there should be no confusion on how the National Population Register, or NPR exercise would be carried out in the state. Nobody would be asked to furnish information such as places of birth of parents, Nitish Kumar said.

Bihar is the first NDA-ruled state to pass a resolution against the proposed NRC. Nitish Kumars Janata Dal United is in power in partnership with the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar.

In a signal that the two alliance partners were on the same page on this matter, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi asserted that people would not be required to produce any documents as claimed by opposition parties.

NPR, a comprehensive biometric database of all usual residents in India, was created in 2010 and updated in 2015.

As the Home Ministry set out to update the database later this year, it added questions about the respondents mother tongue and the place and date of birth of the respondents parents. These additional questions were viewed suspiciously by opposition parties, particularly against the backdrop of the governments announcement earlier about rolling out the NRC.

After the huge row erupted over amendments that introduced a religion test to citizenship for people from three countries, however, the Centre has insisted that there had been no decision yet on the NRC. Opposition parties point out that this declaration does not imply that the government wont go for the NRC in the future.

It is not clear how opposition-ruled states would respond to the reported move to drop the contentious questions from NPR. BJP leaders believe that it could put some opposition parties in a spot, particularly the Congress that had launched the NPR project in 2010.

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Scotland could miss tobacco-free target by more than 16 years

The deadline for achieving a 'tobacco-free' Scotland could be missed by more than 16 years if current smoking trends continue, according to new research.

The Scottish Government has committed to working towards a target to reduce the adult smoking rate to a maximum of five per cent by 2034.

However, if current trends continue, the Scottish Government will not hit its tobacco free generation target until after 2050, according to the latest Cancer Research UK forecast.

The new projections suggest 12 per cent of adults will still smoke by that deadline if there is no change in the expected decline in smoking rates.

This means the smoking rate in Scotland will have to drop almost twice as fast as projected if the 2034 target is to be met, equating to 585,000 fewer smokers in 2034 compared with today.

For those who live in Scotlands most deprived communities, the target is likely to be reached even later. Cancer Research UK projections suggest that the richest fifth of Scotlands population could achieve smoke-free in 2034, but the poorest fifth will have not even crossed the 10 per cent mark by 2050.

The charity believes the 2034 target will only be met if the Scottish Government takes a lead to ensure all smokers who visit hospital are routinely offered support to quit. Other measures, including greater awareness, promotion and access to free Quit Your Way smoking cessation services, will also be vital.

Marion ONeill, Cancer Research UKs head of external affairs in Scotland, said: This new analysis suggests that Scotland is not on track to achieve its 2034 smoke-free target which is a concern. Indeed, if the Scottish Government is to achieve this welcome ambition and improve the nations health, much more needs to be done to accelerate progress.

Smoking has a catastrophic impact on health. Its enormously addictive and difficult to quit so more needs to be done to ensure people know about the support available to give up.

Smoking also remains more common within poorer communities and the Scottish Government must take the lead to ensure that everyone, including those from disadvantaged groups, know about the help available. When people access these services, they are around three-times more likely to be successful than going cold turkey.

We also know that offering support to smokers who visit hospital works. Ensuring this is offered routinely will be vital if Scotland is to become smoke free.

Quitting smoking reduces the risk of developing cancer compared with ongoing smoking. The benefits of a tobacco free generation to public health and NHS budgets are unequivocal.

Smoking remains the biggest preventable cause of cancer in Scotland.

Currently, smoking rates and lung cancer death rates in Scotland remain higher than any other UK nation and lung cancer kills more people here than any other type of the disease.

The most recent Scottish Health Survey shows 19 per cent of adults in Scotland smoke cigarettes, which equates to more than 843,000 smokers.
Tesla, an automotive and a green power company owned by Elon Musk, is going to donate an amount of $1.25 million to Nevada Museum of Arts, according to The Art News Paper.

Tesla has been doing charitable works by donating millions of money in different organizations that explore research, science and engineering education, renewable energy, and more. But this time, his company will be donating $1.25 million to boost the art education program of the Nevada Museum of Arts.

The donation of Tesla will roll out over the next four years. The partnership of Tesla and the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno will greatly help more than 8,000 students ranging from kindergarten to Grade 12. This will also help to strengthen the museum's arts education program curriculum intended for its students.

In an interview, the Chief Executive of the Museum David Walker said that they are thrilled with the significant relationship with Tesla because the automotive and green power company understands that to build a sustainable workforce in Nevada, they need to employ interdisciplinary strategies in the classroom. With the amount given to the school of arts, the museum can now maximize its teaching methodologies in improving the skill of the students and producing high-quality output.

According to a spokesperson of the museum, Tesla and Nevada Museum first forged their relationship way back in 2014 where it led to a more substantive multi-year of relationship. Tesla also sponsored the museum's current art exhibition named "Where Art and Tech Collide." This art exhibit includes the works of Kal Spelletich, Leo Villareal, and Trevor Paglen that will run until June 21.

Moreover, aside from this exhibit, Tesla has committed also to sponsor its next event in its annual Nevada Steam Conference. This is an annual event of the museum that aims to discuss how to improve the arts or output of students into the existing curriculum of the state. In this way, they can better facilitate learning to the students and explore new strategies and methodologies that will increase students' performance in producing a highly valued piece of art.

The educational initiative of the museum is very wide. It is not only inclusive to students, but they also have training and seminars for the teachers and professors seeking professional development and integrate or incorporate visual arts into the curriculum.

Tesla and the Nevada museum have an aligning philosophy "Creative, design-based thinking is foundational to educating 'the whole student'."

The long-term partnership of Tesla and Nevada museum since 2014 has seen very significant because it did not only help the students but it also helped the state in general. The donation that will roll out in over the next four years means a continuation of the company's support in the museum's mission which promotes art in the state.

This also shows that Tesla does not only look after profits, but that they are also willing to help communities that are in dire need of development. It is not known to everyone that Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla, has been supporting different groups for years by donating millions of dollars.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday said that India will target to have a mixed energy basket with both renewable and non-renewable sources of energy.

In his address at a programme organised by the CII and the US-India Business Council, he said that although there are calls for lowering coal usage in the wake of global warming, India will continue with the consumption of coal keeping in mind affordability for its people.

"In our energy basket, our coal consuption is 50-55 per cent. And very politely I will assure this house, we will continue to use coal, because, looking into my affordable capacity, looking into my consumers pocket, why should I stop coal?" he asked.

"I am not a pollutant. India is not a pollutant at the global sphere. I am not responsible for the global warming... My vision will be, we will follow the path of mixed basket. We will use coal as well as more cleaner coal," he added.

India has, over the past few years, tried to diversify sources of energy and has also emphasised on solar power and natural gas.

On the trade of energy between India and the US, Pradhan said that the trade engagement can enhance from here on.

He also observed that India is a major consumer and importer of energy and no player in this segment can ignore the market.

"Those who want to be in the energy business, it may be hydrocarbon, it may be more clean energy, solar, battery, electric charging sytem. Those who want to be in the energy trading and energy business cannot ignore the Indian market. There is a lot of scope for investment, for innovation and for new businesses." Visiting US President Donald Trump on Tuesday also said that he discussed an energy deal with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in their bilateral talks earlier in the day.

The President's statement assumes significance as India imports a significant portion of its energy needs from the US which has only increased in the past few years. The US is the sixth largest oil supplier to India.

US Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette on Tuesday said that oil supplies from the US to India have jumped 10-fold to 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the last few years.
Hamas and other Palestinian factions have been trying to spark armed resistance in the West Bank to the recently revealed US Mideast peace plan, but they face several challenges. Recent incidents there have been limited to sporadic individual attacks against Israeli targets.

Palestinians have roundly rejected the US peace plan, dubbed the deal of the century by the administration of US President Donald Trump. Since the United States released details of the plan Jan. 28, Hamas has been making intense efforts to ignite the West Bank. But it's been stifled in part by the continued security cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). The PA has imposed absolute control over the West Bank, which keeps Hamas from finding a foothold there, be it financially, militarily or politically.

Mahmoud Mardawi, a member of Hamas National Relations Office, agreed with that assessment.

"Hamas has extensive experience in confronting the Israeli army and is well aware of [the West Banks] topography, which helps it transfer weapons and personnel, conduct training and choose the locations of attacks then retreat. Yet the ongoing security coordination between the PA and Israel prevents Hamas from achieving its military aspirations in the West Bank, despite a few successes here and there," he told Al-Monitor.

An Israeli report published Feb. 13 by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center stated that a spate of individual attacks during the first third of February was the fiercest in years. It said Israeli soldiers and settlers were wounded for the first time in five months during three attacks: a car-ramming and a shooting in Jerusalem, as well as another shooting in Ramallah. But there have been few Hamas-organized attacks.

Wasef Erekat, a Palestinian military expert in the West Bank and former PLO artillery unit commander, told Al-Monitor, "The price that Hamas' leadership  may have to pay for such actions makes it reluctant.  This is why only individual and not organized attacks are carried out." The current situation indicates such attacks "might do more harm than good," he added.

A Palestinian security official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, There is a Palestinian [Authority] political decision to maintain security and calm in the West Bank. The Palestinian leadership is dealing with the peace plan with what it deems appropriate peaceful and political means, away from any field action that harms West Bank stability.

Israeli Channel 13 broadcast a report Feb. 7 by its correspondent for Palestinian affairs, Hezi Simantov, stating that Hamas is frustrated but is continuing its efforts to raise reactions in the West Bank. Hamas, the report continued, expected more popular mobilization there since the plan's announcement, as there are dozens of friction points between Palestinians and Israelis in the West Bank.

Imad Abu Awad, an expert on Israeli affairs at the Vision Center for Political Development in Turkey, told Al-Monitor Hamas lacks the organizational structure in the West Bank to create armed cells. "Most of its leaders [there] have distanced themselves from the organizational work, which gave a negative impression to its youth. But that didn't prevent Hamas from trying to find a foothold in the West Bank to carry out attacks, even on a small scale. Hamas current efforts are based on the work of amateurs rather than professionals, said Abu Awad.

Any larger efforts probably would be overcome by the Israeli army's massive presence in the West Bank and its interaction with the PA, which have resulted in the arrests of hundreds of Hamas members.

Another impediment is the ongoing division between Fatah and Hamas. Also, many Palestinians in the West Bank work in Israel, and don't want to risk their jobs by provoking resistance.

Hamas leader Abdul Rahman Chedid told Al-Monitor, For over 12 years, the West Bank has been subjected to an Israeli and PA policy, under US supervision, of draining the sources of resistance -- for instance, arresting Hamas members, eliminating them, confiscating their weapons, and cutting their financial supplies from several sources. Hamas is seeking to reactivate resistance [there], despite the difficulties it faces. It has achieved some successes, but a popular uprising needs all Palestinian efforts, while Fatah and the PA are still hindering it for fear of harming their interests.

Another drag on the momentum Hamas is struggling to achieve could be Palestinians' declining confidence in President Mahmoud Abbas, according to a Feb. 11 opinion poll published by the Palestinian Center for Political and Survey Research in Ramallah. This lack of faith mainly stems from Abbas' very public opposition to any armed resistance against Israel. In this case, Hamas might wait to see whether a successor to the 84-year-old leader could surface who would work on using armed attacks to achieve political goals. Herein lies Hamas chance, but nothing is guaranteed.
Alessandra Ambrosio showed off another eye-catching look as she continued to party the night away at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Carnival.

The Brazilian beauty put her stunning figure on display in a rhinestone-studded bra and matching cut-out bottoms.

The former Victoria's Secret Angel, 38, partied until the early hours with Mick Jagger's ex-girlfriend Luciana Morad at the Sambadrome Marques de Sapucai.

Racy display: Alessandra Ambrosio showed off another eye-catching look as she continued to party the night away for Carnival

Alessandra's scintillating ensemble featured the glittering bra, which prominently highlighted her cleavage and revealed her taut tummy.

She paired it with a large studded pair of cut-out flared trousers.

The supermodel had a black scarf with silver glittering designs tied around her throat and draped over her front.

Girls' night out: The former Victoria's Secret Angel, 38, partied until the early hours with Mick Jagger's ex-girlfriend Luciana Morad at the Sambadrome Marques de Sapucai

Barely-there: Alessandra's scintillating ensemble featured the glittering bra, which prominently highlighted her cleavage and revealed her taut tummy

Slinky: She paired it with a large studded pair of cut-out flared trousers, with rhinestone chains holding it all together

Here come the girls: Television personality Luciana, 50, also showcased her toned stomach in a black crop top which was adorned with gold studs

Alessandra completed the look with a pair of rhinestone-studded platform heels, and wore her brunette locks pin straight and swept over one shoulder.

It was the second night of partying in a row for Alessandra and the model appeared in high spirits as she posed up a storm with Luciana.

The television personality, 50, also showcased her toned stomach in a black crop top which was adorned with gold studs.

Luciana complemented the look with a silver fringed miniskirt and lace-up gladiator heels.

Carnival: Alessandra and Luciana appeared in the party spirit as they posed for a photo

Wow factor: Luciana complemented the look with a silver fringed miniskirt and lace-up gladiator heels

Party-time: The girls posed up a storm for the camera as they lived it up in their private box

Styling her hair in crimped waves, the blonde beauty finished off her eye-catching look with green eye-shadow and a bright red lip.

Luciana was propelled into the limelight when she discovered she was pregnant with Mick's child Lucas in 1998 after an eight-month affair, which resulted in Jerry and Mick's 22-year marriage breakdown.

In 1999, Luciana was described as 'the straw that broke the camels back' by Jerry Hall during her divorce from Mick.

Case of the ex: Luciana was propelled into the limelight when she discovered she was pregnant with Mick's child Lucas in 1998

All eyes on her: Alessandra looked like she had come straight of the catwalk thanks to her dazzling outfit

Stunning: The Brazilian beauty looked incredible in the show-stopping two-piece

Well connected: Alessandra was joined by a slew of her model pals

Luciana previously said of model Jerry: 'I don't know how she feels about me, but I understand that I probably hurt her.'

The Satisfaction hitmaker also has four children with Jerry Hall: daughters Elizabeth, 35, and Georgia, 27, and sons James, 33, and Gabriel, 21.

His youngest child is with current partner Melanie Hamrick, 32, two-year-old son Deveraux. He also has daughters Karis, 48, and Jade, 47, from previous relationships.

Luciana also has an eight-year-old son, Lorenzo, with her ex-husband Marcelo de Carvalho.

VIP treatment: Luciana and Alessandra beamed as they posed with a pal in their exclusive box

Nightlife: Alessandra continued to party the night away

Shimmering: Alessandra was in her element as she posed in her carnival costume

Tied up: The supermodel had a black scarf with silver glittering designs tied around her throat and draped over her front

Alessandra joined a parade of friends and fellow models as they strutted their stuff in front of the packed spectator stands.

Later, she relaxed behind the fence to enjoy the high-energy acts.

The earliest predecessor to Carnival began all the way back in 1641, also in Rio, when John IV was named the king of Portugal, though the first official Carnival was held in 1723.

Long hair, don't care: She completed the look with a pair of rhinestone-studded platform heels, and wore her brunette locks pin straight and swept over one shoulder

On the move: Alessandra joined a parade of friends and fellow models as they strutted their stuff in front of the packed spectator stands

Cooling down: Later, she relaxed behind the fence to enjoy the high-energy acts

Ancient: The earliest predecessor to Carnival began all the way back in 1641, also in Rio, when John IV was named the king of Portugal

Old school: The first official carnival was held in 1723

Packed: The Rio de Janeiro Carnival is considered the largest in the world, with two million people taking to the streets to celebrate each day

Religious holiday: It begins before Lent on the Firday before Ash Wednesday

The Rio de Janeiro Carnival is considered the largest in the world, with two million people taking to the streets to celebrate each day.

It begins before Lent on the Firday before Ash Wednesday.

Alessandra gave her 10.3 million followers a close-up look at her Carnival preparation as she put on lipstick in a video in her Insta Stories.

She snapped some video of the vibrant costumes of revelers as they marched down the track.

All dolled up: Alessandra gave her 10.3 million followers a close-up look at her Carnival preparation as she put on lipstick in a video in her Insta Stories

Colorful display: She snapped some video of the vibrant costumes of revelers as they marched down the track

Meet-up: The catwalk star also met up with some of her famous friends at the massive celebration

Double trouble: She and pals shared a special moment while cheering on the show, though Gisele's husband Tom Brady wasn't anywhere to be seen

Alessandra started modeling at just 15 years of age, after competing in Brazi's Elite Model Look competition.

She was married to Re/Done Jeans founder Jamie Mazur from 2005 until their split in 2018.

Ambrosio and Mazur share two children together, Anja, 11, and Noah, eight.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 01:39:45|Editor: yan

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ROME, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Tuesday said that authorities expected measures taken to prevent the coronavirus from further spreading across the country to be effective.

"We are confident we will have a containing effect of the virus spreading in the coming days, thanks to the combined action of an excellent health system and of the rigorous health policy we have adopted," Conte said at a televised press conference hosted by the Civil Protection Department headquarters here.

The latest official data provided by Angelo Borrelli, Italy's civil protection chief and extraordinary commissioner for the coronavirus emergency, at midday on Tuesday showed 283 confirmed coronavirus cases.

This count included seven people who died in coronavirus-related cases, and one person who fully recovered. The death toll in the country has been stationary since Monday.

While the most of the cases were reported in the northern regions -- and especially in worst hit Lombardy and Veneto, the country's two hotbeds -- new cases were identified on Tuesday in Tuscany (2) and Sicily (1).

The latter case was linked to Lombardy, since it concerned an Italian woman who traveled for tourism from the northern region to the southern island.

Also on Tuesday, Italian authorities were to hold emergency talks with health ministers from neighboring countries -- Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland and France -- and from Germany and Croatia, along with the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides, according to the Health Ministry.

On Wednesday, Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza will hold a second meeting with the European Commissioner, the Regional Director for Europe of the World Health Organization (WHO) Hans Kluge, and the Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Andrea Ammon.

In a separate statement on Tuesday, the Italian Prime Minister's Office dismissed rumors that schools and universities were going to be shut down all across the country, confirming that the preventive closure (and the suspension of school trips) concerned only the regions with confirmed coronavirus cases.

"We are launching a package of measures to alleviate the direct economic impact of the coronavirus health emergency," Conte said at the press conference.
Two deaths have been recorded in Hong Kong. (PA)

China and South Korea have reported more cases of the new coronavirus as clusters of the disease grow in Europe and the Middle East amid rising global concern.

In the UK, 13 people have been diagnosed with the virus, officially known as Covid-19, including four over the weekend who had been on the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was held in quarantine in Japan.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has so far refused to label the disease a pandemic despite it spreading to more than 30 countries worldwide, with a mortality rate of around 2%.

But which countries have been worst hit by the virus?

There have been over 2,700 deaths worldwide, although the figures relating to Iran are unclear (PA)

China  2,663 deaths

In mainland China, there have been 2,663 deaths among 77,658 cases, mostly in the central province of Hubei. More than 12,000 people affected in the country have already recovered.

China reported 508 new cases and another 71 deaths on Tuesday, 68 of them in the central city of Wuhan, where the epidemic was first detected in December.

Chinese president Xi Jinping warned earlier this week that the countrys virus epidemic is still grim and complex and called for more efforts to halt the outbreak.

South Korea  10 deaths

South Korea now has the second-most cases in the world with 893 and has also seen a near 15-fold increase in reported infections in a week, with 60 new cases reported on Tuesday.

As the country reported its eighth fatality, health workers continued to find batches in the south-eastern city of Daegu and nearby areas, where panic has brought towns to an eerie standstill.

Health workers said they planned to test every citizen in Daegu who showed cold-like symptoms for the coronavirus, estimating about 28,000 people would be targeted. President Moon Jae-in has placed the country under a red alert, the highest level.

Seven deaths have been recorded so far in Italy (AP)

Italy  7 deaths

In Italy, where 229 people have tested positive for the virus and seven have died, police manned checkpoints around a dozen quarantined northern towns as worries grew across the continent.

Story continues

Italy has placed 11 towns on lockdown in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus and imposed a range of curfews.

Iran  15 deaths (official number)

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 from the Middle Eastern nation.

In the city of Qom, the countrys semi-official ILNA news agency cited a politician in reporting a staggering 50 people had died of Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus  although those numbers are unconfirmed.

The government, however, claims there have only been 15 deaths related to coronavirus so far.

Hong Kong  2 deaths

Hong Kong has confirmed 69 cases of the virus, with two deaths.

The territorys government has imposed strict travel bans on those trying to enter from China and announced on Tuesday it will begin evacuating its residents from the mainland.

A map showing the suspected coronavirus cases worldwide (Getty)

France  2 deaths

A 60-year-old man has become the first French victim of the coronavirus in the country, the health ministry announced on Wednesday.

The man died overnight after being rushed to a Paris hospital in serious condition on Tuesday evening, bringing the total death toll in the country to two, following the previous death of an 80-year-old Chinese tourist.

The man was one of three new coronavirus cases in France, and the total number of confirmed infections in the country now stands at 17.

Previously announced cases include one French health worker, six people in Contamines-Montjoie and five people who had recently travelled from China.

Japan  1 death

The tally of domestically transmitted cases in Japan has swelled past 159, including one death.

Japan has also drawn heavy criticism for its handling of a virus outbreak on the UK-registered cruise ship Diamond Princess that caused 691 infections, killing four passengers.

Watch the UKs health secretary discuss his concerns about COVID-19

Philippines  1 death

The first death from coronavirus outside China was registered in the Philippines last month.

A 44-year-old Wuhan resident, who later died, and a female companion visited three cities in the Philippines before they were both tested positive for the virus in the capital, Manila.

There have since been two other confirmed cases in the country.

Taiwan  1 death

On 21 January, a 50-year-old woman who had returned to Taiwan from her teaching job in Wuhan was diagnosed with coronavirus.

Since then there have been 30 confirmed cases, including one death  a man in his 60s. Several Taiwanese nationals were also infected onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
I enjoyed Walter Russell Meads February 3 Wall Street Journal Global View column published under the headline China is the real sick man of Asia. Beginning with Chinas respose to the coronavirus outbreak, Mead widened the scope to economic issues:

Chinas initial response to the crisis was less than impressive. The Wuhan government was secretive and self-serving; national authorities responded vigorously but, it currently appears, ineffectively. Chinas cities and factories are shutting down; the virus continues to spread. We can hope that authorities succeed in containing the epidemic and treating its victims, but the performance to date has shaken confidence in the Chinese Communist Party at home and abroad. Complaints in Beijing about the U.S. refusing entry to noncitizens who recently spent time in China cannot hide the reality that the decisions that allowed the epidemic to spread as far and as fast as it did were all made in Wuhan and Beijing. The likeliest economic consequence of the coronavirus epidemic, forecasters expect, will be a short and sharp fall in Chinese economic growth rates during the first quarter, recovering as the disease fades. The most important longer-term outcome would appear to be a strengthening of a trend for global companies to de-Sinicize their supply chains. Add the continuing public health worries to the threat of new trade wars, and supply-chain diversification begins to look prudent. Events like the coronavirus epidemic, and its predecessorssuch as SARS, Ebola and MERStest our systems and force us to think about the unthinkable. If there were a disease as deadly as Ebola and as fast-spreading as coronavirus, how should the U.S. respond? What national and international systems need to be in place to minimize the chance of catastrophe on this scale? Epidemics also lead us to think about geopolitical and economic hypotheticals. We have seen financial markets shudder and commodity prices fall in the face of what hopefully will be a short-lived disturbance in Chinas economic growth. What would happen ifperhaps in response to an epidemic, but more likely following a massive financial collapseChinas economy were to suffer a long period of even slower growth? What would be the impact of such developments on Chinas political stability, on its attitude toward the rest of the world, and to the global balance of power? Chinas financial markets are probably more dangerous in the long run than Chinas wildlife markets. Given the accumulated costs of decades of state-driven lending, massive malfeasance by local officials in cahoots with local banks, a towering property bubble, and vast industrial overcapacity, China is as ripe as a country can be for a massive economic correction. Even a small initial shock could lead to a massive bonfire of the vanities as all the false values, inflated expectations and misallocated assets implode. If that comes, it is far from clear that Chinas regulators and decision makers have the technical skills or the political authority to minimize the damageespecially since that would involve enormous losses to the wealth of the politically connected.

Tom Friedman, call your office.

This somehow could not stand. Chinas Communist rulers took offense to the column  allegedly to its headline, but also, we may assume, the substance of the column itself. Kimmy Yam reported for NBC News The Wall Street Journal criticized for op-ed with derogatory reference to China in title.

And not just Chinas rulers! Yam consulted Catherine Ceniza Choy, a professor of ethnic studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Professor Choy opined: 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. This is extremely harmful and wrong.

The Berkeley professor channeled the views expressed by Chinas tyrants. They should sign her up to do public relations work for them, now that the Communists have expelled three wall Street Journal journalists as a result of the Journals refusal to apologize.

The BBC reports that story in Coronavirus: China expels Wall Street Journal journalists for article it deemed racist. The BBC reported that Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the article was racist and denigrated Chinas efforts to combat the outbreak that has killed more than 2,000 people in the country. The Chinese people do not welcome media that publish racist statements and maliciously attacks China, Geng said.

Journal reporters are on board with the demand for an apology to the Chinese regime. Marc Tracy covers that angle for the New York Times in Inside The Wall Street Journal, Tensions Rise Over Sick Man China Headline. Subhead: After China announced the expulsion of three of the papers journalists, 53 reporters and editors at The Journal asked top executives to consider changing the headline and apologizing.

Wall Street Journal publisher William Lewis expressed regret for any harm the headline had caused but did not issue a formal apology. This wasnt good enough for the Journal reporters. I should add that Professor Mead has let it be known that he did not choose the headline.

What is to be made of this series of events? The Journals excellent February 19 editorial on the Chinese reaction to Meads column is Banished in Beijing. Among other things, the Journal editorial observes: What Chinese officials dont understand is that a free press would have helped them better cope with the virus fallout. Democracies are resilient because a free media sends signals and information that allow an outlet for grievances and alert leaders to problems before they become crises.

But what about those protesting Journal reporters? They are on board with the Chinese Communists. They want tokowtow.

JOHN adds: Its good to see that the Chinese have figured out how to win arguments in the U.S. Just denounce any inconvenient observations as racist.
[February 25, 2020] The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz Announces Investigation on Behalf of Tupperware Brands Corporation Investors (TUP)

The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces an investigation on behalf of Tupperware Brands Corporation ("Tupperware" or the "Company") (NYSE: TUP) investors concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of federal securities laws. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. On February 24, 2020, after the market closed, Tupperware issud a press release announcing preliminary financial results for fiscal 2019. Therein, the Company disclosed an "investigation primarily into the accounting for accounts payable and accrued liabilities at its Fuller Mexico beauty business" and estimated that the pre-tax impact of these issues would be approximately $50 million to $52 million. Moreover, due to the investigation, Tupperware stated that it could not timely file its annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2019. The Company said it expects 2019 net earnings per share "in the range of breakeven to $0.34 versus $3.11 in the prior year," and adjusted EPS of $1.35 to $1.70, which is below consensus estimates of $2.79.



On this news, Tupperware's stock price fell more than 43% during intraday trading on February 25, 2020. Follow us for updates on Twitter (News - Alert): twitter.com/FRC_LAW.

If you purchased Tupperware securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005942/en/

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Contributed photo

The Stamford Jewish Community Center is hosting The Contemplative Landscape: Paintings by Robert Selkowitz Monday, March 2, through Thursday, April 30, with an art-and-wine reception Thursday evening, March 12.

Stamford native Selkowitz, who describes himself as a representational landscape painter, seeks out real scenes that arouse his sense of beauty and translates it into painting. Paintings selected for the JCC exhibit are all based on real places, mostly set in the lakes of the Adirondack Mountains of New York and the coast of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.
Of the clergy identified in Schmitts 329-page report, 83 are dead. Forty-six of the remaining 80 could not be prosecuted because of the statute of limitations, Schmitt said.

The report found church officials had refused to acknowledge reports of abuse or misconduct, and it had reassigned accused priests without informing law enforcement or parishioners.

While the Springfield diocese publicly named Lutz in 2018 as one of several former priests credibly accused of sexual abuse, it only revealed an allegation that Lutz abused a child in the early 1970s.

Leslie Eidson, a spokeswoman for the Springfield diocese, said church officials had reported allegations against Lutz to Stoddard County prosecutors as early as 2006.

The diocese will cooperate fully in any investigation Stoddard County would like to pursue, thats always been our position, she said.

The diocese gave Schmitts office full access to its clerical records, Eidson said. Lutz was one of three former clergy there whose cases Schmitt referred to local prosecutors, she said.
India and the US on Tuesday said they support an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process that results in a sustainable peace, cessation of violence and elimination of terror safe havens.

The assertion in a joint statement came after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.

Speaking at a press conference in the national capital, Trump said the US and Taliban are "pretty close" to signing an agreement to formally end the war in Afghanistan.

"I spoke to PM Modi on it. I think India would like to see it happen. We are pretty close," Trump said.

"India and the United States share interest in a united, sovereign, democratic, inclusive, stable and prosperous Afghanistan," the joint statement said.

The two countries support an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process that results in a sustainable peace, cessation of violence, elimination of terrorist safe havens and preservation of the gains of the last 18 years, it said.

President Trump welcomed India's role in continuing to provide development and security assistance to help stabilise and provide connectivity in Afghanistan, the statement said.

Asked about the discussion on Afghanistan during Modi-Trump talks, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the Indian side certainly took note of the fact that there should be an agreement if all goes well over the next five days between the US and the Taliban.

"We are taking note of some of the aspects of the agreement. We would be watching the developments there very carefully. India and the US have a shared interest in a united, democratic, sovereign, stable prosperous Afghanistan," he said.

"We support a peace process that is Afghan-led, Afghan-driven and Afghan-owned and that the peace process results in sustainable peace," he said.

During their talks, Modi and Trump also committed to working together to strengthen and reform the United Nations and other international organisations and ensure their integrity.

President Trump reaffirmed the support of the United States for India's permanent membership on a reformed UN Security Council.

He also reaffirmed US support for India's entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group without any delay, the joint statement said.

Prime Minister Modi and President Trump also expressed interest in the concept of the Blue Dot Network, a multi-stakeholder initiative that will bring governments, the private sector, and civil society together to promote high-quality trusted standards for global infrastructure development, the statement said.

"The US appreciates India's role as a net provider of security, as well as developmental and humanitarian assistance in the Indian Ocean Region. India and the United States remain committed to sustainable, transparent, quality infrastructure development in the region," it said.

Modi and Trump welcomed the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) announcement of a USD 600 million financing facility for renewable energy projects in India, and the DFC's decision to establish a permanent presence in India this year, the statement said.

The two leaders noted the potential for the US to meet India's goal to diversify its import base for coking or metallurgical coal and natural gas, welcoming recent commercial arrangements intended to accelerate access to LNG in the Indian market.

PM Modi and President Trump encouraged the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited and Westinghouse Electric Company to finalize the techno-commercial offer for the construction of six nuclear reactors in India at the earliest date, the statement said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday found a former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, guilty of a seven-count charge of laundering N400 million.

Justice Okon Abang who delivered the judgement, which lasted for about five hours, found Mr Metuh guilty in a trial that started in 2016.

Mr Metuh was arrested on January 5, 2015, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He was arraigned by the anti-graft agency alongside his company, Destra Investment, on an amended seven-count charge of diversion of the money received when Sambo Dasuki who was the National Security Adviser.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported, in April last year, how Mr Metuh told the court that the N400 million was spent on a special national assignment.

Apart from the N400 million, which he was accused of laundering, the former PDP spokesperson was also accused of transacting with the sum of $2 million without going through a financial institution, in violation of a provision of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

The defendants had on February 18, 2016, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

In the course of the trial, the prosecution called eight witnesses while the first defendant (Mr Metuh) called 14 witnesses and himself as the fifteenth witness, while the second defendant called one witness.

Metuhs defence

In defending himself, Mr Metuh tried to call two key witnesses: a former president, Goodluck Jonathan, and Mr Dasuki. His legal team believed the statement of either or both witnesses would vindicate him.

The former PDP spokesperson 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 had access to his own records.

On the same day, Justice Abang scoffed at the defence teams attempt to persuade the court to adjourn hearing in Mr Metuhs 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.

Conviction

In his judgement on Tuesday, Justice Abang found Mr Metuh guilty and convicted him of all the seven charges filed against him by the EFCC.

On count one, It is my view that Metuh took possession of the N400 million from the office of the NSA without contractual agreement; he is guilty of money laundering and is hereby convicted on count one.

On count two, the court found the former PDP spokesperson, guilty of converting the N400 million which was meant for national security, to fund activities of the PDP.

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Justice Abang further said that Mr Metuh also used the money to acquire a property at Banana Island in Lagos.

In his explanation, the judge noted that this was contrary to the e-payment mandate which stated that the money was meant for security services, whereas Dextra Investment was not a registered security outfit.

He insisted that the evidence before the court pointed out the fact that the money was deliberately laundered to support the PDP during the 2015 general elections in the country.

The judge said that Mr Metuh failed to explain the transfer of N50 million from the N400 million to the joint account of himself and his wife

It is, therefore, manifestly clear that the defendant converted the money for PDP campaign activities and I find him guilty and is hereby convicted accordingly, the judge declared.

On count three which bordered on concealment of funds, Justice Abang held that the e-payment mandate showed that the money was released for security services but was concealed and used for PDP campaign activities and personal use.

I hereby find him guilty and convicted on count three, Mr Abang ruled.

On count four, which bordered on the allegation of illegal disbursement of funds, the judge said the prosecution placed credible evidence before the court, which showed some of the unlawful acts of Mr Dasuki as the NSA while in office.

According to the judge, The first defendant was desirous of repositioning the PDP and he deployed the funds for that purpose and personal use.

Mr Abang also noted that the meeting wherein Mr Jonathan allegedly authorised the payment was tagged a security meeting.

The judge said he wondered why only the former NSA and top PDP officials attended the meeting, yet Mr Metuh claimed the money was expended on special national assignment.

Mr Abang stressed that the first defendant was not a witness of truth.

In furtherance, he said, I agree with the prosecution that Metuhs claims are tissues of lies hurriedly put in place to divert the attention of the court from prying into the disbursement of the N400 million received from the office of the NSA through an under the table agreement.

It is a case of public funds filtering into private hands for selfish reasons.

The judge then held that the N400 million was never released for a special national assignment based on the evidence before him.

Therefore, I find the first and second defendants guilty on count four, he ruled.

In his judgement, Justice Abang said he has considered the arguments of the defendants on counts five and six which deal with making cash transactions above the statutory threshold of N5 million for individuals and N10 million for corporate bodies.

He said, I agree with the prosecution that the defendants committed the offence by handing over raw cash of $2 million dollars to a Bureau de Change (BDC) operator to change same into naira.

From the evidence placed before me, the BDC is not even a registered operator. The transaction is, therefore, undocumented and runs contrary to the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

I agree with the prosecution that the $2 million and part of the N400 million received from the office of the NSA was used to acquire properties in Lagos, he added.

According to Justice Abang, the transaction as regards counts five and six was clearly in excess of the statutory threshold, whether the money belonged to the defendants or not, and Mr Metuh failed in his defence to disclose the source of the $2 million.

I hereby find the first and second defendants guilty on counts five and six, he held.

On the count seventh of the charges which bordered on the transfer of funds to a PDP official, Tony Anineh, the judge held that the transfer of N21.7 million to Mr Anenih for a special national assignment directly represented the illicit nature of the fund.

I have again considered the position of the prosecution and found that the prosecution proved the transfer of N27.7 million to Chief Anthony Anenih, and I hereby find the first and second defendants guilty on count seven and are hereby convicted, the judge ruled.

The judge was yet to sentence Mr Metuh at the time of this report.
Cairo, Feb 25 : Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's fourth and longest-serving president, has died at the age of 91 after undergoing treatment in an intensive care unit following surgery, the media reported on Tuesday.

Mubarak who had ruled Egypt for 30 years before he was overthrown in 2011 mass protests has passed away in Cairo's Galaa military hospital, Xinhua reported.

Egyptian presidency has mourned the death of Mubarak for his services to the homeland as "a hero of October 1973 war" and offered condolences to his family.

"Mubarak was commander of the Air Forces during the war that restored dignity and pride to the Arab nation," the presidency added in a statement. It announced nation-wide three days of mourning.

Later, Egypt's armed forces also mourned his death as "one of its sons and a war leader," a military spokesman said in a statement.

"Supporters of Mubarak's page on Facebook also mourned the death of Mubarak and offered condolences to his two sons.

However, social media was also crowded with photos of the murdered protesters who passed away in 2011, blaming Mubarak for their death.

His older son Alaa said in a Twitter post that included images of his late father that he had died on Tuesday morning.

He also posted his father speech on February 1, 2011 that said "This dear nation is where I lived, I fought for it and defended its soil, sovereignty and interests. On its soil I will die. History will judge me like it did others." Anwar Gargash, the United Arab Emirates' minister of state for foreign affairs, said the Arab world has lost a statesman who took significant national and historic positions.

The former president succeeded Anwar Sadat, who was assassinated on October 6, 1981 while attending a military parade to commemorate the 1973 war.

Born in 1928 in Munofiya province in the Nile River Delta, Mubarak graduated from the Air Force Academy and worked as its director for three years.

He was appointed by then President Anwar Sadat as Air Force Commander in 1972. Later, he was awarded by the late president for his accomplishments during the Arab-Israeli war.

He was married to Suzanne Mubarak, a half-British graduate of the American University in Cairo, with two sons, Alaa and Gamal.

In 1975, Sadat appointed Mubarak as his vice president.

When Mubarak assumed power, he focused on getting Egypt from its isolation with some Arab and Muslim countries in response to Sadat's signing of a peace treaty with Israel in 1979.

His foreign policies have long dominated the Middle East. He built successful ties with Iraq and provided military assistance to Baghdad in its war with Iran.

Egypt's role in settling the Palestinian cause was very clear during Mubarak's time. In 2008, Mubarak managed to draw a truce between Islamic Hamas movement and Israel.

He sent troops as part of the US-led coalition in the 1990-1991 Gulf war.

In June 1995, Mubarak survived an assassination attempt on his motorcade while he was attending a summit in Ethiopia.

Mubarak won three elections, but for his fourth contest in 2005, he changed the system to allow rival candidates after pressure of some western countries over concerns of applying democracy.

During his reign, Egypt has witnessed slow but steady economic growth. For his entire period in office, he kept the country under emergency law to curb the terrorism.

But giving the state sweeping powers has raged Egyptian people over police harsh practices.

Inspired by the first Arab Spring revolt in Tunisia, protesters took to the streets in January 25, 2011, who commemorate the Police Day.

The military announced his resignation on February 11, 2011.

By late May 2011, judicial officials announced that Mubarak along with his two sons would stand trial over the deaths of anti-government protesters.

In 2012, he was found guilty of complicity in the murder of some of the demonstrators who took part in the wave of protests. He was sentenced along with his interior minister to life sentence.

In 2014, Mubarak was found guilty of embezzlement and sentenced to three years in prison.

He was convicted in 2015 along with his two sons of diverting public funds and using the money to upgrade family properties. They were sentenced to three years in jail.

In March 2017, Egypt's top court upheld Mubarak acquittal and he went free, for the first time in six years.
A man given life for the axe-murder of a homeless Lithuanian national, whose body was subsequently discovered on a Meath beach, must wait to hear the outcome of an appeal against his conviction.

Marius Gaizutis (55), with an address on the Marsh Road, in Drogheda, Co Louth, had admitted killing Audrius Butkus (44) at his home on the 9th or 10th of September, 2013, but denied it was murder.

The prosecution case was that Mr Butkus died from multiple blows to the back of his head with an axe, while the defence contended that Gaizutis had been provoked by threats the deceased made to him, particularly against Gaizutis family. The only account of what had happened in the house came from what Gaizutis told gardai.

In his first two interviews, Gaizutis claimed to have no recollection of what happened, and then claimed the victim had insulted him and hit him over the head with a bottle, in what prosecuting lawyers characterised as an evolving story.

He was unanimously found guilty by a jury after two hours and forty minutes of deliberations, and was accordingly given the mandatory life sentence by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan on May 20, 2015.

Gaizutis moved to appeal his conviction today/yesterday(TUESDAY) on grounds that the there was insufficient evidence for the charge of murder to go to the jury.

His barrister, Ciaran O'Loughlin SC, submitted that the trial judge ought to have directed his clients acquittal on the murder charge, and allowed the manslaughter charge alone to go to the jury.

Mr OLoughlin said there was no objective evidence to contradict the defence of provocation, or to undermine what Gaizutis had told gardai. The victim had no defensive wounds, but Gaizutis had wounds which was objective evidence supporting the accuseds contention he was attacked with a bottle, he said.

Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Patrick Gageby SC, said the only material capable of supporting a defence of provocation could be found in what Gaizutis said to gardai towards the end of his interviews.

Mr Gageby said it was an evolving story and the jury were entitled to conclude that what Gaizutis had said to gardai was self-serving. He said the credibility of the claim Gaizutis was provoked could be tested by the surrounding circumstances.

The court heard that, after the murder, Gaizutis disposed of the body and disposed of the carpet in his house, telling his wife the dog had soiled it. He then left the jurisdiction before voluntarily presenting himself to Laytown Garda Station by appointment.

Reserving judgment, Mr Justice John Edwards, who sat with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, said the court hoped to deliver its decision on March 11 next.

Detective Sergeant Liam Archibold, attached to Laytown Garda Station, told the Central Criminal Court that the deceased Mr Butkus was born in Lithuania, who had lived in Drogheda for six years, but was homeless at the time of his death.

The gardai learned through Interpol that Mr Butkus had a sister in Lithuania, but were unable to track down any other member of his family. He was buried in St Peters Cemetery in Drogheda with assistance from homeless charities.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 19:58:49|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said Tuesday that it will grant a loan of 130 million yuan (about 18.6 million U.S. dollars) to a Chinese pharmaceutical firm to help contain the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The company, the Jointown Pharmaceutical Group (Jointown), is headquartered in Wuhan, the capital city of China's Hubei Province and center of the epidemic outbreak. It was designated by the provincial government as one of the companies to procure and distribute drugs and medical supplies during the epidemic.

ADB said the two-year loan will support Jointown's efforts to ensure a continued supply of essential medicines and personal protective equipment such as protective clothing, gloves, goggles, masks and respirators.

"This financing will help Jointown maintain adequate stock of urgently needed medical supplies, antiviral drugs and personal protective equipment for distribution to hospitals and retail pharmacy outlets," the Director General of ADB's Private Sector Operations Department Mike Barrow said.

This was part of ADB's broader response to the novel coronavirus outbreak, which was initiated on Feb. 7 with 2-million-dollar funding to strengthen response capacity to the outbreak in several countries in Asia and the Pacific.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 25, 2020 11:08 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206669f52 4 City flood,Presidential-Palace,anies-baswedan,Pramono-Anung,odd-even-license-traffic-policy Free

Heavy rains from Monday to Tuesday have caused flooding in several areas, including the Presidential Palace complex in Central Jakarta.

The front yard of Baiturrahim Mosque, next to Merdeka Palace on Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara, was inundated, Antara news agency reported on Tuesday.

The palace has been hit by flooding, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said in a short message on Tuesday.

Pramono showed pictures and videos of palace caretakers trying to clear water.

Soon the pictures and the videos spread to social media, prompting people to blame Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan for the flooding.

Istana Merdeka pagi tadi.. Sudah surut sebelum @aniesbaswedan terbangun dari tidurnya.. Jangan bilang #AniesBanjir ga bisa buat Istana kebanjiran ya.. pic.twitter.com/8oA3td9o9V  NalaR  (@Paltiwest) February 25, 2020

By 7 a.m. floodwaters had receded. Theres no longer inundation as of about 7 a.m., said Presidential Secretariat deputy head of protocol, press and media Bey Triadi Machmudin as quoted by Antara, while showing videos of the palace.

The widespread flooding on Tuesday has caused major traffic and transportation disruption. The police have canceled the odd-even traffic policy for the day but several toll roads are flooded, creating traffic jams in morning rush hour.
The Florence-Carlton School Board selected Brian Rayburn as their new superintendent Monday after hearing community members speak in favor of his selection.

School Board Chair Kim Bauer offered him the position and he has accepted.

I am very excited at this opportunity, Rayburn said, Tuesday.

Rayburn, current superintendent at Lima School District, previously served as superintendent at Essex-Caledonia Supervisory Union and as principal at Blue Mountain Union School District and Sutton School in Vermont. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Brigham Young University in Hawaii and a Master of Education from Plymouth State University.

As a stepping stone to come to Montana, he chose Lima.

I have this school district at a place where I think it is ready for the next person to step in and do their part, Rayburn said. So, I started looking earlier this year and Florence popped up. I like that part of that state and appreciate the opportunity to come there.

Rayburn said he enjoyed the format of the selection process with Florence Carlton Schools.

It was great to meet the staff and have a discussion, meet the community and have a discussion and come back the next day to interview with the board, he said. The whole process was well thought out.

FCS had nine candidates apply. It chose four for interviews that took place last week.

Bauer said the next step is to enter into the contract negotiation.

I have a feeling that will run smoothly and then well have a new superintendent, she said.

Bauer said Rayburn stood out to the board, the community and the teachers.

He had a fresh perspective on things and comes from background from Vermont, an 18 school district school which is quite a feat, Bauer said. He was really positive, had ability, willingness and understanding of wanting to work with teachers. He has open communication with teachers, staff and the community. He understands there needs to be a high visual presence of the superintendent in the community and in the school, which we really need right now.

Bauer called Rayburn a shining light.

He just seemed to rise above, she said. There was nothing that was a mark against him. The other candidates all had great qualities and came to the table with high marks as well. Where our school is sitting right now he is what were in need of right now. He just seems to be the right fit. Were really excited.

She said, Rayburn will be a real asset to our community as well.

Rayburn will begin officially on July 1 but plans to come earlier to attend construction meetings and get up to speed. He has been involved in three bond building projects: a new gym, a school addition/rebuild and roofing all the schools in a district.

This will be my first full school-size build but Ive gone through a couple bigger builds in the past, Rayburn said.

In Lima he is also a volunteer fireman and would continue if it works with the superintendent job at FCS.

Its a little different here (in Lima) when the pager goes off my secretary, myself and the PE teacher all answer the call because theres no one else, Rayburn said. It will be different in Florence. The superintendent job is my number one priority but Id love to continue and help the community that way as well.

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Indian companies operating in China are facing harsh challenges amid the ongoing coronavirus (covid-19) outbreak, which has shaved revenues, added to unplanned costs and put pressure on retaining employees scared of the epidemic.

For the 130-odd Indian firms in China, the biggest challenge will be retaining and recruiting talent as most people will now prefer to work near their home and avoid travel to far distances, a survey by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), an Indian industry body, said.

Until Monday midnight, as many as 2,666 had died and more than 77,780 were infected with covid-19 in China.

Since movement of people and goods will be controlled for a considerable period, both lead-time of delivery and cost are likely to increase, the survey said in context of several cities that are under a lockdown with tens of millions of quarantined citizens.

Indian IT companies operating in China have been badly hit, the survey said without naming the companies.

The extended Lunar New Year holidays in China have adversely impacted the revenue and growth of Indian IT companies operating out of China. IT companies are heavily dependent on manpower and are not able to operate due to restrictions on movement of people, it said.

Consequently, they are not able to complete/deliver the existing projects in time and are also declining new projects. The global customers for Indian IT companies in China have started looking for other service providers in alternate locations such as Malaysia, Vietnam, it added.

Titled Novel Coronavirus in China: An Impact Analysis, the survey was compiled on February 16.

Over 70% of these firms are located in cities like Shanghai and Beijing and in provinces of Guangdong, Jiangsu and Shandong with their business partners located countrywide.

Most of these companies operate in sectors like industrial manufacturing, manufacturing services, IT & BPO, logistics, chemicals, airlines and tourism.

The survey added that extended holidays have reduced productivity, which has a direct impact on revenues and growth. Businesses have been closed since January 24 this year.

Overall, companies foresee a dip in revenue by 15-20% in the first and second quarter. It is expected that businesses will get normalised only by the third quarter.

Despite nil operations, companies, especially manufacturing firms, are having to incur fixed costs like wages and salary, office rent, statutory overheads and interest. Loss of revenue over February and March is expected to result in cash crunch as fixed costs need to be borne without any sales or only part sales, the CII report said.

Indian companies which source products from China or export from India may face the risk of not being able to comply with their obligations. Most well-drafted contracts have a force majeure clause that will determine what happens in such circumstances, according to the CII.

Broadly, the report said Chinas GDP is expected to decelerate by 1-1.25 percentage point over 2020 due to halting of economic activities in key production centres.

The lockdowns will have a knock-on impact on global economic growth as China accounts for 19.71% of global GDP at purchasing power parity. It is estimated that global GDP will suffer an impact of -0.5%, the CII said.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Under the right watch of the US secret service agents and children waving Indian and US flags, US first lady Melania Trump reached Sarvodaya school in Delhi's Moti Bagh area on Tuesday noon to witness Delhi government-run school's happiness curriculum.

Wearing a Tilak, Melania Trump walked into the school and shook hands with a young student before being taken away inside for a tour where she experienced the happiness curriculum first hand. There were 24 students in the class of happiness curriculum that Melania Trump attended.

"I cannot think of a better way for all of us to start our day than this," the First Lady said after witnessing the curriculum. She said that she was "inspired" by the happiness curriculum.

She advised students to be "good to each other" through their life and thanked the teachers for inculcating good values in them.

The US earlier on Sunday said that the political controversy around First Lady Melania Trump visiting a Delhi school was baseless.

After the ruling party in Delhi -- the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) cried foul after the names of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia were dropped from Melania Trump's visit to a school which runs Delhi government's 'happiness curriculum, the US embassy in New Delhi said, that while it "had no objection to the presence of the chief minister and deputy chief minister, we appreciate their recognition that this is not a political event." A spokesperson for the embassy said that "it is best to ensure focus is on education, school and students." Slovenian-born model-turned-social activist, Melania, 50, moved to the US in 1996 and is the only First Lady to become a naturalized US citizen. Mother of Barron Trump, Melania spends a lot of her time on her campaign against drug abuse and for the well-being of children.

Following the major mass shootings at Las Vegas and Parkland, Melania along with President Trump visited the victims and their families. On her foreign trips, she often visits hospitals and schools.
STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan participated on February 25 in the opening of the conference of the ARF Armenian National Committees and Offices launched in Stepanakert, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

In his speech, President Sahakyan noted that the Hay Dat is the pan-Armenian structure that has been fighting for decades for the solution of our national problems, keeping Artsakh in the spotlight. "It is impossible imagine the protection of Artsakh's interests on the international arena, dissemination of true information about the state of Artsakh in different countries and instances, the steps taken towards the international recognition of the Artsakh Republic, the establishment and deepening relations with many states and their administrative units, the implementation of various programs in our republic without the active participation of the Hay Dat, its extensive and dedicated work," the President of the Artsakh Republic emphasized in his speech.

During the event, President Sahakyan awarded the Central Board of the ARF Hay Dat with the "Gratitude" medal for active work undertaken towards the international recognition of the Artsakh Republic, its significant contribution to cementing and widening the Artsakh-Diaspora ties.

Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, National Assembly chairman Ashot Ghoulyan and other officials attended the event.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 25)  Detained Senator Leila de Lima believes she would not get justice as long as President Rodrigo Duterte is in power.

De Lima, who has been in jail since 2017 on drug charges, said she knows Duterte wants her to be handed a guilty verdict.

[I don't] think it will be acceptable to him any other result than conviction," she said.

Still, the opposition lawmaker remains hopeful.

I am not worried about my cases. Why? I know there is nothing there. I know the moral and legal truths are on my side, De Lima said in a letter to CNN Philippines.

The Duterte administration has vigorously denied that the De Lima case was political persecution, noting that the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of her arrest on drug charges.

READ: De Lima causing own delay of her drug case trial  Guevarra

De Lima: Witnesses under pressure

De Lima is charged with conspiracy to commit illegal drug trafficking, but several convicts she was allegedly in cahoots with have already denied any involvement in drugs, she said.

If no one admitted they engaged (in drug trafficking), then for heavens sake, with whom did I conspire?" De Lima said.

De Lima believes these convicted prisoners, who now serve as witnesses against her, are under intense pressure."

She recalled one hearing where a witness who just delivered his testimony looked at her and mouthed an apology.

"I was able to lip-read. Sabi, Maam, pasensya na. Papatayin ako. Nakita iyon ng staff na katabi ko'," De Lima said.

She added that another witness approached her after the hearing.

Sabi nya, Maam, Im sorry. Im sorry. San ka nakakita ng ganyang mga witness?

The senator believes no right-thinking judge will convict her. Whether they are courageous, that is the question.

De Lima: I'm alright

After more than a thousand days in detention, De Lima said she is perfectly fine. She said she has found beauty in solitude.

I have gotten used to my life. Solitude is a blessing. I have more time to reflect, pray, and read," she said.

Despite this, De Lima admits she still feels sad sometimes.

Of course, there are times when emotions would creep in especially at night. There are times when tears would fall. But the next day, I would be alright," she said.

Far from the busy life she used to have, De Lima has a fairly regular routine at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center where she is detained.

De Lima said she wakes up at 4:30 a.m. and reads the Bible.

She would then clean her detention area while waiting for breakfast at 8 a.m. After that, she would start working.

Although in detention, the opposition senator is still actively filing bills in the Senate and releasing statements through her staff.

De Lima was only able to physically serve as senator for eight months. She has been in jail for 36 months now.

Despite this, de Lima says she does not regret anything.

If you are fighting for the truth and what is right, how can you have any regrets?
In its letter to Jimmy Johns, the FDA said, We acknowledge your parent companys, Inspire Brands, decision in December 2019 to destroy sprouts on hand in all of your Iowa Jimmy Johns restaurants, and to implement an additional, one-time cleaning and sanitation at Iowa based Jimmy Johns restaurants; however, neither you nor your parent company proposed any corrective actions to prevent these, or other Jimmy Johns restaurants, from receiving adulterated produce, specifically sprouts.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is expected to soon launch a clinical trial of an experimental coronavirus vaccine.

The vaccine was developed by the drugmaker Moderna, and researchers hope to begin testing it on humans in late April. The first trial will involve 20 to 25 healthy volunteers, with results expected by July or August. If that round is successful, a second trial will include hundreds or thousands of subjects. The vaccine was created after the coronavirus' genetic sequence was determined in January.

"Going into a Phase One trial within three months of getting the sequence is unquestionably the world indoor record," NIAID Director Anthony Fauci told The Wall Street Journal on Monday. "Nothing has ever gone that fast."

Gene-based technology has yet to result in an approved vaccine for humans, the Journal reports. If this vaccine does work, it will still have to go through regulatory measures, and likely won't be widely available until 2021. Fauci said the virus might not spread as quickly in the summer due to the heat, but could roar back in the winter. More than 2,600 people have died in this coronavirus outbreak, and there are more than 79,000 confirmed cases worldwide, with most in China.

More stories from theweek.com

Harvard scientist predicts coronavirus will infect up to 70 percent of humanity

Hot Pockets heiress receives 5 months in prison for role in college admissions scandal

CDC warns Americans to prepare for coronavirus outbreak


New Delhi, Feb 25 : India Inc on Tuesday said that trade and investment relations between India and the US have received a major boost with the visit of President Donald Trump.

Industry body Assocham's Secretary General Deepak Sood said the two-way engagement of about $160 billion can be doubled within the next 4-5 years.

"With a rising economy and aspiration of 1.3 billion people, India has emerged as a key and strategic partner for the US even as the US remains the most important and promising destination for Indian exports of goods and services. President Trump aptly described India as a 'tremendous market'," Sood said.

Similarly, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry's President D.K. Aggarwal said that both the countries have significant potential to enhance trade and investment trajectory between the two economies.

Based on strong complementarities and growth prospects, the bilateral merchandise trade between India and the US is likely to cross $100 billion by FY2021, Aggarwal said.

"There is a need to outline the contours for a sustainable trade negotiation between the two countries which is broad based and encompasses wide ranging potential sectors of development," Aggarwal was quoted as saying in a statement.

In so far as the trade deal is concerned, Assocham's Sood said, "While a structured bilateral agreement, still underway, would turbocharge the economic engagement, the mutual businesses are progressing apace anyway. Energy partnership is a new and fast-growing area of bilateral cooperation while lot more is expected in exchange of technology." On its part, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in association with US India Business Council (USIBC) launched a '$500 billion Roadmap', a report that provides an assessment of current trends in US-India trade and the policy reforms needed to set business ties on a faster growth trajectory.

Specifically, the report lists out 13 policy interventions to help boost trade between the two economies.

Besides, India finalised a $3 billion defence deal with the US for the purchase of military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo helicopters.

According to a Boeing statement: "We welcome India's decision to acquire six AH-64 Apache helicopters and lifecycle services support for the Indian Army.

"Through our local entity, Boeing Defence India, we are supporting the P-8I, C-17, CH-47 Chinook and AH-64 Apache with holistic lifecycle support to assist with India's defence modernisation effort and mission-readiness at competitive costs." In addition, the two sdies signed three MoU's in health and oil sectors, amongst others.
Military members and veterans can get up to four free months of Apple Music through the Apple Music military discount -- but...
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) ORG XMIT: TXAUS110

Cuban-Americans are furious and some suggest they may ditch Bernie Sanders over his praising of massive literacy under Fidel Castros communist Cuba.

The wicked remarks unleashed a media frenzy forecasting big trouble for the Democratic frontrunner because Cuban-Americans are powerful in Florida.

But by the time Florida holds its primary on March 17, Sanders may have firmly cemented his momentum toward the magic 1,991 delegates needed to seal the nomination.

That leaves an even more intriguing question. Would Cubans in Florida really pick Donald Trump over Sanders in November?

Lets add a bit of perspective and compare the two men to answer that question.

Why Sanders is wrong about Cuba

Cubans arent likely to embrace Sanders because hes a self-defined socialist, and they despise everything to do with Castros 1959 revolution that exiled them  or the parents of the new generation of Cubans in Florida  in the first place.

To them, it's a deal-breaker that Sanders had the audacity to say its unfair to simply say everything is bad about Fidel Castros Cuba.

When Fidel Castro came to office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program, he told he told 60 Minutes on Sunday. Is that a bad thing? Even though Fidel Castro did it?

Well, literacy itself is a good thing. But the late Fidel Castro became a brutal dictator who murdered or jailed political dissidents, stifled free speech and turned Cuba into a desolate, starving and decrepit island.

Fidel Castro is gone, but his brutal legacy is pretty much alive. U.S. economic sanctions that have choked the island for decades are tied to the powerful Cubans who settled in Florida.

Over time, many of the Cuban emigres and their children became Republicans and Fidel Castros sworn enemies, like Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who lashed out at Sanders' remarks.

"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," Rubio said on Twitter.

Story continues

Likely Dem nominee praised the supposed achievements 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 https://t.co/6i41w7zcDe  Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 24, 2020

But Trump, 'friend' to dictators, is no better

Still, is Sanders really worse than Trump?

Trump calls North Koreas dictator Kim Jong Un a friend. Yes, a friend of a ruthless tyrant who obliterates people and had his own brother murdered with a nerve agent in Sri Lanka.

Trump goes out of his way to praise Russian President Vladimir Putin and doesnt give a damn that the tyrant is meddling in U.S. elections to destabilize this nation.

In the same interview, Sanders brought up Trump's friendship with authoritarians. "Unlike Donald Trump, I do not think Kim Jong Un is a good friend. I don't trade love letters with a murder and dictator."

Fidel Castro and his brother Raul ruined Cuba. And no massive literacy campaign can ever compensate for the economic catastrophe and brutality of the dictatorship.

Elvia Diaz is an editorial columnist for The Republic and azcentral where this column first appeared. Follow her on Twitter, @elviadiaz1.

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on The Republic | azcentral.com: Bernie Sanders is wrong about Cuba. He's still not worse than Trump
Saras role will be key as we all work together to fulfill our vision of helping the institutional investment community live ahead of the curve.

Backstop Solutions Group, the leading cloud-based productivity suite provider for institutional and alternative investors, today announced the appointment of Sara Schroeder to the role of SVP, People and Development. In this role, Schroeder will lead Backstops people strategy, responsible for further developing and enhancing the companys employee-focused culture while continuing to help the organization grow and scale. She will also focus on building new programs aimed at amplifying employee performance, growth, and engagement. Schroeder will report directly to Backstop CEO Clint Coghill.

I am thrilled to welcome Sara to the Backstop family, said Coghill. Her talent for helping organizations scale while continuing to invest in their people is a rare skill set and one that is of the utmost importance to our organization. Im fully confident in her ability to help us maintain our culture and commitment to employees during this exciting time of growth here at Backstop. Saras role will be key as we all work together to fulfill our vision of helping the institutional investment community live ahead of the curve.

Before joining Backstop, Schroeder served as VP of People at Maropost, a Toronto-based customer engagement platform. There, Schroeder launched the companys first U.S. location and nurtured the employer brand, leading to the company's recognition as a Rising Star finalist at the ITA CityLIGHTS Awards. Globally, Sara implemented successful employee engagement programs as well as communication and organization initiatives that resulted in reduced turnover and headcount growth of 20 percent.

Prior to Maropost, Schroeder served as the Global Head of HR at Signal, a SaaS-based marketing technology company headquartered in Chicago. While at Signal, she optimized people operations, established several diversity initiatives, expanded performance management, and built a new training function, all while growing headcount 40 percent as the company expanded into new offices internationally. During her tenure, Signal was recognized by the Inc. 5000, Deloittes Fast 500, Chicago Inno, ITA CityLIGHTS and Built In Chicagos Best places to Work.

Backstops commitment to people, both employees and clients, really drew me to this role, said Schroeder. I am passionate about the employee experience and its impact on organizational success and look forward to the ways I can use my skills to help continue and expand upon this organizations truly exceptional culture, which is a rare mix of market-leading products, highly engaged and valued talent, and a trajectory of continued growth that Clint and his team have worked so hard to establish.

For more information, visit https://www.backstopsolutions.com/.

About Backstop Solutions Group, LLC

Backstops mission is to help the institutional investment industry use time to its fullest potential. We develop technology to simplify and streamline otherwise time- consuming tasks and processes, enabling our clients to quickly and easily access, share, and manage the knowledge that is critical to their day-to-day business success. Backstop provides its industry-leading cloud-based productivity suite to investment consultants, pensions, funds of funds, family offices, endowments, foundations, private equity, hedge funds, and real estate investment firms.
FRANKLIN, Tenn., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- i2i Population Health, a premier KLAS population health solutions platform, welcomes Bill Keyes as the new Chief Growth Officer.

Keyes brings nearly 35 years of healthcare experience to i2i spanning health plans, government, and providers. Recently, he served as the Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Connecture. Connecture offers the most widely adopted Medicare shopping and enrollment solution in the market by providing millions of consumers every year with a simple digital experience for finding their best fit plans.

Bill Keyes, i2i Chief Growth Officer (PRNewsfoto/i2i Population Health)

Prior to Connecture, Keyes held senior leadership positions with several leading healthcare technology companies focused on enterprise care coordination, post-acute, home care, ambulatory EHR, population health and analytics solutions. Allscripts and CoCentrix are two of the multiple health IT companies where Keyes developed extensive sales leadership experience focused on provider organizations and government.



Justin L. Neece, i2i chief executive officer affirms, "Bill Keyes brings laser focus to sales operations, processes, and people development. His deep healthcare technology experience and demonstrated successes will create a major win for our clients, partners, and potential new market acquisitions. We are excited to welcome Bill to the i2i Family."



Keyes holds a BBA in Management Information Systems from the University of Iowa and an MBA in Marketing from DePaul University in Chicago. He is an active volunteer with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and in his downtime enjoys fishing, biking and hiking.



i2i team members, including Neece and Keyes, are attending HIMSS20 in Orlando, FL on March 9, 2020.

About i2i Population Health

i2i is the nation's largest population health technology company serving the underserved, safety net market. With 20 years of experience spanning 37 states and 30 million lives, i2i has consistently ranked as a category leader of KLAS' annual software review. The i2i platform powers an advanced data integration and aggregation engine that publishes normalized clinical and administrative data through a unique quality management and care coordination application. Driving improved outcomes in quality program performance is a core competency of i2i. The results are demonstrative through an expansive base of clients in the Federally Qualified Health Center, Community Hospital, Managed Care Health Plan, and Government market segments. For more information about i2i Population Health, visit i2ipophealth.com or follow @i2iPopHealth on Twitter, and @i2i Population Health on LinkedIn.

SOURCE i2i Population Health

Related Links

http://www.i2ipophealth.com


The city of San Francisco, California has declared a state of emergency over the deadly coronavirus after health officials warned its spread across the United States was inevitable.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced the state of emergency in a statement on Tuesday, saying the global picture surrounding the Wuhan coronavirus was changing rapidly and city officials need to step-up preparedness.

We see the virus spreading in new parts of the world every day, she continued, and we are taking the necessary steps to protect San Franciscans from harm.

There have been not yet been any reported cases of coronavirus in San Francisco. But there are currently over 80, 200 confirmed cases  the majority of those in China  worldwide, and more than 2,700 deaths resulting from the new virus.

The mayor's announcement came as officials with the CDC suggested the virus spreading in the US was not a matter of if, but when.

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

Nancy Messonier, director of the CDC's National Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in a statement: "As more and more countries experience community spread, successful containment at our borders becomes harder and harder."

She added: Its not a question of if this will happen but when this will happen and how many people in this country will have severe illnesses."

The official also warned that disruption to everyday life might be severe" as the coronavirus continues to spread.

Health officials also said they want people to start thinking about different kinds of measures they might see if the virus starts spreading, including closing schools and encouraging telework. Those steps were taken during the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic.

"Part of preparedness is an educated population thinking about the future", said Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar.

He added: "The immediate risk to the general American public remains low, but that has the potential to change quickly."

Mr Azar said that nearly two months after the first alarms were raised, there's no evidence the virus has spread here beyond patients infected overseas and a few close relatives. He credited travel controls and mandatory quarantines, adding that government scientists are working to develop a vaccine and to perfect a test for detecting the virus.

"We cannot hermetically seal off the United States to a virus and we need to be realistic about that," the health chief acknowledged. "We'll have more cases in the United States, and we've been very transparent about that." If it happens, "we'll work to mitigate those."

Additional reporting by the Associated Press
Technavio has been monitoring the vacation rental market, and it is poised to grow by USD 62.97 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 7% 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.

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Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Vacation Rental Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Technological advances has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, inconsistent service quality and stringent government regulations might hamper the market growth. Request a free sample report

Vacation Rental Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Vacation Rental Market is segmented as below:

Management

Managed by Owners

Professionally Managed

Geographic segmentation

North America

APAC

Europe

South America

MEA

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR40053

Vacation Rental Market 2020-2024: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our vacation rental market report covers the following areas:

Vacation Rental Market size

Vacation Rental Market trends

Vacation Rental Market industry analysis

This study identifies the adoption of effective promotional strategies as one of the prime reasons driving the vacation rental market growth during the next few years.

Vacation Rental Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the vacation rental market, including some of the vendors such as 9flats.com Pte Ltd., Airbnb Inc., Booking Holdings Inc., Expedia Group Inc., Hotelplan Holding AG, MakeMyTrip Pvt. Ltd., NOVASOL AS, Oravel Stays Pvt. Ltd., TripAdvisor Inc. and Wyndham Destinations Inc. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the vacation rental market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile, and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Vacation Rental Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist vacation rental market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the vacation rental market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the vacation rental market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of vacation rental market vendors

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* Israel holding third election in less than a year

* Opinion polls show political deadlock

* Right-winger Netanyahu is Israel's longest-serving leader

* His corruption trial opens on March 17

* Main rival Benny Gantz is a former army chief

By Jeffrey Heller

JERUSALEM, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is revelling in Israel's election campaign, strutting the stage, boasting of achievements and laying into rivals. Unsurprisingly, he largely steers clear of mentioning the corruption trial hanging over him.

Opinion polls put Netanyahu's right-wing Likud just ahead of former general Benny Gantz's centrist Blue and White party before the March 2 election.

But the polls also suggest neither will secure a governing majority in parliament, heralding another stalemate after Israel's third national election in less than a year.

Netanyahu, 70, has been campaigning across the country and tweeting prolifically, labelling Gantz, 60, a "weakling" and a "leftist".

Israel's longest-serving leader oozes confidence, even though he faces charges of breach of trust and fraud in a case that goes to trial on March 17. He has denied any wrongdoing.

"Thank you Akko!" Netanyahu bellows at a rally in an auditorium in the northern city against an on-stage backdrop of Likud supporters.

"Going into the election, we have made tremendous accomplishments," Netanyahu says. "We have turned Israel into a world power."

"Bibi, King of Israel," the audience chants, injecting his childhood nickname into a song hailing the Bible's King David.

Netanyahu, in office from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2009, remains popular with die-hard supporters despite the looming trial.

He accuses prosecutors of mounting an attempted coup against a popular right-wing leader, a message that chimes with Netanyahu's power base of low-income Israelis who see him as a blue-collar champion and world statesman.

"I will tell you 'why Bibi'," vendor Oshir Biton said in Jerusalem's Mahne Yehuda open market, where pro-Netanyahu sentiment has long been strong. "There is calm in the country, there is (a) good economy, people are happy, travelling abroad back and forth, enjoying life."

Story continues

Many other voters balk at backing a man facing trial.

"I can't blindly trust a person once there are criminal charges against him. I can't trust a person before he brings the truth to light," said Bar Levav Nave, an 18-year-old first-time voter from Har Hemed settlement in the occupied West Bank.

ISRAEL'S "BEST FRIEND"

As in campaigning for the inconclusive elections on April 9 and Sept. 17 last year, Netanyahu, who was educated in the United States, has highlighted his strong relationship with President Donald Trump, portraying him as the best friend Israel has had in the White House.

"In the past three years, I asked him for a number of things," he said at the Akko event.

"Here's what he did: he withdrew from the dangerous nuclear deal with Iran, he declared Jerusalem Israel's capital, he moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, he recognised our sovereignty over the Golan Heights," he said, referring to territory seized by Israel in a 1967 war.

A Middle East plan announced by Trump last month, but rejected by Palestinians as biased towards Israel, has given Netanyahu a new opportunity to draw votes away from the far-right and strengthen Likud.

In response to demands by ultranationalist allies, he has pledged to annex Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and the Jordan Valley.

Netanyahu has also attacked Gantz over a police investigation into a contract that an artificial intelligence company once headed by the ex-general secured with the police, though Gantz has not been named as a suspect and the firm is now bankrupt.

At times, Netanyahu has been accused of going too far with his tweets and criticisms. After mocking Gantz for appearing to stammer in interviews, he had to apologise on social media for any offence he might have caused "people with disabilities" following criticism by the Israel Stuttering Association.

Netanyahu's main attack on Gantz revolves around post-election coalition building, saying the former chief of Israel's armed forces would ultimately be controlled by the country's Arab politicians, an allegation the challenger denies.

Netanyahu said that to win enough support in parliament to govern, Blue and White will need backing from the Joint List, an Arab party led by legislators Ayman Odeh and Ahmad Tibi. Their names often come up in Netanyahu's addresses and tweets.

Speaking to Reuters, Tibi accused Netanyahu of incitement against Israel's 20-percent Arab minority. A medical doctor, Tibi said: "It can be diagnosed as 'Tibi-phobia'".

(Additional reporting by Rami Ayyub and Maayan Lubell, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Seventy-one new coronavirus deaths were reported from China, taking the total number of casualties to 2,663, even as reports suggested that the number of new cases has seen a sharp decline.

According to a daily report released by the National Health Commission (NHC) on Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases has reached 77,658, a jump of 508 cases.

The report stated that 68 deaths were reported in Hubei, two in Shandong and one in Guangdong.

China's daily new confirmed cases of COVID-19 outside ground zero Hubei came down to nine, indicating a continued declining trend.

The daily number of cured and discharged patients has surpassed that of new cases for the seventh consecutive day, the NHC claimed.

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

Monday saw 2,589 people walking out of hospital after recovery, much higher than the new confirmed patients, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

A total of 27,323 patients have been been discharged by the end of Monday, it said.

The agency reported that Monday marked the sixth consecutive day when China's daily number of new infections remained under 1,000.

Newly recovered coronavirus patients in both Hubei and Wuhan outnumbered new cases, it said.

Confirming the declining trend, Canadian epidemiologist Bruce Aylward, who headed the WHO mission to China, said the drop in the number of cases was possible due to actions taken by the Chinese government.

"I know the challenges with the statistics that come out of China, sometimes with changing numbers. What we had to do is to look very carefully at different sources of information to say confidently this is actually declining," Aylward told reporters here.

"A lot of compelling data and observations on the ground support this," he added.

Aylward headed the first WHO technical team on February 10 and later paved the way for a 12-member expert team that arrived in Beijing last Monday.

The team, along with Chinese experts, visited worst-hit Hubei province over the weekend to conduct field investigations on the virus outbreak.

Aylward said when he arrived in Beijing on February 10, China was reporting about 2,500 cases a day, which has now declined to over 400.

The observation was made from the data collected from fever clinics and the availability of hospital beds, he said, stressing that the numbers dropped amid heightened awareness and the push to get oneself tested.

Secondly, doctors in Wuhan are for the first time reporting vacant beds in hospitals to accommodate new patients, he said, adding that earlier China had to build two makeshift hospitals with a capacity of 2,300 beds.

Later, officials converted stadiums and dormitories into hospitals to accommodate more patients.

"The (WHO) team wanted to be convinced. Very rapidly multiple sources of data point to the same thing that the cases are falling and they are falling because of actions that are being taken," he said, adding that the world needed the experience and expertise of China.

Elaborating further, Aylward said old approaches like suspension of travel and quarantine were used to contain the spread of the virus by the Chinese authorities.

"These significant measures could only be adopted with tremendous collective will, not only in the community but also top officials, which is rare to see," Aylward said.

Liang Wannian, who headed the Chinese expert team, said the deadly virus has not significantly mutated.

"The animal host has not been confirmed--a bat could be the host, but also a pangolin," Liang Wannian said.

"The transmission route is respiratory droplets. The fecal-oral route needs to be further studied," Liang said in the joint press conference with Aylward.

Liang said 3,000 medical staff, mostly in the worst-hit Wuhan, are estimated to have been infected by the virus. Ten medical staff have died.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday rejected calls for a halt to a Russia-backed Syrian offensive in Idlib in northwest Syria.

"This is capitulating before terrorists and even a reward for their activities in violation of international treaties and numerous UN Security Council resolutions," Lavrov told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Lavrov accused some governments of "a desire to justify outrageous acts committed by radical and terrorist groupings.

"Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain admonishments about the possibility of concluding peace agreements with bandits," he said, referring to the situation in Idlib.

A months-long offensive by Russia-backed Syrian troops against rebels backed by Turkey in Idlib has seen hundreds of thousands of people flee the violence.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he is planning to hold a summit on March 5 with the leaders of Russia, France and Germany over the escalating conflict.

But on Tuesday he said he might instead hold face-to-face talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on that date, either in Istanbul or in Ankara.

The Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross also on Tuesday said in a statement it was "deeply alarmed" by the situation for civilians fleeing the fighting.

"This is the worst wave of displacement we've seen during the Syrian conflict. Amid the harsh winter conditions in Idlib, we see people trapped, isolated and running out of ways to cope. It's completely unacceptable," said Fabrizio Carboni, the ICRC's director for the Near and Middle East.

Carboni called for all sides in the current fighting to "immediately" allow civilians to flee to a safe area.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Private life insurer IDBI Federal Insurance has announced its foray into retirement income segment.

It has launched a single premium, non-participating, non-linked general annuity plan -- IDBI Federal Life Insurance Guaranteed Lifetime Income Plan, that would offer guaranteed regular income for life to help manage expenses during the retirement phase of life.

The guaranteed income, akin to drawing a salary, could be drawn with pre-determined periodicity - monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or on an annual basis.

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* Capri Global Capital launches SME lending product for womenMSME and housing finance focussed non-bank lender Capri Global Capital has announced a SME lending product for women.

The product, Udaan, aims to help women across the country gain access to credit system and encourage entrepreneurial spirit among them.

It will offer secured loans of up to Rs 40 lakh for business purpose.

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* VFS Global, Embassy of Vietnam in India launch eVoA solution



VFS Global on Tuesday announced the launch of first official digital Vietnam eVisa on Arrival (eVoA) solution in an exclusive partnership with the Embassy of Vietnam in India.

The advanced and digitally integrated solution developed by VFS Global (as an exclusive service provider to the Embassy of Vietnam in India) will offer eVOA applicants a digital wallet or locker, which ensures high levels of data protection, a release said here.

This includes scanned copies of passport, live facial biometric capture and the receipt of their eVOA approval letters, once approved. Customers can also make online payments using the portal.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
This is going to be a hard-fought, heated campaign of ideas, the anchor added. In the days and weeks and months ahead, I will strive to do a better job myself of elevating the political discussion. Mr. Matthews concluded by congratulating Mr. Sanders on his Nevada victory.

MSNBCs commentators are influential with the Democratic base, and they convey a variety of left-leaning views. Their mixed opinions about Mr. Sanders have mirrored some of the divisions within the party itself as he has jumped to the lead of the nominating race.

Perhaps because of the channels popularity with Democrats, Mr. Sanderss campaign has singled out MSNBC for criticism, complaining about Mr. Matthews and the political anchor Chuck Todd, who recently read on his program a column by a conservative writer that referred to Mr. Sanderss aggressive online supporters as brownshirts.

The New York Post reported that Mr. Sanders had personally complained to MSNBC and NBC News executives about the networks coverage during a debate walk-through last week in Las Vegas.

Mr. Matthewss World War II comments, however, drew condemnation beyond the Sanders inner circle, including from the MSNBC contributor Anand Giridharadas.

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, Mr. Giridharadas said on MSNBC on Sunday morning. He added, Why is Chris Matthews on this air talking about the victory of Bernie Sanders, who had kin murdered in the Holocaust, analogizing it to the Nazi conquest of France?
VACAVILLE (BCN)

An inmate at California Medical Facility in Vacaville who pleaded guilty to murdering five teenage girls in Los Angeles County in 1979 died of natural causes Monday night, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said.

Roy Lewis Norris, 72, pleaded guilty to all of the charges against him to avoid the death penalty, and was sentenced on April 28, 1981, to 45 years to life for four counts of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder and two counts of forcible rape and robbery.

Norris and co-defendant Lawrence Sigmond Bittaker kidnapped, raped and tortured the girls between June 14 and Oct. 31, 1979. Norris was on parole at the time for a conviction of assault with a deadly weapon and rape in San Diego County. The bodies of two of the teen girls were never found, according to the CDCR.

As part of the plea agreement, Norris testified against Bittaker, and Bittaker was found guilty of all 26 counts against him. The counts included murder, kidnapping, rape, sodomy, oral copulation and conspiracy. Bittaker was sentenced to death on March 22, 1981, and he died on death row at San Quentin State Prison on Dec. 13, 2019.

Norris was denied parole on March 26, 2019 and his next parole hearing was scheduled for 2029.

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.
She has the figure of a woman 20 years younger than her age.

And Elizabeth Hurley took the opportunity to showcase her luxury swimwear line on Saturday, sharing bikini pictures of herself modelling the range on holiday in the Maldives.

The 54-year-old actress proved herself to be the very best model for her brand as she shared a gorgeous Instagram snap of herself riding a bike in a tiny yellow bikini while getting her vacation 'morning exercise'.

Incredible figure: Elizabeth Hurley, 54, took the opportunity to showcase her luxury swimwear line on Instagram by snapping bikini pictures of herself on holiday in the Maldives

The gym-loving Liz captioned the snaps: 'Morning exercise Maldives style'.

Hopping onto the bike in a short clip the model peddles off into the distance on the tropical palm lined street near Cheval Blanc Randheli resort in the Maldives.

The star looked ready for a day on the beach as she sported loosely tousled hair and the yellow triangle bikini from her collection.

Keeping active: The star captioned the image: 'Morning exercise Maldives style', as she continued to work on her gym honed figure while on holiday

Off to the beach: The star looked ready for a day on the beach as she sported loosely tousled hair and a small yellow triangle bikini from her collection

On Sunday the actress shared a fun Instagram of herself dancing on the beach in a while soaking up the sun.

Liz looked incredible as she slipped into a tiny turquoise bikini from her eponymous swimwear collection while twirling along the shoreline.

The former The Royals star teamed her skimpy swimwear with a bold aqua and bold kaftan while giving her followers a glimpse at her exotic surroundings.

Stunning: Elizabeth Hurley danced on the beach in a fun Instagram video posted on Sunday while soaking up the sun at the Cheval Blanc Randheli resort in the Maldives

The cover up, which is also from Elizabeth's collection, was left open to display her chiseled abs.

In the playful video, the mother-of-one gracefully swung around a palm tree before heading off towards the crystal blue waters.

Elizabeth danced on the white sandy beach while her chestnut tresses were left in loose waves.

Bikini babe: The actress, 54, looked incredible as she slipped into a tiny turquoise bikini from her eponymous swimwear collection while twirling along the shoreline

Life's a beach: The former The Royals star teamed her skimpy swimwear with a bold aqua and bold kaftan while giving her followers a glimpse at her exotic surroundings

The brunette beauty completed her beach look with a pair of gold hoop earrings and oversized shades to protect her eyes from the Maldivian winter sunshine.

The video is the latest in a series of posts since the actress arrived in the five-star Maldives resort late last week.

Elizabeth recently insisted she doesn't like to parade around publicly in her bikini, despite littering her Instagram page with revealing snaps and modelling her own collection on the website for her swim brand.

Speaking on Susannah Constantine's podcast, My Wardrobe Malfunction, she said: 'Most people are fine lying down, but when they stand up they want to cover up, including me.

Natural: In the playful video, the mother-of-one gracefully swung around a palm tree before heading off towards the crystal blue waters

Designer: Elizabeth danced on the white sandy beach while her chestnut tresses were left in loose waves

'I like to cover up a lot. I certainly wouldn't walk round a public beach parading in a bikini anymore. I'm much too old. But, privately, of course.'

Elizabeth is mother to son Damian, 17, and the pair are often shocking fans with just how similar they look.

The star shares her only child with American businessman Steve Bing, 54.

Damian, who counts Hugh Grant and Elton John among his godparents, is the spitting image of his famous mum and is now following in her footsteps and making a name of himself in the fashion world.

The perfect model: The cover up, which is also from Elizabeth's collection, was left open to display her chiseled abs

Island life: The brunette beauty completed her beach look with a pair of gold hoop earrings and oversized shades to protect her eyes from the Maldivian winter sunshine

He signed with agency Tess Management in September 2018.

Speaking previously about the close bond she and Damian share, Elizabeth told You magazine: 'I rather think I've simply been blessed with a child whose personality gels with mine.

'Friends who have several children always admit, although they love them all equally, inevitably there's one whose personality mirrors their own and they "get" each other better. It's definitely nature not nurture.'

White hot: The video is one in a series of posts since the actress arrived in the five-star Maldives resort late last week
: J Matadee Free Trade Zone Pvt Ltd



on Tuesday said duty tariffs must be levied based on 'Duty Foregone Principle' as it would enable high manufacturing efficiencies.

Though special economic zones were treated as foreign territory for the purpose of law, supply of goods manufactured by SEZs to domestic tariff area customers was subjected to full tariff, including local content value additions, chairman of J Matadee Free Trade Zone Sunil Rallan said in a press statement here.

Duty must be levied based on 'Duty Foregone Principle', it said.

"This will enable very high manufacturing efficiencies to be achieved if new units can achieve economies of scale with access to both Indian markets as well as exports," he was quoted as saying in the statement.

Noting that Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) customers make payments for their imports through regular banking channels, he said, "The same products are not encouraged for supply by SEZ units to DTA customers".

"The payments made by DTA customers are not considered as being compliant with SEZ rules. This defeats the Make in India policy as imports are being encouraged over Indian manufacturing," he said.

India has signed Free trade agreements with countries like Sri Lanka, Japan, South Korea, and ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations).

"For many of the FTA partner countries, India exempts or allows concessional rate of customs duties on listed products", he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Newser)  By Western standards, there is nothing remotely offensive about Saudi rapper Asayel Slay's "Mecca Girl" music video, in which the young woman dances in a cafe while rapping about the strength and beauty of women from Mecca. Officials in the holy city, however, have ordered her arrest, saying the song "offends the customs and traditions of the people of Mecca and contradicts the identity and traditions of its esteemed population," the BBC reports. Officials have also ordered the arrest of the video's production team, Al Jazeera reports. Critics, noting that foreign rappers have been invited to perform in the kingdom, called the move hypocritical.

story continues below

"It's the only rap song that doesn't contain a single obscenity, insult, pornographic scene, nudity, hashish, or smoking and the rapper is even wearing the hijab," said one Twitter user. In the video, Asayel Slay, who is reportedly of Eritrean descent, raps about her pride in being from Mecca, but critics in Saudi Arabia are calling her a foreigner because of the color of her skin, Vox reports. Social media users in the kingdom have been attacking her using the hashtag #You_Are_Not_Mecca_Girls, with comments like: "I hope the punishment for this African woman will be imprisonment then deporting her back to her country." (Read more Saudi Arabia stories.)
Victoria's peak Jewish body says a proposed ban on displaying the swastika does not go far enough and all "harmful material" should be outlawed.

Jewish Community Council of Victoria president Jennifer Huppert on Tuesday told a parliamentary committee a swastika ban would be a "knee-jerk" reaction to rising anti-Semitism and right-wing extremism.

The state opposition has called for the state's Racial and Religious Tolerance Act to include a clear ban on public display of the Nazi symbol.

Several neighbours complained to police about the flag flying in Beulah, 400 kilometres north-west of Melbourne.

The Nazi insignia was pushed onto the agenda in January when local and state authorities were powerless under the law to act against a householder in the remote Mallee town of Beulah who flew a flag emblazoned with the swastika above their home.
A hellish housing commission tenant who hangs up Nazi flags, spray-paints swastikas on her bin and blasts music all night has left her neighbours living in fear.

Fed-up residents say the public housing tenant is causing chaos in their once-quiet neighbourhood in the Tasmanian town of Perth, near Launceston.

Daily Mail Australia has been sent photos of some of the destruction, including broken windows at the tenant's home, where several painted Nazi swastikas can be seen hanging from the window in full view of the public.

Locals say their complaints to police and other authorities about the woman's behaviour have fallen on deaf ears.

Residents want this neighbour from hell gone from their street in the Tasmanian town of Perth

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said neighbours were fed-up with the constant abuse from the 'abhorrent' tenant.

'She has smashed the windows multiple times and constantly blasts music from her car at all hours of the day and night and the police are there frequently,' the resident claimed.

'A new occurrence is that she has spray-painted the council garbage bin and street facing windows with Nazi swastikas.

'I made a call to Housing Tasmania to complain and they said they would deal with it, the woman was observed to wash the spray paint off the windows but has taken to flying a painted Nazi flag in the window.'

A large painted Nazi flag is seen hanging from the window of the housing commission home

Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dr Dvir Abramovich called on community leaders and Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein to intervene.

'As we witness a resurgence of antisemitism in our nation, spiking to alarming levels, the time has come to align actions with words,' Dr Abramovich said.

'Our elected representatives must understand that right-wing extremists are a clear and present danger to our safety, and that allowing them to freely and legally sow fear by using the emblems of genocide and death, that are as threatening as facing a gun, cannot continue.

'Leaders need to lead, and I call on Premier Gutwein and his government to take the moral high ground and to legislate to ban the public display of this evil symbol that violates every value that Australians cherish and live their lives bywithout delay.

'If he does so, I will personally stand shoulder to shoulder with him in applauding that triumphant and righteous act.'

A Tasmania Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia it's aware of the matter and is working with other relevant parties to find a resolution.

Pictured top left is a small Nazi swastika hanging in the window while the window on the right has been smashed

Daily Mail Australia contacted Department of Communities Tasmania for comment, which didn't respond.

Northern Midlands mayor Mary Knowles said the council immediately referred the matter to the police when it was made aware of the incident on Monday

The council also notified Housing Tasmania in regards to the signs.

'Any signs on Council property such as wheelie bins and the like will be removed or painted over as soon as possible,' Cr Knowles told Daily Mail Australia.

'It is very sad to have such offensive and disrespectful signs displayed on any property and people have every justification in being upset.'

While there no specific laws in Tasmania that make flying the Nazi flag a criminal offence, there are civil anti-vilification provisions.

'A person must not incite hatred towards, serious contempt for, or severe ridicule of, a person or a group of persons on the grounds of  (a) The race of the person or any member of the group' (etc),' section 19 of the Anti-Discrimination Act states.
Fear of the novel coronavirus grows among foreign tourists, interrupting the business of hospitality firms

Heavy blow to hospitality industry

Since the coronavirus outbreak last year in China's Wuhan, the number of tourists staying in popular hotels dropped by a significant margin, quite the opposite of the vibrancy reported at the same time last year. Tourism and hospitality is one of the industries sustaining the hardest hit.

Ho Chi Minh City has more than 4,500 accommodation facilities (one/two-star and unrated facilities account for more than 90 per cent). In general, gross revenue from hotel rooms, restaurants, and services plummeted by 70 per cent against the same period last year.

According to Mauro Gasparotti, director at Savills Hotels Asia-Pacific, there has been a reduction in Chinese travellers who accounted for more than 30 per cent of foreign tourists in the early of this year. In addition, Khanh Hoa Tourism Department noted that coastal destinations such as Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa) are going to be affected because Chinese tourists make up more than 70 per cent of foreign arrivals to these areas. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have also been affected by the decease in tourists, which resulted in a reduction of MICE tourism and suspension of meetings, conferences, as well as travel abroad.

In 2019, there were 138 million global visitors travelling to Southeast Asia. The number of tourists has been growing at 7.8 per cent compound annual growth rate over the last nine years, to be turned around since Asian countries are exposed to a higher risk of coronavirus infection. Thus, destinations like Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam are set for a temporary setback.

Tourist safety enhancement

In the past, the world economy has been rocked by epidemics. The current coronavirus brings to mind the SARS epidemic of 2003. As soon as the breakout was confirmed, the World Health Organization (WHO) immediately issued a warning and recommended travellers to suspend all unnecessary visits to Hong Kong (China) on April 2, 2003. According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the number of visitors dropped by 57.9 per cent in April-June compared to the same period in the previous year.

Rolling with the blow, restaurants and hotels took preventive measures to combat the epidemic by launching short-term services and drawing up more effective expenditure strategies. As Hong Kong tourism was dented by SARS but managed to survive, so will the Vietnamese hospitality industry have to deal with the coronavirus  and most restaurants and hotels have already begun implementing protective and preventive measures.

Phan Thanh Long, director of Rex Hotel Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City claimed that the hotel is following the safety guidances from the Ministry of Health. The countermeasures include keeping hygiene around the hotel as they usually do and supplying more hand sanitisers for staff and visitors. Moreover, the hotel required all staff to wear face masks when they interact with customers or others.

Likewise, Eastin Grand Hotel Saigon also gives top priority to the safety of their staff and customers, according to general director Wayne Woods. All staff and travellers are checked before entering the hotel. They thoroughly clean and disinfect all essential surfaces like bar counters or reception desks as required. In addition, hotel staff check visitors' temperature twice a day.

In this regard, Eldridge Johnson Mac Ewan III, general director at ParkRoyal Saigon, claimed that they request additional personal information from customers, such as unusual symptoms, previous trips and next destinations. All information is checked to identify suspicious cases. Those who come under suspicion will quarantined for 14 days. The hotel has also helped these tourists cancel their reservations without being charged.

Similarly, Saigontourist Group said that they have launched their first stimulus package. In particular, the group offers promotional prices for tourists across its system. The company has raised bargain prices for tourists who join travel fairs such as ITB Berlin in Germany, ITB Bombay in India, and ITA Asia in Singapore.

Tourism in Vietnam is undergoing short-term difficulties. However, business leaders showcase unbroken confidence that the situation is under total control.
FIR against MNS workers for harassing man of minority community

India

oi-PTI

Pune, Feb 25: Pune Police have registered an FIR against some MNS workers for allegedly barging into the house of a man from a minority community and harassing him, an official said on Tuesday.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) launched a "drive" against suspected illegal Bangladeshis here last week.

Later, a person, Roshan Shaikh (35), complained to the police on Saturday that some MNS workers barged into his house in Balajinagar area here and labelled him as a Bangladeshi national, though he hailed from West Bengal and was working in Pune.

The complainant said he tried to convince them that he was an Indian citizen and not a Bangladeshi. He also showed them all the documents, but they did not listen to him. Shaikh and two other persons were later brought to the Sahakar Nagar police station.

The police verified their credentials and found none of them was an illegal migrant, a senior police official said.

Man from minority community alleges MNS workers harassed him as Bangladeshi

Based on Shaikh's complaint, an FIR was registered late Monday night against seven to eight workers and office- bearers of the MNS under IPC Sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 147, 149 (rioting), 448 (trespassing) and 506 (criminal intimidation), he said.

Addressing a rally of MNS workers in Mumbai on February 9, party chief Raj Thackeray demanded eviction of illegal Pakistani and Bangladeshi "infiltrators" from India.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 10:54 [IST]
Planning was granted for almost 17,000 new homes under the governments fast-track planning scheme in 2019, an increase of almost 10,000 on the previous year.

However, there are still concerns about the lack of work on approved schemes.

An Bord Pleanala included the updated figure in its summary review for 2019.

Overall, the fast-track planning scheme - Strategic Housing Developments (SHD) - saw 118 valid applications in 2019, a threefold increase from 38 in 2018.

Some 82 were decided on, with 67 developments granted permission for 16,771 housing units, 200 shared accommodation bed spaces, and 4,331 student bed-spaces.

In 2018, there were 7,102 housing units and 4,479 student bed-spaces approved.

Legislation for SHDs came into effect in July 2017. It allows planning applications for large developments (100+ housing units and 200+ student bed-spaces) to go directly to An Bord Pleanala.

By the end of December 2019, 168 valid applications had been received by the board, including 118 in 2019, three times more than in 2018.

Dave Walsh, An Bord Pleanala chairman, said that all decisions have been made within the statutory timeline of 16 weeks.

The granting of 67 permissions during 2019 has made a significant contribution to meeting the overall increasing demands for new homes, with a notable increase in the number of apartment and multi-unit developments being granted permission, Mr Walsh said.

This level of applications is expected to continue into 2020, taking into account the number of pre-application consultations being held and requested.

An Bord Pleanala will continue to prioritise these cases and deal with any large-scale housing appeals as swiftly and efficiently as possible.

However, there are still fears about the lack of activity on many approved schemes. The Housing Supply Coordination Taskforce for Dublin, which analysis housing activity in each of the four Dublin councils, noted a lack of activity in many cases.

As of Q3 2019, some 8,506 residential units had been granted permission by An Bord Pleanala. Just 102 had been built and 1,064 were under construction, representing just 14% of the approved units.

The scheme has been extended until the end of December 2021 following a review in 2019, with several changes, including time limits on planning permissions, proposed. However, these have yet to be implemented.

Meanwhile, An Bord Pleanala also handled 26 Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) applications. Some 21 were ruled on, including wastewater treatment plants at Arklow and Clonshaugh, the expansion of Foynes Port, and a number of windfarms in Galway and Donegal.

Overall, An Bord Pleanala handled 2,938 cases in 2019, a 7% increase on the previous year. More than two-thirds of normal planning appeals (69%) were disposed of within the 18-week statutory objective period, a significant increase from 2018 when just 39% were handled within this timeframe.

Planning appeals count for 71% of all cases. Some 2,115 appeals were decided in 2019. These appeals arise from decisions by planning authorities on applications for planning permission.

Just under two-thirds - 65% - of all appeals related to residential developments, ranging from alterations to existing structures to new developments.
Norways Equinor has shelved an oil exploration project in the Great Australian Bight, becoming the third supermajor to give up on the Bight amid a challenging environment and strong environmentalist opposition.

Australias ABC reports that the Norwegian company concluded that the plan it had for the Bight was less commercially competitive than other locations.

We have received bids for the drilling rig, the helicopters, the supply base  the cost for these activities is just too high and too expensive to go ahead and drill the well," said the manager of Equinor Australia.

BP was the first oil major to give up on the Bight, after it spent millions on preparatory work while awaiting the approval of the $600-million project from Australias oil industry regulator, Nopsema. The watchdog made BPs life difficult by twice rejecting the supermajors drilling plans for the Bight, insisting it disclose more details about its environmental protection program. Eventually, BP gave up and left, handing the reins to Equinor.

At the time, the Norwegian company was upbeat about its prospects in the Bight.

We have a good understanding of the geology in our licence area, based on high-quality 3D data analysis. We believe there could be an active petroleum system within our permit area and we are now positioned to test this potential under favourable market conditions for exploration drilling, Equinors vice president of exploration for Australia said at the time.

There has been no oil and gas exploration in the Great Australian Bight since 2003, and all the wells drilled in the region previously have come up dry. However, Wood Mackenzie estimates suggest that the area could hold 1.9 billion barrels of crude oil and natural gas.

Equinor, used to operating in harsh climatic environments, could have been better suited than BP and Chevronwhich left the Bight soon after BPto try its hand at the Great Australian Bight, yet it seems the challenge proved too great for the Norwegian company, too.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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The Lineup Now Includes New Bottles and Plenty of Additional Great Colors

LAWRENCE, KS / ACCESSWIRE / February 25, 2020 / The founders of PromotionalItems.me are pleased to announce that they have just expanded their line of popular Nalgene water bottles.

To check out the newly expanded selection of Nalgene water bottles, which can be custom printed with company logos and/or promotional information, please visit https://www.promotionalitems.me/custom-drinkware/water-bottles/nalgene-bottles.html.

As Jason Peters, Director of Marketing for PromotionalItems.me noted, the selection of Nalgene water bottles now features more bottles than ever, as well as new colors. In addition, the popular 32-ounce Nalgene bottle is now available with a full color imprint, he added.

"Nalgenes are our most popular and highest selling brand of water bottles," Peters said, adding that in addition to being extremely durable, they are also a great value.

Because the bottles are nearly indestructible, they are ideal for situations where they will not just sit on a desk, but will be used in actual real life conditions.

"The Nalgene water bottle is great for camping, Boy Scout troops, school promotions, fund raising, business giveaways and more," Peters said.

Even though the new full color imprinted bottle and other new options were added to PromotionalItems.me's inventory very recently, customers are already responding very enthusiastically to the updated offerings.

For instance, the 20-ounce Nalgene Multi-Drink Bottles are selling extremely swiftly; they feature a loop-top for easy sipping and a user-friendly pivoting straw with a leak-proof lock for hydrating on the go.

The bottle is available in six attractive colors; customers can then choose from dozens of imprint colors to complete the Nalgene bottle with their logo, mascot or other design.

Another brisk seller is the 24-ounce Tritan OTF Nalgene bottles, which features a push button lid for easy access to whatever cold beverage the user wishes to enjoy.

"These high-quality water bottles are as durable as they are popular. Printed with your logo, these Nalgene bottles make great giveaways," Peters said.

About PromotionalItems.me:

PromotionalItems.me is the home for custom promotional items including coasters, napkins, tote bags, coffee mugs, matchbooks, matchboxes, travel mugs, drawstring bags, promotional glasses, shopping bags, stadium cups and much more. Customers may have their logo and promotional message imprinted on their next order of promotional items from the company that knows promos. For more information, please visit https://www.promotionalitems.me/.

Corporate Offices:

Snap Promotions, LLC

2401 Oxford Road

Lawrence, KS 66049

Contact:

Jason Peters

jasonp@snappromotions.com

785-856-7627

SOURCE: PromotionalItems.me

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/577748/An-Expanded-Line-of-Nalgene-Water-Bottles-is-Launched-by-PromotionalItemsme
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A protestor brandishes a pistol, from which he fired shots, during clashes between a group of anti-CAA protestors and supporters of the Citizenship Amendment Act at Jaffrabad in north-east Delhi, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (Photo | PTI)

New Delhi: The injured in violent clashes in northeast Delhi are being brought to hospitals on bikes and vans as ambulances fail to make their way to the violence-hit areas, police said on Tuesday. The police said protestors were blocking ambulances and other vehicles.

Constable Amit Kumar, who sustained injury on his right hand while he was trying to disperse two groups pelting stones at each other, was brought to the Jag Pravesh Chander Hospital on a bike.

Kumar, posted at Khurjei Khas area, said, "I was trying to disperse two groups who were pelting stones at each other at Khajuri Khas Chowk and suddenly something hit me from behind. I do not know if it was a stone or something else."

Kaif (32), who sustained injuries in clashes at Khureji Khas area, was brought by the police in a van at the hospital.

The autorickshaw driver was parking his vehicle when a mob of 25 to 30 people attacked him with stones. He said his friend rescued him when he was lying on the ground.

Kaif sustained injuries on left side of his face and head.

Another man with suspected gunshot injury was rushed to the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital on a bike by two men.

One of the men who brought the injured to the hospital said the man sustained injuries in firing at Kabir Nagar side of Maujpur Chowk area.

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.

Violence has also been reported in Chandbagh and Bhajanpura areas of the city.

The death toll in the clashes has climbed to seven, a senior police official said on Tuesday.

A Delhi Police head constable, Ratan Lal, was among the seven killed, he said.
A woman who Lori Vallow hired to take care of her seven-year-old son JJ says the mother abruptly stopped answering her text messages the day after the boy disappeared last September along with his older sister Tylee.

The nanny, who asked to remain anonymous, provided FOX13 with a copy of the statement she gave to police this week as a multi-state search continues for JJ and Tylee.

The children were last seen in Idaho over five months ago but were never reported missing by their mother, who was arrested in Hawaii last week on charges of child abandonment and desertion.

In her statement the nanny described the two consecutive days she spent with JJ and Lori after the mother reached out to her about babysitting the seven-year-old.

She said that after the second visit, Lori told her that JJ was going to spend a month with his grandparents - which she later discovered was a lie.

A woman who Lori Vallow hired to take care of her seven-year-old son, Joshua 'JJ' Vallow (left), says the mother abruptly stopped answering her text messages the day after the boy disappeared last September along with his older sister Tylee. The children were never reported missing by their mother Lori, who was arrested in Hawaii last week on charges of child abandonment and desertion. Lori is pictured in her mugshot (right)

Police are still searching for Tylee, 17, and JJ, seven, who went missing over five months ago

JJ was last seen at his elementary school in Rexburg on September 23, a day before his mother withdrew him and told administrators she would be homeschooling him.

Doorbell camera footage recorded at a neighbor's house appeared to show JJ playing in his front yard on September 17.

Tylee was last seen on September 8 at Yellowstone National Park on a day trip with her mother, uncle and JJ.

Police recovered a photo of Tylee in the park from Lori's iCloud account and said there's been no sign of the 17-year-old since.

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: Vallow moves children JJ and Tylee to Rexburg, Idaho September 8: The last time Tylee was seen on a day trip to Yellowstone park 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: Vallow and Daybell marry November 26: Out-of-state relatives ask Idaho police to perform a welfare check on JJ. Vallow and Daybell 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 Vallow and Daybell's home, discovering the couple have fled Idaho December 11: Tammy Daybell's body is exhumed from the Utah cemetery December 12: Vallow'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: Vallow 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 Vallow and Chad of lying to investigators and say they believe the couple know where the kids are or what happened to them January 26: Vallow and Chad are seen for the first time in months as police serve two search warrants in Kaua'i January 30 Vallow misses court deadline to produce the children to authorities Advertisement

In her statement to police, the nanny wrote that Lori had responded to an ad she posted on the babysitting site Care.com and the pair began exchanging text messages.

On September 18, Lori asked her to come over for an interview 'to see if I could handle watching JJ since he has autism', the nanny wrote.

She described Lori as 'well put together and happy', and said the mother was 'very welcoming and gave me a hug'.

'Their home was clean and had a picture of a temple on the wall,' the nanny wrote.

'She explained to me, as we watched JJ play outside with the neighbor kids, some of his tendencies.

'He gets emotional easily, frustrated, distracted, has difficulty communicating with others, but can follow orders if you look at him right in the eyes.'

The nanny said Lori mentioned how the family had recently moved to Rexburg from Arizona after her husband, Charles Vallow, died from a heart attack, adding that 'JJ doesn't quite understand the situation.'

Months later when the search for JJ and Tylee made national headlines, the nanny learned that Charles had actually been fatally shot in the chest by Lori's brother, Alex Cox, who himself died in December.

Lori also talked about her daughter Tylee, the nanny said, and claimed that the 17-year-old didn't live at the home but would sometimes visit for dinner or to do laundry.

'It appeared that only Lori and JJ lived there, from the look of things and from what she told me,' she wrote.

Lori's charging documents indicated that the mother had told people Tylee was attending Brigham Young University's Rexburg campus, but detectives determined the teen was never enrolled there.

At the end of the visit Lori asked the nanny to come watch JJ for a few hours the following day when she went to the airport to pick up a friend.

'I told her I was available and could come over,' the nanny wrote.

She added: 'My overall impression of her was that she was kind but seemed stressed out being a newly widowed mom alone with her autistic son.'

The last known footage of JJ, recorded on a neighbor's security camera, showed the seven-year-old playing outside his home in Rexburg on September 17

When the nanny returned the following day, instructed her to give JJ his medicine right before bed in the event that she came home late because 'it makes him tired fast'.

'She joked about how she liked that because some days when he was extra tough for her to handle, she would give him his meds and have him go to bed early to give her a break,' the nanny wrote.

She said Lori's brother Alex came over to the townhome and the pair left together.

She said JJ was upset that Lori left but calmed down quickly.

He then went outside to play with some other kids, before getting into an argument with one of them that sent him into a meltdown.

'He started crying and screaming. I tried to calm him down, distract him with a show, tell him how sometimes people need a break, and how he needs to share,' the nanny wrote.

'He threw the chair from their wooden table down, flipped the ottoman over by their couch, and then ran upstairs.

'I let him cry for a bit, hoping he would calm down, but he didn't. I felt I should check on him to make sure he wouldn't hurt himself or break anything so I went upstairs. I quickly found him under the bed in his mom's room.

'He also had a room upstairs but from what I remember it just had toys in it and no bed. Lori's room appeared normal, she had a large bed, bathroom, and it looked clean.

'Although something kind of strange was that there was a small mattress in the corner where JJ slept. It was pretty thin, the size of a twin mattress, with sheets and a pillow.

'There was a mirror hanging above the mattress in the corner, as JJ ran up from under the bed he went toward the mirror and knocked it off the wall.'

On September 18, Lori asked the nanny to come over for an interview 'to see if I could handle watching JJ since he has autism', she wrote in her statement to police. JJ is pictured in 2018

Soon after Lori returned home with her brother and the friend they'd picked up from the airport.

'The mom calmed JJ and asked me what happened. I explained the situation and she babied him' the woman said.

'It felt a little overwhelming the amount of love she was showing him instead of trying to teach him and calm him.'

Lori paid the nanny $40 in cash before she left the home.

'From what we had talked about yesterday that was what she seemed to be needing, was nearly daily assistance from me,' she wrote. 'This was the last day I saw JJ and Lori.'

Five days later the nanny reached out to Lori about watching JJ again.

'She responded to me that JJ was with his grandparents for a month and that she was in Hawaii,' the nanny wrote.

'She said in about a month, when they come back, that I could work again.'

JJ's grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, have said that the last time they saw JJ was over FaceTime in August.

It wasn't until around Halloween that the nanny followed up with Lori and asked if she needed help caring for JJ - but the mother never replied.

'I thought it was pretty weird that they just up and left for a month and didn't need me to work ever again after just hiring me,' the nanny wrote.

'I assumed she must have really needed a break from JJ I guess, and I left it at that. That was the last time I ever communicated with Lori.'

JJ's grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, have said that the last time they saw JJ was over FaceTime in August

Authorities began searching for the children in late November after performing a welfare check ordered by concerned relatives who said they hadn't spoken to JJ, who is autistic, in months.

When officers first went to Lori's home in Idaho on November 26, she told them that JJ was visiting relatives in Arizona - which investigators say was a lie.

Officers returned the following day and found that Lori and the man she married weeks earlier, Chad Daybell, had fled from the home.

Authorities say the couple have repeatedly lied about where JJ and Tylee are and refused to cooperate with the investigation.

It has since emerged they had told people Tylee was dead and that Lori has no minor children.

Lori and Chad were named persons of interest in the children's disappearance after investigators said they believe the mother knows where her children are or what happened to them.

The couple issued a statement after they went on the run insisting that they'd done nothing wrong.

Police have said there is reason to believe the children are in danger.

Lori's estranged husband Charles Vallow (pictured together) was shot dead by her brother Alex Cox in Arizona on July 11

Chad's wife Tammy Daybell (pictured together) was found dead under mysterious circumstances in October, just two weeks before he married Lori

The case captured nationwide attention with the revelations that police are also investigating three mysterious deaths linked to Lori and Chad, as well as family members' claims that the couple are members of a dangerous doomsday cult.

The first death is that of Lori's estranged husband Charles Vallow, who was shot dead by her brother Alex Cox in Arizona on July 10.

Charles and Lori had gotten into an argument when the father came to pick up JJ at the mother's home in Chandler.

Lori's brother intervened and fatally shot Charles.

Lori's brother Alex Cox (pictured) died under mysterious circumstances on December 12

Police initially determined that he acted in self defense - but the case was reopened amid the multi-state search for JJ and Tylee, who had moved to Idaho, where Chad lived, with their mother in August.

The second mysterious death was Tammy Daybell - Chad's previous wife - who was found dead at the couple's home in Salem, Idaho, on October 19.

An obituary stated that Tammy passed away in her sleep and her cause of death was ruled as natural after Chad reportedly declined an autopsy.

Investigators reopened the case after learning that JJ and Tylee were missing, as their mother had married Chad just two weeks after Tammy died. They believe the two cases could be linked.

Tammy's body was exhumed on December 11 and the autopsy results have not yet been released.

On December 12, Lori's brother, Alex Cox, was found dead in Gilbert, Arizona.

The 51-year-old's death is now under investigation as police wait for an autopsy to determine the cause.

Police are seen frisking Lori before she was taken into custody outside her Kauai apartment

As officers prepared to take Lori away in a patrol car, her Doomsday author husband Chad Daybell (right) watched helplessly

Police tracked Lori and Chad down in Princeville, Hawaii, late last month and served the mother with a court order requiring her to physically produce the children to authorities in Idaho by January 30.

Lori failed to meet the deadline and was arrested last Thursday in Kauai.

She is currently jailed in lieu of $5million bail as she awaits extradition to Idaho, which officials say could take up to 90 days.

She is due to appear in court on March 2 for the next step in the extradition process.
Phuket, 31 August 2016  The biggest festival in Phuket is the annual Vegetarian Festival, which will be held from 1 to 9 October 2016.

The Vegetarian Festival is a nine-day, nine-night celebration which Phuketians eat only vegetarian food with the belief that they will be ridding themselves of harm and bringing back good luck for themselves and their families. There will be many activities throughout the festival period. For example, witness parades from all shrines in Phuket heading towards the Jui Tui  the main shrine in Phuket town. The religious procession includes some worshippers who act as mediums of gods and puncture their cheeks to get rid of any harm that could happen in the future. Other interesting activities include fire-walking and blade-walking (devout worshippers walking across stepladders made of sharp iron blades).

Amari Phuket proudly invites guests to enjoy the festival with a Hot Deal package starting at 17,700 THB+++ for a four-night stay. Other add-on benefits include a complimentary round-trip airport transfer, special vegetarian dishes corner available at the daily buffet breakfast in line with the festival, 20% discount on food and beverage throughout period of stay, and unlimited Wi-Fi internet access in room. Moreover, guests who book a Hot Deal package and stay from 1 to 9 October 2016 will receive a special Vegetarian Festival souvenir to be used whilst watching the ceremonial parade in Phuket town.

This package cannot be combined with other packages and/or promotions. Terms and conditions apply.

For room reservations, please contact +66 (0) 7634 0106-14 extension 8033 or 8034,

email reservations.phuket@amari.com or visit www.amari.com/phuket.

Address: Amari Phuket, 2 Muen-ngern Road, Patong Beach, Kathu, Phuket 83150
Tennessee Girl Evelyn Boswell Still Missing After Grandmother, Man Waive Extradition

Two suspects who authorities say are connected to the disappearance of a missing girl will be extradited back to Tennessee from North Carolina.

Angela Boswell, 42, of Kingsport, Tennessee, and her boyfriend, William McCloud, were arrested on fugitive warrants in North Carolina last week. Both were being sought for questioning in the disappearance of missing 15-month-old Evelyn Boswell.

The girl was not with Boswell, who is her grandmother, and McCloud when they were captured. They were arrested after the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said officials were searching for their vehicle, which was reported stolen, in connection to the case.

Id like to get back there and get this situation with my granddaughter resolved, Boswell told Wilkes County District Court Judge David Byrd, reported USA Today.

The pair were previously charged with possession of stolen property, the Wilkes County Sheriffs Office in North Carolina said in a statement last week.

While in court this week, the two both waived their right to extradition.

McCloud and Boswell will stay at the Wilkes County Jail until officials from Tennessee arrive to transport them back to the state, reported WXII.

McCloud said that he wasnt aware that the vehicle was stolen. I had no idea anything had went wrong with the car, he said. Apparently her daughter hadnt paid for the car. Neither of us was aware of anything about that.

The young girl is still missing and her whereabouts are currently not known.

The sheriffs office in Sullivan County, Tennessee, wrote that it has become aware that there are Facebook groups that are organizing search parties in relation to the Evelyn Boswell case.

At this time, we are not asking for volunteers to help organize search parties. In the event that we reach a point that we need volunteers for search parties, we will make that known, the office wrote in a statement on Monday.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said it is trying to determine why the childs disappearance was not reported to authorities sooner. The agency also said Dec. 26, 2019 is listed as the day Evelyn was last seen, but her mother and others have given conflicting dates.

The young girl has blonde hair and blue eyes, authorities said. She was last seen wearing a pink bow, a pink tracksuit, and pink shoes.

If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Evelyn, please contact the Sullivan County Sheriffs Office at 423-279-7330 or the TBI at 1-800-TBIFIND, a news release from TBI reads.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Two more COVID-19 cases reported, bringing Taiwan total to 30

ROC Central News Agency

02/24/2020 06:12 PM

Taipei, Feb. 24 (CNA) Taiwan reported two more confirmed cases of COVID-19 coronavirus Monday, bringing the number in the country to 30 since the outbreak began, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said that day.

Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (), who heads the CECC, told reporters that the latest two cases are the younger son and wife of the 27th case.

The younger son, in his 40s, developed respiratory symptoms on Jan. 29 but did not see a doctor.

He was finally admitted to a hospital isolation ward under the instruction of the health authorities after he was listed as a close contact of the 27th case -- his 80-something father -- on Feb. 23, according to the CECC.

The son, who had frequently traveled to and from China for work, including Wuhan City, the epicenter of the outbreak, returned to Taiwan from his last trip to China from Guangzhou Province on Dec. 2, the CECC said.

He had also attended several gatherings with friends who had recent history of travel to China during the Lunar New Year holiday, it noted.

Meanwhile, the 30th case, a woman in her 70s who is the wife of the 27th case, was diagnosed with acute pharyngitis on Feb. 6.

She had visited hospitals four times between Feb. 10 and Feb. 19 due to continued respiratory symptoms, but was not admitted until Feb. 22 after being listed as a close contact of the 27th patient.

She is also in an isolation ward, but has not yet developed a fever, the CECC said.

So far, four people in the same family have been confirmed as having contracted the virus.

Meanwhile, the CECC has identified 143 people who had been in contact with 27th case.

Among them, three have been confirmed as having the disease, 50 have been ruled out, are the rest are pending test results, the CECC said.

(By Chen Wei-ting and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/J

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NEW YORK - Federal authorities raided the Manhattan headquarters of the Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard, a search that came amid claims he trafficked and sexually assaulted dozens of teenage girls and women.

The FBI searched the designers Times Square offices Tuesday less than two weeks after 10 women filed a lawsuit accusing Nygard of enticing young and impoverished women to his estate in the Bahamas with cash and promises of modeling opportunities.

Several plaintiffs in the suit said they were 14 or 15 years old when Nygard gave them alcohol or drugs and then raped them.

Nicholas Biase, a spokesman for the U.S. attorneys office in Manhattan, confirmed the raid but declined to comment on the investigation.

Nygard denied the sex-trafficking claims through a spokesman, calling them fabricated and manufactured.

Nygard welcomes the federal investigation and expects his name to be cleared, the spokesman, Ken Frydman, said in an email. He has not been charged, is not in custody and is co-operating with the investigation.

Frydman said Nygard was stepping down as chairman ofNygard companies and will divest his ownership interest. He added that Nygard doesnt want his legal battles to distract employees, who rely on the company for their livelihoods.

Nygard International began in Winnipeg as a sportswear manufacturer. Its website says its retail division has more than 170 stores in North America.

The class-action lawsuit says Nygard used his company, bribery of Bahamian officials and considerable influence in the fashion industry to recruit victims in the Bahamas, United States and Canada.

It alleges he plied the young women with drugs and alcohol during pamper parties and kept a database on a corporate server containing the names of thousands of potential victims.

Nygards victims would have their passports taken from them when they were flown into the Bahamas, the lawsuit alleges, adding the designer expected a sex act before he was willing to consider releasing any person from his estate.

Frydman said authorities also executed a search and seizure on Nygards offices in California. He blamed the raids on a conspiracy involving Louis Bacon, the billionaire hedge fund manager who owns an estate next door to Nygards in the Bahamas.

A spokesman for Bacon declined to comment.

The New York Times reported Saturday that Bacon has been involved in an epic battle with Nygard involving tens of millions of dollars and more than two dozen lawsuits. The newspaper described Nygards home in the Bahamas, where the women allegedly were assaulted, as a lush retreat with sculptures of roaring lions and a human aquarium where topless women undulated in mermaid tails.

Five women who were not named in the lawsuit told The Times that Nygard sexually assaulted them in the Bahamas when they were teenagers. The newspaper said two women later recanted their claims, saying they had been promised money and coached to fabricate their stories.
At a time when the energy sector is weighed down by debt and reeling from low commodity prices, American energy producers are now bracing for the biggest demand shock to hit the markets in decades: the effects of the coronavirus outbreak in China and beyond.

The outbreak has already claimed more than 2,600 casualties and infected nearly 80,000 globally, including 3,000 medical staff in China.

While the outbreak may not sweep the globe as swine flu did in 2009, the fear of a global epidemic managed to shave 975 points off the Dow Monday morning, and experts seem to agree that the economic effects of the fallout are likely to be more severe.

UBS recently warned that it could drag global economic growth to near negative levels during the first quarter of the year and cause the worst growth slowdown since the 2008 crash.

The effects are already showing up in companies' guidance and market reactions, with Apple recently saying that revenue for the March quarter would fall below its initial estimate, citing a temporary hit to global phone supply.

There are indications that suggest the outbreak may be tapering off, with the daily number of new cases in China beginning to decline. However, researchers have warned that it could rebound once Chinese residents return to work and school, and what spooked the markets Monday was a spike in coronavirus cases outside China.

Here are the three energy sectors that are likely to be hardest hit by the coronavirus epidemic, and why:

#1 Oil, Grounded by Demand

Oil and natural gas prices have remained low for the past year and could remain that way with the biggest oil importer now grounded.

China, the world's top oil importer, bought 41.24 million tonnes of crude in 2019, equivalent to 10.04 million barrels per day (bpd). But just two months after the outbreak of the virus, Chinese oil demand is down sharply because of dwindling air travel, road transportation and manufacturing. Related: Two Abundant Elements That Could Create A Superbattery

China consumes 13 of every 100 barrels of oil that the world produces, and global oil companies are likely to feel the heat to some extent. Bloomberg has reported that Chinese oil demand has dropped by about 3 million barrels a day, or ~20% of total consumption.

The drop marks the largest demand shock in the market since the global financial crisis that ended in 2009. Its also the most sudden shock the market has suffered since the Sept. 11 attacks nearly two decades ago.

Energy analytics firm S&P Global Platts has warned that the virus could shave global oil demand by as much as 4 percent, or 4.1 million barrels a day, in February and an average daily fall in global demand of 290,000 to one million barrels.

Meanwhile, energy watchdog IEA has said oil demand is likely to fall by 435,000 b/d in 1Q 2020--the first quarterly contraction in more than 10 years--and lowered its 2020 growth forecast by 365,000 b/d to 825,000 b/d.

The EIA is a bit more sanguine and still expects West Texas Intermediate to remain above $50.00/bbl this year and average $55.71 in 2020.

Global demand for jet fuel has taken a big hit after a series of carriers suspended flights to China. Key international airlines that have cancelled or reduced flights to China include British Airways, Lufthansa, American Airlines, United Airlines, Austrian Airlines and Swiss International Air Lines. Other international airlines are also rapidly scaling back flights.

Jet crack spreads--a metric that measures the differential between an oil product and the crude from which it is derived--have already narrowed against Brent crude amid expectations of lower demand. Asian jet fuel refining margins have fallen to the lowest levels in over 10 years. More than 50 million people are affected by a travel lockdown in Hubei Province, the epicenter of the outbreak, slowing gasoline consumption.

Last week, some optimism returned to stock markets and oil prices briefly rallied when it appeared that new infections are slowing down. Unfortunately this was short-lived after China changed its methodology of counting the new cases leading to the numbers shooting up considerably and slowing the oil rally. While the negative effects of the epidemic on oil demand are not likely to last, the outbreak could damage the Chinese economy enough to lead to a more prolonged period of subdued demand and oil prices.

Whereas oil producers in places like Iraq and Saudi Arabia could see a 10% drop in profits, those in the United States could lose as much as 60% of their profits due to the much higher break-even price for the average oil well drilled in shale fields at roughly $45 a barrel. Most of the crude oil that China imports comes from Russia, Africa, Iran and other Persian Gulf nations, meaning producers in those regions are likely to feel the heat the most.

#2 Natural Gas, Already A Wreck

Natural gas prices recently tumbled to historical lows and are down nearly 15% since the start of 2020 with excess supply and inventory build up pressuring prices. The coronavirus outbreak is not helping the situation, either. Related: This Country Could Soon Become The Biggest Buyer Of U.S. Oil

The global LNG leader Royal Dutch Shell has warned that the coronavirus outbreak is already hurting LNG demand and forcing it to reroute supplies previously earmarked for mainland China.

Yet, according to Ira Joseph, global head of power and gas analytics at S&P Global Platts, the coronavirus outbreak is not fundamentally changing the direction of the LNG market because it was already weak and heading in this direction. The coronavirus outbreak is seen acting more as a catalyst for this historic price collapse.

And the situation might not improve any time soon. Last year, RBC predicted that natural gas prices might take years to fully recover.

#3 Battery and Energy Storage

Last week, Utility Divewhich covers news and trends in the utility industrywarned that the coronavirus epidemic "... is going to be a very big deal" with respect to Chinese manufacturing.

Eight provinces in the country have already announced work stoppages as a result of the outbreak, which has negatively impacted multiple solar manufacturing campuses. This is highly significant considering that most of the worlds solar panels are made in China.

China also happens to be home to most of the worlds lithium-ion battery manufacturing. Utility Dive has warned that the country's battery storage production capacity could contract by 10%--or 26 GWh--compared to earlier forecasts.

On a more positive note, Utility Dive says a major disruption for the U.S. power sector isn't very likely since electricity generation comes from either domestic or non-Chinese sources, like coal, natural gas, renewable energy, and nuclear.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia's political crisis has entered a third day, with the entire country waiting to see when - or if - the 94-year-old Mahathir Mohamad will be reinstated as prime minister of a different government to the one he led at the start of the week.

Dr Mahathir, who was the country's prime minister from 1981-2003 and again from 2018 until 2020, shocked the country and resigned on Monday.

He was appointed interim prime minister by Malaysia's Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, just hours after resigning. At the time of writing, he was effectively a one person government.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad leaves after meeting with King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur on Monday. Credit:AP

Mahathir's resignation was triggered after a rupture in the former coalition government, Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) as a breakaway group of MPs from parties within the coalition looked to join forces with the opposition and seize power - while keeping Mahathir as leader.
DALLAS, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Veteran Dallas trial lawyers Michael Lyons and Chris Simmons have formed Lyons & Simmons, LLP, a trial firm focused on handling personal injury and wrongful death matters as well as complex business disputes in Texas and throughout the United States.

Firm co-founders Mr. Lyons and Mr. Simmons have a proven record of obtaining outstanding results for their clients in high-stakes, high-exposure cases across the country. They have tried complex cases before judges, juries and arbitrators involving life-altering personal injuries, wrongful death, and "bet-the-company" business disputes.

"We have been involved in some of the most consequential and technically challenging cases in Texas and around the country, and I know we have made a difference for our clients," said Mr. Lyons. "That record of success will continue with Lyons & Simmons going forward."

Mr. Lyons and Mr. Simmons were previously partners in the Dallas-based trial boutique Deans & Lyons, LLP. Also joining Lyons & Simmons are attorneys Chris Carr and Stephen Higdon.

"Mike and I share a common viewpoint that it's our job to level the playing field for every client," said Mr. Simmons. "Unfortunately, our clients are often facing the most challenging situation they will ever encounter when we are brought in. What comes with that is a tremendous responsibility to do everything we can to get the best possible outcome."

Known for an aggressive approach that utilizes innovative technology and creativity, Mr. Lyons has earned the respect of his peers, earning professional accolades for personal injury and business litigation work including multiple year recognitions as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area by Texas Super Lawyers, as well as recognition by Best Lawyers in America, and among D Magazine's Best Lawyers in Dallas. He is a member of the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums, as well as a member of America's Top 100 High Stakes Litigators.

Mr. Simmons is a warrior for his clients who combines strategic and creative problem-solving abilities with highly skilled advocacy. He has obtained record-setting results for his clients and has earned recognition as one of the top 100 young lawyers in Texas by Texas Super Lawyers, has been included in D Magazine's Best Lawyers in Dallas, and has received a Professional Excellence Award from Texas Lawyer.

About Lyons & Simmons LLP

Dallas-based Lyons & Simmons, LLP is a Texas Dallas-based trial boutique representing clients in wrongful death, personal injury, products liability and complex "bet-the-company" business litigation matters across the country. To learn more, visit http://www.Lyons-Simmons.com.

Media Contact:

Rhonda Reddick

800-559-4534

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Public transport is an avenue for potential sexual assault and harassment for every woman in India with many having had at least one experience of harassment either verbal or physical in public trains, buses and metros across India. However, a recent incident in Uttar Pradesh has stood out for the swift response of cops in nabbing the culprits after being intimates of a potential crime via social media.

A Twitter user @caustic_kanya tagged the Uttar Pradesh Police in a tweet and asked for help while travelling in an Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) bus on February 24 (Monday).

Dear @uppolice I'm travelling in UPSR bus and some guys sitting next to me harassing me and asking for my number . Plz plz plz help me I'm very scared right now This is my ticket and bus no. pic.twitter.com/dQURpA15yp Ciggy (@caustic_kanya) February 24, 2020

She wrote that some men sitting in the bus were harassing her and asked for her number. She also shared the snap of her ticket and bus number.

"Call 112", the official handle of any emergency services from UP Police, replied to her tweet soon.

Event ID- P24022006529 Ma'am, don't worry emergency help is reaching shortly. Call 112 (@112UttarPradesh) February 24, 2020

Later, UP Police tweeted asking the woman for her exact location.

Please share exact location for necessary action. UP POLICE (@Uppolice) February 24, 2020

They also tagged the handles of Ayodhya Police and Barabanki Police in accordance with the womans location.

Soon after, the local cops were informed through tweets and the bus in question was stopped. After necessary investigations, two boys were allegedly arrested and taken away in a van.

The women then shared an update on the situation.

Thankyou for your response amd concerns guys. I have now received help from UP police. They have taken away the two boys in their van. Im fine and safe now. Thankyou @Sirchahal , @GadhviLaxman and @Uppolice @112UttarPradesh Ill be forever grateful https://t.co/fu3e1B3pYG Ciggy (@caustic_kanya) February 24, 2020

Thanking everyone for their concern, she said that help had reached her on time and two eve-teasers were held by the police and taken away.
San Antonio was graced with a beautiful sunset Monday evening that left many residents in awe and reaching for their cameras.

Monday's sunset was at approximately 6:29 p.m. The National Weather Service said the fair amount of high clouds in the atmosphere helped to make the sunset so stunning.
Former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg has vowed to spend what it takes from his billionaire bankroll to help Bernie Sanders win the White House if the senator secures the Democratic nomination.

But Bloomberg is also on record saying Sanders, I-Vt., has no hope of victory. "I don't think there's any chance of the senator beating President Trump," Bloomberg said Wednesday.

The contradiction points to the twisted logic that is set to dominate Tuesday's debate in South Carolina. The six other candidates onstage have about a week left to blunt Sanders' momentum, according to analyses by rival candidates. They say Sanders is on track to emerge from the Super Tuesday primaries March 3 with an insurmountable lead in the delegate hunt.

But after giving Sanders a pass for most of the year, any attacks Democrats launch on the self-described democratic socialist could undermine the party's chance of beating Trump in November if Sanders becomes the nominee. They also risk a backlash from voters who have repeatedly punished candidates who go negative on other Democrats in this race.

"There is always a reticence to want to get on the bad side of someone who is going to be the potential nominee and president," said Tim Miller, who advised former Florida governor Jeb Bush when he found himself in a similar position with Donald Trump in the 2016 GOP primary. "With Trump looming, I think Democrats are going to be especially skittish to want to be seen as doing anything that is helping an absolutely loathed incumbent president."

The result is that Sanders' rivals have been moving gingerly to shift their messages since he swept the Nevada caucuses Saturday, winning about 34% of the vote and 67% of the national delegates. Rather than target him over the underlying concern about whether he is capable of beating Trump, they have largely been attacking him from the left, arguing that he is not sufficiently aligned with the Democratic Party's core values.

Bloomberg and former vice president Joe Biden have circulated archival video in recent days that shows Sanders defending his votes in Congress to protect gun manufacturers from liability for mass shootings. Biden has also criticized Sanders for his past consideration of a primary challenge against "our first African American president," Barack Obama, during the 2012 cycle.

"When it comes to building on President Obama's legacy, Bernie Sanders just can't be trusted," says an online video distributed Monday by the Biden campaign.

At a rally in Denver on Sunday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., went after Sanders over the more obscure topic of Senate procedure.

"Bernie supports the filibuster," she said to loud cheers from a crowd of about 7,000 people. "I'm going to get rid of the filibuster."

The other billionaire in the race, Tom Steyer, who is polling in third place in a South Carolina polling average by The Washington Post after spending more money on the state than anyone else, is expected to make a more targeted attack on Sanders at the debate and in paid advertising before the Super Tuesday primaries.

"Tom is going to aggressively make the economic case against the socialist policies of Bernie Sanders this week in South Carolina - in particular, that Sanders policies are bad for the country and bad for working people," said one aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss campaign strategy.

The rapid ascent of Sanders, who won the popular vote in Iowa and the next two contests in New Hampshire and Nevada, seems to have taken many of his rivals by surprise. They spent much of past year privately arguing that Sanders had a ceiling of support that would prevent his nomination in a party where a majority of voters consider themselves moderates.

But Sanders has shown that he can broaden his coalition from the 2016 election, winning strong support among Nevada Latinos, who previously opposed him. A broad field of rivals has made it impossible for an anti-Sanders vote to coalesce. The fact that many of them are polling below the 15% threshold needed to win delegates has also helped him to outperform his own popular-vote share in the election result that will matter at the July convention.

There remains significant suspense over whether Bloomberg will pivot his huge paid advertising budget, currently aimed at Trump, to go negative on Sanders. Bloomberg's top advisers view a sustained negative attack on Sanders as one of the few remaining ways to stop him from winning the nomination, especially if Warren does not rise in the polls to take away some of his support on the left and some of the more moderate candidates do not drop out before March 3.

But the campaign has so far only pivoted with digital or unpaid messaging. Bloomberg's campaign Monday accused Sanders of being the easiest candidate for Trump to beat and condemned him for not calling out recent vandalism against one of Bloomberg's offices, which was sprayed with the word "oligarch," language that echoes Sanders' rhetoric.

"Trump himself and now the Russians are indicating that Senator Sanders is the candidate they want to run against," Bloomberg states director Dan Kanninen said on a call with reporters. "We can't get it done if we nominate a candidate like Senator Sanders, who has just attacked his own party."

Other Democrats in the party have spoken out more forcefully about the danger they see presented by Sanders, who in an interview with CBS's "60 Minutes" on Sunday praised the literacy programs of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

Former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg condemned those comments Monday in a tweet.

"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," Buttigieg wrote.

Sanders' advisers replied by sharing video of Obama praising the level of medical care and education in Cuba. But that did not mollify leaders of the Democratic Party in Florida, a traditional swing state where immigrants from Latin America hold significant sway.

"Florida Democrats condemn dictators who toppled democracies across the globe and stand in solidarity with the thousands of people who have fled violent dictatorships in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua," Terrie Rizzo, the state party chair, said Monday in a statement.

Though most party strategists say it is too soon to tell whether Sanders will be able to compete against Trump in the electoral college, there is little doubt that his nomination would prove a boost to Trump's chances of winning in Florida.

"There is no question that Bernie Sanders is the least likely Democrat to win Florida's 29 electoral votes," said Fernand Amandi, a Democratic pollster who worked for Obama's successful 2008 and 2012 campaigns in the state. "Avowed socialists who have openly praised Daniel Ortega, Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro don't tend to do well in Florida."

Bloomberg's campaign Twitter feed chose to make light of the issue, tweeting fake quotes meant to magnify Sanders' sympathetic feelings toward Castro.

"'Vladimir Putin is willing to poison anyone who disagrees with him, but have you seen how that guy looks without a shirt!! Mmm delish!' - #BernieOnDespots" read one of the tweets.

It was the sort of message that could easily prove awkward for Bloomberg if Sanders wins the nomination and Bloomberg follows through on his pledge to use the same campaign apparatus to help him win the presidency.
Justin Theroux is not only an acclaimed actor, writer and director, but he is also a fierce advocate for dogs.

The 48-year-old actor tried to rally support among his fans in Denver on Monday, by asking those in the Colorado city to stand against the city's ban on pit bulls.

Theroux even offered dinner, made by himself and Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski, to those who went down to City Hall to fight against the ban.

Support this breed: Justin Theroux tried to rally support among his fans in Denver on Monday, by asking those in the Colorado city to stand against the city's ban on pit bulls

The Leftovers actor wrote on his Instagram story 'Hey Denver! If you are a Pit Bull lover the vote to end the Pit Bull Ban is in one hour.'

Sharing a photo of his rescue dog Kuma, who is a Pit Bull, he simply wrote 'please.'

'If you go to city hall to end the ban @antoni and I will make you dinner,' he wrote over a picture of the chef. 'Then brunch the next morning.'

Though he added: '@Antoni has no idea I'm posting this but I'm sure he's down and would do it. Right Antoni?'

Pleading: Sharing a photo of his rescue dog Kuma, who is a Pit Bull, he simply wrote 'please' he also asked those in Denver to go to City Hall

We'll cook for you: 'If you go to city hall to end the ban @antoni [Porowski] and I will make you dinner,' he wrote over a picture of the chef. 'Then brunch the next morning.' Though he added: '@Antoni has no idea I'm posting this but I'm sure he's down and would do it. Right Antoni'

Denver's Mayor Michael Hancock vetoed a bill to end the city's ban on Pit Bulls on February 14.

The City Council held a vote on Monday to overturn his veto and repeal the ban, though not enough members voted to repeal and the ban will stay in affect.

A similar initiative to repeal the ban will be put on the November 2020 ballot, according to the councilman who wrote the measure to repeal, Chris Herndon, Denver Post reported.

The day before the vote Theroux wrote on Instagram, sharing a photo in a booth with his pup Kuma by his side.

The ban: Denver's Mayor Michael Hancock vetoed a bill to end the city's ban on Pit Bulls on February 14

He specifically called on City Council member Amanda Saywer to support the ban's repeal.

'Amanda, by all accounts you have done an incredible job for District 5, and I implore you to vote on behalf of the pit bulls that are currently in your shelters and living in the shadows of Denver as a result of Denvers Ban,' Theroux wrote.

Adding: 'All they want is the right to be available for adoption from your shelter facilities, get registered, microchipped and be LEGAL... so they can be the the incredible Denver citizens that Kuma and I know they can be.'

He also pleaded to residents saying 'IF you are a Denver resident, and IF you love, own or would like to rescue one of these animals that so rarely get a second chance, please attend tomorrows vote.'

I'm sad: He slammed the Mayor for allowing the ban to stay in place for the detrimental affects it will have on the breed in Denver 'Yeah yeah... I know I'm a crazy dog guy,' he wrote. 'Don't @ me [right now]. I'm just sad af about this. With all the crazy unsolvable s**t in this world, this one was so easy'

Saved: He saved his dog Kuma from the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, which swept through Austin Texas in 2018

As the results of the ban staying in place came in, he slammed the ban and the effect it has on the breed.

'The Denver Pit Bull Ban stands,' he wrote. 'This will result in the continued and unnecessary deaths of thousands of dogs. This is a tragedy for a breed that is already murdered in greater numbers than any other breed in our country.

He called out Mayor Hancock saying he should stand against dog fighting of all breeds and that 'People [who] profit, neglect or abuse dogs in any way is the problem...Not the dog or the breed.'

Theroux continued saying that the city should implement a 'no kill' policy and that Mayor Hancock owes Animal Control workers an apology since they have to put down the dogs.

Guys best friend: The actor gushed about his fur baby in interviews and told Men's Journal : 'She is the best thing that ever happened to me'

'Yeah yeah... I know I'm a crazy dog guy,' he wrote. 'Don't @ me [right now]. I'm just sad af about this. With all the crazy unsolvable s**t in this world, this one was so easy.'

Theroux has long been an advocate for the breed, that faces restrictions in city's around the country.

He saved his dog Kuma from the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, which swept through Austin Texas in 2018.

The actor gushed about his fur baby in interviews and told Men's Journal: 'She is the best thing that ever happened to me.'

The ex-husband of Jennifer Aniston has had three other pit bulls in the past. The couple wed in 2015 but divorced in 2017.

Save a life: He most recently gushed over Kuma on Valentine's Day when he shared adorable snaps cuddled up with her and he encouraged those who were alone on the romantic holiday to 'get a life,' by adopting a dog

He continued: 'I dont know whos helping who more,' he said. 'She helps my life more than I help hers.'

Theroux treats her like a princess. he said, 'Shes so needy, I feel like Im her service human.'

Since adopting Kuma in June, the actor has showcased the pooch numerous times, showing the dog growing on social media and took her to his premiere of Lady and the Tramp.

He most recently gushed over Kuma on Valentine's Day when he shared adorable snaps cuddled up with her and he encouraged those who were alone on the romantic holiday to 'get a life,' by adopting a dog.
On Monday, a Twitter thread from Team Bloomberg and an accompanying press release decried a pattern of attacks of vandalism at Mike Bloomberg 2020 offices across the United States. Based on the appearance of the word oligarch in some of the graffiti, the Bloomberg campaign pointed to the Bernie Sanders campaigns criticism of the self-funded billionaire candidate on those termscalling it Trump-like rhetoricand condemned Sanders for failing to denounce these illegal acts.

Fortunately, no one has been injured, the statement quoted Bloomberg campaign manager Kevin Sheekey as saying. But this needs to end before someone gets hurt.

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A series of photos in the tweet thread illustrated the range of damage Sheekey was talking about. In Salt Lake City, windows were broken. In Knoxville, Tennessee, Racist Oligarch had been spray-painted across the doors. In Flint, Michigan, someone appeared to have stuck a sign reading EAT THE RICH in a front window.

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And in Youngstown, Ohio, it appeared that someone had painted oligarch and stop and frisk on two sheets of plywood and placed them gently against the front of the office building.

Oligarch

Our office in Youngstown, OH



America deserves better. pic.twitter.com/zDdv2CZzVs  Team Bloomberg (@Mike2020) February 24, 2020

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The press release described this as Our Youngstown, Ohio, office was vandalized and defaced with the word oligarch.  The screenshot from local news that the campaign tweeted out had a chyron reading BLOOMBERG HEADQUARTERS VANDALIZED.

The Youngstown Police Department says its no such thing. Detective Nick Bailey, who is working the case, said the incident is not currently being investigated as vandalism. It doesnt meet the elements of that crime, Bailey said.

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The original incident report did list vandalism under the offense codes section, but Bailey said he believes the responding officer may have been referring to the general notion of vandalism, versus the crime as it is listed in the states statutes.

The responding officer wrote that a worker advised someone covered the front of the building with yellow streamer paper to resemble police tape, and spray painted two wooden boards that were located outside the front of the building.

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Bailey said the boards appeared to have been brought to the building and left there, rather than having been the property of the Bloomberg campaign.

Vandalism occurs, based on Ohio Revised Code 2909.05, when serious physical harm is inflicted upon an occupied structure or any of its contents. Serious physical harm requires more than $1,000 of damage and losses. The property manager said neither the building nor anything already on the grounds was destroyed or damaged, according to Bailey.

I guess it would be like an aggravated littering if I could put a term on it, said Bailey.

The Bloomberg campaign, at the time of publication, has not responded to a request for comment.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Archdiocese of New York announced Monday that four Catholic elementary schools on Staten Island will merge to form two separate academies beginning in the 2020-2021 academic year.

St. Rita School in Meiers Corners will merge with St. Teresa School in Castleton Corners, forming the St. Teresa-St. Rita STREAM Academy, the Archdiocese said, while St. Adalberts School in Elm Park will merge with Holy Rosary School in South Beach to become the Father Vincent Capodanno Catholic Academy. The new academies will operate out of the school buildings in Castleton Corners and South Beach, respectively.

This bold re-imagination reflects a culture of forward-thinking that will ensure a strong foundation and room for growth as Catholic education moves forward on Staten Island, the archdiocese said in its announcement.

Our commitment to Catholic education is as strong as ever and we have our fingers on the pulse of our communities and understand the needs they have for a high-quality education rooted in the Catholic faith, Cardinal Timothy Dolan said in the release.

We understand the impact this will have on families and will provide both pastoral support and educational guidance to all those affected in order to ensure all children will be warmly welcomed into their new Catholic school building, where they will continue to learn and thrive. Our mission is to preserve Catholic education in New York for years to come, he added.

The new St. Teresa-St. Rita STREAM Academy will focus on a rigorous instructional program that challenges them in a Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, and Math (STREAM)-supported atmosphere that focuses heavily on community partnerships and project-based learning, according to a letter sent to parents of both schools.

The unification of both school communities will allow us to enhance existing programs, increase community partnerships and expand our preschool program, according to the letter, which is signed by Zoilita Herrera, the regional superintendent of the Catholic School Region of Staten Island, and Deacon James Cowan, chairman of the Catholic School Region of Staten Island.

Nicole Garelick-Fresca, the principal of St. Rita School, will serve as the principal of the new academy, while Rita Azzopardi, the principal of St. Teresa School, will be the assistant principal.

In addition to the new STREAM initiative, the academy will offer a National Junior Honor Society, a seamless online learning environment in partnership with St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School, and robotics, according to the archdiocese.

Decisions about the schools faculty will be made after speaking with the teachers of both schools in the next few days, according to the archdiocese.

There will be a meeting for St. Rita parents at the school on Tuesday at 7 p.m., while St. Teresa parents can attend a meeting in the church Thursday at 7 p.m.

Additional information about the academy can be found here.

Meanwhile, the Father Vincent Capodanno Catholic Academy, named after the Staten Island priest who died while administering last rites to a dying soldier during the Vietnam War, will allow both the St. Adalbert and the Holy Rosary school communities to enhance existing programs and increase community partnerships ... [and explore] the possibility of creating educational opportunities beyond elementary school, which will welcome traditional learners as well as those with varying learning styles, according to the archdiocese.

Diane Hesterhagen, principal of St. Adalbert School, will serve as principal of the new academy. Elizabeth Campbell, principal of Holy Rosary School, will be the assistant principal and early childhood director.

The new academy will feature a National Junior Honor Society; an Italian Immersion Program with language and culture components; a Kiwanis Builders Club, featuring community service activities; a Young Ambassador Club; and Trout in the Classroom, which helps students understand ecosystems and stewardship of all Gods creatures, according to the archdiocese.

Decisions about the faculty at Father Vincent Capodanno Catholic Academy also will be made after speaking with the teachers of the current schools in the next few days, the archdiocese said.

More information about the new academy can be found here.

There are currently no plans for any changes to the St. Adalbert and St. Rita parishes, according to an Archdiocese spokesman. We are focused on the families and the children at this time, a second Archdiocese spokesman said in response to a question concerning the fate of the school buildings at the aforementioned campuses.

Mondays announcement is the latest in a list of Staten Island Catholic school mergers or closings since 2011.

While St. Teresa and St. Rita schools are separated by approximately one mile, St. Adalbert and Holy Rosary are nearly seven miles apart.

The archdiocese said that the new academies will be able to accommodate all students with additional room for growth.

Our top priority is to work closely with each family, to help in any way that we can during this transition, said Michael Deegan, superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of New York. Our directors of enrollment will work with every single family to make sure there is a seamless transition to the new building for the 2020-2021 school year. They will take great care to provide each family with information and answer any questions they may have, whether they are about transportation or tuition.

We understand how important these cherished schools are to our communities, and we do everything we can to ensure our schools have a strong future,'' he added. These new academies will offer a cohesive, united community with academically rich programs within a strong faith-based, values-infused curriculum.
Two-Thirds of the Worlds Most Polluted Cities Are in India

(Bloomberg) -- Several Chinese cities, including Beijing, have dramatically improved their air quality in recent years, while Indian metropolises remain some of the worlds worst polluted, according to a new report.

Beijing -- once infamous for its toxic haze -- has reduced smog levels and dropped down a list of the worlds most polluted cities, falling to 199 from 84 three years before, according to the 2019 World Air Quality Report published Tuesday by IQAir AirVisual. In contrast, India still dominated its list of the smoggiest urban areas, accounting for 14 of the top 20.

Despite new government policies meant to address the issue, New Delhis air quality has fallen from where it was five years ago, rising to the fifth-worst spot globally and making it by far the worlds most polluted major city, the report said. The worst-ranked city -- Ghaziabad -- is a Delhi suburb, as are a number of others ranked separately in the top 20.

India, China and other Asian countries remain disproportionately affected by toxic air as a result of factors ranging from crowded cities, vehicular exhaust, coal-fired power plants, agricultural burning and industrial emissions. The issue is hardly tangential. The World Health Organization estimates that dirty air kills around 7 million people each year, while the World Bank says it drains the global economy of $5 trillion annually.

Even before the coronavirus outbreak and trade war slowed Chinas smog-producing industries, Chinese officials had mobilized the countrys top-down, authoritarian state to implement -- and enforce -- sweeping measures, as well as shifting production away from its biggest cities. A recent report from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air separately found that Beijing and Shanghai had seen major progress, while levels of fine particular called PM 2.5 increased in other parts of the country.

India faces a starkly different situation. Across much of northern India, air quality remains catastrophic as politicians prioritize economic growth and spar over responsibility. Many citizens are still unaware of health concerns and resource-starved agencies struggle to carry out new -- or even existing -- measures designed to curb the smog.

Story continues

In Beijing, its a priority -- in China, when they say something, they do it, they put the resources in, said Yann Boquillod, AirVisuals director of air quality monitoring. In India, its just starting. People need to put more pressure on government.

A spokesman for Indias environment ministry didnt respond to a request for comment.

Why Winter Brings Deadly Smog to Indias Capital: QuickTake

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis government has won praise for promoting solar power and improving emission standards. It has handed out millions of gas canisters to reduce the number of families using smoky household cooking fires. In January of last year, the government also launched the National Clean Air Programme.

But these measures havent had a serious impact on increased coal power plant usage, dust left by the thousands of under-regulated construction sites and exhaust from millions of new cars and motorcycles. Air quality experts have also criticized the national program for lacking strong enforcement and funding.

Although many Indian cities saw progress between 2018 and 2019, unfortunately these improvements are not representative of the very recent, but promising National Clean Air Programme and cleaner fuel standards, according to the AirVisual report.

Indians Are Addicted to Cheap Coal Power and Its Killing Them

Instead, the authors said, they signal a lagging economy, which grew at about 5% -- the slowest expansion since 2009 -- compared with 8.3% in 2017. The deadly air also kills roughly 1.2 million Indians each year, according to a recent study in the Lancet.

While President Donald Trump visited the Indian capital and met with Modi on Tuesday, New Delhi was ranked by AirVisual as the worlds most polluted city. PM 2.5 levels soared as high as 199 -- more than double the local annual average last year.

India was far from the only country that remained deeply challenged by smog. Although several Chinese cities -- including Shanghai -- saw improvement in air quality, Kashgar and Hotan in the restive, western Xinjiang region were among the worlds worst.

Cities across Asia -- including Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Jakarta and Seoul -- saw sharp increases in PM 2.5 levels. Since 2017, Jakarta saw pollution increase by 66%, making it the worst in Southeast Asia. In Thailand, Chiang Mai and Bangkok both saw a number of extremely smoggy days -- some of which led authorities in the capital to close schools -- resulting from construction, diesel fuel and crop fires in surrounding regions.

The problem is particularly challenging for South Asian countries. Using a weighted population average, Bangladesh was actually ranked the worlds most polluted country, while its capital Dhaka was the second worst after Delhi. Pakistan was the second-most-polluted country, while Afghanistan, India and Nepal were all in the top 10.

(Updates with details of Trump visit to Delhi in 13th paragraph. A previous version of this story corrected the labeling of Delhi and Chennai on the chart showing pollution levels of Indian cities.)

--With assistance from Bibhudatta Pradhan.

To contact the reporters on this story: Iain Marlow in Hong Kong at imarlow1@bloomberg.net;Hannah Dormido in Hong Kong at hdormido@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Brendan Scott at bscott66@bloomberg.net, Chris Kay

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

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

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 20:44:56|Editor: zyl

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A woman looks at a notice which reads "We have no protective masks" at a pharmacy in Rijeka, Croatia, Feb. 25, 2020. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic announced here on Tuesday that Croatia has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 infection. (Goran Kovacic/Pixsell via Xinhua)

ZAGREB, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic announced here on Tuesday that Croatia has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 infection.

The patient is a younger man who is, so far, feeling well and is admitted at University Hospital for Infectious Diseases "Dr. Fran Mihaljevic" Zagreb, the prime minister said at a press conference.

Health Minister Vili Beros told media on Tuesday that the patient was in Milan, Italy between the 19th and 21st of this month. He said that quarantine will be arranged for all people who have been in direct contact with the patient.

The minister noted that the country is raising the level of defense and measures. "The health system is ready and we will work to ensure the health of the nation," Beros said.

On Tuesday, nine people were hospitalized in Croatian port city Rijeka after they returned from northern Italy where they had worked.

The minister said that Croatia is ready to close its borders if needed, but for the time being that measure is unnecessary.
Bechu S By

Online Desk

Following police action against agitating students at the Pondicherry University on Tuesday afternoon, the students' union has decided not to back down and resume the indefinite strike as a meeting with the administration failed to yield any results.

The students were on an indefinite sit-in protest under the leadership of the Pondicherry University Students Union (PUSU) demanding reservation in the varsity for students from Pondicherry and complete rollback of a recently introduced fee hike. It was the 20th day of the strike when police entered the campus around 11:30 AM on Tuesday and started detaining the students at the administration building. The action comes ahead of Vice President Venkaiah Naidu's visit to the varsity on Wednesday.

Around 100 students were detained and taken to the South Asian Studies department in police vans and were later allowed to hold a meeting with the fee revision committee.

"The fee revision committee says they can't make any decisions and all it can do is communicate our demands with the administration. But our protests have forced the director to pay heed to our demands and they have agreed for another meeting on February 28. They want us to call off the strike until then, which is not going to happen," Parichay Yadav, SFI leader and President of the PUSU, said after the meeting.

They will regroup and march towards the admin bloc again in the evening, ready to be detained or arrested, the students said.

In videos that have gone viral on social media, police personnel can be seen forcefully evicting sloganeering students and pushing them into vans. Students say female students were manhandled by the cops and were abused for wearing sleeveless clothes in the campus.

"They pushed us into buses and took us to another department when we were peacefully protesting in front of the admin block. I was dragged into one of the halls there by a lady cop. I asked her not to use force on me when I am cooperating.

"I tried to convince her the strike against fee hike is for coming generations including your own daughters. She hit me on my shoulder in response saying she doesn't want her daughter to be like me. Look at you, you are wearing a sleeveless top, the officer said," Gayathri, a PG economics student and SFI activist, said.

"The police unleashed violence by brutally beating the students. The students were dragged through the varsity roads. The armed policemen greatly outnumbered the students and girls were punched on their breasts by lady constables," Swathy Karthik, a junior research fellow and former lecturer at the campus, said.

Earlier on Saturday, the university had released a circular stating that "no unnecessary assembling and movement" will be allowed inside the campus due to security reasons from February 24 to 26. The students' union had openly rejected this and declared they will not call off the strike.

The university had offered to reduce the fee by 20 per cent for economically backward students while citing that the fees had not been revised for the past 10 years. But the students were not ready to budge and demanded the complete rollback of fees.
Algerian authorities on Tuesday announced the country's first case of the novel coronavirus, in an Italian citizen who arrived in the country on February 17.

"One case was confirmed positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), out of two suspected cases (both) of Italian nationality," the North African country's health ministry said.

State television said the infected person had been placed in isolation, without offering further details.

The health ministry said it had reinforced its "monitoring and surveillance systems at all points of entry" into Algeria.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two Harley Street doctors have been suspended after removing the vagina of a trans patient without his consent, in a case believed to be the first of its kind.

The man - who was transitioning from a woman - was left 'distraught' and in floods of tears after the irreversible gender reassignment surgery, a tribunal heard.

Giulio Garaffa, a renowned penis consultant, mistakenly carried out the procedure and his colleague Marco Capece 'in a moment of panic... dishonestly' altered a form to say that consent had in fact been given, a disciplinary panel was told.

The patient - who had consented to two other forms of surgery as part of the transitioning process - only discovered that his vagina had been removed a week afterwards.

Dr Garaffa was found guilty of four charges of misconduct and was handed a five month suspension whilst Dr Capece was found guilty of three misconduct charges and suspended for 12 months.

Giulio Garaffa (left) mistakenly carried out the procedure and his colleague Marco Capece (right) altered a form to say that consent had in fact been given, a disciplinary panel was told

The tribunal heard that ahead of the operation the man had repeatedly said he did not want his vagina removed.

The patient - who was only identified as Patient A - described to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service how the 'unwanted surgery' has had a 'profound impact in all aspects of his life including his mental well-being'.

The disciplinary hearing was told that Dr Garaffa, from Italy, performed the surgery for Harley Street-based St Peter's Andrology Centre (SPA), an independent penis surgery specialising in gender reassignment surgery, in October 2016.

The patient had agreed to have a hysterectomy and a metoidioplasty, which would have given him a penis, but had refused the third procedure.

Dr Garaffa's colleague, Dr Capece, also from Italy, failed to obtain consent for the extra surgery, the panel was told.

Giulio Garaffa performed the surgery for St Peter's Andrology Centre (file picture) on Harley Street in London, an independent penis surgery specialising in gender reassignment surgery

Following the operation, he then added the words '+vaginectomy' on to Patient A's consent form to give the impression it had been planned from the outset.

The tribunal was told the patient began formal gender transition around 2013.

He changed his name by Deed Poll in September of that year and began living as a man in March 2014. He has since undergone hormone therapy and reconstructive chest surgery.

Dr Garaffa, who performed the surgery at Highgate Private Hospital in North London, is a 'penis consultant' who is renowned across Europe for his specialism in penis enlargement and reconstruction surgery.

The tribunal heard his specialist skills are such that he is one of only two doctors in the world capable of performing specific procedures.

He was criticised by the panel for failing to check that the patient had consented to the vaginectomy.

Dr Garaffa performed the surgery at Highgate Private Hospital (file picture) in North London

Speaking at the tribunal, MPTS chair Tim Bradbury said: 'He relinquished his responsibility as the operating surgeon to ensure that his patient had consented to the operation he intended to perform.

'His failures were serious and numerous... The consequences of these failures were grave, Patient A underwent life changing and irreversible surgery which (they) did not want.

'Fundamentally and self-evidently, Dr Garaffa should have reviewed Patient A's medical notes before commencing surgery.'

Mr Bradbury said Dr Capece maintained a 'false narrative' by not admitting his wrongdoing and insisting that he had not altering the document.

He said: 'It is significant that having amended the consent form, Dr Capece did not admit his wrongdoing despite numerous opportunities to do so either subsequent to Patient A's complaint, during the investigation or in the course of this hearing, and he has maintained what the Tribunal has found to be a false narrative.'
25.02.2020 LISTEN

The provision of educational infrastructure by most governments in developing countries has always not been adequate. The demand for educational infrastructure far outstrips the financial strength of most governments. Governments in less endowed countries have received support from donor agencies through aid. Prominent businesses operating in the jurisdictions of such countries have also supported in the provision of educational infrastructure. Indeed some prominent citizens of the land have also assisted including old students of various Second Cycle Schools, especially in Ghana.

One important stakeholder whose contribution towards the development of education in Ghana which cannot be overlooked are religious bodies. Most outstanding Senior High Schools across the length and breadth of our dear motherland have had their beginnings from missionaries or churches. Because of this background, there are a lot of stakeholders in the running of such schools in Ghana.

With this background, the board that governs senior high schools has a lot of stakeholders including representatives from the church, the old student association, teaching and non-teaching staff, traditional authority, the assembly, the head teacher plus others depending on other dynamics.

OLD STUDENTS AND THE CHURCH

Old students associations depicts that, the school already exist. The well-endowed schools or most schools that have existed over seventy years have very strong old students associations who have contributed immensely towards the development of their alma mater.

According to a story on 21st of August, 2019 on modernghana.com and titled "Accra Academy Old Students Committed to Provide Accommodation", the story said, the President of the Accra Academy Old Boys Association, Mr. Emmanuel Bruce-Attah has reiterated the Associations commitment to provide adequate accommodation facilities for the teaching staff of the school to enable Accra Academy attract the best of teachers. The story continued that "Mr. Bruce-Attah lamented Accra Academy has recently lost some quality teachers to other schools due mainly to lack of accommodation on campus" (modernghana.com). Similarly on December 31, 2019 GNA story written by Edmund Quaynor read that, the 1985 year group of GHANAS Old Students Association (GOSA 85 & GOSA- UK) has presented the first batch of 100 mono desks to their alma mater. It is part of the old students vision to provide 1,500 mono desks as promised to the school under the one old student, one mono desk project. During the presentation of desks to the school, the National President of GOSA, Mr. Emmanuel Poku Sarkodie, said the gesture was the contribution of the old students toward the development of the school.

In order to enhance teaching and learning, the Old Students of the Bolgatanga Senior High School (BIGBOSS) in the Upper East Region have donated some logistics to their school. The Association presented two servers, 18 Samsung tablets, 10 USB WIFI dongles and 10 Computer SDRAM memory cards to help upgrade the ageing computers in the schools ICT lab. The President of the Association said, they have supported the school with an amount of GHC24,500.00 to procure 13 electronic books (e-books) in Physics, Science and Mathematics, some quantities of hard copies of Biology, Mathematics and Chemistry books (www.newsghana. com.gh).

On the 15th of May 2019, St. Augustine's College old students launched activities as part of their 90th anniversary. The old boys have decided to help their St. Augustine College with the provision of infrastructure to help with the increasing numbers due to Free Senior School policy. Also, they intend to refurbish and rehabilitate the schools library which are among priority projects they intend to complete.

The 1989 year group of the Old Boys Association of the Adisadel College in Cape Coast is undertaking a number of projects for their alma mater. The group have purchased a US$30,000 electricity generator to beef up the supply of energy for the school. They intend to also donate a number of streetlights to the school and present the generator to commemorate the schools 104th Speech and Prize-giving Day.

Old students associations have done a lot and continue to do more for their alma mater. But, the above notwithstanding, some old boys and girls of these endowed senior high schools are over stepping their bounds in the management of such schools. It has become the customs of these so called grades 'A' schools to always scheme for an old boy or girl to become the headmaster or mistress of their schools. Why should that be the case?

There are very difficult situations where an old boy or girl who is teaching in his or her alma mater might not necessarily qualify to head the school. These old boys would move tooth and nail to scout for an old boy from another school to come and head their school even though the individual might not have necessarily contributed in any shape or form in maintaining the standard of the school. Meanwhile, there are very disturbing scenarios where other teachers who have served for about 15 or 20 years in a particular school and are due to become the head of the school but the old boys would disagree or influence the authorities to get an old boy or girl to become the head. What is even worrying is that, a teacher who attended a different school has been found fit enough to teach in these schools but when the opportunity comes to same persons to ascend the highest position of the school then, the old boys disagree, how unfair can that be?

The argument has always been that, an old students understands the traditions of the school and can help propagate same when s/he becomes headmaster. The point is, a teacher who has immensely contributed in maintaining the status quo of a school for over 15 years even though wasn't an old student cannot understand and appreciate so called values of the school to implement same?

Some old students attended their alma mater for a maximum of 7 or 5 or 2 years in the old system of secondary education. With the current system the maximum would have been 4 years. How can a student who spent less years in a school be better in managing the school just because he is an old student than a teacher who has served same school over a decade?

To support such interference above, on the 2nd of March, 2019 a story captioned "Adisco old boys to withdraw support from school over transfer of headmaster". The story said national President of the Adisadel College old students Association, Professor Kojo Yankah has revealed there has been a decision among the old students to withdraw all their support to the school for government to carry all the responsibility to develop the school.

According to him, there is a serious misunderstanding among the old students regarding recent happenings in school which has led to the interdiction and transfer of their hard working headmaster Mr. William Kusi-Yeboah. Prof. Kojo Yankah further stated the old students are perturbed about the happenings to the headmaster because the situation is seriously affecting academic work on campus. This is to me was threat that should not be taken seriously.

In as much as the old boys and girls assist their alma mater, it does not give them the right to threaten government. On this particular matter, a teacher nearly fought myself and my brother on Adisadel Campus. We just happen to be on campus when the old boys of Adisco were holding a press conference in support of the interdicted headmaster, Mr. William Kusi-Yeboah. The headmaster had been involved in deals that tarnishes the image of the school and that of the GES. I was very amazed the old boys were up in arms and to his rescue. In a conversation between us and some other persons who had gathered outside the venue of the press conference, I retorted that, the school doesn't belong to the old boys and they cannot dictate same to government as to who heads the school. One employee got angry and spoke on top of his voice claiming the school belongs to the old boys. He asked "do I know the contributions of the old boys"? I asked him, "How can a beneficiary of a school be the owner"? And if there was no school, there wouldn't be any old student. This conversation nearly escalated so I had to calm my brother (Patric Nyarko) down and we left.

In a related issue, the Board of Governors of St Augustines College, Cape Coast, which the old boys are part has asked the Ghana Education Service (GES) to reverse its decision to interdict Mr Joseph Connel, the headmaster in the interest of natural justice. The headmaster of St Augustines College is said to have charged each fresh student GH435 as Parent, Teacher Association (PTA) levy, a charge the Ministry of Education and the GES have labeled illegal. With this offence, the Board Chairman Rev. Fr. John Manso Hamilton signed a letter dated October 17, 2016, which was addressed to the Director General of the GES, observed that Mr. Connel's interdiction for allegedly charging unapproved fees, was flawed in many ways.

Old Students Association are not compulsory and no one is under any obligation to contribute towards his or her alma mater. One does so at his or her own discretion, freewill and the love to contribute to a school which has helped to shape you, but cannot use same as template to direct the Ghana Education Service or the Ministry of Education to treat an erring head with kid gloves all because of the pressures from old boys or girls.

What is even tormenting my thinking is the involvement of religion or the Church in the entrenchment of sectionalism and teaching same to students in all the missionary schools in Ghana be it Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian or Anglican. In some of these schools, being part of the church is an automatic criteria for students to ascend certain positions of the schools. These include: School Prefect, Assistant School Prefect, Dinning Hall prefects must necessarily be members of the church and I ask why? These are secular schools even though they were started by missionaries, so why have we allowed such unnecessary division to fester on till now and all governments both present and past have remained silent over the issue? In a school where African Tradional Worshippers, Muslims, Bhuddist, Hindus, Methodist and person from other religious persuasions have been admitted as students, why would the school discriminate against other students because they are not Catholics or Methodist, etc. as the case may be? It means right from day one, the church is part of our problem instead of being part of the solution. They are teaching our brothers and sisters the values and doctrines of their church and so electing a prefect who isn't a member of the school is unacceptable to them. This is discriminatory against others students on religious lines. Do we need a student who has all the qualities to lead the school or we need someone who is aligned religious wise?

This brings to the fore the failure of the state to have a unified national character building values. If the state has such a policy, then that ought to be the guiding principle for all teaching and non-teaching staff across all our Second Cycle Schools. If that were the case, then, the overemphasis on old students and the church insisting on their kind heading the schools wouldn't have arisen. After over sixty years as an independent state, we are teaching our children religious and sectional values which doesn't necessarily reflect our values as a people. But, rather the perpetuation of selfish religious beliefs and values thereby encouraging students to belong to their fold.

I know of some very difficult situations where teachers who aspire to head the religious schools they are teaching in have left their churches to attend the church of the school in order to enhance their chances should the opportunity of headship arise. Why should that be the case? Are we not the Christians having the same faith? Is the church not encouraging and entrenching divisions amongst us eventhough Christians?

The problem the old boys and girls of well-endowed schools are encouraging are the same things churches are also preaching. For one to ascend the headship of these schools, the teacher must necessarily belong to the church in which school he or she is teaching. Why would the church do that? If an Anglican teacher is teaching in a Catholic school and is due to become the headmaster, why would the Catholic mission insist that, the person should be a Catholic? Are they saying that a teacher who has been part of the school for over 10 years wouldn't be able to head the school just because he or she isn't a Catholic or Anglican or Methodist? Hasn't the teacher of the school gathered enough experience or better still be acquainted with the school's rules, procedure and policies in how the school is run? So why insist that s/he must necessarily be a member of the church in whose schools s/he is teaching? This isn't peculiar to Christian mission schools only but Islamic schools are also part of this differentiation and the entrenchment of sectionalism.

If Old Students Associations and Churches think that necessarily to be able to become a headmaster one must be a member of the church and also an old boy, then they must do the following:

1. Ensure that only Catholics, or Presbyterians as the case may be must be admitted to their schools.

2. Old boys or girls must also ensure that only old boys or girls teach in their schools.

3. They must pay all their staff and develop or build their schools infrastructure alone.

When the above three things are done, then I would not have a problem with their interference in the various schools of which they are affiliated to.

The state pays all teaching and non-teaching staff of all public schools across the country and provide infrastructure as well. All citizens must have equal access to these schools and must also be allowed to head any school they teach when they are due and not be substituted because they do not belong to the old students or the Church.

Our country Ghana, is already saddled with ethnocentrism, tribalism, regionalism, partisanship and all manner of affiliations and associations. The least I expect is the church and old student associations to compound our already convoluted situation.

In sum, the church, old boys or girls exist because the school does. The church can continue to support their missions school and provide the template to instil the moral lessons but cannot insist that school prefects and headmasters or mistresses must be their members.

The moral turpitude being exhibited by Ghanaians should inform the church that, the insistence of a head teacher being a member of the church has not helped in any way to ameliorate the situation. We all have friends who attended some of these missionary schools and their behaviour isn't different from those who attended other non-missionary schools. So what's the point?

Article 17 (2) of our constitution states "A person shall not be discriminated against on grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed or social or economic status. Subsection 3 states, "For the purposes of this article, "discriminate" means to give different treatment to different persons attributable only or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, gender, occupation, religion or creed, whereby persons of one description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another description are not made subject or are granted privileges or advantages which are not granted to persons of another description".

This implies that for old students and the church to be behaving this way is an affront to our constitution and must cease with immediate effect.

Religious persuasion should not be the basis for which the church discriminates against others. Article 21(c) of the constitution states "freedom to practice any religion and to manifest such practice. So, why would that be used against anyone in the 21st century?

I expect religion to be the rallying point for us all to converge and see one another as the same. So, for a Christian school to discriminate against another Christian just because they do not belong to the same church is disturbing to say the least. If we are all sleeping, we should all wake up and speak up. If our religious bodies are entrenching sectionalism, then our fight to achieve a unitary state where we see each other first as Ghanaians before any other identification would be very difficult for us to achieve. Let the church lead the way not by mere semblance but by deeds and our nation state would stand to benefit.

D. C. KWAME KWAKYE

Broadcast Journalist

GBC, Radio Central

Cape Coast

[email protected]
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 19:11:42|Editor: huaxia

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SUVA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Visiting New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Tuesday that her government will help Fiji to fight transnational crimes.

Ardern, who held talks with her Fijian counterpart Voreqe Bainimarama on Tuesday, said that New Zealand and Fiji faced challenges with the ever-growing issue of drug fight at the borders and this is the reason her government will be giving a total of 11 million New Zealand dollars (about 6.9 million U.S. dollars) for this.

The assistance will include the setting up of three labs in May, coupled with four full-time experts to work with the Fiji Police Force as well as the provision of trained tracker dogs to help detect drugs.

Ardern said she continues to support Fijian prime minister in the fight against climate change, adding Fiji can count on New Zealand to partner in this fight.

Other issues discussed between the two prime ministers included COVID-19 and PACER (the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations) Plus, which is a proposed free trade agreement between the Forum Islands Countries (FICs) and Australia and New Zealand.

For his part, Bainimarama said New Zealand is Fiji's second-largest regional trading partner and every year, tens of thousands of Kiwis visit Fiji.

Bainimarama said the two leaders spoke at great length of new avenues of regional economic opportunity.

Ardern arrived here on Monday night for her first four-day official visit to Fiji.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 25)  Twenty-one more Filipinos from the Diamond Princess cruise ship were added to the total of those who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing to 80 the number of infected Filipinos.

The Department of Foreign Affairs made the announcement on Tuesday, the day set for the repatriation of Filipinos who will again undergo quarantine in Tarlac.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Brigido Dulay said of this latest count from the Philippine embassy in Tokyo, ten have been discharged.

Meanwhile, the remaining Filipino crew for repatriation today have all tested negative, Dulay added.

Just last Monday, the Philippine government said 59 Filipinos have tested positive for COVID-19 out of 538 Filipino passengers and crew members on board the ship.

Two special flights are expected to arrive in a two-hour interval this evening carrying Filipinos who will be subjected to the 14-day quarantine period at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

Over 400 Filipinos aboard the cruise ship initially expressed interest in coming back to the country, but they will still be subject to further testing, Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire reminded. She said only those who have tested negative will be taken to the quarantine facility.

Vergeire said around 20 key Filipino crew members will have to remain in the ship to help maintain operations.

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.
Following the development of a Mercator Implementation Plan for Colombia, the WCO delivered a 5-day national workshop in Strategic Planning that took place in Bogota from 17-21 February 2020, within the framework of the Global Trade Facilitation Programme (GTFP), funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). This activity envisaged to support the Customs Administration of Colombia, Direccion de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales (DIAN), in the efforts the organization is doing in the areas of strategic planning and implementation of sustainable Customs reforms.

During this week, DIANs officials became familiarized with different methodologies for strategic planning and development of targeted strategic objectives for Customs. The presentations from WCO experts were complemented with practical group work in which participants had to define a vision, strategic objectives and results, and develop key performance indicators. The outcomes of these working sessions were then presented to the whole group by the experts and will be pursued in upcoming follow up missions.

This activity also contributes to the assistance being provided by the WCO, through the GTFP, in the improvement of risk-based Customs procedures and post-clearance audit, in line with international standards and best practices. This support meets the priorities and needs of DIAN as it moves forward in the process of procedural and technological transformation.

For more information on the GTFP please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org
A video of Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth reciting Shah Rukh Khans iconic dialogue from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge  Bade bade deshon mein aisi chhoti chhoti baatein hoti rehti hai (Small things like this happen in big countries)  is going viral on social media. The clip, shared on Instagram by a photographer, has garnered more than one lakh views.

In the video, which was taken on the sets of Netflix film Extraction in Bangkok, has Chriss Indian co-star Rudhraksh Jaiswal teaching him the famous dialogue. After saying the dialogue, Chris says, Fluent! Its better than my Spanish.

Fans could not keep calm and flooded the comments section. Thor spoke hindi, one Instagram user wrote, followed by a heart-eyes emoji. Another commented, Our THOR, along with a number of fire emojis. Another wrote, @chrishemsworth love you thorrrrr my fav.

Chris Hemsworth has been playing Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe ever since the characters first solo film in 2011. He will be seen reprising the role in Thor: Love and Thunder, which releases in November 2021.

In Extraction, which is directed by Sam Hargrave, Chris plays a mercenary who is hired to rescue the kidnapped son of an international crime lord. He travels to Dhaka, Bangladesh for the mission and develops an unexpected bond with the boy.

Also read: Karisma Kapoor says she is super excited for her children Samaira and Kiaan to watch Mentalhood

Earlier, in an interview with Mid-Day, Rudhraksh said that he was elated to be sharing screen space with the Hollywood star. I am living my dream. Chris sir is sweet and down-to-earth. He calls me the little legend, he said.

Talking about their first day on the set, Rudhraksh said, On the first day of the shoot, I was doing my make-up when he came up to me and said, Mate, whats up? I instinctively called him Thor. He gave me a big hug upon hearing that. Extraction begins streaming on Netflix from April 24.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
and on Tuesday agreed to consider reviving stalled negotiations on the proposed (FTA), an official statement said.

The matter was discussed in a Joint Ministerial Commission meeting between and Australia, convened on February 24.

It was co-chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister and his Australian counterpart Simon Birmingham.

"They agreed to consider reviving the negotiations on the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA)," Commerce and Industry Ministry said in the statement.

They also agreed to take forward the issue of harmonising standards and regulatory barriers for products of interest to both sides, in parallel.

Under a FTA, two or more trading partners significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on maximum number of goods traded between them. They also liberalise norms to increase trade in services and boost investments.

between two countries are officially dubbed as CECA.

also raised the issue of taxing of off-shore income of Indian firms through the use of India- Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) and sought early resolution of the issue.

"Both sides agreed to intensify discussions," it added.

On two-way investment, both sides noted the visits by three delegations of Australian superannuation funds over the previous year.

"They agreed to continue to work together to foster awareness of the opportunities in India among Australian investors," the statement said.
Annabella Sciorra, Mimi Haleyi, Jessica Mann, Dawn Dunning and the nearly 90 women who have come forward with allegations of sexual assault and rape against the now infamous film producer Harvey Weinstein. These are the women Im thinking about today. And the millions of women who bore their soul as part of #MeToo, hoping Weinsteins trial would deliver accountability  not just to an abhorrent individual, but to an abhorrent system that enabled men like Weinstein to go

unchecked for so long.

The verdict in New York delivered a partial, but ultimately unsatisfactory, victory. Weinstein was found guilty by a jury of seven men and five women of two felony sex crimes but acquitted on the most serious charge of predatory sexual assault.

That charge required the prosecution to prove that Weinstein committed a serious sex crime against at least two women. Not guilty? Of a serious sex crime against at least two women? Seriously?

Just let that sink in. Think how Sciorra, Haleyi, Mann, and Dunning  whose harrowing testimony of historical sexual assault at the Weinstein trial (that fell outside the statute of limitations or occurred in another jurisdiction) was key to the prosecutions case of predatory behaviour  must be feeling today.
(Newser)  In a Washington Post op-ed, Catherine Rampell writes that there's a decent chance a "proven socialist" will be in the White House after the 2020 election. No, not Bernie Sanders. "I'm referring to the one who already occupies the White House," writes Rampell. Yes, she makes the case that President Trump's policies qualify him for the label. Trump "has actually implemented anti-market, Soviet-style, centrally planned policies, and he has used the power of the state to punish political enemies," she writes. "He has merely chosen different beneficiaries (and victims) of his Big Government bigfooting." Rampell provides examples, including Trump's use of "government fiat" to prop up pet industries such as coal, as well as hitting major trading partners with tariffs to protect the steel industry and others.

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As another example of his "central planning," she cites his multiple bailouts of farmers hurt by trade fights. When President Obama dared bail out the auto industry a decade ago, critics on the right accused him of setting us on "the road toward socialism," writes Rampell. "Today, these same Republicans seem curiously unperturbed." She cites other examples to buttress her case that Trump is running a "command-and-control-style economy" and concludes with this: "If you're a Never Trumper worried that Sanders will take this country down the road to serfdom, beware: President Trump has already paved the path." (Read the full column.)
PISCATAWAY, N.J., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 criteriaa well-known framework for determining causal links between environmental exposures and diseaseto 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 agenciesindependent from the alcohol industryshould 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 (www.jsad.com).

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, 113124. 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 [email protected]).

The Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs (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.

SOURCE Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
The chairman of the Liberty, Unity and Solidarity Party (PLUS), Dacian Ciolos, believes the designation of a new Prime Minister in the next few days would bring Romania back on the correct path.

"The decision of the Constitutional Court from yesterday [e.n. - Monday] may have issues, but we are obligated to follow it. If it's necessary to designate a Prime Minister that would actually try to build a majority, even though the changes are slim, then so be it. We are ready to go to Parliament and present our programme and our team, on our own or in an alliance. If we succeed, we will govern, if not, a new step will be made towards early elections. It's important not to remain stuck in the current indecision of other political actors. Such crises call for determined people," wrote Ciolos on Tuesday on Facebook.Dacian Ciolos said that starting with Monday's decision of the Constitutional Court, Romania has entered the gravest constitutional crisis in the past 30 years."Less than a month ago, a wide majority of parliamentary parties seemed willing to go towards early elections, which also determined the fall of the Government. Overnight, the PSD [Social Democrat Party] changes its mind, and PNL [National Liberal Party] starts faltering. The President announces that he is starting not to believe in early elections anymore, but does not propose an alternate solution. The most probable perspective seems that of remaining seven months with an interim government. In all this mixture of reconsiderations, my position, that of PLUS, but also that of the USR [Save Romania Union] PLUS Alliance remains the same. We believe the best solution is early elections. Only they would allow us to avoid a year lost in uncertainty for Romania. We only need political will to get there. A designation of a new Prime Minister in the next few days would bring us back on the correct path," Ciolos mentioned. AGERPRES
Britain's red meat levy ring-fenced fund will increase from 2m to 3.5m next year, after agreement was reached between the boards in Wales, Scotland and England.

For the last two years, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) and Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) have decided on a collaborative programme of activities to support the meat industry.

This includes jointly promoting British meat overseas and work to underpin the nutritional benefits of red meat.

It has been confirmed today (25 February) the size of the overall fund will increase from 2m to 3.5m from 1 April 2020.

The additional investment will focus particularly on bolstering the reputation of meat with consumers, addressing misconceptions and promoting the benefits of sustainable meat consumption.

In a joint statement, the three boards said: The current ring-fenced fund has been a fantastic opportunity for us to work more closely together to further the interests of the British meat sector.

"Whilst this remains an interim step before redistribution of levies takes place, we believe the time is right to strengthen this collaboration and increase the overall investment made in the joint fund for the next 12 months.

The industry is under tremendous pressure and we feel we can make even bigger progress on market development and export work, to find new markets for our products overseas, and the ongoing reputation work to promote all that is good and defend the industry from myths and misinformation.

Wales' rural affairs minister, Lesley Griffiths welcomed the announcement, calling it 'good news' for the Welsh red meat industry.

"Increasing the fund from 2 to 3.5m will provide more opportunities to promote world class PGI Welsh Lamb and Beef at home and overseas," she said.

"This is an excellent example of collaborative working that will deliver positive results for Wales red meat industry. I am grateful to HCC for the role they have played in reaching this agreement with the UKs other Red Meat Levy boards.
Good performance with Normalised PBT of 11.3m, in accordance with market Outlook

Sales for 2019: 448.2m, up 29.5% from 2018 and 4.0% from 2018 Proforma

2019 Net margin: 41.1m, up 12.1m on 2018 and up 0.1m on 2018 Proforma

2019 Normalised profit before tax (PBT): 11.3m compared to 7.2m in 2018 and 10.8m for 2018 Proforma

Sales and profitability in Q4 in line with 2018, impacted by low availability of cod from Iceland and lower price of Argentinian shrimp. Q4 benefited from strong Christmas sales in N-Europe.

Basic earnings per share (EPS) for 2019 were 0.2550 cents per thousand shares (2018: 0.2926 cents per thousand shares). On normalised basis earnings per share for 2019 were 0.3763 cents per thousand shares (2018: 0.3571 cents per thousand shares).

Equity ratio: 38.4% at end of period, increased from 30.6% at year end 2018

Successful main market listing and share capital increase of 15.2m completed in October

The acquisition of Elba completed on February 21st 2020.

Bjarni Armannsson, CEO

We are pleased with the financial results for 2019 and consider them satisfactory as they were according to our budget and within the range that was communicated to the market in March 2019.

Strategically we have also advanced significantly, and we have reached the targets we set us for the year as well.

Close cooperation with suppliers is very important to us and we see benefits from closer cooperation in the 2019 results. We believe that we can add value  especially long term  with strategic co-operation with our suppliers. That is one of the main proposition which we have in the market and towards our customers: Strong supply chain, quality products and reliability.

Main market listing was a target we announced in December 2018 and reiterated in March 2019. That we achieved in October last year along with fresh capital. This both strengthens the balance sheet, which is important, but more importantly supports us in our growth phase, primarily with investments that we believe will deliver returns greater than the cost of capital. We are both humble and appreciative to our investors for believing in us.

Now we have also reached our financial strength targets and on those grounds propose dividend payment to the annual meeting of Iceland Seafood to take place on the 19th of March. We hope the shareholders can attend the meeting to review and discuss the companys performance and future outlook.

Our most important market segment is S-Europe and last year was very much about preparing to move all production in one place  in Barcelona and make the necessary preparation for a consolidated company Iceland Seafood Iberica. That company started formally on January 1st and we are confident that from now on well start to see the synergies and benefits of a combined entity coming through. The acquisition of Elba further strengthens our position and we are proud of our long term Salted cod heritage as well as the product development of light salted cod during the last quarter of a century and now being able to intertwine other species into our strong sales and distribution network in Spain and elsewhere in S-Europe.

2019 was marked by high one-off costs. Because of the merger in Spain, changes in top management and Main market listing in particular. In the long run we believe we are creating a bigger and stronger company that has more relevance for the future and can make strong returns based on its position and quality products and service.

Our strong belief in the future is also further cemented in our outlook for the year, but we plan to increase Normalised profits before tax by 28-46% year on year.

Finally; Im extremely proud of the people who work for Iceland Seafood and are captains of our brand and identity every day. They make it all happen.

Good financial results for the year

Sales of 448.2m were 29.5% higher than 2018 and 4.0% up on 2018 Proforma. Normalised PBT for the year of 11.3m was close to the mid-point of the market outlook range, and 4.1m up on 2018. On Proforma basis Normalised PBT was 0.5m up on prior year. For Q4 2019, sales and profitability was similar to 2018 figures. The Q4 results were impacted by low availability of cod from Iceland and lower prices of Argentinian shrimp, but benefited from strong Christmas sales in N-Europe. New retail accounts in UK, which kicked off in the second half of the year, also helped the performance in Q4.

Encouraging results from the Value-added S-Europe division in the year. The demand for lightly salted products from Iceland was strong throughout the year which helped the overall divisional margins, whilst low availability of Icelandic Cod late summer and autumn impacted sales in the 2H of the year. Sales of Argentinean shrimp decreased by 18% from prior year, due to both price decreases and lower volumes. Total divisional sales of 179.4m were 79.3m up on last year but in line with 2018 Proforma. The merger project in Spain is on track, where some of the cost reductions started to come through in the 2H of the year. The lightly salted cod production has been moved to a single location from February 2020 which is a big step in the overall synergy creation.

The Value-added N-Europe division saw a strong recovery in the second half of the year after a challenging 1H due to external challenges. Overall divisional sales for the year of 96.6m were 7% down on prior year Proforma and Normalised PBT of 4.1m was 1.1m down. UK sales were impacted by Brexit uncertainties and retailers trending to move packing from UK to Asia. The business responded to these trends and secured significant business with key retail customers which started to come through in September and December respectively. These new accounts and good Christmas sales in both UK and Ireland helped the sales and profitability in Q4, resulting in divisional Normalised PBT for the 2H of 2.5m which was just 6% down on same period 2018.

Excellent sales and profit growth in the S&D division, driven by closer cooperation with key producers in Iceland. Sales from Iceland grew by 12.0m from 2018, where increased sales of Frozen at See products were the main driver. The overall divisional sales in the year of 194.0m were 6% higher than 2018. This resulted in Normalised PBT of 1.9m for the year, 0.7m up on 2018. The profitability in Q4 was 0.2m up on same period 2018 due to improved results of both Iceland and Germany.

The overall net profits were marked by significant one-off costs in the year of 3.6m. These costs were mainly related to; management changes both at HO level and in Spain, the merger of IS Spain and Icelandic Iberica and the associated restructuring costs, the cost of main market listing and share capital increase. These costs were unusually high in 2019 and we dont expect significant one-off costs in 2020. After including the one off costs and taxes the net profit of 6.1m was 1.4m higher than 2018 but 1.4m lower than 2018 Proforma.

At end of the year total assets amounted to 209.5m, compared to 193.8m at end of 2018. The increase in assets is mainly explained by; investments in fixed assets mainly in Ireland, UK and Argentina, impact of IFRS 16 lease accounting, higher cash headroom in Spain. The equity ratio at year end was 38.4% compared to 30.6% at end of 2018. The company has reached the target equity ratio of 35%, the board will be proposing a dividend payment of 1.5m at the next Annual General Meeting.

As previously announced the Group targets a PBT of 20m in the next 3-5 years. Significant steps in that direction are expected to be taken this year, with an estimated Normalised PBT of 14.5-16.5m in the year, without impact of Elba acquisition. This increase will be driven by synergies from merger in Spain and payback from various investments in the Value-added divisions.

Investor meeting

On February 26th at 8.30 am, Iceland Seafood International hf will host a meeting for market participants and investors, where management will present and discuss the 2019 results. The meeting will be held at the Companys premises at Kollunarklettsvegur 2 in Reykjavik. The meeting will be also be webcasted live on https://livestream.com/accounts/11153656/events/9006102/player ? and recording will be available after the meeting on www.Icelandseafood.com/investors

Disclaimer

This announcement is furnished and intended for European market participants and should be viewed in that light.

Any potential forward looking statements contained in this announcement reflect the management's current views on future events and performance, whilst those views are based on positions that management believes are reasonable, there is no assurances that the stated events and views will be realized. Forward looking views naturally involve uncertainties and risks and consequently actual results may differ from the statements or views expressed.

For more information:

Iceland Seafood International hf.

http://www.icelandseafood.com/Investors

Bjarni Armannsson, Bjarni.armannsson@icelandseafood.com

Attachments
Taking care of credit card debt before retiring is more than just a way to gain peace of mind. Its also a chance to retire in a manner that actually allows you to relax and live the life you have dreamed about.

Understanding the dynamics of debt and how it influences retirement is the first step.

Luis Olano, a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley  Wealth Management, said overall debt will affect the balance sheet for someone looking to retire. Those in debt need to know that compound interest builds as the amount of money owed on a loan accumulates on the unpaid principal and previous interest charges.

Debt also can put accumulating wealth at risk when looking to retire.

There are three main components on accumulating capital for retirements, Olano said. These are goals, time horizon and risk tolerance. Goals means where we are right now and how we can reach the desired retirement income. Then, its how much time we have to reach the goal and our risk tolerance when we invest in the market.

Retirees need to plan how to best attack their credit card debt to free up their future financial situation.

According to Kiplinger.coms article, Tips for Dealing with Debt in Retirement, four in 10 retirees cite debt as a current priority. It stated that with smart financial planning and strategic budgeting fearsome debt loads can help get retirees bottom line in the black.

The article also explained that entering retirement debt-free, with the exception of a mortgage, is important because unexpected life surprises such as job loss and medical bills can shake anyones budget and plans.

Retirements goals are the main focal point for any financial planning. I love to use technology and educate my clients on how we can implement serious financial planning and consider all the scenarios. The debt is the liability side of the balance sheet of the investor. The general idea is to implement a road map for the investor on how to mitigate with the debt on a short period of time, said Olano.

Getting on track to erase credit card debt can be done.

Today, we have different solutions with easy access to tools like a credit card with zero APR for the first 21 months for example. Ive seen clients holding three different credit cards at zero APR paying off three other credit cards with high APR rates. Each case is different. We provide the proper recommendation based on their actual financial picture, Olano said.

The Balance.com stated that as of 2019, the typical American is paying about a 15 percent annual percentage rate on credit card debt in its article, Should I Pay Off My Debt Before Saving for Retirement?
[February 25, 2020] Doo Holding Group Expands Global Blueprint with New Bahamas Office

HONG KONG, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Doo Holding Group has officially established an office in the Bahamas for its sub-brand Doo Prime Bahamas, lifting the veil on a new location. The establishment of the Bahamas office indicates that the company can begin trading in securities and asset management. Doo Holding is further heightening its position in the finance industry and diversifying its business portfolio. Doo Holding Group COO Mark Grand said the official establishment of the Bahamas office was part of its strategic expansion plan. Doo Prime is providing service to more than 109,800 satisfied customers across the world. Besids, its institutional-grade infrastructure has supported more than 150 institutional customers.



"Doo Holding, after years of development, has grown into a comprehensive financial services group with fintech as its core. It is actively diversifying its product availability, so traders can choose from a diverse portfolio ranging from global stocks, forex, futures, precious metals, digital currencies, and CFDs. "Our licensed representatives, compliance officers, and traders are local veterans who have been engaging in banking, securities trading, and asset management for more than 20 years.

"The establishment of the Bahamas office is an excellent development opportunity for us to deepen our involvement in securities trading, asset management and other areas of expertise," said Grand. Besides, Doo Holding has applied to the Bahamas Financial Regulatory Commission and will obtain its broker-dealer license within two months. The Bahamas is an offshore financial centre in the world with a comprehensive financial and legal system and a thorough financial regulatory system. The legislative framework of the financial services industry in the Bahamas is highly modernised and is fully supervised by the Central Bank of the Bahamas, the Bahamas Insurance Commission, the Bahamas Securities Commission and the compliance committee. All licensed financial institutions in the Bahamas are required to have local offices, two licensed representatives, and a compliance officer and a trader. The Bahamas requires that the client's fund must be sound and reasonable, and professional liability insurance shall be purchased for the client, and the financial institution must submit annual financial statements audited by international standards to ensure the full safety of the client's fund. Visit https://doo.hk/ Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200225/2729747-1 SOURCE Doo Holding Group

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RALEIGH, N.C. - North Carolina troopers tackled a man to the ground in the middle of a highway on Monday after he walked into morning rush hour traffic and threatened to pull out a gun, according to authorities and video from the scene.

State troopers were patrolling along Interstate 40 just outside Raleigh, when a man walking on the shoulder of the road threw a large bag into their path, the agency said. The trooper avoided the bag and stopped to question the man, WRAL-TV reported.

The suspect, identified as John Avery Rodriguez, 34, told troopers he was armed and then ran into the roadway, the news outlet said. Troopers stopped traffic in both directions, surrounded Rodriguez with weapons drawn and fired pepper spray at him before bringing him to the ground, video of the encounter showed. The agency didnt confirm whether Rodriguez had a weapon.

No injuries were reported, but Rodriguez was taken to a hospital for an evaluation, WRAL-TV said. He was charged with resisting, obstructing or delaying a public officer, authorities said.
Bolsena is famed for its volcanic lake and beautiful scenery.

Rome residents in search of a nearby inland destination need look no further than Bolsena. Head north up the Via Cassia to Italys largest volcanic lake, Lake Bolsena, whose circular 43 km shoreline practically borders on Tuscany and Umbria. Here you will find beautiful scenery, placid waters, charming old towns and good fish meals.

Bolsena town, at the head of the lake, is virtually ignored by Italian holidaymakers, but its virtues have been known to discerning northern European tourists for decades. In fact, you are likely to hear Dutch, Flemish or German spoken in the streets and restaurants. The waterfront and harbour has a rather retro aspect, reminiscent of a more leisurely era, with swathes of immaculate lawn, fountains and cafe tables under the trees and huge clumps of amazing blue, mauve and white hydrangeas in summer.

Bolsena, in fact, has an annual hydrangea festival, held around the last week of June when the blooms are at their best. Great hydrangea bushes also flank the rows of gigantic plane trees lining the avenue leading from the main square down to the lake. The street is named after Nicola Colesanti, a local notable, who planted the 220 plane trees along the avenue and the lakeside in 1871. Since then, these trees have never been pruned. They have grown to towering heights and their colossal trunks are twisted into natural abstract sculptures.

Bolsenas main monument is the Cathedral of S. Cristina, dedicated to an 11-year-old girl martyred during the reign of Roman emperor Diocletian. Her yearly feast (23-24 July) is a major event, with the solemn procession carrying the statue of the saint making regular halts to witness live tableaux of the various torments she suffered, enacted by young local girls.

The building is very ancient but it has been altered many times and is now an interesting mix of different styles from early mediaeval onwards. Take time to wander around: the cathedral is a treasure-house of curiosities and works of art. It is also a shrine, deeply revered by Roman Catholic believers due to the miracle, recounted in a celebrated painting by Raphael in the Vatican Stanze, when in 1263, Pietro, a priest from Prague, was officiating at Mass when blood inexplicably began to pour out of the holy water, staining his robes and the surrounding flagstones.

The bloodstained stones are preserved in a golden shrine in the Chapel of the Miracle, accessible through an 11th-12th century marble doorway, which also leads on to the Grotto of S. Cristina with the martyrs sarcophagus, discovered during archaeological excavations in 1880. The miracle of Bolsena was the origin of the annual feast of Corpus Domini, which celebrates what Roman Catholics believe to be the miracle of the real presence of the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist. Held in June floral carpets are strewn along the streets of many towns to mark the occasion. In Bolsena, of course, the feast is spectacular, with a flower route stretching for three kilometres.

Before you leave the basilica, take note of the chapel dedicated to another woman martyr from Bolsena, St Mary of Peace. She was a missionary nun in China, murdered during the Boxer uprising in 1900 and canonised by Pope John Paul II in 2000.

During the summer, you can take a cruise to the lake islands, Bisentina and Martana, from Bolsena harbour. Some trips include a stop at the Rocca Farnese castle at Capodimonte and a swim or a dive in the crystalline lake waters among the local eels (anguilla), perch (persico), whitefish (coregone) and whitebait (latterini), all regularly on the menus of the local restaurants. Martana, alas, is linked to the fate of another tragic woman, the Ostrogoth Queen Amalasunta, murdered there in 534 on the orders of her husband Theodatus, who didnt agree with her politics.

Pleasant outings around the lakeside include the old fishermens hamlet of Marta and the town of Capodimonte, with kilometres of grassy shore-side parks where families can rent deck chairs, cycle, swim and relax at one of the many cafes and restaurants.

Montefiascone overlooking Lake Bolsena. Photo By lauradibi - Shutterstock.

Nearby Montefiascone can boast one of Lazios best known traditional wines. Few tour guides can resist trotting out the legend of the famous Est! Est!! Est!!! This odd name is attributed to a trusted servant of Cardinal Deuc who was travelling through Italy on the way to Rome in the year 1111. The cardinal had sent his man on ahead to sample the wines in the inns on their route, with instructions to mark the establishments serving good wine with the Latin Est! (in this case meaning OK here). The servant was so enthusiastic about Montefiascone vintage that he wrote Est three times with exclamation marks.

Truth or legend, this was the third Italian wine to gain DOC status in 1966. Today, it is exported to Japan, South Korea, Holland, Belgium and Germany. You can visit the historic Leonardi cellar on the outskirts of Montefiascone. The cellar was founded by Domenico Leonardi at the end of the 19th century and is still owned by the same family. Great grandson, Riccardo Aputini, took us on the tour of the catacomb-like tunnels, where 100,000 bottles slumber, strewn in cobweb festoons. We could almost hear the cardinal gloating.

By Margaret Stenhouse

This article was originally published in the September 2012 edition of Wanted in Rome magazine.

Cover photo Shutterstock
Crucial defense agreements have been the highlight of President Donald Trumps two-day state visit to India this week. The United States is expected to strike military deals worth $3 billion with the South Asian country on Feb 25, which would have the countrys top defense contractors contend for inclusion.

Investors keen to consider defense stocks could watch these companies from an investment perspective as they strive for fitting into the much-awaited U.S.-India defense agreements.

Lets delve deeper.

Defense Stocks Look Forward to Indian Deals

India, the worlds fourth biggest defense spender, is setting the stage for a string of defense contracts that could set the ball rolling for American defense firms.

In fact, in the week ended Feb 22, the South Asian countrys cabinet cleared $2.6 billion worth of purchase from Lockheed Martin Corporation LMT to the Indian navy. The purchases include 24 multi-role MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters, which are equipped with Hellfire missiles as Times of India reported

The Lockheed Martin helicopters will be procured via foreign military sales from the U.S. government. Shares of Lockheed Martin have risen 37.1%, outperforming the S&P 500 Indexs rally of 18.6% over a year.

Northrop Grumman Corporations NOC joint venture with Lockheed Martin (LONGBOW Limited Liability Company) received a five-year sustainment indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for up to $235.8 million to offer post-production support services for the AH-64 Apache helicopter AN/APG-78 LONGBOW Fire Control Radar to global customers.

This is crucial since the Indian Army is set to acquire six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. Shares of Northrop Grumman have gained 25.2%, outperforming the S&P 500 Indexs gain of 18.5% over a year.

Per the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, earlier in February, the State Department also gave green signal to a possible sale to the country for $1.87 billion worth of arms and ammunitions. This deal comprises a Raytheon Company RTN Integrated Air Defense Weapon System, which includes radars and missiles. The deal also consists of Raytheon Stinger FIM-92L missiles, M4A1 rifles and communications equipment among other products.

Story continues

Earlier this month, Raytheonand Lockheed Martins Javelin Joint Venture signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian company Bharat Dynamics to co-produce the Javelin anti-tank missile system in the South Asian country. Shares of Raytheon have risen 18.9%, outperforming the S&P 500 Indexs gain of 16.5% over the past six months.

Of course, these arent the only military deals that defense firms are banking on. Boeing BA and Lockheed Martin continue to compete for a huge fighter jet deal worth $15 billion. The contract is to deliver 114 combat planes to the Indian Air Force (IAF). Lockheed Martin even offered to shift its F-16 production line to India from the United States. The company plans to build an enhanced version of its F-21 aircraft as Reuters stated.

In order to vie for Lockheed Martins bid to the IAF, Boeing offered its F/A-18 Super Hornet. Overseas defense companies, such as Frances Dassault, Swedens Saab and Russia's United Aircraft Corp. are other contenders for this massive deal.

Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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Pa. House Speaker Mike Turzai in the State Capitol. Turzai (R., Allegheny) says Democrats who oppose fracking don't understand the practice's importance to Pennsylvania's economy. Read more

An extremist policy advocated by many Democratic presidential candidates  banning fracking  would cripple Pennsylvanias economy and leave hundreds of thousands of families destitute.

Even Lt. Gov. John Fetterman acknowledged to the New York Times that the Democratic Partys embrace of a fracking ban would be devastating to our state. In Pennsylvania, youre talking hundreds of thousands of related jobs that would be  they would be unemployed overnight, Fetterman admitted.

This destructive notion isnt limited to far-left candidates such as Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, either. Although he has not committed to a fracking ban, even the putative moderate in the race, former Vice President Joe Biden, recently said yes when a voter asked about stopping fracking, as well as a national moratorium on pipeline construction.

Stunningly, the Democrats dont seem to care how critical the fossil fuel industry is to Pennsylvanias economy. One 2017 study commissioned by the American Petroleum Institute, for instance, found that a whopping 322,600 jobs were supported by oil and natural gas statewide in 2015, providing nearly $23 billion in wages, and that the industry contributes more than $44 billion in economic activity.

Residential natural gas customer costs have fallen significantly over the past 10 years, for an estimated $1,200 annual savings per household, representing a total savings of about $3 billion per year for the more than 2.5 million Pennsylvania households that use natural gas for heating, largely thanks to increased natural gas production. Billions of dollars have been paid in royalties to landowners in our state.

 READ MORE: If fracking is banned, what happens to jobs in Western Pa.? | Opinion

Natural gas has allowed our state to excel in reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well. Natural gas usage in power generation has driven down emissions of volatile organic compounds by 33%, according to Pennsylvanias Department of Environmental Protection. Sulfur dioxide emissions are down 93% and nitrogen oxide levels have dropped by 80%. Overall greenhouse gas emissions in power generation are down nearly 40% since 2005.

Tens of thousands of well-paying, family-sustaining jobs have been provided by the shale boom, with billions of dollars in industrial investment to capitalize on the lower cost of energy and the manufacturing potential of natural gas. This year in Beaver County, there are over 6,500 skilled tradespersons working on the construction of the Shell ethane cracker plant. The Marcus Hook refinery in Delaware County is currently undergoing a $200 million expansion, estimated to create 1,200 jobs. We want to see those types of investments all over the state.

We recently passed legislation designed to encourage job and economic growth by taking advantage of Pennsylvanias abundant natural gas resources. HB 1100, prime sponsored by State Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R., Luzerne) and seconded by me, is structured similarly to the tax credit incentive that passed in 2013, which attracted Beaver Countys Shell plant. HB 1100 will similarly allow for the repurposing of abandoned manufacturing sites in other communities into petrochemical and natural gas-powered manufacturing facilities. The measure passed 39-11 in the Senate and 157-35 in the House with bipartisan support.

 READ MORE: Fracking has led to a bust for Pennsylvania school district finances | Opinion

Pennsylvanians want to continue to grow our economy and recognize that the growth of the natural gas industry has contributed to our recovery from the recession  which doesnt bode well for the Democrats in the coming months.

More importantly, voters throughout the country remain optimistic about the strong and growing economy under President Donald Trump, making it that much harder for Democrats to sell their contrasting vision to the American people.

In fact, a recent national poll from Fox News found that 55% of Americans currently hold a positive view of the U.S. economy  the highest level of economic confidence since 2001. Moreover, a 42% plurality of those who believe the economy is in excellent or good shape also gives President Trump and the Republican Party credit for the ongoing economic revival.

The people of Pennsylvania have an important decision to make in the upcoming election. The Democratic candidates are making the choice incredibly easy: We can either extend the ongoing era of prosperity for another four years or vote for a political party that will sacrifice hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania workers.

Mike Turzai is the speaker of the House of Representatives in Pennsylvania.
Boeing India on Tuesday expressed satisfaction at the contract executed between the Government of India and the US Government for the former's acquisition of six AH-64 Apache helicopters.

"We are honored to sign this contract with the Indian government for the acquisition of six AH-64 Apache helicopters and lifecycle services support for the Indian Army. The AH-64E Apache will be a force multiplier for the Army, just as it is today for the Indian Air Force. We congratulate the US and Indian governments on this key milestone and welcome the positive momentum in the bilateral defense trade and industrial partnership," Salil Gupte, President, Boeing India said in a press release.

"Through our local entity, Boeing Defence India, we are supporting the P-8I, C-17, CH-47 Chinook, and AH-64 Apache with holistic lifecycle support to assist with India's defense modernization effort and mission-readiness at competitive costs. This new contract is a testimony to the trust and long-standing partnership Boeing has nurtured over the years with our Indian customers and we are committed to delivering on our commitments in the future as well," he added.

The Apache contract for six helicopters for the Indian Army follows a contract for 22 helicopters ordered by the Indian Air Force in 2015.

Boeing has delivered to the Indian Air Force 17 of 22 Apaches and the remaining five will be delivered by the end of March 2020.

Deliveries for the Indian Army Apaches are planned to begin in 2023.

The Apache sale is a hybrid procurement - Direct Commercial Sale (DCS) between Boeing and the Ministry of Defence and Foreign Military Sale (FMS) between the Government of India and the US Government.

The Indian Army will get the AH-64E Apache configuration - the latest attack helicopter version that the US Army first took delivery of in November 2011.

The AH-64E Apache stands as the world's most advanced multi-role combat helicopter and represents the backbone of the U.S. Army attack helicopter fleet, as well as a growing number of international defense forces. They incorporate 26 new technologies designed to enhance the aircraft's capabilities. To date, more than 400 AH-64E model Apaches have been delivered worldwide.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
VIPER GAMING by PATRIOT Attends PAX EAST 2020 and Launch PXD m.2 PCIe Type-C External SSD We cant think of a better way to be immersed with the gaming community than to be a part of PAX EAST, and debuting PXD with its first public showcase is a great way to let gamers know that they have an exciting alternative coming in April 2020, said Roger Shinmoto, Vice President at VIPER GAMING

VIPER GAMING by PATRIOT has announced that their team will be featured at PAX EAST 2020, which is part of a national series of festivals centered around the gaming culture. The brand-new Patriot PXD m.2 PCIe Type-C External SSD, the next generation of portable storage solutions, will be showcased and tested on the PlayStation 4 with Marvel's Spider-Man video game. This PCIe m.2 based SSD over USB 3.2 Type-C connectivity brings superb speed and stability utilizing the Phison E13 PCIe controller, capacities from 512GB to 2TB.

We cant think of a better way to be immersed with the gaming community than to be a part of PAX EAST, and debuting PXD with its first public showcase is a great way to let gamers know that they have an exciting alternative coming in April 2020, said Roger Shinmoto, Vice President at VIPER GAMING by PATRIOT

At PAX EAST, gamers will be able to experience the PXD m.2 PCIe Type-C External SSD on the PlayStation 4 with Marvel's Spider-Man video game as well as the award-winning V765 gaming keyboard, V570 BLACKOUT RGB gaming mouse, V380 gaming headset and more gaming peripherals at the booth.

Gamers will enjoy walk-in gaming tournaments, with titles including Slay the Spire, Unrailed!, and Quake Champions. Free swag bags for the first 50 people per day who follow social media channels and enter a raffle to win a full set of a keyboard, mouse, mouse pad, headset, and USB headset stand, details and entry available at https://gleam.io/CqQM8/viper-gang-giveaway. Also, the booth will be part of a scavenger hunt with GIGABYTE to win more prizes.

PAX EAST will be held in Boston, Massachusetts, from February 27 until March 1, 2020, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Visitors will get to peruse an exhibit hall with developers and publishers. At the same time, panels will offer question and answer sessions and a glimpse into the latest in the gaming industry. Visitors will get to enjoy nightly concerts, tournaments, pin trading, various lounges, tabletop free play, and much more. PAX EAST will genuinely be a gamer's dream come true, and VIPER GAMING by PATRIOT aims to offer gamers something else they crave: no-nonsense, power-packed gaming peripherals and SSDs.

Media meetings are available for appointments and can be arranged through Andrew Ouyang on behalf of VIPER GAMING by PATRIOT at andrewouyang(at)ideecreatives.com

More product information can be found at https://viper.patriotmemory.com/

About VIPER GAMING by PATRIOT

VIPER GAMING by PATRIOT is a trademarked brand of PATRIOT, a global leader in performance memory, SSD and flash storage solutions. Established in 2007 with the unveiling of the well-known, top-tier line of computer memory. Since then, the VIPER GAMING by PATRIOT has become synonymous with elite performance and reliability among gamers worldwide. In 2015, VIPER GAMING by PATRIOT decided to expand its product categories to include gaming keyboards, headsets, and mice. Offering entry, mid-level and high-end solutions with rich feature sets, VIPER GAMING by PATRIOT award-winning peripherals provide gamers everywhere the best price-for-performance and reliability that enables gamers to dominate in their sport.

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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.
In explaining the rationale for the new rule, the agency said in a statement that it sought to return to the joint-employer doctrine that prevailed for decades before 2015, except with the greater precision, clarity and detail that rule-making allows.

But the new rule could make it even less likely for companies to be deemed joint employers than before 2015 because it adds the word substantial to the words direct and immediate in describing the form of control that determines that status.

In January, the Labor Department announced a similar rule effectively making it more difficult to hold parent companies liable for minimum wage and overtime violations committed by franchisees.

The labor board, which gained a Republican majority in 2017, first sought to reverse the Obama-era standard in a ruling late that year. But the board voted to vacate that ruling after its inspector general found that a Republican board member had a potential conflict of interest and should not have taken part.

After that reversal, the board took a new tack. Instead of trying to change the Obama-era standard by deciding cases involving specific employees and employers, it decided to issue a regulation that would apply to all employees and employers in these kinds of work arrangements.

Philip A. Miscimarra, who was the boards chairman during its first effort to reverse the Obama-era policy in 2017 and left soon after, said that it was appropriate for the agency to address the issue through a new regulation. The board clearly has statutory authority to adopt regulations, and rule-making can provide more certainty in this important area for employees, unions and employers, Mr. Miscimarra said in an email.

Critics of the board, however, argued that the agency was doing whatever it could to achieve a desired policy outcome.
AKRON, Ohio  The Humane Society of Summit County has launched an anti-bullying program to teach fourth-graders about empathy and good citizenship as a way to improve students relationships to other people and animals.

The No More Bullying! program kicked off this week at Akrons Ritzman Community Learning Center, and is led by trained facilitators with the help of some animals from the shelter. Through a grant from the Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust, the Humane Society is able to bring the program to any Summit County school, at no cost to the district.

No More Bullying! was developed by Wayside Waifs, a Kansas City, Missouri-based animal welfare organization. Students participate in five one-hour lessons to learn and practice responsibility, self-control, compassion and being humane, and are taught that those values are incompatible with bullying. Students are encouraged to practice compassionate skills with animals, at school and at home with their families.

Louise DiLullo, the Humane Society of Summit Countys director of development, said students will also learn about taking care of pets and how to safely interact with animals.

Having a living, breathing companion animal walking around the classroom can help students recognize the similarities between healthy interactions with animals and with humans, DiLullo said. While the pet featured will vary from classroom to classroom, children will practice how to safely meet a new pet and understand its body language.

Students will also learn about properly feeding and caring for pets, the importance of spaying and neutering to prevent pet overpopulation and what to do if they find a stray animal, DiLullo said.

"No More Bullying!" program coordinator Judi Zala teaches a lesson on Feb. 24, 2020, to students at Akron's Ritzman CLC. (Courtesy of Humane Society of Summit County)

Judi Zala, a former teacher who works at the Humane Society of Summit County, said coordinating the program combines her two biggest passions: pets and children.

I understand the pressure teachers are under to meet students academic needs along with supporting social and emotional development, and Im so glad to be able to provide this tool that gives them a framework to have these conversations with students, Zala said. When kids feel safe and respected, and like they have the language to talk about these issues, they are better prepared to learn. When we help them understand and extend those skills in the context of pets, its a win-win.

The Humane Society is scheduling the program to visit classrooms this spring and is organizing a wait list for the fall, pending the availability of funding. School administrators and teachers in Summit County who are interested or have questions about hosting the program in third-, fourth- or fifth-grade classes should contact Zala at jzala@summithumane.org.

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A Florida teacher's aide has been arrested for allegedly sexting a 16-year-old special needs student and sending him explicit photos and videos via Instagram.

Lindsey Noele Thorson, 27, was arrested after the parent of another child contacted police.

Staff at Fieldston Preparatory School in Titusville, near Orlando, were already investigating the allegations.

According to a police report, Thorson sent the teenage boy - whose special needs have not been specified - the images and videos over Instagram some time before January.

Lindsey Noele Thorson, 27, was arrested after the parent of another child contacted police

He took screenshots of them and showed them to a friend who notified the school.

The school said it would launch an investigation but nothing was done to notify the authorities.

According to Florida Today, Thorson's mother also works there.

The parent of a different child then notified the police and she was arrested.

In police documents, it is claimed that the principal 'dismissed' the investigation as if to downplay it.

The friend then ran away from home because he was scared he would get into trouble for telling on Thorson.

Fieldston Preparatory School is a private school which teaches children age kindergarten through to 12th grade.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that he discussed the issue of religious freedom with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during talks, and the PM told him that India has worked very hard for it. The US President, however, said he did not talk about the violence in Delhi in which 10 people have been killed.

Full Coverage: Donald Trumps Visit to India

The PM was incredible, he said in India they have worked very hard for religious freedom. We talked about it (CAA) for a long time, he said he wants people to have religious freedom. I heard about the individual attacks, but did not discuss it with PM Modi. Its upto India, Trump said at the press conference as he wraps up his 36-hour whirlwind visit to India.

Track Live Updates

The violence broke out in Northeast Delhi first on Saturday, and flared up on Monday when a Delhi Police head constable was killed along with nine others. More than 100 people were injured as protesters for and against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA clashed with each other.

Armed with swords and guns, the groups attacked each other in Jafrabad, Maujpur and other localities of Northeast Delhi. They torched vehicles and houses as they marched on the 400-metre-long road between two Metro stations.

One of the protesters even pointed a gun at the policeman stationed in the area. The young man then fired in the air and left the area after a while.

The Centre sprung into action immediately after the protest, with Home Minister Amit Shah holding two meetings - on eon Monday night and the other one on Tuesday - to review the situation in the national capital. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also held emergency meeting, and appealed to the protesters to maintain calm.

The Home Minister has appealed to all to desist from spreading rumours and said that political parties should cooperate with police to quell these rumours and dispel fear among public. He also appealed to public at large and media to communicate responsibly and avoid spreading rumours, a statement from the Home Ministry said.

The authorities have clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in the entire Northeast Delhi till March 24.
A former longtime Department of Homeland Security official, described as a whistleblower who penned a book criticizing the Obama administrations handling of terrorism, was found dead Friday morning in Amador County, authorities said.

Philip Haney, 66, was identified as the man found deceased adjacent to highways 16 and 124 near the city of Plymouth. Haney was located on the ground with a single gunshot wound, according to a pair of news releases by the Amador County Sheriffs Office.

In an initial news release Saturday, the Sheriffs Office reported that Haney was deceased and appeared to have suffered a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound, and that a firearm was located next to Haney and his vehicle.

But in an update Monday, the Sheriffs Office said misinformation was circulating that the death had been ruled a suicide, when no such determination has been officially made. This second news release did not include reference to the gunshot wound as being self-inflicted.

We are currently in the beginning phase of our investigation and any final determination as to the cause and manner of Mr. Haneys death would be extremely premature and inappropriate, Mondays news release said.

Mondays updated statement gave further details on Haneys death, saying his body was found in an open RV park-and-ride area immediately adjacent to Highway 16, less than three miles from where he had been residing. A Facebook profile for Haney says he lived in Plymouth, which has a population of about 1,000.

Haney in May 2016 released a book titled See Something, Say Nothing: A Homeland Security Officer Exposes the Governments Submission to Jihad, which alleged inaction against terrorism on the part of the Obama administration. A DHS officer for 15 years, Haney also spoke during a Senate judiciary subcommittee hearing in June 2016 that centered on the use of the term radical Islam, archived C-SPAN video shows.

Detectives recovered documents, phone records and a laptop from the scene, according to Mondays news release, and the Sheriffs Office took possession of his vehicle, the firearm located at the scene, and his RV to be processed and analyzed along with the evidence, with assistance requested from the FBI.

Investigators canvassed the area, interviewed RV park neighbors and checked nearby areas for potential surveillance video, the news release said.

The investigation remains active and ongoing, the sheriffs statement said. The news release said investigators have been contacted by an overwhelming number of persons who are calling our office from throughout the United States asking for detailed information on our investigation.

Rumors, theories circulate after death

Haneys death quickly made national headlines in conservative media, with conspiracy theories surfacing in some publications and at least one member of U.S. Congress insisting Haneys death was not a suicide.

Rep. Steve King of Iowa tweeted Saturday night that Haney, whom he referred to as a friend, was a target because of all he knew of Islamic terrorist coverups and claimed without evidence, Phil Haney didnt kill himself. Kings tweet, retweeted nearly 19,000 times as of Tuesday morning, linked to a Fox News story on Haneys death.

Several conservative outlets wrote, without citation of any source, that Haney had been reported missing two days before his death, and that the gunshot wound was to Haneys chest, a detail which the publications suggested would make the gunshot less likely to be self-inflicted.

The two statements released by the Amador County Sheriffs Office made no mention of Haney being reported as a missing person and did not specify where on the body he was shot.

The Sheriffs Office says it has arranged for a forensic autopsy to be performed by pathologists with the Sacramento County Coroners Office.

No further details will be provided at this time, Mondays news release said.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 25) A former top official of the Supreme Court said Congress can review its chambers' powers in granting legislative franchises amid the controversial license renewal case of media giant ABS-CBN.

In an interview with CNN Philippines The Source on Tuesday, former Chief Justice Reynato Puno said policies on issuing franchises including the question of whether the power should emanate from the House of Representatives can be revisited.

Perhaps they can further study whether the grant of a franchise to operate a television program in the magnitude that was given to ABS-CBN is covered by that provision of the Constitution that that kind of franchise should come exclusively from the House, Puno said.

The former top magistrate said that while a franchise usually involves local interest, ABS-CBNs operation is a different case.

If you have this particular kind of franchise which affects the Filipino people in general this is not a bill of local application. Perhaps that is one aspect that can be re-studied, he added.

The media networks franchise renewal case was highlighted by Solicitor General Jose Calida's petition for the Surpreme Court to nullify ABS-CBN's license that is set to expire in May. Calida's quo warranto petition cited highly abusive practices by the network including foreign ownership and operational issues allegations that ABS-CBN had refuted.

Prior to the petition, President Rodrigo Duterte has ranted against ABS-CBN, saying the network refused to carry his campaign commercials in 2016 even if they had already been paid for. Last year, he suggested that the Lopezes just sell the company to a new owner as he would make sure that the TV station would be out of business by 2020.

House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano earlier hit the Senate for its move to hold a separate inquiry into ABS-CBNs issues, when the lower chamber has yet to calendar a hearing on the matter.

Cayetano said the upper chambers probewhich already took place on Mondaywould violate the Constitution, as the franchise bills should emanate from the House. A total of 11 measures on ABS-CBNs renewal remain pending in the committee level.

RELATED: Senators counter Cayetano: Probe on ABS-CBN franchise case wont violate Constitution

The House committee on legislative franchises has begun its proceedings on the case, with the panel seeking comments from lawmakers and stakeholders alike. However, formal hearings may only start in May at the earliest, the panels top members said.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti's daughter Iltija Mufti on Tuesday said the country has degenerated into a place where the majority's "zeal for bigotry" has dealt a body blow to its diversity.

Iltija, who uses her mother's Twitter handle to comment on developments and events, wondered if the Muslims in India were even wanted anymore.

"Since the last 7 months, India's degenerated into a place where majority's zeal for bigotry has dealt a body blow to its diversity. I wonder if we Muslims are wanted or even belong here anymore. Unimaginable despair," she tweeted.

Commenting on multiple social media posts on why a man who reportedly opened fire during Monday's violence in Delhi was not arrested, Iltija said because he was not a Kashmiri or Muslim.

Violent clashes have been reported in northeast Delhi's Jaffrabad and Maujpur, with protesters torching houses, shops and vehicles, and hurling stones at each other.

The clashes between groups supporting and opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) have also been reported in Chandbagh and Bhajanpura areas of the national capital.

The death toll in the clashes has climbed to nine, a senior police official said on Tuesday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that it was quite a challenge to discuss a number of big infrastructure projects with Russias former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin and former Economy Minister German Gref.

According to Putin, he had had to "snap" at Kudrin a couple of times, because the latter had opposed such projects due to their high cost.



"He [Kudrin] was against every issue," the head of state told TASS in an interview for the project entitled "20 Questions with Vladimir Putin."

"For instance, he strongly opposed building the ring road around St. Petersburg. He and Gref, the Minister of Economics and the Minister of Finance, visited me twice," Putin noted. "They agreed to allocate funds to build the ring road around St. Petersburg only when I snapped at them," the president added.



Putin said that he had had to resort to the same tactic to press for other big infrastructure projects, noting that those facilities had eventually been built and were operating successfully.



However, Kudrins viewpoint changed after he had taken office as Chairman of the Russian Accounts Chamber in 2018, Putin added that "the viewpoint has certainly changed", and apparently "the viewer" could see better because he "is no longer afraid of being socked in the eye," the Russia leader said.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Paris  Tue, February 25, 2020 22:09 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206695d70 2 Science & Tech Mars,Earth,space,NASA Free

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 neighbor, 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 kilometers 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.

Read also: NASA's trip to Mars begins in California 'clean room'

Windy planet

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.

"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," said Schmerr.

Topics : Mars Earth space NASA
Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat paid tribute at the War Memorial, on the first anniversary of the Memorial on Tuesday.

The monument was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 25, 2019.

In a solemn ceremony, General Bipin Rawat and armed forces veterans lay wreaths and paid homage to the fallen soldiers.

A statement from the Ministry of Defence said, "The memorial is a fitting tribute by the grateful nation to its fallen heroes in the line of duty during various wars and internal security challenges since Independence."

"The events marking the first anniversary commenced on February 22, 2020, with a static band display by the three Services. A quiz competition, based on Indian military history, is also being held between February 24-25, 2020 in which students from various schools and colleges across Delhi are taking part," the press release said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
KYODO NEWS - Feb 25, 2020 - 00:32 | World, All, Coronavirus, Japan

Two more people who were evacuated from the virus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan have tested positive for the new coronavirus while under quarantine in Hong Kong, health authorities said Monday.

The two women, aged 58 and 59, join a 68-year-old man who was confirmed positive on Sunday. They were among 213 passengers who had tested negative for the virus in Japan before returning to Hong Kong to undergo a 14-day quarantine in a housing estate in the New Territories.

In explaining the changed test results, Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the Center for Health Protection, said the amount of virus in the blood may not have been high enough to be detected in the earlier tests conducted in Japan.

Related coverage:

China delays annual parliament meeting amid virus outbreak

Virus deaths in China top 2,500

North Korea quarantines about 380 foreigners to avert new virus spread

She said a total of 12 evacuees have been hospitalized for various illnesses since returning. Apart from the three confirmed cases, three others were waiting for test results and the rest had tested negative for the virus.

Three chartered flights have evacuated 193 passengers from the stricken cruise ship since Wednesday last week. Twenty others returned on their own.

The confirmed cases in Hong Kong stand at 79 as of Monday, including two deaths and 19 people who have recovered.

The government also said late Monday that travelers from or who have visited South Korea in the last 14 days will be barred from entering Hong Kong starting at 6 a.m. Tuesday, while Hong Kong residents returning from the country will undergo a 14-day quarantine.

"Due to changes in the outbreak situation in South Korea, the Security Bureau (has issued) a red travel warning for South Korea. People should avoid traveling there unless it is necessary," Security Secretary John Lee told reporters.

South Korea's government on Monday reported 231 more confirmed coronavirus cases, bringing the country's total to 833, with the death toll now at eight.

Chartered flights are also being considered to bring home some 2,000 Hong Kong people in China's Hubei Province, the epicenter of the virus outbreak, where a lockdown is in place, the government said, but details are yet to be decided.
A mid-size warehouse with offices at 14 Phoenix Court sold prior to auction for $1.2 million. Set on 1143 sq m of land, the 747 sq m clear span, high clearance warehouse had a separate office and staff facilities. Jill Duggan from Nichols Crowder said the construction of the nearby Mordialloc Bypass due for completion next year was bringing a lot of attention to the region. Carlton A building leased to Oliver Jar Cafe at 168-170 Rathdowne Street has sold through CBRE's Rorey James, Nic Hage and JJ Heng for $1.35 million. Four bidders vied for the property before it sold under the hammer at auction. The buyer was initially looking for residential investments but switched to commercial property, they said. Truganina On the back of recent increases in land prices, a block at 35 Apex Drive sold for $829,280 through Colliers International's Charlie Woodley, Oscar Dixon and Anthony Ongarello. The 2272 sq m site is in a new industrial estate in The Crossing.

North Melbourne The home of successful coffee roaster and cafe operator Code Black Coffee has sold for $2,655,000. CBRE's Julian White, Dylan Kilner, Nic Hage and JJ Heng steered the sale of the 119 Howard Street property, with the price representing a very tight 3.5 per cent return. "This is another example of the current demand for passive, long-term investments," Mr White said. It sold with a 10-year lease to Code Black. LEASES Huntingdale Short-term leases are often shunned by landlords, but Sector Property Group has signed up a tenant for its warehouse site at 26-28 Hargreaves Street. Bought by Sector in 2019, the site will house hail damaged cars in the short term. "Within hours after storm damage we are inundated with requests for large spaces for short-term leases," Andrew Chrapot and Harry Larwill from Colliers International said. Sector's David Loakes said the site was vacant and available. Colliers's leased it to Wizard Automotive Systems Pty Ltd for $35,500 plus GST per month for 6 months.

Melbourne A flurry of deals in the Suleman Group-owned tower at 470 Collins Street will see Lextech move into 87.7 sq m on Level 1, while on Level 7, Giorgianni & Liang Lawyers will occupy 111.7 sq m. Australian Financial Group (85.7sqm) and Collabera Technologies (139.1sqm) have each taken space on Level 10, according to Colliers International's Alissa Woods, Milly Stockdale and Zak Seccull. Rents were struck between $390-$400 net per sq m. Kew Australasian Movement Disorder and Pain Surgery are moving from Kew Junction to 60 Cotham Road in a deal negotiated by Prowse Burns Commercial's Philip Prowse. The group leased the property on a 5+5 year at a commencing rent of $155,000 net plus GST. Richmond

Stone Italiana has expanded into 489 Church Street. The marble retailer leased the 85 sq m shop for $63,000 per annum plus GST plus outgoings, just under $750 per sq m. The offmarket deal was negotiated by Josh McMullin from Morley Commercial. Dandenong South SpeedPro Industries will move into 74-76 Logis Boulevard on a long-term lease. Cameron's Angus Clark and CBRE's Lachlan Ferguson negotiated the lease for the large 2533 sq m office/warehouse in the Logis Eco Estate. The building has a dual-level corporate office, two gated crossovers and a large side canopy, and achieved an annual net rental of $233,700. MOVERS Colliers International has appointed valuer Trent Weir to its retail division as the national director to the retail valuations team.
India has everything needed to be hub for medical tourism: PM Modi

PM urges media to act as link between government and people

TN CM Palaniswami urges PM Modi to sanction 6,028 Hajj applications

India

oi-PTI

Chennai, Feb 25: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take steps to confirm all the 6,028 Hajj applications recommended by Tamil Nadu for this year's pilgrimage.

The Tamil Nadu State Hajj Committee has received 6,028 applications for Hajj 2020, including seven infants, against the state's quota of 3,736 allotted by the Hajj Committee of India, the Chief Minister said.

As regards the remaining pilgrims, they "are hopeful that all their Hajj applications will get confirmed for Hajj 2020," he said in a letter to the Prime Minister.

Tamil Nadu girl on NASA visit gets Rs 2 lakh assistance

Amit Shah chairs high level meeting on North East Delhi violence

"A good number of vacancies are expected to be available since many States have not utilised their full quota due to many reasons including cancellations," he pointed out.

"I request you sir, to instruct the Ministry of Minority Affairs to confirm all the 6,028 Hajj applications recommended by the Tamil Nadu State Hajj Committee for Hajj 2020," the Chief Minister said.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 14:36 [IST]
Stay tuned to Shadowproof, as well as his Twitter, for coverage. And if you support our work and are able to help fund Kevins reporting, go here to donate.

The defense for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange alleged that the director of a Spanish security company known as Undercover Global was contracted by Sheldon Adelson, a billionaire who is one of President Donald Trumps biggest donors.

The allegation was made during the first day of a week-long extradition hearing unfolding at Woolwich Court in London. It is adjacent to Her Majestys Prison Belmarsh, where Assange is detained.

What happens this week will be a kind of prequel to a more substantial hearing scheduled to occur in late May and early June.

As the Spanish newspaper El Pais previously reported, Undercover Global targeted Assange when he lived in the Ecuador embassy in the United Kingdom on behalf of the CIA.

Personnel spied on privileged meetings between Assange and his lawyers. He met with his legal team in the womens bathroom to ensure privacy, but it did not matter. They planted microphones in the womens bathroom too.

Edward Fitzgerald, a defense attorney for Assange, alleged Morales returned from Las Vegas in 2017 after attending a security trade fair. The contract was to provide security for Adelsons private yacht, but while he was in the United States, he inked a side agreement to go to the dark side and spy on Assange for U.S. intelligence.

A whistleblower, who worked for Undercover Global and was referred to in court as Witness #2, revealed data was collected and uploaded daily to a remote server. That information was accessed by U.S. intelligence. Original recordings, including sound, were collected from several microphones every 14 days.

Extreme Measures Considered Like Kidnapping Or Poisoning Assange

There were apparently conversations within the company about employing more extreme measures, such as kidnapping or poisoning Assange. The kidnapping scenario that was discussed involved leaving the door of the embassy open so that officers or agents on behalf of U.S. intelligence could rush in and take Assange.

Witness #2 found the suggestions of extreme measures shocking, and multiple employees came to believe the course Morales was taking was dangerous.

Around December 21, 2017, Assange was granted diplomatic status by the Ecuador government. U.S. intelligence was spying and knew about this development. This same date, a criminal complaint of computer misuse and extradition on a provisional warrant was sought. His prosecution became a political imperative.

The espionage operation was not limited to Assange. Reports were compiled on journalists, attorneys, doctors, and any Russians or Americans who visited Assange.

At a security checkpoint, visitors were instructed to hand over their bags, computers, electronic devices, and cellphones, according to El Pais.

While visitors met with Assange, employees of the company put together reports that could be shared with the CIA via a server in Juarez de la Frontera. The FBI allegedly had access to files, too.

Assange was expelled from the Ecuador embassy in April 2019. Upon expulsion, his confidential papers were seized and passed on to the U.S. government by the right-wing Ecuador government led by Lenin Moreno, who initiated a pressure campaign to force Assange out of the embassy.

Defense Argues Trump Administration Politicized Assanges Case

Fitzgerald argued this was evidence of how the Trump administration has politicized the case. Given the espionage operation, Assange has reason to fear Trumps political motivations. And if extradited, he would face real risks once brought to the United States given these extreme measures.

The defense outlined what they described as a strange interlude in the timeline of the case, where former Republican Representative Dana Rohrabacher and a right-wing activist named Charles Johnson met with Assange at the embassy in August 2017.

Assanges attorneys said there was a discussion about a preemptive pardon in exchange for personal assistance to President Trump in the inquiry into alleged Russian involvement in the hacking and leaking of the Democratic National Committee emails.

They apparently told Assange that Trump was aware they were meeting and approved of a proposal that would benefit Trump politically, while at the same time preventing Assanges indictment and extradition. However, after the defense teased this allegation last week, Rohrabacher denied it was at the direction of Trump.

The Threat of Prosecution As a Means of Extortion

President Trump himself denies everything. But in the immortal words of Mandy Rice Davies: Well he would, wouldnt he? Fitzgerald said to the court. And there may yet be further developments in relation to this particular aspect of the case, prompted by the public reporting of this allegation last week.

We say that this whole pardon business shows that, just as the prosecution was initiated in December 2017 for political purposes, so too the Trump administration [was] prepared to use the threat of prosecution as a means of extortion to obtain personal political advantage from Mr. Assange, Fitzgerald added.

The defense pointed to Trumps obsession with power, along with attacks on media, to assert that the court must stay the extradition request. They likened what has happened to Assange to cases loosely tied to Russiagate allegations, where Trump has promised pardons if he can extract some kind of benefit from defendants.

Assanges case shows how the dividing line between the high executive, the political executive, is being blurred as has happened in many other examples recently. And according to the defense, the history provides the clearest evidence that extradition is an abuse of process that constitutes bad faith and abuses of power on the part of Trump.

In 2013, then-Justice Department spokesperson Matthew Miller spoke about the decision under President Barack Obama not to indict Assange. If you are not going to prosecute journalists for publishing classified information, which the department is not, then there is no way to prosecute Assange.

To the defense, the Trump administrations reversal of this decision is another glaring example of how officials are playing politicsand likely politicizing the case because they dislike Assange and his political opinions.

As the defense recalled the sheer scale and significance of the revelations brought about by Assange and WikiLeaks, they told the court, They range from the video of American soldiers shooting unarmed civilians from a helicopter to the brutal torture of detainees in Iraq and the exposure of the true figures of civilian deaths resulting from the invasion of Iraq. Such revelations obviously put him in the sights of the aggressive America First ideologues of the Trump Administration.

High-ranking officials, like Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have said WikiLeaks is a non-state hostile intelligence agency and that Assange has no First Amendment rights. They have publicly denounced him in ways that the defense believes are prejudicial and defy the ethics officials are expected to uphold by showing restraint in their remarks when speaking about ongoing cases.

Professor Noam Chomsky, who submitted expert testimony for the court, declared, In courageously upholding political beliefs that most of [us] profess to share, he has performed an enormous service to all those in the world, who treasure the values of freedom and democracy and who therefore demand the right to know what their elected representatives are doing.

So Julian Assanges positive impact on the world is undeniable, Chomsky argued. The hostility it has provoked from the Trump administration is equally undeniable.
WALLINGFORD  Three Masonicare employees were honored at a luncheon ceremony Monday as the first enrollees in a new employment pipeline program.

CNA Reach is designed to attract health care facility workers into Wallingford Adult Education's certified nurse assistant program. Its a collaborative effort by HUBCAP, Wallingford Public Schools, Gaylord Specialty Healthcare and Hospital and Masonicare.

Joe Mirra, founder and chairman of HUBCAP, said CNA Reach  which stands for Ready to Enter A Career in Health care  creates an employment ladder that gives people the opportunity to move ahead, opening up their former positions to others.

The CNA program began last week and runs for 16 weeks, with classroom work and hands-on experience at Gaylord and Masonicare.

Carol Berube, coordinator of Adult Eds medical programs, said students receive a certificate of completion that allows them to take the states nurse aide competency examination.

Tuition is $900, or $925 for out-of-town residents.

The three participants have diverse backgrounds but all want to pursue nursing.

Alexia Amenta, of Wallingford, has been a member of the Masonicare wait staff since August 2017. Shes in her first year at Gateway Community College, taking pre-requisite courses for nursing.

She is in the program to learn more about nursing in general, including the needs of the elderly.

Im really passionate about helping others, said Amenta, 19. After working here and getting to interact with the elderly, it made me kind of realize what path I want to go towards and be a geriatric nurse.

Nadia Sannah, of Meriden, has been a housekeeper at Masonicare since September 2008.

Sannah, 47, came to the U.S. from Morocco in 2000. She heard about the program from a coworker.

...I like to make people happy, she said.

Sannah wasnt around a lot to help her mother who died of cancer nine years ago.

"...if I see somebody (is) sick, I like to help them, she said.

She added that she hopes to continue with her medical education after becoming a CNA.

The third participant, Tierra Garrett, joined Masonicare as a housekeeper in April 2019. She was unable to attend the luncheon.

Eight people applied for the program, and all three local people were accepted, said Samantha Buonanno of Masonicare human resources. The other five applicants live in Mystic, where Masonicare operates a senior care facility, and a CNA program for them is in the works, she said.

Gaylord, which has its own program to solicit employees, didnt have any applicants for the initial cycle. The next CNA program at Adult Ed is slated for September.

Masonicare Vice President of Human Resources Ed Dooling, Masonicare President and CEO J.P. Venoit, Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. and School Superintendent Salvatore Menzo spoke at the luncheon.

LTakores@record-journal.com

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Toucans are just one of the many colourful tropical birds that make Belize and Chaa Creek a birder's paradise Its good healthy fun that gets you outdoors

Serious birders have been flocking to Belize for years, and with birdings dramatic growth as one of the worlds most popular pastimes, The Lodge at Chaa Creek is offering Belize birding vacations that cater to professional ornithologists and novice bird watchers alike.

And now, with the launch of the new Belize Rainforest Retreat at Chaa Creek, birding groups have an affordable accommodation and activity venue thats surrounded by literally hundreds of bird species.

The Retreats opening comes just as a recent Forbes magazine article identified Belize as one of the worlds top five birding destinations for 2020.

Brion Young, manager of Chaa Creeks Belize Natural History Centre and an avid birder himself, said, Were so happy to see a source as respected as Forbes confirm something those of us in the birding community have known for years.

The February 2020 article, Bird Nerds Rejoice: The Top Five Birding Destinations For 2020 by Katherine Parker-Magyar, ranks Belize alongside the Amazon Rainforest, the Galapagos, Florida Everglades, Brazil, and New Zealand as the worlds best birding locations.

Describing Belize, the article notes that, For a country roughly the size of New Jersey, Belize boasts a spectacularly diverse range of ecosystems, from the coastal mangroves and wetlands to the interior pine forests that surround the Mayan Mountains.

Mr Young said that diverse range of ecosystems is just one of the reasons why Belize has become such a popular birding destination.

In Belize, over a quarter of the countrys land and territorial waters are under some form of protection. This gives our resident and visiting birds unspoiled and undisturbed places to feed, rest, nest and raise their chicks.

For example, right here within Chaa Creeks 400-acre private nature reserve, over 300 species have been catalogued during the Birds Without Borders/Aves Sin Fronteras project, Mr Young said.

Sponsored by the Foundation for Wildlife Conservation and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, Birds Without Borders also tracked the migratory habits of birds while providing specialised training for Chaa Creeks naturalist guides, Mr Young explained.

So now, in addition to having such a rich variety of birds, we also have guides who know how to identify them, their calls, habits and nesting areas.

This gives experienced birders a very valuable resource, and also makes Chaa Creek a great place for novices to discover the joys of birding. All you really need is a pair of binoculars, a notebook and perhaps a field guide, and youre on your way, he said.

Birding is now one of the fastest growing pastimes in North America, with the US Fish and Wildlife Service reporting that one in every five Americans identify as birders. In the UK, birding has overtaken fishing as the nations number one hobby.

Mr Young said hes not surprised by birdings growing popularity.

Its good healthy fun that gets you outdoors, and can be incredibly satisfying and rewarding regardless of your age or level of fitness.

And now the new Chaa Creek Belize Rainforest Retreat makes birding easy, productive and affordable for birding groups and associations.

Consisting of ten riverside Eco-Pods  simple yet comfortable cabins with porches offering uninterrupted views of the surrounding jungle, with a central thatched roof palapa for dining and get-togethers, the Belize Rainforest Retreat combines seclusion with the convenience of being close to The Lodge at Chaa Creeks amenities.

A host family provides home-cooked breakfast and meals, maintains the environmentally-friendly conveniences, grounds, and large campfire ring while offering local knowledge and some of Belizes best barbecues, Mr Young said.

While the Belize Rainforest Retreat is off-the-grid and self-contained with solar power, using candlelight lamps for illumination in the Eco-Pods, guests are welcome to use the nearby infinity pool, restaurant, lounge, conference centre, spa and other amenities at the Lodge.

They can also enjoy complimentary tours of the onsite Belize Natural History Museum and Butterfly Breeding Farm, visit the Maya Medicinal Plant Trail and traditional Maya Organic Farm, and walk or horseback along the miles of trails running throughout the 400-acre private nature reserve.

The Belize Rainforest Retreat combines the best of two worlds  affordable, comfortable rustic simplicity, yet with all the features of Belizes premier eco-resort just a pleasant fifteen-minute stroll away.

And while theres plenty of great birding right here, our Chaa Creek Inland Expeditions tour company has a fleet of vehicles with licenced naturalist guide drivers ready to take you to wetlands, the Mountain Pine Ridge, Caribbean coast, and other hot birding spots throughout Belize, Mr Young said.

In addition to all-inclusive vacation packages and the Belize Rainforest Retreat, Chaa Creek also offers complimentary vacation planning to help individuals and groups make the most of their birding vacations and budgets.

Mr Young encouraged people to visit the Chaa Creek and Belize Rainforest Retreat websites, and then contact their travel agents or Chaa Creek directly to speak with an experienced vacation planner and make bookings.

Birding has become a passion for many of us here at Chaa Creek, and thats something we love to share with visitors. And with our infrastructure, experience, specialised birding guides and nationwide network of colleagues, Im confident that we offer the absolute best birding vacations in Belize.

And, as Forbes magazine points out, amidst some of the best birding in the world, Mr Young said.

The Lodge at Chaa Creek is a multi-award winning eco resort set within a 400-acre private nature reserve along the banks of the Macal River in Belize. It was recognised by National Geographic with first place honours at the 2017 World Legacy Awards held in Berlin.
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As the coronavirus continues to spread around the globe amid fears that the virus is reaching pandemic levels, Rachel Maddow said that America will be less capable of dealing with the health crisis because of a move Donald Trump made two years ago.

As the MSNBC host pointed out, citing reporting from Pulitzer Prize winning science journalist Laurie Garrett, Trump fired the governments entire pandemic response chain of command back in 2018 and never replaced them with anyone.

One of the national security jobs the president emptied and never bothered to refill is the position at the national security council thats supposed to take point on all global health security matters, Maddow said. There used to be someone in that job.

The president emptied that job two years ago and never filled it, she added.

Video:

One of the national security jobs the president emptied and never bothered to refill is the position at the national security council thats supposed to take point on all global health security matters, Maddow reported on Monday. #ctl #p2 #maddow #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/MNHytUxv6Y  PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) February 25, 2020

Maddow said:

Markets both in the United States and around the world tanked today amid fears that the global spread of the coronavirus is reaching pandemic proportions. Pulitzer Prize winning science journalist Laurie Garrett recently wrote about the fact that the United States government is almost uniquely ill suited to take a leading role with something like a global infectious disease crisis right now. Because without much fanfare and honestly without much objection, President Trump fired the governments entire pandemic response chain of command back in 2018 and never replaced them with anyone. I think the reason this went largely unremarked upon at the time is because the president has fired and never rehired whole big swaths of the federal government. The turnover rate, even in national security positions in this administration, is beyond unprecedented.  As the coronavirus threat rises and rises and rises, its starting to seem particularly important that one of the national security jobs the president emptied and never bothered to refilled is the position at the national security council thats supposed to take point on all global health security matters. There used to be someone in that job. The president emptied that job two years ago and never filled it.

Trumps mismanagement could cost lives

Most of the crises that have unfolded over the past three years were directly caused by Donald Trump himself, from the record-long government shutdown to the humanitarian disaster on the southern border to the escalating conflict with Iran.

In the case of the coronavirus, Trump may not have triggered the possible pandemic, but he will be directly responsible for making the situation worse than it should be.

Donald Trumps inability to govern responsibility by filling key positions within his administration will make it much more difficult to navigate this global health crisis, and it could cost lives.

This is what happens when a failed businessman and former game show host is put in charge of the most powerful government in the world.

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They are icons of their respective eras.

So it was quite the epic collaboration when Kim Kardashian, 39, Cher, 73, and Naomi Campbell, 49, came together for Carine Roitfeld's CR Fashion Book's new POWER issue produced by CR Studio and modelled by the stunners.

Posing in a series of smouldering black and white snaps, the trio played out a retro 60s-inspired story, shot by Mert & Marcus, in which they stormed the streets of LA and brought awareness to the causes close to their hearts.

Wow! Kim Kardashian, 39, Cher, 73, and Naomi Campbell, 49, have collaborated for incredible 60s-inspired shoot

Kim looked breathtaking in the snaps, in which her staggering beehive sat high on her head and fell loose over her shoulders while she wore a tight black look.

She was seen straddling a motorbike alongside Cher, who she has often cited as a hero due to their shared Armenian heritage.

Kim is currently plugging her upcoming documentary Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project, which documents her criminal justice journey.

On how being a mom inspired her prison reform work, she said: 'My evolution on this is probably some combination of growing up, getting married, having kids, and my life being so different than what it was when I was starting out...

Stunning: Posing in a series of smouldering black and white snaps, the trio played out a retro 60s-inspired story, shot by Mert & Marcus, in which they stormed the streets of LA and brought awareness to the causes close to their hearts

Hot stuff: Kim looked stunning as she posed up a storm

'Now, I feel like I have a duty to myself and to my children more than the public and I want to be a good role model for my kids. I'm raising four black kids in this society and our system is so discriminatory against black and brown people...

'I want to do as much as I can to make their lives easierI never knew much about the system until I started to dig in, and once I learned and saw how many things were wrong, I really couldn't stop.'

On finding balance in her manic life, she said: 'I think that if you really stay focused you can do it all, and I don't ever plan on slowing down. I don't want to! I love running my business and doing everything I'm doing, but I love this the most.'

Wow! Naomi was striking an incredible pose while donning the same epic hairstyle

A vision: Cher looked sensational as she lit up the shoot in style

Meanwhile, in the accompanying interview with the shoot, Cher said of her ongoing fame: 'But somehow at this age, I'm still really famous...

'I never expected it, really. Now when I go on stage, I see such different groupings: really old people beside really young children. That's something really special. I know that I still make people happy, and that's my gift.'

Naomi meanwhile was chatting about her 'ride or die' attitude, as she said: ''I'm not the type of person to disappear when someone's down..

'That's when I'm there the most. Anyone who knows me knows that. Back then Joe [McDevitt] would do my makeup for all my shoots. One day I heard he needed creams for his sick body and help paying his hospital care...

Open and honest: Naomi meanwhile was chatting about her 'ride or die' attitude, as she said: ''I'm not the type of person to disappear when someone's down'

Iconic: Kim was showing off her curves as she hopped on to a bike alongside Cher

'I wasn't making any money at the time. I had just gotten my own apartment with Christy [Turlington]. I knew that if I gave my rent check to Joe that God would take care of me and I'd find that money again.'

Discussing her efforts supporting AIDS research and diversity, she said: 'Ray [Petri] was one of the first people I knew with AIDS. What struck me the most about his sickness, especially the end of it, was how poorly others treated him...

'Since then, I've been a supporter of AIDS research and finding a cure. It's something I'm still fight for today. It's been nearly two and a half decades. I do believe that there is a cure.'

Cher your secret! Cher displayed her ageless style and good looks in her racy leather look

Happy days: Kim has often cited Cher as a hero due to their shared Armenian heritage (pictured in 2017)
Memphis, Tenn. (February 25, 2020) - Shelley White-Means, PhD, a professor of health economics at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, is the principal investigator of a paper published this month in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health that found breast cancer support groups play a major role in helping underserved African-American women at risk for or diagnosed with breast cancer in Memphis.

Using data from in-depth focus groups, Dr. White-Means, a faculty member in the Department of Interpersonal Education and the Institute for Health Outcomes and Policy at UTHSC, and her co-authors determined that these community based groups are essential in overcoming barriers to care that include fear, lack of transportation and or child care, cost of medication, inadequate insurance, and other issues. Co-authors on the paper are Jill Dapremont, EdD, RN, CNE, associate professor and director of the RN-BSN Program at the University of Memphis, Barbara D. Davis, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Management at the University of Memphis, and Tronlyn Thompson, a biology student at Howard University. The research was funded by the Tennessee Department of Health.

"There are community based support agencies that are vital for the survival of African American women in Memphis with breast cancer," Dr. White-Means said. These groups help women overcome economic, social, and psychological barriers to diagnosis and treatment and act as connectors in underserved areas for women with breast cancer.

The organizations include the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as navigator programs, and support groups that provide education, social, and psychological support to African American women.

"The work that needs to be done is to have a greater interaction between providers and the health care system and the community based support groups," Dr. White-Means said.

"Gaps in death rates from breast cancer exist between black and white women in Memphis," Dr. White-Means said. The national goal is to reduce breast cancer deaths to 20.7 per 100,000 females. "In Memphis, while white women are close to meeting the 2020 goal, black women are not."

Dr. White-Means has championed research into issues related to health disparities and health equity for decades. She joined the faculty of UTHSC in 2004, bringing with her a dedication to address health disparities in her hometown of Memphis. From 2009 to 2012, Dr. White-Means, her students, colleagues at UTHSC and LeMoyne-Owen College, and various community organizations, with the help of funding from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, developed and ran the Consortium for Health Education, Economic Empowerment and Research (CHEER).

The organization aimed to enhance outcomes and increase the health status of the population in the city's poorest inner-city neighborhood by addressing food insecurity and food deserts, performing health risk assessments, investigating breast cancer disparities, conducting community health summits, and other programs.

"Our emphasis was community-based participatory research collaborations that engaged many agencies that today would be described as 'social determinants of health' organizations," she said. "This focus is very popular now, but at that point, it wasn't."

In October, Dr. White-Means presented a paper at the Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis on the impact of job types on individual health. It was titled, "Workplace Setting and Job Types as Determinants of Health Disparities."

She said she produced that paper to make the public aware that the jobs they have chosen will impact health outcomes. Gig-market or contract jobs that don't carry health care coverage tend to be filled by minorities. "We need to look at what is going on in the labor force," she said. "It's not just about wages. Employees need to be aware that job choices and the growing racial divide in quality of jobs impact health over the lifetime."

###

As Tennessee's only public, statewide, academic health system, the mission of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is to bring the benefits of the health sciences to the achievement and maintenance of human health through education, research, clinical care, and public service, with a focus on the citizens of Tennessee and the region. The main campus in Memphis includes six colleges: Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy. UTHSC also educates and trains medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and health professions students, as well as medical residents and fellows, at major sites in Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Nashville. For more information, visit http://www.uthsc.edu. Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/uthsc, Twitter: twitter.com/uthsc, LinkedIn: linkedin.com/uthsc, and Instagram: instagram.com/uthsc.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 20:13:51|Editor: huaxia

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by Dana Halawi

BEIRUT, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Despite the spread fear of the novel coronavirus disease after one case was confirmed in Lebanon, Lebanese students seem to be dealing with this issue in a calm and responsible manner.

Yasmina, a student at Lycee Abdel Kader in Beirut, believes that fear of the virus is to some extent "exaggerated."

"We have heard before about several viruses and people sometimes made a big deal about it," the 16 year old girl said.

For her part, Lara Ashkar, a student at Chouf National College, said that there is no reason for all the fear that's being expressed by people.

"We need to take proper precautions," she said, adding that her school is taking measures for students while raising awareness of the virus.

Schools in Lebanon have been taking special precautions since the detection of the first coronavirus case among passengers who arrived from Iran in the past 10 days.

Rola EL Zouheiry, owner of Al Maanieh private school, told Xinhua that her school was already keen to check health of kids on a daily basis.

"We are taking extra means by using disinfectant products to clean floor and tables before the arrival of students at school," Zouheiry said.

She added that students are also asked to have antiseptic wipes for their personal hygiene while they are not allowed to borrow pens from one another or share food.

"We also try to raise awareness by not causing any fear among the students," she explained.

Majed Fayad, director of Chouf National College, said his school is doing presentations for its students to raise awareness of the disease and necessary measures.

"We have placed posters at school and asked parents to advise their kids on proper ways to stop the spread of the virus," Fayad said.

Fayad noted that students who show any flu symptoms are asked to stay at home and a medical report is needed before they go back and join their friends at school.

The first confirmed case of coronavirus in Lebanon created fear among the Lebanese in general who started sharing posts about the issue on social media while asking for further measures to avoid the spread of the virus in the country.

Around two flights arrived from Iran in the past 10 days and one from Italy while the two countries had reported deaths caused by the virus.

This has created concerns mostly among parents who have to decide whether to send their kids to school for them not to waste their academic year or keep them home to avoid any risky interactions at school.

Mona Khalife, a mother of three kids at Lycee Abdel Kader, said she prefers to keep her kids home instead of exposing them to health risks but she will wait for a few days to see if there would be more infected people in Lebanon.

"Some parents are only asking their children to wear masks," Zouheiry, the school ower, said.

Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hassan announced on Feb. 21 the detection of the first coronavirus case in the country.

The education ministry then issued a set of recommendations for schools, teachers and students aimed at containing the virus as much as possible.
A senior advisor to Michael Bloomberg's campaign used a live TV interview to bring up bizarre writings by Bernie Sanders from the 1960s about women and cancer and said the leading candidate has not been properly 'vetted.'

The advisor, Tim O'Brien, brought up essays Sanders penned for the Vermont Freeman in the 1960s and 70s, where the future lawmaker mused about a possible connection between sexuality and cancer as he took on a capitalist society leading to 'dazed humanity' and 'sexual deadness.'

'We have a candidate who has risen in the polls because of this track record,' said OBrien, appearing on CNN's 'New Day.'

Michael Bloomberg senior advisor Timothy O'Brien brought up Bernie Sanders' 1960s writings about sexuality and cancer

'Bernie has loopy stuff in his background, saying women get cancer from having too many orgasms or toddlers should run around naked and touch each others genitals to insulate themselves from porn?' O'Brien said.

Host Alisyn Camerota appeared gobsmacked. 'What?' she asked.

O'Brien continued. 'He has written about women's rape fantasies, that hasn't been surfaced.' He called it the 'looney side of Bernie.

'The policy side of Bernie is he has not been good on immigration, he has not been good on criminal justice reform, he was an avid backer of the '94 crime bill, he is bad on guns, bad on immigration and as a legislator, as a member of the Senate, I think he's only sponsored seven pieces of legislation, two for post offices in Vermont,' he continued.

O'Brien was referencing Sanders' writings, including a 1969 essay titled: 'Cancer, Disease and Society.'

Mike Bloomberg is back on the debate stage in South Carolina Tuesday, after getting pummeled during the Las Vegas debate

In an essay dug up by Mother Jones during Sanders' battle against Hillary Clinton, he wrote: 'Now, if children go around naked, they are liable to see each others sexual organs, and maybe even touch them. Terrible thing! If we [raise] children up like this it will probably ruin the whole pornography business, not to mention the large segment of the general economy which makes its money by playing on peoples sexual frustrations.'

He also cited academic research linking sexual frustration to cancer in women.

'What do you think it really means when 3 doctors, after intense study, write that of the 26 patients (who developed breast cancer) below 51 (years of age), one was sexually adjusted. It means, very bluntly, that the manner in which you bring up your daughter with regard to sexual attitudes may very well determine whether or not she will develop breast cancer, among other things.'

Sanders cites research about 'sexual adjustment' in one of his essays

Sanders makes an argument that allowing children to see each other without clothes on despite 'Authority' guidelines might 'ruin the whole pornography business' by fighting taboos

Sanders in his essays quotes Austrian psychologist Wilhelm Reich as writing about a 'very definite about the link between emotional and sexual health, and cancer.'

The Mediaite website captured video of Bloomberg's aid bringing up the articles.

Sanders penned another essay titled 'The Revolution is Live Versus Death.' In it, Sanders takes a dark view of capitalist society crushing its workers. 'The years come and go, suicide nervous breakdown, cancer, sexual deadness, heart attack, alcoholism, senility at 50. Slow, death, fast death. DEATH,' he writes

O'Brien brought up the potentially inflammatory material as Sanders prepared to face rivals on the debate stage in Charleston.

Bernie Sanders pictured in 1972 during a failed run for governor

When Sadners' ' 1972 essay describing a woman's rape fantasy came up during the 2016 capaign, Sanders described it as a 'piece of fiction' on gender stereotypes, calling it 'something like Fifty Shades of Grey.

His 2016 campaign spokesman Mike Briggs told Mother Jones at the time: 'These articles were written more than 40 years ago' and that, 'Like most people, Bernies views on many issues have changed over time.'

Sanders studied psychology at the University of Chicago, and wove some of this theories about sexual repression into his critique of a a capitalist society he considered oppressive.

The his on Sanders comes as the independent PAC Priorities USA gears up new online and TV ads attacking Trump. Amid some vocal panic about the prospect of Sanders on top the Democratic ticket, executive director Guy Cecil said the group's survey data showed Sanders has a path to victory.

'Our data shows that any of the top contenders can win the general election,' he told reporters at a briefing in Charleston. 'It shows that we can win, it doesnt show that we will win,' he added. He said the election will be 'close, no matter what.'
Coronavirus: Canary islands, 1,000 people quarantined Cases in Bahrain,Kuwait on the rise. UAE, no flights to Iran

(ANSAmed) - ROME, FEBRUARY 25 - A reported 1,000 people have been quarantined at the hotel H10 Coasta Adejie Palace in Adejie (on the island of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain) where the Italian doctor who tested positive for coronavirus was staying, the newspaper Diario de Avisos reports.



Soldiers and police officers are not allowing people at the hotel to leave and external personnel cannot get in.



- In Bahrain, an Arab Gulf country, confirmed coronavirus cases are on the rise: authorities have reported this morning six cases, coming from neighboring Iran, up from the two previously announced.



- The United Arab Emirates have suspended all flights with Iran, where the number of deaths caused by the virus rose on Tuesday to 15.



- Eight coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Kuwait, the Arab emirate in the Gulf with close social and economic relations with Iran, the country in the region that has registered the highest number of cases and fatalities. The announcement was made by the government of Kuwait after the first official case was registered yesterday.



- ''Until this moment all precautions have been taken against coronavirus'', Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a press conference before leaving for Azerbaijan. Among precautionary measures, Ankara has decided over the past few days to close its borders and flights with Iran, which has reported the most serious outbreak in the region.




Drugmaker Moderna has shipped its first batch of a possible coronavirus vaccine for humans to government researchers for testing, just three months after the virus's genome was sequenced.

Shares of the biotech company soared early Tuesday, a day after the company said it sent vials to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for early-stage testing in the United States.

More than 80,000 people have been infected globally from the viral outbreak that began late last year in China.

A total of 35 cases have been reported in the United States and more than 2,600 people have died from the virus in mainland China, including one US citizen.

The vaccine is designed to target the spike protein on the surface of the virus that allows it to invade and infect human cells.

Its development has moved very rapidly, but it could take 18 months or more for the shot to be ready, even it it proves safe for human use, experts have previously told DailyMail.com.

Drugmaker Moderna has shipped its vaccine for coronavirus, which targets the spike on the outside of the coronavirus that lets it infect human cells (seen in the above image of the virus)

The drugmaker's announcement comes as the Trump administration requests $2.5 billion to address the coronavirus outbreak in the US and abroad.

Additional funding from Congress is intended to go to quarantine and containment efforts, as well as the development of vaccines and treatments for the virus.

Moderna has been granted funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to expedite vaccine development.

It has also partnered with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and universities to use its cutting-edge vaccine development platform in the hopes of creating a preventive method for the disease as quickly as possible.

Among the universities it's worked with is the University of Texas, Austin, where researchers recently developed the first 3-D model of the virus's spike protein.

In order to map the protein, they had to recreate the virus component, and discovered that this had vaccine potential.

The team there had been studying related viruses - those behind the 2003 SARS outbreak and the 2012 MERS outbreak - for years, and that gave them a leg up in researching the new virus.

University of Texas has not confirmed that their vaccine candidate is the one shipped by Moderna, but Moderna described their vaccine as being based on the same structure the researchers there have been working on.

Coronaviruses, as a family, are named by the resemblance of their shape to a corona, or crown (not to be confused, as many social media users have done, with the beer).

Bacteria are cells, made up of organelles, the same basic structures that make up humans, animals and plants, but viruses are built different.

Instead, they consist of just either DNA or RNA, enclosed by a protein shell, called a capsid. Some have an additional outer layer.

One virus differs from another in its genetic makeup - the RNA and DNA - and the proteins on its exterior that give it the ability to penetrate the membranes of other cells.

Coronaviruses are ringed by spiked shells that give them the resemblance of a crown.

These spike proteins appear as slightly fuzzy points protruding from the circumference of each virus particle in the vibrant photos released by the NIH.

Sequencing the new virus's spike proteins is what allowed other NIH scientists - namely, Michael Letko and Vincent Munster - to identify it as a close relative of SARS.

Workers disinfect subway trains against coronavirus in Tehran, Iran. More than a dozen people had died from the new coronavirus in Iran, officials there said, rejecting claims of a much higher death toll of 50 by a lawmaker from the city of Qom that has been at the epicenter of the virus in the country (Sajjad Safari/IIPA via AP)

And its similarity to SARS led the World Health Organization to not only name the virus SARS-CoV-2 (and the disease it causes COVID-19), but to create a naming convention that links the two viruses together.

'[The newly-developed] mRNA-1273 is an mRNA vaccine against the novel coronavirus encoding for a prefusion stabilized form of the Spike (S) protein, which was designed by Moderna in collaboration with NIAID,' the company said in a statement.

'The S protein complex is necessary for membrane fusion and host cell infection and has been the target of vaccines against the coronaviruses responsible for Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).'

'The structure itself isn't a vaccine,' UT Austin researcher, Dr Jason McLellan, told DailyMail.com in a recent interview.

'What could be is the protein that we produced to determine the structure.'

Several US companies are racing to produce the first vaccine, including another Texas startup, Greffex, which claimed to complete its vaccine last week.

Moderna appears to be the first, however, to announce that its candidate vaccine is entering phase 1 clinical trials.

Shares of Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Moderna Inc. jumped nearly 16 percent, or $2.92, to $21.51 in premarket trading.

The stock started trading in late 2018 and set an all-time high price of $29.79 last April, according to FactSet.
Dividend paying stocks like Shanghai Fudan-Zhangjiang Bio-Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (HKG:1349) tend to be popular with investors, and for good reason - some research suggests a significant amount of all stock market returns come from reinvested dividends. Yet sometimes, investors buy a stock for its dividend and lose money because the share price falls by more than they earned in dividend payments.

With a 1.7% yield and a five-year payment history, investors probably think Shanghai Fudan-Zhangjiang Bio-Pharmaceutical looks like a reliable dividend stock. A low yield is generally a turn-off, but if the prospects for earnings growth were strong, investors might be pleasantly surprised by the long-term results. There are a few simple ways to reduce the risks of buying Shanghai Fudan-Zhangjiang Bio-Pharmaceutical for its dividend, and we'll go through these below.

Explore this interactive chart for our latest analysis on Shanghai Fudan-Zhangjiang Bio-Pharmaceutical!

SEHK:1349 Historical Dividend Yield, February 24th 2020

Payout ratios

Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. As a result, we should always investigate whether a company can afford its dividend, measured as a percentage of a company's net income after tax. Shanghai Fudan-Zhangjiang Bio-Pharmaceutical paid out 34% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. A medium payout ratio strikes a good balance between paying dividends, and keeping enough back to invest in the business. Plus, there is room to increase the payout ratio over time.

We also measure dividends paid against a company's levered free cash flow, to see if enough cash was generated to cover the dividend. Shanghai Fudan-Zhangjiang Bio-Pharmaceutical paid out 13% of its free cash flow as dividends last year, which is conservative and suggests the dividend is sustainable. 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.

Story continues

With a strong net cash balance, Shanghai Fudan-Zhangjiang Bio-Pharmaceutical investors may not have much to worry about in the near term from a dividend perspective.

Remember, you can always get a snapshot of Shanghai Fudan-Zhangjiang Bio-Pharmaceutical's latest financial position, by checking our visualisation of its financial health.

Dividend Volatility

From the perspective of an income investor who wants to earn dividends for many years, there is not much point buying a stock if its dividend is regularly cut or is not reliable. Looking at the data, we can see that Shanghai Fudan-Zhangjiang Bio-Pharmaceutical has been paying a dividend for the past five years. During the past five-year period, the first annual payment was CN0.05 in 2015, compared to CN0.07 last year. Dividends per share have grown at approximately 7.0% per year over this time. The growth in dividends has not been linear, but the CAGR is a decent approximation of the rate of change over this time frame.

A reasonable rate of dividend growth is good to see, but we're wary that the dividend history is not as solid as we'd like, having been cut at least once.

Dividend Growth Potential

With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to evaluate if earnings per share (EPS) are growing - it's not worth taking the risk on a dividend getting cut, unless you might be rewarded with larger dividends in future. It's good to see Shanghai Fudan-Zhangjiang Bio-Pharmaceutical has been growing its earnings per share at 15% a year over the past five years. A company paying out less than a quarter of its earnings as dividends, and growing earnings at more than 10% per annum, looks to be right in the cusp of its growth phase. At the right price, we might be interested.

Conclusion

Dividend investors should always want to know if a) a company's dividends are affordable, b) if there is a track record of consistent payments, and c) if the dividend is capable of growing. It's great to see that Shanghai Fudan-Zhangjiang Bio-Pharmaceutical is paying out a low percentage of its earnings and cash flow. We were also glad to see it growing earnings, but it was concerning to see the dividend has been cut at least once in the past. All things considered, Shanghai Fudan-Zhangjiang Bio-Pharmaceutical looks like a strong prospect. At the right valuation, it could be something special.

Are management backing themselves to deliver performance? Check their shareholdings in Shanghai Fudan-Zhangjiang Bio-Pharmaceutical in our latest insider ownership analysis.

We have also put together a list of global stocks with a market capitalisation above $1bn and yielding more 3%.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
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The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has in its preliminary enquiry (PE) found several related-party transactions (RPTs) between InterGlobe Enterprises and IndiGo that were not disclosed as per required procedure, a source said.

"SEBI has found several related-party transactions that were not disclosed to the companys audit committee and shareholders in their inquiry. The regulator has prepared a report, which has been sent to a committee of internal divisional chiefs for future course of action," the source close to the development told Moneycontrol.

The company said it has not received any communique from SEBI and hence is not in a position to comment on the same.

The issue of related party transactions had become a bone of contention between IndiGo co-founders, Rakesh Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia. Gangwal had alleged that the companies affiliated to InterGlobe Enterprises (IGE), which is privately held by Bhatia, had benefitted from transactions with IndiGo, the countrys largest airline. IGE owns 37.87 percent in listed InterGlobe Aviation, operator of IndiGo.

Apart from aviation, InterGlobe Enterprises also has interests in hospitality, airline management, travel commerce, advanced pilot training, aircraft maintenance engineering and real estate.

In a letter to the SEBI in July 2019, Gangwal had highlighted the issue, and said that various RPTs with the IGE Group were executed without seeking audit committee approvalwithout seeking competitive bids from third parties and various RPTs with the IGE Group have been signed with retrospective effect (backdated).

In reply to Gangwal, the IGE had said that RPTs are neither of any magnitude nor of any materiality for the Company... monetary payment under RPT is less than 1% of the total consolidated turnover of the Company.

It is not clear whether the undisclosed RPTs found by SEBI are the same as those highlighted by Gangwal.

In any case, the IndiGo co-founders seemed to have amends after the IndiGo board changed its policy on RPTs in August 2019.

As per the new policy on RPTs, if a transaction exceeds Rs 2 crore, there will be a requirement of the four-step process for its approval.

However, the truce seemed to have been temporary as Bhatia later moved the international arbitration court in London against Gangwal. While Gangwal called for an EGM to amend IndiGos Articles of Association. The move didnt get the approval of the shareholders.

The transactions

Like many large companies, IndiGo has undertaken many RPTs, which are legal so long as they are approved and disclosed through the required process.

For instance, some of IndiGos transactions with InterGlobe Air Transport and its units, the general sales agent for IndiGo, have the highest value. Two units, InterGlobe Hotels and Caddie Hotels, provide accommodation and transport to IndiGo's crew. InterGlobe has a joint venture -- set up in 2004 -- with multinational hospitality major Accor and runs the Ibis brand of hotels in India.

Likewise, the group also has a joint venture with CAE Inc., a world leader in modelling, simulation and training for civil aviation and defence. The joint venture, CAE Simulation Training, provides training to IndiGo pilots.

The real estate arm of IGE, InterGlobe Real Estate claims to manage funds and assets worth $300 million and has a portfolio of a million square feet. IndiGo's headquarters in Gurugram is owned by this unit of the Group, and requiring the airline to pay rent.

However, some of these have become the subject of controversy with proxy firms also raising an alarm.

In its report, IIAS had said that investors must question the need for related party transactions in the first instance. Why should allied services required by the airline be owned and provided by promoter-controlled entities?

IiAS drew a parallel with Sun Pharmas dealing with its related company Aditya Medisales, transactions with which got it under the regulators lens.

Such operating structures add a layer of opacity and create investor mistrust at the first inkling of wrong-doing. While the IGE group can continue to assert that the related party transactions are a non-issue, such structures have often been the cause of financial leakages in other companies in the past, the proxy advisory firm said.
Concluding his jam-packed maiden two-day visit to India, United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday night emplaned for his country from New Delhi.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump board the Air Force One, concluding their two-day India visit on Tuesday night. Photograph: ANI Photo

The US President participated in a host of engagements over the course of his nearly-36-hour-long trip, including a roadshow, visit to the Taj Mahal, addressing a mammoth crowd at the 'Namaste Trump' event at Ahmedabad, among others.

During the visit, India and the United States further strengthened their defence cooperation, with the two countries giving a nod to an agreement under which India will get $3 billion of advanced military equipment including Apache and MH-60 Romeo helicopters.

In the final engagement of the visit, the US President participated in a banquet dinner hosted by his Indian counterpart Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Several Indian dignitaries including Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Ministers of several states, among others were also present at the dinner.

In his banquet speech, Trump said he had 'tremendous two days' during which lot of business was done.

"It was very special two days. I love India, I respect Indians. We will be back, we will be back," he said.

Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday night thanked the US President for coming to India.

Modi also said, 'We have covered great ground as far as strengthening bilateral relations are concerned.'

This visit, he said, has been a 'path-breaking one'.

'India-USA friendship benefits the people of our nations and the world,' Modi said in a series of tweets.

'Thank you @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS @MELANIATRUMP for coming to India...I am delighted that @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS @MELANIATRUMP saw different aspects of Indian culture and hospitality,' he said.

The people of India welcomed them with immense warmth, Modi said.

In another tweet, the prime minister said India is happy to have hosted President Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner.

'Your liking towards India is clearly visible ... My best wishes to you in your endeavours to further empowerment and enterprise among women,' he said.

Modi hoped to see the two 'back in India soon'.

He was responding to a tweet by Ivanka about her visit to Sabarmati ashram on Monday.

'Visiting the Gandhi Ashram at Sabarmati; home to the ideology that set India free and a wellspring of inspiration and guidance,' she had written.

-- with PTI inputs
Patna: The Bihar Assembly has passed a resolution not to implement the NRC in the state. The Assembly also unanimously passed a resolution to implement the NPR in its 2010 form.

The issue was raised by the Opposition parties which were initially opposed by the members of treasury bench. Trouble erupted in the House when the leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav called for adjournment motion and termed the Citizenship Act, NPR and NRC as divisive and Kala Kanoon (black law).

While replying to the Opposition demands earlier Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that NRC wont be implemented in Bihar and claimed that the state government has also written a letter to the Centre urging it to drop additional clauses inserted into the NPR form.

The state government, however, said that a proposal has been sent to include a column for transgenders into the NPR form. The NPR work has to be completed across the country between April 1 and September 30. In Bihar, the exercise to update the NPR will take place between May 15 and 28.

With Assembly elections slated to be held in November, political temperature has been high since the Citizenship Act came into force. The state has been witnessing massive protest against the CAA-NPR-NRC in several districts including Patna.

CPI leader and former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar has also been leading a state-wide Jan Gan Man Yatra and addressing series of public meetings against the CAA-NPR-NRC.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has also been facing flak in Bihar from the Opposition over his partys support to the Citizenship Act in the Parliament.

The unanimous resolution was passed in the state Assembly on our demand. I am thankful to all the political parties who supported us in our fight. The BJP which has been claiming that it wont move even an inch on issues like NRC-NPR looked helpless while the resolution was passed in the assembly, Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav said.

Political analysts claim that the JD(U) has been worried after a section in BJP adopted an aggressive approach on the issue and urged the Centre to identify illegal immigrants by implementing NRC.
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. - The Butte Environmental Council will meet Tuesday, Feb. 25, to discuss sustainable ways to expand affordable housing.

It's going to take place at 6 p.m. and will last until 8:30 in the evening.

Members from the Butte Environmental Council told Action News Now that with the growing population in the county, more homes need to be built.

They'll be proposing some possible solutions to the housing shortage and the reduction of greenhouse gases.

RELATED: California lawmakers: eye limits on housing project fees

Butte Environmental members said almost 2% of the homes were not lived in during the Camp Fire.

Action News Now asked a member about why people should attend.

"The intersection of development and climate change is probably going to be one of the most important issues for decades to come," said Eric Chisler, a member of the Butte Environmental Council.

This is an RSVP event, to attend email brycegoldstein@yahoo.com after that, the location will be provided.
Sixty is the new 45, 80 is the new 60, and 100 is  well, really dang old. But even centenarians know that once you stop learning, you star...
The Turkish army has been hit by airstrikes, pushing up the number of Turkish soldiers killed in Idleb reports Al-Masdar.

Several soldiers from the Turkish Army were reportedly killed or wounded this afternoon following the joint airstrikes launched by the Syrian and Russian air forces in Idleb province.

According to pro-opposition media, as many as ten Turkish soldiers were killed or wounded as a result of the joint Russian-Syrian airstrikes near the town of Kansafra.

Furthermore, opposition activists claimed that several Turkish military vehicles were destroyed because of these strikes.

The Turkish Ministry of Defense has yet comment on these claims; however, if true, this could put the Turkish militarys death toll at over 20 in the past week.

At the same time, the Turkish-backed militants from the National Liberation Front, alongside their jihadist allies, are currently trying to capture the town of Nayrab from the Syrian army.

A source from the Syrian army said that Turkish artillery has targeted their positions around Nayrab and that they are currently confronting the militants.

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.
United States Force Korea's Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. Yonhap



U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) has limited all service members' off-installation travel and implemented a tougher process for accessing garrisons following the first coronavirus case among its members.



On Monday, a 61-year-old USFK widowed dependent residing in the southeastern city of Daegu tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the U.S. military to raise the risk level to "high" from "moderate" across the country that calls for stronger countermeasures.



"Expect longer wait times, possible temperature checks and screening questionnaires at gates to access installations," USFK said in a release updated on its website late Monday.



It also limits off-installation travel, as well as non-mission essential in-person meetings, gatherings and temporary duty travel and assignments, according to the release.




Donald and Melania Trump reportedly skipped a meal at Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat but a sumptuous meal awaits them at Rashtrapati Bhavan today.

President Ram Nath Kovind will be hosting a state dinner in the honour of the US President. Though the cuisine for the dinner will be dominantly Indian, the American palette has been kept in mind too. If a song was to be sung for the food it would be probably called Mile food mera tumhara.

Twitter

According to News18, the US President will be served an orange-based dish laced with gold varq as an appetizer. For starters, instead of the traditional fish tikka, POTUS will be served salmon tikka.

In vegetarian starters, there will be aloo tikka and palak or spinach chaat.

Delicious.com

The main course will have raan, which is a roast of a mutton leg, with gravy and mutton biryani. There will also be pulao, gucchi or mushroom matar (peas). A special item dal raisina will be on the menu too. Dal raisina is special as it was invented by Rashtrapati Bhavans former chef Machindra Kasture and prepared with ingredients such as urad dal, rajma and kasuri methi.

Pinterest

The desserts will also a fusion of Indian and American delicaies. Malpua and rabri will be reportedly served with apple pie and vanilla ice-cream.

The dishes will be prepared by the professional chef at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

From the sound of the entire meal, Donald Trump and his entourage are in for a treat.
PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-25 00:41:29

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CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2020 / Prospera Energy Inc. (TSXV:PEI)(FRA:OF6A) ("Prospera" or the "Corporation") announces the resignation of Robert Richardson as Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. Sarshar Ahmad, President and a director of the Corporation, will assume the role of interim Chief Executive Officer while the Corporation finalizes its plans with respect to Mr. Richardson's replacement.Prospera's board would like to thank Mr. Richardson for his many contributions to the Corporation and wishes him every success in his future endeavors.About ProsperaProspera Energy Inc. is a Canadian natural resource Corporation engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of oil and gas properties with operations in Alberta and western Saskatchewan.For further information:Sarshar AhmadInterim Chief Executive Officer & DirectorEmail: sahmad@ prosperaenergy.com Tel: (403)454-9010Website: www.prosperaenergy.com FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSThis news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Corporation and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Corporation, 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. More particularly, it may contain forward- looking statements concerning the assumption by Sarshar Ahmad of the role of interim Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and Corporation's plans with respect to Mr. Richardson's replacement.Although Prospera believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because Prospera can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward- looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general (e.g., operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses, and health, safety and environmental risks), commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations and uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures.The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Prospera. As a result, Prospera cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and Prospera does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward- looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by Canadian securities law.Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Prospera Energy Inc.
A teenager allegedly committed



suicide in a police lock-up late Monday night in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, an official said.

Jigar Solanki (19) was held some hours earlier by Kagdapith police for allegedly entering into a scuffle with his neighbour, the official said.

"At around 11:10pm on Monday, he hanged himself from an iron grill of the lock-up with a piece of cloth torn from a shawl. The incident has been captured by the CCTV camera installed in the premises," Inspector UD Jadeja of Kagdapith police station said.

"He was arrested under section 151 of CrPC after he fought with his neighbour," Jadeja added.

However, Solanki's family alleged police negligence and several of them protested demanding registration of a case against errant officials.

Local channels played the CCTV footage of the suicide.

Section 151 of Code of Criminal Procedure empowers a police officer to arrest, without orders from a magistrate and without a warrant, a person if it appears that the commission of an offence cannot be otherwise prevented.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Stop saying that Bernie Sanders cant win.

Stop saying that he cant defeat President Donald 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, 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.

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.

Yes, I know all the issues with a Sanders candidacy.

First, he is a self-described democratic socialist. I dont believe most people know what that means, but it is different, and Trump will make it sound frightening, and many Americans are likely to be wary of it.

The larger problem here is that the absolute definition isnt quite fixed. In 2017 Voxs Jeff Stein wrote an article titled 9 questions about the Democratic Socialists of America you were too embarrassed to ask.

Steins first question was, What does DSA believe in? His answer:

Like most socialist organizations, DSA believes in the abolition of capitalism in favor of an economy run either by the workers or the state  though the exact specifics of abolishing capitalism are fiercely debated by socialists.

Not even academics agree. As Frances Fox Piven, a scholar of the left at the City University of New York and a former DSA board member, told Stein, The academic debates about socialisms meaning are huge and arcane and rife with disagreements, but what all definitions have in common is either the elimination of the market or its strict containment.

Sanders has his own definition, which he explained in a CNN town hall in Washington, D.C.:

What democratic socialism means to me is having, in a civilized society, the understanding that we can make sure that all of our people live in security and in dignity. Health care is a human right.

He went on to say, When I talk about democratic socialism, what I talk about are human rights and economic rights.

Thats too broad and amorphous. This will be a tremendous hurdle. He will need to refine the term and defang it. But being in the throes of a presidential campaign is not exactly the time to educate the American people on an exotic political label.

In addition, the Russians and Trump seem to want him to win the nomination. That is worrisome. The Russians may well like some of Sanders noninterventionist foreign policy instincts, but it is just as likely that they find Sanders to be the most destabilizing Democratic candidate.

Then there is the overall idea that Sanders is calling for nothing short of a political revolution that fundamentally reshapes the country. For some people, particularly many young ones, this is an extremely attractive idea. But for others it is absolutely terrifying.

Medicare for All, one of Sanders central policies, has a problem gaining traction even among Democrats. As a recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll found, More Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents would prefer voting for a candidate who wants to build on the ACA in order to expand coverage and reduce costs rather than replace the ACA with a national Medicare for All plan.

Furthermore, there are jitters among the Democratic political class that Sanders is running against them, not with them, and will have a negative effect down ballot. Sanders Twitter account tweeted last week:

Ive got news for the Republican establishment. Ive got news for the Democratic establishment. They cant stop us.

That establishment includes the Democrats now in office. It includes the Democratic majority that now controls the House of Representatives. Indeed, you could argue that it even includes Sanders himself.

Sanders has work to do. He has some very real hurdles to clear. And it will not be easy. His opponents would use every instrument at their disposal during a general election to tar and feather him.

But, all that stated, I still wouldnt doubt his ability to win. There is a very real desire for real change in this country. It would be a mistake to discount it.
The Executive Council of the African Union has supported Akinwumi Adesinas candidacy for a second term as President of the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org).

The decision was taken during the thirty-sixth Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council, held during the AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 6-7 February 2020.

Mr Adesina was elected to his first term as president by the Banks Board of Governors at its Annual Meetings in Abidjan on 28 May 2015. He is the eighth President of the African Development Bank Group and the first Nigerian in the post.

During his first term, the Banks shareholders approved a landmark $115 billion capital increase in late October. The increase in the capital base, from $93 billion to $208 billion, signaled strong support from the Board of Governors in the continents foremost financial institution.

Mr Adesina is a renowned development economist who has held a number of high-profile international positions, including with the Rockefeller Foundation, and as Nigerias Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from 2011 to 2015.

The African Union Executive Council comprises 55 ministers of foreign affairs representing the member states of the African Union.

In December 2019, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also endorsed (https://bit.ly/32pGz9w) Mr Adesina for a second term as Bank chief. The election will again take place at the Banks Annual Meetings in May in Abidjan.

Source: Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
GETTY

A federal government committee examining artificial intelligence (AI) will now be within the frame of the abuse and use of facial recognition, NDP MP Charlie Angus said.

Angus, a member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI), said in a phone interview that towards the end of the last parliamentary session the committee had the aim of studying AI but never managed to address all the implications of facial recognition.

The ETHI committee has yet to pick its first topic to study and investigate, but Angus said that while a number of ideas have been brought forward, this definitely received a very strong mandate.

We want to pace ourselves in this, we want to make sure we get the proper witness list but I think this looks like job one for our committee, he said.

In January, The New York Times reported that Clearview AI is working with hundreds of law enforcement agencies in the U.S., including the F.B.I.

The company allows users to take a picture of a person, and if the photo matches a face in its three billion image database, it can potentially provide information like names, addresses, and other details.

The three billion photos are harvested from Facebook, Venmo, Youtube, and other sites.

Since then, Facebook, Twitter, Venmo, and YouTube have filed cease-and-desist letters to Clearview AI to stop harvesting users images.

Angus said that the ETHI committee will begin the study in the next few weeks, adding that hes gotten support from all parties.

I received a lot of support from the other parties on this... it will probably begin with an initial briefing by the Privacy Commissioner, he said, adding that beginning the investigation will take some time because of a new committee that will need to be brought up to speed.

In February, Canadas Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien launched an investigation into the use of the facial recognition app Clearview AI, after the Toronto Police Service and Halton Regional Police revealed they each used the controversial app to identify individuals in its investigations.

Story continues

Angus noted that the committee has yet to come up with a full list of witnesses but noted that questions they intend to ask include do we need an initial ban until we lay down ground rules? Do we have judicial oversight? How do we ensure that facial recognition technology is not being used to abuse the rights of citizens?

He noted that Therriens recommendations were valid but that the next step would be to bring him to the committee and further question him.

Study cant result in fluff, there should be focus on action: Ann Cavoukian

Ann Cavoukian, former information and privacy commissioner of Ontario, said in an interview that she was delighted that the ETHI committee was going to study facial recognition, but cautioned that the study and investigation shouldnt be fluff.

In the European Union, they put out a paper last week about [AI] and the things that had to be done. But essentially, it had no substance and it said if there was a significant risk posed by AI then we should investigate. I mean, theoretically, everything could be at risk, Cavoukian said.

I would urge people here in Canada, we have to dig deep into this and get some really solid expertise from the AI community.

Former ETHI member and current Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith told Yahoo Finance Canada in a previous interview that the government has an algorithmic impact assessment framework established, but it has not been implemented yet. Until it is, he said [police] agencies shouldnt be employing AI where there are obvious [negative] effects on civil liberties.

But Cavoukian had not even heard of the framework and said that the government has to walk the talk.

Im sure part of it is that they just dont know what to do, you can have all the rules in place, but they have to be meaningful and if you dont apply some concrete measures as to how those rules are implemented, they mean nothing, she said.

Cavoukian said that a study, like what the ETHI committee is planning to do, is good, but the end result is that it isnt left at just a study.

You examine it, you make the recommendations, but then you focus on action. Action is always the missing piece on all of this, she said. You can have all the studies in the world and great recommendations, they mean nothing if theyre not implemented.

With files from Associated Press
The Malad police on Monday traced and arrested a 33-year-old man from Mehsana, Gujarat, who worked as technical head of a private company in Mumbai, for allegedly siphoning off 2.71 crore from the company over a period of six years.

According to Malad police, the arrested accused, Rohit Rathod, 33, is a resident of Dahisar (East).

The company has over 100 employees and provides holiday packages, travel tickets and money transfers. Rathod worked as the technical head of the company since 2010.

The company alleged that Rathod had software to check its payment system. From 2014 till January 2020, Rathod, with the help of his aide, misused the payment system and made changes in the software and siphoned off 2.71 crore. As Rathod also played a role in the auditing, he covered his tracks, the company alleged.

The company suspected something amiss and conducted a fresh audit after which Rathods role surfaced. When the companys director called Rathod in his cabin for an explanation in January, Rathod abruptly left from office and never returned. Rathods aide who headed the admin department was then called inside the cabin for questioning. Rathods aide spilt the beans on him and confessed he too benefited from the fraud.

An FIR was then registered on February 18 for criminal breach of trust and forgery against Rathod and his aide after a complaint by the companys representative.

During the investigation, the Malad police learnt that a large amount of money from the company was transferred to a bank account of Rothods relative. Based on technical evidence, Rathod was traced to Mehsana. Gujarat police nabbed Rathod and handed him over to Malad police. George Fernandes, senior police inspector of Malad police confirmed the arrest. The police are now trying to recover the money from the accused.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 19:25:47|Editor: ZD

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Protesters set vehicles on fire during a protest over controversial new citizenship law in New Delhi, India, Feb. 24, 2020. A policeman was killed Monday during violent clashes over controversial citizenship law in the Indian capital city Delhi, police said. (Xinhua/Str)

NEW DELHI, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A policeman was killed Monday during violent clashes over controversial citizenship law in the Indian capital city Delhi, police said.

The head constable was killed in the clashes that broke out between pro- and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) groups in the northeastern part of the city.

"The violence escalated today and massive stone-pelting broke out between the two groups. Policemen trying to contain the situation," a police official not authorized to talk to media said. "Unfortunately a policeman of the rank of head constable was killed in the violence."

According to the police official, they were trying to ascertain the details that led to the killing of the policeman.

Reports said the protesters have resorted to arson in Jaffrabad and Maujpur areas.

Clashes in the area started on Sunday and several policemen were injured.
CALGARYA woman has been charged in the aggravated assault of her 11-month-old daughter nearly two years ago and an investigation continues into injuries the childs twin brother was found with.

The girl was brought to the Alberta Childrens Hospital in Calgary with a broken arm in March 2018.

Police say they investigated because the injury was not consistent with a story the mother told doctors. Officers found the girls twin in the same home.

A medical examination of him found that he had a fractured right ankle and multiple skull fractures, Det. Amy Spence of the Calgary Police Service child abuse unit said Tuesday.

It is believed that the mother was the only caregiver for the children at the time ... and no plausible explanation for the childrens injuries has been provided by her.

Spence said the investigation began shortly after hospital authorities informed police. She said the children were moved out of the home.

Its not unusual for cases involving small children to take some time before charges are laid, said Spence.

They become a little bit more complex when were dealing with children that are under the age of two, typically, and they cant tell us a story or speak for themselves.

Spence said the woman, who cannot be identified to protect the identities of the children, was not known to police. Spence is hoping to hear from friends or neighbours who might be able to shed more light on the case.

I am hoping for additional information to come forward and the injuries relating to the boy are still a very active investigation.

There has been an increase in reports of child abuse and the unit already has 150 cases since the beginning of the year, Spence said. It could be that the public is more comfortable coming forward to report alleged child abuse, she added.

Although it can take us some time to figure out, we want to make sure that we do our best to support the safety of these kids.

The woman is to appear in court Monday.

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Eric McGill, awaiting trial in a shooting case, wants a federal judge to release him from solitary confinement in the central Pennsylvania county jail, where he has been confined for more than a year because he refuses to cut dreadlocks that hold religious significance for him

An inmate awaiting trial in a shooting case wants a federal judge to release him from solitary confinement in a central Pennsylvania county jail, where he has been for more than a year because he refuses to cut dreadlocks that hold religious significance for him.

The hand-written lawsuit filed in October by Eric S. McGill Jr. against three senior administrators at the Lebanon County Correctional Facility shifted gears last week, when a set of lawyers produced an amended complaint that warned McGill's mental health is deteriorating.

It said McGill, 27, of Lebanon, an adherent of Rastafarianism, suffers anxiety attacks two or three times a week, and they are usually triggered by thoughts of his jail conditions and placement in solitary.

'By keeping Mr. McGill in solitary confinement because he refuses to cut off his dreadlocks, (the) defendants have inhibited his right to free exercise of religion for no legitimate penological purpose,' his lawyers told the court last week, seeking an order that he be placed in the jail's general population, as well as damages.

Lebanon County's lawyer for labor and employment matters, Peggy Morcom, declined to comment Tuesday, citing a practice of not discussing litigation. But in a pair of filings two months ago, she argued that state law lets county jails set inmate hair styles so that they 'comply with sanitation and security policies.'

McGill believes his spirit lives through his dreadlocks and that he would lose strength and essence needed for the afterlife were he to cut them

The county argues its policy was established because inmates could hide contraband, as well as to 'ensure security and cleanliness.' It also cited a 2006 state Commonwealth Court decision involving the state Department of Corrections that Morcom wrote 'held that the legitimate interests of the correctional facility outweighed any rights the prisoner had' to wear hair in dreadlocks.

The state prison system amended its inmate grooming policy in July 2016, and inmates currently have no restriction on the length of their hair.

State inmates can be subject to searches of their hair, including by having their own fingers run through their hair. Dreadlocks can be checked with a handheld metal detector.

Those rules do not apply to county jails, such as the Lebanon County Correctional Facility.

Currently, McGill is allowed one hour outside of his cell in the security housing unit, five days a week, between midnight and 2am

'Plaintiff was repeatedly offered the opportunity to obtain a haircut pursuant to the haircut procedures to remove his dreadlocks,' Morcom wrote last month. 'Plaintiff refused to remove his dreadlocks.'

His lawyers say McGill believes his spirit lives through his dreadlocks and that he would lose strength and essence needed for the afterlife were he to cut them.

McGill gets one hour outside of his cell in the security housing unit, five days a week, between midnight and 2am. That is also the time when he may phone his family.

McGill is scheduled for trial in late March on multiple counts of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and other crimes in connection with a January 2019 shooting that injured four people.

Police said they heard gunfire at about 5am on a Saturday and chased a vehicle without its lights on.

Two guns were thrown from the car before it was stopped. McGill was arrested after a foot chase, police said, and jailed on $1 million bail.
Technology majors around the globe spend an enormous amount of money on cybersecurity annually. The practice to be on guard against cyber attacks, however, faces a grave shortage of a relevant workforce. This workforce comprises of White Hat Hackers that try to find vulnerabilities in the cybersecurity put in place by these companies. As per a bug bounty platform named HackerOne, a large proportion of these ethical hackers are from India and believe it or not, they collectively managed to win more than Rs 287 crore from the platform last year alone.



For those unaware, bug bounty programs are basically reward programs for hackers who find any vulnerability in the cybersecurity put in place by tech companies. Founded in 2012, HackerOne is a platform that brings together such tech companies and the ethical hackers who can find and fix any security vulnerability they might have. With an impressive clientele having names like Google, Airbnb, Alibaba, Goldman Sachs, Spotify, Dropbox, as well as the U.S. Department of Defense among others, HackerOne claims to have handed out $40 million (~Rs 287.4 crore) in bounties in 2019 alone.

(Representative Image: Reuters)

These bounties have an interesting break-up as shared by HackerOne in its annual hacker report. The company says that U.S.-based hackers earned 19% of these bounties in 2019. The top position was followed by hackers from India (10%), Russia (8%), China (7%), Germany (5%) and Canada (4%).



The percentage marks a total count of 3,150 hackers who were a part of this report. The annual report highlights an important rise in the practice as a viable career option. 18% of respondents of the survey, for instance, claimed to be full-time hackers, while another 40% said that they spent around 20 hours every week in bug hunting.

The Payout

What started out as a dreaded, undesirable as well as an illegal practice slowly turned into a hobby of many. The hobby, however, has now given way to a respectable career with a solid payout for those with the skills to carry it out at the top level.

Taking the case of HackerOne, the company announced that it now has eight members who have earned $1 million (~Rs 7.1 crore) or more in lifetime earnings. 13 others have now earned more than $500,000 (~Rs 3.6 crore). HackerOne claims to have paid out $82 million (~Rs 590 crore) in bounties since it was formed in 2012.

The payout is not just for the hackers, as the industry as a whole has an ever-lasting or rather ever-increasing demand. HackerOne, for instance, has managed to raise more than $100 million (~Rs 718 crore) since its inception.

Kyle (no last name provided) of the UK-based Secarma, an ethical hacking company. (Image: Reuters)

That is just one platform for bug bounty programs. Tech majors including Apple and Google have also started coming up with their own bug bounty rewards. While the former is offering up to $1 million this year through its iPhone bug bounty program, Google has a similar reward up for grabs for ethical hackers.



So it does not take a genius to see that the demand for ethical hacking is only going to grow in an already scarce pool of talent. With such immense payouts being offered, and rightfully so as these bug bounty programs help the companies reduce their expense in disaster-control measures further down the line, only more enthusiasts will find appeal in this line of work. And that, is exactly how we will see an virtuous and talented workforce emerge from the remains of a dishonorable practice.
The White House plans to spend a total of $2.5 billion fighting the deadly new coronavirus as infections mushroom around the globe, US media reported Monday.

In a request to Congress, President Donald Trump's administration asked for $1.8 billion in emergency spending, according to The Washington Post.

The request was for $1.25 billion in new funding for the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the transfer of an additional USD 535 million originally set aside to fight Ebola.

The White House said it expected to draw additional money from other agencies throughout the government, as well as from the re-prioritization of Health and Human Services funding, for a total of $2.5 billion.

The funds will be spent on areas such as laboratory tests, quarantine, vaccine research and development as well as supporting affected states, The Washington Post said.

Democrats immediately slammed the request as too low, and accused the White House of dropping the ball on disease preparedness and funding.

"The President's request for coronavirus response funding is long overdue and completely inadequate to the scale of this emergency," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

"For almost two years, the Trump Administration has left critical positions in charge of managing pandemics at the National Security Council and the Department of Homeland Security vacant," she added in a statement.

"His most recent budget called for slashing funding for the Centers for Disease Control, which is on the frontlines of this emergency. And now, the President is compounding our vulnerabilities by seeking to ransack funds still needed to keep Ebola in check."



Pelosi said the House of Representatives will "swiftly advance a strong, strategic funding package that fully addresses the scale and seriousness of this public health crisis."



The new coronavirus has peaked in China but could still grow into a pandemic, the World Health Organization has warned.

The coronavirus situation is worsening in other countries, with more than 2,000 cases and 30 deaths reported abroad, prompting a raft of restrictions on travelers from infected nations.

There are 53 cases in the United States so far, including 39 among people repatriated from China and the Diamond Princess cruise ship off Japan.

"Despite urgent warnings from Congress and the public health community, the Trump administration took weeks to request these emergency funds," said House Appropriations Committee chairwoman Nita Lowey.

"It is profoundly disturbing that their answer now is to raid money Congress has designated for other critical public health priorities. Worse still, their overall request still falls short of what is needed for an effective, comprehensive government-wide response.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The UN Security Council on Tuesday renewed its sanctions regime on Yemen for another year, after tense negotiations between Britain and Russia, which threatened to veto any mention, even implicit, of Iran.

Thirteen countries eventually adopted the London-drafted resolution on the sanctions, which now are in effect through February 2021. Russia and China abstained.

The sanctions plan, which would have expired on Wednesday, includes the extension of the mandate of UN experts who monitor the arms embargo imposed in 2015.

The resolution also extends the measures that provide for the freezing of assets and travel bans on targeted officials.

Talks had been ongoing for a week with little apparent difficulty, but suddenly on Monday, Moscow said it could not support the text drafted by London.

It threatened to use its veto and offered a counterproposal, diplomats said.

Russia was up in arms over any mention of Iran, which backs the Huthi rebels in their battle with government forces supported by a Saudi-led military coalition.

A recent report from the UN experts who monitor the arms embargo said the Huthis had been in possession since 2019 of new weapons -- drones and cruise missiles -- with "technical characteristics similar to arms" produced in Iran.

The report did not say whether the weapons were delivered to the Huthis directly by the government in Tehran, which has repeatedly denied sending them arms.

During the Security Council negotiations, Britain initially abandoned any mention of Iran.

But then -- shortly before the vote and after France and Belgium stepped in to mediate -- London agreed to omit any reference to the arms possessed by the Huthis and their similarity to Iranian weapons.

Non-governmental organizations say the conflict in Yemen has claimed tens of thousands of lives, most of them civilians. The UN says the war has provoked the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.
[February 25, 2020] World-Leading Telco Selects VAST Data Universal Storage To Power Tens of Petabytes of Splunk Ingest

NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VAST Data , a storage company breaking decades-old tradeoffs, today announced that it has been selected by a major U.S. telecommunications company to transform the speed, serviceability and economics of its Splunk environment. The many-petabyte VAST all-flash storage cluster will ingest up to 1PB of log data per day while also abandoning the notion that long-retention log data should be slow to search on.

VASTs Universal Storage platform is built entirely from affordable all-flash infrastructure and will enable rapid search for all of the customers Splunk data. By rolling their logs onto shared, network accessible storage, this customer can now depopulate data from Splunk indexer servers so that upgrades can be performed much faster. The VAST Data Cold.Flash solution introduces significant economic benefits for the customer, making it possible to finally afford flash storage for all hot and cold data: VASTs advanced support for low-cost QLC Flash enables savings that are greater than the more-expensive types of enterprise flash storage commonly found in Splunk hot storage buckets

VASTs low-overhead erasure codes only add 2.5% system overhead at scale, which represents dramatic savings over replication-based (100% overhead) or triplication-based (200% overhead) solutions to protect Splunk log data

VASTs similarity-based data reduction reduces all replicated Splunk buckets down to a single instance of storage with the added benefit of being able to further compress Splunk logs and index data that has already been reduced by Splunk



Organizations are generating massive streams of machine data, and flash is the obvious choice for organizations whose mission is to transform this data into insight, said Jeff Denworth, VP Products and Co-founder at VAST Data. Were proud to be the storage solution of choice for some of the worlds leading data-driven IT Operations and Security teams, including this major U.S. telecommunications organization, enabling them to search on vast reserves of data in real-time, without needing to wrestle with any tradeoffs between performance and capacity. Simply put, VASTs 100% flash solution future-proofs any Splunk infrastructure investment.

VAST will be hosting a webinar on March 12 at 11 am ET to discuss VASTs Cold.Flash architecture for Splunk. Visit here to register and for a quick overview of VAST Datas Cold.Flash solution for Splunk environments, please click here . About VAST Data

Headquartered in New York City, VAST Data is a storage company bringing an end to complex storage tiering and HDD usage in the enterprise. VAST consolidates applications onto a highly scalable tier of all-flash storage to meet the performance needs of the most demanding workloads while also redefining the economics of flash infrastructure to finally make it affordable enough to store all of your data on flash. Since its launch in February 2019, VAST has established itself as the fastest-selling storage startup in history. VASTs Universal Storage now powers several of the worlds leading data-centric computing centers. For more information, please visit https://www.vastdata.com/ and follow VAST Data on Twitter and LinkedIn . Media Contact

Highwire PR for VAST Data

[email protected]

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In 1968, Stanford entomologist Paul Ehrlich published The Population Bomb, warning that the earth was overpopulated and that millions of people would starve to death. His doomsday warning did not come true. Starvation has occurred on much smaller scales, due largely to government mismanagement and corruption, not overpopulation.

Yet the myth of overpopulation persists. Ecologist Emma Olliff of the UK based group Population Matters recently said, More of us is only going to make (the environment) worse.[1] This kind of reasoning was famously cited by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who are choosing to have only two children because of global overpopulation.

At this years World Economic Forum in Davos, famed primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall said that human population growth is responsible for most environmental problems.[2] Goodall stated, All these (environmental) things we talk about wouldnt be a problem if there was the size of the population that there was 500 years ago. Apparently, Goodall pines for the good ol days when the average life expectancy was around 40 years of age and infant mortality was around 20%.

Human life is not the problem, and human death is not the solution. Since the publication of The Population Bomb, several books have debunked the myth of overpopulation, including The Myth of Over-Population (1969) R.J. Rushdoony, Fewer (2004) by Ben Wattenberg, and Population Control (2008) by Steven Mosher. Governments in Japan, Finland, Italy, and Australia (to name a few) are now paying people to have babies.[3]

Currently, no European country has a population replacement rate of 2.1 babies per woman.[4] Globally, many countries are below the replacement rate, including China (1.7), Brazil (1.7), Canada (1.5), Puerto Rico (1.1), Thailand (1.5), and Chile (1.7).[5]

In 1968, the fear was global starvation. In 2020, humans waste 1.6 billion tons of food at a cost of $1.2 trillion dollars annually.[6] In 1968 the fear was overpopulation. In 2020, under-populated towns and cities are paying people to move there.[7]

Overpopulation is an old myth. Catastrophic predictions about human population and food shortage go back (at least) to nineteenth-century Anglican pastor and economist Thomas Robert Malthus. In his book An Essay on the Principle of Population, Malthus argued that human population would outpace food production. Malthus advocates preventative measures such as family planning, late marriages, and celibacy.

Global overpopulation is not only a myth; it is a dangerous myth. Bernie Sanders recently said that abortion is an important way of addressing global overpopulation.[8]

National Public Radio (NPR) has even reported on the research of journalist Mei Fong, who in her book One Child (2016), estimated that Chinas one-child policy led to 30 million forced abortions.[9]

In popular culture, Thanos (of the Marvel Universe) channels his inner Malthus in 2018s Avengers: Infinity War, saying, "The universe is finite, its resources finite, if life is left unchecked, life will cease to exist." This is the same faulty logic (and bad theology) peddled by Malthus, Ehrlich, Goodall, and Sanders. Unlike in the Marvel Universe, the bad guys arent always so easy to spot.

God created marriage between a man and a woman, commanded human procreation, and placed the family as the primary building block of human flourishing in a world that He equipped to accommodate human growth. He did this, in part by, by creating humans with a capacity to solve problems using science and technology. As global population has grown, standards of living and life expectancy has increased while infant and extreme poverty has decreased.

Ideas have consequences. The idea of overpopulation has resulted in global mass murder. It is a myth that continues to be used to justify both abortion and suicide.[10] Christians who believe in the sanctity of human life should expose the myth of overpopulation for what it often is: A pretext for murder and justification for opposing a biblical view of family and procreation.

[1] https://www.sciencefocus.com/planet-earth/human-overpopulation-can-having-fewer-children-really-make-a-difference/

[2] http://theconversation.com/why-we-should-be-wary-of-blaming-overpopulation-for-the-climate-crisis-130709

[3] https://money.com/government-pays-have-a-baby-low-birth-rate/

[4] http://worldpopulationreview.com/

[5] http://worldpopulationreview.com/

[6] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-food-waste/global-food-waste-could-rise-by-a-third-by-2030-study-idUSKCN1L61YR

[7] https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20160712-making-your-own-brexit-some-places-pay-you-to-move-there

[8]https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2019/09/05/bernie_sanders_abortion_and_population_control_are_important_parts_of_addressing_climate_change.html

[9] https://www.npr.org/2016/02/01/465124337/how-chinas-one-child-policy-led-to-forced-abortions-30-million-bachelors

[10] Stuart Youngner and Gerrit Kimsma, Physician-Assisted Death in Perspective (Cambridge University Press, 2012), 9.
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Linkedin Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 25, 2020 06:25 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20665249e 1 National coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,COVID-19,Indonesia,Hong-Kong,Muhadjir-Effendy,Terawan-Agus-Putranto Free

Indonesia plans to evacuate 188 citizens working as crew members aboard the World Dream cruise ship to an island off Java amid concerns over the coronavirus, the government has said.

Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy confirmed the repatriation plan on Monday following a meeting with President Joko Jokowi Widodo and Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto at the State Palace.

He said the Dr. Soeharso naval hospital ship had headed to the sea off Riau Island on Sunday to pick up the Indonesians abroad the ship, which had anchored in international waters near the provinces Bintan Island to facilitate the transfer of the crew members.

Muhadjir said all of the Indonesian evacuees would be brought to Sebaru Island, which is part of the Thousand Islands regency in Jakarta, for observation.

Sebaru is an [] uninhabited island, Muhadjir said. We consider it safe, because there are no inhabitants on the island and it has good facilities that we can just utilize.

The World Dream has suspended its operations after docking in Hong Kong earlier this month, where it had spent days in quarantine at Kai Tak Cruise terminal after three Chinese nationals who had been onboard the ship between Jan. 19 and 24 tested positive for the virus, Reuters reported.

The ships 1,800 passengers had disembarked in Hong Kong on Feb. 9, leaving onboard some 1,814 crew members, including Indonesians, according to World Dreams operator Dream Cruises.

Michael Goh, the Dream Cruises president, said that Hong Kong authorities had confirmed that all passengers and crew who sailed on the last voyage had gone through extensive health examinations, including body temperature checks.

All samples taken from the 1,814 crew members were negative of coronavirus and all passengers who had left the ship after the last trip had showed no symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection, Goh said in a statement as quoted by Antara.

He said Dream Cruises was working closely with local and regional authorities to facilitate the transfer and return of crew members given the diversity of their nationalities.

The repatriation of citizens aboard the World Dream came as the government planned the evacuation of dozens of Indonesian crew members of coronavirus-stricken Diamond Princess, who were still reported healthy after being quarantined with the ship for two weeks.

At least nine of 78 Indonesian crew members on the cruise ship tested positive for coronavirus alongside some 600 other infected people who had boarded the vessel.

Minister Terawan, however, said that in the meantime the government would focus on evacuating Indonesian citizens of the World Dream.

We now concentrate on the World Dream, because that is the closest to us. This has the smallest risk. We always take the smallest risk first and we will manage to provide good quarantine facilities, Terawan said.

Terawan said the government had decided to conduct the evacuation by sea in order to anticipate the spread of the virus if any was found.

This medical aspect must be considered well, not emotionally. It must be one at a time, for the safety of the country since we are still in the green zone, he added.

Indonesia has yet to confirm any coronavirus cases in the country to date. The far-flung virus, which has spread to some 30 countries, has killed more than 2,500 people in China and infected more than 77,000 worldwide.
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad on Tuesday made a fresh application in the Supreme Court over violence in Northeast Delhi, seeking direction to register FIRs on complaints made in respect of attacks that started in the evening of February 23. The court has agreed to hear his petition.

Seven people, including a Delhi Police head constable, were killed on Monday as people for and against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA clashed in Jafrabad and Maujpur in Northeast Delhi.

Azad has alleged in his petition that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kapil Mishra was responsible for inciting and orchestrating the violence.

Also Watch | Only 3 days...: BJP leaders threat to disobey Delhi cops amid CAA protests

He has also sought security for women protesting at Shaheen Bagh in south Delhi, which has come to national limelight. The anti-CAA protest at Shaheen Bagh has been going on for 80 days.

Protests have been going on in Northeast Delhi since Saturday night, but tension spiralled after Mishra demanded that the police remove the protesters within three days. We will wait till [US President Donald] Trump is here [in Delhi]. But after that, we wont even listen to you [the police] if the roads arent cleared. We are appealing you [police] to clear Jafrabad and Chand Bagh till Trump leaves. If not, well have to take to the streets, Mishra said in a video.

And after Mondays violence, Mishra appealed for peace. I appeal to everyone to stop violence as it will not lead to any solution. Whether it is people who are supporting CAA or those who are against it, I appeal everyone to maintain peace. Delhis brotherhood should remain intact.

The Bhim Army chief had written to Delhis Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Monday, expressing concern over the safety of people.

I am extremely concerned for the safety and security of people belonging to Muslim and Scheduled Caste community in many parts of North East Delhi and wish to visit the areas affected by violence. You are requested to kindly direct Delhi Police to provide adequate security for the visit, Azad said in his letter.

Azad had filed an affidavit in the apex court over Shaheen Bagh protest on Monday. He filed application along with former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah and social activist Syed Bahadur Abbas Naqvi.

The application says that the protest is peaceful and inconvenience being caused to commuters is due to barricades unnecessarily put by police on roads far away from the site.

Habibullah, in his affidavit, has stated that the protesters 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 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. It appointed two senior lawyers as interlocutors to talk to the protesters and convice them to move their protest to an alternate site. The interocutors submitted their reports to the court on Monday after holding talks with Shaheen Bagh protesters.

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.
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Volta Power Systems and Summit Bodyworks today announced a new partnership with Matco Tools to offer an idle-free, lithium ion power system to Matco franchisees. Matco Tools released a new line of trucks featuring the energy-saving systems this week at its National Tool Expo Conference in San Diego, CA. The Volta systems will enable Matco Tool Franchisees to save on maintenance costs and provide their shoppers a quiet retail environment by eliminating the need to continually idle their truck.

Matco Tools trucks now available with the Volta power system through partnership with Summit Bodyworks.

"We're excited to be able to offer our franchisees and customers a better, quieter, more environmentally-conscious shopping and selling experience," said Tim Gilmore, President of Matco Tools. "The Volta system will also help our Franchisees cut maintenance costs by cutting the strain of continuous engine idling."

As of August 2019, over half of all U.S. states have idling-reduction or restrictive emissions laws. In addition to environmental impact, fuel and oil changes can cost more than $8,300 per year for mobile retail trucks just from idling alone according to some estimates.

"Our team is ecstatic to be able to partner with Matco and help them move their fleet into the future of energy, making sure they have all the idle-free power they'll need to keep their business running smoothly wherever they are," said Jack Johnson, CEO of Volta Power Systems.

The all-day power system includes an automotive grade, NMC lithium ion storage pack that will provide Matco trucks with 18,000 Whs of storage and 3.6 kW of 120 AC (30A). The system provides all the energy operators need to power air conditioning, lighting, computer systems and more. Franchisees can recharge their systems overnight and take the power with them during the day.

"We're always looking for ways to empower our clients through innovative technologies," said Chris Munson, General Manager at Summit Bodyworks. "Partnering with Volta to give Matco Tools a cost-effective, green fleet solution is alignment with our mission."

Volta Power Systems builds complete lithium ion energy systems for virtually any mobile application including RV, utility and work trucks, marine, and other specialty vehicles.

Summit Bodyworks - Leader in the specialty vehicle industry with over 30 years' experience building custom tool stores and other specialty vehicles.

Matco Tools - Manufacturer and distributor of professional-quality automotive repair tools. Matco utilizes a network of independent franchised mobile distributors that operate in all 50 U.S. states, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Media Contact:

Vince Boileau

616-786-4461

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SOURCE Volta Power Systems

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A TV host has apologised to Bernie Sanders after likening his victory in the recent Nevada primary to the Nazi invasion of France.

Chris Matthews, a veteran presenter on the cable network MSNBC, said on Saturday the scale of Mr Sanders win had overwhelmed the Democratic Party just like the Germans had beaten France in 1940.

I was reading last night about the fall of France in the summer of 1940 and the general, Reynaud, calls up Churchill and says, Its over, he said during a broadcast. And Churchill says: How can that be? Youve got the greatest army in Europe. How can it be over? He said, Its over.

The remarks prompted an immediate backlash from figures on Mr Sanders campaign.

His communications director Mike Casca tweeted: Never thought part of my job would be pleading with a national news network to stop likening the campaign of a Jewish presidential candidate whose family was wiped out by the Nazis to the Third Reich.

In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win Show all 5 1 /5 In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win Bernie Sanders and his wife Jane, triumphant at hearing of Nevada Caucus win. in San Antonio Texas on 22 February 2020 Reuters In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win Bernie Sanders embraces his wife Jane at rally in San Antonio Texas on 22 February 2020 REUTERS In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win REUTERS In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win Bernie support raises sign and a thumbs-up to the news of Senator Sanders' win REUTERS In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win Bernie supporter cheer at the news of Sanders' win REUTERS

The socialist senator himself was reportedly so upset by the comparison he told his campaign manager to complain privately to MSNBC, the New York Times reported.

On Monday, Mr Matthews began his show Hardball with an apology, pledging to do a better job of elevating the political discussion.

As I watched the one-sided results of Saturdays democratic caucus in Nevada I reached for a historical analogy, and used a bad one, he said.

I was wrong to refer to an event from the first days of World War Two. Senator Sanders, I am sorry for comparing anything from that tragic era, in which so many suffered, especially the Jewish people, to an electoral result in which you were the well-deserved winner.

This is going to be a hard-fought campaign of ideas, and in the days and weeks to come I will strive to do a better job myself of elevating the political discussion.

Mr Sanders has established an early lead in the battle to take on Donald Trump in Novembers election, having topped the ballots in both Iowa and New Hampshire already.

In Nevada he swept the field, winning 47 per cent of the vote, far ahead of his nearest challenger Joe Biden, who claimed 20 per cent.

However, Saturdays incident was not the first time Mr Matthews had angered the Sanders campaign through his commentary on the presidential race.

 Bernie Sanders claims he can win Texas and defeat Trump

Earlier this month, the TV host appeared to imply Mr Sanders would have supported the execution of people like Mr Matthews in Central Park if the Reds had won the Cold War.

I have my own views of the word socialist and Id be glad to share them with you in private, he said during a discussion on air following a debate between the Democratic contenders.

They go back to the early 1950s. I have an attitude about them. I remember the Cold War.

I believe if Castro and the Reds had won the Cold War there would have been executions in Central Park and I might have been one of the ones getting executed.

And certain other people would be there cheering, okay? So, I have a problem with people who take the other side.

Mr Sanders often takes aim at what he calls the corporate media, including left-leaning outlets such as MSNBC, suggesting they, like the rest of the Democratic establishment, are afraid of his grassroots, radical left-wing campaign.
With COVID-19 reaching South Korea, airlines are cancelling flights to prevent further spread

Bamboo Airways announced cancelling all flights from Nha Trang and Danang to Incheon (in Seoul, South Korea). The routes have seven two-way flights a week. The cancellation lasts from February 26 until the time the COVID-19 outbreak is brought under control. Passengers who have already booked tickets to these flights will be eligible for a refund.

According to Vietnam Airlines, flights VN414 and VN415 between Incheon and Noi Bai International Airport on February 26, 28, and in the entirety of March will be cancelled. A representative of the airline said that the flight schedules were modified to comply with the directions of authorities on epidemic prevention.

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) in Vietnam said that Korean Air has already cancelled flights KE483 and 484 between Incheon and Noi Bai International Airport from February 25 to March 23, which includes six flights a day.

Air Seoul also informed to close the Hanoi-Seoul route in March 1-28, and approved refunding or exchanging tickets for passengers. This airline maintains the Seoul-Danang and Nha Trang routes.

Previously, Asiana Airlines reduced the number of flights OZ727, 728 between Seoul and Hanoi from February 18 to March 9 to two two-way flights a day.

T'Way Air has cancelled all flights between Hanoi and South Korea, which includes 12 flights a day between Hanoi, Danang, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City and Seoul, Busan, and Daegu until March 28.

Tran Phuong Linh, representative of Ben Thanh Tourist said that all tours to South Korea in March have been broken off, along with half the tours to Japan, with the remainder subject to consideration in light to new developments in the COVID-19 epidemic.

According to the representative of Hana Tour, which focuses on the South Korean market, the volume of tourists between Vietnam and South Korea has dropped in this month. South Korea is the second-largest source market of tourists arriving in Vietnam (behind China) with the annual growth rate of 20 per cent.

With the COVID-19 epidemic reaching South Korea, numerous tourism companies anticipate a sharp decline in tourists. In order to control the epidemic, the local Ministry of Health has requested people arriving from South Korea to submit health declarations and to be isolated.
Four days after revealing he has been diagnosed with a likely cancerous tumor, Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday received multiple standing ovations as he began delivering his third state budget address by thanking those who have wished him well.

Murphy disclosed Saturday that doctors found a tumor on his left kidney that is 90 percent likely to be malignant. He will undergo surgery early next month to remove it. Doctors are optimistic theyll be able to fully remove the tumor, the governor said.

After quieting the crowd in the state Assembly chamber at the Statehouse in Trenton, Murphy opened with a joke about his recent diagnosis. He said hes spent the last few days living out the elusive, cherished dream of every single Irish-American in New Jersey ...

"Attending my own wake.

He then thanked the hundreds, if not thousands who have reached out to him.

The outpouring from every corner in this room and every corner in the state has been overwhelming, Murphy said. Im deeply humbled, and frankly, its been very emotional.

"My family and I will never forget the words that were spoken, the messages that were sent, he added. From the bottom of my heart, I say thank you.

The crowd stood to applaud again. Then, Murphy had a message.

One last item which may not be greeted with the same universal applause is: Im not going everywhere, the governor said.

Then, Murphy dove into his speech by shouting out the names of state leaders and former governors in attendance as if he was a rocker introducing members of his band at the end of a show.

Murphy, a Democrat in his third year as governor, is speaking before a joint session of the state Legislature to outline his plans for how to fund state government and spend taxpayer dollars.

In his call-in television show on News 12 New Jersey on Monday, Murphy said hes doing well in the wake of his diagnosis.

The good news is even if its malignant, this is containable by all measures, he said. Im thanking my lucky stars.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01.

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After the Karnataka Agriculture minister called for a law to shoot at sight those who raise pro-Pakistan slogans in the country, another state lawmaker has raised a similar demand.

P Appachu Ranjan, an MLA from Kodagu district, said: Already a woman has proclaimed Pakistan Zindabad at an anti-CAA rally in Bengaluru. In spite of staying in our country, eating our food and drinking our water (if they are doing this), those who chant such slogans should be shot at sight.

The Kogadu MLA maintained that such people should not be provided with legal help.

Please exile such elements to Pakistan so that they can go and live there. There should be no soft stance towards such people and I appeal that no lawyer should even represent those kind of elements in courts, the MLA added.

Earlier, state agriculture minister BC Patil had 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.

Meanwhile, a team of three lawyers from the state capital who had gone to Dharwad to represent three Kashmiri students charged with sedition came under attack from some locals who were protesting against them representing anti-national elements.

It may be recalled that lawyers association of Hubli and Dharwad had passed a resolution saying none of the local lawyers would represent the students charged with sedition. So a team of lawyers had gone to Dharwad but had to escape under police protection as they were unable to file bail applications due to the agitation of some local elements who chanted slogans of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Go Back against them leading to a tense atmosphere in and around the court premises.

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The community is invited to attend a dedication and reception to celebrate a new artwork installation in the expanded atrium of Bridgeports Housatonic Community College on Wednesday, March 4.

New Hampshire sculptor Soo Sunny Park created the site-specific artwork, titled Flight of Luminescence, which is comprised of stainless-steel mesh and dichroic glass. The work captures varying lights and changes spatial experience throughout the day, according to a news release. Lights reflection explodes in all directions, splashing the walls, floors and ceiling with glistening shades of purple, pink, green and yellow. Throughout the day, the sculpture can be seen by motorists and passers-by through the exterior glass wall.
Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca, 15, was shot dead in 2010

The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Tuesday to close the courthouse door on the parents of a Mexican teenager who was shot dead over the border by an American agent.

The court's five conservative justices held that the parents could not use American courts to sue Border Patrol Agent Jesus Mesa Jr., who killed their unarmed 15-year-old son in 2010. Mesa was on U.S. soil in Texas when he fired the fatal shot.

Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the court that the case is tragic, but that strong border security and international relations issues led to the ruling against the parents of Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca.

'Since regulating the conduct of agents at the border unquestionably has national security implications, the risk of undermining border security provides reasons to hesitate' about allowing the parents to sue in American courts, Alito wrote.

Jesus Hernandez and Maria Guadalupe Guereca, the parents of Mexican teenager Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca who was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent who fired from the Texas side of border, stand in front of the Supreme Court in November

US Border Patrol vehicles are pictured near the Paso Del Norte International Bridge at the US-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, where Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca was killed

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, writing for her liberal colleagues, disagreed, saying the parents' lawsuit does not endanger border security or U.S. foreign policy.

Tuesday's outcome also is certain to doom a lawsuit filed by the parents of a teenager killed in Nogales, Mexico, from gunshots fired across the border by a U.S. agent who was standing in Arizona. That case has been on hold.

The case tested a half-century-old Supreme Court decision that allows people to sue federal officials for constitutional violations. Over the years, the courts have made it harder to bring claims, known as Bivens actions after the name of the high court case.

Ginsburg wrote that 'it is all too apparent that to redress injuries like the one suffered here, it is Bivens or nothing. I resist the conclusion that `nothing is the answer required in this case.'

Justice Clarence Thomas, who was part of the court majority, said he would get rid of Bivens lawsuits altogether. Justice Neil Gorsuch joined Thomas' separate opinion.

Mexican federal police and forensic experts stand next to the body of 15 year-old Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca, under the Paso Del Norte border bridge, in 2010

Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca was under the bridge on the Mexican side when a Border Patrol agent who was pursuing illegal crossers who threw rocks shot him

Maria Guadalupe Guereca, 60, cries while remembering her murdered son Sergio Hernandez, during an interview with AFP at her house in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico in 2017

Alito noted that the Justice Department and the parents disagreed about the sequence of events that led to Sergio's death. But there is no question that Mesa was standing on the U.S. side of the border when he fired into Mexico and killed him with a gunshot wound to the face.

The family said Sergio was playing a game with friends on a June evening, running through a culvert and over the border, touching it, and running back. Mesa rode up on a bicycle, took Sergio's friend into custody, then fired across the border.

The Justice Department said Mesa was trying to stop 'smugglers attempting an illegal border crossing' and fired his gun after he came under a barrage of rocks. Mesa said in court filings that Sergio was among the rock throwers. Video footage of the incident seems to dispute that.

U.S. officials chose not to prosecute Mesa, and the Obama administration refused a request to extradite him so that he could face criminal charges in Mexico. When the parents of the boy tried to sue Mesa, federal judges dismissed their claims.

The Border Patrol drastically changed its use of force policies in the years after the shooting, following several complaints of excessive force. There were 15 instances where officers and agents used firearms during the budget year 2018, down from a high of 55 reported during the 2012 budget year.

But Lee Gelernt, the American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who argued on the parents' behalf, said, 'The gravity of this ruling could not be clearer given the Trump administration's militarized rhetoric and policies targeting people at the border. Border agents should not have immunity to fatally shoot Mexican teenagers on the other side of the border fence. The Constitution does not stop at the border.'
Late Wednesday, hundreds of people were flooding the street once more, as the angry citizens of the Caribbean were forced to withdraw the electronic voting system from Sunday's municipal elections. The police reports have said that there were indications of "sabotage" or vote rigging during the election that may lead to more arrests.

The citizens who were raising their flags and pounding their pots and pans protested in front of the Central Electoral Board on Tuesday- the tear gas ended the said protest. Thus far officials said they will remain amid the boiling outrage and evidence that the authorities were attempting to manipulate the vote.

One Central Electoral Board member, Roberto Saladin, responded by saying that neither he nor his associates would be resigning.

According to the newspaper of Listin Diario, Saladin said last Wednesday that the Dominican people rightfully deserve for the establishment to organize these elections and to not leave the process in the middle.Saladin also added that they should be brought to court if the people wanted them removed.

The Associated Press reported that authorities said about half of voting stations experienced issues using electronic ballot machines. Although the machines were only in use in the capital and 17 out of 158 municipalities, they were in some of the country's most highly populated regions.

ELECTION DO-OVER

When political parties claimed that a few of their candidates did not even appear on the electronic ballots, on March 15, the government took the unprecedented step of scrapping the vote and demanding a new, manual vote.

Late Wednesday, National Police spokesperson Frank Felix Duran Mejia said Col. Ramon A. Guzman Peralta and Claro Telecom company technician Manuel Antonio Regalado were arrested for attempting to discredit the vote. He implied however that they blindly follow orders and "collaborate with the main writers."

The problems are now being evaluated internationally for the electronic voting machines. After the failure of the e-voting system, results from the primary Iowa democratic caucus this month remain unknown. The Dominican Republic is demanding the electronic vote system to be investigated by the outside organizations. The United States Organization said that it also planned the presence of observes until the new vote is taken in the Dominican Republic.

In its statement, it stated that the OAS acknowledges that, given the country's tension, the various players have shown a commitment to peace, and believes that it is important to strengthen dialogue, in order to ensure credible, reliable and transparent election results, between political parties and the electoral authorities.

President Danilo Medina has asked for calm and ordered a full investigation to ensure that the election system is secure and open for the May presidential and new elections.

He had also said in this week's national television address that it is time to reflect, fix our mistakes and make the best out of ourselves. He had also reminded his people that it is what the country needs right now- for all of its citizens to be patriots.
A state-appointed two-member commission, which is probing the Bhima-Koregaon violence on January 1, 2018, has decided to call Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar to depose before it.

The commission has decided to allow him to be cross-examined by the Vivek Vichar Manch, an organisation that has filed an application requesting the same.

The commission has decided to call Mr Pawar, and accordingly issue a summons. The decision was taken by the commission as he is the only political leader who has filed an affidavit in the matter before the commission. The applicant from Vivek Vichar Manch has also been apprised that he will be allowed to cross examine him at the same time, said lawyer Ashish Satpute, representing the commission.

On February 20, a Pune-based Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated think-tank, Vivek Vichar Manch, filed an application demanding Pawar be summoned for a hearing before the commission probing the Bhima-Koregaon violence on January 1, 2018.

The applicant, Sagar Shinde, has made the demand after Pawar made a public statement that right-wing activists Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote created an atmosphere that induced violence. It appears he [Pawar] has more information about the incident and hence, we want him to appear before the commission so that we can cross-examine him, said Pradeep Gavade, who is representing Shinde and Vivek Vichar Manch.

On February 18, the NCP chief alleged that Bhide and Ekbote were responsible for creating an atmosphere of animosity in the area among the locals ahead of the 200th anniversary celebrations of a 1818 war at the war memorial in Pune district, which led to violence on January 1, 2018. He had said prior to this, there was no history of a rift between locals and visiting Dalits, who gathered every year at the war memorial.

In his affidavit filed in October 2018, Pawar had said that he is not in a position to blame any particular organisation for the violence.

The Manch had released a fact-finding report on the incident, blaming Maoists and demanding an inquiry into the role of organisations, namely Kabir Kala Manch and Republican Panthers, which organised the Elgar Parishad on December 31, 2017 in Pune, which they claimed led to the violence.

The organisation had earlier also demanded an inquiry into the role of former JNU student and activist Umar Khalid and Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mewani in organising this event. The report had given a clean chit to a Hindutva organisation, Shiv Pratishtan Hindustan, led by Sambhaji Bhide, which was accused of instigating the riots. The violence was orchestrated by outfits inclined to the Maoist ideology and those falsifying history to create tension in the society, stated the report.

The Bhima-Koregaon war was won by the British Army manned by Dalit soldiers against the ruling Peshwas, Brahmin rulers.

The Pune Police had then filed cases against activists and intellectuals, linked to Leftist and Dalit movements, linking them to Elgar Parishad, a gathering held on December 31, 2017. The activists were accused of inciting violence and having Maoist links.

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There is always a reticence to want to get on the bad side of someone who is going to be the potential nominee and president, said Tim Miller, who advised former Florida governor Jeb Bush when he found himself in a similar position with Trump in the 2016 GOP primary. With Trump looming, I think Democrats are going to be especially skittish to want to be seen as doing anything that is helping an absolutely loathed incumbent president.
PHOENIX  Phoenix City Council members Tuesday voted 5-4 to approve a citizen review board with the power to investigate police after a raucous meeting that stretched five hours into the evening.

The council has been examining different proposals for policing the police after Phoenix had more officer-involved shootings in 2018 than any other U.S. department, and video of an encounter between officers and a black family whose young daughter took a doll from a dollar store sparked an uproar last summer.

Dozens of mostly Hispanic and African American community members spoke at Tuesdays meeting for a citizen review board with investigative powers.

That option will create two new independent bodies, an office of accountability and transparency comprised of city staff and a community review board. The two bodies would work together to release their own reports on police policy, investigations and training.

Viridiana Hernandez, of the nonprofit neighborhood group Poder in Action, told council members before the vote that anything less would be false accountability.

The Rev. Warren H. Stewart Sr. of the First Institutional Baptist Church, an African American house of worship that hosted early meetings studying oversight possibilities, said he supported a citizen review board with investigative powers.

We respect and support our police, said Stewart, adding the department, like the community, cannot police itself and needs oversight.

After listening to more than 40 speakers during what she said was a very difficult meeting, Mayor Kate Gallego dropped her initial support for another proposed model that didnt give civilians investigative powers.

Councilmember Sal DiCiccio was among those voting against the measure.

This is the most radical, extremist anti-police plan in the whole damn country, DiCiccio said. It is going to destroy the morale of our police department and put our public in danger.

Councilmember Jim Waring, who also voted against the proposal, said he wanted the citys police officers to know he supported them.

A representative for the police union spoke out against any kind of civilian oversight, a longstanding position for the group.

City officials began studying different police oversight models last year after community tensions spilled over when the video came to light, showing an officer pointing guns and cursing at a black family. The officer was fired after an internal review.

The department has taken additional steps aimed at increasing transparency and trust in recent months, including agency-wide deployment of body cameras and a new policy to keep a record of every time an officer points a gun at a person.
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The coronavirus epidemic has hit Apples production line. Foxconn is now trying to lure back its employees with incentives like bonuses, free meals, shuttles, and company provided accommodation.

Earlier reports claim that Foxconns iPhone assembly plant is only 10% staffed as workers are yet to return after the Lunar Holidays. Apparently, the workers are worried about coronavirus, travel restrictions and thus are not readily joining the workforce. Meanwhile, Foxconn themselves had quarantined workers for 14-days after they returned from holidays.

Foxconn Technology is providing a series of incentives to encourage the return and recruitment of more employees for its major assembly plants in Shenzhen and Zhengzhou, China, seeking to fulfill as many shipments of iPhones as possible to Apple, according to industry sources. The sources said strict travel and traffic controls and fears of being infected with the coronavirus have discouraged many employees from returning. But Foxconn has offered free shuttle-bus commuting, meals and accommodation for workers in addition to thorough disinfection operations at plant sites, the sources.

As far as bonuses are concerned Foxconn has doubled it and is now offering up to 7,000 Yuan. The bonus is being offered for both returning and newly recruited employees. Foxconn is hoping that the incentives will help ease labor shortages as soon as possible. In his report, Kuo has detailed how coronavirus will impact iPhone 9 and iPhone 11 production. Furthermore, the epidemic outbreak is also expected to affect AirPods, AirPods Pro, and Mac Pro production.

Earlier this month, Apple has said that it will miss Q1 2020 revenue target due to coronavirus. In the meantime adversities like the trade war and China has forced Foxconn to expand its production outside China. Worried about coronavirus? Check out the best iPhone apps to track coronavirus.

[via DigiTimes
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday told the Legislative Council that efforts were on to set up new medical colleges in different districts of the state.

Replying to a supplementary question during the question hour, Adityanath said from 1947 to 2016, the state had only 12 medical colleges.

After 2016 till now, 29 new medical colleges have either been set up or are under the process of bring setup, he said. "This is a big achievement. It is the effort of the government that all 75 districts have one medical college each."



The government is also thinking of getting the students doing their MBBS from the state to sign bonds under which they will have to give their services in the rural areas, the chief minister said.

In bid to address the shortage of doctors admission process was completed in seven new medical colleges, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A well-known market intelligence company, Infiniti Research, has announced the completion of its latest article on procurement challenges in the chemical industry. This article covers:

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005664/en/

Procurement challenges in the chemical industry. (Graphic: Business Wire)

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Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak looks attends a meeting at the Presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt state TV said Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. that the country's former President Hosni Mubarak, ousted in the 2011 uprising, has died at 91. Read more

CAIRO  Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian leader who was the autocratic face of stability in the Middle East for nearly 30 years before being forced from power in an Arab Spring uprising, died Tuesday, state-run TV announced. He was 91.

Mubarak was a stalwart U.S. ally, a bulwark against Islamic militancy and guardian of Egypt's peace with Israel. But to the hundreds of thousands of young Egyptians who rallied for 18 days of unprecedented street protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square and elsewhere in 2011, Mubarak was a latter-day pharaoh and a symbol of autocratic misrule.

His overthrow, however, plunged the country into years of chaos and uncertainty, and set up a power struggle between the military and the Muslim Brotherhood group that he had long outlawed. Some two and a half years after Mubarak's ouster, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi led the military overthrow of Egypt's first freely elected president and rolled back freedoms gained in the 2011 uprising.

State TV said Mubarak died at a Cairo hospital where he had undergone an unspecified surgery. The report said he had health complications but offered no other details. One of his sons, Alaa, announced over the weekend that the former president was in an intensive care after undergoing surgery.

El-Sissi offered condolences and praised Mubarak's service during the 1973 war with Israel but made no mention of Mubarak's almost three-decade rule as president of the most populous Arab state. He announced three days of national mourning beginning Wednesday.

The Presidency mourns with great sorrow the former President of the Republic, Mr. Mohammed Hosni Mubarak," he said in a statement. It referred to Mubarak as "one of the leaders and heroes of the glorious October war, as he assumed command of the Air Force during the war that restored dignity and pride to the Arab nation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed deep sorrow over Mubaraks death. President Mubarak, a personal friend of mine, was a leader who guided his people to peace and security, to peace with Israel, Netanyahu said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Mubarak spent his life serving his homeland and the issues of righteousness and justice in the world, with the issue of our Palestinian people at the top of them.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the United Arab Emirates also released statements offering condolences and mourning Mubarak.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres sent condolences to the government and Mubaraks family, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Guterres said Mubarak played an important role in diplomatic efforts throughout the Middle East, including in promoting peace between Israelis and Palestinians and supporting the endeavors by the League of Arab States to end conflict in the region.

Born in May 1928, Mubarak was vice president on Oct. 6, 1981, when his mentor, President Anwar Sadat, was assassinated by Islamic extremists while reviewing a military parade. Seated next to Sadat, Mubarak escaped with a minor hand injury as gunmen sprayed the reviewing stand with bullets. Eight days later, the brawny former air force commander was sworn in as president, promising continuity and order.

Over the next three decades, as the region was convulsed by one crisis after another, Mubarak was seen as a steady hand and a reliable U.S. partner against Islamic extremism. He sent troops as part of the U.S.-led coalition in the 1990-1991 Gulf war and contributed to efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Within Egypt he presided over slow but steady economic growth and largely kept the country out of armed conflicts after decades of war with Israel. Unlike his predecessors, both Sadat and Egypt's towering nationalist leader Gamal Abdel Nasser, Mubarak pursued no grand ideology beyond stability and economic development.

Over the years, Mubarak tinkered with reform but shunned major change, presenting himself as Egypt's sole protection against Islamic militancy and sectarian division. The U.S., particularly under President George W. Bush, pressed for democratic reforms but was wary of alienating a key ally.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo extended condolences and said the U.S. will continue to work with the current government "to develop a better partnership with Egypt.

Under Mubarak, the Muslim Brotherhood was banned but largely tolerated. All political power, however, was concentrated in the hands of Mubarak and his ruling party, and emergency laws imposed after Sadat's assassination remained in place for decades. Criticism of the president or the military was forbidden, Islamist and secular dissidents were regularly jailed, and the police were notoriously brutal and corrupt.

Egyptian authorities  both then and now  argue that tough measures are needed to preserve stability in a volatile region. Islamic militants carried out several attacks on police, Christians and foreign tourists throughout Mubarak's rule, including an attempted assassination of the president himself during a visit to Ethiopia in 1995.

The failure to fulfill repeated promises of change steadily deepened public despair. Those seeking a democratic future were dismayed to see Mubarak making apparent moves to groom his businessman son, Gamal Mubarak, for a dynastic succession.

At multiple points during Mubarak's reign, he had the opportunity to reform the Egyptian state, H.A. Hellyer, a scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, tweeted. He didn't.

The Jan. 25 uprising didn't come out of nowhere  it was the result of many years of pent-up anger at how the state was failing the citizenry, save a tiny slice at the top," he added.

Inspired by the first Arab Spring revolt in Tunisia, protesters took to the streets in January 2011. They harnessed the power of social media to muster tumultuous throngs, unleashing popular anger over the graft and brutality that shadowed Mubarak's rule.

In the end, with millions massed in Tahrir Square and other city centers, and even marching to the doorstep of Mubarak's palace, his resignation was announced on Feb. 11, 2011. The generals took power, hoping to preserve what they could of the system he had led.

Though Tunisia's president fell before him, the ouster of Mubarak was a watershed moment in the history of the region, and gave impetus to uprisings in Libya, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain.

Over the next two years Egypt held a referendum on an amended constitution, as well as parliamentary and presidential elections. Turnout was high as enthusiastic Egyptians got their first taste of democracy. But the Muslim Brotherhood emerged victorious again and again, raising fears among their opponents that the country would be transformed into an Islamic state.

The struggle came to a head in the summer of 2013, when the military removed President Mohammed Morsi, a senior Brotherhood figure, from power amid mass protests against his divisive rule. The military assumed power and launched an unprecedented crackdown on dissent. El-Sissi was elected president the following year. Rights groups and activists say his rule has proved far more oppressive than Mubarak's.

In a lot of ways, Mubaraks legacy will be mixed, said Steven A. Cook, a senior fellow in Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Egyptians are taking stock of their abilities to voice their views on the state of their lives, and realizing they were safer doing that in 2010 than in 2020.

Mubarak was jailed shortly after his overthrow and later relocated to a military hospital as he went on trial in an array of cases. The televised images of Mubarak on a stretcher in a defendant's cage were in sharp contrast to the portraits of the leader that had hung from billboards during his long rule.

For the man who was long untouchable  even a word of criticism against him in the media was forbidden for much of his rule  prison was a shock. When he was flown from the court to Torah Prison in Cairo in 2011, he cried in protest and refused to get out of the helicopter.

In June 2012, Mubarak and his security chief were sentenced to life in prison for failing to prevent the killing of some 900 protesters during the 18-day uprising. Both appealed the verdict and a higher court later cleared them in 2014.

The following year, Mubarak and his two sons  wealthy businessman Alaa and Mubaraks one-time heir apparent Gamal  were sentenced to three years in prison on corruption charges during a retrial. The sons were released in 2015 for time served, while Mubarak walked free in 2017. Following his release, he was taken to an apartment in Cairos Heliopolis district, where he lived until his death.

Mubarak is survived by his wife, Suzanne, his two sons and four grandchildren.

Associated Press writers Isabel DeBre in Cairo and Joseph Krauss in Jerusalem contributed.
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. State Department has urged that disputes over Afghanistan's recent presidential election be dealt with using constitutional and legal means and without the "use or threat of violence."



The comments on February 25 follow the announcement a week earlier by Afghanistans Independent Election Commission that long-delayed results from the September 28 national election showed that President Ashraf Ghani had been reelected.

The United States also said it welcomed a decision by Afghanistan to delay Ghanis inauguration for his second term -- reportedly for two weeks -- to allow adequate time for the government to agree on a "national framework" for potential peace negotiations with the Taliban militant group.

In a separate statement, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg echoed the U.S. remarks and called on all Afghan political actors to refrain from taking steps that would escalate tensions and undermine political stability.



This is a time when all responsible political forces must engage in dialogue and unite behind the peace process, which is the priority for all Afghans, he added.

Outgoing Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah alleged that the official results, which put him in second place behind Ghani, were the result of "systemic fraud and serious electoral irregularities" that were carried out "at the behest of a rival team."



"As the rightful winners, we decided to form an inclusive government and engage all sides to aim for a just and cohesive outcome," Abdullah said in a February 20 tweet.



Widespread allegations of fraud in Afghanistan's 2014 presidential election led to a political crisis between the top candidates, Ghani and Abdullah.



That crisis was resolved by a U.S.-brokered power-sharing agreement that created a fragile national unity government.



Under that deal, Ghani became president, while a new office of chief executive officer was created for Abdullah.



In the February 25 statement, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus noted that concerns have been raised about the election process.



We expect these concerns to be handled in accordance with constitutional and legal procedures, she said.



She added that moving forward, we call on the new government to be inclusive and reflect the aspirations of all Afghans and that all political debate be carried out in a calm manner, free from the use or threat of violence.



Ortagus said it was "time to focus not on electoral politics, but on taking steps toward a lasting peace, ending the war with the Taliban, and finding a formula for a political settlement that can serve the interests of all of this countrys citizens through intra-Afghan negotiations we expect will begin in March."

Ortagus also said the United States thanked the Afghan government for deciding to postpone its presidential inauguration to ensure adequate time for Afghans to agree on a "national framework for peace that is fully representative of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to prepare for and lead" talks with the Taliban.



A representative for Abdullah told Reuters that the swearing-in ceremony would be postponed for two weeks, but Ghani's office declined to comment.



Ortagus's remarks come amid a week-long "temporary reduction in violence" agreed by the United States and the Taliban militant group that has been seeking to overthrow the Western-backed government in Kabul.



U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on February 25 that should the arrangement be observed, Washington was prepared to signed a deal with the Taliban that would lead to a reduction in 13,000 U.S. troops in the country and for unprecedented negotiations between the militants and the Afghan government.



The Taliban has so far refused to talk directly with the Kabul government, calling it a puppet of foreign powers.
Do I think that there is room for growth, he said, and do I think that Senator Sanders would have liked the numbers to have been even further up among voters of color, among young voters, among working-class voters? Absolutely.

Mr. Khanna expressed confidence that the numbers would increase in a general election contest against Mr. Trump, but said that the campaign had to keep pushing harder.

On the campaign trail, Mr. Sanders, 78, has proclaimed that his is the campaign of energy, is the campaign of excitement, is the campaign that can bring millions of people into the political process who normally do not vote. In rallies in Texas over the weekend, as his resounding victory in Nevada was becoming clear, he conveyed an air of triumph, drawing enormous crowds as his campaign made plans to solidify his front-runner status by Super Tuesday on March 3.

If the cameras turn on this crowd, and our friends in Wall Street and the drug companies see this kind of crowd, youre going to really get them nervous, Mr. Sanders declared to thousands at a rally in Austin on Sunday.

Mr. Sanderss rivals have rejected the premise that he will expand the Democratic Partys base, saying he is too rigid in his worldview. Senator Sanders believes in an inflexible, ideological revolution that leaves out most Democrats, not to mention most Americans, Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., said in his concession speech in Nevada on Saturday.

As Mr. Sanders and his opponents prepare for the South Carolina primary on Saturday, The Timess analysis of the first three states show some challenging signs for his goal of producing a surge in turnout. In New Hampshire, for instance, turnout increased far less in townships he won than it did in townships won by Mr. Buttigieg and by Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.
The Second Baptist Church has lost a round in its federal court case seeking to determine whether the church has the religious right to house migrant children at its community center.

Senior U.S. District Judge David Ezra of San Antonio denied the East Side churchs motion for a preliminary injunction, which would have allowed it to fulfill its lease with VisionQuest, a government contractor, to house 90 migrant boys on church property.

Ezra ruled that it didnt appear that delaying the lease until a full trial is held would cause the church substantial harm since it hasnt ever had such a shelter.

He hinted that might be his decision during a hearing on the injunction motion earlier this month.

Thats basically the Second Baptist Church asking this court to prohibit the city from enforcing the zoning code, Ezra said in that hearing. If I were to rule in your favor it would change the status quo.

Last fall, Second Baptist Church leaders signed a draft $3.2 million lease with VisionQuest, which runs child migrant facilities throughout the country, to house 90 boys between 11 and 17 years old at the churchs community center.

To follow through with the agreement, however, the zoning code for the center had to change.

The planning commission and City Council rejected the requested change. On Jan. 10, Detroit-based firm Dalton and Tomich sued the city on behalf of the church.

VisionQuest, already armed with a $14.6 million contract from the federal government to open shelters in Texas, has twice attempted to open other facilities, one in Universal City, a San Antonio suburb, and one in Waco. In both locations, residents largely expressed opposition to the facility and the city councils rejected the zoning requests.

At the hearing in the San Antonio federal court, Second Baptist Church attorneys argued that the citys decision was an infringement on a federal law ensuring freedom of religion.

Larry Opalewski, attorney for the church, argued partnering with shelters, orphanages and foster homes was a timeless practice of religious organizations.

Our religious exercise is providing these facilities So these children have a safe place to go, he said.

But William Christian, an Austin attorney representing the city of San Antonio, reminded the judge that the church would not be running the facility or offering programming for the children.

The churchs lease with VisionQuest, he argued, is not a religious exercise but more of a business arrangement.

Christian also argued that the church has all sorts of opportunities to help migrant children without housing them at a facility.

In his decision, Ezra cited a 2011 court case concerning the city of Fredericksburg, which found that structures by religious organizations for secular purposes or non-religious activities are not automatically protected as an expression of religion.

The churchs pastor, Rev. Robert Jemerson, watched the hearing earlier this month as a member of the audience in the courtroom. After that hearing, Jemerson had only thing to say: Whatever is Gods will.

A trial date has not yet been set on the merits of the case.

sfosterfrau@express-news.net | @Silviaelenaff
Listen to the latest episode at this link, or on your favorite app including Alexa, Apple, Google, Spotify and Stitcher. Episodes are available every morning on PennLive. Subscribe/Follow and rate the podcast via your favorite app.

Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | Feb. 25, 2020

The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case between the City of Philadelphia and a Catholic foster care agency over nondiscrimination policies and LGBTQ rights. The owner of several Shop n Saves is guilty of stealing more than $250K in a coupon clipping scheme. Two large employers announce hundreds of layoffs in Pennsylvania. UPMC doctors diagnose a patient who was brewing alcohol -- in their bladder.

Those are the stories we are covering in the latest episode of Today in Pa, a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Julia Hatmaker. Today in Pa is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories in the state.

Todays episode refers to the following articles:

Special thanks to Apple Podcast listener SallyMcSall for leaving Today in Pa. a review back in September. Heres what SallyMcSall wrote:

Great breakdown: A nice quick podcast of Pennsylvanias top headlines!

If you enjoy Today in Pa, consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, we like to know what you think of the program.

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While it may be true that A rose by any other name would smell as sweet (Shakespeare) it is also true that socialism by any other name still smells like socialism.

As we approach this years elections, the purveyors of socialism have tried to rebrand their product by calling it democratic socialism. The sales force and marketing department of democratic socialism, the Democratic Party, and the mainstream media, are plying a new fairy tale that democratic socialism is nothing like socialism. No siree, nothing like it, they sing in chorus. The chorus, however, is badly out of tune. Democratic socialism is not the wonderland of inclusiveness, social justice, equality, and happiness it is advertised to be. It will not end human exploitation and it will not save the planet. It is still socialism, just with a new name. Socialism has never worked for any nation and it will not work in this country, even with a new name.

Rather than just toss names around, lets look at the policies proposed by the current advocates of democratic socialism and see what system they fit.

Because all of the current Democratic candidates for president have generally the same schemes in mind as the current leader of the pack, Bernie Sanders, lets just call the programs the Sanders Plan.

Sen. Sanders proposes, for example, to completely wipe out the natural gas, coal and oil industries. In their place, he would create a government owned electric company to produce wind, solar and geothermal energy. Overlooking for the moment that the proposal is technically absurd, creating a government monopoly producer is the very definition of socialism.

Sen. Sanders proposes to spend $16.3 trillion on his green new deal which is supposed to address a concern that has yet to be proven using means that have no proof of positive effect. That money will come from massive redistribution of wealth, another definition of socialism.

Sen. Sanders proposes to provide free health care to all as well as free college. This is the government exerting massive control over the lives of its subjects, at a massive cost. Again, classic socialism.

The list goes on with proposals that will require everything from rebuilding homes and huge government-owned housing projects to dictating how farming will occur. The program includes breaking up big businesses, prosecuting banks, companies, and executives for past crimes against the environment, and dictating the car you can drive. This is socialism heading toward communism.

Many, if not most, of the programs find some basis in identity politics. Previous socialists promoted class warfare between the haves and have nots. Todays identity politics speaks of race and gender as the basis of public policy. The bad guys in old time socialism were capitalists. The battle now is with white privileged males. However you slice it, it still features class warfare and is still socialism.

The new socialism, Democratic Socialism, is pledged to bring about race and gender equality, income equality and general goodness. Individual liberties, private property and the concept of a competitive market will not be surrendered willingly. To achieve this, the new socialism will have to be just as authoritarian as the old socialism. History shows us that when one group attempts to take goods and freedoms away from another to redistribute to other favored groups, conflict occurs. Who gets what? Who gets the best land, the best houses, the best jobs, the best medical treatment. Who will be favored to supply the solar panels and wind turbines? The list goes on.

When a free market no longer allocates production and consumption, or determines level of reward for effort, a central control must do this and chaos, inefficiency and a state of war are sure to follow. This is where democratic socialism will go because it is nothing more than socialism and we have a great deal of historical precedent to see how it works.

The current crop of apologists for democratic socialism love to point their listeners to the Nordic model of democratic socialism as they claim is practiced in countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland. They love to point to the economic success of Norway as proof positive that democratic socialism works. Unfortunately for the purveyors, Norways economic success derives mostly from abundant natural resources and its success and well-being predates its venture toward socialism. Norway does control its oil industry but most other businesses have limited government involvement. In fact, today most Nordic nations are moving away from socialism. Norway and Denmark deny they are socialist and describe themselves as free market economies. Many state-owned businesses have been privatized. In 2012, Sweden topped privatization initiatives globally, according to a study by the Heritage Foundation. Many of the welfare systems are being cut back. Why is this happening? Because the shortcomings of democratic socialism are becoming more apparent.

What are the shortcomings of the Nordic democratic socialist system? Exactly what history always finds. First and foremost, taxes are astronomical, running as high as 60 percent. People want freedom to control their own lives, work where they want to work and buy what they wish. Because there is little or no economic incentive, innovation becomes rare and few new ideas and products appear. With the need for government regulation and control, bureaucracies grow and this is non-productive labor. There is no reward to produce more when people have their individual needs met so they often give up and leave the workforce increasing costs even more. The people of Norway and other countries are choosing to leave this behind and return to market capitalism or, maybe as they term it, compassionate capitalism.

Where then is the real danger? Not in our current form of government but clearly in abandoning it and adapting socialism by whatever name the Democrats choose to call it.

Ask yourself, how would you benefit from giving up what you have to adapt the servitude of socialism? Why would you want to adapt what others who have tried it are abandoning?

As is attributed to Winston Churchill, Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.

Dave Ball is a conservative political commentator and author. He is a frequent guest on talk shows and is an elected official and party office holder.

Photo illustration by Monica Showalter with use of Pixabay public domain images.
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Malaysia's central bank said it was closely monitoring conditions in financial markets after Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad unexpectedly announced his resignation on Monday.

"While ringgit movements will continue to be market determined, BNM's market operations will ensure sufficient liquidity and orderly financial market conditions," Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said in a statement. (Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Alex Richardson)
March is recognized as National Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Granite Peaks Gastroenterology works with both the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT) to bring awareness to the importance of timely colorectal cancer screenings. Until recent years, the accepted age to begin colorectal cancer screenings was age 50, but the ACS suggests screenings begin at age 45 due to the increase in cancer diagnoses among younger people. Some insurance providers will cover screenings for patients age 45, or younger, if they have a family history of colon cancer or polyps, but not all.

The American Cancer Society notes the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is 4.4% for men, 4.1% for women. Their research shows Utah is estimated to see 840 new cases and 300 deaths from colorectal cancer in 2020. Utah ranks 29th in the United States for colorectal cancer screening (at age 50, the age suggested for screening as of these reports) with 69% of the applicable population having the test, while the nation averages 70% overall. Utah is close, but not quite above average in screenings. Granite Peaks GI is working with the NCCRT to push this number to 80% in Utah.

In its early stages, colorectal cancer has no symptoms so people may misunderstand their risk of developing the disease, said Dr. Andrew Heiner, a board-certified gastroenterologist at Granite Peaks Gastroenterology. During a screening colonoscopy, if polyps are found, they can be removed during the procedure to prevent their growth into cancer. A colonoscopy is the only way to combine screening and polyp removal in one test.

Colon cancer is preventable. A screening colonoscopy is painless, modest and safe, said Dr. Christopher Cutler, a board-certified gastroenterologist at Granite Peaks Gastroenterology. This simple test could save your life and provide important health information for your family.

We suggest individuals check with their insurance plan before any medical procedure. We will continue our work encouraging every adult in Utah to get appropriately screened for this preventable, deadly disease. We hope to make Utah the top state for colorectal cancer screening. Its easy and it could save your life!

To schedule an interview with one of our board-certified gastroenterologists, please contact us using the press contact information above.

Granite Peaks Gastroenterology specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the digestive system. Granite Peaks GIs board-certified physicians provide consultations at two locations, in Sandy and Lehi, Utah. They perform endoscopic procedures, including colonoscopy and upper GI endoscopy. For more information about Granite Peaks Gastroenterology or the digestive conditions its physicians treat, please call (801) 619-9000 or visit granitepeaksgi.com
DUBLIN City Council have taken legal action over two prominent street art murals  including one celebrating the life of David Attenborough.

The murals, by artist collective Subset, were allegedly allowed by residents, however, they did not have permission of the citys planning department which issued warnings and enforcement notices to have the paintings removed.

The councils prosecution came before Judge Anthony Halpin at Dublin District Court today. It was adjourned until March 24 next to set a hearing date and for compliance with an order for disclosure of evidence to the defence.

The Attenborough mural, which was painted last year on the side of a property in Portobello, was unveiled on the BBC documentary maker's 93rd birthday.

It was on the gable wall of a house on South Circular Road facing onto Longwood Avenue, in Dublin 8.

The City Council had ordered for it to be removed because no planning permission was obtained for the "unauthorised development".

It also made the same order and commenced a prosecution in relation to another Subset street art mural, dubbed Horseboy, located just off Church Street, in Dublin 7.

The original photo of Horseboy was taken on Smithfield Square by Australian Photographer James Horan and Subset recreated the picture on the gable end of a rented property. A petition calling for it be allowed stay attracted over 2,500 signatures in two days.

Expand Close SUBSET's mural of 'Horseboy' in Smithfield. / Facebook

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In each case council planning enforcement officers who examined the artwork held they were developments that were not exempt from requiring planning permission.

This resulted in the enforcement notices  under Section 154 of the Planning and Developments Acts 2000  for the removal of the artwork.

Subset have had a number of artworks removed from Dublin city walls, including the Stormzy mural in 2017.
AMSTERDAM, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ING Bank N.V. (the "Company") today announced the results to date of its previously announced offer to purchase for cash (the "Tender Offer") up to $1 billion aggregate principal amount (the "Maximum Tender Amount") of the 5.800% Subordinated Notes due September 25, 2023 (the "Notes"). The terms and conditions of the Tender Offer are set forth in the offer to purchase dated February 10, 2020 (the "Offer to Purchase"). The Offer to Purchase is available, subject to eligibility confirmation and registration, from the Tender Offer Website: www.dfking.com/ing. Capitalized terms used in this announcement and not otherwise defined have the meanings ascribed to them in the Offer to Purchase.

As of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 24, 2020 (the "Early Tender Time"), $1,076,239,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Tender Offer. The table below identifies the principal amount of Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn and the principal amount of Notes the Company has accepted for purchase:

ISIN/CUSIP Outstanding

Principal

Amount Maximum

Tender

Amount Principal

Amount

Tendered(2) Principal

Amount

Accepted Proration

Factor Regulation S:

USN45780CT38/

N45780CT3 Rule 144A: US449786AY82/

449786AY8 $2,000,000,000 (1) $1,000,000,000 aggregate

principal

amount $1,076,239,000 $999,746,000(3) 89.5261%













(1) As of the commencement date of the Tender Offer. (2) As of the Early Tender Time, as reported by D.F. King Limited, the information and tender agent for the Tender Offer. (3) Following adjustments to avoid purchases of Notes in principal amounts other than integral multiples of $1,000 and to avoid either Holders transferring Notes to the Offeror in a principal amount of less than the minimum denomination or a principal amount of less than the minimum denomination being returned to Holders, each as detailed further in the Offer to Purchase.

Because the aggregate principal amount of the Notes tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Time was greater than the Maximum Tender Amount, the Tender Offer was oversubscribed and the Company has accepted Notes for purchase on a prorated basis (as described in the Offer to Purchase). Payment for any Notes so accepted will be made promptly on the Early Settlement Date, which is expected to occur on February 26, 2020. Notes not accepted for purchase will be credited on the Early Settlement Date to the account of the registered holder of such Notes with the relevant Clearing System (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) and otherwise returned in accordance with the Offer to Purchase. Because the Tender Offer was oversubscribed as of the Early Tender Time, holders of Notes who validly tender Notes after the Early Tender Time will not have any of their Notes accepted for purchase.

The Offeror will issue an announcement announcing the Reference Yield, the Total Consideration and the Tender Offer Consideration for the Notes as soon as practicable after the determination thereof. The Tender Price Determination Time is 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on February 25, 2020.

In accordance with the terms of the Tender Offer, the withdrawal deadline was 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 24, 2020. As a result, tendered Notes may no longer be withdrawn, except in certain limited circumstances where additional withdrawal rights are required by law (as determined by the Company).

Although the Tender Offer is scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on March 9, 2020, the Company does not expect to accept for purchase any tenders of Notes after the Early Tender Time because the aggregate principal amount of Notes that were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn as of the Early Tender Time exceeded the Maximum Tender Amount.

Subject to applicable law and the terms and conditions of the Offer to Purchase, the Company may terminate the Tender Offer, waive any or all of the Conditions prior to the Expiration Time, extend the Expiration Time or amend the terms of the Tender Offer.

The Company has retained ING Financial Markets LLC, Merrill Lynch International and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC to act as the dealer managers for the Tender Offer and D.F. King & Co., Inc. to act as information and tender agent for the Tender Offer. Questions regarding procedures for tendering Notes may be directed to D.F. King & Co., Inc. at (877) 297-1746 (toll free), +1 (212) 269 5550 (collect) or +44 20 7920 9700 (in London), +852 3953 7208 (in Hong Kong) or by email to [email protected]. Additionally, the tender offer material is available at www.dfking.com/ing. Questions regarding the Tender Offer may be directed to ING Financial Markets LLC at +1 (877) 446-4930 (U.S. toll-free), +1 646 4248972 (U.S. collect) or +44 20 7767 6784 (ING Bank N.V./Europe) or by email to [email protected], Merrill Lynch International at +1 (888) 292 0070 (U.S. toll free), +1 (980) 387 3907 (U.S. collect) or +44 20 7996 5420 (London) or by email to [email protected] and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC at +1 (866) 309-6316 (U.S. toll-free) or +1 (704) 410-4756 (U.S. collect).

This announcement is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security. No offer, solicitation, or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful. The Tender Offer is only being made pursuant to the Offer to Purchase. Holders of the Notes are urged to carefully read the Offer to Purchase before making any decision with respect to the Tender Offer.

The distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required by each of the Company, the dealer managers and the information and tender agent to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.

Offer and Distribution Restrictions

United Kingdom

The communication of this announcement, the Offer to Purchase and any other documents or materials relating to the Tender Offer is not being made and such documents and/or materials have not been approved by an authorised person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Accordingly, this announcement, the Offer to Purchase and such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, persons in the United Kingdom other than (i) to those persons in the United Kingdom falling within the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Financial Promotion Order")), (ii) to those persons who are within Article 43(2) of the Financial Promotion Order, including existing members and creditors of the Company, (iii) to those persons who are outside the United Kingdom, or (iv) to any other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be made under the Financial Promotion Order (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons") and the transactions contemplated herein will be available only to, and engaged in only with, Relevant Persons. Any person who is not a Relevant Person should not act on or rely on this announcement, the Offer to Purchase or any of its contents.

France

The Tender Offer is not being made, directly or indirectly, to the public in France. None of this announcement, the Offer to Purchase or any other documents or offering materials relating to the Tender Offer, has been or shall be distributed to the public in France and only (i) providers of investment services relating to portfolio management for the account of third parties (personnes fournissant le service d'investissement de gestion de portefeuille pour compte de tiers) and/or (ii) qualified investors (investisseurs qualifies) acting for their own account, other than individuals, all as defined in, and in accordance with, Articles L.411-1, L.411-2 and D.411-1 of the French Code monetaire et financier, are eligible to participate in the Tender Offer. This announcement has not been submitted to the clearance procedures (visa) of the Autorite des marches financiers.

Italy

None of this announcement, the Offer to Purchase or any other document or materials relating to the Tender Offer have been or will be submitted to the clearance procedures of the Commissione Nazionale per le Societa e la Borsa ("CONSOB") pursuant to Italian laws and regulations. The Tender Offer is being carried out in Italy as an exempted offer pursuant to article 101-bis, paragraph 3-bis of the Legislative Decree No. 58 of 24 February 1998, as amended (the "Financial Services Act") and article 35-bis, paragraph 4 of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of 14 May 1999, as amended. Holders or beneficial owners of the Notes that are resident and/or located in Italy can tender Notes for purchase in the Tender Offer through authorised persons (such as investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in the Republic of Italy in accordance with the Financial Services Act, CONSOB Regulation No. 20307 of 15 February 2018, as amended, and Legislative Decree No. 385 of 1 September 1993, as amended) and in compliance with any other applicable laws and regulations and with any requirements imposed by CONSOB and any other Italian authority.

Each intermediary must comply with the applicable laws and regulations concerning information duties vis-a-vis its clients in connection with the Notes or the Tender Offer.

General

This announcement does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell Notes, and tenders of Notes in the Tender Offer will not be accepted from holders, in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. In those jurisdictions where the securities, blue sky or other laws require the Tender Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer and any of the dealer managers or any of the dealer managers' respective affiliates is such a licensed broker or dealer in any such jurisdiction, the Tender Offer shall be deemed to be made by such dealer manager or affiliate, as the case may be, on behalf of the Company in such jurisdiction.

Forward-Looking Information

This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements which reflect the Company's intent, beliefs or current expectations about the future and can be recognized by the use of words such as "expects," "will," "anticipate," or words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of any future performance and are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of the senior management of the Company and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. As a consequence, these forward-looking statements should be considered in light of various important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in the forward-looking statements, which include, without limitation, the risk factors set forth in the Offer to Purchase. The Company cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be realized, although it believes it has been prudent in its plans and assumptions. Achievement of future results is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may prove to be inaccurate. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE ING Bank N.V.
On 18 February 2020, a short yet notable announcement was made by the Trade mark Office of China (CTMO): The Announcement on the Publication of Trade mark Opposition Decisions Online (the Announcement, in Chinese).



As announced, as of 1 January 2020, all the decisions on trade mark oppositions will be published on the China Trade Mark Network http://sbj.cnipa.gov.cn/ [Kat tips: here exactly], within 20 workings days from the date of post, except under one of the following circumstances:

Those involving the trade secrets or personal privacy of the parties concerned; Parties requested in writing not to make it public, and the Office consider the request reasonable; Other special circumstances that the Office deems inappropriate to be disclosed online.

By 6 January 2020, 221 opposition decisions had been published on the said website.





Long overdue, welcome, challenging





China is pretty late in adopting this specific administrative initiative compared to many of its counterparts. The Intellectual Property Office of the United Kingdom (UKIPO), for example, has published opposition decisions on its website since 1998; and as early as 2005, the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP) began publishing opposition decisions on its website





The delay might be somewhat excusable considering that the workload for its preparation must have been enormous in terms of, inter alia, the huge quantity of oppositions filed. In 2019, CTMO received 144,000 trade mark oppositions, which was a far higher number of cases than those received in the aforementioned offices and in the EUIPO. *









The aim of this initiative, as summarised in the opening statement of the announcement, is to  enhance the transparency of trade mark opposition examination work, strengthen social supervision, and promote law-based administration . These desired-to-realise positive interactions are logical and, in the meantime, quite challenging, given that such a 100,000+ per year scale of openness and transparency will draw higher requirements on the quality of services from opposition examiners. Specifically, not only must the examiners stably and accountably balance the relationship between the case-by-case approach and the uniform standards basis in every single case, but they are also likely to receive many questions from the public with regard to, in essence, stare decisis v. the multifactor test.





Moreover, considering that the published decisions will undoubtedly become research materials and sources for big data analyses conducted by tech companies, even more questions will be asked. A likely question would be why a specific opposition decision is not consistent with the predictions and whether the applicability of such predictions needs to be further regulated (which perhaps will spark the rethinking of banning judicial analytics ( Article 33 of the Justice Reform Act in France) in China.





Answering these questions will require a fair number of explanations, research and adjustments, and will probably lead to lively debates between the CTMO and the public. It does not necessarily mean low-quality work, but it shows that there can sometimes be a gap in understanding between the professionals and everyone else. Normally, the examiners are more knowledgeable on trade mark matters, and in the aftermath of the all-public initiative, they must also be prepared to explain their decisions in a way that is both reasonable and understandable. It will be interesting to see how the CTMO will handle all the challenges. This Kat believes that these interactions - whether amicable or intense - if they are conducted transparently, will eventually benefit both the current common understanding and the future quality of trade mark administration in China.





Malicious opposition filers - nowhere to hide





Filing oppositions is a powerful right that should never be overlooked or underestimated. This is particularly the case in the current Chinese trade mark system, which, from this Kats point of view, has a prominent flaw: the cost of filing malicious opposition is too low.





Article 33 of the Chinese Trade mark Law provides that,

If a holder of prior rights or an interested party holds that the trade mark application announced upon preliminary review is in violation of the second or third paragraph of Article 13(2) and (3), Article 15, Article 16(1), Article 30, Article 31, or Article 32 of this Law, he may, within three months from the date of the preliminary review announcement, raise objections to the CTMO. Any party that is of the opinion that the aforesaid trade mark application is in violation of Article 4, Article 10, Article 11, Article 12, or Article 19(4) of this Law may raise objections to the Office within the same three-month period. If no objection is raised upon expiry of the announcement period, the Office shall approve the application, issue the certificate of trade mark registration, and make an announcement thereon.

In short: Article 33 says that, if, upon preliminary review, an announced trade mark application is in violation of your private rights, e.g., prior trade mark rights or copyrights, you, or the person of interest, are entitled to file an opposition; if the application itself were never registered as a trade mark (e.g. due to bad-faith, absolute grounds), then anyone could file an opposition against it.





Article 33 does not explicitly require that a (party with) real interest or qualified reasoning file an opposition. Thus, filing opposition in China is not a difficult task  which can be seen as readily exploitable loopholes, by malicious opponents.





Whats worse is that, unlike the situation in the EU, where the losing party bears all costs of the opposition (including both the opposition fee and the attorney fee, to a certain extent), in China, the only mandatory cost for the opponent is the official opposition fee (CNY 500 or approx. EUR 66). In contrast with this extremely low cost to the opponent, the applicant must bear the much higher costs in terms of time, considering that all the filed oppositions must be examined by the Office and that each of these will take months.





It is therefore submitted that the transparency brought by the announcement may help prevent future abuses of opposition rights, as sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants (U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis in his 1932 article What Publicity Can Do), and that the CTMO should introduce punitive damages towards opponents who lose. Since the announcement, such proposals have been on the rise.





That said, on the bright side, the opposition procedure itself certainly can be used for good - voices of a large number of honest opponents must be heard as well. The reform of the opposition procedure then must require much in-depth and extensive work, which will prompt questions like Should the judgement of bad-faith or not be decided merely by the outcome of opposition? or If not, how many oppositions filed by a party within how long a period shall be deemed to be bad-faith? These questions await answers, and considerable efforts will need to be put in place.





In conclusion, given some time, this initiative will surely provide a significant amount of data and spark discussions that could help expose problems worthy of correction and improve the quality of work. It will be interesting to see what will come out of this rich field. All in all, excited, wary or whatsoever, the adventure has begun.








































We are excited to announce this latest Board of Directors, the organization made significant progress in 2019, and we believe that 2020 will be another year where the nonprofit continues to mature.

Charles Bovaird, President and Founder of Financial Writers Society (FWS), James Garrett Baldwin, David Rodeck, Tim Enneking, and Kevin Dinino have recently been named as the 2020 Board of Directors. FWS is a tax-exempt trade association open to those with an interest in financial writing. Its members include reporters, editors, financial authors, bloggers, content developers and aspiring writers. The organization specializes in all things finance, from Wall Street, banking and personal finance to fintech and cryptocurrency.

We are excited to announce this latest Board of Directors, said Bovaird. The organization made significant progress in 2019, and we believe that 2020 will be another year where the nonprofit continues to mature.

Here is the full list of 2020 Board Members:

Charles Bovaird, President and Founder

Bovaird, a financial writer and consultant, is best known for his deep understanding of asset markets and investing concepts and ability to effectively communicate complex information to a broader audience. Bovaird has contributed to top-tier publications including Forbes, Fortune Magazine, Investopedia, The Washington Post and CoinDesk. He has published more than 500 times.

James Garrett Baldwin, Vice President

Baldwin is an economist, financial writer, and mathematician. He is the executive editor of DailyAlts.com, a site dedicated to the universe of alternative investments.

He has an extended history of financial analysis, journalism, public relations, and consulting experience in hedge funds, private equity, blockchain, housing policy, supply chains, and public equity coverage. In finance, he specializes in value and momentum strategies.

In addition, he has 15 years of senior leadership experience in editorial operations; economic research; financial, energy, and political copywriting; thought leadership; competitive intelligence; political risk consulting, business development, and global trade and agribusiness analysis.

He previously worked for competitive intelligence firm Proactive Worldwide, consulting firm Winterberry Group, and market consulting firm Denali Intelligence.

Prior to his professional career, Garrett earned a BS in Journalism and U.S. History from Northwestern University. He later received an MA in Global Security Studies from Johns Hopkins University, an MS in Trade Economics from Purdue University, and an MBA Finance from Indianas Kelley Business School. He also received a certificate in Global Business from Harvard Business School in 2019.

His market insights have been featured in publications including Forbes, Business Insider, and Investopedia.

Garrett lives in Naples, Florida with his wife, daughter, and Corgi-Daschund.

David Rodeck, Treasurer

Having spent the last seven years writing for clients like American Express, Anthem Blue Cross, LendingTree, Prudential and US News, Rodeck specializes in writing about insurance, investing and taxation.

Before writing full-time, he was a life insurance salesman and registered rep for New York Life. During that time, he passed the CFP exam. David is a graduate of McGill University with degrees in Economics and Finance.

David is an active Toastmaster and serves as the Treasurer of his local chapter. He also volunteers at the Delaware food bank and helps organize local events for the McGill alumni association.

Tim Enneking, Non-Executive Director

Currently the managing director at Digital Capital Management (DCM), a digital asset manager located in La Jolla, California, Enneking has deep roots in financial services. He has a background in asset management, including managing funds ranging from trusts to private equity to crypto trading. Additionally, he served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve for more than 32 years, retiring in 2011 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Further, he has served as an adjunct professor at three different universities in three separate countries.

Kevin Dinino, Non-Executive Director

Regarded as a leader in financial public relations and strategic communications, Dinino is the founder and president of award-winning financial communications firm KCD PR. The firm specializes in servicing clients in financial services, financial technology (fintech), cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Prior to launching KCD PR, Dinino oversaw corporate communications at LPL Financial, the nations largest independent brokerage firm.

For media inquiries please contact info[at]financialwriterssociety[dot]org.

About Financial Writers Society

Financial Writers Society (FWS), a Massachusetts-based 501(c)6 trade association, aims to improve industry standards and provide members with opportunities to network, collaborate and support each other. We aim to be the principal voice, chief advocate and go-to resource for financial writers everywhere. Currently, we have members in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

The FWS community includes financial writers spanning the full spectrum in terms of careers - as well as levels of experience - from veterans writing for top publications such as Forbes and Bloomberg to aspiring writers just embarking on their careers. Not only does FWS foster professional development and collaboration, but we also connect job seekers with hiring managers, editors and producers.


Steven Copo Horton died in the bathtub in October 2013 at a house in Sydney's west

A Sydney mother has wept as she told a jury of finding her severely disabled son dead in the bathtub after her estranged partner screamed out to her around two o'clock in the morning.

'He was in a fetal position...curled up,' Rebecca Horton testified on Tuesday in the NSW Supreme Court.

Her former partner, Charlie Younes, 45, has pleaded not guilty to murdering 18-year-old Steven Copo Horton in October 2013 at the Emerton house in Sydney's west that she had just moved into.

Steven was born with severe intellectual and physical disabilities and was incapable of walking and talking, but could move himself about by crawling or shuffling along on his bottom.

Crown prosecutor Rohan Cooley has alleged Younes 'used a hand or hands to force, in some fashion, by applying pressure to the neck area of the deceased, force him under the water, thereby in effect drowning him'.

Ms Horton said Younes had reacted angrily to her moving into the Emerton house a week before her son's death.

'He wanted me to go back to the other house' she said.

'Then he wanted to move into that house and sell his house.. It wasn't going to happen.'

Younes kept on turning up at the new house and had wanted to stay over the night before her son died, but she told him to leave.

'Just after two o'clock in the morning I heard Charlie screaming out my name,' she said.

Charlie Younes (pictured left during arrest), 45, has pleaded not guilty to murdering his former partner's son

Rebecca Horton (pictured with her son) said Younes had reacted angrily to her moving into the Emerton house a week before her son's death

Ms Horton said she jumped out of bed, saw other family members in the hallway and Younes either in the bathroom entrance or more inside the room.

Steven, who was wearing his pyjama pants, was in a fetal position in the bath.

She and Younes each grabbed one end of him and rushed into Steven's room and put him on the bed.

'You could tell he had died,' she said.

Mr Cooley has told the jury Younes gave three versions about what had happened.

He told ambulance officers something like he had found Steven after waking up and hearing water running.

Prosecutor told the jury Younes gave three versions about what had happened the night Steven died

He told police at the scene he had been watching TV when he heard the water running for some time.

He said he thought Ms Horton was having a shower, but when he went to see what was happening, found Steven's body.

In his later police interview, Younes said he had knocked on the front door as he didn't have a key, but couldn't alert anyone to let him in.

Younes said he thought he heard water running so he went to the back of the house where the bathroom was located, 'shimmied up' through an open window and discovered Steven dead in the bath.

The trial is continuing before Acting Justice Peter Hidden.
Delhi violence a clear attempt to embarrass India by anti citizenship law protesters: IB

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 25: The role of the Bhim Army has emerged as one of the key suspects in the violence that erupted in Delhi during the anti citizenship law protests.

The state intelligence bureau report suggested that the entire violence was orchestrated and was aimed at embarrassing India during the visit by Donal Trump. The report says that mischief makers had met on Sunday and decided to turn the protest violent. If one witnesses, those who came on to the streets had come well prepared with stones, pistols and even crates that they used as shields.

Delhi Police sources tell OneIndia that the there was clearly an attempt to incite violence and ensure that the protests turned violent in northeast Delhi. We will be booking all the perpetrators behind the violence. We also have taken into custody the man seen with a pistol, who goes by the name Sharukh. Attempts were made to pass off the shooter as someone from the pro citizenship law group, but it became clear that he had come from the Jaffrabad side, where those opposing the new law were emerging from.

Northeast Delhi remains on the boil: Shots fired, attempts to burn down houses made

During the high level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, various aspects were discussed. These included attempts to incite violence, hate mongering and also rumour spreading.

Amit Shah chairs high level meeting on North East Delhi violence

During a high level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, issues such a hate mongering, adequate force deployment were discussed. It was also decided to have better MLA-Police coordination. More importantly, it was decided that rumour mongering had to stop in order to ensure peace in the area.

The meeting was attended by Delhi Lieutenant Governor, Anil Baijal, Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal and representatives from political parties. Shah has been reviewing the situation since Monday.

Shah had held a meeting late on Monday night after attending the Namaste Trump event at Ahmedabad. The meeting which began at 11 pm ended at 1.30 am, sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs tell OneIndia.

During the meeting, Shah reviewed the law and order situation in Delhi and directed officials to restore normalcy at the earliest.

Hate and rumour mongering must stop says Shah during high-level meet post Delhi violence

Meanwhile the death toll in the northeast Delhi violence climbed to seven, a senior police official on Tuesday.

A Delhi Police head constable, Ratan Lal, was among the seven killed in the violence that erupted on Monday over the amended citizenship law.

Till Monday, authorities had said at least four people, including Lal, were killed in the violence. They said that the death toll has increased to seven on Tuesday.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 15:55 [IST]
LIMA, Peru, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nexa Resources Peru S.A.A. (f/k/a Compania Minera Milpo S.A.A.) (the " Company "), a publicly held corporation (sociedad anonima abierta) organized under the laws of the Republic of Peru and a subsidiary of Nexa Resources S.A., today announced the expiration and results of its offer to purchase for cash (the " Tender Offer ") any and all of its outstanding 4.625% Notes due 2023 (the " Notes ").

As set forth in the Company's Offer to Purchase, dated February 18, 2020 (the " Offer to Purchase ") and the related Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (the " Notice of Guaranteed Delivery " and together with the Offer to Purchase, the " Offer Documents "), the Tender Offer expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 24, 2020 (the " Expiration Deadline ").

According to information received by D.F. King & Co., Inc., the information and tender agent for the Tender Offer, as of the Expiration Deadline, holders of the Notes had validly tendered and not validly withdrawn $213,980,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes (representing approximately 62.38% of the outstanding Notes). The foregoing amount does not include any aggregate principal amount of Notes tendered pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures described in the Offer to Purchase, for which delivery of Notes must be made no later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 26, 2020.

Holders who (i) validly tendered their Notes and did not validly withdraw on or before the Expiration Deadline or (ii) delivered a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and all of the other required documents on or before the Expiration Deadline and tender their Notes prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 26, 2020, will receive for each U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) and accepted by the Company, a cash payment of U.S.$1,067.50 (the " Tender Offer Consideration "). The Tender Offer Consideration and accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes accepted for purchase (including those tendered through the guaranteed delivery procedures) from the last interest payment date of the Notes up to but excluding the settlement date will be paid in cash on the settlement date, which is currently anticipated to be February 27, 2020.

The Company retained HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. (" HSBC ") and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (" J.P. Morgan ") to act as dealer managers (the " Dealer Managers ") in connection with the Tender Offer. Questions regarding the Tender Offer may be directed to HSBC at +1 (212) 525-5552 (collect) and +1 (888) 478-8456 (toll free); and J.P. Morgan at +1 (212) 834-7279 (collect) and +1 (866) 846-2874 (toll free).

Neither the Offer Documents nor any related documents have been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, nor have any such documents been filed with or reviewed by any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority of any country. No authority has passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the Offer Documents or any related documents, and it is unlawful and may be a criminal offense to make any representation to the contrary.

This announcement is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to purchase. The Tender Offer was made solely pursuant to the Offer Documents. The Company made the Tender Offer only in those jurisdictions where it was legal to do so. The Tender Offer was not made to, nor did the Company accept tenders of Notes from holders in any jurisdiction in which the Tender Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdiction.

About Nexa Resources Peru S.A.A.

Nexa Resources Peru S.A.A. is a publicly held corporation (sociedad anonima abierta) organized under the laws of the Republic of Peru, and a subsidiary of Nexa Resources S.A. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, " Nexa Resources "). Nexa Resources is a large-scale, low-cost integrated zinc producer with over 60 years of experience developing and operating mining and smelting assets in Latin America.

NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are not guarantees of future performance. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are and will be, as the case may be, subject to many risks, uncertainties and factors relating to the Company and its affiliates that may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information currently available to the Company's management, the Company cannot guarantee future results or events. The Company expressly disclaims a duty to update any of the forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Nexa Resources Peru S.A.A.
The meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump is important to America's national security interest and global economy, a group of US lawmakers has said.

Senator Ted Cruz, who was the runner-up for the Republican presidential nomination in the 2016 election, said on Monday that India is a friend, an ally and the largest democracy on Earth.

"Trump and Modi meeting is important to US national security and the global economy. Last year I was proud to welcome PM Modi to Texas, where I reaffirmed my commitment to the India-US friendship," Cruz said in a tweet.

Congressman Pete Olson said "great to see" Trump being welcomed by India, one of America's biggest partners in both trade and diplomacy.

"I look forward to seeing what comes out of this historic visit, including a new US-India military partnership!" Olson said in a tweet.

Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy told Fox how Trump's warm welcome in India exemplifies the strong bond the countries share, and how the world is safer because of it.

"To have this relationship (with India) changes the course of history going forward. I give this president a great deal of credit... this creates a much bigger bond, and so for the president to do this and build with (Prime Minister) Modi, this makes the world stronger...," McCarthy said.

"A strong India-US relationship on trade and defence is vital to combatting Chinese influence around the world. It is right for our nation to push India to set a higher standard on human rights and religious freedom as we work together on key issues," said Senator James Lankford.

As the US continues to expand its relationship with India, particularly in trade, the US "must also talk about" human rights and religious freedom, he said.

"The Senate spoke with one voice in 2015 that religious freedom should be part of trade negotiations," Lankford said.

The first day of President Trump's visit to India projected a strengthened US-India partnership, a growing strategic and defence relationship and a much-needed and showy boost for both leaders, who have recently faced serious domestic political challenges, said Persis Khambatta, managing director of consulting firm South Asia BGA.

"The strong personal relationship between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi could play an important role as both countries continue to negotiate a trade deal in the near future - while it remains stalled for now, progress on trade is still a vitally important component of overall relations going forward," Khambatta said in response to a question.

Addressing the massive "Namaste Trump" rally at Motera stadium, President Trump on Monday said that Prime Minister Modi's rise from his humble background underscored the "limitless promise of the great nation", remarks which reflected the bonhomie shared by the two leaders.

The chemistry between Trump and Modi was evident at the event as the two leaders hugged each other multiple times and heaped praise on each other in front of nearly one lakh people at the new-look Motera stadium in Gujarat.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The head of an Iranian government task force on the coronavirus who had urged the public not to overreact about its spread has tested positive for the illness himself, authorities said Tuesday, as new cases emanating from the country rapidly emerged across the Middle East.

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This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A public bus driver, right, and commuters wear masks to help guard against the Coronavirus in downtown Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. On Sunday Iran's health ministry raised 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)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The head of an Iranian government task force on the coronavirus who had urged the public not to overreact about its spread has tested positive for the illness himself, authorities said Tuesday, as new cases emanating from the country rapidly emerged across the Middle East.

Only a day earlier, a coughing and heavily sweating Iraj Harirchi said at a televised news conference in Tehran that the situation is almost stable in the country."

The acknowledgement of Harirchi's illness underscores a growing crisis of confidence felt by many in Iran after nationwide economic protests, a U.S. drone striking killing a top Iranian general and Iran accidentally shooting down a commercial jetliner and insisting for days that it hadn't.

Iran on Tuesday also saw a crucial air link cut to the United Arab Emirates, home to the world's busiest airport for international travel in Dubai, as Bahrain announced more confirmed cases of the virus from passengers who transited through the UAE. The number of cases also increased sharply elsewhere in the region.

A worker disinfects a public bus against coronavirus in the city of Ahvaz in southwestern, Iran, in early morning of Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. Iran's government said Tuesday that more than a dozen people had died nationwide from the new coronavirus, rejecting claims of a much higher death toll of 50 by a lawmaker from the city of Qom that has been at the epicenter of the virus in the country. (Alireza Mohammadi/ISNA via AP)

Qatar Airways, one of the Mideast's biggest carriers, also said it was essentially halting operations to Iran and South Korea until further notice.

Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour confirmed Harirchi had the virus. Harirchi himself posted an online video saying he had it and that he had quarantined himself at home. He promised that authorities would bring the virus under control.

I wanted to tell you that, rest assured that with efforts of your servants at the Health Ministry ... and backed by you people, the government and all elements of the establishment, we will be victorious in our combat against this virus within the next few weeks, Harirchi said.

On Monday, however, he had offered a far different assessment while repeatedly wiping his brow while standing beside government spokesman Ali Rabiei.

Currently the situation is almost stable in the country and we could manage to minimize the problem," Harirchi said. He also said that "quarantines belong to the Stone Age."

In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian Presidency, President Hassan Rouhani speaks in a ceremony inaugurating a new highway that connects Tehran to the north of the country, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. Rouhani sought to reassure the nation in a speech on Tuesday, calling the new coronavirus an "uninvited and inauspicious passenger." "We will get through corona," Rouhani said. "We will get through the virus." (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)

That optimism, while no longer held by Harirchi, also appeared to be undercut by Jahanpour himself on Tuesday. The Health Ministry spokesman suggested it may take at least until Nowruz, the Persian New Year on March 20, for Iran to reach a point where the virus was contained. He added that a more pessimistic assessment suggested Iran would contain it by late April.

"We don't expect a miracle in the short term," Jahanpour said.

A prominent pro-reform lawmaker, Mamoud Sadeghi of Tehran, also said in a tweet that he tested positive for the virus.

The coronavirus has infected more than 80,000 people globally, causing about 2,700 deaths, mainly in China. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19.

Jahanpour on Tuesday said 15 people had died in Iran so far amid 95 confirmed cases. However, experts remain concerned Iran may be underreporting cases and deaths, given the rapid spread from Iran across the Persian Gulf.

Pedestrians wear masks to help guard against the Coronavirus in downtown Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. The head of Iran's counter-coronavirus task force has tested positive for the virus himself, authorities announced Tuesday, showing the challenges facing the Islamic Republic amid concerns the outbreak may be far wider than officially acknowledged. The announcement comes as countries across the Mideast say theyve had confirmed cases of the virus that link back to Iran, which for days denied having the virus. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

A hard-line lawmaker in Iran alleged Monday there had been 50 deaths in the Iranian city of Qom alone, which was denied by authorities.

What do you have to say about those buried in Qom cemetery? tweeted lawmaker Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani. Practitioners in hospitals write respiratory problems as the cause of death. But you know that they are from those quarantined for corona.

While Farahani's politics make him eager to undercut moderate President Hassan Rouhani, his earlier warning that Qom's top doctor fighting the coronavirus also had been infected has proven to be true.

Rouhani said he opposed closing public and government offices.

This is one of the plots by the enemy to shut down the country through spreading fear," he said in a speech, although he also urged people to avoid crowds, including at major Shiite shrines.

In this Monday, Feb. 24, 2020 photo, Shiite pilgrims wear masks outside the shrine of Imam Ali in Najaf, Iraq. The Health Ministry said four new cases of coronavirus were diagnosed in the northern province of Kirkuk. It said the afflicted were members of an Iraqi family who had returned from a recent trip to Iran. Iraq announced the discovery of the first coronavirus case in the country on Monday in Najaf. Iraq had earlier closed its border with Iran to Iranian nationals but apparently Iraqis can still cross the boundary. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. is deeply concerned that Iran may have suppressed vital details about the outbreak.

All nations, including Iran, should tell the truth about the coronavirus and co-operate with international aid organizations, he said.

The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority said it would halt all flights to and from Iran. The announcement came hours after busy Dubai International Airport said there would be restrictions on flights there.

The UAE, home to long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad, remains a key international transit route for Iran's 80 million people.

All passenger and cargo aircraft travelling to and from Iran will be suspended for a period of one week, and could be up for extension, the authority said.

Passengers on a Mahan Air flight from Tehran to Dubai on Tuesday said their flight was delayed some two hours, only to repeatedly circle the UAE city-state, then land and sit for another two hours before authorities agreed to let them off. The passengers, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution, said authorities let them walk off one at a time while being monitored with a thermal scanner.

Emirates, the government-owned carrier based in Dubai, flies daily to Tehran. Its low-cost partner airline, FlyDubai, serves several Iranian cities, as does the Sharjah-based low-cost carrier Air Arabia.

The announcement came after Bahrain said it would suspend all flights from Dubai and Sharjah, a neighbouring UAE emirate home to Air Arabia, for 48 hours. The small island nation off Saudi Arabia announced its first cases of the virus on Monday. By Tuesday, Bahrain said it had 23 confirmed cases.

Dubai had been screening passengers on flights from China, where the outbreak began in December. Emirates and Etihad still fly to Beijing as the UAE works to maintain close ties with China.

Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq and Oman also announced their first cases of the virus Monday and connected them to travel with Iran. The UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula, has reported 13 cases of the virus. Most of those were connected to Chinese travel.

Also Tuesday, Kuwait raised the number of its infected cases from five to eight, according to the state-run KUNA news agency. It said the three latest cases involved Kuwaiti citizens just back from Iran. The five previously reported cases were passengers on a flight from the Iranian city of Mashhad, where Irans government has not yet announced a single case of the virus.

Iraqs Health Ministry said four new cases of coronavirus were diagnosed in the northern province of Kirkuk. It said the afflicted were members of an Iraqi family who had returned recently from Iran. Iraq announced its first case Monday in the Shiite Muslim holy city of Najaf: an Iranian student who has since returned to Iran.

The northern region, which shares a border with Iran, is a hub of economic activity and the primary gateway for the Kurdistan Regional Government to import Iranian goods and fuel, and Kurds in Erbil lined up for gas, fearing shortages. The KRG also suspended working hours across educational institutions for a month.

Harirchi, the ailing Iranian official, had the following advice for worried Iranians: Take care of yourselves. This virus is a democrat virus! It does not differentiate between the rich and the poor or official and nonofficial and anyone could get it.

___

Associated Press writers Aya Batrawy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Nasser Karimi, Saeed Sarmadi, Mohammad Nasiri and Mehdi Fattahi in Tehran, Iran; Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey; Munir Ahmed in Islamabad; and Samya Kullab in Baghdad contributed.
Bengaluru, Feb 25 : A court has granted the two wishes of captured gangster Ravi Pujari, allowing his lawyer to be present during the probe and recording the enquiry, a police officer said on Tuesday.

"As per the court's direction, we are allowing Pujari's lawyer to be present during the investigation and also recording the enquiry," Central Crime Branch Deputy Commissioner of Police Kuldeep Jain told IANS.

Interestingly, India managed to extradite Pujari from West African nation Senegal without an extradition treaty.

"Though we did not have an extradition treaty, we managed to bring Pujari by persuading the Senegalese authorities," said Jain.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra and Gujarat are also seeking Pujari's custody which Jain said may happen after Bengaluru police finish their investigation.

Currently, the gangster is in 14-day police custody for investigation into several criminal cases against him.

A 4-member Karnataka police team led by Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) A.K. Pandey brought the 52-year-old underworld don to Bengaluru from Dakar in Senegal via Paris in an Air France scheduled flight during the early hours of Monday and kept him at an interrogation centre in the city's south-east suburb.

Of the over 200 cases against Pujari in the southern state, 39 are in Bengaluru, 36 in Mangaluru, 11 in Udupi on the state's west coast and one each at Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Kolar and Shivamogga in Malnad.

The other cases are in Mumbai (49) and in Gujarat (75) pertaining to extortion, kidnapping, ransom demand and murder threats.

Pujari also extorted huge amounts from popular Bollywood stars and realtors. He was also involved in an attempt to murder case, aimed at killing a prominent lawyer of Mumbai.
- Only three witnesses are remaining to testify in the case involving the fertiliser firm, KRA and others

- Directors of Elgon Kenya were among those charged with seven counts including wilful disobedience statutory duty and abuse of office

- Fourteen witnesses have already testified in the case which is being heard before Nairobi senior Principal Magistrate Kennedy Cheruiyot

Court case in which three directors of a fertiliser firm and Kenya Revenue Authority officials are facing charges of importing substandard fertiliser is almost coming to a close.

The case hearing which has been set of March, 2, 2020 with only three witnesses remaining to testify.

READ ALSO: Mike Sonko surrenders Nairobi county government functions to national government

The fertilizer did not meet specified standard for potassium nitrate. Photo: Capital FM

Source: UGC

Bimal Rajnikant Kantaria, Baiju Kantaria and Iqbal Mohammed were charged with seven counts of wilful disobedience statutory duty, abuse of office, connivance to commit an offence and negligence of official duty.

The directors were charged alongside KRA officials in 2018 over the importation of substandard fertilizer.

It is alleged that on June, 30, 2018, Kiprono Vullut and Ahmed Ashkir Dahiro jointly with others connived to release a consignment of substandard potassium nitrate fertilizer to Elgon Kenya Limited vide entry number 2018/MSA6925160, fertilizer which did not meet specified standard for potassium nitrate.

READ ALSO: Chinese citizens caught beating Kenyan employee now want to be deported

The directors were charged alongside KRA officials in 2018 over the importation of substandard fertilizer.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Unplanned projects launched by DP Ruto causing trouble for MPs  CS Munya

They were charged for willfully disobeying the provisions of section 20 of the standards act caps 496 laws of Kenya.

Fourteen witnesses have already testified in the case which is being heard before Nairobi senior Principal Magistrate Kennedy Cheruiyot.

The prosecution sought for adjournment to produce the remaining witnesses in the matter, with the hearing set for March, 2, 2020.

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Executives at Sydney Trains have apologised for a terrible morning on the transport network after a combination of problems caused massive delays across the city on Tuesday but expect the afternoon to run more smoothly.

A wiring fault at Hornsby left a train stranded near the entrance to a transport depot, which blocked a further 20 trains behind it, while a medical emergency at Erskineville caused extensive delays through Sydneys inner west before 8am.

Sydney Trains have apologised for Tuesday morning's delays. Credit:AAP

Meanwhile, a mechanical issue near Lidcombe and a fire alarm evacuation at Town Hall in the morning rush added to delays. The incidents occurring within a few hours wreaked havoc, with services to the north, south and west all experiencing delays.

While thousands of commuters were caught up in the delays, Sydney Trains chief executive Stewart Mills said the network would likely have recovered by the afternoon rush.
[February 25, 2020] IAS Threat Lab Calls for Industry To Update Ads.txt Files to Stop Growing Bot Scheme

JAKARTA, Indonesia , Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Integral Ad Science (IAS), the global leader in digital ad verification, today announced a threat alert on 404bot, a growing bot scheme generating fake browser data and creating fabricated URLs in order to steal advertisers' media spend. The 404bot capitalizes on unaudited Ads.txt files, the very tool created to help ad buyers avoid illegitimate sellers and prevent unauthorized inventory sales from happening. A sign of the continually growing sophistication of ad fraud, the 404bot scheme was able to bypass many preventative techniques and ensured spoofed URLs would slip under the radar. The 404bot has affected a range of publishers domains, both high and low profile, many of which have one thing in common: large Ads.txt lists. In recent years, in response to a rise in counterfeit ad inventory, the IAB Technology Lab started the Authorized Digital Sellers initiative, known as Ads.txt. to increase the transparency of inventory flow in the online advertising ecosystem. The implementation of Ads.txt by publishers thus far has shown a dramatic decline in bad actors being able to abuse the ecosystem, but fraudsters are constantly evolving and are now capitalizing on unaudited Ads.txt files. "We detect bots and protect our customers from their effects every day. The 404bot has been active since 2018 and its unchecked growth now warrants industry action," said Evgeny Shmelkov, Head of the IAS Threat Lab. "Pblishers have done an excellent job in implementing Ads.txt but what we are learning from this bot is that it is crucial to continuously audit and update Ads.txt files."



Similar to 3ve and Hyphbot , the main signature of the 404bot is extensive domain spoofing , where URLs are spoofed at the browser level - meaning that the data from the browsers are faked. To avoid the vulnerabilities exhibited by past bots, the 404bot ensured their spoofed URLs would not be easily detectable to the human eye, allowing the bot to slip under the radar. The IAS Threat Lab detects bots regularly and ensures that clients are protected from their effects. In order to reduce unnecessary panic in the ecosystem, IAS refrains from releasing details for every discovery. But with no sign of 404bot shutting down for good, the IAS Threat Lab is sharing its findings to allow other players in the ad-tech ecosystem the opportunity to clean up their inventories.

IAS has estimated the 404bot is responsible for costing the industry upwards of $15 million dollars - a number that continues to grow and has affected over 1.5 billion video ads. IAS will continue to work closely with publishers and the IAB Tech Lab to improve the Ads.txt model to limit their susceptibility to fraud attacks like the 404bot. For more details visit integralads.com or contact your fraud protection provider. ABOUT IAS Integral Ad Science (IAS) is the global leader in digital ad verification, offering technologies that drive high-quality advertising media. IAS equips advertisers and publishers with both the insight and technology to protect their advertising investments from fraud and unsafe environments as well as to capture consumer attention, and drive business outcomes. Founded in 2009, IAS is headquartered in New York with global operations in 18 offices across 13 countries. IAS is part of the Vista Equity Partners portfolio of software companies. For more on how IAS is powering great impressions for top publishers and advertisers around the world, visit integralads.com. Logo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200221/2727058-1LOGO SOURCE Integral Ad Science

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The state government of the Northern Territory has ruled in favour of the amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act despite the negative feedback from the Legislation Scrutiny Committee.

The amendments seek to give rights to tenants to own a pet. Under the proposed changes, tenants who wish to have a pet must submit a written notice to their landlords. The burden will fall on landlords to make objections to the Northern Territory Civil Administrative Tribunal within 14 days of the receipt of the written notice. If no objections are made on the part of the property owner, the tenants will get to keep their pet.

These amendments were not supported by the Legislation Scrutiny Committee, which said that these could "pose an unreasonable burden to the landlord and will only benefit a small proportion of tenants in private rental housing."

Read more: New tenancy laws could push investors away

"This is only the first tranche of changes to the Residential Tenancies Act and it signals that this government is willing to take away all rights of landlords and owners by ignoring all evidence presented to it by stakeholders and its Legislative Scrutiny Committee," said Quentin Kilian, CEO of the Real Estate Institute of Northern Territory, in a statement.

These changes are similar to the ones implemented in the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria.

"With the territory's economy already on its knees and the property market having wiped 10 years of capital growth off the books due to decisions of this government, they now seek to drive away investors from a property market that is just starting to show signs of recovery," Kilian said.

Peter Koulizos, the chairperson of the Property Investment Professionals of Australia, said these changes could be "the straw that breaks the camel's back" for many investors.

"They will consider selling as they don't want more hassles. However, with the Northern Territory, property prices are currently significantly below where they were a few years ago. Most investors would be crystallising a capital loss if they sold now or in the near future," he told Your Investment Property.

The median price in Darwin, Northern Territory's capital, fell by 8.1% in January on an annual basis to $390,143, according to CoreLogic's Home Value Index.

Also read: Reckless rent reforms could hurt investor

If enough investors sell their properties, a lower supply of rental housing could ensue, Koulizos said. A tight supply of rental homes could, in turn, increase rents.

"A good starting point would have been to consult with stakeholders such as the tenants' association, property investors, and public housing providers, and seriously take into consideration each party's perspective and try and come to a consensus before introducing any legislation into parliament," Koulizos said. "It seems to be too late to do this now, but this process should be undertaken when this legislation is due for a review."
Animal lovers are up in arms after a pet owner left his dog tied to a street pole using a phone charger so they could enjoy a cold beer at a Sydney pub.

A video was posted on Facebook on Tuesday night, showing the dog with a pink cable wrapped around its neck waiting for his owner to return from the Bondi bar.

The image sparked fury among the Eastern Suburbs community.

An image of the dog was posted to the Facebook Group Bondi Loop where it has already attracted dozens of angry comments

The video was posted to the Facebook group Bondi Local Loop and has already attracted dozens of angry comments.

'Oh my god this is utterly disgusting, I'm shocked,' wrote on woman.

Another questioned: 'What the f*** is wrong with people?'

'I hope his charged,' another joked.

A video of the dog was posted on Facebook on Tuesday night patiently waiting for his owner to return from the Bondi bar with a pink cable wrapped around its neck
The Egyptian presidency has mourned with "great sorrow" the death of ousted former President Hosni Mubarak, who died on Tuesday at 91.

The presidency said in a statement that it mourned Mubarak for "what he offered to the country as one of the leaders and heroes of the glorious [1973] war" with Israel.

It referred to his role as "chief of the air forces during a war that restored dignity and pride to the Arab region." The presidency also offered condolences to his family.

Mubarak's son Alaa confirmed the news on Twitter.

The Egyptian military also mourned the death of the former leader as "one of its sons and one of the leaders of the gloriouswar" and offered condolences to his family and to the armed forces.



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UTICA, N.Y.  A Utica sex offender has been arrested after an alleged sex crime against a 14-year-old girl, according to the Oneida County Sheriffs Office.

Maurice M. Jones, 57, was charged with sexual contact with the teen for an alleged crime Feb. 14. Hed been out of prison for about six weeks after being imprisoned for rape in 1989, according to prison records.

Jones and the girl were inside a vehicle for a brief time" that day, deputies said, which is when the alleged crime occurred.

Sheriffs investigator Mark Chrysler said the circumstances that allowed Jones to be in a vehicle with the alleged victim are still to be determined, saying the investigation is ongoing.

Jones was sentenced to 17 to 99 years in prison in 1989 for forcible rape, according to the state sex offender registry. That crime occurred in Albany, and Jones used a gun, according to the registry.

He was released on parole Jan. 2 of this year, according to state prison records.

On Feb. 24, investigators found Jones at a home in Utica and took him into custody without incident, deputies said.

Hes being held pending arraignment for allegedly violating parole. And an order of protection was issued on behalf of the girl, deputies said.

Jones is being charged with sexual abuse in the third degree and endangering the welfare of a child, both misdemeanors, deputies said.
They've done their time behind bars and been on good behavior since their release, but advocates say some of Georgia's 4.2 residents are still shackled by their past deeds.

While the state's unemployment rate was around 3.4% before the pandemic, the unemployment rate for residents with criminal records was close to 15% during that time, according to Douglas Ammar, the executive director of the nonprofit group the Georgia Justice Project.

"We've run into this issue all of the time and it's affecting whole communities," Ammar told ABC News in February. "Everyone in Georgia knows someone who was incarcerated and is struggling to find housing or a job."

MORE: Former inmates start forestry company after working as firefighters in prison

Some of those Georgians are going to get a reprieve after state leaders unanimously approved a bill last week that would allow residents with non-violent criminal histories the right to expunge their record following good behavior. The "Second Chance" bill gained momentum during this session as prosecutors, elected officials and companies pushed for the change.

PHOTO: Doug Ammar from the Georgia Justice Project speaks to panel members during a Second Chance event, Feb. 11, 2020, in Atlanta. (Erika Curtis, Georgia Justice Project)

Under Georgia's current law, arrests that don't lead to convictions and misdemeanor convictions for minors are the only crimes that can be expunged. The Second Chance bill allows former residents who committed non-violent crimes to send a request to a judge seeking to expunge their record after a certain number of years of good behavior.

People who were convicted of misdemeanors would have to wait at least four years after their release to request the judge to expunge their records, while those who were convicted of felonies would have to wait at least five years, according to the bill.

The legislation exempts several criminal charges including sex crimes, murder and kidnapping, and it allows judges to consider several factors, including victim objections, before deciding on expungement.

Story continues

Rep. Mandi Ballinger first introduced the legislation in the Georgia House of Representatives last year and voted for the version that was introduced during this year's session. The bill had the support of various district attorney offices, prison reform advocates and other groups.

Ballinger said she personally doesn't know anyone close to her that has a criminal record. Because 40% of the state's population has had a misdemeanor or felony conviction -- a rate that's among the highest in the nation -- everyone is feeling the effects.

"I've heard from many people who say it's happening to their brother or it's happening to their father or it's happening to their wife," Ballinger told ABC News in February. "Having a criminal conviction means you made a mistake. It shouldn't prohibit you from getting gainful employment."

PHOTO: Rep. Chuck Efstration, chair of House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, speaks at a Second Chance event, Feb. 11, 2020, in Atlanta. (Erika Curtis, Georgia Justice Project)

The Georgia Budget Policy Institute found that formerly incarcerated residents lost on average $36,000 in wages last year, which amounted to about $2.6 billion in wasted spending power. Forty states have a criminal record expungement program, including North Carolina and Arkansas, according to the Georgia Justice Project.

Georgia's state senate passed the bill in March but its vote in the assembly was tabled because of coronavirus. During that hiatus, advocates and businesses, such as Coca-Cola and Home Depot, pushed state leaders to pass the bill.

"Weve brought together legislators, partner organizations, employers and directly affected people across the state to make this effort a reality," Ammar said in a statement Monday.

Ballinger, a Republican, said her colleagues on the other side of the aisle were on board with the measure.

MORE:2020 candidates discuss criminal justice reform from the cell block to the ballot box

"We all like the goal of the bill, which is to get people back on their feet," she said.

Representatives for Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp didn't immediately comment about the bill's passage.

Georgia lawmakers pass bill that gives court the ability to expunge non-violent records originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The Ontario Provincial Police response to the rail blockade at Tyendinaga is a far cry from how law enforcement handled such protests 20 or 30 years ago.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Ontario Provincial Police response to the rail blockade at Tyendinaga is a far cry from how law enforcement handled such protests 20 or 30 years ago.

Another crisis of Canada's own making Click to Expand Protesters speak to Ontario Provincial Police officers at a rail blockade in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, near Belleville, Ont., on Monday February 24. (Lars Hagberg / Canadian Press) Posted: 4:17 PM Feb. 24, 2020 Its around 7 a.m., and theres a knock on my bedroom door. Daddy, somethings happening to the Mohawks out East. Read Full Story

OPP officers waited 19 days to enforce a court order to remove Indigenous protesters from CN Rail tracks. Despite calls by some (including federal Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer) to go in half-cocked and make immediate arrests, police used restraint, sent in liaisons, talked with protesters, tried to de-escalate the situation, and did everything in their power to avoid using force.

Even after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Friday for the blockades to come down (he didnt "order" police to do so, as some have wrongly claimed), the OPP waited three days before making arrests. Even then, the day before, they gave protesters a chance to leave, including an offer of amnesty to anyone who disbanded by midnight Sunday.

Police waited eight more hours after that deadline before moving in Monday. They asked protesters to leave; when they didnt, the arrests began.

Ontario Provincial Police officers stand around the front of a barricade at a rail blockade in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, near Belleville, Ont., Monday. (Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press)

It wasn't much of a clash. No firearms, Tasers, or pepper spray cannisters were drawn. Not a single police baton was raised. Several protesters wanted to fight; they were handcuffed by police. One or two were forced to the ground, and a dozen or so were arrested.

Police showed extreme restraint and did not use more force than necessary. There were no serious injuries.

In the past, Canadian police were far more militant in how they responded to such protests. They were much quicker to use force, often with disastrous outcomes. In this case, the OPP deserves praise for how they handled a difficult and politically explosive situation.

Its regrettable it had to come to this, but, eventually, court orders must be enforced, just as governments must follow court rulings when they apply to them.

Officers lead a man away after making an arrest at a rail blockade in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. (Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press)

When courts strike down legislation because it violates the constitution, for example (or when courts rule governments must consult with Indigenous groups before proceeding with a natural resource project), we expect the ruling to be followed.

Its not a perfect system, but resolving conflict through the courts or other tribunals when talks or negotiations fail is the only way to maintain order in society.

If anyone believes the OPP should have ignored the court injunction in question, they would have to accept respondents in other cases (including governments) could do the same when a decision doesnt suit them. That would lead to anarchy.

Protests, illegal or otherwise, are part of democracy.

The current round has raised awareness about Indigenous issues. That includes Aboriginal land rights of the Wetsuweten in British Columbia (which were confirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada in 1997) and the conflicts that arise when their interests clash with those of elected band councils under the Indian Act. These are complicated issues which are not easily resolved. Most Canadians wouldnt even be aware of them, if not for the protests.

Its also unlikely provincial regulators in B.C. would have ordered another round of consultations with Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs (which just occurred last week) regarding the controversial Coastal GasLink pipeline project, were it not for the recent protests.

Its a crappy way for Indigenous people (who have been abused under colonial rule for more than 150 years and who continue to live in third-world conditions in many cases) to have to push for change. It speaks to the continued failure of Canada and all governments to make real progress in improving the lives of Indigenous people.

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The fact protests arise is no great shock; the only real surprise is they havent become more militant. Just as the OPP have shown restraint, so too have many Indigenous protesters, including those at the Tyendinaga, Ont., site.

The fact protests arise is no great shock; the only real surprise is they havent become more militant. Just as the OPP have shown restraint, so too have many Indigenous protesters, including those at the Tyendinaga, Ont., site.

At the end of the day, order must be maintained; the alternative is unthinkable.

There will be more protests, court orders and police responses. Government leaders should take that as a cue to ramp-up reconciliation efforts.

If they fail, they do so at the peril of all Canadians  but its Indigenous communities that will suffer the most.

tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.ca
A man on trial for capital murder texted his girlfriend saying he wanted go to the cinema to "get away until this blows over", the day after Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead, a court has heard.

The text from Aaron Brady (29), who denies murder, was one of around 10 messages sent in the hours before and after the fatal shooting which were later deleted from her phone.

The Central Criminal Court heard there were almost 10,000 pieces of information recovered from the mobile of Jessica King, who was in a relationship with the accused in January 2013.

One text, sent from Ms King to Mr Brady at 2.37pm on January 26, 2013, read: "She's in the shower. I don't want to go anywhere. I'm in such bad form because my mas doing the Rulya at me."

He responded three minutes later, in a text that was later deleted, saying: "Please Jess I just want to get away till this blows over ill prob just go into them tomorrow everything will be ok tell them its fine i just wanna go and get something to eat away from here and go to the cinema am just p***ed off please."

Mr Brady, of New Road in Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Donohoe (41), who was then a member of An Garda Siochana acting in the course of his duty at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013.

He also denies the robbery of about 7,000 in cash and cheques from Pat Bellew at the same place on the same date.

Sgt Karen Coughlan gave evidence that Ms King gave her phone to the PSNI on January 26, 2013, and that the device was later analysed.

The jury were then taken through the information contained on the phone, which the witness agreed were created between January 13 and 26, 2013.

Lorry

In one text message, on January 22, Mr Brady told his girlfriend he "was promised money this week" and could pay off money for a car "with all going well".

Messages exchanged in the hours before the fatal shooting and robbery, which happened at 9.29pm, were also read out in court.

One deleted text sent from Mr Brady at 7.54pm read: "Just have to load the lorry but it will only take an hour or 2. This phone is gonna go dead. ill text you soon as am home and get it charged love you x'.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and the jury of eight men and seven women this morning.
A shoe expert has declared R.M. Williams pricey boots to be worth their hefty cost after cutting a pair open to examine their materials and construction.

The shoe artisan, who works for American leather goods store Rose Anvil, filmed himself slicing the handmade $595 boots down the middle.

'I bought a pair to cut in half to see if they live up to the hype and the price or if they are just a celebrity-sponsored, overpriced boot,' he said.

Rose Anvil regularly shares videos of employees cutting expensive footwear in half to assess their quality.

An electric saw was used to cut through the boot's thick sole, which is made of leather and a composite of other materials.

Scroll down for video

The leather artisan, who works for the American leather goods store Rose Anvil, filmed himself slicing the hand-made Craftsman boots down the middle so he could study the quality of its materials and construction

He then continued to rip apart the boot's sole with his bare hands, pulling off the cork and leather

'Looks like we've got some pretty good stuff going on in here,' he said while holding up one half of the boot.

'We've got some cork in there. That's going to help conform to your foot faster and it's going to give it a more custom fit.

'The heel stack is full leather, except for the very bottom piece... It looks pretty good in here so far. I'm pretty impressed.'

Poll Do you think R.M Williams boots are worth the price? Yes No Do you think R.M Williams boots are worth the price? Yes 1156 votes

No 1290 votes Now share your opinion





He then continued to rip apart the boot's sole with his bare hands and a pair of pliers, pulling off the cork and leather.

The expert said the boot's back inside lining was made of yearling leather, which comes from a cow up to two years old.

'There's not really a cap near the heel, so you might get some slipping on your heel when you first start wearing these in because this leather is really smooth,' he said.

'Overall it's a really good boot, I'm pretty impressed.

'But there's a few things I wished were a little different. I wish there wasn't some composite material inside the heel stack... just being nit-picky.

'Other than that, it's a solid boot. I don't really have many complaints other than that it's so hard to tear apart, it took me two hours.'

Hugh Jackman (pictured with wife Deborra-Lee Furness) owns five per cent of the iconic Australian company and became its brand ambassador in March last year.

R.M. Williams was founded in Adelaide in 1932 by the famed bushman of the same name

R.M. Williams was founded in Adelaide in 1932 by the famed bushman of the same name.

The company's iconic boots are a popular item both locally and overseas, and the brand has stores in New York, London, New Zealand and in Scandinavia.

Hugh Jackman owns five per cent of the iconic Australian company and became its brand ambassador in March last year.

Jackman, 50, became involved with the company as an ambassador after starring in the movie Australia alongside Nicole Kidman in 2007.

He bought his stake in the firm in 2015, setting him up for a lucrative return when the business was sold to L Capital, the investment arm of Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy.
Mr Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover, Member of Parliament for Tema East, has said the Minority in Parliament should not be paid their February salary for boycotting President Akufo-Addo's State of the Nation Address on Thursday 20 February 2020, and subsequently the SoNA debate.

Condemning the act of the Minority, Mr Titus-Glover said although it was within their right to boycott Parliament, they should have considered the effect of their actions on their constituents who voted for them before embarking on such a move.

It was sad that they did that, he told Accra100.5FMs parliamentary correspond, Richard Appiah Sarpong in an interview on Tuesday, 25 February 2020.

We did boycott SoNA in 2013 when we challenged the legitimacy of President John Mahama but in their case, what were their reasons? I believe that their constituents voted for them and, so, they should look at the people they are representing. Now, they also said they are boycotting the debate but all I will say is that, if you dont work, you are not paid.

The labour law says that whoever does not work should not be paid and, so, the act should be implemented here in their case. It is not me who will stop their salary, it is their duty to work and get paid and, so, if you dont work, why should you be paid? Mr Titus-Glover quizzed.

After their walkout, the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, said his Caucus boycotted the Presidents presentation of the State of the Nation Address in protest to several acts of tyranny and impunity by the Akufo-Addo government, including the recent mid-night demolition of Mr Raymond Archers $10 million printing press at the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre.

Mr Iddrisu accused President Akufo-Addo of being a tyrant.

The growing culture of impunity and tyranny that has reached alarming proportions was, once again, on the prowl when agents of National Security demolished businesses belonging to Ghanaians in the private sector located at the Ghana Trade Fair site at dawn under the cover of darkness. Not even a notice was served on the owners to take out their valuables ahead of the barbaric demolition.

We are not in any doubt that the cruel nature of the demolition, which has been justified by the President's appointees and spokespersons, was targeted at former award-winning journalist Raymond Archer, who, many in this administration, have not forgiven for his incisive and explosive investigative pieces of yesteryears.

As noted, these are not normal times. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Our tradition is credited for laying the foundations for this Fourth Republican dispensation. It is our moral duty to the Constitution we swore to protect and the people we serve in this House to rise and resist the oppressor's rule in that enduring and rallying call of our national anthem.

Our walkout was, therefore, a bold protest against tyranny and to send a very clear message directly to President Akufo-Addo that enough is enough. We shall no longer accept the growing levels of impunity and unconstitutionalism masked by duplicitous and hollow rhetoric.

----classfmonline
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Expressing concern over the situation in the national capital, the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) demanded a judicial probe into the violence in northeast Delhi which claimed 10 lives.

"The situation in the nation's capital is extremely worrying and there is an urgent need for all to work together and restore peace and normalcy immediately," said JIH President Saddatullah Hussaini.

"We all witnessed the overt incitement to violence by politicians followed by violent attacks on protesters. The Delhi Police was unable to control the violence. Armed gangs went on the rampage in the presence of the police, which didn't do anything to stop them," said Hussaini in a statement.

The JIH demanded that the politicians who were responsible for provoking the violence should be immediately arrested. The Chief Minister along with his MLAs, the MPs of Delhi and prominent community and religious leaders must tour the violence-affected areas and appeal for calm.

"The Delhi Police must act against those breaking the law and resorting to acts of violence irrespective of the citizen's religious and political affiliation. We have so far seen that the police are acting in an extremely prejudiced manner against the minority community," the JIH chief said.
Between 2016 and 2018, the 250 private companies on this list had an average growth rate of 422 percent, with aX growing 441%.

AUDIENCEX, the largest independent trading desk built for performance marketers and agencies, was named the 40th fastest growing private company in California by Inc. magazine. Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within Californias most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses.

AUDIENCEX is the largest independent trading desk, working to streamline the complex world of digital marketing for marketers and agencies around the world. While AUDIENCEX achieved a growth rate of 441% in the last two years, the companies on this list show stunning rates of growth across all industries in California. Between 2016 and 2018, these 250 private companies had an average growth rate of 422 percent and, in 2018 alone, they employed more than 49,000 people and added $5.6 billion to the California economy. Companies based in the largest metro areasLos Angeles, the Bay Area, and San Diegobrought in the highest revenue overall.

The AUDIENCEX trading desk, tdX, is powered by a proprietary algorithmic technology which assesses 12 leading DSPs based on millions of data points to identify the best-performing platform for each campaign. Combining this powerful technology with exceptional customer service and strategic expertise across programmatic, native, search, social, and creative means advertisers and agencies can unify their digital marketing efforts to find and convert customers and increase revenue.

The companies on this list demonstrate just how much the small-business sector impacts Californias economy, says Inc. editor in chief Scott Omelianuk. Across every single industry, these businesses have posted revenue and growth rates that are beyond impressive, further proving the tenacity of their founders and CEOs.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000 Series: California, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, metro area, and other criteria, can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000-series-california-2020.

Inc. 5000 Regional Series Methodology

The 2020 Inc. 5000 Regional Series is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2016 and 2018. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2016. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2018. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2016 is $100,000; the minimum for 2018 is $1 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons.

About Inc. Media

The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com.

About AUDIENCEX

AUDIENCEX is the leading digital advertising partner for brands and agencies offering strategic, unbiased, omnichannel performance marketing solutions. We create value for our clients through a combination of innovative technology, targeted media buying, data-driven analysis, and high-impact creative to drive performance with your ideal customers throughout the purchase funnel. Its marketing to the power of X. aX is headquartered in Los Angeles and operates in offices throughout North America, including New York, Denver, Dallas and Montreal. For more information, visit http://www.audiencex.com.
A former McDonald's franchisee filmed allegedly racially abusing an Indigenous couple has been charged with attempted criminal damage.

In shocking footage posted to social media in December, Rob Vigors and Karen Ridge allegedly confronted their neighbour in Mildura, Victoria, about flying an Aboriginal flag.

The incident was filmed by well-respected Aboriginal artist Robby Wirramanda, who had the flag on his white 4x4 outside their home.

Mr Vigors accused Mr Wirramanda and his wife of 'being only 1 per cent Aboriginal', while Ms Ridge was seen aggressively trying to rip the flag from the car.

Mr Vigors (pictured) appeared on the family's driveway and insisted they 'weren't real Aboriginals'. Victoria Police confirmed on Tuesday a 64-year-old man from Mildura had been charged with attempted criminal damage

Victoria Police told news.com.au on Tuesday a 64-year-old man from Mildura had been charged with attempted criminal damage.

He is due to face the Mildura Magistrates' Court on March 20 following the December incident.

In the viral footage, Mr Wirramanda was heard calmly saying: 'I sincerely hope that we don't have to talk again.'

He then turned the camera to film Ms Ridge desperately tugging at the family's flag.

'Look at you, trying to rip my flag off. You're a drunken, f*****g bum,' he went on.

Having given up with her effort to rip the flag, Ms Ridge said: 'Take this s**t down, it's a disgrace'.

Rob Vigors and Karen Ridge appeared to take issue with their neighbours in Mildura, Victoria, for flying an Aboriginal flag in viral video

As the shocking footage continued, Mr Wirramanda called Ms Ridge a 'racist pig', to which the couple insisted she 'isn't racist'.

Despite saying she isn't racist, she then asked him: 'Which half of you is Aborginal?'

Mr Vigors allegedly chimed in: 'Which 1 per cent of you is Aboriginal? Mate, you've got nothing in you that's Aboriginal.

'You make me laugh. You do some nice paintings and I respect that work. Don't get me wrong, I respect that work. But you claiming to be Aboriginal?

'You make me laugh. You really, really do. Because this is the problem with this country and so many people in this area and this country - people like you make a mockery of true Aboriginals.

Robby Wirramanda-Knight, pictured with Jackie Wirramanda, filmed the incident, which was shared by himself and later a family member

'I have a lot of good Aboriginal friends that live in far-north Queensland and the Northern Territorial. They'd love to see you and come and give you a lecture on what Aboriginal is.'

Mr Vigors had been the franchisee of the local McDonald's since 1992 but in December the fast food chain announced he had left the company.

'McDonald's confirms the company has taken over the operation of the Mildura and Irymple restaurants, effective immediately, and Robert Vigors has left the system and is no longer involved,' it said.

'McDonald's will be engaging with its employees regarding the change in arrangements, to ensure the ongoing operation of the restaurants.

Ms Ridge previously told Daily Mail Australia that she had received death threats since the video went viral on social media and did not feel safe giving her side of the story.

'There are always two sides to every story,' she said.
Its Shrove Tuesday today, also known as Shrovetide Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday. So what does Shrove mean? And why are some Christians eating pancakes today?

Pancakes were traditionally eaten on the day before Ash Wednesday because they were a way to use up eggs, milk, and sugar before the fasting season of the 40 days of Lent. Liturgical fasting during Lent emphasizes eating plainer food and refraining from "pleasurable" foods such as meat, dairy and eggs. Many people "give something up" during Lent as a way to prepare for Easter, which is on April 12 this year.

Shrove is the past tense of shrive, which means to gain absolution of sins by confession and repentance. Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake Tuesday in some western European countries. The pancake aspect is not as widely observed in the United States as it is in England.

Of course, in America today is more popularly known as Mardi Gras, which is "Fat Tuesday" in French.

Its called Fat Tuesday because it's the last day of indulgence before Ash Wednesday, when ashes are imposed on the forehead in the mark of a cross, with the minister quoting Genesis on the mortality of man.

Many Episcopal churches have pancake suppers on Shrove Tuesday, often as fundraisers for parish youth groups.

Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Vestavia Hills is having its annual pancake supper tonight at 5:30; so is All Saints Episcopal Church in Homewood.

St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Vestavia Hills and St. Lukes Episcopal Church are having pancake suppers beginning at 5 p.m.

Some restaurants observe it as National Pancake Day, with special offers on pancakes.
Iraqi nationals banned from traveling to Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Baghdad, Feb 25, IRNA -- Iran's Embassy in Baghdad in a statement on Monday announced that Iraqis' visit to Iran is forbidden until March 6.

The statement said that given the significance of public health and the need for preserving health safety of both countries, Iraqi nationals are banned from entering Iran until March 6.

Iraqi health officials announced identification of a case of coronavirus in Najaf.

Following spread of the virus, Iraq closed its border crossings with Iran on Thursday, as Iranians are currently banned from visiting the country.

8072**2050

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Srinagar, Feb 25 : The BJP has welcomed the moves to form a new political party in Jammu and Kashmir led by former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) minister Altaf Bukhari.

Bukhari has said that in the coming days a new political party will be formed, which will consist of former Legislators and will also include new faces.

Speaking to IANS, Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina said, "Such a move is welcome." "If a new political party is made after the abrogation of Article 370, it is a welcome move," Raina said. "This will strengthen the democracy." He said the Indian constitution has given them the right to carry out political activities within its ambit.

On Sunday, Congress former lawmaker Usman Majeed resigned from the party and is likely to join the emerging new group.

Bukhari was the first mainstream politician in Kashmir who said publicly "that there was a need to move beyond the abrogation of Article 370 and strive for achievable political objectives".

In January, Bukhari-led delegation presented a memorandum to the Lt. Governor listing measures for the revival of political activities. They demanded restoration of statehood and domicile rights for the residents of the Union Territory.

The group has stressed up on the release of all the detainees who have been detained after the abrogation of Article 370, including three former Chief Ministers.

Bukhari also lead a group of former PDP Legislators who held a meeting with a 16-member delegation of foreign envoys in Srinagar.

The move triggered a strong response from the PDP, which expelled eight of its members for taking part in the meetings and siding with Bukhari.
The 2020 Arab Aviation Summit (AAS), the regions leading aviation industry event, has announced an array of top executives for its eighth edition, to be held on March 16 & 17 at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.



Themed, Linking cultures, driving economies, the summit will bring together an audience of key industry stakeholders and experts to participate in high-level dialogue on the latest trends, challenges and opportunities facing Arab travel and tourism. Global and regional industry experts will also discuss the contribution of the aviation and tourism sector to economies, and how it adds value to the economic diversification narrative of the region. They will evaluate the challenges faced by the aviation sector and share ideas and strategies to address them.



Amongst the line-up of aviation and tourism thought leaders participating in the event are Adel Al Ali, group chief executive officer, Air Arabia; Raki Phillips, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority; Hussain Omar bin Alawi Alibrahim, head of Air Transportation (Aviation), GCC; Aradhana Khowala, CEO and founder, Aptamind Partners, Board Member & Member of the Steering Committee - World Tourism Forum Lucerne, Chair of the Advisory Board - The Red Sea Project Saudi Arabia; Mikail Houari, president Africa and Middle East, Airbus; Maher Koubaa, executive vice president, Amadeus; Rehab Mansoor, general manager, Rehlaty by dnata Travel New Ventures; Jacques Khoriaty, Middle East & South Asia Aviation director, EGIS; Hussein Dabbas, general manager - Special Projects MEA, Embraer; Emad Al Monayea, chairman, VAAYU GROUP; Sudeep Ghai, chief customer and commercial officer, Fly a Deal; Gavin Eccles, managing partner, GE Aviation & Tourism.



Endorsed by Arab Governments and previously held in many Arab counties, the Arab Aviation Summit 2020 is hosted by Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAK TDA) and supported by global industry partners such as Airbus, CFM, Alpha Aviation Academy and others.



Hailed as the voice of the industry and representing an ideal partnership of the three key players in the travel and tourism industry: Public sector, Private sector and the Media community  the Arab Aviation Summit is an industry initiative organised annually to shed light on trends, insights and opportunities driving the continuous growth and development of the Arab aviation and tourism industry.



A white paper, based on deliberations of participants, will be presented at the conclusion of the summit. - TradeArabia News Service
WILKES-BARRE  A man from Schuylkill County who admitted to leaving four children inside a vehicle with a loaded handgun while patronizing a tavern in Hazleton was sentenced in Luzerne County Court on Monday.

Ismael Dominguez, 51, of Mahanoy City, was arrested when a state trooper with the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement spotted four children inside a vehicle parked outside a tavern in the 400 block of West Broad Street on June 7, 2019.

Court records say the children were between 10 and 14 years old.

A loaded .40-caliber pistol with a round in the chamber was in the console and in easy reach of any of the children, court records say.

Two children told the trooper their father drove them and he was inside the tavern. Court records say Dominguez was inside for about an hour and was observed consuming beer.

When Dominguez ran out of the tavern, he told the trooper he was leaving and going to drive the children to a sleepover, court records say. The trooper stopped Dominguez on suspicion he was intoxicated.

Dominguez submitted to a portable breath test that showed a blood-alcohol level of .096 percent, police say. An adult driver in Pennsylvania is considered legally intoxicated with a blood-alcohol level of .08 percent.

Dominguez was sentenced by President Judge Michael T. Vough to two years probation on four counts of recklessly endangering another person. He pleaded guilty to the charges Jan. 6.

By Ed Lewis, The Times-Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) (TNS)
[February 25, 2020] State of Texas Achieves Mandatory Electronic Filing with Tyler Technologies' eFileTexas Solution

Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: TYL) announced, along with the Texas Office of Court Administration (OCA), Texas Supreme Court, and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the successful implementation of eFileTexas for criminal case types in the state of Texas. As of January 1, 2020, both criminal and non-criminal case types are now required to be filed electronically in all of Texas' 254 counties. "The implementation of eFileTexas for criminal cases is a major achievement," said David Slayton, administrative director for the Texas OCA. "The state of Texas' court system is extremely complex, and by making e-filing mandatory for all case types, we're able to streamline court document processing, bringing greater efficiency to our staff and, in turn, to our constituents." The Texas OCA selected Tyler's Odyssey File & Serve solution for electronic filing in 2012 to replace a system that only serviced a limited number of counties in the state. In September 2015, the Texas OCA and Tyler worked together to successfully implement e-filing statewide for civil cases nine months ahead of schedule, which remains the largest e-filing implementation in the country. As a result of the successful project, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals chose to expand the scope of the e-filing initiative by mandating e-filing in criminal cases. Tyler's eFileTexas solution provides a single solution for all filing trffic outside of self-represented litigants and court generated documents. Not only does the implementation mean the elimination of paper documents for filing, it also provides improved reporting and advanced metrics to court staff throughout the state. For self-represented litigants, the eFileTexas self-help solution guides citizens through the e-filing process, explaining legal jargon and walking them through the legal process step by step.



In addition to e-filing, Texas also uses re:SearchTX, an online database that provides civil, family, and probate case information securely across all of the state's 254 counties. The tool allows attorneys, justice partners, and other constituents to easily and efficiently access important case records and documents at any time. Combining this powerful tool with electronic filing throughout the state enables a multi-faceted solution that assists the court, state bar association, and citizens. "Helping the state of Texas become paperless in its court filings for all case types is an exciting accomplishment," said Terry Derrick, general manager of eSolutions for Tyler. "We've had a strong partnership with the Texas OCA for several years and have brought significant efficiencies to its court processes, helping them improve access to justice and enhance their daily operations."

eFileTexas has more than 335,000 registered users and has eliminated 316 million pages of paper since it was implemented in 2015. It is an open solution that is integrated with 23 other vendors, including 14 different electronic filing service providers (EFSPs) and nine court case management systems, and it drives further efficiencies and paper savings through those systems. About Tyler Technologies (News - Alert), Inc. Tyler Technologies (NYSE: TYL) provides integrated software and technology services to the public sector. Tyler's end-to-end solutions empower local, state, and federal government entities to operate more efficiently and connect more transparently with their constituents and with each other. By connecting data and processes across disparate systems, Tyler's solutions are transforming how clients gain actionable insights that solve problems in their communities. Tyler has more than 26,000 successful installations across more than 10,000 sites, with clients in all 50 states, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, and other international locations. A financially strong company, Tyler has achieved double-digit revenue growth every quarter since 2012. It was also named to Forbes' "Best Midsize Employers" list in 2019 and recognized twice on its "Most Innovative Growth Companies" list. More information about Tyler Technologies, headquartered in Plano, Texas, can be found at tylertech.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005091/en/

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Ukraine's Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko has called on the international community to make more efforts to end violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Russia-occupied areas of Ukraine, as well as to release illegally detained Ukrainians.

As reported on the Foreign Ministry's website, Prystaiko made the comments during high-level talks during the forty-third session of the UN Human Rights Council.

"The Foreign Minister drew the attention of delegations to the gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms committed by the Russian occupation authorities in the Ukrainian territories by blocking access to international monitoring mechanisms, and called on the Council, UN human rights mechanisms and the international community as a whole to strengthen efforts to end of these violations and the release of Ukrainians illegally detained by the occupation authorities," the ministry said.

Prystaiko also emphasized the need to incorporate a human rights component into all aspects of the UN, without which it is impossible to achieve progress in the areas of peace, security and sustainable development.

In addition, the minister noted the importance of closer cooperation between the two international capitals  New York City and Geneva  in the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

As reported, on February 24-25, Prystaiko is in Geneva to participate in meetings of the forty-third session of the UN Human Rights Council. He is scheduled to meet with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, and negotiations with the heads of delegations of other UN member states. Also, during the visit, Prystaiko will take part in a ministerial event organized jointly with Latvia, Lithuania and Poland on human rights violations.
One of the Korean visitors, who arrived in Da Nang City from South Korea's Daegu, resisted being put under quarantine in a local hospital, February 24, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong.

South Koreans coming from Covid-19 hotspot Daegu refused to be quarantined in Vietnam Monday, leaving local authorities perplexed.

At 1 p.m. the Da Nang airport received a flight from Daegu that had 20 South Korean and two Thai nationals. The visitors were immediately taken by car from the airport to a quarantine area at Da Nang Lung Hospital.

The South Korean visitors refused to enter the quarantine area. Some said they wanted to return home and others wanted to isolate themselves at a hotel. Some said they didn't want to do either because they only planned to stay in Da Nang for two days.

The municipal Department of Health arranged accommodation for the Koreans at a hotel in Son Tra District at the city's expense. Doctor Le Thanh Phuc, director of the Da Nang hospital, said, "the Korean tourist group changed their mind later and said they did not want to go to the hotel, after learning that there was a Vietnamese person with fever on the same flight. They were worried about not receiving medical care and about food and drink expenses at the hotel."

Together, the head of the Health Department, staff of the South Korean embassy and the office of the South Korean Consul General in Vietnam managed to persuade the visitors to enter the quarantine area.

At 5 p.m. the same day, embassy staff informed the hospital that the Koreans wanted to go to the hotel. The hospital agreed, but the hotel manager turned the group down. The visitors were given yogurt at the hospital while waiting for the next solution.

Dr Phuc said handling of the situation became somewhat perplexing because Vietnam has not had a consistent approach to deal with situations before flights land.

"Vietnam should have refused entry at the airport itself for travelers from epidemic-hit areas," he said, adding that the two Thai guests had not been allowed to enter Daegu, so they had come to Da Nang, joining the Korean group from the city.

Pham Truc Lam, deputy director of the Da Nang Center for Disease Control, said people from epidemic hit areas should be barred from entering the city.

The Da Nang Center for Disease Control disinfect visitors arriving from South Koreas Daegu City, February 24, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Truc Lam.

At around 6 p.m., Da Nang authorities decided to take the South Koreans to a four-star hotel in Hai Chau District. The municipal Department of Health was tasked with disinfecting the hotel before receiving the guests.

"The city will cover their living and accommodation costs," said Hoang Son Tra, Deputy Chief of Office of Da Nang's National Assembly Delegates.

Earlier Monday, a flight carrying 80 people from Daegu City also arrived in Da Nang.

There were 22 South Korean passengers and 58 Vietnamese students and workers, besides the crew. The Vietnamese passengers would be quarantined at the Dong Nghe Military Reserve Center in Hoa Vang District, while the South Koreans at Da Nang Lung Hospital in Lien Chieu District.

At a government Monday afternoon, Deputy Health Minister Do Xuan Tuyen said the National Steering Committee for Coronavirus Prevention and Control decided to assign the task of quarantining people coming from virus-hit areas, including Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk Province in South Korea, to the Mnistry of National Defense.

As of Monday, South Korea had recorded 833 Covid-19 infections, making it the second largest outbreak area in the world after China. Death toll in the country has risen to seven. The country has issued a red alert, its highest level for viral attacks.

Around 200,000 Vietnamese are currently studying and working in South Korea, 8,285 of them in Daegu, according to the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vietnam has sought to control travel flow from South Korea, with health declarations required from everyone coming from the country. Those with symptoms like high fever, coughing and breathing difficulties will be placed in quarantine, the Health Ministry said Sunday.

Several major cities have also deployed preventive measures against possible infection cases coming in from South Korea. Saigon's Tan Son Nhat International Airport has, for instance, already performed temperature checks on large numbers of South Korean arrivals.

All of 16 confirmed Covid-19 infections in Vietnam have so far have tested negative after treatment, with just one remaining in quarantine pending repeat test results.

The global death toll has reached 2,699, mostly in China, followed by Iran with 12, South Korea with eight and Italy with seven.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 22:17:12|Editor: huaxia

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RAMALLAH, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Foreign Ministry hailed Tuesday the proposal on the two-state solution presented by Belgium to the current president of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Belgium's proposal on the two-state solution is based on the previous related UN resolutions in accordance with the international law, the ministry said in a press statement.

"The proposal expresses an international consensus that sticks to a peace process in the Middle East based on the principle of the two-state solution that is based on the international resolutions," said the statement.

It added that the proposal of Belgium "reiterates the Palestinian people's right of self-determination and establishing their independent Palestinian state on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital."

The ministry expressed its hope that the United States would accept the proposal.
[February 25, 2020] BJ's Charitable Foundation Donates $50,000 to Feeding the Gulf Coast's School Pantry Program

BJ's Wholesale Club (NYSE: BJ), a leading operator of membership warehouse clubs in the Eastern United States, today announced a $50,000 donation to Feeding the Gulf Coast, a Feeding America member food bank. The donation from the BJ's Charitable Foundation is part of the retailer's initiative to help end hunger in Florida. "BJ's is dedicated to nourishing our communities and helping families thrive by improving access to basic essentials including fresh, nutritious food," said Kirk Saville, executive director, BJ's Charitable Foundation. "We're thrilled to donate $50,000 to Feeding the Gulf Coast to support its school pantry program. This grant will help increase access and feed more families in food insecure communities." BJ's grant to Feeding the Gulf Coast is part of its recent $1 million donation to Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization. The donation will support programs that expand direct access to food, including the School Pantry, mobile market, and BackPack programs. With these programs, families facing food insecurity will be able to more easily access fresh, nutritious food to help put meals on the table. "One in five children throughout our Florida service area is food insecure," said David Reaney, Interim President an CEO of Feeding the Gulf Coast. "We are grateful for the partnership and support from BJ's, which will enable us to increase the amount of fresh, healthy food that is delivered to families, children and seniors in need."



Feeding the Gulf Coast's Child Nutrition Programs work to provide access to nutritious food for more than 43,000 children in the panhandle of Florida who regularly experience hunger. The school pantry program, in particular, works to distribute nutritious food and hygiene essentials to food insecure students at middle schools and high schools by establishing a pantry through the schools' counselor's offices. BJ's grant marks the third yearly $1 million donation to the Feeding America network from the BJ's Charitable Foundation. Since 2011, BJ's has provided ongoing support to the Feeding America network through the BJ's Charitable Foundation and BJ's Feeding Communities program, helping local food banks successfully expand their programs to reach wider audiences.

BJ's Feeding Communities program is a food rescue partnership, where the company donates all unsold perishable food to Feeding America member food banks in its footprint, helping to get wholesome food onto the plates of more families. To date, BJ's has donated more than 100 million pounds of food including meat, produce, dairy and bakery items - which equals more than 84 million meals* - to Feeding America member food banks. To learn more about BJ's Wholesale Club, visit BJs.com. *Based on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines, a meal is equal to 1.2 pounds of food and grocery product. About BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. Headquartered in Westborough, Massachusetts, BJ's Wholesale Club is a leading operator of membership warehouse clubs in the Eastern United States. The company currently operates 217 clubs and 144 BJ's Gas locations in 17 states. The Company's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BJ). About Feeding the Gulf Coast Feeding the Gulf Coast, formerly Bay Area Food Bank, serves a 24-county area spanning the Florida panhandle, south Alabama, and south Mississippi. In 2019, the food bank distributed over 22 million meals to over 400 church pantries, soup kitchens, and other nonprofit organizations throughout its service area. The food bank also operates multiple hunger-relief and nutrition programs, including Summer Meals, Afterschool Meal, Backpack, Disaster Relief, Mobile Pantry and Produce Drop Distributions and Nutrition Education. Feeding the Gulf Coast is a United Way member agency and a member of Feeding America. For more information, visit www.feedingthegulfcoast.org. BJ's_Charitable_Foundation View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005048/en/

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We are pleased to recognize Dr. John Bishay as a UroLift Center of Excellence for his commitment to providing consistent care to BPH patients using the UroLift System treatment, said Dave Amerson

NeoTract, a wholly owned subsidiary of Teleflex Incorporated (NYSE:TFX) focused on addressing unmet needs in the field of urology, today announced that John Bishay, MD, Urology Center in Omaha NE, has been designated as a UroLift Center of Excellence. The designation recognizes that Dr. Bishay has achieved a high level of training and experience with the UroLift System and demonstrated a commitment to exemplary care for men suffering from symptoms associated with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), also known as enlarged prostate.

Recommended for the treatment of BPH in both the American Urological Association and European Association of Urology clinical guidelines, the FDA-cleared Prostatic Urethral Lift procedure using the UroLift System is a proven, minimally invasive technology for treating lower urinary tract symptoms due to BPH. The UroLift permanent implants, delivered during a transurethral outpatient procedure, relieve prostate obstruction and open the urethra directly without cutting, heating, or removing prostate tissue.

The UroLift Center of Excellence program is designed to highlight urologists who are committed to educating their patients on BPH and the UroLift System as a treatment option and consistently seek to deliver excellent patient outcomes and experiences.

We are pleased to recognize Dr. John Bishay as a UroLift Center of Excellence for his commitment to providing consistent care to BPH patients using the UroLift System treatment, said Dave Amerson, president of the Teleflex Interventional Urology business unit. This achievement has helped many patients experience durable, longterm relief from the burdensome symptoms of BPH while preserving sexual function*1,2.

Over 40 million men in the United States are affected by BPH, a condition that occurs when the prostate gland that surrounds the male urethra becomes enlarged with advancing age and begins to obstruct the urinary system. Symptoms of BPH often include interrupted sleep and urinary problems and can cause loss of productivity, depression and decreased quality of life.

Medication is often the first-line therapy for enlarged prostate, but relief can be inadequate and temporary. Side effects of medication treatment can include sexual dysfunction, dizziness and headaches, prompting many patients to quit using the drugs. For these patients, the classic alternative is surgery that cuts, heats or removes prostate tissue to open the blocked urethra. While current surgical options can be very effective in relieving symptoms, they can also leave patients with permanent side effects such as urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and retrograde ejaculation.

About the UroLift System

The FDA-cleared UroLift System is a proven, minimally invasive technology for treating lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The UroLift permanent implants, delivered during a minimally invasive transurethral outpatient procedure, relieve prostate obstruction and open the urethra directly without cutting, heating, or removing prostate tissue. Clinical data from a pivotal 206-patient randomized controlled study showed that patients with enlarged prostate receiving UroLift implants reported rapid and durable symptomatic and urinary flow rate improvement without compromising sexual function*1,2. Patients also experienced a significant improvement in quality of life. Over 100,000 men have been treated with the UroLift System in the U.S. Most common adverse events reported include hematuria, dysuria, micturition urgency, pelvic pain, and urge incontinence. Most symptoms were mild to moderate in severity and resolved within two to four weeks after the procedure. The Prostatic Urethral Lift procedure using the UroLift System is recommended for the treatment of BPH in both the American Urological Association and European Association of Urology clinical guidelines. The UroLift System is available in the U.S., Europe, Australia, Canada, Mexico and South Korea. Learn more at http://www.UroLift.com.

About NeoTract | Teleflex Interventional Urology

A wholly owned subsidiary of Teleflex Incorporated, the Interventional Urology Business Unit is dedicated to developing innovative, minimally invasive and clinically effective devices that address unmet needs in the field of urology. Our initial focus is on improving the standard of care for patients with BPH using the UroLift System, a minimally invasive permanent implant system that treats symptoms while preserving normal sexual function*1,2. Learn more at http://www.NeoTract.com.

About Teleflex Incorporated

Teleflex is a global provider of medical technologies designed to improve the health and quality of peoples lives. We apply purpose driven innovation  a relentless pursuit of identifying unmet clinical needs  to benefit patients and healthcare providers. Our portfolio is diverse, with solutions in the fields of vascular and interventional access, surgical, anesthesia, cardiac care, urology, emergency medicine and respiratory care. Teleflex employees worldwide are united in the understanding that what we do every day makes a difference. For more information, please visit http://www.teleflex.com.

Teleflex is the home of Arrow, Deknatel, Hudson RCI, LMA, Pilling, Rusch, UroLift and Weck  trusted brands united by a common sense of purpose

# # #

For Teleflex Incorporated:

Jake Elguicze, 610.948.2836

Treasurer and Vice President, Investor Relations

Media:

Nicole Osmer, 650.454.0504 nicole@healthandcommerce.com

*No instances of new, sustained erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction

1. Roehrborn, J Urology 2013 LIFT Study

2.McVary, J Sex Med 2016

MAC00968-01 Rev A
LONDON, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Signifier Medical Technologies Limited, formerly known as Snoozeal, is delighted to announce that it has won the prestigious iF DESIGN AWARD for Design Excellence, in the "Product" category, for its novel medical device, Snoozeal for patients with sleep apnoea and snoring.

The iF DESIGN AWARD is the oldest independent quality design seal in the world and one of the most important design prizes when it comes to excellence in design. This award exemplifies Signifier Medical Technologies' commitment to making outstanding, patient-centric design an integral component of the user experience, together with Snoozeal's ergonomic styling, connected smart features and ease of use.

Professor Anshul Sama (FRCS), Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Signifier Medical Technologies and Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon at the University of Nottingham, was keenly aware of the fact that many of his patients were struggling with conventional treatment options for their sleep apnoea and snoring issues. Based on an understanding of this significant unmet need and working with a talented multidisciplinary team, he created the world's first, daytime treatment device that tackles the root cause of sleep apnoea - Snoozeal.

The Snoozeal treatment has been clinically proven with rigorous clinical trials conducted by prestigious institutions showing an objective improvement in sleep quality by reducing sleep apnoea and snoring significantly.1,2

Nearly 1 billion adults aged 30 to 69 are estimated to have obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) globally. There is also a strong, clinically proven link between obstructive sleep apnoea and co-morbidities like diabetes, hypertension and strokes.

Professor Sama commented: "Our team is thrilled to have been awarded such a prestigious honour from iF International Forum Design. Snoozeal is a result of a devoted effort by many highly skilled professionals from sleep medicine, maxillofacial surgery, product development, medical engineering, software engineering and regulatory that led to an easy-to-use, effective product that will be readily available to all and workable through a phone app. We are looking forward to bringing Snoozeal to market and helping more people improve their quality of sleep with this easy-to-use and effective solution."

Organized by iF International Forum Design GmbH, the iF Design Award contest started in Germany in 1953. Design submissions are subject to comprehensive evaluation for design, innovativeness, functionality and seven additional categories including product, packaging, communication and professional concepts.

iF Design Award 2020 winners are announced online through the iF Design Award website and iF Design app and winning designs will be presented at the iF Design Exhibition from 2-10 May during Berlin Design Week 2020.

More information about the Snoozeal iF DESIGN AWARD can be found in the "Design Excellence" section of the iF WORLD DESIGN GUIDE https://ifworlddesignguide.com

For the Snoozeal entry go to: https://ifworlddesignguide.com/search'search=snoozeal#/page/entry/285464-snoozeal

Images of the Snoozeal device are available upon request to info@signifiermedical.com

About Snoring and OSA

Nearly 1 billion adults aged 30 to 69 are estimated to have obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) globally. There is a strong, clinically proven link between obstructive sleep apnoea and co-morbidities like diabetes, hypertension and strokes. Mild OSA affects over 110 million people in the US and 100 million people in Europe.

Obstructive sleep apnoea is marked by recurring collapse of the upper airways during sleep. The most common symptoms are restless sleep, snoring, tiredness during the day and decreased intellectual alertness. Higher risks of cardiovascular diseases and increased mortality rates have been associated with OSA.

Standard therapy of all advanced levels of sleep apnoea is with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. Many patients find this therapy invasive, and the long-term compliance of CPAP therapy is limited, so there is a demand for new forms of treatment.

About Signifier Medical Technologies

Signifier Medical Technologies, previously known as Snoozeal, is a medical technology company focused on the development and commercialisation of innovative and non-invasive solutions for patients with snoring and sleep disordered breathing conditions. Signifier's proprietary therapy is the first and only daytime genioglossal (tongue) muscle-neurostimulation technology, with proven clinical data from prestigious and well-recognised universities and academic institutions, that provides a safe and effective treatment for its patients.1,2

For more information, please visit www.snoozeal.com

About the iF DESIGN AWARD

The iF DESIGN AWARD has been a globally recognized trademark when it comes to excellence in design for 67 years. The iF brand enjoys an international reputation as a symbol for outstanding design achievement. The iF DESIGN AWARD is one of the most important design prizes in the world. It honours design achievements in all disciplines: product, packaging, communication and service design, architecture and interior architecture as well as professional concepts. All the award-winning entries are presented in the iF WORLD DESIGN GUIDE, published in the iF design app and exhibited at the iF design exhibition in Berlin.

References

1. A.Sama et al. Daytime Intraoral Neuromuscular stimulation with Snoozeal for treatment of Snoring and Mild Sleep Apnea. CHEST Annual Meeting Notes, 2018

2.E.Wessoleck et al. Intraoral electrical muscle stimulation in the treatment of snoring. Somnologie (Berl). 2018; 22(Suppl 2): 47-52.

For more information, please contact us at:

info@signifiermedical.com

+44-(0)-207-096-0586
Mr. Feigin said the court should limit the law to narrow circumstances that would exclude many of the scenarios that troubled the justices. The defendant, he said, must want to bring about the result of inducing the immigrant to come or stay; the immigrant must understand what was going on; and the defendant must be a substantial participant in the effort.

Mark C. Fleming, a lawyer for the defendant, Evelyn Sineneng-Smith, said the governments proposal would amount to wholesale and improper revision of the federal statute, one he said currently applies to teachers, pastors, doctors and lawyers.

Ms. Sineneng-Smith ran an immigration consulting firm in San Jose, Calif. Her clients, mostly from the Philippines, worked without authorization in the home health care industry. Ms. Sineneng-Smith offered to help them get green cards under a Labor Department certification program that she said would give them permanent resident status and allow them to work legally.

But the program had expired. Ms. Sineneng-Smith nonetheless charged her clients $6,800 to file applications she knew to be futile. She was convicted of mail fraud, a conviction she did not challenge in the Supreme Court, and of violating the 1986 law.

Justice Elena Kagan asked whether there had been prosecutions of more sympathetic defendants of the sort her colleagues had been asking about. Mr. Fleming had one example.

In 2012, a Massachusetts woman, Lorraine Henderson, was convicted of hiring an unauthorized immigrant to clean her home and of offering general and not always reliable advice about immigration law.

In that case, Judge Douglas P. Woodlock, of the Federal District Court in Boston, wrote that the plain and unadorned language of the law can be read to cast a wide net over those who interact with illegal aliens by offering employment.
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Miami, February 25, 2020  Argentine authorities should conduct a quick and transparent investigation into a death threat made against journalist Diego Moranzoni and his family, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

On February 13, Moranzoni received messages via Instagram threatening to kill him and his family if he continued reporting on the murder of Fernando Baez, a young man who was killed in Buenos Aires province on January 18, Moranzoni told CPJ in a phone interview.

Moranzoni hosts the daily news and opinion program Cronica 2020 on the privately owned nationwide broadcaster Cronica HD, and has been covering Baezs case extensively, he said.

One of the messages read, Stop talking, Im in jail and they are telling me that youre going too far and its ugly. Stop talking because when I leave I [will] kill you, your family and your son, according to news reports. The messages were sent from the account @maximothomsen19, which matches the name of Maximo Thomsen, one of the men charged and detained for Baezs murder, according to press reports. Moranzoni told CPJ that he did not know who was actually behind the Instagram account.

Moranzoni told CPJ yesterday that he filed a complaint with police on February 15, but has not heard back from authorities.

Threatening journalists and their families is unacceptable. Argentine authorities should promptly investigate the threats made against Diego Moranzoni and make it clear that they take such actions seriously, said CPJ Central and South America Program Coordinator Natalie Southwick in New York. Authorities must ensure that journalists can report safely and without fear that they will be attacked for their work.

Thomsen and seven other men charged with the killing are detained in the Dolores jail in Buenos Aires, and have been ordered to remain in prison during their trial, according to press reports.

Moranzoni showed screenshots of the threats in an episode of Cronica 2020 on February 14. The messages also included claims that Thomsen and the others arrested in the case are innocent.

Moranzoni told CPJ that he blocked @maximothomsen19 after receiving the messages, and has not received any other threats. The account has since been shut down.

CPJs phone calls to the Buenos Aires police went unanswered.
The Government will fall well short of its pledge to make England a smoke-free country by 2030, a leading charity has warned.

A Cancer Research UK report projects it will be at least 2037 before that ambition is met, if current smoking trends continue.

Rates would need to drop 40 per cent faster than they currently are for the target to be hit, the charity said.

Ministers pledged last July to be smoke-free by 2030, which would mean less than 5 per cent of the population used cigarettes - but they did not reveal how they planned to accomplish it.

That would be a dramatic reduction from the 14 per cent of adults who currently smoke. By comparison, the figure has only fallen by 6 per cent since 2011.

The Government will fall well short of its pledge for England to be smoke-free by 2030, a leading charity has warned

Cancer Research UK said the ambition is being hindered by cuts to stop-smoking services and national campaigns, as well as the gap between the least and most deprived people in England.

It says the richest group in England can expect to be smoke-free in 2025, but the poorest will not be smoke-free until the mid-2040s.

The charity also wants a fixed annual charge on the tobacco industry to help fund stop-smoking services.

Dr Katrina Brown, Cancer Research UK statistics manager and report co-author, said: 'Our modelling suggests that if the 2030 target is achieved, there could be around 3.4 million fewer smokers in England compared with today.

'But unless Government acts to make smoking rates fall faster, we're unlikely to reach the target.

'Smoking is the biggest cause of cancer, leading to around 120 cases of cancer in England every day, so it's vital that the Government tackles tobacco to prevent illness and suffering.'

Smokers are using around three cigarettes less every day in 2017, compared to 2008 (left). But their motivation to quit or at cut down has declined drastically (see centre, how many people want to quit and right, how many want to cut down), researchers at University College London discovered

WHY IS SMOKING SO HARD TO QUIT? Cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. Nicotine alters the balance of two chemicals called dopamine and noradrenaline in your brain. When nicotine changes the levels of these chemicals, mood and concentration levels change. Many smokers find this enjoyable. The changes happen very quickly. When you inhale the nicotine, it immediately rushes to the brain, where it produces feelings of pleasure and reduces stress and anxiety. This is why many smokers enjoy the nicotine rush and become dependent on it. The more you smoke, the more your brain becomes used to the nicotine. When a person stops smoking, the loss of nicotine changes the levels of dopamine and noradrenaline in the brain. This can cause withdrawal symptoms of anxiety, depression and irritability. Source: NHS Advertisement

Smoking kills around 115,000 people in the UK every year.

Alison Cox, Cancer Research UK's director of cancer prevention, said: 'Smoking - and its catastrophic impact on health - remains more common within poorer communities.

'So more funding is needed to help these disadvantaged groups to quit as they are increasingly being left behind.

'The tobacco industry makes more money every year than Coca-Cola, Disney, Google, McDonald's and FedEx combined, while its products continue to kill people.

'It should be made to pay for the damage it causes, which is why we're calling on the Government to introduce an annual charge on the industry to fund these vital services that will help get England smoke-free by 2030.

'The Government must act now if they are to see this smoke-free ambition become a reality.'

It comes after a University College London study in January found smokers in England are less hooked than they were a decade ago  but are also less inclined to give up.

An analysis of 41,610 smokers found they were smoking around three cigarettes less every day in 2017, compared to 2008.

However, their motivation to quit or at cut down has declined drastically, researchers discovered.

More than a third (37 per cent) of smokers tried to quit in the past year when asked in 2008. This dropped to just 29.9 per cent in 2017.

And the proportion of smokers attempting to cut down on cigarettes declined from 56.1 to 47.9 per cent over the same period.

Cancer Research UK said the findings were 'concerning' and a consequence of the funding cuts to stop-smoking services.

This January, a major campaign to highlight the dangers of smoking was shelved after it emerged Public Health England's anti-smoking budget had been cut from 5million to 3.8million.

Study lead author Dr Claire Garnett said: 'The decline in the proportion of smokers trying to quit or cut down is a worrying trend.'

She added: '[It] may reflect budget cuts on tobacco control, including mass media expenditure and stop-smoking services.

'These are known to be effective and it is a false economy to be cutting back on these.'
SALISBURY, N.Y.  Mohawk Valley Ambulance Corps employees had just left one of their ambulance garages on Route 29A in Salisbury when a fire broke out inside the building Monday.

Two ambulances were destroyed in the fire, including an active vehicle and an out-of-service ambulance that was recently repaired.

Keith Hunt // WKTV Keith Hunt // WKTV

Firefighters from Salisbury and Dolgeville responded to the scene, and had the fire under control in about an hour.

"According to MOVAC personnel who had just left the building -- they turned around and came back here with us -- they stated they just brought an ambulance here from some repair work," said Fire Chief Chris Mosher.

The MOVAC workers went to the garage to drop off the repaired vehicle, and Mosher says it may have overheated after they left.

The building, which is used for cold storage of spare vehicles and corporate records, also suffered extensive damage.

MOVAC's Chief Operating Officer Donald Kane said this will not affect services for area residents.

Fire officials are investigating the cause.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 11:50:46|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's express delivery giant SF Holding said its net profit for 2019 grew 27.2 percent year on year to 5.8 billion yuan (825 million U.S. dollars) on strong business growth.

Its revenue increased 23.4 percent to 112.2 billion yuan last year, SF Holding said in its preliminary earnings estimate filed to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

Shares of SF Holding jumped 4.83 percent to 48.18 yuan at 11:30 a.m. even as the Shenzhen Component Index closed the Tuesday morning trade 1.74 percent lower at 11,567.77 points.
The 5G telecom technology should be a tool for and prosperity and must not be used as a conduit for suppression and censorship, said on Tuesday, remarks seen as a clear reference to Chinese firm Huawei against which the US slapped sanctions.

The US has already banned Huawei, the world leader in telecom equipment and the number two smartphone producer, over concerns of security.

In his media statement after talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump also referred to "Quad", a coalition of India, the US, Australia and Japan formed to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's aggressive military posturing in the region.

The US president also talked about the Blue Dot Network, an initiative to develop sustainable infrastructure among like-minded countries and increasingly seen as a counter to China's Belt and Road Initiative.

On 'Quad', Trump said he and Modi discussed ways to revitalise the coalition.

"Together, the Prime Minister and I are revitalising the Quad Initiative with the United States, India, Australia and Japan," Trump said, with Modi by his side.

The US president said the 5G issue also figured in his talks with Modi.

"We discussed the importance of a secure 5G wireless network and the need for this emerging technology to be a tool for freedom, progress, prosperity -- not to do anything where it could be even conceived as a conduit for suppression and censorship," Trump said.

India has decided to allow Huawei to participate in 5G trials. China welcomed India's decision.

The Trump administration placed Huawei and its affiliates on a blacklist. The US fears that telecom systems built by Huawei could be used by the Chinese government for espionage.

On Blue Dot Network, the US President said there was a need for having trustworthy options for high-quality infrastructure development.

"To guarantee that the infrastructure of the future is built in a safe, transparent, and accountable manner, the United States is working with a range of partners, including Australia and Japan, to create the Blue Dot Network," he said.

He described the network as a major initiative to ensure countries around the world to have access to private sector-led, sustainable, and trustworthy options for high-quality infrastructure development.
New Delhi [India], Feb 21 (ANI): After AIMIM leader Waris Pathan said that 15 crore Muslims can dominate 100 crore Hindus, Congress leader Husain Dalwai said that Muhammad Ali Jinnah used to speak in this manner.



"Ye aisa hai ki Jinnah iss tarah se hi baatein karte they. Aur unhone ye dhyan me rakhna chahye ki iss desh me Jinnah abhi paida nahi hoga. Na Jinnah ko Hindu manega, na Musalman manega (Jinnah used to speak like this. They should remember that Jinnah will not be born here again. Neither the Hindus, nor the Muslims will believe in Jinnah)," Dalwai told ANI here.



While addressing an anti-CAA rally on Wednesday, Pathan had said, "The time has now come for us to unite and achieve freedom. Remember we are 15 crore but can dominate over 100 crores."

"They tell us that we have kept our women in the front - only the lionesses have come out and you are already sweating. You can understand what would happen if all of us come together," he said.

The CAA fast-tracks citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, who came to India on or before December 31, 2014, fleeing religious persecution. (ANI)


CAIRO  Egyptian opposition parties seem to have decided to sever any existing or potential relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood. The Civil Democratic Movement, the largest coalition of the Egyptian opposition parties, announced Feb. 6 its intention to present the Egyptian regime with a proposal to amend the parliamentary elections law to guarantee the representation of opposition parties in parliament while also preventing the election of candidates who are linked to the Brotherhood.

Legislative elections are expected to be held in November; the Civil Democratic Movement wants to see parties elected through proportional representation rather than through a winner-take-all closed list system.

The Civil Democratic Movement only declared the general principles of the draft law it intends to propose, without revealing any details. Still, it raised the ire of the Brotherhood and its allies. Gamaa Islamiya leader Tarek al-Zumar said in a press interview Feb. 16, If I were in the movement's place, I would have chosen to open up to national reconciliation and to issue electoral legislation that would allow all Egyptians to participate in the elections.

Zumar said the proposal to amend the parliamentary elections law to ensure that no Brotherhood members could be in parliament divides those confronting the regime of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi; Zumar said the Civil Democratic Movement is thus contributing to deepening intellectual and political polarization by insisting on opposing the Brotherhood.

In December 2013, the Egyptian government issued a decision classifying the Brotherhood as a terrorist group after many of the groups members and leaders were involved in planning and inciting terrorist acts across Egypt after the armed forces, led by Sisi (who was the defense minister at the time), overthrew Mohammed Morsi on July 3, 2013; Morsi was the first Brotherhood member to be elected president of Egypt.

Morsi was overthrown following the largest popular demonstrations in the history of Egypt against his rule, beginning June 30, 2013. The Brotherhood and many of its allies, such as Gamaa Islamiya, believed this was a coup against the legitimate authority.

As it is now, the Brotherhood cannot form its own party, but some Brotherhood-affiliated people conceivably could run as independents or as part of a party list if they aren't accused of any crime.

A source in the Civil Democratic Movement told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that the proposal to amend the elections law to isolate the Brotherhood is a message to the Brotherhood that the movement's parties were part of the political fabric of the June 30 revolution calling for the ouster of the Brotherhoods leadership led by Morsi. The source said the amendment also shows that the movement will not be an ally of the Brotherhood's return to political life after the terrorist acts it committed, even if it were to confront the current political regime that we oppose.

The Civil Democratic Movement was established in 2017 as an alliance of opposition parties against Sisis regime, the first elected president after Morsi's ouster. This alliance consists of seven liberal and leftist parties that boycotted the 2015 parliamentary elections and thus were absent from the current parliament. The Constitution Party, Tayar al-Karama Party, the Socialist People's Alliance Party, the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, Reform and Development Party, the Egypt Freedom Party and the Justice Party had called for the June 30 demonstrations against Morsi and made up this alliance.

The source added that the second message behind the amendment proposal is addressed to the regime. It refutes any allegation by the Brotherhood or any of its allies claiming that there are understandings between them and the movement. Such allegations only aim to implicate the [Civil Democratic Movement] and accuse its members of being involved with the Brotherhood.

In June 2019, Egyptian security forces arrested a number of party leaders and liberal and left-wing political activists who had formed the Alliance of Hope. The activists were referred to the attorney general on charges of having joined a terrorist group (a reference to the Brotherhood) and of having planned to spread chaos. Many observers said they believe the arrests had been made because a number of Brotherhood members had joined the alliance.

Among those affiliated with the Brotherhood in that alliance were Mustafa Abdel Sattar, the son of Brotherhood leader Abdel Moez Abdel Sattar, who resides in Qatar, and Omar al-Shaniti, whose funds were seized by the Committee on Confiscating and Managing Muslim Brotherhood Funds and Assets in August 2017.

Sarah Fahmy, political researcher at the Egyptian Foundation for Strategic Studies and Research, told Al-Monitor that the Civil Democratic Movement and its parties often contributed to supporting the Brotherhoods positions by boycotting elections or calling on citizens to boycott them. She said the parties' participation in the upcoming parliamentary elections would be a true correction in course of the positions they took before, and said she hoped they would not back down from this step.

Fahmy added, In addition to no longer wanting to boycott elections, the movement's declared desire to exclude the Brotherhood from any elections is a slap to the latters face. The movement will submit its amendment proposal either to the president or to parliament. This paves the way for the return of relations between state institutions and opposition parties, which President Sisi was keen on at the beginning of his rule.

In January 2015, during meetings with the leadership of all Egyptian parties, Sisi had called on the parties that are now in the Civil Democratic Movement to run for seats allocated to the closed-list system through a unified list of all parties to ensure representation of all political forces. But parties that both supported and opposed the government ignored his call. The parties that are now in the Civil Democratic Movement parties were present at all of Sisi's meetings with party leaders until the parties that are now in the movement boycotted the October 2015 parliamentary elections.

Shadia Fathi, a professor of political science at Cairo University, told Al-Monitor that some people are overly optimistic about the Civil Democratic Movements willingness to run for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The main principles for amending the elections law are based on the fact that elections take place for two-thirds of the seats in parliament according to the proportional list system. This proposal does not take into consideration the conditions stipulated in the 2014 constitution, namely that parliament includes a quota for women, youth and farmers, workers, Christians and people with disabilities, she said. Also, it is technically difficult to adhere to the quota system in the case of relying on proportional list system instead of the closed list system.

Fathi expected the regime to reject the proposal to amend the law because it most likely would be unconstitutional. She also expected that the movement would not show flexibility and decide to participate in the elections if its proposal was disregarded, especially since the Civil Democratic Movement parties already boycotted the 2015 elections in protest against the closed list system.
Online food delivery business Just Eat, together with sustainable packaging firm Notpla, has developed what it describes as a "fully recyclable" takeout box lined with seaweed.



In an announcement Tuesday, Just Eat said the container was able to decompose in four weeks if put in a home compost. The seaweed-lined cardboard boxes are produced from tree and grass pulp, and contain no synthetic additives, according to the company.

The containers are being tested with three of Just Eat's "restaurant partners" in London. The trial will use 3,600 boxes and will last until they have all been sent out.

"Cardboard takeaway boxes either contain synthetic additives or are lined with plastic," Pierre Paslier, co-CEO of Notpla, said in a statement issued Tuesday. "With this box, we are offering a real plastic-free, naturally biodegradable option for the takeaway market," he added.

Launched in Denmark in 2001, Just Eat enables consumers to place online takeout orders with local restaurants using tech such as tablets, cellphones, computers and voice assistants.

The company says it has over 28 million "active customers" globally and, through several brands, operates in 13 countries across the world. Other firms in this sector include Deliveroo and Uber Eats.

While online food delivery platforms are becoming increasingly popular with the public, many of the restaurants that actually deliver the food are heavily reliant on plastic containers, wrapping and cutlery which often can't be recycled.

"Over half a billion plastic boxes are used across the takeaway industry every year and we know that eventually, they end up in landfill," Andrew Kenny, managing director at Just Eat U.K., said.

"This is why we've been working closely with Notpla to create an innovative alternative that is recyclable, home-compostable and which degrades in a matter of weeks," Kenny added.



Just Eat and Notpla already have a partnership which has seen seaweed-based sauce sachets introduced to restaurants.

This trial has prevented more than 46,000 plastic sachets from entering the homes of customers, according to the firm. Just Eat said it was now working with Hellmann's, a Unilever brand, to extend the sachets' roll-out.

"The takeaway food industry creates a mountain of waste and plastic pollution every year, so we welcome Just Eat's efforts in trying to improve the situation," Tony Bosworth, plastic campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said in a statement issued via Just Eat.

"With hundreds of millions of takeaway meals ordered through delivery firms every year, the industry must make the development of sustainable, non-harmful packaging solutions a top priority," Bosworth added.

"While waste reduction and the use of reusables should be the ultimate goal, we hope this is a great step on that journey."

Given the takeout sector's reliance on plastics, the question of what, if anything, can be done to limit its use of plastic packaging is a pressing one. Kerry Dinsmore, projects manager at environmental charity Fidra, told CNBC via email that it recommended "a move towards reusable and refillable packaging, either using a deposit or a bring-your-own system."

"Whilst this is increasingly happening around the world, it needs greater public awareness and acceptance, with support from local and national government, to truly be successful," Dinsmore added.

"Where reuse is not possible then it's essential that chemical legislation and waste infrastructure are in place to ensure materials can be safely and effectively recycled or composted, and are not unnecessarily lost to landfill."
Washington: The meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump is important to America's national security interest and global economy, a group of US lawmakers has said. Senator Ted Cruz, who was the runner-up for the Republican presidential nomination in the 2016 election, said on Monday that India is a friend, an ally and the largest democracy on Earth.

"Trump and Modi meeting is important to US national security and the global economy. Last year I was proud to welcome PM Modi to Texas, where I reaffirmed my commitment to the India-US friendship," Cruz said in a tweet. Congressman Pete Olson said "great to see" Trump being welcomed by India, one of America's biggest partners in both trade and diplomacy.

"I look forward to seeing what comes out of this historic visit, including a new US-India military partnership!" Olson said in a tweet.

Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy told Fox News how Trump's warm welcome in India exemplifies the strong bond the countries share, and how the world is safer because of it.

"To have this relationship (with India) changes the course of history going forward. I give this president a great deal of credit... this creates a much bigger bond, and so for the president to do this and build with (Prime Minister) Modi, this makes the world stronger...," McCarthy said.

"A strong India-US relationship on trade and defence is vital to combatting Chinese influence around the world. It is right for our nation to push India to set a higher standard on human rights and religious freedom as we work together on key issues," said Senator James Lankford. As the US continues to expand its relationship with India, particularly in trade, the US "must also talk about" human rights and religious freedom, he said.

"The Senate spoke with one voice in 2015 that religious freedom should be part of trade negotiations," Lankford said. The first day of President Trump's visit to India projected a strengthened US-India partnership, a growing strategic and defence relationship and a much-needed and showy boost for both leaders, who have recently faced serious domestic political challenges, said Persis Khambatta, managing director of consulting firm South Asia BGA.

"The strong personal relationship between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi could play an important role as both countries continue to negotiate a trade deal in the near future - while it remains stalled for now, progress on trade is still a vitally important component of overall relations going forward," Khambatta said in response to a question.

Addressing the massive "Namaste Trump" rally at Motera stadium, President Trump on Monday said that Prime Minister Modi's rise from his humble background underscored the "limitless promise of the great nation", remarks which reflected the bonhomie shared by the two leaders.

The chemistry between Trump and Modi was evident at the event as the two leaders hugged each other multiple times and heaped praise on each other in front of nearly one lakh people at the new-look Motera stadium in Gujarat.
Negotiations are continuing in an effort to find agreement clearing the way for the Revenue Committee's property tax reduction and school funding reform package to move forward in the Legislature, Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn said Monday.

After weekend talks with school representatives who are concerned about the proposal, as well as some senators, Linehan said she plans to continue to visit with all the players in this year's property tax debate, including Gov. Pete Ricketts or his representatives.

The bill (LB974) sits at the first stage of floor consideration and it might stay there for a while.

Linehan, chairwoman of the Revenue Committee, said she is not sure she will be ready to try to move it along this week. The Legislature adjourns Thursday for a four-day weekend.

"Whenever they're ready," Speaker Jim Scheer of Norfolk said.

Scheer said he would like to proceed with the bill and the new business development tax incentives proposal (LB720) as quickly as possible.

"They will continue to receive priority consideration," he said.

"My preference would be that we could move the tax bill by now, but that is not the reality."

The business package sits at second-stage floor consideration, where it was blocked last session by rural senators who decided to tie its fate to property tax reduction.

The proposed Imagine Nebraska Act is designed to replace the current business tax incentives package that expires at the end of the year.

The committee's property tax bill, which represents months of negotiation and renegotiation, has received its first three hours of debate on the floor and now faces its first legislative hurdle.

Linehan must be able to convince Scheer that she can produce at least 33 votes, the number that would be required to end a filibuster, in order to complete the bill's next three hours of first-stage debate and be positioned for a motion to move the bill to second-round floor consideration.

Last week, Linehan said she believed she has corralled "33 or 32 1/2 votes."

Nebraska school organizations and school districts in metropolitan Omaha and Lincoln generally oppose the bill, which would lower property tax valuations while increasing state aid to schools.

One of the concerns expressed by big-city schools that are growing are provisions that tighten limits on school budget growth.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon

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A former Chairman of the Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC), Kofi Asare has said radical reforms is needed in the management of scholarships at Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).

According to the GETFund's Annual Reports from 2012 to 2018, the secretariat spent over four hundred million cedis on scholarships on 3,112 beneficiaries out of which 2,217 persons were unlawfully granted scholarships to study abroad.

Commenting on the latest report, Mr. Asare said Ghanaians should demand accountability from the Secretariat.

This audit report is actually an opportunity to catapult the need for reforms in the policy-making conduct. It is time for civil society and the media to begin to raise the issue to try and get the attention of local authority towards reforming GETFund because what we need to do is to depoliticise GETFund.

But not necessarily a new law  the law is skewed because what they are doing is outside the law since they are giving the monies to party boys and girls, cronies and privileged people in the society is not part of the law. So we need to use this auditor report to demand radical reforms in the management of the Fund irrespective of the administration in power.

Ministers cited

The Auditor-General report listed the Minister of Education, Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, the Procurement Minister, Sarah Adwoa Safo and the Executive Secretary of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, Prince Hamidu Armah as scholarship beneficiaries of the scheme in the past.

But GETFund says the three notable government appointees captured as scholarship beneficiaries in a performance audit report from the Auditor-General were not awarded scholarships under the current administration.

In a statement, it said, the aforementioned persons have not been awarded scholarships by the Fund under the current administration.

Also in reaction to the report, the GETFund said its mandate was 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 challenges Auditor General

Despite the backlash, GETFund has challenged claims of mismanagement and illegalities contained in the Auditor-General's report.

In a long response to the Auditor General, it 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.

GETFund says it 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.

---citinewsroom
aims to be a dominant and go-to bank for startups, a key official said on Tuesday.

Close to 9,000 are currently banking with HDFC Bank, said Smita Bhagat, Country Head, Government & Institutional Business, e-commerce and start-ups,

Officials said the bank now has dedicated "SmartUp" zones in 70 branches in 30 cities across India.

"Through the SmartUp programme, we are already engaging with the start-up community to partner with them in their entrepreneurial journey using smart financial tools, advisory services and technology", Bhagat told reporters here.

"We also have a platform where the can register themselves and sell their products to our own customers", she added.

on Tuesday disbursed SmartUp grants totalling Rs 5 crore to 20 in Bengaluru working in the social sector.

This takes the total tally to more than 60 start-ups who have been been given a total grants of Rs 14 crore over the past three years.

"We hope to take this number (number of start-ups awarded grants) to 100 by the end of the next financial year", Bhagat said.

These grants -- part of a larger effort by HDFC Bank to create an ecosystem to nurture the spirit of innovation and enterprise in the start-up space -- have been offered under the aegis of 'Parivartan', the umbrella name for the banks social initiatives.

The bank works through incubators such as IIT Kanpur, T- Hub, KIIT TBI, Villgro, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and BITS Pilani to identify start-ups in the social sector.

It has signed MoUs with several state governments to support the start-up ecosystem in those states, she said.

"We would like to be a dominant bank and go-to bank for all the startups and start-up community", Bhagat said.
Whats on TV

DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE 8 p.m. on CBS. Seven candidates have qualified for this debate in Charleston, S.C.: Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota; and the billionaire businessman Tom Steyer. A lot is riding on their performances. The debate comes four days before the South Carolina primary and just before the Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses on March 3. Bloomberg may try to redeem himself after scathing attacks on the debate in Las Vegas last week. Warren came out strong with an aggressive performance, while Sanders walked away mostly unharmed, politics reporters for The New York Times wrote in an analysis.

GORDON RAMSAYS 24 HOURS TO HELL AND BACK 8 p.m. on Fox. In this two-hour season finale, the host Gordon Ramsay tries to save a pizza restaurant and a Korean-inspired eatery in Arkansas. The owner of the pizza place is prone to violent outbursts, while the owner of the Korean-inspired joint lacks the industry know-how to run a successful business.
This is the moment highway cops in Brazil intercepted a marijuana shipment worth $1.6 million.

The Federal Highway Police said its officers stopped the driver of a tractor trailer Monday and discovered 906 kilos of the drug concealed behind an aluminum panel.

While conducting the routine search of the trailer on a highway in Planaltina, Federal District, the male driver showed signs of nervousness, which immediately tipped off the cops.

Brazil's Federal Highway Police confiscated 906 kilos of marijuana, worth $1.6 million, during a routine road checkpoint Monday in Planaltina, Federal District

The 906 kilos were split into 1,202 bricks wrapped in plastic and hidden behind an aluminum panel inside the trailer box

An agent with the Brazilian Federal Highway Police removes an aluminum panel during the inspection of a truck that was loaded with marijuana worth $1.6 million

Operational Unit police officers subsequently deployed a sniffer dog, who detected the drugs hidden behind a makeshift wall.

Video of the operation released by the Federal Highway Police showed how the marijuana shipment was split into 1,202 plastic wrapped bundles stacked against the wall.

The motorist confessed to the police that drug traffickers paid him $6,800 to drive the truck and an additional $500 to abandon the trailer box

A sniffer dog led the Brazilian police to 906 kilos of marijuana concealed behind a wall inside a trailer box

The motorist confessed that he was delivering the drugs from Campo Grande, a city in the west-central state of Mato Grosso do Sul, to the northeastern state of Sergipe, located off the Atlantic Ocean.

According to Brazilian newspaper Correio Braziliense, the man said the drug traffickers paid him $6,800 to drive the truck and an additional $500 to abandon the trailer box.

The truck driver and the confiscated narcotics were placed under custody of the 16th Civil Police Station in Planaltina.

Monday's drug bust was the second significant operation in three days for the Federal Highway Police.

A team assigned to the Operational Unit unearthed 50 kilos of cocaine worth $2 million that was being ferried by a flatbed truck on a highway in the southern industrial city of Sao Leopoldo last Friday.

The police detained the truck's 33-year-old driver and his 38-year-old assistant after they were caught snorting cocaine in the cab of the truck.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- I cannot remember the name of the chaplain who called from the Butner correctional facility, perhaps the nations premier federal prison for sick white-collar prisoners. But he was a pro. He talked slowly, in gentle circles about how my father had been very ill and how they did their best. This verbal shuffling was all so I could figure out before the chaplain said the actual word that my father, Albert Ernest Fisher III, was dead. He was 78.

So it hit me with unexpected emotion, complicated now as a financial journalist, when I read that Bernie Madoff, 81, my fathers Butner prisonmate, is asking for compassionate release. He says he is dying. I use he says as journalistic distancing and to signal that it may not be wise to believe everything that the engineer of the worlds biggest Ponzi scheme tells you.

Some $65 billion was missing from Madoffs client accounts after years of deception. My father turned to crime apparently in his retirement. He was teaching college courses on math and computers when he was charged, with his wife, with stealing more than $2 million from the business they ran providing food and upkeep for students in Lehigh Universitys Greek system.

When he was sentenced in 2017, he was already dying, mostly of congestive heart failure. He could not walk across the room without oxygen. He kept saying: If I go to prison, I will die. He was correct. He lasted only a few weeks.

After Madoffs request, Ive learned that the penal system is trending toward compassion  as well as a more hard-headed desire to unclog prisons and work toward fairness in drug sentencing. The 2018 First Step Act, passed too late for my father, allows judges more flexibility to release federal prisoners.

So when Bernard Ebbers, sent to prison for 25 years for $11 billion in accounting fraud, asked for compassionate release last year, it hardly raised a stir. He was let out in December and died at home in Mississippi on Feb. 2, just around the time Madoff made his own request.

Story continues

Still, when your own family life collides with larger forces embodied in First Step, the feelings are less abstract.

My dad was not in Madoffs league, but there are parallels. Both ran Ponzi schemes. The crimes of each caused real damage, from life savings vaporized to student funds for room and board squandered in Bermuda and Neiman Marcus. Neither was a violent threat to society, but the actions of each incurred a debt to it. Those actions cost, in explicit ways.

Madoffs son Marc hung himself in December 2010 exactly two years after his fathers arrest. In 2017, my fathers wife, Betty, slipped a Mylar balloon over her head, then inserted a tube from a helium canister my father had helpfully fetched at a local party store. She allegedly said she was going to throw some event. But it was also on the day the two of them, charged together, were due to begin deciding whether to negotiate a plea bargain or take their chances at trial. Federal prosecutors made clear there would be jail time with a plea. For her, death was preferable. I didnt know helium was an option.

My immediate reaction to Madoffs request was a personal one: Why should he get out to die, when the judges imprisoned my father with just weeks to live? Madoffs lawyers say he has maybe 18 months left in him. Hes been in prison nearly 11 years.

I dont wish to be cruel. I wince seeing the terminally ill suffer in jail, my dad, Madoff or anyone else. First Step seems like a reasonable attempt at reducing mass incarceration in the United States  case by case, on their merits, under specific guidelines.

But Madoffs request has unexpectedly forced me to face something basic about being a citizen: Can you live with what you think is abstractly good even if is not good for you personally? In my case, can I say its fine that Madoff may get to die freely when my father could not  even if I believe that people like him should be shown compassion?

Honestly, its not going down very well. To me, Madoff is not a matter of public policy, brushing prison shoulders with my father: a better criminal, richer and more famous, who could glide free simply because times have changed.

For the historical record, another Butner prisoner during my fathers stay was Carmine The Snake Persico, boss of the Colombo mafia family. He died at a nearby hospital in March 2019, though he had been in Butner since 2004. He liked bocce and pinochle and apparently the occasional social visit with Madoff. I imagined my draining father in a card game with them, all three no doubt cheating.

The Snake asked for compassionate release too when he was dying. He didnt get it. The journalist in me resists having an opinion. But the son in me, tied accidentally to another mans fate, is less restrained. I suppose Im glad Madoff has an opportunity The Snake and my father did not. But should that be granted to the one of the most infamous criminals of our time? Ive learned some unsettling things about the sins of the fathers. In Madoffs case, Id say they should be paid in full.

To contact the author of this story: Ian Fisher at ifisher10@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mike Nizza at mnizza3@bloomberg.net

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Ian Fisher is an editor for Bloomberg News.

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

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

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Iraj Harirchi had been briefing journalists since the coronavirus presence in Iran was confirmed





Iran's deputy health minister Iraj Harirchi, who has been briefing journalists on the country's battle with the coronavirus, has tested positive for the disease, according to a health ministry adviser.





Harirchi's diagnosis comes after Tehran confirmed on Tuesday that the coronavirus has claimed three more lives in Iran.








Workers wearing protective suits spray disinfectant as a precaution against the coronavirus at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. The White House has requested $1.25 billion in emergency funding to address the novel coronavirus, part of an effort to direct as much as $2.5 billion in total funds to bolster its response to the growing global crisis, according to a letter obtained by CNN.
Travellers from South Koreas Daegu and North Gyeongsang will be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival in Vietnam, the Ministry of Health announced on Monday.

Twenty Vietnamese and more than 60 South Korean passengers on a flight from the virus-hit Daegu City in South Korea landed in Da Nang on Monday morning from where they were immediately transported by ambulances to quarantine sites following the increase in COVID-19 cases in the East Asian country in recent days.

The decision was made at a Government meeting to weigh up the risks of the coronavirus spreading into Vietnam from South Korea.

The number of people infected with the SARS-CoVI-2 in South Korea, the new novel coronavirus that first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan, jumped to 833 as of 4pm Monday, making it the biggest virus centre outside China. Seven deaths were reported in the country.

Daegu City and the surrounding North Gyeongsang Province are the biggest clusters of the country affected by the epidemic.

The risk of disease spreading from the outbreak zones in South Korea into Vietnam via flights is very high, deputy health minister Do Xuan Tuyen said at the meeting.

Vietnam already recommended its citizens to restrain from visiting Daegu and North Gyeongsang as well as not encouraging foreigners to fly into Vietnam via those places.

The health ministry on Monday also said all travellers from South Korea were obliged to submit health declaration forms when entering Vietnam.

The new requirement went into effect at 3pm on Saturday at all border gates as the Government stayed on high alert over the worsening coronavirus outbreak in South Korea.

According to the health ministry, declaration forms will be provided at immigration gates.

Travellers from South Korea who are spotted with signs of symptoms like fever, coughing or breathing difficulties will be immediately taken into quarantine and have a general health check, said the ministry.

In a separate move, the province of Khanh Hoa decided to suspend flights to and from Daegu.

Khanh Hoa Department of Health deputy director Le Tan Hung said all flights to and from Daegu have been cancelled since Saturday with no dates given as to when they will resume.

Da Nang meanwhile placed all 80 passengers aboard a Monday flight from Daegu in quarantine after they arrived. Among them, 20 are South Korea nationals while 60 are Vietnamese.

They will be quarantined for 14 days, said the Da Nang Department of Health.

Deputy minister of labour, invalid and social affairs Le Van Thanh said there were about 200,000 Vietnamese nationals living in South Korea, citing statistics from the South Korean Ministry of Justice. Among them, more than 26,700 are residing in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.

As of Monday, no Vietnamese were recorded ill, Thanh said.

He added that Vietnams labour management department in South Korea was proactively in contact with its partners like the Ministry of Employment and Labour, the Korea Immigration Service and the Ministry of Justice to get updates on the countrys latest policies on foreign workers during the outbreak.

New information will be delivered to Vietnamese workers via several channels like the office of the labour management department, a website for Vietnamese in South Korea or local associations of Vietnamese community across the country, Thanh said.

Vietnam also set up a hotline and focal points for communications in Daegu and North Gyeongsang to closely track the health of the citizens and carry out support measures when needed, he said.

The labour ministry on Monday said it was reviewing the number of Vietnamese workers overseas, especially in large labour markets for Vietnamese workers like South Korea, Japan and Taiwan (China) in order to develop emergency plans when an outbreak occurred.

The ministry chief of staff Nguyen Ba Hoan said the ministry was tracking the number of workers and experts in each country and territory, with a focus on those who were returning to Vietnam in the future.

At a Government meeting with the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control on Monday, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered ministries and localities to continue to take preventive measures and ensure socio-economic development continued as normal.

The Cabinet leader assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment and other ministries to issue a direction to promote business and production and stabilise growth.

He also asked Vietnamese tourism firms and airlines, along with associations and sectors, to launch campaigns in countries not heavily affected by the virus SARS-CoV-2.

The business sector must find solutions to the interrupted supply of goods from China and South Korea, he said.

We have to consider when schools should be re-opened. The exact time can not be fixed today and will depend on how the situation develops. The Ministry of Education and Training will make the final decision on Thursday or Friday, Phuc said.

Minister, Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung has suggested re-opening universities, colleges, intermediate schools and high schools from March 2.

Children at lower levels like kindergartens, primary and secondary schools could have two more weeks off depending on the situation, he said.

COVID-19 preventive measures enhanced in shopping centres, tourist areas

The Ministry of Health has issued recommendations on how to prevent the COVID-19 epidemic in shopping centres, supermarkets, parks and tourist areas.

Shoppers are recommended to wear masks in supermarkets. Photo thoibaotaichinhvietnam.vn



The letter was released as the epidemic continues to spread around the world.

Employers and managers at these destinations must ensure all areas are disinfected once a day.

Staff working at shopping centres, supermarkets, parks and tourist areas will also have their temperatures taken.

If anyone shows symptoms of fever, a cough or shortness of breath, they must notify their managers and self-monitor at home after seeking advice from health facilities.

Suspected cases will not be allowed back to work until they are given the all-clear.

Staff who have direct contact with customers such as salespeople are required to wear masks and limit contact during working hours.

Regular hand washing is also stipulated.

Visitors have also been given similar instructions about wearing masks, washing hands and covering their noses and mouths when coughing or sneezing.

The Ministry of Health has also given instructions to disinfection in the service areas.

Floors, walls, furniture, kiosks, children's play areas and toilets must be disinfected every day.

Doors, knobs, banisters, elevator buttons and handrails must be disinfected at least four times a day.

Ventilation in rooms, sale booths and play areas in shopping centres and supermarkets must be enhanced by opening doors and windows and restricting the use of air conditioners.

Waste must be collected and treated daily.

Managers in these areas must be supplied with masks, disinfectant, clean water and dustbins, while ensuring food safety and hygiene.

Employers are responsible for informing their staff about these measures.

In suspected cases, patients should be isolated immediately and local health authorities should be informed via hotlines 19003228 or 19009095.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, shopping centres, supermarkets and tourist areas have been welcoming fewer clients and visitors.  VNS

Coronavirus: North Korea quarantines foreigners North Korea has quarantined 380 foreigners in a bid to stop the coronavirus from breaking out.

Passengers from South Korea forced to fill out health declaration forms 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.
Tillage farmers are calling for greater balance on the Teagasc Board, which has six dairy farmers on it.

The Grain Growers Association has said it is not calling into question the integrity of those on the board, but said the imbalance on the board must be recognised.

A spokesperson for the Grain Growers said "Ninety percent of farmers must not be represented by just ten percent that's from the one sector, the dairy sector . This is the current situation . This huge imbalance must be tackled immediately .

"The Teagasc Authority, the Department of Agriculture , the ministers approving the personnel, the farmer representative bodies on the Authority, must be questioned as to why they have let this happen .

"The integrity of those that sit at the table is not being questioned for one second but they must recognize the imbalance that exists . They must prioritize this at their next monthly meeting and set about how they are going to rectify and avoid the imbalance into the future."

It comes as IFA Deputy President Brian Rushe was appointed to the board of Teagasc after being nominated by the IFA as their representative.

Rushe, who was recently elected IFA Vice President, is a dairy farmer from County Kildare.

His appointment in the place of former IFA Deputy President Richard Kennedy once again means all the farmer representatives on the Teagasc board are dairy farmers.

Other dairy farmers on the board include its Chairman Liam Herlihy (Chairman) who farms in County Waterford, Tommy Cooke member of ICMSA's National Council, Aurivo Chairman Patrick Duffy representative of the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) and Former Young Farmer of the Year John Buckley representing Macra na Feirme.

Teagasc recently took criticism from An Taisce in relation to the prominence of dairy farmers on its 11-person board.

"Five of the 11 people on the board, including its chairman, are dairy farmers.

"While this may, of course, be just a coincidence, it is nonetheless of concern that Teagasc's director has chosen to engage in what sounds like public advocacy work for the expansionist dairy sector", said an An Taisce spokesperson.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 15:12:06|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientist Xue Qikun has won the 2020 Fritz London Prize, an international award to recognize scientists who made outstanding contributions in the field of low-temperature physics, according to the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission.

Xue, head of Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences, won the award for pioneering contributions to the experimental discovery of quantum anomalous Hall effect, which will help accelerate the development of low-power-consumption electronics.

The prize, awarded every three years, is recognized as the highest honor in the field of low-temperature physics in the world. Since its establishment in 1957, more than 50 famous physicists have been awarded the prize and Xue is the first Chinese scientist to receive the honor, according to the commission, funded by the Beijing municipal government.

Xue is also an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and vice president of the prestigious Tsinghua University. His research team won China's State Natural Science Award in 2019 for quantum discovery.

He is known as the "7-11 professor" because in his early years studying abroad, he was often seen entering the laboratory at 7 a.m. and coming out at 11 p.m.

The award ceremony of 2020 Fritz London Prize will be held during the 29th International Conference on Low-Temperature Physics in Japan from Aug. 15 to 22, said the commission.
He is pictured with Dwight D. Eisenhower, Paul Newman, King Hussein of Jordan, Ferdinand Marcos and Chiang Kai-shek, among others. Just a sample of the many hundreds he came across in a stellar career that began with him reporting for his high school paper in hometown Seattle, Washington, and ending with him known throughout Asia as a Hong Kong-based TV anchor.

But the American Bill Hartley could not have lived in a more different world, confirmed by photos adorning his study in Caulfield North, where he spent his last 15 years with the love of his life, Melbourne-born Heather Mallinson.

Hawke was referring to the other Bill Hartley, also a journalist and a former Victorian ALP secretary whose hard-line views clashed with Hawkes more conciliatory approach.

When globetrotting Wall Street Journal correspondent Bill Hartley came to Australia in 1969 to write political and financial pieces, ACTU president Bob Hawke half-jokingly told him he was the reporter with the unfortunate name.

In between he lived in nine cities on five continents, turning up in more than 90 countries to report on some of the great events of our time, including the Prague Spring, the Vietnam War, the Iran Revolution and hostages drama, the brutal emergence of Saddam Hussein, the Sri Lankan Tamil conflict, the battle to end Apartheid, and the civil clashes in Rhodesia that led to the emergence of Robert Mugabe and Zimbabwe.

Throughout he avoided the all-too-common journalistic failure of thinking, Because I am here, I too am a player. He recognised that his sole role was to tell it how it was.

Hartley was born on August 1, 1936, in Seattle and in many ways his personal life was as complex as some of the major stories he covered. Including the fact that  in spite of Bob Hawkes chiding  he did not start out as Bill Hartley anyway.

He was the only child of lawyer William Hatch Davis I, and his much-younger third wife, Helen, and was given the same name as his father. He was only three when his father died and when Helen later married again, to a man named Warren Hartley, her new husband formally adopted Bill, changing his name from William Hatch Davis II to William Davis Hartley.

When Warren Hartley died five years later, Helen married a former military man, Thomas Leary, who also died within five years. Bill always said that while he had great affection for Thomas and very little for Warren, his greatest regret was that he had no memory of his father at all. He always jokingly lamented that Hatch Davis would have made a great name for a TV journalist.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited some of those injured in the violence over the amended citizenship law in northeast Delhi at the GTB Hospital on Tuesday and appealed to people to "stop this madness".

He was accompanied by his deputy Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain.

Speaking to reporters after his visit to the hospital, Kejriwal said his biggest concern was to stop the violence.

"I have met the people who were injured, also met some people who sustained bullet injuries. Facilities and doctors are apt here. The biggest concern is to stop the violence. I appeal to everyone to stop the violence. This madness has to stop," he said.

Ten people have been killed and scores of others injured in the violence between pro and anti CAA groups in the area since Monday.

Clashes were continuing for the third day on Tuesday.

On the issue of non-availability of adequate forces to tackle the situation, Kejriwal said he spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the issue. "I have raised issue of having enough force. The Home Minister has assured that additional force will be given," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Govt will be only an investor; professionals will run telcos post conversion of interest liabilities into equity: Vaishnaw to PTI.
President Trump took aim at two Supreme Court Justices on Tuesday, calling on them to recuse themselves from "anything having to do with Trump."

Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote a strongly-worded dissent in response to the court's decision to allow the Trump administration's "public charge" immigration rule in Illinois, which restricts immigrants who may rely on public benefits from gaining legal status. To Trump, their dissent in the case amounted to proof of anti-Trump bias.

"I just don't know how they cannot recuse themselves to anything having to do with Trump or Trump related," he told reporters while in India, reports CNBC. He also tweeted along the same lines, accusing Sotomayor of "trying to 'shame'" fellow Justices into voting along with her.

....on all Trump, or Trump related, matters! While elections have consequences, I only ask for fairness, especially when it comes to decisions made by the United States Supreme Court!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 25, 2020

Trump also referenced a 2016 instance when Ginsburg called Trump a "faker," before he was the Republican presidential nominee. She later apologized. After his Monday night tweets, Trump continued his tirade on Tuesday, calling Sotomayor's dissent "inappropriate" and "terrible." Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law President Kristen Clarke called Trump's comments "outrageous," explaining that Sotomayor and Ginsburg's dissent was a fair argument, and declaring the call for recusal "absurd."

As CNBC notes, the Supreme Court will soon hear arguments on other Trump administration cases, including cases on whether Trump can continue to withhold his financial records from Congress.

More stories from theweek.com

Harvard scientist predicts coronavirus will infect up to 70 percent of humanity

Death toll rises from Hindu-Muslim clashes in New Delhi after Trump leaves India

Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert explain why Trump is fiddling as the coronavirus burns


When US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo proclaimed at the Munich Security Conference: The West is winning!, he was referring to the battle for world hegemony. One was reminded of a Francis Fukayamas declaration, in the early 1990s, of the The End of History. Yet, the reverse is unfolding in the world around us today. The US is withdrawing from many parts of the world and Western countries, as a whole, are shutting their doors to other peoples in the world, and in many ways the West is becoming unravelled due to political and ethnic divisions. The EU is a salient example. This major landmark of Western political and economic capacities faced a debilitating blow with the UKs decision to leave it and follow another path to development, whether in the framework of the Commonwealth, the transatlantic bond or a renewed quest for empire.

The Egyptian diplomat Gamal Abul-Hassan wrote in Al-Masry Al-Youm: In 1970, Asia (including Japan) contributed 19 per cent of the global GDP, or global world product (GWP), and the West 56 per cent. Today, after only three generations, Asia contributes 43 per cent and compared to the Wests 37 per cent. This is the most important transformation in the world today. It is a transformation that occurred after around three centuries of Western global hegemony, militarily, economically and culturally. The world in which we live today is more diverse and pluralistic. It is therefore more competitive, which makes for a greater likelihood that the competition will escalate into an open conflict between global poles.

The abovementioned numbers could be somewhat misleading. The West benefited greatly from the economic booms in countries that were defeated in World War II (such as Japan) and the Korean War (South Korea). Then once they attained prosperity, the new ratios of shares in the GWP did not necessary impact on the Wests cultural hegemony or its unqualified lead in aerospace and technology in general. Nevertheless, the numbers do speak of new power balances in the world.

Pompeos remark was actually more of a response to the USs predicament than a defence of the West and its global status. The predicament arises from the USs strategic reorientation. Washington is in a state of withdrawal, not just militarily from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, but from the world. It is reformulating its existence in Japan, Europe and South Korea. It is no longer interested in defending common interests with its allies. It is interested in defending US resources from alliances and mutual defence pacts. The US is closing itself off to the outside. It is building all sorts of walls, and not just the wall with Mexico and South America. It is changing immigration laws to make the visa process more heavily selective in favour of whites and Christians. It withdrew from the Paris climate accord even though the US is primarily responsible for global warming and now ranks second to China in generating greenhouse emissions.

Washingtons insularism has been challenged by the globalised outlook of the Democratic Party, which is growing vociferous these days due to the primaries and the nominees eagerness to best each other in attacking Trumps policies. But the US is not just caught between the president and the opposition. It is also caught between rival outlooks among strategic thinkers. In its latest issue, March/April 2020, Foreign Affairs featured three recent strategic assessments of US foreign policy and republished one dating from April 1973 when the Vietnam War was still in progress and the Cold War was at its height. The latter article is called, The Case for Strategic Disengagement. Written by Earl Ravenal, it epitomises the debate that prevailed in the US nearly half a century ago and helps give perspective. The other three articles epitomise the USs confusion today.

One writer, Stephen Wertheim, argues in favour of the USs withdrawal from world leadership. Beneath the title, The Price of Primacy: Why America Shouldnt Dominate the World, he voices not only the prevalent cost-conscious conservative outlook but also the more progressivist view that world domination jeopardises US values. Thomas Wright, beneath the title, The Folly of Retrenchment: Why America Cant Withdraw from the World, argues precisely the opposite: that withdrawal will expose these values to risk.

Graham Allison takes a different tack. His article, The New Spheres of Influence: Sharing the Globe with Other Great Powers, takes us back to distant eras when the greatness of powers was measured by their hegemony over other countries and regions, or their spheres of influence. He reminisces on the Monroe Doctrine that proclaimed the entire Western Hemisphere  the whole of North and South America  as the USs sphere of influence historically, geographically, and of course militarily. He also reminds us of other geopolitical concepts, such as political realism, when he acknowledges that, indeed, something about geopolitics had changed, but insists that what mattered now was to identify what exactly the change was so that the US could adjust to it.

Throughout history, the world was divided into spheres of influence. In antiquity, you had the Hellenic world versus the Persian Empire and the Eastern Roman versus the Western Roman Empires. Moving through the medieval to the modern eras, you have Portugal versus Spain in the Old and New Worlds, the European powers versus each other in the Napoleonic era, France versus Britain in the colonialist era, and the US versus the USSR in the Cold War era. What about today? Do we not have Washington versus Beijing and Moscow?

The US, despite its decline from the fourth largest contributor to GWP after World War II to seventh today, still dominates the world of technology and it holds a near monopoly on the realms of space and the internet. Yet, China is the worlds largest exporter and second largest importer, and its Belt and Road Initiative places it at the hub of a major international bloc. Russia is not about to revive the USSR because with the collapse of the Soviet bloc Russia shrank back into its earlier borders and its population shrank to half that of the USSR. However, Moscow remains a major military and nuclear power, and it is continuing to build these strengths. It also understands how to operate in a tripolar world. Graham Allison advocates neither a US-centred globalisation for a US retrenchment, but rather a division of spheres of influence. Is this so different from Trumps outlook?

*The writer is chairman of the board, CEO and director of the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies.

**A version of this article appears in print in the 27 February, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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President Xi Jinping laid out seven priorities at a key meeting on Sunday for prevention and control of the novel coronavirus epidemic.

Medical workers support each other in the ICU of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, on Jan 24, 2020. [Photo by Xiong Qi / Xinhua]

-- Hubei province, as well as its capital city Wuhan, should be safeguarded with resolute effort, with great attention paid to containing the spread in communities and treating patients.

-- Epidemic prevention and control work in Beijing should be carried out with all-out effort. 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 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 the news media should be more effective. Release of epidemic information should be improved.

-- Social stability should be safeguarded. Illegal activities disturbing medical treatment, epidemic prevention and market and social order should be severely punished.
NORRISTOWN  A Whitpain Township man joined his girlfriend in admitting the couple conspired with a North Wales man to operate a gun trafficking network that prosecutors alleged profited by arming criminals.

Philip Edward Jensen, 31, of the 1600 block of Skippack Pike, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to charges of corrupt organizations, illegal sale or transfer of firearms, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, conspiracy, person not to possess firearms, making false written statements and receiving stolen property in connection with incidents that occurred between April and May 2019.

Judge William R. Carpenter deferred sentencing so that court officials can complete a background investigation report. Jensen, who remains in jail without bail pending sentencing, potentially faces decades in prison on the charges.

Jensens girlfriend, Monica Ann Kumpf, 32, also of the Skippack Pike address, previously pleaded guilty to similar charges and is awaiting sentencing. Kumpf admitted she, Jensen and Gaime Hailemichael worked together and were accomplices in a gun trafficking organization.

Specifically, Kumpf admitted that she made 11 purchases of handguns and six attempted handgun purchases from gun stores in Hatfield, Horsham, Upper Merion and West Norriton between April 22 and May 3 after Jensen asked her to purchase guns for Hailemichael. Prosecutors alleged Hailemichael provided Kumpf with the cash to purchase the guns.

Jensen, who is represented by defense lawyer Ben-Zion Datika, was identified as Kumpfs boyfriend at the time of their arrests in June 2019.

Hailemichael, 26, of the 100 block of Henning Drive in North Wales, is still awaiting trial on charges of corrupt organizations, conspiracy and various gun-related offenses, including sales to ineligible persons and providing false information to gun dealers.

Assistant District Attorney Roderick Fancher III is handling the cases.

At the time of the arrests, District Attorney Kevin R. Steele alleged the organizations sole purpose is to make money by putting firearms in the hands of people who cannot lawfully buy and possess guns on their own.

Some of the guns that were illegally purchased included Mini Draco AK-47 pistols, a smaller version of an AK-47 that is manufactured in Romania, according to court documents.

Of concern for authorities, Steele said at the time, was the fact that eight of the firearms had not been recovered by law enforcement.

The investigation began when an employee of American Arms & Ammo in Hatfield contacted police regarding Kumpf who had purchased four guns from the business within three days. The employee suspected that the female may have purchased the firearms for some nefarious purpose, possibly straw purchases,' detectives alleged in court papers.

One of the methods allegedly used by the group was to make or attempt to make so-called straw purchases of firearms from licensed firearms dealers in the county.

A so-called straw purchase occurs when the actual buyer of a firearm uses another person, the straw purchaser, to execute the paperwork necessary to buy a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer.

A straw purchaser is someone with a clean background who buys firearms specifically on behalf of someone who is prohibited by law from purchasing a firearm, either because of a previous felony conviction or because of a mental health issue.

Kumpf, detectives alleged, was the only member of the group who could legally buy and possess firearms. Jensen and Hailemichael each had prior criminal records that prohibited them from purchasing firearms, detectives alleged in court documents.

Prosecutors alleged Jensen and Hailemichael planned the purchases of the firearms, telling Kumpf what guns and what types of guns and in what quantities to buy. They gave her money to buy them and they even used Hailemichaels Uber account to Uber her to and from gun stores to make these purchases, prosecutors alleged.

Once Kumpf had the firearms in her possession, she turned them over to Jensen and Hailemichael, who in turn sold them on the street at a significant profit, authorities alleged.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Police manned checkpoints in quarantined towns, governments issued travel warnings and more flights were suspended Tuesday as officials desperately sought to stop the seemingly inevitable spread of a new virus.

Clusters of the illness continued to balloon outside mainland China, fueling apprehension across the globe that was reflected in sagging financial markets.

The crisis pushed into areas seen as among the worst-equipped to deal with an outbreak as well as some of the worlds richest nations, including South Korea and Italy. As it proliferates, the virus is bringing a sense of urgency for local officials determined to contain it but often unsure how.

Its a matter of speed and time: We must create a clear turning point within this week, said President Moon Jae-in of South Korea, where the caseload grew by 144, with a total of 977 people sickened.

Cases of people who could have infected many others spurred fears.

Korean Air said one of its crew members tested positive, but the airline didnt disclose the flights the employee had worked on. On a U.S. military base in Daegu, the centre of infections in South Korea, officials said a servicemembers spouse had also been infected. And in the tiny Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain, one of those infected was a school bus driver who had transported students as recently as Sunday.

Also testing positive was the head of Iran's virus task force, who just a day earlier gave a news conference in Tehran in which he tried to minimize the danger posed by the outbreak.

In Italys north, where more than 200 people were sickened, a dozen towns were sealed off and police wearing face masks patrolled.

Two neighbours of Italy  Croatia and Austria  reported their first cases of the virus.

Croatia, Hungary and Ireland advised against travelling to Italys affected area, one of a number of governmental moves seeking to limit further exposure. Bahrain suspended flights to Dubai while the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued its highest travel alert on South Korea, advising citizens to avoid nonessential trips. Japan urged citizens to avoid unessential trips to South Korea's hardest-hit areas.

A culture of long days at the office in Japan came to terms with the outbreak, with the government urging employers to allow workers to telecommute and have more flexible hours, simple moves Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed hope could help control the spread.

We are at an extremely important time in ending the spread of infection at an early stage, Abe said at a meeting of a task force on the outbreak.

Even in places where no cases have sprouted up, leaders kept a wary eye, such as Denmark, where two former military barracks were being prepared as quarantine centres. Still, uncertainty remained about how to effectively limit the epidemic.

Italy had taken Europes most stringent preventative measures against COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, and yet became home to the biggest outbreak outside Asia. Experts in Japan, with one of the worlds most sophisticated health systems, acknowledged the countrys handling of the virus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship was flawed and could have allowed the problem to magnify.

In comments reflecting both defiance and dubiousness over what measures work, French health minister Olivier Veran said the country would not shut its border or call off mass gatherings.

We dont close borders because we would not be able to, we dont do it because it would be meaningless, he said on French radio RTL. Should we ban gatherings? Should we stop the Fashion Week? Should we suspend matches? Should we close universities? The answer is no.

China reported 508 new cases and another 71 deaths, 68 of them in the central city of Wuhan, where the epidemic was first detected in December. The updates bring mainland China's totals to 77,658 cases and 2,663 deaths.
Rape is rape: Harvey Weinstein arrives at court in Manhattan yesterday but he was held in custody after the verdict. Photo: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty of rape in the third degree and criminal sexual assault, but cleared of the most serious charges of predatory sexual assault by a court in New York.

Jurors took a week to find the Hollywood film producer guilty on two of five counts. Their verdict on each charge had to be unanimous or else a mistrial would be declared.

Jurors concluded Weinstein (67) forcibly performed oral sex on Mimi Haley in 2006, in his New York apartment. They also found him guilty of raping Jessica Mann in 2013.

But they did not find him guilty of predatory sexual assault, meaning they did not find Annabella Sciorra's testimony convincing. Ms Sciorra was called to support the charges of predatory sexual assault, which require proving a defendant attacked at least two victims.

For a criminal sex act he faces a minimum sentence of five years, and a maximum of 25. For rape in the third degree sentencing ranges from probation to four years behind bars. He has been remanded in custody until March 11.

After the verdict New York District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr said: "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.

"Weinstein is a vicious, serial sexual predator who used his power to threaten, rape, assault and trick, humiliate and silence his victims."

Mr Vance praised the women who testified against Weinstein. "These are eight women who hauled our justice system into the 21st century, by declaring that rape is rape, sexual assault is sexual assault, no matter what," he said.

"Rape is rape, whether it is committed by a stranger in a dark alley or by an intimate partner, in a working relationship.

"Rape is rape whether by a homeless person or by a man with immense power and prestige and privilege.

"Rape is rape whether it is reported in an hour, or a year, or never.

"It's rape despite the complicated dynamics of power and consent. It's rape even if there is no physical evidence, and even if it happened a long time ago."

The jury had begun deliberating on February 18 after hearing three weeks' of evidence from six women who accused him of rape and sexual assault.

Although the prosecution case rested on the testimonies of six women, the jury considered charges related to just two: Ms Haley, who accused him of forcibly performing oral sex on her in his Manhattan apartment in 2006, and Ms Mann, who said he raped her in a Manhattan hotel in 2013. The other claims were too old to prosecute.

Other women - among them 'Sopranos' actress Ms Sciorra - were allowed to testify in court to bolster Miss Haley and Miss Mann's accounts.

Weinstein's legal team, led by Chicago-based Donna Rotunno, argued the Brooklyn-born mogul only ever had consensual sexual relations with the women.

Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon argued Weinstein was a violent sexual predator who preyed on vulnerable women.

Weinstein, she told the court, showed over decades "a wanton lack of human empathy", abusing a series of aspiring actresses and producers.

"He had a sure-fire insurance policy," she said, explaining how his behaviour went unpunished for years. "The victims were standing in line to get into his universe."

The case, she said, was all about "power, manipulation and abuse".

"It's an extraordinarily competitive industry. You have to look a certain way, hang out with certain people, do all these things," she said.

"Every time you are analysing this case, it's Harvey Weinstein everything: victims, nothing."

Over the course of three weeks, six women told the jurors about their encounters with Weinstein, frequently choked up by tears. Ms Mann even suffered a panic attack on the witness stand and had to be escorted, hyperventilating, out of the courtroom.

Some women told the jury Weinstein ignored pleas of "no, no, no" as he assaulted them. Ms Mann said he would turn violent when he could not get his way and added: "If he heard the word 'no', it was like a trigger for him."

Another woman recalled Weinstein sneering, "You'll never make it in this business, this is how this industry works" when she laughed off his advances.

Weinstein has also been charged in Los Angeles, so acquittal would not have seen him off the hook.
HYDERABAD: Finance minister T. Harish Rao has called for a peoples movement against trash, plastic, mosquitoes and flies in urban areas of the state. He was speaking after launching the Pattana Pragati programme at the Sangareddy municipality on Monday.

The minister assured that developmental works in municipalities will be taken up in a phased manner, which will totally change the way they look. He pointed out that the Palle Pragati has already been implemented in two phases. This has ushered in development in villages.

Following Palle Pragati, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has now taken Pattana Pragati for development of urban areas in the state. Mr Harish Rao said the new municipal act has given some rights and responsibilities to people. The act has also brought in transparency and accountability on part of employees.
A woman was left with pea-size lumps in her lips after being injected by an unqualified beautician with filler that is used to resemble bone.

Michaela Hide, 31, from Eastbourne, Sussex, couldn't eat, drink, talk properly or kiss her boyfriend after paying 220 for a 'tweakment' favoured by the likes of Kylie Jenner.

But instead of using a normal filler, the woman - who wasn't medically qualified - pumped Ms Hide's lips full of a calcium-based substance that is only ever used to enhance jawlines or noses.

When Ms Hide's lips swelled up until they looked like 'something out of a horror show', the Sussex woman was charged a further 120 by the beautician to try to fix the problem.

A woman was left with pea-size lumps in her lips after being injected by an unqualified beautician with filler that is used to resemble bone

However, her lips ended up looking worse when the beautician filled her lips with even more of the substance, which is called Radiesse.

When a nurse then told her that nothing could be done to help, Ms Hide paid a plastic surgeon 1,020 to have two painful operations in which he cut her lips open and removed the lumps.

She said: 'I looked like something out of a horror show,' Michaela, 31, says.

'I knew something was wrong straight away. I have a very high pain threshold but this was unbearable as she injected me about 20 times.

'My lips were stinging and they swelled up straight away.'

Ms Hide was told by the beautician to go home and put ice on her 'huge and painful' lips, which did nothing to ease the swelling.

The Sussex woman said that within a couple of days, two giant lumps formed, making it hard for her to open her mouth.

Michaela Hide, 31, from Eastbourne, Sussex, couldn't eat, drink, talk properly or kiss her boyfriend after paying 220 for a 'tweakment' favoured by the likes of Kylie Jenner and former Geordie Shore star Marnie Simpson

She was so horrified by how she looked that she did not go to work and stayed at home with a scarf around her face.

'When my boyfriend at the time came round he went berserk screaming: 'What have you done?',' she added.

'He hadn't wanted me to touch my lips in the first place and now I could hardly talk, eat or drink and definitely couldn't kiss him.'

The panic-stricken customer services manager at Ladbrokes went back to the beautician, who had carried out the procedure at her own home.

Ms Hide said she 'stupidly' paid a further 120 for the woman to try to fix the problem.

But Ms Hide's lips looked even worse after a second procedure. Her lips swelled further and where the beautician had pumped more filler in her top lip to close a gap which had formed, it became lumpy.

But instead of using a normal filler, the woman - who wasn't medically qualified - pumped Michaela's lips full of a calcium based substance that is only ever used to enhance jawlines or noses

However, because the beautician was not a medic or part of a clinic, Ms Hide said there was no one she could complain to.

After telling her to wait for the swelling to go down, Ms Hide said the beautician then blocked her.

She said she 'really began to panic' when a nurse at a local clinic told her there was nothing they could do.

She then went to see plastic surgeon Dr Mark Gorman.

He said of Ms Hide's lips: 'I have never seen anything like it,' he says. 'It's a very rare case as this filler is used to augment jawlines and in noses as it stays twice as long and resembles bone.

'To use it in the lips is crazy. It crystallizes and is often used in the back of hands to fill in spaces to make them look younger.

'I tried to do some research to see how I could help and there aren't any reports of a case like this so I had to improvise.

'Michaela's was a particularly terrible case as not only had the equivalent of bone been injected into her lips but the wrong technique had also been used which had compromised the blood vessels to her lips. This can cause the lip tissue to die.'

When Ms Hide's lips swelled up until they looked like 'something out of a horror show', the Sussex woman was charged a further 120 by the beautician to try to fix the problem

After unsuccessfully trying to dissolve the filler, Mr Gorman cut into Ms Hide's lips and picked out the lumps one by one.

The surgeon then used a different substance, called Revolax, to make Ms Hide's lips even again and to stop new safe filler from spreading above her lip.

Ms Hide, who was 'thrilled' with the results of Mr Gorman's intervention, said: 'I was so silly to go to someone who wasn't qualified, especially as it was at her home, but I didn't imagine anything could go wrong.

When a nurse then told her that nothing could be done to help, Ms Hide paid a plastic surgeon 1,020 to have two painful operations in which he cut her lips open and removed the lumps

'Having lip fillers is talked about in the same way as having your eyebrows shaped now, but, of course, it can go horribly wrong as I found out.

'I didn't do any research and it was cheaper than going to one of the well-known clinics, which I did once before years ago.

But I've ended up paying much more to correct them and will never have perfect lips again. I have scar tissue at the corner of my mouth where the big lumps were.

'I'd heard of the filler the beautician said she would use, Radiesse, but it didn't register that it wasn't meant for lips.

'Now I realise I'd heard of it because people talk about it online changing their jawlines.'
The Bihar assembly on Tuesday passed a unanimous resolution categorically stating that there is no need of NRC in the state and that the National Population Register (NPR) exercise be done strictly according to the 2010 format.

The all-party resolution got the approval of the legislative assembly in the post-lunch session following a debate on the adjournment motion moved by leader of the opposition Tejashwi Yadav and others in the House.

Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary read out the resolution in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi and opposition leaders among others to which all the members approved by thumping of desks.

Besides saying no to NRC, and conducting NPR strictly on 2010 pattern, the resolution stated that "transgenders" be included in the gender column of the NPR.

Earlier, while replying to a debate on the motion, Kumar had reiterated his opposition to "additional clauses" having been inserted into the NPR.

He told the house that his government had written to the Centre on February 15 in this regard.

The official letter was send to the Registrar-cum Census Commissioner by Principal Secretary of the state revenue and land reform department.

Kumar said though there is an alliance, the revenue and land reform department is headed by a minister hailing from the BJP.

Such matters cannot be decided if there was any disagreement, he added.

Kumar told the state assembly that there should be "no confusion" regarding how the NPR exercise would be carried out in the state and that nobody would be asked to furnish information like place and date of birth of one's parents.

He said he himself does not know the date of birth of his mother, who died a few years ago.

How many people would be remembering the birthday of their mother and father, Kumar asked, adding during discussion many citizens say that their parents were born either before or after the massive 1934 earthquake in the state and regarding year many in the rural areas would mention either winter or summer season.

The concept of registration of birth was not much prevalent in the past as is now, he said.

A strong opponent of National Register for Citizens despite his alliance with the BJP, Kumar, however, disapproved of 'hauva' (bogey) of NRC being raised by the opposition despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's categorical statement that its countrywide implementation was not on the anvil.

He said that the CAA is a central act passed by Parliament which is currently pending with the Supreme Court.

Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi asserted that there is no confusion at all about NPR after the chief minister made it clear that the exercise in Bihar will be done on 2010 format.

He asserted that no documents would be sought from anyone during the NPR process.

Opposition should not confuse people on CAA, NRC and NPR, Modi added.

He has already said that the updating of the NPR will be carried out in the state from May 15-28.

Meanwhile, the principal opposition RJD, claimed the resolution was a result of the party's struggle against the contentious issues.

Giving his reaction over the passage of the resolution, Tejashwi Yadav said, "We shook the BJP, right from Delhi to Patna, which was not ready to budge an inch over the issue of NRC/NPR. BJP just saw it happening...We will not allow the CAA to be implemented in Bihar."



"It is the outcome of our continuous struggle right from Parliament to streets that NDA government has to yield. Bihar, where is in BJP power, became the first state to pass a resolution for not implementing the NPR," he said.

His mother Rabri Devi also credited him for taking the issue strongly within as well outside the assembly with party workers which forced the state government to bring a resolution in this regard.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Evangelical Christians in the U.S., particularly those who are white, overwhelmingly support President Donald Trump. In fact, polls indicate that up to 78 percent approve of Trumps performance as president, and more than 57 percent say God had a hand in Trumps election. Many white mainline Protestants (48 to 49 percent), as well as white Catholics (44 to 52 percent), also approve of the president, with Trumps lowest approval rating found among black Protestants (12 percent) and religiously unaffiliated Americans (20 to 24 percent).

Being white and religious, it seems, predicts fondness for our current president. We need to hear from additional religious leaders  Christian and otherwise  and especially leaders whose perspectives differ.

Turns out that disapproving of the president comes with a price, especially in the evangelical world. Just ask Mark Galli, former editor of the longtime leading magazine for Christian evangelicals, Christianity Today.

Galli recently penned an editorial that not only noted his disapproval of the presidents performance but also questioned his character, values and fitness for the presidency. Immediately, Trumps supporters closed ranks, condemning Galli and his magazine. And 200 influential evangelical leaders published an open letter stating, We are proud to be numbered among those in history who, like Jesus, have been pretentiously accused of having too much grace for tax collectors and sinners  and we take deeply our personal responsibility to render unto Caesar what is Caesars  our public service.

Unfortunately, moderate and progressive Christian leaders have been comparatively silent on these matters and slow to concur with Gallis observations, which leaves these evangelical leaders perspectives unchallenged and unchanged.

There are exceptions. A group called Red Letter Christians has organized rallies to protest what it terms toxic Christianity and the gospel of Trump. Another group, Vote Common Good, works to mobilize people of faith to make the common good their voting criteria and to pursue faith, hope and love for a change on election day 2020. But unlike groups of politically minded evangelicals, many of which are heavily resourced and garner public support, these progressive groups are financially strapped and have had minimal impact on the public discourse about Trump.

A recent study by the Pew Research Center points to reasons that many clergy may remain relatively silent on political matters. Nearly half of Americans say they are unaware of the political affiliations of their clergy. Perhaps the reason is that 63 percent of U.S. adults say that places of worship should be free of political expression. The only major religious groups whose members say otherwise  namely, that churches should express their social and political views  are, it turns out, evangelical Protestants (55 percent) and historically black churches (54 percent). Though typically considered politically more progressive, only 35 percent of mainline Protestants think churches should express social and political views.

It has not always been this way. Historically, progressive Christians, including clergy, have stepped willingly into the political fray to face down systemic ills, unjust practices and immoral behaviors, regardless of who needs to be addressed.

Think of Martin Luther King Jr. and his leadership of the civil rights movement, or Dorothy Days efforts for justice as a layperson in the Catholic worker movement, or Reinhold Niebuhrs championing human rights.

We need leaders in all faith traditions to risk hard conversations about political matters. We especially need leaders who serve congregations and have the ear of their adherents about their state concerns.

Alternative perspectives exist, ones that are more in keeping with the life and examples of Jesus. The country needs to hear these perspectives.

Allan Cole is a professor and the senior associate dean for academic affairs in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin. He is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary and Columbia University.
Mozilla has announced that its Firefox browser has begun to roll out encrypted DNS over HTTPS by default for all users in the U.S., a major step in the push to fully encrypt all Internet traffic and eliminate the risk of attack. However, while Mozilla is pushing the feature as one of the many privacy protections you can expect to see from us in 2020, it could be gearing up for a lengthy legislative battle.

On a technical level, DNS over HTTPS (DoH) encrypts the initial lookup of the website you want to reach, known as the Domain Name System. DNS is a database that links a human-friendly name, such as www.mozilla.org, to a computer-friendly series of numbers, called an IP address (e.g. 192.0.2.1), Mozilla explains. By performing a lookup in this database, your web browser is able to find websites on your behalf.

Since these split-second requests also include your IP address, a hacker could take that information to create an online profile of you and the sites you visit, or the server itself could be collecting your data for advertising or marketing purposes, often without your knowledge.

By turning on default DNS over HTTPS, Firefox assures users that it is only using trusted serversCloudflare and NextDN at the outsetwhich are committed to throwing away all personally identifiable data after 24 hours, and to never pass that data along to third-parties. So if you use the Firefox browser in the U.S., your Internet traffic will ignore your ISPs server and redirect it to either Cloudfare or NextDN to ensure encryption from start to finish. Its somewhat like surfing through a VPN without actually signing into one.

The battle over encryption

However, while end-to-end encryption might sound like something everyone should want and need, not everyone is on board. The reason why default DoH is limited to the U.S. is because of the UKs own efforts to block child porn and other sites at the request of the government. Default DoH would make it much more difficult for ISPs to implement such filters.

IDG You can enable or disable DNS over HTTPS in Firefoxs Network settings.

DoH is also offered on the Chrome, Opera, and Edge (Chromium) browsers, but its not turned on by default and not all that easy to implement. Apples Safari browser does not yet offer a DoH option.

The U.S. government is also wary of DNS over HTTPS. Googles Chrome browserwhich offers DoH as an option but not a defaultcame under fire last year by the House Judiciary Committee because of concerns that it could give the company a competitive advantage by making it harder for others to access consumer data, according to The Wall Street Journal. Additionally, cable and telecom ISP providers are also concerned that DoH will break critical internet features and functionality, including parental controls, and undermine federal government and private sector efforts to use DNS information to mitigate cybersecurity risks.

For its part, Mozilla downplays any potential risk and vows to work with companies, schools, and other organizations, as well as ISPs to mitigate concerns over DoH. In a statement to ZDNet, the company said it was Were surprised and disappointed that an industry association for ISPs decided to misrepresent an improvement to decades-old internet infrastructure.

To use default DoH, you need to update or download the latest version of the Firefox browser (73.0.1). Users can disable default DoH on the Firefox browseror enable it if youre outside the U.S.by visiting the Network tab under General settings and unchecking the Enable DNS over HTTPS box.
The Ukrainian will return home at own vessel

On February 25, four Ukrainian fishermen, who were detained by the Russian special services in the Azov Sea, were released, as MP Pavlo Melnyk reported on Facebook.

I have just received information that Ukrainian fishermen: Serhiy Hoha, Oleksiy Ivanov, Vasyl Tyurkedji, and Maksym Terekhov, detained in the Sea of Azov on February 15, 2020, were released, he reported.

The politician noted that Maksym Terekhov telephoned his relatives and reported that all fishermen are in good condition and plan to return home at their own vessel.

On February 15, Russia's FSB detained the vessel, saying that the crew performed illegal fishing activity. Later, Russian law enforcers interrogated the sailors who admitted illegal fishing. They were arrested for 10 days.

The National Police of Ukraine has opened a case on the fact of illegal capture of Ukrainian ship in the Sea of Azov.

Besides, the Charge d'affaires of Russia was called to the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine due to the detention of four Ukrainian fishermen in the Sea of Azov.
Satellite Applications Catapult

Satellite Applications Catapult Ltd is one of a network of U.K. technology and innovation companies which aim to drive economic growth through the commercialisation of research. The aim of the Satellite Applications Catapult is to support U.K. industry by accelerating the growth of satellite applications and to contribute to capturing a 10% share of the global space market predicted by 2030. It aims to achieve this by exploiting the innovation potential in the U.K. industrial and academic communities, by being a focal point where small and medium enterprises, large industry and end users can work together with researchers to challenge barriers, explore and develop new ideas, and bring these to commercial reality.
Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik on Tuesday denied that the Delhi Police haven't got adequate forces from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to control the riots that erupted in the north-east district of the capital on Monday.

"Some news agency ran the news that the Delhi Police said that they have not got adequate forces from the MHA. This information is wrong. The MHA is continually supporting us. We have adequate forces," Patnaik told ANI.

"From yesterday onwards, the Delhi Police are appealing to the public to maintain peace. We are exercising restraint but will act tough on the perpetrators of violence. Strict legal action will be taken against them. Sufficient police force, CAPF and senior officials have been deployed in the North-East district. Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed in some areas of the district," he added.

At least 10 persons have died and around 200 are injured in the violence that erupted in North-East Delhi on Monday.

"Unfortunately 10 deaths have occurred including the death of Head Constable Rattan Lal. DCP, Shahdara, also sustained head injuries in the violence. As many as 56 police personnel and 130 civilians have been injured in the riots," Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa told reporters here.

Earlier today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a meeting with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik and other political leaders regarding the violence and the prevailing situation in Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three people have applied for an appointment to fill the less than two years remaining in the term of Oceanside City Clerk Zack Beck, who left the part-time job Dec. 31 to become the full-time city clerk of Escondido.

The names of Brandon Jones, Zeb Navarro and Thomas Schmiderer were released by Assistant City Clerk Vaida Pavolos after the 4 p.m. Wednesday deadline for applications.

One of the applicants, Schmiderer, 34, already works in the city clerks office as the city records handler. A seven-year resident of Oceanside, he has the former city clerks endorsement for the job.

More than anything, I want to continue the great work that Zack has done, Schmiderer said Thursday. I know how to provide the best possible service in a politically neutral and transparent manner. There would be no training or down time for me to learn any of this.

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Schmiderer said he has filled in as city clerk during Becks absence in the past, so hes familiar with the duties. He would continue his present job if hes appointed, although as records manager he would be responsible to the city manager instead working under the city clerk.

Navarro, 38, is a lifelong Oceanside resident who works as manager of the Palomar College radio station. He has masters degrees from San Diego State University and California State University Monterrey Bay, and is completing a doctorate in education.

I have requested the appointment of city clerk because it is an extension of my community service, Navarro said. I have a desire to give back to the community which has given me several opportunities and also because Oceanside is my home.

Jones, 23, moved to Oceanside as an infant with his family, graduated from Oceanside High School and has a bachelors degree in political science from San Diego State University. He worked as an intern for San Diego City Councilman Scott Sherman, and in 2018 was director of field operations for Congressional candidate Omar Qudrat and later was campaign manager for Congressional candidate Kimberlin Brown Pelzer.

I want to give back and serve the community that I grew up in, Jones said.

The City Council has scheduled public interviews with the applicants for a special meeting Feb. 20.

Like the city treasurer position and the Oceanside City Council seats, the city clerk job is part time. The annual salary is $24,181. The position will be up for election again in 2020.

Beck was first elected in 2012, when he was one of six candidates for the job, and was re-elected in 2016.

The previous city clerk was Barbara Riegel Wayne, who retired in 2012 after having held the post through eight full terms.

Under Riegel Wayne, the position was considered full time, and her annual salary just under $123,000. The City Council voted to make the city clerk part time in 2012 after several years of deep budget cuts in numerous departments.

Of 18 incorporated cities in San Diego County, only four -- Oceanside, Carlsbad, La Mesa and National City -- elect their city clerk and the rest appoint the position.

philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @phildiehl
The ex-girlfriend of Sarah Palin's son Track is asking a judge to change their son's name because he has no contact with their child, or her, due to 'many previous domestic violence events', according to court papers seen exclusively by DailyMail.com.

Jordan Loewe, 27, filed a petition on December 23, 2019, asking the Superior Court in Alaska to approve changing her son's last name from Charlie Mitchell Palin to Charlie Mitchell Kramer.

Loewe wrote that her 30-year-old ex-partner's consent was not necessary because of 'many previous DV [domestic violence] events  no contact with Track from me nor Charlie'.

Palin was charged with assault and possessing a weapon while intoxicated in January 2016 after attacking Loewe and threatening to shoot himself with his mother's pink-camo AR-15 rifle at the politician's Wasilla home.

He was arrested again in September 2018 for allegedly hitting Loewe and preventing her from leaving his home when she tried to drop of their son for a visit.

Jordan Loewe, 27, filed a petition asking the Alaska court to approve changing her son's last name from Charlie Mitchell Palin to Charlie Mitchell Kramer, DailyMail.com can reveal

Loewe wrote that Track Palin's consent was not necessary because of 'many previous DV [domestic violence] events  no contact with Track from me nor Charlie'

Track is the eldest of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's five children

Citing her reason for the name change, Loewe wrote: 'Charlie does not see or know his father. Charlie and I live with my family members, whose last name is Kramer. Other than myself, this is the family raising Charlie and I believe Charlie deserves the last name of our family.

The last name Palin has many negative affiliations and already created problems for Charlie. I do not want Charlie to be attached to this name, as he does not see his father.'

A hearing is set for March 17 at superior court in Anchorage.

In 2018, Loewe told DailyMailTV in an exclusive interview that Track, the eldest son of former Alaska governor Sarah Palin and her estranged husband Todd, had once attacked her as she held then one-month-old Charlie.

She also revealed how his parents Sarah, Republican presidential candidate John McCain's running mate in the 2008 election, and Todd, a commercial fisherman, did not want police involved when he threatened to kill her.

'He's told me he was going to kill me and his parents knew that,' Loewe said. 'They didn't want me to call the police. They know, there's no doubt about it. I think they wish they didn't know but they know.'

Loewe said: 'At the beginning, there were a couple of red flags but nothing that really alarmed me. When he left [for Iraq], he became very controlling and possessive about who I was with, where I was, who my guy friends and girlfriends were.'

The couple were together for a year before Loewe broke up with him after a terrifying incident of domestic violence on January 18, 2016.

Sarah Palin has previously indicated that post-traumatic stress disorder might have been a factor in that case.

Following the January 2016 assault, Loewe found out she was pregnant in March 2016.

'It was a really tough time,' she said. 'After a lot of thinking and being scared, I decided to tell Track that I was pregnant and I was going through with it.

'He had a way different reaction than I did  he was so excited, it was his dream to have another kid. He didn't have much custody of his daughter. He really wanted a child he could take care of and be a part of their life on a regular basis.

'He knew that God would bring us back together. I felt very differently but nonetheless we had the same goal and that was to raise our baby.'

Lowe filed the petition on December 23, 2019, where she wrote that Charlie does not 'see or know his father'

The apparent turning over of a new leaf was enough to convince Jordan that they should reunite. Track bought a property lot to build a family home. Jordan moved to Wasilla in May 2016.

But over the summer, Track's explosive outbursts continued. 'He would swing from manic, violent, yelling and calling me names to ''I'll do anything, here's money, here's fresh flowers.'' It was two extremes.

'He started out calling me names and tearing me down, telling me I had gained too much weight in my pregnancy, that no guy would ever want me and I was lucky to have him.

'He told me I was a '178lb c***'. He actually called me that twice, once on the phone and once in a voicemail.'

Jordan said she feared for her life when he assaulted her at seven months pregnant.

'He put his hands around my neck and choked me. He said, ''If you tell anybody about this, I will put your dad in the ground. I will kill your family dog. And if you think your brother is going to save him, he's not. I'll kill him too.'''

Jordan gave birth to their son, Charlie, on September 19, 2016. Although she hoped that his son's birth would improve Track, she and her son were soon in danger.

'I had just gone back to work so Charlie was maybe six or seven weeks old.

'I had curled my hair for work that day and put on makeup. I had come home straight from work after picking up Charlie and I was rocking him to sleep in his nursery.

'Track came in and saw my hair was curled and I was wearing makeup. He turned on the lights and said, ''Why do you look like that? Where did you go? What did you do today?''

'I told him I just wanted to look good and feel good and that I was trying to put Charlie to sleep.

'He started screaming, ''There's no way, who are you working with? Did someone get hired at your work? What did you do after work? What time did you leave work? Where did you go when you left work?''

'Charlie was now awake and screaming. I said I'm going to leave, I'm not doing this.

The couple dated for a year before Loewe broke up with him after a terrifying incident of domestic violence on January 18, 2016

In September 2018, Track Palin was arrested after another assault on Loewe while she dropped off their son for a visit

Although he held his son Charlie tenderly just after his birth, Loewe says Track has no contact with her or Charlie

'He shoves me back down and tells me I'm not leaving. This is while I'm holding Charlie who is 8lb, he was really little. I was really scared because this is the first time he had pushed me while I'm holding Charlie.

'He shoved me onto the floor and I didn't want to let a single hand off of Charlie, so I couldn't catch myself or anything, and I fall to the floor with Charlie in my arms

In 2018, Loewe told DailyMailTV in an exclusive interview that Track had once attacked her as she held then one-month-old Charlie

'I run to my car and set Charlie in the carrier and lock all the doors. I'm hiding in the backseat with him trying to get Track away from us. He's banging on the windows and throwing rocks at the car.

'I buckle Charlie in, climb into the front seat, start my car and go down the driveway. It was a gravel driveway so he's picking up handfuls of rocks and throwing them at my car.

'I'm a mile down the road and I see his car, his big F150 truck, behind me in my rear-view mirror and I don't know what to do. He's swerving into my lane as I'm getting on to the highway.

'He keeps swerving and I'm terrified we are going to get into an accident with my baby in the back seat, so I pull over.

'I have a text from Track which reads: ''Go ahead and give our son one more embarrassing headline to read when he grows up. Call the police, I dare you.''

'All I could think about was Charlie. Track was right  I didn't want to call the police, I didn't want another blow up. I just sat there and cried. Finally, I drove to Anchorage and he followed me but eventually turned around.'

Jordan drove to her best friend's house that night and for the first time, told her in detail about the litany of the abuse. The friend confirmed Jordan's account to DailyMailTV.

Jordan said that it was Charlie who gave her the strength to finally break out of the toxic cycle of her relationship.

'I attribute where I am right now to Charlie. He gave me the strength to leave. When my life was in danger that wasn't enough. I left when Charlie's life was in danger.'

Following a custody case in court, Jordan was awarded full physical custody of Charlie and Track had supervised visits for four hours a week.

Jordan said: 'The deal was he had to go to the classes for substance abuse and anger management, counselling, and have a psychological evaluation. He agreed to it.

'I said that once he had completed all of this, his visits with Charlie don't have to be supervised.

'He never did any of it - but he didn't ask to see Charlie once a week either. In 2017, I think he saw Charlie nine times when he could have seen him 52 times.'

Jordan, pictured while pregnant with the Palins, says she keeps her distance from the family

Track put his mother's pink camo AR-15 to his head and threatened to pull the trigger after attacking Jordan in the driveway of his parents' home in Wasilla, Jordan Loewe told DailyMailTV

Loewe says she wants to give Charlie the last name Kramer because she and her son live with her family members, whose last name is Kramer

In December 2017, Track Palin was charged with burglary and assault after allegedly punching through a window to get inside his parents' home, and then beating his father Todd, leaving him with facial injuries.

Track had spent five days in jail and was released on bail with an electronic ankle monitor.

In early 2018, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in veterans' court. He was ordered to complete a therapeutic program and ten days in jail which would be increased to a year in jail if he failed to do so.

In September 2018, Track Palin was arrested after another assault on Loewe while she dropped off their son for a visit.

According to the charging documents, as Loewe tried to leave the home, her ex suddenly demanded she give him a hug.

Days later, a judge ruled that Palin should spend a year in custody and he was disqualified from the therapeutic program for veterans he had been ordered to attend following the assault on his father.

Anchorage District Court Judge David Wallace told Track Palin that he violated conditions of a plea agreement in the earlier case and must report to a halfway house at month's end.

Last September, Todd Palin, 55, filed for divorce from his 55-year-old wife of 31 years, citing 'incompatibility of temperament', adding 'the find it impossible to live together as husband and wife'.

The couple have five children  Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper and 11-year-old Trig. The filing asked for shared custody of Trig, who has Downs Syndrome, and an equal separation of assets and debts.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 25

Trend:

An event commemorating the 28th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide has been held in Solothurn, Switzerland.

Co-organized by the Azerbaijan-Turkish Culture Association, Friends of Azerbaijan and Cultural Center of Azerbaijanis in Switzerland diaspora organizations together with the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Switzerland, the ceremony brought together public figures and Azerbaijanis living in Switzerland.

After the commemoration of victims with a moment of silence, Ambassador Hanum Ibrahimova started her opening address with the quote from national leader Heydar Aliyev - "The Khojaly genocide with its inconceivable cruelty and inhuman punitive methods was completely targeted against the people of Azerbaijan and represents a barbarian act in the history of humankind. At the same time, this genocide was a historical crime against humanity".

Then she briefed the guests about the Khojaly massacre, which she characterized as the most painful tragedy in the recent history of the Azerbaijani people. Ambassador talked about the atrocities committed by Armenia, noting Azerbaijan's efforts to expose the aggressive policy of this country in the world. She informed the audience about the international awareness campaign "Justice for Khojaly!", initiated by Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

Hanum Ibrahimova said that President Ilham Aliyev once again exposed the Armenian aggression to the international community at the panel discussions on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as part of the Munich Security Conference. She noted that during the debates, President Ilham Aliyev once again brought to the attention of the international community that Nagorno Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan and that Armenia pursues a policy of occupation and ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijan. Ambassador called on the international community to take necessary measures against the aggressor.

The Head of the Azerbaijan-Turkish Culture Association Cevzet Aras welcomed the guests and talked about the Khojaly tragedy. He called the massacre as continuation of ethnic cleansing policy carried out by the Armenian chauvinist-nationalists against Azerbaijanis.

After the speeches, the documentary film "613" was screened.

The Embassy also organized an exhibition reflecting the horrors of the Khojaly genocide, as well as Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The resolution called on the European Commission to provide financial assistance to the Crimean Tatar channel as well as other media in exile in Ukraine.

Ukraine's only remaining Crimean Tatar television channel, ATR, has submitted a plea to the European Parliament and European Commission asking the institutions for financial support as it faces imminent closure due to lack of funding.

Posted on its website on February 24, ATR's request cites a resolution by the European Parliament from February 4, 2016 that "deplored the wrongful closure of the ATR media outlet" on Ukraines Crimea Peninsula due to Russia's annexation two years earlier, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) said.

Read alsoRFE/RL: Crimean Tatar TV channel in Ukraine blames lack of state funding for imminent closure

According to ATR, the resolution called on the European Commission to provide financial assistance to the Crimean Tatar channel as well as other media in exile in Ukraine.

"Nowadays, more than ever, ATR TV-Channel needs financial support from institutions of the European Union, because it is on the edge of closing and has lost all hope to receive financing in the nearest future from its own state," the letter said in English, Ukrainian, and Russian.

The statement said that since 2015, ATR has been mostly reliant on funding from the Ukrainian government but lately it has encountered bureaucratic obstacles in accessing allocated money from this year's state budget.

"The state funds, allocated to the ATR TV-Channel for the year 2020, are unavailable for us to receive and use due to some artificial bureaucratic hindrances, and controversial interpretation of laws by certain state authorities," the letter said.

ATR previously said it had received US$610,000 on its account on December 28, but couldn't access the money because banks were closed that day, so it had to return the money as required by law.

A portion of the US$2 million that was allocated this year was transferred to ATR's account, but the channel said the state treasury had blocked access to it.

ATR is a part of a media holding that is majority-owned by Crimean Tatar Lenur Islyamov and initially stopped broadcasting in Crimea after Russian authorities refused to issue a broadcasting license after annexing the peninsula.

It resumed broadcasting on June 17, 2015 in Kyiv via satellite throughout Ukraine, including in Crimea, supported mostly with government money.

Separately in January, Ukraine's public broadcaster shut down international broadcasting and closed its Crimean Tatar, Arabic, and English-language departments.
Rajinikanth's 168th movie has been tentatively titled Annaatthe, which translates to a group leader.

Sun Pictures, the producer of the family action entertainer, took to their official Twitter handle to unveil the title of the film with a motion poster. The music director of the film, Immam also took to Twitter to thank the fans. He tweeted, "Thanks for all your love towards Title Motion Poster Bgm! Humbled! God is Kind!"

The film has an ensemble cast consisting of Khushbu, Meena, Nayanthara, Prakash Raj, Soori and Sathish in pivotal roles. Director of Annaatthe, Siruthai Siva has started the shoot in December 2019. Interestingly, Nayanthara will join hands with Rajinikanth for the third time after Chandramukhi (20005) and Darbar (2019). Interestingly, comedy actor Soori will have his first collaboration with Thalaiva.

Annaatthe will also mark Khushbu's return to the Tamil industry after a gap of 10 years and she will be working with Rajinikanth after a gap of 28 years. As per the buzz, the superstar will essay the role of Keerthy Suresh's elder brother in the film. The makers are yet to confirm the same.

Rajinikanth's last venture Darbar with A.R.Murugadoss had failed to impress the audience. The actor essayed the role of a police officer in the movie.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 25

By Eldar Janashvili  Trend:

The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) and the Italian National Microcredit Agency have signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation, Trend reports on Feb. 25 referring to the CBA.

The memorandum was signed by CBA Chairman Elman Rustamov and President of the Italian National Microcredit Agency Mario Baccini during a business forum with the participation of Azerbaijani and Italian companies organized on the occasion of the state visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Italy.

The purpose of the memorandum is to promote cooperation between the parties in the field of creation, exchange of experience in the development of microlending and microfinance instruments in Azerbaijan.

According to the signed memorandum, two organizations intend to cooperate in promoting microlending tools, improving the legal and regulatory framework, as well as monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

At the same time, this cooperation will play an important role in enhancing the exchange of experience with foreign partner organizations in this sphere to develop the microfinance services sector and strengthen control over the activities of microfinance institutions.

The planned cooperation will also contribute to the successful implementation of the tasks set by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to enhance the role of the financial sector in economic development and the role of credit institutions in improving the access of small and medium enterprises to the financial services.

The Italian National Microcredit Agency promotes, regulates, evaluates and monitors microfinance instruments which are encouraged and funded by the EU.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @eldarjanashvili
Who is the most important in the Church? asks Francis. The Pope, the bishops, the monsignors, the cardinals, the parish priests of the most beautiful parish churches, the presidents of lay associations? No! The greatest in the Church are those who become servants of all, those who serve all, not those with more titles.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis celebrated Mass this morning at Casa Santa Marta. In his homily, he took inspiration from the Gospel of Mark (9:30-37) in which Jesus told the disciples that if one wants to be the first, one has to be last and servant of all. The same goes today for the Church since the desire to be the most important stems from the spirit of the world, of envy, and the devil is most envious creature of all.

Jesus, the Pope explained, was conscious that the disciples had argued among themselves about who was the greatest in terms of ambition. A squabble about who must go ahead and who must go up reflects the spirit of the world. The First Reading (James 4:1-10) follows this line of thought when James the Apostle notes that love of the world is an enemy of God.

"The desire of worldliness, the desire to be more important than others and say No! I deserve it; the other one doesnt is worldliness; it is the spirit of the world and whoever breathes in this spirit breathes in enmity for God. Jesus, in another passage, told the disciples: Whoever is not with me is against me. There are no compromises in the Gospel. When one wishes to live the Gospel whilst making compromises, one ultimately ends up with the worldly spirit, which always seeks compromises to climb further, to dominate, to be greater.

Worldly desires and passions are behind so many wars and quarrels, the pontiff noted, taking his cue from the words of Saint James. [T]oday the whole world is full of wars, but are the wars between us? Like the one between apostles. Who is the most important? Look at my career: I can't go back now! This is the spirit of the world, unchristian. 'No! It's my turn! I have to earn more, to have more money and more power. This is the spirit of the world.

To this one must add the wickedness of chatter, of gossip. Where does it come from? From envy. The devil is envy incarnate. We know this; the Bible says so. From envy. Evil enters the world by way of the devil's envy. Envy is a worm that drives people to destroy, to badmouth, to annihilate others.

All such passions could be seen in what the Disciples said to each other. For this reason, Jesus scolded them and urged them to become servants to all and take the last place.

Who is the most important in the Church? The Pope, the bishops, the monsignors, the cardinals, the parish priests of the most beautiful parish churches, the presidents of lay associations? No! The greatest in the Church are those who become servants of all, those who serve all, not those with more titles.

To make this point clear, he took a child, placed him in their midst and, tenderly embraced him  Jesus spoke with tenderness, he had so much of it  and told them: whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. Whoever welcomes the humblest , the most servant that is the way. There is only one road against the spirit of the world: humility. Serve others, choose the last place, do not climb.

Francis ended his homily saying that one should not negotiate with the spirit of the world; one should not say: "I have the right to this place; look at the career I have had. In reality, worldliness "is Gods enemy. Instead, one must heed Jesuss wise and encouraging words in the Gospel: If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.
The last marshal of the Soviet Union Dmitry Yazov has passed away today.

Russia's defence ministry said in a statement carried by news agencies that Yazov had died in Moscow on February 25 at the age of 95 following a "serious and prolonged illness".

Yazov joined the Red Army voluntarily in November 1941, a seventeen-year-old young man, not having time to finish high school. When he joined the army, he attributed to himself a year.

After graduating from the military school, Yazov fought in the Great Patriotic War, where he was injured twice. Between 1942 and 1945, he led an infantry squad, and later a company at Volkhov and Leningrad fronts. He took part in the defense of Leningrad, and Soviet offensive in the Baltic and the Army Group Courland blockade.

Yazov was a key part of Black January (January 19-20).

Defence minister between 1987 and 1991, Yazov participated in a coup against then USSR leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1991, a year after being awarded the rank of marshal.



The coup failed and its leaders were arrested three days later, but the attempted overthrow heralded the collapse of the Soviet Union, which was finally dissolved in December 1991.



Yazov was released from prison in 1993 and granted amnesty for his role in the failed coup in 1994.



Yazov remained a revered figure in Russia. On February 4, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu awarded him the "For Merit to the Fatherland" award. He was also decorated by President Vladimir Putin, who awarded him the Order of Honor in 2004 and the Order Alexander Nevsky in 2014.
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Two cheetah cubs have been born through in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer to a surrogate mother for the first time, Ohio zoo officials announced Monday.

The male and female cubs were born to 3-year-old Izzy at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on Wednesday, the zoo said in a statement. A team observed the births through a remote camera and are continuing to monitor Izzy and the cubs.

The biological mother of the cubs is 6-year-old Kibibi who has never reproduced and is too old to easily become pregnant naturally.

Kibibis eggs were extracted and then fertilized in a Columbus Zoo laboratory on November 19. The early stage embryos were implanted into Izzy on Nov. 21, and an ultrasound reveled she was pregnant with two fetuses about a month later.

Dr Randy Junge, the zoos vice president of animal health, said this development could have broader implications for managing the species population in the future.

It was the third time scientists had attempted the procedure and it was the first time it worked, according to zoo officials.

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S erious flooding will threaten parts of England for several more days as heavy rain continues to wreak havoc.

Two danger-to-life flood warnings for regions along the Severn are in place due to record-high river levels.

Ironbridge and Shrewsbury in Shropshire, both along the Severn, both remain on alert as yet more rain is on the way.

Some 105 warnings are also in force across the country after a third weekend of downpours following storms Ciara and Dennis.

A man surveys the flooding in Berwick Road, Shrewsbury, near the River Severn / PA

England has already endured more than 141 per cent of its average February rainfall so far, the Environment Agency (EA) said.

It warned the country needs to brace itself for "more frequent periods of extreme weather like this" because of climate change.

Caroline Douglass, director of incident management at the EA, said: "Flooding has a long-lasting and devastating impact on people's lives.

"River levels remain high and communities along the river Severn, in particular Shrewsbury, Bewdley and Ironbridge, should be ready for potential flooding.

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

"Groundwater levels across parts of Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Sussex are continuing to rise and will lead to more flooding impacts later in the week.

"We have seen our third weekend of exceptional river levels and stormy weather; with the effects of climate change, we need to prepare for more frequent periods of extreme weather like this.

"People need to be aware of their flood risk, sign up to flood warnings, make a flood plan and not to drive or walk through flood water."

Charles visits flood-hit South Wales

The EA said 1,000 staff per day have worked to operate flood defences and pumps, clear debris and repair damaged defences since Storm Dennis swept into the UK.

Some 3.7 miles of temporary flood barriers have been erected and flood defences have protected more than 25,000 properties, the EA said.

Making a statement to the House of Commons, Environment Secretary George Eustice urged people living in at-risk flood areas to remain vigilant following record-breaking flooding caused by storms Ciara and Dennis.

He told MPs that 1,400 homes in England had been flooded but recent improvements to flood defence schemes had reduced the number of homes that could have been affected.
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Iran's deputy health minister has tested positive for coronavirus amid a rapidly worsening outbreak in the Islamic republic today.

Iraj Harirchi was taken into quarantine just a day after sweating heavily at a press conference where he insisted that the outbreak was not as bad as feared.

The virus's spread into the health ministry is the latest sign of Tehran's faltering efforts to contain the outbreak.

The regime has refused to seal off the holy city of Qom at the centre of the crisis even as pilgrims spread the virus around the Middle East and Iranians face shortages of masks and testing kits.

Iran has officially declared 95 cases and 16 deaths, but there are fears the true total could be higher. Globally, 2 per cent of cases result in death - but Iran's figures show a suspiciously high fatality rate of 15 per cent.

Iraj Harirchi, Iran's deputy health minister, has been diagnosed with coronavirus just a day after he appeared at a press conference sweating profusely while insisting the country had its outbreak under control

Harirchi appeared unsteady on his feet, sipped from a glass of water, and mopped his brow repeatedly while standing just feet away from Ali Rabiei (right), the minister in charge of preventing the spread of coronavirus

Harirchi and Rabiei insisted at the press conference that Iran's coronavirus outbreak, which has seen the country officially declare 95 cases, is not as bad as feared

Harirchi was taken to quarantine shortly after the press conference , before tests revealed that he had the virus Tuesday

Adjusted in line with global trends, 15 deaths would suggest around 750 infections.

Further fears were raised about the state of Iran's outbreak after a lawmaker suggested on Monday that 50 people may have died from the illness in the city of Qom alone.

If true, that would suggest thousands of infections just in the one location. No evidence has so far been supplied to substantiate the claims.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged Iran's leaders on Tuesday to 'tell the truth' about the virus and cooperate with heath authorities.

Meanwhile the head of the World Health Organisation's China mission warned on Tuesday that the world is 'simply not ready' to rein in the coronavirus outbreak, urging leaders to following Beijing's example.

'You have to be ready to manage this at a larger scale... and it has to be done fast,' Bruce Aylward told reporters in Geneva, insisting countries everywhere have to 'be ready as if this hits us tomorrow.'

Qom, where the virus is believed to have arrived in Iran from China, is a major destination for Shi'ite pilgrims from around the Middle East.

Around 20million pilgrims visit the city every year, and Iran would find it difficult to shut its porous borders with neighbours including Afghanistan and Pakistan.

A series of Middle East governments have imposed travel bans after the virus spread across the region while Turkey today ordered a jet to be diverted on its way from Tehran to Istanbul.

But despite the growing crisis, Iran has rejected calls to lock down Qom - saying today that people were 'cultured enough' to avoid spreading the virus elsewhere.

Iranians had been facing shortages of medical supplies even before the new coronavirus broke out in Qom.

A map showing how the coronavirus outbreak has spread from Iran across the Middle East to countries including Kuwait and Iraq. All the cases shown above have been traced back to Iran

Coronavirus has infected more than 80,000 people around the world with more than 2,700 deaths. While the majority of cases have occurred inside China, Iran and northern Italy have suffered outbreaks that have spread the virus further

Three women and a police officer wear masks in Tehran on Sunday to guard against the coronavirus in Iran, which now has the worst outbreak in the Middle East

Iranian municipality workers spray disinfectant as a precaution against COVID-19 at a wagon of Tehran's public subway

A taxi driver wears protective mask and gloves to prevent contracting coronavirus, as he drives in the street in Tehran

An Iranian woman wears a protective mask to prevent contracting coronavirus, as she is seen at a drug store in Tehran

Pharmacists talk with customers at drugstore in downtown Tehran, amid fears the country is running low on medical supplies

The medical shortages kicked in after Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran in 2018.

Since then, panic has broken out over a lack of face masks, with health experts still unsure exactly how the virus spreads.

Virus sweeps Europe as Austria, Croatia, Switzerland and mainland Spain report cases Switzerland, Austria, Croatia and mainland Spain have become the latest countries to declare their first cases of the coronavirus as it tightens its grip on Europe. Four new cases  two in Austria, one in Croatia and one in Barcelona  are in young people who have travelled to northern Italy, which is in the grips of an outbreak. Swiss officials have yet to confirm if their case also originated in Italy - but did confirm that it occurred in the Italian-speaking region of Ticino, along the Italian border. Italy has seen a dramatic surge in cases since Friday, with the number of infections soaring from just six to 316. Seven people have died there. More than 80,000 people across the world have been infected, while at least 2,700 are known to have died from the pneumonia-causing virus. Advertisement

Health workers also face a lack of testing kits, meaning that coronavirus cases could go unnoticed for days - allowing the outbreak to spread further.

There are also claims that pharmacies are facing shortages of hand-sanitising gels which could help to contain the outbreak in Qom and around the country.

Washington had exempted humanitarian goods including medicines and medical equipment from its punitive measures.

But purchases of such supplies are hindered by banks being wary of conducting any business with Iran, for fear of falling foul of sanctions themselves.

Qom lawmaker Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani told a session of parliament in Tehran yesterday that 50 people had died in the holy city.

'I think the performance of the administration in controlling the virus has not been successful,' he said, in the most public rebuke of the Iranian regime to date.

Farahani said the 50 deaths in Qom date back to February 13, whereas Iran first officially reported cases of the virus on February 19.

He also claimed that 250 people had been quarantined in the city, which is around 75 miles south of Tehran.

'None of the nurses have access to proper protective gears,' 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.'

Health minister Harirchi rejected the Qom lawmaker's claims, insisting the death toll from the virus remains at 12.

'No one is qualified to discuss this sort of news at all,' Haririchi said, adding that lawmakers have no access to coronavirus statistics. However, Farahani's announcement sparked claims that Iran was covering up the full scale of the crisis.

Iraqis wearing masks walk on February 25, 2020 in the partially deserted streets of Iraq's central shrine city of Najaf

An Iranian man wears a protective masks to prevent contracting coronavirus, as he sits in the bus in Tehran

Pakistani soldiers wearing facemasks patrol near the closed Pakistan-Iran border in Taftan

Medics wearing protective gear ride in an ambulance carrying passengers and crew of a Turkish Airlines plane from Tehran

Pakistani medical staff stand at the Pakistan-Iran border, which was closed due to the outbreak of coronavirus in Iran

Iran faced anger from its own citizens over an attempted cover-up just last month, after claiming falsely that a passenger jet with dozens of Iranians on board had crashed by accident. The plane was actually shot down by Iranian Revolutionary Guards at the height of Tehran's stand-off with Washington after the death of Qassem Soleimani. The coronavirus outbreak has sparked renewed criticism of the regime by Iranian social media users in recent days. 'Widespread public mistrust regarding the official figures is more dangerous than the coronavirus,' journalist Siavash Fallahpour said. Harirchi's denials lost further credibility today when he himself came down with the virus. The minister said he had quarantined himself at his home and promised that authorities would bring the virus under control. Harirchi had looked visibly uncomfortable and wiped his sweaty forehead with a handkerchief during yesterday's press conference. Iran's health minister Saeed Namaki has defended Iran's handling of the outbreak, saying it was being 'transparent' despite the contradictory figures. Namaki told state TV that officials were nearly certain the virus came from China to Qom in central Iran. He also said that among those who died from the virus was a merchant who regularly shuttled between the two countries using indirect flights in recent weeks. A Turkish Airlines jet makes an emergency landing in Ankara today after more than a dozen passengers on the flight from Iran were suspected of having the coronavirus Women wearing protective masks get off a bus in Tehran yesterday, amid claims that the Iranian regime is covering up the true scale of the crisis Iranians wait to get prescription drugs at a state-run pharmacy in Tehran last week, amid shortages of medical supplies which were ongoing even before the coronavirus outbreak People walk in front of the Shrine of Fatima Masumeh in Qom, the Shi'ite holy city at the centre of Iran's coronavirus outbreak However, he did not say whether the regime had taken any steps to quarantine people who had come into contact with the merchant. Namaki today defended the decision not to lock down the city of Qom, saying that quarantine is an 'old method'. 'We still do not agree with quarantining cities since we believe the people are cultured enough to refrain from travelling from infected cities to other places,' semi-official news agency ISNA quoted him as saying. Bahram Sarmast, the governor of Qom, said last night that quarantining the city would not be an 'appropriate solution' despite the outbreak. Health minister Namaik offered only a token warning, saying that 'we do not recommend trips to Qom or any other holy Shi'ite cities'. The regime has also refused to say whether health workers in the city have quarantined themselves. Deputy health minister Harirchi told the news conference yesterday that if the number of dead in Qom were even one quarter of 50, he would resign. But even if the regime's figures were accurate, the Iranian death rate would be higher than in any other country with more than a handful of cases, including China. The World Health Organization said last week that the virus has proved fatal in around two per cent of infected cases. But according to the Iranian regime's own figures, 15 out of 95 virus patients have died - a death rate of more than 15 per cent. The health ministry said 16 of today's new cases were confirmed in Qom, while nine were in Tehran, and two each in Alborz, Gilan and Mazandaran. A closed border crossing between Iran and Iraq is seen on Sunday after Baghdad shut down links between the two countries over coronavirus fears Women in Tehran wear masks to guard against the coronavirus, which is believed to have entered Iran from China where the outbreak began

Several of Iran's neighbours have shut their borders after countries including Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE pointed the finger at Iran for their own virus outbreaks.

Today a Turkish Airlines jet from Tehran to Istanbul made an unplanned landing in Ankara after 17 passengers on board were suspected of having coronavirus.

Turkey's health minister Fahrettin Koca said the Turks on board were being repatriated due to the outbreak in Iran.

Kuwait has reported eight cases of coronavirus, including patients who had recently flown from the Iranian city of Mashhad.

The Iranian regime has yet to admit any virus cases in Mashhad, raising further doubts about its claims.

Kuwait has already sealed off its transport links with Iran and was preparing to evacuate its citizens from the country.

Around a third of Kuwait's 1.4 million citizens are Shiites, who travel regularly to Iran to visit religious shrines, while Kuwait also hosts roughly 50,000 Iranian workers.

Bahrain announced its first case of the virus, saying a school bus driver had been infected after travelling from Iran via Dubai.

An Iranian student who is feared to be the first coronavirus patient in Iraq wears a mask and holds medical equipment at a hospital in Najaf in Iraq yesterday

A woman wearing a mask visits a pharmacy in Tehran yesterday, with medical supplies already running short since the U.S. re-imposed sanctions on Iran in 2018

The bus driver had transported students as recently as Sunday.

The tally has since risen to eight patients, all of whom have made the same journey from Iran via the UAE - with flights from Dubai and Sharjah to Bahrain now suspended.

Shortly after, the Bahraini authorities said citizens were banned from travelling to Iran 'until further notice'.

More than half of Bahrain's population of under one million are Shiites, who also travel frequently to Iran.

All flights from the UAE to Iran have also been suspended for at least a week with 13 cases now confirmed in the Emirates.

'All passenger and cargo aircraft traveling to and from Iran will be suspended for a period of one week, and could be up for extension,' officials said.

Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel, said that 'all passengers arriving on direct flights from Tehran will receive thermal screening at the airport.'

The latest cases in the UAE were a 70-year-old Iranian man, whose condition is unstable, and his 64-year-old wife.

On Monday, Abu Dhabi authorities called on all UAE citizens 'to not travel to Iran and Thailand at present and up until further notice' as part of its efforts to monitor and contain the disease.
Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty By

Donald John Trumps visit to India, his first, and the seventh by an American President, has got mired in the debate on bilateral trade disputes. The POTUS has publicly named India as a tariff king and accused her of treating America unfairly on trade. To be fair, Trump has also said upbeat things about his visit and friendship with PM Narendra Modi. Trumps America First policy has targeted friends and foes alike. The US kicked off the recent round of trade battles by imposing higher tariffs on Indian steel and aluminium exports in 2018. The enhanced tariffs were aimed primarily at China, but India and others were also impacted. India reacted with higher retaliatory tariffs on some American exports but withheld implementation, till the next big step when the US withdrew GSP benefits for India, affecting $6 billion-plus Indian exports. India reacted by implementing higher tariffs on certain imports that hit mainly American agricultural exports to India.

The more recent unilateral move by the USTR, to remove Indias status as a developing country in the WTO, exposes us to imposition of countervailing duties on exports, deemed to have received subsidies. These adversely impact Indias trade with the US. Clearly, the USTR is targeting India as an unfair trading partner, though the US trade imbalance with us is way down on its list of nations with whom it has imbalances. India has more than compensated the US by diverting energy imports away from Iran. Oil and gas imports from the US have risen sharply. From Indias point of view, these have moderated the trade imbalance.

Bilateral defence ties, however, remain upbeat. India has upped its procurement of high-technology defence equipment, amounting to $18 billion or more in the last decade. The US believes Indias threat perception and policy of diversification of sources of procurement of defence hardware will make it turn towards America as a defence partner. The Trump administration has approved and notified the Congress about the sale of IADWS (Integrated Air Defence Weapon System), valued at $1.9 billion, to upgrade Indias air defence network. Chinas aggressive posture in Indias neighbourhood and the South China Sea is a compelling factor for the growing India-US defence partnership in the Indo-Pacific region.

Trump comes to India politically buoyant after the impeachment proceedings. The Republican-controlled US Senate acquitted him after the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives had voted in favour of impeachment earlier. There was a sole Republican dissenter in the Senate and there is no Republican challenger in sight for the Presidential election. This win for Trump is likely to give a boost to his re-election campaign this year. The Namaste Trump public reception at Gujarats Motera stadium is Modis reciprocal gesture for the Howdy Modi event in the US. This event will add to his vote base among the four million strong Indian-origin community in the US. At one level, Modi and Trump are reinforcing each other politically.

The US State of the Union Address witnessed an unexpected televised reciprocal snubbing by Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Despite the grandstanding, political bitterness and ambush diplomacy by Trump, his economic approval ratings are above 60%, with his countrys economy looking up, unemployment declining, curbs on immigration and incomes on the rise. His personal approval rating was around 50% in January this year. His muscular handling of trade disputes with China has led to a partial trade deal and the promise of a reduction in the adverse trade balance.

The Trump administration has articulated the view that adverse trade imbalances are a symptom of a malaise in global trade relations. American workers who have lost manufacturing jobs to China are backing Trump, who has claimed that the US has lost 4.2 million manufacturing jobs over the last quarter century. Walking out of the mega-Asian Trans-Pacific Partnership, dumping the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with Europe and re-negotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico have been his leading trade policy initiatives. Trump believes he has got away with dumping various international agreements (Paris accord on climate change, moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem), giving his self-confidence a huge boost.

The other main grouse of Trump is that America carries a disproportionately skewed burden of the international security order that benefits all countries. This has led to the US demanding greater financial burden sharing by European members of NATO, as well as key allies Japan and Republic of Korea. Trumps America First policy is popular with the US people who believe the rest of the world has taken advantage of, hitherto, liberal American values. Be that as it may, bilateral ties are poised for further consolidation, as India prepares to absorb some of the blows on issues like opening of the Indian market for US agricultural, poultry and dairy products, a restrictive visa regime, price controls on medical devices and products, mediation offers on Jammu and Kashmir, religious rights, data localisation and e-commerce.

Clearly, the visit will be geared towards imparting a feel-good factor. The Taj Mahal visit and the mandatory photo with Melania Trump will receive wide publicity. Jared Kushner, Trumps powerful son-in-law, and daughter Ivanka, both close advisers, are also accompanying the President. There will be no trade deal during the visit but a limited deal is likely to be worked out and announced before the US Presidential election. India-US ties will have to grapple with trade issues for the next five years, if Trump is re-elected. The two largest democracies will continue to spar over many issues, given the argumentative politics in both countries. The visit, high on optics, will mask the head-butting on trade issues that will inevitably carry on behind the scenes but may be on hold during the visit.

Chinas aggressive posture in Indias neighbourhood and the South China Sea is a compelling factor for the growing India-US defence partnership in the Indo-Pacific region. There is also a growing strategic overlapping of interests towards Chinas BRI and predatory trade practices

Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty

Former diplomat and former secretary in MEA; currently a visiting fellow at the Delhi-based ORF. Views expressed are personal Email: pr.chakravarty@gmail.com
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday gave the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) two days to take instructions on what steps it intends to take regarding the action by IndiGo airlines to ban comedian Kunal Kamra from flying in its planes.

Kamra had filed a plea seeking to lift the ban by IndiGo which barred him for six months from using its services for allegedly heckling television anchor Arnab Goswami on a flight last month.

Following IndiGos decision, SpiceJet, GoAir and Air India also banned Kamra from using their services. In his petition, Kamra sought directions to DGCA to order the airlines to revoke the ban.

Justice Navin Chawla also sought to know from IndiGo why it banned the comedian even before the airlines had received any formal complaint.

Why bar him when complaint comes to you later? the judge asked IndiGos counsel Sandeep Sethi.

Sethi said that he can show the minutes of the meeting when the decision was taken.

Appearing for the petitioner, senior advocate Vivek Tankha informed the Court that he had made a representation to the DGCA. He said that the DGCA should take action in its capacity as an airline regulator.

However, the DGCAs counsel said that it does not have anything to do with this petition. It said that none of directions are in its jurisdiction and none of the prayers is applicable for DGCA.

The Court said that Indigo will have to show on which complaint they took the action of banning Kamra.

ASG Maninder Kaur Acharya, for Centre and DGCA said that she has strong objection against the petitioner. She said that under these circumstances an internal committee should be set up to deal with the compliant.

Now the matter to be referred to the Internal Committee. It is to give the final decision within 30 days, she said.

The DGCA sought time to take instructions following which the Court kept the matter for further hearing on Wednesday. It also refused to grant any interim order despite Tankha seeking one.

Grant me interim order...all other airlines refused to allow him to fly, Tankha said.

However the Court said that it cannot go beyond what was mentioned in his petition and posted the matter for February 27.

Earlier this month, Kamra sent a legal notice to IndiGo seeking an unconditional apology from the airline as well as monetary compensation for causing him mental pain and agony.

The pilot who was flying the IndiGo plane in which Kamra was travelling, later wrote to the airline, asserting that the comedians conduct through the flight may be considered unsavoury but could not be classified to be that of a Level 1 Unruly passenger.
A loving sister is desperately pleading with the Australian Government to let her sick brother return home from Ireland.

Sean Colgan, 19, suffers from cystic fibrosis and may never be allowed back to Australia despite spending almost half his life in Bunbury, south of Perth.

His desperate sister Sarah Colgan, 23, told Daily Mail Australia: 'All we want is for my baby brother to come home. This is the only home he knows, my family are just super honest people and my brother's a human, not a cost or a statistic.'

Sean Colgan, 19, (pictured right with girlfriend Ashlee) was denied an Australian visa due to fears that his cystic fibrosis would incur high medical costs

Sean's sister Sarah Colgan (pictured left in family photo with mother Gillian) is desperately trying to appeal the Australian Government's decision

Sean (pictured with girlfriend Ashlee) and his family lived in Bunbury, WA, for seven years

The Colgan family received devastating news last week that Sean's visa had not been renewed and he would no longer be welcome in Australia.

'They said there is a chance that that the medical costs will burden the government and that he will take spots from Australians,' Sarah explained.

The family first moved to Australia in 2012 from Ballinroad, a village on the south coast of Ireland.

The whole family quickly settled in with the kids attending Manea Senior College and parents, Gillian and Keith, working as a manager and chef at the Highway Hotel.

Sarah, an accounting and finance student, explained that her brother Sean was 'thriving' in and studying to become a personal trainer.

She described his routine while they were living in Australia: 'He goes to the gym everyday, he has a girlfriend, he works part time while at TAFE and has a huge friend circle who adore him.'

The family were forced to leave for Ireland in June 2019 when Sean's request for permanent residency was denied and his visa was cancelled because of his medical condition.

Sarah said: 'Fast forward to July, my dad and I had our visas granted to come home but my mum and brother did not. They split the family unit on the visa application so I could return for uni ASAP.'

Sean and Sarah (pictured) moved to Australia in 2012 from Ballinroad, on Ireland's south coast

The siblings (pictured) moved back to Ireland in June 2019 when Sean's visa was denied

The family have been cruelly separated for eight months.

'Since being split up, my brother and mum have missed birthdays for the whole family, Christmas, I have been in hospital. Everything you generally have family here for it's like they have missed,' Sarah said.

The news that Sean was prevented from coming home because of his cystic fibrosis left her family 'heartbroken' and 'destroyed'.

'The last time I heard my dad cry was when my granddad died and he cried when he called me to tell me.

'It's split us all up. Like it's taken a huge toll. And the whole time Sean has been the positive one telling us all it's fine and that it's going to be sorted,' she said.

The Colgan family are 'heartbroken' that Sean has been denied his residency in Australia due to his cystic fibrosis has (Pictured: childhood photo of Sarah and Sean)

Sarah explained: 'Right now his lung function is 98%, he is fitter than the average person, his life expectancy has increased to the average person's and his doctors have ruled out ever needing a lung transplant.'

The family started a change.org petition directed at the Minister for Immigration pleading for Sean's return.

The immigration process has cost the family over $50,000 as they have been charged for multiple attempts at appealing the visa and the medical waivers.

Sarah said the ordeal was also taking a great personal toll: 'I have taken leave from work to try and deal with the fact that if my brother gets denied that probably means my parents and my brother will leave.

'So my dog, my family home everything that holds me stable here is torn away,' she said.

The local community has been rallying around the Colgan family and trying to get as many petition signatures as possible.

Sarah said that Sean has tried to remain 'positive' but the news 'devastated him and his girlfriend Ashlee.'

The family have nine days left to appeal the decision before Sean is permanently barred from living in Australia.
A man cross an empty highway road on February 3, 2020 in Wuhan.

Getty Images

The city at the center of the coronavirus outbreak said it would ease quarantine restrictions on its 11 million citizens, only to reverse the decision just hours later.

Wuhan announced on Monday that some people who are deemed healthy will be allowed to leave the city, whose transport links have been severed since January 23.

But authorities later said that announcement was not authorized, and called it "invalid."

China's decision to lock down Wuhan and nearby cities is the largest quarantine in human history, with the World Health Organization calling it an unprecedented step that's it's not sure will work.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, relaxed the unprecedented quarantine restrictions on its 11 million citizens on Monday, only to almost immediately reverse that decision and reimpose the lockdown of the city.

Wuhan authorities announced an easing of travel restrictions on Monday, which would allow some people to leave the city if they are deemed healthy but said those people would have to be quarantined at their destinations.

But hours later, another statement declared the first announcement "invalid" because it was made without authorization, and said that those who had made the announcement had been "severely criticized."

The city has been under lockdown since January 23, when China cut off transport links to the city and ordered the closure of many public spaces. Footage has showed armed guards patrolling train stations, and the once-bustling city turned into a ghost town.

A man disinfects a woman arriving at a hotel accommodating isolated people in Wuhan on February 3, 2020.

Feature China/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

The second statement said that Wuhan's borders would still be strictly policed.

There were just three hours between the two announcements, Quartz reported. The first announcement no longer appears on the Wuhan government website.

It is not clear if anyone left the city during this time, but it is unlikely given the short time frame between the two announcements and the fact that only certain people were allowed to leave the city.

Story continues

Cleaners wash a street in the quarantined city of Wuhan with a high-pressure water gun on February 3, 2020.

Getty Images

The lockdown of Wuhan, as well as other cities in the Hubei province, is the largest known quarantine in history.

The World Health Organization has described it as entirely unprecedented, and said it was unsure whether the measure would work to stop the spread of the virus, which has now killed more than 2,500 people in China and infected more than 70,000.

While not all Chinese cities are under the same level of restriction, many have introduced some travel limitations. An analysis done by CNN found that 780 million people  almost half of China's population  were under some kind of travel restriction as of last week.

In Wuhan, people have been shouting support for each other from balconies, making memes and running in their apartments, and minimizing time outside.

The lockdown is part of the Chinese government's efforts to avoid political fallout over the virus, and to make it clear that it is taking action.

An exhibition center converted into a hospital in Wuhan on February 5, 2020.

STR/AFP/Getty Images

But the government is also facing pressure over its response, including calls for freedom of speech protections in the country. On Monday, China's Communist Party also canceled the central event of its political calendar, suggesting it has lost control of the outbreak.

There were more than 40,000 confirmed cases reported in Wuhan as of midnight on Sunday, the city said.

Wuhan's health system is overwhelmed by the virus, and many of those dying are medical professionals who are trying to fight it.

The coronavirus has also spread to at least 29 other countries. Most have only a handful of cases but, as of Monday, it was spreading rapidly in Italy, Iran, and South Korea, where each country is bringing in its own lockdown procedures.

The World Health Organization warned over the weekend that "the window of opportunity is narrowing" to try and contain the virus.

Read the original article on Business Insider
This combination of sex scandals and priestly shortfalls confronts traditionalists with the challenge of defending celibacys relevance anew. In From the Depths of Our Hearts, to be published next month, former Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea each give an explanation grounded in theology, not sociology.

Benedict considers celibacy a main link binding the new (Catholic) covenant to the old (Jewish) one. It is an outgrowth of Old Testament ideas of priestly abstinence during sacrifices, extended to reflect the daily responsibilities of a Christian priest. He notes that the Eucharistic prayer draws on Deuteronomy for its language of what it means to stand before God and serve him. The Christian priests renunciation of his share in Gods physical creation has a parallel in Gods promise to Israel  all Israels tribes had right to land except the priestly tribe of Levi. Levites therefore had to live by God and for God, just as the unwed priest does.

Neither Benedict nor Cardinal Sarah is naive or prudish. Celibacy is not asexuality. It is sexuality regulated in a special way. Its logic rests on an elaborate analogy between holy orders and holy matrimony. The church is the bride of Christ. Just as a married man must give the whole of himself to his wife, a celibate priest must give the whole of himself to the church.

Still, the non-Catholic reader who does not follow Cardinal Sarah and Benedicts reasoning closely and patiently is likely to find it weird. Cardinal Sarah writes, Every time a priest repeats this is my Body, he offers his body, as a man  son corps sexue, in the French original  in continuity with the sacrifice on the Cross. This is the sense in which celibacy is a gift to the church, a formula of the reformist Pope Paul VI that many priests, including Pope Francis himself, are fond of repeating. Note well, though  it is a gift to the church, not to the individual priests character-building or his emotional needs.

This complicates the worldly problem that roiled Pope Franciss recent Amazon deliberations. Whatever its theological justification, is celibacy shutting out otherwise eligible young men who would make good priests? That is the view of Erwin Krautler, the Austrian-Brazilian bishop who for 35 years headed the Amazonian prelature of Xingu. He claims the natives there do not even understand celibacy and pity those who practice it. When I go to an indigenous village, Bishop Krautler said in October, the first thing they ask is: Where is your wife?

Others, however, including Cardinal Sarah, believe this is an error in perspective. Cardinal Sarah is an important bridge figure. He is conservative and he has been a priest for 50 years. But missionaries brought his Guinean parents into the church, and he grew up among non-Christians. The younger a Church is, the more she needs an encounter with the radical character of the Gospel, he explains, insisting that if his village had been evangelized by a married man, he would not today be a priest. The radical character of the missionaries life is what attracted me.

On both sides of this debate, everything seems to be tied up with celibacy. For Cardinal Sarah, as long as the traditional conception of celibacy holds up  the conception that a priest celebrating Mass offers his body, as a man  there is an ironclad logic against ordaining female priests. Should celibacy be rethought, he admits, the logic of female exclusion would grow weaker, as would the traditional conception of the priesthood and, with it, the traditional conception of the church.
The bizarre and tragic fates of 10 generals

Of the more than 1,000 Union and Confederate generals who served in the Civil War, 124 died of wounds received in battle, while 38 died from illnesses, accidents, or in other bizarre incidents. Among those in the latter category were two who committed suicideone after being demoted by Confederate General Robert E. Lee and the other after being placed under arrest by notorious Union Maj. Gen. Daniel Sickles. While most of the generals who survived the four years of carnage would die of natural causes, a fraction perished in tragic mishaps during peacetime. One of Maj. Gen. Phil Sheridans ablest lieutenants, for example, drowned in a shipwreck on his way to Mexico in 1880. A Union division commander who helped repel Picketts Charge at Gettysburg died in a train accident nine years after he fought in that epic battle. Most buffs know of Union Brig. Gen. Jefferson C. Davis murder of Maj. Gen. William Bull Nelson, a fellow Yankee, during the war, and the slaying of Confederate Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn by the husband of his mistress in April 1863, but they probably arent familiar with the stories of the Confederate generals killed in street fights or assassinated in the 1870s and 1880s. Compiled here is a list of 10 bizarre and tragic deaths of Union and Confederate generals both during and after the war.

Michael Corcoran (Union)

Michael Corcoran is one of the most controversial generals to serve on either side during the Civil War. The outspoken Irishman even killed a fellow Union officerLt. Col. Edgar Kimball of the Hawkins Zouaves in April 1863but he was absolved by a court of inquiry. It is not surprising that Corcorans life ended under peculiar circumstances.



An Irish patriot, Corcoran helped found the Fenian Brotherhood in America (Library of Congress)

Corcoran, a colonel at the time, first made headlines in 1859 when he refused to parade the 69th New York State Militia to greet Prince of Wales Albert Edward upon the princes arrival in New York. He was court-martialed, though the charges were later dismissed. In July 1861, he was captured while leading his regiment at the First Battle of Bull Run. After time in a Confederate prison, he was released in August 1862. The popular officer was promoted to brigadier general and recruited a brigade known as Corcorans Legion composed of Irishmen.

On December 22, 1863, Corcoran, accompanied by several other officers, met fellow Irish patriot Thomas Francis Meagher at a train station not far from Virginias Fairfax Court House, where Meaghers men were camped. On the slog back, Corcorans horse lost a shoe, so he exchanged horses with Meagher.

Meaghers unruly horse suddenly bolted ahead out of sight, taking Corcoran with it. Found unconscious, Corcoran was taken by wagon to Dr. William P. Gunnells home in Fairfax, where surgeons proceeded to bleed him by cupping. The 36-year-old general died roughly four hours later, surrounded by his grief-stricken officers and a teenage bride.

The popular belief is that Corcoran was either thrown from the horse or fell out of his saddle (Meagher rode on an old-fashioned English saddle to which Corcoran was supposedly not accustomed) and fractured his skull. But more reliable sources claim that he had died from cerebral apoplexy or a stroke. Corcoran had been suffering from poor health since his release from Confederate captivity and had had prior fainting episodes.

Thousands of Irish-Americans visited his body at New Yorks Old St. Patricks Cathedral. He was buried December 27.

Philip St. George Cocke (Confederate)

Virginian Philip St. George Cocke left the Army in 1834, two years after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy, but he retained ties with the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, acting as a benefactor and serving as the president of VMIs board of visitors. He was one of the wealthiest slave and plantation owners in the South before the war.



Philip St. George Cocke, one of the South's wealthiest slaveowners in 1852, wrote "Plantation and Farm Instruction." (Library of Virginia)

Cocke was appointed a brigadier general and placed in command of Virginias troops in 1861. He was instrumental in organizing Confederate forces. To Cockes anguish, he was stripped of his authority and demoted to the rank of colonel when Virginias forces were transferred to the Provisional Army of the Confederacy on the eve of the First Battle of Bull Run. Cocke partially blamed General Robert E. Lee for his demotion, writing indignantly to President Jefferson Davis: I think General Lee has treated me very badly and I shall never forgive him for it.

Colonel Robert E. Withers noticed a disturbing change in Cockes demeanor after that incident and began to question his mental stability. My opinion was formed from his general manner, Withers declared, which was distrait [sic], he was often abstracted and evidently oblivious of his surroundings, the expression of his eye was not normal and there was an indefinable something in his whole bearing which I thought justified my opinion.

As winter approached, Cocke, in poor health and disheartened at how he had been treated, returned to his mansion in Powhatan, Va. On December 26, 1861, he walked outside his mansion and placed a pistol in his mouth, pulling the trigger.

Robert Lewis Dabney, a fellow Virginian and Confederate army chaplain who had spent the day before with Cocke, said he never saw him more rational. During his funeral sermon, the Rev. Cornelius Tyree deduced what had driven Cocke to take his own life: With a temperament nervous and excitable, being for more than a year under intense, high-wrought and continued mental anxiety about the country, and dwelling on the gloomy aspect of our revolution, his bright intellect gave way and was wrapped in the somber cloud of irrationality, which caused his mournful end.

William Harrow (Union)

After relocating with his family from Kentucky to Illinois, William Harrow studied law. Known for his elegant speeches and magnetic personality in the courtroom, the six-foot lawyer was said to be able to defeat any opponent if given the opportunity to deliver a trials closing argument. Before the war, he traveled with Abraham Lincoln in the 8th Judicial Circuit, the two becoming good friends. Lincoln supposedly considered Harrow for a position in his Cabinet, but Harrow turned it down so he could fight. While commanding a division during Picketts Charge, he was saved from a Confederate bullet by a daguerreotype of his wife and two Mexican coins he was carrying in a uniform pocket.



William Harrow, a lawyer before and after the war, strongly supported Horace Greeley of the Liberal Republican Party for president in 1872. (USAHEC)

After the war, Harrow returned to politics and his law practice. Nominated for Congress, he decided not to run against William E. Niblack because of his failing health. On September 27, 1872, after speaking in Mitchell, Ill., in support of Horace Greeleys candidacy for president, Harrow boarded a train on the New Albany & Chicago Railroad, scheduled to deliver another speech in Jeffersonville, Ill. Before he reached his destination, however, the train struck a damaged rail and ran off the track, throwing Harrow from his carbreaking a shoulder and hip while causing severe internal injuries. On his deathbed, he declared, I lived like a hero, I would like to die like one. But his dying words were reserved for his wife, who had not yet arrived at his bedside: Tell my wifeGod receive my spirit.

He died that night at the age of 49.

William Wirt Adams (Confederate)

William Wirt Adams had a variety of occupations before the Civil War: soldier for the Republic of Texas; sugar planter; banker; and Mississippi legislator. He declined the position of postmaster general offered by President Jefferson Davis at the beginning of the war. Instead, he raised a Mississippi cavalry regiment and supported Confederate operations in Mississippi and Tennessee until the conclusion of the war.



William Wirt Adams died in a 1888 confrontation with newspaper editor John H. Martin in Jackson, Miss. (Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History)

In 1883, President Grover Cleveland appointed Adams, then 64, to the position of postmaster of Jackson, Miss. Adams became embroiled in a bitter feud with the editor of the New Mississippian newspaper, 25-year-old John H. Martin. On May 1, 1888, Martin was on his way to his office when he bumped into an irate Adams in the street. Tired of the editors slanderous remarks, Adams yelled at Martin, You damned rascal, I have stood enough from you.

Both men pulled their pistols and fired. Adams died instantly from a bullet that entered his body between the heart and collarbone; Martin collapsed to the ground and bled to death seconds later. Adams funeral procession stretched for miles through Jacksons streets, leading the New Orleans Picayune to declare: Truly, there was no man whom Jackson loved more than General Adams.

Emerson Opdycke (Union)

Before the war, Emerson Opdycke worked as a merchant selling horse equipment in Warren, Ohio. He enlisted as a private and rose to brevet major general by the wars end. The most notable deed of his career occurred in November 1864 at the Battle of Franklin, Tenn., where his brigade halted a Confederate breakthrough in the Union line.



Emerson Opdycke's decision to defy orders and pull his brigade behind a fortified position ultimately led to a Union victory at Franklin, Tenn., in November 1864. (Library of Congress)

After the war, Opdycke moved to New York and helped establish the dry goods house Peake, Opdycke, Terry & Steele. On April 25, 1884, his wife and son heard a gunshot in his bedroom and found the general with a bullet hole in his abdomen. Before he died a few days later, Opdycke managed to tell his physician that he had accidentally shot himself while cleaning his revolver. With the death of Gen. Opdycke, the St. Paul Daily Globe avowed, passes away one of the most gallant and distinguished soldiers which Ohio sent into the Civil War.

The 54-year-old generals body was transported by train to his hometown and buried.

Bryan Grimes (Confederate)

An antebellum farmer and University of North Carolina alumnus, Bryan Grimes became the last officer appointed major general in General Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia, having earned a reputation for his daring, boldness, and talent as a commander. After the war, he returned to North Carolina and to farming.



Bryan Grimes' bravado and quick thinking saved the Confederates from defeat at Spotsylvania's Mule Shoe in May 1864. (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

On August 14, 1880, he left Washington, N.C., in a two-horse-buggy accompanied by 12-year-old Bryan Satterthwaite. As the buggy crossed Bear Creek two miles from his home, a shotgun blast exploded from the bushes. It struck 51-year-old Grimes in the left arm and breast, severing a large artery and lodging into one of his lungs. He calmly uttered to his young companion, Bryan, I am shot. Seeing the severity of his wound, Satterthwaite asked, Are you much hurt, General? Grimes replied with his last gasping breath, Yes, it will kill me.

The assassin, William Parker, drunkenly boasted of the crime and was kidnapped by an angry mob and lynched. The generals old warhorse, 26-year-old Warren, carted his coffin to the burial in the family cemetery. Thus has ingloriously died, the Raleigh Observer lamented, one of the brightest stars that ever shone in the galaxy of North Carolinians.

James Holt Clanton (Confederate)



James Holt Clanton distinguished himself on the first day at Shiloh but was wounded and captured at Bluff Springs, Fla., on March 25, 1865. (Virginia Museum of History and Culture)

After the war, Clanton resumed his legal career. On September 27, 1871, the 44-year-old lawyer traveled to Knoxville, Tenn., to represent his state in a court case. He was introduced by a friend to Brevet Lt. Col. David M. Nelson, the son of congressman Thomas A.R. Nelson and a Union officer on the staff of Maj. Gen. Alvan Cullem Gillem during the war. Clanton expressed to the men that he wanted to see the town after a long day in court.

Nelson, who had been drinking heavily all day, turned to Clanton and boasted, I can take you where there is something very nice, if you are not afraid. The general wasnt amused by the Yankee officers remark. He replied, Do I look as if I am afraid? After Nelson said he didnt know for sure, Clanton stared him down, declaring I am not afraid of anything or any man. Nelson questioned Clantons courage a second time, provoking the ex-Confederate to issue a challenge: If you think I am, try me; name your friend, time and place, any time or any place.

Nelson disappeared into the St. Nicholas Saloon while his friend apologized to Clanton for Nelsons behavior. Nelson suddenly burst out the saloons door and aimed a double-barreled shotgun at Clanton. As Clanton reached for his pistol, Nelson riddled him with buckshot. The blast fractured Clantons right shoulder and severed several major arteries. Clanton fired as he fell to the ground, but missed Nelson. He died a few minutes later.

Locals carried Clantons remains to the Lamar House Hotel. Transported home to Montgomery, Ala., the generals body laid in rest in the Alabama State Capitol before burial. The Memphis Daily Appeal claimed that his funeral was one of the greatest demonstrations ever known in Alabama.

In 1873, Nelson was acquitted of murder by a jury.

Francis Engle Patterson (Union)

Frank Patterson lived in the shadow of his father, Robert Patterson, for most of his life. The senior Patterson was a wealthy Pennsylvania businessman, a general during the Mexican War, and the commander of the Army of the Shenandoah early in the Civil War. The younger Patterson followed his father to Mexico, served as an artillery lieutenant, and remained in the Army for another decade after the Mexican War.



Frank Patterson was placed under arrest by Brig. Gen. Dan Sickles for ordering a hasty retreat at Catlett Station, Va., in late 1862. He may have committed suicide. (USAHEC)

Francis Pattersons friend, Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, recommended him for promotion to brigadier general in April 1862. Seven months after Pattersons appointment, his division commander, Brig. Gen. Daniel Sickles, placed him under arrest for ordering a hasty retreat near Catletts Station, Va. Two weeks after his arrest, James Fowler Rusling of the 5th New Jersey Infantry watched the Pennsylvanian near his tent ill and acting strangely all the evening until about 2 a.m., when a gunshot broke the silence of the camp. The men discovered the 41-year-old general dead in his tent with a single gunshot wound to the chest.

Rumors spread that he had committed suicide rather than face a shameful trial; others thought his pistol misfired. Nobody could be sure. Some of Pattersons soldiers blamed Sickles, saying the former New York congressman (notorious for brazenly murdering his wifes lover, Philip Barton Key II, in 1859) got away with his second murder. Another gallant spirit snuffed out, Rusling wrote of his deceased commander. Good old soldier, brave heart, generous soul, hail and farewell! It was a tragic affair. It cast a deep gloom over the whole division, and everybody felt it like a personal sorrow. He was a very capable officer, and will be missed sadly.

Alfred Thomas Archimedes Torbert (Union)

A Delaware native and 1855 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, Alfred Torbert saw success during the Civil War. He first served as an infantry brigade commander in the Army of the Potomac, then as a cavalry division and corps commander under Maj. Gen. Phil Sheridan. He left the army a year after the war ended. During Reconstruction, he served in diplomatic positions in El Salvador, Cuba, and France.



Torbert, assigned command of a cavalry division before the Overland Campaign, performed admirably for Phil Sheridan at Tom's Brook, Va. (Library of Congress)

On August 15, 1880, the 47-year-old general left New York City for Mexico on the steamer City of Vera Cruz to secure a land grant for a railroad from the Mexican government. Fifteen days later, Torberts steamer got caught in a hurricane 30 miles off the coast of Florida near Cape Canaveral. Torbert helped to fasten life preservers on the women and children before the ship sank and he was washed overboard. He clung to a fragment of the wreckage until it capsized and he disappeared beneath the waves.

The next day, the generals lifeless body washed up on the beach. Torberts remains were first buried in Daytona, but then disinterred and reburied in his home state. The epitaph He bore without abuse the grand old name of gentleman is fittingly inscribed on the obelisk erected over Torberts grave.

Thomas W. Egan (Union)

As a colonel, Fighting Tom Egan first led the 40th New York Infantry during George McClellans 1862 Peninsula Campaign, where he was wounded in the left side of his head. In July 1863, he was again wounded at Gettysburg, shot in the right thigh. He suffered a third wound at the Second Battle of Petersburg on June 16, 1864, two days after his 30th birthday, when a shell fragment penetrated his back one inch to the left of his spine. Before the wars end, he was promoted to brigadier general, and suffered a fourth wound when a musket ball shattered his right forearm. The battered Egan ended the war as a brevet major general.



Thomas Egan became the lieutenant colonel of the 40th New York Infantry, known as the Mozart Regiment, in June 1861. The frequently wounded Egan was committed to an insane asylum on New York's Ward's Island in July 1884. (Heritage Auctions, Dallas)

After the war, Egan returned to New York a physical wreck, with paralysis in his lower limbs and his right arm virtually useless. A doctor, upon examination, called Egans condition unqualifiedly deplorable.

The ex-general began to frequent saloons, and in early July 1884, he stood trial before Justice Solon B. Smith after being arrested for public intoxication. At one point during the trial, he claimed that he was worth $40 million. Drinking has somewhat unbalanced your mind and Ill change the complaint against you into insanity, the judge declared, ordering Egan to the insane asylum on Wards Island.

On May 22, 1886, Stephen Smith, commissioner of lunacy of the State of New York, and army surgeon Charles S. Hoyt, both discouraged Egans release, noting that he appears so well in asylum he would be made much worse if subjected to the excitement of life outside. Smith further reasoned that keeping Egan in the sanitarium was most favorable to his health and happiness. Despite their warnings, a judge ordered Egan released on June 5, 1886. He lived for about another eight months.

On the morning of February 24, 1887, Egan suffered an epileptic seizure outside the entrance of the International Hotel. He was moved to the House of Relief or Chambers Street Hospital, an institution that offered free medical aid to the poor. He died there that afternoon, at the age of 52.

Members of the Grand Army of the Republic covered the cost of his funeral and intermentnone of Egans family members came forwardrather than see the generals remains relegated to a potters field. The veterans of the 40th New York also pitched in to purchase a fine granite monument to commemorate the general, and he was laid to rest in Brooklyns Cypress Hills Cemetery.

Frank Jastrzembski, a frequent contributor to Americas Civil War and the blog Emerging Civil War, is the author of Admiral Albert Hastings Markham: A Victorian Tale of Triumph, Tragedy and Exploration and Valentine Bakers Heroic Stand at Tashkessen, 1877. He runs Shrouded Veterans, a nonprofit mission to identify or repair the graves of Mexican War and Civil War veterans. (For more information, see facebook.com/shroudedvetgraves)

This story appeared in the May 2020 issue of Americas Civil War.
NEW DELHI  President Donald Trump lashed out at two liberal Supreme Court justices Tuesday, escalating his battle with the judicial system to new heights despite entreaties by his attorney general to refrain from Twitter blasts that complicate the administrations legal fights.

Weighing in on a domestic matter on a day of ceremony and meetings in India, Trump seized on an opinion by Justice Sonia Sotomayor and a years-old comment by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to demand that the two Democratic-appointed jurists recuse themselves from any cases involving him.

Sotomayor accuses GOP appointed Justices of being biased in favor of Trump, he wrote on Twitter, citing Laura Ingraham of Fox News. This is a terrible thing to say. Trying to shame some into voting her way? She never criticized Justice Ginsberg when she called me a faker. Both should recuse themselves on all Trump, or Trump related, matters!

While elections have consequences,  he added, I only ask for fairness, especially when it comes to decisions made by the United States Supreme Court!

He later expanded on it during a news conference. Her statement was so inappropriate, Trump said of Sotomayor. When youre a justice of the Supreme Court  its almost what shes trying is take the people who do feel a different way and get them to vote the way that she would like them to vote. I just thought it was so inappropriate, such a terrible statement for a Supreme Court statement.

Trump presumably was referring to a dissent issued last week by Sotomayor against an order by the court allowing the Trump administration to proceed with a plan to deny green cards to immigrants who are deemed likely to become public charges reliant on government aid programs.

In her seven-page opinion, Sotomayor wrote that the Trump administration had become too quick to run to the Supreme Court after interim losses in the lower courts.

Claiming one emergency after another, the government has recently sought stays in an unprecedented number of cases, demanding immediate attention and consuming limited court resources in each, she wrote. And with each successive application, of course, its cries of urgency ring increasingly hollow.

Sotomayor did not overtly accuse Republican-appointed justices of being biased in favor of Trump, as the president asserted, but complained that the court is partly to blame for the breakdown in the appellate process, because it has been all too quick to grant the governments reflexive requests.

She added: Perhaps most troublingly, the courts recent behavior on stay applications has benefited one litigant over all others, a reference to the Trump administration.

The five justices who voted in the majority in the case were all appointed by Republicans, but Sotomayor did not frame her disagreement in partisan terms, and her dissent was written in much the same way as others by justices who lose divided rulings.

Trump did not seem familiar with what Sotomayor actually wrote but instead seemed to be reacting to a headline that characterized her statement in a far balder, more political way than she had. Asked by a reporter what exactly he found inappropriate, Trump demurred, saying you know what the statement was. When the reporter accurately summarized part of the justices dissent, the president said, No, I dont think that was it.

In adding Ginsburg to his attacks on Twitter and at the news conference, Trump resumed a four-year-old feud with the longest-serving liberal on the court. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Ginsburg called Trump a faker and said she could not imagine him as president.

He responded at the time that she should resign. She did not, but expressed regret, saying her remarks were ill advised for a Supreme Court justice and promised that in the future I will be more circumspect.

The justices are highly unlikely to comply with Trumps latest demand that they recuse themselves from the many cases involving him that come before their court. But the presidents attack raised the temperature of his continuing assault on the law enforcement and justice systems, which he has tried to bend to his will in increasingly bold ways.

In recent days, he has repeatedly attacked Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who is overseeing the case of his friend Roger Stone, who was sentenced to more than three years in prison for lying to Congress and intimidating a witness. He targeted her again Tuesday, reposting a Twitter message from a Fox News host that said: Roger Stone judges bias may have jeopardized entire trial.

Attorney General William Barr went on television to ask Trump to stop weighing in on legal cases involving his friends, because it was making it impossible for him to do his work. A group of federal judges convened an emergency conference call because of the attacks on Jackson.

Trump has often assailed lower courts over rulings against various policies of his, particularly the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals based in California. But he has only occasionally taken aim at the Supreme Court itself, perhaps wary of offending its conservative majority and Chief Justice John Roberts.

An institutionalist, Roberts has bristled at some of the presidents past attacks on judges. When Trump assailed an Obama judge for a ruling in 2018, the chief justice issued a statement defending the independence of the judiciary. We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges, he wrote.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Michael Garcia, AVP Enterprise Services at BNSF Railway; Nina Vaca, Chairman and CEO at Pinnacle Group; and Kim Cummings, AVP Human Resources & Diversity at BNSF Railway. STEM is a vehicle to find success and opportunities in the future for everyone  no matter their gender or race. We need to create these future leaders to meet the demands of tomorrow and to continue to power growth and innovation in American businesses."

Pinnacle Group Chairman and CEO Nina Vaca spoke to more than 300 high-school students at BNSF Railways Technology Awareness Day in Fort Worth, TX recently.

Vaca stressed the importance of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields and the valuable career opportunities that open up for those who pursue STEM. She also encouraged students to find opportunities while in school similar to the P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) program that Pinnacle Group supports.

By focusing in the STEM fields, students can be a part of the tremendous economic engine helping make this country run, Nina Vaca said. STEM is a vehicle to find success and opportunities in the future for everyone  no matter their gender or race. We need to create these future leaders to meet the demands of tomorrow and to continue to power growth and innovation in American businesses.

Vaca founded Pinnacle Group, a workforce solutions powerhouse, in 1996 and has spent much of her career focusing on education and creating opportunities for minorities and women in business. At each step of Pinnacles evolution, she has been an early adopter of the latest innovations to help propel the company forward. Not only has Vaca dedicated her personal time to expanding opportunities for women and minorities in STEM, but Pinnacle Group provides career preparation training and internship opportunities to high school and college students.

As a company that is continually recognized for their commitment to diversity, Pinnacle Group was proud to join BNSF to support diversity in STEM fields. BNSF started hosting Technology Awareness Day in 2004 as part of the National Black Family Technology Awareness Week, a campaign started by IBM that aims to promote significant minority achievement in engineering, science, and technology.

As an immigrant and a trailblazing entrepreneur, Nina Vaca is a great partner for BNSF Technology Awareness Day, Muru Murugappan, BNSF Railway Vice President for Technology Services and CIO, said. Vaca and her company Pinnacle Group have shown their dedication to expanding opportunities for minorities and advocating greater inclusivity in the STEM fields.

Laura Harris, from NBC5, was the emcee of the event, which was attended by more than 20 high schools from across the North Texas area. The event also held four contests with a theme The Future is Here: Tech in the 21st Century.

About Nina Vaca

Nina Vaca is the Chairman and CEO of Pinnacle Group. She is also one of the few (and youngest) Latinas serving as a director of publicly traded corporations. With Women on Boards 2020, she is working to increase the number of women on public company boards. In addition to her business leadership, Vaca is a civic leader and philanthropist, working relentlessly to expand opportunities for minorities and women in business, particularly in STEM fields in the U.S. and around the world. Recently, she was elected as a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). She is also a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute as well as a German Marshall Memorial Fellow. For information and resources, visit NinaVaca.com.

About Pinnacle Group

Pinnacle Group is a leading provider of workforce solutions headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Founded by Nina Vaca in 1996, Pinnacle Groups core services include talent acquisition and management, managed services (MSP), and payrolling. With an unwavering commitment to client service and a specialty in analytics and emerging technologies, Pinnacle Group provides transformational outcomes to primarily Fortune 100 clients. Its Progata Talent Platform utilizes machine learning (ML) and proprietary algorithms to help match talent with opportunity and maximize utilization rates. Pinnacle Group is consistently named one of the fastest-growing companies in the country and was named fastest-growing women-owned company in the country by the Women Presidents Organization in both 2015 and 2018. For more information, visit pinnacle1.com.

About BSNF Railway

BNSF Railway is one of North Americas leading freight transportation companies. BNSF operates approximately 32,500 route miles of track in 28 states and also operates in three Canadian provinces. BNSF is one of the top transporters of consumer goods, grain and agricultural products, low-sulfur coal, and industrial goods such as petroleum, chemicals, housing materials, food and beverages. BNSFs shipments help feed, clothe, supply, and power American homes and businesses every day. BNSF and its employees have developed one of the most technologically advanced, and efficient railroads in the industry. They work continuously to improve the value of the safety, service, energy, and environmental benefits provided to the customers and the communities they serve.
25.02.2020 LISTEN

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, 24 February 2020 (ECA)  United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mahommed, on Monday hailed the productive relationship between the UN and the African Union as the two institutions continue to work together to tackle challenges affecting the continent, among the poverty, hunger, unemployment, and conflict.

In opening remarks to a special session of the Regional Coordination Mechanism for Africa (RCM-Africa), which is part of the sixth session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD 2020), Ms. Mahommed said the significance of the African Union as a strategic partner of the United Nations cannot be overstated.

I deeply value the tremendous work that has been done and the productive relationship between the UN and the AU, she said, adding advancing the integrated implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development was at the core of the work of RCM-Africa.

Ms. Mahommed said she was concerned that the pace of poverty reduction was slow on the continent with inequalities persisting, meaning leaving no one behind the call of the sustainable development goals remained elusive.

The region also has the highest prevalence of hunger, with the rate increasing from 18.3 per cent in 2015 to 19.9 per cent in 2018. This means that almost 40 million Africans, especially women and children, went hungry under this period, she said.

This was exacerbated by the impact of climate change on the continent with nearly 22.8 million people now severely food insecure in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda, the UN Deputy Chief added.

She said the AU and the UN should continue to strengthen their partnership and work hard to create decent jobs for the youth and ensure there is gender equality as these were some of the challenges putting at risk the continents efforts to leverage the democratic dividend.

Ms. Mahommed said although Africa had made notable progress in education, health and other social outcomes, the continent was not on track to achieve the SDGs by 2030, and the key goals of Agenda 2063.

We must support governments to ensure their broader national development plans and financing frameworks correspond to the magnitude of the change needed to deliver by 2030, she said.

Ms. Mahommed said the Decade of Action was an opportunity to unleash a new wave of implementation efforts that will deliver for the people and planet.

For his part, the African Union Commissions Deputy Chairperson, Ambassador Thomas Quartey Kwesi, said the special RCM-Africa session was intended to feed into the institutional principles of harmonized working methods and consultation between the AU and the UN development frameworks for Africa.

We cannot emphasize this strongly enough. The AU and the UN are so to speak, joined at the hip, he said.

Mr. Kwesi said the energies of Africas youth need to be usefully channelled through education, science and technology, health and employment, away from conflict if there is to be sustainable development on the continent.

That is the central problematic that connects the AU agenda 2063 and the UN SGD 2030; that is where our two agendas resonate and are mutually reinforcing, he said, adding, We have no time to waste. Time and tide wait for no man, more so for our youth and our women.

Turning to the host nation, Mr. Kwesi said; For us to build the conducive conditions to achieve these lofty ambitions, the AU has called for all the sanctions on this country to be lifted immediately. This is what will allow for more effective engagement of our women and our youth in the multifaceted process of accelerated development.

He added the AUs Agenda 2063 and the 2020 AU theme; "Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa's Development" were central to todays special session, as the AU and the UN examined ways of accelerating the realization of the sustainable development goals.

The main ARFSD opens Tuesday in the resort town of Victoria Falls.




By Jung Min-ho







The government said Tuesday it will restrict the export of face masks over the next two months to ensure sufficient domestic supply amid the coronavirus outbreak.





The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said that, from Wednesday, mask manufacturers will not be allowed to export more than 10 percent of their daily production until April 30.





The manufacturers also are required to release at least 50 percent of their daily output to designated retailers, including Korea Post and Nonghyup.





"There have been setbacks in supplying enough masks to the public despite the fact that the daily production of masks has doubled to 11 million in the past two weeks," Minister Lee Eui-kyung said during a press briefing. "To meet the domestic demand, we will limit the amount of masks for export."





The ministry will also require surgical mask makers to report their daily production, prices and who they sold their products to.




An article from Aljazeera reported that a new visa law involving birth tourism had been published in the United States of America. It aims to restrict the cases of birth tourism. Birth tourism means that pregnant women who are citizens of a foreign nation are purposely giving birth in the United States to allow their child to become a US citizen.

The New Restrictions to Control US Birth Tourism

The applicants who are pregnant will not be granted a tourist visa if the consular agents discover that the purpose of their travels to the United States is to give birth, said the Federal Register. However, the true intentions of these travelers to the United States are difficult to identify. It will be difficult to determine whether they are really going to the United States for medical reasons or just want to give birth in the US.

Pregnant Women with 'Real' Medical Needs

Pregnant women who are identified with medical needs will receive medical treatment like any other foreign nationals entering the United States. Additionally, they will be required to provide proof that they are capable of paying the bill for medical treatment, including transportation and living costs in the US.

Birth Tourism in the US

It is lawful for pregnant foreigners to travel to the United States to give birth. However, there are some cases where US authorities arrest illegal agency operators who help pregnant foreigners enter the country through illegal means such as visa fraud and tax evasion.

Often, pregnant foreigners are honest about their intentions when they are requesting a visa. They even show a signed document of their doctors and medical centers that support their claim.

According to the new rules, it does not believe that birth tourism is legal. It states that it is illegal for pregnant women with the primary purpose of traveling to the US in order to give their children the opportunity to acquire citizenship in the country.

The country's issue with birthright citizenship had been causing problems to the country's leaders. Birthright citizenship lets anyone who is born in the United States, foreign or not, become a citizen of the country. This law is present in the US Constitution. Scrapping this law in the Constitution will not be an easy task.

Issues with the New Rule on US Birth Tourism

The regulations imposed for granting tourist visas for pregnant foreigners is one way to resolve the issues with the birthright citizenship law. However, one issue with its implementation is the dilemma of how agents will be able to make a reliable judgment if the real intentions of women who will be applying for a visa in the United States.

Furthermore, consular officers are not allowed to ask women during their interviews if they are carrying a child in their womb or if they are intending to get pregnant anytime soon. This makes it hard for these officers to determine the true intentions of these women.

According to some critics, the new rule is difficult to enforce and the main target is women.

According to US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the new rule solely pointed out to the most vulnerable part of society. Also, she called the new law on birth tourism as cruel.
Gartenlaub, whose wife is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Shanghai, was suspected of being involved in the theft of designs of Boeings C-17 military transport plane for China. He was never charged with espionage, hacking  or any national security crime. Instead, he was convicted in 2015 on one count of possessing child pornography. He served 20 months in prison, was released in 2018, and now lives with his wife in Orange County, Calif. The porn images, which he contends he never saw, were found during the initial search of the house in old computer files that he says were copied from a computer used by numerous guests in a beach house he once rented. That FISA search warrant should never have been approved, he argues, and if it hadnt, he would never have been prosecuted.
IATA provides the only official industry certification program in support of the New Distribution Capability (NDC) standard, the NDC Certification Program. On 4 February 2020, Peakwork AG was granted NDC Certification Level 3 status, under the NDC Certification Program. This status recognizes that Peakwork AG uses Offer and Order management messages whose schemas are compliant with the standard NDC message schema, version 17.2.

Peakwork operates direct connections to numerous airlines, consolidators and flight brokers, providing access to the world of tour operators, packaging and distribution via the Peakwork Leisure Travel Network. A large number of these connections already support the NDC format, in different versions of the standard. Tour operators can benefit from more attractive prices offered by the airlines, as well as the ability to offer optional services such as luggage or seat reservations as part of a package tour, either included or separately. Airlines can distribute their offers in NDC format with additional services via the Peakwork Leisure Network. This flexibility and additional revenue stream are made possible by NDC via a standardized interface.

Jan Gerlach, CEO of Peakwork, said: "The use of the IATA NDC standards supports the fast and efficient exchange of offers with our airline partners. We can offer airlines the latest technical standard for the distribution of their services to the leisure travel sector."

Christian Andersen, Director Flights at Peakwork, explained: "We are continuously connecting successful international airlines and flight providers to the leisure travel industry via our network. This increasingly takes place in the NDC format, simplifying the sales of differentiated airline products and additional services to offer an enhanced portfolio to tour operators and other leisure travel players."

Image Credit:  Peakwork
Map showing the approximate location of the terror attack in Kenya. The U.S. military said an Al-Qaeda affiliated group attacked Manda Bay Airfield, Kenya, on Jan. 5, 2020. (OpenStreetMaps)

US Military Says It Killed Terrorist Leader Who Plotted Kenya Attack

An al-Shabaab terrorist leader who had a role in an attack on an airbase that killed an American solider and a contractor, was killed in an airstrike, the U.S. military confirmed.

Post-strike assessments confirm the two terrorists killed in the Feb. 22 precision airstrikes were an individual associated with the attack on Manda Bay and his wife, who was also a known al-Shabaab member, U.S. Africa Command said in a statement on Tuesday.

The two al-Shabaab members were identified as a senior leader who had been in charge of planning and directing terrorist operations on the Kenya border region, Africa Command wrote, adding that he was involved in an attack on Kenyas Manda Bay base.

On Jan. 5, terrorists loyal to the group launched an attack on Manda Bay and killed a U.S. service member and contractor. U.S. and Kenyan forces were ultimately able to push the terrorists back.

His wife, whom the military described as an active al-Shabaab member involved in terrorist activists, was also killed in the recent airstrike, according to the statement.

Since January 5, U.S. Africa Command and our partners have pursued those responsible for the attack on U.S. and Kenyan forces at Manda Bay, said U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend in a statement.

This strike demonstrates that we will continue to relentlessly pursue those responsible for Manda Bay and those wishing to do harm to Americans and our African partners, Townsend added.

Al-Shabaab is considered to be one of the largest affiliates of the al-Qaeda terrorist organization.

The Feb. 22 airstrike was carried out in the vicinity of Saakow, Somalia, Africa Command said in a previous statement.

U.S. Africa Command will continue to support our African and European partners in the fight against al-Shabaab, added Townsend. It is important to impact their ability to threaten peace and security in East Africa and prevent their threats against the U.S. from being a reality.

Last week, in an unrelated attack, al-Shabaab terrorists killed at least 12 Somali soldiers and briefly captured a military base southwest of the capital, officials told Reuters.

A suicide bomber detonated at the El Salini base before gunmen stormed in and briefly occupied it, police said. The military recaptured the base after reinforcements arrived. They took the base and took weapons and ammunitions, this includes anti-aircraft guns fixed on pickups, said Nur Ahmed, a police officer from Afgoye in Lower Shabelle region.

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility. We took the base. We took two pickups with anti-aircraft guns hooked on. We destroyed four other military vehicles, Abdiasis Abu Musab, an al-Shabaabs spokesman, told Reuters.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Christina Clay, a registered nurse who left the intensive care unit at a Cincinnati hospital to begin a career in clinical research that has allowed her to travel the world, has published her latest book Happily Ever After: a spellbinding story of one womans journey to lasting love and commitment.

Happily Ever After is a beautiful love story about a young mother and wife that found herself madly in love with two men that could not be more different. First, the stable husband and father of her son. Normal job, normal hobbies, normal, normal, normal. The second, a very new, very young man that traveled the world, was very energetic and pulled Jodie out of a shell that she didnt even know she was in. When she spent time with Justin, it felt like they were the only two people in the world, which was a good thing, considering they couldnt keep their hands off each other when they were together. Ron had to put it on a to-do list if he was even going to hold her hand, but he also had the baby, someone Jodie could never imagine walking away from. Jodie was so torn between the two that all the stress and emotional turmoil literally started making her sick.

After several close calls, Jodies nightmare became reality. She returned from a business trip and curiosity got the best of Ron. Her went through her suitcase while she was in the other room and found out everything. After a number of very tense days and a lot of heart to heart communication, they decided to try to heal together. Ron was truly a saint through the process. The three of them worked very hard to put the pieces back together and move forward. With a lot of heartache and a lot of hard work, they were able to establish a new, stable, sensible relationship. It was at that time that they all realized that sometimes good does come from the darkness.

Published by Page Publishing, Christina Clays engrossing book is a must-read for avid fans of romantic fiction.

Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchaseHappily Ever After 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.


(Natural News) Germany is looking to tighten the screws on sites like Facebook and Twitter. Last week, the countrys ministers waved through a bill that will require social media companies to proactively report illegal content to the police or face fines that can reach up to 50 million euros ($50 million).

Under existing German law, messages that include hate speech or racial incitement, as well as terrorism-related posts and child abuse imagery, must be deleted within 24 hours. However, the new measure adds that after flagging the posts, the companies are to report these to the Office of the Federal Criminal Police, providing details such as time of discovery and the last IP address related to the user account responsible for the illegal content.

Following the approval, Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht posted on her ministrys website: In (the) future, those who make threats or spread hate online will be prosecuted more toughly and more effectively.

The proposal  now sitting in the Bundestag (Germanys parliament) for approval  comes at the heels of a recent arrest involving 12 men who were planning deadly attacks on mosques using chat groups. It was first introduced following a terror attack in the eastern city of Halle, where a gunman killed two people after attempting to attack a synagogue on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.

Measure includes public support, approval of hate speech

The bill also expanded the definition of criminal hate speech to include threats of rape or property damage, as well as expressing approval for serious crimes. For instance, a person who retweets hate speech to a wide audience or shows direct support on a public forum is liable to be prosecuted if the bill is passed into law.

Whoever threatens to kill people  isnt expressing an opinion, hes committing a crime, Lambrecht added.

Germany has always been keen to take action against illegal online content. To note, the country has stricter laws on dealing with hate speech compared with the rest of the EU, which mostly have non-binding rules with the tech industry.

Judge, jury and executioner?

Many experts, however, are wary of the implications of the measure once its passed into law. For one, the bill empowers big tech companies further, since it will fall squarely on them to decide which content should be reported as illegal  and not the courts.

In the U.S., tech companies routinely engage in censorship, in particular, banning independent content that goes against their Left-wing sensibilities. In June 2019, Facebook scrubbed Natural News from its platform, even as the latter did not violate any community guidelines. It was later found that the social media behemoth implemented the ban for an article that was never published on the site.

On the other hand, German authorities are confident that the bill is another tool for them to stem the rising tide of online hate speech and anti-Semitic attacks, which have markedly risen in the country in recent years. In a statement to the Financial Times, Lambrecht added that the measure is a way for them to stop the spiral of hatred and violence by [draining] the breeding ground on which extremism thrives.

Aside from the increased requirements for social media companies on criminal hate speech, the bill also contains a section that will protect prominent personalities  like politicians  from targeted, politically motivated attacks. In the future, the government says that the measure will also be extended to journalists and even activists.

Get the latest on Big Tech stories at BigTech.news.

Sources include:

CNET.com

FT.com

TheLocal.de

APNews.com
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has criticised the leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail for refusing to meet them for government formation talks.

She was addressing a crowd of up to 500 people gathered at Dublins Liberty Hall for the partys second public meeting aimed at drumming up support for the party to be in Government.

Standing room only on both levels at 7:13pm in Dublins Liberty Hall auditorium for a 7:30pm start for Sinn Feins public meeting. pic.twitter.com/w9KMGWzg5V  aoife moore. (@aoifegracemoore) February 25, 2020

Ms McDonald received a standing ovation before addressing the crowd.

She said: Sinn Fein wants real change and I know all of you here want real change.

For the first time ever, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael did not win a majority of votes  that represents a seismic change.

They are trying everything to keep Sinn Fein and everyone who voted for them out of power. That is a very deliberate tactic.

She added that she had a message for Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin.

Pearse Doherty outside Liberty Hall speaking to those being turned away from Sinn Feins event due to overcrowding: Well be back again. pic.twitter.com/EP4uLCRuob  aoife moore. (@aoifegracemoore) February 25, 2020

She said: "I say this: we respect your mandate and now it is time that you respect ours.

I think it is very clear that we will talk to everybody because that is what adults do. I say to them, listen to the voices of the electorate and understand this  the vote for change was a vote to get Fianna Fail and Fine Gael out of government and not to put them back in.

This is not a one-off event  the conversation will continue. I hope Leo Varadkar and the lads get over their fear of public meetings. I read somewhere that it was said that Sinn Fein are the barbarians at the gate. Well newsflash, the barbarians are through the gate.

Ms McDonald has said the party will not be taking part in demonstrations or protests against Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

People Before Profit is holding a demonstration on Saturday March 7 calling for a change to Irelands government.

Mary Lou McDonald TD addressing the crowd in Liberty Hall, Dublin, tonight. Pic: RollingNews.ie

When asked by a member of People Before Profit in the audience if she would take part in the demonstration, Ms McDonald said: You dont need our permission to go and organise and protest. I would say this to you  the focus of our work is on negotiations with other parties and, of course, talking to all of you and engaging with you.

We need to have conversations with all of you but also detailed conversations with other parties, and then it comes down to numbers because this is a numbers game, it is about policy but it is also about political will.
In 2018, political newcomer Pete Flores of Pleasanton pulled off a shocking upset, becoming the first Republican to win the traditionally blue Texas Senate District 19 seat in 139 years.

Now, three Democratic candidates have entered the field in hopes the district will go blue once again. Whoever wins the March 3 primary will face Flores in Novembers general election. Early voting for the primaries continues through Friday.

Seeking the Democratic nomination are: Texas State Rep. Roland Gutierrez, who lost a previous bid for the Senate seat in 2018; attorney Xochil Pena Rodriguez, daughter of former Congressman Ciro Rodriguez; and Bexar County felony prosecutor Freddy Ramirez.

District 19 encompasses all or parts of 17 counties, including Bexar and Atascosa. It extends from the east side of San Antonio to Reeves and Brewster counties in West Texas.

The district is home to around 830,000 people and includes 463 miles along the Mexican border. It includes parts of the Permian Basin and Eagle Ford Shale.

At the forefront

Gutierrez, 49, now nearing the end of his sixth term as state representative for Texas House District 119, said he has a proven track record of getting things done.

The immigration lawyer and former San Antonio city councilman pointed to his leadership in redeveloping land around HemisFair, along with land protections he enacted to create a 5-mile buffer around Texas military bases to shield them from encroaching development.

He also highlighted his 2017 legislation establishing the National Center for Warrior Resiliency at UT Health San Antonio, intended to help veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

On ExpressNews.com: South Side native to try again for Texas Senate District 19 seat

Ive managed to be at the forefront of very big things for this community and very big things for the city of San Antonios legislative agenda, Gutierrez said. I want to continue that work. I want to continue serving the public.

Gutierrez said hes the only candidate with a plan to fill the $7 billion education funding hole that Texas faces in the next biennium  and that plan is to legalize cannabis. He projects this would generate $3.6 billion in taxable revenue per biennium, create up to 30,000 jobs and establish a $10 billion industry in Texas.

Texans want to see the right kind of regulation in this area, Gutierrez said. And more importantly, they want to be able to tax something that people are already consuming. Theyre tired of having their property taxes raised every time. So we have to get creative and we have to think outside the box.

Gutierrez noted hes the only candidate in the race ever to file a bill or an amendment seeking to limit increases in appraised value to 5 percent for residential property and 10 percent for commercial business property.

Setting priorities

Rodriguez, 37, said the primary marks her first campaign for public office. She previously worked as an attorney for the University of Texas at San Antonio and as an assistant city attorney for the city of San Antonio. She is married to a public school teacher.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio state rep pushes to legalize cannabis

Rodriguez said the state needs to do a better job responding to peoples needs and ensuring all Texans have access to opportunity.

I hear daily about the concerns that teachers have ... about our schools, school funding, our roads that have been neglected, she said. I just dont think that the state is prioritizing as it needs to.

The lack of health care services in some rural counties is also a big concern, Rodriguez said.

On ExpressNews.com: A political novice steeped in politics

As Ive been traveling around through these 17 counties, there are so many that do not have a doctor, that do not have an OB/GYN, that dont have a place to deliver a baby, she said. I dont know how a community can sustain itself if we dont have access to these kinds of services.

She wants to ensure that Texas provides better education to all students, including higher education and vocational opportunities. She wants infrastructure to keep up with economic demands. And she wants all of San Antonio and District 19s rural counties to have internet access.

Even on the South Side, we dont have access to many internet providers or sometimes theres no coverage whatsoever, Rodriguez said. (You) cant be competitive if you dont have that kind of access ... If were going to be pushing things like telemedicine or distance learning, it becomes even more crucial.

Many communities in District 19 feel neglected by their state legislators, Rodriguez said. A lot of times, Im the only candidate theyve seen, she said.

Not a politician

Ramirez, 34, is a felony prosecutor with the Bexar County District Attorneys Office, where he has worked since 2013. He is a first-time candidate for public office. Hes married to a public school teacher and counselor.

Ramirez is primarily concerned with education funding, access to health care, mental health services and infrastructure.

There are towns where women have to go an hour and a half, two hours to get (medical) care  and thats unacceptable, Ramirez said. There are many counties where the only mental health professional is the school counselor. And there are many schools that dont have school counselors. Those things need to be addressed.

There are counties out there in this district that dont have clean water. There are counties out there that dont have internet. When kids are trying to go to school and you want people, especially in rural counties, to come back home and maybe work here  that internet is a vital part of life, is a vital part of commerce, its a vital part of education. And they dont have that resource.

Ramirez said hes the only candidate advocating for paid parental leave and paid sick leave.

On ExpressNews.com: Texas Senate candidate wont be on Democratic primary ballot

Ramirez believes Texas can find more funds for education and health care by taking a second look at business tax exemptions. He also said some rural counties with plentiful oil and natural gas dont receive any of the funds generated when those natural resources are tapped because all the money goes to Austin. That must change, he argued.

Im not a politician  I havent been in this 12 years, Ramirez said. Im not beholden to corporations and PACs in Austin. Im not part of a political family.

Great relationship

Flores, 60, the incumbent senator for District 19, is unopposed in the Republican primary. He retired from Texas Parks & Wildlife as the colonel game warden  essentially the states chief game warden. He is the only peace officer in the Texas Senate.

He said he has a proven record of working across the aisle and getting things done.

Ive demonstrated that through the number of bills and the hundreds of millions of dollars that Ive brought to the district, Flores said. I have a great relationship with leadership.

On ExpressNews.com: Bringing an everyman style to Texas Senate

Flores said he serves on some of the Senates most influential committees, including finance, natural resources, higher education, criminal justice, health and human services and redistricting. He expressed doubt that any of his opponents, if elected, would be appointed to those committees.

Property tax reform remains one of the biggest issues in District 19, Flores contended. He was a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 2, which was approved last year and requires cities and counties to obtain voter approval for revenue increases of more than 3.5 percent per year.

But much work remains to be done, Flores said. He wants to bring greater uniformity and transparency to how property appraisals are determined.

It should be a fair, transparent process thats pretty uniformly applied, instead of being done differently by every county, Flores said. Its just very confusing and pretty lopsided. It needs to be corrected.

Hes also focused on continuing to improve infrastructure. Flores said he secured $190 million for the first phase of construction of a new San Antonio State Hospital.

He said he passed 13 bills and co-sponsored more than 30 during his freshman term. Those pertained to new judges, oil fields, consumer needs, economic development and other matters.

Peggy OHare reports on the census, demographics and occasionally crime and general assignments in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: @Peggy_OHare
Two recently approved leukemia drugs could be enlisted against treatment-resistant lung cancer, with a clinical trial expected to launch in Toronto and Zagreb, Croatia, later this year to evaluate one of them.

Researchers led by Igor Stagljar, a professor of molecular genetics and biochemistry at the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, made the findings using a new live cell-based method developed by his team for identifying small molecules that target specific mutations in cancer cells.

"Drug resistance is a big problem for lung cancer patients," says Stagljar. "Our new technology allows us to find molecules that could be used against cancers for which no other treatment options are available."

The researchers identified gilteritinib and midostaurin, two drugs already approved for patients with a particular form of leukemia, as potential treatments for lung cancer patients with triple mutant epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The tumours in these patients are highly resistant to available therapy.

The Toronto team hopes to demonstrate the efficacy of these drugs in patient trials, with the gilteritinib trial to launch first. If it proves successful, gilteritinib could in a few years become a new standard of care treatment for an estimated 60,000 lung cancer patients worldwide who have triple mutant EGFR.

"We already have a sense of gilteritinib doses that are safe to give to humans," says Dr. Adrian Sacher, an oncologist at Toronto's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, at University Health Network, who will lead the trial. "We only need to demonstrate efficacy and hopefully make them a novel treatment option for lung cancer patients that have developed resistance to current targeted therapies."

The journal Nature Chemical Biology published the findings.

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Lung cancer remains a leading cause of death from cancer in Canada and the world. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of the disease with about one fifth of cases in North America caused by EGFR mutations.

EGFR is a cell surface receptor that regulates cell proliferation and belongs to a class of proteins known as receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Oncogenic mutations make the receptor overactive, spurring on cell division.

There are dozens of approved kinase inhibitor drugs that target specific mutations in the receptor's catalytic domain, but tumours quickly gain new mutations and become drug resistant. A third of lung cancer patients on osimertinib, a last resort drug approved in 2017 against the double mutant EGFR, will develop the treatment-resistant C797S mutation within six to nine months.

In a bid to stay one step ahead of the disease, scientists seek to identify drugs that can target the mutations that arise in response to treatment. Most methods are test tube based and focus on finding new kinase inhibitors, however. Consequently, promising drug candidates are often not suitable as therapeutics either because they don't penetrate the cells or because their effects are altered by other cellular factors.

The tool developed by Stagljar's team overcomes these hurdles by testing potential drug molecules directly in living cells. Named MaMTH-DS, for Mammalian Membrane Two-Hybrid Drug Screen, the all-in-one method allows identification of drug candidates which both enter the cells and target the receptors in their natural environment.

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"The advantage of our method is that we are doing it in living cells, where we have all the other molecular machineries present that are important for signal transduction," says Stagljar. "Also, the compounds are fished at very low dose, which allows us to test for both permeability and toxicity at the same time."

Furthermore, MaMTH-DS allows identification of drug molecules which target not only the receptor's kinase activity, but also its interactions with other cellular proteins.

In a proof of principle study, the team looked for small molecules that can target the resistance-conferring C797S mutation in the triple mutant EGFR. A screen of almost 3,000 molecules revealed four promising compounds that had no effect on the normal receptor, meaning the drugs would be less likely to harm healthy cells.

In addition to midostaurin and gilteritinib, the latter of which will be tested in a pilot trial of about 20 lung cancer patients whose tumours harbor the C797S mutation, the study also revealed two more promising molecules.

One of these molecules, known as EMI1, acts on the mutant EGFR in a completely new way, not by inhibiting its kinase activity, but by targeting the receptor for degradation with the help of other molecular machineries. The researchers think that EMI1's more complex mechanism of action will make it more difficult for tumours to develop resistance to it.

Stagljar is working with Rima Al-awar, Head of Therapeutic Innovation and Drug Discovery, and her medicinal chemistry team at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR), to create an improved version of the EMI1 molecule before its ability to shrink tumours can be evaluated in animal cancer models and eventually patients.

"The unbiased screening approach by the Stagljar's group has the merit of identifying small molecule inhibitors that could act via new mechanisms of action that would otherwise escape detection by conventional drug development strategies, as shown in this proof of principle study, " says Marino Zerial, Managing Director of the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden, Germany and one of Stagljar's collaborators.
By Gabriela Baczynska and Marine Strauss BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union said on Tuesday talks on post-Brexit ties with Britain would kick off next Monday, but warned that the process would be 'very hard' and could fail if London fails to secure the Irish border as previously agreed.

By Gabriela Baczynska and Marine Strauss

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union said on Tuesday talks on post-Brexit ties with Britain would kick off next Monday, but warned that the process would be "very hard" and could fail if London fails to secure the Irish border as previously agreed.

Britain left the EU on Jan. 31 after more than three years of tortuous divorce talks, greatly complicated by sensitivities around the Irish border, the only land frontier between the bloc and the United Kingdom now and with a past history of violence.

With both sides talking tough ahead of the negotiations, Ireland warned that even a basic trade deal would be impossible by the end of this year if London does not honour border obligations under its exit deal.

"If there isn't progress on the infrastructure needed... in the next few months, that's going to be a very worrying signal for whether or not it's going to be possible to conclude something sensible before the end of the year," Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney told reporters in Brussels on Tuesday.

"If that doesn't happen, it will damage significantly the prospects of being able to get even a bare-bones trade agreement... by the end of the year."

That message was reinforced by the EU's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, who also said the first round of talks would take place in Brussels from next Monday to Thursday, followed by a second round in London later in March.

The British government said separately it would publish its own negotiating lines for the EU talks on Thursday.

"The UK's primary objective in the negotiations is to ensure we restore our economic and political independence on Jan. 1, 2021," Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman said in a reference to Britain's status-quo transition period that is due to run till the end of 2020.

Under the complex divorce settlement between the world's fifth-largest economy and the biggest trading bloc, Northern Ireland remains in the UK's customs area but tariffs would apply on goods crossing from mainland Britain to Northern Ireland if they were headed further to Ireland or elsewhere in the EU.

"We will comply with our obligations," a Johnson spokesman said on Monday. "Beyond the limited changes... there will be no changes to Great Britain-Northern Ireland trade and we have not asked any ports to prepare for new checks or controls between Great Britain-Northern Ireland."

Britain has also said it will not introduce any new checks or controls at the land border with Ireland. Coveney and Barnier stressed the EU would see that as undermining trust between the sides, which they said was crucial for the new talks to succeed.

"The UK cannot have quality access to the (EU) single market if it is not prepared to accept guarantees that competition remains open, free and fair," Barnier said.

"VERY HARD WORK"

Coveney and Barnier spoke as the EU's 27 countries approved on Tuesday the bloc's joint negotiating mandate.

Britain's current trade with the EU, in the customs union and single market of which it will remain a member until Dec. 31, is now made up of 45% exports and 53% of imports.

On offer from the EU is trade without tariffs or quotas in exchange for the UK committing not to undercut European companies with lower - and therefore cheaper - environmental, labour, tax and state aid standards.

But Johnson rules out being bound by EU rules.

London says it is ready to accept tariffs and quotas similar to a deal the EU has with Canada, or trade on basic, less-beneficial World Trade Organization rules - which assume tariffs, quotas and cumbersome paperwork - from 2021, should a comprehensive trade deal prove elusive.

"The EU has respected the autonomy of other major economies around the world such as Canada and Japan when signing trade deals with them. We just want the same," Johnson's Downing Street office said on Twitter.

Barnier said this was not possible as Britain neighbours the EU and its potential impact on the single market is much bigger. Barnier also said fisheries must be part of any deal.

Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said: "The time pressure is immense, the interests are huge, it's a very complicated treaty, so it will be very hard work."

(Additional reporting by Jan Strupczewski, Elizabeth Piper and William James, Editing by Mark Heinrich and Gareth Jones)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Thomas M. Keck is professor of political science at Syracuse Universitys Maxwell School.

By Thomas M. Keck | Special to Syracuse.com

The Democratic presidential primary will be decided by delegates elected in primaries or caucuses in 57 states and territories. So far, three of these states have voted. Collectively, 569,000 first-choice votes have been cast. If turnout tracks the 2016 primary, that will be about 3% of the total.

In recent days, a wide range of media voices  broadcast, print and online  have talked about the primary as if its outcome is foreordained. These commentaries do a disservice to New York Democrats, who will not have a chance to vote until late April. (Our primary is April 28, with early voting starting on April 18.)

It is the medias job to describe the current state of the race, but consider this a plea to do so without predicting how yet-to-be-cast votes will bear out. We all remember how well that worked in November 2016.

Of the first-choice votes cast in the primaries and caucuses so far, 27% have gone to Senator Bernie Sanders. He received 24.7% in Iowa, 25.7% in New Hampshire, and based on results available so far, 34% in Nevada.

Media outlets have sometimes reported higher figures, due to the complicated realignment and delegate-allocation procedures in the Iowa and Nevada caucuses. In Nevada, for example, Sanders received 34% of the first-choice votes, but wound up with 46.8% of the county convention delegates, and may end up receiving more than 50% of Nevadas 36 delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

In short, Sanders has very strong support from about a third of Democratic voters. This support has put him in a good position, and he leads the national delegate count. His vote share has been increasing over time. If he can build it out to reach a majority of Democrats, he will have run an impressive campaign and will deserve the partys nomination.

But as of now, the support of the other two-thirds of Democratic voters remains up for grabs.

In a recent national poll, conducted by CBS News, Sanders leads with 28%, followed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren at 19%, former Vice President Joe Biden at 17%, and former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg at 13%. Fifty percent of respondents said they found Warren the most impressive candidate in the Feb. 19 debate. Warren has also had an extraordinary week of grassroots fundraising since then. These numbers did not show up in the Nevada caucus vote because 75% of Nevada Democrats early-voted before the debate. News reports indicated that the in-person election-day vote on Feb. 22 broke more heavily for Warren. If she can build on this momentum on Super Tuesday, she remains very much in play.

Likewise for Biden. He finished a strong second in Nevada, and the upcoming primary in South Carolina has long been expected to be his friendliest terrain. If he performs well there, he remains very much in play.

Democrats know this election is crucial, and most stand prepared to unify around the nominee. However, the nominee has not yet been chosen. Given that 97% of Democrats have not yet cast their ballots, voters should do the research, identify who they think would make the best president, donate or volunteer for that candidate now, cast their ballots when their turn comes, and let the democratic process play out. The media should give them the space to do so.

Related: Poll: Sanders, Bloomberg seize lead in NY presidential primary
About 30 laboratories across Vietnam are capable of testing for COVID-19 at present, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH).

A sample taken for testing from a person in Son Loi commune of Binh Xuyen district, the northern province of Vinh Phuc

They are based at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Hanoi, the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, the Pasteur Institute of Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa province, the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology of the Central Highlands in Dak Lak province, and the National Institute of Malariology-Parasitology-Entomology in Hanoi.

Disease control centres in Hanoi, Da Nang city and the provinces of Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Ha Tinh and Lao Cai are also able to perform tests for SARS-CoV2 that causes COVID-19.

These facilities also include the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Bach Mai Hospital, and the National Childrens Hospital in Hanoi; the Hospital for Tropical Diseases and Cho Ray Hospital in HCM City; and Hue Central Hospital in Thua Thien-Hue province.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic, the MoH has ordered medical facilities nationwide to prepare infrastructure, equipment, materials and personnel to conduct tests in a timely manner.

It has also requested relevant ministries and sectors like the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of National Defence to stand ready to provide support when necessary.

As of 6:30am on February 25, there had been 79,579 confirmed COVID-19 cases around the world, including 77,150 in mainland China and 2,429 in 36 other countries and territories.

The number of fatalities stood at 2,628, including 2,592 in mainland China, according to the MoHs public health emergency operations centre.

In Vietnam, there have been 16 cases, and 15 of them have been cured and discharged from hospital. The country hasnt recorded any new cases since February 13./.VNA

Vietnamese scientists developing tests, treatment to fight coronavirus Within half a month, Vietnamese scientists gained encouraging research results which help cope with the Covid-2019 epidemic.
If you are a self-proclaimed Conservative or a self-proclaimed Liberal I believe you are not so different.

First, the Liberal Party in Australia are Conservative, not liberal in the traditional term. So, dont get confused.

The Liberal Party believes in Economic Liberalism not societys liberalism.

Politics are like church denominations created by the devil to separate us, or to divide us.

However, the one thing they both have in common is that they care enough about our country to be engaged in the issues.

Here it is

Follow me - protesting against the Governments Climate Change Policies or protecting the rights of the unborn, both are united by the fact they give up their time to participate in important issues governing our country.

But what if the only difference was just the emphasis, or the individual, or the collective?

The main differences between Conservatives and Liberals

Both agree that both sides want to improve society, that should be enough to get both sides to sit together at the table.

However, the core difference is how they do it.

Conservatives believe the improvement in society lies in the moral improvement of the individual by dealing with their own moral failings.

Liberals believe that the key to a better society is by dealing with societys moral failings or in particularly what they believe to be societys moral failings.

That is why you often see Liberals fighting issues that plague society such as racism, homophobia and sexism.

Because Liberals believe they need to change what they believe is a flaw in society, Politics becomes the vehicle in which they achieve it.

Since Conservatives believe that change occurs by changing the individual one person at a time they understand that change becomes gradual.

Its why you often see Liberals believing that Australia has a racist issue.

Conservatives believe there are racist elements, but that change will come by changing the individual one person at a time.

Its why you often see Conservatives oppose fundamental change in our country, such as changing the date of Australia Day and same-sex marriage.

They dont need to change what they fundamentally hold dear, rather they just need to see individuals have empathy towards those issues.

Its why you see Liberals using vehicles like schools to legislate for ethics, mindfulness and safe schools.

Its why in New Zealand you are starting to see schools teach students about climate crisis, activism and eco-anxiety, its all about fixing societys flaws, while not enough is being taught on our own flaws.

New Zealands Climate Change Minister, James Shaw, told The Guardian back in January, The emphasis is on talking how the students are feeling about these issues.

The Problem with that reasoning?

You see, when we start legislating based on how we feel, we become run by our emotions.

Our emotions are temperamental and are not based on any reasoning.

When we start to replace Character Education with Social issues, we start to build an opinionated culture with a lack of respect.

You cant fix society without making its people better.

So they are not so different because

They all want societys people to improve. How about we work together by slowly reflecting the love for our neighbour, our care for our neighbour, by working to improve the moral character of every individual.

You see, you could legislate change in our fundamental values but if its people are not changed then the change is not lasting.

To see lasting change, we really do need to Pray into the hearts and minds of our people because its only through God that we can see the change that we need. A perfect God who is above all our flaws.
Life expectancy has stalled and mortality rates have risen after spending cuts led to a lost decade for public health.

London, United Kingdom  A decade of austerity  a political programme of slashing public spending on services in a bid to reduce government budget deficits  has seen significant effects on the health and wellbeing of Britons, new research has reported.

Life expectancy has stalled and mortality rates have increased, especially for the poorest in the United Kingdom, according to a report commissioned by the Institute of Health Equity.

The report, Health Equity in England: The Marmot Review Ten Years On, was launched on Tuesday and sees Sir Michael Marmot, a former president of the World Medical Association, updating his influential 2010 report, having been asked by the then-Labour government to study the question: Is inequality making us sick?





Marmots latest research analysed a wealth of data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Public Health England to explore what has happened since his last landmark report. And the answer can only be summarised as: Not only is inequality making us sick but it is killing us quicker.

In the past decade  for the first time in 120 years of increasing life expectancy in England  life expectancy has stalled for those people living in the UKs 10 percent most deprived areas, particularly in the northeast.

Among women from the most deprived areas  especially British women of Bangladeshi and Pakistani origin  life expectancy fell between 2010-2012 and again between 2016-2018.

Mortality rates have meanwhile increased for people aged between 45 and 49  the generation that grew up under former Prime Minister Margaret Thatchers administrations. The report details how life expectancy follows the social gradient  the more deprived the area, the shorter the life expectancy.

Marmots data analysis finds that, as the social gradient has become steeper, so inequalities in life expectancy have also increased.

Austerity has adversely affected the social determinants that impact on health in the short, medium and long term. Austerity will cast a long shadow over the lives of the children born and growing up under its effects Professor Sir Michael Marmot

Marmot, professor of epidemiology and public health at University College London (UCL) and director of the UCL Institute of Health Equity, describes this past 10 years as the lost decade, in which political austerity has taken its toll: From rising child poverty and the closure of childrens centres, to declines in education funding, an increase in precarious work and zero-hours contracts, to a housing affordability crisis and a rise in homelessness, to people with insufficient money to lead a healthy life and resorting to foodbanks in ever larger numbers, to ignored communities with poor conditions and little reason for hope.

And these outcomes are even worse for minority ethnic population groups and people with disabilities, he says.

We cannot say with certainty which of these adverse trends might be responsible for the worsening health picture in England, he told Al Jazeera.

Some, such as the increase in child poverty, will mostly show their effects in the long term. We can say, though, that austerity has adversely affected the social determinants that impact on health in the short, medium and long term. Austerity will cast a long shadow over the lives of the children born and growing up under its effects.

191105113923928

Dr Jessica Allen, another of the reports authors, added: What we do in the report is to explore whats happened to health in the last ten years, which is the decade of austerity  This alerted us to the fact that something really quite profound was happening in this country, and we know that health is mostly related to the conditions in which we all live and work and age.

So thats our starting point  life expectancy in England has stalled and health equalities are widening  these are trends we havent seen before, and they are really quite concerning, and they alert us to the factors of economic, environmental and cultural trends which drive our health.

Yet another concerning finding in the report is an increase in the number of people across England who have spent more time with poor health since 2010. Marmot says the UK government has not prioritised inequalities in its policy designed to address this. Nor has there been any attempt to establish a national health inequalities strategy since the fall of the last Labour government.

Marmot recommends  for the health and wellbeing of the UK  that funding cuts be reversed, with levels of spending on public health targeting inequality across areas of deprivation raised well beyond 2010 levels of funding.

The government may say that austerity has ended, said Marmot, but until it spends above the 31 percent it currently spends on public health and education, then austerity is ongoing.

In a statement emailed to Al Jazeera, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: Every single one of us, no matter who we are, where we live, or our social circumstances, deserves to lead a long and healthy life.

The ultimate goal of the NHS is to increase healthy life expectancy, and this government is determined to narrow the gap by levelling up access to healthcare across England.

I thank Professor Sir Michael Marmot for his dedicated work to shine a light on this vital issue. His findings show how important this agenda is, and renew my determination to level up health life expectancy across our country. After all, levelling up health is the most important levelling up of all.
By Humeyra Pamuk and Timothy Gardner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration is in discussions about whether to renew a license for Chevron Corp's operations in Venezuela as Washington looks to increase pressure on its socialist leader, the U.S. special envoy to the South American country said.

U.S. Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams said in an interview on Monday that he would not talk about specific future activities on Chevron.

"But there are conversations taking place and at the appropriate moment OFAC will say whatever it needs to say," Abrams said about the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which makes announcements on sanctions.

The Trump administration has been divided on whether to revoke California-based Chevron's ability to continue operations in Venezuela, home to the world's largest oil reserves and where the company has been active for about 100 years. It has renewed the license for Chevron and four other U.S.-based companies several times and the current one expires on April 22.

State Department officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have wanted to keep Chevron operating in Venezuela to have a U.S. beachhead there and source of stability should President Nicolas Maduro be forced to step down.

White House officials on the National Security Council have been more aggressive, arguing that Chevron's presence in Venezuela is not helping in the push to remove Maduro. The United States supports opposition leader Juan Guaido.

Abrams found it unlikely that there could be other ways for Washington to halt Chevron's activities in Venezuela. "There are various reasons why Chevron might stop other than the revocation of the license but in terms of the U.S. government, I think that would be the only way," he said.

Some analysts have said that if Chevron were to leave Venezuela its assets could end up in the hands of Russia's state-led energy company Rosneft or other Russian interests. Abrams said Washington had ways to deal with that.

Story continues

"The first question is whether Rosneft which portrays itself as just a business, just an oil company, would want to put more of its assets and activities in Venezuela, and that ought to be a business decision," Abrams said. "Lets see first if it is a business decision. That is who makes the decision? The company or the government of Russia," Abrams said. "Obviously we have ways of responding if they do that."

Washington last week slapped sanctions on a trading unit of Rosneft that has emerged as a key intermediary for the sale of Venezuelan oil and President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned more actions will be taken.

Rosneft has accused Washington of double standards saying it allows U.S. companies to work in Venezuela.

Chevron says its Venezuelan crude exports last year represented about 2% of the country's total crude shipments and that its marketing activities are permitted under the license. It also said the proceeds go to maintenance of operations at joint ventures in Venezuela.

"Proceeds are not paid to PDVSA," said Chevron spokesman Ray Fohr. "Our focus continues to be on our base business operations and supporting the more than 8,800 people who work with us and their families."

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Timothy Gardner in Washington; additional reporting by Marianna Parraga in Mexico City)
Help India!

Auqib Javeed , TwoCircles.net

Kupwara: We were not heard then and we arent being heard now, says 75-years old Mohammad Amin, whose wife(name withheld) was gang-raped along with over 100 women by Indian soldiers during a cordon-and-search operation during the night of February 23-24,1991.

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Amin says over three decades have passed there is no ray of hope for Justice as the Judiciary has failed to deliver justice so far.

He says they have stopped believing that the Army men who committed this heinous crime would be punished.

We wont plead the case now, Amin told TwoCircles.net . Its been 29 years since the horrific rape that shocked the entire valley, the victims are yet to get justice and the culprits are roaming free, thanks to Armed Force Special Power Act (AFSPA) that gives Army special powers to detain and barge anyone house at any time.

Over 3 decades have passed, the villagers are trying to forget it, they dont want to remember it. This is how they are coping-up with it.

We dont want to leave any memory, Amin says We are tired now and we just want to be silent now

The villagers have also stopped to speak to media as what they say they dont want to scratch their wounds

On the night of February 23, 1991, personnel of the 4 Rajputana Rifles of the Indian Army cordoned off the two villages Kunan and Poshpora in north Kashmirs Kupwara district during an anti-insurgency operation and allegedly gang-raped at least 100 women  with some estimates placing it at around 40.

According to reports the raid was carried by over 300 Army personnel in the twin villages. All the male members of the village were forced to come out of their houses and were confined to two houses in Kunan. The forces then barged into the houses and allegedly gang-raped women and children from the age of 14 to 70-yer-old grandmother. The male members were allegedly tortured brutal throughout the night by the soldiers.

The Army has consistently denied the accusation over the years and the Indian governments have refused to even acknowledge the horror. On June 28, 2016, Army even filed a petition petitioned in the Supreme Court challenging orders of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on investigations and compensation.

The villagers initially struggled to get an FIR registered and finally on March 8, 1991, an FIR is registered at Trehgam police station, stating 23 women were gang-raped in Kunan and Poshpora. Probe begins.

The then Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Wajahat Habibullah, one of the interlocutors appointed by the Supreme Court to hold talks with protesters at Delhis Shaheen Bagh, visited the villages, he concluded that the mass rape allegation was highly doubtful and exaggerated in his confidential report and in a way gave a clean chit to Army.

However, Wajahat later asserted that the important portion of the report was deleted by the government, in which he had recommended a police probe, upgradation in the level of investigation, entrusting the case to a gazetted police officer and seeking an order from the 15 Corps Commander to ensure Army cooperation in the probe.

However, Habibullahs report wasnt the only one to deal a blow to the women of Konan Poshpora. The Defence Ministry also sent a team headed by the chairman of Press Council of India BG Verghese on a fact-finding mission.

The committee termed the mass rape a massive hoax orchestrated by militant groups and their sympathizers and mentors in Kashmir and abroad and termed the women of Konan Poshpora shameless. The villagers claim Verghese never visited Kunan or Poshpora and prepared his report in an Army camp in Baramulla.

After no investigation for years, they approached the State Human Rights Commission for their intervention to get the investigation done.

After many years of SHRC carried its own investigation and asked the government to pay compensation to 40 rape survivors and carry out an investigation.

Litigants were asked to approach the local court in Kupwara. Villagers from Kunan Poshpora with the support of activists approached the Sessions Court Kupwara and after several hearings, the Court ordered for further investigations within 3 months.

After a long time when again no investigations took place, victims approached the High Court. The matter was being heard in the Division Bench of the J&K High Court & surreptitiously army approached another judge in the same High Court, who passed an ex-parte order favoring army for a stay order on investigations.

Noted Human rights activists Khurram Parvaiz say, Immediately after that army filed another case in Supreme Court, the victims also simultaneously went to Supreme Court in 2015.

Since 2016 the case in Supreme Court has only been in the registry and never ever had any proper hearing, Khurram says.

The survivors of Kunan Poshpora submit their response before the Supreme Court and seek for investigations and prosecution of the accused army personnel, in addition to all those involved in the cover-up including then Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Wajahat Habibullah and members of the then Press Council of India.

In wake of no hearing from the last six years at the Supreme Court (SC), the alleged rape and torture victims on the 29th anniversary of the incident didnt commemorate the incident. The commemoration is usually held at a hotel in Srinagar.

kis kay liye? For what purpose says Amin we are trying to forget it and by commemorating our wounds get fresh, he adds.

Amin says they have surrendered as we dont have any faith now. He said that the case was shifted from High Court Srinagar to Supreme Court back in 2014 but since then no hearing took place.

Not even a single hearing took place in the SC since then and thus we decided to leave the case, Amin says.

He says its difficult to even discuss it now as their childrens are growing

The victims have approached many so far including people at the help, media, womens commission to seek their help, but all this failed to yield any result. Our women folk feel ashamed when any unknown person visits the hamlet, he says

He said that in past they would take out black flag marches and hold protests at different places but now they finally decided to give up all the ways and means of protest to demand justice for the victims of mass rape and torture on this day in 1991.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A 19-year-old man nearly stabbed a man to death during a robbery in Stapleton, authorities allege.

Less than two weeks earlier, the same suspect was one of three men who passed fake money at a movie theater in Charleston, police say

Albert Johnson, of Bowen Street in Clifton, faces attempted murder and other charges in connection with a stabbing on Feb. 18 at about 11:40 p.m. outdoors in the vicinity of Mickardan Court and Prince Street.

Im going to f-----g kill you, Johnson allegedly said, as he used a knife to repeatedly stab a 20-year-old man in the hands, head, face and body, according to the criminal complaint and police.

The victim fell as a result of the attack and, as he was lying on the ground, Johnson used force to steal his cell phone and more than $1,000 from the victims pocket, the complaint alleges.

The victim suffered a large cut that severed multiple tendons in the left hand, rendering two fingers immobile. A big knife wound in the left hip required multiple stitches, police say.

The victim endured multiple slashes to his face and head, including on his upper left lip and the left side of his head. He suffered substantial pain, swelling and bleeding during the attack, the complaint states.

He was transported to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton.

The suspect and the victim were acquaintances, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

Additional charges faced by Johnson include assault, attempted assault, robbery, grand larceny and criminal possession of a weapon.

Johnson was arrested on Feb. 20 in both the assault and the bogus money, which was allegedly passed on Feb. 3 at about 8:40 p.m. inside the Regal Bricktown Charleston theater at 165 Bricktown Way.

Police had asked for the publics help to identify three men sought for questioning in the alleged fraud.

Johnson and two other suspects who remain at large allegedly presented two forged $100 bills and one counterfeit $50 bill in an attempt to buy drinks and food at the movie theater.

Police viewed surveillance video during their investigation.

According to the complaint, the bills were flagged as bogus because: Serial numbers on the money have been used previously in prior forgeries, the watermark on the money was not visible, several insignias on said money were incorrect and the coloring of said money was incorrect."

Johnson has been charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument, forgery and theft of services.

He faces a combined bond of $100,001/$10,001 and is due back in Criminal Court on Tuesday.

An attorney for Johnson declined to comment.
KYIV, Ukraine  Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) have been a hot topic in blockchain circles recently, but central banks are lukewarm about blockchains.

Representatives of a number of the worlds central banks discussed their CBDC projects last week in Kyiv, Ukraine. The one-day conference was arranged by the National Bank of Ukraine, or NBU, which itself is a CBDC pioneer, having run its own digital currency pilot in 2018.

The central bank wanted to test its ideas and conclusions with the banking community and stimulate the discussion, the head of its innovative development department, Roman Hartinger, told CoinDesk. The speakers included representatives of NBUs peers from Canada, Japan, Lithuania, Finland, Netherlands, Belarus, Uruguay and South Africa.

Related: Blockchain Can Help UK Savers Recover $48B in Unclaimed Pensions, Says R3

The discussion comes at a time when the worlds two largest economies are each seriously exploring the possibility of issuing a CBDC, although China appears to be much further down the road than the U.S.

According to a report issued in September, NBU started exploring the idea of a digital currency, named e-hryvnia after Ukraines national currency, as early as 2016. In 2018, the central bank tested a digital token running on a fork, or modified copy, of the Stellar blockchain.

The pilot was run with the tech startup AtticLab, fintech companies Uapay and OMP 2013 and with Big Four professional-services firm Deloitte as an auditor, the report says. From September to December 2018, the NBU tested the software with a limited set of participants.

The tests showed that there are no fundamental advantages in using specifically the DLT [distributed ledger technology] to build a centralized e-hryvnia issuance system in which NBU is the only issuer, the report says. However, the central bank does not rule out an alternative decentralized model, in which multiple trusted payment processors would issue e-hryvnia.

Story continues

Related: China Has Many Strategic Reasons to Invest in Blockchain

The experiment is on hold, awaiting more input from the banking community and legislation regulating digital assets in Ukraine. While there are some drafts and concepts circulated by the countrys authorities, formal laws are yet to be passed.

Cool on crypto

The skepticism about distributed ledgers was shared by Hartingers colleagues from the Netherlands and Canada at the Kyiv conference.

The essence of the DLT infrastructure is that no single party should be trusted enough, but dont we just trust a central bank to maintain the integrity of the global ledger? said Harro Boven, policy adviser in the payments policy department of the Dutch central bank.

Scott Hendry, senior special director of fintech at Bank of Canada, which piloted its Jasper project (built on R3s Corda DLT platform) last year, agreed that you dont need a DLT to make a central bank digital currency.

There doesnt seem to be a lot of benefits if you look at a DLT system and the current efficient centralized system for the sole purpose of interbank payments, Hendry said, adding that in the back office he leads, they wouldnt change anything in the technology stack currently in use.

No speaker ruled out using DLT for a CBDC in principle, but none showed much enthusiasm about the tech.

A wake-up call

Then why even bother to create central bank digital currencies  the concept that initially was pitched as a trusted, government-blessed kind of cryptocurrency? The reason is Facebooks Libra, says Jamiel Sheikh, the CEO of consulting firm Chainhaus.

While the project met strong pushback from the governments across the globe, the thought of a big private company issuing its own digital currency sent waves all around financial circles.

The era of private money is here, and its something they have to pay attention to. Its a response to a threat that can stimulate innovation, Sheikh told CoinDesk.

Hartinger also pointed at the atypical competitive situation central banks found themselves in:

Central banks see Big Tech issuing stablecoins, like Libra, they see this niche of digital money and now its the matter of who will have a money issuance prerogative, governments or the private tech companies? Hartinger told CoinDesk.

Libra was a wake-up call for us. Central banks have been challenged to innovate, Harro Boven said on stage, echoing recent comments by none other than U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell.

A representative of one of the central banks present at the conference, who shared his thoughts with CoinDesk off stage and asked not to be identified, said Libra catalyzed a process of exploration that has been long overdue. However, he said hes not worried about the competition from Facebook.

People would want to use Libra if our monetary system screwed up. Our best defense is to do our job, he said.

Dirtying their hands

Still, not all the central banks have given up on blockchains yet.

Sveriges Riksbank, the central bank of Sweden, which recently announced a pilot for a digital krona, or e-krona, together with consulting firm Accenture, is going to use R3s Corda blockchain.

The e-krona is a kind of electronic cash for everyday use, a tool for payments between households, denominated in the national currency and accessible 24/7, Riksbanks senior policy adviser to the payments department Bjorn Segendorf said on stage.

Segendorf told CoinDesk the Riksbank will try out the Corda technology not because the central bank has its mind set on a blockchain-based solution  you just need to try different things to learn.

We need to get our hands dirty, he explained. Now its trying Corda; later, it can try something else.

The main point of the exercise is to be ready for the cashless future, Segendorf said, as young adults rely less and less on cash, to see what such a world looks like and how a central bank can deal with it, so that if we need to issue a CBDC we dont have to start from scratch.

Related Stories
The NIO Inc. ES6 electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) stands on display at the Auto Shanghai 2019 show in Shanghai, China, on Tuesday, April 16, 2019.

Shares of Chinese electric carmaker NIO surged nearly 30% in pre-market trade Tuesday after it said it was in talks for funding and new factories.

U.S.-listed NIO said it was in discussions with the government of Hefei. The city is a hub for automakers and the capital of Anhui province, which borders the province of Hubei where the new coronavirus reportedly began.

Part of the talks are around specific terms for a funding round which could raise more than 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) for the company. NIO also plans to build a China headquarters in Hefei in addition to research and development centers, and manufacturing facilities.

NIO said more details will be released once they are available.

The investment will be a welcome boost for the cash-strapped and loss-making company which is among the dozens of Chinese electric carmakers vying to take on Tesla.

China's electric car market had a rapid rise over the past few years boosted by government subsidies. But those incentives have slowly been reduced and that has caused a slump in sales of new energy vehicles which fell 54.4% in January, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. That slump may have been, in part, due to concerns over the virus but that's the seventh consecutive month of decline.

The financing talks will be a welcome boost for confidence in China's business communities as companies try to get back to normal after a longer-than-usual shutdown after the Lunar New Year holiday.

"The Hefei government noted the agreement with NIO is one of 8 major deals the city has signed as part of an effort to control the virus while supporting economic development," according to a statement from the city government's website which was translated by CNBC.

Tesla, which began delivering its Model 3 cars in January in China, re-opened its factory in Shanghai on February 10.
WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of 70 former senators is trying to stage what amounts to an intervention with their counterparts of today, believing the Senate is withering away as an institution that is no longer an equal branch of government.

The group - including 20 who served as Republicans in the Senate - contends that the Senate has lost relevance over the past decade, particularly the past two years when the chamber has shied away from almost any contentious debate in favor of confirming President Trump's nominees to sub-Cabinet positions and the federal judiciary.

"The Senate - and the proper functioning of our Republic - are simply too important to be allowed to continue on their present course," the ex-senators wrote in a letter to all 100 senators, published Tuesday as an op-ed in The Washington Post.

Their recommendations for improving the body were left intentionally vague, but the condemnation for the malaise was strong. Without naming their sources, the former senators warned that the quality of senators is in real danger as the current class often complains to its former members that the job is no longer worth it.

"We have been told by sitting members that the diminished state of the Senate has left them doubting if there is any point in continuing to serve, and it has caused potential candidates to question whether the reality of Senate membership is worth the considerable effort and expense of running for office," the ex-senators wrote.

To keep their letter bipartisan, the group avoided outlining a specific set of grievances, suggesting that both parties have abused the Senate's somewhat obscure parliamentary rules over the past decade, both in the majority and minority. That allowed former senators to avoid placing too much blame on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who served at least briefly with almost all the Republicans who signed the letter.

One of the signatures came from former majority leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D..

The prominent Republicans who signed include Frank Murkowski of Alaska, whose daughter, Republcian Lisa Murkowski, is a current senator; Alan Simpson of Wyoming; Gordon Smith of Oregon; and John Warner of Virginia. Frank Murkowski, Simpson and Warner were all committee chairmen during their tenure.

Smith is still a prominent figure in Washington, having lost his reelection bid in 2008, as the president of the National Association of Broadcasters.

Four ex-senators served as the main force behind the effort: John Danforth, R-Mo., Chris Dodd, D-Conn., Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., and Paul Kirk, D-Mass.

The group's main complaint is that the Senate no longer holds wide-ranging debate on prominent issues of the day - in 2019, 75 percent of all votes pertained to confirming Trump's nominees, a dramatic increase from a decade earlier when less than 10 percent of roll calls related to confirmations.

Most votes pertaining to legislation came either on must-pass spending bills designed to keep federal agencies up and running, or on procedural votes that Democrats and libertarian-leaning Republicans forced to restrict Trump's powers.

McConnell has proudly claimed that transforming the judiciary to a right-leaning majority will be his legacy in the Senate.

The ex-senators disagreed that should be anyone's singular goal.

"By design, the Senate is the place where Americans with all their competing interests and ideologies are represented and where champions of those positions attempt to advance their causes and work through their differences."

But the group could not come around on any profound suggestions for how to make the Senate function better, only offering the idea of an ad hoc bipartisan caucus to serve as an informal body that could try to make the chamber work better.

According to some ex-senators, the bipartisan caucus would serve as a clearinghouse of ideas to pitch to the rest of the Senate for how to empower committees to do more work and get their legislation onto the chamber floor for extended debates.

Some envision that such a bipartisan caucus could act as its own power center to dictate certain things get debated on.

For example, if a caucus of at least seven Republicans and seven Democrats got together and wanted to force a debate on several bipartisan bills from the Senate health committee, they would have enough votes to prevent McConnell from moving forward on nominees or any other legislation.

But that's an unlikely outcome.

The ex-senators acknowledged that they may sound too nostalgic for the good old days.

"We do not want to give the impression that we served in some golden age when the Senate operated like clockwork and its members embraced one another as one big happy family," they wrote. "Of course, that was never the case."
Naomi Seibt, a German YouTuber, has been hired by a conservative think tank to help spread climate denialism.

YouTube

The Heartland Institute, a conservative think tank with ties to the Trump administration, has a history of promoting climate denialism.

Most recently, the organization has enlisted the help of a 19-year-old German YouTuber named Naomi Seibt and framed her as a challenger to climate activist Greta Thunberg.

Although Seibt detested her "anti-Greta" label, she claims that Thunberg and other youth climate activists are spreading views that are not based on science.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Nineteen-year-old German YouTube Naomi Seibt says she, too, once believed the world was in the midst of a global crisis and rallied behind environmentalist policies and the uprising of youth climate activism  but not anymore.

Seibt now finds herself on the warring side of Greta Thunberg's climate justice movement, working for a conservative American think tank with ties to the Trump administration to combat what she claims is "climate alarmism."

"I have good news for you. The world is not ending because of climate change," Seibt says in a YouTube video for the Heartland Institute. "People are being force-fed a very dystopian agenda of climate alarmism that tells us that we as humans are destroying the planet and that we, the young people especially, have no future."

For decades, the Heartland Institute has promoted what it calls "climate realism" and spreading doubts about the overwhelming science supporting human's role in causing climate change. The organization cited "science backing climate realism" from the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change, a riff on the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change which they sponsor themselves.

One of its senior fellows, William Happer, objected to a US intelligence official's finding that climate impacts could be "possibly catastrophic" when serving on the White House National Security Council, the Washington Post reported.

Story continues

The conservative think tank has recently come under scrutiny for its shadowy funding stream through Donors Trust, an organization that has allowed wealthy contributors to donate millions of dollars to conservative causes anonymously. Mother Jones referred to the organization as the "dark-money ATM of the conservative movement."

A recent investigation by German journalists believed they unveiled a plot by the Heartland Institute to utilize Seibt to undermine climate protection measures in Germany  but James Taylor, the director of the Arthur B. Robinson Center for Climate and Environmental Policy at the Heartland Institute, claims the organization has nothing to hide.

"We're always looking to advance individual freedom and better human health and welfare in the United States and around the world," Taylor told Insider. "Even for folks who think they need to undercover to get that information for me. I'll be happy to have that interview today."

In a new effort, the Heartland Institute has enlisted the help of a YouTube influencer to continue to "spread the truth" about climate change. The organization has pitted Seibt against the face of the climate justice movement: Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.

"Greta Thunberg took the world by storm with her doomsday climate predictions. Naomi Seibt, a rising star, advocates for proper scientific discourse over climate change," read a caption on a YouTube video featuring Seibt and Thunberg. "Who seems like the more reasonable advocate to you?"

Naomi Seibt, the self-proclaimed "climate realist"

Seibt's crusade against "climate alarmism" online began in 2019 after Thunberg's activism won her a Nobel Peace Prize nomination and Time Magazine's "Person of the Year" Award, the youngest person to earn the title. In addition to challenging what she calls the "mainstream" climate narrative, Seibt also raised questions about feminism and immigration on her channel that echoed far-right views.

Her views caught the attention of a conservative German think tank with ties to the nationalist Alternative for Germany, and later Taylor.

Taylor saw Seibt speak at a conference in Germany and believed she could help further Heartland's agenda of advocating for "free markets" and "individual liberties."

"Here we have a 19-year-old young lady with tremendous poise tremendous intelligence," Taylor told Insider of its decision to hire Seibt as a digital media specialist. "Essentially, we are helping to provide resources so that she can continue to spread the message advocating individual freedom, which includes economic freedom, as well as climate realism."

Seibt, a former "climate alarmist" herself, claimed her skepticism began with Thunberg's own Fridays for Future movement. While she disagrees with Thunberg, she emphasizes that she is not the "anti-Greta."

"I'm not this evil opposite of Greta  she might be a really nice girl and I would love to talk to her someday," she told Insider.

However, Seibt claimed Thunberg and other youth climate justice activists espouse views that are not based on science.

"The main issues that I have with the climate change is the narrative. There's a lot of fear-mongering going on. Climate change is not something we're allowed to question anymore," Seibt said.

She said her own research suggests that the role of manmade greenhouse gas emissions in destroying the planet has been inflated by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The international body is made up of world-renowned scientists who have reached a consensus on the detrimental effects of human greenhouse gases and contribute to reports on how to mitigate climate change.

"I do not believe that the climate is changing because of manmade CO2 emissions. And if it was, I don't believe that would have such a detrimental effect," Seibt told Insider, who did not cite where her own research derived from.

While the 19-year-old believes that the climate is, in fact, changing, she protested the hysteria around the impending climate crisis. Seibt claimed that the widespread fears about the effects of climate change have not only caused "eco-depression," but has effectively silenced any dissent about the climate crisis.

"To be a scientific skeptic has nothing to be with an authoritarian radical," Seibt, who identified as Libertarian, said.

"We are not allowed to speak up  people are losing their job in the wake of this supposed 'climate crisis.'"

With the Heartland Institute, she said she hoped to promote climate realism, which claimed is "pro-human."

"This mainstream narrative of fear-mongering and climate alarmism is holding us hostage in our own brains," Seibt said in a video for Heartland. "Don't let an agenda that is trying to depict you as an energy-sucking leech on the planet get into your brain and take away all of your passionate spirit."

Read the original article on Insider
The "Latvia Cards Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Summary

'Latvia Cards Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2023' report provides detailed analysis of market trends in Latvia's cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including credit transfers, cash, and cards during the review-period (2015-19e).

The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry, and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, transaction values and volumes during the review-period and over the forecast-period (2019e-23f). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including the market shares of issuers and schemes.

The report brings together research, modeling, and analysis expertise to allow banks and card issuers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages. The report also covers details of regulatory policy and recent changes in the regulatory structure.

'Latvia Cards Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2023' report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into Latvia's cards and payments industry, including:

Current and forecast values for each market in Latvia's cards and payments industry, including debit, credit, and charge cards.

Detailed insights into payment instruments including credit transfers, cash, and cards. It also, includes an overview of the country's key alternative payment instruments.

E-commerce market analysis.

Analysis of various market drivers and regulations governing Latvia's cards and payments industry.

Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit, credit, and charge cards.

Scope

To boost electronic payments in the country, in August 2017 Latvijas Banka (the country's central bank) launched its Single Euro Payments Area-compliant instant payment system. Using the EKS system, a maximum of 30 ($34.37) can be transferred within seconds 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Citadele was the first bank in Latvia to introduce the instant payment service. In April 2019 the system was connected to the European-level TARGET Instant Payment Settlement service, thereby improving the reach of EKS across the region. As per the central bank, as of March 2019 nearly 3.3 million instant payments worth 650m ($744.61m) had been executed since the introduction of the instant payment service.

The emergence of contactless technology has supported the growth of card-based payments. According to the Association of Latvian Commercial Banks there were 1.3 million contactless payment cards in 2019, and these cards were accepted at 28,399 contactless POS devices. To boost the number of contactless payments, the payment limit without a PIN was increased from 10 ($11.46) to 25 ($28.64) in April 2018. Meanwhile, Mastercard runs promotional campaigns to increase contactless card awareness. Mastercard partnered with Finance Latvia Association to introduce the Peak and Ready Information campaign, explaining the benefits of contactless billing to both merchants and card holders. Major retailers Maxima, Narvesen, and Rimi joined the campaign.

Alternative payment solutions are gradually gaining prominence in Latvia. In June 2019, Apple launched its mobile payment solution Apple Pay, allowing users to make in-store, online, and in-app payments. Users can store their debit, credit, and store card details within Apple Pay and use the details to make payments at merchant outlets. Previously, Fortumo partnered with mobile operator LMT in January 2017 to launch its carrier billing service, allowing users to pay for digital content by charging it to their mobile phone bill or prepaid balance.

Reasons to buy

Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to Latvia's cards and payments industry and each market within it.

Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in Latvia's cards and payments industry.

Assess the competitive dynamics in Latvia's cards and payments industry.

Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in Latvia.

Gain insights into key regulations governing Latvia's cards and payments industry.

Key Topics Covered:

Card-Based Payments

E-Commerce Payments

Alternative Payments

Payment Innovations

Payments Infrastructure Regulation

Appendix

Companies Mentioned

SEB

Citadele

Luminor Bank

Swedbank

PNB Banka

DNB Bank

Nordea

Visa

Mastercard

Monea

Mobiamo

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/loj7on

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005904/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470

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In a statement Monday, Modell's said Chief Executive Officer Mitchell Modell "is executing a precedent setting campaign to save his business." as Modell's will close 24 stores out of 141.

Eight Modell's stores in New York and five in New Jersey will shut its doors according to reports.

We dropped 38 million dollar in receipts which caused us to lose 50 million dollars last year in sales, said Modell. On top of it, a warm winter on top of local teams lousy, on top of six days less between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The 24 stores closing are the most unprofitable ones. Modell says the decision to close them was the most difficult one of his life, but had to be done to save the 4,300 jobs he could.

"For the first time ever, I never thought I would sell equity, but i'm now willing to sell a minority stake in our company,:" Modell said in a statement. "I'm hoping someone watching the show will say I love the brand and want to invest."

Modell said he and his family are "all in."
(Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar is in very good health, her doctor said in a medical report released Monday.

She does not have any health conditions that would impair her ability to perform the duties of the Presidency, Jennifer M. McKeand of Womens Health Consultants in Minneapolis said in the report.

The report shows that the 59-year-old Minnesota senator has normal blood pressure and does not smoke. Klobuchar, who had a hip replacement in 2006, takes Ibuprofen for hip pain.

Front-runner Bernie Sanders has not released full medical records. Nor has Michael Bloomberg or Pete Buttigieg. Joe Biden released a three-page summary and Elizabeth Warren released her full records.

After a heart attack in October, Sanders released three letters from doctors indicating he is healthy. But when asked during a CNN town hall last week whether he would disclose more details, Sanders responded I dont think we will, no.

(Bloomberg is the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, the parent company of Bloomberg News.)

Sanderss Praise of Castro Makes Him a Target (4:04 p.m.)

Tuesdays Democratic debate will be held in South Carolina, but Mondays rhetoric on the campaign trail signaled a coming fight over Florida.

Three Democratic candidates have made clear they will hit front-runner Bernie Sanders hard over his praise for former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, which has raised concerns among some Democrats about losing the Sunshine State in the general election.

In a recent interview with 60 Minutes, Sanders praised Castros literacy program. Joe Biden senior adviser Cristobal Alex said in a press release that the comments were part of a larger pattern of Sanders embracing autocratic leaders.

Pete Buttigieg tweeted a clip from the 60 Minutes interview. 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, Buttigieg wrote in English and Spanish. We cant risk nominating someone who doesnt recognize this.

Story continues

Michael Bloomberg also tweeted the video clip, saying Castro left a dark legacy of forced labor camps, religious repression, widespread poverty, firing squads, and the murder of thousands of his own people.

(Bloomberg is the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, the parent company of Bloomberg News.) -- Ryan Teague Beckwith

Klobuchar Says a Woman President Would Inspire (3:07 p.m.)

Amy Klobuchar says a woman president would be inspirational for young girls.

I want every little girl in America and around the world to know that anything is possible, she said in a tweet Monday accompanied by a clip of a recent CNN town hall.

Her message echoes similar ones from the other women who have been in the 2020 race.

I want every little girl to know she can do anything, too, Kirsten Gillibrand tweeted in May. This campaign is about lifting young girls up and showing them they can do anything, Kamala Harris tweeted in July.

And Elizabeth Warren has long shared multiple videos on social media of her doing pinky promises with young girls to run for office one day. Running for president: Thats what girls do, she said in a typical tweet from last June.

Buffett Says Endorsement Might Hurt Bloomberg (11:38 a.m.)

Michael Bloomberg just missed out on an endorsement from one of the richest men in the world.

In an interview on CNBC, investor Warren Buffett said that he would certainly vote for the former New York City mayor over Bernie Sanders if he had the choice, but he wasnt sure a public endorsement would be helpful.

I dont think another billionaire supporting him would be the best thing to announce, Buffett said.

Sanders frequently criticizes billionaires, although hes had a less contentious relationship with Buffett than some of his peers. In 2016, Sanders criticized Buffett for not supporting solar power at an energy utility he owns in Nevada.

Nonetheless, Buffett, who backed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 primary, said Sanders had run a model campaign by being forthright and focusing on a positive message.

Sanders Knocked on Cuba Defense by Lawmakers (7:17 a.m.)

Bernie Sanders has long sought to distinguish his brand of Scandinavian-style democratic socialism from the Latin American socialism highlighted by Republicans, but his remarks on Cuba arent helping.

During a CBS 60 Minutes interview that aired Sunday, Sanders defended the late Cuban leader Fidel Castros policies, drawing fire from lawmakers in Florida, a critical swing state with a large population of Cuban refugees.

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, Democratic Representative Donna Shalala tweeted.

Sanders said it was unfair to slam everything done in Cuba by Castro, who died in 2016, having led the island nation with one-party Communist rule for decades.

Were very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba, but you know, its unfair to simply say everything is bad, 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?

Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio rebuked Sanders on Twitter on Monday morning. The central promise every Marxist makes is that if we give up some of our individual freedom,the state will provide us more security like free health care & education, Rubio wrote. But ultimately Marxism fails to deliver security & you dont have the freedom to do anything about it.

Sanders also distanced himself from President Donald Trump during the interview, saying I do not think that Kim Jong Un is a good friend, and Vladimir Putin, not a great friend of mine. -- Kathleen Hunter

COMING UP

South Carolina has a primary on Feb. 29. Fourteen states and one U.S. territory will vote on Super Tuesday, March 3.

(Disclaimer: Michael Bloomberg is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination. He is the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, the parent company of Bloomberg News.)

(Corrects that Sanders not only top-tier candidate to not release full medical records)

--With assistance from Kathleen Hunter, Elizabeth Wasserman, Emma Kinery and Tyler Pager.

To contact the reporters on this story: Ryan Teague Beckwith in Washington, D.C. at rbeckwith3@bloomberg.net;Misyrlena Egkolfopoulou in Washington at megkolfopoul@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Wendy Benjaminson at wbenjaminson@bloomberg.net, John Harney, Max Berley

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

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

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
A sessions court on Tuesday sentenced four accused, including two house help, caught while trying to rob a house after tying up the family members to seven years imprisonment.

The four convicts are Naresh Singh, 34; Kamlesh Saha, 24; Ganesh Thapa, 29; and Krushna Saha alias Desai, 25. Of the four, Singh had introduced Saha and Desai to the complainant. Thapa, the prosecution claimed, was part of the group and was a native of Nepal.

According to the case registered with Vile Parle police, Naresh Singh had recommended Desai for domestic help at the house of the complainant, Suketu Shah, a building contractor.

The prosecution said few days before the incident, Desai had taken sick leave and recommended Saha as his replacement till he recovers. Shah had made arrangement to sleep for the servant in his house.

The incident took place on December 21, 2013, when the complainant and his family were sleeping. Saha opened the door to let the other accused, armed with knives, inside at 3am. The complainant claimed that the accused knocked on the bedroom door and attacked them at knife point.

It was alleged that the accused asked for the keys of lockers and tied the family up. However, the family had managed to contact the police following which the police entered the house using windows and caught the four men from the spot while on the act. Seeking punishment, public prosecutor Ratnavali Patil argued that the accused were identified by the complainant and his family and were caught red-handed by the police.

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Megachurch pastor challenges Americans easy Christianity, urges dangerous prayers

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A megachurch pastor and bestselling author has challenged American Christians to abandoned an easy version of their beliefs and pray dangerous prayers instead.

In the final part of a sermon series titled Dangerous Prayers that was preached on Sunday, Life.Church pastor Craig Groeschel implored people to pray for God to break my heart.

Groeschel labeled it the most dangerous prayer, telling his congregation that they probably wont like this prayer and some will refuse to pray it.

It is not a common prayer, it is not an easy prayer, he said at the beginning of his message. It doesnt match the normal safe prayers that many of us pray.

Its not consistent with the God should make your life easy version of Americanized popularized Christianity.

Groeschel said he likes the easy prayers and its OK to pray them, citing examples of prayers for good meals, green traffic lights, well-behaved kids, and no zits on the important days.

Nevertheless, Groeschel advocated for the breaking of heart prayer, stressing that following Jesus was never meant to be safe.

God, break my heart, said Groeschel, who added that he wanted God to crush it and to strip me of comfort, ease, and spiritual apathy.

Groeschel went on to suggest that Gods greatest blessings come from Gods greatest breakings, asking what if the very most special blessings from God come on the other side of the pain that moves you out of self to care about people on His behalf?

What would happen if God really broke your heart to the things that break His? he asked the congregation. What if God blessed you with a heavenly burden, a divine burden, a holy hurt?

Groeschel felt that this breaking and holy hurt was beneficial to a person, because comfort never once moved me to action.

Groeschels comments on Sunday were part of a three-week sermon series titled Dangerous Prayers, which was centered on learning to pray with boldness.

This included not only for God to break a believer's heart, but also to search their hearts and motives and also to send them out to meet the needs of other people.

In the first part of the sermon series, preached on Feb. 9, Groeschel admitted to his congregation that he has oftentimes felt like he did not do a good enough job praying.

Ive often felt like a prayer failure, he said. Some people, you intimidate me. Youre like hey, lets get together and pray for like an hour. Im like, lets not.

Honestly, there have been times when I get very bored praying. Like Im bored. Im thinking Gods bored when Im praying sometimes. Like all you're praying is the same old routine, kind of prayer rut. I think thats a big problem for a lot of us.

Groeschel suggested that maybe at the root of it for some of us, the biggest problems would be that our prayers are just too safe, predictable, mundane, rote.

The sermon series came the same month of the release of Groeschels latest book, Dangerous Prayers: Because Following Jesus Was Never Meant to Be Safe.

This book will show you how to pray the prayers that search your soul, break your habits, and send you to pursue the calling God has for you, explained the books description on Amazon.

But be warned: if you're fine with settling for what's easy, or you're OK with staying on the sidelines, this book isn't for you. You'll be challenged. You'll be tested. You'll be moved to take a long, hard look at your heart.
What happens next in Brexit trade wrangling? Today: EU ministers signed off the negotiating mandate for Michel Barnier in Brussels. It will be published this afternoon. The Brexit inner Cabinet finalised the UK's approach in Westminster. Thursday: The UK's negotiating proposals will be put before Parliament. Monday: Talks on the trade deal are due to start in Brussels. They will initially focus on the schedule for discussions - which in itself will be tricky. The EU wants to talk about fishing first, but the UK says it must be considered as part of a wider package. July: This is theoretically the last point at which the transition period can be extended - although Boris Johnson has insisted he will not contemplate any delay. January 1: The transition period is due to end and the UK will be on new trade arrangements with the EU. This will either be the trade deal or World Trade Organisation terms. Advertisement

Boris Johnson launched a furious attack on the EU's double-standards today after the European ministers set out a laundry list of demands for agreeing a trade deal.

Downing Street accused Brussels of trying to impose far tougher conditions on the UK than were offered to Canada or the US.

The mandate handed to Michel Barnier by European ministers says Britain must follow a swathe of EU rules and accept legal oversight by the bloc's judges, as well as making concessions on fishing rights and the Elgin Marbles.

In a brazen effort to increase the pressure on the UK, the document also includes a brazen effort to thwart Mr Johnson's drive for a Transatlantic trade deal. It says Britain must meet the EUs 'health and product sanitary quality in the food and agricultural sector' - which would deprive Mr Johnson of a key bargaining chip in talks with Donald Trump.

However, in a stinging rebuttal tonight, No10 dismissed the demands saying it will not compromise on the UK's 'legal autonomy'.

'The EU has respected the autonomy of other major economies around the world such as Canada and Japan when signing trade deals with them. We just want the same,' Downing Street tweeted.

'We agree the UK's trade with the EU is significant. The US's is on the same scale  yet that did not stop the EU being willing to offer the US zero tariffs without the kind of level playing field commitments or the legal oversight they have put in today's mandate.'

At a press conference in the Belgian capital, Mr Barnier declared he was 'ready' for what would be 'very difficult' negotiations.

He said there must be guarantees of 'fair' competition between the two sides - and flatly rejected the idea of a Canada-style deal, saying it was thousands of miles away.

In a dig at the UK government, Mr Barnier said it was Britain imposing 'time pressures' and he would not engage in 'polemic'.

'I don't have time to waste with that,' he said.

Earlier, the PM met his senior team to finalise British tactics for the looming talks. The inner Brexit 'war Cabinet' approved the blueprint 'based on other existing FTAs between the EU and other like minded sovereign nations'.

Mr Johnson has made clear that under no circumstances will he extend the 'standstill' transition period beyond the end of December - even if no agreement has been reached by that point.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock ratcheted up tensions this morning by accusing the EU of making 'extraneous suggestions' about what should be included in a deal.

Swiping at infighting among member states, he told Sky News: 'Our side is absolutely clear what we want to achieve.'

Michel Barnier warned that the negotiations would be 'very difficult' as he confirmed his mandate had been approved by the EU today

Boris Johnson (pictured with Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz in Downing Street today) gathered his Cabinet to sign off Brexit trade deal plans

In a stinging rebuttal tonight, No10 dismissed the EU demands saying it will not compromise on the UK's 'legal autonomy'

Vincenzo Amendola (left) and Amelie de Montchalin (right), ministers from Italy and France respectively, were among those meeting in Brussels today

Attorney General Suella Braverman (left) and Transport Secretary Grant Shappps were at Cabinet today

Key sticking points in EU trade talks Fishing The EU is determined to keep access to UK waters after December 31. France is particularly keen to ensure that its fishermen have generous quotas when Britain leaves the EU Commons Fisheries arrangements. But Boris Johnson has said: 'British fishing grounds are first and foremost for British boats.' Zero tariffs and quotas The UK insists it wants an off-the-shelf free trade agreement, similar to that the EU struck with Canada. This would mean shunning almost all tariffs and quotas, and potentially bolting on preferential access for financial services. However, Michel Barnier has said the Canada model is not appropriate as the UK is geographically closer to the EU and the competition issues are different. Food standards Mr Johnson and Donald Trump have vowed to push for a quick Transatlantic trade deal. However, the US is likely to demand concessions on better access to lucrative UK food markets in return for good terms in other areas. The EU is trying to thwart the discussions by insisting the UK must stay tied to its food standards rules. The Elgin Marbles The EU negotiation mandate includes a stipulation Britain should 'return unlawfully removed cultural objects to their countries of origin'. The passage is thought to refer to the Elgin Marbles, ancient Greek sculptures taken to Britain more than 200 years ago and now on display in the British Museum. Greece has been vocal about demanding the marble sculptures, once situated in the ancient Greek Parthenon temple, are returned to Athens. Downing Street has insisted the future of the marbles is 'not up for discussion as part of our trade negotiations'. Advertisement

A Whitehall source said: 'We have to have taken back control by January 1. We are being very clear about that so that there is no misunderstanding.'

Brussels' mandate for negotiator Michel Barnier was formally unveiled this afternoon.

It calls for rules on fishing rights to continue unchanged after the transition ends.

The document says 'the provisions on fisheries should uphold existing reciprocal access conditions, quota shares and the traditional activity of the Union fleet'.

The bloc also wants to block any reduction in 'common standards' that currently exist on the environment, and a reference to food quality has been added since the previously leaked drafts.

Rules would need to be maintained in the area of 'health and product sanitary quality in the agricultural and food sector' - a clear jibe at the UK's hopes of a US trade deal.

Making clear the EU will push for tough 'level playing field' provisions - another thing the UK has rejected - the document said: 'Given the union and the United Kingdom's geographic proximity and economic interdependence, the envisaged partnership must ensure open and fair competition, encompassing robust commitments to ensure a level playing field.'

The mandate also features a thinly-veiled reference to the dispute over the Elgin Marbles, which Greece has long said should be returned.

'The parties should, consistently with Union rules, address issues relating to the return or restitution of unlawfully removed cultural objects to their countries of origin,' it said.

Mr Barnier insisted that there must be 'robust level playing field safeguards' to avoid 'unfair competitive advantages' in social, environmental, tax and state aid matters.

He said that every trade deal the EU has done around the world has a 'level playing field element to it'.

'The UK will be the EU's third largest trading partner - almost 10 times bigger than Canada - at the same time Canada is some 5,000km away.

'It's clear that the rules cannot be the same: it's logical, it's simple. This is not new, there is no surprise.'

Mr Barnier said a free trade deal with the UK had to include fishing rights 'or there won't be any agreement at all'.

'Let me remind you that most of the British processed fisheries products are traded, are exported, are sent to us, to the European market,' he said.

Farming leaders issue Brexit trade deal warning NFU president Minette Batters Signing trade deals that open the UK to imported food that would be illegal to produce here would be 'morally bankrupt' and 'insane', farming leaders have warned. National Farmers' Union president Minette Batters said the challenges of climate change, tackling wildlife declines and ensuring animal welfare would not be met by a model that 'ignores the hidden cost' of how food is produced. She urged the Government to insist that countries who want to trade with the UK do so 'on our terms' when it comes to food standards. Downing Street insisted that the UK's high food standards would be protected in any trade deal. 'To sign up to a trade deal which results in opening our ports, shelves and fridges to food which would be illegal to produce here would not only be morally bankrupt, it would be the work of the insane,' Ms Batters said. At the NFU's annual conference in Birmingham on Tuesday, she reiterated a warning that imported food should not be allowed to undercut the standards UK farmers have to meet on animal welfare, food safety and the environment. Producers in other parts of the world wash livestock in chlorine or other chemicals, use antibiotics to promote growth, are allowed to use battery cages for egg-laying hens and do not need vets' prescriptions for drugs, she said. Advertisement

'So fisheries is part of a package as regards our trade relations, which are to be discussed, and that package is one you can't break up. There will be no ambiguity at all around that.

'The trade agreement will be associated with a fisheries agreement and an agreement about a level playing field or there won't be any agreement at all.'

Earlier, France's Amelie de Montchalin told reporters: 'We have to first seek a good agreement before giving into timetable pressure.

Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said: 'The time pressure is immense and the interests are huge.

'It's a very complicated treaty. It will be very hard work, a tough road ahead.'

In Westminster, the Brexit inner Cabinet discussed the UK's stance after the weekly gathering of the full slate of ministers.

The final document is due to be published online and presented in Parliament on Thursday.

Ministers are thought to have commited to seeking a Canada-style agreement with zero tariffs, a proposal Mr Johnson and his EU envoy David Frost have set out in speeches in recent weeks.

But the push for a Canada-style deal could set up a clash with the EU after Mr Barnier ruled out such an agreement.

Mr Barnier has previously said the UK is geographically too close to be permitted to compete with the other 27 member states on such terms.

The British government will seek to up the pressure on Brussels next week by publishing its mandate for trade talks with the US - which are happening in parallel.

The two sides are racing against the clock after Mr Johnson insisted the end of the transition period on December 31 is a hard deadline.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said yesterday: 'The UK's primary objective in the negotiations is to ensure that we restore our economic and political independence on January 1 2021.'

Mr Frost and his team will head to Brussels for the first round of negotiations on March 2.

However, the next round will happen in London later next month.

One of the flash points will be fishing, with leading member states speaking regularly about wanting continued access to UK waters.

Mr Johnson used a speech in Greenwich earlier this month to announce, once free of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy, that 'British fishing grounds are first and foremost for British boats'.

Robert Buckland and Anne-Marie Trevelyan were among the ministers at Cabinet today

No10 chief Dominic Cummings was in Westminster today as the government hammers out its trade demands

Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg and Liz Truss were in Downing Street today

But French minister for Europe Amelie de Montchalin said yesterday: 'The fishermen have the right to be protected, they know very well that if we sign a bad deal they will lose enormously.'

What are US and EU food standard rules? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has guidelines on 'maximum levels of natural or unavoidable defects in foods for human use that present no health hazard'. It stresses that the levels are not designed to excuse 'poor manufacturing practices', but a recognition that some contamination is 'economically impractical'. In spices, the agency says an 'average of one or more rodent hairs per 10 grams' is the threshold for declaring a batch defective. The level for apple butter is four hairs per 11 grams. In fruit juices, anything below five fly eggs or one maggot per 250ml is regarded as acceptable. The guidance notes that the issue would only be 'aesthetic' rather than a risk to health. By comparison, the EU does not set any 'action levels' for foreign bodies in food. However, critics point out that does not necessarily mean that the standards are higher - merely that the FDA spells out in detail what will prompt enforcement action. Advertisement

A leaked draft of the EU negotiation mandate last week also included a stipulation Britain should 'return unlawfully removed cultural objects to their countries of origin'.

The passage is thought to refer to the Elgin Marbles, ancient Greek sculptures taken to Britain more than 200 years ago and now on display in the British Museum.

Greece has been vocal about demanding the marble sculptures, once situated in the ancient Greek Parthenon temple, are returned to Athens.

Downing Street has insisted the future of the marbles is 'not up for discussion as part of our trade negotiations'.

The PM is expected to meet with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in No 10 this afternoon as part of his diplomatic efforts with EU leaders before talks commence.

Yesterday Mr Johnson discussed the negotiations with Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenkovic, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Downing Street said the PM highlighted the UK was 'not seeking a special or bespoke agreement, but rather one like those the EU has already struck with other friendly countries like Canada'.

The No10 spokesman added: 'He emphasised that the UK will not extend the transition period or accept any arrangements which subordinate us to EU rules.'
Residential Insulation

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TopBuild Corp. (BLD), the leading installer and distributor of insulation and building material products in the United States, has acquired Hunter Insulation, an 80-year old residential insulation company based in Long Island, New York. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, Hunter Insulation generated approximately $10 million in annual revenue.



Jerry Volas, Chief Executive Officer of TopBuild, stated, We welcome Hunter Insulation to the TopBuild team. This acquisition will expand our footprint in Long Island, a region where we expect to see solid growth. One of the owners, Kevin Burch, will join our Company and focus on further expanding our market share in this region.

About TopBuild

TopBuild Corp., a Fortune 1000 Company headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, is a leading installer and distributor of insulation and building material products to the U.S. construction industry. We provide insulation and building material services nationwide through TruTeam, which has approximately 200 branches, and through Service Partners which distributes insulation and building material products from over 75 branches. We leverage our national footprint to gain economies of scale while capitalizing on our local market presence to forge strong relationships with our customers. To learn more about TopBuild please visit our website at www.topbuild.com.

Investor Relations and Media Contact

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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)
RACINE COUNTY  Three-year-old Addison sprints under wooden tables and past folding chairs, chased by Caleb Huelsbeck, the 42-year-old commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Caledonia-Raymond Post 10388.

The VFW meeting is about to begin, but Addison is being given a few extra moments to get her wiggles out.

Addison and Huelsbeck both laughed while grinning ear to ear. They arent blood-related but play together like an uncle and niece.

This is another family for us, said Cortney Rogers, who is Addisons mother, an Air Force analyst and a member of Post 10388. Rogers husband, Brandon Gumm, is the posts quartermaster/treasurer.

The post shares a headquarters with American Legion Harvey Funk Post 494, just east of Interstate 94 and south of Highway K at 4277 E. Frontage Road in Caledonia.

The presence of Addison and her 10-month-old little brother, Quinn, at a VFW meeting is a sign of the shifting times and misplaced stereotypes concerning veterans posts. They arent just bars.

Yes, we have cocktails, but  its not just old dudes sharing the war stories, Huelsbeck said.

Changing times

Seventy percent of VFW members are over the age of 70. Membership in the nonprofit veterans organization has been dropping for decades. Ten years ago, Wisconsin had about 300 VFW posts. That total is down to 258.

Most American vets involved in groups like the VFW and American Legion are survivors of large-scale conflicts like World War II and Vietnam. And they often have drastically different needs, desires and hobbies than younger vets who served in Afghanistan and Iraq in the past 30 years.

2018 was the first year in nearly three decades when the VFWs total membership didnt decline.

We live in a very unique time, said Zach Zdroik, a Marine who works as Racine Countys veterans service officer. We have the World War II veteran thats 95 years old; we have the 18-year-old veteran who served in Iraq or Afghanistan, all having different needs. And its up to us, the veteran community, to meet all of those needs.

Post 10388 has 32 members, above average for a rural post.

Still, fewer than a dozen members were at last Tuesdays monthly meeting. Several members are deployed on active duty. Others are older and have retired to the warmer climates of Arizona and Florida.

In the past two years alone, the posts founding commander, founding quartermaster and the posts top fundraiser all died.

With that kind of loss, the major challenge for veterans organizations nationwide is keeping these smaller posts alive.

Vets' laughter Navy Veteran Candace Rothering, right, and Air Force Veteran John Kreuzer laugh over drinks during a meeting of Veterans of Veterans of Foreig

The current veteran population is aging quickly and there simply arent enough new vets to replace the ones who are passing away. The current number of active military personnel is only about a third of where it was in the late 1960s, at the height of the Vietnam War.

Its a hard numbers game, said Ed Kalbas, a member of American Legion Bixby-Hansen Post 171 in Union Grove.

Thats actually a good thing, added David Green, state adjutant with the VFW Department of Wisconsin. We dont have wars to sustain the numbers (the VFW) had after World War II or Korea.

Between obligations of further education, work and kids, its less common for people under 45 like Rogers, Huelsbeck and Gumm to join veterans organizations.

But they all joined, even though Rogers and Gumm are both still on active duty, citing undying devotion to their fellow vets.

After returning from his fourth deployment, Huelsbecks kids ran away from him. They didnt recognize him as their own father. He had been gone too much and for too long. Thats when Huelsbeck knew he had to leave the service. There were too many close calls, he said.

But, My want to serve my community didnt die with me, Huelsbeck continued, most people in the military have that ingrained in their heart.

All of their fundraising is used to help other organizations, veterans and people in need.

Every penny we bring in goes to our goal, Huelsbeck said. The intent is to be at a zero bank account.

VFW Post 10388 members have helped build tiny homes for homeless vets in Racine. They donated to a fellow vet who lost his job right before the holidays. They volunteer at veterans hospitals and donate to them too.

Tom ODell, Post 10388s adjutant, said Were pretty small, but

We can get quite a lot done, Rogers said, finishing his sentence.

Union Groves American Legion does similar work, donating money to Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin (which operates the tiny home village for homeless vets) and volunteering at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove.

Veterans organizations can be influential lobbyists in Washington, D.C. and Madison. The VFW is currently trying to get tax breaks for veterans who became disabled in war and convincing the federal government to further research the benefits of medicinal cannabis, particularly for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

The simple fact that the VFW has more than 1.1 million members nationwide, and the American Legion has nearly 2 million, make that advocacy powerful.

Being part of one of these groups benefits all veterans, said Tom Turner, financial officer of Union Groves American Legion. Theres power in numbers.

Brotherhood, sisterhood

Its true that more members makes it easier for lobbyists to lean on legislators, but membership can be an immeasurable benefit for the veterans too.

When you come back from a place of war, everyone I know has been severely affected by that. There has to be a brother/sisterhood, said Green, who served in the Army for more than 20 years.

One of the main prioritiess veterans organizations are focusing on now is finding new recruits in the form of young veterans, regardless of if theyre still active duty or out of the service.

Younger individuals dont just want to go to a bar, Zdroik said, pointing out how alcohol can often exacerbate mental health problems.

He said that innovation in veterans groups is from finding other ways to bond that dont involve a bottle. In Wisconsin alone there are veteran gatherings focused on running, camping and hunting.

Another atypical program? Yoga.

An increasing number of outposts nationwide are sponsoring yoga sessions, oftentimes taught by veterans.

Yoga has been very popular for maintaining weight and flexibility and general health, Green said.

Green isnt aware of any VFW posts in Wisconsin that do this yet, but theyre trying it out. Theres going to be a session on yoga at the 2020 summer state convention.

The new guy

James Cech sat at the VFW bar in Caledonia before and after Februarys meeting. Hes 70 years old and not a member of any vets organization, but was invited to sit in at the monthly meeting.

Ive thought about joining a lot of times, he said, but was held back by the thought of: What can I contribute at my age?

During the meeting, he hit it off with Air Force Veteran John Kreuzer. They chatted about what Cechs years underwater on a Navy submarine and travels around Asia and Europe during the Vietnam War.

Cech was not sure if he was going to join right away, but was still thinking about it while joking and laughing with a fellow vet at the bar.

Cech said: Its always good to hear the stories.

We live in a very unique time. We have the World War II veteran thats 95 years old; we have the 18-year-old veteran who served in Iraq or Afghanistan, all having different needs. And its up to us, the veteran community, to meet all of those needs. Zach Zdroik, Marine veteran and Racine Countys veterans service officer.

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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.
Army Chief Gen M M Narvane on Tuesday visited Kashmir to review the security situation in the Valley, Army sources said.

Army chief reached the Kashmir valley on Tuesday to review the prevailing security situation, they said.

The sources said Gen Narvane is likely to be briefed by senior Army officials on the counter-insurgency operations in the hinterland and alertness of the anti-infiltration grid along the Line of Control (LoC).

The Army chief's visit comes days ahead of the change of guard at the strategic 15 Corps in the valley.

Lt Gen B S Raju will take over the command of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, relieving Lt Gen K J S Dhillon.

Lt Gen Raju has served as the General officer Commanding of the south Kashmir-based Victor Force, responsible for the anti-insurgency operations in the restive area.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President said on Tuesday that India and the US will reach a comprehensive agreement on (IPR).

Trump held official bilateral talks with Prime Minister earlier in the day and spoke on a number of subjects, including partnerships in trade, defence and energy.

A comprehensive deal on the IPR front would be a major development as India has slipped to the 40th position on the US Chamber's International IP Index.

The country continues to figure in the US' Priority Watch List that identifies trade barriers to US companies due to IP laws of other countries.

India and the US recently signed an agreement on IPR and the Union Cabinet last week approved a memorandum of understanding with the US on the issue of IPR along with other subjects, including information and broadcasting.

The statement by Trump also came at a time when both the countries are already in negotiations for a trade deal. Both India and the US have said that talks are on for a major trade deal between the two countries.

Addressing the media here, the US President also said that he discussed an energy deal with Prime Minister Modi.

His statement assumes significance as India imports a significant portion of its energy needs from the US, which has only increased in the past few years. The US is the sixth largest oil supplier to India.

Trump also discussed business related issues with India's policy makers and industrialists.

Regarding the current trade relations with India, the US President said that India has the highest tariffs in the world and due to this, business cannot be conducted with it. He added that trade deficit has also been discussed.

On the upcoming Presidential elections in the US where he will be seeking a second term, Trump, a billionaire businessman with investments across the world, said that if he wins, stock markets in America will jump by "thousands and thousands" of points.
Comcast plans to close its only Martinsville service center to the public but expand cable service to more homes in the county under a new proposed franchise agreement with Henry County.

This means that, after the center closes, customers seeking to exchange cable equipment or do other transactions in person would have to drive to the Xfinity store in Coleman Marketplace in Danville.

County residents will have a chance to weigh in on the contract today at a public hearing during the 6 p.m. session of the Henry County Board of Supervisors meeting. The board may then vote on whether to approve the new agreement.

Comcast has not officially announced or confirmed the closure. The news comes from documents presented to the Board of Supervisors by Henry County Attorney George Lyle, who was part of franchise agreement negotiations with the company.

Given we are in the midst of the franchise renewal discussions, we are not able to comment on specifics, said Comcast representative Sandra Arnette, a senior public relations manager based in Baltimore. While we have no announcements to make at this time about the Martinsville Service Center, we would notify our customers well in advance of any changes.

In their negotiations, Lyle said, company representatives said the Martinsville location has seen declining use, but they didnt give us exact numbers.

Theyre moving away from an in-person payment window. Their business model is that they want you to conduct more business online, Lyle said.

The county asked about replacing the service center on Commonwealth Boulevard with an Xfinity store, like the one in Danville, but Comcast representatives said that was not in their business model, according to Lyle. We would prefer a retail location to open, but they told us thats not going to happen.

Under the proposed agreement, however, more Henry County residents would have access to cable television services. Comcast has agreed to start construction on two expansion projects within the next year: one on J.S. Holland Road in the Horsepasture district and another on Sandy River Road in the Irisburg district.

In addition, board documents show, the new agreement calls for Comcast to expand its network when neighborhood density reaches 20 homes per linear mile, instead of the current minimum of 30 homes.

The countys previous franchise agreement with Comcast expired years ago, Lyle said, but its terms remain in effect until supervisors approve a new one. Comcast took over local cable systems from the bankrupt Adelphia in 2006.

The proposed agreement would run 10 years and automatically renew for another 5 unless either party makes a written request to renegotiate before the 7-year mark, board documents show.

Lyle noted that the franchise agreement only governs cable television services, and even then, we have a limited role. We dont regulate the internet.

The city of Martinsville has a similar expired agreement with Comcast and may start its own negotiations after Henry County approves its plans. Comcast hopes to reach an identical agreement with the city, according to board documents.

Lyle said he notified his counterpart in Martinsville, City Attorney Eric Monday, about the public hearing.

Comcast currently provides courtesy service at no charge in 31 government-related locations in the county, including public school buildings, the sheriffs office and jail, libraries, rescue squads and fire departments, board documents show.

In the future, Lyle said, Henry Countys cable television ordinance will also need to be updated. Significant parts of it are outdated, have never been enforced or are unenforceable. State law and federal regulations have superseded portions of the ordinance, he wrote in a memo to the board.

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Fintech platforms in India have seen a drastic transformation in the recent past and are yielding positive results in several critical areas such as MSME Lending. In the last two decades, the growth curve of the Indian economy has been largely controlled by the MSMEs and is contributing a whopping 40% to the countrys GDP. Given the technological advancements, they are able to venture into segments that were previously deemed high-risk by financial institutions and banks. These emerging fintech platforms have been successfully bridging the gap between lenders and borrowers utilizing technology in automating policy checks, verifications, eKYC, amongst other governing protocols.

Also, as announced during the Union Budget, the government has emphasized on supporting the MSME sector by providing employment opportunities that will in return boost the MSME and SMEs leading to increased demand and overall growth of the economy.

In this technologically advanced era, here are 5 fintech players that are disrupting this space by providing flexible benefit plans to these MSMEs

InCred : Founded in the year 2016, Incred endeavors to disrupt the status quo in traditional lending that seems to exclude those most in need of credit, due to outdated, rigid and often inefficient processes. InCred offers small & medium business loans with terms that meets specific needs of a borrower. It provides the financial help that one needs to make the next big move possible and take its small or medium enterprise to new heights. Incred offers a Working Capital Loan upto 12 months to manage the cash flows & collateral free term loans up to 36 months for the growth of ones business. Apart from SME/MSME loans,this platform has an extensive product portfolio which includes Personal Loans (with customizations for weddings, medical reasons, and travel purposes), Education Loans, and Two-Wheeler Loans alongside others. The best part is one wont be making any branch visits and will get an instant loan sanction.

ePayLater : ePayLater is an online platform that provides working capital finance to SMEs/MSMEs in India with flexible, short-term loans that can be used to purchase inventory, service new orders, or optimise cash cycles. Its mission, it states, lies in bridging the current gap in the market with innovative and flexible credit products for SMEs, delivered in an efficient and customer-friendly manner.

Indifi: Indifi Technologies is a debt-financing platform which facilitates SME lending with a focus on customer-product fit. The key innovation in the approach that Indifi is bringing to the market is to design and deliver credit products basis the kind of business the MSME is in. This industry virtualization brings unique benefits to the customer as product design fits into the business cash flows of the MSME. It claims to design and deliver credit products based on the kind of business the SMB does. The platform helps to create an industry-specific credit delivery system in a cost-effective and scalable manner using innovative technology with an increasing focus on Tier II and Tier III cities as Well. The Company states that it strives to improve access to credit, speed of approval and disbursement, in order to provide relevant collateral-free loans and loan products. Indifi has successfully contributed in bridging the gap in SME financing with the perfect amalgamation of technology and access to data; enabling seamless access to funding with flexible repayment options for start-ups and small businesses

Zip Loan: ZipLoan is a platform that makes Finance accessible to small businesses and strives to ensure easy availability of unsecured Working Capital to small business owners in India believing that availing MSME Loans and SME Loans is the most suited way to increase working capital, buy or upgrade machinery, or to expand the business. ZipLoan offers personal business loan of up to INR 5 lakhs to small business owners that can be repaid over a time period of 12-24 months. They have so far helped many companies from different sectors, such as clothing company, manufacturing company, pharmaceutical company, electronic company, etc., in their growth by providing private business loans. Their technology-enabled platform allows them to offer credit in a fast and hassle-free manner thus solving the fundamental problem of small business owners i.e. getting easy access to finance when they need it.

RupeeRedee: Gurgaon-based RupeeRedee is a new-age digital lending platform that leverages technology and data sciences to make lending safe, quick and hassle-free for Indias massive populace of underserved customers. It follows a 100 per cent paperless process of disbursing loans to customers at an average time period of 10 minutes. Through this, customers can conveniently get access to small-ticket loans ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000. RupeeRedee has also introduced RupeeRedee Elite Program for its exclusive customers, where the existing eligible customers get pre-approved plus other benefits under the loyalty program

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WASHINGTON (AFP): The United States and South Korea said Monday they were considering scaling back a military exercise planned for this spring because of the coronavirus epidemic.



The commander of US forces in South Korea, General Robert Abrams, and the head of that country's joint chiefs of staff, General Park Han-ki, "are looking at scaling back the command post training due to concerns about the coronavirus," US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said at a news conference.



His South Korean counterpart, Jeong Kyeong-doo, said at the same briefing that 13 servicemen from his country have become infected with the virus and that all leave for the military has been cancelled nationwide so as to limit soldiers' movements.



"The situation is quite serious," Jeong said.



The two countries have significantly scaled back traditional joint military exercises so as to facilitate US nuclear talks with North Korea.



This spring they planned to hold a command coordination exercise.
(ANSAmed) - ROME, FEBRUARY 25 - Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak has died. He was 91. Last month, he was hospitalized for surgery and was in the intensive care unit of the military hospital Galaa in Cairo when he died, his brother-in-law , General Mounir Thabet, said. The general said all his family was present when the former president died. The Egyptian presidency will organize his funeral, he added.



Mubarak was one of the symbols of the authoritarian regime in North africa that led to the beginning of the Arab spring. The uprising in Egypt forced him top step down in 2011 after three decades in power. He was subsequently arrested and jailed on charges of corruption, misappropriation and for cracking down on the protest violently. He was acquitted on most charges and released in 2017. He died after a long illness.



''On behalf of the citizens of Israel I express deep pain for the death of my personal friend Hosni Mubarak'', said Israeli Premier Benyamin Netanyahu. ''I extend the condolences to President Abdel Fattah al Sisi and Mubarak''. (ANSAmed).


Teachers in Old Akrade Basic School in the Eastern Region are forced to contribute monies from their own pocket to feed some of their pupils who are not able to pay a daily feeding fee of Gh1.00.

Parents of some of these children who used to engage in brisk business at the bank of the Volta Lake have now returned to their regular farming.

This has left a heavy toll on the pupils of the Old Akrade Basic School.

Old Akrade used to bustle with business; from sachet water to abolo, fish, fried turkey tails on sale to the many people who travelled mainly between Ho and Accra who had to cross the Volta Lake using the pontoon due to the closure of the Adormi bridge for repair works.

During the era of the pontoon, indigenes of the area had the luxury of dropping their hoes and cutlasses to engage in some form of petty trading, affording them money to cater for themselves and their children.

In 2015 however, the repair work on the Adomi bridge was completed and the pontoon was taken away and life returned to ground zero.

The indigenes have now returned to the agrarian economic cycle which does not yield cash on a regular basis and those feeling the impact are the children in the Old Akrade Basic School who either go hungry or walk considerable distances to eat at home during break time.

Some children who interacted with Citi News narrated how difficult it is for their parents to give them GHS1.00 to buy food under the schools own school feeding program.

Jessica, a class 1 pupil, said her mother, a single parent, often does not have GHS1.00 to give her in to feed in school.

The story of John, also a class 1 pupil, is no different. He is compelled to walk approximately three miles home during break time every day to have meals.

On the day of Citi News visit, his mother had not finished preparing the soup with which he will eat banku so he had to make a choice to either wait for the meal and miss lessons in class or return to class on an empty stomach. He chose the latter.

A teacher for combined classes 1 and 2, Prince Gamey Kisson, said: It is difficult to teach hungry children who could barely hold up their concentrations during lessons, forcing them to intervene for some of these children.

Headteacher of the Old Akrade basic school, Prosper Adzimani, said efforts to get the deprived school rolled onto the national school feeding program are yet to yield any results.

He, however, noted that the school decided to start its own school feeding program which serves meals to the children for as low as GHS1.00. He said enrolment, especially at the lower primary level, improved drastically with the feeding program.

The student Chaplain, Mawuenyefia Megbeawotor, appealed to the authorities to pay some attention to the Old Akrade Basic School which he said, is very deprived. He said pupils at the upper primary and JHS levels are compelled to use a single textbook per subject, a situation that is impacting negatively on the academic work of the students.

---citinewsroom
Matt Losak, executive director of the Montgomery Renters Alliance, said he rarely hears from tenants without an air-conditioning unit in their apartments. It is more common for tenants to complain about a broken or malfunctioning cooling system, he said, or about landlords refusing to provide working air conditioning even though it is listed in the lease.
CITY of Naga, Cebu Mayor Valdemar Chiong formally tendered his resignation before Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020.

Chiongs resignation came more than two months after he served a 90-day preventive suspension in connection with a graft case filed against him in 2014.

In a phone interview with SunStar Cebu Tuesday night, Feb. 25, Chiong confirmed that his resignation will take effect on March 16.

Maayo na siguro nga mupahuway na ta. Panahon na sa mga batan-on nga mga politiko nga maoy mudominar sa Naga (Maybe its time I take a rest and let the next generation take over Naga politics), Chiong said.

He denied his resignation had anything to do with the 2014 graft case against him, which is pending before the Sandiganbayan.

I am still currently on appeal with the Sandiganbayan. Its just that nga bisag akong kasing-kasing gusto pang muserbisyo para sa Dakbayan sa Naga, ang akong lawas dili na sad kaya (even though in my heart I still want to serve the City of Naga, my body can no longer handle it), Chiong added.

Chiong is accused of giving unwarranted benefits to Petronas Energy Philippines Inc. when he granted it a business permit in April 2014 with no certification from the Bureau of Fire Protection.

Chiong will leave the citys leadership to his daughter, Vice Mayor Kristine Chiong. His older brother Virgilio, who is first councilor, will serve as her vice mayor.

The 59-year-old Chiong became a mayor after succeeding his brother Ferdinand, who died in office in 2006. Chiong was then elected mayor for three consecutive terms, from 2007 to 2016.

He was then replaced by his daughter Kristine. In the 2019 elections, father and daughter traded positions, with Chiong winning the mayoral race.

As town mayor, Chiong and First District Rep. Eduardo Gullas campaigned for Nagas cityhood despite the opposition of the League of Cities of the Philippines then. Through the Supreme Courts intervention, Naga and 15 other towns were granted cityhood status in 2007.

Story continues

This is not the first time that a mayor from Cebu resigned.

In 2017, then Aloguinsan Mayor Augustus Caesar Moreno resigned before the Department of the Interior and Local Government could serve the dismissal order against him and seven other officials for the alleged anomalous purchase of food supplies worth P287,725 in 2010.

In 2008, the now-departed Carmen Mayor Virginio Villamor resigned after he was diagnosed with brain cancer. (JKV)
In a strong message, India and the US on Tuesday asked Pakistan to ensure that no territory under its control is used to launch terror attacks and strongly condemned cross-border terrorism in all its forms.

A joint statement covering various key aspects of talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump said the two leaders called on Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks.

The two leaders also called for concerted action against all terrorist groups, including Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, the Haqqani Network, D-Company, Al-Qaeda, ISIS and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.

"Prime Minister Modi and President Trump denounced any use of terrorist proxies and strongly condemned cross-border terrorism in all its forms," the joint statement said.

"They called on Pakistan to ensure that no territory under its control is used to launch terrorist attacks, and to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of such attacks, including 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot," it said.

At a packed press conference, the US president also said that ways to deal with terrorism figured prominently in his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi who, Trump stressed, is determined to check the menace.

Trump said the challenge of terrorism was discussed "at great length", and that Modi has very strong views on it.

"Modi is a very religious man, he is a very calm man, but actually he is a very, very strong person, and very tough, actually. I have seen him in action. He has got that foremost on his mind (to deal with) terrorism. He will take care of it," Trump said.

After talks with Trump, Modi, in his media statement, said both sides have taken a decision to further increase efforts to hold supporters of terrorism responsible.

On his part, Trump said both the countries affirmed their commitment to protect their citizens from radical Islamic terrorism.

In his media statement earlier, Trump said the United States is working productively with Pakistan to confront terrorists who operate on its soil.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In the early 1980s, researchers at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa were confounded by the persistent failure of their experimental mice embryos. The researchers had hoped to develop the first successful in vitro fertilization (IVF) programme in Africa. Yet, attempt after attempt, the mice embryos died. One researcher recounted to me later that he reviewed other protocols and realized that technicians in successful experiments had not been wearing lab gloves. In effort to make them easier to put on and take off, many gloves used talcum powder or corn starch powder, both of which were toxic to developing embryos. We removed the gloves, and the embryos grew, the researcher told me. In 1984, Falcon de Vos was born[1]. What is meant as protective cladding, assuring the purity of genetic material, can in fact prove toxic.

All of us have some levels of toxicants in our systems (Murphy, 2017). Yet the degree of exposure, the compounding of toxicants, and the impact of those toxicants varies greatly. These toxicants are both produced by and maintain the political and social hierarchies that structure life (Agard-Jones, 2013). Some bodies are rendered more porous, more precarious, more exposed, than others. Some bodies are thus more ensconced by privilege metered out along lines of class, race, gender, and sexuality.

Indeed, recent scholarship on toxicity has been driven by a growing concern with permeable and absorptive bodies. Harris Solomons work on metabolic illness in India demonstrates how porous bodies interact differentially with the world around them and thus, demand a detailed look at the situated, absorptive interface of bodies and surroundings (2016:9). This indexes a conceptual shift within the biological sciences to thresholds and hybrid zones of interactions. Solomon asks, What is the body and what is environment? Where does one end and the other begin? (2016: 9). Donna Haraway (1991), in a famous essay introducing the figure of the cyborg, asked a similar question: Why should our bodies end at our skin? (178).

I might be taking Haraways question too literally, but in thinking about the porosity of bodies and environments, and the absorptive interfaces between the inside and outside, I kept returning to the surface of skin. Skin has historically been viewed as the demarcation of a modern individual body, though as a border it remarkably lacks in solidity. It absorbs environments and oozes interiors; it slowly sloughs off into our surroundings (hello dusty bedroom!). If we view skin as a kind of surface, it becomes a kind of cladding that conceals hidden depths of meaning.

Skin is also deeply political. Skin was (and remains) the surface from which social standing was read in South Africa, where race dictated access to citizenship, space, and employment, particularly during the apartheid period. The vast majority of South African land, including the urban centres where fertility clinics are located, was designated for the sustenance of white life. Inspired by literary scholars who have explored the potential of surfaces for generative political reconfigurations in South Africa (see Nuttall 2013), I want to focus on the surfacethe aesthetics, affects, and expressiveness of postcolonial lifein scenes of toxicity. Here I describe two seemingly disparate spaces within South Africa: elite, urban fertility clinics and homes in rural Limpopo. Can we learn about toxicity and porous bodies via different scales and spaces? That is not only of widespread exposure in precarious communities, but also microscopic navigations in elite fertility clinics?

Beautiful and porous embryos:

IVF labs are designed with two sets of bodies in mind: the bodies of lab technicians and the bodies of embryos. However, embryos require very different environments than the people that attend to them. As bodies, embryos[2] can and do absorb their environments. Thus, the lab air is filtered and pressurised to prevent outside air from coming in. The space is heated to around 27 degrees Celsius, which can feel rather uncomfortable for the human body (that is, at least mine). The lights are dimmed in an attempt to mimic the in vivo environment. And, as lab staff explained to me, even with these climate control conditions, embryos should not be exposed to lab air for more than a handful of minutes. Embryos should ideally remain in special incubators, where factors such as light, temperature, and levels of oxygen and CO2 are controlled.

Yet, lab technicians must balance these measures to control environmental factors with the need to observe the embryos. That is, attending to embryos means protecting them from toxicity, but attention to embryosobserving, assessing, and recording their developmentalso puts them at risk, opening them up to what Solomon refers to as windows of exposure (2016: 231). The need to monitor embryo development has become increasingly critical in light of the growing recognition that multiple embryos increase ones chances for multiple gestationstwins or tripletswhich is risky for foetuses and the pregnant person. As a result, embryology research has focused on developing methods and techniques to discern the best embryo among a given cohort, in order to increase the success rate of transferring only one. Thus, embryologists must monitor embryo development daily, a process that potentially puts embryos at risk in the lab.

Among the methods, the most common is morphology, the study of the embryo form or structure; or colloquially, how the embryo looks under a microscope. Embryos are often described as ugly or beautiful. A visiting international embryologist who visited the fertility clinic to present on grading methods referred to Hollywood embryos, comparing them to participants in a beauty pageant. Despite the search for other techniques that are more than just skin deep, morphology remains the most economically accessible and common assessment method. New methods, ones that would reduce or remove those windows, increase costs. For example, the combination microscope-incubator hybrid keeps embryos entirely within protected conditions during their five to six day in vitro period and allows embryologists to observe the changes in morphology via time-lapse photography. Such methods were part of premium packages offered to some patients I observed, which came with a time-lapse video of the transferred embryo. Using the videos, embryologist can mark development in the inner cell mass of embryos, particularly the trophectoderm, or outer shell, which has the most significance for predicting good or beautiful embryos to transfer.

Spraying permeable walls

Now I turn to a very different border: not an embryo shell shielding the inner mass, but a river, the Limpopo, demarcating a national border. Saying that a mosquito crosses a border almost sounds nonsensical. There is no border for mosquitos, nor for the malaria virus they carry. Yet there are borders for people. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, more commonly known as DDT, was the first synthetically developed insecticide. Yet, since its development, DDT has become almost synonymous with potential toxicity for both human and non-human forms of life. As a result, DDT has been banned, except for in cases of public health, such as malaria control.

Following an outbreak of malaria in the summer of 1999/2000, DDT was re-introduced for annual indoor-residual spray in South Africa. Workers spray the roofs and indoor walls of unpainted brick, cement, and mud dwellings in at-risk areas. The Department of Health found the number of malaria cases dropped from around 65,000 in 2000 to 7,750 in 2005. Indoor DDT spraying is the cornerstone of the South Africans governments target to completely eradicate malaria in the country. However, the question of DDTs continued usage in malarial vector control is a controversial one. Researchers have found that DDT and its metabolites (DDE, an endocrine disruptor) remain in the atmosphere for more than 15 years, leaching into soils and skin, entering lungs, and contaminating food (Aneck-Hahn et al., 2006). Exposure has been linked to breast cancers and reduced sperm counts and quality. Yet, DDT is both cheap and effective at controlling malaria, thus appealing to governments. While some state officials have acknowledged the potential risks from DTT, many argue that the risks of malaria are greater (Bouwman et al., 2011).

Value and temporality

Debates on DDT usage for public health programmes bring toxic exposure, structural vulnerabilities, and value into a similar calculative assemblage as embryologists: the need to protect bodies from exposure, but exposure viewed as necessary to mitigate other health concerns. In both cases, surfacing viewed as protectivelatex gloves and DDT, both emerging out of similar post-World War 2 histories of shifting military-industrial productionhave toxic effects on reproduction. Seeming thriftinesskeeping costs down for patients, or for the tax-payer via the statealso induces greater exposure.

The scalesof populations, space, and timeare vastly different. Fertility clinics operate in economies of scarcity and via ideologies of reproductive rights that take the individual and their choices (structured by ability to pay) as the locus of concern. On the other end of the spectrum, DDT spraying makes sense in the logic of population health priorities, where malaria is tenacious in its immediacy and lethality and costs are always a concern. Reproductive disruptions at the scale of population, though highest in sub-Saharan Africa, does not invite the same attention. Part of the difference in attention is also a question of time. The impact of chemical infrastructures in bodies can take years and generations to register, as Murphy (2013) notices, describing the mild drudging of soil in the St Claire waterways that unearths latent chemicals: a brief scratch and the histories of chemical infrastructures come bubbling to the surface. Depths index an extended duration, the sedimentation of history, or using the expression that Murphy introduces, latency that signals a lag, a slowness. Thus, Murphy argues, we must think of chemical violence through intergenerational time. In the language of epigenetics, Murphy is describing transgenerational inheritance, the heritable transmission of environmentally induced phenotypes (Skinner & Guerrero-Bosagna, 2009). DDT, endocrine disruptors, and other toxicants are known to induce transgenerational effects, including male fertility disruptions, that may result in disease expression in the grandchildren of those presently exposed.

Surfacing relations

DDT is not only ugly and violent in its durational effects on well-being, both human and non-human; indoor DDT spray is also read as aesthetically and immediately ugly on the walls of Limpopo residents  many respond by plastering over the unsightly patch it leaves (Bate, 2000). I read this response to the aesthetics as a form of slow activism (Liboiron et al, 2018), a way of acting in South Africas polluted world that reasserts dignity in the face of top-down, public health programs. Slow activism does not literally mean actions are sluggish (though they can be), but that but that the effects of action are slow to appear or to trace, the authors describe (2018: 341). [It] does not have to premised on an anticipated result. It can just be good.

In fertility clinics, the development or attrition of embryos takes days, six at most, and protocols dictate exposure of no more than two minutes. Minimizing exposure requires both aesthetic adjustments and careful responsive care. Embryologists attend to constantly checking levels of CO2 and temperature, moving quickly in tight spaces, or readjusting lab spatial layout to minimize the distances between microscopes and incubators, incubators and human bodies. Attending to toxicity means reckoning with the radically different surfaces and temporalities: the slow absorption of DDT into skins, the volatile toxicity of lab gloves, surface readings of embryonic development and attrition, and the generational endurance of necropolitical (Mbembe, 2003) arrangements of life. Can surfaces and skins offer a space for reading politics that compels a form of reflexive and responsive ethics to toxicity, rather than replicates the excavations and re-pathologizing of damage-centred research (see Murphy, 2017)?

The work of Fiona Ross and Nicholas Eppels (2016) Thermal Optimum offersone example of surfacing. This collaboration between an anthropologist and an artist explores scenes of care in a context where these forms of care are often leveraged under the auspices of biological benefits via the Western Capes First Thousand Days of Life policy: care grows brains; touch reduces stress for babies. The project employed heat sensor cameras, another artefact of military use, to capture family life in Cape Town. Ross and Eppels photos disrupt conventional forms of representation, markers of particularities such as race and class, and instead bring to the surface different aspects of the worldtouch, heat, presence, intimacy, quality of a relationship. The work refuses a narrative structure, and rather, arranges the photos as aesthetic objects. This project offers a different kind of attention to surfaces that confounds our all too simple binary logicsbetween interior and exterior, essence versus covering, a superficial surface and a fleshy invisible depthwhile also gesturing toward the emergence of alternative, even illegible, forms of representation and personhood (McMillan, 2018: 3).

Chemical infrastructures affect us all, though clearly some more than others, in distributions that replicate the structuring of life with capitalism and its racist colonial manifestations (Murphy, 2017: 498). Thinking with surfaces may allow us to see the relationsimmediate, visceral, and expressivein two seemingly disparate scenes in post-apartheid South Africa.

Notes

[1] Falcon de Vos was named after the brand of petri dish used in IVF, which is manufactured by Corning, Inc., a multi-billion dollar US-based company that also produces the glass for iPhones.

[2] See also Elizabeth Roberts (2014) piece in Somatosphere on the history of the petri dish, culture medium and permeability of petri dishes and wombs. http://somatosphere.net/2014/petri-dish.html/

Works Cited

Agard-Jones, V., 2013. Bodies in the System. Small Axe: A Caribbean Journal of Criticism, 17(3), pp.182192.

Aneck-Hahn, N.H. et al (2006) Impaired Semen Quality Associated With Environmental DDT Exposure in Young Men Living in a Malaria Area in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Journal of Andrology, 28(3), pp.423434.

Bate, R (2000) The political economy of DDT and malarial control. Energy and Environment, 11(6): 697728.

Bouwman, H., van den Berg, H. & Kylin, H (2011) DDT and Malaria Prevention: Addressing the Paradox. Environmental Health Perspectives, 119(6): 744747.

Haraway, D.J (1991) Simians, Cyborgs, and Women: The Reinvention of Nature, New York: Routledge.

Liboiron, M., Tironi, M. & Calvillo, N (2018) Toxic politics: Acting in a permanently polluted world. Social Studies of Science, 48(3): 331349.

Mbembe, A (2003) Necropolitics. Public Culture, 15(1): 1140.

McMillan, U (2018) Introduction: skin, surface, sensorium. Women & Performance: a journal of feminist theory. 28(1): 115.

Murphy, M (2013) Distributed reproduction, chemical violence, and latency. Scholar and Feminist Online, 11(3): 17.

Murphy, M (2017) Alterlife and Decolonial Chemical Relations. Cultural Anthropology, 32(4): 494503.

Nuttall, S (2013) Wound, surface, skin. Cultural Studies, 27(3), pp.418437.

Ross, F.C. & Eppel, N (2016) Thermal optimum: time, intimacy and the elemental in the first thousand days of life. Anthropology Southern Africa, 39(1), pp.6473.

Skinner, M.K. & Guerrero-Bosagna, C (2009) Environmental signals and transgenerational epigenetics. Epigenomics. 1(1):111117.

Solomon, H (2016) Metabolic Living: Food, Fat and the Absorption of Illness in India. Durham: Duke University Press.

Dr. Tessa Moll recently completed her PhD in Social Anthropology at the University of Cape Town as part of the First Thousand Days of Life Research Group. Her doctoral research explored articulations of potentiality in assisted reproductive technologies in post-apartheid South Africa. She recently joined the ARC project at the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University (Australia) on the translation and circulation of epigenetics in the Global South. You can find her work at https://uct.academia.edu/TessaMoll and on Twitter @tessamuldvarp.



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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Its a rare occurrence to see a common merganser in Central Park, so bird-watchers were surprised to find the duck with plastic litter in its beak -- preventing it from feeding. Now, the New York City Parks Department is working to rescue the duck, according to recent reports.

Photos on social media show the duck with a piece of plastic jammed in the its narrow bill, the New York Times reported.

Photographer Bradley Kane said on Twitter that he should be thrilled to see the duck in Central Park, as the sighting marks the 199th bird species hes seen in the park since he began bird-watching in 2016. He said that while the duck isnt a rare species in certain areas, it is an uncommon duck to spot in Central Park.

However, its tough to see it suffer due to our use of plastic. Rescue attempts ongoing, he wrote on Twitter.

I should be thrilled to see this Common Merganser hen, seen on the Lake in Central Park today, as it marks the 199th bird species I've seen in the park since I got back into birding in '16. However, it's tough to see it suffer due to our use of plastic. Rescue attempts ongoing. pic.twitter.com/hRTT9vzv6M  Bradley Kane (@WinoBradNY) February 23, 2020

The Parks Department told the New York Times on Monday it would send park rangers onto Central Park Lake in kayaks to rescue the duck. The common merganser may only be seen in New York City once a year, during its migratory travels north.

The agency stepped in after failed rescue missions over the weekend by several bird-watchers. Kane told the Times that the duck cant close its throat due to the plastic, so when it dives, water rushes in and prevents it from feeding.

According to the National Audubon Society, which works to protect birds and the their habitats throughout the country, more than 200 species visit Central Park every year to take advantage of the green space in the middle of Manhattan. Migration keeps birds coming back each spring, and some bird-watchers will spend their whole day scouring the park for rare birds.

TROUBLED SPECIES ON STATEN ISLAND

Last March, SILive.com received reports of geese in Staten Island parks suffering with plastic around their neck and beak. The plastic around one goose appeared to be from rings of six-pack holders. In response, the Parks Department encouraged residents to properly dispose of their litter.

Just a few months later in August, another Staten Islander noticed another goose in distress with plastic rings wrapped tightly around its neck at Willowbrook Park.

According to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the public should contact New York City Park Rangers when incidents of entanglement are reported or witnessed in city parks. Ideally, the animal would be captured to remove the entangled item, and then the animal would be released, according to the DEC.

FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
The world's first hand wrist transplant operation from a living donor was successfully carried out by military surgeons at Hospital No. 108 in Hanoi, Vietnamese news portal VNExpress reported on Tuesday

BANGKOK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th February, 2020) The world's first hand wrist transplant operation from a living donor was successfully carried out by military surgeons at Hospital No. 108 in Hanoi, Vietnamese news portal VNExpress reported on Tuesday.

The operation was performed on January 21 on a patient injured in an industrial accident in 2016, the publication said. Within a month after the operation, a new wrist of the patient's left hand was successfully taken, it said.

The wrist was transplanted from another patient who severely damaged his left elbow in an industrial accident. After three weeks of attempts to save the patient's arm, the doctors decided to amputate it due to worsening gangrene.

However, the patient's wrist was unaffected by the gangrene, so the doctors negotiated with the patient and his family to obtain consent for donation.

The transplant operation lasted 8 hours, the hospital's deputy head and chief surgeon Nguyen The Hoang, who acted as lead surgeon, told the portal.

"Hand transplantation is generally fraught with many difficulties due to the complex structure of the human hand, and in this case, we had to take measures to prevent secondary infection with gangrene, as the donor's arm was infected in the elbow," he said, as quoted by the news portal.

He added that the fact the muscle tissue of the recipient's arm had not been used for almost four years presented a serious challenge.
Bernie Sanders Democratic rivals prepared to unleash a new wave of attacks against the partys presidential frontrunner in a high-stakes debate on Tuesday, perhaps their final prime-time opportunity to change the direction of the 2020 nomination fight.

Almost all of the six other candidates set to debate in South Carolina went after Sanders in the hours leading up to the event.

Pete Buttigieg highlighted Sanders call for a government-financed health care system as an example of his polarisation.

Former vice president Joe Biden accused Sanders of trying to undermine Barack Obamas 2012 re-election.

And former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg attacked Sanders record on gun control.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden (Matt Rourke/AP)

Five Bloomberg supporters, all current or former black elected officials, blasted Sanders record on gun control as well as other priorities for the black community on Tuesday.

The new wave of infighting came as Democrats were set to meet for the partys 10th, and perhaps most consequential, debate of the 2020 primary season.

Bloomberg was the focus last week for his highly anticipated debut, but after a bad performance that froze his momentum, the knives are out for 78-year-old Sanders.

The night marks a major moment in Sanders political career. After spending decades as an outside agitator accustomed to attacking the party establishment, he is suddenly the one on defence as the Democratic establishment fears he could build an insurmountable delegate lead as soon as next week.

Sanders handling of the pressure could be crucial in determining whether he stays at the top of the Democratic pack.

Sanders said he expected the attacks. But he still seemed to be adjusting to his new status. It is a little funny to find myself as the so-called frontrunner, he said.

Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren (Matt Rourke/AP)

Other candidates also have a lot on the line for Tuesdays forum, which comes just four days before South Carolinas first-in-the-South primary and one week before more than a dozen states vote on Super Tuesday.

Story continues

Biden is looking to make a big impression in South Carolina, where he was long viewed as the unquestioned frontrunner because of his support from black voters.

Campaigning in the state the day before the debate, he predicted he would win by plenty on Saturday.

Sanders senior adviser Jeff Weaver said there was an air of desperation to the fresh attacks on his candidate.

One candidate who has not yet taken Sanders on directly is Elizabeth Warren. Though she shares many of Sanders liberal policies and could benefit if he were to stumble, she has been reluctant to tangle with him throughout the campaign.

Sanders may benefit most from the sheer number of candidates still in the race. They are still fighting among themselves, and splitting up the anti-Sanders vote, to emerge as the strongest alternative to him.
A man died after he crashed into a utility pole Sunday on the city's North Side, according to San Antonio police.

The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office identified the man as 55-year-old Abel Meza Jr. His death was ruled an accident.

Officers responded to the incident just after 2:30 a.m. in the 1200 block of West Hildebrand, not far from Interstate 10 and Blanco Road.

FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox

According to authorities, Meza was initially responsive at the scene and was transported to University Hospital for his injuries.

SAPD said it needed a warrant to draw blood from Meza in order to test him for possible intoxication. By the time officers arrived at the hospital, however, police said Meza was in critical condition and had gone through a blood transfusion, terminating the DWI investigation.

Meza later died at the hospital. The cause of death was from blunt force injuries, the medical examiner's office 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
Austria confirmed two cases, and Spain, Switzerland, Croatia and Italy one

Coronavirus outbreak has peaked in China, says World Health Organization

But WHO warns that world should prepare for a pandemic

Health advisor warns that Covid-19 could be the feared Disease X

Hundreds of tourists reportedly tested in Tenerife hotel after confirmed case

Five European nations have confirmed new coronavirus cases as authorities claimed the disease has now peaked in China.

In Austria, a local authority health spokeswoman said there were two cases declared in the Tyrol region.

Meanwhile, the Spanish health ministry confirmed that a woman in Barcelona who went to northern Italy recently has tested positive.

Switzerland and Croatia and the Italian island of Sicily have also confirmed their first cases.

Earlier on Tuesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a press conference that they believed the outbreak has peaked in China.

A specialist team sent to China found that the epidemic peaked and plateaued between 23 January and 2 February.

Passengers wearing masks outside Seoul Railway Station in South Korea (Reuters)

However, the WHO warned that the world must prepare for a potential coronavirus pandemic. This is when an infectious diseases spreads easily in many parts of the world.

It has also warned that the coronavirus outbreak could be the feared Disease X.

Meanwhile, there are reports that hundreds of guests at a hotel in Tenerife were being tested after a confirmed case of coronavirus on the Canary Island.

The tests come after an Italian doctor tested positive for coronavirus.

Health experts have warned that time is running out to prevent a pandemic, while there has been fierce debate over whether or not it has already reached that stage.

Bank workers sanitise cash to kill the coronavirus in Taiyuan, Shanxi, China (Getty)

The WHOs director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told a press conference in Geneva on Monday there had been a steady decline in cases in the past two weeks.

A total of 77,658 cases of the virus, which causes respiratory disease Covid-19, have been declared in China, including 2,663 deaths.

Story continues

Read more: Downing Street says UK prepared for all coronavirus eventualities

Dr Ghebreyesus said the WHO was encouraged by the continued decline in cases in China, but he warned that the virus has the potential to cause a pandemic.

"The past few weeks has demonstrated just how quickly a new virus can spread around the world and cause widespread fear and disruption," he said.

WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaks at a news conference in Geneva, Switzerland (Reuters)

For the moment we're not witnessing the uncontained global spread of this virus."

In February 2018, the WHO said it was preparing for an unknown epidemic, dubbed Disease X by health officials.

Professor Marion Koopmans, a professor of viroscience at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, said the spread of Covid-19 is "rapidly becoming the first true pandemic challenge that fits the Disease X category".

Elsewhere, hundreds of tourists at a hotel in Tenerife in the Canary Islands were reportedly being tested for coronavirus.

Spains El Pais newspaper said guests are being quarantined and tests are being carried out in the resort of Adeje, which is popular with Britons.

It comes after an Italian tourist was admitted to hospital on the island and has since tested positive for Covid-19.

A British guest at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace in Tenerife, who did not want to be named, told Sky News: "All we have been told is to stay in our rooms."

There have been more than 1,200 cases in about 30 other countries and more than 20 deaths. Four more deaths were reported in Italy on Monday, raising its total to seven.

Police manned checkpoints around a dozen quarantined northern towns in Italy, where there have been 229 cases.

Austria temporarily halted rail traffic across its border with Italy and Slovenia and Croatia, popular getaways for Italians, were holding crisis meetings.

Stock markets around the world have plunged in reaction to the spread of the virus.

A tourist in Piazza del Santo in Padua, Italy, wears a protective mask (Getty)

China reported 508 new cases and another 71 deaths on Tuesday, 68 of them in the central city of Wuhan, where the epidemic was first detected in December.

Read more: Cruise ship coronavirus patients post pictures from hospital

South Korea now has the second-most cases in the world with 893 and has had a near 15-fold increase in reported infections in a week, with 60 new cases reported on Tuesday.

As South Korea reported its eighth fatality, health workers continued to find batches in the south-eastern city of Daegu and nearby areas, where panic has brought towns to a standstill.

In Iran, schools were closed for a second day, and daily sanitising of public buses and the Tehran metro, which is used by some three million people a day, has started.

Iraq and Afghanistan closed their borders with Iran in an effort to stop the further spread while Bahrain announced a 48-hour suspension of flights to and from Dubai, the world's busiest international airport.
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.

Gun rights rally in Virginia Show all 32 1 /32 Gun rights rally in Virginia Gun rights rally in Virginia Gun rights advocates and militia members attend a rally organised by The Virginia Citizens Defense League on Capitol Square near the state capitol building in Richmond Reuters Gun rights rally in Virginia During elections last year, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam promised to enact sweeping gun control laws in 2020, including limiting handgun purchase to one per month, banning military-style weapons and silencers, allowing localities to ban guns in public spaces and enacting a 'red flag' law so authorities can temporarily seize weapons from someone deemed a threat AP Gun rights rally in Virginia While event organisers asked supporters to show up un-armed, militias and other far-right groups from across the country attended the rally with guns to show their support for gun rights AP Gun rights rally in Virginia A man with his face covered joins the rally Getty Gun rights rally in Virginia EPA Gun rights rally in Virginia Getty Gun rights rally in Virginia AP Gun rights rally in Virginia Reuters Gun rights rally in Virginia EPA Gun rights rally in Virginia Reuters Gun rights rally in Virginia AP Gun rights rally in Virginia Reuters Gun rights rally in Virginia Reuters Gun rights rally in Virginia EPA Gun rights rally in Virginia Reuters Gun rights rally in Virginia Getty Gun rights rally in Virginia AFP via Getty Gun rights rally in Virginia EPA Gun rights rally in Virginia EPA Gun rights rally in Virginia AP Gun rights rally in Virginia Getty Gun rights rally in Virginia AP Gun rights rally in Virginia EPA Gun rights rally in Virginia Getty Gun rights rally in Virginia AP Gun rights rally in Virginia EPA Gun rights rally in Virginia EPA Gun rights rally in Virginia EPA Gun rights rally in Virginia Reuters Gun rights rally in Virginia AFP via Getty Gun rights rally in Virginia AFP via Getty Gun rights rally in Virginia AP

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.

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.
Married At First Sight's Josh Pihlak and Cathy Evans were the first couple to have sex this season.

And on Wednesday, truck driver Josh told Hit FM's Carly & Seamus that his 'wife' is pregnant with their first child.

But it appears he was just joking, as he added with a laugh: 'We're expecting a baby in June!'

Scroll down for video

'We're expecting a baby!' Married At First Sight's Josh Pihlak dropped a bombshell about his relationship with Cathy Evans during a live radio interview on Wednesday

If Cathy was expecting in June, she would be showing by now - and recent photos of the logistics investigator prove she is not pregnant.

Josh, 28, made the bizarre joke when asked if he and Cathy, 26, were still together two months after filming the MAFS finale.

He claimed they were, before hastily saying that he didn't want to leak any spoilers.

Not so fast! But it appears Josh was just joking around, after radio duo Carly & Seamus tried to get him to reveal MAFS spoilers. Pictured with Cathy on Married At First Sight

'I don't know why [other MAFS stars] are doing that. They take the fun out of it,' Josh added.

'If someone saw a new movie and told me how it ended, I would be mortified and wouldn't want to see the movie! It takes the fun out of it.'

When asked if there would be legal consequences for leaking spoilers, Josh said: 'I just signed the contract, I didn't even read it.'

MAFS season seven is only into its fourth week and a handful of couples have already consummated their 'marriages'.

Having a laugh: Josh, 28, made the bizarre joke when asked if he and Cathy, 26, were still together two months after filming the MAFS finale

Cathy and Josh were the first to be intimate, sealing the deal while on their honeymoon in rural Victoria.

Around the same time, Stacey Hampton and Michael Goonan slept together during their post-marital holiday in Fiji.

Mikey Pembroke and Natasha Spencer, and Hayley Vernon and David Cannon have also had sex during the experiment.

Married At First Sight continues Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine
Jeremy Clarkson has opened the doors to his newly launched farm shop situated on his 1000-acre Oxfordshire farm.

Clarkson, who is currently filming his new TV series I Bought The Farm, launched the shop at his farm 'Diddly Squat' on Saturday.

The former Top Gear presenter joked that the shop - 'Squat Shop' - is putting 'Aldi out of business'.

"It's going really well. We've had a good turn out and we've had more customers than Aldi - we're putting the German giants out of business," he told PA news agency.

"This is the end of supermarket shopping!"

My farm shop opens tomorrow afternoon. Twitter friendly as its unheated and meat free. Do drop in if youre in the Chipping Norton area.  Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) February 21, 2020

He added: "Farming is hard work, but it is rewarding when you sell potatoes and other produce as it comes on song. Im only selling what is seasonal.

"The pumpkins, lavender and the honey will all be coming  so theres quite a lot to do."

The shop, located near Chipping Norton, sold potatoes for 1.02 per 2kg, farm-made apple juice and bottles of water labelled 'its got no s**t in it'.

More than 100 customers turned up for its 'grand opening', despite the muddy conditions.

Very many thanks to all the people who came to my farm shop today. I hope you enjoy your potatoes.  Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) February 22, 2020

Clarkson closed the shop on Sunday because 'its a day for the baby Jesus', adding 'also, because Im going to Tanzania'.

The TV presenter has frequently expressed his passion for farming. In an interview last year, he said that switching from super cars to the steady pace of a tractor 'fills him with joy'.
The vast majority of opponents who showed up Friday at the state Capitol for a legislative hearing on gun-related bills were respectful and circumspect about the right time and place to carry a gun.

But at least two opponents openly carried assault-type long rifles around the Capitol for several hours. And one of those men, Brett Hendrix, brought it into the hearing room to testify on a suicide prevention measure (LB958) that also initially would have added semiautomatic rifles and shotguns to the category of firearms for which a purchase certificate would be required.

Another bill (LB958), introduced by Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha and heard Friday, would prohibit the purchase or possession of a firearm by a person who has been convicted of domestic violence or is the subject of a domestic violence, sexual assault or harassment protection order.

A number of senators and staffers were stunned by the presence of guns in hallways and a room where people were testifying and hearing testimony. They were trying to understand a policy in which concealed handguns were not allowed but it was OK to openly carry assault-type rifles.

According to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, states are split on restrictions of guns in meetings of state legislatures. California and Florida prohibit both concealed- and open-carry, for example; Texas and Michigan allow both; and Kentucky and Missouri prohibit concealed-carry, except for lawmakers, and allow open-carry.

Cavanaugh stood up during debate on a land bank bill Monday morning and said she was intimidated by the guns present Friday.

She reread the rules governing the Legislature several times over the weekend and found them to be egregiously inadequate, she told senators. The only reason she had security herself was because she asked for it after overhearing in the hallway that people were at the Capitol carrying weapons. Senators and staff were not formally alerted to it, except for Judiciary Committee members.

She was traumatized, she said, but she will continue to show up to "speak truth to power," even when it's personally challenging.

Everyone has a right to be heard, she said, but they don't have a right to intimidate while being heard.

Friday, Judiciary Committee Chairman Steve Lathrop said he would ask the Legislature's Executive Board to address allowing guns in a hearing room. Executive Board Chairman Mike Hilgers said Monday that he has asked the board's legal counsel to research laws and rules about guns in the Capitol.

A state law governing concealed handgun permit carriers delineates where those concealed guns cannot be carried, including buildings that contain courtrooms and a meeting of and a committee of the Legislature.

But the law is silent on where an openly carried gun can be taken in the state with regard to public offices and spaces. People with private offices, businesses and other spaces can determine whether weapons are allowed.

The Nebraska State Patrol says you can't bring weapons onto the balcony of the legislative chamber (also no liquids, flash photography, leaning over the railing, yelling, booing or clapping.)

The Capitol Commission has rules that govern bringing certain objects into nonlegislative space, and to special events, said Capitol Administrator Bob Ripley. You can't bring poles attached to signs or flags, for example, into hallways or to news conferences or rallies in the Rotunda.

But there are no weapons bans, other than those in state law.

Ripley said having metal detectors at the doors of the Capitol would fall under the Capitol Commission, which is governed by all three branches: administrative, judicial and legislative.

In 2015, the Executive Board discussed increased security, because there are no real barriers to entering Nebraska's Capitol, its offices or hearing rooms, except for courtrooms and, now, some offices in the tower. Since then, State Patrol presence has increased, but there's no metal detectors except for courtrooms.

Lincoln Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks said the Legislature will work with the Executive Board and the Capitol Commission to figure out the next steps regarding guns in the building.

"We definitely need to protect people's First Amendment rights, but we also need to protect people," she said.

Pansing Brooks said by banning proponents' signs at the hearing, the state chose to trample on people's First Amendment rights but to protect people's Second Amendment rights.

She said committee members asked very few questions of testifiers because some were concerned about getting people agitated.

"That isn't good representative government, either," she said.

People should be able to come into their state Capitol and feel comfortable and safe. At the hearing, senators had no flak jackets, she said, and only at the last minute were told how to quickly exit the room.

Lincoln Sen. Adam Morfeld sat in on the Judiciary Committee for the hearings, even though he had been threatened on social media by someone commenting on a post by the DEGuns Facebook page. The DEGuns Firearm Sales and Services lead gunsmith, David Pringle, a former leader of the Alaska Chapter of National Alliance, a neo-Nazi group, was in the hearing room.

Monday, Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon said a couple of people were in the building he would have preferred hadn't been there, but the bulk of the group was fine. He understood some people are going to be afraid of guns and some aren't.

Hilgers said the State Patrol had an increased presence Friday, and the Judiciary Committee was informed about what could be expected at the hearing. Communicating that to all senators, if it would happen again, will be discussed, he said.

Laurie Churchill, a member of Standing in for Lincoln, was outside the Capitol on Monday with about nine other group members, to protest peacefully about the presence of guns at the hearing. Churchill said she supports "common-sense" gun laws and did not like that people with guns were allowed in the hearing Friday.

"I would not have stayed. I would have been scared," she said.

Churchill said she would like to know if state leaders who opposed the bills would have received black men or Muslim men at the hearings with guns in the same way. Both men at the hearing with guns were white.

She also was dismayed about the discussion of white nationalism.

"I guess I knew that it was in the dark corners of our state, but I don't like it becoming public and vocal now," she said.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSLegislature

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(Natural News) Google is no stranger to controversy. Already drowning in privacy issues, the tech giant certainly does not need any more bad publicity right now. Nonetheless, it looks like more issues are looming for the worlds greatest disseminator of information.

As reported by CNET, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)  the federal agency responsible for protecting employees against workplace discrimination  is investigating Google for allegedly discriminating against a pregnant employee named Chelsey Glasson. (Related: Google employees wear multi-colored propeller hats to proclaim obedience to their creepy techno-cult.)

Claims of discrimination and retaliation

Ms. Glasson alleges that after working for Google for five years as a user experience researcher, she began to experience discrimination and retaliation from management staff at Google after she fell pregnant.

She claims that her supervisor made discriminatory remarks about pregnant women in her presence and that she was punished for complaining to HR about these comments by being given poor performance reviews and being denied a leadership position.

She was also warned before leaving on maternity leave that there was no guarantee that her management position would still be hers on her return.

To add insult to injury, Ms. Glasson claimed in an internal memo entitled, Im Not Returning to Google After Maternity Leave, and Here is Why  which quickly went viral  that the companys human resources department did not even bother to investigate any of her claims until she took the drastic step of hiring an attorney.

In addition, despite never having interviewed Ms. Glasson, Google nonetheless made the determination that there was no basis to her claims.

CNBC reported:

Glasson filed a complaint with the EEOC late last year with the allegations, which had more detail, including that one of the alleged supervisors was on the Google Cloud team.

The company responded to the EEOC complaint in January, saying it found no evidence of discrimination and that it didnt make Glasson a manager due to insufficient headcount, according to materials viewed by CNBC. (Related: Google employees are suddenly realizing their employer is pure EVIL; now theyre freaking out over Pentagon AI terminator project.)

Glasson just one of many employees to allege discrimination

Ms. Glasson is by no means the only ex-employee to accuse Google of some form of discrimination.

CNBC reported:

The latest investigation comes as Alphabet-owned Google faces multiple investigations from federal agencies as complaints by former Google employees mount. CNBC first reported that The U.S. National Labor Relations Board began an investigation into Google after the firing of four employees. That came just months after the company reached a labor settlement with the agency. Last summer, Google settled a class action age discrimination lawsuit, agreeing to pay $11 million.

Having initially ignored Ms. Glassons claims entirely, after her memo gained traction and was viewed by over 10,000 people the company issued a statement in January denying that she was ever the target of discrimination.

Reporting misconduct takes courage and we want to provide care and support to people who raise concerns, a Google spokeswoman said. All instances of inappropriate conduct reported to us are investigated rigorously, and over the past year we have simplified how employees can raise concerns and provided more transparency into the investigations process at Google. We work to be extremely transparent about how we handle complaints and the action we take.

The EEOC has declined to offer any comment, insisting that under federal law any charges and complaints handled by the agency are strictly confidential, and that employees are prohibited from commenting on them in any way.

Google has refused to either confirm or deny that it is being investigated by the EEOC, simply stating that it has implemented improved systems for reporting inappropriate conduct.

Discover what else Google is getting up to at TechGiants.news.

Sources for this article include:

CNET.com 1

CNET.com 2

CNBC.com 3
This is the same thing we have done with everybody else, Cunningham said. You and I both know that to have some businesses come in our community, these incentives are part of the packages. ... That is the cost of doing business.
Two new COVID-19 cases reported in Thailand

THAILAND: The Public Health Ministry today (Feb 25) announced two new Thai COVID-19 cases: a woman, 31, whose relative visited Guangzhou and a male driver of Chinese tourists, 29, as the total number of local cases rose to 37.

healthChineseSafetyCoronavirusCOVID-19

By Bangkok Post

Tuesday 25 February 2020, 02:53PM

Officials hand out face masks to visitors at Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram in Bangkok today (Feb 25), as two new local COVID-19 cases were reported by the Public Health Ministry. Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool

Sukhum Kanchanapimai, permanent secretary for health, said the woman was a maid and was initially diagnosed with pneumonia of unknown cause. Later, doctors learned she had a relative who returned from China. She was now being treated at Rajavithi Hospital.

The male patient was admitted to the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute in Nonthaburi province. He had been in close contact with Chinese tourists and initially showed up with a fever and cough.

Health officials were checking if other people close to them were also infected.

We found more confirmed cases because the Public Health Ministry improved its surveillance on Feb 18, increasing the number of countries, visitors and provinces under close watch, Dr Sukhum said.

This expanded surveillance now covered visitors from China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan and people in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Krabi, Phuket, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Samut Prakan provinces.

For good news, he said, another patient with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) had fully recovered and was discharged in the southern province of Krabi.

The patient was a woman Chinese tourist, 32, who arrived in Thailand before the closure of Wuhan airport.

He said confirmed cases in Thailand now numbered 37, of whom 22 (60%) had fully recovered and were discharged, while the 15 others remained at hospitals. Twelve of the 37 were Thais.

Patients under investigation numbered 1,580. Of these 1,160 had seasonal influenza, recovered and were discharged and were being monitored. The other 420 patients remained at hospitals.

Globally, COVID-19 cases stood at 80,115, including 2,7004 deaths. Of these, 77,660 cases were in China, including 2,664 deaths, the Public Health Ministry reported.
A new study of the genetic history of Sardinia, a Mediterranean island off the western coast of Italy, tells how genetic ancestry on the island was relatively stable through the end of the Bronze Age, even as mainland Europe saw new ancestries arrive. The study further details how the island's genetic ancestry became more diverse and interconnected with the Mediterranean starting in the Iron Age, as Phoenician, Punic, and eventually Roman peoples began arriving to the island.

The research, published in Nature Communications, analyzed genome-wide DNA data for 70 individuals from more than 20 Sardinian archaeological sites spanning roughly 6,000 years from the Middle Neolithic through the Medieval period. No previous study has used genome-wide DNA extracted from ancient remains to look at the population history of Sardinia.

Geneticists have been studying the people of Sardinia for a long time, but we haven't known much about their past. There have been clues that Sardinia has a particularly interesting genetic history, and understanding this history could also have relevance to larger questions about the peopling of the Mediterranean." John Novembre, PhD, senior author, leading computational biologist at the Univeristy of Chicago who studies genetic diversity in natural populations

An interdisciplinary team

The people of Sardinia have long been studied by geneticists to understand human health. The island has one of the highest rates of people who live to 100 years or more, and its people have higher than average rates of autoimmune diseases and disorders such as beta-thalassemia and G6PD deficiency. Many villages in Sardinia also have high levels of relatedness, which makes uncovering the genetics of traits simpler. Across the island, the frequencies of genetic variants often differ from mainland Europe. These factors have made Sardinia a useful place for geneticists like senior author Francesco Cucca from the Universita di Sassari in Italy to uncover genetic variants that may be linked to disease and aging.

"Contemporary Sardinians represent a reservoir for some variants that are currently very rare in continental Europe," Cucca said. "These genetic variants are tools we can use to dissect the function of genes and the mechanisms that are at the basis of genetic diseases."

Sardinia also has a unique archaeological, linguistic, and cultural heritage, and has been part of Mediterranean trade networks since the Neolithic age. How much the population's genetic ancestry has changed through these times, however, has been unknown.

To generate a new perspective on the genetic history of Sardinia, long-term collaborators Cucca and Novembre brought together an interdisciplinary group with geneticists, archaeologists, and ancient DNA experts. A team led by Johannes Krause at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History and the University of Tubingen in Germany helped coordinate the sampling and carried out DNA sequencing and authentication. Teams led by Novembre and Cucca then analyzed the data and shared the results with the whole group for an interdisciplinary interpretation.

"We were thrilled to be able to generate such a dataset spanning six thousand years because the retrieval of ancient DNA from skeletal remains from Sardinia is very challenging," said Cosimo Posth, an archaeogeneticist at the Max Planck Institute and co-first author of the study.

Periods of stability and change

Sampling DNA from ancient remains allows scientists to get a snapshot of people living at a specific time and place, instead of using modern DNA and inferring the past based on assumptions and mathematical models. When the team compared the DNA of 70 ancient individuals collected from Sardinia to the DNA of other ancient and modern individuals, they uncovered two major patterns.

First, they saw that Sardinian individuals in the Middle Neolithic period (4100-3500 BCE) were closely related to people from mainland Europe of the time. Genetic ancestry then remained relatively stable on the island through at least the end of the "Nuragic" period (~900 BCE). This pattern differs from other regions of mainland Europe which experienced new ancestries entering from people moving across the continent in the Bronze Age.

The results also show the development of Sardinia's distinctive nuraghe stone towers and culture (after which the Nuragic period is named) did not coincide with any detectable, new genetic ancestry arriving to the island.

"We found striking stability in ancestry from the Middle Neolithic through the end of the Nuragic period in Sardinia," said Joe Marcus, a PhD student in the Department of Human Genetics at UChicago and a co-first author on the paper.

Second, the team found evidence of the arrival of different populations across the Mediterranean, first with Phoenicians originating from the Levant (modern-day Lebanon) and Punics, whose culture centered in Carthage (modern-day Tunisia). Then, new ancestry continued to appear during the Roman period and further in the Medieval period, as Sardinia became historically influenced by migration of people from modern-day Italy and Spain.

"We observed clear signals of dynamic periods of contact linking the island to the rest of the Mediterranean, appearing first in individuals from two Phoenician and Punic sites as early as 500 BCE, and then in individuals from the Roman and Medieval periods," said Harald Ringbauer, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher involved in the computational data analysis at UChicago and a co-first author on the paper.

The group's results help explain similarities with DNA from mainland European individuals of the Neolithic and Copper Age, such as "Otzi the Iceman," an almost perfectly preserved, 5,300-year-old human discovered in alpine ice in northern Italy in 1991. Specifically, among modern Europeans, Otzi's DNA is most similar to modern-day Sardinians. The new study supports the theory that this similarity remains because Sardinia had less turnover of genetic ancestry over time than mainland Europe, which experienced large-scale migrations in the Bronze Age.

Insights from the past, implications for the present

Besides providing new insight into mysteries of the past, studying ancient DNA also has implications for the well-being of present-day humans. This model of Sardinia's population history--establishment followed by relative isolation and then the arrival of new sources of diversity--provides a new framework for understanding how genetic variants with health implications became more frequent on the island.

"For future studies, we want to look more precisely at mutations that we think are involved in disease to see in which period they changed in frequency and how quickly they changed," Novembre said. "That will help us understand the processes acting on these diseases, and in turn gain a richer view that may yield insights for human health."
It's exactly 30 years since Nisheeth Tak arrived in Dublin from his native India. A graduate of the Institute of Hotel Management, Catering & Applied Nutrition in Mumbai, he'd been enticed to Ireland by a London-based restaurateur who had said he was opening a chain of restaurants in Europe.

The job, however, was not as portrayed, and Nisheeth found himself working in a small, family-run place in Dublin, where the owner's brother, who had zero cooking experience, was the chef, while two other brothers, with equally little hospitality experience, were front-of-house.

Accommodation was provided, but it was almost impossible to get paid, and for the first three months, Nisheeth really struggled. A big culture shock for a young man who'd worked in the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, one of the most famous hotels in the world, loved by celebrities, royalty and heads of state, from Jackie Kennedy to the Prince of Wales. It was also the Taj that was targeted by terrorists in 2008, with one of Nisheeth's great friends, executive chef Vijay Banja, being shot dead.

I first noticed Nisheeth in the former Saagar Restaurant on Harcourt Street, before he moved to Poppadom in Rathgar, where I enjoyed regional Indian food the like of which we'd never had here before.

Nisheeth then met Asheesh Dewan, which was a turning point in both their lives, as they had similar ambitions to open a modern Indian restaurant that had nothing to do with the traditional Indian curry house. In this ambition, they've both been hugely successful, changing the face of Indian cuisine in Ireland. Asheesh went on to open the stunning Ananda restaurant in Dundrum Town Centre, as well as Jaipur in Dalkey and Malahide, and Chakra in Greystones.

Nisheeth, in turn, opened Rasam in the SoCoDu village of Glasthule in 2003. It was an instant success, and attracted a hugely loyal clientele, from rock stars to radio broadcasters, to techie billionaires, actors and politicians - even the domestic goddess herself, Nigella Lawson, has visited.

I live nearby, and love Indian food, so it's a bit of a home-away-from-home for me too, and, with a new menu having just launched, I couldn't wait to try it.

Magic mushrooms

Starters (7.95-16.95) include street food favourites, such as a Sev potato galette; Lucknow-style Adraki lamb chops flavoured with royal cumin, fennel, ginger and tabbouleh; coastal dishes such as tiger prawns with avocado, mango and curry leaf chutney; crispy squid with gooseberry chutney; or Keralan duck rolls with star anise, figs and tamarind. The Rasam platter (16.95) is a great way to try a selection of starters.

To start, I had divine spiced Mumbai-style pan-seared scallops (14.95), which were served on a green pea puree and mango chutney; while Bayveen's Delhi Magic Mushrooms (8.50) had a variety of confit wild mushrooms, served with ginger, garlic and a creamy morel sauce - both heavenly.

Mains (19.95-22.50) included Keralan mango prawns; the delicious Old Delhi Butter Chicken; fresh fish of the day; lamb cooked in a variety of ways or Beetroot Chicken with dry pomegranate seeds and coriander leaves.

Bayveen had the Manshari Thali (31.50), pictured left, a complete meal served on a silver platter, of course. It included a rich lamb curry, Chettinad chicken, prawns, potatoes and spinach, pulao rice, naan bread, home-made pickles and yoghurt. They also have a vegetarian thali at 27.50. Meanwhile, I decided to go with a second starter, opting for Malai Jhinga (16.50) - great big pan-seared Indian Ocean prawns, flavoured with mace, green cardamom and cream cheese, set off with mint, avocado and greens. With my prawns, eschewing rice, I had a side dish of Kairi Bhindi (5.95) - stir-fried okra with onion, tomato and cumin - another favourite.

A glowing review

To finish, we shared Kesari Kulfi Falooda, (8.95) a home-made saffron-flavoured Indian ice-cream served with sweet vermicelli and shiny basil seeds which actually glow from the plate.

With a bottle of Galician Terras do Cigarron Godello 2016 (34) and service, our bill came to 132.

Suffice to say, I'd eat in Rasam every night if I could!

Rasam,

18-19 Glasthule Road

Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

Tel: (01) 2300-600

rasam.ie

lucindaosullivan.com
Sen. Bernie Sanders and his front-running presidential campaign have amped up their criticism of MSNBC, saying the liberal-leaning cable network has regularly slighted or ignored Sanders' success in the early primaries.

Sanders, I-Vt., long been critical of the "corporate" media, including The Washington Post, which he says has overlooked him and the popularity of his self-described democratic socialist agenda for years. He complained about his coverage during the 2016 campaign, when he finished second to Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination.

The difference this time is that the Sanders camp is focusing its criticism specifically on MSNBC, whose prime-time hosts are a left-of-center alternative to the more conservative, pro-Trump partisans on Fox News. As such, the network is presumed to have an influential role among Democratic voters, especially during the primaries.

The campaign's criticism of MSNBC is in some ways the flip side of candidate Donald Trump's criticism of Fox News before and during the Republican primaries in early 2016. Trump attacked then-Fox host Megyn Kelly for asking him about his treatment of women during the first primary debate in 2015. He later boycotted a Fox-sponsored debate before the Iowa caucuses. Fox's hosts eventually supported Trump after he had more or less finished off his GOP challengers.

In both cases, the anti-media message probably plays well with both candidates' supporters and is in keeping with Sanders' and Trump's self-created images as anti-establishment figures.

Although they come from opposite parts of the political spectrum, Sanders' and Trump's supporters seem to share a distrust of the mainstream media and a feeling they have been marginalized by the Beltway pundit class.

Unlike Trump, however, Sanders hasn't weaponized these sentiments by kicking reporters out of his rallies and denouncing them as "fake news" and the "enemy of the people."

Last week, before the NBC-sponsored Democratic debate in Las Vegas, Sanders reportedly confronted MSNBC President Phil Griffin and another network executive to complain about its coverage, including disparaging comments made by Chris Matthews and "Meet the Press" host Chuck Todd.

MSNBC has not confirmed that the encounters took place, though it hasn't disputed the report either.

Sanders' campaign manager, Faiz Shakir, told Vanity Fair last week that MSNBC "is constantly undermining the Bernie Sanders campaign." He has even said Fox News has been "more fair than MSNBC," a stunning statement given that the Democratic National Committee declined to award a primary debate to Fox because of its perceived bias.

The campaign's ire was raised further by Matthews' commentary as Sanders swept to an early lead in Nevada on Saturday. Matthews compared Sanders' performance to Nazi Germany's shattering military victory over France in the early months of World War II, suggesting Sanders' path to the Democratic nomination was unstoppable. "It's over," said Matthews, quoting a French general's assessment of the battle and possibly the war.

The comparison was flawed in several respects (France was eventually liberated, and Germany was crushed by allied forces), but Sanders' representatives expressed outrage that Matthews had compared Sanders to Hitler's soldiers, given that Sanders, a Jew, lost family members during the Holocaust.

"Never thought part of my job would be pleading with a national news network to stop likening the campaign of a Jewish presidential candidate whose family was wiped out by the Nazis to the Third Reich but here we are," Sanders communications director Mike Casca tweeted.

Matthews apologized to Sanders on his program, "Hardball," on Monday night.

"As I watched the one-sided results of Saturday's Democratic caucus in Nevada, I reached for an historical analogy and used a bad one. Senator Sanders, I am sorry for comparing anything from that tragic era in which so many suffered, especially the Jewish people, to an electoral result in which you were the well-deserved winner," he said.

On Saturday, Shakir, the campaign manager, tweaked the network's alleged dismissal of Sanders in a tweet: "All day long, MSNBC's pundit panels have been focused on the biggest question of the day: Who will finish second in Nevada?"

One of MSNBC's regular pundits, Anand Giridharadas, criticized Matthews during a segment on the network Sunday. He said "something is happening in America right now that actually does not fit our mental models." Apparently addressing Matthews, he added, "It certainly doesn't fit the mental models of a lot of people on TV."

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?' "

There was also outrage from the Sanders camp over comments made by Jason Johnson, a political science professor, MSNBC contributor and politics editor at The Root, a news site aimed at African Americans. During an interview on a satellite-radio program, Johnson said some of Sanders' staffers and supporters were drawn from an "island of misfit black girls." The hashtag #firejasonjohnson briefly trended.

In response, Sanders' national co-chair, Nina Turner, who is African American, tweeted a link to a Medium essay headlined, "If You Support Black Women, Condemn Jason Johnson's Misogynistic Remarks." Johnson later apologized for his comment.

On the other hand, Turner has also recently posted clips of interviews she's done with MSNBC, as well as one of Shakir discussing the campaign on the network Monday morning. Sanders has been interviewed repeatedly by Matthews, and by prime-time hosts Chris Hayes and Rachel Maddow.

This has fueled cynicism inside MSNBC that Sanders is protesting a bit too much. In contrast, some at the network point out, Joe Biden has said little about his media coverage, even though much of it for the past few weeks has been negative.

Another prime-time host, Lawrence O'Donnell, has repeatedly pointed out that Sanders' brand of democratic socialism is no more radical than what Democrats have periodically proposed since the advent of Medicare in the mid-1960s.

MSNBC itself tweeted out a clip on Saturday of weekend host Joy Reid saying this about Sanders' win in Nevada: "The hungriest community usually gets the nomination. . . . No one is as hungry, angry, enraged and determined as Sanders' voters."
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.

Key moments for Julian Assange Show all 9 1 /9 Key moments for Julian Assange Key moments for Julian Assange The situation today Assange was arrested after Metropolitan Police officers were invited into the Ecuadorian embassy on April 11 2019. How did it come to this? Ruptly TV Key moments for Julian Assange The break Assange shows the front page of the Guardian on July 26 2010, the day that they broke the story of the thousands of military files leaked by WikiLeaks AFP/Getty Key moments for Julian Assange Wanted A warrant for Assange's arrest was issued in August 2010 for counts of rape and molestation in Sweden AFP/Getty Key moments for Julian Assange Ruling The UK's Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that Assange should be extradited to Sweden to face trial Getty Key moments for Julian Assange Sanctuary Following the ruling, Assange was given asylum by the Ecuadorian governement over fears that his human rights would be violated if he were extradited, he has since remained in the embassy in London Getty Key moments for Julian Assange A friend in Pam Friend Pamela Anderson delivers lunch to Assange at the embassy in October 2016. She has since spoken against his arrest Getty Key moments for Julian Assange Arbitrarily detained A UN panel found in 2016 that Assange had been arbitrarily detained and that he had not been able to claim his full right to asylum. It urged Sweden to withdraw the charges against him Getty Key moments for Julian Assange The cat ultimatum Last year, the Ecuadorian embassy threatened to revoke Assange's internet access unless he stopped making political statements online and started taking better care of James, his pet cat. Assange accused Ecuador of violating his rights Reuters Key moments for Julian Assange Arrest Assange was arrested on April 11 2019. Ecuador revoked his asylum status and invited the Metropolitan Police in to the embassy to arrest him. Reuters

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.

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
The outgoing head of MI5 has admitted that the agency is 'not in control' of stopping terrorists as TV cameras filmed inside its headquarters for the first time.

Director-General Sir Andrew Parker, who will step down in April, sanctioned ITV documentary makers to be allowed inside the heart of the security service.

Filmmakers spoke to surveillance officers and investigators about their secret work and its impact on their lives for the episode of Tonight on this Thursday.

Previews for the programme were revealed this morning as the Queen visited the agency's headquarters at Thames House in London to meet Sir Andrew.

ITV journalist Rohit Kachroo interviews Sir Andrew Parker at MI5 in London for the programme

During the ITV programme due to air at 7.30pm on Thursday, Sir Andrew was asked about being MI5 chief during five UK terror attacks in 2017.

He said: 'I think it would be right to say it becomes progressively more challenging when, and then another attack happens of a different sort in a different place.'

Asked if it has felt that the agency wasn't in control, Sir Andrew said: 'Well we're not in control of it ever, are we? We're not in control of

'To be in control would mean that somehow, we could, you know, manage this whole landscape and stop everything. We can't. We can't do that.'

The unprecedented TV access came as the capital faced terror attacks on London Bridge on November 29 last year and in Streatham earlier this month on February 2.

Meanwhile the Queen praised MI5 officers for the 'tireless work you do to keep our country safe' in her first public visit to the intelligence agency today.

The Queen thanked MI5 on behalf of the nation after meeting a large number of staff at their headquarters, Thames House in London.

Sir Andrew gave the Queen a tour of the agency's private museum and showed her artefacts relating to double agents who helped deceive the Nazis over the site of the Second World War D-Day landings.

The Queen said in her speech: 'I would like to take my visit here today as an opportunity to thank you all for the tireless work you do to keep our country safe.

Mr Kachroo walks through a presentation room area of the MI5 headquarters in London

'I am always struck by the remarkable resolve with which you carry out your vital role. There will no doubt continue to be significant threats and challenges ahead.

'But on each of my visits to MI5, I have been impressed by the way that you have adapted to the changing threats to our nation.

'Whether responding to the threats from the Nazis or the Cold War, domestic terrorism or the cyber sphere, you have always demonstrated the utmost commitment to your motto Regnum Defende (defence of the realm).

'Because of the nature of your work, it is without public recognition, so it is on behalf of the country that I say to you all, thank you.'

The MI5 building at Thames House on Millbank in London, which has allowed cameras inside

Sir Andrew said the spy drama Spooks was 'so far from the reality' of life working for MI5, but 'great fiction' and enjoyable because it was not realistic.

He added that MI5 officers do not 'zoom around in blacked out Range Rovers with automatic weapons' like in the BBC drama.

Asked about it in ITV's Inside MI5: Keeping the UK safe, he said it was 'great fiction and great drama... you could sort of enjoy it because it's so far from the reality'.

He went on: 'It's a decent bit of fiction isn't it and has been popular and successful and why not.'

Mr Kachroo sits in the back of a car while filming for Tonight - Inside MI5: Keeping The UK Safe

Explaining how it was different, he said: 'First there are more than five of us, there are 5,000.

'We do not do things that are illegal and unlawful we operate in a tight framework and are properly overseen.

'We care about ethics, we are extremely careful about our compliance framework.'

He added: 'We don't zoom around in blacked out range rovers with automatic weapons.'

The Queen and Sir Andrew at the headquarters of MI5 at Thames House in London today

In a wide-ranging interview he also criticised web giants for not doing enough to help combat terror.

He warned of 'a Wild West unregulated inaccessible to authorities space' if internet firms did not find ways to give governments more information in unique circumstances.

He said back in 2013 when soldier Lee Rigby was murdered on the streets of London, it emerged there was a social media aspect to it.

Mr Parker said the companies treated the issue as 'one of denial of responsibility for content'.

The Queen talks to Sir Andrew as she leaves after a visit to the headquarters of MI5 today

He said that attitude had changed today where they were 'much more helpful'.

Stop sneering at Priti Patel, rages top civil servant Britain's top civil servant has tried to end the toxic briefing war engulfing Priti Patel at the Home Office. In an unusual intervention, Sir Mark Sedwill wrote to civil servants yesterday to warn that 'unattributable briefings and leaks to the media' were 'besmirching this country's hard-won reputation for good governance'. The Cabinet Secretary's comments  which were ironically leaked to the media  follow days of extraordinary briefings about relations between Miss Patel and Sir Philip Rutnam, who is permanent secretary at the Home Office. 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 had broken down, adding: 'Can they continue to work together? I just don't know. No 10 is going to have to sort it out because it is completely dysfunctional.' Advertisement

He said: 'There is something much more helpful today where these companies have much more come to terms with the fact that it is in their own interest and also for the majority of their users will want this, that they should help to deal with some of the more extreme sorts of activity and behaviour that can go on across their systems, including but not only terrorist plotting.

'In the end fundamentally there is an ethical responsibility here for these companies, you know, operating in democratic societies with the user base they have which is basically the populations of our countries, to play their part to do the things that we need to do when there is a legal basis for it.

'There are legal frameworks for all these things - we are not asking any of these companies to somehow bend the law or any of that.'

He said he 'cared a lot about privacy' but that there should be a way of offering encryption except in exceptional circumstances where there is a legal justification for revealing content.

He referred to 'serious forms of harm happening that affect our societies - terrorism, child sex exploitation'.

Mr Parker went on: 'I think the challenge we have to take on as a developed society is 'What sort of world do we want?'

'Are we really wanting a world where there is a cyber space that is a wild west unregulated inaccessible to authorities space?'

MI5 is the UK's domestic counter-intelligence and security agency.

Tonight - Inside MI5: Keeping The UK Safe will be on ITV this Thursday at 7.30pm
State Bank of India (SBI) will hike its safe deposit rental charges from March 31 onwards. According to a statement, SBI has said the rental charges will be incremented by Rs 500-3,000.

The rise in rental charges will depend on the size of the locker and the place where it's located. For example, SBI will charge Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 more in a metro city. For a large locker in a metro city, SBI will charge Rs 2,000 to Rs 8,000 more. The charges have also been increased for semi-urban and rural areas by Rs 1,000 to Rs 6,000.

Safe deposit lockers are a critical facility provided by the bank to its customers. The lockers come in different sizes, and are used for the safekeeping of valuables. Only the holders and joint holders are allowed to open the locker.

A locker can be hired by an individual or an organisation such as a firm or a trust. The applicant has to open an account in the bank before hiring a safe deposit. KYC documents and photographs are necessary for hiring a bank locker.

If users don't use it for a longer period of time, a year or three years, the bank has the right to ask the hirer to surrender it.
AKRON, Ohio  A man armed with a handgun attempting to rob a gas station in the Firestone Park neighborhood ended up running from the area when a clerk refused to hand over money from the register, police say.

The attempted robbery occurred at about 4 a.m. Sunday at a Speedway gas station on the 2000 block of South Main Street. The 21-year-old female clerk says the suspect entered the store and pulled out a handgun, demanding money.

No one was injured in the incident and no arrests have been made. The suspect is 30 to 40 years old and was wearing a black winter jacket, police say.

Anyone with information can contact detectives at 330-375-2490 or Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS. Tips also can be texted to TIPSCO at 274637. Callers can remain anonymous.

To comment on this story, visit Mondays crime and courts comment section.

More crime-related content on cleveland.com:

Ohio troopers 100 mph chase through Strongsville, Brunswick ends in crash, arrests and is now under review

MMA fighter accused of assaulting two people at bar near Akron

Man shot in head in downtown Akron parking lot

Geauga County man involved in Boy Scouts faces federal child pornography charge

Akron man sentenced to life in prison for deadly robbery

Man fatally shot in head and face in Clevelands Glenville neighborhood
The portfolio comprises 741 units in total, all of which are subject to Land Use Restrictive Agreements (LURA), which require that 40 percent of the units be occupied by low income tenants who earn 60 percent or less of the Area Median Income (AMI). The properties are also supported by Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Contracts that stipulate contractual rents are subsidized by the local housing authorities. Five of the properties are located in South Carolina, two are in North Carolina, and one is in Alabama.

Jeff Lawrence, Matt Baptiste, and Greg Krafcik led Walker & Dunlop in structuring the financing on behalf of Infinity Real Estate Advisors, and Infinity Capital Partners, whose principals are strong, repeat clients with extensive experience in developing and renovating affordable and Class C multifamily properties. The team worked alongside Geoff Smith and Kimberly Schmitz of Walker & Dunlop Commercial Property Funding, LLC, the company's specialty high-yield first mortgage and mezzanine lending platform.

Deftly navigating the LURA and HAP considerations associated with the properties, Walker & Dunlop effectively structured financing at 90 percent loan to cost, thanks to the owner's exceptional experience. In addition to covering the acquisition costs, loan proceeds will be used to complete $8,450,000 in renovations. The fund has engaged Atlanta Financial Group, led by Anthony Guarraci, to execute the portfolio rehabilitation, which will include interior unit restorations, common area upgrades, as well as building and site improvements.

"Our strategy is quite simple," Greg Jones, Chief Investment Officer at IREA, stated. "There is not enough product to support the growing need for affordable housing. Should our economy weaken, this demand will only continue to grow." Jones adds, "We see affordable multifamily as a unique investment product offering predictable returns in the event of an economic downturn."

"It is more important than ever to ensure affordable housing remains an option for residents across the United States. The rehabilitation and preservation of the Ambling Portfolio will provide tenants with an updated place to call home," commented Walker & Dunlop's Baptiste. "We were honored to work with Infinity RE Impact, an experienced and respected affordable housing owner and operator, and to help maintain much-needed housing solutions in the Southeast."

Walker & Dunlop is one of the largest multifamily lenders in the country and was ranked within the top five non-bank affordable lenders in the United States, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's 2018 Commercial/Multifamily Origination Rankings. In 2019 alone, Walker & Dunlop closed over $1.3 billion in transaction volume for affordable properties.

For more information about Walker & Dunlop's view on the affordable housing space, read our latest Multifamily Outlook Report and the following press releases:

About Walker & Dunlop

Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD), headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, is one of the largest commercial real estate finance companies in the United States. The company provides a comprehensive range of capital solutions for all commercial real estate asset classes, as well as investment sales brokerage services to owners of multifamily properties. Walker & Dunlop is included on the S&P SmallCap 600 Index and was ranked as one of FORTUNE Magazine's Fastest Growing Companies in 2014, 2017, and 2018. Walker & Dunlop's 800+ professionals in 40 offices across the nation have an unyielding commitment to client satisfaction.

SOURCE Walker & Dunlop, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.walkerdunlop.com


Students of Sarvodaya Co- Senior Secondary School in Nanakpura here on Tuesday gifted Madhubani paintings made by them to First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump.

Melania visited the school early today and interacted with the students and teachers for around 30 minutes, while her husband President Donald Trump held delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House near India Gate.

Wearing a white middy length dress with flowers imprinted in yellow and red, and sporting a red tilak on her forehead, Melania seemed thoroughly enjoying her session with students. She also attended a cultural programme at the school with children dancing to Bollywood music to entertain their guest from America.

Up on her arrival at the school, the First Lady of the US was welcomed with a bouquet by a girl student and was greeted with an 'arti thali'.

Melania attended 'Happiness Classes' at the school as a part of which students are taught various activities including meditation, street plays, basic obedience aimed at reducing anxiety and stress levels among children.

The first classroom she visited was decorated with paintings and the board read - "Welcome First Lady Melania Trump into the treasure of books."

On being prodded by a teacher, the kids said Namaste to which the tilak-bearing Melania replied with folded hands. She was seen enjoying the session smiling as teachers interacted with students.

In another class, the kids were brimmed with excitement as Melania interacted and shook hands with them. The First Lady also witnessed children performing Yoga asanas.

Melania then came to another class, where the board read - "We welcome First Lady Melania Trump to our Happy World" - and a painting of trees was named "Gratitude Wall". The gates too were decorated with various paintings and had the words "Welcome to Happiness Class" inscribed over them.

In her speech, the First Lady said that at home, in the US, she works with several children to promote similar ideas of well-being through my 'BE BEST' initiative that preaches dangers of drug abuse, the importance of online safety, and overall well-being of children.

Melania is currently on a two-day state visit with her husband in India. Earlier today, she took part in the ceremonial welcome of the US President at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and then paid a floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi Samadhi at Rajghat.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Newser)  The Liberty County Sheriff's Office was looking for a white Lexus with Florida tags traveling the wrong way on I-95 in Georgia in the wee hours of Sunday morning. But by the time deputies got to the interstate, it was too late: The Lexus, which was being driven by a 77-year-old man, had crashed head-on into a Nissan Rogue that was carrying a family of five from Virginia. All six people involved in the accident died, NBC News reports. Georgia State Police say all the victims were wearing seatbelts, and they do not believe impairment was a factor, WSAV reports.

story continues below

The occupants of the Nissan were identified as Sara Robinson, 41, Nathan Robinson, 37, and their three children, who were between about 4 and 14, according to relatives: Stephen, Rebecca, and Alexander. Neighbors tell WAVY the family was coming back from a trip south, and when the neighborhood children heard what had happened, they asked to hold a vigil, which they did Sunday night. "Becca and Miss Sara were always so sweet to us and so loving and so welcoming, so we decided to do something and loving for them," says one. (Another awful recent crash killed a grandma, a mom, and two children on a Disney vacation.)
February 25 : In order to clear the extra rush and for the convenience of passenger during the upcoming Holi festival season, Indian Railway (Western) has announced 3 Holi special fare special trains. Bandra Terminus  Gaya, Bandra Terminus  Barauni & Ahmedabad  Patna special trains will run 2 trips each.

Details of the trains along with days of operation and arrival/departure time is given below.

Train No.09029 Bandra Terminus  Gaya Superfast Humsafar Special train will depart from Bandra Terminus on Saturday, 7th March at 05:10 AM to Gaya at 02.00 PM the next day ie., Sunday. In return direction, Train No.09030 Gaya  Bandra Terminus Superfast Humsafar Special train will depart from Gaya on Sunday, 8th March at 05:00 PM and arrive Bandra Terminus at 00.25 AM on Tuesday, 10th March.

Train No.09031 Bandra Terminus  Barauni Humsafar Special train will depart from Bandra Terminus on Tuesday, 3rd March at 12.55 PM and will reach Barauni at 02:30 AM on Thursday, 5th March. In return direction, Train No.09032 Barauni  Bandra Terminus Humsafar Special train will depart from Barauni on Thursday, 5th March at 05:55 AM and arrive Bandra Terminus at 05:35 AM, the next day ie Friday.

Train No.09417 Ahmedabad  PatnaSpecial train will depart from Ahmedabad on Saturday, 7th March at 07:55 PM to reach Patna at 08:45 AM on Monday, 10th March. In return direction, Train No.09418 Patna  Ahmedabad Special train will depart from Patna on Monday, 10th March at 11:45 AM and will reach Ahmedabad at 10:20 PM the next day.

Booking for Train No.09029, 09031 & 09417 will open from 26th February, 2020

Latest updates on Holi Festival 2020
With a few days to go before the South Carolina Democratic primary, a major newspaper in the state is endorsing Pete Buttigieg, saying the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has an "outsider's appeal" and a "message of unity."

In an endorsement published Monday night, The State said Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and former Vice President Joe Biden were both "impressive" in their interviews with the newspaper, but it is "vital" for Democrats to "nominate an energetic, disciplined candidate who can offer voters a powerful yet pragmatic vision of a better America. The Democrats need a nominee who seeks to bring Americans together based on broad common ground  and not divide them along narrow interests." That person, The State declared, is Buttigieg.

From a historical standpoint, the Democratic Party has only won the presidency over the last 50 years "when it has resisted the temptation to pick status-quo nominees and shown the courage to choose centrist outsiders with fresh optimistic messages." Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama "successfully connected with voters by tapping into the sensibilities of average Americans," The State said, and Buttigieg "gained that needed perspective" while serving as mayor of South Bend.

The State praised Buttigieg for his health care ideas, including enacting Medicare for all who want it. "That's preferable to demanding a radical overhaul of our health care system  an unrealistic idea that's been advanced by politicians who spent most of their time inside the insular Washington bubble," The State said. "And it exemplifies Buttigieg's ability to see a crucial issue through the eyes of Americans who simply want practical policies, not upheaval and unknowns." Read the entire endorsement, which acknowledges Buttigieg's struggle to woo black voters, at The State.

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Cronkite News

PHOENIX  Inaccurate census figures can lead to a loss of federal funds essential for many communities, and they can result in a state losing seats in Congress. These worries are especially prevalent in Arizona, where there are considerable populations of immigrants and Native Americans.

Census Bureau officials are working to clear up any doubts about the decennial questionnaire before surveys are sent out to U.S. residents this spring.Part of those efforts included several panel presentations during the Census Matters to Arizona Symposium, held late last month at Arizona State Universitys Beus Center for Law and Society. The six-hour conference welcomed census directors and specialists, as well as members of the news media, local government and policy officials and community organizations to stress the significance of participating in the decennial headcount.

The Knowledge Exchange for Resilience at Arizona State University, a partnership that connects community-based organizations with other resources, co-hosted the symposium with the U.S. Census Bureau and other ASU affiliates.

I was extremely encouraged by the range of people who really care about how the census matters here in Arizona, said Patricia Solis, executive director of the collaboration. Everyone understands how important this is. We came together and motivated each other and re-enforced that message, and I think also came away with a lot of really good ideas about how we can make sure our constituents, the people that we care about, really understand that.

The Nonprofit and Community Organization Panel featured, from left, Lydia Guzman, director for advocacy and civic engagement of Chicanos Por La Causa; Elizabeth Wentz, director of Knowledge Exchange for Resilience at ASU; and Carla Vargas Jasa, president and CEO of Valley of the Sun United Way. Photo by Kelly Donohue / Cronkite News

Bureau officials are encouraging all residents  in the country legally or not  to complete their surveys by April 1, known as Census Day . Surveys can be filled out by mail, phone or over the internet.

The Constitution requires the government to attempt to count everyone throughout the 50 states, as well as in five U.S. territories and Washington, D.C., every 10 years. The data is used to allocate federal funding throughout the country and reapportion the 435 seats in the House of Representatives depending on state population.

Vicki McIntire, deputy regional director of the Denver Regional Census Center, noted that census data is used to distribute over $675 billion in federal funds to U.S. communities each year. The money pays for such local projects as road construction, education and health care programs.

She also discussed what the Census Bureau is doing to address the lack of representation Native Americans have seen in recent counts. The bureau last summer estimated that 5.3% of Arizonans are American Indian and Alaska Native.

We have met one-on-one with all of the tribal nations in the state of Arizona, McIntire said. Weve asked all of these tribal nations to have a liaison from their tribe work with us directly, and weve paid for them to get educated and trained on the census. We are hiring locally within the tribal nations, too.

McIntire said the bureau has three designated tribal specialists who reach out to Native Americans living on reservations.

This will be the first time most tribes actually have the opportunity to self-respond versus just being able to respond when somebody comes to their doors, McIntire said. Were really excited about the opportunity for them to participate in self-response.

As a result, McIntire estimates that about 60.5% of census participants will self-respond this year. In 2010, 74% of U.S. households responded to the census by mail.

She also addressed privacy concerns by citing Title 13 , which legally protects questionnaire responses.

Nobody can get at our data, McIntire said. We never release any individual, identifiable information to any type of government agency. The president cant even get information about a specific individual or community. Its confidential and safe. Were trying to get our local trusted leaders educated on all of that, to tell their community also how safe our data is and how important it is.

She also described the bureaus national outreach campaign, which largely focuses on engaging local communities and reaching out online.

What we are really trying to do is get our local community members, trusted voices in the community, faith leaders, health care workers, teachers  people that the community trusts and listens to  engaged and educated, and that they spread the word.

McIntire said census reporters usually begin knocking on doors about a month after Census Day at the earliest, and usually will go back six times if they havent received a response. The data must be collected by July 31 so it can be delivered to the president and Congress by December 31.

After the fourth visit to the same home, she said, census reporters will knock on a neighbors door to collect information on whether the first home is vacant. McIntire mentioned that administrative records are used to make up for what reporters arent able to collect.

The American Indian and Alaska Native population reached 6.8 million in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Lydia Guzman, director for advocacy and civic engagement for Chicanos Por La Causa, a nonprofit that works to improve the lives of Hispanics in Arizona, said not enough Hispanics participated in the 2010 census, resulting in an incomplete tally of the population and a loss of federal funds.

A decade ago, Guzman said, many clients of her group had been told not to open the door to strangers  a response to the April 2010 signing of Senate Bill 1070 , which required law enforcement officials to investigate the immigration status of anyone they suspected of being in the U.S. illegally.

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down three of its provisions in June 2012 but upheld the one requiring immigration status checks during law enforcement stops.

Chicanos Por La Causa has been teaching a very different lesson since S.B. 1070 was first signed into law, Guzman said.

Weve come a long way since S.B. 1070, she said. Its important that (people) make themselves count. Theres nothing to be afraid of, and thats the message thats different between now and 10 years ago.

The post office in Tooksook Bay, Alaska, where the first person was enumerated for the 2020 Census. Photo: U.S. Census Bureau

Guzman said the organization is encouraging its clients to fill out the census form by any means possible, and its working on new ways to entice individuals to participate.

Were going to have several census assistance centers for all of those individuals that dont have access to the internet, who dont have a computer and would like to fill out the census questionnaire online, she said. They can check with us and see which one is closest to them so they can comfortably fill out the census forms.

Another major incentive for Hispanics to participate in this years count, she said, is the prospect of Arizona gaining a 10th seat in Congress.

We think that we have an opportunity to have another Latino representative (in the House), so this is a big plus for everyone in the community, Guzman said.

Solis and others hope the symposium educated Arizonans on whats at stake in the coming weeks.

What I hope that we get is a very accurate 2020 census. If its very accurate, its a reflection of who we are as a community, Solis said. We will get our fair allocation of federal dollars, our redistricting will be more correct. Theyll be a more equitable community, more equitable distribution of resources to meet the communities that we have.

Note: This story originally appeared on Cronkite News and is published via a Creative Commons license . Cronkite News is produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University

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Chinese paramilitary police border guards train in the snow at Mohe County in China's northeast Heilongjiang Province, on the border with Russia, on Dec. 12, 2016. Mohe is the northernmost point in China, with a sub-arctic climate where border guards operate in temperatures as low as -36 degrees Celcius. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Sino-US Competition Heating Up to Dominate Arctic Silk Road

News Analysis

The potential opening of an Arctic Silk Road due to melting sea ice between Asia and northern Europe is accelerating the geopolitical rivalry between China and the United States.

None of Chinas coasts or island possessions border the Arctic Sea, nor does it claim to have sovereignty on continental shelves or water in the Arctic, but Chinese leader Xi Jinping in 2014 declared China a Polar Power as a Near-Arctic State.

Satellite weather observations over the last forty years reveal Antarctic sea ice has expanded; while Arctic sea ice has contracted. The combination of the average extent of Arctic sea ice at its lowest levels since 1850 and improving cold-water maritime technologies may lead to the opening of a Northern Sea Route from Shanghai to Rotterdam that would be 40 percent shorter than the traditional southern shipping route.

The Northern Sea Route would slash Chinas 37-day average transit time in half, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars per voyage. But it would also allow China to radically transform the geopolitical playing field by avoiding transit through the Malacca Straits and Suez Canal that now serve as Western-dominated national security choke points.

The area above the Arctic Circle represents just 6 percent of the Earths surface, but its poorly explored sedimentary basins and continental shelves may contain 13 percent of the Earths undiscovered conventional oil and about 30 percent of its undiscovered conventional natural gas, according to the United States Geological Survey.

Canada, Denmark (on behalf of itself, the Faeroe Islands, and Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States signed the Ottawa Declaration in 1996 to establish the Arctic Council as a high-level intergovernmental forum to promote Arctic cooperation for environmental protection and sustainable development. Shortly after Xi Jinping took power, China was approved as an Observer to the Arctic Council in 2013.

China published its Arctic Policy in January 2018 that states: The utilization of sea routes and exploration and development of the resources in the Arctic may have a huge impact on the energy strategy and economic development of China.

To wield greater influence along what it refers to as the 4,000-mile Polar Silk Road, China committed to funding major port and energy development infrastructure through expansion of its One Belt, One Road (OBOR, also known as Belt and Road Initiative). China stated that the investment is for economic purposes, but it can also host Chinese naval vessels when necessary.

Chinas Arctic OBOR caused a major diplomatic confrontation with the United States last summer when Beijings state-owned China Communications Construction Company, which was once blacklisted by the World Bank, offered the autonomous Danish territory of Greenland to build three airports.

When President Trump responded in August by offering to buy Greenland from Denmark, the Wall Street Journal dismissed the move as his latest real estate development play. But western Greenland hosts Thule U.S. Air Force Base that is a cornerstone of Americas homeland defense. The base houses the Air Forces 21st Space Wing that operates ballistic missile Early Warning Radar and manages space surveillance and satellite control.

Beijing and Moscow declared a new era of bilateral relations in December that listed energy, trade, technology, diplomacy and defense as areas targeted for deeper and broader cooperation. The announcement followed the completion and opening of the OBOR financed 15,000-mile Power of Siberia pipeline that began exports from Russia of 5 billion cubic meters of natural gas to China in 2020. The $55 billion pipeline is expected to scale up to 38 billion cubic meters annually by 2024.

Despite being warned by U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew in 2014 that the financing would undermine Western sanctions against Russias invasion of the Crimea, the project was described by Russias Gazprom Energy as part of a OBOR $400 billion joint venture to develop Russias Yamal gas fields along Russias Arctic coast.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned in May that Chinas aggressive behavior risked creating a new South China Sea, where China is building military bases and harassing international shipping. Pompeo added that: Just because the Arctic is a place of wilderness does not mean it should become a place of lawlessness.
United States President Donal Trump, from left, US First Lady Melania Trump, Indian President Ramnath Kovind and Indian First Lady Savita Kovind stand during the playing of the national anthems before the State Dinner at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tue Image Source: IANS News

United States President Donal Trump, from left, US First Lady Melania Trump, Indian President Ramnath Kovind and Indian First Lady Savita Kovind stand during the playing of the national anthems before the State Dinner at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tue Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Feb 25 : President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday hosted a banquet in honour of visiting US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump and attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet colleagues, and other dignitaries from both sides.

Welcoming the US President, Kovind said: "President Trump's participation in the 'Howdy, Modi!' event had already won the hearts of millions of Indians. The 'Namaste Trump' has brought him even closer to our people. It is the first time that an event of such scale was held in India to welcome a foreign leader.

"It shows the goodwill and respect that the people of India have for the US and for President Trump." Terming Trump a valued friend of India, he said that India "appreciates the progress in India-US relations in his term in office, the US as a long-term friend and a natural partner".

"Our strong democratic credentials bind us together. Continued economic prosperity and geo-political leadership of the US is in India's interest. Similarly, India's growing political, economic and military footprint will be beneficial for US interests in the region as well as globally," he said.

Noting India is currently undergoing change from an agriculture-based economy to a more manufacturing and services-oriented economy, Kovind said: "In this transition, we need the support and understanding of our friends and partners. We feel that the US being our leading economic partner is uniquely placed to support our growth and development as well as benefit from its expansion." He also said that as the world's largest democracies, the India and the US "are deeply connected with each other through our people and their aspirations".
The Madhya Pradesh government has removed the editor of the magazine of its directorate of public relations (DPR) - Madhya Pradesh Sandesh from his post and served a show cause notice over the alleged glorification of Mahatma Gandhis assassin Nathuram Godse in one of the articles in the January edition of the magazine, officials said.

The action was taken against the editor Manoj Khare who is also an official with the DPR, at the instructions of the minister for public relations PC Sharma on February 22 but it came to light on Tuesday.

The article titled Mahatma Zinda Hain (Mahatma Is Alive) written by one Shweta Rani talks about how Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse on the evening of January 30, 1948.

The article gives a sketch about Godses family background and says, For some Godse is an assassin but for some he is a martyr holding religion in esteem.According to Godse, Gandhi was right in some matters but very unfair in some others.

Quoting excerpts from a book Why I killed Gandhi written by Nathuram Godses brother Gopal Godse the article says, It was etched in Godses mind that Gandhi ji strangled Hindus interests repeatedly. He was of the view that Mahatma Gandhi played a key role in partition of the country. Godse felt that the only aim of his life was to protect Hindus and Hindutva. And it was only with this that a complete freedom could have been achieved..After that he resolved to kill Gandhi alone.

The article also says it was only Mahatma Gandhis body which was riddled with bullets. His great soul is still alive in people in the country. Mahatma Gandhi didnt fight only against the British rule but also against poverty, illiteracy and untouchability.

In the concluding remarks the article says, If people think Gandhi died on January 30, 1948 or Godse died on November 15, 1949 then its not so. Neither Godse has died nor Gandhi. Both exist in our mind. Its we who have to decide if we have to carry forward Gandhis ideology or Godses.

A DPR official who didnt want to be quoted said, The officer was removed from the post of editor at the instructions of the minister after some people complained to the minister. In fact its not a case of glorification but an interpretation of Godse being glorified. Also, the magazine gives a disclaimer that its not necessary that government agrees to the writers views.

The minister who was out of Bhopal could not be reached for his comments. Shweta Rani, the writer, who is said to be a Hyderabad-based research scholar too couldnt be reached for her comments despite efforts.

However, acknowledging the action against him Manoj Khare said, The article is based on Mahatma Gandhi, not Nathuram Godse. The writer has clearly stated how Mahatma Gandhi and his ideology are still relevant for the country and how Nathuram Godse represented negative aspects of society.

Last summer, BJPs Pragya Thakur stoked controversies before and after Lok Sabha elections after she described Godse as a patriot.

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Emerging markets are not typically early adopters when it comes to new generations of mobile technology, but this is not the case for the 5G era, according to ZTE.

As one of the leading international vendors of network equipment, ZTE has a clear view across the evolving global 5G landscape. At a recent briefing in London, the firms President of Global Sales Xiao Ming noted that emerging markets were pushing hard for 5G spectrum to be released early as they saw the opportunities afforded to them by the technology.

Noting that 2020 would be the year for massive rollouts and deployment of 5G, Xiao added that while China and Asia-Pacific had led demand, ZTE is seeing serious increases in Europe, and demand is taking off earlier than expected in the Middle East and Africa.

This is completely different compared to the previous generations with 3G and 4G, the industry took a much longer time to build out networks, he said. He noted that Africa and Latin America used to be followers compared to more developed regions, but that ZTE was now receiving 5G trial requests from the big players in these regions.

Major carriers in Africa are asking for the same things as their European equivalents, such as South Africas MTN. Operators in these regions are actively pushing the local authorities to release 5G spectrum licences earlier, because they see 5G as a potential game-changer in terms of its relevance to less developed regions.

This could help such areas to catch up  even if they do not necessarily become leaders, they wont be far behind, and this is a major driver for 5G. Operators are conducting 5G commercial trials utilising temporary spectrum licences in markets such as South Africa and Nigeria; the introduction of the new technology generation is being accelerated.

We believe they will be almost on the same page as Europe in terms of readiness for 5G commercial network deployment, said Xiao. If the authorities decide to release spectrum earlier, then operators will be in a good position to switch their networks  5G-readiness is embedded as a basic requirement in the current round of RAN modernisation across these regions, and operators such as Vodacom, Airtel and Orange will be ready to switch quickly. In big cities, they have modernised their networks so will be able to handle 5G traffic as long as the licences are ready. A similar thing applies to both Telefonica and America Movil, the two big regional players in Latin America. 5G rollouts are being accelerated even in the traditionally less developed regions.

Xiao acknowledged that in the past, operators have typically been reluctant to embrace new generations without feeling that theyve exhausted the value of the previous generation of technology. However, he explained the switch in attitude, saying:

5G is very different from the previous generations because the services are so unique  its a must for carriers to quickly adapt to 5G to handle the next generation traffic. Its essential to introduce a new layer of radio antennas in order to support the new frequencies, but without the initial efforts such as modernising the radio network, expanding the transport network, and refreshing the core network, you will not be in a position to be 5G-ready. If operators start now, they can be ready for this massive volume of traffic within 18 months  2 years, hence the enthusiasm for 5G buildouts.
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US oil supplies to India have jumped ten-fold to 2,50,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the last few years, visiting US Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a business meeting alongside US President Donald Trump, he said Indian imports of US oil were 25,000 bpd a couple of year ago, and have now risen to 2,50,000 bpd.

US is India's sixth largest oil supplier.

India began importing crude oil from the US in 2017 as it looked to diversify its import basket beyond the OPEC nations. It bought 1.9 million tonnes (38,000 bpd) of crude oil from the US in 2017-18 and another 6.2 million tonnes (1,24,000 bpd) in 2018-19.

In the first six months of current fiscal (2019-20), US supplied 5.4 million tonnes of crude oil to India.

Iraq is India's top crude oil supplier, meeting close to one-fourth of the country's oil needs. It sold 26 million tonnes of crude oil to India during April to September.

India, which is 83 per cent dependent on imports to meet its oil needs, bought 111.4 million tonnes of crude oil from overseas during April-September.

Saudi Arabia has traditionally been India's top oil source, but has been relegated to the second spot, exporting 20.7 million tonnes of crude oil in the first six months.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (February 25) issues a joint press statement at Hyderabad House. Trump said that PM Modi and I are committed to protecting our citizens from radical Islamic terrorism.

"In our discussions, PM Modi and I affirmed our two countries' commitment to protecting our citizens from radical Islamic terrorism. In this effort the US is also working productively with Pakistan to confront terrorists who operate on its soil," the US President said.

He also talked about extending defence cooperation with India, saying, "Earlier today we expanded our defence cooperation with agreements for India to purchase more than $3 bn of advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo Helicopters - finest in the world. These will enhance our joint defence capabilities."

He further stated that "Our teams have made tremendous progress for a comprehensive trade agreement and I'm optimistic we can reach a deal of great importance to both countries."

"Since I took office, US exports to India are up nearly 60% & exports of high quality American energy have grown by 500%," Trump said.

"During our visit, we discussed the importance of a secure 5G wireless network and the need for this emerging technology to be a tool for freedom, progress, prosperity, not to do anything with where it could be even conceived as a conduit for suppression and censorship," the US President said.

According to the US President, "During our visit we discussed the importance of a secure 5G wireless network and the need for this emerging technology to be a tool for freedom, progress, prosperity, not to do anything with where it could be even conceived as a conduit for suppression and censorship."

He once again praised PM Modi for extending exceptional welcome to him and his family. He said, "Melania and I have been awed by the majesty of India and the exceptional generosity and kindness of the Indian people."

"We will always remember the magnificent welcome the citizens of your home state (of PM Modi) showed us upon arrival," he added.

Earlier, PM Modi and President Trump held one-on-one talks at the Hyderabad House.

Notably, Trump will be as accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Later today, the US President will hold a presser and attend a state banquet hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind in his honour before departing at 10 pm.

The US President on Monday addressed the `Namaste Trump` event at Ahmedabad`s Motera Stadium along with Modi, where both the leaders had hailed the growing ties between the two countries.
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he is confident that his Republican Party will win the presidential elections scheduled for November this year.

Our markets will jump thousands of points if I win; if I dont it will fall drastically, Trump said while interacting with Indian business leaders at the US Embassy in New Delhi.

US President Donald Trumps India visit Day 2: follow live updates here

We are going to win again because if you look at what we have done, you will realise it. That is why you are happy in the United States, added Trump, who is on a whirlwind, 36-hour, first official visit to India.

He also gave examples of the work done by his administration. Earlier, it used to get 20 years to get roads and highways approved. We got it down drastically. Currently, its two years and we are trying to bring it down further. There could be this thing that a project may not get approved, because of the issues with the project, but otherwise, the process has been expedited by my administration, said Trump.

Full Coverage: Donald Trumps visit to India

Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal, Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, Larsen & Toubro chairman AM Naik and Biocon CMD Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw were among the CEOs who attended the meeting with Trump.

Trump, who recently said that the US economy has done well during his tenure of the last four years, is seeking investments from Indian companies mainly manufacturing ones to create jobs.

Some Indian manufacturing as well as services firms have noticeable presence in the US like Mahindra which last year said it will invest another $1 billion in America and was committed to creating American jobs, while Pune-based Bharat Forge has announced plans to invest $56 million to set up a new plant in North Carolina. Construction equipment major L&T has two delivery centres in the US.

The Tata Group is one of the largest Indian-headquartered multinationals in North America, with 13 companies and more than 35,000 employees.

The US economy rebounded in Q4 after prolonged sluggish productivity slowed the American economy to achieve the Trump administrations target of three per cent annual growth. The economy grew 2.3 per cent in 2019, the slowest in three years, after logging 2.9 per cent in 2018.

The Presidents quick trip may not though see any trade pact, but Trump said there will be a $3 billion dollar defence deal with India.
Humans in India survived the fallout and decade-long 'volcanic winter' from the devastating Toba super-eruption 74,000 years ago, scientists claim.

The devastating natural disaster was so large it plunged Earth into a millennium of cooling and threatened humans with extinction.

Research has now found proof that populations of human survived in India, the first proof humans outside Africa endured the devastating eruption.

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Stone tools were uncovered (pictured) which coincided with the timing of the Toba event which indicates humans in India were already using Stone Age tools when it erupted and survived the eruption

A previous study from 2014 used computer models to predict the thickness of the ash cloud from Toba across south-west Asia. Pictured, isobars showing the thickness in cm of the ash cloud after the eruption. At the site of Toba the ash cloud was 100cm thick while in India it was around 5cm and in Africa around 0.1cm

The event, which occurred 74,000 years ago on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, was about 5,000 times larger than the Mount St Helens eruption in the 1980s.

It has long been thought this was followed by a 'volcanic winter' lasting six to 10 years, leading to a 1,000 year-long cooling of the Earth's surface.

However, a study in the journal Nature Communications found that some humans in Asia survived the Toba eruption, and went on to thrive.

Researchers assessed a 80,000 year-long record of rock layers from the Dhaba site in northern India's Middle Son Valley.

Tools made from rock were found which coincide with the timing of the Toba event, indicating humans in India were already using Stone Age tools when it erupted.

The site yielded evidence that use of the tools persisted after the catastrophic event created a decade-long winter - proof that the people who created them survived.

Professor Jagannath Pal, principal investigator from the University of Allahabad in India, said: 'Although Toba ash was first identified in the Son Valley back in the 1980s, until now we did not have associated archaeological evidence, so the Dhaba site fills in a major chronological gap.'

Lead author Professor Chris Clarkson of the University of Queensland added: 'Populations at Dhaba were using stone tools that were similar to the toolkits being used by Homo sapiens in Africa at the same time.

'The fact that these toolkits did not disappear at the time of the Toba super-eruption or change dramatically soon after indicates that human populations survived the so-called catastrophe and continued to create tools to modify their environments.'

Pictured, the Dhaba site, overlooking the Middle Son Valley, India. The archaeological trench can be seen on the left of the photo. The geological record found tool-using populations persisted after the Toba eruption, indicating humans survived the so-called disaster

Previous theories suggested the eruption would have led to major catastrophes and the collapse of hominin populations around the world.

Hominins are members of the human family tree more closely related to one another than to apes.

Today, only one species of this group remains - Homo sapiens, to which everyone on Earth belongs.

But at the time of Toba's cataclysmic eruption, Neanderthals and Denisovans still existed, with perhaps other as-yet-undiscovered hominin species.

Homo sapiens in Africa are thought to have survived the fallout from the eruption due to the formation of sophisticated social, symbolic and economic strategies.

Eventually, the human population in Africa had recovered enough to begin migrating out of Africa and across Eurasia before 60,000 years ago.

The eruption, which occurred 74,000 years ago on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, was about 5,000 times larger than the Mount St Helens eruption in the 1980s
AMSTERDAM (dpa-AFX) - Dutch consumer electronics giant Philips Electronics NV (PHGFF.PK, PHG) said Tuesday it is another step closer to becoming carbon-neutral in its own operations in 2020, with its U.S. and Dutch facilities now 100 percent-powered by renewable electricity. The company noted that its action on CO2 emissions reduction contributed to a fall in its operational carbon footprint of 10 percent compared to 2018, even as the company recorded 4.5 percent growth in comparable sales. In addition, Philips noted that its reduced use of airfreight was another contributing factor. Philips' 2019 sustainability update is an integral part of the company's 2019 annual report. Philips said it is committed to becoming carbon neutral in its own operations and to sourcing all its electricity from 100 percent renewable sources by the end of 2020. All the company's U.S. operations are already powered by renewable electricity from the Los Mirasoles wind farm. In addition, Philips' businesses continued to develop their Green Products and Solutions portfolio. In the Diagnosis & Treatment businesses, Green Products and Solutions helped improve patient outcomes, provide better value, and help secure access to high-quality care, while reducing environmental impact. Phlips also published its latest Human Rights Report on Tuesday, underlining the company's commitment to respect human rights and drive positive human rights impacts. 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.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain visited the GTB Hospital to meet those injured in the violence over the amended citizenship law in northeast Delhi.

At least seven people were killed and scores of others were injured in the violence between pro and anti CAA groups in the area on Monday.

Clashes were continuing for the third day on Tuesday.

Kejriwal earlier attended a high-level meeting called by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to take stock of the situation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The murder of former Russian security officer Aleksandr Litvinenko has been turned into a two-act opera, its composer announced in London on February 24.

Anthony Bolton said it took him three years to complete The Life And Death Of Alexander Litvinenko.

The former fund manager told journalists that the story of Litvinenko, whose life ended in 2006 after radioactive poisoning allegedly at the hands of his former colleagues, "has power, politics, betrayal, love, [and] jeopardy."

Each act is an hour long and the opera is accompanied by a full chorus and a 52-piece orchestra. The opera contains flashbacks, flash-forwards, and audio-visual footage.

Litvinenko was a former officer in Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).

He fled in 1999 after revealing an alleged plan by the FSB to kill tycoon Boris Berezovsky.

Berezovsky had been prominent among the group of Russian businessmen known as the oligarchs, who grew rich from the privatization of state assets following the collapse of Soviet communism.

As a Kremlin insider under former Russian President Boris Yeltsin, Berezovsky helped current President Vladimir Putin rise to succeed his predecessor in 2000.

But when Putin moved to curb the political powers of the oligarchs, Berezovsky left Russia for self-imposed exile in Britain, where he was granted political asylum in 2003. From there, his criticism of Putin grew.

In 2006, Putin, a former Soviet KGB officer who once headed the FSB, signed a law authorizing security agencies to carry out targeted assassinations abroad.

The same year, Litvinenko was killed in London.

In January 2016, British Judge Robert Owen, who led an inquiry into Litvinenko's death, said it was probable that Putin had approved the operation.

Owen said he was certain Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, two Russians whom British police identified as the primary suspects, killed Litvinenko by placing a lethal dose of polonium-210 in his tea during a meeting on November 1, 2006.

Litvinenko died several days later.

Both men deny any involvement in Litvinenko's death.

However, British investigators found traces of polonium-210 in hotels, restaurants, and aircraft used by Lugovoi.

Lugovoi was reportedly treated for radiation poisoning in Moscow in December 2006. A former Soviet KGB agent, he was elected a member of the Russian State Duma in 2007.

Putin awarded him a state medal "for services to the fatherland" in 2015.

Berezovsky was found dead at his ex-wife's home near London in March 2013.

With reporting by AFP
(Natural News) Despite a total lockdown of Wuhan and the surrounding Hubei Province, Chinese residents living in the epicenter of the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) outbreak are still finding ways to leave the area and potentially spread the virus elsewhere.

Internal documents reportedly obtained by the Chinese-language Epoch Times reveal that about 25,000 people a day are leaving Wuhan. Copies of daily reports put together by the Hubei Communications Administration show that more than 130,500 people left Wuhan between Feb. 4 to Feb. 19, while nearly half a million left the Hubei province during that same time period.

Wuhans three wireless communications companies  China Telecom, China Mobile, and China Unicom  submitted geolocation data to the local government, which took a tally of all people both in Wuhan and Hubei who stayed for at least 24 hours before fleeing  this 24-hour metric suggesting that these folks actually live in the area and werent just visiting or delivering goods and services.

Based on this data, the communist Chinese government was able to confirm that tens of thousands of people are breaching its mandatory quarantines every single day. And many of them, its safe to say, were probably exposed to the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVi-19) in some way, shape, or form before leaving.

Most Wuhan residents went to nearby cities within Hubei Province, reports The Epoch Times. Others have traveled to 30 other provinces and directly governed municipalities across the country  as far away as Tibet.

Listen below as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how were now in a countdown approaching the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) day of reckoning:

Upwards of five million Wuhan residents fled the city before the official lockdown on Jan. 23

The mobile phone data procured by these telecomms and submitted to the communist Chinese government confirms other data showing that about five million Wuhanese left the area prior to Jan. 23 when the official lockdown was imposed. And nobody knows how many of these folks brought the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) with them to other parts of the world.

Since Jan. 23, the only forms of transportation permitted in Wuhan are those involving the transport of medical supplies, goods for basic living, and utilities such as water, electricity, and gas. All other transport remains prohibited.

There are very strict measures that have been put in place regarding even these three permitted forms of transportation, including the requirement that drivers apply for epidemic prevention and control passes. Theres also a dedicated pass that works more than once for medical and food drivers.

The reason why so many Wuhanese have been fleeing the area is not only because of the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) itself, but also the government requirements that force uninfected people to live right alongside infected people.

The Wuhan government locked down the city and forced healthy people to live together with infected people in town, saying Tang Jingyuan, a China affairs commentator based out of the U.S. Also, food supply is a big problem in the city right now. So, the healthy people want to escape as soon as possible.

At the same time, the infected people cant receive proper treatment, no matter in a hospital or at a quarantine center. They want to be saved and want to leave the city as well.

Many ill Wuhanese people with mild symptoms say theyre having a hard time getting proper care even at the quarantine centers and makeshift hospitals, where supplies and personnel remain scarce  and this is in addition to the fact that these quarantines arent even working.

If they are quarantined with infected people, they believe that they would be infected immediately, Tang added. They want to leave Wuhan as well.

Be sure to check out the latest coronavirus news at the new Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NaturalNews.com
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 25, 2020 / PPX Mining Corp. (the "Company" or "PPX") is pleased to announce that development work on the 3290 level of Mina Callanquitas has cut a high-grade ore shoot within the previously defined reserves for Mina Callanquitas (please see press release dated December 4, 2018 and Pre-Feasibility Study posted on SEDAR), an area of the mine where surface exploration drilling produced only modest results. Systematic underground channel sampling, part of the Company's normal ore control protocol, outlined a high-grade ore shoot over a strike length of 78 metres with a true width of 1.6 metres. The average grade over this area, based on 62 channel samples, is 14.32 gpt Au and 146 gpt Ag. Individual samples contained up 71.93 gpt Au and 1042 gpt Ag as described in more detail below. Higher than anticipated grades and good ore continuity highlight the significance of this discovery:

The two diamond core drill holes nearest the 3290 level ore shoot contained 5.50 and 6.56 gpt Au (CA-12-42 and -43, please see diagram below and on the Company's website). In contrast, the 62 channel samples ranged from 2.12 to 71.93 gpt gold yielding a weighted average true thickness of 1.6 metres grading 14.32 gpt gold over a strike length of 78 metres. The results for Ag are more striking, the drill holes contained 21.1 and 10.1 gpt Ag, while the channel samples ranged from 27.9 to 1042 gpt Ag. Precious metal mineralization in this portion of Mina Callanquitas is completely oxidized and it is possible that some of the silver oxide minerals were not adequately recovered or sampled in the core drilling process. As has been noted previously (please see PPX Press Release dated February 5, 2020), the Au grade of ore delivered to the Malin Plant of Silver Cascas S.A.C., has consistently been higher than the grades shown in the Company's reserve and resource model. The sampling also demonstrates good continuity within the ore shoot, an important characteristic in mine planning and exploitation.

The 3290 level cuts the Callanquitas ore body in an area above a high-grade ore chute defined by previous diamond core drilling. Drill holes CA-11-08, -11, CA-12-19, -30, -31, -55, and CA-17-86 outline an area with a strike length in excess of 150 metres over a similar vertical range that grades between 13.78 and 102.0 gpt Au Eq (please see diagram below and on the Company's website). The 3290 level ore shoot is a vertical continuation of this ore chute and expands the vertical range of the ore shoot to a minimum of 200 metres. The down dip continuation of this zone is unconstrained by drilling.

As shown in the longitudinal section below, other high-grade ore shoots have been identified by surface diamond drilling. The 3290 ore shoot confirms the earlier diamond drilling results and supports an exploration/development model that focuses on the drill defined areas of higher grade that could increase resource and reserve ounces.

Brian J. Maher, President and CEO of PPX Mining Corp commented: "The underground sampling results from the 3290 level provide verification of the tenor and volume of high-grade gold and silver ore shoots at Mina Callanquitas. The high grades, couple with elevated gold and silver prices, provide opportunities to optimize mine planning. The existing NI 43-101 Pre-Feasibility Study utilized a $1250 gold price and a life of mine average grade of only 4.66 gpt Au Eq, clearly current metal prices and confirmation of the high-grade ore shoots presents a significant economic opportunity for the Company."

Channel sampling protocols and QA/QC: PPX Mining geologists collect channel samples underground on each working face prior to advancing the excavation. Samples are collected orthogonal to the structure edge or boundary and do not exceed 2.0 metres in length. Channels are broken at obvious geologic boundaries to correctly separate rock types, mineralization styles and hydrothermal alteration assemblages. The samples are collected by cutting a channel approximately 2.5 cm deep by 25 cm wide along a line painted on the face by the mine geologist. Sample weight is typically 1.5 to 2.5 kg. Samples are sealed, labeled and stored in a secure area prior to shipment to a qualified assay laboratory. Gold and silver analyses are conducted by the fire assay method with a CN leach. Blanks and standards are inserted approximately every 15 samples; duplicate channel samples are included at the same intervals. Duplicate fire assays for approximately every 30 samples are sent to a second assay laboratory for umpire analysis

About PPX Mining Corp: PPX Mining Corp. (TSX.V: PPX.V, SSE: PPX, BVL: PPX) is a Canadian-based mining company with assets in northern Peru. Igor, the Company's 100%-owned flagship gold and silver project, is located in the prolific Northern Peru gold belt in eastern La Libertad Department. PPX is developing the Callanquitas Mine and heap leach facility to exploit high grade, underground-minable gold and silver ore. Based on the Company's Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS"), PPX expects the Callanquitas Mine to produce up to 26,000 AuEq* ounces per year over a seven-year mine life at cash cost of less than US$610/AuEq* ounce (the Igor PFS is available on the Company's website and SEDAR). Simultaneously, PPX is accelerating its exploration program at Igor in order to fully evaluate the resource potential of the entire Igor project area. The Callanquitas structure is open along strike and at depth, parallel structures are unexplored. New discoveries at Portachuelos, coupled with the Domo and Tesoros exploration targets, emphasize that the Igor Project is evolving into a district-scale project with multiple deposits and mineralized zones.

*AuEq is calculated as follows: AuEq ounces = Au ounces + Ag ounces/75. Per PFS, inclusive of metallurgical recovery.

All scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Quentin J. Browne, P.Geo., Independent Consulting Geologist to PPX Mining Corp., who is a qualified person under the definitions established by National Instrument 43-101.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Brian J. Maher

President and Chief Executive Officer

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

PPX Mining Corp.

Brian J. Maher, President and Chief Executive Officer

Phone: 1-530-913-4728

Email: brian.maher@ppxmining.com

Website: www.ppxmining.com

Cautionary Statement:

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. Certain disclosure in this release, June constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities legislation. In making the forward-looking statements in this release, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable. However, the forward-looking statements in this release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that June cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Such uncertainties and risks are detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the appropriate securities commissions, and June include, among others, market conditions, and delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required regulatory approvals or financing. 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. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE: PPX Mining Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/577683/PPX-Discovers-New-High-Grade-Ore-Shoot-at-Mina-Callanquitas-Samples-12m-Grading-7193-gpt-Au-336-gpt-Ag
Angela Rayner has launched a savage attack on Jeremy Corbyn as she suggested he had failed as Labour leader because he 'didn't command respect'.

The shadow education secretary, who is the current favourite to win the Labour deputy leadership, said Mr Corbyn had been unable to unite the party.

She also insisted she could succeed where Mr Corbyn had struggled because she 'resonates with people in the country in a way that Jeremy doesn't'.

Ms Rayner's harsh comments are likely to take the current party leadership off guard given that she has previously been a loyal supporter of Mr Corbyn.

Her intervention came as John McDonnell issued a plea to Labour members not to ditch the politics of the hard-Left as he urged them to back Rebecca Long-Bailey in the leadership race.

Mr McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, said Labour needed to 'learn the right lessons' from its general election disaster in December but that must not mean 'slowly retreating' from the policies advocated by Mr Corbyn.

His comments in an email to party activists will be seen as a direct shot across the bows of Sir Keir Starmer who is the favoured candidate of Labour moderates in the battle to replace Mr Corbyn.

Mr McDonnell and his allies will be concerned that their grip on the party appears to be waning with Sir Keir the prohibitive favourite to win the top job.

Angela Rayner, pictured at a hustings event in Durham on February 23, said Jeremy Corbyn 'didn't command respect'

John McDonnell, pictured in London on February 20, has urged Labour members not to ditch the policies advocated by Mr Corbyn

Voting in the Labour leadership and deputy leadership contests began yesterday and will conclude on April 2 with a winner due to be announced at a special event on April 4.

Starmer opens door to Labour return for Alastair Campbell Sir Keir Starmer has suggested he would welcome Tony Blair's former spin doctor Alastair Campbell back into the party. The Labour leadership frontrunner said Mr Campbell, who was expelled last year after he admitted voting for the Liberal Democrats in the European elections, had made a 'huge contribution' to Labour. He contrasted the rapid way the party had dealt with Mr Campbell's case with its approach to complaints of anti-Semitism, amid persistent accusations that it had been too slow to act. 'Look, I want anybody who wants to be in our party to be in the party. Alastair is a constituent of mine. And he was a long-standing Labour member, (he made) a huge contribution to the party,' he told HuffPost. 'I think we need to get past this whole question of chucking people out and expulsions, etc. The cases we should concentrate on are cases, for example, of anti-Semitism or other racist behaviour within the party. 'And I use Alastair's case as an example to say, if you can be chucked out of the party, almost straight away, for supporting another party at an election, surely you can be chucked out of our party in an absolutely clear case of anti-Semitism, and the mismatch was huge there.' Advertisement

Party members have a choice between Sir Keir, Ms Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy for the top job but the shadow Brexit secretary is widely expected to prevail.

Ms Rayner is one of five candidates in the running to become the party's next deputy leader and she is the overwhelming favourite to win.

Today she signalled the party would be very different with her helping to lead it as she attacked Mr Corbyn.

In an interview with ITV, she was asked what the political differences are between her and the current party leader.

She replied: 'I'm more bombastic, more focused and more sharp, and I would expect more discipline in a way that Jeremy didn't.

'He didn't command respect, and he therefore wasn't able to command that collectivism in the Labour Party.

'I think that's the one thing that I've got, I've had the respect and the support of all of the parliamentary Labour Party and up and down the country most of the constituency Labour parties have supported me in this process...I resonate with people in the country in a way that Jeremy doesn't.'

Mr McDonnell, who will quit the shadow cabinet and return to the backbenches when the next leader is chosen, has urged the party not to ditch what has come to be known as 'Corbynism'.

In a message to members, he said: 'We fell short last year and we need to face up to the defeat.

'But we have to learn the right lessons. We cannot win by slowly retreating from the agenda our movement fought so hard to secure.'

Mr Corbyn, pictured in Rhydyfelin, Wales on February 20, is stepping down as Labour leader after he led the party to its worst set of general election results since the 1930s

Who has made it into the final round of the Labour leadership contest? Voting in the Labour leader and deputy leader contests will start next Monday and close on April 2 with the winners announced on April 4. There are three candidates in the running to replace Jeremy Corbyn: Sir Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy. There are five candidates in the running to be the next deputy leader: Angela Rayner, Rosena Allin-Khan, Richard Burgon, Ian Murray and Dawn Butler. Advertisement

Party members now have six weeks to cast their ballot but the candidates will know that many will make up their mind quickly, making the next few days crucial.

Ms Long-Bailey is viewed as Sir Keir's most likely challenger and yesterday she tried to kick start her campaign by attacking the frontrunner.

'We don't win elections by just putting a suit on and trying to look like the most electable person in the room,' she is reported to have said during a visit to Yorkshire.

She has also announced plans to impose a windfall tax on oil and gas companies.

The money generated would be spent on remedying the problems caused by climate change.
As the Democratic presidential campaigns turn their attention to Texas, they are doing everything they can to create momentum with Latino voters by holding rallies, picking up endorsements of prominent political figures and trying to build a presence in the Hispanic community.

Yet polling shows none of the remaining contenders has locked down the support of that critical demographic as a wide-open race in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary gives Texans a rare chance to play a meaningful role in picking the nominee on March 3.

A new poll by the University of Houstons Hobby School of Public Affairs shows U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has the support of 30 percent of Hispanic voters who are likely to vote Democratic. Former Vice President Joe Biden is next at 19 percent with U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren at 17 percent. Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg was the choice of 13 percent and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg was at 12 percent. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar was at 4 percent.

For subscribers: Texas can play a big role in this presidential primary, for a change

While Sanders leads, 70 percent of Latino voters are scattered among the other candidates.

Its never been like this, said Marc Campos, a longtime Democratic political strategist in Houston.

Campos said in past primary elections, one candidate seemed to have momentum within the Hispanic community. But this year, he said, as in Texas overall, no one has emerged as a clear favorite.

The shrinking field of candidates in the Democratic primary has had an impact on Latino voters. For many Hispanic leaders in public office, Julian Castro was a top choice in the presidential race until he dropped out at the start of January. And other candidates that had good support in the Latino community, notably Kamala Harris and Beto O'Rourke, dropped out late last year.

The stalemate in winning over Texas Latinos is not for a lack of trying among the top contenders.

Know the candidates: Houston Chronicle 2020 primary election voter guide; San Antonio Express-News 2020 primary election voter guide

Sanders held rallies with predominantly Hispanic audiences in El Paso and San Antonio over the weekend and opened a Houston campaign office in Houstons East End  a gesture that has not gone unnoticed, Campos said. And Sanders has prominent Hispanics in leadership posts within his Texas campaign, led by his Texas state field director, Chris Chu de Leon.

Biden recently unrolled an endorsement from U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, the first Hispanic from Houston ever elected to Congress. He previously picked up an endorsement from former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros, who in the 1980s became San Antonios first Mexican-American mayor since Texas became a state in 1845.

Warren, who has deep ties to Texas, plans to campaign in San Antonio with Castro by her side on Thursday. And that comes just two weeks after she had surrogates hold a series of rallies with Hispanic women in South Texas as part of what her campaign called its Latino community engagement tour. On Friday, Warren won the endorsement of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo.

Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

Bloomberg, who has been most aggressive about visiting black voters in Houston, has tried to build inroads with Latino voters as well. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa held townhall meetings on Bloombergs behalf in Houston, including a focus on immigration at Talento Bilingue de Houston.

All the attention shows just how important Hispanic voters are to winning Texas in the primary. The Pew Research Center shows that Texas has 5.6 million eligible voters who are Latino  about 30 percent of the states eligible voters  a bigger share of the electorate than any of the earlier voting states including Nevada, where 20 percent of eligible voters are Latino.

Will Medicare For All pay off for Sanders?

State Rep. Armando Walle, a Houston Democrat, is one of those still reeling from candidates dropping out. He said Castro and Harris were his top choices. But now with both out, hes not sure who hes backing.

Im still undecided, he said, noting that Warren, Sanders and Bloombergs campaigns have all reached out to him looking for an endorsement.

Campos said a lot of Hispanic elected leaders are in the same position. He said by now those community leaders are usually backing someone.

Garcia, the Houston congresswoman who endorsed Biden just a week ago, has noticed it, too.

I think everybody was being cautious about when they were going to endorse and whether they were going to endorse, Garcia said.

For subscribers: Bernie Sanders ascension in Texas leaves moderate Democrats fighting for scraps

She said she thinks Biden has the potential to win over the Hispanic community because hes a proven candidate who comes from a working-class background and is a committed Catholic like a lot of Hispanics in Texas.

They know him, they trust him, Garcia said.

But when it comes to key issues in 2020, Sanders could have an advantage over Biden because of his focus on health care and more specifically Medicare For All, which would end private insurance in favor of a government health insurance system that covers everyone.

According to a poll released late last week by Univision and Cornell University, health care is the No. 1 issue on the minds of Latino voters. In that poll of 1,000 Hispanic voters nationwide, 25 percent said health care costs were the top issue in their community. That was 6 percentage points higher than any other issue.

Asked about Medicare For All, 83 percent of respondents said they supported the idea compared to just 17 percent who were opposed.

Let me be as clear as I can be, Sanders said at his rally in San Antonio on Saturday night. Health care is a human right, not a privilege.

At that same rally, Sanders stressed early in his speech that if he were elected president, on his first day he would rescind all of Trumps racist immigration policies and restore the legal status of all Dreamers, who were brought to the country illegally as children but have spent most of their lives in the United States.

Warren has similarly been pitching a Medicare For All plan and has won over supporters in Texas with detailed plans and an emphasis on speaking out for Americans who have been marginalized.

She is the candidate that can unify the Democratic Party in a way we need to if we are going to beat Donald Trump, Castro said.

Texas looms large on Super Tuesday when 13 other states will also vote. With 228 pledged delegates up for grabs, the winner of the Texas primary could weigh heavily on who is going to win the Democratic nomination. Early voting is already underway and runs through Friday.

While Democrats are putting on a push to win Texas, President Donald Trump is making the case that Latino voters have prospered during his administration. The campaign has held numerous Latino outreach programs in Texas and has been quick to jab at Democrats campaigning in Texas.

2020 Democrats cant compete with the presidents record of success, said Trump Victory spokesperson Samantha Cotten. Voters in the Lone Star State know President Trump has delivered record low unemployment for the Latino community and increased job opportunities.
Sanders has cast himself as a democratic socialist in the vein of social democrats in Europe. But though as a candidate he likes to compare his policies to those of Denmark, in the past he has expressed praise not only for Castro in Cuba but also support for the Sandinistas in Nicaragua  troubling stances in Florida, a magnet for Latin Americans fleeing political unrest in Managua, Havana and Caracas.
An offence has been registered



against a doctor for allegedly raping a 23-year-old woman at Bhiwandi town in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Tuesday.

The incident took place on February 15 when Ramkunwar Singh, a Kalyan-based doctor, took the victim to show a flat in Bhiwandi and allegedly raped her there, assistant police inspector Deepak Bhoi said.

The victim, who is an employee of a private firm lodged a complaint with the Bhiwandi taluka police station, where a case under section 376 (rape) was registered on Monday, he said.

A manhunt has been launched for the accused who is absconding, the official added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Akufo-Addo is confident of winning the 2020 presidential election.

He says the many achievements recorded in the last three years gives him an upper hand over other contenders in the election.

The president was speaking at a meeting with members of the Ghanaian community in Oslo, Norway.

President Akufo-Addo said he will need another four years in office to push Ghana to an enviable status.

At least things are beginning to work in the country again and Im very confident that when it comes to the day of accounting on the 7th December, the Ghanaian people will say Nana you have done well and I know that the work has been done and appreciated.

Background

President Nana Akufo-Addo is on a 12-day working visit to Scotland, Norway, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Belgium.

The President was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway; Minister for Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh and officials of the Presidency and Foreign Ministry.

The President will return to Ghana on Wednesday, March 4.

---citinewsroom
PMC 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

New Delhi: 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 2 March 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 23 September 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 percent 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 cities from the depositors following the RBI action.
Ahead of the adaptation of her award-winning book, Americanah, into an HBO TV series, Chimamanda Adichie recently hosted Kenyan-born Hollywood actress, Lupita Nyongo at a private reception in Lagos.

The reception was graced by the Nigerian creative community who were introduced to Nyongo by Adichie.

In attendance was a former governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke and his wife, Onari.

Other guest included Dbanj, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Joke Silva & Olu Jacobs, Daisy Danjuma, Bola Shagaya and Dakore Egbuson-Akande.

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu; Omawumi Megbele; Flavour; Waje, Falana, Femi Kuti, Onyeka Onwenu also graced the event.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that Nyongo, who is famous for her roles in Hollywood hots like 12 Years a Slave and Black Panther, was visiting Nigeria to promote and speak more about her screen-adaptation of Americanah.

Nyongo said the series will also be shot at several locations in Nigeria including Lagos.

In order to embody her role, Nyongo said she is learning to speak Pidgin English and Igbo language.

American subscription video-on-demand streaming service, HBO Max, gave a straight-to-series order for the Americanah project in 2019.

Nyongos Black Panther co-star, Danai Gurira, wrote the pilot and will serve as showrunner on the 10-episode limited series. She is also expected to star and also executive-produce the show.

Speaking to this newspaper at the event, Lupita expressed her excitement at the book, Americanah.

I was awestruck by Chimamandas ability to capture such exquisite character in a way that made me laugh but also made me feel seen. So, Im in Lagos to immerse myself and learn as much as I can in order to do the story justice, she said.

Having enjoyed Adichies other novels, Half of a Yellow Sun and Purple Hibiscus, she said it heightened anticipation for Americanah, which she pre-ordered long before its release in April 2013.

She noted, I remember finishing the book and falling madly in love with Obinze and at this point, hes like the standard man that Im still looking for. But I just felt like this is a character that I would love to embody on screen because what I do is act and her characters were just so actable, she revealed.

Speaking further, Nyongo noted that one of the things she feels privileged to do is to tell an original African story as written by Adichie.

In response, Adichie said she was moved when Lupita wrote to her.

She was genuine and true; it was clear my novel mattered deeply to her. Of course, a screen adaptation is never going to be exactly like a novel but I think its important that whoever adapts a novel should care about it in a very personal way. Americanah is my baby and Im happy leaving my baby in Lupitas care, she said.

About Americanah

Americanah was published in 2013 and it tells the story of a young Nigerian woman, Ifemelu, who immigrates to the United States to attend university.

The novel traces Ifemelus life in both countries, threaded by her love story with high school classmate Obinze.

It was Adichies third novel.

Initially set up as a film in June 2014, with Nyongo starring in and producing the film. In December 2014, David Oyelowo was cast in the film.

However, no further development on the project was announced until September 2019, when it was repurposed into a 10-episode miniseries to air on HBO Max. Nyongo was still set to star and produce, with Danai Gurira writing the series.

Zackary Momoh and Uzo Aduba were cast in December. Corey Hawkins and Tireni Oyenusi were added in January 2020, with Chinonye Chukwu hired to direct the first two episodes of the series.

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Filming is set to begin in March 2020 and will shoot in London and various parts of Africa as well as the United States.

Check out photos from the gathering below:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky advocates the guaranteed Ukrainian coal sale market and the creation of the State Committee for Coal Industry.

"There should be a guaranteed sales market and this market are Ukrainian thermal power plants. The state must protect Ukrainian coal, for this we need a balance of energy for the next 10 years, which would show how much coal we will mine," he said at a meeting of coal industry workers in Kyiv on Tuesday.

According to the president, now, Ukraine produces more coal than it can sell, but this should not be a problem for miners. "The task of the profile minister is to determine what the balance of energy should be, what proportion should belong to thermal generation," Zelensky said.

He also backed the idea of industry representatives to create the State Committee for Coal Industry.

"We will do it," Zelensky said.

In addition, the president considers it necessary to create a coordination center for the transformation of the coal industry, headed by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for the Development of Communities and Territories Denys Shmyhal, with the mandatory participation of representatives of coal enterprises, local authorities, in particular, heads of regional administrations.

"The problems of further development of the industry should be resolved systematically and regularly," the head of state said.

In addition, he said that the Ministry the Development of Communities and Territories needs to develop a program for the fair transformation of coal territories, which will include, in particular, a program for access to education for children of coal workers and support for older people.

According to him, according to this program, not a single coalmine can be closed until its employees are provided with other work with decent pay.

"The transformation of the coal industry should be fair. This is a long process, during which socio-economic opportunities for the development of coal territories will be gradually created," Zelensky said.

Addressing Minister of Energy and Environmental Protection Oleksiy Orzhel, he focused on the importance of a comprehensive solution to the issues of industry workers.

"When you talk with the miners about their future, you must first solve their past. And when you solve their problems, they will only then begin to trust you. Only in this way," Zelensky said.
Queensland parents are withdrawing their students from NAPLAN tests at almost four times the average rate of other states.

NAPLAN is a national assessment program for all Australian students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 where students sit universal tests in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation and numeracy.

Education authorities use NAPLAN results to identify specific teaching improvements.

Students sitting the NAPLAN test. Credit:Adam McLean

The most noticeable trend in the December 2019 report is that Queensland has the highest rate of NAPLAN student withdrawal of any state or territory - 8 per cent.
The leader of Mexico, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had been receiving negative criticisms for his insufficiency of actions toward crimes of violence against women, said an article from Latin Times. This had led to the birth of multiple protests by the people of Mexico.

The Recent Protests in Mexico

Groups of women will flock the streets of Mexico to showcase their support to the national women's protest. The protest will be held on March 9.

Additionally, the line of various crimes against women had increased to a growing number of protests that aim to express the disagreement of the people for the current Mexican president's insufficient action to resolve such matters.

His unclear plans to restore morality has triggered the birth of multiple groups of protesters.

In the previous week, a shocking event made headlines as a group of masked women initiated the performance of a rebellious act. The rebellious act included splashing red paint on the national palace's doors. Also, they vandalized the walls of the palace with graffiti.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's Response to the Protests

The current president of Mexico had expressed his disappointment with the collective acts of Mexican women against him. He showed his displeasure with the harsh actions of the group of women against his acts involving the country's fight on the violence on women.

According to President Obrador, the people who were expressing their disagreement with his leadership towards combating violence on women is making it hard for him and his administration to promote moral regeneration in the country.

The President expressed his respect for the opinions of the protesters. However, he said that he does not support such acts. He expressed his belief to moralize Mexico. Additionally, he believes that the country needs to purify public life and reinforce spiritual, moral, cultural values.

Furthermore, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that he will not throw away his lifetime beliefs just because of a group people had protested against his. He had emphasized the importance of spiritual shift. Also, he stated that there will be difficulties in the achievement of a material change, a spiritual one.

Comments from the Protesters About Obrador's Leadership

The group of women who participated in the protests had claimed that the current president of Mexico sees 'femicide' as a public relations and political issue rather than a serious phenomenon that has that power to take the lives of millions of Mexican women.

According to an activist named Maricrus Ocampo, she believes that the message that the current president of Mexico is giving out to the people is that he does not care. She emphasized that the issue is not only about women but about the Mexican problem.

After finding out about the significant number of deaths from murder, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was noticed to have an indifferent attitude. He even blamed family breakdowns and 'neoliberal laws' from the past 30 years for the crimes.

Obrador was seated as the leader of Mexico with the promise to promote social change. However, protesters believed that the changes he promised were not turned into action.
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.
Benedict McAleenan is Policy Exchanges Senior Adviser on Energy and Environment

In the middle of the last century, a Green Revolution saved over a billion lives. It wouldnt be considered green in todays terms  unleashing as it did a horde of pesticides, herbicides, hybrid crops and other things designed to bring nature to heel. But it defied Malthusian doomsters by supercharging agriculture, and taught us again that human ingenuity is an endless source of promethean fire. Sixty years later, it serves as a lesson for fresh environmental challenges.

None of this will be news to George Eustice, the new Environment Secretary, who hails from farming stock and already has six years at DEFRA under his belt. Yet most of Eustices training will be scant preparation for his next task, which is nothing less than to reinvent the British peoples relationship with their land.

After the last Green Revolution, Britain signed up to the Common Agricultural Policy, a leviathan that tied our farmers in red tape, reduced relative productivity and incentivised only a narrow range of farm business models, some of which have not been conducive to a thriving natural world. Too many British farms are struggling.

Leaving the CAP is perhaps the biggest opportunity of Brexit, for both environmentalists and farmers. In 2017, Policy Exchange called for reforms to grasp this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, reforms which Michael Gove then put into play. Eustices first big job is to guide these through Parliament in the forms of the Agriculture and Environment Bills.

On the one hand, the Agriculture Bill creates a new subsidy system called ELMS (Environmental Land Management System), which will pay farmers not for farming outcomes, but for environmental ones. Improving soil, air and water, storing carbon, improving access to the countryside. The change is as deep and complicated as the switch to Universal Credit.

On the other hand, the Environment Bill creates a framework to assure standards now that Brussels is no longer in charge. It will mandate a new Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) with the task of overseeing the governments delivery of its 25-Year Environment Plan.

The missing plank

There are plenty of challenges, from keeping farmers onside as business models are upended, to proving that divergence from the EU really could mean outpacing the bloc on the environment. But there is a major plank missing, without which the whole raft could sink. That plank is data.

Without a visionary approach to environmental data across DEFRAs many priority areas, it will be impossible to understand whether money has been spent well and whether standards are improving. At the moment, we depend on sporadic, inconsistent, gap-filled, uncoordinated datasets with outdated collection, curation and application.

The government plans to pay farmers to improve soil health, but we have no consistent methodology for testing the health of soil, nor its carbon sequestration. On air quality, the national monitoring network produces disparate, coarse maps that are nearly useless for finding hotspots; local monitoring is not consistent from council to council.

The UK has no long-term trend data on water pollution and its data sources change often. We have no way of knowing exactly how many trees are grown each year because we depend on tracking Forestry Commission grants and felling licences, rather than real-world monitoring, so we miss the true tree-felling impact of storms and blights. There is no up-to-date record of ancient woodlands, making the job of assessing HS2s true costs even harder.

None of which even touches on our patchy biodiversity data. The best attempt at documenting this has been the State of Nature Report, in which a group of NGOs seek to catalogue species in flux, frequently noting a dearth of usable surveys.

Green Data

The good news is that Britain is perfectly placed to address the green data gap. We have world-leading expertise in the technologies that will solve this problem. Weve seen data revolutions in other sectors, with huge public benefits. As one government adviser put it to me, Before Citymapper, no one really thought of data and bus drivers in the same space. The same goes for farmers now. Citymapper readily points to the open-mindedness of TfL in making this possible. There are other case studies from within government  the MoDs Hydrographic Office has overhauled its data capacities and is a world leader again.

Not only are we well equipped for it, but theres a huge opportunity. The Met Office is about to invest 1.2 billion in a supercomputer that it estimates will deliver 22 billion in economic benefits. Ordnance Survey, originally a military office, is another world leader in commercially valuable geospatial data. Data from earth observation and remote sensing is becoming core to financial investment decisions, especially as the climate changes and risks must be priced more carefully.

Satellite and drone fleets equipped with the right sensors could monitor a crop yield, a woodlands growth or a peatlands recovery. It could direct farmers (or agricultural robots) to attend to underperforming areas in ways that have been under-incentivised by the CAP. A better system of sensors could also do far more to track water and air quality. We could better monitor emerging flood risks and act earlier. Companies like Nature Metrics can even track biodiversity through genetic sampling of soil and water. It all adds up to a data-rich, productive rural economy with a better understood ecosystem.

Kickstarting the next Green Revolution

To make the revolution happen, DEFRA must become a data powerhouse. Eustice should start by creating an Office for Natural Statistics, to sit within DEFRA and co-ordinate data collection in a way never done before. He should then ask it to conduct a great census of Britains natural capital, as recommended by the Natural Capital Committee, to establish a baseline for the billions that taxpayers are about to invest in it.

The Office for Natural Statistics should form the bedrock of a much wider geospatial community, setting new standards and ambitions for environmental data. It should have the powers of a Legal Deposit Library, with full access to published research, Environmental Impact Assessments from the construction industry and farm surveys.

Like the Met Office and Ordnance Survey, its datasets would be valuable and should be easily available in an interoperable format for AgriTech innovators, water companies, researchers and regulators. It should mostly be free and open, but not always. Earnings from commercial fees could help to form a business case for investment in monitoring and AI, including a British version of the EUs Copernicus Earth Observation satellite (as Policy Exchange has argued in a report quoted by the Prime Minister).

Once this data-led approach is embedded, the opportunities grow and grow. Whether its providing digital IDs for food products or real-time stats on tree growth and peat restoration, it all begins with data.

The last Green Revolution saved lives and the next one will too. Like most modern revolutions, data will be its lifeblood. But we havent monitored the right things properly for a long time, which shows in the results. Now we have the chance to change all that.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  No more dwelling in the past for Quire Cleveland. Not this week, anyway.

With its next program, Journey Home, the choir rooted in history is making a huge chronological leap, connecting centuries past to the immediate present.

Its a jump with purpose. Subtitled Finding Unity After Loss, the new program is designed to celebrate Clevelands vibrant immigrant population, specifically its Polish and Slovenian communities.

When we come together in this particular way, were addressing the founding of our [Cleveland] culture, said Jay White, artistic director of Quire Cleveland. There are so many cultural jewels in this area. Its quite something to admire.

Admiration, as it happens, is where Journey Home began. When White, a San Francisco native, came to Northeast Ohio, he was struck, he said, by the number, size and vitality of Clevelands immigrant groups, and was moved to engage them.

His first thought? Christmas. Between the abundance of holiday music in many cultures and Quire Clevelands knack for carols, he saw the perfect overlap.

Gradually, though, he began to imagine a bigger picture, a program about immigrant life in general. While the concerts Friday and Saturday highlight Polish and Slovenian cultures, their larger purpose, White said, is to recognize the struggles and successes of all whove left their homelands and resettled, including those on the move around the world today.

Put another way: Thomas Tallis, Jacob Handl, Robert White and Mikolaj Zielenski may not be contemporary composers. In fact, they all hail from the 16th century. Even in Latin, though, their music still resonates, attesting to an experience of loss thats universal.

Unfortunately, history does repeat itself, White explained. It may be something of a stretch, but Im hoping these concerts will show that these composers all had the same idea in mind. Im hoping itll be a way of tying things together.

The locations of the concerts are no accident. Not only do St. John Cantius and St. Vitus churches stand as centerpieces in their respective communities. They also, White said, represent churches everywhere, embodying the homes-away-from-home that immigrants throughout history have relied upon as bastions of culture.

The strongest act of tying together involves audience participation. At each location, Quire Cleveland will join guests in singing a hymn in the language of that parish (Polish on Friday; Slovenian Saturday).

Dont worry if youre not a native speaker or a member of that community. For the most part, Quire Cleveland isnt, either.

The important thing, White said, is that you participate. Simply by raising your voice in song, taking part in the act of making music with others, youll get the message that Quire Cleveland ultimately aspires to send.

That sense of community, of communicating by making beautiful sounds together, thats something we as a nation have lost, White said. Theres a synergy there. The space and the audience are part of it. Through music, we really do express more than what words can say.

PREVIEW

Quire Cleveland

What: The program Journey Home: Finding Unity After Loss.

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29.

Where: St. John Cantius Church, 906 College Ave., Cleveland (Friday); St. Vitus Church, 6019 Lausche Ave., Cleveland (Saturday).

Tickets: Freewill offering. Go to quirecleveland.org.
All airlines in Vietnam, except Vasco, which flies on short-distance routes, are regularly updating information about their activities and sale promotion programs to attract passengers.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam's (CAAV) head Dinh Viet Thang one week ago said Vietnams airlines have lost VND10 trillion over the last month because of the interruption of flights to China, which accounts for 26.1 percent of the airlines transportation output.

Analysts believe that the loss could be even higher if counting the indirect impact of the flight interruption.

Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific (JPA) and Vietjet Air alone exploit 87 regular routes and provide chartered flights to 54 destinations in China with the frequency of 401 flights a week.

While the number of domestic passengers has dropped by 30 percent, airlines have to spend more money for sterilization. In addition, they have to run sale promotion programs to retain passengers.

Jetstar Pacific some days ago launched a special promotion program, under which the buy 4 get 1 free principle is applied to all groups of at least four passengers who fly on domestic air routes.

Jetstar Pacific some days ago launched a special promotion program, under which the buy 4 get 1 free principle is applied to all groups of at least four passengers who fly on domestic air routes.

Passengers who book one way or return tickets for flights departing from February 14 to May 31, 2020, except the April holiday (from April 28 to May 5) will receive refund for one passenger.

Vietnam Airlines, the national flag air carrier, focuses on upgrading the service quality. It ensures air quality for all its aircraft. They are safe and equipped with HEPA air filter which minimizes the spread of virus and bacteria spread. All of its aircraft returning from Taiwan and Hong Kong will be sterilized.

Meanwhile, the two private airlines decided to implement the plans on opening new international air routes they designed before, despite the coronavirus outbreak.

Bamboo Airways has officially begun selling tickets for many new international air routes, including Hanoi-Czech Republic, Hanoi-Incheon (South Korea), Hanoi-Kaohsiung (Taiwan).

The prices of the air tickets, associated with tours offered by Bamboo Airways, are very reasonable. The pricing policy aims to help it compete with other carriers which have been flying for a long time on routes to Northeast Asia.

The newcomer, which joined the market one year ago, also tries to conquer niche markets with the Hai Phong-Buon Ma Thuot and Vinh-Nha Trang routes. In the latest news, it has decided to raise the flight frequency on the Hanoi-HCM City route to 36 a day.

Vietjet Air, which prepared the market opening for a long time, decided to open five new air routes at the same time from different points in Vietnam to New Delhi and Mumbai (India) from May 14 (nearly 10 flights a week).

Thanh Lich

Coronavirus outbreak to cost airlines almost $30bn Airline industry body IATA predicts global air travel demand will fall for the first time since 2009.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : In view of deaths caused by novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which has taken over 2,600 lives in China, the Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania (CMAAO) issued an updated advisory for travelling.

The coronavirus death toll in mainland China has increased to 2,663 with 77,658 confirmed cases, health authorities said on Tuesday.

According to K.K. Aggarwal, President CMAAO, "if you are travelling abroad, keep the possibility of being quarantined for 14 days in any country." Travel advisory is divided into four levels: Level 1 on all countries -- Exercise normal standard hygiene precautions, Level 2 in all affected countries -- Exercise a high degree of caution, Level 3 all countries with secondary cases -- Reconsider your need to travel and Level 4 in affected parts of China and Korea -- Do not travel.

"Carry at least 20 days of extra essential medicines stock. Always keep the passport, kept in a plastic pouch, in a safe front pocket, with you in case if you want to leave the country," Aggarwal said.

Aggarwal added that always carry authentic medical prescription with you with generic names of the drugs, and carry dry fruits as well.

He also suggested that always book a refundable air ticket even if they are 10 per cent costlier.

"Get travel insurance and make sure that you have an up-to-date will, an enduring power of attorney," CMAAO President said.

The doctor advised not to travel to countries with Level 4 warnings like Wuhan, China.

"For Level 3 warnings -- like India and Singapore -- travel only if it is a must and minimise time spent in airports or leave the area if you feel uneasy," Aggarwal said.

The deaths outside China were recorded in Iran (12), South Korea (eight), Italy (seven), Japan (five), Hong Kong (two), France (one), Taiwan (one) and the Philippines (one).

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
By Trend

The Turkish parliament called for the necessary assessment of Azerbaijans Khojaly tragedy, Trend reports on Feb. 25 referring to a statement made by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Turkish parliament.

The Khojaly tragedy is a black spot in the history of mankind, the statement said. "Turkey condemns the massacre of Azerbaijanis by Armenia and demands to withdraw Armenian troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories. Turkey has always supported and will always support 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.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The Haryana government is considering changes in the law to ensure those accused of liquor smuggling do not get bail for six months, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala told the state Assembly on Tuesday.

"If anyone is caught in liquor smuggling, as per present provisions in the law, the offence is bailable and one gets bail within 15 days. However, we will soon make changes in the existing law making the offence non-bailable for six months," Chautala, who holds the Excise department portfolio, told the House.

Chautala was responding to criticism from the opposition Congress, which has slammed the BJP-JJP government over the new excise policy. The opposition has claimed various provisions of the new policy, which comes into effect from April 1, will encourage liquor addiction among youths.

Among other things, the policy provides that bars in Gurgaon, Faridabad and Panchkula will soon remain open till 1 am as against existing rules that doesn't allow them to run after midnight. The bars in these cities will be able to extend their closing time by another two hours after 1 am by 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) under the policy.

During the Zero hour, Congress Rohtak MLA B B Batra pointed out one of the provisions of the new policy, saying, "You have allowed an individual to get a temporary licence and store six bottles of country liquor, 12 bottles of beer...rum, Indian Made Foreign Liquorin this way one can open a mini liquor vend inside one's house and misuse it".

Chautala told the House that the provision was made by the previous Congress regime in 2005-06.

"This provision was even during previous Congress government... We are giving licence for 24-hour period on the condition that an individual will store liquor in his house for social functions like marriages. However, if anyone is found misusing the licence permit or storing liquor without permit, then we have made provision of imposing heavy fines," he said.

He dismissed criticism that certain provisions in the new policy would encourage liquor addiction.

Chautala said under the policy, if any distillery is found selling liquor illegally, a fine of Rs 1 lakh will be imposed for first offence, Rs 2 lakh for second, Rs 5 lakh for third after which licence will be cancelled for subsequent offence.

Congress leader Kiran Choudhary said "there is no doubt that liquor smuggling in the state is going on in a big way and this needs to be checked".

"Under the policy, we have taken steps by which we can trace every bottle which comes out of distillery until it reaches end consumer. Also, flow meters will be installed in every distillery to monitor every drop which is produced," Chautala told the Congress member.

Former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, demanded withdrawal of the new policy, terming it as a "recipe for disaster".

"If this policy was so good, then why would Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala also criticise it. He too has demanded rollback of certain provisions of this policy,"Hooda said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amid violence over the amended citizenship law, the district administration here has sealed three borders adjoining northeast Delhi and shut down bars and pubs in Ghaziabad, officials said on Tuesday.

District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey told PTI that Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed in the district.

Section 144 of CrPC prohibits the assembly of four or more people in an area.

Officials said Laal Bagh, DLF embankment road of Loni and Tulsi Niketan borders of Sahibabad which are adjacent to northeast Delhi have been barricaded, adding people have been advised not to use these routes to travel to Delhi.

All the liquor vends and bars will remain closed from 4 to 10 pm whereas all bars in hotels and pubs will be shut in the district, Pandey said.

Forces have been deployed in all the sensitive areas, he added.

Eleven people have been killed in the clashes reported from Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Chandbagh and Bhajanpura areas of northeast Delhi, the police said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Maharashtra Minister and Congress leader Aslam Shaikh on Tuesday condemned the violence in the capital over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019 and alleged that law and order had ceased to exist in the country.

Talking to ANI, Shaikh said: "Law and order has ceased to exist in this country. The situation is such that nobody can protest against the Central government. If they do, they'll be lathi-charged or shot. It is BJP's attempt to kill democracy. I condemn it and I feel everyone should condemn this as this sort of violence is unacceptable."

His comments came after clashes between pro and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protesters took place at various places in the North-East District of Delhi on Monday where five including four civilians and one police head constable lost their lives and over a 100 were injured.

Shaikh further added that the central government and BJP leaders were frustrated about the fact that people across the country, cutting across religious lines, were protesting against the CAA.

"Law and order in Delhi comes under the jurisdiction of Union Home Minister and if the BJP says that some forces are trying to disturb the law and order, then they should make appropriate arrangements to tackle it. In Mumbai, no such incidents of violence occurred. People have been protesting for months here," the Congress leader said.

Taking a jibe at BJP leader Kapil Mishra for allegedly inciting violence during his rally, Shaikh said: "A BJP's leader wouldn't have the courage to incite violence without the support of his party leaders."

"Mishra openly issued an ultimatum to the Delhi Ppolice. He asked the Delhi Police to vacate the roads in Delhi where protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) are going on. What does that mean when he says he won't listen to the police? This only means that they will carry out hooliganism," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Newmont Corporations NEM board has recently given unanimous approval for the investment in an Autonomous Haulage System (AHS) at Boddington, Australia. The investment is expected to boost productivity and safety in addition to extending the mines life.



Newmonts Boddington mine is expected to be fully operational in 2021. Once fully operational, it is expected to become the worlds first open-pit gold mine with an autonomous haul truck fleet. The company stated that a fleet of autonomous CAT 793F mining trucks will be fully operational in 2021 at the mine.



Newmont also stated that Boddington is delivering strong performance. The companys investment in autonomous haul trucks is likely to generate an IRR of more than 35%. It will also have more controlled and efficient haulage operation.



The company expects net investment in Boddingtons AHS to be $150 million. Per Newmont, it is expected to extend the mines life by at least two years. Additionally, there is potential from the replication of the AHS at Newmonts other operations.



Autonomous Caterpillar haul trucks at Boddington will feature rigorous safety controls. This will lower employees exposure to potential vehicle interactions, which will further minimize injury rates. Newmont is also providing opportunities to haul truck drivers for reskilling and redeployment to other roles that will support the AHS. Notably, Boddington is Western Australias largest gold producer. The mine directly employs around 2,000 people.



Newmonts shares have surged 43.8% in the past year against the industrys decline of 5.9%.





Newmont reported adjusted earnings of 50 cents per share in fourth-quarter 2019, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 48 cents.



The company expects attributable gold production for 2020 to be 6.4 million ounces. For 2020, all-in sustaining costs for gold is projected at $975 per ounce and the cost applicable to sales expectation for gold is $750 per ounce.



Zacks Rank & Key Picks



Newmont currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).



Some better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are Daqo New Energy Corp DQ, Novagold Resources Inc. NG and Impala Platinum Holdings Limited IMPUY, each currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



Daqo New Energy has an expected earnings growth rate of 353.7% for 2020. The companys shares have surged 97.6% in the past year.



Novagold has an expected earnings growth rate of 11.1% for fiscal 2020. Its shares have returned 140.1% in the past year.



Impala Platinum has an expected earnings growth rate of 465.5% for fiscal 2020. The companys shares have surged 163.4% in the past year.



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Ryan Rowe was raised in Gladwin. At 20 years old, he moved to Grand Rapids to attend Grace Christian University.

Rowe is receiving his associates degree this spring but will continue to pursue his bachelor's degree. His expected graduation date is 2022.

Rowe has overcome many obstacles. It took him six years to graduate high school. His expected graduation date was 2015 but instead graduated in 2017, at 20. He graduated high school with a 0.979 GPA.

Rowe's parents split at 17 and shortly after, he had to move out. With a rough home life, and without parental structure and support, he was the kid who put his head down on the desk and slept through almost every class. Rowe's high school physical science teacher heard about his situation and asked him to live with her and her family and go to church with them. Rowe began to study well and receive good grades, because of their care and support.

Rowe moved out and decided to live alone and finish his last year of high school after living with them for a year. He was initially planning to go to community college, but once he visited Grace with friends and found out he had a shot at attending, he was hooked.

"My enrollment specialist Hilary was truly amazing, caring, consistent and instrumental in getting me here," Rowe said.

He now has a 3.31 GPA and has made the Dean's list nearly every semester.

"I cannot express how thankful and appreciative I am of every staff and faculty member at Grace Christian University," Rowe said. "They are the best, because they believe in us students and see something special in each of us. They truly care and put a lot of hard intentional work, love, and grace into everything they do. If it was not for them, I do not know what I would do with my life. Thanks for believing in us!"
Santiago, Feb 25 : Chile's President Sebastian Pinera has called on Chileans to unite in favour of a "major agreement for democracy, against violence and for peace," amid ongoing social unrest.

"The cooperation of all Chileans of goodwill will contribute to healing the wounds and allowing Chile to resume the road to democracy, progress, justice and peace," Pinera said on Monday, after returning from vacation and meeting with his cabinet.

The President called on lawmakers to work on passing a series of reforms aimed at meeting protesters' demands, including raising the minimum wage., Xinhua news agency reported.

Pinera's administration has also introduced bills to strengthen law and order, as well as allow the deployment of troops to shield critical infrastructure, such as hospitals, airports, power stations and potable water plants, during protests.

Demonstrations initially broke out in last October against a hike in subway fares in the capital Santiago, then spread across the country as Chileans expressed their discontent with the high cost of living, lack of public services and growing inequality.

Following months of often violent anti-government demonstrations, officials are bracing for another nationwide protest in March to continue pressing for better public services.

In response, Pinera's administration has organized a plebiscite in April on whether or not to change the Constitution to better address the growing wealth gap in one of Latin America's leading economies.

"Our government is going to guarantee this plebiscite, and it is also going to respect the decision that Chileans freely and independently make on April 26," said Pinera.
New Beginnings Fellowship Churchs mission springs from a literal translation of the gospel of Matthew 25:35: I was a stranger and you invited me in.

Its the most important passage in the Bible, said Joe Donalson, a church minister.

The church started in Houston, converting abandoned houses into shelters. Hurricane Harvey inspired it to expand its mission, and in 2017 New Beginnings acquired an empty nursing home in Canton, 60 miles east of Dallas, hoping to convert it into another shelter.

But the quaint community, best known for its famous giant monthly flea market, resisted. The dispute grew contentious, spinning into lawsuits. Donalson became a regular at city meetings, seldom missing an opportunity to call out local politicians.

So when he decided to run for Canton City Council he knew the campaign might get heated. What he didnt anticipate is that it would get him tossed in jail.

For subscribers: Taxpayer-funded gun locks are free to Texans  unless they have the wrong political agenda

Earlier this month Donalson was taken into custody at the San Jacinto Jail, where hed gone to visit an inmate. After checking Donalsons drivers license deputies informed him that Van Zandt County  home to Canton  had issued a warrant for his arrest. His bail was set at $25,000; he spent the next day and a half behind bars. His crime: filing to run for public office when hed been convicted of a felony, 35 years ago.

The question of whether someone with a criminal record can run for office in Texas has, if anything, become more confusing recently. As a result, today a candidate with a record faces two dramatically different potential receptions when he or she declares candidacy: A place on the ballot  or arrest and criminal charges. Sprinkle the high passions and influences of local politics into the mix, and their risk in seeking elected office becomes especially unpredictable.

State law says to participate in elections those convicted of a felony must have been officially pardoned by the governor  a vanishingly rare occurrence  or released from the resulting disabilities of their crimes. For voting purposes the phrase has been interpreted to mean former felons can cast a ballot when their sentence is complete.

So criminal justice advocates argue the same must be true for office-seekers, as well. Some jurisdictions have agreed. In 2018, the City of Austin allowed Lewis Conway to run for city council despite his 1991 manslaughter conviction. Last year in San Antonio, city council candidate Walter Perry, Sr. and state representative candidate Steve Huerta appeared on the ballot despite their felony convictions. (All lost.)

Attorney General Ken Paxton, himself facing felony securities fraud charges, tackled the question last May. He argued that just because a person can legally vote doesnt mean he can run for office, concluding a prior felony conviction disqualified someone from elected office unless he or she was pardoned or officially granted clemency by a judge  also extremely uncommon.

For subscribers: Texas lobbyists and politicians dodge $800k in fines, thanks to weak campaign finance laws

Paxtons opinions are advisory, however, and local jurisdictions have continued to treat candidates with criminal pasts differently. In Houston, a judge earlier this month said city council candidate Cynthia Bailey could remain on the ballot, despite a 2007 theft conviction. (An opponent is appealing.)

In the San Antonio suburb of Cibolo, by comparison, Mayor Stan Stosh Boyle was arrested last July for not disqualifying himself from his successful 2017 election because of a 1998 drug conviction. The city council voted to keep him in office anyway. In September, he was charged again after filing for his 2019 re-election, which he also won. The cases, being prosecuted by the attorney generals office, are pending.

His lawyer, Eric DeWalt, said Boyles arrests were troubling not only for limiting his legal rights, but also because the case against Boyle was initiated by a political opponent, who DeWalt said issued the mayor an ultimatum of exposing him unless he resigned. There was a political undertone, he said.

Nowadays, Boyle wrote in a statement, if your political opponents cant beat you at the ballot box, they attempt to misuse our justice system to thwart the will of the voters.

A very angry young man

Although New Beginnings has an attorney, most of its voluminous legal filings have been prepared by Donalson, who said he acquired his skills during his two decades of incarceration. I learned it all in the prison law library, he said.

Donalson was 18 years old when he was convicted in a series of arson fires that gripped Houston in the mid-1980s. Dubbed the Fondra Firebug, Donalson -- then named Damon Downs -- was linked to a dozen fires in the southwest part of the city. In a 1986 interview, he said he did it for the attention; investigators traced phone calls he made to the fire department after setting the blazes.

He was sentenced to 50 years (later reduced on appeal). Court records show he was an active self-advocate early on, filing dozens of legal claims and appeals. I was a very angry young man, he said.

After his 2006 release Donalson found work as a legal courier. He later started his own company, ferrying filings from Houston attorneys offices to courthouses.

He enjoyed a media flare in 2018 after contacting Houston police to report that a nervous-seeming man who hired him to file a property deed looked familiar. It turned out to be Joseph Pappas, who days earlier had pedaled his bike next to one being ridden by Mark Hausknecht and fatally shot the prominent Houston physician. Pappas had nursed a 20-year grudge against the doctor, blaming him for his mothers death, police said.

Related: Houston doctors accused killer shed possessions before Medical Center slaying

Since 2009, Donalson said he has thrown himself into his church work for the homeless. When I was a kid, no one gave me a second chance, the benefit of the doubt, he said. Thats what Im trying to do for everyone else.

New Beginnings wasnt the first to imagine a new life for the former Heritage Manor Nursing Home just blocks west of Cantons downtown. Kevin Chapman, whod established a sober living center in nearby Eustace, said he was approached in 2014 by local officials seeking a similar facility for people being released from the local jail, especially veterans.

He bought the 109-bed building in 2015. At first, the movers and shakers of the county were just rolling out the red carpet for us, he recalled.

But after word spread among neighbors how the building was to be used, Chapman said, the support evaporated. The city also started to come down on us really hard, he added. They were making it impossible for us to move forward.

The building was sold to another nonprofit, only to be returned to Chapman months later. There are a lot of wealthy people in that neighborhood, and they dont want that kind of thing there, said Sue Hosack, who handled the real estate listing.

New Beginnings acquired the property in October 2017. According to court filings, Donalson said he soon heard from locals that his shelter would be unwelcome in Canton. He said residents also told him there was a plan to develop the property behind the nursing home, owned by the citys largest landholder, Henry Lewis. A Future Land Use Plan map on the citys website shows a proposed thoroughfare that appears to cut through the nursing home property into Lewiss. Donalson came to believe he was involved in more than a simple code dispute.

He protested in conventional ways  meeting with city officials, attending council sessions, eventually fighting in court. But he also deployed more unconventional tactics. When a city inspector kept identifying minor infractions Donalson disputed, he researched the man and discovered hed lost his job in another city and lacked proper credentials, which he reported to Canton.

He recorded his interactions with Canton officials, posting them on YouTube, with commentary. He cruised the city recording examples of what he saw as the same code violations he was being asked to fix. When the city posted a notice of violation because the New Beginnings building lacked sprinklers, Donalson replaced his address with that of Cantons City Hall and posted the placard there  where, he noted, there were no sprinklers, either. (A building inspector said City Hall wasnt big enough to require them.)

We need some new blood

Though their attorney, Canton officials declined to be interviewed. In court filings they characterized the dispute as a simple public safety matter. The old nursing home was too dangerous to occupy and should be repaired or demolished, but Donalson and New Beginnings have defiantly declared that they are not required to comply with the Citys health and safety code provisions, one stated.

Donalson said his frustrating experience trying to open the homeless facility led him to contemplate a run for city office. I dont want to be on city council, he said. But a lot of people in Canton came to me and said, We need some new blood, to straighten things out. He filed to run on January 16.

Its unclear who lodged the complaint against Donalson. Van Zandt County District Attorney Tonda Curry said the matter was investigated by the Canton Police Department. Chief Brad Allison declined comment.

Curry said the case was clear-cut: When Donalson filed for office, he did not disclose his disqualifying arson conviction. The answer to the question for Mr. Donalson is yes, and he wrote no under oath, she said. A grand jury indicted him January 31.

Donalson said there was enough ambiguity in Texas law to protect him. It didnt.

On February 9, a Sunday, he had driven to the jail in Coldspring, an hour north of Houston, to interview an about-to-be-released inmate to see if he was a good fit for one of New Beginningss shelters -just to see where his head was at.

Records show he was taken into custody at 2:30 in the afternoon. Donalson said he was handcuffed and given a jumpsuit to put on. He said he wasnt given an opportunity to call his lawyer to bond out until the following day. County records show he was released late Monday, just before midnight.

Last month New Beginnings lost most of its legal claims and was ordered out of the old nursing home. Now, after his arrest, Donalson said hes done with Canton. No, he said. Im not running for city council.
Published on 2020/02/25 | Source

Global companies with branch offices in Korea are restricting their operations here or have even closed their offices temporarily.

Advertisement

Intel, the world's top semiconductor company, in a video conference with executives in Seoul on Sunday, the day the Korean government raised a red alert for coronavirus, decided to ask all staff in its Seoul offices to work from home this week.

Intel Korea has a staff of 150 to 200 at offices in Yeouido and Samseong-dong, Seoul. An Intel staffer said the period can be extended depending on new developments.

Microsoft and Airbnb have also told their Korean staff to work from home. "Only a few staff came to the office today and went home immediately after finishing urgent business", a Microsoft Korea executive said on Monday.

Google and Facebook in messages on Sunday and Monday urged staff in their Korean offices to work from home if at all possible.

Some foreign companies already started canceling their executives' business trips to Korea two to three weeks ago. A branch office staffer of an American company said, "Executives at our headquarters in the U.S. have canceled trips to Korea for one reason or another since late last month. None have come for the past three weeks".

"I was supposed to attend two or three meetings in the U.S. and Singapore but was told that the meetings were canceled", said a staffer of another foreign company.
A special CBI court in Ranchi on Tuesday sentenced former Jharkhand Minister Anosh Ekka, his brother, wife and four other relatives to seven years imprisonment each in connection with a disproportionate assets case.

Special CBI judge AK Mishra also imposed Rs 50 lakh fine each.

Ekka, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering a para-teacher in Simdega, was recently also convicted in the Rs 16.82 crore disproportionate assets case.

The court also directed the accused to forfeit their properties.

A case was registered by the vigilance department in the year 2008, which was taken over by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the year 2010 on the direction of Jharkhand High Court.

The CBI had, in 2010, registered an FIR under several relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and PC Act. During the probe, properties belonging to him and his relative were found in Ranchi and Delhi.

Ekka was a cabinet minister in the Jharkhand government between 2005 and 2008.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[February 25, 2020] HR Green Assists City of Waterloo in transitioning declining properties into Teen Center

WATERLOO, Iowa, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- HR Green, a professional engineering and environmental consulting firm, has assisted the City of Waterloo, Iowa in transitioning two declining commercial properties into an exciting reuse project. Clearing a former dry cleaning operation for redevelopment helped advance the construction of a $3 million Teen Center by the Boys and Girls Club of the Cedar Valley. As part of HR Green's ongoing commitment to collaborate with communities on brownfields assessment and cleanup projects, the firm worked with City staff to secure a $400,000 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant to investigate potentially contaminated properties. The funds allowed the City to complete an environmental site assessment (ESA) on behalf of the Boys and Girls Club prior to acquisition. During the demolition of the blighted structures, contractors uncovered a severely damaged underground storage tank and a 55-gallon drum that threatened the project's viability. HR Green's groundwater and soil sampling activities did not identify any contaminant levels above statewide standards and the project was able to proceed. The Boys and Girls Club of the Cedar Valley hosted a grand opening for the Teen Center on January 16, 2020. The facility features space for tutoring, computer and digital graphics skills development, music creativity, college testing preparation, counseling, direct homework assistance, and supervised recreatonal space. The City welcomed officials from EPA Region 7 to speak during the ceremony.



"This project is a training ground for our future leaders and workforce and space to prepare our teens for life after high school," said James Lee III, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of the Cedar Valley. "We will have caring adults present to support and encourage our kids. It will be our Teen Staff's job to show our members the myriad of opportunities available to be successful. The center will produce caring and responsible citizens to advance our community for the future. We are preparing Waterloo teens to become the next community leaders. The center also provides another asset to be used not just for our youth but for our neighbors and the broader community." This transformative project is only one of the numerous efforts currently underway that are revitalizing a once-declining central business district. Visit the City's highly interactive brownfields project website (www.thenewwaterloo.com) for more details.

"The new Boys and Girls Teen Center accomplishes many positives for the City of Waterloo," said Noel Anderson, Community Planning and Development Director for the City of Waterloo. "First, it works in partnership with the City of Waterloo, Walnut Historic Neighborhood Association, JSA Development, and Habitat for Humanity as another vital piece in the overall redevelopment and rehabilitation of the Walnut Neighborhood. Second, it shows the ongoing importance of the City's efforts to eliminate blight through the brownfield program and 657A State Code use. And last but not least, the overall impact of the Teen Center on the youth of the community." About HR Green

Founded in 1913, the HR Green Family of Companies includes HR Green, Inc.; HR Green Pacific, Inc.; HR Green Development, LLC; HR Green Fiber and Broadband, LLC; HR Green California, Inc., and HR Green Michigan, LLC. HR Green has offices throughout the nation providing engineering, technical, and management solutions that build communities and improve lives in Transportation, Water, Governmental Services, Land Development, Environmental, Construction and Fiber and Broadband. For more information, visit www.hrgreen.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hr-green-assists-city-of-waterloo-in-transitioning-declining-properties-into-teen-center-301010939.html SOURCE HR Green

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Lucknow: The Yogi government has planned a meeting with investors in the defence corridor next month to expedite the projects.

In the recently concluded five-day Defence Expo, 23 companies signed an MOU worth Rs 50,000 crore with the state government for investment in the defence corridor.

The government will convene a meeting with all investors of the defence corridor next month to make sure they do not face any problem in setting up their units, said UP industrial development minister Satish Mahana.

The minister was speaking at the CIIs session on UP Economic Summit  Shaping the Next Wave Of Growth organised on its annual day.

We will make sure that all MoUs are rolled out within due time, he added.

Commenting on investments and MOUs signed at the UP Investors Summit organised in February 2018, Mahana said: Around 30 percent industries that had signed MOUs at the Investors Summit have rolled out their projects.

He added that the Nivesh Mitra had enhanced ease of doing business for industrialists.

The Nivesh Mitra is an online facility for entrepreneurs who want to invest in the state.

It may be pointed out that the Uttar Pradesh has a separate defence and aerospace policy to promote investment in defence sector in the state.

Mahana also said that the government was working on a lucrative policy for allotment of industrial lands which will be announced soon.

Also present on the occasion, Alok Tandon, industrial development commissioner, said: The government is planning for the global investors meet slated for later this year.

In this year finance bill 2020-21, various new projects have been announced, including the 620 km Ganga expressway, National Waterway 1, 25 domestic airports for regional connectivity.

Sameer Gupta, chairman, CII northern region, stressed that the state was steadily emerging as an industrial hub.

Vinod Sharma, chairman, CII, Uttar Pradesh State Council, stated that the government was trying to revive the growth momentum through its investor friendly policies.
Straight from Heaven: a loving voice from a woman as she traces and lives out the beautiful days of her being a mother to her wonderful child. Straight from Heaven is the creation of published author Monica Chong, a wife and a mother from the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Christs love was shown to her at an early age back when she was just a young girl.

Chong shares, Ever look at your child and think, Wow! How amazing are you? What a blessing you are. I am so blessed to have you. The Lord blesses us with these precious gifts, our babies. It is my belief that we are all sent from above.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Monica Chongs new book is a moving piece of childrens literature that voices out the thoughts and love of a mother to her child.

This story will show to the readers the unconditional feeling of love a parent can have and give.

View a synopsis of Straight from Heaven on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Straight from Heaven at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Straight from Heaven, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Vijayawada: The award of death penalty to a man for the rape and murder of a five-year-old girl in Chittoor district on Monday has come as a shot in the arm for Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddys Disha initiative which focuses on delivering speedy justice as part of ensuring overall safety of women and children.

The Chittoor case was one of the 28 cases of rape, murder or child abuse booked after the Andhra Pradesh Legislature passed the Disha Bill on December 13. The police conducted investigation into the incident, arrested the accused and filed chargesheet in seven days in the Chittoor case. In two of the cases, the victims were murdered.

Leaving sceptics aside on whether the Disha Act would really see the light of the day, our experience in the last two months has instilled confidence that speedy justice is possible, Director General of Police Gautam Sawang told Deccan Chronicles.

Though the Bill for speedy justice was named after Disha, a veterinary doctor who was raped and murdered by four lorry workers in Hyderabad, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy was considering a tough law to prevent atrocities against women and children even before that incident.

There were a spate of child abuse cases a few days before Disha incident and the Chief Minister was very upset. He discussed at length at one or two Cabinet meetings on how to instil the fear of punishment among people so as to prevent such incidents, said home minister M. Sucharita.

Sources close to the Chief Minister said Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, the father of two girls, had turned very emotional when he came to know of the Disha incident. The victim can be anybody, he lamented during his speech in the Assembly and announced his strong resolve to strengthen the policing, investigation and the subsequent judicial process.

As a first step after the Disha Bill, the Chief Minister got about Rs 100 crore released to realise the objectives of which nearly Rs 30 crore would be spent on improving forensic facilities. In addition to the existing facility in Vijayawada, the government has decided to set up one facility each in Visakhapatnam and Tirupati. These forensic labs with DNA testing facility will become operational within a month.

Besides planning 18 Disha police stations and posting adequate personnel, the Chief Minister also announced a 30 per cent additional pay to the personnel posted in Disha police stations. Two special officers were appointed and a unique app which sends the distress message just by shaking the phone thrice was also launched.

According to the home minister, it was identified that no specific punishment was available for cyber harassment of women and girl children in the existing Acts and the accused were let off with a warning. We proposed two years imprisonment for the first offence and four years in case of repeated offence in such cases, Ms Sucharita pointed out.
Katherine Johnson, the woman who hand-calculated the trajectory for America's first trip to space, died Monday, according to NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.

Johnson was 101 years old.



According to a biography on NASA's website, Johnson was one of three African-American students to integrate West Virginia University's graduate schools.

At 13, Johnson attended the high school on the campus of West Virginia State College and enrolled there at 18.

There, she found a mentor in math professor W.W. Schieffelin Claytor, the third African-American to earn a PhD in mathematics.

Johnson graduated in 1937 and taught at a black public school in Virginia until she enrolled in the graduate math program at West Virginia University.

Although she eventually left school to have children, Johnson and her family eventually moved to Virginia, where she began work in 1953 at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACAs) Langley laboratory.

In 1957, Johnson provided some of the math for the 1958 document Notes on Space Technology, and, joined the team at NACA (which later became NASA) that began to explore space travel.

Johnson also assisted with trajectory analysis for Alan Shepard's May 1961 mission Freedom 7, America's first spaceflight.

In 1960, she became the first woman in the Flight Research Division to receive credit as an author of a research report for her work detailing the mathematics of an orbital spaceflight in which the landing position of the spacecraft is specified.

Johnson was called upon in 1962 to assist with John Glenn's orbital mission, using a desktop mechanical calculating machine to control the trajectory of the capsule in the groundbreaking Friendship 7 mission.

Johnson was part of NASA's "Computer Pool," a group of mathematicians whose data powered NASA's first successful space missions. The group's success largely hinged on the accomplishments of its black women members.

Her work went largely unrecognized until the release of 2016's "Hidden Figures," a film that portrayed the accomplishments of Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson while the space agency was still largely segregated.



By the time Johnson retired from NASA in 1986, she'd mapped the moon's surface ahead of the 1969 landing and helped astronauts aboard the Apollo 13 safely land back on Earth.

In 2015, at age 97, Johnson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.

Related video: African-American pioneers in NASA's space program

CNN contributed to this report.
Turk Van Buren is a Colorado native, US military veteran who deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan (twice), and South Korea over the course of nine years of active duty, cybersecurity expert, and married father of two currently pursuing his second advanced degree. He has published his latest book Cold Steel Seoul: an action-packed work of military fiction.

Turk writes, In the winter of 2018, the world braced as continued North Korean missile launches over the Korean Peninsula had deteriorated and cooled diplomatic efforts between the United States and the Democratic Republic of North Korea (DPRK). Now, in hindsight, most of the Pentagons top brass freely admit real-world executive orders to transport military families living in South Korea at the time of volatility were at least somewhat warranted. Ultimately, the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang just a few miles from the thirty-eighth parallel, also known as the DMZ, remained dormant and free from conflict.

Cold Steel Seoul is the one and only book in existence that begs the question, what if things in 2018 and beyond did not remain quiet, and a resurgence in the United States longest-running war reached critical mass? The book you have in your hands takes an extreme fictional approach to choreograph and examine what a break in the armistice would mean not only to the twenty-eight thousand military personnel currently stationed in South Korea, but also the world.

In the end, most East Asian scholars and academics can agree on only a handful of facets of North Korea. The country is starving, the regime is totalitarian, and from an intelligence perspective we really know diddly-squat about what happens inside the DPRK. For instance, if a breakaway splinter cell of a deadly terrorist organization named Aum Shinrikyo were to infect the highest levels of the regime would we really know until it was too late? Buckle up and hang on tight as the 2018 Winter Olympic Games just went from being a snooze fest and ignored speed bump in localized history to the most explosive and important events in human history. The breaths of a revolution are at hand, and the second Korean War might just be around the corner. America loves a winner, and will not tolerate a loser, this is why America has never, and will never, lose a war (General George S. Patton).

Published by Page Publishing, Turk Van Burens engrossing book is a fast-paced and compelling geopolitical thriller for mature readers.

Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase Cold Steel Seoul 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.
Radioactive waste found in a patch of land in a residential complex near Jakarta was dumped there by a former employee of the state-run nuclear energy agency, police said Tuesday.

Investigators had also found depleted uranium and an empty cylinder in two houses in the same neighborhood in Serpong, about 30 km (18 miles) west of Jakarta, authorities said.

An elevated level of the Caesium-137 isotope was detected near a multi-family housing complex during a routine test last week for radioactivity, the nations Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten) revealed on Feb. 16.

The owner [of the radioactive material] is known to be a retired Batan employee, national police spokesman Argo Yuwono told BenarNews.

He was using the Indonesian name for the National Nuclear Energy Agency, a separate institution involved in research and development of atomic technology.

Argo said police had not charged the person, a resident of the complex that houses Batan employees. Around 5,000 people, including 1,000 children, live in the gated community, local officials said.

It was not immediately clear if the former employee was working at the nuclear energy agency when the contamination occurred. Authorities declined to provide more information about him.

So far, police have questioned 17 witnesses including Batan employees and local residents, Argo said.

Bapeten, which regulates and monitors activities on the use of nuclear energy in Indonesia, said it had detected radiation levels of 140 microSv per hour in an empty piece of land in the complex, alarming residents who raised questions about its source. The safe level is 0.11 microSv per hour, authorities said.

Officials have said that the substance did not originate from a nuclear reactor, which is used for research, about 4.5 km (2.8 miles) from the contaminated land.

On Tuesday, Batan chief Anhar Riza Antariksawan urged the police to look into possible illegal possession of radioactive substances.

Illegal possession of nuclear or radioactive materials is highly prohibited because it could endanger the public, Anhar said in a statement.

Meanwhile, police found a depleted uranium cylinder  weighing about 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds)  and an empty depleted uranium cylinder in the same residential complex in the houses of two current Batan employees, identified by their initials S.M. and E.F., Argo said.

Argo said he did not know if they were linked to the retired Batan employee.

These things are being investigated. We will make an announcement later, he said.

Civilian uses of depleted uranium include shielding in medical radiation therapy and industrial radiography equipment, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Abdul Qohar Teguh, spokesman for the nuclear regulatory agency Bapeten, said the radioactive contamination was still within safe limits, so it was not necessary to evacuate the complex.

Once the source was secured, the soil returned to normal background values. So there is no need to evacuate the residents, he said.

Cleaning work on contaminated soil resumed on Monday after it was halted at the weekend for evaluation, Batan spokesman Heru Umbara said.

So far, workers have collected 337 drums of contaminated soil, which will be sent to the Batan radioactive-waste technology center for inspection, Heru said, adding that the work was expected to be completed this week.

Bapeten chief Jazi Eko Istiyanto said last week that the radioactive contamination was a far cry from the nuclear disaster at Fukushima, Japan that was triggered by a 2011 earthquake and tsunami, and the nuclear reactor accident at Chernobyl in Ukraine in 1986.

Bapeten said that two out of nine residents had tested positive for exposure to Caesium -137 last week, but the contamination was still within values acceptable to the human body.

So theres no need for special treatment, just a routine medical check-up if needed, he said.

According to Bapeten data, 13,000 licenses have been issued for the use of radioactive substances, mostly to in-health and manufacturing sectors.

Indonesia has no nuclear power industry, although it has conducted feasibility studies in West Kalimantan province. Results on those studies, as well as infrastructure reviews, are expected to be completed in the next two to three years, officials said.
The pregnant wife of one of Britain's richest men who is one of Prince Andrew's closest friends says her husband has dumped her and their two young children while she was away on holiday.

Jonathan Rowland's Russian wife told of her hurt and upset after the 44-year-old businessman, whose property developer father David Rowland is worth 612 million, ended their marriage so suddenly.

Anya Rowland says she suspected 'nothing of the oncoming disaster' when she returned to their marital home from a break in the Dominican Republic to find Mr Rowland had packed his things and gone, leaving their two children aged four and two in the care of their nanny.

Jonathan Rowland's wife Anya (pictured together at the couple's wedding in 2016) says that her husband has left her after she took a 'well-deserved' holiday to the Dominican Republic

Russian Anya, who is four months pregnant, says Mr Rowland, 44, packed up all of his things while she was away and told the nanny that he was clearing up to make space for the new baby

Anya, who attended Princess Eugenie's wedding in 2018 with her husband, revealed details of the sudden marriage collapse in a series of heart-rending Instagram posts in which she says: 'While I was on my very well deserved vacation in the Dominican Republic suspecting nothing of the oncoming disaster, my remarkable husband packed all his things, making sure to make use of the situation while no one was home and brought everything over to his new residence of which he has never informed me.'

Mr Rowland (seen with pal Prince Andrew) insists that he and his wife are still together

Providing further details of her upset, the mother-of-two reveals how Mr Rowland removed expensive art works from their 2million home in South London while she was away, claiming that he was 'making space' for their new baby.

She writes: 'During my absence, my two children, my mother and our housekeeper were at home. They too unfortunately were not informed.

'One day my dear husband was noticed by my housekeeper while he was taking down paintings and to her puzzled expression and her questions he responded that he was just making space for the new baby.'

Revealing her pain, she cries: 'Of course I won't hide that I am hurt by his actions and of course I would have preferred to peacefully discuss the situation and to agree on a mutual separation after having respectfully informed all family members.'

Mr Rowland is the son of property multi-millionaire David 'Spotty' Rowland, a former Conservative treasurer and party donor who reportedly helped to clear some of the Duchess of York's debts.

Mr Rowland has strong links to Prince Andrew after his property tycoon father David Rowland, 74, reportedly paid off some of the Duke's debts. Mr Rowland and his wife Anya were seen (above) attending Princess Eugenie's wedding to Jack Brooksbank in 2018

The couple met in 2014 at a business event and married in 2016 when Anya, from St Petersburg, was eight months pregnant with their first child and her UK visa was set to expire

David, 74, is a scrap metal dealer's son from South London who left school without any qualifications but has found himself rubbing shoulders with English royalty, developing a close bond with Andrew. He was 226th on last year's Sunday Times Rich List.

Mr Rowland's father is David 'Spotty' Rowland (pictured), a property tycoon worth millions

The two have been friends since at least 2005. That year, the Prince unveiled a bronze statue of the financier in the grounds of Havilland Hall, Rowland's sprawling estate in Guernsey. In 2009, Andrew publicly launched the Rowlands' bank in Luxembourg.

David, who has given the Tories almost 3m, is a shareholder in dozens of offshore companies. Along with members of his family, Rowland held shares and property in British Virgin Islands screen entities.

One of his companies  Blackfish Capital  bought a division of the collapsed Icelandic bank Kaupthing in June 2009, with the banking operations being restructured into the Luxembourg-based Banque Havilland, named after David's Jersey mansion.

Jonathan, who is heir to his father's fortune and oversees all his investments, has been criticised in the past for his close links to Andrew who has been accused of using his official position to work behind the scenes for the wealthy Rowland family.

Mr Rowland apparently spent time while his wife was away clearing his things from the couple's 2million home in South London. He left the day his wife returned, she claims

This included the Duke taking Mr Rowland on taxpayer funded trade missions to Saudi Arabia and China and plugging the Rowland's private bank to help them land rich clients.

Recent leaked messages showed that Andrew and Mr Rowland discussed secretly continuing their controversial business relationship 'under the radar' to escape media scrutiny over the Duke's links to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, prior to the prince being forced to quit as the UK's trade envoy.

Anya's distressing account over how her marriage has come to a tragic end has once again raised serious concerns over the behaviour of those within Andrew's inner-circle.

When asked about her Instagram posts, Anya told MailOnline: 'All the facts are there. There's nothing more to say.'

When MailOnline visited the family home, Mr Rowland answered the door, denying that he had left Anya and insisting that they are 'still together.'

Anya, seen embracing her husband during happier times, has chronicled the collapse of her marriage on Instagram to her 14,000 followers as she says Mr Rowland has dumped her

However, just hours later, Anya posted that he only returned for 30 minutes where he 'turned on the TV and was on the phone.'

She also fumed that Rowland appeared to show little interest in their forthcoming baby: 'The kids were watching TV, then he asked me how far along I was and how I was going to name the baby.'

Revealing her anguish at having to explain matters to the children, she laments: 'These are the conversations that I am having with David on a daily basis. 'Where is papa? Is he going to be home for dinner? Is he coming hone to say good night to me. Papa doesn't live with us any more?'

Anya bravely adds: 'Barely able to hold my own tears back I am finding answers to the endless questions of my boys. I fully understand that I have to hold myself together and have to explain everything as reasonably as possible without any sense of negativity. Under no circumstances must I project my own grievances towards their father and try to instill their love for him despite his actions and his decisions.'

Anya met Mr Rowland six years ago at a business event. They married in 2016 when she was eight months pregnant with their first child and her UK visa was about to expire.

Anya, who was born in Novgorod, Russia moved to London to work in finance after studying business at St Petersburg University.

In a series of bizarre Instagram messages Anya insists that her and her husband have split up, while the businessman, who has two children from a previous marriage says they are together

Controversial Mr Rowland divorced his first wife Zoe, with whom he has two children, in 2006 following an acrimonious court battle in which she was awarded a share of his future inheritance. He left school at 16 and seized the opportunity of the dotcom boom to make millions.

Despite her pain, which has been exacerbated by now being a single mother to two children and another on the way, Anya exhibits remarkable resiliance.

She defiantly posts: 'Evidently the fact that we are expecting a third and we already have two small children only 18 months apart of age is not making my situation easier, but it is likely that the earlier this happened the less conscious and damaging it is going to be for the boys and the quicker formal questions are going to be resolved and we will start our new life.'
Photo: The Canadian Press Workers move fabric rolls at a textile printing and dyeing plant in Hangzhou, China.

Factories that make the worlds smartphones, toys and other goods are struggling to reopen after a virus outbreak idled Chinas economy. But even with the ruling Communist Party promising help, companies and economists say it may be months before production is back to normal.

The problem is supply chains  the thousands of companies that provide components, from auto parts to zippers to microchips. Chinas are famously nimble and resourceful, but they lack raw materials and workers after the most intensive anti-disease measures ever imposed closed factories, cut off most access to cities with more than 60 million people and imposed travel curbs.

In smartphones, an industry that relies on China to assemble almost all its handsets, some components suppliers say production is as low as 10% of normal levels, according to Nicole Peng of Canalys, a research firm.

The bad news is that there will be further impact, and the impact is worse than a lot of people initially expected, said Peng.

Travel and retail businesses that need Chinese customers have suffered the most so far from the partial shutdown of the second largest economy. But brands including Apple Inc. say it is starting to disrupt their supplies.Analysts warn the longer that disruption lasts, the more damage will spread to wider industries and other economies.

Global brands have used low-cost Chinese labour to assemble goods for three decades. Now, they increasingly depend on China to supply auto, computer and other components. D disruptions can make this country a bottleneck, choking off their sales.

The most optimistic forecasts call for bringing the virus under control by March, allowing manufacturing to rebound. Gloomier outlooks say the outbreak might last until mid-May or later. Or, as the World Health Organization warned this week, authorities might fail to stop its global spread.

Automakers and other factories are reopening, but analysts say they wont restore normal production until at least mid-March.

If factory work does not spike in the coming weeks, a global parts shortage would likely emerge, Taimur Baig and Samuel Tse of DBS said in a report.

There is no indication yet of an impact on consumers abroad, but retailers are starting to warn some products might be late or unavailable.

China also is a major supplier of chemicals for the global pharmaceutical industry. The outbreak has prompted concern supplies might be disrupted but there is no indication that drug production has been affected.

President Xi Jinping has put his personal authority behind reviving industry.

Beijing is promising tax cuts, though economists say financial help will have limited impact when anti-disease controls still in effect are still keeping workers away from factories and disrupting the movement of goods.

On Sunday, Xi said low-risk areas should change disease-control measures to fully restore production while high-risk areas focus on fighting the epidemic, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

China accounts for about one-quarter of global manufacturing when measured by the value added in its factories. But it is the final assembly point for more than 80% of the world's smartphones, more than half of TVs and a big share of other consumer goods.
Supreme Court Considers Ban on Encouraging Illegals to Stay in US

WASHINGTONThe Trump administration urged the Supreme Court to reverse an appeals court ruling that struck down as unconstitutional an immigration law that made it a felony to encourage people to come to or stay illegally in the United States.

Oral arguments were heard Feb. 25 in the case cited as U.S. v. Sineneng-Smith.

President Donald Trump favors reductions in illegal and legal immigration rates. A decision may be handed down in June as the 2020 presidential election campaign heats up. Other rulings in controversial immigration cases are also expected.

The case concerns immigration consultant Evelyn Sineneng-Smith of San Jose, California, a U.S. citizen accused in 2010 by federal prosecutors of duping illegal aliens into paying her fees to file frivolous applications for visas and thereby encouraging them to stay in the country unlawfully. Her business catered to Filipinos unlawfully present in the United States who worked in the home health care field.

Sineneng-Smith allegedly cheated her clients out of more than $3 million by knowingly filing futile applications after the legal deadline of April 30, 2001, for a now-defunct program run by immigration authorities that was supposed to lead to permanent resident status. She was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment.

The Trump administration argued in court documents that the law provided appropriate punishment for defendants who seek enrichment by incentivizing or procuring violations of the immigration laws by aliens who illegally enter or remain in the country.

However, civil libertarians claim the law is so broadly worded that it violates First Amendment free speech protections.

Federal law makes it a felony punishable by up to five years imprisonment 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. The penalty rises to a maximum of 10 years if he or she acted for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain.

In 2013, Sineneng-Smith was convicted of violating the federal law by inducing an alien to come to, enter, or reside in the United States.

A panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals subsequently found that the law was unconstitutionally overbroad because it criminalizes a substantial amount of protected expression in relation to the statutes narrow legitimate sweep. The law potentially criminalizes the simple wordsspoken to a son, a wife, a parent, a friend, a neighbor, a coworker, a student, a clientI encourage you to stay here.

During oral arguments, Sineneng-Smiths attorney, Mark Fleming, offered similar anecdotes.

In this statute, falsity is not an element, nor is truth a defense. Even accurate advice encouraging someone to stay is banned, Fleming said.

And as a result, this law makes a felon of a teacher who says to an undocumented student that she should stay and pursue her education  and as the government has still never denied, it makes a felon of a lawyer who advises an undocumented client that her best route to lawful status is to remain physically present in the United States.

Justice Samuel Alito challenged Fleming, asking why encouraging someone to remain in the country illegally would not qualify, in the words of the Supreme Courts landmark 1969 free speech ruling in Brandenburg v. Ohio, as unlawful incitement to imminent lawless action.

Fleming replied that Brandenburg only allows regulation of incitement to immediate lawless activity and arguably violent lawless activity.

Alito replied, saying the unlawfulness exists prior to the speech and exists a nanosecond after the speech ended, so it is imminent.

Deputy Solicitor General Eric Feigin argued that invalidating the law would be an overreaction, as he accused advocacy groups that filed friend-of-the-court briefs in the case of hypocrisy.

Such groups engage daily in the very activities they claim are chilled by the federal law that is being disputed.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor noted the government made a watch list of individuals and organizations providing legal advice at the southern border who might face prosecution under the law.

So if you say this has no chilling effect, is that accurate?

Chief Justice John Roberts wondered aloud if the law would penalize a grandmother who tells her illegal-alien granddaughter, I hope you stay because  I will miss you.

Justice Stephen Breyer asked what would happen to the landlady who says to the person, you always have a place here, knowing that that person is illegally in the United States.
Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks to the crowd during the 2019 South Carolina Democratic Party State Convention on June 22, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina.

Democratic presidential contenders are facing what could be their last chance to halt an ascendant Sen. Bernie Sanders during the presidential debate in South Carolina on Tuesday.

The event in Charleston, hosted by CBS News, is likely to be a rowdy affair.

That was the case during the last debate, held in Las Vegas last Wednesday, which showcased an energized Sen. Elizabeth Warren going after Mike Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York, over his record on race and the allegations of sexism that have dogged his cash rich bid.

Warren's performance juiced her campaign with a flood of new contributions from online donors but did little to boost her in the polls or in the Nevada caucuses, where she came in fourth. Bloomberg, though, was badly damaged by the Massachusetts senator's attacks.

He may be better prepared to withstand the incoming fire during round two. His campaign aims to confront Sanders with attacks drawn from opposition research into the Vermont senator's record.

Indeed, Sanders is likely to face scrutiny from a united front of Democrats. The contenders on stage also include former Vice President Joe Biden, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former hedge fund manager Tom Steyer, who is returning to the debates after failing to meet the qualifications for the last one.

The debate will kick off at 8 p.m. ET and is expected to last just over two hours. It comes four days before Saturday's South Carolina primary, the last nominating contest next week's crucial Super Tuesday contests.

Sanders has zoomed in the polls in recent weeks and is expected to rout his competitors on Super Tuesday unless they manage to change the trajectory of the race. That could give him an unstoppable lead in pledged delegates.
Princess Anne expressed her sadness yesterday after learning a dog breeder who worked for her had been shot dead in the cottage where Boris Johnson grew up.

The Queens daughter said Debbie Zurick, who was allegedly shot by her estranged husband, will be sorely missed.

John Zurick, 67, is suspected of killing his 56-year-old wife with a shotgun at the cottage on Saturday afternoon after he discovered she had a new boyfriend.

He then turned the weapon on himself and currently remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

Princess Anne, 69, has expressed her sadness after learning a dog breeder who worked for her, Debbie Zurick, had been shot dead in the cottage where Boris Johnson grew up (pictured second right with the Queen's daugthter is John Zurick who allegedly shot his wife)

Police forensic teams were yesterday combing the property, which is on the Prime Ministers family estate in Somerset, and the surrounding area for clues.

Three police cars were also spotted outside a neighbouring house owned by the Prime Ministers sister Rachel Johnson.

The Prime Minister spent a large part of his childhood on the surrounding 500-acre estate in Winsford, near Minehead, and is said to have had his first experiences with fox hunting there. It is believed Mr Johnson still visits the estate.

Mrs Zurick moved to Ireland last year after becoming exasperated with her husband, friends said. During her stay, she started a relationship and planned to make the move permanent.

She had been secretary of the Working Clumber Spaniel Society  of which Princess Anne is president and patron  for more than 20 years, but last month a statement on its website said Mrs Zurick was retiring from the role with immediate effect because of her move to Ireland.

Mr Zurick, 67, is suspected of killing his 56-year-old wife (pictured together) with a shotgun at the cottage on Saturday afternoon after he discovered she had a new boyfriend

Forensic teams were combing the property, which is on the Prime Ministers family estate in Somerset, and the surrounding area for clues on Tuesday

Princess Anne bonded with Mrs Zurick over their passion for gun dogs. Last year Mrs Zurick trained a puppy called Sedgehurst Millie for Anne. In August, a statement from the society on social media said the puppy would soon be living in the Princesss kennels.

Last night a spokesman for Anne said: The Princess Royal is saddened to hear of the death of Mrs Debbie Zurick. She will be sorely missed as secretary of the Working Clumber Spaniel Society.

On the societys website, Mr Zurick tells how he once trained Annes dog Sparkle but received a rebuke from the princess when the hound failed to bring back a pheasant.

In an interview put up last year, he said Anne left a message on his answer phone machine complaining Sparkle had buried the dead bird. He claimed the princess said: If I wanted an undertaker then I would have asked for one.

Avon and Somerset Police are investigating how Mr Zurick was able to get hold of the shotgun he allegedly used to kill his wife of 30 years. The force yesterday admitted it had seized all the licensed guns on a previous visit to the cottage last month as part of a separate investigation.

A spokesman said: Were satisfied that no firearms licensed to any of the occupants remained at the premises following this visit.

The constabulary said it had referred itself to the police watchdog over prior police contact with those involved. Friends yesterday said Mr Zurick had started drinking heavily after his wife left the marital home last year.

Princess Anne bonded with Mrs Zurick over their passion for gun dogs. Last year Mrs Zurick (pictured with one of her canines) trained a puppy called Sedgehurst Millie for Anne

A farmer in Winsford who knows the Zuricks said: They seemed perfectly happy to us but a few weeks back John told my wife that they had separated.

He didnt explain the reasons but he said it was amicable and that he would be staying in the cottage. Then we heard that Debbie had moved to Ireland.

John had been drinking a lot and a few weeks ago he drove his car into the ford in the village and abandoned it. In a separate incident, Mr Zurick was allegedly found to be more than two times the drink-drive limit while riding a motorbike near his home on February 5. When arrested, he was found to have 78 micrograms of alcohol to 100 ml of breath in his system. The legal limit is 35. Mr Zurick is due in court on March 12 to face a drink-drive charge.

As recently as November, Mrs Zurick appeared to be heavily involved in the couples breeding and training business, posting updates about training sessions on Facebook from Ireland.

A friend of the Zuricks fought back tears, saying: Nobody saw this coming at all.

The woman, who did not want to be named, met the couple through the local gun dog scene. She said: John really, really loved Debbie. I dont know what caused their split but it was all very sudden. Debbie was with him as recently as November, then the next minute we found out she had gone.

When I think of Debbie I will remember her always smiling. She was a fun person to be around.

A villager added: Lots of people around here have bought dogs off the Zuricks. One of my friends did recently. Part of the terms of the contract was that he would bring the dog back to them for training. Thats not going to happen now. The couple bought the cottage and some adjoining land from the Prime Ministers father Stanley for 440,000 in 2013.

Stanley Johnson owns much of the surrounding farmland and lives in a 14th-century farmhouse on the Nethercote estate with his wife Jennifer. The farmhouse closest to the Zuricks cottage is home to Rachel Johnson and her husband Ivo Dawnay.

A fourth property is owned by the Prime Minister and his brothers Leo and Joe. It is often rented to holidaymakers, locals said.

Another Winsford resident said: The cottage is on the Nethercote estate and all the properties along the track had belonged to the Johnson family. I was surprised the Johnsons sold up to the Zuricks as they previously had that whole valley to themselves.
When to tell your banker to mind their own damn business

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The banks ask us a lot of questions. And we answer a lot of questions. All of them. They need our information to be sure that we are who we say we are, that our money is, in fact, our money and that our money remains safely tucked away in their virtual vaults.

Social Security number? Mothers maiden name? Home addresses for the past ten years? Bank account numbers with balances from other banks? Your balance sheet and net worth?

We gladly hand over this information so that we can be secure, that our money is safe, and sometimes to ask the bank for money that we dont have. We sit across the desk from the banker, admiring their cubicle, their freshly minted business cards emblazoned with the bank emblem, their perfectly coiffed hair, and wearing an immaculate suit while they tap away on the keyboard, inputting our information. We patiently wait while they determine if we are worthy of a withdrawal, loan, or mortgage.

Most of our interactions with the bank tellers are blandly pleasant enough. Sometimes I remind myself while waiting in line to come up with a vaguely truthful but benign answer to the invariable question: So, do you have any plans for the weekend?

However, when you walk outside the lines of the usual interactions with the bank, you might encounter some behavior that catches you off guard. And before you realize it, youre on the defensive and answering questions that you dont have to. You have been trained, like a labrador retriever, to answer any and all questions your banker requests of you.

Here are three absolutely true stories of bankers being assholes.

Gretchen is a pediatrician. She has been researching syndications and has met an operator that she trusts and a deal she is excited about. She wants to invest in this Texas apartment deal, and had done her due diligence, signed the paperwork, and the final step is to wire the funds. Sending $50,000 to a bank account across the country makes her a little nervous, but she is ready to start building her wealth through real estate. Clutching the wiring information, she proceeds to her local bank branch, where she has been a customer for years.

While seated across the desk from a young banker as he enters the information for the wire, he coughs nervously and excuses himself. He returns a moment later with an older, more senior-looking banker. He frowns slightly as he inspects the paper Gretchen provided.

This is a lot of money, and we want to confirm the validity of this bank account before wiring your funds, he says.

Gretchen knows that she confirmed the account number and wiring information with the operator on her way to the bank and was sure she had the correct information.

But, nevertheless, she was spooked and started second-guessing herself. If the bank is unsure about this, maybe I am being too risky. 50K is a lot of money.

She withdrew from the deal.

***

My good friend Dora goes into her local credit union. (We dont want to blast banks only, here. This is an equal-opportunity rant.)

She has created a self-directed IRA and is in the process of transferring funds from the previous custodian of the funds to her new custodian. She has gone round and round with them for weeks as they continue to delay the transfer to an account that she will control.

The next step is to open a business LLC checking account to transfer funds from her new self-directed IRA custodian so that she can invest the money as she wishes. She is excited about the possibility of getting control of the money and investing in a real estate deal.

The banker helping her open the business account calls over her manager.

Are you sure you know what youre doing? he asks Dora patronizingly.

Are you sure you want to move your funds from a very safe custodian account to becoming your own custodian  something you may not know much about?

Dora replied, Thank you for your concern and for proceeding with opening this business account.

***

Virginia is a spunky 85-year-old retired teacher and mother of seven with numerous grandchildren. She loves camping, and she and her late husband put many miles on their little motorhome. But now that she is a widow, she knows that its time to sell. She brokers a deal with a local fellow on Craigslist and sells her RV for $12,000 cash. Her son-in-law was present for the transaction to ensure there was no funny business.

She takes her funds to her local credit union, where she has been a customer for over 50 years. The young teller behind the counter asks bluntly, This is a lot of cash  where did you get this from?

Virginia looks at him and, without batting an eye, retorts: None of your damn business!

Whats the message here?

You are not smart enough, knowledgeable enough, or savvy enough to manage your own money. You need our help to make sure your money is kept safe, in FDIC insured accounts that give 0.01% interest annually or in the hands of retirement funds that charge fees to manage your retirement with the returns, on average, equivalent to a monkey picking stocks.

If you take your money out of our institution, then how can we keep taking advantage of you and making billions?

When you walk into an institution to perform a transaction that involves large dollars or something out of the ordinary, hold your head high, your shoulders back, and politely but firmly conduct your business. If they choose to ask inappropriate or undermining questions, just channel Virginia and say: None of your damn business!

Vanessa Peters is a family physician and founder, VMD Investing.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Odisha Assembly witnessed



ruckus for the second consecutive day with the opposition BJP and Congress members alleging non-procurement of paddy in several 'mandis' (markets) because of a nexus between the BJD government and rice mill owners.

The House was adjourned twice due to the bedlam but normalcy returned after an all-party meeting.

The House had witnessed 16 adjournments over the procurement issue on Monday.

As soon as the House assembled for the question hour on Tuesday, opposition members displayed anti-government placards, dubbed the BJD administration "anti-farmer" and trooped into the well, forcing Speaker S N Patro to adjourn the house twice.

The Congress and BJP members demanded a discussion on non-procurement of paddy in several 'mandis' in the state



They claimed that hundreds of quintals of paddy the farmers had brought to the 'mandis' were not procured due to a nexus between the government and rice mill owners.

The speaker later convened an all-party meeting to resolve the impasse where opposition members agreed to call off the agitation as budget discussions are getting affected.

"Our demand that the government purchase all the paddy from farmers remains intact. However, we will cooperate in the budget discussion," Leader of Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik of the BJP said.

Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra said there is no end to the plight of farmers. Their condition has been miserable following unseasonal rains on Monday and Tuesday, he said.

Mishra said his party members will cooperate in the budget discussion.

S S Saluja of the Congress criticised the state government for introducing e-token system for paddy procurement, saying most of the farmers are mostly uneducated and they do not understand how to register themselves in e- platform and get token.

"We demand that the govenrment procure all the paddy of farmers," he said.

BJP member J N Mishra claimed that the government has stopped some mandis in Sambalpur and Bargarh districts causing hardship for the farmers.

The government must accept all the paddy from farmers as the grain is getting affected in rain, he said.

Speaker Patro said Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister R P Swain has started discussions with MLAs from different districts.

Swain will sort out the problems of farmers after consulting with MLAs, the speaker said.

Opposition members said since the procurement will continue till March, they will keep a watch on the process.

"If required, we will again agitate in the Assembly," said Congress member Taraprasad Bahinipati.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Vigilantes have attacked the home Britain's 'worst mother' Karen Matthews shares with her convicted paedophile fiancee Paul Saunders.

The front of the property was left covered in egg while the door lock was also broken.

Locals last night said the couple had returned to the home counties property to find it covered in egg and that they had been unable to get into the property after vigilantes 'did something to the door'.

They also claimed that Saunders had to force entry into the property that the couple share.

The property above that Karen Matthews shares with her paedophile partner has been eggs by vandals (MailOnline has altered the appearance of the property due in order to comply with legal requirements)

Smashed eggs were seen at the front of the property that Karen Matthews lives at. She was jailed in 2008 for staging the kidnap of her daughter Shannon

Earlier this year Matthews was seen spending time with Paul Saunders, 57, who was jailed for abusing a 15-year-old girl

Saunders fell 'head over heels' in love with Matthews after meeting when he came to repair her bathroom.

She and her ex-boyfriend's uncle Michael Donovan were jailed in 2008 for the plot to stage Shannon's kidnapping and claim the 50,000 reward for 'finding' her.

MailOnline has slightly altered the images in order to comply with legal requirements, but pictures showed that the bottom of the door frame had been coming away from the rest of it.

Egg had also been splattered over the windows and egg shells remained on the window sill and at the foot of the door.

Egg had also been splattered over the windows and egg shells remained on the window sill and at the foot of the door. Pictured: Police talk to neighbours on Tuesday

Victim: Matthews is notorious for faking the kidnapping of her daughter Shannon (pictured) in a plot to claim reward money

Egg yolk was seen dripping down the windows of the property and the couple found the outside of their home a mess when they returned to it (MailOnline has altered the appearance of the property due in order to comply with legal requirements)

The bottom of the door appeared to have been tampered with and egg shells were left on the floor (MailOnline has altered the appearance of the property due in order to comply with legal requirements)

Smashed eggs were seen on the window sill and yolk can be seen dripping down the wooden fixtures (MailOnline has altered the appearance of the property due in order to comply with legal requirements)

The couple were forced to clean the mess up before Saunders was able to fix the door.

It was recently reported that the loathed mother wanted to have a baby with Saunders.

The couple have plans for a family and have found an 'old friend' who is happy to carry their baby.

The front door of the property looked as though it had been tampered with (MailOnline has altered the appearance of the property in the photographs to comply with legal requirements)

They are willing to pay 1,000 to a surrogate to cover costs incurred during the pregnancy.

Matthews said she doesn't want to have the baby herself to 'save her body' and is also worried about the backlash if she is seen with a bump.

A source said: 'She wants to be a mummy again. Her feelings are no one can stop her despite what has happened in the past and it's her decision.'
The teen, who is not being named by the Tribune because he is a minor, faces two counts of attempted first-degree murder. His case will continue in juvenile court and he remains in custody. Wearing navy sweatpants and a sweatshirt, the teenager didnt say anything during the hearing. His stepfather and mother, who spent most of the time looking down, listened in on the court hearing.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah has convened an urgent meeting on Tuesday afternoon for which he has invited representatives of different political parties including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to apprise them on the ongoing status of Delhi violence.

The meeting, which has been convened at 12 noon on Tuesday, is believed to be political outreach of sort. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal will also be present in the meeting.

Sources say, all political parties have been requested to send their representatives to the meeting where Amit Shah is expected to tell them what prompted the unprecedented violence in Delhi and how far it has been contained.

Earlier on the intervening night of February 24 and 25, Shah flew back from Ahmedabad to Delhi to take stock of the situation.

On Monday, five people including a Delhi Police head constable were killed as pro-and anti-CAA groups battled each other even as Baijal and Kejriwal appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony.

Several areas including Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Gokulpuri remained tense. The police used tear gas in a bid chase away the protesters.

Interestingly, the violence unfolded amid US President Donald Trump's visit to India.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
MSNBC's Chris Matthews apologized Monday to Bernie Sanders for comparing the Democratic senator's win in the Nevada caucus to the Nazi takeover of France.

Matthews' self-described 'bad' analogy deepened the discontent that the presidential candidate and his supporters have been feeling lately toward the cable network, one that is usually friendly territory for liberals.

'As I watched one-sided results of the caucus in Nevada, I reached for a historical analogy and used a bad one,' the veteran MSNBC personality said. 'I was wrong to refer to an event from the last days, or actually the first days, of World War II.'

'Sen. Sanders, I'm sorry for comparing anything from that tragic era in which so many suffered, especially the Jewish people, to an electoral result in which you were the well-deserved winner,' Matthews said at the opening of his show, 'Hardball,' on Monday evening.

He said he'd try to do a better job elevating the debate this campaign season.

MSNBC's Chris Matthews apologized Monday to Bernie Sanders for comparing the Democratic senator's win in the Nevada caucus to the Nazi takeover of France

Chris Matthews apologizes to Bernie Sanders and his supporters for comparing Bernies NV win to Nazis taking France in WWII pic.twitter.com/gMq9mnq30i  Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) February 25, 2020

While he did not inexplicably name Nazi Germany, it was clear that Matthews was equating the Democratic establishment to the French during World War II

MSNBCs Chris Matthews likens Sanders victory in Nevada to Nazi Germany overrunning France in 1940: Its too late to stop him  its over pic.twitter.com/6GJetLoDkq  Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) February 22, 2020

Matthews made the Nazi remark during his network's coverage of Nevada results on Saturday night.

Even before Matthews' analogy, a report in The New York Post said the Vermont senator had confronted MSNBC's president, Phil Griffin, before the Las Vegas debate last week and said the network had not been fair to his campaign. MSNBC would not comment on the story.

In some respects, it recalls tweets of protest that come from President Donald Trump when he hears things he doesn't like on Fox News Channel, the network where many of his fans congregate. MSNBC has a liberal prime-time lineup led by Rachel Maddow, while conservatism reigns at Fox, led by Sean Hannity.

Matthews had said Saturday that he was reminded of a French general reporting to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill that France had fallen to Germany in the summer of 1940.

'Churchill says, `how can it be over? Youve got the greatest army in Europe. How can it be over,'' Matthews said. 'He said, `its over.''

The on-air comparison to Nazis angered Sanders aides, who privately complained to executives at MSNBC. Sanders is picture here on Monday night in South Carolina

The Hardball host claimed that Republicans would be able to release research about what Sanders 'said in the past about world affairs, how far left he is'

Sanders' communications chief, Mike Casca, tweeted that he 'never thought part of my job would be pleading with a national news network to stop likening the campaign of a Jewish presidential candidate whose family was wiped out by the Nazis to the third Reich. But here we are.'

It wasn't even the only Nazi reference on the network last week. Chuck Todd had earlier read from a commentary in the digital publication The Bulwark that compared Sanders supporters to a 'digital brownshirt brigade' that hounded opponents and enforced discipline - much like Trump's.

MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace also commented about how the Sanders campaign, like Trump's, had engaged in the 'dark arts' of abusing and bullying the press.

'What do we miss in terms of paying attention to a squeaky, angry minority and ignoring the majority?' she said.

Mike Casca, communications director for Sanders' campaign, took to Twitter to slam Matthews' incendiary remarks

'A few days ago, @chucktodd read a passage likening Bernie voters to Nazi brown shirts,' said speechwriter and Sanders advisor David Sirota. 'Now Chris Matthews is likening Bernie's campaign to a Nazi invasion. Bernie is Jewish and his family was killed by the Nazis. None of this is OK'

Casca did not immediately return calls seeking comment on other examples of what had set off the campaign. It was notable that at Sanders' victory party in San Antonio on Saturday night, the televisions were tuned to CNN, not MSNBC.

MSNBC contributor Anand Giridharadas commented on the network Sunday that MSNBC and the Democratic power structure are stuck in an old way of thinking and missing what may be going on.

'It is time for all of us to step up, rethink and understand the dawn of what may be a new era in American life,' Giridharadas said.

An MSNBC spokesperson said that 'we don't owe fawning coverage to a Democratic campaign. We owe fair coverage.'

The sentiment was shared by other Sanders' supporters, along with several users on Twitter

The network may be caught in a situation similar to news networks when Trump took over the Republican Party in 2016 - with a lineup of anchors and contributors light on supporters of the party front-runner and stocked with old hands. Matthews is a veteran commentator and newspaper columnist who was chief of staff to House Speaker Tip O'Neill in the early 1980s. Prime-time host Lawrence O'Donnell was an aide to the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan in the early 1990s. Wallace was a Republican who worked for President George W. Bush.

A study last fall by the liberal digital magazine In These Times criticized MSNBC for not covering Sanders as much, or as positively, as rivals former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren. But at the time, Biden was the presumptive front-runner and Warren was surging, so it's not surprising that conventional wisdom would reflect more positively on those two campaigns.

The Sanders team's discontent with MSNBC didn't prevent campaign manager, Faiz Shakir, from appearing on the network Monday for an interview with Stephanie Ruhle.

When asked by Ruhle about criticism from veteran Democratic strategist James Carville about the Sanders campaign, Shakir showed disdain for the old order.

'I'm not worried about James Carville,' Shakir said. 'He's a political hack.'


H1 EBITDA Up 52%

Sydney, Feb 25, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - The Board of Australian communications software specialist MNF Group ( ASX:MNF ) ( FRA:M2S ) is pleased to report solid results for the six months ended 31 December 2019. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was up 52% to $16.9m (with FY19 restated for AASB16). Net profit after tax (NPAT) was up 20% to $3.7m. The Company ended the period with cash of $38.6m, and undrawn debt facilities of $30.0m available to fund further growth of the business.The Company is reaffirming EBITDA guidance in the range of $36.0m to $39.0m (on a post AASB16 basis) and guiding NPAT in the range $10.0m to $12.0m. The updated NPAT guidance reflects impacts due to changes in R&D tax concessions, increased amortisation, non-cash employee share plans and AASB16 effects.The Company announced a dividend of 2.5 cents per share fully franked.Business Outlook"This is an exciting time for MNF Group as we continue to see very strong demand for our core products - phone numbers with number portability. We are seeing significant organic growth from our existing domestic and global customers as they tackle the opportunities presented to them by the impending completion of the NBN roll-out and ISDN shut-down." Said Mr Rene Sugo, CEO. "Our total numbers on network increased to 4.1m in the period, representing an annualised growth rate of 16%, with a considerable order volume going into H2." Added Sugo.Singapore Network Build UpdateThe Company is building a next-generation voice network in Singapore - the first fully interconnected carrier network built in the country since the year 2000. Physical construction of the network is now complete and is undergoing interoperability testing with the incumbent carriers. The Company continues to receive very strong interest from its global customer base for fixed line phone numbers with number portability in Singapore. The Company is currently targeting soft launch with initial customers by H1 FY21.Telco-In-A-Box Acquisition UpdateThe Company acquired the business assets of Telco-In-A-Box (TIAB) in December 2018 for $33.8m (7.5 x EBITDA) for the purpose of consolidating its large whole customer base into the MNF Domestic Wholesale business. The corporate restructure of TIAB was completed in H1 FY20 at a once-off cost of $1.3m which has not been included in EBITDA. Consolidation of network and software platforms is ongoing. During the half the Company also divested two small legacy businesses from TIAB at a margin impact of circa $500K to the Direct Segment. Additionally, TIAB legacy product obsolescence and end-user churn has contributed a margin impact of $2.1m in the half to the Domestic Wholesale segment. Despite these margin impacts and restructure costs, the TIAB business is performing well and is still delivering expectations at the EBITDA level. The TIAB business has delivered considerable benefits to the group, including addition of new staff to the team, a broad range of quality customers, as well as significant scale and new products to our portfolio. Overall the board is pleased with the outcome of the acquisition.With a discerning and conservative approach, the Board of MNF Group will continue to actively search for further acquisition opportunities; whilst we remain totally committed to driving growth and performance within the business.To view the results summary, please visit:About Symbio Holdings Limited

Symbio Holdings Limited (ASX:SYM) is one of Asia-Pacific's fastest growing technology companies. Listed on the ASX since 2006 and twice winner of the Forbes Asia-Pacific "Best under a Billion" award. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, the company has over 500 people located across Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America. Symbio develops and operates a global communications network and software suite enabling some of the world's leading innovators to deliver new-generation communications solutions.

As the world moves to IP, Symbio is building the brands, services, network and technology to lead the way.
When it comes to the long-term living arrangements of straight women, there are typically only two options: live alone or live with a husband/male partner.

When straight women do live together, its very often viewed as phase of life, a holding pattern until the woman either shacks up with a bloke or saves up enough money to fly solo.

A Boston Marriage is a committed living relationship between two female friends. Credit:Stocksy

But there is a third option. Enter the "Boston Marriage": women living together for companionship and support.

Boston Marriages emerged in the early 1900s when some educated women wanted an alternative to a restrictive heterosexual marriage that they feared would rob them of independence, end their careers, and limit their creativity.
A protestor holding a stick walks on a deserted road after clashes erupted at Karawal Nagar of East Delhi on February 25, 2020. Seven people, including a Delhi Police head constable, were killed on Monday violence and more than 100 got injured when people for and against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA clashed in Northeast Delhi. (Image: PTI)
By PTI

ANAND: Khambhat town in Gujarat's Anand district, where communal clashes broke out on Sunday, remained on the boil on the third consecutive day with a mob torching two roadside cabins and motorcycles on the day of bandh organised by some Hindu community groups on Tuesday, officials said.

Majority of schools, colleges and markets remained shut in the town since the morning.

Inspector General of Ahmedabad Range, I K Jadeja, said a mob set two roadside wooden cabins and some motorcycles on fire.

Police have detained five persons after the incident, he said.

The IG said the bandh call was given by various Hindu outfits demanding strict action against those involved in the violence that happened on Sunday and Monday.

He said several persons gathered at Gavara Chowk and staged protests on Tuesday noon.

"While leaving the area, some of them torched two wooden cabins roadside and a few motorcycles. We have detained five suspects," he said.

Jadeja said the situation is under control in the town, as adequate number of police personnel have been deployed following the violence.

Two companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and four companies of the State Reserve Police (SRP) were also deployed.

Each company comprise around 80 armed personnel.

Police have so far arrested 85 persons for arson and stone-pelting since February 23.

Incidents of arson and stone-pelting were reported from Akbarpur area on Sunday, following which police arrested around 50 persons.

Violence spilled over on Monday as well with fresh incidents of stone-pelting and attack on police personnel reported.

Police later arrested another 35 persons.

According to police officials, more than 20 houses and as many vehicles were torched by mobs since Sunday in separate incidents in the town.

Khambhat has the history of communal clashes, with the latest such incident reported in January this year, also from Akbarpur area.

Some locals claimed that the people arrested in the January clash and since out of jails were behind the Sunday violence.
A needle, spoon, and narcotics bag are seen near a heroin encampment in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 10, 2017. (Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images)

Arizona Congressional Candidate Suspends Campaign After Drug Overdose

A military veteran who was running for Congress in Arizona announced he is suspending his campaign on Monday after he reportedly overdosed on heroin.

Today, I have suspended my campaign for the US House of Representatives and am seeking treatment for substance abuse disorder. I will fully cooperate with local authorities on any matters arising from my recent relapse and overdose, Chris Taylor told CNN. Im not going to hide from this. Im not ashamed of what happened. I wish to sincerely apologize to the amazing people who have supported me, Taylor said.

Taylor, who is a city council member in Safford, Arizona, said that he relapsed after staying sober for many solid years.

Im not going to hide from this. Im not ashamed of what happened. I wish to sincerely apologize to the amazing people who have supported me, Taylor said.

After enlisting in the U.S. Army in 2007, he served two combat tours in Iraq. Taylor said he used drugs to cope with the numerous traumatic experiences he had while in Iraq.

The horrors I witnessed on the battlefield came home with me and like many veterans, I didnt know how to cope. I sought help at the VA but fell victim to a government that forgot its promises. I began misusing prescriptions and developed an opioid addiction. It was a long road to recovery, he said in a campaign video, according to the broadcaster.

Arizonas 1st Congressional District. (Public Domain)

Taylor was running for the Republican nomination for Arizonas 1st Congressional District, which is currently held by Rep. Tom OHalleran, a Democrat.

A family member had discovered Taylor unresponsive in his home on Wednesday night, reported Gila Herald.

Officials also allegedly discovered drug paraphernalia at the Safford Fire Department, where Taylor has volunteered, according to the Arizona Republic.

The mayor of Safford, Jason Couts, blamed his overdose on the drug epidemic plaguing the United States.

As far as Maria and I, we know the touch of drugs and my heart aches for them as a family. I will go to the ends of the earth to help fight this drug epidemic that is affecting our Valley and will be there beside Chris in the long-haul recovery help in whatever he chooses to do and always hope for the best, he said in a statement to the Herald.

There are several other Republicans who are seeking their partys nomination ahead of the 2020 election, including cotton farmer and lawyer Tiffany Shedd, who also has the backing of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), as noted by the Republic.

President Donald Trump won Arizonas 1st Congressional District by 1 percentage point over Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Ex-director of Russian shipbuilding yard gets 7 years in jail for non-payment of salaries

 flickr.com/ meesh

15:36 25/02/2020

MOSCOW, February 25 (RAPSI)  A court in Russias Astrakhan Region has sentenced the former director of a shipbuilding yard Alexander Ilyichev to 7 years in a penal colony for non-payment of salaries, a statement of the Prosecutor Generals Office reads.

Additionally, he has been fined 700,000 rubles (about $11,000). The court has also prohibited the defendant from holding managing posts for 3 years.

Another defendant, businessman Roman Saprykin has been jailed to 4 years and fined 300,000 rubles.

Depending on their roles, they have been found guilty of deliberate bankruptcy, embezzlement, fraud, tax related crimes and others.

From 2016 to 2017, Ilyichev acting as the plant director failed to pay salary worth over 41 million rubles (about $630,000) to more than 700 employees, according to the statement.

The court found that the convicts failed to pay 26 million rubles in taxes to the budget and drew over 159 million rubles from the enterprises accounts that resulted in the premediated bankruptcy of the plant.

Moreover, Ilyichev illegally received more than 18 million rubles from the state budget as a value added tax refund, according to the Prosecutor Generals Office.




Four men, right, have been jailed for smuggling Vietnamese nationals into the UK (Devon and Cornwall Police)

Four men have been jailed for smuggling 29 Vietnamese people into Britain in the back of a cramped van.

Women and children were among those taken into the UK from France on a 42ft yacht before being herded into the vehicle, said Devon and Cornwall Police.

Jon Ransom, 63, from Kent, Glen Bennett, 55, from Burnley, and Frank Walling, 72, from Colne, were sentenced at Truro Crown Court on Monday to four and a half years in prison, police said.

Keith Plummer, 63, was sentenced to three years and four months.

Devon and Cornwall Police were contacted on 12 April last year after several members of the public saw a group of people getting off a boat in Newlyn Harbour, Cornwall.

Members of the public contacted police after seeing a large group arriving at Newlyn Harbour in Cornwall (Devon and Cornwall Police)

Left to right: Frank Walling, 72, from Colne, Glen Bennett, 55, from Burnley, Keith Plummer, 63, and Jon Ransom, 63, from Kent, have been jailed for smuggling 29 Vietnamese people into Britain (PA)

They were then seen getting into the back of the van which had been parked in the harbour car park.

Read more: World must prepare for coronavirus pandemic, says World Health Organization

CCTV footage was reviewed and the van, followed by another car, was stopped on the M5 near Cullompton, Devon.

The van door was opened and officers found 29 Vietnamese nationals inside, including women and children.

The 29 Vietnamese people on board the yacht had to share one toilet (PA)

They were taken to a multi-agency reception centre and referred to the Home Office and social care services to be managed, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

Read more: Privacy warning over WhatsApp group chats as they can be found on Google

Two of the men were arrested in Newlyn Harbour, and two more were held when the van and car were brought to a stop on the M5.

Judge Robert Linford, sentencing the four, said they were motivated by profit and "traded in human misery" with the victims "carted around like freight".

Speaking after the case, detective inspector Glenn Willcocks said: "The vessel was in a poor state, smelling strongly of diesel and cluttered with clothing and empty food wrappings.

Police stopped the van on the M5 motorway (Devon and Cornwall Police)

"The boat would have been extremely cramped with all 29 people having to share a single toilet.

"The four convicted today risked the lives of 29 men, women and children without any appreciation of the danger of their circumstances.

Story continues

"They were motivated only by monetary reward and thankfully no one paid the ultimate price."

The men were convicted under section 25 of the Immigration Act - assisting unlawful immigration.

The conditions on the 42ft yacht that carried 29 Vietnamese people into Britain (PA)

It is believed that the 29 victims boarded the yacht, which was called the Johan Sebastian and owned by Walling, in Roscoff, France.

Walling and Bennett crewed the yacht, which came into Newlyn Harbour early on the morning of 12 April.

Read more: Australian bushfires were far worse than any simulation predicted

Ann Hampshire, senior crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, described the trip as "carefully planned".

She said it was a "well organised operation involving people and places in different parts of the UK, carefully co-ordinated to facilitate illegal entry into the UK".

Last October, the bodies of 39 Vietnamese nationals were found in the back of a lorry in Grays, Essex. Three people in the UK have been charged with manslaughter in connection with the case, including lorry driver Maurice Robinson, 25.

Last week, seven people in Vietnam were charged in connection with the deaths.

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK
AUCKLAND, New ZealandShen Yun Performing Arts arrived at Auckland airport, New Zealand, early in the morning on February 25, to the delight of the many supporters who greeted the performers with beautiful, colorful bouquets.

Auckland is part of Shen Yuns worldwide tour that brings a dance and music performance to audiences around the globe. Audience members are unceasingly amazed and delighted by the expertise of the performers and the dance stories presented.

Fans greet Shen Yun Performing Arts as they arrive at Auckland airport, New Zealand. (Zhang Jun/The Epoch Times)

In the 13 years that Shen Yun has been performing, it has grown to encompass seven companies touring the world simultaneously.

Monty Mou, a principal dancer, attributes Shen Yuns popularity to the inspiration and direction it takes from the moral and spiritual depth of Chinas 5000-year-old traditional culture.

It is divinely inspired, so everyone in the world can relate to it as well. Our faith and beliefs help us be successful and help us connect to our audience, Monty said on his arrival in New Zealand.

Shen Yuns classical dancers bring to its audience traditional and modern narratives with moral, ethical, and spiritual themes as well as folk dances from Chinas many ethnic groups.

We stress group, not individuality, says Monty. We do not vie for personal recognition. Also, we are not afraid to focus on topics that are happening in China today.

Monty Mou was referring to the persecution which has been inflicted upon the spiritual practitioners of Falun Dafa, in China, for over 20 years. Falun Dafa is an ancient cultivation practice that stresses and upholds the values of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.

A lot of the reviews show that people are thankful that they have been exposed to the moral and divine and  after watching the show say  it helps them become a better person and the world a better place, Monty said.

Shen Yuns East-West Orchestra

The dancers are accompanied by Shen Yuns unique orchestraa combination of Western and traditional Chinese instruments.

Tiffany Yu, a percussionist in the orchestra, explained the benefits of Shen Yuns music

Traditional Chinese believe that playing music helps to gain better health. The music confers positive energy and leaves the audience feeling uplifted, she said

Sometimes, the audience knows very little about Chinese culture. During the show, there is talk of the divine and the divine inspiration. They [the audience] discover that the Chinese culture is very special and very precious, and it brings back morality to humankind.

We can see the expressions on the audiences facesthat they are deeply moved by the scenes that are portrayed during the performance.

I would certainly encourage people to come and see the performance as they will be amazed and blown away by the music, dance, backdrops, and the beautiful costumesShen Yun portrays hope, Tiffany said.
Senator Bernie Sanders, the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination, on Monday slammed the arms deal agreed between India and United States during President Donald Trumps visit as a sop to enrich defence firms and said the two countries should rather work together to combat climate change.

Instead of selling $3 billion in weapons to enrich Raytheon, Boeing and Lockheed, the United States should be partnering with India to fight climate change, the senator wrote on twitter, referring to the three big defense manufacturers. We can work together to cut air pollution, create good renewable energy jobs, and save our planet.

India is a signatory to the 2015 Paris Accord and has continued to work towards its self-determined mitigation targets. The United States, on the other hand, was pulled out of the accord by President Trump, who has since gone on to reverse many mitigation measures, seriously imperiling its ability to meet its self-determined targets.

Sanders, who has endorsed and adopted a progressive plan to combat climate change called the Green Deal, has been critical of the presidents decision to pull out of the Paris Accord and then rescind anti-climate change steps announced by the previous administration of President Barack Obama.

His criticism of the sale of $3 billion worth of military helicopters and other equipment to India was intriguing as India doesnt need to be pushed, if that is indeed what he is suggesting, to fight climate change, which it has acknowledged as a serious challenge and has resolved to fight it. India continues to work with other signatory countries to take the accord forward, in fact, through new alliances such as the award-winning Solar Alliance with France and launched a Coalition for Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure at the UN climate action summit in 2019.

As a testimony to its efforts, the Climate Action Tracker, which monitors countries and their ability to meet their Paris Accord targets, has said India has emerged as a global leader in renewable energy, and remains on track to overachieve targets. The tracker rates the United Statess actions as insufficient, and given Trump administrations to pull it out of the accord, critically insufficient.

The senator might be arguing here for the United States to work with India to combat climate change instead of selling it arms. But the two are not binary choices,

The senator in now at the top of the Democratic race for the presidential nomination, and has tightened his grip on through significant victories in nominating contests, such as in Nevada last week. Former Vice-President Joe Biden still leads in the polls though, according to the RealClearPolitics aggregate.

The senator has criticized India for the restrictions in Kashmir imposed the abrogation of Article 370 in August. Indias action is unacceptable, Sanders said last September. The communications blockade must be lifted immediately and the United States government must speak out boldly in support of international humanitarian law and its support of a UN-backed peaceful resolution that respects the will of the Kashmiri people.

Sanders has been endorsed and supported by two of the four Indian American members of the House of Representatives, Ro Khanna, who is also a co-chair of the senators campaign, and Pramila Jayapal, who had endorsed him in in 2016 bid for the nomination as well. The Indian American community, which mostly votes Democratic, has endorsed Biden, as part of a wider coalition with other Asian American communities.
She recently announced her break-up from boyfriend Ryan Gallagher just weeks after the pair's stint on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Australia.

And Charlotte Crosby appeared to put their split firmly behind her as she showcased her new dragon tattoo in a racy snap posted to Instagram over the weekend.

The former Geordie Shore star, 29, went completely nude to display her detailed inking, which caused her 'shocked' mother Letitia to joke: 'You've ruined my Sunday!'

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo: Charlotte Crosby showcased her new dragon tattoo in a racy snap posted to Instagram over the weekend

Marking a bold change, the TV personality appeared to take inspiration from crime film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as her fresh symbol - sculpted by Bondi Ink's Cally-Jo - ran from her lower back to her bottom.

The 2013 CBB winner's mother was less than impressed by her daughter's transformation as the blonde shared a screenshot of her reaction via WhatsApp.

'Dad said do what ever I want, I'm a grown women! [sic]', a defiant Charlotte said in their conversation.

Letitia shared her frustration as she responded: 'O think I could cry... Or god... I am shocked my Sunday is ruined... it's so big.' [sic]

Moving on: The former Geordie Shore star, 29, recently announced her break-up from boyfriend Ryan Gallagher just weeks after I'm A Celebrity Australia (pictured in December)

Not a fan: Her mother Letitia was left shocked as she joked: 'You've ruined my Sunday!' (Letitia pictured left)

'Do you think you can accept me and my new tattoo', the Just Tattoo Of Us star teased.

Charlotte's mother ended the conversation by candidly admitting: 'I am not sure I need to have a think about it.'

Earlier in the month, Charlotte confirmed to 10 Daily that she split with jungle lover Ryan but insisted that the pair are 'still friends' and she 'loves him to bits'.

The blonde beauty said that along with adjusting to everyday life after their time in the jungle and the issue of long distance, the 'bubble popped'.

Oh dear: The 2013 CBB winner's mum was less than impressed by her daughter's transformation as the blonde shared a screenshot of her reaction via WhatsApp

Goodbye! In January last year, Charlotte bid farewell from former beau Stephen Bear for good as she removed her two tattoos dedicated to him following their split in 2017 (pictured in 2017)

Gone for good: The TV star got rid of her 'fishy' arm inking (L), as well as her half bear half cheetah tattoo on her back (R)

'When me and Ryan came out of the jungle I made no secret that I had been in a very long relationship and I wasn't ready to jump into another one,' the reality star told the publication.

She said after their stint on the popular show, she had reservations about a serious romance.

'I still wasn't looking for something serious, he's at a stage in his life where he is -- so we came to a mutual decision that we'd just cool it off,' Charlotte said.
(CNN) -- Ousted Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak, who ruled his country with an iron fist for nearly three decades, has died, his son said on Tuesday. He was 91.

"Indeed, to 'Allah we belong and to Allah we shall return.' My father, Hosni Mubarak, passed away this morning," Alaa Mubarak posted on Twitter, using a common Muslim prayer.

During his 29 years in power, Mubarak survived would-be assassins and ill health, crushed a rising Islamist radical movement and maintained the peace pact with neighboring Israel that got his predecessor killed.

Mubarak was in the intensive care unit at a military hospital in Cairo when he died. He was in surgery on January 23, according to a tweet by his son Alaa Mubarak.

The Soviet-trained bomber pilot became one of the leading US allies in the Middle East, receiving tens of billions of dollars in American military aid, and his government's continued observance of the Camp David accords with Israel was the cornerstone of the so-called "cold peace" between the formerly warring neighbors.

But following a January 2011 revolt in Tunisia that launched the Arab Spring uprisings, demonstrators on the streets of Cairo stood up to riot police, and the army refused to intercede on his behalf. Mubarak handed over power to a military council in February and went into seclusion in the resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.

After his resignation, Mubarak spent several months on trial, accused of crimes including corruption, abuse of power, and conspiring to kill the protesters who rose up against him. Denying all charges, he showed no remorse, and uttered no words of regret for those who were killed or injured.

A frail Mubarak attended much of his trial on a gurney, suffering, his attorneys disclosed, from a variety of circulatory ailments and stomach cancer. When the trial concluded the following year, the former president declined his opportunity to speak.

Though prosecutors had requested that Mubarak be hanged if found guilty, he was instead sentenced to life in prison. It was a punishment decried as too lenient by many Egyptians, who demanded the ultimate retribution for what they viewed as years of humiliation at the hands of the authoritarian leader.

One-time national hero

It was a hard fall from grace for the man who had begun his political career as a national hero. Born in 1928 in the Nile Delta town of Kafr-el Meselha, Mubarak had graduated from Egypt's national military academy at 21 and gone on to join the country's air force. By 1966, he was the director of the air academy, and the early success of Egyptian pilots against Israel in the 1973 Yom Kippur War won him acclaim.

Then-President Anwar Sadat made him vice president in 1975. In that post, Mubarak led the day-to-day operations of the government, freeing Sadat to focus on international affairs -- particularly his 1977 peace overture to Israel, which led to the 1978 Camp David Accords and a Nobel Peace Prize.

But in 1981, Sadat died in a hail of gunfire at a military parade, killed by Islamist militants from within the military's own ranks, angered by the Egypt-Israel pact.

Upon assuming office, one of Mubarak's first acts was to reaffirm Egypt's adherence to the accords. He then declared a state of emergency that barred unauthorized assembly, restricted freedom of speech and allowed police to jail people indefinitely -- and he made extensive use of those powers in the decades that followed. Throughout his rule, he was accused of grave human rights violations by international monitors.

In 1986, the Egyptian army waged a bloody crackdown on mutinying paramilitary conscripts, and an estimated 30,000 people were thrown in jail when jihadists carried out a string of attacks on tourists in the 1990s. Mubarak escaped multiple assassination attempts, including a particularly close call in 1995 when Islamist militants opened fire on his motorcade at a pan-African conference in Ethiopia.

Iron grip on population

During that time, however, Egypt remained a key Western ally, receiving more than $1 billion a year in US military assistance and contributing troops to the American-led coalition that drove Iraq out of Kuwait in 1991.

But Mubarak opposed the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and eventually grew frustrated with the foundering Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, in which he was a major player. And Washington became increasingly critical of the iron grip he kept on his population, particularly after elections in 2005 and 2010 that were widely criticized by outside observers.

While economic development picked up in the last decade of his rule, in rural areas up to 40% of Egyptians remained mired in poverty, and the official unemployment rate was nearly 10%. Those conditions helped fuel the protests that toppled him, as they had in the Tunisian revolt that launched the Arab Spring.

Until the very last days of his rule, Mubarak resisted naming a vice president, calling the succession of Egypt's leadership into question. Younger son Gamal had been seen as his likely heir in later years, but that arrangement was never formally cemented. As the uprising intensified, Mubarak turned to his longtime spy chief, Omar Suleiman -- a figure trusted in Western circles for his assistance in battling the al Qaeda terrorist movement, but widely feared at home.

Mubarak named Suleiman vice president on January 29, 2011. On February 10, with the protests growing by the day, he announced that he was delegating much of his authority to his deputy but vowed to remain in power.

The arrangement lasted barely a day. On February 11, Suleiman announced Mubarak's resignation in a one-minute televised address and turned over power to the armed forces.

Acquitted over killings

During his subsequent detention and trial, the health problems that had long been the subject of speculation were finally revealed. A 2010 operation in Germany, ostensibly to have his gall bladder removed, had in fact been for stomach cancer, his lawyers said. The surgery had been extensive, with part of Mubarak's pancreas and a growth on his small intestine removed as well; still, the cancer was growing.

Days after the 2012 verdict, officials said Mubarak's health was deteriorating in prison. Heart problems forced doctors to use a defibrillator to revive him. He was placed on a ventilator several times and slipped into a coma.

But he survived and, during a series of retrials, was detained in a military hospital until 2017, when he was finally acquitted by Egypt's top appeals court on charges that he played a role in the killing of protesters, though the conviction on corruption charges stuck.

In March 2017, more than six years after the protests that toppled him, Mubarak was freed from prison at the age of 88.

In Mubarak's final years, his assets were unfrozen by a Swiss court and his family reunited.

Splitting his time between their villa in the upmarket Cairo neighborhood of Heliopolis and their seaside residence in Sharm el-Sheikh, according to regional media reports, the man once dubbed Egypt's "last pharaoh" lived out his last days in relative peace and prosperity.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Hosni Mubarak, Egyptian strongman undone by the Arab Spring, dead at 91"
As federal health officials contend with a rising number of coronavirus cases among quarantined passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, they are warning  with mounting urgency  about the possible spread of the infection in the United States.

As new cases emerge in Italy, Iran and South Korea, U.S. health officials say they are preparing for two alarming possibilities: that the outbreak soon will become a pandemic, and that coronavirus will show up in clusters throughout this country, requiring extraordinary measures to contain it.

Now Playing: Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Rear Adm. Nancy Knight discuss efforts to contain the virus. Video: Sig Christenson

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 have severe illness, said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

Stocks plunged for the second day in a row over concerns that the outbreak, which began in China, could hobble global trade and travel.

Messonnier, speaking during a conference call with reporters Tuesday morning, said an outbreak in the U.S. could require school closures, cancellation of meetings and conferences, voluntary home quarantines and an increase in employees working from home, among other preventive measures.

On ExpressNews.com: 6 hospitalized for coronavirus after three more cruise ship passengers at Lackland test positive

The disruption to overall life may be severe if the virus becomes widespread here, Messonnier said.

She noted that there currently is no vaccine for the virus and said she understood this whole situation may seem overwhelming.

As the outbreak has worsened internationally, Messonnier said the attitude at the CDC has shifted from optimism to a growing sense of inevitability about the virus rapid spread.

People are concerned about this situation, I would say rightfully so, she said. Im concerned about this situation. CDC is concerned about this situation. But we are putting our concerns to work, preparing.

Messonnier said she had sat down with her own children and told them that we as a family need to prepare for significant disruption of our lives.

Later Tuesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and other top federal health officials appeared to try to soften Messonniers warning that the spread of the coronavirus in the United States was inevitable.

Azar, joined by a top CDC official who was not on the earlier conference call and other public health officials, said the government wanted to have a large-scale response prepared just in case.

We believe the immediate risk here in the United States remains low, and were working hard to keep that risk low, said Anne Schuchat, the CDCs principal deputy director.

In San Antonio, no new cases have been announced among those quarantined at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland since Monday, when the CDC confirmed three new infections in the group of 144 Americans who were brought here Feb. 17. Two other cases in that group of evacuees were confirmed by the agency Friday.

On ExpressNews.com: Victims of circumstance: Cruise ship passengers quarantined at Lackland faced chaotic trip home

The number of confirmed cases among the evacuees here could soon rise. Four others from the cruise vessel tested positive for the virus before they were evacuated from the ship in Japan, said Kate Grusich, a CDC spokeswoman. They are awaiting confirmatory test results from CDC.

The total number of infected people in San Antonio dropped by one after a Diamond Princess evacuee was transferred to a facility out of state. The departure was unrelated to health  the person was being reunited with a spouse who also was infected with the virus and who was being held in isolation elsewhere, Grusich said.

The departed evacuee has been replaced with another infected individual: a Texas woman who was diagnosed with the virus after being evacuated from China. That patient was quarantined at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California but wanted to come to San Antonio, a request that was approved Monday by Gov. Greg Abbott.

In all, the virus has infected nearly 80,000 people in 37 countries, causing at least 2,600 deaths.

The United States has 57 cases, 40 of them connected to the Diamond Princess, which was overwhelmed by the coronavirus after it docked in Japan.

South Korea has reported 893 cases, the second most in the world, and the CDC warned Americans not to travel there.

In Iran, a spike in coronavirus infections has prompted fears of a contagion throughout the Middle East. Irans top health official in charge of fighting the disease is among those infected.

In Italy, officials are struggling to prevent the epidemic from paralyzing the commercial center of Milan.

In the U.S., only a dozen state and local labs currently have the ability to test for the coronavirus, because of problems with test kits sent out by the CDC earlier this month. The agency still is conducting the bulk of testing at its own lab, which processed 400 samples overnight.

Although shipping samples to the CDC takes time, Messonnier said there currently is no backlog at its lab.

Moving forward, federal officials said they need to be prepared to respond to quickly changing information and circumstances.

Diseases surprise us, and therefore we need to be reacting to the current situation, even if it differs from what we planned for, Messonnier said.

Wire services contributed to this report. | 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
Donald Trumps message in the visitors book at the Mahatma Gandhis memorial in New Delhi on Tuesday, February 25, 2020, mentioned the icon and praised him over his work. This happened a day after the American leader left a note at Sabarmati Ashram Ahmedabad.

Trump and his wife Melania Trump paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial at Rajghat. He also laid the wreath there after the ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan happened.

Reuters

Donald Trump signed the visitors book writing, The American people stand strongly with a sovereign and wonderful India - the vision of the great Mahatma Gandhi. This is a tremendous honor!

ANI

When US President paid tribute at Rajghat, he dedicated the memorial to India's founding father, Mahatma Gandhi. He was gifted a sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

AFP

Trump and his wife also planted a tree at Rajghat.



On Monday, February 24, 2020, the US President had addressed the crowd at the Namaste Trump event at Ahmedabad Motera Stadium along with PM Modi. Here both the leaders talked about their growing ties between the two nations.



Later that day, Trump and his wife Melania visited the Taj Mahal in Agra. They will leave for the US tonight.
The coronavirus almost certainly will begin spreading in communities in the United States, and Americans should begin preparations now, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday.

Its not so much of a question of if this will happen anymore but rather more of a question of exactly when this will happen, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in a news briefing.

The news caps weeks of fear that the coronavirus spreading from China may become a pandemic, disrupting the global economy and political landscape in ways that are difficult to forecast.

Iran, South Korea and Italy are now grappling with clusters of infection, even as the epidemic in Chinas Hubei province seems to be slowing. In the United States, stocks tumbled Monday as the dimensions of the outbreak became clearer.

Officials at the CDC said they did not know whether the spread of the disease to the United States would be mild or severe. But Americans should be ready for a significant disruption to their daily lives, she added.

We are asking the American public to prepare for the expectation that this might be bad, Messonnier said.

In Washington, the secretary of health and human services told a Senate panel that federal and local health departments will need as many as 300 million masks for health care workers and additional ventilators for hospitals to prepare for an outbreak of coronavirus in the U.S.

This is an unprecedented potentially severe health challenge globally, Alex Azar, the health and human services secretary, told a Senate subcommittee.

But lawmakers from both parties made it clear they were unconvinced the Trump administration was prepared for the outbreak that the CDC is forecasting.

As Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., pressed for an exact number of people expected to be infected, the acting secretary of the Homeland Security Department, Chad Wolf, could not answer.

Im all for committees and task forces, but youre the secretary, Kennedy responded. I think you ought to know that answer.

Trump administration officials overseeing the response to a potential coronavirus outbreak told lawmakers that the initial amount of money requested by the White House  $1.25 billion in new funds and $1.25 billion taken from other programs  would likely be just a first round.

Were really learning day by day and week by week of the contours of this disease, Azar said.

Lawmakers listening to Azars requests appeared startled.

Sen. Patty Murray asked the health secretary whether he thought the United States currently had enough health masks in stock.

Of course not, he responded, or else we wouldnt be asking for more.

Azar said that officials currently had 30 million N95 masks in the nations emergency stockpile, which typically cost less than $1.

Azar said he was alarmed by the human-to-human transmission of the virus in other parts of the world without an identifiable connection to confirmed cases and what that could mean for how the virus may hit the United States in the coming months.

We cannot hermetically seal off the United States to a virus, Azar said. And we need to be realistic about that.

Messonnier said that she had sat down with her children and told them, we as a family need to preparing for significant disruption of our lives.

Americans should ask their schools about plans for dismissal and for conducting classes online in the event that the spread of illness becomes serious, she said.

I contacted my local school superintendent this morning with exactly those questions.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
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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 forcibly 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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OTTAWA - The Canadian Federation of Agriculture called for "decisive action" from the federal government Tuesday as it warned that rail blockades across the country were causing critical supply shortages for farmers and hurting their ability to get products to market.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/2/2020 (686 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA - The Canadian Federation of Agriculture called for "decisive action" from the federal government Tuesday as it warned that rail blockades across the country were causing critical supply shortages for farmers and hurting their ability to get products to market.

Canadian farmers are being "severely and harshly impacted" by the blockades despite having nothing to do with the dispute over a B.C. pipeline project, federation president Mary Robinson said during a news conference attended by dozens of representatives from the agricultural industry.

Marcel Groleau, President of the Union des Producteurs Agricoles and Mary Robinson, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture take part in a press conference, Tuesday, February 25, 2020 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand

Robinson, whose organization represents around 200,000 farm families across the country, specifically cited shortages of propane for heating barns and feed for animals as among the top concerns, particularly for farmers in Eastern Canada.

Producers are also having difficulty getting their products to market because of the rail disruptions, she said.

"The widespread collateral damage of these protests is grinding our entire industry to a halt and is taking a massive toll on farmers across the country," Robinson said, adding some estimates have pegged the cost to industry at around $63 million per week.

"Canadian agriculture is quickly reaching a tipping point."

The comments put more pressure on the federal government to end the rail blockades, which started earlier this month in opposition to the Coastal GasLink project in B.C. While police have removed some of the blockades in recent days, others have since popped up.

Canada is one of the world's largest agricultural producers and the fifth-largest agricultural exporter, according to the federal government. The industry employs 2.3 million Canadians and contributes around $110 billion to the country's gross domestic product each year.

Insisting it was too early to talk about compensation or emergency assistance, Robinson instead said the government's focus should be on ending the blockades before looking at longer-term ways to ensure Canada's rail network is reliable and not subject to future uncertainty.

"We cannot continue to have our livelihoods held hostage every time a group wants to put pressure on government. These interruptions also greatly affect Canada's ability to be a reliable and trusted trading partner."

Yet she also warned the blockades along with a year of bad weather, a week-long rail strike in November and ongoing trade disputes with China are causing long-term damage to the agricultural industry, particularly as trading partners turn elsewhere for their products.

"We certainly are a point where our nation should be concerned that our government show leadership and investment to ensure that our agriculture resources are properly shored up in these difficult times," she said.

Robinson was not the only one raising concerns.

Quebec farmers have just over a week's worth of propane left to heat their livestock barns and dry their crops, said Marcel Groleau, head of the province's farmers' union.

And the number of bulk vessels waiting for grain at the Vancouver and Prince Rupert, B.C., ports has more than doubled to 54, one shy of the record during labour disruptions in 2014, said Grain Growers of Canada chairman Jeff Nielsen.

The delays result in demurrage charges levied by shippers and eventually passed on to farmers, who absorb the bulk of the fee, he said.

The longest consecutive blockade along Canadian National Railway Co. tracks east of Belleville, Ont., has been cleared but it will take three weeks to get grain trains running normally and there are new blockades starting, he said.

"You have the logistical nightmare of hopper cars sitting empty that need to get back to terminal in the country," he said. "This is affecting our reputation as a reliable supplier of top-quality product."

Grain elevators have begun turning away farmers' goods due to full silos. The backlog could delay some shipments until the new crop year begins on Aug. 1, with belated cheques for farmers who have upcoming payment due dates for loans on seed, fertilizer, equipment and mortgages.

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"How am I going to pay my bill?" asked Nielsen, a second-generation Alberta farmer who has tilled soil for four decades.

Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau acknowledged the challenges Canadian farmers have faced over the past year, but stopped short of promising any specific assistance or actions to address their concerns.

"These disruptions have unfairly hurt Canadians, hurt our farmers and the entire value chain of our agriculture industry," Bibeau said in a statement.

"I care deeply about our farmers who have dealt with the stress and impacts of these rail disruptions, on top of the challenges they faced in 2019. It's absolutely essential that barricades stay down and that rail service be resumed."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 25, 2020.

 With files from Christopher Reynolds in Montreal.
In the midst of a cold, sometimes dreary winter season, many people dont think about birds, which are often considered harbingers of spring.

But a great variety of birds can be found throughout Michigan all winter long, both those that migrate from colder climates, like dark-eyed juncos and common redpolls, and those that are here year-round, such as white-breasted nuthatches and northern cardinals.

Efforts to monitor bird populations also dont stop over the winter. Scientists need help from the public in collecting important citizen science data through winter bird counts, which help them better understand winter bird movements and population health.

Encouraging Michiganders to get involved in citizen science opportunities  and bird conservation overall  is the aim of MI Birds, a bird-focused outreach and engagement program jointly founded in 2016 by Audubon Great Lakes and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The program focuses on bridging gaps between the hunting and birding communities and increasing all Michiganders engagement in the understanding, care and stewardship of public lands important for birds and people.

A steering committee with members from a dozen conservation organizations, some focused on game species and others on wildlife that isnt hunted, came together to form MI Birds.

Creating an environment of collaboration between birding and hunting groups is something weve been pushing for years, and this program has really made it happen, said Audubon Great Lakes Director of Conservation Nat Miller.

MI Birds founding partners included Ducks Unlimited, the Ruffed Grouse Society, Pheasants Forever, the National Wild Turkey Federation, The Nature Conservancy, Detroit Audubon, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Michigan State University Extension, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, American Bird Conservancy and the Detroit Zoo.

These organizations, and the others MI Birds has partnered with since, are dedicated to bird conservation in Michigan.

We are excited to have all of these conservation groups at the same table to have conversations that show how our values are aligned and how we can work together to achieve something really great, said Holly Vaughn, Public Outreach and Engagement Unit manager for the DNR Wildlife Division. When we are able to work together and engage our collective audiences, we can make a positive impact on bird conservation in Michigan.

One conservation success story MI Birds has supported is the comeback of the osprey, a species of special concern that has returned in record numbers after its populations sharply declined due to pesticide use and habitat loss.

The DNR has worked closely with Osprey Watch and the Detroit Zoo to monitor osprey nests in southeast Michigan. In 2019 they joined forces with MI Birds to expand this monitoring effort, with the Adopt-A-Nest Osprey Monitoring Program across the Lower Peninsula, enlisting the help of volunteer community scientists.

I am overwhelmed with the response we had on the adopt-a-nest program, said Julie Oakes, the DNR wildlife biologist who manages the osprey monitoring program. With over 280 people responding, it tells me that there are a lot of people out there who are very dedicated to helping wildlife!

With the assistance of volunteers, 150 active nests across 29 counties were monitored in 2019.

While osprey and other raptors have seen increases in their populations, many other birds are experiencing population declines. A recent study published in the journal Science showed a wide-range loss of 30% of adult breeding birds across the country since 1970. Perhaps most surprising was that this loss, which includes common birds like finches, blackbirds and warblers, was observed across a wide variety of habitats.

However, this study also showed that when people work together to prioritize healthy lands and waters, birds will come back.

With the banning of DDT, increased environmental protections, improved management, and on-the-ground work of a coalition of conservation groups, raptors, woodpeckers, waterfowl and wild turkeys all have bounced back from the brink of extinction.

In 2019, with the help of 18 partner organizations, MI Birds hosted more than 30 programs and reached more than 1,200 Michiganders.

The program also successfully recruited more than 150 volunteers for a series of stewardship events, where people pitched in on projects like building nest boxes for wood ducks, and community science programs like bird-monitoring efforts.

Together, the members of its diverse group of partners help develop messages MI Birds communicates to Michigan citizens and cohost immersive guided birding tours at state game and wildlife areas they have enhanced or restored.

The programs biggest presence is online, with a Facebook page more than 9,400 followers strong, and a new Instagram account with more than 500 followers. These pages feature real-time information about Michigans birds and community science opportunities, presented in a fun and engaging way.

MI Birds also has a website where blog posts on a variety of bird conservation topics and citizen science opportunities are shared.

The MI Birds coalition gives all partners a platform to share their conservation successes with each others organizations, improving our individual and collective abilities to raise awareness of our shared goal to conserve Michigans birdlife, said Ben Beaman, biologist and Adopt-A-Game-Area program coordinator with Michigan Pheasants Forever.

MI Birds is also working to raise awareness of the DNRs important habitat work statewide, leading tours of key state game areas and other public lands, which double as Audubon Important Bird Areas. These events offer opportunities to engage the public in conversations with DNR biologists about habitat work and the species it benefits and how that work is funded through hunting license purchases.

When people who dont hunt understand how nongame species benefit from primarily hunting-funded work, they instantly follow-up with the question, how can we help? Vaughn said.

We encourage all Michiganders to purchase federal Migratory Duck Stamps, donate to the Adopt-A-Game-Area program, and volunteer as public lands stewards or community scientists. Each field trip is an opportunity to discuss this important conservation issue and brainstorm possible funding framework solutions.

By elevating these discussions statewide, MI Birds stands to engage new user groups and create broader support for public lands conservation in Michigan.

Spring MI Birds events are being planned in locations around the state, including the western and central Lower Peninsula and central Upper Peninsula. Check the MI Birds Facebook page for details about upcoming events as they are announced.

We partnered with the DNR to create MI Birds to bring people together to be advocates for birds in Michigan, Stephanie Beilke, Audubon Great Lakes conservation science manager, said. When we all come together, we are stronger and can achieve more when it comes to influencing policy and management that can help birds survive and thrive.

MI Birds events also are places new participants might find future best friends while pursuing their interest in birds, nature and conservation.

Michigan residents who want to get involved in bird conservation this winter can take part in citizen science opportunities, including Project FeederWatch, continuing through April. Anyone interested in birds can join in this winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders at backyards, nature centers, community areas and other locations in North America. For more information, visit feederwatch.org.

For more information on MI Birds, search for them on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
The deaths of at least 10 people in the worst Hindu-Muslim violence to hit Delhi in decades overshadowed the second and final day of Donald Trumps state visit to India on Tuesday.

As Trump returned to the US without a significant breakthrough to ease tariffs on trade, horrific scenes shared across TV and social media showed crowds pelting each other with stones, Muslims being dragged through the streets by mobs shouting Hindu slogans and a mosque set on fire in the northeast of the city.

The clashes were the bloodiest in Delhi since protests began in mid-December against a change to the law that grants a route to Indian citizenship for migrants of most South Asian religions, but which excludes Muslims.
[February 25, 2020] Wayfair Professional Launches 5th Annual Tastemaker Awards to Recognize Exceptional Commercial and Residential Design

Wayfair Inc. (NYSE:W), one of the world's largest online destinations for the home, announced today that its business program, Wayfair Professional, is calling for submissions to the 5th annual Tastemaker Awards, celebrating excellence and innovation in commercial and residential design. This year's line-up of judges include leading interior design writers and editors, Katy Olson (News - Alert) from Architectural Digest's AD PRO and Hadley Keller, from House Beautiful; joined by expert craftsman and Emmy-winning TV host Chip Wade, as well as Ariela Kiradjian, COO of Boutique and Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA) and co-founder of hotel discovery hub, StayBoutique. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005221/en/ Wayfair Professional Launches 5th Annual Tastemaker Awards with Industry-Leading Judges and New Categories. (Graphic: Business Wire) "We're thrilled to launch the 2020 Wayfair Professional Tastemaker Awards with a group of esteemed judges who are leaders in their respective fields," said Margaret Lawrence, vice president of Wayfair Professional. "Thoughtful, innovative spaces with impactful details will catch the judges' attention and be rewarded with the top design prize in each of the five categories. Every year, we look forward to seeing what this talented community has been hard at work creating for their clients." Since the inception of the Tastemaker Awards in 2015, tens of thousands of ipressive entries have been submitted for consideration, but only 21 designers and design firms have been named winners, representing the very best in design and ingenuity.



The 2020 Tastemaker Awards will celebrate the year's most exceptional designs with the following award categories: Most Dramatic Renovation: Best before & after renovation

Best before & after renovation Best Residential Design : Best kitchen, outdoor patio, living room, bedroom, bathroom or any other residential room

: Best kitchen, outdoor patio, living room, bedroom, bathroom or any other residential room Best Commercial Office Design: Best conventional office space, collaboration space, co-working space, cafeteria or any other office space

Best conventional office space, collaboration space, co-working space, cafeteria or any other office space Best Hotel Design: Best lobby, suite, hotel room, pool terrace or other hotel space

Best lobby, suite, hotel room, pool terrace or other hotel space Best Restaurant or Bar Design: Best dining room, bar, patio, lounge or other dining space "Over the last year, we've been focused on providing our industry professionals with all of the renovation materials they need to create magnificent spaces," continued Lawrence. "We're excited to see what the new renovation category yields and how our members have been transforming rooms through renovation in partnership with Wayfair Professional."

To enter, members can upload images of their best-designed spaces to their Instagram feed, tag (News - Alert) and follow @WayfairProfessional, and write a brief description with both #WFPtastemakers and #WayfairProStyle included in the photo caption. The contest is only open to members of Wayfair Professional, which is free for businesses to join and provides members with dedicated account management among other trade benefits. One winner will be selected per category and awarded the following prizes: $1,000 to shop across Wayfair and its family of brands, promotion of their winning design on Wayfair Professional's social media channels, and inclusion in the Tastemaker Award winners' press release. The call for submissions opens today and runs through March 15th, 2020 at 11:59PM EST. To learn more about the Wayfair Professional Tastemaker Awards, go to: Wayfair.com/Tastemaker_Awards. To sign up for a business account and learn more about Wayfair Professional, visit WayfairProfessional.com. About Wayfair Professional

Wayfair Professional believes in helping business make good spaces great. Delivering optimum value and convenience through personalized tools and services, the Wayfair Professional program provides business customers a broad range of membership privileges to help build the perfect spaces - no matter the size or industry. The program offers members an expansive selection of products and exclusive savings across thousands of top brands as well as customizable shipping, easy invoicing, dedicated service and more. To enjoy this specialized business shopping experience across Wayfair's family of retail brands including AllModern, Birch Lane, Joss & Main and Perigold, visit www.wayfairprofessional.com. About Wayfair

Wayfair believes everyone should live in a home they love. Through technology and innovation, Wayfair makes it possible for shoppers to quickly and easily find exactly what they want from a selection of more than 14 million items across home furnishings, decor, home improvement, housewares and more. Committed to delighting its customers every step of the way, Wayfair is reinventing the way people shop for their homes - from product discovery to final delivery. The Wayfair family of sites includes: Wayfair - Everything home for every budget.

Joss & Main - Stylish designs to discover daily.

AllModern - The best of modern, priced for real life.

Birch Lane - Classic home. Comfortable cost.

Perigold - The widest-ever selection of luxury home furnishings. Wayfair generated $8.6 billion in net revenue for the twelve months ended September 30, 2019. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts with operations throughout North America and Europe, the company employs more than 16,000 people. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005221/en/

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The Delhi Minorities Commission on Tuesday appealed to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal for imposition of curfew in violence-affected areas, after 10 people were killed in clashes and arson over the new citizenship law.

In a letter to Baijal, DMC chairman Zafarul Islam Khan expressed apprehension that violence may escalate after departure of the visiting US president Donald Trump.

"The situation may worsen tomorrow after President Trump leaves tonight. Please treat this as urgent as any delay will result in more loss of lives and damage," Khan said in his letter demanding imposition of curfew in the violence-hit areas.

He also requested the Lt Governor to direct the police to check violence and take action against those involved in it.

Khan also issued a notice to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Northeast district for sending more forces to the affected areas.

The DMC has also asked the DCP Northeast to file his reply and action taken report on a number of connected issues, and help people wishing to leave the area and escort injured to reach nearby hospitals, he said.

The Delhi Police on Tuesday said 10 people, including one policeman, have been killed in the violence in northeast Delhi and they are responding to incidents involving anti-social elements. Fifty-six police personnel and 130 civilians were injured so far, they said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Medicare benefit falls short of what the candidates want to offer to voters. For instance, Medicare beneficiaries are not protected against catastrophic costs. They are not automatically covered for prescription drugs. And Medicare requires beneficiaries to pay substantial sums out of pocket for hospital admissions and other care.

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.

A public option would operate alongside existing private plans, with consumers deciding which offering is best for them. That requires fair competition, with the public option subject to the same rules as private insurance. Politicians will be tempted to bend the rules for the public plan with special subsidies or other favors, but that runs the risk of taking choice away from the voters  and alienating powerful insurance companies.

Medicare is heavily subsidized, giving it an unfair advantage. Beneficiary premiums cover only one-fourth of the cost of physician services and do not include the cost of hospital care. Private plans have no choice but to charge premiums sufficient to cover all of their expenses. A public option that is an extension of Medicare could drive out private plans, but only because taxpayers would shoulder huge new costs.

Mr. Buttigieg tried to address these problems by requiring the public plan to cover benefits stipulated in the Affordable Care Act and limiting enrollment to a rather narrow slice of the market. The public plan would be available to anyone buying coverage on the insurance exchanges. In addition, lower-income households in states that did not expand Medicaid eligibility under the A.C.A. would be enrolled in the public plan, and workers who cannot afford their employers plan could opt in as well. The A.C.A.s credits toward premiums would be made more generous to help enrollees offset the cost of public-option premiums.

Interest in the public option is predicated on lowering costs, which is where the link to Medicare is most informative. Mr. Buttigieg does not specify how the public option would pay hospitals and doctors, but similar plans tie payments to Medicare rates. A public option with payments set equal to Medicare rates would cut costs, but it would be highly controversial. Commercial insurers pay 2.4 times more than Medicare for hospital-based care. Medicare can pay lower rates only because the federal government does not negotiate prices with hospitals and physicians; it imposes take-it-or-leave-it fees through regulation. Because Medicare represents a large share of the overall market, health care providers have no real choice but to accept these terms.
OTTAWA - Canadians in Iran say they have no way to leave the country now that it is dealing with an outbreak of the novel coronavirus and they are asking Ottawa to help them come home  or at least provide consular services while they are there.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Yukon Lodge, which will temporarily house passengers from a charter flight that took 176 Canadian citizens from the centre of the global novel coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China, is seen at CFB Trenton, in Trenton, Ont., on February 7, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

OTTAWA - Canadians in Iran say they have no way to leave the country now that it is dealing with an outbreak of the novel coronavirus and they are asking Ottawa to help them come home  or at least provide consular services while they are there.

The federal government has repatriated more than 500 Canadians and their families from areas affected by the new strain of coronavirus, which causes a disease known as COVID-19, including Wuhan, the central Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak, and the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.

The virus recently spread to Iran, which has confirmed 95 cases and 16 deaths in the last week alone. Even the Iranian deputy health minister has tested positive for the virus.

Mashhoud Nasseri, 64, said he rushed to Tehran last week to be with his family after his mother died. He was to fly home to Toronto March 2.

"Just today I heard that my flight is cancelled," Nasseri said Tuesday by telephone from his family's home in Tehran.

The flight itinerary was to take him from Tehran to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, before going on to New York and finally Toronto, but the U.A.E. has halted all flights from Iran for at least a week.

Several countries neighbouring Iran closed their land borders to anyone travelling from Iran following the viral outbreak and some others have also restricted air travel to and from the country.

Canada has not had a diplomatic presence in Iran since 2012. The federal government advises Canadians travelling to Iran that the Canadian embassy in Ankara, Turkey, is responsible for providing consular assistance for Iran. The Italian embassy in Tehran has also represented Canadian interests in Iran for the past eight years and has provided consular assistance to Canadians there when needed.

Nasseri said it's unclear who to approach for help getting back to his wife and children in Canada.

"Basically there is nowhere to go, no one to ask," he said.

The Iranian Canadian Congress has called on the federal government to resume providing consular services in Iran.

"Unfortunately, this is another example where a lack of diplomatic relations and consular services only harms vulnerable Canadian citizens abroad," Younes Zangiabadi with the Iranian Canadian Congress said in an email Tuesday.

"We experienced the airplane shot down in January where families of victims had nowhere to go for support after that tragedy and this is, unfortunately, happening again with coronavirus."

Nasseri said the mood in Tehran is tense, and some Canadians are desperate to get home. He's looking at all his options, including the possibility of chartering a boat to another country in the Persian Gulf  though he's not sure that will work.

Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu said Canadian repatriation efforts are limited, given the spread of the virus globally.

"It's difficult at this point to commit to an ongoing repatriation effort. We have to remember that it takes a lot of resources and the resources have to be focused in terms of our domestic response," Hajdu said Tuesday in Ottawa.

Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Canada is monitoring the global coronavirus situation very closely, particularly in South Korea, Italy and Iran, which have all seen sudden spikes in the number of people infected with the virus.

He said he's been in touch with foreign ministers from several countries for more information about the situation abroad, and advises anyone thinking about leaving Canada on an international trip to inquire about the status of the coronavirus in the place they are travelling to.

While all the Canadians and their families repatriated from Wuhan have been released from quarantine at Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Ontario, a group of about 50 who are still in China is hoping the federal government can charter another flight to bring them home.

Canadians in Hubei, a group advocating for those stuck in Wuhan, sent an open letter to Global Affairs Canada last week asking for help.

Global Affairs Canada said in a statement that the government continues to remain available to provide assistance for Canadians in China, to the extent possible.

Elaine Cheng, a Canadian citizen, and her husband, who has a visa, are among those looking for help.

When she contacted the embassy, she said she was told her husband cannot accompany her and called the decision "incompassionate, unfair, inhumane."

Simon Zheng, another Canadian citizen who lives in B.C., said his wife holds a work permit and went to Wuhan to celebrate the holidays and the Chinese New Year.

He said he was supposed to meet up with his wife in mid-January but she told him to not to come because of the outbreak, and now he hopes the Canadian government will send another plane.

"We have the good faith that the government will actually help us, but we don't know in what way."

Canada's top health official approved the released of the final 195 Canadians and their families after two weeks of observation.

All the Wuhan evacuees were quarantined at CFB Trenton for 14 days  the presumed incubation period of the virus  to be isolated and observed for signs of the disease now called COVID-19.

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.

A group of 219 evacuees were allowed to leave the base last week after passing a final round of health screening.

Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says none of the evacuees from Wuhan showed any signs of the virus, and they do not pose a risk of transmitting the disease when they return to their homes.

The government has offered to transport the evacuees to Toronto, where they will make their way to their homes.

Tam says the risk of the coronavirus spreading within Canada is still low.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 25, 2020

 With files from Hina Alam in Vancouver and The Associated Press.
The best friend of Hannah Clarke's youngest daughter still doesn't know she is dead as her mum can't bring herself to break the horrific news to her little girl.

Four-year-old Laianah Baxter was killed last Wednesday after her father set her, her mum and siblings Aaliyah, six, and Trey, three, on fire in a quadruple murder-suicide.

Ms Clarke's best friend Lou Farmer told A Current Affair on Tuesday she is still struggling to tell her young daughter Heidi her best friend was killed in the incident.

'My ten and seven-year-old they understand. I can't even go there with Heidi. Heidi and Laianah were best friends,' she said, choking back tears.

Ms Farmer, who had known the slain mum-of-three for four years, revealed she had recently got together with the Baxters for a party shortly before the tragedy.

Scroll down for video

Lou Farmer, who had known Hannah Clarke for four years, became emotional as she recalled the last time she spent time with the mum and her three children

Best friends: Ms Farmer said she is yet to break the news of the family's death to her little daughter Heidi (pictured) who was best friends with Hannah's daughter Laianah

'We had the most perfect pool party, and wines, and the best afternoon. I just don't know how to tell my little girl that Laianah, her best friend is gone,' she added.

Ms Clarke's three best friends spoke out on the tragic incident in an emotional interview where they revealed they had feared her husband Rowan Baxter would harm the family.

Friend of 17 years Nikki Brooks said she spoke to Queensland Police just one week before the murders to give a statement regarding Baxter's breach of his Domestic Violence Order.

'I looked the detective in the eye and I said, "I think he's going to take them all out,"' Ms Brooks said.

'She said, "I've got a bad feeling too.'"

Ms Brooks's home had served as a safe haven for Ms Clarke when things with her abusive husband turned ugly last year, she said.

Ms Clarke had confided in her closest four girl friends, who Ms Brooks says now feel 'a lot of guilt' over what has transpired.

'I feel like we've definitely influenced her decision. We said, "Han, enough's enough".

'It was getting bad and we had to get her out of there.'

Ms Clarke's best friends spoke out on the horrific tragedy in an emotional interview with A Current Affair on Tuesday

Ms Clarke, 31, died in hospital last Wednesday 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

'The day she came back she stayed with me and we felt safe. He [Baxter] didn't know where I lived.

'She just looked relieved and she seemed really happy. She knew she made the right decision,' she added.

Ms Brooks addressed more than 1,000 mourners at an emotional vigil held for Ms Clarke and her three children at Whites Hill State College in Camp Hill on Sunday.

She had to hold back tears as she called for the community to not turn a blind eye to domestic violence.

'We are a nation in pain,' she said.

'Don't back away from your friends for the sake of convenience.

'Time's up on domestic violence.'



Lloyd and Suzanne Clarke, parents to Hannah Clarke, break down at a vigil to remember their murdered daughter

'The nurse held up the footprint and said, "This is all we could get",' said Simon Farmer - a family friend who was with Hannah in the Intensive Care Unit when she died

Community members laid flowers by crosses bearing the names of Hannah and her children at the vigil

Dressed in pink - Hannah's favourite colour - Hannah's father Lloyd Clarke and brother, Nathaniel (Nat), thanked the crowd for their support.

While many tried to remember the best of Ms Clarke and her children, many could not hide their grief over one of worst acts of domestic violence Australia has ever seen.

Nat spoke out on his sister's abusive husband on Monday admitting there were times the family had sensed something was off about Baxter's behaviour, but didn't think much of it.

'There were certain things he did that you sort of question...but you sort of let it slide,' he told Triple M's Big Breakfast.

'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.'

Burned-out wreck: Rowan Charles Baxter, 42, and his three children, Aaliyah, six, Laianah, four, and Trey, three, all died when the family's white SUV was set alight at Camp Hill

Their tiny bodies were loaded into a funeral van as police cordoned off the area

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.'

Ms Clarke's family are now in the process of setting up a charity in her name to help other victims of domestic abuse.

They have called the organisation Small Steps for Hannah, as the only part of her body that wasn't horrifically burned was the sole of her foot.

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.

For 24/7 confidential support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14
New Delhi, Feb 25 : A heartwarming video of two medical attendants dancing in front of a hospital to celebrate recovery of several patients from COVID19 has gone viral on social media.

The video was shared by one of the leading media outlets of China with the caption: "#HeartwarmingMoments: Two medical workers dance ballet in front of a hospital in E China's Anhui to celebrate the recovery of six more #COVID19 patients." The shared video shows that the two medical attendants started dancing ballet in front of a hospital in E China's Anhui to celebrate the recovery of six more COVID19 patients.

Soon after the video surfaced, the medical workers were hailed by social media users who called them 'heroes' and 'angels'.

A user wrote, "So happy I am seeing that doctors are dedicated for patient. Even knowing that they are in danger. Serve humanity, serve planet." Another wrote: "Great news. Our thoughts are with everyone in China." A post read: "They are stressed. They cheer himself up (sic)." "Great job! I pray for China," a user remarked.

The coronavirus death toll in mainland China has increased to 2,663 with 77,658 confirmed cases.
A man arrested as part of the investigation into the murder of 17-year-old Keane Mulready-Woods has been released from custody.

The man, who was detained last Thursday, was freed from Balbriggan garda station.

Gardai said a file will now be prepared and forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

A second man arrested last week remains in custody at Drogheda garda station.

Keane, from Drogheda, Co Louth, was murdered and dismembered, with parts of his body dumped in two different parts of Dublin, on January 12.

The teenagers limbs were found in a bag in Coolock, while other body parts were found in a burnt-out car in Drumcondra.

Gardai believe his murder is related to the ongoing feud between two Drogheda criminal gangs.
By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: A retired Army doctor who had murdered his wife and stuffed her body parts in tiffin boxes after chopping them into 200 pieces seven years back was awarded life imprisonment by the a sessions court here on Tuesday.

Somnath Parida, who had retired as colonel with the Indian Army, was handed out life sentence by Khurda District and Sessions Judge Loknath Mohapatra.

He was convicted under Section 302 under the Indian Penal Code for murder of his wife Ushashree and Section 201 for disappearance of evidence.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on him.

As many as 24 witnesses and 28 documents were examined during the trial which started in 2014, Public Prosecutor Sarada Chandra Samanta told TNIE.

Parida reportedly broke down in the courtroom after the verdict.

The Army doctor was apparently peeved with his daughter who had denied to give him some money and was allegedly infuriated after Ushashree invited her to visit them.

The couple's daughter and son staying in Middle East, two brothers and a nephew of the victim, two doctors, three policemen, two locals, and others were examined during the prosecution.

On June 21, 2013, Parida was arrested in a late evening operation by Bhubaneswar Police from his IRC Village residence.

The cops found to their horror 200 pieces of Ushashrees body packed in 20-odd tiffin boxes, which apparently took him several days and used phenyl to smother the stink.

The matter came to light when the victims brother Ranjan Samal got suspicious after his sister did not respond to calls from her son for several days.

When he visited the house, Parida would not let him in. That evening, he tried to sneak in with other relatives and detected stench emanating from the house following which he alerted the police.

Parida was avoiding his son's requests to let him speak to his mother by misleading him, which made him suspicious and he urged his uncle to visit their home, said Samanta.

Parida did not even let the domestic help to come in and avoided contact with his relatives.

During interrogation, he had stated that his wife committed suicide and wanted the final rites to be held at Shirdi which is why he had chopped them into pieces for convenience of transportation.

Trial of the case commenced in 2014. Parida was frequently changing his statements during the trial, said Samanta.

The case was also a very difficult one for the police as there were no eyewitnesses to the crime.

However, circumstantial and forensic evidence worked in favour of the prosecution as the investigation revealed that Parida used a blunt object to hit his wife which was revealed from a deep injury to the skull.


For more than a century, people across the world have been celebrating International Women's Day, an annual event that champions the political, social and economic achievements of women, while advocating the continuous fight for women's rights and gender equality. But where did it all begin?

Inspired by a labour movement in 1908, which saw 15,000 women strike against poor working conditions in New York, the event, formerly known as National Women's Day, was recognised for the first time by the US in 1909, to honour the women who went on strike the previous year.

Ukraine-born suffragist, Clara Zetkin, then took the cause global by suggesting the day should be celebrated worldwide at the 1910 International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen.

The 100 women from 17 countries who attended the event loved the idea, and history was made. Although its been celebrated ever since on 8 March, the UN officially marked this in 1975.

Each year has a theme, and 2020s is #EachforEqual, which works from the concept of collection individualism  this is the idea that our actions have a wider effect on our larger society, therefore can help to create a gender equal world.

This sense of responsibility is poignant when considering the trajectory of the #MeToo movement, as its managed to shift attitudes and help sexual harassment survivors seek support. A great example of this is the group of more than 300 actors, writers and directors raising 15m to launch a legal defense fund in 2018, which has since helped more than 3,600 survivors of sexual misconduct seek justice.

But there is still a long way to go to achieve rights for women, for example 38 per cent of women murdered around the world are killed by their partner, compared to just six per cent of men. One in 10 girls and women aged between 14 and 21 in the UK have been unable to afford sanitary products, while 49 per cent have missed an entire day of school because of their period. At least 200 million women and girls alive today have undergone female genital mutilation, with hundreds of thousands of them in the UK, yet only one person has been convicted of the crime in Britain.

But it's not all bleak. There have been brilliant examples of feminist activism and achievements to celebrate in the past year; after tireless campaigning by period poverty activist Amika George, tampons, sanitary pads and other period products became freely available to all English state schools and colleges in January, funded by the Department of Education. Young women are also leading the climate crisis conversation, with the likes of Greta Thunberg, Vanessa Nakate and Helena Gualinga calling out world leaders for their failure to act through their persistent activism.

In this roundup we've celebrated brands that support women across the world  from tampon companies working to end period poverty, to accessory brands that employ refugee women in Jordan  we've chosen our favourite companies that are making a difference to the lives of disadvantaged women.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Carcel milano classic jumper This Danish fashion brand employs imprisoned women in some of the worlds poorest countries to manufacture its clothing. This may sound controversial, but as a company that relies heavily on transparency as part of its branding, Carcels ethics thankfully check out. With its own production facilities set up in prisons in Peru and Thailand, Carcel is able to create a safe environment for women to gain new skills and financial independence, in turn breaking the poverty cycle that they are often forced back into when released. The brand pays a fair living wage as a minimum, which is based on local market rates and covers the support of the womens families outside prison, too. The wages do seem a fraction of the price of one of its items, but Carcel says its markup is just 2.8 times the cost of production, compared to an industry-wide average of four to six times. It also works with bodies such as the UN and International Labour Organization to ensure its paying a fair wage, and has a detailed pricing strategy on its website which is refreshingly transparent. As well as choosing to work in areas with some of the highest poverty-related crime rates, Carcels prison facilities are based in countries with the most sustainable materials in the world, working with silk, lyocell and alpaca wool, all of which are long-lasting, natural and locally sourced. Through setting up its own supply chain, its also able to reduce its environmental footprint, focusing on seasonless items that are made to last. We love this neon green jumper for its bold colour, unusual neckline and folded cuffs. Its crafted from 100 per cent alpaca wool which is more sustainable than sheep wool. Alpacas have a lower ecological footprint than sheep, consuming little water and food, they eat grass without pulling its roots and their soft feet dont cause erosion. It is also easy to process, involving less harsh chemicals than sheep wool.

Buy now  314 , Carcel {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Beulah London blue bless it forward silk tie In 2013 Natasha and Lavinia, the team behind Beulah, created The Beulah Trust, which supports projects that help create sustainable livelihoods for victims of trafficking. The projects also ensure women aren't exploited by employers. Each of these gorgeous silk ties has been hand printed in the brands signature blue hearts by women who have previously suffered abuse and been victims of trafficking. Beulah London has partnered with The Womens Interlink Foundation and Key to Freedom on these ties, and with every purchase 10 per cent goes towards the UN Blue Heart Campaign, helping end modern day slavery. But perhaps the most unique  and the cutest  idea of this product is that when you buy one, youll also receive another of the same tie, to give to someone else to bless: hence the name bless it forward. Buy now  50 , Beulah London {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Chandan Whittle urja teal pillow Kam Chandans homeware collection is an interior-Instagrammers dream, and the concept behind her range makes for even prouder purchasing. The business was inspired by the desire to get in touch with her heritage after her Chandans parents emigrated from India  where she was born  to the UK, 50 years ago. But not only was she determined to celebrate Indian culture through design, Chandan also wanted to support women: After some searching I found a group of artisans in Karur, India, that I really wanted to work with. I chose them specifically because it was important for me to help provide sustainable work for this female led group who have not been given the same opportunities in life that I have. Chandan works with a majority-women team who get paid a living wage. These women have roles across the whole production process, from sewing and weaving to transportation and quality control. The designs are rooted in traditional techniques from the weaving and textile production region of India where the artisan women are based, which have been used for generations. Chandan Whittle is also certified by The Global Organic Textile Standard, which regulates textile produciton.

Its hard to choose a favourite product from the brands beautiful collections, but were pretty obsessed with the richly coloured urja teal pillow, inspired by the lively energy of India. Buy now  55 , Chandan Whittle {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Ohne organic cotton tampons Periods can be tricky at the best of times, but when you don't have access to any period products, and worse, have no idea whats happening the first time you get one, it can be a very difficult time. And thats why founders, Nikki and Leah, who set up the period product online subscription service, OHNE, have been working with School Club Zambia (SCZ) to help improve menstrual health for young women. Theyre breaking down barriers on social and hygiene taboos, improving waste disposal facilities and the shortage of water as well as supplying more adequate information on periods, all of which is working towards their end goal: long term change. For every month a user subscribes to OHNE, it donates five per cent of revenue to the Girls Programme run by the SCZ. We like the applicator tampons as they dont come with any plastic. You can order boxes of eight, 12, 16, 20 or 24 and  best of all  you can have a mixture of regular, super or super+ tampons and shipping is free. Buy now  5.90 , Ohne {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Phine feminist gold stud earrings Self-professed Scandi-statement jewellery brand Phine is about all bold pieces that women feel confident and empowered in. Solely stocking yellow gold jewellery that is all the rage across our Instagram feeds right now, Phines pieces range from chunky chain chokers to geometric ear cuffs. For each sale from its feminist collection, the brand will donate 10 to the Girls Network, a charity empowering disadvantaged girls by connecting them with a mentor and a network of women role models. Since beginning its partnership in 2018, Phine has donated 5,000 to the charity. Consisting of four pieces, each item in the collection has the word feminist etched into it, for a subtle yet empowering finish. We love the 18-carat gold-plated feminist studs, the wording is barely readable when youre wearing them, but we quite like that they arent too shouty while still supporitng the cause. All Phines jewellery is produced to Fairtrade standards and uses recycled silver and Fairtrade gold. The brand designs each piece to order in a conscious effort to reduce waste. Buy now  69 , Phine {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Delhicious Body black tea body scrub If you want to treat your skin to a bit of TLC while supporting a great cause, this is it. Drawing inspiration from her Indian heritage, founder Zara used ancient ayurvedic skincare principles to create a natural black assam tea scrub, that buffs away dry skin and tackles acne and stretch marks too. Blended with essential oils, the brands original scrub left our skin feeling smooth, glowy and nourished. As well as perking up your skin, the brand supports vulnerable women too: 10 per cent of the its profits go to Stop the Traffik, a charity working to end human trafficking which is, unfotunately, very common on tea plantations. In an industry that around 10 million people in India rely on for their livelihood, and where most tea pickers are women, poor working conditions and labour practices are rife, often leading to vulnerable workers falling into the trap of exploitation, forced labour and sexual exploitation after being promised better work opportunities. As well as working with the charity, Delhicious Body ensures it sources its own tea responsibly, buying directly from Fairtrade tea plantations in India, which offer salaries that are equal to or higher than the regional average or minimum wage. It also ensures working conditions are regulated and offers other benefits including workers committees, trade unions and mothers clubs which help workers advocate for better living conditions on tea plantations for them and their children. Buy now  7.95 , Delhicious Body {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Senteurs DOrient gardenia hammam soap 205g Another socially conscious skincare brand, Senteurs D'Orient, makes its products in Beirut, which is the oldest soap-making region in the world. The founder's mother, Hama, was inspired by eastern bathing rituals after being born and raised in Tokyo and then moving to the Middle East. As well as selling handcrafted hammam soaps by local female artisans, the brand also gives back to Lebanese women through Senteurs Women Initiatives, a scheme that educates and empowers women in Lebanon, in partnership with the UN Development Programme. From business skill development workshops to IT training, the programme works with grassroots organisations to support projects that empower women. The soaps themselves are beautiful, infused with traditional flowers from the region and essential oils, with intricate patterns carved into them.

Buy now  33 , Senteurs DOrient {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Mayamiko dalisto lilac linen maxi wrap dress Fashion brand Mayamiko works with the founders charity, Mayamiko Trust, to empower disadvantaged people in Malawi. Producing clothing and accessories inspired by traditional African prints, it works with the trust through the Mayamiko fashion lab; the Fairtrade certified workshop in Malawi where its garments are made. Acting as a traineeship scheme for artisans, the lab provides training, education, nutrition and sanitation for the people it supports, giving them skills in sewing and tailoring which result in a certified qualification. After completing the course, trainees also receive mentoring and access to a micro finance scheme, helping them start their own business and to move away from poverty. Mayamiko Trust is also tackling period poverty with its reusable sanitary kits that are crafted from scrap fabric from the workshop, using organic cotton for the part of the pad thats in direct contact with the body. It partners with an organisation that distributes reusable hygiene products to those in need, including refugee camps. We love the work that Mayamiko and its trust does to alleviate poverty, providing disadvantaged women with a safe space to train and continual support after completion. Our favourite piece is this pure linen midi dress, the wrap around style is really flattering and the lower neckline is very on trend as we expect the coveted midi dress to move from higher cuts to plunging necklines this summer. Buy now  149 , Mayamiko {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} So Just Shop vilma pearl silver earrings If youre on the hunt for some ethically sourced jewellery, wed really recommend So Just Shop. The brand works directly with women-led artisans in 35 of the most vulnerable communities in the world, the supply chain is fully transparent and everything  from design to production  is ethically sourced. Featuring a selection of handmade necklaces, rings, earrings and bracelets from female artists in Nepal, India, Kenya, South Africa and Columbia  each piece is wonderfully unique, with a story behind it. Just Shop is aiming to help 250,000 women and their families out of poverty, and the online shop offers a brilliant marketplace that celebrates a wealth of talented artisans from disadvantaged communities.

We love these affordable vilma pearl earrings. Set with three ethically sourced pearls and made in Calcutta, they are both edgy and feminine  the perfect accessory to celebrate talented women with. Buy now  27.99 , So Just Shop {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} SEP Jordan Koutubia zipper pouch Social enterprise and lifestyle brand SEP Jordan has some serious credentials when it comes to supporting women. Founded in 2013, the female-led initiative has employed 500 women living in refugee camps in Jordan and Syria; empowering embroidery and crochet artisans by providing a sustainable income and other forms of support, including health classes such as yoga, after-school classes for children, a library and parent workshops. SEP was the first private company to set up in the Jerash camp in Jordan, seeing women refugees as peers rather than just recipients of aid. This sentiment is echoed in the decision to pay its artists wages that are up to 50 per cent higher than market rate for similar work in Jordan. The luxury accessory brand also prides itself on respecting cultural traditions  Islamic geometry inspires the home and fashion accessories, while Palestinian patterns inspire the traditional kuffiyehs (traditional Middle Eastern scarf). We love the intricate embroidery work of the hand-crafted products and think the koutubia clutch is the perfect size for all your essentials. Buy now  71 , SEP Jordan {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Choose Love womens support This charity, Help Refugees  which began three years ago with three friends wanting to raise 1,000 for refugees in Calais  opened the Choose Love pop-up store just off Londons busiest shopping road, Oxford Street, for a month-long residency in November 2018. Choose Love only sold products that refugees really needed, from food and nappies to life jackets and sleeping bags. Buyers left with nothing other than knowing theyd spent their money very well. The brand also created the Choose Love logo T-shirts, jumpers and bags made from organic cotton, designed by Katharine Hamnett (who is best known for her slogan tees) to help share not only the name of the charity, but the actual message, too: to choose love. You can still purchase all of these products on the website. As well as buying physical products to send to refugees, the charity also contributes to non-physical benefits like mental health support and legal support. This donation of 30 goes towards the running of safe spaces dedicated to women, where they can access essential services, as the refugee crisis has disproportionately affected women and girls. Buy now  25 , Choose Love {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Page & Bloom single paper rose Everyone loves a flower, but it's always sad when they don't last for long  and they're not exactly environmentally friendly. Dried flowers are everywhere at the moment and are a much more sustainable option, but we love these made from paper. But not just any paper  these come from unused books, giving them new life, which any bibliophile will adore. Page & Bloom is a social enterprise and goes a step further than just being eco and employs women who have experienced domestic abuse and provides training to them. It also works with two domestic abuse charities: Hestia and Housing for Women and runs flower making workshops for women in refuge too. Coming in single stems in red, white, yellow and pink, you can also choose to have a bouquet of three, six or 12, too, or choose from spring daffodils, succluents, or mini trees. You can also choose from literary books, maps, music scores or comics. Buy now  14 , Page & Bloom {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}}

The verdict: Brands that support women Our best buy goes to Carcel for its transparent approach to empowering women through employment, offering financial independence to those who otherwise would struggle to achieve it. We love that its clothing is sustainable too. We also love Ohne for making period health accessible to vulnerable girls as well as making organic tampons with a subscription service where you can choose different sizes in one pack too.

IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing.
BURBANK, Calif., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- IMC Film Production is owned by Mimi Masters, who originally worked with major Chinese production company Steller Mega Jincheng Films. Masters has now moved her focus to the states and has brought her experience with her.

Their productions, for which Mr. Tang will join as Director of Photography include:

Sold, where he will direct photography for the narrative short film following King, an old Beijing opera artist and immigrant living in 1980s Los Angeles.

Graffiti(Working Title), a short film following a young boy born without the ability to speak, who learns to express his inner world through graffiti.

Zichen Tang is a highly sought-after Director of Photography who has built an impressive career, working on critically acclaimed films, music videos and commercials. Tang's recent film work includes "The Somnium" (Golden Goblet Award Nominee, Shanghai International Film Festival), "Prince in a Jar" (Best Children's Short, Indie Short Fest) , "The Last Lesbian" (Official Selection, Beijing Queer Film Festival). In the commercial world, Tang has shot highly successful ads for multinational companies like Geely Emgrand GT, the largest privately held automotive group in China. Highly regarded in the music industry as well, Mr. Tang's work as a cinematographer on the music video for Rich Lowe's single "Aww Yeah Yeah Yea" was vital in the artist winning the IGNITE URBAN national music competition, subsequently earning the artist a record deal with Universal Music, considered one of the "Big Three" along with Sony Music and Warner Music Group.

Mr. Tang's extensive background as a director of photography have inspired many artists to work with him, including Johnny E. Jensen, a Danish-American cinematographer best known for the films Rambling Rose, Grumpy Old Men, and Rosewood, whose work in television also earned him two Emmy nominations; Zhenjian Yang, who produced Painted Skin (2008), the year's top-grossing movie as well as 2018's Asura, one of the highest-invested films in China; and Jurg Walther, a graduate of UCLA and A.F.I., who has worked as director of photography and camera operator on a variety of feature films documentaries, music videos and commercial projects. His impressive array of work has been featured by Phoenix North America Chinese Channel, Sing Tao Daily, Tinseltown News Now, Frontline Views, and The Crazy Mind.

Mimi Masters, Owner/Producer, IMC Film Production, [email protected], 714-914-2143

SOURCE IMC Film Production
Bob Iger is stepping down as CEO.

The media mogul, who has been at the helm of Disney since 2005 and extended his contract with the company twice during his tenure, said Tuesday that he is leaving his post ahead of his contract expiring in 2021.

Disney announced that Bob Chapek, the company's head of parks, experiences and products, would be his successor. Iger will assume the role of executive chairman through Dec. 31, 2021.

"With the successful launch of Disney's direct-to-consumer businesses and the integration of Twenty-First Century Fox well underway, I believe this is the optimal time to transition to a new CEO," Iger said in a statement Tuesday. "I have the utmost confidence in Bob and look forward to working closely with him over the next 22 months as he assumes this new role and delves deeper into Disney's multifaceted global businesses and operations, while I continue to focus on the Company's creative endeavors."

Shares of the company fell less than 2% in aftermarket trading Tuesday.

In the last 15 years, Iger has facilitated one of the most remarkable revitalizations of any iconic American brand. He built up the company through a series of four acquisitions that seeded its parks, consumer products and theaterical releases.

In the year that Iger was named CEO, Disney's net income was $2.5 billion. By last year, net profits jumped more than 300% to $10.4 billion. Similarly, Disney stock has skyrocketed. Shares of Disney are up more than 400% from $25 per share in 2005 to nearly $128 at the close on Tuesday.
A man was shot and six other people sustained injuries after a gunman opened fire at a Houston flea marker, Sunday night. According to Ed Gonzales, Sheriff of Harris County, deputies responded after receiving a report that seven people suffered injuries after getting shot, at the Mercado SabaDomingo flea market around seven o'clock in the evening local time.

On a report by CNN, the investigators determined that there was only one person who received gunshot injury in the leg. While the other six that were injured\ suffered wounds after the bullet exited the man and ricocheted. The wounds were minor, superficial and not life-threatening.

All seven people were transported by responders to nearby hospitals right after the incident, the sheriff further noted.

The incident happened amid the dance that was happening in the market. Fortunately, the children present at the scene were unharmed and suffered no injuries based on reports by the responders.

As per CNBC, Gonzales told reporters during the press briefing that the whole situation could have been worse and that it was a miracle that nobody else was hurt, especially the children present at the scene.

The gunman was taken from the scene and was detained and being interviewed by authorities.

According to Chron, the suspect claimed that the gun was inside his pocket and fired accidentally when he was asked by investigators. However, his statement was inconsistent with the accounts of eyewitnesses who said they saw the man holding a gun before they heard the gunshot.

Sheriff Gonzales said that the man was intoxicated with alcohol and his story was inconsistent with the evidence as well. They, however, were not able to find a connection between the suspect and the man who was shot first making the motive very unclear.

Investigators are still trying to find out if the gunman meant to shoot the victims or if the shot was purely accidental in nature.

Also read: Earthquake Kills 9 in Turkey, Hits Iran Border Area

Meanwhile, in the same night ABC13, reported that a woman was shot in the head in a separate shooting incident at a shopping center in Houston at Glenmont Drive.

According to Houston police, two Hispanic men in a black car shot the woman and then rushed to fled from the scene.

The drive-by shooting happened around 11:30 PM. The woman was severely injured and is currently on life support at the Memorial Hermann Medical Center.

As of the moment, the police are still searching for the suspect and are checking every surveillance video available in nearby businesses.

According to Houston PD Commander Bien Tien, they are assuring the public that they will check every available resource they have until they get a lead on the suspects. They are yet to check other surveillance footage for things that may lead them to the gunmen. The police believe that there might be witnesses to the incident who will come out soon.

Houston PD is asking anyone who has information regarding the crime to call their Crime Stoppers Hotline, 713-222-TIPS.

Related article: Third Coronavirus Patient Dies in Italy, Causing Lockdown of Lombardy and Veneto

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FOSTER CITY, Calif., Feb. 25, 2020, provider of enterprise-grade in-memory computing solutions based on Apache Ignite, today announced it is ranked #113 on the inaugural Inc. 5000 Series: California list , the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies based in California. Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the California economy's most dynamic segment-its independent small businesses. GridGain is ranked 16th among software companies and 31st in the San Francisco metro area, with 213 percent two-year growth from 2016 to 2018.

The GridGain in-memory computing platform solves two types of challenges created by digital transformations: speeding up and scaling out existing applications without disruption to existing infrastructure, and creating a high-performance data access layer - known as a digital integration hub- which makes data from multiple siloed datastores available in real-time to one or many applications. GridGain requires no rip-and-replace of existing databases and can be deployed on a public or private cloud, on-premises, or on a hybrid environment. Built on a memory-centric architecture that can leverage ongoing advancements in memory and storage technologies, the solution allows companies to future-proof their applications. The GridGain in-memory computing platform is based on the open source Apache Ignite project. GridGain can function as an in-memory data grid or as an in-memory database. GridGain supports data processing APIs such as ANSI-99 SQL, key-value, compute, machine learning and more and also supports ACID transactions - all at in-memory speeds.

"We are honored to once again be recognized for our strong and consistent company growth, which directly reflects our ability to provide customers with the solutions and services they need to be successful as they undergo digital transformations," said Abe Kleinfeld, President and CEO, GridGain Systems. "GridGain's in-memory computing platform has a very simple value proposition. We provide the fastest and most cost-effective path for companies to gain the performance and scalability required for real-time business processes. This is why GridGain has become a foundational solution in so many datacenters."

The companies on this list show stunning rates of growth across all industries in California. Between 2016 and 2018, these 250 private companies had an average growth rate of 422 percent and, in 2018 alone, they employed more than 49,000 people and added $5.6 billion to the California economy. Companies based in the largest metro areas-Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and San Diego-brought in the highest revenue overall.

"The companies on this list demonstrate just how much the small-business sector impacts California's economy," says Inc. editor in chief Scott Omelianuk. "Across every single industry, these businesses have posted revenue and growth rates that are beyond impressive, further proving the tenacity of their founders and CEOs."

The Inc. 5000 Series, California list ranking, joins an array of awards and high rankings earned by GridGain in recent months, including:

Deloitte 2019 Technology Fast 500 - Ranked #147 nationally with 797 percent revenue growth over the past four years

Inc. 5000 2019 - Ranked #558 overall, #72 among software companies, #28 in the San Francisco metro area, and #99 in the state of California

Silicon Valley Business Journal Fast Private Awards 2019 - Ranked #4

InfoWorld 2019 Bossie Awards - For GridGain Community Edition

American Business Stevie Awards - A Silver Stevie Award for Company of the Year - Computer Software - Medium (https://stevieawards.com/aba/company-organization-awards-1) and a Bronze Stevie Award for Business Technology Product of the Year - Other (https://stevieawards.com/aba/product-management-new-product-awards)

Database Trends & Applications - Included GridGain in the annual DBTA 100 2019 list of the Companies That Matter Most in Data (http://www.dbta.com/Editorial/Trends-and-Applications/DBTA-100-2019---The-Companies-That-Matter-Most-in-Data-132162.aspx)

Bloor Mutable Award - Received a 2019 Gold Bloor Mutable Award (https://go.gridgain.com/rs/491-TWR-806/images/Bloor_InBrief.pdf).

San Francisco Business Times Fastest-Growing Private Companies in the Bay Area 2019 -Ranked #20

Additional Resources

To learn more about the GridGain in-memory computing platform:

Read the "Introducing the GridGain In-Memory Computing Platform (https://www.gridgain.com/resources/papers/introducing-gridgain-in-memory-computing-platform)" white paper

Gain knowledge from the GridGain Developer Portal (https://www.gridgain.com/developer)and GridGain webinars (https://www.gridgain.com/resources/webinars)

See how GridGain helps CTOs & CIOs (https://www.gridgain.com/persona/ctoscios), Architects (https://www.gridgain.com/persona/architects), Business Decision Makers (https://www.gridgain.com/persona/business-decision-makers) and Developers (https://www.gridgain.com/persona/developers)

Read GridGain customer success stories (https://www.gridgain.com/experience/featured-customers) and industry use cases (https://www.gridgain.com/experience/industries)

About GridGain Systems

GridGain Systems is revolutionizing real-time data access and processing by offering an in-memory computing platform built on Apache Ignite. GridGain solutions are used by global enterprises in financial services, software, e-commerce, retail, online business services, healthcare, telecom, transportation and other major sectors, with a client list that includes ING, Raymond James, American Express, Societe Generale, Finastra, IHS Markit, ServiceNow, Marketo, RingCentral, American Airlines, Agilent, and UnitedHealthcare. GridGain delivers unprecedented speed and massive scalability to both legacy and greenfield applications. Deployed on a distributed cluster of commodity servers, GridGain software can reside between the application and data layers.

CONTACT:

Terry Erisman

GridGain Systems

terisman@gridgain.com

(650) 241-2281

GridGain is a trademark or registered trademark of GridGain Systems, Inc. Apache, Apache Hadoop, Hadoop, Apache Ignite, Ignite, Apache Kafka, Kafka, Apache Spark, and Spark are trademarks of The Apache Software Foundation. All other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.
Frustrated Diamond Princess passengers held in quarantine for two weeks following the coronavirus outbreak have launched a petition to drink alcohol.

Australians quarantined in the Howard Springs camp in Darwin approached staff asking for alcoholic drinks while waiting for their quarantine period to be over.

One person labelled the evacuees as 'whingers' if they couldn't go for two weeks without an alcoholic beverage.

Multiple government agencies gather beside buses to take Australian evacuees from the coronavirus-struck cruise ship Diamond Princess on February 20

Australian evacuees from the coronavirus-struck cruise ship Diamond Princess deplane a Qantas flight on February 20

'There's only 1 per cent of whingers,' they told NT News.

'One lady went around even with a petition. If you can't go two weeks without a beer, you've probably got a problem as far as I'm concerned.'

A Department of Health spokesperson told the publication that no alcohol was allowed on the premises to comply with quarantine conditions.

'The quarantine facility has been deemed alcohol-free in line with best practice as alcohol impairs judgment and could compromise people's adherence to strict quarantine conditions, including the use of personal protective equipment,' they said.

The passenger commended the efforts of Qantas staff, cruise ship staff and crew who helped ease the process.

He said the captain 'deserved a medal' for handling the situation perfectly despite the circumstances.

Upon arrival to the Howard Springs camp in Darwin, passengers are greeted by officials in protective gear (pictured)

A couple who are also quarantined in the camp have documented their arrival in Darwin.

Their video diary shows them boarding the Qantas flight in Japan surrounded by crew in protective gear and passengers wearing face masks.

When they arrive in Darwin the couple film passengers in high spirits who can be heard cheering.

The group then travel to the quarantine centre where they are greeted by staff wearing protective gear.

The room where passengers are quarantined shows a singular bed with toiletries placed next to it

The room is sparse but it fitted with all the mod cons and evacuees are provided with complimentary water and toiletries

Upon arrival at the camp, an eerie silence welcomes the couple who film the cabins that will house the evacuees.

The cabins come with a single bed, a television set, toiletries and free water and bathroom with a shower and toilet.

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Australia is 23.

Seven Australians who were on the Diamond Princess cruise ship tested positive for the virus.
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Linkedin Marlowe Hood (Agence France-Presse) Paris, France  Tue, February 25, 2020 13:08 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2066744de 2 Environment environment,environmental-issues,pollution,most-polluted-countries,air-quality-monitor Free

Nearly 90 percent of the 200 cities beset by the world's highest levels of deadly micro-pollution are in China and India, with most of the rest in Pakistan and Indonesia, researchers reported Tuesday.

Taking population into account, Bangladesh emerged as the country with the worst so-called PM2.5 pollution, followed by Pakistan, Mongolia, Afghanistan and India, according to the 2019 World Air Quality Report, jointly released by IQAir Group and Greenpeace.

China ranks 11th

Particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less in diameter -- roughly 1/30 the width of a human hair -- is the most dangerous type of airborne pollution.

Microscopic flecks are small enough to enter the bloodstream via the respiratory system, leading to asthma, lung cancer and heart disease.

Among the world's megacities of 10 million or more people, the most PM2.5-toxic in 2019 was the Indian capital New Delhi, followed by Lahore in Pakistan, Dhaka in Bangladesh, Kolkata in India, Linyi and Tianjin in China, and Jakarta, Indonesia.

Next on the list were Wuhan -- epicenter of the new coronavirus outbreak -- along with Chengdu and Beijing.

The IQAir report is based on data from nearly 5,000 cities worldwide.

Most of the seven million premature deaths attributed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to air pollution are caused by PM2.5 particles, which originate in sandstorms, agriculture, industry, wildfires and especially the burning of fossil fuels.

"Air pollution is the world's leading environmental health threat," said IQAir CEO Frank Hammes. "Ninety percent of the global population is breathing unsafe air."

China's average urban PM2.5 concentration dropped 20 percent in 2018 and 2019, but last year it still counted 117 of the 200 most polluted cities in the world.

All but two percent of China's cities exceeded WHO guidelines for PM2.5 levels, while 53 percent exceeded less stringent national safety limits.

Less data from Africa

The UN says PM2.5 density should not top 25 micrograms per cubic meter (25 mcg/m3) of air in any 24-hour period. China has set the bar at 35 mcg/m3.

More than a million premature deaths in China each year are caused by air pollution, according to the WHO. Recent calculations put the toll at up to twice that figure.

Across a large swathe of northern India and north-central China, meeting WHO standards year-round for PM2.5 pollution would increase life expectancy up to six or seven years, according to the Air Quality Life Index, developed by researchers at the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago.

In India, small particle pollution exceeds WHO limits by 500 percent, even if air pollution in general declined significantly last year, with 98 percent of cities monitored showing improvements.

Among the club of 36 rich OECD nations, South Korea was the most polluted for PM2.5, counting 105 of the worst 1,000 cities on the index. In Europe, Poland and Italy count 39 and 31 cities, respectively, in this tranche.

Other parts of the world such as Africa and the Middle East lacked data.

"What cannot be measured cannot be managed," Hammes said. "Africa, a continent of 1.3 billion people, currently has less than 100 monitoring stations that make PM2.5 data available to the public in realtime."

As of 2018, China alone had more than 1,000 such stations in 200 cities.

Climate change has begun to amplify the health risk of PM2.5 pollution, especially through more intense forest fires and sandstorms made worse by spreading desertification, the report found.

Global warming and PM2.5 also have the same primary driver: the burning of coal, oil and gas.

While the link with lung cancer was well established, a recent study showed that most excess deaths from air pollution are caused by heart attacks, strokes and other types of cardiovascular disease.

Small and larger particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ozone (O3) have likewise been linked to drops in cognitive performance, labor productivity and educational outcomes.

Of cities with more than one million people, the least affected by PM2.5 are Adelaide, Helsinki, Stockholm, and San Jose in central California, followed by Perth and Melbourne in Australia, and Calgary in Canada, and New York.
[February 25, 2020] Optiva Inc. to Host Full Year 2019 Financial Results Investor Conference Call on March 10, 2020

TORONTO, Feb. 25, 2020 /CNW/ - Optiva Inc. (TSX: OPT) ("the Company" or "Optiva"), a leader in providing communications service providers (CSPs) worldwide with cloud-native revenue management software on the public cloud, will hold a conference call on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. (ET) to discuss the financial results for its fiscal period ended December 31, 2019. Danielle Royston, CEO, and Anin Basu, Interim CFO, will host the call followed by a question and answer session. All interested parties are invited to participate. The Company intends to release its financial results for the full year, after market close on March 9, 2020. CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS:







DATE:

Tuesday, March 10, 2020





TIME:

8:30 a.m. (ET)





DIAL IN NUMBER:

Toll-free (Canada/U.S.) 1-888-204-4368



International: 1-720-543-0214





REFERENCE

NUMBER:

8661099





REGISTER FOR ONLINE ACCESS:

http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=138241





TAPED REPLAY:

http://www.optiva.com/investors/





MEDIA INQUIRIES:

[email protected]

CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR END As previously announced on December 12, 2018, Optiva has changed its fiscal year end from September 30 to December 31 to better align the Company's year-end reporting cycle with its business operations. As a result, the Company's transition to a December 31 year end in fiscal 2019 includes five fiscal quarters. About Optiva Inc.: Optiva Inc. is the leader in providing communication service providers (CSPs) worldwide with cloud-native revenue management software on the public cloud. Operators and MVNOs can integrate our best-of-breed charging engine into a BSS stack or deploy our fully managed, end-to-end, SaaS-based suite. Optiva solutions offer unmatched speed, scale, security and savings. Our market knowledge, analytical insights and unique Customer Success Program ensure telecoms are equipped to achieve their strategic business goals. Established in 1999, Optiva Inc. is on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: OPT). For more information, visit www.optiva.com. SOURCE Optiva Inc.

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Manipurs education minister Th Radheshyam said on Tuesday there was nothing wrong in asking students to draw the election symbol of the BJP or analyse the negative traits of former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehrus approach to nation-building.

Radheshyam made the comments while replying to a question by Congress Surjakumar Okram on the eighth day of the ongoing assembly session.

Ive discussed it. The questions are under the syllabus (of political science), Radheshyam he said.

We need to educate students on politics. We can also ask to frame another such paper next year so that we can learn, he added.

Students of Class 12 were asked during the state board examination conducted by the Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur, to draw the election symbol of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

They were also asked to analyse four negative traits of the approach of Nehru, the first prime minister of the country, towards nation-building.

Photos of the question paper with the two questions, carrying four marks each, went viral on social media as the opposition Congress targeted the state government.

Earlier while hitting out at the state education department, opposition MLA Surjakumar said the questions are confusing.

While asking how marks could be awarded to students who couldnt draw the symbol even though they were good pupils, Surjakumar also wanted to know whether they will get grace marks.

Such questions should not be asked, he said.
Federal Attorney-General Christian Porter on Monday published an article in this paper claiming his controversial religious discrimination bill is intended merely as a "shield", and wrongly branding my criticisms of the bill as neither genuine nor constructive.

The Attorney-General's barbs were prompted by an article published in this paper last week explaining how the religious discrimination bill would be bad for Christians  just as it is bad for gay people, women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and others.

Attorney General Christian Porter. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

That article explained how the bill allows people to make "statements of belief" that ridicule, humiliate and intimidate Christians at work and at the shops, and how the bill actually encourages businesses to refuse to hire Christians.

The article must have prompted conservatives inside and outside the coalition to ask Porter some tough questions about what exactly the religious discrimination bill does. This would have added to existing pressure. Only two weeks ago, conservative Coalition senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells called for the bill to be scrapped because it is so flawed.
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* Deere is collaborating with 'Uber of tractors' in Africa

* New tech allows farmers to hail tractors via an app

* Low incomes, lack of credit hobble African mechanisation

* Deere says data from platform can help farmers secure loans

By Omar Mohammed and Joe Bavier

NANYUKI, Kenya/JOHANNESBURG, Feb 25 (Reuters) - It's ride-hailing, farm style. Deere & Co. is teaming up with the "Uber of tractors" in Africa and betting on a future where farmers summon machines with the touch of a button.

The world's leading farm equipment maker is outfitting its tractors with startup Hello Tractor's technology, which allows farmers to hail the machines via an app, monitors the vehicles' movements and transmits usage information such as fuel levels.

The aim is to help the U.S. company boost sales of it famous green and yellow John Deere tractors, a tough task in a continent with the world's highest poverty rate and the least mechanised agricultural sector.

Deere is currently testing the technology - a small black box fitted beneath dashboards - on around 400 tractors in Ghana and Kenya. It told Reuters it plans to roll out the devices across Africa in the second half of this year, offering it to all contractors who buy its equipment on the continent.

Jacques Taylor, who heads John Deere's sub-Saharan Africa business, said that the continent badly needs more machinery to develop its farming industry but most farmers don't have the scale to justify a large investment.

"We would like to see that every farmer has access to mechanisation," he told Reuters. "The gap that we've identified is, how do we connect small farmers with tractor owners?"

Deere declined to comment on the investment costs for the rollout. The risks are clear; there is no certainty of any measure of success in Africa, which accounts for a tiny fraction of its global sales at present.

Story continues

Held back by low incomes, tiny landholdings as well as a lack of bank financing, tractor numbers have long been stagnant on the continent, even as much of the developing world has experienced a boom in mechanisation.

Deere thinks it can help on the financing front: it told Reuters it could pull data from the Hello Tractor platform that showed in precise detail how farmers were using its equipment. That information, it said, could be used by the farmers - who typically lack credit histories - to help secure bank loans.

This would mean they could buy more tractors.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS?

In central Kenya, a Deere tractor zig-zagged across a sun-drenched field, raking up dry grass and dropping bales of hay. The black box monitored its every move.

The tractor belongs to Agrimech Africa, a Nairobi-based agricultural services firm that has taken up the offer to have the devices installed on its Deere machinery.

"They do the technology. We do the management," said Pascal Kaumbutho, who heads the company.

Agrimech, which is paid by farmers to work their land, hopes the new tech will help optimise its Deere tractors and connect them to new customers, allowing it to expand.

Kaumbutho, whose company manages a dozen tractors, envisions a future in which Agrimech runs a 1,000-strong fleet. "Right now, we're reaching about 1,500 farmers," he said. "Within the next two or three years, I'd like to reach 20,000."

Such opportunities exist in markets across Africa, said Hello Tractor founder Jehiel Oliver, but companies like Deere have lacked the tools to develop them.

"Nigeria alone needs 750,000 (more) tractors to be on the global average," he said. "Our technology is a market-maker for tractor manufacturers who want to sell into those markets."

Deere's annual revenue of about $40 billion is dominated by the Americas and Europe. It doesn't break out numbers for Africa, but combined revenue from Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East was $3.9 billion last year.

FINANCE FRUSTRATION

Outside South Africa, the continent's most developed economy, around 80% of African cropland is still cultivated by hand. Yields are half the global average. With its population set to double by 2050, increasing productivity is a necessity.

One of the biggest barriers to mechanisation is finance; though agriculture accounts for around a quarter of Africa's economic output and some 70% of jobs, banks often view farmers as high-risk because of the lack of credit histories.

"It's one thing to go to a bank and say 'You know. Hey, I work very hard.' It's another thing to be able to show it," Kaumbutho said.

Deere said the data from the Hello Tractor platform shows how often equipment is in use, how much land it's working, and whether it's tilling, planting or harvesting. That information can be used to create financial statements, it added.

Tshepo Maeko, vice-president and head of agrisales at South African-based lender Absa, sees potential to unlock more lending in this kind of technology which gives banks a fuller picture.

"We will be able to see how big the risk is or how big the opportunity is," he said.

Deere is working with Hello Tractor and the banks to format the data to create easily digestible automated reports. No loan decisions have yet been made based on the information.

But Antois van der Westhuizen, John Deere Financial's managing director for sub-Saharan Africa, said that should be possible by the time the scheme is rolled out across Africa.

"The banking systems are trying to adapt," he said. "It's a journey for us to really get them to understand it." (Writing by Joe Bavier; Editing by Alexandra Zavis and Pravin Char)
ISABELLA COUNTY, MI  A 19-year-old Central Michigan University student faces multiple felony charges in connection with a stabbing late Saturday night at a popular nightspot near campus that left three people injured.

Octayvious Jerome Sanchez-Lewis, of Farmington Hills, was arraigned Monday, Feb. 24 in Isabella County Trial Court on three counts of assault with intent to murder and two counts of carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent.

Officers from the Mount Pleasant Police Department were called out shortly before midnight Saturday, Feb. 22 for a report of a fight at the Wayside Central, 2000 S. Mission St.

A Central Alert sent out by the university noted a stabbing had taken place at the bar, with multiple injuries reported.

CMU reports stabbing on 3 at Wayside bar, suspect in custody

Sanchez-Lewis 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.

Wayside shut down around 1:30 a.m. Sunday after receiving word from police that a suspect had been apprehended.

Two of the three victims who suffered injuries have been treated and released from local hospitals, police said. The third victim is still hospitalized and is in stable condition.

At this time a clear motive has not been established and at least one of the victims knew the suspect, per a statement Monday afternoon from the Mount Pleasant Police Department.

CMU student arrested in stabbing at Wayside bar; 2 students injured

Sanchez-Lewis is being held in Isabella County Jail on a $850,000 cash or surety bond.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident are asked to contact the Mt. Pleasant Police Departments Anonymous Tip Line at 989-779-9111.

The Mt. Pleasant Police Department was assisted by Central Michigan University Police, Michigan State Police, Isabella County Sheriffs Department, Mobile Medical Response and the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department.

Wayside bar issues statement on stabbing incident near CMU campus
Petoskey High School closed for in-person classes until at least Jan. 17

There was no school for high school students on Wednesday, while virtual classes will take place on Thursday, Jan. 13, and Friday, Jan. 14.
Nigerian authorities have selected a consortium to set up an aviation leasing company as part of plans to overhaul the countrys aviation sector.

Reuters reported Monday that the consortium includes Egypt Air.

The c said on Monday that it has picked the Egypt Air consortium for the aviation leasing company, which the government aims to set up as a private-public partnership.

The new company will lease aircraft from international lessors and then lease them on to domestic operators, while the government will hold a minority stake in the company.

The Nigerian aviation sector is dogged by challenges ranging from poor infrastructure, mounting debt and financing.

On Monday, the ministry of aviation said it has short-listed the Egypt Air consortium as well as Ethiopian Airlines to set up an aircraft maintenance facility in Lagos or Abuja.

In 2017, John Ojikutu, an aviation expert told PREMIUM TIMES that solutions to the debt crises in the industry is to get foreign technical investors that would take and pay for a big chunk of the debts; sell the remaining to the Nigerian public at the NSE market with a view to transforming the airlines to one or two national flag carriers, among other recommendations.

In September 2018, the Nigerian government announced the suspension of its widely publicised national carrier. The suspension was made because the Economic Management Team (EMT) did not approve it when it launched.

The EMT recommendation was that the Nigerian government should not set up a national carrier with public funds.

In an interview last year, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said the Federal Executive Council was divided on the modalities for the establishment of the proposed national carrier, hence its inability to take off.

Mr Amaechi noted that the purpose of establishing a national carrier had not been jettisoned even though the members of the federal cabinet have different beliefs as regards the project.

In recent weeks, all international flights bound for Lagos have been diverted to Ghana due to poor weather conditions and complications from new equipment installation.

British Airways and Emirate Airlines were among the carriers unable to land at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos owing to a diversion said to be caused by poor weather in Lagos and inadequate equipment to check visibility.
California Department of Education

News Release

California Department of Education

News Release

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces Model Continuation High Schools for 2020

SACRAMENTOState Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced today that 43 schools throughout the state were recognized as Model Continuation High Schools (MCHS) for 2020.

This recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and determination of the teachers, school staff, and administrators who are helping these students to thrive personally and academically, said Thurmond. With the right guidance, encouragement, and support, students in continuation high schools can access the same career and college opportunities after graduation as their peers in traditional school settings. These model schools give students a chance to not only succeed in high school but in life.

Each of the schools honored offer various opportunities for their students to pursue academic and social success. For example:

Central Valley High School in Shafter has increased the schools graduation rate by 17.9 percent. The average daily attendance rate increased from 72 percent to 84 percent while the suspension rate decreased by 15.5 percent.





Amistad High School in Indio has created a college-ready culture at its school by cultivating strong partnerships with community colleges. Students can visit local colleges, receive assistance with financial aid, and earn college credits while still in high school through dual enrollment opportunities.





Donald C. Jamison Continuation High School in Lemoore has cultivated a supportive learning environment where each students academic and social-emotional needs are met. Students learn real-world business and entrepreneurial skills through an innovative screen print program, and a leadership class teaches civic and community engagement through partnerships with organizations like the Special Olympics.



Continuation schools provide a high school diploma program for students ages sixteen through eighteen who have not graduated from high school, are required to attend school, and are at risk of not completing their education.



The MCHS were selected based on a comprehensive and competitive application process that involved assessments and data. The process included a peer review panel and on-site visit.



The MCHS Recognition Program is a collaborative partnership between the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Continuation Education Association (CCEA). The program honors continuation high schools for the comprehensive services they provide at-risk youth through instructional strategies, flexible scheduling, guidance, and counseling.



The 43 schools selected as MCHS retain their designation for three years and will be recognized at the 2020 CCEA State Conference in San Diego on May 13, 2020. For more information, please visit the CDE Continuation Education web page or the CCEA website .

List of 2020 Model Continuation High Schools

Abraxas High School, 12450 Glenoak Road, Poway, CA 92064-3299, 858-748-5900, Alain Henry, Principal Alessandro High School, 831 East Devonshire Avenue, Hemet, CA 92543-3052, 951-765-5182, Tara O'Malley, Principal Amistad High School, 83-501 Dillon Avenue, Indio, CA 92201-3325, 760-775-3570, David Gustafson, Principal Black Diamond High School, 1131 Stoneman Avenue, Pittsburg, CA 94565-5466, 925-473-4480, Brian Wilson, Principal Black Rock High School, 59273 Sunnyslope, Yucca Valley, CA 92284-5996, 760-369-6310, Jennifer Sands, Principal Boynton High School, 901 Boynton Avenue, San Jose, CA 95117-2006, 408-626-3404, Sarah Thomas, Principal Broadway High School, 4825 Speak Lane, San Jose, CA 95118-3769, 408-535-6285, Giovanni Bui, Principal Buena Vista High School, 3717 Michelson Street, Lakewood, CA 90712-1402, 562-602-8090, Morrie Kosareff, Principal Central Continuation High School, 716 East 14th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021-2114, 213-745-1901, Helene Cameron, Principal Central Valley High School, 526 Mannel Avenue, Shafter, CA 93263-1810, 661-746-4281, Michael Akey, Site Administrator Citrus High School, 261 East Mulberry Avenue, Porterville, CA 93257-4822, 559-782-7130, Scott Braden, Principal Desert Valley High School, 104 West Magnolia Street, Brawley, CA 92227-1583, 760-312-5100, Antonio Munguia, Principal Discovery High School, 3401 Fong Ranch Road, Sacramento, CA 95834-1797, 916-928-5200, Keven MacDonald, Principal Donald C. Jamison Continuation High School, 351 East Bush Street, Lemoore, CA 93245-3601, 559-924-6620, Valerie Botelho, Principal Fairvalley High School, 758 West Grondahl Street, Covina, CA 91722-2065, 626-974-4800, Dana Craig, Principal Frontier High School, 545 Airport Way, Camarillo, CA 93010-8581, 805-389-6450, Christina Mahone, Principal Garfield High School, 1255 16th Street, San Diego, CA 92101-4759, 619-362-4500, Jolie Pickett, Principal Gilbert High School, 1800 Ball Road, Anaheim, CA 92804-5516, 714-999-3738, Katrina Callaway, Coordinator Glen View High School, 939 East Tenth Street, Beaumont, CA 92223-1927, 951-769-8424, Benisha Carr, Principal Heartland Alternative Education High School, 2269 Sylvia Street, Selma, CA 93662-3488, 559-898-6670, Drew Sylvia, Director Hillside High School, 1558 West Ninth Street, Upland, CA 91786-5636, 909-949-8400, Jerry Adams, Principal Jereann Bowman High School, 21508 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita, CA 91350-2947, 661-253-4400, Eran Zeevi, Principal Kaweah High School, 1107 E Rocky Hill Drive, Exeter, CA 93221-1307, 559-592-4420, Darin Pace, Principal Kurt T. Shery High School, 2600 Vine Street, Torrance, CA 90501-4330, 310-533-4440, Jamie Jimenez, Principal North Park Continuation High School, 4600 Bogart Avenue, Baldwin Park, CA 91706-2703, 626-337-4407, Anthony Ippolito, Principal Orangewood High School, 515 Texas Street, Redlands, CA 92374-3071, 909-307-5380, Carol Ruhm, Principal Ortega High School, 520 Chaney Street, Building 100, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530-1230, 951-253-7065, Greg Cleave, Principal Owensmouth High School, 6921 Jordan Avenue, Canoga Park, CA 91303-1997, 818-340-7663, Gerardo Cervantes, Principal Pershing Continuation High School, 855 West Nielsen, Fresno, CA 93706-1700, 559-268-2272, Nick Hustedde, Principal Renaissance High School, 333 North Palm Avenue, Santa Paula, CA 93060, 805-525-4407, Robin Gillette, Principal Richland Continuation High School, 615 North Lemon Street, Orange, CA 92867-6611, 714-997-6167, Maureen Eckholdt, Principal Robertson High School, 4455 Seneca Park Avenue, Fremont, CA 94538-4028, 510-657-9155, Salvador Herrera, Principal Rose City High School, 351 South Hudson Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101-3507, 626-396-5620, Brian Stanley, Principal Santana High School, 341 South La Seda Road, La Puente, CA 91744-5980, 626-965-5971, Gregory Perez, Principal Sierra Continuation High School, 11661 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA 96161-4953, 530-582-2640, Greg Wohlman, Principal Silverado High School, 25632 Peter A. Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, CA 92691-3118, 949-586-8800, David Gordon, Principal Sunset High School, 2500 Elk Valley Cross Road, Crescent City, CA 95531-8461, 707-464-0380, Tony Fabricius, Principal Twin Oaks High School, 158 Cassou Road, San Marcos, CA 92069-9702, 760-290-2555, Garth Phillips, Prinicpal Val Verde High School, 972 West Morgan Street, Perris, CA 92571-3103, 951-940-6155, Steve Coelho, Principal Valley High School, 410 North Hidden Trails Road, Escondido, CA 92027-5333, 760-291-2240, Cory Gregory, Principal Valley Oak High School, 1600 Myrtle Avenue, Napa, CA 94558-4743, 707-253-3791, Maria Cisneros, Principal Vicente Martinez High School, 925 Susana Street, Martinez, CA 94553-3212, 925-335-5880, Lori O'Connor, Principal Village High School, 4645 Bernal Avenue, Pleasanton, CA 94566-7449, 925-426-4260, Dana Chavez, Principal

# # # #

Tony Thurmond  State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

Last Reviewed: Thursday, August 26, 2021
United States President Donald Trump and his wife Melania on Tuesday paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the memorial of India's Father of the Nation at Rajghat in the nations capital.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend a wreath laying ceremony at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat in New Delhi. Photograph: Al Drago/Reuters

The US president and the first lady laid a wreath and paid floral tributes at Rajghat.

The Trumps reached Rajghat after a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

IMAGE: The visit to Rajghat came after the US First Couple were given a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Photograph: Al Drago/Reuters

Trump also signed the visitor's book at Rajghat, and the couple also planted a sapling at the memorial.

IMAGE: POTUS and FLOTUS plant a sapling at Rajghat. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

Union minister Hardeep Puri accompanied the Trumps to Rajghat.

SEE: Trumps pay homage at Rajghat

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday stressed that the Americans stand strongly with a sovereign and wonderful India, which he said was a vision of "great" Mahatma Gandhi.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump's message in the visitors' book at Rajghat. Photograph: ANI/Twitter

In his message in the visitor's book after paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, the US president wrote: "The American people stand strongly with a sovereign and wonderful India - the vision of the great Mahatma Gandhi. This is a tremendous honor!"
OTTAWA - Sen. Lynn Beyak sought to stave off suspension from the upper chamber Tuesday, pledging to do more to make amends for the harm she caused by posting offensive letters online.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/2/2020 (686 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Senator Lynn Beyak waits for the Speech from the Throne to being in the Senate in Ottawa, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. Sen. Lynn Beyak says she now regrets insisting that racist letters posted to her website remain online.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - Sen. Lynn Beyak sought to stave off suspension from the upper chamber Tuesday, pledging to do more to make amends for the harm she caused by posting offensive letters online.

"I would like to unreservedly apologize for my actions," she told the Senate.

"After deep and careful reflection, I have come to the view that the posting of offensive and hurtful letters to a Senate public website was wrong and ill-considered and my insistence on leaving them up was also wrong."

The letters were sent to Beyak, a senator from Ontario, in support of her defence of the residential school system. While the Truth and Reconciliation Commission concluded the system caused horrific abuse and alienation for generations of First Nations, Metis and Inuit children, Beyak has suggested there were benefits to the program that have been overshadowed.

The letters she received and published online echoed her views but some also went further, including suggestions that Indigenous Peoples and their cultures were inferior.

As controversy grew, Beyak defended the decision to make and keep the letters public. She said they weren't racist and removing them would be an affront to free speech.

She said Tuesday she now believes she was in the wrong.

"They were disrespectful, divisive and unacceptable," she said of the letters.

"While my intent was never to hurt anyone, I see now that my actions did not have their desired effect, which was to promote open and constructive dialogue. Regretfully, my actions were unhelpful to the national conversation on this issue."

Her refusal to take the letters down got her kicked out of the Conservative caucus and eventually, temporarily suspended from the Senate. To end her suspension, she was to fully apologize and complete education programs on racism towards Indigenous Peoples. But her suspension automatically ended when Parliament dissolved for the 2019 federal election.

Beyak had said in November she felt she fulfilled the requirements. But last month, the Senate ethics committee concluded she'd not gone far enough. The committee said the apology she offered at the time was insufficient and she did not fully finish the education program. The senators on the committee recommended her suspension be reinstated.

The Senate must vote on whether to support that recommendation. When that vote might take place is uncertain; on Wednesday, the Senate is expected to vote on whether the committee should now re-examine the issue.

On Tuesday, Beyak said she is ready to "engage swiftly and meaningfully in the process," and complete the training.

She offered a broader apology to Indigenous Peoples, the Senate, and to Canadians, and said she has learned from the experience.

"We are never too old to learn and to grow," she said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 25, 2020.
By Abdul Kerimkhanov

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has said that the recent killing of a border soldier by Armenian forces testifies to Armenias aggressive nature.

With this intentional assassination, Armenia once again proves that the country is the aggressor, and its attempts to hide behind the puppet regime that it created in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan are completely vain, the ministry said in a statement published in its official website on February 25.

On February 24, the Armenian Armed Forces violated the ceasefire on the border with Azerbaijan, as a result of which the Azerbaijani border guard Ibrahim Valiyev was killed.

"The murder of a soldier of the State Border Service guarding the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan is a crime, and the responsibility for this bloody act lies with the Armenian side," the ministry said.

As was stressed, Baku considers Yerevans actions on the border and on the contact line in the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict against Azerbaijani military and civilians as an indicator of aggressive politics.

"By these actions, we see the true revolutionary initiatives of the Armenian leadership," the Foreign Ministry emphasized, making a hint at Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyans recent suggestion in Munich Conference that a revolution must be made in the conflict resolution.

The MFA said that the murder of a soldier of the State Border Service guarding the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan is a crime, and the responsibility for this bloody act lies with the Armenian side.

This incident which happened on the eve of the commemoration of the Khojaly genocide [26 February] perpetrated by the Armenian armed forces is just another horrible and hypocritical attempt by Armenia to distract its dirty actions from the world community, the statement reads.

Azerbaijani border guard Ibrahim Veliyev was killed while thwarting Armenian sabotage attempt that was carried out from Armenias Noyemberyan region in the direction of the border post near the village of Gushchu Ayrim of Azerbaijans Gazakh region. Armenians used mortars and other types of large-caliber weapons.

As a result of the measures taken, one Armenian officer was killed, another soldier was injured at 07:00 on February 24.

Gazakh border point was not the only place where Armenia violated the cease-fire regime.

Armenian armed forces broke the truce along the line of contact between the troops throughout the day.

---

Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Health Care Firm Partners with Management to Build Solvias into Leading Global Pharmaceutical Laboratory Services Company

CHICAGO, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Water Street Healthcare Partners, a strategic investor focused exclusively on the health care industry, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to invest in Solvias AG. Headquartered in the biotech hub of Basel, Switzerland, Solvias is one of the largest independent pharmaceutical laboratory platforms in Europe. Water Street, which has years of experience in the pharmaceutical services sector, will partner with the company's management team to build Solvias into a premier global pharmaceutical laboratory services business.

Formed in 1999, Solvias has a deep history of collaborating with the world's leading pharmaceutical organizations to develop, test and analyze a wide range of new products. The company has grown to serve a diverse base of more than 600 biotech, medical device, cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies as it has expanded its platform of testing and analytical services to support biopharmaceutical products and emerging cell and gene therapies. Highly regarded for its scientific expertise and technical capabilities, Solvias operates nearly 200,000 square feet of laboratory space in Switzerland and France in accordance with the highest industry standards, including ISO, cGMP and GLP.

"Solvias stands out for its deep expertise, outstanding quality of work and commitment to continuous innovation to support its clients with bringing new products to market. We're excited to collaborate with Karen Huebscher and her leadership team to continue expanding their platform. Working together, we will invest in organic initiatives and strategic acquisitions that will extend Solvias' capabilities into new and complementary areas and expand their geographic reach on a global scale," said Peter Strothman, partner, Water Street.

Karen Huebscher, PhD, chief executive officer, Solvias, added, "Water Street is the right partner to help us take our strategic expansion to the next level. Its team possesses extensive industry knowledge and a network of resources to build on our strong foundation of expertise and services to bring greater value to our customers and position Solvias as a global leader at the forefront of our industry."

Dr. Huebscher and her management team will continue to lead Solvias once the transaction closes, which is expected to occur in the second quarter of this year. Financial terms of Water Street's agreement with Solvias are not being disclosed.

About Water Street

Water Street is a strategic investor focused exclusively on health care. The firm has a strong record of building market-leading companies across key growth sectors in health care. It has worked with some of the world's leading companies on its investments including Humana, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic and Walgreen Co. Water Street's team is comprised of industry executives and investment professionals with decades of experience investing in and operating global health care businesses. The firm is headquartered in Chicago. For more information about Water Street, visit waterstreet.com.

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Bill Cosby lent his support to rapist Harvey Weinstein on Monday, asking 'where do wealthy and famous men find fairness' before blasting the #MeToo movement as racist.

The shamed comedian, 82, instructed his spokesman to issue a public statement, calling disgraced movie producer Weinstein's conviction 'a very sad day'.

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.

It was the most high-profile sex assault conviction in the United States since Cosby was found guilty in 2018 of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman 15 years prior.

Cosby's spokesman, Andrew Wyatt, posted a statement to Instagram arguing 'there was no way Mr. Weinstein was going to receive a fair and impartial trial'.

Wyatt said Cosby was outraged over Weinstein's conviction and called him repeatedly about it on Monday.

Scroll down for video

Bill Cosby, right outside court in 2017, lent his support to rapist Harvey Weinstein, pictured left on Monday, asking 'where do wealthy and famous men find fairness' before blasting the #MeToo movement as racist

The shamed comedian, 82, instructed his spokesman Andrew Wyatt to issue a public statement, calling disgraced movie producer Weinstein's conviction 'a very sad day'

The post continued: 'This is not shocking because these jurors were not sequestered, which gave them access to media coverage and the sentiments of public opinion.

'There's no way you would have anyone believe that Mr. Weinstein was going to receive a fair and impartial trial.

'Also, this judge showed that he wanted a conviction by sending the jurors back to deliberate, after they were hung on many of the counts.'

Cosby is currently serving a three to ten year sentence in Pennsylvania for sexual assault

Cosby added: 'Here's the question that should haunt all Americans, especially wealthy and famous men...Where do we go in this country to find fairness and impartiality in the judicial system; and where do we go in this country to find Due Process?'

He ended his statement of support for Weinstein by blasting the #MeToo movement as racist. Cosby added: 'Lastly, if the movement isn't just about Becky [White women], I would challenge and ask them to go back 400+ years and tarnish the names of those oppressors that raped slaves.

'This is a very sad day in the American Judicial System.'

The Time's Up foundation, formed in the wake of the Weinstein case, celebrated the outcome as marking 'a new era of justice.'

'Abusers everywhere and the powerful forces that protect them should be on notice: There's no going back,' it said in a statement.

More than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct since allegations against him ignited a global reckoning against men abusing positions of power in October 2017.

But with many claims too old to prosecute, the jury considered charges related to just two: ex-actress Jessica Mann and former production assistant Mimi Haleyi.

The predatory sexual assault charges included testimony from 'The Sopranos' actress Annabella Sciorra, who said Weinstein raped her in her New York apartment in the winter of 1993-94.

Six women took the stand to say they had been sexually assaulted by Weinstein.

Weinstein was convicted sexually assaulting Haleyi and raping Mann. 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?'

On Monday, following his conviction, Weinstein was rushed to Bellevue Hospital Center after suffering chest pains.

Film producer Harvey Weinstein is handcuffed after his guilty verdict in his sexual assault trial

In this courtroom sketch, Harvey Weinstein, center, is led out of Manhattan Supreme Court by court officers after a jury convicted him of rape and sexual assault on Monday

Cosby is currently serving a three to ten year sentence in Pennsylvania for sexual assault. He was convicted of three counts of aggravated indecent assault in 2018 for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in his home in January 2004.

He has also been accused of rape and sexual assault by over 60 women.

This is not the first time Cosby has shared his thoughts from behind bars.

Earlier this month he rushed to thank rapper Snoop Dogg for calling for his freedom as they slammed Gayle King for trying 'to tarnish the legacy of successful black men' after the CBS presenter brought up Kobe Bryant's rape allegations.

Snoop Dogg responded to the thanks by saying 'Love u uncle bill' and reposted Cosby's comments along with a picture of them both.

On Father's Day in 2019, he tweeted to say he is 'America's Dad' leading to plenty of backlash from angry Twitter users.
Democratic presidential hopeful Tom Steyers campaign took to the streets of downtown Mobile on Saturday to canvass Mardi Gras revelers.

The candidate, himself, wasnt at the citys annual Carnival.

Mike Bloombergs campaign announced a Weekend of Action in Mobile, Montgomery, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. Like Steyer, the candidate wasnt physically in any of those cities.

Its the same story for the rest of the field of Democratic presidential hopefuls ahead of the crucial March 3 Super Tuesday primaries. Though surrogates and supporters are touring the state and scrambling for last-minute votes, the candidates appear to be no-shows.

The reason? Political experts put the blame on California, which moved up its presidential primary to Super Tuesday (in 2016, the states primary wasnt held until June). California is drawing more attention than smaller states simply because the outcome there is more consequential. California will send 495 delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee. Alabama, by contrast, will send 61 (that number includes unpledged superdelegates).

Texas, with 262 total delegates, is also a major player on this years Super Tuesday slate. Top Democratic candidates like Bernie Sanders have been hosting rallies in cities throughout that state in recent weeks, such as in El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.

Altogether, 14 states will vote next week, selecting 1,357 Democratic delegates.

This time around Super Tuesday is particularly important as over a third of the delegates will be at stake in a single day, said Robert Blanton III, professor and chairman of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Delegate numbers are of paramount importance in primary season and Alabama is relatively small game in terms of delegates, as we hold less than 4% of the total for Super Tuesday. So our brief time as a center of attention during the 2016 primary season was fun while it lasted, but rational candidates will be going to where the delegates are.

Subject to change

Then-Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton made two unscheduled stops at Yo Mama's restaurant and Urban Standard on 2nd Avenue North before her appearance at Miles College. Clinton greeted potential voters , took photos, and talked one on one with many diners at both locations ahead of the 2016 presidential primary in Alabama. Standard. (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com).

Indeed, the 2016 campaign  in which both Democratic and Republican presidential hopefuls made repeated visits to Alabama ahead of the March 1 primary  was a result of a move by the Legislature a year earlier to move up the presidential primary to Super Tuesday. Previously, the party primaries had been held a bit later in the spring.

Ten presidential hopefuls flew into Alabama to gin up excitement in the months prior to Super Tuesday 2016, stopping in Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile, Huntsville, Guntersville, Madison, Hoover, Daphne, among others.

Donald Trump, at the time the GOPs presidential front-runner, made two memorable stops in Alabama: A rally at Mobiles Ladd-Peebles Stadium in August 2015, and another large rally in Madison on the weekend preceding primary day.

On the Democratic side, both Sanders and Hillary Clinton made swings into the state.

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill said his office, along with a Republican-controlled Legislature, approved moving up the presidential primary to capture more political attention for the state.

We had more candidates coming to our state in 2015-16 than we never had in the history of the presidency, said Merrill, a Republican. We were excited by the results we experienced.

He said the lack of presidential hopefuls making physical stops in Alabama in 2020 is the result of the ongoing dynamics of the presidential race. He added, Everything is subject to change when you are in these election cycles. There was an open seat in 2016, and both Democrats and Republican (candidates made late campaign visits). In 2020, only Democrats are coming. Alabama is definitely not a Democratic stronghold.

Even so, Democratic pollster Zac McCrary said the activity in Alabama this year still beats that of years ago when the state held its primary in the late spring/early summer. For example, in 2004, he said, Alabama was at the very end of the schedule and received virtually no attention.

Sanders did hold a Birmingham rally in May. Joe Biden attended the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church memorial service in mid-September. And Pete Buttigieg made stops to Montgomery and Birmingham in December.

Some of the Democratic candidates are expected to be in Selma for this weekends 55th annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee. Biden, Bloomberg and Elizabeth Warren are expected to be in attendance, and others could be coming as well.

It is a reality that there are several states on Super Tuesday that have a larger delegate footprint than does Alabama but I would anticipate that Alabama will be part of the Super Tuesday scramble for some of the candidates over the next week, especially in the narrow window between the South Carolina primary and Super Tuesday, McCrary said.

The South Carolina primary takes place on Saturday.

Merrill said his office wont advocate to change the primary date ahead of the 2024 presidential election. He said that it makes more sense for the state to be consistent in its scheduling.

Merrill said, When you evaluate where you are and what weve done, you have to be concerned about what occurred, but not concerned to the point where you say, We need to change our primary. He said, You dont know what might happen in the next three years.

Cal Jillson, a political science professor and an expert on Southern politics at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, said that problems in this years Iowa caucuses could put pressure on future election schedules in all states.

More and more people are calling for more organization in who goes in what order in the primary process, driven by dissatisfaction with Iowa and New Hampshire being the first two states, said Jillson. He noted that former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has urged that Nevada go first because its a more racially diverse state than heavily white Iowa and New Hampshire.

Maybe it will be the 10 smallest states (going first) and then the 10 next in size and the big states voting late, said Jillson. There is a lot of discussion going on over how to best select the presidential nominees.

No clear favorite

Even if Alabamas delegate count is low compared to other Super Tuesday states, the state does offer some political intrigue.

Sanders, who appears to be the overwhelming frontrunner in the Democratic contest, performed poorly in Alabama during the 2016 presidential primary. Hillary Clinton defeated Sanders by a 77.8-19.2% difference. His showing was only worse in Mississippi and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Polling has been sparse in Alabama. A business analytics project by students and faculty in the Brock School of Business at Samford University  analyzing 3,100 self-identified Alabama Democrats  showed Warren ahead of Biden. Sanders was in third.

Biden has secured some key endorsements in Alabama including U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, Rep. Teri Sewell and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin. Bloomberg, meanwhile, has the backing of the Alabama Democratic Conference, which is the state partys largest black caucus.

Jillson said that black voters who comprise of the majority of Alabama Democratic voters, will be watching South Carolina very closely to see where Biden has held up, if he does hold up.

Said Jillson, If not him, then Bloomberg. His name is very well known. But black voters in Alabama will be aware that Bernie Sanders is showing well across the country.

The South Carolina Democratic Party consists of around 60% of black voters. In Alabama, its close to 80%.

In 2016, Clinton defeated Sanders by a 73.4%-26.02% margin.

Polling in South Carolina shows a tight race with Biden at 24.5% and Sanders closing in at 21.5%, according to analysis by Real Clear Politics. Nationally, Sanders is polling at 29.3, with Biden at 17.2% and Bloomberg at 15.3%, the polling analysis shows.

If Biden holds up (in South Carolina), I suspect he will do well in Alabama, Jillson said. If Bernie squeezes by Biden, he may be a player in Alabama more than he was in 2016.

Blanton, at UAB, said Alabama is shaping up to be a Democratic primary bellwether next Tuesday.

There is no clear favorite in the state, said Blanton. In terms of age and race, Alabama Democrats are relatively young and predominately African-American, so a successful candidate will have to appeal to both of these demographics, he said. Sanders resonates with younger voters, while Biden has a strong base of support among African-Americans. To me, its a question of whether Sanders can establish a foothold among African-American voters or whether they will go with the establishment candidate as was the case in 2016.

This story was updated at 3:26 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, to include information about the 55th annual Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee.
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.
ADEJE, Spain  The Spanish authorities scrambled on Tuesday to trace everyone who had contact with an Italian doctor and his partner who tested positive for the coronavirus while on vacation in the Canary Islands, locking down a major resort with hundreds of guests in the hopes of limiting any possible outbreak.

While officials said they were acting out of an abundance of caution, the response underscored how quickly the spread of the virus in one European Union nation could become a problem for others in the bloc, which prides itself on frictionless travel across borders.

The doctor had been visiting from the Lombardy region of Italy, officials said, which has been hard hit by the virus. Cases that appear connected to Lombardy were also reported on Tuesday in France, Austria, Croatia and Switzerland.

The resort, the H10 Costa Adeje Palace on the island of Tenerife, was not placed under quarantine, which involves separation of those who have been exposed to the virus, the authorities said. Rather, they said, it was in lockdown for now, which aims to halt the movement of all individuals within the concerned area  regardless of whether they are sick or have been exposed.
Condemning the violence in Delhi, the Congress on Tuesday demanded that the prime minister, the home minister and the Delhi chief minister come forward to ensure peace and maintain brotherhood while rising above partisan

"This is the India of Gandhi, Nehru and Patel. Can any Indian accept this mindless violence? The Congress appeals to the people of Delhi to maintain communal harmony and thwart all attempts of forces dividing the country on the basis of religion," party's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told reporters.

Unabated violence and incidents of stone-pelting and murder in the national capital have shattered the nation, he said, while referring to the riots in northeast Delhi over the citizenship amendment act that continued for the third day, and demanded stern action against the culprits.

"Our appeal to the prime minister, the home minister and the Delhi chief minister is that can you rise to the occasion, leave aside your political partisanship and views, and become really not leaders of your parties but leaders of the society so that harmony, peace and non-violence prevail," he said.

He said that in the present scenario, the people of this country expect them to come forward while rising above party to ensure that brotherhood in the society remains intact.

"While following the path shown by Gandhi ji, they should lead peace march; they should talk to leaders of all communities to establish peace on the ground, so that this mindless violence is stopped. In this regard the responsibility of establishing peace lies with newly elected Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said.

The Congress will stand with the Centre and the Delhi government in every way to maintain brotherhood and harmony in the society, he said.

"Do not fail this country because you belong to different political parties," Surjewala said, adding this was a sincere appeal "on behalf of people of Delhi and the country" to Modi, Shah and Kejriwal.

"There is no place for violence in Gandhi ji's India... Today there is a need to establish peace on the ground and maintain brotherhood," he said.

The Congress leader said when a foreign dignitary is on a visit to the country, the Union government, the state government and the police are expected to be on full alert but it is surprising that instead of showing additional vigilance, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the newly elected Delhi government is conveniently oblivious of the violence, arson, stone pelting and murders in the city.

"It seems that law and order in Delhi has been handed over to the miscreants. Such violence has no place in India of Gandhi Ji. We cannot allow the capital Delhi and this country to be at the ransom of communal and divisive forces," he said.

"The people of Delhi are very intelligent, but, certain communal forces with political interests are trying to divide the society and polarize the people on religious lines.

"We had warned the people on this count in the past as well and you might remember that a conspiracy was being hatched to brand Delhi as 'Dangonwali Delhi'. Our words in this regard have come true today," he said.

Surjewala said the party also prays for the speedy recovery of DCP Amit Sharma and the hundreds of other people who have been injured in the violence.

"We also condemn the firing at three journalists Arvind Gunasekar, Saurabh Shukla and Akash and pray for their good health," he said.

"We strongly condemn these brutal riots and demand that the culprits be identified and stern action taken against them and the miscreants. The Congress mourns the death of Head Constable Ratan Lal and others in the violence," Surjewala said.

He said the Congress appeals to the people of Delhi and the country to defeat the designs of communal forces while maintaining communal harmony.

"We condemn these violent riots and demand that the real culprits, miscreants and those spreading violence are identified and strong action is taken against them," the Congress leaders said.

He also condemned the firing at three Journalists who had gone to cover this agitation and wished them early recovery.

Congress leader Anand Sharma on Twitter said, "Distressing third day of #DelhiRiots, resulting in loss of life and injuries to many civilians and policemen. Nation's capital can not be allowed to descend into chaos and anarchy. Both HM and CM have a responsibility of ensuring that the situation does not deteriorate further."



He urged all political leaders to exercise restraint in speech and not inflame passions, and bring an end to the violence.

Sharma also appealed to all community leaders and social organizations to step out and provide a healing touch to restore harmony and peace.

Party leader Ahmed Patel said there had been a complete breakdown of law and order in the national capital.

"Govt of India sits mute as the capital of India burns. There is complete break down of law and order. Ineptitude and incompetence of this government has led to houses burnt and lives lost. We urge government to use its might to bring peace to Delhi and bring justice on all elements responsible," he tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chinas leaders have launched an immediate ban on selling and eating wild animals, in a fast-track decision to fight the spread of the coronavirus.

Within hours of the crackdown being announced by the National Peoples Congress  China's top level of parliament  authorities started closing down markets across the country selling species ranging from badgers, deer and peacocks to turtles, pangolin and civet cats.

The ban marks a major shift in the countrys attitude to selling and eating animals caught from the wild. Most towns and cities in the country have one or more wild animal markets.

Experts say citizens are so worried about the rapid spread of coronavirus that they will help police the ban, by posting on social media photos and information on any traders breaching it.

However, trade in pigeons, rabbits and quail, bred for consumption rather than taken from the wild, is still allowed.

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

Scientists suspect the coronavirus was spread from wild animals to humans in December in a market in Wuhan after the earliest infections were found in people who had exposure to a wildlife market.

The order says the illegal consumption of or trade in wildlife will be severely punished, as will hunting or transporting wild animals for eating.

Authorities had last month tried to introduce a temporary clampdown on markets where species from bats to snakes and mink are kept in cramped cages to be slaughtered on demand. More than 28,000 animals were confiscated but it did not end market wildlife sales.

Traders legally selling donkey, dog, deer, crocodile and other meat pledged to resume business as soon as the markets reopened.

The legal animal trade has long acted as a cover for a black market in protected species such as pangolin.

However the new restriction is expected to have more effect.

Peter Knights, chief executive of the US-based WildAid charity, welcomed the new ban, saying it should stop the spread of disease that poses a risk to humans, but that health, hygiene and welfare risks remained from slaughtering rabbits, pigeons, chickens and pigs in one place  as in many countries.

Such practices risk spreading avian flu and swine flu, he warned.

The Chinese government is hitting the key areas hard  ban live markets, stricter laws and penalties, better enforcement and public education. After Sars, the trade was reopened.

This time, it should be permanent, he said. The tremendous health and economic risks of wildlife consumption massively outweigh the small profits made by sellers and breeders. We hope China can set a strong precedent for the whole of Asia and hopefully influence the many African countries that are impacted by the illegal wildlife trade to follow suit.

The good thing about social media is anyone can photograph and upload details of any animal trading. So the ban can be policed by the public. We think the public is very much on this, because they are aware now of the huge risk of these markets and will be very helpful.

Online debate within China has also appeared to favour a permanent ban. A survey by Beijing University last month found 97 per cent of respondents were strongly against wildlife consumption.

There has been a growing concern among people over the consumption of wild animals and the hidden dangers it brings to public health security since the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak, said Zhang Tiewei, a spokesman for China's legislative affairs commission.

The coronavirus has infected more than 80,000 people in China, killing more than 2,600.

Outside mainland China, the outbreak has spread to about 29 countries and territories, with a death toll of about three dozen.
A peak-hour storm front caused chaos across Perth on Tuesday afternoon with power lines brought down, houses flooded and people trapped in their cars in two separate incidents after a trees fell in Wembley and Belmont.

At 4pm the Department of Fire and Emergency Services issued a warning to residents in the Perth metro area to take action ahead of the severe front bearing down on the city from the north.

The front directly hit the Perth metro area travelling the length of the city heading south.

Strong winds uprooted trees and blew roofs off buildings, including Ocean Reef Shopping Centre where a gust of 93 kilometres an hour was recorded.
BLACKMAN TOWNSHIP, MI  Six fire departments were needed to extinguish a fire at a car lot in Blackman Township last week.

Wise Choice Auto Sales, 3004 Lansing Ave., caught fire Friday, Feb. 21, Blackman-Leoni Public Safety Director Mike Jester said. Crews responded at 6 p.m. and found the much of the building aflame.

The fire was started by an employee who was burning something too close to the building, Jester said. It wasnt clear what the employee was burning. And it was unclear if the employee was cited for the fire, as all record systems in Jackson County are down while a software upgrade is installed, he said.

Live power lines were on the ground, which make fighting the fire more difficult, Jester said. He said several vehicles caught fire, which also intensified the situation.

Tanker trucks supplied water to the scene because there were no municipal water lines, Jester said. The Rives-Tompkins Fire Department, Henrietta Township Fire Department and Parma-Sandstone Fire Department supplied tanker trucks. Jackson Fire Department and Summit Township Fire Department also assisted at the scene.

One officer had minor back injuries, but he is back to work, Jester said.

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President Zelensky says coal, electricity imports need to be limited

16:55, 25.02.20 3150

He proposes only those types of coal that are not produced in Ukraine could be bought abroad.
Newly released Air Force emails have revealed the confusion and concern sparked by mass sightings of mysterious drones near nuclear missile silos.

The drone sightings in December and January were over northeast Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas, the same area where the 90th Missile Wing operates 150 Minuteman III missile silos.

Heavily redacted emails published by The Drive reveal that 90th Security Group Staff and the public affairs office at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, the wing's headquarters, took the drone sightings seriously, and scrambled to figure out the source of the.

The case of the mystery drones remains unsolved, but sightings seem to have tapered off after a flurry of sightings prompted the creation of a task force and a statement from the governor of Colorado.

Now, the released Air Force emails reveal a glimpse of the internal response at Warren AFB, including one theory circulating that the drones were dropping 'space potatoes' on agricultural fields, and another that the sightings were actually Starlink satellites launched by Elon Musk's Space X.

The drone sightings in December and January were over northeast Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas, the same area where the 90th Missile Wing operates ICBM silos

Areas of done sightings are seen on the map above, in the area where the 90th Missile Wing operates some 150 Minuteman III underground silos

Airmen from the 90th Maintenance Group are seen maintaining and repairing ICBMs on alert status in December within the F.E. Warren missile complex. The Minuteman III replaced the Peacekeeper at F.E. Warren in the 1970s

The emails were obtained though a Freedom of Information Act request by Douglas D. Johnson, a volunteer researcher operating in affiliation with the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies (SCU).

One email from the 90th Security Forces Group dated January 8, 2020 states that the drones are '100000000000% not us.'

'I've seen some articles pointing the finger as us [sic],' the sender writes, 'but I can definitely say this is not our team.'

The emails reveal that the security team was concerned about the sightings, and was sharing information from local sheriffs' departments and the FBI as they worked to investigate the drone sightings.

'Sheriff's deputies are responding and seeing the drones as well. They reported seeing a 'mothership' 6' in diameter flanked by 10 smaller drones (some fixed wing, some not). When deputies follow the drones, they clock them at speeds of 60-70 mph,' one email exchange from the 90th Security Forces Group reads.

Local deputies found what they believed to be 'space potatoes' (seen above with a shoe for scale) dropped by drones. The objects turned out to be soil products used by farmers

The mysterious drone sightings were reported in parts of Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska

The email dated December 31 goes on to share one of the more bizarre theories about the drones, apparently concocted by deputies with the Perkins County Sheriff's Office.

'The drones also appear to be dropping or picking up things that look like 'potatoes' [Redacted]' the email says.

'The FBI in Colorado and the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) in Omaha are currently looking into the sightings. Perkins County Sherriff's [sic] Office has three of the potatoes frozen in storage and will likely transfer them to the FBI for analysis. The FAA is sending an agent to Colorado this upcoming weekend to help investigate and handle the news coverage,' the email reads.

Local deputies apparently became convinced the drones were dropping 'space potatoes' after discovering odd brown cylinders wrapped in green mesh in the area of drone sightings.

However, the objects in question turned out to be SOILPAM Tracklogs, which farmers use to minimize wheel ruts in circular irrigation systems, according to the Denver Post.

Airmen from the 90th Maintenance Group are seen maintaining ICBMs on alert status. The 90th Missile Wing maintains some 150 ICBM silos in the area of the drone sightings

Another email from the 90th Security Forces Group, dated January 16, mentions that some apparent on-base sightings could be due to what sound like Starlink satellites.

The briefing email says that any visual sightings of unusual activity over Air Force installations were almost certainly not dones, as the the base employs a highly accurate system to detect radio frequencies used to control drones, and detected none.

'After reviewing the photography and doing some quick research, the pictures are consistent with [Redacted] satellites. The last launch was 6 Jan 2020 which contained 60 satellites,' the email said.

SpaceX launched a rocket containing 60 of its mini-satellites on January 6.

The email continues: 'These satellites are visible by the naked eye as they trust [sic] to their parking orbit altitude of 550km which usually takes a few weeks; they look like a string of lights in the night sky.'

The emails released from Warren's public affairs office show an initial flurry of activity in response to media requests, as spokespeople tried to determine whether the drone sightings were related to some kind of military exercise.

SpaceX launched a rocket containing 60 of its mini-satellites on January 6 (above), and an Air Force official apparently believed the satellites were mistaken for drones

One resident in Washington County, Colorado, said he captured a photo of the unexplained drones flying across the northern part of the state in December (pictured)

Draft text that was cut out of the Air Force's official statement on the drone mystery was revealed in an email dated January 9:

'The Air Force does have the ability to counter unmanned aerial systems to include non-kinetic options ranging in size from handheld technology to larger stationary and mobile systems that can be operated on the ground or in the air. Kinetic options to defeat UASs [unmanned aerial systems] have also been fielded and deployed to Air Force Global Strike installations.'

'F.E. Warren AFB does conduct UAS and counter-UAS operations, however, the drones spotted in Nebraska and Colorado are not part of our fleet.'

'For operational security reasons, additional details about UAS operations or measures to counter hostile use of commercial off-the-shelf UASs are not releasable.'

Another email in the same chain explains why certain parts were cut from the final press release:

'[Redacted] wanted to scrub the third and fifth paragraphs. The third paragraph isnt really relevant because no one is questioning our ability to counter UAS or what SOPs [standard operating procedures] we have in place to protect our assets from UAS,' the email said.

'The main question is who those drones belong to. As far as the fifth paragraph, unless the reporters are asking about the measures in place to counter hostile use of UASs, we dont see the value in adding that,' the author continued.

The mystery drones were first reported in mid-December, when many residents reported seeing what looked like large commercial drones flying a 'grid pattern' in what looked like a search operation.

After a string reports, sightings and failed attempts to record the drones, the Colorado Department of Public Safety flew an aircraft capable of detecting heat signatures over the area in question.

A nearly five hour flight found nothing amiss.

A joint task drone force of as many as 15 separate agencies was put together to investigate the sightings, but no answers have been uncovered.
President Kais Saied said Monday that he presented to visiting ruler of Qatar Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani several projects that Qatar can contribute to finance.

These projects include Kairoun hospital complex, according to press reports.

Emir Tamin began Monday a two-day visit to the North African country, the first visit since March 2019, when Tunisia hosted the Arab League summit.

The two leaders also discussed regional issues including the crisis in neighboring Libya and have both agreed to push for peaceful solutions.

Qatar is backing the UN-sponsored Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli which has been defending its seat from UAE-backed retired Gen. Khalifa Haftar.

The Qatari ruler is the second world leader to visit President Saied since he ascended to power in October. Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan made late December an unannounced visit, which aimed at getting Tunisias backing for Ankara military intervention in Libya on the side of the GNA.
Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

Oil deepened a three-day rout as panic over a coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. gripped investors and sent shockwaves through commodity, equity and debt markets.

Futures fell 3% in New York to the lowest level in more than two weeks. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Americans to brace for an outbreak at home. A spike in infections in other parts of Asia as well as the Middle East and Europe has raised fears of a global pandemic impacting the stability of the global economy.
A former Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Joseph Yamin, has said he felt insulted as a Ghanaian and believes all other persons who have objected to the compilation of the new voters' register will feel the same way at the words of President Akufo-Addo on the ECs avowed decision.



Joseph Yamin, in an interview on UTVs Adekye Nsroma newspaper show, insisted President Akufo-Addo could have used a different word to express himself on the subject matter than to say that the ECs compilation of new voters register "makes a lot of sense"; meaning any other person against the decision is senseless.



 . . I know President Akufo-Addos motive of backing ECs decision is to find something through the back doors of the state coffers through corruption means for his party followers or he [President Akufo-Addo] feels that due to his poor performance the only means to guarantee his chances of remaining in power is to manipulate the electoral system.



Otherwise, he would want to take up and hold on to his listening President title given him by his party members for making changes to some critical national issues he added.



Listen to him in the video below





Earlier this week, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo backed calls by a section of Ghanaians to allow the countrys Electoral Commission compile a new register.The decision, according to the President, makes a lot of sense.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, CNR quoted the President as saying.

Source: Elizabeth Semiheva Bedi/ peacefmonline.com / [email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Some of Australia's most famous brands are being launched in India today on Amazon.

Vegemite, Weet-Bix, Swisse, Capilano, San Remo and Kookaburra are among those targeting the growing Indian market.

Trade Minister Simon Birmingham is meeting business leaders in Mumbai to launch an Australia store on Amazon India.

Some high profile names are getting behind the move, including actor Chris Hemsworth, who has endorsed Swisse's entry into the Indian market.

Some of Australia's most famous brands are being launched in India today on Amazon. Chris Hemsworth (pictured) has endorsed Swisse's entry in India

Bollywood star Kriti Kharbanda (pictured) is also endorsing the launch of Swisse's entry into India

'We want to make sure Australian businesses are front and centre as India's economy grows over the next 20 years,' Minister Birmingham said.

'India's economy is rapidly transforming, predicted to be the third largest in the world by 2035, and this presents huge opportunities for Australian businesses across a range of export sectors.

India's aspirational middle class is already 12 times the size of Australia's population and growing rapidly.

'Australia's premium produce, our high-quality education and tourism services and our innovative infrastructure, energy and agribusiness solutions are well-placed to meet India's needs into the future,' Minister Birmingham said.

Australia aims to make India one of its top three exporting markets by 2035.

India's aspirational middle class is already 12 times the size of Australia's population and growing rapidly. Pictured: Vegemite

'Getting the message out there that Australia is open for business and that our tourism businesses want Indian tourists to visit will also be a major focus,' said Mr Birmingham.

The minister will also hold bilateral meetings with key ministerial counterparts during the trip, including with India's Commerce Minister for the 16th Joint Ministerial Commission Meeting.

Australian businesses from priority sectors of education, tourism, energy and resources, and food and agribusiness will travel to New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru as part of the delegation between 24 and 27 February.

The visit is part of Austrade's Australia-India Business Exchange, a multi-month program of events to deepen trade, investment and tourism engagement between the two countries.

India is Australia's eighth-largest trading partner and fifth-largest export market, with two-way goods and services trade valued at $30.3billion in 2018-19.
Of all the pointlessly annoying choices Ontario Premier Doug Ford could have made, demanding that MPPs sing God Save the Queen in the legislature on the first Monday of every month is a contender in a contest that no one ever wins.

Its a gesture, a strategy long favoured by toxically masculine men fighting in bars, claiming theyve been disrespected by a glance or an airy word, and hopping back and forth at each other without landing a blow. Why do it? Go home. Youre better than this, Jason.

These hypersensitive dudes are throwbacks, the defining word for Ford and his team.

Sol Mamakwa, the very fine New Democrat who represents the northern riding of Kiiwetinoong with its majority Indigenous population, objected to the new legal requirement slipped in by the Conservative majority. I see the revival of God Save the Queen in this house as a step backwards, he said, a shift from modern reconciliation to a past that celebrated the colonialism, that sought the destruction of cultures, languages and communities.

Ford and his band of fellows were hoping hed say that. Oooh, look, hes insulting our Queen. What Ford may not have calculated is that many people in Ontario feel very much as Mamakwa does, that the British royal family is an anachronism, a reminder of an era long past its Best Before date.

When the Queen dies, the song will become God Save the King, referring to absurd Prince Charles, and it wont go over well. Imagine singing Send him victorious, happy and glorious, long to reign over us about Chuck without laughing.

For me, singing God Save the Queen is a celebration of a hurtful and violent colonial past. I cannot be part of it, said Mamakwa. Same here, sir. Dont sing that song. I wont sing it either. Nobody has to sing.

Fords gesture had tanked.

Mamakwa, a member of the Kingfisher Lake band, lives in Sioux Lookout, where I spent half my childhood. We both know the foul traditions of British colonialism.

In Grade 2, in a public school classroom shared with brutalized residential school kids, we had a biology exercise. Someone brought in a garter snake  you cant say Sioux Lookout without garter snake  and every child had to run their finger down the thing, the idea being that it would kill any fear of these eerie live ropes. I didnt like snakes at all.

So I ran my finger down, a careful millimetre away from the scaly striped ribbon of skin.

Did you touch the snake? my teacher Mr. Carpenter asked suspiciously.

Yup, I said flatly. He left it at that. Nobody has to touch the snake. Nobody has to sing a song. (I remember Howie, a little Indigenous boy strapped for refusing to sing. He put his head on his desk and wept.)

Heres an idea. You could sing the words to O Canada and then sing them again to the tune of God Save the Queen, no ones going to notice. Or sing peas and carrots, carrots and peas, a quiet gesture meeting a pointless one.

Men make gestures. The rail blockade preventing GO Train travel in and out of Hamilton is a gesture, not an achievement. It may alienate people trying to get from home to work and back, people who may well have backed Indigenous rights.

I cant comment on disagreements between groups of Indigenous people. But women, including many women in Wetsuwetwen, are practical and may take a different view of protests. A series of 24-hour blockades might have accomplished more.

As for woke Canadians who joined protests because they dislike pipelines, they may be using Indigenous protests for their own purposes. Theyre making an empty gesture.

Its the difference between tweeting and writing coherently. Tweeting achieves nothing. It is virtue signalling, by which I mean moral grandstanding. Look at me, look at how woke I am.

If this sounds cynical, it is. Prime Minister Trudeau wants to talk. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney wants the army. Any more blockade gestures and youll get the federal equivalent of Doug Ford as prime minister. Nobody wants that.

Mishandling blockades would be a self-destructive gesture. Nobody has to sing that song.

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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The Balearic government has called a crisis meeting for 2pm today to analyze the current coronavirus situation and to prepare for a potential worsening of the crisis.

The Balearic Minister for Health, Patricia Gomez, said that the 061 medical service has reported a marked increase in calls from Balearic residents wanting information about the virus or have either recently returned from a visit to Italy.

Those who have recently visited Italy appear to be the most concerned, Gomez said this morning.

The minister stressed that there is no need for alarm and that all the necessary precautions are being taken by the medical services which are closely monitoring all developments.

More to follow.
A Brisbane man accused of murdering a missing teenage call girl after she demanded $500 for sex would not have had time to dump her body, a court has been told.

Police believe Tiffany Taylor, 16, was murdered after July 12, 2015. They are yet to find her body. Credit:Facebook

Tiffany Anna Taylor, 16, disappeared on July 12, 2015, after allegedly meeting Rodney Wayne Williams, 65, for a paid sexual liaison via the Oasis website.

Her body has never been found.

Williams pleaded not guilty in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday to murdering Tiffany at Waterford West, south of Brisbane, after picking her up in his car.
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.
Want to know if an off-road vehicle is any good? Just ask a young guy with a lifted truck.

Theres no way in hell a kid from rural U.S.A. who has put his entire life savings into a jacked-up Ford F-250 with 40-inch tires is going to say your vehicle is better than his, unless it is positively, absolutely, unequivocally the king of off-roading. So when Minnesotan Cullen Copiskey casually mocked his pickup in front of me, I knew I was in for a treat.



I always think, my truck would be so stuck or flipped right now. Theres no way my mud truck could do this, and it just does it like nothing, he said.

The it in question, the king of off-roading, is called Sherp. Or should we say the tsar of off-roading?

You see, Sherp is a mysterious, amphibious, all-terrain vehicle that was born in a garage in Russia and eventually made its way into not one, but two Kanye West music videos late last year (Follow God and Closed on Sunday). We at InsideHook covered it as early as 2017, and chances are youve seen it crashing through an ice-covered lake and staying afloat in one of the dozens of viral YouTube or Instagram videos that have propelled it to internet fame. And despite Sherp garnering blurbs in glossy magazines and starring turns on multiple web series, no one seems to answer the most important questions  chiefly, where and how do you get one of these in the U.S.?

For the answer, we drove all the way to Sherp USA, the first, largest and most prestigious dealer in the country, located in Bemidji, Minnesota. There, we spent the day with owner Joshua Copiskey and his son Cullen, who has taken up what seems to be the best family business imaginable. Not only did the father-son duo have a dozen of the off-road behemoths on site, that site itself is a 500-acre proving ground in the middle of farm country featuring every obstacle imaginable.

Inside the barn at Sherp USA where all the ORVs were stored. (Alex Lauer) Weve got boulders, bottomless swamp, a private lake, floating bog. Weve crushed cars. Weve run over trees. Search and rescue will come here to do their training because they know they can do everything here that they could experience in the field, said Joshua. If you try to Google Maps Sherp USA to get a firsthand look at their setup, you wont find the real location  theyre intentionally unlisted because anonymity is part of the reason potential buyers come to them (that, and the fact that theres an airport 15 minutes away that accepts private jets). After all, Kanye got his 10 Sherps from the Copiskeys, no matter what The New York Times says.

The problem was when we first started, no one knew what a Sherp was, said Cullen. Now you can actually get them in the U.S. and people like Kanye are getting Sherps, and people are realizing what they are and that you can actually buy them.

We were out at his [Wyoming] ranch, added Joshua. We spent time out there training him how to drive.

They didnt say how, exactly, Kanye discovered Sherp, but despite their dealership being in the U.S. for three years, the elder Copiskey said 15 minutes on YouTube is the main way clients discover the vehicles. In fact, thats how he came to open Sherp USA.

Off-road has always been a part of our lives, said Copiskey, adding that he owns two military Humvees and his son has a YouTube channel, UpNorthOutdoors, mostly devoted to the topic. When he was younger, Id scroll through the comments [on his channel], make sure hes not getting some stalker or something, and I saw this crazy big-wheeled thing on the sidebar. I was like, what the heck is that?

That led him to search the internet for more information about Sherp, but he couldnt find anything in English. Eventually, he found the original website. It was all Russian. I couldnt understand it. I just typed in, English? he explained. About an hour later  I forgot all about it  the chat box popped up in my screen and said, Good evening. I was like, Whoa, Im talking to a Russian.

To be clear, the vehicles sold in the U.S. are officially from Ukraine, but the history begins in Russia with DIY engineer Alexei Garagashyan, who built the first version of the amphibious ORV to win an off-road competition. According to Copiskey, it caught the eye of a Russian oligarch and a Ukrainian billionaire who bought into it and are now bringing Sherp to the rest of the world. Since the official mass-market introduction of Sherp in 2015, theyve driven in some of the most hostile conditions on earth, including a 6,200-mile trip across Russia without using roads. Now theyre finally finding a market among professionals: Sherp USA has sold units to sheriffs departments and search-and-rescue organizations across the country.

Ive got two military Humvees and those were the most capable off-road vehicle on the planet. Sherp makes them look like front-wheel drive cars. Joshua Copiskey, Sherp USA dealer

When we took a Sherp Pro model for a spin around the Copiskeys snow-covered grounds, it was easy to see the ORVs appeal to its various clientele, from aid groups looking to save lives to wealthy doomsday preppers. (When I asked if they get any of those latter types, Copsikey said, Some.)

Sitting in the two-person cockpit with jump seats in the back was akin to amusement-park simulators or movie theaters with moving seats  its inevitable youll get jostled around when climbing impossible inclines, rolling over boulders and mowing down small trees, but its a comfortable jostling where you never doubt for a second that youll make it through unscathed.

Like any off-road vehicle, there are many features to tout, from the sealed body (allowing for the aforementioned water access) to the super-low fuel consumption to the ability to sleep four people and carry 2,000 lbs. while weighing under 3,000 lbs. itself. But what makes it a Sherp, and why one search-and-rescue team said to Copiskey that the Sherp would replace 90 percent of its vehicles, comes down to one thing: the tires.

Joshua Copiskey next to the Sherp Pro model we drove around the 500-acre site. (Alex Lauer)

They look borrowed from a tractor or Tonka Truck, but in reality theyre proprietary, tubeless, ultra-low-pressure tires that use the exhaust to rapidly inflate and deflate so the driver can calibrate them to the specific terrain in seconds, and also use the protruding ridges as paddles to move in the water. (Apart from the dramatic ability to break-through ice on frozen lakes and rivers, the Sherp can also be registered as a boat in the summer). When driving through the snow, ice and dirt, Copiskey steered via two levers with his left hand and changed tire pressure with the other  if you know how to drive a stick shift, its simple, and if you dont, its an easy learning curve.

While Sherp is confident there is nothing like it on the market  in the U.S. or anywhere else  the company is still improving. A new 2020 model was revealed this month, and while specs will be unveiled soon, Copiskey let a few details slip, notably that itll have even bigger tires, more horsepower, 30 percent more cabin volume and the ability to carry 10 people. It continues the companys trend toward a bigger-is-better mindset, which started with last years release of the Ark, which is basically a Sherp trailer. Copiskey didnt have any of them in stock, but he has sold a couple.

If youd like to buy one yourself, Copiskey explained that its much easier than clients imagine.



If you came in here right now and said, I want to buy one, I can put one on a trailer and you could leave  if you had a pickup  with it on the spot, he said. Weve had clients bring in literally sacks of cash and just drop it down.

A view from the cockpit of a Sherp Pro. Trees, boulders and cars are no match for the tires. (Alex Lauer)

Thats not the majority, mind you, since these start around $105,000 for the Sherp Pickup and $110,000 for the Sherp Pro. That includes delivery to your doorstep (you dont actually have to BYO pickup) and a full day of drivers training, as well as warranty repairs. If you have a mechanic you want to train on the vehicles  say if you bought a fleet for your business  theyll coordinate that. Plus, the service is better than youre likely to find at your local ATV dealer.

Every client also receives three cell-phone numbers, said Copiskey. Service, inside sales and manager. These cell phones will always be answered 24-7 to help our clients. I alone have been called at 3 a.m. by search-and-rescue organizations with operation questions. We realize that our clients dont just drive their units Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST.

When I asked Copiskey about their clients, specifically the profile of a typical Sherp buyer, he put it succinctly: Its predominantly right-wing, conservative, gun-owning men. Thats part of the reason why the hats he and his son were wearing were stitched with the phrase For Courageous Men.

When his dad mentioned that, Cullen spoke up, saying that they have hats that read For Courageous Women, too. But no women have bought a Sherp from them yet.

The post What It's Like to Drive a Sherp, The Giant ATV That Walks on Water appeared first on InsideHook.
Man sought after robbery this morning at Kuttawa business
2020 Democratic presidential candidates (clockwise from top left): Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders; Former Vice President Joe Biden; former South Bend, Ind. mayor Pete Buttigieg; former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg; philanthropist Tom Steyer; Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar; and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Read more

The tenth Democratic presidential debate of the 2020 election cycle takes place Tuesday night in South Carolina with Bernie Sanders taking the stage as the clear frontrunner in the race.

Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, has pulled far ahead of former Vice President Joe Biden after the partys first three contests, both in polling numbers and pledged delegates. Also ahead of Biden in terms of delegates is former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg, with Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota trailing behind.

Biden would need to win South Carolina for a comeback to be a real possibility, wrote election prognosticator and FiveThirtyEight founder Nate Silver, damning Biden with faint praise by pointing to the former vice presidents loss in Nevada over the weekend as his best result so far. Biden has run for president three times in the past 32 years (1988, 2008, and this year), and still has yet to win a single primary or caucus.

Former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg, who isnt even on the ballot in South Carolina, will once again be on stage. The billionaire, who is self-funding his campaign, will hope for a better performance tonight after having faced criticism for his flatfooted response to having employees sign non-disclosure agreements about questionable comments he allegedly made. Following the debate, Bloomberg said he would release women from three non-disclosure agreements and allow them to speak publicly for the first time.

 READ MORE: Mike Bloombergs rough first debate outing came just as Pa. Democrats were giving him a close look

Tonights debate stage will swell back to seven candidates, thanks to the return of hedge fund manager turned philanthropist Tom Steyer. Despite having won zero pledge delegates, Steyer qualified thanks to his national poll numbers.

Heres everything you need to know to watch or stream Tuesdays Democratic presidential debate:

What time does the debate start?

Tuesdays Democratic debate, the tenth of the 2020 election cycle, is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Eastern and end at 10:15 p.m. at the Gaillard Center in Charleston. Its co-hosted by CBS News, BET, Twitter, and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, and will air live on CBS3 and BET in Philadelphia .

The debate will stream live for free on the CBS News website, the CBS News app and on Twitter @CBSNews.

Which candidates will appear?

Seven candidates qualified for the debate. They are (in alphabetical order):

Joe Biden , former vice president and U.S. senator from Delaware

Mike Bloomberg , former mayor of New York City and billionaire owner of Bloomberg L.P. media company

Pete Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend, Ind.

Amy Klobuchar , U.S. senator from Minnesota

Bernie Sanders , U.S. senator from Vermont

Tom Steyer , billionaire philanthropist

Elizabeth Warren, U.S. senator from Massachusetts

Is Tulsi Gabbard still running?

The only Democratic presidential candidate who wont be on the debate stage is Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.

Unfortunately for Gabbard, her absence isnt much of a surprise. The last debate she qualified for was the November face-off in Atlanta, the fourth debate of the cycle. Since then, she has failed to garner much support nationally and has yet to earn a single pledged delegate after three contests.

Despite that, Gabbard has shown no sign shes ready to suspend her campaign. She spent the weekend campaigning in Utah, and during an appearance on Fox Business last week, she blamed a corporate media blackout for her lackluster national support.

There have been some challenges but were still here, were still fighting and still bringing the message of the change that I seek to bring to voters here in South Carolina right now, Gabbard said.

 READ MORE: What happens if you vote absentee in Pa. and then your candidate drops out?

Who is moderating the debate?

Tonights debate will feature five moderators:

Norah ODonnell, CBS Evening News anchor

Gayle King , CBS This Morning co-host

Margaret Brennan , Face the Nation moderator

Major Garrett , CBS chief Washington correspondent

Bill Whitaker, 60 Minutes correspondent

How many delegates do the Democratic candidates have?

Candidates need 1,991 delegates to secure the Democratic presidential nomination. After three contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada, heres where things stand:

Bernie Sanders: 43 delegates Pete Buttigieg: 26 delegates Joe Biden: 13 delegates Elizabeth Warren: 8 delegates Amy Klobuchar: 7 delegates

How many more Democratic debates will there be?

The DNC has approved as many as 12 debates, though there may be fewer, depending on how the primary process plays out. Tuesdays debate will be the fourth of 2020, with a fifth scheduled for Sunday, March 15, in Arizona on CNN and Univision. The 12th and final debate of the election cycle will be held in April, but the date and location have not yet been announced.

The party hasnt released its criteria for qualifying for the next debate, but its likely to be similar to previous ones, where candidates had to either reach one of two polling requirements or earn at least one pledged delegate in previous primary contests.

 READ MORE: Democratic women in a Pennsylvania swing county are united  in anxiety and fatigue

 READ MORE: In politically divided Pennsylvania, little-noticed new voters could exert a big impact

Upcoming Democratic primaries and caucuses
India raised the issue of H-1B visa with the United States during President Donald Trump's ongoing visit, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Tuesday, adding that New Delhi highlighted the contribution of Indian professionals in the high-tech sectors in the US.

"From our side, the issue of H-1B visa was raised. It was pointed that Indian professionals contribute significantly to the development of high tech sector in the United States," Shringla said during a media briefing here.

Noting that there are about 200,000 Indian students currently studying in the United States, Shringla said that the two sides discussed that the "area of education is also covered in the people-to-people relationship."

"There was a realisation that there is a vibrant Indian community in the United States, who contribute significantly, both, to the economy and society. At the same time, it was important that the area of education is also covered in the people-to-people relationship," he said.

The US President is undertaking a two-day visit to India. Earlier in the day, he held, both restricted and delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A clerk at a Middlesex County, New Jersey, gas station unwittingly accepted a fake $100 bill that was intended to be used in movies, authorities said.

South Brunswick police on Monday tweeted a photo of the front and back of the phony bill, which has the words For Motion Picture Use Only, printed on both sides.

Detectives tracked down a 20-year-old Somerset County man who said he was surprised the clerk took the money, police said in the tweet.

Police could not immediately be reached Tuesday to say whether the man, from Montgomery, had been charged in the incident.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
BRIDGEPORT  A stickup man accused of stealing the cash payroll belonging to strip club owner Vincent Curcio Jr. and shooting his bartender among other robberies in the area has been sentenced to more than 21 years in prison.

Jachim Ameer Brown was charged with robbing bars and restaurants in Bridgeport and Stratford in September and November of 2017. He was captured following a shootout with police on Pequonnock Street here.

Brown, 29, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 260 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to four counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

The Hobbs Act is the federal law that allows federal prosecution for robbery and extortion.

U.S. Attorney John Durham said that federal prisoners are required to serve at least 85 percent of their sentenced term of imprisonment and are not eligible for parole.

Police said Brown has confessed to seven robberies including the one at the Bar Lounge in Stratford on Nov. 14, 2017.

Brown stated he did his homework, Stratford Police Detective John Therina said in an affidavit. Brown stated he is addicted to cocaine and PCP. He stated he was committing robberies to feed his addiction and to feed his children.

Reginald Woodard, the bartender at the Bar Lounge, was shot in the abdomen during the robbery there and eventually recovered following two operations at Bridgeport Hospital.

Police said Brown entered the Bar, pointed a handgun at the manager, Woodard and two patrons and then wordlessly went directly behind the bar and grabbed a bin that contained cash payments for the nearly 80 employees of bars owned by Curcio.

Brown then headed for the back door. Police said Woodard began to follow him and the robber turned and fired a single shot at him before continuing out the door.

Police said on Sept. 27, 2017, Brown, wearing a mask and pointing a gun, entered Nikitas Bar, on Iranistan Avenue in Bridgeport and pointed a gun at the only employee who was working at the time. Brown directed the employee behind the bar to retrieve a key to a safe. After the employee complied, police said Brown opened the safe and stole approximately $2,450.

During this robbery, the car of Browns half-brother, Eric Chambers, can be seen on surveillance video driving past the entrance to the bar. Chambers had previously worked security at the bar, police said.

In the early morning hours of Nov. 9, 2017, police said Brown, again brandishing a gun, robbed an employee of Avenue Restaurant who was transporting approximately $2,000 in cash to Bishops Corner Cafe on Boston Avenue in Bridgeport, another Curcio-owned establishment.

Surveillance video outside Bishops Corner again showed Chambers car in close vicinity to the robbery.

On Nov. 13, 2017, the same employee, who had delegated his money courier responsibilities to another security guard after the Nov. 9 robbery, was again confronted by Brown, police said. Police said when Brown realized that the employee did not have the cash, he shot the employee in the thigh.

On Nov. 16, 2017, at about 9:35 a.m., Bridgeport Police responded to a call of an armed robbery in progress at EbLens on Pequonnock Street in Bridgeport.

Police said after Brown left the store, a Bridgeport Police officer chased him on foot. As Brown attempted to get into Chambers car, he turned and fired at the police officer. The officer returned fire, tackled Brown and arrested him, police said.

At the time of his arrest, police said Brown had a 25-caliber handgun. Forensic analysis of the firearm revealed that it had also been used in the shootings of Woodward and the other shooting victim on Nov. 13 and 14.

On March 19, a jury found Chambers, 36, of Bridgeport, guilty of four counts of aiding and abetting in Hobbs Act robbery. He awaits sentencing.
Talks between the government and Catholic teachers broke off late Monday, with the union saying public comments by the government have sabotaged negotiations.

In a memo to members of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, President Liz Stuart noted that the union has had 40-plus days of talks and had returned to the table on Monday  following Fridays mass strike of all 200,000 teachers in the province with hopes progress could be made.

She said OECTA had already made significant progress with the school boards association, which is also involved in the talks, and wanted to have substantive discussions on issues that involve the government.

She said There are still major differences on a number of key matters but the union nonetheless called off this weeks rotating strikes as a show of good faith.

However, it was made clear to the government that the onus was on them to come to the table with a plan to reach an agreement that would be acceptable to Catholic teachers, she said

Unfortunately, while we continue to take a reasonable approach, the government continues to take every opportunity to insult teachers and throw negotiations off track.

She said Education Minister Stephen Lecce spent the weekend making baseless, inflammatory comments about Catholic teachers and our association, while at the PC convention in Niagara. Then, she added his negotiating team came to the table with the same proposals to take resources out of the classroom. At times, it seems they have no real intention of negotiating an agreement.

No new dates are scheduled and Stuart said the union is now waiting for the mediator to call the sides back, while also considering more strike action.

At the convention, a protester outside who stood among Catholic teachers was photographed carrying an offensive abortion sign, which Lecce tweeted that teachers needed to condemn. There was no evidence the man was an educator.

Lecce has also repeatedly said the government wants new teacher hires to be the top candidates, not the person with the most seniority on the supply list as is the current rule  a rule that came into effect in 2012 in the Catholic teachers contract as a way to combat nepotism.

Sources told the Star that class size remains a key issue. The government wants to boost class sizes starting in Grade 4, but especially in high school, proposing an average of 25 students, up from the current 22.
Dr Stephen Murray (pictured) penned a 900-word story about a step-father grooming two children and has been sentenced to a three-year good behaviour bond

A doctor and nurse who were caught texting about having sex with children while they were passengers on a plane have both walked free from court.

Dr Stephen Peter Menzies Murray, 58, and registered nurse Helen Constant, 43, were sentenced in Rockhampton District Court on Tuesday for the offending which took place when they were flying from Prince Edward Island while on holiday in Canada in October, 2018.

A passenger witnessed the texts between Queensland doctor Murray and his girlfriend Constant - where Murray was referred to as 'sir' and Constant as 'slave'.

In a separate 900-word story saved in Murray's notes on his iPhone, he wrote a story about a stepfather grooming two girls, titled 'I get aroused by very young girls', The Courier-Mail reported.

The story described the father getting the girls drunk and engaging in sexual activity with an 11-year-old at her birthday party.

Part of a text message seen by the witness on the plane read: 'her little legs were spread wide'.

The messages described sexual activity between a man and an 11 or 12-year-old girl as well as a child between five and eight years old.

The passenger reported the messages and Murray was arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and it was later revealed Constant had been involved.

Police searched the homes of Murray and Constant in Queensland.

Ten child exploitation material images were found in Murray's home of two teenage girls in little clothing, and an iPhone and iPad were found in Constant's home.

Murray pleaded guilty to one count of producing child exploitation material between October 2017 and May 2018.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing child exploitation material in November 2018, and producing it while he was overseas in December 2019.

Constant pleaded guilty to one count of producing child exploitation material between October, 2017 and May, 2018.

Murray's barrister Jeffrey Hunter said his client had bipolar disorder that he was diagnosed with in 2010.

Mr Hunter said Murray had grown up in an abusive home at the hands of his 'narcissistic mother' while his stepfather also participated.

Both Murray and Constant said they were unaware the messages were illegal.

A passenger saw text messages between Constant and Murray describing sexual activities with adults and children (file image)

Murray had been allowed to continue working at his practice before his sentencing but was not allowed to treat patients under 18.

Constant lost her job working at an aged care facility after the offending and was diagnosed with depression, anxiety and high functioning autism.

Her barrister Jordan Ahlstrand said the messages were not intended to be read.

Murray was sentenced to a three-year good behaviour bond and 18 months probation. He was also ordered to pay $1000.

Constant was sentenced to 12 months probation and no convictions were recorded for either.
The Bihar Assembly, on February 25, passed a resolution against implementation of the proposed pan-India National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The Assembly also reportedly passed a resolution to implement the National Population Register (NPR) in its 2010 form with an amendment, news agency ANI has reported.

Earlier in the day, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar  whose Janata Dal (United) is in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)  had reiterated his opposition to "additional clauses" inserted in the NPR forms and said that the state government has written to the Centre urging that these be dropped.

Replying to a debate on an adjournment motion moved by Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, among others, Kumar told the Assembly that there should be "no confusion" regarding how the NPR exercise would be carried out in the state and that nobody would be asked to furnish information like places of birth of parents.

Reading out the text of the letter to the Centre, Kumar said it has also been proposed by the Bihar government that "transgenders" be included in the gender column.

An opponent of the NRC, Kumar, however, disapproved of "hauva (bogey)" of the NRC being raised by the opposition despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's categorical statement that a countrywide implementation was not on the anvil.

Both PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have said that there has been no discussion on a nation-wide NRC.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS. Armenian minister of economy Tigran Khachatryan met with the representatives of the World Bank Groups International Finance Corporation (IFC), the ministry told Armenpress.

The IFC experts expressed the readiness of the structure to support the preparation of the upcoming EU-Armenia investment forum which will take place this year in September.

The minister said its very important to be properly prepared to the forum, developing a concrete targeted content for the concrete audience.

The meeting participants also discussed issues relating to the development of the institutional system of the Investment Support Center. The IFC experts again proposed to assist with the introduction of an international experience. The sides highlighted making joint efforts to make this Center more effective and enjoy a high trust and demand within investors.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
US President Donald Trump addressed the media in New Delhi during his two-day India visit, but remained non-committal and incoherent on several issues concerning India, while he also used the opportunity to veer into domestic politics where he faces election in a few months

US President Donald Trump remained non-committal and incoherent on several issues concerning India at a presser in New Delhi while using the opportunity to veer into domestic politics where he faces an election in a few months.

Speaking to reporters at the final press briefing of his two-day India visit, Trump deftly skirted several questions on the US stand on Pakistan's role in supporting terrorism while also evading pointed questions on his stand on the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act and the allegations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies were anti-Muslim. He, however, reiterated his offer to mediate between India and Pakistan on Kashmir. Trump Ahead of the state dinner at Rashtrapati Bhavan,

Trump also aired his displeasure over trade deficit with India and the fact that the country "unfairly" taxed US companies trying to do business. However, he did not give out any details for the ongoing trade negotiations, or a time frame within which a comprehensive trade deal could be finalised.

Trump, who held comprehensive talks with Modi on the second and the last day of his visit, said these were great and fantastic two days.

"I'm gonna be not at all controversial because... I don't want to blow the two days plus two days of travel on one answer, one little answer, like John will ask me one simple question and you will blow it out and that will be the end of the trip. You won't even talk about the trip. So I will be very conservative in my answers if you don't mind," Trump said at a press conference.

On CAA, NRC and Muslims

Speaking to the press, Trump said Tuesday that he did not raise deadly clashes over the controversial CAA with Modi during his state visit. Trump said he discussed religious freedom with Modi, and that the prime minister was "incredible" in explaining his stance.

He said there are 200 million (20 crore) Muslims in India and Modi told him that the government is working very closely with the community to resolve the differences. On the Citizenship Amendment Act, he said, "It is for India to do, and hopefully they will do the right thing."

When quizzed about the ongoing violence in Delhi due to the CAA, he said that it was India's internal matter. "It is really up to India."

Modi has been accused of taking steps to move India away from secularism and toward a Hindu state, be it the abrogation of the autonomous status and statehood of Jammu and Kashmir or the passage of the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), which many claim will be used to withhold citizenship from Muslims.

Trump, however, did not seem concerned with these issues and said that Modi was a firm believer in granting citizens "religious freedom".

"We discussed about Muslims and Christians and we talked about religious liberty. Modi told me that they are working very closely with the Muslim community," Trump said when asked about his views on Modi's policies that critics allege are discriminatory to Muslims. He also praised India for working "very hard" on religious freedom.

On Kashmir and Pakistan

As opposed to his previous comments, Trump was more guarded in his response about Pakistan and its role in perpetrating terrorism as the Islamic nation remains key for Trump to hammer out a peace deal in Afghanistan and save face on the issue back home.

Trump had in the past minced no words in criticising Pakistan and had even cut down financial assistance to the country on multiple occasions for failing to curb terrorism. However, with the Afghan peace deal hanging in balance and given Pakistan's role in bringing the terrorist group Taliban to the table, Trump was not going to upset a key ally in an election year. Bringing back US troops from strife-torn Afghanistan after a two-decade-long battle was one of the key promises Trump made back home.

Describing the Kashmir issue as a "big problem" between India and Pakistan, he said it is "a thorn in a lot of people's sides" and reiterated his offer to mediate between the two countries to ease the tension. "If anything I can do to mediate, I will do," he said, adding that Pakistan figured in his talks with Modi.

He asserted that he has "great relationship" with both Modi and Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan. "We talked a lot about Pakistan. I have a very good relationship with Pakistan PM (Imran) Khan. India is a brave nation, and I said I will help because my relationship with both the leaders is good. Anything I can do to mediate, I will do. There are two sides to every story, and they are working on it. PM Modi is a very religious and calm man, but he is a very strong person. He is very tough. He has got that foremost in his mind, terrorism and he will take care of it," Trump said.

On US-India Trade deal

Trump's India visit was full of pomp and show and grandeur but he wrapped up the glitzy affair without any prominent outcomes. India was looking forward to a comprehensive trade deal that could help de-escalate a trade war of sorts that flared up last year when Trump single-handedly decided to end India's 'unfair' trade practices and slapped heavy tariffs on Indian exports to his country. He wanted lower tariffs on US companies in return. India retaliated by slapping more tariffs on some US goods and the Trump administration escalated the pressure on India last year by denying some of its products preferential duty-free entry to the American market. The US is annoyed by a deficit in the trade of goods with India that last year reached $23.3 billion.

"We know the problems (about the trade deal). Previous administration had no clue. We can do that. Everybody said we won't be able to do a deal with China, but we did a deal with China. We are working it out," Trump said.

The US president, however, neither revealed details as to where the negotiations were stuck nor indicated areas where the two nations were open to making concessions. The likely time frame for such a deal also remains unclear.

Trump instead used the opportunity to address several issues that perplex him back home.

Returning to domestic squabbles, Trump lashed out at US Supreme Court justices and his Democratic rivals. Addressing Indian business leaders in New Delhi, Trump warned of economic calamity if he loses his reelection race in November and repeated his call for two liberal-leaning Supreme Court justices to recuse themselves from cases involving him or his administration.

Trump also said he had not been briefed on intelligence suggesting Russia is meddling in the 2020 election, either to bolster him or Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders.

Trump had joked at the beginning of the news conference that he would be very, very conservative in his answers to avoid distracting from his fantastic two days" in India.

But then he quickly launched attacks, including criticising Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor, the latter for a blistering dissent that was critical of the Trump administrations rush to claim emergencies when asking the Supreme Court to review cases.

"I just don't know how they can not recuse themselves for anything Trump or Trump-related," he said.

At the meeting with Indian business leaders, Trump abandoned the tradition of avoiding domestic political squabbles while travelling abroad and criticised the Democratic candidates who are competing for the right to challenge his reelection bid in November, warning of economic turmoil if one of them defeats him.

Trump said that he believes the US economy is being held back by the upcoming US election and claimed that if the wrong person gets elected, everything will come to a halt" and unemployment will soar. "If I lose my job, everybody will lose their jobs," Trump said.

At the

With inputs from agencies


(Photo : Tips for Planning a Summer of Travelling)

Whilst you are a student, you have much more opportunity to go travelling than when you go into full-time employment, so if you are considering going travelling at some point, now is probably the ideal time. With longer summer holidays on the way, if you have the budget to do some travelling, get it planned in before you miss your chance when adult responsibilities take hold!

Here are some tips for making sure you have the trip of a lifetime:

Consider travelling by train

Flights can be expensive, but there are plenty of places that have a really good rail system, so you can see the world for less money. You should also be able to get student discounts with most rail companies, and you can research the lowest prices to pick the cheapest days and times to travel. With the train journey between London and Paris being just over two hours long, you can start a European journey in France, with great rail links to Holland, Germany, Spain, Italy and many other European countries.

Make sure you have the right documentation

Before planning to visit a certain country, you will need to check if there are any specific requirements for travel documentation. For example, some countries will require you to have at least six months validity on your passport. Visiting the US would require an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) to enable entry into the country as an alternative to a visa. You can find out more about applying for an ESTA at https://www.estaform.org/.

Choose destinations that have lower costs

Whilst you might want to see the biggest and best cities around the world, like Paris and NYC, staying here will cost you a considerable amount of money. So, try to limit your time spent in the costlier cities and stay in places that offer cheaper accommodation, food and excursions or you will get through your budget very quickly. Backpacking around Asia is a much cheaper alternative to visiting Australia and New Zealand, for example. Shopping for groceries and making your own meals will significantly reduce your expenditure compared to eating out.

Research the best hotel and accommodation apps

Depending on which part of the world you are visiting, you should have a number of options for booking your accommodation. Using a comparison site for hotels will help you to find cheaper options and you can also try contacting the hotel directly to see if they can offer you any better rates by cutting out the middleman. Airbnb can have some good deals but always check reviews of the places before you book them to check you won't end up somewhere that is completely different than the website portrays! If you are travelling in a group, it can be cheaper to rent an apartment or a villa than each having separate hotel rooms, so explore all of these choices before you book your accommodation.

These tips should give you some inspiration for how to save money but still have a fully enjoyable summer of travelling.
Mission Control Space Services Inc. (Mission Control) is pleased to announce a contract awarded by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) for the development of a novel payload to advance lunar scientific exploration, the first contract to be awarded under the $150M CSA Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program (LEAP). Titled ASAS-CRATERS (Autonomous Soil Assessment System: Contextualizing Rocks, Anomalies and Terrains in Exploratory Robotic Science), the project leverages previous CSA-funded space technology developments by Mission Control in robotic exploration and artificial intelligence (AI), and will advance Canadas pioneering role in deep space exploration robotics and science. Mission Control applauds Canadas rejuvenated support for space exploration. These investments re-affirm Canadas reputation as a leader in the international space community.

ASAS-CRATERS leverages cutting-edge AI algorithms for terrain classification, novelty detection, and data aggregation, and will advance a planetary rovers capability to autonomously assess its surroundings for scientific value. It is designed to be a multi-mission system that can support a wide range of scientific payloads and reduce the operational workload of scientists, enabling them to operate their missions more efficiently.

The new paradigm of commercially-led lunar missions calls for a new wave of AI-powered robotics and were ready to offer state-of-the-art technologies that will help enable the future of low-cost and autonomous space missions, said Dr. Michele Faragalli, Chief Technology Officer at Mission Control.

Mission Control is proud to lead a diverse team of experts in topics ranging from planetary science to robotics and embedded systems for spaceflight. The Science team includes Dr. Gordon Osinski, Director of Research at Western Universitys Institute of Earth and Space Exploration (IESE), and Dr. Ed Cloutis, Director at University of Winnipegs Centre for Terrestrial and Planetary Exploration. The science team is also supported by Dr. Ryan Ewing of Texas A&M University who was a Surface Properties Scientist for NASAs MSL rover. The technology will be developed with support from MDA, the world leader in space robotics, and Xiphos Systems Corporation, a Canadian SME that boasts four generations of space products over 17 years. The technology development will also be supported by Dr. Ken McIsaac at Westerns IESE and Dr. Krzysztof Skonieczny at Concordia University.

Canada is a recognized leader on the global stage in AI, space robotics and embedded systems, and planetary science. ASAS-CRATERS leverages Canadian expertise in all these areas and represents a novel contribution to international space exploration, said Kaizad Raimalwala, Product & Business Development at Mission Control.

The potential mission opportunity for ASAS-CRATERS would be a very high-profile lunar surface mission, one of the first to deploy science payloads using a commercial model. The development of this technology would help position Canada at the forefront of lunar science in the commercial space age, helping to drive scientific discovery, stimulate economic growth, and inspire the next generation to pursue studies in STEM.

Were really excited to develop this technology not only because it will enable cutting edge science for Canadian researchers but because its built on Mission Control Software, said Ewan Reid, President & CEO of Mission Control. With this project we see a tangible near-term opportunity to deploy AI on the Moon and inspire all Canadians.

About Mission Control, http://www.missioncontrolspaceservices.com

Mission Control is a space exploration and robotics company with a focus on mission operations, onboard autonomy and artificial intelligence. We develop end-to-end robotic command and control software. Our technology allows customers to operate and automate robots deployed in harsh and remote environments  like the Moon, Mars or even here on Earth  improving the autonomy, productivity, safety, and scientific return of missions. We are also committed to inspiring the next generation of explorers through our immersive technology-based education program, Mission Control Academy, which allows students to operate a real rover, as if it were on Mars. How can we help you navigate the newspace landscape?
The World Health Organization said that the pace of confirmed new cases in China, which exceeded 2,000 a day a month ago, had dropped steadily, to a low of 508 on Monday. It said the severe measures imposed by the Chinese authorities to isolate patients and the hardest-hit areas had likely prevented hundreds of thousands of additional infections.

The city of Beijing has imposed new rules on workplaces, including one that prohibits workers from eating face-to-face. No more than half of an offices employees should be at work on a given day, they must keep at least one meter apart from each other, each must have at least 2.5 square meters of working space, and elevator capacity cannot exceed 50 percent, the city said.

But while China appears to be having some success in managing the epidemic, W.H.O. officials have warned that the world at large is unprepared for a leap in infections, which could overwhelm medical resources in many countries. They also cautioned that new cases could suddenly resurge in China, as the government struggles to get people back to work.

By Wednesday, South Korea had reported a total of 1,146 cases, the second most in the world, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States warned Americans not to travel there. Most of the cases reported by South Koreas Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to come from Daegu, the city at the center of the outbreak in that country.

In Iran, a spike in coronavirus infections  including the top health official in charge of fighting the disease  has prompted fears of a contagion throughout the Middle East. In Italy, one of Europes largest economies, officials are struggling to prevent the epidemic from paralyzing the commercial center of Milan.

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 more than 80,000 people worldwide and caused more than 2,600 deaths.
Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump met at the Hyderabad House in Delhi on Tuesday. The building was decked up with flags of both the countries. Standing by POTUS side was FLOTUS Melania Trump who was wearing a printed white collared midi dress with a red belt that cinched her waist. The red belt added a great pop of colour to the dress that was adorned with a multi-coloured print all over. However, it was Donald Trumps daughter, Ivankas outfit that really won us over. Ivanka was spotted in a white sherwani made of handwoven silk by Indias very own Anita Dongre. Ivanka paired the sherwani which had enamel coat buttons with white pants by the designer, she wore a pair of traditional gold Polki earrings to complete her look.

Speaking about the garment, Anita Dongre says, Ivanka is wearing a sherwani made out of handwoven silk from Murshidabad, West Bengal. It is timeless, and such a classic - We created this style twenty years ago and its amazing to see how beautifully relevant it is even today. A powerful, standout silhouette, a sherwani carries the same charisma in absolutely any colour but my personal favourites are the evergreen blue, white and black.

U.S. President Donald Trump with First Lady Melania Trump arrives to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. Melania Trump who was wearing a printed white collared midi dress with a red belt that cinched her waist. (PTI)

Ivanka is joining the likes of Kate Middleton, The Duchess of Cambridge, Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, The First Lady of Canada and Hillary Clinton, Former First Lady of the United States, who have all worn ensembles by the reputed couturier.

Ivanka Trump with husband Jared Kushner during the ceremonial reception of US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, at Rashtrapati Bhawan. (ANI)

The US President is being accompanied by a 12 member delegation during his two-day maiden state visit to India. The delegation comprises US National Security Advisor Robert OBrien, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette, Trumps daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law 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 Trumps chief of staff Lindsay Reynolds, White House advisor Robert Blair, and White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham.

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Clams farmed by residents in the north-central Vietnamese province of Nghe An have died en masse for no apparent reason, causing damage worth up to billions of Vietnamese dong (VND1 billion = US$43,100).

The situation has occurred across nearly 15 hectares of clam farms in Nghi Thiet Commune, Nghi Loc District, resulting in heavy losses for local farmers as the harvest season is just around the corner.

These farmers now have to hire people for VND25,000 ($1.08) per hour to collect the dead clams so that they can prepare their farms for the next season.

Nguyen Sy Thanh, one of the farmers, said he and his family started raising ten metric tons of clams on their 2.4 hectare farm in April 2019.

The household expected to harvest mature clams in March 2020 and will begin the new season in May the same year.

However, Thanhs clams started dying in late December 2019. As of this week, about 80 percent of his farm-raised clams have already died, resulting in losses worth nearly VND1 billion.

We are going to end up empty-handed, he stated.

Farmers collect dead clams in Nghe An Province, Vietnam. Photo: Doan Hoa / Tuoi Tre

Other famers in the commune said they had lost 60-90 percent of their clams.

The total amount of dead clams across all farms has been estimated at 350 metric tons, with damage totaling VND5-7 billion ($216,000-302,000).

Le Van Huong, deputy head of the Nghe An fisheries department, said the reason behind the mass clam deaths remains unknown.

Local authorities have ruled out diseases as the cause and are waiting for environmental monitoring results.

A delegation of officials has been tasked with assisting local residents in preparing their farms and other necessary skills for the upcoming season.

A man is hired to collect dead clams at a farm in Nghe An Province, Vietnam. Photo: Doan Hoa / Tuoi Tre

Dead clams pile up in Nghe An Province, Vietnam. Photo: Doan Hoa / Tuoi Tre

Farm-raised clams die en masse in Nghe An Province, Vietnam. Photo: Doan Hoa / Tuoi Tre

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The effort to boost New Jerseys cigarette tax for the first time since July 2009 comes as many states and the federal government have moved to limit access to nicotine, a highly addictive drug. Higher cigarette taxes are a strong incentive for persuading smokers to quit, according to anti-tobacco advocates.

The federal government in December raised the legal smoking age to 21 and this month ended the sale of some vaping products, including fruit-flavored cartridges, or pods, that are used in e-cigarettes and are popular with teenagers.

Last month, New Jersey became the second state to outlaw the sale of most flavored vaping liquids, though a bill to ban the sale of menthol cigarettes stalled in the Legislature.

The rate of cigarette usage among adults in New Jersey and nationwide has been steadily declining.

In New Jersey, about 13 percent of adults smoked cigarettes in 2018, down from 17 percent in 2011, according to the state Department of Health. Across the country, about 13.7 percent of adults smoked in 2018, down from 21 percent in 2005, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Yves here. At least as of when I loaded this post, Mr. Market appeared to be trying to regroup a bit after Mondays freakout. However, the news on the progress of the coronavirus is still not pretty. For instance, from the Financial Times:

Japan has urged companies to adopt remote working, staggered shifts and online meetings to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, a day after global stocks suffered their worst session in two years on fears over the accelerating international spread of the disease. An expert government panel warned that Japan was on the brink of a rapid expansion in the virus, with 146 infections confirmed in more than 16 different prefectures, excluding cases from an infected cruise ship and Japanese evacuees from China. In numerous cases the source of the infection was not clear. Iran said there had been 12 deaths and 61 confirmed coronavirus cases in the country, a sharp rise from the eight fatalities and 43 infected patients it reported a day earlier. Despite the outbreak in Italy, EU authorities said there were no plans to suspend travel across the 26-country Schengen area of visa-free travel The expert panel in Japan recommended changing its strategy of keeping the infection out altogether to containing it and slowing its spread. It no longer made sense to test everybody who might have been exposed to the virus, they said, as doing so would overwhelm the healthcare system. Instead, Japan was asking anybody who felt ill to isolate themselves and said they should only seek medical help if they suffered severe symptoms.

The fact that Japan, which does have a good health system, isnt able to track disease propagation, is troubling. It raises concerns that that some, perhaps many, are vulnerable at such low viral loads that they are getting sick not via in-person contact but via contaminated surfaces (recall that the Journal of Hospital Infections found that coronaviruses can live as long as nine days on glass, metal, and plastic).

By Alex Kimani, a veteran finance writer, investor, engineer and researcher for Safehaven.com. Originally published at OilPrice

At a time when the energy sector is weighed down by debt and reeling from low commodity prices, American energy producers are now bracing for the biggest demand shock to hit the markets in decades: the effects of the coronavirus outbreak in China and beyond.

The outbreak has already claimed more than 2,600 casualties and infected nearly 80,000 globally, including 3,000 medical staff in China.

While the outbreak may not sweep the globe as swine flu did in 2009, the fear of a global epidemic managed to shave 975 points off the Dow Monday morning, and experts seem to agree that the economic effects of the fallout are likely to be more severe.

UBS recently warned that it could drag global economic growth to near negative levels during the first quarter of the year and cause the worst growth slowdown since the 2008 crash.

The effects are already showing up in companies guidance and market reactions, with Apple recently saying that revenue for the March quarter would fall below its initial estimate, citing a temporary hit to global phone supply.

There are indications that suggest the outbreak may be tapering off, with the daily number of new cases in China beginning to decline. However, researchers have warned that it could rebound once Chinese residents return to work and school, and what spooked the markets Monday was a spike in coronavirus cases outside China.

Here are the three energy sectors that are likely to be hardest hit by the coronavirus epidemic, and why:

#1 Oil, Grounded by Demand

Oil and natural gas prices have remained low for the past year and could remain that way with the biggest oil importer now grounded.

China, the worlds top oil importer, bought 41.24 million tonnes of crude in 2019, equivalent to 10.04 million barrels per day (bpd). But just two months after the outbreak of the virus, Chinese oil demand is down sharply because of dwindling air travel, road transportation and manufacturing.

China consumes 13 of every 100 barrels of oil that the world produces, and global oil companies are likely to feel the heat to some extent. Bloomberg has reported that Chinese oil demand has dropped by about 3 million barrels a day, or ~20% of total consumption.

The drop marks the largest demand shock in the market since the global financial crisis that ended in 2009. Its also the most sudden shock the market has suffered since the Sept. 11 attacks nearly two decades ago.

Energy analytics firm S&P Global Platts has warned that the virus could shave global oil demand by as much as 4 percent, or 4.1 million barrels a day, in February and an average daily fall in global demand of 290,000 to one million barrels.

Meanwhile, energy watchdog IEA has said oil demand is likely to fall by 435,000 b/d in 1Q 2020the first quarterly contraction in more than 10 yearsand lowered its 2020 growth forecast by 365,000 b/d to 825,000 b/d.

The EIA is a bit more sanguine and still expects West Texas Intermediate to remain above $50.00/bbl this year and average $55.71 in 2020.

Global demand for jet fuel has taken a big hit after a series of carriers suspended flights to China. Key international airlines that have cancelled or reduced flights to China include British Airways, Lufthansa, American Airlines, United Airlines, Austrian Airlines and Swiss International Air Lines. Other international airlines are also rapidly scaling back flights.

Jet crack spreadsa metric that measures the differential between an oil product and the crude from which it is derivedhave already narrowed against Brent crude amid expectations of lower demand. Asian jet fuel refining margins have fallen to the lowest levels in over 10 years. More than 50 million people are affected by a travel lockdown in Hubei Province, the epicenter of the outbreak, slowing gasoline consumption.

Last week, some optimism returned to stock markets and oil prices briefly rallied when it appeared that new infections are slowing down. Unfortunately this was short-lived after China changed its methodology of counting the new cases leading to the numbers shooting up considerably and slowing the oil rally. While the negative effects of the epidemic on oil demand are not likely to last, the outbreak could damage the Chinese economy enough to lead to a more prolonged period of subdued demand and oil prices.

Whereas oil producers in places like Iraq and Saudi Arabia could see a 10% drop in profits, those in the United States could lose as much as 60% of their profits due to the much higher break-even price for the average oil well drilled in shale fields at roughly $45 a barrel. Most of the crude oil that China imports comes from Russia, Africa, Iran and other Persian Gulf nations, meaning producers in those regions are likely to feel the heat the most.

#2 Natural Gas, Already A Wreck

Natural gas prices recently tumbled to historical lows and are down nearly 15% since the start of 2020 with excess supply and inventory build up pressuring prices. The coronavirus outbreak is not helping the situation, either.

The global LNG leader Royal Dutch Shell has warned that the coronavirus outbreak is already hurting LNG demand and forcing it to reroute supplies previously earmarked for mainland China.

Yet, according to Ira Joseph, global head of power and gas analytics at S&P Global Platts, the coronavirus outbreak is not fundamentally changing the direction of the LNG market because it was already weak and heading in this direction. The coronavirus outbreak is seen acting more as a catalyst for this historic price collapse.

And the situation might not improve any time soon. Last year, RBC predicted that natural gas prices might take years to fully recover.

#3 Battery and Energy Storage

Last week, Utility Divewhich covers news and trends in the utility industrywarned that the coronavirus epidemic  is going to be a very big deal with respect to Chinese manufacturing.

Eight provinces in the country have already announced work stoppages as a result of the outbreak, which has negatively impacted multiple solar manufacturing campuses. This is highly significant considering that most of the worlds solar panels are made in China.

China also happens to be home to most of the worlds lithium-ion battery manufacturing. Utility Dive has warned that the countrys battery storage production capacity could contract by 10%or 26 GWhcompared to earlier forecasts.

On a more positive note, Utility Dive says a major disruption for the U.S. power sector isnt very likely since electricity generation comes from either domestic or non-Chinese sources, like coal, natural gas, renewable energy, and nuclear.
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After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code.

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Rafael Nadal is back in action for the first time since his Australian Open quarter-final exit, heading the field at the Mexico Open in Acapulco.

A two-time former champion of the tournament, Nadal was knocked out in the second round last year by mercurial Australian Nick Kyrgios in a match that sparked angry words between the two.

Nadal accused Kyrgios of "lacking respect" after he served underarm in their 2019 clash, but the Spaniard said Monday he felt no lingering resentment.

"Last year, I lost a tight match that I should have won, but it's part of our sport and I don't have a bad memory of that," Nadal said.

"I have never had a feeling of revenge, no feeling of revenge helps you win games, but the opposite," he added.

"The only thing that revenge does is that you can not think clearly."



World number two Nadal has a chance to return to the top of the rankings this week -- if he lifts the trophy and Novak Djokovic fails to reach the semi-finals in Dubai.

Nadal will open his Acapulco campaign on Tuesday against 54th-ranked compatriot Pablo Andujar.

"We know each other well, we played since we were 13 or 14 years old, he is a good friend," Nadal said.

"The first games are always complicated, but I'm looking forward to doing well."



Kyrgios, seeded sixth and in the opposite half of the draw from Nadal, opens Tuesday against France's Ugo Humbert.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
There is an interesting parallel between the two worlds the namesake character of author Melissa Anne Peterson's debut novel, "Vera Violet," inhabits. The first world, where our story begins and flashes back and forth between, is the Pacific Northwest. Most people tend to channel ideas of the glitz and glamour of Seattle, or even Portland, whenever the area is mentioned. Then something erupts in that part of the country  like in 2016 when a pack of heavily-armed thugs from the far right occupied the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Eastern Oregon  and people are faced with the harsh reality that life there isn't all lattes, fixed-gear bicycles and software capitalists. That stuff isnt supposed to happen out there, is it? And yet it does, all too often.

Vera Violet, the title character and narrator, hails from the town of David, a small community slowly deteriorating into its surrounding, rainy landscape in the wake of the failed extractive industries that put it there. The area is rife with poverty, crime and heartache, which Vera and her friends try and navigate as best they can. They dont have many options and tragedy dogs their every step. We see these episodes throughout the book as Vera reflects on her life. She seeks to escape it all entirely by pointing her old pickup east.

Vera ends up in East St. Louis, the second of her two worlds. You don't simply find yourself in a different city when you cross the Missouri from St. Louis into East St. Louis. It's a different state (Illinois, actually). It feels like a different country, a different world. I don't know if Peterson made this choice intentionally or not, but the contrast between what we think of that part of the country  Midwestern charm, the Gateway Arch, a few generations of the glorified history of Manifest Destiny  and the reality of what it's like, mirrored against the impression/reality of the Pacific Northwest, is masterfully done. Vera Violet retreats from one set of dark circumstances and, a couple thousand miles later, finds herself somewhere entirely different but, socially, in so many ways the same. Same drugs. Same poverty. Same crushing heartbreak.

Thematically Vera Violet isn't a happy, or easy, read. But as literature it is beautiful, for all its grit and sorrow. Peterson snaps off sharp, rapid-fire sentences, then contrasts them with longer, poetic phrases that catch the reader's breath. For those of us who have grown up on the fringes of the more celebrated aspects of this part of the country, of the so-called "American Dream," the characters and their circumstances are all too familiar. Peterson honors those experiences, even as she makes no effort to glorify them. What she does is humanize the experience in a way that only someone who has lived them can do.

I love Vera Violet. I love the familiarity of its setting. I love its unflinching look at people  my people  resigned to essentially having to choose from a forest of opportunities, most of which are bad. I love the voice of our narrator. Finally, I love knowing I've got a new book to recommend all through 2020 and a new writer to mention right up there with the likes of some of my other favorites of the style, people like Willy Vlautin, Daniel Woodrell, and Larry Brown. Melissa Anne Peterson more than holds her own against those dudes.

Chris LaTray is the 2018 winner of the Montana Book Award for his "One-Sentence Journal: Short Poems and Essays from the World at Large." He is Missoula resident and bookseller at Fact & Fiction.

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(TNS)  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.
For the past 18 months, Ginni Thomas, the wife of Justice Clarence Thomas, and other conservatives have plied the White House with memos and suggestions about which people to fire  and who should replace them.

President Trump has generally treated Ms. Thomass suggestions coolly, passing them off to advisers, according to people familiar with Ms. Thomass efforts. But since the end of the Senate impeachment trial, the president has become more distrustful of the people filling the ranks of government and has been giving those recommendations a closer look.

The memos from Ms. Thomas were first reported by Axios.

Among Ms. Thomass top targets have been officials at the National Security Council, the former head of the White House personnel office, Sean Doocey, and other top White House aides. Another target was Jessie K. Liu, who recently left her job as the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia for a job in the Treasury Department that was later withdrawn by the White House.

Ms. Thomas, a politically active conservative who for nearly seven years has led a group called Groundswell, also successfully lobbied for a role for Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II, the former attorney general of Virginia who is now the acting deputy secretary of homeland security.
A Durham Region elementary school teacher accused in 2018 of sexually assaulting a child was surrounded by joyous supporters after learning the criminal charges against her were being withdrawn.

A large group of supporters smiled, posed for pictures and broke into song outside the Oshawa courthouse Friday after Krystal Wilson-Cluniss appearance in Superior Court.

During the hearing prosecutor Paul Murray requested the charges against Wilson be withdrawn, telling a judge that a review of the case indicated no reasonable prospect of conviction if the matter proceeded to trial, according to court records.

Wilson-Clunis referred questions to her lawyer, Daniel Brown. Brown did not respond to requests for comment.

Wilson-Clunis was 31 in October 2018 when Durham police announced shed been charged with two counts each of sexual assault and sexual interference. Police said the charges arose from allegations that a 10-year-old boy had been assaulted by an adult at Da Vinci Public School in Ajax during the 2017-2018 school year.

Following the withdrawal of the charges, Wilson-Clunis quietly beamed as she was surrounded by supporters, many of whom wore or carried T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan Justice for Ms C. Video posted to social media showed her wiping away tears while accepting hugs from well-wishers.

On Oct. 11, 2018, Krystal Wilson-Clunis was accused of (a) crime that would be disturbing to anybody, read a post on Twitter. Due to a publication ban the details of the allegation, no matter how illogical and unsubstantiated, were kept from the public.

We spoke the truth from day one, the post reads.

Another post, featuring a photo of a smiling Wilson-Clunis, says simply, Vindicated.
In 2013, one of five residents in Oscoda County lacked health insurance, the highest percentage in Michigan.

Among Oscoda adults age 19 to 64 -- those too old for the MiChild program and too young for Medicare -- it was 28%.

Since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, Oscoda still has the highest percentage of uninsured residents, but the numbers have dropped significantly: 13% now lack insurance, and its 18% among those 19 to 64.

At the other end of the spectrum, Washtenaw and Clinton had the lowest percentage of uninsured residents in 2013, and they are still on the top of the list now, but the numbers have been cut in half under the ACA.

Below is a ranking of Michigan counties based on the percentage of residents without health insurance. Those numbers come from the latest Census estimates, which are a five-year average for 2014-18.

10 things to know about health insurance and ACA trends in Michigan.

In addition to a look at the numbers for all ages, more data is offered for the 19-to-64 age group, which is where uninsured residents are concentrated. More than 99% of Michigan residents age 65 and older have insurance, thanks to Medicare, and more than 96% of Michigan children have coverage, thanks to Medicaid and MiChild, which have long insured children not covered by their parents plans.

The ranking begins with the counties with the lowest rates of uninsured residents.

1. Clinton County: 3.8%

The percentage of Clinton County residents without health insurance went from 8.3% in 2009-13 to 3.8% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 12% to 6%;

Percent with private insurance went from 81% to 88%;

Percent with public insurance went from 10% to 15%.

2. Washtenaw County: 3.9%

The percentage of Washtenaw County residents without health insurance went from 7.7% in 2009-13 to 3.9% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 10% to 5%;

Percent with private insurance went from 83% to 90%;

Percent with public insurance went from 10% to 12%.

3. Livingston County: 4%

The percentage of Livingston County residents without health insurance went from 7.9% in 2009-13 to 4% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 12% to 6%;

Percent with private insurance went from 83% to 90%;

Percent with public insurance went from 8% to 12%.

4. Ottawa County: 4.2%

The percentage of Ottawa County residents without health insurance went from 8.3% in 2009-13 to 4.2% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 12% to 6%;

Percent with private insurance went from 82% to 90%;

Percent with public insurance went from 9% to 11%.

5. Allegan County: 4.6%

The percentage of Allegan County residents without health insurance went from 10.9% in 2009-13 to 4.6% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 17% to 7%;

Percent with private insurance went from 73% to 85%;

Percent with public insurance went from 14% to 15%.

6. Barry County: 4.6%

The percentage of Barry County residents without health insurance went from 10.2% in 2009-13 to 4.6% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 15% to 7%;

Percent with private insurance went from 75% to 85%;

Percent with public insurance went from 7% to 16%.

7. Dickinson County: 4.6%

The percentage of Barry County residents without health insurance went from 11.1% in 2009-13 to 4.6% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 17% to 7%;

Percent with private insurance went from 71% to 82%;

Percent with public insurance went from 19% to 22%.

8. Menominee County: 4.7%

The percentage of Menominee County residents without health insurance went from 12% in 2009-13 to 4.7% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 18% to 7%;

Percent with private insurance went from 70% to 83%;

Percent with public insurance went from 18% to 22%.

9. Monroe County: 4.7%

The percentage of Monroe County residents without health insurance went from 9% in 2009-13 to 4.7% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 13% to 7%;

Percent with private insurance went from 77% to 85%;

Percent with public insurance went from 15% to 17%.

10. Midland County: 4.8%

The percentage of Midland County residents without health insurance went from 9.6% in 2009-13 to 4.8% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 14% to 7%;

Percent with private insurance went from 75% to 84%;

Percent with public insurance went from 15% to 20%.

11. Oakland County: 4.9%

The percentage of Oakland County residents without health insurance went from 9.9% in 2009-13 to 4.9% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 14% to 7%;

Percent with private insurance went from 79% to 87%;

Percent with public insurance went from 10% to 13%.

12. Baraga County: 5.2%

The percentage of Baraga County residents without health insurance went from 11.3% in 2009-13 to 5.2% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 18% to 7%;

Percent with private insurance went from 68% to 77%;

Percent with public insurance went from 23% to 31%.

13. Marquette County: 5.3%

The percentage of Marquette County residents without health insurance went from 11.9% in 2009-13 to 5.3% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 17% to 7%;

Percent with private insurance went from 74% to 83%;

Percent with public insurance went from 15% to 22%.

14. Muskegon County: 5.3%

The percentage of Muskegon County residents without health insurance went from 11% in 2009-13 to 5.3% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 17% to 7%;

Percent with private insurance went from 64% to 77%;

Percent with public insurance went from 23% to 28%.

15. Saginaw County: 5.3%

The percentage of Saginaw County residents without health insurance went from 10.8% in 2009-13 to 5.3% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 16% to 7%;

Percent with private insurance went from 64% to 77%;

Percent with public insurance went from 21% to 28%.

16. Crawford County: 5.4%

The percentage of Crawford County residents without health insurance went from 11.6% in 2009-13 to 5.4% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 19% to 9%;

Percent with private insurance went from 61% to 74%;

Percent with public insurance went from 25% to 33%.

17. Eaton County: 5.4%

The percentage of Eaton County residents without health insurance went from 9.1% in 2009-13 to 5.4% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 13% to 9%;

Percent with private insurance went from 78% to 86%;

Percent with public insurance went from 13% to 17%.

18. Bay County: 5.5%

The percentage of Bay County residents without health insurance went from 10.8% in 2009-13 to 5.5% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 17% to 9%;

Percent with private insurance went from 69% to 79%;

Percent with public insurance went from 18% to 27%.

19. Leelanau County: 5.5%

The percentage of Leelanau County residents without health insurance went from 11.8% in 2009-13 to 5.5% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 18% to 9%;

Percent with private insurance went from 75% to 85%;

Percent with public insurance went from 9% to 16%.

20. Genesee County: 5.6%

The percentage of Genesee County residents without health insurance went from 10.1% in 2009-13 to 5.6% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 15% to 9%;

Percent with private insurance went from 64% to 75%;

Percent with public insurance went from 26% to 31%.

21. St. Clair County: 5.6%

The percentage of St. Clair County residents without health insurance went from 11.4% in 2009-13 to 5,6% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 17% to 8%;

Percent with private insurance went from 70% to 81%;

Percent with public insurance went from 17% to 22%.

22. Kalamazoo County: 5.7%

The percentage of Kalamazoo County residents without health insurance went from 10.8% in 2009-13 to 5.7% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 15% to 9%;

Percent with private insurance went from 73% to 84%;

Percent with public insurance went from 15% to 19%.

23. Macomb County: 5.7%

The percentage of Macomb County residents without health insurance went from 11.4% in 2009-13 to 5.7% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 17% to 8%;

Percent with private insurance went from 73% to 83%;

Percent with public insurance went from 14% to 19%.

24. Shiawassee County: 5.7%

The percentage of Shiawassee County residents without health insurance went from 11.7% in 2009-13 to 5.7% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 18% to 8%;

Percent with private insurance went from 69% to 82%;

Percent with public insurance went from 17% to 21%.

25. Alcona County: 5.8%

The percentage of Alcona County residents without health insurance went from 12.5% in 2009-13 to 5.8% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 22% to 11%;

Percent with private insurance went from 61% to 69%;

Percent with public insurance went from 25% to 35%.

26. Gratiot County: 5.8%

The percentage of Gratiot County residents without health insurance went from 11.7% in 2009-13 to 5.7% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 12.4% to 5.8%;

Percent with private insurance went from 67% to 80%;

Percent with public insurance went from 19% to 22%.

27. Luce County: 5.8%

The percentage of Luce County residents without health insurance went from 11.9% in 2009-13 to 5.8% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 19% to 9%;

Percent with private insurance went from 61% to 76%;

Percent with public insurance went from 25% to 35%.

28. Calhoun County: 5.9%

The percentage of Calhoun County residents without health insurance went from 12.6% in 2009-13 to 5.9% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 19% to 9%;

Percent with private insurance went from 65% to 77%;

Percent with public insurance went from 21% to 26%.

29. Ingham County: 5.9%

The percentage of Ingham County residents without health insurance went from 9.6% in 2009-13 to 5.9% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 13% to 8%;

Percent with private insurance went from 74% to 83%;

Percent with public insurance went from 17% to 19%.

30. Lenawee County: 5.9%

The percentage of Lenawee County residents without health insurance went from 11.3% in 2009-13 to 5.9% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 16% to 9%;

Percent with private insurance went from 73% to 82%;

Percent with public insurance went from 15% to 20%.

31. Tuscola County: 5.9%

The percentage of Tuscola County residents without health insurance went from 12.5% in 2009-13 to 5.9% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 19% to 9%;

Percent with private insurance went from 67% to 77%;

Percent with public insurance went from 19% to 27%.

32. Delta County: 6.1%

The percentage of Delta County residents without health insurance went from 12% in 2009-13 to 6.1% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 18% to 9%;

Percent with private insurance went from 68% to 81%;

Percent with public insurance went from 20% to 27%.

33. Ionia County: 6.2%

The percentage of Ionia County residents without health insurance went from 10.5% in 2009-13 to 6.2% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 16% to 9%;

Percent with private insurance went from 71% to 81%;

Percent with public insurance went from 18% to 21%.

34. Alpena County: 6.3%

The percentage of Alpena County residents without health insurance went from 12.8% in 2009-13 to 6.3% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 20% to 9%;

Percent with private insurance went from 63% to 77%;

Percent with public insurance went from 22% to 30%.

35. Huron County: 6.3%

The percentage of Huron County residents without health insurance went from 10.8% in 2009-13 to 6.3% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 17% to 9%;

Percent with private insurance went from 69% to 81%;

Percent with public insurance went from 19% to 21%.

36. Benzie County: 6.4%

The percentage of Benzie County residents without health insurance went from 13.8% in 2009-13 to 6.4% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 21% to 10%;

Percent with private insurance went from 68% to 81%;

Percent with public insurance went from 16% to 22%.

37. Charlevoix County: 6.4%

The percentage of Charlevoix County residents without health insurance went from 11.3% in 2009-13 to 6.4% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 17% to 10%;

Percent with private insurance went from 72% to 83%;

Percent with public insurance went from 14% to 20%.

38. Jackson County: 6.4%

The percentage of Jackson County residents without health insurance went from 11.7% in 2009-13 to 6.4% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 17% to 9%;

Percent with private insurance went from 68% to 78%;

Percent with public insurance went from 19% to 25%.

39. Newaygo County: 6.4%

The percentage of Newaygo County residents without health insurance went from 13.8% in 2009-13 to 6.4% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 21% to 9%;

Percent with private insurance went from 63% to 74%;

Percent with public insurance went from 21% to 31%.

40. Kent County: 6.5%

The percentage of Kent County residents without health insurance went from 10.6% in 2009-13 to 6.5% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 15% to 9%;

Percent with private insurance went from 75% to 83%;

Percent with public insurance went from 13% to 17%.

41. Mecosta County: 6.5%

The percentage of Mecosta County residents without health insurance went from 14% in 2009-13 to 6.5% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 19% to 9%;

Percent with private insurance went from 68% to 80%;

Percent with public insurance went from 16% to 24%.

42. Schoolcraft County: 6.7%

The percentage of Schoolcraft County residents without health insurance went from 12.1% in 2009-13 to 6.7% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 20% to 8%;

Percent with private insurance went from 63% to 72%;

Percent with public insurance went from 23% to 37%.

43. Manistee County: 6.8%

The percentage of Manistee County residents without health insurance went from 12.8% in 2009-13 to 6.8% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 20% to 11%;

Percent with private insurance went from 64% to 77%;

Percent with public insurance went from 20% to 25%.

44. Mason County: 6.8%

The percentage of Mason County residents without health insurance went from 13.6% in 2009-13 to 6.8% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 20% to 10%;

Percent with private insurance went from 66% to 78%;

Percent with public insurance went from 19% to 25%.

45. Otsego County: 6.8%

The percentage of Otsego County residents without health insurance went from 12.1% in 2009-13 to 6.8% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 18% to 11%;

Percent with private insurance went from 65% to 77%;

Percent with public insurance went from 20% to 27%.

46. Arenac County: 6.9%

The percentage of Arenac County residents without health insurance went from 12.8% in 2009-13 to 6.9% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 20% to 11%;

Percent with private insurance went from 63% to 71%;

Percent with public insurance went from 22% to 33%.

47. Grand Traverse County: 7%

The percentage of Grand Traverse County residents without health insurance went from 12.5% in 2009-13 to 7% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 18% to 10%;

Percent with private insurance went from 72% to 83%;

Percent with public insurance went from 14% to 17%.

48. Antrim County: 7.1%

The percentage of Antrim County residents without health insurance went from 13.6% in 2009-13 to 7.1% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 22% to 11%;

Percent with private insurance went from 66% to 79%;

Percent with public insurance went from 16% to 23%.

49. Iron County: 7.1%

The percentage of Iron County residents without health insurance went from 11.6% in 2009-13 to 7.1% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 19% to 11%;

Percent with private insurance went from 64% to 76%;

Percent with public insurance went from 24% to 27%.

50. Alger County: 7.2%

The percentage of Alger County residents without health insurance went from 13.2% in 2009-13 to 7.2% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 22% to 11%;

Percent with private insurance went from 64% to 76%;

Percent with public insurance went from 21% to 27%.

51. Iosco County: 7.2%

The percentage of Iosco County residents without health insurance went from 12.7% in 2009-13 to 7.2% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 21% to 11%;

Percent with private insurance went from 57% to 72%;

Percent with public insurance went from 28% to 35%.

52. Wayne County: 7.2%

The percentage of Wayne County residents without health insurance went from 14.7% in 2009-13 to 7.2% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 22% to 10%;

Percent with private insurance went from 60% to 72%;

Percent with public insurance went from 23% to 31%.

53. Houghton County: 7.3%

The percentage of Houghton County residents without health insurance went from 10.7% in 2009-13 to 7.3% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 16% to 10%;

Percent with private insurance went from 74% to 79%;

Percent with public insurance went from 15% to 22%.

54. Chippewa County: 7.4%

The percentage of Chippewa County residents without health insurance went from 14.1% in 2009-13 to 7.4% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 20% to 11%;

Percent with private insurance went from 66% to 76%;

Percent with public insurance went from 19% to 26%.

55. Lapeer County: 7.4%

The percentage of Wayne County residents without health insurance went from 11.5% in 2009-13 to 7.4% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 17% to 10%;

Percent with private insurance went from 74% to 81%;

Percent with public insurance went from 14% to 19%.

56. Cass County: 7.5%

The percentage of Calhoun County residents without health insurance went from 13.4% in 2009-13 to 7.5% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 21% to 11%;

Percent with private insurance went from 66% to 79%;

Percent with public insurance went from 16% to 20%.

57. Lake County: 7.5%

The percentage of Calhoun County residents without health insurance went from 16.2% in 2009-13 to 7.5% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 26% to 10%;

Percent with private insurance went from 44% to 62%;

Percent with public insurance went from 35% to 43%.

58. Roscommon County: 7.6%

The percentage of Roscommon County residents without health insurance went from 13.2% in 2009-13 to 7.6% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 22% to 13%;

Percent with private insurance went from 53% to 67%;

Percent with public insurance went from 30% to 34%.

59. Hillsdale County: 7.7%

The percentage of Hillsdale County residents without health insurance went from 14.6% in 2009-13 to 7.7% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 19% to 10%;

Percent with private insurance went from 67% to 77%;

Percent with public insurance went from 18% to 24%.

60. Berrien County: 7.8%

The percentage of Berrien County residents without health insurance went from 12.9% in 2009-13 to 7.8% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 20% to 11%;

Percent with private insurance went from 66% to 78%;

Percent with public insurance went from 18% to 23%.

61. Cheboygan County: 7.9%

The percentage of Cheboygan County residents without health insurance went from 15.3% in 2009-13 to 7.9% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 25% to 13%;

Percent with private insurance went from 57% to 73%;

Percent with public insurance went from 24% to 28%.

62. Ogemaw County: 7.9%

The percentage of Ogemaw County residents without health insurance went from 12% in 2009-13 to 7.9% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 19% to 11%;

Percent with private insurance went from 56% to 70%;

Percent with public insurance went from 31% to 35%.

63. Presque Isle County: 7.9%

The percentage of Presque Isle County residents without health insurance went from 12.3% in 2009-13 to 7.9% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 20% to 12%;

Percent with private insurance went from 68% to 75%;

Percent with public insurance went from 16% to 25%.

64. Montmorency County: 8%

The percentage of Montmorency County residents without health insurance went from 12.8% in 2009-13 to 8% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 21% to 13%;

Percent with private insurance went from 57% to 67%;

Percent with public insurance went from 28% to 36%.

65. Montcalm County: 8.1%

The percentage of Montcalm County residents without health insurance went from 13.7% in 2009-13 to 8.1% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 20% to 11%;

Percent with private insurance went from 65% to 76%;

Percent with public insurance went from 19% to 25%.

66. St. Joseph County: 8.1%

The percentage of St. Joseph County residents without health insurance went from 13.2% in 2009-13 to 8.1% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 19% to 11%;

Percent with private insurance went from 67% to 78%;

Percent with public insurance went from 18% to 22%.

67. Wexford County: 8.2%

The percentage of Wexford County residents without health insurance went from 13.6% in 2009-13 to 8.2% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 20% to 12%;

Percent with private insurance went from 63% to 74%;

Percent with public insurance went from 21% to 28%.

68. Emmet County: 8.3%

The percentage of Emmet County residents without health insurance went from 13.5% in 2009-13 to 8.3% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 20% to 12%;

Percent with private insurance went from 71% to 81%;

Percent with public insurance went from 12% to 18%.

69. Gogebic County: 8.4%

The percentage of Gogebic County residents without health insurance went from 17.2% in 2009-13 to 8.4% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 27% to 14%;

Percent with private insurance went from 58% to 70%;

Percent with public insurance went from 20% to 27%.

70. Keweenaw County: 8.4%

The percentage of Keweenaw County residents without health insurance went from 9.4% in 2009-13 to 8.4% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured stayed the same at 16%;

Percent with private insurance stayed the same at 71%;

Percent with public insurance went from 19% to 23%.

71. Van Buren County: 8.4%

The percentage of Van Buren County residents without health insurance went from 14.8% in 2009-13 to 8.3% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 22% to 12%;

Percent with private insurance went from 64% to 76%;

Percent with public insurance went from 18% to 25%.

72. Gladwin County: 8.5%

The percentage of Gladwin County residents without health insurance went from 15.1% in 2009-13 to 8.5% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 21% to 12%;

Percent with private insurance went from 62% to 70%;

Percent with public insurance went from 24% to 33%.

73. Isabella County: 8.8%

The percentage of Isabella County residents without health insurance went from 13.2% in 2009-13 to 8.8% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 17% to 10%;

Percent with private insurance went from 72% to 82%;

Percent with public insurance went from 14% to 19%.

74. Ontonagon County: 8.8%

The percentage of Ontonagon County residents without health insurance went from 13.7% in 2009-13 to 8.8% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 22% to 14%;

Percent with private insurance went from 62% to 71%;

Percent with public insurance went from 22% to 27%.

75. Missaukee County: 8.9%

The percentage of Missaukee County residents without health insurance went from 13.1% in 2009-13 to 8.9% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 20% to 13%;

Percent with private insurance went from 64% to 73%;

Percent with public insurance went from 20% to 27%.

76. Kalkaska County: 9.5%

The percentage of Kalkaska County residents without health insurance went from 15.6% in 2009-13 to 9.5% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 23% to 13%;

Percent with private insurance went from 60% to 71%;

Percent with public insurance went from 22% to 30%.

77. Oceana County: 9.9%

The percentage of Kalkaska County residents without health insurance went from 14.8% in 2009-13 to 9.9% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 23% to 15%;

Percent with private insurance went from 60% to 70%;

Percent with public insurance went from 21% to 28%.

78. Osceola County: 10.1%

The percentage of Osceola County residents without health insurance went from 14.6% in 2009-13 to 10.1% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 21% to 13%;

Percent with private insurance went from 60% to 69%;

Percent with public insurance went from 23% to 28%.

79. Sanilac County: 10.1%

The percentage of Sanilac County residents without health insurance went from 14.5% in 2009-13 to 10.1% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 21% to 13%;

Percent with private insurance went from 64% to 75%;

Percent with public insurance went from 19% to 24%.

80. Mackinac County: 10.6%

The percentage of Mackinac County residents without health insurance went from 17.2% in 2009-13 to10.6% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 25% to 16%;

Percent with private insurance went from 62% to 74%;

Percent with public insurance went from 18% to 23%.

81. Branch County: 11.1%

The percentage of Branch County residents without health insurance went from 13.3% in 2009-13 to 11.1% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 18% to 13%;

Percent with private insurance went from 67% to 76%;

Percent with public insurance went from 19% to 22%.

82. Clare County: 11.4%

The percentage of Clare County residents without health insurance went from 15.7% in 2009-13 to 11.4% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:

Percent uninsured went from 24% to 15%;

Percent with private insurance went from 52% to 65%;

Percent with public insurance went from 29% to 36%.

83. Oscoda County: 13.2%

The percentage of Oscoda County residents without health insurance went from 20.3% in 2009-13 to 13.2% in 2014-18. Among those age 19 to 64:
Alfresco enables the NHS Trust to drastically improve information sharing efficiency

Alfresco Software, an open source content, process and governance management software company, has announced that one of Europe's largest teaching hospitals, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, chose the Alfresco Digital Business Platform to create an innovative enterprise content management solution to modernise its 3+ million patient records. This project was a significant undertaking as the Trust employs over 17,000 staff and treats over 1.6 million patients each year across seven hospitals and 175 medical facilities. Working with Alfresco, the NHS Trust's success is paving the way for other hospitals across the UK to become paperless "digital hospitals."

The Trust needed an open source-based solution that would integrate with its existing medical record solution, as well as with a digitally shared care record initiative that allows clinical staff to view healthcare information across multiple care providers and between different systems in real-time. Using Alfresco the Trust has managed to completely overhaul its records management system and has begun converting its massive volume of paper records into digital format. The Trust simply scans the information into Alfresco and then destroys the paper document, eliminating the need to store documents for years on end.

"Alfresco has been absolutely pivotal for us in dealing with our paper records," said Rob Child, Programme Head of Digital Health Programmes, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. "It fits in with our paperless strategy of trying to get everything converted to digital. We can scan information into Alfresco and then destroy the paper document."

"Out of the hospital's 17,000 clinical and operational staff, some 10,000 will interact with the Alfresco platform," said Jay Bhatt, Chief Executive Officer, Alfresco. "We are pleased to see the direct impact of our technology on the NHS and to be able to make the work of medical professionals that much easier, so they can focus on what they do best, caring for those who need medical attention."

The Trust partnered with SynApps Solutions to design a process flow within the Alfresco Digital Business Platform to track and manage content, making information easily searchable. They are also working to improve the process of creating online medical leaflets that includes a template that asks questions enabling clinical teams to collaborate together to design a truly patient centred leaflet.

"It's very exciting to have a product like this that can help us get content out and share it easily. We're talking now with different departments about their processes to see if they can also be digitized. We want one platform to help solve all of our business problems. Anytime a problem is presented, we ask can Alfresco do that? If it can, then that's the way we want to go," continued Child.

Later this year, the Trust expects to start uploading all of its 10 TB of data and scanning its extensive warehouse full of paper records into Alfresco, making the platform its primary patient record repository. This is the largest NHS organization in the UK to use this technology and become fully digitized.

About Alfresco

Alfresco Software, Inc. ("Alfresco") is a commercial, open source software company that builds and markets a cloud-native, process, content and governance intensive Digital Business Platform. It is a single, integrated platform built from the ground up by Alfresco and is used to digitize processes, manage content and securely govern information. Alfresco is used by more than 1,300 industry-leading organizations, including Cisco, Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Delta Dental, Liberty Mutual, LexisNexis, Pitney Bowes, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, NASA, RBC Capital Markets and the US Navy Department. Founded in 2005, Alfresco has its headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts, USA and operations in Atlanta, GA., Maidenhead and London, UK, and Sydney, Australia. For more information about Alfresco, please visit http://www.alfresco.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005018/en/

Contacts:

Sara Krypel

AlfrescoUS@teamlewis.com

781-418-2422
Victims of Harvey Weinstein in Britain said last night they wanted to see the convicted rapist face justice in the UK, where he is accused of a string of attacks.

Scotland Yard detectives have vowed to continue investigating Weinstein, even though the disgraced movie mogul faces up to 29 years in a US jail.

Eleven women in the UK have accused the father of five of 16 attacks, all committed when he visited London for events such as film premieres or awards ceremonies.

Their calls for justice last night came as:

Victims of Harvey Weinstein in Britain said last night they wanted to see the convicted rapist face justice in the UK, where he is accused of a string of attacks. Weinstein is pictured with Kate Beckinsale

Weinstein was in hospital last night, having suffered chest pains on his way from a New York court to prison;

His lawyers said they were hopeful of getting bail pending an appeal and having him 'home within a week';

Prosecutors in Los Angeles were considering widening the scope of their own case against him;

A woman who claims she was 16 when he attacked her was said to be among new victims to have come forward;

One high-profile accuser said the Hollywood power broker could be 'one of the biggest serial rapists in history'.

On Monday, a New York jury convicted Weinstein, 67, of sex attacks on two women. He was remanded in custody for sentencing next month.

But he suffered high blood pressure and chest pains en route to Rikers Island jail.

Last night he was under guard in the prison ward of Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan.

He is thought to need a wheelchair to move around. His lawyer, Donna Rotunno, said he was 'OK', while his publicist said the move was 'precautionary'.

Another of his lawyers, attorney Arthur Aidala, said they would challenge the conviction and appeal judges would 'overturn this case in five minutes'.

Victims: The 'silence breakers' in LA yesterday, claiming more women would come forward

He added: 'We can get him bail pending appeal and hopefully he'll be home within a week.'

Several 'silence breakers'  his alleged victims  gathered in LA yesterday to make fresh claims.

Pulp Fiction star Rosanna Arquette said: 'There are new women, there will be new witnesses and one of them was 16 at the time.'

Actress Melissa Sagemiller added: 'We definitely want to keep fighting, in LA, in London  whatever comes up.'

Scotland Yard detectives have vowed to continue investigating Weinstein, even though the disgraced movie mogul faces up to 29 years in a US jail

Officers from Scotland Yard have flown to the US to interview victims for their case, which was opened in October 2017, even though there seems little prospect of the US extraditing Weinstein for trial in Britain.

On top of a possible 29-year sentence in New York, charges in LA, which include rape and sexual battery, could add another 28 years to his jail term. Only when all criminal prosecutions in America conclude will potential proceedings in Britain be considered.

Yesterday, one of his British victims, who has offered to help detectives, backed calls for Weinstein to face justice here.

Boris: I won't resist calls to strip disgraced mogul of CBE Boris Johnson will not stand in the way of moves to strip Harvey Weinstein of his CBE. The disgraced Hollywood mogul was made an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2004 for services to the film industry. Now MPs from all parties have demanded that it be revoked. But the honour is unlikely to be removed until after he has been sentenced. Yesterday Downing Street said stripping Weinstein of his CBE was the responsibility of an independent panel. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'It's a matter for the independent honours forfeiture committee to consider cases where the honours system has been brought into disrepute. We are crystal clear that any unwanted sexual behaviour is completely unacceptable and we condemn sexual violence in all of its forms.' Labour MP Wes Streeting said: 'Harvey Weinstein must be stripped of his honorary CBE immediately. His disgusting behaviour clearly falls far short of the standards expected.' When allegations against Weinstein were made public in 2017, it was reported that the forfeiture committee had received a complaint and that the forfeiting of his CBE was 'under active consideration'. But it could still be some months before Weinstein loses the honour. It was not until eight months after he was jailed that disgraced entertainer Rolf Harris finally lost his CBE in 2015. Advertisement

Former Oxford graduate Rowena Chiu, who was paid off when she accused Weinstein of trying to rape her, said: 'Those of us who were his employees in London and victims of his in Europe want to see justice served on our home turf.

'The fact that Harvey is being investigated in a country that is not his own shows that there is nowhere to hide.'

Scotland Yard's child abuse and sexual offences unit has received 16 allegations of sexual assault from 11 women dating from the early Eighties to 2015.

Among those to have publicly accused Weinstein in London are US film star Uma Thurman, who claimed he attacked her in his Savoy hotel suite in the mid-Nineties, and British actress Kate Beckinsale. It is not known, however, if either is among those who have contacted police.

Norwegian actress Natassia Malthe said Weinstein raped her at the Sanderson Hotel, Fitzrovia, in 2008 after a Bafta party.

British actress Lysette Anthony, who has reported Weinstein over an alleged assault at her Chelsea home in the Eighties, said of his conviction: 'No one is above the law  not even Harvey Weinstein.'

Lawyer Jill Greenfield, who represents six women in UK civil compensation claims against Weinstein, called the US verdict 'fantastic news'.

Mimi Haleyi, who stood up to Weinstein in court, said she would travel to the US to see him sentenced on March 11.

The production assistant, who lives in London, said she wept in a coffee shop when Monday's guilty verdict was delivered.

Rose McGowan, one of Weinstein's most high-profile accusers, told Good Morning Britain: 'He could be potentially one of the biggest serial rapists in history because he had a full machine set up only to rape.

'Movies, that was his living, but there was a rape factory  that's what the business was behind the scenes.'
China Attempting to Dominate Space Launches Despite Coronavirus Outbreak

News Analysis

The Chinese regime confirmed a fourth successful 2020 space mission on Feb. 19 and intends to continue dominating the space race despite a coronavirus outbreak.

China led the world in space launches between 2018 and 2019 with 73 missions, versus 48 for the United States and 45 for Russia for the same time period. China and the United States are both tied in 2020 with 4 launches.

State-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC) announced that its Long March 2D rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province to deploy four of its Xin Jishu Shiyan test satellites into geosynchronous orbits at an altitude of 298 miles (480 km). CASC added it still has plans for 40 missions in 2020.

CSAC stated that the low-orbit satellite grouping will perform observations and communication with one another as the Earth rotates. The satellites could be for civilian purposes such as communications or weather-monitoring, but such integrated missions are usually for military surveillance. Civilian observers have been unable to track Chinas 4 newly deployed satellites.

Before the launch, CASC Chairman Wu Yansheng personally examined the facilities to make sure that hundreds of workers followed strict coronavirus containment protocols, including wearing masks and protecting their food supplies, according to SpaceNews.

Chinas state-run Xinhua News Agency stated that China will launch a modified Long March 5B heavy-lift rocket in April to carry a trial version of a new manned spaceship that can carry crews of up to 6 passengers. The move would be a substantial upgrade from its prior manned vehicles that could only carry up to three taikonauts (Chinese for astronauts).

China has already scheduled at least ten Long March 5B missions to perform in-orbit assembly, and construction of a Chinese space station to be completed by 2022. Components for the first launch have already been delivered to Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan island in the South China Sea for testing.

The new Chinese space station will be shaped like a T, with a core module called Tianhe at the center, and twin lab capsules on both sides, Xinhua reported. The manned platform will offer 5,650 cubic feet (160 cubic meters) of living space. That equals slightly over one-third of the 13,696 cubic feet (388 cubic meters) of room in the International Space Station jointly operated by the United States, Russia, Japan, Europe and Canada.

Unlike its two test stations that deployed taikonauts for up to 33 days, China claims that its permanent space station will be highly sustainable for long residenciesit will be equipped with machinery to produce supplemental oxygen, and drinking water will come from urine that is recycled and purified, Xinhua reported.

CASC plans to launch its Long March 8 rocket in 2020 to attempt equaling the United States SpaceX Falcon 9s reusable first stage booster that performs a vertical landing recovery. If successful, China would be the second nation to demonstrate such capability, according to a report by Space.com.

The Epoch Times reported that China has formulated plans to exploit an Earth-moon space economic zone that will generate $10 trillion a year by 2050. China intends to fly its Long March-9 heavy-lift carrier rocket by 2030 to support construction of a space-based solar power plant to sustain its lunar economic development agenda, according to CASC Director of the Science and Technology Bao Weimin.
US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao during an official banquet at Rashtapati Bhavan on Tuesday.

Hyderabad: Representing the pride of four crore people of Telan-gana, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao was amongst the chosen ones to meet the visiting American President Donald Trump on Tuesday as a guest at the presidential banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

Mr Rao met Mr Trump, exchanged pleasantries while shaking hands, whi-ch was followed by the official dinner.

Before the commencement of the official dinner, President Ramnath Kovind and Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu introduced the Chief Ministers and other dignitaries who were invited for dinner with President Trump and first lady Melania Trump.

When Mr Trump met Mr Chandrashekar Rao, both leaders shook hands with a warm smile and chatted briefly. Mr Rao, it is repo-rted, purportedly reminded Mr Trump of the trip his daughter Ivanka had to Hyderabad in 2017.

In a joint address earlier, along with PM Narendra Modi, Mr Trump also recollected his daughters visit to Hyderabad. At the banquet, Mr Rao presented a memento to Mr Tru-mp, a replica of the Char-minar, besides Pocham-pally and Gadwal sarees to first lady Melania Trump.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 26

Trend:

During the Karabakh war, Armenian military committed an act of genocide against the population of Azerbaijans Khojaly town consisting of 7,000 people on Feb. 26, 1992.

As many as 613 people, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people were killed as a result of the massacre. A total of 1,000 civilians became disabled in the onslaught. Eight families were completely annihilated, 130 children lost one parent, while 25 lost both parents. Some 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people still remains unknown.

All these acts were committed by Armenian military with extreme mercilessness and inconceivable barbarism. The second battalion of 366th regiment under the command of Major Seyran Ohanian, the third battalion under the command of Yevgeniy Nabokhin, staff chief of the first battalion Valeriy Chitchyan and more than 50 officers and ensigns took part in the attack, according to "The Investigation Materials Concerning Khojaly Occupation".

The town residents who attempted to flee, were killed by Armenians in pre-organized ambushes. According to the Russian Remedial Center Memorial, 200 corpses were brought from Khojaly to Aghdam within four days of the massacre. Facts of humiliation on dozens of bodies were registered. Forensic examination in Aghdam was performed on 181 corpses, including 13 children. The examination revealed that 151 people died from bullet wounds, 20 people died from shrapnel wounds, 10 were killed with blunt instruments. Facts of scalping people alive were also revealed.

The Khojaly genocide has become one of the most terrible and tragic pages of Azerbaijani history.

Azerbaijani people have faced ethnic cleansing and genocide by Armenian nationalists and chauvinists for 200 years. Azerbaijanis were deported from their historical lands and became refugees and internally displaced persons, and all this was accompanied by massacres committed by Armenians.

The Nagorno-Karabakh events, which began in 1988 along with continuous efforts to implement the Armenian desire of building an Armenia from sea to sea, led to destruction of towns and villages, murder of thousands of innocent people, as well as the exile of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis from their historical lands.

Armenia's government is trying to annex Nagorno-Karabakh despite international legal norms, demonstrating its readiness to resort to any kind of crime and atrocity. The Khojaly genocide  a tragedy of the 20th century  was a result of this aggressive and criminal policy. This tragedy of the late 20th century was one of the most serious crimes not only against the people of Azerbaijan, but humanity as a whole.

Armenians scalped people alive, beheaded them and cut other parts of their bodies, gouged childrens eyes and disemboweled pregnant women. It should also be noted that chemical weapons were used in Khojaly during the attack.

All these prove that Armenia committed genocide against civilians, violating Geneva Convention's protocols.

The Khojaly genocide, committed with a particular atrocity, terrified journalists and publicists from Russia, Georgia, the UK, France, Germany, the US and other countries.

International conventions and laws in all countries condemn genocides like the Khojaly tragedy, and call them inadmissible.

The world must know that this crime was directed not only against the Azerbaijani people, but also against the whole civilized world.

This crime shouldnt go unpunished. Armenia's military-political aggression must be condemned by the world community. International organizations and parliaments of world countries must give political and legal assessment to the Khojaly genocide committed by Armenia in Azerbaijans territories.

The parliaments of several countries have made decisions recognizing the Khojaly genocide.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 21:58:09|Editor: huaxia

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China's unprecedented public health responses have yielded notable results in blocking human-to-human transmissions of the virus, preventing or at least delaying hundreds of thousands of cases: China-WHO joint expert team

BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- China is engaged in a war against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, a major public health emergency considered to have spread fastest, caused the most extensive infection and have been the hardest to contain since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.



Though the virus has infected more than 77,000 people, daily new cases are on an overall declining trend, with the number of recovered patients rapidly increasing.

After arduous work, the positive trend is now expanding, said President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

So, how China has done it? Here is a review.





STRONG LEADERSHIP

After the outbreak of the epidemic, the CPC Central Committee has attached great importance to the issue and made swift deployments.

Xi personally commands the people's war against the epidemic. He has been paying constant attention to the epidemic prevention and control work and made oral or written instructions every day.



President Xi Jinping inspects the novel coronavirus pneumonia prevention and control work in Beijing, capital of China, on Feb. 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

On Jan. 7, he issued requirements on the epidemic prevention and control work when he chaired a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

On Jan. 20, he demanded that Party committees and governments at all levels put people's lives and health as the top priority and make resolute efforts to curb the spread of the virus.

On Jan. 25, the first day of the lunar Chinese New Year, Xi chaired another meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, focusing on the COVID-19 outbreak. The meeting decided to form a central leading group on the epidemic, dispatch a central guiding team, and demand a State Council inter-agency task force play its full role in coordination.

"I was very encouraged and impressed by the President's detailed knowledge of the outbreak, and his personal involvement in the response," Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said after meeting Xi in Beijing on Jan. 28. "This was for me very rare leadership."

Afterward, Xi again held three meetings of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and one meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to study epidemic control and resumption of work and production.

On Feb. 10, Xi inspected COVID-19 prevention and control work in Beijing and heard reports from the frontline in the hardest-hit province of Hubei and its capital city Wuhan through video links.

President Xi Jinping inspects the novel coronavirus pneumonia prevention and control work in Beijing, capital of China, on Feb. 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Xi also made requirements on epidemic prevention and control from various aspects when he chaired meetings of a number of central commissions on overall law-based governance, cyberspace affairs, overall deepening reform and foreign affairs.

The latest was a meeting on Feb. 23 to coordinate epidemic control and economic and social development. Xi made specific requirements for both fronts.





TIMELY STRATEGY, POLITICAL COURAGE

Under Xi's command, China launched a people's war against the epidemic, with Wuhan and Hubei as the main battlefield. Lines of defense were set up. Personnel and resources were mobilized across the country.

Military medical staff airlifted by eight large transport planes of the air force of the People's Liberation Army arrive at Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

On curbing the spread, early detection, reports, quarantine and treatment are stressed. On treating patients, pooling together patients, experts, resources, as well as centralized treatment are underscored.

On Jan. 22, the CPC Central Committee made a decisive move that required huge political courage: it ordered Hubei to impose full and strict control over the outbound population flow.

A day later, all urban public transportation, including city buses, ferries and metro lines were suspended and outbound channels at the airport and rail stations closed in Wuhan, home to more than 10 million people.

It is an unprecedented move in modern Chinese history, but an effective one.

Tedros said China took "serious measures at the epicenter, at the source," which not only protected Chinese people, but also prevented the spread of the virus to other countries.

"Because of this strategy, if it weren't for China's efforts, the number of cases outside China would have been very much higher," he said earlier this month at a WHO Executive Board meeting in Geneva.

Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (2nd L) attends a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Junxia)

EFFECTIVE MEASURES

Along with that move, a series of other measures were also introduced to mobilize the whole country to contain the epidemic.

-- More than 330 medical teams consisting of some 41,600 medical personnel, both civilian and military, have been dispatched to Hubei from across the country.

-- The Huoshenshan and Leishenshan hospitals were swiftly built and started operation in Wuhan, in addition to various temporary hospitals converted from gyms, conference and exhibition centers to treat COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms.

-- Ensuring the provision of medical supplies in Wuhan and Hubei was prioritized and 19 provinces paired with other cities in Hubei to provide one-on-one support.

Workers make face masks in the workshop of a textile company in Jimo District of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 12, 2020. (Photo by Liang Xiaopeng/Xinhua)

-- In light of the serious problems that occurred in the early-stage prevention and control work in Hubei and Wuhan, the CPC Central Committee promptly put forward rectification requirements and adjusted the leadership of the CPC Hubei provincial committee and Wuhan municipal committee.

-- The Spring Festival holiday was extended to delay possible travel peaks. Arrangements were made to postpone the start of the new school semester, promote the flexible resumption of businesses and reduce the pressure on transportation.

-- Measures were taken to support manufacturers of medical protective suits, masks and other epidemic prevention and control materials that are in urgent need, help them quickly resume production and expand capacity.

-- Unified national distribution was put in place for essential materials, and the production and supply of daily necessities, coal, electricity, oil and gas were secured.

-- Order in medical institutions and the market was maintained, in addition to crackdowns on epidemic-related crimes, and strengthened psychological counseling and intervention for the public.

A woman buys vegetables at a market in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Feb. 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

-- Public communication was procedure-based and strengthened.

-- China also carried out cooperation and information exchange with the WHO and the international community, such as the timely sharing of the whole genome sequence of the virus.

After a nine-day field study trip, a China-WHO joint expert team concluded Monday that China's unprecedented public health responses to the COVID-19 outbreak have yielded notable results in blocking human-to-human transmissions of the virus, preventing or at least delaying hundreds of thousands of cases.

Bruce Aylward, an epidemiologist who led experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), speaks during a press conference held by the China-WHO joint expert team in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

Xi said 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.

China has drawn accolades from the international community for its efforts to contain the spread of the virus. Leaders of more than 170 countries and over 40 international or regional organizations expressed their support to China.

In a phone conversation with Xi, U.S. President Donald Trump said he is confident that under Xi's leadership, the Chinese people will undoubtedly win the battle against the outbreak.

While talking to Xi over the phone, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said no other country could do better than China.

In his message to Xi, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his belief that under Xi's leadership, China's resolute measures will contain the epidemic and minimize losses. (Video reporters: Yu Guoqing, Pan Zhiwei, Luo Xuefeng, Yang Wen, Zang Desan, Du Yang Chen Junxia, Li Xiaopeng; Video editor: Lin Lin)
Netflix "Gentefied" which had its premiere on Friday tells the story of three Mexican-American cousins who are trying to navigate their life and are hoping to achieve their dreams without compromising their deep rooted Latino values and culture.

Gentefied is a new series on Netflix that is about a fight between tradition and innovation. This story is about how the Mexican-American cousins struggled to achieve their dreams without putting their Mexican values and traditions left behind. This all started when the Taco Shop of their grandfather started to plummet because the rent began to increase and they were threatened to be evicted. At first, their grandfather resists with the changes of the shop but later on he finally gives in because there is no other way.

This was originally conceived as a web series by Marvin Lemus and Linda Yvette Chavez and was produced by America Ferrera. This was also first screened during the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. While it is true that this might not be based on a true story, it is also undeniable that this series talk about the real issues of Latinos living in the United States.

Lemus told the reporter of the NBC News, "It dawned on me that the neighborhood was changing and I was part of that change. Even though I had grown up low-income in a neighborhood just like it, I had moved there with a college degree and in a different situation than the family of four living in a studio apartment next door, and it made me question whether I belonged."

The question of the sense of belongingness is not new anymore for Lemus. He even said that Mexican-Americans are living in what he called "between worlds." He also added that you are never Mexican enough, and likewise, you are never American enough either.

Lemus shared his personal experience that he tried to figure out his question about tradition and innovation and a question about culture and sense of belongingness. He said that he tried to follow his American dream but he felt that he moved away from his roots and distancing himself from his culture. He came to the point of asking himself "What is the answer here?"

The digital series "Gentefied" will help him explore the answer to his questions. This series will also be the avenue to speak to the first-generation Latino millennials who are until now are searching to reconcile and redefine their identity most especially the U.S. born Latinos. To make this more possible, he worked with a Chicana who was from Los Angeles and has a background in comedy.

Chavez, who is also a first-generation Latino like Lemus, said: "Marvin had this vision for creating something very high quality about our community, and that for me was everything I had been wanting to do for years and was fighting to do and when he told me it was also a paid opportunity, I was like 'OK, let's do this.'"

This series is starred by Carlos Santos who played the character of Chris who struggled to define his identity. In this series, Chris wants to become a successful chef so he may work in a Michelin-starred restaurant by day and at night he tried to devise solutions to keep their family's Boyle Heights taquerIa open.

America Ferrera, the producer of the series and who also starred in its original web series, said that "In 'Gentefied,' we get to peek through the lens of bold Latino storytellers as they celebrate the lives of a Latino community navigating self-identity, class, and culture."
[February 25, 2020] Treble Announces Formation of Cybersecurity Practice Group RSA (News - Alert) CONFERENCE-Treble, an agency operating at the speed of business to meet the PR needs of technology startups and venture capital firms, today announced the formation of a cybersecurity practice group to promote mission-driven, innovative companies in the cybersecurity industry. Treble collaborates across the spectrum of venture-backed companies from seed-stage funding to pre-IPO enterprises to deliver impactful media relations results and strategic guidance. Cyberattacks have emerged as the top business concern of most executives, far ahead of economic uncertainty, brand damage and regulation, according to a 2019 report by Microsoft (News - Alert) and insurance consultancy Marsh. The same report points out a striking dissonance between the high concern about cyberattacks and the overall approach to managing them. Today's business environment puts cybersecurity firms on the front lines of the battle against attackers looking to steal private customer and corporate data. Treble's cybersecurity clients cover a broad spectrum of data protection: Praetorian: Praetorian is a cybersecurity company whose mission is to make the world safer and more secure. Through expertise and engineering, Praetorian helps today's leading organizations solve complex cybersecurity problems across their critical enterprise assets and product portfolios. Praetorian is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

Anitian: Anitian makes security and compliance easy. Leveraging the power and scale of the cloud, the Anitian Compliance Automation platform automatically builds, configures and monitors cloud environments to accelerate compliance with security frameworks such as PCI (News - Alert) , FedRAMP, ISO and more. Anitian is based in Portland, Oregon.

Tala Security: Tala secures and enables the modern web. By automating the deployment and dynamic adjustment of browser-native, standards-bsed security controls, Tala provides high-level security with zero impact on performance. Based in Fremont, California, Tala is a finalist for the RSA Conference 2020 Innovation Sandbox Contest.

FileCloud: FileCloud was built from its inception with security standards for the modern enterprise. FileCloud is FIPS 140-2 validated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a requirement for many U.S. federal implementations. Based in Austin, Texas, FileCloud received the Gartner (News - Alert) Peer Insights Customers' Choice Distinction for the second consecutive time in 2019.

Treble has been a strategic partner to propel 15 startups to exit since 2014. Successful exits across the Treble client portfolio include TrendKite (acquired by Cision), Favor (acquired by H-E-B), StackEngine (acquired by Oracle), Boxer (acquired by VMware) and Joyride (acquired by Google). "Treble has been a tremendous partner in elevating our brand and the problem we are solving," said Aanand Krishnan, founder and CEO at Tala Security. "The team is at the forefront of breaking news and has established relationships with journalists that enable us to be featured prominently in stories we would otherwise not have known about. The end result is a powerful combination of press coverage that accelerates our growth trajectory." Headquartered in Austin, Treble has partnered with venture capital firms and venture-backed technology companies across the United States. Treble has senior-level talent based in San Francisco and Denver, and has a proprietary, scalable pricing model to adapt specifically to the needs of the growth stage of a company, from seed-stage funding to publicly traded enterprises. "I've had the opportunity to collaborate with Ethan over the course of two decades," said John Vecchi, chief marketing officer at Anitian. "At Anitian, we look forward to a strategic partnership that puts our C-level executives on the national stage and furthers our credibility as a global leader in cybersecurity and compliance." About Treble Treble is the PR agency working at the speed of business. An immersive partner for VC firms to propel exits across the spectrum of portfolio investments, we optimally align early and collectively scale with startups to drive brand differentiation, strategic partnerships and lead generation. With 15 exits and expertise in B2B and B2C tech spanning multiple verticals including enterprise, education, finance, industrials, healthcare, marketing, agriculture, legal, cybersecurity, DevOps and more, combined with our INK content bureau, Treble locks in results that accelerate exits. Visit us at treblepr.com or on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005054/en/

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What does it take for a young Southern girl to emerge intact and in triumph in the face of a complex, fractured world? Such is the struggle for 11-year-old Sam, the central character of "About Last Night and the Other Night," the tender, elegant play now on stage at the College of Charleston's Emmett Robinson Theatre.

The same question could be applied to Sam's creator, Donnetta Lavinia Grays. Raised in Columbia and schooled at the College of Charleston, the Brooklyn-based playwright and actor ("Law and Order: SVU" and "The Sopranos") has of late received much recognition for her affecting coming-of-age drama spanning Brooklyn and a Southern town.

While not autobiographical per se, the playwright's trajectory is the same, and her solid footing in both realms is both evident and resonant in "Last Night and the Night Before." After making its premiere at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts in February 2019, it now finds the 1999 CofC alumna back on campus through her work.

The production represents one of a series of family-focused productions presented this season by the college's Department of Theatre and Dance (and running concurrently with a production of Caridad Svich's "Spark").

Guest director Nakeisha Daniel, a Charleston-based, Brooklyn friend of Grays, shepherds a play well-suited for the mainly undergraduate ensemble. In subject matter, it gets at the apt nub of striking out from home, leaving or finding family and tracing memory along the way. And, in terms of casting, the drama doesn't stretch a suspension of disbelief for student performers.

Translation: We are spared the requisite powdered hair and grease pencil wrinkles that often aim to age up fresh-faced freshmen, and thus have a show that works for the broader community. It should be noted that the college's acting students regularly feed into companies around town, so it's well worth getting to know them. (Full disclosure: Many moons ago, I was among them.)

This production ages down from college, too, and does so to poignant end by importing the transfixing seventh-grader Lanche Woods to play Sam. A little girl lost in her own world, she whiles away her hours on a Brooklyn stoop as her family falls apart and re-forms.

Sam has arrived with her unstable mother Monique (the fittingly shifty Harlem Farr) at the Brooklyn apartment of her aunt Rachel (Trinity Griffin) and Rachel's wary partner Nadima (Madison Bailey). Mother and daughter have driven up overnight from Georgia, though the wheres and whys of their flight shift and change as quickly as the hand games Sam plays. We, too, shift with the facts, traveling back in time to Sam's parents' courtship and other grim events that have led them to the present.

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Through those increasingly jaded hand games, sweetly, rhythmically singing and slapping, Sam weathers her lot of being shuttled from one would-be parent to another. At once distant and childlike, she remains somewhat hazy about what has happened to her father (the charming Gee Barber), whom she adores, and about what is to become of a mother who never really was one.

As Griffin's forthright, convincing Rachel makes sense of what happened and determines what is to become of Sam, Bailey's increasingly discomfited Nadima becomes the odd one out in her own home, chucked aside by her partner's messy, sticky blood ties. At the same time, we unpack all the messy stuff of Sam's lost innocence, too, an innocence fallen prey to both nature, with her approaching adolescence, and nurture, with the fraught undoing of her drug-addled mother.

There were times when the cast lost the fight with the theater's ambient noise, thus muffling the lines of a finely wrought script. At other times, as I rooted for their characters, I also rooted for the performers to gain the full self-possession that comes with age or experience.

This all played out on scenic designer Victoria Leatherman's effective set, propping up a Brooklyn apartment on the base of a large tree root, and with smart costumes by student costume designer Morgan Clinton.

Mainly, I was heartened by the playwright's journey, giving a new group of College of Charleston student actors meaty, meaningful fare. Speak to any Charleston-based playwright, and you may also learn more about the drama of actually getting a play to the stage in Charleston.

With that in mind, it's hard not to note the parallels between Grays and Sam. Both mine Southern roots from a new home in a faraway borough, whether trying their hand at childhood games or carefully constructing a work that mines the aching fragility and inevitable undoing of childhood.

Here's to them both continuing to emerge whole and wholly triumphant  and to always, if only for a visit, finding their way back home.
Throughout this process we have been in close touch with President Marcos and his family and we want to see them continue on in dignity and honor and we will do everything that we can to see this comes about. Mr Shultz said that Mrs Aquino supported the presence of US bases in the Philippines. We wish to cooperate with the new Government, he said. Ramos In Manila, General Fidel Ramos, speaking on television, appealed to the public not to loot the presidential palace.

At this stage I would advise anyone in the Malacanang area to avoid premature celebration, he said. Let us not create further trouble by going to the palace and possibly looting. That is the property of the Filipino people. A Filipino protester carries a sign supporting Corazon Aquino. Credit:Charles Cugley As the new flashed across the capital, crowds of joyful Filipinos thronged the streets. Youre hearing the rebirth of democracy, a radio announcer boomed over a public address system.

Fearing that the people would destroy buildings erected under the Marcos regime, General Ramos said on TV: Let us try to preserve these places. He then said: I am authorising our people to use the freedom park in front of Malacanang as your freedom park. You can use this as a picnic place or gathering ground for the rest of the week while you celebrate. It is believed this authorisation was given by Mrs Aquino. General Ramos then said he was leaving the TV studio for Malacanang: Please wait for me, I am on my way, he said. Let us go and protect and preserve Malacanang for our beloved President Cory Aquino. The general said he was now responsible for the safety of Malacanang. About 5000 pro-Aquino supporters were outside the palace gates, periodically chanting Mrs Aquinos nickname, Cory, Cory, Cory.

At least 1000 marines marched out of the presidential palace and eyewitnesses reported that their commander had said the war is over. The commander, Colonel Fortuno, said his men were returning to their barracks located across the river from the palace. About 200 troops who had been guarding a road leading to the palace moved back and chatted with about 900 opposition supporters who handed them flowers. The marines had been regarded as the backbone of forces still loyal to President Ferdinand Marcos. Both Mr Marcos and Mrs Aquino had earlier in the day been sworn in as President in separate ceremonies.

President Marcos during an election rally at Rizal Park. Credit:Peter Solness Mr Marcos took his oath of office at the palace before the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Ramon Aquino. The ceremony was held in Maharlika Hall  named after the guerrilla unit Mr Marcos led during World War II, the record of which, along with Mr Marcos war decorations, has been attacked as fraudulent. Mr Marcos had gone ahead with his inauguration despite intense pressure from the United States to resign. He had held talks with senior US officials in the 24 hours ceremony.

Three kilometres away, Mrs Aquino was sworn in by Senior Associate Justice Claudio Teehankee in a makeshift room at the Club Pilipino. In what she called executive order no.1, Mrs Aquino named Doy Laurel, earlier sworn in as Vice-President, as her Prime Minister. She appointed Mr Juan Ponce Enrile, whose defection from the Marcos ministry as Defence Minister was a catalyst in the revolution, as Defence Minister in her own Government. General Ramos, who defected as deputy chief of staff of the armed forces and rallied the reformists, was promoted to full general and made chief of staff. Mrs Aquino made no mention of the possible fate of Mr Marcos.

She has always held him and his chief of staff, General Fabian Ver, responsible for the assassination of her husband Beningo. Her proclamation as President was made by about 60 members of the 190-member National Assembly, the Batasang Pambansa. Most were from the opposition but a few were defectors from Mr Marcos New Society Movement. In their signed proclamation, the members of the Batasang Pambansa declared the previous proclamation of Mr Marcos as President null and void because of massive fraud during the election. Mrs Aquino said in her acceptance speech that during the Marcos years we Filipinos became exiles in our own land, we who are at home only in freedom. We are home again. The role of the Catholic Church in the movement to overthrow Mr Marcos was underlined when the ceremony was opened by Bishop Frederico Escaler.
They're incredibly secretive about their children and have yet to reveal their young daughter's name.

Diane Kruger and Norman Reedus had a day out without the kids on Monday as she dropped by a salon in Los Angeles for some upkeep.

Later, the 43-year-old actress and the 51-year-old Walking Dead fixture stopped for a coffee pick-me-up.

Looking her best: Diane Kruger, 43, and Norman Reedus, 51, had a day out without the kids on Monday as she dropped by a salon in Los Angeles for some upkeep

Diane looked rugged in a black graphic T-shirt paired with ragged cut-off jeans that showcased her toned legs.

The 5ft7in Inglourious Basterds star elevated her stature with black Vagabond boots, and she blocked the breeze with a tan trench coat with a vibrant orange handbag slung around her body.

Norman rocked a more anonymous look with a navy and white striped shirt, weathered charcoal jeans, and a black Powerplant motorcycles cap covering his shaggy hair.

Fierce: Diane looked rugged in a black graphic T-shirt paired with ragged cut-off jeans that showcased her toned legs

Towering: The 5ft7in Inglourious Basterds star elevated her stature with black Vagabond boots, and she blocked the breeze with a tan trench coat

Eye-catching: She had a vibrant orange handbag slung around her shoulders

Absent from the LA outing was the couple's 15-month-old daughter, whom they're intensely private about.

So far, they have yet to release her name publicly, and the couple have only ever shared photos to Instagram that don't feature her face.

She's the first child for Diane and second for Norman, who also has a 20-year-old son named Mingus with his former partner, Danish supermodel Helena Christensen.

The couple were an item from 19982003, and they welcomed their son in October 1999.

Keep it secret: Absent from the LA outing was the couple's 15-month-old daughter, whom they're intensely private about

Anonymous: So far, they have yet to release her name publicly, and the couple have only ever shared photos to Instagram that don't feature her face

Shared love: She's the first child for Diane and second for Norman, who also has a 20-year-old son named Mingus with his former partner, Danish supermodel Helena Christensen

The seeds of their relationship seem to have begun with the 2015 FrenchGerman film Sky.

The GermanAmerican actress told People in April 2016 that they hadn't met prior to that production.

'I didnt know [Norman] before the film,' she said of her now-partner, who played her love interest after she had ditched her abusive husband.

'We share a lot of intimate scenes. I was really nervous about meeting him and not being able to have a drink with him, or talk with him.'

The two seem have hit it off once they finally got to spend some time together, though.

'Hes so relaxed. Hes really easygoing, very gentle,' she said.

Simple: Norman rocked a more anonymous look with a navy and white striped shirt, weathered charcoal jeans, and a black Powerplant motorcycles cap covering his shaggy hair

Meet cute: The seeds of their relationship seem to have begun with the 2015 FrenchGerman film Sky, where they met for the first time

At the time, the Welcome To Marwen actress was dating Joshua Jackson, whom she split from in mid-2016, though it's unclear when one relationship ended and the other began.

Diane is set to star in the upcoming Quibi series Swimming With Sharks, an update of George Huang's comedy from 1994 about the Hollywood studio system that will also star Mad Men's Kiernan Shipka.

There have also been rumors of a reteaming with Nicolas Cage for a third National Treasure film, though so far nothing has solidified.

Meanwhile, there's not much on the horizon for Norman except more of the long-running AMC horror series The Walking Dead.

He's been a fixture on the show since its first season in 2010.

Last year, he played the lead role in Hideo Kojima's acclaimed video game Death Stranding.

Fuzzy: At the time, the Welcome To Marwen actress was dating Joshua Jackson, whom she split from in mid-2016, though it's unclear when one relationship ended and the other began

Stasis: Norman currently stars on The Walking Dead, and there's no end in sight for the long-running horror series

Caffeine blast: The couple stopped by the popular spot Alfred Coffee in West Hollywood

On the go: The couple were on the move to run some errands throughout the city

Diane classed up her ensemble with a striking orange Hermes bag

Light mood: The two shared a laugh while chatting on the go
A New York City firefighter who rescued the body of his older brother from the rubble after 9/11 died on Saturday of pancreatic cancer linked to the rescue work he completed at the scene.

Danny Foley, 46, spent eleven days hunting through the ruins of the World Trade Center to find the body of his 32-year-old brother Tommy in 2001.

A 21-year veteran of the fire department, the father of five died on February 22 after receiving a cancer diagnosis last year.

FDNY firefighter Danny Foley, 46, died on Saturday of pancreatic cancer linked to the rescue work at Ground Zero

Danny is the third member of the Foley family to die as a result of 9/11. His father, Tom Foley Sr., also passed away of cancer related to the rescue work in 2016, according to Fox News.

'The Foley family wishes to thank family and friends for their support and love over the last year during Danny's battle, including the New York City Fire Department, especially Danny's brothers in Rescue Company 3,' the family said in a statement.

FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro commended Foley as another 'brave member of our department'.

'The attacks on the World Trade Center have claimed yet another brave member of our Department, and the Foley family,' he said in a statement.

'Daniel Foley, like his brother Thomas who was killed on September 11th, dedicated his life to rescuing others. We will never forget them'.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio also paid tribute to Foley, calling him the 'best of this city'.

'Firefighter Daniel Foley gave his life for our city,' de Blasio wrote in a tweet.

'Just like his older brother Thomas did on 9/11. They represented the best of this city and we will never forget them. God bless their memory and their family.'

Danny Foley, pictured here to the left with his widow Carrie and five children, is the third member of the Foley family to die as a result of 9/11 . His older brother Tommy died on September 11, 2001, in the attack while his father Tom Sr. also died of 9/11-related cancer

Firefighter Danny Foley spent 11 days searching the rubble for his brother Tommy, pictured

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio paid his respects to the Foley family on Danny's death

Foley was diagnosed with cancer on February 24, 2019, almost 18 years after the attack, his widow Carrie Benedict Foley confirmed.

'It's continuing to affect people and their families through every kind of illness,' she told USA Today.

'Nineteen, 18 years later, you find you have cancer'.

Danny first joined the FDNY in 1991 assigned to Ladder 49 in the Bronx and throughout his 21 years of service, he was cited 10 times by the fire department for bravery and received three departmental medals for rescues he completed.

Foley's older brother Tommy, 32, was killed in the 9/11 attacks and his family established the Thomas J. Foley Memorial Foundation to educate people on the events of September 11, 2001.

'On the first night, Danny promised his mother and father he wouldn't come home until he brought his brother home with him,' Lieutenant Mickey Conboy of Rescue Co. 3 told WCBS on Sunday.

'On the 11th day, Danny miraculously found his brother Tommy in the rubble at the World Trade Center'.

Tommy Foley, pictured, died aged 32, in the 9/11 attacks and his brother Danny was reassigned to the Rescue Company 3, the last unit he worked in after his death to aid the rescue efforts

Danny Foley, right, pictured on his wedding day with his wife Carrie and brother Tommy. Both brothers have died as a result of the 9/11 attacks and illnesses related to the rescue work

Danny Foley, pictured right with his wife and five children, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February 2019, an illness related to his work on the Ground Zero rescue site

Danny was not originally assigned to the recovery efforts with Rescue Company 3 but he continued to come back to the site every day after the 11-day hunt for his brother before eventually being transferred.

Rescue Company 3 lost eight members during the 9/11 attacks but Danny Foley is the first to die from pancreatic cancer caused by the effects of working on the scene.

More than 220 firefighters have died as a result of illnesses related to the Ground Zero rescue and recovery work.

According to FDNY spokesperson Jim Long, one person dies every two weeks from a 9/11-related illness.

A firefighter breaks down after the World Trade Center buildings collapsed September 11, 2001. Many firefighters are now battling illnesses related to the emergency response work

Smoke still rises from Ground Zero of the collapsed World Trade Center Wednesday, September 19, 2001, more than a week after the terrorist attacks in New York. The poor air conditions later resulted in some emergency workers in the rescue site developing cancer

In 2019, President Donald Trump signed a bill which would extend the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund to allow continued compensation for those injured in the attacks or who are now suffering from illnesses from working at the scene.

The bill had originally been due to expire in 2020 but the new bill, which was championed by comedian Jon Stewart, will now continue until 2090.

On July 26, 2019, Danny Foley and his wife Carrie were in the White House as President Trump signed the extension into effect.

As of December 2019, 102,049 general responders, FDNY, survivors and others have registered with the World Trade Center Health Program, of which 2,691 are deceased.

The attacks killed 2,977, 2606 of whom were in Lower Manhattan.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met on February 25 with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi in Geneva, on the sidelines of the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, the MFA told Armenpress.

The Armenian FM thanked Filippo Grandi for his activity and stated that Armenia highly values the High Commissioners role in the implementation of programs for ensuring the needs of refugees and internally displaced people.

FM Mnatsakanyan reaffirmed Armenias full support and commitment to the Global Compact on Refugees.

Touching upon the ongoing developments in the Middle East and the humanitarian situation in Syria, the Armenian FM said Armenia is closely following the processes taking place in the region conditioned by its historic presence and involvement in the Middle East region. He reaffirmed Armenias readiness to continue its humanitarian mission in Syria to assist the Syrian people on addressing their challenges and concerns.

The minister introduced the UN High Commissioner for Refugees on Armenias constant actions on responding to the needs of Syrian-Armenians and improving the living conditions in Armenia.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
This footage of Market Street in the mid-60s feels like the opening of a Scorsese masterpiece, the passing neon signs and movie theater marquees giving a glimpse of a vibrant citys central artery at night. Passing billiard halls, cigar bars, nightclubs and record stores briefly tease what life, music and vice may lie behind the clean, bright post-war facades, before disappearing into the dark, and into history.

The camera, seemingly fixed to the back of a trolley or car, glides from Market and 8th streets, down five long blocks before coming to a halt near Market and 3rd, capturing some remarkably high-quality footage along the way. Theres bristling electricity in the air, the street is alive and full of potential  it's an American city on the brink of a counter-cultural explosion, where even the Greyhound station looks enticing.
Dr. Cummins has completed some of the most recognized and respected post-doctoral programs in the country and continues to travel frequently for continuing education often.

The Haute Beauty Network well known for its exclusivity, and luxurious lifestyle publication Haute Living is privileged and honored to present Dr. Sara Cummins as a leading Smile Expert and our newest addition to the Haute Living partnership.

Haute Beauty offers a prominent collective of leading doctors nationwide. The invitation-only exclusive network maintains elite as ever, with only two doctors in every market. This partnership allows Haute Beauty to connect its affluent readers with industry-leading doctors and helps accurately provide the best treatment to our patients.

Visit Dr. Sara Cummins Haute Beauty Profile - https://hauteliving.com/hautebeauty/member/dr-sara-cummins/

ABOUT DR. SARA CUMMINS:

Dr. Sara S. Cummins is the owner and founder of Sara Cummins, Aesthetic and Implant Dentistry, which is located in Prospect, Kentucky. Dr. Cummins began construction of her first practice just before graduating from University of Louisville School of Dentistry in 2003. She had a clear vision of her philosophy of care. This includes practices such as integrated clinical excellence, exceptionally personalized treatment, and a uniquely comfortable patient experience. Pursuing these core principles, Dr. Cummins practice evolved to 2 locations which recently merged into one new contemporary facility. Her focus is on comprehensive aesthetic restoration, implant dentistry, 3-D CBCT imaging, and advanced periodontal therapies.

Dr. Cummins has completed some of the most recognized and respected post-doctoral programs in the country and continues to travel frequently for continuing education often. She holds memberships in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, American Academy of Implant Dentistry, and Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation and the list continues to grow with time. She is a graduate of Midwest Implant Institute and has earned Preferred Provider status with Invisalign. She has been awarded Louisville Dental Societys Professionalism Award and the Southeastern Academy of Prosthodontics Excellence in Prosthodontics Award.

In addition, Dr. Cummins serves as a lecturer and clinical experience preceptor for the Physician Assistant Masters Degree Program at Sullivan University, diligently precisely educating students about the link between oral health and total body health, which is something Dr. Cummins truly believes in. Her commitment to continually researching in this area is reflected in the contemporary techniques she employs to treat periodontal disease in her practice.

Dr. Sara Cummins commitment to health and wellness extends beyond the dental office. She is very committed to fitness and enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, and trying new activities to keep her going. Her other interests include traveling, cooking, and spending time with her children, Sam and Nora.
Under the Trump administration, the Supreme Court has been the place where immigrants rights go to die. Time and again, the conservative majority has upheld unconstitutional restrictions on immigration and allowed the government to implement legally dubious attacks on noncitizens in the United States. On Tuesday morning, the court continued this trend in a 54 decision in Hernandez v. Mesa throwing out a lawsuit against a border patrol agent who shot a teenager across the Southern border, relieving the increasingly violent Customs and Border Protection from accountability. As Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg noted in dissent, the killing was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of abuse that CBP refuses to address.

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After the court announced its opinion in Hernandez, it heard arguments in another immigration-related case: United States v. Sineneng-Smith, which involves a federal law that bars people from encouraging noncitizens to enter or stay in the U.S. illegally. Remarkably, a majority of the justices seemed prepared to invalidate the statute, or at least dramatically narrow its scope. As hostile as this court is to immigrants, it may draw the line at a law that literally criminalizes immigration advocacy.

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Evelyn Sineneng-Smith, the defendant in the case, ran a consulting firm that helped undocumented immigrants apply for green cards under a labor certification program. But she regularly promoted the program to people who were ineligible for it, then took their money and filed futile applications. In 2010, federal prosecutors charged her with fraud, for obvious reasons. But they also charged her under a law that allows the felony prosecution of anyone who knowingly or recklessly encourages or induces a noncitizen to come to, enter, or reside in the United States illegally. After a jury found her guilty, Sineneng-Smith appealed her conviction under this statute, arguing that it is overbroad in violation of the First Amendment.

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No justice except Samuel Alito seemed to believe that the government can really punish anybody who encourages undocumented immigration. If it could, after all, then political speech defending open borders or opposing deportation might be considered a federal offense. Lawyers who represent undocumented immigrants could be prosecuted; so could family members, charities, and medical providers who urge these immigrants to remain in the country. The Department of Justice insists that nobody should worry about those possiblities, because it can be trusted to wield the law responsibly.

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Chief Justice John Roberts first question of the day did not bode well for the government: He asked Deputy Solicitor General Eric Feigin to concede that there are situations in which this would be unconstitutional as applied.

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Lets suppose a grandmother whose granddaughter is in the United States illegally tells the granddaughter, I hope you will stay, I will miss you, things will not get better if you go back, so I encourage you to stay,  Roberts said. The First Amendment plainly protects that speech. Yet it would be illegal under the statute, right?

Feigin claimed that the law covers only criminal conduct or solicitation of a crime, not mere advocacy or expression. But the justices were skeptical. Roberts joked that the court would have to get that [interpretation] passed by the Senate and House and then signed by the president because its basically a new law. Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked Feigin how an average person could possibly know about all of the limitations youre suggesting to us.

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To salvage the law, Feigin fell back on the classic trust us argument: Sure, the statute might cover constitutionally protected speech, but the court can trust federal prosecutors to punish only the real bad guys. The statute has never been used, Feigin said, to prosecute pure expression with no direct connection to a crime. Sotomayor jumped in. But it has been used, she said, citing an Amnesty International brief that pointed out that the Department of Homeland Security maintains a watchlist of journalists and activists at the Southern border. These individuals were being watched because they potentially violated this encouragement provision and inducement provision, Sotomayor said. Border officials then harassed and detained people on the list. And DHS used this law to justify its actions. How, Sotomayor wondered, could Feigin possibly assert that it has no chilling effect?

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Feigin countered that DHS was focused on investigating instances of violence against border patrol agents and suspicions that people were being counseled to lie to immigration officials. In fact, all available evidence indicates that DHS sought to surveil individuals, including journalists and lawyers, connected to migrant caravans. (This is not the first or even second time Donald Trumps Justice Department has misled the Supreme Court.) But Sotomayor had pretty much dropped the mic. Sure, the government doesnt often trot out this statute to put people behind bars. But its existence gives DHS a pretext to monitor and penalize people engaged in speech that the government doesnt like. That fact may be reason enough to strike it down.

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Theres another problem with the statute, as Justice Neil Gorsuch pointed out: Its a basic First Amendment value that courts dont allow punishment for speech greater than the underlying conduct itself. For instance, if you egg on a bank robbery, you cant be sent to prison for longer than the thieves who robbed the bank. But simply residing in the United States without authorization isnt a felony or even a misdemeanor; its a civil offense. How, Gorsuch asked, can the government criminally punish the speech when the conduct itself would be civilly punished?

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Feigin offered a weak responsebasically, the government promises to punish only speech intertwined with a serious criminal offensebut that ship had sailed. By the time Mark Fleming, who represented Sineneng-Smith, approached the lectern, only Alito would defend the law. Alito suggested that it might be constitutional because Congress can censor speech intended to incite imminent lawless action and likely to succeed. But the rest of the justices had moved on, debating whether they could save the statute by narrowing it. Justices Elena Kagan and Brett Kavanaugh nudged Fleming toward a compromise that would pare back the law to cover really bad stuff and nothing else.

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If the court defangs the law, thatll be a qualified victory for immigration advocates. In the end, though, a majority of justices seem more likely to scrap it and tell Congress to try again. That outcome would be a win for free speech and, in a sense, the court itself. For three years now, the conservative majority has rubber-stamped Trumps immigration crackdown, to the point that Sotomayor recently accused her colleagues of favoring the Trump administration over every other litigant. And in Hernandez, a bare majority gave CBP a free pass to brutalize noncitizens across the border. A ruling for the First Amendment in Sineneng-Smith would prove that, at a bare minimum, the government cant gag those whod like to help immigrants in need.
On former President Jimmy Carter's farmland, where nut and soybean crops once stretched as far as the eye could see, there are now 3,852 solar panels providing clean energy for much of Plains, Georgia.

Carter has long championed clean energy  he was the first president to use solar panels at the White House, explaining in 1979: "A generation from now, this solar heater can either be a curiosity, a museum piece, an example of a road not taken, or it can be just a small part of one of the greatest and most exciting adventures ever undertaken by the American people."

In 2017, the SolAmerica company worked with Carter to install solar panels on 10 acres of his farm, with the goal of powering most of Plains. Plains is home to 727 residents, and today, those solar panels provide more than half the town's power. One megawatt produces enough energy to keep the lights on in 400 to 900 homes, and the Carter farm's solar panels can provide 1.3 megawatts a day under the right conditions, People reports. SolAmerica Energy President George Mori told the magazine that by 2042, the panels are expected to have provided more than 55 million kilowatt hours of power.

The solar panels at the White House were dismantled by former President Ronald Reagan, and are on display at museums around the world, including the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., and the Carter Presidential Library in Atlanta.

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Japan Data

Despite high rents and overcrowded trains, Japanese residents continue to be drawn to the Tokyo metropolitan area.

A 2019 report on internal migration in Japan found that 148,783 more people moved into the Tokyo metropolitan area (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba Prefectures) than moved out. The majority, accounting for 55.8% or 83,000 people, was into Tokyo.

These Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications statistics, which include non-Japanese residents, have registered a net inflow to the metropolitan area every year since they were first recorded in 2014. Long-term statistics, covering only Japanese citizens, show that despite a temporary trend toward outward migration following the bursting of the bubble economy in 1992, there has been a net inflow since 1996.

As part of the governments strategies to revitalize regional areas, it set a five-year goal in 2015 to halt population outflow from regional areas toward Tokyo. However, it has had no effect and the influx into the metropolitan area shows no sign of stopping.

Nearly 90% of those who moved to the Tokyo area were 15 to 29 years old, in many cases presumably migrating for study and work.

In contrast, more people moved out than in for the sixth year running in both the Nagoya area (Aichi, Gifu, and Mie Prefectures), with a net outflow of 15,017, and the Osaka area (Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, and Nara Prefectures), with a net outflow of 4,097. Although each attracts new residents from all regions of Japan, this is not enough to offset the increasing outflow to the Tokyo area. The capital maintains an attraction for people not only from rural areas but also other big cities.

(Translated from Japanese. Banner photo: Takeshita-dori in Harajuku, Tokyo, crowded with people.  Pakutaso.)
The state's police watchdog is suffering from instability, low staff morale, budget constraints, and an uncertain future over its leadership, a parliamentary hearing has heard.

Reginald Blanch, QC, told the committee he hadn't thought of whether he would stay on as the acting chief commissioner of the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission beyond his immediate six-month tenure after the contract of its former head, Michael Adams, QC, wasn't renewed in the midst of a strip-search inquiry.

Law Enforcement Conduct Commission acting chief commissioner Reginald Blanch, QC. Credit:Nic Walker

But Mr Blanch, former chief judge of the District Court and acting head of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, said the LECC would revive hearings into the probe to air evidence of the psychiatric impact that strip searches can have on young people.

"It might also be appropriate to ask the police union whether it wants to have any input into it as to whether there is an effect on young police officers who are required to do it," Mr Blanch said this month.
Barna: 5 trends driving Americans' perception of church relevance, influence

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New research by the evangelical Christian polling firm Barna Group, which looked at how Americans relate with the churches they attend, reveals five notable trends affecting pastors and Christian leaders.

The findings are part of the State of the Church 2020 study, a year-long examination of the spiritual and religious trends that define American life these days. The researchers primarily explored two different categories of adults who have relatively recent experience in a Christian church: practicing Christians and churched adults.

In the first case, were talking about those who are the most church savvy adults. In the second, were looking at all of those adults who are reasonably familiar with the experience of churchgoing, Barna President David Kinnaman explained in an article based on the research.

Here are the five trends that Barna discovered:

1. Declining church loyalty, church hopping

Barna found that nearly two in five churchgoers report regularly attending multiple churches, suggesting that just because somebody might attend church doesnt mean they attend the same church every time.

However, 63 percent of churched adults and 72 percent of practicing Christians tend to stick with a single congregation. And nearly two in five churched adults and one-quarter of practicing Christians at least occasionally attend other churches.

Interestingly, church hoppers are just as likely as more loyal attenders to report weekly attendance. In other words, just because they select from a handful of different churches to attend doesnt make them any less likely to actually attend church on any given weekend, the study says. Also, those who 'hop around' dont do so as a routine part of their churchgoing in a given month, but typically attend another church occasionally.

2. Churchgoers on the value of church

The study shows that two-thirds of churched adults say they attend church because they enjoy doing it, and the same is true for four in five practicing Christians. One in six churchgoers says they attend because they have to and one in seven says they do so out of habit.

While most churchgoers attribute positive feelings to their participation in church, half of Christians agree that 'church as usual' is declining in popularity. Or, at least, churchgoers perceive that other people feel this way, it says.

About half of Christians and more than half of churched adults overall admit that people they know are tired of the usual type of church experience, it adds. While you might think that some groups of Christians are more likely than others to feel this way, data show no significant difference across denomination, generation or faith segment.

3. Churchgoers largely experience or expect positive emotions and outcomes by going to church.

Overall, 37 percent churched adults say they leave worship services feeling inspired, 37 percent feel encouraged, 34 percent feel forgiven, 33 percent feel as though they have connected with God or experienced his presence, and 26 percent say they are challenged to change something in their life, every time. Nearly 30 percent of churched adults express always feeling that attending service was the most important experience they had all week and 28 percent say that they learned something new.

Even so, 32 percent of churched adults say they feel disappointed by the experience at least half of the time and another 40 percent leave feeling guilty.

Kinnaman cautioned, In survey research, people tend to under-report negative experiences. As researchers, we have to amplify the times when they have the courage to report these kinds of disappointing experiences, and acknowledge there may be other ways a worship community has let them down, beyond those listed here.

4. Church membership is still a common practice and is correlated with positive outcomes  but its importance is declining among younger churchgoers.

Fifty-four percent of those who attend church at least every six months report being an official member at their place of worship, with 37 percent reporting they regularly attend but are not members. Practicing Christians, expectedly, show deeper commitment, with 71 percent noting they are members and 26 percent claiming regular attendance without membership.

Surprisingly, no significant differences emerged in membership rates between denominations  whether mainline or non-mainline, Protestant or Catholic, the study revealed.

However, a different story emerges when looking across the generations. Boomers are more likely than both Gen X and Millennials to be formal members of their congregation, with nearly seven in 10 churched Boomers (68% vs. 48% churched Millennials and 51% churched Gen X) confirming membership. Younger generations of churchgoers were also more likely to mention not applicable, which suggests that the category of membership isnt even part of their churchs nomenclature.

The study also showed that 72 percent of members are more likely to say they connect with God or personally experience His presence during worship services most of the time, compared to 52 percent of non-members saying so.

5. The perception of the Churchs relevance to the community is under question  especially among non-Christians.

Barna found that while practicing Christians firmly believe that Christian churches have a strong community impact  66 percent very positive and 28 percent somewhat positive  the rest of the American population is not as quick to sing their praises.

Only about a quarter agrees that churches have a very positive impact, and roughly the same percentage say it has no effect at all. Thirty-eight percent of U.S. adults say it has just a somewhat positive impact. Non-Christians, meanwhile, are inclined toward indifference (39% no impact) or more willing to see harm in churches local contributions (8% very negative, 10% somewhat negative).

The general population, and practicing Christians especially, look at the Christian faith positively  75 percent of U.S. adults, 100 percent of practicing Christians, 91 percent of self-identified Christians, 49 percent of non-Christians, regardless of generation, race or denomination, Barna found. However, the Church itself is regarded as irrelevant by about one in 10 Americans.

Even some who are committed members of the Church feel it is falling out of style; the percentage of practicing Christian Millennials who agree the Church is irrelevant today is the same as non-Christians who hold this view (25% each definitely agree).

Barna announced the relaunch of its State of the Church survey report after a gap of 10 years of its public release, earlier this month. The group said it was using new technology to help churches personalize the insights, beginning with the 2020 report.
UW Recreation/Tourism Students Tackle Fremont County Projects

UW outdoor recreation and tourism management student Joseph Eisenhardt, of Florissant, Colo., climbs in Sinks Canyon State Park near Lander. He is one of 15 students working on three outdoor recreation-based projects in Fremont County throughout the spring semester. (Justin Santini Photo)

Fifteen seniors in the University of Wyomings new outdoor recreation and tourism management degree program are working on three outdoor recreation-based projects in Fremont County throughout the spring semester.

The students are taking part in the first professional semester in the degree program. The professional semester is a suite of classes taken together that includes capstone projects that are tied to a specific community in the state.

Fremont County was chosen for the first professional semester location due to its abundance of outdoor recreation and the opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and experience to specific projects. Faculty members in the program mentor the students, and project sponsors work directly with the students to understand the specific projects.

This years project sponsors include Jared Oakleaf, with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM); Paula McCormick, with the Wind River Visitors Council; Brooks Jordan, with Wyoming State Parks; and Chris Floyd, of the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation. The students will visit Fremont County this week, meeting with their project sponsors and familiarizing themselves with the community.

The projects students are working on include:

-- Outdoor recreation assessment: Students in this project will create an inventory and analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats regarding outdoor recreation opportunities in Fremont County. The finished product will be used by the Wind River Outdoor Recreation Collaborative; this collaborative is being convened by the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation.

-- Outdoor recreation collaborative toolkit: Outdoor recreation collaboratives have the potential to transform rural communities that rely on outdoor recreation and tourism for economic development. There are three different collaboratives in Wyoming either forming or underway -- Big Horn Basin, Dubois and Wind River. Additionally, there is a need for a toolkit of best practices for these types of collaboratives for other rural communities and other state offices of outdoor recreation nationwide. The toolkit will help other communities form, run and implement recommendations for enhancing outdoor recreation.

--Office of State Lands and BLM Bus Loops trails community assessment: The Bus Loops is a mix of Office of State Lands and Investment and BLM lands enjoyed by recreationalists in the Lander community, given its close proximity to town. The BLM is seeking solutions to manage the use while also providing the desired experience users seek. Working with the BLM -- and using the feedback from a 2018 trails charette, the proposed International Mountain Biking Association Trails Solutions Trails Plan and the BLM Lander Resource Management Plan -- students will gather feedback through a public open house process both in person and through an online tool. The input will be compiled into a community assessment that will help to inform the next steps by the land managers.

UW student Justin Santini, of Fort Myers, Fla., walks across a bridge during a climbing excursion in Sinks Canyon State Park near Lander. He is one of 15 students working on three outdoor recreation-based projects in Fremont County throughout the spring semester. (Joseph Eisenhardt Photo)

Allison Hale, of Cranberry, Pa., a senior in the outdoor recreation and tourism management program, says she is excited for the Bus Loops project due to her work history in Wyoming at Jackson Hole Mountain Resorts bike park, helping build and maintain all aspects of the park.

It is valuable to see what our job opportunities look like outside of college, Hale says. I also think we are lucky to have very cool and engaging projects to participate in.

Jamie Hansen, of Laramie, is another senior in the program working on the toolkit project. She says her team is working to create a product that will positively impact the outdoor recreation industry not only in the state of Wyoming, but hopefully across the Rocky Mountain West as well. Hansen also noted that the toolkit project will be something she can employ later in her career.

Justin Santini, of Fort Myers, Fla., who is working on the outdoor recreation assessment, previously lived in Lander for three years attending Central Wyoming College. A National Outdoor Leadership School alumnus, he works in the field as the climbing director for the Yellowstone High Adventure Outpost. His knowledge of outdoor recreation in Fremont County gives Santini insight into this project.

Its rare to blend education and recreation into a single project that aims to promote the well-being of the local population and the environment, he says. I believe this project will expose more people to Fremont Countys expansive and wild recreation areas.

The students working on the Fremont County projects, listed by their hometowns, are:

Ada, Okla. -- Shiloh Windsor.

Aurora, Ohio -- Brynn Hirschman.

Broomfield, Colo. -- Michaela Stark.

Cranberry, Pa. -- Allison Hale.

Florissant, Colo. -- Joseph Eisenhardt.

Fort Myers, Fla. -- Justin Santini.

Gillette -- Dillon Hayden.

Green River -- Alex Fernandez.

Greybull -- Emily Smith.

Laramie -- Jamie Hansen.

Lindenhurst, Ill. -- Dana Even.

Miami, Fla. -- William Paul Stuckey.

Milwaukee, Wis. -- Drew Petty.

Powell -- Alex Aguirre.

Upton -- Jett Materi.
Court records show that the son of one of the most sought after Mexican drug lords was deported to the United States to face the charges of trafficking in weapons.

Ruben Oseguera-Gonzalez also known as the "El Menchito", 30, was charged with possession and use of firearms during his suspected drug trafficking activities in the United States from 2007 to February 2017. Oseguera-Gonzalez, born in the United States, is the son of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, "El Mencho," leader of the notorious drug cartel, Jalisco New Generation.

Now in Washington, Oseguera-Gonzalez will appear in court on Thursday afternoon. The American police force has identified him as a prominent Jalisco New Generation cartel former second-in-command.

In 2010, the gang arose following the death of Mexico's largest criminal organization, the regional leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel. The Jalisco New Generation cartel is estimated by the Mexican government to have accumulated $50 billion in wealth.

The military and police targets have been attacked over recent years, including the shooting in 2015 of the military helicopter killing 20 troops and a policewoman.

The cartel is operated by Oseguera-Gonzalez' father who is one of Mexico's most sought after criminals. A $10 million reward is offered by the Drug Enforcement Administration to whoever can lead them to his arrest.

From January 2014 to August 2015, Oseguera-Gonzalez was arrested and released four times, as he was eventually detained for being second-in-command on the cartel of Jalisco New Generation.

After his detention in Mexico in 2015, the son of the drug kingpin was fighting his extradition. DEA officers and members of the US Marshall Service took him to the United States Thursday night. The appeal against his move to the United States was refused to Oseguera-Gonzalez, who would be put before the Federal court in Seattle.

His extradition has triggered fears of possible retaliation

The Department of Justice finds the group to be one of the world's five most violent transnational criminal organizations, accountable for smuggling loads of cocaine and fentanyl-laced phentermine and numerous acts of violence into the United States.

The Associated Press mentioned in a report that after the previous high-profile military operations, criminal groups in Jalisco were responding by taking repressive measures including a rise in rhetoric against government (banners and internet threats) and blockades inside and out of the cities and highways.

The Mexican top security officer said last Friday, after the extradition to the United States of the son of a major drug cartel leader that authorities will be ready for potential retribution by the crime syndicate leaders.

Alfonso Durazo, Mexico's Secretary of Public Security, told reporters that Mexico did not give a special alert about potential dangers, yet authorities were monitoring crime that might result from extradition.

Although drug kingpins have been arrested and extradited, violence in Mexico has continued to rise. Over 35 500 people were reported victims of homicide last year by authorities, a record that is based on comparable files. In Mexico there are tens of thousands of people who are known as the victims of suspected violent disappearances.
ALBANY  Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo accused the federal government Monday of playing politics with New Yorkers health care after the state was told it would no longer receive federal funds for community-based health services.

The five-year, $8 billion federal funding stream has aided health care providers that improved service delivery and reduced emergency room visits. But Cuomo said federal officials have stripped the state of an extra $625 million through the initiative after denying New York a one-year extension on the states Medicaid Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) waiver, which is set to expire March 31.

If there's one area that you'd think should be beyond politics, it's health care, Cuomo said during a news conference Monday at the Capitol. And what the federal government is doing is hurting Democrats and Republicans, it's not whether you're blue or you're red.

State officials also had sought to extend the program for an additional $7.4 billion, three-year agreement, a request that was also denied.

It is the latest in a series of federal horribles against New York, Cuomo claimed, accusing the Trump administration of repeatedly targeting the Empire State for its blue voting record. He pointed to both the federal governments denial of assistance for Halloween flooding in upstate New York and the states recent scuffle with the president over expedited travel programs, as the Trump administration suddenly announced earlier this month that it would ban New Yorkers from participating in certain trusted travel initiatives.

The federal government has pinned the blame on New York, citing the states so-called Green Light Law, which both offers drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants and blocks federal immigration officers from accessing motor vehicle records.

But federal officials said they are only honoring the original DSRIP agreement from 2014 that expires March 31.

In a letter to state officials on Friday, CMS Deputy Administrator and Director Calder Lynch noted that the award was time-limited and designed to be a one-time investment in system transformation that [could] be sustained through ongoing reimbursement mechanisms and/or state and local initiatives.

CMS intends to maintain that agreement and preserve the original expiration of DSRIPs expenditure authority as outlined in the (Medicaid Redesign Team) demonstration's current terms and conditions, Lynch wrote.

While the elimination of the $625 million in health care funds directly impacts providers, not the states budget, it comes at a time when New York is grappling with a $6.1 billion budget gap largely fueled by rising costs in Medicaid and the states decision to defer payments. Cuomo has tasked a second iteration of the Medicaid Redesign Team to find $2.5 billion in Medicaid savings.

Cuomo promised to work with New Yorks congressional delegation to revisit the decision on DSRIP. Democratic Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles E. Schumer both assailed the Trump administration for declining to renew the waiver, saying the move would hurt innocent New Yorkers who rely on government-regulated health care.

U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, echoed Cuomos allegations of political power play, calling the federal governments decision to end the waiver the latest in a spate of politically motivated attacks on our state.

These policies have caused lasting damage to the working men and women [President Donald Trump] claims to champion, Tonko said in a statement. I will work side by side with Governor Cuomo and the entire New York delegation to fight for the restoration of these vital Medicaid funds.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Bill Hammond, director of health policy for the Empire Center, a fiscally conservative think tank based in Albany, said neither state officials nor health care providers should have relied on future federal funding of DSRIP.

They knew the money was running out and they should have planned on that, he said.

CMS Administrator Seema Verma late last year had cautioned Medicaid directors that the federal government would no longer provide open-ended, one-off DSRIP waivers.

We must move forward with a more unified, cohesive approach  across payers, across CMS, and across states, Verma said during a speech for the National Association of Medicaid Directors in Washington, D.C. Doctors on the front lines need payers to march in lock step together towards common value based care models to increase provider adoption.

Ten states, including New York, New Jersey, Texas and Kansas, benefit from the program payments.

Greater New York Hospital Association President Kenneth E. Rask called the CMS decision not to extend the funding a major step backwards.

Rask said the program improved care delivery, reduced preventable hospital admissions and readmissions and achieved savings for the federal government.

This terrible decision will severely harm numerous DSRIP focus areas, including expanding medication-assisted treatment into primary care and emergency room settings, targeting seriously mentally ill populations for enhanced supports, and addressing housing and other social determinants of health, Rask said in an emailed statement. We must not let this happen. The health care of all New Yorkers is much too important.

Emilie Munson contributed reporting.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : In a major setback to the Imran Khan government, President Donald Trump on Tuesday reiterated that India and the US were together in their fight against "radical Islamic terrorism" and his government was committed to "confront" terrorists operating from Pakistan's soil.

In a joint press briefing of the US and India, President Trump at Hyderabad House in the capital said during his discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, "the two countries agreed to protect their citizens from radical Islamic terrorism".

"The US is also working productively with Pakistan to confront terrorists who operate on its soil." The President's scathing attack against Islamabad and holding it responsible for terror groups operating from Pakistan's soil, comes a day after he said, during his Ahmedabad visit, that the US has very good relations with Pakistan.

During the briefing, both Trump and Modi reaffirmed their commitment to US-India strategic partnership in all areas from defence to women empowerment.

The US President said that during their discussions in New Delhi today, the two countries have agreed to expanded defence cooperation. India, he said, is "to purchase more than $3 billion of advance American military equipment, Apache and MH60 Romeo helicopters, the finest in the world." These deals, he said, will enhance the US-India joint defence capability as militaries of the countries continue to train and operate side by side.

President Trump said that together with PM Modi, they were revitalising the QUAD initiative with US, India, Australia and Japan. He said the first ministerial meeting on QUAD was "so much more than a meeting" because they had agreed to cooperate on counter-terrorism, cyber security and maritime security for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Justice of Armenia Rustam Badasyan commented on the media reports relating to the bonuses he receives, stating that he receives as much bonus as all the ministers receive.

I receive as much bonus as all the ministers receive according to a joint principle. I even received a little less from that money, the minister told reporters in the Parliament.

Some media outlets reported that Justice Minister Rustam Badasyan has received nearly 16.000 USD in bonuses in six months.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
News anchor and reporter Rob Nelson has decided to step away from ABC 7 in New York, saying that the birth of his son has shifted his perspective.

The weekend news anchor shared his letter announcing his resignation to his co-workers on social media on Monday, in the letter explaining that it feels like the right time to move on from his current position.

For months leading up to Gabes birth, Jenny and I heard two bits of advice most often from parents, Nelson wrote. Sleep now, they said, and just know your life is about to change forever. Almost four months into this incredible journey, we now understand how profoundly insightful that advice was. Life has indeed changed.

After much discussion and reflection, Ive decided to leave Eyewitness News. Becoming a father has shifted my perspective and priorities, and now feels like the right time to move on after six years with the station and nearly a decade with ABC, he continued. I simply want something different now, and Im excited to pursue multiple opportunities that have emerged in recent months.

Nelson said that he will step down as the stations weekend morning anchor right away. However, after he returns from parental leave in March he will then continue to work as a reporter until April 10.

To all of the weekend morning warriors Ive had the pleasure of working with, thank you for everything, he said. I am enormously proud of what we accomplished together as well as the chemistry and camaraderie we built that made weekend mornings unarguably special.

I wish you and the show continued success, he said in the letter. And, heres one more for the road: Roll it!'

Story continues

Nelson also made it clear that he looks forward in his final weeks with the station to saying farewell to his co-workers in person.

It has been one of the most moving experiences of my life to bring my son into the world surrounded by such thoughtfulness, compassion and heartfelt humanity, he said, adding that although New York is a tough city and a tough market, he believes that the connection and resonance we have with viewers are the purest, most telling, most enduring and most meaningful measures of success in this business.

MY EMAIL TODAY ANNOUNCING MY DEPARTURE FROM CHANNEL 7 pic.twitter.com/aqecDqIuuf  Rob Nelson (@RobNelsonABC7) February 24, 2020

Nelson concluded on a heartfelt note.

You can only hope for a few things during a decision like this: that you depart with good memories, good friends and god work, he wrote. I feel blessed to be leaving with all three.

And now, onward and upward, he concluded.

Nelson first announced that he and his partner Jenny Hurwitz were expecting in October, and the following month shared a photo of his baby boy, Gabe.

RELATED VIDEO: Matt Lauer Vacations in New Zealand for the Holidays with New Flame Shamin Abas

Of the many reasons to be thankful this year, this little guy tops the list, he wrote on Instagram in November. Thankful, honored and humbled to be a new father to this beautiful, healthy baby boy (and his insane amount of hair!! Lol) Welcome to the world, Gabe. We love you, son.

Last month, he shared a photo of little Gabe accompanying him on the New York subway.

Its official: Im raising a New Yorker, he wrote, adding, #babysfirstsubwayride.
Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd on Tuesdayannounced the launch of the all new BSVI Dio in the city, with prices starting from Rs 64,584 (ex- showroom, Bengaluru).

On the launch day itself, 301 units of Dio BSVI were delivered across the city, said in a release.

"South has always been an important market for 2Wheelers India and is the leading two wheeler brand in the region with 34 per cent market share.

Dio has grown today to become the second highest selling two-wheeler in the south region," Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Yadvinder Singh Guleria, said.

"We are confident that with its new sporty aggressive design and advanced technology the new Dio BSVI will create yet another excitement among fun-seeking youngsters," he said.

The company said the New Dio BSVI will be available in two variants - Standard and Deluxe.
By Express News Service

PUDUCHERRY: Striking students of Pondicherry University were removed from the Administrative block by the police a short while ago, in view of the visit of Vice President Venkaiah Naidu to the University to address the Convocation on Wednesday

The Students council of the University had been spearheading the protest against the fee hike for the past 20 days and had occupied the lobby of the Administrative block 24x7.

The University tried to resolve the issue by offering to reduce the fee by 20 per cent for economically backward students while citing that fee had not been revised for the past 10 years and now it requires funds to provide quality education.

However, the students refused to accept the offer and demanded full rollback of the hiked fee.

With the Vice President's impending visit, the Deputy Registrar of the University requested the students to vacate the premises of the administrative block for security reasons.

Since the students refused, the police along with paramilitary forces removed them by taking them in police vans, outside the cordoned area of the University for the visit.

The students have been confined to the area by the police, where they have been raising slogan against the police and demanding 100 per cent withdrawal of fee hike.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A 28-year-old man was shot in the lobby of a Stapleton apartment building Monday afternoon, police said.

The victim was shot in the abdomen at 180 Broad St., according to an NYPD spokesman, after a dispute at the location.

Multiple NYPD vehicles, including Emergency Service Units, converged on the scene in front of the Stapleton Houses at approximately 5:30 p.m.

FDNY and NYPD spokesmen said the man was transported from that location to Richmond University Medical Center at 5:20 p.m. in stable condition.

Police described the suspect in the incident as a black male, who was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt.

He fled the location on foot in an unknown direction, according to police.

No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
A 'significant flood risk' still remains for the next few days in parts of England, with ongoing flooding expected due to the recent extreme weather and further rainfall on the way.

England has now received over 200% of its average February rainfall with some areas experiencing a months worth of rain in 24 hours.

Severe river flooding is expected today (Tuesday 25 February) and tomorrow on the River Severn, the Environment Agency said in a new update.

Due to record-breaking river levels along the Severn, potential overtopping of defences remains of high concern in Ironbridge and Bewdley.

Ongoing significant flooding is possible along the Severn through to Friday as river levels will remain exceptionally high.

On the rivers Wye, Ouse and Trent significant river flooding is possible, the agency added.

Further localised flooding is possible in parts of England later this week and into weekend due to further heavy rainfall expected on Friday.

Groundwater levels across parts of Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Sussex are continuing to rise and will lead to further flooding later this week.

As of 12:30 pm on Tuesday 25 February there are two severe flood warnings for Ironbridge and Shrewsbury, meaning there is an immediate risk to life; 106 flood warnings, meaning that flooding is expected; and 155 flood alerts, meaning that flooding is possible, in places across the country.

The government is urging people to check their flood risk and remain prepared to take action as the situation changes.

The Rivers Colne, Ribble, Calder, Aire, Trent, Severn, Wye, Lugg and Derwent are among the many rivers where records have been broken due to continuous wet weather.

Caroline Douglass, Director of Incident Management at the Environment Agency, said: "Our thoughts are with all who have been and continue to be affected by the persistent and extreme weather.

"It is devastating to see your home or business flooded, and as the case is for some, be asked to evacuate.

"River levels remain exceptionally high and communities along the river Severn  in particular Shrewsbury, Bewdley, Bridgnorth and Ironbridge should be ready for potentially severe flooding. River levels are also of concern on the lower river Ouse at Cawood."
PLA participates in Cobra Gold-2020 military exercise in Thailand

PLA Daily

Source: China Military Online

Editor: Chen Zhuo

2020-02-24 19:38:45

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.

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Aligarh Muslim University Vice Chancellor Tariq Mansoor on Tuesday welcomed the directions issued by the Allahabad High Court in connection with the campus violence and police action on December 15 last year.

The court on Monday directed authorities to follow NHRC recommendations and pay compensation to the six students who were grievously hurt in police action during an anti-CAA protest on December 15.

It also asked them to act against the policemen who lathicharged students during an anti-CAA protest on December 15 last year.

The directions were given to the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary and the DGP, the CRPF DG, the VC and registrar of the AMU.

In a statement, the vice chancellor said, "We will fully cooperate with the directives of the Honourable High Court in letter and spirit. It is significant that the above directives are based on the report of the National Human Rights Commission."



"We had offered all our cooperation to the members of the commission during their investigation and had provided them with all evidence, including the CCTV coverage. We had also handed over all such evidence directly to the chief justice of Allahabad High Court," he said.

Mansoor said he wants complete transparency in all the incidents of December 15 and that the administration has taken necessary steps to ensure full justice is meted out to those injured.

"As directed by the Honourable High Court, we will also be shortly submitting our compliance report regarding the efforts taken by us to introduce confidence building measures and streamlining mechanism for better communication with the students fraternity," he said.

Replying to a question regarding the allegation made by the Aligarh district magistrate that some AMU students had instigated women to stage a dharna near the Kotwali on Sunday, the vice chancellor said, "We have not received any specific report from the police on this matter. If we receive any such complaints, we will take necessary action."



On Sunday evening, violence broke out 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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After being deadlocked on most of the serious charges of the case last week, the jurors in the sexual assault trial of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein begin their fifth day of deliberations for the charges against the accused, Monday.

The jury comprised of seven men and five women, started deliberation last Tuesday in a criminial court in Manhattan. Per Reuters, last Friday, the jury asked the judge if they could be hung on two counts of predatory sexual assault charges and be unanimous on others including charges of first-degree rape.

If convicted on the predatory assault charges, this would give Weinstein a possibility of a life sentence and would indicate that he is a repeat sexual offender. Two of the three charges against him carry prison terms up to 25 years and the other carries a sentence of up to four years.

According to four legal experts, the jury's line of questioning suggested that they were already at the brink of a guilty verdict on at least one of the five counts that are filed against the producer of famed movies, "Shakespeare in Love" and "The English Patient."

The esteemed producer has pleaded not guilty on all allegations. According to Page Six, a source inside Weinstein's defence team that the speculations about the verdict are premature and would be a mistake.

Based on a former prosecutor, Paul Callan, the possibility of an acquittal cannot be ruled out just yet since the deliberations resume after a weekend break and he said that anything can still happen after a weekend of reflection.

Read also: Ben Affleck Regrets Divorce with Jennifer Garner

In last week's trial, a former production assistant Mimi Haleyi testified against Weinstein claiming that the producer invited her to his home in Manhattan back in 2006 where he backed her into a bedroom and forcibly performed oral sex on her.

In addition, Jessica Mann said that she had an extremely degrading relationship with Weinstein soon after they met. The relationship never included sexual relations, not until Weinstein allegedly raped her in March of 2013.

Furthermore, HBO's "The Sopranos" star Annabella Sciorra, said in her testimony that one winter night around 1993 or 1994, Weinstein came to her apartment in New York where he forced oral sex on her and raped her.

Sciorra's accusation, however, is too old to be charged as a separate crime, yet it was introduced by the prosecutors as an additional factor to strengthen their predatory sexual assault charges.

During Thursday and Friday's deliberations, the jurors seemed to focus on Sciorra's allegations asking to review evidence that is related to her testimony. If the jury finds that Weinstein committed the assault against Sciorra and at least one of the alleged sexual advances against Mannor Haleyi, he can be convicted for the charges of predatory sexual assault.

As per Julie Rendelman, a legal expert, a conviction on one of the lesser charges was likely, adding that the complexity of the predatory sexual assault charges may be the reason that the jurors got confused and asked for extended deliberation.

Related article: Jennifer Aniston Rumors Having to Choose Between Brad Pitt and Booze Debunked

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SYDNEY, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- An urgent industry roundtable is currently being planned by the Australia State Government of Queensland on Tuesday, to discuss the emergence of a devastating invasive pest that could threaten the Tropical North's 13 billion Australian (8.6 billion U.S.) dollar agriculture sector.

With a new discovery on a farm in the northwestern Gulf region now in the process of testing, biosecurity authorities fear the Fall Armyworm moth could already have spread to other parts the state.

"This is disappointing but not entirely unexpected after recent detections in the Torres Strait and at Bamaga," Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said in a statement.

"If confirmed, it means the pest is likely to be widespread across northern Australia and eradication is therefore not possible."

"This pest moves and reproduces fast, is already common in our nearest neighbours, and could be continually reintroduced. It has never been eradicated anywhere else in the world."

In contact with the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, David Littleproud, Furner said at some stage this week, industry leaders and policymakers will sit down to draft an immediate action plan on how to manage the inevitable impacts.

"After the drought, bushfires and floods, this is the last thing our producers need but we must tackle it with all available resources," Furner said.

Native to North, Central and South America, the 40 mm moths are brown with white stripes and are able to feast on hundreds of different plant species, including maize, rice, sorghum, sugarcane and wheat and cotton.

The unwelcome visitors can fly up to 500 kilometres to relocated, making them virtually impossible to contain.

"The Queensland Government will work closely with industry to identify strategies for dealing with this new threat and protecting our valuable plant resources," Furner said.

"As well as the industry roundtable, a task force is being established within the department to ensure communication with industry is as effective and up to date as it can be."

"This group will also identify and mobilize any resources that will be required to respond to immediate needs."
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
Do not circulate directly or indirectly in the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan

NACON SETS AN EARLY CLOSING DATE FOR ITS INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING ON FEBRUARY 28 GIVEN THE STRONG SUCCESS MET WITH INVESTORS

Lesquin, 25 February 2020,

NACON, an integrated player in the fast-growing video game market, announces the early closing of its Initial Public Offering with a view to the admission of its shares to trading on the regulated market of Euronext Paris ( ISIN Code: FR0013482791/mnemonic: NACON).

On 19 February 2020, the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF) approved, under visa number 20-047, the Prospectus consisting of the Registration Document, approved on 29 January 2020 under visa number 20 -003 and of a Securities Note (including the Prospectus summary).

In accordance with Article 5.3.2.4 of the Securities Note and in view of the strong success met by the share capital increase achieved through its Initial Public Offering, NACON decided an early closing of the transaction on 27 February 2020 (17:00 hours for subscriptions at bank counters and 20:00 hours for subscriptions via Internet) for the (OPO) Public Offering and on 28 February 2020 (12:00 hours) for the (PG) Global Placement (OPO and PG constituting together the Offering).

Therefore the timetable for the Initial Public Offering is changed as follows:

19 February 2020 Approval of the Prospectus by the AMF 20 February 2020 Publication of the press release announcing the Offering and the release of the Prospectus



Release by Euronext of the opening notice for the Public Offering and the Global Placement 27 February 2020 Closing of the (OPO) Public Offering at 17:00 hours (Paris time) for subscriptions at bank counters and at 20:00 hours (Paris time) for subscriptions via Internet 28 February 2020 Closing of the Global Placement at 12:00 hours (Paris time)

Fixing of the Offering Price

Signature of the Placement Agreement

Publication by Euronext of the result notice for the Offering / Publication of the press release indicating the Offering Price and the Result of the Offering 3 March 2020 Settlement-Delivery for the Public Offering and the Global Placement 4 March 2020 Start of trading of the Company's shares on Euronext Paris on a listing line entitled NACON

Start of the possible stabilization period 27 March 2020 Deadline for the exercise of the Over-allotment option / Deadline for the end of the possible stabilization period

Next release: Result of the Offering on 28 February 2020

ABOUT NACON

NACON is a company of the BIGBEN Group founded in 2019 to optimize its know-how through strong synergies in the video game market. By bringing together its 8 development studios, the publishing of AA video games, the design and distribution of premium gaming devices, NACON focuses 20 years of expertise at the service of players. This new unified business unit strengthens NACON's position in the market and enables it to innovate by creating new unique competitive advantages.

1NACON definition: All games with sales between 200,000 and 3 million copies and budgets between 1 and 20 M

All information relating to the Initial Public Offering of NACON can be found on https:// ipo.nacongaming.com

CONTACTS





INVESTOR RELATIONS







CAPVALUE

Gilles Broquelet

info@capvalue.fr (mailto:info@capvalue.fr)

Tel. 01 80 81 50 00







PRESS RELATIONS







CAPVALUE

Dina Morin

dmorin@capvalue.fr (mailto:dmorin@capvalue.fr)

Tel. 01 80 81 50 04



SHAREHOLDERS RELATIONS







NACON







infofin@nacon.fr (mailto:infofin@nacon.fr)

Tel. 01 70 97 87 84







Disclaimer





This press release does not, and shall not, in any circumstances constitute a public offering nor an invitation to the public in connection with any offer.

No communication and no information in respect of this transaction or of Nacon may be distributed to the public in any jurisdiction where a registration or approval is required. No steps have been or will be taken in any jurisdiction (other than France) where such steps would be required. The issuance, the subscription for or the purchase of Nacon's shares may be subject to specific legal or regulatory restrictions in certain jurisdictions. Nacon assumes no responsibility for any violation of any such restrictions by any person.

This press release constitutes promotional material only and not a prospectus within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and the Council of 14 June 2017 (the "Prospectus Regulation"). The prospectus approved by the AMF is available on the AMF website (www.amf-france.org) and the company's website dedicated to the IPO ( https://ipo.nacongaming.com ).

In France, an offer of securities to the public may only be made pursuant to a prospectus approved by the AMF. With respect to the member States of the European Economic Area (each, a "relevant member State"), other than France, no action has been undertaken or will be undertaken to make an offer to the public of the shares requiring a publication of a prospectus in any relevant member State. Consequently, the securities cannot be offered and will not be offered in any member State (other than France), except in accordance with the exemptions set out in Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation, or in the other case which does not require the publication by Nacon of a prospectus pursuant to the Prospectus Regulation and/or applicable regulation in the member States.

This press release does not constitute an offer of the securities to the public in the United Kingdom. The distribution of this press release is not made, and has not been approved, by an authorized person ("authorized person") within the meaning of Article 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. As a consequence, this press release is directed only at persons who (i) are located outside the United Kingdom, (ii) have professional experience in matters relating to investments and fall within Article 19(5) ("investment professionals") of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotions) Order 2005 (as amended) and (iii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). The securities of Nacon are directed only at Relevant Persons and no invitation, offer or agreements to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire the securities of Nacon may be proposed or made other than with Relevant Persons. Any person other than a Relevant Person may not act or rely on this document or any provision thereof. This press release is not a prospectus which has been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority or any other United Kingdom regulatory authority for the purposes of Section 85 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

This press release does not constitute or form a part of any offer or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction (other than France). Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States unless they have been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or are exempt from registration. The shares of Nacon have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act and Nacon does not intend to make a public offer of its shares in the United States.

The distribution of this document in certain countries may constitute a breach of applicable law. The information contained in this document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in Canada, Australia or Japan. This press release may not be published, forwarded or distributed, directly or indirectly, in the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.

For a period of 30 days following the date of start of trading in the Nacon's shares on Euronext Paris (i.e., based on the indicative schedule, from 4 March 2020 to 27 March 2020 inclusive), Louis Capital Markets UK LLP acting as Stabilization Agent may (but not under any circumstances), in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations, in particular those of Delegated Regulation No 2016/1052 of the European Commission of 8 March 2016 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament European Union and the Council and concerning the conditions applicable to buyback programs and stabilization measures, carry out stabilization transactions in order to stabilize or support the price of Nacon's shares on the regulated market of Euronext Paris. In accordance with Article 7 of Delegated Regulation No 2016/1052 of the European Commission of 8 March 2016, stabilization transactions may not be carried out at a price higher than the offering price. Such interventions may affect the price of the shares and may result in the determination of a higher market price than would otherwise prevail. Even if stabilization operations were carried out, Louis Capital Markets UK LLP could, at any time, decide to discontinue such transactions. The information will be provided to the competent market authorities and to the public in accordance with Article 6 of the abovementioned Regulation. Pursuant to the provisions of Article 8 of the abovementioned Regulation, Louis Capital Markets UK LLP, acting on behalf of the Joint Global Coordinators, Joint Lead Managers and Joint Bookrunners of the offer, may make over-allotments in connection with the offer up to the number of shares covered by the over-allotment option, plus, if applicable, a number of shares representing 5% of the offer (excluding exercise of the over-allotment option).

Information for distributors

Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID II"); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the "MiFID II Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer"(for the purposes of the MiFID II Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the shares offered in the Offering (the "Offered Shares") have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that the Offered Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the "Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Offered Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Offered Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Offered Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom.

The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Offering.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment for any particular client of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Offered Shares.

Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.





Attachment
[February 25, 2020] Bank of the Bahamas Selects Newgen Software to Automate Retail Lending and Account Opening Processes

NASSAU, Bahamas, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Newgen Software Inc., a global provider of low code automation platform managing content, processes, and communication, announced that Bank of the Bahamas (BOB) has selected its retail lending and account opening applications for streamlining their banking processes. "We were looking for a technology solution that would help us automate our end-to-end lending processes. We went through an intensive evaluation process and selected Newgen as they met and exceeded all our requirements. Using Newgen's digital automation platform, we will enable a modern omnichannel loan initiation and offer smart & intuitive self-service portals to deliver a seamless experience to our customers. We look forward to working with Newgen and further partnering with them for automating our commercial and SME lending processes," said Ian W. Thompson, Corporate Manager, Credit Risk, Bank of the Bahamas Limited. "BOB is focused on creating contemporary experiences for its customers. We are glad they chose us as a partner in their digital transformation journey. We look forward to delivering purpose-built retail lending and account opening applications that will serve as catalysts in streamlining their processes and improvng their customers' experiences," said Anand Raman, EVP and COO, Newgen Software Inc.



Newgen's retail lending application streamlines the end-to-end lending cycle, from pre-screening to loan disbursal, for all loan types. It facilitates credit origination, approval, and monitoring in a paperless and electronically-driven workflow environment. By moving away from manual processes and siloed systems, the application helps improve processes and reduces operational bottlenecks for a smooth and delightful customer journey. About Bank of the Bahamas:

BOB is a modern, full-service bank with 13 branches in seven islands (Nassau, Grand Bahama, Andros, Cat Island, Bimini, San Salvador and Inagua) and a long history of firsts in the local Banking Industry. The Bank caters to retail clients from all walks of life providing personal loans and mortgages as well as savings and chequing accounts, term deposits, money transfers, online banking and prepaid cards. Simultaneously, BOB's Corporate and Commercial Department facilitates the financing and cash flow needs of business establishments throughout the country. About Newgen Software Inc.: Newgen Software Inc. is a global provider in banking process automation with more than 200+ banks and financial services institutions as its clients. Newgen's banking process management framework automates critical business processes for banking institutions across commercial lending, consumer lending, customer on-boarding, online account opening, trade finance, digital and mobile customer experience strategy. Newgen offers flexible on premise and cloud-based solutions to its banking customers. To know how Newgen is connecting enterprises and transforming experiences, visit: http://www.newgensoft.com/ Connect Details: Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter

Watch our videos on YouTube Media Contact:

Asif Khan

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bank-of-the-bahamas-selects-newgen-software-to-automate-retail-lending-and-account-opening-processes-301010361.html SOURCE Newgen Software Inc.

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KAMPALA  A team of Ugandan lawyers has petitioned the speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga seeking parliament intervention into failure by Uganda Law Council to issue them with legal practicing certificate of eligibility because they did their legal practice in Rwanda.

According to lead petitioner, Wahab Kasimu, about 200 Ugandans are suffering consequences of having their Diploma in legal practice (an equivalent of a diploma at Ugandas Law development Center) from Rwanda and are now denied opportunity to practice their profession from Uganda.

While handing in their petition to the Speaker, Kassim said that although the team studied their first degree in law from Ugandan universities and later pursued a Diploma in Legal Practice in Rwanda, the Uganda Law Council has refused to recognize their legal studies in Rwanda, arguing that Rwanda doesnt practice Common law like the case is for Uganda and other countries that are under Britain protectorates law.

The team argued that Rwanda, just like Uganda are members of the East Africa common Protocol which gives them the leeway to acquire qualifications from any country of their choice in East Africa basing on the laws available but this provision has been abused by member states.

Speaker Kadaga questioned why Rwanda law students are still denied the legal practicing certificates despite Rwanda joining the common law and promised to introduce the complaint before Parliament and have it investigated by the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee before Parliament takes final decision on the matter.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio  Cleveland City Council introduced legislation Monday that would commit up to $100 million dollars in incentives to help Sherwin-Williams Co. build a downtown headquarters and keep thousands of jobs in the city.

The package includes a grant toward construction of a $300-million headquarters and years of significant tax relief for the corporation.

In exchange, Cleveland would retain more than 3,100 jobs with the potential for more, fill a parking lot at the west end of Public Square with a headquarters befitting a Fortune 500 company and secure the Sherwin-Williams' presence in Cleveland for generations.

The incentives include giving the company:

Thirty years of tax-increment financing that will allow the company to use money it would have paid in property taxes on the improvements to finance the project. The TIF would not affect Cleveland school taxes. It is expected to provide Sherwin-Williams with about $2 million to $2.5 million a year.

A construction grant of up to $13.5 million to be used toward $300 million in total development on the site, including site work, foundations and construction.

Up to $11.5 million over 15 years in a job-creation grant based on 50% of the income taxes collected on newly created jobs in the city.

The 3,100 jobs the company presently has in the city generate more than $8.7 million annually in income taxes for the city. The company has pledged to keep those jobs in Cleveland at least a decade.

Related coverage

When did Cleveland become confident it could land Sherwin-Williams new headquarters? Mayor Frank Jackson reveals the moment

Clevelands incentive package to Sherwin-Williams would commit millions to secure Fortune 500 company for generations

Sherwin-Williams confirms plans for new downtown Cleveland HQ, Brecksville R&D center

Another 140 jobs would be added downtown, with the possibility of more. They are expected to carry an annual payroll of more than $12.5 million, according to the Jackson administration. That would lead to an annual job-creation grant of nearly $157,000 a year -- a total of more than $2.3 million over 15 years  from the new income taxes.

That leaves more than $9 million under the cap for the grant that could be claimed for job creation if the company brings more jobs into the city.

The project is expected to spark jobs and economic benefit in the downtown surrounding the $300 million construction project site. It is expected to generate new property tax revenue in excess of $4 million a year for the Cleveland school district.

The proposals will be reviewed by City Councils committees. Council President Kevin Kelley has said he expects there will be several public hearings on the proposals.

Council is expected to approve the package sometime in March.

More from Cleveland City Hall

Is Cleveland-owned property along the Shoreway a good site for an outlet mall? Some members of City Council are wary

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SF-based Vouch will triple Chicago-based employee headcount in 2020, in plan to insure innovative startups nationwide

CHICAGO, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vouch Insurance, the California-based platform offering fast, tailored insurance for early-stage startups, today announced the opening of its Chicago office. The new hub in Chicagos Central Loop will serve as Vouchs second headquarters, as the company pushes ahead with a nationwide rollout of its digital insurance coverage, customized for high-growth companies.



Vouch is the only insurance platform built exclusively for startups. In an age where early-stage technology companies are under increasing regulatory and cultural scrutiny, planning for early risk is critical to a startups long-term success. Vouch gives world-changing companies and entrepreneurs the freedom to innovate and scale sustainably, mitigating potential risks with fully-digital, customizable coverage that takes only minutes to apply and can be active within 24 hours. From General Liability to Cyber Coverage, Vouchs proprietary insurance packages optimize the underwriting process for the speed, sophistication, and customization that startups require to scale and grow.

Represented by CBRE s Brad Serot and Tony Coglianese, Vouchs 6,000 square foot Central Loop office is opening with 11 employees, including Vouchs Chief Insurance Officer, John Wallace , and Head of Claims, Tasha Matheson . Vouch plans to add new hires in Insurance Operations, Sales, Finance, and Software Engineering, with the goal of tripling the companys Chicago workforce throughout the year. By the end of 2020, almost half of Vouchs employees will be based in Chicago. This move reflects Chicagos growing stature as a flourishing hub for high-growth tech companies.

The office expansion continues the companys rapid momentum since closing a $45 million series B in November 2019, led by Y Combinators Continuity fund. With insurance coverage for businesses now available in 15 states, Vouch is on track to offer its customized solution to startups nationwide by the end of 2020.

Story continues

As one of the nations top-performing startup markets and a global insurtech hub, Chicago was a natural second home for us, said Sam Hodges, CEO of Vouch. From its top-quality tech and insurance talent to its central location, Chicago is the ideal city for Vouch to lay the foundation for nationwide growth. We look forward to expanding our roster of local clients, helping Chicagos startup scene flourish with customized, scalable, tailored insurance.

Vouchs proprietary policies are backed by Munich Re, one of the largest A-rated reinsurers in the world. Vouch is also a preferred insurance provider for Silicon Valley Bank's client base, which includes approximately 50 percent of venture-backed technology and life science startups in the country.

About Vouch

Vouch is a new kind of insurance platform for startups, offering fully-digital, tailored coverage that takes only minutes to apply, and can be active within 24 hours. Vouch works directly with its clients to insure, manage, and avoid risks, rather than brokering their insurance out to legacy carriers, so founders can focus on building their business. Vouch was founded by Sam Hodges, co-founder of Funding Circle U.S., the peer-to-peer lending marketplace that went public in 2018, and Travis Hedge, formerly of Nationwide Insurance and Silicon Valley Bank. Vouch is backed by Y Combinator, Ribbit Capital, and Index Ventures, and is backed and trusted by Silicon Valley Bank to serve its client base. Vouch has offices in San Francisco and Chicago. Learn more at vouch.us or on Twitter @vouch_group.
Cartesiam NanoEdge AI Studio is the only solution that can run both machine learning and inference on the microcontroller.

NanoEdge AI Studio enables rapid development of edge AI in ubiquitous low-power, low-cost embedded microcontrollers

Cartesiam, a company that creates artificial intelligence (AI) software for embedded systems, today announced at the Embedded World conference the availability of NanoEdge AI Studio, the first integrated development environment (IDE) that enables machine learning and inference directly on Arm Cortex-M microcontrollers (MCUs).

NanoEdge AI Studio is an intuitive software tool that allows system designers using Arms low-power, low-cost microcontrollers  which are embedded in billions of devices worldwide  to quickly, easily and inexpensively integrate machine learning directly into their everyday objects (industrial machines, IoT, automotive, household appliances, and more).

Until now, implementing AI in embedded devices has been a long, difficult and expensive process requiring the expertise of data scientists spending months or years of development time, and access to complex and extensive data sets that are difficult to source.

Cartesiams NanoEdge AI Studio offers a completely different approach, with a cost- and time-efficient and self-learning AI, said Marc Dupaquier, general manager and co-founder, Cartesiam. It allows any embedded designer to develop application-specific machine learning libraries quickly and run the program inside the microcontroller right where the signal becomes data. Its the only solution that can run both machine learning and inference on the microcontroller.

Dupaquier said that NanoEdge AI Studio has been tested and deployed successfully at a number of European and US companies.

How NanoEdge AI Studio Works

In applications, NanoEdge AI Studio transforms passive sensors into autonomous agents capable of self-monitoring.

Imagine an air conditioner that detects when its filter needs to be changed or an escalator activating its own preventive maintenance, explained Dupaquier. As far as security and privacy are concerned, learning an initial state locally reduces data exchanges over the network and prevents risk of falsification or intrusion. With our customers' creativity and innovation, there will be no limits to the development of inventive solutions based on NanoEdge AI Studio.

Machine Learning Development Studio Designed for Non-experts

NanoEdge AI Studio removes traditional AI barriers. It is designed for companies that either do not have expert resources in machine learning or that want to provide their data scientists with a complementary tool for embedded environments.

NanoEdge AI Studio Quick Technical Facts



Runs autonomously on the developer's workstation under Windows or Linux. Thus, no data is transmitted outside the customers environment.

Will automatically test, optimize and calculate the best algorithmic combination among more than 500 million possible combinations, after the developer has described the targeted environment

Provides the selected algorithm as a C library that is easily embeddable in the microcontroller

Generates libraries that require only 4K to 16K of RAM, making them the most optimized AI algorithms in the industry

Enables the execution of unsupervised learning, inference and prediction on the device edge, opening new classes of small, low-power, low-cost devices to AI for the first time

Industry Voices

"LACROIX Electronics is a premier provider of industrial IoT solutions. We have used Cartesiams NanoEdge AI Studio to develop a very promising preventive maintenance solution on our production sites. Our goal was in particular to optimize the maintenance of reflow ovens. Thanks to this expertise, LACROIX Electronics can now offer its customers distinctive solutions based on AI smart sensors leveraging Cartesiams technology.

Stephane Klajzyngier, executive managing director, LACROIX Electronics

As part of its Maintenance for Industry 4.0 policy, Naval Group is partnering with Cartesiam to equip its teams with NanoEdge AI Studio technology, and thus meet the new challenges of naval maintenance. This innovation enables data generated by on-board equipment to be captured and analyzed directly at source.

Alain Beltrando, head, Service Digitalization, Naval Group

STMicroelectronics portfolio of sensors and STM32 microcontrollers covers a wide range of applications  industrial systems, smart home devices, and appliances as well as intelligent infrastructure. These components are able to perform different levels of machine learning techniques, such as simple tap detection, monitoring vibrations with ultra-low power consumption, and simultaneous image and sound classification. The unsupervised techniques implemented by Cartesiam are complementary to STs offering: They are particularly suited to applications where what our customers need to monitor is not something they can predict or have already observed before. This is what make this solution real life-proof.

Ricardo De Sa Earp, GM, STMicroelectronics

Innovation is at the heart of Schneider Electric's strategy to accelerate digital transformation in an increasingly electric world. Integrating artificial intelligence, directly where a signal becomes data, allows us to ensure a better understanding of how our equipment operates throughout its lifetime, hence providing a better quality of service to our customers. Using machine learning libraries developed with Cartesiam's NanoEdge AI Studio, we were able to anticipate behaviors that were previously difficult to detect. An AI that is simple to implement and directly integrated into the heart of our equipment is an important added value in future developments.

Venanzio Ferraro, senior principal architect - Meium Voltage Offer, Schneider Electric

Demonstrations at Embedded World

Attendees interested in seeing Cartesiam NanoEdgeAI Studio during Embedded World may schedule a demo with Cartesiam by emailing: contact@cartesiam.com.

Availability

NanoEdge AI Studio is available today for download. A trial version that allows designers to begin working with the IDE is also available on http://www.cartesiam.ai.

Full licenses of NanoEdge AI Studio are available for purchase from Cartesiam and from Richardson http://www.Richardsonrfpd.com.

Cartesiam and Richardson are announcing today a strategic agreement through which Richardson will distribute globally all Cartesiam software to their clients.

About Cartesiam

Founded in 2016, Cartesiam is a software publisher whose mission is to develop artificial intelligence solutions on ubiquitous, low-cost, low-power microcontrollers. Cartesiams patented AI development platform, NanoEdge AI, enables cognitive functions (machine learning) on microcontrollers embedded in connected objects. Whatever the industry, Cartesiam brings immeasurable benefits to its customers involved in projects integrating microcontrollers: simplicity of deployment, secure environment, rich analysis and reduced power consumption. Co-founded by Marc Dupaquier, Francois de Rochebouet, Michel and Joel Rubino, Cartesiams R&D and corporate headquarters is located in Toulon, France, with business operations based in Paris and in New York. For more information, visit http://www.cartesiam.ai.

The Cartesiam logo is a registered trademark, and NanoEdge is a trademark of Cartesiam. All other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Press Contacts

Marc Dupaquier

Cartesiam

Email: marc@cartesiam.com

Maria Vetrano

Vetrano Communications

Email: maria@vetrano.com
SPRINGFIELD  The City Council on Monday approved a zone change at the Eastfield Mall on Boston Road that mall representatives said provides a boost to a proposal for a $200 million redevelopment there.

The zone change from Residence B to Residence C will allow multi-family housing within an 18-acre wooded area of the mall property along Kent Road and Fernald Street. The zone change was referred by mall representatives as an integral part of the Eastfield Commons project that will include housing and mixed commercial uses.

I think its a big step forward for both us and the city to start the process to bring new housing to the area, said Chuck Breidenbach, a representative for property owner Mountain Development Corp. Its a big step for us, initial steps, in trying to transform the mall.

The council vote was 12-0 in favor of the zone change, which was supported by neighborhood associations. Some neighbors criticized the change, saying it opened the door for affordable housing projects.

Breidenbach and other mall representatives said there is no specific development plan yet, but that there could be a mix of housing including market rate and affordable units.

Councilor Tracye Whitfield said affordable housing doesnt mean people there will be bottom of the barrel and destroy a neighborhood.

Councilor Marcus Williams said he was not comfortable hearing comments from some opponents that people living at the new housing would cause some kind of disturbance.

Some residents and councilors praised the zone change and plans for redevelopment, saying it will help prevent the mall from going dark and will provide jobs to local workers in building trades.

A Castlegate Drive resident said she is concerned about affordable housing, but also concerned about losing trees in the area.

Councilors and mall officials, including the malls lawyer, Ellen Freyman, said any development there will need a special permit, and the council will consider any conditions needed to protect the neighborhood.

This allows us to entertain proposals from developers that are looking for higher density developments to make it more economically feasible, Freyman said.
As Donald Trump left India after his maiden visit as United States (US) president, what are we to make of the two-day spectacle? His trip was only the eighth by a serving US president, but he was also the fourth consecutive president to visit. The increased frequency of presidential travel to India captures the growing importance of the country for the US, and highlights the continued investments in the bilateral relationship by successive leaders: Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh, and Narendra Modi in India; Bill Clinton, George W Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump in the US.

The Trump visit differed from previous ones in several ways, most notably in featuring a major stadium event in Gujarat on Monday. The fact that Trump stayed on script while speaking to an audience of over one lakh, much as he had at the Howdy Modi event in Houston last year, was a further departure from the controversy that often accompanies the US president in his international engagements. He struck many of the right notes with his hosts: America loves India  America respects India  and Americans will always be true and loyal friends to the Indian people, he said. Trump drew contrasts with another large Asian country: Theres all the difference in the world between a country that seeks to claim power through coercion, intimidation, aggression and a country that seeks to grow by setting its people free and unleashing their dreams, and thats India. Although he mentioned that his administration was working with Pakistan to crack down on the terrorist organisations and militants that operate on the Pakistani border, he also expressed hope for reduced tensions and greater stability in South Asia.

The symbolism, ceremony, rapport between leaders, and political significance naturally received the most attention. Trump arrived in India in an election year, keen to project images of himself addressing large and supportive crowds overseas. He hoped also to appeal to Indian-Americans, who have traditionally supported the Democratic Party. In India too, the visit assumed a political significance, given that public opinion surveys consistently reflect positive Indian attitudes to the US.

But this was also an opportunity to consolidate what is now a substantively richer relationship. The India-US security partnership witnessed another arms purchase, bringing to seven the number of US military platforms that will feature in Indias arsenal, many with components manufactured or assembled in India. Additionally, the signing of three significant defence cooperation agreements; upgraded bilateral, trilateral, and quadrilateral dialogues; and regularised military exercises involving all three services have solidified the defence relationship over the past few years. Coordination on connectivity infrastructure, maritime security, counterterrorism, and cyber security have all increased. Multilateral cooperation, notably at the United Nations Security Council, has improved, as demonstrated after last years terrorist attack at Pulwama.

On the economic side, two-way trade in goods and services has increased; India is now the US eighth-largest trade partner and the US is Indias largest. Energy trade, in particular, has taken off. The number of Indian students in the US and the number of US companies active in India have both grown. For most US-based tech giants, India is now one of their top three customer bases. Indian companies are investing heavily in the US, as Indian CEOs highlighted to Trump. Meanwhile, Indians have established the largest number of billion-dollar start-up companies in the US founded by immigrants.

Differences remain, as between any two countries. But attempts have been made over the past year to reach accommodations. Worries over possible US sanctions against India related to the purchase of Russian defence equipment have diminished following complications arising from Turkeys acquisition of similar equipment. The consequences of heightened US tensions with Iran have been managed, with India given time and space to diversify its energy supplies while receiving a waiver from US sanctions for the port project in Chabahar. Many major trade differences have been bridged, including on agriculture and health care, although new points of friction have arisen related to digital payments, data localisation, and e-commerce. On Afghanistan, India has been supportive of efforts to improve coordination between the Trump administration and the government in Kabul as both negotiate with the Taliban. With respect to Pakistan, which has experienced a decline in US military assistance, developments at the Financial Action Task Force suggest new alignments.

Whether or not Trump pulls off a re-election in November, these combined gains on both the positive and negative sides of the ledger are what India and the US can build upon or consolidate. A priority moving forward will involve finalising a trade agreement that brings an end to the application of further tariffs and open-ended commercial disputes. Breakthroughs in defence research and development and resolving immigration irritants will also remain high on the agenda, as will addressing differences over Russia and improving the regulatory environment for US businesses in India. The India-US relationship has proved resilient amid the immense changes underway in international politics. The greatest significance of Donald Trumps visit as president is the indication that this broad trajectory is likely to continue, even under circumstances that would once have been considered highly unlikely.

Dhruva Jaishankar is the director of the US Initiative at the Observer Research Foundation

The views expressed are personal
New data has just come out.

And its not good

On Sunday night the Italian government confirmed cases of coronavirus had spiked from three to 152 in a mere matter of days.

Three people have already died.

A dozen small towns in North Italy are now in lockdown and the famous Venice Carnival has been cancelled.

On the same day the South Korean government put out a red alert. Its their highest national threat level.

In that country 169 new cases came out on Sunday, with another 161 following close behind on Monday.

Yesterday Iran confirmed eight deaths, the most reported deaths outside of China. Today I read theyre now saying 12 people have died.

The point is, were starting to get data that shows this virus could be spreading fast. And perhaps its out of control already.

So, what should you do?

Lets look a bit closer at the data so far. And what could happen next.

Download your FREE report now, to discover Three Exciting Tech Trends and Three Small-Cap Stocks that could Explode in 2020.

Pay close attention

This is the situation right now:

Now, youve got to take the Chinese numbers (which are included here) with a pinch of salt.

Like a lot of data in China, theres a political influence which makes it hard to trust the veracity of the disclosed information.

Thats why itll be important to watch how these numbers change as cases outside of China start to increase.

Now I dont want you to panic (despite my headline). There are a lot of unknowns here. And it might not get as bad as we fear.

We just dont know yet.

But what I do know, is that financially speaking the market has been shaken out of its complacency by this latest Italian and South Korean news.

Yesterday, the ASX fell dramatically and closed around 2% down. US markets followed suit overnight and ended 3.5% down, the worst drop in two years and erasing all the gains from this year.

At the same time the gold price and gold stocks started to attract investor funds as people sought out safe haven assets.

Its a clear sign investors are starting to think about fat tail risks. The risk that the contagion effects of this virus could get a lot worse.

Were also starting to see the first direct financial effects of the virus on company profits

A black swan in the making

You cant hide the truth forever. And every day new facts are slowly coming to light.

If the situation in China is as bad as some unofficial reports Im reading say it is, then well start to see the effects ripple out over the next month.

Maybe were starting to see it already

For example, BlueScope Steel Ltd [ASX:BSL] shares were down 5.9% yesterday, as they announced a 70% hit to profits. They directly blamed the coronavirus and conditions on the ground in China.

From the AFR:

Steelmaker BlueScope says its China division wont make any profit in the June-half as the output from its four main plants in that country are severely curtailed by the coronavirus outbreak, and it grapples with logistics disruptions in the supply chain.

With China the epicentre of global manufacturing, the knock-on effects to every business in the world could be set to grow.

As reported in the WSJ:

Small U.S. businesses that sell everything from bicycles to custom software are struggling with the ripple effects of the coronavirus epidemic, which has disrupted global supply chains and left Chinese factories closed or short-staffed.

As well as supply chain problems, there was even some talk at work that the summer Tokyo Olympics could be called off if the virus persists.

Into the unknown

The fact is, right now, there are a lot of unknowns.

And while I usually loathe to panic (and prefer to remain optimistic), I do think a sensible approach to the situation right now is to make sure youre comfortable with how much money you have invested in the stock market.

The old trader maxim says: If youre going to panic, panic early.

So, for what its worth, I personally have lowered my exposure to share markets. Id rather do it now and be wrong, than be caught in a rush for the exits later.

If it all blows over, a vaccine is found, containment measures work, and we get the mother of all stimulus packages pushing markets to new highs, then great.

Therell always be opportunities to jump back onboard.

But right now, the downside is my concern.

Lets stay alert here and see what the next few weeks bring

Good investing,

Ryan Dinse,

Editor, Money Morning

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.
Budget session of the Gujarat



Legislative Assembly will start from Wednesday.

The budget for fiscal 2020-21 will be presented on the first day itself by Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Nitin Patel, a state government release said on Tuesday.

The session was to start from February 24, but it was rescheduled in view of US President Donald Trump's visit to Ahmedabad on the same day.

The House will meet for 22 days and will have 25 sittings between February 26 and March 31 during which the business of two curtailed days will be accommodated, the release said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Trend

Azerbaijan and Turkey will expand cooperation in the field of high technologies, a source in the Turkish government told Trend on Feb. 24.

"Along with the expansion of cooperation, the two fraternal countries will exchange experience. Cooperation will be strengthened in the field of artificial intelligence, cloud technology, robotics and nanotechnology," the source said.

The source also added that the parties will also share knowledge and experience in the field of support for startups. Collaboration is planned to be carried out in 2020-2021.

The source in the government also emphasized that Turkey could share its experience with Azerbaijan in creating an independent regulatory structure in the field of communications.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Some of the Top 10 Risks for Eurasia in 2020, which the Astana Club announced in late November 2019, are already coming true or appear to be heading toward reality.

Some of the risks that have already surfaced or are on the horizon are:

THE SHIFT TO FORCE IN THE US-IRAN STAND-OFF

The US and Iran's recent shift to force in their long-running stand-off showed how quickly their rivalry could escalate.

European countries had been sympathetic toward Iran after the United States pulled out of the nuclear agreement that the Obama administration had negotiated with Tehran. Iran's decision to rain missiles down on American troops in Iraq may lead to Europe dropping that support.

GLOBAL REVERBERATIONS FROM THE 2020 US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

The Astana Club's experts consider the unpredictable reverberations that the US presidential election may have on international affairs the top global risk of 2020.

The world's superpower is deeply divided politically. Will the Trump administration take steps to shore up the president's re-election chances by pursuing policies that could negatively affect global relations?

SIGNS OF AN IMPENDING GLOBAL ECONOMIC RECESSION

The last economic recession came just 12 years ago, at a time when international affairs were more stable than now. Experts worry that, given the present turmoil, another recession could surface  and it could be deep and lasting.

Astana Club experts point out that the old rules no longer apply to today's multipolar world, and the new ones have yet to emerge. This means the established global order is under the risk of unpredictable and permanent collapse.

The Astana Club's full list of the Top 10 Risks for Eurasia in 2020:

AFTERSHOCKS OF THE US PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN GLOBAL ECONOMIC RECESSION ESCALATION OF THE US- CHINA CONFRONTATION A NEW STAGE OF THE NUCLEAR MISSILE RACE EXACERBATION OF THE BATTLE FOR TECHNOLOGICAL DOMINANCE MILITARY ESCALATION OF THE CONFLICT AROUND IRAN NUCLEAR CRISIS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA A NEW WAVE OF TERRORISM AGGRESSIVE NATIONALISM AND POPULISM LARGE-SCALE CLIMATE CHANGE PROBLEMS

The full report on the Top 10 Risks is available at: Link

Contact:

Nurbek Achilov

Mob.: +77-019-402-978

Email: [email protected]

Amina Zharylgapova

Phone: +77-172-708-339

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Institute of World Economics and Politics (IWEP)
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."
A plea has been moved in the Delhi High Court seeking directions to the Centre to extend the ban on cow slaughter to include bulls, bullocks and buffaloes.

The petition has contended that if there is a prohibition on slaughter of cows, then its male counterpart and progeny should also be covered by the restriction.

It has contended that where other species like lions or peacocks are concerned, both males and females are protected from being killed and therefore, bulls and bullocks too should be protected from slaughter.

It has also claimed that bulls, bullocks and buffaloes, after getting aged or outliving their usefulness as draught or milch animals, can still assist in agricultural and breeding activities.

The plea has contended that dung and urine of these animals was also useful as fertiliser.

The petitioner has claimed that he had first moved the Supreme Court last year for protection of bulls, bullocks and buffaloes from slaughter, but the apex court had asked him to move the Delhi High Court.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sofia Richie has a certain sense of style that can be described as millennial cool: she is sexy but not too sexy.

But on Tuesday the 21-year-old girlfriend of KUWTK star Scott Disick may have made a rare blunder with one of her accessories as she bundled up for chilly New York City.

The blonde beauty was seen carrying a tan leather purse that, on first glance, could double as a crumpled up paper bag from a grocery store.

Fresh from the grocery store? Sofia Richie held on to a purse on Tuesday in New York City that looked like a crumpled up paper back from the market

Looking more like a purse here: When seen in profile, the clutch purse looks like a purse

The good friend of Kylie Jenner was pictured heading out in the morning hours.

The reality TV vet looked stylish while wearing a tan teddy coat - made of fake fur - a black top, Richie' own x Rolla's jeans, and black Prada boots.

But the purse was what caught the eye.

It looked like a rolled up paper bag from the grocery store. Still, Sofia pulled it off, making it look like the IT bag of the moment.

The star added black sunglasses and pulled her highlighted hair back in a ponytail.

Miss Richie Rich: The reality TV vet looked stylish while wearing a tan teddy coat - made of fake fur - a black top, Richie' own x Rolla's jeans, and black Prada boots. But the purse was what caught the eye

Later the cover girl was seen in a bone colored coat over what looked like a pleather top.

Now her hair was half up in a pony with gold earrings on display. She still had on her Rolla's jeans.

Oddly, the star was seen first with yellow strappy heels that showed off her pedicure.

New look: Later the cover girl was seen in a bone colored coat over what looked like a pleather top. Now her hair was half up in a pony with gold earrings on display. She still had on her Rolla's jeans. Oddly, the star was seen first with yellow strappy heels that showed off her pedicure

Then the pal of Paris Hilton had on white pointy pumps. But she kept her paper looking purse.

This comes after her posters for Rolla's jeans have been plastered all over major US cities.

In the poster, she is topless, cradling her chest, as she wears a pair of high-waisted acid washed jeans.

Change: Then the pal of Paris Hilton had on white pointy pumps

Time to go: She looked ready for a car to pick her up as she looked back

The beauty is tanned to perfection and is showing off several small tattoos as she wears yellow gold earrings that match her bracelet.

The photographer is Kylie's good friend Sasha.

Last week, the cover girl attended the launch party for her jeans at 1 Hotel in West Hollywood.

And at the event, the LA native was seen kissing her boyfriend Scott.

The next day, Life & Style claimed they were 'all over each other' as they cuddled and 'smacked' each other's bottoms.

According to the site, the lovebirds 'packed on the PDA' and were 'cuddling while standing at a table talking to some pals,' added an eyewitness.

No top, no problem: This comes after her posters for Rolla's jeans have been plastered all over major US cities. In the poster, she is topless, cradling her chest, as she wears a pair of high-waisted acid washed jeans

Le look: The beauty is tanned to perfection and is showing off several small tattoos as she wears yellow gold earrings that match her bracelet

From a friend: The photographer is Kylie's good friend Sasha Samsonova

'Hes got his arms around her waist, and theyre kissing and really into each other,' said the source.

They also had 'some laughs and butt smacks, before heading into the photo booth.

'The model was later seen sitting on her beaus lap as he puffed on a vape pen. They snuggled up,' said the insider. 'She had her arm around his neck and her face against his.'

When Sofia shared their kissing photo she captioned it, 'My love.'

People claimed over a week ago that 'Scott and Sofia are the type of couple that constantly split up and get back together.'

The source added, 'It's all very dramatic, and then all good again.'

Rare PDA: Richie shared a rare photo where she was seen kissing her boyfriend Scott Disick at her the launch of her Rolla's denim collaboration at 1 Hotel in West Hollywood on Thursday




Senator John Kennedy on Tuesday demanded answers from acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf regarding the likely extent of the domestic coronavirus outbreak, saying the American people deserve straight answers about the deadly virus.

During a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Kennedy asked Wolf how many cases of people infected with the coronavirus the U.S. anticipates having.

Youre head of Homeland Security, and your job is to keep us safe. Do you know today how many the experts are predicting? the Louisiana Democrat-turned-Republican said.

We only know that, again, we anticipate those numbers to grow in the U.S., Wolf responded, saying that he cannot provide an exact number.

Dont you think you ought to check on that? Kennedy asked. Youre the secretary. I think you ought to know that answer.

Kennedy also asked Wolf for answers on the mortality rate of the coronavirus, whether the U.S. has enough respirators, and when a vaccine is expected.

Youre the secretary of Homeland Security and you cant tell me if we have enough respirators? Kennedy said, adding that lawmakers previously heard separate testimony that the U.S. does not have enough respirators.

Kennedy also pointed out that the DHS chiefs testimony does not match up with information put out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Your numbers arent the same as CDCs. Dont you think you ought to contact them and find our whether youre right or theyre right? Kennedy said. The American people deserve some straight answers on the coronavirus and Im not getting them from you.

Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen afterwards urged Wolf to hold open briefings about the situation surrounding the coronavirus, adding, I didnt hear anything this morning that I havent read in the newspaper.

A slew of new countries on Monday confirmed their first cases of the virus, a respiratory illness that originated in China and has infected close to 80,000 people in 37 countries, killing at least 2,600.

More from National Review
It happened, imagine that. The beast is finally behind bars and the winner is #MeToo. Harvey Weinstein, taken to a prison cell in handcuffs, will now pay something of a price for raping and terrorizing women in the film industry where he prowled, rich and hideous, for decades.

Many good men and women had expected Weinstein, 67, would be found not guilty on all counts and dance his way out of court, discarding the prop walker over which he, bloated and unshaved, arrived each day bent double, but they were joyously, blessedly wrong.

Raise a glass, friends.

True to Weinsteins nature, he will appeal the verdict of guilty on two charges, rape and criminal sexual assault  even if he were to get only probation on the first one, the second carries a minimum five-year sentence  but he faces sentencing plus more charges in Los Angeles. The outlook isnt good for a man facing public accusations by more than 100 women.

For Canadian women, the trial was familiar territory after the 2016 Jian Ghomeshi case, where witnesses who said he assaulted them were pilloried by a female lawyer for their later relatively friendly behaviour, which he tracked.

The most important part of the Weinstein verdict is that the jury understood why victims do that. In a woman-hating world, they have to find a way to live. So they minimize it, they find a way to shrink a horror they cannot contain.

The verdict was strange, the jury having deliberated for 26.5 hours over almost five days to find him not guilty of a predatory pattern of sexual assault plus two other charges, despite evidence of attacks on six women in this case alone. But it is sufficient for now.

If Weinstein was judged to be not a type but a specific, then he was a specifically disgusting embodiment of male pattern misogyny. The verdict is a crucial step in a weird story that has unfolded since #MeToo began. There are many variations and degrees of Weinsteins, from sexual harassers and creeps to rapists and beyond.

Think of the stories being told now, allegations about pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, his friend Prince Andrew, saintly Jean Vanier, island dweller Peter Nygard, Donald Trump, bathrobed Charlie Rose, et al. We all know #MeToo men not yet revealed. What do they have in common?

Its not just that the allegations are about powerful older men. Presumably, if the allegations are true, they behaved in a similar fashion while younger, and the odds of getting caught simply increased with the advance of time and feminism. Its that violent misogyny is not considered unusual. Historically, it wasnt considered at all.

Weinstein became even more bestial with the arrival of the #MeToo movement, devised when women around the world began to talk about the sexual harassment that was their constant companion at work. Two New York Times journalists and the New Yorkers Ronan Farrow wrote Weinstein exposes in quick succession in 2017.

Weinstein unleashed vengeance on those who testified and others who might, knowing that he was under serious legal threat for perhaps the first time in his life. One alleged victim was actor Annabella Sciorra, most famed for her work in The Sopranos as Gloria Trillo, a tiny woman who in one scene was slammed to the ground and choked by the huge Tony Soprano.

It was a gentler replay of what Weinstein had allegedly done to her. She said she remained terrified of Weinstein, who she feared would kill her if she spoke out. She spoke out. Weinstein was acquitted of the predatory sexual assault charges.

Indelible in the hippocampus is the laughter, Christine Blasey Ford testified about an alleged attack by a young Brett Kavanaugh, now a U.S. Supreme Court justice, who cried angry tears at his confirmation hearing. He was confirmed.

Weinstein was particularly repulsive. During the trial the jury heard testimony that he used a needle on his penis to get erections, 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 Associated Press reported.

The revolting story is not over. A chapter has ended and another will begin. But what a day, what a great day.

Mallick is a columnist based in Toronto covering current affairs. Follow her on Twitter: HeatherMallick is a columnist based in Toronto covering current affairs. Follow her on Twitter: @HeatherMallick

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If this election turns out to be just between a self-proclaimed socialist and an undiagnosed sociopath, we will be in a terrible, terrible place as a country. How do we prevent that?

Thats all I am thinking about right now. My short answer is that the Democrats have to do something extraordinary  forge a national unity ticket the likes of which they have never forged before. And thats true even if Democrats nominate someone other than Bernie Sanders.

What would this super ticket look like? Well, I suggest Sanders  and Michael Bloomberg, who seems to be his most viable long-term challenger  lay it out this way:

I want people to know that if I am the Democratic nominee these will be my cabinet choices  my team of rivals. I want Amy Klobuchar as my vice president. Her decency, experience and moderation will be greatly appreciated across America and particularly in the Midwest. I want Mike Bloomberg (or Bernie Sanders) as my secretary of the Treasury. Our plans for addressing income inequality are actually not that far apart, and if we can blend them together it will be great for the country and reassure markets. I want Joe Biden as my secretary of state. No one in our party knows the world better or has more credibility with our allies than Joe. I will ask Elizabeth Warren to serve as health and human services secretary. No one could bring more energy and intellect to the task of expanding health care for more Americans than Senator Warren.

I want Kamala Harris for attorney general. She has the toughness and integrity needed to clean up the corrupt mess Donald Trump has created in our Justice Department. I would like Mayor Pete as homeland security secretary; his intelligence and military background would make him a quick study in that job. I would like Tom Steyer to head a new cabinet position: secretary of national infrastructure. Were going to rebuild America, not just build a wall on the border with Mexico. And I am asking Cory Booker, the former mayor of Newark, to become secretary of housing and urban development. Who would bring more passion to the task of revitalizing our inner cities than Cory?
Pictured: Dr Tim Steel, head of the Neurosurgery Department at St Vincent's Hospital

A leading neurosurgeon has been suspended from practicing as he faces charges for assaulting his wife - and patients claim they have been told he's on expected leave.

Dr Tim Steel, who leads the Department of Neurosurgery at St Vincent's Hospital in Darlinghurst, is accused of assaulting his wife, Emma, and damaging property during an alleged row at the couple's home in Bellevue Hill on Saturday, December 14.

His lawyer, Paul McGirr, told Daily Mail Australia Dr Steel will be contesting the allegations.

Police are currently seeking an apprehended violence order on Ms Steel's behalf.

Dr Steel notified the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency of the charges, and in turn had his licence suspended on February 11.

A source close to the hospital told Daily Mail Australia that patients have been left in the lurch about future surgeries.

Dr Tim Steel's wife Emma (centre) alongside Roxy Jacenko (left) and another friend (right) at a social event

'Some patients have been trying to get in touch with him for days and they've been told he's on unexpected leave. They seem to be left in the dark about things.

'It's a shambles.'

St Vincent's Hospital has been informed of the suspension and will not comment on the matter because it is personal in nature, not professional.

A hearing for one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, one count of damaging property and the AVO application has been scheduled in Downing Centre Local Court for March 6.

Dr Steel is one of Australia's leading neurosurgeons - but is currently suspended from practising due to the charges

Emma Steel (centre) pictured at a Christmas lunch at the Sydney Childrens Hospital Silver Committee in 2014

The couple have been married since 2008.

A spokesman from NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia officers were called to a home in Bellevue Hill in December to respond to allegations of domestic violence.

'Following inquiries, police arrested a 56-year-old man,' police said.

'He was charged with three offences - assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault and maliciously damage property,' the statement read.
Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday addressed the first session of the 7th Legislative Assembly and outlined the Arvind Kejriwal government's priorities, including strengthening health and education services and making Delhi a world class city.

In his address to the newly elected MLAs, Baijal also appealed to the people to maintain peace, law and order, communal harmony and cooperate with security agencies in the wake of violence in parts of northeast Delhi during protests for and against the new citizenship law.

He highlighted the Kejriwal government's 10 guarantees related to health, education, transport and environment among others.

The government is committed to continue supply of 200 units electricity and 20,000 litre water per month free of cost to the Delhi people, he said.

The government will focus on its earlier work and try to make Delhi a world class city, added the Lt Governor.

The first session of the new Assembly began Monday with administration of oath to the newly elected MLAs.

The MLAs elected Ram Niwas Goel as new Speaker of the House.

The three-day session will conclude on Wednesday with the election of deputy Speaker and motion of thanks on the LG's address.

Outlining the AAP government's priorities, Baijal said in its previous term the elected dispensation focussed on basic needs of people through different schemes in the fields of education, health, women safety, transport and other areas.

"In the present tenure my government will focus on further consolidation of the said welfare activities and will take further action to make Delhi a world class city," Baijal said in his speech.

The commitment of the government for the welfare of the people is further solidifed by the 'Ten Guarantees' to the people of Delhi, Baijal said, highlighting the new government's commitment for 'Jagamagati (shining) Delhi' to make the national capital at per with world class cities.

He outlined the government's work in its previous tenure and future plans in the areas of piped drinking water, education, affordable and advanced health facility, cheapest public transport, pollution, women safety and basic amenities in unauthorised colonies.

"Along with the 'Ten Guarantees' stated above, my government is also committed to the economic development of Delhi," he said.

Equal and fare share for Delhi like other states, in central taxes paid by people of the city, is essential for its economic development, he said.

It will be a priority of the government to re-establish system of Delhi's share in central taxes, as was prior to 2001, and providing funds to the municipal corporations, Baijal said in his address.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned fellow Democrats in an exclusive CNN interview that the party "must be unified" to defeat President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential race, while noting that any of the candidates running to face him "would be a better president."

"I can't even envision a situation where he would be reelected. But we are not, we don't take anything for granted. As I say, we have to have our own vision for the future. But everybody knows that we must be unified in making sure that he does not have a second term," Pelosi told CNN's Christiane Amanpour at the Munich Security conference over the weekend.

Pelosi's comments come as a crowded field of Democratic presidential candidates continue to battle it out in the primary race to see who will go on to face Trump in the general election with the White House at stake. The field of Democratic candidates that started out with more than 20 hopefuls has winnowed down to eight following the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary.

The House speaker argued that Democrats "have a better vision for America and we must defeat Donald Trump."

"We know one thing: we have a better vision for America, and we must defeat Donald Trump who does not share a vision that is about unity and unifying the country," she said.

Pelosi said that the Democratic Party is "a party of vitality, differences of opinion, which we will resolve. She added that she has "trust in the American people" and "it isn't up to me to decide, it's up to the people."

But she noted that she believes each one of the 2020 Democratic hopefuls "have made a very valuable contribution to the debate," and that that it is "easy" for her to say that "any one of them would be a better president than the current occupant of the White House."

"I think every one of our candidates, all 25 -- I don't know if Michael Bloomberg is counted in the 25, but Michael Bloomberg, too -- have made a very valuable contribution to the debate putting forth their vision, their knowledge, their judgment, their strategic thinking," she said.

Pelosi has not endorsed any candidate, but added that she isn't counting out former Vice President Joe Biden, who is now trailing in the count of pledged delegates.

"I'm grateful to all of them for putting themselves on the line, putting forth their ideas. And now, we come down to the winnowing process," she said, adding, "quite frankly, with all the respect in the world for Iowa and New Hampshire, I'm not counting Joe Biden out. There's still races ahead that are much more representative of the country."

She did not directly mention Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has emerged as an early front-runner in the Democratic race drawing support from the liberal wing of the party.

Trump "will never be vindicated" after impeachment and Ukraine scandal

Pelosi argued during the interview that Trump "will never be vindicated" after the Democratic-controlled House moved to impeach him over his actions toward Ukraine, despite the fact that the Republican-led Senate ultimately voted to acquit and the White House has claimed "exoneration."

"The President may have been acquitted by the Senate, which didn't have the courage to honor its oath of office on the Republican side, but he will never be vindicated from this," Pelosi said.

Pelosi, who has previously said that she prays for the President, said, "I don't know if the President is a person of faith, it's not for me to make that judgment."

She went on to say, "He said I didn't pray for him. I thought if he's a person of faith, he would recognize another person of faith, and if he prayed he would recognize that other people do, even for him."

Trump used the House "as a backdrop for a reality show" during SOTU

Pelosi said that the President used the House of Representatives "as a backdrop for a reality show" during his recent State of the Union address to Congress.

"I was very disappointed in the fact that the President used the chamber of the House of Representatives, the people's House, as a backdrop for a reality show"

She defended her controversial decision to rip up Trump's speech, a dramatic moment that was met with criticism from Republicans, and addressed the moment where Trump appeared to snub her by ignoring her outstretched hand.

"He didn't shake it when he extended it. I don't know what you call that. But in any event, that had nothing to do with my tearing up the State of the Union address. My tearing it up had to do with, I thought, if I can find a page that doesn't have a falsehood on it, I'll spare it, but I couldn't find that," Pelosi said.
In 2013 Simon Litherland was appointed CEO of Britvic plc (LON:BVIC). This analysis aims first to contrast CEO compensation with other companies that have similar market capitalization. After that, we will consider the growth in the business. 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 Britvic

How Does Simon Litherland's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies?

At the time of writing, our data says that Britvic plc has a market cap of UK2.5b, and reported total annual CEO compensation of UK3.5m for the year to September 2019. That's a notable increase of 61% on last year. We think total compensation is more important but we note that the CEO salary is lower, at UK624k. We note that more than half of the total compensation is not the salary; and performance requirements may apply to this non-salary portion. We examined companies with market caps from UK1.5b to UK5.0b, and discovered that the median CEO total compensation of that group was UK1.8m.

Thus we can conclude that Simon Litherland receives more in total compensation than the median of a group of companies in the same market, and of similar size to Britvic plc. However, this doesn't necessarily mean the pay is too high. We can better assess whether the pay is overly generous by looking into the underlying business performance.

You can see a visual representation of the CEO compensation at Britvic, below.

LSE:BVIC CEO Compensation, February 25th 2020

Is Britvic plc Growing?

Over the last three years Britvic plc has shrunk its earnings per share by an average of 4.6% per year (measured with a line of best fit). It achieved revenue growth of 2.8% over the last year.

Few shareholders would be pleased to read that earnings per share are lower over three years. The modest increase in revenue in the last year isn't enough to make me overlook the disappointing change in earnings per share. So given this relatively weak performance, shareholders would probably not want to see high compensation for the CEO. Shareholders might be interested in this free visualization of analyst forecasts.

Story continues

Has Britvic plc Been A Good Investment?

I think that the total shareholder return of 63%, over three years, would leave most Britvic plc shareholders smiling. So they may not be at all concerned if the CEO were to be paid more than is normal for companies around the same size.

In Summary...

We compared total CEO remuneration at Britvic plc with the amount paid at companies with a similar market capitalization. We found that it pays well over the median amount paid in the benchmark group.

Neither earnings per share nor revenue have been growing sufficiently to impress us, over the last three years. But clearly there are some positives, because investors have done well over the same time frame. Given this situation we doubt shareholders are particularly concerned about the CEO compensation. So you may want to check if insiders are buying Britvic shares with their own money (free access).

Important note: Britvic may not be the best stock to buy. You might find something better in this list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Harvey Weinstein was convicted Monday at his sexual assault trial, sealing his dizzying fall from powerful Hollywood studio boss to archvillain of the (hash)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. 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 (hash)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.



Many of Weinstein's 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, "You'll 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 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.



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 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"  (hash)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 don't 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 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.



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 (hash)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.



Weinstein's 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."
Mainstay Medical is focused on developing a product aimed at stopping chronic lower back pain

Mainstay Medical, the medical device company focused on developing Reactiv8 - a treatment aimed at stopping chronic lower back pain, has reported revenue of $1.1m for 2019.

This was an increase on the $600,000 in income recorded in 2018.

Operating expenses for the year ended 31 December 2019 were $19.2m, down from the $29.6m reported in the prior year, according to annual results from the group.

The decrease in expenditure was driven primarily by reduced costs relating to activities and personnel following the completion of all implants in the ReActiv-8 B clinical trial.

Meanwhile, Mainstay had cash of $17.4m at year-end.

The companys ReActiv8 Pre-Market Approval (PMA) application was accepted for review by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October. Mainstay expects a decision regarding approval around the end of this year.

Elsewhere, the company received regulatory approval for ReActiv8 in Australia.

Jason Hannon, CEO of Mainstay, said: We continue to make significant progress toward our key objectives.

We also continue to make progress working with key physicians in Germany who are incorporating ReActiv8 into their practices in order to validate commercial adoption, refine patient selection strategies and follow ongoing patient progress.

Headquartered in Dublin, Mainstay has subsidiaries operating in Ireland, the United States, Australia, Germany and the Netherlands.

It is listed on regulated market of the Euronext Paris and the Euronext Growth market of Euronext Dublin.
What is a precaution dose? Is it different from a booster shot?

Precaution doses for Covid warriors, elderly from January 10: All you need to know

Covid self-isolation rule change explained: What does the new rules mean for me?

Explained: The link between Indian citizenship and the voter identification card

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 25: A Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court recently ruled that a voter identification card was not conclusive proof of citizenship.

Earlier this month, a magistrate's court in Mumbai held hat an election card is sufficient proof of citizenship. The court also acquitted two individuals who the police had accused of being Bangladeshi infiltrators.

The Gauhati HC had relied on the Babul Islam vs State of Assam case, in which it was said that the Electoral Photo Identity Card is not proof of citizenship. The position taken by the Mumbai court is similar to the one by the Election Commission of India.

Explained: How India is securing Donald Trump's visit

One Roshan Shah, a Canadian national, originally from Gujarat tried to stand for elections in India. In 2015, the Election Commission of India amended Forms 2A and 2H to underline the direct link between citizenship of a person and the electoral system.

A year later the EC issued a notification making provisions to furnish the photo of a candidate with the nomination form. It was also notified that a form shall be filled declaring the citizenship of the candidate.

Explained: Why Pakistan remained in the grey list

Further Form 6 of the Registration of Electors's Rules, 1960, under the Representation of People Act, 1951 has a declaration on citizenship from the voter in line with the Constitution. If a voter declares that he or she is a citizen of India, this is accepted by the registration authority. This goes on to establish the direct link between being a citizen and having a right to vote.
France sees no need to close borders near Italy, but raises vigilance over coronavirus

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:30, February 25, 2020

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.

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The key characteristics that define a dynamic and ever evolving B2B space across organizations and geographies are the imperatives driving the C-suite that can be outlined as:

 CEO imperatives: Revenue growth, Superior customer service and Business efficiency.

 CFO imperatives: Risk and Compliance, Cost reduction and Cash flows.

 CIO imperatives: Investment protection, Return On Technology Investment (ROTI) and Rapid deployment.

Statistics of Cloud and cloud based services

These business imperatives when read alongside some of the global statistics quoted by leading research analysts like IDC / Gartner / Verizon create a global business direction  the movement towards Cloud and cloud based services.

1. 38 percent growth in enterprise spend on cloud in 2014

2. 55 percent of the overall IT budget is spent on cloud and managed services and 45 percent on traditional IT

3. 20 percent of the customers will no longer run ICT solutions in-house by 2017

4. Cloud software market to be $75B by 2017, UC cloud market to by $62B by 2018 and CC cloud market to be $11B by 2019

5. Sales force - a cloud only model

6. Microsofts commercial cloud revenue grew 88 percent quarter-ended 2015

7. Oracles cloud revenue growth - software and cloud revenues up 5percent to $7.3 billion. Cloud software-as-a-service (SaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS) and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) revenue was up 45 percent to $516 million.

8. Amazon Web Services pulling in about $6 billion per year.

Few must-haves for adoption of cloud

CIOs, especially in emerging markets like India, while contemplating the adoption of cloud will be forced to take the step sooner than later owing to the above business dynamics. While statistics indicate rampant adoption across the board, there are a few must-haves that are in short supply in the current scenario and are driving the decision.

 Time: Businesses need to be agile. The timelines from an idea to its GTM are shrinking. Above all, the first mover advantage is huge. Customer acquisition and retention is directly linked to the speed with which an organisation innovates and technology has a huge role to play in it.

 Cash: Ask any CFO and he will tell you how difficult it is to either mobilize cash or show ROCE (Return on cash employed) to the expectations of various stake holders.

 Skilled workforce: Domain experts, people with deep technology skills, vertical expertise among other aspects are far and few.

With this as the backdrop the benefits of cloud stand tall

1. No upfront capex investment (CFO, CEO)

2. Better ROCE (CFO)

3. Off balance sheet transaction, full tax deductibility of operational cost, improved liquidity, reduction in fixed costs etc. (CFO, CEO)

4. Improved application and platform availability by leveraging cloud providers domain expertise and technology skills (CIO)

5. Adopt cutting edge and new technologies without upfront investment. Lower risk of failure.(CIO, CEO )

6. Reduce GTM time (CEO)

7. Consume as a service. Great way to de-risk from peaks and troughs of business. (CFO , CEO )

8. Predictability of outflow (CIO, CFO)

9. Relieve IT department from routine tasks and align them closely with business priorities. Smaller IT team, yet more effective. (CIO, CEOs)

10.Improve green footprint and responsible e-waste disposal (CIO , CFO , CEO)

CIOs need to proactively work on their cloud strategy. There is no one size fits all approach. And yet, everything need not be on cloud! There are options of private cloud (infrastructure hosted internally), public cloud (application and data stored in providers data center) and hybrid cloud (combination of public and private cloud and sometime on-premise services). Incumbent partner and/or system integrators can play a significant part in this journey right from transition phase to transformation phase. The specialist solution integrators understand an organisations eco system, multiple integrations that may be needed including legacy systems and customizations, all of which can be leveraged to ensure that adoption of cloud is with least amount of disruption to business.
Between 1780 and 1937, Jews in Germany produced numerous new translations of the Hebrew Bible into German. Intended for Jews who were trilingual, reading Yiddish, Hebrew, and German, these translations gave Jews access to their scripture without Christian intervention, and they also helped showcase the Hebrew Bible as a work of literature and the foundational text of modern Jewish identity. In A History of German Jewish Bible Translation, Abigail Gillman examines the history of these translations as a larger cultural project.

Your book discusses the remarkable history of the Hebrew Bibles translations into German. Why were these new translations so important to the Jewish community, and what innovations did each new wave of translation offer?

German Jewish rabbis and intellectuals produced works of philosophy, fiction, and poetry, as well as exegetical texts, sermons, essays, and textbooks. They also saw that a translation of the Hebrew Bible into German could accomplish a number of important goals. In most cases, they followed models from Christian society. But Jewish translators maintained that their projects were continuous with the tradition of transmitting and interpreting the Torah going all the back to Moses. They also affiliated translation to the discourse of exegesis, which is the most authentic, impugnable form of engagement with the biblical text (going back to the Targum). And they highlighted the ancient pedagogical mandate to teach [Torah] to your children.

Rather than devote a chapter to each Bible, I group the translations into four, chronological waves. The priority of the first wave was to produce translations that were grammatical, aesthetic, and stylistically clear; clear and correct language was the priority of the Haskalah. In contrast to that domesticating approach, second-wave translators of the 1830s and 1840s produced more Hebraic, foreign-sounding translations, so as to convey the poetic qualities of Hebrew, and incorporate recent scholarship. In the third wave, translators placed their own, expansive commentaries on each page, virtually turning each page into a pulpit. Translators of the fourth wave had a very different goal: to shape a translation that would improve peoples relationship to scripture. But these are only some of the many innovations that run through the history of German Jewish Bible translation.

Bible translation was first viewed in a negative lighta sign that the community has lost touch with its language and history. How did this perception change over time?

With the Haskalah (Jewish Enlightenment), as well as innovations in printing technology and development in Christian society, Jews began to value and appreciate translations as we do todayas significant works, not just a necessary evil or a supplement to the Hebrew Torah. In seventeenth-century Amsterdam, two translations came out which were printed on very fine paper, and included copper engraved illustrations as frontispieces and approbations by important authorities. Those translations marked the beginning of a translation revolution taken up a century later, more famously, by Moses Mendelssohn. What Im getting at here is that the Bibles themselves shaped the new perception. Over the course of this history, translators prefaces were increasingly more confident, and less defensive, about producing an original translation. Bible translations became endowed with other kinds of positive significance as well as a range of educational and cultural functions: to teach grammar; to convey the paronomasia, wordplay, and puns in the Hebrew; and even to educate the readers about the realia of the biblical world through illustrations of plants, animals, ruins, art from the British Museum and images from travel literature.

How did you come to be interested in this aspect of Jewish history, and what do you love about it?

Love is the right word. The topic of German Jewish Bible translation brings together my interests in German literature and culture; my life-long engagement with the Hebrew language; and my fascination with religious culturespecifically, with the Hebrew Bible as it shapes and partakes in culture. Comparing translations of the Bible, as of any great work of literature, is inherently fascinating and also enormous fun. If that were not enough, I truly enjoyed the challenge of looking at a biblical verse in German translation, and trying to figure out whether this translator was innovating; borrowing from an earlier translation, Jewish or Christian; or simply following an interpretation by Rashi or some other exegete.

While you were working on this project, what did you learn that surprised you the most?

When I set out to write my book, I was primarily interested in philological questions. I did not foresee that all these Hebrew-German verse comparisons would generate a work of cultural history. I also did not anticipate how my discovery of Bertha Pappenheims important translationsincluding the Tsene-Rene, or Frauenbibel, published in Nazi yearscould give a wholly different arc to the history as a whole. Regarding the Buber & Rosenzweig translations: I was surprised to discover the many ways in which they tried to dissociate themselves from the illustrious genealogy I trace in my book. Now their project has become a kind of iconic or representative translation of that tradition, which makes me wonder if that was what they intended all along. Overall, since I sought to deconstruct these translationsI was trained in Literature at Yale in the 1980sI was very attuned to the ambiguities and tensions on all levels. So, many surprises.

Where do you anticipate your research taking you next?

Ive just finished an essay that begins to survey, in a very preliminary way, the history of Jewish translation practices. Its a very exciting time to be working on translation, both in the humanities and in Jewish Studies; I am part of a growing group of scholars doing incredible work on Hebrew-German translation alone! I expect my next book will be a study of the mashal across Jewish literature, from ancient and Hasidic texts on to parabolic modern authors like Franz Kafka and Etgar Keret and Orly Castel-Bloom. The parable, much like a Bible translation, is a fascinatingly ambiguous religious/fictional hybrid. The parable stands before the law, as Kafka would say, engaging those who seek to enter, but also shutting them out. Im fascinated by literature designed to communicate some wisdom or religious teaching, but which fundamentally leaves us to our own devices.

I have also recently joined the editorial board of Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception, a large and important project by De Gruyter Press in Berlin. This is an opportunity to recruit authors and to learn about the reception of biblical terms, ideas, characters, etc. in modern Judaism, Christianity, Islam and in the arts.

Whats the best book youve read lately?

When Aharon Appelfeld died in 2018, I rededicated myself to studying his corpus in Hebrew. I have taught Appelfeld in English for many years, and I met the author when he taught at Boston University many years ago. His shy, self-effacing style of writing appeals to me very much. At the moment, I am especially captivated by his beautiful novel The Man who Never Stopped Sleeping. Its an autofictional work that describes how a young orphan from Czernowitz, a Holocaust survivor, arrives in Palestine and struggles to stay connected to his parents and his mother tongues, while also finding creative ways to attach his past life to his new language, and ultimately, how to become a writer. Translation plays a role here, as does the Hebrew Bible, which becomes a kind of Hebrew primer for the young Aharon.

Abigail Gillman is associate professor of Hebrew, German, and comparative literature, and affiliated faculty in Jewish Studies, at Boston University. She is the author of Viennese Jewish Modernism: Freud, Hofmannsthal, Beer-Hofmann, and Schnitzler. A History of German Jewish Bible Translation is available now on our website or from other booksellers.
It shows a lot of judgment to acknowledge that something that consumed a lot of resources and time did not yield the value anticipated, Mr. Klein said. We want agencies to be able to reflect on their collection capabilities and wind them down where appropriate. Thats the best way to ensure civil liberties and privacy are balanced with operational needs.

In a statement appended to the report, Mr. Klein also noted that phone records were becoming less important as people shifted to using encrypted chat apps. And, he noted, the government could still gain access to some phone logs through other means, like traditional subpoenas for records of discrete accounts, or N.S.A. collection abroad, where there are fewer legal limits.

The Times reported last year that the National Security Agency had delivered a bleak internal assessment of the call records programs steep costs and minimal benefits without taking an explicit position on whether the Trump administration should seek to extend the law that authorized it. But the specific figures undergirding that briefing were previously classified.

The privacy board, working with the intelligence community, got several additional salient facts declassified as part of the rollout of its report. Among them, it officially disclosed that the system has gained access to Americans cellphone records, not just logs of landline phone calls.

It also disclosed that in the four years the Freedom Act system was operational, the National Security Agency produced 15 intelligence reports derived from it. The other 13, however, contained information the F.B.I. had already collected through other means, like ordinary subpoenas to telephone companies.

The report cited two investigations in which the National Security Agency produced reports derived from the program: its analysis of the Pulse nightclub mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., in June 2016 and of a February 2016 incident in Ohio where a man attacked people at a restaurant with a machete. But it did not say whether the investigations into either of those attacks were connected to the two intelligence reports that provided unique information not already in the possession of the F.B.I.
ROME, N.Y.  The Rome manager whose guns were seized under the red flag law last week will not appear in court until March 16.

More than 80 guns were seized from the home of Michael and Jason Deshane after a video was spread on social media, showing threatening behavior from Jason toward a female employee.

Michael owns the Liquor Warehouse in Rome, and his son, Jason, works at the store.

A temporary extreme-risk protection order was issued by the state supreme court and served to both men after the video went viral.

The court appearance will address the future of the protection order.

Jason was schedule to appear in court Tuesday, but will not go in front of the judge until next month. Michaels hearing is still scheduled for Wednesday.

The red flag law removes guns from the possession of people who are deemed to be a threat to themselves or others.
Former National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary aspirant for Nkwanta South, Richard Manuribe has chided the Minister of communications and Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful for her comments which suggested Ghana belongs to a selected few.

Ursula Owusu-Ekuful in an interview said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are the real owners of Ghana and will continue to love and uphold Ghana with all their might.

The Communications Minister without mincing words, said the decision to boycott the proceedings was senseless.

But the NDC communicator has described as unwarranted and irresponsible comments from the Minister about Ghana belonging to a select few.

He noted that the Minister's comment has the potential to embolden and offer justification for secessionists and those who sympathise with them.

"These tribal comments must not be accepted and all Ghanaians must wake up and fight Ursula Owusu over his tribal comments. Such comments are needless and I suggest the President must call him to order, Richard Manuribe told Kwame Tutu on Anopa Nkomo on Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7.

Ghana is not for only one person, as a Minister she must learn how to talk in a responsible way, he intimated.
She plays legendary physicist and chemist Marie Curie, the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize for her pioneering research on radioactivity.

And Rosamund Pike stood proud in a sensational white gown on Saturday as she walked the red carpet for Radioactive's European film premiere at the UGC Danton Cinema in Paris, France.

Looking spectacular in the highly structured overcoat and tuxedo dress combination Rosamund, 41, posed confidentially for the camera.

Playing a legendary physicist: Rosamund Pike stood proud in a sensational white gown on Saturday as she walked the red carpet for Radioactive's European film premiere

The star completed the red carpet power look with an elegant bob and a pair of barely there black heels.

The film is based on the graphic novel 'Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout' by Lauren Redniss and was acquired by Amazon Studios in February 2018.

Radioactive also stars Sam Riley as Curie's husband Pierre and Anya Taylor-Joy as her daughter Irene.

They began filming in Hungary in September, with the film due to be released in the UK on March 20.

Staring role: Rosamund will play physicist and chemist Marie Curie, the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize for her pioneering research on radioactivity

Co-star: Radioactive also stars Sam Riley (pictured) as Curie's husband Pierre and Anya Taylor-Joy as her daughter Irene

Home of the scientist: The premiere was held in Paris, France, where Marie Curie lived and studied Pictured: Sam Riley and Rosamund Pike

Rosamund last starred as the fearless and rebellious late war correspondent Marie Colvin in her latest movie A Private War alongside Jamie Dornan and Stanley Tucci.

The drama saw the star transform into war correspondent Marie, who was driven across the globe to the frontline,

She died at the age of 52 during a rocket strike in Syria in 2012.

Complex roles: The star is known for taking on in depth biographical roles, she has also played Marie Colvin, the fearless and rebellious late war correspondent

Actors Sam Riley, Rosamund Pike and director Marjane Satrapi attend the Radioactive premiere

Of the role, Rosamund said: 'Marie was a heroine to me, she had an uncanny ability to bring far away conflicts really close... she wanted to know what was happening to the people, the civilians and the casualties.'

'She lost her eye and people thought she'd give up but she went back to the field with purpose. She was a huge romantic and a huge optimist,' Rosamund continued.

'I wanted to introduce a whole generation to this person... I think with films if you have a clever woman she's not allowed to have a vibrant sexuality.'

Historic figures: The film is based on the graphic novel 'Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout' by Lauren Redniss and was acquired by Amazon Studios in February 2018

Girl power: Radioactive is due for release by Amazon Studios in 2020

Rosamund received a Golden Globe nomination for her work in the biographical drama and was previously nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for Gone Girl.

The star has been keeping busy - also shooting another thriller at the end of last year, I Care a Lot, which is now in post production with no set UK release date.

The film, written by British director and screenwriter J Blakeson, will see Rosamund play legal Marla Grayson who is able to use her expertise in the law to help her clients-sometimes to the detriment of the more vulnerable in society.

She will star alongside Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage.
The possible mask shortage is one of many critical issues that federal, state and local officials and health-care providers are confronting as the U.S. posture on the covid-19 crisis shifts from keeping the virus that causes the disease out of the country to mitigating its impact here. Already, coordination and communication problems among the various parts of the public health apparatus are beginning to cause difficulties, according to providers on the front lines.
Swine flu assumes serious proportions in Madhya Pradesh with 111 dead in 3 months

Six SC judges down with H1N1 virus, hearings affected in Sabarimala, other cases

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Delhi, February 25: Justice DY Chandrachud on Tuesday announced that six Supreme Court judges have been infected by swine flu virus (H1N1). He added that a meeting was held with the Chief Justice of India regarding preventive measures to be taken.

The unavailability of six judges is likely to affect the apex court's working in cases like the Sabarimala and others.

"It is a request to everyone here, don't come to court if you are not feeling well", Justice Mishra said.

The CJI Bobde also met the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Dushyant Dave.

UKs top Judge, Lord Reed to witness proceedings in Indias Supreme Court

Amit Shah chairs high level meeting on North East Delhi violence

Since the vaccination costs Rs 1200, Dave said that he has offered Rupees 10 lakhs as aid, as every one who visits SC - lawyers, junior lawyers, journalists, litigants etc- may not have the resources for taking the vaccination.

H1N1 also known as Swine Flu is highly contagious and spreads from humans to humans.

Last week, two employees of software firm SAP in Bengaluru office tested positive for the virus. As a precautionary measure, the Indian arm of the German software group shut down all offices in the country for sanitisation.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 14:13 [IST]
Kazakhstan's largest airline, Air Astana, revealed on Tuesday plans to upgrade its fleet within the next three years by replacing Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft with the Airbus 321 and Boeing 787 (Dreamliner), respectively, the airline's press service said

ALMATY (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th February, 2020) Kazakhstan's largest airline, Air Astana, revealed on Tuesday plans to upgrade its fleet within the next three years by replacing Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft with the Airbus 321 and Boeing 787 (Dreamliner), respectively, the airline's press service said.

"The long-range Boeing 757 aircraft are currently being replaced by Airbus-321. Boeing 767 will be replaced by Boeing 787 (Dreamliner) in 2023," the company said in a press release.

According to the company, CEO Peter Foster has informed President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev about the flagship carrier's plans to modernize the fleet.

Foster noted that after the Boeing 757 retires, Air Astana will have one of the youngest fleets globally by the end of 2022 with a total of 54 aircraft.

At meeting with Foster, Tokayev said that more airlines needed to be brought to Kazakhstan through the "Open Skies" program, which allows foreign carriers to operate routes unused by domestic airlines, and that the mobility of Kazakh citizens via affordable domestic prices needed to be ensured.

Air Astana's current fleet includes the Boeing 767-300ER and 757-200; Airbus A320, A320neo, A321 and A321neo; as well as Embraer 190 and E190-E2.
But while the House is moving to complete a bill before the deadline, it remains to be seen how the political turbulence surrounding the use of FISA in the Russia case will play out. Some Republicans have discussed pushing for a short-term extension of the provisions  which already happened once  to permit more extensive deliberations about FISA.

As expected, the draft bill would extend all of the expiring provisions until Dec. 1, 2023. They include a famous provision known as Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act, which permits the F.B.I. to collect business records deemed relevant to a terrorism investigation. From 2006 until 2015, Section 215 was the basis of a secret program by which the National Security Agency systematically vacuumed up Americans domestic phone logs in bulk.

At the same time, as previously reported, the bill would end legal authority for a defunct system, created in 2015 by the USA Freedom Act, that ended that bulk records program but permitted N.S.A. counterterrorism analysts to gain access to logs of Americans phone calls that remained in the hands of telephone companies.

The National Security Agency has already shut down that program because it was expensive, delivered little intelligence of value and experienced frequent rules violations, as when phone companies inadvertently provided more records than the agency had legal authority to gather.
The Defense Minister is a very strong voice in the government, acting Prime Minister Ludovic Orban told the meeting for the review of the National Defense Ministry's activity this Tuesday; the Premier mentioned the substantial budget allocation for Defense as an argument for his statement.

"The Defense Minister has a very strong voice in the government and he is being listened to; despite the rather unfavorable budgetary situation, the government supports the activity of the Army. When we planned the expenses, the first planned item, in keeping with the political agreement forged at the initiative of the President of Romania, were the Defense expenses and the government is extremely receptive to supporting all the programs of the Romanian Army," said Orban.He spoke about the Army endowment contracts and plans to develop the national industry. "We equally focus attention on the use of various endowment contracts for ensuring economic development and on the use of endowment resources to restore certain production capacities of the Romanian defense industry," the head of the Executive pointed out.Orban stressed that "it is extremely important for the Romanian Army to be well equipped, well prepared, well integrated with the NATO structures and the structure established under the Strategic Partnership with the US."
Sheltering in a cave for warmth, the situation for people fleeing violence in northwest Syria, grows more desperate by the day.

Backed by Russian air power, Syrian government forces have stepped up a campaign to retake the last rebel strongholds in the Aleppo and Idlib areas.

Nearly one million people have been uprooted - most of them women and children.

In Idlib city, some have been forced to improvise in a bid to stay warm, like these three families in a former prison.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DISPLACED SYRIAN FROM IDLIB GOVERNORATE, WALID AJAJ, SAYING:

"The Russian shelling forced us to leave our homes. We took what we could and came to this prison ourselves. We decided to stay in this cell which is about 20 square metres, and we divided it between three families. We still need things like blankets, food."

Humanitarian agencies say this is the biggest single displacement of civilians in the nine-year-old war.

For those who've made it to camps on the Turkish border, the situation is no better.

At a large camp in Atma, one man said he fears that Syrian government forces will continue to advance, leaving them trapped.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DISPLACED SYRIAN MAN, ADNAN ZEIDAN, SAYING:

"If the regime advances, or tries to come in this direction, the only solution is to enter Turkey, and either the Turks will kill us or the Russians will. Eventually I'm going to die at the hands of either party, but to return to regime rule is impossible, suicide will be better for us. Seeing my children, relatives, the women commit suicide, or I would kill them or poison them, this would be better than returning to regime rule."

Fearing a fresh refugee crisis, Turkey has poured thousands of troops into Idlib.

President Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to use military force to drive back Syrian forces unless they pull back by the end of the month.

Turkey hosts about 3.7 million Syrians and says it cannot absorb any more.
Former Armenian president Serzh Sarkisian on Tuesday went on trial charged with corruption in a case supporters claim is politically-motivated, nearly two years after his ouster in a popular uprising. Sarkisian -- who dominated Armenia in two consecutive terms as president from 2008 -- resigned in 2018 when his plan to stay in power by taking the post of prime minister sparked mass protests led by Nikol Pashinyan, a former journalist who then became premier. Sarkisian, clad in a navy suit, thanked dozens of supporters who braved cold temperatures and sleet outside the Yerevan district court to support him. "I hope that in Armenia there are still judges for whom justice is above everything," said Armenia's third post-Soviet president as he headed into the courthouse. Supporters chanted "president! president!" as the trial got underway. "The entire case has been fabricated in order to keep Serzh Sarkisian away from active politics," his lawyer Amram Makinyan told AFP. Tuesday's hearing was largely procedural and it may take weeks or even months for the court to start its formal work on the case. Sarkisian initially adopted a low profile in the months after his resignation. But over the last year he has reemerged and harshly criticised Pashinyan. The 65-year-old former military officer was charged in December with organising an embezzlement scheme that allegedly helped enrich government officials. He was banned from leaving the country and if convicted could face up to eight years in jail. Prosecutors have said that in 2013 Sarkisian helped to organise a scheme for a private company to supply diesel fuel for the government's agricultural assistance programme at a deliberately inflated price. The surplus of 489 million drams ($1 million) was then pocketed by the officials and businessmen involved in the scheme, prosecutors have said. There is no direct indication in the indictment over whether Sarkisian had personally benefited from the plot. - 'Farcical trial' - In a statement Tuesday, Sarkisian's Republican Party decried the "politically motivated process" and "biased targeting of Serzh Sarkisian by the state propaganda machine." Margarita Esayan, one of those protesting outside the court and a former Republican Party MP, said: "The trial is farcical. Armenia's third president is being persecuted and denigrated on Pashinyan's orders." The peaceful uprising against Sarkisian's rule erupted in April 2018 when he tried to remain at the helm by switching to the newly-empowered role of prime minister after his second and last term as president expired. The move -- widely seen as a power grab -- proved the last straw for the landlocked South Caucasus nation of 2.9 million people, long frustrated with the ex-Soviet country's sluggish economy, poverty and corruption. The uprising was compared to revolutions that ousted autocratic leaders seen over the last years in other ex-Soviet nations such as Georgia and Ukraine. Pashinyan was then elected prime minister and has since led a relentless crusade against government graft. - Careful path - Sarkisian was regarded by analysts as a shrewd strategist who charted a careful path between the West and Soviet-era master Russia while also maintaining cordial ties with Armenia's southern neighbour Iran. He initially supported efforts to sign an association agreement with the European Union but in 2013, after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, refused to sign the pact and opted to join instead the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union. In 2008, he made an attempt to forge ties with Turkey, with whom Yerevan is at odds over the World War I mass killings of Armenians by their Ottoman rules, which Yerevan and many Western legislatures term genocide. Despite initial hopes of a breakthrough, the efforts came to nothing. He is not the only former Armenian leader being prosecuted -- his predecessor Robert Kocharyan went on trial in May on charges of "overthrowing the constitutional order" for allegedly tipping 2008 presidential polls in favour of Sarkisian. Kocharyan denounced the charges against him as politically motivated. Former Armenian president Serzh Sarkisian, charged with corruption, attends a court hearing in Yerevan. The 65-year-old former military officer was charged in December with organising an embezzlement scheme that allegedly helped enrich officials. Armenians celebrate Serzh Sarkisian's resignation as premier in downtown Yerevan on April 23, 2018 following mass protests against his switch to the newly-empowered role of prime minister after his second and last term as president expired.
A federal appeals court in New York gave its approval Thursday to a $6.7 million award for nearly two dozen graffiti artists whose spray paintings at a once-famous site that attracted thousands of spectators were destroyed to make room for high-rise luxury residences.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that a judge was correct to award the damages against developers who destroyed the aerosol artwork in 2013. The appeals court said the action violated the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990, which protects art which has gained recognition.

The Long Island City, Queens, graffiti site known as 5Pointz was a tourist attraction that drew thousands of spectators daily and formed a backdrop to the 2013 movie, Now You See Me. It was also a site for an Usher tour. Many of the art works were temporary.

In recent years, street art, much of which is temporary, has emerged as a major category of contemporary art, the 2nd Circuit said in an opinion written by Circuit Judge Barrington D. Parker.

The decision noted that the street artist Banksy has appeared alongside former President Barack Obama and the late Apple Inc. founder Steve Jobs on Time magazines list of the worlds 100 most influential people.

A Banksy painting at 5Pointz would have possessed recognized stature, even if it were temporary, the appeals court said.

Since 2002, walls at the 5Pointz site had contained over 10,000 works of art as some of the renderings were temporary and were eventually painted over with the permission of the artists.

In 2013, developers seeking to capitalize on the rebirth of a once crime-ridden neighborhood destroyed the artwork after banning artists from the area and refusing to let them recover work that could be removed.

After artists sued, U.S. District Judge Frederic Block in Brooklyn concluded that the art works reflected striking technical and artistic mastery and vision worthy of display in prominent museums if not on the walls of 5Pointz.

The judge made the award higher than it otherwise would have been after concluding the destruction of the art was willful because the artists were not given three months that the law allows to salvage their artwork.

A lawyer for the developers declined comment.

In a statement, attorney Eric Baum said the artists are thankful and humbled by todays ruling.

The lawyer said the ruling was a clear indication these Artists work is important and should be respected.

Marie Cecile Flageul, a curator who worked with the 21 artists who will share the award, said the appeals ruling demonstrated how far graffiti has come from the 1970s when many artists used it to express their anger.

Now, its a validated art form which is collected, acquired and showcased in museums and galleries around the world, she said.

She said real estate entities in New York, Paris and London now look for ways to preserve graffiti art.

Flageul said artists in the United States, Australia, Japan, Brazil and Colombia will share the award.

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This combination of Jan. 26, 2020, photos shows at left, Democratic presidential candidate former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg in Des Moines, Iowa; and at right Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in Sioux City, Iowa. (AP Photo)

Buttigieg Knocks Sanders Over Praise of Castro After Sanders Defended Remarks

Positive remarks Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) made about Cuban dictator Fidel Castro were out of line, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg said late Monday.

As a Democrat, I dont want to be explaining why our nominee is encouraging people to look on the bright side of the Castro regime going into the election of our lives, Buttigieg, 38, said at a CNN townhall in South Carolina.

Sanders, 78, said during a recent interview with CBSs 60 Minutes that it was unfair to simply say everything is bad about Castros regime.

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 said.

He also said he is very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba and, after being prompted, said that he condemns Cuba for imprisoning dissidents.

The back-and-forth stemmed from the self-described socialists praise of communist governments decades ago, including claims he made about why Cubans didnt help the United States overthrow Castro. He educated their kids, gave them health care, totally transformed the society, you know? Sanders said in the 1980s. He was presented with his remarks on 60 Minutes.

Buttigieg earlier hit Sanders for his qualified praise of Castro, writing on Twitter: 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.

Other rivals also challenged Sanders on his remarks. 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, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg wrote in a statement.

Sanders also had a town hall on Monday and stood by his comments about Castro.

Then Cuban communist leader Fidel Castro (L) speaks with his brother Raul Castro in Havana on Aug. 3, 2001. (Jorge Rey/Getty Images)

There were a lot of folks in Cuba at that point who were illiterate. He formed the literacy brigade, Sanders said. [Castro] went out and they helped people learn to read and write. You know what, I think teaching people to read and write is a good thing.

Sanders also praised the Chinese Communist Party, which is responsible for tens of millions of deaths.

Sanders dismissed criticism from members of Congress, including multiple Democrats, claiming at least some of them just so happen to be supporting other candidates.

Reps. Donna Shalala (D-Fla.) and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-Fla.) were among the lawmakers pushing back against Sanders praise of Castro.

Mucarsel-Powell called the comments absolutely unacceptable, adding in a statement that the Castro regime 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.

Shalala said that she hoped Sanders would speak to some of her constituents before he decides to sing the praises of a murderous tyrant like Fidel Castro.

Some 1.7 million Cubans live in the United States as of the 2010 U.S. Census. According to Pew, that figure rose to 2.3 million as of 2017. Sixty-six percent of Cubans in the United States live in Florida.

Sanders has previously praised other regimes, including that of Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega and the former Soviet Union, where he traveled on his honeymoon.

Different groups try to tally the numbers of people who were killed by Castros regime but struggle to get accurate numbers because Cuba doesnt make public much information that can be used.

I can tell you that 2 million Cubans live outside Cuba, I can tell you that in the last 10 years, there have been nearly 18,000 political detainees, Carlos Ponce, the director of the Latin American and Caribbean division of the human-rights group Freedom House, told the Miami Herald in 2016.

How many in jail since 1959? How many executed? How many lost at sea? I cant even guess.
Dr. Heath Thomas, OBU president

President Thomas Shares About the Impact of an OBU Education During Messenger Insight Podcast February 25, 2020

OBU President Dr. Heath Thomas was the guest on the Baptist Messengers Insight Podcast, posted Feb. 20, 2020. Thomas was interviewed by Brian Hobbs, editor of the Baptist Messenger and communications director for Oklahoma Baptists, the statewide organization of Southern Baptist churches.

Thomas shared his excitement for the future of the university and the powerful impact of earning an OBU degree.

Our success as a university is not in how many students we graduate, Thomas said. Its what our graduates do to impact our world for Christ and for His kingdom.

OBU is much bigger than just a university, he continued. I would like to think of OBU as an outpost of Christs kingdom in His world.

Thomas discussed the state of the church and how an alarming number of Christian teenagers fall away from the faith during their college years. He discussed how research completed by the Barna Research Group and others has shown that of kids that grow up in youth groups and grow up in church, roughly half of those young people will abandon the faith in their college years.

That should be extremely sobering for us as followers of Jesus, Thomas said. I think part of the reason for this is because of the extraordinary way that our university system enculturates our students into the ways of the world.

Thats why a place like OBU, I think, is very important, because were not about indoctrination in the ways of the world. Were about education in the ways of Christ. Christs lordship extends as wide as creation, and that means that his lordship extends as far as the psychology curriculum, and the biology curriculum, and every other curriculum that we have at OBU. What we want to help students discern is, What does Jesus lordship in my life look like, not just in church on Sunday, but in my profession, in my vocation?

Thomas also discussed the upcoming Generation Why? apologetics conference, a student apologetics conference hosted by OBU, being held March 7 on the universitys campus in Shawnee. He encouraged youth groups, families and individuals to attend, to be better equipped to defend the faith in todays culture.

Listen to the podcast interview.
Footage from the cabin of a Sydney-to-Melbourne XPT train  travelling on the same route as last week's fatal derailment at Wallan  shows it jolting violently over "dangerous" tracks.

John Dunstan, a civil engineer and committee member of the Border Rail Action Group, uploaded the videos in July last year to draw attention to the state of the tracks. He said they were yet to be fixed.

Mr Dunstan narrates the videos from the cabin as the train hits dips and "short twists" in the tracks near Wangaratta, forcing the train up and down and often-violently from side to side.

While not believed to be directly related to the XPT derailment at Wallan on Thursday night, in which two people were killed and another 11 injured, Mr Dunstan and the rail union said the videos highlighted broader issues around the line's safety.
Michael Mears in rehearsals for his upcoming play The Mistake, which deals with the bombing of Hiroshima. He hopes to bring the production to Stratford in the autumn. See https://michaelmears.org

Actor Michael Mears' solo performance Now thrive the Armourers, Kempe Society, Stratford, 2nd February

Its easy to conjure political figures of hate and distrust, to rail against them and express our wrath via furious rants on social media... but these Trumps, Putins, Jong-uns, et al, perhaps loom too fully in our sights, allowing a yet more sinister breed to carry on their dreadful misdeeds largely unnoticed.

They are the arms dealers and manufacturers  destroyers of worlds and lives since time immemorial. This evening rightly puts the focus on these armourers, with recitals from war correspondent Robert Fisk, and playwrights Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw.

It is compiled and read by actor and pacifist Michael Mears, who has made it his mission to ask uncomfortable question about war through his quite brilliant solo shows. He was last here at Kempe Studios with This Evil Thing, which looked at conscientious objectors during the First World War  in which he masterfully portrayed all the characters involved.

This evenings title, Now Thrive The Armourers, is from Henry V  excerpts from which are delivered with such incredible skill, clarity and poignance by Mears that court scenes and battlefield are readily brought to the minds eye.

Between the reciting of text, interludes are richly filled with pieces of music from Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975). Introducing the evening, Kempe Society artistic director Cordula Kempe recalls an incredible meeting with the genius Russian composer. It was the mid-1970s, just before his death  he was with his wife and Cordula was with her late husband, Rudolf Kempe, the world-renowned conductor. She recalls it was the height of the Cold War, they were surrounded by agents, and, even though they didnt speak the same language, there was an unspoken commune between them. Indeed Shostakovichs wonderfully emotional and poetic music  from march, polka to elegiac  converses so wonderfully with the soul words dont seem necessary. ...

Anyway we have powerful words aplenty tonight  ones which engage the mind and morals and demand to be heard. Im now desperate to see Shaws sporadically performed Major Barbara in its entirety after seeing Mears as weapon-dealer Andrew Undershaft compellingly and terrifyingly making the case for the multiplicity of armaments. In the second part of the evening Mears turns his attentions to Fisk, reading from his book The Great War For Civilisation. It is full of mindblowing insights and grim stories from his time as a war correspondent reporting from the Middle East. Fisk is a trusty and wise eyewitness, and his exposure of the nefarious arms-dealing trade, and false news spread by the warmongers, is horrifying. Mears delivery of Fisks stories is sharp, heartbreaking, at times funny, and utterly convincing.

One story involves Fisk tracing a Hellfire missile used by the Israeli air force to murder women and children in Lebanon right back to the men in suits in Gainesville, Georgia, who manufactured it... Guess what, even when confronted with images of children bloody and dying after the airstrike, the armourers decline to take responsibility.

Well done, Mr Mears for helping us to see the true horrors of war at least.

For more information about Michael's work and to support his upcoming work The Mistake, which deals with the bombing of Hiroshima, visit https://michaelmears.org/
Samsung once again dominated smartphone shipments in i South Korea during the October-December 2019 period. A report from The Korea Herald citing data from Counterpoint Research suggests that Samsung managed a 57% market share which is down by 14 percentage points from the Q3 2019 values. Despite the decline, 7 out of the top 10 best-selling phones were Samsung-made with the Galaxy Note10+ 5G topping the list followed by the iPhone 11 and Galaxy Note10 5G.

Apple came in at second place with its 28% share of the market after a 17pp growth from the previous quarter, fueled by strong sales of the iPhone 11 series. LG completed the top-three podium with its 15% market share. As a whole, the Korean market grew by 1.6% compared to Q3 2019.

Source | Via
The Supreme Court Wednesday deferred the hearing of the Shaheen Bagh matter to 23 March as it took note of the sensitive situation in Delhi over the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act

The Supreme Court Wednesday deferred the hearing of the Shaheen Bagh matter to 23 March as it took note of the sensitive situation in Delhi over the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act. "Let this fandom cool down. The timing is not conducive to hear this matter. It is for law enforcing administration to ensure environment is conducive," a Bench comprising Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph.

The court also made some harsh comments about the Delhi Police even as the Solicitor General of India, urged the court not to do so.

Justice Joseph said that there was lack of professionalism on part of the police. "The problem is lack of professionalism of police. If this had been done before, this situation would not have risen," Joseph said. Police doesn't have to wait for orders if someone makes inflammatory statements but act in accordance with law, the court said.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta objected to this saying that any adverse comments may demoralise the police force. He said, "We are not aware of the ground realities in which the police officials function." He said that the DCP is on the ventilator after he was virtually lynched by the protesters.

The Supreme Court said that its remarks are made not in adversarial context but to ensure that the law and order is maintained. The bench said it has nothing against Delhi Police but the remarks are being made keeping in mind the larger perspective.

Justice Joseph also gave the example of police in US and UK and said the force has to act professionally as per law if something goes wrong. He added that the remarks are made not in adversarial context but to ensure that law and order is maintained.

But apart from these observations, the court refused to intervene in the matter as the Delhi High Court is already hearing related petitions. It also dismissed pleas demanding court monitored-SIT probe in the violence and refused to expand the scope of Shaheen Bagh case to hear the larger matter of violence over CAA.

"This is a very limited matter before us. We are not inclined to expand the scope of this petition," the court said.

It also refused to discuss the report of the interlocutors which they submitted after trying to negotiate with the Shaheen Bagh protesters.

The interlocutors had 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 CAA for over two months.

The court had on 17 February 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.

Follow LIVE updates on Delhi Violence over CAA protests here

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."

The apex court was hearing an appeal filed by advocate Amit Sahni, who had approached the 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 15 December 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.

Restrictions have been imposed on the Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch and the Okhla underpass, which were closed on 15 December last year due to protests against CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Advocate Wajahat 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 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 (NPR) and NRC as a "death knell" for their and future generations' survival and existence.

With inputs from agencies
Mayor Sylvester Turner announced new efforts Tuesday to crack down on an uptick in violent crime, including an overtime allocation of $1.5 million to get more officers on the street and an effort to enlist private money toward an $8.5 million investment in new technology, including cameras and analytics equipment.

The mayor said he expects the combination of those two initiatives to help quell the increase, which Chief Art Acevedo said mirrors a nationwide trend. Acevedo said hed like to specifically address gang violence and car burglaries.

Crime data provided by Houston police to the FBI show that while overall crime has followed a decades-long downturn, violent crime has increased six percent over the last four years, driven by higher instances of aggravated assaults and rapes.

We dont want to wait until we get to a situation where it becomes really a crisis so to speak, we want to check things where they are, Turner said. Quite frankly, we need those technology enhancements and we need them right now.

The mayor said the city is still about 600 officers short of what the department needs, despite personnel increases over the last four years. He called on the private sector to help the cash-strapped city pay for the $8.5 million technology effort when it is ready. The mayor said he has already reached out to some folks about the plan and hopes to be able to announce funding partnerships soon.

The overtime payments are effective immediately and will get more officers on patrol over the next six months.

The economic vibrancy of a city starts with a safe city, Acevedo said about asking philanthropy for help. Theres a lot of people and companies in the city that can write a check, and its an accounting error to their bottom line. And so if you want to give a gift to the people of Houston, that will be here and paying dividends long after youre gone, write that check.

The department is currently deploying a system provided by ShotSpotter that helps locate the site of gunfire with targeted cameras. That pilot program will be used across five square miles in the southern part of the city, and Acevedo said one aspect of the program he will now develop would be to expand that technology.

Acevedo said there are other programs, including analytics equipment, that would help police search through and digest a large amount of information much quicker.

When you combine the technology enhancements with the additional overtime of $1.5 million, I think you can see some significant improvements in public safety throughout our entire city, Turner said.

This is a developing story. Please check back later for more details.
The new Lord Mayor of Dublin says tackling the city's housing crisis will be his priority.

Fianna Fail councillor Tom Brabazon was elected by 34 votes to 26 in a roll-call vote, with three councillors exempt, at a special sitting of Dublin City Council last night.

Mr Brabazon served as Deputy Lord Mayor to Lord Mayor Paul McAuliffe, who was elected to the Dail at the general election. Mr Brabazon's wife Liz and their three children joined him after his election as Lord Mayor.

Independent Councillor Anthony Flynn also contested the role.

"I'm delighted to be elected to the position," Mr Brabazon told the Herald.

"I've seen other councillors be candidates for Lord Mayor and miss out by one vote so it's a nerve-racking time. When you get over the line it's an absolutely wonderful feeling."

He said he will not recontest the Lord Mayor position when it is up for election again in June and will allow the Green Party to run a candidate as per the Dublin Agreement.

The agreement saw Fianna Fail, the Green Party, Labour and the Social Democrats come together to form a council majority after local authority elections last year.

Grateful

"I'll take my four months and I'll be very grateful for it," he said. "The past four weeks have been a wonderful experience and you learn so much on the hoof. The priorities are to highlight access issues within the city for all citizens.

"Housing is a major priority for me and also to continue some of the very worthwhile initiatives that Paul McAuliffe began," he added.

Green Party, Labour and Social Democrat councillors voted for Mr Brabazon, while Fine Gael, People Before Profit and Social Democrat councillors voted for Mr Flynn. Fine Gael's Colm O'Rourke lost out to Fianna Fail Cllr Racheal Batten, who was elected as Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin. The mayors elected last night will only hold their positions until June 24, when a new Lord Mayor and Deputy Mayor will be elected.

Outgoing Lord Mayor of Dublin Paul McAuliffe said: "Being the 350th Lord Mayor of Dublin was probably the greatest honour of my life," he said.

"I learned in this chamber that you do far more together and very little alone."

Meanwhile five councillor vacancies, created by those elected to the Dail, were also filled.
Blagojevichs longtime attorney, Sheldon Sorosky, said the ex-governor was in a damned if he did, damned if he didnt situation in defending his law license, knowing that if he showed up to defend himself he would have been accused of lying all over again.
People in carnival dress walk across a street crossing in a cloud of red dust in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020.

Andres Gutierrez / AP

Sand and dust blanketed the Canary Islands over the weekend, causing chaos for tourists, and worsening wildfires in the area.

On Spanish national television, the Canary Islands' regional president Angel Victor Torres said it was a "nightmare weekend."

It's not the first time it's happened. The phenomena, called a "calima" is where a Saharan sand storm is blown across the Atlantic Ocean by strong winds. This one had winds up to 75 mph.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The sky turned orange in the Canary Islands.

Over the weekend, 75 mph winds blew a sandstorm from the Saharan desert across the Atlantic Ocean onto the Canary Islands.

The phenomena is called a "calima," and it's not the first time it's happened. But on Spanish national television, regional president Angel Victor Torres said it was the worst sand storm he had seen in 40 years. He called it a "nightmare weekend."

Along with disrupting hundreds of flights, the high winds also made wildfires in the region worse. On Gran Canaria, one of the islands, local reports said the air quality was the worst in the world.

One local, named Manuel Campos, told The New York Times, "I'm old enough to know all about the calima, but I don't recall it that strong. Everything just turned red."

Here's what the sandstorm looked like from on the ground and in space.

Spain's Canary Islands, located off Morocco's coast, are a tourist destination. In 2019, 13 million people visited.

Passengers wait at Tenerife SouthReina Sofia Airport after flights were cancelled due to a sandstorm on February 23, 2020 on the Canary Island of Tenerife.

Desiree Martin / AFP / Getty

Sources: BBC, Al Jazeera

In winter, people visit for the warmth and sunshine. But over the weekend, those lying on beaches had to watch the horizon disappear in a dusty haze.

Children run along the beach as people look over the sea into the haze created by a sand storm known locally as

Russell Boyce / Reuters

Sources: BBC, Al Jazeera

Winds up to 75 mph blew in a massive sand cloud from the Saharan desert, which is about 62 miles away. The sand storm, as it crossed the Atlantic Ocean, was so large it could be seen from space.

Story continues

This Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020 image made available by NASA shows a dust storm approaching the Canary Islands, center, off the coast of Morocco.

NASA / AP

Sources: BBC, NASA, Al Jazeera

The sky turned orange, and air quality plummeted. Spanish Meteorological Agency expert Emilio Cueas Agullo told Al Jazeera, "It is Dantesque and brutal. It seems like Mars."

Cars drive on the TF-1 highway during a sandstorm in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on the Canary Island of Tenerife, on February 23, 2020.

Desiree Martin / AFP / Getty

Source: Al Jazeera

Visibility got so bad drivers were barely moving as they tried to get to their destinations.

Cars drive on the TF-1 highway during a sandstorm in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on the Canary Island of Tenerife, on February 23, 2020.

Desiree Martin / AFP / Getty

Sources: BBC, The New York Times

In Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the sun was merely a speck through the storm.

A man walks beneath a cloud of red dust in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, on February 22.

Andres Gutierrez / AP

The strong winds also fanned wildfires, and 2,000 residents were forced to flee on Gran Canaria and Tenerife. This is a wildfire from 2019.

A helicopter operates over a wildfire in Canary Islands, Spain, Monday, Aug. 19, 2019.

Arturo Jimenez / AP

Source: Al Jazeera

Authorities warned people to close windows and stay inside. According to The New York Times, the air quality in Gran Canaria was filled with particles 40 times over what the World Health Organization considers safe.

A woman covers her mouth during a sandstorm blown over from North Africa known as

Borja Suarez / Reuters

Sources: The New York Times, Independent

A retired firefighter named Blas Padron told Al Jazeera, "This dust clogs up your throat."

A passenger covers his nose and mouth in a cloud of red dust at the airport in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020.

Andres Gutierrez / AP

Source: Al Jazeera

Along with a difficulty breathing, thousands of tourists were stranded. At least 745 flights were cancelled, and about 84 others were diverted.

Passengers wait outside Tenerife SouthReina Sofia Airport after flights were cancelled due to a sandstorm on February 23, 2020 on the Canary Island of Tenerife.

Desiree Martin / AFP / Getty

Sources: The New York Times

It was particularly bad timing as the sand storm struck during the British school holidays.

A man wearing a mask stands outside Tenerife SouthReina Sofia Airport during a sandstorm on February 23, 2020 on the Canary Island of Tenerife.

Desiree Martin / AFP / Getty

Source: The New York Times

Here, a plane can be faintly made out during the sandstorm.

Planes are pictured at Tenerife SouthReina Sofia Airport during a sandstorm on February 23, 2020 on the Canary Island of Tenerife.

Desiree Martin / AFP / Getty

Source: BBC

This is a view of an empty runway at Las Palmas Airport on February 22.

A view of the runway during a sandstorm blown over from North Africa known as

Borja Suarez / Reuters

Carnival was also in its early stages. Luckily, while a few events were cancelled, organizers were confident it would carry on later in the week.

Parades of 'Carnaval al Sol' at Las Canteras Beach during a sandstorm on February 22, 2020 in Las Palmas De Gran Canaria, Spain.

Europa Press/Europa Press / Getty

Source: The New York Times

Some people compared the sandstorm's red haze to a surreal apocalypse, The New York Times reported.

Yachts and boats sit moored in a cloud of red dust in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020.

Andres Gutierrez / AP

Source: The New York Times

But others said it wasn't a major disaster. Other than a loss of visibility, life continued.

People in carnival dress walk across a bridge in a cloud of red dust in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020.

Andres Gutierrez / AP

Source: The New York Times

Agullo, of the Spanish Meteorological Agency, said it would "probably go down as the worst of its kind in history since records began."

People in carnival dress walk across a street crossing in a cloud of red dust in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020.

Andres Gutierrez / AP

Source: Al Jazeera

By Monday, the worst was over. All eight airports had reopened. Weather forecasters predicted red rain, caused by moisture meeting dust, would clear the atmosphere, and with better visibility it would be easier to fight the forest fires.

A passenger plane takes off from the Santa Cruz de Tenerife airport, Spain, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020.

Andres Gutierrez / AP

Sources: The New York Times, Al Jazeera, The Guardian

Read the original article on Business Insider
Please be informed that AB Klaipedos nafta, legal entity code 110648893, address of the registered office Buriu st. 19, Klaipeda (hereinafter - the Company), received questions from shareholders of the Company. Following paragraph 1 of Article 16 of the Law on Companies, we present answers to the shareholders' questions:

1. What is the total price of the transaction to purchase a floating storage regasification unit (FSRU), for which in the 26 February 2020 Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders it is proposed to vote regarding the conclusion of the loan agreement with the Nordic Investment Bank? What portion of the above transaction will be borrowed from the Nordic Investment Bank?

The submitted question is not related to the agenda items of the General Meeting of Shareholders to be convened on 26 February 2020.

It is noted that the answer into this question was already submitted on 11 December 2019. Reference: https://cns.omxgroup.com/cdsPublic/viewDisclosure.action?disclosureId=914834&messageId=1152655

2. How much did AB Klaipedos nafta (including the related companies) already cost and how much will it cost AB Klaipedos nafta to provide the security measures specified in the agenda of the 26 February 2020 Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders?

The submitted question is not related to the agenda items of the General Meeting of Shareholders to be convened on 26 February 2020.

In addition, we note that the cost of providing the security measures is comprised of mandatory state registry fees, notary fees, and other fees applicable to such transactions as required by legal acts of the Republic of Lithuania.

3. What is the value of Subacius oil terminal, the pledge of which will be voted at the 26 February 2020 Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders?

The submitted question is not related to the agenda items of the General Meeting of Shareholders to be convened on 26 February 2020.

It is noted that the answer into this question was already submitted on 11 December 2019. Reference: https://cns.omxgroup.com/cdsPublic/viewDisclosure.action?disclosureId=914834&messageId=1152655

4. What is the value and/or the predicted value of present and future receivables (security component) of AB Klaipedos nafta?

The submitted question is not related to the agenda items of the General Meeting of Shareholders to be convened on 26 February 2020.

It is noted that the answer into this question was already submitted on 11 December 2019. Reference: https://cns.omxgroup.com/cdsPublic/viewDisclosure.action?disclosureId=914834&messageId=1152655

5. How much will it cost AB Klaipedos nafta to borrow up to 160 million EUR from the Nordic Investment Bank at fixed or variable interest and what impact on these costs will have the amount of the loan part requested to disburse?

The Company's borrowing costs will directly depend on the amount planned to borrow. The final loan amount will be determined by the cost of a floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) and the totality of the technical and financial circumstances related thereto. We note that the Company's borrowing costs will be reimbursed through the LNG security component.









Jonas Lenksas, Chief Financial Officer, +370 694 8059
Court declines to revive a lawsuit by a slain Mexican teens family against US Border Patrol agent who shot him.

The United States Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to open the door for foreign nationals to pursue civil rights cases in American courts, declining to revive a lawsuit by a slain Mexican teenagers family against the US Border Patrol agent who shot him on Mexican soil from across the border in Texas.

The court ruled 5-4 to uphold a lower courts dismissal of the lawsuit against the agent, Jesus Mesa, who shot 15-year-old Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca in the face in the 2010 incident. The family sued in federal court seeking monetary damages, accusing Mesa of violating the US Constitutions Fourth Amendment ban on unjustified deadly force and the Fifth Amendment right to due process.

The court, with the five conservative justices in the majority, refused to allow people who are not in the US at the time of a cross-border incident to file civil rights lawsuits in federal court.

Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, said the case presented foreign relations and national security implications and noted that Congress should decide whether such lawsuits can be permitted, backing the position taken by President Donald Trumps administration.

The incident took place in June 2010 on the border between El Paso and Ciudad Juarez in Mexico. Mesa did not face criminal charges, though Mexico condemned the shooting. The family also sued the federal government over the shooting but that was dismissed early in the litigation.

The ruling was issued at a time of high tensions involving the southern border, where Trump is pursuing construction of a wall separating the US and Mexico.

The dispute hinged on whether the family, despite Hernandez having died on Mexican soil, could seek monetary damages against what they call a rogue agent for alleged civil rights violations.

Awful decision

Civil rights lawyers and immigration lawyers slammed the decision, saying it was a blow to the system of checks and balances.

The decision leaves us all vulnerable to the overwhelming power of the federal government, whether its the president who has xenophobic agenda or an officer with a gun in his hand, tweeted civil rights lawyer Cecilia Wang following the Supreme Court decision.

But this decision, like Trump v. Hawaii on the Muslim ban, is blow to the system of checks and balances. It leaves us all vulnerable to the overwhelming power of a federal government, whether its a president who has a xenophobic agenda or an officer with a gun in his hand. /2  Cecillia Wang  (@WangCecillia) February 25, 2020

Charanya Krishnaswami, the Americas Advocacy Director for Amnesty International, called the decision awful.

An awful decision which places access to justice our of reach for victims of Border Patrols many, many abuses. Heartbroken for Sergio Hernandezs family, Krishnaswami tweeted.
The new educational policy



proposed by the Centre will transform the sector and help the country become the 'Vishwa Guru' of the world, Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal said on Tuesday.

The proposed educational policy is based on the country's ethos and value system and is designed to strengthen the nation, mould new citizens and make their lives more meaningful, he said inaugurating the new central research facility (CRF) at the National Institute of Technology-Karnataka (NIT-K) at Suratkal here.

The minister said so far, India has not been able to impart value despite the fact that the country has over 1,000 universities, 45,000 degree colleges, 16 lakh schools, one crore teachers and 33 crore students.

The proposed educational policy is expected to bring in a positive change in the lives of the new generation and its fruitful implementation will help India acquire the title of 'Vishwa Guru,' he said.

The minister said Rs 40 crore will be sanctioned from the CRF fund for infrastructure development at NIT-K and assured to look into all other demands put forth by the institution.

NIT-K director Umamaheshwar Rao requested the minister to direct authorities concerned to shift the toll plaza functioning near the institution to some other place as it is causing inconvenience to students.

He also sought an assurance from the minister on the proposal to set up a Kendriya Vidyalaya on the NIT-K campus.

The newly inaugurated CRF at NIT-K has high-end research equipment costing around Rs 80 crore, imported from foreign countries including USA, Germany and Japan.

The facility will help research students of NIT-K as well as those from other institutions to get best results out of their work, CRF president Uday Bhat said.

Pokhriyal also laid the foundation for the new hostel blocks to be constructed for boys and girls at NIT-K.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Six judges of the Supreme Court are suffering from swine flu, following which they did not attend court, an apex court judge said on Tuesday.

Justice DY Chandrachud, while conducting the court proceedings, announced that all apex court judges held a meeting with Chief Justice of India, SA Bobde, over the case of six of their colleagues infected by H1N1 virus.

An apex court judge, Sanjiv Khanna, came to the court wearing a mask.

Justice Chandrachud said that it was decided that the top court will make vaccines available for innoculation of lawyers.

The Chief Justice suggested during the meeting that lawyers as well as bar association chief should also take the initiative for preventive measures against the disease, Justice Chandrachud added.

Meanwhile, a meeting was held with Supreme Court Bar Association President Dushyant Dave to tackle the health emergency.

Dave told IANS that some foreign delegation members who participated in a judicial conference in the apex court complex recently were infected by the virus.

Two of the judges suffering from swine flu are on the nine-judge Constitution Bench hearing the Sabrimala verdict case, the hearing of which has been delayed as a result.
The Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi has commended the Minority in Parliament for boycotting President Akufo-Addos 2020 State of the Nation address last week.

He said the boycott was a demonstration of patriotism and commitment to the fight against injustice and impunity in the country.

Speaking on the Point of View on Monday, Sammy Gyamfi said the party salutes and commends the members of the Minority for the boycott.

We think that it was absolutely justifiable for our MPs to walk out and tell our President that if you are not ready to listen to us, to give the victims of Ayawaso West Wuogon brutalities justice, if you are not ready to give the family of Ahmed Suale justice, if you are not ready to ensure that we protect free-speech, to ensure that we stop the lawlessness and impunity going on under your reign then we are also not going to listen to you. As a party, we salute and commend our gallant, patriotic members of the patriotic caucus for that stance they took, he said.

The members of the Minority caucus, clad in black, chanted parts of the national anthem and walked out of the chamber shortly after President Akufo-Addo assumed his seat in Parliament last week.

The Minority in Parliament explained that their walkout was in opposition to supposed threats against the democracy of the state and to protest the rising state of impunity and injustice in the country.

Boycott had no basis

But the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu last week said the Minority Members in Parliament had no basis for boycotting the 2020 State of the Nation Address.

It is their party's position. It is their right to attend or not except that on this matter, there is absolutely no basis for this conduct, the Majority Leader said.

However, Sammy Gyamfi said President Akufo-Addo had in recent times showed lack of concern for Ghanaians and superintending insecurity in the country hence their resolve to stage the walkout.

---citinewsroom
Boris Renski, the co-founder of Mirantis, one of the earliest and best-funded players in the OpenStack space a few years ago (which then mostly pivoted to Kubernetes and DevOps), has left his role as CMO to focus his efforts on a new startup: FreedomFi. The new company brings together open-source hardware and software to give enterprises a new way to leverage the newly opened 3.5 GHz band for private LTE and -- later -- 5G IoT deployments.

"There is a very broad opportunity for any enterprise building IoT solutions, which completely changes the dynamic of the whole market," Renski told me when I asked him why he was leaving Mirantis. "This makes the whole space very interesting and fast-evolving. I felt that my background in open source and my existing understanding of the open-source landscape and the LTE space [...] is an extremely compelling opportunity to dive into headfirst."

Renski told me that a lot of the work the company is doing is still in its early stages, but the company recently hit a milestone when it used its prototype stack to send messages across its private network over a distance of around 2.7 miles.

Mirantis itself worked on bringing Magma, a Facebook-developed open-source tool for powering some of the features needed for building access networks, into production. FreedomFi is also working with the OpenAirInterface consortium, which aims to create an ecosystem for open-source software and hardware development around wireless innovation. Most, if not all, of the technology the company will develop over time will also be open source, as well.

Renski, of course, gets to leverage his existing connections in the enterprise and telco industry with this new venture, but he also told me that he plans to leverage the Mirantis playbook as he builds out the company.

"At Mirantis, our journey was that we started with basically offering end-to-end open-source cloud buildouts to a variety of enterprises back when OpenStack was essentially the only open-source cloud project out there," he explained. "And we spent a whole bunch of time doing that, engaging with customers, getting customer revenue, learning where the bottlenecks are -- and then kind of gradually evolving into more of a leveraged business model with a subscription offering around OpenStack and then MCP and now Kubernetes, Docker, etc. But the key was to be very kind of customer-centric, go get some customer wins first, give customers a services-centric offering that gets them to the result, and then figure out where the leveraged business model opportunities are."

Currently, enterprises that want to attempt to build their own private LTE networks -- and are willing to spend millions on it -- have to go to the large telecom providers. Those companies, though, aren't necessarily interested in working on these relatively small deployments (or at least "small" by the standards of a telco).

Renski and his team started the project about two months ago and for now, it remains self-funded. But the company already has five pilots lined up, including one with a company that produces large-scale events and another with a large real estate owner, and with some of the tech falling in place, Renski seems optimistic that this is a project worth focusing on. There are still some hurdles to overcome and Renski tells me the team is learning new things every day. The hardware, for example, remains hard to source and the software stack remains in flux. "We're probably at least six months away from having solved all of the technology and business-related problems pertaining to delivering this kind of end-to-end private LTE network," he said.
Aerospace engineering group Meggitt has warned of a hit to this years performance from the grounding of Boeings 737 Max planes and the impact of the coronavirus outbreak (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Aerospace engineering group Meggitt has warned over a sales hit from the grounding of Boeings 737 Max planes and the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

The business saw shares come under pressure as it said group revenue growth is expected to at least halve this year and warned that the impact is likely to be felt beyond 2020.

It is forecasting sales growth of between 2% and 4% in 2020, down sharply on the 8% growth reported in its full-year results, while it also sees profit margin progress being held back.

Shares fell as much as 6% before settling around 2% lower as the alert overshadowed an otherwise robust set of results for 2019, with underlying organic pre-tax profits up 8% to 370.3 million.

Meggitt said: Sector-specific factors including the production halt of the 737 Max and supply chain disruption, as well as the wider macroeconomic impact of Covid-19, are expected to hold back margin progression in the short term.

The company is the latest to flag up coronavirus concerns as firms worry that the outbreak will lead to a sharp reduction in global economic growth and a knock-on effect on demand.

But Meggitt, based at Bournemouth Airport in Dorset, has also been hampered by the grounding by Boeing of its 737 Max fleet last March after two fatal crashes  which is now expected to remain in place until at least mid-2020.

Despite the headwinds this year and next, Meggitt said it still expects revenue growth in 2021 in the low to mid-single digits and is pencilling in a rise in profit margins, albeit both down from its 2019 performance.

Results for last year showed statutory pre-tax profits jumping 33% to 286.7 million and orders 10% ahead at 2.5 billion.

Sales were ahead in all three of its major markets  with 8% growth in civil aerospace, 11% in defence and 10% in energy.

We delivered good progress on our strategic initiativesTony Wood, chief executive, Meggitt

Chief executive Tony Wood hailed a better-than-expected set of results and said Meggitt is now a more focused, higher-quality and more resilient business.

We delivered good progress on our strategic initiatives, helping offset the investment made at our fast-growing advanced engine composites sites and headwinds caused by adverse mix, supply and trading environment conditions and the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max, he said.

Meggitt also separately announced that chairman Sir Nigel Rudd will step down by 2021, but remain in post until a successor is appointed.

He has chaired the FTSE 100-listed group since 2015.

Helal Miah, investment research analyst at The Share Centre, said: These good figures reflect strong performance in the respective end markets  civil aerospace, defence and energy  as well as property transactions and a large pension contribution in the prior year.

However, the production halt of Boeings 737 Max is the key factor for which the group is a supplier to, and the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on the global economy and travel industry are dark clouds on the horizon.
By Choi Sung-jin





Politicians do anything to win votes, and nowhere else may this be truer than here in Korea. The new coronavirus outbreak seems to be no exception. So-called opinion leaders  mainly conservative ones  are shifting the focus of discussion from public health and safety to the Moon Jae-in administration's China policy.



Conservative politicians and media outlets are now renewing their calls for the government to block the entry of all travelers from China, not just Hubei Province and its capital Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus. They say that had the Moon administration implemented the entry ban earlier, new cases would not have soared.



How correct are their arguments objectively, however?



On Monday, Jung Eun-kyeong, head of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said, "No cases from abroad have been confirmed since the 31st patient so far. Six of the total 883 patients are of Chinese nationality so far, but they have infected only a few. Up to three-fourths of confirmed cases are domestic transmissions centering on the two clusters of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus and Daenam Hospital."



Others take the example of the United States, which prohibited entry from all of China on Feb. 3. Had Korea done similar, it could have blocked only one of the six infected Chinese persons. Moreover, in Italy and Iran, which took similar actions to the U.S., the virus is spreading rapidly through unknown routes. Strictly speaking, Chinese people or other foreigners coming from China have had little to do with the recent spike in the number of new cases in this country. The overall entry ban is ineffective at this point just as it was three weeks ago.



The right-wing camp also cites that China's two close allies  Russia and North Korea  implemented an entry ban. This is not, however, because their governments are more capable and cold-headed than Seoul. It is because they have no other option than to close the border to stem the spread, given their less developed healthcare systems and infrastructure.



Except for four or five advanced countries, approximately 40 countries that took similar steps include Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Maldives, Palau, Kazakhstan, Mauritius and Gabon. How do they compare with the group of countries that have not adopted overall entry bans like Korea, such as the U.K., France, Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium and Finland?



U.S. President Donald Trump is erecting a wall along the border with Mexico to block immigrants. Moreover, China is emerging as America's most formidable challenger in taking global hegemony. Trump's xenophobic action could be seen as entirely predictable.



Of course, nothing can be more important for governments than their people's lives and safety, regardless of their nationality. It is still disappointing to see the G2 nations, which compete fiercely with each other in most areas, cannot cooperate even on an issue where numerous innocent people's lives are at stake.



The Korean conservatives' assertions are equally irrational. True, Koreans have come to dislike the Chinese and their arrogant behaviors more and more; especially since the giant neighbor has grown economically and militarily. Nothing shows this better than Beijing's economic retaliation against Seoul for allowing the U.S. to deploy its THAAD anti-missile battery in South Korea in 2017.



The conservatives just don't like Moon's foreign policy, which they think is veering close to China while breaking away from the U.S. A conservative columnist attributed it to pro-North Korean leftists surrounding the Korean President, as U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris suspected.



Most of all, the conservative United Future Party is aiming to win big in the April general election by painting President Moon and his liberal Democratic Party of Korea as subservient to Beijing.



"The Moon government is anxious not to provoke Beijing to assure Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Seoul before the general election. It will use Xi's support for the government's inter-Korean policy for winning votes in the election," a UFP member said. After all, what could be a better electoral weapon than the sitting government's failure to protect people's lives?



Given the growing panic among the public, the tactic  which Chang Deok-jin, a sociology professor at Seoul National University dubbed the "politicization of peril" in his recent contribution to a local paper  is likely work to a certain extent. Even more dangerous instigators, however, are the far-right fanatics who, led by a cult-like pastor, gathered in the heart of Seoul by the thousands and chanted anti-government slogans.



"The coronavirus is not contagious in open space. Even if you are infected, God will cure you. And even if you die, your places are prepared in Heaven," said Chun Kwang-hoon, the cult leader. One can see how antagonism out of blind hatred can drive people insane, even casting away the principal value  human life.



Yes, President Moon and his aides may be taking diplomatic repercussions into account. However, even ordinary citizens can know Xi will not be able to visit Korea in March as temporarily agreed on before, and may more likely come in the first half of the year at the earliest. Even if Xi comes and Moon garners some diplomatic gains, these will hardly affect the elections. Even for Koreans living in a divided nation, economic equity and social justice  not inter-Korean issues  are at the top of voting priority.



In an apparent self-contradiction, the conservatives call COVID-19 "Wuhan pneumonia" or even "Moon pneumonia" while exaggerating some government officials' mistake of briefly naming the Korean situation "Daegu Corona 19" after the local hotspot. The same right-wing commentators who call for banning all Chinese people are also fuming over similar treatments of Koreans in Israel, Maldives and Vietnam.



If and when the dust settles under the cooperative atmosphere, Korea and China will grow closer than now due to joint efforts to overcome crises. Beijing may ease or lift the remaining retaliatory measures concerning THAAD. Or it may not.



However, few can deny Korea will experience a similar outbreak again someday. When that happens, the two countries will cope far better than they are currently. Combating epidemics should be scientific, not political, and cooperative, not exclusive. Those who politicize peril and use the virus to win votes will lose in the April polls.





Choi Sung-jin (choisj1955@naver.com) is a Korea Times columnist.


New archaeological work supports the hypothesis that human populations were present in India by 80,000 years ago and that they survived one of the largest volcanic eruptions in the last two million years

The Toba super-eruption was one of the largest volcanic events over the last two million years, about 5,000 times larger than Mount St. Helen's eruption in the 1980s. The eruption occurred 74,000 years ago on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, and was argued to have ushered in a "volcanic winter" lasting six to ten years, leading to a 1,000 year-long cooling of the Earth's surface. Theories purported that the volcanic eruption would have led to major catastrophes, including the decimation of hominin populations and mammal populations in Asia, and the near extinction of our own species. The few surviving Homo sapiens in Africa were said to have survived by developing sophisticated social, symbolic and economic strategies that enabled them to eventually re-expand and populate Asia 60,000 years ago in a single, rapid wave along the Indian Ocean coastline.

Fieldwork in southern India conducted in 2007 by some of this study's authors challenged these theories, leading to major debates between archaeologists, geneticists and earth scientists about the timing of human dispersals Out of Africa and the impact of the Toba super-eruption on climate and environments. The current study continues the debate, providing evidence that Homo sapiens were present in Asia earlier than expected and that the Toba super-eruption wasn't as apocalyptic as believed.

The Toba volcanic super-eruption and human evolution

The current study reports on a unique 80,000 year-long stratigraphic record from the Dhaba site in northern India's Middle Son Valley. Stone tools uncovered at Dhaba in association with the timing of the Toba event provide strong evidence that Middle Palaeolithic tool-using populations were present in India prior to and after 74,000 years ago. Professor J.N. Pal, principal investigator from the University of Allahabad in India notes that "Although Toba ash was first identified in the Son Valley back in the 1980s, until now we did not have associated archaeological evidence, so the Dhaba site fills in a major chronological gap."

Professor Chris Clarkson of the University of Queensland, lead author of the study, adds, "Populations at Dhaba were using stone tools that were similar to the toolkits being used by Homo sapiens in Africa at the same time. The fact that these toolkits did not disappear at the time of the Toba super-eruption or change dramatically soon after indicates that human populations survived the so-called catastrophe and continued to create tools to modify their environments." This new archaeological evidence supports fossil evidence that humans migrated out of Africa and expanded across Eurasia before 60,000 years ago. It also supports genetic findings that humans interbred with archaic species of hominins, such as Neanderthals, before 60,000 years ago.

Toba, climate change and human resilience

Though the Toba super-eruption was a colossal event, few climatologists and earth scientists continue to support the original formulation of the "volcanic winter" scenario, suggesting that the Earth's cooling was more muted and that Toba may not have actually caused the subsequent glacial period. Recent archaeological evidence in Asia, including the findings unearthed in this study, does not support the theory that hominin populations went extinct on account of the Toba super-eruption.

Instead, archaeological evidence indicates that humans survived and coped with one of the largest volcanic events in human history, demonstrating that small bands of hunter-gatherers were adaptable in the face of environmental change. Nevertheless, the peoples who lived around Dhaba more than 74,000 years ago do not seem to have significantly contributed to the gene pool of contemporary peoples, suggesting that these hunter-gatherers likely faced a series of challenges to their long-term survival, including the dramatic environmental changes of the following millennia. In summarizing the wider implications of this study, Professor Michael Petraglia of the Max Planck Institute says, "The archaeological record demonstrates that although humans sometimes show a remarkable level of resilience to challenges, it is also clear that people did not necessarily always prosper over the long term."

###

Publication information:

Title: Human occupation of northern India spans the Toba super-eruption ~74,000 years ago

Authors: Chris Clarkson, Clair Harris, Bo Li, Christina M. Neudorf, Richard G. Roberts, Christine Lane, Kasih Norman, Jagannath Pal, Sacha Jones, Ceri Shipton, Jinu Koshy, M.C. Gupta, D.P. Mishra, A.K. Dubey, Nicole Boivin, and Michael Petraglia.

Publication: Nature Communications, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14668-4.

Media Contacts:

Prof. Michael Petraglia

Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History

Kahlaische Strasse 10

07745 Jena

GERMANY

Email: petraglia@shh.mpg.de

Phone: +49 (0) 15127572523

Prof. Chris Clarkson

School of Social Science

University of Queensland

Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia

Email: c.clarkson@uq.edu.au

Phone: +61 7 33653235

Prof. J.N. Pal

Former Head and Professor

Ancient History Culture and Archaeology

University of Allahabad, Uttar

Pradesh, India

Email: jnpal@hotmail.com

Phone: +91 9415636643

AJ Zeilstra/ Petra Mader

Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History

Public Relations & Press Office

Kahlaische Str. 10

07745 Jena

GERMANY

Email: presse@shh.mpg.de

Phone: +49 (0) 3641 686-950 / 960
Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper hold a joint news conference at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., Monday (local time). EPA-Yonhap



By Jung Da-min



South Korea and the United States are considering scaling back their springtime joint exercises because of the rapidly spreading COVID-19 (2019-nCoV).



Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and U.S. Secretary of State Mark Esper told reporters that there was such a possibility, during a joint press briefing after talks at the Pentagon in Virginia's Arlington, Monday (local time). Jeong is visiting Washington, D.C. from Sunday to Friday to meet U.S. officials and request cooperation on pending security issues such as the joint drills and the stalled defense cost-sharing negotiations between the two countries.



"General Abrams and General Park are looking at scaling back the command post training due to concerns about the cornonavirus," Esper said, referring to U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Robert Abrams and South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Park Han-ki.



The two allies were preparing for a regular exercise in March  combined command post training  but the situation changed in a matter of days following a "super-spread" of the virus in Daegu.



Jeong said the two generals will make the "right decisions" as the COVID-19 situation in Korea grows more serious day by day. He said the current situation made it difficult for the Republic of Korea military to carry out normal unit-level training, as movement between units has been limited to prevent the spread of the virus.



The military has been on high alert over the virus spread with the number of service members testing positive for the virus increasing. The Ministry of National Defense banned all members of the military from leaving their bases, including for vacations and meeting visitors starting Saturday, to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.



The USFK has also raised its alert level to "high" to put its service members at health protection condition Charlie, the second-highest level behind Delta, after a USFK-related person living in Daegu tested positive for the virus Monday. The patient is the widow of a deceased Korean USFK member and still has access to USFK installations. The USFK has also limited its members' off-installation travel according to the alert measures.



Meanwhile, the USFK denied a media report that it proposed the postponement of future combined training exercises with South Korea. "Any decision regarding combined training will be a U.S.-ROK Alliance decision, and not a unilateral decision," a USFK statement said Tuesday.



The defense chiefs of South Korea and the U.S. also talked about the deadlock in defense cost-sharing negotiations for this year during their meeting in Washington, only to confirm the gap between the two sides.



Esper repeated the U.S. stance that South Korea needs to pay more for the upkeep of American troops on the Korean Peninsula. "Shouldering the cost of our common defense cannot fall disproportionately to the American taxpayer," he said. "As a global economic powerhouse and an equal partner in the preservation of peace on the peninsula, South Korea can and should contribute more to its defense."



Saying the two sides were working to reach a fair and reasonable deal for the Special Measures Agreement (SMA), Jeong responded, "The South Korean government is contributing to the upkeep of the USFK through various direct and indirect measures outside the framework of the SMA."



The USFK has warned of a potential furlough of almost 9,000 Korean staff starting April 1 if no deal is reached before then.


ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Feb. 24

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has made personnel appointments in the countrys Ministry of Industry and Construction, Trend reports referring to the published presidential decrees.

Baimyrat Annamammedov and Mergen Orazov have been appointed deputy ministers of industry and construction.

The Turkmen Ministry of Industry and Construction was established in early February on the basis of the disbanded Turkmen Ministry of Industry and Communication.

A plan for construction of industrial and production facilities in 2020-2023 has been approved in Turkmenistan.

The Turkmen Ministry of Industry and Construction has been instructed to hold international tenders for the selection of contractors for the construction of these facilities and ensure the completion of their construction on time.

In order to increase (to 1 million tons of products per year) the capacities of the Baherden and Lebap cement plants, launch of their second phase is planned.

There are plans to build a plant for the production of ceramic tiles and sanitary ware in the Baherden district of the Ahal province, an enterprise producing 100 tons of glass products per day in the Gokdepe district, and a ceramic dish factory in Dashoguz city in Turkmenistan.

Also, there are plans to build a facility for the production of reinforcing bars with capacity of 150,000 tons per year.
(CNN)  The two young women took a brief pause from advocating for the environment and human rights to meet for the very first time. To no one's surprise, they were fast friends.

Greta Thunberg visited Malala Yousafzai at the University of Oxford, where the Pakistani activist is a senior. Thunberg is in the UK for a school strike planned for later this week.

Admiration between the two activists was mutual.

"So ... today I met my role model," Thunberg tweeted. "What else can I say?"

"She's the only friend I'd skip school for," Yousafzai quipped.

Both activists came to prominence at a young age, Malala for girls' education and Greta for the environment. They've both addressed the United Nations and been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize (Malala won in 2014, when she was 17 -- Thunberg's age now).

Despite hitting similar milestones, the two had never met until this week. That's not to say they weren't fans of each other before, though.

In a recent interview with Teen Vogue, the 22-year-old Yousafzai praised Thunberg and Emma Gonzalez, a gun violence survivor and founder of the March For Our Lives movement, for continuing her legacy of activism.

"Sometimes in rooms with decision-makers, they don't have any young people at the table; they don't even have women, let alone young people," she told the magazine. "So just to have the voices of young people present there, just to have women being present at those tables, I think it's a huge difference."

Though Thunberg's main focus has been raising the alarm on climate change, the teen environmental advocate spent part of her time on campus speaking with Oxford students about science, voting and the limits of protest.
A knifeman on roller skates has stabbed three people in a busy street in Bristol, south-west England.

Police and paramedics were scrambled to the Wells Road area of the city to reports of a knife rampage on Tuesday afternoon.

The victims were treated by ambulance crews before they were all rushed to hospital following the shocking incident, which unfolded at about 3pm.

Their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, Avon and Somerset Police said in statement.

Officers Tasered the suspect and he was detained after threatening police with a knife, the force said.

"The man, aged in his 30s, was taken to custody were he remains. A knife was recovered from the scene, it added.

Two men, one aged in his 20s and the other in his 50s, were stabbed in the incident and were taken to Southmead Hospital.

A third man, also aged in his 20s, suffered a head wound and was taken to the same hospital but has since been discharged.

Chief Inspector Nigel Colston, neighbourhood commander for South Bristol, praised members of the public for their bravery for intervening in the incident.

Inspector Colston said: "A full investigation is already under way and a team of detectives are working hard to establish exactly what happened.

They have a significant number of witnesses to speak to and will be carrying out other enquiries, including house to house and CCTV enquiries in the coming days.
Alberta Court of Appeal Sides With Alberta on Carbon Tax

EDMONTON  The Alberta Court of Appeal has ruled that the federal carbon tax is not constitutional.

In a 41 decision, the court says the legislation that brought in the tax erodes provincial jurisdiction.

The Alberta government had argued in its challenge of the tax that climate change isnt a national issue requiring overriding federal intervention.

The federal government countered by saying climate change is a national and global concern that cant be left to each of the provinces to take on alone.

The majority of the Appeal Court judges sided with the province.

The act is a constitutional Trojan horse, said the portion of the decision written by three of the four majority justices.

The court rejected federal arguments that reducing greenhouse gases met the legal test of being a national concern.

Almost every aspect of the provinces development and management of their natural resources  would be subject to federal regulation.

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.

Mondays decision is the first to side with a province against the federal government.

Courts in both Saskatchewan and Ontario upheld the federal levy last year.

The Supreme Court of Canada is to hear Saskatchewans appeal of its courts decision this spring.
"With more than 30 million robots sold, iRobot is entering its next phase of growth," said Colin Angle, Chairman and CEO of iRobot. "The promotion of JJ to Chief Commercial Officer and the hiring of Charlie as Chief Supply Chain Officer strengthen iRobot's management team and will better enable the company to capitalize on near- and long-term growth opportunities as we expand manufacturing capabilities, broaden our global sales presence, and diversify our product portfolio. JJ's strong commercial orientation, proven ability to scale businesses and customer centricity, combined with Charlie's deep operational experience and ability to build bridges between engineering and supply chain teams, will be tremendous assets as we look to take iRobot from $1.2 billion in revenue to a multi-billion dollar company in the years ahead."

As Chief Commercial Officer, JJ will be responsible for leading iRobot's global go-to market commercial strategy, including direct-to-consumer and retail sales for the Roomba robot vacuum, Braava robot mop, and Terra robot mower. He will provide strategic direction and leadership for iRobot to fortify segment share in existing markets and introduce new products to sales channels. Currently serving as iRobot's Vice President and General Manager of EMEA, JJ has more than 30 years of commercial management experience. With a deep international background and a track record of driving double-digit growth in the premium segment, JJ oversaw the successful acquisition of iRobot's largest distributor, Robopolis SAS, in 2017 and grew the company's EMEA business to $358 million in revenue in 2019. Prior to iRobot, JJ held leadership roles in commercial management at Whirlpool Corporation, including General Manager, France and Vice President of Sales, North West Europe. Earlier in his career, JJ held commercial roles at Phillips Electronics.

As Chief Supply Chain Officer, Charlie will be responsible for driving strategic direction and operational excellence across iRobot's manufacturing and supply chain organization as it expands its capabilities and presence overseas. In his role, Charlie will lead all aspects of contract manufacturing, plant and network operating efficiency, quality, logistics, supply, warehousing, safety, and short and long-range capacity planning and allocation. Charlie brings with him more than 20 years of leadership in supply chain, most recently as Senior Vice President, Global Operations at Sensata, a global $3.5 billion technology company with operations and business centers in 12 countries. During his five-year tenure at Sensata, Charlie also served as Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer. Before Sensata, Charlie spent seven years in leadership roles at Stanley Black & Decker, including as Vice President of Global Supply Management  Industrial Segment & GSM COE. Earlier in his career, Charlie spent nine years at General Electric Capital Corporation. He also served as a Logistics Officer in the U.S. Navy and continues to serve as a Senior Supply Chain Officer in the Navy Reserve.

JJ will assume the role of Chief Commercial Officer on April 13, 2020, and a search for his replacement as Vice President and General Manager, EMEA is currently underway. Until that position is filled, JJ will serve in a dual capacity as the interim leader of EMEA and Chief Commercial Officer. Charlie began as iRobot's Chief Supply Chain Officer on February 17, 2020. Both JJ and Charlie will report directly to iRobot's Chairman and CEO, Colin Angle.

About iRobot Corporation

iRobot, the leading global consumer robot company, designs and builds robots that empower people to do more both inside and outside of the home. iRobot created the home robot cleaning category with the introduction of its Roomba Robot Vacuum in 2002. Today, iRobot is a global enterprise that has sold more than 30 million robots worldwide. iRobot's product line, including the Roomba and the Braava family of mopping robots, feature proprietary technologies and advanced concepts in cleaning, mapping and navigation. iRobot engineers are building an ecosystem of robots and technologies to enable the smart home. For more information about iRobot, please visit www.irobot.com.

For iRobot Investors

Certain statements made in this press release that are not based on historical information are forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements relating to iRobot Corporation's expectations concerning management's plans, objectives and strategies, including revenue growth, improved profitability, diversification of revenue, entering new markets, fortifying segment share, and the introduction of new revenue streams. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. iRobot undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by iRobot, see the disclosure contained in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

SOURCE iRobot Corporation

Related Links

http://www.irobot.com


It was announced today that Enterprise Ireland invested 24 million in Irish start-ups in 2019 and supported a total of 127 start-up companies.

Investment was provided through Enterprise Irelands High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) and Competitive Start Fund (CSF) programmes.

This comes as 600 delegates attended the Enterprise Ireland Start-Up Showcase today in Croke Park including start-up businesses and investors.

Enterprise Ireland has also launched a new campaign today  The Formula for Success - which aims to attract ambitious founders, the disruptors of the future and fast-growing export-led early stage companies, to apply for High Potential Start-Up supports.

A HPSU is a fast growing, export focused company, often with a need for significant investment. The formula for success centres on matching a founders vision and ambition with Enterprise Irelands investment, expertise and network to help them succeed.

Speaking today, Manager HPSU Division at Enterprise Ireland, Jennifer Melia said, "2019 was another successful year for Irish start-ups across a range of sectors including ICT, medtech, fintech, food and manufacturing. We also saw a strong performance by start-ups from outside of Dublin. Furthermore, 38 of the businesses supported were founded by women which supports Enterprise Irelands recently launched 2020 Action Plan for Women in Business, aiming to increase the participation of women in entrepreneurship and business leadership. The class of 2019 are great role models for new founders who have the determination and resilience required to get their enterprises up and running."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Things aren't going so well between Mikey Pembroke and his Married At First Sight bride Natasha Spencer.

That may be why Mikey has his eyes on another lady - the show's relationship expert Mel Schilling, 49.

The 29-year-old appears to have a taste for older ladies - just like his bride Natasha, 26, has professed to be a fan of older men.

'She's hot!' Married At First Sight's Mikey Pembroke, 29, (pictured) said on Tuesday he 'should've been matched' with relationship expert Mel Schilling, 49

In an interview with Now To Love, the former North Shore schoolboy said that in a game of snog, marry and avoid, he'd, 'Definitely marry Mel, Mel's hot!'

He went on to say: 'Definitely Mel, Mel's quite good looking. I should've been matched with her actually.'

He's out of luck as Mel married her long term partner Gareth Brisbane in Bali back in 2018.

In an interview with Now To Love, the former North Shore schoolboy said that in a game of snog, marry and avoid, he'd, 'Definitely marry Mel, Mel's hot!' Pictured: Mel Schilling

Mikey went on to say: 'Definitely Mel, Mel's quite good looking. I should've been matched with her actually'

Happily wed: He's out of luck as Mel married her long term partner Gareth Brisbane (left) in Bali back in 2018

Mikey chose to leave his marriage to his TV bride Natasha during Sunday night's commitment ceremony, however she chose to stay.

On Monday, Mikey unleashed on his 'high maintenance wife'.

'Everyone came up to me and basically confirmed all the things I've said - she's high-maintenance, overbearing and too sexual,' he said in an interview with TV WEEK.

Ouch! Mikey chose to leave his marriage to his TV bride Natasha during Sunday night's commitment ceremony, however she chose to stay

Ouch! 'Everyone came up to me and basically confirmed all the things I've said - she's high-maintenance, overbearing and too sexual,' he said. Pictured: Natasha

'They really threw her under the bus,' he added.

The Sydney-based operations manager went on to say that in real life he would have walked away from the relationship.

Instead, he 'consummated the marriage a few times'.

Married At First Sight continues Wednesday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine
Photo credit: Courtesy

From Harper's BAZAAR

In partnership with UNICEF, Louis Vuitton's men's artistic director, Virgil Abloh, designed the Silver Lockit bracelet.

Proceeds from the new bracelet design will go toward funding resources for children lacking access to water, sanitation, nutrition, and more around the world, especially those in conflict or disaster-prone areas.

The Silver Lockit, available in four different colors, was inspired by Abloh's spring/summer 2020 runway collection.

A new accessory put forth by Louis Vuitton is working to support vulnerable children around the world. Designed by the luxury fashion house's men's artistic director, Virgil Abloh, the Silver Lockit bracelet is the latest addition to the LVforUNICEF collection.

The bracelets retail for $430 apiece, with $100 from each purchase going toward UNICEF. The funds will provide access to basic resources like water, sanitation, nutrition, education, health, and protection services to children who live in conflict or disaster-prone areas. Among these children are those seeking refuge from the conflict in Syria, as well as host communities in neighboring Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Turkey.

Photo credit: Courtesy

The bracelets come in four bold colors: black, orange, celadon green, and cerulean speckled with yellow. The design, influenced by Abloh's spring/summer 2020 collection, features a twisted cord linked by a small silver padlock emblazoned with the fashion house's famous logo.

The Silver Lockit also gets its inspiration from the tumbler lock, a 19th-century invention by Georges Vuitton. The lock was intended to protect a client's most precious belongings and, in 2016, was officially selected "as a symbol of sealing one's promise to help children at risk," according to a press release.

You can shop the bracelets in more than 150 Louis Vuitton locations worldwide or through the links below.

You Might Also Like
Albany County Sheriff's Office

BERNE  A partially filled garbage truck flipped over on its top Monday when it drove off a road in the Helderbergs, Albany County Sheriff Craig D. Apple, Sr. said Monday.

It happens about once a year, Apple said about the frequency of garbage truck accidents in the countys Hill Towns. This takes care of 2020.
A 16-year-old Chicago boy received three years of probation in Columbia County after he fled from law enforcement in a Pizza Hut delivery car and entered a residence while the owner was sleeping.

Jayquan L. Dye pleaded no contest Feb. 18 to felony charges of burglary and attempting to elude law enforcement in a motor vehicle.

In Sauk County, Dye faces a felony charge of taking and driving a vehicle without the owners consent and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Thursday.

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According to the Columbia County criminal complaint, Dye was removed from a bus traveling from Minneapolis to Chicago on Dec. 10 because he was caught smoking THC in the bathroom. After he was released by Sauk County deputies, Dye had walked to a nearby Pizza Hut and stole a delivery vehicle from the parking lot. He removed identifying items from the vehicle and said he took the car because he had no other way of getting home to Chicago.
Zhuying Hua, 40, of Rockville, Maryland is concerned about coronavirus and wears a mask while shopping. The store manager said the there was a huge decline in shoppers.

The coronavirus outbreak that's shuttered commerce across China will likely become a global pandemic, a top U.S. health official said Tuesday, adding that it's just a matter of time before the outbreak starts to spread in the U.S.

"Current global circumstances suggest it's likely this virus will cause a pandemic," Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told reporters at a news briefing.

The virus, which has now infected more than 80,200 and killed at least 2,704 people, has spread rapidly over the past week through South Korea, Iran and Italy. The localized outbreaks outside of China have fueled concerns among infectious disease experts and scientists that the virus is spreading too quickly and may be past the point of containment.

"It's not so much a question of if this will happen any more, but rather more a question of when this will happen and how many people in this country will become infected and how many of those will develop severe or more complicated disease," she added.

There are now 57 confirmed cases of the virus in the U.S., Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Tuesday. A majority of those cases came from passengers repatriated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined off the coast of Japan. CDC data shows that 40 of the cases are attributed to the cruise ship, four of which were announced Tuesday. Three patients were infected in Wuhan and later evacuated to the U.S., and the rest were largely infected while traveling overseas.

"We can't hermetically seal off the United States," Azar said.

There is a "defined playbook" for how the government would respond to any potential community spread in the U.S., Azar said, adding that Americans "shouldn't panic when they see new cases."

"It is very dangerous to make predictions with a virus, especially a novel virus," Azar said. "But we have tools to deal with it that are reasonable, titrated and don't excessively interfere either with the economy or individuals lives, necessarily."

While COVID-19 is contained in the U.S. so far, CDC officials said earlier Tuesday that the public needs to prepare for an eventual outbreak here. Schuchat echoed those comments.

"We must use this time to continue to prepare for the event of community transmission in the United States," Schuchat said. "Part of that preparation is educating the public and our state, local and private sector partners about what transition from aggressive containment measures to community measures or community mitigation would look like should we end up there."

Earlier in the day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlined what schools and businesses will likely need to do if the COVID-19 virus becomes an epidemic outbreak in the U.S.

"We are asking the American public to work with us to prepare for the expectation that this could be bad," Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters on a conference call.

The White House reportedly asked Congress on Monday for $1.25 billion in additional funding to bolster its coronavirus response

 CNBC's Noah Higgins-Dunn contributed to this article.
TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Compass Home Buyers offer practical solutions for people looking to sell their home for cash in the Tampa Bay area. While the traditional route of selling a home involves listing a home on the market with the help of an agent, Compass Home Buyers gives homeowners the option to sell their house for cash quickly, and easily. With a service area extending 100 miles around Tampa, Compass Home Buyers provides thousands of Florida residents with the opportunity to sell their house, regardless of condition.

Compass Home Buyers

Compass Home Buyers is a local, family-owned company founded by experienced real estate investors who wanted to put people first. Instead of waiting weeks for prospective buyers to express interest in buying their listed home, individuals who partner with Compass Home Buyers can receive an offer on their home quickly, often on the same day they contact the company. In many cases, Compass Home Buyers can close on a home in as few as five business days. This makes their services very convenient and effective for homeowners who need to sell their house without delay.

Compass Home Buyers are an option for individuals and families who need to sell their house quickly due to a variety of common scenarios. Some of these scenarios include financial hardship with the risk of foreclosure, divorce in which neither party wishes to maintain ownership of the home, relocation for work or family, inheriting an unwanted property, and stalled or problematic house-flipping projects. Compass Home Buyers also provides a solution for individuals who have difficult-to-sell homes. This may include a property that is outdated or located in an unappealing area. Many individuals in these situations realize that they do not have the time, patience, or energy to sell their house on their own or with an agent.

Individuals who are interested in selling their house for cash to Compass Home Buyers can benefit in a number of ways. According to the company, people can sell their home in any condition, meaning that damaged and unfinished homes are acceptable candidates. Compass Home Buyers cover all costs a homeowner may accrue during the home-selling process, including inspection and closing costs. They also do not charge any fees or commission. There are no showings required  the only time someone will visit the property is during the inspection. Occupants do not need to clean the home, complete repairs, or remove furniture prior to moving out. Clients can often arrange for flexible move-out deadlines if they need to occupy the home for a short time after closing.

With accessible, professional services in the Tampa Bay area and beyond, Compass Home Buyers strives to make selling homes in any condition easy. Individuals who would like to learn more about working with Compass Home Buyers can contact their office or submit a property questionnaire at compasshomebuyers.com.

Contact:

Jackie Oliver

813-683-4292

[email protected]

SOURCE Compass Home Buyers

Related Links

http://compasshomebuyers.com


Supermodel-turned-CEO Tyra Banks glammed up for an upcoming appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in Midtown Manhattan on Monday night.

The 46-year-old LA native slipped her curvaceous 5ft10in figure into ultra-tight blue pants, and she wore a cleavage-boosting bustier top beneath a navy-plaid blazer and sparkly pumps selected by stylist J.Bolin.

Tyra's curly wig was coiffed by hairstylist Brandi Frye-Odom and she topped it with a black ModelLand beret.

Hitting the pavement: Supermodel-turned-CEO Tyra Banks glammed up for an upcoming appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in Midtown Manhattan on Monday night

Make-up artist Mallory Jo Hunter applied Banks' fully-contoured complexion, defined brows, and false lashes for the pre-taped talk show appearance.

On Tuesday, the two-time Daytime Emmy winner braved the rain in the Big Apple with help from her very own dapper umbrella handler.

This time, Tyra was decked out in Tyra merchandise - a black 'smize' beanie and a 'make it fashion' hoodie.

Banks has spent the last week in New York promoting her mysterious theme park ModelLand, which was 12 years in the making.

Peace! The 46-year-old LA native slipped her curvaceous 5ft10in figure into ultra-tight blue pants, and she wore a cleavage-boosting bustier top beneath a navy-plaid blazer and sparkly pumps selected by stylist J.Bolin

Representing her newest venture! Tyra's curly wig was coiffed by hairstylist Brandi Frye-Odom and she topped it with a black ModelLand beret

Ample: Make-up artist Mallory Jo Hunter applied Banks' fully-contoured complexion, defined brows, and false lashes for the pre-taped talk show appearance

'Imagine Harry Potter's Hogwarts mixed with America's Next Top Model...It's a story-driven experience where everyone is the star,' the brunette beauty explained on Build Series.

'I do know I was an early voice where a lot of people in the fashion industry werent happy that I was doing this. They weren't happy I had girls on Top Model that were shorter. They weren't happy I had girls on Top Model that were thicker.'

Tyra's 21K-square Glamour Shots-style attraction promises to elevate your 'selfie esteem' and opens May 1 inside Macerich's Santa Monica Place.

Tickets/packages start at $39 for child entry and $59 for adult entry, but then immediately spike to $549 for a 'fantascene photoshoot' or $1,495 for a 'fantascene dream.'

Diva move! On Tuesday, the two-time Daytime Emmy winner braved the rain in the Big Apple with help from her very own dapper umbrella handler (2-R)

Casually clad: This time, Tyra was decked out in Tyra merchandise - a black 'smize' beanie and a 'make it fashion' hoodie

Build Q&A: Banks has spent the last week in New York promoting her mysterious theme park ModelLand, which was 12 years in the making

The brunette beauty explained on Build Series: 'Imagine Harry Potter's Hogwarts mixed with America's Next Top Model...It's a story-driven experience where everyone is the star'

She added: 'I do know I was an early voice where a lot of people in the fashion industry werent happy that I was doing this. They weren't happy I had girls on Top Model that were shorter. They weren't happy I had girls on Top Model that were thicker'

'The "fantascene" is like the fanciest spa you've ever gone to,' Banks described during Good Morning America on Monday.

'Except for instead of a massage, you get couture hair, make-up, styling, photos to take home that are so amazing. Everybody that comes to ModelLand gets a lookbook.

'Every time you come back you get a lookbook that you update. It is fantastic and the themes constantly change so you can get a membership and come back all the time because we change that theme, honey.'

The SI Swimsuit stunner originally came up with the name ModelLand as the title of the young adult novel she penned back in 2011.

Setting: Tyra's 21K-square Glamour Shots-style attraction promises to elevate your 'selfie esteem' and opens May 1 inside Macerich's Santa Monica Place

Bringing modeling to 'the masses'? Tickets/packages start at $39 for child entry and $59 for adult entry, but then immediately spike to $549 for a 'fantascene photoshoot' or $1,495 for a 'fantascene dream'

Tyra also chatted about her trilingual three-year-old son York with Norwegian photographer Erik Asla, whom she split with in 2017 after five years of dating.

'My little boy is amazing. Oh my gosh he has changed me,' Banks - who's dating Canadian businessman Louis Belanger-Martin - explained.

'First of all, he's a hot mess. He just understands psychology already. I'll tell him, "If you do that, you can't play with that car." He'll reply, "Mommy, I don't want that car anymore."

'I'm like, "You're 4. How do you know how to do this already?" It's insane. It's crazy. Oh he knows how to "smize" and I'm teaching my son to like all body types.'

Banks told GMA on Monday: 'The "fantascene" is like the fanciest spa you've ever gone to. Except for instead of a massage, you get couture hair, make-up, styling, photos to take home that are so amazing. Everybody that comes to ModelLand gets a lookbook'

'He understands psychology already!' The SI Swimsuit stunner also chatted about her trilingual three-year-old son York (L) with Norwegian photographer Erik Asla, whom she split with in 2017 after five years of dating (pictured in 2018)

Banks - who's dating Canadian businessman Louis Belanger-Martin - added: 'My little boy is amazing. Oh my gosh he has changed me...Oh he knows how to "smize"'

After 15 years on The CW and VH1, the pretty presenter's original series America's Next Top Model has been off the air since April 10, 2018.

And though he'd never admit it, RuPaul Charles has Tyra to thank for the overall format of his hit competition RuPaul's Drag Race, which debuts its 12th season this Friday.

The Stanford School of Business lecturer next serves keynote speaker duties at Bay Path University's Women Leadership Conference on March 27 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA.

Watch the new season of RuPaul's Drag Race on VH1, or on Stan in Australia.
LONDON, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stringent environmental regulations, declining gas prices, and increasing demand for flexible transmission of renewable power have sparked a growing interest in gas-powered generator sets in Europe. A recent analysis by Frost & Sullivan shows that the market revenue for gas gensets in Europe is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.3%, from $307.2 million in 2018 to $441.6 million by 2025, while unit sales are set to increase at a CAGR of 3.2%, reaching 2,034 units by 2025.

"As Europe moves towards meeting its emission reductions targets by 2030, the gas gensets market is positioned for fairly good growth in the near future," said Jonathan Robinson, Global Energy Program Lead at Frost & Sullivan. "Gas gensets are expected to gain market share among end-user segments that were dominated by diesel gensets as the region moves towards lower-emission fuel sources."

Frost & Sullivan's latest research, European Gas Generator Set (Genset) Market, Forecast to 2025, addresses the major challenges faced by participants in a dynamic gas-powered genset industry in Europe. The report examines the competitive forces driving the market in Europe, highlights present market opportunities, offers additional information on the regions to look at for future investment, and includes growth strategies. Market metrics for all major European regions are also provided.

For further information on this analysis, please visit: http://frost.ly/40d

The strengthening of the gas pipeline infrastructure and storage network across Europe is leading to the increasing uptake of gas gensets in prime power and back-up power applications. The dominance of diesel gensets in back-up power applications is also being disrupted by gas gensets as a result of stringent environmental emission regulations and declining natural gas prices. The replacement market for gas gensets presents strong growth prospects as customers move towards the latest generation of gensets to power their operations.

"The growth of power storage is also expected to play a role in increasing gas gensets sales, as the demand for hybrid gensets with power storage capabilities rises," noted Robinson. "Furthermore, expansion of product lines and product differentiation through acquisitions or new product introductions by establishing partnerships and new channels will expand customer reach."

Market participants can also leverage the opportunities for growth in:

Optimizing operations to reduce costs and generate higher revenues.

Introducing new product lines to extend consumer reach.

Integrating gas gensets with power storage capabilities for better product differentiation.

Incorporating active emission control measures to meet new norms.

European Gas Generator Set (Genset) Market, Forecast to 2025, is a part of Frost & Sullivan's Energy and Environment Growth Partnership Service program, which helps organizations identify a continuous flow of growth opportunities to succeed in an unpredictable future.

About Frost & Sullivan

For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

European Gas Generator Set (Genset) Market, Forecast to 2025

ME2A-14

Contact:

Kristi Cekani

Corporate Communications - Frost & Sullivan, Europe

P: +39 (0)2 4851 6133

E: [email protected]

http://www.frost.com

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

Related Links

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Around 30 people have been injured when a car was purposefully driven in a carnival parade in Germany, according to police. According to reports, the authorities have arrested a local man following the incident that occurred in Volkmarsen in the central state of Hesse.

Driver's motives still unknown

According to reports, the German police have confirmed that the driver of the vehicle was a 29-year-old German citizen. Local media has reported that while the authorities have apprehended the driver, he is not yet fit for questioning. Reports have further stated that the eyewitnesses have claimed that the driver specifically targeted children and drove into the carnival crowd 'at full throttle'.

Reports have claimed that children were indeed among those injured in the incident. The police have not announced any deaths in the incident. Reports and video footage shows that the car that drove into the crowd was a silver Mercedes station wagon.

Video footage also shows the car on the pavement with its hazard lights blinking. Volkmarsen is 175 miles south of Berlin and the government have been reportedly urger not to spread misinformation and un-confirmed news.

Reports have claimed that the authorities believe that it is still too early to definitively say why the suspect drove the car into the crowd

Read: 9 Killed In Suspected Far-right Attack In Germany

Read: Germany: At Least 8 Killed, 5 Injured In Twin Shootings In Hanau

This latest incident comes less than a week after a gunmen shot 10 people dead in a shooting that took place in the town of Hanau, which is also located in Hesse state.

The gunman who killed nine people in Germany's Hanau and then turned his weapon on his own mother and then himself reportedly did it out of apparent hatred of minorities. According to reports, the 43-year-old gunman has been identified as Tobias Rathjen. Citing a video and a lengthy manifesto Rathjen had posted on social media, investigators have reportedly said that he appeared to have been motivated by racism. Reports claim that authorities are treating the attacks as an act of domestic terrorism.

Read: Hanau Gunman Posted Manifesto Railing Against Ethnic Minorities, Called For Genocide

Read: Car Hits Crowd At German Carnival; Several Injured


OTTAWAIf Nathan Cullen took a step back from public life because he needed a break, hes going to have to wait a little longer.

The former NDP MP finds himself in the middle of the Wetsuweten conflict, entrusted by the B.C. government and First Nations alike to try and mediate a solution to the protests that have brought rail transport to a halt across the country.

On Monday, his job became even more difficult.

Cullen told the Star Monday that the Ontario Provincial Polices removal of a protest barricade near Tyendinaga changes the dynamic of the ongoing conversations between Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs and government officials.

The direction of the overall conflict will be determined, in part, by the reaction to that police action by solidarity protesters from coast to coast. But the solution, Cullen said, must be found in Wetsuweten.

I can see at least two scenarios (after the OPP raid), one where the urgency goes off, and  another where parties are determined to forge ahead, said Cullen, reached in Smithers, B.C. Monday morning.

(But) the source of this is not in Tyendinaga, its not in Kahnawake, its here. From my perspective, the need to resolve this dispute remains here, despite what happened this morning in Mohawk territory.

Cullen is serving as a liaison between the Wetsuweten and the provincial government  with the blessing of the Wetsuweten people. But Cullens experience in Ottawa has also drawn him into discussions with the federal government, as the Liberal government tries to navigate a national protest movement while balancing commitments to First Nations reconciliation, economic development and environmental protections.

Despite the unpredictable direction of the protest movements and the seeming impasse between First Nations leaders and Justin Trudeaus government, Cullen said there are important  substantive conversations still being held between the parties.

It may seem counterintuitive, but it actually makes sense to me, that even while youre having really, really challenging situations, theres still the ability to keep talking, Cullen said.

And I would argue there needs to be the ability to keep talking, because the alternative is usually worse.

Part of the difficulty in the discussions is that there are layers behind everyone at the table and theyre not static, Cullen said.

Its also temporally really challenging. Youre dealing with things right now and (moving) forward, and youre also always dealing with the past, Cullen said.

And some people might find that frustrating, and I say well, until youve walked in someones shoes, dont judge.

Cullen pointed out that for some Wetsuweten people, the notion of forced removal from their territory isnt ancient history  but lived experience.

Thats people, thats their grandmother, thats their mother crying as their house is torched by the Indian agent, Cullen said.

So when people say oh, the past shouldnt really so much inform whats happening now, well, when you talk about forcible removal from a Wetsuweten person, its really different than talking about it to you or I.
When UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak posted a picture of him brewing tea for his team members in the Treasury department, little did he know that it would lead to a social media storm.

The new Chancellor of the Exchequer, who is working on his first Budget to be tabled in two weeks' time, is expected to unveil a major infrastructure boost for the northern England region of Yorkshire which he also represents as MP of Richmond.

In a Twitter post last Friday, the 39-year-old son-in-law of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy is seen holding a bag of Yorkshire Tea along with the message: Quick Budget prep break making tea for the team. Nothing like a good Yorkshire brew.

It attracted a host of trolls and negative reactions, largely directed against the ruling Conservative Party but also targeted at Yorkshire Tea one of the UK's oldest tea brands.

Many announced a boycott of the brand as a result of the perceived Tory endorsement, forcing Yorkshire Tea to issue a Twitter statement to stress that the post had nothing to do with the company and that people of all political stripes like our brew.

However, the storm in a tea cup as it eventually became known, did not die down, with Yorkshire Tea forced to issue a plea of kindness on Monday after what it said was a rough weekend with people determined to drag the company into a political mudfight despite having nothing to do with the Chancellor's tweet.

In its latest post, Yorkshire Tea said: Speaking directly now, as the person who's been answering these tweets, I know it could have been much worse. It's easier to be on the receiving end of this as a brand than as an individual. There's more emotional distance and I've had a team to support me when it got a bit much.

But for anyone about to vent their rage online, even to a company please remember there's a human on the other end of it, and try to be kind.

Sunak, the UK's first Indian-origin politician to hold the country's high office of Chancellor, will table his first Budget in the UK Parliament on March 11.

According to reports, it will involve plans to move a significant number of the UK Treasury department's 1,500 London-based posts to a so-called economic decision-making campus in the north as part of investment plans for the region, credited with handing the Prime Minister Boris Johnson led Tories their strong majority in the December 2019 General Election.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As of November 2019, Democrat presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg was the 12th richest person in the world, with a net worth estimated at $61.8 billion. That quote came from this paragraph, which also gives one a sense of how quickly Mr. Bloombergs net worth has grown. On Valentines Day 2020, Forbes profile listed Bloomberg as the 8th richest person in America, and the magazines real time net worth gizmo calculated his wealth at $62.8B. Pretty soon were gonna be talking real money.

In March of 2009, Forbes pegged Bloombergs wealth at $16B, a $4.5B bump-up from the previous year, and the world's biggest increase in wealth in 2009. And that, mind you, happened during the financial crisis. Do a little math, and one sees that since 2008 Michael Bloombergs wealth has more than quintupled.

But just how did Mr. Bloomberg amass so much money? Well, it seems Mike has a product: the Bloomberg Terminal, a computer system widely used by the financial-services industry. In December, Vox ran How Mike Bloomberg made his billions: a computer system youve probably never seen by Emily Stewart. To subscribe to Bloomberg Terminal, go to the Bloomberg Professional Services division of the company, but know that it will set you back about $20,000 to $25,000 per seat per year for fast access to information and the tools available with the proprietary trading platform.

Information can be rather expensive, as it is the lifeblood of the equities market. Sad to say, but we cant share in the wealth as Bloomberg L.P., Mikes parent company, isnt publicly traded. As the first version debuted in 1982, Bloomberg Terminal would seem to be the oldest part of Bloomberg L.P., which started up in 1981. A key fact to savor here is that despite the multiplicity of the divisions in Mikes diverse far-flung conglomerate of a company, Bloomberg Terminal, the computer system, accounts for as much as 85 percent of its total revenue.

Since his company is primarily a software and computer services outfit, its fair to say that Bloomberg made his fortune off the backs of computer programmers. However, despite the impressive success of Bloombergs software business, the CEO himself didnt program. Bloomberg sought to fix that problem by taking an online course. On Jan. 5, 2012 he tweeted: My New Year's resolution is to learn to code with Codecademy in 2012! The BBC reported: It is not clear what Mr Bloomberg hopes to do with his new computer skills. Such a musing is apt when one considers that five weeks after Mikes tweet, he celebrated his 70th birthday. Maybe Mr. Bloomberg amused himself by writing a program that spits out prime numbers or does the knights tour. Whatever, he was smart enough not to give up his day job as the head honcho of an impressive global company.

Bloombergs rival for the Democrat nomination, Joe Biden, has suggested that displaced coal miners learn how to program computers. At the Daily Caller we read: The former vice president similarly said during the July 31 Democratic debate that there would be no place for fossil fuels -- including coal -- under his administration. And at a December event in New Hampshire, Biden said: Anybody who can go down 300 to 3,000 feet in a mine can sure as hell learn to program as well Anybody who can throw coal into a furnace can learn how to program, for Gods sake!

Its true that some Americans can quickly learn the rudiments of some high-level programming language, like COBOL, and then write a program to do some low-level task, like spit out some dinky report. But becoming a dependable programmer involves much more than knowing a programming language. This will be driven home when you get a 3 AM call to leave your warm bed and come into work. And when you arrive there and turn into your cubicle what do you see sitting in the middle of your desk but a foot-high stack of interconnected computer paper; its called a core dump and its all in hexadecimal code (i.e. machine language, not COBOL) and youre supposed to find out what the hell happened to a batch update program that just blew up and which must run before the program that cuts the payroll checks can be run, and the program is not one that you wrote nor know anything about, but its a program that you must fix and pronto. And the thing is: the program that blew up might not even be the problem. So, to function as a programmer, you often need to be something of a sleuth, a detective.

This kid started programming computers before Mike Bloomberg formed his company in 1981, which means before the debut of the personal computer by IBM. It was during the Age of the Mainframe Computer, RIP. Back then, businesses and institutions had large staffs of applications programmers developing systems specifically for those enterprises. One couldnt just saunter into Best Buy and buy a DVD to do your payroll, taxes, or whatever; your programmers had to write such software for you. And back in those hoary days of yesteryear when I would encounter jokers like Joe Biden pooh-poohing the difficulty of writing computer programs, Id think about how quickly they could become dependable productive programmers. And what I came up with was: a minimum of a year of fulltime work and study. And thats a year not for somebody who can throw coal into a furnace, but for your average PhD without experience in computers.

Of course, nowadays one cant find PhDs without computer experience. Indeed, one would be hard pressed to find Americans who dont own computers, inasmuch as their smartphones are sophisticated computers. So virtually everybody has some experience with some kind of computer, even if its just the self-check-out lines at Walmart or an ATM. Despite that, it may be more difficult to learn programing now than 40 years ago, because computers do so much more now. Even when mainframes ruled the Earth, programmers had to continually be updating their knowhow by learning new programming languages, new operating systems, new access methods, etc. etc.

Its a pity that at the aforementioned event when Biden spoke of the ease of learning to program that no one thought to ask the obvious question: Vice-President Biden, can you program? If Joe cant program computers, then his observations on the ease with which coal miners can retrain and move into a radically different profession carry no weight and can be summarily dismissed. Now more than ever, its essential that our leaders know what they dont know.

Unlike Joe Biden, Mike Bloomberg is someone who appreciates the rigors of working in Information Technology. However, Bloomberg doesnt appreciate the brains it takes to be a farmer, which Victor Davis Hanson passionately responded to on Tucker Carlsons show on Fox News. (For more of VDH on farming, listen to this podcast at Hoover.) Bloombergs genius was in correctly identifying a need 40 years ago and then filling that need. And to corner the market on market information, Mike had to hire a bunch of nerds who could program.

It should be fairly obvious that computer programming might not be quite as simple as Joe Biden thinks it is. If it were so simple, then why would some of the biggest personal fortunes in the world be those of people in the software biz? There was a time when Microsofts Bill Gates was the richest man on the planet. Bidens claims about the ease of learning to program are facially false. (Id say Mr. Biden needs a core dump.) But the question remains: What the devil is old Joe really planning to do about all the coal miners hes planning to put out of work?

Jon N. Hall of ULTRACON OPINION is a programmer from Kansas City.
The size of the 10 Iranian missiles used on Al Asad Air Base in Iraq during the Jan. 8 airstrike is to blame for the increased number of service members diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries (TBI), a Pentagon official told reporters Monday.

"The magnitude or size of the munition certainly creates a different exposure for the service members who are in the area of the blast" as compared to the small munitions used against U.S. forces in the past, Air Force Brig. Gen. Paul Friedrichs, Joint Staff Surgeon, said at Monday's briefing.

The official count for those diagnosed with mild TBI or concussion-like symptoms from the attack currently sits at 110 service members; one additional case was announced last week. And while most have returned to active duty, 25 have been transported to the U.S. for more treatment, according to a Feb. 21 news release.

Pentagon officials initially reported that there were no injuries stemming from Iran's retaliatory attack for the Jan. 3 U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian Quds Force commander Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani.

Related: Still Misunderstood: How Traumatic Brain Injuries Affect America's Veterans

"In this case, when they went through, they identified that no one had any acute injuries. No one lost a leg, no one lost an eye, no one lost a limb, which was remarkable given the strength of these munitions," Friedrichs said. "The larger the munition, the larger the blast that's created, the more effect there will be on the human body."

The incident received further public criticism when President Donald Trump referred to the troops' TBI injuries as "headaches" and as the number of diagnoses rapidly climbed in the following weeks.

TBI's symptoms, which can range from dizziness, irritability, headaches and nausea to memory and balance problems, usually go away in about 30 days with therapy and rest. Friedrichs said the service members whose conditions hadn't improved in that time frame would be sent home for more treatment.

He touted advancements in the Defense Department's TBI evaluation process, called the Military Acute Concussion Evaluation 2 (MACE 2), which is automatically activated when a service member has been exposed to multiple blasts or comes within 50 meters of a blast, among other situations.

Both those scenarios occurred during the Jan. 8 attack, triggering the mandatory evaluations.

"It was a real validation of the work over the last 15 years to change how we take care of people who develop traumatic brain injury," he said. "From a medical standpoint, the fact that exactly zero people on this base suffered an acute traumatic injury is extraordinary."

Friedrichs said that, while there are six people still undergoing TBI evaluation, he doubts there will be such drastic increases in the number of service members diagnosed with TBI as there were in the weeks following the Al Asad attack, when reports rose from zero troops impacted to the current count of 110.

"If you look at the bell curve, the biggest group was within the first three weeks and it's really tapered off since then," he said.

Pentagon officials said they have been meeting with lawmakers to answer their questions about the injuries. Friedrichs said specifics on whether the bunkers or other safety measures were adequate will be studied by the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) for years to come.

In the meantime, this has proven to be a "big step forward" for the military medical community, he said.

"From a medical standpoint, I think, the most important lesson for anybody that should be drawn from this is we have developed the ability to screen, diagnose and treat people that's far superior to anything that we've had at any point in military medical history," he said. "And we used it, and every single person that we've identified is getting the treatment that they need."

-- Dorothy Mills-Gregg can be reached at dorothy.mills-gregg@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @DMillsGregg.

Read More: Top Marine General Wants More Women Serving in Ground-Combat Jobs
Hollywood heavyweight Denzel Washington was raised by his mother, Lennis, after his parents divorced. Years later, Washington credits his mother for his myriad successes in life.

My mother never gave up on me, the two-time Oscar-winning actor told Closer Weekly. I messed up in school so much they were sending me home, but my mother sent me right back!

Lennis, a licensed aesthetician, divorced her pastor husband when Washington was just 14. My parents were like night and day, Washington, now 65, told Parade. They say opposites attract, but my parents only grew apart. [After they divorced] I went through a very rebellious stage, so my mother sent me off to private school.

Washington attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, California, on Feb. 26, 2017. (Getty Images | Christopher Polk)

Many of Washingtons adolescent friends ended up serving jail time. Washington, on the other hand, had a guardian angel in his mother. She taught us right from wrong, he stated, as per Closer Weekly.

Lenniss advice permeated her sons consciousness, even after Washington left his wayward youth behind and started to accumulate notoriety as an actor. What would have happened to me had it not been for my mother? Washington reflected, as per CTV News. I dont know, but I would not be living this kind of life, thats for sure.

Washington also credits a transcendent guidance keeping him on the right track as a 20-year-old student in the Bronx. Ive felt the hand of God on my life, no doubt about it, Washington told Parade, recalling an encounter with a woman in his mothers salon in Mount Vernon, New York, on March 27, 1975.

Washington in his role as Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling in Courage Under Fire, photographed on set in June 1996 (Getty Images)

[I]n the mirror I kept seeing this woman looking at me, Washington recalled. I was doing so bad in school, and this woman said, Somebody give me a piece of stationery! Im having a prophecy!

Youre going to speak to millions of people; youre going to do great things, the woman told Washington. And I thought, Yeah, right, the actor admitted. The woman was one of the elder sisters in Lenniss church. That same fall, Washington started acting.

Washington holds his Oscar after winning the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Training Day at the 74th Academy Awards on March 24, 2002. (Getty Images | MIKE NELSON)

Even after winning two Oscarsthe first for Glory in 1990, the second for Training Day in 2002Lennis had humble words for her son. My mother used to tell me, Man gives the award, God gives the reward, Washington told Closer Weekly.

Washington has been married to his wife, Pauletta, since 1983, and the couple share four children: John David, Katia, and twins Malcolm and Olivia. Faith is close to the heart of Washingtons marriage and his family at large.

What makes the marriage work? the actor reflected, speaking to Parade. Lots of prayer!

Denzel Washington and wife Pauletta at the premiere of Out of Time, 9/29/2003 (Shutterstock | Everett Collection)

The Washington women have passed extraordinary strength and discipline down to their sons. While Denzel Washington credits his mother, Lennis, with keeping him on the right track, the actors eldest son, John David Washington, credits Pauletta with the very same.

[She] was earning more money than [my father] was when they married, John David explained to The Cut. She was on Broadway working. She paid for their first date.

Shes a great artist in her own right and I learned a lot from her, John David continued, in testament to the strength and capability of his mother, Pauletta. My father taught me how to hunt. My mother taught me how to love.
Chris Matthews

Youtube

MSNBC host Chris Matthews formally apologized to Sen. Bernie Sanders for comparing the 2020 candidate's landslide win in the Nevada caucus to the Nazi takeover of France during World War II.

"I'm sorry for comparing anything from that tragic era in which so many suffered, especially the Jewish people, to an electoral result in which you were the well-deserved winner," Matthews said on Monday.

During his Saturday coverage of the caucus Matthews described the senator's expected win  and solid frontrunner status  as something of a catastrophe for the Democratic Party.

Several other prominent MSNBC anchors and commentators lashed out at Sanders over the weekend, describing the veteran lawmaker as unvetted and unelectable.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

MSNBC host Chris Matthews issued an apology to Sen. Bernie Sanders and his supporters for comparing the 2020 candidate's landslide win in the Nevada caucus on Saturday to the Nazi takeover of France during World War II.

Matthews' comments sparked immediate outrage, the trending hashtag "#FireChrisMatthews," and backlash from Sanders' campaign, which has long accused the left-leaning network of bias against it.

"Sen. Sanders, I'm sorry for comparing anything from that tragic era in which so many suffered, especially the Jewish people, to an electoral result in which you were the well-deserved winner," Matthews said at the top of his prime time program on Monday night.

He went on, "Congratulations to you, Sen. Sanders, and to your supporters on a tremendous win down in Nevada."

The veteran cable host added that he would seek to "elevate" political discourse in the coming months and congratulated Sanders on his win.

Story continues

During his Saturday coverage of the caucus Matthews described the senator's expected win  and solid frontrunner status  as something of a catastrophe for the Democratic Party.

"I was reading last night about the fall of France in the summer of 1940," he said. "And the general, Reynaud, calls up Churchill and says, 'It's over.' And Churchill says: 'How can that be? You've got the greatest army in Europe. How can it be over?' He said, 'It's over.' So I had that suppressed feeling."

Matthews further argued that moderate Democrats may rather see President Donald Trump win a second term than vote for Sanders.

"Do they want Bernie Sanders to take over the Democratic Party in perpetuity?" Matthews asked his panel in Las Vegas. "Maybe they'd rather wait four years and put in the Democrat that they like."

Sanders' communications director, Mike Casca, expressed disbelief at Matthews' on-air comments.

"Never thought part of my job would be pleading with a national news network to stop likening the campaign of a Jewish presidential candidate whose family was wiped out by the Nazis to the Third Reich," Casca tweeted. "But here we are."

Matthews' general criticism of Sanders was echoed by other prominent MSNBC anchors and commentators over the weekend.

The remarks from Matthews come only less than two weeks after the MSNBC host Chuck Todd cited a conservative column on air that likened Sanders' online supporters to "brown shirts." That also sparked calls for his resignation with the hashtag #FireChuckTodd.

Joseph Zeballos-Roig contributed to this report.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Twitter is currently celebrating Tyson furys victory over Deonter Wilder, this has got plenty Nigerians reacting to the new WBC Champion, Tyson fury after he flawlessly beat Deonter Wilder earlier today in the UK.

Among the people celebrating furys victory is a popular Nigerian comedian, Akpororo and his fans.

Akpororo took to Social media to acknowledge furys victory and also pointed out that he loves people that knows Jesus Christ because he believed Jesus Christ secured the victory for him , even fury himself dedicated the victory to Jesus Christ. Akpororo took to Social media to acknowledge furys victory and also pointed out that he loves people that knows Jesus Christ because he believed Jesus Christ secured the victory for him , even fury himself dedicated the victory to Jesus Christ.

As Tyson dedicated his victory to Jesus Christ.

Some fans of the Comedian asked fury a rather hilarious question that goes thus: so you know Jesus?
The Amnesty India on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to unequivocally condemn the recent hate speeches made by leaders and demanded that they must be held accountable, as nine people were killed in violence in northeast Delhi over the citizenship law.

Amnesty International India executive director Avinash Kumar demanded a prompt, independent and impartial investigation into such speeches that allegedly led to ongoing and past violence, adding that the "prolonged impunity" must end.

The comments by the human rights organisation come as tension smouldered in northeast Delhi on Tuesday, with mobs roaming unchecked through the streets, pelting stones, vandalising shops and threatening locals.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kapil Mishra had led a gathering in support of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act at Jafarabad on Sunday, following which violence erupted between protesters and supporters of the contentious law.

"Political leaders in India who are fuelling hatred and creating a violent environment by making hate speeches must be immediately held accountable," the Amnesty said in a statement.

"There has been a deafening silence from the Prime Minister on the hate speeches made by the political leaders since December 2019. The Prime Minister must lead the way and unequivocally condemn them," it said.

The Amnesty also pointed out to controversial speeches made by BJP leaders like Anurag Thakur.

"It is shocking that since December 2019, not even a single elected representative has been prosecuted for advocating hatred and violence," it said. "It is the ongoing impunity that the political leaders enjoy which encourages them and other non-state actors to stoke more violence."



Streets in parts of northeast Delhi were littered with stones, bricks and burnt tyres, mute testimony to the spiralling violence and bloodshed that took on a communal taint on Monday and injured about 150 people, including 48 police personnel.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jenkintown Road closed from Monday through May
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:

Story continues

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




"We are so pleased to receive the National Women's Business Enterprise Certification," said Catherine Candland, nextSource Chief Executive Officer. "Certification enables us to help our clients achieve their diversity initiatives, demonstrating our joint commitment to fostering diversity and the continued development of their supplier diversity programs. Participation in WBENC will also give us an opportunity to connect with other women business owners and corporate members who share our belief that workforce diversity is critical to business success."

The WBENC certification for women-owned business is the most recognizable and sought-after certification of its kind. WBENC's national standard of certification requires a rigorous process, including an in-depth review of the business and a site inspection, confirming the business is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by women.

About nextSource: nextSource connects businesses to the best talent through innovative workforce solutions that deliver extraordinary service, efficiency, analytical insight, risk mitigation and improved access to talent that enhances a unified workforce. Solutions offerings include Managed Services Program, Employer of Record services, Independent Contractor Compliance, Statement of Work based Project Services Management and Consulting on Total Workforce Solutions. As a privately owned business with over 20 years' experience, nextSource provides a personalize, intelligent approach to workforce solutions driven by high impact, strong results and continuous growth.

For more information, visit www.nextSource.com.

About WBENC: Founded in 1997, WBENC is the nation's leader in women's business development and the leading third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women, with more than 13,000 certified Women's Business Enterprises, 14 national Regional Partner Organizations, and over 300 Corporate Members. More than 1,000 corporations representing America's most prestigious brands as well as many states, cities, and other entities accept WBENC Certification. For more information, visit www.wbenc.org.

Samantha Miller

nextSource, Inc.

800-641-9987

[email protected]

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New Delhi, Feb 25 : A Delhi court has granted bail to an accused in the Pulwama attack conspiracy case after the National Investigating Agency (NIA) failed to file the chargesheet within the prescribed period.

Special NIA Judge Parveen Singh, in an order pronounced on February 18, observed that accused Yusuf Chopan is entitled to statutory bail.

The bail was granted after Chopan's counsel apprised the court that his client is in custody since the last 180 days and the time for filing chargesheet has elapsed.

The accused has been asked to furnish a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with one surety of like amount. Inter alia, he has also been directed to join the investigation as and when called.

He has been directed not to commit any similar offence, tamper with evidence, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case.

Forty CRPF personnel, travelling in a convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar highway in Pulwama district, were killed on February 14 last year when a suicide bomber rammed a car loaded with explosives into a CRPF bus in Awantipora's Goripura.

Following the attack, banned terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility and even released a video of the purported attacker.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Islamic Jihad resumed firing rockets at Israel from Gaza Monday night amid ongoing Israeli air strikes, damaging hopes for an end to a two-day flare-up a week before the Jewish state's election.

The militant Islamist group announced Monday evening it had ceased firing rockets but backtracked about an hour later after Israel continued striking its forces in the Gaza Strip.

"We announced the end of our military response... but the enemy did not commit and struck our base and our fighters," a statement from the group said.

"Therefore we announce that we retaliated in order to affirm the bombardment for bombardment formula."

Islamic Jihad, which is allied to Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas, has fired some 60 rockets towards Israel since the killing of one of its fighters Sunday morning, according to the United Nations.

Israel's army said many were intercepted by the country's air defence systems and there were no immediate reports of casualties, though one projectile hit an empty playground.

Israeli fighter jets and helicopters responded with strikes on Islamic Jihad bases across the strip, as well as near the capital of neighbouring Syria.

Israeli airstrikes and rocket fire from Gaza were ongoing Monday evening, AFP correspondents in Gaza said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is battling for re-election on March 2 in the shadow of an impending corruption trial, had earlier threatened an "extensive campaign" to end the rocket fire.

"Hamas and Islamic Jihad need to understand -- this cannot continue," he said.

Hamas spokesman Fawzy Barhoum responded: "The enemy's threats to expand its aggression, if carried out, will face a resistance never seen before and it should bear the costs and results."

Israel has fought three wars with Hamas, Islamic Jihad and allied groups in Gaza since 2008, most recently in 2014.

Over the past year Hamas and Israel have reached a series of agreements that have seen the Jewish state slightly ease its blockade of Gaza in exchange for relative calm.

Story continues

Islamic Jihad has not accepted the deals, and Israeli officials warn the group could be seeking to provoke a fresh conflict.

United Nations envoy Nickolay Mladenov called for calm, warning the escalation "risks dragging Gaza into another round of hostilities with no end in sight."

"The indiscriminate launching of rockets against civilian population centres violates international law and must end," he told the UN Security Council.

- Bulldozer -

The flare-up began on Sunday morning when an Islamic Jihad militant was killed along the Gaza-Israel border, apparently while trying to plant an explosive device at the fence.

Israel later confirmed that it removed the militant's body with a bulldozer, with video of the extraction triggering widespread anger.

Islamic Jihad subsequently launched more than 20 rockets and mortars throughout the day.

Israel struck back against targets in both Gaza and Syria.

Air strikes near the Syrian capital Damascus killed two Islamic Jihad fighters and four other Iran-backed militants, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor.

The militants responded with rocket fire from Gaza, forcing the closure of schools and roads in southern Israel Monday while a number of universities postponed exams.

- Election imminent -

Polls ahead of next week's election show right-wing Netanyahu again running neck-and-neck with centrist rival Benny Gantz ahead of the elections.

The vote is Israel's third in less than a year, after deadlocked polls in April and September 2019.

Both men cancelled planned campaign events Monday evening.

Netanyahu, who has long accused Gantz of relying on Israel's Arab minority for support, seized on comments by the head of the mainly Arab Joint List that it would not support any government that attacked Gaza.

"While the Israeli Defence Forces protect Israeli security Gantz's partner slams them," Netanyahu wrote on Twitter.

Former military general Gantz, who has said the Joint List will not be part of his coalition, accused Netanyahu of playing politics.

"Netanyahu, the country is under fire. Get on helping it," he said in a statement. "The people of the south deserve better."

The fighting is the most intense between Israel and Islamic Jihad since November, when Israeli air strikes killed senior commanders from the group.

The three-day flare-up left 35 Palestinians dead and more than 100 wounded, according to Gaza's Hamas-controlled health ministry.

There were no Israeli fatalities despite hundreds of rockets being fired from the strip.
Teams of lawmen converged on a southeast Alabama prison early Tuesday in a predawn raid designed to find and seize illegal contraband.

Operation Restore Order launched about 4 a.m. at Easterling Correctional Facility in Clio, which is in Barbour County. The lockup is a medium-security prison that houses about 1,200 inmates.

ADOC officials said the op is a critical initiative aimed at creating safer living and working conditions across the states correctional system. They have not released what has been seized.

The presence of Illegal contraband including drugs, which undoubtedly is perpetuated by the presence of illegal cell phones, is a very real threat we must continue to address, said Commissioner Jeff Dunn. Additionally, our aging and severely dilapidated facilities are constructed of increasingly breakable materials that ill-intentioned inmates can obtain and fashion into dangerous weapons."

Teams of lawmen converged on a southeast Alabama prison early Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020, in a predawn raid designed to find and seize illegal contraband. Operation Restore Order launched about 4 a.m. at Easterling Correctional Facility in Clio, which is in Barbour County. (ADOC)

The presence of illegal contraband puts everyone at risk, and action  including Operation Restore Order raids  must regularly be taken to eliminate it, Dunn said. We remain committed to doing everything in our power to root out the sources of contraband entry into our facilities and will punish those who promote its presence to the full extent of the law.

Arnaldo Mercado, chief of ADOCs Law Enforcement Services Division (LESD), led the planning and execution of todays raid. LESD agents, correctional K-9 drug units, and Correctional Emergency Response Teams (CERT) took part in the operation. Assisting agencies included the Pardons and Paroles Bureau, Department of Natural Resources, Game Warden Division, and Russel and Coffee County Sheriffs Department provided tremendous resources in support of this strategic endeavor.

The benefit of mass searches, such as the one successfully conducted today at Easterling, is that they effectively reset a facility and have an immediate positive impact on safety and security, Dunn said.

In 2019, ADOCs Restore Operation raids led to the seizure of illegal contraband including cell phones, drugs, and makeshift weapons. Other unannounced institutional searches further decreased the presence of contraband, authorities said.

Under Dunns directive, the ADOC is developing new plans to conduct other major Restore Order operations in addition to continuing smaller, unannounced institutional searches. These searches will help the department develop intelligence-based programs to identify contraband trends and provide necessary intelligence to identify corruption indicators. One of the ADOCs primary, ongoing directives is to focus on increasing safety standards for both staff and inmates by minimizing the presence of contraband.

The public should contact ADOCs Law Enforcement Service Division at 1-866-293-7799 with information that may lead to the arrest of anyone attempting to introduce illegal contraband into state prisons. The public may also report suspicious activity by going to the ADOC Website at http://www.doc.alabama.gov/investigationrequest.
Bismah Malik By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: On a day the US President, Donald Trump, made his maiden visit to India, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani have made strong references to their recently announced Azure cloud tie-up. At the Future Decoded CEO Summit in Mumbai, Ambani in fact said that the partnership between Microsoft and Reliance Jio will define this decade. Nadella, in turn, said the tie-up will enable Reliance, which has businesses across various sectors, use Microsofts Azure cloud services to build more technology.

Under the partnership, Reliance Jio will set up data centres throughout India, which will leverage the Microsoft Azure cloud services. Start-ups and small and medium enterprises too can avail access to latest Microsoft tech services by logging into the Reliance Jio portal. As we are speaking, US President Donald Trump has arrived in Ahmedabad. The India that he will see in 2020 is very different from the India that either President Jimmy Carter saw or President Bill Clinton saw when they came  or (for that matter) even President Barack Obama, Ambani said.

The enormous change has been made possible by the unprecedented digital revolution in the country, he added. Ambani said that while India has the opportunity to become the premier digital society in the world, it would be through harnessing entrepreneurial power at the grass-root level and empowering them with the adequate technological tools. And our (Jios) opportunity with Microsoft is to really give them full service to make sure that they are fully enabled with the tool sets, the data sets, because a mindset exists to really propel India forward, and that is even a bigger opportunity than the consumer piece that we have seen in the last few years, Ambani said.



Nadella, earlier said during the summit, said that Indian businesses need to adapt to the latest technological advances. He pointed out that the past decade saw only the aggregators making the most of the technology tools in India and that time is ripe now to look for more productivity gains.
A positive contributor for more than five years

One-third of French automotive exports are Groupe PSA models

The Group produces more vehicles in France than in any other country

Fifteen models are manufactured in France, including high value-added models

Regulatory News:

Groupe PSA (Paris:UG):

"Groupe PSA continues to have strong roots in France and we are proud to make another positive contribution to our country's trade balance, generating an aggregate 25 billion in five years. The surplus is the result of our teams' daily commitment to developing attractive vehicles and ensuring that our French plants are competitive in a challenging economic environment, while also contributing to the energy transition,"said Carlos Tavares, Chairman of Groupe PSA's Managing Board.

In 2019, the Group manufactured 1,226,000 cars in France, representing 36% of its global production output. At stake: net exports1 of 379,000 vehicles, up 5% versus 2018, allowing the Group to make a 4.4 billion2 positive contribution to France's trade balance. In contrast, the French automotive industry has been a negative contributor since 2008, with its performance falling further in 2019 to a negative 15.3 billion.

Fifteen of the Group's models3 ranging from compact city cars (B segment) to light commercial vehicles were manufactured in France at five assembly facilities for the domestic market (33%) and for export to the rest of Europe and beyond (67%)4. The Group manufactures its high value-added models at its plants in France, with the DS 3 Crossback produced in Poissy, the DS 7 Crossback in Mulhouse, the PEUGEOT 3008 and 5008 in Sochaux and the Citroen C5 Aircross and PEUGEOT 5008 in Rennes.

In addition, Groupe PSA is investing in its powertrain plants based in France, with a view to supporting the energy transition. This investment involves for example the manufacture of electric motors at Tremery, electrified powertrain gear reducers at Valenciennes, and soon the transmissions for electrified powertrains at Metz. Through its partnership with Total/Saft, Groupe PSA has also undertaken a battery manufacture project in France.

With its deep roots in the French regions (Auvergne Rhone-Alpes, Bretagne, Ile de France, Hauts-de-France, Grand Est and Bourgogne Franche-Comte), the Group leverages the expertise of 51,000 employees (Automotive division excluding Faurecia), representing 44% of the global workforce.

About Groupe PSA

Groupe PSA designs unique automotive experiences and delivers mobility solutions to meet all customer expectations. The Group has five car brands, Peugeot, Citroen, DS, Opel and Vauxhall, and provides a wide array of mobility and smart services under the Free2Move brand. Its 'Push to Pass' strategic plan represents a first step towards the achievement of the Group's vision to be "a global carmaker with cutting-edge efficiency and a leading mobility provider sustaining lifetime customer relationships". An early innovator in the field of autonomous and connected cars, Groupe PSA is also involved in financing activities through Banque PSA Finance and in automotive equipment via Faurecia.

Media library: medialibrary.groupe-psa.com/ @GroupePSA_EN

1 Difference between exported and imported vehicles

2 New vehicles, spare parts and replacement parts

3 PEUGEOT 5008 and Citroen C5 Aircross produced in Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine); DS 3 Crossback produced in Poissy (Yvelines); PEUGEOT 508 and 2008, DS 7 Crossback produced in Mulhouse (Haut-Rhin); PEUGEOT 308, PEUGEOT 3008, 5008 and Grandland X produced in Sochaux (Doubs); PEUGEOT EXPERT and TRAVELLER, Citroen Jumpy and SpaceTourer, and Vivaro produced in Hordain (Nord)

4 With the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain representing the three largest markets

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005480/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Valerie Gillot +33 6 83 92 92 96 valerie.gillot@mpsa.com
Bhopal: Manoj Khare, the editor of Madhya Pradesh Sandesh, published by the Madhya Pradesh (MP) governments directorate of public relations (DPR), has been removed from his post and served a show-cause notice over the alleged glorification of Mahatma Gandhis assassin Nathuram Godse, in one of the articles in the magazines January edition, DPR officials who did not wish to be named said.

MP minister for public relations PC Sharma ordered Khares removal last week, but his ouster on February 22 became public only on Tuesday. The alleged inflammatory article, Mahatma Zinda Hain (Mahatma is alive), was written by Shweta Rani, a Hyderabad-based research scholar, who analysed the relevance of both Gandhi and Godse in contemporary India.

The article profiled Godses family background and described him as a martyr. For some, Godse is an assassin but for some he is a martyr who held religion in high esteem  According to Godse, Gandhi was right in some matters but very unfair in many others.

Quoting excerpts from a book Why I killed Gandhi, written by Godses brother Gopal Godse ,the article says, It was etched in Godses mind that Gandhiji strangled Hindu interests repeatedly. He [Godse] was of the view that Gandhiji played a key role in the partition. Godses only aim in his life was to protect the Hindus and Hindutva to achieve complete freedom ... after that he resolved to kill Gandhiji alone.

The article says that although Gandhis body was riddled with bullets, his soul was still alive among Indians. Gandhi did not just fight against the British rule but other social evils such as poverty, illiteracy and untouchability as well.

If people think Gandhiji died on January 30, 1948, or Godse died on November 15, 1949, then its incorrect. Neither Gandhiji has died, nor Godse. Both exist in our mind. We have to decide whose ideology should we carry forward -- Gandhijis or Godses, the article concluded.

A DPR official, who didnt want to be identified, said, The officer was removed from the editors post at the instructions of the minister [Sharma] after some people complained to him. Its not a case of glorification but an interpretation of Godse being glorified. Besides, the magazine also carried a disclaimer that its not necessary that the sates government agrees with the writers views.

Khare defended the publication of the controversial article, which is based on Gandhiji, not Godse. The writer has clearly stated how Gandhiji and his ideology are still relevant for the country and how Godse represented negative aspects of the society.

I have taken exception to the piece on Godse and has ordered the editors removal and also a show-cause notice is issued to him, minister Sharma said.

Rani, however, was unavailable for comment.
Metra said it has so far received 1,300 responses to an online survey that is supposed to be available until March 1. Local officials asked that the response window be lengthened as they and commuters sort out all of the proposed changes, but Marcheschi said he could not guarantee that would happen.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 25, 2020 16:51 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206689c96 1 Entertainment coronavirus,COVID-19,nct-dream,#KPop,K-pop,concert,Wuhan-coronavirus Free

Amid the coronavirus outbreak, concert-goers attending the upcoming show by South Korean boy band NCT Dream in Istora Senayan stadium in Jakarta on March 1 will be required to go through a body temperature check prior to entering the venue, according to an announcement issued by the promoter.

"All audience members must go through a body temperature check that will be conducted prior to entering the venue," read the announcement issued by concert promoter Mecima Pro on its social media accounts. "If you are measured as having a body temperature above normal [>37.5 Celsius degrees], we will ask you to go through a further health check-up at a specialized area that will be provided at the venue."

#TheDreamShowInJKT - Health Advisory and Health Check Policy. Please read it thoroughly. We appreciate your cooperation. pic.twitter.com/T2aMBtbSYB  MCP (@mecimapro) February 25, 2020

Those who already feel unfit will be required to bring along a doctors note that states their health condition and that they are allowed to attend the show.

If the medical team at the venue decides that the audience member is unhealthy and may pose a risk of disease infection to others, they will be prevented from attending the show.

Concert-goers are also recommended to bring along their own face masks and to wear them during the show if necessary, as well as hand sanitizer and tissues to maintain self-hygiene.

NCT Dream is a subunit of South Korean boy group NCT. The group debuted on Aug. 25, 2016 with a single titled Chewing Gum.

On September 2019, NCT Dream was included in Billboards 21 Under 21 list for the second year in a row.

The band was supposed to perform in Singapore on Feb. 15, but in late January decided to postpone the show over coronavirus fears. (gis/kes)
Wafik Youssef has been appointed as vice president operations, Middle East & Africa at Kempinski Hotels, taking over from his predecessor, Michael Sorgenfrey.



A leader with great operational aptitude, strong strategic planning skills and financial acumen, Youssef has been with the luxury hotel group for the past 10 years. More recently, he held the role of regional director of operations, Middle East & Africa, where his contribution has been instrumental in setting performance standards and driving quality and compliance throughout the MEA region.



Youssef started his hospitality career in Egypt almost 20 years ago and joined in 2006 the opening team at the Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, Dubai. In 2008, he took over the role of front office manager at the Atlantis the Palm, Dubai, also in its opening phase. With a genuine passion for the hospitality, Youssef returned to Kempinski Hotels in 2009 and has grown his career with the company ever since by taking on several assignments in various geographic destinations including front office manager and rooms division manager at the Grand Hotel Kempinski, High Tatras, Slovakia, and executive assistant manager at the Grand Hotel Djibloho Kempinski, Equatorial Guinea. In 2015, Youssef joined the Regional Office Middle East & Africa in Dubai as regional operations manager.



In his new role, Youssef will continue to support the MEA operations and reinforce brand recognition with a focus on quality standards and enhanced guest experiences. - TradeArabia News Service
Underneath all the arrests, the protests, the confrontations, the blockades and the threats of Alberta separatism that have engulfed our political space in the past month, underneath the tensions that threaten our national unity, there is a point of consensus.

From the blockades to the oilsands, Canadians are clamouring for a clear and planned transition to a low-carbon economy.

Where things turn ugly is around the question of what transition actually means.

For Conservatives, it generally means allowing oil and gas production to meet market demand, while encouraging companies to find more effective ways to reduce emissions. It means provinces take matters into their own hands, and the federal government cheers them on.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney insists that theres a place for his provinces oil and gas in a greener world. Hes pushing the industry to position itself as the worlds cleanest producer, whose products can help other countries reduce their emissions intensity.

But thats aspirational. Theres not much of a legal framework that would force those companies to go greener  and little apparent appetite on the part of federal Conservative leadership hopefuls to create one.

For environmentalists, meanwhile, transition is all about Canada turning its back on fossil fuels and fully embracing clean technology. It means a government that invests in smart grids and electric vehicles, and encourages the growth of clean technology and renewables, with all the jobs and prosperity that entails.

But whether those jobs and prosperity would be able to fill the hole left by the end of oil and gas production is quite another question. Ardent environmentalists would argue that it has to be done regardless, and its up to government to make sure its done with humanity and fairness.

For their part, Indigenous activists and their sympathizers are snarling rail traffic to draw attention to their call for an environmentally compatible economy that fully incorporates the interests of their communities.

And the Liberals? Well, its not clear what all their talk of transition ever meant.

During the election campaign, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talked about increasing oil production while embracing clean technology and infrastructure that reduces emissions  all while putting a rising price on carbon for consumers and industry alike.

He committed to a just transition that would ease the pain for workers whose livelihoods are tied up in fossil fuels. And he said Canada would be far more ambitious in its climate targets, legislating a path to be carbon neutral by 2050 and reaching key milestones along the way.

But before the government could fill in the blanks of that election promise, Trudeau came face to face with a caucus of MPs who were elected on their climate-change credentials and could see no way to reconcile themselves to a huge new oilsands operation, no matter how clean those barrels of oil might eventually be.

Now, an Alberta court has ruled that the Liberal governments imposition of a carbon tax on provinces is unconstitutional, forcing a protracted legal battle and difficult negotiations with Alberta in the meantime.

We are a country wrestling with how to reconcile a changing world with our very identity. Canada is a precarious federation, haunted by a history of colonial injustice, mindful of the bounty our natural resources have delivered for centuries, and with international and moral obligations to do our part in fighting climate change.

Now financial markets are demanding faster solutions and Indigenous leaders are urgently seeking meaningful reconciliation.

In response, governments of all stripes have been dragging their feet. Weve seen climate policy after climate policy spring up and then die over the years, sacrificed to political expediency. Weve seen little movement on reconciliation, with emotional apologies and lofty promises leading only to marginal change and eroded trust.

Trudeau and Andrew Scheer spoke about this on the phone for 10 minutes on Monday. Did they put their personal and partisan animosity aside to work on this existential challenge? No. By all accounts, their conversation was pure acrimony, deaf to the national desire for a path forward.

It was, in other words, more of the same  and not a transition, by any definition.

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Taiwan remains safe for travelers amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, according to a Taiwan Tourism Bureau official in Jakarta on Monday.

"The medical facilities in Taiwan are already advanced, so people shouldn't be afraid to come to Taiwan, Abe Chou, director of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau in Kuala Lumpur, told a press conference in Jakarta on Monday.

Chou added that people in Taiwan always wore protective face masks in public, including when riding public transportation, and advised visitors to apply similar protection as well, in addition to normal hygiene practices.

According to The China Post, 28 people in Taiwan have been infected by the coronavirus, and one person has died. The disease, which broke out in Wuhan, China in December 2019, has had a significant impact on tourism around the globe.

Read also: Taiwan makes its way up the medical tourism ladder

Abe Chou, director of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau in Kuala Lumpur, gives a speech during the Taiwan Tourism Workshop on Monday at The Westin hotel in South Jakarta on Monday. (JP/Ni Nyoman Wira)

[The outbreak] perhaps has made Indonesian travelers reconsider flying [to Taiwan], hence there is sure to be a decrease [in the number of tourist arrivals], said Chou, adding that the agency had yet to receive official data regarding the matter.

However based on data issued by travel agencies, around 60-70 percent of travelers have canceled or rescheduled their trips [to Taiwan], Chou said.

In 2018, the country reportedly welcomed 210,985 Indonesian travelers. In 2019, the number increased to 229,960 people.

As a tourist destination, Taiwan is famous for its natural landscape and it is currently promoting hiking tourism as it is home to around 268 mountains. Among the country's most popular mountains is Yushan, also known as Mount Jade, which is the highest mountain in Taiwan at 3,952 meters above sea level and best explored between May and August. (kes)
Australians should not travel to China and should be very careful in South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong as coronavirus sweeps the world.

The deadly flu-like infection - which spawned in Wuhan, China in December - has already claimed more than 2,500 lives globally and infected 22 people in Australia.

The mass outbreak has prompted the government to introduce a ban on direct flights from China to Australia.

The government has also told Australians not to travel to China at all.

Australians should not travel to China and should be very careful in South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong as coronavirus sweeps the world

'We continue to advise Australians to not travel to China due to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak,' an update on the government's travel website says.

Offering advice to any Australians in the infection zone, the website says: 'If you are currently in China, leave as soon as possible by commercial means.'

Because flights to Australia are cancelled, anyone who wants to fly from China will have to travel to another country and wait there for 14 days before coming to Australia.

Fourteen days is thought to be the maximum period that coronavirus can be present in a person before they show symptoms.

The government also advises travellers to exercise a high degree of caution in South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan, which have all had cases of the coronavirus.

South Korea has had 893 confirmed cases of the virus, mostly stemming from a Catholic church group in Daegu in the country's south.

The Australian government has issued a 'reconsider your need to travel' notice for that city and also the city of Cheongdo.

'We now also advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Daegu and Cheongdo due to significant outbreaks of COVID-19 in those cities,' the government website says.

Tourists wearing face masks walk across St Mark's Square in Venice today, with the city's Carnival derailed by the outbreak

Japan has had 159 confirmed cases of the virus, many from the cruise ship Diamond Princess which is docked at Yokohama.

Hong Kong has suffered 81 confirmed cases and has shut its border with mainland China.

The Australian government says Aussies should take care when travelling to these areas by closely monitoring their health.

Despite recent outbreaks, Italy is still safe to travel to, according to DFAT.

Italy has 229 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including seven deaths.

Authorities have introduced measures to restrict the use of public spaces and limit travel in some parts of northern Italy where cases have occurred.

On Monday the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned the world must prepare for a potential coronavirus pandemic.

Tedros Ghebreyesus said the spread of the virus around the world is not yet at pandemic stage but acknowledged it has the potential to become one.

Seven people have died and 229 have been infected in Italy (central Milan pictured yesterday), which is firefighting Europe's first major outbreak

The WHO no longer uses an official scale to declare a pandemic, although spokeswoman Margaret Harris said it will start to use the term in communications if it believes a pandemic has been reached.

Speaking in Geneva, Dr Ghebreyesus said the focus must still be on containing the virus in individual countries, adding that the world is not yet seeing 'large-scale severe disease or death'.

He said the WHO was 'encouraged by the continued decline in cases in China', although more than 77,362 cases have been declared there, including 2,618 deaths.

A specialist team sent to China found that the epidemic peaked and plateaued between January 23 and February 2, and has since been declining steadily, he said.

Dr Ghebreyesus said the death rate is between 2 per cent and 4 per cent in Wuhan city, where the virus originated, and 0.7 per cent outside Wuhan.
Cowlitz County Sheriffs deputies and officials from the Washignton Department of Fish and Wildlife teamed up to help a wayward sea lion return to the Columbia River on Sunday, February 23.

According to the Cowlitz County sheriffs office, Sgt Corey Huffine responded to an unexpected road hazard in the shape of a 600-pound sea lion on Garlock Road in Castle Rock, Washington. The sheriffs office said the animal likely reached the area after traveling up creeks from the Cowlitz River.

Deputies worked with members of the Washington Humane Society and officials from the Cowlitz County Public Works for several hours to contain the sea lion.

It was then taken by transport trailer back to the Columbia River. Credit: Cowlitz County Sheriffs Office via Storyful
Seven years ago, Allstate Corporation told Maryland regulators it was time to update its auto insurance rates. The insurer said its new, sophisticated risk analysis showed it was charging nearly all of its 93,000 Maryland customers outdated premiums.

Some of the old rates were off by miles. One 36-year-old man from Prince Georges County, Md., who Allstate said in public records should have been paying $3,750 every six months, was instead being charged twice that, more than $7,500. Other customers were paying hundreds or thousands of dollars less than they should have been, based on Allstates new calculation of the risk that they would file a claim.

Rather than apply the new rates all at once, Allstate asked the Maryland Insurance Administration for permission to run each policy through an advanced algorithm containing dozens of variables that would adjust it in the general direction of the new risk model. Allstate said the goal of this new customer retention model, which it was rolling out across the country, was to limit policy cancellations from sticker shock.

After questions from regulators, the insurer submitted thousands of pages of documentation on the price changes including data showing how they would affect each individual customer, a rare public window into details of its auto insurance pricing that have otherwise been kept behind a wall of privacy, labeled a trade secret.

When The Markup and Consumer Reports conducted a statistical analysis of the Maryland documents, we found that, despite the purported complexity of Allstates price-adjustment algorithm, it was actually simple: It resulted in a suckers list of Maryland customers who were big spenders and would squeeze more money out of them than others.

Customers who were already paying the highest premiums, of about $1,900 or more every six months, and were due an increase would have borne price hikes of up to 20 percent. But drivers with cheaper policies, who deserved price jumps that were just as big, would be charged a maximum increase of only 5 percent. Customers in the 20 percent group were more likely to be middle-aged.

Story continues

Middle-aged drivers were overwhelmingly given larger increases

We also found Allstates algorithm would have denied meaningful decreases to thousands of Allstate customers who the companys new risk profile showed were paying too much. That 36-year-old from Prince Georges County would not have saved $3,772 on his policy as he deserved, documents show, but rather gotten a measly discount of $26. Discounts were capped at a half percent across the board.

Maryland ultimately rejected the plan, calling it discriminatory, and it never went into effect there. However, the insurer has continued to propose plans with a customer retention model in other states. Some have been approved and are actively being used.

Allstate declined to answer any of our detailed questions and did not raise any specific issues with our statistical analysis, which we provided to the company in November, including the code used to calculate our findings.

Our rating plans comply with state laws and regulations, read a short statement emailed by spokesperson Shaundra Turner Jones. The Maryland proposal, the statement said, aimed to minimize customer disruption and provide competitive prices.

In a later email, she added that our reporting on the Maryland filing is inaccurate and misleading because it is based on a rating plan that was never used.

Allstates Maryland filing reveals how an opaque algorithm it has been proposing around the country would have functioned in practice. It also offers a glimpse into a potential future where companies of all sorts, not just auto insurers, charge people different prices based on their behavioror expected willingness to pay, as projected by algorithms that draw on the seemingly limitless troves of data collected and sold about people every day.

In this case, Allstates model seemed to determine how much a customer was willing to payor overpaywithout defecting, based on how much he or she was already forking out for car insurance. And the harm would not have been equally distributed.

In Maryland, seniors were overrepresented among those customers who were owed discounts but would not have gotten them. Allstate proposed giving those Maryland customers over the age of 62 a median discount of $1.64, far less than many deserved, according to its new risk calculations.

The lost discounts to Allstates Maryland customers would have added up to more than $10.5 million in the first six months alone.

That they wouldn't have gotten these discounts would have been devastating, said Deni Taveras, a councilmember in Prince Georges County, where Allstate determined that policyholders owed discounts were being overcharged by $265 on average, but proposed dropping their rates by pennies, for an average discount of $2.63.

My district is highly dependent on social services, pensions and food pantries, she said. Those hundreds of dollars would have been huge, a boon that would have covered meals, it would have covered bills.

Had Maryland approved the proposal, Allstate customers who were deprived of discounts would likely never have known. Allstate would not have been required to inform them and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners said it has never heard of an insurer doing so voluntarily.

Could This Be Happening to You?

Besides Maryland, some other states have also signaled they would not accept similar plans from Allstate. Georgia rejected Allstates proposal just last year.

But in at least 10 states, public records show, Allstates current plans mention using a customer retention model: Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

Allstate wouldnt tell us if those models work exactly the same way as the Maryland proposal and its impossible to know from the outside. The Markup and Consumer Reports reviewed public records for hundreds of Allstate filings and only the 2013 Maryland filing contained the granular customer data necessary for this analysis, because regulators there asked for more information than the insurer originally provided.

Of the 10 states that allowed Allstates retention models, only officials in Arkansas would answer our questions about why it would allow a retention model. Spokesperson Kenneth Ryan James said such proposals would not be prohibited in Arkansas, because state law only bans discrimination by insurers grouping customers in part on race, color, creed or national origin.

Its unclear if other auto insurers are using personalized pricing.

Allstate certainly didnt invent it. Some industries have been experimenting with personalized pricing for decades.

Amazon sold DVDs to different people for different prices 20 years agobut offered to refund the difference to the overpayers after the practice was discovered, according to news reports. In the past several years, both Staples.com and Princetonreview.com were found to have been changing prices based on ZIP codes.

This is different from so-called dynamic pricing, where prices change so often that people can end up paying different amounts, like with airfare (PDF), because they bought at different times. Personalized prices are instead set by something thats specific to you.

Staples defended its practice of varying prices online by ZIP code, even though the neighborhoods with higher prices were more likely to be poor, telling the Wall Street Journal that they reflect factors like the cost of doing business. Princeton Review said it was merely passing on the costs of providing tutoring packages to different locationsbut tutoring was delivered online.

Buyers race, poverty and other discriminatory details can wend their way into personalized pricing algorithms through other factors, even if thats not the intent, experts said.

Whether its race or gender or sex or health, all of these factors are going to be relevant statistically to questions of how much can you get away with charging, said Daniel Schwarcz, a professor at University of Minnesota Law School who studies pricing discrimination.

Let's say that someone gets cancer and doesn't have time to shop and just buys the first thing because they have other things to worry about. Is it O.K. to charge more to that person because they don't have the resources or time or attention to invest in shopping? he added. It's a huge problem that I don't think society has thought through. We have to ask questions about when we're O.K. with that and when are we not. And how are we going to police it?

A 2015 Obama Administration report entitled "Big Data and Differential Pricing" (PDF) warned of the potential negative effects of personalized pricing becoming widespreadand specifically mentioned insurance: Differential pricing in insurance markets can raise serious fairness concerns, particularly when major risk factors are outside an individual customers control.

Thats because unlike DVDs, staplers, or tutoring, auto insurance isnt an optional purchase; its required by law for drivers in every state except New Hampshire and Virginia. That translates into hundreds of millions of vehicles that must be insured so people can get to work, drive their kids to school, run errands.

Driving without insurance can lead to large fines, license suspension, and even incarceration. With such dire consequences, nearly every state prohibits discriminatory rate-setting, requiring premiums to be cost-based or loss-based, meaning insurance companies can only price in the risk of a claim and a little overhead.

Allstates 2013 proposal didnt abide by those rules, according to Maryland regulators. The rate proposals for two 42-year-old women living in Baltimore County show how it would have worked.

Allstate determined that they both needed increases of around $1,166 to come in line with risk, records show. One, who was paying $3,610.58 per six months, would have gotten a 20 percent increase, more than $700 which was not as high as the jump the company said she should have gotten based on her risk profile.

That could be considered a win for that customer, until one sees what Allstate proposed for the second woman, who had a much cheaper existing policy of $1,885.32. Rather than the 62 percent increase Allstate reported the second woman needed, she would have seen only a 5 percent increase, or $90 over six months.

Allstate is failing to limit rate increases in a manner that treats all insureds with like insuring or risk characteristics equally, a Maryland insurance regulator at the time, Geoffrey Cabin, wrote in the denial letter in May 2014, specifically calling out the new retention algorithm.

Cabin listed other problems with the rate request and summarized the result: The filing is disapproved.

But in emails to The Markup and Consumer Reports, Jones, the Allstate spokesperson, insisted the insurer had withdrawn the filing.

Maryland Insurance Administration spokesperson Joseph Sviatko said Allstate withdrew the filing only after the state emailed the denial letter. Oddly, the filing is labeled withdrawn rather than disapproved in public records and Sviatko said he couldnt explain why. He said the designation makes no practical difference internally.

He also could not explain why the states denial letter was not mentioned or included in the public recordwe had to request it twice to get a copy. The first time we were told it didnt exist.

There is one key difference with the withdrawn label on the rate filing: Allstate officials have used it to claim over the past six years to other states regulators, investorsand now the mediathat its plan had not been rejected. Its unclear what effect those statements have had.

'Heck, We Don't Even Know Half the Models' Names'

Consumer advocates have complained for about a decade about auto insurers trying to set personalized rates that move away from risk, using individualized pricing schemes at one point loosely termed price optimization.

In 2013, a software developer called Earnix, which sells price optimization products, said its survey of large auto insurance executives in the U.S. and Canada showed that 45 percent were using some form of the technique and another 29 percent were planning to do so. The company did not return calls or emails seeking more information about who those insurers were.

Its hard to tell whether any particular insurer is using this strategyeven for regulators. It took the work of several statisticians and data journalists at The Markup and Consumer Reports to understand how Allstates Maryland proposal set transition prices between the old and new risk models.

They dont lie; they just dont tell you unless you ask the right set of questions, explained Rich Piazza, the Louisiana Department of Insurance's chief actuary. The regulator wont necessarily know what the insurance company is doing or what goes into their models. Heck, we dont even know half the models names.

Some dont ask. New Mexico officials said they had no idea if Allstate was using a retention model in their state in 2016, as the insurer claimed; regulators had approved the rate filing without review, as they normally do.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners, which includes insurance regulators from all 50 states, said in a report that its members are essentially outgunned: Regulators do not currently have the data necessary for an independent evaluation of most of the insurer modeling and calculations.

Allstate executives used to boast about the benefits of price optimization to investors, saying it was leading to growth in its auto insurance line.

We will utilize pricing sophistication to increase our price competitiveness to a greater share of target customers, the company wrote in a 2011 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We call this price optimization and it includes using underwriting information, pricing and discounts to sell Allstate policies.

During a presentation at the 2013 Sanford Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference, Allstate CEO Thomas Wilson directly credited the companys use of price optimization as one of the factors improving customer retention.

Then came outside scrutiny.

The nonprofit watchdog Consumer Federation of America released a letter to state insurance regulators in 2014 calling the practice unfair and urging them not to allow it.

We highly doubt that Allstate is the only company using these illegal techniques, read the letter, signed by the groups head of insurance and a former Texas insurance commissioner, J. Robert Hunter, though we do not know if other insurers are as brazen in their deployment of price optimization as Allstate.

Allstate responded in a letter to regulators that Hunters letter was a bunch of flawed speculation and defended its new 21st century method of transitioning between rates with its algorithm, which it called Complementary Group Rating, or CGR.

CGR takes what was once an ad hoc, judgmental practice and applies uniform, mathematical rigor to it, Allstate corporate counsel Maria S. Doughty wrote. The result is more consistent and certainly less arbitrary.

The next year a class action lawsuit was filed in California against another insurance company, Farmers Insurance, alleging it was using price optimization to overcharge longtime customers, believing they would be more likely to accept rate increases. Farmers replied that it cant be sued for rate increases that were approved by the state, court records show. (After years of litigation, Farmers and the class reached a settlement in September, which is pending court approval.)

The practice even stirred controversy within the Allstate community. An anonymous negative article (PDF) appeared in Exclusive Focus, a magazine published by the National Association of Professional Allstate Agents, independent insurance agents. The writer complained that the finer the slicing and dicing of the customer base by sophisticated algorithms, the more discriminatory the rating becomes.

Recounting meetings with company management in which agents asked how to explain rate changes to customers, the writer said: Apparently  agents were warned that those algorithms are far too difficult to comprehend or explain to clients.

In 2014, the regulator group NAIC announced it would publish a white paper on price optimization (PDF) the following year. In a letter hoping to influence the final paper, the industry trade group Property Casualty Insurers Association of America advocated against new rules, saying that even continuing to talk about it would demand significant resources from both regulators and companies, incurring costs that consumers and the public will bear to revisit already effective and balanced regulationall without proven need.

This was the atmosphere when several states, including Maryland, Florida and Rhode Island, were considering Allstates proposals to implement rates with its retention model.

Florida regulators told Allstate they intended to reject it, saying in a letter that setting a drivers premium based on his or her modeled reaction to rate changes was unfairly discriminatory. Rhode Island regulators raised similar concerns, and in both cases, regulators allowed Allstate to withdraw its filing and revert to its prior method for calculating rates.

Allstate Wasn't Always Truthful

As regulators scrutinized the new pricing method, Allstate wasnt always truthful in how it answered their questions.

Louisiana regulators asked Allstate whether any other states had rejected the algorithm and retention model, CGR. In a written response in February 2015, Allstate said: The new loss model and CGR has not been disapproved in any states, even though Maryland had by then rejected Allstates proposal, deeming it discriminatory.

Allstates letter instead said the plan had been withdrawn in Maryland.

A similar letter to regulators in Ohio in 2016 included Nevada and West Virginia among 23 states in which Allstate said it was using the retention model. But Nevada officials said Allstate never had a retention model in their state to the best of our knowledge, and West Virginia said they found no record of the Allstate filing containing a retention model.

In an email, Jones, the Allstate spokesperson, said those states rating plans did contain retention models, despite what the regulators said. She did not answer questions about whether and how theyd been informed about it.

Piazza, the Louisiana Department of Insurances chief actuary, said CGRat least as Allstate proposed it for his statewas basically a flavor of price optimization, and that his office did not let them use this. State records show the company withdrew the plan.

The issue with Allstate wasn't as much the individual variables as it was that the decision to increase an individual policyholder's premium was based on the probability of them leaving the company, he said. If they were not likely to leave the company, they wanted to charge more. That's not cost-based.

But when an audience member at the March 2015 Raymond James Institutional Investor Conference asked Allstate officials whether they were worried about the increasing regulatory scrutiny over price optimization, vice president of investor relations Pat Macellaro was not forthcoming about the pushback the company had received from regulators. I dont know if it necessarily applies to Allstate, he said.

A number of states have shut down Allstates efforts. Some, like Utah and Colorado, said they made the insurer get rid of the retention models.

In the past five years, at least 18 states and Washington, D.C., have issued public bulletins prohibiting price optimization.

Allstate continues to try to implement its retention modelsthough it has distanced itself from the term price optimization.

When Georgia regulators asked the company last year in a phone call whether its proposed plan used price optimization, records show, officials replied that it did notsaying, among other things, that the term price optimization is too inconsistently defined to say what it is.

Allstate argued regulators should approve the algorithm it was proposing because the variables inside of it comply with state lawwhich is akin to telling city inspectors that they have to approve a house, no matter how its constructed, because all the bricks, wires, and pipes would individually be up to code.

Georgia rejected the plan, calling it discriminatory.

Rate filings werent always this complex.

It used to be you could look at rate filings in the '70s and '80s and you pretty much knew what an insurance company was going to price, said Paul Newsome, managing director and senior research analyst at the investment bank Piper Sandler.

In the 1990s, insurers began using external data sources like credit scores to predict accident risk. Since then, rate filings have become increasingly filled with proprietary, opaque algorithms, according to regulators.

Gennady Stolyarov II, a lead actuary at the Nevada Division of Insurance, said all this secrecy and complexity leaves drivers in the dark about how to keep their rates low.

If a behavior in another sphere of life affects insurance premiums in a way that consumers can't readily anticipate, he said in an interview, that could lead to a cascade of financial consequences arising from what seems to be an innocuous decision.

Yet regulators play a role in helping insurers keep what theyre doing out of the public eye. Rules vary by state, but insurance companies dont always submit full details of their pricing algorithms to regulators unless those documents are specifically requested. And insurance companies at times file documents with confidential attachments, blocked from public disclosure due to trade secrets rules.

When we asked Steve Manders, director of insurance product review at the Georgia Department of Insurance, why his state found Allstates filing to be discriminatory he refused to be more specific, claiming he was legally obligated to protect that data from competitors and the public.

Patty Born, a professor studying insurance regulation at Florida State Universitys College of Business, doubts insurers will ever share enough information about their pricing models to allow customers to know if theyre overpaying. She said the only defense is to regularly check competitors rates.

There are a lot of people who get an auto policy and they stick with that auto insurer forever because the decision is hard in the first place, figuring out what policy you want, Born said. Most people just never go back to look to see that they're paying more than they should.

Bruce Bennett, a retired hospital administrator from Oklahoma, said he spent more than two decades as an Allstate car insurance customer because he felt the company provided good service.

But about a year ago, Bennett, who is 71, said he and his wife reached a breaking point after their premium eclipsed $3,300 for a year of coverage.

The price increases didnt really come after any claim. They were just small amounts all during the life of the policy, said Bennett, who lives in one of the 10 states where public records show Allstate uses a retention model.

He shopped around and Safeco, a subsidiary of Liberty Mutual, offered to cut Bennetts premium by nearly halfa reduction of more than $1,400 a year. He jumped at it.

Insurance premiums were not really much of an imposition to us when he was working, he said. "We just plodded along seeing no pressing need to switch companies.

But now that my income is no longer six digits, we seem to notice our expenses a bit more; hence the interest in making a change, he added. "I think the frog-in-boiling-water scenario finally got to us this year.

The Partnership Behind This Investigation

Consumer Reports has partnered with The Markup, a nonprofit newsroom investigating the effects of technology on society, to produce this special report on price optimization in car insurance. Both teams spent months analyzing the data, and the articleand accompanying white paper describing our statistical approachwere written and reported by The Markup with Consumer Reports collaboration.

Editors Note: A version of this article also appeared in the April 2020 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.

Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.





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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.
Chinas fuel exports are booming amid battered domestic demand due to the coronavirus outbreak, analysts and trade sources tell Reuters as higher Chinese exports flood the Asian market, which sees depressed demand from the outbreak itself.

In the first quarter of 2020, Chinas demand for refined oil products will slump by 35.7 percent year on year, and the market will find itself in a surplus, despite the reduced refinery run rates at Chinese refiners, according to the research arm of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), cited by Reuters.

Due to weak fuel demand and depressed industrial activity, Chinese refinersfrom the biggest refiner in Asia, Sinopec, to the independent refiners in Shandonghave cut refinery runs, while commodity trading houses and oil majors are scrambling to find spot buyers for crude oil outside China.

According to estimates from IHS Markit, the virus outbreak is set to knock out at least 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd) of refinery runs in China in February, compared to an otherwise projected growth of 760,000 bpd.

This would be the sharpest single-month decline of 1 MMb/d in history, Xiaonan Feng, Research Analyst at IHS Markit, said earlier this month.

Refineries will likely need to extend their production cut throughout March in order to work off the excessive product inventory, but the magnitude of the reduction will likely come down to 500,000-600,000 b/d on a yearly basis if demand recovers following the resumption of business activities and easing of government restrictions, Feng added.

Chinese oil refiners have cut their daily run rates further, to around 10 million bpd last weekthe lowest level since 2014, according to industry insiders who spoke to Bloomberg.

The slowdown in Chinas industrial activity is causing the worst shock to oil demand in over a decade, Jeff Currie, global head of commodities research at Goldman Sachs, said in an interview on Bloomberg earlier this month.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Amid intensifying worldwide concern about the spread of the new coronavirus, Mayor London Breed declared a state of emergency for San Francisco Tuesday, which will ramp up the citys efforts to prepare for and confront potential cases.

There have been no confirmed coronavirus cases in San Francisco to date, but as infections continue to rise across the world, we need to allocate more resources to make sure we are prepared, Breed said at a press conference announcing the emergency declaration.

To be clear, this declaration of emergency is all about preparedness. By declaring a state of emergency we are prioritizing the safety of our communities by being prepared.

Three people have been treated at San Francisco hospitals for coronavirus, two of which have been discharged, but to date no cases have originated inside the city.

Nine cases have been reported in the Bay Area: two from Santa Clara County residents who had traveled to Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the illness and seven people who were evacuated from a cruise ship docked in Japan. They were taken to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield and later to Bay Area hospitals for treatment.

Although we do not have any confirmed cases of coronavirus among San Francisco residents, we cannot afford to be unprepared if circumstances change, said Dr. Grant Colfax, director of the citys health department.

Given the high volume of travel between San Francisco and mainland China and the spread of the virus to other countries, there is a growing likelihood that we will see cases in San Francisco, he said.

Declaring a state of emergency allows San Francisco officials to marshal resources and personnel to accelerate emergency planning measures and to expand capabilities for a rapid response to a potential coronavirus case in the city. Santa Clara County declared a state of emergency a few weeks ago for similar reasons.

City employees, for example, could be redirected from their normal duties to help share critical public health information in multiple languages.

There are currently 57 confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S.

Federal officials have imposed strict travel restrictions for people returning from mainland China, including a mandatory two-week quarantine for U.S. citizens returning from Hubei Province.

We are prioritizing children, people who live in congregate settings (such as single-room occupancy hotels and jails) and vulnerable populations as we plan to reduce the potential for harm from the virus in the community, Aragon said. We have been working closely with the Chinese community, who are so impacted by this situation, and also at risk for stigma and discrimination.

City officials urged schools to begin creating plans for potential closures, and for businesses to consider their work-from-home policies and sick leave to support anyone who needs to self-quarantine.

The emergency declaration also makes it easier for San Francisco to secure emergency state and federal funding and other resources.

The declaration comes on the heels of a troubling update from officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tuesday, who said the United States should begin bracing for the virus to circulate more widely.

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.

Its not a question of if, but when, and how many people in this country will have severe illness, adding that the situation was moving closer to definition of pandemic.

The city is also expanding operations at an emergency operations center that opened nearly a month ago amid a proliferation of coronavirus diagnoses across the globe. As part of that effort, the citys Department of Emergency Management said it planned to organize a community branch within the operations center to make it easier for officials to communicate and coordinate with businesses, faith-based organizations and schools.

The citys health department has also been working with local hospitals to identify isolation rooms that can be used if diagnoses arises. Health care clinics in the city, San Francisco officials said, are also screening patients for their travel histories and screening for symptoms of the respiratory disease.

Assesor-Recorder Carmen Chu also urged the public to disavow efforts to paint the global outbreak as a race-based virus uniquely afflicting Chinese people and Chinese Americans.

We have felt it in the Asian American community, when people look at someone who has coughed on the bus, when we see children in the playground and our own friends have looked at us a different way, Chu said.

Lets not forget about the importance of making sure that were appropriately responding and that we all do our individual parts not to promote xenophobia.

Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa
Fintech company Revolut has raised $500m (461m) in Series D funding. This brings to $836m (770m) the total amount raised by the disrupter group.

The latest funding round was led by US -based growth capital firm TCV, with a number of Revolut's existing investors also participating.

Revolut said the money raised will be used to strengthen its core retail and business offering in existing markets. The company plans to create lending services for retail and business customers, extend its savings accounts beyond the UK, and roll out banking operations across Europe.

Nik Storonsky, founder and CEO of Revolut said the investment "demonstrates investor confidence in our business model".

"Going forward, our focus is on rolling out banking operations in Europe, increasing the number of people who use Revolut as their daily account, and striving towards profitability," he said.

With this funding the company is valued at $5.5bn (5bn).

Last year Revolut increased customer growth by 169pc, while the number of daily active customers using its services increased by 380pc.

Meanwhile, the fintech brand has announced its partnership with recycled fashion competition Junk Kouture. Revolut said its values "closely align with those of Junk Kouture, inspiring young people to design, create, collaborate and challenge the status quo, while unleashing their creative brilliance".
This bagel is everything. Photo: Melissa Hom

I didnt grow up in a family that dined out all that often. This is partly due to the fact that my brothers and I were raised by a single Colombian mother who was an excellent home cook. Whats the point, she would say, when I can make it better in my own kitchen? She was right, of course. Still, we were kids, and kids love going out to restaurants. The sights, the unpredictability of hungry passersby. So, every other Saturday morning, our mother granted our wishes, and the four of us would pack into our Toyota Corolla in search of the perfect breakfast.

In South Florida, where we lived, the options were near endless  among them, a classic New Yorkstyle Jewish deli on almost every corner. We craved the fresh bagels that you could smell from the street: onion, poppy seed, the works. My go-to was pumpernickel with homemade cream cheese and a thin slice of tomato. My youngest brother always went for the cinnamon bagel, which never quite did it for me.

Despite its ubiquity, cinnamon remains one of the more controversial bagel flavors. It isnt quite sweet, and it doesnt readily lend itself to savory toppings like lox and capers. It took a national chain  one with 2,200 locations across the United States and Canada  to show me the true promise of a cinnamon-flavored bagel, by essentially turning it into a cake.

I am talking, obviously, about the Cinnamon Crunch Bagel from Panera Bread.

You might think of Panera Bread as the culinary equivalent of late-career Coldplay albums: filled with cheap thrills (uh, Blueberry Scone) and middle-aged cliches (Broccoli Cheddar Soup). Somehow, Panera Bread manages to be both unbearably boring and slyly charming at the same time. Its the unofficial headquarters of neighborhood-watch meetings, budding novelists, and suburban teens hosting midweek Bible study. On paper, its a place I would never go, but it only takes one perfect menu item  this bagel  to keep me coming back.

Its so good I pay no mind to the fact that it is missing a hole at the center, which is a detail I typically look for in a bagel. Its sweetness and satisfying crunch take me back; it is the cinnamon bagel that children imagine. It is also strangely beautiful, its golden outside and flakes of sugar shimmering in the light like a newly minted coin. I take it any way I can get it: toasted, untoasted, a little burnt around the edges.

It makes me full and happy, and the mesmerizing fragrance of cinnamon greets me as soon as I walk through the door.

Lets be clear: It does not hold a candle to the sesame bagel from Russ & Daughters or the bright-orange egg number they serve at Absolute Bagels. Yet I feel no shame championing this bagel to even the most ardent East Coast bagel purists, because this is not really a bagel. It clocks in at 420 calories and has 82 grams of carbs. It is the equivalent of eating roughly eight Oreos, and it is almost as sweet. Somehow, this is a food item that is still recognizably a bagel, but it has liberated itself from its inherent bagelness to become something else, something far more dessertlike. It could be considered a breakfast food, but only if you also consider cookies to be breakfast food.

What it is most is a reminder that, sometimes, younger siblings have knowledge to impart, even if its just a bagel flavor, and it takes a chain founded in Missouri to show you how right they were.

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MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) Intuit announced Monday that it is buying consumer finance company Credit Karma in a $7.1 billion cash and stock deal.

The agreement would bring together the maker of well-known personal finance tools such as TurboTax and Mint, with a company that focuses on access to consumer financial products, such as finding the right loan or credit card.





. . .
MIAMI (AP)  Like many young voters in Florida, Jared Machado is concerned about rising sea levels, college tuition and landing a job when he graduates from the University of Florida in a few months. But the political science and history major cant ignore how his father and grandparents came to the United States: as refugees fleeing communist Cuba.

As he considers his options for president in Florida's March 17 primary, Machado was disappointed and disturbed when U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, seemed to praise former Cuba dictator Fidel Castro in a recent interview.

He doesn't understand the traumatizing experience endured by the Cuban people," said Machado, 22, whose grandparents left the island more than a half century ago, carrying his father, then just a few months old.

Making inroads into Latino communities has been a priority among Democrats and Republicans alike  and Sanders' big win in the Nevada caucuses Saturday demonstrated his progress toward that goal. But the 78-year-old senator's remarks, aired Sunday as the candidate was still celebrating, may also show where Sanders' outreach hits a speed bump.

Sanders' socialist identification and his willingness to praise leftist regimes have given his Democratic opponents ammunition to question his electability in a state with a large Cuban American population that remains fiercely skeptical of leftist governments.

In Florida, where Hispanics account for nearly one in every five voters, that skepticism could present a major hurdle for Sanders in the state's primary, and for Democrats hoping to win Florida's 29 electoral votes in November.

Candidates need to understand our immigrant communities shared stories, as well as provide solutions to issues that matter to all Floridians," Florida Democratic Party Chair Terrie Rizzo said Monday.

During an interview aired Sunday on the CBS news program 60 Minutes," Sanders said he opposes Cuba's authoritarian regime but it's unfair to simply say everything is bad.

He went on to say: You know, when Castro came in office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing, even if Fidel Castro did it?

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

A Sanders spokesman on Monday downplayed the controversy.

Senator Sanders has clearly and consistently criticized Fidel Castros authoritarianism and condemned his human rights abuses, and he's simply echoing President Obamas acknowledgment that Cuba made progress, especially in education, said the spokesman, Mike Casca.

His rivals seized on the unforced error to deepen questions about his ability win support in November among independents and Hispanic voters in Florida, particularly those whose families escaped repressive regimes.

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, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg tweeted Monday afternoon. But sure, Bernie, let's talk about his literacy program.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, arguably the most prominent Cuban American in the country, also railed against his Senate colleague from Vermont.

While democratic socialism might sound benign, Rubio said in a video that he tweeted, at the core it's Marxism and this fake offer of security, free healthcare and education.

The state Democratic party has hired scores of Spanish-speaking staffers to fan out into Hispanic communities in preparation for November. Republicans widely view Florida as a must-win state for President Donald Trump and Democrats are determined to force him into an expensive fight to defend it.

Nationally, two-thirds of Hispanic voters casting ballots in 2018 supported Democratic candidates for the U.S. House, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of voters. In Florida, only 53% favored Democratic House candidates.

And Cuban Americans in Florida were more likely to support Republicans than other Hispanic voters, 56% to 42%.

According to the AP survey, about a third of Cuban American midterm voters identified as Democrats.

However, Democrats hardly have a lock on that vote in battleground Florida, particularly among the nearly 2 million Floridians of Cuban, Venezuelan and Nicaraguan origin.

In 2018, Republican Ron DeSantis narrowly won Florida's governor's mansion. While more than two-fifths of Florida Latinos voters favored DeSantis overall, a clear majority of Cuban American voters  57%  cast their support for the Republican.

Critics say Sanders needs to more strongly disavow Cuba and other authoritarian regimes.

Its not just about Cuban American voters, its Hispanic voters as well, many of whom would never consider voting for an avowed socialist ...," said Fernand Amandi, a Cuban American pollster based in Miami.

Geraldo Cadava, a professor of history and Latino studies at Northwestern University, says Sanders must address his stance on left-wing governments, such as when he traveled to Nicaragua to celebrate the sixth anniversary of the Sandinista revolution with Daniel Ortega.

He is in a bit of a difficult spot trying to figure out how to answer these questions, said Cadava, who wrote a book about how the Republican party has rallied Hispanics.

For the past decade, Cadava says, Democrats have courted the younger generation of Cuban-Americans, seeing that more new voters in the Miami area register as independent.

Machado, the University of Florida student, is among them.

Until the Florida primaries arrive, he said, he remains undecided  even if he's currently leaning toward supporting former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg.

Machado comes from a politically split household, the product of a Puerto Rican mother and Cuban father.

My parents definitely vote, but they split between Democrat and Republican,' he said. Thats how you get a centrist child like me."
Health Secretary Matt Hancock today indicated he wouldn't go to northern Italy, where the coronavirus has infected more than 200 people.

He said a surge in cases in the Lombardy region over the weekend was 'very worrying' and that people coming back from hardest-hit areas should stay at home for two weeks.

When asked whether he would still travel to the region he hesitated and said 'I'm not planning to go, put it that way'.

Government advice was today updated to tell all Britons who have been to northern Italy to self-isolate at home if they start to feel ill.

The updated advice has also told people to stay at home for two weeks if they have returned from Iran or the cities of Daeugu or Cheongdo in South Korea, which have been battered by the deadly infection.

Travellers from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar have been told to self-isolate if they have flu-like symptoms, such as a cough or a fever.

Italy has seen a devastating rise in COVID-19 cases since Friday, with confirmed infections rocketing from just six to more than 280, and seven people have died.

British tourists last night attacked the Government's 'pitiful' response to the developments, with some saying they were given no safety advice and others feeling forced to cancel trips.

As other countries ramped up warnings not to travel to the Italian crisis zone, Downing Street insisted Britain is 'well prepared' for an outbreak.

The country has effectively placed 50,000 citizens in lockdown by shutting off more than a dozen towns close to Milan and cancelling public events.

The dramatic escalation in Italy  which was one of the first countries to ban flights from China when the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak started  comes as the international number of cases rose above 80,000 and more than 2,700 are dead.

Italy's sudden outbreak, which surged over the weekend, has gripped around a dozens smaller towns and provinces around Milan (Pictured: Soldiers stand guard at the Duomo di Milano, one of the city's biggest tourist attractions)

Matt Hancock today told Sky News he was 'not planning' on going to northern Italy when he was asked whether he would, but he said it was 'perfectly reasonable' to travel to the south

A police roadblock is pictured close to Codogno, the town at the centre of Italy's coronavirus outbreak

Italy's northern Lombardy region is bearing the brunt of the country's coronavirus outbreak, with more than 200 cases diagnosed there since Friday

Adriano Trevisan (left) was the first person to die from the coronavirus in Italy and the first death recorded in Europe. He was 78 and passed away at a hospital in Padua, northern Italy

WHAT IS THE NEW GOVERNMENT ADVICE? The following advice applies to people who have travelled back from the named areas since Wednesday, February 19. People travelling back from the Italian areas of Castelgerundo, Terranova dei Passerini, Bertonico, San Fiorano, Maleo, Codogno, Somaglia or Fombio should self-isolate for two weeks when they get home and call NHS 111.

of Castelgerundo, Terranova dei Passerini, Bertonico, San Fiorano, Maleo, Codogno, Somaglia or Fombio should self-isolate for two weeks when they get home and call NHS 111. People travelling from anywhere in Italy north of  but not including  Pisa, Florence and Rimini should self-isolate only if they feel ill.

north of  but not including  Pisa, Florence and Rimini should self-isolate only if they feel ill. Anyone returning home from Iran should self-isolate for two weeks and phone NHS 111  even if they feel healthy.

should self-isolate for two weeks and phone NHS 111  even if they feel healthy. Anyone returning from the South Korean cities of Daegu or Cheongdo should self-isolate and phone NHS 111 even if they feel healthy.

of Daegu or Cheongdo should self-isolate and phone NHS 111 even if they feel healthy. People should self-isolate and phone NHS 111 only if they develop flu-like symptoms after returning from Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar or Laos . Existing advice, which applies more broadly to at least the past fortnight, says people should follow the self-isolation protocol if they feel ill after coming home from China, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau. Anyone coming home from the Hubei province of China should self-isolate even if they don't feel ill. Advertisement

Speaking to Sky News this morning Mr Hancock said: 'We're saying that those who have been in Northern Italy, if they feel ill [with] flu-like symptoms, then you should self-isolate, stay at home, try not to see other people.

'If you've been to Italy to the areas that are being quarantined by the Italian government then you should stay at home and self-isolate even if you don't have any symptoms.'

He added that the government doesn't think there are any Brits in the quarantined area but it cannot be certain.

'This development in Italy is obviously very worrying because it's a significant outbreak,' Mr Hancock said.

'But throughout this outbreak ... we've been clear that we expect cases here, so people shouldn't be surprised that there are cases this close to home, but it just shows how important preparations are.'

When asked whether he would travel to Italy, Mr Hancock said it would be 'perfectly reasonable' to go to the south of the country, but that he is 'not planning on going' to the north.

He added: 'We haven't changed the official government travel advice but I'm not planning on going.

'And if people go and then they come back and feel ill with flu-like symptoms then we're asking them to self-isolate, to stay at home for two weeks and to try not to come into contact with anybody else.

'That is obviously quite a significant imposition on people. We get that but our top priority is to keep the public safe.'

The government's advice is split into two parts.

People who have visited Iran, the South Korean cities of Daegu or Cheongdo, or lockdown areas in Italy, which include the towns of Codogno and Fombio to the south of Milan, should self-isolate at home even if they feel healthy after returning.

Whereas those coming back from anywhere in Italy that is north of Pisa and Florence, or from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar should do the same if they start to feel ill.

More than 80,000 people around the world have now been infected with the coronavirus and at least 2,705 have died from it. Almost all the cases and deaths have been in China, with the vast majority in Wuhan and the Hubei province alone

A deserted street is pictured in the province of Lodi, which is at the centre of Italy's coronavirus outbreak

Two women wearing protective face masks are pictured outside the Colosseum in Rome yesterday, February 24

Passengers on a flight returning from Milan have their temperatures checked at the Debrecen airport in Hungary today, February 25

A couple are pictured wearing face masks on the underground in Milan today, February 25

IRAN FACES COVER-UP CLAIMS AMID SOARING INFECTIONS Iran, which only recorded its first case of COVID-19 on February 19, has now officially confirmed at least 95 people have been infected and 15 have died. The country's health ministry today urged its more than 80million citizens to stay at home to stop the virus from spreading. Sceptics have accused officials of hiding the true scale of the outbreak  one Iranian local official yesterday claimed 50 people had died already in the city of Qom alone. Hitting back, health ministry spokesman Iraj Harirchi rejected the claim and said: 'No-one is qualified to discuss this sort of news at all.' He said local lawmakers did not have access to coronavirus statistics. Qom is a holy city in Islam and hundreds of people arrive there on pilgrimages every week, the New York Times reports, raising fears about travellers picking up the virus. And although Iran's borders with Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, Afghanistan and Armenia have been closed or part-closed as a result of the outbreak, there are still concerns illness could spread through the volatile region. Advertisement

The advice adds to instructions for people to stay at home and contact the NHS if they get a flu-like illness after going to China, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau.

Anyone who has been to the Hubei province of China, where the outbreak is worst, should self-isolate regardless of how they feel.

Italy's outbreak has sparked panic across Europe, with buses and trains carrying Italian passengers across borders halted after those on board reported symptoms.

The government 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 rapidly.

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.

In lockdown are around a dozen places to the south of Milan including Castelgerundo, Terranova dei Passerini, Bertonico, San Fiorano, Maleo, Codogno, Somaglia and Fombio.

A World Health Organization spokesperson today said that Italy's shutdown measures were 'pretty strong' and should successfully contain the virus.

A man is pictured wearing a face mask while driving past police who also have masks on, in Casalpusterlengo, Italy

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 European stock markets have rebounded after almost 1.2trillion was wiped off yesterday because of fears of a coronavirus pandemic. Italy's own economy was plunged into chaos by the deadly outbreak, which has infected more than 270 people and killed at least seven. But London's benchmark FTSE 100 index today went up 0.5 per cent in early trading, after slumping to a four-month low yesterday. Elsewhere, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index rose 0.6 per cent and the Paris CAC 40 also increased 0.6 per cent, compared with yesterday's close. Infection fears from investors shaved 5.4 per cent off the Milan stock exchange after the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto went into lockdown. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte warned the economic hit from the outbreak in Italy 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 said.

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The country's prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, said mismanagement at an unnamed hospital in the north of the country may have contributed to the outbreak.

He told local TV: 'We know that the way one hospital facility was managed was not entirely appropriate... That certainly contributed to the spread.'

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 free-travel zone to stop the spread but announced it has a 195million rescue plan.

The Italian government launched a series of draconian town shutdowns and roadblocks to stop the spread, while desperately trying to trace 'patient zero'  the unknown carrier at the centre of the spike of cases.

Iran, the other country from where the UK Foreign Office has told returnees to isolate themselves, has also brought in drastic measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

British people are advised against 'all but essential' travel to Iran anyway, so this is expected to have less of an impact than the Italy announced.

At least 95 people have been infected in Iran and 16 have died, the government has confirmed.

It today urged its 80million citizens to stay at home to avoid spreading the infection after the number of cases has soared since the first was declared on Wednesday, February 19.

'It will be safer for people to stay at home,' health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told state TV.

'There were 34 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, including 16 people in Qom city.'

Qom is a holy city in Islam and hundreds of people arrive there on pilgrimages every week, the New York Times reports, raising fears about travellers picking up the virus.

And although Iran's borders with Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, Afghanistan and Armenia have been closed or part-closed as a result of the outbreak, there are still concerns illness could spread through the volatile region.

A sanitary worker disinfects a shrine in the Iranian city of Qom, where coronavirus has killed at least 16 people since last Wednesday

A man is pictured disinfecting a public bus in Ahvaz, Iran, as the country tries to get a handle on a coronavirus outbreak there. Officials have urged citizens to stay at home

WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE BANNED TRAVEL TO IRAN? At least 15 people in Iran are now known to have died, and 95 have been infected, from the deadly coronavirus that has rapidly swept the world over the past two months. But Iranian health officials have been forced to deny a cover-up, after a lawmaker in the Islamic Republic's epicentre of Qom claimed there had been 50 deaths in the city alone. Iran's Health Ministry has now urged residents to stay at home while the country battles the outbreak, while its neighbours have shut their doors to contain the deadly virus. SO, HOW HAVE COUNTRIES REACTED TO IRAN'S CORONAVIRUS CRISIS? Turkey 'temporarily' shut its 310-mile (500km) border with Iran. It also halted incoming flights. Pakistan closed its 596-mile (959km) border with the Islamic republic. Afghanistan banned all ground and air travel between the two nations. Jordan barred entry to citizens of Iran, as well as China and South Korea Iraq banned travellers from Iran coming into the war-torn country Kuwait's Port Authority banned the entry of all ships from the republic United Arab Emirates suspended all passenger and cargo flights to Iran. Armenia reportedly closed parts of its border with Iran and suspended flights between the countries for two weeks. Saudi Arabia reportedly banned all foreign nationals from entering the country if they have been to Iran Bahrain blocked all flights from Dubai International Airport  a major travel hub in the Middle East  for 48 hours Oman authorities ordered a ban on flights to Iran, according to reports. Georgia reportedly suspend all direct flights to the country from Iran Advertisement

In the first signs of a UK impact of the Italy situation, a British Airways flight from Heathrow to Milan was delayed by 20 minutes yesterday morning when a passenger asked to get off the flight because they were afraid of the coronavirus.

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.'

Ryanair and easyJet have confirmed they will continue to fly to Italy as normal despite the outbreak, denying people refunds if they change their mind about travelling.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not changed its travel advice for Italy, so airlines claim there is no reason for extraordinary measures.

But despite the 'danger zones' being outside of major tourist areas, Britons are fearful they may come into contact with the virus and others say they will have nothing to do with attractions shut and residents banned from leaving their homes.

Ryanair customers are charged between 35 and 95 to amend their flights, depending on the route, and easyJet charges between 25 and 52.

An easyJet spokesperson said: 'There is currently no change to advice for airlines or customers, so our flights are operating as normal and standard terms and conditions on tickets continue to apply.'

Tourists in Tenerife have even been hit by Italy's crisis after a holidaymaker who travelled from Lombardy tested positive for the coronavirus and sent a hotel into quarantine.

Now more than 1,000 people at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace are reportedly trapped there, with local media saying state police have surrounded the hotel to stop people leaving.

Around 1,000 guests have now been quarantined inside the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in Tenerife (stock photo), reports say, with police reportedly surrounding the complex which is popular with Britons

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.

A tourist wears a face mask in Venice, where the annual carnival has been cancelled out of fear of spreading coronavirus

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

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.
HEERLEN, Netherlands, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal DSM, a global science-based company in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living, today announces that Helen Mets, currently Business Group Director DSM Resins & Functional Materials, is appointed as Executive Vice President Materials per 1 March 2020.

Helen Mets will succeed Dimitri de Vreeze who was appointed Co-CEO of DSM together with Geraldine Matchett, as of 15 February 2020. Helen will become member of the Executive Committee of DSM.

Helen, a British and Dutch national, holds a Master's degree in Marketing and a Bachelor's degree in Business & Finance from the University of Northumbria, Newcastle. She is also a graduate of the Harvard Advanced Management Program. She joined DSM in August 2017 in her current role of Business Group Director DSM Resins & Functional Materials. In this role, Helen was instrumental in developing and executing a growth transformation for the Resins business, and strengthening the portfolio and innovation pipeline, as well as shaping the digital journey within DSM Resins & Functional Materials.

Before joining DSM, Helen held several senior leadership positions in Avery Dennison, including leading its global Specialty Materials Businesses, and Pon Holdings in the Netherlands. Helen has a proven record in business transformations and developing business in emerging countries.

In her new role, Helen will report to Dimitri de Vreeze, Co-CEO of DSM. Helen will continue her role as Business Group Director DSM Resins & Functional Materials ad interim.

DSM - Bright Science. Brighter Living.

Royal DSM is a global, purpose-led, science-based company active in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living. DSM's purpose is to create brighter lives for all. DSM addresses with its products and solutions some of the world's biggest challenges while simultaneously creating economic, environmental and societal value for all its stakeholders - customers, employees, shareholders, and society at large. DSM delivers innovative solutions for human nutrition, animal nutrition, personal care and aroma, medical devices, green products and applications, and new mobility and connectivity. DSM and its associated companies deliver annual net sales of about 10 billion with approximately 23,000 employees. The company was founded in 1902 and is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. More information can be found at www.dsm.com.

Or find us on: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

Forward-looking statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to DSM's future (financial) performance and position. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections of DSM and information currently available to the company. DSM cautions readers that such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and therefore it should be understood that many factors can cause actual performance and position to differ materially from these statements. DSM has no obligation to update the statements contained in this press release, unless required by law. The English language version of the press release is leading.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1094997/Helen_Mets.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/657851/DSM_Logo.jpg

PRN NLD
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A Syracuse University administrator explained this week why the university is about to bring in a former U.S. Attorney to review its police department.

I think it was something the students were asking for, said Amanda Nicholson, SUs interim deputy senior vice president for enrollment and student experience. She spoke at a news conference Monday in front of Barnes Center at The Arch -- the building where the #NotAgainSU sit-in protests began last fall.

SU Chancellor Kent Syverud announced Monday that the university would hire Loretta Lynch, a former U.S. Attorney General who served under President Barack Obama and now a private sector lawyer. Lynch will be tasked with completing an independent, expedited review of SUs Department of Public Safety, the chancellor said.

Nicholson discussed hiring Lynch at the news conference Monday.

Getting an outside view on your protocols and processes -- to figure out if youre doing the right thing, the thing thats current, the thing thats perhaps the most appropriate for todays young people, is a good thing to do, Nicholson said. We should be humble enough to know we dont know everything.

Nicholson said she does not know when Lynch will begin her review. She also said she does not think the review will lead to any staff changes. However, she said it might lead to additional staff.

She praised SU staff members, including DPS officers, for all their work and efforts since November following a spate of racist and anti-Semitic graffiti and other incidents. Since then, SU officials estimated there have been roughly 20 racist incidents. Three people, so far, have so far been held accountable, SU officials said.

Trust me, we would love to hold everyone accountable, Nicholson said. This is not something we relish, having people write hateful and homophobic messages on our walls, in our school. Its due process. We have to do things in the right way."

Amanda Nicholson, interim deputy senior vice president for enrollment and student experience at Syracuse University, spoke with reporters Monday outside the Barnes Center at SU.

Students formed the #NotAgainSU group and began to speak out against racism and bigotry after racist graffiti was discovered in a bathroom stall of a residence hall. The group late last year issued a list of demands, which Syverud eventually signed with three red-line edits. But that was too little, too late for the protesters, who have continued to call for the chancellor, the police chief and others to resign.

After returning to campus for the spring semester, students ramped up their efforts Feb. 17, again calling for administrators to resign and adding to their list of demands.

Protesters added five more demands:

SU publicly identify any perpetrators of hateful biased incidents

Disarm Syracuse University public safety officers

Freeze tuition

Widely acknowledge systemic issues of racism and hate exist on campus

Make changes to the housing selection process for people with disabilities.

#NotAgainSU protesters have publicly criticized the university and its police officers for the way they have handled the sit-in of Crouse-Hinds Hall, the administration building on campus. But Nicholson came to her colleagues defense on Monday.

Like everything in life, perception is reality," Nicholson said. "The DPS officers are here to serve us and protect our students, and when someone is rushing a door, theyre trying not to have anyone get knocked down. When you see a lot of people rushing against a police officer, it may look like the police officer is doing something wrong, but what the officer was doing was what we asked him to do -- to hold the door. I understand what a snip-it can perhaps wrongfully or mistakenly look like, but they were asked to do.

Nicholson said she is willing to meet with parents and faculty have been at Crouse-Hinds Hall working with students.

I do not believe anything was done in the building (Crouse-Hinds Hall) that was inhumane, she said. They can go to class anytime they want -- its an in-and-out policy now. I think every faculty is being most accommodating.

So why take a closer look at the police department?

Because the students think its important and were listening, Nicholson said. I think its acknowledgement that when we decide to do something, we do it the best that we can to make a really good decision."

Nicholson said students are welcome to stay at Crouse-Hinds Hall as long as they want to.

We really value our students, she said. Were a large, diverse campus with lots of issues and lots of problems -- and were not afraid to face them and were going to. Were going to learn, move on and get better.

Please read #NotAgainSUs response to the protestors suspensions in its entirety. As the administration evidently continues to lacks transparency, its paramount that we provide you all with factual information. #FreeCrouse #NotAgainSUspended pic.twitter.com/O16snJQEm9  #NOTAGAINSU (@notagain_su) February 18, 2020

The media stands outside the Barnes Center at Syracuse University on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, waiting for Amanda Nicholson, SU's interim deputy senior vice president for enrollment and student experience, to speak at a news conference.Catie O'Toole | cotoole@syracuse.com

Syracuse University students walk past DPS police cars on campus Monday, Feb. 24, 2020.

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.

Have a tip or a story idea? Contact Catie OToole: cotoole@syracuse.com | text/call (315) 470-2134 | Twitter | Facebook
Last month, Boris Johnson announced the government was initiating plan B, a set of extra rules aimed at curving the spread of coronavirus.

Under the new rules, people have been asked to work from home where possible and the number of places in England where it is mandatory to wear a face covering have increased.

People are now required to wear a face covering in shops and supermarkets, as well as on public transport. They must also be worn in pharmacies, libraries and places of worship.

Face coverings are currently not required in restaurants and bars, or other places where people are mostly eating, drinking and dancing.

In a national address on Sunday 12 December, Mr Johnson said there is a tidal wave of omicron coming.

I am afraid we are now facing an emergency in our battle with the new variant, omicron, he said.

So just how effective is mask wearing? Does it protect the wearer from contracting the virus or just prevent the wearer from spreading anything they might not know they have?

Can face masks protect me?

The UK government, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the USA, have all shifted their position on wearing masks during the pandemic  these moving guidelines may have sowed confusion as to their benefit.

At the start of the pandemic, in February 2020, Public Health England were not encouraging the public to wear them; Dr Jake Dunning, head of emerging infections and zoonoses [infectious disease spread between humans and animals] at PHE, told The Independent that there is very little evidence of a widespread benefit in members of the public wearing masks.

Dr Dunning explained there are a number of reasons why they can be ineffective. Face masks must be worn correctly, changed frequently, removed properly, disposed of safely and used in combination with good universal hygiene behaviour in order for them to be effective.

At the time, experts were also keen to stress the need for people on the frontline to be wearing supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE), rather than the community.

But  since then  numerous studies have shown that wearing any type of face covering (not surgical grade, which should be left to medical staff) over the nose and mouth, can help in reducing spread of viral droplets when a person coughs or sneezes.

Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Show all 12 1 /12 Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Marc Lyons ICU Consultant, East Cheshire NHS Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Emma Kelly Critical Care Nurse, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Laura Arrowsmith COVID-19 Ward Cleaner, Leighton Hospital, Crewe PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Stuart Brookfield Paramedic, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Claudia Anghel Midwife, University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Sarah Jensen Chief Information Officer, Barts Health NHS Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Anne Roberts District Nurse, Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Ali Abdi Porter, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Jack Hannay Manikum 111 call handler, West Midlands Ambulance Service PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Ade Williams Superintendent Pharmacist, Bedminster Pharmacy in Bristol PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Farzana Hussain GP, Project Surgery, Newham PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Roopak Khara General Adult Psychiatrist, West London NHS Trust PA

A report, published in Nature journal in April 2020, said: Face masks significantly reduced detection of influenza virus RNA in respiratory droplets and coronavirus RNA in aerosols, with a trend toward reduced detection of coronavirus RNA in respiratory droplets.

Another study used high-speed video to track droplets and found even holding a washcloth over the mouth was effective in blocking the droplets (similarly a microbiologist shared photographs of bacteria culture spread with and without a mask).

An international report published in The Lancet, which analysed data from 172 studies in 16 countries, found that by wearing a face mask there is just a three per cent chance of catching COVID-19. And a study by Cambridge University, says even basic homemade masks can reduce transmission  and could even help prevent a second wave.

A separate study, conducted by the University of Edinburgh, also suggested that wearing a face covering could help reduce the spread of coronavirus from people who are carriers. The research showed that wearing a covering over the mouth and nose can reduce the forward distance travelled by an exhaled breath by more than 90 per cent.

Oxford Universitys Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science, published a study, with the message: Cloth face coverings, even homemade masks made of the correct material, are effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19  for the wearer and those around them and warned face masks and coverings work  act now.

So is this mainly about stopping asymptomatic transmission?

Yes. The research largely suggests face masks wont necessarily stop you catching Covid-19 but will lessen the chance of you passing it on if you are asymptomatically carrying and unaware of this (so not isolating at home).

In April 2020, the WHO published a report saying masks did not prevent healthy people from picking up coronavirus but did stop the virus spreading. It was based on a review of evidence from Hong Kong that suggested widespread use of face masks may have reduced the spread.

The governments DELVE (Data Evaluation and Learning for Viral Epidemics group) in the Royal Society, said: Face masks offer an important tool for managing community transmission of Covid19 within the general population.

Our analysis suggests that their use could reduce onward transmission by asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic wearers if widely used, contrasting to the standard use of masks for the protection of wearers. If used widely and correctly, face masks, including homemade cloth masks, can reduce viral transmission.

On the government website, it agrees: The evidence suggests that face coverings can help us protect each other and reduce the spread of the disease if someone is suffering from coronavirus, but not showing symptoms.

Jimmy Whitworth, professor of international public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told The Independent that the benefit is largely for others, not yourself: Theyre more beneficial if you have a virus and dont want to pass it on than to prevent catching anything. This corroborates the WHO findings.

Professor David Heymann, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who chaired the WHOs scientific and technical advisory group, agreed that unless people were working in healthcare settings, masks are only for the protection of others, not for the protection of oneself  which is why the government is now making them non-optional.
A hotel on Spain's Canary Islands was put on lockdown Tuesday after an Italian guest tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to The Associated Press and another guest.

Angel Victor Torres tweeted late Monday that an Italian citizen had tested positive for the coronavirus that has killed more than 2,600 people in China and spread to dozens of countries.

"The result of the first tests carried out in the Canary Islands is positive, and tomorrow they will be done again in Madrid," Torres said, adding that the patient had been placed in isolation.

Later Tuesday, Torres said the wife of the guest who initially tested positive had also been infected.

According to the AP, the press office for the town of Adeje, a municipality on Tenerife where the hotel is located, also said Tuesday that H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel on Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, was under quarantine.

The hotel, its parent chain and the town hall did not respond to requests for comment.

One of the hotel guests, Rebecca Lunt, told NBC News via Facebook Messenger that guests were not allowed to leave but that the hotel's restaurant was still open.

Lund said guests received a note under their doors Tuesday in English, Spanish, French and Italian. She said on social media that it said the hotel had been closed down "for healthy [sic] reasons."

"Until the sanitary authorities warn, you must remain in your rooms," the note said.

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

Lund said police were outside the hotel. Photos from outside the H10 Costa Adeje Palace showed police wearing masks, erecting barricades and blocking access to the hotel.

Spain's El Pais newspaper reported that health checks were being carried out on people who may have had contact with the infected guest.

In the wake of the diagnosis, the Health Ministry has convened an urgent meeting to discuss the situation around COVID-19 on the islands.

Story continues

Image: Map showing the Canary Islands

Spain has had two confirmed cases of the coronavirus so far, both involving foreign nationals, according to the country's health officials.

A British man tested positive on the island of Mallorca in the Mediterranean Sea on Feb. 9, and a German man was confirmed to have the virus on the Canary Island of La Gomera on Feb. 1.

The Canary Islands, an autonomous region of Spain 60 miles west of the African coast, are a popular vacation destination that attracts many Europeans.

Britain's Foreign Office told NBC News on Tuesday that it was offering advice and support to a number of British nationals and their families in a hotel in Tenerife.

"We are in close contact with the hotel management and the Spanish authorities," a spokesperson for the Foreign Office said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
For her part, Hart acknowledged making Twitter posts that noted Stones indictment. One referred to Stone and other charged Trump associates as the lock-her up peanut gallery; another retweeted without comment a defense of the manner of his arrest. But Hart insisted she had no intention of misleading the court in her responses before she was selected and said she ignored anything about the case that came to her via social media during the trial.
Salman Abedi, moments before he detonated his bomb (PA)

A CCTV image taken 19 seconds before the Manchester Arena bomber detonated his explosive has been shown to jurors.

Salman Abedi blew up his homemade device on 22 May 2017 as hundreds of people milled around in the venues foyer after an Ariana Grande concert ended.

The suicide bombing left 22 people dead and injured hundreds more.

CCTV pictures showing the attackers final movements were shown to the jury in the trial of Salman Abedis brother, Hashem Abedi, who denies helping his brother prepare the attack.

Salman Abedi pictured on his way to Manchester Arena (PA)

Salman Abedi travelling to the arena via tram (PA)

Images show Salman wearing a large Karrimor rucksack that contains the bomb as he travels to the arena, where 14,054 people were inside. Some 359 people were standing around the foyer when he triggered the blast.

Jurors heard how the explosion ripped Abedis body into four parts and was riddled with nuts, wire and metal parts. The bomb had been packed with shrapnel.

He was identified by matching his fingerprints from a shoplifting offence in 2012.

British Transport Police officers from nearby Victoria Station were the first on the scene, and Greater Manchester Police officers checked for any other explosives that could have been planted.

A triage station was set up in Victoria Station.

Salman Abedi pictured on CCTV in the build up to his attack (PA)

Salman Abedi at Victoria Station making his way to the Manchester Arena (PA)

The Old Bailey heard how the father of 15-year-old victim Meghan Hurley stayed with her body until after 1am.

After the blast, forensic officers recovered 1,675 nyloc nuts, 156 flanged nuts, 663 plain nuts and 11 fragments from the deceased, survivors and the crime scene.

The majority of the nuts, measuring 8mm, 10mm and 12mm, had been damaged.

Police also found metal fragments from a paint tin and lid and a drinks can.

Abedi pictured on CCTV (PA)

CCTV footage also shows Salman Abedi leaving his flat in Granby Row, Manchester, before taking a Metrolink tram to Victoria Station.

While waiting for the tram, he made a four minute call to his family in Libya.

His younger brother Hashem was in Libya at the time.

Hasham Abedi 22-year-old denies 22 counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and conspiracy to cause explosions at his Old Bailey trial.

The trial continues.
About 1 million people in the United States have ulcerative colitis, a serious disease of the colon that has no cure and whose cause is obscure. Now, a study by Stanford University School of Medicine investigators has tied the condition to a missing microbe.

The microbe makes metabolites that help keep the gut healthy.

"This study helps us to better understand the disease," said Aida Habtezion, MD, associate professor of gastroenterology and hepatology. "We hope it also leads to our being able to treat it with a naturally produced metabolite that's already present in high amounts in a healthy gut."

When the researchers compared two groups of patients -- one group with ulcerative colitis, the other group with a rare noninflammatory condition -- who had undergone an identical corrective surgical procedure, they discovered that a particular family of bacteria was depleted in patients with ulcerative colitis. These patients also were deficient in a set of anti-inflammatory substances that the bacteria make, the scientists report.

A paper describing the research findings will be published online Feb. 25 in Cell Host & Microbe. Habtezion is the senior author. Lead authorship is shared by Sidhartha Sinha, MD, assistant professor of gastroenterology and hepatology, and postdoctoral scholar Yeneneh Haileselassie, PhD.

The discoveries raise the prospect that supplementing ulcerative colitis patients with those missing metabolites -- or perhaps someday restoring the gut-dwelling bacteria that produce them -- could effectively treat intestinal inflammation in these patients and perhaps those with a related condition called Crohn's disease, Habtezion said.

A clinical trial to determine whether those metabolites, called secondary bile acids, are effective in treating the disease is now underway at Stanford. Sinha is the trial's principal investigator, and Habtezion is the co-principal investigator.

Surgery often required

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory condition in which the immune system attacks tissue in the rectum or colon. Patients can suffer from heavy bleeding, diarrhea, weight loss and, if the colon becomes sufficiently perforated, life-threatening sepsis.

There is no known cure. While immunosuppressant drugs can keep ulcerative colitis at bay, they put patients at increased risk for cancer and infection. Moreover, not all patients respond, and even when an immunosuppressant drug works initially, its effectiveness can fade with time. About one in five ulcerative colitis patients progress to the point where they require total colectomy, the surgical removal of the colon and rectum, followed by the repositioning of the lower end of the small intestine to form a J-shaped pouch that serves as a rectum.

These "pouch patients" can lead quite normal lives. However, as many as half will develop pouchitis, a return of the inflammation and symptoms they experienced in their initial condition.

The new study began with a clinical observation. "Patients with a rare genetic condition called familial adenomatous polyposis, or FAP, are at extremely high risk for colon cancer," Habtezion said. "To prevent this, they undergo the exact same surgical procedure patients with refractory ulcerative colitis do." Yet FAP pouch patients rarely if ever experience the inflammatory attacks on their remaining lower digestive tract that ulcerative-colitis patients with a pouch do, she said.

The Stanford scientists decided to find out why. Their first clue lay in a large difference in levels of a group of substances called secondary bile acids in the intestines of seven FAP patients compared with 17 patients with ulcerative colitis who had undergone the pouch surgery. The investigators measured these metabolite levels by examining the participants' stool samples.

Primary bile acids are produced in the liver, stored in the gallbladder and released into the digestive tract to help emulsify fats. The vast majority of secreted primary bile acids are taken up in the intestine, where resident bacteria perform a series of enzymatic operations to convert them to secondary bile acids.

Prior research has suggested, without much elaboration or follow-up, that secondary bile acids are depleted in ulcerative colitis patients and in those with a related condition, Crohn's disease, in which tissue-destroying inflammation can occur in both the colon and the small intestine.

The researchers confirmed that levels of the two most prominent secondary bile acids, deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid, were much lower in stool specimens taken from the ulcerative colitis pouch patients than from FAP pouch patients. Clearly, the surgical procedure hadn't caused the depletion.

Diminished microbial diversity

These findings were mirrored by the scientists' observation that microbial diversity in the specimens from ulcerative colitis pouch patients was diminished. Moreover, the investigators showed that a single bacterial family -- Ruminococcaceae -- was markedly underrepresented in ulcerative colitis pouch patients compared with FAP pouch patients. A genomic analysis of all the gut bacteria in the participants showed that the genes for making enzymes that convert primary bile acids to secondary bile acids were underrepresented, too. Ruminococcaceae, but few other gut bacteria, carry those genes.

"All healthy people have Ruminococcaceae in their intestines," Habtezion said. "But in the UC pouch patients, members of this family were significantly depleted."

Incubating primary bile acids with stool samples from FAP pouch patients, but not from ulcerative colitis pouch patients, resulted in those substances' effective conversion to secondary bile acids.

In three different mouse models of colitis, supplementation with lithocholic acid and deoxycholic acid reduced infiltration by inflammatory immune cells and levels of several inflammatory signaling proteins and chemicals in the mice's intestines, the researchers showed. The supplements also mitigated the classic symptoms of colitis in the mice, such as weight loss or signs of colon pathology.

All three mouse models are considered representative of not just ulcerative colitis but inflammatory bowel disease in general, a category that also includes Crohn's disease. So the findings may apply to Crohn's disease patients, as well, Habtezion said.

In an ongoing Phase 2 trial at Stanford, Sinha, Habtezion and their colleagues are investigating the anti-inflammatory effects, in 18- to 70-year-old ulcerative colitis pouch patients, of oral supplementation with ursodeoxycholic acid, a naturally occurring secondary bile acid approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of primary biliary sclerosis and for management of gall stones. Information about the trial, which is still recruiting people, is available at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03724175.

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Habtezion is a faculty fellow of Stanford ChEM-H and a member of Stanford Bio-X, the Stanford Cancer Institute, the Stanford Pancreas Cancer Research Group, the Stanford Alzheimer's Research Center and the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute at Stanford.

Other Stanford co-authors of the study are postdoctoral scholars Min Wang, PhD, Estelle Spear, PhD, Gulshan Singh, PhD, and Hong Namkoong, PhD; former research scientist Linh Nguyen, PhD; former postdoctoral scholar Carolina Tropini, PhD; former gastroenterology medical fellow Davis Sim, MD; research assistant Karolin Jarr; Laren Becker, MD, instructor of gastroenterology and hepatology; Michael Fischbach, PhD, associate professor of bioengineering; and Justin Sonnenburg, PhD, associate professor of microbiology and immunology.

Researchers from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia also contributed to the work.

The work was funded by the National Institutes of Health (grants R01DK101119, KL2TR001083 and UL1TR001085), the Ann and Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, and Leslie and Douglas Ballinger.

Stanford's Department of Medicine also supported the work.

The Stanford University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the nation's top medical schools, integrating research, medical education, patient care and community service. For more news about the school, please visit http://med.stanford.edu/school.html. The medical school is part of Stanford Medicine, which includes Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children's Health. For information about all three, please visit http://med.stanford.edu.

Print media contact: Bruce Goldman at (650) 725-2106 (goldmanb@stanford.edu)

Broadcast media contact: Margarita Gallardo at (650) 723-7897 (mjgallardo@stanford.edu)
Gov. Mike Parson is right to express caution about a bill to grant voting rights to felons still on parole or probation. His office says it would be premature to take sides on a bill by state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, to grant voting rights to such offenders. Nasheeds bill is no doubt well-meaning, but the assessment by Parsons office is correct at least until Missouri voters have had a chance to weigh in.

Current Missouri law restores voting rights to felons once theyve completed the full term of their sentences. That law makes perfect sense, as weve long argued, because once ex-offenders have paid their debt to society, there is no justification to continue denying them democracys most basic right.

If an offender remains on probation or parole, that by definition means the sentence is still in the process of being completed. The debt to society technically remains unfulfilled. The question is whether a person deemed safe enough to mingle with the rest of society is also someone worthy of casting a ballot in an election.
Iraq extended an entry ban on travellers from China and Iran and banned travellers from five other countries over coronavirus fears, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

The entry ban is for travellers coming directly or indirectly from China, Iran, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Singapore. It exempts Iraqi nationals, diplomats and official delegations, the ministry said in a statement. It advised Iraqis not to travel to those countries.

The ministry said the measures were "in order to safeguard the health of citizens across Iraq, and to control the spread of the coronavirus after the first case was recorded".

Schools and universities were suspended for 10 days in Najaf, where the first case of the new coronavirus, an Iranian theology student, was reported on Monday, and citizens were urged to avoid travelling to and from the province.

Public gatherings in Najaf were banned until further notice and the ministry advised that they not be held throughout Iraq.

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

Fears of a coronavirus pandemic grew on Monday after sharp rises in new cases in Iran, Italy and South Korea. The virus has infected more than 80,000 people and killed more than 2,660 in China, where it originated late last year.
REUTERS

Presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg is being criticised for telling bankers he would have defended them as president in a leaked audio from a private Goldman Sachs event in 2016.

At the event, Mr Bloomberg first described the audience as his peeps, and said that had he run for president that year, his first campaign platform would have been to defend the banks.

But, he added, you know how well thats gonna go down in this country.

Mr Bloomberg then defended the banks more seriously: Somebody's gotta stand up and do what we need. A healthy banking system that's going to take risks because that's what creates the jobs for everybody. And nobody's willing to say that.

The audio was uploaded to hosting platform Soundcloud and sent to CNN and several journalists. The sender used the email address and username CancelGoldman, and claimed to have worked at Goldman Sachs for 14 years.

The Bloomberg campaign has confirmed that the audio is real. In an email to CNN, spokesperson Stu Loeser said that much of what Mr Bloomberg said was in jest, and that his remarks were of an analytical standard almost unheard of in current politics.

What you hear in these remarks are a combination of jokes and detailed explanations of ways to make our government better that are far beyond what the current occupant of the Oval Office could read, let alone think."

Besides his defence of banks, Mr Bloomberg also raised the alarm about income inequality, warning his audience that anytime we've had this before, society blows up and they do set up the guillotines, and the guillotines don't have to be chop your head off.

They could be confiscatory taxes, they could be seizing the endowments of uh, educational institutions and um, philanthropic organizations, all of which those proposals are out there.

The audio also contains sections more directly relevant to Mr Bloombergs current presidential campaign.

Asked about the rise of the radical right both in the US and around the world, Mr Bloomberg said the progressive left is also scary  citing current candidate Elizabeth Warren as an example.

Story continues

"The left is arising. The progressive movement is just as scary," he says in the tape. "Elizabeth Warren on one side. And whoever you want to pick on the Republicans on the right side?"

Ms Warren recently tore into Mr Bloomberg when he appeared at his first Democratic debate, citing his history of sexist remarks and saying that Democrats take a huge risk if we just substitute one arrogant billionaire for another.

Mr Bloomberg has been criticised for the amount he is spending on his presidential campaign, which is now running into the hundreds of millions of dollars  all drawn from his vast personal fortune.

While he has used that money to flood upcoming primaries with advertising and hire hundreds of staffers, recent polling from key states shows him struggling to catch up with frontrunner Bernie Sanders.

Read more

Can Michael Bloomberg really win the Democratic nomination?

Elizabeth Warren
BELLEFONTE  A natural gas synthesis plant that would produce a range of projects is planned in rural western Clinton County at an estimated cost of $477 million.

The development, which has been in the planning stage for 16 months, is an effort of Frontier Natural Resources and a new company, KeyState Agri, both headquartered in Bellefonte.

Many hurdles have been cleared but there are plenty to go about the environmentally friendly project, Perry Babb, who leads the KeyState development team and serves as acting CEO, said Monday.

A natural gas synthesis plant uses the methane in natural gas as a feedstock to produce a range of products used in agriculture, industry, medicines and transportation, he explained.

The majority of carbon dioxide generated in gas synthesis processes is captured and used in making other products, he said.

More than a dozen similar plants have been built across the United States in the last 15 years, he said.

The plant will have up to a 30-acre footprint and be adjacent to Frontiers liquefied natural gas plant in West Keating Twp., Babb said. It will sit on top of its own 6,000-acre natural gas supply, he said.

State-of-the-art wells will be drilled once a year for 20 years to provide the gas, he said.

Between 150 and 200 jobs are expected to be created when the plant goes into operation, with 600 to 800 needed during construction that is to begin in 2022, he said. Completion is scheduled for late 2024 or early 2025.

In touting the benefits of the synthesis plant, Babb said the urea fertilizer production will provide Pennsylvania agriculture with its own, stable, lower-cost supply.

The urea fertilizer also will be used in diesel exhaust fluid that the Environmental Protection Agency mandates in all diesel trucks, buses and marine vessels to lower nitrous oxides in emissions, he said.

There is no production of urea fertilizer and diesel exhaust fluid in a 13-state Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region, Babb said.

The economic development impact of the project will be profound and widespread especially on towns in the area that once relied on coal, he predicts.

It is projected two or three trucks an hour and six to eight rail cars a day will transport product from the plant, he said.

Plans call for housing built for construction workers to be converted into units for the low-income and elderly, he said. Workforce development programs will be coordinated with area schools and universities, he said.

KeyState will provide land and funding with the Keystone Country Elk Alliance to enhance the wildlife habit for elk by reclaiming some of the old surface mines, he said. Some believe elk will be grazing next to our fence, he said.

Although KeyState is local, a veteran team of consultants, engineers, technology providers, major construction companies and investment bankers has been assembled, he said.

Agreements have been signed with industry partners, all headquartered in Pennsylvania, that will purchase and distribute 100 percent of the plants proposed capacity, Babb said.

Frontier is an independent oil and natural gas producer with a primary focus on conventional and unconventional resources across the Appalachian Basin.

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CHICAGO, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) hires Chicago-based gravity.labs (GL) to serve as the lead agency spanning from strategy to creative on its licensed Borden Cheese brand, its premium butter brand, Plugra, and upcoming new product launches.

Mihira Rami, Director of Brand Marketing, DFA Dairy Brands, said, "If you look at the industry and what brands, particularly in CPG, need to accelerate growth it really comes down to getting bigger ideas that rise above the noise and getting consumers to take action. We chose gravity.labs because we knew their smaller, senior level team and creativity would bring our visions to life and take business to the next level."

Stated Davin Power, President, gravity.labs, "We're excited to apply our expertise to the brand portfolio of Dairy Farmers of America. We've worked hard since our inception to build an innovative offering that really pushes the limits on what clients can expect from an agency."

Under the new partnership, part of GL's portfolio responsibilities is to develop and execute two year-long campaigns:

Let There Be Cheese

GL's "Let There be Cheese" integrated campaign provides tongue-n-cheek solutions to those crazy moments that happen in family life. It lets consumers know they can feel good about making life "cheesier" when using Borden Cheese for everyday meals and snacks. The campaign includes digital ads, PR, social media, media planning and buying and a website experience.

Additionally, GL will execute a new product launch toward the end of Q1.

Better Butter Matters

GL developed and will continue to execute the "Better Butter Matters" integrated campaign introducing home chefs to the benefits of using premium butter, Plugra, in recipes with key drive periods during Easter and the holidays. The campaign also spans into the brand's foodservice market, targeting pastry chefs across the U.S., noting that only Plugra will do when results must be flawless. The campaign includes digital ads, influencer marketing, website experience, PR, social media and media planning and buying.

Plugra is the official butter of the James Beard House and French Pastry School.

Agency 3.0

GL was founded on a new economy Agency 3.0 model. It's staffed by big agency veterans and global brand experts which allows for fluid, faster and more accurate execution of projects from the onset. This allows clients to have specialists in a myriad of industries collaborating together throughout the entire lifecycle of a project.

"It really comes down to getting bigger and better ideas faster and more efficiently. We chose gravity.labs because of their integrated agency model that delivers everything from creative to digital to PR with smaller and more senior teams. To have all services under one roof allows us to simplify our agency roster and streamline the way we work as well," said Rami.

"We can't wait to see their brands and our relationship grow," added Power.

About gravity.labs

gravity.labs (GL)a fully-integrated advertising agency for the new economyis built on an Agency 3.0 model: better creativity, faster and cheaper. GL is the only new-economy agency with a talent-mandate at its core founded and staffed by big agency veterans and global brand experts. As part of the PBD Group of Companies, GL is the only ad agency to deliver united brand experiences that seamlessly connect digital to physical brand worlds.

About Dairy Farmers of America

Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), is a national, farmer-owned dairy cooperative focused on quality, innovation and the future of family dairies. While supporting and serving more than 14,000 family farmers, DFA manufactures a variety of dairy products, including fluid milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, dairy ingredients and more that connect our Cooperative's family farms with regional brands such as Borden Cheese, Plugra Butter and Kemps to name a few. On a global scale, we work with some of the world's largest food companies to develop ingredients their customers are craving, while staying committed to social responsibility and ethical farming. For more information visit dfamilk.com .

Borden trademark is used under license.

Media Contact

Ruth Keefover

gravity.labs

[email protected]

SOURCE gravity.labs

Related Links

https://www.gravitylabs.agency/


DAEGU, South Korea  The usually crowded shopping and partying district in this city of 2.4 million is quieter these days after officials urged citizens to stay home to contain an explosive outbreak of the coronavirus. But many restaurants and bars remain open, waiting for customers who seldom come.

A noodle restaurant put out the sign: Please come in! We thoroughly disinfect this place twice a day. In a Starbucks outlet, four workers in surgical masks chanted a cheerful welcome when a visitor stepped in. Usually jam-packed with young people, there wasnt a single customer inside.

Daegu, the center of South Koreas ballooning coronavirus outbreak, is trying a less rigid approach to keep the health threat at bay: aggressively warning residents to take precautions while staying open for business. It is a stark contrast to the strict lockdown in Wuhan, China, where government restrictions on movement have barricaded most of the citys 11 million residents in their homes.

[Read: Proselytizing robots: Inside South Korean church at outbreaks center.]

People have been scared and dont want to venture out, said Park Seon-gyu, 58, a taxi driver, pointing at roads where the traffic has considerably thinned since the citys first case of the coronavirus was reported a week ago. But life has to go on. I have to hit the road to make my hand-to-mouth living.
PM Modi wishes Mexican President speedy recovery from Covid 12 Jan 2022 | 8:05 PM New Delhi, Jan 12 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday wished Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador best wishes for a speedy recovery from Covid 19. see more..

Delhi govt seeks explanation from hospitals on 'exponential rise' in Covid-19 deaths 12 Jan 2022 | 7:15 PM By Ashish Srivastava

New Delhi, Jan 12 (UNI) With the exponential rise in the number of Covid-19 deaths, the Delhi government has sought an explanation from the hospitals to assess whether these deaths could have been prevented, government sources told UNI. see more..

More than prepared for new Chinese Border Law: Army Chief 12 Jan 2022 | 7:00 PM New Delhi, Jan 12 (UNI) India is more than adequately prepared to deal with any military ramifications that the new Chinese Land Border Law might bring, Indian Army Chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane said on Wednesday. see more..

Delhi govt seeks explanation from hospitals on 'exponential rise' in Covid-19 deaths 12 Jan 2022 | 6:35 PM New Delhi, Jan 12 (UNI) With the exponential rise in the number of Covid-19 deaths, the Delhi government has sought an explanation from the hospitals to assess whether these deaths could have been prevented, government sources told UNI. see more..
New Delhi: Following US First Lady Melania Trump, US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka on Tuesday went Indian with an Anita Dongre sherwani made of silk from West Bengal.

She wore a white sherwani crafted from handwoven silk from Murshidabad to attend the US President's ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Dongre said in a statement that the sherwani is timeless and a classic.

"We created this style twenty years ago and it's amazing to see how beautifully relevant it is even today. A powerful, standout silhouette, a sherwani carries the same charisma in absolutely any colour but my personal favourites are the evergreen blue, white and black," Dongre said.

Melania, who on Monday paid homage to Indian textile heritage by accessorising her white Herve Pierre jumpsuit with a green silk and golden metallic embroidered sash discovered by the designer in an early 20th century textile document, donned a white shirt-dress by veteran Venezuelan fashion designer Carolina Herrera.

She wore Herrera's bow-detailed embroidered cotton-silk dress and paired it with a red belt and white stilettoes.

Herrera has been a favourite of almost all the first ladies of the US. She has also dressed Jacqueline Lee Kennedy Onassis, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama.

Dongre has previously dressed dignitaries such as British royal Kate Middleton, Belgium's Queen Mathilde, Canada's first lady Sophie Greogoire Trudeau and former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton.
Ashitha Jayaprakash By

Online Desk

Films need to run disclaimers on screen for smoking, consuming alcohol and even scenes with animals -- but not for domestic violence. After all, slaps are not a big deal. Or are they?

The Thappad filmmakers have released a minute and 47 seconds-long video underscoring why even a single slap is not okay and appealed to viewers to sign a petition to Prasoon Joshi, the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification, for disclaimers while showing domestic violence.

WATCH

In the film, actor Taapsee Pannu rams home one point: 'Thappad bas itni si baat nahi hei'.

Just a slap?

No, it's not. It's domestic violence.

As someone who has witnessed domestic violence first hand, I believe this disclaimer will push people to think and talk about it, regardless of whether impatient, pop-corn crunching moviegoers care for it or not.

Dr Hema Tharoor, a senior psychiatrist in Chennai, said, "Just one slap, isn't it? That notion is wrong because it mostly never stops there. But even one hit is unpardonable."

Narrative must change

Movies depict the hero slapping his partner out of anger and frustration. The slap is also portrayed as an expression of love which leads youngsters to think that if you love someone, it's okay to slap - as seen in recent hits like Kabir Singh.

"Culturally, in a patriarchal society a slap is accepted, it is normal. The person who slaps feels justified that it was the right thing to do," said Dr Tharoor.

"A slap signifies suppression, oppression, solution or expression to some but it also marks the beginning of aggression and violence in a relationship," she said.

Dr Tharoor sees movies like Thappad as the beginning of a discussion on how much we tolerate, protest or accept such aggression when we see it.

When asked what stops physical abuse from being reported, she cites upbringing, culture, societal pressures and lack of 'immediate action', like you would get for a 911 call in the US, as possible reasons. But even there, it goes unreported because spouses are afraid of losing their visa status.

"Unless there is a major life-threatening deterrent, intimate partner violence continues," she added.

Dr Tharoor explains that violent behaviour from a person's childhood seeps into their lives as adults. Children who see their parents fighting grow up to exhibit the same behaviour. And so the cycle repeats.

Conversation in Kerala

Kerala, India's most educated state, has been at the forefront when it comes to calling out misogyny. Actor, activist and psychologist Parvathy T said, "Malayalam films are ahead of their times and I am happy producers are backing such films - like Uyare (which features an acid attack victim) for example."

Is the audience ready for such progressive movies?

The veteran actor said, "We should continue showing them. Nobody is ready for anything."

When Kumbalangi Nights was released, she said, "Some people asked me what was wrong with Shammi. They said, 'Why chechi? Why is this person a villain? He ought to take care of his wife. He was protecting his wife and family. What's wrong with that?' So I explained it to them after which they liked the movie."

That's the point. She added that when a movie creates such a narrative, change will come. "So many things are usually brushed under the carpet. This (domestic violence) is not something that should be brushed aside. It should be discussed."

The Kerala film industry that glorified and normalised domestic violence for years finally underwent a serious transformation in recent years.

Well ahead of its peers, it started displaying the warning 'Violence against women is punishable under the law' a year ago.

Just one slap?

The actor agrees hands down that 'just one slap' can be categorised as domestic violence: "Yeah, it cannot happen. Whatever said and done, it's violence."

She noted that we are taught to slap people to correct them -- it all starts in childhood.

"We take our children for granted, some mothers beat them, thinking they have the right to do so just because 'I delivered this child'. These things will bite back," she said on the cycle of violent behaviour.

Taapsee breaks the ceiling

Tapsee's characters over the years as Amrita (Thappad), Minal (Pink) and Shabaana (Naam Shabaana) have broken gender stereotypes.

"Even though people are facing a backlash for making movies that break barriers, they continue. Women are coming to the forefront," said Parvathy.

On actors breaking barriers, she said, "Although some don't approve, they are looking at such movies and saying 'Look, wow, they are actually doing this'. That conversation is happening."
Milrem Robotics, one of the leading manufacturers of unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) introduced at UMEX 2020 its mission proven, fifth generation THeMIS UGV designed to assist soldiers on the battlefield while enhancing their combat effectiveness.

The THeMIS UGV has been especially designed to withstand harsh environments and hot climates. It has proven itself in Mali, Africa where it has been deployed since early 2019 during the French lead anti-insurgent operation Barkhane. The vehicle has driven more than 1000 km during various missions in one of the toughest regions in the world with lava rock soil, loose sand and high temperatures reaching 50 C in the shade.

We are pleased to be back in Abu Dhabi, where just a few years ago we tested the prototype of our unmanned vehicle for durability in hot conditions. Today we are presenting a mature and robust product that has proven itself in extreme hot climates and, as our clients have already determined, will greatly enhance warfighting capabilities, stated Kuldar Vaarsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics.

The THeMIS UGV is in serial production and has already been delivered to France, US, UK, Netherlands and Norway in logistics configuration intended to provide combat support and carry supplies with an option to integrate additional kinetic or non-kinetic payloads.

This tracked multipurpose UGV can be equipped with remote weapon systems, tethered drones, C-IED solutions and ISR sensors. With the possibility to mount various payloads the UGV acts as a force multiplier.

The THeMIS has become the industry standard UGV sought out for various payload integration projects. Together with partners like Kongsberg, FN Herstal, MBDA, ST Engineering and EOS more than a dozen different systems have already been integrated, Vaarsi stated.

Live firing tests have been conducted with five different weapon systems, including the JAVELIN anti-tank missile system.

The fifth generation THeMIS incorporates NATO STANAG standards in the vehicles architecture, safety, air transportability, power offload and other aspects.

In addition, the UGV has been equipped with autonomous functions including point-to-point navigation, obstacle detection and avoidance, enabling it to follow dismounted troops, patrol a perimeter, provide front line resupply and evacuate casualties with minimal intervention by the operator.
[February 25, 2020] INVESTIGATION ALERT: The Schall Law Firm Announces it is Investigating Claims Against Tupperware Brands Corporation and Encourages Investors with Losses to Contact the Firm

The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Tupperware Brands Corporation ("Tupperware" or "the Company") (NYSE: TUP) for violations of the securities laws. The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Tupperware admitted via a press release issued February 24, 2020, that it would be incapable of filing its annual report for the fiscal year ending December 28, 2019, in a timely manner. The Company stated that it expects 2019 net earnings per share "in the range of breakeven to $0.34 versus $3.11 in the prior year" and adjusted EPS of $1.35 to $1.70. Acording to the Company, its Fuller Mexico business suffered "financial reporting issues," and stated that it is "conducting an investigation primarily into the accounting for accounts payable and accrued liabilities at its Fuller Mexico beauty business." It added, "the Company is forecasting a need for relief concerning its existing leverage ratio covenant in its $650 million Credit Agreement dated March 29, 2019, to avoid a potential acceleration of the debt, which could have a material adverse impact on the Company." Based on this news, shares of Tupperware fell by more than 42% during intraday trading on February 25, 2020.



If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 1880 Century Park East, Suite 404, Los Angeles, CA (News - Alert) 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The class in this case has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005860/en/

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Secures High Quality Copper- Gold Project in Peru

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 25, 2020) - Carube Copper Corp. (TSXV: CUC) ("Carube") and Latin America Resource Group ("LARG") are pleased to announce that further to the press release dated August 27, 2019, it has entered into a definitive share purchase agreement dated as of December 9, 2019, with the LARG Shareholders pursuant to which the Company has agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of LARG (the "Transaction"), as described below. LARG is a private company incorporated under the laws of Ontario, Canada. The Transaction has been approved by the TSX-V.

LARG's key asset is the Jasperoide Copper-Gold Project ("Jasperoide") which is located in the highly prospective Andahuaylas-Yauri belt of Peru, host to several large producing copper-gold-molybdenum deposits and mines owned by major companies including Las Bambas (Minmetals Group), Antapaccay (Glencore) and Constancia (Hudbay). The Jasperoide project hosts a number of copper-gold skarn and porphyry targets at various stages of exploration, with drilling by previous explorers intersecting intervals of copper-gold mineralisation. Carube due diligence has also identified the potential for porphyry style copper-gold mineralization.

Mr. Stephen Hughes, CEO of Carube, commented: "As a result of a disciplined and rigorous acquisition strategy over the past 18 months, Carube has successfully completed this Company transforming transaction with LARG. With an experienced management team and a proven track record of building successful mining companies, we can now focus on creating significant value for our shareholders." The initial exploration program we have designed for Jasperoide aims to fast track the project to resource delineation drilling stage and will produce strong news flow throughout 2020. Carube is also continuing to advance and commercialise value at its high-quality pipeline of advanced-stage and drill ready gold-copper projects in Jamaica and Canada

Ms. Kimberly Ann Arntson, President and CEO of LARG adds "Management and shareholders of LARG are extremely excited about the roll Carube can play in developing the Jasperoide Project in Peru. We believe that Carube's technical team can reveal the true mineral potential and that Carube's board can organize the capital to realize that possibility."

Jasperoide

The Jasperoide Project is located in the highly prospective Andahuaylas-Yauri belt of Peru, an emerging porphyry copper province that is host to several producing mining projects. The Jasperoide Project is located approximately 50km east of Minmetal's Las Bambas mine (1.2BT @ 0.61% Cu, 197 ppm Mo1) and First Quantum Minerals undeveloped Haquira deposit (569 MT @ 0.56% Cu2), 40km northwest of Hudbay's Constancia mine (534MT @ 0.31% Cu, 0.059g/t Au, 97ppm Mo3) and 100km northwest of Glencore's Antapaccay mine (592MT @ 0.45% Cu, 0.09 g/t Au4). The Company cautions that mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company's properties. Historic exploration activities at the Jasperoide Project focussed on an outcropping and mineralized copper-gold skarn that shows similar features to Las Bambas and other skarn/porphyry copper-gold deposits such as Ertsberg/Grasberg (Indonesia) in respect of geologic setting and mineralization styles.

1 MMG Limited Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves Statement 30 June 2019

2 First Quantum Minerals Annual Information Form 2019

3 Hudbay Mineral Reserves as of January 1, 2019

4 Glencore Mineral Reserve Estimates December 31, 2018

Jasperoide Project - Claim Ownership

LARG has an option to earn a majority interest in five exploration claims and is in the process of transferring a 100% interest in eight exploration claims to its wholly owned Peruvian subsidiary. The Jasperoide Project covers a total of 5696 hectares. For the optioned claims, LARG must spend USD$5M on exploration (USD$1.7M spent to date) and pay USD$2M (USD$60K paid to date) over the next four years to earn 51% in three concessions and 100% in two concessions. It is expected that LARG can earn to 100% of the three concessions by diluting the underlying vendor to a 1.5% royalty.

Management cautions that past results or discoveries on adjacent properties may not necessarily be indicative to the presence of mineralization on the Jasperoide Project. This press release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Shannon Baird, P.Geo., Carube Copper's Exploration Manager, in his capacity as a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Highlights of the Transaction

All share transaction, LARG shareholders to receive 3.1 Carube shares for each LARG share held on 26 August 2019 and hold approximately 28% of the issued shares in Carube

The consolidated company will hold a portfolio of quality copper gold assets ranging from early stage exploration through to delineation drilling

Carube well-funded to advance its aggressive and systematic exploration and drilling program planned for the Jasperoide project.

Geographic diversification, combined portfolio within the Americas, including Peru, Jamaica and Canada

LARG has the right to nominate one director to the Carube Board

Summary of the Transaction

Each LARG shareholder will receive 3.1 (the "Exchange Ratio") of a common share of Carube (each a "Carube Share"), for every common share of LARG held. Upon closing of the Transaction Carube will: (i) issue an aggregate of 104,025,001 Carube Shares to the former shareholders of LARG and (ii) exchange all outstanding LARG stock options for options to purchase Carube Shares on the basis of the Exchange Ratio, resulting in an aggregate of 14,070,000 replacement options with an exercise price of $0.05 per Carube Share being granted to the former option holders of LARG. The replacement options will expire on December 7, 2024. A finder's fee of 1.4M shares have been issued in association with this transaction. The Carube Shares issued to the LARG Shareholders and the finder's fee shares will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the closing of the Transaction. LARG will nominate Kimberly Ann Arntson as their representative to the Board of Carube. Kimberly Ann is a corporate development and finance specialist with over twenty years marketing experience in branding, investor relations and finance. She has served as CFO, Vice President and Board Member for multiple TSX-listed Junior Mining companies. In the past eight years, While at Prodigy Gold, Kimberly Ann was responsible for all aspects of the company's corporate communication program, facilitating equity financings, generating analyst coverage, participating in key aspects of corporate M&A leading to the $340M buyout by Argonaut Gold.

Effective on the closing of the Transaction, there will be 331,531,930 Carube Shares issued and outstanding. All dollar amounts in Canadian dollar unless otherwise noted.

ABOUT CARUBE COPPER

Carube Copper is focused on creating substantive long-term value for its shareholders through the discovery and development of world class copper and gold deposits. Carube currently holds a 100% interest in 5 licenses covering 207 km2 of highly prospective copper-gold terrain in Jamaica, and a 100% interest in two porphyry copper-gold properties covering 337 km2 within the Cascade Magmatic Arc in southwestern British Columbia and a 100% interest in the 46 km2 Stewart Brook gold project in the Meguma gold belt of Nova Scotia. Carube is actively searching for additional high potential copper and gold properties to add to its portfolio.

For further information please contact:

Stephen Hughes, CEO and President

+1 (647) 517-4574  shughes@carubecopper.com

Jeff Ackert, Vice President, Business Development 

+1 (647) 957-2249  jackert@carubecopper.com

Website: www.carubecopper.com

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

DISCLAIMER & FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, and by their very nature involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on currently available information, Carube Copper Corp. provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Factors which cause results to differ materially are set out in the Company's documents filed on SEDAR. Undue reliance should not be placed on "forward looking statements".

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Carube Copper hereby incorporates the entire disclaimer set forth on its website at http://www.carubecopper.com/uploads/1/6/5/2/16521880/disclaimers-and-forward-statements.pdf

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52756
Ukrainegate, corruption and other things were replaced by a new wave of popularity, which this time has affected even the Asian media. Protests of Ukrainians against the return of their fellow citizens from China surprised the whole world

Ukrainian issue is systematically on the agenda of foreign media. And these topics are not on providing assistance, investment or joining unions. Our country is mentioned in American and European tabloids because of scandals.

Ukrainegate, corruption and other things were replaced by a new wave of popularity, which this time has affected even the Asian media. Protests of Ukrainians against the return of their fellow citizens from China surprised the whole world.

Collisions, mockery and burning tires are waiting evecuees from the coronavirus in Ukraine, reads the headline of the news of American ABC. Coronavirus: in Ukraine, protesters ardenntly oppose the arrival of evacuees, writes the French Lexpress.

The name of the village where citizens from Chinese Wuhan were brought was misrepresented by the media in their own way: both Sanjari and Sanzari were mentioned. Forbes political analyst Kateryna Gorchinska described Novi Sanzhary as a sleepy city with a population of 8,000 in central Ukraine.

From the early morning, hundreds of Sanzari residents blocked the road to the hospital because they were afraid they might get infected. Demonstrators set up security checkpoints, burned tires and clashed with riot police clearing the road. As a result, more than 10 protesters were arrested, writes Chinese media.

Open source

The incident was not ignored by The Times of Israel, because the Israeli Tomer Zvulun remains in quarantine in Ukraine. Media writes: Ukraines efforts on quarantine the evacuation of more than 70 people from China in connection with a new virus outbreak threw the population into chaos.

The media are actively publishing photos of Reuters and ABC, in which demonstrators throw stones at police cars.

Open source

Time also publishes a video in which it is heard that the protesters shout Back off!.

Open source

And if the English-speaking and Chinese media wrote more about the clashes between the police and local residents, then German colleagues emphasized the confrontation between local residents and the evacuees. For example, Zeit posted a headline Wuhan's returnees are stoned.

Ukrainian television showed scenes of unrest when several transport buses with repatriates arrived at a quarantine station in central Ukraine. After that, the demonstrators threw stones at the windows of the buses. Some of the protesters were armed with iron rods," the news read.

Another German media Rtl also added this event to the textual live article on situation with coronavirus.

Open source

We were "highlighted" even on the online media pages of Jamaica. It is noteworthy that journalists also saw the root of the problem as a confrontation between healthy and sick people, and not between civilians and the police: "Ukrainians stoned evacuated from China." ABC emphasizes that Ukrainians threw stones not so much at the police as at the evacuees, but they were unharmed.

Open source

The Russian RT in the article Barricades from coronavirus: how they protest in Ukraine because of the quarantine of compatriots returning from China cites the representative of the regions police Yury Sulaev. According to Sulaev, locals blocked nearby roads all night.

Open source

Hundreds of helmeted police officers, police vans and an armored personnel carrier were sent there to maintain order, Reuters describes the situation.

The consequences for the protesters were few. The Russian columnist of Life mentioned that two criminal cases have already been opened.

How media describes protesters and evacuees

Both the appearance and the morals of the protesters are described not in the pleasant way. Associated Press and The Guardian say some protesters looked drunk.

The demonstrators, some of whom looked drunk, installed road blocks, burned tires and ran into hundreds of riot police. One protester tried to ram the police in his car, "the media write.

In contrast to the uncontrolled and aggressive Ukrainians, foreign media paint a touching and even sadder picture of Ukrainians returning to their homeland.

The masked evacuees, exhausted by the long journey, looked through the broken windows of the bus as it drove slowly under police escort, writes The Guardian.

Open source

The Euronews in its article Coronavirus: Ukrainians oppose the arrival of repatriates from Wuhan has an even more emotional description of new arrivals:

All passengers, including at least one family with children, were masked. Many waved their hands or small Ukrainian flags, while others hid behind the curtains.

Open source

About how this picture was able to soften the locals, says Reuters.

"Is there no other place in Ukraine that can accommodate 50 people, somewhere in remote villages or areas where there is no threat to the population?" quotes the agency a local resident Yuri Dzyubenko.

Open source

One of the protesters suggested leaving them in Chernobyl, the site of the worst nuclear disaster in the world. Another offered to take them to parliament, while a third said that the President of Ukraine Zelensky should host them if he really believes that there is no danger."

This is what I tell him, I tell the president: Accept 10 people, then I will accept two, said a man named Yuri, who did not give his last name, writes The Guardian.

"Residents are unhappy that our city accepts these people," Forbes quotes the words of a local resident Serhiy Oleinyk.

Media also recalls that in Ternopil people built barricades of concrete blocks and prayed against the virus. And if most of them simply stated the dry facts, then some could not resist comment. A particularly vivid assessment is given by Lci, which writes about total psychosis.

"PSYCHOSIS. In Ukraine, because of the fear of coronavirus, dozens of demonstrators tried to block the way for Ukrainians repatriated from Wuhan, - the news begins with such words. The reception was undoubtedly successful, the observer adds sarcastically.

Open source

Russian RT compares what is happening with the evacuation of Russian citizens from Hubei. They emphasize that 144 people without problems and protests spent two weeks in quarantine in a specially equipped center in the Tyumen region.

This is another confirmation of the wretchedness of the radical forces that are trying to light the fire of internal confrontation, which lasts all six years, - states the leader of the Opposition Platform - For Life party Victor Medvedchuk.

The media also cites Russian Foreign Minister Maria Zakharova, who considers the protests dehumanizing civil society and draws parallels with the Middle Ages.

Despite such a sharply negative color of the news, many media outlets nevertheless emphasized that not all Ukrainians reacted this way to their fellow citizens. They mentioned that on social networks the protest caused widespread condemnation.

Evaluation of the authorities actions

Many foreigners showed the reaction of the population to the attempts of Mr. Avakov to calm the crowd.

On a photo published by local media, Mr. Avakov tells the protesters: We are not talking about infected people, but about healthy people. One person replied, Healthy for now, writes the BBC.

Open source

Euronews in its own way delivers Avakovs dialogue with protesters:

These are absolutely healthy people (...) They underwent two checks with Chinese doctors, then two with our doctors, Minister Arsen Avakov assured. If you continue to resist the police, they will arrest you, - he said. Of course, we will resist, the protester shouted.

The Jamaican observer cites the following assessments by the Minister:

"What we saw was shameful ... It was one of the biggest disappointments in my life."

The BBC also writes that Zoryana Skaletska decided to serve as an example for protesters.

In order to demonstrate solidarity with the evacuees, the Minister of Health of Ukraine Zoryana Skaletska said she would join them in quarantine and would manage the ministry via Skype.

Local authorities were described by the foreign tabloids as opposed to the central one. The Guardian writes: Municipal officials promised to continue to oppose evacuation, since the sanatoriums sewer system leads to the villages system and ends in a nearby site.

The assessments of government actions are extremely negative.

The evacuation of people from Wuhan was surrounded by secrets, rumors and bewilderment. Authorities were unable to effectively report the absence of danger before passengers arrived and kept their destination secret. The fact that the plane from China first flew in the direction of the Kharkiv airport in eastern Ukraine and flew around it caused confusion and speculation on social networks, writes Forbes.

And Deutsche Welle believes that the reason is poor medical preparation:

"Ukrainians deeply distrust their government, as the country suffers from corruption and has a weak healthcare system. The country also struggled with a measles epidemic amid some peoples unwillingness to vaccinate themselves and their children," the media writes.

Open source

This was also emphasized by Euronews:

There are no cases of coronavirus in Ukraine, located between Russia and the European Union, but its healthcare system, which is largely collapsing, seems to be poorly prepared for the challenge of a new coronavirus, which increases public concerns.

BBC journalists consider one of the reasons for the protests a fake letter allegedly from the Ministry of Health that there were coronavirus patients on the plane. The media say that the SBU has denied this data and is investigating the incident. The futility of such actions is highlighted by the American BuzzFeed News.

It does not seem to matter that the Public Health Center of Ukraine (Ministry of Health) issued a message warning of fake news, or that President Zelensky said: the authorities control everything, the news said.

Open source

"In Ukraine, where trust in the health care system and government is low, concern about the outbreak has spread as quickly as the false news that the first cases of the disease appeared in the country," the site notes.

French Rfi also writes that, in spite of everything, the authorities could not reassure the protesters.

For several hours, the inhabitants of the small village of Novi Sanzhary (between Kyiv and Kharkiv in the east) remained unshakable with respect to the arguments of the president and the Minister of the Interior, who arrived at the scene. Nothing can reassure residents: beaten by riot police, according to the Today website, demonstrators threw stones at 7 buses, the news reads.

It is interesting that Voice of America was probably the only one which did not give too vivid estimates and raised the issue of weather. The publication is called: "Weather and protests impede quarantine efforts in Ukraine."

For many media, the chronicle ends only in the riots in Ukraine, and only a few of them emphasize that the evacuees still managed to get to the sanatorium. And this means that the negative impression of Ukraine in the world community will be mothballed for a while.

However, the Ukrainian media are already writing that the locals wanted to burn the sanatorium. So it is unlikely that the silence of world media would be long.
President Klaus Iohannis stated, on Tuesday, that in 2020 the Ministry of National Defence (MApN) will have to focus on consolidating the strategic profile of Romania in NATO and the EU, accelerating the process of developing the operational capacity of the Army, as well as initiating and running endowment programs.

"This year, the Ministry of National Defence will have to focus its efforts on reaching some concrete objectives: consolidating the strategic profile within NATO and the EU, accelerating the process of developing the operational capacity of the Army, as well as initiating and running endowment programs, in view of ensuring new capabilities necessary to the structure of forces. All these against the backdrop of the continuing participation with military troops in the theaters of operations outside the national territory of Romania," said the head of state, at the presentation of the MApN's 2019 activity stocktaking.President Klaus Iohannis brought to mind that following the political agreement made in 2015, Romania has been allocating 2 pct of the GDP for Defence."The increase in budgetary allocations calls for more attention to the way this money is spent, the way in which the strategic endowment programs for the army are launched, in agreement with the real priorities of the Defence and the way in which the Ministry of Defence runs the contracts and follows through the deadlines. This financing must also ensure better training for all army structures, an updating of planned exercises to the realities of contemporary conflicts and adequate involvement of our allies and partners in these exercises, taking place in a joint, complex and dynamic environment. Furthermore, using the sums allotted to Defence, it's necessary to ensure and improve working and living conditions for servicemen, because they represent the most treasured resource of the Romanian Army; as well as ours, all those who bear the responsibility of the country's defence," said Iohannis.The head of state reiterated that membership in NATO and the European Union, as well as the Strategic Partnership with the US remain the conceptual strategic triad of Romania's foreign and security policy."In a period fraught with risks, challenges and threats, dynamic or latent, the need of a strong North Atlantic Alliance, united and efficient, is greater than ever. NATO represents a successful military alliance and we will continue to act coherently and in convergence, together with the other member states, so that it becomes stronger," Iohannis emphasized.He congratulated the servicemen for the high level of professionalism and for the competence with which they fulfilled their missions in 2019 as well."The Army represents more than an institution fundamental for the functioning of the Romanian state. You, the men and women in uniform, are an elite corps that has won the respect and trust of Romanians due to the devotion and patriotism you show in putting yourself in the service of our country. (...) The activity stocktaking of the Ministry of National Defence for last year speaks for itself regarding the abnegation with which you do your duty in the country, or in theaters of operations in Afghanistan, the Western Balkans or Mali," mentioned Iohannis.The head of state showed that the Romanian Army has a major contribution to fulfilling the responsibilities assumed within NATO and implementing the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union."The activity of the NATO structures on the national territory, and I'm referring to the NATO Force Integration Units, to the Multinational Division Headquarters and the Multinational Brigade South-East in Craiova, confirm the level of competence of our servicemen and the trust Romania enjoys in front of its allies. The Romanian servicemen also bring a major contribution in the operations and missions conducted under the aegis of NATO and the EU, especially the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, as well as the NATO KFOR and EU ALTHEA operations in the theater of operations in the Balkans and in the NATO mission in Iraq. Furthermore, very important is also the continuation of Romanian participation in NATO Battle Group Poland, which materializes the enhanced forward presence. For the sacrifices made in fulfilling all of these missions, the Romanian servicemen deserve our gratitude," Iohannis added.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : The Maujpur-Babarpur metro station has become a battle ground with rival groups pelting each other with stones and throwing petrol bombs with bullets being fired intermittently.

As the day wore on, the ambulances were frequently seen transporting the injured.

Helmets are in huge demand as stone pelting from both sides is incessant. Armed with iron and wooden rods, the rioters let out a "war cry" when a projectile hits someone in the rival camp.

Policemen continue to fire tear gas shells even as rioters cover their faces with wet handkerchiefs.

A small bridge over a drain is the only link between both sides.

Journalists covering the violence are heckled and forced to delete pictures or videos.

Glass bottles, a piece of cloth and petrol are just the things they need to make a petrol bomb.

Joint Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar, who is leading his force, told IANS, "The situation is tense. We are trying to bring it under control." But the "war cries" echo across the area as Kumar tells his men to fire tear gas shells and protect themselves from petrol bombs and bullets. He himself ducked as stones were flung towards him.

On Tuesday afternoon, stone-throwing was reported from Kardampuri area near the Maujpur metro station area.

Locals claimed that four bullets were fired by an unidentified person in which a person was injured and taken to a hospital.

A journalist covering the protest got a bullet injury. He was shifted to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital.

At Maujpur metro station, a large number of people carrying the Tricolour and sticks have gathered to protest against those sitting near the Jaffarabad metro station over the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The protest over the CAA and the NRC started on Saturday night when women protesters staged a sit-in near the metro station.
The Egyptian presidency has declared three days of public mourning, starting Wednesday, to mark the death of ousted president Hosni Mubarak.

The presidency, the armed forces and the parliament have all issued statements mourning the former president, who passed away at a Cairo hospital on Tuesday aged 91 after a period of ill health.

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Festus Keyamo has criticized the call by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking Supreme Court to review its rulings on the Preside...





Festus Keyamo has criticized the call by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking Supreme Court to review its rulings on the Presidential Election and governorship elections in some states.





Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP spokesman announced this at a press conference in Abuja on Monday.





Reacting, Keyamo described the call for review by PDP as a mockery of the judicial system.





The minister added that if PDP and its lawyers are not called to order by the apex court, they are bound to destroy the sanctity of the Supreme court and democracy.

Keyamo on his Twitter page wrote: Until the Supreme Court bares its judicial fangs and recommends some unscrupulous lawyers engaged in this kind of mockery of the judicial system for professional discipline, we are going to destroy the otherwise inviolable sanctity of that Court and ultimately destroy our democracy.
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter tells the story of 15-year-old Julia Reyes, a rebellious, outspoken, but also funny, young Mexican girl growing up in Chicago, fighting the traditional gender roles her immigrant parents believe in and navigating through high school, while also grieving for her recently-deceased sister, Olga, who was seen as the perfect Mexican daughter. But Olga had secrets, and as Julia sets out on a path to discover who Olga truly was, she begins to find her own sense of self.
The Pune police on Tuesday night arrested Anil Bhosale, the promoter of the Pune-headquartered Shivajirao Bhosale Cooperative Bank and three other officials for alleged fraud of over Rs 71 crore at the bank.

Anil Shivajirao Bhosale was an NCP leader and Member of Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC).

In January, the police had registered a case against Bhosale, an MLC from NCP, his wife and 15-16 others, including the board of directors, for alleged forgery, misappropriation and cheating.

"We have arrested Bhosale, Suryaji Jadhav, chief accountant Shailesh Bhosale and one Padwal on Tuesday," said a senior official from Pune police.

Police said that on the directions of Reserve Bank of India, the complainant, who is an auditor, had conducted a financial audit of the year 2018-19 and found Rs 71,78,87,723 less in the 'cash in hand' segment of the bank.

"All the accused colluded with each other and cheated the bank by forging records," police had said.

In October last year, the cooperative department of the Maharashtra government dismissed the board of directors of the bank and appointed an administrator.

Special scrutiny conducted by the Reserve Bank of India in April 2019 revealed several "adverse" features and "serious irregularities" in the functioning of the bank, the office of Commissioner of Cooperation had said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
5 1 of 5 Katy Independent School District / Katy Independent School District Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Photo by Peter McElwain Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Courtesy by Katy ISD Show More Show Less 5 of 5









During his time as Katy Independent School District architect, Peter McElwain led teams to design and build 25 elementary schools, nine junior highs and six high schools. Now, Elementary No. 43 will bear his name.

The new school is in the Elyson neighborhood in the northeast part of the district and is slated to open just before the 2020-2021 school year. McElwain designed the prototype for the school, so it is fitting that the campus will be named after him.
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

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
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/25/2020



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Episode 9

Madison warns Peter about sleeping with the other women

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Peter and the bachelorettes travel to Australia

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Hannah Ann has her Fantasy Suite date with Peter

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Victoria has her Fantasy Suite date with Peter

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Victoria's in love with Peter, and Peter's in love with all three women!

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Madison begins her Fantasy Suite date with Peter

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Madison reveals she's a virgin and reiterates her non-ultimatum ultimatum

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Peter tells Madison he has had sex with the other women

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Peter begs Madison to not walk away

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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.

featured Madison Prewett walking away from Peter Weber during their Fantasy Suite date after learning he had been "intimate" with at least one of his other two bachelorettes during Monday night's broadcast of Season 24 on ABC.Peter's Final 3 bachelorettes heading into the next phase of this process were Madison, Hannah Ann Sluss and Victoria Fuller broadcast began with Madison pulling Peter aside in an airport hangar after he eliminated Kelsey Weier following hometowns.Madison had realized just how serious this process was, and she was developing stronger and stronger feelings for Peter. She therefore knew it was time to express her views on an engagement and Fantasy Suites."I am saving myself for marriage. I can't keep moving forward and continuing this relationship if I don't get the clarity and peace and confidence I need. It's just hard to know what to say, and I am definitely worried and concerned," Madison told the cameras.When Madison and Peter sat down to talk, she hesitated and struggled to gather her words, and her behavior scared Peter right off the bat."Next week, if you were to sleep with somebody else, it would be really hard for me to, like, really move forward in this. And I just feel like I owe it to you to be upfront with you and honest about that. That's really important to me," Madison told Peter.Peter asked for clarification, asking whether Madison would leave the show if he ended up spending the night with someone else.Madison didn't give Peter a "yes" or "no" answer; she just said it would be "really hard" for her to deal with.Peter asked Madison to give it to him straight, saying he really needed to know what was going on inside of her head. He asked if she wanted him to end it all, but she said that's not what she was implying.Peter admitted he wanted to be fair to his other two relationships and didn't want his actions in those relationships to make Madison think less of what they had."This is obviously something I need to know right now," Peter said. "Are you saying you wouldn't be able to keep this going with me if I spent the night with someone else? Just so we can be clear?"Madison said "in no way" did she want to give him an "ultimatum" and tell him what he "can and can't do," but at the same time, she vaguely reiterated how "actions speak louder than words" and she's just "really big on that."Peter assured Madison that she meant a lot to him, but she didn't seem to find peace in his words. He added, "I'm crazy about you."Peter told the cameras Madison meant the world to him but she had thrown him a curveball by suggesting she wouldn't be okay with him being intimate with anyone else.Peter didn't know how to proceed because Madison hadn't even professed her love for him while both Hannah Ann and Victoria had already said they were "falling in love" or "in love" with him.Peter wanted to be fair to his other two relationships and not hold back on exploring his feelings for Hannah Ann and Victoria. He said Madison's comments were going to make the week much more difficult for him, and Madison was admittedly "dreading" the week.Peter and his Final 3 bachelorettes then traveled to Gold Coast, Australia for Fantasy Suite week.Peter was feeling "very seriously" about all three women, and he intended to give each of his three remaining relationships the best chance.Madison, Hannah Ann and Victoria were then shown moving into the same hotel suite for Fantasy Suite week for the first time in history.Victoria noted it was "so awkward" to be living with Peter's other girls.Peter's first date was with Hannah Ann, and Madison noted, "Peter is a big boy and I trust him, and at the end of the day, that's what I'm clinging to... Now, the ball is in his court and he's got some big decisions to make."For the day portion of their date, Hannah Ann and Peter rode jet skis, and Peter said he appreciated how Hannah Ann shares the same passion and zest for life.While sitting on a little private beach, Hannah Ann asked Peter how he was feeling. Peter said he knew exactly how he felt about her and that helped him through moments of uncertainty.Hannah Ann promised Peter that after the week she would put forth the sacrifice, understanding and patience she would need to make their relationship work.Hannah Ann cried about the idea of Peter spending the night with two other women, but she assured the Bachelor, "I believe in us," adding how that mentality helped her to overcome her fear.Peter told Hannah Ann he meant it when he said he was falling in love with her, and Hannah Ann said it meant so much to her to hear that.Peter noted it was "the best feeling in the world" to have Hannah Ann's love and he had "zero doubt" they had incredible passion and chemistry, which he said he needs in a relationship and future marriage."She's making my heart come out of my chest, and if this is what love is, then this is true love -- because I'm feeling it," Peter shared in a confessional of Hannah Ann. "I don't ever want to come down from this, and hopefully I'll never have to."While Madison was struggling with thoughts of Peter in a Fantasy Suite with Hannah Ann and waking up next to other women, Hannah Ann was giddy, excited and anxious about her night with Peter.Over dinner, Peter told Hannah Ann that he could definitely envision a future with her and was so glad she never allowed "doubt to creep in." Hannah Ann promised the Bachelor she was "all in" because she'd rather leave with her heart broken than with regret.Peter gushed to Hannah Ann that he was 100 percent sure he was falling in love, and Hannah expressed how she was completely devoted to him."I want you to do what you have to do in order to get there... I don't need to know the details; I don't care. It's about being together in the end," Hannah Ann told Peter.Peter thanked Hannah Ann for making a "really, really complicated" and "tough" week a little bit easier, and then he offered her the Fantasy Suite date invitation.Hannah Ann insisted she was in love with Peter and would never pass up on getting to spend more time with him. She told the cameras looking at Peter was like looking at a reflection of her own heart.She therefore accepted the Fantasy Suite date invitation, and Peter showed Hannah Ann around their hotel suite for the night -- which included a hot tub overlooking the city skyline."I see exactly what I have in front of me. I have the most perfect woman that I've honestly always dreamt of. Truly, the sky is the limit for us," Peter said.Footage then captured Peter and Hannah Ann making out while lying in bed, followed by a makeout session behind the closed doors of a shower.The next day, Hannah Ann returned to the ladies' hotel suite, and it was extremely uncomfortable for the women to reunite and talk about Hannah Ann's night. Hannah Ann simply said the night was great, and then Victoria took off for her date.Despite the obstacles Peter and Victoria had faced in their relationship, Peter said he and the bachelorette continued to choose each other and rise above their issues.Peter's feelings for Victoria kept him invested in their relationship, but he wanted to start off their Fantasy Suite date on a clean slate.When the date began, Peter told Victoria he trusted her and had her back as a result, which Victoria was very thankful to hear."I see the fight in you, and obviously I'm still fighting for you as well," Peter told Victoria, adding, "I don't want to look back at all."Peter then whisked Victoria away in a helicopter, where they could view the Gold Coast from the air.While flying, Peter said he had "fire" with Victoria and knew they'd never have a boring relationship. While some people might argue he and Victoria had too much passion, that's what he liked about their romance.The only area the couple needed to work on was communication, and Victoria had threatened to walk away before. Peter therefore intended to have some real, deep conversation with Victoria that day.The pair later sat down and discussed their issues, and Victoria said she didn't want Peter to give up on her, especially since they fought during her hometown date in Virginia Beach.Peter admitted their relationship had been tried more than the others but he fights for what he really wants."Once I'm invested in something or somebody, it's, like, game over," Victoria agreed.Peter felt "horrible" he had never met Victoria's family during this process, and he said he thought about that "over and over again." But Peter thanked Victoria for surprising him in his hotel room in Virginia Beach the next day.Victoria hoped her relationship with Peter would be "smooth sailing" going forward, and she finally felt they were on the same page.Meanwhile, Madison and Hannah Ann talked about Madison's expectations for herself, for Peter and their relationship on the show."I realize that I have high standards, but I would hope he would have that for me too. Peter sleeping with anybody else definitely makes me feel uncomfortable... I told Peter that I didn't know if I would be able to continue this if he were to sleep with other women," Madison told Hannah Ann."That is such a big a big deal to me that I kind of feel it's a make or break for me."Hannah Ann was thrown off by Madison's disclosure and called it "madness." She couldn't believe Madison was acting this way considering the women knew what they had signed up for and should have known Fantasy Suite week would be uncomfortable.That night, Peter and Victoria kept the momentum going with a romantic dinner.Victoria shared with Peter her behavior in their relationship stemmed from the fact she had never been asked about her feelings during her previous three-and-a-half year relationship.Victoria said Peter's questions made her feel defensive, like he was asking because something was wrong -- when in actuality, he just wanted to know more about her. Peter understood where she was coming from and asked for 100 percent confidence he could always depend on her and lean on her.Peter didn't want Victoria to get so pissed off in a misunderstanding that she'd walk away from him instead of talking things out. Peter also asked Victoria not to push him away.Victoria admitted she didn't feel good enough for her ex, and Peter asked the bachelorette why she didn't feel good enough. But Victoria didn't know how to respond and said he ex had made her question everything, and she started to cry and got inside her head again.Peter assured Victoria he wasn't judging her and was there for her."I want you to truly feel like you deserve all the love in the world and it's not something that's going to scare you or freak you out... I want you to accept that. Our relationship is so amazing to me," Peter told Victoria."I don't just want something that's going to be so easy all the time and monotone and not challenging."Victoria told Peter she hadn't felt this way for a man in a long time and wanted to be good for the pilot since she was convinced he was good for her.Victoria agreed to spend more time with Peter in the Fantasy Suite, and the couple had reached "a huge turning point" in their relationship. Peter said nothing had taken them down yet, and Peter was prepared for whatever was to come in their future."I'm just so excited. I've never felt like this. It's a pretty good feeling to be happy," Victoria told the cameras, before telling Peter the night had solidified that she was falling in love with him.Victoria felt grateful and lucky to have Peter, and she said she didn't know it was possible a relationship could be so good."I love him so much. I put him through so much," Victoria cried in a confessional.Meanwhile, Madison was feeling "sad, discouraged and uncomfortable" about Peter spending the night with Victoria. She repeated how it would be hard for her to continue on if Peter decided to be intimate with either Hannah Ann or Victoria, or the both of them."I think it's a black-and-white situation of hearts full or hearts break, and I hope that it's hearts full," Madison told the cameras.The next day, Peter woke up with Victoria and they gushed about having a wonderful night together. Peter finally felt like they had caught a break and were able to focus on nothing but their relationship."I hoped for this. I could see it; I just didn't know how we'd get there. I felt like I was falling in love, but now, I'm in love," Victoria told Peter in bed before he kissed her.Victoria said Fantasy Suite night took their relationship "forward in more ways than one.""But the most important was the emotional aspect and understanding each other," Victoria told the cameras."We are just so connected now, and he is just my person. I don't think I've ever felt like this. I can just see the future with him. I do. It's all I see... and I am so hopeful."Peter and Victoria then said goodbye, and Peter said he had the most amazing time with her. Peter had nothing but confidence in their romance at this point, and he said their relationship felt "so right, so easy, and honestly, perfect."Peter then dropped a bombshell in a confessional."I am in love with three women right now, and I'm torn three ways right now. I have no idea how I'm going to do this. I really don't," Peter confessed.Once Victoria returned to her hotel suite with Madison and Hannah Ann, she said she received clarity and had "a productive" night with Peter, "definitely."With that being said, Madison walked away from the girls, and Hannah Ann said she was "unwinding."However, Madison was all smiles when she began her own Fantasy Suite date with Peter, who gushed about how he had missed the bachelorette so much and loved every minute he got to spend with her.Peter then told Madison they'd be climbing the tallest building in Gold Coast, Australia. Peter was certain he and Madison could get through anything together, including this task, because of their strong feelings for each other.Madison wondered whether she and Peter were on the same page, and she feared everything they had might come crashing down on them.But when the pair reached the top of the building, Madison embraced Peter and acknowledged her struggle on had all been worth it. They kissed and were both on Cloud 9."I look at Peter and I feel so safe and so secure. I realized that I can see Peter as the father of my kids and the man I just realized I am in love with," Madison told the cameras.Peter said when he was with Madison, he never wanted to let go.Meanwhile, Hannah Ann shared with Victoria how Madison had high expectations of Peter for Fantasy Suite week but had yet to reveal she's a virgin. Victoria was taken aback by the news, and didn't like how Madison basically gave Peter "an ultimatum.""To question somebody and put him on the spot about other relationships that are private, I don't know. That just doesn't really sit well with me," Victoria told Hannah Ann.Victoria then said in a confessional, "Putting him in that position is so unfair. I just don't want Peter to feel bad about any decisions he's made up to this point. I care about him so much that it makes me mad for him. I don't think that's right -- no matter what your values and morals are."Victoria also told Hannah Ann it wasn't fair for Madison to expect Peter to not be intimate when he had two other real relationships developing and being established.That night, Madison told Peter before dinner she had never felt this way before."I am in love with Madison, no doubt about that. And I just want to continue to get closer and closer to her with every second that I spend with her," Peter told the cameras.But Peter was anxious about the topic of intimacy. He just hoped Madison would keep her heart open and they could work through anything together and move forward as a couple.Peter started off what turned out to be a tense conversation by sharing how he had been torn. Peter reminded Madison he had two other relationships going on, but Madison said she never meant to make Peter feel uncomfortable or give him an ultimatum.Madison said that's not her heart and she apologized for how things might have come across. But Madison explained Fantasy Suites were especially hard for her because she's a virgin."Growing up, I made a commitment to myself and I decided I wanted to save myself for marriage," Madison told Peter, adding that she wants to give her body, soul and spirit to her husband on her wedding day.Madison didn't expect Peter to make the same life decisions, but she said she did expect them to be honest and open with each other. Peter respected Madison's commitment to being a virgin and asked her to clarify her expectations."For me, I wouldn't be able to say 'yes' to an engagement and continue to, like, move forward if you have slept with the other women," Madison admitted.Madison said she wasn't trying to come across judgmental or hold something over his head -- that she just needed to explain and stick by the expectations she had in life."So you would possibly give up a forever with each other because of something that happened this week with another relationship of mine? You'd be able to walk away from this?" Peter asked, looking for clarification.Madison said she just couldn't wrap her mind around potentially accepting a marriage proposal from Peter if, six days before that, he had sex with someone else. Peter decided not to share details with Madison about his other Fantasy Suite dates, but she apparently wasn't asking for specifics.But Madison claimed she still needed something from Peter, regardless of how uncomfortable this conversation was. Madison then started to cry, saying she didn't want to feel bad about the standards she had."I'm so proud of who I am and the choices that I've made... and it's been so freaking hard in this because I've had to look past a lot of things," Madison told the Bachelor while getting choked up."No, I'm not okay with a guy to be kissing other women, but I've fought... I've sacrificed a lot and I've compromised a lot, and I've really pushed myself in a lot of ways that I wouldn't normally for anybody else. But you're worth it, and I'm fighting. And I'm still fighting. But this is one thing -- that's why I voiced it to you."Peter didn't want Madison to think the process was all about sex, but clearly, this was a serious subject for them."I don't know how else to do this, but I'll just be very honest. I'm not going to give you any details, but I have been intimate," Peter confessed. "And I can't lie to you about that."Madison appeared disappointed and nearly devastated, but Peter told Madison every moment they had shared together had been amazing and he could 100 percent see them being together in the end."But I have to be honest with you. Coming into this week, I could see that with other people too. I hate that I can say that to you, but that's the truth too," Peter said.Madison then began playing with her hair and an awkward silence fell on the couple.Madison excused herself from the table "for a second," but she appeared to maintain her distance from Peter for quite a while.Madison cried outside by herself while Peter also cried sitting alone at their dinner table. Madison said she felt "really, really hurt and really let down.""I made it very clear -- I told him there was a chance he could lose me if he made certain decisions, and he made them anyways," Madison vented in a confessional."I'm so frustrated with him. I'm so mad at him."Peter then joined Madison outside and held her close as she cried. Peter apologized for hurting her and repeated, "I'm so sorry," adding that he hated the situation they were in.Peter acknowledged that he knew how difficult this must be for her, but he insisted, "I can't lose you."Madison said she felt really hurt and couldn't change who she is, what she believes in, and what she stands for. Madison didn't want to feel bad for "having that and being that."Peter asked Madison, who had her head down during their embrace, to look at him. Peter begged Madison to get past this, but she said, "I don't know. I'm torn."Madison was conflicted between sticking by her needs and expectations vs. her feelings for Peter. Madison mentioned walking away, but Peter begged her not to."I know I'm not perfect. I'm not even close. But if you can honestly see you and me being together forever, don't walk away. Please don't. I know that I'm hurt you, and I'm sorry for that, but please don't walk away from this," Peter said."What do you need to do?" Peter asked."I don't know," Madison replied.Peter then gave Madison a hug and kissed her sweetly on the forehead three times, but she broke their embrace and walked away from him, leaving Peter in tears.Interested in more news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
Amazon is reportedly scrambling to secure inventory that has already been shipped from China to the US amid concerns the company may not have enough products to see them through Prime Day in July as the coronavirus continues to spread.

The online retail giant is said to be communicating with third-party sellers to determine whether the coronavirus will interrupt their supply chains, according to a report in The New York Times.

Since the coronavirus outbreak several companies have shut down their stores in China, including Apple and Burberry.

Just last week, Apple warned that a global iPhone shortage could occur due to the coronavirus after it was forced to close 42 of its Chinese factories.

Amazon is reportedly scrambling to secure inventory from vendors that has already been shipped from China to the US amid concerns the company may not have enough products to see them through Prime Day as the coronavirus continues to spread

According to the Times, Amazon is concerned about similar shortages.

'Out of an abundance of caution, we are working with suppliers to secure additional inventory to ensure we maintain our selection for customers,' an Amazon spokeswoman told the Times.

'We are monitoring developments related to the coronavirus and taking appropriate steps as needed,' she added.

Amazon, which is the world's largest online retailer, tends to stock fewer goods in warehouses than other retailers do.

They rely on what is called a 'lean inventory' business model.

As a safeguard, Amazon has ordered six to eight weeks worth of some Chinese-made products compared to its usual two-to-three week inventory.

The deadly coronavirus continues to spread globally. More than 80,000 people have been affected so far and more than 2,700 have died from the virus.

President Donald Trump recently tried to calm public fears and panicked markets amid concerns of a massive coronavirus outbreak when he said the situation 'is very well under control' in the United States and folks who had it were recovering.

The deadly coronavirus continues to spread globally. More than 80,000 people have been affected so far and more than 2,700 have died from the virus. This image was taken in Shanghai on Tuesday

'We've had very few people with it,' he said a press conference in Delhi.

'The people are getting better - they're all getting better.'

'There's a very good chance you're not going to die,' he said of those infected.

There are 53 cases of the virus in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Trump also assured business leaders that the US was in 'very good shape' in regards to the coronavirus.

'We think we're in very good shape in the United States,' Trump said at a business roundtable in Delhi as he began wrapping up a two-day state visit to India.

Trump, speaking to American and Indian business leaders, joked that their investments in the US have made them a lot of money 'except for yesterday,' noting the stock market drop.

The Dow plunged 1,000 points on Monday, posting its worst day in two years, amid fears of a spike in cases of the coronavirus.

'I think it's going to be under control,' the president said of the outbreak and lamented the market drop as being out of his or anyone else's control.
Spotify Technology S.A. (SPOT) is an audio-streaming subscription service legally domiciled in Luxembourg, but whose operational headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, where the company was first launched. Its streaming services are monetized through both premium subscriptions and advertising, officially designated as its Premium Service segment and Ad-Supported Service segment, respectively.

Spotify offers its services globally with a presence in 93 countries and territories, and boasts 345 million monthly active users (MAUs) and 155 million Premium Subscribers as of December 31, 2020. Some of the company's primary competitors include Apple Inc. (AAPL), Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN), and Google, whose parent company is Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL). Unlike these rivals, Spotify doesn't have devices on which its music-streaming service is preloaded, putting the company at a significant competitive disadvantage.

Key Takeaways Spotify provides audio-streaming services.

The biggest share of Spotify's revenues comes from its Premium Service, which provides online and offline ad-free music and podcast streaming to paying subscribers.

Spotify aims to continue generating revenue through the retention of current users, attraction of new ones, and conversion of users of the Ad-Supported Service to the Premium Service.

Spotify recently launched its audio streaming services in South Korea.

Spotify's Financials

Spotify files financial statements with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), but as a foreign entity, the company is not required to file in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Instead, Spotify files in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

Spotify's revenue rose 16.5% to 7.9 billion in FY 2020, which ended Dec. 31, 2020. Nearly half of Spotify's revenue originated in the following three countries: the U.S. at 2.9 billion, the U.K. at 836 million, and Luxembourg at 5 million, for a combined revenue share of 48%. The other 52%, or 4.1 billion, originated in other countries throughout the world.

Despite growing revenue, the company recorded a net loss of 581 million in FY 2020. That net loss was more than three times the net loss of 186 million posted in the previous year.

Spotify's Business Segments

Spotify monetizes its streaming services through two main business segments: Premium Service and Ad-Supported Service. The company provides segment breakdowns of revenue and gross profit, the latter of which was reported as 2.0 billion in FY 2020, generating a consolidated gross margin of nearly 26%.

Premium Service

Spotify offers audio-streaming services to both paying and non-paying members. However, paying members, known as Premium Subscribers, are able to enjoy unlimited online and offline access to Spotify's entire catalog of music and podcasts without having to listen to commercials. Spotify generates revenue from its Premium Service segment through subscription fees.

The segment posted revenue of 7.1 billion in FY 2020, comprising about 91% of total revenue for the year. Gross profit came in at 2.0 billion, comprising essentially all of Spotify's gross profit for the year. The segment's revenue grew 17.2% compared to FY 2019. Gross profit grew 22.3% compared to the previous year. The segments gross margin was 28%, up 1% from the previous year.

Ad-Supported Service

Members who do not pay for a premium subscription are able to access Spotify's Ad-Supported Service. Such users have limited on-demand online access to the company's music catalog and unlimited online access to its catalog of podcasts. Users' streaming experience is interspersed with advertisements. Spotify's revenue from its Ad-Supported Service segment is primarily generated through the sale of advertising across its music and podcast content.

The segment posted 745 million in revenue in FY 2020, comprising about 9% of total revenue for the year. The segment reported a gross profit of 6 million, a negligible share of the company's consolidated gross profit. The segment's revenue rose 9.9% while gross profit sank 92.4% compared to FY 2019.

Spotify's Recent Developments

On Feb. 1, 2021, Spotify announced that it was launching its streaming services in South Korea. The company said that South Korea was the sixth-largest music market in the world. South Korea is now the 93rd market where Spotify's services are offered.

On Nov. 2, 2020, Spotify announced that it was going to start testing a new service that will help artists to promote their music on the company's platform. The service will employ a modification to the algorithms Spotify uses to suggest new music to its users. This modification will enable greater control for artists to promote particular songs. But artists would be paid a lower rate for their music in exchange for the added promotional boost.

How Spotify Reports Diversity and Inclusiveness

As part of our effort to improve the awareness of the importance of diversity in companies, we offer investors a glimpse into the transparency of Spotify and its commitment to diversity, inclusiveness, and social responsibility. We examined the data Spotify releases to show you how it reports the diversity of its board and workforce to help readers make educated purchasing and investing decisions.

Below is a table of potential diversity measurements. It shows whether Spotify discloses its data about the diversity of its board of directors, C-Suite, general management, and employees overall, as is marked with a . It also shows whether Spotify breaks down those reports to reveal the diversity of itself by race, gender, ability, veteran status, and LGBTQ+ identity.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday announced the state had filed a motion for partial summary disposition in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, arguing Michigans Medicaid work requirements wont stand up because of a higher courts ruling.

Passed in 2018 and signed into law by former Gov. Rick Snyder, the work requirements went into effect Jan. 1. Under the new law, able-bodied adults receiving Medicaid under the Healthy Michigan Plan must do 20 hours per week, or 80 hours per month, of workforce engagement -- things like working or going to school.

But a lawsuit filed late last year by a coalition of state and national health care advocates sought to stop the state from implementing the new requirements by arguing the federal approval for the state to implement them was invalid.

Related: Lawsuit challenges Michigans Medicaid work requirements

Similar lawsuits, Whitmer said in a press release, have resulted in other states work requirements being ruled illegal.

"Im fighting to protect health care because everyone deserves access to quality, affordable care, Whitmer said.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia recently struck down a law just like Michigans. Since its inevitable that the courts will also find Michigans work requirements unlawful, we should not move forward with implementation. Doing so would waste millions of taxpayer dollars and cause senseless confusion for tens of thousands of families.

Its the second time recently Whitmer has called for winding back the states work requirements. In December, she urged the legislature to suspend them before they started. The legislature declined to do so.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon said the department would continue to implement the law but called it an unproductive exercise.

More time and stress for Michiganders complying with reporting requirements, more energy from our staff and partners implementing them, and more than $1 million each month funding these efforts, on top of more than $30 million spent alreadyall of this is going to be wasted, Gordon said.

The department will send notices to 80,000 people who did not comply with reporting requirements on March 10, according to the states legal filing, and people will begin being cut off of Medicaid assistance on May 31.

The case, Young v. Azar, was filed in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. The plaintiffs are four Michigan residents represented by the Michigan Center for Civil Justice, National Health Law Program and the Michigan Poverty Law Program.

The defendants are U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Director Seema Verma, as well as U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Related:

Whitmer signs bill to change Medicaid work requirement reporting, says legislature should do more

Gov. Whitmer asks legislature to halt Medicaid work requirements

Michigan lawmakers to Whitmer: Were not pausing Medicaid work requirements

Lawsuit challenges Michigans Medicaid work requirements
Short-term health insurance plans sold as cheaper alternatives to plans that meet the standards of the Affordable Care Act may cost patients more in the long run.

A new study from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, a blood cancer research organization based in Rye Brook, N.Y., finds that the plans offer less benefit coverage and insurance protection than ACA-compliant policies, meaning patients have to pay more out of pocket to get care. Those with chronic conditions such as high blood pressure could be especially vulnerable to higher costs because they require more care that may not be covered by short-term plans.

We suspected based on the lower premiums that the benefits would not be as robust and saw that out in the data, said Lucy Culp, executive director of state and government affairs at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Researchers found that the monthly premium on a popular short-term policy was $77, while a comparable ACA-compliant plan was $293. However, the deductible on the short-term plan was $12,500, compared to $4,600 for an ACA-compliant plan.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Where Texas candidates for U.S. Senate stand on health care issues

Patients diagnosed with medical conditions could also run into financial trouble because of the limitations of those policies, according to the study. For instance, a lymphoma patient who bought a short-term policy could pay up to $6,800 more in out-of-pocket expenses (including insurance premiums) than a patient on an ACA plan.

Short-term limited-duration plans can be used as a stopgap between comprehensive coverage plans and they may look attractive to healthy patients looking to pay lower premiums. Thats especially true in Texas, which has not expanded Medicaid to cover more lower-income individuals and families.

A segment of the population that is lower income may not have great access to affordable options, Culp said. They wouldve qualified for the Medicaid expansion, but in a state like Texas that doesnt offer that, it may be more affordable in the short-term if youre looking just at the premium.

Up to 6 percent of ACA planholders could switch to non-compliant plans by 2021, according to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society analysis.

Not enough

But local insurance agents said consumers arent considering short-term plans anymore than they were before because of the limitations of short-term policies, said Crystal Hoffman, a vice president of the Houston Association of Health Underwriters, which represents health insurance agents and brokers.

ACA-compliant plans do not have a maximum benefit, while many short-term plans cap their benefits at $1 million of coverage. Its often not enough for people diagnosed with serious illnesses.

Doctors will often have to break to patients that their insurance plans are inadequate, said Debra Patt, chair of the Texas Medical Association's Council on Legislation and a breast cancer specialist at Texas Oncology in Austin.

Plans compliant with the Affordable Care Act also bar medical underwriting that determines how much patients are charged for insurance and whether theyre eligible for coverage based on past and present health conditions, known as pre-existing conditions. The short-term health plans are not compliant with the ACA.

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

In 2018, however, the Trump administration expanded the support for the limited plans. Now, that coverage can last up to a year, and be renewed up to three years. Federal officials also got rid of penalties for not having comprehensive health care coverage. Some states are passing legislation to limit the duration of short-term health plan coverage; Texas has not.

Fine print

The Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 1852 in 2019, mandating short-term plans to disclose the limitations of their insurance coverage. It requires patients to sign a form acknowledging which services and drugs are not covered by their insurance.

While applauded as a move toward transparency, Patt and Hoffman said most patients wont read the fine print and will learn about the costs and coverage gaps in the short-term policies only after they receive large bills for their treatment.

When they have to pay high out-of-pocket costs or premiums, it doesnt cover conditions they have or it wont pay for preventive services, Patt said, then what are they paying for?

gwendolyn.wu@chron.com

Twitter: @gwendolynawu
Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao who has been invited to dine with US President Donald Trump at Rashtrapati Bhavan will leave for Delhi on Tuesday morning on a special flight.

President Ram Nath Kovind is hosting a dinner on Tuesday evening in honour of Mr Trump, who arrived in India on Monday for a two-day visit.

According to sources in the Chief Ministers Office (CMO), Mr Rao will be carrying a representation of the iconic Charminar as a memento to give Mr Trump.

He is also gifting the famous Pochampally and Gadwal silk sarees to US First Lady Melania Trump and Ms Ivanka Trump, the Presidents daughter.

In 2017, Ms Ivanka Trump had visited Hyderabad and received a grand welcome from the Telangana state government. Mr Rao had met with her then.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have a brief chat with all the Chief Ministers who have been invited to the dinner.

CMO officials said that if Mr Rao manages to have a word with the American President he may discuss bilateral issues. Hyderabad has the second largest number of IT companies and multinationals in the country.

Mr Rao may also stay on in Delhi to meet Union ministers and discuss pending issues related to Telangana state.
According to the International Buddhist Information Bureau, he had been deprived of all means of communicating independently for the past year after he moved to the citys Tu Hieu Pagoda, after being sent out of the Thanh Minh Zen Monastery and briefly living in northern Vietnam.
For a person who entertains doubts about the virgin birth and the infallibility of the pope, you wouldnt think that Id be superstitious, but balanced against that is my Irish mother.

Nurse Vivian wouldnt give anything sharp as a gift for fear of cutting the friendship. Whenever she baked a soda bread, she cut a cross in it to let the devil out. She believed in ghosts.

When Nurse Vivian died, everywhere I looked I found two pennies: On top of parking meters. Inside washing machines. It finally dawned on me that my Irish mother had always gotten in the last two cents, in any argument, and shed continue to make her opinions known in her post-mortal existence.

My husband Brians mother, Nana, was not Irish. She had a totem: deer. She had an entire room devoted to deer that contained Bambi lamps, Rudolph serving dishes, Bullwinkle J. Moose pillows. (Aidans going to be mad if I dont mention his name this week, so let me slide this one Aidan-ism in: Did you know that the female reindeer is the only doe that grows antlers?) So when Nana passed, no one was surprised to see a buck at the cemetery. We went back to the house and found a humongous jewelry box, containing 365 deer broaches, one for every sweater every day of the year. Brians brother Craig shrugged, I wonder what she did on Feb. 29?

I intended to write my leap day column when it hurdled onto a Wednesday, but since that wont happen until Feb. 29, 2040, youre getting it now.

The Egyptians were the first to figure out that the number wasnt even, but nowadays we know that it takes the earth 365.24217 days to make a trip around the sun, so starting in Julius Caesars time, they added in a day every few years until we now have this simple schedule of adding in a day every time the year is divisible by four unless the year is divisible by 100 but not by 400.

Most of the time it works, but there were a few flaws. When the Swedish switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, they added in a Feb. 30, 1712. But this only made things worse, so that by 1753, just to catch up, they skipped the last two weeks of February and jumped right into March 1.

The Irish call it Bachelors Day. The tradition called St. Brigids Complaint states that she struck a deal with St. Patrick that on this one day every four years, women would be allowed to propose to men. If the man refused, he had to pay a penalty. In Finland, the man had to give the woman enough fabric to make a skirt. In Denmark, the man had to give her 12 gloves to cover the shame of her finger not bearing an engagement ring.

On Feb. 29, 1980, when I was at Notre Dame, a redheaded girl named Kate asked me out to a waltz, but proposing to a gay man was an idea whose time had not yet come. I obliged, not being able to afford mittens at the time. But 40 years later, I asked Brian whether he should ask me out, or me ask out him, and he suggested, How about instead we ask a straight man out, to musical theater, and if he says no he has to buy us 12 lattes?

Many cultures do not think of a leap year as particularly lucky. The Scots say, Leap year was neer good sheep year. And the Italians, Anno biseste, anno funesto. (Leap year: doom year)

But we Fisher-Paulsons have had enough bad luck. We need charms, not omens. So we went to the hospital, to pick up Zane, and as we drove away, I saw a deer standing by a fence. Not not one, two. Three. Four  the family Cervidae, good luck wishes from Nana.

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.

It doesnt matter what we believe in  Immaculate Conception, donum immortalis, ectoplasmic pennies  so long as we believe in each other.

So this Saturday, celebrate this once-every-1,461-day holiday. Propose to whomever you choose. Serve a meal of frogs legs, Mexican jumping beans and rabbit stew. For the Fisher-Paulsons, in the Bedlam Blue Bungalow, in the outer, outer, outer, outer Excelsior, our Feb. 29, is a leap day of faith.

Leap and the net will appear, as John Burroughs says.

(Want more hops? Come to A Great Good Place for Books, 6120 La Salle Ave. in Oakland, at 7 p.m. March 5, and you may run into me, reading from my new book, How We Keep Spinning ...!)

Kevin Fisher-Paulsons column appears Wednesdays in Datebook. Email: datebook@sfchronicle.com
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have just released their final royal engagements ahead of their exit from the British Royal Family. Taking a break from their relatively quiet life on Vancouver Island in Canada, the couple will head back to the U.K. to carry out an intense schedule of royal duties.

Queen Elizabeth II has prohibited the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from using "Sussex Royal" as their brand. It was deemed problematic since Prince Harry and Meghan have initiated their global trademark using the said word.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have spent tens of thousands of pounds on a recently developed Sussex Royal website to accompany their popular Instagram feed. They have also aimed to register Sussex Royal as a global trademark for a series of items and activities including books, clothing, stationery, and teaching materials.

On their website, they posted a remarkable statement that the Queen does not own the word 'royal' across the world. Hours after announcing they would stop using the word 'royal' as an identifier, they put a new statement on their website. The two insisted on keeping their HRH titles even though they would not actively use them.

Also Read: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle's Royal Duties Ending March 31

Prince Harry and Meghan have agreed to alter their "Sussex Royal" brand name in order to abide by a Buckingham Palace directive. "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 first sentence of the statement has drawn animosity from people.

The couple's spokeswoman added, "Therefore the trademark applications that were filed as protective measures, acting on advice from and following the same model for The Royal Foundation, have been removed."

According to the rules established on the royal family website, "Names of the Royal Family may not be registered in, or as, trademarks without the consent of The Queen or the relevant Member of the Royal Family."

Personal branding expert Deborah Ogden said that Prince Harry and Meghan's brand will remain strong sans royal and points to the pair's immense levels of fame worldwide.

She explained that dropping the word from their brand should not affect its value much. "But it's my belief that a personal brand is more than a logo, so what they would spend time building is a strong reputation and strong profile to support certain causes."

An anonymous source said that the Queen anticipates Megxit discussions to be over and done with.

She is publicly supportive of Prince Harry and Meghan's decision to step down as senior royals but generally would not dive into a discussion about it, according to the insider.

Related article: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Working With Kim Kardashian's Endorsement Company?

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The department of telecommunications (DoT) has asked all telecom operators to speed up their self-assessment of adjusted gross revenue (AGR)-related dues and submit documents supporting their calculation, after Bharti Airtel, Tata Teleservices and Vodafone Idea made part payment of dues last week.

The DoT has asked all private operators and public sector telecom companies to submit AGR self-assessment documents as soon as possible, a person aware of the matter said on Monday, requesting anonymity. The documents should justify their calculation of AGR, the person said.

The Supreme Court had on February 14 pulled up telcos and government officials for failing to comply with its October 2019 verdict ordering telcos to pay up their dues to the government after a prolonged wrangle over the definition of AGR.

Vodafone Idea is the worst hit by the verdict and is thought to be on the brink of collapse. It paid 3,500 crore toward AGR dues after the failure of a last-ditch effort to earn a court reprieve last week.

The fresh demand from DoT comes just days after a series of meetings between Vodafone Idea chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla and top government officials. Birla met telecom secretary Anshu Prakash on Tuesday and followed it up with a meeting with finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday.

Several proposals are being discussed to provide the sector with immediate relief from the AGR dues. One of them involves setting up a fund that will lend money to telcos at a concessional rate to repay their dues, a second person aware of the matter said requesting anonymity.

The government or an entity owned by it could provide the seed capital to get the fund going, this person said.

A proposal to give a sovereign guarantee for funds to be raised by the telecom companies has also been considered, the second person said. However, there may be reservations because of the political compulsions that a sovereign guarantee entails and the controversy it could fuel over being given to private companies. A sovereign guarantee for money to be raised by telecom companies would have been among the simplest and the quickest exercises, this person said.

The government is also looking at the option of a revised payment plan that will enable companies to defer payment of penalties and interests in future. In this case, the immediate liability of telcos would be limited to the principal amount. A combination of these measures is being considered and an appropriate call on this will be taken soon, the second person said.

An email query sent to DoT was unanswered till press time.
HARDWICK, N.J.  After New Jersey's state Forest Fire Service mounted a full-scale attack on a forest fire burning on the western side of Mount Tammany, flames are mostly contained, according to New Jersey fire officials.

The fire, which state officials said was about 80% contained Monday, had burned about 80 acres. The fire ignited Sunday afternoon on the a steep area of New Jersey's Worthington State Forest and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area on the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border.

When asked for his assessment of how long before the fire was completely under control, Chris Franek, assistant division forest fire warden said Monday, Well likely be here through the end of the week. Were hoping for rain.

A fire burns on Mount Tammany in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Hardwick Township, N.J., on Feb. 23. Firefighters from federal and New Jersey agencies have been battling the forest fire that broke out in a popular hiking area near the Pennsylvania border.

The National Weather Service forecast calls for rain for Tuesday through Wednesday night. To date for February, precipitation in northwestern New Jersey is about half the average of about 2.5 inches.

Franek said about 40 to 50 people from the state Forest Fire Services Northern Division worked in shifts to contain the fire on Monday. They were being assisted by employees of the NPS as well as from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The two groups often train together.

Also assisting with traffic on busy Interstate 80, which snakes through the Water Gap, were crews from the New Jersey Department of Transportation who were closing off state-owned parking lots for the popular Dunnfield Creek and Appalachian National Scenic Trail, another NPS unit, which run up the side of the mountain.

The fire was reported to officials about 2:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon, when many hikers were on the mountain  some of whom took pictures as they were told to get down off the mountain.

I didnt get the sense of danger, said Knowlton Mayor Adele Starrs, who was hiking on the Red Dot trail Sunday afternoon with her three daughters, ranging in age from 4 to teenager.

It was a beautiful day and the trails were really populated, she said. As they were coming down the mountain about 4 p.m., she said the smell of smoke was very strong.

Story continues

Then we saw the firefighters in their yellow coats using spades to put out the fire, she continued. They also had blowers getting the leaves away.

She said about two dozen firefighters were there at that time who seemed on top of the situation and had it under control.

Starrs also noted that lots of people were smoking as they hiked.

Firefighters with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service standing near the lower peak of Mount Tammany monitor the remaining pockets of flames below following a wildfire that began Sunday and spread throughout the area into Feb. 24 in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Hardwick, N.J.

Franek said that the cause of the fire is under investigation.

There are signs in both the state forest and the national park prohibiting open fires of any kind.

The fire warden said that 2 to 3 feet of snow would usually be on the mountainside at this time of year, and that it was unusual for brush and forest fires to occur in February.

He said the firefighters are using shovels, blowers and specially designed mattocks to control the blaze. He said they are also setting their own controlled burns to create a burned area which will stop the fires spread.

Franek said the fire was being fueled by leaf litter and dead and down fuel, especially dead hardwoods that were killed by gypsy moth caterpillars in past years.

He said some of the areas burning are inaccessible because of the rock ledges that make up the mountain.

Efforts to put out the flames included helicopters, both carrying water to drop on the fire, and to rotate firefighting crews. He said several areas on the top of the mountain area suitable for landing.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: New Jersey forest fire burns at least 80 acres near Appalachian Trail
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Linkedin Gisela Swaragita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 25, 2020 17:28 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20668c6a1 1 National KPAI,pregnancy,controversy,ethics-council,medical-practitioners,netizens,viral Free

The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has formed an ethical council following a controversial statement made by one of its commissioners claiming that women could get pregnant from swimming in the same pool as men.

According to a statement made available to The Jakarta Post on Tuesday, the ethical council consists of three figures, namely former Constitutional Court justice I Dewa Gede Palguna, former National Human Rights Commission commissioner and Press Council chairman Yoseph Adi Prasetyo and former Women and Childrens Empowerment Ministry secretary Ernanti Wahyurini.

They were appointed during a plenary meeting on Monday regarding the controversial statement made by Sitty Hikmawatty, the KPAI commissioner for health, narcotics and addictive substances.

The ethical council will undertake its duty for one month, but this can be extended if deemed necessary. The commission will report regarding [the establishment of the council] to the President and House of Representatives leaders, KPAI chairman Susanto wrote in the statement.

Read also: Activists urge authorities 'to protect children' amid requests for early marriage permits

Sitty made her remarks during an interview with tribunnews.com, saying that women should be careful about the risk of getting pregnant when swimming in public swimming pools with men.

There is an especially strong type of male sperm that may cause [] pregnancy in a swimming pool, Sitty said in the interview. Even without penetration, men may become sexually excited [by women in the pool] and ejaculate, therefore causing a pregnancy.

Her blunder was immediately met with a strong response from the public and medical practitioners.

The commission released a statement that Sittys controversial remark represented her own views and did not reflect the KPAIs institutional values. The commissioner also publicly apologized on Sunday, saying that she had made an inaccurate statement.
Srinagars Delhi Public School resumed class work for students from Class 1 to 10 on February 17, said a parent.

SRINAGAR: Schools in Kashmir Valley and the winter zone of Jammu and Kashmirs (J&K) Jammu division reopened on Monday after winter break but in effect after seven long months, bringing smiles on the faces of students, teachers and parents alike.

The Centre had days before stripping J&K of its special status and splitting it up into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019, ordered the closure of schools and other educational institutions across the erstwhile state as a precautionary measure.

Though the authorities announced the reopening of schools up to higher secondary level in a phased manner later and, in fact, teachers and other staff also started reporting to duty, a vast majority of parents refu-sed to send their wards to these for a variety of reasons, including apprehensions over their safety. The life in the Valley had remained disrupted for about four months over the contentious August 5 move during which board examinations were conducted in challenging circumstances.

In December, the authorities announced 12-week winter vacations in schools. Subsequently, colleges, universities and various other professional institutions were also formally closed for long winter break.

Director, school education (Kashmir) Mohammad Younis Malik said that government as well as private schools reopened on Monday after winter break. However, some private schools in the Valley had reopened last week. Srinagars Delhi Public School resumed class work for students from Class 1 to 10 on February 17, said a parent.

After visiting various schools in south and central Kashmir, Mr Malik expressed his satisfaction over the arrangements put in place for the resumption of academic activities in these institutions.
CHICAGO - Bernie Sanders ascendance in the Democratic presidential primary has brought louder calls for some of his rivals to drop out of the race. Centrists need to consolidate their support behind a single candidate if they want to ensure the party doesnt nominate a democratic socialist, the argument goes. Someone needs to take one for the team.

The candidates resounding answer so far: No way.

Why would I get out? Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said during a stop in Arkansas the day after the Nevada caucus, where she is in sixth place with all precincts reporting. Thats not even a close call for me.

Klobuchar, a little-known senator running on her grit and her record of winning centrist voters in her home state, is among the several candidates facing various levels of pressure to call it quits  and dismissing it out of hand. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, billionaire Tom Steyer and to a lesser extent former Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former Vice-President Joe Biden have all been mentioned by rival teams and pundits as needing to bow out for the good of the party. So has Mike Bloomberg, the billionaire former New York mayor whose debate performance was enough to raise questions even though he hasnt yet appeared on a ballot.

But at least for now they all say they have a rationale for staying in the race and a strategy they believe can help them win. For many, their optimism is built around Super Tuesday, when one-third of delegates will be awarded, and the unspoken assumption that the nomination may not be decided until this summers convention.

Thats made some in the partys moderate wing nervous that Sanders could emerge the big winner that night as well, and eventually become the nominee. They worry his far-left positions could help reelect President Donald Trump in November and hurt down-ticket candidates in Senate and House races, including many in the districts that Democrats picked up to win control of the House in 2018.

Bloombergs team said in a memo last week that Sanders would be impossible to stop if Biden, Buttigieg and Klobuchar stayed in. Jon Cooper, a Biden supporter and donor, said he doesnt understand what, beyond ego, is making candidates like Klobuchar and Steyer think they can pull it off, saying all I know is theyre splitting up the anti-Bernie vote and drawing support from Biden, who he says is best positioned to defeat Trump.

Its a dilemma candidates have faced before. In 2016 a crowded Republican field was unable to stop Trump, with Ted Cruz and John Kasich staying in the race until May and Marco Rubio through mid-March, as Trumps campaign only grew in strength. John Edwards made the opposite decision in 2008, bowing out before Super Tuesday contests against Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton so that history can blaze its path.

Candidates have lots of reasons for soldiering on long after their path to the nomination has gotten murky. They may have future political ambitions that are served by raising their name recognition. Often, as long as there is cash in the bank, there can be little personal incentive to give it up. Theres always a chance they could get hot or their rivals could turn cold.

Buttigieg and Klobuchar are going to continue on because they still believe lighting could strike, said former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a Biden supporter.

Former Obama adviser David Plouffe offered another explanation for the candidates persistence:

Its hard to leave the big stage when you likely will never get back on it, he tweeted.

Each candidate has his or her preferred way of measuring progress in the race  and justifying a continued campaign. For many, it is not about delegates won, the partys official way of determining a winner. By that metric Sanders is leading with 45 delegates, followed by Buttigieg at 25, Biden with 15, Warren with eight and Klobuchar with seven. The vast majority of the delegates are yet to be awarded.

Klobuchars campaign has taken to pointing out that she is the third-highest vote-getter so far. Thats largely thanks to her third-place finish in New Hampshire, the state with the largest turnout so far. She notes shes nearly tied with Warren for delegates. And she also suggests sexism is playing a role in some of the pressure on her and Warren, who trail Sanders, Buttigieg and Biden in delegates.

Why would you have a call for the two women to get out when you have two billionaires in the race? she said in a reference to Bloomberg and Steyer.

While her third-place finish in New Hampshire helped fuel a fundraising surge for her campaign, the momentum didnt carry into Nevada and Klobuchar is not expected to do well in Saturdays South Carolina primary. She has just started assembling teams in Super Tuesday states, where Warren, Biden and Buttigieg have had teams on the ground far longer.

Her campaign said in a memo Monday she is dedicating $4.2 million more to TV and digital ads in Super Tuesday states  more than Warren, Biden and Buttigieg have spent so far  and that her incredibly efficient campaign has the money to carry on.

Campaign manager Justin Buoen said he expects her to do well in her home state, which votes on Super Tuesday, while notably not predicting she will win Minnesota outright.

(Klobuchars) got a tough call to make, said former Obama adviser David Axelrod. Having made so much of the fact that she is invincible in her own state, Im not sure she wants to lose to Bernie Sanders. Warren also has to consider the same could happen that day in her home state.

Buttigieg, who declared victory in Iowa after essentially tying Sanders, argues hes the only candidate in the race whos beaten him, though like Klobuchar he has struggled to win support from African American voters who will be critical in South Carolina and several Southern states voting March 3.

Biden is counting on African American support to propel him to the win in South Carolina and beyond, even though his distant second-place finish in Nevada was his best showing yet.

Both Steyer and Bloomberg have the personal fortune to continue well into the contest, although neither has identified a state they say they can win.

Warrens team doesnt see the pressure to drop out as applying to her because they dont consider her part of the centre lane of candidates. They also have been buoyed by Warrens improved fundraising since her strong performance in last weeks Nevada debate, as well as the campaign infrastructure she has built in Super Tuesday states.

Former Vice-President Walter Mondale, who won the Democratic primary in 1984 and didnt clear a key delegates threshold until June, said he doesnt believe Klobuchar or any other candidate should be pressured to quit, though he said its getting tough now for his fellow Minnesotan.

This has to take its natural course. You cant cook it that way, he said. I know if I were Amy I wouldnt like it. Shes run a very good campaign. Shes entitled to be heard and to keep at it. I think thats far more important than a so-called drop-out strategy.

Mondale said he worries Republicans are waiting to attack Sanders until after he wins the nomination.

Then theyre going to come down on him on all fours, and I dont think were going to like it, he said. But I dont know what we can do about it. Its where we are now.

___

Associated Press reporter Will Weissert in Houston, Thomas Beaumont in Charleston and Brian Slodysko, Seth Borenstein and Stephen Ohlemacher in Washington contributed to this report.
The Himachal Pradesh government supports the Citizenship Amendment Act and the abrogation of provisions of Article 370, Governor Bandaru Dattatreya said on Tuesday.

In his address in the state assembly on the first day of budget session, he said,"My government supports CAA, providing Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

"It also supports abrogation of Article 370 for ensuring implementation of one Constitution in the entire country."



This could be possible only due to strong leadership at the Centre, he added.

My government also welcomes the decision of the Supreme Court which paved way for construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Poland is concerned about the human rights situation in Crimea and Russia's repressive policies pursued on the peninsula.

"Poland is deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Crimea and the repressive policies of the Russian occupation administration," Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said during the discussion with the foreign ministers of Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine on the situation in Crimea at the conference on disarmament within the framework of the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna reports.

At the same time, he called a success the release of political prisoners held in Russia.

"This success of the international community should encourage us to further raise awareness of violations of international law and human rights by the occupying power in Crimea," the Polish diplomat emphasized.

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The man police chased into Arlington National Cemetery this week after he fled the Pentagon parking lot was allegedly using a cigarette lighter in an attempt to blow up a vehicle and himself, federal law enforcement officials said Tuesday.

Matthew Dmitri Richardson, a 19-year-old from Fayetteville, Arkansas, was allegedly seen Monday holding a lighter to a piece of fabric that was inserted into a gray Land Rover's gas tank, the Justice Department announced in a news release.

A Pentagon police officer saw smoke while patrolling the Pentagon's north parking lot. When the officer approached Richardson at about 10:55 a.m., the 19-year-old said he was going to "blow this vehicle" and "himself" up, according to court documents.

When the officer tried to grab Richardson to detain him, the man pulled away and ran. He was seen on surveillance video jumping a fence and running into Arlington National Cemetery, court documents state.

Related: Man Arrested at Arlington National Cemetery After Suspicious Behavior at Pentagon

He was later found near Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial on the cemetery grounds. When members of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency Police Emergency Response Team approached Richardson, he said, "I was just trying to blow myself up," according to court documents.

Richardson was charged with maliciously attempting to damage and destroy by means of fire a vehicle used in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce, the Justice Department announced. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 20.

The 2016 Land Rover Richardson was allegedly tampering with is owned by an active-duty service member assigned to the Pentagon. The service member does not know Richardson or have any connections to him, court documents state.

Police say they later recovered a cigarette lighter, gloves and court documents from Richardson. The court documents were related to another arrest days prior, when he was charged with two counts of felony assault on a law enforcement officer in Arlington County, Virginia, according to the Justice Department.

Richardson was scheduled to make his first federal court appearance Tuesday afternoon.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Read more: Navy and Marine Corps to Ban Personal Firearms for Foreign Troops
HARTFORD  In its first meeting since Gov. Ned Lamont pulled the plug on a truck tolls vote, the legislatures Transportation Committee focused primarily on rail and bus improvements as the state addresses how and whether to spend $20 billion over the next decade.

Highway and bridge repairs will come  the list of needs already exists and wont change, Gov. Ned Lamont and Sen. Carlo Leone, D-Stamford, both said Monday, but Leone said, The order of the list will change.

On Monday, state Department of Transportation Commissioner Joseph Giulietti said the department is working on a comprehensive plan to upgrade rail lines, chiefly Metro North and its branches  but thats not done yet.

This is the first time before the committee that you havent had to talk about tolls, so welcome, committee co-chairman Roland Lemar, D-New Haven, said to Giulietti, a former head of Metro-North, who was selected by Lamont in large part because of his background in mass transit.

In addition to upgrading rail lines, the department wants to expand the U-PASS public transportation program of subsidies for students at public colleges and universities  to include private colleges and universities.

The governor has been very forceful in in prioritizing spending on mass transit, Giulietti said.

Several municipal and legislative leaders from the Naugatuck Valley made their pitch for rail improvements along the Waterbury Line, which connects Waterbury and Bridgeport.

The enhancements to rail infrastructure service in our region is so vitally important for various reasons. This bill moving forward would be a big step towards modernizing our public transportation system here in the valley, said state Sen. George Logan, R-Ansonia, who co-chairs the Waterbury Rail Line Caucus.

The question, of course, is where the money will come from and how the state will balance an estimated $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion between competing mass transit and highway needs.

The bipartisan caucus, which submitted joint testimony in support of the bill to study rail improvements, presented data that showed annual ridership on the Waterbury line has steadily increased since 2004.

Improvements are needed to both rail service and infrastructure, including platforms and modern rail cars and increasing the number and frequency of trains and adding additional stops, said Sen. Henri Martin, R-Bristol, a ranking member on the Transportation Committee.

The DOTs proposal to extend the U-PASS system to private colleges and universities received support from several members of the committee who said doing so would help thousands of college students better access classes, jobs and internships in the state, and encourage sustainable transportation habits. The conversation came on a day when Lamont pitched a new program in Stamford to help keep young college graduates in Connecticut.

The program allows students at participating schools to ride all bus and rail services within Connecticut through a per-semester fee.

In testimony provided to the committee, Giulietti said students have made more than 4 million trips using U-PASS since the program began in August 2017.

The program has received positive reviews and has helped students get to classes, jobs and social engagements. In the longer term, U-PASS is helping to develop the next generation of sustainable transportation users, Giulietti said.

The DOT is also proposing two safety-related changes that would affect passengers in cars: a measure requiring all passengers in a vehicle to wear seat belts, and another that would prohibit open alcohol beverage containers in vehicles.

Currently, only those in the front seat and children under 16 are required by state law to wear a seat belt. Connecticut is one of just 20 states that still do not require all passengers to wear a seat belt.

Connecticut, Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and Wyoming are the only states that do not have laws prohibiting open alcohol containers in vehicles. Giulietti said the state has paid almost $153 million in federal penalties since 2001 for noncompliance with the national standards.

kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt
Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 22-year-old male university student over the alleged molestation of a woman in Higashiyamato City last month, reports TBS News (Feb. 25).

Early on February 26, Shinichi Aoki, a fourth-year student, allegedly grabbed the woman, aged in her 20s, from behind at an elevator inside a building as she returned home. He then fondled her lower body.

Upon his arrest on suspicion of indecent assault, Aoki admitted to the allegations. aI did it due to accumulated stress at home and school,a the suspect was quoted by the Higashiyamato Police Station.

As the incident unfolded, the woman let out a scream, which caused the suspect, a resident of nearby Musashimurayama City, to flee.

Aoki surfaced as a person of interest in the case after police examined security camera footage.
SOUTHBURY  Two men were arrested following a road rage incident that led to one spraying the other in the face with bear repellent.

Officers were dispatched to Old Waterbury Road around 11:12 a.m. Thursday and found two men experiencing extreme pain in their face and eyes, police said.

They told police a man had hit them with bear spray after one of them struck the side mirror of the other mans vehicle because they felt he was driving dangerously close and too fast, according to Southbury police.

The man who was directly sprayed after striking the mirror was identified as 67-year-old Southbury resident Charles R. Weise.

The individual who sprayed them  Jesse M. Zehall, 27, of Southbury  drove to the Southbury Police Department and admitted to spraying the men after he said one of them broke his mirrors and screamed at him, according to police.

Police said Zehall told them he drove by the men three times and had a verbal altercation each time before deciding to spray the man (Weise) on the third pass.

Commercially available bear repellent typically contains a potent shot of pepper spray thats essentially a more powerful version of the kind carried as a self-defense weapon against human attackers.

The active ingredient is an extract from capsicum  peppers, which is suspended in an aerosol spray can. When fired at a bear, the substance is intended to blind and disorient the ursine attacker, giving humans a chance to escape.

Bear spray affects humans the same way. In 2018, at least 80 workers at an Amazon warehouse in New Jersey reported difficulty breathing and two dozen were taken to the hospital after a robot at the facility punched a hole in a bear repellent canister.

Zehall was charged with two counts of third-degree assault and one count of second-degree breach of peace, and Weise was charged with third-degree criminal mischief and second-degree breach of peace.

Weise was released on $500 bond and is set to appear at state Superior Court in Waterbury on March 3. Zehall was released on $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear March 5.
The SEBIannouncement comes after the tax haven was put on the grey list' of Financial Action Task Force (FATF)an inter-governmental policy-making body that sets anti-money laundering standards

New Delhi: Market regulator Sebi on Tuesday said foreign investors from Mauritius will continue to be eligible for FPI registration with increased monitoring as per international norms.

The announcement comes after the tax haven was put on the grey list' of Financial Action Task Force (FATF)an inter-governmental policy-making body that sets anti-money laundering standards.

A significant percentage of foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) investing in the Indian market is registered in Mauritius.

Following the FATF notice, some fund managers knocked on Sebi's door overnight, raising concerns over validity of FPI registration done through the tax haven.

The regulator on Tuesday said, "Foreign investors from Mauritius will continue to be eligible for FPI registration with increased monitoring as per FATF norms".

For several years, there have been apprehensions about Mauritius being a money-laundering route for FPIs due to its limited regulatory oversight. But, the Indian Ocean island nation has been taking several steps in recent years to address the concerns.
DUBAI (Reuters) - Twelve people have died and 61 have been infected with the coronavirus in Iran, Tehran's health ministry said on Monday. However, a member of parliament said 50 people had died in the city of Qom, 120 km (75 miles) south of the capital Tehran, alone in the past two weeks from the coronavirus. Meanwhile more than 10,000 drug addicts have been quarantined in treatment centers in Tehran province to guard against the coronavirus, state-run IRNA news agency reported, citing a local official.

DUBAI (Reuters) - Twelve people have died and 61 have been infected with the coronavirus in Iran, Tehran's health ministry said on Monday.

However, a member of parliament said 50 people had died in the city of Qom, 120 km (75 miles) south of the capital Tehran, alone in the past two weeks from the coronavirus.

Meanwhile more than 10,000 drug addicts have been quarantined in treatment centers in Tehran province to guard against the coronavirus, state-run IRNA news agency reported, citing a local official.

Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur, quoted by IRNA, said: "The number of deaths from the corona illness in Iran has reached 12 and the number of infected has reached 61."

But a parliamentarian representing Qom, Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani, said that 50 people had died in Qom and 250 people have been quarantined there.

Farahani accused the government of being late too announce the outbreak, and he said the city did not have adequate equipment to deal with the crisis, according to the ILNA news agency.

Ministry spokesman Jahanpur dismissed the figure of 50 dead as a "complete lie".

"(Farahani) doesn't have a right to express views on this issue and doesn't have access to information," Jahanpur said, according to IRNA.

Iran's Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi told a news conference on state television that if the number of dead in Qom were even one quarter of 50 he would resign.

However, the dispute over figures between the officials highlighted criticism of the government's handling of the coronavirus outbreak in Iran by both officials and Iranian citizens online.

In another development, the head of anti-drug smuggling operations for Tehran province said approximately 10,500 drug addicts have been quarantined at treatment centers in Tehran.

"In order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus illness among addicts, the treatment centers for addicts will not release or receive any individual until further notice," Mostafa Hadizadeh said, according to IRNA.

Anyone suspected of having been infected with coronavirus would receive the necessary care as quickly as possible, Hadizadeh said.

The outbreak in Iran has affected other countries in the region.

Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Oman and Afghanistan on Monday recorded their first cases of the coronavirus, all involving people who had visited Iran.

The United Arab Emirates announced two new coronavirus cases on Saturday, an Iranian tourist and his wife, state news agency WAM reported. Lebanon recorded its first coronavirus case on Friday, a 45-year-old woman returning from Qom.

Fears of a coronavirus pandemic grew on Monday after sharp rises in new cases reported in Iran, Italy and South Korea. The virus has infected nearly 77,000 people and killed more than 2,500 in China, where it originated late last year.

(Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh; Editing by Janet Lawrence and Angus MacSwan)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Selling pressure continued in the market amid consolidation on February 25 as investors assessed the economic impact of the deadly coronavirus that has so far claimed over 2,700 lives and infected over 80,000.

The BSE Sensex was down 82.03 points at 40,281.20, while the Nifty 50 fell 31.50 points to 11,797.90, forming a bearish candle on daily charts.

Market breadth was in favour of bears as about three shares declined for every two shares rising on the BSE.

"The underlying short term trend of Nifty continues to be weak. Tuesday's consolidation could be considered as a temporary halt in the downside momentum. The immediate gap supports of 11,750 could be broken on the downside in the coming sessions and the Nifty could reach or slide just below the next support of 11,615 in the next few sessions," Nagaraj Shetti, Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities told Moneycontrol.

Hence, long trading positions can be protected with a strict stop loss and short positions in the index and stocks can be maintained, he advised.

Ajit Mishra, VP - Research at Religare Broking expects the weak trend in the market to continue for a while as coronavirus is still rattling sentiments across the globe.

"On the domestic front, weaker-than-expected Q3FY20 GDP (scheduled later this week) could further dampen the investor confidence at least in the near-term," he 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 11,757.53, followed by 11,717.17. If the index continues moving up, key resistance levels to watch out for are 11,860.63 and 11,923.37.

Nifty Bank

Nifty Bank closed at 30,432.70, down 22.40 points. The important pivot level, which will act as crucial support for the index, is placed at 30,304.83, followed by 30,176.97. On the upside, key resistance levels are placed at 30,585.63 and 30,738.56.

Call options data

Maximum Call open interest (OI) of 52.79 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 39.73 lakh contracts in open interest, and 12,100, which has accumulated 38.06 lakh contracts in open interest.

Significant call writing was seen at the 11,900 strike price, which added 10.37 lakh contracts, followed by 11,800 strike price that added 8.44 lakh contracts and 12,000 strike price, which added 4.99 lakh contracts.

Call unwinding was witnessed at 12,200 strike price, which shed 5.65 lakh contracts, followed by 12,400 which shed 1.57 lakh contracts.

Put options data

Maximum Put open interest of 27.15 lakh contracts was seen at 11,700 strike price, which will act as crucial support in the February series.

This is followed by 11,600 strike price, which holds 22.71 lakh contracts in open interest, and 11,500 strike price, which has accumulated 21.75 lakh contracts in open interest.

Put writing was seen at the 11,800 strike price, which added 2.15 lakh contracts, followed by 11,400 strike, which added 1.06 lakh contracts and 11,600 strike which added 0.88 lakh contracts.

Put unwinding was seen at 11,900 strike price, which shed 5.87 lakh contracts, followed by 12,000 strike price which shed 5.05 lakh contracts and 11,500 strike, which shed 3 lakh contracts.

Stocks with a high delivery percentage

A high delivery percentage suggests that investors are showing interest in these stocks.

20 stocks saw long build-up

Based on open interest (OI) future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which long build-up was seen.

44 stocks saw long unwinding

Based on open interest (OI) future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which long unwinding was seen.

34 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.

44 stocks witnessed short-covering

A decrease in open interest, along with an increase in price, mostly indicates a short-covering. Based on open interest (OI) future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which short-covering was seen.

Bulk deals

(For more bulk deals, click here)

Analysts and Board Meetings

Sundaram Clayton: Board to consider declaration of interim dividend on March 10.

TVS Motor Company: Board to consider the declaration of interim dividend on March 10.

Sandhar Technologies: Company's officials will meet Arjun Khanna of Kotak Mutual Fund on February 28.

Allcargo Logistics: Analyst/institutional investor meeting is scheduled to be held on February 26.

Gujarat Ambuja Exports: Board to consider declaration of interim dividend, if any on March 7.

Kirloskar Pneumatic: Board to consider declaration of second interim dividend, if any on March 4.

Great Eastern Shipping Company: Board to consider declaration of interim dividend, if any, on March 6 and 7.

Century Textiles: Investor meeting to be held on February 26.

Deepak Nitrite: Board to consider declaration of interim dividend on March 4.

Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company: Kotak Institutional Equities will do earnings call on February 26.

Shanthi Gears: Board to consider interim dividend, if any, on February 28.

Stocks in the news

IRB Infrastructure: Company received Mumbai-Pune Expressway project under toll-operate-toll model.

Arrow Greentech: Company received closure intimation notice from Gujarat Pollution Control Board for manufacturing unit in Ankleshwar.

Dr Lal PathLabs: Company will pay Rs 6 per share interim dividend.

Wockhardt: India Ratings revised company's ratings for short-term bank facilities to A4+/Rating Watch Evolving from A4+, long-term loan facilities rating to BB+/RWE from BB+/Negative.

Asian Paints: Company will pay Rs 7.15 per share as interim dividend.

InterGlobe Aviation: IndiGo said the company did not receive SEBI letter on related party deal disclosures.

JSW Steel: Fitch cuts company's outlook rating to negative from stable.

Bharti Airtel: Company loses 11,050 users in December versus the addition of 16 lakh users (MoM).

Vodafone Idea: Company loses 36.44 lakh users in December versus a loss of 3.64 crore users (MoM).

Bajaj Healthcare: Company has executed an agreement with Vetpharma to purchase its manufacturing facilities of bulk drug and API comprising of immovable properties and movable properties including plant and machineries.

Godawari Power & Ispat: Company commenced commercial production at its rolling mill and iron ore beneficiation plant after approval from Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board.

FII and DII data

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold shares worth Rs 2,315.07 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares of worth Rs 1,565.28 crore in the Indian equity market on February 25, 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 26. 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.
Benchmark Sensex ended 82 points lower after a highly volatile session on Tuesday, extending losses for a third day, as investors continued to weigh the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the global economy

Mumbai: Indian equities closed in the red for a third straight session on Tuesday as the coronavirus spread outside China continued to hurt investors' risk appetite.

A day after taking a massive plunge due to concerns over Mauritius being added to the "grey list" of Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the market steadied in the opening deals on Tuesday, with regulator SEBI saying that foreign investors from the island nation will continue to be eligible for FPI registration.

Starting off higher in opening trade, the BSE benchmark Sensex went through bouts of volatility during the session, before settling at 82.03 points, or 0.20 percent, lower at 40,281.20.

#MarketAtClose | Market ends flat after a volatile session; benchmarks lower for 2nd session; Midcap index just below flatline; Nifty Bank hovers between gains & losses pic.twitter.com/1VlREZUDhL  CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) February 25, 2020

Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty declined 31.50 points or 0.27 percent to end at 11,797.90.

On the Sensex chart, Sun Pharma was the top loser, shedding 2.37 percent, followed by HCL Tech, Reliance Industries, IndusInd Bank and L&T.

On the other hand, TCS settled 1.98 percent higher. Tata Steel, Bharti Airtel, SBI and HUL too featured among the gainers.

Sectorally, BSE energy, oil and gas, healthcare, consumer durables, industrials, auto and capital goods indices fell up to 1.64 percent, while realty, telecom, teck and metal indices ended with gains.

In the broader market, BSE midcap and smallcap indices fell up to 0.45 percent.

Investors across the globe are worried over the long-term impact of the deadly coronavirus on the global growth.

A viral outbreak that began in China has infected more than 80,000 people globally.

In the domestic market, investors also weighed the repercussions of Mauritius being added to the "grey list" of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) -- an inter-governmental policy making body that sets anti-money laundering standards.

A significant percentage of foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) investing in the Indian market is registered in Mauritius.

The island nation is the second largest source after the United States from which foreign portfolio investments come into the country.

Market regulator SEBI on Tuesday said foreign investors from Mauritius will continue to be eligible for FPI registration with increased monitoring as per international norms.

Market participants are also keenly assessing the outcomes from US President Donald Trump's India visit.

India and the US on Tuesday finalised defence deals worth $3 billion, and signed three MoUs, including one in energy sector, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the two countries have decided to take Indo-US ties to comprehensive global partnership level.

"Markets steadied after a steep sell-off yesterday as investors assessed the economic impact of coronavirus which has spread to other nations. Trump-Modi meet failed to provide any sentiment boost for the domestic market as there were no key deals. Virus concerns could remain in the limelight as any further supply disruption could hurt global economic growth in 2020," Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services, said.

On a net basis, FPIs sold equities worth Rs 1,160.90 crore on Monday, data available with stock exchanges showed.

Bourses in Shanghai and Tokyo ended in the red, while Seoul and Hong Kong settled with gains.

Stock exchanges in Europe were trading on a negative note in their morning sessions.

Brent crude oil futures slipped 0.16 percent to $55.68 per barrel.

On the currency front, the Indian rupee appreciated by 9 paise to 71.86 per US dollar.
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.
NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- LIM College, which is located in New York City and focused on the study of business and fashion, has announced that registration is open for two short-term summer programs that bring participants to New York City to learn firsthand about the fashion business.

Fashion Lab is a pre-college program for high school students (ages 17 and under) that offers a preview of what it's like to study fashion in college. Thirty interactive, one-week courses in topics including starting your own fashion business, producing a fashion show, working with social media influencers, and more, are available.

Among this year's new offerings is The Next Big Thing, a "Shark Tank"-style experience in which students will learn how to pitch their business ideas to potential investors, and Fashion for Every Body, where students will learn how to style a wide variety of body sizes and types.

The Summer Fashion Program is a two-week experience that immerses participants in the business of fashion and provides the opportunity to take advantage of New York's vast cultural resources. This program is designed for anyone age 18 and over who wants to explore fashion career paths, including visiting college students and international early-career professionals.

Mornings are devoted to classes taught by fashion experts on a wide range of topics, including trend forecasting, buying, luxury brand marketing, and the sneaker business, along with special guest lectures from visiting fashion professionals. Afternoons feature fashion-oriented activities throughout New York, including visits to the Makeup Museum, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's, and the John Varvatos showroom. Free time is also built in to explore New York's diverse food scene, incomparable cultural sites, and Broadway shows, with advisors available to help with arrangements.

Dates and Tuition

Fashion Lab will run for four weeks: July 6-10, 13-17, 20-26, and 27-31. Tuition for non-credit courses is $275 per course, with discounts when registering for more than one class. Courses that offer one college elective credit are $450 and eligible participants may earn up to three credits over four weeks. Student housing is available for $550 per week.

The Summer Fashion Program will take place from July 12-25. Tuition for the non-credit program is $4,500, which includes housing. A limited number of scholarships are available. Participants can apply for these scholarships when they submit their application for admission.

Housing

Housing for participants in both programs is available in LIM's student residence hall on Manhattan's Upper East Side. The residence hall has live-in, around-the-clock staff and features air-conditioned double and triple rooms each with a refrigerator/freezer, microwave, and private bathroom.

For more information or to register for LIM College's Fashion Lab pre-college program, email [email protected] or visit or visit www.limcollege.edu/summerfashionlab.

For more information or to register for LIM College's Summer Fashion Program for visiting college students and young professionals, email [email protected], call 646-218-4523, or visit https://www.limcollege.edu/admissions/special-programs/summer-fashion-program.

About LIM College

Founded in 1939, LIM College educates students for success in the global business of fashion and its many related industries. LIM fosters a unique connection between real-world experience and academic study in business principles, offering master's, bachelor's and associate degree programs. The College is located in the center of Manhattan  giving students vast opportunities for hands-on experience and professional development.

Contact:

Melissa Krantz 917.653.6716

[email protected]

Meredith Finnin 646.218.2156

[email protected]

SOURCE LIM College

Related Links

http://www.limcollege.edu


Julian Stroleny, Attorney at Law If enacted, this vital legislation will help ensure that minor infractions will no longer inflict unbalanced, life-long consequences, particularly on minority populations.

Stroleny Law, P.A, an award-winning Miami criminal law firm, today called on lawmakers to rewrite the outdated marijuana laws that are unfairly impacting minority populations in Florida. The firm emphasized the need for recreational marijuana use legislation to address the severe and lifelong impact that minor possession infractions have on people of color. For example, data from the Sentencing Project reveals that African Americans are 3.7 and Hispanics are 2.3 times more likely to be arrested for possession than their white counterparts.

Ultimately, the enforcement of minor infractions for marijuana use in Florida goes far beyond fines and jail times. Blanket enforcement, without taking into account the accuseds circumstances and history, significantly impacts them throughout their lifetimes  from being able to access student financial aid to limiting employment options to impacting immigration status and more.

Medical marijuana has been legal in Florida since 2016. State legislators and industry groups are now seeking to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes. Republican State Senator Jeff Brandes has introduced legislation entitled Availability of Marijuana for Adult Use (SB 1860) that would go into effect in January 2021. If passed into law, the bill would legalize recreational marijuana within the state for those 21 years of age or older. The bill would also allow for a regulatory approach to governing the cultivation, processing and retail sales of marijuana from licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers and expunge criminal records for simple possession offenders.

We commend Senator Brandes for his introduction of legislation that will make recreational marijuana use legal for those over 21 years of age in the state of Florida, said Julian Stroleny, Principal at Stroleny Law, P.A. If enacted, this vital legislation will help ensure that minor infractions will no longer inflict unbalanced, life-long consequences, particularly on minority populations.

Senator Brandes filed the new bill the same day Make it Legal Florida  the states leading corporate backed campaign focused on legalizing recreational marijuana proposed an amendment that failed to collect the required number of signatures to make it onto the 2020 ballot. Similar to Senator Brandess proposed bill, the corporate-backed amendment would permit adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase, use, display and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. In addition, the amendment would permit Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers to sell, distribute or dispense marijuana as long as they provide efficient labeling and childproof packaging. Make it Legal Florida is currently continuing to collect signatures and looking toward the 2022 ballot.

Until Florida legalizes recreational marijuana, through ballot measure or legislative action, it is available for medicinal purposes only in the state. Qualifying patients must have permanent or temporary residency in Florida and be diagnosed by a certified physician with a range of qualifying conditions that include Cancer, HIV/AIDS and Multiple Sclerosis.

It is important to note that in 2014 and 2016 Julian Stroleny lectured at events across the state in support of the legalization of medical marijuana in Florida.

About Stroleny Law:

Stroleny Law, P.A. is an award-winning Miami criminal law firm that promises a former state prosecutor will handle every client case. Led by renowned criminal defense attorney and trusted advisor Julian Stroleny, the firm has overseen thousands of cases and works tirelessly to ensure the best possible results for clients. Stroleny Law understands potential clients may need a criminal defense attorney who is available after hours and offers free consultations 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This personalized service does not end at the consultation  Stroleny Law takes pride in its well-earned reputation for providing clients with an experience-oriented approach to all of its legal services. To learn more, please visit http://www.strolenylaw.com.


BRISTOL, Conn.  On Sunday, the Bristol-Burlington Health District recommended that some Bristol Central High School students and staff stay home Monday after returning from a school trip to Italy. The trip ended just as news broke that the coronovirus had spread to the European country. At the time the students returned home, the CDC had not yet released official measures related to Italy.

As of Feb. 25, The Wall Street Journal reports 238 confirmed cases of cornoavirus in Italy.

Marco Palmeri director of health at Bristol Burlington Health District said that recommending kids home from school was a precaution, and that none of the students or staff from Bristol Central High School that went to Italy were confirmed to have been exposed to the virus. I made the recommendation "so that I could have time to gather more information and make a more educated decision."

On Monday, the CDC released guidelines, and the Bristol-Burlington Health District sent out an official statement in accordance with the CDC. The statement suggests that any travelers who recently visited Italy to stay home for 48 hours only if they were feeling ill:

The news regarding the spread of coronavirus in Italy was just reported this past Sunday. As a result, BBHD immediately consulted with authorities. Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the CT Department of Public Health (DPH) may not have had a chance to evaluate the recent circumstances in Italy, the BBHD decided to be cautious and recommended all travelers remain home from school/work for 48 hours.

This provided BBHD with enough time to follow-up with the authorities. As of this morning, the CDC posted the following guidance and recommendations: Only travelers returning from Italy during the past 14 days who feel sick (with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing) need to stay home. Please understand that this decision is based on the most current guidance provided by the CDC and DPH and is subject to change at any time. This decision was made in consultation with the Superintendent of Bristol Public Schools.

As of Tuesday, Palermi said he talked to "probably 75 people"on the phone about the concern. His advice is to "follow the same recommendation we have for the flu, and people will reduce their exposure to any other respiratory diseases that are out there."

"We need to be responsible adults. We need to understand this [cornovirus] is new and we don't know much about it. We don't want to overreact, but we also want to be vigilant"

WFSB reports that the students and teachers were about three hours away from where the outbreak happened in Italy. WTNH also reports that some students who did go to school on Monday and were checked on by a nurse. No one showed any symptoms.

Bristol Central High School had no comment, and is redirecting all questions to the Bristol-Burlington Health District.

Despite the CDC's directive that only those showing symptoms stay home, some parents are still concerned. One parent of a Bristol Central High School student told WFSB that she kept her daughter home from school Monday even though she did not go on the trip. The same parent told NBC Connecticut that one of her kids takes Italian with one of the students who was on the trip.
Schools in Northern Ireland have taken precautionary measures to isolate pupils due to the coronavirus outbreak after half-term ski trips in Italy.

Banbridge Academy's school principal issued a letter to parents warning any student or staff member who has returned recently from Northern Italy to 'self-isolate' themselves.

Mr Robin McLoughlin, head teacher of Banbridge Academy, released the letter on Monday morning following updated government advice for travellers.

It is understood staff and students have recently returned from a ski trip in the northern region of Italy in Trentino.

The letter, seen by the Belfast Telegraph, reveals Banbridge Academy sought advice from the Public Health Agency.

Meanwhile, the Public Health Agency has advised Limavady Grammar school that any pupil displaying flu-like symptoms should be isolated. They are to remain at home until March 9.

The school took a group of pupils to Marilleva in Italy while Banbridge travelled to the Trentino area. Both are regions not thought to be affected by the virus outbreak.

Elsewhere, around 50 pupils at Ballymena Cambridge House Grammar School have also been sent home as a precaution. They were in the Lombardy area but it is understood did not visit the affected towns.

It too took the decision after advice from the Public Health Agency and the pupils are to stay away for 14 days.

School principal Elma Lutton said the move was a precaution.

She added: "Taking cognisance of advice from the Public Health Agency and following advice from the education authority, the pupils and staff on that ski trip have been sent home for 14 days self-quarantine.

"This is precautionary - none of them were in those nine towns, none are showing any symptoms.

"They were in the Lombardy region but went through Milan airport."

There are strict quarantine restrictions in two northern hotspots close to Milan and Venice.

Thousands of people cannot enter or leave several towns in the Lombardy and Veneto regions for the next two weeks without special permission.

Outside the zone, sporting events have been cancelled and many schools and businesses have suspended normal operations.

Cambridge House Grammar is one of the leading schools in Ballymena, with more than 900 pupils.

One of the parents whose child was not affected, Marty Adams, said: "As a parent, and I am sure every parent would echo the same, this is a matter of concern.

"I am glad to see that precautions are in place and hopefully no-one will be affected by it, but people were able to return to the school and spend some time in the school."

The new strain of coronavirus originated last year in Hubei province in China.

It causes a respiratory disease called Covid-19 and produces flu-like symptoms.

China has seen thousands of infections and deaths.

Banbridge Academy has not responded to requests for comment.
Extremist Terrorist Recruiters Target Vulnerable Australian Teens: ASIO

Children as young as 13 are being targeted by extremist recruiters as the number of terrorism leads under investigation doubled over the past year.

Mike Burgess, the boss of Australias domestic intelligence agency ASIO, says terrorism remains a threat.

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, he said as he delivered his first annual threat assessment on Monday.

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.

Australias terrorism threat level remains at probable and would remain unacceptably high for the foreseeable future, dBurgess said.

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.

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 Im 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.

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.

Burgess also voiced concerns about Australia being the target of sophisticated and persistent espionage and foreign interference activities.

However, new laws dealing with foreign interference had caused discomfort and possibly pain for foreign intelligence services.

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.

Weve seen visiting scientists and academics ingratiating themselves into university life with the aim of conducting clandestine intelligence collection.

In one case, a foreign sleeper agent in Australia had fed information back to spymasters about expatriate dissidents, which led to them and their families being harassed.

Burgess revealed ASIO had recommended visa cancellations to stop foreign agents trying to travel to Australia, and intercepted foreign agents when they arrived.

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, Burgess said.
Treasurer Ben Wyatt has announced he will not contest the next election, citing a family health issue.

The announcement was made on Tuesday morning alongside Premier Mark McGowan.

Mr Wyatt will complete the state's next budget and will serve as a cabinet minister until the next election.

"As some may already be aware, my family has experienced a personal health issue which

prompted this consideration and the kind of future I want to have with my family," he said.
Then-New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (C) and former New York Stock Exchange President William Johnston (R) listen to New York Stock Exchange Chairman Richard Grasso (R) on the bell podium before Bloomberg rang the opening bell to begin trading 02 January, 2002. AFP PHOTO Henny Ray ABRAMS

Can a leopard change its spots? That is the central question hanging over Michael Bloombergs candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination. He has spent nearly a half billion dollars of his personal fortune on a massive advertising campaign and raft of policy proposals designed to show he is a man of the people.

Unfortunately for his campaign, when voters got their first chance to see him live at last weeks presidential debate, he did not perform well. He failed to adequately explain or atone for a litany of past statements and positions cited by opponents that suggest he is a rich elitist with troubling views toward women and minorities. He will get another chance at tonights debate, but credibly distancing himself from his past record will present a formidable, if not insurmountable, challenge.

Take his positions on Wall Street, where he made his fortune selling market data and news to big banks and securities firms. Channeling U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, he says he wants a financial system that works for every American  a sentiment lifted straight out of her campaign literature.

To prove it, he proposes hiking taxes on wealthy investors, imposing a levy on financial transactions, and toughening financial regulations. It is a fine list. The problem: It is the polar opposite of his past positions.

MIA on banking reform  or taking the side of industry

For instance, he promises to toughen bank capital rules so that big banks do not collapse under the weight of their own debt obligations, as they did during the 2008 financial crisis. Yet, prior to the crisis, he pushed for weakening bank capital rules through adoption of the so-called Basel II accords. Basel II would have released hundreds of billions of equity capital from the U.S. banking system, giving particular relief to banks with large portfolios of mortgages and mortgage-backed securities.

Democratic presidential hopefuls Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg (L), Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren (C) and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders (R) participate in the ninth Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season co-hosted by NBC News, MSNBC, Noticias Telemundo and The Nevada Independent at the Paris Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 19, 2020. (Photo by Mark RALSTON / AFP)

I should know. The agency I then chaired, the FDIC, was leading the effort to resist Basel II implementation. To be fair, Bloombergs views were very much in the mainstream during that deregulatory era. The FDIC was mostly alone in the fight. However, even after the crisis, when there was widespread vindication of the FDIC position, Mr. Bloomberg did not actively join the broad consensus in favor of stronger capital rules.

Indeed, throughout the post-crisis battles on financial reform, Mr. Bloomberg was largely absent or taking the side of industry. Now, he decries the financial deregulation that has occurred under the Trump Administration and says he wants to restore the vitality of Obama-era rules. His new-found support for financial stability is welcome, yet Trump appointees have been eroding financial reforms since 2017. Where has he been?

Story continues

Deregulatory efforts have been particularly savage toward the Volcker Rule, a central feature of the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law that restricts banking organizations from engaging in risky speculation. Mr. Bloomberg says he wants to strengthen the Volcker Rule by correcting its flaws. But those flaws stem from the numerous exceptions big bank lobbyists secured from Congress during the Dodd-Frank debate where, again, Mr. Bloomberg was MIA. Far from supporting Dodd-Frank, he later called the law stupid, even suggesting that Congress should have given the financial industry a bigger hand in writing it!

The most troubling statements from Bloombergs past

Perhaps most troubling are Mr. Bloombergs past statements on racial discrimination in banking. His campaign says he wants to strengthen consumer protections and the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), a law enacted in the 1970s that imposes affirmative obligations on banks to lend to low and middle income communities. The CRA was designed to counter the then-pervasive practice of redlining, where banks would refuse to lend in minority neighborhoods. In a 2008 forum hosted by Georgetown University, Bloomberg related the causes of the financial crisis to the end of redlining.

He even implied benign motives behind the practice, saying banks didnt lend in poor neighborhoods because the people there couldnt pay off their mortgages (ignoring the fact that banks redlined wealthy minority neighborhoods as well).

He then laid the blame for the crisis with Congress, which he said pushed banks to make loans to low-income families with poor credit.

It all started back when there was a lot of pressure on banks to make loans to everyone, Bloomberg, said back in 2008, as reported by the Associated Press. Redlining, if you remember, was the term where banks took whole neighborhoods and said, People in these neighborhoods are poor, theyre not going to be able to pay off their mortgages, tell your salesmen dont go into those areas.

And then Congress got involved  local elected officials, as well  and said, Oh thats not fair, these people should be able to get credit. And once you started pushing in that direction, banks started making more and more loans where the credit of the person buying the house wasnt as good as you would like.

Still, even that explanation is wrong-headed and has been repeatedly debunked. The vast majority of subprime mortgages were made by non-bank lenders that were not subject to the requirements of CRA. These now-defunct lenders were propped up by Wall Streets securitization machine, which made fat profits off the deals. Far from extending credit to people who could not afford a mortgage, the majority of subprime loans were refinancings. They were pushed on people who already owned homes and had accumulated equity, equity that was stripped by the high interest rates, steep payment resets, and stiff prepayment penalties that characterized Wall Street securitizations.

Bloombergs past public statements and actions regarding financial regulation represent only one facet of his troubling past. However, they provide good examples of how he is trying to reinvent himself without openly acknowledging or apologizing for significant errors in judgement. He seems unable to see the world beyond the Wall Street ecosystem that he has inhabited for so long. To be sure, his record as mayor of New York City has much to be admired: an improved educational system, reduced crime rate, robust job creation, and strengthened city finances. Yet even that impressive record is blemished by his administrations use of racially tinged policies such as stop and frisk (for which, in this instance, he has apologized).

No one should question his competence and considerable administrative skills. The question is whether he will apply those skills for the benefit of all Americans. His pro-Wall Street positions were perhaps more understandable when he led a business and city reliant on Wall Street profits. However, he now aspires to lead a richly diverse nation that suffered terribly from the misdeeds of that industry.

A decade ago, researchers at Bristol University discovered that a leopard can, in fact, change its spots to adapt to a changing environment. Perhaps Michael Bloomberg will also be able to change as he enters the national stage. He has a lot of convincing to do.

Sheila Bair is the former Chair of the FDIC and has held senior appointments in both Republican and Democrat Administrations. She currently serves as a board member or advisor to a several companies and is a founding board member of the Volcker Alliance, a nonprofit established to rebuild trust in government.

Read more:

Low-income Americans need more wealth, not more debt

Why student loan forgiveness should target graduates who need it the most

Why the Fed should oversee Facebooks Libra

How regulators can stop leveraged lending from becoming the new subprime

The $1.4 trillion student loan market faces a huge issue  transparency

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A Salem man was arrested Sunday after he repeatedly purchased Girl Scout cookies using counterfeit money, police said.

Camden Ducharme, 36, was taken into custody and charged with forgery and theft, according to officials.

Earlier this month, Tiffany Brown said a man visited the cookie booth she and her two daughters were running Sunday morning outside the Walmart Supercenter at 3025 Lancester Drive in Salem.

The man asked a ton of questions, Brown recalled, and seemed fidgety." He paid for a $5 box of Tagalongs with a $20 bill and received $15 in change, but Browns 13-year-old daughter, Ava, immediately noticed the bill seemed odd.

As soon as he was out of ear shot, she said I dont think this money is real,  Brown said.

At first glance, in a photo Brown shared on Facebook, the counterfeit money doesnt look all that suspicious. But the bill was slightly smaller than the other twenties in their till, it had a bluish tint, and the texture of the paper wasnt quite right.

On the left is a real $20 bill. On the right is the bill that Tiffany Brown said was determined to be counterfeit when it was used at her daughter's cookie booth.Tiffany Brown

We called the non-emergency police line and the police officer took (the bill) and said yes, this is a fake, Brown said. Its pretty unbelievable.

Police said they responded to at least one other incident in which Ducharme used counterfeit bills to buy Girl Scout cookies.

Using video surveillance, and with collaboration from Walmarts loss prevention team, police identified Ducharme and he was arrested when he returned to the store on Sunday. He was being held in Marion County Correctional Facility, officials said.

Camden Ducharme, 36, was arrested for allegedly using counterfeit bills to purchase Girl Scout cookies in Salem, police said.

-- Kale Williams

kwilliams@oregonian.com

503-294-4048

@sfkale

Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.
(Natural News) I AM ONE of the many women Mike Bloombergs company tried to silence through nondisclosure agreements. The funny thing is, I never even worked for Bloomberg.

(Article by Leta Hong Fincher republished from TheIntercept.com)

But my story shows the lengths that the Bloomberg machine will go to in order to avoid offending Beijing. Bloombergs company, Bloomberg LP, is so dependent on the vast China market for its business that its lawyers threatened to devastate my family financially if I didnt sign an NDA silencing me about how Bloomberg News killed a story critical of Chinese Communist Party leaders. It was only when I hired Edward Snowdens lawyers in Hong Kong that Bloomberg LP eventually called off their hounds after many attempts to intimidate me.

In 2012, I was working toward a Ph.D. in sociology at Tsinghua University in Beijing, and my husband, Michael Forsythe, was a lead writer on a Bloomberg News article about the vast accumulation of wealth by relatives of Chinese President Xi Jinping, part of an award-winning Revolution to Riches series about Chinese leaders.

Soon after Bloomberg published the article on Xis family wealth in June 2012, my husband received death threats conveyed by a woman who told him she represented a relative of Xi. The woman conveying the threats specifically mentioned the danger to our whole family; our two children were 6 and 8 years old at the time. The New Yorkers Evan Osnos reports a similar encounter in his award-winning book, Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth and Faith in the New China, when the same woman told Osnoss wife: He [Forsythe] and his family cant stay in China. Its no longer safe, she said. Something will happen. It will look like an accident. Nobody will know what happened. Hell just be found dead.

The experience was especially terrifying because it came just months after the murder of a British businessman, Neil Heywood, who was poisoned by the wife of a senior Chinese leader, Bo Xilai, according to Chinese state media. His body was reportedly discovered in a hotel in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing. While our family spent the kids summer vacation in 2012 outside of China, Bloomberg executives kept my husband busy in nonstop conference calls about how to maintain our security. I had recurring nightmares about my young children getting beaten up or killed. I desperately wanted to speak publicly about the death threats, feeling it would give us stronger protection, but Bloomberg News wanted us not to say anything about it while the company conducted its own internal investigation. I had been loyal to the company ever since my husband and I married in 2002, and I didnt want to jeopardize his job. I stayed silent until October 26, 2012, when another (unrelated) story was published in defiance of the Chinese government. I decided to tweet that we had received death threats after the Bloomberg story on Xi Jinping.

Within hours of my tweets  the original and my replies to questions  a Bloomberg manager called my husband and said, Get your wife to delete her tweets. I did not delete them, but I also did not tweet or speak publicly about the death threats again. I did not want to anger the company because we needed it to relocate us to Hong Kong, where our children would be safe. As we finished the remainder of our time in Beijing, applying for schools in Hong Kong and preparing for our move, I lived in constant fear. Would someone get to our children while they were on their way to or from school? Who was watching and listening to us? I obsessively pulled down all our window blinds at night in case Chinese security agents were watching us. I was careful not to speak loudly about our plans in our home or on my phone in case we were bugged.

In August 2013, I finally relaxed as we flew out of Beijing and moved to a temporary apartment in Hong Kong. I thought that our yearlong nightmare had ended. But things would soon get even worse.

My husband had been working for many months on another investigative report for Bloomberg about financial ties between one of Chinas richest men, Wang Jianlin, and the families of senior Communist Party officials, including relatives of Xi. Bloomberg editors had thus far backed the story. A Bloomberg managing editor, Jonathan Kaufman, said in an email in late September 2013, I am in awe of the way you tracked down and deciphered the financial holdings and the players.  Its a real revelation. Looking forward to pushing it up the line, according to an account published by the Financial Times.

Then Bloomberg killed the story at the last minute, and the company fired my husband in November after comments by Bloomberg News editor-in-chief Matt Winkler were leaked. If we run the story, well be kicked out of China, Winkler reportedly said on a company call.

Mike Bloomberg, then New York City mayor and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, was asked on November 12, 2013, about reports that his company had self-censored out of fear of offending the Chinese government and he dismissed the question.

Nobody thinks that were wusses and not willing to stand up and write stories that are of interest to the public and that are factually correct, Bloomberg told a press conference.

Yet, days after Bloomberg made those comments to reporters in New York, Bloomberg lawyers in Hong Kong threatened to devastate my family financially by forcing us to repay the company for our relocation fees to Hong Kong from Beijing and the advance on my husbands salary that we took out, leave us with no health insurance or income, and take me to court if I did not sign a nondisclosure agreement  even though I had never been a Bloomberg employee.

The law firm representing Bloomberg, Mayer Brown JSM, sent a letter to my lawyer on December 6, 2013, threatening a court injunction if I didnt agree to their confidentiality terms within seven days.

I told my husbands lawyer that I did not want to sign a gag order, so Bloomberg summoned me and my husband to a meeting on December 16 at Mayer Brown JSMs office in central Hong Kong. We sat around a fancy conference table with some Bloomberg senior editors and Mayer Brown lawyers and spoke via videoconference with a lawyer from Willkie, Farr & Gallagher, representing Bloomberg in New York. My husbands lawyer said that I did not possess any recordings or emails that might be damaging evidence about the companys practices.

But what about all the evidence that is in her head? said the outsized man on the video screen. When Bloombergs lawyer in New York uttered those words, I suddenly pictured him holding a giant vacuum cleaner, trying to suck all the memories out of my brain. I told everyone that I needed to leave the room and I walked out of the building, determined to go down fighting.

On December 20, they sent a letter to my husband demanding that I sign a nondisclosure agreement. If I didnt agree, we might owe the company thousands of dollars. I might even have had to pay Bloombergs legal bills. The thought of Bloomberg possibly ruining our family financially if I didnt give in to their threats made me sick, but I was also infuriated that they had kept us in harms way after we received threats, forbidden me from speaking publicly about the death threats we received in Beijing, and now were trying to take away my freedom of speech forever.

It was only when I hired Snowdens lawyers in Hong Kong  Albert Ho and Jonathan Man offered me a low rate because it was a good cause  that Bloomberg finally backed off. In the meantime, they had sent me several more threatening letters. One letter from Mayer Brown JSM on January 8, 2014, spelled out that by virtue of the knowledge that she retains (in her head) of our clients [Bloombergs] Confidential Information she has an ongoing duty of confidentiality to our client. They demanded that I sign away my right to speak out about things such as unpublished drafts of an article prepared for our client; documents concerning our clients newsgathering, editorial processes and editorial judgment ; any emails and other communications (including oral discussions) between and among our clients employees concerning our clients newsgathering editorial processes and editorial judgment.

Ho, a veteran Hong Kong pro-democracy legislator and activist who has been assaulted twice over the years, told me that if Bloomberg didnt back down, we could hold a press conference to shame them. Fortunately, it didnt come to that and in February 2014, Bloomberg finally stopped sending me legal threats. I returned to Tsinghua University to finish my Ph.D. and published my first book about women in China. My husband joined the New York Times, re-reported the entire story on the Chinese businessman, Wang, which Bloomberg claimed was not ready for publication, and his story was published on the front page of the New York Times in late April 2015.

I never wanted to seek publicity about Bloombergs threatening behavior and was genuinely terrified of financial ruin, so in spite of preserving my freedom of speech, I have never written about my experience before. I am speaking out now because unlike so many other women, I am not bound by a nondisclosure agreement. Given the large number of women silenced by NDAs, its clear that there has been an environment of sexism at Bloombergs company. Bloomberg managers and lawyers treated me as though I were a piece of company property, an appendage of my husband, using intimidation and threats to try to bully me into submission. I agonized over whether to sign the NDA and I remember feeling physically suffocated, as though my mouth were stuffed with cotton balls. I havent met any of the other women, but I imagine that they, too, may have experienced the same terror of being threatened by a multibillion-dollar corporation, which could ruin their lives if they did not comply. Even now, I am nervous about the consequences of speaking out. But the more of us speak out, the stronger we are.

Read more at: TheIntercept.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 13:51:13|Editor: Lu Hui

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Employees of a supermarket pack goods ordered by residents in Baibuting of Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 24, 2020. In Wuhan, all residential communities were sealed off from Feb. 11, in a bid to further strengthen the control of the epidemic and minimize the flow of personnel. Local residents can order living materials through online group buying. Then, community workers, cooperating with nearby supermarkets, will organize the purchase and delivery of the orders. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)
The Arkansas Insurance Departments Consumer Services Division (CSD) recovered $3,005,606 for consumers in 2019, the department said.

Recoveries are dollar amounts recovered in excess of the amounts initially offered by insurance companies. CSD closed 2,320 cases in 2019 while receiving 2,264 consumer complaints.

In 2019, Consumer Services had a combined total of 18,221 Arkansas consumers who either called or walked-in to the department to discuss insurance questions.

The Consumer Services Division assists insurance consumers with complaints and inquiries regarding insurance companies, producers, and adjusters. CSD investigates all complaints, working with the insurance company and the consumer to determine the appropriate course of action.

CSD travels statewide to provide educational information and materials, and in the event of significant storm damage, travels to damaged areas to assist homeowners with filing claims and procuring emergency living expenses.

During the 2019 flooding disaster, CSD staff participated in both the FEMA-sponsored Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) program and the Arkansas Red Cross Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARC) in various locations around the state, assisting 152 Arkansans.
Bengaluru, Feb 25 : Charting a roadmap for developers for the next 10 years, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Tuesday said that they will have to focus on creating a more inclusive world, building trust into technology and using digital infrastructure to optimise the use of limited natural resources.

"The last 10 years have been amazing for developers, but they have been somewhat narrowing in some sense. The next 10 years have to be much more broader in terms of spanning the use of technology to newer sectors," he said at the Microsoft Future Decoded tech summit held at the Conrad Bengaluru hotel.

With over 4.2 million developers in the country, India has one of the biggest developer communities in the world.

Nadella said that as developers have the power to create and change the world, they must also be responsible.

Over 700 people attended the event which also saw the participation of several technology companies including Wipro and Infosys.

"The highest thing we can do is to empower developers. We want to give you the best toolchains," the Microsoft CEO said.

Stressing on the importance of democratising the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Nadella said that every organisation in India and the world must be able to leverage the technology to solve problems.

"But AI should not be biased. That is why the team building AI technology should be diverse and inclusive," he said.

Giving an example of how AI is helping solve the world's problems, he said the Apollo Hospitals is developing a cardiac model that can better predict heart diseases as compared to existing models. This is because the earlier models did not take into consideration data from people of South Asian origin.

The scope to accelerate the use of AI is still very vast as about 72 per cent of data that organisations have do not currently get analysed, he said.

"Trust should be there in everything you build. There should be trust around privacy and security of people's data," he said, adding that there will be over 500 million business apps by 2023, more than what has been built in the past 40 years.

Saying that security is another major concern as the world economy loses more than $1 trillion every year due to cybercrime, Nadella said Microsoft is working with a bigger group of cyber security experts to make the digital world more secure.

One of the security experts, he said Microsoft was working closely was Suresh Chelladurai who lives in a small village in Tamil Nadu.

"Suresh has detected 21 vulnerabilities in the last six months alone," Nadella said.

Namya Joshi, a 13-year-old girl from Ludhiana, Punjab, who is building school curriculum using Minecraft and has been training facilitators in her school as well as across the world also featured in Nadella's address.
By ANI

WASHINGTON: Paramount Pictures has halted the previously scheduled three-week shoot of the much anticipated Tom Cruise starrer 'Mission: Impossible 7' in Italy due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The studio announces on Monday (local time), citing the government's missive to halt public gatherings, reported Variety.

Summer 2021 and Summer 2022 pic.twitter.com/V6SNvZx2La  Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) January 15, 2019

"Out of an abundance of caution for the safety and well-being of our cast and crew, and efforts of the local Venetian government to halt public gatherings in response to the threat of coronavirus, we are altering the production plan for our three-week shoot in Venice, the scheduled first leg of an extensive production for 'Mission: Impossible 7,'" Paramount said.

"During this hiatus, we want to be mindful of the concerns of the crew and are allowing them to return home until production starts. We will continue to monitor this situation, and work alongside health and government officials as it evolves."

Having Christopher McQuarrie at the helm, the upcoming sequel will have the 57-year-old actor returning as the seemingly indestructible secret agent Ethan Hunt.

The studio has given the upcoming seventh instalment of the franchise the release date of July 23, 2021, whereas an eighth instalment, will be released on August 5, 2022.
Every year in the UK, we throw away 140 million pounds worth of fast-fashion*.

Thats a shocking 350,000 tonnes of clothes that could be heading for landfill after only a few turns out of the closet.

Although our clothes dont always go to waste. Sometimes our castoffs get donated to charity or recycled for the materials.

Meanwhile, the entrepreneurial spirits among us might even sell our stuff second-hand on eBay, just like Birmingham brothers Sean, 29, and Liam Sheahan, 24, who created a six-figure business out of turning one persons trends into another ones treasure.

In the last 12 months alone, shoppers in the UK have spent a whopping 187million on pre-owned clothes on eBay, with searches for sustainable fashion soaring 600 per cent since 2016.

Brothers Sean and Liam have transformed their lives selling vintage clothes

It was four years ago that Liam and Sean established their own eBay storefront for second-hand designer clothes, called Sheanies Vintage, shortly after a family tragedy motivated them to launch the small business theyd always talked about.

It all started with one box of second-hand clothes, says Sheanies co-founder Liam, who was 19 when he put just 100 into the business back in January 2016, and now watches it brings in over 100,000 in annual sales.

I was newly-qualified as a civil engineer, backpacking across Europe while I considered what to do next, and Sean had just left his retail job to join me abroad, when our dad sadly passed away.

Sean adds: It set us on a very different path and made us really re-evaluate things. We didnt want to waste any more time in jobs we didnt like and we definitely didnt want to be away from family, so we moved back home with our mum, jobless and unhappy, knowing that we wanted to do something more meaningful.

The success the brothers have had with their eBay store has enabled them to open a shop

Thats when fashion fan Liam suggested the idea of a thrift store on eBay, the UKs biggest selling platform, where buyers could track down specific styles of pre-owned streetwear, workwear and designer staples that the boys had purchased wholesale, then prepared or repaired for resale.

Sean says: Liam had an awareness of trends and I had the business head. I think at first, our mum thought it was some sort of side hustle - a nice way to make a bit of pocket money online - but by the time wed filled her entire house with second-hand clothes, boxes and mailbags we knew it was big business.

Currently the second biggest online retailer in the UK, eBay is home to 300,000 small businesses, offering them a shop window to 179million people worldwide.

Sean says that even though he had experimented with selling clothes on eBay before, the key to success with Sheanies Vintage was taking the time to learn about the platform itself.

Anyone can list items to sell on eBay because its such an easy platform to use, says Sean. But there are some amazing tools available for turning these stores into full-time businesses.

Such as eBay Webinars about International Shipping, which unlocked a global market for our pieces. It gave us insight into selling techniques and presets that have now helped us to sell on every continent and scale our business to a whole new level.

It also taught us clever ways to list our items. For example, one of most popular items we sell is silk shirts but we learned that you can upload Variations of the same item (such as differences in colour, size, sleeve style) to save time and efficiency of listing each individually. Since then, we have sold hundreds, if not thousands of silk shirts.

Just nine months after launching their online store, the business partners and brothers were able to take a full-time salary out of the business, and shortly after their first anniversary, they opened the doors to their first physical store in student hotspot Selly Oak, near Birmingham University.

Sean says: 'Anyone can list items to sell on eBay, because it's such an easy platform to use'

Opening the shop was one of our proudest moments, says Liam. It was so rewarding to see the enjoyment customers have been getting out of our eBay sales all this time.

To this day, the Sheahan brothers are yet to throw away a single item of clothing thats come their way; an eco-mission that won them The Sustainability Seller prize at 2019s eBay Business Awards.

And theyre only just getting started.

Sean says: Unfortunately, clothes on the market today are built to wear out pretty fast to encourage us to buy more. One day, we want to make our own upcycled fashion line using more sustainable materials.

He adds: Even with the Sheanies Vintage shop in Birmingham, the eBay store is the driving force behind our brand. Everything we have on the shop floor is also listed on eBay, though online sales still account for around two thirds of our overall turnover.

The brothers have found it so rewarding to see how much their customers love their store

Financially, this business model has completely changed our lives, giving us material things like our shop and a house, but its things like the freedom, independence and confidence weve gained through small business ownership that have helped us to grow as people.

Explore Sheanies Vintage at ebay.co.uk/sheaniesvintage

Launch your business today! Visit sellercentre.ebay.co.uk now to see how easy it is to create a business that could change your life forever.

1. https://www.wrap.org.uk/content/textiles-overview
GUYSBOROUGH, N.S. - Three hours before Shanna Desmond was killed by her husband, she sought information about how to get a peace bond, a fatality inquiry in Nova Scotia was told Tuesday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/2/2020 (686 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. - Three hours before Shanna Desmond was killed by her husband, she sought information about how to get a peace bond, a fatality inquiry in Nova Scotia was told Tuesday.

The provincial inquiry, which started five weeks ago, is investigating why Lionel Desmond  a mentally ill former soldier  fatally shot his wife, mother, 10-year-old daughter and himself in the family's home in Upper Big Tracadie, N.S., on Jan. 3, 2017.

Nicole Mann, executive director of the Naomi Society in Antigonish, N.S., told the inquiry she received a call at 3 p.m. that day from a woman who gave no indication she was at risk.

"She didn't speak of any domestic violence," Mann said, adding that the call lasted about 20 minutes.

"She was articulate and straightforward. This person was not in crisis or distraught in any way .... There was nothing alarming about the call."

The non-profit group, which offers support to women and children facing intimate partner violence, often provides advice over the phone, but the group's policy is to keep the identity of callers confidential  unless the caller shares that information.

In this case, Shanna Desmond did not share her name but Mann could see it on her call display  a feature that has since been disabled at the organization.

Reading from a statement she gave police, Mann said she explained various options to the caller, including how to get legal advice and how to apply for a peace bond, a court order against someone who appears likely to commit a criminal offence.

Mann said when the woman mentioned her 10-year-old daughter, Mann made a point about asking about their safety and if they were at risk of being harmed.

"Her response to that was, 'No,'" Mann said. Mann also asked if the RCMP should be notified. Again, the answer was no.

As that point, Shanna Desmond mentioned that her partner was a former soldier who suffered from PTSD.

Mann said she learned about the triple-murder suicide the next morning when she received a call from a source at a partner organization, who relayed Shanna Desmond's name. Mann confirmed on her phone it was the same woman who had called the previous day, and there was a discussion among staff about privacy concerns before the RCMP were alerted.

Among other things, the inquiry is trying to determine whether the Desmond family had access to services to help with mental health and domestic violence, and whether the health-care professionals who dealt with Lionel Desmond were trained to recognize mental health and domestic violence issues.

Earlier on Tuesday, a New Brunswick doctor who specializes in treating veterans with PTSD apologized for comments he made about the Department of Veterans Affairs during testimony Monday.

Paul Smith offered a harsh assessment of how the federal department deals with those who are leaving the military for medical reasons, which was the case for Lionel Desmond in June 2015.

Desmond had been diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression in 2011 after he served in Afghanistan in 2007.

Smith told the inquiry that soldiers given medical discharges for PTSD are generally treated poorly by the department.

"Our PTSD soldiers are chastised," he said. "They are treated like lepers. They're cast to the wind. It's all about pills and psychotherapy. It's pathetic."

Smith apologized for those comments when challenged by a lawyer representing the federal government.

Lori Ward said the inquiry can expect to hear testimony from a Veterans Affairs case manager, who will testify how she tried to bend the rules to ensure the former infantryman received proper "continuity of care."

Ward said the woman is also expected to tell the inquiry that she volunteered to drive Desmond to the airport in 2016 when he was scheduled to take part in a residential treatment program at a hospital in Montreal.

"Does that sound like a lack of warmness to you?" Ward asked Smith.

Smith replied: "There's good people in the DVA system, and I apologize for a sweeping statement that may have presented otherwise. (However), it remains the attitude of many vets is that it's a constant struggle to deal with DVA in terms of attitude."

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 in 2017.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 25, 2020.

 By Michael MacDonald in Halifax
Wind City Books owner Vicki Burger last fall began preparing to host a signing with her first major writer not from Wyoming.

Burger has been a fan of Jeanine Cummins American Dirt since she read an advance copy in September. The novel about a Mexican woman and her child coming to the U.S. as undocumented immigrants debuted last month to praise and then controversy, including Mexican American writers saying the book depicts stereotypes of Mexicans.

Burger met Cummins at a Denver event in September and was able to book her for a March 18 book signing at Gruner Brothers Brewing, despite Caspers small market.

So they were going to send her here which was going to be huge for us, Burger said.

But last month, publisher Flatiron Books canceled the rest of Cummings tour in light of the backlash, citing concerns for her safety.

Meanwhile in Casper, the pushback has been minimal, with a discussion last week about American Dirt being attended mostly by supporters of the book and Burger continuing to defend the book with a second talk scheduled for next month.

Discussion in Casper

Steamboat Deli & Outlet hosted the Feb. 18 book club and served Mexican food there. Co-owner Toni Dovalina read the book at Burgers request and became a fan.

And I wanted Toni to read it because I knew that Tonis family was from Mexico and that Toni had spent a considerable amount of time there, Burger said. ... She could judge better than I could whether this had some authenticity to it.

Dovalina, a longtime friend of Burgers and customer at the bookstore, came up with the idea to hold Wind Citys inaugural book club at the cafe with American Dirt as the topic.

And I felt very solid in promoting this book, because I asked Toni to read it, Burger said. Tonis parents are from Mexico; Toni spent extensive amounts of time in Mexico growing up, through her young adult years. And Toni found no offense in this book.

Burger told the group of less than a dozen in attendance about a negative review by Latina author Myriam Gurba that sparked a wave of criticism and controversy over the book.

What made me cringe was immediately realizing that this book was not written for people like me, for immigrants, LA Times staff writer Esmeralda Burmudez, one of the books most vocal critics, wrote in an essay in the Times. It was written for everyone else  to enchant them, take them on a wild border-crossing ride, make them feel all fuzzy inside about the immigrant plight. ... Never in nearly two decades of writing about immigrants have I come across someone who resembles Cummins heroine.

Some booksellers have chosen not to carry the book because of concerns or sensitivity to the Latino population, Burger told the group.

And Im curious if anybody enjoyed the book, if you thought there were stereotypes in the book or if you thought it wasnt very good, said Dovalina, who helped lead the discussion. I guess I would just like to hear peoples comments about the book itself, not about the controversy. That would be the second part of the discussion later on.

Participants and the hosts praised the book for its writing, and several among the group said it was eye-opening.

Sam Hendy told the group she read it in one sitting and immediately looked it up Twitter, where she was surprised to find negative reviews. But shes recommended it to others. Rose Hill also was among the participants who praised the book, saying it makes you stop and think and sparks empathy.

Hendy agreed, saying it helped her empathize with the people in photographs at the border.

What I saw was pictures of people at the border, she said after the session. Now I see pictures of theres a family, theres a person that is running from the cartel, theyre trying to make a better life, they cant stay there, like whatever it is. So all the sudden I was seeing like thats somebodys mom, thats somebodys brother, thats somebodys son, thats whoever thats been affected by this.

Tammy Wuertley said after the session that even though the book is fiction, it seemed like she was reading about a real person. All her life shes heard people talk about immigrants as though they are criminals coming over the border to take jobs.

I never believed any of it, but its always what you hear, she said. And then when I read this book and I found out how much trauma this lady went through, Im just like, Oh my gosh, why dont we just let people who are in trouble and are hurting and theyre afraid to get killed, why dont we just let them come to here America? Thats how we were founded.

Burger said the book made her think about how people in the U.S. refer to themselves as Americans, which excludes people from other North, South or Central American countries. People from the U.S. are referred to as estadounidenses in Mexico and other Latin American countries, Dovalina said, not americanos.

Yeah, she (Cummins) made me aware of it too, and Im Mexican American, she said.

She found the book true to her experiences traveling through the country and watching it become a more dangerous place.

I at the age of 20 was arrested by the federales, Dovalina recalled. ... They had us under arrest at gunpoint for eight hours. And I didnt have any money on me and they were just threatening, and it was horrible.

She mentioned how her father traveled throughout Mexico with his children and educated them about the country and culture, although he also acknowledged corruption, dangers and why hed emigrated to Chicago, she said.

There was nothing in this book that did not scream reality to me, she said.

Ongoing discussion

American Dirt has received praise from authors including Stephen King, Ann Patchett and Latina author Sandra Cisneros. But critics of the book have said the book contains stereotypes of Mexico and Mexican migrants and is an example of cultural appropriation.

Oprah Winfrey chose the novel for her book club and since the criticisms has said she realizes the book struck an emotional chord with Latinos and created a need for deeper conversation.

The event drew scrutiny for not inviting some of the books harshest Latino critics.

Latino writers criticisms have also broadened discussions over who gets published and who gets to tell which stories in a predominantly white industry.

Dovalina watched an interview with Cisneros and was interested in her opinion as a Mexican American from the same generation in Chicago as Dovalina, she said.

Dovalina, Burger and Wind City Books manager Miranda Berdahl were all disappointed about the canceled book tour.

Its sad that Caspers not going to get this opportunity now, Burger said.

American Dirt has sold 70 copies at Wind City Books, which doesnt happen with books that arent from a Wyoming author or with a focus on Wyoming, Burger said before last weeks book club.

Burger believes American Dirt is an example of how books can teach things beyond ones personal experiences to help people understand and empathize with other cultures.

You know, we as a people are so deeply divided, she said in an interview. This kind of criticism is only serving to divide us further. ... Jeanines book can serve to pull us together rather than tear us apart.

The discussion is set to continue at American Dirt in next months community discussion, which replaces the previously scheduled book signing.

We dont have to agree, Burger said. The only thing we have to do is have respectful conversation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow arts & culture reporter Elysia Conner on twitter @erconner

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Is it just us, or does it feel like winter hasn't been as horrendous as usual this year? Well, stats show it's actually been one of the warmer winters on record so far this year for many eastern U.S. cities in January and February. But, almost on cue, weather experts warn signs of a serious cold snap could be on the way as we head into March.

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Stroke can result in a variety of debilitating conditions caused by damaged neural connections within the brain. Researchers at the Eddy Scurlock Stroke Center at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas have now successfully tested a wearable, multifocal, transcranial, rotating, permanent magnet stimulator (TRPMS) to boost neural activity near injured brain areas in patients recovering from a stroke.

The trial involved 30 patients, half of whom were treated with TRPMS and the other half received a sham treatment. All had weakness on one side of the body three months following their strokes. The treated patients underwent twenty sessions, each lasting 40 minutes over a period of a month.

Those involved in the trial had their brains scanned using functional MRI before and after treatment, allowing researchers to see the amount of neural activity. The robustness of the increase in physiological brain activity was surprising. With only 30 subjects, a statistically significant change was seen in brain activity, said lead study author David Chiu, M.D., in an American Heart Association press release. If confirmed in a larger multicenter trial, the results would have enormous implications. This technology would be the first proven treatment for recovery of motor function after chronic ischemic stroke.

It is hoped that all this stimulation will improve the connectivity of the brain in positive ways to speed up reconstruction and patient rehabilitation post-stroke. The device is non-invasive and lets the user wear it in reasonable comfort, meaning that it could be quickly adopted for clinical practice.

Some details according to the American Heart Association:

[The researchers] found that treatment was well tolerated, and there were no device-related complications. Active treatment produced significantly greater increases in brain activity: nearly 9 times higher than the sham treatment. Although the study could not prove that the transcranial stimulator improved motor function, numerical improvements were demonstrated in five of six clinical scales of motor function, as measured by a functional MRI test. The scales measured gait velocity, grip strength, pinch strength, and other motor functions of the arm. The treatment effects persisted over a three-month follow-up.

Heres Mitchell S. V. Elkind, M.D., M.S., FAHA, FAAN, president elect of the American Heart Association commenting on the new technology:

Via: American Heart Association
Le president francais Emmanuel Macron et son homologue camerounais Paul Biya lors d'un diner avant le Forum de Paris sur la Paix, en novembre 2019.

Le Cameroun n'est pas une province francaise

Biya n'est pas un gouverneur nomme par la France que Macron fasse tres attention  Scolla Guy (@ScollaGuy) February 22, 2020

Les declarations du president francais Emmanuel Macron, qui avait denonce samedi des violations  intolerables  des droits de lhomme a propos du massacre de Ngarbuh apres avoir ete interpelle par le leader de la Brigade anti-sardinards (BAS) Calibri Calibro, continuent dalimenter une vive polemique au sein de lopinion publique camerounaise.Entre condamnations et interrogations, partisans du regime et opposants saffrontent au sujet de la reponse servie par Emmanuel Macron a lactiviste, notamment au sujet des relations qui existent entre le president francais et son homologue camerounais Paul Biya.Au salon de lAgriculture, le chef de lEtat francais a assure avoir exige la liberation de lopposant Maurice Kamto et conditionne la presence du president camerounais a une conference, tenue debut octobre a Lyon, a lexecution de cette exigence. Je vais appeler la semaine prochaine le president Paul Biya et on mettra le maximum de pression pour que la situation cesse , a ajoute Emmanuel Macron au sujet du massacre de Ngarbuh.
Unlike many of his Married At First Sight co-stars Michael Goonan has shunned the limelight since filming wrapped last month.

And the 28-year-old business owner has now criticised some of his co-stars for working with paparazzi to maximise their fame.

Speaking to Hit105's Stav, Abby and Matt on Tuesday, Michael said that several participants have been contacting paparazzi and tipping them off on their whereabouts.

'I just think that's how the industry works': Married At First Sight's Michael Goonan claimed people on the show are working the paparazzi. His said, 'I think a lot of people in the show are working closely with the media and paps'

'I think a lot of people in the show are working closely with the media and paps,' his said.

'Nine times out of ten they're getting papped because they are telling them where they are and things like that. I just think that's how the industry works,' he said.

Michael, who has managed to dodge the paparazzi more than most of his co-stars, insisted that he prefers to 'stay well out of it' and 'hide under his rock'.

Paps on call: Michael (with 'wife' Stacey) told Hit105's Stav, Abby and Matt, 'nine times out of ten they're getting papped because they are telling them where they are'

A slew of Michael's co-stars have been photographed out-and-about including Natasha Herz, Natasha Spencer, Mikey Pembroke, Mishel Karen and Vanessa Romito.

Hayley Vernon, with whom Michael is rumoured to have had an 'affair' on the show, has also been photograph going topless at a Sydney beach.

It comes after Michael admitted his involvement in a cheating scandal that halted production for two weeks back in October.

Papped: A slew of Michael's co-stars have been photographed out-and-about including Natasha Herz, Natasha Spencer (left), and Mikey Pembroke (right), and Mishel Karen and Vanessa Romito

Photographed: Hayley Vernon, who Michael is rumoured to have had an 'affair' with on the show, has also been photograph going topless at a Sydney beach

Speaking to Nova 100's Chrissie, Sam & Browny on Tuesday, the single father denied being solely responsible for the temporary shut-down.

'Production halted for two weeks, because, I believe, so much stuff happened off camera that wasn't captured in the moment.

'Production had to have multiple meetings and work out where everyone's storyline was at, because a lot of storylines had obviously deviated or gone off the rails.

'It would have been a hard job for them [producers]. If you've got stuff going on off camera, you've still got to be able to tell the story.

Married At First Sight continues Tuesday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine
Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad speaks during a joint news conference with Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan (not pictured) in Putrajaya, Malaysia on Feb. 4, 2020. (Lim Huey Teng/Reuters)

Malaysias Mahathir to Stay as Interim PM After Shock Resignation

KUALA LUMPURMahathir Mohamad unexpectedly quit as Malaysias prime minister on Monday, but has agreed to a request by the Southeast Asian nations king to stay on as interim premier until a successor is named.

The resignation of Mahathir, 94, broke apart a coalition with old rival Anwar Ibrahim, 72, who scored a surprise election victory in 2018.

The decision, which Mahathir did not explain, followed weekend talks between members of his coalition and the opposition on forming a new government.

Malaysias Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (R) chats with deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the finance minister, in Kuala Lumpur on May 11, 1997. (Stringer/Reuters File)

The political turmoil, together with alarm in the region over the spread of the new coronavirus, sent Malaysias currency, bonds, and stock market lower, and drew calls from some quarters for the worlds oldest government leader to return.

Differences have been simmering between Mahathir and Anwar over delays to the planned transfer of power, presenting some anti-Anwar politicians with a window to try to seek a new coalition.

The king accepted the 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 countrys affairs until a new prime minister and cabinet are appointed, Mohd Zuki said.

On the advice of Mahathir, who came out of retirement to contest the last general election, the king also assented to dissolving his cabinet, Mohd Zuki said.

There is no time frame for how long someone can stay on as interim leader. That person can also appoint cabinet ministers, news portal; The Malaysian Insight quoted Attorney-General Tommy Thomas as saying.

Mahathirs Bersatu party late on Monday rejected his resignation as its chairman and denied that he or any other member had left the camp.

Anwar and people close to Mahathir said he had quit as prime minister after accusations that he would form a partnership with opposition parties he defeated less than two years ago on an anti-corruption platform.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (L) chats with Deputy Prime MinisterAnwar Ibrahim during a function in Kuala Lumpur on May 9, 1997. (David Loh/Reuters File)

He made it very clear that in no way would he work with those associated with the previous regime, Anwar told reporters after meeting Mahathir on Monday morning.

It is unclear whether the resignation marks the end of the road for Mahathir as a full-term premier because at least three parties in his coalition called for him to stay 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.

Up For Grabs

It is unclear what the political leaders are planning next or who might form the next government.

A showdown is possible between Anwar and an alliance of Bersatu President Muhyiddin Yassin and Azmin Ali. Azmin, on Monday, was sacked from Anwars party, political sources said.

Azmin and 10 other members of Anwars party were at the weekend meetings along with lawmakers from Mahathirs coalition, the opposition United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), and the Islamist party PAS. They said they acted to prevent a conspiracy from bringing down Mahathir, and also to protect confidence in the stability and continuity of the governments policies.

Constitutionally, any lawmaker who can command a majority in parliament can stake a claim to form the government. The king has to give his assent before a premier can be sworn in.

If no one has a simple majority of the 112 in parliament, a new election is an option, a source close to Bersatu said.

Anwar did not say whether he would try to stake a claim to form a government. He said he had met the king to express his views and seek his advice in the interest of the country.

The ringgit fell 0.9 percent on the dayits steepest slide in three yearsto 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 five 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, said Jolynn Kek, head of equity at BOS Wealth Management Malaysia, pointing to more political stability and economic growth among its neighbors.

By A. Ananthalakshmi, Joseph Sipalan, and Rozanna Latiff
Domestic shares ended with small losses on Tuesday, extending a steep sell-off a day earlier. Despite a positive start, the market barometers reversed trend by mid-afternoon trade and ended in the red. U.S. President Donald Trump's two-day visit failed to boost investor sentiment.

The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, slipped 82.03 points or 0.2% at 40,281.20. The Nifty 50 index fell 16.20 points or 0.14% at 11,813.20.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index declined 0.44% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index slipped 0.45%.

The market breadth was negative. On the BSE, 963 shares rose and 1470 shares fell. A total of 183 shares were unchanged.

President Trump reportedly said on Monday the two countries will sign defense deals worth $3 billion and that both sides were at the early stages of reaching an "incredible" trade agreement. However, fears of a global recession are running wild as countries battle the coronavirus.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Pharma index fell 2.14% to 7,942.20, as coronavirus woes continue to haunt the sector. The price of many pharmaceutical ingredients has reportedly spiked for Indian drugmakers following panic buying and Chinese raw material shortages caused by the coronavirus lockdown.

Piramal Enterprises (down 4.83%), Dr Reddy's Laboratories (down 2.79%), IPCA Laboratories (down 2.75%), Glenmark Pharmaceuticals (down 2.63%), Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (down 2.19%), Divi's Laboratories (down 2.12%), Cipla (down 1.07%), Cadila Healthcare (down 0.8%), Lupin (down 0.65%) declined.

GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (up 2.27%), Wockhardt (up 2.05%), Strides Pharma Science (up 1.6%), Alkem Laboratories (up 1.36%), Aurobindo Pharma (up 0.13%) advanced.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Hindustan Unilever (HUL) added 0.68% to Rs 2231.05. HUL's board approved a proposal to form a new 100% subsidiary with an authorised share capital of Rs 2000 crore. This new subsidiary will leverage the growth opportunities in a fast-changing business environment and will help HUL in becoming more agile and customer-focused.

HDFC Bank fell 0.8% to Rs 1200.35. The bank's managing director (MD), Aditya Puri, sold a total 12.52 lakh equity shares of the bank on 11 and 12 February 2020. The announcement was made after trading hours yesterday, 24 February 2020.

State Bank of India (SBI) gained 1.04% to Rs 326.25. The price band of initial public offering (IPO) of SBI Cards and Payment Services has been fixed in the price range of Rs 750-755 per share. The issue will open for subscription on 2 March and close on 5 March. The IPO comprises a fresh issue of Rs 500 crore, while the offer for sale would see the promoters offload 13 crore shares.

JSW Steel rose 1.66% to Rs 263.10. The company said on Monday it has been declared as a preferred bidder for an iron ore mine in Odisha. The projected iron ore resource in this mine as per tender documents is 39.4 million tonnes.

Tech Mahindra added 0.37% to Rs 823.15. The IT major said it has acquired Zen3 Infosolutions (America) for $44 million. A further $22 million will be paid out after three years, based on financial performance. The all-cash transaction is expected to close by 1 April. Tech Mahindra said that the acquisition would bring strong capabilities in AI enablement services. This will also help it to bolster its enterprise application practice.

NTPC gained 0.46% to Rs 110.25 after the Competition Commission of India approved NTPC's 74.5% acquisition of THDC. The proposed acquisition is of issued and paid-up share capital of the THDC from the Government of India. THDC is a government company with 74.50% of its total shares held by the Government of India and 25.50% of its shares held by the Government of Uttar Pradesh as on 31 March 2019.

Navin Fluorine hit 20% upper circuit at Rs 1455.10 after the company said that it has entered into a $410 million (about Rs 2900 crore) multi-year contract with a global company for manufacture and supply of a high performance product in the fluorochemicals space. The project will entail an investment of about $51.50 million (Rs 365.50 crore) in the manufacturing facility and $10 million (Rs 71 crore) in captive power plant. The company will execute this capex and the project through its wholly owned subsidiary, Navin Fluorine Advanced Sciences. The facility will be located at Dahej, Gujarat. The capex will be funded through a mix of internal accruals and debt. The supplies are expected to commence from Q4 of FY2022.

Shilpa Medicare hit an upper-circuit limit of 5% at Rs 515.20 after its board approved the sale of biological unit of Shilpa Medicare through slump sale to Shilpa Biologicals, a wholly owned subsidiary of the firm. The biological unit is currently under construction stage and has not yet commenced commercial operations. The net worth of the proposed unit is estimated to be around 22% to 24% (i.e. Rs 321.77 crore approximately) on standalone financials basis. The consideration for the proposed sale will be paid in cash. The sale is expected to be completed on or before 31 March 2020 subjected to shareholder's approval. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 24 February 2020.

Shares of Camlin Fine Sciences surged 3.41% to Rs 69.70. The company's subsidiary, CFS Wanglong Flavors (Ningbo) located in Xiaocao's Town, Yuyao City, Zhejiang Province has re-started the manufacturing facility from 24 February 2020. The manufacturing facility was closed with a view to effectively strengthen the prevention and control of new coronavirus.

Linde India slumped 7.05% to Rs 717. The company reported a standalone net profit of Rs 634.50 crore in Q3 December 2019 as compared to a net profit of Rs 15.42 crore in Q3 December 2018. Net sales, however, declined 26.6% to Rs 412.82 crore in Q3 December 2019 as against Rs 562.79 crore reported in the same period last year.

Global Markets:

European shares extended losses while Asian markets ended mostly higher on Tuesday, following a heavy sell-off on Wall Street on Monday on heightened fears that the China coronavirus is rapidly developing in to a global pandemic that could cripple global supply chains and wreak far greater economic damage than first thought.

On Monday, the World Health Organization warned that a "sudden increase in new cases" outside of China is "deeply concerning," following a rise in infections of Covid-19 in Italy, South Korea and Iran.

However, the World Health Organization declined to declare the outbreak a pandemic, saying the rapidly spreading disease has pandemic potential but does not yet require that designation.

In US, the Dow finished more than 1,000 points lower on Monday, marking its third-worst daily point drop in history, as the spread of the COVID-19 illness beyond China raised worries that the hit to overseas economic growth could be more persistent than investors expected, hampering the prospects for a global recovery in 2020.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
EDWARDSVILLE  Madison County Transit (MCT) will host an MCT Trails Workshop 9-11 a.m. March 13 in the Leclaire Room at Lewis & Clark Community College, 600 Troy Road, Edwardsville.

The workshop will focus on the current MCT Trails system and how it can be enhanced and expanded through collaboration with public bodies and organizations. The MCT Board of Trustees will be present; therefore the workshop will be considered a public meeting under the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
The FBI is investigating Peter Nygard for sex trafficking

The FBI on Tuesday raided the Manhattan HQ of Peter Nygard's fashion company amid ongoing claims he abused girls as young as 14.

The fashion executive is a friend of Prince Andrew who has hosted the royal and his children at his Bahamas mansion over the last few decades.

The Bahamas property is said to have been the scene of the sexual abuse of girls as young as 14.

For the last five months, he has been the subject of a secret investigation into sex trafficking, according to The New York Times.

On Tuesday, agents flocked to the Nygard building in Times Square, where the Canadian business executive runs his operation.

It is not clear if he was there.

Six police vans were there and agents were spotted on the sixth floor of the building and in the lobby.

Earlier this month, Nygard was sued by a collection of women who say he raped and drugged them on the Bahamas estate Prince Andrew visited in 2011.

He denies the allegations. Ten women say they were raped by the mogul at the compound.

Agents reportedly raided the lobby and sixth floor of the building. On Tuesday, there was no one there to even man the company's desk (above)

The exterior of the building in Time's Square. There was no sign of Nygard

The women filed a class-action lawsuit against Nygard in the Southern District of New York last Thursday, which claims that he ran a 'sex-trafficking ring' at the island home.

The suit alleges that Nygard lured 'young, impressionable, and often impoverished children and women' to his Mayan-themed vacation home in the Bahamas with cash payments and promises to launch their modelling careers.

Once the arrived, the girls were entertained at so-called 'pamper parties' where Nygard would have bartenders spike their drinks with the date-rape drug Rohypnol.

Nygard allegedly kept a database with details about each guest, which he would consult before picking a 'victim' to target at the weekly parties.

Nygard's empire is built on sportswear. His leggings are sold in stores that bear his name and also in Dillard's. He is worth an estimated $750million.

He has long had a reputation for keeping young, attractive women around him.

Nygard with Prince Andrew on his Bahamas island in 2011
An Italian man suffering from frostbite and four other tourists were rescued in the Alaska wilderness after visiting an abandoned bus that has become a lure for adventurers since it was featured in the 'Into the Wild' book and movie.

Alaska State Troopers say the five Italians were rescued Saturday from a camp they set up after visiting the dilapidated bus on the Stampede Trail near the interior town of Healy.

The hikers were found 13 miles from the trailhead, Trooper spokesman Tim DeSpain said. He didn't know how far they were from the bus.

The hikers had been visiting this abandoned bus on the Stampede Trail near the interior town of Healy (File image)

One of the hikers had frostbite to his feet and was transported to Fairbanks for treatment, DeSpain said. The hiker's injuries are not considered life-threatening. The other four hikers were picked up by friends in Healy.

Rescuers were alerted by the hikers with a satellite-based emergency device that notified the International Emergency Response Coordination Center of a medical emergency, troopers said. That international group then notified rescuers, who reached the site by snowmobile, DeSpain said.

The rescue was the latest episode involving the bus, first made famous by Jon Krakauer's book published in 1996 and then by Sean Penn's 2007 film of the same name. Both fueled a lingering mystique about a young idealist, Christopher McCandless, who met his death from starvation in the bus, which is about 10 miles north of the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve.

The bus is located near the town of Healy in Alaska. This site has become a popular pilgrimage site for Alaska travelers with the publication of Christopher McCandless' story in John Krakauer's book 'Into the Wild' (File image)

Over the years, some hikers have been rescued and others have died while trying to retrace McCandless' last steps.

In July, a newlywed woman from Belarus died after she was swept away by the Teklanika River while trying to reach the bus with her husband.

In 2013, three German hikers trying to reach the bus were rescued after a river they crossed became impassable because of high, fast-moving water.

Families of some of those who died are now behind a proposal before Denali Borough for a feasibility study for construction of a footbridge over the Teklanika.

The idea is in the early stages, and no decision has been made. But borough Mayor Clay Walker said there are several concerns among officials. A footbridge might give people a false sense of security. It could lead to more people trying to reach the bus, and that could lead to more rescues, Walker said.

There are more hazards in the unforgiving wilderness surrounding the bus, as Saturday's rescue illustrates.

'A footbridge wouldn't have changed the need for a rescue,' Walker said.

As far as he's concerned, a better solution would be to remove the bus. 'The fact that the bus is there raises that attraction level,' he said.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has found a former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, and his company, Destra Investment Ltd, guilty of illegally receiving public funds.

Mr Metuh and his firm were found guilty of receiving N400 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser which he ought to have known to be a proceed of crime.

Mr Metuh is being prosecuted by the anti-graft agency, EFCC, alongside his company, Destra Investment, on an amended seven-count charge of diversion of the money received when Sambo Dasuki was the National Security Adviser.

On February 18, Mr Metuh pleaded not guilty to the amended seven-count charge preferred against him by the EFCC.

The former PDP spokesperson was also accused of transacting with the sum of $2 million without going through a financial institution, in violation of a provision of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported, in April, how Mr Metuh told the court that the N400 million he is accused of collecting from the federal government was spent on special national assignment.

READ ALSO:

In the judgement, which is currently on, Justice Okon Abang said that I have my doubts if the first defendant is telling the truth in this matter.

The judge said that Mr Metuh must have received a bank alert notifying him of the transaction. The prosecution had also tendered the notice of alert (exhibit D28) as evidence before the court.

It is in my firm view that as at November 24, 2014, the first defendant had actual knowledge of the inflow from ONSA in the account of the second defendant, the judge held.

I think the prosecution has proved the ingredients as regards count one.

The first defendant is hereby found guilty of count one and accordingly convicted, Justice Abang ruled.

As at the time of filing this report, the judge is still reviewing submissions of parties in regards to the remaining six counts.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday urged Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to sit together and resolve the "crisis" in the national capital.

Violence over the amended citizenship law tore through northeast Delhi, killing 13 people and injuring over 150 others since Monday.

The violence broke out in Delhi on Sunday after a clash between those supporting the Citizenship Amendment Act and the ones against it.

The Punjab CM took to Twitter to express shock and grief on the violence in Delhi.

"Shocked & concerned about the #DelhiViolence. Urge @AmitShah and @ArvindKejriwal to sit together and resolve the crisis immediately to prevent the situation from escalating further in the larger interest of the national capital & the country," he tweeted on Tuesday night.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Drill hole LE20-34 intersected 8.5m of uranium mineralization that averages 33.9% U 3 O 8 from 326.0 to 334.5m , including 5.0m that averages 57.1% U 3 O 8 from 328.0 to 333.0m . This is the strongest intercept drilled to date on the property.

from 326.0 to , including that averages 57.1% U O from 328.0 to . This is the strongest intercept drilled to date on the property. Drill hole LE20-32A intersected 8.5m of uranium mineralization that averages 19.6% U3O8 from 329.5- 338.0m , including 2.5m that averages 63.6% U3O8 from 334.5- 337.0m .

from 329.5- , including that averages 63.6% U3O8 from 334.5- . The two drill holes are located on the west end of the Hurricane zone, approximately 75m apart.

apart. Due to the positive results to date, the drill program has been expanded by 4 drill holes to a total of 24 drill holes.

The Company remains well-funded with over C$5 million in the treasury.

Craig Parry, Chief Executive Officer commented: "The grades and thicknesses seen in these holes speak for themselves and justify an expansion to the current program. We're approximately two-thirds of the way through this drill program and look forward to reporting additional results."

Steve Blower, Vice President of Exploration commented: "Drill holes LE20-34 and LE20-32A intersections give us new insight into the controls on very high-grade uranium mineralization at Hurricane. Drill hole LE20-34, for example, is located at the junction of the "H" fault and the sub-Athabasca unconformity. That horizon has not been well drilled yet at Hurricane, suggesting that there is good potential for more mineralization like this."

Drill Hole LE20-34 (Drill 1)

Drill Hole LE20-34 was drilled as a 25m step-out to the northwest of previously reported LE20-30 (5.5m @ 7.1% U 3 O 8 ). It cored strongly altered sandstone before intersecting 8.5m of strong uranium mineralization averaging 33.9% U 3 O 8 from 326.0 to 334.5m (Figures 2 and 3). The interval includes an extremely high-grade subinterval of 5.0m averaging 57.1% U 3 O 8 . Within this subinterval is a 2.0m length of semi-massive to massive black and brown pitchblende that is off-scale (>65,000CPS) on the RS-125 hand-held spectrometer (the "RS-125") and averages 62.8% U 3 O 8 . Mineralization straddles the sub-Athabasca unconformity and is shown in a core photo in Figure 4. Table 1 summarizes the uranium mineralization intersected to date by Drill 1 in the current program.

Drill Hole LE20-32A (Drill 1)

Drill hole LE20-32A was completed to infill a 50m along-strike gap between 2019 mineralized drill holes LE19-09 (4.5m @ 4.2% U 3 O 8 ) and LE19-12 (8.5m @ 3.2% U 3 O 8 ). It intersected strongly altered sandstone before coring 8.5m of strong uranium mineralization that averages 19.6% U 3 O 8 from 329.5 to 338.0m (Figures 2 and 5). Similar to LE20-34, the interval includes an extremely high-grade subinterval of 2.5m averaging 63.6% U 3 O 8 . Within this subinterval is a 1.5m length of semi-massive to massive black pitchblende that is off-scale on the RS-125 (>65,000CPS) and averages 76.7% U 3 O 8 . Figure 6 is a core photo showing the mineralized interval.

Drill Hole LE20-40 (Drill 1)

Drill hole LE20-40 was completed on section with drill hole LE20-34 to evaluate the extent of high-grade mineralization to the south of that drill hole. It successfully intersected 4.0m of uranium mineralization >500CPS (RS-125) from 322.5 to 326.5m, including 1.5m of very strong radioactivity and 0.5m that is off-scale on the RS-125 (Figures 2 and 3).

Drill Hole LE20-41 (Drill 2)

Drill 2 continues to deliver encouraging initial results well to the east of the current Hurricane zone footprint. Drill hole LE20-41 was completed as another under-cutting stratigraphic drill hole designed to locate favourable basement rocks and structures approximately 1.2km east of the eastern end of the Hurricane zone footprint. The hole was successful, as it intersected a thick package of highly graphitic basement rocks disrupted by brittle cataclastic faults. The up-dip projection of the structures to the unconformity will be targeted later in this program. Table 2 summarizes the drill holes completed to date by Drill 2.

Next Steps

Drill 1 remains on the west end of the Hurricane zone, continuing to infill the current footprint of the zone, extending the mineralization to the property boundary, and evaluating new targets generated by the results in drill holes LE20-32A and LE20-34. Drill 2 will continue to evaluate the potential to expand the zone to the east by following up on the brittle structures intersected at depth in undercutting stratigraphic drill holes LE20-37, 39 and 41. Further results of the program will be reported periodically throughout the winter drill season.

The Larocque East Property and the Hurricane Zone

The 100% owned Larocque East property consists of 20 mineral claims totaling 8,371 ha and is not encumbered by any royalties or other interests. Larocque East is immediately adjacent to the north end of IsoEnergy's Geiger property and is 35 km northwest of Orano Canada's McClean Lake uranium mine and mill.

Along with other target areas, the Property covers a 15-kilometre-long northeast extension of the Larocque Lake conductor system; a trend of graphitic metasedimentary basement rocks that is associated with significant uranium mineralization at the Hurricane zone, and in several occurrences on Cameco Corp.'s neighbouring property to the southwest of Larocque East. The Hurricane zone was discovered in July, 2018 and was followed up with a 12-hole drilling campaign in the winter of 2019 and a recently completed 17-hole summer 2019 drilling campaign. Dimensions are currently 550m along-strike, 40m wide and up to 10m thick. The zone is open for expansion along-strike and on most sections. Mineralization is polymetallic and commonly straddles the sub-Athabasca unconformity 320 m below surface. The best intersection to date is 33.9% U 3 O 8 over 8.5m in drill hole LE20-34. Drilling at Cameco Corp.'s Larocque Lake zone on the neighbouring property to the southwest has returned historical intersections of up to 29.9% U 3 O 8 over 7.0 m in drill hole Q22-040. Like the nearby Geiger property, Larocque East is located adjacent to the Wollaston-Mudjatik transition zone - a major crustal suture related to most of the uranium deposits in the eastern Athabasca Basin. Importantly, the sandstone cover on the Property is thin, ranging between 140 m and 330 m in previous drilling. In addition to the Hurricane zone discovery, four historical drill holes have intersected weak uranium mineralization at other locations on the Property to date.

Table 1  Drill 1 2020 Hurricane Zone Results





















Hole-ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Radioactivity1,2 Chemical Assays

Orientation Location







(CPS) U 3 O 8 (%) Ni (%) Co (%) (Azm/Dip)

LE20-303 330.0 335.5 5.5 >500 7.1 0.9 0.3 180/-80 Section 4460E incl. 331.0 331.5 0.5 >10,000 3.4 0.1 0.1

and incl. 332.0 333.5 1.5 >20,000 24.0 2.7 0.5

LE20-32A4 329.5 338.0 8.5 >500 19.6 1.1 0.1 180/-80 Section 4510E incl. 334.5 337.0 2.5 >20,000 63.6 0.4 0.0

incl. 335.0 336.5 1.5 Off-scale5 76.7 0.3 0.0

LE20-344 326.0 334.5 8.5 >500 33.9 0.5 0.1 180/-80 Section 4435E incl. 328.0 333.0 5.0 >20,000 57.1 0.7 0.1

incl. 329.5 331.5 2.0 Off-scale5 62.8 0.4 0.1

LE20-364 332.5 333.5 1.0 >500 Pending



180/-80 Section 4460E incl. 332.5 333.0 0.5 >20,000 Pending





LE20-384 319.5 327.0 7.5 >500 Pending



000/-90 Section 4460E incl. 325.0 325.5 0.5 >20,000 Pending





and incl. 326.0 326.5 0.5 >20,000 Pending





LE20-40 319.5 320.5 1.0 >500 Pending



000/-90 Section 4435E and 322.5 326.5 4.0 >500 Pending





incl. 323.0 324.5 1.5 >20,000 Pending





incl. 323.0 323.5 0.5 Off-scale5 Pending



























Notes: 1. Radioactivity is total gamma from drill core measured with an RS-125 hand-held spectrometer

2. Measurements of total gamma on drill core are an indication of uranium content, but may not correlate with chemical assays

3. Radioactivity and chemical assays previously disclosed

4. Radioactivity previously disclosed

5. Off-scale radioactivity is defined as exceeding 65,536 cps, the maximum measurable by an RS-125 spectrometer

Table 2  Drill 2 2020 Larocque East Drilling Results













Hole-ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Orientation Location







(Azm/Dip)

LE20-31 No significant mineralization 180/-60 Section 5185E LE20-33 No significant mineralization 000/-90 Section 5185E LE20-35 No significant mineralization 180/-80 Section 5185E LE20-37 No significant mineralization 165/-60 Section 19-1000E LE20-39 No significant mineralization 165/-60 Section 19-1400E LE20-41 No significant mineralization 165/-60 Section 19-1600E













Qualified Person Statement

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release was prepared by Andy Carmichael, P.Geo., IsoEnergy's Senior Geologist, who is a "Qualified Person" (as defined in NI 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects). Mr. Carmichael has verified the data disclosed. All radioactivity measurements reported herein are total gamma from an RS-125 hand-held spectrometer. As mineralized drill holes at the Hurricane zone are oriented very steeply (-80 to -90 degrees) into a zone of mineralization that is interpreted to be horizontal, the true thickness of the intersections is expected to be greater than or equal to 90% of the core lengths. This news release refers to properties other than those in which the Company has an interest. Mineralization on those other properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Company's properties. All chemical analyses are completed for the Company by SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories in Saskatoon, SK. For additional information regarding the Company's Larocque East Project, including its quality assurance and quality control procedures, please see the Technical Report dated effective May 15, 2019 on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com.

About IsoEnergy

IsoEnergy is a well-funded uranium exploration and development company with a portfolio of prospective projects in the eastern Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan, Canada. The Company recently discovered the high-grade Hurricane Zone of uranium mineralization on its 100% owned Larocque East property in the Eastern Athabasca Basin. IsoEnergy is led by a Board and Management team with a track record of success in uranium exploration, development and operations. The Company was founded and is supported by the team at its major shareholder, NexGen Energy Ltd.

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

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities referenced herein have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements thereunder.

Forward-Looking Information

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, planned exploration activities. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof.

Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the results of planned exploration activities are as anticipated, the price of uranium, the anticipated cost of planned exploration activities, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Company's planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate.

Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual events or results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others: negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional financing, no known mineral reserves or resources, the limited operating history of the Company, the influence of a large shareholder, alternative sources of energy and uranium prices, aboriginal title and consultation issues, reliance on key management and other personnel, actual results of exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results, availability of third party contractors, availability of equipment and supplies, failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other approvals.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws

SOURCE IsoEnergy Ltd.

Related Links

www.isoenergy.ca


Health officials sounded the alarm over the weekend due to the sudden and rapid rise of new cases of COVID-19 infections in South Korea, Italy and Iran. Of particular concern to the World Health Organization (WHO) and other agencies, many of the cases lack an epidemiologic link to China, where the virus outbreak began last December in the city of Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province.

A woman wearing a sanitary mask looks at her phone in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (Claudio Furlan/Lapresse via AP)

In response, global stock markets plummeted on opening yesterday. The Dow fell over 1,000 points by closing. The Nikkei 225 fell 4 percent on opening. Among the stocks that suffered the largest falls were those of airlines and technology companies. The price of Brent crude fell almost 5 percent to slightly over 55 dollars a barrel. The market turbulence provoked by fear over the impact of the virus spread came on the heels of the sour economic news that Japans GDP has fallen 6.3 percent and Eurozone growth has slow to 0.1 percent.

The 2019-nCoV virus has proven to be a much more complex pathogen than virologists have experienced in the past. Scientists are still attempting to understand why it is so highly contagious and whether the virus is being transmitted via surfaces, water pipes, and ventilation ducts. The SARS epidemic in 2003 infected 8,000 people in 10 months. In contrast COVID-19 has caused 80,000 infections in just over two monthsand many cases may have been undiagnosed.

Though the overall fatality index is much lower that SARS, registering at between 1 to 2 percent of people infected, COVID-19 deaths are already triple the number caused by the 2003 outbreak. The incubation period of the virus is estimated at around 14 days, but there have been confirmed cases of people not displaying symptoms for as long as three to four weeks. Further confounding health authorities, there are indications that people who have recovered may continue to carry and spread the virus.

Chinas efforts to contain the virus through unprecedented quarantine measures and harsh travel restrictions appear to have brought the epidemic in Hubei and surrounding provinces under a degree of control. On Monday, 509 new cases were reported across China, of which 499 are in Hubei. The number of confirmed cases in mainland China stood at 77,658 as of yesterday and the number of deaths at 2,663.

But as the WHO warned, the actions of the Chinese government only bought the world some time to prepare. That time appears to have run out, as infections rates accelerate dramatically in countries like Iran, Italy and South Korea. Though the WHO has still not classified COVID-19 as a global pandemic, it appears likely it will make that decision in the near future.

Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani, a lawmaker in the Iranian city of Qom, contradicted the governments toll of 12 deaths from COVID-19 and stated that at least 50 people had died and more than 250 people were in quarantine. Qom is known as a center for religious studies, with many people from across Iran and surrounding countries traveling there to study. Kuwait, Bahrain and Afghanistan have now confirmed cases, with officials indicating that the victims were people infected in the Iranian city of Mashhad. In rapid succession, Turkey, Iraq and Pakistan have shut their borders with Iran.

Reports indicate that health care workers in Iran have limited access to protective gear, placing them in great danger of infection. There have been criticisms that city and government officials have done little to confront the stark reality that Iran is facing an epidemic of large-scale proportions. Parliamentary national elections went ahead last Friday, but turnout was significantly affected by fear of contagion.

Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has rebuked Washington over the coronavirus threat. Iran is being subjected to crippling sanctions by the US over its nuclear program, which have had a devastating impact on its national health system. Doctor Chen Xi, assistant professor of health policy and economics at the Yale School of Public Health, stated: The sanctions over decades have also intensified a shortage of medical supplies. Their diagnostic technologies are also lagging behind. I think the international community should work together to transparently share passengers travel data, standardize the accuracy of test kits, and allow humanitarian aid to ship to Iran.

Washington, however, will more than likely politicize the epidemic by doubling down on sanctions and demanding that Iran submit to US diktats in exchange for humanitarian support.

The northern Italian regions of Veneto and Lombardy have become a hotbed for the virus, with 10 towns now under quarantine, affecting more than 50,000 people. The number of cases jumped from 152 to 219 in twenty-four hours. Two more people have died raising the total to six, with 26 patients still in intensive care. The renowned Venice carnival, which draws visitors from around the world, has been canceled. Milan, the countrys main commercial and economic center, is under threat of a quarantine. Panic buying has led to supermarket shelves being emptied. Authorities have deployed the military to enforce quarantine regulations.

South Korea has reported 231 new cases over the past several days, raising the total to 833 as of Tuesday. President Moon Jae-in has placed the country on the highest alert, giving the government the ability to use sweeping police-state tactics to enforce a massive lockdown. In an emergency meeting, Moon stated: The coming few days will be a critical time for us. The central government, local government, health officials and medical personnel and the entire people must wage an all-out, concerted response to the problem.

Over the weekend, the World Health Organization held an Emergency Ministerial Meeting with the African Union and the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The European Union has pledged a paltry $124 million to fight the COVID-19 outbreak, with half to go to the WHOs call for global preparedness. Some funding will go directly to health authorities in Africa.

The WHO has identified thirteen priority countries because of their direct economic links and high-volume travel with China. All have substandard public health systems and are particularly vulnerable if a major outbreak takes place. WHO has initiated a preparedness plan to provide $675 million in support, as well as shipped 30,000 sets of protective equipment.

Hospitals across the United States have been warned to begin preparing for a surge of COVID-19 patients. CNBC reported that an outbreak could overwhelm emergency rooms and quickly cause supply shortages of some crucial medical supplies, according to half a dozen interviews with doctors, US hospitals and health systems.

The epidemic has exposed again how woefully unprepared capitalist governments are around the world to combat the outbreak of infectious diseases. From one nation to the next, the response of authorities to the epidemic has been to try to seal the borders and impose authoritarian restrictions on peoples movements. While various research facilities and medical companies are claiming to have made progress toward developing a vaccine for COVID-19, the large-scale delivery of any vaccine is unlikely for at least 18 months.
One of the world's biggest private equity firms is ready to pump billions of pounds into British infrastructure projects in a resounding vote of confidence in the UK economy.

Blackstone, which manages assets worth more than 440billion globally, said it was 'bullish' about Britain's prospects following Boris Johnson's election victory in December.

It is setting up a British team as it prepares to scour for deals to back, including upgrades of electricity grids, water systems and broadband networks, as the Prime Minister plots a spending spree.

Blackstone is setting up a British team as it prepares to scour for deals to back, including upgrades of electricity grids, water systems and broadband networks

The firm yesterday said it had hired Jon Kelly, who was head of Europe at rival private equity giant Brookfield, to run a ten-person unit in London.

Blackstone is understood to believe that Brexit has caused UK assets to become undervalued. It plans to use some cash from an 11billion Saudi-backed fund that was previously earmarked largely for US infrastructure projects suggested by Donald Trump.

UK's biggest projects 106billion: Projected cost of HS2 51billion: Investment planned by water firms during the next five years 11billion: Upgrades by National Grid during the next decade 3billion: Annual spend of BT's Openreach on mobile upgrades 538million: Paid by consortium for broadband builder Cityfibre 39billion: Estimated cost of Northern Powerhouse Rail scheme

The American president promised new roads, bridges, railways and airports but he has failed to persuade lawmakers to back his proposals.

The UK could now account for a quarter of the Saudi-supported fund's investments.

Sean Klimczak, Blackstone's global head of infrastructure, told the Financial Times: 'As we look at the UK, we're quite bullish. We see the UK as being undervalued and see significant opportunity.'

Kelly is due to start leading his team in April, when he will officially join Blackstone.

It comes as Johnson's government is preparing for its first budget under Chancellor Rishi Sunak, with a series of big commitments to infrastructure.

Johnson has already given the High Speed 2 railway the final go-ahead, despite huge budget overruns.
- Lawyer Miguna Miguna had moved to court seeking restraining orders against the two airlines after he was ejected from their planes

- The combative lawyer wanted the court to allow the planes to land in Kenya only for the purpose of transporting him

- Attorney General Paul Kihara objected the case saying it should be dismissed over lack of jurisdiction in extra-territorial matters

Attorney General Paul Kihara has asked the court to dismiss exiled lawyer Miguna Miguna's case against Germany's Lufthansa Air and Air France.

The combative lawyer had moved to court seeking restraining orders to have the landing rights of aircraft owned or operated in Kenya by Lufthansa Group and Air France suspended after they ejected him from their planes.

READ ALSO: Aden Duale awataka Uhuru, Raila wasitishe kampeni za BBI

Self-styled politician Miguna Miguna at an airport in Germany after he was ejected from the plane. Photo: Miguna Miguna

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Hosni Mubarak: Former Egypt president is dead

Through state counsel Emmanuel Bitta, Kihara asked the court to throw the case out arguing that it has no extra-territorial jurisdiction to adjudicate on matters outside the territory of Kenya as defined under Article 5 of the constitution.

The petition is premised on hearsay statements by a party other than the named petitioner which in and off itself constitutes in admissible evidence as it doesnt fit within the exceptions provided under section 33 of the Evidence Act of Kenya, reads the response.

The former Nairobi gubernatorial aspirant who is well known as a straight-shooter in debates had asked the court to issue orders against the two airlines and only be allowed to land in Kenya for the purpose of facilitating his transportation into the country.

Attorney General Paul Kihara wants Miguna Miguna case dismissed over lack of extra-territorial jurisdiction by the courts. Photo: Daily Nation

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Former Miss Kenya, Gaudentia Aura, is dead

Through his lawyer John Khaminwa, the vocal revolutionist said the prayer was informed by the fact that the airlines facilitated his illegal, arbitrary and forced exclusion from entering Kenya despite clear court orders.

"The airlines have willingly, and with great alacrity and glee, allowed [themselves] to be recruited as agents of impunity and oppression by the attorney general and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs to contravene the Kenya Constitution, Kenya law, the laws of the European Union and international laws including the international aviation law and the human rights law," read the suit in part.

The self-styled general of the defunct National Resistance Movement (NRM) returned to Canada after spending some days in Germany where he was stuck after being ejected from the planes.

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

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PITTSFORD, N.Y., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing at St. John Fisher College and Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) in Waterford, Ireland have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together in the field of intellectual disability nursing. This is the second MoU between WIT and Fisher.

The signing took place on February 20 at a symposium on Intellectual Disability Nursing held at WIT. Dr. Gerard J. Rooney, president of Fisher, and Dr. Dianne Cooney Miner, dean of Fisher's Wegmans School of Nursing and executive director of the College's Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing, were present for the signing. This partnership will include an exchange with faculty members from WIT's bachelor's degree in intellectual disability nursing program. Those faculty members will be embedded at the Wegmans School of Nursing, home of the Golisano Institute, and WIT faculty advisors will also make short-term visits to New York to offer guidance in curriculum development and implementation, and share best practices in creating models of inclusive nursing care.

"We are so proud and happy to continue our important relationship with Waterford Institute of Technology in the interest of advancing nursing education and practice in the field of intellectual and developmental disability nursing. We are very happy to be joined by Special Olympics International in this work made possible by the generosity of Mr. Thomas Golisano and the Golisano Foundation," said Cooney Miner.

Ann Costello, executive director of the Golisano Foundation, said, "Our global mission to advance inclusive health for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can only happen when we forge partnerships such as the one being celebrated today with St. John Fisher College Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing and Waterford Institute of Technology. We have shown that there are no boundaries when it comes to sharing and leveraging expertise when you have the will to improve the health and access to care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities."

Dr. Sara Kennedy, head of the Department of Nursing and Healthcare at WIT, welcomed the continued partnership with St. John Fisher College and the opportunity to collaborate further with Special Olympics through the involvement of the Golisano Foundation.

"This MOU marks a hugely significant collaboration between WIT and St. John Fisher College. Intellectual disability is a multi-pronged and complex issue and through collaboration between the three organizations, we hope to further the treatment and understand the unique needs of people with an intellectual disability. We are honored to play a part in the transformation of the nursing domain of training, care and support for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities in the United States."

Special Olympics CEO Mary Davis shared her support for this continued collaboration noting, "It's fantastic to see this cooperative effort continue between WIT and St. John Fisher College. This intellectual disability nursing program will give nursing students the opportunity to better understand how to identify and treat ALL patients' needs. We must all concentrate on the needs of people with intellectual disabilities and bring a message of inclusion to every community around the world. We can achieve so much more when we engage in partnerships such as these that truly change the way we approach inclusion."

In October 2018, St. John Fisher College, Tom Golisano, and the Golisano Foundation announced the creation of the Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing thanks to a $5.8 million gift, $5 million from Tom Golisano and $800,000 from the Golisano Foundation. The Institute is designed to transform the health care and support of individuals with developmental disabilities.

About St. John Fisher College

St. John Fisher College is a coeducational liberal arts institution located in Pittsford, N.Y. The campus community consists of over 2,600 full-time undergraduates, nearly 200 part-time undergraduates, and nearly 1,000 graduate students.

Founded in 1948 by the Congregation of St. Basil as a Catholic College for men, St. John Fisher College became independent in 1968 and coeducational in 1971. As it moves through the twenty-first century, the College remains true to its Catholic and Basilian heritage. The College now offers 38 academic majors in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, business, education, and nursing, as well as 11 pre-professional programs. Fisher also offers a variety of master's and doctoral programs.

SOURCE St. John Fisher College
Today

Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 52F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

A few clouds. Low near 30F. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow

Cloudy. High 52F. Winds light and variable.
One more person has been arrested in connection with the recent torture of two Dalit men in Nagaur district of Rajasthan, police said on Tuesday.

"Another man involved in the case, identified as Hem Singh, has been arrested. With this, a total of eight persons have been arrested in the matter so far," SP Nagaur Vikas Pathak said.

He said Pancholi SHO has been removed and sent to police lines after the matter was raised in the state assembly on Monday.

Two Dalits were brutally beaten and tortured on February 16 by the staff of a motorcycle service agency on allegations of stealing money at Karanu village in Panchorli area, around 300 km east of Jaipur, police said.

The matter came to light on February 18 after a video of the incident went viral. In the 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.

The police registered the case on February 19.

The issue was raised in the state assembly by Rashtriya Loktantrik Party MLA Narayan Beniwal and BJP MLAs on Monday.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal informed the House on Monday that the Pancholi police station incharge would be removed for negligence in dealing with the incident.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Australian Associated Press

Michael Lang, a co-creator and promoter of the 1969 Woodstock music festival that served as a touchstone for generations of music fans, has died.Michael Pagnotta, a spokesperson for Lang's family, said Sunday the 77-year-old had been battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma and passed away Saturday at New York's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
A city-based micro artist has



created a miniature wax statue of visiting American President Donald Trump in the eye of a needle.

Mattewada Ajay Kumar, known for his miniature sculptures, came up with the unique idea of making a wax statue of Trump to mark the leader's visit to the country.

The height of Trump's statue is 1.25 mm and width 0.32 mm. A tiny US national flag is seen draped over the statue of the President.

The flag measures 0.94 mm in height and is 0.64 mm in width.

Ajay Kumar said he spent 13 hours to complete the miniature art.

Last October, his micro sculpture skill was recognised internationally.

He had bagged the first prize in 'Art in a capsule competition-2019', an international contest organised by ACG World Group, a pharmaceutical solutions and manufacturing company.

Ajay Kumar received 5,000 American dollars as prize money in the contest, which witnessed participation of around 80 micro artists from across India, USA, Latin America and European nations.

It may be recalled that Ajay Kumar created a miniature sculpture depicting Dandi March 'National Salt Satyagraha,' in the eye of a needle to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary celebrations, on October 2, 2018.

In the sculpture Mahatma Gandhi could be seen leading seven men and women following him and that amazing work is now showcased at National Salt Satyagraha Memorial (NSSM) at Dandi in Gujarat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the memorial to the nation on January 30 this year and expressed his amazement after watching the miniature sculpture created by Ajay Kumar.

He is the one of the 12 artists chosen from across India and the world to showcase their work at the NSSM.

Ajay Kumar comes from a family of goldsmiths. His parents are late Mattewada Venkata Chary, who was a Freedom Fighter and a famous goldsmith; and mother Hymavathi, who is now 85 years old.

Ajay Kumar's earlier creations, a functional miniature a lock and key, an electric fan, gold scissors and violin all made in gold earned him place in Limca Book of Records for five times, including a world record.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Deputy Minister for Agric and Member of Parliament(MP) for Akyem Swedru, Kennedy Osei Nyarko has threatened to sue the Auditor-General, Daniel Domelovo over the publication of his name as a beneficiary of the GET fund scholarship.



According to the Lawmaker, he has never taken any scholarship or never been a beneficiary of any scholarship scheme.



Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he explained that the Auditor-General must have done due diligence before releasing the said beneficiary list.



He stated that he started paying for his foreign school fees way back in 2000 and since then he has have never been a beneficiary of any scholarship scheme.



If I can personally sponsor other peoples' wards both locally and abroad to further their education from my own personal resources how much more will it be difficult to sponsor my own education.



"This is a big gaffe coming from the Auditor-General, he lashed out.



"I have instructed my lawyers to write to the Auditor-General to come clean on my name else we are going to court," he added.



A performance audit report has listed a number of high-ranking government officials including the Minister of State in Charge of Procurement, Sarah Adwoa Safo who applied and obtained $12,800 in allowances with $17,004 in tuition fees to study at the Harvard Kennedy School.



Another person captured in the list is the Executive Secretary of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), Prince Hamidu Armah also receiving 38,400 for living expense in addition to 33,000 for tuition fees, While Education Minister Mathew Opoku Prempeh, also received $12,800 for living expenses and $11,200 as tuition fees to study at Harvard University.



The Auditor-General intends to surcharge persons involved in scholarship awards and also disallow expenditure items of the GETFund Secretariat, in accordance with Article 187(7) (b) of its mandate.



This follows recommendations by the Auditor-General after faulting the GETFund for not being fair in the award of scholarships to those in need.



The Auditor-General has also accused the secretariat of not instituting a robust selection process, leading to the haphazard granting of scholarships to Ghanaians, to the detriment of those who really need them.



As part of the recommendations, the report said: "The Auditor-General may disallow the expenditures by GETFund Secretariat in the management of foreign scholarships which he deems were contrary to law and surcharge the persons involved.









Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Locals are pictured wearing masks in the city Najaf, where Iraq's first confirmed coronavirus Covid-19 case came to light, on 25 February. (Getty Images)

The coronavirus outbreak has left many experts wondering how many people may catch the infection.

Virtually unheard of just two months ago, the Covid-19 strain has spread well beyond its epicentre in the Chinese city Wuhan.

More than 80,300 cases have been confirmed globally, of which 77,660 are in mainland China, according to John Hopkins University data. The death toll exceeded 2,000 on Tuesday.

Read more: Coronavirus Covid-19 'mild' in more than four in five cases

In the UK, 13 cases have been confirmed, with health secretary Matt Hancock stating more are expected.

Amid fears the outbreak may become a pandemic, the World Health Organization stressed the term does not fit the facts.

A Harvard doctor later predicted between 40% and 70% of people all over the world could catch Covid-19 within the next year, with the vast majority of cases being mild.

Other experts have questioned this claim, stressing it is too early in the outbreak to predict how it may play out.

People are pictured wearing masks in Milan on 25 February. Italy has the most confirmed Covid-19 cases in Europe, with 283 incidences. (Getty Images)

Is it possible to predict how many people may become infected with coronavirus Covid-19?

Plateauing infection rates have left some quietly optimistic Covid-19 may have peaked in China.

A change in how the virus is diagnosed caused cases to spike over night, from 44,700 on 12 February to 59,800 the following day.

Incidences have since been rising more slowly.

Mainland China had 77,200 confirmed cases on 24 February, increasing by 500 patients the next day.

Nevertheless, the infection is taking hold thousands of miles away.

South Korea is second to China, with 977 confirmed patients and 10 deaths.

Italy is faring worst in Europe, with 283 incidences and seven deaths.

To try and get a handle on the outbreak, scientists from all over the world are investigating how infectious Covid-19 really is.

Read more: How to stay calm amid the coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak

Dr Marc Lipsitch - from Harvard - predicts that within the coming year, some 40-to-70% of people around the world will be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, The Atlantic reported.

Story continues

But, he clarifies emphatically, this does not mean all will have severe illnesses.

Other experts have questioned how much weight this prediction holds.

These figures are calculations from the estimated basic reproduction number, said Professor Christl Donnelly from Imperial College London.

This is the number of people an infected person goes onto infect.

A reproduction number of two would mean every patient is expected to pass the virus to two others.

[These calculations] assume transmission continues at that rate, said Professor Donnelly.

Interventions bring the reproduction number down.

The province Hubei, of which Wuhan is capital, has been under lockdown for more than a month.

Its almost 60 million residents have seen public transport restricted, shops shut and flights suspended.

Residents of Italys Lombardy and Veneto regions are also affected, with 11 towns under quarantine.

This is not the first time Covid-19s reproduction number has been debated.

Scientists from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) previously estimated the number fluctuated between 1.5 and 4.5 before travel restrictions were introduced in Wuhan, stressing substantial uncertainty.

This led them to predict the outbreak may peak in mid-to-late February.

Speaking at the time, Dr Robin Thompson from the University of Oxford, said: One proviso must be forecasting the peak of any outbreak is challenging, and so there is significant uncertainty in estimates of both the timing of the peak and the total number of cases that will occur.

Read more: How is the coronavirus Covid-19 diagnosed?

Despite ongoing research, Covid-19 remains somewhat mysterious.

Transmission is a feature of the virus and thats not understood, said Professor David Heymann from the LSHTM.

Models are estimations. They may be true today and not tomorrow.

Professor Heymann described Professor Lipsitchs prediction as an upper estimation of what could be to come.

Even when more is discovered about Covid-19, it may be difficult to classify the virus transmission, with rates varying according to the circumstances.

Pathogens sometimes get stamped with a reproduction number, said Professor Donnelly.

It can vary depending on household size and in hospital settings.

A local tries to carry on as normal in Beijing on 25 February amid China's Covid-19 outbreak. (Getty Images)

What is the new coronavirus Covid-19?

Covid-19 is one of seven strains of the coronavirus class that are known to infect humans.

Others range from the mild common cold to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak that killed 774 people in 2004.

Most of the people who initially became unwell worked at, or visited, the Wuhan market.

The only know method of transmission is face-to-face via infected droplets that have been coughed or sneezed out.

Symptoms tend to be flu-like, such as fever, cough and breathlessness.

In the most severe cases, victims develop pneumonia.

This comes about when a respiratory infection causes the alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs to become inflamed and filled with fluid or pus.

The lungs then struggle to draw in air, resulting in reduced oxygen in the bloodstream.

Without treatment the end is inevitable, said the charity Medecins Sans Frontieres.

Deaths occurs because of asphyxiation.

While no one can say for sure where the virus came from, bats seem most likely.

The nocturnal creatures are thought to have been behind Sars and fellow coronavirus Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (Mers), which killed 858 people in its 2012 outbreak.

Scientists from Peking University in Beijing suggested snakes may have been the intermediate host for Covid-19.

A team from South China Agricultural University later found it could have jumped from bats to humans via pangolins.

Covid-19 has no specific treatment, with care being supportive - like ventilation - while a patients immune system works to fight off the virus.

To prevent infection, the NHS recommends regular hand washing and avoiding those with suspect symptoms.
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Third Point LLC, which holds about 5% of outstanding common shares of Prudential plc (PRU.L), urged the company to separate its Asian and United States operations to increase investment in both businesses, optimize growth, and drive higher valuation. Meanwhile, Prudential, which recently spun out its European insurance and asset management businesses into a new company called M&G Plc, confirmed that it has received a letter from Third Point. The company looks forward to commencing a dialogue with Third Point with regard to the views outlined in its letter. The company also noted that it will provide an update on the Group's performance and strategy at its full-year results on 11 March 2020. In the letter to the Board of Directors of Prudential, Third Point said that the comppany's two separately managed franchises, Prudential Corporation Asia and Jackson National Life, have distinct strengths but share no discernable benefit from being operated under the same corporate umbrella. Third Point also urged Prudential to eliminate duplicative 'Group Head Office' costs, which Third Point estimates to be about 200 million pounds per annum, creating significant upside to earnings. The New York-based hedge fund also asked the company to eliminate the redundant UK footprint and move the primary headquarters for PruAsia to Hong Kong, and for Jackson to Michigan. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
A police constable was injured during a fight between two groups in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district following which 14 people, including two women, were booked and 5 of them arrested, an official said on Tuesday.

The clash occurred at Pirzadgan locality in Kairana town on Monday when a confrontation between in-laws and parents of a woman lead to stone pelting between two groups, said Station House Officer Yashpal Dhama.

After receiving information about the fight, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, the SHO added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
EUGENE, Ore. -- A note posted early Tuesday morning on the door of Taylor's Bar and Grill in Eugene likely signals the end for the troubled college hangout.

The handwritten note on the door says "closed forever" and "no trespassing" and comes less than a week after the Oregon Liquor Control Commission revoked the bar's liquor license.

RELATED: TAYLOR'S TO STOP SERVING ALCOHOL ON TUESDAY

KEZI 9 News spoke with employees early Tuesday morning as they appeared to clear items from the restaurant into trucks. Employees indicated the restaurant is closing.

The OLCC action follows numerous complaints against Taylors Bar & Grill. On May 1, 2019, the OLCC issued a 14-page fourth amended notice of proposed license cancellation and refusal to renew license. The document outlines the incidents which led to the loss of the bars liquor license.

KEZI 9 News is working to confirm the bar's closure with Taylor's owner Ramzy Hattar.
Two Rhode Island inmates serving life in prison are suing to overturn a state law that declares them civilly dead.

Joshua Davis, 34, and James Lombardi, 35, argued in federal court Monday that the Civil Death Act violates their first and fifth amendment rights by preventing them from suing the state Department of Corrections, the Providence Journal reported.

A lawyer arguing for the state affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union asked the court to declare the law unconstitutional so Davis and Lombardi can voice their grievances in state court. Prosecutors said Davis and Lombardi's suit should be dismissed since there is no federal right to bring lawsuits.

Lombardi seeks to sue the Department of Corrections for negligence after he says his leg was cut on the sharp edge of a footlocker in his cell. He was sentenced to serve life in 2018 after he admitted to beating and strangling a Massachusetts woman to death and burying her behind a vacant house.

Davis wants to sue the department for medical malpractice after he says a nurse used a dirty needle to inject him with insulin. Davis is serving life without parole for first-degree murder in the 2006 abduction and death of 8-year-old Savannah Smith. He admitted to driving Savannah to a wooded section of Cranston, where he raped, strangled and beat her.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 17:43:30|Editor: mingmei

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HONG KONG, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The values of Hong Kong's total exports and imports of goods recorded year-on-year decreases at 22.7 percent and 16.4 percent respectively in January 2020, showed the statistics published on Tuesday by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government.

According to the external merchandise trade statistics released by the HKSAR government's Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), in January 2020, the value of total exports of goods decreased by 22.7 percent over a year earlier to 269.4 billion Hong Kong dollars (about 34.59 billion U.S. dollars), after a year-on-year increase of 3.3 percent in December 2019.

Concurrently, the value of imports of goods decreased by 16.4 percent over a year earlier to 300.0 billion Hong Kong dollars (about 38.51 billion U.S. dollars) in January 2020, after a year-on-year decrease of 1.9 percent in December 2019.

A visible trade deficit of 30.6 billion Hong Kong dollars (about 3.93 billion U.S. dollars), equivalent to 10.2 percent of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in January 2020.

Comparing the three-month period ending January 2020 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total exports of goods decreased by 4.4 percent. Meanwhile, the value of imports of goods decreased by 2.2 percent.

A spokesman of the HKSAR government pointed out that the global economic recovery is still fragile and fraught with uncertainties.

"Hong Kong's merchandise exports will face a very austere external trading environment in the coming few months. The government will continue to monitor the situation closely," added the spokesman.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 22:49:16|Editor: huaxia

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Employees of an agricultural cooperative work in a farm for its contractor who fails to come back in time for spring farming due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease, in Yongfeng Village, Tongxiang City of east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 25, 2020. Local authorities offer a solution to farm contractors absent from spring farming due to the virus by promoting farm mandate. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

"The more risks and challenges we face, the more we need to stabilize agriculture and ensure the safety of grain and major non-staple foods," said President Xi Jinping as he highlighted organizing timely spring farming in an all-out effort to secure a bumper summer grain harvest while rigorously implementing the differentiated epidemic control measures.

BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has stressed the need to prioritize issues concerning agriculture, rural areas and farmers and improve weak links in order to provide strong support for winning the war to prevent and control the epidemic, as well as attaining objectives and targets set for economic and social development of the whole year.

"The more risks and challenges we face, the more we need to stabilize agriculture and ensure the safety of grain and major non-staple foods," Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a recent instruction on spring farming in the country.

Xi highlighted organizing timely spring farming in an all-out effort to secure a bumper summer grain harvest while rigorously implementing the differentiated epidemic control measures in accordance with local conditions and risk levels.

China will step up policies supporting grain production to keep sown areas and grain output stable, Xi said.

In this regard, efforts will be made to optimize modern rural infrastructures including high-yield farmland and water conservancy and agricultural mechanization projects, raise agricultural technological innovation capability and speed up promotion and application, and enhance the capability of grain production and disaster prevention and mitigation.

A community worker delivers food to a local resident at Tanhualin community in Wuchang District in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Li He)

He also noted solid work on the prevention and control of major plant diseases and insect pests and animal diseases to ensure farm security.

Meanwhile, the country will speed up hog production and address the difficulties to resume production targets, Xi said.

Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, urged local departments to earnestly implement Xi Jinping's instructions to coordinate epidemic control with economic and social development while facilitating spring farming preparations.

The above instructions were delivered to the national teleconference on spring farming held Tuesday in Beijing, which was attended by Vice Premier Hu Chunhua.

Hu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, underscored coordination between rural epidemic control and spring agricultural production, urging those involved to tackle the protruding issues in spring farming to ensure a victory in summer grain production. 
BEIRUT - A ship that will set up the first oil and gas exploration well off the Lebanese coast has arrived in Lebanon where it will start work later this week, French oil giant Total and Lebanons government announced Tuesday.

The arrival of the drill ship comes at a time when Lebanon is going through its worst economic and financial crisis in decades and a severe liquidity shortage. Many hope oil and gas will be discovered off the Lebanese coast and in the future reduce the countrys massive debt as well as create jobs in the energy field.

Information Minister Manal Abdul-Samad quoted President Michel Aoun as saying during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday that drilling will begin within the next 48 hours.

Total said the drill ship Tungsten Explorer is now in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Lebanon for the drilling operations of the first exploration well on Block 4, located approximately 30 kilometres (18 miles) offshore from the capital Beirut.

In 2017, Lebanon approved the licenses for an international consortium led by Total, Italys ENI and Russias Novatek to move forward with offshore oil and gas development for two of 10 blocks in the Mediterranean Sea, including one that is partly claimed by Israel.

Total said the first well will be drilled at a depth of 1,500 metres (4,920 feet). The exploration well aims at exploring targets located more than 2,500 metres (8,200) below the sea bed. The drilling of the well is estimated to last two months, after which the drill ship will leave Lebanon, Total said.

Total is pleased to start exploration operations on Block 4, which is the first deep water exploration well in Lebanon, said Ricardo Darre, general manager of Total Exploration & Production Lebanon.

At a later stage that hasnt yet been scheduled, drilling should begin in Block 9, part of which Israel also claims. A major find in Lebanons southernmost waters could raise the possibility of a dispute with Israel.

The U.S. has been mediating between Lebanon and Israel over the nearly 860 square kilometres (330 square miles) of the Mediterranean Sea claimed by both countries.

Also on Tuesday, Lebanon took another step to try and deal with a massive debt that stands at more than $87 billion or more than 150% of the GDP.

Abdul-Samad, the information minister, said the government has agreed to appoint Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP as a legal adviser on the countrys Eurobond debt. She added that the government also agreed to appoint financial advisory and asset management firm Lazard as a financial adviser.

The minister gave no further details but the announcement comes at a time when Lebanese officials are debating on whether to pay a $1.2 billion Eurobond payment that will mature on March 9, or default for the first time in Lebanons history.
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."
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen speaks to the media during a press conference at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Feb. 24, 2020.

Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday pledged to cut taxes for up to a year for garment producers impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic and facing new tariffs after the European Union suspended preferential trade status for the country citing rights violations.

Speaking during a conference at the Council of Ministers in the capital Phnom Penh, Hun Sen also announced tax exemptions for hotels and guesthouses for four months that have seen tourist numbers drop precipitously amidst the spread of the virus, which has killed more than 2,600 peoplemostly in Chinaand infected hundreds in more than 30 countries and territories.

Hun Sen said that Cambodias garment sector has been unable to import raw materials from China amid supply chain disruptions attributed to COVID-19, as well as the loss of about 20 percent of trade preferences under the EUs Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme, which amount to around U.S. $1.1 billion of the countrys annual exports.

Garment factories will receive tax breaks for between six months and a year, as well as other subsidies from the national budget, he said, while paying workers 40 percent of the current minimum wage for up to six months in the event that production is suspended. The government will pay workers an additional 20 percent of the minimum wage over the same period in the event of a suspension.

Within this six months, [workers] will receive four months of vocational training and will be paid U.S. $120 [per month], Hun Sen said, adding that workers should be prepared to find new jobs outside of the garment sector.

I want to reiterate to Cambodias people and politicians that Cambodia will not ask for reinstatement of the EBA.

Last week, Hun Sen appeared to shrug off the EUs decision in mid-February to suspend tariff-free access for around one-fifth of Cambodias exports to its market over rollbacks on democracy and human rights, saying his country will continue to export despite facing higher tariffs.

The decision would reinstate tariffs on garments and footwear, as well as travel goods and sugar, beginning Aug. 12, unless it is blocked by the blocs governments or its parliament, the European Commission (EC) said.

On Nov. 12, the EU warned in a preliminary report that Cambodia has not taken enough measures to prevent a withdrawal of its EBA status, noting the countrys further deterioration of civil, political, labor, social, and cultural rights since the launch of a review process in February last year.

Cambodia is the second-largest beneficiary of EBA trade preferences after Bangladesh, accounting for more than 18 percent of all imports to the EU market under the EBA scheme in 2018.

EU imports from Cambodia totaled 5.3 billion euros (U.S. $5.8 billion) that year, nearly all of which entered the EU duty-free, taking advantage of EBA preferences.

Clothing and textilesa crucial industry in Cambodia that employs around one million peopleaccount for around 75 percent of EU imports from the Southeast Asian nation.

Tourist industry

Also on Monday, Hun Sen said that a set of tax cuts for hotels and guesthouses would help buoy an industry that has seen a 60 percent decline in tourists in the month of February, including a 90 percent falloff in the number of tourists from China, Hun Sen said, noting that Siem Reap provincehome to the Angkor Wat Temple complexhad been hardest hit by the drop.

To better understand this issue, I used the word tax exemption, but, as a matter of fact, the state will pay taxes on their behalf, he said.

The most important thing is we do it in Siem Reapa province where foreign tourists used to come. But now tourist arrivals there are very low.

Government officials have been ordered to reduce travel to overseas meetings, members of the public are being urged to travel within the country instead of abroad, and local officials in Siem Reap have been asked to organize cultural events in a bid to attract more tourists to the province, he said.

Hun Sen said that the measures had been designed to help Cambodias economy in the face of the COVID-19 crisis, adding that other countries around the world are experiencing a similar situation and declines in the number of foreign tourists.

Experts weigh in

While experts welcomed government support for the two industries, they warned that the measures announced by Hun Sen would damage national interests and are not sustainable in the long term.

Man Seng Hak, vice president of the Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia, told RFAs Khmer Service that the government is obliged to help workers and factory owners in times of crisis, and expressed concern that the measures would ultimately benefit the owners, while doing little to support those who labor in their factories.

He noted that Social Security benefits will expire for workers in the event of a halt in production, and suggested that a government contribution of 20 percent of worker wages in such a situation is too low.

I request that the government review its proposed payment of 60 percent of wages to workers, he said.

I think that if the factory owner pay 40 percent, the government should do the same, because many workers are already in debt [while receiving full wages].

Man Seng Hak also warned that there is no guarantee that the labor market will rebound, calling the proposed government measure unsustainable.

Morm Rithy, the president of the Cambodian Tourism and Service Workers Federation, told RFA that using the national budget to pay business taxes for hotels and guesthouses, while beneficial in the short-term, would contribute little to Cambodias tourism sector.

Instead, he said, the government should consider ways to shore up weaknesses in the industry, including better promotion, and negotiate with the EU for restoration of EBA status.

This strategy works in the short-term, but is ineffective over the long-term, he said.

Even in the short-term, it will only help with some sectors, not all. The question is, what will [hotel and guesthouses] do after the expiration of the four-month [tax exempt] period? How will these companies continue to operate?

Cambodias Ministries of Labor and Tourism have yet to release any figures related to how their industries are being impacted by COVID-19 and the withdrawal of EBA status.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Sovannarith Keo. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Levins lawyer confirmed the information about the attempt of the defenders of suspect Vladyslav Manger to visit his client in Bulgaria

Lawyers of Oleksiy Levin, the suspect in the organization of the murder of Kherson activist Kateryna Handziuk, prepare the appeal against the decision of Bulgarias court on his extradition to Ukraine, as Hromadske reports, citing Levins lawyer Mykhailo Velychko.

This week, he will not be extradited because the client made a decision personally and ordered the lawyer, who presents his interests in Bulgaria, to file the appeal. Technically, any moment, we may withdraw this appeal but it is not the issue, Velychko reported.

The decision to appeal the extradition was made on February 24. Moreover, Levins lawyer confirmed the information about the attempt of the defenders of suspect Vladyslav Manger to visit his client in Bulgaria. According to Velychko, Mangers lawyers Dmytro Ilchenko and Andriy Murashkin also legalized their authorities through the Justice Ministry of Bulgaria but did not succeed to meet Levin.

Lawyers Ilchenko and Murashkin deny this information.

Levin was detained in Europe in August 2019, questioned on the polygraph and released. The Security Service of Ukraine could file the request on his extradition but did not do it.

On February 21, the court of Bulgaria allowed the extradition of Oleksiy Levin to Ukraine.

On January 24, the law enforcers detained Oleksiy Levin in Bulgaria. Levin was arrested in absentia. The investigators consider him to be the organizer of the crime.

On November 4, 2018, it became known that Kateryna Handziuk died at the age of 34. She was doused with sulphuric acid in July this year. According to preliminary information, her death was caused by blood clot's detachment.

Besides, the doctors specified the cause of death; it was due to multiple organ failure and chemical burns.
Minister Mylovanov estimates impact of coronavirus on Ukraine's economy

12:42, 25.02.20 1619

The economy ministry is monitoring the situation, while exports of goods from Ukraine to China are ongoing.
The enemy opened fire from proscribed 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and rifles.

Russia's hybrid military forces on Monday, February 24, mounted five attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine.

Read alsoRussian occupiers in Donbas equipping new firing positions for self-propelled guns, tanks  intel

"The armed forces of the Russian Federation violated the ceasefire five times on February 24," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation said in a Facebook update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on February 25, 2020.

The enemy opened fire from proscribed 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and rifles.

Under attack were Ukrainian positions near the town of Maryinka, and the villages of Pisky, Talakivka, Novotoshkivske, and Shumy.

"Since Tuesday midnight, Russia-led forces have attacked Ukrainian positions near Talakivka, using an 82mm mortar," the update said.

No Ukrainian army casualties were reported on Tuesday morning.
Vietnam has had the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic under control, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said on Tuesday as all of the countrys 16 infections have recovered and no new case has been reported since February 13.

Dam made the statement as he chaired an online meeting between the Ministry of Health and 700 local agencies concerned with fighting the COVID-19 epidemic in Vietnam.

Comparisons have been drawn about how Vietnam has done better than other countries with regard to fighting the disease, he said.

As Vietnamese people are inherently humble, we rarely mention [such comparisons], the deputy PM said.

But as of now, it can be said that Vietnam has had the [COVID-19] epidemic under control.

Vietnam has so far confirmed 16 cases of the viral infection, including 13 Vietnamese, one Vietnamese American, and two Chinese.

All of them have fully recovered and 15 have been discharged from the hospital as of Tuesday. The other patient remains hospitalized but is eligible for release after testing negative for the virus several times.

The country has recorded no new infection since February 13.

Information transparency and the participation of every citizen were key to Vietnams successful containment of the disease, Deputy PM Dam said.

This is a rehearsal for anti-epidemic situations. Despite being a country with [shared] road and maritime borders [with China] where cross-border traffic is busy and exposed to the highest risk of infection, Vietnam has reported only 16 cases testing positive [for the novel coronavirus] and has cured 16 out of the 16 patients, he remarked.

We have had the epidemic under control, he said, adding that Vietnam remains on high alert and is prepared for more anti-epidemic campaigns.

The COVID-19 has killed 2,702 people and infected over 80,100 globally since it first hit the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, according to the South China Morning Post.

The World Health Organization said on Monday the coronavirus outbreak can still be beaten, insisting it was premature to declare it a pandemic even though it had the potential to reach that level, Reuters reported.

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(This is a translation from the Icelandic announcement)

The Annual General Meeting of Arion Bank hf., ID-No. 581008-0150, will be held at the Bank's head office at Borgartun 19, 105 Reykjavik, on 17 March 2020 at 16:00. The meeting will be conducted in Icelandic, but translation services into English will be available.

The meeting's agenda is as follows:

The Report of the Board of Directors on the Bank's operations, activities and financial situation during the last financial year Approval of the Bank's annual financial statements A decision on payment of a dividend

It is proposed that a dividend of ISK 9,977,000,000.00 will be paid to the Bank's shareholders. The dividend will be equal to ISK 5.50 per share.

Election of the Bank's Board of Directors Election of an auditing firm A decision on remuneration to the Board of Directors and compensation to members of the Board's sub-committees A decision on remuneration to the members of the Nomination Committee A proposal to authorize the Board of Directors to implement a share option plan

If the proposal is approved the AGM authorizes the Board of Directors to implement a share option plan based on the provisions of Article 10 of the Income Tax Act no. 90/2003.

A proposal from the Board of Directors concerning the Bank's Remuneration Policy A proposal from the Board of Directors concerning the Rules of Procedure for the Nomination Committee Appointment of two members of the Bank's Nomination Committee Proposal to reduce share capital by cancelling the Bank's own shares and a corresponding amendment to the Articles of Association According to the proposal the Bank's share capital will be reduced by a nominal value of ISK 84,000,000, i.e. from a nominal value of ISK 1,814,000,000 to ISK 1,730,000,000. The proposal entails a change to Article 4.1 of the Articles of Association, which will read as follows: "The Company's share capital is ISK 1,730,000,000 - one billion seven hundred and thirty million Icelandic kronur. Proposal to renew the authorization to purchase own shares and a corresponding amendment to the Articles of Association

If the proposal is approved, the temporary authorization to the Board of Directors to purchase up to 10% of the Bank's share capital will be renewed and shall remain in effect until the Bank's AGM in 2021 or 15 September 2021, whichever occurs first. The authorization shall be used to set up a formal share repurchase program or for the purpose of offering shareholders generally to sell their shares to the Bank. The repurchase of shares is subject to prior approval by the Financial Supervisory Authority of the Central Bank of Iceland.



14.Authorization to issue warrants and a corresponding amendment to the Articles of Association

The proposal entails that a new Article 4.9 will be adopted into the Bank's Articles of Association, providing the board of directors with an authorization pursuant to Article 46 of Act no. 2/1995 on Public Limited Companies to issue warrants for up to 54,000,000 shares in the company and to execute the necessary share issue upon exercise of the warrants. According to the proposal, shareholders waive any preferential rights to the warrants and new shares issued in relation thereto.



15.Amendments to the Bank's Articles of Association

It is proposed that Article 10.10 of the Bank's Articles of Association be amended in such a way that a shareholder's right to have a specific matter dealt with at a convened shareholders' meeting, if it makes a written or electronic request to the Board of Directors, be limited to the Annual General Meeting cf. Par. 2 Art. 86 of the Act respecting Public Limited Companies no 2/1995. If approved, the wording "shareholders' meeting" in the first sentence of Article 10.10 will be replaced with "Annual General Meeting".

16.Other business

Explanatory notes to agenda items no 4 and 11:

Election of the Bank's Board of Directors

In accordance with the Bank's Articles of Association the Bank's Board of Directors shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting of the Bank for a term of one year. Individuals who intend to stand for election as a member of the Board of Directors must give notice of their candidacy in writing to the Board of Directors no later than five days prior to the commencement of the Annual General meeting, in accordance with the Articles of Association of the Bank. Notifications must be sent to shareholders@arionbanki.is by 16:00 Icelandic time on 12 March 2020.

The Nomination Committee will propose to the shareholders the candidates to serve on the Board of Directors based on shareholders' proposals and submission of candidacy and publish its proposal along with other declarations of candidacy on the Bank's website www.arionbanki.is /gm no later than two days before the Annual General meeting. They will be made available at the Bank's headquarters at the same time.

The election of two members to serve on the Nomination Committee:

In accordance with the Bank's Articles of Association and the Rules of Procedure for the Nomination Committee, the Annual General Meeting shall vote two of the three members of the Nomination Committee. The third member of the Nomination Committee shall be the chairman of the Board of Directors or another member of the Board of Directors appointed by the Board.

The individuals who intend to stand for election as members of the Nomination Committee must give notice of their candidacy in writing no later than five days prior to the commencement of the Annual General meeting. Notifications must be sent to shareholders@arionbanki.is by 16:00 Icelandic time on 12 March 2020. The applicable arrangement for the voting of Board members in the Articles of Association shall apply to the voting of Committee Members. Notifications from candidates will be published on the Bank's website www.arionbanki.is /gm no later than two days before the Annual General meeting and will be made available at the Bank's headquarters at the same time.

General Information:

The final agenda, meeting announcement, the financial statement for the year 2019, proposals and other documents for the Annual General Meeting will be available on the Bank's website, www.arionbanki.is /gm , no later than 25 February 2020 and will be accessible at the Bank's headquarters from the same date. An English translation of the meeting material will be accessible to shareholders at the Bank's headquarters as well as on the Bank's website www.arionbanki.is/gm . Should there be discrepancy between the English and the Icelandic version, the latter prevails.

Each shareholder is entitled to have a specific matter dealt with at the meeting if he/she so requests in writing or by electronic means no later than ten days prior to the Annual General Meeting, i.e. no later than 16:00 Icelandic time, 7 March 2020. A rationale or a draft resolution shall be enclosed with such a request. The request shall be sent to the Board of Directors by an email to shareholders@arionbanki.is .

Each share of the Bank carries one vote except treasury shares.

Voting at the Annual General Meeting will be conducted by electronic means, by the use of the Lumi AGM app and Lumi AGM web solution. Shareholders are encouraged to download the Lumi AGM app to an internet enabled device, such as a mobile phone or tablet, prior to the meeting.

Shareholders who do not intend to attend the Annual General Meeting in person can also vote on items on the agenda electronically. More detailed information on electronic voting can be found on the Bank's website www.arionbanki.is/gm . Special attention is drawn to the fact that it may take up to five working days to receive a password so shareholders are urged to apply for a password in a timely manner.

Shareholders may authorize a representative to attend the Annual General Meeting on their behalf and vote on their behalf. The representative shall submit a written or electronic dated power of attorney at the beginning of the meeting. The power of attorney shall be valid only for attendance at one shareholders' meeting unless otherwise clearly stated in the contents of the power of attorney but can in any case never be valid for more than one year. The required form of a power of attorney will be available on the Bank's website. To facilitate admission, powers of attorney can be submitted to the Bank before the meeting at shareholders@arionbanki.is .

Shareholders or the representatives of shareholders are asked to present themselves when arriving to the meeting (please bring valid ID). Registration will commence at the meeting venue from 15:30 on the day of the meeting.

Notice to holders of Swedish Depository Receipts ("SDRs"):

Holders of SDRs who wish to attend or vote by proxy at the Annual General Meeting must be registered in the register kept by Euroclear Sweden AB ("Euroclear") by 5:00 p.m. (CET) on 12 March 2020 and perform either of the following:

Notify Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) ("SEB") of their intention to attend the Annual General meeting no later than 12 March 2020; or send an original signed proxy form to SEB so as to arrive at SEB no later than 12 March 2020.

SDRs are only registered in the name of the SDR holder in the register kept by Euroclear. SDR holders registered in the name of a nominee must have their SDRs registered in their own names in the register at Euroclear to be entitled to attend and/or vote (by an authorized attorney or in person or by proxy form) at the Annual General Meeting. SDR holders who hold the SDRs through a nominee must therefore ask their nominee to make a temporary owner registration (so-called voting-right registration) in good time before the voting record date 12 March 2020 if they wish to attend and/or vote.

Requirement I: SDR holders who are directly registered in the register at Euroclear, or whose SDRs have been voting-right registered by 5:00 p.m. (CET) on 12 March 2020 and who wish to attend (by an authorized attorney or in person) at the Annual General Meeting must notify SEB of their intention to attend the Annual General Meeting no later than 12 March 2020.

Notice of the intention to attend the Annual General Meeting should be made to SEB, by mailing the notification of attendance form to the address; SEB, Issuer Agent, AB3, SE-106 40 Stockholm, by e-mailing mailto:iadarion@seb.se , by phone +46-8-763 55 60 or by faxing +46-8-763 62 50. Please state your name, phone number, personal number and quantity.

Requirement II: SDR holders who wish to instruct SEB to vote by proxy form must send their original signed proxy forms by post so as to arrive at SEB, Issuer Agent, AB3, SE-106 40 Stockholm, delivery address for courier deliveries.

Temporary restriction on transferring SDRs to shares

During the period from end of business on 12 March 2020 up to and including 19 March 2020 a conversion to or from SDRs and shares in Arion Bank hf. will not be permitted.

More detailed information regarding the meeting is available on the Bank's website www.arionbanki.is /gm .

Reykjavik, 25 February 2020

Board of Directors of Arion Bank hf.
The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday ordered status quo on the construction work related to Bhopal Smart City project which involves cutting of more than 6,000 trees in Tatya Tope Nagar.

A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore issued notices to the Bhopal Smart City Development Corporation Limited, Director-cum-Chairman of the Directorate of Town and Country Planning Madhya Pradesh and Bhopal Municipal Corporation.

"It has been contended by the counsel for the applicant that in the map attached to the EIA (environmental impact assessment) project report shows that places like stadium and dussehra maidan have been included as area for development of green belt. In the meanwhile, we direct the parties to maintain the status quo as it exists today," the bench said.

The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Green and Green Lawyers contending that there will be significant air and noise pollution problems due to movement of traffic in the area due to cutting of 1,500 trees which were acting as a buffer and reducing noise and dust pollution.

The plea alleged that there have been numerous violations of environmental obligations by the project proponent in respect of smart city project in Bhopal being undertaken by Bhopal Smart City Development Corporation Limited and Bhopal Municipal Corporation.

"There were 1,500 trees of various species and sizes planted by Forest Department during the year 1960-1970 which were cut without exploring the possibility of translocation in order to achieve the goal of Smart City Project, the respondents are seeking to destroy the entire green belt and to achieve the said purpose is removing the trees from the said plots of land and would thereby destroyed all trees on the said green belt which acts as a buffer against vehicular pollution," the plea said.

The petition said the 10 per cent green belt area of the layout of Bhopal Smart City should have been mandatorily available for the compensatory plantation of the native species of trees in lieu of 6,000 trees proposed to be cut.

However, it is doubtful as the TT Nagar Stadium and Dussehra Maidan are shown as green belt area in the smart city project where plantation is not possible and without looking at the availability of land for plantation the other project proponent, Bhopal Municipal Corporation, in "sheer abuse" of power simply granted permission for cutting down about 1500 trees and further 4500 trees are in line to be cut in near future, the plea said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By AFP

PESHAWAR: A leading Pakistani ethnic minority rights activist known for criticising the country's powerful armed forces was released from jail Tuesday, weeks after a court granted him bail.

Manzoor Pashteen has rattled the country's generals with his calls to end abuses against the Pashtun community, largely based in tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan.

His Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM), founded in 2018, is notable for its direct verbal attacks on a military establishment which plays a dominant role in national politics.

After a month of illegal detention, the dauntless and outspoken young leader #ManzoorPashteen has been released.

#WelcomeManzoorPashteen pic.twitter.com/8lhmCCed7w  KasHif DaWar (@kashifDawar9) February 25, 2020

Last month he was taken into custody on charges of sedition, hate speech, incitement against the state and criminal conspiracy.

After walking free Pashteen told AFP his arrest was "not going to stop me from raising my voice for Pashtun rights".

Footage posted on social media showed Pashteen standing through the sunroof of a car and addressing hundreds of young supporters as they chanted and showered him with rose petals.

Pakistan's Pashtun heartlands were once plagued by violence and militancy, though army operations have dramatically improved security both there and across the country in recent years.

But the PTM claim these operations came at a heavy price, with soldiers using enforced disappearances and targeted killings against civilians.

Authorities have repeatedly denied the claims and cracked down on the rights group.

Strict media blackouts have kept news and images of peaceful PTM rallies off TV screens and out of newspapers nationwide.

A New York Times opinion piece written by Pashteen last year was also censored in Pakistan.
Madrid: A tourist hotel in Tenerife in the Canary Islands has been placed in quarantine after an Italian doctor and his wife staying there both tested positive for the new coronavirus, evidence that the centre of the outbreak in Europe is spreading with holidaying Italians.

The husband and wife hailed from Italy's north, which has registered most of Italy's 283 cases. They were placed in isolation at a clinic in Tenerife. The H10 Adeje Palace hotel was locked down, and its 1000 tourists prevented from leaving, according to Spanish news media and town officials in Adeje.

The Canary Islands, an archipelago located around 100 kilometres west of the African coast, is a popular holiday destination that attracts Europeans year-round. Many Italians are holidaying this week as schools have a mid-winter break.

"We're told we're in quarantine due to an Italian doctor testing for the coronavirus. The hotel seems to be acting normally, except that we cannot go out," Christopher Betts said over the phone from his room at the hotel. "There are police cars stationed at all entrances."
Most grammar schools are favouring the poorest pupils in admissions, sparking complaints from better-off parents.

Schools are giving a higher priority to children from disadvantaged backgrounds who pass the 11-plus test in a bid to boost social mobility.

The trend has resulted in numerous complaints to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator (OSA), the schools admissions watchdog.

Most grammar schools are favouring the poorest pupils in admissions, sparking complaints from better-off parents (stock image)

Primaries and secondaries can give priority to children who are eligible for the pupil premium  extra cash given to schools to encourage them to educate disadvantaged youngsters. Other premiums used by schools include one for pupils from Armed Forces families.

The OSA report reveals that of the 204 secondary schools who will take into account at least one premium in admissions this year, 125 are grammar schools.

They all use the pupil premium and 23 also use the service premium. There are 163 grammars across the country.

Schools are giving a higher priority to children from disadvantaged backgrounds who pass the 11-plus test in a bid to boost social mobility (stock image)

In 2018, 93 grammar schools were using a form of premium.

But the latest report reveals increasing controversy around the issue, as two-fifths of all new complaints to the OSA are about grammar admissions.

Chief adjudicator Shan Scott said: 'I recognise that people hold strong views about grammar schools and we receive objections from those who support selective education and from those who oppose it.'
The has implemented retirement fund body EPFO's decision to restore pension commutation under the Employees' Pension Scheme, a move that will benefit 6.3 lakh pensioners.

Pension commutation refers to part-withdrawal of fund in advance by a subscriber, who then gets reduced pension amount for 15 years.

With the ministry's latest decision, such pensioners would receive their full pension after completion of 15 years.

On February 20, the ministry notified the decision of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to restore pension of those who opted for commutation of their pension on or before September 25, 2008.

In this regard, the Employees' Pension Scheme -- run by the EPFO -- has been amended.

"The normal pension in respect of those members who availed the benefit of commutation of pension under the erstwhile paragraph 12A of this scheme, on or before the 25th day of September, 2008, shall be restored after completion of fifteen years from the date of such commutation," as per the notification.

As many as 6.3 lakh pensioners would benefit from the decision. They had opted for commutation of their pension and got a lump sum at the time of retirement from their pension fund on or before September 25, 2008.

The provision for pension commutation of pension was withdrawn by the EPFO. Now, the facility has been restored for all those who opted for it on or before September 25, 2008.

Under the commutation, monthly pension used to be cut by one-third for the next 15 years and the reduced amount was given in lump sum. After 15 years, pensioners were entitled to get the full pension.

In August 2019, the EPFO's apex decision-making body -- Central Board of Trustees headed by the labour minister -- approved the proposal to restore commutation of pension for 6.3 lakh pensioners who had opted for the benefit.

An EPFO panel had recommended for amendment in EPS-95 (Employees' Pension Scheme 1995) for restoration of commuted value of pension to pensioners after 15 years of drawing commutation.

Earlier, under EPS-95, members were allowed to commute one-third of their pension for 10 years, which was restored after 15 years. This facility is still available to certain categories of government employees.
One of the women Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of sexually assaulting at his historic rape trial on Monday has said she is 'relieved' the jury believed her.

Mimi Haleyi courageously testified at Weinstein's trial about how he forcibly performed oral sex on her in 2006.

The jury convicted him of criminal sexual act in the first degree for it. It carries a potential sentence of up to 25 years behind bars.

On Tuesday, as Weinsten dodged jail in a hospital bed after spending the night there for 'chest pains' and 'heart palpitations', Mimi appeared on Good Morning America and CBS This Morning.

'There was a huge sense of relief that the jury believed me and I was heard. I was just grateful that they got it.

Scroll down for video

Mimi Haleyi, one of the women Weinstein was found guilty of assaulting, appeared on Good Morning America on Tuesday to say she felt relieved the jury believed her

Harvey Weinstein is shown arriving at court on Monday before being found guilty of rape and sexual assault

Harvey Weinstein accuser Mimi Haley on the media mogul's conviction, it was just a huge sense of relief.@GStephanopoulos https://t.co/godCFtvb4s pic.twitter.com/Dzm8l8o7zr  Good Morning America (@GMA) February 25, 2020

'It was terrifying. Terrifying. But after a lot of thought i just felt it was the right thing to do and something I wanted to follow through with so that's why I did it,' she said of her decision to speak at the trial.

She added that she thinks the entire trial and the verdict gives her 'hope'.

'I just feel like we're being educated about the reality of sexual assault and sexual assault victims. A lot know their attacker and they have some sort of relation to that person and that brings with it a whole layer of emotional confusion that you need to process through.

'That's what we need to realize,' she said.

Later, on CBS This Morning, she revealed she did not know which way the verdict would go.

'I mean, I am still processing I think, but [it's] just a relief.

Rowena Chu, another of Weinstein's accusers, appeared on Today to say she felt overwhelmed when she heard the verdict was guilty. Her claims, that he attacked her, never went to court. There are now 90 women who have accused him of misconduct; Monday's verdict represents only two of them

'I wasn't sure what was going to be happen to be honest.

'The statistics say most rapists walk, so I didn't know which way it would go.

'I'm just very relieved and grateful and happy that it feels like we're making progress,' she said.

She was joined by her lawyer, Gloria Allred, who commended her for her bravery.

'Mimi had to face very intense cross-examination on the stand.

'Hours and hours of cross-examination.

'I want to say how proud I am of her and of Lauren Marie Young, who was one of the Molineux witnesses who also testified, and Annabella Sciorra who is really a role model in courage and very inspiring.

'She did what she did... she testified, she made many sacrifices because it was in the interest of justice to do so,' she said.

The jury was not asked to charge on Annabella's story - that Weinstein raped her in the 1990s.

Instead, she had been called on to testify about it to demonstrate a pattern of predatory behavior to convict on a more serious charge, predatory sexual assault, which can carry a life sentence.

The jury acquitted Weinstein on two counts of predatory sexual assault but Allred said it was not a 'reflection' on Annabella or her story.

'It's a very high burden of proof. She told her truth. She refused to be intimidated and she was very authentic. Many people said she was an exceptional witness.

'This is about the empowerment of women. Women refusing to stand silent when they have been the victims of violence.

'Because of Mimi's courage, he may never come out of prison,' she said.

Rowena Chu, another Weinstein accuser who has spoken in the past about him allegedly assaulting her but whose claims have not been taken to court, told Today that she was 'overwhelmed' by the verdict and that she felt 'incredibly sad' for the women he has abused.

There are now 90 women who have accused him of misconduct.

Monday's verdict represents only two of them.

Mimi said she intends to give a victim impact statement at his sentencing on March 11 but that she has not decided what she wants to say to him.

In the meantime, Gloria is urging any women who believe they are victims of Weinstein to come forward in order to testify at his L.A. trial.

'It's not over until it's over. And it's not over yet,' she said.

Weinstein's attorney said on Monday that he took the verdict 'like a man' and that he would continue to fight it. They immediately filed an appeal.

Within a few hours, he had been taken to a hospital in the city - instead of Rikers Island - and his other attorney revealed he'd cried out: 'I'm innocent! I'm innocent! How can this happen in America?'

He will return to court on March 11 for his New York sentencing.

Now, attention is turning to the Los Angeles trial which may have a wider scope of women.
Shocking footage of a train rocking side-to-side has emerged as the second victim of the Victoria derailment is identified.

Train driver John Kennedy, from Canberra, was killed when the XPT diesel locomotive travelling from Sydney to Melbourne derailed at Wallan on Thursday night.

The 54-year-old died alongside Sam Meintanis, a 49-year-old pilot from Castlemaine in regional Victoria, who was identified on Monday.

Eleven of the train's 160 passengers were also injured.

Mr Meintanis was described as a popular member of staff and had worked as a track protection officer for rail company Programmed for 14 years.

Shocking footage of a train rocking side-to-side has emerged days after two people were killed in a horrific derailment in Victoria

Video footage captured in 2018 has raised further questions about the condition of the tracks, which connect Australia's two biggest cities.

In one of the several videos shared to YouTube, the narrator commentates on the swift movements of the carriage while travelling north of Bowser, about two hours from Wallan.

'We're now doing 80 kilometres an hour, look at that twist there. It's really severe,' the narrator behind the camera says.

'There's a nasty little sharp one there too... And another one.'

Investigators have begun probing Thursday's fatal accident.

Speed is one of the factors being looked at, after it was reported the train was supposed to slow to 15km/h as it was diverted through a different part of track near Wallan station.

Sam Meintanis (left), a 49-year-old pilot from Castlemaine in regional Victoria, was identified as the second victim. Train driver John Kennedy (right), from Canberra, was also killed when the XPT diesel locomotive travelling from Sydney to Melbourne derailed at Wallan on Thursday night

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is looking at the maintenance of the train and railway line as well as signalling data.

Some passengers from the XPT have said it was speeding when it derailed.

A Sydney man described 'hanging on for grim death' as the train came off the tracks.

'It probably went about 150 metres before it stopped, there were carriages going sideways - pretty horrifying,' he said.

Passenger Leyon Gray estimated the train was 'probably doing 80 or 90km/h' before everyone was thrown out of their seats.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union said the the train came off a section of track awaiting maintenance.

'Conditions were altered and V/Line drivers rightly refused to traverse this section over the past week,' secretary Luba Grigorovitch said.

Pictured: Video footage from 2018. In one of the several videos shared to YouTube, the narrator commentates on the swift movements of the carriage while travelling north of Bowser, about two hours from Wallan

Carriages of the derailed passenger train are seen in Victoria on Friday

The Victorian Nationals' deputy leader Steph Ryan raised concerns about the rail line with the state government days before the crash and after another train was derailed further up the line in January.

But Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack was not aware of complaints by drivers about the safety of the section of the track.

'No authority would let passengers travel on unsafe track,' he told reporters at the scene.

'We will ensure that proper answers are found for the bereaved families and making sure these sorts of things don't happen again.'

The transport safety bureau will release a preliminary report into the crash in about a month, ahead of a final report in 18 months.
Herriman City, Utah has lost one of its finest, Police K-9 Hondo. The K-9 was killed in Salt Lake City on Feb. 13, while assisting the U.S. Marshals Office in the apprehension of a fugitive.

To honor Hondos life, the Herriman City Police Department commissioned a Utah paint shop that specializes in motorcycles and classic cars, to design a special casket with the K-9s portrait.

Hondos casket   What an honor it was to paint a heros casket. The passing of Herriman Police K9 HONDO, who was... Posted by Rawtin Garage on Thursday, February 20, 2020

According to a CNN report, John Ward, owner of Rawtin Garage produced the work in 24 hours. The caskets custom design was airbrushed or hand painted and featured a portrait of Hondo wearing his police harness.

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. Marshals Office in apprehending a dangerous fugitive.

A press conference will be held today at 3pm at the Herriman City Hall pic.twitter.com/CuABvAmipy  Herriman PD (@HerrimanPolice) February 14, 2020

Hondo was a European trained 7-year-old Belgian Malinois. CNN reports that he suffered a gunshot wound to the sternum and died at a nearby veterinary hospital.

According to police, Hondo and his handler, Sgt. Ben Ricks, were among the states top K-9 teams. Hondo assisted in more than 100 felony arrests and took hundreds of pounds of narcotics off the streets, reported CNN.

Meet Hondo, one of our two K9's on duty in Herriman.  pic.twitter.com/0HiZDPxgLM  Herriman PD (@HerrimanPolice) October 15, 2018

READ MORE:
Federal water officials have ordered Silicon Valleys chief water supplier to start draining its largest reservoir by Oct. 1 because a major earthquake could collapse the dam and send floodwaters into communities from Monterey Bay to the southern shore of San Francisco Bay.

But Valley Water, the agency that manages the Anderson Dam and Reservoir, says it has already lowered the reservoirs water below the level initially sought by federal officials  and that the total drainage the federal government now demands would actually make the dam more vulnerable to earthquake damage, while also reducing water supplies and causing environmental harm.

The reservoir, in a gorge 3 miles east of U.S. 101 between Morgan Hill and San Jose, is one of 10 storing water for the Santa Clara Valley Water District, now known as Valley Water. Built in 1950, it can hold 89,073 acre-feet of water, more than half of the 170,000 acre-feet stored in all of the districts reservoirs.

Blanchard; John

Valley Water officials have known since 2008 that a 6.6 magnitude earthquake on the Calaveras Fault at the 240-foot earthen dam could cause it to collapse. Over the years, the agency has lowered water levels and reported its progress to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The reservoir, at current levels, provides a buttressing effect for the dams intake structure, Christopher Hakes, a Valley Water dam safety official, said in a Dec. 31 letter to FERC. Lowering reservoir levels beyond the current level would decrease the structural reliability of the intake structure and its protection against earthquakes.

FERCs dam safety director, David Capka, was unconvinced. He ordered Hakes in a letter Thursday to drain the reservoir as quickly as you can, starting the process by Oct. 1 and completing it before the winter of 2021-22. In the meantime, Capka said, Valley Water can look for emergency water supplies and work with federal, state and local agencies to minimize environmental impacts.

It is unacceptable to maintain the reservoir at an elevation higher than necessary when it can be reduced, thereby decreasing the risk to public safety and the large population downstream of Anderson Dam, Capka wrote. Your actions to date do not demonstrate an appropriate sense of urgency.

In response, Valley Waters chief executive, Norma Camacho, said in a statement Monday that the demand to empty Anderson Reservoir could result in unsafe consequences.

But the local district lacks authority to defy federal regulators. Valley Water spokesman Matt Keller said the districts Board of Directors would address the issue shortly.

The district is due to start work in 2022 on a five-year earthquake retrofit for the dam. Camacho said legislation has been introduced in Sacramento to speed up the regulatory process for the retrofit.

The district reduced the storage level of the reservoir to 68% of capacity in 2008, then to 58%. It says it has now lowered the level to 45 feet above drainage, 10 feet below the level demanded by Capka in December.

Still, a spillover from the dam during heavy rains three years ago sent water pouring down Coyote Creek and into San Jose, inundating neighborhoods in one of the regions worst floods in decades.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

The district has alternate sources of water, including the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project, which combined furnish more than half its supply, along with groundwater.

But Camacho, the chief executive, said draining the reservoir would not only be unsafe but also environmentally destructive.

The inability to keep a consistent flow in Coyote Creek downstream of the dam year-round would significantly impact sensitive native fish, amphibians, reptiles, wetlands, and riparian habitats, she said. Water quality could also be significantly impacted downstream of the dam.

The dispute coincided with, but was apparently unrelated to, the latest round of water wars between the Trump administration and California.

On Thursday, the state sued the federal government over new rules that supply more water to Central Valley farmers by increasing pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The suit said the diversion violates environmental laws and would harm salmon and other endangered fish in the delta estuary.

Bob Egelko and Michael Cabanatuan are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com and begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan and @BobEgelko
Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST

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Bazaar Corporate Radar is your window into the minds of top CEOs, Boardrooms, global economists, fund managers and sector analysts. If it?s making news, you?ll find it on Bazaar Corporate Radar.
A leading Pakistani ethnic minority rights activist known for criticising the country's powerful armed forces was released from jail Tuesday, weeks after a court granted him bail.

Manzoor Pashteen has rattled the country's generals with his calls to end abuses against the Pashtun community, largely based in tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan.

His Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM), founded in 2018, is notable for its direct verbal attacks on a military establishment which plays a dominant role in national politics.

Last month he was taken into custody on charges of sedition, hate speech, incitement against the state and criminal conspiracy.

After walking free Pashteen told AFP his arrest was "not going to stop me from raising my voice for Pashtun rights".

Footage posted on social media showed Pashteen standing through the sunroof of a car and addressing hundreds of young supporters as they chanted and showered him with rose petals.

Pakistan's Pashtun heartlands were once plagued by violence and militancy, though army operations have dramatically improved security both there and across the country in recent years.

But the PTM claim these operations came at a heavy price, with soldiers using enforced disappearances and targeted killings against civilians.

Authorities have repeatedly denied the claims and cracked down on the rights group.

Strict media blackouts have kept and images of peaceful PTM rallies off TV screens and out of newspapers nationwide.

A New York Times opinion piece written by Pashteen last year was also censored in Pakistan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
USAAs new CEO and President Wayne Peacock met with local civic, community and business leaders at a reception Monday that also served as a farewell for his predecessor, Stuart Parker.

Parker retired last month after 21 years at the San Antonio-based insurance and banking company. He served as CEO for almost five years.

Peacock had been president of USAAs Property & Casualty Insurance Group for the past three years. Profitability increased and membership rose 8.5 percent at USAA's Property & Casualty group during Peacock's time as president, USAA has said.

On ExpressNews.com: USAA names Wayne Peacock to succeed to Stuart Parker

Peacock has more than 30 years of experience across all of USAAs business lines.

His appointment was noteworthy because he became the first top executive at USAA without a military background in its nearly 100-year history.

Peacock is well known locally, having served as chairman of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation.

The invitation-only reception was held at the historic Sheraton Gunther Hotel in downtown San Antonio.

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

USAA plays a critical role in San Antonio as one of the area's largest corporate employers and is actively involved in the community.

About 19,000 of its 35,000-person workforce are based in San Antonio, serving about 13 million members  comprised of current and former members of the military and family members.

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
25thFebruary 2020

Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.

European Stability Mechanism (ESM)

EUR senior, unsecured Notes due 2030

Pre-Stabilisation Notice

Commerzbank AG (contact: Daniela Olt-Farrelly; telephone: +49 69 13623492) hereby announces, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilising Managers named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU Regulation 596/2014).

The security to be stabilised: Issuer: European Stability Mechanism (ESM) Guarantor (if any): none Aggregate nominal amount: EUR 2,000,000,000 Description: fixed rate notes due 3 March 2030 Offer price: tbc Other offer terms: payment date 3 March 2020, denoms EUR 0.01, listing Luxembourg Stabilisation: Stabilisation coordinator:

Stabilising Managers: Commerzbank AG

Barclays Bank plc

JP Morgan Securities Stabilisation period expected to start on: 25th February 2020 Stabilisation period expected to end on: no later than 30 days after the proposed issue date of the securities Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of over-allotment facility. The Stabilising Managers may over-allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law. Stabilisation trading venue: Luxembourg SE regulated

In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilising Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities during the stabilisation period at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, stabilisation may not necessarily occur and and any stabilisation action, if begun, may cease at any time Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules.

This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction.

This announcement is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any other jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.

END
Carolyn Fairbairn, director general of the Confederation of British Industry. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

The US doesnt really understand British fears that a trade deal could threaten the NHS and British food standards, according to British business chiefs.

Carolyn Fairbairn, director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said it was possible and vital to build understanding in the US now to smooth future trade talks.

Speaking at the National Farmers Union (NFU) conference on Tuesday, she said past Brexit talks been undermined by very unhelpful levels of misunderstanding between Britain and the EU. Britain had to learn from such problems in upcoming talks with the US, she suggested.

Fairbairn said her own talks with US business chiefs earlier this month had shown that taking the time to explain British concerns on food and healthcare could change the tone of the conversation.

They dont really understand why we care so much about the NHS. We have to explain things, she said on a panel at the conference in Birmingham.

Responding to a question from Yahoo Finance UK in a press conference, she added: The picture on the US side is that drugs companies are getting a really bad deal, with US patients subsidising UK patients.

Read more: Farmers sound warning as minister fails to rule out chlorinated chicken

But she said business leaders were more able to appreciate UK concerns when she set out the values underpinning Britains universal, free at the point of use healthcare system.

Minette Batters, the NFUs president who appeared alongside her on the panel, also went to Washington with Fairbairn for the business summit in February.

She said US trade and agriculture officials, like the American business chiefs, were quite confused about what were all about and what Brexit means.

Officials were surprised when she talked about Britains aspiration for higher farming standards after Brexit. One apparently replied: I thought you were leaving all of that?

Read more: Firms demand seat at the table in post-Brexit trade deals

Story continues

Batters also shared her slight frustration that conversations often focused on chlorinated chicken. When you delve down under that and have conversation about values and what we want to be in the world, there is a lot of agreement.

She highlighted opportunities from a US trade deal, noting Britain already exported 22bn in food and drink products such as pork to the US.

But she had warned earlier in a speech that the government would be morally bankrupt to let global trade deals undermine UK food standards.

Batters said fears over chlorinated chicken imports were not mumbo-jumbo, after a minister failed to explicitly rule them out over the weekend.

To sign up to a trade deal that results in opening our ports, shelves, and fridges to food that would be illegal to produce here would not only be morally bankrupt, it would be the work of the insane, she told NFU delegates on Tuesday.

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK
Thousands of face masks and hand-sanitiser gels are on trade on Sendo and Shopee

The health crisis is a great opportunity for traders of healthcare items like medical face masks and hand-sanitiser gels, with sales going through the roof and vendors taking sales to e-commerce platforms in growing numbers.

As of February 24, about 465,000 vendors have been selling 1.7 million related products on e-commerce platforms like Sendo, Shopee, Lazada, Tiki, Fado, Bibomart, and Concung, according to Vietnam e-Commerce and Digital Economy Agency (iDEA) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The skyrocketing demand for these goods has also made supervision of fake and low-quality goods a daunting task to say the least, with a tremendous number of goods of dubious quality being on sale at sky-high prices.

"This is a very dangerous practice on many levels. On one hand, dishonest vendors take advantage of the rising general price level to make a tidy profit, but they are also taking advantage of the customer psychology that ties higher prices to high quality. This will go at the expense of customer trust in e-commerce at large," a market analyst told VIR.

With the coronavirus epidemic hitting Vietnam a few weeks ago, a package of 100 Japanese medical face masks was offered for VND2.7 million ($117.39) on Shopee, as much as 10 times the market price from before the epidemic. As soon as receiving complaints from customers about the unusual pricing, the e-commerce firm removed it from the search results.

Besides, thousands of unauthenticated healthcare goods have been traded on e-commerce platforms recently. The iDEA reported that about 5,200 vendors with more than 21,000 of fake and unauthenticated goods were discovered and handled on the two e-commerce platforms.

Sendo has topped the list of violations with more than 2,000 vendors and 3,000 medical face mask products. Just for hand-sanitiser gel products, the platform had about 1,000 merchants and 1,500 items in violation of its policies. Shopee ranked second, with 3,000 vendors and 3,500 face masks. Of these, 400 vendors and 500 products have been sanctioned.

In a talk with VIR last week, a Sendo representative said, We have been seeking more prestigious suppliers to meet the demand for face masks and other related products.

Echoing this, Shopees representative also said that the firm has been keeping a close eye on the performance of vendors selling these items and will block the accounts of vendors found in violation.

Indeed, these are not the first time the platforms getting stuck with the unqualified good issue. Last June, local book manufacturer First News Co., Ltd. announced that Shopee, Lazada, and Sendo are abetting the consumption of fake and pirated books violating the law. The company said that an uncountable number of fake books were displayed for sale online.
BEIJING - Factories that make the worlds smartphones, toys and other goods are struggling to reopen after a virus outbreak idled Chinas economy. But even with the ruling Communist Party promising help, companies and economists say it may be months before production is back to normal.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In this photo taken Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, workers wearing masks move fabric rolls at a textile printing and dyeing plant in Hangzhou in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Factories that make the world's smartphones, toys and other goods are struggling to reopen after a virus outbreak idled China's economy. But even with the ruling Communist Party promising help, companies and economists say it may be months before production is back to normal. (Chinatopix Via AP) CHINA OUT

BEIJING - Factories that make the worlds smartphones, toys and other goods are struggling to reopen after a virus outbreak idled Chinas economy. But even with the ruling Communist Party promising help, companies and economists say it may be months before production is back to normal.

The problem is supply chains  the thousands of companies that provide components, from auto parts to zippers to microchips. Chinas are famously nimble and resourceful, but they lack raw materials and workers after the most intensive anti-disease measures ever imposed closed factories, cut off most access to cities with more than 60 million people and imposed travel curbs.

In smartphones, an industry that relies on China to assemble almost all its handsets, some components suppliers say production is as low as 10% of normal levels, according to Nicole Peng of Canalys, a research firm.

The bad news is that there will be further impact, and the impact is worse than a lot of people initially expected, said Peng.

Travel and retail businesses that need Chinese customers have suffered the most so far from the partial shutdown of the second largest economy. But brands including Apple Inc. say it is starting to disrupt their supplies. Analysts warn the longer that disruption lasts, the more damage will spread to wider industries and other economies.

Global brands have used low-cost Chinese labour to assemble goods for three decades. Now, they increasingly depend on China to supply auto, computer and other components. Disruptions can make this country a bottleneck, choking off their sales.

The most optimistic forecasts call for bringing the virus under control by March, allowing manufacturing to rebound. Gloomier outlooks say the outbreak might last until mid-May or later. Or, as the World Health Organization warned this week, authorities might fail to stop its global spread.

Automakers and other factories are reopening, but analysts say they wont restore normal production until at least mid-March.

If factory work does not spike in the coming weeks, a global parts shortage would likely emerge, Taimur Baig and Samuel Tse of DBS said in a report.

There is no indication yet of an impact on consumers abroad, but retailers are starting to warn some products might be late or unavailable.

China also is a major supplier of chemicals for the global pharmaceutical industry. The outbreak has prompted concern supplies might be disrupted but there is no indication that drug production has been affected.

President Xi Jinping has put his personal authority behind reviving industry.

Beijing is promising tax cuts, though economists say financial help will have limited impact when anti-disease controls still in effect are still keeping workers away from factories and disrupting the movement of goods.

On Sunday, Xi said low-risk areas should change disease-control measures to fully restore production while high-risk areas focus on fighting the epidemic, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

Manufacturers face a shortage of workers after millions who visited their hometowns for the Lunar New Year holiday were stranded there by the suspension of plane, train and bus services.

Officials must unblock transportation channels, Xinhua cited Xi as saying.

The government of Yiwu, a southeastern city known for its thousands of suppliers of buttons, doorknobs and other components to export manufacturers, says it arranged planes and trains to help their employees get back to work.

China accounts for about one-quarter of global manufacturing when measured by the value added in its factories. But it is the final assembly point for more than 80% of the world's smartphones, more than half of TVs and a big share of other consumer goods.

Apple, which has most of its iPhones and other products assembled by contractors in China, rattled stock markets when it warned Feb. 17 that revenue would suffer due to supply disruptions.

We would certainly expect to see more news like that, said Simon Weston of AXA Investment Managers in Hong Kong.

Other global companies that need Chinese plastics, chemicals, steel and high-tech components also face reduced production, according to Kaho Yu of Verisk Maplecroft, a consulting firm. Yu said that is likely to last through the quarter ending in September.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai said last week half of the 109 companies that responded to a survey reported their global operations already are affected. It said 78% reported they lacked sufficient staff to run production lines.

Some companies including Ralph Lauren Corp. already were moving out of China due to rising costs and U.S. tariff hikes in a fight over Beijings technology ambitions and trade surplus. But many still depend on China for components or some stages of manufacturing.

Samsung is feeling the heat because it shifted smartphone assembly to Vietnam but needs experienced Chinese managers to run those factories, Peng said. She said they visited China for the Lunar New Year and are blocked from returning to their jobs.

Other companies including global automakers that rely increasingly on the Chinese market are restarting production but say the pace depends on whether they can get components.

China accounts for about one-quarter of global auto production and according to UBS provides 8% of global exports of auto components. Many use just in time manufacturing, delivering components when needed. Those factories have limited stockpiles to ride out disruptions.

Volkswagen, the countrys biggest-selling auto brand, said Monday its challenges include slow national supply chain and logistics ramp-up.

In China, factory production in export-oriented coastal provinces is back above 70% of normal levels, according to Cong Liang, the general secretary of the Cabinets planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission.

Companies are working overtime, Cong said at a news conference. He insisted the epidemics impact is short-term and generally controllable.

Private sector forecasters are less upbeat.

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Economic activity is likely 45% back on track, said a Citigroup report.

Coal consumption, one way to measure industrial activity, is 60% of the average level in the same period during 2017-19, according to UBS. It said real estate sales are 10% of normal.

Haier Group, one of the world's biggest home appliance manufacturers, said its suppliers are back to about 80% of normal production. The company said its own factories will be operating normally by the end of February.

Some smaller companies that lack the resources of global industrial giants but might be the only source of a critical component are struggling to reopen.

In the southern city of Shenzhen, a computer monitor maker is closed because some of its managers are in Hubei and cannot get back to work, according to Global Sources, a company that links buyers to Chinese suppliers.

Others manufacturers are looking for alternative suppliers but say foreign sources cant match Chinese prices or service, according to Global Sources.
- An ambush on a police patrol in northern Burkina Faso on Monday left four people dead, three of them officers, police said.

The attack, carried out in the morning by unidentified gunmen, killed a police lieutenant, two sergeants and a civilian, a police statement said.

Another five people were wounded, the statement added, without saying if they were police officers or civilians.

Monday's attack happened on the Pissila-Gibga axis of the Sanmatenga province, in the West African country's Centre-Nord region.

An attack last Tuesday killed three soldiers from a detachment at Kelbo, in the farther north Soum province, in the Sahel region bordering Mali.

Burkina Faso, which shares a border with Mali and Niger, is caught up in an Islamist insurgency in which repeated attacks have claimed 750 lives since 2015.

Under-equipped and poorly trained, the country's security forces have not been able to counter the deadly raids in their territory, despite the help of foreign soldiers, notably French troops.

According to UN figures, the jihadist attacks in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso killed 4,000 people in 2019 and caused an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

The attacks have forced more than 770,000 people to flee their homes, 20,000 of them schoolchildren, according to the Burkinabe authorities.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 10:04:35|Editor: ZD

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SARAJEVO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- More than 200,000 citizens have emigrated from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) over the past decade, said scholars here on Monday, when presenting their research called "Emigration Study in BiH."

Led by the Academy of Sciences and Arts of BiH, the study was conducted by seven researchers in 2019 based on a sample of 2,000 citizens from five major regions of BiH.

The study shows that Germany, Croatia, Austria and Slovenia are destination countries for the majority of Bosnian emigrants. Interviewees said that unemployment and low living standard are among the main reasons that drive young people out of BiH.

According to Eurostat, the European Union (EU)'s official statistics agency, more than 54,000 BiH citizens received residence permits in EU countries, mostly in Germany, Austria and Slovenia.

The study shows that around 50 percent of emigrants returned to BiH from Germany, a prime destination of choice for vast majority of BiH emigrants.

The study also detected an extensive volume of so-called cyclic migration or seasonal leaving BiH for work in Croatia, Slovenia and Austria.

Some countries like Slovenia, Germany and Austria have fine-tuned their legislations in order to attract workers from abroad, which is obviously very bad for the labor market in BiH, said Milos Trifkovic, a senior legal researcher.

According to the 2015 population statistics, the total population of BiH was 3,867,055.
Dad's Hat Pa Rye Co-owners Herman Mihalich and John Cooper We take so much pride in what we do, as whiskey producers and local business owners, so to be recognized for our production is really something we are proud of.

Four years after earning the prestigious Craft Whisky of the Year Award from Whisky Advocate Magazine, Dad's Hat PA Rye Co-owners Herman Mihalich and John Cooper have yet another honor to add to their resume  the Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky America Craft Producer of the Year Award for 2020.

The award was presented to Dad's Hat at the Flatiron Room in New York City on February 11th, where industry professionals from across America came to celebrate the Icons of Whisky. Winners from the U.S. competition will now go head-to-head with their industry peers from all over the world to compete for the global title. Those results will be announced at the London Whisky Magazine Awards dinner in March.

"It's such an honor to win this award," said Mihalich. "We take so much pride in what we do, as whiskey producers and local business owners, so to be recognized for our production is really something we are proud of." "We're excited to compete globally, but to win this award in America is not something we take lightly," said Cooper. "We're so honored and grateful to the selection committee and we're going to continue to produce PA rye the way we know."

Located at 925 Canal Street in Bristol, PA, the Dads Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey distillery, which is owned and operated by Mountain Laurel Spirits LLC, carries on a Pennsylvania tradition of whiskey production dating back to the early 1800s. In addition to Dads Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey, Dads Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey Finished in Vermouth Barrels, and Dads Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels, MLS also produces Dads Hat Pennsylvania Straight Rye. Learn more about Dads Hat Pennsylvania Rye by visiting http://DadsHatRye.com. Logo images and product photos are available to download at http://dadshatrye.com/trade-resources.
An appellate court on Monday reinstated several counts of drug distribution and weapons offenses against a physician assistant who prosecutors accused of peddling prescription painkillers.

Frank Campione, who worked for Acute Medical Housecalls, was arrested in 2016 after a four-month investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office found he was selling prescriptions for oxycodone and Xanax, the prosecutors office has said.

Two years later, the charges were dismissed by Superior Court Judge Dennis OBrien in Monmouth County. As a physician assistant who sees patients in all settings, OBrien explained in a court hearing dismissing the indictment, it wasnt out of his scope of practice to write prescriptions in vehicles. And if Campione was disguising his drug-dealing business with this medical practice, OBrien contended, hed have more clients.

The Monmouth County Prosecutors Office filed an appeal after the 31-count indictment was dismissed on Nov. 16, 2018.

A three-judge state appellate panel concluded that there was evidence Campione wrote prescriptions to some patients that were neither medically necessary nor issued in good faith.

Campiones attorney, Alton Kenney, said each of those counts involved a patient who was previously seen by another medical professional.

All the necessary medical charts and all the other items exist, he said. "We believe that a fair analysis by any expert, which will be necessary for trial, will show that my clients treatment of those individuals was medically necessary.

The appellate court also reinstated counts related to hollow-point bullets and brass knuckles found at Campiones Brick Township house during a search by police.

Kenney said its not a crime to have hollow-point bullets at your house and that the brass knuckles were a collective item.

There is no unlawful purpose, he said.

My client, through the prosecutors office, has been branded a drug dealer, no better than some street-level drug dealer, Kenney continued. Its wrong now and it was wrong then. I look forward to complete vindication by a jury of (my clients) peers.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni disagrees with that assessment.

We are pleased that the appellate division agreed with much of our arguments, he said in a text message. Our office will proceed to grand jury in the near future to re-present on the counts upheld by the court.

In addition to Campione, Dr. Howard Katz was also named in the indictment. He was Campiones supervisor and received a cut of the medical practices profits, the appellate ruling said. Prosecutors charged Katz with the unlawful practice of medicine but not with distributing a controlled dangerous substance.

The appellate court did not reinstate the charges filed against Katz.

According to the courts opinion, The State presented no evidence to the grand jury that Katz participated in Campiones alleged act of improperly holding himself out as a physician to patients."

Katzs attorney, Robert A. Honecker Jr., said in a statement, My client  was wrongly accused by the State of New Jersey. The Courts decision in this matter sets the record straight and exonerates my client of all accusations."

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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A California appeals court has overturned a decision to release convicted rapist Alvin Quarles, 57, dubbed 'Bolder Than Most'

A California appeals court on Monday blocked the release of a man dubbed the 'Bolder Than Most' rapist who terrorized the San Diego area in the 1980s.

The 4th District Court of Appeals overturned the decision of a judge to grant the conditional release of Alvin Quarles, 57, who was charged with committing more than 50 rapes, robberies and burglaries more than three decades ago.

Prosecutors said some of the assaults occurred at knifepoint, and sometimes the victims' husbands or boyfriends were forced to watch or take part in sex acts that Quarles watched.

Some couples were confronted as they slept in motel rooms, and during or after some of the assaults, Quarles talked with victims, bargained for the kind of sex act he wanted and apologized or tried to give money to some of the women, prosecutors said.

Quarles pleaded guilty in 1989 to four rapes along with burglary and robbery. He served 25 years of a 50-year prison sentence.

In 2014, he was sent to the Coalinga State Hospital indefinitely after being designated a 'sexually violent predator' with mental disorders that made him a continuing danger to society.

He had unsuccessfully petitioned for release several times over the years.

Quarles (left and right) was a 26-year-old pipe fitter when he was arrested in connection to a series of rapes in 1988. The spate of rapes and burglaries began in 1987

The original October 2018 ruling - confirmed by the judge last year - would have allowed Quarles to be released to a home in San Diego County on condition that he continued to receive treatment and supervision in the community.

The decision was loudly condemned by rape survivors and local officials.

Mary Taylor, who was attacked by Quarles in 1988, said in 2018 that she and other victims were not notified of the decision to release him, which is in violation of Marsy's Law. Marsy's Law provides additions rights to crime victims.

In October 2018, a judge ruled to release Quarles to a home in San Diego County on condition he continued to receive treatment and supervision

Prior to the ruling, Taylor addressed the presiding judge in court, telling him of the defendant: 'Not only has he not finished the treatment, but the people directly supervising told you he wasn't ready,'

In its ruling, a three-judge appellate panel said San Diego Superior Court Judge David Gill didn't use the proper legal standard in making his decision and ordered the lower court to hold a new trial on whether Quarles should be released.

The appeals court also said it was concerned about Quarles's potential for re-offending if he fails mental health treatment.

'Quarles is a serial rapist whose crimes were shockingly brutal and destructive,' the court said in its ruling. 'If he fails after he is conditionally released, considering his past, we shudder to contemplate the consequences of such a failure. This is not a risk the Superior Court should place on the public.'

Victim Mary Taylor (right) in 2018 condemned the judge's decision to release Quarles, saying he has not finished his treatment

The appellate decision was 'a victory for the region and public safety,' San Diego County Board of Supervisors member Dianne Jacob tweeted.

Quarles could appeal the panel's decision to the California Supreme Court, or file for a new petition for release.

Quarles was a 26-year-old pipe fitter when he was arrested in connection of a series of rapes in 1988.

The series of rapes and burglaries began in 1987. At least 16 of the sexual assaults occurred in San Diego, half of them at small motels.
Popular actor, Yul Edochie has reacted to remarks made by his father, Pete, criticizing men who kneel to propose marriage to women. Yul...

Popular actor, Yul Edochie has reacted to remarks made by his father, Pete, criticizing men who kneel to propose marriage to women.Yul had shared a meme on Monday on Instagram showing Pete Edochie supposedly behind a man slightly bent.He pointed his fans attention to the meme which read: When you are about to kneel down to propose and you see Pete Edochie behind you.Pete, 72, had appeared in a viral video on February 20, criticising men who get on their knees to propose to their partners.According to him: Any young man who gets down on his knees to propose to a girl is not just an idiot, he is a bloody fool. The reason why I am saying this is simple, we try to copy white people .I believe I the core of our culture. The white man knees down to propose to a girl. You know what it means? The girl takes over the family. This is why whenever you disagree with your wife overseas, you are kicked out and your wife takes over the houseI have lived with my wife for 51 years, nobody has come to say, please stop beating this woman. Is it hatred that united us? It means you are an idiot.If you call that civilization, it is alright, kneel down before your wife, I will sympathize with you when she takes over the home.As expected some Nigerians disagreed with the actor.Actor, Stan Nze wrote: Im going to propose to my wife kneeling and I will still be the head of my home and I will live with her for 51years and even more. Do what works for you.
Britain's largest bank HSBC has announced it is to close 27 branches this year as online banking continues to take over.

Up to 46 jobs will be put at risk by the closures, which include branches in Bristol, Bedminster, Wallasey, and London's Kensington High Street.

The majority of closures will take place in July with further shutdowns later in the year in places such as London's Regent Street, Thetford and Cheltenham.

HSBC says over 90 per cent of its customers now use their services online or via a telephone

Some 34million will be invested in its remaining 594 nationwide branches though, including installing the latest technology, with refurbishment occurring in 49 of them.

Stuart Haire, HSBC UK's head of retail banking and wealth management, said the way people bank today has made the changes necessary:

'Retaining a sustainable branch network is extremely important to us and we need to ensure it is fit for the future.

Full list of the latest closures July 2020 Bristol, Bedminster, Leigh-on-Sea, London Park Royal, Chingford, Swindon Old Town, Kensington High Street, Blaby, Peterlee, Leigh, Bradshawgate, Chard, Wallasey, Royston, Pudsey, Croydon, Wellesley Road, Saffron Walden, Tiverton, Ely, Pembroke Other closures closing later in 2020 London Greenwich, London Regent Street, Redhill, Thetford, Sheffield Broomhill, Bourne, Cheltenham Bath Road, Coventry Corporation Street, Heswall

He adds: 'But, the way our customers bank with us has changed significantly over the last five to ten years, and that change is something we cannot ignore.'

HSBC says over 90 per cent of its customers now use their services online or via a telephone, while fewer than one per cent of all cash withdrawals take place inside an HSBC branch.

More people are also interacting with the firm on social media, HSBC say, with more than 85,000 interactions in the last year.

'The decision to close these branches will help to ensure a sustainable branch network for the future and allow us to continue to invest in it' says HSBC's Stuart Haire

'The upshot is that significantly fewer people are using our branches' he adds.

'The decision to close these branches will help to ensure a sustainable branch network for the future and allow us to continue to invest in it, as illustrated by the improvement to 49 branches in 2020, along with the continuing investments in our people and digital platforms.'

Six sites will shut their doors on 3 July, including the Kensington High Street and Bristol Bedminster branches, followed by seven the following week and five at the end of the month.

HSBC customers will be able to bank in Post Office branches across the country.

The move to online banking has become increasingly the norm in the last few years. TSB declared in November that it would close 82 branches in 2020 as it expects more of its customers to use its online services.

Lloyds Banking Group has already closed 220 bank branches in the previous couple of years and are expecting to shut another 56 between April and October.

HSBC has closed 444 branches in five years and these latest closures will mean its network would have almost halved since 2015.

A House of Commons report last year warned though that the elderly are one of the most affected by branch closures as they are least likely to bank online

Mr Haire added: 'Almost every industry is affected by similar behavioural change and needs to work hard to address that - newspapers used to be delivered by paper boys and girls, or a paper would be collected from a shop, and now most people consume their news online.

'Photographs that were once processed in a shop have now been replaced with digital cameras and online delivery.'

A House of Commons report published at the beginning of the year though warned that the rural population, the disabled and the elderly are most affected by branch closures as they are least likely to bank online.

It read: 'Around 10 per cent of the rural population now lives at least 10 miles away from their bank's nearest branch.

This creates significant challenges for the disabled and elderly who are less able to move to online banking.

'The Financial Conduct Authority raised concerns that this may be contributing to these groups' financial exclusion.'

The report further stated that small businesses which rely on local branches for their banking would be negatively impacted, as would 'the long term viability of the cash system.'
As the coronavirus spreads to more countries including Italy, local colleges with students studying there are on high alert and meeting regularly to figure out the best way to keep students safe and their families informed.

In some areas, classes or field trips have been canceled, and students are being advised to stay home. In others, programs are proceeding with caution.

Parents are justifiably concerned," said Ray Betzner, spokesperson for Temple University, which has a campus in Rome. "Their children are far away and they, like us, want to make sure they are safe.

Concerns were heightened Monday when New York University announced it was canceling classes at its campus in Florence, Italy, and would begin offering classes remotely on Monday, through at least March 29. The university is urging students to leave Florence.

Italy reports the worst outbreak outside Asia, with 322 cases and 10 deaths as of Tuesday, according to the New York Times. The Lombardy region in northern Italy, home to Milan, has been hit the hardest.

So far, no local campuses have pulled students out, though several reported they have students studying in Milan and elsewhere in northern Italy. St. Josephs University has three students in Milan and has been in contact with their families, a spokesperson said. Lehigh University also has a handful.

Villanova University has students in four areas of Italy, including nine through a partnership program in Milan. Their classes have been canceled for the week, said Villanova spokesperson Jonathan Gust. The partnership program has advised the students to stay in their apartments for the week and is making arrangements for online programming, he said.

The university also has 23 students in a Villanova program in Urbino, east of Florence, as well as students in partnership programs in Rome and Florence, Gust said. While those students are being provided with health advisory information, their programs are continuing, Gust said.

College campuses are a global touchstone: They emphasize world education and regularly send students and faculty abroad and welcome those from other countries. As such, a global pandemic can have widespread impact.

Villanova, like other colleges, is holding regular meetings with administrators from various departments to discuss the impact of the virus worldwide and on the university, Gust said. That includes summer and fall study-abroad programs, he said. Villanova had a call scheduled for Tuesday afternoon to discuss latest developments.

Dickinson College, which has a program in Bologna, has asked students not to travel outside of the Italian city this week.

 READ MORE: Two college students  one stuck in Wuhan, one who made it back  on how coronavirus is affecting their lives

We are carefully monitoring the situation, and we are in regular contact with our students, said spokesperson Christine Baksi.

Students at Temples Rome campus have had to put off tours and field trips since the local government has recommended avoiding large group gatherings.

So students who might have gone into Rome for a gallery tour, which is very common, those tours have been canceled for this week, said Betzner, the Temple spokesperson. Other activities are planned to keep them close to campus.

Students also may opt for more limited travel there over spring break, which starts Friday, he said.

Temple also has a campus in Japan, where coronavirus cases have been reported, though the majority of students there are from countries other than the United States.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia-area universities move to restrict China travel due to coronavirus

The Temple campuses in both Rome and Japan are in areas classified as Alert 2, where the CDC has recommended only that older adults and those with chronic medical conditions postpone nonessential travel.

Right now, no changes are anticipated in the academic programs in either Japan or Rome, Betzner said.

But, he said, the situation can change daily.

They are making plans  in case classes have to be taught remotely, Betzner said.

Temple also has a small number of students in South Korea, which is at a higher alert level. The CDC is recommending that all nonessential travel there be avoided. Temple does not run those programs.

Were reaching out to both students in the country and those who are planning to go there, about their plans, Betzner said.

Temple, like many other schools, has already suspended student and faculty travel to China, where the virus originated.
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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Tue, February 25, 2020 11:41 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20666f1ae 1 Politics Bobby-Nasution,Jokowi,Joko-Widodo,Medan,mayor,GolkarParty,NasDem-Party Free

The Golkar Party has joined the NasDem Party in announcing its support for President Joko Jokowi Widodos son-in-law, Bobby Afif Nasution, as a candidate for the 2020 Medan mayoral election in North Sumatra in September.

We have long supported Bobby and were waiting for the right moment to nominate him, Golkar deputy secretary-general Ahmad Doli Kurnia Tanjung told reporters after opening Golkars North Sumatra regional conference in Medan on Monday.

Ahmad said Golkar will conduct a survey in early March to gauge the electability of all regional head candidates it plans to nominate for the upcoming elections in North Sumatra, including Bobby.

We hope that Bobbys electability will continue to increase, said the House of Representatives Commission II chairman.

Golkar will also use the survey results to determine its nominations for deputy regional head candidates.

Ahmad said the partys decision would also be based on its organizational mechanism and assured that Golkar would not ask for a so-called dowry from its candidates.

Golkar Party leaders have made a commitment not to ask for a dowry from regional candidate pairs.

Read also: NasDem to nominate Jokowi's son-in-law as Medan mayoral candidate

Last week, NasDem Party confirmed that it would also nominate Bobby for the 2020 Medan mayoral election.

NasDem chairman Surya Paloh said the party decided to support Bobby as the Presidents son-in-law had earned the top spot in the partys recent internal survey.

We will give our utmost support to Bobby. He did well in our survey  too well, even, Surya said on Thursday.

Bobby registered with Golkars North Sumatra branch in December last year and with NasDem in January to run in the mayoral election. Aside from the two parties, Bobby has also registered with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Read also: All in the family: Jokowi's son-in-law registers with PDI-P for Medan mayoral race

Both Golkar and NasDem, however, are unable to nominate Bobby for the Medan mayoral election separately because each has only gained four seats in the Medan Legislative Council.

A political party is only eligible to nominate a candidate if it has a total of 10 seats in the legislative council, such as the PDI-P and Gerindra.

Such a provision would require Golkar or NasDem to form a coalition with other parties to gain additional seats. (syk)
Queen Elizabeth II dedicated her life protecting the monarchy. However, if she continues to support Prince Andrew, she might also be the one to cause the palace to crumble.

A few months before the annual Trooping the Colour, senior military figures warned Queen Elizabeth II to oust her favorite son, Prince Andrew, from the event.

According to the report published by The Times, the senior military figures said that the Duke of York should not make an appearance on June 13. The only thing that could prevent him from attending the Trooping the Colour will be an order from the Queen.

However, if Her Royal Highness refuses to heed the warning and still invites Prince Andrew, they believe that she would "damage the reputation" of the monarchy in the end.

"Prince Andrew's participation in the event would very likely and unfairly damage the reputation of the Queen and the monarchy, and he's already stirred up enough problems for them," senior military figures told the publication.

However, despite the ongoing appeal, the royal palace still has not decided on whether they will let Prince Andrew attend the military event or not.

The 17th-century-old Trooping the Colour this year will be attended by the units of British and Commonwealth armies who will perform the whole ceremony.

Once the parade is over, the royal family -- spearheaded by Queen Elizabeth ii -- shall return to the Buckingham Palace and stand out of its balcony.

Since the Duke of York is still reportedly not cooperating with the FBI's investigation over his ties with the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, seeing him on the palace balcony would be a whole lot of mess not only for Queen Elizabeth II but also for the monarchy.

Prince Andrew Protecting Queen Elizabeth II?

After his ill-advised BBC interview where he talked about his friendship and ties with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his eventual decision to withdraw from his royal duties, the Duke of York seemed to be doing his best not to cause any more troubles to the Queen.

Earlier this month, Queen Elizabeth II reportedly wanted to present Prince Andrew a Senior Navy role as promotion before his 60th birthday on Feb. 19. It would have come after his previous promotions, having become a Rear Admiral when he turned 50 and Vice Admiral when he turned 55.

However, Prince Andrew refused the new position, with a spokesperson from the Buckingham Palace confirming his decision.

"Following the decision by His Royal Highness to step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, the Duke of York has asked the Ministry of Defence if this promotion might be deferred until such time that His Royal Highness returns to public duty," the statement said, affirming that Prince Andrew has denied the offer.

If Prince Andrew aims to protect Queen Elizabeth II and the monarchy from further damage and humiliation, royal watchers expect him also to turn down the invitation to attend Trooping of Colour -- if there is.
Behold the chipsteak, here presented in an extremist British incarnation but also popular in the United States until about that time. Perhaps it's time for a chipsteak renaissance? Meet Major Stuart Benest (1915-2002), proprietor of the Benest supermarket in Millbrook, Jersey. in the late 1970s, who offers a very convincing argument. He's a Monty Python character brought to life and quite wonderful.

From 1977, here's a very special Benest's of Millbrook advert. What makes it special and different to the rest? Well, the owner of arguably the most famous Channel Island voice ever, makes an in-vision appearance. So spend the next minute in the company of Major Benest and his dulcet tones, as he gleefully showcases the type of grub you could have enjoyed on a Channel Island table in 1977. All made under relentless supervision

If you enjoyed this ad, you're in luck: there's an entire mini-documentary about the supermarket and its incredible booming-voiced advertisements.
Pair carrying 16 million in cash heading to Cancun

Mexico City, Mexico  Elements of the National Guard arrested two people after they were found carrying more than 16 million peso in cash at the Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City. The pair were destined for the city of Cancun.

Authorities say agents of the Guardia Nacional arrested the pair at the Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de Mexico (AICM) when they were unable to prove the legal status of the cash. In a statement by the federal government, the cash was discovered when one passengers luggage x-ray revealed abnormal content.

The luggage was separated for a review, which is when police found the wrapped cash hidden between clothes in eight transparent plastic bags, which had approximately 14 million peso inside. The cash lacked the necessary documentation to support its legal possession.

A scan of the second persons hand luggage revealed two paper envelopes containing transparent plastic wrappers with bills of different denominations with an estimated 2.6 million peso.

Photo: La Guardia Nacional

Authorities say both were faced with the probable commission of a criminal act and in both cases, their data was registered in the National Detention Registry and together with the money, they were made available to the Agent of the Federal Public Ministry who will verify the exact amount of money and the legal status of the passengers.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 20:46:57|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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File photo taken on March 19, 2017 shows a supporter of Hosni Mubarak attending a gathering outside Maadi Military Hospital in Cairo, Egypt. Egyptian former President Hosni Mubarak has died at the age of 91 after suffering a long illness, state-run Nile TV reported on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Meng Tao)

CAIRO, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian former President Hosni Mubarak has died at the age of 91 after suffering a long illness, state-run Nile TV reported on Tuesday.

Hosni Mubarak had served as Egyptian president for nearly 30 years until he resigned as a result of mass protests that erupted in the country in 2011.

He was jailed for years after the uprising on charges of corruption and killing protesters, but was freed in 2017 after being acquitted of most charges.

In a statement, Egypt's presidency mourned the death, calling Mubarak "a hero of October 1973 war," and offered condolences to his family.

"Supporters of Mubarak's" page on Facebook also mourned the death of Mubarak and offered condolences to his two sons.

On Saturday, his son Alaa wrote on Twitter that "Mubarak was in intensive care."

The former president underwent surgery in January, Alaa added.
Two media bodies in the national capital on Tuesday expressed concern over the attack on several journalists who were covering violence in north-east Delhi since Sunday and urged the police and the home ministry to "ensure that media is not brought under physical assault."



In a joint statement, Press Club of India (PCI) and Indian Women's Press Corps (IWPC) expressed "serious concern that journalists on duty have come under attack while covering the communal violence rocking northeast Delhi since last Sunday".

"Several of them have been hospitalised. They have been punched and attacked by communal mobs, and police were either absent or have not come to help. Shockingly, mobs were checking religious credentials of journalists," the journalists' bodies said.

A journalist with JK 24X7 received a bullet injury and two reporters from NDTV were beaten and punched by rioters in northeast Delhi, which saw fresh violence on Tuesday.

NDTV journalist Arvind Gunasekar was hit by rioters while he was at one of the spots in northeast Delhi and lost a tooth. His fellow reporter, Saurabh, who tried to shield him, was punched, the channel said.

Many other journalists took to social media to share tales of how they were heckled and some alleged they were questioned about their religious identity.

The journalists' associations said that television media seems to have been specifically targetted.

"A television journalist has sustained gunshot injuries. Another has been hit in the face and has several teeth missing. A woman journalist has also sustained injuries. Television media seem to have been specially targeted.

"We have little doubt the attackers actively sought to prevent videography or photography that may lead to them being identified," they said.

Blaming the police authorities, the bodies said that a "lethargic police and politicians instigating communal violence cannot escape blame for attacks on the media".

"A few weeks ago, journalists were physically assaulted by the police themselves when reporting the violence that attended the Jamia protests. Earlier, police stood mutely while supporters of right-wing mobs that had attacked JNU heckled and hit journalists. We expect the authorities, particularly the police and the Union home ministry, to be alive to democratic sensibilities and ensure that media are not brought under physical assault," the PCI and IWPC said.

On Monday, too, reporters had a tough time covering the violence with many of them threatened and heckled.

The death toll in the violence in northeast Delhi has climbed to 13.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In universal judgment, nothing more beautiful has ever been seen in the world.

ut fuit universale juditium, sunt res qua non est aliquid in orbe nunc pulchrius

Paris de Grassis, master of ceremonies for the 16th-century Pope Leo X, wrote in his diary after seeing Raphaels Acts of the Apostles tapestries.

More than 500 years later, all 12 of Raphaels Acts of the Apostles tapestries were recently hung as Pope Leo X had originally intended, on the lower wall of the Sistine Chapel. The last time the complete series of tapestries were hung together in the chapel was in the late 1500s, exhibition and Vatican Museums curator Alessandra Rodolfo told Reuters.

One of Raphaels Acts of the Apostles tapestries is taken into the Sistine Chapel where all 12 tapestries were hung together for the first time in 500 years. (Governatorato SCVDirezione dei Musei)

The rare event celebrated the 500th anniversary of Raphaels death in 1520. It also paid homage to the ancient custom of adorning the papal chapel with fine textiles and tapestries for noble ceremonies and important Christian liturgical traditions, Rodolfo said in a press release.

The Sistine Chapel is of universal importance, not only for visual arts but for our faith, Barbara Jatta, the director of the Vatican Museums told Reuters. So we really want to share this beauty with people, even if only for one week.

Visitors gain a sneak peek at Raphaels Acts of the Apostles tapestries as they are hung in the Sistine Chapel prior to being open to the public. (Governatorato SCV  Direzione dei Musei)

The beauty of the tapestries can be appreciated even more since their recent renewal.: The Vatican Museums conservators have, over a number of years, restored the tapestries.

The Papal Commission

In 1515, Pope Leo X commissioned Raphael to design the tapestries to depict the lives of Saint Peter and Saint Paulthe fathers of the Christian church. The art added to the chapels existing pictorial message of how the Gospel came from Jerusalem to Rome.

Christs Charge to Peter, 15171519, from John 21: 1517. (Governorship SCV-Directorate of Museums)

St. Paul Preaching at Athens, 15171521, from Acts of the Apostles 17: 2231. (Governorship SCV-Directorate of Museums)

The Conversion of Saul, 15171519, from Acts of the Apostles 9: 35. (Governorship SCV-Directorate of Museums)

The Conversion of the Proconsul, 15171519, from Acts of the Apostles 13: 612. (Governorship SCV-Directorate of Museums)

The tapestry cloths were made to be hung on feast days, on the lowest part of the Sistine Chapel walls, which are painted as faux curtains. When hung, the tapestries are just below the frescoes depicting the stories of Moses and the life of Christ that were painted by renowned 15th-century artists.

Pope Leo X paid five times the cost of Michelangelos Sistine Chapel frescoes, which was 3,000 ducats. Raphael received only 1,000 ducats, and the rest was absorbed by the manufacturing of the tapestries.

Raphael and his workshop created the tapestry cartoons between 1515 and 1519.

Raphael depicted the stories of St. Peter and St. Paul from the Bibles Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles for 10 of the tapestries, and he designed the Hours and Seasons on two narrow tapestries.

The Healing of the Lame Man, 15171519, from Acts of the Apostles 3: 67. (Governorship SCV-Directorate of Museums)

The Miraculous Draft of Fishes, 15171519, from Luke 5: 410. (Governorship SCV-Directorate of Museums)

The Stoning of St. Stephen, 15171519, from Acts of the Apostles 7: 5560. (Governorship SCV-Directorate of Museums)

Raphaels designs were sent to Brussels and woven at the workshop of world- renowned tapestry weaver Pieter van Aelst. The fully colored cartoons were cut into strips about a yard wide to make transferring the designs easier. Then the cloths were finely woven with silk, wool, and precious silver and gold thread.

Seven of the tapestries arrived in Rome in 1519 and were hung in the Sistine Chapel to celebrate Holy Mass on Dec. 26, 1519, St. Stephens Day. By 1521, all 12 tapestries had arrived at the Vatican. Raphael may have seen only these first seven tapestries hung in the chapel, as he died suddenly in 1520, at the age of 37.



Frieze of the Hours, 15171521. (Governorship SCV-Directorate of Museums)

St. Paul in Prison (Earthquake), 15171521, from Acts of the Apostles 16: 2326.(Governorship SCV-Directorate of Museums)

Raphael: A Man of Great Art and Character

When this noble craftsman died, the art of painting might well have died also, seeing that when he closed his eyes, she was left as it were blind, wrote historian and artist Giorgio Vasari in The Lives of Artists.

For in truth we have from him art, coloring, and invention harmonized and brought to such a pitch of perfection as could scarcely be hoped for; nor may any intellect ever think to surpass him, he added further in the passage.

For Vasari, Raphaels greatness wasnt confined to his art: He was genuinely a good and great man. Vasari believed that Raphael had grace, industry, beauty, modesty, and excellence of character as would have sufficed to efface any vice and that he was so full of gentleness and so overflowing with loving kindness, that it was seen that the very animals, not to speak of men, honored him.

The whole of Rome, it seems, turned out for Raphaels funeral procession to the Vatican for his funeral Mass. The true grandeur of the procession was that immense concourse of friends, of pupils, of artists, of renowned writers, of personages of every rank, who accompanied him, amidst the tears of the whole city; for the grief was general and the Popes Court shared in it, wrote the French biographer Quatremere de Quincy in his 1824 History of Raphael.

And Vasari wrote: Wherefore it may be surely said that those who are the possessors of such rare and numerous gifts as were seen in Raffaello da Urbino are not merely men, but, if it be not a sin to say it, mortal gods; and those who, by means of their works, leave an honorable name written in the archives of fame in this earthly world of ours, can also hope to have to enjoy in heaven a worthy reward for their labors and merits.

Raphael 500

Although the tapestries have now left the Sistine Chapel, they can still be seen behind glass on a rotational basis at the Pinacoteca (art gallery) of the Vatican Museums.

The Sacrifice of Lystra, 15171519, from Acts of the Apostles 14: 1317. (Governorship SCV-Directorate of Museums)

The Death of Ananias, 15171521, from Acts of the Apostles 5: 35. (Governorship SCV-Directorate of Museums)

The Vatican Museums are just one of many world-renowned institutions that are celebrating what some are calling Raphael 500, with exhibitions and events, marking Raphaels brilliance half a millennium after he died. Currently the exhibition Raphael and His Circle is at the National Gallery of Art in Washington. The Acts of the Apostles cartoons in the Raphael Court at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London will reopen in late 2020 after an extensive gallery and display renovation.

The titles of Acts of the Apostles tapestries in this article come predominantly from the titles of Raphaels cartoons in the Royal Collection Trust.
Grants to fund expanded road patrol services, drug court operations and long-term care space -- totaling up to $449,465 -- will go before the Midland County Board of Commissioners during its next regular meeting on Tuesday, March 3.

On Feb. 11, the trustees of the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation awarded a grant in the amount of $350,000 to Pinecrest Farms, a long-term care facility located at 413 N. Homer Road, and its goal to build an 1,800 square-foot addition to the existing facility, according to a letter to the county board from foundation president and trustee Ruth Alden Doan.
London: A lawyer for Julian Assange on Tuesday accused the United States of "boldly and blatantly" misstating facts about the Wikileaks founder's conduct, on the second day of his extradition hearing in Britain.

Another lawyer complained that the WikiLeaks founder was handcuffed 11 times, stripped naked twice and had court papers taken away on the first day of the hearing.

Assange faces charges under the US Espionage Act for the 2010 release of a trove of secret files detailing aspects of US military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Washington claims the 48-year-old Australian helped intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to steal the documents before recklessly exposing confidential sources around the world.

But defence lawyer Mark Summers argued much of the 18-charge US indictment Assange will face if extradited was "provably wrong", adding elements were "lies, lies and more lies".

"It's difficult to conceive of a clearer example of an extradition request that boldly and blatantly misstates the facts as they are known to be to the US government," he told a packed courtroom in southeast London. "You will have to determine in due course whether it is fair, accurate and proper," Summers told the judge.

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 to stand trial.

The extradition hearing at Woolwich Crown Court, next to the high-security Belmarsh prison where he is being held, is expected to last five days before reconvening in May.

Assange, wearing a grey blazer and a sweater over a collared shirt in court, listened impassively Tuesday as dozens of protesters rallied for a second day outside.

WikiLeaks initially worked with newspapers to publish details from the leaked State Department and Pentagon files, which caused a sensation and outrage in Washington.

Summers said the partnership with media outlets had led to a rigorous redaction process that included liaising with US officials to ensure sources names were not revealed.

"That process involved the US government and state department feeding suggested redactions to the media," he added.

But Summers said a 2011 book by a journalist from The Guardian revealed the password needed to access the database of unredacted source names and ensured the cache eventually found its way online.

He told the court Assange had made a phone call to the White House alerting US officials of the imminent release on various websites, allegedly warning: "Unless you do something, then people's lives are put at risk." "The notion that Mr Assange deliberately put lives at risk by dumping an unredacted database is knowingly inaccurate," Summers said.

The Guardian later said in a statement that "it is entirely wrong" to say the 2011 book led to the publication of unredacted US government files.

"The book contained a password which the authors had been told by Julian Assange was temporary and would expire and be deleted in a matter of hours," it said.

"The book also contained no details about the whereabouts of the files." On Monday James Lewis, a lawyer for the US, accused Assange of risking the lives of intelligence sources by publishing classified documents.

"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.

Meanwhile, Attorney Edward Fitzgerald told a judge that the treatment of Assange at London's Belmarsh Prison could be a contempt of this court. The extradition hearing opened on Monday.

District Judge Vanessa Baraitser, who is hearing the case, said she had no power to act unless Assange became unable to participate in the proceedings, which are expected to last several months. "If it comes to that, please let me know, the judge said.
Melania Trump stood in front of the Taj Mahal, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a symbol of devotion to his wife, Mumtaz, and watched her open-mouthed husband bellow to photographers.

Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty

Her high-necked, ivory jumpsuit matched the exterior of the famed marble mausoleum (CNNs Kate Bennett identified the one piece as made by Trumps stylist, Herve Pierre). It came with a moss green sash made of vintage Indian textile that slightly clashed with her husbands canary yellow tie.

Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty

Still, the First Ladyknown for looking absolutely miserable when out with her husbandappeared happy, or at least flashed a few more step-and-repeat smiles than normal. One tabloid described the pair as loved-up, which is as big of a stretch as the notion that burger-loving Trump enjoyed his meatless Monday in India. Still, the Trumps were able to hold hands for a while, and they stood close while watching a flock of birds fly away, like two characters from a gothic poem.

Trump Taj Mahal Slashed Security. Then the Murders Started.

Ivanka, too, arrived with Jared Kushner in tow, though she kicked her husband out of her own picture. In a poppy-patterned turquoise dress, which matched the reflection pool she stood in front of, Ivanka mugged with her vacant-eyed but determined smile.

If you have any doubts about any future political aspirations for this presidential adviser, then (take a deep breath and) look at her Taj Mahal photo op. Despite all those "Unwanted Ivanka" detractors, just like the building itself, she endures. In Ivankas words, such resilience is awe inspiring. Others might call her seemingly ceaseless, free vacations (thinly) disguised as diplomacy, a horror scenario.

The Taj Mahal was completed after ten years of construction in 1653, outlasting threats from the Japanese Air Force in World War II and Pakistans bomber pilots in the late '60s. But the historic site, frequently referenced as a Wonder of the World, has succumbed to one thing: the rich and powerful using it as a backdrop to make coded statements to the world.

Story continues

The tradition began in earnest with the 1992 image of Princess Diana on a marble bench, her body a lithe strip in a cherry red blazer, nearly dwarfed compared to the gargantuan building behind her. She went to the site alone, without her husband Prince Charles, implying a fissure in their not-so-storybook romance.

But Diana was not the first celebrity photo op at the Taj Mahal. In 1962, Jackie Kennedy took a solo trip to India and Pakistan, at a time when First Ladies did not often dabble in foreign diplomacy. For her pilgrimage to the spot, she wore a preppy blue and green sheath, projecting the Camelot-eras sunny confidence.

Four years later, George Harrison snapped a selfie in front of the site, looking very anti-Kennedy in his counterculture duds: an unbuttoned cotton shirt and dark sunglasses.

Since then, plenty of other young and famous men have come to the mausoleum in search of themselves, or at least a performative version of it.

In 2015, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said the Taj Mahal was an example of what people can buildand what love can motivate us to build, using the elegant language of a good copywriter to plug his company after paying respects. That same year, Leonardo DiCaprio visited too, while in the country working on a climate change documentary. It was a secret trip; DiCaprio asked tourists not to take pictures, because he was working.

In 1995, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton also sat on one of the Taj Mahals benches for photographers, sitting close and smiling, visual code for girl power. Five years after that, the first daughter would return with her father, Bill.

Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty

In wide-angle snapshots of Donald and Melania strolling in front of the Taj Mahal, the yuge buildings scope leaves the pair looking tiny, nearly as tall as the shrubs which line the monuments grassy aisles. Trump, whos got a thing for screaming about his own bigness, might not appreciate how tiny he looks.

But for a man who views the presidency as just another prize to show off that hes won, the Taj Mahal visit was a success. The man whose legacy was once a knockoff-named casino now has got his photo in front of the real thing, joining the star-studded ranks of those who came before him. And as weve seen from this optics-obsessed administration so many times before, the facade is all that matters.

Samantha Bee Explains How Ivanka Trump Made Her Grow Up

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Bernie Sanders has offered specifics on how he intends to raise $40 TRILLION for his social programs like the Green New Deal and canceling student debt, pulling out papers filled with policy proposals during a town hall in South Carolina.

Sanders, the senator from Vermont, took out several documents from his jacket pocket and handed them to town hall moderator Chris Cuomo of CNN after he was asked by a voter how he planned to pay for his spending plans.

Here is what I want to do, Im going to give this to you, Sanders said as he pulled out a number of sheets of paper.

I thought that might come up, this is a list that will be on our website tonight of how we pay for every program that we have developed, the senator said, prompting some loud cheers from his supporters.

Throughout the campaign, Sanders has been resistant to providing details on how his administration would plan to pay for ambitious policy goals like universal health care. During an interview which aired on CBS News' 60 Minutes on Sunday, Sanders declined to get into specifics of how he intended to pay for his programs, saying: 'I can't rattle off to you ever nickel and every dime.'

But in the CNN town hall, he presented an ambitious spending plan, which included $16.3 trillion for the Green New Deal, and $2.5 trillion on housing for all.

He also detailed how he would raise $16.4 trillion for Medicare for All - even though some have suggested it could cost twice that amount.

Cuomo pressed Sanders on the topic, saying: The criticism here is, there is a lot of detail in here, you can look for it yourselves on the website, but it is not matching the price tag that some put at about $30 trillion for the Medicare for All transition.

BERNIE SANDERS BROUGHT THE RECEIPTS ON HOW TO PAY FOR #MEDICAREFORALL AND HANDED THEM TO CHRIS CUOMO!!! THE TEENS LOVED IT!! #CNNTownHall pic.twitter.com/ecwTgztJEs  People for Bernie (@People4Bernie) February 25, 2020

Senator Bernie Sanders holds up a sheet of paper during a town hall event in Charleston, South Carolina, on Monday

The senator from Vermont pulled out the proposals and handed them to moderator Chris Cuomo when asked how he intends to pay for his ambitious social programs

Cuomo tells Sanders: You get about halfway there. The question becomes how do you get the rest of the way?

Sanders replied that while his plan does include a tax increase, he claims it would save Americans money since they would not have to shoulder the other costs associated with private health insurance.

No more premiums for the worker or the employer, no more out of pocket expenses, no more deductibles, nor more out-of-pocket expenses and because were taking on the greed of the pharmaceutical companies, no one pays more than $200 a year for prescription drugs, Sanders said.

The point was just the math on how much the numbers added up to in the proposal, Cuomo said.

He then gestured to the audience and commented: But this is something for you guys to decide.

How Bernie says he will pay for his agenda Green New Deal Sanders' Green New Deal is set to cost a whopping $16.3 trillion. He says this will be paid for by: Making the fossil fuel industry pay for pollution, through litigation, fees, and taxes ($3.1 trillion)

Wholesale of energy produced by the regional Power Marketing Administrations ($6.4 trillion)

Reducing defense spending ($1.2 trillion)

Income tax revenue from 20million 'new jobs' which he claims will be created by the Green New Deal ($2.3 trillion)

Reducing the need for federal and state safety net spending because of those new jobs ($1.3 trillion)

Making large corporations pay more taxes ($2 trillion) Medicare for All Sanders does not put an exact cost on Medicare for all, but offers a number of ways he intends to raise money to fund it, totaling $16.4 trillion. Among his ideas are: A 4 percent income-based premium paid by employees, exempting the first $29,000 in income for a family of four ($4trillion)

Imposing a 7.5 percent income-based premium paid by employers, exempting the first $1 million in payroll ($5.2 trillion)

Eliminating health tax expenditures ($3 trillion)

Replacing the cap on the state and local tax deduction with an overall dollar cap of $50,000 for a married couple (($400 billion)

Taxing capital gains at the same rates as income from wages ($2.5 trillion)

Returning the estate tax exemption to the 2009 level of $3.5 million, and closing loopholes ($336 billion)

Enacting corporate tax reform ($1 trillion - plus another $2 trillion for the Green New Deal) College for all and canceling student debt Sanders estimates it will cost $2.2 trillion to make public colleges and universities tuition-free and to cancel student debt. He says this will be raised by a tax on Wall Street speculation which will raise $2.4 trillion . Expanding Social Security Sanders says a bill to increase Social Security benefits will paid for by making the wealthiest Americans pay the same rate as working families Housing for All A proposal to guarantee housing for all and eliminate homelessness will cost $2.5 trillion over ten years, paid for by a wealth tax on the top one-tenth of one percent which he says will raise $4.35 trillion. Universal Childcare/Pre-K Sanders says guaranteed universal childcare and pre-school to every family in America who needs it will cost $1.5 trillion. He says it will be paid for by the above wealth tax. Eliminating Medical Debt A plan to eliminate all of the $81 billion in past due medical debt held by 79 million Americans is to be paid for by establishing an income inequality tax on large corporations which pay CEOs 50 times more than average workers. SOURCE: berniesanders.com Advertisement

Sanders took questions from an audience of prospective voters in Charleston, South Carolina, on the eve of another Democratic debate on Tuesday.

The crucial South Carolina primary, which is viewed as Joe Bidens last chance to slow Sanders momentum after the Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada results, is scheduled for Saturday.

During the town hall on Monday, Sanders campaign revealed the policy proposals on his web site.

The plan put forth by Sanders includes a modest tax on Wall Street speculation which he says will raise an estimated $2.4trillion over ten years.

That money would then be used to make all public colleges, universities and trade schools tuition-free...and cancel all student debt over the next decade.

Sanders is also proposing a wealth tax on the top one-tenth of one per cent, which he says would raise $4.35trillion.

Sanders declined to provide specifics on how he intends to pay for programs like Medicare for All on 60 Minutes on Sunday

The senator from Vermont says that those taxes would then be used to subsidize public housing and eliminate homelessness over 10 years.

Sanders also wants to impose a wealth tax on the top 0.1 per cent, which he claims will raise more than $4trillion that is to be used to fund universal childcare and preschool to every family in America.

The senator is also proposing an income inequality tax on large corporations that pay CEOs at least 50 times more than average workers that would wipe out $81billion in past-due medical debt.

Sanders, who is an Independent from Vermont, speaks to voters in Charleston on Monday

Sanders also claims that a Green New Deal would create 20 million new jobs that would generate $2.3trillion in new income tax revenues.

By enacting a Green New Deal and averting climate catastrophe we will save: $2.9trillion over 10 years, $21trillion over 30 years and $70.4trillion over 80 years, according to the campaign web site.

Sanders also wants to raise $3.085trillion by forcing the fossil fuel industry to pay for their pollution, through litigation, fees, and taxes, and eliminating federal fossil fuel subsidies.

As to how Sanders plans to pay for Medicare for All, which some estimates peg will cost $32trillion, the candidate claims that he has proposed a menu of financing options that would more than pay for the program.

Sanders proposal would be paid for by creating a 4 per cent income-based premium paid by employees, exempting the first $29,000 in income for a family of four.

He also proposes imposing a 7.5 per cent income-based premium paid by employers, exempting the first $1million in payroll to protect small businesses.

Sanders also calls for getting rid of health tax expenditures, which would no longer be needed under Medicare for All and raising the top marginal income tax rate to 52 per cent on income over $10million.

The senator also calls for a $1.215trillion reduction in defense spending, which would come about by scaling back military operations on protecting the global oil supply.
[February 25, 2020] OpsRamp Introduces AI-Driven Suggestions for Greater Transparency and Faster Incident Remediation

SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OpsRamp , a modern SaaS platform for hybrid infrastructure discovery, monitoring, management, and automation, today announced OpsQ Recommend Mode, an industry-leading capability for first-response and incident remediation. OpsQ Recommend Mode lets digital operations teams use predictive analytics to reduce mean-time-to-resolution (MTTR). Other artificial intelligence for IT operations (AIOps) innovations in the release include visualization of alert similarity patterns and new alert stats widgets to provide transparency into machine learning-driven decisions.

The OpsRamp Winter 2020 Release also introduces 19 new cloud monitoring integrations for Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), along with dynamic topology maps for Azure and GCP. Highlights of the Winter 2020 Release include: AIOps: OpsQ is OpsRamp's intelligent event management, alert correlation, and remediation engine. New AIOps capabilities help IT operations teams ingest, analyze, and extract comprehensive insights for real-time event and incident management: OpsQ Recommend Mode. The Winter 2020 Release introduces the OpsQ Bot and a new Recommend Mode for alert escalation policies so that IT teams can drive faster incident response with auto-suggested actions. OpsQ Recommend Mode lets IT teams stay in control by using explainable and transparent analytical recommendations for first-response and incident creation.

The Winter 2020 Release introduces the OpsQ Bot and a new Recommend Mode for alert escalation policies so that IT teams can drive faster incident response with auto-suggested actions. OpsQ Recommend Mode lets IT teams stay in control by using explainable and transparent analytical recommendations for first-response and incident creation. Visualization of Alert Seasonality Patterns. Many alerts in IT environments recur at a predictable frequency. OpsRamp OpsQ can learn such seasonality patterns and automatically suppress these recurring alerts. With this release, IT teams can visualize seasonality patterns that OpsQ has learned. This visibility helps IT teams understand the auto-suppress decisions that OpsQmakes and trace recurring alert patterns to underlying IT activity.

Many alerts in IT environments recur at a predictable frequency. OpsRamp OpsQ can learn such seasonality patterns and automatically suppress these recurring alerts. With this release, IT teams can visualize seasonality patterns that OpsQ has learned. This visibility helps IT teams understand the auto-suppress decisions that OpsQmakes and trace recurring alert patterns to underlying IT activity. Alert Stats Widget. The Alert Stats widget shows the total number of raw events, correlated alerts, inference alerts, auto-ticketed alerts, and auto-suppressed alerts handled by the OpsQ event management engine. This widget shows how OpsRamp OpsQ reduces event volume at each stage so that IT teams can build more confidence in machine learning-based techniques for alert optimization.



Multi-Cloud Monitoring and Management: OpsRamp currently offers 120+ integrations across leading cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS ), Microsoft Azure , and Google Cloud Platform (GCP ). The OpsRamp Winter 2020 Release drives full-stack visibility for multi-cloud workloads with 19 new cloud monitoring integrations as well as dynamic topology maps for Azure and GCP: Deeper Cloud Monitoring. OpsRamp adds monitoring support for 4 AWS, 7 Azure, and 8 GCP cloud services:

 AWS - Transit Gateway, AppSync, CloudSearch, and DocumentDB

 Azure - Application Insights, Traffic Manager, Virtual Network, Route Table, Virtual Machine Scale Sets, SQL Elastic Pool, and Service Bus

 GCP - Cloud BigTable, Cloud Composer, Cloud Filestore, Firebase, Cloud Memorystore for Redis, Cloud Run, Cloud TPU, and Cloud Tasks

OpsRamp adds monitoring support for 4 AWS, 7 Azure, and 8 GCP cloud services:  AWS - Transit Gateway, AppSync, CloudSearch, and DocumentDB  Azure - Application Insights, Traffic Manager, Virtual Network, Route Table, Virtual Machine Scale Sets, SQL Elastic Pool, and Service Bus  GCP - Cloud BigTable, Cloud Composer, Cloud Filestore, Firebase, Cloud Memorystore for Redis, Cloud Run, Cloud TPU, and Cloud Tasks Cloud Topology Maps. In addition to AWS cloud topology maps, OpsRamp now offers automated topology discovery and mapping for Azure and GCP. IT teams can apply cloud topology maps to analyze the impact of changes in their multi-cloud environments. Cloud topology is also applied in OpsQs event correlation engine to increase the accuracy of machine learning models. Hybrid Discovery and Synthetic Monitoring: The OpsRamp Winter 2020 Release introduces new platform capabilities for agentless discovery and synthetic monitoring:

Agentless Discovery and Monitoring for Windows Servers. While OpsRamp offers agentless discovery for Linux and VMware compute, network, and storage resources, the Winter 2020 Release introduces agentless discovery and monitoring for Windows compute resources. Enterprises with remote offices can manage their distributed Windows infrastructure in a secure and frictionless way with agentless monitoring.

While OpsRamp offers agentless discovery for Linux and VMware compute, network, and storage resources, the Winter 2020 Release introduces agentless discovery and monitoring for Windows compute resources. Enterprises with remote offices can manage their distributed Windows infrastructure in a secure and frictionless way with agentless monitoring. Synthetic Monitoring. OpsRamp's enhanced synthetic monitoring provides deeper insights and analysis for troubleshooting multi-step transactions. Application owners can break down each synthetic transaction and gain visibility into the performance of each step in a web transaction. While machine learning models for IT operations have generated considerable excitement among technology decision-makers, customers would like to understand how a black box model works before ceding control, said Bhanu Singh, SVP of Engineering and DevOps at OpsRamp. The Winter 2020 Release ensures greater transparency of machine learning models for intelligent event and incident management, along with enhanced monitoring capabilities for leading public cloud platforms. To learn more about OpsRamp Winter 2020 Release, visit www.OpsRamp.com/whatsnew . To sign up for the OpsRamp Winter 2020 Release Webinar, visit info.OpsRamp.com/winter-release-2020 . About OpsRamp

OpsRamp makes it easy to control the chaos of modern digital infrastructure. Our cloud platform discovers, monitors, manages, and automates hybrid environments to simplify and modernize IT operations management for the hybrid enterprise. Media contact:

Kevin Wolf

TGPR

(650) 483-1552

[email protected]

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[February 25, 2020] Dr. Jason Adler Joins the Faculty Roster at the 2020 Emergency Medicine Reimbursement & Innovation Summit

The 2020 EM Reimbursement and Innovation Summit will take place on February 27-28, 2020, at the Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center (EMLRC) in Orlando, FL. Dr. Jason Adler, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, will join this year's faculty to discuss CMS Proposed Changes and Potential Impacts to Emergency Medicine. As part of this lecture, Dr. Adler will share details about the CMS rule-making process - including past and current steps taken by CMS to alter the regulatory environment for EM physicians. This lecture will also dive into the CMS MIPS Program, highlighting 2020 changes and its potential evolution in future years. Dr. Adler will also join a panel discussion about the changing market forces in Emergency Medicine. He will be joined by Caral Edelberg, Founder & Chairman of Edelberg & Associates, and Dr. Jennifer Wiler, Founder and Director of the CARE Innovation Center and Executive Vice-Chair / Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. "The business of emergency medicine is quickly evolving. We are now at an inflection point that will require hyper-vigilance to protect our healthcare safety net and not limit patient access to care," explains Dr. Adler. "Organizations like FCEP do a great job of bringing the EM business communiy together, and it's encouraging to see the continued participation and advocacy from their members."



Dr. Adler serves as Vice President of Practice Improvement at Brault Practice Solutions, where he oversees provider education and group practice analytics. Dr. Adler is also a practicing emergency physician at the University of Maryland (UMD) Medical Center, where he serves as Director of Compliance and Reimbursement. 2020 EM Reimbursement & Innovation Summit

The Reimbursement & Innovation Summit is hosted annually by the Florida College of Emergency Physicians. It is designed to focus on the business of emergency medicine - with an emphasis on practice models, coordination of care, government regulations, and emerging technologies. Learn more at https://fcep.org/em-summit/. Brault Practice Solutions For more than 25 years, Brault has been a trusted partner for Revenue Cycle and Practice Management services - with practice solutions designed for emergency medicine, hospitalist services, observation units, and urgent care. The organization is led by a team of board-certified emergency physicians and subject matter experts in the areas of physician reimbursement, provider education, practice analytics, and operations management. Learn more at www.Brault.us. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005947/en/

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A police officer was caught on camera assaulting employees of a toll booth on a state highway in Rajasthans Karauli district on Sunday.

The injured staff said police did not register a complaint, a charge that police denied.

Footage from a closed-circuit television or CCTV at the Felipura toll plaza on the Karauli-Hindaun City state mega highway shows some people assaulting the employees on Sunday evening. The video of the incident is being widely shared on social media.

The toll staff said additional superintendent of police (ASP), Parmal Gurjar, posted at the police training school in Bharatpur, assaulted them when they asked him to pay the toll. He was not wearing his uniform, they added.

When I requested them to pay the toll, a man came out of the vehicle and said that he was additional SP. I asked for his identity card because he was in civil clothes but he and others brought lathis from the SUV and attacked us. They even ransacked the property, Govind Singh, one of the staff who got injured, said.

The contractor of the toll plaza, Laxman Singh, said the police officer thrashed the toll operator and other employees.

With the CCTV footage, we went to the police station to register a complaint but Sadar police station [in Karauli] SHO told us to not file a case because it was against a police officer, he said.

Karaulis superintendent of police Anil Beniwal said denied the allegation.

We will register a complaint if the victims approach us, he said.

ASP Gurjar did not take calls or reply to text messages. The story will be updated when he responds.

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A full-scale communal riot, Delhis worst in at least three decades, broke out on Tuesday, with clashes between Hindu and Muslim groups in several neighbourhoods in North-east Delhi leaving at least 13 dead (since Monday) and over 250 injured even as police and paramilitary forces struggled to restore peace.

What started off as clashes between pro- and anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act groups over the weekend further degenerated into communal violence on Tuesday  the signs were already there on Monday  with rioters from both communities, armed with guns, swords, sticks, and stones, running amok on the streets.

As concerns mounted over the clashes, the government repatriated 1985 batch Indian Police Service officer SN Shrivastava from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to the Delhi Police, and posted him as the special commissioner of police  law and order. He is likely to succeed Delhi Police commissioner Amulya Patnaik.

Also read: In midnight intervention, NSA Ajit Doval reviews situation in north-east Delhi

Hours before, home minister Amit Shah  Delhi Police report to the Union home ministry  held a meeting early Tuesday afternoon, attended by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, home secretary Ajay Bhalla, Intelligence Bureau director Arvind Kumar, Delhi Police commissioner Patnaik, Congress leader Subhash Malhotra and Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Manoj Tiwari to assess the situation . The riots coincided with US President Donald Trumps visit to the Capital, but they didnt disrupt it.

After the meeting, Kejriwal said all political parties will ensure that normalcy returns to the city. Everyone wants that the violence be stopped, he said, striking an amicable tone in the wake of a political blame game over the clashes. It was also decided at the meeting that peace committees should be reactivated in all localities.

But things went downhill later in the afternoon.

The 1.2 km stretch from Jafrabad to Maujpur remained tumultuous just as it was on Monday, but clashes were reported from areas such as Bhajanpura, Kardampuri, Shastri Park, Brahmpuri and Jyoti Nagar, which were largely unaffected a day ago. Rioters damaged two fire tenders in Gokalpuri, and crowds shouting incendiary slogans set on fire a bike in Maujpur.

Also read: Began with roses, ended with bullets: How CAA protests in Delhi unfolded

The warring groups besieged the narrow lanes of Jafrabad and adjacent areas, and came to blows. The rioters also set some of the houses on fire.

Even journalists were not spared and asked to go back. A journalist with JK 24X7 News suffered a bullet wound and two reporters from NDTV were beaten and punched by rioters, according to news agency PTI. The car of two HT correspondents, who were at Bhajanpura, was surrounded by a mob and later chased by two bikers.

Delhi Police spokesperson Mandeep Randhawa said 11 first information reports have been registered and 20-25 persons have been detained in connection with the violence.

The main reason behind violence escalating is that these areas have a mixed population and are too congested. Before police could respond, anti-social elements had incited violence, but we are responding to all incidents, he said, adding that additional forces have been sanctioned by the home ministry.

The police also directed the imposition of Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure that prohibits the assembly of four or more people in violence-hit areas.

Of the 13 people who died in the clashes in the past 24 hours, 12 were civilians, according to doctors at the GTB hospital, where the victims were taken to. Rattan Lal, a 42-year-old police constable, died on Monday after suffering head injuries due to stone-pelting. On Tuesday, Shah wrote to the wife of slain Delhi Police head constable Ratan Lal, expressing his grief and deep condolences.

Five stations on the Delhi Metros Pink Line  Jafrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokalpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar  remained closed for the second consecutive day on Tuesday. Schools were shut. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) postponed Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations on Wednesday in the riot-hit North-east Delhi. CBSE said it took the decision on the request of the Delhi government. The revised date is yet to be announced.

Some of those injured had to be brought to hospitals on bikes and vans after ambulances failed to make their way to the violence-hit areas, news agency PTI quoted the police as saying. Protesters also targeted e-rickshaws and other vehicles.

Separately, Kejriwal held a meeting of legislators and officials of the affected areas, and advocated sealing Delhis borders to stop the entry of outsiders. Parts of North-east Delhi share borders with Uttar Pradesh. Later in the day, the Ghaziabad district administration sealed three routes connecting it to North-east Delhi.

MLAs of the border areas have said that people are coming from outside. There is a need to seal the borders and make preventive arrests, Keriwal said, while also appealing for peace.

As tension gripped the city, the Supreme Court agreed to hear on Wednesday an application filed by former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah and others seeking the lodging of first information reports (FIRs) over the violence.

Vikram Singh, former Uttar Pradesh director general of police, said the recent violence in Delhi was the worst since the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. People are dying. I have never seen so much violence. As a police officer, one has to take hard decisions. You are not there for a popularity contest. There is no substitute to firmness, he said.

North-east Delhi has been tense since Saturday night, when anti-CAA protesters blocked the Jafrabad Road, which runs underneath the Jafrabad Metro station. On Sunday, the police fired tear gas shells and baton-charged protesters who put up the blockade. The situation took a turn for the worse later that day after clashes broke out between pro- and anti-CAA protesters.

Tension spiralled after BJP leader Kapil Mishra visited the area on and also demanded that the police remove the protesters within three days. And on Monday, as the situation spiralled out of control, he appealed for peace. Habibullah, in his application in the top court, accused Mishra of orchestrating the riots.

Whoever, no matter which party he belongs to, whether he is Kapil Mishra or anyone else, who gave speeches to provoke people, action should be taken against them, Gautam Gambhir, East Delhis BJP parliamentarian, said on Tuesday.

Late at night, women protesters at Jafrabad announced temporarily shifting their anti-CAA stir to Seelampur to ensure their safety and security in the wake of the clashes. We will restore the sit-in once the situation is under control, said a protester, requesting anonymity.
DUBLIN, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Von Willebrand Disease (VWD) Epidemiology Forecast - 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Von Willebrand disease is the most common inherited bleeding disorder in the United States, affecting as many as 1 in every 1000 individuals. Von Willebrand disease is often compared to hemophilia, but it is a different condition and has a different pattern of bleeding. It affects both boys and girls equally (while hemophilia mainly affects boys). A parent with VWD has a 50% chance of passing the gene to his or her child.



This forecasting model has defined the diagnosed prevalent population of Von Willebrand Disease in children and adults. In the US population, people belonging to the latter half of the first decade and the early first half of the second-decade life (i.e., 0-18 years) reported higher diagnosed prevalence than that of people belonging to other age groups. Whereas, in the German population, people belonging to the age group of 19-44 years reported higher diagnosed prevalence than that of people belonging to other age groups.



The disease epidemiology covered in the report provides historical as well as forecasted epidemiology in the 7MM covering United States, EU5 countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and United Kingdom) and Japan from 2017 to 2028.



Key Report Insights:

The report covers a descriptive overview of the Von Willebrand disease (VWD) Infections, explaining its causes, risk factors, pathophysiology, and diagnosis.

Comprehensive insight has been provided into the epidemiology Von Willebrand disease (VWD) in the 7MM countries covering the United States , EU5 ( Germany , France , Italy , Spain , and the United Kingdom ), and Japan .

, EU5 ( , , , , and the ), and . Assesses growth opportunities in 7MM countries with respect to the patient population.

Key Report Benefits:

10-Year Forecast

7MM Coverage

Epidemiology Segmentation by Total diagnosed cases

Gender-specific diagnosed prevalent cases

Type-specific diagnosed prevalent cases

Age-specific diagnosed prevalent cases

Key Topics Covered:



1. Key Insights



2. Von Willebrand Disease (VWD): Patient Overview at a Glance

2.1. Total Patient Share (%) Distribution of VWD in 2017

2.2. Total Patient Share (%) Distribution of VWD in 2028



3. Disease Background and Overview: Von Willebrand Disease (VWD)

3.1. Introduction

3.2. Symptoms of Von Willebrand disease

3.3. Classification of Von Willebrand disease

3.4. Causes of Von Willebrand disease (VWD)

3.5. Clinical Manifestations of Von Willebrand disease (VWD)

3.6. Genetic Basis of Von Willebrand disease

3.7. Pathophysiology of Von Willebrand disease (VWD)

3.8. Diagnosis of Von Willebrand disease

3.9. Diagnostic Guidelines of Von Willebrand disease (VWD)



4. Epidemiology and Patient Population

4.1. Key Findings

4.2. 7MM Total Diagnosed Prevalent Patient Population of von Willebrand Disease



5. Country Wise-Epidemiology of von Willebrand Disease

5.1. United States

5.2. EU5 Countries

5.3. Japan



6. Appendix



7. Capabilities



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/rb8yap

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

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Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

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Egypt's ousted president Hosni Mubarak has died at the age of 91, nine years after he was removed from power during the Arab Spring.

Mubarak, the autocratic face of stability in the Middle East for nearly 30 years, died at a hospital in Cairo this morning after undergoing treatment in intensive care following surgery.

The former air force officer was removed from power in 2011 by the military after 18-day mass protests that saw thousands flood into the capital's Tahrir Square and 900 Egyptians killed in a violent crackdown.

He was arrested two months later and spent several years in prison and military hospitals as he stood trial for the deaths of anti-government protesters.

Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison for conspiring to murder 239 demonstrators during the 18-day revolt, but was freed in 2017 after being cleared of the most serious charges against him.

Mubarak underwent surgery in late January and was photographed with his grandson,Omar Alaa Mubarak, as he recovered

Hosni Mubarak has died, Egypt's state TV has announced. He is pictured above at the presidential palace in Cairo in 2015

Mubarak's health had been failing in recently following surgery, his son said. He was held in custody for six years following his removal from power. (Pictured in court in 2015)

Hosni Mubarak with Princess Diana during her royal tour of Egypt in 1992

The former president underwent surgery on January 23 and was photographed with his grandson, Omar Alaa Mubarak, as he recovered. Over the weekend, his wealthy businessman son, Alaa, revealed the former president was in an intensive care.

State TV said only that he had health complications but offered no other details.

Egypt's armed forces today described him as a 'war hero' and he is set to be given a military funeral.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi offered condolences and praised Mubarak's service during the 1973 war with Israel, when he commanded the air force.

'The Presidency mourns with great sorrow the former President of the Republic, Mr. Mohammed Hosni Mubarak,' he said in a statement.

It referred to Mubarak as 'one of the leaders and heroes of the glorious October war, as he assumed command of the Air Force during the war that restored dignity and pride to the Arab nation.'

Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas hailed him as a supporter of the Palestinian cause and mourned the death 'with great sorrow'.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed 'deep sorrow' over Mubarak's death. 'President Mubarak, a personal friend of mine, was a leader who guided his people to peace and security, to peace with Israel,' Netanyahu said.

Mubarak was a stalwart U.S. ally, a bulwark against Islamic militancy and guardian of Egypt's peace with Israel.

But to the hundreds of thousands of young Egyptians who rallied for 18 days of unprecedented street protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square and elsewhere in 2011, Mubarak was a latter-day pharaoh and a symbol of autocratic misrule.

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher shakes hands with Hosni Mubarak inside 10 Downing Street, London, on March 14 1985

Former US President George W Bush with Mubarak in 2008 (left) and former French president Nicholas Sarkozy with the Egyptian ruler in 2009 (right)

Hosni Mubarak, left, as vice president sitting with president Anwar Sadat in October 1981

His overthrow, however, plunged the country into years of chaos and uncertainty, and set up a power struggle between the military and the Muslim Brotherhood group that he had long outlawed.

Barely two years after his ouster, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi led the military overthrow of Egypt's first freely elected president and rolled back freedoms gained in the 2011 uprising.

Born in May 1928, Mubarak was vice president on October 14, 1981, when his mentor, President Anwar Sadat, was assassinated by Islamic extremists while reviewing a military parade.

Seated next to Sadat, Mubarak escaped with a minor hand injury as gunmen sprayed the reviewing stand with bullets.

Eight days later, the brawny former air force commander was sworn in as president, promising continuity and order.

Over the next three decades, as the region was convulsed by one crisis after another, Mubarak was seen as a steady hand and a reliable U.S. partner against Islamic extremism.

He sent troops as part of the U.S.-led coalition in the 1990-1991 Gulf war and contributed to efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Within Egypt he presided over slow but steady economic growth and largely kept the country out of armed conflicts after decades of war with Israel.

Hosni Mubarak's sons Gamal, left, and Alaa, right, facing trial in Cairo in July 2012

(From left to right) Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, his half brother King Abdullah II of Jordan, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Tunisian President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali in 2004

Unlike his predecessors, both Sadat and Egypt's first modern president, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Mubarak pursued no grand ideology beyond stability and economic development.

Over the years, Mubarak tinkered with reform but shunned major change, presenting himself as Egypt's sole protection against Islamic militancy and sectarian division.

The U.S., particularly under President George W. Bush, pressed for democratic reforms but was wary of alienating a key ally.

The failure to fulfill repeated promises of change steadily deepened public despair. Those seeking a democratic future were dismayed to see Mubarak making apparent moves to groom his businessman son, Gamal Mubarak, for a dynastic succession.

Mubarak smiles for the cameras as he shakes hands with former French prime minister Jacques Chirac at the official opening of the Cairo underground in September 1987

Who was Hosni Mubarak?: Strongman president of Egypt who was swept from power by the Arab Spring Hosni Mubarak attending a meeting in Ankara, Turkey, in March 2007 Hosni Mubarak ruled Egypt for 30 years until he was swept from power when thousands poured onto the streets in protest during the Arab Spring. Few expected the little-known vice president to last long following the assassination of Anwar Sadat on October 6, 1981. He had been sitting next to Sadat when the president was gunned down by Islamist militants, outraged by his decision to sign a peace deal with Israel. But Mubarak remained in office, dodged six assassination attempts, and held the reigns of power until he lost the support of Egypt's military in 2011. After taking power he took care to maintain Sadat's unpopular peace deal with Israel and ruled through absolute power, keeping the country under emergency law throughout his presidency. He insisted on his strongman approach, which earned him the nickname the 'Last Pharaoh', as a way to combat terrorists in Egypt. Hosni Mubarak and his Welsh-Egyptian wife meet Pope John Paul II at the private library in the Apostolic Palace in February 2001 Mubarak pictured at an airport in London after visiting prime minister Thatcher He became a staunch ally of the west, even talking about introducing democracy, and appeared to be very much in their club. He was invited to summits across the world and was pictured smiling and shaking hands with world leaders including US president George W Bush, British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and French president Nicholas Sarkozy. He even hosted royal visits, and is pictured sitting with Princess Diana during her royal tour of the country in 1992. The former president faced several attempts on his life. In 1995 Mubarak had just arrived in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa when his limousine was hit by a hail of machine gun fire. Mubarak returned to the airport and calmly gave a press conference, describing the attack. 'Suddenly I found a blue van blocking the road and somebody jumped to the ground. A machine gun started I realized there were bullets coming at our car,' he said. Mubarak engaged in discussion with US president Bill CLinton in Washington in 1996 Mubarak holding a press conference in Istanbul, Turkey, in February 2011 He governed unopposed, winning four elections, and jailed opponents from the Muslim Brotherhood and more liberal groups. The economy enjoyed a period of growth under his rule and Egypt's tourism flourished. During his fourth election in 2005, Mubarak decided to allow opposition parties to campaign against him, following pressure from American allies. Mubarak's government faced huge protests during the Arab Spring in which dozens of demonstrators had died at the hands of the president's security forces. Upon stepping down as President, he declared he would never leave the country. 'This dear nation... is where I lived; I fought for it and defended its soil, sovereignty and interests. On its soil I will die. History will judge me like it did others,' he said. Mubarak sits in a wheelchair as he stands trial in September 2013 for the killing of 900 anti-government protesters The fallen president was arrested days later and would go on to stand trial for the murder of 900 innocent civilians during the 2011 uprising. He was briefly jailed for the murder before being released in November 2014 after the case was thrown out by a judge. In May 2015, at the age of 87, he was eventually sentenced to three years in prison and fined after being found guilty of corruption. Mubarak was married to Suzanne Thabet, a Welsh Egyptian graduate from Cairo University, whom he met when she was 16. They had two sons - Alaa and Gamal- two grandsons and a granddaughter. Advertisement

Inspired by the first Arab Spring revolt in Tunisia, protesters took to the streets in January 2011. They harnessed the power of social media to muster tumultuous throngs, unleashing popular anger over the graft and brutality that shadowed Mubarak's rule.

In the end, with millions massed in Tahrir Square and other city centers, and even marching to the doorstep of Mubarak's palace, the military announced his resignation on February 11, 2011. The generals took power, hoping to preserve what they could of the system he had led.

Though Tunisia's president fell before him, the ouster of Mubarak was a watershed moment in the history of the region, and gave impetus to uprisings in Libya, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain.

Over the next two years Egypt held a referendum on an amended constitution, as well as parliamentary and presidential elections. Turnout was high as enthusiastic Egyptians got their first taste of democracy.

But the Muslim Brotherhood emerged victorious again and again, raising fears among their opponents that the country would be transformed into an Islamic state.

The struggle came to a head in the summer of 2013, when the military removed President Mohammed Morsi, a senior Brotherhood figure, from power amid mass protests against his divisive rule.

A protester holding up a sign against Mubarak in Cairo, January 2011

Supporters of former President Mubarak pictured protesting outside Tora prison in 2013

The military assumed power and launched a massive crackdown on dissent. El-Sissi was elected president the following year. Rights groups and activists say his rule has proved far more oppressive than Mubarak's.

Mubarak was jailed shortly after his overthrow and later relocated to a military hospital as he went on trial in an array of cases. The televised images of Mubarak on a stretcher in a defendant's cage were in sharp contrast to the portraits of the leader that had lined major public streets during his long rule.

For the man who was long untouchable - even a word of criticism against him in the media was forbidden for much of his rule - prison was a shock. When he was flown from the court to Torah Prison in Cairo in 2011, he cried in protest and refused to get out of the helicopter.

In June 2012, Mubarak and his security chief were sentenced to life in prison for failing to prevent the killing of some 900 protesters during the 18-day uprising. Both appealed the verdict and a higher court later cleared them in 2014.

The following year, Mubarak and his two sons - wealthy businessman Alaa and Mubarak's one-time heir apparent Gamal - were sentenced to three years in prison on corruption charges during a retrial.

The sons were released in 2015 for time served, while Mubarak walked free in 2017. Following his release, he was taken to an apartment in Cairo's Heliopolis district, where he lived until his death.

Mubarak is survived by his wife, Suzanne, his two sons and four grandchildren.
Mantis shrimp (Squilla mantis) don't take kindly to captivity. 'They have a general baseline of being angry', chuckles Kate Feller, currently at the University of Minnesota, USA, recalling how the contrary stomatopods are particularly keen to lash out when exposed to air. 'I had developed a means of holding mantis shrimp with their striking appendages out of water while their gills [arranged beneath the tail] remained submerged for an electrophysiology study I was conducting', recalls Feller. However, when Greg Sutton from the University of Lincoln, UK, wandered past her University of Cambridge (UK) lab bench, he noticed the exposed crustaceans and commented that it would be interesting to measure their hammer blows in air. 'No one had done that', explains Feller. Knowing that the animals launch their ballistic appendages at the speed of a bullet in dense water, it seemed likely that they could even exceed those eye-watering speeds in thinner air. However, when Feller set up Paloma Gonzalez-Bellido's high speed camera to catch the angry animals in the act, she was astonished when she realised that the crustaceans' blows were nowhere near as powerful out of the water as they were in it. They publish their discovery in Journal of Experimental Biology at http://jeb.biologists.org.

'We stimulated them to strike by poking them in the abdomen with a blunt stick. It was like poking them in the tummy, which they hated', she says, adding that the manoeuvre was not without risk. 'I have a pretty epic photo of my bleeding hand over a white sink when one stabbed me during this process', she smiles. And at first glance, the animals' blows looked every bit as punchy as those beneath water. However, when Feller analysed the spring-loaded air-blows, she was puzzled; the manoeuvre was only half as fast: 'The air strikes only averaged about 18 km h?1, which is pretty pitiful even for a slow striker like S. mantis', she says. In fact, when she and Sutton compared the mantis shrimp blows with another spring-loaded manoeuvre - grasshopper leaps - it turned out that the crustaceans were only packing 0.42W of power into their 1.2g hammers, the same as the leaping grasshoppers, even though they are capable of propelling their hammers in water with ten times more power (4W).

Puzzled by the mantis shrimps' lacklustre performance, Feller and Sutton initially wondered if the animals' spring-loaded propulsion mechanism was simply unable to transmit as much power in air as in water. But then, a paper by Sheila Patek's lab was published showing that the crustaceans can fine-tune their blows depending on the context. Feller and Sutton realised that the exposed mantis shrimp were more likely downgrading their blows in the thinner material.

But why were the crustaceans pulling their punches when they could have taken the opportunity to make even more of a mess of Feller's fingers? 'My hypothesis is that this may be related to how mantis shrimp dissipate the excess energy of their strike', she says. Locusts and other leaping insects have energy-absorbing structures at the back of the limb to protect joints from damage, whereas the explosive energy released by submerged mantis shrimps is usually dissipated by their tough opponents and the hard snail shells they target. 'In air, not only are the forces of drag from water absent, but the entire sensory experience is messed up, so maybe - in the absence of a perceived target - the animals don't give it the full pow so they don't blow out their joint', Feller suggests. In other words, the crustaceans' pulled air-punches might simply be a matter of self-preservation.

###

IF REPORTING THIS STORY, PLEASE MENTION JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY AS THE SOURCE AND, IF REPORTING ONLINE, PLEASE CARRY A LINK TO: https://jeb.biologists.org/content/223/4/jeb208678

REFERENCE: Feller, K. D., Sutton, G. P., Gonzalez-Bellido, P. T. (2020). Medium compensation in a spring-actuated system. J. Exp. Biol. 223, jeb208678.

doi:10.1242/jeb.208678

This article is posted on this site to give advance access to other authorised media who may wish to report on this story. Full attribution is required, and if reporting online a link to jeb.biologists.com is also required. The story posted here is COPYRIGHTED. Therefore advance permission is required before any and every reproduction of each article in full. PLEASE CONTACT permissions@biologists.com
WEST YELLOWSTONE  About 200 people attended a weekend vigil for a 12-year-old Montana boy who was beaten to death earlier this month.

James Alex Hurley of West Yellowstone died on Feb. 3 of head injuries, officials said. His grandparents  James Sasser Jr. and Patricia Batts  and his 14-year-old uncle face deliberate homicide charges. They have not entered pleas. Their public defenders, Annie DeWolf and Ryan Peabody, were not immediately available for comment Monday.

Alex had been living with his grandparents for about two years and had been taken out of school in West Yellowstone in September, charging documents said.

Prosecutors said Alex's grandmother and uncle were seen in video not allowing him to use the bathroom, beating him with a paddle and forcing him to remain in a squatting position while he cried in pain. Other evidence indicated he was beaten with a wooden paddle and that his family withheld food from him.

Speakers at Sunday's vigil at Pioneer Park read scripture and poems and expressed their grief, anger and regret over Alex's death, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported.
People should be pragmatic about their holiday bookings because of coronavirus, the Irish Travel Agents Association has urged.

The ITAA is advising travellers and holidaymakers to follow the advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs when travelling overseas.

ITAA president, John Spollen, described it as a fast-moving situation". Its advice to travellers is to speak to their travel agent and get good advice from the experts.

ITAA members are monitoring the situation on behalf of their clients on a day to day, hour to hour basis on what is a fluid situation, said Mr Spollen.

We would ask that travellers ensure they have adequate travel insurance, follow the advice of local authorities on the ground and take all preventative measures as recommended, he said.

Meanwhile, several Irish nationals staying near the hotel at the centre of a Covid-19 outbreak on the Canary island of Tenerife have contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The department and the Irish embassy in Madrid are closely monitoring the situation in Tenerife and are in touch with the local health and tourist authorities.

"A number of Irish nationals staying in the area have been in contact directly with us. We are providing consular advice," the department stated.

About 1,000 tourists staying at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace Hotel, a popular destination for Irish holidaymakers, were placed in quarantine after an Italian doctor staying there tested positive for the coronavirus.

The doctor is from the Lombardy region where Italian authorities are battling an outbreak.

It is Spain's third case of Covid-19 and the second in the Canary Islands.

A German tourist was quarantined earlier this month on the island of La Gomera and a British citizen in the Mediterranean's Balearic Islands.

Both were released after recovering and showing no further symptoms of the illness.

An Irish man who has been living in the Italian region of Lombardy for the past 10 years says he and his family have stocked up and are planning to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Three more people have been confirmed dead in Italy as the coronavirus continues to spread across Europe. The number of confirmed cases in Italy has risen to 322, the vast majority of them in the north of the country.

Since Sunday more than 50,000 residents in 11 towns in northern Italy have been put under quarantine.

Vincent Healy, from Dublin, lives in a village not far from Milan. His village is in a yellow zone but not in the red zone where people have been told that they must stay at home.

He told Newstalk radio: Everyone in the satellite towns is working from home. The banks are allowing staff to do smart work. The government is doing a good job locking things down. It makes sense as the only way to spread the virus is through contact.
LG Chem employees holding rigid-type battery packs at its battery manufacturing line in Ochang, South Korea, Tuesday. Courtesy of LG Chem



By Kim Yoo-chul



Just a few weeks after a U.S. International Trade Commission panel ruled in favor of LG Chem, which had accused its cross-town rival SK Innovation (SKI) of stealing trade secrets, the LG Group's battery affiliate said Tuesday it has won a new battery contract with Lucid Motors.



In a statement, LG Chem said it will supply its batteries to the electric car startup until at least 2023. The statement also said the supply contract was exclusive to LG.



Lucid is making moves in the global electric vehicle market chasing the success of Tesla. Along with Japan's Panasonic, LG Chem is also Tesla's top-tier battery supplier.



Regarding the estimated monetary value of the newly-signed contract, LG Chem spokesman C.S. Song said the two companies agreed not to unveil the specifics of the deal.



With the procurement of LG Chem-manufactured cells, Lucid plans to test the stability of its standard versions of the Air sedan. Whether or not the venture intends to expand the usage of LG Chem products for the more publicized version of the electric car has yet to be revealed.



"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," Lucid Motors CEO and CTO Peter Rawlinson said in a statement.



Its partnership with LG was thanks to Lucid's belief that LG's round-type batteries provide the ideal level of efficiency, with those products optimized to Lucid in terms of energy density, recharge and even discharge rates, according to officials. Actual production will take place at an Arizona-based facility late this year.



Unlike rigid-type battery cells, round-type battery cells are ideally-positioned to manufacture more compact, energy-enriched battery packs, helping car manufacturers and electric vehicle startups to possibly develop premium design-centric vehicles.



Top-tier automakers are busy scrambling to lock in a stable supply of batteries, considered as the core and most expensive part of today's electric vehicles, in order to meet strengthening emissions rules by governments and consumers' growing shift towards an eco-friendly vehicles.



On a related note, the default judgment by the United States International Trade Commission signified SK Innovation could be banned from selling its battery products and other relevant parts in the United States where it is a supplier to Volkswagen and Ford.


More than 75 Purdue University Global graduates will participate in their upcoming commencement virtually, using a headset like this one. (Kaplan Higher Education photo by Chad Skelton) "The graduates will see and hear everything as if they were sitting in the Skirball Cultural Center. When the ceremony begins, they will feel like they are in the procession line marching with the on-site graduates."

While some 400 Purdue University Global graduates take part in commencement ceremonies in-person Thursday (Feb. 27) in Los Angeles, an additional 75-plus are planning to participate virtually, thanks to a first-of-its-kind pilot program.

We are proud to be the first university to offer students who otherwise would not be able to attend the opportunity to share the excitement of graduation in a virtual setting, said Patti Pelletier, director of the learning and leadership community for Purdue Global.

Each of the graduates participating virtually will receive a Purdue Global branded headset to use during the ceremony, as well as a commencement program, tassel and honor cord, if applicable. In Los Angeles, a camera operator will provide 360-degree views  via an Insta360 Pro 2 camera and streamed live on YouTube 360  and the experience will be launched from Purdue Globals internally created conference center, PG Connect. A traditional single-view video feed also will be provided via Facebook Live for anyone to watch.

The graduates will see and hear everything as if they were sitting in the Skirball Cultural Center, Pelletier said. When the ceremony begins, they will feel like they are in the procession line marching with the on-site graduates. They will sit with their fellow graduates and watch everything that is happening around them during the ceremony. The virtual graduates will walk onto the stage, hear their name announced and see their picture displayed before returning to their seat.

Pelletier and other Purdue Global officials worked with George Takahashi, lead visualization scientist for ITaPs Research Computing Envision Center on the Purdue University West Lafayette campus, on their vision for a virtual reality commencement ceremony.

This journey started almost two years ago, and we have enjoyed the learning process and benefited from our collaboration with colleagues at the Envision Center, Pelletier said. Like our graduates, we persisted toward our goal and discovered other benefits our Purdue Global community can build on for the future.

A team of Purdue students researched options to help create the virtual opportunity for their counterparts at Purdue Global.

Our undergraduate and graduate students at the Envision Center are deeply involved in exploring new technologies and the development of interactive visualization and simulation tools for research and learning, Takahashi said. Through our time working with Patti, five of our students explored consumer virtual reality platforms and enterprise 360 video recording and streaming technologies with the objective of providing an accessible immersive graduation experiences to those who would otherwise be unable to attend.

Graduates from Concord Law School and the schools of Business, Technology and Health Sciences will walk during a 3 p.m. PST (6 p.m. EST) ceremony, followed by graduates of the schools of Education, Nursing and Social and Behavioral Sciences at 6 p.m. PST (9 p.m. EST).

We are excited to offer this virtual reality opportunity to our students, and likewise, we are delighted to celebrate the successful joint endeavor between technologists at Purdue West Lafayette and our staff at Purdue Global, said Betty Vandenbosch, Purdue Global chancellor.

Heather Bagshaw, senior graduate program coordinator with Purdue Online, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in communication from Purdue Global. She will participate in the virtual commencement with family and friends so they are able to watch her walk across the stage.

Bagshaw did not attend college straight out of high school and earned an associate degree before going to work on the West Lafayette campus.

I always wanted to go back to school, but didnt want the accumulating debt, Bagshaw said. Working in higher education, I could immediately see the value in continued, life-long learning, and Purdue Global was the obvious choice. I plan to continue my education with Purdue Global and complete a masters program. By the time I graduate with my masters, my daughter will be graduating from high school.

Mike Schlang will participate in the virtual reality graduation from his home in Raynham, Massachusetts, nearly 3,000 miles away from the ceremony. It will give me a sense of accomplishment, he said.

Schlang, who has been teaching American sign language courses at various higher education institutions for nearly 15 years, earned his masters degree in higher education with a concentration in college teaching from Purdue Global.

A masters will open up more doors with respect to landing a potential full-time teaching position, said Schlang, a married father of two children. I have been fortunate to accomplish that goal through Purdue Global because it would have been nearly impossible for me to attend classes when I have mouths to feed and running all over the place with two very active little boys.

Dolan Williams, a graduate of Purdue Globals Concord Law School and a member of the Purdue Alumni Association Board of Directors, will provide the keynote address at both ceremonies.

About Purdue University Global

Purdue University Global is the extreme personalization online university, providing students the competitive edge to advance in their chosen careers. It offers a hyper-tailored path for students to earn an associate, bachelors, masters or doctoral degree, based on their work experience, desired pace, military service, previous college credits and other considerations  no matter where they are in their life journey. Purdue Global serves more than 31,000 students (as of January 2020), most of whom earn their degree online. It also operates several regional locations nationwide. Purdue Global is a nonprofit, public university accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. It is affiliated with Purdue Universitys flagship institution, a highly ranked public research university located in West Lafayette, Indiana. Purdue University also operates two regional campuses in Fort Wayne and Northwest, Indiana, as well as serving close to 6,000 science, engineering and technology students at the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) campus. For more information, please visit PurdueGlobal.edu.

Media Contact: Tom Schott, 765-494-9318, tschott@purdue.edu

Sources: Betty Vandenbosch, bvandenbosch@purdueglobal.edu

Patti Pelletier, ppelletier@purdueglobal.edu

George Takahashi, gtakahas@purdue.edu

Heather Bagshaw

Mike Schlang

Related Release:

Concord Law School graduate to speak at Purdue Global commencement ceremonies
The honoraries in Adweek's Agency of the Year awards were determined by a jury of Adweek editorial staff. In selecting Canvas Worldwide, Adweek also pointed to the agency's challenger-brand mindset and entrepreneurial spirit.

"We are thrilled to be recognized with this honor, which highlights our team's incredible gains in just four years," said Paul Woolmington, CEO of Canvas Worldwide. "I want to thank our clients for their willingness to push outside of their comfort zone, doing what it takes to accomplish truly great work with us. And none of this would be possible without our team's continued focus to help our clients drive business results first and foremost."

In Adweek's announcement article, showcasing the magazine's selection of Canvas Worldwide as the 2020 Breakthrough Agency of the Year, several clients were quoted describing the value that the agency has brought to their business. From HEINEKEN USA to Hyundai Motor America, clients praised Canvas Worldwide for its transparency and inventive thinking.

"This is such a well-deserved honor for Canvas Worldwide," said Angela Zepeda, Chief Marketing Officer at Hyundai Motor America. "Their team has its finger on the pulse of the industry, and it shows when looking at the business results they help us deliver. Together, we are taking calculated risks and finding innovative ways reach audiences with Hyundai brand and product messages."

"We have found Canvas to be a great partner offering the perfect mix of talent and energy, underpinned by an innovative mind-set and a genuine focus on how they can help build our business," said Jonnie Cahill, Chief Marketing Officer at HEINEKEN USA. "In a media landscape that is undergoing material changes almost on a weekly basis, it is great to have a partner who embraces change, thinks about our business, and helps navigate a path forward as a true partner. We are truly delighted for our partner to receive this award."

Other achievements that helped Canvas Worldwide win this honor included two key business wins: CHURCHILL DOWNS INTERACTIVE selected the agency to launch its new online gaming app in the U.S. called BetAmerica. Canvas Worldwide also picked up two McDonald's co-operatives in Q4 of 2019.

Canvas Worldwide's mission is to always be original, surprising, and inspiring by shunning the status quo and embracing fearless creativity. That ethos has positioned the agency to grow drastically in just a few years. Today, Canvas Worldwide boasts a team of 400+ as well as a total "in-house operation." From Strategy to Content to Progressive Programmatic to a transparent Data and Analytics Team, to fully resourced Digital and Tech Operations, nothing is outsourced. Free of the constraints of traditional network agencies, Canvas Worldwide embraces the rapid pace of change in the industry with the belief that future viability means reimagining what's possible.

About Canvas Worldwide:

Canvas Worldwide is an independent media agency that provides innovative marketing solutions for brands looking to challenge conventional thinking and instead make their own bold strokes. Launched in 2015, the agency is dual headquartered in Los Angeles and New York, with regional offices in Chicago, Dallas, Denver and Atlanta. Canvas Worldwide services world-class clients such as Hyundai Motor America, Kia Motors America, United Artists Releasing, Heineken, and more. The agency's culture is built around the idea that in order to achieve anything great, one must always first make yourself uncomfortable.

Press Contact:

Canvas Worldwide

Laura Seldon

(424) 303-4267

[email protected]

SOURCE Canvas Worldwide LLC
25.02.2020 LISTEN

The 5k challenge is a business challenge hunting for the fiercest entrepreneurs in Ghana between the ages of 18 and 35, with a business idea that can be started with Gh 5,000 (Five Thousand Ghana Cedis).

Startups form a major part of the backbone of every countrys economy, and one of the benchmarks of a successful startup is the ability to create maximized results, given the little input. Platinum Africa Solutions Limited (PASL) has created this business challenge in collaboration with Code 57 to scout for the best student entrepreneurs in Ghana who will go through the mill and come out refined and more ready for business.

Successful applicants will be taken through several engaging phases, workshops and mentoring leading to the Grand Finale where three (3) winners will win a Gh5,000 cash investment each to kick-start their dream businesses.

The winning package includes a Gh5,000 cash investment, over Gh 30,000 worth of consulting package, magazine features, publicity, features on various platforms, 6-months free of OZE Premium app., and further financing options.

The challenge will feature a three-member jury and a three-member faculty who will be announced in the next coming weeks. This promises to be an exciting journey for student entrepreneurs in Ghana.

The heat is on and the challenge has been thrown: What business would you start with Gh5,000?

Application for the 5K Challenge is opened and interested applicants can submit an application by clicking the link: http://bit.ly/5K_Challenge until 30th April,2020.

Official Banking Partner: Access Bank Ghana (Women Banking Unit).

Strategic Partners: ICS Africa, ANAs Business Services, City Broadcast Limited, OZE Inc., Entrepreneurs Connect Africa, and Oasis Design Studio.

Media Partners: Avance Media, Oasis Magazine, My Story Magazine, Vibez Alert and TopAfric.

Follow @5kchallenge_gh on Instagram for more updates.
Kildare County Council has co-opted Noel Connolly to replace new Sinn Fein TD, Patricia Ryan.

The new Sinn Fein councillor said he would be paying particular attention to making sure that the council supported those with disabilities.

At a specially convened meeting at Aras Chill Dara on Tuesday, February 25, the council unanimously agreed to the co-option. There was a wide welcome.

Former Sinn Fein member, now non party, Ide Cussen, said the atmosphere at the council when Sinn Fein councillors were elected locally in 2014, was a quite chilly but people have changed in the meantime.

The proposal was made by Fianna Fail's Daragh Fitzpatrick and seconded by Fine Gael's Mark Stafford.

A quorum was required and around 22 of the 40 councillors were present.

SEE ALSO: 20 new speed cameras added to county Kildare roads

Also present were members of Cllr Connolly's family, including his wife, Olive, a nurse working at Cheeverstown, and children, James, Niamh and Jack.

Cllr Connolly has been a member of Sinn Fein for ten years, and like the Deputy Ryan, who he is replacing, has spent quite a bit of time observing council meetings from the public gallery.

SEE ALSO: more Kildare stories

He worked with Argus in retail for 15 years but stepped back after experiencing ill health.

He then took up a role as a charity shop manager with the St Vincent de Paul Society.

He is a member of Ellistown GAA club.

Cllr Connolly and his family live in the Lackagh area, which lies between Monasterevin, Kildare town and Rathangan.

Originally from Dublin, The Ward (between Finglas and Ashbourne), he and his family lived in Portarlington for ten years and have been in Lackagh for ten years.

Opening the short meeting, Mayor Suzanne Doyle, who will serve along with Cllr Connolly in the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District, welcomed everyone and congratulated Deputy Ryan, who was also present.

Proposing Cllr Connolly , welcoming him and his family to the council, and wishing him all the best, Cllr Daragh Fitzpatrick said the new councillor regularly sat in the public gallery.

He also congratulated Deputy Ryan, who, he said, was very easy to work with.

Cllr Mark Stafford said he was delighted to second , who, he said, knew to be a very active member of Sinn Fein and in the community including Ellistown GFC where he trains.

He also wished Deputy Ryan.

Speaking as a councillor after the vote, Cllr Connolly thanked the members and his long suffering wife, Olive, a political widow as well as his patient and understanding children.

Cllr Connolly said that when he lost his job through illness, it gave him a new perspective on life.

He said he would work hard to make sure that the council dealt well with disability issues.

He said there was a lot of talk about change during the general election and the council should ask the people of Kildare what change they want, especially where there was a lower turnout in the election.

Cllrs Vincent Martin, Ivan Keatley, Mark Wall, Joe Neville, Seamie Moore, Fiona McLoughlin Healy and Peggy O'Dwyer added their welcomes.

Chief Executive, Peter Carey, did likewise saying Kildare is a great county but has challenges.
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For five years, Rasha Salama has taken her two children to Dr. Inas Wassef, a pediatrician a few blocks from her home in this blue-collar town across the bay from New York City.

Salama likes the doctor because Wassef speaks her native language  Arabic  and has office hours at convenient times for children.

"She knows my kids, answers the phone, is open on Saturdays and is everything for me," she said.

But UnitedHealthcare is dropping Wassef  and hundreds of other doctors in its central and northern New Jersey Medicaid physician network. The move is forcing thousands of low-income patients such as Salama to forsake longtime physicians.

Across the nation, business and contractual disputes are separating patients from longtime doctors. This often occurs when doctors don't want to accept the rates insurers are willing to pay. It sometimes occurs when insurers' business plans require having a narrower network of doctors  doctors whose practice patterns may be easier to control.

But in this case, the cause of the exclusion goes to even deeper business connections: Wassef and other doctors say the insurer appears to be trying to shift patients to Riverside Medical Group, a 20-office physicians' practice owned by Optum, a sister company of UnitedHealthcare, both of which are subsidiaries of UnitedHealth Group. UnitedHealthcare is essentially forcing patients to transfer to doctors it controls, the doctors allege.

Indeed, several patients said the health plan directed them to Riverside when informing them their doctors were being dropped.

Lawrence Downs, CEO of the Medical Society of New Jersey, said he estimates UnitedHealthcare is trying to remove hundreds of doctors in central and northern New Jersey from its network. That is the same area where Riverside Medical operates, he noted.

"It seems like they are steering patients away from small, community-based doctors to large groups that they own," he said.

Good for profits

That raises questions about whether this type of "vertical consolidation"  the term for a practice occurring across the country  is a strategy that is good for profits but bad for patients.

UnitedHealthcare said the changes are not part of a campaign to get as many patients as possible to the Riverside practice. It points out that it is retaining the community-based doctors, like Wassef, in its networks to treat its Medicare Advantage and commercial plan members.

But, experts say, traumatic disruptions in doctor-patient relationships are an inevitable result of ongoing shifts in the complicated business of U.S. health care.

Facing a rapid consolidation of doctors' practices and hospital systems  which have hefty negotiating power to demand high fees  insurers have limited options to control costs and maintain a positive balance sheet, said Jacob Wallace, an assistant professor of public health at Yale University. Medicaid plans are especially affected because, unlike commercial plans or even Medicare, they can't increase premiums or demand copayments.

"Plans face a challenging landscape to keep costs down," Wallace said. As a result, health plans have taken other approaches, including narrowing provider networks and buying their own physician practices, he said.

But further complicating matters, many Medicaid and Medicare managed-care programs are contracted out to private, for-profit insurers such as UnitedHealthcare. They are looking to create returns for shareholders. With surging enrollment in government programs, UnitedHealthcare has enjoyed rising profits and a stock price that has soared tenfold since 2010.

Wassef and about two dozen other physicians filed a federal lawsuit in September to get reinstated. Wassef, whose termination is scheduled in May, said the move could seriously affect her practice because 80% of her patients are insured by UnitedHealthcare.

UnitedHealthcare gained millions of new customers after the Affordable Care Act led New Jersey and 35 other states and the District of Columbia to expand Medicaid and states turned to private insurers to handle the business. Salama and some other UnitedHealthcare customers said they like their insurance plan because it offers richer benefits than other Medicaid options and covers the medications they use.

The company operates New Jersey's second-largest Medicaid health plan, with 418,000 members. (The state Department of Human Services has blocked UnitedHealthcare from enrolling any additional Medicaid members, a severe and rare penalty. That move  which is not related to the termination of doctors' contracts  stems from complaints related to care management and discharge planning, the health plan's call center and other issues.)

A company spokesperson acknowledged the health plan is dropping 2% of its Medicaid doctors, saying the move was designed to help control costs.

"As health care costs continue to rise, we are working to mitigate the impact on the customers, states and members we serve by negotiating with care providers on their behalf to keep reimbursement rates affordable," the company said in a statement. "We understand that our members have personal relationships with their doctors and that network changes can be difficult."

A practice destroyed

New Jersey Medicaid officials refused to comment on whether they are concerned about UnitedHealthcare's actions. But patients caught up in the standoff have reason to worry, said Linda Schwimmer, CEO of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, a coalition of health plans, providers and a variety of health trade groups.

"Once you have a trusted relationship with a provider, it means a lot and it goes to the quality [of your care] because if you are seeing the same providers and you trust them, you are more likely to take your medication and adhere to whatever care plan you have," she said.

Dr. Alexander Salerno, an internist who runs a 17-doctor multispecialty practice in East Orange, New Jersey, another plaintiff in the lawsuit, is helping lead the court fight. Salerno's main office is in a three-story, 19th-century house that his father used for his medical practice in the 1960s. About 40% of his patients are on Medicaid.

Until the dispute began last year, Salerno advised his patients to sign up for UnitedHealthcare because of its broad array of benefits, including vision and dental care, and because of the ease in referring to specialists.

And UnitedHealthcare never complained about this group's skill. In fact, the group received a $130,000 bonus last year for its good care to patients. Salerno said Riverside Medical offered to buy his group practice in 2018, but he declined.

Since UnitedHealthcare announced it would drop his group from the network, more than 500 of his practices' patients have already changed doctors to stay with the UnitedHealthcare plan, Salerno said.

"It's not a bad insurance company. It just seems like they have become greedy trying to control both ends of the pendulum  wanting to be the payer and provider," Salerno said.

A federal judge ordered the case to be heard by a neutral arbitrator, which in late November granted an emergency injunction that will keep Salerno from being removed from UnitedHealthcare's network until an arbitrator makes a decision on a permanent injunction, which is expected in March.

But that leaves patients in limbo.

Glorida Rivera, 68, said UnitedHealthcare's decision to drop Salerno was upsetting because she relied on him to care for her diabetes, thyroid and heart conditions. She credits Salerno for referring her to a cardiologist, who put stents in her heart to clear a blockage.

"He knows my whole story, so why do I have to change?" wondered Rivera. Nonetheless, she is sticking with UnitedHealthcare.

Velylia McIver, 83, decided in November to search for another plan so she could stay with Salerno. But it took her more than a month to get coverage for some medications.

"I feel caught in the middle of all this, and it's the pits," McIver said.
Delhi minister Gopal Rai, who turned up at the residence of Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal late on Monday night to discuss "deteriorating law and order situation" in the capital left after receiving an assurance from Delhi Police about ensuring security to people.

"Police assured us that adequate security will be deployed in vulnerable areas. We are going back now," Rai told ANI.

The Delhi environment minister had arrived at the residence of the Lt Governor late night along with other AAP leaders including Imran Hussain, Dilip Pandey, Akhilesh Pati Tripathi, Sanjeev Jha and Amanatullah Khan were seen waiting to meet with Baijal.

"@LtGovDelhi did not meet us but his representative Special Commissioner Rajesh Khurana came and gave an assurance about the safety of people. Based on his assurance we are going back home. If there is any further incident we will again come to the LG's house," Rai posted on his Twitter account.

Speaking to ANI, Rai said "There is an atmosphere of fear in areas- Noor-e-Illahi, Ghonda Chowk, Mohanpuri, Yamuna Vihar, Shiv Vihar, Dayalpur, Kardampuri and Maujpur. Police officials have reached here (LG residence) and assured us that police will do patrolling and ensure security in these areas. We are going from here on their assurance. Action should be taken against those who are spreading hate and involve in rioting".

"Along with my MLA colleague, I have reached the residence of Lieutenant Governor to meet him over Delhi's deteriorating law and order situation," Rai had tweeted earlier followed by a successive tweet in which he said he had been waiting outside the LG's house for around two hours to meet him.

Four people including a Delhi Police were killed and several injured 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.)
The injured in violent clashes in northeast Delhi are being brought to hospitals on bikes and vans as ambulances fail to make their way to the violence-hit areas, police said on Tuesday.

The police said protestors were blocking ambulances and other vehicles.

Constable Amit Kumar, who sustained injury on his right hand while he was trying to disperse two groups pelting stones at each other, was brought to the Jag Pravesh Chander Hospital on a bike.

Kumar, posted at Khurjei Khas area, said, "I was trying to disperse two groups who were pelting stones at each other at Khajuri Khas Chowk and suddenly something hit me from behind. I do not know if it was a stone or something else."



Kaif (32), who sustained injuries in clashes at Khureji Khas area, was brought by the police in a van at the hospital.

The autorickshaw driver was parking his vehicle when a mob of 25 to 30 people attacked him with stones. He said his friend rescued him when he was lying on the ground.

Kaif sustained injuries on left side of his face and head.

Another man with suspected gunshot injury was rushed to the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital on a bike by two men.

One of the men who brought the injured to the hospital said the man sustained injuries in firing at Kabir Nagar side of Maujpur Chowk area.

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.

Violence has also been reported in Chandbagh and Bhajanpura areas of the city.

The death toll in the clashes has climbed to seven, a senior police official said on Tuesday.

A Delhi Police head constable, Ratan Lal, was among the seven killed, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday assured the Punjab Assembly that his government would not allow any movie which promotes gangsterism, drugs and violence in the state.

Responding to an issue raised by Congress MLA Gurkirat Singh Kotli during the Zero Hour on the third day of the budget session here, the chief minister said though the matter comes under the purview of the Censor Board, he would write to it with regard to movies which glorify violence.

The state government had imposed a ban on movie 'Shooter', which was based on the life and crimes of notorious gangster Sukha Kahlwan, saying it promotes "violence" and "heinous crimes".

Sukha Kahlwan was shot dead by gangster Vicky Gounder and his accomplices on January 22, 2015, when he was being brought back to Patiala Jail after a court hearing in Jalandhar.

"It is the job of the Censor board. We will also write to the Censor board. If a film promotes gangsterism, drugs and violence, we will not allow it in Punjab. I can assure you," the chief minister said in the House.

Responding to a question raised by ruling party legislator Parminder Singh Pinky on alleged involvement of a SAD leader in "anti-national activities, Amarinder Singh assured a thorough probe into the matter.

Pinky had alleged that the SAD leader had links with Happy PhD, a Khalistan Liberation Force member, who was killed in Pakistan recently.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A member of a provincial middle class family, he ruled the country more than Nasser and Sadat. Unlike them, he did not die in office. Tried and convicted of killing protesters and dissidents, he was acquitted years later. He led the fight against Islamic extremism, and mended fences with the rest of the Arab world.

Cairo (AsiaNews)  Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who was forced to resign as a result of the Arab Spring of 2011, died today at the age of 91 surrounded by his family.

His brother-in-law, General Mounir Thabet, made the announcement, saying that the former president, who had been ill for some time, had been hospitalised at the Galaa military hospital in Cairo where he had recently undergone surgery.

Current Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi has already made arrangements for Mubaraks funeral.

Born on 4 May 1928 in Kafr El-Meselha, a village in Monufia governorate, into a conservative middle class family. His father was a petty bureaucrat in the Ministry of Justice.

The future strongman entered Egypts Military Academy in 1947, switching a couple of years later to the Air Force Academy where he eventually served as an instructor.

He was president for almost 30 years, from October 1981 to February 2011, when he resigned.

After he left office, he was put on trial and had to cope with a series of cardio-vascular issues that weakened his body and mind.

For some analysts, he seemed unable to accept the possibility of ending his days behind bars and see someone else take over during his lifetime.

Unlike his predecessors Nasser and Sadat, he did not die in office, despite leading the country for a longer period of time.

His trial, which began in 2012, ended when the Egyptian Court of Cassation, Egypts highest appeal court, acquitted him in March 2017 of murder charges in connection with the killing of 850 protesters and at least 239 dissidents during the riots that broke out between 25 January and 11 February 2011 in Tahrir Square.

Mubarak, who insisted that he was innocent of all the charges, was initially convicted and sentenced to life in prison. But his acquittal by the Court also ended applications by the victims' lawyers to reopen the case in a civil court. For the plaintiffs, this was expected, considering Mubaraks links to current President al-Sisi.

Although he was acquitted of the most serious charges, related to the crackdown during the 2011 unrest, when scores died, he faced additional charges and was found guilty of minor offences related to corruption.

For this reason, the court imposed a travel ban, which initially applied to his entire family. On Saturday however, the court finally acquitted his sons, Alaa and Gamal, of all charges.

Mubaraks reign saw a tough fight against Islamic extremism. Over these years, a series of deadly attacks were carried out, such as the 1997 Luxor massacre (more than 60 dead) and an alleged attempt on Mubaraks own life in Addis-Ababa in 1995.

After 2004, Egypt saw more attacks by al-Qaeda, which Egyptian authorities used to justify a harsh crackdown in the Sinai and keep the state of emergency indefinitely.

Coming to power to counter Islamic extremism, Mubarak saw, after his fall, Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammad Morsi win the first free elections. The new democratic president wanted to govern with Sharia (Islamic law) .

In foreign policy Mubarak formally kept the peace agreement with Israel, which he visited once for the funeral of Yitzhak Rabin in 1995.

He boosted ties with the rest of the Arab world, hosting Yasser Arafat after he was expelled from Lebanon in 1983, and supporting Iraq in the war with Iran, thus paving the way for Egypts rapprochement with the Gulf monarchies and re-integration in the Arab League in 1989.
CHICAGO, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CNA today announced the appointment of Al Miralles as Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, effective February 25, 2020. Miralles succeeds James Anderson, who announced his resignation from the Company to pursue other opportunities.

"I want to thank James for his contributions to CNA and his efforts in helping to build shareholder value by optimizing our financial model and strengthening our balance sheet. We wish him the best in his future endeavors," said Dino E. Robusto, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, CNA.

CNA announces Al Miralles as Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Miralles joined CNA in 2011 as Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Head of Investments. In this role, he was instrumental in developing the successful asset allocation and portfolio risk management approach CNA still employs today. In 2014, he became President of the Long Term Care business. Miralles brought an active management approach, executing on a multi-year transformation and significantly reducing the risk of this business to CNA. In early 2018, he was appointed to the role of Executive Vice President & Chief Risk Officer of CNA where he institutionalized the Enterprise Risk Management function across the business units.

Prior to joining CNA, Miralles was the Chief Financial Officer for the Investments Division of Nationwide Insurance where he led the Finance, Operations, and Strategy functions, and had financial oversight for $65 billion of assets under management. He holds a bachelor's degree in finance from LaSalle University and an MBA from Temple University Fox School of Business and Management.

"Al has been a tremendous asset to CNA across various leadership roles and, combined with his investment and financial expertise, is an ideal successor for the CFO role," Robusto added.

About CNA

CNA is one of the largest U.S. commercial property and casualty insurance companies. CNA provides a broad range of standard and specialized property and casualty insurance products and services for businesses and professionals in the U.S., Canada and Europe, backed by 120 years of experience and more than $45 billion of assets. For more information about CNA, visit our website at www.cna.com.

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WASHINGTON  Russia wants to watch Americans tear ourselves apart as the United States heads toward elections, an FBI official warned Monday.

David Porter, an assistant section chief with the FBIs Foreign Influence Task Force, accused Russia of conducting brazen operations aimed at spreading disinformation, exploiting lines of division in society and sowing doubt about the integrity of U.S. elections and the ability of its leaders to govern effectively.

Porter spoke at an election security conference on Capitol Hill just days after conflicting accounts emerged of a closed-door briefing intelligence officials had given to House lawmakers on threats from Russia and other nations in the 2020 election. That briefing focused attention on the possibility that Russia could work to aid President Donald Trumps reelection. Democratic rival Sen. Bernie Sanders has said intelligence officials told him that Russia was looking to boost his candidacy, too.

Porter did not address the briefing or whether Russia had a preference for particular candidates. But he said Russia was generally engaged in information confrontation aimed at blurring fact from fiction, eroding American confidence in democratic institutions and driving wedges into societys fracture lines.

The primary objective is not to create a particular version of the truth but rather to cloud the truth and erode our ability to find it, creating a sentiment that no narrative or news source can be trusted at all, Porter said.

The FBI formed the Foreign Influence Task Force after widespread interference by Russia in the 2016 presidential campaign. The task force was initially intended to focus primarily on Russia, but it also works to counter influence operations  including hacking and more covert methods  from adversaries including China, North Korea and Iran.

U.S. officials see China as an aggressive threat, particularly when it comes to espionage and theft of intellectual property, but Porter said Beijings goal was less about sowing general chaos in the U.S. and more about promoting and developing its own economic standing in the world.

To put it simply, in this space, Russia wants to watch us tear ourselves apart, while it seems that China would rather manage our gradual economic decline over the course of generations, Porter said.

Intelligence officials have not commented publicly on the Feb. 13 briefing given to members of the House Intelligence Committee. One intelligence official said lawmakers were not told that Russia was working directly to 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 to discussed the classified briefing.

Carrie Cordero, a former Justice Department national security lawyer, lamented the lack of public information about the briefing and the underlying intelligence, particularly since a recent Senate Intelligence Committee report faulted the Obama administration for not being sufficiently transparent about Russian election interference ahead of the 2016 presidential contest.

She said it remains unclear from the news reporting exactly what message was communicated to the committee.

What I have really been encouraging is that the government be more forthcoming of information that is more indicative of the current election threats, Cordero said.

Other speakers at the symposium, whose sponsors included the Center for Democracy and Technology and Penn State Dickinson Law, focused on more domestic threats to election security.

Lawrence Norden, the director of the Election Reform Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, said he was concerned that there were no federal regulations governing the vendors who supply local election infrastructure.

I do think this is a real weakness going into 2020, and the solution as always in elections is to hope for the best and prepare for the worst, Norden said.

Meanwhile, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, along with Democratic Sens. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Robert Menendez of New Jersey, sent a letter Monday to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urging sanctions for all those determined to be responsible for ongoing elections interference, including Russia President Vladimir Putin.

_____

Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
The Union environment ministry has sought the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)s response to a proposed highway in Arunachal Pradesh that is likely to cut through a part of the Pakke Tiger Reserve in East Kameng district, an official said amid concerns about the risks the project may pose to the wildlife.

We have received a road project proposal from the Arunachal Pradesh government, which involves the Pakke Tiger Reserve. It is, however, being referred to the NTCA for comments, said the official on condition of anonymity.

The issue came to light after environmental activist, Jorjo Tana Tara, received some documents on the proposed East-West Industrial Corridor under the Right to Information Act from the reserves divisional forest officer.

The documents refer to three options for connecting Seijosa with Bahlukpong as part of the project. They suggest the shortest route of about 48 km that passes through the reserve via an elevated corridor. The documents cite the merits of an elevated corridor and say they include minimum conflict between the road users and the wildlife, free movement of animals, 24-hour traffic movement and enhancement of tourism etc.

Extra high fencing shall be provided along the road other than an underpass or overpass portion to restrict trespassing and unauthorised entry into the core zone, according to the documents that HT has accessed. But the details of the alignment and how much of the reserve will be affected are unavailable in the documents.

AK Nayak, an NTCA member secretary, said the project involving Pakke is a very recent one and the Wildlife Institute of Indias Tiger Cell is assessing it. Usually in such cases, where a tiger reserve is involved, a committee is constituted of experts from the cell, regional office of the environment ministry, NTCA etc who visit the site and make an assessment .

Tara said the project will hurt local people on various counts. The main purpose of the highway is to transport heavy machinery for hydropower projects. Arunachal Pradesh falls under a very high seismic hazard zone and local people downstream will lose everything if there is a disaster. The project will risk the tiger population in Pakke and bordering Nameri.

Tara said Asiatic black bears have also been rehabilitated in Pakke and they will also be exposed to disturbance. Seijosa is perhaps the only place in the Northeast, which is a nesting area for four species of hornbills. The biggest threat to these hornbills is illegal logging. Such a highway will only make way for more logging and access.

The documents suggest the corridor will be 699.50 km long. The road will also serve as a vital link for the carriage of heavy machinery for hydropower projects in the state for which various MOUs have been signed with various power developers tapping the highest hydropower potential in India. Health care, educational and agricultural hubs have also been proposed to be set up along the highway.

Pakke Tiger Reserves divisional forest officer, Tana Tapi, said the corridors detailed project report (DPR) was drafted based on satellite imagery and not on ground measurements. How can they make DPR based on satellite imagery? I have raised objections to the project. It is cutting through the core area, said Tapi. They will have to do a ground survey which will then be considered by the State Wildlife Board.

Tapi said he will give his comments to the board also. Then the matter goes to the National Board for Wildlife. There are four species of Hornbills here, including the rufous-necked hornbill. We also have tigers and lots of elephants, said Tapi.

Aparajita Datta, a scientist with the Nature Conservation Foundation who has worked extensively in Arunachal Pradesh, said Pakke is a haven for hornbills and only one of two protected areas with high hornbill densities. Many active nest trees are in fact found along the stretch where the road is being proposed, said Datta.
CAMEROON, Cameroon - The U.N. envoy for Somalia urged the countrys leaders on Monday to take bold steps to ensure that 2020 sets the fragile Horn of Africa country on a trajectory to peace and stability, not more political division and increasing extremism.

James Swan said Somalia and its international partners agreed in October on the priorities Somalia must not fail to achieve in 2020. They include achieving debt relief, holding one-person one-vote elections, finalizing the federal constitution, advancing the fight against al-Shabab extremists, and consolidating the federal state.

He told the U.N. Security Council there has been good progress on economic priorities.

The executive boards of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank recently confirmed Somalias eligibility for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, Swan said, and key legislation has been passed to strengthen the countrys fiscal framework.

But Swan said that for Somalia to achieve its ambitious priorities, the countrys leaders and key stakeholders must work together and that isnt happening.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed met with some party leaders in November but not since then, the U.N. envoy said, and tensions between the federal government and regional states continue.

The protracted absence of a broad political consensus on the way forward in 2020 remains a threat to further progress, Swan warned.

In December, Swan said, he led representatives of the African Union, European Union and regional group IGAD in talks with federal and state leaders and civil society groups. He said he emphasized to president Mohamed the urgent need to resume dialogue.

After three decades of civil war, extremist attacks and famine, Somalia established a functioning transitional government in 2012 and has since been working to rebuild stability. But U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said it must still tackle violent extremism, terrorism, armed conflict, political instability and corruption.

In 2020, Swan said, Somalia will face a critical test of its state-building progress through the holding of historic one-person, one-vote elections, a potential milestone for citizens who have been denied the right to political participation for 50 years.

An electoral law has been approved by the legislature and signed by the president that is an important step, he said. But it doesnt address key questions including locations of constituencies, how to guarantee 30% of seats for women, and methods to enable Somalis across the country to participate.

Swan urged the federal parliament and electoral officials in consultation with the federal government, states and others to resolve these issues urgently so that technical preparations can get under way.

The federal government has committed to adopting an amended constitution by June, and elections are expected to be held in the last quarter of the year.

On security, Swan said that there has been steady, commendable progress in rebuilding Somalias security institutions. But he said military operations have slowed since mid-2019 and the government hasnt generated enough troops to carry out needed operations against al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremists and to reopen main supply routes.

Despite efforts by Somali troops and the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia, al-Shabab retains the ability to carry out large-scale attacks in the capital of Mogadishu and elsewhere in the country and to generate significant revenue through extortion, Swan said.

Somalias U.N. ambassador, Abukar Dahir Osman, told the council the federal government continues to build an inclusive political process across the country.

Osman also assured the council that we are bound and will respect the principle of holding elections on time and the peaceful and orderly transfer of power.
We are asking the American public to work with us to prepare, in the expectation that this could be bad, Dr. Messonnier said.

Shortly after the news conference, stock markets plummeted for the second day as investors dumped stocks and turned to the safety of government bonds. The S&P 500 fell by more than 3 percent, following a 3.4 percent slide on Monday  the worst day for the American markets since February 2018.

In contrast to his own health officials, President Trump, traveling in India, played down the threat, saying, You may ask about the coronavirus, which is very well under control in our country.

We have very few people with it, and the people that have it are, in all cases, I have not heard anything other  the people are getting better, theyre all getting better.

As of Tuesday, the United States has just 57 cases, 40 of them connected to the Diamond Princess, the cruise ship overwhelmed by the coronavirus after it docked in Japan. Those patients are in isolation in hospitals, and there are no signs of sustained transmission in American communities.
By ANI

NEW DELHI: In the wake of violence in North East Delhi, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval late on Tuesday reached Seelampur area to take stock of the situation.

Doval arrived at the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) office North East to conduct a meeting and review the security situation in the city.

Along with DCP North-East, senior police officers, including newly-appointed Special Commissioner of Delhi Police (Law and Order) SN Shrivastava, were present at the meeting.

This comes after Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with Delhi Police and Home Ministry officials in the wake of violence that has been raging in the national capital for the past two days.

It was the third meeting chaired by the Home Minister in less than 24 hours and according to sources the meeting that began at around 7 pm lasted till 10 pm.

The Home Minister appreciated the participation of all parties and urged them to exercise restraint, rise above party lines to tackle the situation, according to an official release.

He also urged leaders to avoid giving provocative speeches and statements which could result in a flare-up of the situation.

Delhi Police Special Commissioner (Crime) Satish Golcha informed that the protesters have left the Jafrabad metro station and Maujpur chowk is clear as well, and that the situation is under control.

At least 13 persons have died and around 190 are injured in the violence that erupted in North-East Delhi on Monday.
Excited students dressed in traditional attires, welcomed US First Lady Melania Trump at Delhi's government school in south Moti Bagh area. Sarvodaya Co-Educational Senior Secondary School was decked up with floral garlands and motifs, welcoming the US First Lady. Floral rangolis were also drawn at multiple places in the school and a student band was waiting to welcome her.

The First Lady will be attending the 'Happiness Class', which was started by the Aam Aadmi Party in 2018. As part of the program, students are taught various activities, including meditation, street plays, basic obedience and aims to reduce anxiety and stress levels among children.

#LIVE | US First Lady Melania Trump visits govt school in Nanakpura in New Delhi; Tune in to watch here - https://t.co/RZHKU3wOei pic.twitter.com/RTmsRb3w6y  Republic (@republic) February 25, 2020

After attending the class, Melania said, "Namaste! It's a beautiful school. Thank you for welcoming me with a traditional dance performance. This is my first visit to India, people here are so welcoming and so kind." "In the US, I work with children like you to promote similar ideas of well-being through my 'BE BEST' initiative. Three pillars of 'BE BEST' include dangers of drug abuse, importance of online safety and overall well-being of children," she added.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer met with Gov. Steve Bullock in Montana last weekend as Democrats make a last-ditch effort to woo him to run for the Senate this year, according to multiple sources familiar with the meeting.

Bullock, the two-term governor and former presidential candidate, has repeatedly said he has no plans to challenge Republican Sen. Steve Daines this year. But the states filing deadline is just over two weeks away, and Democrats have continued to pitch Bullock on seeking the Senate seat before the window closes. Democrats are hoping for a change of heart similar to that of former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who also ran for president and initially said he had no interest in the Senate before ultimately changing his mind and entering the Senate race last August.

Democrats believe that if Bullock were to reverse course and run for the Senate, it would instantly put Montana in play this fall and give them a wider path to taking back the chamber. Republicans have a 53-47 majority.

Steve Bullock.

The meeting between Bullock and Schumer comes several weeks after the governor sat down in Washington with former President Barack Obama, underscoring how widespread the desire is within the party for him to run.

Bullocks office did not respond to several requests for comment about the meeting. A spokesperson for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee declined to comment.
US First Lady Melania Trump virtually turned into a student herself on Tuesday in the 'Happiness Class' at a Delhi government school, joining the children in meditating, storytelling and other relaxing activities

New Delhi: US First Lady Melania Trump virtually turned into a student herself on Tuesday in the "Happiness Class" at a Delhi government school, joining the children in meditating, storytelling and other relaxing activities, and noted that the unique curriculum has set a "healthy and positive" example for educators.

Excited students dressed in traditional attire welcomed Melania as she arrived at the Sarvodaya Co-Educational Senior Secondary School at Moti Bagh in south Delhi. The school was decked up with floral garlands and motifs to welcome the US First Lady, while student bagpipers added to the festive mood.

A smiling Melania joined the students in three classrooms, where she was briefed by the teachers, and interacted with the children, before enjoying boisterous dance performances by the youngsters.

After lighting the ceremonial lamp, the First Lady took a tour of the school, heading to a reading room for class 4 students where she attended a storytelling session.

The First Lady, who donned a white embroidered shirt-dress paired with a red belt, visited an activity classroom for kindergarten students where she sat among the children who were engaged in drawing, clay modelling and playing with building blocks. 'How big is America', 'Is it very far', 'What do you do as the First Lady', 'What is your favourite cartoon" were among the few questions asked by the curious kindergarten students.

Melania then headed to the playground to observe a yoga session where students were performing 'surya namaskar' (Sun salutation). The First Lady also meditated with class 4 students in their "happiness class". "I am feeling very relaxed," she said after the brief meditation as part of "mindfulness" activity of the 'Happiness Class'.

The 'Happiness Class' was started by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi government schools in 2018. As part of the programme, students are taught various activities, including meditation, street plays, basic obedience and aims to reduce anxiety and stress levels among children.

Following the school tour, Melania was welcomed by students with garlands at an outdoor event and treated to performances of Rajasthani dance "Padharo Mahre Des" (welcome to our country) and Punjabi folk dance 'gidda'. While Melania enjoyed the foot tapping number, a student in the audience became the show-stealer with his impromptu jig as everyone including the First Lady cheered for him.When the child suddenly scooted up to perform 'bhangra' moves, the security men were taken by surprise and one of them stepped forward but did not interfere.

Addressing the students, Melania praised the concept of happiness class and spoke of her similar 'Be Best' initiative to promote well-being.

"It is my first visit to India and I am grateful to have received such a warm welcome today. The name of this school 'sarvodaya' means prosperity for all. I was able to see how the concept exists in the curriculum -in the leadership of teachers, and in the spirit of enthusiasm in students. I visited happiness class, it was very nice to see students practice mindfulness. From mindful breathing to telling a story to a friend or simply connecting with nature, I cannot think of a better way for all of us to start our day," she said.

"I am totally impressed with the teachers and the efforts of the school towards its students," she said.

Melania said it is good to see the happy faces of the students and the school exemplifies that promoting values of kindness, compassion and respect can bring about positive change within the communities. " I want to thank all the educators here who are setting positive examples for young people to ensure a promising future," she said.

The First Lady also talked about her "Be Best" initiative among children. "In the US, I work with children like you to promote similar ideas of well-being through my 'Be Best' initiative. 3 pillars of 'Be Best' include dangers of drug abuse, importance of online safety and overall well-being of children," she said.

Melania was cheered by students who waved Indian and American flags and was presented four handmade Madhubani paintings before she left. The First Lady reached out to shake hands with many children and hugged one of them.

Earlier, when she arrived at the school, the children welcomed the First Lady by applying 'teeka' on her forehead. She was also handed over a bouquet, while lensmen scurried to get a perfect shot. Before her arrival, children were seen rehearsing outside the school gate. Massive security was also put in place for her visit.

Melania is accompanying US president Donald Trump on a whirlwind 36-hour tour of India which will conclude on Tuesday night Ahead of her arrival, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had tweeted to welcome her.

.@FLOTUS will attend happiness class in our school today. Great day for our teachers, students and Delhiites. For centuries, India has taught spirituality to the world. Am happy that she will take back the msg of happiness from our school  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 25, 2020

The children were dressed in bright-coloured sarees and traditional attire like 'ghagra-choli' to welcome Melania Trump. Some of them were carrying bagpipes and other musical instruments.

"Welcome to our school FLOTUS! We hope you would have a great time here in the Happiness Class It's just 18 months old initiative but early results have made us confident that it is the ultimate solution to all violence and hate in mindsets that we are facing worldwide," tweeted Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio.

Its a proud moment for my Team Education of Delhi today. All are excited to see @FLOTUS in one of our school.

She just visited 'room to read' now she would move for #HappinessClass and then address the kids in assembly.  Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) February 25, 2020

Kejriwal and Sisodia were to welcome Melania at the school and brief her about rationale behind introduction of the 'Happiness Classes' as well as the Delhi government's overall reform initiatives in the education sector but the US embassy had later communicated to the city administration that their names do not figure in the list of invitees for the event.
David Weil, the creator of Amazon's "Hunters", has addressed the backlash the show is receiving over a human chess scene.

The show, which features veteran actor Al Pacino and Logan Lerman in the lead, is about a group of Nazi hunters who track down and kill several SS soldiers hiding out in the United States.

However, there is a scene, set in the Auschwitz death camp, that has not gone down well with the viewers.

The scene depicts a life-sized game of chess, played by Nazi soldiers, where they use their Jewish captives as pieces of the board. When they have to knock a chess piece down, the officer would executive the prisoner.

The official Twitter of Auschwitz Memorial had criticised the show, calling the scene as "dangerous foolishness and caricature".

"Auschwitz was full of horrible pain and 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 honour the victims by preserving factual accuracy," it tweeted.

Weil has now responded to the criticism in a statement to Deadline, calling the scene "a fictionalised 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 extreme and representationally truthful sadism 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 torture and even incidents of cruel 'games' against their victims. I simply did not want to depict those specific, real acts of trauma," the creator said.

"The Hunters" started streaming on Amazon Prime Video from February 21.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 25, 2020 / Silver Range Resources Ltd. (TSXV:SNG) ("Silver Range") announces that it has signed a definitive agreement to option its East Goldfield Property (the "Property") to ATAC Resources Ltd. ("ATAC"). ATAC is a well-funded, aggressive exploration company run by a team with a track record of discovering high grade gold resources. Notable successes include the Tiger Gold Deposit and Osiris Project in the Yukon Territory.

The East Goldfield Property, lies 8 kilometres east of the town of Goldfield in Esmeralda County, Nevada and 6 kilometres east of the historic Goldfield Mining District (Goldfield Main Deposit). To date approximately 4.2 M oz Au has been produced from this deposit. The Property is adjacent to claims comprising the Gemfield Project, currently being developed by a subsidiary of Waterton Global Resource Management. The Gemfield Project resource consists of 1,574,000 ounces gold in 47.3 M t grading 1.03 g/t Au (Measured & Indicated Resources) at the Gemfield, McMahon Ridge, and Goldfield Main Deposits.

The East Goldfield Property covers the eastern portion of a fault-defined structural corridor localizing gold mineralization in the Goldfield district. The Property is underlain by intensely faulted and hydrothermally altered rhyodacite breccia. Pervasive quartz-alunite alteration occurs throughout the Property and is most intense in the area of numerous resistant, vuggy silica ledges developed along faults and fracture zones. Arroyo sediment and soil geochemical surveys by Silver Range defined anomalies for key high sulphidation pathfinder elements including copper, arsenic, silver and gold associated with the west-northwest striking breccias and faults within the structural corridor. Silver Range mapped over 75 workings on the Property, the most significant of which is the Tom Keane Mine, located on the southern margin of the structural corridor. Historical reports document development on four levels with approximately 871 m of drifting and cross-cuts; and 213 m of shaft, winze and raise development. Small lease production is mentioned but not specified in these reports. A 1935 evaluation report cited assays of 3.04 m @ 4.11 g/t Au from the 200-foot level and 11.6 m @ 2.88 g/t Au from the 300-foot level. In 2003, Metallic Gold Ventures Inc. drilled ten holes in the immediate area of the Tom Keane Mine, reporting intersections in 9 holes with the best intersections being 4.57 m @ 8.23 g/t Au and 44.20 m @ 1.03 g/t Au. Silver Range interprets the geochemical anomalies and known gold showings as leakage features and believes the East Goldfield Property has the potential to host significant blind high-sulphidation epithermal gold mineralization.

Terms

The definitive agreement grants ATAC two options. The first option entitles ATAC to earn a 75% interest in the Property by making aggregate cash payments totaling $400,000 by April 1, 2024 and aggregate exploration expenditures of $10,000,000 by December 31, 2025, with annual minimum expenditures of $200,000 in each of the first two years.

Upon completion of the first option, ATAC can exercise a second option to purchase Silver Range's remaining 25% interest in the Property by paying Silver Range $10,000,000 by June 30, 2026 and granting Silver Range a 2% net smelter return royalty, half of which may be bought for $1,000,000 prior to production. In addition, ATAC will make cash payments based on defined resources ("defined resource payments"). These payments must be paid six months following declaration of Measured and Indicated Resources, with US$2.00 per ounce gold equivalent payable on resources up to 1,000,000 ounces gold-equivalent and US$1.00 per ounce gold-equivalent payable on resources in excess of 1,000,000 ounces gold-equivalent. If ATAC declines to exercise the second option, the parties shall form a joint venture to develop the Property under standard industry terms. Half of all payments excepting the defined resource payments may be paid in ATAC shares.

Technical information in this news release has been approved by Mike Power, M.Sc., P.Geo., President and CEO of Silver Range Resources Ltd. and a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. Information concerning historical exploration, development and mining at East Goldfield is based on Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology archive material and on press releases, website summaries and National Instrument 43-101 technical reports issued by Metallic Gold Ventures Inc. Information on the Gemfield Project is based on website summaries and press releases issued by Gemfield Resources LLC.

About Silver Range Resources Ltd.

Silver Range is a high grade focused precious metals prospect generator working in Nevada and Northern Canada. Silver Range has assembled a portfolio of 45 properties, 8 of which are currently optioned to others. Silver Range is actively seeking other joint venture partners to explore the high precious metal targets in its portfolio.

ON BEHALF OF SILVER RANGE RESOURCES LTD.

"Mike Power"

President, C.E.O. & Director

For further information concerning Silver Range or its exploration projects please contact:

Investor Inquiries

Richard Drechsler

Vice-President, Communications

Tel: (604) 687-2522

NA Toll-Free: (888) 688-2522

rdrechsler@silverrangeresources.com

http://www.silverrangeresources.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.

This news release may contain forward looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of exploration and other risk factors beyond its control, and actual results may differ materially from the expected results.

SOURCE: Silver Range Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/577621/Silver-Range-Options-East-Goldfield-Property
Dreamstime/TNS, Dreamstime/TNS / TNS

The Port Neches Police Department is still investigating the death of a Nederland man hit by a car Saturday night.

Officers responded to the scene of a wreck in the 2600 block of Texas 366 around 10:15 p.m., according to a press release.
The world is "simply not ready" to rein in the new coronavirus outbreak, the head of a joint WHO-China mission of experts said Tuesday, urging countries to learn from China's expertise.

"You have to be ready to manage this at a larger scale... and it has to be done fast," Bruce Aylward told reporters in Geneva, insisting countries everywhere have to "be ready as if this hits us tomorrow".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Peshawar: A leading Pakistani ethnic minority rights activist known for criticising the country's powerful armed forces was released from jail Tuesday, weeks after a court granted him bail.

Manzoor Pashteen has rattled the country's generals with his calls to end abuses against the Pashtun community, largely based in tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan.

His Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM), founded in 2018, is notable for its direct verbal attacks on a military establishment which plays a dominant role in national politics.

Last month he was taken into custody on charges of sedition, hate speech, incitement against the state and criminal conspiracy. After walking free Pashteen told AFP his arrest was "not going to stop me from raising my voice for Pashtun rights".

Footage posted on social media showed Pashteen standing through the sunroof of a car and addressing hundreds of young supporters as they chanted and showered him with rose petals.

Pakistan's Pashtun heartlands were once plagued by violence and militancy, though army operations have dramatically improved security both there and across the country in recent years.

But the PTM claim these operations came at a heavy price, with soldiers using enforced disappearances and targeted killings against civilians. Authorities have repeatedly denied the claims and cracked down on the rights group.

Strict media blackouts have kept news and images of peaceful PTM rallies off TV screens and out of newspapers nationwide. A New York Times opinion piece written by Pashteen last year was also censored in Pakistan.
Four more people have been confirmed dead in Italy, bringing the total in the country to 11 as the coronavirus continues to spread across Europe.

Switzerland and Croatia announced their first case and Austria declared its first two cases, who were Italians living close to the border province of Tyrol.

Mainland Spain also confirmed its first case of coronavirus.

Spanish health authorities identified a case of the illness in Catalonia, according to La Vanguardia.

Angelo Borrelli, the chief of Italys Civil Protection agency, said the number of virus cases in the country increased 45 per cent in the last 24 hours.

Italy has become the worst-hit country in Europe, with more than 320 cases. The virus has spread from northern Italy to other parts of the country, including to Sicily in the south.

The four latest deaths to be reported in Italy were all elderly people  three over the age of 80 from Lombardy, the worst impacted region, and a 76-year-old woman in Veneto.

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

The case in Catalonia is Spains fourth after three infected tourists from Germany, Italy and Britain were detected in the Canary Islands and in Mallorca.

A four-star hotel in the Canary Islands is currently on lockdown after a case of coronavirus.

Spanish health authorities said they would test hotel guests and staff after it confirmed an Italian doctor on holiday in Tenerife tested positive for the virus on Monday.

The man is now in isolation in hospital. He was the third case identified in Spain after a German tourist in La Gomera, another Canary Island, and a British man in Mallorca.

Maria Montero, a spokesperson for the Spanish government, said: For the time being, the guests will stay at the hotel until this second test and, depending on the results, appropriate health measures will be taken.

The Italian patients wife has also been taken in isolation in hospital, she added.

Outbreaks in Iran and South Korea also escalated. Irans official death toll rose to 16 on Tuesday with 95 reported cases, but the actual number is thought to be higher.

It is an uninvited and inauspicious visitor. God willing we will get through ... this virus, Iranian president Hassan Rouhani said in a televised speech. Irans deputy health minister and a member of parliament were among those infected.

In South Korea, which has the most coronavirus cases outside China with 977 infections and 10 deaths, authorities were testing all the estimated 215,000 members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus.

In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outlined what schools and businesses would need to do if the coronavirus reaches pandemic levels  with officials saying it is just a matter of time before a full outbreak in the country.

Its not so much of a question of if this will happen in this country any more but a question of when this will happen, Dr Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunisation and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters.

Public officials do not know if the spread of the virus will be mild or severe, she added, but Americans should prepare for it to disrupt their daily lives.

We are asking the American public to prepare for the expectation that this might be bad, Dr Messonnier said.

The flu-like coronavirus, which began in Wuhan, in China, has so far killed more than 2,000 and been contracted by more than 80,000 more around the world.

Reuters contributed to this report
On a night of high glamour it was Karlie Kloss and Dita Von Teese who claimed the spotlight as Christian Louboutin launched a new celebratory show during Paris Fashion Week.

The American celebrities commanded attention as the renowned French shoe designer continued new show L'Exhibitioniste, a retrospective look back at his various influences, as well as works from his own private collection.

Arriving at Parisian venue Palais De La Porte Doree, Karlie, 27, caught the eye in an elegant blue gown as she greeted onlookers.

Here they come: On a night of high glamour it was Karlie Kloss (L) and Dita Von Teese (R) who claimed the spotlight as Christian Louboutin launched a new exhibition during Paris Fashion Week

The model added to her look with a smart cream coat, while simple white stiletto heels rounded things off.

Meanwhile Dita's distinctive blue dress won its fair share of attention as she made her way inside the exhibition hall.

With embellished sheer panels, pinched shoulders and a cinched waistline, the outfit served to accentuate her slender physique.

Make way: Arriving at Parisian venue Palais De La Porte Doree, Karlie, 27, caught the eye in an elegant blue gown as she greeted onlookers

Hard to miss: Meanwhile Dita's distinctive blue dress won its fair share of attention as she made her way inside the exhibition hall

Looking good: Karlie added to er loom with a pair of simple white stiletto heels

The 47-year old's vintage look was rounded off with a pair of glittering stiletto heels, while a single clutch bag was her only visible accessory.

Other guests on the night included Italian actress Monica Bellucci, who looked typically stylish in a black trouser and sweeping blue scarf.

Sabrina Elba, the wife of Hollywood star Idris Elba, also made her presence felt as she entered the Paris venue.

Stunning: With embellished sheer panels, pinched shoulders and a cinched waistline, Dita's outfit served to accentuate her slender physique

Incoming: Actresses Monica Bellucci (L) and Anna Mouglalis (R) also attended the event on Monday evening

Fashion first: Sabrina Elba, the wife of actor Idris Elba, also made her presence felt at the exhibition

Double trouble: Brice Abby and Regis Abby (L) dressed to impress in tan numbers, while the Amiaya twins wowed in metallic gowns

His own style: Stylish Law Roach rocked a quirky green creation on the red carpet

Stepping out: Maeva Marshall slipped into a little black satin dress for the occasion

The actress and model looked chic in a light blue double breasted suit as she posed for photos before joining her fellow guests at the exclusive celebration of Louboutin's life and work.

Elsewhere the diverse guestlist saw acclaimed French actress Juliette Binoch, British star Pippa Bennett Warner and socialite Princess Talita Natasha von Furstenberg also let their hair down at the event.

The exhibition features artwork and footwear yet to be seen by the general public and runs from February 26th to July 26th.

Ravishing: Monica Bellucci's open blazer exposed her cleavage as she posed for photos

Bold ensembles: Sabrina opted for a tasteful blue trouser suit on the night, a complete contrast to Dita's heavily embellished dress

In good company: The model and actress was joined by British star Pippa Bennett Warner

Getting involved: Japanese fashion model Kozue Akimoto (L) and model and influencer Kiwi Lee (R) also let their hair down on Monday evening

A vision in black: Princess Talita Natasha von Furstenberg caught the eye as she made her way inside

Party goers: Musician Igor Dewe (L) and journalist Derek Blasberg (R) helped Louboutin celebrate his new retrospective show

Good times: French star Arielle Dombasle (L) rubbed shoulders with celebrated actress Juliette Binoch (R) inside the Parisian venue

Meanwhile, though Karlie has kept up a busy modeling schedule in recent months, she's devoted much of her time to her new gig as the host of Project Runway.

She took over on the series after Heidi Klum departed following 2018's 16th season.

Last month, Karlie opened up on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen about the way the show had prepared her for a career in fashion, even if she didn't realize it at the time.

Step above the rest: Karlie looked sensational as she later posed on the stairs of the venue

Seeing double: Karlie proved why she's one of the most in-demand models as she posed up a storm on the steps

Ravishing: The Burlesque Queen ensured all eyes were on her in her enchanting ensemble

Showstopping: Dita continued to wow as she posed in her dazzling gown at the bash

Radiant: The beauty was glowing as she chatted away to other attendees

Fabulous: Gaia Weiss and Jesse Raimond Lacroix (L) looked fierce as they struck a pose, while the Bloom Twins shared a sweet hug on the red carpet

Look at me: Actress Miranda Makaroff donned an eye-catching ensemble for the event

'I've never done anything like this, but I have been working in the fashion industry for the last 10 years. I would say, I mean, in a funny way, my whole life has has prepared me for this. I did not expect to be in fashion. But when I first saw the show, Project Runway, I was 12 years old.

'And I remember thinking, at that point, fashion was fascinating, but had nothing to do with me. Little did I know that my career would start when I was 15 years old, working in fashion, working with the best and most incredible designers in the industry.

'And the last 10 years of my career have really equipped me for this role, whether I knew it or not,' she said.

Stand out: James Goldstein had several elements to his outfit including a furry jacket, embellished jeans and studded trainers

Pose: Anna Mouglalis (L) and Pippa Bennett-Warner were both radiant as they struck a pose at the PFW event

Hell for leather: Elsa Zylberstein upped her look with a sleek leather jacket

Cheerful: Fanny Ardant was all smiles at the event, as was Melanie Page and Nagui

Wow: Sabrina Dhowre looked stunning as she posed for a snap

Hi guys: Derek Blasberg and Bianca Brandolini D'Adda appeared in good spirits

Looking good: Monica Bellucci was glam in her black number
BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) heads to a new destination in sunny San Antonio, Texas in 2020. Named one of the fastest growing meetings in the USA by Trade Show Executive Magazine, the ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting continues to provide groundbreaking research and news about the latest advances in genetics, genomics and personalized medicine. To be held March 17-21, the 2020 ACMG Annual Meeting will feature more than 40 scientific sessions as well as three Short Courses, a variety of workshops, TED-Style talks and satellite symposia, and more than 750 poster presentations on emerging areas of genetic and genomic medicine.

Interview those at the forefront in medical genetics and genomics, connect in person with new sources and get story ideas on the clinical practice of genetics and genomics in healthcare today and for the future. Learn how genetics and genomics research is being integrated and applied into medical practice.

Topics include gene editing, cancer genetics, molecular genomics, exome sequencing, pre- and perinatal genetics, biochemical/metabolic genetics, genetic counseling, health services and implementation, legal and ethical issues, therapeutics and more.

Credentialed media representatives on assignment are invited to attend and cover the ACMG Annual Meeting on a complimentary basis. Contact Reymar Santos at [email protected] for the Press Registration Invitation Code, which will be needed to register at www.acmgmeeting.net.

Abstracts of presentations are available online at www.acmgmeeting.net. A few 2020 ACMG Annual Meeting highlights include:

Program Highlights:

ACMG Presidential Plenary Session: Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuester-Hauser (MRKH) Syndrome - A Non-lethal Birth Defect with Broad Implications for Health Care

TED-Style Talks:

Social Regulation of Human Gene Expression, Steve Cole , PhD

, PhD

The Future of Consumer Genomics, Yaniv Erlich , PhD

, PhD

Re-synthesizing Biology, Steven Benner , PhD

, PhD Hot Topics: Liquid Biopsy Cancer Diagnostics and Application of Immunogenomics to Cancer Therapy

Defining Best Clinical Practices in Genomic Testing of Healthy Individuals

Cutting Edge Scientific Concurrent Sessions:

The Evolving Landscape of Delivering Genetics Services: Tangled Policies and Financial Considerations

The Genetics Hotline: Responsibility and Liability When Handling Unsolicited Patient Communications

Artificial Intelligence and Genomics: Powerful Tools in Pre- and Postnatal Decision Making

The Gene Pool: Sharing Our Best Ideas for the Genetics Workforce

Genetic and Genomic Testing Outside of Clinical Care: Changing Paradigms for Access, Application & Understanding - R. Rodney Howell Symposium

Three half-day Genetics Short Courses on Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17:

LGG Alternative Certification Pathway Short Course: Mentored Clinical Cases

Prenatal to Postnatal Renal and Genitourinary Anomalies - Genetics, Management and Outcomes - A Joint Course with ISPD

Essential Fundamentals - Next Generation Sequencing from the Beginning

Photo/TV Opportunity: The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine will present bicycles to local children with rare genetic diseases at the Annual ACMG Foundation Day of Caring on Friday, March 20 from 10:30 AM  11:00 AM at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.

Social Media for the 2020 ACMG Annual Meeting: As the ACMG Annual Meeting approaches, journalists can stay up to date on new sessions and information by following the ACMG social media pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and by using the hashtag #ACMGMtg20 for meeting-related tweets and posts.

Note  be sure to book your hotel reservations early.

The ACMG Annual Meeting website has extensive information at www.acmgmeeting.net.

About the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine

Founded in 1991, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) is the only nationally recognized medical society dedicated to improving health through the clinical practice of medical genetics and genomics and the only medical specialty society in the US that represents the full spectrum of medical genetics disciplines in a single organization. The ACMG is the largest membership organization specifically for medical geneticists, providing education, resources and a voice for more than 2,400 clinical and laboratory geneticists, genetic counselors and other healthcare professionals, nearly 80% of whom are board certified in the medical genetics specialties. ACMG's mission is to improve health through the clinical and laboratory practice of medical genetics as well as through advocacy, education and clinical research, and to guide the safe and effective integration of genetics and genomics into all of medicine and healthcare, resulting in improved personal and public health. Four overarching strategies guide ACMG's work: 1) to reinforce and expand ACMG's position as the leader and prominent authority in the field of medical genetics and genomics, including clinical research, while educating the medical community on the significant role that genetics and genomics will continue to play in understanding, preventing, treating and curing disease; 2) to secure and expand the professional workforce for medical genetics and genomics; 3) to advocate for the specialty; and 4) to provide best-in-class education to members and nonmembers. Genetics in Medicine, published monthly, is the official ACMG journal. ACMG's website (www.acmg.net) offers resources including policy statements, practice guidelines, educational programs and a 'Find a Genetic Service' tool. The educational and public health programs of the ACMG are dependent upon charitable gifts from corporations, foundations and individuals through the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine.

Raye Alford, PhD

[email protected]

SOURCE American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics

Related Links

http://www.acmg.net


The headquarters of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seen in Silver Spring, Md., on Nov. 4, 2009. (Jason Reed/Reuters)

Domestic Supply of 150 Drugs Under Threat Due to Coronavirus

With the coronavirus having spread to 28 countries, including 53 confirmed cases in the United States, it has been reported there could be an upcoming shortage of about 150 prescription drugs.

Because China has been severely affected by the coronavirus, its decreased ability to produce these drugs could be in short supply, including  antibiotics, generics, and branded drugs, sources familiar with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) list of at-risk drugs told Axios.

The United States relies heavily on China for its drug needs. 80 percent of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients are produced abroad, the majority in China and India, said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

The FDA did not confirm the list of drugs in danger of becoming in short supply, but in a statement to Axios, said it was keenly aware that the outbreak could impact the medical product supply chain and is working to identify any potential short-falls.

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn Monday, demanding answers as to how the FDA will mitigate potential drug and medical device shortages.

Hawley asked the FDA what the agency is doing to ensure that the United States does not face a critical shortage of drugs, what the vulnerabilities are in the supply chain, and how are they being addressed.

In the letter, the senator wrote, The degree to which some of our own manufacturers rely on China to produce life-saving and life-sustaining medications is inexcusable. It is becoming clear to me that both oversight hearings and additional legislation are necessary to determine the extent of our reliance on Chinese production and protect our medical product supply chain.

In a Feb. 14 press release, Hahn said, We are not waiting for drug and device manufacturers to report shortages to uswe are proactively reaching out to manufacturers as part of our vigilant and forward-leaning approach to identifying potential disruptions or shortages.

The FDA has dedicated additional resources to review and coordinate data to better identify any potential vulnerabilities to the U.S. medical product sector, specifically from this outbreak, he continued.

The FDA did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times for comment, but in an earlier statement addressed potential shortages in drugs to treat the virus.

If a potential shortage or disruption of medical products is identified by the FDA, we will use all available tools to react swiftly and mitigate the impact to U.S. patients and health care professionals. These tools include closely working with manufacturers and expediting review of alternate supply to prevent shortages, among other measures, with the common goal of minimizing any negative impact to public health in America,

Hahn said, The FDA will continue to closely monitor the domestic and global supply chain during this evolving situation. Should the Agency be alerted to a potential shortage of a critical medical product, we will be as transparent as possible in sharing updates as they develop.
Lahore, Feb 25 : The Lahore High Court has issued notices to Pakistan's federal and provincial governments on an application seeking a permanent ban on the upcoming 'Aurat March' for being "anti-state" and "un-Islamic".

on Monday, LHC Chief Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh issued the directives on a petition filed by Advocate Azhar Siddique which stated: "Prima facie the Aurat March is misdirection and a failed attempt to raise grave issues commonly faced by women," Geo News reported.

The petitioner stated that hundreds of women will once again march scheduled to be held across Pakistan on March 8 to mark International Women's Day, with placards displaying various messages that allegedly manifest anarchy and vulgarity.

Siddiqui contended that the basic purpose of Women's Day was to recognise and appreciate women for their achievements as well as to express solidarity with women struggling all over the world against cruelty, discrimination, ignorance and domestic violence.

Siddique further claimed in his petition that, "there are various anti-state parties present who are funding this Aurat March with the sole purpose of spreading anarchy amongst the masses".

The petition also termed the march "against the very norms of Islam" and that its hidden agenda is to spread "anarchy, vulgarity and hatred".

It requested the court to effectively promulgate the Acts mentioned in the petition to "silence the advertisement of Aurat March on social media and to regulate protests such as the Aurat March".
Maybe 24th February, 1966, was the day Ghana had her freedom and independence led by Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Kwesi Kotoka, Lt. General Joseph Arthur Ankrah, Brigadier Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa and others who organized the overthrow of the government of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

Maybe after 54 years ago, Ghana became the torch of inspiration for Africas liberation from colonial rule and its appendages, neo-colonialism - and Ghanaians began to see an industrialized economy and a free society void of massive socio-economic injustice, poverty and hopelessness.

Maybe on this day, Ghanaians should be celebrating the misgovernance characterized by massive corruption, unprecedented levels of nepotism and excruciating economic hardship which are helping us to resist oppressors rule.

But, sadly, today actually marks a dark day in Ghana. February 24, celebrated by some reactionaries as Ghanas Days of Liberation is, unfortunately, Ghanas Day of Shame. It is said that the lapse of time cannot be taken place of evidence, and neither can it gather enough sand upon falsehood to equal with the truth.

In this epistle, I would like to you to take the red pill to find out the historical truth about some of the calculated lies and unfounded allegations about the First Republican regime presided by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

To begin with, in the JFK Ordeal in Africa, written by Richard D. Mahoney, it reveals that the National Liberation Council (NLC) was a brainchild of the CIA and British Intelligence which conspired with the traitors like JB Danquah and the officers among the army and the police to organize what has been held as the bloodiest coup detat in the history of this country in overthrowing the First Republican government.

And, in the cases of State V. Otchere and Others [1963], as reported in the Ghana Law Report, it was held that some members of the United Party (UP) in exile, among whom, were Obetsebi Lamptey and the two other accused persons, held meetings in Lome in the Republic of Togo where it was agreed to overthrow the Government of Ghana by unlawful means.

PREVENTIVE DETENTION ACT (PDA)

How did Ghana deal with these capital offenses of terrorism? Each country in the midst of a terrorist crisis has a set of emergency laws that are similar to the PDA. In general terms, the concept of preventive detention has been in existence since British rule in India and elsewhere in other colonies. For example, the U.G.C.C leaders (the so-called Big Six) arrested after the 1948 riots in the Gold Coast were technically held in preventive custody and were neither charged nor tried.

Less than a year after independence, and after three defeats at the polls in 1951, 1954 and 1956, four prominent members of the U.P. were involved in either undermining the stability of the new Ghana or planning a coup to overthrow the C.P.P. government. In November 1957, only eight months after independence, S.G. Antor and Kojo Ayeke two leading U.P. supporters were arrested and charged with complicity in the Alavanyo riots in Transvolta Togoland, which took place during the independence ceremonies.

In 1958, Modesto Apaloo and R.R. Amponsah (General Secretary of the N.L.M., and later the combined opposition parties, the U.P.) were implicated in plotting the first coup in the new Ghana with Captain Awhaitey, Commandant of the Giffard Camp (now Burma Camp), and were also held to have been involved in the 1961 Kulungungu bombing.

By the fifth assassination attempt on Nkrumah's life, a death toll of 30 Ghanaians, men, women and children, had been recorded with the wounding of some 300 others. What is more, Richard D. Mahoney had made it clear that J.B Danquah and some of his family members were on the payroll of the CIA plotting to overthrow the first Republic government. The state of the nation was in security turmoil, and the calls to avert these havocs caused PDA to be legislated in 1958.

Moreover, it important to know that after 1947, both India and Pakistan adopted prevention detention statutes to bring this long-standing practice within the purview of their judicial systems and constitutions. In the Indian Constitution, this comes under Article 22 - Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases specifically denies anyone held in preventive custody the fundamental rights set out in clauses (1) and (2). Article 22 Clause (3b) specifically states: Nothing in clauses (1) and (2) [i.e. protection from arbitrary arrest and detention, the right to consult and to be defended by, a legal counsel of choice] shall apply to any person who is arrested or detained under any law providing for preventive detention. (The PDA (Authors: Ekow Nelson and Dr. Michael Gyamerah).

The British adopted preventive custody to quell the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya. In the United Kingdom for example, The Prevention of Terrorism Action (PTA), allowed for detention without trial, charge or access to legal counsel for a period, has been in force since the early 1970s. Since 9/11, both the US and UK governments have introduced anti-terrorism legislations, much of which has created a proactive and conducive atmosphere for preventive detention and some would argue, encouraged the flagrant breaches of human rights.

The UKs Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act of 2001 allowed non-UK nationals to be detained without charge or trial for an indefinite period of time, if the Home Secretary believed such a person was a national security risk and a suspected "international terrorist who could not be deported.

Perhaps, let us ask the revisionist historians why the NLC repealed the PDA, they put in place the Protective Custody Decree (PCD) to arrest people without trial? And when asked why Dr. Busia indicated in the inaugural speech on October 1st 1969 there were 1377 political prisoners in jail. The NLC took 1850 political prisoners, they deliberately ignore?

In summary, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah is a hero of Africa. It will always follow necessarily that when you attack a hero, you become a villain. When you attack a villain, you become a hero. The concerted effort to dent the image of the Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah with falsehood will always fly in the face truth. A lie, when told, is a confirmation of supremacy of truth. And it was truth in which Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah said: As far as I am concerned, I am in the knowledge that death can never extinguish the torch which I have lit in Ghana and Africa. Long after I am dead and gone, the light will continue to burn and be borne aloft, giving light and guidance to all people.

Long live Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Long live Ghana Long live Africa And long live his legacy!!!

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: 0548455071
Comedian Drew Carey arrives at the premiere of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment's "The Wizard Of Oz" 3D And The Grand Opening Of The New TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 15, 2013. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Drew Carey Says Killed Ex-Fiancee Amie Harwick Didnt Deserve to Die Like She Did

Drew Carey, the Price is Right host, spoke for the first time on his weekly satellite radio show about his former fiancee, Amie Harwick, who was killed earlier this month.

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, Carey said tearfully, according to CBS News.

Carey and Harwick were engaged in 2018 but broke up about a year after that.

He also said, She had a Ph.D. 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, People magazine reported.

Following her death, CBS canceled tapings of the Price is Right show for the week while Carey mourned. Carey also said that he might not host the radio show for several weeks as he mourns.

Last week, officials said Harwick was thrown from a balcony at her Hollywood Hills apartment.

Gareth Pursehouse, an ex-boyfriend, was charged with one count of murder and one count of first-degree residential burglary, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office.

Police responding early Saturday to reports of a woman screaming discovered Harwick on the ground below the balcony, prosecutors said. She died at a hospital.

Officers found evidence of a struggle and a forced entry to the home, police said.

Detectives learned Harwick had recently expressed fear about an ex-boyfriend and had previously filed a restraining order against him, according to a police statement. The order had expired.

Carey previously honored Harwick in a Twitter post following her death and also shared a link to a Change.org petition that called for Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) to look at Californias domestic violence laws.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
South Africa is a telecommunications powerhouse and is home to a few of the continents biggest operators  Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, and Liquid Telecom.

MTN is Africas largest mobile operator and offers voice, data, and digital services to around 250 million retail customers in 21 countries.

Vodacom is South Africas largest mobile operator and serves 117 million customers across the continent.

In the fixed-line market, Telkom and Liquid Telecom remain the biggest players, but competition is increasing from fibre players like SEACOM, DFA, and Vumatel.

South Africa also has excellent ISPs like Afrihost, Axxess, and Cool Ideas which provide Internet access to residential customers and businesses.

Telecoms company valuations

Many people may wonder how much these companies are worth, especially those which are not directly listed on the JSE.

To answer this question, MyBroadband looked at the annual reports of shareholders in these companies and the valuations which they attach to their investments.

There are, however, a few companies which are either privately held or for which the owners do not give a valuation of the company. These include Liquid Telecom, Afrihost, and Webafrica.

Corporate action over the past few years can help to shed some light on their valuations, but these should be seen as rough estimates rather than valuations.

Here is an overview of the value of South Africas top telecommunications companies.

Vodacom  R213 billion

Vodacom is South Africas most valuable telecommunications company at R213 billion.

The operator launched services in South Africa in 1994 and has grown its operations to include networks in Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, and Lesotho.

It also provides business services to customers in over 32 African countries, including Nigeria, Zambia, Angola, Kenya, Ghana, Cote dIvoire, and Cameroon.

MTN  R156 billion

MTN is the continents largest telecoms operator with 250 million retail customers in the 21 countries.

It launched its first mobile products in South Africa in 1994 and rapidly expanded its operations across Africa and the Middle East.

MTN is among the most admired and most valuable brands in Africa.

Telkom  R14.6 billion

Telkom is South Africas largest fixed-line operator with 164,000km of fibre in the ground.

The company has connected more than 2.8 million premises with fibre through Openserve and it has around 10 million mobile subscribers.

It has been the cornerstone of the local telecoms market for decades and continues to play a vital role in connecting millions of South Africans.

CIVH (DFA and Vumatel)  R15.4 billion

CIVH, which owns DFA and Vumatel, is one of South Africas largest fibre operators with a strong position in the fibre-to-the-home and fibre-to-the-business markets.

DFA owns fibre networks in major cities and smaller metros with a fibre network of around 14,000km. The current book value of this fibre-optic network is in excess of R9 billion.

Vumatel, in turn, is a leader in the FTTH market with a fibre network of over 16,000km.

The company is also looking at opportunities in the data centre, tower infrastructure, and open-access wireless network market.

Rain  R12.2 billion

Rain is South Africas newest mobile operator with three big assets  spectrum, a growing 4G and 5G network, and a lucrative roaming agreement with Vodacom.

Rain shareholder ARC Investments said Rains revenue growth has been encouraging and significant progress has been made to further improve on network performance and stability.

SEACOM  R3.04 billion

SEACOM launched Africas first broadband submarine cable system along the continents eastern and southern coasts in 2009.

Since then it evolved into a fully-fledged telecoms operator offering high-capacity local and international fibre-optic connectivity, Internet, and cloud services to the wholesale and enterprise markets in Southern and East Africa.

Afrihost  R2 billion (estimate)

Afrihost was started in the late nineties as a web hosting company by three friends  Gian Visser, Brendan Armstrong, and Peter Meintjes. In September 2009, Afrihost entered the broadband market to bolster their market share as an ISP.

This move was very successful and today the company is the most trusted ISP in South Africa.

In 2014, MTN acquired half of Afrihost for R408 million, putting the companys valuation at R816 million at the time.

Since then the company has shown strong growth and launched many successful new products, and recent valuations and offers put the companys value at around R2 billion.

Metrofibre  R1.34 billion

Metrofibre was founded in 2010 as an internet infrastructure company that provides managed fibre-optic broadband connectivity in South Africa.

Its customers include service providers, resellers, residential and business properties, and consumers. The company also has a VOIP platform and recently launched GigaGo, a new fibre ISP.

Webafrica  R300 million (estimate)

Webafrica, which was founded in 1997 by Matthew Tagg as a web hosting company, is one of South Africas largest Internet service providers (ISPs) with around 60,000 customers.

It has recently put itself up for sale and the company is looking for an offer of R300 million.

While industry players value the company at between R170 million and R220 million, Webafrica would not entertain offers lower than R300 million.
(TNS)  The Springfield City Council on Monday passed a moratorium on the local governments use of facial recognition technology, a controversial piece of software many view as inaccurate and invasive.The measure, introduced to the legislative body by Springfield City Councilor Orlando Ramos in January, will now go to Mayor Domenic Sarnos office, though he has previously said he will veto any such ordinance Springfield joins four other communities in Massachusetts in attempting to ban the municipal use of facial recognition technology. Somerville was the first in the state to restrict the local governments use of the tech outright in June 2019. Similar ordinances have been passed in Brookline Northampton and Cambridge , and a statewide moratorium is currently under consideration.Accurate or not, face surveillance threatens our most basic rights, enabling governments to identify who attends protests, church, or AA meetings on an unprecedented scale, Kade Crockford, director of the Technology for Liberty Program at the ACLU of Massachusetts, said in a statement. We are grateful for the Springfield City Councils leadership on this issue.The unregulated use of facial recognition technology has prompted concerns from advocates, lawmakers and even some in law enforcement about the softwares impact on personal privacies and civil rights. Those who work with artificial intelligence have also pointed to the fact that the technology frequently misidentifies people of color, women and elderly people.Last year, the ACLU of Massachusetts launched its Press Pause on Face Surveillance campaign, which aims to raise awareness about the potential risks of facial recognition and the need to pass a statewide moratorium.Studies continue to demonstrate that face surveillance technology is biased on race, gender, and ageand far from ready for government use, Crockford said in her statement.The citys moratorium on the software would last until 2025 if signed into law. Ramos has said he would like the issue to automatically reappear on the city councils agenda again in the coming years and that the legislative body could reconsider the measure sooner than five years. The city councilor wants to allow police to come back to the council in the future if the software improves in accuracy and law enforcement wants to use it under limited circumstances, he said.Ramos told MassLive in December that he introduced the ordinance due to three main reasons: to avoid potential litigation, protect the public from unnecessary surveillance and prevent possible mistreatment of marginalized communities.Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood, along with Sarno, opposes the ban . Both have argued the technology could prove effective in fighting crime someday in the future. The software is not being used by the city currently, and it is not being pursued, Clapprood said.The Springfield City Council could override a veto from Sarno on the legislation with a two-thirds vote.The council previously proposed another ban on facial recognition in 2019, though the measure died in committee.
The Ministry of Economy has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Arizona State University (ASU) in the field of innovation and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The MoU was signed by Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy, and Dr. Michael M. Crow, President of Arizona State University.

The MoU forms part of the Ministrys efforts to develop international cooperation in various fields related to innovation and entrepreneurship, in addition to facilitating technology transfer, and enhancing diversification and competitiveness of the national economy by increasing the role of SMEs in development. These efforts in turn enhance the UAEs position as a leading global hub in the field of innovation. Against this backdrop, the MoU with ASU becomes the latest in a series of agreements the UAE has signed with many international partners, including South Korea, Sweden, Italy, Canada, Japan and China.

Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori said that encouraging entrepreneurship among citizens and supporting SMEs in the UAE are major focus areas in the economic policy pursued by the country. He emphasised that the Ministry continues its efforts to further enhance the environment for entrepreneurship in the country and expand international cooperation in this vital field by developing channels for the exchange of experiences and knowledge and facilitating access to global best practices in the development of SMEs.

He added that the MoU signed with ASU is of great significance as it presents an important opportunity for business leaders and owners of SMEs in the country to benefit from the pioneering experiences of the University and its partners in the private sector in various fields related to innovation. These include technology, business development and progress in the field of inventions and the MoU, in particular, covers an array of priority sectors on the UAEs economic agenda and innovation strategy, such as renewable energy, space and technology, and cooperation in food research and health care.

The MoU will enable the concerned parties to establish joint projects in the fields of cooperation agreed upon in the UAE and the USA. In addition, it will help Emirati inventors and young entrepreneurs to test and develop their innovative ideas, inventions and projects in cooperation with ASU and benefit from the Universitys extensive experience in these fields. They will also be able to participate in training programmes for citizen inventors in both the United States and the UAE.

A number of areas of cooperation were identified to be covered under the terms of the MoU, including the sectors of technology, education, health care, sustainability, innovation, renewable energy, water, space exploration, exchange of experiences, training.

Furthermore, Emirati entrepreneurs will be able to benefit from the Universitys International Future Laboratory, which focuses on sustainability; food security, water and energy; as well as the SkySong innovation programme for technology transfer, patents and Artificial Intelligence. The Ministry will coordinate with all federal and local authorities, universities and the private sector in the country to implement the MoU and achieve its goals. -- Tradearabia News Service
I think it was in the summer of 1962 that our family stayed with my fathers brother and his family in Brooklyn. I had a cousin who was a year or two older than I was and, being a New Yorker, probably five years older in sophistication years.

During the visit, my cousin, age 14 or 15 going on 20, extolled the virtues of Fidel Castro. I was skeptical, but he had the numbers to back up his arguments  literacy statistics, statistics about health care, and so forth.

When I returned to the provinces  our home in the D.C. suburbs  I did a little bit of research to confirm my cousins stats, and became an apostle of Castros revolution. I dont think I persuaded anyone at my junior high school of the virtues of communist Cuba, but I never lost an argument  at least as I perceived it.

Two years later, our family again stayed with my fathers brother and his family in Brooklyn. I was full or facts and figures with which to show my cousin how sophisticated I had become about Cuba, if nothing else. But before I could really get going, my cousin cut me off: Fidel? I gave up on him last year.

Bernie Sanders seems never to have given up on Fidel completely. He remained a fan through the 1980s and still defends Castro based on those literacy programs.

My father (and his brother, I think) were Brooklyn socialists in the 1930s. My father was never a communist and hated the Soviet Union, but many of his friends in the 30s believed in Stalin and his workers paradise.

Many of them gave up on Stalin when he signed that pact with Hitlers Germany in 1939. Others drifted away during the 1940s.

By the time Stalin died and his successor publicized the tyrants crimes, no one my father liked still had any use for the Soviet Union. Nor, when I became a radical leftist in the late 1960s, did any leftist I knew.

But Bernie Sanders never gave up on the Soviet Union. He honeymooned there in the late 1980s. By then, even his tour guide, assigned by the Communist Party, was telling him the system was collapsing.

It didnt matter. Sanders stuck to his guns and heaped praise on the Soviet Union. He even made Burlington, Vermont, of which he was mayor, the sister city of one the USSRs failing outposts.

It should be clear from the foregoing that socialist ideology didnt require Sanders to remain a fan of Cuba and the Soviet Union. Nearly all true believing socialists gave up on these two regimes half a century before Sanders was still defending them and touting their accomplishmentss.

And true democratic socialists never had any use for these murderous regimes. By definition, they couldnt.

Is Sanders that much more oblivious than other socialists? Or does he just hate America much more than they did, to the point that the enemy of my enemy is my friend and therefore must be defended? I think its the latter.
Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga will leave his position next year and take over as executive chairman, the company announced Tuesday.

Banga will succeed Richard Haythornthwaite, who has served as chairman since May 2006.

Michael Miebach, Mastercard's chief product officer, will succeed Banga as CEO. The changes are effective Jan. 1.

Miebach has "as a proven track record of building products and running businesses globally," Banga said in a statement. "During the course of Michael's 10 years at Mastercard, he has been a key architect of our multi-rail strategy  including leading the acquisition of Vocalink and the pending transaction with Nets  to address a broader set of payment flows."
The top US military commander in Europe told Congress today that Turkey remains a key ally despite the Donald Trump administrations decision to boot the NATO partner from the F-35 program after it took delivery of the Russian S-400 air defense system last summer.

The exchange: Pressed by Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott in a posture hearing Tuesday, the dual-hatted NATO supreme allied commander and US European Command chief Gen. Tod Wolters said that Turkey remains a very reliable ally more than seven months after receiving its first S-400 batteries.

Impacts: But as the Pentagon winds down Turkeys participation in the F-35 program over long-held fears that the Russian system could wind up reducing the American fighters ability to evade detection in combat, Ankara will not be directly participating in a massive military exercise in Europe.

They are on the periphery, Wolters said, confirming that Turkey would hold observer status for the drill that will include nearly 40,000 allied troops in a defensive scenario on the Suwalki Gap between Poland and Lithuania.

Meanwhile, in Syria: Ongoing fighting in Idlib province, where Turkish-backed fighters are clashing with troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has driven the tepid US-Turkish alliance closer together. As President Trump said on Tuesday [Feb. 18], we are working together with Turkey on seeing what we can do, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said today, declining to provide specifics. Turkey has asked the United States for Patriot missile batteries to defend its border, Al-Monitor has confirmed.

Whats next: Wheels up for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is set to huddle next week with his French, German and Russian counterparts to talk over the brewing chaos in Idlib.

Know more: Read Pentagon correspondent Jack Detschs latest on talks between the United States and Turkey over possible missile defense support in Idlib.
A Birmingham man facing two separate murder charges has pleaded guilty to reduced crimes in both slayings.

Anthony Needham, 38, was charged with intentional murder in the 2018 slaying of his girlfriend, Sikeisha Mitchell, and with capital murder in the 2019 killing of Johnny Wayne Mann during a robbery. Both fatal shootings took place in Birminghams Southtown public housing community.

The 36-year-old Mitchell, the mother of Needhams child, was shot to death in August 2018. The shooting happened about 10:45 p.m. that Saturday at the victims apartment in the 900 block of 23rd Street South.

Police arrived on the scene to find Mitchell dead from a gunshot wound to the head. Authorities said a domestic argument was apparently taking place when the shooting happened. Needham was formally charged two days later and was out of jail on $100,000 bond.

While out on bond, Needham was charged with capital murder in the Aug. 20, 2019 shooting death of the 44-year-old Mann. Mann was shot about 9:30 p.m. that Tuesday in the 900 block of 24th Street South. The Montevallo man was pronounced dead on the scene by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service at 9:45 p.m.

South Precinct commander Capt. Raymond Cochran said the deadly shooting happened in the courtyard of two apartment buildings. He said there was an altercation moments before the shots were fired. Birmingham police confirmed Mann was shot in the head.

Needham and a co-defendant, 29-year-old Cordarius Quartez Williams, were indicted earlier this month on the capital murder charge in Manns death. A trial date for Williams has not yet been set.

Needham on Monday pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter in Mitchells death and to murder in Manns death. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Birmingham attorney Charles Salvagio represented Needham in both cases. We felt like they had a strong case in both cases, Salvagio said Tuesday. Hes very remorseful and he stepped up and acted like a man. Hes always been remorseful.

Needham remains in the Jefferson County Jail awaiting transfer to the Alabama Department of Corrections.
The Japan share market finished session steep lower on Tuesday, 25 February 2020, joining a global rout on mounting worries that the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic from China to neighbouring countries would impact on supply chains and global economic growth. All industry categories of Topix index lost ground, with marine transportation, product instrument and securities house-oriented issues being notable losers. Around late afternoon, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average tumbled 747.61 points, or 3.2%, to 22,639.13, while the broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange dropped 50.74 points, or 3.03%, at 1,623.26. Japan markets were closed on Monday for a national holiday.

The stock market opened lower and worsened as the spread of the coronavirus inside and outside of China may disrupt global economic growth. In recent days, clusters of infection have been seen in South Korea, Italy and Iran. Broadly speaking, the illness has had an impact on the flow of people, tourism, trade, supply chains and demand for commodities.

Chinese officials reported 508 new cases as on Monday, 24 February 2020, though the overall total in mainland China is nearly 77,658 infected, with 2,663 deaths. Also, the reports stated sharp increases in the number of cases in South Korea, Italy and Iran.

Italy, which Moody's says will fall into recession this quarter because of the virus, has the largest known outbreak outside of Asia, with more than 200 confirmed cases and six deaths as of Monday. The South Korea, a critical link in the technology industry's pan-Asian supply chain, reported 60 new cases, bringing the number of infected cases to 893 and death toll of 8, and a lawmaker in Iran said the death toll from the city of Qom is 50.

Goldman Sachs on Monday cut its estimate for U. S. economic growth in the first quarter to just 1.2% from an original 1.4%, which would make it one the weakest three-month periods in Trump's presidency.

On last Saturday, the International Monetary Fund warned the virus outbreak could reduce global economic growth by 0.1% this year, and drag China's annual growth 0.4%age points lower than January estimates.

Economists at Standard Chartered Bank on last Friday estimated that COVID-19 epidemic could affect 30% of China's imports and 10% of its exports, prompting them to lower their gross domestic product forecast for China this year to 5.5% from 5.8%.

Factories around the world are grappling with parts shortages as their Chinese suppliers struggle to resume normal operations. With global economic engines sputtering, the Federal Reserve and other central banks facing face calls for emergency help.

Central banks across Asia have already been easing policy, while governments have promised large injections of fiscal stimulus, something western countries might also have to consider. But central bank chiefs may be ill equipped to battle the economic consequences of the flulike illness, which has prevented many Chinese workers from returning to their assembly lines and kept consumers shut at home instead of shopping.

Elsewhere, markets in Malaysia were watched on Tuesday following recent developments that thrust the country into political uncertainty. The country's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad unexpectedly resigned on Monday, but reportedly agreed to stay on as interim leader until a successor is named.

Shares of Fujifilm bucked the overall trend to surge more than 4% after reports that the Japanese government is considering the use of an anti-flu drug developed by a unit of the firm to treat the coronavirus.

CURRENCY & COMMODITY NEWS: The Japanese yen, often viewed as a safe-haven currency in times of economic uncertainty, appreciated against a basket of currencies. The Japanese yen traded at 110.93 per dollar after strengthening from levels above 111.2 yesterday.

Crude-oil prices fell 5%, with West Texas Intermediate crude for April delivery settling 4.9% lower at $50.87 a barrel, while April Brent crude, the global benchmark, lost 5.5% to finish at $55.27 a barrel.

Gold prices surged by $27.80 an ounce, or 1.7%, to settle at $1,676.60, its highest finish in seven years.

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New parents who clean their homes very often to protect their babies from bacteria and other organisms might want to cut back their efforts.

A new study suggests that high levels of contact with cleaning products are linked to an increased risk of the childhood breathing condition known as asthma.

Researchers asked a group of parents how often they used 26 common household cleaners during their babies first three to four months of life. By age three, the children who had come in contact with cleaning products the most were more likely to be diagnosed with asthma. The researchers said that children who had a lot of contact with cleaners were 37 percent more likely to have asthma than children with the least contact.

The study also found that a lot of exposure to cleaning products caused children to be 35 percent more likely to have chronic difficulty breathing. In addition, they were 49 percent more likely to have chronic allergies.

Tim Takaro, who helped lead the study, is a doctor with Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. He told the Reuters news service he understands that parents want to make their homes safe for their children. But he suggests that they should question the belief that their home is clean only if it smells like chemical-based cleaning products.

Instead, we propose that the smell of a healthy home is no smell at all, said Takaro.

Takaro said parents should read labels and look for products that are free of substances like chemical colors and smells. Also, they should consider natural cleaning products instead of chemical ones.



The study appeared in the medical publication CMAJ earlier this month. The researchers wrote that the first months of life are very important for development of the bodys natural defenses, known as the immune system. The same is true for the organs involved in breathing.

Chemicals in cleaning products can cause chronic inflammation that may lead to asthma. It also may make symptoms appear more often and intensely, the researchers noted.

Asthma can be difficult to diagnose with breathing tests involving young children. So researchers also tested the childrens skin for allergies and asked parents how often children experienced symptoms like trouble breathing.

The most commonly used cleaning products in the study were dishwashing soap, multipurpose cleaners, glass cleaners and soap for washing clothes.

The American Lung Association recommends avoiding cleaning products that contain volatile organic substances and other irritants. But companies in Canada and the United States are not required to list all the chemicals in cleaning products. Some products labeled as environmentally friendly, or green, may contain harmful substances.

Elissa Abrams, who wrote comments on the study, is a doctor with the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada. She admitted that the effects of cleaning products are not well understood. But she believes these products and the chemicals they contain act as irritants to growing children.

Young children who spend a lot of time indoors may be at greater risk, said Abrams.

The take-home message is that parents should be careful which cleaning products they use in the home, she added.

Im Pete Musto.

Lisa Rapaport reported this story for the Reuters news service. Pete Musto adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

Quiz - Home Cleaning Products May Cause Breathing Problems in Children, Study Says Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

diagnose(d)  v. to recognize a disease or illness in someone

exposure  n. the fact or condition of being affected by something or experiencing something

chronic  adj. continuing or happening again and again for a long time

allergies  n. a kind of medical condition that causes someone to become sick after eating, touching, or breathing something that is harmless to most people

label(s)  n. a piece of paper, cloth, or similar material that is connected to something to identify or describe it

inflammation  n. a condition in which a part of your body becomes red, swollen, and painful

symptom(s)  n. a change in the body or mind which indicates that a disease is present

multipurpose  adj. having more than one use or purpose

volatile  adj. likely to become dangerous or out of control

irritant  n. something that makes part of your body sore and painful
Hyderabad, Feb 25 : The University of Hyderabad Students' Union has alleged that time and again Delhi Police have proved themselves to be the stooges of the ruling establishment.

Condemning the situation in the national capital where clashes between pro and anti-CAA protesters have so far claimed 10 lives, the students' body called for standing with the citizens.

The union said in a statement that whether it's the attack on Jamia Millia Islamia or the crackdown on students at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), the Delhi police remained mute spectators.
George Clooney has pledged 'work will be done' after an investigation uncovered child labour at farms linked to the Nespresso coffee he advertises.

The actor, who has reportedly earned 31million as the brand's ambassador, said he was saddened after youngsters were filmed working eight-hour days on plantations for less than 5.

The probe by Channel 4's Dispatches showed them doing up to six-day weeks picking beans and shifting heavy loads to weighing areas in Guatemala.

Nespresso, known for its stylish coffee machines and capsules, does not publicly list its supplier farms.

But Dispatches said it found information about suppliers in Guatemala, the world's tenth largest coffee producer. Reporters claim they were given access to farms located in remote regions and saw children working at all of them.

George Clooney has pledged 'work will be done' after an investigation uncovered child labour at farms linked to the Nespresso coffee he advertises

The Swiss coffee brand has previously claimed its beans come from ethical sources.

Clooney, who joined Nespresso's Sustainability Advisory Board in 2013, said: 'I was surprised and saddened to see this story. Clearly this board and this company still have work to do. And that work will be done.'

He added: 'Having grown up working on a tobacco farm from the time I was 12 I'm uniquely aware of the complex issues regarding farming and child labour.'

Clooney, who worked on his grandparents' tobacco farm in Kentucky during summer holidays, said he hoped Dispatches reporter Anthony Barnett, who revealed the evidence, 'will continue to investigate these conditions and report accurately if they do not improve'.

'The check and balance of good corporate responsibility lies not just with the company itself but also independent journalists like Mr Barnett to hold everyone's promise to account,' Clooney said.

The actor, 58, has been Nespresso's brand ambassador since 2006 and insisted he was 'enormously proud' of its work

The actor, who has reportedly earned 31million as the brand's ambassador, said he was saddened after youngsters were filmed working eight-hour days on plantations for less than 5 (file photo, Tena, Cundinamarca, Colombia)

The actor, 58, has been Nespresso's brand ambassador since 2006 and insisted he was 'enormously proud' of its work. He said he joined the advisory board and groups including the Rainforest Alliance, Fair Trade International and the Fair Labour Association.

He added: 'The goal then, as it remains to this day, is to improve the lives of farmers. Make their farms more profitable. More sustainable. I'm enormously proud of the success of their efforts. They've improved the lives and livelihoods of thousands of farms all around the world.'

Nespresso chief executive Guillaume Le Cunff insisted it had 'zero tolerance of child labour' and promised to investigate. He said: 'It is unacceptable. Where there are claims that our high standards are not met, we act immediately.

'In this case, we've launched a thorough investigation to find out which farms were filmed and whether they supply Nespresso. We will not resume purchases of coffee from farms in this area until the investigation is closed.'

The Swiss coffee brand has previously claimed its beans come from ethical sources (pictured: Nespresso Pixie, Electric Lime)

Dispatches said Nespresso declined to give an interview.

Since its formation in 2000, the company has hired more than 13,000 staff in 76 countries and launched more than 700 boutique stores.

It is not the first time the brand has been accused of forced labour. An investigation by Reuters in December found coffee produced by forced labour in Brazil was stamped slavery-free by certification schemes and sold at a premium to firms like Nespresso.

Dispatches is on Monday at 8pm on Channel 4.

A statement from Nespresso reads: 'Nespresso has zero tolerance of child labour. It is unacceptable. Where there are claims that our high standards are not met, we act immediately. In this case, we were informed by a UK media outlet that they had identified instances of child labor on six farms in a region of Guatemala.

'The media outlet refused to provide us with the details of the farms so that we could confirm whether they supplied Nespresso and immediately address these allegations. However, we have launched a thorough investigation and taken a number of actions.

'First and foremost, we have immediately stopped purchases of coffee from all farms in the region and we will not resume purchases until we are able to investigate and be assured that child labour is not being used.

'Through the investigation, any issues we uncover will be dealt with diligently and firm action will be taken.

'We will also double the number of agronomists that we have on the ground in the region and we will implement unannounced visits to check on compliance on social and labour issues.

'All of these actions are on top of our ongoing direct work with farmers and partners in the region and around the world.

'We work with Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade International to reinforce good working practices and fair treatment of workers, including education on the risks of child labour.

'In fact, all of the farms in the cooperatives in this region of Guatemala are Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade certified.

'We invest heavily in this effort; in 2019, our 400 agronomists made over 170,000 farm visits and trainings across the world, including 60,000 detailed on farm sustainability assessments.

'This was backed up by more than 3,300 third party verification farm audits.

'We will continue to do all we can to stamp child labour out. It has no place in our supply chain.

'We are extremely concerned by the allegations made and take them very seriously. We are making significant efforts to address child labor and protect the children in the coffee farming communities we work with, and we will continue to do so.'
One of Bollywood's biggest heartthrobs, Shahid Kapoor is celebrating his 39th birthday today. While the handsome actor has no special birthday plans as such this year as he is busy shooting for Jersey in Chandigarh, his family flew down to the city to spend some quality time with the birthday boy.

His wife Mira Rajput shared a cute picture featuring her and Shahid from Chandigarh. In the click, the couple is all smiles for the camera and Mira romantically captioned the picture as, 'Happy Birthday to the love of my life."

Meanwhile, Shahid's younger sibling Ishaan Khatter had a goofy birthday wish for his 'bade bhaiyya'. He shared a bunch of pictures, one of which has Shahid sporting a man bun and happily smiling for the lens. The second picture is all about swag while the third click calls for some major throwback.

Ishaan captioned his post as, "OG Mere bade miyan. Happy birthday, Bhaijaan."

In his recent interview with Hindustan Times, Shahid shared his fondest birthday memories from his childhood and told the tabloid, "My childhood memories of my birthday include some bad behaviour on my part. I was quite into gifts. I would grab gifts from the guests and run away with them. My mum would get very embarrassed. She would call me back and ask me to thank them and behave well. But I was very greedy for gifts. That's something I remember and I hope I can teach my kids to not be like that."

Shahid Kapoor is currently busy filming for Jersey in Chandigarh. The film also features Mrunal Thakur in a key role. Jersey is a remake of Nani's critically-acclaimed Telugu movie with the same title.

Birthday Special: Shahid Kapoor Is A Perfect Fit If These South Films Are Ever Remade In Bollywood

Shahid Kapoor And Alia Bhatt To Reunite For A Patriotic Film With Karan Johar?
In June 2019, Daisy Alioto, now the audience development manager for the New York Review of Books, tweeted that she had learned through freelance-journalists network Study Hall of a Vox contract explicitly forbidding freelance writers from discussing rates. The Freelance Journalists Union asked for Vox freelancers to privately share the rates Vox verticals paid them. The union then anonymizedand finally tweetedaround 100 different submissions, some of which revealed pay disparities for similar work. In mid-August, Vox distributed a new freelance contract without a provision restricting rate sharing.

Rate sharing is a popular practice in Study Hall, founded in 2015 by journalist Enav Moskowitz and writer Kyle Chayka. Study Hall keeps a member-updated database of editors contact information and rates writers were paid at various outlets. Members of the organization also share their rates on a one-off basis in the groups listserv and Slack, according to Erin Corbett, who has written for The Nation and VICE and works as a Study Hall administrator. The practice, Corbett adds, is especially beneficial to writers who wouldnt normally ask for more money.

A few like-minded labor organizations for freelance journalists and writers have emerged more recently: in the spring of 2018, the National Writers Union (NWU), launched the Freelance Solidarity Project; and just last year, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) established the FJU (of which I am a member). Each of these entities encourages writers to disclose rates, and helps share them widely.

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Even in non-unionized workplaces, employees are legally protected if they want to discuss their pay with colleagues. Nevertheless, they are often discouraged from doing so, and so sharing rates is still considered risky or taboo. We are discouraged from sharing rates because money is such a touchy subject, and that only benefits the people at the top, says freelance journalist Taylor Moore, who has bylines at CityLab and LitHub, among others. Just before the end of 2019, Moore shared highlights from her years work on Twitter, along with the rate of pay for each one; a number of other journalists did the same.

If you ever have questions about my experience or rate with an outlet (especially if you are a woman or POC), please DM or email me! I think talking about money is important to our liberation as working people, and I want to lead by example.  Taylor Moore (@taylormundo) December 12, 2019

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Knowing the rates offered by different outlets helps writers negotiate pay. Bradley Babendir, a freelance book critic who has been published in NPR and the now-defunct Pacific Standard, says that, as a result of seeing another writer post on social media that they were paid $1 per word for an article Medium published, he knew to ask for that rate when he successfully pitched the same outlet. Corbett says that rate transparency was especially helpful early on in her career, when she didnt have an idea of what rates were fair to ask for.

Journalists have shared critical information about rates among themselvesthrough whisper networks, private databases in Facebook groups and among unions, and public, anonymous databases such as the website Who Pays Writersfor many years. But industry-wide turmoil makes this a particularly perilous moment for freelancers: newsrooms laid off thousands of workers (some of them non-editorial) last year, and a Pew Research Center report from July found that newsroom employment had plunged by 25 percent between 2008 and 2018. As publications shutter and the labor market fills with ever more writers living assignment to assignment, freelance journalists and writers have begun more earnestly seeking organized-labor protections for their precarious situations, and rate-sharing is a cornerstone of that effort.

Chris Roberts, a freelance journalist with bylines in The Guardian, VICE, and The Vergeand a member of multiple freelancers unionssays there seem to be more freelance journalists and writers publicly sharing their rates in the recent past. Rate sharing, Roberts says, has been much more vocal and open, and its happening in an era where there are multiple unions encouraging this kind of openness and transparency.

Still, while this openness has helped to make conditions for some workers more equitable, freelancers fear retribution. Writers are scared of editors seeing them differently or refusing to work with them or being punished in another way because people are upset that they disclosed their rate, says Babendir. Fear of retribution seems to me like a rational reaction to a scary situation, but thats why solidarity is so important.

For many, rate-sharing is also a means to an end greater than personal enrichment. In particular, freelancers who spoke to CJR shared concerns around addressing pay disparities for women and Black writers.

Najma Sharif, who has written for Fader and Playboy, says that rate transparency sets a standard, especially white men and white women sharing their rates, so I can be like, Hey why are outlets paying me so little, whats going on here? Sharif says the next step is for freelancers to break down pay disparities between writers in terms of identities and try to determine industry-wide rates.

There are few studies of who exactly makes up the freelance journalism workforce. In fact, a 2017 survey about freelance writers from the job website Freelance Writing made the decision not to ask writers about their race, gender, or age. Its information that labor representatives agree would be worthwhile, but compiling data about rates and writers backgroundslet alone analyzing itis a daunting undertaking, especially for relatively young organizations.

Efforts to establish more rate transparency and secure fairer rates for freelance journalists also lends itself to organizing around better payment processes. Colleen Tighe, a member of the NWUs Freelance Solidarity Project and an illustrator, says that the Project is having a lot of the discussions about things like working on retainer, or getting upfront fees, and figuring out the logistics of receiving money in a timely manner.

A large and growing faction of freelancers believe that they can counter this sort of unfairness through solidarity. As a writer I was sort of conditioned to think the pay is going to be shit, Roberts says. Its a raw deal you get in exchange for this maybe-preferable lifestyle, [but] the only reason thats how it is is because too many people accept it.

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Elizabeth King is a freelance journalist in Chicago.
I paid property taxes, which goes to my local school, Borrelli continued. Everything I spent was taxed and went to the local community and even to the state in sales taxes.

But Sen. Andrea Dalessandro, D-Green Valley, said she doesnt see it that way.

In fact, she argued, cutting revenues actually can work against those who have retired from the military. She said that means less money going into the education of people who will provide them the health care they will need.

That is really more important to me that they have someone to take care of them, Dalessandro said.

And Sen. Jamescita Peshlakai, D-Window Rock, said the proposal would benefit only those with military pensions, not anyone who is a veteran. More to the point, she said it actually helps only those who retired as officers  with higher pensions.

Borrelli effectively conceded the point.

He said the average rank for an enlisted person after 20 years in the military is E-7, with a pension of less than $24,000 a year.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - As the coronavirus topped 80,000 cases, surging numbers outside of China are feeding fears that the chances for containing the spread of the virus are failing.

While acknowledging the virus still has pandemic potential, the director of the World Health Organization says we arent there yet and that numbers have actually peaked, and are falling, in China.

Global markets are showing their concerns with the DOW dropping more than 1,000 points yesterday.

Over 2,700 people have died from the virus and almost 28,000 have recovered.

Live coronavirus tracker

Coronavirus news in the U.S.

US confirms 53 coronavirus cases, including evacuated cruise passengers (NY Post)

White House seeks $2.5B for coronavirus, but Pelosi says thats not enough (NBC News)

Virus concern grips Washington as Trump dispenses optimism (CNN)

Trump faces black swan threat to the economy and reelection (Politico)

Drugmaker delivers first experimental vaccine for human testing (Wall Street Journal)

Can a state force a city to house coronavirus patients? (New York Times)

Oregon Health Authority: 76 people being monitored for virus (KATU)

Coronavirus chances in Massachusetts deemed low (MassLive)

Coronavirus news around the globe

In this Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, Shiite pilgrims wear masks in the shrine of Imam Ali in Najaf, Iraq. The Health Ministry said four new cases of coronavirus were diagnosed in the northern province of Kirkuk. It said the afflicted were members of an Iraqi family who had returned from a recent trip to Iran. Iraq announced the discovery of the first coronavirus case in the country on Monday in Najaf. Iraq had earlier closed its border with Iran to Iranian nationals but apparently Iraqis can still cross the boundary. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)AP

South Koreas Moon says situation very grave as mass virus tests get going (Reuters)

Worst-hit countries boost containment efforts (BBC)

CDC issues heightened travel warning for South Korea (USA Today)

Conte admits hospital error in Italy (CNN)

University of Utah campus in S. Korea taking precautions (Salt Lake Tribune)

Britons returning from Northern Italy told to self isolate (BBC)

Local coronavirus news

Coronavirus crisis leaves some Toledo business owners in a pinch (ABC 13)

Ohio health officials have asked 175 travelers to self-quarantine (cleveland.com)

Symptoms mild for many (cleveland.com)

Read complete prior coronavirus coverage on cleveland.com
Some of the prominent players operating in the mitigation banking market includes, Alafia River Wetland Mitigation Bank, Inc., Burns & McDonnell

PUNE, India, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Rising awareness on environmental issues are influencing governments to take initiatives to reduce degradation of environment, leading to a boost in the growth of global mitigation banking market over the forecast period. Rise in urbanization and rapid industrial development are leading to destruction of costal and natural resources degrading the environment around us. Industrial activities including oil drilling, deforestation, plastic production among others are major contributors degrading quality of soil, water and air. To tackle environmental damage, governments are introducing taxes and penalties on industries. For instance, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an international organization for stimulating economic progress, is assisting its member countries to develop environmental taxation system and contribute in reducing the damage to environment. These on-going taxations and extra costs have mandated industries to utilize available options including mitigation banking for effectively tackling environmental damage. Mitigation banking has proved its mettle to cope with the adversaries posed to environment.

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In December 2002 the U.S., National Wetlands Mitigation Action Plan was created which further helped in the maturing of the mitigation banking system in the U.S. These taxes for restricting the pollution and incentives for promoting environmental balance are poised to boost the growth of global mitigation banking market over the forecast period. Government agencies are exploring public-private partnership models to implement mitigation banking initiatives. In such an instance, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has planned to allocate 140 acres of property in Chalfont county of Pennsylvania as wetland mitigation banking site to a private player who will lease this land for 13 years.

Rise in economic development is majorly leading to harmful impact on our streams and wetlands among others. Governments across the globe are developing new systems to restore and preserve wetlands, streams, and wildlife habitat affected by the growth in consumption rate of goods and industrial developments. For example, in the state of Florida, Florida Department of Environmental Protection is playing a critical role in monitoring and working closely with mitigation banker. Across Florida, there are more than a hundred permitted mitigation bank projects underway, representing over 190,000 acres of conservation land. These projects are restoring freshwater ecosystems and saltwater coastal wetlands, protecting the basins of waterways. Such initiatives are expected to contribute towards the highest share of wetland or stream banks segment in the global mitigation banking market throughout the forecast years.

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The detailed research study provides qualitative and quantitative analysis of the global mitigation banking market. The mitigation banking market has been analyzed from demand as well as supply side. The demand side analysis covers market revenue across regions and further across all the major countries. The supply side analysis covers the major owning or managing partner and their regional and global presence and strategies. The geographical analysis done emphasizes on each of the major countries across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa and Latin America.

Key Findings of the Report:

The global mitigation banking market is expected to grow at CAGR of 13.47% over the forecast period owing to increased technical support and engagement of government authorities for conservation of environment

In global mitigation banking market, the wetland or stream banks segment is expected to register highest revenue owing to higher amount degradation of wetlands causing increased concern of industries and governments.

Some of the prominent players operating in the mitigation banking market includes, Alafia River Wetland Mitigation Bank, Inc., Burns & McDonnell, EarthBalance, Ecosystem Services, LLC, and Habitat Bank LLC amongst others.

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Global Mitigation Banking Market

By Type:

Wetland or Stream Banks



Conservation Banks



Forest Conservation

By Verticals:

Construction and Mining



Energy and Utilities



Manufacturing



Healthcare



Transportation



Others

By Region:

North America



U.S.





Canada





Mexico





Rest of North America



Europe



France





The UK





Spain





Germany





Italy





Nordic Countries





Denmark







Finland







Iceland







Sweden







Norway





Benelux Union





Belgium







The Netherlands







Luxembourg





Rest of Europe



Asia Pacific



China





Japan





India





New Zealand





Australia





South Korea





Southeast Asia





Indonesia







Thailand







Malaysia







Singapore







Rest of Southeast Asia



Rest of Asia Pacific

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 25)  The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is planning to lend a record high $3.3 billion or 168.3 billion, with about half to support the governments flagship infrastructure program Build, Build, Build.

In a statement, the ADB said the projects that will likely be included in the funding are the South Commuter Railway, EDSA Greenways Pedestrian Walkways, and the Angat Water Transmission Aqueduct 7.

Also to be funded by the loan are initiatives to boost social protection, sustainable tourism, and capital market development.

In 2019, ADBs sovereign lending to the country totaled $2.5 billion, up from $1.4 billion in 2018.

Meanwhile, the $2.75 billion Malolos-Clark Railway Project was considered as ADBs largest project financing in the Asia and Pacific region to date.

ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa paid a courtesy visit to President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday.

During the dinner hosted by the Philippine government, Asakawa recognized the governments effort in slashing down the national poverty rate to 16.6% in 2018 from 23.3% in 2015. This can be cited to the countrys high economic growth rates, job creation, and expanded social assistance programs, said ADB.

The government also aims to further reduce the national poverty rate to 14% by 2022.

Asakawa also met with Finance Secretary and ADB Governor Carlos Dominguez III and reiterated ADBs support to the countrys infrastructure programs and the peace and economic development initiative in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

ADB is committed to supporting the governments effort to reduce poverty and create high quality jobs for Filipinos by building a competitive economy and caring society, said Asakawa.
Hakob Avagyan, head of Health and Labor Inspectorate, spoke about work being done to prevent the entry of the new coronavirus into Armenia.

According to him, other measures are also being taken.

They cooperate with the National Security Service and the MFA when passengers from countries with coronavirus confirmed cases arrive.

"We have already filled in 1271 address cards since January 24, 36 of which have been hospitalized at border checkpoints," he said adding that most of them are from Zvartnots Airport.

As for the Meghri checkpoint, there was only one case of hospitalization there.
Photograph: Alamy

A thousand guests and staff at a hotel in Tenerife have been quarantined after an Italian man tested positive for coronavirus, the fourth confirmed case in Spain.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Catalan health department confirmed the regions first recorded case after a woman from Barcelona tested positive after a trip to northern Italy, the location of Europes biggest coronavirus outbreak. Confirmation came hours after the Italian man was diagnosed and his hotel placed on lockdown.

The Spanish health authorities had already two confirmed cases  one on the remote Canary island of La Gomera and another on the Balearic island of Mallorca  but the Catalan case is the first in mainland Spain.

News of the rising infection toll came as the Austrian state of Tyrol, which borders Italy, confirmed its first two cases of the virus and Croatia confirmed its first case in a hospital patient in the capital, Zagreb.

Health authorities in the Canary Islands ordered the lockdown of the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in south Tenerife on Monday, as Spain waited for definitive proof of its third case of the virus. Authorities were also awaiting final tests on the woman in Barcelona.

The hotel is used by the package holiday firms Tui and Jet2Holidays. The four-star, seafront resort was locked down at about 8am on Tuesday, hours after the Italian man, reported to be a doctor, complained of feeling ill and was taken to a local hospital.

The World Health Organization is recommending that people take simple precautions to reduce exposure to and transmission of the Wuhan coronavirus, for which there is no specific cure or vaccine.

The UN agency advises people to:

Frequently wash their hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or warm water and soap

Cover their mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue when sneezing or coughing

Avoid close contact with anyone who has a fever or cough

Seek early medical help if they have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, and share their travel history with healthcare providers

Story continues

Avoid direct, unprotected contact with live animals and surfaces in contact with animals when visiting live markets in affected areas

Avoid eating raw or undercooked animal products and exercise care when handling raw meat, milk or animal organs to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods.

Despite a surge in sales of face masks in the aftermath of the outbreak of the coronavirus outbreak, experts are divided over whether they can prevent transmission and infection. There is some evidence to suggest that masks can help prevent hand-to-mouth transmissions, given the large number of times people touch their faces. The consensus appears to be that wearing a mask can limit  but not eliminate  the risks, provided they are used correctly.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advised UK nationals to leave China where possible. It is also warning that travellers from Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand who develop symptoms of cough or fever or shortness of breath within 14 days of returning the UK should contact the NHS by phone.

Justin McCurry

He and his wife are thought to have spent six days at the hotel. The couple are believed to be from the north of Italy, where most of the countrys 283 cases have been reported.

By Tuesday afternoon, the hotel, on the outskirts of Adeje, was quiet and workers had been told not to come to work.

The resort was guarded by police officers in face masks who declined to speak to the media, and a red barrier had been erected a few hundred metres from the main entrance.

The shops, bars and restaurants inside had been sealed off, and staff who had turned up to work in the morning had been told to go home.

A letter sent by managers to guests at the four-star, seafront hotel said they had to stay in their rooms after the fellow guests coronavirus diagnosis.

H10 Hotels has implemented all health and operational recommendations from the health authorities to ensure the safety and wellbeing of customers and employees, the hotel said.

Additionally, we are providing customers and hotel staff all the necessary care and attention so that, despite the inconveniences this situation may cause, they are taken care of in the best way possible.

A British guest told Reuters he was among those in quarantine and complained of a lack of information.

We can see from the window there are security officers outside the hotel and about 50 hotel employees, Christopher Betts said on the phone from his hotel room, adding that guests were asked to remain in their rooms.

Betts said they had been allowed to have breakfast in the hotel restaurant but added: We have received no information whatsoever. He said he had not been tested for the virus.

Waiters at a restaurant a short walk from the hotel said most of Tuesdays lunch bookings had been cancelled as a result of the lockdown. The few customers who ventured in were given a warm welcome, a dose of hand gel and asked, very politely, to keep a few yards away.

But despite the tense mood, people praised the local authorities for their calm and quick response to the situation.

The Spanish government urged people to remain calm and said the cabinet-wide commission on coronavirus had met to discuss the latest developments on Tuesday morning.

Ashotel, the association of hoteliers on Tenerife and four other Canary islands, also called for calm and said the established protocols were in effect.

The hotel where the affected tourist was staying is doing everything it can to deal with the situation and is demonstrating complete responsibility and following all the steps laid out in the protocol, said a spokeswoman for the association.

The situation inside the hotel is normal; all the customers are being kept informed about whats going and are cooperating fully when it comes to following the recommendations laid out by the authorities.

In a statement issued late on Monday night, the regional health ministry said an Italian citizen has tested positive during initial tests at the University Hospital of Our Lady of Candelaria in Tenerife, adding that samples had been sent to the National Microbiology Centre near Madrid for tests.

The man is in isolation and under medical supervision, the statement said. The Canary Islands have, in coordination with the national health ministry, activated the same protocol undertaken in other parts of the country where other suspected cases of the disease have been detected.

The Canaries are still dealing with the aftermath of a Saharan sandstorm that reduced visibility and left thousands of travellers stranded in airports over the weekend.

The meteorological phenomenon, which is known as a calima, was accompanied by strong winds of up to 75mph that fanned at least three wildfires on different Canary islands.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 05:05:02|Editor: yan

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AMMAN, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Britain's Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, and the Duchess of Cornwall will start an official visit to Jordan on March 23 over bilateral ties, said a statement by Jordanian Royal Court on Tuesday.

During the visit, the two will meet King Abdullah II of Jordan and Queen Rania Al Abdullah.

The two sides will discuss ties between Jordan and Britain, and areas of mutual interest, according to a statement by the Royal Court, a copy of which was obtained by Xinhua.

The visit will be the third by Prince Charles to Jordan in seven years.

During the visit, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will visit a number of organizations that they support in Jordan.

The organizations focus on honing the skills of youths, empowering women, and supporting refugees and local communities through training and employment opportunities, the statement said.
Jacksonville Area Center for Independent Living is hosting a policy influencer series starting Wednesday and continuing March 4 and March 11.

The sessions will be from 4 to 6 p.m. at JACILs office, 15 Permac Road.

Brad Stoler will discuss ways to stay up to date on current policies affecting people with disabilities and how to research them. State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer will offer insight on what information one needs to provide to policymakers to show the urgency and relevance of an issue.

Joseph Squillace will discuss how to advocate on the community level and a speaker to be determined will talk about the legislative process and how a bill becomes a law.

There is no charge to attend and an American Sign Language interpreter will be present. Reservations are requested by contacting Colton Pettyjohn at 217-245-8371 or e-mailing colton@jacil.org.
TORONTO, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- U3O8 Corp. (TSX: UWE), (OTCQB: UWEFF) (U3O8 or the Company) announces that, further to its press release date February 24, 2020, the Companys listing will transfer to the NEX board of the TSX Venture Exchange effective February 27, 2020 and not February 26, 2020.



The trading symbol for the Company will change from UWE to UWE.H. There is no change in the Company's name, no change in its CUSIP number and no consolidation of capital. The symbol extension differentiates NEX symbols from Tier 1 or Tier 2 symbols within the TSX Venture Exchange. The NEX board has been designed to provide a forum for the trading of publicly listed companies while they seek and undertake transactions in furtherance of their reactivation as companies that will carry on an active business.

About U3O8 Corp.

U3O8 Corp. is focused on exploration and development of deposits of uranium and battery commodities in South America. Battery commodities that occur with uranium resources include vanadium, nickel, zinc and phosphate. The Companys mineral resources estimates were made in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, and are contained in the following deposits:

Laguna Salada Deposit, Argentina  a PEA shows this near surface, free-digging uranium - vanadium deposit has low production-cost potential; and

 a PEA shows this near surface, free-digging uranium - vanadium deposit has low production-cost potential; and Berlin Deposit, Colombia  a PEA shows that Berlin also has low-cost uranium production potential due to revenue that would be generated from by-products of phosphate, vanadium, nickel, rare earths (yttrium and neodymium) and other metals that occur within the deposit.

The Company also owns approximately 39% of South American Silica, a private company with frac sand properties in Uruguay.

For further information, please contact:

Carolina Diaz at carolina@u3o8corp.com or phone (416) 868-1491 or Richard Spencer, President & CEO, U3O8 Corp., Tel: (647) 292-0225 richard@u3o8corp.com

Cautionary Statements:

This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as expects, or does not expect, is expected, anticipates or does not anticipate, plans, budget, scheduled, forecasts, estimates, believes or intends or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results may or could, would, might or will be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and the delay or failure to receive board, shareholder, court or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, U3O8 assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.
Leader of Guatemalan Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, February 24, 2020



A leader of a Guatemalan drug trafficking organization was sentenced today to 23 years in prison for his participation in an international drug trafficking conspiracy, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department's Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Wendy Woolcock of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Operations Division.

Waldemar Lorenzana-Lima was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in the District of Columbia following an Aug. 18, 2014, guilty plea to his participation in an international drug trafficking conspiracy. The court also ordered Lorenzana-Lima to forfeit $50,949,000.

As Lorenzana-Lima admitted in connection with his guilty plea, from March 1996 to November 2007, Lorenzana-Lima was a member of a drug trafficking organization that would receive, inventory, and store large quantities of cocaine from Colombia at Lorenzana-Lima's properties in Guatemala, for eventual importation into Mexico and the United States. The court concluded at sentencing that Lorenzana-Lima's conduct qualified him as an "organizer or leader" of the drug trafficking organization within the meaning of the applicable sentencing guidelines.

On April 27, 2010, the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Asset Control designated Lorenzana-Lima and his sons, Eliu Lorenzana-Cordon and Waldemar Lorenzana-Cordon, as specially designated narcotics traffickers. Pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, this designation applied as a result of their significant roles in international narcotics trafficking, their significant ties to the Sinaloa Cartel, and their use of family business and agricultural holdings in Guatemala as a front to aid in the northbound movement of illegal drugs through Central America.

The DEA Special Operations Division's Bilateral Investigations Unit and Guatemala City Country Office led the investigation, which was supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force program and the Criminal Division's Office of International Affairs. In particular, the Justice Department wishes to convey its gratitude to the government of Guatemala for its steadfast commitment, collaboration, and assistance in the investigation, extradition, and prosecution of this case.

Trial Attorneys Brett Reynolds and Anthony Aminoff of the Criminal Division's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section and Trial Attorney Emily Cohen of the Criminal Division's Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section are prosecuting the case.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

Topic(s): Drug Trafficking

Component(s):

Criminal Division

Criminal - Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section

Criminal - Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section

Criminal - Office of International Affairs

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

Press Release Number: 20-223

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Kaylyn Griffin wants a place to call her own. A roof over her head that she can wake up under for years to come.

It would mean everything, Griffin said.

It would mean, I dont have to worry about, you know, freezing, being cold. You just dont have those worries; you have security and stability. You feel safe.

The 47-year-old Grand Rapids woman is a felon out on parole after serving nearly two years in prison for multiple drug crimes. She is seeking a full-time job while staying in transitional housing.

The real struggle for Griffin and other ex-offenders trying to reintegrate into the Grand Rapids area is securing an affordable, safe, permanent place to live.

Ex-offenders everywhere have a hard time finding stable housing once they get out of prison. But in Grand Rapids its different.

Its difficult for most people to find affordable housing in Grand Rapids market where supply is limited and demand is high. Its a hot market  which is good for landlords, but not great for people with low income, trying to find rent that doesnt eat their entire paycheck.

For people who are ex-offenders, its even harder.

This all plays into recidivism. Housing means stability, and a lack of stability contributes to many people returning to their old ways that got them in prison in the first place. Without the ability to stand on their own feet and fully reintegrate into society, many ex-offenders will commit new crimes and find themselves back in prison.

Finding employment and other things are not at the top of your list if you dont know where youre going to sleep at night, said Ben Rosa, executive director of 70x7 Life Recovery, a program that works to reduce recidivism in West Michigan.

A faith-based organization, 70x7 set up a pilot program for three felons to live in a home with a house manager.

Public safety is No. 1 for us, but also its restoration of lives," Rosa said of the community benefits for assisting felons after they are released from prison.

Another benefit is a reduction in how much the state spends on prisons, Rosa said.

Parolees, called returning citizens by advocates, in Grand Rapids face a one-two-three punch in finding housing in the area. The obstacles are:

The general lack of affordable housing options that most low-income people encounter.

The stigma of having a criminal record scares off many landlords who could rent to others instead.

The lack of financial-support programs or vouchers available to those who have committed certain felonies and some misdemeanor crimes.

Local agencies, like 70x7, and the Michigan Department of Corrections are working to help ex-offenders find suitable housing and remain out of prison. They try to find landlords who are willing to rent to ex-offenders, work on job applications with felons and help with interview skills.

They all say its an uphill battle.

The issue has caused advocates, like Rosa, to focus more resources on housing for felons. For about 12 years, 70x7 has worked to reduce recidivism by helping ex-offenders gain skills and find employment. The Grand Rapids- and Holland-based program also now helps address ex-offenders housing concerns.

The word problem doesnt even begin to ... its absolute urgency, Rosa said. Its dire. Thats how bad it is."

The effect of the housing crunch

Recidivism is a key issue across the state and in West Michigan.

Based on 2018 data, 81.6 percent of the people booked at Kent County Correctional Facility, the only holding facility for all arrests in Kent County, were not there for the first time. Thats up from 77.8 percent in 2011. Ottawa Countys jail said it doesnt track that data.

Released from prison two months ago, Griffin says shes clean and determined to remain that way. Shes focused on getting a job and not ending up back in prison or jail.

RELATED: Landlord uses prison experience in providing housing for ex-offenders

In transitional housing, she shares a living room, kitchen and bathroom with four other women. While she has her own room, its not hers and its very temporary.

At least at this point she has a consistent roof over her head, even if its temporary.

Many participants in the 70x7 Life Recovery program were living in hotel rooms, sleeping in their cars, or renting just a room for anywhere from $600-$700 a month, Rosa said.

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As a result, the need for housing is great, and 70x7 recently joined other agencies in helping to address the problem.

Im not kidding when I say this, its anywhere from two to three calls a day about housing, Rosa said. I just got tired of hearing those questions and us saying, Well, we dont do housing, but Ill recommend you to these other places.

A problem thats only getting worse

Angie Sprank works with the Michigan Department of Corrections to help people recently released from prison re-enter society.

Shes been doing this for about eight years and in that time, she says housing has become a bigger premium in West Michigan. Its a simple supply-and-demand dilemma thats making it even harder for felons to find a stable place to live.

Its our biggest barrier, she said.

Why? An improved economy.

Sprank said the combination of Michigans improved economy and West Michigans job growth making it a more desirable place to live is limiting housing options for low-income people, including ex-offenders.

As a result, those searching for housing are struggling to find a place that is affordable, available and adequate.

An on-going issue, the lack of affordable housing options in the Grand Rapids area is shown by an increase in homelessness, a surge of developers proposing some affordable units and Grand Rapids city government leaders making ordinance changes in hopes of alleviating the problem.

Incarcerated people are almost 10 times more likely to be homeless than the general public, according to a 2018 report by the Prison Policy Initiative. Those who have been incarcerated more than once are more than twice as likely to be homeless as people released from prison for the first time.

On average, parolees working full time make about $2,000 a month, before taxes, with a full-time job, Sprank said. A one-bedroom apartment in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming metro area is going for $713 per month, based on the Fair Market Rent determined by the federal housing agency.

In this type of housing market, people without a criminal record are having a difficult time.

Even the people working with ex-offenders are having a hard time finding housing for themselves, let alone parolees.

Katie VanHevel, resource navigator for Alternative Directions, a West Michigan program working with parolees and those on probation, said she has to have a roommate in order to afford housing.

I cant find a one-person apartment thats within my budget, and even the requirements, you need to make three times the monthly rent, the fees to apply, she said.

They can get jobs, just not a place to live

The main barrier for parolees used to be employment. There werent enough jobs to go around and employers could be choosy.

When the market started to shift in favor of people looking for work, employers started to consider hiring people recently released from prison.

The Michigan Department of Corrections also helped change employer minds by focusing on employment skills for their inmates. Programs like the Vocational Village, which opened in its first prison in 2016 and now has three sites in the state, teach inmates skills like carpentry, plumbing, computer coding, and welding.

Sprank said when employers started to consider former inmates, they found that previous misconceptions  that theyll cause trouble, that theyre unreliable  simply werent true.

Theyre productive, they want to be productive members of society, Sprank said.

I think employers, some thought the same thing. What are other employees going to think if were hiring a felon? Are they going to disrupt the workplace? Those things arent happening.

Well, its the same in housing. We very rarely have to remove someone from housing for something that they would get evicted over.

Now Sprank said, its time to shift the focus to housing first, then employment.

They can walk out of prison and get a job that same day, Sprank said. "But if they dont have (housing), that is all theyre going to be worried about. Where am I sleeping tonight? If Im at the mission, am I going to get down there in time to be in line for a bed? It all starts with just having that stable piece of a home.

Lack of housing for felons is a nationwide problem.

Landlords arent required to rent to people with criminal records.

Ex-offenders are not a specific protected class. As long as landlords dont have a policy against parolees that ends up hurting a protected class of people  based on someones race or gender  they can decline renting to people based solely on their criminal history.

Landlords especially dont have to rent to people out of prison when theyre located in an area where housing is at a premium.

If youre a sex offender, then its even more difficult.

Its just been really hard since I got out, said Dennis Brace, 60. Because every time I go to get help anywhere, they find out I got a CSC (Criminal Sexual Conduct), let alone being a felon. So, as far as housing, its been about impossible.

Brace is a recovering addict. He said hes been clean for five years, ever since the events that led to the third-degree criminal sexual conduct charge. Brace pleaded guilty in 2016 and has been out of prison and on parole since June of 2018. He hasnt been able to find stable housing in that time.

Instead, Brace said he lived with family for a bit, but once the mobile home park found out about his conviction, he had to leave.

They found out I was a felon and that was it. Thirty days, I was out of there, he said.

Now he stays at Mel Trotter Ministries shelter in Grand Rapids, where, he said, its a struggle to be around other addicts. He lives in a room with all the other sex offenders. They sleep on bunk beds.

I hate it, Brace said. Its not a good environment. I dont want to say anything bad about it, but Id rather have my own job, like I had all my life and support my own self and have my own roof over my head.

Landlord says yes to felons

State corrections officials and local advocates are working to expand the options for ex-offenders. The collaboration with landlords gets tricky.

The MDOC has a list of landlords who are willing to rent to felons recently released from prison. The list isnt long enough.

Theyre very hard to find, Sprank said. Thats what were in need of the most.

Landlords who partner in the 70x7 pilot program did not want to speak with MLive/The Grand Rapids Press for this story.

Rosa said the landlords main concerns were getting push back from neighborhoods and losing business from other renters.

A few landlords, such as Grand Rapids firefighter Todd Wright, are willing to talk about renting to parolees.

Wright and his brother have been renting houses in the Grand Rapids area for about four years. About six months ago, Wright started renting one of his houses to the state of Michigan in order to house four women who were recently incarcerated.

Its been a great experience for us and them, Wright said, pointing out that the neighbors are on board with this type of rental.

The ex-offenders are better tenants than hes had in the past, Wright said.

It was just a nightmare, he said of some of his previous tenants.

He gave horror stories of drug activity, lease breaking and said of some, they ruined the place.

Its a landlords market, and they get to be choosy.

Landlords in general tend to be suspicious of renting to people with criminal histories, especially felons.

A young mother, Veronica Hills is one of the ex-offenders still looking for permanent housing. Released three months ago, Hill and her 1-month-old daughter have been staying at a maternity transitional housing facility called House of HOAP (Helping Our Adolescents Prosper).

She pays $400 per month for one of the single rooms in the house with other women and children.

She said shes applied to upwards of 20 places in one week, yet she still hasnt found a permanent place to stay.

A bunch of apartments have denied me, because I have a felony or because I dont actually have a big rental history, Hill said.

Hill was convicted of writing bad checks, and she served several months in jail for violating her probation.

She is worried about finding an affordable, safe place for her and her daughter to live.

I cant really be too sad about it," Hill said, her voice soft. "Just got to expect what you expect and move on.

Lawmakers exploring clean slate bills

Kelvin Heath, 58, hadnt had oranges and eggs in six years. The Department of Corrections doesnt serve them at its prisons. So, when he was released in December after serving about seven years in prison for unarmed robbery, that was the first thing he ate.

Heath is living in Grandville with his sister. He hasnt started looking for housing yet. Like many, hes trying to get a job first and save some money. But he has a criminal history that includes convictions for delivery of narcotics.

Landlords arent the only challenge when it comes to finding affordable housing. Some parolees arent eligible for affordable housing assistance. Heath said when he tried to find housing in the past, before the unarmed robbery, he was denied Section 8 housing, and couldnt find an affordable place to stay.

When I got out of prison, I tried to go to housing, and it led me back to the same thing. I tried," Heath said. "When you cant get no help, youre going to do what you got to do to survive and thats why I stayed in the field of drugs.

Heath said when he got denied, he basically gave up trying to find housing.

Because he had convictions for delivery/manufacturing and possession of narcotics, he didnt think there would be any resources available to make housing affordable for him even if he could find a landlord to rent to him. So, he stayed in the drug trade.

Thats like back against the wall, especially coming out of prison, Heath said. What can you do but fend for yourself? Its either drown or swim, thats what it felt like.

Heaths story is common. He couldnt find stability outside of prison, and he eventually ended up back in the system.

Rosa, from 70x7, said his agency believes that if people commit crimes, they should be held accountable. No questions about that."

"But what we say is once youve served your time its up to us  the community and us as an organization  to help people reintegrate back into society.

Michigan lawmakers, for their part, are considering changing how the state treats people convicted of crimes. A package of bills would expand the number of people who can get a clean slate.

The bills would overhaul the states expungement laws and allow for people to have more crimes expunged. Several other changes to the criminal justice system also have been signed by the governor recently.

State Rep. David LaGrand, D-Grand Rapids, said in a floor speech the expungement changes could have a huge impact on housing and employment.

It weakens the hold of stigma in our society, he said. And the cloud that people who have committed offenses in our society have to walk under indefinitely.

More people also could leave the criminal history portion of their housing application blank because of these changes.

Despite obstacles, hope remains

When Frances Perez, 33, walked into the homey, brightly colored office of Julie Harper-Shears at the Womens Resource Center, there was a pause and then laughter. Perez wrapped Hill in a big bear hug as she marveled, Oh my God.

Perez and Hill hadnt seen each other since they were released from jail. Hill knew Perez by her street name, New York, so when she heard a woman named Frances was coming to the office, she didnt realize who it was.

We dont use street names here, Harper-Shears said, while the others laughed.

Perez, originally from Grand Rapids, has bounced around a lot in her life. She lived in New York, Chicago, and traveled from state to state for a time selling magazines.

Shes back in Grand Rapids and was released from jail about eight months ago. She pleaded guilty to felony retail fraud and fraudulent possession of a credit card.

She doesnt like to talk too much about her past, but Perez has a criminal record and history of addiction. She said shes sober and residing in a sober-living house as the house mom.

Although Perez hasnt started looking for housing yet because shes been saving money, shes surprisingly optimistic.

Im kind of nervous because Ive never done it, she said of looking for housing. Just not knowing, makes me nervous. But I have a really good feeling about it.

I want to be able to get out there and live.

More from MLive:

MichMash: What a greater investment in higher education could mean for the state

New chief judge named in Muskegon County

Womens event connected hundreds at Michigans first Mentoring Monday

Kalamazoo proposal to target racism in housing draws mixed opinions
The implementation of the Tripartite Free Trade Agreement is now in sight following a spike in the number of countries ratifying and set to ratify the Agreement. Eight countries have so far ratified the agreement with six remaining to attain the required threshold of 14 for the Agreement to enter into force.

Namibia is the latest to ratify the TFTA agreement, and today, the countrys High Commissioner to Zambia Mr. Siyave Haindongo deposited the Instrument of Ratification to the Chair of the Tripartite Task Force Chileshe Kapwepwe, who is the Secretary of COMESA.

Namibia now joins Egypt, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, Burundi and Botswana in the roll of honour of countries that have ratified the Tripartite Free Trade Area Agreement, the SG said.

Seven countries are in advanced stages of the ratification process: these are Comoros, Eswatini, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. These are expected to complete the ratification process before the end of this year paving the way for its implementation.

With the impending ratification by the seven countries, it is my firm belief, that the threshold of 14 ratifications for the TFTA Agreement to enter into force, is now clearly in sight, Ms Kapwepwe said.

Several rounds of negotiations spanning five years have been taking place with the Tripartite Council of Ministers having earlier set April 2019 as the deadline for Member/Partners States to ratify Agreement.

The tripartite FTA brings together 28 countries that are members of COMESA, the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Launched in Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt, in June 2015, the TFTA champions integration that is grounded on the developmental approach to regional integration, based on the three pillars: market integration, industrial development and infrastructure development.

This is approach is borne out of the realization of the complementarity existing between trade liberalization, competitive industrial production and infrastructure development.

As Africa moves to consolidate gains to intra-continental trade and make itself competitive, of great significance for our region, is the long-standing commitment of our Heads of State and Government to advance regional integration as an overriding vision for generating increased trade volumes in the Tripartite Region, COMESA SG said.

Ambassador Haindongo said Namibia was now ready to implement the Tripartite FTA having completed the required processes.

Implementation of the TFTA is critical in addressing key constraints to trade in the region, namely; the structure of production and the composition of exports in the member/partner States.

For example, many Member/Partner States in the TFTA have narrow production bases, exporting only a few primary commodities. The Tripartite Model is intended to ensure that the right commodities are produced and competitively availed to the market. In addition, a significant proportion of the States have economies that are resource based with primary commodities accounting for between 40%  90% of their total exports.

According to the COMESA SG, this has resulted into an expansive extractive sector in the region, with limited linkages to other sectors of the economies. This scenario has rendered many of the Member/Partner States vulnerable to external shocks.

The Tripartite model espouses a value chain approach to exploitation and processing of commodities within the region to address this constraint. The Tripartite model addresses not only the types of goods to be produced in the region, but also the technological content of those goods.

Ms. Kapwepwe called upon the rest of the Tripartite Member/Partner States, to demonstrate commitment by ratifying the Agreement, so that, together, we can consolidate and enjoy the gains that the TFTA has to offer.
Guardian Angel Donation to Support Learning for Sustainable Development

An initiative that encourages young people to take social responsibility, look after their environment and give back to their community has received funding from the Guardian Angel Foundation.

The Office of the Commissioner for Sustainable Development and Future Generations has been supported by the Guardian Angel Foundation to promote social and environmental responsibility amongst children and young people.

The charity has donated over 3,300 to purchase books and other school resources to support this initiative, including new storybooks for lower and upper primary schools that can bring the sustainability topics such as biodiversity, carbon footprints, poverty, privilege and justice alive in classrooms. The Charity will subsequently donate a further 4,500 to purchase materials that enable learners to engage practically in growing food in schools, looking after green areas and improving their local community.

The Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change, Prof John Cortes, expressed his gratitude to Prof Daniella Tilbury, the Commissioner for Sustainable Development, for the initiative and to the Guardian Angel Foundation for this generous donation. He added, Building a greener tomorrow is not just the responsibility of the Government, it requires that everyone in the community think beyond their own individual needs and take responsibility. This initiative builds upon the excellent work being done by local educators and youth workers and questions what is important to us as a community now, and in the future.

The Guardian Angel Foundation, a Gibraltar registered charity (No. 237), was set up in 2013 with the intention of improving the standards of care and living for local children affected by financial distress or suffering from any illness or disability which impairs their physical or mental well- being. The Charity aims to provide financial or other support to institutions that provide care, support or services to children.

Mr Kevin Hook, spokesman for the Charity, added We also seek to fund activities that may benefit children and make their lives happier with less worry, which really is what childhood should be all about. Mr Hook explained that the Charity has established a close working relationship with the Government to help guide us in our projects so that our help has a maximum impact on the children who most need it. In effect, every penny raised is used solely for the projects that have been identified. Therefore, all administrative and other costs associated with running the charity will be met by the Committee members themselves.

The charity has already delivered substantial projects for the community over the past few years. This has included new sensory rooms for St Martins School, Notre Dame First School, and St Bernards Hospital, a refurbishment of the Rainbow Ward Playroom, a childrens playground at the Cancer Relief Centre premises so that children can play in an enjoyable environment whilst their parent/guardian is receiving treatment, several high dependency cots also for the Rainbow Ward, and the After School Club at the Boathouse in the Victoria Stadium area specifically designed to cater for children with learning and physical disabilities.
As the number of coronavirus cases rise in western Europe, Independent.ie takes a look at how an outbreak in Ireland would affect our lives.

Coronavirus has taught us a lesson in how we should never be complacent about what initially seems a simple health threat from a virus in faraway China. It shows how much we, in Ireland, can be at the mercy of the new virus, which originated in a city in China that most of us had never heard of.

Despite modern advances in medicine and technology, a virus, which started in a wet market in Wuhan city, has succeeded in marching through China and infecting citizens in 30 other countries - 80,000 people so far. It has outwitted the best barricades and action plans by some of the wealthiest countries in the world.

2. Travel

Coronavirus, now known as Covid-19, has halted us in our tracks, curbing our travel. The Department of Foreign Affairs has advised against non-essential travel from Ireland to China - impacting holiday plans, business trips and some trade. At the same time, several Irish people are in lockdown in China.

China might not have been an intended destination for most of us, but the advice this week not to travel to around 10 small towns in northern Italy, after an outbreak of coronavirus cases and several deaths, has brought it closer to home.

The news that a hotel in Tenerife is in quarantine highlights the level of uncertainty Irish tourists face in the coming weeks.

3. Fashion

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So-called 'fast fashion' made in China and sold in shops in Ireland may be in short supply. Penneys warned that coronavirus could affect its supply chain and product lines later this year if delays to factory production in China are prolonged. The company is assessing mitigating strategies, including a step-up in production from existing suppliers in other regions.

4. Quarantine

The terms 'self-isolation' and 'quarantine' are back in our vocabulary. When the virus risk first emerged, it seemed extreme that anyone returning here from China should self-isolate for two weeks even if they were healthy.

The responsibility shown by these people is to be admired. Meanwhile, we also learned of Irish people in quarantine on the Diamond Princess cruise ship off the coast of Japan. It has taught us to value our freedoms.

5. Workplaces

There's a looming prospect of more employees having to work from home where possible in the event of precautions imposed due a case of the virus or possible exposure.

There has been no case of coronavirus in Ireland. But 1,000 employees in Indeed, a recruitment company in Dublin, had to work from home for a short time earlier this month. This followed concerns that a staff member in Singapore may have been exposed to coronavirus. More companies may have to follow the same course in the future.

Read More





6. Racism

The outbreak has also led to unfounded fears and prejudices, leading to poor behaviour by a very small number of people in Ireland towards members of the Chinese community. There have been reports of racist abuse of Chinese people because the virus originated in China. Chinese restaurants have also seen a fall in custom. There is no basis for this behaviour.

7. Stock markets

The impact of the virus is firstly a public health emergency which has led to illness and tragic death. But it has also had the power to rock financial markets around the globe. The news of the Italian outbreak earlier this week caused a major slump, wiping billions off the value of shares. Many shares came under heavy selling pressure in key markets as analysts warned that the threat of tougher quarantine measures outside China to prevent the spread of the disease would impact on company profits by hitting supply chains and consumer demand.

Following advice to avoid travelling to some towns in north Italy for now, Ryanair shares slumped 12pc on Monday afternoon, cutting almost 2bn from its valuation. Aer Lingus owner IAG saw its shares tumble almost 8pc, wiping 1bn (1.2bn) from its stock market valuation.

8. Hygiene

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The spread of the virus has shown the importance of good etiquette when coughing and sneezing. The nation developed very good habits during the swine flu pandemic a decade ago, sneezing into our elbows rather than our hand. Coronavirus has again highlighted the role thorough handwashing plays in stopping the spread, and the need to stay at home if feeling unwell rather than risking infecting others.

9. Drugs and vaccines

The coronavirus outbreak has led to a race to develop a vaccine against the infection. There is much optimism about the vaccine that the US's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and drugmaker Moderna have been developing to combat coronavirus. This is now ready to be tested on a small number of healthy volunteers in April.

Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States said around 150 prescription drugs - including antibiotics, generics and some branded drugs without alternatives - were at risk of shortage if the coronavirus outbreak in China worsens.

10. Sport

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Several Serie A soccer matches were cancelled, and major matches will be played behind closed doors, including Juventus versus Inter Milan. On Sunday, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced that all sporting events in two northern regions would be suspended. In Ireland, Health Minister Simon Harris acknowledged that next week's Ireland versus Italy rugby match would be 'reviewed' in light of concern about the outbreak.
MBABANE  Is Eswatini sitting on a ticking time bomb? This question comes to mind following the World Health Organisations warning on Saturday that African health systems would be ill-equipped to respond to the rapid Coronavirus outbreak, should cases start to multiply on the continent.



During a meeting of African Health ministers at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, WHO chief Tedros Adhannom Ghebreyesus was quoted saying; African member States should come together to be more aggressive in attacking the virus known Covid-19.



Further, he said the biggest concern was the potential for Covid-19 to spread in countries with weaker health systems.

Ghebreyesus called on African Union member States to come together to be more aggressive in attacking the virus.

Director of Health Services Dr Vusi Magagula said just like other African countries, Eswatini had weak health systems.



Weak



Magagula said it was true that most African countries health systems were weak in responding to certain issues, adding that a majority had shortages of some drug supplies, weak detection and surveillance systems, among other things. The director said the ministers of health and foreign affairs had attended the meeting of African health ministers at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa over the weekend.

This is the same meeting where the WHO chief was speaking.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer at National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) Russell Dlamini said during a meeting of Committee of Ministers Responsible for Disaster Risk Management they were invited to urge member States to set up preventative and preparedness measures against Covid-19.

The meeting was held in Zanzibar, Tanzania and was hosted by the United Republic of Tanzania. He said a concern was raised regarding the Covid-19 that countries were ill prepared and should try to strengthen their preparedness.



Dlamini said countries were further urged to take the coronavirus seriously and ensure it did not spread into their countries.

The outbreak, which began in December 2019, has already killed more than 2 200 people and infected more than 77 500 in China.



More than 1 550 people have also been infected outside China, although Egypt is the only African country to have recorded a confirmed case.

There have been more than 200 suspected cases in the WHOs AFRO region, which includes most African countries, though nearly all have been confirmed negative.



AU Commissioner Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat told officials to take drastic preventative and control measures. Our dear continent, Africa, is particularly at risk given its relatively fragile health systems, Mahamat is quoted saying.
Vanessa Bryant has filed a wrongful death suit against the company that operated helicopter that killed Kobe and Gianna Bryant. The suit claims negligence by the pilot that ultimately led to the fatal accident.

The suit also claims that the loss of love, affection, affection, care, society, service, comfort, support, right to support, companionship, solace or moral support and expectations of future support, counseling, and funeral expenses will be accounted for in the damages.

The 72-page lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court alleges that Island Express Helicopters put the helicopter in the air when conditions were not safe for flying.

The company and the helicopter's pilot, Ara George Zobayan, had a "duty to use that degree of care that an ordinarily careful and prudent pilot would use under the same or similar circumstances," the suit says.

Pilot Ara Zobayan was among the nine people killed in the crash.
A fourth suspect has been arrested in the September, 2019 murder of 20-year-old Darrell Hill.





Chattanooga Police homicide investigators charged James Terrell Holmes-Hamilton, 28, with felony murder and especially aggravated robbery. Holmes-Hamilton is in custody at the Detroit Reentry Center in Detroit, Michigan. He will remain in custody in Michigan until he is extradited to Hamilton County.

12, 2019 at approximately 12:14 p.m., Chattanooga Police responded to a p erson shot call in the 3900 block of Dahlia Street. On Sept.12, 2019 at approximately 12:14 p.m., Chattanooga Police responded to a p

U pon arrival, police located the victim lying on the ground with an apparent gunshot wound. Hamilton County EMS pronounced the victim deceased on scene.

Police later said that, thanks to cooperation from community members and thorough investigative work by multiple Chattanooga Police Department units, three suspects had been charged in the homicide.

They were:a 16-year-old female, a 17-year-old male and a 17-year-old female. They were charged with first-degree murder and especially aggravated robbery. The 17-year-old male was also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.




[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 tasks focus on improved sales with greater customer proximity as well as more intensive customer support in the areas of customer services, cabin upgrades and retrofits. The latter also include individual product developments in direct cooperation with regional customers. Diehl Aviation is expanding its customer service range and will be close to the customer with its own contact persons for the region's airlines.

A team of aviation specialists will commence work in the new branch in mid-2020. The offices are located in the Dubai Airport Freezone, the central free trade zone with an extensive presence of airlines and direct access to Dubai International Airport. Diehl Aviation benefits from the excellent conditions offered by the United Arab Emirates and by the Dubai Airport Freezone in the region.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bill Hagerty began his presentation to the Chattanooga Pachyderm Club on Monday by giving his thoughts on the Democratic debates and the performance of one man in particular.

Did any of you see Mini Mikes debate performance, asked Mr. Hagerty, speaking about Mike Bloomberg. Here youve got a guy who wants to diminish the value of American commerce and who wants to take our guns. He wants to spend billions of dollars of his own money, and its not working out so well for Mike either.



A notable part of the Bloomberg campaign is gun law reform. When the candidate was in Chattanooga, Mr. Bloomberg spoke about stricter background checks when purchasing guns at shows or online, in order to make sure that the mentally ill or those unfit to own guns cannot possess weapons.



He wants to violate the Constitution and Im completely opposed to it, said the former U.S. ambassador to Japen when asked about Mr. Bloombergs ideas. I support the second amendment. I think that people who have mental illnesses need to be treated appropriately, and people who are disturbed need that sort of care or treatment, but it doesnt require eliminating or infringing on the second amendment.



While he did not claim to know who would win the Democratic nomination, he seemed to predict that Bernie Sanders would be the Democrat nominee come November.



Its very interesting to watch what the Democrat Party has to contend with, and I dont know what theyre going to wind up with. But it certainly looks like theyre going to put a Socialist on the ballot.



The speaker voiced his support for President Donald Trump and his re-election campaign. He emphasized President Trumps record since taking office in 2016, and then pledged his support for conservative ideals at the federal level.



Weve got President Donald Trump and he is on a roll right now, said Mr. Hagerty. He did a great job during the State of the Union Address, laying out accomplishment after accomplishment. I told him what an honor it was to be endorsed by him, and also what an honor it was and how pleased I was to have an opportunity to work alongside him to help achieve some of those accomplishments.



He voiced his strong opposition to universal healthcare, citing the power the government would possess if Bernie Sanders plan became reality.



You need somebody who will stand with him and have his back when dealing with radical Democrats that have been trying, since day one, to undo the results of the 2016 election. When you talk about socialism, just look at their policies. This Medicare for all? You think Obamacare was bad, just wait until the government runs every aspect of our healthcare system and takes away our private insurance, he said.





If elected, Mr. Hagerty promised to support President Trumps plan to build a wall on the Mexican border. He also told the Pachyderm Club he would fight against abortion and promised to defund an organization famous for supporting it.

Ill stand with him to secure our borders, and say yes to building the wall, said Mr. Hagerty. Ill stand up for law enforcement and our military and our veterans. Ill stand strong for the second amendment, and I will stand for life. When I hear democrats on the stage talking about abortion being a human right, I tell you, it takes a human life. Ill do everything I can to defund Planned Parenthood.



He told the conservative club he would continue the fight against terrorism in the Middle East. Mr. Hagerty believed the missile strike that killed Iranian leader Qasem Soleimani served a valuable purpose for the worlds perception of America.



Ill call radical Islamic terrorism what it is, and Ill call it what it isnt, said Mr. Hagerty. And Ill tell you, the president made the world safer when he took out Soleimani. And he also sent a very important message to the rest of the world. Today our enemies fear us again, and our allies respect us, and thats how it should be.


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.
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper and South Korea's National Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo participate in a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington, U.S., Feb. 24, 2020. (Erin Scott/Reuters)

US, South Korea Eye Scaling Back Joint Training Over Coronavirus Concerns

The U.S. and South Korean militaries said on Monday they are considering scaling back joint training due to mounting concerns about the spreading coronavirus, in one of the first concrete signs of the virus fallout on global U.S. military activities.

The disclosure came during a visit to the Pentagon by South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, who acknowledged following talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper that 13 South Korean troops had tested positive for the virus.

South Korean health authorities have reported 833 infections nationwide while eight people have died.

As of yesterday, we had 13 cases in the (South Korean) armed forces. We do regard this situation as a serious one, Jeong told a news conference at the Pentagon, adding he had suspended military vacations and off-base leave.

We have also limited their movement across the nation.

Earlier on Monday, the U.S. military said a 61-year-old woman in South Korea who tested positive for the virus had recently visited a U.S. military base in the southeastern city of Daegu.

The woman, who was the widow of a former U.S. service member, visited a store at Camp Walker on Feb. 12 and 15, the military said. It was the first infection connected to U.S. Forces Korea, which counts some 28,500 American troops on the peninsula.

U.S. Forces Korea said it was raising the risk level to high across the country. It urged U.S. troops to limit travel and use extreme caution when traveling off-installation.

Esper said the top U.S. and South Korean generals on the peninsula were weighing scaling back joint training but insisted both militaries would remain alert, amid persistent concerns about North Koreas nuclear weapons program.

Im sure that we will remain fully ready to deal with any threats that we will face together, Esper said, standing alongside his South Korean counterpart.

The growing concern about the coronavirus impact on U.S. and South Korean military activities comes against the backdrop of strains in bilateral ties over U.S. calls for South Korea to offset more U.S. defense costs.

Both sides appear at an impasse.

Esper told reporters after the talks on Monday that shouldering the cost of our common defense cannot fall disproportionately to the American taxpayer. Jeong acknowledged that talks were at a standstill.

The last special measures agreement (SMA) lapsed at the end of December after multiple rounds of talks yielded no progress, and now the U.S. military says funding will soon run out for thousands of South Korean civilians who work to support the bases.

By Phil Stewart
Zhuying Hua, 40, of Rockville, Maryland is concerned about coronavirus and wears a mask while shopping. The store manager said the there was a huge decline in shoppers.

Macy's warned investors Tuesday that the coronavirus outbreak, which has shuttered commerce across China and sent markets spiraling, could hit the department store chain, too.

The virus could disrupt Macy's operations in three ways, CEO and Chairman Jeff Gennette said on the company's fourth-quarter earnings call, if it affects employees, international tourism and supply chain.

"While still too early to estimate, we anticipate that there could be a small impact on first-quarter sales from international tourism," he said. "With respect to the supply chain, we are working with our vendor partners to minimize any possible disruption."

The company's office in Hong Kong has reopened after the extended Lunar New Year holiday, Gennette said, and employees there are working on "flexible schedules." He added that about 70 Macy's stores have a "strong Asian customer base" and those stores have seen "some slowdown of sales."

Despite the weaker sales at those locations, the company decided not to revise its 2020 guidance due to the outbreak, which has now infected more than 80,000 people in about 30 countries and killed at least 2,704.

"At this time, we have not factored in any potential negative impact from the coronavirus into our 2020 guidance," Gennette said.

While the virus emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, it has since swept across China and abroad. The virus has spread rapidly in South Korea, Iran and Italy over the past week, prompting fears of a global outbreak. Those concerns have roiled markets across Asia and Europe, and on Monday all three major U.S. indices fell more than 3% on those fears.

Gennette said the company is preparing for the virus to hit Macy's supply chain. The company's team in Hong Kong is planning contingencies in the event that partners and suppliers cannot fulfill orders.

"We expect a slowdown. We have seen a slowdown ... Nothing concerning yet, but we're watching this one very, very carefully," he said.

He added that the U.S.-China trade war has actually helped prepare the company for this situation.

"This is an example of where the tariff situation actually over the last 18 months really gave us a very clear line-of-sight into our product flow from China," he said.

Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.








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An apparently corrupt prosecutor in the City of Gatineau has been actively trying to avoid investigations by the Quebec Human Rights Commission (QHRC) on reported cases of racism.

In this open letter, Mathieu Cloutier is cited for supporting systematized racial profiling inthe City of Gatineau. This most recently includes the racial profiling a black man after he was ticketed by the Gatineau Police for absurd reasons.

Were at the start of a new decade and 2020 is quite different from the 1950s where Alabama suffered racism under Jim Crow laws or in the 1970s under the apartheid period in South Africa. During these times, the gaping holes in the legal system meant the authorities didnt require a solid reason to arrest or ticket a black manbeing black was enough a crime.

However, it seems that the Gatineau Police have not moved on with the times as their behaviour towards black men and First Nations peoples is unacceptable in this age and time.

Nonetheless, it begs the question: Why and how has the Gatineau prosecutor evaded scrutiny from the Quebec Human Rights Commission?

Apparently, Mr Cloutier has been avoiding calls from the QHRC for several weeks now and this has stalled the mediation process. According to the prosecutors office, his reason for being unreachable is that he has been away on paternity leave but despite returning from his leave, the Quebec Human Rights Commission has not confirmed receiving any returned phone calls from Mr Cloutier.

It is the obligation of this Gatineau prosecutor to promote and not destroy the human rights of all Canadians in line with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

This corrupt Gatineau prosecutor has an apparent hidden agenda as there have been numerous complaints of racism which his Office has endorsed. On March 24, the trial for the affected black man is scheduled to happen at the Gatineau municipal court and this prosecutor appears to be working on ensuring that the presiding judge shares his sentiments.

If he is not legally challenged, this Kangaroo Court styled trial would only succeed in sweeping yet another clear case of racism under the carpet.

Nonetheless, the main purpose of this open letter is to reassure the public that we dont intend to fold our arms and watch this despicable act happen.

It is the responsibility of the Gatineau Prosecutor to uphold the law under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Unfortunately, the Gatineau prosecutor has apparently sought to make himself an operative of White Supremacists who seek to oppress visible minorties.

Due to the extremely corrupt nature of this Gatineau prosecutor, he has been under the radar for several years, successfully evading investigation, unlike his Montreal counterparts.
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.
Steve Garcia will make his official UFC debut on Saturday after accepting a short-notice fight against Luis Pena in Norfolk, Virginia, the Rio Rancho MMA fighter confirmed on his Instagram account.

Hes moving up one weight class to get the opportunity.

Garcia (11-3), who trains in Albuquerque at Jackson-Wink, will step in at the lightweight limit of 155 pounds after Penas original opponent, Alex Munoz, withdrew due to injury. Pena (7-2) of Gilroy, California, is a career lightweight.

In October, Garcia defeated Desmond Torres by first-round TKO on Dana Whites Tuesday Night Contender Series. But because Garcia failed to make the bantamweight limit of 135 pounds (plus an allowable one pound for non-title fights), he was not offered a UFC contract.

In August, Garcia defeated Jose Mariscal on an LFA card at Route 66 Casino Hotel in a featherweight (145-pound) fight. Garcia failed to make the featherweight limit for the fight.

He was scheduled to face Justin Gonzales on an LFA card in April before the UFC opportunity materialized.

The story was first reported by mmajunkie.com .

Saturdays main event matches flyweights Joseph Benavidez (28-5), a Las Cruces High School graduate, against Brazils Deivison Figueredo (17-1) in a fight for the vacant UFC flyweight (125-pound) title.

The card will be streamed on espn+.
A large storm will spread rain across the Interstate 95 corridor in the Northeast into Wednesday night, but like so many others this winter, the storm will send snow elsewhere. In this case, forecasters say it will whiten parts of the central Appalachians and bring the heaviest amounts to the northern tier of the region.

The same storm system will produce a swath of heavy snow over parts of the Midwest and southeastern Canada.

The snow drought from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia, New York City and Boston will not be broken by a storm that evolves, strengthens and draws much colder air across the region into Thursday.

This image, captured at midday Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2020, shows a large shield of clouds associated with a double-barreled storm system over the eastern half of the United States. (NOAA / GOES-East)

The combined seasonal snowfall in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York City is a mere 7.5 inches for this winter, compared to an average of 69.3 inches as of Feb. 25. The winter of 1972-1973 is the benchmark for lean snowfall for much of this swath. For example, that winter brought less than 0.1 of an inch of snow to Philadelphia.

Mild air that built over much of the eastern half of the nation this past weekend will linger and be a major deterrent for snow along the Atlantic coast. However, cold air will fight its way across the eastern Great Lakes and the central Appalachians for the storm to produce some snow before it departs.

Occasional rain will affect the I-95 swath, central Appalachians and central New England into Wednesday as the overall storm remains relatively weak.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

It is possible that the rain from the storm comes down hard enough for a time to cause minor street and highway flooding. At the very least, blowing spray and wet roads can lead to longer commutes through Wednesday night.

During Wednesday night and Thursday, as the storm strengthens and lifts northward, enough cold air will be drawn in to bring a change to snow or snow showers from the mountains in West Virginia, western Virginia and western Maryland to western and northern Pennsylvania and western, central and northern New York state.

Story continues

East of the Appalachians, from Virginia to New Hampshire, the atmosphere will likely dry out before cold air arrives and the rain will end. Only in coastal areas of Maine might the cold air catch up with the back edge of the rain. This could cause a wintry mix to occur at the tail end of the storm on Thursday.

"We are anticipating a burst of rain and wind that can be accompanied by thunder and lightning from late Wednesday night to early Thursday morning from the mid-Atlantic to southeastern New England," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Dombek said.

Such a dose of heavy rain and gusty winds can be very disruptive for the commute in the major cities.

How much snow falls during the storm is likely to depend on the elevation in these areas as the heaviest snow, on the order of several inches, will fall over the ridges and plateaus versus the valleys.

The heaviest snow in the northeastern United States will fall over the Adirondacks of New York state and the Green and White Mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire. These areas can pick up 6-12 inches with locally higher amounts, while an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 24 inches (60 centimeters) is most likely over southern Quebec.

As a complicating factor, bands of heavy lake-effect snow and snow squalls are forecast to blend in on the tail end of the storm and continue into the weekend from portions of western Pennsylvania to upstate New York. This lake effect will add to the storm totals, long after the center of the storm has moved on into Canada.

The lake-effect snow will ramp up as temperatures plummet.

"As the temperature dips, motorists and pedestrians should be prepared for changing conditions, as some areas that were initially made wet and slushy from the storm can become icy Wednesday night," AccuWeather Meteorologist Mary Gilbert said.

Strong winds on the backside of the storm will continue into the end of the week but can be especially problematic in terms of breaking tree limbs, tossing trash cans and triggering sporadic power outages during Wednesday night, Thursday and into Thursday night.

The gusty winds in the wake of the storm will add to the cold feel of the Arctic air.

The gusty winds can also be disruptive for air travel and can lead to low-level flight turbulence in some cases.

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
'Candy Man': New Jersey doctor Robert Delagente, 45, who dubbed himself the 'El Chapo of Opioids' and 'Candy Man,' has admitted to prescribing addictive painkillers to patients who did not need them

A New Jersey doctor who called himself the 'El Chapo of Opioids' and 'Candy Man' has admitted to prescribing addictive painkillers to patients who did not need them and falsifying medical records to cover his tracks.

Robert Delagente, 45, of Oakland, New Jersey, on Monday pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances; three counts of distribution of controlled dangerous substances, and one count of falsifying medical records.

US Attorney Craig Carpenito's office alleged that for the last five years, Delagente used his practice, North Jersey Family Medicine in Oakland, to illegally prescribe opioids, including oxycodone, Percocet and various benzodiazepines, often allowing his patients to choose their own dosage.

'This defendant knowingly prescribed for his patients some of the most dangerous and addictive drugs available, sometimes with no more contact than a text message from the patient,' Carpenito stated. 'Many of these patients were dealing with pain and addiction, and instead of getting help from their doctor, they were drawn deeper into the cycle of drug abuse.'

According to a criminal complaint, one patient received nearly 500 doses of Percocet, Oxycontin and other powerful opioids over a seven-week period without visiting Delagente's office.

'Pill mill': Prosecutors say Delagente used his practice, North Jersey Family Medicine in Oakland (pictured), to illegally prescribe opioids, often allowing his patients to choose their own dosage

One week after receiving a 10-day supply of Percocet and a 30-day supply of clonazepam, the patient texted that the medication wasn't 'working like it used to.' Delagente then prescribed an additional 30-day supply of Oxycontin and a 25-day supply of Percocet, the complaint alleges.

Another time, he texted a patient that he was sending the patient's prescription on a different day than a similar prescription to the patient's mother 'to not draw any suspicion.'

The complaint also alleged that Delagente didn't monitor whether his patients were becoming addicted to the painkillers, and prescribed the drugs to people he knew were already addicted.

In one instance, an employee at his practice texted Delagente that a patient had gotten a babysitter and driven a long distance to get to the medical office, but had been unable to see a doctor. Delagente responded: 'Oh well  Cest la vie! Lol  He can wait for his oral heroin another day. Lol.'

A criminal complaint says one of Delagente's patients received nearly 500 doses of Percocet and other opioids over a seven-week period without visiting the doctor

'Dr. Delagente sold his ethics, his medical license, and his moral compass,' FBI-Newark Special Agent in Charge Gregory Ehrie said.

According to the complaint, Delagente, who in conversations likened himself to the notorious Mexican drug trafficker Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, prescribed controlled substances without ever seeing the patient for a medical visit or even discussing with the patient the medical need for the prescription. He allowed patients to ask him for controlled substances via text message and would write a prescription for patients that he would leave at the front desk, without requiring an office visit or consultation of any kind.

He also prescribed the dangerous drug combination known as the 'Holy Trinity,' comprised of opioids, benzodiazepines and muscle relaxers.

One patient texted Delagente that the patient 'probably cant stop the pks,' referring to painkillers. The patient told Delagente that the patient 'would need a plan to stopnot cold turkey.'

A few days later, when the patient was having trouble obtaining pain medication, the patient wrote to Delagente that 'If I go 4 days without [painkillers] I am in huge trouble.' In response, Delagente wrote 'I will leave you a short supply RX [prescription] at the front to pick up.'

Delagente then wrote the patient a prescription for 120 tablets of 30-milligram oxycodone for 30 days. Delagente at one point told this patient: 'Im literally sticking my neck out and can lose my medical license or [be] arrested for what I just did.'

Delagente also was charged with altering medical records of patients who received painkiller prescriptions from him after law enforcement officials had subpoenaed the documents in April 2019.

When he is sentenced on June 10, Delagente faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1million fine on each of the distribution of controlled dangerous substances charges, and up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the record falsification count.
Scientists are still trying to figure out whether Mars shows any traces of life.

A new virus called SARS-CoV-2 is a coronavirus that has caused an outbreak of a disease called COVID-19.

Public health groups, such as the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are still learning about the virus, monitoring the disease it causes, and researching potential ways to stop it. You can read all about the coronavirus and COVID-19 at our sibling site, LiveScience .

But me being me, my mind went straight to Mars. I have long been aware of science fiction's vision of Earth receiving space souvenirs that carry organisms that might be dangerous to Earth's fragile biosphere  that's me, and you, too! Such arrivals could be accidental, or they could be purposeful.

Related: How NASA's next Mars rover will hunt for alien life

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump's budget request for NASA supports the development of the Mars sample return mission , a robotic program that would haul back the goods from the Red Planet.

What if such samples turned out to be dangerous, and contagiously so? Are there some Mars-oriented lessons to be learned from COVID-19 and other major infectious diseases ?

In 1973, Carl Sagan published "The Cosmic Connection  An Extraterrestrial Perspective," offering this view of Martian pathogens:

"Precisely because Mars is an environment of great potential biological interest, it is possible that on Mars there are pathogens, organisms which, if transported to the terrestrial environment, might do enormous biological damage  a Martian plague, the twist in the plot of H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds, but in reverse. This is an extremely grave point. On the one hand, we can argue that Martian organisms cannot cause any serious problems to terrestrial organisms, because there has been no biological contact for 4.5 billion years between Martian and terrestrial organisms. On the other hand, we can argue equally well that terrestrial organisms have evolved no defenses against potential Martian pathogens, precisely because there has been no such contact for 4.5 billion years. The chance of such an infection may be very small, but the hazards, if it occurs, are certainly very high."

Concern and ignorance

What might happen if such an infection does occur? "I think that it might be instructive to consider the climate of concern that accompanies the current situation with coronavirus," John Rummel, a senior scientist at the SETI Institute in California and NASA's planetary protection officer from 1986 to 1993 and 1997 to 2006, told Space.com.

For example, the diagnostic tests available for coronavirus right now aren't perfectly accurate, and it can take more than a week after infection for symptoms to develop. And while a terrestrial infection might be limited by the change of seasons, that wouldn't necessarily hold true for a foreign disease vector.

"I think that the challenge for a Mars sample return activity is to be open about precautions taken in the face of ignorance," Rummel said, "which is what we have  when we discuss life on Mars."

Schools of thought

Scientists have various schools of thought on hauling Mars samples back to our planet, Rummel said. But the planned, precautionary approach, based on strict containment and testing for life and biohazards, is compatible with the potential to discover life in a sample, or elsewhere on Mars by other means, as it would still allow for a sample to be returned.

"If one finds life in the sample, one has a good chance of being able to study it in containment," Rummel said. "The downside of this approach is that it is more expensive [in terms of establishing the containment facility], up-front, than ignoring life on Mars."

As the recent report to NASA from the Planetary Protection Independent Review Board stated, this approach requires that a sample-handling facility dedicated to analyzing and testing Martian samples be developed up-front.

Rummel said that, if something like the coronavirus situation pops up, then any other containment facility may not be available in a timely way, and may not be able to meet the cleanliness requirements that will ensure that any organisms discovered in the sample came from Mars, and not from Earth after the sample arrives.

Precautionary steps

Is the emergence of a new epidemic here on our planet a cue about taking precautionary steps regarding planetary protection?

Catharine Conley was NASA's planetary protection officer from 2006 until November 2017. "As with historical infectious disease epidemics, the coronavirus that's spreading currently is another example of why it's so important to understand the consequences of interacting with environments humans rarely contact and then distributing widely whatever [they] picked up," she said.

"In the case of Mars exploration, it's most likely that Earth organisms transported to Mars could cause problems for future inhabitants," Conley said. "If Mars life exists and is brought to Earth, it's more likely to cause effects on the environment, like the algae recently found to be warming the ice in Greenland, than that it would be a virulent human pathogen."

However, if Mars life is related to terrestrial life, Conley said, "that makes it much harder to distinguish from Earth contamination  and also, just like diseases that jump species, more likely to affect us, too."
In the first major court decision about a quintessential gig-economy company and Californias new gig-work law, AB5, a Superior Court judge said Instacart appears to fail the new laws strict test defining when a company can classify workers as independent contractors, rather than employees.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Timothy Taylor issued a preliminary injunction, ruling that it is more likely than not that a trial would find that Instacart workers who buy and deliver groceries would be classified as employees under AB5, which took effect Jan. 1, and the 2018 California Supreme Court decision called Dynamex that it codifies. However, he also said that Instacart might be able to make some relatively minor changes to comply with AB5 and Dynamex.

The injunction, which applies only within the city of San Diego and was stayed until Feb. 28, will not have an immediate impact, as Instacart noted.

We are appealing this decision in an effort to protect shoppers, customers, and retail partners, the San Francisco company said in a statement. The court has temporarily stayed the enforcement of the injunction and we will be taking steps to keep that stay in place during the appeals process so that Instacarts service will not be disrupted in San Diego.

San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott sued Instacart in September, alleging that it was ducking legal obligations to pay full-service shoppers minimum wage and overtime; forcing them to cover costs such as gas, car maintenance and cell phone usage; and unfairly gaining an advantage over rivals by not having to pay unemployment insurance, disability insurance and various taxes.

This landmark ruling makes clear that Instacart employees have been misclassified as independent contractors, resulting in their being denied worker protections to which they are entitled by state law, San Diegos Elliott said in a statement. We invite Instacart to work with us to craft a meaningful and fair solution. Her office said it will seek to have the order apply to the entire state, not just San Diego.

Vanessa Bain of Menlo Park has worked as an Instacart shopper for four years and has led efforts to organize other shoppers to protest Instacarts payment policies and working conditions.

I think this is long overdue, she said. In our organizing, there was consensus that we should be classified as employees. It seems obvious that the scope of our work is very much that of traditional employment.

William Gould, a professor emeritus at Stanford Law School and former chairman of the National Labor Relations Board, said the ruling is important, albeit not a landmark because of its cautious brevity.

It dramatizes the important role of governmental enforcement, he said in an email.

Ken Jacobs, chairman of the UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education, described the ruling as a big victory for Instacart workers.

The writing is clearly on the wall for on-demand companies hiring workers in California, he said in an email. The court recognized that San Diego is likely to succeed in proving misclassification, and that failure to comply with the law brings irreparable harm to workers and to the public.

Beth Ross, an attorney who has represented FedEx drivers and others in misclassification lawsuits, said the rulings greatest significance comes in its recognition that misclassification isnt simply a contractual failure but a systemic social problem that government officials have an obligation to address.

The state will no longer abide the exemption the gig employers have granted to themselves from Californias robust worker protection laws, she said in an email.

However, the San Diego ruling left open the possibility that Instacart could change some business practices to keep its full-service shoppers as contractors.

Much of the evidence adduced by (Instacart) actually suggests it already took steps to bring itself into compliance with Dynamex, and from that evidence, it seems to the court that relatively minor additional steps will allow it to be in full compliance by ensuring the shoppers are true free agents, the judge wrote.

Tiffanny Brosnan, a lawyer who represents management in labor cases, said the order highlights how fact-specific cases can be, and pointed to the judges comments about the unspecified steps Instacart could take.

I suspect that those minor changes relate to giving the shoppers more autonomy and reducing the control by Instacart, she said. This is low-hanging fruit for businesses  make those relatively minor changes to give contractors more autonomy and reduce control by the company.

Keeping workers as freelancers under AB5 and Dynamex would require Instacart to show that their work is not core to its business. The San Diego city attorneys office and other outside legal experts said they could not see how Instacart could prove that.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Instacart has not said that it sees a revised business model as its path to compliance, said San Diego spokeswoman Hilary Nemchik in an email.

Instacart, which is legally registered as Maplebear Inc., the name on the lawsuit, has about $2 billion in venture backing and was most recently valued by its investors at $8 billion in 2018. The company offers same-day delivery of groceries ordered via its app or website. It operates in about 5,500 cities nationwide.

The lawsuit said Instacart clearly violated the ABC test for determining employment classification set by both AB5 and Dynamex because it controlled its workers actions, grocery shopping is core to its business, and the shoppers did not have independent businesses of buying and delivering groceries.

Instacart has two categories of supermarket workers. The vast majority, called full-service shoppers, work as independent contractors. The company said it has about 175,000 people in this category, including 30,000 in California. They roam the aisles of stores like Safeway, Costco, Mollie Stones and Lucky to select items, buy them at the checkout, load them into their personal cars and drive them to customers homes. Sometimes they also deliver orders that were already purchased. Those are the people at issue in the lawsuit.

The other category, in-store shoppers, were reclassified as part-time employees in 2015. It accounts for about 12,000 people nationwide. They select and buy groceries and stage them for pickup by others.

Its especially easy to observe the hypocrisy in Instacarts case where some (workers) are classified as traditional employees and others as independent contractors, Bain said.

A tidal wave of opposition and controversy is challenging AB5. Instacart, along with Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and Postmates, is pushing a $110 million ballot initiative asking California voters to allow their drivers and couriers to remain independent contractors who are entitled to some benefits and a minimum earnings guarantee. The online grocery company has contributed $10 million to that effort.

Chronicle staff writer Chase DiFeliciantonio contributed to this report.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com
Gardai are questioning a mother of three over the fatal stabbing of a man in a suspected attack over a car parking space.

Officers have described it as an incredible attack, which occurred at around 7am on Tuesday in a residential area of Kingswood, south Dublin.

The deceased, Gareth Kelly, aged 39 and from nearby Tallaght, died from multiple stab wounds.

Gareth Kelly.

His body has been removed for a post-mortem tomorrow and the scene remains preserved and will remain cordoned off overnight.

Gardai said the two people were not in a personal relationship and don't believe they even knew each other.

Mr Kelly is thought to have parked his car in the Brownsbarn Estate overnight while he stayed with his girlfriend in the locality, but not in the estate.

When he came back to the car sometime before 7am he could not start it and is thought to have gone off again and returned with a battery pack.

He had the bonnet of the car opened and sat into his car, when gardai say a woman came out from a house, armed with a knife and stabbed him a number of times.

The deceased had initially managed to get out of the car, before collapsing between two cars.

The woman is then thought to have gone back inside her home, where her children and husband were.

When gardai were alerted they called to the house and sources said the husband appeared not to know what had happened.

The woman was arrested and taken to Clondalkin Garda Station for questioning.

The detention period is expected to be extended overnight.

Detectives are trying to establish the motive for the attack and if it was because the man had parked in her car space, what drove her to stab him.

The Garda Technical Bureau conducted a detailed examination at the scene.

Gardai have managed to gather CCTV from the area which is thought to be assisting their investigation.

Following local inquiries, gardai learned that there were significant issues in the past regarding parking in the space where Mr Kelly had left his car.

In a statement, Garda HQ said the woman was arrested on suspicion of murder and detained at Clondalkin Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

It appealed to anyone who was in the Brownsbarn Estate and Kingswood area between 6am and 7am, or road users with camera footage, to come forward.

Clondalkin Garda Station on 01 666 7600; the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.

A family liaison officer has been appointed to the family and they continue to support the family.
African languages for sustainable development

A national strategy for mother tongue languages will guide action and address deeply held beliefs about African languages, writes Professor Makalela.

International Mother Tongue Day observed annually on 21 February reminds us that language activists in South Africa face a multitude of challenges in their quest to preserve and promote indigenous African languages.

In South Africa, indigenous African languages spoken by over 70% of the population face degradation, and marginalisation despite the countrys intentions to put them on equal footing with Afrikaans and English.

Much work needs to be done to tackle the unfounded myths borne out of the colonial discourses of divide and rule, and which many speakers of African languages have mistakenly come to believe. Some of the prevailing myths include the following beliefs:

African languages are not developed for academic and scientific communication

The reality is that there is no language born with the scientific concepts it represents. In an open linguistic ecosystem, African languages are able to borrow and contribute vocabulary and concepts in the same way that English does. For example, 80% of words used in English today are loanwords.

It is expensive to use many languages, therefore, having only one language makes economic sense

The reality of economics is that costs are always measured against benefits  what economists call cost-benefit analysis. Critics of multilingualism cite costs without telling us about the benefits of using African languages. Also, the costs of material development and teacher preparations are not calculated and weighed against the costs of drop outs, failure rates and low levels of literacy attributed to teaching in a language that learners do not understand. Research conducted by the World Bank shows that the initial costs of teaching in mother tongue for governments will be about 5% higher than the current education budget in the first year, but these costs will level out in the long run. The benefits of using African languages for sustainable development are far higher than the narrow look at the immediate costs. That is, the intellectual capital and meaningful participation in the economy will be improved with the use of indigenous languages.

People dont need African languages because they are not geared for employment and upward social mobility

The argument for using African languages as the medium of learning and teaching in the basic education sector does not exclude the teaching of English as a compulsory subject. Children need to be taught in the languages they understand as a precondition for deeper levels of understanding and development of a strong self image. Mother tongue languages offer benefits of developing basic skills, which are necessary for survival in the work place.

It is the democratic rights of parents to choose English in lieu of African languages

This has been the chief myth of democracy that people opt out of their own mother tongue at school-. However, the reality is that parents are not informed about the benefit that children derive from learning their mother tongue and there is no variety in languages on offer at former model-C schools. In most schools, the only languages available for use as a medium of learning and teaching beyond grade 3 are English and Afrikaans. We have not seen national effort to educate parents about the value of the mother tongue languages.

Aside from these myths, the truth is that no country in the world has ever reached the highest level of modernity and human capital through the use of a language not understood by the majority of its citizens and exclusion of the local languages.

Second, education is about developing ones sense of self (confidence) and a deeper connection with the world (advancement of cognitive and intellectuals planes through stages of abstraction). In this connection, we should value the languages through which these attributes can best be achieved.

Third, every language is scientific and can add more vocabulary through an ecology of coexistence with other languages.

Fourth, it is beneficial to use all the 11 official languages if language planning is in place. This includes gradual introduction of subjects in selected languages until all children can have an education that is accessible in their mother tongues or languages of the community.

Another important consideration for complex multilingual encounters, where many languages co-exist in the same classroom, is to think about multilingualism as a resource more than a disadvantage.

Languages without the borders are the 21st Century reality. The Hub for Multilingual Education and Literacies at Wits leads on new methods under concepts such as ubuntu translanguaging (no one language is complete without the other) to leverage students multilingual competence for deeper digestion of content, and affirmation of who they are; these are two ingredients for academic success beyond formal education.

In conclusion, there is a need for a national strategy on incremental use of mother tongue languages as medium of learning and teaching at least up to Grade 6 in the first phase and then other phases. Universities need to lead this process by creating multilingual tutorials as the first step, which will later transfer into choices available for learning through African languages selected by the institutions. Mother tongue based multilingualism is a prerequisite for socio-economic development as it promotes broader participation in the economy and fosters social cohesion.

Leketi Makalela is full professor and founding Director of the Hub for Multilingual Education and Literacies at the University of the Witwatersrand. He holds a distinguished visiting scholar position at City University of New York.
The US Department of Defense has announced plans to adopt ethical principles to push forward with the use of artificial intelligence within warfare.

The Pentagon's Chief Information Officer, Dana Deasy, said the five AI principles would lay the foundation for "the ethical design, development, deployment, and the use of AI by the Department of Defense".

The new principles call for people to "exercise appropriate levels of judgment and care" when deploying and using AI systems, such as those that scan aerial imagery to look for targets.

They also say decisions made by automated systems should be "traceable" and "governable," which means "there has to be a way to disengage or deactivate" them if they are demonstrating unintended behavior, said Air Force Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan, director of the Pentagon's Joint Artificial Intelligence Center.

The Pentagon's push to speed up its AI capabilities has fueled a fight between tech companies over a $10 billion cloud computing contract known as the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure, or JEDI. Microsoft won the contract in October but hasn't been able to get started on the 10-year project because Amazon sued the Pentagon, arguing that President Donald Trump's antipathy toward Amazon and its chief executive Jeff Bezos hurt the company's chances at winning the bid.

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. 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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

An existing 2012 military directive requires humans to be in control of automated weapons, but doesn't address broader uses of AI. The new US principles are meant to guide both combat and non-combat applications, from intelligence-gathering and surveillance operations to predicting maintenance problems in planes or ships.

The approach outlined Monday follows recommendations made last year by the Defense Innovation Board, a group led by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.

While the Pentagon acknowledged that AI "raises new ethical ambiguities and risks," the new principles fall short of stronger restrictions favoured by arms control advocates.

US President Donald Trump and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella listen to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos during an American Technology Council roundtable at the White House in Washington, DC, on 19 June 19, 2017 (AFP/Getty Images)

"I worry that the principles are a bit of an ethics-washing project," said Lucy Suchman, an anthropologist who studies the role of AI in warfare. "The word 'appropriate' is open to a lot of interpretations."

Shanahan said the principles are intentionally broad to avoid handcuffing the US military with specific restrictions that could become outdated.

"Tech adapts. Tech evolves," he said.

The Pentagon hit a roadblock in its AI efforts in 2018 after internal protests at Google led the tech company to drop out of the military's Project Maven, which uses algorithms to interpret aerial images from conflict zones. Other companies have since filled the vacuum. Shanahan said the new principles are helping to regain support from the tech industry, where "there was a thirst for having this discussion."

"Sometimes I think the angst is a little hyped, but we do have people who have serious concerns about working with the Department of Defense," he said.

 Stephen Hawking has a terrifying warning about artificial intelligence

Shanahan said the guidance also helps secure American technological advantage as China and Russia pursue military AI with little attention paid to ethical concerns.

University of Richmond law professor Rebecca Crootof said adopting principles is a good first step, but the military will need to show it can critically evaluate the huge data troves used by AI systems, as well as their cyber security risks.

Crootof said she also hopes the US action helps establish international norms around the military use of AI.

"If the US is seen to be taking AI ethical norms seriously, by default they become a more serious topic," she said.

Once deployed, the Jedi "war cloud" project would provide the computing power to enable AI-based war planning.

The US military claims it will significantly boost ground operations by giving troops access to ultra powerful computers to assist with battlefield strategy.

Additional reporting by agencies.
An official welcome ceremony has been held for President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is on a visit in Azerbaijan.

A guard of honor was arranged for the Turkish President in the square decorated with the national flags of the two countries.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev greeted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The chief of the guard of honor reported to the Turkish President.

President Ilham Aliyev and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reviewed the guard of honor.

The Turkish President saluted the Azerbaijani soldiers.

The national anthems of Turkey and Azerbaijan were played.

State and government officials of Azerbaijan and Turkey were introduced to the presidents.

The guard of honor marched in front of the heads of state to the accompaniment of a military march.

The presidents posed for official photos.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The Trump administration must nominate a permanent candidate for DNI as soon as possible, and the Senate should use its influence to ensure that a qualified person is confirmed. Given recent history, the next Senate-confirmed DNI will have a steep hill to climb to reestablish trust, which is why we believe strongly that the ideal candidate should be a nonpartisan career professional, with an extensive record of public service and the highest standards of integrity.
LONDON, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mindspace , the global flex space provider, today announced the opening of its latest site in Hammersmith, London, marking the operators third London site.

The new space is situated in Hammersmith where Mindspace will build and manage 35,000 sq ft of high-end coworking and flex space, on floors 6-8 of the Metro building , owned by a fund managed by PATRIZIA AG . The new Mindspace site will accommodate approximately 630 members, and the opening is scheduled for June 2020.

Mindspace Shoreditch in London (PRNewsfoto/Mindspace)

Mindspace will provide uniquely designed and attractively furnished spaces accompanied by a wide range of business services such as guest check-in, community programming, activities and events, and other concierge-type service. Mindspace will also offer various amenities for all tenants of the building, such as meeting rooms, board room and event spaces. Media kit here .

Dan Zakai, CEO and co-founder, Mindspace said: "With a global track record of over 30 successful locations in 7 countries and 16 cities, inclusive of London - the coworking capital of the world, we are excited to take the next step in our growth. We plan to bring our unique flex space approach to this building and create a space that our partners and members can be proud to call their office."

Mindspace recently announced its third site in the US, in Philadelphia, within the renowned Wanamaker Building. Mindspace Philadelphia marks the first landlords partnership agreement deal for Mindspace in the U.S in addition to similar agreements signed in Europe and Israel in the past year.

About Mindspace

Mindspace is a global boutique coworking provider redefining the workplace experience for companies of all sizes. Their beautifully designed spaces, personalized level of service and carefully curated events foster enhanced employee engagement and a strong sense of community, accommodating the way people work, learn, innovate and grow. For further information please visit Mindspace.me or LinkedIn , Twitter and Facebook .

About the Metro Building in Hammersmith

The Metro Building in Hammersmith, a key office submarket in west London, provides just under 110,000 sqft of office space over nine floors. Additional tenants from international companies including Weber, Agoda International, Capcom, Virgin Hotels and IATA.

Media Contact

Silicon Valley Communications

Oshy Ellman

+1-914-294-3135

[email protected]

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Linkedin Mark Gurman (Bloomberg)  Tue, February 25, 2020 11:25 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20666c5de 2 Science & Tech Apple,China,smartphone,iPhone,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,COVID-19 Free

Apple Inc. is reopening more than half of its retail stores in China, trying to rebound from a sales hit tied to the coronavirus.

As of Monday, 29 of 42 Apple stores in the country are opening, according to a review of the companys retail websites. Most of these locations are still operating on shortened hours. Some outlets will be open for fewer than 8 hours. That compares with a typical 12-hour day, depending on location.

The Cupertino, California-based technology giant hasnt said when the remaining stores will reopen. However, some Apple websites for specific stores show that operating hours will return to normal as early as the end of this week.

Apples retail footprint in China is critical to the companys sales. The store closures were one of two main reasons for Apple saying it wouldnt meet its revenue target of at least $63 billion in the current quarter ending in March.

Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook told employees last week that retail locations in China were starting to reopen, but we are experiencing a slower return to normal conditions than we had anticipated.

Earlier on Monday, an analysis of official Chinese data showed that Apples China iPhone shipments dropped in January as the coronavirus began to spread.
B TS shut down Grand Central Station in New York for a very special rendition of their new track On.

The Korean boy band filmed the jaw-dropping performance as part of their appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, which also saw them travel around the city on the subway to visit a number of New York landmarks with the late night host.

Band members V, Jungkook, Suga, Jin, RM, Jimin and J-Hope pulled off an intricate routine which also featured backing dancers dressed in black and a marching band.

At the start of the impressive clip, Fallon introduced the band as a record breaking global phenomenon and described their performance as historic.

The band also visited the famous Katzs Delicatessen to serve a pastrami sandwich and took part in a game of Subway Olympics with Fallon.

In a video shared on Twitter shortly after the special episode aired, Fallon explained how the band and the shows producers masterminded the amazing performance, describing it as the most exciting, surreal experience.

I cant believe they pulled it off, he said. We did it maybe three or four times, and most of this take was the second time and they were just on fire.

How did we pull it off? Thanks to New York City and Grand Central terminal for letting us hang out there. They closed it off from two in the morning to four in the morning for one night.

We snuck in, no one knew anything. We [were] just stealthy as Tonight Show does and we got in there and man, it was the most exciting surreal experience because its that giant beautiful area, that space.

We lit it for as many hours as we could so we could get a couple of performances before we left.

BTS: The world's biggest boyband - In pictures 1 /46 BTS: The world's biggest boyband - In pictures November 19, 2017



BTS perform during the 2017 American Music Awards Getty Images March 19, 2014



BTS attend the 100th episode of MBC Show Champion 2014 in Seoul AFP/Getty Images December 31, 2017



BTS performs onstage during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2018 in Los Angeles, CA, USA Getty Images for dcp January 15, 2020



Ariana Grande shares a picture of her with BTS Instagram August 10, 2014



BTS attends the Mnet America show Danny From LA KCON 2014 - Day 2 in Los Angeles, CA, USA Getty Images August 10, 2014



K-pop group BTS arrive on the red carpet during the K-CON 2014 in Los Angeles, CA, USA AFP/Getty Images January 22, 2015



BTS arrive for the 24th Seoul Music Awards n Seoul, South Korea Getty Images January 28, 2015



BTS arrive for the 4th Gaon Chart K-POP Awards 2015 at the Olympic Park in Seoul Getty Images May 21, 2017



BTS accepts the Top Social Artist award onstage during the 2017 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, NV, USA Getty Images November 19, 2017



BTS perform during the 2017 American Music Awards Getty Images November 19, 2017



BTS pose in the press room at the 2017 American Music Awards Invision/AP November 19, 2017



V and Jungkook of BTS perform during the 2017 American Music Awards Getty Images November 19, 2017



BTS perform during the 2017 American Music Awards Getty Images December 31, 2017



BTS attends Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2018 in Los Angeles, CA, USA Getty Images for dcp December 31, 2017



BTS performs onstage during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2018 in Los Angeles, CA, USA Getty Images for dcp May 20, 2018



BTS perfrom during the 2018 Billboard Music Awards Getty Images May 20, 2018



BTS attend the 2018 Billboard Music Awards Getty Images May 20, 2018



BTS perfrom during the 2018 Billboard Music Awards Getty Images May 20, 2018



Tyra Banks with BTS attending the 2018 Billboard Music Awards Getty Images May 20, 2018



BTS accepts the Top Social Artist award during the 2018 Billboard Music Awards Getty Images October 14, 2018



BTS performs during a Korean cultural event as part of South Korean President official visit in France AFP/Getty Images October 14, 2018



BTS performs during a Korean cultural event as part of South Korean President official visit in France AFP/Getty Images October 14, 2018



BTS members stand on scene after they performed during a Korean cultural event as part of South Korean President official visit in France AFP/Getty Images October 14, 2018



BTS performs during a Korean cultural event as part of South Korean president official visit to France AFP/Getty Images October 14, 2018



South Korean President Moon Jae-in greets the members of South Korean pop group BTS during a Korean cultural event as part of South Korean President official visit in France AFP/Getty Images December 14, 2018



V, Suga, Jin, JungKook, Jimin, J-Hope and RM of BTS attend the 2018 Mnet Music Awards in Hong Kong Getty Images January 15, 2019



BTS attend the Seoul Music Awards Getty Images May 1, 2019



BTS perform onstage during the 2019 Billboard Music Awards Getty Images May 15, 2019



Kim Tae-hyung, Park Ji-min, Jungkook, Suga, Kim Seok-jin, RM and J-Hope of BTS perform on "Good Morning America" Getty Images May 1, 2019



South Korean boy band BTS poses in the press room with their awards during the 2019 Billboard Music Awards AFP/Getty Images December 6, 2019



BTS attends 102.7 KIIS FM's Jingle Ball 2019 Presented by Capital One at the Forum on December 6, 2019 in Los Angeles Getty Images December 31, 2019



BTS performs during the Times Square New Year's Eve 2020 Celebration in New York Getty Images January 26, 2020



BTS attends the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards Getty Images for The Recording A January 26, 2020



BTS perform with Lil Nax X AT the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards Getty Images Jan 29, 2020



South Korean boy band BTS with James Corden on The Late Late Shaw

He added that he was so happy to be able to share this great secret with BTS fans and thanked the band for trusting us with the release of your new album.

It was beyond anything we could even imagine, so thank you guys so much, he said.

On appears on the groups latest album Map Of The Soul: 7, which is on track to score a UK number one later this week, with the band currently outselling their three nearest competitors combined.
Harvey Weinstein arrives at a Manhattan courthouse on February 24, 2020. Photo: Seth Wenig/AP/Shutterstock

A Manhattan judge sentenced Harvey Weinstein to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault on Wednesday. Weinstein was found guilty of two counts on February 24  criminal sexual act in the first degree, and rape in the third degree  following a nearly seven-week trial. Weinsteins conviction was for two attacks: forcibly performing oral sex on former Project Runway production assistant Mimi Haleyi at his Soho apartment in 2006, and raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann at a Midtown East hotel in 2013. Justice James Burke, who oversaw Weinsteins case, said at the sentencing, I will say that although this is a first conviction, it is not a first offense. Burke also ordered Weinstein to register as a sex offender.

Weinstein, who had been charged with a total of five counts, was found not guilty of three: one count of first-degree rape involving Mann, and two counts of predatory sexual assault. The predatory-sexual-assault counts included Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorras allegation that Weinstein raped her around late 1993. The verdict means that Weinstein was not convicted of a charge involving Sciorra.

Weinsteins conviction doesnt mean his legal drama has ended. Vulture spoke with attorneys about whats next for the fallen producer-turned-convicted rapist.

Weinstein is now in prison.

The convicted rapist was transferred from New York Citys Rikers Island jail to the Wende Correctional Facility, a maximum-security state prison near Buffalo, on March 18. Less than one week after his arrival, Weinstein reportedly tested positive for coronavirus. Weinsteins time in federal custody has been characterized from drama from the start. He bounced between Bellevue Hospital, where he was treated for chest pains, and Rikers before his eventual transfer Upstate.

Weinstein was supposed to have the same intake process of any new state prisoner, though its unclear if his reported coronavirus inefection changed that. New state prison inmates are typically taken to a reception center, at a facility, where they are required to receive a shower and delousing treatment. They are also required to receive a shave and a haircut, a New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision document states. Inmates are also supposed to get a pamphlet, The Prevention of Sexual Abuse in Prison; What Inmates Need to Know, and watch a gender-specific version of the film Ending Sexual Abuse Behind the Walls; An Orientation.

Weinstein still has a criminal case in Los Angeles.

One day before jury selection in Weinsteins Manhattan trial started, the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office announced charges of rape and sexual assault against him. The four counts involve two separate women over a two-day period seven years ago. Weinstein was charged with one count each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, and sexual penetration by use of force for allegedly pushing his way into a womans hotel room on February 18, 2013, and raping her. Weinstein was charged with one count of sexual battery by restraint for allegedly trapping actress Lauren Young in the bathroom of his hotel suite and groping her breast on February 19 of that year. (Young actually testified at Weinsteins trial as one of the three witnesses attesting to prior, uncharged bad acts.)

Los Angeles prosecutors said on January 6 that they were investigating eight allegations against Weinstein. Three of those accusations were outside the statute of limitations and cant be pursued, but prosecutors said at the time that they were continuing their investigation into the other three. Weinstein has not yet been arraigned in his California criminal case. A spokesman for the L.A. district attorney said in an email that Mr. Weinstein would not be brought back to Los Angeles until after he was sentenced. After Weinsteins conviction was revealed Monday, Los Angeles prosecutor Paul Thompson said, We are definitely proceeding.

Weinstein will be brought to L.A.

Two-and-a-half hours after Weinsteins sentence came down, prosecutors there gave a quick update on their case, saying in a press release, The Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office has begun the process of extraditing defendant Weinstein to California to face the sexual assault charges that were filed in January.

L.A. prosecutors said in a March 23 press release that the office initiated its request to New York for the temporary custody of defendant Weinstein to bring him to Los Angeles County to face rape and sexual assault charges.

The prosecutors said they cannot determine when defendant Weinstein will physically be in Los Angeles. Prosecutors there also discussed coronavirus concerns in their statement.

As for any concerns given the coronavirus pandemic, our office expects that each agency responsible for processing, transporting and housing defendant Weinstein will follow its protocols and public health guidelines, the prosecutors statement said.

Defense lawyer Julie Rendelman said that typically, papers would be filed to bring Weinstein to California to face these charges. Weinstein can waive extradition, which basically means not fight it, or he can oppose being brought there. If Weinstein does want to fight extradition, there would be a hearing.

I think hed prefer, in a sense, to go to California, Rendelman said. I think the prison system may be somewhat better for him there. If Weinstein is extradited, he could stay in jail there until that case starts, though they could technically bring him each time theres a hearing, or a court date in L.A., and then bring him back, but that doesnt seem to be a logical decision. Rendelman pointed to Weinsteins health issues, and said his L.A. lawyer would want him there, because theyre going to need to speak to him regarding his defense. If Weinstein were convicted in the L.A. case, he would likely return to New York to serve out the rest of the sentence in his Manhattan case.

Weinsteins conviction might impact his L.A. case  but not necessarily.

Defense lawyer Julie Rendelman pointed to the fact that one of the women who accused Weinstein of misconduct in New York is part of his Los Angeles case in explaining why there could be a potential impact. This may give LA a bit more confidence in going forward with their case, particularly regarding that complainant, Rendelman told Vulture in an email. Further, it would create the possibility, although highly unlikely, that Weinstein might plead in LA to hope for a lighter sentence, given his conviction in NY.

Rebecca Roiphe, a New York Law School professor and former assistant district attorney in Manhattan, said that theres no way in which his indictment should legally affect the outcome of the case in Los Angeles, because its a different set of facts, and different laws, so theres no direct legal impact  That said, its hard to imagine that the conviction, and the press surrounding the conviction, hasnt affected the impression of the public, and therefore, the preconceptions of the future jurors in Los Angeles.

Weinstein can appeal his conviction.

Weinsteins lawyers said they plan to appeal his conviction, with a state appeals court called the Appellate Division, First Judicial Department. Following Weinsteins sentencing, his legal team said they expect to file paperwork as early as July.

Weinsteins appeal is a complicated process.

After Weinstein is sentenced, his lawyers have 30 days to file a notice of appeal  basically, a formal heads-up that they are going to fight the outcome  with a state appeals court. Following that notice, they have 120 days to file an appeal brief  their fleshed-out argument for appeal  though the appeals court can give them an extension, Richman said.

Weinsteins lawyers can ask for several things, said defense attorney Rhiya Trivedi. They could ask for the appeals panel to reduce his sentence. They can also ask for the appeals court to kick sentencing back to Burke if they found that his sentence didnt jibe with sentencing law. Weinsteins legal team could also ask the appeals court to throw out the conviction and order a new trial. (This basically puts everything back at square one, so it could mean a new trial, or possibly that Weinstein would decide to take a plea.) They could also ask for the indictment against Weinstein to be dismissed outright.

If the outcome isnt in his favor, Weinstein can try taking his case to a higher state appeals court.

Weinstein still faces civil lawsuits.

While the controversial $25 million settlement that would end many sexual-misconduct lawsuits against him isnt yet finalized, Weinsteins conviction wouldnt prevent this deal from going forward. Under this tentative settlement, $6.2 million would be for 18 accusers who had filed cases in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, and the rest of this money would be for class-action participants and accusers who have not come forward. Some Weinstein accusers rejected participating in this settlement and are going forward with their own lawsuits; his conviction wont stand in the way of that litigation. Roiphe also said that the criminal conviction will make it easier for women to sue.

I dont think theres any effect, from the standpoint of proceeding, said Douglas Wigdor, who represents three women who have civil claims against Weinstein. You have to go up to where theyre being held in prison. Well go wherever he is and take his deposition.

Weinsteins conviction and potential imprisonment shouldnt impact any money he might have to pay accusers, Wigdor added. I dont know why prison would affect his money. I assume he has a great deal of money. Weinstein actually saves more money by being in custody and not out spending it, Wigdor said.

If lawsuits against Weinstein went to trial, he could attend if he wanted to, but he would not be required to appear in court.
Union Home Minister on Tuesday held a meeting to discuss the prevailing situation in the capital after violence in northeast Delhi over the amended citizenship law left seven people, including a head constable, dead.

Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Commissioner of Police Amulya Patnaik, Congress leader Subhash Chopra, BJP's Manoj Tiwari and Ramvir Bidhuri attended the meeting.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Director of Intelligence Bureau Arvind Kumar were also present at the meeting.

The home minister has convened a meeting to discuss the current situation in Delhi, a Home Ministry official said.

The move came after the home minister reviewed the law and order situation in the capital on Monday night as violence rocked northeast Delhi.

A head constable was among seven 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 on Monday.

Frenzied protesters torched houses, shops, vehicles and a petrol pump, besides hurling stones.
Balarabe Musa, a former governor of old Kaduna State, on Tuesday, has supported comments by Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State t...





Balarabe Musa, a former governor of old Kaduna State, on Tuesday, has supported comments by Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State that the Southern part of Nigeria should be allowed to produce the countrys next president.





Musa, an elder statesman from the North, said the next president of Nigeria should come from the Southeast.





Recall that El-Rufai had said that the North should hands-off power in 2023.





The Kaduna State governor maintained that the Southern part of the country should produce the countrys next president in the interest of fairness.





However, the elder statesman while backing El-Rufai, stressed that in the interest of justice, peace and equity, the presidency should go the Southeast.





According to Musa: El-Rufai said the Presidency should go to the South right? Im also saying the presidency should go to the Southeast for the sake of justice, peace and equality.





However, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan described El-Rufais comment as political statement.





Ologbondiyan stated that at the right time the opposition party would unveil its approach to the 2023 elections.





El-Rufai is operating within a political climate and hes at liberty to make political statements as far as PDP is concerned at the appropriate time the party would decide its approach to use at the 2023 election, he said.
Pakistan on Tuesday raked up the Kashmir issue at the UNHRC here and demanded the immediate lifting of the communication restrictions and release of all the political leaders and activists in the Valley, saying any "inaction" by the international community will only "embolden" India.

Speaking at the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council which is being held here in Switzerland from February 24 to March 20, Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari alleged that India continues to violate the human rights of the Kashmiri people and demanded the immediate repeal of all actions by India on August 5 last year in Kashmir.

India abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 on August 5 and bifurcated it into two Union territories.

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.

She alleged that "over six thousand Kashmiri people, activists... were arrested without the due process of law" and demanded their immediate release.

The minister, known for her hardline anti-India stance, said any "inaction" by the international community and the Council will only "embolden" India to act with impunity.

Mazari urged the UNHRC and the rest of the international community to take action against the alleged human rights atrocities and violations in Jammu and Kashmir.

In her speech, she appealed the Council to constitute an independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate and report the alleged human rights violations in Kashmir as proposed in a UN report.

In 2018, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) report recommended an independent, international Commission of Inquiry on Kashmir.

Pakistan, she said is ready to facilitate the Commission of Inquiry to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and asked India to reciprocate in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mazari outlined eight actions that, she said, the Council and the international community should take with respect to Jammu and Kashmir to protect the human rights situation in the Valley.

She asked India to withdraw all the "illegal actions" of August 5, desist from changing demographics in Jammu and Kashmir and lift the lockdown and communications blackout there.

The minister said India must "allow" the flow of medicines, food and other essential items to the Kashmiri people and release all "arbitrarily detained" Kashmiri leaders, professionals and activists, including young boys.

Mazari demanded that India should repeal all the "draconian laws" which, she alleged, allowed the Indian security forces to "commit atrocities" in Kashmir and prohibit the use of force.

She called for banning the use of pellet guns and ensure the drawdown of over 800,000 Indian troops in Jammu and Kashmir.

The minister also highlighted the steps taken by her country to ensure the safety and security of the minority communities and mentioned the opening of the historic Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for the Sikhs.

The Indian government abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution on August 5, 2019 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and imposed severe curbs including on movement of people as well as on mobile telephone and internet connectivity. The crackdown drew international criticism with several countries expressing concerns over the situation in Kashmir.

India has categorically told the international community that its move to scrap Article 370 was an internal matter. According to officials, internet is being restored in the Valley in a phased manner after reviewing the security situation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Colin Packham SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia is under an 'unprecedented' threat of foreign espionage and interference, one of the country's most senior spy chiefs said in a rare speech, citing the case of a 'sleeper agent' who spent years building business links. Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Director-General Mike Burgess said several nations were working hard to influence lawmakers, government officials, media figures, business leaders and academics.

By Colin Packham

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia is under an "unprecedented" threat of foreign espionage and interference, one of the country's most senior spy chiefs said in a rare speech, citing the case of a "sleeper agent" who spent years building business links.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Director-General Mike Burgess said several nations were working hard to influence lawmakers, government officials, media figures, business leaders and academics.

"The level of threat we face from foreign espionage and interference activities is currently unprecedented," Burgess said at ASIO headquarters in Canberra on Monday evening as he unveiled the agency's annual threat assessment.

"It is higher now, than it was at the height of the Cold War."

Burgess did not identify the countries infiltrating Australia, a staunch ally of the United States. ASIO is Australia's domestic intelligence agency.

Reuters reported in September that Australia's intelligence agencies concluded China was responsible for a cyber-attack on the Australian parliament and three largest political parties just months before a general election in May 2019.

China, which is Australia's largest trading partner, has denied responsibility for the attack. Australia decided not to reveal the identity of the attackers in order to protect its trading relationship with China, sources familiar with the decision told Reuters in September.

"I don't care what country it is we're talking about, whether it's China or Russia or Iran - if people pose a threat to our country, they will be dealt with according to the level of that threat," Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday when asked about China.

SLEEPER AGENT

Burgess said Australia was being targeted in part because of its strategic position and alliances and its leadership in science and technology.

He said the sleeper agent from an unnamed country laid dormant for several years, building business and community links before he started to supply information about expatriate dissidents. That information, Burgess said, was used to harass the dissidents in Australia and their relatives overseas.

Visiting academics and scientists had been infiltrating universities to collection intelligence information, while foreign spies had entered Australia with the intention of setting up sophisticated hacking infrastructure, he added.

"The intent is to engineer fundamental shifts in Australias position in the world, not just to collect intelligence or use us as a potential back-door into our allies and partners," he said.

Australia's leading universities last year agreed to more transparency in financial dealings with other countries and to share cyber intelligence with security agencies in a bid to curb foreign interference.

Burgess said the threat of home-grown right-wing extremists had also increased.

"In suburbs around Australia, small cells regularly meet to salute Nazi flags, inspect weapons, train in combat and share their hateful ideology," he said.

(Reporting by Colin Packham; editing by Philippa Fletcher and Jane Wardell)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Tenerife Hotel Placed in Quarantine After Italian Tests Positive for Coronavirus

A hotel in the resort area of Tenerife, Spain, has been placed on partial lockdown after an Italian man tested positive for coronavirus, according to officials.

Health authorities in the Canary Islands quarantined the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel on Monday.

H10 Hotels has implemented all health and operational recommendations from the health authorities to ensure the safety and wellbeing of customers and employees, the hotel said in a statement, reported The Guardian. Additionally, we are providing customers and hotel staff all the necessary care and attention so that, despite the inconveniences this situation may cause, they are taken care of in the best way possible.

In a separate statement to Sky News, H10 said Canary Island health officials requested that restrictive measures be implemented at the hotel to ensure that others dont get infected.

So far, Italy has reported 283 cases of the virus, which causes the disease COVID-19, and seven deaths as officials are attempting to curb its spread. The Tenerife patient, meanwhile, is the third case of the virus in Spain.

(Courtesy of Tenerife Convention Bureau)

A spokesperson for the Canary Island health agency told CNN that guests who had contact with the infected Italian man were asked to stay in their rooms. The person pushed back against reports that officials placed the resort under quarantine.

We are not calling it a quarantine, we are monitoring and undertaking health checks on all people that might have had a contact with the coronavirus patientthat includes people from the hotel, not all of them, the spokeswoman told the network.

The infected Italian patient, meanwhile, has been placed in isolation before test results are sent back to Madrid for another analysis, Canary Island health officials told the Guardian. Previously, in Spain, a British man tested positive for the virus and a German national tested positive on another Canary Island, La Gomera.

The UK Foreign Office confirmed that its staff is providing support to British nationals at the Tenerife hotel.

We are in close contact with the hotel management and the Spanish authorities, and are seeking further information, the department said in a statement to Sky News.

Reports have said that as many as 1,000 guests and staff have been placed under lockdown at the hotel.

The virus is believed to have emerged in Wuhan, China, prompting lockdowns in numerous cities and triggering what critics have described as a draconian response on the part of the Chinese regime. Inside China, tens of thousands of people are believed to have contracted the new coronavirus.

Outside of China, South Korea has the most cases with nearly 1,000 confirmed infections as of Tuesday. A significant number have been linked to a Christian church in Daegu, where the outbreak is believed to have started.
Tuesday, February 25th, 2020 (1:48 pm) - Score 2,381

Full fibre builders take note. Global investment firm Blackstone is in the process of establishing a dedicated European infrastructure team, which among other things is looking for opportunities to invest billions of pounds into UK infrastructure upgrades including energy, water systems, transport and broadband ISP networks.

As it stands Blackstone Infrastructure Partners (BIP) announced the final close of its inaugural fund-raising phase in 2019 with total commitments of $14 billion (10.8bn), much of which is connected back to a foundation in the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.

The company has now hired the former Managing Partner and Head of Europe for rival Brookfield Infrastructure, Jonathan Kelly, to take charge of its new fund as a Senior Managing Director and Head of European Infrastructure. Jon is expected to start his job in London on 6th April 2020 and will then proceed to hunt for investment opportunities across the region.

According to a related report in This is Money, BIP is said to be bullish on the United Kingdom and believes that Brexit has caused its assets to become undervalued. In theory the UK could end up attracting roughly a quarter of the aforementioned investment pot (c.2.5bn) and thus presents another opportunity  one of several  for builders of fibre optic broadband networks to attract more funding.
Snow-covered fields around Mid-Ulster and the Glenshane Pass

The Met Office has issued another weather warning for Northern Ireland.

The organisation has put in place a snow and ice warning from 8pm on Tuesday, February 25, through to 10am on Wednesday.

Forecasters are warning of wintry showers and ice patches.

Send us your winter pics to digital.editorial@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

They said there would likely be travel disruption and a risk of injury through slips and falls on icy surfaces.

It is the third such weather warning in as many days.

"Wintry showers are expected to continue through Tuesday night and Wednesday morning leaving surfaces wet and leading to icy stretches developing on untreated surfaces," The Met Office said.

Read More

"These showers will fall as a mixture of rain, hail and snow at times, the snow mostly over higher ground. Some places are likely to see 1-3 cm of snow, mainly above 200 metres.

On Monday 26 schools were closed and one forced to close because of flooding after Northern Ireland was blanketed with snow.

Lying snow slowed down the morning commute with some roads closed because of flooding or fallen trees.

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.

However, the harsh conditions haven't prevented snowdrops peeping through in Co Antrim, where the spring flowers were seen in Glenshesk.

Tuesday's ice weather warning was in place until 10am.
For more than three decades Dreamworld's Thunder River Rapids was the theme park's most popular attraction.

Millions flocked to the ride and squealed with delight as they were drenched by the waterfalls or mechanical elephants.

However, almost everyone who rode the rapids was unwittingly risking their lives, Coroner James McDougall said.

According to him, it was 'only a matter of time' before tragedy struck.

And on October 25, 2016, tragedy did strike, and Kate Goodchild, 32, her brother Luke Dorsett, 35, his partner Roozi Araghi, 38, and Cindy Low, 42, were killed.

All four victims died after being flung into a mechanised conveyor when their raft collided with another and partially flipped. The malfunction was the third that day and the fifth in a week.

Ms Goodchild's 12-year-old daughter and Ms Low's 10-year-old son survived the incident.

The coronial inquest into their deaths heard how there was 'ample evidence of the potential for a disaster' due to a 'systemic failure to ensure the safety of patrons and staff'.

Coroner James McDougall said Dreamworld's Thunder River Rapids was was tragedy waiting to happen due to its widespread issues

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

A Queensland coroner has referred Dreamworld's owner Ardent Leisure to the Office of Industrial Relations for possible prosecution over the 2016 tragedy

Mr McDougall said Dreamworld presented itself as a modern, world-class theme park, but its 'frighteningly unsophisticated' safety procedures were 'rudimentary at best'.

A few years after the ride opened, in 1986, wooden slats covering the conveyor belt were made smaller or removed all together.

The modification was done to prevent the need to replace the slats regularly but there was no record of when the modifications had happened.

Those modifications created a large gap in the tracks, making the ride dangerous because if a raft ever became stuck in the gap it would either flip or bounce off the tracks, the inquest heard.

'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.

Police uncovered multiple incidents involving the ride in the past, with two rafts colliding in 2004, throwing a guest into the trough.

In the three decades the ride was open, there had been no thorough engineering risk assessment either.

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

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

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 1999 the park was also told to install an emergency stop button but that was never happened.

The complex shut-off system remained, meaning there were different buttons to shut off different parts of the rise - a button to turn off the conveyor belt, a button to turn off the water pump in the north and a separate one of the pump in the south.

Another concern was the checklist staff had to complete, they had to complete 38 checks in less than a minute.

Mr McDougall said there was a 'significant reliance' placed on staff when some did not have the requisite qualifications to operate the rides.

He said the company which owns the park, Ardent Leisure, may have committed an offence under workplace law.

He referred Ardent Leisure to the Office of Industrial Relations for possible prosecution under workplace laws.

The company could face fines of up to $3 million, with individual executives facing up to $600,000 and five years' jail.

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.

Police at Dreamworld, Gold Coast, on October 25 after the tragedy

Tributes were left for the victims at Dreamworld in October 2016 at the time of the tragedy

Queensland has 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.

Ardent Leisure 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.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 25, 2020 | 12:34 PM | MAYFIELD

A man struck by a car in Mayfield on Monday was injured, and then arrested.

The Mayfield Police Department says 60-year-old Ricky Tyler, of Mayfield, was trying to make a left hand turn from Willow Street onto South 10th Street, when he struck a pedestrian, 53-year-old Virgil Patrick Rodriguez, of Mayfield.

Witnesses told police that Rodriquez began to cross the road at the same time Tyler was making his turn. Officers said the weather, low light, and Rodriguez's dark clothing were contributing factors in Tyler not being able to see Rodriguez crossing the street.

Rodriguez was transported to Jackson Purchase Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. Upon his release, Rodriguez was placed under arrest for an active warrant for failing to appear. He was lodged in the Graves County Jail.
(ANSAmed) - TUNIS, FEBRUARY 25 - The emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who is undertaking an official visit to Tunisia, and Tunisian President Kais Saied, have stressed in a brief joint press conference at the Palace of Carthage that the two countries agree on a number of domestic, bilateral, Arab and regional issues, citing first and foremost the Libyan and Palestinian dossiers. President Saied highlighted the ''valorization and expansion of relations between Tunisia and Qatar and with all sincere brothers'', and the financial support provided by Qatar to Tunisia since 2011 with the possibility of converting debt into investments, according to a statement released by the president's office in Tunis.



Said reportedly said that he appreciated the fact that Hamad Al Thani was willing to contribute to the implementation of the project for a medical city in the governorate of Kairouan, as well as a project for production markets in the governorate of Sidi Bouzid. This will make the harvest, production and packaging of agricultural products easier, according to the statement.



The Qatari emir's visit to Tunisia contributes to open promising perspectives for the two sides to develop and enrich the cooperation between the two countries, stressed Saied.



The talks moreover focused on the need to reach an inter-Libyan solution to solve the crisis in the country with the possibility of holding a second summit in Tunis, which would be more inclusive, of Libyan tribes and municipalities in order to try to end the conflict.



The two leaders reportedly stressed the importance of international legitimacy regarding the Palestinian dossier, in spite of its limits. The emir of Qatar described relations between Tunisia and Qatar as ''exemplary'', stating he wants to see President Saied in Qatar soon.



According to Qatari news agency Qena, the emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, after Tunisia will travel to Algeria to discuss the latest developments in the region, in particular Libya.



(ANSAmed)
live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

The December quarter earnings were largely in-line with estimates. The economic slowdown led to a demand slowdown which impacted the earnings, but there were more than 50 stocks that managed to double their bottom line on a year-on-year basis.

As many 53 stocks more than doubled net profit on a YoY basis in the December quarter and eight of them recorded a rise of more than 1,000 percent, data from AceEquity showed.

Companies in the BSE 500 index which witnessed an exponential rise in their bottom line in the December quarter include names like Uflex, Deepak Fertilisers, JM Financial, Cholamandalam Financial Holdings, UPL, APL Apollo, Godrej Properties, and ITI.

At a time when the demand environment is slowing down, a select group of stocks managed to buck the trend and could well remain the choice of traders. But, investors should also note that the rise is also supported by external factors, and not pure fundamentals, suggest experts.

These companies which have doubled their PAT on YoY basis and increased more than 1000% are going to be the prime choice of traders. We can see that the companies which have achieved this feat are from different industries and across sectors, Gaurav Garg, Head of Research at CapitalVia Global Research Limited- Investment Advisor told Moneycontrol.

Some external reasons may also have aided these companies e.g. Corporate tax cut, strong financial results. Another reason is that Budget 2020 had economy stimulating elements and we can expect growth in all major sectors, therefore, positive sentiments at both macro (economic) and micro (company) level can aid these companies to become emerging stars of December quarter, he said.

Stocks that rose 100-1000% include companies like Birla Corp, Deepak Nitrite, Laurus Lab, IDFC, Mishra Dhatu Nigam, HDFC Ltd, Union Bank of India, Syndicate Bank, IOC, and HPCL etc. among others.

Santosh Meena, Senior Analyst, TradingBells told Moneycontrol that some of the companies did very well while there is the impact of a one-off in some of the stocks with the benefit of the corporate tax cut.

Stocks like Deepak Nitrite, Mishra Dhatu Nigam Ltd, APL apollo ltd and Rallis India beat the street estimates both on profit and margin front amid worries of economic slowdown and they may continue to do well in coming days, he said.

What should investors do?

The December quarter earnings failed to lift investor sentiment, and looking at the results there is a higher possibility that demand environment is likely to remain muted in the March quarter as well largely on account of Coronavirus concerns.

Investors must carefully look at overall stock valuations and balance sheets as well as should compare on a quarter on quarter basis, suggest experts.

Among the companies which have more than doubled net profit in December quarter, stocks like Cholomandalam, Uflex, APL Apollo Tubes Ltd. are strong fundamental companies that tend to post the good performance in the long run, Ritesh Asher - chief strategy officer at KIFS Trade Cpital told Moneycontrol.

The above-mentioned stocks have strong fundamentals for the long run and can give 20-30% returns here onward. Until and unless we find some fundamental changes which might hamper the performance of the company we are keeping the optimistic view on the mentioned stocks, he said.

Asher is of the view that all the stocks look fundamentally strong if we look at the long term horizon and the companies have also shown a very bold performance quarter on quarter and also the year on year results have been quite impressive.

Green shoots in December Qtr earnings?

The Nifty50 (ex-financials), PAT growth was at 1.8 percent on a YoY basis courtesy expansion in EBITDA margins and lower effective tax rate. The blended tax rate in Q3FY20 was at 27.4% vs. 30.1% in the base quarter i.e. Q3FY19.

For the Nifty (including financials), the topline was nearly flat YoY with the bottom line outperforming with the growth of 9.8 percent YoY basis, ICICIDirect said in a note.

The December quarter earnings were largely in-line as the number of beats (16) and miss (17) are equally balanced in the NIFTY50 index, said a brokerage note. However, at the broader market level misses exceeded beats by ~30 percent.

The key outlier on the sectoral front in Q3FY20 was the banking space with improving asset quality and recovery of stressed loan accounts. But, hardly there were any green shoots which were visible, suggest experts.

The Nifty50 as a barometer has shown healthy PAT growth of 21% on a YoY basis supported by a cut in tax, it is the marginally below the expectation of 26% growth. From the 49 companies (Excluding YES BANK), 12 was above expectation, 12 inline and 25 below the expectation, Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services told Moneycontrol.

The best performing sectors were NBFCs due to improvement in liquidity which reduced the cost of funds and lower provisioning. FMCG did well in line with the expectation while IT was muted but marginally above the expectation, he said.

Nair further added that the weak performers were Auto due to weak demand, Oil and Gas due to lower GRMs (gross refinery margin) and higher prices, cement due to low demand and lower cement prices, Pharma due to fall in demand & pricing power in global market and Metals due to lower international prices and demand.

: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
When Carlie Anderson enrolled at the University of North Georgia (UNG), she knew she made the right decision to attend a smaller school. During her freshman year, though, she felt like she was missing out.

"All of my friends went to bigger schools and lived on campus," Anderson said. "I was upset and asked myself if I made the wrong choice to stay and save money."

In her sophomore year, Anderson realized the impact UNG had on her. She said she grew as a student and in her faith. She also solidified her career choice after she switched her major from accounting to information systems.

Now, Anderson feels ready to attend a larger university. The 20-year-old from Pendergrass, Georgia, is one step closer with help from UNG's Nationally Competitive Scholarships office.

Anderson is one of two UNG students who qualified as a semifinalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Johan Rodriguez-Soto, a sophomore pursuing a degree in nursing, is also a semifinalist.

"I didn't expect to apply for the scholarship, because I didn't think I could compete with the students from bigger universities," Rodriguez-Soto said.

The highly selective scholarship provides students in their second year with up to $40,000 per year toward the completion of their bachelor's degree in some of the nation's most elite four-year universities. Dr. Kathryn Quinto, nationally competitive scholarships adviser for research and engagement at UNG, encouraged Rodriguez-Soto to apply. Of the nearly 1,500 applicants, 456 were named semifinalists including Anderson and Rodriguez-Soto.

"The Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship encourages students to dream big, and we are excited for this recognition of Johan's and Carlie's outstanding work," Quinto said.

Dr. Anastasia Lin, assistant vice president of research and engagement, said UNG's associate students are well positioned for the Jack Kent Cooke award, thanks to UNG's focus on leadership, service, and stellar academics.

"We are thrilled to have two more students selected as semifinalists this year for this incredibly competitive scholarship, which historically has awarded less than 5% of applicants," Lin said.

Selection criteria include academic achievement, persistence, leadership, and service to others. Anderson believes her 4.0 GPA along with her past and present struggles made her stand out. She said she had to cope with her parents' divorce in the seventh grade, which shook her to the core. And her more recent struggle was during her first year at college.

"I was bitter because I wasn't doing everything all of my friends were," Anderson said. Then she realized she couldn't compare herself to others and started making new friends. "The first year of going to a university is setting those foundations and believing what's meant for you will come to you."

She hopes the transfer scholarship will come to her as does Rodriguez-Soto. As a first-generation student born in Mexico, Rodriguez-Soto said the funds will provide him the opportunity to attend out-of-state or Ivy League schools.

"I have endless possibilities," said the 20-year-old from Gainesville, Georgia. "I could focus on getting the best education I can without the worry of putting my family in debt."

Anderson, who receives the HOPE scholarship and other financial aid, agreed. She said if she doesn't win the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship, it will not diminish her semifinalist status.

"I feel accomplished, because filling out the application was difficult," she said. "It was complicated when you have so much to say."

Rodriguez-Soto said he and every student has a story to tell and no one should feel limited. Therefore, he advised all students to try for scholarships like the Jack Kent Cooke.

Three UNG students were previously named Jack Kent Cooke semifinalists, including John Blessing and Jennifer Conley in 2016 and Allison Rogers in 2019. Teri Jones, a non-traditional sophomore majoring in visual arts on UNG's Oconee Campus, won in 2015.

Students interested in learning more about nationally competitive scholarships should contact ncs@ung.edu for more information.
The second largest card issuer SBI Cards & Payment Services, which is hitting the primary market with a Rs 9,000-crore initial public offering, has set the price band for the share sale at Rs 750-755

Mumbai: The second largest card issuer SBI Cards & Payment Services, which is hitting the primary market with a Rs 9,000-crore initial public offering, has set the price band for the share sale at Rs 750-755.

The IPO, opening on 2 March and closing on 4, comprises fresh issue of equity shares aggregating to Rs 500 crore and an offer for sale where promoters will offload nearly 13 crore shares.

Promoters SBI and Carlyle Group will offload 3.73 crore shares and 9.32 shares respectively.

SBI holds 74 percent in SBI Card and the rest by the Carlyle Group and they will pare their stakes by 4 percent and 10 percent respectively, SBI Managing Director Dinesh Khara told reporters kicking of the IPO roadshow.

SBI Card's market share in terms of the number of credit cards outstanding is 18 percent.

The pure-play credit card company's gross NPA stood at 2.47 percent in December 2019 compared to 2.44 percent in March 2019 and 2.83 percent in March 2018, he said.

SBI Card managing director and chief executive Hardayal Prasad attributed the spike in gross NPAs in March 2018 to the entry into new markets post-demonetisation but it did not generate the desired results.

"We were testing some waters but it didn't work out the way we were thinking and the delinquency went up to 2.8 percent. We have worked assiduously in terms of reducing the numbers, and 2.4-2.5 percent is what we are continuously looking at and would like to maintain it," Prasad said.

SBI Card was launched in October 1998 by SBI and GE Capital but in December 2017, GE sold back its stake to State Bank of India and the Carlyle Group.

Talking about the merchant discount rate (MDR), Khara said MDR has not been removed for credit cards but only for debit cards.

MDR is the fee collected by banks from merchants processing the transactions.

Last December, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said no MDR charges would be applicable on transactions through RuPay and UPI platforms from 1 January, 2020.
Locals attempting to stop construction machinery being unloaded at the site of a new camp clashed with police.

Clashes broke out on two Greek islands early on Tuesday between police and residents protesting the construction of migrant detention centres at a focal point of the refugee crisis.

Incidents were reported on Lesbos and Chios, outlying Greek islands on the front line of a migratory flow of refugees and asylum seekers.

More:

Witnesses said about 500 people attempted to block the unloading of heavy machinery overnight to break ground at a construction site on Lesbos.

Clashes on the streets followed, with residents attempting to block access to the construction site. Police used tear gas in clashes with locals close to the area, where dozens of people wore surgical masks, including a priest. Similar tensions were reported on Chios.

200217103659127

Greeces conservative government has taken a markedly tougher stance towards migration compared with the previous leftist government, issuing a tender for the construction of a floating fence to deter asylum seekers arriving by sea, and introducing faster processing procedures that could increase deportations.

The site on Lesbos will be a closed camp  in which residents will be locked in overnight  that tightly controls access, and will replace a current open-access camp at Moria, a sprawling facility built for fewer than 3,000 people, but which is now accommodating more than 18,000 asylum seekers.

The government is making an effort to change something, to implement a plan, a government official said.

If we dont construct new facilities, living conditions wont improve.

Greek authorities plan to construct closed detention facilities on Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros islands. The islands are close to Turkey, from where thousands of asylum seekers head to Europe each year.

Hundreds of thousands of people crossed into Europe from Turkey via Greece in 2015 and 2016 before a deal brokered by the European Union limited the flow.

There has, however, been a resurgence in arrivals since September 2019.
Feb 24 (Reuters) - Forward Fashion (International) Holdings Co Ltd:

* UPDATES ON IMPACT OF NOVEL CORONAVIRUS EPIDEMIC ON BUSINESS OPERATIONS

* EXPECTS ADVERSE IMPACT ON OPERATIONS & OPERATING ENVIRONMENT OF GROUP IN PRC, MACAU, HONG KONG & TAIWAN IN SHORT-RUN

* EXCEPT FOR RETAIL STORES LOCATED IN HUBEI PROVINCE, MOST RETAIL STORES OF GROUP IN PRC RESUMED OPERATION

* CO WAS ENGAGING IN TALKS WITH LANDLORDS OF RETAIL STORES FOR WAIVER OR REDUCTION OF RENTAL OF RETAIL STORES

* MOST OF RETAIL STORES OF GROUP IN MACAU & HONG KONG RESUMED OPERATION AS AT FEB 24

* IMPLEMENTED 50% & 30% VOLUNTARY REDUCTION IN SALARY OF ALL EXEC DIRECTORS & SENIOR MANAGEMENT RESPECTIVELY FOR 3 MTHS Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:
India and the US on Tuesday finalised defence deals worth USD 3 billion under which 30 military helicopters will be procured from two American defence majors for Indian armed forces.

The announcement on the deals were made by US President Donald Trump after his wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Talking about convergence of interests between the two countries, Modi said he and Trump have decided to raise the Indo-US ties to the level of a comprehensive global strategic partnership.

Under a USD 2.6 billion deal, India will buy 24 MH-60 Romeo helicopters from Lockheed Martin for the Indian Navy.

Another contract to acquire six AH-64E Apache helicopters for USD 800 million from aerospace giant Boeing has also been sealed.

"We expanded our defence cooperation with agreements for India to purchase more than USD 3 billion of advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo helicopters -- the finest in the world," Trump said in his media statement.

"These deals will enhance our joint defence capabilities as our militaries continue to train and operate side-by-side," the US president said.

In a statement, Boeing welcomed India's decision to acquire AH-64 Apache helicopters.

"The AH-64E Apache will be a force multiplier for the Indian Army, just as it is today for the Indian Air Force," said Boeing India President Salil Gupte.

He said the new contract is a testimony to the trust and long- standing partnership Boeing has nurtured over the years with Indian customers.

"Through our local entity, Boeing Defence India, we are supporting the P-8I, C-17, CH-47 Chinook, and AH-64 Apache with holistic life-cycle support to assist with India's defense modernisation effort and mission-readiness at competitive costs," he said.

Defence and security ties between India and the US have been on an upswing in the last six years. The bilateral defence trade touched USD 18 billion mark in 2019, reflecting growing defence cooperation between the two sides.

Both sides have also been pushing for joint venture and collaboration between private sectors of the two countries in defence manufacturing.

In June 2016, the US had designated India a "Major Defence Partner," intending to elevate defence trade and technology sharing with New Delhi to a level commensurate with that of its closest allies and partners.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Passenger airlines have been devastated by a growing number of entry bans for travelers from Korea as coronavirus infections spike here.

As of Tuesday, some 18 countries around the country have banned or restricted travelers from Korea including Bahrain, Hong Kong, Israel, Macau, Qatar and the U.K.

The Mongolian government on Monday asked Korean Air and Asiana Airlines to halt flights between the two countries. Singapore Airlines will stop flights to Incheon next month. Until early this month, 1,400 people took the Incheon-Singapore route every day, but that has fallen almost 40 percent to less than 900 people.

One airline insider said, "Until last month, Koreans tried to avoid traveling to Singapore after new coronavirus cases were reported there, but now, Singaporeans are shunning travel to Korea."

Philippine Airlines decided to stop flights between Incheon and Manila starting next month, while Air Macau has already halted flights to and from Korea until the end of this month. Thai Airways will stop flights from Bangkok to Incheon and Busan next month, while Vietnam Airlines will halt flights between Incheon and Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Na Trang.

Air New Zealand will halt flights to Korea from March 8 to late June. Japan Airlines will cut down on flights connecting Gimpo and Haneda from two to one a day and Busan-Narita flights from three to two. A major travel agency in Hong Kong said Monday that all trips to Korea departing before March 31 have been canceled after the territory banned visitors from Korea.
Beverage giants Coca-Cola and PepsiCo may raise prices in India by 6-14 percent, a first since 2014, Business Standard reported.

The hikes will be seen across most PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles and cans in their portfolio since they form bulk of the beverage industrys sales.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story.

Prices of 600ml PET bottles of Coca-Cola, ThumbsUp, Sprite, Pepsi and 7UP will be hiked by 8.6 percent in Delhi, the article quotes sources as saying. For some brands, such as Mountain Dew, the rise will be higher, by 14.3 percent to Rs 40.

The cost of the 2 litre PET bottle in most popular brands has been hiked to Rs 90 from Rs 85, a 5.9 percent increase, the report said. For the 1.25 litre bottles, the cost has been raised by 8.3 percent to Rs 65.

The cost of a SKU for 600ml bottles have been raised to Rs 38 from Rs 35 in the national capital territory, the report said. For glass bottle SKUs, the cost remains unchanged at Rs 12 and Rs 15 for 200 ml and 300 ml bottles, respectively.

We continue to observe market dynamics and consumer preferences. Depending on the insights, we take decisions on our pricing strategy, a PepsiCo India spokesperson told the paper.
Many new parents are looking for the perfect balance between solid values that work and new teaching methods.

Learn and Play Montessori, a top-rated program for Montessori preschools in Fremont, Dublin, and Danville, at https://www.learnandplaymontessori.com/, is proud to announce a new post on the trendy Centerville neighborhood in Fremont. Centerville preschools are receiving attention from a new generation of parents. Mothers and fathers in high-tech jobs might expect children to learn from 'tried and true' early learning practices. Montessori childcare can bring innovative teaching techniques to a nurturing learning environment. Learn and Play offers several preschools near Centerville that are great fits for busy Bay Area parents.

"Many new parents are looking for the perfect balance between solid values that work and new teaching methods. Children need both the opportunity to grow at their own pace while learning how to work well with others," explained Harpreet Grewal, director of Learn and Play Montessori. "Our preschools near Centerville exemplify a 'sweet spot' between what works for children and what we do to make their education even better."

Parents living around the Fremont California vicinity can review the new post on Centerville, California, preschool options at https://www.learnandplaymontessori.com/blog/centerville-preschool-options/. Centerville is considered an up-and-coming location for Bay Area families. The redeveloped area can provide both affordable living and proximity to work. The Centerville preschools are a short drive from several new housing communities for an easy drop-off and pick up schedule. Young urban professionals near Peralta, for example, may be ready to send young children to an educational daycare. For this reason, they can review the location page at https://www.learnandplaymontessori.com/peralta-fremont/. The Montessori program manages daycare, preschool, and kindergarten options for young children.

YOUNG FAMILIES IN FREMONT CA FIND CENTERVILLE PRESCHOOLS PERFECT FOR NEXT-GEN VALUES

Here is the background for this release. Living and working in Silicon Valley can be expensive. Working urban professionals might choose an older town outside the valley to raise a family. Areas around Fremont, CA, are providing modern family-style developments to cater to the new generation of Bay Area commuters. After settling down in a new home, finding the right daycare can be crucial to adults. One of the top Centerville Preschools may be a good choice. For this reason, Learn and Play Montessori has announced a new post for the Fremont, CA community.

ABOUT LEARN AND PLAY MONTESSORI

Learn and Play Montessori (https://www.learnandplaymontessori.com/) aims to be one of the best Montessori schools in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Whether parents are looking for a Montessori School in Danville, a Blackhawk preschool, or a top-rated Montessori School in Dublin / San Ramon, Learn and Play has a campus for their child or children. Bay Area parents searching for Walnut Creek preschool options could find the right fit in Danville. All schools use the famed Montessori method, offering programs from childcare to daycare, preschool to kindergarten, in not only Danville, Fremont, Dublin, or San Ramon but also in nearby towns such as Alamo, Blackhawk, Diablo or San Ramon on the I-680 corridor as well as Walnut Creek.


We share the enthusiasm of the Feb. 10 Post and Courier editorial applauding the upcoming likely addition of a resilience element in the Charleston County Comprehensive Plan and agree with your encouragement of other local governments to follow suit.

In fact, we are more than a little proud to inform your readers that in August the town of Sullivans Island adopted its new comprehensive plan, which included a new resiliency and sea level rise element.

This element covers such important issues as resilience planning for island-specific challenges, stormwater infrastructure, mapping sea level changes and adaptation approaches.

This new element highlights and elevates the importance of these challenges. Of perhaps more importance, however, resiliency issues are embedded throughout our comprehensive plan in all other relevant matters such as limits on lot coverage by buildings and other impervious surfaces, stormwater and wastewater management, protection of natural resources, etc.

Our plan is the result of more than a years thoughtful and diligent work by our Planning Commission, town staff and consultants from the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments.

Very importantly, it reflects input from our residents on numerous occasions, since participation by all of us on the island is necessary for its successful execution.

We look forward to Charleston Countys plan adding greatly to a regional emphasis on resilience, and are happy to share our experiences with our neighboring communities throughout the Lowcountry. Our plan is at bit.ly/SICompPlan.

PATRICK M. ONEIL

Mayor

GARY VISSER

Chairman, Planning Commission

Town of Sullivans Island

Middle Street

Sullivans Island

Dont close library

With its flat roof, horizontal lines and minimalist exterior, the historic 1964 West Ashley Library is reminiscent of America at a time of great change: a time of civil rights, the space race and the Beatles.

Charleston is once again at a time of great change and ever-increasing threats to livability due to poorly managed growth and rapid-pace development.

Which is why during this time of intense focus on livability issues it is completely absurd that Charleston County would consider closing and selling this beloved and well-used branch of the library system.

Nestled in the heart of several historic neighborhoods, a public elementary school, a robust shopping center and the Greenway, the library is accessible to thousands who can access it without the use of their car.

Walkable community centers like the library are key components of a prosperous, healthy, livable and sustainable Charleston. In 2014, an overwhelming majority of voters supported a library referendum that included updates to this branch.

For CCPL and Charleston County to renege on these promises is to break faith with the voters. The historic library, with its hybrid urban/suburban location and its legacy as a safe place for multiple generations of citizens to enjoy, is a special community asset and deserves preservation and protection.

Save the historic West Ashley Library.

ASHTON FINLEY

Jamaica Drive

Charleston

Kudos for litter pickup

I just wanted to thank the team of people from T-Mobile in North Charleston for picking up litter along Antler Drive recently.

Its people like this that make a difference in our community and help make the world a better place.

It is a shame that more dont help with our environment and its a shame that we have to do this at all.

People should be proud of their city, state and country and make it a better place to live in.

Thank you again, team T-Mobile.

JOHN MILLER

Antler Drive

North Charleston

Stand up, Congress

With President Donald Trumps personal attacks on those who disobey him, his pleas for foreign governments to intervene in U.S. affairs and his denigration of the news media, the FBI and now those in the Department of Justice, Congress must be vigilant in regard to the course presidential power is evidently taking.

History has shown tinkering with the judiciary is one of the key steps in which democracies move toward becoming autocracies. The presidents actions point to increasing the ability of the executive to overrun the legislative and judicial branches.

Congress must show that will not and cannot happen when a leader ostensibly sworn to uphold laws becomes, among all things, a lawbreaker and disrupter of the judiciary. Congress must avoid becoming bystanders to presidential perfidy.

RICHARD UJVARY

Waterlily Way

Summerville
The US is following an egocentric foreign policy that is leading to global arms control agreements being devalued, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.

It is vital "to stop the degradation of international arms control", Lavrov told the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, urging Washington to resume talks on halting nuclear proliferation and banning weapons in space.

"We are seeing a return to dangerous destructive trends caused by the revival of aggressive foreign policy egocentrism by one state," he said.

Washington had a "growing aspiration to dominate everywhere and to impose upon the international community its own rules to the detriment of other states", said Lavrov.

It is time, he said, for "American colleagues to return to international, intergovernmental dialogue" and renew disarmament agreements that "ensure stability on this planet".

Russia and the United States -- rivals during the four decades of the Cold War -- ripped up the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty this year, blaming one another for its demise. That deal was seen as a cornerstone of global security and its burial sparked fears of a new arms race.

And Washington is threatening to quit the 2010 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or "New START", when it expires next year. Lavrov said Russian President Vladimir Putin had proposed extending New START without conditions, adding that his boss was still waiting for a reply from the US.

New START -- which obliged them to halve the number of missile launchers and set up a new verification regime -- is seen as the last major deal keeping their arsenals below the Cold War peak. Lavrov also reiterated there was an urgent need for a new treaty stopping weapons being deployed in space, after more than a decade of deadlock.

He said Moscow was "convinced" it was not too late to stop a conflict in space and urged "full-fledged negotiations" on a treaty to prevent the deployment of some military hardware in space. But the US has long argued that it would be too difficult to verify space deployments, preferring language that focuses on prohibiting aggressive conduct.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Iran says border closure with neighboring countries temporary amid virus spread

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 February 2020 4:20 PM

The spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry says closure of the country's borders with some neighboring states over a coronavirus outbreak is only a temporary measure and a result of the current emergency conditions.

"The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a state of emergency in some parts of the world and it is only natural that some measures must be taken collectively to counter the virus," Abbas Mousavi said on Monday.

"When the coronavirus was detected in our country, our neighbors also felt concern about the spread of the disease to their countries, which is natural, but this issue should not prevent popular exchanges or exports and imports among countries," he added.

The Iranian diplomat noted that the Iranian Foreign Ministry has held consultations with senior officials of the neighboring countries through embassies in order to assure them that "no suspicious cases will cross the borders."

The closure of the borders is unlikely to be permanent, the Iranian spokesperson said, adding, "This move is also among preventive and temporary measures taken by some countries."

A spokesman for Iran's Health Ministry said on Monday that the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in the country has reached 12, while the number of confirmed infections stands at 64.

"Currently, the situation has almost stabilized in the country, and we have managed to reduce the problem to the minimum," Iraj Harirchi said.

On Sunday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani 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, 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.

Some countries in the region have closed their air and land borders to Iran as the deadly coronavirus continues its spread throughout the Islamic Republic.

Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Armenia, have closed their borders to the Islamic Republic. Other regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, and Georgia have also imposed travel and immigration restrictions.

Iran's other two neighbors, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, are reportedly intensifying border checks to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

The outbreak began in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December. Latest figures by the World Health Organization shows that it has killed more than 2,500 in China, where more than 77,000 have been infected.

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Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies. High near 10F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low -1F. Winds light and variable.
JACKSON, MI  Jackson County residents are getting calls from phone numbers from the Jackson County Health Department, but the calls are actually coming from elsewhere.

Phone scammers are impersonating health department employees from its immunization clinic and Women, Infants and Children clinic, and asking people for personal information, a health department news release said.

If you receive a similar call, gather as much information from them as possible on their identity, report it to 911 and do not share any personal information, per the release.

If unsure who's on the line, you call the department back at 517-788-4420.

"We believe this is a scam targeting the elderly to obtain sensitive information," the release said. "Due to privacy reasons, the health department would not call and leave a message asking for health insurance information."

The scammers have been telling people they have their Social Security numbers and need to verify it, the release said.

READ MORE JACKSON NEWS:

Jackson 'ramping up gun violence reduction efforts after fatal shooting

14 year old fatally shot identified, extra counselors on call at his school

Heres whos leading Jackson, now that city manager Patrick Burtch has left
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Public health officials have asked roughly 175 people who have arrived in Ohio from China to self-quarantine for 14 days to prevent the potential spread of the new coronavirus, Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton said.

No one thus far in Ohio has tested positive for the new virus, but the department has chosen to ask for self-quarantining since COVID-19 is highly infectious, Acton said in a Monday telephone interview from Washington, where she was attending a conference to learn more about the virus.

In Ohio, weve taken a very conservative approach, she said. The CDC has had varying levels of guidance, because its an evolving situation.

New infections and deaths in China are falling, but they are rapidly increasing in South Korea, Italy and Iran.

Acton described other measures her department and the states 113 local health agencies are taking, including:

Preparing for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to send kits so the state can test samples from people who are suspected to be infected at its east Columbus lab, which should be faster than federal testing. For now, the CDC has opened a second lab and is working out an issue with the test kits it intends to send to the states, she said. That would be the hope: We would like to turn those around more quickly, said Acton, a licensed preventive medicine physician.

Stocking up on hospital worker protection equipment to keep people safe if they have to attend to patients infected with COVID-19. Its very infectious, Acton said, explaining that it spreads by droplets from coughing, sneezing or anything that aerosolizes the virus. Thats why you see it spreading so quickly."

Acton is expecting federal public health guidance -- which for now are travel advisories -- to soon change because the virus may become a pandemic. For instance, in Italy some Mardi Gras events have been canceled to prevent the spread of the illness. For now, Acton said that people can continue with public gatherings, but should stay at home if theyre feeling ill.

Self-quarantine

The state health department was able to identify people who had arrived from China because the CDC has screeners at 11 airports with flights arriving from China.

The screening hasnt worked in all cases. For instance, there have been people reported more than once and some people havent been reported at all, but they called their local health departments to let them know they arrived from China.

So it has not been a perfect net, she said. Theyve said that all along. Its not going to be a perfect quarantine.

People in Ohio have cooperated with the self-quarantine, Acton said, which has meant making sure the travelers have their own bedroom and bathroom thats separate from other people in the house.

It is a pandemic?

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the World Health Organization, during a Monday morning press briefing, said that coronavirus is not a pandemic, which the organization defines as a worldwide spread of a disease, according to WHO.

For the moment, we are not witnessing the global spread of this virus, and we are not witnessing large-scale severe cases or deaths," he said. "Does this virus have pandemic potential? Absolutely it has. Are we there yet? From our assessment, not yet.

Acton said there are different definitions of pandemic, with one being that it spreading to two continents, which has occurred.

She suspects the word pandemic will soon be used and more public health guidelines are coming.

We take pandemics of new virus seriously," she said. "There isnt a treatment yet. There isnt a vaccine.

What about masks, hand sanitizer?

Public health officials are not recommending Americans purchase masks, unless they already suffer from an illness that makes them vulnerable to coronavirus, Acton said.

Honestly, its a huge supply issue," she said. One of the issues were working on is the supply for PPE or protective equipment that is so essential for hospitals to have.

Masks people wear when painting will not protect them from coronavirus, she said.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizer will work, but so does hand washing.

I still believe in soap and water," she said. That is the go-to.

Hand-washing also helps protect people from the flu and other seemingly mild illnesses that can be deadly, she said.

I dont think well run out of soap and water," she said.

Other stories from Columbus:

Ohio announces $1 million to help county childrens service agencies amid opioid epidemic

EdChoice voucher talks in Ohio overlap with senators Florida fundraiser

With Larry Householder, Ohio legislature has missed the deadline on key bills -- including EdChoice vouchers

Ohio college professor who refused to use a transgender students preferred pronouns loses religious freedom case

6 people in Ohio have tested negative for COVID-19 coronavirus

Ohio man expected to emerge from quarantine coronavirus-free after leaving Wuhan, China
The new coronavirus has killed an additional three people in Iran, bringing the total to 16 -- the highest death toll outside the disease's focal point in China -- as U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on February 25 demanded that Tehran "tell the truth" about the outbreak, voicing alarm at allegations of a cover-up.



"The United States is deeply concerned by information indicating the Iranian regime may have suppressed vital details about the outbreak in that country," Pompeo told reporters in Washington.



"All nations including Iran should tell the truth about the coronavirus and cooperate with international aid organizations," he said.



Fears of a coronavirus pandemic grew this week after sharp rises in new cases in Iran, Italy, and South Korea. The virus has infected more than 80,000 people globally, causing around 2,700 deaths, mainly in China.

A spokesman for Iran's Health Ministry told state television on February 25 that three more people infected with the new virus died in the country amid 95 confirmed cases.

"It will be safer for people to stay at home. There were 34 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, including 16 people in Qom city," said the spokesman, Kianoush Jahanpour.

Qom is a popular place of religious study for Shi'a from across Iran and other countries that is 120 kilometers south of Tehran.

A media adviser to the health minister later announced that Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi had been infected.

"The coronavirus test for Mr. Harirchi...who was on the front lines combating the coronavirus, was positive," Alireza Vahabzadeh wrote in a tweet.

Meanwhile, the U.A.E. General Civil Aviation Authority "suspended all passenger flights and cargo to and from Iran starting today and for one week that can be renewed," a statement carried by the official WAM news agency.

The statement described the decision as a precautionary measure undertaken to ensure strict monitoring and prevention of the spread of the virus.

The U.A.E. has recorded 13 cases, with the latest two involving an Iranian tourist and his wife.

The Arab state is Iran's biggest trading partner in the Persian Gulf. Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel, is a major transit point for passengers travelling to and from Iran.

On February 25, a plane carrying more than 130 passengers and crew from Tehran to Istanbul was diverted to the Turkish capital, Ankara, amid suspicion of infections on board. Turkey's health minister said all would be quarantined for 14 days.

On February 24, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman reported their first cases of the coronavirus -- all involving people who had come from Iran.

On February 25, four Iraqis of the same family tested positive for the coronavirus in the northern city of Kirkuk, the Iraqi Health Ministry said.

They recently arrived from Iran and were put in quarantine by health authorities, the ministry added.

Meanwhile, the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research said on February 25 that the first coronavirus clinical trial testing biotechnology company Gilead's experimental antiviral drug remdesivir has started.



The first trial participant is a U.S. citizen who was repatriated after being quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship and the study is being conducted at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, according to the National Institutes of Health.



In Washington, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said there will likely be more cases of coronavirus in the United States, and he asked a Senate subcommittee to approve $2.5 billion in funding to fight the outbreak.



"We are working closely with state, local, and private sector partners to prepare for mitigating the virus's potential spread in the United States, as we will likely see more cases here," Azar told a Senate appropriations subcommittee on February 25.



Azar added that recent fast-spreading outbreaks in Iran and Italy were particularly worrying.



In Tenerife, hundreds of guests at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace Hotel in Tenerife were confined to their rooms as medical tests were carried out after a visiting Italian doctor tested positive for COVID-19. The doctor is reportedly from the Lombardy region, where Italian authorities are battling an outbreak.

With reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters
Hank Azaria says he educated himself on racism before deciding to quit voicing Indian immigrant Apu on The Simpsons.

The actor announced last month that he had asked producers of the long-running animation to step down from playing the heavily scrutinized character.

In an interview with The New York Times this week the 55-year-old explains he went through a years-long process, reading articles and essays about representation and attending seminars about racism and social consciousness.

'It just didnt feel right.' Hank Azaria says he came to the decision to stop voicing Indian immigrant Apu on The Simpsons after years of educating himself on racism

He also examined his own feelings and listened to those hurt by the stereotype he'd been portraying for 30 years.

The problem was, Hank says, that for many years Apu was the only depiction of an Indian person on television.

'Once I realized that that was the way this character was thought of, I just didnt want to participate in it anymore,' Azaria told NYTimes. 'It just didnt feel right.'

The New York born actor says he was initially defensive about the issue when his character came under increased scrutiny over the last decade, thanks in part to comedian Hari Kondabolu who in the 2012 FX series Totally Biased With W. Kamau Bell, called out The Simpsons for its 'obsolete portrayal' of an Indian-American on television.

Kondabolu then went on to write the documentary The Problem With Apu, released in 2017.

Stereotype: Azaria, 55, announced last month he would stop portraying Kwik-E-Mart owner Apu after 30 years

Hurtful: For many years Apu was the only depiction of an Indian person on television

Azaria said he wasn't sure how to approach the issue or whether to stubbornly keep playing the character, but knew he needed more time to figure it out.

As a white Jewish man, Azaria said he started asking himself how he would feel about a prominent TV character representing him on television in the same way.

'But then I started thinking, if that character were the only representation of Jewish people in American culture for 20 years, which was the case with Apu, I might not love that,' he said.

Hank told NYTimes: 'I started thinking, if that character were the only representation of Jewish people in American culture for 20 years, which was the case with Apu, I might not love that,'

Azaria revealed last month that after 30 years, he will no longer voice Apu but told Slashfilms he would still continue to voice other characters on the long running Fox show.

It is not known what the fate of Apu will be now but producers released a statement to say: 'Apu is beloved worldwide. We love him too. Stay tuned.'

Azaria said last month: 'What theyre going to do with the character is their call. Its up to them, and they havent sorted it out yet. All weve agreed on is I wont do the voice anymore.'

Azaria first debuted as the character during season one in 1990.

Accusations against the show of perpetuating stereotypes heightened in 2017 with the release of documentary The Problem With Apu.

The doc's writer Hari Kondabolu told BBC '[Apu's] funny, but that doesnt mean this representation is accurate or right or righteous. It gets to the insidiousness of racism, though, because you dont even notice it when its right in front of you.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 15:12:06|Editor: huaxia

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ATHENS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- French Defense Minister Florence Parly said here on Monday that she has discussed the content of a new deal to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation with the Greek government.

Parly made the remarks during a joint press conference after talks with Greek Minister of National Defense Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos.

The French official also discussed the strategic partnership between France and Greece with a focus on defense cooperation with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The said deal was agreed to by French President Emmanuel Macron and Mitsotakis during the latter's visit to Paris in January.

The deal, which includes an increased presence of the French Navy in the region, more joint military exercises and deeper defense technology cooperation, is expected to be signed by the end of June, Panagiotopoulos said.

The agenda of Monday's talks also includes upgrading the French-made Mirage 2000 jets and the NH-90 helicopters purchased by Greece, as well as the sale of two more frigates, Panagiotopoulos said.
Thousands of terrorists might have been airlifted out of Kabul: Trump slams Biden

Never in history has withdrawal from war been handled so badly: Trump

Markets will jump thousands of points if I win: Trump tells India Inc

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Feb 25: United States President Donald Trump promised Indian business leaders that the "market" will rise "thousands and thousands" of points if he wins the upcoming US national election.

"The markets will jump thousand and thousand of points if I win, but if don't win, it will crash like never seen before," Trump said.

The high profile roundtable of business leaders with Trump included captains of the Indian industry such as Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran and Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla.

US to reduce more regulations: Trump promises

Trump listened to the concerns of the industrialists and thanked them for the investments made in the United States. "Thank you, you are doing very well," Trump told several business honchos.

Trump also promised to ease economic restrictions and regulations in the United States to boost foreign investment.

"Some of the regulations have to go through statutory process, but the government is committed to reducing a lot more regulations," he said.

Trump, on a two-day visit to India, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and called him a "tough man". "We create jobs here, he creates jobs there (in US)," he was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.

Stating that he is going to win the US presidential elections, he said his government has done a lot for the economy, healthcare and military, PTI reported.

On concerns over the impact of Novel Coronavirus on global trade, Trump assured that the situation will be brought under control soon.

"China is working very very hard, I have spoken to President Xi they are working very hard. They had a rough patch and right now it seems they are getting it under control, they are getting it more and more under control so I think it is a problem that is going to go away," Trump was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Trump-Modi sign 3 key MoUs; finalised billion defence deal

Asserting that the situation in the US is under control, Trump said the US also does business with other nations and wants other countries to be "happy healthy and well".

"Let us see how it works out but I think it is going to work out fine. I hope so. We are working very hard, we are spending a tremendous amount of money also ...about 2.5 billion dollars on getting everything ready just in case something should happen and also helping other nations who are unequipped to do it," Trump added.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 17:16 [IST]
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Gabriela Hearst likes to say that she wouldnt be a fashion designer if she didnt understand the subtle ways in which a female body can shape-shift over the course of a day  how a womans waist, for example, can fluctuate in size between morning and evening. That may sound like a surprisingly unglamorous concern for a luxury clothing brand, but Hearsts namesake label, which she founded in New York City in 2015, is remarkable not only for its attention to high-level craft and luxurious materials  including merino wool sheared from sheep reared on the 17,000-acre ranch she inherited in 2011 from her father in her native Uruguay  but also for her minute focus on how her clothes, whether a figure-skimming, graphic-printed knit dress or an ankle-length trench, make women feel. As Hearst, 43, sees it, Its an upside to be a woman designing for women.

How, then, does she approach her latest undertaking  designing clothes for men? In May of last year, Hearst presented a small pre-fall mens collection of chunky speckled wool sweaters and slate gray tailoring, and in July, she followed with a 23-style resort offering of lightweight powder-blue and putty-colored suiting, as well as crew-neck knits in off-kilter pastel shades like faded butter yellow or dusty lilac. Though many of the pieces are crafted by a family-owned tailoring company in Parma, Italy, and though there are sporty elements (an ivory cashmere polo shirt, a suede bomber jacket the color of wet sand), they dont fall neatly into either of the two major categories that define contemporary mens clothing: streetwear and suiting. Rather, Hearsts collections offer considered, well-crafted everyday clothes for modern professional men  a niche filled by Jil Sander in the late 1990s and rarely since. A collaborator in the venture is the British graphic designer Peter Miles, whom Hearst has been working with since he created the brands logo six years ago, and whose personal style she has long admired. Theres an ease to the way he dresses  and an elegance, but its not pompous or ostentatious, Hearst says. Still, though Miles provides occasional knowledge of the technical details of mens clothing (he has been a client of the same Spitalfields tailor since 1993) and can offer feedback from a wearers perspective, Hearst relies heavily on her imagination.
Iraq on Tuesday confirmed four new cases of the novel coronavirus in an Iraqi family returning from neighbouring Iran, bringing its total number of diagnosed infections to five.

The health ministry said the four were quarantined in Kirkuk, an oil-rich region north of Baghdad, where the governor said authorities were implementing emergency measures to stymie a larger outbreak. The latest infections came a day after Iraq confirmed its first COVID-19 case, an Iranian national studying in a Shiite seminary in the shrine city of Najaf in southern Iraq.

Iraq last week banned travel to and from the Islamic Republic, which has recorded 15 deaths from COVID-19, the highest death toll outside China, the epidemic's epicentre.

It closed its land borders with Iran, allowing passage only to returning Iraqis who would be screened, while Iraq's national airline suspended flights to the Islamic Republic.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Iraqi health ministry announced tightened measures to combat a coronavirus outbreak, urging citizens to refrain from holding celebrations and large gatherings.

It said schools and universities in Najaf would be closed for 10 days and warned against non-essential travel to the region. It also announced a fresh ban on the entry of non-Iraqis from affected countries Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Singapore. Iraq had previously closed its land border with Kuwait and banned the entry of non-Iraqis coming from China.

Concern has spread over social media in Iraq, with users expressing fear that the country cannot handle a coronavirus outbreak.

Many hospitals in Iraq are poorly equipped or in disrepair and there are fewer than 10 doctors for every 10,000 people, the World Health Organization says.

Amid the growing alarm, Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr, a populist cleric with a cult-like following, rescinded an earlier call for his supporters to join anti-government rallies on Tuesday.

"For your health and safety, I forbid" you to protest, he wrote on Twitter.

The novel coronavirus has spread to more than 25 countries since it emerged in December and is causing mounting alarm due to new outbreaks in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[February 25, 2020] Auxly Announces Continued Strategic Partnership and Supply Agreement With Delta 9

TORONTO, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (TSX.V - XLY) (Auxly or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a supply agreement with its strategic partner, Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. (Delta 9) in which the Company will supply cannabis products to Delta 9s multiple retail locations, where permitted.

Delta 9 is a vertically integrated cannabis company based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Delta 9 currently operates four cannabis retail stores in Manitoba, with plans to build out a chain of retail stores under the Delta 9 Cannabis Store brand. Delta 9s stores have become one of the top performing retail platforms in Canada since October 2017, recording over $14 million in retail revenue and over 250,000 customer transactions in the first twelve months of legal cannabis sales. We are so pleased to be distributing our branded cannabis products through our strategic partners retail stores, said Hugo Alves, CEO of Auxly. We are thrilled that consumers will be able to purchase our suite of cannabis products at Delta 9 retail locations including oils, chocolates, chewables and vape products under our Kolab Project, Foray and Dosecann brands. Delta 9 was one of our first strategic partners, and we are so excited to reaffirm our partnership and joint commitment to developing a robust platform for the recreational cannabis market across Canada. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Hugo Alves CEO About Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (TSX.V: XLY) (OTCQX: CBWTF)



Auxly is an international cannabis company dedicated to bringing innovative, effective, and high-quality cannabis products to the medical, wellness and adult-use markets. Auxly's experienced team of industry first-movers and enterprising visionaries has secured a diversified supply of raw cannabis, strong clinical, scientific and operating capabilities and leading product research and development infrastructure in order to create trusted products and brands in an expanding global market. Learn more at www.auxly.com and stay up to date at Twitter: @AuxlyGroup; Instagram: @auxlygroup; Facebook: @auxlygroup; LinkedIn: company/auxlygroup/.



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This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or information that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. This information is only a prediction. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking information throughout this news release. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to: the Company's continued execution of its product development and commercialization strategy; consumer preferences; political change, future legislative and regulatory developments involving cannabis and cannabis products; and competition and other risks affecting the Company in particular and the cannabis industry generally. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from a conclusion, forecast or projection contained in the forward-looking information in this release including, but not limited to, whether: the Company is able to maintain its sales licenses and is able to obtain and maintain all other necessary governmental and regulatory authorizations and permits to conduct business; the acceptance and demand for Company products by consumers and provincial purchasers; and general economic, financial market, regulatory and political conditions in which the Company operates will remain the same. Additional risk factors are disclosed in the revised annual information form of the Company for the financial year ended December 31, 2017 dated May 24, 2018. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all of those factors or to assess in advance the impact of each such factor on the Company's business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking information. The forward-looking information in this release is based on information currently available and what management believes are reasonable assumptions. Forward-looking information speaks only to such assumptions as of the date of this release. In addition, this release may contain forward-looking information attributed to third party industry sources, the accuracy of which has not been verified by the Company. The purpose of forward-looking information is to provide the reader with a description of management's expectations, and such forward-looking information may not be appropriate for any other purpose. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information contained in this release. The forward-looking information contained in this release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements and is made as of the date of this release. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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CONWAY, S.C. - South Carolina state Sen. Gerald Malloy is fine with a gay presidential candidate like Pete Buttigieg. His older male relatives are not  and that may be the defining challenge of Buttigiegs campaign.

As Buttigieg tries to sustain his early success in Iowa and New Hampshire, he has to prove that he can win over African American voters, who make up the vital core of the party base. A relatively small but nonetheless influential number of black South Carolinians may be resistant to him because of his sexuality.

Hes got to convince people like my dad and my uncles, when they still unfortunately subscribe to stereotypes, said Malloy, who is black and lives in Hartsville, a small town in rural northeast South Carolina with a black population of almost 50%.

A poll commissioned by Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, this month found that it made no difference in the decision-making to 79% of African American voters if a candidate for president is gay. The number was only slightly lower than white voters. Conversely, 16% of black voters said theyd be less likely to support a gay candidate, slightly higher than white voters, at 13%. But in a primary race with several candidates, that small percentage could make a major difference in the outcome.

Buttigieg is appealing for the support of black voters in part as a person guided by Christian faith and in part as a matter of inclusiveness. That approach worked among Iowas and New Hampshires vastly white electorates, where he finished in the top two. A poor showing in South Carolina, where black voters could make up two-thirds of the Democratic primary electorate, might suggest that he cannot win over black Democrats.

Buttigieg has been careful not to equate the struggle for acceptance among gays to that of African Americans seeking equality and civil rights. At the same time he has tried to reach voters with a message of belonging, with the hope that it resonates in the states robust Christian community.

I think for those who havent quite found their way all the way to the right side of history, its important to beckon them in the right direction, Buttigieg said during a CNN town hall last week, instead of clubbing them over the head and telling them theyre bad people until they see it just the right way.

Buttigiegs sexuality reappeared in the campaign when Rush Limbaugh said on his radio show that Americas still not ready to elect a gay guy kissing his husband on the debate stage.

With faith-minded South Carolina voters paying closer attention now, Buttigieg held up his marriage as an example in contrast with President Donald Trump, the thrice-married billionaire who has been shadowed by accusations of infidelity and sexual assault.

I mean, Im sorry, but one thing about my marriage is its never involved me having to send hush money to a porn star after cheating on my spouse with him or her, Buttigieg said during the CNN event. So they want to debate family values? Lets debate family values.

The defiance betrays the more subtle approach Buttigieg takes in courting black voters in South Carolina and referencing his Christian faith, often discussing a passage from the Book of Matthew.

Whatever happened to, I was hungry and you fed me? I was a stranger and you welcomed me? Buttigieg told the audience at the South Carolina Democratic Party Convention in Columbia last June, invoking Scriptures metaphors for child welfare and immigration.

Buttigiegs team hasnt focused on winning over voters resolutely opposed to him based on his sexuality. Its not something we spend a lot of time thinking about, Buttigiegs national campaign spokesman Chris Meagher said. He is who he is.

And yet, the discomfort lingers in the minds of men like Henry Baldwin at an evening service at Mason Temple Church of God in Christ in Conway on Sunday.

I dont support that lifestyle, to be honest, said the 54-year-old Baldwin, who is black. A lot of church people dont support that lifestyle. Im supporting my beliefs.

Buttigiegs campaign has discussed internally the importance of reaching black women of faith, hoping his message of inclusiveness outweighs discomfort with his sexuality. There are at least some signs that it has.

The Rev. DeMett Jenkins, an associate minister in Charleston, South Carolina, said she was drawn to Buttigiegs eloquence, calm and intellectual depth, but sold by the faith he projects.

I just dont see him spending time trying to convince people to accept his sexuality. Nothing he says is going to matter unless they have a change of heart, Jenkins said. What I hear is a man who seems to care about all people, truly is guided by his integrity, his principles in life and his spirituality.

Yet there there remains an intransigence, even among the black women Buttigieg is targeting.

I just cant see him being a representative for the United States of America, said Karen Wilkerson, a 69-year-old retired teacher from Cheraw. When you think about all of the state things that he has to attend to, being in the public eye in a foreign stage and having to have the company of his partner with him. I guess, coming from my era, my age, it just bothers me. I dont think I will vote for him

Some African American pastors such as the Rev. Titus Thorn say Buttigiegs sexuality hasnt deterred congregants. He said those attending his small parish in Rock Hill have considered Buttigiegs candidacy, though he does hear a common refrain of doubt.

Individually, people say, Im not opposed to him, Thorn said. But they worry Americas not ready for it.

There is a sizable pocket of voters in South Carolina for whom gay rights are paramount, the pro-gay rights group Human Rights Campaign reported Friday. Roughly 289,000 describe themselves as prioritizing gay rights when they vote, while about 137,000 voters in South Carolina identify as LGBTQ, the group reported.

The bigger problems in South Carolina for Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, may be that he has not campaigned frequently in the state and that many black voters mainly know him by the criticism of his citys police relations with minority residents, said former South Carolina state Rep. Bakari Sellers.

Petes problem with black voters is not that hes gay, said Sellers, who has not endorsed a candidate. The reason not that many black folk are with Pete is they dont know him, and by virtue of that, they dont trust him.

Though theres less than a week to convince voters, Buttigieg on Monday seemed aware of Sellers point as he addressed hundreds at a Baptist church banquet hall in North Charleston.

I also know when I am asking voters, and in particular black voters, to trust me in this election, Buttigieg said, that Im asking someone who has perhaps never met me to trust me with their lives.

In endorsing Buttigieg in an editorial posted Monday night, Columbias daily newspaper The State said Democrats needed an energetic, disciplined candidate who can offer voters a powerful yet pragmatic vision of a better America and bring people together.

The paper also said: Too often Buttigiegs critics have ignored his substantive efforts to earn the support of black voters, and Buttigiegs appeals to African Americans should be judged by this standard: Is his outreach genuine, and is it being undertaken in good faith?

___

Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa. Associated Press writers Meg Kinnard and Elana Schor in Charleston, South Carolina, contributed to this report.
We have quantifiable evidence that telecytology can shorten procedure time and is a more efficient model for delivery of on-site interpretations.

Remote Medical Technologies (RMT) will be demonstrating their rmtConnect for Telecytology Mobile Cart at the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP) 109th Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, California from February 29th to March 5th at the Los Angeles Convention Center. RMT solutions contain the features and benefits of a high-performance HD telepathology solution that allows users to securely share cytology images directly from any microscope in dynamic, live, real-time (with absolutely no scanning required) to many remote cytopathologists. RMT provides telepathology technology with a purpose-built height adjustable mobile cart, and industrial-strength wireless connectivity, for rapid on-site evaluations (ROSE).

Medical Centers that have been utilizing telecytology for Rapid On-Site Evaluations (ROSE) have proven that it is more accurate compared to traditional methods. RMT Founder & CEO, Don Marchon, explains, We have quantifiable evidence that telecytology can shorten procedure time and is a more efficient model for delivery of on-site interpretations. However, understanding which is the right telepathology solution for your specific workflow and needs can be a complicated task if you dont know the right questions to ask. Without the proper model and methodology, setting up a telepathology system and implementation plan that is suitable for a cytology lab can be an intimidating task. There are multiple types of technology to choose from; therefore, it is important to select a solution that meets all pertinent criteria. Making sure that the solutions chosen are properly deployed, supported, and compliant with regulations is important. RMT diligently consults with each medical facility to develop a validated System Implementation and Support Plan (SISP) that ensures all measures are met, and personnel involved are aware of tasks at hand for a smooth and seamless transition into a new enhanced workflow.

At the upcoming USCAP 2020 Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, two well-known cytopathologists in the field who have made their mark as the thought leaders in cytology, are hosting a session regarding the successful implementation, practical issues, and challenging cases. These presenters have fully evaluated every solution on the market. They continue to implement telecytology for ROSE on a daily basis at their respective institutions in creative and effective ways. Registration is required in advance. Short Course 49, titled Telecytology for Rapid On-Site Evaluation: From Implementation to Clinical Challenges is being held Wednesday March 4th from 1:30- 5:30 PM in LACC 407 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Visit USCAP online to register, in which 3 CME credits are offered to those who attend.

Visit RMT at booth #818 to get a hands-on demonstration of rmtConnect for Telecytology and learn more about the intuitive customized features that RMT has to offer.

About Remote Medical Technologies:

Remote Medical Technologies (RMT) is the creator of innovative patented technology for the delivery of secure Internet-based premium telemedicine services. RMT provides a best-in-class web-based video, voice, collaboration and administration platform. With simply the use of a browser the solution is easy to deploy, operate and manage. This customizable and extendable multimedia services platform is a modular, nonfragmented approach to extending a healthcare organizations communications infrastructure. Be it across the street or around the globe, RMT drives telemedicine concepts and provides solutions that save lives.

RMT Mission Statement: With everything that we do, RMT challenges the standard on how quickly medical facilities provide more and better patient outcomes. We believe there is a better way to reliably improve and significantly benefit patients, doctors and the profitability model of medical organizations.
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.
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.
The President at the same time talked about his achievements during his Presidential term and pitched for his re-election. Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, said they were looking to invest close to $7 billion in the US. We are the only Indian company that does not use Chinese components, Ambani said, to which Trump quipped, Huawei you mean? In May 2019, Trump ...

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(CNN) -- Police in the German town of Volkmarsen have arrested a 29-year old man, after a car plowed into a crowd of people at a parade on Monday and left at least 30 injured.

Police said that the suspect, a German citizen from Volkmarsen, was receiving medical treatment for "the injuries he suffered in connection with the incident" and would be brought before an investigating judge when his health allows.

A police spokesman said earlier that according to eyewitness accounts, the car "intentionally" rammed into the crowd of carnival celebrants at around 2.30 p.m. local time (8:30 a.m. ET).

The spokesman could not confirm the driver's motive for the incident.

The interior ministry of the federal state of Hesse said in a statement that the suspect ''drove at high speed." It added that the man in the custody ''is currently not interrogatable."

"Due to the situation on site, an attack currently cannot be ruled out," the statement added.

The ministry said that a special unit had been set up in the Frankfurt Police Headquarters to investigate the incident, and that the police presence had been strengthened across Hesse.

North Hessen Police have warned against the spread of unconfirmed information. The force has asked witnesses who may have videos or photos from the scene to submit them through a special police portal, urging them not to share the images on social media.

All carnival events across Hesse were canceled on Monday after the incident in Volkmarsen. North Hessen Police said the move was a precaution.

Elmar Schulten, a reporter for the local newspaper Waldeckischen Landeszeitung, told CNN the incident happened near the town's train station.

He said he "saw a silver Mercedes had broken through the police blockage" and "headed directly to the crowd."

"I counted up to 15 people laying in the street and the walkway. Several small children laying and crying," Schulten added. At least four or five helicopters were picking up patients from the site, he said.

Volksmarsen is a small town with roughly 6,000 residents, located near Kassel, in the north of the federal state of Hesse in central Germany.

According to Schulten, the carnival parade is a tradition in the town, with some 30 floats and 1,000 people taking part. He estimated that more than 5,000 people were watching in the streets.

Hanau, a city in southern Hesse, was the site of a deadly shooting attack by a suspected far-right extremist last week.

Police in Mainz, a city in the neighboring state of Rhineland-Palatinate, said security at the carnival event happening there on Monday had been tightened, with surveillance drones deployed.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Car 'intentionally' plows into carnival crowd in Germany"
Expelled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kuldeep Singh Senger, sentenced to life in jail for raping a teenager, was on Tuesday disqualified as the member of the Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly.

Senger was convicted in the rape case and handed a life sentence by a court in Delhi in December last year.

He represented Bangarmau in the states Unnao district in the assembly. A four-term legislator, Sengar had won the assembly election from Bangarmau assembly seat on BJP ticket in March 2017.

He was expelled from the party in August last year after the court held him guilty of kidnapping and raping the girl in Unnao in 2017.

Principal secretary (legislative assembly), Pradeep Kumar Dubey, said in a notification that Sengar lost the legislative assembly membership on the day he was sentenced.

Sengar has been deemed disqualified with effect from December 20, 2019, in view of the Election Commission order of October 13, 2015, and the Supreme Courts order in July 2013.

The Bangarmau assembly seat will now be considered vacant from December 20, 2019, Dubey said.

Sengar had raped the girl on June 4, 2017, but her complaints of sexual abuse were ignored by the local police due to his political influence.

Her father was allegedly beaten up by the brother of the MLA, Atul Sengar. Instead of taking the father to a hospital, the police lodged him in jail in an arms case where he succumbed to his injuries.

The rape survivor attempted to set herself on fire outside the chief ministers residence on April 8, 2018, alleging police inaction in the rape case. The incident led to public outrage and the state government transferred the case to CBI.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered a case against Sengar in 2018 under section 376 (2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act 2012.

The investigation agency arrested Sengar and his acquaintances.

On July 28 last year, the rape survivor was severely injured after the car in which she was travelling was hit by a truck. Two of her family members were killed and her lawyer was injured.

On the plea of the rape survivor, the Supreme Court transferred the case to Delhi.

The Delhi court had also ordered Sengar to pay Rs 25 lakh fine and the judge said, out of that amount, the girl would get Rs 10 lakh as compensation.

Praising the rape survivor for fighting against an influential politician, the court had observed that Sengar had betrayed the trust reposed in him by the people.

The court also ordered CBI to continue her threat assessment every three months.

It is the second disqualification of an assembly member in Uttar Pradesh.

BJP MLA from Hamirpur, Ashok Chandel, was disqualified in early 2019 following his conviction in a murder case.
Smartphone and smart TV brand on Tuesday announced it would bring ISROs Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System NavIC technology to its smartphones.

Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) is the regional geo-positioning system designed in the country by the city-headquartered Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to provide accurate positioning in India and 1500 km around the Indian mainland.

The capability has been currently enabled by Qualcomm Technologies Inc on several of their Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile Platforms and will be made available across multiple smartphones in India, said in a statement.

In 2020, several Xiaomi smartphones across multiple price points will support NavIC initially supported by some Snapdragon chipsets.

The implementation was possible after R&D efforts from Xiaomi for software along with ISRO's (Indian Space Research Organisation) and Qualcomms efforts, it said.

"Xiaomi has taken this step to further extend its commitment to Make in India, by bringing in technology developed in India within its smartphones", the company said.

"This is the first time a leading smartphone brand has worked with to bring technology developed within the country to the forefront", it said.

NavIC comprises seven satellites, three of which are in geostationary orbit over the Indian Ocean and four in geosynchronous orbit and is capable of providing location positioning accuracy better than 20 metres.

Some of the key consumer applications of NavIC for mobile include precise location mapping in remote, difficult to access areas, precise timing, along with visual and voice navigation for drivers among others.

Commenting on the co-operation, Chairman Dr. K Sivan, said NavIC is a critical step forward in the pursuit of harnessing space technology for national development and is eager to make it accessible to everyone for everyday use.

He expressed happiness that Xiaomi India has enabled this technology across several devices in their 2020 portfolio.

Sivan said ISRO looks forward to extending the benefits of this indigenous solution to millions of Indians through such initiatives.

He also appreciated Qualcomm Technologies for enabling NavIC support on their mobile chipset platforms.

Manu Jain, Global Vice President, Xiaomi and Managing Director, Xiaomi India said: "We are extremely proud of the sophisticated geo-positioning tech which ISRO has devised, and even more proud to integrate it into several Xiaomi devices".
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian sent a congratulatory letter to Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on the countrys National Day, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

In the letter the Armenian President said the current high-level dialogue and friendly relations between the two countries serve as a base for implementing mutually beneficial programs in various areas.

President Sarkissian expressed confidence that they will manage to give a new impetus to the mutual cooperation between Armenia and Kuwait through joint efforts for the benefit of two peoples.

The Armenian President also congratulated the Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on the National Day, stating that the friendly relations and cooperation between Armenia and Kuwait will continue developing and deepening further for the benefit of the two peoples.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
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Linkedin Daniela Wei (Bloomberg) Hong Kong  Tue, February 25, 2020 13:37 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206674b35 2 World Hong-Kong,school-students,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,COVID-19,outbreak Free

Hong Kong will extend school closures until at least the end of the Easter break in mid-April, the South China Morning Post reported, citing people it didnt identify.

Schools will remain suspended through April 10, when Good Friday falls, according to the report. Education officials are still inclined to hold written tests for university entrance exams as planned from March 27 onward, the report said.

The citys Education Secretary will hold a briefing at 2 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Earlier this month, the Hong Kong government extended school closures to March 16.

The citys students havent gone to school since the Lunar New Year break began in late January. The third and final secondary school placement exam for Grade 6 primary school students have been canceled.

Read also: Parents grapple with e-learning as schools stay closed in China

Hong Kong has 81 confirmed coronavirus cases, according to a government statement late Monday. The illness has claimed more than 2,600 lives in mainland China since emerging in December. Nearly 78,000 people in China have been diagnosed with the virus, most in Hubei province, where the outbreak began.
Experts say water release from Chinese dams too little to reach Vietnam

Even if China releases water from its hydropower dams on the Mekong River, it might not reach the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, experts warn.

A farmer in Long Phu District in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang holds rice plants that have all died because of drought, January 22, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Huy Phong.

Releasing water is a task China has to do periodically as its dams cannot keep holding back water, and given the increasing level of ice melt that raises sea level, it is a must for China to save its land from salt intrusion, Le Anh Tuan, deputy head of the Climate Change Institute at Can Tho University, said.

At the same time, as the river section of the Mekong from China, where it is called Lancang, to Thailand and Laos is running dry due to a severe lack of rainfall, releasing water is China's only option to keep waterway traffic and trade going, he said.

Tuan was speculating about the reasons for China's move, which was announced by Foreign Minister Wang Yi on February 20 at the fifth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos.

Yi said China would help its downstream neighbors cope with a prolonged drought by releasing more water from its dams on the Mekong River, adding it would also consider sharing hydrological information in future.

The drought has severely hurt farming and fishing in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam, and many have said Chinas dams are to blame along with climate change.

The Mekong River flows 4,880 km through six countries, 2,130 km in China. Of the 19 hydropower projects it plans on the Mekong, China has completed 11.

China too suffered from drought but has overcome its difficulty and increased water release in the river to help downstream countries cope, Yi said.

But Tuan said, "The water released from China's dams in the upstream portion of the Mekong River will hardly make it to the Mekong Delta" because the outflow of 850 cubic meters per second is too little.

The water would be consumed in Thailand and Laos before it reaches the delta, he said.

Southern Vietnam is a few months into the dry season, which normally lasts until late April.

"In 2016, when the region was hit by the worst drought and salinity ever, China released water at a rate of 2,100 cubic meters per second, yet the water did not reach the region," Tuan pointed out.

Given the current lack of water in the delta, China needs to release 2,500 cubic meters so that the region could be flooded, he said.

But even that would come too late, he said, explaining it would take three or four weeks for the delta to be fully watered even if China releases the water right now, and by then the paddy crop would have died.

Ky Quang Vinh, former chief of the climate change working office of Can Tho City, said Chinas move mainly serves to mitigate its own drought.

"With such a small volume of water released ... there is no way it can reach the Mekong Delta, which is 3,000 km (1,864 miles) away."

The Mekong Delta is Vietnam's most fertile region, rice granary and aquaculture hub.

But to perform those roles, the region needs the annual flooding, which has for generations begun in late July or early August and lasted until November, bringing extraordinary fertility in the form of silt it deposits.

But in recent years the flooding has not come regularly. Late rainfall during some years has exacerbated the situation.

A canal in Ca Mau Province in the Mekong Delta that has run dry, February 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Van Em.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said last month the rainy season arrived late last year and was shorter than usual, with rainfall 8 percent lower than normal at 1,240 mm.

Water levels in the Mekongs sections in the delta have decreased rapidly since the dry season began in late November and are currently 2.33 meters lower than in previous years, it said.

It is expected that the water level in the Kratie station in Cambodia will be 35 percent lower than in previous years in the first two months of 2020 and storage in Lake Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater body in Southeast Asia, is now at 5.1 billion cubic meters, 15.7 billion cubic meters less than normal.

The lack of water in rivers and canals has also allowed seawater to enter deep into the Mekong Delta.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, salinity has risen to up to four grams per liter 40-90 kilometers inland in all branches of the Mekong River.

Drought and salinity have affected 30,000 hectares of crops in the delta so far, or 7.3 percent of the 2016 figure, when 600,000 people did not have access to freshwater and 160,000 hectares of land were affected by saltwater, causing losses of VND5.5 trillion ($237 million).
In fact, he said he was going to work hard to defeat me in the election. How did that work out, by the way? Trump asked. I knew him a little bit, not very well. I knew him because he was in New York.
Last month, as news of the coronavirus now known as covid-19 spread, the New York Times published a story about Chinas omnivorous markets. One of them, Huanan Seafood Market, was identified as a likely source of the outbreak. The story surfaced concerns, first raised during when SARS flared up, in 2002, about the sale of wild game in Chinaa perfect laboratory for the unintentional incubation of new viruses, wrote the Times, paraphrasing a health official. Markets like Huanan sell meat, produce, and more unusual fare, including live snakes, turtles and cicadas, guinea pigs, bamboo rats, badgers, hedgehogs, otters, palm civets, even wolf cubs. The catalogue was, it seems, meant to surprise non-Chinese readers; the effect orientalized Chinese people. Pamela Mejia, head of research at the Berkeley Media Studies Group, has noticed exoticizing languagereferences to tradition and superstitionin lots of the coronavirus coverage. No one has said inscrutable yet, she said. But its implied.

ICYMI: Why COVID-19 is not the problem

Soon, bats were identified as having originated the virus. People in China are regularly exposed to these biological super villains, according to CNN. Scientists who travelled to neighboring Myanmar to research coronavirus in caves found themselves covered in bat feces as it fell on them, the Washington Post wrote. Many of the caves serve as holy places, and custom calls for people to take off their shoes and socks, leaving their feet exposed. Kent Ono, a professor of communications and Asian American studies at the University of Utah, found the press coverage to be reminiscent of articles published in the lead-up to the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, which banned all ethnically-Chinese laborers from the United States. At the time, journalists fixated on the Asian rat as the source of bubonic plague. The rat became a barbarizing shorthand for the east. Its not shocking that, this time, the animal of choice as carrier of the virus is the bat, Ono said. Figuratively, a bat is a flying rat. The implication is that if humans in China are touching guano (bat dung), it marks the entire culture as unsanitary.

Its true that contact with wild game and bats can spread disease. But too many articles have missed the cultural significance and socioeconomic factors that underlie Chinas reckoning with the coronavirusand instead suggested that America is more sanitary, more evolved, more pure. By late January, the US press was publishing five to seven thousand articles on coronavirus a day, Mejia estimated, and she viewed it as driving racismnow rising sharply against Asian people across the globe.

The logistics of providing carean aspect of the story that involves Chinese people as medical professionals and activists, not just victimshas received relatively little attention.

During the outbreak of SARS, journalists made many of the same mistakes. In a 2007 study, Laura Eichelberger, a medical anthropologist at the University of Arizona, identified medias reliance on exoticizing caractatures and cliches. In Asia, many people eat bats or use bat feces in traditional medicine, Eichelberger quoted from the Times, circa 2005. Per Newsweek, in 2003: Pigs, ducks, chickens, and people live cheek-by-jowl on the districts primitive farms, exchanging flu and cold germs. Eichelberger observed that, as more articles like these were published on the SARS outbreak, businesses in New York Citys Chinatown suffered losses of between 30 and 70 percent.

For news about the coronavirus, Maria Repnikova, a scholar of Chinese political communication at Georgia State University, has relied on reporting from Chinese media. A recent piece, in Caixin, charted the spread of the virus without emotion, she said. The market was the first step, but then you saw, very quickly, the human-to-human transfer. It showed the market wasnt even that important. Huanan market was dirty, to be sure, but the problem wasnt which meats were sold there. The real culprit, the Caixin article explained, was a lack of accessible information about the disease.

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Another aspect of the coronavirus storyso far mostly untold in the USis that of corruption in the Chinese Red Cross. Aid supplies sit, undistributed, in warehouses; sometimes the organization charges hospitals for supply donations. There are fears of packages being stolen at the post offices, Repnikova said. Given that its dangerous, what is happening on the ground? Which NGOs do you trust? The logistics of providing carean aspect of the story that involves Chinese people as medical professionals and activists, not just victimshas received relatively little attention.

Alongside all of the reporting are images: photographs that define the coronavirus in our consciousness. The Times ran close-ups of Chinese New Year celebrants shrouded by surgical masks as they prayed. There were pictures of masked children huddling close to their parents as officials took their temperature. Other stories focused on the bats: starkly-lit, their features alien and hideous. To combat the stigmatizing effects of the Asian faces in masks photography, Repnikova recommended publishing images that showcase Chinese efforts to manage the outbreak. Also the scene itself, without the people, would show the isolation and sadness and fear, without sparking so much racism, she said. Empty shelves, empty streets in such a populated country are powerful.

RECENTLY: Governments of the world just ramped up spying on reporters

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Amanda Darrach is a contributor to CJR and a visiting scholar at the University of St Andrews School of International Relations. Follow her on Twitter @thedarrach.
After a lifetime of suffering in silence, Canon Keith Ineson finally came out of the closet when he was in his 50s. The 68-year-old founder of the award-winning Gay Farmer Helpline - the first of its kind in the UK - admits he was terrified when he told his mum he was gay.

Now living with his husband, Bill Grant (64), in Dromara, Co Down, he grew up on a farm in Cheshire and has first-hand knowledge of the difficulties of being a gay man in a rural community.

"I never came out to my father at all - he died before I came out," Keith says. "When I came out, I knew I would have to talk to my mother rather than her get the story from somewhere else through gossip, so I went to see her in fear and trembling.

"I told her and she stopped for a couple of seconds and said 'Well, if that's the way things are, I'll put the kettle on'. That was her answer to everything - put the kettle on," he laughs.

Keith grew up in an evangelical Salvation Army family - "fourth or fifth generation Salvationist" - and he describes his parents as very ecumenical and forward-thinking for the time.

However, due to his father's views, Keith kept his sexuality concealed for much of his life, a decision that he says contributed to the depression that still plagues him today.

"Shall we just say he wasn't pro-gay?" he says. "By the time I was 12, with hindsight I knew I was gay, but by the time I was 14 I didn't need hindsight to know I was gay.

"It was very difficult because when I was a child and was realising I was gay, it was still illegal to have gay relationships. My father was quite anti-gay, but with hindsight he may have saved me from a lot of trouble either with the illegality or with Aids.

"Because of my background and family, I didn't come out even though I was gay and that led to my depression.

Expand Close Canon Keith Ineson (right), with husband Bill Grant in Dromara, runs the Gay Farmer Helpline / Facebook

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Whatsapp Canon Keith Ineson (right), with husband Bill Grant in Dromara, runs the Gay Farmer Helpline

"Quite simply when I was at school, things that the other lads would be looking at, even works of art, they'd be looking at the females, but I wasn't interested. I was more interested in looking at the men.

"But I did absolutely nothing about it at all, simply because of my background. I came out when I was about 50 - and you can imagine what that does to your mental health."

In an attempt not to dwell on his true feelings, Keith threw himself into his farm work - but then things started going wrong.

"We had just bought a massive poultry farm and when Edwina Currie started on about salmonella in eggs, it collapsed around us," he explains.

Keith went on to found Cheshire's Agricultural Chaplaincy, which supports farmers and farm workers.

"You're like a vicar to the farmers or like a social worker sent by the church," Keith says. "It's a very practical role, looking at things like state benefits, health, livestock. We started in a small way a year before foot-and-mouth disease hit us and then the programme rocketed. There were lots of TV and radio interviews and it became a full-time role."

Keith says focusing on his work was his way of dealing with concealing his sexuality and the depression that had hounded him for years.

"It can be quite isolating and quite lonely, but with farm work you dive into your work," he says. "And when I moved into the chaplaincy, just after the foot-and-mouth outbreak, I was working for 100 hours a week and I just continued from there. When I finished, I had a team of 14 chaplains working for me and I loved every minute of it."

Keith doesn't believe anyone in his family ever suspected he was gay before he came out just after he turned 50.

"I don't think so, no - certainly everybody seemed quite surprised when I did come out. Nobody said 'Oh, I always guessed'," he says.

"I don't think I act gay or sound gay or anything like that - there was nothing to hang a label on."

Keith was given the honorary title of 'Canon' from Chester Cathedral in recognition of the work he had done within the agricultural community. The Anglican church is one of the denominations that supports the Agricultural Chaplaincy and as well as undertaking some training with the Church of England, Keith also did some training with the Catholic Church and the Arthur Rank Centre, an ecumenical Christian charity that works in the rural community. During this time Keith found himself working with a number of gay farmers - and that was what inspired him to set up the Gay Farmers Helpline. Recently Keith was honoured with a Points of Life award from PM Boris Johnson for his work with the organisation. Explaining why its work is so necessary, Keith says: "Even though I'm gay myself, you don't hear about gay farmers - it's almost as if they don't exist."

Expand Close Canon Keith Ineson (right), with husband Bill Grant in Dromara, runs the Gay Farmer Helpline / Facebook

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Whatsapp Canon Keith Ineson (right), with husband Bill Grant in Dromara, runs the Gay Farmer Helpline

Drawing on the Stonewall estimate that 7% of men are gay and the Ulster Farmers Union estimate of 23,000 farmers and farm workers in Northern Ireland, Keith believes there must be at least 800 male gay farmers here, many of them still in the closet.

"There is a massive need out there in terms of the calls we're getting. Even before I came over to Northern Ireland, I was getting calls from here," he says.

"Farmers are at the top of the league for suicide risk and one in four gay men will attempt suicide at some time in their lives.

"So if you are both gay and a farmer, you really do have a recipe for disaster."

Keith says his average caller will be around 50 and often married with children, such is the pressure within farming families to marry and produce an heir who will inherit the farm.

"They may be telling themselves 'if I get married it will sort everything out and it will be okay'. But they get older and they realise it didn't work out. I'm also talking to people who are very wary of hurting their wives - they'll be saying 'She's not a bad woman, I just shouldn't have married her'," he says.

Some will worry about the Aids risk, in which case Keith will be able to signpost a place to get tested, outside their own community if necessary. Others tell him they're due to get married, yet they know they are gay.

"It's something they have to decide for themselves - it's a question of laying the options open and they decide," Keith says.

"The important thing is that you talk to somebody - anybody - but you do need to talk. It could be a minister, it could be a priest, it could even just be a friend or family member but somebody you trust. You will know who out of all that lot to trust."

As for his own relationship, Keith admits he's very happy now living in Dromara with Bill.

"We met in Birmingham at a special meeting for more mature gay folk and literally our eyes met. We looked at each other and that was it," he says.

"We just started talking to each other and we knew straight away we were getting on extremely well. It just developed from there.

"Bill was in the RUC, then he went into the West Midland Police Force and then he retired. He's had difficult times as well, a mixture of the fact that his mother was Chinese, he's gay and he was in the RUC.

"He was out at a much younger age than me. Certainly when he was in the police force they knew he was gay."

Three years ago, the couple made the decision to move to Co Down.

"We were in a bit of a spot because my mother was getting older and frailer and Bill's mother was getting older and frailer. We were having a holiday over here, that sort of thing, and my mother suddenly died. A holiday we had planned over here turned into a house-hunting exercise and we moved over. It's been three years ago now," Keith says.

Happily, Keith says they have been readily accepted in the local area.

Expand Close Canon Keith Ineson (left), with husband Bill Grant in Dromara, runs the Gay Farmer Helpline / Facebook

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Whatsapp Canon Keith Ineson (left), with husband Bill Grant in Dromara, runs the Gay Farmer Helpline

"We've had no problems at all in the shops etc - they've seen articles in the paper about me, they've heard me on the radio and we've had no problems at all. It has worked out very well for us and we're very happy here.

"We made up our minds when we came over here that we were going to be totally open - no secrets.

"We were the couple of gays down the road right from the start! I'm sure people call us that behind our backs but they've always been very good to us. We both talk about our husbands.

"Church has been a little bit more difficult but things in general have been fine. At Hillsborough it's been fine, not a problem - other meetings can be a little more conservative."

Keith says that his life-long link with the Salvation Army was severed soon after he came out. "I was a member of the Salvation Army, but it was quite obvious that they weren't overly happy with me," he explains.

"When I first came over here, I put out feelers as to whether I would be welcome at the Salvation Army. They didn't say a lot, they just said it wouldn't really be very acceptable."

Keith has since joined the Quakers. "I stayed as a Salvationist until I retired. I resigned because it is quite obvious that they aren't changing," he says.

Keith has clearly thought long and hard about the conflicting demands of church and private life, both on a personal level and through his work.

In his demanding role in the chaplaincy, he admits he was dealing with tremendous pressures and needed to have his own back-up from a spiritual and counselling point of view.

Before coming out, he spoke to his spiritual adviser as he wrestled with the decision he had to make.

"I obviously did a lot of work on it. You either reject your faith and the church, or you come out of it stronger because you've thought about it and worked a way through it," he says.

"There are massive differences between Christianity and the church - they're not always the same thing."

As regards any conflict with Biblical teaching on homosexuality, Keith says: "It took quite a while to work it through. I was brought up with a belief that homosexuality was wrong and I had to work through my faith. I went to conferences about it, I did a lot of reading about it and I came out the other side.

"It's been known that homosexuality has been around for a couple of thousand years or more and it's part of life. But the thing that did it for me was that Jesus never said anything about homosexuality. If He hadn't approved He would have said so and He didn't."

Now his focus is on helping other gay people. "I've still got the helpline to keep me busy and we've a small social group for farmers to go to for a meal, that sort of thing," he says. "I haven't been connected with other gay organisations but they know about me and I've been to see them, that sort of thing," he says.

For gay farmers in Northern Ireland, he says, things are becoming a little more open but there's still a long way to go.

"If you read the young farmers articles in the farming media, you never hear about gay people and you never see same sex couples. There's still a long way to go," he says.

In a way, he says, his whole life has led up to the chaplaincy and the helpline, with his background as a gay farmer, his struggles with depression and the ups and downs of the farm business.

"The depression started when I was 14 and has carried on right up to the present day. It gets better and worse, up and down, but it never goes away. The positive side is that I do know about depression," Keith says.

"What I have found as well is that the fear of coming out is worse than the actuality. The fear is causing massive problems to your mental health and that affects your physical health as well."

He admits he does sometimes think about how many years went by before he was able to come out.

"Having said that, if I had come out when I was 14, it would have been illegal," Keith says. "You can't live on regrets for the past - you can only live in the present and have things work out for you now. And things have worked out exceeding well for us, it's as simple as that."

For details of the Gay Farmer Helpline service, visit gayfarmer.co.uk or tel: 078 3793 1894
Nonagenarian leader ruled over the Arab worlds most popular country for 30 years before being toppled in 2011.

Hosni Mubarak, Egypts leader for about 30 years, has passed away at the age of 91.

State television on Tuesday said Mubarak, who was overthrown following a popular uprising in 2011, died at a Cairo hospital where he had undergone an unspecified surgery.

A spokesperson for the Egyptian military said the army mourned the loss of Mubarak, a former air force officer, saying he was one of its sons and a war leader.

Egypts presidency announced three days of nationwide public mourning, starting Wednesday.

Here is how regional leaders reacted to news of Mubaraks passing:

Israel

In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mourned the death of Mubarak, whom he called a personal friend.

Mubarak, my personal friend, was a leader who led his people to peace and security, to peace with Israel, Netanyahu said.

I met with [Mubarak] many times. I was impressed by his commitment; we will continue to follow this common path.

Palestine

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas hailed Mubarak as a supporter of the Palestinian cause.

A statement from Abbass office said he mourned the death with great sorrow and hailed the late presidents positions in support of the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people in achieving their freedom and independence.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi King Salman expressed his condolences to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi over the passing of Mubarak, according to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

We have been informed of the death of former Egyptian President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak. We send to Your Excellency, the family of the deceased, and your people, deepest condolences and since sympathies.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also expressed his heartfelt condolences in a cable sent to President el-Sisi, the SPA said.

United Arab Emirates

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent a cable expressing heartfelt condolences and solace on the death of Hosni Mubarak.

Anwar Gargash, the minister of state for foreign affairs of the United Arab Emirates, hailed him as a statesman  who espoused nationalistic and historical positions.

President Hosni Mubarak, may God have mercy on him, was distinguished by wisdom and courage. And is role in the battle to liberate Kuwait and many crises affecting the Arab world will be remembered by history, Gargash said in a tweet.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  More than 200 mentors, mentees, business women of all ages and students gathered to share invaluable knowledge and experiences, answer questions, network, exchange ideas and offer guidance and assistance  in any way they knew how  at Staten Islands inaugural Mentoring Monday event.

Staged Monday by the Advance/SILive.com at The Vanderbilt, the event was one of many happening across the country, with nearly 10,000 women participating nationwide.

The mornings theme: Women accomplish amazing feats when they support each other, collaborate and celebrate one anothers accomplishments and successes.

Read on and well provide the proof!

Mentor Doreen Cugno, co-founder of the St. George Theatre, notes: Im here because I want to ask young women about their dream and get them to talk to me a little about their lives and their future aspirations. She added: And dont be afraid of changing your mind about your career path.

Mentor Luanne Sorrentino, Cugnos sister and co-founder the St. George Theatre, explained: Today were hoping to motivate, inspire and help people achieve their goals and find their dream job and how to make that happen."

Mentor Marylee Montalvo, owner of MLM Public Relations explained: The paths of young women may or may not be linear. Your career can be anything you want it to be. Internships can be valuable, but volunteerism is also a big part of a career.

Mentor Betsy Dubovsky, executive director of the Staten Island Foundation said: Its about making your parking space. I think today is a great idea  especially since its focused on women, said she before going on to explain: Personally, I think we have to answer the question, What is it we have to give? Its about peoples self-awareness. Some people dont think enough about their gifts and what they figure out about themselves and what they have to contribute. It starts with your personal self, possessing awareness and your own goals.

Jill Holtermann Bowers, of Holtermanns Bakery fame  the German-style bakery founded in 1878 in Great Kills  attended to interact with other business owners, to observe and to offer her expertise. And so impressed was Holtermann, shes thinking of hosting the same type of Womens Day event for her Girl Scout troop. FYI: In April, the street across from the bakery will be renamed Holtermanns Way.

Mentor Katia Gordon, director, Staten Island Regional and Community Affairs, Consolidated Edison stated: Todays event helps our future generation of leaders prepare for the outstanding contributions they will make for our wonderful community. I am so proud to be part of this endeavor.

Linda Dianto, a mentor and an Advance Woman of Achievement in the Class of 2017, who is founder and executive director of the National Lighthouse Museum, called the event a wonderful day and an opportunity to share knowledge with female members of the community and a win-win for everyone.

Jaclyn Tacoronte, a mentor and managing partner of JMT Media, was simply ecstatic to be on board. The mom of a new bouncing baby girl named Julie Violet Ana, born to Jaclyn and husband Joseph Tacoronte, the dad who doubled as babysitter during Mondays event, Jaclyn is elated to have family maternity leave right now to spend time with her new daughter. And its thanks to people like State Senator Diane Savino, Jaclyn said.

Mentor Kamillah M. Hanks, chief executive officer of the Historic Tappen Park Community Partnership and CEO of the Youth Build Staten Island Program in Stapleton, was accompanied by nursing student, Shalaiyah Camacho and accounting major, Jazmarie Dowd, who are enrolled in programs at the College of Staten Island. The students, who were intrigued by the informative morning and friendly ambiance, told us they will graduate come March 26.

Mentor Teresa Rampulla, who also served as a guest speaker, is owner of SheMediaNY in Dongan Hills  because as she stated: She can do anything. She told us her business is currently working with the Department of Health to help combat discrimination. And at todays event, Im here as a womens business owner. I started with my mom, Amy Campbell, when I was 13 years-old at the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, where I worked every summer. My mom always said If theres a problem, you can figure out the answer. People sometimes pass the buck. But I always try to find out the answers. And if you do it yourself, youll find the remedy. Part of the excitement is in the journey.

Mentee Ishrat Quereshi told us she retired from banking after working at JP Morgan Chase for 24 years. Im really a fashion designer, said she, before pointing out, Im looking to go into the real estate business and want to attend the College of Staten Island to take a writing class so that I can write my memoirs in my retirement.

Mentee Lynn Persing of Conhagen Industries, an oil pump, compressor and turbine repair service with facilities in Texas, California and Louisiana  a firm that was once located on Staten Island  commented: Im a consultant with the business and I attend meetings out of state. In speaking of the family-owned business she revealed her brothers, sisters and nephews, third generation in fact, are now running the business. Persing was recently honored by Eger Lutheran Home & Services at their annual Helping Hearts Luncheon at The Vanderbilt just several weeks ago.

Andrea Lewis, of Solace4Me, a self-care caregivers service, conversed about health and wellness. Lewis, who is certified in the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) International, an alternative treatment for physical pain and emotional distress noted: I work with anyone who is stressed or worried. Many illnesses have underlying emotional and stress levels. Our body has energy systems and what we tap on is the meridian energy.

Mia Eremita and Lauren Killen, both 17 and seniors at St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School and Students of Excellence were nominated to attend the mentoring event, along with eight other female students. We thought we would benefit from it, said Mia, who aspires to have a career in TV broadcasting and is looking at Marymount Manhattan College. Her dad is Eric Eremita, no-nonsense construction manager on HGTVs Love it or List It."

Killen, whos interested in accounting, reveals she wants to earn a masters of business administration degree and become a certified public accountant. And at this writing, she has a few colleges in mind, but hasnt made her choice as of yet.

Mentor Gina Gutman, senior vice-president of the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation declared: We have a winners group here today. And one of the things I love about this event is that its women helping women and really an opportunity to lift each other up  starting with the youngest women in our community, she said. In fact, I spoke to a girl in the sixth grade, as well as a doctor. Here, you can share your expertise with every age range in the community and you dont have many opportunities to do that. Im a journalist major, and I used that in my career, although I didnt become a journalist."

Mentor Lisa Giovinazzo, a lawyer/partner in the firm of Kuharski, Levitz & Giovinazzo, said: I think it was a great event, especially for women. Its filled with people, career benefits and a terrific way to reconnect. And its a great way to gain experience  especially for people who may be out of work.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 15:32:10|Editor: huaxia

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KUNMING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Kunming Dounan Flower Market, Asia's largest fresh cut flower trading market in southwest China's Yunnan Province, resumed operation Monday when the province lowered its coronavirus emergency response from first-level to third-level.

To prevent infections, the market increased space between stalls and requires vendors to trade at different hours, according to the management of the market.

All trading venues, offices and other places in the market will be disinfected before and after the transactions. Traders are required to wear masks, register and verify identities, take body temperature and scan QR code with mobile phones before entering the trading place, it said.

The Dounan market mainly provides two forms of trading including face-to-face trading and electronic auctions.

Influenced by the virus outbreak, the market shut down the flower and plant trading, tourism and catering services on Jan. 26 and suspended auction services on Feb. 6.

The market resumed auction services on Feb. 10. As more flower shops open their doors and logistics services improve, it has decided to resume more businesses.

As a barometer of China's flower market, the Kunming-based market in Yunnan saw the trading volume of fresh cut flowers reach 9.23 billion with a turnover of 7.44 billion yuan (about 1.06 billion U.S. dollars) in 2019.
A 33-year-old man is accused of raping a very young girl in Massachusetts, according to news outlets.

Christopher Eaton was arraigned in Newburyport District Court on Monday on two counts of child rape. He is being held on $20,000 cash bail, The Daily News of Newburyport reported.

Eaton, who is from Alfred, Maine, was also charged with assault to rape a child and two counts of indecent assault and battery of a child under 14, the news outlet reported.

An attorney with the Essex District Attorneys office described the alleged victim as a very young girl at the mans bail hearing, The Daily News reported. Law enforcement in Connecticut and New Hampshire are investigating Eaton for similar alleged crimes, prosecutors said.

The Salisbury Police Department issued a warrant for Eatons arrest following an investigation that started Feb. 10 in connection to incidents that allegedly took place multiple years ago, the newspaper reported.

Eaton is due back in court March 25, according to the news outlets report.
iStock(NEW YORK) -- Amazon's new series Hunters has come under fire from the Auschwitz Memorial for a scene that depicts a fictionalized portrayal of the Holocaust.



The remembrance group blasts the scene as "dangerous," adding that it "welcomes future deniers."



The drama series, starring Al Pacino, premiered on Amazon's Prime streaming service last Friday. It's advertised as being "inspired by true events" on its website, and follows the story of a team of Nazi hunters who target escaped Nazis living in the U.S. in the 1970s.



The Auschwitz Memorial, which preserves the site of the former Nazi death camp in Poland, blasted what it called the "dangerous foolishness" of a scene from the series on Twitter.



"Auschwitz was full of horrible pain & suffering documented in the accounts of survivors," the Auschwitz Memorial's official account tweeted Sunday, sharing a photo of a scene from the series where humans are used as chess pieces.



"Inventing a fake game of human chess for @huntersonprime is not only dangerous foolishness & caricature. It also welcomes future deniers," the tweet added. "We honor the victims by preserving factual accuracy."



In a series of follow-up tweets, the Auschwitz Memorial slammed what it called "fake story that never happened in Auschwitz."



"Auschwitz was a real place where people suffered," the tweet stated. "It would be much better if the authors of the movie tried to raise awareness of a true event of the Holocausts by showing something closer to the truth rather than choosing to create a fake story that never happened in Auschwitz."



More than 1.1 million people died in the Nazi-run concentration camp between 1940 and 1945, according to the Auschwitz Memorial.



David Weil, the creator and executive producer of "Hunters," responded to the angry criticisms in a lengthy statement, writing about his own experience visiting Auschwitz, where he says his grandmother was imprisoned.



"While 'Hunters' is a dramatic narrative series, with largely fictional characters, it is inspired by true events. But it is not documentary," Weil said. "And it was never purported to be."



He adds that he grappled with "the ultimate question and challenge of telling a story about the Holocaust: how do I do so without borrowing from a real persons specific life or experience?"



Weil added that the "chess match" scene 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 extreme -- and representationally truthful -- sadism and violence that the Nazis perpetrated against the Jews and other victims," he said.



Weil continued, "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 torture  and even incidents of cruel 'games' -- against their victims. I simply did not want to depict those specific, real acts of trauma."



The filmmaker said he hopes to continue a dialogue with the Auschwitz Memorial and believes they are "on the same side and working toward the same goals."



Shortly after blasting Amazon for "Hunters," the Auschwitz Memorial also slammed the e-commerce giant for selling and distributing the work of Julius Streicher, a Nazi who was convicted of crimes against humanity in the Nuremberg trials.



"When you decide to make a profit on selling vicious anti-Semitic Nazi propaganda published without any critical comment or context, you need to remember that those words led not only to the #Holocaust but also many other hate crimes motivated by #antisemitism," the tweet read, sharing photos of Streicher's work.



An Amazon spokesperson said the company believes access to even "objectionable" books is important, but that it also takes the concerns seriously.



"As a bookseller, we believe that providing access to the written word is important, including books that some may find objectionable," the spokesperson said. "We take concerns seriously and are listening to feedback. Amazon has policies governing which books can be listed for sale; we invest significant time and resources to ensure our guidelines are followed, and remove products that do not."



In December 2019, Amazon sparked outrage for distributing a series of holiday "ornaments" featuring images of Auschwitz which it ultimately pulled from its platform.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday again offered to mediate to resolve differences between India and Pakistan and criticised New Delhis tariff regime, but also held out hope of a trade deal by the end of the year and expressed satisfaction with his visit.

Addressing the first stand-alone news conference in India by a visiting US president in recent history, Trump sidestepped questions on what the US could do to counter terrorism emanating from Pakistani soil, saying only that this was a problem that he believed Prime Minister Narendra Modi would take care of.

Trump acknowledged that religious freedom in India figured in his talks with Modi, but ducked a question on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), saying it was up to India to deal with the issue.

The president addressed Indian and US media as he wrapped up a busy trip that lasted less than 36 hours, and despite Indias consistent position that all matters with Pakistan will be handled bilaterally, Trump again waded into the issue of mediation when he was asked about the problem of terror from Pakistani soil.

Noting that he and Modi had talked a lot about Pakistan, he brought up his very good relationship with Prime Minister Imran Khan.

He added, And I said Ill help, Ill do whatever I have to do, if I can do that, because my relationship with both gentlemen is so good.

Trump further said, Anything I can do to mediate, anything I can do to help, I would do. They are working on Kashmir. Kashmir has been a thorn in a lot of peoples sides for a long time. And there are two sides to every story.

Trump said he and Modi had also discussed terrorism at great length and I think we have some very good ideas. But he added that he believed Modi would take care of the menace.

He is very, very strongly against terrorism...Prime Minister Modi is a very religious man...he is a very calm man but he is actually a very, very strong person, very tough, actually. Ive seen him in action and hes got that foremost in his mind  terrorism. Hell take care of it, he said.

He described Kashmir as a big problem between Pakistan and India and said he thought they would work out their problem.

Trump raised Indias tariff regime and said the US wants to be treated fairly and given reciprocal access to the Indian market.

India is probably the highest tariff nation in the world...and I said we have to stop that, we have to stop it, at least, as it pertains to the US, he said.

Just like China, which recently concluded the first phase of a trade deal with the US, New Delhi too will deal with Washington, he said. He again raised the issue of Indian tariffs on Harley-Davidson motorcycles and said they were unfair.

I want reciprocal, it has to be reciprocalThe US has to be treated fairly, and India understands that, Trump said, adding the two sides also have to address the trade deficit, which at $24 billion against the US was still too high.

Ahead of his visit, negotiators from the two countries tried to narrow differences on tariffs, price controls on medical devices and greater access for US dairy and agricultural goods but were unable to reach common ground.

Trump said a deal was still possible: I would say if the deal happens with India, it will toward the end of the year. And if it doesnt happen, we will do something else that will be very satisfactory.

Earlier in the day, Modi said in a media statement that India is committed to fair and balanced trade and Trump and he had agreed that the understanding reached by the commerce ministers of the two sides should be given a legal shape. We have also agreed to initiate negotiations for a bigger deal, Modi said.

Trump also refused to speak out publicly against the violence in New Delhi even as he flew into India. The violence involving pro- and anti-CAA protestors has claimed at least 13 lives and injured more than 240 people. The US President said he did not discuss individual attacks .

However, he said that he and Modi talked about religious freedom. And I will say the Prime Minister was incredible on what he told me. He wants people to have religious freedom, and very strongly. And he said in India, they have worked very hard to have great and open religious freedom.

On the CAA, Trump said: I dont want to discuss that. I want to leave that to India and hopefully they are going to make the right decision for the people.
Jerusalem, Feb 25 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday expressed sorrow over the death of his "personal friend", Egypt's former President Hosni Mubarak.

"On behalf of the citizens of Israel and on behalf of the Israeli government, I would like to express deep sorrow on the passing of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak," Netanyahu said in a video statement, Xinhua reported.

He offered his condolences to Mubarak's family, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, and the Egyptian people.

Netanyahu eulogized Mubarak as a leader "who led his people to peace and security, to peace with Israel", adding they met "many times".

Mubarak died on Tuesday at the age of 91. He had served as Egyptian president for nearly 30 years until he resigned as a result of mass protests that erupted in the country in 2011.

He was jailed for years on charges of corruption and killing protesters, but was freed in 2017 after being acquitted of most charges.

Egypt is one of a few Arab countries, with which Israel has formal ties. The two countries signed a peace treaty in 1979.
A Spanish police officer sets a barrier blocking the access to the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in Tenerife, Canary Island, Spain, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. (AP Photo)

THERE are a number of Irish people staying in a tourist hotel on the Canary Island of Tenerife that has been placed in quarantine after a case of coronavirus was confirmed there, it is understood.

It emerged this morning that an Italian doctor staying there tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.

The press office for the town of Adeje confirmed that the restrictions are in place at the H10 Adeje Palace hotel.

Spanish media said some 1,000 tourists staying at the complex are not allowed to leave.

In a statement to Independent.ie, the Department of Foreign Affairs said that Irish nationals have been in touch with the department.

"The Department and our Embassy in Madrid are closely monitoring the situation," the statement read.

"We are in touch with the local health and tourist authorities. A number of Irish nationals staying in the area have been in contact directly with us. We are providing consular advice.

"Anyone who has specific concerns regarding Irish citizens currently in the affected area can contact the Department on 01 4082527," it added.

The Canary Islands, an archipelago located some 62 miles west of the African coast, is a popular holiday destination that attracts many tourists all year around.

Thousands of Irish tourists are believed to be present on the island at the moment.

Expand Close Employees wearing protective masks arrange water bottles in the lobby of a hotel under lockdown after a coronavirus case was identified in Adeje, in the Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife, Spain, February 25, 2020. Christopher Betts via REUTERS / Facebook

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Whatsapp Employees wearing protective masks arrange water bottles in the lobby of a hotel under lockdown after a coronavirus case was identified in Adeje, in the Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife, Spain, February 25, 2020. Christopher Betts via REUTERS

The archipelago's president Angel Victor Torres said the Italian doctor who is positive for the disease has been quarantined in a local clinic while samples are analysed in a hospital near Madrid to confirm the initial diagnosis.

Spain's Europa Press reported that the visiting tourist had arrived from one of the areas in northern Italy where a cluster of the coronavirus has infected hundreds of people. The patient voluntarily went to a clinic in Tenerife on Monday when he began feeling unwell.

It is Spain's third case of Covid-19 and the second in the Canary Islands. A German tourist was quarantined earlier this month on the island of La Gomera and a British citizen in the Mediterranean's Balearic Islands.

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Both were released after recovering and showing no further symptoms of the illness.

A British holidaymaker staying at the hotel said she is having a "holiday from hell" after the case was confirmed.

Hannah Green, 27, from Hertfordshire, arrived at the hotel on Saturday with her boyfriend, Court Amys, and their one-year-old son. They are supposed to be staying until Sunday.

She told the PA news agency that communication had been "non-existent", adding: "We woke up to a note under our door this morning saying that for health reasons not to leave our room.

"I called downstairs to reception as soon as I saw it and they wouldn't tell us anything. So I quickly got on my phone and googled and saw a man had tested positive for coronavirus so I basically assumed it was that.

"But since then, we've had nothing from the hotel - no one has told us anything or what's going to happen."

Ms Green said she would like to go home but added: "I don't think we'll be allowed to leave. We don't want to be here. We're fed up now."

She said a sandstorm at the weekend had also confined them to their rooms.

"The sandstorm was the day after we arrived, Sunday, so we had to stay in the hotel then," she said. "Holiday from hell, honestly."

A spokeswoman for Tui UK said it was aware of a case of Covid-19 at the hotel.

She added: "We can confirm that Tui has around 200 customers in the resort from different countries. Tui representatives on Tenerife are present on site and will liaise with our customers.

"All guests have been asked to remain in their rooms and are being looked after by the hotel.

"Our holiday programme to Tenerife continues to operate as planned for all other hotels."

Meanwhile, China reported 508 new cases and another 71 deaths on Tuesday, 68 of them in the central city of Wuhan, where the epidemic was first detected in December.

The updates bring mainland China's totals to 77,658 cases and 2,663 deaths.

South Korea now has the second-most cases in the world with 893 and has had a near 15-fold increase in reported infections in a week, with 60 new cases reported on Tuesday.

As South Korea reported its eighth fatality, health workers continued to find batches in the southeastern city of Daegu and nearby areas, where panic has brought towns to an eerie standstill.

Clusters have also emerged in Iran and Italy, and there are concerns the new outbreaks could signal a serious new stage in the global spread of the illness.

Schools were closed in Iran for a second day, and daily sanitising of public buses and the Tehran metro, which is used by some three million people a day, was started.

In several countries that reported their first cases on Monday - Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, the infected patients had links with Iran.

Iraq and Afghanistan closed their borders with Iran in an effort to stop the further spread while Bahrain announced a 48-hour suspension of flights to and from Dubai, the world's busiest international airport.

The virus also spread via tourists travelling within Italy, as the southern island of Sicily reported a positive case from a woman vacationing from Bergamo, in northern Lombardy. Two cases were also reported in Tuscany, well south of the epicentre.

She and her husband were put in isolation, and officials were tracing their contacts to try to contain the spread on the autonomous island, Sicily's regional government said.

Civil protection officials on Tuesday reported a large jump of cases in Italy, from 222 to 283. Seven have died, all of them elderly people suffering from other problems.

Premier Giuseppe Conte shocked Lombardy officials by taking to task the hospital in Codogno, southeast of Milan, where Italy's first positive patient went on February 18 with flu-like symptoms. The man was sent home, only to return a short time later with worsening conditions, at which point he was tested for the virus.

Many of Lombardy's positive tests have a traceable connection to the Codogno hospital, including several doctors and nurses, patients and relatives who visited them.

Mr Conte told reporters that the Lombardy cluster grew "because of the hospital management that wasn't completely proper according to the protocols that are recommended for these cases".

Visit our Covid-19 vaccine dashboard for updates on the roll out of the vaccination program and the rate of Coronavirus cases Ireland

"This surely contributed to the spread," he said.

Lombardy's chief health official, Giulio Gallera, expressed shock at Mr Conte's remarks and defended the region's handling of the crisis.

Austria temporarily halted rail traffic across its border with Italy and Slovenia and Croatia, popular getaways for Italians, were holding crisis meetings.

Schools were closed, theatre performances cancelled, and even Venice Carnival celebrations were called off.

"These rapid developments over the weekend have shown how quickly this situation can change," the health commissioner for the European Union, Stella Kyriakides, said in Brussels.

"We need to take this situation of course very seriously, but we must not give in to panic, and, even more importantly, to disinformation."

After the large increase in cases of Covid-19 - the disease caused by the coronavirus - in several countries, the World Heath Organisation said the virus had the potential to cause a pandemic.

"The past few weeks has demonstrated just how quickly a new virus can spread around the world and cause widespread fear and disruption," WHO's Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

"(But) for the moment we're not witnessing the uncontained global spread of this virus."

With additional reporting from Press Association
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

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 US economy, while sill strong, had become "a little softer" than it was six months ago.

The 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% 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 percent or bottom 30 percent 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.
Joe Giudice and his family have confirmed to be safe following an outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus in Italy.

James J. Leonard Jr., the family lawyer for Giudice, 47, confirmed to People 'there is no heightened concern regarding Joe being in Italy.'

The attorney added, 'The family is praying for all those affected with the coronavirus' though Giudice is not in harm's way.

Safe: Joe Giudice and his family have confirmed to be safe following an outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus in Italy

In fact, Giudice seemed to be having a great time in Italy, sharing a video on Instagram of a 'secret mountain route' he visited on Sunday.

Giudice shared that he is, 'on top of the world right now' in the video, sharing the view from the Sentiero Frassati trails in Campania, Italy.

'It is a breathtaking view. A feeling of gratitude empowered me being up high,' he stated in the caption to his post.

No concern: James J. Leonard Jr., the family lawyer for Giudice, 47, confirmed to People that, 'There is no heightened concern regarding Joe being in Italy.'

Mountains: In fact, Giudice seemed to be having a great time in Italy, sharing a video on Instagram of a 'secret mountain route' he visited on Sunday

Joe's view: Giudice shared that he is, 'on top of the world right now' in the video, sharing the view from the Sentiero Frassati trails in Campania, Italy

'I believe I must be more aware of my blessings that we as humans take for granted. I want to start focusing my attention on the positives and to what is going right in my life,' he added.

'I believe by practicing gratitude more it will lead me to appreciate the aspects of life that are a blessing in IT (new surroundings and people),' he concluded.

There was a spike in Coronavirus cases in Italy over the weekend, largely centered around Milan, from just five known cases to 150.

Blessings: 'I believe I must be more aware of my blessings that we as humans take for granted. I want to start focusing my attention on the positives and to what is going right in my life,' he added

Gratitude: 'I believe by practicing gratitude more it will lead me to appreciate the aspects of life that are a blessing in IT (new surroundings and people),' he concluded

The New York Times reported that the Italian government has put 10 towns in Italy's Lombardy region on lockdown, which affects roughly 50,000 people.

The United States' Centers for Disease Control stated in a report on Sunday that Italy is experiencing a, 'sustained community spread' of the virus.

The outbreak has taken place in the metropolitan area of Milan, in the northern area of the country, while Giudice has been staying with his family in Salerno, a port city south of Naples, roughly 500 miles south of Milan.

Lockdown: The New York Times reported that the Italian government has put 10 towns in Italy's Lombardy region on lockdown, which affects roughly 50,000 people

Outbreak: The outbreak has taken place in the metropolitan area of Milan, in the northern area of the country, while Giudice has been staying with his family in Salerno, a port city south of Naples, roughly 500 miles south of Milan

Giudice has been staying with his family in Salerno after he was deported back to his home country of Italy in October upon his release from prison.

Joe spent 41 months in prison for mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud, while his then-wife Teresa served 11 months for the same crimes.

The pair were married in 1999, and have four daughters together, Gia, Gabriella, Milania, and Audriana, but Joe and Teresa announced their separation in December, two months after Joe was deported.

Teresa and their daughters visited Joe in Italy in November, just weeks after his deportation.

Separated: The pair were married in 1999, and have four daughters together, Gia, Gabriella, Milania, and Audriana, but Joe and Teresa announced their separation in December, two months after Joe was deported
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 24, 2020) - GreenStar Biosciences Corp. (CSE: GSTR) (OTC Pink: GTSIF) ("GreenStar" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Thomas Baird as Chief Executive Officer and director of the Company. Mr. Baird's appointment is a key step in furthering GreenStar's next phase of expansion. Mr. Baird replaces Mr. Rahim Rajwani who resigned as CEO and director but will continue providing strategic direction to the Company with his new appointment as Chairman of the Company's Strategic Advisory Board, concentrating on executing its pipeline of M&A initiatives and strategic partnerships.

Tom is a seasoned CEO and strategy executive who has led a number of small and medium sized businesses. He has also led corporate development and product management organizations for both publicly traded and private companies such as TRW Inc. (now Northrop Grumman), Reynolds and Reynolds and Mitchell International. Tom's deep skill set and adaptability have allowed him to lead companies in a broad spectrum of sectors including cannabis, consumer applications, and manufacturing. He is an experienced M&A specialist who has led corporate development teams executing strategies that dramatically enhanced shareholder value. Most recently, Tom was a co-founding partner of a licensed California cannabis manufacturer.

Further to the appointment of Mr. Baird, the Company has granted stock options to acquire a total of 500,000 common shares of the Company to Mr. Baird. The options are exercisable at a price of $0.06 per share and expire two years from the date of grant. The options are subject to vesting provisions where the options fully vest three months from the grant date.

"I am excited to join GreenStar as it enters its next phase of growth. My goal is to build upon the achievements made in 2019 and I am excited to make a significant impact as we continue with the Company's expansion plans by growing operations in the U.S. through new partnerships and other strategic initiatives," said Tom Baird, CEO of GreenStar.

Leighton Bocking, director for the Company said, "We are extremely pleased to continue building our executive and advisory group with accomplished industry veterans. Tom has proven leadership, business development and long-term strategic planning skills that will complement our existing team. In particular, his experience with cannabis and consumer applications, together with his proven track record of executing growth strategies will provide immediate impact to the Company and enhance shareholder value. We are excited that Rahim will concentrate on M&A and strategic partnership initiatives by serving as Chairman on the Strategic Advisory Board."

About GreenStar

GreenStar is a growth-oriented technology and services company that provides real estate, financial, management, IP and branding support to licensed cannabis businesses in the United States. The Company operates a growing portfolio of tenant partner companies in the United States. GreenStar applies refined strategies tested in the Washington State market to help partner companies reach their full potential. Based in Vancouver, BC, GreenStar intends to facilitate growth through acquisitions and development of additional assets, products and technologies in legal cannabis markets by leveraging its capital markets, branding and operational expertise.

For further information please contact:

GreenStar Biosciences Corp.

Thomas Baird, CEO

info@greenstarbiosciences.com

Tel: (604) 834-9499

THE CSE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Disclaimer for Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company, the Company's expansion initiatives and pursuit of M&A activity 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. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of the forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including changes to the regulatory environment; and that the current Board and management may not be able to attain the Company's corporate goals and objectives. As a result, the Company cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made only as of the date of this news release and the Company does not intend to update any of the included forward-looking statements except as expressly required by applicable Canadian securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52744
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Even before South Carolina votes are tallied in the Democratic presidential primary on Saturday, several of the top contenders for the White House are making plans to be back in Texas.

On Thursday U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren will be in San Antonio while former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg will be in Houston. Then former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg is scheduling a stop in Dallas on Sunday.
What just happened? Online travel giant Expedia has committed to a restructuring effort designed to simplify the companys businesses and improve operational efficiencies. As is often the case with these sorts of matters, the revamp involves a somewhat significant number of job cuts.

Per GeekWire, Expedia will eliminate 12 percent of its workforce, or around 3,000 jobs. The cuts were later confirmed to CNBC by a company spokesperson.

In the short term, the job cuts will cost the company between $135 million and $185 million in severance and compensation benefits, Expedia revealed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

An e-mail obtained by GeekWire that was sent to Expedia staff on Monday said the travel leadership team has spent the last few months determining a better way forward after a disappointing 2019. The review showed that the company has been pursuing growth in an unhealthy and undisciplined way.

Moving forward, we will exert more discipline in setting priorities and allocating resources, simplify our business processes and inter-dependencies, raise the bar on performance standards, and demonstrate and demand accountability for results.

Indeed, Expedia has been a bit acquisition-heavy in recent memory. In January 2015, the company agreed to pay $280 million for online travel site Travelocity before dropping $1.6 billion to nab travel fare aggregator Orbitz just a couple of weeks later.

Expedia was run by Dara Khosrowshahi for more than a decade before the executive defected to Uber in mid-2017.

Masthead credit: Expedia building by VDB Photos.
DALLAS  American Airlines and Qatar Airways said Tuesday they will put aside past hostilities and revive a partnership selling seats on some of each others flights and splitting the revenue.

American says it hopes that the arrangement will boost its ability to sell travel to India and elsewhere in Asia and also to Africa  weak spots in its current network.

If the U.S. government approves, American will sell seats on Qatar Airways flights between the U.S. and Doha, the capital of the Persian Gulf state of Qatar and a crossroads for travel between India and the U.S. and Europe. Qatar Airways could sell tickets on some American flights out of airports in Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami and Los Angeles. This type of cross-selling is called code-sharing.

American said it will also consider starting its own flights from the U.S. to Doha, although not before 2021.

Vasu Raja, Americans senior vice president of network strategy, said the deal is part of a plan to expand the airlines international offerings.

Years ago we had a largely unprofitable international network. Business customers werent flying us, so we cut a number of routes, Raja said in an interview. Now we want to be able to expand American Airlines globally as much as we can.

American and Qatar broke off their code-sharing partnership in 2018 amid open hostility between the two airlines and their CEOs.

American, Delta and United complained to two successive U.S. presidents, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, that Qatar and two other Middle Eastern airlines were undercutting them with more than $50 billion in illegal government subsidies.

After that, Qatar Airways signaled that it wanted to buy up to 10% of Americans stock. It withdrew after American CEO Doug Parker called the overture puzzling and concerning.

Along the way, Qatar CEO Akbar Al Baker even disrespected flight attendants on U.S. airlines, calling them grandmothers, and pointing out the youthfulness of his airlines cabin employees.

Just a year ago, Al Baker publicly pondered quitting an airline alliance that includes American because of what he called bullying by some members  singling out Parker.

Since mid-2017, Qatar Airways has been hurt by restrictions imposed on its flights by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other nearby countries that accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism. In September, the airline reported a 12-month loss of more than $600 million.

On Tuesday, Al Baker struck a conciliatory note toward American, referring to the new agreement between two successful and ambitious airlines that want to improve customer service.

We have moved on from past issues and look forward to working closely with American Airlines to build a world-leading partnership for all our customers, he said in a statement.
The Solvang City Council voted 5-0 to extend its event planning and marketing contract to IDK Events, the San Francisco based company which took Julefest by the horns at the eleventh hour in 2019. The $300,000 contract would cover services through the remainder of the fiscal year. The contract also includes an option for the city to extend the contract through the next fiscal year at a rate of $600,000.
Market regulator Sebi on Tuesday said foreign investors from Mauritius will continue to be eligible for FPI registration with increased monitoring as per international norms.

The announcement comes after the tax haven was put on the "grey list" of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) -- an inter-governmental policy making body that sets anti-money laundering standards.

A significant percentage of foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) investing in the Indian market is registered in Mauritius.

The island nation is the second largest source after the United States from which foreign portfolio investments come into the country.

As per January NSDL data, assets under custody of US FPIs are worth Rs 11,62,579 crore and those from Mauritius stood at Rs 4,36,745 crore.

Following the FATF notice, some fund managers knocked on Sebi's door overnight, raising concerns over validity of FPI registration done through the tax haven.

The regulator on Tuesday said, "Foreign investors from Mauritius will continue to be eligible for FPI registration with increased monitoring as per FATF norms".

For several years, there have been apprehensions about Mauritius being a money laundering route for FPIs due to its limited regulatory oversight. But, the Indian Ocean island nation has been taking several steps in recent years to address the concerns.

Jurisdictions under the "grey list" face increased monitoring. They work closely with FATF to address strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.

Currently, there are 18 jurisdictions identified as having "strategic deficiencies", including Mauritius and Pakistan, as per the FATF.

Equity benchmark BSE Sensex was trading 43.29 points higher at 40,406.52, and the broader NSE Nifty was up 10.10 points at 11,839.50.

On a net basis, FPIs sold equities worth Rs 1,160.90 crore on Monday, data available with stock exchanges showed.

Photograph: Reuters.
Mercedes-Benz has been slammed for ignoring warnings to recall cars fitted with deadly airbags.

More than 20,000 Australian drivers were told to stop driving their car immediately in 2018 because of the faulty Takata airbag - which can potentially fire shrapnel when deployed.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said Mercedes-Benz Australia failed to recall its C and E-Class vehicles despite being required to between June and November of that year.

Pictured: A Mercedes-Benz C-Class vehicle in 2011. The luxury car manufacturer has been criticised by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for not recalling cars fitted with potentially deadly airbags

A court-enforceable undertaking has now been issued to the car manufacturer by the ACCC to recall the affected models.

'Mercedes-Benz failed to comply with its obligations to initiate recalls under the Takata compulsory recall, potentially putting the lives of drivers and passengers at risk, and failed to inform anyone of the delay,' ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said.

The affected cars are certain C and E class cars older than six years in Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia and New South Wales.

Those older than nine years old in other parts of Australia are also included in the compulsory recall.

Mercedes-Benz has acknowledged the failings, caused by the availability of spare parts, the ACCC said in a statement.

The manufacturer will also provide a hire car or alternative transport if the airbag is not replaced within two weeks of the customer's request.

The faulty Takata airbag (pictured) can potentially fire shrapnel at the driver when deployed and has led to the largest recall in automotive history

Other cars affected by the faulty airbags include certain Honda, Toyota, Nissan, BMW, Mazda and Lexus models built between 2001 and 2004.

It is believed there have been 29 deaths and more than 320 injuries worldwide from faulty Takata alpha airbags.

In the US alone, more than 40 million cars were affected and the global recall is the largest in automotive history.

The ACCC's undertaking includes further details of the cars recalled.
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Linkedin Made Anthony Iswara (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 25, 2020

The government has confirmed that the United States' decision to scrap Indonesia from its list of developing countries will not affect Indonesias Generalized System of Preference (GSP) facilities from the economic giant.

A document from Coordinating Economic Ministry notes that various industries had already suspected the new United States Trade Representative (USTR) policy would affect the GSP facility for Indonesian exports to the US.

On Feb. 10, the US agency excluded Indonesia from its developing and least-developed countries list, which means Indonesia is no longer eligible for Special Differential Treatment (SDT) from the WTOs Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.

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Appointment

25 February 2020

Wafik Youssef has been appointed Vice President Operations, Middle East & Africa at Kempinski Hotels, taking over from his predecessor, Michael Sorgenfrey. A leader with great operational aptitude, strong strategic planning skills and financial acumen, Wafik has been with the luxury hotel group for the past ten years. More recently, he held the role of Regional Director of Operations, Middle East & Africa, where his contribution has been instrumental in setting performance standards and driving quality and compliance throughout the MEA region.

Wafik started his hospitality career in Egypt almost twenty years ago and joined in 2006 the opening team at the Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, Dubai. In 2008 he took over the role of Front Office Manager at the Atlantis the Palm, Dubai, also in its opening phase. With a genuine passion for the hospitality, Wafik returned to Kempinski Hotels in 2009 and has grown his career with the company ever since by taking on several assignments in various geographic destinations including Front Office Manager and Rooms Division Manager at the Grand Hotel Kempinski, High Tatras, Slovakia, and Executive Assistant Manager at the Grand Hotel Djibloho Kempinski, Equatorial Guinea. In 2015, Wafik joined the Regional Office Middle East & Africa in Dubai as Regional Operations Manager.

An Egyptian national, Wafik holds a Bachelor's Degree in Languages (Spanish) from the Ain Shams University, Cairo. In his new role, Wafik will continue to support the MEA operations and reinforce brand recognition with a focus on quality standards and enhanced guest experiences.
Pentagon Adopts Ethical Principles for Using AI in War

The Pentagon announced on Feb. 24 it has adopted new ethical principles for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology on the battlefield.

The principles, developed over 15 months, include responsibility, equity, and governability, and call for personnel to exercise appropriate levels of judgment and care when using AI systems, the Department of Defense said.

Decisions made using AI systems, such as those that search for targets by scanning aerial imagery, should be traceable and governable, the Pentagon said. If the systems demonstrate unintended behavior, there must be a way to either disengage or deactivate them, said Air Force Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan, director of the Pentagons Joint Artificial Intelligence Center.

The new approach follows recommendations made last year by the Defense Innovation Board, a group led by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.

Today, we announce the next step in the DOD digital future, our Ethical Principles for Artificial Intelligence. After collaboration with the White House, agency partners, industry and AI experts, I am proud to share the formal adoption of DoD principles for AI.  Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper (@EsperDoD) February 24, 2020

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement the United States and its international partners must push forward to develop AI for battlefield use.

The United States, together with our allies and partners, must accelerate the adoption of AI and lead in its national security applications to maintain our strategic position, prevail on future battlefields, and safeguard the rules-based international order, Esper said.

AI technology will change much about the battlefield of the future, but nothing will change Americas steadfast commitment to responsible and lawful behavior.

The adoption of AI ethical principles will enhance the departments commitment to upholding the highest ethical standards as outlined in the DOD AI Strategy, while embracing the U.S. militarys strong history of applying rigorous testing and fielding standards for technology innovations.

The Pentagons push to speed up its AI capabilities has fueled a fight between tech companies over a $10 billion cloud computing contract known as the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure, or JEDI. Microsoft won the contract in October but hasnt been able to work on the 10-year project because Amazon sued the Pentagon, arguing that President Donald Trumps antipathy toward Amazon and its chief executive, Jeff Bezos, hurt Amazons chances of winning the bid.

While an existing 2012 military directive requires humans to be in control of automated weapons, it doesnt address broader uses of AI. The new U.S. principles are meant to guide both combat and non-combat applications, from intelligence-gathering and surveillance operations to predicting maintenance problems in planes or ships.

The departments announcement comes after Google in 2018 was pressured by its employees to drop out of the militarys Project Maven, which used algorithms to interpret aerial images from conflict zones. This caused the Pentagon to hit a roadblock in its AI efforts.

If we had had the AI ethics principles three years ago (when launching Maven), and we were transparent about what we were trying to do and why we were trying to do it, maybe we would have had a different outcome, Shanahan told reporters.

Shanahan also said the guidance helps secure Americas technological advantage as China and Russia pursue military AI with little attention paid to ethical concerns.

Ethics will remain at the forefront of everything the Pentagon does with AI technology, Dana Deasy, the Pentagons chief information officer, said in a statement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
THE emperors in ancient times built cities as the centers of their empires. Some of these cities eventually fell when new powers emerged and built their own empires by conquering swaths of territories. Roman Emperor Constantine the Great founded in 324 the city of Constantinople in Byzantium, which was already an existing city. Centuries later, it fell in 1453 to the Ottomans who later built an empire of their own.

Cebu has its own story, too. Before the Spaniards came, Cebu had been ruled by rajahs. Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his band of Spanish sailors arrived in Cebu on April 7, 1521. He was later killed in a battle with Lapu-Lapu, the chieftain of Mactan.

However, it was only in 1565 that the Spanish Empire took possession of Cebu as its colony. It remained a town for centuries until it was inaugurated as a chartered city on Feb. 24, 1937 under then Commonwealth of the Philippines President Manuel L. Quezon.

The man behind Cebus cityhood was not an emperor but a prolific writer and politicianDon Vicente Rama.

The growth of Cebu City through the years has been engineered by scholars, educators, artists, activists, religious leaders, law enforcers, businesspersons and politicians. They were recognized by the Cebu City Government during the citys celebrations of its 83rd Charter Day on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020.

Forget not the hardworking ordinary Cebuanos, too. They are the unsung heroes that will keep the city alive. (KAL)
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The only people who were more excited about Bernie Sanderss win in Nevada than Sanders and his supporters were Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

Trump wants a second term so that he can stay out of jail and kill American democracy once and for all. Putin wants a weakened America so that his Russia can regain status as an important player in the worlds politics. Both, rightly or wrongly, believe that of all the Democratic candidates, Bernie Sanders is the easiest one for Trump to beat.

Most democrats fear that if Bernie is the nominee, well merely be choosing between oppressors.

Often we equate the Bernie wing with ideological purity, but it seems to me that argument can also be made of people who conflate democratic socialism, authoritarian socialism and communism.

I come at this with contradictory views about Sanders. Im working through what a Sanders win would mean as much as everyone else is. And I think that like most things political, the result of a Bernie win is one of many shades of gray. But key to it is knowing to what extent, if any, Bernie has authoritarian tendencies.

I dont want to offend anyone. But the reality is we didnt ask hard questions in 2016 and were paying for it. If we agree on nothing else, lets at least agree that we need answers to the scariest question. Are we choosing between democracy and tyranny or are we choosing our oppressor?

If Bernie is, as his surrogates claim, a democratic socialist, its possible his ideas can address socio-economic inequities that were institutionalized by Republicans and entrenched by Donald Trump.

Its just as possible that Sanders may opt for a more authoritarian approach  especially if Congress is as resistant to his ideas as it is to Trumps. Its this possibility that concerns me. And that concern grew when we learned that Sanders knew about Russian efforts to help his campaign for a month before he said anything.

To be fair, his response was near perfect  except for the part where he blamed the Washington Post.

I saw him dismiss concerns about Castro because he had this really awesome literacy program, Im more uneasy about him than I ever was, and the same is true of the prospect of including Russia in NATO. We heard that before from Donald Trump.

Anyone who says they know with certainty if Sanders is, in fact, a democratic Socialist, or an authoritarian version isnt telling the truth. Sanders does conflate supporters of other candidates with establishment Republicans in a way thats similar to Trumps deep state references.

A moment came when it looked like the twin pillars of authoritarianism  extreme left and extreme right  were beginning a stare-down. Some pundits suggest Bernie doesnt need to build a consensus beyond his base. He has enough support there. Everyone else, like the older African American women who do the work it takes to win elections, and to a far lesser extent educated white women who are alienated by Trump, ultimately dont matter. Theyll take it because they dont have any other options.

Of course, that assumption was wrongfully made before and Donald Trumps presidency was the result.

Meanwhile, there is talk of lists segregating the Trump loyalists from the deep state in the civil service. This prospect of a politicized civil service has implications too numerous to list. Suffice to say party affiliation and real or imagined loyalty to dear leader would define all aspects of life. You could be deemed insufficiently loyal simply because you know someone who is deemed disloyal.

Its like McCarthy woke from the dead and married Clarence Thomas.

Were running out of second chances. Trump is hollowing American democracy out. His followers are all too happy to bully and threaten anyone perceived to be disloyal to Trump into submission, as reflected in death threats the Ukraine whistleblowers lawyer is getting solely for doing his job protecting the whistle blowers legal rights.

Bernie says he envisions a more equitable America that addresses climate change, brings the American dream back and expects the wealthy to pay its share in taxes. And there are people who are with him for that. If he wins, theyll be happy. If not, theyll still vote for the person who wins the nomination because they, like most Democrats, see defeating Trump as the most important moral imperative of this election.

But there are other kinds of Bernie supporters.

As Megan McCardle explained, there are three broad categories of Bernie Supporters. Aside from the realist-idealist who will vote blue no matter who but hope its Bernie; there are bandwagoners who are also more likely to vote blue no matter who; and then there are the revolutionaries.

Its the revolutionaries who resemble the new voters President Trump brought into the GOP. McCardle met them in person, independently confirming some accounts Ive been told by some individuals who went to Bernie rallies.

I suspect its the revolutionaries who resort to bullying and intimidation, often on line, but not exclusively.

You may have heard of them as Bernie Bros and Bernie or Bust people. Either they get Bernie or theyll wait for revolution the way some Evangelicals wait for the end days. They dont think of Trump as all that bad, just as Bernie doesnt think Castro is all that bad. In the words of one Bernie or Bust supporter;

Donald Trump is not worse, for one reason: Hell destroy it faster than they will. And then we can rebuild.

The threat to America democracy got more complicated as Bernie Sanders won Nevada. Its not because healthcare or a more equitable economic policy automatically means the end of democracy and freedom. Its because we dont know how much of the Sanders base is comprised of revolutionaries whose approach is more consistent with authoritarianism.

If you lived through the cold war, I could tell you a million times there is a difference between Soviet communism and democratic socialism or social democracy. It wont matter, just as it wont matter if we tell younger voters that while they have valid concerns, its possible that Bernie is as authoritarian and uncaring as Trump. (Both are seen as authentic by their followers.)

Younger voters feel the sting of an economic system that has no good place for them. They hear of the possibility of a system that will give them economic opportunities and remove the fear of financial ruin if they get sick or have an accident.

Some of them will vote blue because they see the destruction by Trump and are just as repulsed as most of America. But even if democratic forces prevail this time with the help of realistic Bernie supporters, its all but certain theyll change sides if we dont address their concerns in ways that produce concrete results.
Published on 2020/02/24 | Source

Park Min-young is lucky when it comes to co-stars.

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Starting with Park Yoo-chun and Yoo Ah-in from "Sungkyunkwan Scandal", Yoo Seung-ho from "Remember", Yeon Woo-jin from "Queen for 7 Days", Park Seo-joon from "What's Wrong With Secretary Kim" and Kim Jae-wook from "Her Private Life", Park Min-young has partnered with quite a few popular men.

Being the queen of rom-com, Park Min-young is coming back with the latest drama "I'll Visit You When the Weather Is Nice".

She's pairing up with Seo Kang-joon in a romance that's not provocative, but addictive once immersed into it.

"I'll Visit You When the Weather Is Nice" is a healing romance drama about Hae-won (Park Min-young), who is exhausted by Seoul life, going to the quiet life in Bukhyun-ri, where she meets Eun-seob (Seo Kang-joon), who runs an independent book store.

Park Min-young takes on the role of Hae-won, an ordinary woman. She uses her cello playing skills to enter society, but her heart is bound up tight with the hurt and mistrust she's experienced in the real world, and she retreats back to her hometown of Bukhyun-ri.

Her frozen heart is thawed and melted by Seo Kang-joon's character in this warm romantic drama.

___________

"I'll Visit You When the Weather Is Nice" is directed by Han Ji-seung, written by Han Ga-ram, and features Park Min-young, Seo Kang-joon, Moon Jeong-hee, Lee Jae-wook, Im Se-mi, Kim Hwan-hee. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2020/02/24~Now airing, Mon, Tue 21:30 on jTBC.
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A man and a woman were arrested Monday night after allegedly ramming an SUV into two homeless people in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, and then smashing their vehicle into a police patrol car several blocks away, according to the San Francisco Police Department.

The first incident was reported around 9:15 p.m. Police said the couple was yelling at the homeless individuals and threatening them before driving the car onto the sidewalk, according to KPIX. The car drove away, escaping the scene, and went on to strike buildings and parked cars before crashing into the police vehicle many blocks away.
NEW YORKMondelez International Inc. said its buying the Canadian owner of the two-bite brownies brand from the private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners.

Mondelez is paying $1.2 billion (U.S.) to buy the company, according to people familiar with the matter.

Mondelez, confirming an earlier report by Bloomberg, didnt provide financial terms in a press release announcing the deal Tuesday.

Representatives for Mondelez and Thomas H. Lee declined to comment on the terms.

Mondelez said the deal is expected to close in the second quarter of the year.

Toronto-based Give & Go Prepared Foods Corp. was founded in 1989 and now has 1,500 employees, according to its website. Its brands include Kimberleys Bakeshoppe and Mason St. Bakehouse.

We are passionate about the consumer and this acquisition is very much on trend, said Glen Walter President of North America for Mondelez International in an interview. We are very passionate about the on-the-go snack.

Thomas H. Lee Partners bought Give & Go in 2016 from Omers Private Equity. Give & Go has since acquired Create-A-Treat Ltd., Nafta Foods & Packaging Inc. and Uncle Wallaces Bake Shoppe to help build up the company.

Confectioneries and bakeries are undergoing a transition as consumers demand healthier products, including vegan options.

In July, Mondelez acquired a majority interest in Perfect Snacks, a maker of nut-butter based protein bars. Mondelezs Cadbury business is developing a plant-based version of its flagship Dairy Milk chocolate brand, The Telegraph reported in February.

Mondelez fell less than one per cent in early trading Tuesday. The shares have gained 22 per cent in the past year. The S&P 500 Packaged Foods Index, in which Mondelez has about 30 per cent weighting, is up about 18 per cent over the same time period.
Ransomware attacks involve a type of malware that essentially overrides the encryption of files. Perpetrators of the attack then demand money either to restore access to the files or to prevent sensitive data from being made public.

According to a report from Comparitech, a website that reviews computer products and services, there have been 172 ransomware attacks just on health care organizations since 2016, including four others in Nebraska.

Doug Rausch, an assistant professor and program director for cybersecurity at Bellevue University, said ransomware use is on the rise, "and one of the reasons is because it works."

Rausch said organizations often just pay the ransom because it can take weeks to restore data  if they even can restore the data.

He said paying the ransom is risky, because there is no guarantee the perpetrator will restore access to the data, and even if it does, there's no guarantee it won't leave behind malware in the system or steal data.

Ransomware is just one kind of cyberattack that businesses, government agencies and nonprofits are faced with.
A Colorado police chief has fired an officer citing 'severe misconduct' after an August 2019 incident which involved a member of the public.

Levi Huffine was identified as the dismissed cop late on Monday after pressure was placed on Aurora Police Department Interim Chief Vanessa Wilson to reveal more about the incident.

Wilson claimed she could not release further information but that Huffine's firing was in relation to complaint made about an interaction with a member of the public.

Levi Huffine was dismissed from Aurora Police Department on Monday for displaying 'severe misconduct' in August 2019

According to FOX news, the person complained of a non-serious injury and was checked out by medical staff.

The dismissal comes as the Aurora Police Department struggles to regain trust from the public after the August 2019 death of a man after an encounter with police personnel, as well the scandal of an officer being found behind the wheel of his unmarked patrol car drunk and unresponsive while on duty in March 2019.

Huffine's firing is not related to those two incidents, according to a spokesperson for the department.

'From the moment I took over as Auroras Interim Police Chief, I promised transparency to our residents to help build back the trust within our community,' Wilson wrote in a Aurora Police Department blog post.

'Continuing with that promise, I wanted to let you know of my decision today to terminate one of our police officers, over what I believe to be severe misconduct. This officers conduct was completely out of character with the mission, ideals and expectations of the Aurora Police Department.

'It should be noted that there were no serious injuries as a result of this incident but that neither excuses nor defends the officers actions,' Wilson added.

'Due to a pending appeals process that is given to civil service employees, I am unable to provide additional details or information about this incident until that process has been completed.

'At such time, I will make the body worn camera footage available and address questions from our community members.'

Levi Huffine is said to be appealing his dismissal from the Aurora Police Department

Colorado cop Levi Huffine was dismissed on Monday after joining the Aurora Police Department in November 2012 and winning several awards from the department

Aurora Police Department Interim Chief Vanessa Wilson stated she could not reveal further information about the incident which led to Huffine's firing until the appeals process is complete but it is believed to be related to a public complaint about a non-serious injury

Although the fired officer was not identified at first, he was later named as Huffine after pressure was placed on the department.

He joined the department in November 2012.

Facebook posts show that Huffine previously received at least one award from the department.

'Upon numerous requests, the officer who was terminated is Officer Levi Huffine,' the statement read.

'It should be noted that this incident is not related to the critical incident involved Mr. Elijah McClain nor the case of Nate Meier,' referring to two earlier incidents that had damaged the reputation of the Aurora Police Department in 2019 and left them under scrutiny.

In March 2019, Officer Nate Meier was found drunk and unresponsive in the drivers side seat of an unmarked Ford Taurus patrol car stopped outside Buckley Air Force Base.

Officers were dispatched to the car to perform a wellness check and he was found in the car with the engine still running.

In March 2019, Officer Nate Meier was found drunk and unresponsive in the drivers side seat of an unmarked patrol car but prosecutors cannot charge him as responding officers from the police and fire departments failed to pass along information that he was likely intoxicated

In August 2019, 23-year-old Elijah McClain died following a confrontation with the police in the suburban Denver area after he suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital

Last month, prosecutors revealed that they could not file charges against Meier as responding officers failed to pass along information that he was likely intoxicated.

I dont think its a cover-up, but its a couple blocks from it,' said District Attorney George Brauchler.

In a further incident in August 2019, 23-year-old Elijah McClain died following a confrontation with the police in the suburban Denver area.

Aurora police received a call about a suspicious person wearing a ski mask and waving his arms as he walked down a street August 24.

McClain refused to stop walking and fought back when officers tried to take him into custody, according to police.

The Aurora Police Department is under scrutiny following a case of a drunk on duty officer found in his patrol car and the death of a 23-year-old man following a confrontation with police

Paramedics gave McClain a medication to calm him down, and he suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital. His family said he sustained a brain injury and was taken off life support in September 2019.

An attorney for his family gave notice to authorities that she plans on suing the city.

Wilson confirmed more information on Huffine's dismissal will be released once the appeals process has concluded.

Either the police chief or the officer can appeal the dismissal. According to the Aurora Police, Huffine plans to appeal and he has 10 days from the date of his termination to file.

No criminal case has been brought against him.
AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday alleged that there was complete failure on the part of the BJP-led government in handling the situation in violence-hit Delhi.

The Hyderabad MP also hit back at Minister of State for Home Kishan Reddy, who had accused him of trying to 'instigate' violence, saying he should first go to Delhi and take steps to end the violence there.

In a tweet later, Owaisi alleged that police were colluding with mobs and said Army should take over the violence-hit areas.

"He (Reddy) should first tell why violence happened. Violence happened under his nose. Why you are in Hyderabad... go to Delhi and control.

"How long will you eat sweets in my name. You have been made MoS Home and go to Delhi and control the situation. There is complete failure on part of BJP government and they are responsible for this," he told reporters here.

Earlier in the day, Reddy alleged Owaisi was "irresponsibly" making remarks like violence would spread in the country if the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was not withdrawn.

"Owaisi has been trying to instigate violence by making such provocative speeches for the past many days. The Centre is firm and the CAA will not be withdrawn even if hundreds of Owaisis oppose it," the Minister said.

Without naming Kapil Mishra, Owaisi charged that the violence was a result of "incitement by a former MLA and BJP leader" and it cannot be termed as communal riot.

"Whatever violence happened in Delhi yesterday and is happening today also it is state-sponsored violence. I believe that this whole thing cannot be called a communal riot. It started because of an ex-MLA of BJP stood shoulder to shoulder with a DCP and openly gave an ultimatum," he alleged in his interaction with mediapersons.

"I am of the opinion and I firmly believe that the ex- MLA had tacit approval of his party. That is why he said that and that is the point this violence started. It has been done with planning. There are media reports that stones were brought kept at certain places," Owaisi said without naming Mishra.

Mishra had called a gathering on Sunday and demanded that police remove the anti-CAA protestors within three days. Clashes between pro and anti-CAA protesters had started soon after he addressed the gathering



Referring to a video, Owaisi claimed "four persons were beaten by police and they were asked to recite Jan Gan Man and Vande Mataram".

Tagging the video, Owaisi also tweeted: Your cops @AmitShah are taking away Indians dignity & humiliating them for no reason. Act now. These cops deserve the highest possible punishment under the law."



He also alleged there were videos purportedly showing the police indulging in stone pelting.

Replying to a question, Owaisi said "if the government was of the view that the Delhi violence was aimed at tarnishing the country's image during US President Donald Trumps visit, why it did not take action to stop the clashes".

"If the government had specific information why you didn't have enough police forces and why curfew was not imposed immediately," he added.

Owaisi said "peaceful protests" were being held against the Citizenship Amendment Act, National Population Register and National Register of Citizens and would continue.

In another tweet, he said: "The situation in North East Delhi is only getting worse. If @PMOIndia wants to restore peace, it is incumbent on you that Army takes over the area. Cops have abdicated their duty & are colluding with mobs. The only way to secure lives & limbs is to hand over the area to the army."



Earlier, addressing a protest here on Monday night, Owaisi condemned the violence in Delhi and urged the Centre to take steps to bring the situation under control.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah your police, the Delhi police was hurling stones along with the rioters. We condemn it," he said.

"The president of a foreign country comes to Delhi and violence takes place. It is a matter of shame for the country...," the AIMIM leader said adding violence in any form was "condemnable".

Nine people have been killed and around 150, including 48 police personnel, injured in violence over the CAA which has morphed into communal clashes in parts of north east Delhi since Monday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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.
Additional reporting by Vivienne Clarke

University of Limerick have defended their decision to double-up some single rooms of their on-campus accommodation.

In a statement the university said that the decision was taken "in an attempt to meet unprecedented demand in the shortest possible timeframe amid a national housing crisis."

The university informed students of the decision to introduce the new accommodation options last week which was quickly met with criticism from UL Student Life, the student' union.

In a statement UL Student Life said they were "appalled" at the accommodation situation and that the rooms under proposal were never designed for two people.

It is very clear that there is not enough accommodation for students at the University of Limerick, with solutions such as the double up of rooms being proposed," said the student's union.

In addition to this it is very clear that both academic and support staff are under immense pressure to meet the demands of the growing numbers of students.

The student's union then called on the university to halt any plans to increase the student population until "adequate infrastructure and services are in place" to cater for those currently enrolled.

The university said that "wider development plans are currently under consideration for new-build on-campus accommodation, however this will take some time to bring to fruition.

"The twin room option deals with the supply deficit while also providing an affordable option to many students."

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 (@dan0rrr) February 21, 2020

USI president Lorna Fitzpatrick said universities were increasing student numbers without proper planning in place for affordable and suitable accommodation.

Speaking to RTE radio's Today with Sean O'Rourke, Fitzpatrick said students will be forced into taking this accommodation, in cramped conditions, because they can't afford anything else.

Last year, there was almost 7,200 applications from students for the 2,850 available beds in the on-campus villages. The university said the twin room option will add 630 beds and costs will range from 2,800 to 4,250 per person, including utilities and UL Sport membership.

The university said "the planned twin room development is compliant with Part B of the Functional Requirements of Building Regulations."

It added "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."

The UL Student Life president Jack Scanlan is meeting Dr. Des Fitzgerald, president of the university today "to highlight the severity of the accommodation crises that is currently affecting students."

The university said in a survey completed in 2019, 76% 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.

In a survey completed in 2019, 76% of students who responded said that they were willing to share a room on campus at a cost of between 3,500 and 3,750.
US President Donald Trump received a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday.

Trump, accompanied by wife Melania, arrived at the President House in the famous 'The Beast' car (or limousine), accompanied by Presidential Bodyguards and was warmly welcomed by President Ram Nath Kovind, his wife Savita Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The US President was then given the traditional tri-service Guard of Honour at the forecourt of the President House. The Guard of Honour was led by an Army officer with the contingent smartly attired in their uniform and polished boots.

With a bright sunny day on a relatively breezy morning, it was quite a picturesque setting for the welcome of the world's oldest democracy's president by India.

Twitter handle of the Rashtrapati Bhavan streamed the welcome live on the micro-blogging website.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, Indian Ambassador to US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu and the three service chiefs were also present at the occasion.

Later, Trump will visit Rajghat to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. He will also hold talks with Modi.

The US President who arrived in Ahmedabad on Monday noon, had addressed the 'Namaste Trump' event with the Prime Minister at Motera Stadium, where he hailed the India-US ties. He had also held a roadshow with Modi besides visiting the Sabarmati Ashram.

On Monday, while addressing a mammoth crowd of nearly one lakh people at the mega-event in Ahmedabad, the visiting dignitary had lauded the bilateral ties shared between India and the United States and also called for opportunities for strengthening in near future.

He also announced that America will sign deals with India worth USD 3 billion for the supply of choppers to the Indian military and deepen further cooperation to eradicate cross-border terrorism in South Asia.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi also took the opportunity to display a grand welcome for his 'friend'.

Trump had also visited the Taj Mahal in Agra along with his wife before arriving in Delhi in the evening.

Trump is scheduled to emplane for the US at 10 tonight.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
HARTFORD  A bloody quadruple shooting on the steps of a Bridgeport courthouse last month has prompted the Judicial Branch to pay a half-dozen state troopers overtime to provide security at six courthouses at a cost of $17,819 a week, officials confirmed.

The security detail started Monday at courthouses in Bridgeport, Stamford, New Haven, New Britain, Hartford and Waterbury, Judicial Branch officials said. One trooper will be located outside one courthouse in each community, officials said.

The visible deterrence factor of a police vehicle in front of a courthouse cannot be underestimated, Chief Court Administrator Patrick Carroll told legislators a few weeks ago as he asked for an additional $5.5 million to implement the plan.

But the head of the union representing the states roughly 700 judicial marshals is wondering whether it would be more cost effective to arm marshals at all 42 of the states courthouses.

This is a temporary fix, said Joe Gaetano, president of the IBPO Local 731, which represents the states judicial marshals. I believe it stems from the Bridgeport shooting. I guess this is the branchs way of addressing the issue.

Carroll and state Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Robinson walked into the Bridgeport Golden Hill Street courthouse an hour after the shooting on Jan. 27 to find the lobby bloody and staff shaken, Carroll said.

The drive-by shooting occurred as a man who had appeared for a court date was outside waiting for a ride, Carroll said. He was the intended target but three others were also struck by gunfire. The shooting and other dangerous situations including brawls and assaults faced by jurors, staff and the public reinforces our resolve to enhance safety and security in and around court buildings, Carroll said.

Carroll had hoped to secure $5.5 million in additional funding in this fiscal year to pay municipal and state police to patrol the outside of the states 42 courthouses on a daily basis. Legislators would have to agree to give the Judicial Branch the additional money as part of their 2020 session budget deliberations.

Carroll was also asking legislators for an additional $1.8 million in funding to hire more marshals and run six training classes a year since retirements and resignations are continually outpacing the number of new hires. The state is down nearly 200 marshals with supervisors often manning positions that should be covered by rank and file marshals, Carroll said.

State police are also short-staffed which prompted Gov. Ned Lamont to give the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, which oversees the law enforcement agency, an additional $1.7 million to hire more troopers. Some state police sergeants are among the highest paid state employees bringing in upwards of $200,000 a year due to overtime, according to state Comptroller Kevin Lembos OpenPayroll website.

The overtime that state police will be making on courthouse duty will likely be factored into their pensions, increasing the cost to taxpayers even more, Gaetano said. It makes more fiscal sense to arm marshals who know the buildings, Gaetano said.

The union president is suggesting that a select number of marshals receive firearms certification from the states Police Officer Standards and Training Council, the governing body that provides police certification and training throughout the state.

Were talking about armed marshals at the front doors and on the trucks (which transport prisoners to and from court dates), Gaetano said. There would be no firearms in our lockups and no firearms inside the courtroom.

Gaetano estimates that only two or three marshals per courthouse would need to be trained at cost of about $1,000 per person. Whether or not those marshals who were armed would be given more pay is debatable. As part of the collective bargaining agreement the marshals are undergoing an objective job evaluation to determine what other states pay marshals for similar work, Gaetano said.

The current plan that started Monday only places an officer at one courthouse per community, Gaetano said. Hartford has nine courthouses, but theres a trooper at only one, he said.

The union has brought up the idea of arming marshals in the past few years, Gaetano said. Unfortunately it takes something like the Bridgeport shooting to highlight the need.
The BioScience Talks podcast features discussions of topical issues related to the biological sciences.

Worldwide declines in insect populations have sparked considerable concern among researchers and members of the general public alike. To date, however, significant research gaps exist, and many insect threats remain under-investigated and poorly understood. For instance, despite their charismatic bioluminescent displays and cultural and economic importance, the 2000-plus species of firefly beetles have yet to be the subject of a comprehensive threat analysis. Writing in BioScience, Sara M. Lewis of Tufts University and her colleagues aim to fill the gap with a broad overview of the threats facing these diverse and charismatic species--as well as potential solutions that may lead to their preservation into the future. Lewis and colleagues catalog numerous threats, foremost among them habitat loss, followed closely by artificial light and pesticide use. The future is not bleak, however, and the authors describe considerable opportunities to improve the prospects of bioluminescent insects, including through the preservation of habitat, reduction of light pollution, lowered insecticide use, and more-sustainable tourism. Dr. Lewis and coauthors Candace Fallon and Michael Reed join us on this episode of BioScience Talks to shed light on these challenges and opportunities.

To hear the whole discussion, visit this link for this latest episode of the BioScience Talks podcast.

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BioScience, published monthly by Oxford Journals, is the journal of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS). BioScience is a forum for integrating the life sciences that publishes commentary and peer-reviewed articles. The journal has been published since 1964. AIBS is an organization for professional scientific societies and organizations, and individuals, involved with biology. AIBS provides decision-makers with high-quality, vetted information for the advancement of biology and society. Follow BioScience on Twitter @BioScienceAIBS.

Oxford Journals is a division of Oxford University Press. Oxford Journals publishes well over 300 academic and research journals covering a broad range of subject areas, two-thirds of which are published in collaboration with learned societies and other international organizations. The division been publishing journals for more than a century, and as part of the world's oldest and largest university press, has more than 500 years of publishing expertise behind it. Follow Oxford Journals on Twitter @OxfordJournals
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has proposed creating a county-funded legal services program for immigrants.

A resolution Hidalgo submitted for approval at Tuesdays Commissioners Court meeting directs the Community Services Department to design, administer funds for, and oversee an immigrant legal services program for county residents, subject to final approval by Commissioners Court.

Hidalgos office estimated the program would cost $500,000 the first year and would require an additional employee to administer it.

The county judge said public support of immigrant legal services in other places has been effective in reducing unnecessary detentions and allowing immigrants to remain in the country legally.

ONLY ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Immigrant children would no longer have to represent themselves in court with new fund, Hidalgo says

Legal representation is crucial for defendants to receive due process, Hidalgo said, adding that children sometimes are forced to represent themselves in immigration cases. She said they also suffer when their parents are unable to navigate the legal system.

The children of detained and deported parents face enormous health and mental health challenges that can lead to poor performance in school and increased risk of poverty, placement in foster care, incarceration, and food and housing insecurity, Hidalgo wrote.

Harris County is home to more than 400,000 immigrants in the country illegally, and Hidalgo said they contribute to the economy and are a critical part of the labor force.

ONLY ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Judge Lina Hidalgo endorses Elizabeth Warren for president

Undocumented immigrant households in Houston earned $11 billion in total income in 2016, paying $742 million in federal taxes and $448 million in state and local taxes, resulting in $9.8 billion in remaining total spending power, the resolution reads.

Hidalgo, herself an immigrant, was born in Colombia. She moved with her family to Houston in 2005.

Dozens of speakers have signed up to share their opinions on the proposal at Tuesdays meeting.

TRY THE APP: Get alerts, breaking news and in-depth coverage on what's happening in Houston for your mobile phone and tablet devices through our mobile apps on Google Play and the App Store.
A true teacher at heart, Just Ask Dr. Jay, is also actively involved in the education of medical students and residents both locally and internationally. Recently he has also assisted in the education of trainees from Brazil, Portugal, and New Zealand to name a few.

Dr. Jay Young, a board-certified surgeon specializing in nose and sinuses in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale region in Florida, has partnered with the highly sought after Haute MD network.

The Haute MD Network, known for its elite and lavish lifestyle publication Haute Living is honored is privileged to present Dr. Jay Young as an Otolaryngology (ENT and Facial Plastics) Expert and our newest addition to the Haute MD members-only network.

Haute MD offers a prominent collective of leading doctors. The invitation-only exclusive publication maintains elite as ever, with only two doctors in every market. This partnership allows Haute MD to connect its affluent readers with industry-leading surgeons located in their area.

You can view Dr. Youngs profile here: https://hauteliving.com/hautebeauty/mdmember/dr-jay-young/

ABOUT DR. JAY YOUNG

Jay Young, MD is a board-certified surgeon specializing in the nose and sinuses. His expertise includes facial plastic surgery such that he can treat medical and cosmetic conditions related to the nose and face. Dr. Jay Young offers patients a boutique patient experience where you are treated like a VIP. He actively aims to provide a combination of the most modern technological advances in a caring and nurturing environment.

Dr. Young has a background in engineering and is passionate about employing the latest devices to treat his patients. He is the founder of the Miami Nose and Sinus Center where a primary focus is on minimally invasive nasal and sinus procedures for snoring and sleep disorders. Dr. Young is also adept at rhinoplasty, Botox, fillers, facial rejuvenation, and skin cancer reconstruction. Oftentimes he can help his patients breathe better, sleep better, look better, and feel better with brief, comfortable procedures in the office and avoid general anesthetic. For convenience, patients evaluated at the Miami Nose and Sinus Center can also receive treatment for hearing/balance problems, voice/throat disorders, chronic cough, and allergies.

A true teacher at heart, Just Ask Dr. Jay, is also actively involved in the education of medical students and residents both locally and internationally. Recently he has also assisted in the education of trainees from Brazil, Portugal, and New Zealand to name a few. Dr.Young has published papers in peer-reviewed journals and presented his work at national conferences.

Dr. Young is pleased to offer his expertise to the residents of South Florida but he also proudly treats patients nationally and internationally. International patients, particularly from Mexico City, Brazil, Central America, and the Caribbean, have flown to visit Dr. Young in Miami to seek minimally invasive treatments that are often not offered in their respective countries.

Dr. Jay Young, MD was graduated from Tulane University with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. From there, he earned a full-tuition scholarship to medical school. Dr. Young then completed his internship and residency in otolaryngology head and neck surgery at the prestigious Vanderbilt University Medical Center. This residency program is generally regarded as one of the best and the department is ranked in the top ten in the country by US News. While there he trained with some of the national leaders in all avenues of the head, neck, and facial surgery. He also earned one of the highest scores in the country on the training examination, scoring in the highest 9th stanine.
By William Schwartz | Published on 2020/02/24

A recent announcement by the Jordanian government that they would be blocking entry into the country by South Korean citizens has raised concerns as to how the shooting of "The Point Men" may be affected.

Advertisement

The blockbuster was set to begin shooting in Jordan in March, but it is unclear how cast and crew such as lead actors Hwang Jung-min and Hyun Bin, or director Yim Soon-rye will enter the country given the recent ban in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in South Korea.

The production behind "The Point Men" said in a statement that they were aware of the issue and were still expecting to be able to start shooting for the film on the existing schedule. The shooting schedule for "The Point Men" had been planned in advance for some time in cooperation with local authorities. It seems likely that the Jordanian government would offer leeway in this case, provided the production can demonstrate that none of the cast and crew have recently visited high-risk areas.

Written by William Schwartz
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - The military waste that results from the United States military's drive to remain permanently war ready has unexpected consequences on civilians and the environment, according to a new book by a faculty member at Binghamton University, State University of New York.

In his book Military Waste: The Unexpected Consequences of Permanent War Readiness, Joshua O. Reno, associate professor of anthropology at Binghamton University, reveals the unexpected and open-ended relationships that civilians on the home front form with a nation permanently ready for war.

"Given that our country has spent so much on military buildup over the decades, I was fascinated to discover where it all went when it was no longer of use," Reno said. "I found out always being ready for war affects us in many ways, a lot of them unexpected."

Throughout the book, Reno explores the cost of American war preparation by analyzing the lives and stories of American civilians who are confronted with what is left over when a society is constantly ready for war. Since America is a major world power, Reno said it must be held accountable for its large role in spreading military waste.

"We have the largest and most powerful military in the world by a large margin, and it isn't close. So it is our responsibility to think about what this does to the world around us, the environment, the economy and who we imagine ourselves to be," Reno said.

Through ethnographic and archival research, Reno demonstrates how obsolete military junk is and how it affects people far from areas associated with warfare. Along with disrupting civilians, this excess waste also has negative impacts on the environment.

"If it's no longer useful, and rots near where you live, it could spread pollution even after it is sent somewhere else. There are thousands of formerly used defense sites that leave toxic legacies behind when abandoned," Reno said. "But when actual junk falls into people's hands, or falls from the sky, we might turn it into art, scrap it, sell it or sink it. So it can be an opportunity for some people. Regardless, it forces us to reckon with the consequences of decades of military buildup."

Reno discovered that military waste is much more than random junk -- it also encompasses abandoned and polluted islands once occupied by military bases, militarized masculinities of mass shooters and much more. With such a wide range of influence, this waste is something that Reno thinks readers should spend more time reflecting on.

"I hope readers think more about how the world around them bears the traces of military buildup, if they know where to look. The orbital environment around Earth is full of tiny chunks of satellites going as fast as speeding bullets, and our military is both making it worse and hoping to benefit from it," Reno said. "Both coasts are lined with deliberately sunken naval vessels leaking untold pollutants into the ocean, unregulated by the EPA, and local industrial ruins might exist as a legacy of bloated military contracts that were secured during the Cold War, not because of losing manufacturing jobs to China or Mexico. In other words, you read our past and our present differently if you follow the strange paths of military waste," Reno said.

Reno hopes his book will influence society to stop prioritizing war preparation and focus on how military waste has harmed the world.

"If I dare to dream, I guess my absurd hope is that we stop preparing for wars that never come and invest more in other things we need more desperately, like healthcare (including for veterans who have been cast aside by all of this war preparation)," Reno said. "I also hope we recognize what we have done to the world, making it more toxic and less safe with all of our military junk, and that we bear some of the responsibility by not thinking about the consequences of the world we have made."

###

Reno's book, Military Waste: The Unexpected Consequences of Permanent War Readiness, was published on Feb. 4.
A woman in Delta State, South-South Nigeria, may be banished from her community after she exposed her husband for allegedly raping their teenage daughter.

The woman, Grace Eze from Okwe, in Asaba, Delta state, has been asked by the community leaders to present N10,000 and a variety of items, including a she-goat and he-goat, bottles of beer, bottles of stout, malt drink, kola nuts, and a palm front, for the cleansing of the land or risk being banished from the community.

She was summoned by the community leaders who handed her a list of the cleansing items on a piece of paper.

Mrs Ezes husband, Michael Eze, 42, was arraigned last year by the police for rape.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Eze allegedly drugged and raped his daughter when she was just 10 years old.

The girl was said to have eventually become her fathers sex slave, raped repeatedly in the same house where her mum was living.

The father allegedly forced her to go through abortion when it was discovered she was pregnant for him.

A police officer in B division police station, Asaba, where Mr Eze was first detained before the case was transferred to the police headquarters, told PREMIUM TIMES, July 2019, that the girls mother was also a suspect in the case because she took the girl to where they did an abortion on her.

READ ALSO:

Mr Eze is in prison custody and the community leaders are insisting that the wife must pay for the cleansing of the land because of her husbands sin.

A non-governmental organisation, Behind Bars Rights Foundation, which prompted a police investigation into the rape allegation, has kicked against the action of the community leaders.

In an open letter to Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, the group said they were extremely embarrassed and disappointed with the threat against Mrs Grace.

The letter was signed by the leader of Behind Bars Rights Foundation, Gwamnishu Harrison.

Mr Harrison said Mrs Eze reported her husband to his relatives when she got information about the rape of their daughter.

Mr Harrison appealed to Mr Okowa and the Chairman, Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers, Emmanuel Efeizomo, to intervene in the matter on behalf of Mrs Eze.
[February 25, 2020] Karamba Security Announces XGuard Support for Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoCs, Enabling Applications to be Self-Protected Against Cyberattacks

Karamba Security, a world-leading provider of embedded security, announced today Karamba's XGuard support for the Xilinx (News - Alert), Inc. Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC family of adaptable computing devices. Customers who develop or run applications on Zynq can now seamlessly leverage XGuard to help self-protect against cyberattacks, without requiring any change to R&D processes. XGuard constantly scans for exploitation attempts of hidden vulnerabilities by automatically verifying operational integrity and executes internal detection and prevention controls. A detailed log of all security events can be stored and uploaded for later analysis. This is crucial for helping clients understand where vulnerabilities are in the system, even though Karamba's products can automatically prevent such vulnerability exploits at the gate. By integrating XGuard into the build environment, the application becomes self-protected against attack, thereby enabling Xilinx customers to secure their embedded vision applications without altering their R&D processes or requiring developers to change their best practices which can delay their products' time to market. "Xilinx is the world leading provider of adaptable embedded devices, and we see their technology being used globally by our customer base," said Ami Dotan, Karamba Security's co-founder and CEO. "We are pleased to join forces with Xilinx to ensure that our mutual customers' applications running on the Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC family of devices are automatically hardened against cyber-attacks to better assure consumer safety."



"Karamba Security's embedded security products have generated significant market traction in a very short time. We are pleased that Karamba Security has extended its support to include Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC family," said Willard Tu, senior director of automotive, Xilinx. "Karamba's XGuard enables our customers to develop more secure applications, without interfering with their development lifecycle or product release schedules. Security is a top concern for key markets we serve, including automotive, industrial and IoT, and we are excited to collaborate with Karamba to address those customer needs." Come visit us at Embedded World in Nuremberg on February 25th to 27th, Booth 3A-533

About Karamba Security

Karamba Security is the embedded security powerhouse, providing industry-leading embedded cybersecurity solutions for connected devices. Manufacturers in automotive, Industry 4.0, enterprise edge, and Industrial IoT rely on Karamba's products and services to seamlessly protect their connected devices against Remote Code Execution (RCE) and Command Injection. After over 50 successful engagements with Fortune 100 companies, automotive OEMs, tier-1 providers and other manufacturers, connected device manufacturers trust Karamba's award-winning solutions for protecting their customers against cyberthreats. More information is available at www.karambasecurity.com and follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @KarambaSecurity. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005268/en/

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Weinstein found guilty of sexual assault, rape

WORLD: Harvey Weinstein was convicted yesterday (Feb 24) of sexual assault and rape but cleared of the most serious predatory sexual assault charges, a partial victory for the #MeToo movement that sparked a cascade of allegations against the disgraced Hollywood mogul.

crimesexviolence

By AFP

Tuesday 25 February 2020, 09:12AM

Harvey Weinstein arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Court yesterday (Feb 24). Photo: AFP

The jury of seven men and five women found the producer guilty of criminal sexual acts in the first degree and rape in the third degree, a measure of vindication for the dozens of women who came out against the one-time all-powerful filmmaker.

However, the 67-year-old Oscar-winner was found not guilty of first-degree rape and predatory sexual assault charges that could have seen him jailed for life.

The Times Up foundation, formed in the wake of the Weinstein case, hailed the verdict as marking a new era of justice.

Abusers everywhere and the powerful forces that protect them should be on notice: Theres no going back, it said in a statement.

The limited win for #MeToo presents the most high-profile sex assault conviction in the United States since Bill Cosby was found guilty in 2018 of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman 15 years ago.

The decision was announced in a packed New York courtroom where some 100 people had gathered. The defendant, who attended the trial hunched over a walker, was shielded from view by police officers.

More than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct since allegations against him ignited the #MeToo global reckoning against men abusing positions of power in October 2017.

But the jury considered charges related to just two: ex-actress Jessica Mann and former production assistant Mimi Haleyi, with many claims too old to prosecute.

One of the predatory sexual assault charges also included testimony from The Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, who said Weinstein raped her in her New York apartment in the winter of 1993-94.

Six women took the stand from the opening of testimony on Jan 22, to say they had been sexually assaulted by Weinstein.

Weinsteins team subjected the women to ferocious cross-examination, as they argued that his relationships were consensual and transactional.

The prosecution cast Weinstein as a conniving predator who demanded sex in exchange for access to a film universe where he was king, but presented no forensic evidence or witness accounts.

The states case instead rested on asking the jury to believe the women.

Next stop, LA

Weinstein, who has always said his sexual relations were consensual, was charged with raping former actress Mann in the DoubleTree hotel in midtown Manhattan in 2013.

He was also charged with forcing oral sex on former production assistant Mimi Haleyi at his New York apartment in July 2006 while she was on her period.

Mann and Young both testified that Weinsteins genitals appeared deformed, during graphic and at times uncomfortable testimony, as the prosecution showed jurors nude photos of Weinstein to corroborate their accounts.

The charges of predatory sexual assault, a serious sex crime committed against more than one person, were the most serious and carried a sentence of life in prison.

For the jury to convict Weinstein of that they would have had to believe either Mann or Haleyi plus Sciorra.

Sciorras allegation was too old to be prosecuted as an individual crime but she was included in the indictment to bolster the predatory sexual assault charge.

Ex-model Lauren Young also told the court that Weinstein sexually assaulted her in the bathroom of a Beverly Hills hotel room in 2013 when she was a 22-year-old aspiring actress.

Judge Burke dismissed the jury just after noon yesterday, thanking them for their care and attention.

Eyes now turn to Los Angeles, where Youngs allegations form part of a separate sex crimes investigation against Weinstein being carried out by prosecutors in the California city.

Los Angeles prosecutors accuse him of raping an Italian model in February 2013 and of assaulting Young the following night.
Kromer said Warren appears to have lost ground in Maryland in part because she failed to place at the top in Iowa, New Hampshire or Nevada. With Marylands primary still weeks away, Kromer noted, none of the candidates are campaigning in the state, although Bloomberg is running television ads there.
Visiting US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held talks at New Delhis Hyderabad House. A big shamiana with dozens of chairs were put up for journalists in attendance as the two leaders read their statements.

The Ministry of External Affairs had made it known that no questions would be allowed at the joint press conference. By the time the event took place, most also knew that the American president would be speaking to the press in the evening at a city hotel. This led to an embarrassing situation with several empty chairs since many journalists ...
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Stacy Bailey, an art teacher at Charlotte Anderson Elementary School, was suspended and reassigned to a secondary school after showing a photo of herself and her wife to her students. Stacy Bailey, Jason Smith Stacy Bailey, an art teacher at Charlotte Anderson Elementary School was suspended and reassigned to a secondary school after showing a photo of herself and her wife to her students. Stacy Bailey, an art Stacy Bailey, an art teacher at Charlotte Anderson Elementary School was suspended and reassigned to a secondary school after showing a photo of herself and her wife to her students. Stacy Bailey, an art teacher at Charlotte Anderson Elementary School was suspended and reassigned to a secondary school after showing a photo of herself and her wife to her students. Stacy Bailey, Jason Smith Stacy Bailey, an art teacher at Charlotte Anderson Elementary School, was suspended and reassigned to a secondary school after showing a photo of herself and her wife to her students. Stacy Bailey, Jason Smith Stacy Bailey, an art teacher at Charlotte Anderson Elementary School, was suspended and reassigned to a secondary school after showing a photo of herself and her wife to her students. Handout, TNS

Arlington art teacher Stacy Bailey was placed on administrative leave in August 2017 after showing her students a picture of her soon-to-be wife. On Monday, Mansfield ISD awarded Bailey $100,000 after a federal judge ruled her suspension was unconstitutional.

As part of the settlement, the school district agreed to provide mandatory training to human resources and counseling staff on LGBTQ issues in schools, and to require the Mansfield ISD board of trustees to vote on whether to add protections for sexual orientation into its policies, according to a representative for Bailey.

The school district will also withdraw the "administrative leave" designation from the eight-month period that Bailey was suspended and provide her with a letter of recommendation.

Before her suspension, Bailey had worked at Charlotte Anderson Elementary School for a decade and was named teacher of the year twice. When a parent complained that she was "promoting the homosexual agenda by showing students a picture of her partner, Julie Vazquez, Bailey was abruptly placed on leave.

Because Texas has no law that explicitly protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation  only that based on sex, race, religion and disability  Bailey was forced to seek relief through the federal court system. After two years of litigation, Judge Sam Lindsay of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas ruled in her favor in October of last year.

The agreements the district and I made in this settlement are a positive first step in making things better for gay employees, gay students and gay families in Mansfield," Bailey said in a statement.

Bailey and her now-wife will donate $10,000 to "a non-profit addressing LGBTQ student issues," according to the statement. Jason Smith, Bailey's attorney, will donate $10,000 to the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ advocacy group in the country.

Read related Tribune coverage:

This article originally appeared on the Texas Tribune: https://www.texastribune.org/2020/02/25/texas-teacher-who-was-penalized-being-gay-wins-100000-settlement
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 20:15:51|Editor: huaxia

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CAPE TOWN, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The first phase of public hearings on the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill concluded on Tuesday, indicating that South Africa was moving closer to the implementation of universal healthcare.

This phase included extensive public hearings in all the nine provinces of the country, with a minimum three public hearings per province.

The guiding principles that underpin the importance of this phase of the legislation-making process is to give life to the expression of a "people's Parliament" that understands and incorporates varying views of a diverse society like South Africa, said Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Health.

"With these public hearings we are confident that South Africans have been given ample opportunity to make their views heard and taken into consideration by the committee," said Committee Chairperson Sibongiseni Dhlomo.

The committee is grateful to all South Africans, young and old, who participated in this process, and it assures all South Africans that their views will be considered when Parliament deliberates on the final product, Dhlomo said.

Furthermore, the committee acknowledged that despite the varying views on the matter during the hearings, participants were generally well-behaved and tolerant of differing views, according to Dhlomo.

"We are confident that our process cannot be faulted and that a conducive environment was created to enable participants to share their views on the Bill," Dhlomo said.

Regarding the content of the Bill, the majority of participants across the country pronounced their unwavering support for the Bill, especially because of the expected benefits that will enhance universal healthcare especially for the poor, Dhlomo said.

But in most cases the support for the Bill was predicated on the need for the Department of Health to fix the current healthcare challenges that will ensure, if optimally utilized, an effective healthcare system, he said.

Fixing these challenges include the hiring of more doctors and nurses, investment in infrastructure development and ensuring accountability at all levels of the healthcare sector, Dhlomo said.

Despite a majority of people endorsing the Bill and calling for its immediate implementation, there were those that vehemently opposed the Bill primarily because of the ambiguity in relation to the funding model, dwindling revenue base and apprehension on the governance of the fund as a result of corruptionl, according to Dhlomo.

The committee reiterates its commitment to listening to all views presented during the public hearings, he said.

The committee will now engage stakeholders and organizations that made written submissions to it, and that will form the last phase of public participation on the Bill at the National Assembly level, said Dhlomo.

The government has set 2025 as the deadline for implementing the NHI which is meant to benefit all South African citizens, permanent residents, refugees, inmates, designated foreign nationals and all children.

But critics say the financing model of this bill will mean the imposition of a new tax on ordinary South Africans who have already been squeezed dry by the government and cannot be subjected to yet another tax.

Several political parties and numerous bodies, including the South African Private Practitioners' Forum, have voiced skepticism about the bill, calling it unrealistic, too expensive, and would potentially damage the healthcare sector, particularly when the country is facing a financial crisis.

The government plans to implement the NHI through the establishment of a NHI Fund financed through mandatory prepayment.
Victims Ask Supreme Court to Allow Damages Claim Against Sudan for Aiding Terrorists

WASHINGTONPlaintiffs asked the Supreme Court on Feb. 24 to rule that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act may be applied retrospectively to impose punitive damages on the African nation of Sudan, which the United States has officially placed on its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The case, cited as Opati v. Republic of Sudan, is unusual because the plaintiffs are seeking compensation not just for Americans killed and injured in al-Qaidas 1998 deadly truck bombings of U.S. embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya, but also for non-U.S. citizen employees who worked for those diplomatic missions. The attacks left more than 200 people dead and thousands injured. About 600 people have signed on as plaintiffs to the lawsuit.

Under dictator Omar al-Bashir, who was the countrys president from June 1989 until he was ousted in an April 2019 coup detat, Sudan harbored and provided sanctuary to Islamic terrorist groups. Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is thought to have lived in Sudan in the 1990s. A provisional civilian-military government is in power in Khartoum and democratic elections are expected to take place in 2021.

After revolutionary changes recently took place in the country, Sudan now wants off the crippling U.S. blacklist that prevents it from entering the international community and gaining access to international capital.

Starting in 2001, various plaintiffs sued Sudan for providing material support for terrorism and argued the bombings were extrajudicial killings as defined in the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA). Sudan initially defended itself in court but stopped participating in the litigation in 2009. In 2014, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia awarded the plaintiffs $10.2 billion in a series of judgments.

In one of those rulings, U.S. District Judge John Bates wrote that this was a wake-up call to Sudan, which after years of sitting on the sidelines will now be held responsible for helping terrorists. There is no doubt the attacks were the work of al-Qaida, a grisly precursor to the bombing of the USS Cole and the atrocities of September 11, 2001, Bates wrote.

The 2000 attack on the guided-missile destroyer in Yemens Port of Aden left 17 Americans dead and 39 injured. The 9/11 attacks left about 3,000 people dead in the United States.

But the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Sudan and nixed a $4.3 billion portion of the total that consisted of punitive damages. The appeals court found that the FSIA precluded damages for events that took place before the statute was amended in 2008.

During oral arguments before the high court, the plaintiffs lawyer, Matthew D. McGill, said Sudan gave al-Qaida a safe haven and vital material support enabling it to carry out the embassy bombings. Then-President Bill Clinton retaliated by sending 13 cruise missiles into Khartoum, he said.

But to impose punitive damages, Sudan argues, somehow would violate principles of fundamental fairness, McGill said. If fairness is the issue here, then Sudan surely should lose.

Sudan continued sheltering bin Laden even as he issued fatwahs calling for attacks on U.S. interests.

The attorney for the Sudanese government, Christopher M. Curran, said the appeals court concluded that the  evidence at the default hearing failed to show that Sudan either specifically intended or directly advanced the 1998 embassy bombings.

The D.C. Circuit also acknowledged that Sudan expelled bin Laden permanently in  May of 1996, two years before the U.S. designated bin Laden and al-Qaida as terrorists, he said.

Curran told Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg that he felt it necessary to offer that explanation because he was responding to opposing counsels argument that Sudan is the devil incarnate here.

I think instead the record shows that Sudan, at most, was negligent in controlling people within its borders and that its notand I want to make it clear that Sudan did not and is not accused of being a terrorist, but instead providing an environment that allowed terrorism to foster, again, long before bin Laden was a notorious terrorist, he said.

Justice Elena Kagan told Curran that his submissions seemed awfully complicated and probably not what Congress had in mind.

Justice Neil Gorsuch seemed to suggest to Curran that the victims should be allowed to make claims for punitive damages.

If we agree that compensatory damages apply retroactively, on what account does it make sense to speak of punitive damages not also applying retroactively, given that its authorized by the same statute? Gorsuch said.
Cameras shooting up to 25,000 frames a second have been used to capture the moment two droplets of liquid come together and mix - and it is opening up research into new applications for 3D printing.

With one of the colour cameras positioned below the droplets and the other to the side, the synchronised system was able to record the moment one of the droplets passed over the other, creating a surface jet that formed less than 15 milliseconds - that is 15 thousandths of a second - after they coalesced.

Thomas Sykes, a PhD researcher at the University of Leeds and lead author of the study, said the use of high-speed imaging has provided a fresh insight into the complex way droplets behave when they interact, a branch of science known as fluid dynamics.

Mr Sykes, who is part of both the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Centre for Doctoral Training in Fluid Dynamics at Leeds and the Leeds Institute for Fluid Dynamics, said: "The chemistry behind emerging 3D-printing technologies involves having chemicals deposited onto a surface. We often need those chemicals to be positioned in a highly specific way, for example we may want the droplets to lie side by side or for one droplet to rest on another.

"On other occasions we want them to mix completely, to produce a desired reaction to 3-D print more complex structures."

To get the desired droplet behaviour, scientists have tried to alter the surface tension of the droplets, making it easier for them to mix or to remain separate. But how to make that happen in the printing process is poorly understood.

In the study, the use of two synchronised cameras allowed scientists to see what was happening both on the surface and inside the droplets and to make a better assessment of mixing.

Dr Alfonso Castrejon-Pita, an Associate Professor and co-author of the study based at the University of Oxford, added: "In the past, there have been instances when two droplets impact and you were left wondering whether they have mixed or has one droplet just passed over the other. Having two cameras record the droplet interaction from different viewpoints answers that question."

The study is a collaboration between researchers at the University of Leeds, University of Oxford and Queen Mary University of London and the findings have been published in the journal Physical Review Fluids (The paper is available here: https://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.5.023602).

Future trends in 3-D printing

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is an emerging technology that has its roots in computer printing. Instead of ink being put down on a page, 3D printers deposit chemicals in layers to build an object, often from a computer-aided design system.

Scientists hope to extend the range and type of products that can be manufactured by 3D printing, for example, high-precision "scaffolds" for tissue engineering in the laboratory, on which human tissue can be grown. But significant advances in the technology requires a clearer understanding of the way chemicals react when they are deposited by a 3D printer.

Dr Mark Wilson, an Associate Professor at Leeds and lead supervisor of the project, said: "The imaging techniques developed have opened-up a new window on droplet technology."

"We were able to expose the internal flows, whilst imaging at a sufficient speed to capture the fast dynamics. This experimental setup allows us to visualise how, by altering the surface tension of the droplets, we can alter their behaviour."

###

The research was funded by the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Fluid Dynamics at Leeds. The collaboration between Leeds, Oxford and Queen Mary was funded by the EPSRC-funded UK Fluids Network.

Notes to editors

For further information, please contact David Lewis in the press office at the University of Leeds

The paper is available here: https://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.5.023602

Images

Images can be downloaded from the University good drive:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=10q8V9lFCH_COfmS7YfYEjvIahFxVarnc

Images 1 and 2 were taken with two cameras operating at up to 25,000 frames a second. The images show what was happening from underneath the droplets and to the side. The sequence starts on the left, immediately after one droplet spreads into the other. A surface jet forms with one droplet appearing to move across the other (after around 12 milliseconds) and to mix in the process. But the droplets are not mixing. The camera to the side reveals that one of the droplet is just sitting on the other. They have not mixed because of their respective surface tensions.

Image 3 is a GIF showing the droplet interaction from underneath.

Please credit: University of Leeds

University of Leeds

The University of Leeds is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK, with more than 38,000 students from more than 150 different countries, and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. The University plays a significant role in the Turing, Rosalind Franklin and Royce Institutes.

We are a top ten university for research and impact power in the UK, according to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, and are in the top 100 of the QS World University Rankings 2020. Additionally, the University was awarded a Gold rating by the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework in 2017, recognising its 'consistently outstanding' teaching and learning provision. Twenty-six of our academics have been awarded National Teaching Fellowships - more than any other institution in England, Northern Ireland and Wales - reflecting the excellence of our teaching.

Over a third of our academics are involved in applied research or as consultants to industry, and over the last ten years, the University of Leeds has produced more than 100 'spin-out' companies.

http://www.leeds.ac.uk
A former Rutgers cancer researcher and professor accused of filming women in a hospital office bathroom has pleaded guilty in the case, records show.

James Goydos, 58, of East Brunswick, pleaded guilty to a number of charges in Superior Court of Middlesex County in mid-December, a court document says.

Goydos was originally charged with 160 crimes, including over 100 counts of invasion of privacy, after he placed cameras in womens bathrooms, officials said.

He pleaded guilty to just six: burglary, impersonation, official misconduct, possession of an assault weapon and two counts of computer theft.

The former ex-Rutgers/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School professor recorded at least 26 women and three other people in various states of undress in a bathroom and broke into his coworkers offices to commit identity theft, officials said.

None of the women recorded were patients, officials said.

Goydoss attorney did not respond to NJ Advance Medias request for comment Tuesday afternoon.

In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors will recommend a sentence of up to 364 days in county jail, and up to four years of probation, documents show.

As part of the plea, Goydos will forfeit his ability to hold any public position, and has agreed to not seek or accept any jobs at Rutgers or any RWJBarnabas hospitals or facilities in New Jersey. Hes also barred from contacting any of his victims.

His sentencing, originally scheduled for Tuesday morning, was adjourned to a later date.

Goydos was fired from his position as a melanoma specialist Rutgers shortly after his arrest. He was making $437,500 a year.

Goydo still faces two civil cases, filed by women who say they were filmed by Goydos. One cased, filed by a former employee, was allowed to proceed in December. A second, class-action lawsuit has been stayed pending Goydos sentencing hearing, records show.

Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieKausch. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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The Khojaly genocide, committed by Armenian nationalists at the end of the 20th century, is considered one of the gravest crimes against humanity. The Khojaly residents were the victims of nationalist illegal armed groups who fought against the Republic of Azerbaijan, which recruited the second battalion of the former Soviet 366th Guards Motor Rifle Regiment led by Seyran Ohanyan. External forces were also involved in unleashing and prolonging the Karabakh conflict.

Unfortunately, it's not the only example in world history when people, being affected by absurd nationalistic ideas, putting one nation above all others, become monsters. Perhaps the dissemination of documentary evidence will help prevent new atrocities. Vestnik Kavkaza presents the chapters from the 'Through Their Eyes: Witnesses to Khojaly Massacre' book, which has become a valuable resource for studying the genocide and bringing the truth about it to the world community. Each of the Khojaly survivors has their own story.

We know him from the heartbreaking pictorial review of the Khojaly genocide. When he remembers 26 days of captivity horrors, tortures, it's like feeling all that pain and suffering all over again. Our interlocutor is commander of the Khojaly self-defense forces checkpoint Huseynaga Guliyev, who was captured that terrible night with his mother, wife and two sons.

Huseynagas testimony, who was a witness and victim of an inhuman crime, once again testifies that not a single person, not a single nation in the world history has survived the atrocities committed against the Azerbaijani people, the sorrowful ordeal faced by the elderly, children, women and young ones. Let the whole world hear about those barbarous acts one more time!



February 26, 26th winter, 26 days in captivity - mourning marks of his fate

- I was born in Khojaly in 1966. The number "26" has become crucial for me. On February 26, Khojaly, the city where I was born and raised, was wiped out. I was the only son. Got married. I had two half-year-old sons - twins. At that time, the only son in the family was not taken to the war, but I volunteered to defend my native land, I couldn't sit there and do nothing.

Soon, Huseynaga Guliyev distinguished himself in the ranks of the Khojaly self-defense battalion led by Tofig Huseynov, was appointed commander of the chekpoint. I spent all the days on duty. The family lived with the mother. Then the order was given not to take the families out of Khojaly to avoid panic among the population, so that not a single fighter left his position. On February 25, I was on duty. Suddenly we heard gunfire. The assault on Khojaly began. After two or three hours we came under a hail of bullets, we could not even lean out of the trench. These were mostly tracer bullets.

About 200 houses were built for Meskhetian Turks in the upper part of Khojaly, who had sought refuge in Azerbaijan after the Ferghana events. After an hour of shelling, they were all damaged. The houses were in flames. People fled. How can rifles withstand tanks and armored personnel carriers?! We had to retreat. I did not find anyone at home, they said that the family left with other people. I found my mother and my wife with children near the village. I was armed, I had bullets and grenades. Suddenly we heard the news that the occupiers had opened a corridor to Agdam for the Khojaly people. I felt it was a trap. Being a military man, I immediately saw through the enemy's plan. If the cutthroats are so kind-hearted, why havent they said about the possibility of withdrawing families from Khojaly?! They wanted to trap us. Therefore, we moved towards the forest.

That day Khojaly seemed to be cursed. Snow all over. Having reached the Gargar River, I had crossed it with the kids in my arms. People were divided into two groups, one of which went towards the Armenian village. I asked them not to go there, but to little effect. I knew that this was another trick. The invaders wanted to kill everyone so that there were no witnesses to the Khojaly genocide. An order was given to destroy ...



I rushed off a cliff to avoid captivity

There was an exchange of fire. Putting down the children, I rushed forward. Half of our people died, several rushed off a cliff. The invaders were waiting for us everywhere. Wherever we go, we met them. Ammunition was running out. As we moved forward, the nationalists surrounded the civilian population. They told us drop the weapon. I was not going to give up, I knew that they would kill me anyway. Moreover, for me, as a serviceman, surrendering was equivalent to betraying the motherland.

I didnt drop the weapon, of course. There was a small rock near. Three invaders stood in front of us. I told the elderly Uncle Muhammad not to stick his head out, or they will kill him, but he did not listen. As soon as he sicked his head out, he fell. The corpse rolled down the mountain. The invaders thought he was alone there. I stepped out of the cliff, killed one of them, the others hid. Without looking down, I rushed off a cliff that seemed low, but I managed to survive solely due to the snowdrifts. The rock turned out to be quite high. After standing for a while, I headed toward the forest.

Suddenly something exploded nearby, and I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I did not find any traces of blood, only my feet were hurting. It turns out that they were struck by fragments. Once I got up, I was about to go, but the invaders, having noticed me, opened fire ...



Beating me to death, they threw me into the fire

While awakened, I realized that I was captured, there were invaders around. They dragged me somewhere, saying that they had captured a military man. Earlier I was asked if I was a soldier, but I denied everything, having lied that I'm a worker. They did not believe me. 5-6 people were brutally beating me until I lost consciousness. I recovered only in the morning. I was on a pig farm. My family and father-in-law were close by. I was no longer wearing a military jacket. It turned out my father-in-law threw it off.

Beating me to death and deciding that I was dead, they threw me into a fire. My father-in-law pulled me out of the fire. My limbs were burned. The next morning they again took me away for questioning: "Is Elman Mammadov the head of the Khojaly executive branch?", "Alif Hajiyev was with you too?" I replied that I don't know them, did not see them, kept repeating that I'm a worker, therefore I had put on a military uniform. I did not know that the invaders were searching these people. They were not among the prisoners, nor among the dead. After torture, they threw me onto the ice, burned my body.

Every day they tortured me for many hours. I did not know whether it was morning or evening, they tortured me for days. I was beaten with stones and armature, after which I could not recover for a long time. In the courtyard, the invaders arranged an ice rink for torture. After staining my body with blood, they threw me on the ice. The pain of the blows is nothing compared to the hellish suffering from cauterizing bleeding wounds with ice. It was like my body being cut into pieces. My body burned mercilessly. The Nazis taunted me - they stood near and laughed. They selected young, more or less healthy people, and chopped off their heads on the graves of fathers and brothers. They took my 17-year-old brother-in-law away, I don't know what happened to him. They wanted to tear me to pieces also, but I was not needed, because I was already half dead. My jaw, nose, ribs, and toes were broken, and I was bruised from head to foot.

Young Azerbaijani captives were "sacrificed" every day



Once my father-in-law said that they were exchanging prisoners of war, offering to report about me, but I refused. Of course, this was another trick. The invaders deliberately started such a rumor to find out if there were military personnel among the prisoners, in order to find out military secrets and kill them. After my words, the father-in-law burst into tears and did not speak about it anymore. Every day, young Azerbaijani captives were "sacrificed". Of the young, there were only Faik and me. Once the invaders dragged Faik and riddled his body with 32 bullets.

Someone named Edik came in and squinted at me. Approaching closer, he put the machine gun in my mouth, so deep that I swallowed my tongue, my teeth fell apart one after another. Blood was gushing out of my body. He ordered me to be pulled into the yard, said he would shoot me. When we came there, Faik was already at death. There were 5-6 armed fascists nearby.



I asked permission to lean him against the wall so that he could give his soul to God. I was allowed. An invader with a rifle approached me. I grabbed a rifle from his hands, but was hit over the head and lost consciousness.

After that, I was severely beaten again, but I did not feel anything. Edik ordered to cut off my head. Two dragged me, but threw me in the snow deciding that I was dead. Then someone moved my body to the place where the hostages were held.

If my mom hadn't come to the morgue, I would die there



On the 26th day of my captivity, someone asked about me. I had no strength to answer. After some time, these people came again. They asked for Huseynag, they wanted to exchange him. I was not able to raise my hand. Those standing nearby pointed at me. They waved a hand, apparently thinking that I don't have much time left. The main thing for him is to make it to the exchange, apparently, they thought. So they exchanged me.

In Agdam, I could not walk even 20 meters, collapsing to the ground. People thought that I was dead and took me to the Agdam morgue. They covered me with a sheet. In the morgue, my mother and uncle found me. Uncle lifted the sheet and, recognizing me, threw it again, bursting into tears. Suddenly I asw the light, but I was so exhausted that I could not say a word. Then my mom cried out: "My son is alive, he is alive, he is breathing!" Uncle raised a hand to my nose and realized that I was breathing. I was taken to Baku. In the hospital they said that I don't have long to live. The sun was hot so that my head and body were swollen, I saw nothing.

But the God gave me a second life. With God's mercy, my wife and children returned, my family was safely exchanged. What I happened to experience, I have not seen in any, even the most cruel film. Every day I overcome pain. Even after so many years, I am still undergoing treatment. I know for sure - the invaders wiped Khojaly out to conceal all the traces of their crimes and exterminate all the eyewitnesses of the genocide committed by them. But they failed to break the glorious sons of Azerbaijan. The evil deed shall not be unpunished. I believe that my dream will come true thanks to the principled policy of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev.
The Central District Court of Kaliningrad has released ex-director of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) Alexander Reimer convicted of embezzlement on parole.

This was not the first petition for parole filed by Reimer. In May, the court dismissed his similar motion, RAPSI recalls.



In June 2017, Reimer was sentenced to 8 years in a penal colony for embezzling funds allocated for procurement of ankle bracelets, fined 800,000 rubles (about $12,000), and stripped of his General rank.



Ex-deputy of FSIN Nikolay Krivolapov and an ex-director of FSINs Information and Technical Support Center Viktor Opredelyonov received 5 years and 8 months and 6 years in prison respectively. Krivolapov was fined 600,000 rubles ($9,000) while Opredelyonov got a 700,000-ruble fine ($11,000).



Lawyers for the defendants asked to repeal or soften the sentences. A lawyer of Reimer said that the Zamoskvorestsky District Court issued a ruling with numerous violations and that it did not study some of the case documents.



On August 22, 2018, the Zamoskvoretsky District Court of Moscow recovered over 2.2 billion rubles ($35 million at the current exchange rate) from Reimer and his accomplices convicted of embezzlement.



In April 2019, the court lifted the seizure of 1.8 million rubles (about $30,000) belonging to Reimer. The convicts funds were ordered to be paid as a compensation for damage caused.



According to investigators, Reimer, Krivolapov and Opredelyonov conspired with businessman Nikolay Martynov that was supplying bracelets for prison inmates, to embezzle monetary funds from the Russian state budget.



Between 2010 and 2012, Reimer and his accomplices stole money allocated for the purchase of ankle bracelets for persons placed under house arrest. The procurement was pursued at an enormously overvalued price. Damage allegedly caused to the state budget was estimated at no less than 2.7 billion rubles (over $40 million).
US President Donald Trump greets Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrives in Ahmedabad-Feb 24, 2020 (Reuters)

United States President Donald Trump has become the first US President to make a stand-alone visit to India. The 36-hour whirlwind visit is proving to be an unmatched diplomatic pageantry as well.

It is certainly a marker in the coming of age of the bilateral relationship, a process that had begun with the visit of President Bill Clinton to India in March 2000. Two decades on, the US is India's biggest trading partner, a trusted defence supplier and a well-meaning companion instrumental in ending Indias nuclear isolation.

More importantly, it has become an ally that doesn't create unnecessary political discomfiture for India by poking its nose into issues, such as Kashmir, beyond a point, as New Delhi has learnt to live with, as well as leverage, the US penchant for transactional diplomacy. As the Indian defence and energy purchases from the US go up, the bilateral ties have stayed on course to duck the hesitations of the past to strike a realistic and pragmatic road map for the future.

That said, the way US policies are unfolding in the region in an American election year, India will see itself in a spot of considerable discomfort. There are two areas of US engagement in the South Asia region that would have New Delhi concerned. First, is Washingtons peace deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan, and; second, US policies towards Iran.

Days after Trump's India visit, the US and the Taliban are set to sign a deal aimed at ending 19 years of war in Afghanistan, which will help Trump fulfil his 2016 election promise  to bring back US troops from Afghanistan. At present some 12,000 US troops are stationed in Afghanistan. Barring a last minute botch-up, the longest war the US has ever fought, where 2,448 Americans lost their lives in combat since 2001, is set to end.

Considering whatever happens in Afghanistan has national security implications for India, New Delhi would have liked the US troops to continue with its presence in Afghanistan and carry on with two missions: helping Afghan forces fight the Taliban, and conducting counter-terrorism operations against other outfits. There isnt enough evidence to suggest that both these missions have accomplished their objectives.

Any US deal in Afghanistan that is not an outcome involving the government in Kabul under its constitution is a matter of concern for New Delhi. On February 23, Trump told reporters at the White House before leaving for India, .But people want to make a deal, and I think the Taliban wants to make a deal too, they are tired of fighting .

The proposed Taliban deal looks like a rush job  a deal which would give Pakistan the upper hand in the region.

Talking about the deal with the Taliban and Islamabad's role in it, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi recently said: "[Mike] Pompeo (US Secretary of State) told me that the pathway to fixing relations between Pakistan and US came through Kabul. Now I would like to remind him that we have fulfilled all our promises."

A deal with the Taliban would change the contours of Pakistan-US ties and Islamabad would like to extract its share for being a valuable partner in bringing the Taliban to the talking table.

Adding to this, on February 21, the Taliban released a statement stating that it was aiming for the full withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. There is no evidence to suggest that such a deal would be advisable. It is still not clear if the Taliban groups now at the negotiating table have absolute control over all insurgent groups, and whether the Taliban recognises the Ashraf Ghani government in Kabul. Moreover, it is yet not clear whether the rivalry between Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah will undermine the validity of the talks.

Adding to Indias woes, most western powers see the Islamic State (or ISIS) as the bigger threat than the Taliban to their national security interests. Going by its past experiences of being the target of a host of terror attacks in the Afghanistan-Pakistan or Af-Pak region, India can ill afford such an approach.

Given these considerations, it would require deft handling of the situation to ensure that the Taliban deal is not detrimental to India's genuine security interests.

The just-held parliament elections in Iran show the resurgence of the conservatives. This could be another trigger to ignite anti-American sentiments in the country that will be holding presidential polls in 2021.

With the US making no real effort to have a climb down with Iran over the nuclear question, the situation doesnt augur well for Indias interests. The US-Iran tensions have already brought troubles to the Chabahar Port project, which is India's gateway to Central Asia via Afghanistan and a counter to Chinas maritime trade designs in the regionand an effective counter to the Gwadar Port in Pakistan.

Any further instability in the region, which is home to millions and a vital source of energy supply, is not something India can wish for.

It is a fact that India-US ties have come a long way and they can stand on its own. However, US policies in the region calls for greater strategic understanding on the part of Washington towards India's needs. That would, perhaps, be the crucial fidelity test for what US President Donald Trump said at the Namaste Trump event on February 24; that The US will be a faithful and loyal friend (of India).
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 18:50:40|Editor: zyl

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KAMPALA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Scientists, researchers, academicians and government representatives from across the world are scheduled to gather here to discuss among others measures to combat global health challenges.

Charles Ibingira, head of college of health sciences, Makerere University told reporters on Monday that the delegates will convene in Uganda in April to among others discuss global health security.

The threat to global health by infectious diseases remains significant today with emerging and reemerging epidemics, according to Ibingira.

He said solutions to increasing reports of drug-resistant pathogens, threats of Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) among others need to be devised.

"NCDs continue to be the leading cause of death globally. In Africa by 2025, NCDs will be responsible for 70-80 percent of all deaths, NCD are stretching the already limited resources," he said, noting that early action is essential to stem the tide.

This will be the first time ever this global event is hosted in Africa, and has been dubbed "Africa Regional World Health Summit", according to Ibingira.

Makerere University, Uganda's top university and also one of Africa's top research universities was in 2018 elected to host the annual meeting by the M8 Alliance assembly, a network of 28 leading health academic institutions globally.
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Linkedin Riza Roidila Mufti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 25, 2020

The omnibus bill on job creation currently being deliberated at the House of Representatives (DPR) proposes some changes to requirements and licensing procedures that will make it easier for investors to enter the aviation business.

The bill, if approved in its current form, will amend a number of articles in Law No. 1 of 2009 on aviation, which stipulates requirement and procedures for obtaining licenses to set up an airline company. In total, the bill amends 74 articles and removes 19 others in the Aviation Law.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said in Jakarta on Friday that the omnibus bill, for example, eases the requirement for the minimum number of aircraft an airline should own and operate to ensure that more investors would enter the business, thereby creating a more competitive aviation market.

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Nirav Modi, the man accused of orchestrating Indias biggest bank fraud once counted among his most prized possessions an MF Husain painting that depicts the tussle between right and wrong in the human soul. The Battle of Ganga and Jamuna is the centerpiece of an auction Friday in Mumbai, where Indias fraud investigation office is seeking to recover as much as 500 million rupees ($7 million) by selling paintings, watches, handbags and cars seized from Nirav Modi, the celebrated jeweler now fighting extradition from a London jail. If the diptych sells for its top asking price -- $2.6 million -- it will be an auction record for Husain.

The Battle of Ganga & Jamuna is the centerpiece of an auction Friday in Mumbai, where Indias fraud investigation office is seeking to recover as much as 500 million rupees.

Since these artworks were in Nirav Modis house, theyre already pre-selected as the best ones, said Dinesh Vazirani, founder of the Saffronart auction house, which is handling the sale. And because the government of India is doing the auction, there is a gravitas to it. You know the title is going to be clear.

Encouraged by the tax offices decision to auction some of Modis paintings last year, Indias fraud investigation office has for the first time commissioned auctioneers to invite bids for assets seized from economic fugitives. As many as 31 debt defaulters have fled the country to escape prosecution, according to the government, leaving local banks with the worlds worst bad-loan ratio.

Modi, 48, is the most prominent among them. He allegedly defrauded Punjab National Bank of $2 billion in a scam that ran for seven years before it was exposed in 2018. In his heyday, he dressed stars including Kate Winslet and Priyanka Chopra. Now hes locked up in one of Londons most crowded prisons, awaiting an extradition trial scheduled for May.

Boy With Lemons

The fraud allegations arent expected to affect valuations, according to Vazirani. Other items on sale include Boy With Lemons, a 1935 painting by Amrita Sher-Gil, with an estimated range of $1.7 million to $2.8 million; and an untitled work by VS Gaitonde that may fetch $1 million to $1.3 million.

You cannot associate luck or fraud with the object itself, Vazirani said. A true collector will not look at it that way. They will look at it and say, Look, this is an incredible work thats come into the market, and it so happens to have come into the market for specific reasons of recovery, and they wouldnt hesitate to buy a great painting.

Hes also hoping to capture an audience new to the Indian auction market, such as people interested in buying a Hermes Kelly Blue Atoll bag ($5,715-$8,575) or a calfskin Chanel ($3,575-$5,000). At a separate online auction scheduled for two days starting March 3, lower-priced items like a Christian Louboutin Macaron wallet ($215-$360) will be offered. A total 112 lots seized from Nirav Modi will be auctioned.

The highlights -- apart from the art -- will be a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Gyrotourbillion 2 limited-edition watch, and a diamond and ruby studded Patek Philippe Nautilus, both with asking prices of as much as $100,000.

Saffronart was selected through a competitive tender process, and will collect 12% of the sale price, lower than the 20% buyers premium it typically charges for a non-government-commissioned auction.

The Maharaja of Travancore and his younger brother welcoming Richard Temple-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, Governor-General of Madras (1875-80), on his official visit to Trivandrum in 1880. (Bonhams)

The auction house also conducted last years sale for the income tax office, raising 550 million rupees through items including a 1881 masterpiece by Raja Ravi Varma depicting the Maharajah of Travancore welcoming British administrators in the heyday of the Raj. It sold for $2.2 million.

The Enforcement Directorate aims to recover maximum value from the attached assets and deposit the same in the governments treasury so that criminals arent allowed to enjoy the fruits of crime, the Indian agencys representative said.

Another Raja Ravi Varma is part of this years auction and is classified --together with the Sher-Gil -- as a non-exportable national art treasure. India has a domestic audience deep enough to purchase these works, Vazirani said.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)

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Remaining True to its Core Brand Values, Mineral Fusion is Empowering Women to Achieve Economic and Financial Independence

SAN FRANCISCO NORTH BAY, Calif., Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mineral Fusion , the #1 selling EWG VERIFIED natural cosmetics line, announces today its official partnership with Dress for Success . Dress for Success is an international nonprofit organization empowering women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help women thrive in work and life. Remaining true to its commitment that beauty is giving back, Mineral Fusion, a wholly-owned subsidiary of global natural beauty company BWX Limited, will support Dress for Success through online donations and campaigns, annual clothing drives, and volunteer outreach with the entire BWX team.



We are thrilled to work with Dress for Success and demonstrate that true beauty is about generosity and inclusiveness. Womens empowerment has been a core value at Mineral Fusion since the brand creation, and part of our mission at BWX. Our collaboration with Dress for Success and our outreach efforts aim at enhancing their confidence and empowering them to achieve their personal and professional goals, said Virginie Descamps, Group Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer of BWX, a global, natural beauty company. In 2017, Mineral Fusion joined BWXs portfolio, which includes Sukin, Andalou, Nourished Life, and Uspa.

Dress for Success offers long-lasting solutions that enable women to break the cycle of poverty, leading a global movement for change, empowering women to obtain safer and better futures. The Dress for Success program provides women with professional attire to secure employment, but the impact goes beyond a new outfit. In addition to physically equipping women with apparel and accessories, the Dress for Success programs furnish women with confidence and the knowledge that she can actively define her life, the direction she takes, and what success means to her. Since 1997, Dress for Success has impacted the lives of more than one million women .

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Mineral Fusions longstanding commitment to empowering women made it a natural fit for Dress for Success, said Jenny Lai, Vice President of Development at Dress for Success. By rallying the support of partners with like-minded missions, Dress for Success is better equipped to achieve monumental milestones and impact many women around the globe. Every partner Dress for Success onboards is another milestone for the nonprofit, and we look forward to working with Mineral Fusion to drive impact on our organization and the women were helping.

Mineral Fusion plans to work with Dress for Success in many ways, including :

Customers can donate to Dress for Success on Mineral Fusions website .

Mineral Fusion customers can choose to round up the total cost of their online orders at checkout to benefit Dress for Success.

At the corporate level, Mineral Fusion will host employee-driven annual clothing donation drives to support the Dress for Success program.

In honor of Womens History Month, Mineral Fusion will participate in Dress for Success Your Hour, Her Power campaign, encouraging their employees to donate an hour of their pay to benefit Dress for Success.

ABOUT MINERAL FUSION

Mineral Fusion began as a mineral cosmetics brand in 2007 focused on developing products that are a fusion of beauty and skin care that focus on correcting flaws, not just covering them up. Since its launch, Mineral Fusion has grown to become the #1 cosmetic brand at natural retailers. The brand is centered around providing clean cosmetics products that dont compromise on the quality, reliability, exceptional wear, and confidence-boosting performance that consumers know and love. The Mineral Fusion portfolio of products are safe and gentle for all skin types, hypoallergenic and free of gluten, parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, talc and are primarily vegan. In addition to having the most EWG VERIFIED products of any beauty brand, Mineral Fusion is also Leaping Bunny Certified cruelty free. Mineral Fusion is available nationwide at Target stores and Target.com, Whole Foods Market and fine natural health and beauty stores. Mineral Fusion was acquired by BWX Limited, a global natural beauty company, in 2017.

For more information about Mineral Fusion, visit www.mineralfusion.com ,

Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mineralfusion/ ,

Facebook at www.facebook.com/MineralFusion , and

Twitter at https://twitter.com/mineralfusion .

About Dress for Success

Dress for Success is a global nonprofit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and development tools to help them thrive in work and life. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to nearly 150 cities in 25 countries. To date, the organization has helped more than one million women work towards financial independence.

Whether they are job seekers, women already on a career trajectory or ready to enter leadership positions in the communities where they live, learn and work, Dress for Success provides a continuum of programs and services to help women achieve self-defined success at every phase of their journey.

Visit www.dressforsuccess.org to learn more.

ABOUT BWX

BWX is a global, natural beauty company with a portfolio of leading natural brands in Australia, USA, Canada, UK, China, and select other international markets. Founded and headquartered in Australia, BWXs expertise is in innovation, product development, manufacturing and marketing natural products. BWXs family of natural brands provides consumers with a natural choice for personal care without compromising on performance. BWX inspires the advancement of plant and mineral based science without causing unnecessary harm to the planet. It also says NO to testing its products on animals and believes in giving. The company is actively involved in giving back to causes relating to the environment, social responsibility and empowering women.

Contact: Mineral Fusion PR

Molly Antos

T: (847) 848-2090

mineralfusion-pr@dadascope.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/72e56731-70ed-4c6c-8a9c-6c71149a9da1

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ec097047-dfbf-4f83-91a5-bd43df7c1ff8
IF you played or viewed mas in downtown Port of Spain yesterday, Iwer George and Kees Dieffenthallers Stage Gone Bad is probably burned into your memory.

The song was played so many times, it is hard to imagine any other tune copping the 2020 Road March title.
Harare, Zimbabwe (PANA) - Local ICT watchdog, the Zimbabwe Information and Communication Technologies (ZICT), has criticised the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) for failing to incorporate ICT in its draft National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS)
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.
The head of Iran's coronavirus government task force who urged the public not to freak out about the epidemic while coughing and sweating profusely has tested positive for the illness himself, authorities said Tuesday. New cases of COVID-19 originating in Iran are now rapidly popping up across the Middle East.

The coughing and heavily sweating Iraj Harirchi told journalists at a televised news conference in Tehran only one day ago that "the situation is almost stable in the country."

Coronavirus has infected more than 80,000 people around the world, and has led to an estimated 2,700 deaths, mostly in China.

From the Associated Press:

Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour confirmed Harirchi had the virus. Harirchi himself posted an online video saying he had it and that he had quarantined himself at his home. He promised that authorities would bring the virus under control. "I wanted to tell you that, rest assured that with efforts of your servants at the Health Ministry  and backed by you people, the government and all elements of the establishment, we will be victorious in our combat against this virus within the next few weeks," Harirchi said. On Monday, however, he had offered a far different assessment while repeatedly wiping his brow while standing beside government spokesman Ali Rabiei. "Currently the situation is almost stable in the country and we could manage to minimize the problem," Harirchi said. He also said that "quarantines belong to the Stone Age."

The World Health Organization named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it.

More:

Iran says official who played down virus fears is infected

[apnews.com]
The Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition announces its third annual Loco-Motion fundraising event with the theme Lets Do It! as in lets build the Vine Trail!

The event will be held 5:30-10 p.m., Saturday, March 21 at Freemark Abbey/Roadhouse 29, 3022 St. Helena Highway North in St. Helena.

The Vine Trail supports an active lifestyle and Loco-Motion embraces that concept with a reception at the historic Freemark Abbey Winery filled with games, movement, opportunities for one-of-a-kind outdoor excursions and more. Dinner, served in the adjacent Roadhouse 29 restaurant, will be followed by a lively fund-a-need. The evening wraps up with dancing.

Funds raised will support construction of the St. Helena to Calistoga section of the Vine Trail slated to be completed by 2022. This years event honors longtime Vine Trail supporters Kara Lind, pastry chef and CEO of Karas Cupcakes and co-owner and husband, Michael Lind.

The event raises funds to build the next 9.4-mile section of the planned 47-mile paved and separate biking, running and walking trail between St. Helena and Calistoga. To date, 18.5 miles have been completed along the route between Vallejo to Calistoga. Every dollar the Vine Trail Coalition raises through privately philanthropic donations leverages up to $4 in government grants.

Tickets are $250 per person, and can be purchased at www.vinetrail.org/locomotion/
A cousin of Brooks walked up to the officer and explained it was another relatives car who was visiting from out of state. Someone had asked to borrow it, but she wasnt sure why it was here or what it had to do with the crime. She didnt have the keys because the friend who was in the apartment with Brooks did and he wasnt there. They began to talk for a bit until the cousin told the officer he was sounding disrespectful.
THE Irish Republic and Brussels have urged the UK Government to honour all the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement.

The statements came yesterday, after reports suggested that Prime Minister Boris Johnson had 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.

The Sunday Times reported that officials in Taskforce Europe are seeking to evade Irish Sea checks on goods passing from GB to NI.

NI Secretary Brandon Lewis, on a visit to Londonderry yesterday, cautioned against getting "caught up in rumours and stuff in the press", and reiterated the Government's insistence that there would not be a border down the Irish Sea.

Speaking in Dublin earlier yesterday, 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 Johnson's 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. 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, let's not even go there and let's 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."

She added: "Respecting our legal obligations is very important for establishing trust between two partners in a negotiation."

Mr Johnson's Cabinet will meet today 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 NI within the UK customs area, but all EU procedures will apply to goods arriving there.

Mr Lewis was asked about the issue on his first visit to Londonderry since replacing Julian Smith as Secretary of State.

"I think it's 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, we've 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.

"We've always said there will not be a border down the Irish Sea, there will be unfettered access for business."

The Prime Minister's 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."
Researchers in Japan have created a new kind of biodegradable, internet-connected piece of paper thats just one millimeter thick.

Called nanopaper, the team believes it could change the way a wide variety of data is collected in nature.

The project was developed at Osaka Universitys Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (ISIR) by a team of scientists led by doctoral researcher Takaaki Kasuga.

Researchers from Osaka University have developed a new addition to the Internet of Things, a thin sheet of biodegradable paper with a moisture sensor and an internet connection that allows it to take readings from farms and forests without any need to be retrieved

The nanopaper is just one-1,000th the thickness of pulp paper and it has a smooth surface thats similar to plastic in texture, according to a report in The Asahi Shimbun.

In spite of its feel, the nanopaper is designed to be biodegradable and have a minimal impact on the environment and not require any expensive maintenance.

In tests, the nanopaper had degraded by around 95 percent after 40 days in the ground, and its metal parts had been covered in non-toxic rust.

The researchers embedded a small hygrometer into the nanopaper, which allows it to take readings on humidity and water vapor levels in the air or soil wherever its placed.

With a hygrometer, the paper could take readings about moisture levels for scientific study or help farmers with large properties keep track of which fields need to be watered.

The paper is around one milimeter thick, and the team say dozens of them could be freely tossed out over large stretches of farmland to help indicate what areas need to be watered next

The hygrometer sends data to a small wireless sensor that can be used to transmit data online to other devices without needing immediate oversight.

It was consciously designed to be part of the Internet of Things (IoT), an online communication network that allows different items to communicate autonomously without humans.

The small size and lightweight form factor ensure that the nanopaper could be freely thrown on the ground anywhere a person wanted to gather data from, and with its biodegradable nature there would be no need to retrieve it again.

The team has been encouraged by early tests of its device and has plans to develop new versions that would allow it to take other types of readings.

One idea involves a built-in gas detector that could take readings from the mouth of volcanoes or other similarly dangerous or difficult to access areas.
Yang Xiulin, a policeman in Wuhan, Hubei Province, chats with 13-year-old Song Xintong, whose parents and grandparents were isolated due to novel coronavirus infections. [For China Daily]

Yang Xiulin  a policeman in Wuhan, Hubei province, epicenter of the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak  has a new title.

The 56-year-old veteran, who became a community policeman after retiring from military service in 1998, is well known in his jurisdiction as the "temporary dad" of Song Xintong, a 13-year-old girl who has been alone at home since her parents and grandparents were put in isolation after being infected by the virus.

Song's mother, Liu Jing, was hospitalized on February 7, a few days after her husband and parents-in-law were isolated. When she went to the hospital for treatment, Liu worried about her daughter and approached Yang for help.

"Liu asked me whether I can help look after her daughter during her absence. I sympathize with the family, particularly the little girl, and I agreed," Yang told China Daily.

Since then, Yang has taken care of the girl despite his busy job.

"The girl was not in good condition at the beginning. She sobbed, feeling heavy psychological pressure," Yang said. "After all, she is at an age where she needs to be attended to."

Yang cares for Song's health and safety, and he provides three meals a day and daily necessities.

"Keeping in mind she lives in an environment where confirmed patients were found, I ask her to check her temperature every day," Yang said, adding every time he hears she has a normal temperature, he breathes a sigh of relief.

He delivers packaged food to Song for every meal. If he is busy, Yang entrusts his colleagues or community workers to do that for him.

"I worry about her safety very much. She is too young to know how to use electricity and gas for boiling water or cooking by herself, so I showed her how to operate a gas-powered oven and kept reminding her of safety," Yang said. "If I happen to be free, I will cook some noodles or fry eggs for her."

Getting along with the girl for almost two weeks, he feels she is getting better. She has online courses every day and calls her mother from time to time.

"Thank God, the girl is in good health so far," Yang said.

Zhu Haibo, Yang's colleague at the police station, told China Daily that it's not the first time Yang has acted as a temporary father.

A few years ago, a drug addict in the community was forced to receive treatment at a compulsory rehabilitation center, leaving his son alone after his wife left home. At that time, Yang offered to take care of the boy, Zhu said.

"Yang is very kindhearted, patient and responsible, and he has the merits a community policeman should have," he added.

Yang said he hopes Song's parents can recover soon.

"When they get back home, my role as a 'temporary dad' as it's described will end," he added.

(Source: China Daily)
The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (Added) and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation and drive in-country value (ICV) for Abu Dhabi following the success of Adnocs ICV programme.

Under the terms of the agreement, Added will integrate and standardise Adnocs ICV certification programme across the Abu Dhabi Governments procurement process. This extends the impact and reach of the ICV initiative, which Adnoc developed to strengthen the spill-over economic impact across the UAE, said a Wam news agency report.

Following this agreement, businesses can make a one-time application for a unified ICV certificate that will now be applicable for the Abu Dhabi Governments commercial evaluation process of goods and services procurement.

Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, was present during the signing ceremony.

The MoU was signed by Dr Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and Adnoc Group CEO, and Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, Added Chairman.

Part of Addeds Ghadan 21 initiatives, this new cooperation will enhance localisation measures in the emirate, improve transparency, create jobs and accelerate the private sectors contribution to economic development in Abu Dhabi Commenting on the agreement, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber said: "We are very pleased to be partnering with Added to further drive In-Country Value for Abu Dhabi, in line with the wise vision of the leadership and the goals of Ghadan 21. This agreement builds on the success of Adnocs ICV programme over the last two years, which underpins our commitment to create, unlock and maximise value for the UAE as we deliver our 2030 strategy."

"Our partnership with Added to unify the process and standards for ICV certification will deepen the impact of the ICV initiative we launched, driving economic diversification and further catalysing the UAE and Abu Dhabis socio-economic development. This agreement will help stimulate more commercial opportunities for local companies and create more private-sector jobs for UAE nationals," he continued.

Al Hammadi said: "The Abu Dhabi Local Content programme encourages companies to increase their contribution to the development of the emirates local economy as it improves their access to government tenders. Adnoc has pioneered this certification in the UAE and its success in the first two years of their programme has put billions of dirhams back into the national economy."

"We wanted to standardise the measures followed by both Adnocs ICV programme and Addeds Local Content programme to enhance the ease of doing business in Abu Dhabi and at the same time promote In-Abu Dhabi Value investments," he explained. "This initiative reflects the drive to consolidate efforts among government and semi-government entities to support the growth of the private sector, and direct government spending towards the development of local content. ADDED is proud to be supporting Ghadan 21s goal of transforming Abu Dhabis economy."

ICV Certificates measure a companys contribution to socio-economic development by taking into account the goods produced or manufactured locally, the value of spend on locally procured products and services, a companys local investment and its Emiratisation record, as well as UAE-based expatriate employees contribution to the national economy.

Adnoc launched its ICV programme in 2018 to encourage private-sector partnerships and opportunities resulting from the companys 2030 smart growth strategy, accelerate socio-economic development, improve knowledge-transfer and generate jobs for UAE nationals.

More than 3,000 suppliers are certified in Adnocs ICV Programme, which serves as the primary enabler of Adnocs  and suppliers  contributions to the UAEs socio-economic growth and development. The programme has driven more than Dh44 billion back into the UAEs economy and enabled over 1,500 private-sector jobs for Emiratis since it was launched in 2018.

In 2019, Added introduced the Abu Dhabi Local Content (ADLC) initiative as part of the Ghadan 21 accelerator programme to encourage the private sector participating in government tenders to increase their economic contribution in Abu Dhabi. Unifying the processes of evaluating this contribution and issuing a joint ICV certificate will enhance the ease of doing business in Abu Dhabi and will also drive investments in localised measures.

Companies wishing to participate in government tenders and take part in Abu Dhabis In-Country Value programme, should apply for an ICV certificate through certifying bodies identified by Added and approved by Adnoc, the report said.
Defence lawyer Donna Rotunno (pictured) was grilled by Today Show hosts Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon on Wednesday

Harvey Weinstein's lawyer has admitted she is often made to feel uncomfortable by powerful men but claims she 'handles it on her own'.

Defence lawyer Donna Rotunno made the startling confession while being grilled by Today Show hosts Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon on Wednesday.

Throughout the interview Rotunno continued to defend the disgraced Hollywood producer who was found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting two women.

Stefanovic questioned whether it was difficult as 'a woman to defend a man who is a sexual predator'.

Rotunno said it wasn't difficult to represent someone who has been charged with a crime.

When Langdon questioned if Rotunno had ever been made to feel uncomfortable by a man in a position of power, she admitted she had.

But she claimed she handled it herself.

'I'm a strong independent woman who knows how to say no,' she said.

'I'm a strong independent woman who knows how to have a conversation and say you know, not going to happen.'

Today Show hosts Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon questioned how, as a woman, Ms Rotunno could defend the rapist

The bulldog defence lawyer has 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, who is known to loathe the #MeToo movement, sparked controversy when she told a New York Times podcast she'd never been assaulted because she wouldn't 'put herself in that position'.

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

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 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

Donna Rotunno, Weinstein's 'secret weapon', was photographed at his side in July before his trial began

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.

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 defence - 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.
1 Badgers have hit the headlines after a new book, Sinking In The Swamp, revealed President Trump has an unexpected obsession with these shy nocturnal creatures.

Authors Lachlan Markay and Asawin Suebsaeng claim that when former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus tried to brief the President on healthcare initiatives or foreign policy, he would only want to know about badgers. 'Are they mean to people  or are they friendly creatures?'

2 The revelation that the badger is the main predator of the hedgehog has led to a surge of abuse against it on social media. 'Lay off the cuddly hedgehog, you short-legged big-nosed omnivore,' read one recent tweet, while another said: 'No wonder U R called BADger. If it were up to me you'd be called EVILger.'

Badgers have hit the headlines after a new book, Sinking In The Swamp, revealed President Trump has an unexpected obsession with these shy nocturnal creatures

3 As a result of this sustained campaign of abuse, the Federation of British Badgers (FBB) have engaged top public relations guru Max Slippery to help present a more positive image of badgers to the world. Max has already instituted an annual Badger Prize for Poetry, and the Badger Award for a Young British Artist. Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to host a glittering Best of Badger Ceremony at the Empire Theatre in Toronto, in which gold designer statuettes will be presented to the winners of multiple categories including Badger Newcomer of the Year, Most Caring Badger, and Best Badger in a Wildlife Documentary.

4 Badgers are known to be diffident creatures, and generally keep a low profile. They are rarely in the news, though a talented Finnish badger called Brenda achieved second place in the 1992 Eurovision Song Contest, singing You've Gotta Burrow For Love.

In a competition historically dominated by human beings, this was only the second time a badger ever reached the top five, and the first time a badger had performed in the contest wearing hot pants.

Authors Lachlan Markay and Asawin Suebsaeng claim that when former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus (right) tried to brief the President on healthcare initiatives or foreign policy, he would only want to know about badgers. 'Are they mean to people  or are they friendly creatures?'

5 After the Prime Minister's chief special adviser Dominic Cummings advertised for 'weirdos and misfits' to apply for jobs at Downing Street, no fewer than 14 badgers replied, three of whom now occupy senior positions. All three of these badgers are said to be expert in 'thinking outside the box'. One of them is already driving through plans for underground tunnels to be the basis for the future of social housing.

Another badger special adviser has laid out plans for all MPs and senior civil servants to wear a white streak in their hair, for easy identification. The third badger adviser is hard at work to enable the new HS2 rail network to run entirely underground, emerging into the open air only at night, when things are quiet.

After the Prime Minister's chief special adviser Dominic Cummings advertised for 'weirdos and misfits' to apply for jobs at Downing Street, no fewer than 14 badgers replied, three of whom now occupy senior positions

6 When prominent showbiz personality Bob the Badger, acclaimed star of Autumnwatch, appeared on BBC1's Who Do You Think You Are? in 2014, he was visibly distressed to discover a skunk among his close relations. 'I-I-I had no idea,' he said, wiping away his tears. However, his shame abated after he was introduced to a group of his genial skunk cousins.

'At that point, I realised they were from the Mephitidae family, just like me. Once you get to know them, you see that they are really much the same as everybody else, just a bit more smelly. We still meet up from time to time, and exchange Christmas cards, though obviously at a distance.'

7 Badgers are known for their short, stubby legs, which is why they are rarely seen on Love Island. But in recent years, ambitious young badgers have taken to wearing classic leather-soled heels by Jimmy Choo, and so the numbers appearing on the programme have shot up.

8 The average badger feeds on anything up to 200 earthworms a night. 'Eaten fresh, with a sprinkling of earth, they can be surprisingly tasty,' says top chef Bernard Badger, runner-up in the 2017 semi-final of Animal MasterChef.

Conspiracy theorists on social media claim that Bernard was involved in the sudden disappearance of fellow Animal MasterChef contestant Herbert Hedgehog, but this allegation was never proven.

Bernard continues to insists the Hog's Pie that earned him high praise from the judges on the afternoon Herbert vanished was in fact a mixture of squirrel, turnips and carrots, despite judge Gregg Wallace having discreetly left a small quill on the side of his plate.
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Three more passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship who were quarantined at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland have tested positive for coronavirus and been hospitalized, raising the confirmed diagnoses in that group to five, officials said Monday.

They were taken to the Texas Center for Infectious Disease in San Antonio, a state hospital on the Southeast Side typically used to treat tuberculosis patients. They joined eight others in isolation, including five who are under observation but havent shown signs of falling ill.

Altogether, six people who were under quarantine at Lackland have tested positive for coronavirus. One was evacuated from Wuhan, China, this month and is now at the Center for Infectious Disease. Ninety other people in the Wuhan group were declared healthy and released Thursday by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after completing a two-week quarantine.

One federal official said Monday that the five cruise ship patients who fell ill probably wont be the last.

Given the high-risk environment that the Diamond Princess cruise ship passengers came from, I would not be surprised if we have any more cases, said Rear Adm. Nancy Knight, who heads CDCs Division of Global Health Protection. Thats why they are here, thats why they are in quarantine and thats why we are monitoring them for any fever and any respiratory symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing.

On ExpressNews.com: As San Antonio coronavirus cases grow to three, health officials expect more cases in cruise ship passengers

The coronavirus, or COVID-19, spread from a single city in Chinas Hubei province to the entire country in just a month, according to a summary of a report prepared by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Worldwide, about 80,000 people have contracted the virus, and the death toll is nearly 2,700.

Fifty-three cases have been confirmed in the U.S. as of Monday, including 36 people who were on the Diamond Princess.

In San Antonio, 144 passengers from the cruise ship, which had been docked in Japan, arrived by plane Feb. 17. They were taken to Lackland and have been housed in a hotel fenced off from the rest of the base and under guard by U.S. marshals. They are under quarantine for two weeks.

Two of the new cases among the evacuees were identified through voluntary testing. The other person exhibited symptoms and was diagnosed after being taken to a local hospital, CDC spokeswoman Kate Grusich said.

Knight, a family medicine physician, said the cruise ship passengers tend to be older, a group at greater risk of complications or death. But she described those diagnosed with coronavirus in San Antonio as very stable. She declined to provide a summary of their ages or other demographic information, citing privacy regulations.

What I can say is, the cruise ship overall has an older average age, and thats another reason why were watching them very carefully, she said.

They have a higher risk of contracting the virus, officials have said, because of the conditions on the ship, where hundreds of passengers and crew fell ill during a failed self-quarantine while docked in Japan.

In a summary of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention report, the JAMA article stated, most cases of the virus, 81 percent, were mild, while 14 percent were severe and 5 percent critical. In all, 2.3 percent of confirmed cases were fatal.

On ExpressNews.com: Victims of circumstance: Cruise ship passengers quarantined at Lackland faced chaotic trip home

Until Monday, officials in San Antonio had declined to specify where the more recent Lackland coronavirus patients were receiving medical care. The Texas Center for Infectious Disease 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.

Additionally, there are other people in San Antonio who are isolating themselves to ensure that they do not have coronavirus, but officials wouldnt say how many were in that group, again citing privacy concerns.

On Monday, Gov. Greg Abbott approved plans for a woman who fled Wuhan and wanted to leave Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California to come to San Antonio. The patient, a Texan, was positive for the virus but is improving and remains in isolation.

When she is taken to the Center for Infectious Disease, the woman will ride in a specially modified ambulance. The citys transport procedures are rooted in a plan local officials developed four or five years ago to counter the Ebola virus, said Roger Pollok, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health Districts emergency preparedness coordinator.

The infectious disease response ambulances interior is lined with a removable plastic wrap to allow for easy decontamination, with the driver and paramedic wearing protective gear. The ambulance can carry one person on a gurney or three sitting inside.

Several ambulances could be quickly outfitted to transport patients if necessary, he said, and theyve made 13 trips so far either to the Center for Infectious Disease or Methodist Hospital | Texsan, where the infected Wuhan evacuee was treated before being moved.

Once they have become symptomatic, we dont know if theyre positive. We just know that theyve got a cough, theyve got a fever, they have some shortness of breath, and so theyre going to be extracted from the quarantine area there at Lackland, Pollok said.

Officials: Risk is low

Dawn Emerick, director of Metro Health, said San Antonio, with its military bases and medical resources, was the envy of other cities because of its capacity to support federal authorities who are coping with the crisis.

It is exactly the way that our health care system should be working so that we are not putting the burden on our hospital system, she said.

Knight, with the CDC, stressed that simply living in San Antonio doesnt expose people to a greater risk of contracting coronavirus. Those in contact with evacuees from China or the cruise ship, she said, wear protective gear when entering a quarantine area to interact with residents there.

If Im not in that quarantine area, Im not wearing personal protective equipment and I dont need it. Im not at risk. If Im standing more than 6 feet away from one of our evacuees, I dont need to wear my personal protective equipment, Knight said.

She went on to say that coronavirus is a respiratory infection spread through droplets and having them there on the base is not going to cause an increased risk to the general population of San Antonio.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg echoed that point.

The most dangerous, damaging infectious disease is hysteria, and so what were trying to do is make sure that we have a compassionate, human response to a crisis thats happening, that we do so all the while maintaining the safety of the public, he said. Thats what we have done time and again.

Sig Christenson covers the military and its impact in San Antonio, Bexar County and the nation. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | sigc@express-news.net | Twitter: @saddamscribe | 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
During a brazen attack, a woman appears to have been poked by a syringe while walking into a grocery store, according to law enforcement officials.

Police in Anne Arundel County, Maryland released on February 24 surveillance video showing 'a white male approximately 50 years old ' walking closely behind a woman as she pushed a shopping cart into a supermarket in Churchton, Maryland.

The woman turned her back as she pushed the cart in with the others.

A man follows an unsuspecting woman into a grocery store in Maryland before syringe attack

He appears to jab the woman in the buttocks with a syringe while she pushes her cart back

Then suddenly, the man quickly jabbed the woman in her right buttocks with what appears to be a syringe.

The woman quickly jumped in reaction to the syringe prick and backed out of the store.

Following the assault, the man followed the woman out of the store, as they both looked for an object on the ground.

The two can also be seen briefly exchanging words in the short video.

Following the attack, the woman later learned she was stuck with a syringe.

The woman then sought medical treatment. It is unclear whether the needle was infected.

Police are still searching for a suspect.

Anne Arundel detectives are asking anyone who may know the suspect to call 410-222-1960 or the TipLine 410-222-4700.

The woman backed out of the front door looking to the ground for what may have pricked her
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Santana and Earth, Wind & Fire are teaming up for a joint summer tour that comes 46 years after they first joined forces for a 1974 tour of Europe. Dubbed the Miraculous Supernatural 2020 Tour, it will mark the first time the two bands have shared the stage in the United States.
NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of JELD-WEN Holding, Inc. ("Jeld-Wen" or the "Company") (NYSE: JELD). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 9980.

The investigation concerns whether Jeld-Wen and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On February 15, 2018, the Company announced that a jury had returned a verdict against Jeld-Wen in the Company's ongoing litigation with Steves and Sons, Inc. (the "Steves Litigation"), finding that Jeld-Wen's conduct violated U.S. antitrust laws.

On August 7, 2018, a veteran industry analyst at J.P. Morgan slashed his estimates for Jeld-Wen's earnings in 2018 and 2019 and lowered his price target for Jeld-Wen's stock, citing, among other issues, the Steves Litigation. In response to the J.P. Morgan report, Jeld-Wen's stock price fell $2.62 per share, or 9.95%, to close at $23.71 per share on August 8, 2018.

Then, on October 4, 2018, the judge presiding over the Steves Litigation ruled that Jeld-Wen would be required to divest a facility it had obtained via its acquisition of CraftMaster Manufacturing, Inc. in October 2012. On this disclosure, which prompted several analyst downgrades, Jeld-Wen's stock price fell $1.18 per share, or nearly 5%, over the following two trading sessions, closing at $22.91 per share on October 9, 2018.

Finally, on October 15, 2018, Jeld-Wen announced that the Company expected its third quarter 2018 financial results to include a $76.5 million charge related to the ongoing Steves Litigation. The Company also announced the resignation of its Chief Financial Officer. On these disclosures, Jeld-Wen's stock price fell $4.03 per share, or 18.91%, to close at $17.28 per share on October 16, 2018.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 9980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

Related Links

http://www.pomerantzlaw.com


ValueFirst Digital Media is thrilled to welcome Vijayant Dhaka and Himanshu Kumar as Senior Vice Presidents. They will be joining the leadership team at the firm and focusing on developing world-class offerings at ValueFirst.

Vijayant Dhaka has been an industry stalwart for the past 14 years, spending his last decade in leadership roles at Cheetah Digital and Octane. He's scaled up numerous businesses in marketing technology space.

"ValueFirst has invested in multiple technology platforms for marketers to keep their customers engaged. I strongly believe that we have the ideal mix of tech and people to help the businesses succeed. We are even looking to hire across our offices. It is such an honor to join this amazing team", said Vijayant Dhaka. He will be leading ValueFirst's automation and email offerings.

Himanshu Kumar brings with him ten years of experience building and managing digital products and companies. He's proven success in driving performance from concept stage to exit at organizations such as Bird Group and TechMobia Digital.

"Communication is an integral part of any organization. ValueFirst has been at the forefront of attempting to disrupt the way businesses communicate. The work ethos of ValueFirst resonated strongly with me and I didn't have to think much about the decision. I am honoured to be a part of this journey to redefine communication for the world. I look forward to helping businesses reach out to their customers seamlessly with an array of products", said Himanshu Kumar. He will be leading ValueFirst's B2B SaaS products.

Dhaka and Kumar will be reporting to the Group CEO, Vish Bajaj. "Our products are going through an incredible growth phase. 2019 was great for us, full of new offerings and new country launches. Having accomplished leaders to further drive this motion and put out effectual work is what our focus is for the coming days. We are glad to have Vijayant and Himanshu on these roles and are confident of seeing a further jump in our work and culture", said Vish Bajaj.

Over the last year, ValueFirst has expanded the depth and breadth of its operations with launching Australia and Singapore. Helping the world communicate is core to the of ValueFirst. The addition of Himanshu and Vijayant, who are top leaders of the space, underscores the commitment to help businesses reach out to their customers seamlessly.

This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Laman Ismayilova

Famous surrealist artist Mehriban Efendi will represent the country at the10th anniversary of Surrealism Now art project.

The artist has been invited by the project director Santiago Ribeiro, who achieved worldwide recognition as a great surrealist artist.

The anniversary exhibition will take place in Portugal from April 24 to June 26, bringing 125 artists from more than 50 countries.

Since 2010, Mehriban Effendi has been participating in this art project. Effendi's works have been successfully exhibited in Portugal, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Germany, France, Italy and Macedonia and other countries.

In 2014, the artist was handed Sandro Botticelli Award For Art and Talent Her paintings "Mystery" and "Impression of The Night" were included in the book "Polychromia 2016 " highlighting the best contemporary artists.

Efendi's works are exhibited in Portugal, USA, Holland, Bulgaria, France and other countries.

She also worked as a costume designer with the German filmmaker Veit Helmer in his comedy Absurdistan, shot in Azerbaijan in 2008.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
border with Hungary Open source

Head of the State Customs Service of Ukraine Serhiy Daineko organized reinforced security measures at the Tisa customs office. The press service of State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported this.

From February 25, temperature screening of people traveling to Ukraine started at the Tisa customs office at the border with Hungary. Border guards are provided with the temperature measuring instruments and individual protection equipment.

Border guards have such a device and they measure it. It showed a normal temperature, said the driver to 112 Ukraine journalists.

According to the correspondent, the checkpoint is working normally. There is no queue either towards the EU or from Hungary.

The journalist reported that in Zakarpattia regional infectious hospital works for probable patients. If necessary, the isolators will be set, and there are 13 specially equipped ambulances and five emergency medical teams have been formed.

It is emphasized that the Tisa customs office was the largest place of entry of our citizens and Italian citizens to Ukraine.

According to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, as for February 25, there are 80,150 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 2,699 deaths. 27,695 people have recovered. In Ukraine, no laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 case has been reported.
AL JAZEERA NEWS, January 28, 2020

US forces in Afghanistan dropped a record number of bombs last year, more than at any other time in at least 10 years, according to the US Air Force.

The US has dropped 7,423 bombs on targets in Afghanistan in 2019, marking a rise from the 7,362 munitions dropped in 2018, US Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT) said in a report released on Monday.

The figure represents a dramatic increase in bombings in Afghanistan in contrast to 2009 when 4,147 bombs were dropped under former President Barack Obama.

The US has now ramped up air bombings since President Donald Trump was elected in 2016 as Washington removed a requirement that said the targets should be "proximate" to US or Afghan forces in order to prevent civilian casualties.

The United Nations and rights groups have repeatedly expressed concerns over the increase in air raids across the country by US and Afghan forces that have resulted in a dramatic rise in civilian casualties.

On Sunday, at least seven civilians, including three children were killed in government air raids in Afghanistan's northern Balkh province that triggered protests from residents.

Earlier this month, more than 60 civilians were killed or wounded in a US drone attack targeting a top Taliban splinter-group commander in the western Afghanistan province of Herat.

Resolute Support, NATO's mission in Afghanistan, said in a statement that it launched "a defensive air strike in support of Afghan forces", with a spokesman confirming US participation in the operation.

In October, UN said it had credible reports of US air attacks on alleged Taliban drug laboratories resulting in the death of at least 30 civilians, including children. The US-led mission in Afghanistan quickly disputed the claim.

The raids targeted 60 sites in Farah Province and neighboring Nimruz Province.

In the first half of 2019, 717 civilians were killed by government forces, including US, representing a dramatic increase of 31 percent from a year earlier, the UN reported last year.

The spike in hostilities comes as the US and the Taliban continue to push for a possible agreement that would see US troops withdrawing from Afghanistan in return for security guarantees.

Multiple sources close to the talks said the Taliban had agreed to scale down attacks against US forces and Afghan government forces. The US demands a ceasefire from the group before any agreement could be finalised.
A group of kayakers (as well as a seafaring dog) enjoyed, if a tad nervously, a close encounter with a number of breaching whales off the coast of Kiheh, Hawaii, on February 22.

Maui resident Kristina Lynn Jennings was traveling in a kayak with Kiheh local Dave Ponce, as well as Harley, the pet dog of another kayaker, when she recorded footage of whales breaching and slapping their tails in the water close to other vessels.

Soon enough though, some of the whales headed directly toward Jennings, Ponce and Harleys kayak.

In the footage, a nervy Jennings can be heard saying, I dont want to be in the middle of that, as she watches the breaching whales from a distance. Then, as one whale surfaces right in front of Jennings, she exclaims, Dave, Dave, Dave, get me outta here, get me outta here, while a whimper can be heard from Harley.

The whale soon leaves the kayaks side, and having returned to dry land Jennings described the experience as sort of terrifying at the time but funny and epic. Credit: Kristina Lynn Jennings via Storyful
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 16:52:22|Editor: huaxia

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How to buy groceries in Wuhan while residents are encouraged to stay at home to avoid further spread of the #coronavirus? Our correspondent visits a few supermarkets and grocery stores.
Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/25/2020 -- The report encompasses an in-depth study of the prevailing and upcoming situations of the global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) industry. The analysts and industry experts have carried out a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative assessment of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) industry with the help of research methodologies like PESTLE analysis, Porter's Five Forces, and SWOT analysis. Additionally, technological developments and future growth opportunities pertaining to Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) have been looked into. A separate assessment of the current, as well as future market trends, is also sketched in the report.



Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market is valued at USD XX million in 2019 and is projected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of XX% during the period 2019 to 2025.



Request a Sample of this report https://www.qyrconsulting.com/request-sample/7588



The governments across the globe are giving importance to biomedical innovation, as the manufacturers of pharmaceutical drugs do not have sufficient in-house capacity to cater to the growing demand. One of the key trends emerging in the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) market could be of companies outsourcing API manufacturing to key regions so as to eliminate the need to invest in costly infrastructure and equipment. Also, API manufacturers are likely to go green in the years to come in order to reduce the waste produced.



Emergence of Novel Medical Technologies to Play a Key Role in Market Growth



With the advent of novel medical technologies, demand for APIs is on the rise across the globe. Increasing importation of raw pharmaceutical ingredients from emerging markets is also positively influencing the market growth. Technological advancements are anticipated to open doors for the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) market growth. Moreover, emergence of new entrants and extensive research and development by the companies is resulting in huge competition in the market.



Company outlining of the key players such as Teva, Mylan, DSM, Aurobindo Pharma, Aspen, Novartis, BASF, Pfizer, Huahai Pharmaceutical, Hisun Pharmaceutical, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Zhejiang Medicine, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Zhejiang NHU, Bayer, NCPC, AbbVie, Shandong Xinhua Pharmaceutical, Northeast Pharm, Harbin Pharmaceutical, LKPC has been mapped in the report. Additionally, the authors of the report have provided a competitive scenario by emphasizing the prominent strategic activities such as mergers and acquisitions, product development, collaboration, business expansion, and portfolio expansion taking place in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) business. This research report as a whole acts as a key tool for the vendors to obtain a clear understanding of the present and future development scenario of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) industry.



The report has also touched upon crucial aspects such as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) pricing, production, distribution, supply, profit margin, and revenue. Additionally, it has highlighted the key drivers optimistically impacting the growth of the global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) industry. Factors that may act as a barrier to the overall Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) growth are also scrutinized by the authors of the report.



In order to broaden the overall understanding of the global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) industry, the report has segregated the global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) business into varied segments comprising product type, application, and end-user. This examination has been carried out based on parameters like size, CAGR, share, production, and consumption. Also, region-wise assessment, wherein lucrative prospects that a region or country is likely to offer have been explored.



Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market: Segment Analysis



By Product



Synthetic APIs

Biotech APIs



By Application



CNS

Cardiovascular

Genitourinary/Hormonal Drugs

Respiratory

Rheumatology

Diabetes

Oncology

Others



Regions Covered in the Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market:



- The Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries and Egypt)



- North America (the United States, Mexico, and Canada)



- South America (Brazil etc.)



- Europe (Turkey, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.)



- Asia-Pacific (Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia)



Increasing incidence of cancer in North America is urging the manufacturers in this region to come up with novel drugs and biological products for the treatment. Technological developments and extensive R&D will give North America an upper hand over other regions. Asia Pacific is also not lagging behind on the back of presence of leading manufacturers of API, particularly in India and China.



The report addresses the following queries pertaining to the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market:



- At what CAGR, the Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market will expand from 2019 - 2025?



- What will be the worth of the global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) market by the end of 2025?



- How can I get company profiles of the top ten players of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market?



- What are the key growth strategies of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market Players?



- By End-Use, which segment would exhibit the highest CAGR during the forecast period?



- What are the market values/growth % of emerging countries?



- Which market holds the maximum market share of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market?



- By Application, which segment is expected to dominate the market by the end of 2025?



- What are the key trends in the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market report?



Table of Content:



- Industry Size & Forecast: Estimations on the global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) industry size on the basis of value and volume are provided in this part of the report



- Study on Key Industry Trends: This section offers deep insights into the prevailing and upcoming Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) trends



- Segmental Analysis: Here, the report has examined the high-growth segments including product type, application, and end-users, taking into account their CAGR, share, and size



- Future Prospects: Current market developments and future opportunities estimated to emerge in the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) industry are looked into in this portion of the study



- Geography-wise Analysis: The authors of the report have studied the regions having growth potential to help companies plan their future investments



- Study on Competitive Landscape: The industry experts have offered thorough information about the strategic tactics adopted by the industry participants to consolidate their position. This assessment will help the players to strategize their activities in the future.



Access Full Report Details at https://www.qyrconsulting.com/reports/active-pharmaceutical-ingredients-(api)-market



About QYR Consulting

QYR Consulting established as a research firm in 2007 and has since grown into a trusted brand amongst many industries. Over the years, we have consistently worked toward delivering high-quality customized solutions for a wide range of clients ranging from ICT to healthcare industries. With over 50,000 satisfied clients, spread over 80 countries, we have sincerely strived to deliver the best analytics through exhaustive research methodologies.
The legitimacy of NorthWestern Energys 20-year energy plan, heavy on gas-fired power plants, is being questioned by analysts who say the utility ignored cheaper options for its Montana customers.

Synapse Energy Economics reports that Montanas largest monopoly utility either undervalued or excluded energy sources that would have been more affordable for ratepayers.

Synapse said that by feeding preselected results into a computer program, NorthWestern made it a forgone conclusion that natural gas-fired Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine, or RICE, power plants were chosen as the utilitys best power source for the next 20 years.

Other energy sources such as solar and wind energy, along with power purchased on the open market, werent selected either because their reliability or cost wasnt correctly represented, or because they were left out of the analysis conducted by using PowerSimm software. The study by Synapse, a third-party consultant, was commissioned by the Montana Public Service Commission.

NorthWestern concluded in the final plan that the best way to meet its capacity deficit and ensure resource adequacy is to procure hundreds of (megawatts) of 'flexible' gas-fired generation in the form of RICE units. This is essentially a foregone conclusion given certain input assumptions and constraints present in the PowerSimm model that favor thermal resources over renewables and storage, Synapse economists concluded.

First, NorthWestern did not allow for market capacity purchases in its modeling runs, which leads PowerSimm to build 985 MW of gas-fired generation over the analysis period in the base portfolio. Inclusion of an option to purchase capacity from the market likely would have led to a smaller capacity build and lower revenue requirement in the resulting resource portfolio.

The report comes two months after Montanans concerned about high electric bills and climate change packed public meeting rooms to object to NorthWestern's 20-year supply procurement plan. In Helena, Missoula and Bozeman, no one spoke in support of NorthWestern, a South Dakota-based company with more than 370,000 Montana customers.

It wasn't until the Public Service Commission held a hearing in Billings that people spoke in favor of NorthWestern's proposal. Most of those in favor were from Colstrip, where NorthWestern plans to increase its ownership of Colstrip Unit 4, a coal-fired power plant.

The Synapse report suggested that energy options in the next eight years were not only likely to be available, but also cheaper for NorthWesterns customers than what the utility has planned.

NorthWestern on Friday reiterated its assertion that the region is six years away from an energy shortage as a result of retiring coal-fired power plants.

NorthWestern Energys main concern with the comments made by Synapse is that they do not adequately weigh the significant generation shortfall of both NorthWesterns Montana supply resources and the regions power supply, said NorthWestern spokeperson Jo Dee Black, in an email.

They also overlook NorthWesterns limited access to import energy. For example, Synapse points to PacifiCorps reliance on purchasing energy as an example that NorthWestern should follow. But Synapse overlooks the fact that NorthWestern already counts on the Mid-Columbia market to provide more energy to meet winter peaks than even PacifiCorp believes is reasonable. Given the shortfall in both NorthWesterns supply and the shortfall expected in the near term in the broader region, NorthWestern also believes that Synapse has an unreasonably high confidence that renewable resources will generate when NorthWestern needs them to (in other words, the capacity value for wind and solar that Synapse recommends is higher than what existing renewable resources have historically provided during NorthWesterns peak load periods).

Synapse cited three emerging events in northwestern states that could provide a cheaper, reliable power alternative to NorthWesterns plans.

First, the economists cited the emergence of the Western Energy Imbalance Market, which is supposed the improve energy reliability while also lowering costs in coming years. In 2018, NorthWestern announced it would join the EIM by April 2021. The market should address NorthWestern's concerns about the fluctuations in the availability of power from in-state wind and solar farms, Synapse said.

NorthWestern disagreed.

The short story is that to assume that the market can supply the significant capacity needs for NorthWestern Energys Montana customers during peak demand, which is what Synapse proposes, will compromise reliability significantly. Utilities and power planning agencies across the region are now working to address the growing capacity shortage in the region as coal plants retire, Black said in her email.

NorthWestern Energy is by far the most exposed to the market of utilities in this region because of its significant capacity shortage. Additionally, other utilities have better transmission connectivity than NorthWestern, which allows them greater access to buy power from others. The strategy of relying on the market also exposes customers to the markets price volatility when demand is high. 

Second, Synapse economists said buying surplus power from neighboring utilities, like Avista Corp., would be cheaper for NorthWesterns customers than the utility building gas-fired power plants. In the last year, NorthWestern has told investors that it could build as many as four 200-megawatt gas-fired power plants in the next five years, each one costing more than $200 million, for which customers would put on a multi-year payment plan.

Synapse also pointed to emerging regional energy sources as a cheaper alternative. The Bonneville Power Administration plans to begin selling carbon-free hydropower to regional utilities and other large buyers in 2028.

Not only were these alternatives not considered by NorthWestern in its analysis, they were also not used to prove the economic benefits of not only NorthWesterns gas-fired power plants, but also its purchase of an additional share of Colstrip Unit 4.

NorthWestern did not include a scenario in which the cost of natural gas was high when the utility needed the power most. NorthWesterns 20-year plan indicated that it had factored in a high gas price scenario, but Synapse could not find where the utility has actually run the numbers.

We believe that NorthWestern did not actually model a High Natural Gas Price scenario despite describing one in its plan, the economists reported.

Concerning Colstrip, economists say NorthWestern didnt allow its PowerSimm program to consider whether the power plant should be retired based on increased operating costs and repair expenses increasing because of age.

This is important with respect to the operation of the Colstrip units. They are the most expensive resource in NorthWesterns resource portfolio, inclusive of all costs collected in rates, economists include.

The cost of Colstrip power was based on a Montana Consumer Counsel report that identifies Colstrip power as the most expensive electricity NorthWestern customers pay for, once purchase debts and other expenses are factored in. In 2017, for example, Colstrip power cost NorthWestern customers more than $70 a megawatt hour, which spot market energy cost customers the least at $24.08.

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Through this approach of providing funding and control locally, regionally and statewide, Ohio will have a unique tool for all of our communities to try to recover in a more expeditious and efficient manner, said Frank L. Gallucci, a plaintiffs attorney who represents 19 local governments in Ohio. If successful in Ohio, it is our hope that this or a similar approach can be replicated for other states across the country.
Netanyahu announces 3,500 new homes in West Bank Palestinians say statement driving 'towards abyss'

(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, FEBRUARY 25 - Premier Benyamin Netanyahu announced that he has ordered ''the promotion of a plan for some 3,500 houses'' in the delicate E1 area in the West Bank - an area between Jerusalem and the city-settlement of Maale Adumim - in which all construction projects had long been frozen as an obstacle to the two-States solution. The international community has always said that each construction project would have the effect of dividing the West Bank in half, preventing the development of a Palestinian state.



The project announced by the premier - during a congress organized by a right-wing newspaper - includes two plans north of Maale Adumim for 3,426 housing units already provided for by past Israeli governments, including Rabin's cabinet in 1994.



''This announcement - said Netanyahu, in the midst of an electoral campaign - has a strong importance and I think that anyone can understand this''.



Abu Rudeina, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, has condemned the premier's announcement, calling it a step that ''pushes towards the abyss''. ''This decision - he was quoted as saying by Wafa news agency - is the result of the partial and dangerous US policy in favor of occupation, which has led to a situation violating international law and which transgresses red lines''. ''We will warn the Israeli government not to continue this escalation policy which will not bring security and stability to anyone but will rather increase tension and violence in the region''. (ANSAmed)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 02:17:48|Editor: yan

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NAIROBI, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Health Ministry on Tuesday pledged to boost its childhood cancer survival rates through increased public and private investment.

Alfred Karagu, CEO of National Cancer Institute under the Ministry of Health, told journalists in Nairobi that on average less than 20 percent of children survive cancer in Kenya compared to 80 percent in the developed countries.

"The biggest contributor of the low survival rates for the pediatric cancer patients is the late detection of the illness," Karagu said during the launch of the Gertrude's Hospital Foundation second annual childhood cancer charity walk that seeks to raise 10 million shillings (100,000 U.S. dollars) in a bid to improve proper cancer diagnosis and treatment in children.

According to the ministry of health, the east African nation records about 3,200 new childhood cancer cases annually against overall cancer cases of 48,000.

Karagu said that the country will achieve improved treatment of cancers gradually because of its elaborate policy and legislative framework that has been put in place to guide the health sector.

He noted that currently the public health budget has a strong bias towards funding infectious diseases.

He revealed that challenges in childhood cancer care include poor access to care for patients in remote and rural areas.

Karagu added that there is also a limited number of health care workers trained in pediatric cancer management while there are only two comprehensive childhood cancer management centers in the public sector.
Surelock Homes, Planet of the Grapes and Spruce Springclean have been found to be some of the "wittiest" names for businesses in Britain, according to a poll.

A poll of 2,000 adults asked people to nominate their favourite pun-based company names, with results including a barbers named The Chopfather and a coffee shop titled Deja Brew.

An earlier survey found that 79 per cent of those polled said a business name helps express its personality and branding.

In the same poll, 43 per cent claimed they are more likely to recommend a business with a witty name, compared to one with a more traditional moniker.

Lisa Jacobs, UK managing director at SME lending platform Funding Circle, which commissioned the research said: Its great how small businesses bring their characters and personalities through with these imaginative names whilst also brightening up our days with a laugh or chuckle.

Business news: In pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Business news: In pictures Business news: In pictures Flybe collapses Airline Flybe has collapsed. All future flights on the Exeter-based airline have been cancelled  leaving more than 2,300 staff facing an uncertain future, and wrecking the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers. The chief executive, Mark Anderson, said: Europes largest independent regional airline has been unable to overcome significant funding challenges to its business. AFP via Getty Business news: In pictures Future product placement will be 'tailored to individual viewers' Marketing executives say that product placement in films and televison shows on streaming services such as Netflix may be tailored to individuals in future. For instance, if data shows that a viewer is a fan of pepsi, a billboard in the background of a shot would host an advert for pepsi, while for a viewer known to have different tastes it could be for Coca-Cola Paramount Business news: In pictures Corbyn wishes Amazon a happy birthday In a card sent to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on the company's 25th birthday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn writes: "You owe the British people millions in taxes that pay for the public services that we all rely on. Please pay your fair share" Business news: In pictures No deal, no tariffs The government has announced that it would slash almost all tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Notable exceptions include cars and meat, which will see tariffs in place to protect British farmers Getty Business news: In pictures Fingerprint payment NatWest is trialling a new bank card that will allow people to touch their hand to the card when paying rather than typing in a PIN number. The card will work by recognising the user's fingerprint NatWest/PA Wire Business news: In pictures Mahabis bust High-end slipper retailer Mahabis has gone into administration. 2 Jan 2019 Mahabis Business news: In pictures Costa Cola Coca-Cola has paid 3.9bn for Costa Coffee. A cafe chain is a new venture for the global soft drinks giant PA Business news: In pictures RIP Payday Loans A funeral procession for payday loans was held in London on September 2. The future of pay day lenders is in doubt after Wonga, Britain's biggest, went into administration on August 30 PA Business news: In pictures Musk irks investors and directors Elon Musk has concluded that Tesla will remain public. Investors and company directors were angry at Musk for tweeting unexpectedly that he was considering taking Tesla private and share prices had taken a tumble in the following weeks Getty Business news: In pictures Jaguar warning Iconic British car maker Jaguar Land Rover warned on July 5, 2018 that a "bad" Brexit deal could jeopardise planned investment of more than $100 billion, upping corporate pressure as the government heads into crucial talks AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures Spotif-IPO Spotify traded publically for the first time on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. However, the company isn't issuing shares, but rather, shares held by Spotify's private investors will be sold AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures French blue passports The deadline to award a contract to make blue British passports after Brexit has been extended by two weeks following a request by bidder De La Rue. The move comes after anger at the announcement British passports would be produced by Franco-Dutch firm Gemalto when De La Rues contract ends in July. The British firm said Gemalto was chosen only because it undercut the competition, but the UK company also admitted that it was not the cheapest choice in the tendering process. Business news: In pictures Beast from the east economic impact The Beast from the East wiped 4m off of Flybes revenues due to flight cancellations, airport closures and delays, according to the budget airlines estimates. Flybe said it cancelled 994 flights in the three months to 31 March, compared to 372 in the same period last year.

Business doesnt have to be all serious. A play on words allows businesses to stand out from the crowd, attract customers and convey a bit of their sense of humour.

Alan Collins, owner of Spruce Springclean, a carpet cleaner in Cornwall, said: The name came about in the Eighties when I bought my first van.

I thought I should come up with a name for my business and I was on my way to a friend's house to discuss it with him.

On the way I heard a record on the radio and the disc jockey said it was by Bruce Springsteen, but I misheard him and thought he said Spruce Springclean.

I mentioned it to my friend and he loved it, so it kind of stuck.

I'm semi-retired now but most of my business still comes from the name, it brings a lot of laughs to people.

The research also found that 48 per cent of people in Britain believe a witty or memorable business name is more likely to make them use that company over a similar one.

Paul Tribouillard, owner of Surelock Homes, said: We've been around for a while now but we still get comments about our name.

It was my friend who came up with it, he used to own the company. I don't know how he came up with it, just made it up I suppose.

We were on the radio on a show about the best business names, we came runner up.

I'm glad that people enjoy it, we get a lot of laughs about it.

Other memorable shop names in the UK that featured in the poll include a solicitors from Leamington Spa with the fortuitous name Wright-Hassall and Bonnie Tiler, a female-fronted tiling and plumbing company based in Gateshead in the northwest.

More than half of those polled via OnePoll said they would prefer to see more businesses embrace a quirky name.

SWNS
GoverningAfter a deadly mudslide wiped out telephone poles, Snohomish County, Wash., used Facebook to connect a devastated community to vital resources. TikTok helps the city of Minneapolis raise awareness about the 2020 Census in a friendly, compelling way. In Maryland, teens and young adults provide marketing feedback on school safety materials via Instagram Stories.These are just a few of the thousands of examples of where digital engagement has enhanced communication in communities, helping to create the trust and transparency with which government entities have traditionally struggled. Hundreds of jurisdictions and agencies across the country have embraced social media as a customer service tool that encourages one-on-one and one-to-many engagement and, more importantly, as a way to address concerns and solve problems. Social media has become for many the standard currency of government communication.Of course, not all governments have gone all in with social media, and there can still be barriers in government that interfere with the ability to create and share creative content. This could be in the form of restrictive rules or a lack of leadership buy-in, or cumbersome, multi-step approval processes, or equipment costs and staffing issues. But is it worth the effort to overcome these roadblocks? The answer, unequivocally, is yes.Even with all its nuances and intricacies, social media fundamentally facilitates government transparency. Long gone are the days when digital communication amounted to no more than public-notice bulletin boards. Agencies can showcase what makes government tick  humans! And it's in these stories and shared experiences that we all learn about the passion and persistence that comes with connecting communities. Social media shows us all that we are better together.Government social media managers know how to use their tools to put politics and acronyms aside and provide their communities with something identifiable and personalized. Maybe it's a story; maybe it's something fun (and maybe they even crack a joke); or maybe it's in those sobering experiences, such as the aftermath of a natural disaster, that evoke raw emotion. The point is this: Government agenciescreating engaging content daily on their social platforms. And, more importantly, they are laying the foundation for a government communication model for future generations.Social media managers bring a range of skills to the job. They are graphic designers, podcasters, video editors, photographers and strategic communicators. And there's more to doing the job effectively than mastering technical skills: They empathize when a resident has had a hard day. They bear the brunt of the negativity that can come from existing in the social media space as a government staffer. They work closely with departments and agencies to share the organizational vision with the community and solicit buy-in for projects, plans and agency campaigns. The importance of growing trust in government and improving communities is in the very marrow of those who do this work.Many organizations and associations are working to raise the bar. The National Disaster Preparedness Training Center , for example, provides government communicators with emergency-specific social media training. Organizations like Government Social Media and Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL) play a vital role in sharing best practices, connecting a diverse network of government professionals, and translating marketing and communications strategies that work so well in the private sector into actionable steps that improve the service government provides.In March, more than 1,000 public-sector communicators will gather at Government Social Media's annual conference , where major social media platforms share best practices and strategies to enhance engagement while also listening to and learning from the audience to fine-tune their platforms for better civic interaction. Public-sector communicators will meet again in May to share ideas and learn at ELGL's annual conference With more than a decade of use in the government sphere, social media has evolved into an expected method of communication for residents, media and other audiences. Recognizing that, government social media managers are creating strategic social communication plans designed to deliver measurable, meaningful results.Residents of our communities have been introduced to, and have come to appreciate, how social media can elevate their connectivity to their local governments. The challenge we must all undertake now is not to just maintain that but take it even further. The possibilities are endless.
Matthew Dmitri Richardson, 19, was arrested on Monday outside the Pentagon. He is seen above in an undated photo

A man is appearing before a federal judge on Tuesday for accusations that he attempted to blow up a vehicle at the Pentagon, according to the Justice Department.

Matthew Dmitri Richardson, a 19-year-old from Arkansas, was caught by a Pentagon police officer on Monday around 11am while he allegedly tried to blow up the car in a parking lot of the building.

The officer said he observed Richardson trying to light a piece of fabric that was inserted into the gas tank of a 2016 Land Rover that belongs to a service member who works at the Pentagon. No explosion took place.

Richardson allegedly told the officer he was going to 'blow this vehicle up' as well as 'himself', according to court documents.

Richardson was caught by a Pentagon police officer on Monday around 11am while he allegedly tried to blow up the car in a parking lot of the building (seen in a file photo)

The man fled when the officer tried to arrest him and jumped over a fence into Arlington National Cemetery.

A security alert issued while he was at large described him as 'dirty' with red hair, and said that he had 'assaulted' an employee at Arlington National Cemetery and stolen their work shirt, which he was wearing as a disguise.

About an hour later, Richardson was apprehended inside the cemetery.

'I was just trying to blow myself up,' he told police when he was arrested about an hour later by Pentagon security officers, according to the criminal complaint.

A search of Richardson's person revealed a cigarette lighter, gloves, as well as court documents, police say.

Richardson is seen in a mugshot from his separate arrest on Saturday in Alexandria, Virginia on two felony counts of assault on a law enforcement officer

The court documents related to Richardson's arrest on Saturday in Alexandria, Virginia on two felony counts of assault on a law enforcement officer.

The owner of the Land Rover told investigators that he had never met or heard of Richardson.

Richardson is charged with maliciously attempting to damage and destroy by means of fire, a vehicle used in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce.

It was not immediately clear whether Richardson had an attorney to speak on his behalf.
After a debate last week that was notable for its conflict, seven Democratic presidential contenders will gather Tuesday night in Charleston, South Carolina, for the tenth debate of the primary season. The stakes keep raising, especially given Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders victories in New Hampshire and Nevada, and the attacks on former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg at the Feb. 21 debate.

Tonights debate also comes at a crucial time for former Vice President Joe Biden, who has lost momentum in his quest to be seen as the most electable Democratic hopeful. Biden has been counting on support from African Americans, who constitute a significant portion of South Carolina Democratic voters, to help him cement his place as the frontrunner for the Democratic partys moderate wing.

The seven candidates who qualified and will take part in tonights debate are Biden; Bloomberg; former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg; Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar; Sanders; billionaire Tom Steyer; and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren.

(How to watch the South Carolina Democratic debate: You can watch the Nevada Democratic debate on CBS. No cable or satellite? Stream for free on the CBS News website, or the @CBSNews Twitter account. You can also stream the debate via CBS All Access; Hulu + Live TV; fuboTV; Sling TV; YouTube TV; and AT&T Now.

To qualify for the South Carolina debate, candidates had to have won at least one pledged delegate in the first three races, or meet a polling popularity standard.

The debate, which is the last one before the important Super Tuesday election on March 3, is hosted by CBS News and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute in Charleston.

Moderators are Norah ODonnell, CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor; Gayle King, CBS This Morning co-host; Margaret Brennan, Face the Nation moderator and senior foreign affairs correspondent; Major Garrett, CBS News chief Washington correspondent; and Bill Whitaker, 60 Minutes correspondent.

Here are details on how to watch:

What: South Carolina Democratic debate, held at the Gaillard Center, in Charleston, South Carolina.

Channel: The debate will air live on CBS.

Time: The debate begins at 5 p.m. PT and is expected to last until 7:15 p.m. PT; a CBS News Spin Room follow-up is scheduled to air from 7:15-8 p.m. PT

Live streaming: Stream for free on the CBS News website, or the @CBSNews Twitter account. You can also stream the debate via CBS All Access; Hulu + Live TV; fuboTV; Sling TV; YouTube TV; and AT&T Now.

-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
The United States and South Korea said Monday they were considering scaling back a military exercise planned for this spring because of the coronavirus epidemic.

The commander of US forces in South Korea, General Robert Abrams, and the head of that country's joint chiefs of staff, General Park Han-ki, "are looking at scaling back the command post training due to concerns about the coronavirus," US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said at a conference.

His South Korean counterpart, Jeong Kyeong-doo, said at the same briefing that 13 servicemen from his country have become infected with the virus and that all leave for the military has been cancelled nationwide so as to limit soldiers' movements.

"The situation is quite serious," Jeong said.

The two countries have significantly scaled back traditional joint military exercises so as to facilitate US nuclear talks with North Korea.

This spring they planned to hold a command coordination exercise.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The coronavirus outbreak has killed 2666 people and infected nearly 77800 people in China, health officials here have said with the global figures for those sickened by the pathogen crossing the 80000 mark in more than 30 countries on Tuesday.

Chinas national health commission (NHC) on Tuesday said more than 500 new cases and over 70 deaths were reported until midnight before.

The good news was that no new confirmed cases of covid-19 were reported Monday in 23 provincial-level regions on the mainland, including Shanghai and Tianjin, the NHC said.

Only nine new confirmed cases were reported Monday outside the province of Hubei, epicentre of the outbreak.

The NHC added that until Monday midnight, a total of 27,323 patients infected with the novel coronavirus had been discharged from hospital after recovery.

Chinas daily number of newly cured and discharged novel coronavirus patients has surpassed that of new infections for the seventh consecutive day, the NHC was quoted as saying at the daily morning briefing.

The Hubei province, however, will continue to take the most stringent prevention and control measures, the NHC said.

The province of nearly 60 million has been under a lockdown for nearly a month.

The eastern Chinese city of Qingdao, where a large number of South Koreans stay and is also a popular tourist destination for them, announced that it was adopting a stricter epidemic prevention policy, asking foreign visitors to either undergo a 14-day home quarantine or stay in designated hotels, as infection numbers in South Korea soared tenfold in less than a week.

State media reports said Qingdao in Shandong province has begun to arrange for designated vehicles to pick up all foreign visitors arriving in Qingdao and send them to their homes for a 14-day mandatory quarantine. Foreigners coming for short-term visits or business travel will be sent to designated hotels, Qingdao government announced.

Meanwhile, the falling number of cases is prompting the government to gradually plan the road back to normalcy with focus on cranking up manufacturing and reopening factories.

Chinas top planning body, the national development and reform commission (NDRC) on Tuesday said China will classify regions -- outside epicentre Hubei and capital city Beijing -- into low, medium, and high-risk areas based on the extent and severity of the local covid-19 epidemic situation.

County-level administration regions outside Beijing and Hubei Province will be categorized into three classes, namely low, medium, and high-risk regions, Ou Xiaoli, an NDRC official said.

Regions with a low-risk classification will resume overall normal life production, and lift transport restrictions. Governments of these regions should help companies address challenges and problems including the lack of employment and raw materials, the commission noted.

Several Chinese localities have or plan to lower their emergency responses towards the coronavirus outbreak, official news agency, Xinhua reported Tuesday.

Since late January, all provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland have activated top-level emergency responses to the novel coronavirus, cancelling mass events, closing scenic attractions and suspending long-distance buses.
(CNN)  Pete Buttigieg shared an emotional moment with a young supporter in Denver on Saturday night.

"Thank you for being so brave," the boy, later identified as 9-year-old Zachary Ro, wrote in a question submitted via fishbowl during the presidential hopeful's Saturday rally, "Would you help me tell the world I'm gay, too? I want to be brave like you."

Zachary, who attended the rally with his parents, joined the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor on stage. He presented Buttigieg with a bracelet, which the Democratic hopeful put on.

"I don't think you need a lot of advice for me on bravery. You seem pretty strong to me," Buttigieg, who is gay, told Zachary. "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 you've never met, that's really something."

Buttigieg took the opportunity to tell Zachary, "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. 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," he said.

Buttigieg also told Zachary to be mindful of "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."

"When I was trying to figure out who I was, I was afraid that who I was might mean that I could never make a difference. And what wound up happening instead is that it's a huge part of the difference I get to make. I never could have seen that coming, and you'll never know whose life you might be affecting right now, just by standing here. There's a lot of power in that," the former mayor added.

Buttigieg responded last Sunday to Rush Limbaugh's recent homophobic remarks, saying he doesn't take "lectures on family values" from the conservative radio host and Medal of Freedom recipient.

"Well, I love my husband. I'm faithful to my husband. On stage we usually just go for a hug. But I love him very much, and I'm not going take lectures on family values from the likes of Rush Limbaugh," Buttigieg told CNN's Dana Bash on "State of the Union" at the time.

Limbaugh, a longtime radio host who is known for his incendiary comments on minorities, recently drew bipartisan criticism for remarks made on his show where he specifically mentioned Buttigieg kissing his husband on the debate stage and questioned how it would play out with American voters should Buttigieg become his party's nominee and face-off against President Donald Trump in November.

In a Gallup poll released earlier this month, more than 3 in 4 Americans (78 percent) said they would be willing to vote for a gay or lesbian person if they were a party's "Well-Qualified" candidate for president.

At the Denver event, Buttigieg and Zachary were then joined onstage by his husband, Chasten Buttigieg, who walked the young supporter back to his parents after presenting him with a campaign "challenge coin" featuring the campaign's "rules of a road," or code of conduct the campaign asks staff and supporters to abide by.

"I think you've already got it together, so I'm excited to see what you're going to do as a leader," Buttigieg told Zachary. "Just promise me you won't run for president until after I'm done because I think you might be strong competition."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "'I want to be brave like you': 9-year-old asks Pete Buttigieg to help him tell the world he's gay."
The Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje on Tuesday announced a ban on street begging by children popularly referred to as Almajiris.

The governors spokesperson, Abba Anwar, in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES said the effort was to fully consolidate the free and compulsory primary and secondary schools education in the state.

Mr Anwar said the decision was meant to integrate the Almajiri system into the policy and address the lingering problem of street begging.

Mr Ganduje warned that henceforth, Almajiri teachers must accept the new approach put in place by the state government.

If almijiri teacher thinks he cannot accept the new policy he has to leave the state, he said.

When Almajiri are caught begging, it is not only that beggar is caught, but his parents or guardians. Such parents or guardians would be taken to court to face the wrath of the law, Mr Anwar quoted his principal as saying in the statement.

According to the statement, the governor announced the decision during the launching of Basic Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) and Distribution of Offer of Appointment to 7,500 volunteer teachers, held at Sani Abacha Stadium.

This policy of free and compulsory basic and secondary education goes along with its integration of our Almajiri system into the mainstream policy implementation. This suggests that English and Arithmetic must be included in the Almajiri schools curriculum, the governor said.

This, according to him, will give those children other types of education, while they will continue acquiring their knowledge of the Holy Quran.

That will give them an opportunity to continue with their studies to secondary schools and beyond, the governor highlighted.

At the event, 7,500 newly recruited teacher volunteers under the BESDA programme were given letters of appointment.

They will be posted to Islamiyyah and Almajiri schools, so that our Almajiri schools would be fully integrated under our new policy of education, the statement added.
A: We have clear rules regarding the possession of data and at the end of the day this is a national responsibility. The basis is the law that exists in our member countries that allows the national law enforcement agencies to share with Interpol. We are ready to use our strongest tool  the red notices and other alerts  that exist based on information provided by our member countries. We have a good tool box in place that was developed over the past couple of years, specifically, of course, on terrorist activity from al-Qaeda and ISIS, there is no reason not to apply it also to right-wing terrorism. What we are seeing more and more is terrorist activity. Period.
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.
Switzerland reported its first case of new coronavirus on Tuesday, after outbreaks were identified in its main neighbours Austria, France, Germany and Italy.

Its confirmed, a spokeswoman for Switzerlands federal health office told AFP, adding that more details about the case would be released later on Tuesday.

The case was found in the Italian-speaking Ticino canton on the border with Italy, the canton said on its website announcing a press conference for 1600 GMT.

Switzerland on Monday had said the country was in a state of heightened vigilance because of a surge in Italy.

Prior to this case, the country had tested some 300 suspect cases that were all found to be negative.

The government said on Monday that it had stepped up testing on patients with flu-like symptoms and was working to raise awareness at all border points.
ALBANY  State Police are offering few details about their plan to launch a pilot program that would equip state troopers with body cameras in New York.

Kevin Bruen, first deputy superintendent for the State Police, said the pilot program, which was announced Monday, will begin imminently and later clarified that troopers would be equipped with body cameras by the end of the year.

When reached Tuesday for more details, a State Police spokesperson said they are still being worked out.

New York remains one of the few states where the primary law enforcement agency does not have body or dashboard cameras, a nationwide Associated Press survey found. New York State Police is the largest agency without cameras. Hawaii, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Massachusetts also do not have them.

It is unclear how many of the 5,100 sworn members of the force would be equipped with body cameras during the pilot program as well as whether it would be launched state-wide, or only in select regions.

State Police say they once had VHS cameras, and later digital cameras on a limited number of vehicles, but funding shortages and "costly maintenance" led to the end of their use.

Body cameras have been hailed for promoting transparency between law enforcement and the community, ensuring police are held accountable as well as being an effective tool for investigations.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

New York Attorney General Letitia James has called on Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and state lawmakers to equip State Police with body cameras. An executive order signed in 2015 directs the states attorney general to investigate when police cause the death of unarmed civilians.

Legislation introduced late last year by state Sen. Kevin Parker and state Assemblywoman Latrice Walker would equip troopers with the cameras and also outlined when state troopers should record their on-duty interactions.

Under the legislation, body cameras would start recording immediately before a state trooper leaves their patrol vehicle to interact in a situation or when they pull someone over. It also allows troopers to record anytime they want to document their time on duty and stop recording during a strip search or talk with a confidential informant.
New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary aspirant for Afigya Sekyere East Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Mr. Richard Barima Sarpong has filed his nomination forms to contest the upcoming primaries.



According to Barima Sarpong, the decision to join the NPP parliamentary race is borne out of his vision to develop human resources of the constituents, equip them with the workable employment skills that would economically empower them.



"I and my team have realized if you develop your human resources, you largely develop your nation, because human resources development is a viable pillar to every success in the future."



Sarpong, who doubles as the Communications Manager at the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) managed to beat the deadline amidst fears of missing out.



He has commended his followers and all that encouraged him to go this path and believes the initial challenges will spur him on in his quest of leading the NPP in the upcoming Elections.



He emphasized that, his selfless lifestyle and team work in the areas within the Afigya Sekyere Constituency, the area where he was born and had his basic and secondary school education will speak for itself during the upcoming April 25, 2020 parliamentary primaries.



I think our constituency deserves better representation. An MP must be accessible and ears to the constituents whose aspirations must reflect our presentation in parliament and for that matter the laws parliament makes, he said.











Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The hard part for Professor Robert E. Bob Odlum wasnt going to be leaping off the Brooklyn Bridge. One step forward, and gravity would take over. No, the challenge was going to be getting on the bridge in the first place. Jumping from the bridge was illegal, and the police were on the lookout for him.
The head of Irans counter-coronavirus taskforce has tested positive for coronavirus, a spokesperson for the countrys health ministry has said.

Iraj Harichi, the countrys deputy health minister, has been infected with the disease and placed under quarantine, the spokesperson added.

Mr Harichi appeared uncomfortable and could be seen sweating during a press conference on Monday.

After the announcement confirming Mr Harichi had the virus, the deputy health minister posted a video saying he had the disease and had quarantined himself at home.

He promised the authorities would defeat the virus, which is also known as Covid-19.

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

The death toll from the virus reached 17 in Iran, authorities announced on Tuesday - but a politician from the city of Qom has claimed as many as 50 people have died.

Meanwhile, all 132 passengers and crew on a Turkish Airlines plane from Tehran are to be quarantined for 14 days and tested for possible infections at a hospital in Ankara, Turkeys health minister announced.

The flight was carrying Turkish nationals home after Ankara closed its border with Iran over the weekend after the viral outbreak there, Fahrettin Koca said in a statement.

A special flight was set up for Turkish citizens wishing to return to our country from Iran. Turkish citizens who come to our country from Iran with this flight will be kept under a quarantine for 14 days, Mr Koca said.

Turkish broadcaster CNN Turk said 17 passengers, including 12 from Irans Qom region, were suspected to have the virus.

Turkeys Demiroren news agency broadcast footage showing ambulances lined up beside the plane after landing in Ankara, with several personnel wearing white protective suits on the tarmac.

More than 80,000 people have tested positive for coronavirus in China since the outbreak began late last year, with the death toll reaching 2,663 on Monday.

The virus has spread to around 29 countries and territories.

There are fears Iran could act as a source for new transmissions of the disease across the Middle East, including to Turkey, Iraq, Kuwait and Oman.

Additional reporting by agencies
WPX Energy Inc. WPX is scheduled to release fourth-quarter 2019 results on Feb 26. In the last reported quarter, the company delivered a negative earnings surprise of 18.2%.



Lets see how things have shaped up before the upcoming earnings announcement.



Factors to Consider



WPX Energys fourth-quarter oil production is anticipated to have improved from a year ago, primarily due to the wells that were completed in the late second quarter or early July. Higher year-over-year production volumes from Delaware and Williston Basins are likely to have boosted performance of the company.



Its strategic transformation via selling off non-core assets, making acquisitions, repurchasing shares and refinancing of high-interest debts is likely to have had a positive impact on fourth-quarter performance.



Q4 Expectation



WPX Energy expects fourth-quarter oil production within 109,000-111,000 barrels per day, up 4% from the previous estimate. The companys capital expenditure guidance for the quarter is projected in the range of $260-$275 million.



The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter 2019 total production is pegged at 175,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, which indicates a 12.2% increase from the year-ago reported figure. Out of the total fourth-quarter production, nearly 63% is expected to be oil.



Earnings Whispers



Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for WPX Energy this time around. A stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP (which represents the difference between the Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate) and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) to surpass estimates. That is not the case here as you will see below.

WPX Energy, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise

WPX Energy, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise

WPX Energy, Inc. price-eps-surprise | WPX Energy, Inc. Quote

Earnings ESP: The companys Earnings ESP is -0.69%.



You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.



Zacks Rank: Currently, WPX Energy carries a Zacks Rank #3.



Stocks to Consider



Here are a few companies worth considering from the same industry that have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings in the upcoming releases.



Berry Petroleum Corporation BRY is set to release fourth-quarter results on Feb 26. It has an Earnings ESP of +5.00% and a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Story continues

Chesapeake Energy Corporation CHK is slated to release fourth-quarter results on Feb 26. It has an Earnings ESP of +2.13% and a Zacks Rank #3.



Apache Corporation APA is slated to release fourth-quarter results on Feb 26. It has an Earnings ESP of +20.95% and a Zacks Rank #3.



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By PTI

NEW DELHI: A delegation of civil rights activists, including All India Progressive Women's Association Secretary Kavita Krishnan, on Tuesday, went to meet Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at his residence to submit an appeal to protect the people in the city from communal violence.

Krishnan said they are outside Kejriwal's residence and are waiting to meet him.

Over 100 activists, including Harsh Mander, Apoorvananad, Annie Raja, Yogendra Yadav, Shabnam Hashmi, and senior advocate Vrinda Grover came out with a statement in which they called upon "all authorities to perform their constitutionally mandated job of bringing the situation under control and restoring peace".

"This is an appeal to all authorities, politicians, residents of Delhi and particularly the Delhi police commissioner, home minister, prime minister, Delhi chief minister to take immediate steps to put an end to all violence and hostilities against ordinary people in various neighbourhoods across Delhi," it said.

"We cannot afford a repeat of the outbreak of communal clashes that have enveloped the city in the past. Each person in Delhi must now immediately step forward and ensure peace wherever they are and whenever violence breaks out," it said.

Kejriwal visited some of those injured in the violence at the GTB Hospital on Tuesday and appealed to people to "stop this madness".

He was accompanied by his deputy Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain.

Speaking to reporters after his visit to the hospital, Kejriwal said his biggest concern was to stop the violence.

"I have met the people who were injured, also met some people who sustained bullet injuries. Facilities and doctors are apt here. The biggest concern is to stop the violence. I appeal to everyone to stop the violence. This madness has to stop," he said.

Ten people have been killed and scores of others injured in the violence between pro and anti CAA groups in the area since Monday.

Clashes were continuing for the third day on Tuesday.

On the issue of non-availability of adequate forces to tackle the situation, Kejriwal said he spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the issue.

"I have raised the issue of having enough force. The Home Minister has assured that additional force will be given," he said

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.

Ten people were killed in violent clashes.

According to police sources, 56 police personnel and 130 civilians were injured in Monday's clashes between pro and anti CAA groups at Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Chandbagh, Khureji Khas and Bhajanpura.

Three firemen also received injuries while dousing flames in the area.

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.
Egypt's former strongman Hosni Mubarak, who was toppled by a popular revolt in 2011, has died at the age of 91, the country's state TV said on Tuesday.

Mubarak has been in an intensive care for over a month after undergoing surgery, according to his son Alaa. He was largely confined to his home in the last few years before his death.

In his last public appearance in October 2018, Mubarak appeared as imperturbable as ever.

In a YouTube video he released to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the war with Israel in which he was an air force commander, Mubarak spoke in a typically composed manner, one of that of an incumbent rather than a leader who was toppled by a popular uprising seven years earlier.

Mubarak never had a sense of guilt, saying over and over again that he did his best for the country. In a famous speech that was meant to be emotional a few days before his fall from grace, Mubarak said he would let history judge his legacy.

After he was dethroned, the aging man survived several charges leveled against him, including killing more than 800 protesters, even though his security forces used lethal force in attempts to end any challenges to his rule.

However, he was still convicted in a corruption-related case, for which he served three years in prison.

PHOTO: In this Nov. 1, 2008 file photo, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak delivers a speech at the first day of the 5th annual convention of the ruling National Democratic Party in Cairo, Egypt. (Nasser Nasser/AP, FILE)

Indebted country

In the first decade of his rule, Mubarak was credited with steadying the ship after inheriting a heavily indebted country. He boasted of helping wipe out tens of billions of dollars in debts as a reward from the United States for Egypt's decision to enter a US-led military alliance to force Iraq out of Kuwait in the Gulf War of 1991.

"After three-month talks with the US and president (George H. W.) Bush, we finally made that deal even before the war began," Mubarak said in a 2005 interview with the national Egyptian television.

"At the time, we were struggling to even pay the debt interests. We would have never been able to move forward if that burden had persisted."

Story continues

Mubarak helped crush an Islamist militant insurgency that flourished in the 1990s, with one infamous attack claiming the lives of more than 60 people -- mostly tourists -- in the southern province of Luxor in 1997. He also survived an assassination attempt in Addis Ababa, Ethipoia, two years earlier after gunmen had opened fire on a motorcade carrying him to an African summit in the Ethiopian capital.

While Mubarak's security bodies eventually managed to tame the insurgency, heavy-handed tactics were also used against political and apolitical prisoners alike as a downward slide began in the early 2000s.

Slideshow: The life of Hosni Mubarak

Corruption, cronyism and the ascent of powerful businessmen linked to the upper echelons of the regime started to bite, with private media, which had just started to blossom, growing more vocal.

Disparagement of the prime minister and ministers was rampant, although any criticism of Mubarak and his family was still considered off-limits.

Videos of prisoners being tortured flooded the internet and Mubarak's apparent attempts for reforms did little to appease public anger, including introducing constitutional amendments in 2005 that allowed for the first time multi-candidate presidential elections to take place.

In the same manner of his landslide victories in the now-disbanded referendums on the presidency, Mubarak romped to another win in the first multi-candidate elections in 2005, facing mild competition from opposition figure Ayman Nour, who was later imprisoned on what he believed were trumped-up charges of forging election endorsements.

The relative honeymoon Mubarak had enjoyed for decades was quickly over and an uptick of events in the following years was seen as the writing on the wall.

The sinking of a ferry in the Red Sea that killed more than 1,000 people in 2006, rare and large-scale protests that erupted against Mubarak two years later in the industrial Nile Delta city of Mahalla and notorious parliamentary elections that were rigged in favor of Mubarak's ruling party in late 2010 fueled public anger.

Widespread belief that Mubarak was grooming the younger of his two sons, Gamal, to succeed him did him no favors and the beating of a youngster to death by police forces in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria proved the last straw.

A Facebook page, co-run by then Google executive Wael Ghonim, mobilized protests in January 2011, inspired in part by the uprising in fellow North African country Tunisia that forced president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to flee.

Mubarak did offer some concessions as millions converged on public squares, including reshuffling his cabinet, but it was too little, too late.

Former president of Egypt Hosni Mubarak dies at 91 originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
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Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano and Made Anthony Iswara (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, February 26 2020

The government has announced a Rp 10.3 trillion (US$742 million) stimulus package that is expected to boost consumer spending and reinvigorate Indonesias tourism industry, which has been deflated by the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said on Tuesday that the government would disburse Rp 4.6 trillion to the 15.2 million beneficiaries of its staple needs program. The government will also add Rp 1.5 trillion to housing loan and down payment subsidies for low-income Indonesians.

This is the 30 percent bottom segment. They will use the funds immediately for consumption, Sri Mulyani said at the State Palace.

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They welcomed their daughter Lyra in September following a whirlwind romance.

And Michael Sheen and girlfriend Anna Lundberg were the picture of doting parents as they enjoyed a stroll in New York City with their baby girl Lyra on Monday alongside their family nanny, who was pushing the tot in her pram.

The actor, 50, and his Swedish actress girlfriend, 25, cut low-key figures as they emerged in casual looks alongside their daughter and doting childminder.

Happy days: Michael Sheen and girlfriend Anna Lundberg were the picture of doting parents as they enjoyed a stroll in New York City with their baby girl Lyra on Monday alongside their family nanny, who was pushing the tot in her pram

Michael donned a checked shirt with a tan jacket over the top and baggy jeans while he perfected his rugged look with his thick, salt and pepper beard.

Anna donned a complementary look, complete with tight jeans, a leather jacket, ankle boots and a trendy skull-print, monochrome scarf.

The couple welcomed their daughter on September 23. At the time, the actor's father Meyrick, 80, confirmed the Swedish actress had given birth, and said they were 'thrilled to bits' about the news.

Michael's father gushed: 'We are thrilled to bits, over the moon.'

Happy days: The actor, 50, and his Swedish actress girlfriend, 25, cut low-key figures as they emerged in casual looks alongside their daughter and doting childminder

Michael shared his own announcement on Twitter days later, with a photo of Lyra and Anna leaving the hospital.

The actor wrote: 'Happy to say that at 8:41am on Monday September 23rd our beautiful daughter Lyra was born.'

The Good Omens star confirmed he was expecting his first child with Anna last July, just two months after they were initially romantically linked in May following a series of loved-up social media posts.

Stylish: Michael donned a checked shirt with a tan jacket over the top and baggy jeans while he perfected his rugged look with his thick, salt and pepper beard

Revealing the happy news on Twitter, Michael told his followers: 'Very happy to let everyone know that my partner Anna and I are expecting a little angel of our own. (Just to be clear, were having a baby!) #nottheantichrist.' (sic)

Michael also shares daughter Lily Mo Sheen, 21, with his ex Kate Beckinsale, and previously said parenting is the 'most challenging' job yet he revealed it is a necessary and rewarding role.

He told The Guardian in 2010: 'I think being a parent is the most challenging thing you do. That's why we're here. It's at the heart of what it is to be a human being.

Eldest child: Michael also shares daughter Lily Mo Sheen, 21, with his ex Kate Beckinsale

'It's the ultimate experience because it questions everything about who you are. But it's difficult. My job takes me away from my daughter, Lily a lot, so when I am with her the time is really important.'

The actor was previously linked to Aisling Bea in April 2018 when the pair attended the Olivier Awards in London, but didn't walk the red carpet together.

Michael's ex-girlfriend, American comedian Sarah Silverman, 48, later revealed he had split from Aisling in September 2018.
Matt Armiger & Shari Dropik-Hernandez are two of seven new Regional Vice Presidents across the organization, part of a new operating model for the largest physical therapy provider in the U.S.

Bolingbrook, Ill, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BOLINGBROOK, Ill., (Feb. 24, 2020)  ATI Physical Therapy (ATI), one of the nations largest providers of physical therapy services, today announced the appointments of Matt Armiger and Shari Dropik-Hernandez as Regional Vice Presidents (RVP) for the Illinois and Southern regions. With Armiger leading Illinois and Dropik-Hernandez helming the South, the two will become part of a company-wide rollout of new RVP positions across the country. Working as RVPs, Armiger and Dropik-Hernandez will focus on long-term growth and business strategies as ATI looks to expand its national footprint. Both will report to Ray Wahl, Chief Operating Officer.

In their respective regions, Armiger and Dropik-Hernandez will develop operations plans, provide guidance on cultivating growth and ensure target earnings are met. They will support district leaders and leverage ATIs plentiful resources by partnering across the organization to maximize company-wide success. The two are highly qualified for these roles, with nearly 50 collective years of experience in management and operations at major global brands. Most recently, Armiger served as Vice President, Regional General Manager at Walmart Stores and Dropik-Hernandez as Regional Director of Operations Licensed Stores at Starbucks Coffee Company.

Were excited for the addition of these strong leaders to foster growth and increase efficiency at ATI. said Wahl. Matt and Shari are both the perfect fit to lead their regions  and the company as a whole  towards great success. The addition of the RVP role to ATI is part of our new operating model that aims to streamline how we work, how we communicate and how we make decisions. When each role performs to their expectations, we all win.

Story continues

Prior to joining ATI Physical Therapy, Armiger spent 10 years serving at Walmart Stores in various leadership positions. He has experience in management at retailers including Adidas Group, Dicks Sporting Goods and Target Stores, and has a bachelors degree from the University of Northern Iowa. Dropik-Hernandez previously served as a leader at Starbucks Coffee Company for 14 years. An alumna of Moorhead State University, she has also managed and directed at Bally Total Fitness, FILA and The Limited Corporation.

About ATI Physical Therapy

ATI is a privately held, nationally recognized healthcare company, specializing in outpatient rehabilitation and adjacent healthcare services. With a focus on delivering a remarkable experience to every patient, every day, ATI has close to 900 locations from coast to coast. ATI was named Best Physical Therapy Practice in the Nation by ADVANCE magazine and was one of the first physical therapy companies in the country to achieve URAC Core Accreditation, a mark of distinction that recognizes its commitment to quality healthcare. Based in Bolingbrook, Illinois, ATI gives back to communities across the country through the ATI Foundation, a non-profit established by ATI, which has provided more than $5 million in resources and funding to children with physical impairments. For more information on ATI Physical Therapy, and a complete list of clinic locations, services and the ATI Foundation, please visit ATIpt.com.

Media Contact:

Clifton ONeal

Director, Corporate Communications

630-296-2223 x 7993

Clifton.Oneal@atipt.com

Attachment

Clifton O'Neal

ATI Physical Therapy

630-296-2222

clifton.oneal@atipt.com


KAMPALA  Welsh mum Ziz York was fed-up with her young children complaining they were poor  so took them on a life-changing trip to Uganda to show them the real meaning of poverty.

The aid worker believes the two-week trip to Uganda has made daughters Nia, nine, and eight-year-old Robyn realise how fortunate they are to have been born in the UK.

The 35-year-old mum, from Wrexham, hopes her children will think twice about moaning about not getting everything that they want, after seeing first-hand the difficulties faced by kids growing up in the developing world.

Ziz works as Overseas Project Coordinator for Welsh humanitarian charity Teams4U  a charity given a 36,000 UK Government grant to support its educational work on menstrual and sexual health in Uganda.

She explained: Before we went to Uganda, my daughters had been complaining Oh, were so poor because theyd seen friends get holidays to Disney World or getting X-Boxes for their birthdays and stuff like that.

I turned round and said You have a roof over your head, we have loose change in our pockets, we can buy pretty much what we want in a supermarket, you have freedom of movement, we are in the top five per cent richest in the world.

Nia said No were not. We dont have a mansion or servants, but after taking them to Uganda and going This is the reality for most of the world, it made her think.

It made things a lot easier for Christmas because for the first time ever they were not asking for ridiculous things. They have an understanding now that they are lucky to have much more than most kids do.

Wrexham-based charity Teams4U received a 36,000 grant in September 2018 through the UK Governments Small Charities Challenge Fund, a scheme run by the Department for International Development (DFID).

The funding is supporting Teams4Us work helping improve menstrual and sexual health education in Uganda.

Ziz paid for her children to accompany her on a visit to the project last year.

And she said: We do live in a suburban bubble, so Uganda was mind-blowing for them.

I think the biggest eye-opener for them was just the lack of clothing. They were seeing children that were a quarter dressed because their clothes were that ragged.

They saw the lack of basic supplies we take for granted. The Ugandan kids didnt have pens, paper, underwear, a lot of them didnt have shoes. There were no toys.

My youngest was seven at the time but took to it like a duck to water and made friends instantly. My eldest is more introverted and felt very overwhelmed at times.

She was crowded all the time simply because the local kids were fascinated with these mzungu children  stroking their hair and asking them all sorts of questions.

My kids werent fully exposed to the most dramatic things like children dying from malaria or suffering from serious malnutrition because of the lack of medical supplies and food.

But they got enough of an idea about why we need to help. I wish more British people could get that perspective.

The birth-rate in poverty-stricken Uganda is 5.6 children per woman  more than double the global average of 2.4.

Last year, it was reported that a Ugandan mum, Mariam Babatanzi, had given birth to 44 children.

The 39-year-old had married aged 12, but been abandoned by her husband, forcing her to support their surviving 38 children alone.

Ziz said: There is so much fragility in the country because of over-population. One of the biggest killers in the area is land disputes because they are fighting to the death over it.

One that got me was this guy I met in hospital, who literally had had his legs macheted off and his land taken from him. But he was smiling and that really broke me.

When you see kids dying because families have no money for food or medicine, you appreciate that there is a systemic problem with them having too many kids.

Teams4Us project is working with more than 1,000 community leaders to tackle the over-population issue as part of DFIDs bid to support 360,000 women and girls with modern methods of family planning, as well as helping 200,000 females into education.

Ziz said: Our SCCF grant is funding a train the trainers programme to transform attitudes to sexual and menstrual health education.

When we first started this project in September 2018, people viewed sex education as encouraging children, as they phrase it, to play sex.

There were so many oh really? stories on sexual health that cause all sorts of problems. Condoms cause cancer is a good one. Contraception will cause permanent infertility. If you douche in Coca-Cola you wont get pregnant.

When it comes to menstruation, girls are just never told that their period pain is normal. Theres even a story put about that sex cures period pain, so they are told to get a man.

Theres quite a few unusual theories and beliefs around menstrual care. One teacher told a girl that menstrual blood is a vagina crying because she had done something wrong.

Girls are told if they are on their periods, they cant hold siblings because theyll be barren, or that they cant go the same route to school because they will curse the crops. Theres one that if you step on menstrual blood, youll get cracks in your legs.

These beliefs may seem weird to us, but a lot of it stems from a lack of any formal sex education.

The Department for International Development (DFID) is encouraging more small charities doing vital work around the world to apply for SCCF funding before the April 30 deadline.

International Development Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: The UK Governments Small Charities Challenge Fund was set up to make it easier for smaller UK organisations, which do vital work around the world, access the crucial support they need to help end poverty.

UK aid has helped Welsh charity Teams4U expand their work to improve sexual and menstrual health awareness among girls in Uganda so they can thrive at school and reach their full potential.

We want more small charities, doing important, life-changing and live-saving work in developing countries, to apply for a grant, so they can grow, and support jobs in the UK, while making even more of a difference globally.

Additional reporting by Wales Online

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PASADENA, Calif., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Shoppers at Whole Foods Market on E. Foothill Blvd. in Pasadena were greeted today by grocery workers and community allies who provided information to shoppers about the disruptive impacts that Whole Foods is having on Southern California's social fabric and food supply chain.

In 2017, in its biggest acquisition to date, Amazon bought Whole Foods for $13 billion and promised to slash prices. But under the direction of billionaire Jeff Bezos, the Wall Street Journal reports that Whole Foods' price tags are already going back up.

In addition to high costs inside Whole Foods, homeowners and renters near Whole Foods are feeling the burden of skyrocketing property taxes and unaffordable rent.

A food chain disruption looms larger now that Whole Foods's largest distributor, UNFI, is attacking well-paying union jobs and standards. It is not surprising that this is happening as Amazon gets ready to open an entirely new supermarket format to bolster its aggressive attempt to establish a major retail presence in the Southern California grocery segment.

Additionally, those working in Whole Foods' supply chain are being squeezed for profits. Oxfam, the internationally renowned organization that fights world poverty and hunger, has denounced Whole Foods for human rights abuses in its food supply chain globally, but the problem extends to the United States, as well. Whole Foods' biggest supplier, UNFI, consolidated its operations in the Northwest recently in order to cut worker benefits, wages, and jobs and destroy union protections. Now, it's planning to consolidate in Southern California.

"Right now, 1,200 UNFI grocery distribution workers and their families in Southern California are looking to the future with a great deal of anxiety," said Lou Villalvazo, President of Teamsters Local 630. "As predicted, the Amazon-Whole Foods merger has led to a big push for restructuring and cost cutting by UNFI, even as the CEO and top managers give themselves big pay increases. That's unacceptable."

"Cost of living is a huge issue. It's out of control, and Amazon-Whole Foods is a part of that problem  receiving unjustifiable tax exemptions, driving costs up for the rest of us, even as it's undercutting and depressing wages and standards. The Teamsters Union will not accept an attack on good jobs, retirement security and real health insurance that our families depend on. We will stand together and fight back," said Randy Cammack, President of Teamsters Joint Council 42.

Unionized UNFI employees in Southern California belong to several Teamster locals under Joint Council 42, which has over 250,000 members in 23 locals in Southern California, Southern Nevada, Guam, Saipan and Hawaii. Nearly 4,000 UNFI workers belong to the Teamsters Union across the United States. Whole Foods Market is UNFI's largest customer, and UNFI is Amazon-Whole Foods' biggest supplier.

Contact:

Lou Villalvazo, (213) 810-0774

Randy Cammack, (951) 906-1503

SOURCE Teamsters Joint Council 42
In an effort to stem the rising number of empty storefronts on San Francisco streets, Supervisor Hillary Ronen planned to introduce legislation Tuesday that aims to help nonprofits in the arts or social services operate out of vacant or underused stores.

Right now, hundreds of empty storefronts line our commercial corridors and the blight that they create is seriously threatening the health and vitality of our neighborhoods, Ronen said in a statement.

The citys zoning code prohibits office space on the ground floor in many commercial districts, with spaces mostly reserved for shops or restaurants. A nonprofit office would not qualify under current rules. But efforts to fill those storefronts with new businesses run up against high rents, the shift to online shopping and the citys bureaucratic delays in issuing permits.

Tapping the nonprofit sector to fill some of the spaces could fit a need. San Francisco has over 6,000 nonprofits, according to the Office of Economic and Workforce Development.

Dozens of nonprofit agencies and arts and culture organizations are being displaced and are struggling to find new places to operate, said Ronen, who represents the Mission, Portola and Bernal Heights neighborhoods. This legislation creates a win-win situation. ... Its a common-sense fix for two major neighborhood issues.

The temporary permits would be good for two years.

I think its an interesting Band-Aid. I cant imagine it becoming a viable option on a wide scale, said Maryo Mogannam, president of the San Francisco Council of District Merchants Association.

Impact Hub, a co-working space in the Mission, shuttered last month, displacing the approximately 15 nonprofits that operated inside it, including San Francisco Rising, a grassroots organization working with communities of color on civic engagement.

On Jan. 17, Emily Lee, the executive director of the nonprofit, got a notice informing her the master tenant, Impact Hub, would be evicted the following week. She scrambled to find a place in a week and found a temporary home at one of S.F. Risings fiscal sponsors. The nonprofit has been there a month.

Its been really difficult  we still havent found a permanent space, Lee said. We have a temporary office but this is not something we can do for the long term.

Another organization that could benefit is the Childrens Book Project, which has given more than 3 million books to children in the city through schools, clinics, homeless shelters and other programs.

Our organization is threatened with closing because we are losing our space, said Risa Schwartz, the 28-year-old nonprofits president.

Her group has been operating at the Francis Scott Key Annex site, a former school that is still San Francisco Unified School District property. It moved there six years ago after rent at its Bayview office tripled, Schwartz said. But the nonprofit needs to move by February 2021, with plans to build affordable teacher housing at the site under way.

The nonprofit gives away around 140,000 books a year, and receives around 160,000. Because of the logistics involved with pickup and sorting, the book project is looking for a space up to 6,000 square feet. Some of the places theyve seen have quoted $12,000 a month in rent, Schwartz said.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Its going to be difficult, and we couldnt take it from our budget, Schwartz said. Were going to have to do some fundraising if we pay commercial rates, or close.

The two-year permit would give the project time to figure out a long-term plan, she said.

Ronen said landlords would benefit from the temporary permit, too, as it would help avoid registering properties as vacant and paying a fee, as required by current city law. Supervisor Aaron Peskin has backed a tax on vacant storefronts meant to discourage landlords from keeping stores empty in hopes of higher rents. That tax measure, Proposition D, is up for a vote on Tuesday.

S.F. Risings Lee said the temporary permit allowing nonprofits to set up offices in empty stores is a step in the right direction.

Were not the only nonprofit that has suffered from a real lack of options to stay in San Francisco, she said.

Shwanika Narayan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @shwanika
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that a major focus of his discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been forging bilateral economic relationship that is fair and reciprocal and the two countries have made tremendous progress on a comprehensive trade agreement.

In his statement after restricted and delegation-level talks with PM Modi, Trump said the United States is also working productively with Pakistan to confront terrorists who operate on its soil.

He talked of the defence deal of USD 3 billion between the two countries under which the Indian armed forces will get advanced helicopters.

Trump termed his visit "very special, unforgettable, extraordinary" and "very productive for both countries."

"I know PM Modi will agree that this has been a very productive visit for both countries. Earlier today we expanded our defence cooperation with agreements for India to procure more than USD 3 billion of weapons including Apache and MH-60 Romeo helicopters, finest in the world," he said.

"These deals will enhance our joint defence capabilities as our militaries continue to train and operate side by side. In our discussions, the PM Modi and I affirmed our two countries commitments to protecting our citizens from radical Islamic terrorism. The United States is also working productively with Pakistan to confront terrorists who operate on its soil," he said.

Trump said another major focus of his discussion was "forging bilateral economic relationship that is fair and reciprocal".

"Our teams have made tremendous progress on a comprehensive trade agreement and I am optimistic that we would reach a deal that will of great importance to both countries," he said.

He said the two countries were also revitalising the Quad initiative that also includes Australia and Japan.

"Since I took office, we have had the first Quad ministerial meeting, and expanded cooperation on counter-terrorism, cybersecurity and maritime security, to ensure free and open Indo-Pacific," he said.

Trump said the United States was working with Australia and Japan to create a Blue Dot network, a major initiative to ensure that countries around the world have access private sector-led trustworthy options for high quality for infrastructure development.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A demo delay ordinance creating a 90-day window for people to organize to try to save historic buildings is headed to voters for approval.

The Board of Selectmen voted 4 to 0 to send a proposed demolition delay ordinance to a March 4 town meeting, preceded immediately by a public hearing.

Ridgefield now more than ever has historic structures at risk, Dan OBrien of the Historic District Commission told the selectmen. We have already lost historic structures which possibly could have been saved by use of a demo delay.

Sharon Dunphy of the Ridgefield Historical Society also spoke at the Feb. 5 selectmens meeting, supporting the law put forward by OBrien.

The town of Ridgefield is known for its historic charm, which promotes economic activity and tourism, she said.

Ridgefield has many historic and architecturally or culturally valuable buildings, some of them built as much as 300 years ago.

If a building has stood for 300 years, surely we can wait 90 days, Dunphy said.

The selectmen approved a version of the ordinance that OBrien has ushered through multiple revisions as town officials and other interested parties raised concerns and offered suggestions.

The 90-day delay period, the proposal says, is intended to provide an objecting party a reasonable period of time to further investigate the historical background and preservation benefit of the structure and to communicate with the owner possible alternatives to the demolition of the structure.

OBrien told the selectmen the towns does not currently have any demolition ordinance on the books, and his proposal codifies rules for demolitions based on current building department practices, and then adds the 90 day delay.

We have a simple ordinance  clean  it reflects what we do now, OBrien said.

The 90-day delay, of course, would be a new step.

The proposed law targets any application to demolish any building, structure or part thereof that was built before 1950 or is otherwise historically, architecturally or culturally significant.

When someone applied to demolish a building, there would be a waiting period of 30 days during which a written objection to the demolition could be filed with the building department by registered or certified mail.

The objection would need written support for its historic, architectural or cultural significance from either the Ridgefield Historic District Commission or the Ridgefield Historical Society. This clause was added to the proposed ordinance to address concerns raised by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Earlier drafts would have allowed objections to be filed to delay the demolition of any structure, without requiring any support for its significance.

The filing of a supported objection would trigger the new ordinance, in which case the building department shall delay the issuance of the permit for a period of 90 days from the receipt of the initial written objection.

The ordinance as proposed by OBrien has potential penalties up to a $500 fine or a year in prison.

Is that enough? That seemed kind of small to me, Selectwoman Maureen Kozlark said of the fine. I thought $500 was a little low.

First Selectman Rudy Marconi said other ordinances that the town had passed referenced penalty amounts specified in state statutes, so they would increase over time as the state raised the limit on fines.

Selectwoman Barbara Manners suggested the ordinance might be amended to reflect penalty language allowing fines not more than the maximum allowed by state statute.

There are demolition delay ordinances in towns around the state, including more than half of Fairfield Countys 22 towns. Towns such as Westport and Redding have delays that last 180 days  six months, as opposed to the 90-day or three-month delay proposed in Ridgefield.
A coastal town in southwestern India, a medieval city in Portugal and a region in the northern Philippines which is home to the world's most famous sunsets were the most discussed destinations on TripAdvisor over the past year.

The travel website on Tuesday announced the winners of its 2020 Travellers' Choice Destination awards, which recognise the places which have seen the biggest increases in positive reviews and ratings.

Kochi, a port city in southwestern India, enjoyed the biggest spike in five-star reviews, ratings and traveller interest on TripAdvisor over the last year.

It was closely followed by Luzon, a lush green region in the Philippines which is home to the capital Manila, and Porto, a historic city in northern Portugal filled with winding cobbled streets and some of the world's finest wine cellars.

Two little known Brazilian cities, one coastal and one high atop inland mountains, also featured in the top 10, alongside popular Indonesian and Vietnamese resorts and a Greek island which has been a tourist favourite for decades.

Australia received special mention in the 'Emerging Destinations' category, where the Northern Territory capital of Darwin was recognised for its historical attractions, waterfront dining and thrilling encounters which allow you to get up close and personal with a crocodile.

The coastal town of Kochi in southwestern India and the medieval city of Porto in Portugal (pictured) were the most discussed destinations on TripAdvisor over the past year

1. KOCHI, INDIA

A blending of small, ancient villages along India's southwestern coast created modern day Kochi, where sunset strolls, dining on fresh fish from seaside vendors and boat rides through the islands offshore are all part of the charm.

While visitors to India traditionally prioritised trips to better known cities like Delhi and Mumbai, seasoned travellers are now venturing to Kochi for its vibrant cafes, art galleries and historic colonial sites, including beautiful Portuguese-built churches and forts.



2. LUZON, PHILIPPINES

The northern region of Luzon boasts landscape and biodiversity like nowhere on earth, prompting travellers to journey to the largest island in the Philippines for a truly unique holiday experience.

Luzon is home to Manila, the country's bustling capital, but its the scenery of vast mountains, rain forests, miles-long beaches and coral reefs that draw the crowds.

Seasoned travellers are now venturing to Kochi (pictured) for its vibrant cafes, art galleries and historic colonial sites, including beautiful Portuguese-built churches and forts

3. PORTO, PORTUGAL

Set on the Douro River in northern Portugal, Porto is one of the oldest cities in Europe with many of its buildings declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1996.

Filled with twisting cobbled streets, the 600-year-old Sao Francisco Church and some of the world's finest wine cellars, its fast becoming the number one city break for European travellers.

4. PORTO SEGURO, BRAZIL

With 55 miles of white sand beaches, it's little wonder wanderers are increasingly drawn to Porto Seguro in the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil.

Colourful architecture, affordable restaurants and accommodation and a quaint town centre are some of the draw cards, along with the pristine Porto Seguro beach.

The beach is close to a port where you can catch the ferry to Arraial d'Ajuda, an idyllic holiday resort just over 35 minutes away.

The top 10 'Trending destinations' The 'Trending' category recognises traveller favourite destinations that are on the rise, having had the biggest increases in positive reviews and ratings on TripAdvisor over the past year. 1. Kochi (Cochin), India 2. Luzon, Philippines 3. Porto, Portugal 4. Porto Seguro, Brazil 5. Gramado, Brazil 6. Lombok, Indonesia 7. Da Nang, Vietnam 8. Zakynthos, Greece 9. Tel Aviv, Israel 10. Krakow, Poland Source: TripAdvisor Advertisement

5. GRAMADO, BRAZIL

As Brazil continues to shed its reputation as an 'off the beaten track' destination, a growing number of travellers are venturing inland to explore the mountains instead of the vibrant coastline.

Gramado, a mountain resort in Brazil's southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul, looks like it could have been plucked from a Bavarian Alpine town, having been settled by German colonists in the 19th century.

6. LOMBOK, INDONESIA

Bali will always be beloved by world travellers, but Lombok is quickly taking the spotlight as Indonesia's most popular destination.

It offers a more laid back atmosphere with fewer crowds than nearby Bali, which is just a short boat ride away.

Home to immaculate beaches, hiking trails to waterfalls and volcanoes and world-class diving spots, Lombok has something to suit every taste.

Home to immaculate beaches, hiking trails to waterfalls and volcanoes and world-class diving spots, Lombok (pictured) has something to suit every taste

7. DA NANG, VIETNAM

Halfway between the major cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is Da Nang, a coastal city in central Vietnam which has swiftly become a favourite among backpackers and luxury lovers alike.

Despite a sudden increase in direct international flights, Da Nang remains largely affordable for travellers of all budgets.

It's an easy spot to get into the local groove with a cooking class, an off-roading adventure or a relaxing massage at one of the city's many spas.

Da Nang (pictured) in central Vietnam is an easy spot to get into the local groove with a cooking class, an off-roading adventure or a relaxing massage at one of the city's many spas

The top 10 'Emerging destinations' The 'Emerging' category recognises destinations still ahead of the curve that smart travellers are already researching. TripAdvisor describe the list as a 'great indicator of up-and-coming hotspots'. 1. Kaliningrad, Russia 2. Saranda, Albania 3. Beirut, Lebanon 4. Luxor, Egypt 5. Naoussa, Greece 6. Rugen Island, Germany 7. Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam 8. Monopoli, Italy 9. La Paz, Mexico 10. Curacao, Caribbean Source: TripAdvisor Advertisement

8. ZAKYNTHOS, GREECE

The Greek island of Zakynthos has sustained its reputation as one of the world's most idyllic holiday destinations for decades.

Sitting in the middle of Ionian Sea, the island has a quieter and more romantic atmosphere than many of its Greek counterparts with crystal clear waters and stunning scenery.

It's an island 'tailor made for serious relaxation', according to reviewers on TripAdvisor.

Sitting in the middle of Ionian Sea, Zakynthos (pictured) has a quieter and more romantic atmosphere than many of its Greek counterparts with crystal clear waters and stunning scenery

9. TEL AVIV, ISRAEL

From nightlife and history to food and world-class best beaches, Tel Aviv is a city of many talents and hidden attractions.

Widely hailed as the number one party destination in the Middle East, the city on Israel's Mediterranean coast is filled with white stone buildings, bustling bars and some of the world's most respected museums.

10. KRAKOW, POLAND

The historic city of Krakow in southern Poland is enjoying a moment as one of Europe's most popular weekend getaways.

Surrounded by ancient walls, the centre of the city is home to a stunning Jewish quarter and an expansive market square lifted straight from a fairy tale.

Krakow offers gourmet dining and fine wine at a fraction of the cost of other major European cities.

A short drive will take you to must-see historic sites including the Wieliczka Salt Mine and the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Museum.
Parts of Indonesian capital and its suburbs were flooded after two tropical cyclones off the nations coast triggered heavy rainfall overnight, inundating houses in low-lying areas and causing a power outage.

More than 80 spots of flooding were reported in Jakarta and the satellite cities of Bekasi and Tangerang by Tuesday morning with the water level in Ciliwung river that runs through the capital steadily rising, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency.

Heavy rainfall may continue to lash the greater Jakarta area under the influence of tropical cyclone Esther in the Gulf of Carpentaria and Ferdinand in the Indian Ocean, the Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysics Agency said on Twitter. State-owned electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara said more than 300 electrical substations in the flooded areas were shut down temporarily for safety.

At least 60 people were killed and thousands were forced to flee homes early this year in the deadliest flooding to hit Jakarta in more than a decade during which floodwaters rose as high as a single-story house. President Joko Widodo has ordered the relocation of capital to Borneo island as the Jakarta metropolitan area, home to almost 30 million people, is regularly flooded.

The flooding disrupted normal life in the city with some schools closed and rail and bus operations partially hit. PT Jasa Marga diverted traffic from two toll roads connecting the capital to its suburbs following water-logging of the highways, the company said in a statement.

The Jakarta administration suspended the traffic restrictions on its main streets for the day after the meteorological bureau recorded more than 200 millimeters of rainfall in some areas, showers considered as extreme by the forecaster.

With assistance from Harry Suhartono.

Photograph: In this picture taken on July 12, 2019 a man walks on a flooded road in between abandoned warehouses and a giant sea wall in northern Jakarta.  Indonesias capital is being swallowed into the ground at such an alarming rate that experts warn much of it could be submerged by 2050. (Photo credit BAY ISMOYO/AFP via Getty Images)

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Tue, February 25, 2020 16:56 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20668a064 1 National coronavirus,COVID-19,Wuhan-coronavirus,Wuhan-University-of-Technology,Medan,student,outbreak,repatriation Free

It has been a week since Diza Laila returned to her family in Medan, North Sumatra, after being repatriated earlier this month from Wuhan, China, where she was studying.

The 18-year-old student underwent a 14-day quarantine in Natuna, Riau Islands, before she was allowed to go home over fears of the spread of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Diza is a student at the Wuhan University of Technology, majoring in computer science.

She said that despite being in Medan, she was still attending online classes given by her lecturers at the university. She expressed confidence that the Chinese government would be able to deal with the virus.

Hopefully, Wuhan will return to normal so the students, including me, can return to finish our studies, Diza told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

She said there were 14 Indonesian students studying at her university in Wuhan. They were all residing in the university dormitory.

When [the outbreak occurred], we were not allowed to leave the dormitory until the Indonesian government eventually repatriated us on Feb. 1, she said.

When the outbreak hit the city, Wuhan turned into a ghost town as no one had the courage to leave home, Diza said. The commercial areas were closed as well.

Diza said she first heard about the outbreak in Wuhan from the Chinese government in early December 2019. She said she was afraid and immediately wanted to go home to Medan.

Alhamdulillah [praise to God] I am in Medan now, she said happily, despite the fact that certain friends and neighbors seemed to be afraid to physically interact with her after she arrived on Feb. 16.

I can understand that  because of the lack of information, said Diza, who felt relieved when she was declared free of the virus.

North Sumatra Health Agency head Alwi Mujahit Hasibuan said he was happy to know that the three Medan students in Wuhan, including Diaz, had reached home.

They are not infected with the virus. There is nothing to worry about in interacting with them, said Alwi as he received Diza at his office on Monday.

He said that no North Sumatran residents or foreign visitors had the virus so far. He said the 84 people who had undergone house quarantine in the province had been declared healthy.

All the 84 people have returned to their normal activities, said Alwi, adding that their house quarantine ended on Sunday.
Fiesta Flambeau parade-goers will notice a change this year when the University of Texas at San Antonio's marching band leads the massive event instead of the UT Longhorn Band.

The Longhorn Band has led the night parade for years, but will not be present for the 72nd annual event April 25 because of a scheduling conflict. The Fiesta Flambeau Parade Association said the Longhorns' spring Orange-White Game is also scheduled on April 25 and will keep the band from the tradition. The association said the Longhorn Band expressed its desire to resume its role in the parade next year and added that it is "very happy" to work with the local musicians for this year's parade.
Government Reveals New Post-Brexit UK Touring Restrictions

The UK governments Home Office has announced new post-Brexit regulations for musicians touring the country from Europe.

The new system, which ends the free movement of UK and EU citizens across shared borders, is based on points and will go into effect on January 1st, 2020.

The points will be awarded by factors, including sponsorship, appropriate skill level for the sought-after job, fluency in English, education level, and current salary.

The new regulations will require musicians from Europe who want to tour in the UK to apply for a Tier 5 visas and will be subject to the same restrictions as touring musicians from countries outside of the EU.

The tier 5 visa includes a 244 application fee and will require a certificate of sponsorship from an employer. The application will also require would-be visiting workers to demonstrate they have at least 945 in savings for 90 days before they apply.

Visa applicants will also be on the hook for a 19.20 biometric information fee, and a healthcare surcharge.

Non-EU workers can currently apply for a 30-day Permitted Paid Engagement to perform in the UK.

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Evangelical Christian sues US Postal Service over mandatory work on Sundays

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An evangelical Christian in Pennsylvania has taken legal action against the U.S. Postal Service for forcing him to quit by requiring him to work on Sundays after the USPS partnered with Amazon for delivery.

Gerald Groff, a former mail carrier in Lancaster County who didnt want to miss church or to observe Sunday as the day of worship, filed a motion for summary judgment before a federal district judge against the USPS earlier this month for not accommodating his religious beliefs, Independence Law Center, which is one of the law firms representing the Christian, said in a statement.

The USPS had never required Groff to work on Sundays until it started parcel delivery in partnership with Amazon.

Initially, the Post Office accommodated Groffs religious beliefs for not working on Sundays, as he worked on holidays, in the evenings and on Saturdays when other carriers werent willing to work. However, later, the USPS started enforcing a mandatory Sunday policy on Groff and disciplined him. As a result, he was constructively discharged from the job.

In a free and respectful society, government should recognize those differences among us that make us great, rather than punishing those differences, particularly when those differences result from our sincerely held religious beliefs, David Crossett, one of the attorneys representing Groff, said in the statement.

Just as the Supreme Court recognized in a case involving the right of a Muslim worker to wear a head scarf at a clothing store, a government employer like the Post Office should reasonably accommodate an employees religious beliefs. The Post Office had plenty of other options for delivering Amazon packages on Sundays without making this employee violate his religious conscience, said Randall Wenger, ILCs Chief Counsel. In a free society, government employers can and should do better at respecting their employees rights.

ILC lawyer Jeremy Samek told abc27 that its not uncommon for people to request reasonable accommodations at their workplace. Employers are actually required to provide reasonable accommodations. Its something that happens every single day.

Samek continued, We should, as a society, seek to reasonably accommodate people with unique religious beliefs, that we can all live and work together in a pluralistic society.

At the end of the day, Mr. Groff wants his job back. Its important for him, but its also important for lots of other people who work for the federal government or the post office that they be able to continue their employment and to continue to observe their religious beliefs.
Newport, N.Y. - The Maximum Power Park Mud and Music Fest is set for Thursday July 16th through Sunday the 19th despite the owner still dealing with a $1 million fine for last year's festival.

The state fined the owner of Maximum Power Park, Peter Lockwood, $1 million last year for not having a mass gathering permit which is required by New York State for any event of more than 5,000 people.

The New York State Department of Health said there were numerous issues at the event including not having safe drinking water, not having enough security and not having an on-site emergency healthcare facility with required staffing and equipment, releasing the following statement last summer :

"On July 16, the Department of Health notified Mr. Lockwood that the Maximum Power Park Mud and Music Fest had been denied a Mass Gathering Permit required for an event with projected attendance of 5,000 or more. The charges against Mr. Lockwood reflect a blatant disregard for health and safety and include holding the event without a permit even after the Department urged the event to be canceled, failure to provide adequate potable water, providing insufficient security, presence of a fire hazard including overcrowding of campers with gasoline stored under units, multiple people observed driving ATVs without helmets and while drinking alcoholic beverages, discharging wastewater into the ground creating an unapproved leach field, and that there was no on-site emergency healthcare facility with required staffing and equipment. Staff of the Health Department monitored the event and performed daily inspections throughout the weekend to mitigate public health and safety concerns during the event, including providing emergency medical services in the absence of services being provided by the promoter, sanitizing the water tanker and addressing several dangerous situations that threatened the health and safety of patrons."

News Channel 2 spoke with Peter Lockwood on Monday.

Lockwood says he can't comment on last year's issues because there are still hearings being held regarding the $1 million fine.

As far as this year's festival, Lockwood says he does plan to have less than 5,000 people and says last year's event and 1$ million fine have nothing to do with this year's event.

We couldn't reach Newport Town Supervisor Mike McEvoy on Monday to see if he is concerned about the event coming back again this year, but we did speak with with Herkimer County Board Chairman Vincent Bono.

Bono says Lockwood needs to get the proper permits, including a mass gathering permit if he does have more than 5,000 people, "We need to make sure that there's enough outside security along with inside security within the borders of that festivity. We certainly want people in our county and having a good time but the main thing is safety, safety and health concerns are paramount."

Although there have been some neighbors who live in that part of Newport who have been against the huge event in the past, we caught up with one neighbor on Monday who lives right next door to the Maximum Power Park property on North Gage Road. Ken Schultz says says bring it on, he welcomes the festival back, "Yes, because what it does for the economy locally is unreal. It brings in a tremendous amount of money to the local merchants that would not be there if it wasn't for that."

Schultz says he and his wife often walk through the festival each day and have never had a problem with any of the festival goers.

Tickets are now on sale on the Maximum Power Park website, www.maximumpowerpark.com
Higher numbers of jet aircraft orders helped engineering firm Meggitt to record higher revenues and profits in 2019.

The Bournemouth-based aerospace and defence company saw the value of orders rise by 10 per cent to 2.47billion while statutory pre-tax profits jumped by a third to 286.7million with regional and business jets boosting the company.

Sales were ahead in all three of its major markets - with 8 per cent growth in civil aerospace, 11 per cent in defence and 10 per cent in energy.

the grounding of Boeing's 737 Max and its uncertain future are likely to hurt Meggitt in 2020

But the firm warned that the Boeing 737 Max scandal and the coronavirus outbreak are expected to impact on its sales in the coming year. It also expects organic revenue growth to be up to 4 per cent this year, against 8 per cent in 2019.

The announcement caused the air parts maker's share price to fall the highest of any firm on the FTSE 100 Index, dropping 4.85 per cent by mid-afternoon to 565.50p.

Meggitt said the Covid-19 outbreak will likely weaken global air traffic growth in the coming year while the grounding of Boeing's 737 Max and its uncertain future are expected to dilute expansion in original equipment (OE) orders.

'Sector-specific factors including the production halt of the 737 Max and supply chain disruption, as well as the wider macroeconomic impact of Covid-19, are expected to hold back margin progression in the short term.'

The company is the latest to flag up coronavirus concerns as firms worry that the outbreak will lead to a sharp reduction in global economic growth and a knock-on effect on demand.

The overall environment for the global aerospace industry continues to be supportive, with new aircraft deliveries and air traffic both expected to continue to grow and robust defence spending over the medium term.'

Meggitt is the latest to flag up coronavirus concerns as firms worry that the outbreak will lead to a sharp reduction in global economic growth and a knock-on effect on demand

Chief executive Tony Wood hailed a better-than-expected set of results and said Meggitt is now a 'more focused, higher-quality and more resilient business'.

'We delivered good progress on our strategic initiatives, helping offset the investment made at our fast-growing advanced engine composites sites and headwinds caused by adverse mix, supply and trading environment conditions and the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max,' he said.

Meggitt also separately announced that chairman Sir Nigel Rudd will step down by 2021, but remain in post until a successor is appointed.

Boeing 737 Max planes was grounded after an Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max flight crashed

Boeing's troubles over its 737 Max aircraft began after 189 people died in a Lion Air 737 Max crash in Indonesia. The disaster was blamed on Indonesian investigators on the plane's faulty MCAS system.

Five months later, an Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max flight crashed, killing everyone on board, just like in the Lion Air disaster. The plane was grounded a few days later by Boeing, and has remained on the ground ever since.

Issues with the 737 Max led to Boeing registering its first annual loss in two decades in 2019, of $636million. It estimates the fallout will end up costing them $18billion (13billion).

Meggitt also advised that the coronavirus epidemic could damage its number of aircraft deliveries in the first quarter of the year.

Aircraft manufacturers and airlines are expected to be one of the biggest financial casualties of the coronavirus outbreak.

Yesterday, the biggest three falling stocks on the FTSE 100 were EasyJet, TUI and British Airways parent group IAG. Qantas and Air-France-KLM have said the virus could cost them 99million and 168million respectively.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Feb 15 (ANI): Actor Sushant Singh, who participated in a protest rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) at Azad Maidan here on Saturday said that the Centre would have to withdraw the contentious citizenship law.



Address the rally, Sushant Singh said: "I am here to show solidarity with all of you. We will fight and the government will revoke CAA. I salute your resistance and courage."

Talking to the media later, he said: "I am happy that Home Minister has said anyone can seek an appointment to meet and discuss CAA with him. I got to know that few members of Shaheen Bagh protesters are planning to meet him tomorrow."

Sushant has also requested the Maharashtra government to not allow National Population Register (NPR) exercise in the state as "it is the first step of NRC".

The CAA grants citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. (ANI)


An internationally renowned gambling expert has told Australian governments to stop regulating casinos as if they were an "adult Disneyland" given their vulnerability to being infiltrated by organised crime.

The NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority's public inquiry into revelations Crown Resorts went into business with junket tour operators linked to Asian crime syndicates spent its second day of hearings further picking apart gaps in how casinos are regulated in Australia compared to other jurisdictions.

Casinos could not be treated the same as "any other industry" because of the risk of criminal infiltration, the inquiry has been told. Credit:Phil Carrick

I. Nelson Rose, an expert in gambling law and Professor Emeritus at the Whittier Law School in California, told the inquiry casinos were more vulnerable to criminal infiltration than "any other business", due to the "enormous" amounts of cash passing over their tables.

He took aim at a review of NSW's casino legislation which the government ordered after it granted James Packer's Crown Resorts a licence for a new casino in Sydney, which is set to open its doors early next year.
NEW DELHI: At least judges of the Supreme Court are currently suffering from swine flu, triggering health concerns over H1N1 virus. Two of the judges suffering from swine flu are on the nine-judge Constitution Bench hearing the Sabrimala verdict case, the hearing of which has been delayed as a result.

According to reports, the six judges, suffering from H1N1 virus, did not attend court. Justice DY Chandrachud, while conducting the court proceedings, announced that all apex court judges held a meeting with Chief Justice of India, SA Bobde, over the case of six of their colleagues infected by H1N1 virus.

Importantly, an apex court judge, Sanjiv Khanna, came to the court wearing a mask. Justice Chandrachud said that it was decided that the top court will make vaccines available for innoculation of lawyers.

The Chief Justice suggested during the meeting that lawyers as well as bar association chief should also take the initiative for preventive measures against the disease, Justice Chandrachud added.

Meanwhile, a meeting was held with Supreme Court Bar Association President Dushyant Dave to tackle the health emergency. Dave said that some foreign delegation members who participated in a judicial conference in the apex court complex recently were infected by the virus.
[February 25, 2020] Deluxe Highlights Transformation and Path to Sales-Driven Growth at Analyst and Investor Day

Today in New York City, Deluxe (NYSE: DLX) is hosting its very first Analyst and Investor Day with its new leadership team. More than 100 analysts and investors will join President and CEO Barry McCarthy, and the entire Deluxe executive leadership team (ELT), to learn more about the Company's "One Deluxe" strategy. The company is also providing a 2020 and 2023 financial outlook in its new segmentation format, which is reflected in the table included later in this release. "The Deluxe of today is a dynamic fintech company, and we are excited to showcase our One Deluxe vision and our broad portfolio of products and services that support customers throughout their lifecycle," said McCarthy. "In fundamentally changing the way we go to market; we have positioned Deluxe to deliver sales-driven revenue growth for the long term." "We have been building on our heritage as the original payments company by expanding our platform of offerings far beyond the markets we historically operated in. With our strong leadership team in place, Deluxe is poised to capitalize on the tremendous opportunity presented by our massive customer base of approximately 4.5 million small businesses, over 4,000 financial institutions and many of the world's largest consumer brands," McCarthy continued. In early 2019, Deluxe began a strategic transformation to become a Trusted Business Technology company. Under the guidance of McCarthy, who joined the company in late 2018, Deluxe has been on a journey to fundamentally change the way it operates, moving from a traditional manufacturing "company of companies" to a more tech-forward "company of products." McCarthy announced a new corporate strategy to focus on four key businesses: Payments, Cloud Solutions, Promotional Solutions and Checks. Today's event will include a series of presentations by the Deluxe ELT to discuss in greater detail these four businesses. Deluxe will also unveil a new logo and go-to-market strategy, including the Company's brand promise to champion businesses so communities thrive. The formal presentations will begin at 8:00 am (EST) and will conclude at approximately 12:00 pm (EST). A webcast of the live audio portion of the event and the accompanying presentation slides will be accessible at https://www.deluxe.com/investor-relations/. A replay of the webcast will be available following the event and accessible from the corporate website.







Full Year 2020 Outlook First Quarter 2020 Outlook Revenue Adjusted EBITDA Revenue Adjusted EBITDA ($ millions) ($ millions) ($ millions) ($ millions) Deluxe Total $2,000 - $2,040 $410 - $435 $490 - $505 $85 - $95

Full Year 2019 Full Year 2020 Outlook 2020-2023 Estimate 2023 Estimate Revenue Adjusted Adjusted Compound Adjusted Revenue EBITDA Revenue EBITDA Annual Growth EBITDA ($ millions) Margin % ($ millions) Margin % Rate % Margin % Deluxe Total $2,009 23.9 $2,000 - $2,040 n/a n/a Low-to-Mid 20s Payments 270 27.5 316 - 322 High Teens to

Low 20s Upper Teens to

Mid 20s Mid-to-High 20s Cloud Solutions 318 25.9 302 - 312 Low-to-Mid 20s Mid-Single

Digits Low-to-Mid 20s Promotional Solutions 641 15.6 632 - 646 Mid-Teens Low-Single

Digits Mid-to-High

Teens Checks 780 51.2 750 - 760 Mid-to-High 40s Contract Mid-

Single Digits Mid-40s Corporate Costs % of Revenue n/a 8.7 n/a 7.5 - 9.5 n/a Mid-Single

Digits Information regarding the Company's new segment structure can be found in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K furnished to the SEC (News - Alert) on February 25, 2020. The reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA for 2019 to net income can be found in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. Note that the Company has not reconciled adjusted EBITDA margin outlook guidance for the first quarter of 2020, full year 2020 and 2023 to the directly comparable GAAP financial measure because the Company does not provide outlook guidance for net income or the reconciling items between net income and adjusted EBITDA. Because of the substantial uncertainty and variability surrounding certain of these forward-looking reconciling items, including asset impairment charges, restructuring, integration and other costs, and certain legal-related expenses, a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure outlook guidance to the corresponding GAAP measure is not available without unreasonable effort. The probable significance of certain of these items is high and, based on historical experience, could be material. About Deluxe

Deluxe is a Trusted Business Technology company that champions business so communities thrive. Our solutions help businesses pay and get paid, accelerate growth, and operate more efficiently. For more than 100 years, we've been helping businesses succeed at all stages of their lifecycle, from start-up to maturity. Our unparalleled global scale supporting approximately 4.5 million small businesses, over 4,000 financial institutions and hundreds of the world's largest consumer brands uniquely positions Deluxe to be our customers' most trusted business partner. To learn how we can help your business, visit us at www.deluxe.com, www.facebook.com/deluxecorp, www.linkedin.com/company/deluxe, or www.twitter.com/deluxecorp. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005148/en/

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Housebuilders in Ireland are embarking on a series of roadshows to lobby newly-elected TDs on what they say are the barriers to housing construction.

Taxes on construction and the difficulty faced by some people in securing mortgages will form the basis of the workshops organised by The Irish Homebuilders Association (IHBA), an association within the Construction Industry Federation (CIF).

The recent general election saw 48 new TDs enter Dail Eireann. The IHBS hope to engage with as many of them as possible at events in Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Dublin. IHBA chair Neil Durkan said a key challenge facing the industry is the fact that young people cant secure mortgages.

Many have been forced into longer term rental with very little prospect of saving for a deposit, he said.

The result of fewer couples with mortgages is less people capable of buying a home. This means banks wont lend to home-builders so supply remains low. On the other side, the cost of construction is too high due to the Government tax take on every home built. This means higher prices in Dublin and little or no homebuilding outside the capital.

The exorbitant tax take by Government means that as our industry strives to play its role in addressing climate concerns and build better quality more energy-efficient homes, additional regulation make homebuilding impossible.

Director of Housing, Planning and Development with CIF, James Benson said housing was the key issue in the election so it is vital that whoever forms the next Government understand the challenges their industry faces.

Were inviting local politicians and TDs to attend to hear first-hand some of the barriers facing home builders.

Representatives from the Office of Planning Regulator, Irish Water, ESB Networks, Beauparc Group & HBFI and Bank of Ireland will also attend the events.

The clock is ticking for the next Government, if they dont remove some of these barriers, housing supply will not increase and they will have to face an electorate that has lost patience with the system when it comes to housing, Mr Durkan said.
The tiny island nation of Bahrain suspended flights to the world's busiest airport for international travel in Dubai on Tuesday over fears about the spread of a new virus.

The move by Bahrain, a small island off the coast of Saudi Arabia, suggested its monarchy had doubts about screenings of incoming passengers in Dubai and nearby Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. It said the ban was immediate and would last at least 48 hours.

Bahrain counted its first case of the coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 illness on Monday in a school bus driver who transited Dubai while coming from Iran.

Dubai International Airport did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Officials at Sharjah's airport could not be immediately reached.

Dubai has been screening passengers on incoming flights from China, where the outbreak began. Long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad are among the few international airlines still flying to Beijing. However, the outbreak in Iran only became public in recent days.

Iran's government said Monday that 12 people had died nationwide from the new coronavirus, rejecting claims of a much higher death toll of 50 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.

Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq and Oman also announced their first cases of the virus on Monday and connected them to travel with Iran.

The UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula, has reported 13 cases of the new virus. Most of those were connected to Chinese travel.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 25

By Samir Ali - Trend:

For about a year now, the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno Karabakh has been making efforts to convey the truth about the Khojaly genocide to the global community, and the community intends to act even more intensively in the future, Head of the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan Tural Ganjaliyev told reporters, Trend reports.

Tural Ganjaliyev noted that 10 countries already have recognized the Khojaly genocide.

"All necessary measures will be taken for the recognition of the Khojaly genocide by the rest of the world. We will make every effort to ensure that the former leadership of Armenia responsible for the committing of this genocide - Serzh Sargsyan, Robert Kocharyan, and their assistant Arthur Lukasyan - are held accountable. We will demand that each of them are held responsible before the Azerbaijani people, and this, however, will happen soon," Ganjaliyev said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, 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.
India and the US on Tuesday further strengthened their defence cooperation, with the two countries signing an agreement allowing India the sale of more than USD 3 Billion of advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo Helicopters.

"Earlier today we expanded our defence cooperation with agreements for India to purchase more than US$ 3 Bn of advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo Helicopters - finest in the world. These will enhance our joint defence capabilities," President Trump said addressing the joint presser with PM Modi.

The statement by both the leaders during their joint presser had a significant portion devoted to defence relations. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed how India's defence capabilities have increased due to the growing cooperation with the US on modern military machines and technologies, President Trump pointed out that the two countries decided to expand defence cooperation with agreements for India to purchase more than USD 3 billion of advanced American military equipment.

A day earlier, during his address at "Namaste Trump" event in Motera Stadium, the US President had confirmed that the two countries would sign the defence agreement.

"I am pleased to announce that tomorrow our representatives will sign deals to sell over USD 3 Billion, in the absolute finest state of the art military helicopters and other equipment to the Indian armed forces," Trump had 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. But this includes advanced air defence systems and armed and unarmed aerial vehicles," the US President had told the gathering.

On his part, Prime Minister Narendra Modi insisted that the two of them had a positive discussion on every aspect of India-US relationship.

"...Be it defence and security, energy strategic partnership, technology cooperation, global connectivity, trade relation or people to people ties. The growing cooperation between India and the US on defence and security is an important aspect of our strategic partnership. Due to cooperation on modern military hardware and platform, India's defence capabilities have increased," said PM Modi.

The Prime Minister said our defence manufacturers are becoming a part of each other's supply chains.

The last few years have seen the two countries concluding a number of important military agreements such as LEMOA, COMCASA, the interoperability between the military of two countries have grown.

"Today, Indian forces are holding most number of training exercises with the US Forces. In the last few years, interoperability between our forces have increased in an unprecedented manner," said PM Modi.

The Prime Minister highlighted that India-US cooperation is based on shared democratic values and goals and noted that this cooperation holds significance for rule-based international order in the Indo-Pacific.

"This relationship is the most important partnership of the 21st century and therefore President Trump and I have taken a decision to raise our partnership to the level of comprehensive global strategic partnership," PM Modi said.

The Indian military has bought a significant chunk of its military hardware from the US in the last few years. These include P-8I surveillance plane for Indian Navy, Apache attack choppers; Chinook transport choppers for the IAF, M-777 Howitzers and assault rifles for the Indian Army.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
If last weeks episode, The Haunting of Villa Diodati, was all about how deadly a single Cyberman can be, this week showcased the full might of an entire Cyber army. Ascension of the Cybermen, part one of the two-part season finale, finds the Doctor scrambling to clean up the mess she made back in 19th-century Switzerland, as the half-faced, fully-unhinged Ashad threatens to lead his army to a universe-altering victory.

From the moment the Doctor, Yaz, Graham, and Ryan touch down on a futuristic alien planet, searching for human refugees in the wake of the devastating Cyber War, its a race for survival. Even for a show that regularly features an above-average amount of running, the Doctor and her friends spend most of Ascension dashing from place to place: Theres running across a charred battlefield, running from an impending Cyberman invasion, running in spaceships, running on foot, running to find a mysterious planet that actually turns out to be a person.

Our heroes arrive as prepared as possible  its fun to watch Graham expertly explain Cyber-rebelling tech like hes been doing this since childhood  but theyre no match for the army that follows them in hot pursuit. (At one point, a swarm of floating Cyberman heads-slash-drones descend upon them, and although these levitating heads were meant to instill fear in the audience, it just felt like an oddly silly moment in an otherwise serious episode.)

Our fam is soon separated in the chaos, as Graham and Yaz escape in a ship with the surviving human refugees. Low on power and drifting through space, they board an abandoned Cyber carrier ship that they find floating in the remains of a great battle. Even though the Doctor isnt there to guide them, its clear that her influence remains: Yaz and Graham immediately take charge, poking around in the bowels of the Cyber ship without fear and reassuring their fellow passengers. Yaz has always been curious by nature, but its especially delightful to see how Graham has grown into a plucky action-hero. A massive spaceship carrying millions of relentless robot soldiers is a long way from Sheffield, but Yaz and Graham decide to face this new challenge with the tenacity and optimism theyve learned from the Doctor.

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Speaking of the Doctor, she and Ryan wind up on a ship of their own, nicking Ashads personal craft with one of the other humans. Ashad is predictably not pleased. Now that weve spent two episodes with the murderous metallic man, I think its safe to say that hes one of the most interesting and terrifying villains of Jodie Whittakers era. (Hes certainly a far cry from last seasons big bad, the Tooth Fairy wannabe Tim Shaw.) Cyberman storylines have always leaned into body horror, and Ashad is a twisted sight  dead flesh hooked into wires and machines, skin cold and pale but eyes glinting with hate. True Cybermen may be stripped of all emotion, but Ashad is powered by it, simmering with a xenocidal rage. Hes both righteous fury and crippling self-loathing, and as one of the human refugees puts it, hes the Cyberman who can make other Cybermen scream.

The only glint of hope as the Cyber War rages on is something called Ko Sharmus, a whisper among the human survivors. Ko Sharmus turns out not to be a place but a person (Ian McElhinney), whos been watching over a mysterious portal. Its said that the portal is a gateway to another universe, one that the Cybermen cant touch, but as the Doctor investigates, she discovers that its something far more familiar: a gateway to her homeworld of Gallifrey.

Shes pondering how the Timelords could be involved in all of this when another mystery steps through the gate: Sacha Dhawans Master, all gleaming grin and swagger. Whatevers happening, its much, much bigger than the Cyber War and raises even more questions about the Master, Gallifrey, and the much-teased Timeless Child.

Its a captivating cliffhanger, but what makes Ascension memorable is a much quieter, stranger plot, woven throughout all the Cyber shenanigans. As the Doctor and her friends are running around space, we follow a young man named Brendan (Evan McCabe), as hes found abandoned as a baby in a small Irish village and adopted by a seemingly picture-perfect couple. He grows up to be a small-town police officer, an ordinary life marked only by a few strange events  like when a criminal chase results in him being shot and pushed off a cliff, only to survive his injuries completely unharmed. He eventually ages and retires from the force, which is when his adoptive dad and police force boss (seemingly unaged) wipe his memory with an odd device.

So who is Brendan, and how is this mild-mannered Irish police officer connected to intergalactic events? Is the device at the end of the episode early Cyberman tech? Or is it a chameleon arch, like the one we saw Ruth use earlier this season to hide her Timelord identity? For a penultimate episode, Ascension seems to be asking all the right questions. Now its up to next weeks season finale to hopefully give us some answers.

TARDIS log notes:

I know that when youre running from a homicidal robot army, your brain isnt always thinking logically, but the Doctor sure seemed quick to abandon the TARDIS on a random, war-torn alien planet. Youd think by now shed have learned to park it a little closer to the action so she can make a quick getaway as needed, instead of having to hotwire a Cyber ship warp drive.

Theres a moment where the Doctor tells Yaz, Graham, and Ryan to run, leaving her to face Ashad alone. Its the angriest weve ever seen Whittakers Doctor, and her fury shocks her companions into silence. The 13th Doctor has spent most of her adventures trying to stand as a beacon of hope and positivity, a quirkier, kinder figure after Peter Capaldis colder 12th Doctor. Its clear that the Cybermen are awakening centuries of bitterness and rage, and its moments like these where Whittaker makes you feel just how ancient the Doctor really is.

Showrunner Chris Chibnall recently confirmed to EW that hell definitely be returning for another season, teasing some very big, ambitious plans. Whittaker has also said that shes back on board, too, so if there are still a few unanswered questions after next weeks finale, we may see them explored further in lucky season 13.

Related content:
Bengaluru, Feb 25 : City-based social enterprise Three Wheels United (TWU) on Tuesday launched an auto rickshaw buy back scheme to promote electric auto rickshaw adoption in India.

"A programme like this gives the right push towards the government's green mobility initiatives. This scheme provides a great opportunity for auto rickshaw drivers to increase their income and positively impact the environment," TWU chief executive Cedrick Tandong said in a statement.

Two key objectives of the scheme are to speed up electric vehicle adoption in the country to guide people towards the eco-friendly option and improve income for drivers who choose an EV over a fossil fuel burning internal combustion engine powered vehicle.

The social enterprise has committed to finance 10,000 electric vehicles in the next one year and one lakh by 2024.

According to TWU, electric three-wheelers are more attractive to drivers due to the lower cost of ownership and better profitability.

However, the social enterprise has observed that 50 per cent of auto rickshaw drivers in India rent three-wheelers owing to lack of financing options, thwarting converting to electric vehicles.

TWU will deploy a community approach and tailored financial products in its buy back scheme.

"The current government schemes aimed at removing older vehicles have their challenges, mainly that it is very difficult for a vehicle to qualify. This means older and highly pollutive vehicles continue to ply the roads," said TWU.

Mahindra Electric has also joined hands with TWU to promote the scheme.

"The buy back scheme will definitely make it easier for auto drivers to switch to sustainable and more economically viable products," said Mahindra Electric chief executive Mahesh Babu.
ST. CHARLES, Ill., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cherry Creek Mortgage Company is celebrating its 20th anniversary in Illinois, as Cherry Creek opened its first branch in Illinois in February of 2000. The branch, led by Larry Bettag, Cherry Creek Mortgage's Vice President, Production Area Manager, has helped thousands of home buyers and home owners over its two-decade history.

The St. Charles branch began as a two-person office and has grown to over 25 employees who serve the greater Fox Valley and Northern Illinois. The branch is proud to provide a personalized home financing experience that is built on a large portfolio of available loan programs.

"What brought me to Cherry Creek 20 years ago was the opportunity to work for a company that values an entrepreneurial mindset," said Bettag. "Cherry Creek Mortgage's unique culture and customer-centered focus are still at the forefront of the company today. Our amazing team truly has a passion for our clients and partners, and we can't wait to see where the next 20 years take us. With the Illinois economy being what it is, I feel that we're positioned just right to help people in the years to come. That excites me."

Throughout its history, Cherry Creek Mortgage has developed innovative technology solutions for its clients and partners, while still maintaining its commitment to customized, in-depth personal expertise. To learn more about the branch or find a loan officer in your area, visit the St. Charles webpage.

About Cherry Creek Mortgage Company

Cherry Creek Mortgage Company Co., Inc. has a 33-year tradition of serving the needs of home buyers across the country. With a reputation built on a passion for responsible lending and dedication to personal relationships, Cherry Creek Mortgage has helped tens of thousands of customers realize their goal of home ownership. Cherry Creek Mortgage's specialized internal processes and proprietary technology deliver a digital mortgage experience with a personal touch. The company is headquartered in Colorado and is licensed in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Learn more at cherrycreekmortgage.com. Cherry Creek Mortgage Co., Inc. NMLS #3001. www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org.

Media Contact:

Megan Duggan

[email protected]

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US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat after being accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday.

The US first couple, who had visited the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad yesterday, placed a wreath at the memorial located on the banks of the Yamuna river in the national capital Delhi.

The American people stand strongly with a sovereign and wonderful INDIA - The vision of the great Mahatma Gandhi - This is a Tremendous Honour, Donald Trump wrote in the visitors book at the memorial during the visit. Trump had referred to the proposed visit to Rajghat in his speech at Ahmedabads Motera stadium that sought to underscore the deep partnership between the two countries.

The First Lady and I have just had a pleasure of visiting Mahatma Gandhis Ashram, a few miles from here, where he launched the famous Salt March.And tomorrow in Delhi, we will lay a wreath, plant a tree at Raj Ghat in honor of this leader who is revered all around the world, he told the 1 lakh-strong audience in Gujarat.

At the ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning, Donald Trump was welcomed with a gun salute as his armoured car, nicknamed The Beast, was welcomed arrived at the presidential palace. The welcome ceremony included hundreds of military officials, marching with instruments and swords.

After the pomp and pageantry, Trump and Modi are expected to get down to business during their restricted and delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Tuesday. He headed to Hyderabad House soon after where he is holding bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Reacting to Harvey Weinstein's conviction on criminal sexual assault and third-degree rape charges, President Donald Trump hailed a New York jury's decision as a "great victory" for women and sought to tie the disgraced movie mogul to prominent Democrats while ignoring allegations about his own behavior towards women.

"I think from the standpoint of women it was a great thing, it was a great victory and sends a very strong message," Trump said during a wide-ranging news conference Tuesday in New Delhi, India, when asked what the result means for women who may be afraid to come forward with their own experiences with sexual assault or harassment.

The president attempted to tie the 67-year-old Weinstein to Democrats while simultaneously distancing himself from the now jailed sex offender, saying he was "never a fan" of Weinstein and claiming prominent Democrats -- specifically Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton -- "loved him."

PHOTO: Melania Trump, Donald Trump, Georgina Chapman and Harvey Weinstein attend the after party of the New York premiere of 'NINE,' Dec, 15, 2009, in New York. (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for The Weinstein Company)

"The people who liked him were the Democrats," Trump said. "He gave tremendous money to the Democrats."

The question now, Trump said, is whether the Democrats give the money back?

Back in October 2017, ABC News reported that at least eight Democratic senators either donated or vowed to donate contributions Weinstein provided in past campaigns. They included Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who said she donated $5,000 she received from Weinstein in 2012 to charity.

Former Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York both donated campaign contributions they had received from Weinstein to charities supporting women. Booker donated $7,800 he got from Weinstein to the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual assault, a nonprofit charity organization.

New York Sen. Chuck Schumer also donated a total of $14,200 in past contributions from Weinstein to several charities supporting women.

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PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Feb. 21, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Evan Vucci/AP)

Trump said he has been too busy traveling and taking meetings to follow the trial closely.

At least 17 women have accused Trump of varying inappropriate behavior, including allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault, all but one coming forward with their accusations before or during his bid for the White House. Trump has denied the allegations and no charges were ever filed against him.

During Trump's 2016 campaign for president, a hot-mic recording of his interview with "Access Hollywood" surfaced, and he was caught making foul-mouthed remarks about groping women, saying, "When youre a star they let you do it... You can do anything. Grab them by the p---- You can do anything."

Trump later dismissed the remarks as "locker room banter."

Weinstein was found guilty of criminal sexual assault and of rape in the third degree in a New York court. He was found not guilty of the more serious charges of predatory sexual assault and of rape in the first degree.

MORE: More Tapes Surface of Donald Trump's Lewd Remarks About Women

The judge in the case remanded Weinstein into custody without bail against his attorneys' request.

MORE: Woman who accused Trump of groping her on an airplane doubts Weinstein backlash will prompt change

His lawyers said they will appeal the conviction, claiming there were "extremely troubling" issues with the trial.

The outcome of the riveting trial is seen as a landmark moment in the #MeToo movement, which was spurred into mainstream awareness after allegations against Weinstein were first reported in October 2017 by The New York Times and The New Yorker.

President Trump hails Weinstein conviction as 'victory' for women originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
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When it comes to stories of adult siblings, cinema tends to remain overwhelmingly gender-divided. Great films about brotherly love and sisterly strife (or, of course, vice versa) are plentiful, but tender brother-sister studies are a rarer breed. My Little Sister, then, is a welcome, warm-hearted addition to the ranks of You Can Count on Me, The Savages and various films that dont star Laura Linney: a modestly scaled, intimately observed domestic drama that doesnt reinvent any wheels in its portrayal of family frictions, midlife ennui and the anguish of terminal illness, but handles all this potentially sticky material with clear-eyed (and finally, when required, somewhat moist-eyed) grace. Not that youd expect cheap sentiment with redoubtable stars Nina Hoss and Lars Eidinger as the siblings in question: In addition to bolstering its European distribution potential, their beautifully matched performances lend this quiet Swiss production a necessary bit of flint throughout.

My Little Sister is the second narrative film from writer-directors Stephanie Chuat and Veronique Reymond, and the first since 2010s similarly intimate, unassuming The Little Bedroom, which was Switzerlands official Oscar submission that year. (It would not be surprising to see their latest, boosted by its Berlinale competition slot, similarly selected.) Both working actors, the duo have also worked extensively in documentary over the last decade, and the new film feels the benefits of both those qualifications. This is bright, unaffected naturalism with a fluidly roving camera, but also a generous regard for its ensemble, as befits a film affectionately embedded in the Berlin theater scene.

More from Variety

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The little sister in question is Lisa Nielsen (Hoss), a gifted playwright from Berlin who has largely shelved her artistic ambitions, following her husband Martin (Jens Albinus) to a lucrative but unfulfilling teaching job at an upper-crust boarding school in the Swiss ski resort of Leysin. Shes all of two minutes younger than her twin brother Sven (Eidinger), though they agree that those two minutes feel like a lot. A celebrated gay stage actor who has lived life a little larger than Lisa, hes the dominant figure in what is nonetheless a mutually protective and collaborative relationship: Shes created roles for him in the past, though they havent been entirely in sync since she moved a country away and stopped writing.

But with Sven recently diagnosed with aggressive leukemia, Lisa is determined to make up for lost time and closeness  first through a bone marrow transplant that may or may save his life, but also with repeated attempts to rekindle his stalled acting career, firmer than anyone else in her conviction that hell survive stronger than ever. So she bypasses their well-meaning but less understanding mother Kathy (a lovely Marthe Keller, bringing notes of forlorn comedy to this family crisis) to stage-manage Svens recovery in Switzerland, a single-minded objective that allows her to set aside the plainly widening cracks in her marriage.

Hoss, a master in the fine art of playing women who lie to themselves, isnt on her most intense or severe form here, instead finding in Lisa an apt balance of harried vulnerability and somewhat desperately determined hopefulness: her face set in a soft mask that occasionally cracks with little spasms of bulging-eyed exasperation, or surging fear of the worst. When she finally breaks down, in an exquisitely built and morosely funny scene, its to ineffectively smash a childs scooter against a recycling bin: Sure enough, Lisa can write rage better than she can act it.

Eidinger, for his part, resists weepy cliche in his portrait of a cancer patient frankly too exhausted to rage against the dying of the light, but sorely piqued at his own bodys betrayal. Credit makeup artists Marc Hollenstein and Barbara Grundmann for not making Sven one of those gently pallid terminal disease victims you only see in the movies: Every inch of his physique looks aggravated and fragile, with Eidingers gnarled, slowed body language charting the rise and fall of his spirit. As twins, meanwhile, he and Hoss casually reflect each others tics and mannerisms while occasionally glancing at each other with an anxious blankness, as if having stumbled upon a glitch in their hitherto perfect mutual intuition.

Save for one briefly vertiginous paragliding scene that represents the films grandest cinematic gesture, Chuat and Reymonds direction is delicate and unobtrusive, in tune with their calmly deep-digging actors. Musical cues are mostly tactful, with even the somewhat literal usage of the Brahms lied Schwesterlein (the films original German-language title, translating as Little Sister) fitting its character application. Resisting oppressively glum atmospherics as the situation darkens, DP Filip Zumbrunn seeks airy, lemony daylight throughout  nodding to a world getting on with things even when, for our put-upon siblings, the clock seems to stop.

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A distinct atmosphere of deja vu hung over the Leighton Criminal Court Building on Monday as a black SUV pulled up to the curb and Jussie Smollett stepped out. The charges the former Empire actor was there to face were the same. The allegations that hed staged a sensational hate crime attack on himself were the same. The breathless media throng awaiting him was the same.
NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Wigdor LLP represents actress and model Dominique Huett in her civil claims of sexual misconduct against Harvey Weinstein. In response to news of Weinstein's guilty verdict and current reports that he will be jailed on Rikers Island, Ms. Huett has issued the following statement:

"I hope this criminal conviction will give Weinstein the time to think while he sits in jail on Rikers Island and awaits his sentence. I hope he thinks about how his abuse of power sexually harmed countless women with dreams of making it Hollywood. I sincerely hope that Weinstein also will, one day, apologize to the many women whose lives were set off course.

"The critical and tenacious work by the #SilenceBreakers cannot be underestimated. The Silence Breakers boldly raised awareness about how devastating male abuse of power can be and especially about how Weinstein's shameful and criminal behavior caused such harm.

"The verdict cannot change what Weinstein did, but I hope that people have a better understanding about why victim-shaming must end and why women that dare speak out deserve support.

"Like other victims, I now have some peace knowing he is behind bars and will not harm anyone else. I am grateful to the jury for their civic duty."

Media Contact:

Jacob Eidinger

(212) 257-6800

[email protected]

SOURCE Wigdor LLP
David Steel was blasted today after complaining he had been made a 'political scalp' as he announced he would quit politics over his failure to unmask brutal and sadistic paedophile MP Cyril Smith.

The ex-Liberal leader made the self-pitying remarks as he announced he would retire from the House of Lords after being castigated for his inaction in the 1970s and 1980s by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

The sickening acts of obese sex attacker Smith against young boys in care were known about more than 40 years ago but no action was taken before his death in 2010.

But Lord Steel admitted last year he failed to pass on the allegations against the extrovert Rochdale MP even though he believed them to be true, because it was 'past history'.

The peer, party leader until 1988, later recommended Smith for a knighthood and the violent predator went on to represent the Lancashire town for the Liberal Democrats until 1992.

Announcing he had quit the Liberal Democrats this afternoon he made the staggering claim that he had been made 'proxy' for Smith because he is dead and cannot be prosecuted.

But a representative of some of Smith's victims blasted his attitude. Richard Scorer, a specialist abuse lawyer at Slater and Gordon, said: '(Lord) Steel's total inaction after being told by Smith himself that he had molested young boys is unforgivable, most of all for those victims whose abuse he could have stopped.

'To suggest Steel is a scapegoat, as some have done, is grasping at straws - a pathetic attempt to excuse a man who admitted he knowingly turned a blind eye to Smith's crimes.

Lord Steel (left) admitted last year he failed to pass on the allegations against the extrovert Rochdale MP (right) even though he believed them to be true, because it was 'past history'

The sickening acts of obese sex attacker Smith (right, with David Steel) against young boys in care were known about more than 40 years ago but no action was taken before his death

'He is not being blamed for them but for his own failure to stop Smith when he had the chance.'

What is the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and why was it set up? The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse is a public inquiry set up by the government in 2015 because of concerns that organisations had failed and continue to fail to protect children from sexual abuse. It was set up after investigations in 2012 and 2013 into the Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal revealed widespread abuse had been covered up. In 2014 Labour MP Tom Watson told the Commons there was evidence of a paedophile ring in Westminster linked to No 10. Months later Theresa May, then Home Secretary, announced the inquiry would take place the following year. Its scope included investigations into 13 areas of abuse: Children in the care of Lambeth Council

Children in the care of Nottinghamshire councils

Children in the care Rochdale Council by Sir Cyril Smith

Child sexual abuse in the Anglican Church

Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church

The sexual abuse of children in borstals and young offender's institutions

Child sexual abuse in residential and boardings schools

The internet and child sexual abuse

Child exploitation by organised networks

The protection of children outside the United Kingdom

Reparations for victims and survivors

Allegations of child sexual abuse linked to Westminster Advertisement

Today the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) criticised Lord Steel as it said the political establishment in Westminster 'repeatedly failed to deal with allegations of child sexual abuse', covering up claims and protecting high-profile MPs including Smith.

In a statement Lord Smith: 'Knowing all I know now, I condemn Cyril Smith's actions towards children.

'I regret the time spent on pursuing Leon Brittan, Lord Bramall and others, who it is clear had done no wrong.

'Not having secured a parliamentary scalp, I fear that I have been made a proxy for Cyril Smith.'

He added: 'Contrary to some reports, at no point did Cyril Smith admit to me the truth of the allegations in the Private Eye report.

'He admitted that there had been an investigation by police of acts alleged against him whilst he was a councillor in another political party, as was reported.

'Smith and I did not discuss further what IICSA counsel himself correctly described as ''a very very brief conversation'' in 1979.'

Public hearings into the Westminster strand of the inquiry were held over three weeks in March last year, with the panel saying its findings would look at how institutions handled complaints rather than investigating the credibility of allegations themselves.

During one hearing, Lord Steel denied 'hiding his head in the sand' over child abuse allegations against Smith, but said he 'assumed' the former Rochdale MP had abused teenagers at a hostel dating back to the 1960s.

He told the inquiry: 'These allegations all related to a period some years before he was even an MP and before he was even a member of the party, therefore it did not seem to me that I had any position in the matter at all.

'He accepted the story was correct. Obviously I disapproved but as far as I was concerned it was past history.'

On recommending Smith for a knighthood, Lord Steel said: 'If I had any suspicion that these activities had been continuing or he had been involved in it as an MP I certainly would not have recommended him for a knighthood - that would have been my natural instinct.'

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said it was right that Lord Steel had left the party and was stepping down from public life.

How Tom Watson championed fantasist Carl Beech and helped spark inquiry that damned him today Tom Watson claimed in Parliament that he had seen 'clear intelligence suggesting a powerful paedophile network linked to Parliament and No 10.' Two years later he met with Beech, 51, who could therefore brag to police that Mr Watson was his confidante, protector and a key part of a 'little group supporting me' as he made baseless claims of sexual abuse and murder in Westminster. But last year these claims were destroyed after Beech was convicted of 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one of fraud. Mr Watson said previously: 'I met the man I knew as 'Nick' once, on 8 July 2014, two years after I had raised my question in Parliament. During that meeting Nick said very little and did not name any of his alleged abusers. 'I reassured Nick that the police had made clear that all allegations of historic sex abuse would be taken seriously and treated sensitively. 'It was not my role to judge whether victims' stories were true. I encouraged every person that came to me to take their story to the police and that is what I did with Nick.' Advertisement

Mr Rennie said: 'Cyril Smith's acts were vile and repugnant and I have nothing but sympathy for those affected.

'This is a powerful report that has lessons for everyone, including David Steel, the Liberal Democrats and the wider political sphere.

'It is therefore right that David Steel has decided to resign from the Liberal Democrats and retire from public life including the House of Lords.'

The report found no evidence of a coordinated 'paedophile ring' in Westminster, following claims by fantasist Carl Beech of its existence, and also stated there was no proof such a network was covered up by security services or police.

But it said institutions 'regularly put their own reputations or political interests before child protection'.

Professor Alexis Jay, who chaired the inquiry, said: 'It is clear to see that Westminster institutions have repeatedly failed to deal with allegations of child sexual abuse, from turning a blind eye to actively shielding abusers.

'A consistent pattern emerged of failures to put the welfare of children above political status although we have found no evidence of an organised network of paedophiles within government.

'We hope this report and its recommendations will lead political institutions to prioritise the needs and safety of vulnerable children.'

The report identified how former prime minister Margaret Thatcher and ex-Conservative party chairman Norman (now Lord) Tebbit were aware of rumours about MP Peter Morrison having 'a penchant for small boys' but did nothing about it.

The report said the allegations 'should have rung alarm bells in government'.

Professor Alexis Jay chaired the inquiry and said some politicians were better protected than the children they abused

But, instead, 'considerations of political embarrassment and the risk to security were paramount, while the activities of an alleged child sexual abuser who held senior positions in government and the Conservative Party were deliberately overlooked, as was the course of public justice'.

Indeed, the inquiry found there was a 'consistent culture for years' in the whips' offices to 'protect the image' of their party by 'playing down rumours and protecting politicians from gossip or scandal at all costs'.

It meant victims' interests were often overlooked, with many organisations failing to pass on allegations to police.

The report also found senior diplomat Sir Peter Hayman was the beneficiary of 'preferential, differential and unduly deferential treatment' over claims he sent obscene material in the post, following a meeting between his solicitor and the then-director of public prosecutions.

There was also 'striking evidence' of how 'wealth and social status insulated perpetrators of child sexual abuse' from being brought to justice, as in the case of Tory MP Victor Montagu.

The report stated: 'A consistent pattern that has emerged from the evidence we have heard is a failure by almost every institution to put the needs and safety of children who have survived sexual abuse first.'

The report made a number of suggestions including changes to the Honours system, re-examining the policy over posthumous forfeiture of honours - which would strip knighthoods from the likes of disgraced entertainer Jimmy Savile, and creating widespread and well-understood whistleblowing policies for all Westminster institutions.

The Government has also been urged to review its child safeguarding policies, and for all legitimate political parties to have a 'comprehensive safeguarding policy' overseen by the watchdog.

118m child sex abuse inquiry finds no evidence of Westminster paedophile network at the heart of government despite Tom Watson's 2012 claims from Nick the Fantasist

Britain's 118million child abuse inquiry today concluded Tom Watson's 'sensational' claims about a VIP paedophile ring operating at the heart of Westminster were completely false.

Mr Watson's backing for convicted child abuse fantasist Carl Beech, who was called 'Nick' by police, was 'a significant factor' in setting up the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA).

But today the inquiry's damning report said there was 'no evidence' to back the former Labour MP's 2012 claims about 'clear intelligence suggesting a powerful paedophile network linked to parliament and No 10'.

The IICSA report said: 'Despite the inquiry engaging in an extensive evidence-gathering process, we have seen no material indicating the existence of a Westminster 'paedophile ring'. Similarly, no evidence of any attempts to cover up or suppress information about the existence of such a ring was found at MI5, SIS, GCHQ or in Metropolitan Police Special Branch records.'

Mr Watson quit as an MP before last year's general election and is rumoured to have been recommended for a peerage by Jeremy Corbyn despite his public backing for Beech, who was jailed for 18 years for falsely accusing a string of public figures including former Home Secretary Leon Brittan, who Watson called 'evil'.

But the inquiry has found that Westminster's institutions have 'turned a blind eye' to allegations of child sex abuse for decades with Margaret Thatcher accused of knowing Tory MP Peter Morrison had 'a penchant for small boys' but did nothing about it. She later made him her Private Secretary and gave him a knighthood.

The political establishment in Westminster 'repeatedly failed to deal with allegations of child sexual abuse', covering up claims and protecting high-profile MPs including Sir Cyril Smith, the damning report says, with Liberal leader Lord Steel accused of 'abdication of responsibility' for failing to act.

Tom Watson had claimed that there was a Westminster child sex abuse ring based on Carl Beech's evidence - but the fantasist better known as 'Nick' was later jailed for 18 years for his web of lies

The 190-page report documenting the latest findings of the Independent Inquiry into child sexual abuse linked to Westminster was released today and rubbishes Watson's paedophile ring claims

How Tom Watson championed fantasist Carl Beech and helped spark inquiry that damned him today Tom Watson claimed in Parliament that he had seen 'clear intelligence suggesting a powerful paedophile network linked to Parliament and No 10.' Two years later he met with Beech, 51, who could therefore brag to police that Mr Watson was his confidante, protector and a key part of a 'little group supporting me' as he made baseless claims of sexual abuse and murder in Westminster. But last year these claims were destroyed after Beech was convicted of 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one of fraud. Mr Watson said previously: 'I met the man I knew as 'Nick' once, on 8 July 2014, two years after I had raised my question in Parliament. During that meeting Nick said very little and did not name any of his alleged abusers. 'I reassured Nick that the police had made clear that all allegations of historic sex abuse would be taken seriously and treated sensitively. 'It was not my role to judge whether victims' stories were true. I encouraged every person that came to me to take their story to the police and that is what I did with Nick.' Advertisement

The 190-page bombshell report on the Westminster strand of the inquiry, published today, has revealed:

Tom Watson's claims that there was a child abuse ring at the heart of Westminster had no foundation;

Tory bosses failed to tell police about child abuse allegations aimed at Sir Peter Morrison, a Parliamentary Private Secretary to Margaret Thatcher who died in 1995;

Ex-Liberal leader Lord Steel savaged for his 'abdication of responsibility' for failing to act on party colleague Sir Cyril Smith's child abuse;

10th Earl of Sandwich Victor Montagu, also a Tory MP for South Dorset, given a caution for indecently assaulting a 10-year-old boy;

The inquiry, chaired by Alexis Jay, heard from a host of high profile figures including Prince Charles, two ex-prime ministers, six former government ministers, a former Director General of MI5, three archbishops, one cardinal and 31 chief constables.

In addition, during the three weeks of public hearings about Westminster last year, the inquiry also heard from survivors, whistleblowers, cabinet ministers and MPs and police officers among others.

The inquiry, which is looking at 13 areas of public bodies where child abuse took place, will conclude in November 2020 with a final report expected next year.

Today's scathing report on its Westminster investigation revealed a significant problem with 'deference towards people of public prominence,' from the Whips' offices to the police and prosecutors.

MPs including Sir Cyril Smith and Sir Peter Morrison, in the 1970s and 1980s, were known to be active in their sexual interest in children, but were protected from prosecution.

Giving evidence, former Liberal Party leader Lord Steel said that because allegations against Smith had arisen before he joined the party, he saw 'no reason, or no locus to go back to [it]'.

This failure to recognise the risks was an abdication of responsibility, and the fact the offences were non-recent was irrelevant, the report said.

Richard Scorer, a specialist abuse lawyer at Slater and Gordon, representing eight of Sir Cyril Smith's victims, said: '(Lord) Steel's total inaction after being told by Smith himself that he had molested young boys is unforgivable, most of all for those victims whose abuse he could have stopped.

'To suggest Steel is a scapegoat, as some have done, is grasping at straws - a pathetic attempt to excuse a man who admitted he knowingly turned a blind eye to Smith's crimes. He is not being blamed for them but for his own failure to stop Smith when he had the chance.

'This must surely now be the catalyst for a mandatory reporting law, compelling those who suspect child abuse to report their concerns, and for an end to this culture of deference towards those in power which allowed Smith to evade justice for so long.'

The report found no evidence of a coordinated 'paedophile ring' in Westminster, following claims by fantasist Carl Beech of its existence, and also stated there was no proof such a network was covered up by security services or police.

But it said institutions 'regularly put their own reputations or political interests before child protection'.

Professor Alexis Jay, who chaired the inquiry, said: 'It is clear to see that Westminster institutions have repeatedly failed to deal with allegations of child sexual abuse, from turning a blind eye to actively shielding abusers.

'A consistent pattern emerged of failures to put the welfare of children above political status although we have found no evidence of an organised network of paedophiles within government.

'We hope this report and its recommendations will lead political institutions to prioritise the needs and safety of vulnerable children.'

Ex-Liberal party leader Lord Steel failed to pass on child abuse allegations against prominent colleague Sir Cyril Smith (pictured together), even though he believed them to be true

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher with her private secretary Sir Peter Morrison, whose Tory colleagues have been accused of hiding his alleged child abuse from police

The report identified how former prime minister Margaret Thatcher and ex-Conservative party chairman Norman (now Lord) Tebbit were aware of rumours about MP Peter Morrison having 'a penchant for small boys' but did nothing about it.

The report said the allegations 'should have rung alarm bells in government'.

But, instead, 'considerations of political embarrassment and the risk to security were paramount, while the activities of an alleged child sexual abuser who held senior positions in government and the Conservative Party were deliberately overlooked, as was the course of public justice'.

The Conservative MP for Chester, had also been caught by police molesting a 15-year-old boy on a train at Crewe. The report reveals that the Tory party made efforts to suppress these rumours rather than conduct a formal investigation.

Indeed, the inquiry found there was a 'consistent culture for years' in the whips' offices to 'protect the image' of their party by 'playing down rumours and protecting politicians from gossip or scandal at all costs'.

It meant victims' interests were often overlooked, with many organisations failing to pass on allegations to police.

The report also found senior diplomat Sir Peter Hayman was the beneficiary of 'preferential, differential and unduly deferential treatment' over claims he sent obscene material in the post, following a meeting between his solicitor and the then-director of public prosecutions.

There was also 'striking evidence' of how 'wealth and social status insulated perpetrators of child sexual abuse' from being brought to justice, as in the case of Tory MP Victor Montagu.

The report stated: 'A consistent pattern that has emerged from the evidence we have heard is a failure by almost every institution to put the needs and safety of children who have survived sexual abuse first.'

Montagu's son Robert, who he also sexually abused for over five years, said the decision not to prosecute was 'entirely wrong and very indicative of the attitude towards people in public positions'.

The report concludes that these are examples of a political culture which 'values its reputation far higher than the fate of the children involved.'

The report's findings were also damning of modern political parties. As recently as 2017, Green Party election candidate Aimee Challenor was able to appoint her father as election agent, even though he had been charged with sexually assaulting a child and was later convicted.

The Inquiry also investigated the Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE), which campaigned in the 1970s to lower the age of consent, as well as public acceptance of paedophilia.

A number of its members sexually abused children, including Sir Peter Hayman, a former High Commissioner to Canada. The report concludes that PIE was given 'foolish and misguided' support for several years by organisations who 'should have known better.' Those organisations included the National Council for Civil Liberties and the Albany Trust.

The report made a number of suggestions including changes to the Honours system, re-examining the policy over posthumous forfeiture of honours - which would strip knighthoods from the likes of disgraced entertainer Jimmy Savile, and creating widespread and well-understood whistleblowing policies for all Westminster institutions.

The Government has also been urged to review its child safeguarding policies, and for all legitimate political parties to have a 'comprehensive safeguarding policy' overseen by the watchdog.

Much of the evidence for the inquiry stemmed from a public hearing in the Westminster investigation held from between March 4 and 29 last year.

As of September 30 last year, the cost of the inquiry was 118.25m. The mass inquiry required two and a quarter million pages of evidence processed.

It is expected to conclude with a final report next year.
: Hailing the YSR Congress



government's initiatives, particularly in health and education sectors, a visting World Bank team on Tuesday said the things Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy learned during his 3,648-km paada yatra (foot march) clearly reflected in his policies.

Led by World Bank regional director (South Asia-Human Development) Lynne Sherburne-Benz, the team of officials held a meeting with Reddy, state Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney, Principal Secretary Praveen Prakash and other senior officials at the Secretariat and discussed a host of issues.

A release from the Chief Minister's Office quoted the World Bank team as saying Reddy initiated several reforms based on the issues he learned during his paada yatra, which culminated early last year.

We have learnt about Jagans paada yatra. The impact of the paada yatra is clearly visible in the Chief Ministers words, thoughts and actions. They clearly reflected the things at the ground level, the visiting delegation said.

The World Bank officials said investment on human resources would ensure positive results and lead to realistic development.

Your steps in education and health sectors are inspirational. Efforts to improve high-end skills among youth are the best. Bringing in e-governance through village and ward secretariats is good, it added.

The chief minister elaborated on the various initiatives of his government like developing school and health care infrastructure, introduction of English medium in all government schools, setting up of skill development centres in all Lok Sabha constituencies, establishing village clinics and Rythu Bharosa Centres as one-stop-shop for farmers.

He also explained the move to have three capitals for the state with decentralisation of governance as the theme.

The World Bank team, according to the release, promised to extend help to the state in the fields of health, education and social security.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A North Carolina man was found dead during a "through-hike" on the Appalachian Trail.

Click the video player above to see search area

Danny Thompson, Dawsonville, Georgia fire chief, confirmed Tuesday that Eddie Noonkester, of Eden, was the man found dead.

Dawson County Fire and Emergency Services officials said that Noonkester started a hike on Feb. 14 and officials believe he became disoriented and may have suffered a medical emergency prior to his death.

Noonkester was found dead on Feb. 19.

Thompson, speaking to WXIA, said a friend of Noonkester called 911 on Sunday morning, Feb. 16, to report that the hiker had been experiencing cramping. About 20 minutes later, Thompson said Noonkester himself called 911, but as dispatch spoke to him, he sounded confused and disoriented, and couldn't tell authorities where he was.

Volunteer search groups were assembled, as the search area proved to be difficult: "This terrain is difficult and in places very dangerous," according to a social media post from emergency officials.

The Dawson County Sheriff's Office told WXIA that searchers vowed to search through the night hours with the help of six K-9 teams. The teams were also among 130 staff members and personnel actively involved in the search. Some even stayed through cold overnight rains to find him.

WXIA reports that Noonkester's body has been turned over to the state crime lab and the sheriff's office hasn't found any sign that there was foul play involved in Eddie's death.

Noonkester's brother, Wesley, told WXIA that although this wasn't the outcome they had hoped for, he is thankful for the closure.

"It's not the outcome that I had hoped for, but at the end of the day, our goal was to bring Eddie home and we were able to do that," said Wesley. "I want to thank each end every one of these people. I just know tonight, when I lay down that my brother's in a better place.
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Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas, Marchio Irfan Gorbiano and Ghina Galiya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 25, 2020

Despite the growing public outcry surrounding the much-touted omnibus bill on job creation, the government is standing firm on its plan to pass the bill amid demands from experts to withdraw the bill over its many problematic provisions.

Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto said the government acknowledged the debate in the public sphere over the bill. But he claimed that any protests should be addressed to the House of Representatives and not to President Joko Jokowi Widodos administration as the government had submitted the draft bill to the lawmakers.

The Houses task is to deliberate the bill and to engage in public participation, which will occur during hearing sessions. So please, go to the House if you are looking for any compromise, Airlangga said during an exclusive interview with The Jakarta Post in Jakarta on Monday.

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Haryana home minister Anil Vij on Tuesday said that the violent clashes in North-East Delhi are a result of "underground planning by anti- forces".

"The clashes in North-East district of the capital are a result of underground planning by anti- forces. They are linked to Pakistan. Opposition parties are also supporting these forces." he told ANI.

Commenting on the timing of clashes, Vij said, "It is all pre-planned. It is unfortunate that when we are having a guest in Delhi, anti-national forces are disturbing the peace of the city."

Meanwhile, thirty-five companies of additional paramilitary forces have been deployed in North-East Delhi, along with Special Cell, Crime Branch and Economic Offences Wing officials, on Tuesday following violence in the area which led to the deaths of seven people in clashes between pro and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protestors yesterday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pyongyang, Feb 25 : North Korea's state media on Tuesday called for independence from outside help, saying that having illusions about aid from "imperialists" like the US would lead to "self-destruction".

Minju Choson, the North's Cabinet newspaper, made the appeal as Pyongyang braces for a protracted battle against crippling international sanctions amid stalled denuclearization talks with the US, reports the Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency.

"Imperialists are trying to constrain and subjugate other countries' economic growth by controlling the thread of life on their economy and interests through assistance," an article in the newspaper said.

"Having any illusion about imperialists' assistance would represent self-destruction," it added.

It accused the US of imperialism, saying that it once promised to lift sanctions on a Middle East country in the early 1990s and offer assistance but that was nothing but a "cunning plot" to seek profits.

North Korea has emphasized the importance of self-reliance in economic and military build-up as the prospects for sanctions relief remain bleak after the no-deal summit between leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump last February.

North Korea had hoped that progress in denuclearization talks would result in the easing or lifting of sanctions imposed on it and help rejuvenate its crippling economy.
When Julius Maada Bio, 55, assumed the presidency of Sierra Leone in April 2018, the country was on a slow but steady rebound following the 20142015 Ebola epidemic.

Annual GDP growth stands at 4.8%. Buoyed by increased agricultural output and the resumption of iron ore production and export, Sierra Leones GDP growth should reach 5.4% in 2020, according to the World Bank.

Still, the 2019 UNDP Human Development Index, which ranks countries based on income, life expectancy, education and quality of life, among other indicators, placed Sierra Leone at 184 out of 189 countries. President Bio has acknowledged that there is much yet to be done.

Development strategy

At the centre of his development strategy, Mr. Bio told Africa Renewal in an interview, is investment in education, healthcare, empowering women and ending gender-based violence, and agriculturealigning the strategy with the UNs 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well as the aspirations of the African Unions Agenda 2063.

My government has allocated 21% of the national budget to education, Mr. Bio said, which is one of the highest such allocations in the world. Pre-primary to secondary school education is now free, irrespective of gender, ability or ethnicity.

In addition, he said his government provides the students with core textbooks and other reading materials. We also provide free meals for student retention and for a balanced nutrition.

Empowering women and girls

We have expanded opportunities for girls by creating safe places in schools and by campaigning vigorously against early marriage and sexual and gender-based violence, the president said.

Girls who decide to study STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] subjects get automatic scholarships at university, added Mr. Bio.

As the same time, he lamented that the current maternal mortality rate is unacceptably high.

Sierra Leone has one of the highest infant and maternal mortality ratios in the world: 857 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and 140 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, according to the UN Population Fund, the UNs reproductive health and rights agency.

The government provides free health care for pregnant women. We are working on different interventions targeting teenagers and adults, said Mr. Bio. Pregnancy must not be a death sentence.

As well, Mr. Bio is working to tackle gender-based violence in his country, vowing that perpetrators will find no hiding place.

The president declared rape and sexual violence a national emergency in February 2019 after police statistics showed cases of rape doubling in 2018. This was followed swiftly with a law.

We just passed in Parliament an act [Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2019] that makes punishment for gender-based violence much stiffer than before.

The act stipulates up to 15 years in jail for perpetrators, including people who use positions of influence to sexually abuse or harass others.

The Sierra Leonean governments agricultural goals include livestock development and diversifying away from rice production to what it calls the three Cs: coffee, cashewnuts and cocoaall with the help of modern technologies. Rice is Sierra Leones staple food, cultivated by 85% of its farmers.
Accusing the Maharashtra government of "betraying" farmers over the issue of giving loan waiver, the BJP staged protests in parts of the state on Tuesday.

Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Devendra Fadnavis, who headed the BJP's protest at Azad Maidan here, said the protests will continue till cultivators get justice.

"The government has been betraying farmers since it was formed," Fadnavis alleged while addressing the protesters.

He said protests were being staged by the BJP outside tehsil offices in the state.

Besides Fadnavis, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil, former state ministers Sudhir Mungantiwar, Ashish Shelar and Girish Mahajan and others took part in the protest at the Azad Maidan.

A BJP delegation will raise the issue with Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari later in the evening, Fadnavis said.

"There are 1.45 crore farmers. But the government has released a list of only 15,000 farmers (for grant of loan waiver)," the former chief minister told reporters earlier outside state Legislature building here.

"We are trying to raise the issues concerning farmers before the government. Our struggle against the government will continue till the farmers get justice inside the House and outside it as well," he said.

Later, addressing protesters at the Azad Maidan, Fadnavis accused the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government of betraying farmers ever since it was formed.

Seeking to underscore the difference between the previous BJP-led government and the current MVA regime, Fadnavis said his party delivered loan waiver even though the issue was not part of its manifesto.

On the other hand, the MVA government of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress is not giving farm loan waiver, despite the promise being part of the 'common minimum programme' of the three parties, he alleged.

The BJP leader also said that more than 50,000 farmers from Kolhapur district have written a letter to Koshyari, alleging false loan waiver promise.

The letter will be submitted to the governor in the evening, he said.

Fadnavis further alleged that farmers hit by unseasonal rains last year have still not received due assistance from the government.

Without naming any party, he also sought to know what happened to the demand of giving Rs 25,000 per hectare (of crop loss) to farmers hit by untimely rains.

The NCP and Congress made such a demand last year when they were in opposition.

The Maharashtra Assembly was on Tuesday adjourned for the day after pandemonium over the farm loan waiver issue.

The state government on Monday released the first list of 15,358 beneficiaries of the 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 with funds.

"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 said the scheme's implementation has been done within 60 days of its announcement, and credited the state machinery for the speedy execution.

The scheme to write off debts of farmers whose crop loan outstanding is up to Rs two lakh till September 30, 2019, was announced by the chief minister in December last year, after he took charge of the coalition government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip toward Israel on Feb. 24, 2020. (Khalil Hamra/AP Photo)

Palestinian Islamic Jihad Calls for Ceasefire With Israel After 2 Days of Attacks

The Palestinian extremist group Islamic Jihad announced a ceasefire with Israel Monday evening that appeared to be taking hold early Tuesday.

The region suffered another two days of violence after Islamic Jihad fired dozens of rockets into Israel from Gaza on Sunday to avenge the death of a fighter who had been shot dead by the Israeli military after attempting to plant bombs along the Israel-Gaza border early Sunday morning, the military said.

A video of an Israeli military bulldozer driving into Gaza to pick up his body quickly went viral on Palestinian social media, sparking anger toward the Israelis.

Following the wave of rockets fired into Israel, which were mostly intercepted by Israels Iron Dome missile-defense system, Israeli fighter jets targeted and destroyed dozens of targets in the Gaza Strip and Syria just before midnight on Sunday, aiming for leaders of the Iranian-backed group. Two leaders were killed in one of the overnight strikes.

Islamic Jihad later identified them as Salim Salim, 24, and Ziad Mansour, 23, without disclosing their nationalities or elaborating on their roles.

Al-Quds Brigades [Islamic Jihads military wing] announces that it has finished its military response to the assassination crimes in Khan Yunis and Damascus, the group said in a statement. It promises our people and nation that it will continue its struggle and that it will respond to any continued [aggression] by the occupation against our people and land.

Four other Iran-backed fighters were also killed in the airstrikes, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported AFP. It said the attacks were near the Damascus international airport.

Monday saw more than 50 retaliatory rockets from Islamic Jihad in Gaza, triggering sirens in southern Israel. Some rockets fell on the local residential communities.

A boy walks inside a kindergartens playground that was hit by a missile fired from Gaza Strip in the city of Sderot, Israel, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (Tsafrir Abayov/AP Photo)

Schools were closed in Israeli areas adjacent to Gaza, roads shut and restrictions placed on outdoor public gatherings.

Before the ceasefire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a warning to Gazas Hamas rulers that he would step-up operations if the rocket fire from Gaza continued.

Musab al-Berim, a spokesman for Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, said the cease-fire went into effect at 11:30 p.m. Monday, several hours after an earlier truce quickly unraveled. He said Egypt and U.N. mediators had negotiated the new deal.

In recent months, Israel has worked with U.N. and Egyptian mediators on a broader informal agreement with the Hamas, the much larger Islamic extremist group that has governed Gaza for more than a decade. These understandings have eased the Israeli blockade on the Gaza strip, while Hamas is required in return to guarantee a ceasefire. Israel imposed the blockade after Hamas overran Gaza from the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007.

U.N. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov told the U.N. Security Council in New York on Monday: The indiscriminate launching of rockets against civilian population centers violates international law and must end.

The past 48 hours have once again showed us how fragile the situation in Gaza is. Its population suffers under Hamass rule and Israeli closures, while militant activity forces Israeli communities to live in constant fear of the next rocket attack.

No amount of humanitarian or economic support on its own will resolve either the situation in Gaza or the broader conflict. Gaza ultimately requires a political solution.

It was the heaviest round of fighting since November when Israel and Islamic Jihad engaged in a two-day battle after Israel killed one of the groups top commanders.

The latest Israeli airstrikes targeted only Islamic Jihad positions, but Israel holds Gazas Hamas rulers responsible for all fire coming out of the coastal enclave. Hamas is much more powerful than Islamic Jihad, and it has shown itself capable of barraging Israel with rocket fire for weeks at a time.

Upcoming Elections

The escalation of violence threatened to disrupt next weeks Israeli national elections.

The election will be Israels third in under a year, after two inconclusive votes last year.

Netanyahu, locked in a tight race with Gantz while being hit with corruption charges that he claims are politically motivated, presents himself as an experienced statesman who is best-suited to protecting Israels security. But opponents have accused him of caving into the violence to keep things quiet.

Netanyahu, the country is under fire. Get on helping it, said Netanyahus chief rival, former military commander Benny Gantz, leader of the opposition Blue and White Party. The people of the south deserve better.

Tamar Hermann, an expert on Israeli public opinion at the Israel Democracy Institute think tank, said that after so many previous rounds of fighting, she did not expect the latest violence to have an impact on voters.

Its expected and people are used to it, and resilience is not being eroded because of such normal events,' she said.

Isabel Van Brugen and The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Bulgarian PM Borisov Again Faces Money Laundering Allegations

February 25, 2020

Anti-corruption prosecutors in the Spanish autonomous region of Catalonia are investigating a money laundering case with possible links to Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, Business News Europe reported on February 23, citing a newspaper in Barcelona.

Borisov denies owning property in Spain.

According to a front-page article first published by El Periodico on February 21, police are investigating the origin of 5 million euros that former Bulgarian model Borislava Yovcheva, her father, and two companies received from people living outside of Spain since 2013.

The article cited police records it purportedly has seen alleging that the money of suspicious origin "might be related to undeclared funds of high-ranking officials in the Bulgarian government".

Catalan police on February 21 confirmed to RFE/RL that they are conducting an investigation but declined to give details, including whether the Bulgarian prime minister's name was implicated.

"We don't provide information on pending investigations," the press service of the Catalan police said.

In 2015, a leaked conversation between two judges and an unknown third individual included the allegation that Borisov had bought property worth 1.5 million euros for a girlfriend in Barcelona.

Bulgarian investigative news outlet Bivol.bg several years ago published a report saying that Borisov had bought Yovcheva a villa in Spain, allegations that he has repeatedly denied.

Speaking to journalists on February 21 at the European Council in Brussels, Borisov denied having ever bought property in Spain.

"I'll say it for the hundredth time  I don't have a house there, I don't have any property there; the last time I was in Barcelona I was there as a mayor of Sofia 15 years ago," he said.

Borisov then hinted that Russia was behind the recent allegations and accused Bulgarian President Rumen Radev of possibly being involved in smearing him.

"Let them do their investigation but I'm pretty sure this all comes from the East and I'll bet a few [Russian] rubles on that," he told broadcaster Dnevnik.

Borisov then promised to make an official statement once the Spanish investigation is completed or closed.

This is the third time Borisov is prime minister and he has faced accusations at home of not doing enough to eradicate corruption in one of the European Union's poorest countries.

He has replaced nine ministers so far amid various scandals involving graft.

His two previous stints as prime ministers ended with resignations.

With reporting by BNE-Intellinews, Balkan Insight, A Coruna, El Periodico, and Dnevnik

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgarian-pm- borisov-again-faces-money-laundering -allegations/30452538.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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WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Tuesday to close the courthouse door on the parents of a Mexican teenager who was shot dead over the border by an American agent.

The courts five conservative justices held that the parents could not use American courts to sue Border Patrol Agent Jesus Mesa Jr., who killed their unarmed 15-year-old son in 2010. Mesa was on U.S. soil in Texas when he fired the fatal shot.

Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the court that the case is tragic, but that strong border security and international relations issues led to the ruling against the parents of Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca.

Since regulating the conduct of agents at the border unquestionably has national security implications, the risk of undermining border security provides reasons to hesitate about allowing the parents to sue in American courts, Alito wrote.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, writing for her liberal colleagues, disagreed, saying the parents lawsuit does not endanger border security or U.S. foreign policy.

Tuesdays outcome also is certain to doom a lawsuit filed by the parents of a teenager killed in Nogales, Mexico, from gunshots fired across the border by a U.S. agent who was standing in Arizona. That case has been on hold.

The case tested a half-century-old Supreme Court decision that allows people to sue federal officials for constitutional violations. Over the years, the courts have made it harder to bring claims, known as Bivens actions after the name of the high court case.

Ginsburg wrote that it is all too apparent that to redress injuries like the one suffered here, it is Bivens or nothing. I resist the conclusion that nothing is the answer required in this case.

Justice Clarence Thomas, who was part of the court majority, said he would get rid of Bivens lawsuits altogether. Justice Neil Gorsuch joined Thomas separate opinion.

Mark Sherman is an Associated Press writer.
What is not known, officials said, is when it will arrive and how severe a US outbreak might be.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday alerted Americans to begin preparing for the spread of coronavirus in the United States after the flu-like virus surfaced in several more countries.

The announcement signals a change in tone for the US health agency, which had largely been focused on efforts to stop the virus from entering the country and quarantining individuals travelling from China.

The data over the past week about the spread in other countries has raised our level of concern and expectation that we are going to have community spread here, Dr Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters on a conference call.

What is not known, she said, is when it will arrive and how severe a US outbreak might be. Disruption to everyday life might be severe, she cautioned.

Businesses, schools and families should begin having discussions about the possibility that their lives may be disrupted if the virus begins spreading within US communities.

Separately, US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told a Senate subcommittee there will likely be more cases in the US, and he asked legislators to approve $2.5bn in funding to fight the outbreak after proposing cuts to the departments budget.

While the immediate risk to individual members of the American public remains low, there is now community transmission in a number of countries, including outside of Asia, which is deeply concerning, Azar said, adding that recent outbreaks in Iran and Italy were particularly worrying.

Major US stock indexes fell again on Tuesday after a sharp selloff on Monday.

Azar said the US government was working closely with state, local, and private sector partners to prepare for mitigating the virus potential spread in the US.

US Senator Chuck Schumer, however, said President Donald Trump and his administration had been caught flat-footed and lacked a comprehensive plan to deal with coronavirus. He called for at least $3.1bn in additional funding to fight it.

The Trump administration has shown towering and dangerous incompetence when it comes to the coronavirus, said Schumer, the top Senate Democrat. Mr President, you need to get your act together now. This is a crisis.
A former Home and Away star claimed he was having a 'bad day' when he flew into a rage and keyed a woman's car after she took his parking spot.

Zac Drayson, 37, who played Will Smith on the long-running soap, was searching for a parking space at Westfield Bondi Junction in Sydney's east on September 28, 2019, when the incident happened.

Both Drayson and the other motorist had spotted a car pulling out of a parking spot and began waiting with their indicators on, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Zac Drayson, 37, (pictured with former co-star Lynne McGranger) played Will Smith on the Australian soap

Drayson (pictured during a scene on Home and Away) had been searching for a parking space at Westfield Bondi Junction in Sydney's east on September 28, 2019

When the driver of the Volkswagen Tiguan managed to snag the spot, Drayson got out of his car and began hurling abuse at her.

'The accused has yelled a barrage of insults as a result of his frustration,' the Waverley Local Court was told on Tuesday.

The woman replied: 'I had my indicator on too.'

Drayson walked off after the confrontation but when he returned a short time later he used his key to carve a deep scratch along two panels of the $40,000 car.

Security cameras captured the 'childish' behaviour and police were notified.

Drayson told police during an interview: 'I was having a bad day and this was the cherry on top, I've never done anything like this before.'

Drayson later told police he was 'having a bad day' when he flew into a rage before keying a woman's car (pictured in his new role in Seven's series Winter)

Magistrate Greg Grogin slammed Drayson's behaviour, which he branded 'childish'

Drayson pleaded guilty to one charge of intentionally or recklessly destroy/damage property.

Magistrate Greg Grogin slammed Drayson's behaviour as 'childish, cowardice and spoiled'.

'You are standing before me as a father and a worker and you are otherwise of good character  you should be ashamed of yourself.'

He was given a conditional release order for two years and ordered to pay $1445 compensation.

No conviction was recorded.
By PTI

KOLKATA: A timely help by a Kolkata Police traffic sergeant ensured that a Madhyamik candidate could write her Mathematics paper on Monday, police said.

Madhyamik is the class 10 state board examination.

She was denied entry at the examination centre because she had left her admit card back home, the police said.

Suman Kurrey then approached Sergeant Chaitanya Mallick, who was on duty near the centre, and narrated her situation to him.

Her examination centre was at Jaiswal Vidyamandir for Girls near Maniktala and her residence was at Sahitya Parisath Street near Khanna crossing, a police officer said.

Sergent Mallick then contacted the candidate''s mother, went to her house, brought the admit card and handed it over to Kurrey.

The girl finally got her admit card in time and she was able write her paper, the police officer said.

"I will be indebted to him throughout my life. I wrote my paper well and that was possible only because of him," Kurrey said.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  It was the 1970s when New Mexico last increased the amount of bond money that oil and gas companies are required to put up before drilling. As development continues at a record pace, State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard says its time to take another look.

Legislation that called for a study of the issue stalled during the recent session, but Garcia Richard announced just a day after lawmakers adjourned that shes moving forward with the effort. She said her office has the funding to begin the work.

The review could take months. Given all the infrastructure and development on state trust lands, officials said the amount of bonding needed to ensure taxpayers arent left paying for any clean-up and restoration after oil, gas or other minerals are extracted is currently unknown.

Garcia Richard described it as an urgent issue that could leave taxpayers and our state trust land beneficiaries on the hook for potentially millions of dollars.

Concerns about the inadequacy of bonds goes beyond New Mexico. A report released last fall by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlighted bonding shortfalls on federal lands and found that oil and gas bond amounts largely have not been updated in 40 years or more and fail to serve their intended purpose.

Abandoned wells have been a major issue across much of the West and some officials are concerned the problem could grow given the exponential increase in development in places such as the Permian Basin, a booming area that straddles the Texas-New Mexico border.

Once the New Mexico study is complete, the State Land Office could propose raising bond requirements through a rule-making process. That would involve a series of public meetings.

The agency manages millions of acres of surface land and mineral estate throughout New Mexico. That includes more than 30,000 active leases and rights of way for everything from agriculture to oil and gas development, renewable energy projects and mining.

State officials are most concerned about unplugged and abandoned wells. According to the State Land Office, the average cost of plugging a well is more than $28,000 and the cost to remediate contamination associated with a single lease can range from $5,000 to millions of dollars depending on the extent of contamination.

The New Mexico Oil Conservation Division tallies the number of orphaned and abandoned wells throughout the state at 711, of which only 6% have been plugged. While the state has a restoration program funded by a tax on oil and gas operators, officials say its $5 million budget would be drained quickly considering the number of wells needing to be plugged and remediated.

The State Land Office pointed to a case of contamination in Lea County that occurred five years ago. The bond covered only $10,000, but the current estimated cost of cleaning up the spilled produced water is over $600,000.

Aside from well sites, the study will require the State Land Office to review over 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers) of oil and gas-related pipelines in rights of way throughout the state. Officials say the existing exposure for decommissioning pipelines and remediating rights of way on state lands alone is hundreds of millions of dollars.
To date, no COVID-19 cases have been registered in Ukraine.

Ukraine's Health Ministry says 80,150 laboratory-confirmed cases of the new COVID-19 coronavirus were registered worldwide as of February 25, of which 2,699 were fatal, and 27,695 people have already recovered.

To date, no COVID-19 cases have been registered in Ukraine, according to the ministry's press service.

From February 24, all people who come from countries with confirmed COVID-19 cases will undergo body temperature screening.

Read alsoNo COVID-19 coronavirus cases registered in Ukraine  health officials

The same procedure will be used for all passengers at major Ukrainian airports and for those crossing the Tysa customs checkpoint in Zakarpattia region. Later, the relevant mode will be in effect at other checkpoints.

On February 24, the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Ukraine donated 30 kits of testing reagents for COVID-19 at the virological reference laboratory of Ukraine's Public Health Center. The kits contain about 3,000 tests, which is enough for checking over 950 people.

The ministry reiterated that according to the WHO, the virus that causes COVID-19 is called SARS-CoV-2.

As UNIAN reported earlier, the Chinese authorities reported an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown origin in Wuhan late in December 2019.

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 at least two weeks.

On January 30, the WHO declared an international emergency over the spread of the novel coronavirus from China.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday appealed for calm after violence erupted in the North-East district of the capital and claimed the lives of seven persons, including a police head constable, as groups of anti and pro CAA protestors clashed in the area.

"I appeal to all Delhiites to maintain peace. We are worried about the violence in North-EastDelhi. Several policemen and civilians were injured and some lost their lives. Several houses were set on fire and shops were damaged. It is very unfortunate," he said while addressing a press conference

He also stressed upon sealing the Delhi borders stating, "MLAs of the border areas have said that people are coming from outside. There is a need to seal the borders and do preventive arrests."

Briefing media about what transpired in between him and the MLAs of the affected area, the Delhi Chief Minister said he has given appropriate instructions to the Delhi Police, hospitals and Delhi Fire Service to bring back normalcy in the region.

"I have told hospitals to treat the injured immediately. Delhi Fire Service will coordinate with the Delhi Police in those areas where they are finding it difficult to enter," he added.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to hold a meeting with Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on the prevailing situation in the capital at 12 noon today.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chiefs of financial authorities pose for pictures before attending a meeting to discuss countermeasures against the rapid spread of the coronavirus at the Korea Federation of Banks on Feb 14. From left are Financial Services Commission Chairman Eun Sung-soo, Bank of Korea Governor Lee Joo-yeol, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki and Financial Supervisory Service Governor Yoon Suk-heun / Yonhap



By Kim Bo-eun



The financial authorities have announced plans to minimize the fallout of the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, with the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) saying Monday that it would defer on-site regular audits of financial firms for the first quarter of the year.



The FSS said for Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, the regions that have been most severely affected, all on-site inspections will be suspended.



"We will continue inspections only in cases involving major consumer losses, but these will be conducted under strict guidelines," an FSS official said, referring to inspections of the troubled Lime Asset Management and financial firms that sold Lime's funds.



The FSS said it has directed financial firms to map out contingency plans for branches that have been closed.



Chiefs of banks attended a meeting at the Korea Federation of Banks, Monday, to discuss measures to cope with the unwanted consequences of the virus.






PHILADELPHIA (AP)  Voters in a west Philadelphia district will choose a new state representative on Tuesday to replace a freshman lawmaker who resigned after being accused of stealing from a nonprofit she founded.

The election between Democrat G. Roni Green and Republican Wanda Logan is to complete the term of former Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell.

Former State Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell exits the Stout Center for Criminal Justice on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. Johnson-Harrell pleaded guilty after being charged with stealing more than $500,000 from her nonprofit, Motivations Education & Consultation Associates (MECA).HEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photogra

Johnson-Harrell, a Democrat, pleaded guilty last month to charges she took money from the charity and spent it on vacations, clothing and other needs. She was sentenced to three months in jail.

She had won a special election last year after the House seat became vacant because former Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown, a Democrat, was sentenced to probation for bribery.

Johnson-Harrell pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges related to campaign and state financial reports and guilty to felony theft and perjury.

Green is a union business agent, while Logan owns an employment agency.

Three other House vacancies will be filled on March 17, in special elections for seats held most recently by Rep. Tedd Nesbit, R-Mercer, Rep. Gene DiGirolamo, R-Bucks, and Rep. Justin Walsh, R-Westmoreland. All three were elected to other offices.

More: What time is the Democratic debate tonight? TV, streaming, more info
Richard Burgon speaks at a hustings earlier this month (Getty)

Labour deputy leadership candidate Richard Burgon has lashed out at rival Angela Rayner after she said that Jeremy Corbyn didnt command respect.

Burgon, who is one of Corbyns ultimate devotees in parliament, said the Labour leader would have won the 2017 election if it hadnt been for outrageous MPs rebelling and forcing a leadership election in 2016.

A row erupted among left-wing Labour members after Rayner  previously seen as a Corbyn loyalist  used an ITV interview to slate his leadership after he led the party to its worst election result since 1935.

She said: Im more bombastic, more focused and more sharp, and I would expect more discipline in a way that Jeremy didnt.

Deputy leadership candidates Richard Burgon, Angela Rayner, Rosena Allin-Khan, Dawn Butler and Ian Murray (PA via Getty)

He didn't command respect, and he therefore wasn't able to command that collectivism in the Labour Party."

Burgon then hit back at frontrunner Rayner in an impassioned defence of Jeremy on Twitter.

He said: Jeremy has my respect  and always will.

Jeremy has the respect of all those members who voted for him twice as leader.

Jeremy Corbyn pictured in Rhydyfelin, Wales, last week (Getty)

Jeremy would likely have become PM in 2017 if it werent for the outrageous behaviour of the PLP [Parliamentary Labour Party] trying to oust him the year before.

Other comments from Corbyn supporters criticising Rayner included: If she thinks she resonates more than @jeremycorbyn in this country, someone needs to sit her down and tell her a few home truths.

No-ONE resonates like Jeremy Corbyn with the British public.

Another posted: Your comment about Mr Corbyn undermines your credibility as a candidate and comrade.

Meanwhile, in the same ITV interview, Rayner said Corbyn shouldnt be given a shadow cabinet role once he steps down in April and that his Brexit position in the election was awful.

Starmer: Labour members 'want to turn a corner'
Harvey Weinstein Hospitalized on Way to Prison

The ambulance transporting convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein on Feb. 24 to Rikers Island, a prison in New York City, was rerouted to Bellevue Hospital after the 67-year-old experienced chest pains.

Weinstein, a former Hollywood producer, was convicted of third-degree rape as well as a count of criminal sexual act in the first degree earlier on Feb. 24. During the transfer to Rikers Island following the guilty verdicts, he experienced chest pains, heart palpitations, and high blood pressure, said his attorney, Donna Rotunno.

Weinstein is OK, she told CNN. While he remained in the prison ward at Bellevue, in the borough of Manhattan, as of the morning of Feb. 25, when hes released from medical care, hes expected to be sent to Rikers Island.

Weinstein faces between five and 29 years in prison. Hes slated to be sentenced on March 11.

His lawyers have said they plan to appeal the verdicts.

The evidence was not so powerful. Jurors normally dont deliberate for five days, over a weekend, so its really seven days. So it wasnt so that there was such overpowering evidence, defense attorney Arthur Aidala said, according to WABC.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said that justice was served.

In this courtroom drawing, Harvey Weinstein (C) 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 Weinsteins rape case at Manhattan Supreme Court in New York on Feb. 21, 2020. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)

These are eight 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, he said at a press conference, naming the women who accused Weinstein of crimes.

This is the new landscape for survivors of sexual assault in America. This is a new day. Its a new day because Harvey Weinstein has finally been held accountable for crimes he committed. The women who came forward courageously, and at great risk, made that happen.

Weinstein is a vicious serial sexual predator who used his power to threaten, rape, assault, trick, humiliate, and silence his victims.

Weinstein could face additional time in prison if convicted on sex crime charges in Los Angeles. Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey announced an indictment in January.

We believe the evidence will show that the defendant used his power and influence to gain access to his victims and then commit violent crimes against them, Lacey said in a statement.

I want to commend the victims who have come forward and bravely recounted what happened to them. It is my hope that all victims of sexual violence find strength and healing as they move forward.

The Los Angeles indictment alleges that Weinstein raped a woman in her hotel room in 2013 and that he sexually assaulted a woman in a hotel suite the next night. Weinstein has denied allegations of nonconsensual sexual activity related to those cases.

If convicted of all charges, Weinstein could face an additional sentence of up to 28 years.
Vegemite will make its way into Indian shoppers' online baskets after the launch of an Amazon Australia store in the country, as the federal government jostles to grow Australian business activity in the region.

The new arm of the online retail giant launches in India on Wednesday with a host of major Australian brands including Capilano, Swisse, Sukin, Gaia Skin Naturals, Australis, Sanitarium, Sun Rice, Orgran, Australia's Own and the Byron Bay Chilli Co available immediately.

Vegemite is now available in India on the Amazon Australia store.

India is Australia's fifth-largest export market and is tipped to be the third biggest economy in the world by 2035, behind China and the US. Opportunities to boost Australia's business presence in the region has become a focus for the Australian government and Trade Minister Simon Birmingham, who is launching the store in Mumbai.

"Thousands of Australian food, health and lifestyle brands will now be available at the click of a button in the world's fastest-growing consumer market, thanks to this partnership," Mr Birmingham said.
Union Minister GKishanReddy on



Tuesday alleged that the violence in Delhi over the amended Citizenship law has been perpetrated intentionally and the Narendra Modi government would not tolerate such incidents.

He also expressed concern over the violence during US President Donald Trump's visit to the country.

The Minister of State for Home said resorting to arson and rioting in the name of anti-CAA protests was "totally wrong." "I warn those behind the violence... The Narendra Modi government has zero tolerance towards it. Our government will take necessary stern action against those involved in arson and violence. Our government will not tolerate any form of violence," Reddy told reporters here.

He claimed that the law and order situation in the national capital was under control because the Delhi police was working with responsibility.

Alleging that the violence in Delhi was perpetrated intentionally, he said, "the Centre has been patient. We know people will understand that there is nothing in the CAA that is against 130 crore Indians. It is neither against Pakistan nor Bangladesh or even against any religion or region."



"Inspite of this they are trying to "defame" the Modi government and bring disgrace to the country which is very wrong," Reddy said adding none should think that the Union government was weak.

"Those conspiring to damage the country's prestige are responsible for the violence. Investigations are on and it will reveal whoever is behind it.

... we will hold talks with the people following which action (by the government) will be initiated against the perpetrators."



On the ongoing sit-in protests against CAA and National Register of Citizens in Shaheen Bagh in Delhi, Reddy said it was a sensitive issue and that some political parties and protesters were linking it to religion.

"We are taking measures with caution and exercising restraint. They are our own people. After being provoked by someone they are protesting and that's why we have been patient for the past several days." He charged some political parties (leaders) with making speeches at Shaheen Bagh and other places of the country and provoking anti-CAA protesters, Reddy said.

To a query, the union minister said Shaheen Bagh matter was before the Supreme Court and it cannot be cleared now.

Referring to AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi's statement that violence would spread in the country if CAA was not withdrawn, Reddy said he was being "irresponsible".

"Owaisi has been trying to instigate violence by making such provocative speeches for the past many days. The Centre is firm and CAA will not be withdrawn even if hundreds of Owaisis oppose it," he said.

Violence spiralled over the Citizenship Amendment Act in northeast Delhi, turning it into a battlefield on Monday with frenzied protesters torching houses, shops, vehicles and a petrol pump, and hurling stones.

The toll in the violence has risen to seven.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Its the end of an era at MBS International Airport. In an announcement that caught many by surprise, longtime MBS Airport Manager Jeff Nagel announced he is retiring after more than 36 years in the aviation industry, the last 18 at MBS.

Nagel, who has guided MBS through some of its most significant developments, perhaps most notably the launch of a new $55 million passenger terminal back in October 2012, relayed his retirement plans to the airport commission at its February meeting.

Calling it a difficult decision, Nagel said he intends to step down on June 24.

I think its a good time for me, he said. Its a great time for the airport to look at the younger generation for some new ideas. Over the past 30 years, the commission has only had to replace its manager once. This is a great facility.

Nagel came to MBS in 2002 after spending 13 years in various roles at Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City. He first worked as assistant manager under Betty Owen. Following Owens retirement in February 2004, after a career spanning 31 years at MBS, Nagel succeeded her as manager.

I had no idea that Id be recommended as airport manager in a year and a half, Nagel recounted. Weve grown the airport over the years. We have a great staff and are well-positioned for the future.

Assistant Manager James Canders expressed the sentiment of many MBS employees when he said he knew Nagel was contemplating retirement, but didnt anticipate it happening right away.

All staff at MBS had known of his intent to retire, but none of us were anticipating it occurring this quickly, Canders said. A lot of us were expecting it to occur in another year or so.

Asked how he knew the time was right for him to retire, Nagel said: Ive heard throughout my entire career from friends and colleagues that youll just know when the time is right, and for me, that hit me late last fall, and Ive been thinking about it ever since.

Youre going to like it, said Brad Gray, City of Midland citizen-at-large commissioner and a retired Dow executive.

Brad, youre the one that sold me on retirement, Nagel said, smiling. I see you coming here every month, wearing jeans and looking relaxed. I thought I might want to try it.

Nagel may be MBS leader, but he is quick to deflect praise for all the accomplishments that have occurred on his watch. And there have been plenty.

One of my biggest thrills is working on a major project as a team and seeing the successful completion of that project, he said. Whether it was the terminal or the runway rehab last year, none of those are individual accomplishments and the number of people it takes to get something like that finished is amazing. Ive been fortunate to be surrounded by an incredible team.

Canders said once he got over his initial shock upon learning of Nagels plan to retire sooner rather than later, I was trying to determine how much information I could learn from him in four short months. 

Canders was hired in late 2018 and credits his boss for setting the stage for a seamless succession plan.

In order to facilitate his retirement, Jeff had been constantly involving me in discussions with airport stakeholders, federal and state agencies and organizations within the Tri-City area, he said. He made it quite obvious to me that someone needed to know what was going on at MBS since his time here was growing shorter. I had already spent a lot of time with these organizations in Michigan, which makes it easier to prepare for Jeffs retirement.

As a youngster, Nagel had no intention of pursuing a career in the aviation industry. That all changed, though, as a college student.

I took an introduction to aviation class as an elective and that really sparked an interest, he recounted. From there, I transferred to Florida Tech to study aviation management and everything fell into place.

From security requirements, to airline mergers and the use of technology in virtually every aspect of airport operations, change has been a constant throughout Nagels illustrious career.

But, throughout all that change, the basic goals are the same, Nagel noted. That is to have a safe, efficient operation that meets the aviation demand of the region.

In his 16 years as airport manager, Nagel has been accountable to nearly 40 different individuals that have served on the nine-member board. He feels blessed to have worked for some talented and engaged commissioners.

The MBS Commission has been tremendous over the years, he said. Without exception, the No. 1 priority has always been the airport. Never have I seen local politics creep into the discussions. MBS has been a great example of regionalism.

Family time will be a big part of Nagels retirement years.

My wife and I plan to stay in Michigan for the summers, he said. Our family is here and we enjoy visiting when we can. We have two wonderful daughters and Im looking forward to seeing them more frequently. Although were not sure of our specific plans, our goal is to head south in the winter.

Ive made a lot of friends over the past 30-plus years, Nagel added. I will definitely miss the people the most.

Ive enjoyed working with you, said Brad Kaye, commission chairman. Youve made it easy for me. Personally, Ill miss you.

Said Canders: Jeff has been a great mentor since I came to MBS, and it will be tough not having him around. I am sure a lot of people at MBS share that sentiment.
DETROIT - A man suspected of at least a half-dozen slayings and other crimes in and around Detroit shot himself in the head while being pursued by police, authorities said Monday.

Kenyel Brown was in critical condition at a hospital, Detroit Police Chief James Craig said. He had been spotted by an adult bookstore clerk in Detroit. As police were using trained dogs to search for Brown, officers spotted him jumping fences in neighbouring Oak Park, said the chief.

As police closed in on him in the backyard of an Oak Park home, officers heard a single gunshot and found Brown wounded, Craig said.

The good news is no one else got hurt,. Certainly, this could have been a very tragic situation whether we had encountered him at the bookstore or if one of our officers had first, Craig said.

Brown, 40, is suspected in six slayings overall in Detroit, Highland Park and River Rouge, Craig said. The first was Jan. 8 in River Rouge, with the most recent occurring Saturday in Detroit over a drug argument, he said. Brown also was accused of two carjackings in the city within 19 minutes of each other, Craig said.

Our team worked literally around the clock, Craig told reporters. They knew this man was extremely dangerous in our community.

Craig added that police believe others might have been working with Brown, so the investigation continues.

Wayne County prosecutors charged Brown with two counts of first-degree murder and other crimes in connection with the River Rouge incidents that left Dorian Patterson, 48, and Kimberly Green, 52, dead of multiple gunshot wounds. U.S. marshals also had been pursuing him.

Brown had previously served 10 years in prison for manslaughter, according to court records. He had been charged with second-degree murder and five vehicle-related felonies in 2000 but pleaded guilty in January 2001 to fleeing and eluding a police officer. The other three charges, including the murder count, were dropped the next month.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 20)  About ninety percent of Bureau of Immigration personnel are involved in the so-called "pastillas" scheme which allows paid special treatment to Chinese nationals entering the country, a witness from the agency revealed on Thursday.

Immigration officer and whistleblower Allison Chiong appeared before the Senate to testify about the bribery scheme in the bureau. He said only a small fraction of the agency's personnel were not involved in the pay-off scheme.

"Kung bibigyan ko kayo ng parang percentage, para po sa akin mga ten percent na lang 'yung hindi kasama sa modus," he said.

[Translation: If I were to give a percentage, for me, there are only ten percent left who are not involved on the modus]

The payments used to bribe the officers were called "pastillas." Chiong explained the cash used to be hidden in rolled bond paper like the wrapping for the milk candy, but that has since been upgraded to pay envelopes for the release of kickbacks.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who revealed the pay-off scheme to the public, said the special service was worth 10,000. However, Chiong said some high-profile fugitives from China pay as much as 50,000 to 200,000 for smooth entry to the Philippines.

In the hearing, Chiong also showed photos of an alleged group in the mobile app Viber that has since been deleted, where officers are given the names of Chinese nationals who should receive "VIP" treatment.

The informant added that more or less one-third of low-level employees, such as those tasked to welcome and line up Chinese passengers, were involved in the operation.

He also mentioned several names of officials such as former port operations divisions chief Red Marinas. Chiong said Marinas appointed officers whom he called "suppliers of Chinese passengers" and collected the grease money. The operation then evolved, with groups submitting their own names of VIPs which they have worked on with travel agencies in China.

Hontiveros said the Senate will summon Marinas for the next hearing so he can answer the allegations against him.

This comes as President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the relief of all immigration personnel tagged in the operation. The BI responded moments later, saying 18 officers have been sacked following the order.

The scheme

Chiong said through the pay-off modus, Chinese VIP visitors can dodge screening procedures. The BI usually checks the tourists' return flight, hotel booking, itinerary, proof of financial capacity and previous trips to find any red flags that they might do something illegal in the country.

An example would be previous work experience in Cambodia. Chiong said it serves as a red flag since there was a crackdown of gaming companies in the country. He said he observed about one-third of Chinese visitors with tourist visas had worked in Cambodia.

"Basta po nasa listahan 'yung pangalan, wala nang ibang questions asked na. Tatak kaagad, pasok," he said.

[Translation: As long as their names are on the list, we would no longer ask further questions. We would just stamp and let them enter.]

Before, Chiong said, officers would bring arriving Chinese nationals to a holding area to check if they were on the list of VIPs. However, the officers were afraid of getting caught due to the influx of Chinese passengers in the holding area, so they used the Viber group.

Incumbent Port divisions chief Grifton Medina said he is not aware of the said Viber group among his subordinates.

Chiong added that he came forward to expose the scheme to "free" his colleagues from their involvement in corrupt practices.

"I feel that 'yung mga kasama kong [my fellow] immigration officers, they have been enslaved by this corrupt system and whether or not they were aware of it, biktima din sila [they are also victims], and I wanted to free them from this system - that is why I am making this sacrifice," he said.

Hontiveros later told reporters that Chiong personally approached her to expose the BI. He will be applying for the state witness protection program since he has been receiving death threats, she added.

Limited powers

Commissioner Morente admitted he has limited authority in the appointment of division heads in the bureau.

The commissioner explained that it is the Justice Secretary who assigns the heads of divisions while he submits the shortlist of recommendations, as stated in the Philippine Immigration Law of 1940.

"I do not even have disciplinary powers... that 's why I am working for the passing of a new immigration law which would correct the system," said Morente.

Nevertheless, he said he already ordered an investigation into the incident as well as the firing of the personnel shown in Chiong's video.

Hontiveros said there is currently no sufficient evidence to tie Morente to the pastillas scheme. She added that her committee will also look into amending the immigration law.
BANGALORE, India, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The small satellite market in 2018 was estimated at USD 3,632.4 Million and is expected to reach USD 15,686.3 Million by 2026, posting a 20.1% CAGR from 2018 to 2026.

Due to numerous factors such as increased demand for small satellites for earth observation services in numerous sectors such as agriculture, energy, civil engineering, oil & gas, and others, the small satellite market is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period.

The small satellite market is segmented into type, application, and end-user to give an in-depth insight into the market. The report provides information about market size & share, key competitors, Industry insights, key regions, current & future trends.

Get Free Sample Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/ALLI-Auto-1U150/Small_Satellite_Market

TRENDS INFLUENCING THE SMALL SATELLITE MARKET SIZE GROWTH

Rapid developments in space technology miniaturization have made nanosatellites economically and theoretically more feasible for their widespread use in industrial, civilian, governmental, and military applications. It is expected that a decrease in the cost of such satellites, an increase in demand and an increase in the number of application areas of small satellites, a rise in investments and superior mission launches would boost demand for small satellites.

The increased use of 3D printing and high data rate communication would enable manufacturers to provide market players with new growth opportunities. The factors that are responsible for the growth of the global small satellite market are a rise in commercial applications and a strong focus on reducing production costs and start-up costs.

Furthermore, the increasing adoption of mobile phones, communication modules, GPS systems, and data-based services due to next-generation 4G / LTE networks is another factor expected to fuel the target market's further growth over the forecast period.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/ALLI-Auto-1U150/small-satellite-market

REGION WISE TRENDS INFLUENCING THE SMALL SATELLITE MARKET SIZE

North America has the highest market share as compared to other regions. This is attributed to the presence of key players in North America and a large number of projects operating in the US and Canada. Small satellite market trends are analyzed for all regions and segments.

Inquire for Regional Report:

https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/ALLI-Auto-1U150/Small_Satellite_Market

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Key players are pursuing various strategies for staying competitive in the small satellite industry, such as product launch, acquisition, alliance, partnership, product development, contract, and business expansion. For starters, on August 5, 2019, SpaceX is expected to launch a new SmallSat rideshare system in the next two years, delivering a $2.25 million per flight launch mass of 150 kg.

SMALL SATELLITE MARKET SEGMENTS

By Type

Minisatellite

Microsatellite

Nanosatellite

Pico-satellites

Femto satellites

Application

Imaging and Earth Observations

Satellite Communications

Science & Explorations

Technology Development

Space Situational Awareness

By End-User

Civil & Commercial

Government & Defense

Some of the major players in the market include,

Sierra Nevada Corporation

Martin Corporation

Airbus SAS.

Northrop Grumman Corporation

L3Harris Technologies, Inc.

The Aerospace Corporation

Planet Labs, Inc.

Boeing

Thales Group

GomSpace

Blue Canyon Technologies

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1. Satellite Services Market

The market size of mobile services was estimated at USD 126.5 Billion in 2018 and is expected to reach USD 144.5 Billion by 2026, showing a CAGR of 2.2 percent from 2019 to 2026.

Providers of satellite services provide satellite bandwidth to end-users such as DTH providers, telecommunications companies, etc. These providers buy the satellite operators ' capacity to resell voice, broadcast, and data circuits to several end-user industries.

The report provides a thorough analysis of the forecast along with current and future developments in demand for satellite services. This report highlights the key market dynamics, opportunities, and constraints along with impact analysis over the forecast period.

View Full Report: http://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/ALLI-Manu-0P13/satellite-services-market

2. LEO Satellite Market

Global LEO Satellite market size will reach 7640 Million USD by 2025, from 2130 Million USD in 2018, at a CAGR of 20.0% during the forecast period

A low earth orbit (LEO) satellite is an entity that circles around the earth at lower altitudes than geosynchronous satellites. LEO satellites are widely used for communications, military reconnaissance, spying, and other applications for imaging.

The LEO satellite market research report, key market players, growth strategies, development plans forecast, and SWOT analysis.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-3103/global-leo-satellite-market

3. Commercial Satellite Imaging Market

In 2018, the global market for commercial satellite imagery was valued at USD 2,240.0 Million and was expected to reach USD 5,256.4 Million by 2026, recording a CAGR of 11.2% between 2019 and 2026.

The growth of the global market for commercial satellite imagery is expected to be driven largely by increased reliance on location-based services (LBS).

Satellite imagery deals with collecting pictures of earth or other stars, with the aid of satellite imaging. The use of these images for commercial purposes is known as commercial satellite imagery, which includes various uses such as environmental monitoring & management, energy resource control, border area surveillance, and construction project mapping.

View Full Report: http://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/ALLI-Manu-1B10/commercial-satellite-imaging-market

4. Satellite Bus Market:

The size of the global satellite bus market in 2018 was estimated at USD 12073.56 Million and is expected to grow to USD 19481.56 Million by 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.07 percent.

The global satellite bus market is highly competitive and features a large number of international and regional players in the marketplace. The market has witnessed increased competition between vendors based on the pricing model, differentiation of technology, brand name, service quality, product differentiation, and technical expertise.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/360I-Auto-0A59/statellite-bus-market

5. Satellite Market

Within developed economies, the global satellite market is driven by increased demand for direct-to-home (DTH) television, high-definition TV conversion, and intercontinental transmission.

Additionally, continued growth in video broadcasting and internet access, increased demand for digital television, and growth in the market for communication and broadcasting drive market growth.

The study provides a thorough analysis of the global satellite industry and existing & future developments to elucidate the imminent pockets of investment. Information is provided on key drivers, restraints, and opportunities.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-7109/global-satellite-market

6. Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (GEO) Satellite Market:

This report presents the worldwide size of the GEO satellite market (value, production, and consumption), splits the breakdown by manufacturers, region, type, and application (data status 2013-2018 and forecast to 2025). This study also analyzes the market status, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, risks and barriers to entry, sales channels, distributors, and Porter's Five Forces Analysis.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-24W925/global-geosynchronous-equatorial

7. Low Cost Satellite Market

Low-cost satellites are satellites that have significantly lower life-cycle costs than the average costs of similar satellites. The global research group that cannot be quantitatively identified as a low-cost satellite but can be contrasted with the low-cost category of satellite projects based on the statistical statistics analysis system.

This study focuses on the global status of low-cost satellites, future projections, opportunities for growth, key market, and key players. The purpose of the analysis is to address the development of low-cost satellites in North America, Europe, China, and Japan.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-5136/global-low-cost-satellite-market

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Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad says his convoy shot at in UP

In SC, Bhim Army Chief blames BJPs Kapil Mishra for Delhi violence

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 25: Bhim Army chief, Chandrasekhar Azad has blamed BJP leader, Kapil Mishra for the violence in Delhi.

The plea in the Supreme Court seeks an urgent direction in the wake of clashes in Delhi. The matter was mentioned before the Bench that is hearing the Shaheen Bagh case. The matter would be taken up tomorrow. It may be recalled that the two interlocutors had submitted in a sealed cover the report from Shaheen Bagh where protests against the new citizenship law are on since December 2019.

Death toll in Northeast Delhi climbs to seven

Meanwhile the death toll in the northeast Delhi violence climbed to seven, a senior police official on Tuesday.

A Delhi Police head constable, Ratan Lal, was among the seven killed in the violence that erupted on Monday over the amended citizenship law.

Till Monday, authorities had said at least four people, including Lal, were killed in the violence. They said that the death toll has increased to seven on Tuesday.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 11:26 [IST]
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Douglas Emmett, Inc. (NYSE: DEI), a real estate investment trust (REIT), announced today that President and CEO Jordan L. Kaplan will be participating in a roundtable discussion at the 2020 Citi Global Property CEO Conference on Monday, March 2, 2020 at 11:40 am Eastern Time. A live webcast of the discussion will be available at:

http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/citigroup/globalproperty2020/96108351946.cfm

A replay of the discussion will be available on the same URL starting one hour after the end of the live event and continuing until June 2, 2020.

About Douglas Emmett, Inc.

Douglas Emmett, Inc. (DEI) is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT), and one of the largest owners and operators of high-quality office and multifamily properties located in the premier coastal submarkets of Los Angeles and Honolulu. Douglas Emmett focuses on owning and acquiring a substantial share of top-tier office properties and premier multifamily communities in neighborhoods that possess significant supply constraints, high-end executive housing and key lifestyle amenities. For more information about Douglas Emmett, please visit our website at www.douglasemmett.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Except for the historical facts, the statements in this press release regarding Douglas Emmett's business activities are forward-looking statements based on the beliefs of, assumptions made by, and information currently available to us about known and unknown risks, trends, uncertainties and factors that are beyond our control or ability to predict. Although we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, they are not guarantees of future performance and some will inevitably prove to be incorrect. As a result, our actual future results can be expected to differ from our expectations, and those differences may be material. Accordingly, investors should use caution in relying on forward-looking statements to anticipate future results or trends. For a discussion of some of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Stuart McElhinney, Vice President  Investor Relations

310.255.7751 [email protected]

SOURCE Douglas Emmett, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.douglasemmett.com


Pune Police have registered an FIR



against some MNS workers for allegedly barging into the house of a man from a minority community and harassing him, an official said on Tuesday.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) launched a "drive" against suspected illegal Bangladeshis here last week.

Later, a person, Roshan Shaikh (35), complained to the police on Saturday that some MNS workers barged into his house in Balajinagar area here and labelled him as a Bangladeshi national, though he hailed from West Bengal and was working in Pune.

The complainant said he tried to convince them that he was an Indian citizen and not a Bangladeshi. He also showed them all the documents, but they did not listen to him.

Shaikh and two other persons were later brought to the Sahakar Nagar police station.

The police verified their credentials and found none of them was an illegal migrant, a senior police official said.

Based on Shaikh's complaint, an FIR was registered late Monday night against seven to eight workers and office- bearers of the MNS under IPC Sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 147, 149 (rioting), 448 (trespassing) and 506 (criminal intimidation), he said.

Addressing a rally of MNS workers in Mumbai on February 9, party chief Raj Thackeray demanded eviction of illegal Pakistani and Bangladeshi "infiltrators" from India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
If you haven't received our latest Global Energy Alert report, I strongly recommend you sign up today and get access to the entire collection of trading analysis, geopolitical intelligence, and market updates. This is the only energy intelligence publication you will ever need.

(Click to enlarge)

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- The EIA forecasts that the U.S. will end the 2019-2020 winter heating season with 1,935 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas in storage, or 12 percent higher than the five-year average.

- The EIA attributes the inventory build to a mild winter season and strong production.

- The agency says that in the upcoming injection season (April through October), gas inventories could rise to 4,029 Bcf, which will be a record high.



Market Movers

- Canadian police dismantled a blockade at a Canadian National Railway (NYSE: CNI) site outside of Toronto. TC Energys (NYSE: TRP) Coastal GasLink pipeline has sparked protests across the country.

- Petrofac (LON: PFC) warned that revenues would continue to decline this year as it failed to win new orders in Saudi Arabia and Iraq, two key markets.

- Equinor (NYSE: EQNR) scrapped plans for an oil project in the Great Australian Bight, a pristine part of Australias southern coastline. The Norwegian oil company said the project is not commercially viable.



Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Oil prices fell again in early trading on Tuesday, following a meltdown a day earlier. The spread of the coronavirus to several other countries has reignited fears of a global economic slowdown while OPEC+ seems reluctant to increase production cuts.



IEA: Oil demand could fall further. The IEA said that its oil demand forecast is at its lowest in a decade, and it could fall further. We certainly see the lowest oil demand growth in the last 10 years and we may need to revise it ...downwards, IEA executive director Fatih Birol told Reuters at an energy conference in London. The agency sees demand rising by 825,000 bpd in 2020, although suffering an outright contraction of 435,000 bpd in the first quarter.

Teck Resources scraps $15 oil sands project; could be Canadas last. Teck Resources (TSE: TECK.A) pulled the plug on its $15.5 billion oil sands project, citing a combination of headwinds, including the lack of pipelines, low oil prices and the prospect of weak demand in the long run. It could also mean that no new greenfield oil sands projects move forward again. This may be the nail in the coffin, Laura Lau, an asset manager at Brompton Corp. in Toronto, told Bloomberg. I would expect some smaller projects would have a better chance going through.

Related: Oil Trading Giant Sees Oil Price Recovery Later This Year

Iran, Italy and South Korea hit by virus. The number of cases in South Korea neared 1,000 overnight, and the U.S. warned against non-essential travel to that country. Korea has emerged as a larger buyer of U.S. crude oil this year. In 2019, South Korea bought 375,000 bpd from the United States. The Iranian government is struggling with credibility in its response as the number of cases rise. In Italy, several small towns were on lockdown.

Pakistan considers canceling LNG contract. In a sign of a worsening global LNG glut, Pakistan is considering canceling two long-term contracts because spot prices are so much cheaper. State-owned Pakistan LNG Ltd. has two contracts with Eni (NYSE: E)and Gunvor Group.

ExxonMobil hits 15-year low. ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) saw its share price fall to its lowest level in 15 years on Monday, falling below $57 per share. Next week, CEO Darren Woods is scheduled to present the oil majors long-term strategic plan to investors.



JPMorgan outlines climate initiatives. JPMorgan Chase announced a range of climate initiatives on Tuesday, including restrictions on financing for coal mining, Arctic drilling as well as $200 billion in financing for sustainable projects. Environmental groups said the moves are welcome, but insufficient. JPMorgan is one of the largest financiers of fossil fuel projects.



Investors retreat from energy sector. U.S. energy stocks have underperformed the S&P 500 by the largest margin since the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941, the FT reports. The Wall Street Journal also reported on the phenomenon, noting that the energy sector has been the worst-performing sector of the S&P500 for the past decade. Valuations are telling us that investors are losing confidence in the oil and gas sector, Nick Stansbury, head of commodity research at the U.K.s largest asset manager Legal & General Investment Management, told the WSJ.

Methane could be worse than thought. The oil and gas industry could be responsible for a far larger share of methane emissions than previously thought, according to new research. Methane emissions from fossil fuels could actually be 25 to 40 percent higher.

Related: Cant Afford An EV? Youre Paying For It Anyway



Schlumberger: U.S. shale to slow. U.S. shale production growth could slow to 600,000 to 700,000 bpd this year and grow by just 200,000 bpd in 2021, according to Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB). Notably, he does not see the growth rate picking up again. Shale production growth will go to a new normal ... unless technology helps us crack the code, Olivier Le Peuch told Reuters.

Aramco to invest $110 billion in shale gas. Saudi Aramco said that it would invest $110 billion in the Jafurah gas field, which could hold as much as 200 trillion cubic feet of unconventional gas.

U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The Supreme Court heard arguments on Dominion Energys (NYSE: D) Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which would carry Marcellus shale gas to the U.S. southeast. The case hinges on permits granted to the project that would allow it to cross the Appalachian Trail. The justice seemed inclined to favor the project.



Chevrons reserves decline. Chevron (NYSE: CVX) replaced just 44 percent of the oil and gas it produced last year, according to a regulatory filing. That was the worst performance in replacing reserves since 2010 for the oil giant.

By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 25, 2020) - MAX RESOURCE CORP. (TSXV: MXR) (OTC Pink: MXROF) (FSE: M1D2) ("Max" or the "Company") reports the establishment of a wholly-owned subsidiary named "PGE Americas Metals Corp." whereby the Company has transferred all of its rights in the PGE Choco Project. This is the first step towards building a portfolio of PGE assets with a targeted focus on palladium, platinum and rhodium in order to capitalize on real world technology metal deficits. The corporate intent is to unlock this value in both, an accelerated and timely manner.

PGE Choco Project - Platinum Group Elements

The wholly owned PGE Choco project is located 120 km SW of Medellin Colombia, within an historical PGE region, recorded production of one million ounces of platinum (1906-1990) by Choco Pacific Mining. Compilation of historical records revealed the potential of related PGE's, particularly palladium and rhodium. In addition, recent field work by Max resulted in highlight concentrate values of 114 g/t platinum from a field program in 2019 (refer to news release April 16, 2019). Colombia was the world's main source of platinum until 1820 and was world's largest producer between 1917 and 1923.Source: R.J. Fletcher and Associates (2011) Review of Gold and Platinum Exploration and Production in Choco Province Colombia Part 3. Private Report for Condo to Platinum NL.

"Current demand for palladium, platinum and rhodium outstrips supply and increasingly stringent environmental regulations are forcing auto makers to use more of these metals. We are adopting a sum of the parts strategy in creating a PGE metals subsidiary and consequently compounding shareholder value," commented Brett Matich, CEO of Max.

"Max's CESAR Phase II exploration program is in full swing and we eagerly await the very first initial assay results from AM North located on trend, 35 km north of the AM South discovery," he continued.

CESAR Copper and Silver Project

The wholly owned CESAR Project is located in north east Colombia within Jurassic sediments and volcaniclastics that run through the length of northern South America, hosting significant stratabound copper-silver mineralization in also Ecuador and Peru.

CESAR lies along a historic 120 km copper-belt within an oil-gas and coal mining district, the region has significant infrastructure, oil-gas and coal operations, ports, townships, railways and roadways.

First pass exploration at CESAR commenced in mid-November 2019, success to date;

Highlight grades of 5.4% copper and 116g/t silver spread over 15 sq. km;

The "AM South" copper and silver discovery extends to 5 km on strike, open in all directions with indications of significant lateral continuity;

"AM North" is located 35 km north of "AM South" and follows the same mineralized trend;

Phase II Program well underway

Max's exploration strategy is to unlock the potential of the CESAR district as the world's up and coming copper and silver producing region.

North Choco Gold and Copper Project

North Choco consists of wholly-owned mineral applications (150 sq. km), located approximately 80 km SW of Medellin, Colombia. The NW Gold-Copper Discovery (refer to October 29, 2019 news release) outcrop reported 1 meter of 49.8 g/t gold and 4.3% copper, which continues under cover in both directions. Future work will focus on mapping and sampling along strike to extend the zone and on locating additional parallel zones. Max is assessing opportunities.

About Max Resource Corp.

Max is a mineral exploration company with an experienced and successful management team focused on advancing the development of its copper, silver and precious metals landholdings in the rich mineral belts of Colombia, with significant potential for the discovery of large-scale mineral deposits that can attract major partners.

Tim Henneberry, P Geo (British Columbia), a member of the Max Resource Advisory Board, is the Qualified Person who has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release on behalf of the Company.

For more information visit: https://www.maxresource.com/

For additional information contact:

Max Resource Corp.

Tim McNulty

E: info@maxresource.com

T: (604) 290-8100

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

Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the TSXV. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for Max Resources Corp. described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52743
Julian Assange is wanted for crimes that put at risk the lives of people in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan who had helped the West, said a lawyer acting for the US in its bid to extradite the 48-year-old.

Almost a decade since his WikiLeaks website enraged Washington by leaking secret US documents, a clean-shaven Mr Assange appeared before an extradition hearing at London's Woolwich Crown Court.

Judge Vanessa Baraitser, speaking above chanting from his supporters outside, warned anyone causing a disturbance would be removed.

She said the chanting would not help Mr Assange's case.

The United States's lawyer, James Lewis, told the court Mr Assange should be extradited to stand trial for crimes including hacking, and for disseminating unredacted material which had put at risk the lives of informants, journalists, dissidents and others in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan.

The US asked Britain to extradite Mr 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. Mr Assange has served a sentence in Britain for skipping bail and remains jailed pending the US extradition request.

Mr Lewis sought to make clear Mr Assange was not wanted because he had embarrassed the United States but because he had broken the law and put lives at risk.

"I would remind the court that these were individuals who were passing on information from Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran," Mr Lewis said. Hundreds of people across the world had to be warned after the WikiLeaks disclosures and some had to be relocated from their countries, he added.

"Some sources identified by WikiLeaks ... subsequently disappeared," Mr Lewis said, although he added US authorities could not prove that was a result of WikiLeaks' action.

Jennifer Robinson, Mr Assange's lawyer, has said his case could lead to criminalising activities crucial to investigative journalists and his work has shed unprecedented light on how the US conducted its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"We are talking about collateral murder, evidence of war crimes," she said last week. "They are a remarkable resource for those of us seeking to hold governments to account for abuses."

Mr Assange is wanted by the US on 18 criminal counts of conspiring to hack government computers and violating an espionage law, and could spend decades in prison if convicted.

Mr Lewis said Mr Assange had conspired with Chelsea Manning, then an American soldier known as Bradley Manning, to hack US Department of Defence computers. He said the defence was exaggerating when it said Mr Assange might receive a jail term of 170 years.

Dressed in a blue-grey suit, Mr Assange sat in the dock and studied legal papers.

A hero to admirers who say he has exposed abuses of power, he is cast by critics as a threat to Western security. He says the extradition is politically motivated by those his revelations embarrassed.

The hearing will not decide if Mr Assange is guilty of any wrongdoing, but whether the extradition request meets the requirements set out under a 2003 UK-US treaty, which critics say is stacked in Washington's favour.
The International Mission Board(IMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention(SBC) has set up a new position to prevent and respond to sexual abuse, the Christian Post reported on February 18.

Paul Cheatwood, CEO of the IMB, announced in Richmond, Virginia, on January 30 at a plenary meeting of the IMB board of directors in Riverside, California, that he had appointed Somer Nowak, an education consultant and forensic counselor, as the head of prevention and response at the IMB. Nowak said in an interview with CP on Monday that she first got to know the administrator of prevention and abuse for the first time last year and wanted to fight for issues related to sexual abuse by the IMB.

Nowak is currently spending her first week as an administrator to meet with employees involved in her work and review earlier recommendations on how to handle the IMB's alleged sexual abuse.

She said: "I have always been passionate about the safety and happiness of children and their families, and this position is not only an opportunity to do so, but also an opportunity to serve the people of the company."

Nowak previously served as an adviser to the Cherokee County Board of Education and as an education consultant for child care in Cherokee County, central Alabama.

IMB also employed Gray Plant Mooty (GPM), an outside company (what do you mean by this?) based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to implement its review of areas and standards that need to be improved.

In an examination update released last May, the GPM concluded that despite some improvements, "we have identified many important concerns regarding the IMB's handling of past cases."

"Despite improvements over time, IMB's current policies and procedures fall short of modern best practice standards," GPM said.

With those concerns in mind, the GPM concluded that IMB's prevention and response efforts would be greatly improved by regular education with experts with expertise in child safety and criminal information approaches to prevent and respond to IMB's child abuse and sexual harassment (including assault).

When asked by the CP what one of the biggest challenges Nowak sees, she replied, "It's about getting all the employees of a large missionary group to be trained on this issue."

"I think our biggest challenge is to be well-trained and educated on these subjects. But we are committed to this task and it is important to move forward in the areas of safety and security," he added.
President Donald Trump tried to calm public fears and panicked markets amid concerns of a massive coronavirus outbreak when he said the situation 'is very well under control' in United States and folks who had it were recovering.

'We've had very few people with it. The people that have it,' he said a press conference in Delhi, 'The people are getting better - they're all getting better.'

'There's a very good chance you're not going to die,' he said of those infected.

President Donald Trump tried to calm public fears and panicked markets amid concerns of a massive coronavirus outbreak

Health authorities take part in a drill to prepare for the potential arrival of passengers infected with the coronavirus at Sofia airport, Bulgaria

There are 53 cases of the virus in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The president also responded to criticism from Democrats that his administration wasn't asking for enough to fight the disease when it requested $2.5 billion.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called 'too little too late.'

'I see that Chuck Schumer criticized that he thought it should be more. And if I gave more, he would say it should be less,' Trump said at this press conference. 'These characters, they are just not good for our country. I gave more he would say it should be less. That's what they do. In the meantime, that's all they can do. They are not getting anything done.'

He later took to Twitter to double down on his Schumer criticism.

'Cryin' Chuck Schumer is complaining, for publicity purposes only, that I should be asking for more money than $2.5 Billion to prepare for Coronavirus. If I asked for more he would say it is too much. He didn't like my early travel closings. I was right. He is incompetent!,' the president wrote.

President Trump is wrapping up a two-day trip to India. He spent 45 minutes taking questions from reporters on a variety of topics.

Earlier the president assured business leaders the U.S. was in 'very good shape' in regards to the coronavirus.

'We think we're in very good shape in the United States,' Trump said at a business roundtable meeting at the U.S. Embassy in Delhi. Trump is wrapping up a two-day state visit to India.

Trump, speaking to American and Indian business leaders, joked that their investments in the US.. have made them a lot of money 'except for yesterday,' noting the market drop.

The Dow plunged 1,000 points on Monday, posting its worse day in two years, amid fears of a spike in cases of the coronavirus.

'I think it's going to be under control,' the president said of the outbreak and lamented the market drop as being out of his or anyone else's control.

Workers disinfect subway trains against coronavirus in Tehran, Iran, after Iran's government said Tuesday that more than a dozen people had died nationwide from the coronavirus

An Iranian man wears protective mask to prevent contracting coronavirus, as he walks in the street in Tehran

The Trump administration is asking Congress for $2.5 billion to fight the fast-spreading coronavirus, including more than $1 billion for vaccines, the White House said on Monday.

The White House budget office said the funds are for vaccines, treatment and protective equipment.

But the request was immediately slammed by Democrats as insufficient with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling it 'completely inadequate' to the scale of the emergency.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy with snow showers developing for the afternoon. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%..

Tonight

Occasional snow showers. Low 26F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
Magical Christmas Adventure wins Innovation Category at farm industry awards

4 KINGDOMS Adventure Park & Family Farm in Headley has won an award for its Magical Christmas Adventure.

During the experience, visitors are whisked away via an interactive sleigh ride, flying Santa Airways to the North Pole.

Over the course of the two-and-a-half hour experience guests visit many different areas of Santas Magical Hideaway.

They go to Sparkle Copse (The Elf Village) where they build a teddy to take home with them.

They then visit the Toy Factory, Sweet Factory and an enchanted forest.

The experience culminates with a magical visit with the main man Santa Claus himself.

4 Kingdoms won in the Innovation Category at the 2020 National Farm Attractions Network (NFAN) awards.

The judges remarked that they were impressed with the creative combined use of technologies to create unique personalised moments for every child and adult that travelled through the experience, with each tour being tailored to the people traveling within that group.

4 Kingdoms owner Darren Lamb said: We are delighted to have won this award as a recognition to the delivery of our fantastic Christmas event and all of the hard work our team put into Christmas to deliver the most personal experience in the UK.

NFAN chairman Tom Robinson said: Over 20 million visits a year are made to UK farm attractions and the annual awards celebrate the best farm parks in the UK.

Id like to congratulate all the winners.

The winners of this years best farm and rural attractions were announced at the NFAN annual conference and awards ceremony at Doncaster Racecourse on Wednesday, January 29.

4 Kingdoms has been a finalist at the awards for the past four years, and won the Day Maker category last year.

NFAN is the trade association for the farm attractions sector with more than 250 members.
Several years ago, in an overheated room in Beijing, I was forced to endure a stern lecture from a Chinese foreign ministry official. My sin: As the editor at the Wall Street Journal responsible for the papers overseas opinion sections, I had apparently insulted the entire Chinese people by publishing the work of a well-known terrorist  courageous Uighur human-rights activist Rebiya Kadeer.

I had to clench my jaw to suppress the rejoinder that a portrait of Chinas best-known tyrant, Mao Zedong, overlooks the killing field known as Tiananmen Square.

I thought of that episode upon hearing the news that the Chinese government has decided to expel three Wall Street Journal reporters based in China  two Americans and an Australian  in retaliation for the headline of an opinion column by Walter Russell Mead, China Is the Real Sick Man of Asia. In a style reminiscent of my own experience, the Foreign Ministry issued a statement claiming, The Chinese people do not welcome media that publish racist statements and smear China with malicious attacks.

Any reader of Meads column, headline and text alike, will note that there isnt an iota of racism in it, though it makes a devastating case about the ways in which the coronavirus epidemic has exposed the broader fragility of the Chinese system. And those familiar with the Wall Street Journal will know that the paper, like the New York Times, enforces a strict separation between its news and opinion sections  meaning the reporters facing expulsion had absolutely nothing to do with the writing and publication of Meads column.

But factual accuracy is irrelevant in a political scapegoating exercise, which is what this strike on the Journal is all about. And this does more to underscore Meads broader point about Chinas inherent weaknesses than it does to contradict it.

What are those weaknesses? Demographers point to Chinas falling birthrate, aging population and gender gap. Economists cite its faltering productivity, its made-up statistics and its giant debt bomb. And political analysts point to ever more repressive policies from Beijing, leading to ever greater discontent from Hong Kong to Xinjiang.

But the coronavirus crisis has exposed a far-deeper weakness: The Chinese regime fears information.

It was just this fear that, as my colleague Nick Kristof pointed out, led the government to suppress news about the new virus  and punish whistleblowing doctors  when it should have done the opposite, swiftly, so as to better contain its spread. The result was the loss of the critical time in fighting the virus, all but guaranteeing the global health crisis that followed.

This sort of behavior is nothing new for the Chinese government: It mishandled the 2003 SARS epidemic in much the same way. Nor is the problem specific to China: Any regime that depends on the manipulation or manufacture of truth for its own survival is bound to act in similar ways. Thats one of the reasons Donald Trumps nonstop lying and misstatements of fact arent just immoral but also dangerous. Truth driven underground doesnt vanish. It stalks.

But the problem for the Chinese is much more acute, for the simple reason that they dont have genuinely independent domestic journalism. That means that ordinary people have no access to timely, accurate and comprehensive information  and neither do Chinas rulers. The result is rumor, which can be dangerous; ignorance, which can be fatal; and miscalculation, which can be catastrophic.

The move against the Wall Street Journal will compound the regimes problems, since reporting by foreign news organizations has often been critical in filling the omissions and straightening the distortions of Chinas official media. It was the Journal that did some of the most pathbreaking work to expose the scale of the countrys environmental catastrophes, just as it was the Times that exposed the extent of graft at the top of the Chinese leadership pyramid. Other news outlets, particularly Reuters, have done vital reporting on the frauds and scams endemic in Chinas economy.

Suppress this kind of reporting, and the first people who will suffer information blindness are Chinas leaders. Every dictator needs subscriptions to the Journal and the Times, even if they come  like smutty magazines of yore  in inconspicuous brown envelopes.

Its always possible that the regime will think better of its move to expel the reporters or at least quietly let them return in a few weeks time. Wise leaders, facing a monumental crisis brought on by their own irrational distrust of information, would at least learn the lessons of their folly.

There might be a truth in China even more frightening than the coronavirus  foolish rulers. And for that, no vaccine has ever been invented.

@BretStephensNYT
After a busy Day 1, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have their task cut out for today's engagements. Trump and the First Lady will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhawan by President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife Savita Kovind around 10 am today. After this, the First Couple will pay their respects to the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, at the Raj Ghat.

Around 11:30 am, the US President and the First Lady will reach the Hyderabad House where Trump and Modi will meet for a restricted dialogue after an initial photo op. An expanded delegation level talk will take place after the restricted dialogue. The exchange of agreements is slated to take place following the talks between the two leaders. In the meantime, Melania will visit a school in Nanakpura to see the education system in Delhi.

Also read: Donald Trump announces mega $3 billion defence deal with India

Trump will also meet Indian CEOs at a roundtable event, hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at 3 pm. Who's who of the business world including Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra Group, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Airtel, N Chandrasekaran, Tata Sons Chairman and Baba Kalyani, Bharat Forge MD and Founder of Jubilant Group will attend the meet.

Also read: Trump in India: POTUS to meet India Inc CEOs on Tuesday

Trump and Modi will also hold a joint press conference at 5 pm. The US delegation has decided to hold a separate press briefing with the POTUS after the joint press conference culminates. At 8 pm, the President and the First Lady will go the Rashtrapati Bhawan for a state banquet hosted by the President of India. The entire US delegation will depart for Washington in an Air Force One plane around 10 pm.

Also read: Visiting Taj, India Inc roundtable: Trump's got two busy days in India
Lebanon FILE - In this Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020 file photo, a firefighter looks before entering a bank that was set on fire by anti-government protesters, as a riot policeman passes by, during a protest in downtown Beirut, Lebanon. Fitch Ratings said Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, that Lebanon's financial position points to a likely restructuring of the country's massive debt and financial sector as the Arab nation passes though its worst financial and economic crisis in decades. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File)

BEIRUT (AP)  Lebanon's financial situation points to a likely restructuring of the country's massive debt and financial sector to preserve declining foreign currency reserves, Fitch Ratings said Tuesday.

The credit rating agency's report comes as Lebanese officials are debating whether to pay back $1.2 billion worth of Eurobonds that mature on March 9 amid a severe economic and financial crisis, the worst since the country's 1975-90 civil war. Lebanon has never defaulted before, and the decision is causing much anxiety in the crisis-hit country. Many have argued the priority should be to use shrinking foreign currency to pay for imports of basic needs such as wheat, medicine and fuel.

A delegation from the International Monetary Fund was expected to visit Lebanon this week to meet officials and give an assessment on what is needed to save the plummeting economy.

Lebanese banks have imposed capital controls to manage depleting foreign currency. Lebanon's economy has depended heavily on U.S. dollars since the 15-year civil war ended in 1990.

Fitch said the Lebanese central bank's declining gross foreign currency assets remain sufficient on paper for the country to pay its external debt service in 2020 and into 2021, "provided de facto capital controls are maintained."

It added that Lebanon's gross external financing requirement stand at less than $10 billion annually in 2020 and 2021, while the central bank has $29 billion of gross foreign currency reserves at its disposal.

"However, this capacity to pay will become increasingly stretched and it would be unrealistic, both economically and politically, to run these assets to zero," Fitch said.

Lebanon has one of the highest debt to GDP ratios in the world, standing at about $87 billion or more than 150% of the country's GDP. Most of the debt is held by local lenders but there are concerns that if Lebanon defaults, some foreign investors might take legal action against the tiny Arab country.

The economic and financial crisis has worsened since mid-October, when nationwide protests began against the ruling elite that is blamed for years of corruption and mismanagement.

President Michel Aoun said Tuesday the government is working to limit the effects of the crisis, adding that the IMF delegation will give the government its technical experience.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 10:01:35|Editor: huaxia

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The move of workers and materials have also been greatly reduced due to COVID-19. This could be fatal for some small businesses.

Help, however, is on the way with nearly 600 policies rolled out in just 10 days...



There are more than 30 million SMEs in China, contributing over 60 percent of GDP and over 80 percent of employment.



BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The novel coronavirus epidemic affects not only people's health but also the economy. To stop the spread of the virus, most people choose not to go to malls and restaurants. The move of workers and materials have also been greatly reduced. The impact could be fatal for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

There are more than 30 million SMEs in China, contributing over 60 percent of GDP and over 80 percent of employment in the country.

As demanded by the central government, ministries and 27 provincial-level regions have announced nearly 600 policies to support SMEs in the ten days after the Spring Festival holiday.

Financing costs of SMEs have been reduced in response to tight cash flows in most regions, and the loan rate for SMEs has been cut by one percentage point in Hubei.

The banking industry, dominated by state-owned banks, has been required to not withdraw, cut or delay loans. Government and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are required to pay for projects as soon as possible.

Twenty-three of the 27 regions are trying to cut rent. In 15 provincial-level regions, companies can get almost two months' rent off, if the property is owned by SOEs. In Hubei, the rent can be cut for a total of 6 months, and Tianjin for 4.5 months.

In Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Chongqing, among other places, local governments offer subsidies to non-state-owned enterprise owners to urge them to cut rents.

Eighteen of the 27 regions have extended payment deadlines for electricity, water and gas bills, reduced the prices and provided non-stop supply. In some places, industrial water and gas prices have been cut by 10 percent for three months.

In China, industrial power is largely provided by SOEs. It's the Chinese government that bears the cost caused by lowering prices.

Nineteen of the 27 regions have proposed that enterprises could suspend the payment of social insurance. Shanghai has reduced about 1.45 billion U.S. dollars for enterprises by postponing the adjustment of social insurance fees.

China's political system works in its own way. The central government adjusts macro policies to counter the epidemic, and the ministries and provinces propose implementation plans in line with their own functions.

For example, the State Taxation Administration focuses its tax support on transportation, catering, hotel and tourism, four industries the hardest hit by the epidemic. Relevant enterprises can use the next 8 years to repay the losses incurred in 2020, which means getting tax relief.

In the ten days after the State Council's tax relief decision, the State Taxation Administration has issued a total of 12 policies on 6 taxes and 2 fees.

Provincial governments formulate policies in accordance with the central government's requirements. And each city issues more executable measures.

Without hesitation and bargaining, the about 600 policies will be soon implemented, aiding SMEs overcoming difficulties, protecting hundreds of millions of jobs.

As the engine of the world economy, China has made great efforts on epidemic prevention and control and the development of the economy and society. This is how China combats the coronavirus.



Director: Shan Xu

Executive Directors: Guan Hongfei, Jiang Qianwen, Feng Chun, Zhang Xiaoxue, Wang Ting

Coordination: Yang Guang, Liu Pei

Production: Shang Junwei, Li Dongze, Jiang Yudong

Visual Design: Wang Jiadong, Guo Chao

Script Translators: Xia Kangjing, Helen Bentley

Voiceover: Bluiris

Liaowang Institute Data Media Lab;

Department of China News for Overseas Service

Xinhua News Agency
Swedens foreign minister Ann Linde on Tuesday demanded that the Chinese-Swedish bookseller Gui Minhai be released after he was sentenced to 10 years in prison in China.

We have always been clear that we demand that Gui Minhai is released in order to reunite with his daughter and family. That demand remains, Linde said in a statement.

Gui Minhai, one of five Hong Kong-based booksellers who fell foul of the authorities for selling critical works on top Chinese leaders, was snatched while on a train to Beijing in February 2018, the second time he disappeared into Chinese custody.

A court in the eastern city of Ningbo said Gui was convicted on Monday on charges of illegally providing intelligence abroad.

The court also said that he had his Chinese citizenship reinstated in 2018 but it was not immediately clear if he had given up his Swedish nationality.

Gui first vanished in 2015 while on holiday in Thailand and eventually surfaced at an undisclosed location in China, confessing to involvement in a fatal traffic accident and smuggling illegal books.

His supporters and family have claimed his detainment is part of a political repression campaign orchestrated by Chinese authorities.

Relations between Sweden and China have been strained for several years over Beijings detention of Minhai, and Sweden has repeatedly called for his release.

Chinese ambassador to Sweden Gui Congyou in November threatened countermeasures after Swedens culture minister awarded a rights prize to Gui Minhai.

Two Chinese business delegations to Stockholm were subsequently cancelled.

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Mike Oquaye Jnr, a parliamentary aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Dome Kwabenya Constituency, has expressed confidence in unseating the incumbent Sarah Adwoa Safo.

Mr Oquaye said when he wins the primaries, he hopes Ms Safo will plaster his pictures on her gate as a sign of support for him during the campaign in the lead-up to the December polls.

The Ghanaian High Commissioner to India, during the last primaries of the NPP, lost to the incumbent.

Mike Oquaye said after that defeat, he posted the images of the Deputy Majority Leader on his gate to signify unity and, so, wishes that she would replicate the gesture in the event that she loses this years polls.

When I lost the last time, the very next day, still with my wounds, I put my opponents picture on my gate for all my followers to understand that the elephant is the winning symbol. So, this time also, I hope when, by the grace of God, if I win, my opponent will also put my picture on the wall and say to the followers that the elephant is the winning symbol, Mr Oquaye told journalists.

---classfmonline
East Delhi BJP MP Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday condemned the violence in the city over the amended citizenship law and said action should be taken against any party member, "whether Kapil Mishra or anyone else", who gave provocative speeches.

The MP also asked those protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) to talk to the government instead of indulging in violence.

"Whoever, no matter which party he belongs to, whether he is Kapil Mishra or anyone else, who gave speeches to provoke people, action should be taken against them," Gambhir told reporters here.

Mishra, who had contested the recent Assembly polls on a BJP ticket, led a gathering in support of the CAA at Maujpur Chowk in the Jafarabad area on Sunday, after which violence erupted between pro and anti-CAA sides.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jan Armbruster and Maurice Goedecke are the founder of the Pforzheim-based highly original concept store, Stoff & Schnaps. Jan Armbruster and Maurice Goedecke shared a common vision, to create an innovative, urban space providing visitors with the opportunity to discover exceptional gins and whiskies while perusing an array of high-end street fashions by Le Garcon Dore, a brand that was also created by the two business partners.

Stoff & Schnaps is a story of people, passion, trailblazing, and creativity qualities which are familiar to Maurice Lacroix. Indeed, these are traits Maurice Lacroix shares with all of its friends. As Stephane Waser, Managing Director of Maurice Lacroix, explained:  We were impressed by the great success the Stoff & Schnaps concept store has enjoyed since its launch. These gentlemen have flair. But it was only after meeting them both that we felt we could build something together. People and the creation of an innovative legacy are at the centre of their thoughts. They do not compromise on the quality of their products, yet guarantee an affordable price. We are looking forward to conceiving new projects as part of this collaboration .

Joining Maurice Lacroixs circle of friends has proved ver y exciting for Jan and Maurice. As Jan recently explained, We love Maurice Lacroixs modern and dynamic state of mind! As for our AIKONs, they never leave our wrists!

Jan Armbruster and Maurice Goedecke  Maurice Lacroix

The Stoff & Schnaps concept store is the perfect environment for Maurice Lacroixs AIKON models. As Maurice Goedecke explained,  our clientele is young and connected and seek superbly designed pieces at reasonable prices. Maurice Lacroix shares this vision and thats what we like. 

However, beyond the presence of Maurice Lacroixs watches in the shop, the idea was also to create something together. Jan Armbrusters family own a wine shop and Jan decided to launch his own gin, named Goldjunge. Later on, after having visited the Maurice Lacroix Manufacture in Saignelegier in the Swiss Jura, Jan had the audacious desire to suggest to Maurice Lacroix the creation of a gin inspired by the place. This unique gin, infused with watchmaking spirit, has now been created and is aptly named Aikonic Gin! A blend of Swiss gentian, local mountain herbs, Damassine du Jura, as well as lemon, cardamom and coriander are all combined with a hint of gold, creating a mouthwatering elixir. Aikonic Gin is now available in the German concept store for the delectation of its customers.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said that the road to becoming a $5 trillion economy will be getting investments in India and these will be a natural corollary of "peace in the region".

The minister's remark comes amid violence in Delhi over the CAA even as the country is hosting US President Donald Trump on his first state visit.

Goyal was speaking at the US India Forum here on India's ambition to drive out poverty and becoming a $5 trillion economy under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Although Union Home Minister Amit Shah met Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to discuss steps to end violence in northeast Delhi, there were fresh reports coming of stone pelting from various areas there.

Reports of violence and arson continue to trickle in from the affected areas as hospital officials confirmed that nine people, including a police head constable, have died in the rioting that has continued sporadically across several localities since Saturday.

For security reasons, the Delhi Police has ordered metro stations in the violence-prone areas to be closed. The entrance and exit gates of Jaffarabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar metro stations have been closed.

These areas witnessed violence and arson on Monday and these metro stations have been closed so that the unruly elements from outside do not enter.
Goodluck Jonathan

An investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Shehu Shuaibu, said on Tuesday that alleged donations towards the 2015 presidential campaign of former President Goodluck Jonathan were still being probed.

Shuaibu pointed out to Justice Rilwan Aikawa that some monetary inflows into the bank account of a firm, Joint Trust Dimensions Limited, which is being tried for money laundering in connection with Jonathans campaign funds.

The firm is the fourth defendant in the N4.9bn fraud charges filed by the EFCC against a former Minister of State for Finance, Nenadi Usman, a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, and Yusuf Danjuma.

Fani-Kayode was the Director of Publicity of Jonathans presidential campaign organisation for the 2015 elections.

He, alongside others, is being tried on 17 counts, bordering on conspiracy, unlawful retention of proceeds of theft and money laundering.

Shuaibu is the third prosecution witness to testify in the case before the Federal High Court in Lagos.

While being cross-examined on Tuesday by Usmans lawyer, Chief Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), Shuaibu, going through the statement of account of Joint Trust Dimensions Limited, pointed out some inflows into the firms account.

He identified N500m from Global Scan System Ltd on February 11, 2015; N300m from Diamond Bank on January 30, 2015; N250m from Castillo Torres BDC Ltd on February 11, 2015; N100m from Afrigate Energy Ltd, and N500m from Chief Emeka Ofor on March 13, 2015.

However, he said, I am not sure if they were truly donations, as some of these alleged donated monies are still under investigation.

Orbih then asked the investigator, Since 2015, how many of those who made inflows into this account have you charged to court?



In reply, Shuaibu said, It is not my duty to charge anyone, I am just an investigator.

But when Orbih asked him, Did you say you found that government money was stolen and paid into the account of Joint Trust Dimensions Limited? Shuaibu said, Yes.

Who then stole this government money? Orbih asked.

In reply, Shuaibu said, They (the defendants) conspired to transfer the monies from government account into Joint Trusts account, without executing any contract.

When a car is involved in an accident, do you leave the driver of the car and charge the conductor? Orbih further asked the investigator, to which he replied, My Lord, I am not a lawyer.



Justice Aikawa adjourned till Wednesday for further proceedings.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has issued a statement detailing a travel ban to Iran and Thailand following recent concerns on the new coronavirus outbreaks in the aforementioned countries, said a report in WAM.



"In light of the UAE's efforts to monitor and contain the spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19, and in the interest of general public safety and health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has issued a travel ban, calling on all UAE citizens to not travel to Iran and Thailand at present and up until further notice."



UAE citizens currently in these countries are requested to contact the UAE Embassy or the Ministry's call centre on 800 44444, and register on the ministry's 'Tawajudi' service, the report said.
As people supporting and protesting the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) clashed in northeast Delhi on Monday, the mobs did not even spare journalists.

Hindustan Times photographer Sanchit Khanna had gone to cover the violence at Karawal Nagar when his motorcycle was set ablaze by a group of unidentified rioters.

A while later, another group cornered him and deleted the pictures he had taken of the violence, threatened and assaulted him.

Khanna had reached the spot around 12.30pm on Monday when violence began intensifying around Karawal Nagar. He had parked his motorcycle near a police post to cover the protests.

I was on the terrace of a building to cover the area and saw a group of men setting vegetable carts and a car on fire. They headed towards the police post and started pouring petrol over the parked vehicles there. Before I could react, I saw the vehicles, including my motorcycle, up in flames, said Khanna.

Despite this, Khanna continued to document the violence. Minutes later, he heard some men running up the building. This group, of around four to five unarmed masked men, cornered Khanna who was with photographers from other news publications.

These people kept insisting that I show them the pictures that I had taken. One person was yelling to others to confiscate my cameras memory card, he said.

They threatened to smash my camera, he said.

While some of the people from the group kept abusing me and pulling me towards the crowd, a senior member of the group asked me to show him my official identity card as well as my documents. They took a picture of those and eventually let me go, Khanna said.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday held a meeting to discuss the prevailing situation in the national capital after violence in northeast Delhi over the amended citizenship law left seven people, including a head constable, dead.

Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Commissioner of Police Amulya Patnaik, Congress leader Subhash Chopra, BJP's Manoj Tiwari and Ramvir Bidhuri attended the meeting.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Director of Intelligence Bureau Arvind Kumar were also present at the meeting.

The home minister has convened a meeting to discuss the current situation in Delhi, a Home Ministry official said.

The move came after the home minister reviewed the law and order situation in the national capital on Monday night as violence rocked northeast Delhi.

A head constable was among seven 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 on Monday.

Frenzied protesters torched houses, shops, vehicles and a petrol pump, besides hurling stones.
Disney-owned Hotstar, Indias largest on-demand video streaming service with more than 300 million users, has blocked the newest episode of HBOs Last Week Tonight with John Oliver that was critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The move has angered many of its customers ahead of Disney+s launch in one of the worlds largest entertainment markets next month.

In the episode, aired hours before U.S. President Donald Trumps visit to India, Oliver talked about some of the questionable policies enforced by the ruling government in India and recent protests against controversial figure Modis citizenship measures. The 19-minute news recap and commentary sourced its information from credible news outlets.

The episode is available to stream in India through HBOs official channel on YouTube, where it has garnered more than 4 million views. Hotstar is the exclusive syndicating partner of HBO, Showtime and ABC in India.

Spokespeople of Star India, which runs Hotstar, and Disney, which acquired the major Indian broadcasting network as part of its Fox deal, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

A spokesperson of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, the governing agency which regulates information, broadcasts, movies and the press in India, said the government was not involved in any censorship discussions.

Numerous people in India began speculating on Monday whether Hotstar, which like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video self-censors some content, would stream the new episode at 6am on Tuesday, when it typically makes new episodes of Olivers show available on the platform.

It became quickly apparent on Tuesday that the Disney-owned platform, which has a knack of censoring numerous sensitive subjects, including sketches that make fun of its sponsors, was not going to risk upsetting the ruling party.

Last year, Amazon also removed from its streaming service in India an episode of the CBS show Madam Secretary in which references to Hindu nationalism and extremists were made. Netflix also pulled an episode in Saudi Arabia of Hasan Minhajs Patriot Act that criticized the kingdoms crown prince.
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)

CDC Confirms 57 Cases of Coronavirus in US

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 57 cases of coronavirus in the United States, an increase of four from Monday.

All of the new cases were evacuees from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was held in medical isolation for two weeks off the coast of Japan, CDC officials confirmed to CNN.

In all, the confirmed cases include 40 passengers who were on board the Diamond Princess, three people evacuated from China, and fourteen U.S. cases. The ship ultimately turned from a quarantine zone into a highly effective means of transmitting the virus, as hundreds of people became infected, leading to four deaths and prompting criticism about how Japanese officials responded.

Of the 14 U.S. cases, eight have been confirmed in California, one in Washington state, one in Arizona, two in Illinois, one in Massachusetts, and one in Wisconsin. Meanwhile, health officials in Oregon, Michigan, and Washington state say they are monitoring hundreds of people who are at risk of contracting the virus.

Dr. Nancy Messonnier, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) official, told reporters on Tuesday that the virus will likely begin spreading in the United States in the near future and called on Americans to stay prepared.

We expect we will see community spread in this country. Its not so much a question of if this will happen any more, but the rather more correct question to be asking is, When this will happen and how many people in this country will have severe illness? she said.

It comes as new clusters of the virus appeared far from its suspected point of origin in China, creating a sense of apprehension in financial markets and political institutions.

Global stocks dropped their lowest levels in over two months on Tuesday over the spread of the virus and its damage to the global economy. At the same time, the virus triggered a sense of urgency among officials in Europe after an outbreak emerged in Italy, as well as in South Korea, Japan, and Iran, which has far fewer resources.

People wait in line to buy face masks at a retail store in Daegu, South Korea, on Feb. 25, 2020. (Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images)

Croatia and Austria, neighbors of Italy, reported their first cases of coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease. And an Italian man staying at a resort in Spains Tenerife island prompted officials to implement a quarantine on a hotel, affecting about 1,000 people.

In the Middle East, Iran, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, and Oman reported their first new coronavirus cases on Monday. They were confirmed as people who had been to Iran.

South Korea has the most virus cases outside China, with 977 infections and 10 deaths, and the majority have been linked back to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the city of Daegu. Officials believe outbreak is believed to have begun with a 61-year-old woman who had traveled from virus epicenter Wuhan to South Korea.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in acknowledged the situation was very grave, according to the Yonhap news agency.

Italy, meanwhile, reported 280 cases and seven deaths, most coming in the northern Lombardy and Veneto regions, although one case emerged in the countrys south on the island of Sicily.
JERUSALEM, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KAHR Medical Ltd., a biopharmaceutical company developing a novel drug platform based on bi-functional, immunotherapeutic fusion proteins known as Dual Signaling Proteins ("DSP") today announced that it has raised US$18 million from a global syndicate of leading investors. Completion of the financing round is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to occur early next month.

The round was led by Flerie Invest AB, Oriella Limited, Hadasit Bio-Holdings (HBL), Pavilion Capital and Mirae Asset Venture Investment. Proceeds will be used for advancing the Company's next generation immuno-oncology drug candidates including the clinical development of the Company's lead product, DSP107, an anti-CD47 therapy for the treatment of solid tumors through a Phase I/II study and the preclinical advancement of additional pipeline projects.

In September 2019, KAHR Medical announced a clinical collaboration with Roche to evaluate KAHR Medical's lead program, DSP107, a SIRP-41BBL DSP, in combination with Roche's PD-L1-blocking checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab (Tecentriq) in patients with advanced NSCLC who are refractory to existing immune checkpoint inhibitors. KAHR Medical expects to begin a Phase I/II trial in H2 2020 at leading sites in the US to evaluate DSP107 as a monotherapy and in combination with atezolizumab, following the filing of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the U.S. Food Drug Administration (FDA).

"We are grateful to our existing investors for their continued support and are pleased to welcome Oriella, a prominent private equity and technology investor in Israel, with an expanding focus on life sciences," said Yaron Pereg, Ph.D., CEO of KAHR Medical. "We are also proud to have Pavilion Capital join our investor base. Pavilion Capital brings a track record of success and expertise in the biopharmaceutical sector. We look forward to using this funding for advancing our next-generation immuno-oncology pipeline for the benefit of patients, who are non-responsive or refractory to existing immunotherapies."

"We are excited to lead this financing round for KAHR Medical together with other distinguished investors," said Thomas Eldered, Chairman of Flerie Invest AB. "Despite advances in the treatment of cancer, there is still a clear need for additional therapies to broaden the patient population that will respond to cancer immunotherapies. We look forward to supporting KAHR Medical in developing effective treatments for cancer patients."

Mr Vincent Tchenguiz, a British entrepreneur and beneficiary of the trust that owns Oriella commented, "We recognize the strength of KAHR Medical's proprietary platform and believe that the company's products have the potential to offer unique value to patients suffering from cancer. We are keen to work with the Company as it matures, and we look forward to helping it fulfil its mission of bringing new therapies to cancer patients."

Timothy Low, Head of Healthcare Investments, Pavilion Capital, said, "We are delighted to join KAHR Medical's syndicate of investors, and believe the company has a tremendous opportunity to contribute new targeted therapies to the field of immuno-oncology."

Michel Habib, CEO of HBL, stated, "HBL has been supporting KAHR Medical since its inception and we are very pleased with the company's impressive development. We are proud to continue to support the company together with other existing and new global investors and look forward with anticipation to the beginning of clinical trials."

About DSP107 and the Phase I/II study

DSP107 targets CD47-overexpressing tumors, simultaneously blocking macrophage inhibitory signals and delivering an immune costimulatory signal to tumor antigen-specific activated T-cells. CD47 is overexpressed on many cancer cells and binds SIRP on immune phagocytic cells to produce a "don't eat me" signal. DSP107 binds CD47 on cancer cells, blocking interaction with SIRP and thus blocking the "don't eat me signal". Simultaneously, DSP107 binds 41BB on T-cells, stimulating their activation. These activities lead to targeted immune activation through both macrophage and T-cell mediated tumor destruction. In combination with atezolizumab, DSP107 has the potential to enhance anti-tumor immune response.

The planned Phase I/II study will evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of DSP107 in advanced solid tumors. The safety and preliminary efficacy of both DSP107 monotherapy and combination therapy with atezolizumab will be evaluated in patients with advanced NSCLC who are refractory to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. KAHR Medical will be the sponsor of the study and Roche will provide the clinical supply of atezolizumab.

About KAHR Medical

KAHR Medical develops the next generation of immuno-oncology drug candidates for the treatment of multiple types of cancer. Its proprietary technology enables the construction of targeted bi-functional biological drugs generated by fusion of the active extracellular domains of a TNF-SF ligand and a type-I membrane protein. DSPs have two functional ends, which can simultaneously block and/or activate two reinforcing biological signals resulting in a synergistic outcome. The unique DSP composition ensures target activation and increased potency by assembling a high multimer protein structure which is essential for activation of the TNF receptor family. For more information, please visit https://kahr-medical.com/.

Company contact:

Tsipi Haitovsky

Global Media Liaison

KAHR Medical

+972-52-5989-892

[email protected]

SOURCE KAHR Medical

Related Links

https://kahr-medical.com


Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 02:01:47|Editor: yan

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TUNIS, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The German Development Bank (KfW) granted Tunisia a loan of 27.5 million euros (about 29.9 million U.S. dollars) to finish the Medjerda-Cap Bon Canal modernization project, Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) agency reported Tuesday.

The project, which is part of the financial cooperation between Tunisia and Germany, aims to modernize the infrastructure and equipment for the Medjerda-Cap Bon Canal and respond to the growing needs of drinking and irrigation water in rural areas in the northeast of the country.

"Water from the Medjerda-Cap Bon Canal is used to irrigate 19,000 hectares of agricultural fields and provides drinking water for Grand Tunis, the Sahel zone and Sfax," reported TAP.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has convened a meeting at 12 noon on Mondays violence in Northeast Delhi. News agency PTI reported that seven people, including a Delhi Police head constable, were killed in yesterdays violence.

According to news agency ANI, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and representatives from political parties are expected to attend the meeting.

There was fresh stone pelting in the Brahampuri locality in Northeast Delhi on Tuesday morning after which the security personnel conducted a flag march.

Shah has been reviewing the situation since Monday. The home minister held a meeting late on Monday night after returning from Ahmedabad, where he had attended the Namaste Trump event addressed by US President Donald Trump. Sources said the meeting was convened at 11 pm last night and concluded at 1:30 am.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Director of Intelligence Bureau Arvind Kumar, Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, and other officials attended the meeting.

Shah reviewed the law and order situation in Delhi and directed officials to restore normalcy at the earliest, a Home Ministry official said.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has also called an urgent meeting at his residence of MLAs and officials of the violence-hit areas of Delhi. Am very worried about prevailing situation in certain parts of Delhi. All of us together should make all efforts to restore peace in our city. I again urge everyone to shun violence, Kejriwal tweeted.

The Delhi Police, meanwhile, said that the situation in Northeast Delhi is very tense. We are continuously receiving calls related to incidents of violence from North-East Delhi. Commissioner of Police held a meeting at Seelampur DCP Office last night, the police said in a statement, according to news agency ANI.

Five Delhi Metro stations including Jafrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar stations on the Pink Line Metro will remain closed today and trains are being terminated at Welcome Metro Station.

Several paramilitary and Delhi Police personnel were injured as violence spiralled over the amended citizenship law in northeast Delhi on Monday.

Frenzied protesters torched houses, shops, vehicles and a petrol pump, besides hurling stones.
Airstrikes on rebel-controlled northwest Syria killed at least 16 people Tuesday, including two students and two teachers, opposition activists said, as government forces captured a town considered a symbol of the uprising against President Bashar Assad.

The capture of Kafranbel was another blow to insurgents after government gains over the past three months. Kafranbel was a major opposition-held town that gained attention in the early years of the Syrian conflict because of weekly anti-government protests that included humorous English-language banners carried by protesters.

The banners were initiated by anti-government journalist Raed Fares who was shot dead in the town along with his friend Hammoud al-Juneid in November 2018. Fares was a harsh critic of Islamic militants who control much of Idlib.

The government controlled Syrian Central Military Media said Kafranbel was captured late Tuesday after fierce fighting with al-Qaida-linked militants. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said the town was taken by the government after punishing bombardment from the air and ground.

The violence came as Turkey's president announced that a Russian delegation would arrive the following day to resume talks aimed at easing tensions in the northwest Idlib region. The area is the country's last rebel-controlled stronghold and the Syrian government's military campaign there, backed by Russia, has created a humanitarian catastrophe with nearly 1 million people displaced from their homes since Dec. 1.

Most of them are now crowding areas close to the border with Turkey, living in camps, shelters, abandoned homes and in open fields. It is the largest single displacement of Syria's war, now in its ninth year.

In response to the upsurge in violence, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the U.N. has launched a revised appeal for $500 million to assist at least 1.1 million people in need. He said discussions are under way with Turkey double the number of trucks crossing the border with humanitarian aid from 50 to 100.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said no consensus was reached for a four-way meeting next month between the leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Turkey meant to address the crisis. He added, however, that Russia's Vladimir Putin may still come to Turkey next week for a bilateral meeting. Moscow has so far not confirmed a March 5 visit by the Russian president to Turkey.

Tensions have been running high between Turkey and Russia, which support opposing sides of the war in Syria. The Syrian government offensive has shattered a fragile cease-fire agreement that Turkey and Russia reached in 2018 and Turkey has threatened military action unless Syrian forces retreat to positions they held before the advance by the end of February.

"Russia supports Syria at the highest level," Erdogan told reporters before departing for a visit to Azerbaijan. "Even if they deny it, we have evidence. We are forced to be in this fight.''

Turkish officials had reported small progress in two previous rounds of Turkey-Russia meetings but said the results were not satisfactory.

Turkey had set up a dozen observation posts as part of the 2018 agreement, many of which are now behind Syrian government lines. Ankara also sent thousands of additional troops into Idlib in recent weeks and has frequently engaged in military exchanges with Syrian troops.

At least 16 Turkish soldiers were killed in clashes this month during the Syrian government's push on the last rebel stronghold.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told a news conference at the State Department Tuesday that the Syrian government's offensive "only heightens the risk of conflict with our NATO ally, Turkey," adding that the U.S. was working together with Turkey "on seeing what we can do together.''

He called for a permanent cease-fire, saying "the regime will not be able to obtain military victory.''

The fighting appeared to intensify, however, with dozens of airstrikes reported Tuesday.

Opposition activists and a war monitor said at least 16 people were killed in Idlib province Tuesday. They included two students and two teachers who were killed in Idlib city when a school was struck with a cluster bomb-filled rocket, and 10 civilians who were killed in airstrikes on the town of Maarat Misreen in Idlib province. The deaths were reported by the Observatory and Idlib-based opposition activist Hadi Abdullah.

The Observatory and Idlib-based opposition activist Taher al-Omar said insurgents captured the village of Nairab late Monday after intense fighting with government forces that had captured the village earlier this month. The village is close to the town of Saraqeb where two major highways in the country meet.

To the south of Nairab, Syrian troops captured two new villages raising to 10 the number of areas captured in the province since Monday, according to state media.

The capture of Maaret Tamater and Maaret Seen paved the way for government forces to storm Kafranbel.

In Damascus, one civilian was killed and two others were injured by bombs planted in two cars near Umayyad Square in the Syrian capital Damascus, state-run news agency SANA said. It was not immediately clear who the target was.

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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.
Ackmanns These Fevered Days peoples the poets world more thoroughly than do previous accounts. The authors gaze widens from the claustrophobic family constellation  Dickinsons parents, Edward and Emily; her siblings, Vinnie and Austin; Austins wife, Sue, and mistress, Mabel  that dominates most biographies. We meet the Amherst professor Ebenezer Snell, who meticulously records the weather each day, and his daughter Sabra, who takes over the task at his death; the Rev. Aaron Colton, whose sermons Dickinson admires as a teenager; the community choristers she joins at Mr. Woodmans Sunday evening singing school.

When Ackmann chronicles the day in February 1848 on which the 17-year-old Dickinson, away at school, turns aside her headmistresss invitation to pledge her life to Christ, instead remaining a no hoper in the schools lexicon, we learn a good deal about Mount Holyoke Female Seminarys indomitable headmistress, Mary Lyon; the nosy wife of a trustee; and, most helpfully, the seminarys students and recent graduates. Ackmann lets us know that two-thirds of Dickinsons classmates were either professors of religion or hopefuls, and she details the future plans their professions of faith permitted them to entertain. By placing Dickinson, an outstanding scholar, amid a cluster of other young academic stars  Sarah Worcester, Louisa Plimpton, Celia Wright and Fidelia Fiske  all of whom nurtured dreams of missionary work in China, Persia or on Native lands in the United States, Ackmann underscores Dickinsons singularity, and allows the reader to feel the companionship the young poet enjoyed, from which she would gradually retreat.

Ackmanns 10 episodes include the first publication of a poem by Dickinson; a consequential meeting with her friend and eventual editor Thomas Wentworth Higginson; and the day of the poets death. But not all are so eventful  unless you consider intellection to be active, as Ackmann and many Dickinson scholars reasonably do. Ackmann reads Dickinsons letters closely for signs of the motion of thought; her aim is to crack open the poets interior world, recreating a landscape of Dickinsons consciousness. Here is where the confounding aspect of her book begins. With the same confidence as when shes closely paraphrasing Dickinsons letters, Ackmann dares to tell us what Dickinson thinks, or even, occasionally, does, when these thoughts or actions cant be known. Ackmanns summary of a letter in which Dickinson recalls her first, indelible impression of a friend whod arrived at school with dandelions twined in her hair, concludes with Ackmanns supposition, phrased as a certainty: One image could change everything, she thought.

Perhaps emboldened by her familiarity with Dickinsons surroundings, Ackmann recreates for us the day on which Dickinson first assembles one of her now famous fascicles, the hand-sewn pamphlets in which she gathered many of her poems, when that day can only be imagined.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

The coronavirus crisis has killed more than 2,200 people, virtually all of them in China. Fears that the virus will metastasize to countries incapable of containing it, and knock the wind out of a bustling world economy in the process, have gone far in ensuring that the crisis remains the worlds Big Story this February.

While Chinese social media shows widespread fear, grief, and anger at the Communist Party in Beijing for its inept handling of the crisis, and for punishing journalists and ordinary citizens for spreading rumors, i.e., the truth, party leader Xi Jinping has called on officials within the nations powerful propaganda apparatus to strengthen the guidance of public opinion.

The Chinese Communist Partys firm determination to shape the narrative of important events for its own people, and for the world, is at the heart of another story with the potential to make the coronavirus crisis seem like small potatoes: the simmering rivalry between China and the United States for geopolitical dominance of Asia and the Pacific. Defense and foreign policy analysts are increasingly concerned that that a misstep by one party or the other in the seas off Taiwan, or on the South China Sea, might trigger a shooting war.

Will China Invade Hong Kong? Or Taiwan Instead?

They worry that the Chinese party leaderships abidingly negative views of the United States, and its emerging strategy for dealing with the Chinas rise, could lead to a military clash that neither side wants. If mutual understanding plays a role in preventing great power competition from sliding into warand of course it doesthen understanding Chinas views of its strategic rival is crucially important.

To say that Chinese policymakers, military officers, and academics take a dim view of America is a colossal understatement. A close examination of recent speeches and writing about the United States by such authorities reveals a clear consensus: America is not merely a strategic rival. America is an adversary. America is not to be trusted.

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And its a dangerous adversary, because its bent on preventing China from taking its rightful place in world affairs and preserving Americas provocative military dominance of Asia.

Cynicism about the United States runs very deep among Chinas elite, and a massive domestic propaganda campaign concerning American intentions has greatly eaten away at the generally favorable opinions most ordinary Chinese once held about the United States.

As Beijing sees it, American foreign policy since World War II has been invariably self-serving and exploitative, not only toward China, but toward the entire developing world. Even Americas post-Cold War policy of engagement and openness toward Beijing, which has contributed significantly to Chinas astonishing economic rise, is interpreted by Chinese political leaders and scholars as having served first and foremost the interests of Washington.

Americas international support for human rights in Hong Kong and within the PRC, claims leading Chinese Communist Party member Li Quiu, is little more than a pretext to influence and limit Chinas healthy economic grown and prevent Chinas wealth and power from threatening American hegemony.

Official statements intended for the outside world call attention again and again to Chinas peaceful intentions and respect for order in pursuing a more assertive foreign policy. In fact, though, Chinese military and political leaders have been flagrantly violating the rules-based international order on a regular basis since 2012, intimidating and coercing neighboring powers with economic blackmail and military intimidation.

In July 2016, an independent arbitration tribunal established under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) published a clear and binding ruling against Chinas claims vis-a-vis the Philippines in the South China Sea. Chinas response at the time was to dismiss the ruling as nothing more than a piece of waste paper.

The current international system, according to the senior leadership of the Communist Party, is rigged in favor of the United States and her closest allies. One of the things that fascinated me about the Chinese, writes the former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Army General Martin Dempsey, is that whenever I would have a conversation about international standards or international rules of behavior, they would inevitably point out that those rules were made when they were absent from the world stage.

Now that China is indisputably back on that stage, President Xi Jinping and his senior colleagues have allocated trillions of dollars to create alternative international institutions and rules to those of the current system. The China Development Bank, not the World Bank, is now the leading financier of international development projects. Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, an ambitious effort to link the economies and cultures of more than 60 countries in Asia, Europe, and North Africa with fast trains, state of the art airports, fiber optics, and favorable trading terms, is already roughly 12 times the size of Americas post-World War II Marshall Plan for the reconstruction of Europe. Its sure to continue to grow for quite some time.

Taken together, said Xi Jinping in a recent speech, these initiatives offer a new option for other countries who want to speed up their development while preserving their independence.

Yuan Peng, a leading PRC expert on international relations, believes China must now seize the opportunity to modify unreasonable international mechanisms including international or regional organizations, regimes, and laws to reflect Beijings increasingly influential place in world affairs.

Writing in Debating China, a fascinating anthology of short essays on various aspects of the U.S.-China relationship by American and Chinese experts, Wu Xinbo asserts that the great threat to stability and prosperity in Asia is not Chinas refusal to play by the rules, but Americas current effort to strengthen its alliances in the region and sell sophisticated weaponry to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, among others. If the United States truly wants peace, writes Wu, it should stop fanning the flames of dispute in the South China Sea.

Ironically, Chinas seizure and subsequent militarization of seven small islands in that Sea has greatly alarmed many of its neighbors, causing them to seek reassurances and closer ties to the Washington.

China doesnt like the U.S. self-proclaimed leadership [in Asia], opines Wu Xinbo, which compromises the aspirations of other regional members  Beijing also suspects that Washingtons intended role of balancer serves only to check a rising China, undermining its legitimate interests in the region. America, he says, should strive to be a partner rather than the dominant military power.

In July 2019, Beijing issued its first major statement on military strategy since 2015. Chinas National Defense in the New Era is clearly a rejoinder to Washingtons 2017 National Security Strategy, which identifies Chinas new, aggressive foreign policy and rapid military buildup as the foremost threat to American national interests and stability in Asia. The new Beijing white paper turns that critique on its head, identifying the United States as the rogue nation:

The US has provoked and intensified competition among major countries, significantly increased its defense expenditure, pushed for additional capacity in Nuclear, outer space, cyber and missile defense, and undermined global strategic stability  The US is strengthening its Asia-Pacific military alliances and reinforcing military deployment and intervention, adding complexity to regional security. The deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the Republic of Korea by the US has severely undermined the regional strategic balance and the strategic security interests of regional countries.

In a recent speech clearly meant to be heard loud and clear in Washington, Xi Jinping seemed to suggest that the United States, which has guaranteed the freedom of the seas in Asia for more than 70 years and played a key role in Chinas rise, ought to pull up stakes and get out of Asian affairs all together: In the final analysis, it is for the people of Asia to run the affairs of Asia, solve the problems of Asia, and uphold the security of Asia.

When Graham Allison, a Harvard professor who recently penned a bestselling book on the U.S.-China relationship called Destined for War, asked a Chinese colleague what Chinas essential message for the United States was, he proffered this reply: butt out!

What seems to gall Beijing more than any other single issue between the two great powers is the Trump administrations refusal to butt out of Taiwan. The depth of the PRCs desire to unite Taiwan with the mainland is hard to overstate. Beijing blames the United States for preserving the islands political independence by selling large quantities of sophisticated weapons systems, and committing itself, albeit ambiguously, to defending the island in the event of any attempt by China to take it by force.

Indeed, President Donald Trump has gone out of his way to express solidarity with Taiwans democracy of 23 million people, the vast majority of whom would rather be dead than come under Beijings control. George W. Bush and Barack Obama refused to sell F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan for fear of upsetting Beijing. Trump approved the sale of 66 aircraft to Taiwans air force.

In March 2018, Trump signed into law the Taiwan Travel Act, a bill that gives the administration the legal right to shift U.S. policy toward Taiwan in a way that was guaranteed to stick in Xi Jinpings craw. The legislation permits U.S. government officials at all levels to travel to Taiwan and to meet with their Taiwanese counterparts, while high-level Taiwanese officials are permitted to enter the United States to meet with U.S. officials, including officials from the Departments of State and Defense.

Beijing is infuriated by American interference in what it sees as an entirely internal matter. The islands continued independence, writes Jia Qingguo of Peking University in Debating China, is an enduring symbol of Chinas weakness and humiliation Unifying the country has become a most cherished aspiration of the Chinese people.

The July 2019 defense white paper delves deeply into the Taiwan problem, expressing great impatience with Washington about the issue, and goes on to confirm that Beijing stands ready to use force if necessary and hints that it may do so in the not-too-distant future.

Which brings us back to Allisons book, Destined for War. The professor examined no less than 14 cases in history when a rising power challenged a dominant state or states. Alarmingly, in 10 of the 14 cases, major wars resulted, including the two most costly wars in human history, when a rising Germany was defeated by great powers twice in the 20th century, and a rising Japan was crushed by the United States in the Pacific in 1945.

Historically speaking, then, strategic rivals have had a difficult time escaping Thucydides Trapthe phenomenon first identified by the Greek fifth century BC historian who wrote, It was the rise of Athens and the fear that this instilled in Sparta that made war inevitable.

The good news is that Allison joins many other leading scholars in believing the United States and China can escape the Trap. But doing so is going to take a tremendous effort on both sides. Multiple channels of communication must be opened and nurtured in order to manage what is sure to be an intense political, economic, and military competition. Particularly on the military front, the two powers must develop a wide-ranging set of procedures and protocols for operating in the same seas and managing and containing emerging crises. And they must continue to work together, as they have long done, on global problems of mutual interest like climate change, piracy, terrorism, and international commerce.

Just as U.S. policymakers need to accept that Chinas rise entitles it to greater influence in international affairs, so the Chinese must develop a less cynical, more realistic picture of American intentions and motivations. Preserving peace is next to impossible to maintain when you demonize your rival, and that is precisely what the current party line from Beijing has been doing for a number of years now. Each power has to accept the existence of the other, and work in good faith to avoid a potentially catastrophic war.

Odd Arne Westad, a professor of Global Affairs at Yale, made an interesting suggestion in a recent article in Foreign Affairs. Perhaps the enormous challenges posed by the rise of China to the United States will unite a polarized and frustrated American body politic and give the country a badly needed sense of mission and purpose. But worse things could happenand they willif China doesnt also take a more measured and realistic view of Americas intentions in the global arena.

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T he world's oldest man has died at the age of 112.

Chitetsu Watanabe, from Japan, received the Guinness World Records certificate on February 12 at the nursing home where he lived.

It was confirmed on Tuesday that Mr Watanabe died late on Sunday, February 23, although no cause was given.

It was just 11 days before his 113th birthday.

He had not been able to eat recently and developed a fever and difficulty breathing a couple of days before his death, Japan's nationally circulated newspaper Mainichi reported, citing family sources.

His secret, he said, was to keep smiling / AP

Mr Watanabe used to say the secret to longevity was to keep smiling.

Mr Watanabe, of Joetsu City, Niigata, is survived by his five children, 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Watanabe was born in 1907 in the village of Uragawara, now Joetsu, in Niigata - the first of eight children of farming parents father Haruzo and mother Miya.

He worked in Taiwan for 18 years at a sugarcane company Dai-Nippon Meiji Sugar Company. He helped conclude sugar cane plantation contracts for the company until the end of the Second World War.

There he met his wife and during the war, he served in the military towards the end of the Pacific War in 1944 - before returning to Joetsu.

Until his retirement he worked at an agricultural office, a branch of the Niigata Prefectural office.

He grew fruit and vegetables on the family farm and loved cream puffs and bonsai, the Japanese traditional art of raising small sculpted trees.

Guinness in Japan offered its condolences to his family.
FLEMING, N.Y. -- Two people were taken to a hospital Monday after their vehicle crashed into a house on West Lake Road in the Cayuga County town of Fleming, 911 dispatchers said.

Someone called 911 at 3:55 p.m. to report the crash at 4963 West Lake Road, also known as Route 38, dispatchers said.

Responding to the scene were the Cayuga County sheriffs deputies; state police; Owasco, Fleming 1 and 2, and Moravia firefighters; New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG); and American Medical Response (AMR) and Fleming ambulances.

A man and a woman in the vehicle were transported to Auburn Community Hospital, according to 911. The extent of their injuries was not immediately known.

No one was inside the house when the crash happened, 911 dispatchers said. The house sits along Owasco Lake.

Emergency crews closed West Lake Road, between Stone School Road and Wyckoff Road, for about three hours after the crash.

A neighbor told the Auburn Citizen she saw the vehicle heading south on West Lake Road, then veer off the road, strike a utility pole and crash into the house.

The Cayuga County Sheriffs Office is investigating the crash.

Two people were taken to the hospital after their automobile veered off a road and crashed into a house in Fleming Monday afternoon. (Kevin Rivoli, The Citizen) Story and photos: https://t.co/VT7njzJ8jq pic.twitter.com/qcNxf1X4Ax  Kevin Rivoli (@KevinRivoli) February 24, 2020

Two people were taken to the hospital after their automobile veered off a road and crashed into a house on Route 38 in Fleming Monday afternoon.(Kevin Rivoli, The Citizen) Gallery: https://t.co/armm88qPEK pic.twitter.com/8R2ETXr3MR  Kevin Rivoli (@KevinRivoli) February 25, 2020

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.

Have a tip or a story idea? Contact Catie OToole: cotoole@syracuse.com | text/call (315) 470-2134 | Twitter | Facebook
By Trend

Relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are developing in all directions, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said prior to his visit to Azerbaijan, Trend reports referring to the Turkish media.

Erdogan noted that the two countries are connected by historical, political and economic ties.

The bilateral cooperation is developing in all spheres. Turkey also intends to increase trade turnover with Azerbaijan, as there is potential for this, Erdogan said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is arriving in Azerbaijan for one-day visit on February 25.

Within the framework of the visit, Recep Tayyip Erdogan will take part in the meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Thousands of terrorists might have been airlifted out of Kabul: Trump slams Biden

Never in history has withdrawal from war been handled so badly: Trump

Donald Trump predicts the end of coronavirus very soon

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 25: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the coronavirus epidemic will soon be brought under control as China has been working very hard.

Addressing Indian CEOs here, Trump said the US plans to spend about USD 2.5 billion in fighting the deadly coronavirus.

"China is working very very hard, I have spoken to President Xi they are working very hard. They had a rough patch and right now it seems they are getting it under control, they are getting it more and more under control so I think it is a problem that is going to go away," Trump said.

With 71 new coronavirus deaths, total number of casualties touches 2,663 in China

Asserting that the situation in the US is under control, Trump said the US also does business with other nations and wants other countries to be "happy healthy and well".

"Let us see how it works out but I think it is going to work out fine. I hope so. We are working very hard, we are spending a tremendous amount of money also ...about USD 2.5 billion on getting everything ready just in case something should happen and also helping other nations who are unequipped to do it," Trump added.

The high profile CEO roundtable with Trump included captains of the Indian industry such as Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran and Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla.

Trump-Modi sign 3 key MoUs; finalised billion defence deal

China reported the outbreak of novel coronavirus on December 31, 2019. On Monday, Chinese officials said the death toll has climbed to 2,592, while the total number of confirmed cases increased to over 77,000.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 16:37 [IST]
In that first class, the narrators one defender is Billy, a young scholarship student from Illinois who shows great literary promise despite never having heard of David Foster Wallace, whose Infinite Jest has just been published. (He writes pretty avant-garde stuff, the narrator helpfully explains to his new friend. Hes from Illinois, actually.  Youd like him.) Awkward and uncomfortable in his surroundings despite his upper-middle-class Northeast pedigree, the narrator latches onto Billy as not just a fellow outsider, but a paragon of masculine authenticity. When he finds out Billy is sleeping in a basement storage room beneath an East Village dive bar, he offers to take him in for free at the rent-controlled apartment hes already illegally subletting from his great-aunt. Billy insists on cooking and cleaning to earn his keep, in addition to fulfilling his unofficial role as the narrators diligent editor, transforming one of his workshop-maligned stories into a piece worthy of acceptance by a small literary magazine.

Image Teddy Wayne Credit... Kate Greathead

Image Teddy Wayne

Theres never any doubt, of course, that the equilibrium of this arrangement will not hold, but Wayne, in the terrible-roommates tradition of Sam Shepard and Miranda July, rigorously draws out their dance of attraction and repulsion. Will they kill each other? Sleep together? Or just make passive-aggressive comments about each others writing? In a sequence that encapsulates the books easy charm, the narrator takes Billy to Chumleys, the past-its-prime West Village literary bar, hoping that some of the Hemingway and Fitzgerald magic will rub off on them. Instead, since its 1996, they decamp with two female British tourists to an N.Y.U. bar where they all sing along to Dont Look Back in Anger and make pained jokes about the lack of irony in Alanis Morissettes Ironic. Billy effortlessly beds the woman he brings home, while the narrator finds himself unable to perform after some awkward groping with his own date.

Though class and sensibility play a role in their tension, the real problems between the roommates pivot on questions of gender and sexuality, questions to which I found Waynes approach at once overly cagey and too on-the-nose. Billy is cruelly dismissive of a colleagues gender reassignment surgery (Cmon), and visibly perturbed by the gay scene on Christopher Street. In a steam room with Billy, the narrator conjures a brief, less gruesome vision of that infamous moment in The Silence of the Lambs, in which he somehow wore Billys body like an exoskeleton, moving through the world in his impervious chassis. He visits a urologist and in the waiting room contemplates a new father as he frowned his way through the checklists and questions he never thought hed have to answer  questions hed never even thought of, and wonders how his own distant father felt in that position. He has two different emotionally charged encounters with people who are missing limbs. At one point, an obnoxious professor invokes Jakes oblique but oft-cited war wound in The Sun Also Rises. And thats just the tip of the iceberg.

As it did for the narrator in the opening workshop, Waynes choices here work in the sense that we believe his narrator would, were he writing the novelization of his life, handle his discomfort with his body and feelings with these kinds of hints and dodgy revelations. But at the same time  and this is true when it happens in a workshop, too  it feels a little cheap to turn the central characters genuinely poignant longing and trauma into a scavenger hunt. Relatedly, as in Waynes previous book, the campus novel Loner, I couldnt help feeling that the busyness and extremity of the plots denouement undercut the authors otherwise humane sensibility. In other words: Just because he told me he was going to flinch doesnt mean I wasnt disappointed when he did.
IRB Infrastructure on Tuesday announced the receipt of first tranche of investment totalling Rs 3,753 crore from GIC affiliates out of its commitment of Rs 4,400 crore by IRB Infrastructure Trust.

The balance commitment will be invested in construction of the under-construction projects. The allotment of units to investors will happen by February 27.

Post the allotment of units, IRB will hold 51 per cent and GIC affiliates will hold 49 per cent stake in the private InvIT.

"This is the largest transaction in the roads and highways sector in India," said the company in a statement. The net revenue of portfolio in FY 2019 was Rs 630 crore.

Upon completion of construction of nine build-operate-and-transfer (BOT) assets, the enterprise value of the private InvIT will be Rs 22,500 crore.

"With this investment for the largest transaction in roads and highways sector, a meaningful long-term relationship has been forged with GIC, one of the world's leading sovereign wealth funds," said IRB Chairman and Managing Director Virendra Mhaiskar.

"It demonstrates the continued faith investors have in us and showcases our strength as a sector leader. We welcome GIC to the IRB family and look forward to growing this platform by exploring the future opportunities in roads and highways sector together," he said.

Ang Eng Seng, Chief Investment Officer of Infrastructure at GIC, said India remains a key long-term market for GIC given its strong economic fundamentals and infrastructure development potential.

"This platform will not only give us exposure to a large, well-positioned and diversified portfolio of toll roads in India but also enable IRB to continue growing their business," he added.

Bajaj Consultants acted as the exclusive financial advisor to IRB for the transaction. S & R Associates acted as the legal advisor to IRB and Nishith Desai Associates acted as the legal advisor to GIC affiliates.

As part of the transaction, IRB will transfer nine of its BOT assets into a Private InvIT in which IRB will hold a controlling stake of 51 per cent. The portfolio spans across 5,900 lane km in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka.

All nine assets in the portfolio are revenue-generating assets. As part of the transaction, GIC affiliates will invest up to Rs 4,400 crore. The investment proceeds will be used for deleveraging the portfolio and for equity funding for under-construction projects.

.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President Donald Trump has been feting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a two-day visit to India, even as the vile consequences of the fascistic, communalist policies pursued by Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government are being bloodily spelled out on the streets of Delhi.

Just hours before Trump arrived in Indias capital Monday, local BJP leaders instigated anti-Muslim violence in northeast Delhi that has continued today and at the time of writing (8 p.m. local Delhi time) has resulted in at least 10 deaths.

A shop burns as a mob sets it on fire during violence between two groups in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020 (AP Photo)

Delhi has been a centre of the nationwide mass protests against the BJP governments anti-Muslim Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and its plans to bully and ostracize Muslims in the name of a crackdown on illegal immigrants. Since the law was rushed through parliament last December, hundreds of Muslim women have been staging an around-the-clock sit-down protest in the Shaheen Bagh neighbourhood of South Delhi, blocking a major road to all but emergency traffic.

The CAA is itself only the latest in an ever-escalating series of anti-democratic, communalist actions taken by the Modi government. In August, it stripped Jammu and Kashmir, Indias lone Muslim majority state, of its semi-autonomous constitutional status and has placed the region under a massive security lockdown ever-since.

During the just completed campaign for the Delhi National Capital Territory assembly election, BJP leaders celebrated the violent suppression of anti-CAA protests in Uttar Pradesh and other BJP-led states and led crowds in calling for the shooting down of traitors and anti-nationals. (See: Shoot them downIndias government incites violence against opponents of its anti-Muslim citizenship law)

From all reports, Delhi BJP leader Kapil Mishra initiated the violence currently convulsing Indias capital. On Sunday, he launched a pro-CAA counter-protest, involving the occupation of a street in northeast Delhi by hundreds of his Hindu communalist supporters and issued an ultimatum to Delhi police. Mishra vowed that his supporters would clear Delhis street of anti-CAA protesters, if the police didnt do it within three days.

Incidents of rock-pelting, between pro- and anti-CAA protesters, soon followed. But the violence escalated dramatically on Monday, when, according to the Chennai-based Hindu newspaper, mobs began singling out Muslims whether they were on foot or in vehicles and began thrashing them.

Despite what the Modi government, which controls the police forces in the Delhi Territory, says is a massive police mobilization, the violence continued to escalate Monday and today.

The Wire reports Muslim shops have been vandalized and torched by communalist mobs shouting, Jai Shri Ram or Long Live the (Hindu God) Ram.

There is a long and bloody history of the BJP, the RSS and their Hindu supremacist allies inciting and organizing horrific communal violence. Modi himself first came to national prominence because of his role, as Gujarats chief minister, in presiding over the 2002 anti-Muslim Gujarat pogrom, which resulted in as many as 2,000 deaths.

Trump began his trip to India with a speech before a 100,000-strong crowd of Modi supporters in Ahmedabad, Gujarats state capital. He hailed the Indo-US global strategic partnership, and lavished praise on Modi, calling him 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.

The Pentagon and the US political establishment (Democrat and Republican) alike, view India as crucial to American imperialisms military-strategic offensive against China. Under Modi, India has integrated itself ever more completely into this offensive, transforming India into a veritable frontline state in Washingtons war drive against Beijing.

Trumps effusive praise for Modi is also rooted in the profound political affinity between the fascistic billionaire anti-immigrant US president and the Hindu supremacist Modi.

At their joint Delhi press conference early Tuesday evening, Trump said he had not discussed with Modi the communal violence raging in the streets of Indias capital, then quickly came to his hosts defence. We did talk about religious freedom, said Trump, who has imposed discriminatory travel bans on more than a half-dozen predominantly Muslim countries. The prime minister said he wants people to have religious freedom. They have worked really hard on it.

The lethal communal violence that has rocked Delhi for the past two days underscores the fraudulent and cynical character of the claims promoted by Washington and New Delhi and parroted by the Western media that the anti-China Indo-US alliance strategic alliance is based on shared values of democracy and tolerance.

In reality, as personified by Trump and Modi, the alliance between US imperialism and the Indian bourgeoisie is an alliance of reaction, authoritarianism and war.
By Caitlin Johnstone

February 24, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Tomorrow in the UK a judge will start the process of answering a very important question. Its a question that many of us knew was the heart of this debate back in 2010, ten years ago, when this all started. Its a question that they have been obfuscating, bloviating, huffily denying, smearing, gaslighting, and distracting frombasically doing anything they can to hide it from view.

Its a question that they dont want the public to know that we are answering. A question that goes to the heart of democracy, and to the heart of the role of the fourth estate, journalism. And that question is this:

Should journalists and publishers be punished for exposing US war crimes?

And, ancillary to that question: should we allow them to be punished by the very people who committed those war crimes?

Is that something that we want for our world, ongoing? Because our answer to this question is going to shape our society, our civilization, for generations to come.

There is no coming back from this for a very long time should the answer be, Yes! Yes, its fine, war criminals should go ahead and punish journalists for publishing true facts about their war crimes.

If we allow the answer to be yes, then were stuck with the endless stupid wars that everyone wants done with, from Melbourne to Kabul, from Sydney to Syriaright across the world people are done with these stupid wars for profit.

Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter

Even the people like us who are very insulated from the effects of war want them over with, let alone the children of Pakistan who fear a sunny day because drones only fly in a blue sky, or the children of Syria whose country is being terrorized by moderate rebels armed and funded by the US war machine, or the starving children of Yemen who are being bombed constantly by munitions made in the good ol U S of A.

No one wants war except those who make big bucks from it. Its the most evil thing that humans are capable of. It is murder. It is theft. It is rape. It targets and traumatizes and displaces our planets most vulnerable populations. It destroys the environment. It leaves behind cancer-causing waste.

Its like as if the worst serial killer is going on the worst killing spree while dumping planet-killing chemicals behind him, but instead of running from the cops, hes been given a trillion-dollar budget and immunity from prosecution.

This is already happening. This is the world we have currently. The question that is being posed in Assanges case is, should we be allowed to question this? Should we be allowed to expose it? Should we be allowed to stop it?

Julian Assanges case is a nexus point of where to next.

I was thinking on the way over here what I would most like to say to Julian if I had the chance. If I could tell him anything right now it would be, Rest now, mate. Youve done all you can. Weve got you. Let us take it from here. Assange acted as a kind of lightning rod for all this bullshit for all those years, and through what they did to him, we saw their true face. We saw their true evil. We know what they are now, and we know how they do it, weve seen enough to know how they operate. And in the end its never about one man, its always about the movement. Its our job now to stand up now and say as one We do not consent, and carry him out of there ourselves if we have to.

This is where were at. We need to decide, do we evolve, or devolve? Do we pivot towards utopia, or dystopia?

The persecution of Assange is so blatantly, obviously wrong that the only thing stopping people from seeing it is empire propaganda. You dont have to be well-read. You dont even have to be smart. You just have to have to have eyes that are unfiltered by narrative manipulation.

Anyone with common sense and a beating heart in their chest can see this is wrong. Should journalists be tortured and imprisoned for life when they expose war crimes? The answer is not complicated. Its obvious to anyone who hasnt been propagandized out of their own clarity.

Assanges plight only looks complicated when you add on layers of narrative and verbiage. Ah but Sweden stinky, stink man, hacker not a journalist! Mueller sexist Trump poop on the walls, Nazi Putin!

Without all the spin its very obvious hes being torturously, unjustly persecuted. It really is an emperor has no clothes thing. The court propagandists fill our ears with fancy words about what a bad man Assange is, and why he must be dealt with, theyre trying to tell you that the emperors clothes are invisible to those arent educated.

But the unpropagandized just yell Hey! Why is the emperor ass-dick naked? Dude, I can see him! I can see his willy! 

This is why there are no counter protests here today. There are no regular, every day citizens taking to the streets with signs saying Jail all the journalists! Endless war for all! Some people still have strong feelings about Assange, but theyre just feelings, and youll find that its usually about only one or two of the smears, and if they turn and try to find evidence for the particular smears that have snagged them, they find nothing.

Thats why Nils Melzer, the UNs Special Rapporteur on torture, is such a courageous figure to me. When people first approached him to look in to Assanges case, he was reluctant because he too had been affected by the smears. When he turned to the evidence though, he found no substance there.

Because of his honorability, though, he felt through the embarrassment of being duped, and being wrong, he swallowed his pride and he changed course. And he very quickly became one of our most powerful allies in the fight to expose war crimes, expose propaganda, expose the modern-day mobbing and torture tactics used against Assange, and expose the precedent that Assanges prosecution will set for journalists and publishers world wide.

And you know what? I think the power behind his testimony comes from the fact that he realized that he had been duped, and if he, a very intelligent, well read, worldly, informed and educated person could be duped, then anyone can be.

No one is immune. Human minds are hackable. Were all very busy with our lives. Were all kept busy by capitalism, and very few of us have the time to do what he did and sit down and take a look at the facts and assess them. And even if they did that, even fewer of them have had the courage of their convictions to put up with the social consequences of changing course.

Being manipulated isnt immoral, being a manipulator is. People feel ashamed when theyve been conned, but its not their fault; its always the fault of the con man. Thats why fraud is the crime, and being defrauded is being a victim of that crime.

In order for people to see this question that were asking ourselvesthe question of whether journalists should be punished for exposing war crimesclearly they have to admit that they have been victims of propaganda. Its not their fault, but they will be embarrassed to admit it. This shame underpins a lot of reluctance to join us here today, so I think its important to outline.

So when youre talking to your friends and family, keep in mind that theyre hurting. Theyre afraid of feeling the shame of having been duped, because in our crazy, ass-backwards culture, being duped is considered shameful while duping people just makes you a productive member of society.

Be gentle with them. Reassure them that its not going to be the end of the world if they change their mind. In fact, it may be the end of the world if they dont.

Thats why I find Nils Melzers testimony to be so powerful: because it exposes the abusive nature of propaganda, and he modeled how to act when we find ourselves on the wrong side of the debate. His very existence gives me hope because it means that there are others like him waking up all over the world.

Actually, Ive seen it already myself. Theres a huge movement in Germany gaining traction supporting Assange. It was the prisoners of Belmarsh who organized three separate petitions and got Julian out of solitary (hows that for grassroots activism?). Just on Friday Alan Jones posted a poll on Facebook that posed the question should the Australian government do more to help Julian Assange and bring him home?. Thousands of people answered and there was a 75 percent Yes! Yes we should bring him home. Underneath the poll there were hundreds of comments in support of Assange.

So the tide is changing. Is it enough? I reckon it might be. But we have to keep pushing on it like our lives depend on it, because they do.

Viva Assange!

Thank you.

Caitlin's articles are entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, liking her on Facebook, following her antics on Twitter, checking out her podcast, throwing some money into her hat on Patreon or Paypal, or buying her book Woke: A Field Guide for Utopia Preppers. https://caitlinjohnstone.com
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- At a time when wage inequality and workplace fairness dominate the national conversation, a new study by Nathan Wilmers, the Sarofim Family Career Development Professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management, sheds light on the factors that drive pay disparities among workers. The study is published in the latest edition of Administrative Science Quarterly.

"Many people think that pay inequality is driven by the rise of globalization and technological changesand while those trends have certainly played a big part in widening earnings gaps, there's more to the story," says Prof. Wilmers. "My research, which looks at what's happening inside organizations at a granular level, finds that the ways in which managers allocate tasks to their workers has a significant impact on what people earn. Employees who are assigned unique and distinctive tasks are paid more compared to their co-workers in the same job."

Prof. Wilmers studied 13 years' worth of publicly available, individual-level data for employees of U.S. labor unions. He looked at a range of blue- and white-collar job titlesfrom accountants, lawyers, and union presidents to administrative assistants, maintenance workers, and janitors. His research considered several key measures: the specific tasks that people performed over the course of their workday, whether employees performed one or multiple types of tasks, whether or not those tasks were distinctive from those of their coworkers, and how much individuals were paid each year. Distinctive tasks are those performed by few employees, such as being the only political operative or the only contract negotiator at a given organization. Prof. Wilmers calls these distinctive tasks "job turf," as employees can monopolize the learning and discretion associated with being the only person in an organization who performs certain activities.

He found that, on average, workers who performed distinctive tasks earned 5% more than colleagues working at the same organization in the same job. This finding held true even when controlling for other variables, such as an employee's length of tenure, past work experiences, level of education, and gender. Prof. Wilmers also found that it was not the complexity of the employee's specialized task that yielded the higher pay premium to distinctiveness; what mattered was how different the task was from the tasks performed by his or her co-workers.

"The more unique the task, the more valuable it is in terms of how much an employee earns," he says. "In other words, an employee's paycheck does not depend only on the scarcity of general skills in the labor market, but rather on scarcity of specific skills within the organization. Employees who do unique tasks have more job turf and therefore tend to command higher pay."

His study shows how organizations unwittingly create pay inequality among workers. Employers could, of course, erode job turfand the pay premium that comes with itby assigning tasks more evenly across employees. But, as jobs evolve from requiring a single task to multiple different tasks, their skill requirements expand accordingly. "Instead, organizations often reduce task variety to expose a position to a broader pool of potential job applicants," he explains. "In doing so, some task areas become turf, commanding higher earnings, while other jobs lose task variety and are exposed to increased competition."

His research has implications for both employers and employees. "All else equal, doing tasks distinctive from colleagues makes employees harder to replace. So, one strategy for employees trying to raise their value to their current employer would be to take on unique chores and responsibilities at work," he says.

Meanwhile, employers ought to bear in mind that assigning specialized tasks to some employees may have unintended consequences. "It's a delicate balance," he says. "Managers can't have every employee be a jack-of-all-trades because there are certain distinctive tasks that need to get done and it is costly to fill jobs that require a bunch of different types of skill. However, allocating more specialized tasks to some workers gives them more bargaining power over their pay. For managers concerned about how to ensure relative equality and maintain pay fairness, this is a really important dynamic to watch out for."

About MIT Sloan School of Management

MIT Sloan School of Management is where smart, independent leaders come together to solve problems, create new organizations, and improve the world. Learn more at mitsloan.mit.edu.

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Spring is about to begin! What is the Ridgefield Prevention Council? and what are we preventing?

RPC is an offshoot of RCCASA Ridgefield Community Coalition Against Substance Abuse. Our goal is to inform families in Ridgefield about what is risky behavior when it comes to substances and other social issues that can be tricky. Bullying, social media, teen suicide-just to name a few topics that we tackle.
NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Baby Foods and Infant Formula market worldwide is projected to grow by US$22.7 Billion, driven by a compounded growth of 5.4%. Infant Formula, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 5.6%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$55.7 Billion by the year 2025, Infant Formula will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05443582/?utm_source=PRN

- Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 4.1% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$784.2 Million to the region's size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over US$645.1 Million worth of projected demand in the region will come from Rest of Europe markets. In Japan, Infant Formula will reach a market size of US$3.1 Billion by the close of the analysis period. As the world's second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 8.6% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$6.7 Billion in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders. Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies.



- Competitors identified in this market include, among others,

Abbott Laboratories

Abbott Nutrition

AMUL

Beingmate Group

Bellamy's Organic

Biostime Inc.

Dana Dairy Group

Danone SA

Daqing Dairy Holdings

Fonterra Co-operative Group

H. J. Heinz Company

Hain Celestial Group

Hero Group

HiPP UK Ltd.

Mead Johnson Nutrition Company

Meiji Co., Ltd.

Morinaga Milk Industry Co. Ltd.

Nestle S.A.

Perrigo Company plc

Synlait Milk Ltd.

The a2 Milk Company

Wakodo Co. Ltd.

Yashili International Holdings

Yili Group









Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05443582/?utm_source=PRN



I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE



II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



1. MARKET OVERVIEW



Baby Foods and Infant Formula: Meeting the Taste, Flavor,

Health, and Nutrition Needs of the Most Precious Consumers

Recent Market Activity

Global Pediatric Nutrition: Fast Facts on the Past, Present,

and the Future

Major Trends Impacting the Global Infant Formula and Baby Food

Market

Relaxation of the One Child Policy of China

Falling Prices of Milk

Strengthening Dollar Shrinks Profits for US Companies

More Stringent Monitoring of Infant Formula Market by China

The Zika Virus in Latin American Countries

Strong Emphasis of International Organizations on Breastfeeding

Changing Consumer Preferences

Key Factors Impacting Sales

Generational Influence, Race, and Focus on Nutrition: The Three

Major Determinants of Demand for Baby Foods

Major Factors Influencing Consumer Purchasing Behavior for Baby

Food

Convenient Packaging

Organic Options

Focused Health Benefits

Strict Quality and Production Regulations Continue to Impact

Infant Formula Market

Global Market Outlook

Traditional Revenue Contributors Lose Market Dominance to Asian

Super Powers

Global Competitor Market Shares

Baby Foods and Infant Formula Competitor Market Share Scenario

Worldwide (in %): 2020 & 2029





2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS



Abbott Laboratories

Abbott Nutrition

AMUL

Ausnutria Dairy Corporation Ltd.

Balactan Nutrition

Beingmate Group Co., Ltd.

Bellamy?s Organic

Biostime Inc.

Dana Dairy Group

Danone SA

Danone Nutricia

Bledina SA

Cow & Gate

Milupa Nutricia GmbH

Nurture Inc. (Happy Family)

Daqing Dairy Holdings Limited

Feihe International, Inc.

Fonterra Co-operative Group

H. J. Heinz Company

Hain Celestial Group

Ella's Kitchen (Brands) Limited

Hero Group

Beech-Nut Nutrition Corporation

Semper AB

HiPP UK Ltd.

Hong Kong Wissun Group

Mead Johnson Nutrition Company

Meiji Co., Ltd.

Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd.

Nestle S.A.

Gerber Products Company

Parent's Choice

Perrigo Company plc

Plum Organics

Synlait Milk Ltd.

Synutra International Inc.

The a2 Milk Company

Wakodo Co. Ltd.

Yashili International Holdings Ltd.

Yili Group





3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS



Despite Decline in Global Birth Rates, Innovation and

Premiumization Drive Healthy Market Growth

Surging Popularity of Non-GMO and Organic Infant Formulas

Benefit Market Expansion

Emerging Economies to Provide Major Impetus to the Global

Organic Baby Foods Market

Focus on Breastfeeding Alternatives Drive Steady Growth in

Demand for Ready-to-Drink Infant Milk

High Pressure Processing for Baby Food Products for Maximized

Health Benefits

Demand for Colostrum-based Baby Food Products Gain Momentum

Food-borne Allergies Propel Demand for Hypo/Anti-Allergic Baby

Food

Higher Levels of Vitamin K1 and Vitamin K2 in Infant Formula:

Essential Nutrients for Fortifying Childhood Development

Rising Incidence of Coeliac Disease Spurs Demand for Gluten-

Free Infant Foods

Specialized Formula Products Inundate the Market

Soy-based Infant Formula Gains Popularity

Research on the Right Ingredients to Close the Gap between

Formulas and Breast Milk Continues

Probiotics: The Next Big Thing in Infant Formulas?

Commercially Prepared Baby Foods: A Boon for Working Parents

Expanding Consumer Base for Baby Food Market

Adult Style Recipes Find Favor

Favorable Demographic and Economic Trends Strengthens Market

Prospects

Ballooning Global Population

Shrinking Family Size Lead to Higher Discretionary Spending

India & China: Important Potential Future Markets

PRODUCT INNOVATIONS AND ADVANCEMENTS

Infant Formula Brands with Innovative Ingredients

Major Infant Formula Brands and their Innovative Ingredients:

Brief Details

Recent Innovative Baby Food Launches

Little Spoon's Organic Baby Food Using High Pressure Processing

(HPP)

Once Upon a Farm's Organic Baby Food without Preservatives

Yura Yogurt Packaging

Happy Family Organic Superfoods

HappyFamily Introduces Pouch-Based, Shelf-Stable Food Products

Beech-Nut Introduces New Baby Foods in Transparent Glass Honey -

Pot Jars

Gerber Introduced New Soft Foods to Promote Chewing in Babies

Plum Organics Introduces One-Serve Pasta Package

Innovations in Baby Food Ranges from Novel Baby Formulas to

Digitized Infant Accessories

Recent Innovations in Organic Baby Formulas

Grow Well Organic Infant Formula from Plum Organics

Baby's Only Organic LactoRelief Formula

Baby's Only Organic Formula with DHA and ARA

Happy Tot's Grow & Shine Organic Toddler Milk

Earth's Best Organic Infant Formula

Vermont Organics Infant Formula

Select Innovative Organic Baby Cereals

Earth's Best Organic Whole Grain Multi-Grain Cereal

Happy Baby's Organic Puffs

Plum Organics' Hello Morning Oatmeal

Organic Single Grain Oatmeal Baby Cereal from Gerber

Happy Baby's Organic Probiotic Baby Cereal

Infant Formula Containing 2'-FL Enhances Inflammatory Cytokines

Danone-Nutricia Supports Use of Fortified Toddler Milk for

Enhanced Vitamin D and Iron Status

Bimuno Displays Similar Digestive System Related Functionality

as HMOS

Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) for Developing Innovative

Baby Food Solutions

N-Acetyl-D-Neuramicin Acid Contain More Sialic Acid to

Replicate Breast Milk

ARA and DHA Enriched Baby Food

Lactalbumin, Lactoferrin, Casein Glycomacropeptide and

ucleotides: High Value Ingredients

Importance of Lipid Sciences in Brain and Vision Development in

Infants

High-beta-palmitate Oils

Human Lipid Fat Analogue

Complex Lipid Matrices

Select Clinical Studies Assessing the Benefits of Lipids in

Infant Formula (2013)





4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE



Table 1: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Global Market Estimates

and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 2: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Global Retrospective

Market Scenario in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 3: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market Share Shift

across Key Geographies Worldwide: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 4: Infant Formula (Product Segment) World Market by

Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025

Table 5: Infant Formula (Product Segment) Historic Market

Analysis by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017

Table 6: Infant Formula (Product Segment) Market Share

Breakdown of Worldwide Sales by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS

2025

Table 7: RTE Foods (Product Segment) Potential Growth Markets

Worldwide in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025

Table 8: RTE Foods (Product Segment) Historic Market

Perspective by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017

Table 9: RTE Foods (Product Segment) Market Sales Breakdown by

Region/Country in Percentage: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 10: Dried Foods (Product Segment) Geographic Market

Spread Worldwide in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025

Table 11: Dried Foods (Product Segment) Region Wise Breakdown

of Global Historic Demand in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017

Table 12: Dried Foods (Product Segment) Market Share

Distribution in Percentage by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS

2025

Table 13: Other Product Segments (Product Segment) World Market

Estimates and Forecasts by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018

to 2025

Table 14: Other Product Segments (Product Segment) Market

Historic Review by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017

Table 15: Other Product Segments (Product Segment) Market Share

Breakdown by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025





III. MARKET ANALYSIS



GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS

UNITED STATES

Market Facts & Figures

US Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market Share (in %) by

Company: 2020 & 2025

Market Analysts

Table 16: United States Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Product Segment:

2018 to 2025

Table 17: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in the United

States by Product Segment: A Historic Review in US$ Million for

2009-2017

Table 18: United States Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Share Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

CANADA

Table 19: Canadian Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Segment: 2018

to 2025

Table 20: Canadian Baby Foods and Infant Formula Historic

Market Review by Product Segment in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 21: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in Canada:

Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Product Segment for

2009, 2019, and 2025

JAPAN

Table 22: Japanese Market for Baby Foods and Infant Formula:

Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by

Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 23: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in Japan:

Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Product Segment for

the Period 2009-2017

Table 24: Japanese Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market Share

Analysis by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

CHINA

Table 25: Chinese Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market Growth

Prospects in US$ Million by Product Segment for the Period

2018-2025

Table 26: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Historic Market

Analysis in China in US$ Million by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 27: Chinese Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market by

Product Segment: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019,

and 2025

EUROPE

Market Facts & Figures

European Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market: Competitor

Market Share Scenario (in %) for 2020 & 2025

Market Analysts

Table 28: European Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market Demand

Scenario in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 29: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in Europe:

A Historic Market Perspective in US$ Million by Region/Country

for the Period 2009-2017

Table 30: European Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market Share

Shift by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 31: European Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Segment:

2018-2025

Table 32: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in Europe in US$

Million by Product Segment: A Historic Review for the Period

2009-2017

Table 33: European Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market Share

Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

FRANCE

Table 34: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in France by

Product Segment: Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for

the Period 2018-2025

Table 35: French Baby Foods and Infant Formula Historic Market

Scenario in US$ Million by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 36: French Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market Share

Analysis by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

GERMANY

Table 37: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in Germany:

Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by

Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 38: German Baby Foods and Infant Formula Historic Market

Analysis in US$ Million by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 39: German Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market Share

Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ITALY

Table 40: Italian Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market Growth

Prospects in US$ Million by Product Segment for the Period

2018-2025

Table 41: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Historic Market

Analysis in Italy in US$ Million by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 42: Italian Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market by

Product Segment: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019,

and 2025

UNITED KINGDOM

Table 43: United Kingdom Market for Baby Foods and Infant

Formula: Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Million

by Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 44: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in the United

Kingdom: Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Product

Segment for the Period 2009-2017

Table 45: United Kingdom Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Share Analysis by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

SPAIN

Table 46: Spanish Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Segment: 2018

to 2025

Table 47: Spanish Baby Foods and Infant Formula Historic Market

Review by Product Segment in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 48: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in Spain:

Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Product Segment for

2009, 2019, and 2025

RUSSIA

Table 49: Russian Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Product Segment:

2018 to 2025

Table 50: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in Russia by

Product Segment: A Historic Review in US$ Million for 2009-2017

Table 51: Russian Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market Share

Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF EUROPE

Table 52: Rest of Europe Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Segment:

2018-2025

Table 53: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in Rest of

Europe in US$ Million by Product Segment: A Historic Review for

the Period 2009-2017

Table 54: Rest of Europe Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Share Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 55: Asia-Pacific Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country:

2018-2025

Table 56: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in Asia-Pacific:

Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by Region/Country for

the Period 2009-2017

Table 57: Asia-Pacific Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Share Analysis by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 58: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in Asia-Pacific

by Product Segment: Estimates and Projections in US$ Million

for the Period 2018-2025

Table 59: Asia-Pacific Baby Foods and Infant Formula Historic

Market Scenario in US$ Million by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 60: Asia-Pacific Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Share Analysis by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

AUSTRALIA

Table 61: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in Australia:

Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by

Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 62: Australian Baby Foods and Infant Formula Historic

Market Analysis in US$ Million by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 63: Australian Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market Share

Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

INDIA

Table 64: Indian Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market Estimates

and Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Segment: 2018 to 2025

Table 65: Indian Baby Foods and Infant Formula Historic Market

Review by Product Segment in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 66: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in India:

Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Product Segment for

2009, 2019, and 2025

SOUTH KOREA

Table 67: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in South Korea:

Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by

Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 68: South Korean Baby Foods and Infant Formula Historic

Market Analysis in US$ Million by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 69: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market Share

Distribution in South Korea by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS

2025

REST OF ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 70: Rest of Asia-Pacific Market for Baby Foods and Infant

Formula: Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Million

by Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 71: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in Rest of

Asia-Pacific: Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Product

Segment for the Period 2009-2017

Table 72: Rest of Asia-Pacific Baby Foods and Infant Formula

Market Share Analysis by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

LATIN AMERICA

Table 73: Latin American Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Trends by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018-2025

Table 74: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in Latin America

in US$ Million by Region/Country: A Historic Perspective for

the Period 2009-2017

Table 75: Latin American Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Region/Country: 2009, 2019,

and 2025

Table 76: Latin American Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Growth Prospects in US$ Million by Product Segment for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 77: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Historic Market

Analysis in Latin America in US$ Million by Product Segment:

2009-2017

Table 78: Latin American Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

by Product Segment: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009,

2019, and 2025

ARGENTINA

Table 79: Argentinean Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Segment:

2018-2025

Table 80: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in Argentina in

US$ Million by Product Segment: A Historic Review for the

Period 2009-2017

Table 81: Argentinean Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Share Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

BRAZIL

Table 82: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in Brazil by

Product Segment: Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for

the Period 2018-2025

Table 83: Brazilian Baby Foods and Infant Formula Historic

Market Scenario in US$ Million by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 84: Brazilian Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market Share

Analysis by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

MEXICO

Table 85: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in Mexico:

Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by

Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 86: Mexican Baby Foods and Infant Formula Historic Market

Analysis in US$ Million by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 87: Mexican Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market Share

Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF LATIN AMERICA

Table 88: Rest of Latin America Baby Foods and Infant Formula

Market Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Product

Segment: 2018 to 2025

Table 89: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in Rest of Latin

America by Product Segment: A Historic Review in US$ Million

for 2009-2017

Table 90: Rest of Latin America Baby Foods and Infant Formula

Market Share Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

MIDDLE EAST

Table 91: The Middle East Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country:

2018-2025

Table 92: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in the Middle

East by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 93: The Middle East Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Share Breakdown by Region/Country: 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 94: The Middle East Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Segment: 2018

to 2025

Table 95: The Middle East Baby Foods and Infant Formula

Historic Market by Product Segment in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 96: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in the Middle

East: Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Product Segment

for 2009, 2019, and 2025

IRAN

Table 97: Iranian Market for Baby Foods and Infant Formula:

Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by

Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 98: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in Iran:

Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Product Segment for

the Period 2009-2017

Table 99: Iranian Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market Share

Analysis by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ISRAEL

Table 100: Israeli Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Segment:

2018-2025

Table 101: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in Israel in

US$ Million by Product Segment: A Historic Review for the

Period 2009-2017

Table 102: Israeli Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market Share

Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

SAUDI ARABIA

Table 103: Saudi Arabian Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Growth Prospects in US$ Million by Product Segment for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 104: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Historic Market

Analysis in Saudi Arabia in US$ Million by Product Segment:

2009-2017

Table 105: Saudi Arabian Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

by Product Segment: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009,

2019, and 2025

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Table 106: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in the United

Arab Emirates: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$

Million by Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 107: United Arab Emirates Baby Foods and Infant Formula

Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by Product Segment:

2009-2017

Table 108: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market Share

Distribution in United Arab Emirates by Product Segment: 2009

VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF MIDDLE EAST

Table 109: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in Rest of

Middle East: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$

Million by Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 110: Rest of Middle East Baby Foods and Infant Formula

Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by Product Segment:

2009-2017

Table 111: Rest of Middle East Baby Foods and Infant Formula

Market Share Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

AFRICA

Table 112: African Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Product Segment:

2018 to 2025

Table 113: Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market in Africa by

Product Segment: A Historic Review in US$ Million for 2009-2017

Table 114: African Baby Foods and Infant Formula Market Share

Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025





IV. COMPETITION



Total Companies Profiled: 106

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05443582/?utm_source=PRN



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CAIRO  Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian leader who was the autocratic face of stability in the Middle East for nearly 30 years before being forced from power in an Arab Spring uprising, died Tuesday, state-run TV announced. He was 91.

Mubarak was a stalwart U.S. ally, a bulwark against Islamic militancy and guardian of Egypts peace with Israel. But to the hundreds of thousands of young Egyptians who rallied for 18 days of unprecedented street protests in Cairos Tahrir Square and elsewhere in 2011, Mubarak was a latter-day pharaoh and a symbol of autocratic misrule.

His overthrow, however, plunged the country into years of chaos and uncertainty, and set up a power struggle between the military and the Muslim Brotherhood group that he had long outlawed. Some two and a half years after Mubaraks ouster, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi led the military overthrow of Egypts first freely elected president and rolled back freedoms gained in the 2011 uprising.

State TV said Mubarak died at a Cairo hospital where he had undergone an unspecified surgery. The report said he had health complications but offered no other details. One of his sons, Alaa, announced over the weekend that the former president was in intensive care after undergoing surgery.

El-Sissi offered condolences and praised Mubaraks service during the 1973 war with Israel but made no mention of Mubaraks almost three-decade rule as president of the most populous Arab state. He announced three days of national mourning beginning Wednesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed deep sorrow over Mubaraks death. President Mubarak, a personal friend of mine, was a leader who guided his people to peace and security, to peace with Israel, Netanyahu said.

Born in May 1928, Mubarak was vice president on Oct. 14, 1981, when his mentor, President Anwar Sadat, was assassinated by Islamic extremists while reviewing a military parade. Seated next to Sadat, Mubarak escaped with a minor hand injury as gunmen sprayed the reviewing stand with bullets. Eight days later, the brawny former air force commander was sworn in as president, promising continuity and order.

Over the next three decades, as the region was convulsed by one crisis after another, Mubarak was seen as a steady hand and a reliable U.S. partner against Islamic extremism.

Samy Magdy is an Associated Press writer.
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Looks like heartbeat or ECG wave: Twitterati mocks Trump's signature on Sabarmati Ashram diary

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Feb 25: US President Donald Trump and his spouse Melania Trump visited India on Monday. The Trump couple visited Ahmedabad, and headed straight to Sabarmati Ashram, where Mohandas Gandhi had lived.

"To my great friend, Prime Minister Modi - thank you for this wonderful visit," the US president wrote the visitor's book of Sabarmati Ashram.

However, his freaky signature on the diary soon started circulating on social media, turned into hilarious memes. Check out some of the tweets:

Trump's signature looks like his heartbeat everytime Modi hugs him. #TrumpIndiaVisit pic.twitter.com/EEr20qMyxM  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

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

Trump ke signature hain ya heartbeat ki reading  #NamasteyTrump pic.twitter.com/bLIxvfJs4M  Jaideep Singh (@Jaideep121299) 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

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 10:16 [IST]
Retirement plan

A little over two weeks remain until you can take advantage of your 2019 registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) contribution room for taxes. You have until March 2, 2020, to contribute to an RRSP for the previous tax year.

Any contributions you make to your RRSP beyond this point will count against your 2020 tax year. While thats a significant amount of time to make investment decisions, I would advise against rushing your decision.

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Toronto-Dominion

RRSP can help build a significant portion of your retirement fund. When it comes to creating a portfolio, you need to take every possible measure to protect your capital and increase the potential of income from your wealth.

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Several factors contribute to TDs success in the past decade. Its exposure to the retail banking sector in U.S. markets is perhaps the most significant driver for its performance.

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The bank expects to grow at an average of 7% each year for the next five years. It is a Canadian Dividend Aristocrat with a dividend growth streak of nine years. At the time of writing, its dividend yield is 3.90%, while the stock is trading for $75.98 per share at writing.

Brookfield Renewable Energy

Canadas energy sector has bloomed over the years thanks to its massive reserves of fossil fuel. An increasing concern in recent years has been the limited time that fossil fuels will be around, as theres only so much oil and gas in the world. Something needs to be done to replace them when the reserves finish.

Story continues

There is a definite shift toward renewable energy sources. Investors who are inclined to take advantage of sustainable energy investments can look to Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners.

The stock is a star performer with gains of 90.70% in the past 12 months. At the time of writing, the stock is trading for $75.04 per share, with a juicy dividend yield of 3.78%. The underlying company has a global portfolio of renewable energy assets that produces more than 18,000MW capacity.

Its also a Canadian Dividend Aristocrat with a dividend-growth streak of 10 years. The company has raised its distributions by 5% recently, and expects to increase its distributions by 5-9% each year.

Foolish takeaway

The RRSP contribution deadline for the 2019 tax year is fast on your heels. Its time to start putting together a list of high-quality stocks you can consider investing in, so youre not caught wrong-footed when the deadline finally arrives.

Both Brookfield and Toronto-Dominion are excellent companies to consider adding to your RRSP watch list.

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
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 03:14:52|Editor: zyl

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Ambulances carrying passengers on a Turkish Airlines plane from Tehran are on the way to a hospital in Ankara, Turkey, Feb. 25, 2020. A Turkish Airlines plane, departing from Tehran in Iran and due to arrive in Istanbul, was diverted to Turkish capital Ankara on Tuesday over the suspicion of COVID-19 infection and passengers onboard have been taken under quarantine. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

ANKARA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Turkish Airlines plane, departing from Tehran in Iran and due to arrive in Istanbul, was diverted to Turkish capital Ankara on Tuesday over the suspicion of COVID-19 infection and passengers onboard have been taken under quarantine.

A total of 132 passengers and crews will be kept under observation for 14 days, the Turkish Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca said in a written statement.

The plane was bounded from Tehran to Istanbul and was carrying Turkish nationals, local daily Hurriyet reported.

Some 17 passengers reportedly have fever and some of them were traveling from the city of Qom of Iran to Tehran before boarding on the Turkish plane.

As of Feb. 23, Turkey closed land and railway crossings with Iran. However, the airway is still open for Iranian citizens who want to return home.

Earlier Tuesday, Turkish Airlines announced to suspend its flights to and from Iran till March 10 due to the COVID-19 outbreak, except flights to the capital Tehran.
Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels,



which runs that Park hospitality chain across the country, would mostly use the proceeds of its proposed initial public offer (IPO) to retire debt, an official said on Tuesday.

Apeejay Surrendra has already filed the DRHP with the capital market regulator SEBI which is expected to give its approval in March.

"The proceeds of the IPO will be used largely to retire debt and for meeting other regular operating expenses," Vijay Dewan, MD of Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, told reporters on the sidelines of a CII event here.

He said the debt of the company is around Rs 450 crore. "We are expecting the SEBI approval by March", he said.

The DRHP was filed during December end, he said.

On new properties, Dewan said the company is setting up a 200-room hotel in Pune for which construction has already started.

The Pune hotel will cost around Rs 160 crore and will be under the Park brand.

Apeejay will also add 100 rooms at Vizag and another 80 rooms in Navi Mumbai.

Dewan said the company will gradually move towards managing properties rather than owning them.

The company has also taken over the Danish Tavern at Srirampur from the West Bengal government, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Factory prices yesterday continued unchanged, with the recent undercurrent of upward movement appearing to have slowed.

This means that your factory bullock remains largely fixed on a base of 3.65/kg, with factory heifers on 3.70/kg.

Reports continue to surface of 5c/kg more being paid but as last week moved on, that extra 5c/kg became more difficult to achieve.

Prices for bulls also appear to have levelled off with under-24-month U-grades selling in general around the 3.60/kg mark, with R grades 3.50/kg and coloured Os 3.40/kg.

The cull cow trade is the one area where prices continue to edge slowly upwards.

R grades are reported as having settled at 3.20-3.30/kg, with some well-fleshed O-grades now moved onto 3.20/kg, although the general run is 3.00-3.10/kg.

As with everything, some plants specialise in either bullocks, bulls or cows and these tend to reward those with stock that fit their immediate requirements.

In short, the factory trade is really no better or worse as the numbers continue strong, with one agent telling me: "I thought on Sunday I'd have no cattle but I was full by Tuesday for the week."

None of the other players have followed Dawn's lead in reducing the requirement to keep stock a minimum of 30 days from the previous 60 in relation to the Bord Bia Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance scheme (SBLA).

ABP said it has "no plans at the moment to change the SBLA scheme".

For the week ending February 16, figures from the Department of Agriculture show that in relation to factory prices achieved for bullocks, including VAT, Kepak Clonee moved into top spot with an average payment for R3 steers of 397.11c/kg, just ahead of the Foyle Donegal's 396.44c/kg. ABP Cahir pipped ABP Bandon to third spot, averaging 394.42c/kg.

The division on price in relation to R3 heifers is more clear-cut, with Foyle coming in over 6c/kg ahead on 406.38c/kg, as against Clonee's 399.22c/kg. Jennings Ballinrobe occupies third spot on 395.89c/kg.

Foyle were also the best payer when it came to young bulls, on 391.14c/kg for U3s, just ahead of Kepak Clonee on 390.83c/kg.

Kepak Athleague dominates the cull cow table, averaging 316.52c/kg for O4s, almost 2.5c/kg ahead of Dawn Ballyhaunis (314.12c/kg). Liffey Meats were third on 313.33c/kg.

In relation to the above figures it is worth noting that Foyle Meats of Donegal operate a sliding scale when it comes to paying bonuses on Aberdeen Angus stock.

It's always advisable to clarify in advance of selling whether your factory pays breed bonuses.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump address Joint Press Meet at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Feb 25, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives US President Donald Trump at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Feb 25, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Feb 25 : A few hours before US President Donald Trump completes his first official visit to India, the two countries have concluded three bilateral agreements in the health and energy sectors.

As per the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), two of the agreements finalised during the US President's visit include a memorandum of understanding on mental health, and one that deals with the safety of medical products.

The MoU on safety of medical products was signed between the USFDA and India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation.

The MoU on mental health is between India's Department of Health and Family Welfare and the Department of Health and Human Services of the US.

A Letter of Cooperation was also signed by Indian Oil Corporation and ExxonMobil India LNG Limited, with Chart Industries of the US.
Muriya, Omans largest private integrated tourism developer, has commenced construction of a new 400-key branded five-star hotel in Hawana Salalah, its flagship destination in the Governorate of Dhofar.



With the completion of this milestone and the first phase of the hotel opening in December 2020, Muriya once again reiterates its position as the largest private contributor to the development of four and five-star hotels in Oman. The company is continuing with its strategy to meet the growing influx of European and regional tourists visiting Salalah year-round, and create long-term value for the tourism, real estate and leisure sectors.



Samih Sawiris, chairman of Muriya and of Orascom Development Holding (ODH) AG, said: We closely and continuously collaborate with the Government of Oman and our partners at Omran to contribute to the long-term and sustainable 2040 vision of the sultanate for the tourism sector, which will be a major contributor to economic diversification as well as direct and indirect job creation for Omanis. Salalah in particular has manifested over the past six years that it possesses all the components of being an enticing and growing international tourist destination. Muriyas investments have already reached $750 million to date in Oman, and the addition of our new five-star luxury hotel to Hawana Salalah is a clear indication of our increasing commitment and plans for further investments in the sector. Once completed, the hotel complex will make Hawana Salalah the only destination in Oman that offers five very unique hotel and lodging propositions across 1,500 luxury rooms.



Sawiris added: The tourism sector is primarily an engine for economic growth and job creation, and Muriya has continuously spearheaded such growth, tying in hotel development into the already existing multitude of facilities within its destinations, including real estate offerings. We have also been attracting Foreign Direct Investment into the sultanate, where many of our hotel guests are increasingly investing in freehold properties. Muriya has succeeded in 2019 alone to deliver some 600 properties ahead of schedule across two destinations mostly to foreign investors. Equally important, Hawana Salalah has become a solid platform for SMEs to start and thrive their businesses, with its expanding number of residents, retail outlets and hotel rooms.



The new hotel will offer 400 deluxe guestrooms and suites with state-of-the-art architecture and interior designs; incorporating multiple themes throughout the property. The surrounding areas will feature vast landscaped areas in keeping with the native environment, offering spectacular views of the ocean and the mountains. The property will cover 105,000-sq-m of premium beachfront land overlooking the Indian Ocean as part of a complex featuring fine dining restaurants, bars, swimming pools, a recreational fitness and leisure club, meeting and conference facilities.



Upon completion, the new hotel will increase the number of hospitality offerings at the Hawana Salalah destination to four hotels and an eco-friendly lodge, adding even greater variety to Omans largest integrated tourism complex. The property will become the central focus for a new coconut-fringed beachfront neighbourhood within the destination, located a short distance from the bustling Hawana Marina, existing shops, restaurants and cafes, and the popular Hawana Aqua Park. - TradeArabia News Service
As part of activities in giving back to its consumers, The La Casera Company (TLCC) which has been rewarding its consumers all over Nigeri...









As part of activities in giving back to its consumers, The La Casera Company (TLCC) which has been rewarding its consumers all over Nigeria with the Refresh & Connect promo, held the Kano leg of the regional grand draws which held on Wednesday 19th February, at the Royal Tropicana Hotel, amongst other activities in the state.To formally kick off its programme of events in Kano, a delegation from the company, paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Kano, His Highness, Muhammadu Sanusi II.In his address, Managing Director TLCC, Mr Chinedum Okereke, thanked the Emir for the rare privilege of such a historical visit.He highlighted the pedigree of the company, which houses household brand names such as La Casera Apple drink, Smoov Chapman, Nirvana range of products and Bold Bitter lemon along with the newly introduced variants that form the Bold Franchise.Chinedumwhile outlining the companys contributions to employment and the economy, said: We employ over 1,000 people directly in our company operations and over 10,000 people indirectly across the country. We equally have close to 2,000 direct dealers handling our products, as well as several vendors in our value chain.The La Casera Company which holds the historical city of Kano as a key location for its business, in 2019, carried out amulti-platform educational enlightenment campaign against the ills of substance abuse, targeted at the youth.The Emir in his remarks, underscored the significance and relevance of Kano not just as a major market for products but also as a strategic point through which goods travel to the whole of West Africa. He expressed his desire for Kano to develop further beyond a consuming market intoa production and manufacturing hub. He stressed that this was the only way to curb the social problems that bedevilled youth in the region.His Highness, Muhammadu Sanusi II, while speaking also advocated for more investment in agriculture and manufacturing, urging The La Casera Company to have a strategic plan to put more infrastructure on ground in Kano, even as their business continues to expand.After leaving the Emirs palace, the TLCC team headed for the Vesico-vaginal Fistula (VVF) Kwali Rehabilitation Centre, where they made the donation of 3.5KVA solar power equipment. The solar panels will be used to power the water pump at the centre, after identifying water and power as the major challenges faced at the centre.Hauwa Bello Umar, who is the Officer-in-charge at the centre, thanked TLCC for providing succour to the centre inhabitantswho have already been through their own ordeals.The La Casera Company continues to demonstrate that it is a business that looks beyond profit, by positioning the consumer at the centre of its business and also ensuring it makes the world a better place.
The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form
An Australian Productivity Commission report, released last month, shows that a growing number of elderly people across Australia are left waiting more than nine months to receive vital aged care services.

In 201819, just over 40 percent of people who were assessed as needing care waited nine months or more to be admitted into residential aged care. This number has skyrocketed, from just 5.4 percent in 200809.

In 201819, the median time between being assessed as eligible by the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) and entering residential aged care was 152 days, or around five months. This was out of a total of 60,657 admissions into care. The median wait time increased more than fourfold in a decade, from 36 days in 200910.

The percentage of people entering residential aged care within three months was lower in outer regional and remote areas, at 40.3 percent and 37.8 percent respectively, compared with 42.5 percent in major cities.

The report shows a similar trend in the wait times for home care packages. Home care packages provide funding for elderly people to access aged care services at home, including personal care, social and medical support.

Home care packages are assessed in four levels, ranging from low-level care needs (Home Care Package Level 1), to high-care needs (Level 4).

Once a person is assessed as needing home care, the approximate wait time for Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4 packages is over a year, according to the Australian governments MyAgedCare website. For Level 1 Packages the wait is 3-6 months.

The Productivity Commission report found that across all home care levels, total admissions fell from 36,474 in 201516, to 24,156 in 201718, while the median time for receiving a home care package rose from 73 days in 201516 to 137 days in 201718.

These waiting times are in addition to the process of applying to receive aged care services, and having this application approved by ACAT, which typically takes up to six weeks.

The Australian Health Departments latest quarterly report showed that as of December 2019 there were 112,237 people waiting for a home care package. This had increased from 108,456 people in January 2018.

Many elderly people have died before their home care package was delivered, while others have been forced to go into residential aged care. In its interim report, released last November, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety noted that in 2018, more than 16,000 people died waiting for a home care package, and 14,000 were forced into residential aged care.

The Productivity Commission report cites the lack of availability of aged care places/packages as one of the main reasons for increased wait-times, as well as an older persons need to delay entry into residential aged care due to personal circumstances, such as selling their home, and decisions to reject a place in residential aged care due to the cost.

According to MyAgedCare, all residents of aged care facilities are charged a maximum basic daily fee of $51.63 per day, or $18,844.95 per year. This is around 85 percent of the basic age pension for a single person, which is a maximum of $850.40 per fortnight.

This amount is in addition to a means-tested care fee, which can be up to $252.20 per day based on an income and assets test, and a refundable accommodation deposit, which has no maximum amount and averaged $316,876 in July 2019. Many aged care facilities also charge additional service fees that are not government subsidised. These services can include providing residents with a preferred brand of toiletries or accessing a hairdresser.

Such is the failure of capitalism and the contempt of the ruling elite for the working class, that elderly people who have worked all their lives are then forced to give up their assets and savings to obtain care. By contrast, the wealthy can afford expensive private services.

A recent report published by Flinders University and submitted to the royal commission in January, shows that of 22 countries in its study, Australias spending on long-term aged care was among the lowest. The report also states that staffing levels for residential aged care in Australia is at the lower end of the range internationally, both for total staffing and nursing.

After the Aged Care Royal Commission delivered its interim report in November, Prime Minister Scott Morrisons Liberal-National Coalition government announced just 10,000 additional home care packages. This is an insult to the well over 110,000 people already assessed as needing home care services and on the waiting to die list.

Following the release of the Productivity Commissions January report, the Labor Partys shadow minister for ageing, Julie Collins, called the figures, another wake-up call for the Morrison government on the terrible state of our countrys aged care system.

However, during the May 2019 federal election Labors response to the aged care crisis was to pledge to immediately investigate how to better triage those waiting for home care packages, fast-track a workforce strategy and encourage doctors to do home visits. Labor outlined no strategy for addressing the poor quality and lack of aged care services, and no increased funding.

Moreover, both Labor and Coalition governments have overseen the lengthening queues and the extensive privatisation of aged care services.

In 201011, after three years of a Labor government, the number of residential aged care services managed by government organisations had dropped to 10 percent. Not-for-profits (charitable, religious-based and community based organisations) and private corporations owned 60 percent and 30 percent, respectively.

By 2018, the proportion of residential aged care services managed by government organisations had fallen further to 9 percent, according to the most recent GEN Aged Care Data.

Continuing this privatisation, the Morrison government announced last December that it would tender out ACAT, which approves applications for aged care services, to the private sector this year. This is another indication that corporate profit interests are increasingly placed above providing for even the most basic needs of workers as they age.
Permafrost in the soil and methane hydrates deep in the ocean are large reservoirs of ancient carbon. As soil and ocean temperatures rise, the reservoirs have the potential to break down, releasing enormous quantities of the potent greenhouse gas methane. But would this methane actually make it to the atmosphere?

Researchers at the University of Rochester -- including Michael Dyonisius, a graduate student in the lab of Vasilii Petrenko, professor of earth and environmental sciences -- and their collaborators studied methane emissions from a period in Earth's history partly analogous to the warming of Earth today. Their research, published in Science, indicates that even if methane is released from these large natural stores in response to warming, very little actually reaches the atmosphere.

"One of our take-home points is that we need to be more concerned about the anthropogenic emissions -- those originating from human activities -- than the natural feedbacks," Dyonisius says.

What Are Methane Hydrates and Permafrost?

When plants die, they decompose into carbon-based organic matter in the soil. In extremely cold conditions, the carbon in the organic matter freezes and becomes trapped instead of being emitted into the atmosphere. This forms permafrost, soil that has been continuously frozen -- even during the summer -- for more than one year. Permafrost is mostly found on land, mainly in Siberia, Alaska, and Northern Canada.

Along with organic carbon, there is also an abundance of water ice in permafrost. When the permafrost thaws in rising temperatures, the ice melts and the underlying soil becomes waterlogged, helping to create low-oxygen conditions -- the perfect environment for microbes in the soil to consume the carbon and produce methane.

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Methane hydrates, on the other hand, are mostly found in ocean sediments along the continental margins. In methane hydrates, cages of water molecules trap methane molecules inside. Methane hydrates can only form under high pressures and low temperatures, so they are mainly found deep in the ocean. If ocean temperatures rise, so will the temperature of the ocean sediments where the methane hydrates are located. The hydrates will then destabilize, fall apart, and release the methane gas.

"If even a fraction of that destabilizes rapidly and that methane is transferred to the atmosphere, we would have a huge greenhouse impact because methane is such a potent greenhouse gas," Petrenko says. "The concern really has to do with releasing a truly massive amount of carbon from these stocks into the atmosphere as the climate continues to warm."

Gathering Data from Ice Cores

In order to determine how much methane from ancient carbon deposits might be released to the atmosphere in warming conditions, Dyonisius and his colleagues turned to patterns in Earth's past. They drilled and collected ice cores from Taylor Glacier in Antarctica. The ice core samples act like time capsules: they contain tiny air bubbles with small quantities of ancient air trapped inside. The researchers use a melting chamber to extract the ancient air from the bubbles and then study its chemical composition.

Dyonisius's research focused on measuring the composition of air from the time of Earth's last deglaciation, 8,000-15,000 years ago.

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"The time period is a partial analog to today, when Earth went from a cold state to a warmer state," Dyonisius says. "But during the last deglaciation, the change was natural. Now the change is driven by human activity, and we're going from a warm state to an even warmer state."

Analyzing the carbon-14 isotope of methane in the samples, the group found that methane emissions from the ancient carbon reservoirs were small. Thus, Dyonisius concludes, "the likelihood of these old carbon reservoirs destabilizing and creating a large positive warming feedback in the present day is also low."

Dyonisius and his collaborators also concluded that the methane released does not reach the atmosphere in large quantities. The researchers believe this is due to several natural "buffers."

Buffers Protect Against Release to the Atmosphere

In the case of methane hydrates, if the methane is released in the deep ocean, most of it is dissolved and oxidized by ocean microbes before it ever reaches the atmosphere. If the methane in permafrost forms deep enough in the soil, it may be oxidized by bacteria that eat the methane, or the carbon in the permafrost may never turn into methane and may instead be released as carbon dioxide.

"It seems like whatever natural buffers are in place are ensuring there's not much methane that gets released," Petrenko says.

The data also shows that methane emissions from wetlands increased in response to climate change during the last deglaciation, and it is likely wetland emissions will increase as the world continues to warm today.

Even so, Petrenko says, "anthropogenic methane emissions currently are larger than wetland emissions by a factor of about two, and our data shows we don't need to be as concerned about large methane releases from large carbon reservoirs in response to future warming; we should be more concerned about methane released from human activities."

This study was supported by the US National Science Foundation and the David and Lucille Packard Foundation.
On Radio 4s World at One on 19th February, Iain Duncan Smith  like the NF, BNP and UKIP before him  blamed immigrants for the housing crisis. As housing academics, we wish to point out that there is no evidence for this assertion. Far from creating the housing crisis, immigrants are much more likely to be its victims, often living in sub-standard, over-crowded, private-rented accommodation. Immigrants are very unlikely to be permanently housed in council or social housing, as Mr Duncan Smith implied. They are, however, likely to help build new homes.

The real reason for the housing crisis is four decades of underinvestment in council housing, while policy has been dominated by the private market that Duncan Smiths own government admits is broken.

Dr Glyn Robbins LSE

Professor Danny Dorling Oxford University

Dr Suzi Hall LSE

Professor Ben Campkin UCL

Professor Rebecca Tunstall University of York

Dr Melanie Nowicki Oxford Brookes University

Dr Melissa Fernandez Arrigoitia Lancaster University

Professor Rowland Atkinson University of Sheffield

Dr Romola Sanyal LSE

Dr Michele Lancione University of Sheffield

Professor Paul Watt Birkbeck, University of London

Dr Jane Lewis London Metropolitan University

Dr Neil Grey University of Glasgow

Duncan Bowie UCL

Dr Andrea Gibbons University of Salford

Dr Julia King LSE

The unconvinced centre

Your editorial may be right in suggesting that Bernie Sanders taps into the frustrations of youth but it overlooks the parallel with the Corbyn phenomenon four years ago. A radical programme may energise those willing to turn out for primaries or Labour Party meetings, but it does not guarantee that the middle ground will respond in the same way. A radical programme will fail against Trump in the mid-West, and we will be stuck with him for four more years.

EA Cameron

Kensington, West London

In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win Show all 5 1 /5 In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win Bernie Sanders and his wife Jane, triumphant at hearing of Nevada Caucus win. in San Antonio Texas on 22 February 2020 Reuters In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win Bernie Sanders embraces his wife Jane at rally in San Antonio Texas on 22 February 2020 REUTERS In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win REUTERS In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win Bernie support raises sign and a thumbs-up to the news of Senator Sanders' win REUTERS In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win Bernie supporter cheer at the news of Sanders' win REUTERS

Labours redemption

I read your various letters from your correspondents decrying the Labour leadership, past and future. Yes, there have been many problems, but do not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Tony Blair is castigated rightly for the Iraq War, but his other numerous achievements go under the radar.

Likewise, Corbyn and his colleagues did inspire young people to become involved in politics, making Labour the largest party in Europe, which is no mean achievement. I agree that the manifesto was overloaded with goodies but it did point to a kinder, more equal society where the infamous spectre of austerity would have been banished. When you look at our government now, with its new immigration policy, hounding the BBC and the judiciary, it is easy to feel melancholic.

Judith Daniels

Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

Pandoras box

David Davis has warned against a firing squad approach to dealing with turbulent permanent secretaries, but theres little chance that Messrs Cummings or Johnson will listen to him. Moderate Conservatives have to take their share of the blame for handing them power and opening a Pandoras box of populist far-right nastiness. Theyre succeeding in taking ever more control away from the people who voted to take back control.

In Dominic Cummings, we have a Rasputin-type figure pulling the strings, and sorry Mr Davis, but I think were stuck with him for the foreseeable. As for Mr Johnson, I see him as more of a George IV figure  but thats probably unfair to poor King George.

Paul Halas

Stroud, Gloucestershire

 Former Brexit Secretary David Davis: Dominic Cummings is a Here today, gone tomorrow special adviser

BBC Scotland

Apparently around 35,000 (or 0.6 per cent) of Scotlands population watches the recently-launched BBC Scotland channel each day, periodically dropping to between 5,000 and 8,000. Surely the channel exists only as a consequence of SNP establishment pressure? Many consider its news output a vehicle to promote the Scottish government and its raison detre: independence. The BBC is cash-strapped  so perhaps the channel should now be paid for from the SNPs coffers? Makes sense  and would chime with Nicola Sturgeons calls for transparency.

Martin Redfern

Edinburgh

Save SMEs

I find it intolerable that after such a decisive election defeat, Labour leadership hopefuls are still promulgating far-left socialist ideologies that are set to trash our vibrant SME sector. After narrowly escaping recession, how would increasing corporation tax, promoting trade unions and nationalising public services offer any hope of creating economic prosperity for the people of Great Britain?

Roger Paterson

Kenn, Exeter
The Mr India franchise that Zee Telefilms announced with director Ali Abbas Zafar seems to be causing quite a rift among those who worked closely in creating the original classic feature film back in 1987.

To begin with, the 1987 Mr Indias director Shekhar Kapoor spoke against the proposed project by Zee and Ali Abbas Zafar, a displeasure that was shot down by lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar as he pulled up Shekhar for the latters seeming hypocrisy. But now, it seems even the films producer Boney Kapoor and the 1987-films leading man and Boneys brother Anil Kapoor are not on the same page regarding the new version of Mr India.

As per sources, Boney had supposedly given his approval for the proposed project without taking his brother Anil into confidence.

Technically, Boney is in the right. Hes the producer of Mr India. He doesnt need to consult anyone before giving his approval. Boney shares a close working relationship with the Zee network. So he allowed them to go ahead (with the new Mr India). But Anil, on hearing of the project, was aghast. And hes right in being upset, too. He is not only the leading man of Mr India but also the producers brother, the source says, trying to explain the dilemma.

However, with Anil Kapoors daughter Sonam coming out against the proposed project, the battle lines are drawn even more starkly now. We shall wait on the side-lines to see how the matter resolves.
Tehran: Iranian officials on Tuesday reported three more deaths from the novel coronavirus, taking the total number of fatalities to 15, state media reported.

Two of the dead were elderly women in the northern province of Alborz and the other was a patient in the central province of Markazi, state news agency IRNA said.

Lawmaker's claim dismissed

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.

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.

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", he added
Sell-off-bound Bharat Petroleum has procured 500 million barrels of distress crude (five shiploads) at a discount of USD 3-5 per barrel to the already low prevailing price following order cancellations by coronavirus-hit China this month.

Since the outbreak of the epidemic, crude prices have plunged over USD 15 a barrel to around USD 50 now as large parts of China, the largest importer and consumer of crude, are under Beijing-ordered lockdown and millions of factories are closed.

The deadly virus outbreak in China since mid-January has left more than 2,660 dead and over 77,600 infected in China alone even as it has spread to countries like Korea, Japan, Iran and far-flung nations like Italy and France.

"We have bought 500 million barrels of what we call opportunity crudes from distress sale in February. Price is so attractive it is coming at USD 3-5 per barrel cheaper than the already low prices which is trading at under USD 50 a barrel," R Ramachandran, the director of refineries at BPCL told reporters.

When asked whether the company will be snapping up more such crudes, he answered in the negative saying that will only make inventory management unwieldy.

"Our inventory cycle is 30-40 days. Just because crude is cheaper now does not make sense for us to ramp up inventory too high as it will invariably lead to inventory losses, something we don't want to invite upon ourselves," he said.

Meanwhile BPCL has been the biggest customer of US crude since the last two years, when that country lifted the ban on exporting crude for the first in decades.

"We imported 1.6 million tonne crude from the US in FY19, and the same has already touched 1.57 million tonne this fiscal so far, making us the largest customer for the US crudes from the country," he said.

He also ruled out contracting Russian crude, unlike IndianOil did last week, saying the landed cost will not cost-effective for them.

Meanwhile, a report from New Delhi quoting the visiting US energy secretary Dan Brouillette said in the past two years, Indian imports of crude from the US has jumped 10-folds to 2,50,000 barrels a day.

In 2017, the country imported just 25,000 barrels per day from the US.

"In the past two years, we've seen a remarkable off-take in US oil and gas by India, from 25,000 bpd in 2017 to 250,000 bpd now, a 10-fold spike and we expect it to be better from here," Brouillette said in the National Capital, adding this makes the US the sixth-largest source market for India.

India began importing from the US in 2017 as it looked to diversify its import basket beyond the Opec block. It bought 1.9 million tonne (38,000 bpd) crude from the US in FY18 and another 6.2 million tonne (1,24,000 bpd) in FY19.

In the first six months of FY20, the US supplied 5.4 million tonne to India.

Oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan later said India is the fourth largest export destination for US crude now, while LNG import from the US is also increasing progressively ever since import started in March 2018. India is now the fifth largest destination of US LNG exports.

Pradhan said the bilateral hydrocarbon trade has increased exponentially during the past three years touching USD 7.7 billion mark in FY19, accounting for 11 per cent of total two-way trade.

Iraq is India's top supplier, meeting close to one-fourth of oil needs. It sold 26 million tonne crude to India in April-September, relegating Saudi Arabia to the second spot with 20.7 million tonne. The country meets as much as 83 per cent of oil demand through imports and has shipped in 111.4 million tonne during April-September.

(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.)
BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese court sentenced Chinese-born Swedish citizen Gui Minhai to 10 years in jail on Monday for illegally providing intelligence overseas, prompting a protest from Stockholm.

Gui, a bookseller previously based in Hong Kong who sold books critical of China's political leadership, was detained by mainland police in 2018. He was seized while with Swedish diplomats on a Beijing-bound train.

Relations between Sweden and China soured in the months leading up to Monday's sentencing, with Chinese officials warning Swedish counterparts against meddling in China's internal affairs.

On Tuesday, Sweden summoned the Chinese ambassador to Stockholm to protest against the sentence and demand Gui's release.

"We have summoned China's ambassador to our cabinet secretary and again demanded the release of, and consular access to, our citizen," a foreign ministry spokesman told Reuters.

Earlier on Tuesday, Swedish foreign minister Ann Linde said Gui should be released, a position Sweden has held throughout.

"We also require access to our citizen to provide the consular support he is entitled to," Linde said.

"We have not had access to or knowledge of any trial. Thus, we have not been able to review the indictment nor been able to offer access to legal counsel," she said.

A statement by the Ningbo Intermediate People's Court, which jailed Gui, said the 55-year-old had stated that he would not appeal the sentence and had asked to have his Chinese citizenship reinstated.

A spokesman for China' foreign ministry told a news briefing that Gui's rights and interests had been fully guaranteed. He said consular visits in general were put on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Chinese officials objected to Svenska PEN, a literary organisation, awarding Gui the 2019 Tulcholsky Prize, praising his services to free speech.

Swedish culture minister Amanda Lind defied Chinese diplomatic threats of "countermeasures" to present the prize.

Story continues

Gui is the highest-profile of five booksellers who disappeared between October and December 2015, all linked to a Hong Kong bookshop known for its gossipy texts on Chinese political leaders.

Such books are banned on the mainland but their production and sale is legal in Hong Kong under freedoms guaranteed as part of the 1997 handover from British colonial rule to Chinese sovereignty.

Gui was initially abducted in the Thai beach resort of Pattaya in 2015 before surfacing, like the others, in detention in mainland China. He was released in October 2017, before being arrested in January 2018.

Three of his colleagues were detained in mainland China while another was widely thought to have been abducted in Hong Kong and spirited across the border. Gui is the only one to have remained in detention.

His daughter Angela, along with other supporters, has repeatedly called for his release, saying he is a victim of illegal political persecution.

(Reporting by Huizhong Wu, Gabriel Crossley, Hong Kong newsroom and Stockholm newsroom; editing by Christian Schmollinger, Gerry Doyle, Simon Cameron-Moore and Giles Elgood)
Former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar will be listed on New Yorks Democratic presidential primary ballot without delegates because their campaigns didnt file a slate of names, state election officials say.

The other four leading Democratic candidates will appear on the April 28 primary ballot with delegates listed to the right of their names in each of the states 27 congressional districts.

Tom Steyer also will appear on the ballot with the names of his delegates in some congressional districts, but not in Central New York.

Unlike presidential primaries in most states, New York Democrats ask voters to cast ballots for both candidates and delegates in the states presidential primary election.

Jay Jacobs, chairman of the New York Democratic Committee, said none of the candidates will be penalized for failing to file delegate slates with the state Board of Elections.

If Bloomberg, Klobuchar and Steyer win delegates in New York on April 28, they will be allowed to choose who they want to represent them after the primary election, Jacobs said.

New York awards most of its 320 delegates to the Democratic National Convention proportionally, based on the number of votes presidential candidates  not their delegates  receive in each congressional district.

Delegates are not required to be listed on the ballot. But the delegate system benefits presidential candidates because delegates usually pass nominating petitions for the candidate. The delegates are often local elected or party officials who have endorsed the candidate.

Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg have filed a full slate of delegates along with their petitions to be on the New York ballot. The names of the delegates have been widely reported since a filing deadline earlier this month.

Bloomberg to open Syracuse office, giving his campaign early jump in NY primary

The state Board of Elections could decide as early as Friday to certify the primary ballot for the primary election. The deadline is March 3.

See presidential delegates from Central New York for:

Joe Biden

Pete Buttigieg

Bernie Sanders

Elizabeth Warren

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751

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By PTI

LONDON: Indian-origin Suella Braverman, appointed the UK's new Attorney General in British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's reshuffled Cabinet earlier this month, was on Monday formally sworn in for the post at a ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

The 39-year-old minister, a barrister and Cambridge University law graduate who specialised in public law and judicial review, said her priority will be to restore confidence in the justice system.

"It is a privilege to be sworn in as attorney general and a moment I will cherish as the second woman to be appointed to this historic role," said Braverman after the ceremony.

"Restoring confidence in the criminal justice system is my top priority. I want to thank my predecessor for his work in this area and his distinguished service to government," she said, in reference to the previous Attorney General Geoffrey Cox.

Honoured to have been sworn in as Queens Counsel and Attorney General yesterday at the Royal Courts of Justice. Thank you to the Lord Chief Justice for the warm welcome. pic.twitter.com/Mbw2ODJnXX  Suella Braverman MP (@SuellaBraverman) February 25, 2020

Robert Buckland, the Lord Chancellor and UK Secretary of State for Justice, welcomed the new incumbent to the 'vital and historic role' as the chief legal adviser for the government.

"The relationship between the law officers and the lord chancellor is a crucial one. I look forward to working closely with the attorney on matters relating to the rule of law, which is the cornerstone of our democracy and a major factor in our success as a civilised and prosperous nation," said Buckland.

Braverman's role will involve overseeing the work of the law officers' departments, which include the independent prosecuting authorities, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Serious Fraud Office.

Braverman, MP for Fareham in south-east England since 2015, has been a vocal supporter of Brexit and previously served as a minister in the erstwhile Department for Exiting the European Union.

As a former member of the Attorney General's panel of treasury counsel, she has defended the UK Home Office in immigration cases in the past.

Braverman, whose maiden name is Suella Fernandes, was born in London to migrant parents from Kenya and Mauritius with roots in Goa and South India.

She studied law at Queen's College, University of Cambridge, and went on to complete a Master's in law from the University of Paris.

She is the first female Attorney General to be appointed by a Conservative Party government.
An increasing number of North Koreans who fled their country have become involved in politics in South Korea.

For the first time, two North Korean defectors are running for office in South Koreas legislative elections. The two hope to improve conditions for defectors and to change the way South Koreans think of the North.

The elections will be held on April 15.

About 200 North Korean defectors recently met in Seoul. They sang songs about the future unification of North and South Korea. They are trying to form the first South Korean political party made up completely of North Korean defectors.

Kang Chul-hwan is assisting in setting up the political party. He said no one represents the people of North Korea. It is estimated that there are about 35,000 defectors in South Korea. Kang said he believes that they are neglected.

Those feelings could change if they get political representation in the National Assembly.

The two North Korean defectors who are seeking office are running as members of conservative opposition parties.

Ji Seong-ho is one of those defectors. He lost an arm and a leg as a teenager in an accident on a coal train. Ji fled to the South in 2006. He appeared as a guest of American President Donald Trump at the State of the Union speech in early 2018 in Washington, D.C. He is now a human rights activist.

Ji said he belongs to the younger generation. He decided he should run for office after South Korea returned two North Korean fishermen in November. South Korean officials accused the two of killing their captain and 15 other crewmen.

Many defectors said the move was the same as giving the men a death sentence.

The same incident motivated Thae Yong-ho to enter politics. Thae is a former North Korean diplomat to London. He is one of the highest- level defectors to come to the South in many years.

Thae recently spoke to foreign reporters in Seoul. I want to show to the North Korean people how freedom and democracy works in this country, he said.

Thae has been very critical of North Korea since he moved to the South in 2016. More recently, he also has begun criticizing the South Korean government.

He wants better treatment for defectors, many of whom feel discriminated against. The former North Koreans also are among the poorest groups in South Korea.

Defectors are required to get three months of training to learn how to live on their own in a capitalist country like South Korea. But many do not get enough help.

In July, a North Korean defector and her 6-year-old son were found dead in their apartment. They had apparently starved to death.

The government said recently that the average defectors monthly earnings had reached its highest level ever. But many say it is still not enough.

Thae says he wants to make it easier for defectors to receive aid to get an education. I want to give more opportunities to those newly arrived middle-aged people who want to continue their education, he said. He added that he is sure that the Koreas will be united one day.

And if we are united again, who will go first to North Korea to do administration? It must be people who are from North Korea, he said.

The former diplomat has faced severe criticism from North Korea since his defection in 2016.

Thae accuses some in South Korea of trying to appease the North by avoiding discussions of human rights. However, some experts warn that many defectors risk making their message too political.

Most defectors have aligned themselves with conservative political parties in South Korea. But conservatives have separated into several smaller parties since former President Park Geun-hye was removed from office on corruption charges in 2017.

Im Mario Ritter, Jr.

William Gallo reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

defector n. a person who leaves their country, party or organization and goes to a competitor or enemy

neglected adj. not given enough attention or care

motivated adj. willing to do work or wanting to succeed

opportunity n. an amount of time or a chance to do something

aligned adj. joined, agreed with
"Saturday Night Live" star Pete Davidson has said he knew that his engagement with pop star Ariana Grande will end after the death of her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller.

Davidson and Grande started dating in May 2018, just a few weeks after she broke up with Miller. They announced their engagement in June same year but ended it in the aftermath of Miller's death due to an accidental overdose in September.

In a wide-ranging interview with Charlamagne Tha God, the 26-year-old actor said he consoled Ariana in the wake of Miller's death but he knew that they were going split up soon.

"I totally got it. She would even tell you this. I was like, 'Listen, I get it, do whatever you've got to do, I'll be here.' I think I said, 'I'll be here until you don't want me to be here.'



"I pretty much knew it was around over after that. That was really horrible, and I can't imagine what that s**t is like. All I do know is that she really loved the s**t out of him, and she wasn't putting on a show or anything. That was f****d up. Prayers to his family and all of his friends," Davidson said.

The actor said he has been doing stand-up comedy for a long time now but when he was dating Grande, he was often recognised as her boyfriend.

"It hurts. It definitely hurts. Because, you know, I've been doing this for like 10 years. So it sucks for a six-month thing to just completely take over that," Davidson added.

Post the break up, he has been linked with actor Kate Beckinsale, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" star Margaret Qualley and supermodel Kaia Gerber but he said he will stay single for a while.

"I'm going to try and stay away from that. It's just a lot... I think you grow a lot as a person. I've learned a lot from the awesome chicks that I've been with, and they're all cool. So I think you just grow, you become a better version of yourself, because you learn a little something from everybody," Davidson added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 08:40:07|Editor: zh

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The art installation "Kaleidoscope of the Senses" is seen during the exhibition of the 2020 Winter Stations International Design Competition in Toronto, Canada, on Feb. 24, 2020. Presenting four selected winning winter stations from hundreds of design submissions around the world, this annual event is held here from Feb. 17 to March 30 with the theme of "Beyond the Five Senses." (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 25, 2020 / PPX Mining Corp. (the "Company" or "PPX") is pleased to announce that development work on the 3290 level of Mina Callanquitas has cut a high-grade ore shoot within the previously defined reserves for Mina Callanquitas (please see press release dated December 4, 2018 and Pre-Feasibility Study posted on SEDAR), an area of the mine where surface exploration drilling produced only modest results. Systematic underground channel sampling, part of the Company's normal ore control protocol, outlined a high-grade ore shoot over a strike length of 78 metres with a true width of 1.6 metres. The average grade over this area, based on 62 channel samples, is 14.32 gpt Au and 146 gpt Ag. Individual samples contained up 71.93 gpt Au and 1042 gpt Ag as described in more detail below. Higher than anticipated grades and good ore continuity highlight the significance of this discovery:The two diamond core drill holes nearest the 3290 level ore shoot contained 5.50 and 6.56 gpt Au (CA-12-42 and -43, please see diagram below and on the Company's website). In contrast, the 62 channel samples ranged from 2.12 to 71.93 gpt gold yielding a weighted average true thickness of 1.6 metres grading 14.32 gpt gold over a strike length of 78 metres. The results for Ag are more striking, the drill holes contained 21.1 and 10.1 gpt Ag, while the channel samples ranged from 27.9 to 1042 gpt Ag. Precious metal mineralization in this portion of Mina Callanquitas is completely oxidized and it is possible that some of the silver oxide minerals were not adequately recovered or sampled in the core drilling process. As has been noted previously (please see PPX Press Release dated February 5, 2020), the Au grade of ore delivered to the Malin Plant of Silver Cascas S.A.C., has consistently been higher than the grades shown in the Company's reserve and resource model. The sampling also demonstrates good continuity within the ore shoot, an important characteristic in mine planning and exploitation.The 3290 level cuts the Callanquitas ore body in an area above a high-grade ore chute defined by previous diamond core drilling. Drill holes CA-11-08, -11, CA-12-19, -30, -31, -55, and CA-17-86 outline an area with a strike length in excess of 150 metres over a similar vertical range that grades between 13.78 and 102.0 gpt Au Eq (please see diagram below and on the Company's website). The 3290 level ore shoot is a vertical continuation of this ore chute and expands the vertical range of the ore shoot to a minimum of 200 metres. The down dip continuation of this zone is unconstrained by drilling.As shown in the longitudinal section below, other high-grade ore shoots have been identified by surface diamond drilling. The 3290 ore shoot confirms the earlier diamond drilling results and supports an exploration/development model that focuses on the drill defined areas of higher grade that could increase resource and reserve ounces.Brian J. Maher, President and CEO of PPX Mining Corp commented: "The underground sampling results from the 3290 level provide verification of the tenor and volume of high-grade gold and silver ore shoots at Mina Callanquitas. The high grades, couple with elevated gold and silver prices, provide opportunities to optimize mine planning. The existing NI 43-101 Pre-Feasibility Study utilized a $1250 gold price and a life of mine average grade of only 4.66 gpt Au Eq, clearly current metal prices and confirmation of the high-grade ore shoots presents a significant economic opportunity for the Company." Channel sampling protocols and QA/QC: PPX Mining geologists collect channel samples underground on each working face prior to advancing the excavation. Samples are collected orthogonal to the structure edge or boundary and do not exceed 2.0 metres in length. Channels are broken at obvious geologic boundaries to correctly separate rock types, mineralization styles and hydrothermal alteration assemblages. The samples are collected by cutting a channel approximately 2.5 cm deep by 25 cm wide along a line painted on the face by the mine geologist. Sample weight is typically 1.5 to 2.5 kg. Samples are sealed, labeled and stored in a secure area prior to shipment to a qualified assay laboratory. Gold and silver analyses are conducted by the fire assay method with a CN leach. Blanks and standards are inserted approximately every 15 samples; duplicate channel samples are included at the same intervals. Duplicate fire assays for approximately every 30 samples are sent to a second assay laboratory for umpire analysisAbout PPX Mining Corp: PPX Mining Corp. ( TSX.V: PPX.V, SSE: PPX, BVL: PPX) is a Canadian-based mining company with assets in northern Peru. Igor, the Company's 100%-owned flagship gold and silver project, is located in the prolific Northern Peru gold belt in eastern La Libertad Department. PPX is developing the Callanquitas Mine and heap leach facility to exploit high grade, underground-minable gold and silver ore. Based on the Company's Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS"), PPX expects the Callanquitas Mine to produce up to 26,000 AuEq* ounces per year over a seven-year mine life at cash cost of less than US$610/AuEq* ounce (the Igor PFS is available on the Company's website and SEDAR). Simultaneously, PPX is accelerating its exploration program at Igor in order to fully evaluate the resource potential of the entire Igor project area. The Callanquitas structure is open along strike and at depth, parallel structures are unexplored. New discoveries at Portachuelos, coupled with the Domo and Tesoros exploration targets, emphasize that the Igor Project is evolving into a district-scale project with multiple deposits and mineralized zones.*AuEq is calculated as follows: AuEq ounces = Au ounces + Ag ounces/75. Per PFS, inclusive of metallurgical recovery.All scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Quentin J. Browne, P.Geo., Independent Consulting Geologist to PPX Mining Corp., who is a qualified person under the definitions established by National Instrument 43-101.On behalf of the Board of DirectorsBrian J. MaherPresident and Chief Executive OfficerFOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:PPX Mining Corp.Brian J. Maher, President and Chief Executive OfficerPhone: 1-530-913-4728Email: brian.maher@ppxmining.com Website: www.ppxmining.com Cautionary Statement:Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the
A fan wears a protective mask as people wait in line to attend the Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant memorial service at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 24, 2020. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

US Official Warns Americans: Prepare for Community Spread of New Coronavirus

Americans should prepare for community spread of the new coronavirus, with families sitting down and explaining that there could very well be a rapid, sudden increase in the number of patients, a top U.S. health official said on Feb. 25.

In an escalation from previous warnings, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said Americans should prepare for their lives to be disrupted by the spread of the new virus, including closures of schools and businesses.

She told reporters in a phone call that the number of cases popping up without a known source of exposure in Italy, Iran, South Korea, and other countries makes all of us feel that the risk of spread in the United States is increasing.

Messonnier recounted sitting down with her family at breakfast on Feb. 25 and telling her children that theyre likely not at risk of getting infected with COVID-19 at the moment, but that the family needed to be prepared for their lives to significantly change.

With no vaccine and no proven treatment for the virus, health officials are focusing on non-pharmaceutical interventions, which includes three categories: personal, community, and environmental. Personal interventions include routine recommendations such as washing hands and staying home when sick, and measures specific to pandemics such as people voluntarily isolating themselves at home even if theyre not sick if a member of their household has become ill.

A medical staff member sets up a pre-triage medical tent in front of Santa Maria Nuova Hospital in Florence, Italy, on Feb. 25, 2020. (Carlo Bressan/AFP via Getty Images)

Community interventions can include closing schools and transitioning to internet-based teleschooling and changing business meetings from in-person to online as well as locales postponing or canceling large gatherings.

Adults should contact school officials about plans for teleschooling, and their workplaces to look into working from home to avoid losing income, Messonnier said.

These are things that people need to start thinking about now, she said.

Environmental interventions primarily revolve around cleaning surfaces.

Local communities will need to decide on which interventions to implement.

HHS Secretary Alex Azar speaks about the coronavirus during a press briefing on the administrations response to COVID-19 at the Department of Health and Human Services headquarters in Washington on Feb. 25, 2020. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Alex Azar, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, told reporters later in the day that Messonnier was giving the American public a preview of what might happen.

We hope those steps arent necessary. We hope that we dont face those kinds of eventualities, he said. But transparency is being candid with people about what the continuum of potential steps are so they can start processing in their own heads, thinking about in their own lives, thinking about what that might involvemight involve, not will, we cannot make predictions with any degree of certainty.

Abroad, this is spreading rapidly. In the United States, this is contained. We are now two weeks with no additional U.S.-based cases, he added.

Dr. Anne Schuchat, the CDCs principal deputy director, said at the same press conference that the playbook that Messonnier laid out was foreshadowing the kinds of things that we may need to do.

The virus emerged in China in December 2019 and has since spread to dozens of countries, with a rapid increase in the number of cases in Italy, Iran, and South Korea this week, among other nations. The virus causes a disease that has similar symptoms to influenza, including fever, headache, and difficulty breathing.

Medical workers wearing protective gear move a patient suspected of contracting the new coronavirus from an ambulance to the Kyungpook National University Hospital in Daegu, South Korea, on Feb. 19, 2020. (Kim Jong-un/Yonhap via AP)

While the United States hasnt adjusted which people should be tested, even as the virus spreads rapidly in countries outside of China, authorities are discussing shifting the case definition and would likely do so if community spread starts occurring, Messonnier said.

Twelve state or local health departments are now equipped to test locally for the virus, an increase from four late last week. Testing locally is critical because of faster turnaround, Kelly Wroblewski, director of infectious diseases for the Association of Public Health Laboratories, told The Epoch Times.

As theres potentially more cases in the United States, more labs need the capability of testing to get a better handle on the spread, she said before Messonniers telebriefing.

Right now, CDC is fully capable of handling the specimen load thats being tested. Should there be an increase in cases in the U.S. like theyre seeing in Korea, like theyre seeing in Italy, we would need more capacity at a state level, Wroblewski said.

The CDC is working on getting more of the test kits to state and local labs, and commercial tests are also expected to become available soon, Messonnier said. All 50 states previously received kits, but some labs, during the verification process, discovered an issue with a reagent.
Broderick "Rael" Jordan, 50, was called home peacefully to be with the Lord on Sunday, February 23, 2020.

He was a 1987 graduate of Howard High School.

He was employed at Welding Ceramics of Chattanooga.

He was preceded in death by his mother, JoAnn Jordan.

Survivors include his three daughters, Sherrell Jordan, Keosha Jordan, and KaDayla Jordan; five grandchildren, Deion, Anthony, Jordan, Jayden, and Braylee, all of Chattanooga; father, Melvin Snow of Chattanooga; sisters, Tussa Ricks of Fredricks, Md., and Kim Davis of Chattanooga; two brothers, Felton Davis, Jr. of Richmond, Va., and Wendell Davis, Sr. of Chesapeake, Va.; loving partner, Annette Beautiful Hyter; a host of other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be on Friday, March 6, from 6-8 p.m. at Taylor Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be on Saturday, March 7, at noon in the chapel with Pastor Maurice Laster as the eulogist.

Burial will be in Forest Hills Cemetery.
Bright Big Blocks at Columbia University Teachers College Hollingworth Preschool It is time to call for a revolution in preschool education, using the principles of play based learning as a foundation

It is Friday, January 24th, late into the evening, and the production crew has just wrapped up the final day of filming at Brooklyn Childrens Museum in New York City.This completes phase one - three months of filming, two cities and three locations. Although exhausted, the production crew is pleased with their work and they have two months before traveling overseas for more.

This film documentary project began in 2005, when Bright Day was formed, and crystallized shortly thereafter when David Krishock, Co-Founder of Bright Day began researching the where and why of better educated youngsters around the globe. At that point Mr. Krishock, a serious advocate of play based learning, decided his story had to be told in order to expedite a revolution in preschool education, a reinvention using the principles of play based learning as a foundation.

"Sorry if this sounds like an alarm bell ringing, but it is, the time is now, educators and parents are key in fueling a broad scale reinvention of early childhood development. Play based learning is quite possibly the best way for a young mind and body to grow," states Krishock. "Our children are far too important to be relegated to an antiquated baby-sitter system. Play is the way forward," he continues.

Bright Day began studying play based learning years ago, and began piecing together their global film project partners to assist in telling this story. These play to learn believers and innovators are located in some of the worlds top countries - partners practicing in Denmark, Japan, South Korea, England, and the United States. In the USA, where filming just wrapped, the project partners include Columbia University Teachers College, and their Hollingworth Preschool, The Brooklyn Children's Museum, and Bay Area Discovery Museum's, The Discovery School, outside San Francisco.

These organizations practice the principles of play based learning - which includes a child focused, child directed approach, employing theme and project based learning. Using themes chosen by children holds their interest and ongoing engagement, allowing for a natural learning process. In employing these methods there are valuable benefits for children including - enhancing communication and collaboration, improving self-expression and creativity, generating curiosity, employing experimentation, questioning and problem solving, building of self-esteem and confidence. The cognitive development resulting from play based learning helps children acquire a better conceptual understanding of math, science, reading, writing, and use of technology, better preparing them for elementary school.

From New York this film crew travels to Asia this spring to work with film project partners in Tokyo, Japan and Seoul, South Korea. This summer the crew heads to Europe, working with two partners in England and Denmark. "Without the support of our partners, without their knowledge and practice of play based learning, we would not have proof that play works best for developing young minds and bodies," says Krishock.

The filming of this documentary will be complete in 2020, and ready for global distribution in 2021. "The sooner we can share our message, and highly engage educators and parents, the sooner we can unite our efforts to reinvent and improve. Bright Day is wholly committed to changing the system of preschool education globally - one preschool at a time," says Krishock

In addition to Bright Day Foundation producing its film documentary, it is completing work on its play based preschool curriculum to be launched in 2020. Also, the Bright Day Big Block cooperative http://www.brightdaybigblocks.com is launching several new learn while you play block products this year. "Our film documentary creates awareness, while our curriculum and blocks create practice - its is our goal to provide play solutions for educators, parents and children from all directions," says Krishock.

But, on this evening, late in January - the production crew is ecstatic over successfully capturing on film hundreds of joyful children at play - and resting up for the international phase of the documentary that promises to change the world - one preschool at a time.

About Bright Day Foundation

Bright Day Foundation is a not for profit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to help educators and parents better understand the importance of play in the development of preschool children. The Foundation accomplishes its goal by creating, producing and distributing instructional content for adults, as well as fun, learning based tools for children. Founded in 2005, the Foundation has helped millions of children build stronger minds and bodies, enabling their positive contribution to our society.

To learn more about Bright Day Foundation visit: http:http://www.brightdayfoundation.org

About Bright Day Big Blocks

Bright Day Big Blocks is a fun, new and unique play system designed to transform children's minds and bodies through creative, child directed play. Bright Day offers big soft play blocks and builds play space environments that peak a child's curiosity, unlocks creativity, inspires collaboration, and builds self-esteem and confidence. These blocks encourage play that builds cognitive, physical, emotional, and social skills important in the development of all children. Bright Day Big Blocks can be found around the world, in schools, playgrounds, libraries, hospitals, airports, restaurants, hotels and resorts, public parks, camps, and almost anywhere you find children playing.

To learn more about Bright Day Big Blocks visit: http://www.brightdaybigblocks.com
A son has revealed how he has forgiven the man who strangled his father to death before burning down his house, and found solace in comedy.

Chris McGlade, 54, from Middlesborough, was awoken one morning in 2011 to the dreadful news that his 77-year-old father Terry had been murdered.

The inebriated killer, homeless Malcolm Harland, 50, who was a friend of Terry's, had gone to his house looking for a place to stay, then strangled him to death when he refused to help him get more alcohol, before setting his house alight and driving off to buy beer.

He was later sentenced to life in prison with minimum of 18 years behind bars.

But remarkably, Chris has told how he turned years of mourning into a cathartic comedy sketch about murder, which has helped others who have experienced similar circumstances. He has even tracked down the murderer, and requested to meet him in prison after deciding to forgive him to avoid becoming bitter.

Chris McGlade, 54, from Middlesborough,A son has revealed how he has forgiven the man who strangled his father to death before burning down his house, and found solace in comedy

The inebriated killer, homeless Malcolm Harland, 50, who was a friend of Terry's, had gone to his house looking for a place to stay, then strangled him to death when he refused to help him get more alcohol, before setting his house alight and driving off to buy beer (Chris seen with his father Terry as a child)

Speaking to the Mirror's Notebook, he said: 'My dad was a forgiving person with a big heart. I know some choice characters and plenty of them said they could organise for the killer to get his comeuppance in jail.

'I didn't want that. I'm a Christian man and I knew any darkness and anger in my love was coming from resenting him. It took me eight years to trace him in prison and I wrote to the Governor explaining I'd forgiven him and I'd like to meet him. The murderer has agreed so that shows me he now feels remorse'.

Chris revealed that his father's murder had taught him to always have 'light and humour in darkness'.

He told Femail: 'We live in a very unforgiving, mean world today, with so many people being so intolerant of so many other people.

The comedian won praise after he performed his sketch at Edinburgh festival, and admitted it gave him 'goosebumps' when various audience members came to him in tears afterwards revealing how they would too try to forgive their family member's killer

'It seems that folk are being stoked up against each other on all sorts of levels and for all sorts of reasons and if ever we needed to embrace the concept of forgiveness, then it's now.

'Not just forgiving people for the massive wrongs that they inflict on you, but the little ones and more importantly, forgiving yourself for the stuff you inflict upon other people'.

The comedian won praise after he performed his sketch at Edinburgh festival, and admitted it gave him 'goosebumps' when various audience members came to him in tears afterwards revealing how they would too try to forgive their family member's killer.

Despite living on as little as 7 a day, Chris says he's happy to perform his show entitled 'Forgiveness', which is currently running at the Soho Theatre.

And he's even had interest from across the pond, with a Hollywood director planning to attend his show in person after seeing a tape of it.

See Chris McGlade: Forgiveness at the Soho Theatre from 26-29 February. For tickets visit www.sohotheate.com.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump(not shown) board Air Force One before departing from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Feb. 23, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump Says He Wants No Help From Any Country During 2020 Election

Amid questions over Russian interference in the 2020 election and the Democratic primary, President Donald Trump said he has not received any help from Russia and doesnt want any assistance from foreign powers during his reelection bid.

First of all, I want no help from any country, and I havent been given help from any country, Trump told reporters Tuesday.

The White House and Trump over the weekend responded to news reports citing anonymous sources that the Kremlin is again waging a disinformation campaign to get Trump reelected, and later, other reports claimed Russia is also trying to secure Democratic rival Sen. Bernie Sanders election. Those reports were based on a House Intelligence Committee briefing from a Trump administration official earlier this month.

During a news conference in India, Trump said in a press conference that somebody leaked it in intelligence, but nobody ever told me that. Pointing to his national security adviser, Robert OBrien, the president then said that he can tell you that this was never discussed with us.

In several Sunday television interviews, OBrien disputed the new claims that the Russians are interfering in the 2020 election or are helping Trump.

I havent seen any intelligence to support the reports that were leaked out of the House. But its just hard to comment on that because, again, I wasnt there, he told CBS Newss Face the Nation on Sunday morning.

Over the past several days, Trump also has highlighted new reports saying the official who briefed lawmakers might have exaggerated the assessment of Russian interference, including a CNN article, saying the intelligence briefer appears to have overstated assessment of 2020 Russian interference.

They ought to stop the leaking from Intelligence Committee, Trump said in the news conference. And if they dont stop it, I cant imagine that people are not going to go after them and find out whats happening.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks during a campaign rally in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 23, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

But hes also focused on reports suggesting the Democratic establishment is concerned about Sanders candidacy after wins in Nevada and New Hampshire, saying that Democratic officials are working to prevent the self-avowed democratic socialist from becoming their partys nominee.

Legacy news outlets have added Bernie to the list of Russian Sympathizers, along with @TulsiGabbard & Jill Stein (of the Green Party), both agents of Russia, they say, Trump wrote on Twitter, but now they report President Putin wants Bernie (or me) to win.

The president also claimed that House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), a longtime foe, orchestrated a leak to media outlets. It sounds to me like a leak from Adam Schiff because they dont want Bernie Sanders to represent them. It sounds like its [2016] all over again for Bernie Sanders, Trump told reporters on Sunday.

Schiff responded on Twitter by accusing Trump of deflection and again said Trump welcomed Russian help in 2016, tried to coerce Ukraines help in 2019, and wont protect our elections in 2020.

Russias alleged interference triggered a two-year-long investigation headed by then-special counsel Robert Mueller. Last year, he found no conclusive evidence of coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign. As Muellers investigation was proceeding and during the impeachment inquiry months later, Trump said both were part of a Democratic-concocted effort to undermine his presidency.

Sanders, in a statement, said he doesnt support the Kremlins alleged efforts to bolster his campaign.

I dont care, frankly, who [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants to be president, he said. My message to Putin is clear: stay out of American elections, and as president I will make sure that you do.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- County officials are ready to show the public drawings of what a beach might look like at the north end of Onondaga Lake.

The Onondaga County Office of Environment will hold a public meeting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Salina Town Hall, 201 School Road, Liverpool.

Travis Glazier, director of the environment office, said the county will present final results of a feasibility study looking at how many people might use a beach and how much it would cost. He said the county will also give cost estimates and detailed schematics of what a beach site would look like.

The Onondaga County Legislature will have the final say on whether a beach is built. When legislators in 2018 accepted a $330,000 state grant to conduct the feasibility study, they made it clear they werent committing to building a beach yet.

A beach would be another step in the countys revitalization of the shoreline after the lake bottom was cleaned up and the sewage treatment plan upgraded. The county has opened the amphitheater and is adding more segments to the Loop the Lake trail.

Swimming from shore has been banned since 1940, but a massive cleanup of toxic chemicals and sewage over the past two decades has made the lake safe for swimming again, scientists say.

Preliminary results of an online survey, done as part of the bigger study, suggested that tens of thousands of people would swim at an Onondaga Lake beach each summer -- even though most who took the survey said the lake isnt safe for swimming.

The countys consultant combined results from the survey with Onondaga Lake Park attendance data to show that at least 31,800 people would be likely to swim at a beach. Thats comparable to the countys existing beaches at Jamesville Beach Park and Oneida Shores, Glazier said last April.

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Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has defended President Akufo-Addos administrations decision to invest a whopping Gh16 billion into the banking sector clean up.

In a motion to thank President Akufo-Addo for his State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered in Parliament on Thursday, February 20, 2020, Mr. Nkrumah stated that indeed the Gh 16 billion could have done a lot for Ghana.

For instance, he noted that Gh 16 billion could have ended the Double Track system of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, constructed several kilometers of roads and led to the provision of several infrastructure projects.

However, he said, because the government is cognizance about the impact of human lives, it decided to invest the money in the clean up exercise.

According to him, the administration, by so-doing, has saved the deposits of some four million Ghanaians.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, February 25, 2020, while contributing to a debate on the SONA, he said a robust corporate governance system has been put in place and 7,000 jobs saved.

Already, he revealed that Gh 11 billion has been spent on the clean-up exercise and that this week, an additional Gh 5 billion would be disbursed.

He indicated that the investment has succeeded in preventing the contagion effect of the financial crisis, wondering what would have happened if the four million depositors had lost their deposits.

Growth Agenda

Meanwhile, he indicated that the agenda for growth in industry, and services, has now got the best chances of success.

By solving dumsor alone, he said, Government has created the stimulus for industry to grow unlike it was doing in 2016 under the erstwhile Mahamas regime.

---Daily Guide
India and the US on Tuesday finalised defence deals worth USD 3 billion under which 30 military helicopters will be procured from two American defence majors for Indian armed forces.

The announcement on the deals were made by US President Donald Trump after his wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A joint statement said Trump noted that a strong and capable Indian military supports peace, stability, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific and reaffirmed his pledge to support the transfer to India of advanced US military technology.

Talking about convergence of interests between the two countries, Modi said he and Trump have decided to raise the Indo-US ties to the level of a comprehensive global strategic partnership.

Under a USD 2.6 billion deal, India will buy 24 MH-60 Romeo helicopters from Lockheed Martin for the Indian Navy.

Another contract to acquire six AH-64E Apache helicopters for USD 800 million from aerospace giant Boeing has also been sealed.

"We expanded our defence cooperation with agreements for India to purchase more than USD 3 billion of advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo helicopters -- the finest in the world," Trump said in his media statement.

"These deals will enhance our joint defence capabilities as our militaries continue to train and operate side-by-side," the US president said.

On procurement of MH-60R naval and AH-64E Apache helicopters, the joint statement said their capabilities will advance shared security interests.

"As India works to acquire new defence capabilities, President Trump reaffirmed India's status as a Major Defense Partner affording it the highest consideration for procurement and technology transfer purposes," it said.

"The leaders looked forward to early conclusion of defence cooperation enabling agreements including Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement," the joint statement said.

The two leaders also resolved to enhance security of their homelands through cooperation and to jointly fight international crimes like human trafficking, terrorism and violent extremism and crimes in cyberspace.

"They welcomed the decision by the US Department of Homeland Security and India's Ministry of Home Affairs to reinvigorate the Homeland Security Dialogue," the statement said.

"As a demonstration of their shared commitment to combatting the threat that illicit drugs pose to their citizens, they announced their intent to establish a new Counter-Narcotics Working Group between their respective law enforcement agencies," it said.

Defence and security ties between India and the US have been on an upswing in the last six years. The bilateral defence trade touched USD 18 billion mark in 2019, reflecting growing defence cooperation between the two sides.

Both sides have also been pushing for joint venture and collaboration between private sectors of the two countries in defence manufacturing.

In June 2016, the US had designated India a "Major Defence Partner," intending to elevate defence trade and technology sharing with New Delhi to a level commensurate with that of its closest allies and partners.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After cousins killed at Power & Light, families hope someone with info will put killer behind bars KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City police are still searching for whoever is responsible for gunning down two young men in the Power & Light District last August. Austin Quijas and Leo Moreno Jr. were friends and cousins whose lives ended tragically in the early morning hours of Aug. 25, 2019.

Police are still looking for tips and info on this Downtown multiple murder near this town's party district inside the loop. Take a look:
As the Depression deepened, the family moved to a ranch in Wyoming. Dirt poor and struggling, they pawned everything of value. A friend lent the family $300, and against Peggys wishes they returned to Hollywood and put her back to work, now as a teenager in the talkies. From 1932 to 1938, she appeared in eight films as an anonymous extra or in small roles credited to Peggy Montgomery.

She hated it. Fighting for $3 a day in the world of extras  it was dreadful, Ms. Cary told The Wall Street Journal in 2012. And it was also sort of shameful, because the people who were doing the extra work were the former silent stars, many of them that I knew, who were adults, and for them it was a very crushing blow. I thought of it as being a galley slave.

The family resorted to food coupons from the Motion Picture Relief Fund. The Los Angeles School Board finally insisted that the girl attend classes, and she enrolled at Lawlor Professional School, which had flexible schedules for young actors, enabling her to continue working. Fellow students included Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. Later, she went to Fairfax High School in Los Angeles.

After graduating, she eloped in 1938 with her first boyfriend, Gordon Ayres, a movie extra. They were divorced in 1948. She was a switchboard operator and a bookstore clerk, and then managed a gift shop in Santa Barbara. She told no one of her past, and took the name Diana Serra. In 1954, she married Bob Cary, an artist, and took his surname. He died in 2001. Her survivors include their son, Mark and a granddaughter.

The Carys settled in Cuernavaca, Mexico, where he painted and she became a freelance journalist, writing magazine articles. In 1970, they moved to La Jolla, part of San Diego, and she began a new career as a film historian. Her first book, The Hollywood Posse (1975), was a well-received account of stunt riders in film. Her second, Hollywoods Children (1978), recounted the often troubling stories of child actors.

But it was the years of work on her memoir, Whatever Happened to Baby Peggy? The Autobiography of Hollywoods Pioneer Child Star (1996), that proved therapeutic and redemptive. She re-examined her life in silent films, her parents conduct in frittering away her fortune, the studios harsh working conditions and the fates of child stars who, like her, were left impoverished, emotionally scarred and largely forgotten.
Ex-penitentiary service director convicted of embezzlement granted parole

 RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko

10:58 25/02/2020

MOSCOW, February 25 (RAPSI)  The Central District Court of Kaliningrad has released ex-director of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) Alexander Reimer convicted of embezzlement on parole, RAPSI has learnt from the courts press service.

This was not the first petition for parole filed by Reimer. In May, the court dismissed his similar motion.

In June 2017, Reimer was sentenced to 8 years in a penal colony for embezzling funds allocated for procurement of ankle bracelets, fined 800,000 rubles (about $12,000), and stripped of his General rank.

Ex-deputy of FSIN Nikolay Krivolapov and an ex-director of FSINs Information and Technical Support Center Viktor Opredelyonov received 5 years and 8 months and 6 years in prison respectively. Krivolapov was fined 600,000 rubles ($9,000) while Opredelyonov got a 700,000-ruble fine ($11,000).

Lawyers for the defendants asked to repeal or soften the sentences. A lawyer of Reimer said that the Zamoskvorestsky District Court issued a ruling with numerous violations and that it did not study some of the case documents.

On August 22, 2018, the Zamoskvoretsky District Court of Moscow recovered over 2.2 billion rubles ($35 million at the current exchange rate) from Reimer and his accomplices convicted of embezzlement.

In April 2019, the court lifted the seizure of 1.8 million rubles (about $30,000) belonging to Reimer. The convicts funds were ordered to be paid as a compensation for damage caused.

According to investigators, Reimer, Krivolapov and Opredelyonov conspired with businessman Nikolay Martynov. a head of NPF Meta company that was supplying bracelets for prison inmates, to embezzle monetary funds from the Russian state budget.

Between 2010 and 2012, Reimer and his accomplices stole money allocated for the purchase of ankle bracelets for persons placed under house arrest. The procurement was pursued at an enormously overvalued price. Damage allegedly caused to the state budget was estimated at no less than 2.7 billion rubles (over $40 million).

A case against Martynov was reviewed separately as he fully admitted his guilt in large-scale embezzlement. The businessman cooperated with investigators and announced that he is going to compensate the government with delivery of 7,000 new ankle bracelets.
Liam Rainbird , 13, was attempting to cross the road on his scooter when he collided with a ute

A pregnant mother has been left devastated after she learned her 13-year-old son had been killed in tragic accident as she took her other boy to hospital after a fall.

Kellie Simpson from Brisbane was taking her 15-year-old son Bailey Rainbird to hospital when she was given the devastating news that his younger brother Liam had been killed when he was struck by a car on his way home from school.

The pair were involved in accidents just minutes apart on February 21, leaving the family shattered.

Liam was riding his scooter on the way home when he attempted to cross Sinnathamby Boulevard in Ipswich about 3.25pm and collided with a ute, police said. He died shortly after.

Bailey suffered a fall and spent two nights in hospital and has been left with swelling, bruising and pain to his face.

Ms Simpson changed her Facebook profile picture on Sunday to a photo with her partner and Liam, writing that she hoped he would 'walk back through that door'.

'Our hearts are just so shattered. We love you so very much,' she captioned the photo.

Her sister Danni launched a GoFundMe page to help ease the cost of the funeral. It has since raised $14,023 of the $20,000 goal.

'Liam we are at a loss for words to describe the heartache we feel knowing you were taken from our family too soon. You were the sweetest, most loving child who brought us happiness since the day you were born,' the family wrote.

Mum Kellie Simpson (far left) and step-dad Jamie Harrison (centre) pictured with their children Bailey (far left) and Liam (middle)

A GoFundMe page was created to help ease the cost of the funeral. It has since raised $14,023 of the $20,000 goal

Liam was riding his scooter on the way home when he attempted to cross Sinnathamby Boulevard in Ipswich about 3.25pm and collided with a ute, police said (pictured)

The family is still waiting on information to set a date for the funeral and have thanked everyone involved with their support.

'Two months out of Kellie giving birth has left her financially unstable,' Kellie wrote.

'Every dollar if you can assist, will go a long way to giving our boy the day he deserves.

'On behalf of Kellie Simpson and Jamie Harrison we would like to thank our community of friends and family for all their love, support and donations.

'The kindness from loved ones and strangers have been overwhelming and helping to get through this tragedy.'

Bailey (right) and Liam (left) suffered incidents within minutes of each other on February 21
Burma Angry Exchange Between Military MP, Speaker Mars First Day of Myanmar Charter Debate

Military appointed lawmakers attend the Union Parliament session on Feb. 25, 2020 in Naypyitaw. / Thiha Lwin / The Irrawaddy

YANGONThe Speaker of the Union Parliament on Tuesday warned Myanmar military-appointed lawmaker Major General Tin Swe Win not to misbehave after the officer started shouting on the floor of Parliament while lodging a complaint against a committee scrutinizing the militarys constitutional amendment proposals.

Military lawmakers began protesting against the committees work as soon as the Speaker announced the beginning of the debate on the charter amendment bills on Tuesday.

Early this month, the Parliaments Joint Bill Committee scrutinized and combined five constitutional amendment bills submitted by the military and its proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) with two bills submitted by the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) and the ethnic parties. It then sent them back to Parliament for discussion.

Brigadier General Aung San Chit stood up first and complained that copies of the combined proposed constitutional amendments distributed to lawmakers were missing one of his proposals. Brig-Gen Aung San Chit submitted an amendment bill in September 2019 that would see state and regional chief ministers specify the number of ministries and appoint the ministers in state and regional governments, rather than the Union President.

As the bill committees secretary, NLD lawmaker Dr. Myat Nyana Soe, was addressing the Speaker, Maj-Gen Tin Swe Win stood up. The proposal was removed. Look, it is not here any more! he yelled, without waiting for the Speakers permission to make a further complaint. The usual procedure is for MPs to stand and seek permission from the Speaker to raise an objection or add to a statement. But repeated interjections following one statement are not usually allowed.

This is the Union Parliament. Act and speak with the dignity that befits members of Parliament. If emotions are not contained, it will affect the relationship [between lawmakers]. So, dont act in such manner and behave so aggressively. I want to remind everyone, Speaker U T Khun Myat said.

But as the Speaker was reading a copy of the combined amendment bills to check the claim, another attempt was made from within the military lawmakers bloc to lodge a complaint.

Stop that. I am talking now, he responded, and barred the move. The Speaker then announced that one of the proposed amendments of Brig-Gen Aung San Chit had been accidently excluded from the copies and said it would be added and the copies redistributed to Parliament at a later date.

On several occasions in the past the Speaker has had to warn military-appointed lawmakers to act ethically and avoid abusive comments when discussing proposed charter amendments.

In November 2019, the Speaker rebuked four military-appointed lawmakers for remarks deemed insulting to Parliament, saying they could lead to a misunderstanding about the functions of the legislature. A few elected lawmakers were also rebuked over comments deemed abusive during debates over charter change in recent months.

Since the ruling NLD launched its efforts to amend the undemocratic Constitution in late January last year, the Parliament has seen no shortage of clashes between military lawmakers and their USDP allies on one side, and NLD lawmakers and other MPs who are supportive of its push for constitutional reform on the other.

Despite the resistance from the military and USDP, the NLD submitted 114 proposed amendments to the charter, including some that would reduce the proportion of parliamentary seats allocated to the military and remove the militarys effective veto over proposed constitutional changes.

Lawmakers are scheduled to discuss the constitutional amendment proposals from Feb. 25 to March 5. A total of 149 lawmakers50 each from the military and the NLD, and 49 from ethnic partiesare allowed to take part in the debate.

On Tuesday, 15 lawmakers discussed the proposals.

Proposed amendments to the Constitution cannot pass without military support, as the Constitution requires they be approved by more than 75 percent of lawmakers, 25 percent of whom are appointed by the military.

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Sir John Redwood is MP for Wokingham, and is a former Secretary of State for Wales. His most recent book is We Dont believe you: Why Populists reject the Establishment.

This budget is more than usually important. It is the first budget for the period after we have left the EU. It is an opportunity to show how we can use the new found freedoms after departure, and spend the additional money we will save by ending our budget contributions to Brussels. It takes place against a gloomy world background, with Chinas virus hitting the output and trade of the worlds second largest economy, whilst the EU has slowed almost to a halt with a big decline in manufacturing.

I remember publishing a draft indicative budget for the first year after our exit from the EU for the Vote Leave campaign in 2016. That budget assumed we would end all budget contributions two years after the referendum. It proposed a mixture of spending increases and tax cuts to spend the 10 billion a year (now higher) we would be saving by ending our net contributions. On the tax cutting side I favoured removing VAT from green products, from home heating bills, from carry cots, from child seats, and from female hygiene products. It is important we do use our freedom to remove VAT from items we would not choose to tax, as a visible sign of how leaving the EU can make things better. I also proposed a Council Tax reduction and a Stamp Duty reduction. On the spending side I set out priorities to boost spending on the NHS, social care and transport. It included 10,000 more doctors, 60,000 more nurses, cuts in hospital car parking charges, more for social care and local roads, and extra for disability and cancer treatments. These were presented as an early budget submission to the Government in the event of a Leave vote.

The spending proposals have been subsumed by more generous ones in recent government actions. The budget should confirm the promised substantial increase in spending on the NHS to allow more staff and new treatments, allowing necessary recruitment of additional nurses and doctors to cope with increased demand. It will pay for the increase in per pupil funding at state schools, and the step change in investment in rail and road infrastructure already announced. There are various other good causes that would like additional money. There also needs to be proper scrutiny of current spending. There are old programmes that can be discontinued, and new ways of raising productivity and quality to cut the costs of some existing services. There are activities and assets that can be transferred to the private sector through for example the sale of surplus land from the MOD and Network Rail, and the sale of homes from social provision to tenants who would like to own their own property. The NHS of course will not be privatised.

The big issue in the budget that is yet to be resolved with public decisions is how much tax should the government collect and how should it raise it? The new Chancellor could have another go at explaining the significance of the Laffer Curve to the Treasury. George Osborne signed the Treasury up to the important notion that if you set a tax rate too high you will collect less revenue. The Treasury then assumed very high rates of tax before the negative Laffer effect hit the revenues collected. In practice, taxes like Capital Gains, Stamp Duty Land Tax and higher rate Income Tax can suffer falling revenues at lower rates.

Capital Gains is only payable if someone sells an asset. Many people do not trade down or up in the property market as they would like to because the Stamp Duties on dearer properties and second properties are now so high, seeing 28 per cent as too much when they need to switch homes subject to tax. Many self-employed people or people working for companies they control do not pay themselves larger salaries if Income Tax is too high, or they choose to work less or to earn more outside the country than in the UK under different legal tax arrangements. Some simply emigrate, taking their investment with them. Every time Conservative governments have cut the top rate of Income Tax, the take has gone up, and better off people have paid a bigger proportion of the total as a result.

We need to raise more money from the better off to pay for our public services. The way to do that is set tax rates that rich people will stay to pay. The top rate of Income Tax was cut from 50 per cent to 45 per cent and raised more money. A further cut to 40 per cent should also raise more. Taking Stamp Duty rates back to somewhere nearer the levels of 2015 before the big increases would probably raise more money from dearer properties as transactions would expand again. Taking CGT down from the current two tier 28/20 per cent structure would probably increase CGT revenue. In each case the Chancellor could say he would adjust the rate up if by any chance there was a shortfall and he had misjudged the right inflection point on the Laffer Curve of where you start to lose revenue from higher rates.

None of these tax cuts cost overall revenue. The budget also needs to give some money back to all taxpayers by reducing bills for everyone in ways that do cost revenue, at least in the short term. The UK is quite highly taxed. It needs to be more worthwhile to work, with less money taken out of pay packets in stoppages. This can be done by cutting National Insurance, as the Government has promised. It could also be augmented by a cut in the standard rate of Income Tax. Any tax cut helps reduce the employment trap created by benefit withdrawal as people find jobs from unemployment. The marginal rate of tax and benefit withdrawal is too high in some cases. The Government should also look again at its IR35 decision which is leading to losses of contracts and of whole businesses amongst some smaller contractors.

We hear the Government is working on the fiscal framework. State debt in the UK, adjusted for all the debt the state has bought in and owes itself, is not too high. Borrowing a bit more today at very low rates of interest to undertake the Prime Ministers infrastructure revolution is fine. Spending a bit more on crucial public services is desirable and affordable. There are still areas of spending to make more efficient or to discontinue. The Government should aim for a decent sized fiscal injection given the sharp slowdown in the world economy and the need to promote growth and prosperity at home. The rest of the world is embarked on policies to offset the industrial decline and the Chinese slowdown. We need tax cuts for all. The UK has to show it is open for business and a place where investment is worthwhile and success is rewarded. Above all, to keep the success of job creation advancing it needs to be more worthwhile to work.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : With the 2019-20 fiscal coming to an end soon, the Budget proposal to consider raising the public float in listed companies to 35 per cent may see some action in the next financial year, officials said on Tuesday.

It needs examination of impacts and trends, and also seek stakeholders' views that takes time, they said, adding that there could be action on this front in the next fiscal.

Market regulator SEBI has to submit a report to the Finance Ministry on the current Budget proposal to consider raising the current threshold of 25 per cent to 35 per cent.

"SEBI has been asked to examine the implications of increased current threshold on the financial market, undertake public consultation and submit a report to the government," a Finance Ministry status paper on current Budget proposals said.

The 2019-20 Budget had said that it was the right time to consider increasing the minimum public shareholding in listed companies. SEBI was asked to consider raising the threshold to 35 per cent, considering the fact that on an average the public shareholding is around 50 per cent.

SEBI will also have to study the global trends on the issue.

SEBI Chairman Ajay Tyagi last year said that around 45 per cent of the listed PSUs have not even met the 25 per cent requirement, and they have been given time till August 2020 to achieve it.

He was of the view that the short- and long-term implications, how much amount will come into the market etc need to be considered.

SEBI has so far not issued any consultation paper in this regard.

Analysts said any proposal to increase minimum public shareholding to 35 per cent is a potential negative for MNCs and companies with high promoter holding.

BSE data shows there are over 1,400 listed companies with promoters' stake of 65 per cent.

On the other hand, there are 40 PSUs with public holding lower than 35 per cent. Of these, 28 still need to pare down promoter stake to meet earlier guidelines.

Last year, the government extended the timeline for PSUs to maintain the minimum shareholding norm of 25 per cent to August 2020. They were earlier allowed to have a minimum public holding of 10 per cent.

SEBI had in 2013 set a deadline for all listed companies to adhere to the minimum shareholding norms. It was later decided that the PSUs should also maintain a minimum public shareholding of 25 per cent in line with private companies.
A liquor shop in Chand Bagh was allegedly looted by a mob which used the bottles during the violence in the area in northeast Delhi, according to the shop manager who said he had called the police twice through the emergency number.

"On Monday evening, a mob barged into the shop and started vandalising it. Wine and beer worth around Rs 75-80 lakh stolen," said Raj Kumar, the manager of the liquor shop. "We tried to stop them, but they were in large number and we could not do much."



"They also damaged two scanner system, one LED TV, CCTV system, all electric items, two fridge. I informed the police and registered complaint twice on the PCR number at 5.12 pm and at 9.00 pm. I have filed a case and waiting police to take appropriate actions," he said.

Smoke billowed in the air and mobs roamed unchecked through the streets, burning shops, pelting stones and threatening locals, as fresh violence tore through northeast Delhi, killing six more people on Tuesday and taking the toll in the communal clashes over the amended citizenship law to 13.

A total of 130 civilians have been injured and admitted to the different hospitals.

On Tuesday evening, one Ashwni Rana came to senior police officer when they were marching in the Khajoori Khas and Chand Bagh area, and asked for the help for his family.

"For the past two hours, my family was stuck inside our house in Bhajanpura area. Police are not allowing us go inside and I am worried for my family. They are seeking help and we want them to rescue from the area. Police are doing nothing and, if they do not want to take action, tell us, we will do something," Rana said.

Several shops, including of a battery, restaurants and a bakery, were set on fire. One car showroom was also gutted in the Chand Bagh area.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Gov. Phil Murphy will announce Tuesday plans to cut the cost of public employees health care in New Jersey by $174 million, calling it a significant achievement in the face of national trends.

In an excerpt from his state budget address provided by the governors office, the Democrat will say he is aggressively going after the cost of health care, one of states largest and fastest-growing expenses, with plans to discourage public workers from using more expensive out-of-network providers and to eliminate a health care reserve fund.

The largest portion  $100 million  would be saved by seizing on modest reforms pushed by the powerful New Jersey Education Association teachers union and embraced by Murphy and the leader of the Assembly that would lower employer costs and employee premiums.

In Fiscal Year 2021, we aim to reduce budgeted amounts for state-paid health-care benefits by another $174 million, Murphy will say in his budget address. This will be a significant achievement in the face of national trends, and the first time in memory that we have year-over-year-over-year reductions in the overall cost of health care.

The projected savings builds on a $300 million reduction in the cost of employee health care Murphy will announce the state has saved this year. He will also say school employee premiums are down 4.5 percent, and state health plan premiums are down 4.3 percent.

The governor has used these efforts to extol the virtue of collaborating with the states public-sector unions to lower the cost of health care and contrast them against proposals from state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, who would force big cuts to their health care plans through a law.

For example, Sweeney, D-Gloucester, has proposed moving workers from health care plans designated platinum under the Affordable Care Act  a rating that reflects that the plan pays more than 90 percent of the cost of health care  to plans that pay no more than 80 percent of the coverage.

The Senate president says this overhaul would save the state $700 million a year, with another $1.4 billion in savings to school districts in municipalities.

That would do away with a health care plan popular with New Jersey teachers.

But Murphy opposed Sweeneys proposals, echoing educators call for relief from rising premiums.

Ive said it before, our public workers are not the enemy, Murphy will say in his address. They are our neighbors. They are the women and men who make our communities, our schools, and our state function. And, they, too, are property taxpayers  and when we can work together in partnership to ensure high quality health care for them at a lesser cost to us all, its the best kind of win-win.

Instead, the NJEA-backed proposal Murphy will bake into his budget gives public workers enrolled in the School Employees Health Benefits Plan a break from a state law requiring that public employees pay anywhere from 3 percent to 35 percent of their health insurance premiums, depending on their salary and plan.

That bill, proposed last year by state Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, would instead allow employees to pay a percentage of their salary, reducing their costs to between 2 percent and 8 percent of pay.

Some eight in 10 teachers enrolled in the School Employees Health Benefits Plan are in NJ Direct 10, a plan with $10 copays, no in-network deductibles and a $1,000 out-of-pocket maximum for families. A Direct 10 family plan costs $37,905.

This proposal would change the plan to reduce the cost by 15 percent to about $32,219. A second, lower-cost plan would cost 25 percent less than the NJ Direct 10 plan and the total premium for the lowest-cost plan would be 31 percent less than the existing Direct 10 plan.

The states cost of providing health care to early school retirees would be cut by about $100 million a year, while school districts collectively would save $200 million.

Sweeney, who as leader of the Senate has the power to block that bill, said in September there was zero chance of it going anywhere.

The balance of the $174 million in savings Murphy is booking in his proposed budget come from a planned crackdown on costly out-of-network providers ($63 million) and the elimination of an $11 million reserve fund for health care expenses that the administration deemed unnecessary

According to the governors office, the state will be requiring out-of-network providers show proof theyre collecting 20-percent co-payments from government employees. Providers have in some cases, the administration said, waived those co-payments that would otherwise act as a disincentive for workers to use out-of-network providers.

Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter@samanthamarcus. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

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As part of the International Panorama at Series Mania, the occult Korean drama will be screened. The Series Mania festival is an upcoming international TV festival in Europe. This Korean thriller drama is penned by Yeon Sang-ho, the person who also directed the hit zombie film Train to Busan.

'The Cursed' story centers around a girl who by cursing the person can cause their death. She has the power to curse someone with death by using the characters of their name, a picture and, personal belonging.

One day she meets a principled journalist looking into a mysterious tech conglomerate called Forest. The company's head is the evil-minded CEO who believes heavily in shamanism.

After some time the girl who has supernatural abilities and the reporter must work together to bring down the evil spirit.

Yeon Sang-ho the screenwriter and also the director of the drama is recognized for his dark and sometimes controversial themes. His works are usually stories of murder, rage, and the undead. For quite some time, Yeon Sang-ho has penned and directed many stories that show the most pessimistic feature of mankind, but for a shockingly positive reason.

Yeon Sang-ho explained that he thinks all humans have an inevitable demonish facet in their minds. He added that if they talk about this in a story, they can visualize the dark side and this was a very appealing opportunity for him. And for him, 'humanism' glows when we talk about the dark human universe even though his story is brutal and cruel he wants to point out the 'humanism' that glows in that darkness.

As claimed by the artistic director of Series Mania, Frederic the drama is what we call on the edge-of-your-seat mystery thriller that is attached in the present-day reality of a world governed by suspicious tech companies at the same time keeping in existence the tradition of stylish, supernatural Korean dramas.

The formerly "Pieta" star, Jo Min-soo portrays the character of a shaman that is full of mystery in "The Cursed". Actress Jung Ji-soo who was a cast in the award-winning film "Parasite" as the Park daughter portray as the young girl with the supernatural ability in this drama.

Uhm Ji-won is the character of Reporter Im Jin-hee. Meanwhile, Sung Dong-il will play as the CEO in the drama. Yeon characterized "The Cursed" as a combination of occult features added with mystery, thriller and hero stories.

"The Cursed" started its showing in South Korea on tvN network last Feb. 10 and is also continuously being streamed in the U.S. The producers of this drama are CJ ENM's drama production house Studio Dragon and Lezhin Studios. The director is Kim Yong-wan, who directed "Champion".

The Series Mania will be held from March 20 to 28. This festival started in the year 2010 for the purpose to show the world's best TV series on the big screen and since then became an international attraction for TV fans and professionals.
By Mike Whitney

February 24, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - The Trump administrations appalling treatment of Huawei shows that the United States will risk anything, even a nuclear conflagration with China, to maintain its tenuous grip on global power.

Huawei is Chinas behemoth technology company that has recently come under fire by the Trump administration for violating sanctions against Iran and for providing network equipment that (allegedly) poses security risks for its customers. Both charges are baseless, but theyre being used as the pretext for launching a full-blown war on Chinas telecom-equipment giant.

Huaweis troubles stem from the fact that the company has taken the lead in fifth generation wireless technology (5-G) and left the US behind eating their dust. The situation creates an insurmountable problem for the US which wants to preserve its role as global superpower into the next century. That dream will not be realized if China dominates communications technology and continues to be the industry leader in next-generation mobile infrastructure. Thats why Trump has taken off the gloves and is preparing to do whatever it takes to sabotage Huawei and prevent its cutting edge infrastructure technology from being installed around the world.

Its worth noting that the administration has abandoned any pretense that it is seeking a market-based solution for dealing with Huawei. Uncle Sam is not looking for ways to beat the Chinese colossus fair and square. If that was the case, the Trump team would provide a funding stream that would generate the innovations that would help US companies become more competitive in the future. So far, that hasnt happened. Instead, Trump has taken the low road and imposed unilateral sanctions on Huawei for trading with Iran. The US is also aggressively harassing Huaweis customers and threatening them with stiff penalties if they integrate the Chinese companys products into their own systems. Lastly, Washington is warning of military action if China does not comply with US diktats and accept its role as the worlds biggest producer of cheap goods for grossly-indebted American consumers. The US wants China to ignore its historic destiny and meekly become a cog in Washingtons geriatric rules-based order. But China has no intention of becoming Washingtons lackey. Chinas leaders are determined to defend the countrys sovereignty, implement its own economic model, and seize the opportunity to become the worlds biggest and most prosperous economic powerhouse.

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According to author Thomas Hon Wing Polin: (Huawei) is far ahead of everyone else in the development of 5G. Any nation that doesnt want to be left behind rolling out the game-changing, next-generation communications technology has little choice but to do business with Huawei. (Empire Unravelling: Will Huawei Become Washingtons Suez? Counterpunch)

Most of the experts in the field agree with Polin. Regardless of how much money and brainpower the US throws at 5-G, China will remain leaps and bounds ahead. This is from an article at CNBC:

In an interview with CNBC, Paul Scanlan, chief technology officer of Huaweis networking business, explained that the technical standards and actual implementation of 5G have taken about 10 years to create. So the U.S. will do what the U.S. does  thats a very very long game and that has its own sort of complexity built into (it) and Huawei has been addressing and looking at those things ourselves, Scanlan said. When asked if the U.S. could create a new alternative to Huawei quickly, Scanlan said: It would be a challenge. (CNBC)

What this means is that Huawei is likely to dominate the 5-G space for the foreseeable future which is why the administration has been spreading malicious rumors that Huawei cant be trusted because its infrastructure equipment may enable surveillance by the Chinese government. Aside from the fact that the US has been vacuuming up virtually all the electronic communications of its allies for years, theres no proof to back up similar claims against Huawei. Besides China isnt interested in espionage, they have bigger fish to fry. They want to rebuild the world using the markets and the existing system to expand their reach and increase their power-base. They want to use state of the art technology and high-speed rail to connect the four corners of the earth putting Beijing at the center of the worlds biggest free trade zone. They want to be a force to be reckoned with, a bustling behemoth whose infrastructure and influence stretches across continents and whose interests must be considered when shaping the global agenda. Chinas aspirations even exceed its gigantic global development strategy, the Belt and Road Initiative, which is the largest infrastructure and investment project in history, covering more than 70 countries, including 65% of the worlds population and 40% of the global GDP. Regrettably, the US now sees China as its mortal enemy and is determined to undermine their business relations, stifle their economic integration program, and rein terror down on Huawei for creating better products and playing by the rules. Heres how author Diana Johnstone summed it up in a recent article. She said:

As long as Western dominance was ensured, international trade was celebrated as the necessary basis for a peaceful world. But the moment a non-Western trader is doing too well, its exports are ominously denounced as means to exert malign influence over its customers. (The West displays its Insecurity Complex, Diana Johnstone, Consortium News)

How true. Washington is a tireless cheerleader for the free market until American companies fall behind their foreign competitors. Then all the gushing praise for the market is shoved overboard while Uncle Sam goes on the warpath. That same rule applies here in spades. Trump even admitted as much in a statement he delivered in the Oval Office a few months ago. He said: We cannot allow any other country to out compete the United States in this powerful industry of the future.

Out compete? In other words, competition should only be permitted when it coincides with the political objectives of the state?? This is the worst type of hypocrisy and yet, sadly, it has become the guiding doctrine for the USGs war on China.

Sec-Def Mark Esper Goes Ballistic

The 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, which was signed into law in December 2019, announced a dramatic shift in the Defense Departments focus, from the war on terror to a great power competition between the US and its main rivals Russia and China. The NDAA also proposes banning government agencies from using Huaweis products. That ban is now in place.

Underscoring these developments, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper gave the most flagrantly belligerent speech in recent memory at the Munich Security Conference last weekend. His presentation was aimed at China leaving no doubt that the US has abandoned its earlier approach of peaceful negotiations with a valued ally. The new strategy replaces diplomacy with coercion, and dialogue with brute force. Esper and his chums in the foreign policy establishment are planning another maximum pressure campaign that will increase the threats and provocations, including (very likely) the use of military force aimed at isolating Huawei and quashing Chinas inexorable rise. Heres a short excerpt from Espers incendiary presentation:

Id like to speak to you today about the number one priority of the United States Department of Defense: implementing the National Defense Strategy. The NDS states that we are now in an era of Great Power Competition, with our principal challengers being China, then Russia, and that we must move away from low intensity conflict and prepare once again for high-intensity warfare.  the Chinese Communist Party is heading even faster and further in the wrong directionThe PRCs growing economic, military, and diplomatic power often manifests itself in ways that are threatening, coercive, and counter to the rules-based international order.  the PRC seeks to undermine and subvert this system, the same one that allowed them to rise and become what they are today..Party leadership continues its rampant technology theft, while resolving to eventually end its reliance on foreign innovation altogether, independently develop its own systems, and then dominate critical sectors and markets. Huawei and 5G are todays poster child for this nefarious activity. History has proven time and again, though, that authoritarianism breeds corruption, promotes conformity, smothers free thinking, and suppresses freedom.But Beijings bad behavior will only take them so far.The Chinese government needs to change its policies and behaviors. (or else) (Sec-Def Mark Espers remarks at Munich Security Conference)

This is an important speech that accurately reflects current US policy towards China, so lets summarize:

China is a thief (Party leadership continues its rampant technology theft) Huawei and 5G are todays poster child for.. nefarious activity China is a corrupt, authoritarian government that hates freedom. (History has proven time and again, though, that authoritarianism breeds corruption, promotes conformity, smothers free thinking, and suppresses freedom.) China is a threat to the western rules-based system. (The PCR seeks to undermine and subvert this system.) China is heading in the wrong direction. The Pentagons number one priority is to move away from low intensity conflict and prepare once again for high-intensity warfare. The United States is preparing for a war with China (The Chinese government needs to change its policies and behaviors or else.)

These seven talking points show that Washington has entered a new phase in its perilous face-off with China. The US foreign policy establishment could calmly accept the emergence of other centers of power and ease the transition to a multipolar world or they can use all the tools at their disposal to stave off the rising tide and, perhaps, preserve the existing order for a decade-or-so longer. But the latter option is fraught with risk and could involve an unforeseen incitement that leads to a nuclear confrontation. In any event, judging by Espers speech, the decision has already been made and, once again, Washington has chosen war over peace.

Check out this 2 minute video with Secretary of Defense Mark Esper who levels the same accusations against China that he did in Munich.

Check out this 9 minute video from the conservative Economist magazine. The author draws the same conclusion that we have here, that the administrations feigned concern over spying is a fraud used to conceal the real motive which is, the desire to slow Chinas explosive growth to preserve US dominant role in the world for as long as possible. (The Economist)

Mike lives in Washington state. He can be reached at fergiewhitney@msn.com.

This article was published by " UNZ "
The United States and the Taliban stand on the verge of signing a historic deal that would see the Pentagon pull thousands of troops from Afghanistan.

Here are some details about the accord and its implications for the war-wracked nation:



- Have the two sides agreed to a ceasefire? - Not quite, but the Taliban, US and Afghan forces have committed to a partial, week-long truce.

This is more significant than it sounds because it is only the second such lull in fighting since the US-led invasion of 2001.

If it holds, Washington and the insurgents are expected to sign a deal in Doha on Saturday that would see thousands of US troops leave Afghanistan after more than 18 years, in return for various security commitments from the Taliban.

of the truce has sparked joy across Afghanistan, with civilians pouring onto the streets to dance and celebrate the possible end of a conflict that has cost tens of thousands of lives.

But isolated attacks have continued, underscoring the difficulty of securing a permanent respite from bloodshed.

And details of what exactly the truce means are vague. While the US has said the agreement provides a "significant and nationwide reduction in violence", Afghan forces have vowed to remain "on active defence status" during the week.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has meanwhile insisted the pause does not amount to "a ceasefire", and said it only covers certain urban and military areas, seemingly leaving open the prospect of violence in remote rural areas.

Fears that competing sides could exploit a lull to secure territorial advantage -- dashing any hopes for peace -- have also surfaced in the run-up to Saturday's meeting.

If the truce is successful, Washington will sign an accord with the Taliban.

Under the terms of the deal, Washington is initially expected to reduce troop levels to around 8,600 -- down from the current level of 12,000-13,000.

The remaining forces would stay behind on a "conditions-based" timeline to monitor the overall security situation and fight jihadists such as the Islamic State group.

Under their side of the deal, the Taliban have pledged to prevent Afghanistan from being used as a jihadi safe haven where groups can plan attacks on foreign soil.

Critics -- including President Donald Trump's close advisor Senator Lindsey Graham -- have voiced deep scepticism that the Taliban can be trusted to act against terror groups.

Nonetheless, if all goes well, the US troop presence could ultimately go down to zero -- though few observers expect that to happen any time soon.

The US and the Taliban have been tantalisingly close to a deal before, only to see Trump nix it at the eleventh hour.

- What happens next? -



The key to a lasting peace depends largely on the outcome of talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government, rather than between the insurgents and Washington. Any such "intra-Afghan" agreement is expected to take years, analysts say.

Infighting between key political figures may also scupper chances of an agreement.

With President Ashraf Ghani and rival Abdullah Abdullah at loggerheads over contested election results, few expect the pair to bury the hatchet and present a united front.

"It remains difficult to see President Ghani presenting a delegation that would be accepted by all strata of Afghan society, particularly the political opposition," policy analyst Mariam Safi told AFP.

Further bickering would likely weaken Kabul's position and allow the insurgents to take the upper hand in negotiations, with grim implications for Afghanistan's nascent democracy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The woman said Corniel told her his brother would kill her if anything happened to him, and she responded by striking him and telling him to watch his mouth, police said. She alleged that he continued to hit her and she picked up her gun, which was reportedly on the bed, and shot him, police said. According to police reports, the woman said that, as Corniel began leaving the apartment, she told him, You will regret putting your hands on me. This is the last time you put your hands on me."
Melania Trump looked elegant in a loosely-fitted bubblegum pink gown as she arrived for the state banquet on Tuesday night at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania were received by President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife Savita Kovind.

Melania opted for a gown with a knee-high slit for the occasion. The bow detail on her dress which hung loosely, appeared like a tribute to the 'dupatta'.

To go along with her subtle style, she opted for a middle-parted bun and light make-up. She completed the look with lovely traditional Indian jhumkas.

President Trump, on the other hand, looked all dapper in a navy blue suit paired with a striped tie.

Several Indian dignitaries including Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Ministers of several states, music maestro AR Rahman, chef Vikas Khanna, among others were present at the banquet hosted by the Indian President.

Earlier in the day, Trump was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He along with Melania also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The former spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, will appeal his conviction and sentencing handed by the Federal High Court in Abuja Tuesday, his lawyer said.

Mr Metuh was convicted for corruption and sentenced to seven years in jail for illicitly receiving N400 million public funds. Prosecutors charged him with money laundering.

The anti-graft agency, EFCC, had accused Mr Metuh 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.

In his judgement, the judge also convicted Mr Metuh for transacting with the cash sum of $2 million without going through a financial institution.

He sentenced Mr Metuh to seven years imprisonment for counts 1, 2, 4 and 7, five years imprisonment in respect of count 3, and three years in respect of counts 5 and 6.

He, however, said the terms shall run concurrently.

Justice Abang also directed Mr Metuh to pay a fine of N375 million to the Federal Government. He also ordered Destra Investments to pay N25m to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The judge also ordered that the accounts of Destra(second defendant) in Diamond Bank and Asset Resource Management to be closed and their proceeds forfeited to the Federal Government.

He also ordered the winding up of Mr Metuhs company, Destra.

Lawyers reaction

Reacting to the judgement, Mr Metuhs lawyer, Abel Ozioko, said, For me, this is a good example of bad judgement.

We have our appeal in our hands, Mr Ozioko added.

Mr Metuhs lawyer further said he still jas confidence in the law court and We are heading upstairs to the three wise men to know whether he is right or wrong.

On his part, the lawyer to the second defendant(Metuhs company) Tochukwu Onwugbufor, said they were disappointed in the judgement.

Mr Onwugbufor said, why they are disappointed is because they thought their defence tool would be utilised in the course of the judgment.

We thought our defence tool would be useful during the judgement but incidentally the consideration was vested in the evidence of the prosecution, he said.

According to the senior lawyer, The judge relied on many evidence of the prosecution to convict the accused, without reference to the evidence of the accused person.

And we think on that basis, the judgement is unacceptable to us and we intend to go for appeal, Mr Onwugbufor said.
Anti-corruption prosecutors in the autonomous Spanish region of Catalonia are investigating a money-laundering case with possible links to Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, Business News Europe reported on February 23, citing a newspaper in Barcelona.



Borisov denies owning property in Spain.



According to a front-page article first published by El Periodico on February 21, police are investigating the origin of 5 million euros ($5.4 million) that former Bulgarian model Borislava Yovcheva, her father, and two companies received from people living outside of Spain since 2013.



The article cited police records it purportedly has seen alleging that the money of suspicious origin "might be related to undeclared funds of high-ranking officials in the Bulgarian government."



Catalonian police on February 21 confirmed to RFE/RL that they were conducting an investigation but declined to give details, including whether the Bulgarian prime minister was implicated.



"We don't provide information on pending investigations," the police press service said.



In 2015, a leaked conversation between two judges and an unknown third individual included the allegation that Borisov had bought property worth 1.5 million euros ($1.6 million) for a girlfriend in Barcelona.



Bulgarian investigative news outlet Bivol.bg several years ago published a report saying that Borisov had bought Yovcheva a villa in Spain, allegations that he has repeatedly denied.



Speaking to journalists on February 21 at the European Council in Brussels, Borisov denied having ever bought property in Spain.



"I'll say it for the hundredth time -- I don't have a house there, I don't have any property there; the last time I was in Barcelona I was there as a mayor of Sofia 15 years ago," he said.



Borisov then hinted that Russia was behind the recent allegations and accused Bulgarian President Rumen Radev of possibly being involved in smearing him.



"Let them do their investigation but I'm pretty sure this all comes from the East and I'll bet a few [Russian] rubles on that," he told broadcaster Dnevnik.



Borisov then promised to make an official statement once the Spanish investigation is completed or closed.



This is the third time Borisov is prime minister and he has faced accusations at home of not doing enough to eradicate corruption in one of the European Union's poorest countries.



He has replaced nine ministers so far amid various scandals involving graft.

His two previous stints as prime minister ended in resignation.

With reporting by BNE-Intellinews, Balkan Insight, A Coruna, El Periodico, and Dnevnik
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive at the public walkabout at the Rotorua Government Gardens on October 31, 2018 in Rotorua, New Zealand

A Labour MP has said it is a "reasonable question" to ask whether UK taxpayers should foot the bill for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's security when they move to Canada.

In January, Harry and Meghan announced they wanted to step back from full-time royal duties and split their time between the UK and Canada while pursuing financial independence.

The move has raised questions over the costs of the couple's security during their time in North America.

Read More

Labour MP Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South and Penarth) said it was "deeply concerning" that UK taxpayers may have to pay for this at a time when police budgets are stretched.

During a Commons debate on police funding, he said: "I wouldn't normally bring up this sort of thing, but it has concerned me.

"And I'm fully respectful of their right to choose a different path themselves, but the royal couple, Harry and Meghan, I understand there are some quite serious concerns being raised about the spiralling costs of policing and protection for them which could be apparently spiralling into tens to hundreds of millions of pounds.

"I find that deeply concerning because when we're looking at some of the challenges faced in our own communities, people will rightly ask 'where's the money for our police officers? Should we be funding that security overseas?'

"And I think that's a very reasonable question to be asking."

Armed security is provided by the Metropolitan Police at the request of the Home Office.

Video of the Day

The Government does not comment on security arrangements or the related costs for royals or their residences as such information "could compromise the integrity of these arrangements and affect the security of the individuals protected".

Following the Sussexes' announcement in January, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said no decisions had yet been taken about who will fund protection for the couple as they split their time between the UK and Canada.

In an interview with Canadian television channel Global, Mr Trudeau said: "I think that is part of the reflection that... needs to be had, and there are discussions going on."
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Flagging the high duties, US President Donald Trump here on Tuesday said India imposed the highest tariffs on US products and cited the case of Harley-Davidson bike.

"We are being charged a large amount of tariffs. I think you have to pay the highest tariff when you deal with India. Harley-Davidson has to pay tremendous tariffs when they send motorcycles here. When India sends to us, there is virtually no tariff. For the most part, there are absolutely no tariff. I just said that's unfair and we are working it out," the US President said at the solo press conference at the fag end of his two-day India visit.

"India is probably the highest tariff nation in the world. We have to stop that. I think we are understanding each other," Trump said.

India levies 50 per cent duty on some Harley-Davidson bikes and it has been a major pain point for the US. Trump has been seeking lowering of tax on them in India. In June 2019, Trump had said 50 per cent import tariff on Harley-Davidson was unacceptable and India must remove that.

Though there were announcements from both sides to seal a larger trade deal at a future date, the USA has been asking India to lower tariffs on many products, including almonds, chickpeas and bikes. It also wants greater access to India's dairy and agriculture markets.

Earlier, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said India and the US could finalise a larger trade deal "much faster" and expressed the hope they would soon be able to close the first set of limited trade package and its legal vetting.

"Hopefully, we will close the first set of the limited engagement that we have discussed and finalised. We will get into legal vetting and close that quickly," he said at a CII event.

Earlier at the Hyderabad House, Trump in a joint statement said a trade deal was in the works, but didn't elaborate.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Commerce Ministers of both the countries had positive talks. "Both of us have decided that our teams should give legal shape to these trade talks. We have also agreed to open negotiations on a big trade deal," Modi said.

The US has also been complaining about trade deficit. In 2016, the US trade deficit with India was $24 billion. It came down to $22 billion in 2017 and is $20 billion now, as per the Commerce Ministry data. India expects this to decline with increasing oil and gas imports.

In the Budget for 2020-21, India also made changes to the Customs Act to insert certain unspecified obligations on the importer while expanding the ambit of preventing injury to domestic economy due to uncontrolled imports, inviting criticisms for being protectionist.

The Indo-US trade hit $142.6 billion in 2018, according to official US data, up from $11.2 billion in 1995. During the same period, the US goods and services trade deficit with India shot up from $2 billion to $25.2 billion, and hit a peak of $31 billion in 2014.

Recently, the US became India's top trading partner beating China.

In a tit-for-tat exchange in 2018, the US imposed fresh tariffs on aluminium and steel imports from several countries, including India.

New Delhi responded with a list of retaliatory tariffs, including on US almonds, chickpeas and apples, but held it off from applying.

Soon after, the Trump administration ended preferential tariffs for Indian exports and India responded by implementing the retaliatory tariffs.

(Anjana Das can be contacted at anjana.d@ians.in)
She began her career as a model, working for the likes of Dolce & Gabbana and Dior, before transitioning to film.

And Monica Bellucci cut a glamorous figure as she attended the exhibition opening of L'Exibition[niste] by Christian Louboutin as part of Paris Fashion Week on Monday.

The actress, 55, displayed her classic sense of style at the event, donning a black figure-hugging top with a low-cut neckline and a pair of flared trousers.

Radiant: Monica Bellucci, 55, cut a glamorous figure as she attended the exhibition opening of L'Exibition[niste] by Christian Louboutin as part of Paris Fashion Week on Monday

The film star paired it with a black blazer and also carried a matching handbag as she posed up a storm at the exhibition.

Styling her brunette locks into a cropped style, Monica added to her look with a silver, shimmering necklace.

Italian beauty Monica began modelling when she was 13, later becoming a prominent model in Paris and New York City.

Monica was seen at the event without her man Nicolas Lefebvre, 36, who she has been believed to be dating since May 2017, four years after her split from ex-husband Vincent Cassell.

Glamour: The actress displayed her classic sense of style at the event, donning a black figure-hugging top with a low-cut neckline and a pair of flared trousers

Fashion forward: The film star paired it with a black blazer as she posed up a storm at the exhibition

Stunning: Styling her brunette locks into a cropped style, Monica added to her look with a silver, shimmering necklace

The actress first confirmed she was seeing someone in an interview with Paris Match last November, but stayed coy about her partner's identity.

Admitting they had been dating a while and things were going well, she said of her new man: 'The man I share my life with doesn't have the same job as me, but he travels a lot. His rhythm of life complements mine.'

Asked whether she would consider getting married again, the former Bond girl kept her cards close to her chest.

She said: 'When you've been married twice before, you need to take time to think about it before starting over, to understand why it happened and why you divorced. Let's just say I'm in a learning phase at the moment.'

Monica was married to fashion photographer Claudio Carlos Basso from 1990 until 1994, and then Matrix star Vincent Cassel from 1999 until 2015.
The Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct needs to launch an immediate investigation into the activities of 386th District Judge Arcelia Trevino and take steps to remove her from office.

Even if Trevino loses in this years Democratic primary, she would remain in office for the balance of the calendar year with little incentive to carry out her duties.

Numerous observers have said Trevino rarely shows up for her court, and she has recently banned prosecutors from her court. The reasons for these bans are unclear, but they appear to be politically motivated. This is unacceptable.

The work ethic of this first-term judge has been an ongoing issue. Regrettably, her frequent absences are not reflected in the courts statistics. She has been fortunate to have an appointed associate judge, Pat Garza, who gets the job done when she is not there. Case statistics simply reflect they were handled in her court, but not who presided over them.

Last week, Trevino had her bailiff escort a prosecutor out of her court, citing a conflict of interest. The judge did not elaborate on the alleged conflict in open court and has refused to discuss the issue with District Attorney Joe Gonzales.

It was the second time in a month the judge has ejected an assistant district attorney from her court. It is believed politics may be the reason for both ousters.

Tevino is being challenged by Jacqueline Jackie Valdes, a juvenile court prosecutor who previously worked in the 386th District Court. During a candidate endorsement meeting with the Express-News Editorial Board earlier this year, Valdes said she was motivated to seek the bench after witnessing how Trevino has run her court and her persistent absences.

Under Gonzales office policy, prosecutors are allowed to run for office, but they must conduct all campaigning and fundraising after-hours. When prosecutors run for office, they are temporarily moved out of the courts. For example, Valdes is handling intake on juvenile cases.

District attorney employees are allowed to support political candidates and donate to campaigns as long as it does not happen during office hours.

In the case of Khristina Fielder, the prosecutor thrown out of court Wednesday, Trevino has cited an undisclosed conflict of interest, which Fielder has denied. Much attention has focused on a $1,000 contribution Fielders husband, Joseph Fielder, a corporate lawyer for H-E-B, made to the Valdes campaign. There is no law against such donations, nor is it against any administrative policy within the district attorneys office.

The prosecutor ejected from court in January was in the courtroom under a different situation. She was there merely to observe a proceeding. In Texas, courtrooms are open to the public unless a judge closes a hearing. Even so, a judge cant selectively pick and choose which spectators remain in a closed hearing.

Attention in this January incident has also turned to politics. The prosecutor, a colleague of Valdes, had been block walking for her the weekend before and appeared in a photograph posted on Valdes campaign website. Again, there is no law or administrative policy prohibiting this.

Its one thing for Trevino to chose not do her job, but these actions have interfered with the juvenile justice system by prohibiting prosecutors from doing their jobs. They merit an investigation.
Union minister for home affairs G Kishan Reddy sought answers from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his party over Mondays clashes that killed five persons in north-east Delhi between groups that opposed and those that backed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

The minister contented that it was a conspiracy to defame India at a time when United States President Donald Trump is on a visit to the country

Congress Party and Rahul Gandhi should reveal who is behind this Delhi violence to defame India particularly when United States President Donald Trump is on a visit to the country. We have brought all the necessary forces and Home Minister Amit Shah has given orders to Delhi Police. Each person involved in the violence shall be identified, the minister was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

He further warned that those responsible for the violence in the national 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 national capital, he told the news agency.

Reddy further said that additional forces have been deployed in Delhi to maintain the law and order situation.

The Congress leader, on his part, appealed to the people of Delhi to refrain from violent protests and said that violence could never be justified in a democracy.

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. I urge the citizens of Delhi to show restraint, compassion & understanding no matter what the provocation, the senior Congress leader said in a tweet.

The MLAs of the AAP, the ruling party in Delhi, waited for over two hours outside Lt Governor Anil Baijals residence and left only after the police assured them that sufficient police personnel will be deployed in the violence-hit northeast Delhi areas.

Soon after the clashes broke out, Delhi CM Kejriwal appealed to home minister Amit Shah and L-G Baijal to ensure law and order in the national capital.

I sincerely urge Honble LG n Honble Union Home Minister to restore law and order n ensure that peace and harmony is maintained. Nobody should be allowed to orchestrate flagrations, he tweeted.
Taiwan amends travel ban on medical personnel

ROC Central News Agency

02/24/2020 04:04 PM

Taipei, Feb. 24 (CNA) A ban on overseas travel placed on Taiwan's frontline medical personnel will only apply to those regions where the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is most serious, a Ministry of Health and Welfare official said Monday.

Under the ban, frontline medical workers employed in hospitals around the country will be barred from visiting China, Hong Kong, and Macau, the three regions for which the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) has issued its highest Level 3 travel alert, according to Shih Chung-liang (), Director-General of the Ministry's Department of Medical Affairs.

Medical workers who wish to visit countries for which a Level 1 or Level 2 travel alert has been issued must obtain prior approval, Shih told reporters.

These include Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, which have been issued a Level 2 alert, as well as Thailand, Iran, and Italy, which have received a Level 1 alert.

There will be no limitations on travel to countries that are not included in the CECC's travel advisory list, Shih said.

Details regarding the policy will be hashed out with hospital officials at a meeting on Tuesday, and only be enforced after it is officially announced, the ministry said in a statement Monday.

Shih's amendment of the proposed policy came a day after Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (), who also heads the CECC, announced that all medical workers would be barred from traveling abroad, a statement that was later amended to only frontline medical workers.

Considering 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, Chen said Sunday.

The announcement sparked pushback on social media and from union leaders, including some who questioned whether such a travel ban would be lawful.

The proposed ban was walked back further on Monday to include an outright ban on visiting only China, Hong Kong and Macau.

Regarding the legality of the ban, Shih said Monday that under Taiwan's Physicians Act, physicians are obliged to follow the directions of the competent authorities in order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

The Medical Care Act also stipulates that in case of serious disasters, medical care institutions shall obey the orders and directions of competent authorities in providing medical care services and assisting public health, and those orders cannot be ignored or refused, Shih said.

(By Chen Wei-ting and Chiang Yi-ching)

Enditem/AW

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By Alissa Widman Neese | The Columbus Dispatch (Columbus, Ohio)

COLUMBUS, Ohio  The first cheetah cubs ever conceived through in vitro fertilization have been born at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, marking a breakthrough for zoo breeding programs.

The zoo announced the births early Monday. The two cubs, a male and a female, were born Wednesday night to 3-year-old, first-time mother Isabelle, whom keepers call Izzy. The cubs are healthy and bonding together in a den behind the scenes of the zoo.

Keepers continue to monitor them with a remote camera. The cubs have been observed nursing.

To be able to be the first facility to have this success speaks very loudly of our collaboration, our conservation partners, our science and our care here at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Tom Stalf, zoo president and CEO, told The Dispatch. This is going to impact cheetahs globally. Were very proud.

This was just the third time scientists had attempted a cheetah embryo transfer.

The zoo, with its partners, decided to use the technique to expand the gene pool of cheetahs in human care. The cubs are not Izzys biological offspring, but instead were conceived using eggs and sperm collected from other cheetahs with more valuable DNA.

The biological mother of the cubs is 6 1/2-year-old Kibibi, a Columbus Zoo cheetah that has never reproduced and is too old to easily become naturally pregnant.

Izzy, young enough to breed, has genes that are already well-represented in the captive cheetah population.

The cubs father is 3-year-old Slash at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, another accredited facility near Glen Rose, Texas.

Biologists from the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, which leads wildlife research projects worldwide, fertilized the eggs outside the womb in a laboratory. They incubated them and created embryos, which they implanted into both Izzy and her sister, 3-year-old Ophelia, in November.

Adrienne Crosier, a cheetah biologist, and Dr. Pierre Comizzoli, a research biologist, both from the biology institute, performed the procedure, along with the Columbus Zoos veterinary team.

On Dec. 23, an ultrasound confirmed Izzy was pregnant. Ophelia did not become pregnant.

A cheetah pregnancy typically lasts about three months.

As of Friday, the male cub weighed about 1 pound, and the female weighed 12 ounces. Once fully grown, theyll weigh 80 to 145 pounds.

Its not yet known when the cubs will be in a public exhibit. The zoos 17 cheetahs reside in its Heart of Africa region, which is closed until its warm outside, usually in May.

The Columbus Zoo is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a nonprofit group of more than 230 accredited institutions in the U.S. and abroad. Association members use a planning process called Species Survival Plans to guide breeding programs by meticulously tracking the genetic history of their animals and recommending the best breeding pairs.

Izzy, Ophelia and Kibibi are three of the Columbus Zoos ambassador cheetahs, which typically arrive at the zoo to be raised by hand when their mothers are unable to care for them, said Suzi Rapp, the zoos vice president of animal programs. As a result, theyre accustomed to humans and have formed close bonds with their keepers. The cheetahs are trained to voluntarily allow ultrasounds, X-rays, blood draws and other medical procedures, so the risks of anesthesia often can be avoided.

Working with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium was a game-changer because their females are highly cooperative, Crosier said.

Its common for zoos to explore assisted reproductive technologies, such as artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization, for many species, especially those that have limited numbers or struggle to breed naturally.

Unlike other aging mammals, cheetahs older than 8 still have eggs and hormones in good condition, according to a 2011 study from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. Their bodies, however, commonly develop various complications that can affect pregnancy, such as abnormal cell growth, infections and cysts in their uterine tracts.

The study predicted the findings would result in breakthroughs with cheetah in vitro fertilization, but until now, the efforts had no success.

Other large cats, such as lions and tigers, also have struggled with the procedure. One birth of in vitro tigers was reported in 1990.

In 2011, approximately 80% of adult female cheetahs in North American institutions had never reproduced, according to the study. The death rate for cheetahs had exceeded the birth rate in 13 of the previous 16 years.

Attempts to artificially inseminate cheetahs, including in Columbus, are also typically not successful procedures, with the most recent one occurring in 2003.

Cheetahs are known for being the fastest animals on land, capable of running 65 to 75 mph in short bursts. Today, the species is considered vulnerable, with only about 7,500 animals left in the wild, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Cheetahs now inhabit just 10% of their historic ranges of Africa, due to habitat loss, and they face other threats such as conflict with livestock and farmers and unregulated tourism. This geographic separation has left the species genetically bottlenecked, creating the potential for inbreeding.

The successful birth in Columbus offers the potential to help ensure the survival of cheetahs in their native range.

With experience, we may be able to freeze embryos and transfer them to Africa, said Dr. Randy Junge, the zoos vice president of animal health.
The 2020 NISA Spring season is here, and Chattanooga Football Club is ready. Are you? We have our single game tickets on sale today at CFCtix.com, giving fans every opportunity to catch the best thing going this year, whether it be one game of the entire season.Were thrilled that our single game tickets are lie and ready for fans said Jeremy Alumbaugh, Managing Director, Chattanooga FC. We have more options for supporters than we ever have, and we cant wait to get the season underway.Advanced single game tickets are $13.00 for adults, $7.00 for children.All seats are general admission. Gates will open 90 minutes before kickoff of each match.Chattanooga FC kicks off its inaugural match as a professional club this Saturday, February 29th, 8:10pm EST in Oakland, California, against Oakland Roots. Our first home match will be Saturday, March 14th, 3:00pm against Michigan Stars.
Euro Still Weak in the Near-Term Outlook

Posted by James Elliot on 12 Jan, 2022

Eurozone unemployment dropped from 7.3% to 7.2%, near to pre-pandemic levels. Further drops are likely over the course of the year. Strong employment numbers will lead to sustainably higher inflation and could trigger more hawkish moves from the ECB later in 2022. Tuesdays European open is relatively mild and the FTYSE and Dax have mostly avoided some of the wild swings seen in US stock markets in recent sessions. The volatility has hit Tech stocks and the Nasdaq the most, with some growth stocks down 50-75% from the...

 Euro Still Weak in the Near-Term Outlook
Bernie Sanderss big victory in Nevada was powered by the Latino vote. The socialist claimed 53 percent of it.

Sanders didnt do nearly as well with African-Americans and whites. If Hispanics had voted like these other two groups, Sanders would not be riding so high. His victory would have resembled the more modest wins in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Mark Krikorian sums up what the Nevada results and other evidence tell us about Latino Democrats. They are lopsidedly on the left, disproportionately likely to be hostile to capitalism and favor big government, gun control, environmental regulation.

As for immigration, its worth noting that Bernie Sanders has been one of the less radical Democrats when it comes to the illegal kind. Krikorian reminds us that a 2015 interview with Ezra Klein, Sanders said: Open borders? No, thats a Koch brothers proposal. Sanders added:

It would make everybody in America poorer  youre doing away with the concept of a nation state, and I dont think theres any country in the world that believes in that. If you believe in a nation state or in a country called the United States or U.K. or Denmark or any other country, you have an obligation in my view to do everything we can to help poor people. . . .

You know what youth unemployment is in the United States of America today? If youre a white high school graduate, its 33 percent, Hispanic 36 percent, African American 51 percent. [Note: This was pre-Trump] You think we should open the borders and bring in a lot of low-wage workers, or do you think maybe we should try to get jobs for those kids?

I think from a moral responsibility weve got to work with the rest of the industrialized world to address the problems of international poverty, but you dont do that by making people in this country even poorer.

These days, Sanders takes the stock Democratic position on immigration. However, its clear that Sanders didnt blow away his Nevada rivals for the Latino vote because of his position on immigration. He blew them away because of his socialist positions.

To be sure, not all Latinos in Nevada and elsewhere are Democrats. However, most do identify as Dems. Thus, the extreme leftism of this growing bloc of voters is alarming.

Republicans who view Latinos as conservative at root and capable of being won over if only the GOP would moderate its positions on immigration should think again. The Sanders experience suggests that a big portion of the Latino population is socialist at root and perhaps less concerned about immigration policy than many suppose.
Foreign travel reservations have plummeted by 50% in the Balearic Islands in the last year and the slump is being blamed on the continued spread of the coronavirus, according to the President of the Aviba Employers Office, Francesc Mulet.

Activity is at a minimum and in recent days we have registered a demise in reservations at issuing agencies in Majorca. The situation is complicated and everything is at the expense of how events evolve in the short and medium term. There is uneasiness among consumers, which is logical said Francesc Mulet on Monday.

Every year students from Majorcan schools take study trips or exchange with students in Bologna, Florence and Pisa. But because of the spread of the Covid virus-19 in northern Italy in the last few days the Italian Government has cancelled all study trips and cultural exchanges with European regions including the Balearic Islands, which will have a knock on affect all planned programming for the next two months.

AENA

AENA, which manages 47 airports in Spain says its taking advice from the Ministry of Health and will do whatever is necessary to minimise the risk of coronavirus.

"We are in direct contact with the authorities in order to receive the appropriate instructions to apply the preventive control measures adopted at the airport level in our country and at the community level."

The Health Department says the protocol that was adopted at the end of January to deal with patients who are diagnosed with the virus will remain in place for now and that its being kept informed of any new cases in the Balearic Islands and other autonomous regions.

The instructions will be adopted as the cases of coronavirus evolve in community countries and we are analysing all the latest events in detail, said the Health Minister, Salvador Illa.

The Health Department says the recent increase in cases of coronavirus in Italy is extremely worrying because a high number of cruise passengers arrive in Barcelona and Palma from Italian ports every day.

The Minister of Health, Salvador Illa, has called for a meeting of the Inter-territorial Council of the National Health System, including Government Health Minister, Patricia Gomez, to discuss and coordinate what measures need to be taken in autonomous communities.

On Monday, the European Centre for Disease Control held a meeting to discuss a unified criteria for all European Union countries.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that there was not yet full agreement on holding a proposed March 5 summit with Russia, France and Germany on the conflict in Syria's Idlib, but he may meet Russia's Vladimir Putin on that date.

Syrian government forces are pushing to retake the last large rebel-held region in Syria after nine years of war and nearly a million Syrians, mostly women and children, have been displaced by the fighting since early December.

At a news conference in Ankara before departing on a trip to Azerbaijan, Erdogan said that a Russian delegation was set to come to Turkey on Wednesday to discuss the Idlib situation.

"There is no full agreement yet between (French President Emmanuel) Macron...(German Chancellor Angela) Merkel, and Putin," he said. Macron and Merkel have both urged Putin to end the conflict, concerned about the humanitarian situation.

On Saturday, Erdogan said that Turkey had set out a "road map" for Syria after calls with the three leaders, while the Kremlin has said it was discussing the possibility of holding a four-way summit.

Turkey has sent thousands of troops and equipment to Idlib to head off the campaign driven by Russian air raids and 17 members of the Turkish forces have been killed. Turkey already hosts 3.7 million Syrian refugees, says it cannot handle another wave and has closed its borders.

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Tuesday sees the Berlin Film Festival play host to the sixth edition of its Co-Pro Series Pitch and Networking event, where 10 exciting TV projects from around the world will pitch to potential co-producers, investors, sales agents and broadcasters.

Under the umbrella of the Berlinale Co-Production Market  dedicated to connecting feature film producers and creators with international partners  the CoPro Series sessions have a similar aim but for TV projects.

More from Variety

Previous series to participate include Belgiums Tabula Rasa, Norway and Belgiums State of Happiness and Germanys Babylon Berlin. Currently, Denmarks Cry Wolf and Germanys Hausen are in production, both having pitched at previous editions of CoPro Series.

This years selection demonstrates an impressive breadth of narrative themes, with many refusing to adhere to any specific genre profile, instead preferring to mix elements of humor, romance, drama, thrills and even a bit of science fiction.

After the project pitches, representatives will attend a networking event followed by prescheduled one-on-one meetings.

2020 CO-PRO SERIES PITCH PARTICIPANTS

The Kings Wives, Abbout Productions  Lebanon

One of four new series in development at Lebanons About Productions, The Kings Wives sees Academy Award-nominated director Hany Abu-Assad (Paradise Now, Omar) move into TV as writer-director of the project. In the series, a royal couple in a contemporary Kingdom in the Middle East work together to challenge the established monarchy and improve womens rights across the country. When Princess Zein and Prince Malik have their third daughter together, leaving them with no male heir, the Royal Court imposes an ultimatum on the couple: either Malik marries additional wives and has a son, or his spot in the ascendancy will be given to his conservative brother.

Story continues

Babyland, Agitprop  Bulgaria

Golden Bear-winning producer Martichka Bozhilova (Touch Me Not) produces this project from writers Simona Nobile and Dianne Jones, about a luxury hotel where surrogates give birth to children destined for infertile couples. Natasha, the head of the organization, leads a fulfilling life of matching the surrogate mothers and hopeful couples until a bomb goes off at the hotel which kicks off a series of crises that force her to compromise the integrity of the organization and herself. Creative Europe  MEDIA, Lumiere in Belgium and Film UA in Ukraine will partner with Bulgarias Agitprop on the production.

Precious, Atlantic Films, Lemming Film  The Netherlands

Created by Joost van Gelder and written by J. David Guerra, both based in L.A., Precious is co- produced by Atlantic Films and Lemming Film in the Netherlands. Turning on the family of Gerson Metzger, a legendary Jewish diamond trader, the crime drama sees Metzger and his once-prestigious company, Precious LLC, in dire straits and deep debts. The elderly magnate plans to buy his way to absolution with a massive donation to his Rabi that could otherwise be used to save the family business for future generations, when he turns up dead on the eve of his 100th birthday.

Capturing Big Mouth, De Mensen  Belgium, Reel One Entertainment  U.K.

Since last years pitch at Series Mania, De Mensen and Reel Ones Capturing Big Mouth has expanded the original pitch to introduce a stronger British presence to the production, a fictionalized version of the real life events surrounding the eventual takedown of famed Somali pirate Big Mouth. In the series, Belgian counterterrorism officer Peter Van Osselaer and British-Somali former MI6 agent Naomi Abdallah join forces to chase down the pirate leader, who always manages to keep one step ahead of them. The series was created by Belgian screenwriter-director Hans Van Nuffel and writer Ahsan Naeem, who are developing several projects together.

Dark Victory, Goalpost Television  Australia

Helmed by award-winning Aussie writer-director Matthew Saville, Dark Victory is based on the best-selling novel of the same name and the true events which inspired it. A Norwegian container vessel on its way to Indonesia received a distress call to aid a dead-in-the-water fishing vessel in the Indian Ocean. After the rescue, Captain Arne Rinnan and his modest crew of 28 find themselves hosting 438 passengers in rough shape, only to be denied docking by the Australian government upon their arrival. Australias Goalpost Television, New Zealands South Pacific Pictures and Norways Maipo will co-produce.

Pawns, Metrafilms  Russia

Michael and Lily Idov, co-writers of 2018 Cannes Palme dOr competitor Leto, and creators of two hugely popular Russian series in Londongrad and The Optimists, are in Berlin with their new project Pawns. Set in the middle of the Cold War, the KGB has recruited a timid chess pro named Max to aid in trapping a Western spy recruiter working out of Austria. When the sting goes badly, Max gets partnered with alpha-male spy-master Ivan to investigate, before the Soviet odd couple are joined by a young, leftist West German activist named Hanna. The series is produced by Russias Metrafilms, recently joined by Latvias Tasse Film.

Transitniki, Rohfilm Factory  Germany

From Germanys Rohfilm Factory, Transitniki is a drama set behind the Iron Curtain in 1985. The series tracks groups of young East Germans, feeling trapped in their own country, who find a way to enter the Soviet Union illegally using transit visas and satiate their desires for travel and adventure. The series is written by an experienced trio of TV screenwriters in Heide Schwochow, Constantin Lieb and Christian Mackrodt. MDM is attached to co-produce.

Signals, Sagafilm  Iceland

Following a series of terrorist cyber-attacks which rock Reykjavik, reporter Salka and her live-in detective girlfriend Magneas relationship is strained when both begin to investigate the attacks. Magnea, already worried about the stir her non-conventional relationship will cause at work, has further stress added when she is accused of leaking info to Salka. Sagafilm produces for Icelandic broadcaster Channel 2, while iconic Icelandic filmmaker Oskar Jonasson will direct and is co-writing with an accomplished team including Margret Ornolfsdottir, Sjon and Johann var Grimsson.

Dome 16, Tordenfilm  Norway

From International Emmy nominee Thomas Seeber Torjussen, this sci-fi project is set 120 years in the future in a world suffering from climate neglect. It follows 14-year-old Anton, who lives in a domed city which keeps pollution and radiation out, and Emma, also 14, who lives with her clan of extended family members outside the dome. Occasionally, Emma and her mother are allowed into Dome 16 for part-time menial labor, which is how the young girl meets Anton and the two embark on an opposite side of the tracks relationship. Norways Tordenfilm and Hollands Big Blue produce for NRK.

Snow, Witcraft Filmproduktion  Austria

Set-up at Ursula Wolschlagers (Caviar, Mademoiselle Paradis) Witcraft, Snow is a mystery drama from Michaela Taschek to be co-directed by Barbara Albert (Mademoiselle Paradis) and Sandra Wollner (The Impossible Picture). The series takes place in the mountain village of Rotten, which has lived off a snow and winter sports-based economy for years. The city has struggled as, over time, the snow level has dropped and new snow refuses to fall. So bad is the change in climate that a nearby glacier begins melting, uncovering the body of a woman wearing 80s clothing, the clear victim of a violent death. Lucia, a doctor recently moved to the town hoping to resuscitate her marriage, gets drawn into the case against her better judgement.

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When design legend Charlotte Perriand wanted to unwind, she headed to her chalet in Meribel, a Savoyard-style resort town at the heart of the French Alps (and the namesake for her iconic stools). Today, anyone looking to relax and reinvigorate would be wise to follow in her snow tracks. This past December, the hit-making hospitality group Maisons Pariente unveiled Le Coucou, a ski-in ski-out masterpiece by AD100 designer Pierre Yovanovitch. Like its name suggests, the five-star hotel is a playful mix of flair and sophistication, with pops of color and signature Yovanovitch touches. (Cases in point: 130 site-specific furniture pieces and lighting throughout the property, which includes 55 suites and two private chalets.)

Photo: Jerome Galland

Photo: Jerome Galland.

But the wow moment might just be the spas indoor/outdoor heated pool, with its arched relaxation coves and alpine views. After an apres-ski soak, indulge in spa treatments helmed by organic beauty brand Tata Harper, among them a deep-cleaning facial and an energy-boosting Lomi Lomi massage.

Photo: Jerome Galland.

Photo: Jerome Galland.

Then head to either of the hotels two restaurants (Beefbar for meat lovers, Biancaneve for rustic Italian) to refuel. Says Yovanovitch: My aim was to breathe some fun, creating a cozy and colorful space as solace after a long day of ski. From $490 per night; lecoucoumeribel.com

Photo: Jerome Galland.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
After reports emerged suggesting that Hughes Network Systems is planning to shut down its India business, the company sources have denied making any such move. Hughes has been reportedly asked to pay Rs 600 crore by the department of telecom (DoT) on account of its AGR (adjusted gross revenues) dues. As per reports, US-based firm has recently written a letter to DoT that it has paid nearly all its dues arising out of the AGR dispute, and the demand raised from the company has been wrongly computed.

The company sources, however, say that there are no plans to leave India despite the tall demand from the government. "There are no plans to exit India at the moment," says a source. The reported AGR demand from DoT is more than the revenues and net profits of the company. As per ratings agency ICRA, Hughes clocked revenues of Rs 374.5 crore and net profits of Rs 25.7 crore in 2018/19.

"The order book position of the group is strong at around Rs 520 crore as on September 30, 2019 with healthy order inflow. The order book includes orders of more than Rs 100 crore from oil marketing companies, more than Rs 50 crore from banks, and a new order of Rs 57 crore from Telecommunications Consultants of India Limited," said the ICRA report dated November 18.

Hughes is one of the entities which have been affected by the 16-year-old AGR dispute between the government and the telecom sector. In October, telcos like Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel lost the case in the Supreme Court who asked the telecom companies to pay their dues in three months. Since then, the telcos have tried hard to seek relief from the court but in vain. The total dues of 15 telcos are estimated at Rs 1.47 lakh crore.

Hughes' potential exit from the India market is expected to affect a vast number of sector, and Airtel. Last May, HCIL (Hughes Communications India Limited) announced the merger of its VSAT business with Airtel's VSAT business. Post merger, which is yet to be completed, the merged entity would have 60 per cent share in the total VSAT market in the country. HCIL holds the VSAT CUG licence from the DoT, and satellite lease from Antrix Corporation Limited (a commercial arm of ISRO). HCIL has a market share of 37 per cent in the Indian VSAT market. Its products find applications in a wide range of industries such as banking, telecom, oil marketing, education, and retail-facing entities.

"Under this (AGR case), there can be a demand from HCIL as well, on account of inclusion of IP-1 revenues (which do not attract any license fee) in the revenue-sharing AGR. Although the company has been paying AGR that includes non-core revenues as mentioned in the court order, the additional demand might be raised on account of IP-1 revenues," said the ICRA report quoted above.

In an official statement, the company said that Hughes was one of the earliest multinationals to enter the country in the 1990s, and subsequently went on to make significant investments, setting up several companies in the communications and technology sectors. "Hughes Communications has also enabled the satellite broadband revolution in India that has helped play a pivotal role in linking Indian enterprises and government entities to the digital revolution. Hughes remains committed to India and will continue to provide high quality communications and technology services to its customers in India," said Pranav Roach, president, Hughes Network Systems India Ltd.

HCIL is part of the Hughes Network Systems LLC, which is owned by Echostar Corporation, a US-based provider of satellite communications. Echostar owns a fleet of satellites that it uses for communication and has a long track record in the business.

The group has access to technology support from the parent entity, which has a long track record of providing VSAT-based communication services in developed markets with its own satellites, technology development and solutions to corporate as well as retail consumers. Its prominent customers include HDFC Bank, State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, ONGC, IOCL, HPCL and BPCL.
21 February 2020, Yangon - Access to research in Myanmar will increase thanks to a new collaboration agreement between national and international partners, signed in Yangon today, and paving the way for a new national open access portal.

The Myanmar Education, Research and Learning (MERAL) portal, to be launched in March, represents the first such national portal in the ASEAN Region that will collect, disseminate and preserve journal articles, theses and dissertations, conference proceedings and other research output from Myanmar universities, bringing greater accountability, transparency and participation to research, teaching and learning processes.

Today's agreement was signed by The Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education of the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Director General, Professor Dr. Thein Win; Rectors' Committee of the National Education Policy Commission, Ministry of Education, Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Chair, Professor Dr Zaw Wai Soe; EIFL, Director, Rima Kupryte; and National Institute of Informatics of Japan, Director General, Dr. Masaru Kitsuregawa, Tokyo, Japan.

"The Rectors' Committee was formed under the National Education Policy Commission by the National Education Law Amendment 2015 on 4th April, 2018 with 164 rectors from 164 universities.

The Rectors' committee coordinates, cooperates and negotiates to help to develop the higher education institute without infringing on their independent administration and autonomy.

One of the missions of Rectors' Committee is to develop a world-class higher education system, with a strong focus on research and innovation, to meet the country's social and economic development needs. Open Access is inevitable in research and MERAL serves as a means for the dissemination of the intellectual output of the universities and institutions in Myanmar. MERAL aims to provide online access to increase the impact of its research and foster a rich research culture.

It is remarkable initiative in the history of the open access movement in Myanmar and we are proud to say that MERAL is the first National repository in Southeast Asia. MERAL makes research and academic conversation available to anyone who would like to engage in intellectual environment.

The portal will make Myanmar research more visible and showcase Myanmar's intellectual and research capacity, fostering collaboration with institutions in other countries and helping Myanmar researchers develop professional networks internationally," said Dr. Zaw Wai Soe, President, Rectors' Committee, Department of Higher Education

"For the last four years EIFL has been committed to supporting free and open access to research in Myanmar, establishing five university institutional repositories, which provide open access to more than 2,000 research publications. MERAL portal will extend our work and will host research outputs from all institutions in Myanmar. Partnerships are key to ensuring that knowledge can be shared without boundaries and the formalization of today's agreement demonstrates an inspiring example of what is possible when we work together," said Rima Kupryte, Director, EIFL

MERAL will host the Myanmar institutional open access repositories, which will have an interface for searching and browsing content across all repositories, built using a repository platform repository software named WEKO3, developed by National Institute of Informatics in Japan.

"National Institute of Informatics (NII) has been developing a new repository software named WEKO3 in Research Center for Open Science and Data Platform (RCOS). It is based on the open repository toolkit named Invenio, which has originally been developed by the European Organization for Nuclear Research. More than 500 institutions in Japan are now using current WEKO2 system through the cloud service provided by NII. It will be upgraded to WEKO3 in 2020 as one of the core component of the NII Research Data Cloud. The agreement covers to deploy of the WEKO3 system to MERAL platform, share operation skill and support training course to repository manager in Myanmar team. Under this collaboration, Myanmar can provide next generation scholarly communication environment which is strongly expected from the view point of the global open science trends," said RCOS, Director, Digital Content and Media Sciences Research Division, NII, Professor Dr. Kazutsuna Yamaji

It is expected that MERAL will also strengthen the capacity of universities and research institutes to manage and coordinate research. Improved management will open opportunities for collaboration among researchers from different institutions in Myanmar, and decrease duplication and fragmentation of research. By providing statistics and analytics about research that has been published, the portal will serve as a research monitoring tool.

###

About the Research Organization of Information and Systems (ROIS)

ROIS is a parent organization of four national institutes (National Institute of Polar Research, National Institute of Informatics, the Institute of Statistical Mathematics and National Institute of Genetics) and the Joint Support-Center for Data Science Research. It is ROIS's mission to promote integrated, cutting-edge research that goes beyond the barriers of these institutions, in addition to facilitating their research activities, as members of inter-university research institutes.

About the National Institute of Informatics (NII)

NII is Japan's only academic research institute dedicated to the new discipline of informatics. Its mission is to "create future value" in informatics. NII conducts both long-term basic research and practical research aimed at solving social problems in a wide range of informatics research fields, from fundamental theories to the latest topics, such as artificial intelligence, big data, the Internet of Things, and information security.

As an inter-university research institute, NII builds and operates academic information infrastructure essential for the research and educational activities of the entire academic community (including the Science Information Network) as well as developing services such as those that enable the provision of academic content and service platforms. https://www.nii.ac.jp/en/
EDMONTON - A new session of the Alberta legislature began Tuesday with the government promising to invest directly in oil and gas, if necessary, and to pass a law that would punish people who block roads and rail lines.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney comments on the Teck mine decision in Edmonton on Monday, February 24, 2020. Alberta politicians are returning to the legislature with a promise of new legislation targeting protesters who set up blockades. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

EDMONTON - A new session of the Alberta legislature began Tuesday with the government promising to invest directly in oil and gas, if necessary, and to pass a law that would punish people who block roads and rail lines.

The throne speech read by Lt.-Gov. Lois Mitchell said Premier Jason Kenney's government is prepared to support companies and invest directly in the resource industry if that's what it takes to boost Alberta's wellspring industry.

"My government will do everything it can to reduce unacceptably high levels of unemployment and get people back to work," said the speech outlining government's goals and commitments for the session.

Kenney's United Conservative government was elected last spring on a mandate to create jobs and get more oil and gas infrastructure built.

It has been a struggle. The Opposition NDP estimates 50,000 full-time jobs have been lost in recent months. This week, Teck Resources Ltd. announced it would not proceed with a $20-billion oilsands mine in northern Alberta.

Teck pegged its decision in part on economic uncertainty arising from protesters setting set up blockades on rail lines in support of hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation, who oppose a natural gas pipeline project on their land in British Columbia.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has a laugh after the Speech from the Throne in Edmonton, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

There was one such blockade of a rail line last week near Edmonton's city limits, but it was up for less than a day before a few counter-protesters arrived and carted off a barrel and signs to free up the tracks.

The government introduced a bill after the throne speech that proposes stiffer penalties for anyone trying to shut down critical economic infrastructure, including railways.

The penalties for individuals would be up to $10,000 for a first offence and up to $25,000 for each subsequent day a blockade or protest remained in place.

The bill also proposes making it easier for police to intervene in blockades rather than wait for a court injunction.

"For the last three weeks we have seen virtual anarchy in many parts of Canada, massively damaging our economy, killing thousands of jobs, jeopardizing the livelihoods of countless Canadians," Kenney told a news conference earlier Tuesday.

"Blocking railways, roadways, commuter trains and critical infrastructure is simply and plainly illegal."

The session is also to see amendments that would allow referendums not related to constitutional issues, as well as proposed legislation to replace the federal parole board with a provincial one.

Another bill will be about fixed dates for provincial elections and budgets. And the government also wants to bring in a recall act that would allow constituents to remove from office their legislature members, municipal councillors, mayors, and school board trustees between elections.

The focus of the session comes Thursday, when Finance Minister Travis Toews is to introduce the 2020-2021 budget.

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The province is promising renewed belt-tightening to erase a recent string of budget deficits and get back to balance before the end of Kenney's first term.

While the government says it is continuing to fund health and education as before, the Opposition NDP says program changes coupled with growth and inflation are effectively creating multimillion-dollar cuts to frontline services.

The NDP gave some of its throne speech tickets to Albertans, who it says have been hurt by changes to health and education funding and failed UCP job policies.

NDP Leader Rachel Notley said the changes are having a major impact on people's lives and she wanted to give Kenney a chance to look those people in the eye.

"This session should be about undoing the damage that has been done," said Notley.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 25, 2020
[February 25, 2020] Flip Flops Market and Women's Flip Flops Market 2020: Research Report by User Demand, Consumption, Applications, Types, Trends and Forecast Research Report

Dallas, Texas, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Flip Flops Market 2020-2025: The global Flip Flops market size is expected to gain market growth in the forecast period of 2020 to 2025, with a CAGR of 5.0% in the forecast period of 2020 to 2025 and will expected to reach USD 12070 million by 2025, from USD 9939.8 million in 2019.

The Flip Flops market report provides a detailed analysis of global market size, regional and country-level market size, segmentation market growth, market share, competitive Landscape, sales analysis, impact of domestic and global market players, value chain optimization, trade regulations, recent developments, opportunities analysis, strategic market growth analysis, product launches, area marketplace expanding, and technological innovations. Request a sample of Flip Flops report @ https://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/4174381



Flip flops are light weight sandals which are usually made up of rubber or plastic. In Flip Flops, there is string between the big and the second toe. Flip flops were first invented in Japan. During the World War II, rubber production was high in the country and thus flip flops originated. Also during the 1950s after the war, Japan started to export rubber flip flops to the United States. That time, flip flops were marketed as Zoris and Japanese thongs were made up of straws. Earlier flip flops have been related with beaches, hot weather and surfing. However, there has been a transition in fashion trends which has boosted and led to the use of several flip flops widely for regular use. Now, Flip flops are worn primarily by women throughout the summer season. The major factors driving the growth of the flip flops market are increase in number of purchase by young population and also change in customer preference toward trendy footwear. The major players covered in Flip Flops are: Havaianas, Fat Face, Deckers Brands, Ipanema (Grendene), Clarks, REEF, Tory Burch, Monsoon Accessorize, Crocs, Roxy/Quiksilver, Kappa, Kate Spade New York, Skechers, Nike, Adidas, etc. Among other players domestic and global, Flip Flops market share data is available for global, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and South America separately. Global Info Research analysts understand competitive strengths and provide competitive analysis for each competitor separately. Browse the complete report @ https://www.orbisresearch.com/reports/index/global-flip-flops-market-2020-by-manufacturers-regions-type-and-application-forecast-to-2025 Market segmentation Flip Flops market is split by Type and by Application. For the period 2015-2025, the growth among segments provide accurate calculations and forecasts for sales by Type and by Application in terms of volume and value. This analysis can help you expand your business by targeting qualified niche markets. By Type, Flip Flops market has been segmented into EVA Flip Flops, PVC Flip Flops, Rubber Flip Flops, EVA+Rubber Flip Flops, Other Flip Flops, etc. By Application, Flip Flops has been segmented into Women Flip Flops, Men Flip Flops, Girls Flip Flops, Boys Flip Flops, etc. Make an enquiry of Flip Flops report @ https://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/enquiry-before-buying/4174381



In addition, Global Flip Flop market based on the applications can be classified into Girls Flip Flops, Boys Flip Flops, Women Flip Flops, Men Flip Flops, etc. Furthermore, on the basis of distribution channel, market can be split into online channel and offline channel. Further, the offline distribution market segment can be divided into local markets and stores. The distribution channel choice totally depends on the customers purpose. Customers prefer the local market when they want to purchase flip-flops for functional purpose. Regions and Countries Level Analysis

Regional analysis is another highly comprehensive part of the research and analysis study of the global Flip Flops market presented in the report. This section sheds light on the sales growth of different regional and country-level Flip Flops markets. For the historical and forecast period 2015 to 2025, it provides detailed and accurate country-wise volume analysis and region-wise market size analysis of the global Flip Flops market. The report offers in-depth assessment of the growth and other aspects of the Flip Flops market in important countries (regions), including United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Russia, Italy, China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia, Australia, Brazil and Saudi Arabia, etc. It also throws light on the progress of key regional Flip Flops markets such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America and Middle East & Africa. Competitive Landscape and Flip Flops Market Share Analysis Flip Flops competitive landscape provides details by vendors, including company overview, company total revenue (financials), market potential, global presence, Flip Flops sales and revenue generated, market share, price, production sites and facilities, SWOT analysis, product launch. For the period 2015-2020, this study provides the Flip Flops sales, revenue and market share for each player covered in this report. Table of Contents 1 Market Overview

2 Manufacturers Profiles

3 Sales, Revenue and Market Share by Manufacturer

4 Global Market Analysis by Regions

5 North America by CountryContinued Part-II Global Womens Flip Flops Market 2020-2024: Flip-flops are a type of sandal, typically worn as a form of casual wear. They consist of a flat sole held loosely on the foot by a Y-shaped strap known as a toe thong that passes between the first and second toes and around both sides of the foot or can be a hard base with a strap across all the toes (these can also be called sliders). Request a sample of this report @ https://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/4297883 Flip flops are light weight sandals which are usually made up of rubber or plastic and typically worn as a form of casual wear. In Flip Flops, there is string between the big and the second toe in Y- shaped which is connected to a flat sole held loosely on the foot. Flip flops were first invented in Japan. During the World War II, rubber production was high in the country and thus flip flops originated. Also during the 1950s after the war, Japan started to export rubber flip flops to the United States. That time, flip flops were marketed as Zoris and Japanese thongs were made up of straws. Earlier flip flops have been related with beaches, hot weather and surfing. However, there has been a transition in fashion trends which has boosted and led to the use of several flip flops widely for regular use. Now, Flip flops are worn primarily by women throughout the summer season.

The major factors driving the growth of the flip flops market are increase in number of purchase by young population and also change in customer preference toward trendy footwear. Global Womens Flip Flops Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers

Havaianas

Ipanema (Grendene)

REEF

Deckers Brands

Crocs

Monsoon Accessorize

Clarks

Fat Face

Roxy/Quiksilver

Tory Burch

Kate Spade New York

Nike

Adidas

Skechers Global Womens Flip Flops Market Segment by Type, covers

EVA

PVC

Rubber

EVA+Rubber

Others Global Womens Flip Flops Market Segment by Applications, can be divided into

Online

Offline Make an enquiry of this report @ https://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/4297883 Global Flip Flop market can be split on the basis of various key segments such as types of the products, distribution channel, competitive landscape and key regions or key countries. On the basis of types, the Global Flip Flop market can be primarily divided into EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate), Rubber Flip Flops, PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) Flip Flops, EVA+Rubber Flip Flops, and other flip Flops, and others. Furthermore on the basis of distribution channel, market can be split into online channel and offline channel. Further, the offline distribution market segment can be divided into local markets and stores. The distribution channel choice totally depends on the customers purpose. Customers prefer the local market when they want to purchase flip-flops for functional purpose. There are several key players which are presently functioning in this sector. The Players having a strong hold in the Global Flip Flop market are Skechers, Nike, Kate Spade New York, Adidas, Tory Burch, Roxy/Quiksilver, Fat Face, Clarks, Monsoon Accessorize, Crocs, Deckers Brands, REEF, Ipanema (Grendene), Havaianas and many others. Regional analysis is another essential part of the research and study for any market movement. Looping on the basis of Geographical regions, major countries or regions which have good market are for production, consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate, and forecast of next five years, the following key regions including North America (United States, Canada and Mexico), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia), Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Russia and Italy), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and rest of south America) and Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa). Table of Contents

1 Market Overview

2 Manufacturers Profiles

3 Global Women's Flip Flops Sales, Revenue, Market Share and Competition by Manufacturer (2017-2018)

4 Global Women's Flip Flops Market Analysis by Regions

5 North America Women's Flip Flops by CountryContinued About Us:

Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.





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The contrast between the two videos is stark. The first is terribly disturbing. The second is tremendously inspiring. The first shows security camera footage of some young thugs vandalizing a building and assaulting a female worker. The second, which is an interview I conducted, shows the female worker and her father expressing their love and concern for the thugs. That is the power of Messiahs grace in Jerusalem. And that is the opposition faced by Messianic Jews living there.

The community that was attacked is called Adullam. It focuses on compassionate, humanitarian outreach to hurting Israelis, including ultra-Orthodox Jews and those who have left that community. It also serves at-risk Israelis from other backgrounds.

But because of its effective outreach to religious Jews, it has come under intense fire, with a well-known radical inciting some young people to go on the attack.

As reported in Kehila News, Members of Lehava, a violent anti-assimilation organization led by Ben-Zion Gopstein  a former disciple of Rabbi Meir Kahana  have been attacking a safe house for at-risk youth which is operated by a Messianic family.

Michael, who manages the safe house, tells the story.

When they came, during opening hours, we asked them to leave and said that we have three little children here. They didnt care. They left and came back throwing bricks and stones at us. One flew right by one of our heads.

But that was not the end. The thugs returned again, ultimately knocking out the windows with bricks and rocks as well as carrying out at least one physical assault.

Thankfully, with security cameras just installed, the last attack was captured on video. As for how the police will respond, that remains to be seen.

Does all this confirm the worst suspicions of the antisemites? Does it prove how evil the rabbis are? Does this point to the fundamentally corrupt nature of the Jews?

Certainly not.

There are bad apples in every religion, including Judaism.

There are corrupt leaders in every religion, including Judaism.

And there are thugs in every nation, including Israel.

The vast majority of rabbis would not support a violent attack on a Messianic Jewish center, let alone one with women and children inside.

And the vast majority of Israelis, most of whom are not religious, would be appalled at such an attack.

That being said, there is a price to pay for being a Messianic Jew in Israel, especially when reaching the ultra-Orthodox. And we certainly can expect more attacks like this, especially as the Adullam movement spreads to other locations throughout the Land. (For the origin of the term Adullam and its significance, see 1 Samuel 22:1).

Its important, however, to reiterate that the movement provides humanitarian and compassionate help for Israelis from all backgrounds. And some of the team members have worked for years in Muslim communities in Israel.

But the moment religious Jews are impacted, there will be an outcry, and some extremists will resort to thuggery.

Ironically, many of those drawn to Adullam are those who are called off the derech, meaning, off the path.

This refers to ultra-Orthodox Jews who have already left their community, but because of their strict, sheltered upbringing, they are often like lost sheep in the society.

As Michael explains, Former Orthodox Jews, especially if they are from an ultra-Orthodox background, need a place that will accept them as they are and help them transition into the outside world. Our home provides workshops in music, English lessons, and more. Sometimes people with black ultra-Orthodox clothes will arrive just to speak out. They dont believe in God anymore, but they have to study in the yeshiva and live within the Orthodox community and pretend. Otherwise they will lose their wives and children.

Yet when Adullam seeks to help these people, which includes sharing the Good News of Jesus (Yeshua) the Messiah with those want to hear, they become targets of religious extremists.

Thankfully, the Adullam team is not backing down an inch (watch the video to hear father and daughter speak from their hearts). And, thankfully, in the days since the attacks, religious Jews, secular Jews, and formerly religious Jews have stood together with the team.

As Michael noted, It is important to emphasize that Lehava is an extremist Jewish organization, which is widely condemned, also by many religious Jews. A lot of the young ex-religious people who we help are boldly standing on our side against their former peers. Its amazing to see. Others left once the trouble started.

In the days ahead, I fully expect more and more Israelis, including religious Jews, to discover the identity of the real Messiah and to receive forgiveness of sins through Him. And I fully expect that there will be many challenges for them as they grow in their faith, especially if they come from a very religious background.

Please share this article and video with others.

Please pray for the Adullam team.

Please consider helping them financially, as it will be necessary both to expand and protect their work. (Click here to donate.)

And please pray for the Jewish community worldwide and for the Israeli Jewish community in particular.

Pray that they will receive mercy and grace from the hand of the Lord.

And pray that those persecuting the believers in the Land will have a life-changing encounter with Yeshua the Messiah. Remember what happened to Saul of Tarsus!

It is high time for the Lord to favor Zion with His grace.

(Full disclosure: I work together with the Adullam team and its covering organization, Shepherd of Israel. But I receive no compensation of any kind, financial or otherwise, for my work. It is strictly gratis and volunteer.)
Delhi riots: Yamuna Vihar Police SP ordered shoot-at-sight directions for Delhi's Maujpur, Jafrabad, Chand Bagh, Karawal Nagar areas after violent incidents and loss to the public property. Police also junked tehe news of Mosque damage and urged people not to believe rumors.

Following violent incidents in Delhis north-east parts over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Delhi Police top officials gave shoot-at-sight orders in the sensitive area on Tuesday, February 25. The shoot-at-sight orders have been given for Chand Bagh, Bhajanpura, Maujpur, Babarpur, and several other riot-hit areas. Reports said the public property was vandalized, cars and shops were set ablaze and rioters hurled stones on police personnel.

Delhi Police Superintendent of Police in Yamuna Vihar announced the shoot-at-sight order hours after imposing section 144 in the north-east part of the Capital. Delhis Maujpur, Jafrabad, Chand Bagh, Karawal Nagar are now under lockdown.

Reports said at least 13 people lost their lives and more than 180 got injured on Tuesday while protesting against and in support of the contentious Citizenship Amended Act.

DCP North West, Delhi scrapped the false information of damage to a mosque in the Ashok Vihar area. He scrapped the fake news stating no such incident happened and urged people not to spread false information.

ALSO READ: US President Donald Trump leaves it to India to take right call on CAA, but offers to mediate on Kashmir yet again, this time in Delhi

#WATCH Delhi Commissioner of Police, Amulya Patnaik: Some news agency ran the news that Delhi Police said that it has not got adequate forces from MHA, this information is wrong. MHA is continually supporting us & we have adequate forces. Delhi police denies this completely. pic.twitter.com/C8r9Vtueeg  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

In view to the dangerous circumstances, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) postponed Wednesdays Class 10 and 12 board examinations.

ALSO READ: Delhi violence: Centre against calling in Army, Kejriwal says Delhi Police top brass didnt do enough to contain rioting in Maujpur, Jafrabad, Chand Bagh, Bhajanpura, Gokulpuri

Earlier in the day, after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, and Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaiks meeting over the tensed situation, Senior IPS officer SN Srivastava was appointed as Special Commissioner (Law and Order) of Delhi Police, with immediate effect to control the violence.

The road outside Jaffrabad metro station has been vacated where anti-CAA protesters had staged a sit-in protest since Saturday night, confirmed Delhi Police source.

For all the latest National News, download NewsX App
During the visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra on Monday, United States President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump got their photograph clicked posing with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel deployed as part of their security detail.

Donald Trump and his wife had visited the Taj Mahal during the Agra leg of their ongoing maiden official tour of India.

Trump was accompanied by his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who also act as senior advisors to the President.

Assisted by a guide, the couple took a stroll, hand in hand, at the Taj Mahal lawns. They also posed for a picture at Diana's bench. At the same time, Ivanka and her husband, accompanied by the high-level US delegation, were seen posing for pictures at the 17th-century monument built by Mughal ruler Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.

"The Taj Mahal inspires awe. A timeless testament to the rich and diverse beauty of Indian culture! Thank you, India!" Trump wrote in the visitor's book.

In spite of the long and tiring day participating in a range of engagements, from the roadshow to addressing a mammoth crowd during the 'Namaste Trump' event, the US President was seen taking immense interest during the visit to the Taj, noticing minute details, inquiring of them with the guide accompanying the First couple.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Federal Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who last week sentenced longtime GOP operative Roger Stone to more than three years in prison, on Tuesday expressed concern for the safety of a juror from Stones trial after President Donald Trump repeatedly accused her of being biased.

The president of the United States used his Twitter platform to disseminate a particular point of view about a juror, Jackson said during a hearing in Washington, D.C. Any attempt to invade the privacy of the jurors or to harass or intimidate them is completely antithetical to our system of justice. They deserve our protection. They deserve to have their privacy protected.

Judge Jackson convened Tuesdays hearing to consider a sealed motion for a new trial filed by Stones defense counsel, who cited alleged jury misconduct. As afternoon turned into evening, Jackson called jurors from Stones trial to the stand to face questioning  including the foreperson, who Trump has accused of being biased.

Meanwhile, Trump, while returning from his visit to India aboard Air Force One, dug in on criticism of the judge and the jury foreperson, calling her totally biased, as is the judge.

The president sent his tweet just moments after Jackson took note of his prior tweets  and as the hearing was going on.

There has rarely been a juror so tainted as the forewoman in the Roger Stone case. Look at her background. She never revealed her hatred of Trump and Stone. She was totally biased, as is the judge. Roger wasnt even working on my campaign. Miscarriage of justice. Sad to watch!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 25, 2020

Stone, 67, was convicted of misleading congressional investigators on several key elements of their probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, including communications he had with the Trump campaign about the WikiLeaks dissemination of damaging documents stolen from Democrats.

Story continues

Stone was making a bid for a new trial just days after Judge Jackson sentenced him to 40 months in prison amid speculation about a possible pardon from President Donald Trump.

MORE: Trump says he'll let process 'play out' after ally Roger Stone gets 40 months in prison

While details of both the request for a new trial and the Justice Department's subsequent opposition to the defense motion are mostly unknown because they're under seal, President Trump has claimed the jury was "totally tainted" and has called the jury forewoman "anti-Trump."

In a surprise move on Tuesday, Judge Jackson called the jury foreperson and two other jurors to the stand to answer questions about how the jury conducted its work  and whether the foreperson misled the court during jury selection.

Asked whether her social media activity during the trial was meant as a celebration of the verdict that was yet to be delivered in the Roger Stone case, the foreperson responded, absolutely not.

Legal experts say this sort of late-in-the-game motion for a new trial based on jury misconduct is a tall order for defense counsel.

The standard to prove juror misconduct is quite high, said ABC News Chief Legal Analyst Dan Abrams. The key when it comes to juror misconduct is just that  juror misconduct. Lying, misleading, violating court orders. Thats typically where youd see something like this occur.

PHOTO: Former Trump campaign adviser Roger Stone departs following his sentencing hearing at U.S. District Court in Washington, Feb. 20, 2020. (Mary F. Calvert/Reuters)

MORE: Trump maintains online criticism of Roger Stone case, despite AG Barr's plea to stop

Earlier this month, unsealed court documents revealed that Judge Jackson denied a previous sealed motion for a new trial filed by Stone's defense team involving a post-trial objection to one of the jurors. The individual disclosed during the jury selection process that they had a legal background and had worked for the IRS.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Feb. 21, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Evan Vucci/AP)

President Trump last week addressed the sentencing of Stone, his longtime friend who briefly served as a campaign adviser in 2015, saying that what happened to him is "unbelievable" but stopping short of saying whether he would issue a pardon.

"I'm following this very closely and I want to see it play out to its fullest because Roger has a very good chance of exoneration in my opinion," Trump said.

MORE: A timeline of the extraordinary turn of events in the Roger Stone case

He went on to express his grievances with the forewoman of the jury, who came under scrutiny for social media posts she allegedly published prior to serving on Stone's jury. The activity was publicly reported just days before Stone's attorneys filed their most recent sealed motion for a new trial citing juror misconduct. The content was later removed.

Trump said the jury forewoman was an "anti-Trump person totally."

"It's my strong opinion that the forewoman of the jury, the woman who was in charge of the jury was totally tainted," he added.

According to the terms of Stone's sentencing, he is to voluntarily turn himself in to authorities to begin his prison term within two weeks of Judge Jackson ruling on his bid for a new trial. Judge Jackson ended Tuesday's hearing without reaching a decision, saying she would take the matter under advisement.

Judge expresses concern for Stone jury foreperson's safety as Trump continues attacks originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The person injured was brought out of the ship via a crane, according to the Fire Department. Video from the scene showed a person on a stretcher being lowered to near an ambulance on a dock via a cable, with a firefighter in a harness alongside the stretcher. Firefighters then surround the person.
Ottawa, Feb 25 : Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has reiterated a call for a "peaceful resolution" after the Ontario Provincial Police began dismantling an Indigenous rail blockade.

"We're still on the path to reconciliation, we needed a peaceful resolution and we're continuing to work towards that," Trudeau said on Monday just hours after several people were arrested at the blockade site following a midnight deadline Sunday.

The blockades next to the rail tracks were erected nearly three weeks ago by supporters of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation hereditary chiefs who are against the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline in Wet'suwet'en Firstnation land, reports Xinhua news agency.

The pipeline has the support of elected band councils, but some Wet'suwet'en First Nation hereditary chiefs said they have not consented to the project.

The Wet'suwet'en First Nation supporters remained at the blockade despite a midnight deadline issued by the police on Sunday to clear the area.

The blockade, which has been in place since February 6, essentially shut down freight and passenger rail service going through a major rail corridor, resulting in the temporary layoff of nearly 1,500 rail workers.

There has been mounting worries to resume rail service and increasing concerns about the public and economic impact of the blockade, including risks of a nationwide shortage of chlorine, used to treat municipal drinking water, and propane, used to heat homes and other facilities.

As the police action continues in Tyendinaga, Canadian opposition leaders have also been weighing in on the issue.

Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer said Trudeau's weakness over the last few weeks has sent a signal to businesses across Canada that the rule of law will not be upheld, court injunctions will not be enforced, and major projects cannot get built.

"The fact that he (Trudeau) has done literally nothing for 19 days while illegal blockades have brought our economy to its knees sends a very strong signal to proponents in the energy sector that this government will not uphold the rule of law, and that they will be on their own," Scheer said.

New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh expressed his concern about the police action.

"I've been really concerned about the idea that police intervention will de-escalate this national crisis, because it won't. It's not the solution," Singh said.

Also on Monday, hundreds of protesters also took to the streets in Ottawa to demonstrate their solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en First Nation, shutting down streets near Parliament Hill.
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Even if you don't live on the beach, SPF should be a crucial step in your daily skincare routine no matter the climate. UV radiation can be just as intense in the winter as it is during summer months, and making sure your skin is protected at all times is key. Sunscreen isn't just about protecting your skin from sunburns, but it works to prevent premature-aging, dark spots and more.

With so many brands on the market, it's hard to tell which is actually worth investing in. Well, we're taking a page from Kelly Ripa's book, who revealed she uses La Roche-Posay Tinted Mineral face sunscreen daily -- even as a New Yorker.

"I also double down on sunscreen. What I like about this sunscreen, first of all, is that its full-coverage. Its that broad-spectrum, UVA-UVB and whatnot sunscreen, but its tinted in a way that sort of makes you look sun-kissed and not a weird color," the Live with Kelly and Ryan host explained to New York Magazine. "A lot of tinted products tend to make you look orange or way too dark, to the point where you dont even look like yourself. This is just like a light coverage, so it looks like maybe you put on foundation, maybe you didnt, who knows?"

"I grew up going to the Jersey shore where, as teenagers, we put baby oil on our skin and thought it didnt work unless we were burned. So I am now paying the price for that phase of my life. My kids got my husbands coloring  thank god  but I always tell them that just because you have this beautiful, bronze coloring doesnt mean you cant and wont get skin cancer. Because of the damage I did as a teenager, now, every time I go to the dermatologist, I cross my fingers and hope everything will be okay and go well." Ripa added.

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La Roche-Posay's Anthelios Mineral Sunscreen has amassed over 900 reviews and a 4.5 star rating on Amazon. The universal tint formulation provides blendable, sheer coverage that enhances skins natural glow and is 100 percent free from chemicals.

One Amazon shopping wrote, "I see that it balances and refines your skin tone and it is convenient when you don't put any makeup. I can totally go out by wearing only this sunscreen. Last, it gives a nice, healthy glow on to your skin. My skin doesn't get oily throughout the day and I don't see any residue or films at the end of the day. Overall, I am very satisfied with this purchase and this will be my only sunscreen from now."

Another simply reviewed, "Worth every penny...I never thought I would spend this much on sunscreen but it is so worth it! The tint offers light coverage and moisturizer similar to a BB or CC cream but with an even higher SPF. So thats one less I have to buy now."
A court gave life imprisonment on Tuesday to a 78-year-old retired Army doctor for murdering his wife and chopping the body into 300 pieces in Bhubaneswar in 2013.

Khurda District and Sessions Court judge Loknath Mohapatra sentenced Somanath Parida after convicting him for the murder, government pleader R R Barhma said.

Parida's conviction was based on circumstantial evidence as there were no eyewitnesses.

He had killed his 62-year-old wife Ushashree Parida on June 3, 2013.

He was arrested by Nayapally police station on June 21.

The government pleader said the incident of murder came to light after almost a fortnight following the victim's daughter, who stays abroad, raised suspicion as she failed to talk to her mother over the phone.

Though she insisted to talk to her mother, her father did not give her the phone.

The daughter later sent a relative to the house in IRC village area to enquire.

The relative, in turn, informed the police after suspecting that the woman could have been murdered.

Later the police found the body, chopped into 300 pieces, and kept in a separate steel containers.

The police had also seized a chopper, a knife and two cutters from the spot.

"I am innocent and did not kill my wife," he said outside the court while being taken to judicial custody.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
JD(S) leader and former Chief



Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday said he has held the first round of discussions with poll strategist Prashant Kishor on plans to organise the party for the future.

"I have spoken to him (Prashant Kishore)...with a view to organising politically in Karnataka for the future.First round of discussions has happened.

I will tell you later," Kumaraswamy told reporters in response to a question.

Top JD(S) sources had recently revealed that the party leadership, after facing setbacks in successive polls, planned to hold talks with Kishor on plans to revive the party.

The JD(S), which bagged only 37 of 225 seats in the 2018 assembly polls and came to power in alliance with the Congress with Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister, managed to win only one seat out of 28 in the state during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Party patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda was also defeated in the parliamentary polls.

The JD(S) later also failed to win even a single seat during the December 2019 bypolls to 15 assembly constituencies in the state.

The Kishor-led Indian Political Action Committee (I- PAC) had helped the AAP to post a splendid performance in the recent Delhi assembly polls.

The political advocacy group also helped in the election campaign of Narendra Modi in 2014 when he was the BJP's prime ministerial candidate.

The I-PAC has worked on a number of successful campaigns since 2014, including the one that brought JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to power in 2015.

The organisation also helped Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy win both the state and Lok Sabha elections.

Kishor, who was the Janata Dal (United) national vice- president, was recently expelled from the party following a bitter fallout with its chief Nitish Kumar.

Responding to a question on the B S Yediyurappa-led BJP government in the state, Kumaraswamy said there was nothing worth discussing about this dispensation yet.

"I don't want to discuss about the current government. There is no need for it as there is nothing worth discussing about this government.

When there is no development, what (is there) to discuss?" he asked.

"Let's wait and see, they (BJP) have asked for six months," he said.

Yediyurappa had recently said that after looking at his administration six months, people would punish the opposition.

Responding to a question, Kumaraswamy said U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to India should benefit the country as he noted that he had no big expectations from this visit.

"Nothing should happen that will lead to a loot of India's resources...they (US) should not take away our resources, we should be careful about it," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(TNS)  Ohio Chief Justice Maureen OConnor announced that 54 local court projects are receiving more than $3.2 million in this years technology grant funding through the Ohio Supreme Court.Case management upgrades and security improvements are among the local technology projects selected to receive funding through the Ohio Courts Technology Initiative.This is the sixth year of disbursements since Chief Justice OConnor initiated the program, with just over $17 million being received by courts across Ohio.Ohio appeals, common pleas, municipal, and county courts are encouraged each year to apply for grants to upgrade systems, hardware or equipment, or purchase new ones.The projects selected for funding were scored by a 27-member panel of judges, court administrators, clerks, information technology professionals, security experts, and other personnel from local courts across the state.Lack of up-to-date technology can hinder the effective administration of justice, Chief Justice Maureen OConnor said. This year, the needs of some courts are basic while others leap into information technology, communications upgrades, and case management efficiency.Simply put, courts today are forced to do more and more, and technology can answer those challenges, the chief justice said. Also, tech upgrades can save money in the long run and thats helpful because financial challenges are inherent in operating a court.For this sixth annual round of funding, preference was given to projects in this order of priority:Upgrade of an existing case management system to improve case flowUpgrade, replacement, or purchase of other technology systems that affect case flow or the fundamental duties of a courtUpgrade, replacement, or improvement of computer hardware or equipment that supports the case management system or other systems that affect case flow or the fundamental duties of a courtUpgrade, replace, and purchase technology systems that support pretrial servicesPurchase of any other computer hardware, software or equipment, including projects related to physical security of the court.A portion of the funds was set aside to fund courtroom or related building security upgrades or equipment installations.The Ohio Courts Technology Initiative was established to improve the exchange of information and warehousing of data by and between Ohio courts and other justice system partners, an endeavor that includes the Ohio Courts Network.Including this year, the technology grants from the Supreme Court have helped fund more than 450 projects in Ohio.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Tuesday agreed to hear an application, filed by former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah and others, seeking direction to the police to lodge FIRs on the complaints regarding the ongoing violence in Delhi over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The application was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench of Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, which said it would be heard on Wednesday.

The death toll rose to nine on Tuesday in the violence over the amended citizenship law that has rocked northeast Delhi.

The bench is already scheduled to hear two pleas seeking removal of protestors from Shaheen Bagh, the epicentre of agitation against the CAA for over two months.

The fresh application, filed by Habibullah, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad and social activist Bahadur Abbas Naqvi, has also sought a direction to the authorities to provide adequate security and ensure the safety of women protestors at Shaheen Bagh and other places in the national capital.

They have already filed an intervention application in the top court in the pending plea seeking removal of protestors from Shaheen Bagh.

In their fresh application, they have alleged that on February 23, "Kapil Mishra, who is known for making speeches to instigate crowds with violence and vandalism, carried out a pro-CAA rally next to the Maujpur-Babarpur metro station which is 2 km away from peaceful protests that were going on at Jaffrabad".

Referring to a media report, the application alleged that Mishra first gathered supporters near the Maujpur-Babarpur metro station and in an "orchestrated move", he left the place after having incited the crowd, after which violence erupted in Jaffrabad and the peaceful protestors were forced to run for safety.

It alleged that the persons who were hurt in the attack on February 23, had filed complaints with the police but no action was taken against the perpetrators of violence.

"Open threats are now been given to the protestors at Shaheen Bagh that they will meet the same fate as meted out to the peaceful women protestors at Jaffrabad, Chand Bagh. It is therefore imperative that appropriate orders are passed to put a stop to this violence on peaceful protestors and the guilty are brought to book," the application, settled by advocate Mehmood Pracha, alleged.

It claimed that violence has escalated through the day with "horrific incidents of violence and arson" but the police has refused to lodge FIRs against the attackers.

"As per various reports, anti-social elements from the surrounding villages of UP have entered Delhi in buses and trucks and have been attacking the residents of Delhi and the peaceful protestors," the application claimed.

It sought a direction to the police to register FIRs on the complaints that are being made in respect of the attacks that started in the evening of February 23 and which escalated throughout the day of February 24.

On Monday, the Supreme Court-appointed interlocutors had filed their report in a sealed cover in the apex court following their talks with protestors at Shaheen Bagh.

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 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.

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 National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Will hear plea on Delhi riots Wednesday: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court Tuesday said it would hear on Wednesday a plea seeking registration of an FIR and arrest of persons involved in the ongoing violence in north-east Delhi over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The plea was mentioned before a bench of Justices G S Sistani and A J Bhambhani for an urgent hearing on Tuesday itself.

The court said however that it would be heard on Wednesday.

The petition filed by human rights activist Harsh Mander and activist Farah Naqvi sought setting up of an SIT to inquire into the incident and compensation for those killed and injured in the violence.

Advocate Sneha Mukherjee, while mentioning the plea, said they are seeking that action be taken against certain individuals who are inciting people and making hate speeches due to which violence has erupted in various areas of north-east Delhi.

It has also sought directions to the Centre for the deployment of the Army to maintain law and order in the national capital and areas where the "communal attack on people are most ferocious".

Clashes broke out between groups supporting and opposing the CAA in north-east Delhi's Jafrabad and Maujpur on Monday, with protesters torching houses, shops and vehicles, and hurling stones at each other.

Violence has also been reported in Chandbagh and Bhajanpura areas of the city.

Delhi Police head constable, Ratan Lal, was among the nine people who have been killed in the violence that erupted on Monday over the amended citizenship law.

The petition, filed through advocates Fazal Abdali and Nabila Hasan, said that on February 22, around 500 people reached the Jafrabad Metro Station where women were holding peaceful protests against the CAA.

On February 23, BJP leader Kapil Mishra held a rally in support of CAA near Maujpur Metro Station which is situated at a distance of 1.4 kms from Jafrabad Police Station and allegedly made "inflammatory, provocative and inciteful statements" and also posted a tweet on social media in this regard, it alleged.

The petition sought a direction to the authorities to register an FIR against Mishra, Union minister Anurag Thakur and BJP MP Parvesh Verma and others who are allegedly "engaged in criminal activities, including rioting and inciting hatred among classes under the IPC and the Damage of Public Property Act.

It has sought direction to the authorities to declare on their website the full list with names of persons that were detained by the police and paramilitary forces.

It sought to provide detained persons access to their family members and to legal counsel and also to preserve the evidence and CCTV footage of all cameras in and around the protest sites.

The plea said the authorities be directed to ensure the safety and protection of all the protest sites, especially women and children.
Victoria's chief health officer has warned that a large proportion of the world's population could catch at least a mild version of coronavirus.

But as Australia prepares for a possible outbreak of the virus, Dr Brett Sutton said there was no need to cancel major events such as next month's grand prix.

Chief Health Officer Dr Brett Sutton. Credit:Joe Armao

The first race of the Formula One season is set to be held in Melbourne on March 12-15, with organisers saying it is "business as usual" for the event.

Dr Sutton said it was "quite possible" a large share of the world's population would contract the virus, after Harvard University researcher Marc Lipsitch said between 40 and 70 per cent would probably be infected.
Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg is funding his 2020 presidential campaign through his vast fortune.

On the campaign trail, the billionaire contrasts himself from the other Democratic candidates and President Donald Trump by self-funding his campaign and donating a significant portion of his estimated $60 billion fortune to charities and political campaigns.

Between 2014 and 2018, Bloombergs Family Foundation donated more than $1.6 billion to charitable and government organizations.

He donated more than $150 million to political candidates and political action committees (PACs) dating back to 2014.

Those recipients include Massachusetts politicians - both Democratic and Republican - and nonprofits ranging from the arts to higher education.

On Oct. 24, 2014, he donated $42,400 to the Massachusetts Victory Committee - a political action committee launched by the MassGOP with the Republican National Committee with strong ties to Baker in 2013.

Four days later, Bloomberg donated an additional $10,000 to the Massachusetts Republican Party.

In years since, Bloomberg has supported Massachusetts Democrats. Both Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Joe Kennedy III, who mounting a primary challenge for Markeys seat, received donations from Bloomberg. Markey received just over 5,000 in 2014 and again last year. Kennedy received just over a thousand dollars this year.

Rep. Seth Moulton has also received support from Bloomberg, receiving donations totaling the low five-figures.

Bloomberg also made a $10,000 donation in November to the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee in November.

Search our database by recipient or candidate benefitting for full political donations made by Bloomberg between 2014 and 2019, according to an analysis by The Associated Press.

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Bloomberg also donated to nonprofits worldwide. Of the more than a thousand donations made between 2014 and 2018 - totaling 1.6 billion - the average was for more than a million dollars. A number of donations were made to organizations within Massachusetts.

The largest donation in Massachusetts was made to Harvard College, to support the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, a yearlong education and professional development program for mayors and city leaders. The foundation donated $24 million over three years, starting in 2016.

In total, he donated just under $31.4 million to the institution.

Other recipients include: the Museum of Science, which received $3 million annually; the city of Boston, awarded $1.5 million to support the creation of Bostons first Housing Innovation Lab; to Boston Baroque, which received $150,000.

All the Massachusetts nonprofits which received donations were located in the Greater Boston area.

Search our database by recipient or candidate benefitting for all donations made by the Bloomberg Family Foundation between 2014 and 2018. according to an analysis by The Associated Press.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa  As many Iowans hunkered down for a massive snowstorm in early January, Lara Trump convened a "MAGA Mommy" roundtable with a group of women at a local library.

Tucked in a conference room plastered with "Women for Trump" signs, the president's daughter-in-law discussed the high costs of child care, the economy and what she sees as the danger of a Democrat in the White House. Then she posed some questions.

How have your lives changed  have you seen anything change  since Donald Trump took office? Trump asked the women, some of whom looked on while their children colored at a conference table. Is there anything we can take back to him that you would like to see happen that hasnt happened already?

During the half-hour discussion, the mothers opened up about balancing life as a working mom while Trump described raising her own two children, 5-month-old Carolina and 2-year-old Luke. By the end of the event, she moved through the conversation with each mom, reminding them that president's policies matter more than his style.

Lara Trump, 37, wife of the president's son Eric, has emerged as a top campaign adviser, focusing heavily on female voters. Polls have consistently shown women are less supportive than men of Trump. In the 2018 midterms, suburban women rejected the GOP in large numbers, raising fears in the party that a similar gender gap could play out in the November presidential election.

Through the Women for Trump initiative spearheaded by Lara Trump, the campaign is trying to energize the president's female supporters and make inroads with women who like some aspects of Trumps presidency but dislike others.

Whether you dont like everything he says, or the way he says it, or his hair or whatever it is, you cant argue that what hes done hasn't worked in this country, she told USA TODAY while crisscrossing Iowa on a bus tour.

'Hidden Trump vote'

Story continues

Working with other officials on the campaign, the president's daughter-in-law is looking to turn out the hidden Trump vote, a concept promoted in 2016 by White House senior adviser and former campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, who argued that Trump has support among some women who are reluctant to say so publicly.

Whenever youre talking about Donald Trump, I think now even more so than in 2016 people are really afraid sometimes to voice their support, Lara Trump said.

And I think women for some reason, women feel like maybe  and they should have the loudest voice  but maybe they can't speak out."

Trump added that she takes "polls with a grain of salt" because they have "never reflected the true sentiments of the people whenever you're talking about Donald Trump."

Lara Trump hosts a "MAGA Mommy" roundtable discussion in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 17, 2020.

The 2016 election saw the largest gender gap in 36 years of exit polling, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. During his campaign against Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump faced a string of controversies over his comments and behavior toward women, including his remarks on an "Access Hollywood" tape in which he was heard bragging about grabbing women by their genitals. Trump later said he regretted the comments and called them "locker room" talk.

Personal attacks, language a concern for women

Exit polls from the 2016 election showed that 53% of men backed Trump, while only 42% of women supported him  a gap of 11 percentage points.

According to a USA TODAY/Ipsos poll this month, more than half of suburban women, 54%, believe a Democratic nominee would be better for the country than Trump. Just 48% of suburban men held that view.

Nearly 60% of suburban women in the poll viewed Trumps character negatively, compared with 21% of those who admire him.

A range of issues are at play here, but some of it has to do with his language, his discourse and the name-calling, said Debbie Walsh, director of the women and politics center.

USA TODAY/Ipsos poll: For voters, Bernie Sanders outranks other Democrats  and Trump  on values, empathy

In fact, the poll, conducted Feb. 12-13, found respondents consistently gave Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is leading the 2020 Democratic field, higher marks than any candidate  including Trump  on values and empathy. In the survey, 40% said they admired Sanders character, well above the 26% who said they admired Trump.

On the flip side of that, many Republicans and some Democrats believe that on the economy, Sanders would be a weak candidate to run against Trump, especially in the suburbs. The Vermont senator is a self-described democratic socialist, and many suburban voters are wary of big government.

Lara Trump speak to a crowd of more than 300 Trump supporters on the eve of President Trump's visit to Ohio in January.

Lara Trump has hit the road with national press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, second lady Karen Pence and other top female campaign officials to court female voters. The group often points out that women make up half of the campaign, and three of the women  including Trump and McEnany  have given birth over the past year.

The Wilmington, N.C., native has held Women for Trump events in suburban areas across the Rust Belt, often arriving ahead of the presidents campaign rallies, which typically draw a more raucous crowd.

Lara Trump, with her husband, Eric Trump, speaks with Donald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle at a "Keep Iowa Great" news conference in Des Moines, Iowa.

Celinda Lake, a longtime Democratic pollster who is advising Joe Biden's campaign, said Trump's penchant for personal attacks has turned off many women.

About half of swing women think he could tweet us into a war, said Lake, who co-wrote the book What Women Really Want with Kellyanne Conway.

The USA TODAY/Ipsos poll found slightly more suburban women opposed Trump's economic and employment policies than approved of them, 40% to 36% and 39% to 35%, respectively.

But on average, the proportion of suburban women who opposed Trumps policies on child care, health care and education was 24 percentage points higher than the proportion who said they supported them.

Lara Trump emphasizes the unemployment rate of 3.6 percent  a nearly 50-year low  and stock market gains to argue the economy is working for working for women. Women have replaced men as the majority of jobholders, and participation for prime-age women has hit a record 19-year high, according to Labor Department data released this month.

President Donald Trump thanks participants after speaking at the White House Summit on Child Care and Paid Leave on December 12, 2019, in Washington, DC.

Life on the campaign trail

Lara Trump, described by friends as wickedly funny and a great storyteller, engages her audiences with tales about life on the campaign trail. Of the Russia investigation that shadowed the first half of Trumps presidency, she jokes that the campaign couldnt collude with Iowa, let alone the Kremlin. She invokes an analogy coined by Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale to describe the early days of the president's 2016 operation: It was like building a plane while flying it at the same time.

More: How Ivanka Trump is working on paid family leave, affordable child care  and why it hasnt passed

We didnt have a solid campaign structure. We didnt really know if Donald Trump will be the nominee until a lot later on, she said. Now, were such a well-oiled machine.

Eric Trump and his wife, Lara Trump, arrive for a New Year's celebration at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.

Trump first moved to New York City to become a pastry chef, attending the French Culinary Institute. She dated Eric Trump for six years before the pair were married at Mar-a-Lago, President Trump's home in Palm Beach, Fla.

She worked as a producer on "Inside Edition" for five years. With an eye for television, she honed her on-camera persona by hosting Trumps weekly news webcast "Real News Update" and in frequent appearances on Fox News. Lara Trump recalled when she first scored the presidents approval for her television skills.

I dont know that he knew I was such a fighter before and I think he saw me on TV a couple of times, and I remember him calling me and saying, Wow, I had no idea that you could do that, she said.

Her rise on the airwaves and at campaign events hasnt been lost on some members of the Republican Party. A poll last year by conservative anti-tax group Club for Growth examining a hypothetical GOP primary for the Long Island seat being vacated by Rep. Peter King had Lara Trump winning by more than 30 points. She doesnt live in Kings congressional district and has said shes focused on one campaign in November for now.

Shes extremely disciplined when it comes to just about anything, said Emily Aronson, a former "Inside Edition" colleague and friend who is running with Trump in their fifth triathlon in March.

She rises around 5 a.m. every day to train  earlier if shes catching a morning flight  and schedules dinners after 7:30 p.m. so she can be home to tuck her children in before bedtime, Aronson said.

Unlike her brother-in-law, Donald Trump Jr., Lara Trump shies away from clashing with the left on social media. Her Twitter page is a blend of retweets of her familys missives, animal welfare and promotion of the presidents economic record.

On Twitter, Lara Trump is more likely to mention the words employment and job than other family members, according to an analysis of nearly 4,500 tweets from family surrogates that shows how each of them target specific audiences. By contrast, Donald Trump Jr. focuses heavily on Trumps foes, using the word Biden in 8% of the tweets and often slamming the media.

Speaking for Trump: How Don Jr. and other family members target different voters with different messages

But Lara Trump is not without her own controversial edge. During the Iowa bus tour, she made headlines for taking a shot at Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, saying she felt bad for him.

I'm supposed to want him to fail and every turn, but every time he comes on stage, and they turned to him, I'm like, Joe, can you get it out? Let's get the words out, Joe. You kind of feel bad for him.

The comments were viewed as insensitive to people with speech impediments, because the former vice president has publicly spoken about overcoming a childhood stutter. The incident prompted retired airline captain Chesley Sully Sullenberger, best known for crash-landing a commercial jet on the Hudson River in New York, to write an op-ed about his own struggle with a stutter.

More: Six in 10 Americans say they feel better off after first 3 years of Trump, poll says

At the MAGA Mommy event and later that day at a luncheon, Lara Trump accused the media of mischaracterizing her comments, noting she never mentioned the word "stutter."

Lara Trump, at a benefit in October for Rescue Dogs Rock NYC, is endorsing a push by lawmakers to end fatal research experiments on dogs at the Department of Veterans Affairs. [Via MerlinFTP Drop]

When asked what led her to dive so deeply into the fray of campaign politics, Lara Trump talks of being tasked with delivering North Carolina while filling with her father-in-law to the battleground state in 2016.

"I voted in elections  probably like a lot of people  but I didn't really pay that much attention to politics. But there was something that happened in 2016, and I think people were reawakened in this country, she told USA TODAY. Whether you like him or not, he really reinvigorated politics in America.

Election night chat with Trump

On election night when North Carolina was called for her father-in-law, Lara Trump said he pointed to her.

"I think it took her credibility and maybe their relationship to another level, said Lynne Patton, a friend and former campaign official who now works at the Department of House and Urban Development. He recognized the significant role she played in that victory.

Lara Trump, who often boasts about her two beagles, Ben and Charlie, has taken on animal rights as one of her signature causes. Friends point to her work championing the president to sign a bill into law to stop people from sharing footage of animal abuse.

She has a really big heart, and I think that shows, Aronson said. A lot of people want to hate the Trumps. A lot of people do hate the Trumps. But anyone who spends time with her wouldnt hate her.

But whether her appeal will be enough to persuade female voters to keep Trump in office is less clear.

In the USA TODAY/Ipsos poll, among those who identified as Republicans, 88% said they supported Trump's economic policies, reaffirming the campaign's strategy of highlighting the president's jobs record.

MORE: Women edged out men in the workforce for the first time in almost a decade. Here's why

But the same group was two to four times more likely not to have an opinion or not know what the president's policies are regarding childcare, health care and education, three key issues among female voters.

Still, Lara Trump remains resolved about her task ahead of Nov. 3.

I think when women are in a voting booth and no one is looking, they know that this president is looking out for them. They know that his policies are working. They feel it every single day, she told USA TODAY.

So I think its up to us to remind people of that, but also I think when no one is around and no one is pressuring them  theyre going to vote for Donald Trump.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lara Trump to women: It's OK to like Trump and not love his style
Two Northern Ireland firms have joined forces to help the maritime sector reach zero-emissions by 2025.

Belfast-based Artemis Technologies, which specialises in high-performance maritime design and applied technologies, and materials specialist Creative Composites in Lisburn will work together to create the technology and components for Artemis' new propulsion system.

The system, known as the eFoiler, will be made in Belfast and forms part of Artemis' plans to become a pioneer in the de-carbonisation of the maritime industry.

David Tyler, commerical director at Artemis Technologies, said: "With a commitment by the UK government that all new maritime vessels must be fitted with zero-emissions technology by 2025, solutions such as our eFoiler system will play a key role in realising that goal.

"Using truly transformative and complex technology, the eFoiler will reduce the drag of modern fast vessels by up to 90%, making electric propulsion at high-speed and range commercially viable for the first time.

"With extensive experience making composite structures for the transport industry and a commitment to advanced manufacturing, Creative Composites is the perfect partner for Artemis Technologies and will form part of the growing maritime cluster in Northern Ireland."

Artemis Technologies, a sister company to the Artemis Racing professional sailing team, is also a lead partner in a Belfast consortium bidding to return shipbuilding to the city.

Its pair-up with Creative Composites supports its plans to create a new maritime manufacturing cluster in Belfast and the rest of Northern Ireland which could support hundreds of jobs in the future.

Creative Composites is one of the most advanced composites maker in the UK and has worked with major companies including car business Lotus and Wrightbus.

Jonathan Holmes, managing director at Creative Composites, said: "It is a tremendous honour to partner with Artemis Technologies on a project that will not only contribute to the next wave of development in the maritime sector but will also make a huge impact on global efforts to combat climate change.

"It will further diversify the range of sectors we serve as we constantly innovate and expand our expertise, to satisfy the growing demand for advanced composite manufacturing."

As part of the collaboration, staff from Artemis Technologies will be based at Creative Composites to work alongside the team.

Lagan Valley MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said: "Creative Composites is one of our most innovative and fastest growing local businesses.

"This latest partnership will further enhance its expertise."
[February 25, 2020]

Greenliant Membership in Micron IQ Partner Program Emphasizes Commitment to Industrial Customers

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greenliant is a founding member of the new Micron Industrial Quotient (IQ) Partner Program, a collaboration of industry-leading companies to meet the need for high-quality, robust, rugged and long-lasting Industrial IoT (IIoT) products. Membership in the Micron IQ Partner Program further reinforces Greenliant's focus on the embedded systems market and commitment to addressing the rigorous requirements of the industrial segment.



The IIoT continues to transform the world of manufacturing at a rapid pace; it is therefore changing how industrial solutions are being designed, which now require more coordination and collaboration in technology and product development, said Kris Baxter, vice president of marketing, Embedded Business Unit, Micron. The IQ Partner Program allows us to work in partnership with a company like Greenliant to deliver high-quality, robust and long-lasting embedded systems for the industrial market.

"Combining Greenliant's SSD controller expertise with Micron's leading 3D NAND flash technology has been instrumental in developing next-generation ArmourDrive and NANDrive product lines, said Arthur Kroyan, vice president, business development and marketing, Greenliant. "As a proven supplier of high-reliability SSDs, Greenliant appreciates Microns long-term support and the advanced features of its NAND products.







The implementation of Microns 3D NAND and Greenliants controller technology has solved complex problems, such as data integrity and product reliability in harsh industrial environments, making it an ideal storage solution for many embedded designs.

For more information about the Micron IQ Partner Program, visit https://www.micron.com/IQ.

About Greenliant

By leveraging more than 25 years of solid state storage design expertise, Greenliant is dedicated to developing durable, reliable and secure storage solutions for embedded systems and enterprise datacenters. The company is headquartered in Silicon Valley with product development centers in Santa Clara, Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen and Hsinchu. https://www.greenliant.com

Greenliant, the Greenliant logo, ArmourDrive and NANDrive are trademarks of Greenliant. All other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e59d1c9a-6338-4f3b-9035-7c8d8fdfa410

Media Contact: Tara Yingst Greenliant 408-200-8062 [email protected]
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) says its 2020 election campaign will be based on the superior records of former president John Mahama as well as his integrity and sincerity as a corruption fighter.

The party said these traits are what the current government led by President Akufo-Addo lacks.

The partys Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi told Bernard Avle on Point of View on Monday that its flagbearer, John Mahama, who is seeking to be president again, has better alternatives to the promises, policies and programs being implemented by the Akufo-Addo government.

We are presenting a presidential candidate who has by far a superior record on all issues of our national politics. Whether it is health, whether it is roads, industry, health, he has superior records in all these critical sectors. He has done it before and he has that credibility. We are telling Ghanaians that if you give him that opportunity again, you will see the development and progress again. What we have witnessed under Akufo-Addo is a decline, it is retrogression, he said.

Sammy Gyamfi continued, We are going to fight this election and win this election on the basis of our superior alternatives. President Mahama is a man of vision and he has right alternative policies and programs which can transform this country and create jobs for the teeming unemployed people of this country and bring prosperity.

The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been criticizing the NDC and John Mahama of having no campaign message to win Ghanaians over into the 2020 election and that the party was only going about criticizing what the current government was doing.

But Sammy Gyamfi said the NDC had by far, better alternatives to the governments programs.

He said one of the qualities John Mahama is coming on board with for the 2020 polls is his commitment to engaging the grassroots and all Ghanaians to take up their views and concerns so that it can be incorporated into his governance plan if elected.

His [John Mahamas] sincerity, his humility as an individual is something we treasure because that is what we lack currently [in the country]. The leadership we are experiencing in this country is a leadership of dishonesty, a leadership of deception, a leadership of arrogance. Some people think that this country belongs to them We [NDC] dont think like that, he said.

Sammy Gyamfi said John Mahamas current tour is meant to touch base with Ghanaians and reassure them of his plans to improve their lives.

Mahama has no message

President Akufo-Addo has also told Ghanaians to vote for him for a second four-year term in office, urging them to ignore former president John Mahama because he has no message for Ghanaians and will only reverse the development his government has done in its first term.

President Akufo-Addo who is the only aspirant for the NPPs presidential primaries will challenge Mr. Mahama in the 2020 polls if endorsed by his party.

Mr. Mahama is seeking a comeback after losing the presidential seat to a second-time contestant, President Akufo-Addo in the 2016 elections.

While Akufo-Addo polled 5,755,758 votes representing 53.7% of the total valid votes cast, John Mahama polled 4,771,188 votes representing 44.5%.

---citinewsroom
GATINEAU, QUE.Police in Gatineau, Que., say a 39-year-old woman already facing a manslaughter charge in the death of a three-month-old baby in an apartment fire last August now faces a similar charge in the death of a man in the same fire.

Police say all five people inside the apartment, including the woman, were injured when a fire broke out at about 2 a.m. on Aug. 31 in an apartment in the western Quebec citys Buckingham district.

The baby died the same day, while the man and another child under the age of two were badly injured.

Authorities say the man died in December after months in hospital and the toddler remains hospitalized and is receiving treatment at a specialized facility.

The woman, who also faces charges of arson causing damage to property and arson with disregard for human life, has been released under conditions.

There are publication bans on the identities of those involved.

Read more about:
His Highness toured the stands and interacted with many of the 330 exhibitors displaying the latest innovations in both aircraft interiors and MRO, including SITAONAIR, Sanad Aerotech, Falcon Aviation and Anjou Aero.

Among the products on display at this years event are IFEC technology, lighting and ultralight wheelchairs. Falcon Aviation, meanwhile, used the opportunity to announce that is has been awarded D1 approval for Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) by three authorities, including the EASA. This allows Falcon Aviation to identify latent issues in customer aircraft and attend to them to the highest safety degree. The approval means Falcon Aviation joins a small group of operators in the region capable of providing NDT testing and opens up a new line of support to clients that was previously closed.

Airlines from the Middle East region and beyond know to visit the event to discover opportunities to network with suppliers, both existing and potential. Over 70 airlines from 40 countries are represented at this years edition, making it the perfect platform for suppliers to interact with airline buyers in a dedicated environment.

OEMs for cabin interiors linefit have secured a portion of the aftermarket, says Ioana Dragusin, Quality Assurance Manager at Anjou Aero. AIME offers other fully certified manufacturers to showcase their products and offer Airlines viable, fully-certified alternative equipment for the interiors upgrade.

Several agreements were signed on the sidelines of the event, including a long-term agreement between Safran Nacelles with Sabena technics GO TEAM support services for a scope of nacelle repairs that bring the GO TEAMs resources directly on wing all over the world. In addition, Saudi Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI), a Honeywell certified service centre, announced completion of over 100 auxiliary power unit repairs from its Jet Propulsion Center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

With SAEI, Boeing B777 and Airbus A330 operations with Honeywell APUs receive MRO services in the Middle East. This capability strongly positions SAEI in achieving the Saudi Vision 2030, part of which aims to localize more than 50 percent of military equipment spending by 2030 and includes covering MRO services for fixed and rotary-wing military aircraft.

The IFEC Seminars taking place within the show also opened this morning, with Chair Rick Lundstrom, Editor of PAX International, leading sessions featuring industry experts including Liyaqat-Ali, Senior Manager at South African Airways; Rana Kashif Altaf, Senior Fleet Management, Engineering Technical Services Avionics & IFE at Emirates Airline; Philippe Combe, Product Manager, SITAONAIR and Neale Faulkner, Regional Vice President - MEASA at Inmarsat, among others.

Across two days these free to attend seminars in the show floor add another dimension to attendees experience at AIME, with market leading speakers sharing knowledge and experience with the audience.

The event has yet again attracted some of the industrys most exciting innovations, says Caryn McConnachie, Aerospace Director at show organisers Tarsus F&E LLC Middle East. We are proud to have been able to bring together the industrys key innovators with its airline customers in a dedicated event, providing the ideal platform for business.

MRO Middle East really is the ideal platform for the industry in the region, says Lydia Janow, Managing Director/Events, Aviation Week Network. She continues, Time and time again we hear from exhibitors that the facetime and networking opportunities are unrivalled, due to the focused nature. The business already done here on opening morning certainly demonstrates that.

AIME and MRO Middle East continue tomorrow at Dubai World Trade Centre from 10:00am  4:00pm. Visitors can still register on arrival at the venue.
The two Columbus, Ohio, vice cops who lost their jobs in January over their gross neglect of duty and incompetence when they arrested Stormy Daniels in July, 2018, continued to cost that city money this week.

On Monday, the Columbus City Council voted to settle a lawsuit brought against the city and former officers Steven Rosser and Whitney Lancaster by six strippers at the club Kahoots. The women alleged that the two voce cops unfairly targeted them for arrest as part of a vendetta against the club.

The club had earlier fired a bouncer who served as a confidential informant for Rosser and Lancaster. According to the lawsuit, the two vice officers vowed to harass the club, and the dancers who performed there, until the bouncer got his job backwhich did, eventually, happen.

According to a Columbus Dispatch investigation, every complaint filed by Columbus vice detectives between September 2017 and July 2018 was against Kahoots.

But on July 11, the same two cops, along with others from the citys since-disbanded vice unit, arrested Daniels at another club, Sirens, as she performed her striping act there. Daniels claimed the the bust was politically motivated, due to her then-ongoing lawsuits against Donald Trump. While the city did not admit political motivations behind the Daniels arrest, an internal investigation found it to be improper.

Daniels sued the city for $2 million, but agreed last year to a settlement of $450,000.

In the Kahoots lawsuit, the city will pay $185,000 to the six dancers who said they were wrongly arrested by Rosser and Lancaster. But one of those dancers, Carla Hoover, told WOSU Radio that the damages from her arrest have been far worse.

I cannot work in the city of Columbus because Ive been blacklisted, Hoover told the station. Which means my name is put out as someone who is not hireable because I fought against the charges that were put on me by Rosser and Lancaster.

The city still has one more lawsuit to face arising out of Rosser and Lancasters alleged activities. The owners of Kahoots say in a suit that the vendetta against their club by the two vice cops did, as the officers allegedly threatened, put the establishment out of business.

Photo by WCMH-TV YouTube Screen Capture
A second man has been charged with murder over the death of a former associate of drug kingpin Tony Mokbel.

A 27-year-old Dandenong man has been charged over the shooting of Mitat Rasimi and will face the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Mitat Rasimi. Credit:Nine News

The man was arrested in Springvale in Melbourne's south-east after 4pm on Tuesday.

A 25-year-old Hampton Park man had previously been charged with murder and is on remand awaiting trial on April 9.
The coverage on this live blog has ended  but for up-to-the-minute coverage on the coronavirus, visit the live blog from CNBC's Asia-Pacific team. All times below are in Eastern time. Total confirmed cases: More than 80,200

Total deaths: At least 2,704

6:34 pm: New coronavirus cases in Germany

A 25-year-old man living in the southern German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg has tested positive for coronavirus after a trip to Milan, and another man further north is in a critical condition with the disease, authorities said. The Baden-Wuerttemberg health ministry said the man in the southern state, who had likely become infected during his visit to Italy, had contacted authorities after coming down with flu-like symptoms. He will be treated in isolation, it added. "People in close contact with the patient will be kept in home isolation and be asked about their state of health every day," it said. "As soon as a contact person develops symptoms, they will also be isolated in hospital." The new confirmed cases take to 18 the total number of coronavirus cases in Germany. Reuters

5:18 San Francisco declares local emergency

San Francisco Mayor London Breed declared local emergency, even though there aren't any confirmed cases in the city, NBC Bay Area reported. "Although there are still zero confirmed cases in San Francisco residents, the global picture is changing rapidly, and we need to step-up preparedness," Breed said in a statement. "We see the virus spreading in new parts of the world every day, and we are taking the necessary steps to protect San Franciscans from harm." The declaration of the local emergency will help mobilize city resources and accelerate emergency planning, among other things.

tweet mayor

4:40 pm: Dow loses more than 800 points as stocks plunge for a second day

The stock rout continued as diving bond yields raised more concern that the global economy is slowing significantly because of the spreading coronavirus. The 10-year Treasury yield hit a record low as the Dow Jones Industrial Average added to Monday's 1,000-point drop. Comments from health officials warning of a possible outbreak in the U.S. also spooked investors, causing a turnaround in stocks which had opened the day higher. The Dow dropped 879.44 points, or 3.1%, to 27,081.36 after being up more than 180 points at one point shortly after the open. The S&P 500 slid 3% to 3,128.21 while the Nasdaq Composite fell 2.8% to 8,965.61. Monday's session was the market's worst in two years. The S&P 500 posted back-to-back declines of at least 3% for the first time since November 2008 during the financial crisis, according to Bespoke Investment Group.

4:20 pm: Delta scraps cancellation fees for Italy flights because of outbreak

Delta Air Lines is waiving the cancellation and change fees for travelers hesitant to travel to several cities in Italy because of the recent spread of the coronavirus there. Travelers booked to or from Venice, Bologna or Milan's two airports can rebook their travel for until March 31 or cancel altogether, the carrier said. The move comes after Delta, United and American said they would waive fees for flights to Seoul, South Korea because of the outbreak there. All U.S. airline stocks were trading sharply lower than the broader market. Josephs

3:52 pm: US health officials say human trials on coronavirus vaccine to start in 6 weeks

Human trials testing a potential vaccine for the COVID-19 coronavirus are expected to begin in six weeks, U.S. health officials announced Tuesday. "We are on time at least and maybe even a little bit better," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, told reporters at a press conference. "Hopefully, no further glitches." The White House reportedly asked Congress on Monday for $1.25 billion in additional funding to bolster its coronavirus response, including money to develop a vaccine and therapeutics to treat the virus. The National Institutes of Health has been working with biotech company Moderna to develop a vaccine using the current strain of the coronavirus. Lovelace

3:49 pm: US health officials say coronavirus will likely cause a global pandemic

The coronavirus outbreak that's shuttered commerce across China will likely become a global pandemic, a top U.S. health official said, adding that it's just a matter of time before the outbreak starts spreading in the U.S. "Current global circumstances suggest it's likely this virus will cause a pandemic," Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters at a news briefing. "It's not so much a question of if this will happen any more, but rather more a question of when this will happen and how many people in this country will become infected and how many of those will develop severe or more complicated disease," she added. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar added: "We can't hermetically seal off the United States." Azar confirmed four new cases of the virus from repatriated cruise ship passengers, bringing the total in the U.S. to 57.

3:46 pm: FDA says it's monitoring the market for potential drug shortages, fraudulent treatment claims

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is monitoring for potential drug shortages and fraudulent treatment claims as the coronavirus outbreak places a pause on its product inspections in China. The FDA has identified about 20 drug products that either solely source their active ingredients or produce finished drug products in China and has contacted their manufacturers to see if they have experienced any supply issues, FDA spokesperson Stephanie Caccomo said in a statement. "None of these firms has reported any shortage to date," Caccomo said. "We will continue to remain in contact with the manufacturers so that we can best help mitigate any potential issues in the future." Since Jan. 24, the FDA has also reached out to over 180 manufacturers to remind them of their requirement to notify the FDA of any anticipated supply disruptions, Caccomo said. Higgins-Dunn

2:50 pm: CDC hopes the coronavirus outbreak is seasonal like the flu and subsides in the summer

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there is a hypothesis among mathematical modelers that the coronavirus outbreak "could potentially be seasonal" and relent in warmer conditions. "Other viral respiratory diseases are seasonal, including influenza and therefore in many viral respiratory diseases we do see a decrease in disease in spring and summer," Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said on a conference call Tuesday. "And so we can certainly be optimistic that this disease will follow suit." Feuer

A woman waiting for an international traveler to arrive to LAX Tom Bradley International Terminal wears a medical mask for protection against the coronavirus outbreak on February 2, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. David McNew | Getty Images

2:25 pm: Kudlow tries to assuage coronavirus concerns and impact on US economy

National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow tried to assuage concerns over the cornavirus and its impact on the U.S. economy, saying officials "have contained this." The comments came hours after the CDC said the COVID-19 coronavirus is "likely" to continue to spread throughout the United States and the American public should "prepare for the expectation that this is going to be bad." Lovelace

1:55 pm: Toyota reopens fourth plant in China

Toyota Motor has reopened a fourth plant in China following a month-long extension of its holiday shutdown due to the coronavirus. Eric Booth, a company spokesman, said the plant in Chengdu, located hundreds of miles west from the disease's epicenter in Wuhan, restarted production on Monday. With the reopening of the facility, all of the Japanese automaker's assembly plants in the country are operating, he said. Booth declined to comment on when Toyota expects the plants to return to full production, saying the automaker "will resume normal operations as soon as it is deemed safe and appropriate." He also confirmed that no Toyota plants outside of China have been impacted from supply disruptions. Wayland

1:49 pm: Coronavirus outbreak could force cancellation of 2020 Tokyo Games, IOC member says

A senior member of the International Olympic Committee said that if it proves too dangerous to hold the Olympics in Tokyo this summer because of the coronavirus outbreak, organizers are more likely to cancel it altogether than to postpone or move it. Dick Pound, a former Canadian swimming champion who has been on the IOC since 1978, making him its longest-serving member, estimated there is a three-month window  perhaps a two-month one  to decide the fate of the Tokyo Olympics, meaning a decision could be put off until late May. Associated Press

1:24 pm: Eleventh death in coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy

A 76-year-old woman died in the northern Italian city of Treviso, the Veneto region said, the eleventh victim of the worst coronavirus outbreak in Europe. Italy is struggling against the contagion with its epicenter in the wealthy regions of Lombardy and Veneto. The number of confirmed cases rose to 322 from 229 on Monday, the vast majority of them in the north of the country. Reuters

1:09 pm: Economic fallout from coronavirus appears 'much worse' than SARS

The economic drag from the new coronavirus will turn out to be larger than SARS, according to Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles. Seroka was working in Shanghai during the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak. "At that time, we were all grounded," he told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Tuesday. "This appears to be much worse because of the number of folks who were infected and the lack of productivity." While estimates vary, economists believe SARS cost the global economy about $40 billion.  Belvedere

12:54 pm: Romania confirms first case as Italy reports more deaths

Romania confirmed its first case  a man who returned three weeks ago from Italy, television station Realitatea Plus said, quoting medical sector sources. In Italy, three more people infected with the coronavirus have died, bringing the death toll there to 10, the chief of the Civil Protection agency said. The number of cases in Italy more than doubled in the last day, topping 322 as of Tuesday morning, according to Italian health officials. The contagion was particularly strong in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto, the country's industrial and financial heartland. Italy's neighboring countries have committed not to close their borders, Health Minister Roberto Speranza said, as Rome's government struggles to contain the biggest coronavirus outbreak in Europe. Reuters with CNBC

A health worker screens the temperature of an airline passenger at Debrecen International Airport in Debrecen, Hungary, on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Bloomberg

12:34 pm: US health secretary Azar says more cases likely, seeks more funding

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said there will likely be more cases of coronavirus in the United States as he asked a Senate subcommittee to approve $2.5 billion in funding to fight the outbreak after proposing cuts to the department's budget. Azar said the funding would help the U.S. expand surveillance systems for the fast-spreading virus, support state and local governments, help development of vaccines and therapies and expand stockpiles of protective equipment like surgical masks. He said the U.S. currently has a stockpile of 30 million surgical masks, but HHS estimates suggest the country needs 300 million masks. Reuters

12:28 pm: Macy's is planning for a coronavirus hit

Macy's warned investors that the coronavirus outbreak, which has shuttered commerce across China and sent markets spiraling, could hit the department store chain, too. The virus could disrupt Macy's operations in three ways, CEO and Chairman Jeff Gennette said on the company's fourth-quarter earnings call, if it affects employees, international tourism and supply chain. "While still too early to estimate, we anticipate that there could be a small impact on first-quarter sales from international tourism," he said. "With respect to the supply chain, we are working with our vendor partners to minimize any possible disruption." Feuer

12:22 pm: Goldman steps up staff travel restrictions as coronavirus spreads

Goldman Sachs has restricted all business travel to, from and within South Korea and the Northern Italian regions of Lombardy and Veneto in the wake of the coronavirus spread, a staff memo seen by Reuters shows. The Wall Street lender has also advised staff to postpone all non-essential travel to, from and within the rest of Italy, as well as other parts of Asia, excluding Australia, New Zealand anazard India, the memo said. Staff who have visited South Korea or the impacted regions of Italy have been asked to 'self-isolate' and stay away from the office for a minimum of 14 days. Reuters

12:01 pm: CDC outlines what closing schools, businesses would look like in US pandemic

The CDC outlined what schools and businesses will likely need to do if the COVID-19 virus becomes an epidemic outbreak in the U.S. Schools should consider dividing students into smaller groups or close and use "internet-based tele-schooling," Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters on a conference call. "For adults, businesses can replace in-person meetings with video or telephone conferences and increase teleworking options," Messonnier said. She said local communities and cities may need to "modify, postpone or cancel mass gatherings." Hospitals may need to triage patients differently, add more tele-health services and delay elective surgery, she said. "We are asking the American public to work with us to prepare for the expectation that this is going to be bad," she said. Lovelace, Feuer

11:37 am: Bahrain reports 6 new cases of coronavirus coming from Iran

Bahrain has identified six more new cases of coronavirus all coming from Iran, taking the total number in the Gulf kingdom to 23, the state news agency BNA reported, citing the health ministry.In a precautionary measure to limit the spread of the virus, the education ministry said all public and private schools, including kindergartens, would be closed for two weeks from Wednesday, BNA added.

11:30 am: CDC confirms 53 US cases

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 53 cases in the U.S., a majority of which came from passengers repatriated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined off the coast of Japan. The CDC updated its case count on its website late Monday. The data shows that 36 of the cases are attributed to the cruise ship, three patients were infected in Wuhan and later evacuated to the U.S. and the rest were largely infected while traveling overseas. Just two cases were contracted through person-to-person contact in the U.S., the CDC said. Kopecki

11:23 am: Trump sows confusion in discussing vaccine

President Donald Trump told reporters that "we're very close to a vaccine" while answering questions about the COVID-19 outbreak during a state visit to India, prompting outlets from the Jerusalem Post to the New York Post to write that Trump said the U.S. was close to finding a vaccine for the deadly new coronavirus. The White House later said Trump was referring to the Ebola vaccine not the coronavirus. Breuninger

10:17 am: Switzerland confirms first case of coronavirus as franc climbs

Switzerland has confirmed its first case of coronavirus, the Federal Office of Public Health said. Further details will be provided at 11 a.m. ET, the health department said. The Swiss franc, meanwhile, climbed to its highest level since July 2015 against a struggling euro on Monday as concerns about the spread of the coronavirus drove investors into safe-haven assets. The franc, traditionally sought in times of uncertainty, rose to 1.0604 versus the euro, a 4-1/2 year peak and a higher value than it reached after Britain's shock vote to leave the European Union in June 2016.  Reuters

9:53 am: WHO holds press conference on outbreak

World Health Organization officials are holding a press conference at 10 a.m. ET to update the public on the coronavirus outbreak. 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. The localized outbreaks in places such as Italy and Iran 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. Watch the live press conference here.

9:33 am: Oman identifies two more cases of new coronavirus

Oman has identified two more cases of the new coronavirus, bringing the total number to four, its ministry of health said in a tweet on Tuesday. The two new cases are "linked to travel to Iran", the ministry said. Reuters

8:47 am: US plans trial of Gilead drug remdesivir

The U.S. is planning a clinical trial of Gilead's experimental drug for the novel coronavirus, according to a posting on a government clinical trials database. The trial, run by the University of Nebraska Medical Center along with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will be conducted at up to 50 sites globally and will test the medicine, called remdesivir, against placebo, according to the protocol, which was posted Friday. Tirrell

8:18 am: Austria confirms first two cases

Austria has confirmed its first two cases of coronavirus, health officials in Tyrol province said. The patients are two Italians who live in Tyrol and were probably infected on a trip to Italy's Lombardy region, Tyrol Gov. Guenther Platter was quoted as saying by local media. Tyrol and Carinthia are the two Austrian provinces that border northern Italy. TV station ORF said the two 24-year-olds had reported themselves to the authorities. They had a slight fever and were under isolation in an Innsbruck hospital. Reuters

7:43 am: US airlines waive cancellation fees for South Korea flights after CDC issues travel warning

U.S. airlines said they would waive cancellation and change fees for travelers booked to South Korea as the coronavirus spreads beyond China, prompting a warning from government officials about travel there. Earlier on Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned travelers to avoid nonessential travel to South Korea, where the disease has sickened close to 1,000 people. Delta Air Lines' travelers who booked tickets to Seoul through April 30 can change flights until May 31 or cancel their trips without paying a fee, the airline said. American Airlines' customers booked to Seoul through April 24 can change their flights without paying a date-change fee, or they can cancel the trip altogether. Those travelers can also change the origin or destination of their trips to Tokyo, and take another plane to or from South Korea. United Airlines issued a similar waiver for Seoul. Josephs

6:45 am: Iran's deputy health minister tests positive for coronavirus

Iran's deputy health minister has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a report from the semi-official ILNA news agency. It comes shortly after a spokesperson for the Islamic Republic's health ministry said 95 people had been infected with the coronavirus, with 16 deaths nationwide. Iran has recorded the highest number of deaths from the coronavirus outside of China. Meredith

6:30 am: Chinese city announces 14-day quarantine in free hotels for travelers from Japan, South Korea

The eastern city of Weihai has announced that all travelers returning from Japan and South Korea will need to stay in hotels for a 14-day quarantine. Accommodations will be free. The move comes amid intensifying concerns on China's social media platform Weibo over a growing number of coronavirus cases in South Korea. The measures, effective Tuesday, are meant "to minimize the chance of cross-infection," according to a CNBC translation of the Chinese-language announcement. Weihai, in Shandong province, is about a two-hour flight from Seoul. Wu

5:55 am: WHO says countries must be prepared for coronavirus 'literally knocking at the door'

The World Health Organization warned countries around the world they must be ready for the fast-spreading coronavirus to be "literally knocking at the door." Speaking in Geneva, WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said that while many countries had "pandemic plans" on standby, the United Nations health agency does not plan to make a "big announcement." It comes amid intensifying concern about the coronavirus outbreak, with the deadly virus spreading to more than two dozen countries in recent weeks. As of Tuesday, China's National Health Commission reported 77,658 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 2,663 deaths nationwide.

5:35 am: Iran urges people to stay at home as coronavirus death toll climbs to 16

Iran's health ministry reportedly urged citizens to stay at home on Tuesday, following a sharp uptick of confirmed coronavirus cases nationwide. Kianoush Jahanpour, a spokesperson for the Islamic Republic's health ministry, said via state television that 95 people had been infected with the coronavirus, with 16 deaths nationwide. Iran has recorded the highest number of deaths from coronavirus outside China. Several countries have suspended flights to Iran in a bid to prevent the outbreak, while some neighboring countries have closed their borders. Meredith

A man wears a protective mask while riding a bus in the Iranian capital Tehran on February 24, 2020. ATTA KENARE | AFP via Getty Images

4:40 am: Canary Islands hotel reportedly under lockdown after tourist tests positive
On Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that two executives at Juul are departing from the company amid a reduction in overseas business efforts. The respective presidents of the e-cigarette maker's Asia Pacific South division and its Europe, Middle East, and Africa division are exiting the company, according to the paper's sources.

Juul took the North American vaping market by storm, and the company was aiming to create similar momentum in other territories, but the business is experiencing a string of setbacks as its marketing practices have come under fire domestically and abroad. Juul's international business initiatives will now primarily be orchestrated from the company's San Francisco headquarters, according to WSJ.

What comes next for Juul?

Hot on the heels of reports suggesting a substantial reduction for the company's international operations, news hit that investigators from 39 American states would be looking into whether Juul targeted teens with its advertising and misrepresented the nicotine content in its devices.

On Feb. 21, it was also reported that the SEC launched an investigation into whether Altria Group (NYSE:MO) sufficiently disclosed the risks of purchasing a 35% stake in Juul to investors. The $12.8 billion deal closed in 2018, and it was followed by Altria writing down the value of its investment by $4.5 billion last October and then issuing another $4.1 billion write down in January.

Juul is reportedly hoping to launch a new line of e-cigarettes that will use age verification technology to prevent people below the legal smoking age from using the products. The exact mechanisms for how this might work aren't publicly known at present.
By PTI

MUMBAI: In a trenchant observation, the Bombay High Court said on Tuesday that there has not been any "effective progress" in the trial of 2008 Malegaon blast case where BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur is an accused.

The HC also asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to explain the delay.

A division bench of acting Chief Justice BP Dharmadhikari and N R Borkar was hearing an application filed by another accused, Sameer Kulkarni, claiming that the prosecution, NIA and some of the fellow accused were deliberately delaying the proceedings.

Kulkarni pointed out that in October 2018 the HC had ordered the special NIA court in Mumbai to expedite the trial, but in the last six months only 14 witnesses were examined.

In January 2019, the HC had asked the NIA court's judge to submit reports in a sealed cover if any person was not cooperating with the trial court.

After going through two reports submitted by the trial court on Tuesday, the HC said, "Prima facie, we find that there has been no effective progress in the trial as of now."

The bench directed the NIA to explain why the trial was being prolonged and adjourned the hearing to March 16.

Six people were killed and 100 injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in the North Maharashtra town of Malegaon, about 200 km from here, on September 29, 2008.

Pragya Singh Thakur, who won Lok Sabha election from Bhopal last year, is one of the prime accused in the case.

Other accused include Army officer Lt Col Prasad Purohit, Ramesh Upadhyay, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi and Sudhakar Chaturvedi.
Addressing a press briefing in Delhi on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump refused to categorically state his position on the Citizenship Amendment Act. He opined that the Indian government would hopefully make the right decision for the people. Moreover, the US President revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in favour of people having religious freedom. He highlighted that India had worked very hard on religious freedom in comparison to other nations. At the same time, he clarified that he had not discussed the ongoing violence in the national capital which has claimed 10 lives and left 105 people injured.

US President Donald Trump remarked, So, we did talk about religious freedom and I will say that the PM was incredible on what he told me. He wants people to have religious freedom and very strongly. And he said that in India, they have worked very hard to have great and open religious freedom. And if you look back at whats going on, relative to other places, they have worked really hard on religious freedom. I asked that question in front of a very large group of people today. And we talked about it for a long time. As far as the individual attack, I heard about it but I didnt discuss it with him. Thats up to India.

Read: Donald Trump Turns Bajirao: US Prez' Assistant Shares Morphed Video Of Him Dancing; Watch

He added, I dont want to discuss that. I want to leave it to India and hopefully, they are going to make the right decision for the people. Thats up to India, about the contentious CAA.

Read: In India, Trump's Election Pitch: 'Markets Will Rise By 1000s & 1000s Of Points If I Win'

'A very powerful answer from the Prime Minister'

The US President also stated that he had discussed the issues of Muslims and Christians with PM Modi. Stressing that they talked about religious liberty, he cited the PMs assertion that the population of Muslims had grown from 14 million to 200 million in a relatively less timespan. Furthermore, the PM told him that the Indian government was closely working with the Muslim community.

We specifically discussed Muslims and Christians. I had a very powerful answer from the Prime Minister. We talked about religious liberty. As far as Muslims are concerned, he told me that there are 200 million Muslims in India and a fairly short while ago, they had 14 million. He said that they are working very closely with the Muslim community, Donald Trump opined.

Read: Donald Trump Lauds Indian Cinema; Mentions 'DDLJ', 'Sholay' & Other Films In Speech

What is the CAA?

The CAA seeks to provide citizenship to the minority communities namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. This will be applicable to the members of these communities having arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014. Moreover, they will not be considered as illegal migrants. This legislation has divided public opinion, leading to massive protests across the country.

Read: FLOTUS Melania Trump Attends 'Happiness Class', Says She's 'inspired By Curriculum'
A quarantine official sprays disinfectant in a Shincheonji Church facility in Seodaemun District, Seoul, Feb. 21. Korea Times photo by Ko Young-kwon





By Kim Se-jeong







The number of coronavirus patients will continue to increase unless the government puts a stop to the way the Shincheonji Church does its missionary work, said an expert on the secretive religious sect at the center of the COVID-19 outbreak in Korea.







Shincheonji, officially known as the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, sends its members to other Christian churches as converts in disguise to poach members from them.







"This is the main strategy for their missionary work," said Lee Duck-sure who leads a group of experts studying Christian sects in Korea and helping members who wish to leave them.







"One case I heard in Daegu last week was that a church had one of its deaconesses confirmed as a virus patient. Only then, the church discovered that she was a secret Shincheonji member and had been to meetings with the 31st patient," he said. "From a quarantine point of view, this is a big problem because these people are spreading the virus all over."






Aligarh to Delhi: Violence staged by anti citizenship law protesters says IB report

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 25: The Intelligence has found a common link to the violent protests against the citizenship law in Delhi and Aligarh.

The PFI and the Bhim Army have emerged as one of the main suspects in the violence that erupted both in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. The details were revealed by the Uttar Pradesh intelligence bureau on the basis of Call Detail Records.

The report says that the intent was to cause chaos and also target police men so that the violence escalates.

Delhi violence a clear attempt to embarrass India by anti citizenship law protesters: IB

The state intelligence bureau report suggested that the entire violence was orchestrated and was aimed at embarrassing India during the visit by Donal Trump. The report says that mischief makers had met on Sunday and decided to turn the protest violent. If one witnesses, those who came on to the streets had come well prepared with stones, pistols and even crates that they used as shields.

Delhi Police sources tell OneIndia that the there was clearly an attempt to incite violence and ensure that the protests turned violent in northeast Delhi. We will be booking all the perpetrators behind the violence. We also have taken into custody the man seen with a pistol, who goes by the name Sharukh. Attempts were made to pass off the shooter as someone from the pro citizenship law group, but it became clear that he had come from the Jaffrabad side, where those opposing the new law were emerging from.

During the high level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, various aspects were discussed. These included attempts to incite violence, hate mongering and also rumour spreading.

During a high level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, issues such a hate mongering, adequate force deployment were discussed. It was also decided to have better MLA-Police coordination. More importantly, it was decided that rumour mongering had to stop in order to ensure peace in the area.

Northeast Delhi remains on the boil: Shots fired, attempts to burn down houses made

The meeting was attended by Delhi Lieutenant Governor, Anil Baijal, Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal and representatives from political parties. Shah has been reviewing the situation since Monday.

Shah had held a meeting late on Monday night after attending the Namaste Trump event at Ahmedabad. The meeting which began at 11 pm ended at 1.30 am, sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs tell OneIndia.

During the meeting, Shah reviewed the law and order situation in Delhi and directed officials to restore normalcy at the earliest.

Meanwhile the death toll in the northeast Delhi violence climbed to seven, a senior police official on Tuesday.

Hate and rumour mongering must stop says Shah during high-level meet post Delhi violence

A Delhi Police head constable, Ratan Lal, was among the seven killed in the violence that erupted on Monday over the amended citizenship law.

Till Monday, authorities had said at least four people, including Lal, were killed in the violence. They said that the death toll has increased to seven on Tuesday.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 16:35 [IST]
Rising COVID-19 cases in South Korea scare away shoppers, tourists from China

Global Times

By Liu Caiyu and Wan Lin Source:Global Times Published: 2020/2/24 18:53:40

The deteriorating epidemic situation in South Korea has scared away shoppers and tourists and worried Chinese students after the country reported 833 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and eight deaths as of Monday night.

Crystal, a Chinese shopper based in Langfang, North China's Hebei Province who has been a professional purchasing agent for years, told the Global Times the emerging epidemic in South Korea has ended the job.

"I usually go to South Korea once a month to buy cosmetics but this annoying coronavirus kept us home. My current stocks would be sold out in days," Crystal said, noting the purchases from South Korea would earn her about 20,000 yuan ($2,844) every month.

The coronavirus hit the outbound professional purchasing business hard and many have switched to other businesses, Crystal said. "We cannot go out of China right now and I'm also scared to get infected in South Korea," another shopping agent said.

The flights between China and South Korea have been significantly reduced due to the impact of the epidemic. Air carriers including Korean Air have called off flights to Wuhan and reduced flights to other Chinese cities untill March, the Yonhap News Agency reported.

Outbound tourism to South Korea has seen a sharp drop due to the impact of the coronavirus and the group-travel suspension by the China Association of Travel Services in January, industry experts told the Global Times.

Travel agents have stayed at home for weeks as no overseas group tours are allowed. Individual tourism to South Korea also has largely dropped as the epidemic in the country worsens, a tourism agent based in Beijing surnamed Wang told the Global Times.

Outbound tourism is expected to recover in the latter half of the year, she said.

The epidemic clearly affected Chinese students studying in the neighboring nation as well. A junior student at Sangmyung University in Seoul, surnamed Liu, told the Global Times on Monday that her school has asked Chinese students to complete a 14-day quarantine before class starts on March 16, which means she has to set off before March 1.

"My family and I are considering if I need to apply for a suspension for the next quarter, and for that I have to wait for a few more days to see how serious the whole epidemic situation is in South Korea," said Liu.

The South Korean Ministry of Education advised Chinese students who have not yet bought air tickets to South Korea to suspend their studies this semester and promised to relax credit restrictions for these students through measures such as the centralized study system.

More than 38,000 of the 70,000 Chinese students studying in South Korea's universities have yet to enter the country, with 19,000 expected to do so in the next two weeks, according to the ministry.

From Sunday night, the airport in Yanji, Northeast China's Jilin Province strengthened its precautionary measures on inspection of flights from South Korea. Flights from South Korea will go through designated channels and will be isolated from domestic flights.

Yanji airport has an average of two South Korean flights every day, with an average of 350 passengers per day.

After the tighter measures on flights from South Korea were issued in Yanji, Chinese residents from Shandong Province, one of the provinces that has the most frequent contacts with South Korea, called for the local government to impose similar entry restrictions on passengers from South Korea, to prevent the spread of the virus.

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Zerodha, Indias largest discount broker, has applied for a mutual fund license. If all goes well and on time, Zerodha may be able to start its asset management company (AMC) in under a years time. Earlier, an in-principle approval was given to NJ India Invest  Indias largest mutual funds distributor in terms of commissions received (in 2018-19)  to set up its own AMC by the capital market regulator, the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Clearly, some distributors arent just satisfied with distributing mutual funds. They want to manage schemes too.

Simple, low-cost products

Zerodha has for long focused on bringing transaction costs down in its discount brokerage business. One way of doing this is to focus on low-cost products. So, the firm has plans to launch low-cost funds. Passive, simple, cheap index-traded funds will be on offer, says Nithin Kamath, founder and CEO of Zerodha.

Similarly, NJ India Invest wants to focus on equity funds for now, but mainly on exchange traded schemes to begin with.

Mutual fund products need to be simplified to attract investments from young investors, says Kamath. Zerodha started its journey in 2010 as a Rs 20 per order broker and gained popularity as a no-frills, low-cost player among traders, especially high-volume derivatives traders.

Zerodha handles four million trades a day on the exchanges. Retail investors also found it attractive to invest in the direct option of mutual fund schemes using the Coin platform launched by Zerodha. Coin today has assets under management (AUM) of Rs 5500 crore.

Investors need options that are aligned with their financial goals, says Kamath, and hints at the need to roll out schemes that would help youngsters plan for their retirement. Investment products driven by quantitative strategies will also be an area of interest, he adds.

There are many actively-managed open-ended funds out there. However smart beta ETF will be our focus area, says Neeraj Choksi, co-founder of NJ India Invest. The idea is to bring the benefits of both worlds  the cost effectiveness of ETFs and the benefits of active management.

Rolling out passive funds means that Zerodha and NJ India Invest need not hire a team of highly-paid managers.

Evolved investors will get some thematic investment ideas on the exchange traded funds platform, Kamath says, without getting into the finer details.

Suresh Sadagopan, founder of Ladder7 Financial Advisories says, The new entrants need to adopt a differentiated approach to survive and grow. Low-cost index funds and ETFs offer attractive risk-adjusted returns. Smart beta ETFs bring in much required differentiated flavor to the portfolio.

Leveraging networks

NJ India has appointed Anand Shah as the chief executive officer of its proposed mutual fund venture. He was earlier the deputy CEO and Head-Investments at BNP Paribas Mutual Fund.

The new business will be a separate entity and will work on arms length basis with the mutual fund distribution business, says Choksi. Industry experts foresee NJ India Invest leveraging its largest sub-broker network to market its products. Both Choksi and Kamath indicated that their distribution firms would continue to sell mutual funds of other fund houses even after their own AMCs are launched. NJ India Invest started its journey in 1994. The gross commission earned by the firm was Rs 807.67 crore in FY2018-2019, as per AMFI data.

As Zerodha follows other new entrants in the Rs 28 trillion mutual fund industry, critics remind us about events in the past where its systems had broken down during market hours, impacting its clients ability to trade seamlessly.

Others say Zerodha has been quick to learn and fix mistakes. The technical glitch issues did not resurface in the recent past. Zerodha has upgraded the technological infrastructure, says Deepak Shenoy, founder and CEO of Capitalmind Wealth. When Zerodha started its operations, it opted for ILFS Securities Services (ISS) as the depository participant for its clients securities. After the debacle of ISS parent  Infrastructure Leasing Finance Services  the brokerage took extra efforts to migrate all its existing clients to its own depository service.

Zerodha has been building on to its offering consistently; a 20-level bid-ask data for investors while trading, is the latest from it, Shenoy adds.

Zerodhas success in the asset management business will depend on setting up the right investment team, launching the right product for the right audience at the lowest cost. It is unfair to discredit Zerodhas AMC plans for the tech glitch the customers experience in the broking business, says Shyam Sekhar, founder and chief ideator, iThought.

Investors do have high expectations from these new entrants. Experts say that the mutual fund industry has a long way to go, and more firms entering the business will increase competition and benefit all stakeholders.
Tiffany Anna Taylor (pictured), 16, disappeared on July 12, 2015

A Brisbane man accused of murdering a missing teenage call girl after she demanded $500 for sex would not have had time to dump her body, a court has been told.

Tiffany Anna Taylor, 16, disappeared on July 12, 2015, after allegedly meeting Rodney Wayne Williams, 65, for a paid sexual liaison via the Oasis website.

Her body has never been found.

Williams pleaded not guilty in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday to murdering Tiffany at Waterford West, south of Brisbane after picking the teenager up.

Prosecutor Philip McCarthy QC says Williams then drove his Hyundai sedan before stopping at the Larapinta industrial park for about 20 minutes.

'Something happens before it returns to the cul-de-sac that is part of the industrial area,' he said during his opening address to the jury.

The court previously heard that Williams's car was covered in blood.

Rodney Wayne Williams (pictured) allegedly paid $500 for sex with Ms Anna Taylor

Mr McCarthy said Williams then drove to the Esk-Ferndale region, where police have searched dams and bushland for Tiffany's body without success.

But defence lawyer Eoin Mac Giolla Ri warned the jury not to 'be taken in by the heroics and technical wizardry of the detectives'.

He said they had collected a lot of evidence about Williams' movements from CCTV and mobile phone data.

But what it actually showed was his client would not have had the time to commit the crime he is accused of.

'There was simply no opportunity to dispose of the body,' he said.

The trial continues on Wednesday.
The violence in north-east Delhi Monday was most likely orchestrated to coincide with US President Donald Trumps 36-hour visit to the country, people familiar with the development said Monday, articulating the home ministrys assessment of clashes.

Condemning the violence, the minister of state for home affairs G Kishan Reddy, tweeted, We assure a stern action against the culprits, he said in a tweet.

Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla said the situation was under control. Senior officers are on the field Sufficient forces have been deployed, he told reporters.

At least eight companies  each comprising 100 personnel  of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), including two specialised riot controls companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and a company of the women soldiers were deployed in the area on Sunday. In addition, several companies of the central paramilitary forces have been deployed in Delhi for Trumps visit.

Delhi Police commissioner Amluya Patnaik briefed home ministry officials, including the home secretary, over the phone, officials confirmed.

Around 7pm, an hour after an uneasy calm had settled over the violence-hit Maujpur locality, a group of police and paramilitary personnel sat huddled near barricades. Nearby, hundreds of men and women held a gathering, voicing their support for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

At the centre of the gathering, a tall man with a microphone asked the gathering to keep out the media. The crowd bellowed shoot the traitors and hail mother India even as hundreds of residents from Muslim dominated neighbourhoods, such as Kabir Nagar and Kardampuri, watched from their balconies.

Hours after the police claimed they had the situation under control in north-east Delhi, localities like Maujpur, Babarpur, Chand Bagh, Jafrabad, Gokulpuri, Bhajanpura, Karawal Nagar and Mustafabad continued to remain tense.

We will not leave this place until we settle scores. Ours too will be a round-the-clock protest like the one in Shaheen Bagh, Deepak Kumar, from the pro-CAA gathering in Maujpur, said.

By 8pm, they had run out of slogans and started playing patriotic songs, even as new leaders joined in and asked the gathering to maintain peace.

Joining the gathering is our duty, Lakhan Ram, an electrician who works at a shop in Gokalpuri, said.

Mohammad Sajid, a resident of Kabir Nagar, countered this. What exactly are they protesting against? The government has already cleared the CAA. As far as the anti-CAA protests are concerned, they have set the protesters tent on fire. What is left now  other than fear among the people who reside here?

Earlier in the day, some rioters had set fire to a makeshift tent in Kardampuri, where a group of women protesting against amended citizenship law had staged a sit-in protest for the past one month.

By 9pm, these localities had witnessed several rallies organised by groups chanting slogans. While the police did not let them use the main road, they passed through the lanes.

The situation turned more tensed when the news of fire at Gokalpuri tyre market spread and most residents accessed images and videos on their phones.

Senior officials of the Delhi Fire Service said the fire may not have been set separately and was a result of the scattered fires in the area.

Nearly 30 fire tenders were sent to the spot. Around 20 shops were gutted, a fire official said.

Joint commissioner of police (eastern range) Alok Kumar said there was tension in the area since Sunday afternoon and police have continuously ensured heavy deployment at strategic locations. Stray incidents of violence were reported since last night from pockets of Kardampuri, Chand Bagh, Wazirabad, Shiv Vihar, Karawal Nagar, Jafrabad, Seelampur and other nearby places.
Feb 25 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Wall Street Journal. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

-Drugmaker Moderna Inc has shipped the first batch of its rapidly developed coronavirus vaccine to U.S. government researchers, who will launch the first human tests of whether the experimental shot could help suppress the epidemic originating in China. https://on.wsj.com/3caR8Cb

- HP Inc pledged to buy $15 billion of stock, with at least $8 billion of that in the first year, to tackle a hostile takeover bid from Xerox Holdings Corp. https://on.wsj.com/2vfYMdz

- Boeing Co said on Monday it has nominated two new outside directors with safety and engineering experience and stiffened conditions on bonuses for new Chief Executive Officer David Calhoun by including a range of programs beyond the crisis-hit 737 MAX. https://on.wsj.com/2T7w1YA

- The Trump administration is asking Congress to approve roughly $1.8 billion to fight the novel coronavirus as the disease spreads across the globe and seeking the flexibility to spend as much as $2.5 billion. https://on.wsj.com/2VimX5J

- Drugmaker Mallinckrodt PLC is finalizing a settlement proposal worth at least $1.6 billion that would place its U.S. generic-drug business into bankruptcy to address coming debt maturities and liabilities stemming from the opioid crisis, according to people familiar with the matter. https://on.wsj.com/2Ta9A57

- Singapore state-investment company Temasek Holdings on Tuesday said it is implementing a wage freeze for all its staff due to the coronavirus epidemic. https://on.wsj.com/3c5bYT8

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)
Three Irish soldiers have been injured in an incident with the United Nations in Mali.

The Defence Forces said that the troops were deployed with the United Nations MINUSMA mission in Mali and were involved in an operational incident today.
Hollywood's last silent-era child star, known as 'Baby Peggy', has died aged 101.

Diana Serra Cary, known professionally as Peggy-Jean Montgomery appeared in her first movie in 1921 aged 18 months opposite Brownie the Wonder Dog in 'Playmates'.

Over the first five years of her life she appeared in more than 150 movies.

To early film audiences, she was known as Baby Peggy, the 'Child Wonder' and 'The Kutest Kiddie on the Screen'.

Diana Serra Cary, pictured left in 2012, known professionally as Peggy-Jean Montgomery appeared in her first movie in 1921 aged 18 months opposite Brownie the Wonder Dog in 'Playmates'. She is pictured right in the early 1920s

Baby Peggy, was known as the Million Dollar Baby. Baby Peggy dolls were sold and by the late 1920s she had earned more than $4million dollars, although much of that cash was squandered by her parents, stolen by a relative and the remainder lost in the Wall Street Crash

Commenting on her first role and her canine co-star, she said: 'We were on the same money. Sharp dog.'

By the age of two she was earning more money than her father and gave her first interview aged three.

Due to her movie career, she did not start school until 12. She also had her first novel published.

According to the New York Times, she received more than 1.7 million pieces of fan mail a year and appeared at the 1924 Democratic National Convention with Franklin D. Roosevelt.

However, despite her success, her financial affairs were controlled by her parents, Jack and Marian Montgomery.

She was also expected to work six days a week for up to eight hours a day.

As well as not going to school, Baby Peggy was not allowed to play with other children.

Most of her 150 movies were destroyed in a fire at the Century Film Company studios in 1926.

In an era before health and safety, Baby Peggy was forced to do her own stunts. She was held under water until she passed out in one movie. In another, she was thrown from the back of a truck and even tied to a goat.

In one movie, The Darling of New York, Peggy had to escape from a burning building after the props team doused the set with kerosene.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, she had been earning $1 million a year but this money was being squandered by her parents.

In one interview, she said: 'They had a house in Beverly Hills before I was 3. Then we had a house in Laurel Canyon. Then we had a Duesenberg car that was $30,000.  But they thought Hollywood was forever.'

Mrs Cary, pictured in April 2012, is survived by her son, Mark, and granddaughter, Stephanie

By 1925, her career was over when her father, who was a cowboy stuntman, had a row with the film studio who cancelled her latest $1.5m contract.

A large amount of her fortune had also been stolen by a relative.

After her movie career ended, she later toured theaters -still earning $300-a-day, though by the time of the 1929 Wall Street crash, her $4 million fortune had been wiped out - forcing the family to sell their home in Beverly Hills and move to Wyoming.

For several years she returned to Hollywood earning $3-a-day as an extra between 1932 and 1938.

She later went to school along with Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, who were also child stars of the time.

She eloped with her boyfriend Gordon Ayres in 1938 but was divorced a decade later.

She then married the artist Bob Cary in 1954 and then moved to Mexico.

Mr Cary died 2001.

She is survived by her son, Mark, and granddaughter, Stephanie.

Following her death, her son Mark said: ' I am proud of how she was able to come to terms with what happened to her from when she was just a toddler and re-create her life anew.

'She learned to love herself and her unusual childhood so she could focus on telling her story to educate others in how to avoid the same negative things that she had experienced in her life and career as Baby Peggy.'




Haiti - FLASH : Message from the Armed Forces of Haiti (FADH)





In a note, the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd'H) strongly condemned the attack on Sunday February 23, against its Headquarters, by individuals including some hooded, heavily armed, claiming to be the National Police of Haiti (PNH) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30109-haiti-flash-clashes-in-champ-de-mars-at-least-a-dozen-victims-provisional-assessment.html



"[...] The assault, which lasted more than 6 hours, left 1 dead and 2 wounded in our ranks.



It would be a shame if real police officers whose mission is to protect and serve go as far as the reproach of attacking the Haitian State's creator institution for no reason whatsoever.



We bitterly deplore such actions which can only be the work of individuals oriented towards the destruction of the country, and their own.



It remains urgent to take steps to recover these lost sheep, so that Haiti can benefit from the constructive work of all her daughters and sons.



The Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd'H) renew their commitment to fulfill, alongside the National Police of Haiti, the mission assigned to it by the Constitution, in particular with regard to the support to be provided to the Haitian people in the development work in general and in the event of natural or induced disasters in particular.



We take this opportunity to offer our deep condolences to the family of soldaier Dorvil, Jean Baptiste as well as our feelings of solidarity with our wounded : Corporal Lucien Cerdieu and Soldier Audate Castin."



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30111-haiti-flashthe-ministry-of-justice-evoke-an-attempted-coup.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30112-haiti-security-meetings-of-the-high-command-of-the-fad-h-and-the-pnh.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30109-haiti-flash-clashes-in-champ-de-mars-at-least-a-dozen-victims-provisional-assessment.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



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Two Cases of Coronavirus Reported in Oman

Sputnik News

14:10 GMT 24.02.2020(updated 15:00 GMT 24.02.2020)

This comes after several countries closed their borders with Iran following the announcement that eight people had died from the new infection in the city of Qom.

Two cases of the novel coronavirus have been reported in Oman, the country's television said, citing the health ministry.

According to the report, the two Omani women diagnosed with the disease had been to Iran. They are currently in a stable condition, the broadcaster added.

Oman has halted all flights to Iran over the coronavirus outbreak, the TV report also said.

Iranian women wear protective masks to prevent contracting a coronavirus, as they walk at Grand Bazaar in Tehran, Iran February 20, 2020.

On Sunday, several countries, including Iraq, Turkey and Pakistan, closed their borders with Iran amid reports that eight people had died from the infection in the city of Qom. The first cases of COVID-19 were reported in Iran last Wednesday when two elderly people died from the virus in Qom.

The COVID-19 virus was first detected in China's Wuhan in late December and since then has spread to about 30 other countries. Nearly 2,600 people have died in China alone, while the death toll in other countries has exceeded 20.

 Sputnik

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astead herndon Hello. bishop theodore myers Hello. How are you? astead herndon Im doing well. How are you? bishop theodore myers Very good. Thank you. astead herndon Its a beautiful church. And Im not even inside yet, and I already know. My names Astead. Im a reporter. bishop theodore myers Hi. astead herndon And Im glad to meet you. bishop theodore myers Good to see you. You know what makes a beautiful church, though? astead herndon What makes it? bishop theodore myers Beautiful people. [laughter]

astead herndon

From The New York Times, this is The Field. Im Astead Herndon in South Carolina.

clare toeniskoetter How many people fit in here? bishop theodore myers In here, we can fit about 1,400. clare toeniskoetter Wow. bishop theodore myers Now, when I built this, I didnt have a congregation like that. But this area doesnt have anything. And because it doesnt, you had to build something, not for the present but for the future. Build for where you want it to go, as opposed to where it is. astead herndon Do politicians come? bishop theodore myers Yeah, they come around. astead herndon Mm-hm. clare toeniskoetter Why do you think so many politicians come to churches in South Carolina? bishop theodore myers It is the place where you can impact the most people at any given point in time. annie brown With black people? bishop theodore myers Yeah, black people. Black people generally go to church. [singing] archived recording Let us stand for the call to worship. (SINGING) Praise Him. Praise Him.

astead herndon

In South Carolina, more than 65 percent of the Democratic electorate is made up of black voters. And its the first primary that really represents a test of how these candidates can do among black voters nationally.

archived recording We have someone here today that we know. Weve seen him. We know his record. He served with someone we really cared about.

astead herndon

And no candidate has staked more of their campaign on the black vote 

archived recording (david mack) Ladies and gentlemen, the next president of the United States, Joe Biden.

astead herndon

 than Joe Biden.

archived recording (joe biden) Reverend Dr. Holt, thank you for inviting me into Gods house today. I really appreciate it. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

astead herndon

And as Joe Biden has experienced these early defeats in Iowa and New Hampshire and Nevada, hes been saying to voters, just wait till the black vote shows up. Wait till I get to South Carolina.

archived recording (joe biden) Look, this is an incredible opportunity. I want you to know, although Ive had overwhelming support from the community my whole career, I dont expect anything. Im here to earn. Im here to earn your vote. Im here to earn your support.

astead herndon

As hes experienced these results in the early states, its added a real sense of pressure on South Carolina. And if Biden doesnt win, and win decisively, it could completely erode his chances at the Democratic nomination.

archived recording (joe biden) I dont expect anything, but I know one thing. And this is real. The African-American community in South Carolina can make a judgment about who the next president on this stage is going to be. No, no. Thats not exaggeration. Literally, literally, youre able to do this. Because when the African-American community decides, were going to move into Super Tuesday as they call it, where theres significant African-American vote. You have 

astead herndon

The question is, is Biden right about his overwhelming support from black voters? And if hes not, and that vote splits across candidates, what does that mean for the Democratic primary?

archived recording (joe biden) But folks, the vote is in your hands. Not a joke. You can control this outcome. Im going to do everything in my power to earn your respect, earn your vote. astead herndon I was telling them earlier that my fathers a COGIC pastor. bishop theodore myers Oh yeah, COGIC? astead herndon Yeah, yeah. clare toeniskoetter And for us lay people, what does that mean? bishop theodore myers Church of God in Christ. astead herndon Just a different Pentecostal denomination. bishop theodore myers Both apostolic, so hes my surrogate brother. [laughter] annie brown Youre both going to heaven. astead herndon Yeah, yeah. annie brown Is that right? bishop theodore myers No, no, no, no  were both already there. astead herndon Yeah, right, right. [laughter]

astead herndon

A few days ago, about two hours away from the church where Biden spoke, I went with producers Clare Toeniskoetter and Annie Brown to Temple of Faith Bible Way Church 

clare toeniskoetter If you want to just sit  astead herndon Can I sit over here? OK, no problem.

astead herndon

 to meet Bishop Ted Myers.

astead herndon Um, I wanted to hear just about you and how you view the primary and whats going on here, but also just about your life. So how long have you been in South Carolina? bishop theodore myers Life. Ive lived here all my life. This is home. So theres a lot of history that goes into that. astead herndon What year  when were you born? What were year were you born?

[music]

bishop theodore myers 44, 1944. astead herndon OK. bishop theodore myers Mm-hm. astead herndon What was it like growing up in Lower Richland in the, what, 50s, 60s? bishop theodore myers Well, it was basically a black community. When I went to school, I had to walk about five miles to go to school as a kid. And we had to walk on dirt roads. So when it rained, it would be like muddy and dirty. But you had to walk those roads if you wanted to go to school. astead herndon What was your family structure like, brothers and sisters? How many  how big was your family? bishop theodore myers We had a nice little baseball team. [LAUGHTER] We had a family of 12. astead herndon OK. bishop theodore myers Yeah. annie brown 12 kids. bishop theodore myers 12 kids. Im the third child. I had a brother, who was between me and my sister. And when he was about two years old, he became ill. And my father, because we didnt have doctors close by, my father had to take him in his arms and walk him to a doctor, because it was about 10 miles away. And while he was going, my brother died in his arms. And so he had to bring that baby back home in his arms to my mother. Im not sure he ever got over that. astead herndon So 10 miles so the closest doctor, five-mile walk on the dirt road to school, is that because Lower Richland is black? bishop theodore myers Listen, we didnt have those services because, you know, we didnt count. We had a lack of transportation, public transportation. Parents didnt have access to jobs. We werent real people. We were just part of the environment. astead herndon Whens the first time you voted? bishop theodore myers Oh, I voted when I was 18. As soon as I was able to register, I registered, OK? I knew that if the voting rights was ever there, I didnt have any other choice. There was nothing, because it sent us a message to the entire population, that we, too, have a right to be a part of this. And I was voting, OK? 64, I voted for Johnson. astead herndon Have you voted in every presidential ever since? bishop theodore myers Yeah. clare toeniskoetter In 68? bishop theodore myers Yeah, I voted for Humphrey in 68. clare toeniskoetter 72? bishop theodore myers I voted for McGovern. I thought that he would have been  could have served as a tremendous president. clare toeniskoetter Jimmy Carter? bishop theodore myers Yeah. astead herndon Did you back Bill Clinton? bishop theodore myers Yeah.

astead herndon

Bishop Myers has always voted. And year after year, cycle after cycle, the candidate that he chooses has gone on to become the Democratic nominee.

clare toeniskoetter Gore? bishop theodore myers Yeah. clare toeniskoetter Kerry? bishop theodore myers Yeah.

astead herndon

Thats not because hes some political psychic. Year after year, black voters, the most loyal constituency of the Democratic Party, have largely coalesced around a singular Democratic candidate and helped propel that individual to the partys nomination.

astead herndon Obama versus Hillary, who did you support? bishop theodore myers Now, you know. astead herndon I dont know. bishop theodore myers With me, I was excited. I was excited for him. astead herndon Bernie or Hillary? bishop theodore myers Hillary. Hillary.

astead herndon

So it started to become conventional wisdom. Whoever black people vote for, that candidate will be the Democratic nominee.

astead herndon This time around, how did you  bishop theodore myers Uh  [laughter] clare toeniskoetter When did you start to notice Joe Biden? bishop theodore myers I hadnt heard about Joe Biden before, but when Obama chose him to be his V.P. I figured, if Obama chose him, he didnt have to.

astead herndon

Bishop Myers says he just had a good feeling about Biden.

bishop theodore myers He has depth about what hes saying, and he speaks to that from his heart. Thats the kind of person he is. He feels people. Hes touchable. You can reach Joe. I think he understands where you are. None of us want to see our children leave here before we do. Biden had to see his son die and realize that thats going to alter him, you know?

astead herndon

This is something Biden talks about all the time. In 2015, he lost his son Beau to brain cancer at just 46 years old. And this wasnt the first time that Biden had lost family members. In the early 1970s, right after he had won his Senate seat, his wife and one-year-old daughter were killed in a car crash.

bishop theodore myers I have had it happen to me, so I know the pain. annie brown Had what happen to you? bishop theodore myers I have lost two sons. It takes, it takes something special to deal with it. A father losing a son. And Im sure he had close ties with his son  what you gonna think? Joe Biden has had a lot of hits. That man is good to be able to stand. But I think that Biden has been able to pull some strength from that. I really believe in a connection. I can feel him.

[music]

astead herndon

It was just a month after Joe Biden lost his son that a terrible tragedy happened in South Carolina. A white supremacist walked into a predominantly African-American church and opened fire and killed nine people. As vice president, Joe Biden flies down to South Carolina, goes to the church 

archived recording (joe biden) I wish I could say something that would ease the pain of the families and of the church.

astead herndon

 and speaks with the congregation about grief.

archived recording (joe biden) But I know from experience, and I was reminded of it again 29 days ago, that no words can mend a broken heart, no music can fill the gaping void. At least in my experience, only faith, only faith. And sometimes, as all the preachers in here know, sometimes even faith leaves you just for a second. Sometimes, you doubt.

astead herndon

Its a powerful moment, where he relates his personal story to their tragedy. And its an example of what many black South Carolinians say about Joe Biden. That hes been there, that they know him and that they trust him.

bishop theodore myers We had a meeting, and he was there, pastors and certain church leaders. And we had a breakfast meeting with him.

astead herndon

And when Bishop Myers got the chance to meet the vice president in person, it sealed his affection for him. Biden lived up to the hype.

bishop theodore myers And it was quite impressive, because he was talking then about some of the problems that we have and how we could overcome. Plain talk, no foolishness. He just laid it all out. astead herndon And you liked him when you met him? bishop theodore myers Oh, yeah. And I thought then that if ever he became a candidate again, that would be the time to vote him in. That would be. clare toeniskoetter You thought that at that moment? bishop theodore myers Yeah. I thought that he was the man for the job.

astead herndon

And that seemed to be true for many South Carolinians. From the moment Biden got into the race, it seemed as if the black vote was his, and his to lose.

astead herndon Is that the front? clare toeniskoetter I think this is the front. astead herndon Hi, how are you? bernice scott I told yall, Ive been screaming. Yall came to the front door. astead herndon Im sorry. I couldnt hear you. bernice scott Thats all right. Im over here. clare toeniskoetter Come to the wrong door? bernice scott Yall here now, so I might as well let yall in on this side. astead herndon Are you Bernice? bernice scott Yes, I am. astead herndon It is nice to meet you. Astead. Were from The New York Times. bernice scott Bernice. Yeah, yeah, come on in. annie brown Thank you. astead herndon Thank you so much. bernice scott Thats why I know yall are strangers. Yall came to the door. clare toeniskoetter Should we take our shoes off? Or? bernice scott Oh, please. No. clare toeniskoetter OK. Theyre wet, its raining! [laughter]

astead herndon

Last Monday morning, Claire, Annie and I went to meet a woman named Bernice Scott. Shes a longtime local political figure, the former head of the Richland City Council, and the head of a volunteer group thats supporting Joe Biden.

clare toeniskoetter Can I ask you what your shirt says?

astead herndon

They call themselves 

bernice scott Yeah, its the Reckoning Crew. The Reckoning Crew.

astead herndon

 the Reckoning Crew.

annie brown Hi. Are yall excited about Saturday? reckoning crew member 1 Yes, reckoning crew member 2 Oh, yes, we are. reckoning crew member 3 [INAUDIBLE] Victory for the V, yeah. Vice President Biden will win.

astead herndon

The group had gotten together to go door knocking for Biden.

clare toeniskoetter How do you  when you door-knock, what do you say? bernice scott Im Bernice Scott. Im your neighbor. Ive worked in this community all my life. Im out campaigning for Joe Biden. Would you please look at him and what do you think about him? Oh, yeah, Im for Joe Biden! OK, lets do it. Meet you at the poll. You can go early.

astead herndon

It was also clear that they felt as if their work was done.

clare toeniskoetter How many doors? Like, how often are people for Joe versus not for Joe when youre knocking on doors? bernice scott I havent ran into anybody yet not for Joe. clare toeniskoetter Zero? Zero people? bernice scott Zero. reckoning crew member I havent. I havent run into anyone 

astead herndon

Whether or not this has been true for the Reckoning Crew, the evidence tells us there has been some drift away from Biden across the state. Some has come from billionaire Tom Steyer, the businessman whos invested a lot of time and money in the state, and some has come from Bernie Sanders, who has experienced some success in the early states and is benefiting from name recognition from his last presidential run. Biden still has a healthy lead, but these two candidates have put some pressure on Biden in South Carolina. The latest polling tells us while Biden is at around 35 percent, Sanders is at 20 and Steyer is at 14. But these women are confident that the vote is still there.

astead herndon What would be success for Joe Biden in South Carolina? On Saturday, when we get the votes. If he was supposed to win by 30, by 40  reckoning crew member But who said that? The news media. astead herndon Joe Bidens team said that he would have a big firewall in the state, that he would show his strength. If he only wins by a little, is that success? reckoning crew member A win is a win. Its like getting to heaven or going to hell. Theres no choice there. You either go to heaven or go to hell. astead herndon It doesnt matter the margins, it doesnt matter if he squeaks it out? reckoning crew member He can squeak, peak, whatever he want to do, as long as he win.

astead herndon

But margins do matter, particularly in South Carolina. In 2008, Barack Obama won the South Carolina primary by around 30 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton won the South Carolina primary by around 50 points. And for both those candidates, it kicked off a firewall of delegates that they would amass through black voters in the South and lead them to the nomination. Joe Biden has bet on a similar firewall, but if he doesnt get those same margins  cant replicate what Clinton and Obama did  then even a slight win in South Carolina might be the beginning of the end for his candidacy.

helen spearman Yesterday, I went to church and I prayed about it, and I think, you know, that he really is going to win. And hes going to win by more percentage than what theyre predicting. You know, I spoke to some people after church yesterday and um  annie brown So you think that the polls are wrong? helen spearman In my spirit, yes, I feel they are. You know, so because they had me all hyped up by Hillary, I had bought me a dress to wear to the inaugural ball, and I aint wore it yet. [laughter] annie brown You havent worn it yet? helen spearman So I think theyre wrong. I really do. annie brown Do you think youll wear it on Saturday? helen spearman I might put it on and go out, because Ill be working at the poll. I might put it on and go out there.

astead herndon

But we are aware of at least one woman that Bernice Scott knows whos left the Biden camp and gone elsewhere.

annie brown Were going to speak later today with a woman, Dalhi Myers. bernice scott [GASPING] annie brown Whats that? clare toeniskoetter Whyd you react that way? annie brown Yeah. bernice scott Let me tell you, I  cut that off for a second. annie brown Oh, OK. dalhi myers You look familiar. astead herndon Astead. Its nice to meet you. Hows it going? dalhi myers Lovely to meet you. Im Dalhi Myers.

astead herndon

So across town, we meet up with Dalhi Myers.

dalhi myers I am a council person on the Richland County Council, District 10.

astead herndon

Who actually took Bernice Scotts seat on the Richland County Council.

dalhi myers I was very clear on what it took to win.

astead herndon

Dalhi says she ran an outside the box, anti-establishment, upstart political campaign.

dalhi myers Because Id had to do it against a machine.

astead herndon

And the machine she describes is Bernice. Which partially explains why we got that reaction when we said we were talking to Dalhi. But only partially.

dalhi myers Im as capitalist as they come. I mean, I drive an overpriced car. I live in an overpriced house. I buy overpriced clothes. And I spend too much on where I eat, OK?

astead herndon

Dalhi considers herself conservative within the Democratic Party.

dalhi myers Im a pro-life Democrat, but I do believe the partys position on abortion is right.

astead herndon

And so like Bernice, her choice was Joe Biden early on.

dalhi myers And I think everybody in my family thought that. I mean, we just thought he could fundamentally win. And I thought he could pull together enough of a coalition of Democrats, moderates and disaffected Republicans to win. It was a who can win? I think its Joe Biden. astead herndon I mean, in some ways, thats what the campaign is, the message that its giving to its supporters is, right? Like its  dalhi myers Yes. astead herndon I mean  dalhi myers And I now disagree with that message. I used to agree with it. I used to think that that was the way to win. But I guess I kind of woke up and realized, who wins an election saying, Ill take you backwards? archived recording (joe biden) [APPLAUSE] There are three basic reasons why Im running for president of the United States. The first is to restore the soul of the nation. And the second is to rebuild the backbone of this nation. And the third is to unify this nation. We always do better when we act as one America. dalhi myers I knew in my gut that was not a campaign that was targeted to win. There was just nothing inspirational about it. There was no here is the case for my candidacy. It was lets drive this car looking in the rearview mirror. Who drives that way?

astead herndon

She goes from being a Biden volunteer to giving up on him.

dalhi myers If you cant motivate me to go vote for you, and I want to vote for you, how are you going to get people who are not inclined to go vote to go vote for you? I mean, if Im sitting here going, Well, I can sit that one out, and Im going to vote, how do you get people that you need to motivate to go and vote? And thats what I saw.

astead herndon

So Dalhi went looking for a new option.

dalhi myers About a year ago, the Sanders campaign, and most other campaigns, reached out to me and asked me to come and sit with the candidate, do a small meet-and-greet. Thats what they were doing in South Carolina. All of them were. It wasnt unusual. And I said, yeah, Ill come. But I teased them and said Bernie Sanders is never going to be my candidate. Just, he does not fit anything that is of interest to me. And on top of it all, just the aesthetics dont work. He doesnt brush his hair. Yall dont make him use gel. But I went and literally sat through the first introduction with a good friend of mine, Courtney [INAUDIBLE] and I just sat there laughing. I was like, Courtney, really? Seriously? annie brown What were you laughing at? dalhi myers Everybody was so gung-ho. I mean, it was just this room packed full of people, and they were rabidly cheering for Bernie. And I just thought it was entertaining. I really did. I didnt take it seriously. I did not give it much credence. And afterwards, I watched, I guess  archived recording (bernie sanders) Thank you, Michigan! [CHEERING] Thank you, Pittsburgh! [CHEERING] Thank you, Denver! [CHEERING] dalhi myers 10, 15 Sanders rallies. archived recording (bernie sanders) Thank you, Santa Ana! [CHEERING] Greenville, thank you very much. [CHEERING] We were told that it was going to rain, and thered be a small turnout. Looks like thats not the case. [CHEERING] dalhi myers And I just thought, nobodys got this kind of fire and passion. Nobody. archived recording (bernie sanders) Let me thank all the people outside in a second overflow room. Its a great turnout. Thank you very much. [CHEERING] Not only is this a large crowd, you are a loud crowd! [CHEERING] This is a hell of a turnout. Thats what this is. [CHEERING] dalhi myers 10,000 people. Who does that? archived recording (bernie sanders) Were 20,000 people, and we had to close the doors. dalhi myers Who does that?

astead herndon

Of course, Sanders has always had this type of energy. Its been one of his hallmarks. But what Dalhi started to think was that maybe this race isnt about persuading moderate Republicans to vote for a Democrat over President Trump.

dalhi myers His approval rating is at 90 percent with the Republican Party. And so Im not convinced that those same people are going to overnight on election day, all of a sudden, not approve of Trump enough to vote for a Democrat  theyre not voting for a Democrat. And so we have to inspire enough Democrats to go to the polls and vote. And thats part of why I switched. clare toeniskoetter Have you ever voted for a candidate who felt more off with your policy goals? dalhi myers Mm-mm. clare toeniskoetter End of the day, whats more important to you, electability or policies? dalhi myers Electability is policies. The Democratic Party is not the party of black people. It is a coalition party. So you have to be able to get groups of all people to vote for you across the Democratic Party. Black people, white people, Hispanics, Asians. So if you cant get whole swaths of this party to vote for you, how ever will we win?

astead herndon

Dalhi represents a transition from the Biden view of electability to a Sanders vision, an anti-establishment vision. She went from thinking that the candidate she chooses has to appeal to moderate Republicans, to embracing the Sanders framework of how you beat Trump  by motivating a cross-section of voters across races and generations. In doing that, it takes Bernie Sanders from being the least electable candidate to the only one who can build that type of coalition.

dalhi myers Ultraconservative people like me who are voting for Bernie Sanders. I mean, thats shock of all shocks. All of my friends are like, Dalhi, really? Seriously? When did you decide that this made sense? And so they are surprised, and theyve known me all my life. But I think theres enough diversity in the black community to still surprise people. I think people have, for far too long, thought that all black people were this monolithic think block, sort of like the Borg from Star Trek, you know? We are all the same, and theres, you know, these connected wires, making us all think the same way. But that is not true. astead herndon I mean, just to keep on this point, it feels like a unique thing of this primary, is that unlike Obama or Clinton, it seems likely that there will not be a runaway winner with black voters. dalhi myers Right. astead herndon But it also makes the groups voting power, or determinative power, less in the primary. Right? Like if the person wins by a small plurality, that doesnt mean the same as when Biden  when Clinton won by 60 or when Obama won by 70. Isnt there some irony there? Like, isnt it like  it seems as if youre advocating for a new form of politics, but at the same time, the community, the state you represent, might matter less because of that. dalhi myers So if we turn that around, we could say that it matters more, because it reveals that you are looking at this group in the wrong way. And this group has decided that there are pieces here, there, there and there that it likes. Were very much a diverse group within the party. So the group could send a message, just not one unified message, right? It could send the message that the old way of doing things, where you can run in South Carolina and pass out a bunch of dollar bills and think that thats the end of it, or feed people a chicken sandwich or a fish fry  astead herndon Or go to church. dalhi myers Or go to church. Thats absolutely true. My church, you cant do that. But I do think the old way of speaking to people, reaching people, and sort of lemming-like, sending them off to do a thing, it doesnt work. astead herndon Hows your convincing efforts with your family going? dalhi myers I think Im winning. bishop theodore myers Oh! Uh, Dalhi Myers is, of course, my daughter. And Im her proud father. And she owes me for that. [laughter]

astead herndon

This, again, is Bishop Myers 

bishop theodore myers I think that Joe Biden is an honest person, open person. But I dont think that he is as  I dont think that he is as forceful on issues as he has been in the past.

astead herndon

 who has undergone his own sort of transformation in the last couple of weeks.

bishop theodore myers That luster is just not there. It has not been exciting. It may just be that he wants to kind of be that moderate voice, that voice of moderation. And we dont need a voice of moderation right now. We need someone who can scream  loud. Do something, in light of what is happening to the country and to us brown people, you know? Theyre saying, lets go back to normal. Lets get back to  What is normal? Normal got us to where we are. Shoot, if Im normal, that means that youve got your foot on my neck, and Im stuck here screaming, help, help! And youre saying, its all right. Ill be here next week.

astead herndon

Now, Dalhi hasnt convinced her father to vote for Bernie Sanders. Hes of his own generation and is looking at this political moment with his own lens.

bishop theodore myers I just, I just knew that if it was not Joe, who would it be? And I just waited for the chips to fall. I guess I was kind of wavering, looking at the field, and then I met Tom. archived recording (commercial voice-over) South Carolina has a chance to make history, but we have to get this right. The status quo just wont do.

astead herndon

Tom Steyer. Billionaire businessman who has pumped advertising dollars and organizing staff throughout the state of South Carolina.

archived recording (commercial voice-over) Thats why South Carolinians are choosing Tom Steyer. Hes fought for 

astead herndon

He specifically has been trying to woo older black voters, who might be feeling a little nervous about Joe Bidens candidacy.

clare toeniskoetter Do you remember when you first heard Tom Steyers name? Did you see commercials? bishop theodore myers Uh-huh. clare toeniskoetter Thats one thing people talk about with Tom Steyer  that its his money, that hes kind of bought these votes. bishop theodore myers Well, no way. I never want anyone to ever say that money could buy my vote. My vote is too expensive. He really  I mean, he had a plan. Joe doesnt have a plan, or he doesnt bring forth this plan. I think he thought that he did not have to do that. And thats what hurt.

astead herndon

Whats significant about people like Bishop Myers turning away from Bidens candidacy is that it shows that its not just younger voters who are looking for something a little different. The black vote seems to be splintering across demographics.

bishop theodore myers Guys, its been a pleasure meeting you. annie brown Such a pleasure. Thank you. bishop theodore myers My joy. astead herndon Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. bishop theodore myers Thank you. astead herndon [INAUDIBLE] bishop theodore myers All right.

[music]

[phone dialing] annie brown Hes probably not going to answer. bishop theodore myers Hello! astead herndon Hi, how are you, Bishop? bishop theodore myers Im fine.

astead herndon

A few days after we talked to Bishop Myers, we got word that he was planning to vote early.

astead herndon We know we keep bothering you. We gotta get an answer.

astead herndon

But he was second-guessing his vote for Tom Steyer.

bishop theodore myers You gotta get an answer? astead herndon Yeah, did you vote? bishop theodore myers Yeah, I voted. astead herndon All right, so drum roll. How did it end up? bishop theodore myers [LAUGHING] Well, Ill tell you like this. I really had a searching of the soul in there, and a few things really got me where Im at [INAUDIBLE].

astead herndon

Two things have happened since we had last spoke. In the Democratic debate, candidates universally went after Bernie Sanders, putting him on the defensive. And the most important political figure in South Carolina, Congressman Jim Clyburn, he endorsed Joe Biden.

bishop theodore myers The piling on of Sanders, the possibility of Steyer not doing much, and I looked at Jim Clyburn having come out for Joe Biden, and I did not want to give Bernie a bad send-off in South Carolina. So I voted for Joe. astead herndon So you voted for what? bishop theodore myers I voted for Joe. astead herndon You voted for Joe? bishop theodore myers No, Im just joking. [laughter] astead herndon I was like, wait, what? What a plot twist! [laughter] bishop theodore myers I voted for Bernie. astead herndon Oh, wow!

astead herndon

Even though Tom Steyer was still his favorite candidate, he felt as if voting for him would be a throwaway.
According to the Prime Minister's advisor, people, who are arriving on a direct flight from Italy, are obliged to undergo temperature screening

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From February 25, temperature screening of people traveling to Ukraine started at the Tisa customs office at the border with Hungary. Border guards are provided with the temperature measuring instruments and individual protection equipment.

As we reported earlier, Ukraine's Ambassador to Italy Yevhen Perelyhin provided information on the number of coronavirus cases in Italy.

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An aerial view of the United States military headquarters, the Pentagon. (Jason Reed/Reuters)

Arkansas Man Tried to Blow up Vehicle in Pentagon Parking Lot, Justice Department Says

An Arkansas teenager was arrested for allegedly attempting to blow up a vehicle at the Pentagon, said federal officials on Tuesday.

Matthew Dmitri Richardson, 19, of Fayetteville, was discovered in the Pentagon North Parking lot by a police officer, according to a news release from the Department of Justice. The officer saw Richardson allegedly trying to light a piece of fabric inserted into the vehicles gas tank.

When questioned, Richardson told the officer he allegedly was trying to blow this vehicle up and himself, the Justice Department said. The officer then attempted to arrest Richardson before he pulled away and ran across the lot toward several nearby roads.

Richardson was later located by a Pentagon emergency police division in Arlington House. I was just trying to blow myself up, Richardson allegedly said, according to court documents obtained by NBC Washington.

Officers found a cigarette lighter, gloves, and court documents related to his arrest days prior to the alleged incident. The court documents detailed a case against him involving several counts of felony assault on an officer in Arlington County, according to the release.

The vehicle that Richardson allegedly tried to set on fire belonged to a U.S. service member who doesnt know the suspect.

According to surveillance footage that officials later reviewed, Richardson jumped over a fence into Arlington National Cemetery after leaving the parking lot.

The Justice Department said he was charged with maliciously attempting to damage and destroy by means of fire, a vehicle used in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce. He faces between five and 20 years in prison if convicted.

Richardson is slated to appear in court on Tuesday afternoon.
STERLING HEIGHTS, MI -- A 38-year-old man was arraigned Monday on multiple felony charges for allegedly hiding several cameras in tanning salon booths at Chili Peppers Tanning. Brian Maciborski, of Macomb Township was arraigned in 41-A District Court on three counts of eavesdropping (installing device) and one count of possession of analogues.

All of those charges are potential two-year felonies, however Maciborski has a prior conviction for eavesdropping from 2005 in Sterling Heights, according to a press release from the Shelby Township Police Department. Because of that prior conviction, a charge of eavesdropping second offense is being considered. That charge is a five-year felony.

Maciborski was arrested last week following a police investigation into the cameras being found in the tanning salon. An off-duty police officer discovered the cameras during a visit on Feb. 14 and reported them to staff. The salon, located at Van Dyke at 25 Mile Road in Shelby Township, was closed the following day as ownership installed new locks and security systems at all of the companys locations. Secret cameras were not found at any of the other locations owned by the company.

During his arraignment Monday, Maciborski was given a surety bond of $250,000 with 10% allowed. He is scheduled to return to court on March 10. As of Tuesday afternoon, Maciborski had not posted bond according to Macomb County Jail records.
You're gonna need at least one glass of wine to make it through Sideways, Rex Pickett's new off-Broadway play, inspired by his novel, now running at the Theatre at St. Clement's. Neither the play nor the Peccadillo Theater Company production is egregiously terrible  it's not "f*cking merlot," as they derisively say  but it just doesn't hold a candle to the movie, no matter how they try to make it like the movie. And they try remarkably hard.

Like its literary and cinematic predecessors, Sideways is a bromantic travelogue. Miles (Brian Ray Norris), a recently divorced failed novelist, and Jack (Gil Brady), a television director about to marry into wealth, are two best friends on a road trip through Santa Ynez wine country the week before Jack's wedding. Jack has a goal for the journey: He wants to get laid one last time before he settles down. They soon meet Terra (Jenny Strassburg), a bartender who takes a liking to Jack, and she and Jack immediately pop the cork. Miles, meanwhile, finds a potential mate in waitress Maya (Kimberly Doreen Burns), though he's still hung up on his newly remarried ex-wife.

The misadventures of these two shallow losers played a lot better on the silver screen in 2004, when stories about guys on the prowl with a penchant for lying didn't seem so culturally out of place. But Alexander Payne's film had the benefit of a lot of other things besides time not then being up: the beautiful scenery of California; self-effacing performances from Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, and Sandra Oh; and a quirky, Oscar-winning screenplay that Pickett didn't pen.

True, the biggest problem here is the specter of the film. Sideways the movie was a vast improvement over Sideways the novel, and Pickett, slavishly adapting his book for the stage, has overcompensated by writing a play that doesn't have any ounce of truth in its self-indulgent, loquacious dialogue, and a two-and-a-half-hour running time that feels a lot longer)..

Director Dan Wackerman has gone out of his way to assemble a company that looks like doppelgangers of their screen counterparts. It's jarring how closely Norris, Brady, and Burns resemble Giamatti, Church, and Madsen, but they just can't make the stilted dialogue sound human. Strassburg fares best as Terra, a lioness to counter Brady's libido-driven Jack.

The best part of Sideways comes before the show, that is, if you're willing to cough up $175. Ninety minutes before curtain, celebrity caterer Mary Giuliani provides a spread of delicious gourmet foods  duck confit potpies, squid ink pasta doughnuts  alongside a variety of wines to sample provided by WineAccess.com. Refills are ample, and, really, tipsy is the only way to watch this show. Get the rose and thank me later.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has opened the door to giving security agencies more powers to fight foreign interference after the nation's domestic spy boss revealed a "sleeper" agent secretly operated in the country for years before being caught.

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age has been told by sources within the Morrison government that additional foreign interference laws have not been ruled out, following warnings from security agencies that more powers may be needed to counter the unprecedented threat posed by foreign agents.

Peter Dutton says foreign interference needs to be dealt with. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

This could include revisiting the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme to ensure it is fit for purpose in capturing foreign agents, amid criticism it is only targeting largely benign individuals and organisations including lobbyists and political activists.

Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation director-general Mike Burgess on Monday night sounded the alarm on foreign states interfering in Australia's political affairs, saying visiting scientists and academics were ingratiating themselves with Australian universities in a bid to conduct clandestine intelligence collection.
Film critic Trump just as wacky as President Trump, Menon, Feb. 23

I object to Vinay Menons nasty, divisive rhetoric, specifically in which he calls U.S. President Donald Trumps supporters  moonshine-guzzling admirers.

How dare he? What qualifications does Menon have to write this bile other than that of an elite, effete journalist who has been given carte blanche by The Star to write this stuff?

It is no surprise that Menon supports liberal elitist Hollywood in its opinions of Trump.

With Brad Pitt and others taking the pulpit at the Oscars to share their unwanted, politically correct opinions, it is no wonder viewership of the show is plummeting; people are watching for the awards, not political grandstanding.

I presume it would be quid pro quo for Menon to be the subject of vile, nasty personality-focused insults as those he directs at Trump and his supporters?

Douglas Henderson, Toronto

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It's been a soft week for Culti Milano S.p.A. (BIT:CULT) shares, which are down 13%. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last year have been pleasing. Looking at the full year, the company has easily bested an index fund by gaining 38%.

View our latest analysis for Culti Milano

Culti Milano isn't currently profitable, so most analysts would look to revenue growth to get an idea of how fast the underlying business is growing. Shareholders of unprofitable companies usually expect strong revenue growth. That's because fast revenue growth can be easily extrapolated to forecast profits, often of considerable size.

Culti Milano grew its revenue by 9.1% last year. That's not a very high growth rate considering it doesn't make profits. In keeping with the revenue growth, the share price gained 38% in that time. That's not a standout result, but it is solid - much like the level of revenue growth. It could be worth keeping an eye on this one, especially if growth accelerates.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

BIT:CULT Income Statement, February 25th 2020

Take a more thorough look at Culti Milano's financial health with this free report on its balance sheet.

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. We note that for Culti Milano the TSR over the last year was 42%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

Culti Milano shareholders should be happy with the total gain of 42% over the last twelve months , including dividends . A substantial portion of that gain has come in the last three months, with the stock up 36% in that time. Demand for the stock from multiple parties is pushing the price higher; it could be that word is getting out about its virtues as a business. 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 risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 4 warning signs for Culti Milano you should know about.

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 IT 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.
BATALA: Mukesh Nayyar, 38, the brother of Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) state vice-president Ramesh Nayyar, was hacked to death by unidentified persons here in the Bhandari Mohalla of Batala on Tuesday morning.

Mukesh worked as a commission agent in the local vegetable market. He had left home for the market on a scooter around 4am.

An hour later, his son, Tushar, got a call from one of Mukeshs employees that he had not reached the shop following which the family started a search.

Tushar said while they were looking for him, he got a call from a neighbour around 6am that Mukeshs blood-soaked body was lying outside Adarsh Vidya Mandir School, barely 100 metres from his house.

We had crossed this street while looking for him but found the body only when our neighbour called us up, Tushar said, adding, We informed the police immediately.

DSP (City) BK Singla told reporters that CCTV footage from cameras of adjoining buildings was being seen to ascertain those behind the crime.

Mukeshs scooter and a handbag, which his family says contained Rs 1.5 lakh, are missing. We are told he was taking the cash to make payments at the mandi. We are working on various theories and the culprits will be caught soon, he said.

Ramesh Nayyar alleged that a few days ago, he had received threat calls and had informed the Batala police. The police didnt take my inputs seriously. Neither politicians from the Hindu community nor their families are safe. The Dhariwal incident is another example, he said.

A fortnight ago, two unidentified youngsters opened fire at Shiv Sena (Hindustan Northern India) youth wing president Honey Mahajan in the Dhariwal area of Gurdaspur district. Mahajan was injured but Ashok Kumar, 23, a trader, was killed in the incident.
Netlr.sx.yihfeng.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 17 Jan 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

The total number of people who shared the netlr.sx.yihfeng homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the netlr.sx.yihfeng homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if netlr.sx.yihfeng has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the netlr.sx.yihfeng homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the netlr.sx.yihfeng homepage on Twitter + the total number of netlr.sx.yihfeng followers (if netlr.sx.yihfeng has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the netlr.sx.yihfeng homepage on Delicious.

Basic Information

PAGE TITLE 19 0-va-,, DESCRIPTION 19 0-va-,, KEYWORDS 19 0-va-, ,  OTHER KEYWORDS va , va, 19 0 va , 19 0 va , 19 0 va, 0 va , 0 va



CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The title found in the head section of the homepage. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage.

Domain and Server

DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE GB2312 DETECTED LANGUAGE SERVER Microsoft-IIS/6.0 (PHP/5.2.17) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003

The language of netlr.sx.yihfeng.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Character set and language of the site. Operative System running on the server. Type of server and offered services.

Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world.

Referring domains for netlr.sx.yihfeng.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines.

Facebook link

FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND

The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The type of Facebook page. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The URL of the found Facebook page. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file.

Twitter account link

TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday told a meeting of Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and party leaders that "professional assessment" is that the violence in north-east Delhi has been "spontaneous".

He also said adequate forces have been already deployed in affected areas even as he urged political parties to avoid provocative speeches and statements which could flare up the situation and desist from rumour-mongering. He also instructed Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik to re-activate local peace committees.

"Shah noted that the professional assessment is that the violence in the capital has been spontaneous. He expressed confidence in Delhi Police and said that the force has shown maximum restraint to get the situation under control," a statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said.

However, on Monday, government sources had claimed that violence in the national capital "appeared to be orchestrated" to coincide with the high-profile visit. A PTI report from Hyderabad on Tuesday also quoted Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy as saying that the violence in Delhi has been perpetrated intentionally and the Narendra Modi government would not tolerate such incidents.

While Shah said adequate forces have been deployed, there were also reports that the Delhi Police Commissioner told MHA top brass that it did not have adequate forces to control the violence that erupted in north-east Delhi. However, Delhi Police later tweeted that the Commissioner has denied that "no such information was given to MHA" and such reports were "totally baseless".

Urging parties to avoid provocative speeches and statements which could flare up the situation, the statement said, Shah expressed confidence in the Delhi Police and said that the force has shown maximum restraint to get the situation under control.

Appealing to all to maintain restraint and desist from rumour-mongering while instructing the Delhi Police Commissioner to re-activate local peace committees, Shah said Delhi's borders with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have been under surveillance for the last three days.

Shah also urged parties to ask their local leaders to hold meetings in sensitive areas and instructed senior police officers to visit vulnerable police stations at the earliest
Travelers from South Korea to be subjected to 14-day quarantine

ROC Central News Agency

02/24/2020 07:22 PM

Taipei, Feb. 24 (CNA) All travelers entering Taiwan from South Korea will have to be quarantined for 14 days starting this week because of a sharp escalation of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak there, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced Monday.

The quarantine policy will be phased in on different days, however, depending on whether a person is Taiwanese or a foreign national, CECC head Chen Shih-chung () said at a press conference.

Foreign nationals who travel to Taiwan from South Korea will have to undergo home quarantine for 14 days starting Tuesday, Chen said, while Taiwanese nationals returning from South Korea will only face the 14-day quarantine requirement starting Thursday.

Taiwanese who return Tuesday or Wednesday will be subject to the much less strict self-health management protocol.

The two-day buffer period was adopted in consideration of Taiwanese travelers who are currently in South Korea, Chen said, hoping that the measure will encourage them to return before Thursday.

Individuals in quarantine are forbidden to leave their place of residence for 14 days, and they receive daily health checks from their ward chief.

Those in the self-health management protocol are advised to minimize the time they spend in public, wear surgical masks when they leave their homes, and take their temperatures twice a day.

Chen said the new policy was in response to the rapidly escalating COVID-19 outbreak in South Korea, which has exploded in part due to cluster infections linked to a large church and a hospital near the city of Daegu.

To date, the country has reported 833 cases of the disease and seven deaths, and there is already widespread community transmission of the coronavirus taking place.

The CECC also announced Monday that it has raised its travel warning for South Korea from Level 2 to Level 3, the highest on its three-tier scale, which urges people to avoid unnecessary travel to the destination.

The only other regions that have been issued a Level 3 warning by the CECC are China, Hong Kong, and Macau.

Travelers who are returning from countries that have received either a Level 1 or Level 2 travel warning from the CECC have to follow the self-health management guidelines for 14 days, effective immediately, CECC advisor Chang Shan-chwen () said at the press conference.

These include Singapore and Japan, which have been issued a Level 2 warning, as well as Thailand, Italy and Iran, which have received a Level 1 warning.

The policy was adopted because of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in these countries, Chang said.

(By Chiang Yi-ching)

Enditem/ls

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UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th February, 2020) UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths will convene a meeting this week during which Yemeni pubic and political stakeholders will address ways to resume official peace negotiations, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

"The Office of Martin Griffiths, the Special Envoy for Yemen, is hosting a consultative meeting with a group of Yemeni public and political figures in Jordan, that will be on the 26th and the 27th February," Dujarric said. "Discussions will focus on approaches to resume the official peace talks under the auspices of the UN.

"

According to Dujarric, participants will include members of some political parties and independent public figures will engage in dialogue to ensure that the peace process is inclusive and can deliver peace in Yemen.

Yemen has been engulfed in an armed conflict between the government forces led by President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and the Houthi rebels for several years. A Saudi-led coalition has been carrying out airstrikes against the Houthis at Hadi's request since March 2015. Though both parties signed a UN-sponsored accord to ease tensions in Stockholm in 2018, the situation has escalated in recent months.
Gold has rallied to a seven-year high of $1,682 as fears surrounding a potential coronavirus pandemic continue to build.

The tremendous seven percent rally over the past five days coincides with a dramatic slide in the stock market, with billions of dollars being wiped from the worlds major markets.

Coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan, China, and has since spread across Asia and now Europe, with more than 190 people being tested positive in Italy where five people are believed to have died from the disease.

I wouldnt panic but Im certainly concerned at whats happening in Italy, EU infectious disease expert Professor Herman Goossens told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

The FTSE 100 was down by 3.5% this morning with markets in Germany, France and Spain seeing heavier intraday declines  a pattern which has also been mirrored across all Asian markets.

As major industries begin to feel the effects from the spread of coronavirus its logical to see assets like gold and Bitcoin  both hedges to the traditional financial system  rally as investors seek a safe haven amidst a turbulent market.

With a gold breakout clearly underway, key levels to look out for are at $1,710, $1,754 and $1,785, with a level of support remaining at $1,650.

It will also be interesting to monitor this weeks Bitcoin price action as it has mirrored golds chart since the turn of the year, rallying by 41.20% with gold surging by 13.35%.

If the coronavirus outbreak reaches the likes of the United Kingdom, Germany and America, it would certainly have serious ramifications on global industries, markets and supply chains.

This will undoubtedly cause assets like gold and Bitcoin to continue to rally over the coming months as investors and funds attempt to avoid crippling losses.

Price targets for Bitcoin are at $10,900, $13,200 and $14,000 following Mays halving event, which will see block rewards slashed from 12.5BTC to 6.25BTC per block.

For more news, guides and cryptocurrency analysis, click here.

The post Gold surges to eight-year high amid coronavirus outbreak appeared first on Coin Rivet.
Federal Labor MP Anne Aly has opened up about her experience of domestic violence and is pushing for more action on the issue.

She wrote the personal column in the West Australian on Tuesday, a day after parliament reflected on the murder of Hannah Clarke and her three children.

Dr Aly says it has been difficult for her to talk about the murders carried out by Ms Clarke's estranged husband Rowan Baxter in Brisbane last week, because she is a survivor of domestic violence at the hands of her former spouse and father of her children.

Federal Labor MP Anne Aly opened up about her own experiences with domestic violence

'I have known men like that. Men who see their partners and their children as their possessions and nothing more,' she wrote.

'Abusers who explode with rage when their power is taken away and they can no longer control their partners.'

The MP said she had followed 'age-old' advice passed down on how woman should deal with such violence.

'Advice that warned me not to be rash and that cautioned me that leaving my husband and provider would make me destitute -- not to mention unattractive and alone,' she said.

'I've been patient. I've stayed. I've nursed my bruises and I've hidden my pain. And I've stayed silent. For a long time I stayed silent. But no more.'

Dr Aly said no amount of talking will stop domestic violence.

Australia needs a national campaign that will reach into every home with the clear message that such violence is a criminal offence and will not be tolerated, she said.

Women who want to leave violent relationships also need support, including safe housing, she said.

Hannah Clarke (pictured left) and her three children were murdered in Brisbane last Wednesday when Rowan Baxter (pictured right) doused their car in petrol and set it alight

'Despite all the pain and abuse I suffered, leaving the father of my children was the hardest decision I have ever made,' she said.

'Until we start taking action on domestic violence, nothing will change. Words and gestures in parliament are nice but they don't solve problems or create the urgent change needed to help women today.'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said countering domestic violence was a priority for his government every day.

The federal government continues to implement the fourth national domestic violence action plan and the issue will be raised at a COAG meeting in a few weeks time.

'This issue doesn't know politics. It just knows that there is hurt and pain and tragedy and devastation to families and every day addressing that is a priority for me and my government,' he told reporters.

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Islamabad, Feb 25 : Pakistan has started the quarantine of pilgrims returning from Iran where the deadly coronavirus has claimed 12 lives and infected 64 others, it was reported on Tuesday.

Pakistan, which has already sealed its border with Iran, quarantined at least 200 pilgrims near the Taftan border crossing in Balochistan on Monday, The Express Tribune report said.

"We have decided not to take any chance and keep all of them under observation for the next 15 days," Assistant Commissioner Najeebullah Qambrani said.

Provincial Health Secretary Mudassir Malik confirmed between 200 and 250 will remain under observation for the incubation period.

Around 7,000 pilgrims have returned to Pakistan from Iran this month alone, he added.

Pakistan has deployed 67 doctors at its border crossing with Iran to treat suspected patients of the deadly virus, The Express Tribune reported.

It has also declared a "coronavirus emergency" in five districts of the province -- Chagai, Washuk, Panjgur, Kech and Gwadar -- as a pre-emptive measure Meanwhile, activities at the Pakistan-Iran border remain suspended for a second consecutive day on Monday as the Balochistan government has completely sealed the border at five points.

The provincial government has also announced it would not allow around 5,000 pilgrims currently in Iran to return following the outbreak of the infestation there.

Hundreds of trailers carrying goods were stranded, while screening of pilgrims continues at the Pakistan House established by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and health department at Taftan border.

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 the Iranian city of Qom.

Iraq, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain also confirmed their first coronavirus cases, all of whom had come from Iran.
According to the latest research, if adults have been entirely vaccinated as children, they need not get booster shots for diphtheria and tetanus. The study is published today in the latest issue of the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases and is titled, "Incidence of Tetanus and Diphtheria in Relation to Adult Vaccination Schedules."

Adults do not need tetanus or diphtheria booster shots if they've already completed their childhood vaccination series. Image Credit: PanyaStudio / Shutterstock

Current picture

Tetanus and diphtheria are deadly bacterial infections that were a significant killer a few decades back. Now with complete vaccination, these infections can be largely avoided.

Tetanus or lockjaw leads to severe muscle spasms and can be spread via feces and dirt or contaminated nails or needles. The infection is detected in around 30 individuals every year, and of these, 1 in 10 may succumb to the infection.

The deaths and infections are seen only among those who have not been vaccinated or have incomplete vaccination, explained experts.

Diphtheria is another severe bacterial infection that causes the formation of a thick layer at the back of the throat and can lead to difficulty in breathing and even death in children.

Less than five cases of diphtheria are seen annually in the US, and of these, one in 10 cases is fatal. Infection and fatalities are more prevalent among the unvaccinated. Before the routine vaccination, diphtheria killed 1,800, and tetanus killed 470 individuals every year, respectively, in the United States.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also recently said that adults need to be routinely vaccinated against tetanus and diphtheria if they have not received a complete vaccination course as children.

At present, the United States Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) recommendations, however, advise in their Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices that all adults need such booster shots every ten years.

The team of researchers looked at immunization data from over 11 billion individuals from 31 different nations in North America and Europe between 2001 and 2016 to see if there was any advantage provided by the booster shots. This was an observational cohort study that looked at the new cases of tetanus and diphtheria in these nations.

Results

The team of researchers divided the populations from the countries into two groups  group 1 included countries that vaccinated adults every 5 to 20 years, and group 2 included countries that did not vaccinate adults routinely against tetanus and diphtheria.

Results showed that there was no decline in the number of cases of tetanus and diphtheria in group 1 compared to group 2. A relative risk of 0.78 was found.

The team added that Latvia was one of the nations that had inadequate vaccination coverage for adults, and this raised their risk of getting diphtheria. If they excluded Latvia from the analysis, the incidence of tetanus and diphtheria among vaccinated and non-vaccinated countries was similar with no difference, they wrote.

Implications

Mark Slifka, the lead author of the study, professor at the Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine and the Oregon National Primate Research Center, said, "To be clear, this study is pro-vaccine. Everyone should get their series of tetanus and diphtheria shots when they're children. However, once they have done that, our data indicates they should be protected for life." He explained that their previous study from 2016 also showed that once vaccinated against these infections as children, the immunity provided lasts for around three decades.

He said, "Based on our new data, it turns out we were probably overly conservative back in 2016. Even though it looked like immunity could be maintained for decades, we did not have direct evidence back then that this would translate into true protection against disease in the real world." "However, our new data provides the final piece to the puzzle. We now have evidence showing the childhood vaccination series can provide a lifetime of protection against both tetanus and diphtheria," he added.

Slifka said that if the study findings are followed, the US will save around $1 billion annually in healthcare costs needed to vaccinate adults with these booster shots. The team wrote in conclusions, "Review of >11 billion person-years of incidence data revealed no benefit associated with performing adult booster vaccinations against tetanus or diphtheria. Similar to other vaccines, this analysis supports the WHO position on adult booster vaccination and, if approved by governing health authorities, this may allow more countries to focus healthcare resources on vulnerable and under-vaccinated populations."

This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Oregon National Primate Research Center.






UPDATE: The Geneva Motor Show has been canceled after the Swiss government banned large gatherings in an attempt to curb the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Here is the latest version of events. Previous story appears below.

FRANKFURT  Geneva Motor Show organizers on Tuesday pressed exhibitors from coronavirus-infected areas to check staff for symptoms before arriving in Switzerland and pledged to step up cleaning and disinfection at the congress center.

Geneva is set to host the show next week but restrictions on travel have caused other fairs including the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Frankfurts Light + Building fair and the Beijing Auto Show to be postponed or canceled.

In the context of the coronavirus epidemic afflicting China, Palexpo SA is carefully observing the situation and its possible implications, the Geneva exhibition center said.

The organizers encourage exhibitors from at-risk areas to ensure that their staff pass the necessary checks and do not show any symptoms of infection in the 14 days prior to their arrival in Switzerland, so as to avoid any risk of spread.

Palexpo said it is in regular contact with the General Directorate of Health of the Republic and Canton of Geneva and its medical advisor to develop a sanitary action plan, adjustable in real time.

The Geneva Motor Show will include visitors and exhibitors from Northern Italy, such as Ferraris Chief Executive Louis Camilleri and Chinese executives from Smart, a brand which is jointly run by Germanys Daimler and Chinas Geely.

On Monday, the World Health Organization, which is also based in Geneva, said there was no need to adopt measures which unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade.

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WHHS senior named N.C. Journalist of the Year

Elise Trexler says her interest in journalism grew from a happy accident four years ago at West Henderson High School.



I wasnt actually interested in journalism but then freshman year I had an elective spot free and I had no idea what to do, she said. Her English teacher, Jason Livingston, was also the adviser for the Wingspan, the schools award winning magazine.

He told me I should take it and one of my friends was in it, she said. It was a happy accident. Then I went to convention with our journalism program. We had a bunch of classes with journalists and journalism students from all over the Southeast. in Columbia, South Carolina. The experience inspired her, and she went on to become a reporter and editor for the magazine. Last year she was editor of the website and this year as editor in chief she oversees the website and the thrice-yearly print product.

Shes also top journalist in the state. The North Carolina Scholastic Media Association announced last week that it has named Trexler the 2020 Rachel Rivers-Coffey North Carolina High School Journalist of the Year. Judges noted her editorial leadership, skillful storytelling and community media links.

Since 2001, the North Carolina Press Foundation has funded the annual scholarship award in memory of Rachel Rivers-Coffey, former N.C. Press Association president. NCPF will award a $3,000 scholarship to Trexler. The three alternates will each receive $1,000. West Hendersons journalism program also receives a $500 grant.

Trexler will now represent the state in the National High School Journalist of the Year scholarship competition. Winners will be announced April 18 at the National High School Journalism Convention in Nashville. Trexler will receive the Rivers-Coffey award during the N.C. Scholastic Media Institute at UNC-Chapel Hill on June 16. A 17-year-old senior, she is the daughter of Katherine Van Horne and Jonathan Trexler. She has been admitted to several colleges and has not decided which one shell attend.
"[This Thursday, February 27,] 10 Downing St will publish its negotiating mandate for talks with the UK around which we expect some significant market reaction - as the governments strategy impacts the odds of a no-trade-deal divorce at the end of the year," says Shaun Osborne, Chief FX Strategist at Scotiabank.

Pressures intensify ahead of UK/EU trade talks

Talks between the UK and EU on the future trade relationship are due to start next week. This week, both sides are due to present their opening negotiating positions.

Tensions are inevitably very high as both sides seek to balance strong domestic pressures with the need to find a compromise solution.

Ahead of the talks, a spokesman for Prime Minister Johnson stated that British ministers are united in the governments approach to the negotiations and he went on to criticise the EU; This is in contrast to the process of agreeing the EUs mandate, which so far looks to be hamstrung by indecision and delay due to the competing interests of different member states.

The UK government is due to present its negotiating position to Ministers on Tuesday with the guidelines published on Thursday.

Johnson has also stated that regaining economic sovereignty is the primary objective and threatened to walk away from talks if this is not achievable.

There have been delays in agreeing the EUs joint negotiating stance with France looking to strengthen the level playing field provisions which would oblige Britain to follow the blocs rules and regulations in future in exchange for access to the EUs single market.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Saturday it was not clear whether an agreement can be reached, as Johnson wants, by the end of the year, although he was speaking at a fishing conference, inevitably increasing pressure for a nationalistic tone.

The 27 national envoys met again in Brussels on Monday

Ahead of the talks, diplomats remained optimistic that the final negotiating stance would be agreed this week, but there were further tensions following source reports that the UK was looking to break its acceptance of checks on on Northern Ireland exports.

UK business organisations remained very concerned over the risks of barriers to UK companies, especially after the UK emphasised the importance of sovereignty.

Carolyn Fairbairn, the CBIs director-general, said British 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.

According to Danske bank, Investors have largely ignored this development but we expect high Brexit uncertainty to hit the GBP eventually. Next week, UK business and consumer confidence indicators are due out the night between Thursday and Friday. It will be interesting over coming months to see whether or not the rebound in confidence is robust.
The Ondo State Government has declared Tuesday a public holiday as President Muhammadu Buhari will be in the state for a days visit.

His visit coincides with the third year anniversary of the Governor Rotimi Akeredolus administration and the state has already begun activities to mark the anniversary.

The presidents visit is also viewed as a morale booster for the governor who is seeking a second ticket from his party, the All Progressives Congress, which at the moment, is seriously factionalised.

A number of aspirants have already shown the desire to contest the July primaries of the APC and are campaigning against Mr Akeredolu.

Mr Akeredolu, it was gathered, is using the visit to showcase a number of his infrastructural achievements in the last three years.

According to a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Donald Ojogo, the public holiday is necessary for the state to welcome the President to the state.

The statement said Mr Buhari is expected to arrive in the state to commission two key legacy projects, namely, the Ore Industrial Hub and the Ore Inter-change.

The government said the commissioning was part of activities marking the 3rd Anniversary of the administration.

READ ALSO:

The governor expresses appreciation to God for the journey thus far even as he enjoins all to take advantage of this period to participate fully in the series of activities lined up for the Anniversary celebrations, the statement said.

Projects

The Ore bridge which forms the interchange along the Benin-Ijebu Ode expressway is about 125m long and is expected to reduce the rate of accidents witnessed at the interchange.

However, critics of the government had raised several the alarm over its cost which was put at N5 billion.

The state government had explained that the flyover would ease the traffic at the crossroads and would reduce accidents.

The president is also expected to commission a N15 billion International Industrial Park in Omotosho, Ore in Odigbo Local Government Area.

The state government had said it was able to achieve the feat following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with HESSMAC Nigeria Limited for the Development, operation and management of the park.

The government said the industrial park, which covers a land area of 1000 hectares, is expected to generate 15000 direct jobs and other auxiliary services from 400 industries that will spring up.
An ex-convict accused of killing his housemate and setting her Ocean Township residence on fire last year has been indicted on 16 crimes as the search for the missing victim continues, the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office said Tuesday.

Ronald Teschner, 49, was indicted on murder, arson, burglary and several related crimes in the death of 65-year-old Jacquelin Terrulli last September.

Prosecutors have said Teschner killed Terrulli after she caught him stealing from her, then lit her Wickapecko Drive home on fire using nail polish remover. He then fled to Passaic County in a stolen white Jeep Cherokee that belonged to Terrulli, where he was arrested on weapons charges.

Terrulli had been allowing Teschner to stay at her 6,000 square-foot residence while he was kicking a drug habit, but tensions between the two had been boiling in the days leading up to Terrullis disappearance, her family has said.

Jacquelin Terrulli, in pictures provided by authorities.Photos provided by authorities

Teschner was previously sentenced in 2007 to 11 years in jail for breaking into his wifes house and attempting to harm her, and has a criminal history dating back further, according to records and media reports.

While in detention in this case, Teschner confessed to a jail mate that he murdered Terrulli after she caught him stealing jewelry, bank cards, shot guns and other items from her and she threatened to call police, authorities have alleged. Prosecutors said he sold some items at pawn shops on his drive to North Jersey and bought heroin.

He was charged with murder on Dec. 11, 2019, two months after the massive house fire. Terrulli remains missing.

The investigative team and numerous supporting agencies continue to do everything in their power to locate Jacqueline Terrullis remains, the prosecutors office said in a statement.

Authorities search for Jacquelin Terrulli, 65, in the the area surrounding her residence on Wickapeck Drive in Ocean Township following the September 2019 fire.Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo2@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AvalonZoppo. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman was found dead in east London with suspected stab wounds.

Metropolitan Police officers were called to a property in Magnolia Close, Leyton, at around 11.50am on Tuesday to reports of concern for residents welfare

A 35-year-old woman was found at the address with what police believe were stab wounds.

The London Ambulance Service and medics from Londons Air Ambulance attended but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

A woman was found stabbed in a residential address / NIGEL HOWARD 

A 54-year-old man, who was also inside the property, was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody.

Police believe it is a domestic-related incident.

Detective Inspector Olly Clark said: At this very early stage we are treating this as a domestic-related incident and believe the parties were known to each other. We are not seeking further suspects.

A man was arrested at the scene and officers will be working hard to establish the exact sequence of events which led to this woman losing her life.

A post-mortem examination in due course will help us establish this and we will keep the victims family and local community informed as the investigation progresses.

Homicide detectives from the Mets Specialist Crime Command have been informed.
In fact our country was founded on the very idea that the past has much to tell the present. The founding generation grounded its politics and ultimately our Constitution on that idea. The Enlightenment encouraged this kind of thinking, suggesting that close knowledge of the giant sweep of history could reveal universal patterns that could be deployed to serve the present day. Discover what toppled republics in the past and you could work to avoid that outcome. See what balances of political power proved most stable and you could craft a government built upon that base. As the French philosopher Charles Pinot Duclos put it in 1745: "Where we see the same faults followed regularly by the same misfortunes, we may reasonably think that if we could have known the first we might have avoided the others. The past should enlighten us on the future."

A sterling example of this kind of thinking is James Madison's "Notes on Ancient and Modern Confederacies," written shortly before the federal convention in 1786. In preparation to reform or even replace the Articles of Confederation, he reviewed confederations to learn what worked and what didn't. His historical analysis taught him that confederations were fragile, reinforcing his belief in the need for a stronger central government and guiding his actions at the convention and beyond.
Mastercard's Indian-American President and Chief Executive Officer Ajay Banga will step down from his role and assume charge as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, as the payments giant announced Michael Miebach as the new CEO.

The company said in a statement that Banga will become Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors effective January 1, 2021. Miebach, currently the Chief Product Officer, will become Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors on January 1, 2021 and, as part of the transition, to become President March 1 this year.

The Board unanimously elected Miebach to his new role. As President of the company, Miebach will oversee the sales, marketing, products, services and technology organizations.

Banga, 60, who had been Mastercard's CEO for 10 years, said it has been a privilege to be a part of Mastercard's transformation as a company.

Thanks to the efforts of the entire leadership team, we are well-positioned for future success as we continue to embrace emerging and new technologies, making every device a device of commerce.

The Indian-born top executive said the company has built a growth-oriented mindset and operated with a sense of urgency, delivering a 13 per cent compound annual revenue growth from 2009 through 2019.

Banga further added that as Mastercard moves into the next phase of growth, we have a deep leadership benchwith Michael at the helmto take us to the next level.

Banga is among the small and growing group of Indian-Americans at the helm of US and global multi-national giants. Last month Indian-origin technology executive Arvind Krishna was named Chief Executive Officer of American IT giant IBM after a "world-class succession process.

Krishna joined the club that includes Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, MasterCard CEO Ajay Banga, PepsiCo's former CEO Indra Nooyi and Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen.

Banga said Miebach has a proven track record of building products and running businesses globally and over his career, he has held leadership positions in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and in the US across payments, data, banking services and technology.

Banga credited Miebach for being a key architect of Mastercard's multi-rail strategyincluding leading the acquisition of Vocalink and the pending transaction with Netsto address a broader set of payment flows.

He's also a visionary who kickstarted much of the work behind our financial inclusion journey. I am excited to continue working closely with Michael and supporting Mastercard's success when I become Executive Chairman, Banga said.

Miebach said Mastercard has outstanding people, leading technology and tremendous potential and added that he is honored to have the opportunity to lead the company with a team by his side that is second to none.

Mastercard's current Chairman, Richard Haythornthwaite, will retire from the Board after more than a decade of exceptional service when Banga assumes the role of Executive Chairman.

Haythornthwaite expressed gratitude to Banga for his outstanding leadership and commitment to Mastercard.

We will continue to benefit from his experience and expertise, he said adding that Banga has led the strategic and cultural transformation that has enabled the company to thrive.

Current Board member, Merit Janow, Dean of the faculty of Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), was unanimously elected by the Board to become Lead Independent Director on January 1, 2021. She will continue to serve as Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee when Haythornthwaite retires.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
At Berkshire Hathaway, chairman Warren Buffett and his right-hand man Charlie Munger search for specific traits when hiring the company's board of directors and managers.

"At Berkshire for decades, we've given the three factors in addition to integrity for board membership," Buffett said on CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Monday. "We want people who are business-savvy, we want them to have a strong personal interest in Berkshire itself and we've got directors who really represent shareholders at Berkshire."

And to show a "strong personal interest" in Berkshire, Buffett prefers that directors purchased company shares with their own personal savings.

"Paid-with-my-own-money ownership, of course, does not create wisdom or ensure business smarts," Buffett wrote in his recent letter to shareholders. "Nevertheless, I feel better when directors of our portfolio companies have had the experience of purchasing shares with their savings, rather than simply having been the recipients of grants."

This isn't a new stance for Buffett  in May 2014, he told Becky Quick on CNBC's "Squawk Box" the same.

"We have a group of directors, they get paid virtually nothing and their interest has to come about because they find the place interesting and in many cases, because they have huge investments [in Berkshire companies]," he said. "And they made those investments themselves. Nobody gave them shares. So, it's a very unusual board, but it's a terrific board."

In addition to personal investment, Buffett looks for good character traits.

"Thought and principles, not robot-like 'process,' will guide their actions," he said in his recent letter to shareholders. "In representing [shareholder] interests, [the board directors] will, of course, seek managers whose goals include delighting their customers, cherishing their associates and acting as good citizens of both their communities and our country."

Above all, Buffett wants board directors that will uphold the same values Munger and he have for Berkshire, rather than sell out to Wall Street.

Tweet of doing "the right thing" from Squawk Box

"I personally want directors that represent the shareholders. And, you know in terms of my estate you know, with maybe currently $80 billion worth of [Berkshire] shares to give to philanthropy, I hope that we have a group of directors that I think will be very conscious of doing the right thing," he told CNBC on Monday, referring to his pledge to give away 99% of his wealth (which is mostly comprised of Berkshire stock).

Similarly, Buffett looks for three key things when hiring employees: "You look for intelligence, you look for energy and you look for integrity," he told Nebraska Business magazine in a 2001 interview.

The most important of all, according to Buffett, is integrity.

"Every business student you have has the requisite intelligence and requisite energy. Integrity is not hard-wired into your DNA," he said in 2001.

Check out: The best credit cards of 2020 could earn you over $1,000 in 5 years

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She's been dubbed 'The Queen of Peak TV'.

But it was her starring role in the latest Universal horror film The Invisible Man that brought out Elisabeth Moss for a stunning red carpet turn on Monday night.

The Mad Men alum, 37, shimmered in a figure-hugging dress for the star-studded premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

All that glitters: Elisabeth Moss, 37, shimmered in a figure-hugging dress for the star-studded premiere of her new film The Invisible Man at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Monday

Moss paired the long-sleeve magenta dress with a pair of glittering heels for her red carpet turn.

The star of A Handmaid's Tale wore her wavy blonde tresses loose, in a shoulder-length bob cut.

Her minimal makeup consisted of a dab of soft pink lip and heavy eyeliner.

Magical in magenta: Moss paired the long-sleeve magenta dress with a pair of glittering heels for her red carpet turn

Good hair day: The star of A Handmaid's Tale wore her wavy blonde tresses loose, in a shoulder-length bob cut

Plot: The film, adapted from the H.G Wells classic, sees Cecilia's (Moss) abusive ex-boyfriend - scientist Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) - terrorize her after faking his own death and making himself invisible in a lab

Star in waiting: Also lighting up the red carpet was Moss' co-star, Storm Reid

Also lighting up the red carpet was Moss' co-star, Storm Reid.

The 16-year-old A Wrinkle In Time star took a color cue from Moss, wearing a purple, floor length dress.

The teenager even matched her eyeshadow to her gown, paired with a dab of nude lip.

Lovely in lilac: The 16-year-old A Wrinkle In Time star took a color cue from Moss, wearing a purple, floor length dress

Color coordination: The teenager even matched her eyeshadow to her gown, paired with a dab of nude lip

The Invisible Man was written and directed by Australian filmmaker Leigh Whannell (Saw).

The film, adapted from the H.G Wells classic, sees Cecilia's (Moss) abusive ex-boyfriend - scientist Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) - terrorize her after faking his own death and making himself invisible in a lab.

After she's left a large sum of money, she finds herself being stalked by an Invisible Man which she believes to be him.

Posing up a storm: Moss poses with co-star, English actor and model Oliver Jackson-Cohen

Dapper dudes: Jackson-Cohen [L] went with a dark suit while co-star Aldis Hodge opted for a pop of color with a plaid teal suit

In real life, the Mad Men alum is very good at 'turning it off' and 'compartmentalizing' her life when on and off-screen.

'I'm really good at turning it off, going home and texting my friends, having a glass of wine, and putting it aside,' Elisabeth said in the February edition of Harper's Bazaar.

'It's not unconscious. I need to be able to do that to treat my work with joy and enthusiasm.'

The Invisible Man is released in cinemas in the UK and US on 28 February 2020.

Auteur: Writer-director Leigh Whannell poses with his actress wife Corbett Tuck

Super-producer: Jason Blum was a vision in green for the premiere of his latest film

Loved-up: New Zealand actor Michael Dorman and his girlfriend Marie Jachimoicz

Meet the Reids: Storm's family showed up to support the up-and-coming actress

Sharing a joke: Moss and Jackson-Cohen were seen having a laugh at the post-screening party

Happy night: The pair also had a blast with the film's producer Jason Blum

Social whirl: Jackson-Cohen also found time to hang out with the films screenwriter and director Leigh Whannell

Kicking back: Reid and Hodge also spent some time chatting at the after-party
Expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar has been disqualified from the membership of the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, following his conviction in the rape case by a Delhi sessions' court in December.

In a notification issued by the UP Vidhan Sabha, Sengar has been deemed disqualified with effect from December 20, 2019 and his Bangarmau seat in Unnao district has been declared vacant.

Kuldeep Sengar is a four term MLA who was accused of rape by a girl from his Makhi village. The girl attempted self-immolation outside the chief minister's residence in April 2017 when the police did not take action on her complaint.

The rape victim's father, who had been arrested by the police, died in custody two days later, after he was beaten up in the lock-up by Sengar's brother, Atul Sengar.

As public outrage erupted, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath handed over the case to the CBI and Kuldeep Sengar, his brother Atul and others were arrested.

In July 2019, the rape victim met with an serious accident in Rae Bareli. Her two female relatives died in the car crash while she and her lawyer were seriously injured.

Both were airlifted to Delhi for treatment and the family alleged that Kuldeep Sengar had masterminded the accident. However, the CBI did not find any evidence of Sengar's involvement in the accident.

Since the Supreme Court had ordered that all cases related to the rape case be heard in Delhi, where a sessions' court convicted Kuldeep Sengar in the rape case in December and awarded a life sentence.
Many people have to take responsibility for the lawlessness witnessed in parts of Delhi over the past four days  itself the result of whats gone on in the city-state over several months.

Some of the blame is the Union home ministrys. It manages Delhi Police, and has also not engaged with people protesting the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, or CAA, the flashpoint for much of the violence. Some of the blame is that of protesters, peaceful and violent, pro- and anti-CAA. For months, Shaheen Bagh has hosted a peaceful anti-CAA protest. Its probably the worlds most successful Occupy movement, but the protesters, having made their point, are refusing to move to another location; blocking one of the main roads linking Delhi to Noida. Their continued sit-in is a magnet for pro-CAA protesters, and Delhi has been just a spark away from a major incident. As for pro-CAA protesters, some of them seem to believe that they have the States blessing and can indulge in violence with impunity (some of the actions of the police suggest they can). Then there are the violent anti-CAA protesters, whose violence isnt always a response, but sometimes a provocation. Some of the blame should be directed at political parties of all hues  of this, a disproportionate amount should be assigned to the Bharatiya Janata Party because it is in power at the Centre and best placed to do something.

ALSO WATCH | Day 3 of Delhi violence: Death toll up amid stone pelting, arson, firing

But much of the blame should be reserved for Delhi Police. Time and again, it has been found wanting. Its assessment of situations has often gone wrong. Its planning has been inadequate. And its response has usually been the wrong one. Worse, its speed of response (or lack of it) has allowed situations to spiral out of control. For instance, on Day 1, it could have cleared Shaheen Bagh and moved the protesters to an alternative site, if it wanted to, and in the more recent violence in north-east Delhi, signs of all not being well have been visible since Saturday.

All point to a crisis of leadership and decision-making in the primary law enforcement agency in the national capital. It is expected that SN Shrivastava, named special commissioner (law and order) , Delhi Police on Tuesday, will take over as police chief after the current chief, who is on extension, retires at the end of the month. He will hopefully be up to task of handling the most important policing job in the country.
Then, at about 12 a.m., RM, Jin, SUGA, J-hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook  the members of BTS  got to the terminal, which remained open.

It was important that the public not catch a glimpse of the K-pop group members because their appearance on The Tonight Show was a surprise.

They were not in the public areas while we were still open, Ms. Conti said. It was top secret.

The Tonight Show declined to comment, but on Twitter, a producer for the show wrote that the episode was our love letter to this city and noted that BTS was game for everything.

It wasnt until 2 a.m., when the terminal had officially closed to the public, that BTS set foot on the main terminal floor.

They had two hours to nail the perfect video clip of ON from their new album, Map of the Soul: 7, before the terminals cleaning staff came in to wash the floors. The doors would open to the public again at 5:15 a.m.

Jimmy Fallon and BTS rode in a special subway.

The episode, which aired Monday night, also featured a #FallonAsksBTS segment in which the seven members of the group rode the subway with Mr. Fallon while answering some of the questions their fans, also known as the army, posed on Twitter.
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 25/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Protesters let vehicles past a check point on a highway in Kanesatake Mohawk Territory, near Oka, Que. on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 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/Ryan Remiorz

Here is the latest news on protests across Canada over a natural gas pipeline project in British Columbia (All times Eastern):

9:50 p.m.

Toronto police are responding to a protest in the city's west end.

Police say they are on scene to keep the peace and limit disruption to "critical infrastructure."

Video footage on social media shows protesters around a rail line.

Police would not confirm if the rail line has been blocked.

---

7:25 p.m.

The Hamilton Police Service says protesters who occupied rail tracks in the city have peacefully left the site.

The small group of protesters had been served with an injunction by CN Rail to leave the tracks late Monday night.

The blockade forced the cancellation of Metrolinx service at the West Harbour GO, Hamilton GO, St. Catharines GO and Niagara Falls GO stations.

The disruption along the busy routes left thousands of passengers scrambling to make alternative travel arrangements.

It also affected CN and CP rail service.



5:42 p.m.

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake says it may challenge CP Rail's injunction to end a rail blockade that began more than two weeks ago in the Mohawk community south of Montreal.

Grand Chief Joseph Norton says in a statement that the council is considering all its options in response to the injunction granted today by a Quebec Superior Court judge.

Norton says the Kahnawake Peacekeepers are the only policing agency with jurisdiction in the territory, and their police chief has indicated he has no interest in criminalizing those participating in blockades.

Norton described CP Rail's action as rash, adding that "history reminds us that the proper approach to addressing issues is through dialogue and discussion  not by sending in police."

___

5:07 p.m. ET

Vancouver police say they arrested six people who refused to abide by a court order that prohibits the main entrance to the city's port from being blocked.

Protesters arrived outside the port Monday afternoon and police say they reminded them of the injunction and asked them to leave prior to the arrests today.

The injunction was granted to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority on Feb. 9.

Several people were taken into custody by police when a similar blockade was removed nearly three weeks ago.

___

4:57 p.m. ET

The RCMP say they arrested three people at a blockade of CP Rail tracks near Chase, B.C.

The Mounties say in a news release they were called to assist the Canadian Pacific Police Service after at least two dozen protesters obstructed the tracks.

They say the remainder removed their belongings from the tracks voluntarily.

Chief Judy Wilson of the Neskonlith Indian Band east of Kamloops says members of the band were showing support for Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs who oppose a natural gas pipeline.

___

5:16 p.m. ET

The company operating a popular commuter rail service covering a large swath of southern Ontario says fresh blockades are causing major delays and service suspensions on multiple routes.

Metrolinx spokeswoman Anne Marie Aikins says at least two of GO Transit's routes running west of Toronto have been halted altogether, causing major crowding at the downtown station that serves as a major travel hub.

She says service was also paused on a route running east of the city, but significant delays persist even though the trains are running again.

Toronto police could not immediately provide details about the new blockades, but Aikins describes the situation as fluid and quickly evolving.

___

5 p.m. ET

Police in Vancouver have arrested several demonstrators at a major intersection leading to the city's port, just hours after warning them the protest was violating a court injunction.

At least four people were seen to be arrested by the police this afternoon.

Protesters had been blocking traffic at the intersection for almost 24 hours but most of the crowd moved to the sidewalk after being warned by police.

Several people were taken into custody by police when a similar blockade was removed nearly three weeks ago.

___

4 p.m. ET

CP Rail says in a statement that despite obtaining an injunction today to end a rail blockade on its tracks in Kahnawake, it is encouraging peaceful dialogue to resolve the matter.

The railway says it has acted honourably and respectfully with Indigenous leaders since the blockade went up more than two weeks ago, but without a resolution and with other blockades popping up, the company felt it needed to act.

It says it secured the injunction to deal with any so-called copycat blockades that may emerge in the future.

The railway says it has supported the Wet'suwet'en where it could and Keith Creel, the company's president and CEO, wrote to the prime minister in support of the hereditary chiefs in their call for direct dialogue with the prime minister last week.

___

3:55 p.m. ET

Police in Vancouver have warned demonstrators to move out of a major intersection leading to the port of Vancouver, advising them they risk arrest for violating a court injunction preventing interference with access to the port.

A large number of officers gathered this afternoon at the intersection where demonstrators have blocked traffic for almost 24 hours.

Most of the estimated 70 protesters have moved to the sidewalks.

Several people were taken into custody by police when a similar blockade was removed nearly three weeks ago, but no arrests have been made so far today.

___

2:15 p.m. ET

The transit agency Exo says it is losing $35,000 to $45,000 each weekday the Kahnawake blockade continues because of the 30-odd buses it has to rent daily to shuttle passengers to and from downtown Montreal.

That means the commuter rail service has lost up to $540,000 as of this afternoon, the 12th weekday of rail disruption.

Exo spokeswoman Catherine Maurice says a a shortage of buses and drivers in the Montreal area is adding to the difficulty.

She says the service is in contact with partners, including the provincial government and Montreal's regional transportation authority, over who will ultimately foot the bill.

___

2:05 p.m. ET

Transport Minister Marc Garneau says the CN and CP railways have been co-operating to move freight between Toronto and Montreal despite the blockade of a key CN track connecting the cities.

He compares the competitors' decision to share routes and equipment to the way they sometimes work together after a mudslide takes out a section of track.

Some essential goods were transported around the blockade at Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in central Ontario, Garneau says, including through the northern part of the province.

Garneau says he didn't order the move as transport minister but credited the companies for co-operating in the best interests of Canadians.

___

1:40 p.m. ET

Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller says the federal government is still working on "de-escalation" of the dispute between the RCMP and Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs in British Columbia.

Miller says the government is still trying to find an agreement on the hereditary chiefs' demands that the RCMP leave their territory, after leaving an outpost on an access road to the Coastal GasLink pipeline project.

He says communication has been challenging, since some of the hereditary chiefs have been in B.C. while others travelled to Ontario late last week to visit Mohawk supporters.

But Miller says exchanges went on all weekend and continued Monday.

He says every level of government is aiming for a peaceful resolution.

___

1:20 p.m. ET

Amnesty International has issued an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after visiting Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in central Ontario, where police took down a rail blockade yesterday.

The organization is calling on the prime minister to ensure all those arrested as part of protests in support of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation, but who have not engaged in criminal violence, are released unconditionally.

It is also urging Trudeau to suspend construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline in the absence of the free and informed consent of the Wet'suwet'en people.

The letter also calls for the complete withdrawal of the RCMP from Wet'suwet'en territory and lays out other steps it says Trudeau should take in engaging with Indigenous leaders and peoples.

___

1 p.m. ET

A leader of a British Columbia First Nation that neighbours the Wet'suwet'en says 14 people were arrested last night at a blockade outside New Hazelton.

Gitxsan Nation Hereditary Chief Spookwx says three other hereditary chiefs were also taken into custody as RCMP removed a demonstration on the CN Rail main line in northern B.C.

A similar blockade was set up by the Gitxsan earlier this month and removed as a show of good faith on Feb. 13.

But Spookwx, who also goes by Norm Stephens, says the protest resumed because RCMP have not acted quickly enough to leave Wet'suwet'en territory, where a disputed natural gas pipeline is under construction.

He says all 14 demonstrators have since been released by Mounties.

___

12:10 p.m. ET

Canadian Pacific Railway has obtained an injunction to end a blockade that began in early February in the Mohawk community of Kahnawake, south of Montreal.

A spokeswoman for the court says the injunction was granted today by Quebec Superior Court Justice Michel A. Pinsonnault.

On Monday, the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake had commended CP Rail and the Quebec government for its patience over the past two weeks and for avoiding seeking an injunction.

A spokesman for the Kahnawake Mohawk Peacekeepers wasn't immediately available today, but Chief Peacekeeper Dwayne Zacharie has previously said he would not enforce an injunction on his own people.

The blockaded line is used for freight traffic as well as commuter rail service between Montreal and several communities to the south, which was interrupted as of Feb. 10.

___

11:45 a.m. ET

Another blockade popped up in Quebec early today as protesters descended on a rail line in Sherbrooke, about 150 kilometres east of Montreal.

About 20 people, their faces covered, set up along a rail line in the city's Lennoxville district.

The protesters blocked the tracks and put up signs saying they were supporting hereditary chiefs from Wet'suwet'en First Nation, who are opposed to a natural gas pipeline on their traditional lands.

Protesters refused to speak to reporters on site, and Sherbrooke police have set up a security perimeter in the area.

___

11:15 a.m. ET

Hamilton police say a court injunction has been served to protesters who have set up a blockade on a popular commuter rail line.

But Const. Jerome Stewart won't say whether police are prepared to enforce the injunction.

Stewart says the force is monitoring the situation and focused on maintaining a peaceful environment.

The new blockade, which is affecting GO Train service, comes just a day after police moved on an encampment in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near Belleville, Ont.

___

11:00 a.m. ET

Police say a second encampment remains not far from the main rail blockade that was dismantled yesterday in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in central Ontario.

Ontario Provincial Police spokesman Bill Dickson says there were several small fires at the site yesterday around the time a CN train slowly made its way through.

He says the local power provider temporarily shut off parts of the grid because the fires were close to some power lines.

Dickson says the force does not have jurisdiction there as it falls on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and under the purview of local police.

___

9:21 a.m. ET

Passenger rail service is halted this morning along a popular commuter rail line near Hamilton.

A spokeswoman for Metrolinx says about a dozen people gathered on the tracks affecting GO Train service between the city and Niagara Falls.

She says Hamilton police and CN Rail are investigating.

The new blockade comes barely 24 hours after police dismantled a rail blockade in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near Belleville, Ont., arresting 10 people.



9:00 a.m. ET

Anti-pipeline protesters continue to block a major Vancouver intersection that is also a key entry to the port of Vancouver.

Demonstrators arrived at the intersection early Monday afternoon and say they will remain, although the Port of Vancouver has an injunction prohibiting interference with truck traffic to and from the busy harbour.

Police are at the scene and monitored the demonstration through the night but have not taken any action to remove it.



8:30 a.m. ET

A group of protesters remains locked to a gate of the British Columbia legislature in defiance of an injunction obtained almost two weeks ago after hundreds of demonstrators surrounded the building and impeded or prevented access for most of the day.

The group moved onto the steps of the legislature Monday evening in response to arrests earlier in the day on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in eastern Ontario as police removed a rail blockade set up by supporters of the B.C. First Nation opposed to a natural gas pipeline project on their land.

About 300 people took part as the demonstration began, but a much smaller group remained overnight and a handful locked themselves to the legislature's ceremonial front gate.



1:00 a.m. ET

Commuter rail service is moving again between Vancouver and the central Fraser Valley after demonstrators blocked the tracks late Monday afternoon, saying they were acting in support of Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs opposed to a natural gas pipeline through their territory in northwestern B.C.

The blockade halted the homeward service for about 5,000 commuters who depend on the West Coast Express, a commuter train service connecting downtown Vancouver to homes in Metro Vancouver's northeastern regions, as far east as Mission.

B.C.'s Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth took to social media to blast the disruption, the second in as many weeks, calling it unlawful and writing "police do not need an injunction to clear and arrest the blockaders."

The protesters moved on by early Monday evening and TransLink, which operates the West Coast Express commuter rail service say it will run as usual today.



This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 25, 2020.
Theres a whopping $42 million up for grabs with Powerball on Wednesday  the second largest prize in Lotto NZ history.

Kiwis up and down the country are already thinking about how they would spend their millions.

Typically, most Powerball winners buy a house or pay off mortgages, help their families, travel overseas, and last but not least, help charities close to their hearts.

One of last years winners is no exception to that rule.

In October 2019, Powerball jackpotted to a massive $38 million. The jackpot was shared by two Auckland MyLotto players who each took home a huge $19.1 million.

Its absolutely life-changing, our lives will never be the same, says one of the winners, a mother from Central Auckland.

Weve just bought our dream home and will be moving in soon  we cant wait. Weve always dreamt of owning our own home and now its a reality  though its still quite hard to believe!

Since winning Powerball, the woman has helped family by paying off their mortgages but says the biggest thing for them is being able to help those who need it most.

The family have donated to multiple charities like The Salvation Army, SPCA and others.

We feel so lucky to be able to help such great causes. One of the best things about winning Powerball is being able to make a difference and give back to the community, says the winner.

While you may be thinking about handing in your resignation upon collecting your millions, another common theme among Powerball winners is staying in their jobs.

The win has changed our lives so much, but a few things remain the same. We still work in the same jobs, but now we dont work for the money  we do it for the passion.

Im still driving the same $2,000 car I had before I won and walking around in the same clothes and shoes."

If Powerball is won by a single player on Wednesday, the $42 million jackpot will be the second largest prize in Lotto NZ history. The first was a $44 million prize won in November 2016 by a couple from the Hibiscus Coast.

Like all lotteries, our games are based on a large number of people paying a small amount of money in the hope of winning a small number of large prizes.

At all times Lotto NZ encourages our customers to play responsibly  this is all about having fun, being informed and knowing your limits. For more information on the tools and resources we offer, visit MyLotto.

Every year 100% of Lotto NZs profits go to over 3000 great causes around New Zealand. Over the past decade, Lotto NZ returned almost $2.2 billion in profits to communities all around New Zealand. Read more about how Lotto NZ players made this possible here: A decade of making a difference

Largest Powerball wins of all time

Rank Date Amount Retailer Location 1 Nov 2016 $44 million Dairy Flat Food Mart and Liquor Auckland 2 Sep 2013 $33 million One Step Ahead Auckland 3 Sep 2017 $30.2 million Richmond Superette Taupo 4 Oct 2010 $28.7 million Mobil Papakura Auckland 5 May 2017 $27 million Martina Four Square Thames

Powerball First Division wins in 2019

Date Prize Store Location 2 January $22.3 million Inglewood Bookcentre Taranaki 26 January $10 million Feilding Video Centre Feilding 9 February $8 million MyLotto Auckland 16 February $5.5 million MyLotto Christchurch 13 March $11 million Unichem Stortford Lodge Hastings 17 April $16.2 million MyLotto Auckland 24 April $5.3 million MyLotto Auckland 1 May $5.5 million Taipa Foodmarket Taipa 22 May $9.2 million MyLotto Auckland 16 June $10.2 million Whitcoulls The Base Hamilton 20 July $16.5 million Woodys Winners Wellsford 17 August $12.2 million MyLotto Auckland 16 October $19.1 million MyLotto Auckland $19.1 million MyLotto Auckland 23 November $18.2 million Gulf Harbour Four Square Whangaparaoa 28 December $17.1 million The Market Store Twizel

2019 Powerball winner statistics
Botox has become so popular even women in their early 20s are rushing to get a fix, but the practice raises the question: is getting the treatment before you have wrinkles a wise precaution or a complete waste of money?

Dr Josh Wall, medical director of Contour Clinics, supports women getting Botox in their 20s.

The medical professional also shared the best areas on your face to target.

Contour Clinics medical director Dr Josh Wall (pictured) recently revealed why he supports women getting Botox in their 20s

What is preventative Botox and who is suitable for it?

Preventative Botox is injections for your face that claim to keep wrinkles from becoming obvious.

The effectiveness can vary, and while the procedure can't stop wrinkles from forming, the injections can stop you from seeing them.

'Wrinkles form due to contraction of underlying facial muscles,' Dr Wall told Beauty Heaven.

'Over time, lines that were once there only when moving, now become a permanent crease. By relaxing these muscles in a targeted fashion, we can prevent deep, permanent lines from forming in the first place.'

Dr Wall said the earlier you begin, the easier it is to target the lines.

'By relaxing muscles [with Botox] in a targeted fashion, we can prevent deep permanent lines from forming in the first place,' Dr Wall said (stock image)

Are Botox treatments in your 20s common and advisable?

More and more young women in their 20s are having Botox, not only to prevent the signs of ageing but also to change their expression.

'Botox isn't only for erasing wrinkles. It can stop you from frowning or squinting,' Dr Wall said.

He added that not everyone wants to get rid of the signs of ageing, but rather they want to stop themselves from permanently frowning or having something called 'resting b**ch face'.

What are the best places to have Botox?

Put simply, the best places to get Botox on your face are wherever you can see a line beginning to form.

Dr Wall said the most popular areas are foreheads and the crows' feet around the eyes, but such wrinkles can start anywhere - including your marionette lines (lines around the mouth) and any frown lines.

Once you start, does that mean you can't stop?

A common misconception about Botox is that once you've had one treatment, you're locked in for life to maintain the smooth visage.

The drug is also wrongly thought to start patients on a slippery slope to more extensive cosmetic procedures.

'Your face returns to exactly how it was prior to treatment. It actually will put a pause on the wrinkle forming process,' Dr Wall said.

This means you can opt out at any time.

Cosmetic physician Dr Phoebe Jones has revealed the best age to start a relationship with injectables - and it's long before most wrinkles even start to set in

What age should you start?

While you can begin at any time provided you are of legal age, there is a 'magic number' that many experts recommend as a starting point.

'If I had to put an age on it, I would say around 27. This is the age when we start to lose collagen and elasticity in the skin,' Sydney-based cosmetic physician Dr Phoebe Jones told FEMAIL.

'For the majority of people, starting smaller doses of anti-wrinkle injections in their late 20s or early 30s is ideal for preventative purposes.'

If areas are left untreated, Dr Jones said it becomes harder to get rid of deep-set lines in your 40s and 50s.

Lifestyle factors such as smoking, sunbathing and excessive drinking worsen premature ageing, meaning those people should start on Botox earlier.
United Nations - 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.
Gladwin teen Jacob McLemore was taking his girlfriend home on Feb. 4, when he passed a heavily front-end damaged truck, then 30 seconds later, saw a crash site and was moments away from helping save a 20-year-old man's life.

McLemore happened upon the scene and saw a dead horse in the roadway of South Bard Road in Beaverton and pieces of a buggy scattered. He then began searching for the destroyed buggy's driver. He found the man in the ditch. Had he not looked, he wouldn't have seen him because the victim was submerged in the ditch.

"After seeing the horse and the pieces, I was kind of surprised to find him breathing," said McLemore, a Gladwin High School junior.

McLemore immediately got in the ditch with the unconscious man. The man's head was submerged in the water and McLemore pulled his head from the water and held it above water while calling 911.

"It was scary, I didn't know if he was going to die or not," McLemore said, describing the victim's labored breathing.

McLemore made the decision to look for a victim because he thought it was the "right and smart" thing to do. He also saw the victim's hat in the roadway and had a strong sense there was someone in need nearby.

McLemore stayed with the man until rescue personnel arrived. He said he would not hesitate to do what he did again.

"Knowing I could help someone, I would do it again," he said.

McLemore's mother, Darcy Lask-McLemore, said she isn't surprised by her son's actions, saying he has a heart of gold.

"I wouldn't expect anything less from him," said Darcy, who along with McLemore's dad, worked with the fire department and EMS before moving to Gladwin. "He knows the basics, and I'm proud of him."

McLemore and his mom visited the victim in the hospital. The man's family was gracious to them. The victim remains in MidMichigan Medical Center - Midland in stable but critical condition.

A 30-year-old Alger man was arraigned in Gladwin County's 80th District Court on Feb. 20, in connection with the crash. Edsel Hill is expected back in court Thursday for a probable cause hearing. He is charged with driving with a revoked license and causing serious injury. Hill is out on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond.

The crash occurred about 7:15 p.m. on South Bard Road. Hill allegedly struck the buggy and then fled the scene. Gladwin Sheriff Mike Shea said quick detective work led officials to Hill within a short time. Hill was driving a 1999 Dodge Ram, which investigators located at a Gladwin residence. Hill was driving on a denied and revoked license. Shea said Hill cooperated fully with the investigation and was not immediately arrested.
Egypt State TV: Former President Hosni Mubarak Has Died at 91

CAIROHosni Mubarak, the Egyptian leader who for nearly 30 years was the resolute face of stability in the Mideast before being forced by the military to resign after 18-day nationwide protests that were part of the Arab worlds 2011 pro-democracy upheaval, died on Tuesday, the countrys state-run TV said. He was 91.

Throughout his rule, he was a stalwart U.S. ally, a bulwark against Islamic militancy, and guardian of Egypts peace with Israel. But to the tens of thousands of young Egyptians who rallied for 18 days of unprecedented street protests in Cairos central Tahrir Square and elsewhere in 2011, Mubarak was a relic, a latter-day pharaoh.

They were inspired by the Tunisian revolt, and harnessed the power of social media to muster tumultuous throngs, unleashing popular anger over the graft and brutality that shadowed his rule.

In the end, with millions massed in Tahrir Square and other city centers around the country, and even marching to the doorstep of Mubaraks palace, the military that long nurtured him pushed him aside on Feb. 11, 2011. The generals took power, hoping to preserve what they could of the system he headed.

The state TV said Mubarak died at a Cairo hospital where he had undergone an unspecified surgery. The report said he had health complications but offered no other details. One of his sons, Alaa, announced over the weekend that the former president was in intensive care after undergoing surgery.

Though Tunisias president fell before him, the ouster of Mubarak was the more stunning collapse in the face of the Arab Spring shaking regimes across the Arab world.

He was convicted along with his former security chief on June 2012 and sentenced to life in prison for failing to prevent the killing of some 900 protesters who rose up against his autocratic regime in 2011. Both appealed the verdict and a higher court later cleared them in 2014.

Egyptian President Anwar Sadat (R) and Vice President Hosni Mubarak sit on the reviewing stand during a military parade just before soldiers opened fire from a truck during the parade at the reviewing stand, killing Sadat and injuring Mubarak, on Oct. 6, 1981. (Bill Foley/AP Photo)

The acquittal stunned many Egyptians, thousands of whom poured into central Cairo to show their anger against the court.

The following year, Mubarak and his two sonswealthy businessman Alaa and Mubaraks one-time heir apparent Gamalwere sentenced to three years in prison on corruption charges during a retrial. The sons were released in 2015 for time served, while Mubarak walked free in 2017.

Since his arrest in April 2011, Mubarak spent the nearly six years in jail in hospitals. Following his release, he was taken to an apartment in Cairos Heliopolis district.

For the man who was long untouchableeven a word of criticism against him in the media was forbidden for much of his ruleprison was a shock. When he was flown from the court to Torah Prison in Cairo in 2011, he cried in protest and refused to get out of the helicopter.

Over the years, Mubarak tinkered with reform but shunned major change, presenting himself as Egypts sole protection against Islamic militancy and sectarian division. The United States tried pushing him harder for reforms, but succeeded only in alienating him. Fearful of losing its alliance with the most powerful Arab country, Washington backed off.

Ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak during celebrations of the 43rd anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, at Maadi military hospital on the outskirts of Cairo in October 2016. (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)

But the failure to fulfill repeated promises of change steadily deepened public despair, and those seeking a democratic future were dismayed to see Mubarak making apparent moves to set up a dynastic succession in the shape of his businessman son, Gamal Mubarak.

Hosni Mubarak, born in May 1928, was vice president on Oct. 14, 1981, when his mentor, President Anwar Sadat, was assassinated by Islamic extremists while reviewing a military parade. Seated next to Sadat, Mubarak escaped with a minor hand injury as gunmen sprayed the reviewing stand with bullets. Eight days later, the brawny former air force commander was sworn in as president, promising continuity and order.

By Samy Magdy
First Lady of the US, Melania Trump arrives at Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School. She is visiting the school as part of her visit to the city today.
The global conversational AI market expected to exceed US$ 16 Billion by 2024

LONDON, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global AI-driven conversational search platform, Zoovu , today announced that it has acquired Belgium-based company, Clever . This move enhances Zoovu's current offering by adding NLP and a sophisticated Intent Engine.

According to Market Research Engine , the global Conversational AI market is expected to exceed more than US$ 16 Billion by 2024 at a CAGR of 30% in the given forecast period.

Clever is a conversational search company that specialises in unstructured search. The addition of these capabilities to the Zoovu platform increases the lead conversion rate that Zoovu can deliver.

Rob Mullen, CEO, Zoovu, says: "The acquisition of Clever enables us to accelerate our scaling of the company, acquire new IP and secure access to some exceptional talent. This, combined with our own disruptive conversational search platform is likely to see our growth trajectory more than double. More importantly, it means we can provide the best-in-class conversational technology to brands at a time when we are seeing real demand from the industry."

Maarten Verschuere, managing director, Clever, adds: "We are delighted about the acquisition from Zoovu and look forward to a collaborative future together. Zoovu is forging ahead with being a disruptive force in the conversational search space, and it was a logical and natural fit to combine forces to accelerate our market leadership position and growth journey."

This acquisition comes one year after Zoovu secured $18 million in series B investment, and just months after the opening of its new office in Berlin at the end of last year, as the company continues to expand globally into new regions.

Bao-Y Van Cong, venture partner at Target Global, and Zoovu Board Member comments: "The size of the conversational search market is only going one way - up. As businesses begin to realise the benefits to the bottom line this technology can have, the acquisition of Clever means Zoovu is ideally placed to capitalise on its growth. It's not a case of if Zoovu becomes a market leader in this category, but when."

For more information on Zoovu, please visit www.zoovu.com .

About Zoovu

Zoovu is the AI driven conversational search platform that helps customers find what they're looking for online. We turn search experiences into conversations that lead to engaging interactions for the customer and revenue generating for brands and retailers.

More than 2,500 brands and retailers use Zoovu to help shoppers choose, including Amazon, Coty, Whirlpool and Canon. Zoovu operates worldwide in 500+ product categories, across all languages. See more at: www.zoovu.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1094183/Zoovu_Logo.jpg
Recently, a batch of baked chocolate chip cookies returned from space , signifying a major step forward towards the future of how humans will eat and thrive in space.

The delicious experiment, which took place using cookie dough from Hilton's DoubleTree Hotel and the Zero G oven , an oven designed specifically to work in the microgravity environment aboard the International Space Station, was the first time that raw ingredients (the dough) was cooked or baked.

"I think it was a great success," former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino , who has served as a sort of "cookie consultant" for Hilton throughout this experiment, told Space.com. "We now know this can be done." He added that the success of this experiment opens "the door for other opportunities to cook things."

Related: Space Food Evolution: How Astronaut Chow Has Changed (Photos)

Cookie questions

The experiment also answered a few questions about what happens when you try to bake in space. One of the biggest questions people had was: "would the space station smell like fresh-baked cookies?" And, apparently the smell from the cookies did permeate the station (after they were baked for a certain amount of time). The experiment also found that cookies take a lot longer to bake in space (they don't know why yet) and they turn out looking like regular, Earth cookies, not puffed up like some thought they might be.

"With this cookie i thought it would be a lot poofierm," Massimino said. The cookie looked more "like a cookie you would bake on Earth.

Further investigation and analysis of the experiment's results will also continue to answer questions, such as why the cookies took much longer to bake in space and why they weren't "poofy."

Massimino, who brought individually-wrapped, bite-sized biscotti up to space with him and famously was only one of two astronauts to ever gain weight in space, related the experiment to an experiment he partook in which tested how sunflowers would grow in space. According to Massimino, the flower itself looked "normal" but "the stalk was like a wire below us," because it didn't need to be thick to support the flower because of the microgravity environment.

Astronauts Luca Parmitano and Christina Koch pose with a freshly-baked space cookie and milk. (Image credit: NASA)

So ... why bake cookies in space?

As Massimino, who also serves as the Senior Advisor for Space Programs at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York, NY, explained, the experiment has been an incredible teaching tool for people of all ages.

The cookie experiment is a "great way to get people of all ages interested in what's going on in space," he said.

But, besides its importance as an education tool, the experiment also has incredible applications for supporting longterm spaceflight, he added.

"I think a lot of astronauts will be looking forward to having cookies," he said about some of the most obvious applications. "In space," he added "you're looking for these reminders of home." Massimino added that these connections to home, to Earth, helps astronauts to feel "normal" and morale boosters like these are incredibly important to the astronaut's psychological well-being, which is integral to their performance.

The future of space exploration

This experiment also marks a big step forward for space exploration.

"This is a big step in that direction for the future of exploration where we're gonna be off the planet for longer periods of time," Massimino said. He continued, adding that within the very near future we may be starting to build settlements on off-Earth location like the moon, and we will need to use specialized tech to ensure that the humans living off-Earth have access to good, nutritious (and delicious) food.

As far as what might be next for baking or cooking in space, Massimino had a couple of suggestions.



So what does Massimino want to see next? "The next thing would definitely be a pizza of some sort," he said. "Bagel bites or hot pockets of some sort." He added that it would also be nice for astronauts to have something they could "bite into  something big like a big cheeseburger or a big sandwich."

Follow Chelsea Gohd on Twitter @chelsea_gohd . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook .
Surin Beach sea wall project sunk by Phuket residents

PHUKET: An attempt by Cherng Talay Tambon Administration (OrBorTor) Chief MaAnn Samran to refloat a project to build a sea wall on Surin Beach to prevent beach erosion was sunk by strong opposition among local residents at a public meeting yesterday (Feb 24).

tourismconstructionenvironmentnatural-resources

By Khunanya Wanchanwet

Tuesday 25 February 2020, 01:03PM

The B19.1 million that was to be spent on building the coastal erosion barrier will now be spent on other beautification projects at Surin Beach. Photo: Cherng Talay OrBorTor

The B19.1 million that was to be spent on building the coastal erosion barrier will now be spent on other beautification projects at Surin Beach. Photo: Cherng Talay OrBorTor

The B19.1 million that was to be spent on building the coastal erosion barrier will now be spent on other beautification projects at Surin Beach. Photo: Cherng Talay OrBorTor

The B19.1 million that was to be spent on building the coastal erosion barrier will now be spent on other beautification projects at Surin Beach. Photo: Cherng Talay OrBorTor

The B19.1 million that was to be spent on building the coastal erosion barrier will now be spent on other beautification projects at Surin Beach. Photo: Cherng Talay OrBorTor

The B19.1 million that was to be spent on building the coastal erosion barrier will now be spent on other beautification projects at Surin Beach. Photo: Cherng Talay OrBorTor

The B19.1 million that was to be spent on building the coastal erosion barrier will now be spent on other beautification projects at Surin Beach. Photo: Cherng Talay OrBorTor

The B19.1 million project to build the coastal erosion barrier in Surin Beach was finally sunk at a public meeting yesterday (Feb 24). Photo: Cherng Talay OrBorTor

Cherng Talay Tambon Administration (OrBorTor) Chief MaAnn Samran received his answer loud and clear yesterday, local residents do not want the sea wall to be built. Photo: Cherng Talay OrBorTor

The huge troughs of sand excavated at Surin Beach when construction began in 2017. Photo: Supplied / file

The project was launched in 2017, and a budget of B19.1 million had already been approved and received by the OrBorTor in order to proceed with construction.

However, strong opposition against the sea wall flared up time and again (see stories here and here), and was even cited in complaints of alleged corruption filed against Ma-Ann in June last year (see story here.).

The purpose of the sea wall was to solve the problem of seawater erosion. This project was suspended in 2017, and returned this year, but we wanted to know local people s opinions in order to find the best solution, Mr MaAnn told The Phuket News after the public meeting at OrBorTor offices yesterday afternoon.

All village heads in the Cherng Talay OrBorTor area as well as local residents and business operators were invited to attend the meeting to share their ideas, he added.

Mr MaAnn received his answer loud and clear yesterday.

From the meeting, it can be concluded that the local people dont want the seawall, he admitted to The Phuket News.

The B19.1 million budget already received by the OrBorTor for the project will now be spent on other projects, Mr MaAnn confirmed.

We will spend the project budget on something else, such as building fences near the beach, improving the parking lot and making changes to the Cheng Talay public park located near the beach, he said.

The projects were approved by people at the meeting, he added.

After this, Cherng Talay OrBorTor will draft the plans for the projects agreed at the meeting and present them to the Phuket Governor for consideration.

We hope to the projects will be approved and we are able to start them before September, Mr MaAnn said.
[February 25, 2020] First Prospective Study Shows +RNAinsight Identifies More Patients with Increased Risk for Hereditary Cancer Than DNA-Only Testing

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ambry Genetics (Ambry), a leading clinical genetic testing lab, announced the publication of a study in Nature Partner Journal Precision Oncology finding that RNA genetic testing, conducted at the same time as DNA testing, identifies more genetic mutations that increase genetic cancer risk than DNA testing alone. Through +RNAinsight, Ambry is the first and only lab to offer concurrent RNA and DNA genetic testing for hereditary cancer risk as a commercially available clinical test. Inherited mutations  variants or errors in our DNA that increase cancer risk  play a major role in about five to 10 percent of all cancers. Genetic testing identifies these inherited mutations and is a critical tool to prevent hereditary cancers or treat them early. Standard DNA testing for hereditary cancer risk excludes portions of DNA, thereby missing some mutations. In addition, DNA testing can produce inconclusive results and fail to determine whether a variant increases cancer risk. These limitations impact patients and their families because doctors may not have the information needed to recommend appropriate preventive, early-detection, or therapeutic steps. Additionally, relatives may not be referred for genetic testing and obtain the care they would otherwise have gotten if they had learned they had mutations. Adding RNA genetic testing at the same time as DNA testing helps address these limitations. Specifically, RNA genetic testing is an additional line of evidence that helps determine that an uncertain result from DNA-only testing is actually benign (normal) or pathogenic (disease-causing). It also helps identify mutations that DNA-only testing misses. In the study published today, co-authors from Ambry researchers describe their scalable and targeted approach to RNA genetic testing that is performed concurrently with DNA genetic testing (+RNAinsight), showing that +RNAinsight identified more mutations than DNA-only testing. Ambry, in collaboration with 19 other leading clinical institutions across the country, including Mass General Cancer Center, Huntsman Cancer Institute, and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, looked at 18 tumor suppressor genes where the loss of function is known to be associated with increased cancer. A prospective study on the first 1,000 patients sent in for hereditary cancer testing using RNA testing coupled with DNA was performed. The study found that RNA testing identified seven patients with pathogenic mutations that would otherwise have received negative or inconclusive results on DNA testing alone. For six of these seven cases, ubstantial changes to medical management could be or were recommended based on current guidelines.



"The study findings demonstrate both the feasibility and clinical utility of adding concurrent RNA genetic testing to determine hereditary cancer risk," said Tyler Landrith, Ph.D., an Ambry scientist and study co-author. "+RNAinsight provides healthcare providers with more accurate results to inform patient care." Notably, the prospective analysis showed a 9.1 percent relative increase in diagnostic yield than DNA testing alone. Adding RNA genetic testing also resulted in a 5.1 percent relative decrease in the number of patients that would have received inconclusive results with DNA testing alone and would not have learned whether they had increased cancer risk.

"Paired RNA and DNA genetic testing has given answers to my patients who have struggled for years with inconclusive results that left them feeling helpless," said Community Health Network Genetic Counselor Rebekah Krukenberg. "With +RNAinsight, I know that I'm providing my patients with the most accurate and conclusive information about their risks for hereditary cancer." The study also validated the accuracy of +RNAinsight, establishing a large control dataset of healthy patients. This dataset allowed study co-authors from Ambry researchers to establish a baseline for benign and disease-causing variants across the genes tested. Studies have previously demonstrated the benefits of RNA genetic testing, but this testing has been traditionally performed as a follow-up to inconclusive DNA testing. This approach to RNA testing has limitations that +RNAinsight does not. A previous study from Ambry showed that only 10 percent of patients invited to receive RNA testing after having undergone DNA testing actually sent in samples. Moreover, retrospective RNA testing only looks at targeted variants and not a full range of possible mutations. Given these limitations, Ambry has made RNA genetic testing available to all patients at the same time as DNA testing through +RNAinsight. +RNAinsight is now available through doctors and genetic counselors around the country. For more information on RNA genetic testing, please go to www.ambrygen.com/RNAinsight. ABOUT AMBRY GENETICs

Ambry Genetics, as part of Konica Minolta Precision Medicine, excels at translating scientific research into clinically actionable test results based upon a deep understanding of the human genome and the biology behind genetic disease. Our unparalleled track record of discoveries over 20 years, and growing database that continues to expand in collaboration with academic, corporate and pharmaceutical partners, means we are first to market with innovative products and comprehensive analysis that enable clinicians to confidently inform patient health decisions. We care about what happens to real people, their families, and the people they love, and remain dedicated to providing them and their clinicians with deeper knowledge and fresh insights, so together they can make informed, potentially life-altering healthcare decisions. For more information, please visit ambrygen.com. For more information on risk factors for hereditary cancer, please visit cancer.gov's fact sheet on hereditary cancer and genetic testing. ABOUT +RNAInsight

+RNAinsight, paired with Ambry Genetics' hereditary cancer DNA tests, uses next-generation sequencing to concurrently analyze a patient's DNA and RNA, another layer of genetic information. +RNAinsight identifies more patients who have mutations that increase their cancer risks than through standard DNA-only testing by overcoming limitations of DNA testing. +RNAinsight enables more accurate identification of patients with increased genetic risks for cancer, finds actionable results that may otherwise be missed, and decreases the frequency of inconclusive results. +RNAinsight is now available through doctors and genetic counselors around the country. For more information on +RNAinsight, please go to www.ambrygen.com/RNAinsight. Press Contact:

Liz Squire

[email protected]

(202) 617-4662 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-prospective-study-shows-rnainsight-identifies-more-patients-with-increased-risk-for-hereditary-cancer-than-dna-only-testing-301011095.html SOURCE Ambry Genetics

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Julian Assange's lawyer says a book written by Guardian journalists allowed people to view unredacted leaked classified documents, rather than the WikiLeaks website.

Assange, 48, is fighting extradition to the US is wanted to face 18 charges over the leaking of hundreds of thousands of classified documents in 2010 and 2011.

Prosecutors claim he knowingly put hundreds of sources around the world at risk of torture and death by publishing unredacted documents containing names or other identifying details - and some agents in Iraq and Afghanistan 'disappeared' afterwards.

They allege that WikiLeaks' publication of the unedited documents put US intelligence sources who were mentioned in them at risk of torture of death.

Mark Summers QC, for Assange, said that in 2010 WikiLeaks worked with international news organizations to publish the trove of files in edited form.

Mr Summers blamed the publication of the unredacted database of documents on a 2011 book from the Guardian newspaper about WikiLeaks, which contained a 58-key password.

He said: 'Far from being a reckless, unredacted release, the world knows, every reporter in this room knows, the US government knows, that what actually occurred was that one of the media partners published a book in February 2011 and published the password to the unredacted materials, which then enabled the entire world to publish those unredacted materials in a book and they circulated on the internet, not on the WikiLeaks site, but on other sites.

Julian Assange, sketched in the dock at Woolwich yesterday, says the case against him is 'lies, lies and more lies' and he tried to call Hillary Clinton (pictured in Berlin today) to warn her about unredacted documents being dumped online after a password blunder

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's lawyers Barry Pollack, Jennifer Robinson and Baltasar Garzon (pictured today) are battling to prevent his extradition to the US on human rights grounds and claim their client was repeatedly strip-searched and handcuffed at Belmarsh jail yesterday

'None of them have been prosecuted, some of which are US-based, all of them published first, some of them are still there.'

Mr Summers said it was not until months later that it was discovered the password could be used along with a mirrored site to access the unredacted database, which was revealed by German news outlet Der Freitag on August 25 2011.

He said that Assange phoned the White House to warn that a password published in a book about WikiLeaks by journalists from The Guardian newspaper - one of WikiLeaks' then-media partners - could allow people to view the full unredacted cache of documents.

Mr Summers said on August 25 2011 the WikiLeaks founder made a phone call to the White House and asked to speak to then secretary of state Hillary Clinton as 'a matter of urgency' over fears the information was about to be dumped online completely unredacted.

The QC said Assange had warned Mrs Clinton's office: 'I don't understand why you're not seeing the urgency of this. Unless we do something, then people's lives are put at risk' - but was told to call back in two hours.

WikiLeaks' relationship with its media partners, which included The Guardian and The New York Times, soon soured, and in 2011 WikiLeaks began releasing large numbers of the uncensored documents.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's father John Shipton talks to the media as he arrives at Woolwich Crown Court today where his son is in the dock again

Opening his extradition case for the US Government, 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

The Guardian said it was 'entirely wrong to say the Guardian's 2011 WikiLeaks book led to the publication of unredacted U.S. government files.'

'The book contained a password which the authors had been told by Julian Assange was temporary and would expire and be deleted in a matter of hours,' the newspaper said in a statement.

'The book also contained no details about the whereabouts of the files.'

The extradition case heard that Assange telephoned the White House to warn that American lives would be put at risk because top secret cables were about to be dumped online - but Hillary Clinton's office told him to call back later, his extradition case heard today.

Mr Summers argued at Woolwich Crown Court today that the extradition request by the Trump administration 'boldly and brazenly' misrepresents the facts, calling it 'lies, lies and more lies'.

He said on August 25 2011 the WikiLeaks founder made a phone call to the White House and asked to speak to then secretary of state Hillary Clinton as 'a matter of urgency' over fears the information was about to be dumped online completely unredacted.

Assange is also accused of encouraging Chelsea Manning to steal classified documents, which allegedly included a bid to crack a password 'hash' (a scrambled password) on US department of defence computers to anonymously access a classified network called the Secret Internet Protocol Network.

But his lawyers point to evidence given by Manning at her own 2013 court martial, which they say refutes these claims.

Assange also claims he is being mistreated in Belmarsh Prison after being strip-searched twice, handcuffed 11 times and moved from cell-to-cell on the first day of his extradition case yesterday.

Assange's main barrister, Edward Fitzgerald QC, complained about his client's treatment inside high-security Belmarsh prison yesterday, at the start of the second day of the hearing today.

He said: 'Yesterday, Mr Assange was handcuffed 11 times and stripped naked twice at Belmarsh and put into five separate holding cells.

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

'What I think the court can do is give an indication to the prison authorities if there is a risk that treatment of this nature will impinge on his ability to participate in these proceedings.'

The lawyer said papers handed to Assange in court had been taken from him at Belmarsh after he left next-door Woolwich Crown Court, which is sitting as a magistrates' court.

Mr Fitzgerald said his client's treatment 'could be a contempt of this court'.

But District Judge Vanessa Baraitser said she has no powers to issue directions to the Prison Service and can only act if there is evidence that Assange is unable to participate in the case.

'If it comes to that, please let me know. Unless and until it does, unless you are asking this court to make a finding of contempt, I'm afraid my powers are very limited in this respect.'

US spies hatched a plot to kidnap or even poison Julian Assange using shady Spanish private detectives after he leaked 250,000 top secret documents online, his extradition hearing was told yesterday.

The WikiLeaks founder's human rights barrister Edward Fitzgerald, who has previously represented Moors Murderer Myra Hindley and hate preacher Abu Hamza, said an attack inside London's Ecuadorean embassy would have looked like an 'accident'.

The QC said private security from a Spanish company, acting on behalf of the US authorities, were involved in 'intrusive and sophisticated' surveillance of his client, but were outed by a mysterious Iberian whistleblower known only as 'witness two'.

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.

Spanish private eyes were said to be involved in planning to attack Assange inside Ecuador's London embassy, which was also under surveillance using laser microphones inside and out

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.'

'It's simply untrue' that Julian Assange put US sources' lives in danger, says his father 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.' Advertisement

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'.

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.

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 taken 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 yesterday

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'.

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), 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

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.

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.'

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.

Assange says he was acting as a journalist entitled to First Amendment protection. His lawyers argue that the US charges - which carry a maximum sentence of 175 years in prison - are a politically motivated abuse of power.

Defense lawyers deny that Assange put lives at risk.

Assange has been jailed in England since April 2019, when he was evicted from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.

He took refuge in the embassy seven years earlier to avoid being sent to Sweden over allegations of rape and sexual assault.

A British court handed him a 50-week sentence for jumping bail in 2012.

The extradition hearing is expected to continue for the rest of the week, then take a break before resuming in May.
Actress Annabella Sciorra, whose account that Harvey Weinstein raped her did not result in convictions for the disgraced mogul during Monday's trial, broke her silence by saying her testimony was 'painful but necessary.'

Several hours after Weinstein was found guilty of third-degree rape and a first-degree criminal sex act, 59-year-old Sciorra released a statement.

'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,' she said.

'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.'

Weinstein was cleared of two counts of predatory sexual assault, which relied on Sciorra's testimony.

By finding him not guilty on those counts, the jury indicated they did not believe beyond a reasonable doubt that Weinstein had raped and assaulted her at her apartment in Gramercy Park, New York.

Annabella Sciorra (left) spoke out about the Harvey Weinstein (left) verdict on Monday, after her accusations against the mogul did not result in any convictions

Sciorra is one of the six women who stepped forward and testified against the 67-year-old film produce during the New York trial.

In January, she claimed in a five hour testimony that Weinstein raped her in the winter of 1993 to 1994 and told jurors how she desperately tried to fight him off.

She told the courtroom that Weisntein entered her room and began unbuttoning his shirt.

Sciorra (pictured) said she doesn't regret testifying, saying it was 'painful but necessary' and says she spoke 'with the strength of the eighty plus victims of Harvey Weinstein in my heart'

'He led me into the bedroom and he shoved me onto the bed. I can't tell you exactly when his pants came off or exactly what happened. I don't think his shirt ever got completely off,' she said.

'As I was trying to get him off of me  I was punching him, I was kicking him  and he took my hands and put them over my head, he put my hands over my head to hold them back and he got on top of me and he raped me. I couldn't fight anymore because he had my hands locked.

'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.

Sciorra accused Weinstein of raping her in the winter of 1993 to 1994 and told jurors that she tried to fight him off

'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.'

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

After bumping into Harvey at a later date she said he menacingly warned her: 'This remains between you and I.

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 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.'

Weinstein's lawyers later argued that Sciorra never went to police or a doctor about the alleged assault.

'At the time, I didn't understand that that was rape,' she said.

The jury presiding in Weinstein's case found him not guilty of two predatory assault charges against Sciorra and, due to the expired statue of limitations, could not try him of rape in her case.

Previously, Sciorra was pursuing one predatory assault charge with ex-production assistant Mimi Haleyi and the other with aspiring actress Jessica Mann.

The not guilty ruling on those charges came from a unanimous jury decision, which prompted them to begin considering lesser charges. This also allowed Weinstein to avoid two life sentences.

Although Weinstein was not convicted in any charges against Sciorra, he was found guilty of third-degree rape of Jessica Mann and a criminal sex act of Mimi Haleyi.

He now faces a maximum sentence of 29 years and was transported to Rikers Island in New York before he was rushed to the hospital for chest pains.

It was later confirmed that he was suffering from high blood pressure and having heart palpitations.

Despite not securing a conviction, several of Sciorra's supporters spoke out and announced their solidarity with the actress.

Although Weinstein was not convicted in any charges against Sciorra, he was found guilty of third-degree rape of Jessica Mann (left) and criminal sex act of Mimi Haleyi (right)

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!

'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.

Actress Alyssa Milano also tweeted in support of Sciorra saying: '#IbelieveAnnabellaSciorra'.

Actress Amber Tamblyn shared the same hashtag on her Twitter.

Actress Alyssa Milano also tweeted in support of Sciorra, who testified at the trial and accused Weinstein of rape, saying: '#IbelieveAnnabellaSciorra'.

Actress Amber Tamblyn also threw her support behind accuser Annabella Sciorra

Several other accusers spoke out after the verdict, including Rose McGowan.

'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.

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'

Weinstein still faces a sexual assault trial in Los Angeles, California, after he was accused of raping 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.
The United States was working productively with Pakistan to counter terrorism on its soil, US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday as he addressed a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The two leaders spoke after one-on-one talks at Hyderabad House on wide range of issues.

In our discussions, Prime Minister Modi and I affirmed the two countries commitment to protecting our citizens from radical Islamic terrorism. The United States is also working productively with Pakistan to confront terrorists who operate on its soil, said Trump.

US President Donald Trumps India visit Day 2: Follow live updates here

Together, the Prime Minister and I are revitalising the QUAD initiative - with the US, India, Australia and Japan. Since I took office, we have held the first QUAD ministerial meeting, and expanded cooperation on counter-terrorism, cyber security and maritime security to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific, the US President added.

ALSO WATCH | PM Modi, friend Donald Trump announce $3 bn defence deal, invoke Pak terror

India, Australia, Japan and the US revived the QUAD (short for Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) in November 2017 as part of efforts to keep key sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence. China is seeking to exert its influence in the region with its multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative.

Full coverage: Donald Trumps visit to India

First mentioned during a speech by Chinese President Xi Jinpings to university students in Kazakhstan in 2013, Chinas Belt and Road plan is a vehicle for the Asian country to take a greater role on the international stage by funding and building global transport and trade links in more than 60 countries.

The US and the other three countries had come together to provide humanitarian assistance after the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had then suggested that they form the QUAD, which met three years later.

The meetings stopped for a decade after China formally reached out to each country to seek information on the purpose of the meetings.

The QUAD met again in 2017 and the Ministry of External Affairs said they addressed issues of common interest such as terrorism and proliferation linkages impacting the region.

Although President Trump defined the Indo-Pacific as a region spanning Hollywood to Bollywood, more and more countries including the US are now aligned to PM Modis geographical vision of the Indo-Pacific - from the eastern shores of Africa to the western shores of the US - with ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as an anchor.

Trump said he also discussed with PM Modi, whom he called his dear friend, the importance of a secure 5G telecoms network in India, ahead of a planned airwaves auction by the country.

The United States has banned Huawei, arguing the use of its kit creates the potential for espionage by China - a claim denied by Huawei and Beijing - but India, where telecoms companies have long used network gear from the Chinese firm, is yet to make a call.
A Lebanese-American businessman accused of campaign finance violations by the United States Justice Department claimed in an interview with the United Kingdoms Spectator magazine that officials from Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia illegally funnelled millions of dollars into the 2016 campaign of US President Donald Trump.

Ahmad Andy Khawaja, the CEO of an online payment processing company, says Emirati officials disguised the money using stolen identities and gift cards as under-$200 campaign contributions that are not required to be reported to the Federal Election Commission.

Khawaja is currently a fugitive himself wanted for making false statements, obstruction and allegedly making $3.5m in illegal contributions to the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton. He was indicted along with George Nader, another Lebanese-American businessman and a convicted paedophile currently awaiting sentencing in the US, and six others in December of 2019 by a federal grand jury in Washington, DC.

Nader was a cooperating witness in the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into Russian interference in the 2016 election. According to Muellers report, Nader was an influential power broker in the Middle East and an informal adviser to the crown prince of the United Arab Emirates and set up a meeting in the Seychelles in an effort to establish a backchannel between the Trump administration and the Kremlin in Moscow.

In the Spectator interview, with journalist Paul Wood, Khawaja claims Nader approached him in 2016 supposedly on behalf of a member of the UAEs intelligence services who wanted to buy a payment engine for processing credit card payments over the internet. The engine was to be used to channel donations from sources in Saudi Arabia to the Trump campaign, with officials in the UAE handling the mechanics of the transactions.

Nader told Khawaja that the Emiratis had a deal with Trump campaign officials in which, if elected, the president would withdraw from a nuclear agreement with Iran and impose further sanctions on the country that would cripple its oil industry and benefit those of Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Khawaja offered no evidence of his allegations to the magazine and most US officials either denied the assertions or declined to comment. In an email statement to the magazine, the Republican National Committee said it had seen no evidence to support the allegations and that it takes diligent steps to ensure donations are made in accordance with the law.

Khawaja further claimed that he and his online payment company, Allied Wallet, are being unfairly persecuted by US officials. Allied Wallet paid a $110m judgement by the Federal Trade Commission in May 2019 after being accused of knowingly processing fraudulent online transactions.

The law has been manipulated, Khawaja, who now lives in Beirut, told the Spectator. I see my case like a judgement time  when they brought Jesus Christ to the Romans. They just threw an accusation at him to crucify him. Thats how I see myself, Jesus Christ standing in a Roman court, being accused of things I never did.
Boak & Sons gutter crew working on a residential project Using that (tax return) money to fund a project, such as new siding or a roof repair, will pay for itself in value. You are not only increasing the value of your property, but you could also be lowering future expenses, such as your heating and cooling costs.

As tax season approaches, Sam Boak, president and founder of Boak & Sons, Inc. is encouraging both customers and employees to invest their tax returns back into their properties. Boak & Sons is a residential and commercial exterior contracting company in Youngstown, Ohio, specializing in the installation and repair of gutters, roofing, insulation and sheet metal.

Sam Boak has been a long time investor, with multiple real-estate properties that he maintains and oversees. He continuously encourages his employees to come to him for financial counseling when needed, and with tax season around the corner, he hopes to have a positive influence on both his employees and customers by helping to show them how to wisely invest their returns into improvements on their homes and commercial buildings.

There are multiple opportunities available to home owners and building managers to put their tax returns towards improving the value of their properties, says Boak. Using that money to fund a project, such as new siding or a roof repair, will pay for itself in value. You are not only increasing the value of your property, but you could also be lowering future expenses, such as your heating and cooling costs.

According to the Business Insider, the average tax return in the state of Ohio in 2018 totaled $2,300 to $2,600 and in Pennsylvania the average was $2,601 to $2,900. To see a full list of average returns by state, visit https://www.businessinsider.com/tax-refund-average-by-state-2018-1. Ohio and Pennsylvania fall under Boak & Sons service area, but Boak says this advice is valuable to anyone, whether they are a Boak & Sons customer or not. Boak also says that amount of money can make a huge difference in the cost of a home or commercial exterior contracting project.

Tax season is always one of our busiest times of the year because the weather starts getting warmer and were able to get back out to our job sites that we might not have been able to access in the winter season, said Boak. The lump sum many people receive during this time of year can be extremely beneficial to help take care of any exterior contracting projects that might have been pushed to the back burner.

Chris White, vice president of operations at Boak & Sons says that Sam Boak is a valuable resource for financial advice for the company.

Sam has always been extremely knowledgeable in investing and our companys employees, including myself, really benefit from that knowledge, said White. We hope that our customers also take advantage of the advice Sam is giving and will use their tax returns to make needed upgrades to their properties that they may have been putting off.

For more information about Sam Boak or Boak & Sons, Inc., visit http://www.boakandsons.com or call their office at 330-793-5646.

About Boak & Sons:

Boak & Sons, Inc. was founded by Sam Boak in 1974 as an insulation contractor. With the high energy costs of the 70's, Boak & Sons expanded early on into the roofing business. They offered economical roof installations through cutting edge technology and equipment, allowing customers to recoup even more in energy savings. Today, Boak & Sons is a residential and commercial contractor for roofing, insulation, sheet metal, siding, and gutters. Based in Youngstown, Ohio, the company serves customers in surrounding areas from Cleveland, Akron, and Canton to Cranberry and Pittsburgh. For more information on Boak & Sons, visit their website at: https://www.boakandsons.com/.
(UPDATED) Two repatriation flights are bringing home Tuesday, February 25, over 400 Filipinos who were on board the coronavirus-hit cruise ship MV Diamond Princess in Japan.

Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Brigido Dulay, in a series of posts on Twitter, said the first Philippine Airlines (PAL) aircraft departed the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

It arrived at the Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan at 3:14 p.m., Tuesday. On board is DFA's Rapid Response Team.

"Boarding to follow soon with the assistance of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Forces," Dulay said.

The second flight left for Japan shortly after noon Tuesday, with Angela Tolentino and Chareloa Marcial of the DFA-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs as part of the repatriation team. It arrived at the Haneda Airport after a nearly four-hour travel from Manila.

Meanwhile, officials of the DFA and Philippine Embassy in Tokyo as well as a medical team from the Department of Health were facilitating the disembarkation of the Filipinos from the cruise ship Tuesday morning.

The ship, which is docked in Yokohama, was placed under quarantine until February 19, 2020.

As of Tuesday, Dulay said the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo said 80 Filipinos who were on board the cruise ship tested positive for Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Of the 80, 10 have been discharged from the hospital and given a clean bill of health.

"Remaining Filipino crew for repatriation today have all tested negative," Dulay said.

Over 500 passengers and crew of the cruise ship have been found positive for the coronavirus and brought to various hospitals in Japan for treatment.

Worldwide, the coronavirus has infected a total of 79,331 persons as of February 24, 2020, with 2,618 deaths including 23 outside of China, according to the World Health Organization. (MVI/SunStar Philippines)
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) sat down with CNN's Anderson Cooper for a 60 Minutes interview that aired Sunday night, and he agreed "it is a bit shocking" he's the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination. When Cooper asked if Democratic voters are "really wanting a revolution," Sanders suggested they "go easy on the word rev 'political revolution.'" Cooper noted that's the word Sanders uses, and Sanders said he doesn't want "people, you know, to overstate that." His Medicare-for-all plan, he said, is "not socialized medicine. This is keeping the same system intact, but getting rid of the private insurance companies."

Cooper played clips of Sanders saying positive things about the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro in the 1980s. "We're very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba but you know, it's unfair to simply say everything is bad," Sanders 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?" Cooper noted that Castro also jailed dissidents and worse, and Sanders said "we condemn that. Unlike Donald Trump" with North Korea's despotic ruler. "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."

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

Sanders wasn't very specific on how he planned to pay for Medicare-for-all and his other big initiatives, and he didn't explain how he would get his plans through Congress. But he did acknowledge that his policy proposals were influenced "a lot" by his family or origin and childhood in Brooklyn. Still, " I don't like to, you know, talk about personal stuff that much," he said. Cooper asked if his "personal stuff" wasn't important to who he is, and Sanders said it may be but he's "kind of private" and "not particularly anxious to tell the world about everything personal in my life."

Story continues

Read the transcript and watch the full interview at 60 Minutes.

More stories from theweek.com

The coronavirus recession?

The real third way in 2020

Top member of Trump's coronavirus task force asks Twitter for help accessing map of virus


A fire that broke out at a tyre market near Gokulpuri metro station area on Monday, during violence in north east Delhi over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), has been doused, officials said.

No casualties were reported in the blaze that allegedly broke out late on Monday night.

Ten fire tenders reached the spot and brought the fire under control.

Four people including a head constable of Delhi Police lost their lives in clashes 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.)
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 companys 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.

Kathys 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 marketers 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. Its 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, DEWARS Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSONS 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/
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California voters are being asked to approve a controversial measure making it easier for developers to build apartment buildings within a half-mile of public transit.

Most will think they're only voting on whether the state should borrow more money to fix broken air conditioners in schools.

On its face this new Proposition 13 -- the only statewide ballot measure to appear on the ballot for California's March 3 presidential primary -- asks voters for $15 billion in state bonds to finance the construction and renovation of California K-12 schools and public universities.

But tucked into the ballot measure's language is a provision that frees new multi-family developments around subway stops and bus stations from school impact fees.

Your Guide To Prop 13, The Only Statewide Ballot Measure In The March 3 Election>>

VOTER GAME PLAN: Get everything you need to research the candidates and issues >>

VOTE CENTERS: Where To Go To Vote In The 2020 Primary in LA and OC Counties >>

VOTER GUIDES: Judges, District Attorney, Prop. 13 (the new one) and more >>

Developers say such levies unnecessarily drive up the cost of desperately needed new housing. Education finance experts say they are a pillar of some school district's budgets and defray the cost of added enrollment from new students.

WIDESPREAD SUPPORT (+ SOME HEARTBURN)

Nearly every major education group in the state -- teachers unions, school boards, charter schools -- supports the bond, arguing that billions in new statewide funding far outweighs the potential loss of developer fee revenue. But even the lawmaker who authored the ballot measure has some heartburn over how that provision will impact certain school districts -- so much so that he thinks schools could need more money down the line.

"What we need to do at a state level is we need to watch what fiscal impact this has on school districts across the state," said Assemblyman Patrick O'Donnell, Democrat from Long Beach and author of the bond. "If it's significantly impactful we may have to backfill the fees that the districts will lose because of this policy."

Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has endorsed the ballot measure, has long sought to incentivize more homebuilding around public transportation. The goals are twofold: fill the state's crushing housing shortage, and reduce carbon emissions from long commutes.

But major legislative efforts to accomplish those feats have so far fizzled. Senate Bill 50, a proposal from San Francisco Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener to force cities to allow apartment buildings around transit and eliminate single-family-only neighborhoods, failed to clear the state Senate earlier this year.

"Keep in mind that transit-oriented housing is what we need for climate reasons, what we need for congestion relief reasons, it's what we need overall," said Dan Dunmoyer, president of the California Building Industry Association. The association, a developers' trade group, has spent more than $1.5 million backing the ballot measure.

HOW THE BONUS GOT THERE

O'Donnell said the developer fee provisions were inserted into the bond measure during prolonged negotiations with the Newsom administration. The governor's office did not respond to request for comment.

The fee waivers in this Prop. 13 (not to be confused with the property tax-cutting Prop. 13 voters passed in 1978) don't come close to the type of radical transformation proposed by Wiener. But they satisfy another complaint from developers over why new construction is so difficult in California: the "impact fees" local governments charge new homebuilding.

According to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office, roughly 90% of school districts have raised around $10 billion from new housing developments since 2002. While the fees make up a relatively small portion of school budgets, they are a key pillar in financing the construction of new schools or facilities.

Fees can total from the thousands to tens of thousands of dollars per unit, which developers argue manifest in higher rents and home prices. Prop. 13 would not only eliminate those fees for apartments near transit, but would reduce by 20% whatever a school district is charging new apartment buildings anywhere.

Single-family-only developments -- like many master-planned suburban communities marketed towards young families with children -- would receive no benefit from the ballot measure.

WHY FEES?

The rationale for imposing school fees on new developments is intuitive:

Developers argue that in an era of declining school enrollment, the idea that new apartment buildings in urban corridors should be charged for impacts on local schools is misguided. Younger, single adults are more likely to live in those apartments than nuclear families with school-age children.

But ironically, the scale of California's housing affordability crisis -- where a single family home costs nearly $600,000 -- has meant families are increasingly opting for an apartment over the McMansion in the 'burbs.

In "The Crossings at Montague", a 468-unit apartment complex north of San Jose, leasing consultant Rosio Tafoya has seen a steady increase in the number of families interested in renting. A two-bedroom, one-bath now goes for $2,880 a month.

"When I first started it was mainly roommates, and now most of the time we're getting families," said Tafoya.

The big attraction for the tech transplants with a growing family? The schools.

"We've had residents that come and say they want to live here because we want to start kindergarten here," said Tafoya.

This story was originally published by CalMatters on Feb. 24.

YOUR GUIDE TO THE RACES FOR:

And fill out your sample ballot through our Voter Game Plan>>
My career would be over tomorrow if I spray painted myself brown and hopped on the cover of Vogue magazine and just started shitting on my ex.



he's not wrong! him shitting on his ex right at this moment will likely be half his proof of concept.

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Agreed. I cant stand this dude, but broken clock etc.

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god he is so insufferable

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She is in constant brown face. She should be cancelled ages ago but I guess her woke fans dont care about any of it.

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They feel bad for her for all the shit that's happened, so they let her get away with whatever.

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Ariana knows exactly what she looks like and what she's doing. Does she think she will not be successful without this 'tan'. It won't hurt to lighten it up a little. She's so problematic

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not just a little. pale people aren't entitled to faking their skin tone period.

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Yeah, the spray paint brown stuff is pretty funny and true.

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its always interesting how she scrapes off the first 5 layers and plops on a blonde wig when she does prestigious magazine covers...

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Her ONTD stans surely don't mind and the GP think she's Latina or something.

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I mean truly I have had plenty of shocked reactions from people when I mention she's white. People really do think she is not bc of her last name and the brown face

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it doesn't help that bluecheck media gays on twitter continue to support her despite her blackface. MajorPhilebrity, ira, the Keep It podcast, etc are all huge examples.

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it's honestly wild to see it. I know so many ~*~*~woke~*~*~ women who will wax poetic about how racist & problematic everyone else's faves are and how we're all problematic for even giving them streams but they're still proudly buying Ariana merch & going to her concerts?? Do they just... not know she's white? I can't think of any other explanation, other than blind hypocrisy idk

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it boggles my mind and it's bizarre to me that people seem to keep forgetting she does this

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Im watching the special right now and Im shocked at how unfunny he is. When he first came out I thought he was going to be a early Dave Chappelle type comedian and I was wrong. Though I do find him weirdly sexy in his suit and I hate it.



I just realized i think his lips are sexy. Also the audience doesnt even seem to be into his act? I feel like they were silent through most of it.



Edited at 2020-02-25 10:21 pm (UTC)

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He's not very funny. That's why SNL doesn't give him any lines 

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Why are you watching then? You know you're just helping him by doing that

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lol cool dude way to bring up something over a year old that nobody cares about anymore

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Yet he doesnt wanna be known just as her ex lmao

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i feel like both of them talking about their relationship is totally fair game considering how public it was

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It is. Arianas mentioned and lowkey dragged him so its fair game. And he wasnt gross about it (this time).

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It is.

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where is that comment from their breakup post like NO THIS IS MY RELATIONSHIP NOW

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yep. especially since she's already spoken out about it post break up. if she's gonna talk shit, so can he.

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yeah mte and he makes a very good point about how technically both of them are talking about it through their art, she does it with her songs that are not even a little bit oblique and he does it with his comedy. There's no real difference there other than idk lyrics as a medium being considered less on-the-nose?

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someone needs to call her out, but he's not the one.

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Everything he said is true. Im glad he was respectful about Mac, no doubt his death fucked Ariana up.

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agreed, he surprised me with how he spoke of that situation.

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Pete is pretty open about grieving his dad and the way the death impacted his family, so that doesn't surprise me.

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i means he's not entirely wrong lmao



Edited at 2020-02-25 10:21 pm (UTC)

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i see netflix gave up on quality control a long time ago... fools welcome 

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netflix? quality? it's not 2014 anymore

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true lol. it just baffles me, still, how their shows went from critical darlings to this diarrheal flood of content

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He is so terrible. He doesn't give a damn about her "painting" herself, he just wants to get back at her and knows some of the comments directed at her online.



I won't forget that suicidal post he made to guilt her and then didn't allow her to see him when she predictably came running because she was worried. He's a big emotional manipulator, and this is purely him trying to 'one-over' her.



Not saying there isn't a problem with her over-tanning, but I do hope people don't side was an abuser like him just because it's Ariana he's (dishonestly) criticising.

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How is he an abuser?

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Emotional abuse.

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Agreed. She's fucked up, but he's so much worse.

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Exactly. I can't believe he got away with that whole "I told you so" suicide threat thing. If a woman did that to her ex she'd be called hysterical and crazy, but a man gets coddled.

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100% this. That threatening to kill himself post is like abuser 101 but he gets a pass because hes come out about his mental illness. Its like mothrtfucker I have BPD too and its still abusive and still super fucked up.

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theyre both trash, ariana is an abuser too. just look at how she publicly called out mac millers personal demons on twitter before his death, paraded pete around to make mac jealous, then kicked him to the curb once the dude she was trying to make jealous died. shes just as bad.

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It was pretty obvious she fell from the honeymoon phase when Mac died, i think she felt guilt. It was horrible and glad Pete respected that.

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I remember people here saying that her relationship with Pete was really based on her getting back at Mac for reason I don't remember. But Mac dying was not something she clearly saw coming and so that's where a good majority of the guilt comes in apparently.

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Yeah, that's pretty much it and the statement she released about Mac being toxic with drug issues. She lowkey shit talked him in public too and I think when he passed she felt guilty about it and turned around and called him an angel.

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yeah i thought it was that too

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she had scooter braun pick out a bf for her to get mac jealous immediately after they broke up

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I agree.

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In his quote he told her "I'm here for you until you no longer want me around". Like, he made it about himself and did it in a way where if you questioned it he'd have an out. That's not really respectful. He's amazingly good with words since so many of you all are thinking he's being respectful.

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A) You had your dick in the brownface, son.

B) I could care less about them sniping at each other. More entertainment for us.

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lol this

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He's right about Arianna talking about their relationship tbh

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Considering how much tmi stuff he said about that girl when they were together he really needs to shut the fuck up. Oooh, she said "dating him was a distraction." The horrors!

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The things he said about her were disgusting. Excusing the pervert Clinton and the Reverend for groping her/looking up her skirt. It was foul.

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Exactly. She said a couple of extremely mild things about him after the breakup while he said the grossest, most juvenile things about her. It sounds like he just got a wild hair up his ass and just wanted to talk shit about her. My guess is Kate and Kaia are next on his shit talking tour.

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She said some tmi stuff too, what are you even talking about.

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like Ariana joking about his dick never happened. Stay realistic.

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He is disgusting and yet she herself didn't mind his statements, as she continued dating him and referencing his penis throughout that mess.

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they were both super extra and tmi it was never one sided, they encouraged each other about it

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love was lit! so was the sex! (according to both of them.)

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Ariana gets off on being treated like a piece of meat and she was right there endorsing and encouraging his disgusting comments

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[February 25, 2020] Computer Design & Integration LLC (CDI LLC) Welcomes Brian Jones as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development

Computer Design & Integration LLC (CDI LLC) announced today the addition of Brian Jones as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development. In this capacity, Jones will be responsible for leading the company's mergers and acquisitions efforts, assisting in financial processes and operations, and creating a formal budget procedure to manage revenue goals. Jones comes to CDI with a B.S. in Finance from Penn State University and nearly two decades of financial services experience. In his most recent role, Jones was a Director in the Technology Banking team of KPMG Corporate Finance LLC (KPMG), where he oversaw and executed mergers and acquisitions and capital raise transactions for over fifteen years. Prior to KPMG, he worked for a boutique banking firm that ultimately grew into one of today's leading financial information and deal management SaaS (News - Alert) platforms. "I am honored to join CDI at such an important time in the Company's strategic evolution," said Jones. "CDI has been a longstanding industry leader in the IT marketplace, with the exceptional ability to deliver business results and value for its customers. I look forward to providing insight and expertise as we continue to be uniquely positioned for accelerated growth and long-term success." Earlier this year, CDI announced a strategic partnership with One Equity Partners ("OEP), a leading middle market private equity firm. Aligning with an experienced firm like OEP and industry leaders like Jones, allows CDI to invest faster, deeper and in pace with technological advancements.



"We are very pleased to welcome Brian, an accomplished industry expert in finance and technology solutions," said Eric Bakker, President, CDI. "His unparalleled character and leadership experience will be vital as CDI executes on the next phase of our growth. We are confident that he will make an immediate impact and continue to help us achieve strong business results." About Computer Design & Integration LLC (CDI LLC):

CDI LLC was founded in 1995, with corporate headquarters in New York City, as well as office locations in Teterboro, N.J., Philadelphia, Atlanta and Boston. The firm has been recognized as one of the nation's top 500 IT solution providers offering clients and businesses of all sizes the most up-to-date hybrid IT technology solutions that solve today's most complex business challenges. CDI LLC continually focuses on achieving client satisfaction by developing and implementing comprehensive and innovative technology solutions that enhance day-to-day business workflow processes. As one of the largest solution providers, CDI LLC combines the required experience, exceptional talent, quality assurance and stability that its clients strive to achieve. For more information, visit cdillc.com or call 1-877-216-0133. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005099/en/

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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
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday informed the state assembly that Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta has tendered an apology for his purported remarks made in connection with the Kartarpur Corridor.

"The DGP has tendered apology," Singh told the floor of the House and said "anybody can make mistake".

The chief minister also lashed out at Pakistan, claiming that its spy agency ISI had an objective to disturb peace in Punjab.

"We have to be on our toes," Singh said.

He also expressed commitment of his government that the Kartarpur Corridor would not be allowed to be shut.

The chief minister further gave details about busting of several terror modules and recovery of arms and ammunition.

DGP Gupta has been facing ire of the opposition parties for his purported statement on the Kartarpur Corridor.

Opposition parties had said that Gupta had told a national daily that "Kartarpur offers a potential that you send somebody in the morning as an ordinary chap and by the evening he comes back as a trained terrorist actually. You are there for six hours, you can be taken to a firing range, you can be taught to make an IED".

The DGP also reportedly said some elements based in the neighbouring country were "trying to woo the pilgrims and making overtures to them".

However, Gupta on Sunday said incase any remark made by him inadvertently has caused any hurt to people of the state, he expresses his sincere regret.

The DGP had earlier on Saturday said he was being "misunderstood or wilfully misconstrued" as his remarks strictly pertained the security and safety of Punjab and India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilco Streambank, a market leading advisory firm specializing in the sale of intellectual property assets and domain name brokerage, is marketing for sale the intellectual property of Schurman Retail Group, including its Paper Destiny, NIQUEA.D, XOXO Dominique, Marcel Schurman and Schurman Retail Group trademarks, PapyrusOnline.com and other domain names, customer data, and social media assets. The company's internet protocol (IPv4) addresses are also for sale.

Schurman Retail Group is a leading specialty retailer of personal expression and gift products in North America that operates approximately 250 retail stores across the United States and Canada under the Papyrus, American Greetings, Carlton Card and Paper Destiny brand names, and the ecommerce website PapyrusOnline.com. The company's offerings consist primarily of a wide range of stationery products, including custom printed announcements, products for entertaining, greeting cards, gift wrap, gift bags, stationery, note cards, journals and unique gift products. Total sales in 2019 were more than $138 million.

Hilco Streambank Executive Vice President, David Peress, commented, "Schurman Retail Group cultivated a highly engaged customer, offering her an array of greeting cards and gift products she has come to rely on to connect on a more personal level in the face of communications that often occur over email, text or social media."

Offers to acquire the assets are due by March 19, 2020. An auction will be held on March 25, 2020. The sale is subject to approval of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

Parties interested in the assets or learning more about the sale process should CLICK HERE or contact Hilco Streambank directly using the contact information provided below.

David Peress Executive Vice President [email protected] 617.642.1909 Richelle Kalnit Senior Vice President [email protected] 212.993.7214 Ben Kaplan Associate [email protected] 646.651.1978

About Hilco Streambank: Hilco Streambank is a market leading advisory firm specializing in intellectual property disposition and valuation. Having completed numerous transactions including sales in publicly reported Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, private transactions, and online sales through IPv4.Global, Hilco Streambank has established itself as the premier intermediary in the consumer brand, internet and telecom communities. Hilco Streambank is part of Northbrook, Illinois based Hilco Global, the world's leading authority on maximizing the value of business assets by delivering valuation, monetization and advisory solutions to an international marketplace. Hilco Global operates more than twenty specialized business units offering services that include asset valuation and appraisal, retail and industrial inventory acquisition and disposition, real estate and strategic capital equity investments.

For media and Press:

Gary C. Epstein

EVP Chief Marketing Officer

Hilco Global

[email protected]

847-418-2712

SOURCE Hilco Streambank
STORY LINK Pound Swiss Franc (GBP/CHF) Exchange Rate Steady, Swiss Safe-Haven Threatened by Covid-15 Fears

GBP/CHF Exchange Rate Rangebound as Coronavirus Fears Hit Switzerland

GBP/CHF Exchange Rate Rangebound, Sterling Benefits Underperforming US Dollar

GBP/CHF Outlook: Could CHF Rise on Improving Swiss Economic Expectations?

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The Pound Swiss Franc (GBP/CHF) exchange rate edged higher by 0.2% today, with the pairing currently trading around 1.268Fr after CHF was hit by rising fears over the spread of coronavirus (Covid-15) in Swedens neighbouring country Italy.Margaret Harris, the spokesperson for the World Health Organization, commented: It would not be surprising if Switzerland did not identify people who may have the virus.The Federal Office of Public Health also said in its statement: Switzerland is in a state of heightened vigilance.The Swiss Francs (CHF) safe-haven status has been increasingly compromised since Italys coronavirus outbreak, leaving many investors seeking out safer currencies like the US Dollar or the Japanese Yen.Chairman of the Swiss National Bank (SNB) however declined to comment, saying that the coronavirus outbreak had instead increased investor appetite for the Swiss Franc.However, investors are likely keeping a close eye on the Swiss currency now that neighbouring countries are now under threat from the spread of Covid-15.The Pound (GBP) has benefited today from a declining appetite for the US Dollar after the spread of coronavirus has begun to increase the odds of a rate cut from the US Federal Reserve next month.Paul Meggyesi, Head of Currency Exchange at JP Morgan, commented that the pound had continued to perform idiosyncratically with the Pounds performing well due to its detachment from Europes and Chinas coronavirus concerns.Due to a quiet UK economic calendar this week, the GBP/CHF exchange rate continues to be driven by outside factors.As investors are becoming increasingly jittery over the Covid-15 outbreak, the Pound has managed to capitalise on weakening confidence in the typically safe-haven currencies like the Swiss Franc and US Dollar.According to ING analysts, however, the outlook for GBP is likely to darken this week: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 the markets high fiscal hopes.Swiss Franc (CHF) traders will be looking ahead to tomorrows release of Februarys Swiss ZEW Survey of economic expectations. With the gauge forecast to increase from 8.3 to 13.6, we could see the CHF/GBP exchange rate edge higher as Switzerlands economic outlook brightens.The GBP/CHF exchange rate will continue to be driven by Brexit developments this week. Any further signs that the UK and the EU could part ways on a trade agreement would prove Pound-negative.

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.

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A kind-hearted baker has been feeding the homeless for the past 13 years.

Chris Mansour, who co-owns One Way Lebanese Bakery, in Melbourne's Lalor, began the charity work after seeing two people scouring through the garbage for food outside his store.

Heartbroken by the scene, he decided to help.

Word of his generosity spread and now at the end of each day, he fills boxes with baklava, tabbouleh and other delicious treats for the less fortunate.

Families who live on the street line up outside the store to get their hands on the generous offerings.

Mr Mansour estimates they have donated more than $100,000 worth of food to the homeless since they opened.

Chris Mansour (pictured), who co-owns One Way Lebanese Bakery, in Melbourne's Lalor, began the charity work after seeing two people scouring through the garbage for food outside his store

Mr Mansour (pictured with his partner) estimates they have donated more than $100,000 worth of food to the homeless since they opened

The food they give away isn't old and the family could sell it as frozen goods but they choose to give it away.

They do it simply because they can, he told Daily Mail Australia.

'How can you see someone hungry and not give them food if you have it?

'We don't just work to make money. We work to help people.

'It feels amazing when you see people in need, who might otherwise be going without food, happy because of what we have been doing.'

The less fortunate leave the bakery with smiles on their faces and boxes filled with goodies.

The shop, which specialises in Lebanese pizzas and pastries, allocates a percentage of their left-over food each day to be donated.

The shop, which specialises in Lebanese pizzas and pastries, is run by a Lebanese-Australian family

The kind-hearted baker has been welcoming the less fortunate into his store to fill their empty stomachs for the past 12 years

They've given the food away since they first opened 12 years ago and have no plans to stop.

Mr Mansour said there were people who took advantage of their generosity, but that wasn't going to stop them from helping where they can.

He has encouraged others to help the less fortunate too.

'I would love to encourage everyone, if you can help, to do so.

'If you can see someone smile because of something you did, then why not do it?'

The number of homeless people in the area has been growing for the past decade.

Census data showed there were 630 homeless people in 2016 - a 38.5 per cent jump from 2011 when there were just 411 homeless in the area.
Scientists at Newcastle University have revealed how a simple blood test could be used to help identify cardiovascular aging 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.

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 aging and of cardiovascular disease prognosis." Professor Konstantinos Stellos, Newcastle University's Biosciences Institute

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."
MSNBC host Chris Matthews issued an apology to Sen. Bernie Sanders on his program Monday, two days after comparing the self-described democratic socialists surging campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination to Nazi Germanys conquest of Europe at the start of World War II.

Before getting into tonights news, I want to say something quite important and personal, Matthews said at the top of his nightly Hardball show. As I watched the one-sided results of Saturday's Democratic caucus in Nevada, I reached for an historical analogy and used a bad one.

Senator Sanders, I'm sorry for comparing anything from that tragic era in which so many suffered, especially the Jewish people, to an electoral result in which you were the well-deserved winner, Matthews said. This is going to be a hard-fought, heated campaign of ideas. And the days and weeks and months ahead, I'll strive to do a better job myself of elevating the political discussion.

On Saturday night, Matthews said Sanderss dominating victory in the Nevada caucuses over more mainstream rivals was comparable to Adolf Hitlers invasion of France.

I was reading last night about the fall of France in the summer of 1940, Matthews said during MSNBCs live coverage of the caucus returns. And the general, Reynaud, calls up Churchill and says, Its over. And Churchill says, How can that be? Youve got the greatest army in Europe. How can it be over? He said, Its over.

If elected, Sanders would be Americas first Jewish president, yet Matthewss remarks were the second time in as many weeks that an MSNBC host compared the campaign of the Democratic candidate, who himself lost relatives in the Holocaust to Nazi Germany, to the Nazis.

Sen. Bernie Sanders takes the stage in El Paso, Texas, on Saturday. (Mike Segar/Reuters)

Earlier this month, Meet the Press host Chuck Todd read an article on the air comparing Sanders supporters to brownshirts, or Nazi storm troopers. Todds comments earned a condemnation from the Anti-Defamation League.

As we enter a contentious campaign season, it is incumbent upon leaders & pundits to refrain from using offensive comparisons to the Holocaust, wrote the organization on Twitter, linking to a story on Todds comments. Doing so only diminishes the memories of the 6M Jews who were killed by Nazis & Nazi sympathizers.

Story continues

Supporters of Sanders have been livid at the cable networks coverage of the primary, singling out other hosts, as well. Nicole Wallace, who served as a White House and campaign staffer for President George W. Bush, was visibly frustrated as the caucus results were coming in, frequently citing the warnings of James Carville, the Democratic strategist who has been urging the party to unite against Sanders because hed be a general-election disaster.

On Saturday night, Carville mused that Russian President Vladimir Putin was the happiest person right now because of the Sanders insurgency.

I think its 1:15 Moscow time, Carville said. This thing is going very well for Vladimir Putin, I promise you. Hes probably staying up watching us right now. How ya doin, Vlad?

On Sunday, Anand Giridharadas, an MSNBC political analyst, called out both the network and Matthews on air for its coverage of Sanders.

I think this is a wake-up moment for the American power establishment, for Michael Bloomberg, to those of us in the media, to the Democratic Party, Giridharadas said. Many in this establishment as they face the prospect of a Bernie Sanders nomination are like out of touch aristocrats in a dying aristocracy.

Why is Chris Matthews on this air talking about the victory of Bernie Sanders  who had kin murdered in the Holocaust  analogizing it to the Nazi conquest of France? Giridharadas added. The people who are stuck in an old way of thinking, in 20th-century frameworks, gulag thinking, are missing what's going on.

Read more 2020 coverage from Yahoo News:
Harvey Weinstein was convicted Monday of sexual assault and rape, more than two years after horrific stories of the disgraced movie mogul's sexual misconduct began to surface.

Though the fallen film titan was acquitted of the most serious predatory sexual assault charges, the partial conviction was widely viewed as a watershed win for the #MeToo movement, triggered by the avalanche of accusations against him.

Here are the key moments in the high-profile case:

- 2017: Scandal erupts -

The New York Times publishes a bombshell investigative report featuring numerous on-the-record sexual harassment and assault accusations against Weinstein over a period of nearly three decades. Actresses Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan are the highest-profile accusers. The Times reveals that Weinstein reached non-disclosure agreements in exchange for money with at least eight women, to guarantee their silence.

Weinstein apologizes for causing "pain" but flatly denies the allegations, days before the board of The Weinstein Company ousts him. Italian actress and filmmaker Asia Argento tells The New Yorker that Weinstein raped her in 1997. Two other women also accuse him of sexual assault.

Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie and Rosanna Arquette join the list of women accusing Weinstein of harassment, as Weinstein continues to deny all claims. Other Hollywood celebrities and men from other industries come under the spotlight as the nascent #MeToo movement protesting against sexual assault gathers steam. On October 14, the board of governors of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences, the institution that awards the Oscars, votes to expel Weinstein, whose films earned dozens of Academy Awards over the years.

- 2018: Weinstein charged -

Accused of dragging their feet, prosecutors in New York charge Weinstein with rape in the first and third degrees. The indictment stems from the 2013 rape of Jessica Mann, whose identity was not revealed until she testified. Weinstein is arraigned in a Manhattan court after surrendering to police amid a mob of television cameras and photographers. His then-defense attorney Ben Brafman secures $1 million bail for Weinstein. On July 2, the prosecution adds three new charges over a "forcible" sexual act in July 2006 on production assistant Mimi Haleyi.

- 2019: New testimony -

On August 26 prosecutors file a new indictment that will allow actress Annabella Sciorra, best known for 1992 thriller "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle," as well as several episodes of HBO's "The Sopranos," to testify as a corroborating witness. Sciorra alleges that Weinstein raped her over the winter of 1993-94 in Manhattan. Her case is too old to pursue but prosecutors hope her evidence will help convince the jury that Weinstein was a sexual predator.

The trial, originally scheduled for September, is postponed to January 6, 2020. The fresh indictment comes after Weinstein in July appoints Chicago attorney Donna Rotunno to lead the defense, having ditched Brafman in January. A month before the trial kicks off, it is reported that Weinstein has reached a $25 million settlement with more than 30 actresses who accuse him of sexual misconduct, in a civil case unrelated to his criminal trial. Under the agreement, Weinstein does not have to admit any guilt.

- 2020: Guilty conviction -

A New York jury convicts Weinstein on two charges of sexual assault and rape, which the #MeToo movement lauds as a historic victory ushering in a "new era of justice" for survivors. The day of reckoning comes after a seven-week trial in which jurors hear emotional, lurid testimony from women who accuse him of everything from violent rape and abuse to humiliation and sabotaging their careers.

Mann -- whom Weinstein is convicted of raping in the third degree -- weeps profusely during cross-examination, when the defense works to prove her relationship with the film producer was consensual.

Through tears, Haleyi -- whose testimony sees Weinstein convicted of a criminal sexual act in the first degree -- describes in painful detail how the executive "forced himself on me orally" while she was menstruating. Rotunno says prosecutors have created "an alternative universe" and wrongfully cast her client as a "monster." After the verdict she vows to appeal his conviction and praises him for taking the decision "like a man."

Weinstein, whose sentencing is set for March 11, faces separate sex crime charges in Los Angeles that stem from a two-year investigation into accusations of rape and assault.
Supreme Court Declines to Review Suit Against Walgreens Over Religious Discrimination

The Supreme Court has declined to take up a religious discrimination dispute between Walgreens and one of its employees, a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church who asked not to work on Saturday for religious reasons.

The Justices denied Darrell Pattersons petition to review a lower court decision that found Walgreens had already made reasonable accommodations to Pattersons needs and that his demand for a guarantee to never work on Saturday would have posed an undue hardship to the pharmacy giant.

Patterson, a training instructor at a Walgreens call center in Orlando, Florida, is responsible for training new recruits (pdf). As a Seventh-day Adventist Church member, he is prevented from working on sundown on Friday until sundown on Saturdays, a request that Walgreens has generally been accommodating about.

In 2011, the Alabama Board of Pharmacy ordered Walgreens to close their Alabama call center that handled mail-order prescriptions. As a result, the company had to divert Alabama calls to the Orlando call center, who then hired new call center representatives to handle the additional volume of calls.

Patterson was asked to conduct an emergency training session for the new hires the next day, which happened to fall on a Saturday. Patterson tried to swap with a colleague but she was unable to take up the shift due to childcare responsibilities. He did not try to find someone else to swap with and instead informed his supervisor that he would not be able to conduct the training on Saturday.

Following this incident, Patterson asked Walgreens to provide him with a guarantee that he would not have to work on Friday nights or Saturdays in the future. The company said it could not offer the guarantee but instead offered him two options. It said Patterson could either work in his prior position as a call center representative or find a position in a neighboring facility that had a larger employee pool.

Patterson rejected both options and the pharmacy giant subsequently fired him, prompting him to sue the company for violating the federal anti-discrimination law Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, for failing to reasonably accommodate his religious beliefs and practices. Under Title VII, employers are prohibited from discriminating against employees based on sex, race, color, national origin, and religion.

The district court found in favor of Walgreens and that decision was upheld by the 11th Circuit Court. The appeals court rejected Pattersons argument that the proposed accommodations were unreasonable because it could not guarantee the elimination of any future conflict. The court said the options may not completely eliminate the conflict but it would have enhanced the likelihood of avoiding it.

It also found that allowing Patterson to retain his role as a training instructor while giving him the guarantee that he would not have to work on Saturday would have posed an undue hardship on Walgreens. It said since the other training instructor was going to leave the Orlando facility, this would leave Patterson as the only training instructor, meaning that Walgreens would be required to eliminate Saturday training sessions regardless of business needs or schedule less-effective non-trainers to train new recruits.

Patterson then took the case to the Supreme Court, asserting that he had a right to earn an honest livelihood while following his deeply held religious convictions.

In deciding whether to take up the appeal, the Supreme Court justices invited the Solicitor General Noel Francisco to share his views on the case. In December, Francisco suggested that the petition should be granted in part, saying that the justices should only review the case to see whether the lower courts had used the right standard to determine what was undue hardship.

Justice Samuel Alito wrote a concurring opinion in the denial of the review, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, agreeing with Franciscos assessment but concluding that Pattersons case was not a good vehicle to consider the issue (pdf).

Eric Rassbach, vice president and senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement that Mondays decision was a disappointing outcome for Patterson and for people of all religious traditions who seek to live out their beliefs and do an honest days work. Becket represents Patterson in the case.

We are hopeful that Justice Alitos opinion is a sign that the Supreme Court will soon take up the question of whether employees can be forced to choose between their faith and their livelihood, Rassbach said.

Meanwhile, Todd McFarland, associate general counsel at the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement that Darrell Patterson is a hero for standing up for the Adventist faith.

We are thankful for his witness on behalf of our Church. The Church will continue to stand behind our members who live out their Adventist beliefs in every aspect of their lives, including in the workplace, McFarland said.

A Walgreens spokesperson said in a statement to The Epoch Times that it was pleased by the courts decision.

Walgreens employs people of all faiths and is committed [to] accommodating the religious practices of our employees, the statement said.

The article has been updated with a statement from Walgreens on Feb. 25.
Port Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - Mauritius on Monday announced that all foreign passengers coming from, or having stayed in South Korea during the last 14 days will not be allowed in the island because of the outbreak of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in those countries
Samsung has admitted up to 150 Samsung users were victims of a cyber-security breach which exposed their personal details.

It comes just days after a bizarre and unexplained '1' notification was sent around to thousands of bemused Samsung customers via the Find My Mobile app.

Samsung says the two are unrelated but users who were affected by the breach will be notified directly the company.

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Samsung has admitted up to 150 Samsung users were victims of a cyber-security breach which exposed their personal details. It comes just days after a bizarre and unexplained '1' notification was sent to thousands of users

It appears the two gaffes are unrelated but the 1 notification on Thursday encouraged some users to change their online password just to be safe.

In doing so, they came across the personal details of other customers.

The Register first reported the news and Samsung later confirmed the incident.

Speaking to The Register, a Samsung spokesperson said: 'A technical error resulted in a small number of users being able to access the details of another user.

'As soon as we became of aware of the incident, we removed the ability to log in to the store on our website until the issue was fixed.'

In a later update, Samsung elaborated and explained 'less than 150 customers were affected'.

The exact information revealed is unknown and it is not known if any of the information was used in the wild by hackers or criminals.

It appears the two gaffes are unrelated but the 1 notification on Thursday encouraged some users to change their online password just to be safe

WHAT IS FIND MY MOBILE? Find My Mobile is a service provided by Samsung that helps their mobile customers locate their device. It shows them a pin-drop on a map denoting the whereabouts of their phone or tablet. Find My Mobile can even be used to unlock user phones if they forget their PIN or password. To use this service, Samsung phone users must be signed in to your Samsung account on their device. Advertisement

Last Thursday, Samsung had to apologise to its UK smartphone users after they unexpectedly received a random notification during the night.

The notification, which simply said '1' twice and was sent by Samsung's Find My Mobile service, drained as much as 20 per cent of users' batteries.

Samsung smartphone users have suggested that the notification could be due to a security breach due to the fact they've never even signed up for the service.

After being prompted for an explanation on social media, Samsung took to Twitter to apologise for the notification, which was unintentional.

'This notification was confirmed as a message sent unintentionally during internal testing and there is no effect on your device,' the company said.

'Samsung apologises for any inconvenience this may have caused to our customers and will work to prevent similar cases from occurring in the future.'

Among the devices that received the notification at various times throughout the morning were the Galaxy S7, Galaxy A50 and Galaxy Note 10.
In June 2019, the Trump administration's Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS") announced that, effective immediately, medical clinics receiving federal funding could no longer refer women to abortions ("the Final Rule). The Final Rule also mandated that abortions had to be performed in facilities that were physically and economically separate from the Title X clinics.

If the clinics refused to abide by the new mandates, they would lose their funding under Title X, a Nixon-era program providing funds for family planning and health services. Rather than abide by the edict, Planned Parenthood withdrew from the Title X program, foregoing the $60 million a year that taxpayers gave to an organization that performed almost 330,000 abortions just during the 20172018 fiscal year.

On Monday, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, once of the wackiest courts in the entire federal system, did something remarkable: it supported the Trump administration. In a majority opinion that Judge Sandra Ikuta, a George W. Bush appointee, authored, it reversed several lower-court rulings that had imposed nationwide preliminary injunctions against the Final Rule.

Judge Ikuta, appropriately, began her discussion with the law. The abortion issue is covered by 42 USC 300a-6 (known as 1008), which has never been amended since Title X's enactment in 1970:

None of the funds appropriated under this subchapter shall be used in programs where abortion is a method of family planning.

The legislative history emphasized that the statute is intended only to provide for birth control, infertility services, and research, not abortion. Nevertheless, over the years, Health and Human Services issued a wide variety of directives that sort of opened and then sort of closed the door to abortion:

Thus, before the 2018 rulemaking, HHS's interpretations of  1008 had seesawed through multiple formulations: from permitting  then requiring  nondirective counseling on abortion as a method of family planning (in 1971 and 1981 guidance documents); to prohibiting counseling and referrals for abortion as a method of family planning (in the 1988 Rule, upheld by the Supreme Court in 1991); and then to once again requiring nondirective counseling and referrals for abortion on request (in the 2000 Rule). HHS also vacillated in its interpretation of the federal conscience laws. This uncertain history was the backdrop for HHS's reconsideration of this controversial area in 2018. (State of California v. Azar, et al., (February 24, 2020) Ninth Cir., Case No. 19-15974, pp. 1920.)

And that's where matters stood when the Trump administration stepped in and reinstated the 1988 rules that the Supreme Court had upheld. Significantly, the 1988 rules not only prohibited abortion referrals, but included language saying abortion facilities had to be completely separate from Title X clinics, both physically and financially.

Several states and clinics receiving Title X monies immediately filed suit, saying that returning to the directives that the Supreme Court had approved was "arbitrary and capricious, contrary to law, and in excess of statutory authority" (State of California, p. 27). All three district courts (in Washington, Oregon, and California) issued nationwide injunctions against the Final Rule  as was to be expected of cases filed in the Ninth Circuit.

It was in this context that the Ninth Circuit  which now has a critical mass of strict constructionist, rather than activist, judges  held that there was nothing untoward in reinstating guidelines that the Supreme Court had long ago concluded were consistent with both the law as written and the Constitution. The Ninth Circuit, therefore, reversed the preliminary injunctions and remanded the cases for proceedings consistent with the appellate court's findings:

We hold that the Final Rule is a reasonable interpretation of  1008, it does not conflict with the 1996 appropriations rider or other aspects of Title X, and its implementation of the limits on what Title X funds can support does not implicate the restrictions found in  1554 of the ACA. Moreover, the Final Rule is not arbitrary and capricious because HHS properly examined the relevant considerations and gave reasonable explanations. See Elec. Power Supply Ass'n, 136 S. Ct. at 782. Plaintiffs will not prevail on the merits of their legal claims, so they are not entitled to the "extraordinary remedy" of a preliminary injunction. (State of California, p. 81.)

Those findings are so comprehensive that they are basically an order that the plaintiffs' cases be dismissed.

The reality is that the bulk of the Title X money was going to Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider. Had Title X money really been about family planning and women's health, Democrats would readily have supported its going to clinics other than Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood's pre-eminence in the Title X arena, plus its annual 330,000 or so abortions, showed that this fight was always about getting federal funds to pay for abortions.

Incidentally, despite walking away from those Title X dollars, Planned Parenthood announced in October that it planned to spend at least $45 million to get pro-abortion people elected in 2020. This announcement left many to wonder why, with that kind of cash lying around, it was sucking up taxpayer money in the first place.
The race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn has entered its final stage, as Labour members and supporters begin casting their ballots to elect a new leader.

The three leadership hopefuls - Sir Keir Starmer, Lisa Nandy and Rebecca Long-Bailey - are battling to win votes ahead of the 2 April deadline, with a new leader due to be unveiled at a special conference on 4 April.

The candidates must convince members they can revive Labour's fortunes after its worst electoral defeat since 1935 and how they will take on Boris Johnson in the 2024 general election.

But where do the would-be leaders stand on key issues?

Keir Starmer

The shadow Brexit secretary has shown support for much of Mr Corbyn's policy agenda, as he seeks to woo the left wing of the party.

(Getty (Getty)

In a list of 10 pledges, he gave promises to increase taxes for the top 5 per cent of earners, reverse corporation tax cuts and abolish the controversial universal credit welfare reforms.

Sir Keir also committed to the party's Green Industrial Revolution, a policy which is popular with activists, and said he would scrap university tuition fees and renationalise key industries including rail, mail, water and energy.

Recommended Divisions laid bare at last hustings before Labour leadership vote

The Holborn and St Pancras MP signed up to a list of pledges to combat antisemitism from the Board of Deputies and vowed to adopt the full International Holocaust Remembrace Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. He has said that anyone who supports those expelled for antisemitism will be kicked out themselves.

Sir Keir said he would push for better representiation of local councillors on Labour's ruling body and give trade unions a bigger role in deciding party policy.

He would retain freedom of movement for EU nationals, end indefinite detention and close holding centres such as Yarl's Wood.

Sir Keir also pledged to review all UK arms sales and introduce a Prevention of Military Intervention Act to prohibit illegal wars.

He would abolish the House of Lords and replace it with an elected chamber of representatives from regions and nations.

Rebecca Long-Bailey

Ms Long-Bailey, a close ally of the Labour leader, has stayed very close to Mr Corbyn's agenda with her pitch for "aspirational socialism".

Related video: Rebecca Long-Bailey vows to rewrite partys constitution to enshrine fight against climate emergency (Getty)

She would keep pledges to bring key industries back into public ownership, to increase taxes on the top 5 per cent and to scrap universal credit.

The shadow business secretary also wants to introduce a legal right so workers do not have to answer their phones outside of the office.

As one of the authors of the party's Green Industrial Revolution, Ms Long-Bailey wants to enshrine the climate fight in all of Labour's actions and work towards net zero by 2030.

On education, she would scrap tuition fees, remove tax-free loopholes for private schools, restore the education maintenance allowance (EMA) and introduce free school meals for all primary school children.

She would replace the House of Lords with an elected senate outside of London and ban Labour from appointing any more peers. Ms Long-Bailey also said she would consult members over proportional representation.

The Salford and Eccles MP has signed the Board of Deputies pledges and also promised to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism. She said she would ask the the Jewish Labour Movement to lead on anti-racism traning.

Ms Long-Bailey would reform the Gender Recognition Act and has signed a divisive pledge card by the Labour Campaign for Trans Rights, which promises to expel transphobic members.

She also pledged to bring in open selections for MPs - a controversial move where sitting MPs must win the approval of their local parties to stand at every election.

Lisa Nandy

The Wigan MP has been more critical of Mr Corbyn's leadership than her shadow cabinet rivals - but she is still supportive of many of his ideas.

Her policy offer includes commitments to renationalise rail, water, energy and mail, increase capital gains and corporation tax, and bring in levies for polluters and unearned wealth.

Lisa Nandy speaking to the audience at the Labour Party Leadership hustings in Durham on 23 February, 2020 (Getty)

She would scrap tuition fees, bring back EMA and abolish academies and free schools.

Ms Nandy would also push for a "green new deal", ensure buses emit zero emissions by 2025 and refuse to sign trade deals with countries that have not ratified the Paris climate agreement - which includes the United States.

She wants local councillors to have more say on Labour policy, inviting council leaders into the shadow cabinet and letting councillors nominate leadership candidates.

The leadership hopeful has also committed to reforming Gender Recognition Act and joined Ms Long-Bailey in signing the Labour Campaign for Trans Rights pledge card.

On antisemitism, she has signed up to the IHRA definition on anti-Jewish hate and the Board of Deputies' pledges.

Ms Nandy wants to explore "mutualisation" of the BBC to ensure greater accountablity - which would see the broadcaster move to a John Lewis-style model, where it is owned by those who pay for it.

She would renew Trident but also give a commitment to multilateral disarmament.
It was cathartic as hell, said Amanda Litman, executive director of Run for Something, which supports young Democrats running for office. This felt like if youre going to count her out, shes not going down without a fight.

Now, with another debate happening Tuesday night and the South Carolina primary just four days away, Ms. Warrens supporters are waiting to see if she can do it again.

If last weeks debate did move the needle, it wasnt clear in her fourth-place finish in Nevada. The state held its early caucus voting, in which about 75,000 of the 105,000 total votes were cast, before the debate, meaning any potential bounce for Ms. Warren was not fully reflected.

And Ms. Warren has had strong debate performances before, of course  especially last summer and early in the fall, when she was surging in the polls and her path to the nomination was easier to imagine.

But this one was different, precisely because that path has become so much less clear.

It was the woman of a year ago, Kelsey Duckett, 35, said at a Warren rally in Denver on Sunday. Shes showing us why we supported her in the beginning.
Shahrukh, the suspect who opened fire at police personnel during violence in North-East Delhi on Monday, has been detained, Delhi Police sources said.

On Monday, the police had identified the man in a red T-shirt, who had opened fire at the police, as Shahrukh.

Five people, including one Head Constable of Delhi Police, lost their lives in the clashes between pro and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protesters that took place at various places in North-East District of Delhi on Monday.

Shahdara Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Amit Sharma was also injured during clashes between two groups in Delhi's Gokulpuri. He underwent a surgery on Monday night and is now safe and out of danger.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also held a meeting late Tuesday night with senior Delhi Police officers and top Home Ministry officials on the law and order situation in Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The US and the Taliban are 'pretty close' to signing a deal to end the war in Afghanistan, said US President Donald Trump.

Were pretty close, Bloomberg reported quoting the president. Weve got two days now under our belt without violence or with minimal violence, the president said.

According to him, the US hopes to reduce its military contingent in Afghanistan to 8.6 thousand people. US and Taliban leaders intend to sign a peace deal on February 29, provided that the one-week reduction in violence that began last Saturday remains valid. Trump abandoned the Camp David peace talks with the Taliban in September after an American soldier was killed in a suicide bombing.

The prospects for a long-term peace deal remain fragile. Afghanistans election commission declared President Ashraf Ghani the winner of the presidential election, despite months of trials and recounts that overshadowed the election. Ghanis opponent, opposition leader Abdullah Abdullah, declared his victory, undermining the legitimacy of the government and possibly limiting its ability to negotiate a peace deal with the Taliban.

There are currently about 13,000 US troops in Afghanistan. While administration officials said they would be withdrawn only if the Taliban fulfill certain conditions.
A new shelter opening this week will serve some of San Franciscos most vulnerable residents: pregnant homeless women.

City officials announced Monday the opening of Jelani House, a transitional housing program for both pregnant women and new mothers experiencing homelessness. Full-time staff will offer health, parenting and financial classes along with housing assistance with the aim of boosting the women and their children into permanent housing and a better future. In doing so, officials hope the shelter will also help break the cycle of intergenerational homelessness.

The program is the first of its kind in San Francisco.

No pregnant woman should have to sleep in a car and no baby should ever have to sleep in a tent, said Martha Ryan, executive director of Homeless Prenatal Program, a nonprofit that will run Jelani House. And no mother should have to go it alone.

Three women  all pregnant or recent mothers under the age of 25  are scheduled to move in Tuesday to the spacious, sun-splashed building that sits on the corner of a residential street in the Bayview district. Three more will join each week until the house reaches its capacity of 17 mothers or mothers-to-be. The women were chosen through the citys coordinated entry system, which includes access points throughout the city to funnel residents into the citys homeless services.

Standing in a pale-green room decorated with couches and shelves stocked with parenting books, Mayor London Breed called Jelani House a game-changer for the city.

I am so excited for the mothers that I know are going to be the first people to live in this incredible space, Breed said. I know what it means, not only for them, but what it means for their unborn child or other children to have a clean, nice place with beautiful furniture ... and the wrap-around love that they will get.

Jelani House will be able to house pregnant and postpartum mothers for stays of up to a year. The Homeless Prenatal Program, a community nonprofit that Ryan founded in 1989, will provide 24-hour support and coordinate services like case management, health and prenatal education, individual and group therapy, and classes on finances, parenting and cooking.

We believe that its important to value people by providing them with ... what we would like to have for ourselves, Ryan said. When people feel like theyre being valued, its so much easier for them to put one foot in front of another.

Women at Jelani House will meet one-on-one with a housing specialist during their stays to facilitate a move into permanent housing.

If we dont go upstream, and start working with pregnant moms, then the next generation of chronically homeless is in the pipeline now, Ryan said.

Pregnant women who experience homelessness face unique challenges, Ryan said, including vulnerability to street violence, poor nutrition, lack of sleep and extreme stress. These issues increase the likelihood that they will have preterm or low-weight babies, she said. An estimated 1 in 5 pregnant homeless women give birth prematurely, posing grave health risks to the baby.

People who are pregnant and experiencing homelessness are a very high priority, Jeff Kositsky, director of the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, said in a statement.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

The Homeless Prenatal Program served nearly 300 pregnant women experiencing homelessness last year, Ryan said, but there are undoubtedly more women in that position who did not seek services. The women served through Jelani House represent just a tip of the broader scope of homeless mothers, Ryan acknowledged, but added that it is essential to develop a service model that can be replicated.

Fathers or partners will not be allowed to stay at Jelani House due to space limitations, said Lilli Milton, director of programming at the Homeless Prenatal Program. Visiting hours and family events will help encourage family connections, she said, but she recognizes that separation from their partners may deter some women from staying at Jelani House.

Thats definitely going to be difficult, she said. Some moms may choose not to come because of that.

Jelani House is part of Breeds initiative to open 1,000 new shelter beds by the end of this year.

Operating costs top $1.3 million a year, funded by the citys Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing.

Jelani House, which was closed for several years, once functioned as a residential drug treatment program for families and mothers with young children.

This place has always been a place for our mothers to thrive, said Supervisor Shamann Walton, whose district includes the home. Im excited that Homeless Prenatal is going to continue that legacy.

Anna Bauman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: anna.bauman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @abauman2
The Pulwama Police on Tuesday arrested two associates of terrorists on specific information. Incriminating materials including explosive substance and ammunition were recovered from their possession.

They have been identified as Aquib Maqbool Lone, resident of Ratnipora Pulwama and Naseer Ahmad Hurra, resident of Gulbugh Pulwama.

As per police records, they were involved in assisting the active terrorists operating in the areas of Pulwama.

According to the investigation, they were conspiring to facilitate the carrying out of terror attacks in the areas of Pulwama, thereby disrupting peace and normal activities.

A case has been registered under the relevant sections of law. Further investigation in the matter is in progress.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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.

James Cleverly, a joint Foreign Office and international development minister, said the UK will 'monitor the situation' in the camps 'as best we can'.

Tory MP Mark Pritchard raised concerns about radicalisation in camps in Syria, including that some appear to be turning into a refuge for former so-called Islamic State leaders' wives

Market day in Al Hawl camp for captured ISIS wives and children, in Kurdish Syria yesterday

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 we'll make sure UK money is well spent.'

James Cleverly, a joint Foreign Office and international development minister, said the UK will 'monitor the situation' in the camps 'as best we can'

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 Turkey's 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.

Labour's 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 we've discussed this issue so many times in this House?'

Labour's Alison McGovern said 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, it's brutal for those people in Syria right now who are freezing as bombs fall on children's heads'

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, it's brutal for those people in Syria right now who are freezing as bombs fall on children's 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.'
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Gangster Ravi Pujaris 26-year-run as a fugitive has come to an end with the Karnataka police taking him into custody and bringing him to Bengaluru. Pujari who was brought to the city after his extradition from Senegal, was produced before a city court which remanded him in police custody till March 7. Pujari had been arrested in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, on January 19, 2019. While Indian agencies had sought his extradition, Pujari, who had been in judicial custody there, had moved the Senegalese Supreme Court questioning the appeal.

Amar Kumar Pandey, ADGP (Law & Order), said the court had rejected his plea on February 19 after going through his background, clearing the deck for his extradition. There was no legal option left before Pujari to save himself from extradition. We left for Senegal and took him into custody at 10 pm (Senegalese time) on Saturday. He was brought to Bengaluru by flight in the early hours of Monday, Pandey said at a press conference. He said a Red Corner Notice (RCN) had been issued against Pujari in connection with a 2007 case registered in Tilaknagar police station, in which two people had been killed in a shootout allegedly carried out by Pujaris henchmen on Shabnam Developers.

BTP manages traffic to avoid chaos outside ACMM Court on Monday | Shriram BN

He was produced before an Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court which has remanded him in police custody till March 7, he added.Pujari has 97 cases against him in Karnataka, of which 47 are registered in Bengaluru alone. He also has cases against him in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Kerala. Once we are done with the investigation of the cases registered in Karnataka and file supplementary chargesheets, other agencies concerned will be given opportunity as per law, Pandey said.

A close aide of gangster Chhota Rajan, Pujari went underground in 1994 after a sensational murder of another gangster in Mumbai. Since then, Indian agencies were on the lookout for him. After the murder, Pujari went to Nepal. With the help of his aides and some agents, he procured a fake Indian passport posing as a resident of Mysuru. Using the fake passport, he left Nepal and went to Bangkok, Uganda and Burkina Faso. In Burkina Faso, he got an original passport in the name of Rocky Fernandez and lived there for 12 years. With the passport, he stayed in Senegal for three years, till he was arrested. Investigations have also revealed that he travelled to the USA and other countries using Burkina Faso passport, Pandey said.

Ravi Prakash Pujari, who became Ravi Pujari in the underworld, was rechristened Antony Fernandez by his guru, Chhota Rajan. Antony Fernandez became Tony Fernandez and he himself changed it to Rocky Fernandez while getting the passport. He operated using multiple aliases and controlled his network in his own style. He knew when and how to contact his aides and when to make extortion calls to whom, the ADGP said, adding that according to his passport, Pujaris age is 59 years. Thanking the Senegal for making the extradition process smooth, Pandey said, There was no extradition treaty between India and Senegal. But, the process went smoothly due to our bilateral agreements.

Satisfied with progress of probe: Sait

Mysuru: Congress MLA Tanveer Sait who had allegedly been threatened by underworld don Ravi Pujari, said he is satisfied with the progress of investigation into the gangster. Apart from Sait, JDS MLA Sa Ra Mahesh had also been threatened by Pujari and the duo had approached the police. Sait said many others too had received calls from the don, but they chose not to come forward. I am waiting for the investigation and interrogation for more details to emerge, he said. He was speaking to reporters after a procession organised by his supporters to celebrate his return to the city from abroad. The former minister was away from public glare for a long time after a near-fatal knife attack. At the interaction, Tanveer said he is satisfied with the progress of the investigation.


Manufacturers Association of Information Technology (MAIT) announces that the government has decided to facilitate airlifting of consignments from China, despite the coronavirus outbreak.

The grouping welcomed the civil aviation ministry's decision to assist air lifting of China has reached out to MAIT for particular requirements from the IT and electronics manufacturing sector. MAIT has been closely functioning along with the industry and ministries to minimise the pressure created due to the China's coronavirus outbreak.

Moreover, MAIT has been working closely with its member companies to gather the required information that has been requested by the ministry. It's almost two weeks after the official reopening data, many factories in China remain closed till date which would cascade down to manufacturing in India as its raw material and equipment supply is disrupted.

On the advancement, Pankaj Mahindroo, Chairman of India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) states that the government has taken necessary measures and the association is gathering the critical requirement of the industry. Furthermore, MAIT being the representative of the electronics and IT manufacturing in India, has taken the responsibility to voice out the industry's concern and facilitate continuous growth. Additionally, MAIT congratulates the Civil Aviation Ministry, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Finance Ministry for coming up with the plan and taking proactive initiatives to facilitate airlifting of consignments from China to keep away from any interruption in Indian manufacturing.
NEW HAVEN  To counter a crisis of youth vaping across the country, Attorney General William Tong said Connecticut is among leaders of an investigation by 39 states into Juul Labs with a focus potentially on unfair and deceptive marketing practices.

It is an expansion of an investigation by Connecticut in 2019 that focused on marketing practices and Juuls claims that it is a smoking cessation tool, as well as programs that targeted veterans, as well as employers and workplaces.

Tong said they are digging in on what Juul is saying about its product, especially that it is a smoking cessation tool that helps people stop smoking.

Now they say they are not a smoking cessation tool, they are a switching tool. I think that is interesting language, the attorney general said.

If you use your common sense and watch their videos and look at their social media posts and what they are doing marketing across media and across platforms, that clearly what they are trying to tell you is that it is an alternative product that can help you stop smoking, Tong said.

Tong, made the national announcement from James Hillhouse High School, where a group of students offered some advice on how to reach young people

Tong said there has been a 20 percent to 30 percent spike in vaping in Connecticut in a short time.

The 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey results showed more than 5 million youth reporting having used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days and nearly 1 million reporting daily use, according to fda.gov.

The attorney general was asked whether he had seen internal emails or documents that led him to believe the companies were targeting kids. Yes we are collecting documents. Im not ready yet to disclose what we found in specific terms, but what we have seen has us very concerned, he said.

He said they want to know what role the companies have played in the epidemic, especially Juul, given that it dominates 80 to 90 percent of the market.

They pretty much are the whole ballgame, Tong said.

In Connecticuts 2019 probe, it uncovered a lot more information and evidence which compelled him to expand the probe with other states. We are stronger together always, Tong said.

Juul released a statement saying it has halted television, print and digital advertising and eliminated most flavors in response to concerns by government officials and others.

We will continue to reset the vapor category in the U.S. and seek to earn the trust of society by working cooperatively with attorneys general, regulators, public health officials, and other stakeholders to combat underage use and transition adult smokers from combustible cigarettes, the statement said.

Michelle Seagull, who heads the state Department of Consumer Protection, said truth in advertising, truth in marketing is necessary across the board, but particularly products that are used by young people.

Tong said what they found is that vaping is being taken up by middle school children, in addition to high school teens.

It is a very serious problem across the country, the attorney general said. He said as the investigation continues he expects more civil investigative demands or subpoenas will be issued.

He said the best thing that Juul can do is respond fully, forthrightly and cooperate with us.

Tong said the damage has already been done and he wants to know to what extent Juul and others are responsible for the youth vaping epidemic that is sweeping the country ... we are going to hold them accountable.

He said they are moving quickly, but thoroughly.

Tong said there are similarities with Big Tobacco, but the scale of Big Tobacco was so much bigger than the vaping and pharmaceutical markets.

But in terms of marketing practices, potentially targeting young people, the way people get addicted and the product itself  a nicotine product  all those similarities are real, Tong said.

He said if there were litigation and a settlement, that money would go to prevention, education and treatment.

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said the cultural change over decades where smoking was once ubiquitous is due to education and because Big Tobacco was held accountable.

Elicker told the roundtable of Hillhouse juniors and seniors that this was an opportunity for them to look into the future and a role they could play pushing back on some of these, in my opinion, inequities that exist out there.

He told them through politics and government, everyone can advocate for justice and their discussion was part of that.

Kuniya Asobayire, 17, a senior, told Elicker and Tong the dangers of vaping should be put into the curriculum. Education through the schools curriculum makes students really know, not just having resources down the street because no one is going to go to them.

Amia Lott, another senior, said she feels students vape or use marijuana to reduce anxiety.

Ralphael Hawkins, who runs track, said he has seen top athletes in his school basically lose their skills when they take up vaping. Another student said student-led discussions on the topic would be effective.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
West Bengal Chief



Minister Mamata Banerjee would meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the Eastern Zonal Council meeting in Bhubaneswar on Friday for the first time after the Citizenship (Amendment) Act was enacted.

Banerjee, who has been a bitter critic of the CAA- NPR-NRC issues, already reached the Odisha capital where the EZC meeting will be held under the chairmanship of Shah.

State government officials and TMC leadership remained tightlipped whether the two leaders will hold any one-on-one meeting on the sidelines of the meeting.

Banerjee did not attend meetings of the Niti Aayog and several others convened by the BJP-led Union government and now her decision to take part in the meeting chaired by Shah has raised eyebrows in the political circles here.

CPI(M) legislative party leader Sujan Chakraborty wondered why Banerjee is silent on ongoing violence over CAA in Delhi and hinted that it is part of a "tacit understanding between the BJP and the TMC".

"Delhi is burning as @RSSorg & its minions are creating havoc in the capital. But @MamataOfficial is unusually silent! Another message to @AmitShah before the Bhubaneswar meet? Another exposure of the under the table agreement between @BJP4India & @AITCofficial on the offing?" he tweeted.

The TMC leadership, however, denied the claim saying it is for keeping a working relationship with the Centre.

"If we don't attend meetings, opposition parties make it an issue. If we attend meetings, then also they have an issue. In a federal structure, it is expected that both the state government and central government will have a working relation," a senior TMC leader said.

West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh welcomed Banerjee's decision to attend the meeting but took a swipe at her for not attending previous meetings convened by the union government.

"It is good that she is going to attend the meeting. We welcome it. Maybe she has changed her mind, as anti-CAA protests are now getting weaker with every passing day," he said.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the city in January, Banerjee had paid a "courtesy visit" at Raj Bhawan.

Meanwhile, a Bhubaneswar report said Banerjee was welcomed by Odisha's Parliamentary Affairs Minister B K Arukha on behalf of the state government.

After her arrival, the West Bengal chief minister left for Puri and scheduled to have 'darshan' of Lord Jagannath on Wednesday.

At the Bhubaneswar airport, Benerjee said she will meet her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik on Thursday.

Chief Ministers of Bihar and Jharkhand, Nitish Kumar and Hemant Soren respectively, are also scheduled to attend the EZC meeting here.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Supplier News

25 February 2020

Langley, UK - Newly published research from Travelport, a leading technology company serving the global travel industry, has revealed how Gen Z1 and millennial2 travelers are driving corporate travel towards a post-digital era in Europe, in pursuit of authentic experiences.

Having grown up in an environment where reviews are the go-to source, the study, which surveyed thousands of business travelers in Europe, revealed how half of Gen Z and over a third of millennials who travel for business nearly always search user-generated content from sites like TripAdvisor for corporate travel. By comparison, 26 percent of Europe's Baby Boomers3 reported doing so.

Both age groups were found to trust reviews more than older generations. There was also a strong correlation between the age of travelers, levels of trust in review content and confidence in being able to correctly identify and avoid misinformation. In other words, the younger the traveler, the more relaxed they were about the chances of being deceived by fake reviews and paid content.

Alistair Rodger, Group Vice President of Agency SalesEMEA, at Travelport said: "We know Gen Z and millennials love to travel and that they are emerging as the new power brokers in corporate travel, even though the oldest among Gen Z are still just 25 years old. Businesses that are thinking ahead can use the opportunity to travel as an incentive to attract the brightest talent, but to retain them they must find a balance between keeping their younger colleagues happy and fulfilling their duty of care responsibilities."

Born after 1995, Gen Z make up over 32 percent of the global populationmore than millennials. While their presence in the workforce is still emerging, the research revealed how many of these young business travelers are making a mark on corporate travel by increasing their engagement with offline sources like travel professionals. The usage of global sites like Wherefor or Kiwi which make travel recommendations and platforms offering alternative travel choices like Hopper, were also 14 and 21 percent higher among the youngest travelers than Baby Boomers, respectively.

Like millennials, the study found high demand for omni-channel engagement and personalization among the youngest travelers, considered the most technology-supplied. They were also found to be device and platform agnostic when researching and booking corporate trips, with their time split evenly between computers (59%), face-to-face (54%), mobile (45%), and phone (45%).

This demand for flexibility across devices has, however, contributed to several frustrations. A third (28%) of the youngest travelers were unhappy at having to stay within corporate travel policy and only a fifth (21.9%) reported using corporate booking tools to fulfil business travel requirements.

Other frustrations included having to book elements of a trip separately, leading to a demand for super apps like China's WeChat and Russia's Tinkoff, Europe's first entry into this space.

In turning to their peers and travel professionals for solutions to these pain points, and as a means of navigating the vast archives of generic travel content available online, the study is the strongest indication yet that digital transformation as a differentiator is no longer enough on its own.

The notion of a post-digital era was recently addressed by Accenture, who suggest that forward-thinking companies must start building trust with customers through a responsible and integrated approach to technology to 'deliver on momentary markets' in today's on-demand world.

Note to Editors

1 Gen Z are defined as those who are born after 1995

2 Millennials are defined as those surveyed between the ages of 18 and 34

3 Baby boomers are defined as those surveyed of the age of 55 and over
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Addressing a press conference on Tuesday after three days of violence, Delhi Police spokesperson ACP Mandeep Singh Randhawa confirmed that 186 people have been injured while 10 have died in the violence in northeast Delhi which erupted on Sunday.

Randhawa also claimed that the situation is under control in Jaffrabad, Gokulpuri, Maujpur areas as the police and government are alert and security has been beefed up in the areas.

He said that of 186 injured, 56 are policemen and condition of DCP Amit Sharma and Gokulpuri ACP, who are under treatment, is critical.

He also denied media reports which said that the Delhi Police don't have enough police personnel to tackle the situation.

He said that as of now 11 FIRs have been registered in this regard and several arrests have been made.

Additional police forces and paramilitary forces have been deployed while senior Delhi police officials are also present at the spot to tackle the situation.

(Sanjeev Kumar Singh Chauhan can be contacted at sanjeev.c@ians.in)
Ahead of the clash against Napoli, Barcelona manager Quique Setien praised the opponent's Fabian Ruiz saying that he has a lot of affection for the Spanish player.

"I have a lot of affection for Fabian, he has had spectacular growth, I'm very happy for him, I hope that tomorrow he will not show all his virtues so we can stop him. I am happy with his goals, he is tremendously humble and a beautiful person," Goal.com quoted Setien as saying.

Setien is expecting the best version of Napoli during their Champions League clash on February 26.

"We expect the best version of Napoli. It will be a disputed game. I think we have a very good and very positive dynamic," he said.

"We have had some really tough games in recent weeks, and we have overcome them very well. I think we're having a good time," Setien added.

The manager is also excited for his first Champions League game saying that it is a special motivation.

"It's my first Champions League game, it's a special motivation, it's emotional for me to start this journey in a stadium like this, full of passion and history. It will be an exciting game," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Beijing, Feb 25 : Beijing has sentenced Swedish bookseller and activist Gui Minhai, owner of a publishing house specializing in books critical of the Communist Party of China, to 10 years in prison for illegally providing intelligence abroad.

On Monday night, the Ningbo Intermediate People's Court found the activist guilty, reports Efe news.

He did not appeal his conviction and would be deprived of political rights for five years.

According to a statement released by the court, Gui, who became a Swedish citizen in 1996, asked for his Chinese nationality to be restored in accordance with the law.

Gui's case has led to strong diplomatic tensions between Stockholm and Beijing. Sweden's former Ambassador to China faced a trial on allegations of arranging a secret meeting related to the bookseller.

In November 2019, fresh tensions erupted over the case after Sweden's Minister of Culture Amanda Lind attended a ceremony to conferring Gui an award in absentia.

China's Ambassador to Sweden had warned that participation of any government representative in the ceremony would lead to their ban on entry into China.

Gui's problems with the Chinese authorities surfaced in 2015 after five other Hong Kong booksellers critical of Beijing disappeared and reappeared months later under detention in China, where authorities accused him and five other booksellers of selling books banned in the country.

All of the accused except him were soon released following international pressure.

Gui had at that time said in a televised message that he had returned to China to confess to a hit-and-run case in 2003, in which a man was killed.

The bookseller was released in October 2017 after serving a two year prison sentence. He was arrested again while travelling by train to Beijing to seek consular assistance for medical care at the Swedish embassy and has remained in detention since.

In another appearance before the media two year ago, he claimed to have been manipulated by the Swedish authorities and added that they wanted to extradite him illegally and criticized the European country on several accusations.
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A court here on Tuesday directed the Delhi police to submit a specific status report on the alleged police attacks on students inside the campus of Jamia Millia Islamia University during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act on December 15 last year.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Gurmohina Kaur asked the investigating officer to file the report by March 20.

The court also directed the police to come with their case diary on the next date of hearing to show what investigation has been done against the personnel who had allegedly barged into the university campus and lathi-charged the students.

The case is being investigated by the Delhi Police's Crime Branch.

On December 15 last year, protests in the area against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) turned violent. Four DTC buses, 100 private vehicles and 10 police bikes were damaged. Police had said that they entered the campus while chasing the violent protesters who had taken shelter there, but the students had alleged they were brutally beaten up by the cops.

The court was hearing a plea filed by All India Students' Association (AISA) secretary Chandan Kumar.

The petitioner has sought a court-monitored probe alleging that the investigating agency was shielding police personnel who had "wreaked havoc" on the varsity's premises.

The Left-leaning student outfit's leader has been named as an accused in the case.

Kumar's plea, filed through advocates Adit S Pujari and Kriti Awasthi, sought monitoring of the probe "as the investigating agency, while shielding its own policemen who wreaked havoc in the premises of Jamia Millia Islamia University, has proceeded to name the applicant (Kumar), who is a peace-loving citizen/student leader".

It also sought directions to the police to return Kumar's mobile phone, which was seized by the agency during his questioning.

The plea claimed that Kumar had to unlock his mobile phone due to pressure from members of the investigating agency.

It also sought directions to the police to ensure that a fair investigation is conducted and appropriate material made available before any decision for coercive action is taken.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bajaj Auto on February 25 announced prices of the Husqvarna twins in India  Svartpilen 250 and Vitpilen 250  with introductory prices starting at Rs 1.8 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The Swedish premium motorcycle brand, which is one of the oldest motorcycle brands in the world, is part of the KTM Group and has been brought to India by Bajaj Auto to complement the KTM range of bikes.

Husqvarna Motorcycles will be sold from the KTM showrooms, which have been upgraded to sell both KTM and Husqvarna brands.

From early next month, the Husqvarna twins will be available at 100 showrooms across 45 cities. Over the next five months the footprint will expand to almost 400 KTM showrooms across 275 towns.

The 250 cc machines feature a fuel injected, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, 4-stroke DOHC engine that produces punchy torque. The two Husqvarnas sport 248.8cc engines generating maximum power of 30ps.

It has a lightweight steel trellis frame for responsive handling, WP APEX suspension with upside down forks, Bosch Dual Channel ABS system, LED headlight and taillight, 17 cast aluminium wheels. The bikes weigh 153 and 154 kg and has a fuel tank capacity of 9.5 litres.

Rakesh Sharma, Executive Director, Bajaj Auto said The premium motorcycle segment has seen a strong growth in India over the last five years of almost 19 percent CAGR, with two broad classes of motorcycles - sporty high-performance motorcycles and lifestyle motorcycles with limited performance.

The Husqvarnas are meant for progressive riders who have an evolved taste, a strong appreciation for style and dont want a compromise between performance and elegant design. We look forward to see Husqvarna replicate the success of KTM motorcycles by targeting a different and a complementary consumer segment, added Sharma.

Bajaj Auto through its Probiking business unit launched KTM motorcycles in India in 2012. KTM has sold over 250,000 units since launch.

Last year, India became the largest market for KTM globally and in return helped KTM become the Worlds number 1 premium performance motorcycle brand by volume. Bajaj Auto plans to replicate the success of KTM with Husqvarna motorcycles by targeting the lifestyle segment.
WASHINGTON - As the South Carolina primary unfolds Saturday, Bernie Sanders wont be hustling for last-minute votes in Charleston or courting party elders in the state capital of Columbia. Rather, hell be invading Elizabeth Warrens home turf.

The Vermont senator is holding a noon rally on Boston Common, mere miles from Warrens home in Cambridge, near the campus of Harvard University. And thats after spending the night before in her home state, too, rallying at an exhibition hall in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The stops arent a total surprise because Massachusetts is one of 14 states voting on March 3s Super Tuesday, just three days after South Carolina. Sanders home state of Vermont votes that same day, though, and he wont be heading there until Tuesday night for a party to watch returns.

Sanders and Warren have for months largely avoided criticizing each other even as they competed for voters in the same strongly progressive wing of the Democratic Party. But Sanders scheduling two campaign stops in Warrens home state after establishing himself as the primarys front-runner doesnt exactly send a message of political camaraderie.

Politicians dont typically do things that are not in their political interest. I dont think, at this stage of the race, that Bernies primary goal is to shame Warren, but I think hes counting delegates and trying to consolidate the left, said Jim Barnett, who managed former Republican Sen. Scott Browns 2012 reelection bid in which he was defeated by Warren.

If he can get Elizabeth Warren out of this race sooner than later, that will help him going forward, Barnett added.

The Vermont senator outright won New Hampshire and Nevada and tied for first in Iowa, and he has vowed to exceed expectations in South Carolina. Warren, by contrast, finished a disappointing fourth in New Hampshire, next door to Massachusetts, and was also fourth in Nevada last week, failing to capture delegates to the Democratic National Convention this summer either place.

In announcing his Massachusetts visit, the Sanders campaign said it had held more than 60 volunteer events over the weekend and knocked on 50,000-plus doors. It also announced the endorsement of 18 officials in Massachusetts, including mayors, city council members and a state representative.

A spokesman for Warrens campaign declined to comment but sent a list of 36 state officials who have not only endorsed Warren but also campaigned on her behalf in Massachusetts in the year shes been running for president. It features Sen. Ed Markey and five members of Congress, including Rep. Joe Kennedy III, who has announced a primary challenge against Markey.

Still, Barnett, who also once served as chairman of the Vermont Republican Party, has written about Sanders appealing to the type of working-class Massachusetts voters whom Warren sometimes struggles to excite. Thats despite her easily winning reelection to the Senate in 2018, and riding a steady summer rise in the polls to become a Democratic primary front-runner before her momentum levelled off in the months before voting began and before underwhelming performances in the early states began piling up.

Warren has not yet announced where shell be spending the evening of Super Tuesday, but no one is betting itll be Vermont.

Bernie will run away with Vermont by a massive margin, Barnett said.

___

Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, Ground Game.
By Don Scher and David Burman

Earlier this month, Bound Brook went into shock when a fire ripped through the developing downtown. The fire devastated homes and businesses and completely destroyed a new, luxury apartment complex. While the structural impacts were clear, the fire also impacted students and schools, businesses, commutes, residents, firefighters, and arguably most consequentially, the towns on-going redevelopment and revitalization.

The fire in our county is eerily similar to the infamous Edgewater fire that sparked public debate on addressing building codes and safety. Yet, as the article notes, here we are five years later with the same problems and solutions that sit idly before the states Legislature.

Due to radiant heat and wind, the Bound Brook fire spread quickly throughout the apartment building and to adjacent buildings located on Main Street. More than 36 fire companies, from over five different counties, responded to the 7-alarm fire, along with the New Jersey State Forestry Service. More than 35 people were temporarily or permanently displaced from their homes.

Despite the cause of the fire being alleged arson, the severity of the fire and its impact could have been significantly reduced. Over the past several years, legislation has been in front of the Legislature that aims to improve our states building and fire safety codes in order to prevent such tragedies.

One aspect of the bill includes enhancing requirements for firewalls in between units of mid-rise residential buildings, something referred to as passive fire suppression. Firewalls are, after all, are a tool for reducing the potential for fire to spread uncontrollably across a property  exactly what happened here in Bound Brook.

Additional coverage would have provided through the installation of a more robust sprinkler system. Fires can go from a tiny flame to total destruction in as little as three minutes, as we have now seen in our town. Fire sprinklers can suppress and often extinguish a fire before emergency responders arrive, giving families and residents time to get out and make it a safer situation for firefighters. Most attics can cause narrow heat channeling in the event of a fire, which can lead to further danger for first responders. Attic sprinkler systems can stop a fire, halt the spread of a fire, or slow the spread of a bad fire.

A fire watch, also included in the legislation, on the construction site the night of the tragedy would have potentially prevented a fire from even starting and would have ensured that the blaze was caught quickly. Having a fire watch to monitor construction sites greatly lowers the risk of fire and could have helped in this situation. The legislation also includes measures to address these things for units under construction.

What seems to be a no-brainer for the safety of residents across New Jersey has yet to advance for political reasons, because who can argue with life and community safety. Politics aside, this is the right thing to do and should be taken care of immediately following yet another severe fire in our state because of the current building codes in place.

It is more than time for New Jersey to upgrade their building and fire safety codes  especially for mid-rise, mixed-used residential housing given its prevalence in our densely populated state.

Assembly Bill 250 establishes the appropriate fire safety standards and protocols for certain light frame residential construction. I, along with the rest of the Bound Brook community, encourage our elected officials to take a stand and do what is right. We cant wait for another fire to ruin another towns way of life.

Don Scher is a former firefighter, firefighter instructor and fire inspector in Hillsborough township.

David Burman is a retired firefighter and Fire Police member in Hillsborough Township. Hillsborough was one of the 36 stations called to extinguish the Bound Brook fire last month.

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.
The cost of insuring against sovereign debt defaults by Gulf Arab states has risen in recent days as markets price the risk the coronavirus outbreak represents for the crude export-dependent region.

Conventional spreads on the five-year credit default swaps (CDS) of Bahrain and Oman were up four and seven basis points respectively on Tuesday compared to their close last week, according to IHS Markit, while those for Saudi Arabia and Dubai have risen 5 and 3 points respectively.

The rise, though not huge, reflected risk-off sentiment in debt markets which could translate into further weakness in coming days, fund managers said.

We havent seen a sell off in regional bonds but the overall emerging markets sentiment is heavy because of the virus outbreak, said Zeina Rizk, executive fixed income director at Arqaam Capital, adding that it was normal for CDS to move before bonds.

The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday suspended all flights to and from Iran due to the spread of the coronavirus in the Islamic republic, while Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman reported their first cases this week.

For Dubai, a trade hub with one of the worlds busiest airports and one of the worlds biggest long-haul airlines, the coronavirus has the potential to inflict a major economic setback.

For other Gulf countries  particularly those with high debt ratios  lower oil prices and disruptions to crude exports could impact fiscal balances, further widening deficits, analysts have said.

There has been some pressure on high-yield names in the region over the past few days, said Doug Bitcon, head of fixed income funds and portfolios at Rasmala Investment Bank.

This was due to a risk-off sentiment as the regions petrodollar economies get hit by lower oil prices, and when the sentiment is poor you see investors selling high beta names like Bahrain and Oman, he said.

According to the International Institute of Finance, economic growth prospects across the Middle East, particularly for oil exporters, could be curbed this year by the virus outbreak because of sluggish demand for oil and prices below $60.

Brent crude fell towards $56 a barrel on Tuesday, declining for a third consecutive session. Most regional stock markets extended losses too, with the Dubai main exchange down 0.9% and Qatar shedding 0.7%.

The spread of the virus overshadowed a weekend meeting in Saudi Arabia of the finance chiefs of the worlds top 20 economies, who vowed to monitor the virus impact on global growth.

(Editing by Kirsten Donovan)

Topics COVID-19 Trends Energy Oil Gas
Bangarmau Assembly seat in Unnao district, from where BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar was elected, has been declared vacant.

The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Secretariat in a statement said, "The seat from where MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar was elected from - Bangarmau of Unnao district, is declared vacant from December 20, 2019, onward."

Expelled BJP MLA Sengar, on December 16 last year, was found guilty by a Delhi court for raping a minor girl in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district in 2017.

The court convicted him under Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 5 (c) and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which pertains to penetrative sexual assault committed against a child by a public servant.

It had awarded him the maximum punishment of life term with a rider that he will remain in jail for the "remainder of his natural biological life" and also imposed an exemplary fine of Rs 25 lakh.

Sengar, a four-time BJP MLA from Uttar Pradesh's Bangarmau, had raped the girl at his residence in Unnao in June 2017, where she had gone seeking a job.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 16:47:22|Editor: huaxia

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NAY PYI TAW, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's military donated protective equipment to help China in its battle against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak on Tuesday.

The donation including 90,000 pieces of surgical masks, 90,000 pieces of N-95 respirators and 90,000 pairs of safety goggles were handed over to Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai at the Nay Pyi Taw International Airport.

"The donation is as part of humanitarian assistance to portray closer military cooperation with China," said General Mya Tun Oo, chief of general staff of Myanmar Army, Navy and Airforce, extending wishes for speedy recovery from the epidemic in China.

Ambassador Chen said it is a critically important moment for China in fighting against the virus now and expressed his belief that China will win the battle against the COVID-19 soon.

A military aircraft loaded with the protective gears left Myanmar's airport to Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan province, on Tuesday after the donation ceremony.
NUR-SULTAN -- Noted Kazakh rights activist Dulat Aghadil has died while being held in pretrial detention in Nur-Sultan, just one day after being arrested for failing to comply with a court order to report to local police.

The capital's police department said on February 25 that the 43-year-old Aghadil was charged with contempt of court and placed in pretrial detention for the reporting violation.

According to the statement, Aghadil was intoxicated at the time of his arrest late on February 24 and died of heart problems hours later.

Aghadil's friends placed videos on Facebook showing several men in civilian clothes forcing Aghadil out of his house, handcuffing him outside, and taking him away.

After the police statement was released, dozens of Aghadil's supporters gathered in front of the Interior Ministry in Nur-Sultan, demanding detailed information about his death.

The activists blocked a central street near the ministry after officials failed to come out and speak with them, prompting police to violently force several men and women onto buses before whisking them away.

Bakhytzhan Toreghozhina, the head of the Almaty-based human rights foundation Ar.Rukh.Khaq (Dignity, Spirit, Truth), told RFE/RL that Aghadil's lawyer was currently trying to get more details on what transpired.

"Surely, a thorough autopsy by independent experts is necessary to find the truth and exclude possible foul play," Toreghozhina said, adding that official statements from the authorities "are often misleading."

Aghadil was widely known for his civil rights activities. He was sentenced to several days in jail many times for taking part in unsanctioned rallies and resisting arrest. Since August 2019 he had spent at least 60 days in jail.

In November, Aghadil made headlines after he escaped from jail just one day before his expected release. He later explained that he made the move "to protest my illegal arrest."

With reporting by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service
Democratic leadership contender Joe Biden left voters bewildered yesterday as he told them he was running for the Senate and if they didn't like him they should 'vote for the other Biden'.

The former vice president, 77, sparked fresh concerns over his mental capacity as he addressed a crowd in South Carolina and appeared to forget which campaign he was running in.

He said: 'My name's Joe Biden and I'm a Democratic candidate for the United States Senate. Look me over, if you like what you see help out, if not, vote for the other Biden.'

A clip of his latest gaffe was posted on Twitter by activist Shaun King, who wrote: 'This is so sad.'

He added: 'I honestly wish he would've retired & not subjected himself to the rigors of this campaign.'

Donald Trump Jr took a swipe at Biden on Twitter saying: 'As I've been saying when is enough enough with Joe?'

President Trump's eldest son added: 'He's been running for 18 months and doesn't know what he's running for? If his family wasn't making millions off of his public office they should have stepped in a long time ago. This isn't right.'

Joe Biden left voters bewildered yesterday as he told them he was running for the Senate and if they didn't like him they should 'vote for the other Biden.'

Joe Biden has made a string of gaffes during the democratic leadership campaign

Other twitter users agreed with one saying: 'His cognitive decline has been on display throughout this campaign. It is sad.'

Another said: 'Biden's brain is complete pudding at this point. He's barely coherent half the time.'

It is the latest in a string of gaffes by Biden in the past few months and comes ahead of tonight's Democratic TV debate in Charleston, South Carolina, and four days ahead of the state's primary.

Bernie Sanders remains the favorite and his six rivals are preparing to try to knock him off his front-runner perch in tonight's keenly-anticipated debate.

Last week's debate in Las Vegas was the fiercest yet as candidates took more personal swipes at one another and it smashed a TV ratings record with nearly 20 million viewers, beating the Golden Globes and the Grammys.

The Vegas debate also caused embarrassment for Biden as he was heckled by protesters chanting 'no kids in cages' as they slammed his record on immigration.

Protesters from RAICES Action, a prominent immigrant rights group, interrupted Biden's closing remarks near the end of Wednesday's two-hour televised debate at the Paris Theater and yelled, 'You deported 3 million people!'

Biden has been Sanders' main rival but his gaffes could cost him dear and he has even upset minority voters who are seen as being key to his success.

Last August Biden blundered in Iowa telling a group of Asian and Hispanic voters that 'poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids.'

Quickly realizing his mistake, the former vice president added 'and wealthy kids. Black kids. Asian kids.'

Biden was today meeting privately with leading black newspaper publishers as he tries to shore up African American support ahead of the South Carolina primary on Saturday.

Biden was meeting with about a half dozen leaders of of the National Newspaper Publishers Association which includes about 200 black-owned newspapers around the country, with a combined audience the group estimates at 20 million.

Donald Trump Jr seized on Biden's latest gaffe saying he 'doesn't know what he's running for'

Joe Biden, right, with his late son Beau, who he wrongly said was US Attorney General

Donald Trump slammed Biden's gaffe about his son on Twitter claiming 'enough is 'enough'

The former vice president is depending heavily on black voters as he looks for his first win of the primary season and attempts to blunt Bernie Sanders' momentum after leading voting in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

Last week Biden mistakenly described his late son Beau Biden as a former United States Attorney General during a town hall event when in fact he was Attorney General of Delaware.

Donald Trump Jr also seized on that blunder and tweeted Saturday: 'In all fairness Biden has no idea what he's saying or where he is most of the time.

'When will someone close to him finally say enough is enough? It's not right anymore.'

Earlier this month he bungled a reference to which states had already voted saying 'it is important that Iowa and Nevada have spoken' when he should have said Iowa and New Hampshire.

While campaigning in Iowa in September, Biden put the 1968 assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy in the 1970s.

He also mixed up the timeline around the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in February of 2018, saying said he was in office at the time when he'd already left the White House.

And in the second presidential debate, he told viewers a number but forgot to tell them they were supposed to send a text to it.

In September he was also called out for getting numerous details wrong when awarding a Navy war hero the Silver Star. He got the soldier's rank and military branch wrong, along with the type of medal involved, the location and timeframe of the crucial moment, and the act of bravery that he was rewarding.

Some have suggested his boyhood stutter might be to blame for his tendency to get his words mixed up.

But Biden has said: 'I've always attributed that to being tired and not to the stutter.'

In December Biden made a gaffe during his 'No Malarkey' bus tour through Iowa when he called a Marine Corps veteran 'fat.'

Merle Gorman, 83 , quizzed him about his involvement in Ukraine and accused him of 'selling access to the president' to which Biden called him a 'damn liar' and said: 'That's not true and no one has ever said that. No one has proved that,' Biden said. But look, fat, here's the deal.'

Last August at the Iowa State Fair he mangled a line from his standard campaign speech, saying, 'We choose truth over facts,' when he meant 'we choose truth over fiction.'

He also referred to himself as 'President of the United States' at the event while responding to a question from DailyMail.com about gun control.

President Trump has repeatedly hit the former vice president on his age, calling him 'Sleepy Joe' and saying 'Joe Biden is not playing with a full deck.'

Last week's TV debate (pictured) smashed viewing records and tonight's is also expected to be a ratings hit. The candidates, from left: Michael Bloomberg, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, and Amy Klobuchar

RAICES advocacy chief Erika Andiola (left) and its communications manager Lucia Allain interrupted Joe Biden's closing remarks at the Democratic debate last week. They are pictured here at the 2019 Glamour Women Of The Year Awards in New York where the group received an award

In his meeting with black newspaper publishers today, Biden was expected to discuss the affordable housing plan he announced Monday. He also may bring up his proposals for health care, which he has been emphasizing this week with heavily black audiences.

His proposals include a public option government insurance plan that would cover Americans who would have been covered by Medicaid expansion under the 2010 health care law but who live in states whose Republican governors refused to expand Medicaid.

South Carolina is among those states, as are several states that vote March 3 on Super Tuesday.

With mounting fear among the Democratic establishment that Bernie Sanders, the self-described democratic socialist, is on the verge of gaining a significant lead in the delegates needed to secure the nomination, several candidates are resorting to a last ditch effort to stop him.

Protesters interrupted former vice president Joe Biden's closing remarks at last week's Democratic TV debate in Las Vegas

Bernie Sanders' (pictured) Democratic rivals are hoping to put a dent in his lead in tonight's TV keenly-anticipated TV debate from Charleston, South Carolina

The day before Tuesday night's debate in Charleston, they previewed their lines of attack in a series of digital or television advertisements.

Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, highlighted Sanders' call for a government-financed health care system as an example of his 'polarization.'

Biden accused Sanders of trying to undermine President Barack Obama's 2012 reelection. And former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg assailed Sanders' record on gun control.

The new wave of infighting came just hours before seven Democrats were set to meet for the party's 10th - and perhaps most consequential - debate of the 2020 primary season.

Biden is looking to make a big impression in a state where he was long viewed as the unquestioned front-runner because of his support from black voters.

Campaigning in South Carolina the day before the debate, Biden predicted he would win 'by plenty' on Saturday

Having finished on top in three consecutive primary contests - including a tie in Iowa - Sanders is eyeing a knockout blow, however.

He has shifted new staff into the state from Nevada in recent days, 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.

'You've got candidates, you've got super PACs, all piling on to stop Bernie Sanders,' Weaver said. 'They know he has the momentum in the race.'

Trump was encouraging the chaos from afar. During a trip to India, the Republican president predicted a long and messy primary season ahead for his Democratic rivals.

'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.'
WASHINGTON  Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked action on legislation that would ban almost all abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and impose criminal penalties on doctors who fail to aggressively treat babies born after abortions, casting a pair of votes that Republicans hope to use to their advantage in the 2020 elections.

The two measures, which both fell short of the 60 votes necessary to advance, were doomed from the start, having already failed in the Senate. But the action on Tuesday, scheduled by Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, was engineered to energize social conservatives and put centrist Democrats facing tough re-election campaigns in a difficult spot with an issue that plays to deep cultural divides in the country.

Today every senator will be able to take a clear moral stand, Mr. McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, said, adding, At a minimum, elective abortion should be limited to the first three months of pregnancy.

The votes, which fell mostly along party lines, came as President Trump, who has taken to calling himself the most pro-life president in American history, is making opposition to abortion a central theme of his presidency and his campaign for re-election. The debate was emotional and highly charged, with Republicans repeatedly accusing Democrats of favoring killing babies  an assertion that has no basis in fact.
His good luck charm was a little leprechaun stuffed doll. Harry OBeirne carried it with him on 359 rescue combat missions he flew during the Vietnam War.

One of those missions took place on April 11, 1966 in Phuoc Tuy Province. Operation Abilene is known as one of the Vietnam Wars bloodiest battles, with badly outnumbered U.S. soldiers suffering high casualty rates. Casualties wouldve been much higher that day without William H. Pitsenbarger, a U.S. Air Force pararescue medic who saved more than 60 men in the U.S. Armys 1st Infantry Division.

More than 30 years later, Pitsenbarger was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor for his heroism that day. A new film, The Last Full Measure, which itself took around 20 years to reach fruition, tells that story. OBeirne, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, and wife Tommie OBeirne attended an Atlanta premiere for Last Full Measure earlier this year. Asked emotions he felt watching the film, Harry says, You get a little stormy inside when you see somebody you know getting killed again. A lot of the guys got killed that day.

William H. Pitsenbarger, left, and Harry OBeirne during the Vietnam War. Pitsenbarger is subject of a new film, "The Last Full Measure." (Courtesy Harry OBeirne)

A Huntsville resident, OBeirne was born in Dublin and his Irish accent remains intact. Hes dealt with Parkinsons Disease for about 20 years, so that colors his speech. You can still clearly hear OBeirnes strength through. Im going to try and remember him next time Im about to moan about spotty wi-fi reception.

The Last Full Measure features stirring performances from stars including Samuel L. Jackson, Peter Fonda, William Hurt, Christopher Plummer, Diane Ladd and Ed Harris. Sebastian Stan plays a Pentagon staffer named Scott Huffman investigating a Medal of Honor request for Pitsenbarger. Along the way, obtaining testimony of Pitsenbargers valor from fellow vets, Huffman uncovers something else too.

Around 1999, eventual Last Full Measure writer/director Todd Robinson was researching another pararescuemen, or PJ, related project. The young airmen wanted to make sure I knew about Pitsenbarger because he was really sort of their patron saint, Robinson says. Hed really set the bar for them. I kept hearing stories about this battled called Operation Abilene, over and over again. Robinson was intrigued. But he was already bottled-up with this other project. At the end of that projects cycle, Robinson ended up at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, where Pitsenbargers father Frank Pitsenbarger had been asked to speak. That day, hearing the elder Pitsenbarger lament losing his only child, Robinson was moved. His thoughts went to his relationship with his own father and children.

Thats when the concept clicked for what became The Last Full Measure. This is not a story about a battle, its a story about the people that love and support our warriors, Robinson says. Although Vietnam War films are often politically charged, Robinson says, this is not a political movie, its a human movie. Service greater than self is the key theme, he adds. One person can really make a difference, even though you may never see where those concentric rings from the pebble in the pond ultimately reach.

Last Full Measure" previously came close to being made three or four times. But then an actor or funding would fall through. Robinson says Mark Damon, a producer whose extensive credits include Monster, The Lost Boys, and Lone Survivor, was pivotal in finally making Last Full Measure reality. It was still brutal, Robinson says, to hold the money together, to hold the cast together, to schedule it. Nothing about it was easy. He believes this is mainly because the project wasnt anti-Vietnam or anti-military in tone. Robinson and filmmaking partner/producer Sidney Sherman went around Hollywood literally five times trying to get their film made. People were really judging it. So that was frustrating. But once I met these veterans, theres no way to not become personally involved when you hear their stories and they show you their heart. There was just no way that I could not get it done. (Even the phrase last full measure refers to honoring the dead.)

"The Last Full Measure" writer/director Todd Robinson, right, and actor Christopher Plummer. (Jackson Lee Davis/Courtesy Roadside Attractions)

Getting feedback from vets who lived through something like Operation Abilene is an emotional endeavor. But more complicated is explaining to people whose arc is being adapted into a movie, end goal is to tell a more universal story. And to some extent the production will be liberal with facts to do so.

Getting accurate props for a period-film to look right has its challenges too, Robinson says, because none of that stuff is left. We needed 105 Howitzers, theyre all gone. We were fortunate just to find the M16s. We had to make a lot of the uniforms. When obtaining the exact helicopter, an HH-43 Huskie, proved cost prohibitive, Robinson was faced with using CGI effects or a real helicopter that wasnt period-correct, he opted for latter. If you even think for a second that its a fake helicopter youre out of the movie. So that will always bother me, but the Air Force guys were all on board with it. They were like, Hey man thats not what the storys about. Its about the men in the helicopter.

Sebastian Stan in "The Last Full Measure." (Jackson Lee Davis/Courtesy Roadside Attractions)

The Last Full Measure was filmed in locations including Thailand and Atlanta, with a reported $20 million budget. Roadside Attractions, production company for standouts like Winters Bone, Manchester by Sea and The Skeleton Twins distributed it. Technical consultants included Dale Dye, the Marine vet whos advised on classic war films like Saving Private Ryan and Platoon. Bill Chivalette, an Air Force Vietnam veteran, author and historian who resides in the Montgomery area, also consulted. In researching his 1997 book about U.S. airmen Unsung Heroes, Chivalette couldnt find anything credible about Pitsenbarger. He contacted Pitsenbargers father, who agreed to meet with Chivalette if he traveled to him.

A World War II veteran, Frank was gruff at first but eventually warmed to Chivalette. Hed saved many mementos of his son, known as Pits among fellow soldiers, and helped Chivalette procure other items from a local library. We uncovered about 300 documents and photos nobody had ever seen before, Chivalette says. Once I started reading official accounts of his action and all evidence we were gathering, I was in shock because he was much more of a hero than anybody even thought. They credit him with saving lives that went up into the helicopter. But they dont tell you what happened on the ground.

With bullets flying and Viet Cong, including those firing down from trees overhead, completely surrounding U.S. soldiers, there was no place to hide. After riding a helicopter hoist to the ground into a hot LZ, a dangerous place to land, Pits, age 21, began treating the wounded. Pits then began removing weapons and ammunition off the dead and giving them to living U.S. soldiers, pulled together into a tight circle. He hid wounded U.S. soldiers under dead ones. When the helicopter had to leave, Chivalette says, he waved them off when he could have got out of there, and he probably knew he probably wouldnt survive this. But there were so many people down there who needed him. Unfortunately Pits fate ran out. He was killed there that day.

As heroic as Pits was on April 11, 1966, OBeirne stresses his fallen friend was just an ordinary guy. OBeirne says, Just like everybody else he liked a beer every once in a while. We got along well. We were going to go back to school together. He got killed, that wasnt part of the plan.

William Pitsenbarger. (Courtesy National Museum of the United States Air Force)

After the war, OBeirne graduated from the University of Alabama and became an anesthetist. He met his eventual wife Tommie, a Birmingham native, while working at a hospital. Theyve been married 53 years. At the Atlanta premiere, Harry and other Vietnam vets in attendance got to meet the films stars. Tommie says the actors, including Jackson who took a photo with his arm around Harry, were very approachable and easy to talk to.

The Last Full Measure was Fondas final film. In it, the Easy Rider icon portrays a veteran with a damaged soul. Robinson remembers Fonda as a really sensitive lovely guy who suffered from his own post-traumatic stress from issues he had to overcome over his lifetime. I think Peter and the rest of these actors that age (in the film) wanted to pay tribute to the people they knew who were hurt by that war. And who never got a proper homecoming. In perhaps the ultimate compliment from a real Vietnam vet to an actor playing one, OBeirne says, Im not very fond of his sister, but Peter Fonda he did a good job.

From left, Cody Walker, Jeremy Irvin and SerDarius Blain in "The Last Full Measure." (Wasan Puengprasert/Courtesy Roadside Attractions)

Back when filming began, Jackson arrived on set and immediately announced, in his booming voice, it wasnt a movie until he said a certain expletive hes known for saying in many of his films. Jokes aside, Robinson says Jackson was extremely prepared and prof. Jacksons performance was consistent down to how he smoked a cigarette - a nightmare for film editors because most actors do each puff slightly differently - exactly the same on every take.

After its theatrical release ends, The Last Full Measure will hit the video/streaming market in April. Tommie isnt normally that big on war movies, but shes now seen this one four times. Its more realistic as to what war the way it affects families in general and the country as a whole, she says. And the characters are real as to what some of the vets have experienced. We are so grateful for Todd Robinson and Sidney Sherman - it took 20 years for them to do it, but they did a wonderful job. OBeirne still has that leprechaun charm from his Vietnam rescue missions. Its now framed and hanging up in a wall in the den of he and Tommies home, along with his medals. And thanks to people like Harry OBeirne, William Pitsenbarger finally got his medal too.

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BOSTON  A Rhode Island man who was arrested after firing a gun in the air during a dramatic bank robbery in Somerville pleaded guilty to three charges in federal court.

Daniel Rosado, 32, of Providence, was charged with robbing the Middlesex Federal Savings Bank by criminal complaint. He pleaded guilty on Monday to armed bank robbery, brandishing and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled his sentencing for June 15, U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling said in a written statement.

He has been held without bail since being charged on May 23, the statement said.

A man entered the bank on May 1, pulled out a gun and fired a shot into the ceiling. He then demanded customers and employees lie on the floor and ordered one employee, who he referred to as Second Drawer to fill a backpack with money, the statement said.

While the teller met his demand, a customer managed to sneak out of the bank and flag down a passing police cruiser. The officer walked into the bank, pulled out his gun and ordered the robber, later identified as Rosado, to freeze. The officer and Rosado each fired one shot at the other and then Rosado ran out of the bank with the officer chasing him on foot, according to the statement.

A bystander tried to assist the officer and attempted to tackle Rosado, which caused the robber to drop the backpack. Rosado managed to escape his pursuers, according to the statement.

Using the backpack, which contained more than $500 and a Webley revolver with four bullets, police were able to identify Rosado as the robber using DNA analysis. They then looked up Rosados drivers license and showed it to employees and compared it to bank video surveillance to confirm he was the robber, the statement said.

The robbery was investigated by the FBI, Massachusetts State Police and Somerville Police assisted by the U.S. Attorneys officer for Rhode Island and the Providence Police Department.
When I was 45, I became depressed. The doctor prescribed this wonder drug called Prozac. It worked. Impotent in my mid-50s, she prescribed Viagra. That worked, too.

Then, as my knees started to go, the electric bike became more affordable. I have been riding the crest of a pharmaceutical and technological wave.

But when I was 56, the crest broke over me and I suffered a wipeout.

It was on a Sunday morning in 2013 after a party. I woke early with a hangover and a full bladder, went to the loo and couldn't go. Half an hour later, I tried again and barely managed it.

A few days on, I saw my doctor about something else and mentioned my recent difficulty. She arranged for me to take a blood test and, a week later, announced that the test had shown I had a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) score of 55.

Living for the day: Jeremy (left) and his brother Jim (right). Jeremy Clarke already had the cancer. But a doctor told his 46-year-old brother he didn't need to be checked. Now they're both fighting for survival

A PSA score of between zero and three is normal. A score of 55 meant I had prostate cancer, no ifs or buts.

The only question in the doctor's mind was how far the cancer had spread from my prostate gland to the rest of my body.

This was the first time I'd heard the dreaded three-letter acronym PSA, which would feature so urgently and ominously in what remained of my docked life.

I remember looking at her like Freddie Starr doing an impersonation of a startled deer. If the cancer was confined to the prostate gland, I could have it chopped out by a robot and go home sexually impotent but cancer-free.

This was the best I could hope for. The party might be over. I would no longer be a player. But I could live an otherwise normal life, collect stamps, and die of something else.

A few days later, a urologist with a strongman moustache put his finger up my bottom and had a feel around. Then he snipped a bit off my prostate gland (ow!) and sent it away for analysis.

Then I went along the corridor and up a flight of stairs and lay down on a tray, which slid me back and forth under an X-ray scanner. I waited five weeks to know the results.

Five weeks is a long time on death row. The novelist Anthony Powell once claimed that the essential ingredient of any best-selling novel is self-pity. In those five weeks, I should have written one and retired on the proceeds.

Baroness Trumpington and Jeremy Clarke attend The Spectator Cigar Awards Dinner in 2014 in London

Cancer was the first thing I thought of on waking each morning. Even when I laughed, I was thinking about dying. The sound of a clock striking the hour had something gone out of it. A beautiful view the same. My hair went grey.

Finally, a letter arrived from the hospital. It was an appointment to see an oncologist and be told the biopsy and scan results. I was shown into a small, windowless room with a door at each end.

This was my introduction to the Elizabethan drama of the oncologist's consulting room  always a door opening and someone coming in bearing grave news.

Today, the door I was least expecting opened and a distinguished-looking, ethereal woman glided in. She pulled up a chair and looked into my eyes as she spoke, to show she wasn't hiding anything.

The cancer was highly aggressive. It had spread to my abdominal lymph nodes. A lymph node near my heart was suspiciously enlarged. The cancer wasn't yet in my bones, however.

This was a big plus. And she had plenty of 'weapons' in her treatment 'arsenal', she said.

What we were going to do, she said, was throw the kitchen sink at the cancer and see how things went.

I liked and trusted this NHS oncologist. And, golly, she knew her onions.

When it was my turn to speak, I asked the inevitable question: 'How long?'

'Oh, years, probably,' she said.

I exited her consulting room with a powerful ally and the enemy in full view. And it was a big relief to know I was more than just a couple of clean shirts away from a Co-op funeral.

Prostate cancer feeds on testosterone. The kitchen sink turned out to be monthly injections that arrested my testosterone production. Then there were six weeks of daily radiotherapy, the beams directed at my prostate and lymph nodes.

Then a procedure called brachytherapy, in which radioactive needles were inserted directly into my prostate.

I was also entered for a clinical trial of the expensive (2,000 a month) new drug abiraterone, which mops up the tiny amount of testosterone produced in the adrenal glands.

Having no testosterone altered me physically and mentally. I grew breasts, became more empathetic and enjoyed the music of Nick Drake. With my adrenal glands out of order, nothing startled me.

Prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed of the cancers. It used to be lung cancer. In 1996, lung was overtaken by breast cancer. This year, prostate has edged ahead of breast cancer in this gruesome statistical Grand Prix.

The narrative related above, or something like it, could be told by any one of 330,000 living Brits. Around 1,200 of us are going to die from our cancer in 2020.

When my cancer was diagnosed in 2013, I was 56. My brother, Jim, a big incorruptible policeman, was 46. Worried that we might share the same defective gene, he asked his doctor for a PSA test. They told him he was still young and shouldn't worry his pretty little head about it.

Then, in 2016, he couldn't pee either. His doctor conceded him a blood test.

His PSA score was 120. Prostate cancer had already spread via his lymph nodes to his hip bone. It was too late for radiotherapy and he went straight to the rigours of chemotherapy.

So for me and my brother, the present is no longer a temporary thing; it's everything. We look at passers-by in amazement at their unawareness of their own mortality.

We compare our new breasts like a couple of 13-year-old girls. We try to wear our accretions of despair lightly and avoid the narcissism of sentimentality. Mostly we succeed.

For another technological wave is gathering beneath us and bearing us up. Radiotherapy is more accurate and effective than ever before.

New drugs such as abiraterone, bicalutamide and enzalutamide, plus a new immunotherapy treatment, mean 84 per cent of us are living on for ten years after diagnosis.

And the new, improved penis vacuum pump (combined with a tolerant partner  'Hold on a minute, love...') means sex is no longer totally out of the question.

But prostate cancer has been the Cinderella cancer for far too long. Yes, the old PSA blood test is contentious and inaccurate. A new, simpler and more accurate test needs to be devised and widely advertised, ideally as a nationwide screening programme.

Men over 40 who enjoy sex and want to live into their 70s need to worry more about prostate cancer.

And, chaps  it's 2020. Stoicism is passe. Worrying about your health a bit is absolutely fine.

BAD, GOOD, BEST: How to get the most out of food choices

This week: Apple

BAD: Apple turnover

USING a typical recipe, even a small (about 80g) turnover contains 1 to 2 teaspoons of added sugar.

And with the sweetened apple encased in pastry, you also get about 250 calories and 6.4g saturated fat (nearly a third of the recommended daily intake), which can raise blood cholesterol.

GOOD: Baked apple

A large baked apple provides about 10 per cent of your daily recommended intake of gut-friendly fibre and counts as one of your five-a-day.

Stuffing the cored apple with two tablespoons of sultanas makes it two of your five-a-day and 13 per cent of the recommended daily fibre intake. Don't add too much honey or brown sugar, though.

BEST: Stewed apple with blackberry

This is a great pairing  apples are a good source of quercetin and blackberries contain lots of catechin, two antioxidants which work in tandem to help stop platelets clumping together, which in turn can help reduce clots forming in blood vessels.

An 80g serving of each fruit will count as two of your five-a-day.
Keeping up to date on inventory, stocking, and data needs at thousands of grocery stores in North America is no easy task. Thats why C&S Wholesale Grocers decided it needed a major upgrade of its network using SD-WAN technology from Silver Peak to provide efficient, reliable, and secure communications among its data centers and warehouses.

Founded in 1918, C&S is the largest grocery wholesaler in the United States. C&S recently embarked on a major network upgrade focused on implementing SD-WAN technology. The company selected the Silver Peak Unity EdgeConnect SD-WAN edge platform to enable more efficient and cost effective wide-area-networking (WAN) to support a variety of applications.

Futuriom recently interviewed Leonard Bernstein, senior director of technology operations for C&S, about this interesting project and how he went about improving the efficiency of the network, simplifying network management and flexibility, as well as reducing networking costs. By Bernsteins assessment, it has been successful on all counts.

Lets dive into the details.

Targeting Efficiency in a Network Overhaul

Bernstein told Futuriom that when he joined C&S, they were examining SD-WAN platforms to improve bandwidth utilization, security, and operational efficiency. He said as the project proceeded, they found many ways to improve network operations by implementing Silver Peak Unity EdgeConnect.

First, a little bit about the network. C&S runs two east-coast data centers and supports 60 warehouses across its networking footprint. The company needs to support partners, employees, and customers with a variety of applications running at the warehouses, the data centers, and in the cloud. These include mainframe operations, data analytics, Citrix, Microsoft Office 365 apps, and Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) provided by Ring Central, just to name a few.

C&S has deployed the EdgeConnect platform in its two data centers and is in the process of deploying it across all 60 of its warehouses, with about a third of that deployment finished. The network can use MPLS, DIA, and 4G LTE circuits as one virtual mesh network, connecting them with tunnel bonding and using quality of service (QoS) and policy for specific applications.

Looking for a Better Way

Supporting the applications, including the data-center connectivity, requires robust networking infrastructure. The company had traditionally relied on MPLS, with backup to direct internet access (DIA) links, and in some cases 4G LTE. However, the company found this networking architecture wasteful and, in some cases, unreliable. An audit of circuits revealed some were underutilized, not functioning properly, and, in other cases, not even working at all.

Bernstein said aside from wasted OpEx, the primary issue was downtime or sub-optimal performance, requiring the IT team to react to and remediate incidents. In some cases, performance issues caused the business to come to a stop  even though there were supposed to be secondary circuits ready and on standby. When the networking team audited carrier-provided circuits  including MPLS and DIA  it also found that many were unreliable or even failed to deliver the promised bandwidth. Moving to SD-WAN lowered costs and improved the efficiency of the network by optimizing 100% of available and configured bandwidth and intelligently routing applications over the best combination of circuits.

We were looking at a refresh on the infrastructure side and we were looking at where to invest the most from an operations point  where could we get the best bang for our buck, said Bernstein. The biggest sticking point was connecting in and out of the warehouses and data-center locations. A lot of the locations were evolving to internet services and there wasnt a lot of flexibility in them.

Bernstein said the that upgrade to Unity EdgeConnect provided not only better bandwidth utilization and cost savings, but a host of other benefits such as operational visibility, policy-based networking, improved security, and ease-of-use.

C&S is also able to quantify the return on investment (ROI), says Bernstein. The company expects to save $4 million over five years on networking costs alone, including the cost of the technology and the new circuits it has installed. The savings came primarily by eliminating wasteful and expensive MPLS circuits.

In many cases we were able to replace MPLS circuits with higher-speed DIA services, said Bernstein. When we spoke to a few folks, they were using broadband circuits in some cases and standard business DIA services. We were subscribing to more than what we needed, paying too much for it, and poorly leveraging our investments.

Improved Operations and Performance

Another big benefit of going the SD-WAN route with Unity EdgeConnect is that the networking staff now has visibility across the entire network and can evaluate circuits and networking problems, says Bernstein. In most cases, Unity EdgeConnect can discover and pick the best path, including detecting a low-performance path and shifting traffic away from it. Traditionally this is an exercise that would take valuable IT resources to figure out. In the meanwhile, the business is being impacted.

The network now has intelligent options to know where it wants to go. If we have problems with a carrier, we can see it right in the Unity Orchestrator health map, and we dont have to involve the carrier. Its self-healing on its own, said Bernstein. This keeps our senior engineers out of the picture as they no longer have to engage in trouble-shooting such high-level problems. From the resource standpoint it allows our admins and help desk to know what was going on with the network at any given time. It becomes a good education for more junior members.

As Bernstein describes it, employees are now able to just do their jobs better and provide customers with the best service possible. Another big benefit is the capability to segment the network and prioritize applications using policy assignment.

For example, real-time applications such as UCaaS can be assigned as real time, and mission-critical data-center applications such as Citrix and mainframe access can be classified as critical. Other non-business mission-critical applications such as email can be classified as Low.

You have the flexibility to create strong policies, including security configurations, templatize them, and centrally deploy them to all of your EdgeConnect devices. This is extremely valuable during a time of a security incident or outbreak. says Bernstein.

Powerful Security Tools

By installing SD-WAN technology, another major stride was made in networking security policy and management. C&S now has a much more flexible and powerful security platform on the WAN edge at warehouses, says Bernstein.

Prior to installing Unity EdgeConnect, Bernstein described the networking security as inconsistent at best. Not all locations had the same security appliances, devices, and tools. And some had none. The SD-WAN approach enabled the network-wide deployment and orchestration of security tools.

When we installed Silver Peak, we realized the value of the security capabilities instantaneously, Bernstein said. While we know its primarily meant to be an SD-WAN appliance, EdgeConnect has a fully configurable and application-aware zone-based firewall by design. We can now deliver warehouse network WAN security better than we were capable of before, for example.

Now that Unity EdgeConnect is installed, Bernstein says it can support additional projects and an expansion of technology on the network. For example, C&S plans to use Silver Peaks integration with Zscaler to provide more cloud-based security. And its going to use the SD-WAN features such as Unity Boost, First-packet-iQ, and Data Reduction to improve load sharing on the network so that traffic is handled more deterministically.

Im a big fan of this SD-WAN technology, says Bernstein.
UW McNair Scholars Applications Accepted for Spring and Summer

Applications are now being accepted for the University of Wyomings McNair Scholars Program for the spring and summer semesters.

Eligible applicants must be first-generation and income-eligible or minority students planning to pursue doctoral degrees. Applicants also must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Selection is through a competitive application process, which includes a personal statement, letters of recommendation and interviews.

Eligible undergraduate sophomores and juniors can participate in the programs funded undergraduate research internship and graduate school preparation program. The research stipend for the summer program is $4,000.

Services provided by the program are:

-- Paid research internship with a faculty mentor.

-- Research project support.

-- Graduate Record Examination preparation classes.

-- Seminars on the culture of graduate school.

-- Assistance with graduate school applications.

-- Travel funding.

-- Academic support and tutoring.

-- Financial aid advice.

The McNair Scholars Program was initiated by U.S. Congress and established by the U.S. Department of Education in 1989. The Ronald E. McNair postbaccalaureate program is one of the federal TRIO programs. It was named in memory of astronaut and space shuttle Challenger crew member Ronald E. McNair, who was the first in his family to go to college and earned a Ph.D. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The UW McNair Scholars Program is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and has been continuously funded and active on the UW campus since 1992. Since the program's inception at UW, more than 60 UW McNair alumni earned their doctoral degrees in a wide variety of fields and disciplines.

For more information on applications, call Susan Stoddard at (307) 766-6525, email mcnair@uwyo.edu, or visit www.uwyo.edu/seo/mcnair.
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia - Slovakias lawmakers voted Tuesday to reject an international treaty on womens rights.

In the 150-seat parliament, 96 of the 113 lawmakers present voted to reject the ratification of the treaty known as the Istanbul Convention.

The document was adopted by the Council of Europe in 2011 in a bid to fight violence against women throughout Europe.

The rejection was proposed by the ultra-nationalist Slovak National Party, a member of the ruling coalition with support of the senior ruling party, the leftist Smer-Social Democracy.

Their lawmakers also called on President Zuzana Caputova to inform the Council of Europe that Slovakia will stay out of the treaty.

The opposition far-right Peoples Party Our Slovakia also voted against it.

Opponents of the convention in Slovakia, which is predominantly Roman Catholic, charge that some provisions would violate the Slovak Constitution  for example because the constitution defines marriage as a union of a man and a woman.

In a separate vote just days before Saturdays parliamentary elections, the two coalition parties also voted with some others to approve legislation that gives retirees an extra monthly pension  13 instead of 12.

The centre-right opposition parties that stand a good chance to form a government condemned the move as populistic.

It wasnt immediately clear if Caputova, the president, was ready to approve it.
EUGENE, Ore.  A federal jury rejected a lawsuit filed by the family of Brian Babb, a veteran who was killed by Eugene police in March 2015, saying officers were not negligent when they shot him.

The jury spoke," said Andrew Stroth, an attorney for the family. "We disagree with the outcome. We think the shooting was unjustified, but we accept the jurys decision today.

Babb was an Afghanistan war veteran with physical and mental health issues.

RELATED: JURY TRIAL BEGINS IN BRIAN BABB WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT

His family was seeking $7.5 million from the city of Eugene due to what they believe was an unreasonable use of deadly force.

KEZI 9 News spoke to Brian's sister Stephanie just moments after the verdict was read.

We were really lucky that we got as far as we did," Stephanie Babb said. "There are so many families that have been in the same position and have never gotten this far. If we can be a voice for those families, then thats okay."

According to the lawsuit Babb called his therapist, telling her he had fired his weapon into the floor to see how it sounded. She told him to unload it and store it in his truck. Fearing Babb was in a crisis, she called 911.

In the response that followed the situation escalated and a Eugene officer shot and killed Babb, who had reportedly opened his front door and pointed a rifle at the officer.

The lawsuit claims the therapist had only asked for a welfare check.

"This was about the process," Babb said. "This was about awareness. This was about changing laws. This was about my brother and those kids being able to know that we put all this time and energy into fighting for Brian and what that means to us."
The monk spent at least 30 years in detention for defending religious freedom. In 2018 he was expelled from a monastery where he was under house arrest. For him, freedom in Vietnam is like the drawing of a dessert: it looks delicious on paper, but you can't eat it. State media did not report his death.

Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews)  Thich Quang o, head of the government-banned Unified Buddhist Church (Sangha) of Vietnam (UBCV), died last Saturday in Ho Chi Minh City at the age of 93.

The dissident monk constantly fought for religious freedom in his country and for this reason was arrested several times, spending more than three decades in detention.

Born in Thai Binh Province, northern Vietnam, Thich Quang o was among the founders of the UBSV, which became controversial after the government seized assets belonging to Buddhist communities in southern and central Vietnam at the time of the reunification (1975).

In 1981 the government dissolved it and replaced it with the state-controlled Buddhist Church (Sangha) of Vietnam (BCV). The UBCV has never recognised the BCVs authority and has not stopped its own religious activity.

Because of this, many monks have been arrested and convicted, including the Supreme Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang, who died in 2008, and was succeeded by Thich Quang o. In 1982 the latter was sent into internal exile in northern Vietnam for 10 years.

In 1995 Thich Quang o was sentenced to five years in prison for organising a rescue mission for flood victims in the Mekong Delta. He was released in 1998 as a result of international pressure, but was placed under house arrest in the Thanh Minh Zen monastery in Ho Chi Minh City.

After the government had him expelled from the same monastery in 2018, he retired to Thai Binh for a short period. He later returned to Ho Chi Minh City, staying at the Tu Hien pagoda, where he died three days ago.

In an interview released at the time of his expulsion from Than Minh, Thich Quang o said that freedom in Vietnam is like the drawing of a dessert: it looks delicious on paper, but you can't eat it.

The monks death was not reported on state media.
A Bergen County doctor - who described himself as "candy man and the "El Chapo of opioids - admitted Monday to pumping out addictive painkillers to patients who didnt need the drugs and falsifying medical records to cover up the crime, officials said.

Robert Delagente, of Oakland, pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to drug conspiracy and distribution charges as well as falsifying medical records, according to the New Jersey U.S. Attorneys Office.

The doctor prescribed opioids and other drugs, including oxycodone, Percocet, Tylenol with codeine, and various benzodiazepines (alprazolam, diazepam, clonazepam, and temazepam), without a legitimate medical purpose, according to authorities. He supplied the drugs without ever seeing the supposed patients for a consultation or talking about a medical need for the substances.

This defendant knowingly prescribed for his patients some of the most dangerous and addictive drugs available, sometimes with no more contact than a text message from the patient, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said in a statement. Many of these patients were dealing with pain and addiction, and instead of getting help from their doctor, they were drawn deeper into the cycle of drug abuse. His admission of guilt today ensures that he will be appropriately punished for this behavior.

Delagente also let patients decide the strength and dosage for the drugs, and provided a dangerous drug combination dubbed the "Holy Trinity, which contained opioids, benzodiazepines and muscle relaxers, according to investigators. He provided the drugs to people he knew were addicted and didnt bother to monitor patients.

Authorities said an employee at Delagentes Oakland medical practice, North Jersey Family Medicine, texted him that a patient scheduled a babysitter and drove a long way, but couldnt see a doctor at the practice.

Delagente replied: Oh well...Cest la vie! Lol...He can wait for his oral heroin another day. Lol, according to court filings. In another text exchange with a patient Delagente gave oxycodone, the doctor wrote: Im literally sticking my neck out and can lose my medical license or [be] arrested for what I just did.

The 45-year-old doctor is scheduled to be sentenced in June on the federal charges. He faces a possible maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for the drug distribution offenses.

Dr. Delagente is a kind, good-hearted and caring doctor who would do anything and everything to help his clients, his attorney, Marc Calello, said in an email. Many of his patients spoke of him with high regard.

Last year, Delagente pleaded guilty to state charges of healthcare claims fraud for submitting $32,000 in false claims to an insurance company for services he never rendered. His medical license was temporarily suspended last year.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
Mumbai, Feb 25 : Actress Sanya Malhotra was in for the surprise of her life when she got a birthday wish from Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe! Sanya, who turned 28 on Tuesday, took to Instagram stories to share the video that has Radcliffe wishing her.

The seemingly impossible incident, it seems, happened thanks to Sanya's close friend Junaid Hussain Nahvi.

Junaid is a London-based LSE lawyer, and it looks like he made just the right argument to convince Radcliffe to wish his big fan Sanya.

"Hi there, I am here with Junaid. Hello, Sanya, happy birthday! Wherever you are, I hope you're having a great day!" Radcliffe says in the video.

Sanya shared the video on Instagram, along with a Rubeus Hagrid gif clapping.

Radcliffe shot to global fame essaying Harry Potter through eight films of the fantasy drama franchise based on author JK Rowling's bestsellers. Beyond the blockbuster series, he has also starred in films such as "December Boys" and "The Woman In Black".

On the acting front, Sanya will next be seen on the big screen in the crime drama anthology "Ludo".

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Press Release Highlights

The Tonopah District produced over 174 million ounces of silver and 1.8 million ounces of gold from approximately 7.5 million tonnes of high-grade silver-gold epithermal quartz veins making it one of the most significant silver-gold districts in North America 1 . Mineralization hosted on adjacent or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization hosted on the Tonopah West Project.

. Mineralization hosted on adjacent or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization hosted on the Tonopah West Project. Blackrock has acquired an option to purchase the Tonopah West Project, consisting of 98 patented and 17 unpatented lode mining claims. The optioned Tonopah West Project produced 30% of the tonnage and 26% of the revenue from the Tonopah District, making it the third largest producer in the Tonopah District which contributed to the historic production that made Tonopah the second largest silver district in Nevada, behind only the Comstock Lode.

First consolidated ownership of land package since Howard Hughes held it in the 1960's, giving Blackrock control over largest claim package in the Tonopah District.

Blackrock has identified four target areas with the potential ranging from 2.5 million to 6 million tonnes averaging 13 to 21 g/t gold and gold equivalent.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 25, 2020) - Blackrock Gold Corp. (TSXV: BRC) (the "Company") announces a Lease Option to Purchase the historic West End and Tonopah Extension properties through a 4 year purchase option from Ely Gold Royalties Inc., ("Ely Gold") for payments totalling US$3 million. The transaction consolidates these properties into the Tonopah West Project. These properties are a significant landholding within the historic Tonopah silver district located in the Walker Lane trend of western Nevada.

Known as the Queen of the Silver Camps, the Tonopah District produced over 174 million ounces of silver and 1.8 million ounces of gold from approximately 7.5 million tonnes of high-grade silver-gold epithermal quartz veins1. The main hosts of gold and silver are volcanic rock of the Mizpah andesite and the West End Rhyolite. These host lithologies are present on the Tonopah West Project. Mineralization hosted on adjacent or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Tonopah West Project.

The Tonopah West Project consists of 98 patented and 17 unpatented lode mining claims covering mineral rights on approximately 4.5 square kilometres (1,100 acres). The project consolidates the historic West End, Victor, 76, Extension and portion of the McNamara mining company holdings under single ownership and provides the opportunity for modern exploration on the western portion of this historic and storied district. Ely Gold's wholly-owned subsidiary, Nevada Select Royalty, controls 23 patented and 17 unpatented lode mining claims. As part of the Agreement, Nevada Select Royalty will complete the purchase of Cliff ZZ LLC's 75 patented claims which will then be included in the transaction.

Andrew Pollard, the Company's CEO, stated, "Upon closing of this transaction, Blackrock will have consolidated for the first time in decades a leading land package in what is one of the most significant silver-gold districts in North America. Blackrock now holds the keys to the largest package of claims that make up the famed Tonopah silver district since Howard Hughes held them in the late 1960's. These claims contributed to the historic production that made Tonopah the second largest silver district in Nevada, behind only the Comstock Lode, and provides Blackrock with multiple compelling drill-ready targets to explore."

"With the addition of the consolidated Tonopah West package to our Silver Cloud project, Blackrock will have strategic interests in two prolific low-sulphidation epithermal districts in Nevada," Mr. Pollard continued. "This brownfield addition to our portfolio represents low-hanging exploration fruit, while our greenfield Silver Cloud project provides investors with a compelling blue-sky opportunity. With a presence on both the Walker Lane and the Northern Nevada Rift, these two strategic projects provide Blackrock with a significant position on two prolific gold and silver belts in Nevada."

Based on the existing underground mine geology reports, historic assay data and production records, the Company is targeting four areas with the potential ranging from 2.5 million to 6 million tonnes with an average grade ranging from 13 to 21 g/t gold and gold equivalent. The potential quantities and grades of the target zones set out below are conceptual in nature, there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and it is uncertain whether further exploration will result in the targets being delineated as mineral resources. The target zones are as follows:

On the northern portion of the property at the Victor shaft, the underground workings encountered a high-grade vein on the 1880 level that had widths up to 24 metres. The shaft was deepened to the 2375 level; however, high water flows, unreliable electrical power, and debt associated with the purchase of electric water pumps forced the closure of the operation. The target is the thick, high-grade vein below the 1880 level. The potential target ranges from 0.5 million to 1 million tonnes averaging 15 to 20 g/t gold and gold equivalent; Adjacent to the southeast portion of the property, the flat-lying Ohio vein was mined from the Ohio and McNamara shafts. The Ohio vein was mined up to the Tonopah West property boundary. No geologic work to find the off-set portion was completed and the potential exists for the down-thrown extension of the Ohio vein on the Tonopah West property. The vein dips 20 degrees to the south and the offset portion should be to the west and north well within the Tonopah West property. The potential target is a zone ranging from 0.5 million to 1 million tonnes averaging 15 to 30 g/t gold and gold equivalent; Through the KcKane shaft, three veins, Denver, Paymaster, and Bermuda/Merton, were mined from 1200 to the 1880 level. Geologic and assay reports indicate additional mineralization down dip and along strike. Chevron drilled a core hole 650 metres to the west of the Denver vein and intersected vein material with 127 g/t silver and 1.25 g/t gold within footwall rocks of the Tonopah Formation. Drilling will target the host rocks along strike and down dip in the Mizpah and West End Ryholite lithologies. An area with potential ranging from 1 million to 3 million tonnes averaging 10 to 15 g/t gold and gold equivalent is the target; and A new discovery was made using RC drilling in 1997. The area is located on the southwest portion of the Tonopah West property, and the drillhole intersected a new zone with values of 7.5 g/t gold and 288 g/t silver over 3 metres. Follow-up drilling in 2018 cut two 1.5 metres zones grading 9.7 g/t gold, 715 g/t silver and 4.6 g/t gold, 401 g/t silver. This zone is within the same stratigraphic package as the Ohio vein located 1.5 kilometres to the east and may represent a similar flat-lying vein with a similar potential target ranging from 0.5 million to 1 million tonnes averaging 15 to 30 g/t gold and gold equivalent.

Tonopah West Project Target Map

To view an enhanced version of this map, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/676/52782_4bcacc0414d258a9_002full.jpg

The Transaction

Through Ely Gold's wholly-owned subsidiary, Nevada Select Royalty, Blackrock Gold Corp's wholly-owned US subsidiary is acquiring the Tonopah West Project under an option to purchase. The 4 year option has payments as follows:

US$325,000 on Closing;

US$325,000 on the 1 st Anniversary of Closing;

US$650,000 on the 2 nd Anniversary of Closing;

US$700,000 on the 3 rd Anniversary of Closing; and

US$1,000,000 on the 4th Anniversary of Closing.

There is no work commitment. Upon option exercise, Nevada Select Royalty will retain a three percent (3%) net smelter returns royalty in respect of all mineral production from the Tonopah West Project.

Nevada Select Trust must complete the acquisition of the Cliff ZZ land package consisting of 75 patented lode mining claims on or before March 28th before any funds change hands. The Transaction is expected to close on or before April 1, 2020, and is subject to customary closing documents and approvals including TSX-V approval.

Blackrock's exploration activities at the Tonopah West Project are being conducted and supervised by Mr. William Howald, Executive Chairman of Blackrock Gold Corp. Mr. William Howald, AIPG Certified Professional Geologist #11041, is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. He has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.

About Blackrock Gold Corp.

Blackrock is a junior gold-focused exploration company that is on a quest to make an economic discovery. Anchored by a seasoned Board, the Company is focused on its Nevada portfolio consisting of low-sulphidation epithermal gold & silver projects located along on the established Northern Nevada Rift in north-central Nevada, and the Walker Lane trend in western Nevada.

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Pollard, President & CEO

Blackrock Gold Corp.

Phone: 604 817-6044

Email: andrew@blackrockgoldcorp.com

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements concern the Company's strategic plans, exercise of the Tonopah West option, timing and expectations for the Company's exploration and drilling programs, estimates of mineralization from drilling, geological information projected from sampling results and the potential quantities and grades of the target zones. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: the ability of the Company to exercise the Tonopah West option; conditions in general economic and financial markets; accuracy of assay results; geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services; future operating costs; and the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the risk factors including: the ability of the Company to exercise the Tonopah West Option; the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties; the interpretation and undertainties of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project costs overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; availability of funds; failure to delineate potential quantities and grades of the target zones based on historical data, and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

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



1 All historic production information from Nevada Bureau of Mines & Geology, Bulletin 51

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52782
- Doctors are trying a range of antivirals to treat coronavirus including using antibodies from people who have recovered

- World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned nations to prepare well to deal with the virus

- The organisation refused to declare it a pandemic saying it was too early

Scientists and doctors have found themselves in a state of confusion and are now trying a range of antivirals for a possible solution to the global problem of coronavirus.

Among other drugs that are being tried to deal with the COVID-19 virus include anti-HIV drugs.

READ ALSO: Phylis Ngirita screams outside court, wants Uhuru to intervene in NYS case

Medics in China wearing protective gears. Photo: BBC

Source: Getty Images

READ ALSO: Siaya: Washukiwa 2 watiwa mbaroni kufuatia kifo cha jamaa wa miaka 41

Professor Paul Hunter who talked to BBC News on Monday, February 24, said although there are people who have recovered from the disease, still it was not possible to ascertain what exactly was the cause of treatment.

"They are trying a range of things including anti-HIV therapies and a range of other antivirals. The Chinese are trying antibodies from people who have recovered with syrup,

"The problem is that it is not possible to tell what causes the recovery, as to whether do people recover because of the syrup or is it because they would have recovered anyway without using the drugs," said Hunter.

Health official disinfecting a public service vehicle. Photo: UGC

Source: Original

READ ALSO: Narok: Police arrest MP Johanna Ngeno for convening illegal BBI meeting

The killer virus has claimed over 2,600 lives and over 77,000 infected in China where it broke out in December 2019.

More than 1,200 cases have been confirmed in about 30 other countries and there have been more than 20 deaths. Italy reported four more deaths on Monday, raising the total there to seven.

Despite the deaths and the fast rate at which the virus is spreading, the World Health Organisation has maintained its too early to declare it a pandemic but warns nations to prepare to deal with any cases of infections.

On Monday, February 24, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain reported their first cases, all involving people who had come from Iran.

Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Recognition honors those companies that take the long view with a purpose-based strategy and strive to create positive change throughout their global communities

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Gallagher, a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, has been recognized by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of the 2020 World's Most Ethical Companies.

Gallagher has been recognized for the ninth consecutive year and is the only honoree in the insurance brokerage industry. In 2020, 132 honorees were recognized spanning 21 countries and 51 industries.

"Since our founding in 1927, leading with integrity is a critical part of what has made Gallagher successful," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO. "We are honored to again be recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. This designation highlights Gallagher's purpose and values that put the needs of people, businesses and communities first."

"At Gallagher we follow a code of personal and professional conduct called The Gallagher Way. They are 25 tenets that help inform the decisions and actions of every Gallagher colleague across the globe, and The Gallagher Way continues to guide our culture of ethics," said Thomas J. Tropp, Global Chief Ethics Officer. "We are extremely proud to be recognized by the Ethisphere Institute for the ninth consecutive year."

"Congratulations to everyone at Gallagher for earning this recognition," said Ethisphere's Chief Executive Officer, Timothy Erblich. "This is a moment to acknowledge the leaders working to advance corporate cultures defined by integrity and affirm those companies contributing to broader societal imperatives and the greater good."

Methodology & Scoring

Grounded in Ethisphere's proprietary Ethics Quotient, the World's Most Ethical Companies assessment process includes more than 200 questions on culture, environmental and social practices, ethics and compliance activities, governance, diversity and initiatives to support a strong value chain. The process serves as an operating framework to capture and codify the leading practices of organizations across industries and around the globe. Best practices and insights from the 2020 honorees will be released in a report and webcast in March and April of this year.

All companies that participate in the assessment process receive an Analytical Scorecard providing them a holistic assessment of where their programs stand against the demanding standards of leading companies.

Honorees

The full list of the 2020 World's Most Ethical Companies can be found at https://worldsmostethicalcompanies.com/honorees.

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 the Ethisphere Institute

The Ethisphere Institute is the global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices that fuel corporate character, marketplace trust and business success. Ethisphere has deep expertise in measuring and defining core ethics standards using data-driven insights that help companies enhance corporate character and measure and improve culture. Ethisphere honors superior achievement through its World's Most Ethical Companies recognition program and provides a community of industry experts with the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA). More information about Ethisphere can be found at: https://ethisphere.com.

Media Contacts

Gallagher Media Contact

Kelli Murray

+1 (847) 273-3896

[email protected]

Ethisphere Media Contact

Clea Nabozny

+1 (480) 397-2658

[email protected]

SOURCE Gallagher
This year, on Monday, January 27, there was worldwide celebration of the liberation of the prisoners in Auschwitz concentration camp.

Little was known of prisoner 151418. Prisoner 151418 was 17 years of age when Poland was occupied. Just because he had over the allotted amount of margarine in his possession when searched he was sent to prison.

Prisoner 151418, half Polish, half German, was sentenced to six-months and then a further 18 months for lying in court by saying he could not speak German.

After serving his two years he was set free only to be transported to Auschwitz concentration camp. When the Russians closed in prisoner 151418 along with the other prisoners were moved in the infamous cattle trains to a new prison Bergen Belsen.

During April 1945 and after a time in Bergen Belsen food was so scarce that prisoner 151418 and his friends decided to raid the kitchen. They were caught, and he was shot by an SS man.

Following the single shot, he dropped to the floor and the SS man believed the prisoner was dead, but he was wrong. After regaining consciousness, he heard commotion and singing outside and learned that he and his fellow prisoners were all liberated.

Prisoner 151418 was sent for rehabilitation in Sweden where he met his future wife. They headed off for Canada but ended up in Ireland where they stayed. Prisoner 151418 and his wife had four daughters and one son.

This man, prisoner 151418, showed tremendous courage and strength of mind to survive such a horrendous time in the life of his and his fellow prisoners.

In the words of Leondros Philiotis, grandson of prisoner 151418 and the writer of a much lengthier piece from which my synopsis is taken. This man was prisoner 151418.

This man is a symbol of hope

This man is a symbol of the human spirit

This man is the symbol of the suffering endured by so many

This man is Marian Hoedt.

This man is my grandfather

You may ask why I am writing this and its significance.

In the above piece, I mentioned that Marian Hoedt had four daughters and one son and one of his daughters is Caroline McEvoy that reared her family, Simon, Sharon, Stephanie and Mary on the Green. Marian passed away in 2003.

I would like to thank Caroline for granting me permission to write this piece on her father.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 22:10:11|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli technology company Temi Group, which developed a mobile home artificial intelligence robot, announced Tuesday that it raised 15 million U.S. dollars in an investment round led by Chinese firm Joy Capital and Chinese investor John Wu.

The robot developed by the Israeli company can move around the house, follow family members and display videos, information and video calls on its touch screen.

Temi robot also functions as a voice assistant, and can answer questions in Chinese and English languages, control smart objects and even carry things placed on it.

It can also be controlled via a companion app and can even be remotely controlled and sent to the rooms at home.

The robot, which has won several prestigious awards last year, is also suitable for business offices, retail stores, hotels, hospitals and universities.

The company noted that hundreds of Temi robots in China and the Republic of Korea are used in nursing homes and hospitals, allowing families and doctors to communicate through video calls with patients as well as taking a remote heat sample and distributing sanitary measures on the robot tray.
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.
United States President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump reached Rashtrapati Bhawan for the banquet hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday in their honour.

Trump and the US First Lady were received at the Rashtrapati Bhawan by President Kovind and his wife Savita Kovind.

An elaborate menu that includes multiple vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies has been prepared for the couple.

The US President reached the Rashtrapati Bhawan after addressing a press conference in the evening. Earlier in the day, he had held both, restricted and delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A new 75,000 square foot medical facility received the go-ahead from the Planning and Zoning Commission this week, clearing a path for it to be built in the north end of town.

When constructed, the building, located at 759 West Johnson Ave., will be home to both a surgical and medical group that is part of Hartford HealthCare network. It will have three floors and be highly visible from I-84, which is why FIP Realty Corporation, which owns the 27 acres of property on which the facility will be built, has referred to the project as a beacon building.

It is hoped that the state-of-the-art facility will serve to atrract other developers and businesses to the area.

I have been heavily involved with this beacon project design and we think that this building is at the forefront of technology, started Bill Hardy, a representative from FIP. Connecticut has been growing as a center of medical and technological growth, and we appreciate the interest from the Commission and the Town in this project.

It is expected that, when fully operational, the facility will employ 175 full time workers and approximately 50 part timers.

The plan for the facility was first proposed at the beginning of the year, and received positive feedback from local leaders. Town Council Chair Rob Oris, during a recent Council meeting, made a point to commend FIP Realty Corporation and the project, stating that it will be great for Cheshires grand list growth. The Council also agreed to offer tax incentives to the medical facility, if it were to be built in town.

At Mondays meeting, several Commissioners made clear their excitement regarding the project, especially after detailed plans and renderings were shared with the group.

This is going to be a great building, stated Commissioner Sean Strollo. I have always liked that property for a building, and I think this is going to look amazing and be a great addition to our town.

Planning and Zoning alternate Commissioner Robert Anderson commended FIP Realty Corporation for the overall modern look of the building, but wanted to know more about its design.

Because the building looks so new and modern, is the building energy efficient as well? he asked.

Oh yes, responded Hardy. The new requirements for the state of Connecticut for building codes actually changed in 2018 to make sure that we are in compliance with efficiency standards. We have items like thermal insulation and roofing which will certainly aid in making the building beneficial to the environment.

Planning and Zoning Chair Earl Kurtz wasted little time after the presentation in calling for a vote. The project passed unanimously.

A timeline for construction of the facility was not discussed.
A New York City firefighter who helped with recovery efforts after the September 11 terrorist attacks and recovered his brothers remains from the wreckage has died from cancer related to the tragedy.

Daniel Foley, 46, died on Saturday from pancreatic cancer, according to the New York City Fire Department.

Mr Foley started with the department in 1998, working with Rescue Company 3 in the Bronx.

Thomas Foley, Daniels brother, was also a New York firefighter, and died responding to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Daniel found his brothers remains after nearly two weeks searching through the wreckage.

Lieutenant Mickey Conboy of Rescue Company 3 told CBS News that Daniel promised his mother and father that he wouldn't leave ground zero without finding his brother.

The National September 11 Memorial Museum Show all 13 1 /13 The National September 11 Memorial Museum The National September 11 Memorial Museum 9/11 Memorial Museum A FDNY fire truck from which all 11 responding members of Ladder Company 3 were killed. The front cab of this fire truck was shorn off when the North Tower collapsed at 10:28 a.m. EPA The National September 11 Memorial Museum 9/11 Memorial Museum This piece of steel, once part of the facade of the North Tower, was located at the point of impact where hijacked Flight 11 pierced the building EPA The National September 11 Memorial Museum 9/11 Memorial Museum The 58-tonne, 36-foot- tall piece of welded plate steel removed from the site in a solemn ceremony as the 'Last Column' on 30 May, 2002 EPA The National September 11 Memorial Museum 9/11 Memorial Museum The Vesey Street stairs, or Survivors Stairs, which once connected the northern edge of the World Trade Center Plaza to the Vesey Street sidewalk EPA The National September 11 Memorial Museum 9/11 Memorial Museum A 19.8-foot-long fragment (about one-twentieth) of the 360-foot-tall transmission structure atop the North Tower EPA The National September 11 Memorial Museum 9/11 Memorial Museum A portion of one of the airplanes involved into the crash EPA The National September 11 Memorial Museum 9/11 Memorial Museum The lift motor which had it's cables severed when hijacked Flight 11 struck the North Tower, trapping hundreds of people above floor 93 EPA The National September 11 Memorial Museum 9/11 Memorial Museum A photograph of dust, ash, and debris from the collapsed Twin Towers filling the interior of Chelsea Jeans, a retail store on Broadway near Fulton Street EPA The National September 11 Memorial Museum 9/11 Memorial Museum A laptop belonging to convicted terrorist Ramzi Yousef, who was convicted for the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center EPA The National September 11 Memorial Museum 9/11 Memorial Museum This American Airlines slipper is on display in the museum AP The National September 11 Memorial Museum 9/11 Memorial Museum The glass exterior of the museum. It will open its doors to the public on May 21st AFP/Getty The National September 11 Memorial Museum 9/11 Memorial Museum Columns from the destroyed World Trade Centre recovered from the wreckage are on display in the museum AP The National September 11 Memorial Museum 9/11 Memorial Museum Images of victims of the attacks form part of the 9/11 Memorial Museum. AP

On the first night, Danny promised his mother and father he wouldnt come home until he brought his brother home with him, Mr Conboy said. On the 11th day, Danny miraculously found his brother Tommy in the rubble at the World Trade Center.

Daniel was married and had five children. More than 200 firefighters  including the Foley brothers and their father, Tom Foley Sr  have died from illnesses related to working at Ground Zero following the September 11 attacks.

The Uniformed Firefighters Association of New York City firefighters issued a memorial statement on Twitter, calling the situation a living nightmare for all of us.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio praised the firefighter in a Twitter statement.

Firefighter Daniel Foley gave his life for our city. Just like his older brother Thomas did on 9/11. They represented the best of this city and we will never forget them, he wrote. God bless their memory and their family.

The attacks on the World Trade Center have claimed yet another brave member of our Department, and the Foley family, FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said in a statement issued by the department. Daniel Foley, like his brother Thomas who was killed on September 11th, dedicated his life to rescuing others. We will never forget them.

Comedian Jon Stewart made headlines last year when he went before Congress and demanded that they extend the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund which provides financial assistance to those injured during the 2001 attacks.

President Donald Trump eventually signed a bill extending the fund, ensuring victims will be compensated through 2090.
The government has got Rs 293 crore from buyback of shares by state-run Security Printing and Minting Corporation.

In a tweet, Secretary DIPAM said, "DIPAM (Department of Investment and Public Asset Management) today completed another transaction. Buyback of about 7.67 crore shares by Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India yielded about Rs 293.45 cr to the Government".

With this, the disinvestment proceeds in current fiscal touched Rs 35,138 crore. In the Revised Estimates, the government has pegged disinvestment target at Rs 65,000 crore.

Security Printing & Minting Corporation of India Ltd (SPMCIL) is a wholly-owned government company under the administrative control of Department of Economic Affairs.

It is engaged in the production of currency and bank notes, security paper, postal stamps, security inks, and commemorative coins.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
'Bulli Bai' app case: Mumbai police arrest one more student, 3 held so far

Chhota Rajan had planned on killing Dawood Ibrahim in 1998

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Mumbai, Feb 25: 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.

How daughters fake passport led to arrest of underworld operative Ejaz Lakdawala

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.

NEWS AT NOON, FEBRUARY 25th, 2020

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.

Convent educated Ejaz Lakdawala will help cops unearth D-Gangs network

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.

Mumbai Police arrests former Dawood aide Ejaz Lakdawala from Patna

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.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 7:43 [IST]
[February 25, 2020] Cogeco publishes its fifth Corporate Social Responsibility Report

MONTREAL, Feb. 25, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - Cogeco Inc. (TSX: CGO) announced today the publication of its fifth Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report. This report, issued once every two years, is produced according to the international Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines. It communicates our initiatives, our targets and our commitments, as well as the most material issues linked to our environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. At Cogeco, our CSR program is driven by a set of commitments that are aligned to our CSR pillars. We monitor our performance from an ESG perspective based on key performance indicators that are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure continued relevance. Included in the achievements realized within the period covered in this report, we continued to focus on reducing our GHG emissions by deploying energy efficiency projects across our facilities and vehicle fleet. In 2019, we diverted 163,095 kilos of electronic waste from landfills, which underlines our commitment to prioritizing electronic waste management. Through our social outreach in 2019, we supported over 700 non-profit community oranizations with over $13 million in cash, in-kind donations and sponsorships, including air time for fundraising needs. We also reviewed our CSR policy and our CSR commitments from a CSR Governance perspective, among others, to ensure proper alignment to our core values and our enterprise strategic priorities.



"Corporate Social Responsibility is fundamentally part of our history and DNA at Cogeco. We are proud of the progress we have made over the last two years, for which we were not only recognized by our peers, but we also received several awards, including being named by Corporate Knights as among the World's 100 Most Sustainable Corporations," said Philippe Jette, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cogeco Inc. and Cogeco Communications Inc. "At Cogeco, we are committed to leading by example and integrating high ESG standards in our daily business decisions, and always considering what is best for all our stakeholders, including our communities and society in general." To learn more about Cogeco's endeavours, successful initiatives and progress in sustainability, the CSR 2018-2019 Report is available on the corporate website at: http://corpo.cogeco.com/cca/en/company-overview/corporate-social-responsibility/overview/.

ABOUT COGECO INC. Cogeco Inc. is a diversified holding corporation which operates in the communications and media sectors. Its Cogeco Communications Inc. subsidiary provides residential and business customers with Internet, video and telephony services through its two-way broadband fibre networks, operating in Quebec and Ontario, Canada, under the Cogeco Connexion name, and in the United States under the Atlantic Broadband brand (in 11 states along the East Coast, from Maine to Florida). Its Cogeco Media subsidiary owns and operates 23 radio stations with complementary radio formats and extensive coverage serving a wide range of audiences mainly across the province of Quebec, as well as Cogeco News, a news agency. Cogeco's subordinate voting shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CGO). The subordinate voting shares of Cogeco Communications Inc. are also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CCA). SOURCE Cogeco Inc.

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Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih attends a press conference at the end of the 13th meeting of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) of OPEC and non- OPEC countries in Baku on March 18, 2019.

The man sacked as Saudi Arabia's energy minister in September was tapped to head a new investment ministry, in a cabinet reshuffle announced on Tuesday that also created ministries for tourism and sports.

Khalid al-Falih, who previously chaired state oil company Saudi Aramco and oversaw more than half the economy of the world's top oil exporter, was widely seen as having fallen out of favor when he was removed from the energy ministry.

Attracting billions of dollars in foreign investment is key to ambitious plans championed by de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to end the economy's dependence on crude exports and open up its long-cloistered society.

Falih's new ministry replaces the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, whose governor was removed.

Royal orders announced in state media also elevated commissions into ministries for tourism and sports, identified as two big growth areas by Riyadh.

The civil service ministry, which is responsible for millions of public employees was merged into the labor ministry.
Flight ban comes after Kuwait and Bahrain report coronavirus cases in people returning from Iran.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has suspended all flights to and from Iran for at least a week over the outbreak of the new coronavirus after its spread was announced across multiple Middle East nations from the Islamic Republic.

The UAE, home to long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad, remains a key international transit route for Irans 80 million people.

The UAEs General Civil Aviation Authority made the announcement on Tuesday via the countrys state-run WAM news agency, just hours after Dubai International Airport, the worlds busiest for international travel, said there would be restrictions on flights there.

All passenger and cargo aircraft travelling to and from Iran will be suspended for a period of one week, and could be up for extension, the authority said.

The decision is a precautionary measure undertaken by the UAE to ensure strict monitoring and prevention of the spread of the new coronavirus.

Emirates, the government-owned carrier based in Dubai, flies daily to Tehran. Its low-cost sister airline, FlyDubai, flies to multiple Iranian cities, as does the Sharjah-based low-cost carrier Air Arabia.

New cases

The announcement came after Bahrain said it would suspend all flights from Dubai and Sharjah, a neighbouring UAE emirate that is home to Air Arabia, for 48 hours.

200225003320810

Bahrains Ministry of Health on Tuesday raised the number of infected cases from the new virus to eight, saying all had travelled from Iran via Dubai. Four of them have been identified as Saudi nationals.

The cases were confirmed upon arrival to Bahrain during screenings at the airport, and prior to the suspension of flights to Dubai and Sharjah, according to Bahrains official news agency.

Dubai has been screening passengers on incoming flights from China, where the outbreak began in December.

Emirates and Etihad are among the few international airlines still flying to Beijing. However, the outbreak in Iran only became public in recent days.
[February 25, 2020] Leading Retail Innovators Partner for Accelerated Software Integrations

CINCINNATI, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Flooid, the leading provider of retail baskets that follow customers, not channels, can today announce a strengthened strategic partnership with retail commerce innovator RedIron (RI-2 LLC) RedIron and Flooid have worked together on some of the most exciting retail platform implementations of recent years. The collaboration has included seamless integration projects for e-receipts, coupon burning, payments, gift cards, loyalty, personalized offers, wallet, and email validation. Thomas Schuetz, Senior Vice President  Operations for Flooid, said: "RedIron shares a commitment to Flooid's very reason for being; namely open integration and highly-leveraged services that deliver agility for our customers. Our collaboration means retailers can make changes and add customer experience capabilities fast, easily, and effectively." RedIron Managing Director and Founder Herb Cline said: "Throughout our 19-year history RedIron has always worked with the best and innovated to serve the marketplace. Flooid's approach fits perfectly with our own relentless drive to deliver faster point-of-ale innovation projects to our customers; on-spec, on-time and on-budget. We look forward to growing our partnership and delivering best-of-breed solutions for some of the most exciting and challenging integration projects in retail."



Flooid, which rebranded from PCMS earlier this year, has worked with RedIron for years. Together the two companies help retailers accelerate their ability to sell and engage with customers in new ways in-store, in digital environments, and online. Other notable Flooid partners include IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Adobe, and Magento. About RedIron

RedIron is a Systems Integrator with a 19-year history of serving the Retail Industry. RedIron provides Traceability, Implementation & Integration services, Enterprise X-Ray to monitor and provide actionable activities for the tech stack and its middleware solution (RI-Broker) to speed up the time to value. RedIron has employees across the USA and Canada with offices in Groton, MA, Salt Lake City, UT, and London, Ontario, Canada. RedIron has successfully delivered over 1100 customer projects. Historically, 93% of retailers choosing RedIron as their partner on a project will select RedIron for a second engagement. For more information on RedIron, visit https://redirontech.com.

About Flooid

The Flooid platform delivers deep and resilient basket functionality across store and online sales channels. With high levels of multi-vertical capability, Flooid handles the sales operations for some of the world's most complex grocery, specialty, fashion and food and beverage retailers in their POS, self-checkout, mobile, eCommerce and social environments. Flooid is designed to handle both the high levels of throughput and resilience that a store demands, and the hyper-scalability required for mobile and online sales. With its powerful API set, developer toolkit and a growing community of partners, Flooid enables retailers to tap into the massive ecosystem of start-ups, innovators and IoT technologies to remove the limits of their innovations. For more information visit flooid.com. Media Contact:

Flannery Higgins, [email protected]

Dan Dyer, 513-478-7818, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leading-retail-innovators-partner-for-accelerated-software-integrations-301010631.html SOURCE Flooid

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Tuesday, February 25th, 2020 (10:25 am) - Score 1,829

After another slight delay the Connecting Devon and Somerset project last week launched their new procurement process (previously due by end of 2019), which aims to find a supplier that can help them to roll-out superfast broadband (30Mbps+) across the remaining poorly served homes and businesses in both counties.

The CDS scheme has had more than a few major stumbles over the years and we wont repeat all of that again today (see here and here for a summary), but suffice to say that last years Open Mark Review (OMR) identified around 115,000 premises that cannot currently access superfast or close to superfast speeds. The related premises were said to be at risk of not being served by any commercial operators  at least within the next 3 years  unless action is taken.

NOTE: The Devon and Somerset in England is home to a total of c.1.1 million premises (some c.300,000 premises benefited from the CDS Phase 1 deal with The Devon and Somerset in England is home to a total of c.1.1 million premises (some c.300,000 premises benefited from the CDS Phase 1 deal with BT via FTTC /P).

The new procurement process is believed to be supported by a pot of public funding worth a total of up to 56m and that includes 38m via the Governments Building Digital UK programme, as well as various bits of funding from the Heart of the South West LEP, CDS local authorities (including some gainshare / clawback from BTs Phase 1 CDS roll-out), the European Regional Development Fund and the Rural Development Programme for England.

Given the current UK governments focus, any new contracts are likely to focus on deployments of Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) or other gigabit-capable based broadband ISP technologies. Indeed one of the related procurement documents (here) does specifically mention gigabit, which is not a surprise. We also note that FarrPoint has been selected to help support the procurement process over the next 12 months (here).

Councillor David Hall, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: These contracts will deliver connectivity to some of the hardest to reach premises in the CDS region, ensuring future-proof broadband infrastructure which is critical for residents and businesses alike. In an increasingly competitive market, I look forward to seeing proposals from a range of providers to maximise coverage for those premises that are yet to benefit from decent broadband speeds.

Matt Warman, UK Minister for Digital Infrastructure, said: Im delighted that weve been able to secure funding and get back on track to bringing the benefits of faster and more reliable broadband to people and businesses in Devon and Somerset. Were absolutely committed to levelling up the country with better infrastructure, and have recently pledged a further 5 billion so that hard-to-reach areas will get gigabit-capable broadband at the same time as the rest of the country.

Assuming all goes to plan  a seemingly tough ask when it comes to the history of CDS  then the final bids from suppliers are expected to be received by the end of Summer 2020, with contracts being awarded in December 2020. The deployments would then begin several months after that in 2021, usually following a final engineering survey.

Naturally it will be interesting to see who wins the contract(s), particularly whether or not BT and Gigaclear make another bid (wed be surprised if Gigaclear did given the failure of their Phase 2 CDS contract, but you never know). Meanwhile few could escape the irony if BT were to scoop it, particularly after their original proposal for a Phase 2 contract with the operator was abandoned in 2015 due to a disagreement on targets and funding.

On a more positive note, the whole Connecting Devon and Somerset programme is expected to deliver a 800 million boost to the regional economy. Mind you such predictions should always be taken with a pinch of salt as its notoriously difficult to forecast the economic impact of faster broadband connectivity.

NOTE: Apologies for not reporting on the CDS update last week but we had a lot of other news to get out.
Commerce minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said India and the US can finalise a larger trade deal "much fast" and expressed hope to achieve a bilateral trade target of USD 500 billion in the next five years.

Addressing a CII event here, the minister said, "Hopefully, we will close the first set of the limited engagement which we have already discussed and nearly finalised (by) US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and me. We will get into legal vetting and close that quickly."



Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on Tuesday held delegation-level talks on key issues such as trade and energy cooperation.

The minister said that both the leaders have decided to formally engage to move towards a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two big economies.

When asked how fast India and the US can finalise an FTA, he said, "I would personally think that we can do a much larger trade deal much fast."



Citing reasons for his expectations, he said that the rule of law is there in both the democracies and that is very important when one is looking at a trade deal.

"We are both transparent economies... We can trust each other, we can talk with openness and fairness and in that spirit, the two nations have decided to engage on a fast-track basis," he said.

"So I certainly do not see that this will be like one of those earlier free trade agreement negotiations going for decades and years...or one fine day, literally spinning a surprise to businesses of both the sides where something has wrapped and signed without enough due diligence," Goyal said.

He said his ministry will conduct comprehensive stakeholder consultations and engaged with all concerned people on issues including market access, opening up services, on investment protocols, and on areas of mutual interest.

"I can assure all of you that what will be done will be done in the best interest of both the countries. It will be a win-win," Goyal added.

Generally in a limited trade deal, two trading partners reduce customs duties on limited number of goods to enhance economic ties. On the other hand, FTA is a big trade deal under which two trading partners significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on maximum number of goods traded between them. Besides, they also relax norms for promoting investments and trade in services.

Goyal said that America will also gain significantly with this partnership.

He also expressed hope that the bilateral trade target of USD 500 billion is certainly achievable target in the next five years.

"We are already the largest trading partners...I see this USD 500 billion as a good benchmark to work with," he added.

On investments, the minister said businesses invest in any country not "out of charity" but when they see an opportunity.

"India offers that opportunity....we are providing that opportunity, people are most welcome and we invite and welcome capital. We invite your investment into India but not at the cost of our pride," he said.

When asked whether India is losing out businesses/manufacturing to the US, Goyal said if at all India has lost out, it has "lost out more significantly towards the East".

He said that India's earlier trade agreements did not provide enough opportunities for Indian manufacturing/businesses to expand and grow but opened large amounts of "our markets".

"What we are trying to do here is exactly reverse of that. We are trying to get innovation to engage with India, we are trying to learn from huge amounts of investments that the US does in development in modern technologies," he said.

Talking about railways, he said India has successfully developed indigenous semi hi-speed railway "and I am tempted to think that may be I should now look at going in for high speed rail development also given the success of Vande Bharat and see if we can develop indigenously".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Texas mother says her 11-year-old son was attacked by his teacher during an argument over a juice box, which left the child with a massive gash on his forehead requiring him to be airlifted to a hospital for treatment.

Kiana Randolph, a mother-of-four from Houston, told ABC13 she got a call from a nurse at Post Elementary School last week telling her that her son, fifth-grader Kamauri Williamson, bumped his head and was taken to a hospital.

But when Randolph arrived at the school, she found her son being airlifted to the Texas Medical Center to be treated for a large wound above his right eyebrow, which required six stitches to close up.

Scroll down for video

Texas mom Kiana Randolph (left) says a teacher last week lifted her 11-year-old son, Kamauri Williamson (right), and slammed his head against a counter, inflicting a gash on her forehead

The incident took place at Post Elementary School in Houston, where Kamauri's teacher allegedly accused him of stealing a juice box

According to the mother, she later learned that Kamauri's teacher had accused him of stealing a juice box, lifted him off the ground by his hooded sweatshirt and slammed his head against a classroom counter.

A portion of the altercation between the 11-year-old boy and the teacher was allegedly caught on surveillance video.

'You see, at one point, my son's feet lift up off the ground, he's basically being choked,' Randolph said after allegedly reviewing the video.

Randolph said the teacher lifted her son by his hoodie (left) off the ground. Kamauri was later airlifted to a hospital for treatment (right)

Randolph, who has four children, has hired a lawyer to get answers from the school district

The Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District has released a statement saying the teacher, who has not been named, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

Kamauri has since returned to school, but his mother has retained the services of an attorney in her quest to have the teacher held accountable for his actions.

'He needs to not be able to work with children again, just not at all,' Randolph said of the suspended educator. 'That was just very, very upsetting to watch as a mother.'

DailyMail.com on Tuesday reached out to the school district seeking comment on the status of the investigation and the teacher's employment history.
"Our design-centric software solutions enable industry leading companies to increase design insight, effective communication, and understanding of manufacturing cost & quality."~James Stoddard, President of Sigmetrix

Sigmetrix announced they will be a first time exhibitor at AeroDef Manufacturing 2020. The conference will be held in Fort Worth, Texas from March 16-19, 2020. AeroDef Manufacturing is an aerospace manufacturing and defense manufacturing conference and trade show for the aerospace and defense manufacturing industry. Produced by SME, in partnership with industry OEMs, their mission is to foster innovation across the extended enterprise to reduce costs, expedite production times and maintain manufacturing competitiveness in the global economy.

AeroDef showcases the industrys most advanced technologies and offers keynote speakers and panelists from the highest levels of government and industry to share their vision of the potential of technology, collaboration and public policy to transform manufacturing. Its an event that brings together high-concept, advanced solutions and real-world applications.

Sigmetrix has been helping aerospace and defense companies produce better products for over 20 years through a combination of software solutions, training, and consulting services that focus on managing the impact of mechanical variation.

The aerospace and defense industry represent one of the biggest sectors that Sigmetrix serves, stated James Stoddard, President of Sigmetrix. Our design-centric software solutions such as CETOL 6 and GD&T Advisor enable industry leading companies to increase design insight, effective communication, and understanding of manufacturing cost & quality.

Are you looking to:



Maximize the return on your MBD investment?

Improve your profitability by balancing quality with manufacturing cost?

Control both manufacturing cost & quality through mechanical variation management?

Realize faster time to market by reducing design and prototype cycles through design, manufacturing, and inspection collaboration?

Quickly identify, predict, and understand quality issues?

Sigmetrix comprehensive, integrated approach may be the answer. The team will be on-hand in booth #245 throughout the conference showing off their entire portfolio, answering questions, and provide live demos of their software, including:



CETOL 6, a 3D tolerance analysis solution that works with NX, SOLIDWORKS, PTC Creo and CATIA V5-6

GD&T Advisor, an interactive tool that provides expert guidance on the correct application of GD&T withing the PTC Creo environment

EZtol, a 1-D tolerance stackup analysis tool that works directly with your CAD models

Training on a variety of topics including GD&T, tolerance analysis, dimensional management, and MBD / MBE

Consulting and implementation services team with years of experience in tolerance analysis and GD&T definition offers a variety of consulting services to augment your team, speed your project along and run analyses for your assemblies

For more information on AeroDef Manufacturing 2020 visit: https://www.aerodefevent.com/.

About Sigmetrix

Sigmetrix is a global provider of comprehensive, easy-to-use software solutions that help users achieve robust designs through tolerance analysis and the correct application of GD&T. With over 20 years of research and development, Sigmetrix products eliminate the error between as-designed assemblies and as-produced products. For more information, visit their website at http://www.sigmetrix.com.
Gautam Adani-led Adani Group may enter the race to buy state-owned Air India. Tata group, Hinduja group, Indigo and a New York-based fund, Interups, are already in line to buy the debt-ridden national carrier. Adani's energy and infrastructure conglomerate is planning on submitting an expression of interest (EoI) next month but the final decision will likely come after the EoI process gets over and bidders get to access the data online.

The Adani group plans to become the largest private airport operator in the country. It had bid successfully to run six airports last year. While Lucknow, Mangalore and Ahmedabad airports are operated by Adani, the company is waiting the government's nod to operate Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram.

However, as per the rules, if Adadni places bids for Air India, his company can't own over 27 per cent stake in these six airports. Meanwhile, 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.

Also read: Air India sale: Bidders can raise additional queries till March 6

Government had 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.

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: Air India employees need not worry about their jobs, at least not for a year

ALSO READ: Rajiv Bansal takes charge as Air India Chairman for second time
Tehran, Feb 25 : The number of coronavirus cases in Iran has increased to 64, with 12 fatalities, a health official announced here, leading to a number of countries to close their borders with the Islamic Republic.

On Monday, Kianush Jahanpur, head of Public Relations and Information Center of Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said the infected people were from the cities of Qom, Arak, Rasht, Tonekabon and capital Tehran, reports Xinhua news agency.

Earlier in the day, Press TV had reported that Iranian factories producing face masks have swung into full gear amid the sudden surge in cases.

Other government departments have also joined the campaign to confront the spread of infection in Iran.

The Ministry of Defense, which runs major industrial units across the country, also placed orders on Monday for mass production of disinfectants, according to Press TV.

Due to the outbreak, Pakistan, Turkey and Armenia have temporarily closed their borders with Iran.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, Kuwait has reported three cases, Oman two and Bahrain and Iraq each confirmed one.
Maple Gold mobilizes drill rig to NW Zone and provides drill campaign update

Posted by Publisher Internet

Maple Gold Mines Ltd. ?Maple Gold? or the ?Company?) (TSX-V: MGM, OTCQB: MGMLF; Frankfurt: M3G  https://www.commodity-tv.com/play/maple-gold-mines-drilling-new-high-grade-extension-531-zone/ ) is pleased to announce that a drill rig has been mobilized to the NW Zone where drilling has commenced with a single drill-hole to test the lateral continuity of near-surface high grade mineralisation. Following the completion of the NW Zone drill-hole, the Company plans to start drilling priority targets within the Nika Zone (4-5 holes planned) and western part of the Porphyry Zone (8-9 holes planned, see Figure 1 below).

531 Zone Update

The Company has completed two drill-holes at the 531 Zone, which included the deepening of last year?s drill-hole (DO-19-262: 51 metres at 2.81 g/t Au and 28 m at 2.55 g/t) and a southern step-out hole to test down dip continuity (see press release January 20, 2020). Drill core for these two drill holes has been shipped to ALS Laboratories with assays pending. The Company also believes there is significant potential to add higher grade ounces along trend to the southeast and has several additional sites permitted there for subsequent drilling. Maple Gold recently completed IP work (see press release January 29, 2020), which included three (3) test lines also covering the potential south-southeast extensions at the 531 Zone. If results provide further support for the Company?s existing expanded target concept, additional drilling at the 531 Zone will receive elevated priority and will be planned accordingly.

NW Zone ? Drilling underway

Not unlike at the 531 Zone, there has been no recent drilling within the NW Zone resource area, except for a few step-out holes collared outside the resource area in 2017 and 2018. As demonstrated by Maple Gold?s 3D-model-guided drill-hole at the 531 Zone last year, the potential for new ideas and updated interpretations to lead to the discovery of significantly broader and higher grade mineralisation is high at the Douay Project. The hole to be drilled here is a step-out hole meant to expand the NW zone resource area to the west, by testing the western continuity of an adjacent near-surface high grade intercept averaging 3.15 g/t Au over 8.9m from 41m downhole, significantly higher grade than the current resource at the NW Zone of 2.6 mt @ 1.14 g/t Au for 96,000oz Au (RPA 2019).

Maple Gold?s VP, Exploration, Fred Speidel, commented: ?We are intrigued by the potential of the NW Zone, particularly by analogy with our 2019 success at the 531 Zone. The NW zone has the advantage of near-surface higher grade mineralisation which we will seek to expand. Our objectives with our resource area drilling remain focused on areas we believe provide the greatest potential to add higher grade ounces and impact future economic studies. We are also looking forward to new IP results that could support new discovery drilling beyond the resource area later this winter.?

Nika Zone ? targeting the up-dip expression of 2018 discovery

The Nika Zone was established with the Company?s 2018 discovery hole (DO-18-217), which intersected 51m of 1.77 g/t Au. In 2019, the Company completed two very aggressive 200 metre step-out holes, which both cut broad, lower grader halo mineralisation. Drilling at the Nika Zone to-date, supported a new conceptual pit in the latest resource estimate, contributing over 100,000 inferred ounces at deposit-average grades (RPA 2019). Drilling at the Nika Zone in 2020 will include additional in-fill holes aimed at better defining the up-dip, or near-surface expression of the higher grade mineralisation previously discovered, as well as to continue filling in some of the drilling gaps on the eastern side of Nika, in order to expand the resource in that direction. Significant mineralisation continues over 300m beyond the current Nika pit limits, so successful drilling within current gap areas has the potential to bring significantly more mineralisation in-pit, and/or to expand the dimensions of the current pit.

Porphyry Zone ? targeting higher grade extensions to the west

The Porphyry Zone represents one of the more recent discoveries (2004) and while significant drilling has been done, with several areas having sufficient drill density to form part of the indicated resource category, there are several areas with broad drill spacing, particularly in the northwest part of the Zone, where higher-than-deposit-average grades are also present near-surface. Therefore a total of 8-9 drill-holes are planned in this area. In addition to the planned step-out and gap area drilling with the current drill-rig, the Company is planning to mobilize an additional rig in the coming weeks to ramp up the program during the second half of the winter season; an additional 5 holes are planned in the SE part of the Porphyry Zone.?

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical data contained in this press release was reviewed and prepared under the supervision of Fred Speidel, M. Sc, P. Geo., Vice-President Exploration, of Maple Gold.?Mr. Speidel is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.?Mr. Speidel has verified the data related to the exploration information disclosed in this news release through his direct participation in the work. Click the following link to review the Company?s QA-QC standards and protocols: http://maplegoldmines.com/index.php/en/projects/qa-qc-qp-statement.

About Maple Gold

Maple Gold is an advanced gold exploration and development company focused on defining a district-scale gold project in one of the world?s premier mining jurisdictions. The Company?s ~355 km? Douay Gold Project is located along the Casa Berardi Deformation Zone (55 km of strike) within the prolific Abitibi Greenstone Belt in northern Quebec, Canada. The Project benefits from excellent infrastructure and has an established gold resource that remains open in multiple directions. For more information please visit www.maplegoldmines.com.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PRESS RELEASE.

Forward Looking Statements:

This news release contains ?forward-looking information\ and ?forward-looking statements? (collectively referred to as ?forward-looking statements?) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation in Canada, including statements about the prospective? mineral potential of the Porphyry Zone, the potential for significant mineralisation from other drilling in the referenced drill program and the completion of the drill program. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, uncertainties and management?s best estimate of future events. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company?s expectations and projections. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding timing and completion of the private placement. When used herein, words such as ?anticipate?, ?will?, ?intend? and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are based on certain estimates, expectations, analysis and opinions that management believed reasonable at the time they were made or in certain cases, on third party expert opinions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, and uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual events, results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future events, results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to Maple Gold Mines Ltd.?s filings with Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedar.com or the Company?s website at www.maplegoldmines.com. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Industry body ISMA on Tuesday revised the country's sugar production upward by two per cent to 26.5 million tonnes for the ongoing 2019-20 marketing year, much lower than last year but enough to meet the local demand. It may be noted that a senior Food Ministry official on February 24 had said the total sugar output would be around 27 million tonnes this year.

Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) had in November last year pegged sugar production at 26 million tonnes for the 2019-20 marketing year (October to September) considering fall in sugarcane crop in key growing states, compared with 33.16 million tonnes during the 2018-19 marketing year.

Already, about 17 million tonnes of sugar has been manufactured by mills till February 15.

Annual sugar consumption in India, the world's second largest producer after Brazil, is about 26 million tonnes.

Releasing the latest data, ISMA said: "Sugar production during 2019-20 would be slightly more than what was estimated in November 2019. ISMA has accordingly revised its sugar production estimates upwards from 26 million tonnes to 26.5 million tonnes for 2019-20.

The production estimate has been revised after considering reduction of sugar following higher production of ethanol by way of diversion of B-heavy molasses and sugarcane juice, it said in a statement.

According to the second estimate, production in Uttar Pradesh, the country's largest sugar-producing state, is estimated to be 11.8 million tonnes this year, almost similar to what the state had produced in 2018-19.

However, in Maharashtra, sugar production is estimated to drop by almost 40 per cent to around 6.2 million tonnes in 2019-20 as against 10.72 million tonnes in 2018-19.

"Based on our analysis, we expect higher yield from the balance sugarcane available for harvesting which is mainly in areas which are high yielding districts like Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli and Pune," ISMA said.

Similarly, in Karnataka, sugar production is estimated to be around 3.3 million tonnes in 2019-20 from 4.43 million tonnes in 2018-19 due to fall in cane acreage by 21 per cent.

According to ISMA, there has not been any major changes in the other sugarcane growing states of the country.

As per the second advance estimates, other states including Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Odisha and Uttarakhand are collectively expected to produce about 5.2 million tonne this year.

On ethanol supply for blending with petrol, the industry body said 61.63 crore litres of ethanol made from B-heavy molasses and 10.60 crore litres ethanol made from sugarcane juice have been finalised from the first tender.

Another tender is under finalisation and is expected that some more ethanol supplies would be contracted, including ethanol from B-heavy molasses and sugarcane juice.

ISMA said closing stock of sugar at the end of the current year is expected to be around 10 million tonnes.

If the government continues with its buffer stocks of 4 million tonnes next year too, the net available sugar balance for market sale will be around 6 million tonnes, which is considered reasonable, it added.
Retailers are feeling the bite of COVID-19 as business grows scarce

According to Nishitohge Yasuo, CEO of AEON Vietnam, business was fairly good in January thanks to buoyant transactions ahead of Vietnams traditional Lunar New Year holiday. Sales, however, saw a decline this month. He attributed this to the emergence of COVID-19, which has brought a plunge of 20-30 per cent in visitor number to AEONs shopping venues.

Instant food, dried goods, face masks, and hand sanitisers are the best selling items at present, Yasuo said.

Fashion items and footwear, however, see flat business at big trading centres. Fearing the epidemic, people have refrained from going to crowded places like supermarkets in the past month.

The retail outlets of big fashion brands like Zara and H&M face a similar situation. The stores of local shoe brand Bata or renowned luggage brand Samsonite at Time City shopping mall are also reporting gloomy business.

Nguyen Thu Trang, the manager of a local branded fashion shop, shared that the shops revenue took a nosedive, shedding 70 per cent against the same period last year.

Throughout my many years as a shop manager, I have never seen such indifference among customers. Sales are unlikely to bounce back even at big upcoming occasions like the International Womens Day on March 8, Trang said.

As customers are hesitant to visit crowded places due to fear of the epidemic, their demands could be transferred to the online marketplace.

Nguyen Thanh Thuy, who has been managing a night club in Hanois Old Quarter, and a chain of homestays mainly serving foreign visitors for the past 12 years, said that business was bleak these days, with the turnover from selling drinks at the club tumbling by about 60 per cent a night compared to the time before the outbreak.

Sales figures were better for shops selling appliances and electronics such as dehumidifiers and driers in the past days. According to the owner of a supermarket selling appliances and electronics on Hanois Hai Ba Trung Street, dehumidifiers have been selling robustly while the purchases of common goods like TV sets, refrigerators, and washing machines were down 30-40 per cent. The situation is anticipated to drag on in the forthcoming months.

Several retailers said that they are striving to fuel sales by leveraging e-commerce.

In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnams growth engine, the implications of the virus are particularly pronounced: city-based businesses revealed that the sectors posting sliding revenue include aviation, travel, banking, food and beverage, and agriculture.

As customers are hesitant to visit crowded places due to fear of the epidemic, their demands could be transferred to the online marketplace. Several cosmetics and fashion retailers have been offering discounts of up to 30 per cent for online buyers. To ensure customer safety, many services trading points have been installing air cleaners or offering free face masks at the entrance.

In the case of Sua Xanh, a startup group consisting of young graduate students based in Ho Chi Minh City which sells organic milk products, members of the group initially decided to take some time out due to the COVID-19 which led to a decline in the number of customers. They then decided to change their brand identity, selling nut-based milk to strengthen the immune system.

Not only that, the members have searched for useful information to consult customers and advise them on ways to detoxify and improve resistance. They also deliver products to customers' homes. This way, not only did they manage to improve revenue, the group have expanded sales points from four to 15, based in Ho Chi Minh Citys districts 1 and 3.

Similarly, Ly Ngu restaurant selling fried fish in District 1, has switched to online sales with free shipping and even sends a chef to customers house upon request.

As watermelons are sold at a heavy discount price at VND8,000 (3.5 US cents) per kg, to help farmers, the shop started offering customers free melon juice. This helps attract customers, many of whom return.

Figures from the Ministry of Industry and Trade show that Vietnam posted VND346.2 trillion ($15 billion) in retail revenue in January, a 6.3 per cent jump compared to the previous month and up 10.7 per cent on-year. The figures for February, however, would be less rosy due to the COVID-19.
Mike Bloomberg's longtime girlfriend Diana Taylor suggested voters shouldn't be bothered by her partner's company using NDAs to muzzle female former employees.

'It was 30 years ago, get over it,' Taylor told CBS News at a 'Women for Mike' event Monday night in Texas.

Taylor said that Bloomberg was never 'accused of doing something or saying something nasty to a woman.'

'That is not who he is,' she said. 'Life has changed,' Taylor added. 'I grew up in that world. It was a bro culture. We have come a very, very long way and Michael Bloomberg has been at the forefront of that change.'

After Elizabeth Warren went after Bloomberg on the Las Vegas debate stage over his company's use of NDAs, the 2020 hopeful announced Friday that his company would let three female former employees out of their gag agreements should they want to make public their stories about working for him.

Diana Taylor, the longtime partner of 2020 hopeful Mike Bloomberg, said people should 'get over it' that her boyfriend used NDAs at his company. 'It was 30 years ago,' she told CBS News Monday night in Texas

'We have come a very, very long way and Michael Bloomberg has been at the forefront of that change,' Diana Taylor told CBS News at a 'Women for Mike' event Monday night in Houston Texas, as Bloomberg goes after votes in 'Super Tuesday' states

At the event, Diana Taylor said her boyfriend Mike Bloomberg was never 'accused of doing something or saying something nasty to a woman.' Elizabeth Warren claimed on the debate stage that Bloomberg had called a woman a 'horse-faced lesbian'

Mike Bloomberg participated in his first Democratic debate last week in Las Vegas, and got hammered over comments he made about women in the past and his company's use of non-disclosure agreements. He'll return to the debate stage Tuesday night

'Bloomberg LP has identified 3 NDAs signed over the past 30+ years with women to address complaints about comments they said I had made,' the 2020 hopeful tweeted. 'If any of them want to be released from their NDAs, they should contact the company and they'll be given a release.'

Going forward, he also announced that his company would no longer use silencing agreements when there are accusations of sexual harassment or misconduct.

'I recognize that NDAs, particularly when they are used in the context of sexual harassment and sexual assault, promote a culture of silence in the workplace and contribute to a culture of women not feeling safe or supported,' Bloomberg said. 'It is imperative that when problems occur, workplaces not only address the specific incidents, but the culture and practices that led to those incidents. And then leaders must act.'

Bloomberg's flip-flop on letting ex-employees out of these contracts came after new polling showed his favorability rating dropped a net 20 points after Wednesday night's debate, according to a survey from Morning Consult.

Elizabeth Warren put Michael Bloomberg (pictured) on blast during Wednesday night's Democratic debate in Las Vegas, which was the first time the former New York city mayor stood alongside his primary rivals

On Friday afternoon, Mike Bloomberg announced that he'd let three women who previously worked for him out of NDAs - he also said silencing agreements would no longer be used when sexual harassment or misconduct was at issue

On the debate stage, Elizabeth Warren (right) tore into Mike Bloomberg (left) over refusing to let employees out of non-disclosure agreements

Elizabeth Warren appeared at a CNN town hall Thursday night and brought along a release she penned for women and men who had previously worked for Mike Bloomberg and were under non-disclosure agreements he's refusing to wave

Elizabeth Warren (left) shared the document with CNN's Erin Burnett (right) explaining she had used her experience as a contact law professor to draw it up

Elizabeth Warren penned a release for Mike Bloomberg to use with ex-employees who are currently under non-disclosure agreements. Warren shared it on Twitter and talked about it at a CNN town hall Thursday night

Bloomberg was taken on by Elizabeth Warren on the Las Vegas debate stage for keeping these contracts intact.

She continued to keep the narrative in the news by appearing at a CNN town hall Thursday night with a document in hand, putting her skills as a contract law professor to use.

'And I thought I would make this easy,' Warren told CNN's Erin Burnett. 'I wrote up a release and a covenant not to sue. And all that Mayor Bloomberg has to do is download it - I'll text it - sign it. And then the women, or men, will be free to speak and tell their own stories,' Warren added, as the audience laughed.

Then, ever playing the Harvard Law professor, Warren read the relevant parts:

'Bloomberg and the company release any and all obligations contained in any agreement, including but not limited to, any employment settlement, severance, or non-disclosure agreement between Bloomberg and/or the company and any other person to the extent those obligations preclude the other person from disclosing information relating to sexual harassment, discrimination, or other misconduct at the company or by Bloomberg himself,' she said. 'Under this release, it is now the other person's choice to disclose such information or not.'

Mike Bloomberg said his company looked back 30 years and found three non-disclosure agreements that had been signed by female employees over things Bloomberg himself had said. On Friday he announced that those women could be released from their NDAs

On Thursday, Mike Bloomberg appeared at a campaign event in Salt Lake City, Utah and joked about his poor debate performance.

On Friday, Bloomberg did not release a copy of the language that the three women could sign should they choose to be released from those contracts.

'I think that the mayor should sign this and that we all have a right to see,' Warren said of her version.

On Wednesday, as soon as Warren got onstage with the billionaire - who was making his Democratic debate debut - she attacked him for names he had previously called women.

'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 about Donald Trump, I'm talking about Mayor Bloomberg,' Warren said Wednesday night.

A little later on, Warren was on Bloomberg again, this time for the DNAs.

'None of them accuse me of doing anything other than maybe they didn't like a joke I told,' Bloomberg said one point, with the audience reacting with audible gasps.

On Thursday, Warren explained to CNN's Erin Burnett that it was the power dynamic that should be considered.

She pointed to how much courage it would take, as an employee, to stand up to the boss, especially one as moneyed as Bloomberg, who's currently worth $63.7 billion, according to Forbes.

'You've got to admit, that takes a lot to be able to do that, and that the consequence of it is he dumps some money on it and then stuffs a gag in the woman's mouth,' Warren said. 'If he's not willing to remove those gags and let those women and maybe those men talk, then he is disqualified from being president of the United States.'

On Thursday, at an event in Salt Lake City, Bloomberg had tried to simply brush off the bruises he took during the debate.

'So how was your night last night?' Bloomberg said to laughs, adding that he thought President Trump was the 'real winner' of the debate. He didn't bring up any of Warren's specific qualms, with his name-calling, nor the NDAs.

But in a statement on his campaign website Friday, Bloomberg said he had been doing a lot of 'reflecting on the issue.'

'[A]nd I've decided that for as long as I'm running the company, we won't offer confidentiality agreements to resolve claims of sexual harassment or misconduct going forward,' he announced.

Bloomberg also pledged to support the 'Be Heard Act,' a piece of legislation that was introduced by Democrats in the House and Senate last spring that revamps federal harassment laws.

'When we share a respect for each other and treat all of our colleagues as we ourselves would wish to be treated, we all do our best work,' Bloomberg wrote. 'This is something Donald Trump does not understand - not when he ran his business, and not now when he is recklessly running our country.'

'I will be a leader whom women can trust,' he said.

Bloomberg is set to return to the Democratic debate stage Tuesday night in Charleston, South Carolina.

The billionaire candidate has decided to skip the first four contests - Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina - and focus on the so-called 'Super Tuesday' states instead, but he's had to dip into Las Vegas and now Charleston after meeting the Democratic National Committee's requirement to participate in the debates.
EDWARDSVILLE  Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering alumna Dana Sigman and College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) senior Brett Bertok are one step closer to leading lives full of educated and impassioned global service.

The duo has completed the United States Peace Corps Prep Program to earn a spot among the top 400 applicants in a pool of 24,000 should they choose to pursue the Peace Corps, and live its mission to promote world peace and friendship.

The intentionality of achieving this certificate is significant, noted SIUE Study Abroad Advisor Kim Browning. Dana and Brett can now make a reality out of their desire to serve. Many people think about doing this, but dont follow through. The commitment these two have shown is admirable and makes them ideal candidates for the Peace Corps when theyre ready.

Sigman, of Mascoutah, completed a bachelors in civil engineering with a minor in Spanish in December 2019. She aspires to combine her engineering training and interest in foreign cultures to help build society.

At SIUE, I was involved in the Mustard Seed organization, and we traveled to Guatemala, she explained. Right after that, I went to Costa Rica. Going to those types of countries makes you appreciate your life in the U.S. As an engineering student, you need real-world experience. Getting that experience in a foreign country made me quicker on my feet, and more creative in problem-solving and decision-making.

Sigman plans to achieve her professional engineer license, gain engineering-related experience in Latin America and save money before applying to the Peace Corps.

Bertok, of Hoffman Estates, is slated to achieve a bachelors in geography with a minor in French in May 2020. He transferred to SIUE specifically to pursue the Peace Corps Prep program and quickly fell in love with the geography program. Bertok aims to complete a masters in geography at SIUE, and then hopes to serve in the Peace Corps.

Im hoping to learn a lot about life outside the U.S., and see the struggles people face in underserved communities and areas like those in West Africa, Bertok said. The prep program expands the number of post-graduation opportunities for students, regardless of intention to serve abroad. I found the foreign language skills and field experience requirements to be the most impactful components of the program. Earning this certificate is a small step in the direction of what I want to do with the rest of my life, which is to make a difference in the world.

It is incredibly rewarding to see our students exemplify the core values of SIUE in very real way, said CAS Dean Greg Budzban, PhD. Our faculty work hard to ensure that our students understand the importance of positive engagement with the global community in the service of others. These students are wonderful ambassadors in this critical mission. I couldnt be prouder of them.

For more information visit siue.edu/study-abroad.
News that talented and well-regarded MP Ben Wyatt will retire from politics next year went off like cannon fire inside WA Labor.

Not only will the party lose its most likely successor to the leadership, contests have been set up for who would be the next treasurer and who will fill the coveted gaps in cabinet, and Premier Mark McGowan faces a show-down with his left faction over the candidate he wants in Victoria Park.

But less immediately, Labor faces the prospect of a second term in office without one of its best parliamentary performers and skilled political salesmen.

Although Mr Wyatt will hold the state's most senior economic portfolio until the March 2021 state election, the Liberal Party  not to mention the public  will want to know who will be in charge of the purse strings when he leaves.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- A quarter century ago, a man named Steve Parrish was the ugly voice of the tobacco industry. The tobacco wars were raging: States were suing the cigarette companies, whistle-blowers were leaking damning documents to the media and David Kessler, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, was trying to regulate tobacco products.

Parrish was a senior executive at Altria at the time, and his job was to strike back. He would go on television and hurl insults at Kessler. He would insist that cigarettes werent addictive. He would denounce the mounting lawsuits in strident language.

Eventually, though, Parrish realized that Big Tobacco had no choice but to negotiate with its opponents. And once he sat down with the other side, a funny thing happened. His anger dissipated when he realized that Big Tobaccos critics were reasonable people with legitimate concerns  and that Altria, stuck in its bunker for so long, had been wrong to dismiss them. All we knew was our own rhetoric, he told me years later. Ultimately, those negotiations led the tobacco companies to agree to pay the states $246 billion and accept tighter restrictions on cigarette marketing.

I bring this up because of something that took place last week. On Wednesday morning, Vital Strategies, a leading global public health organization, sponsored a talk titled Hope Meets Reality: E-Cigarettes, a Public Health Harm or Harm Reduction? The event was a one-sided assault on e-cigarettes.

One speaker was Matthew Myers, the president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Myers has been a critic of e-cigarettes from the start  but hes been in overdrive ever since Juul became the e-cigarette of choice for teenagers. Its manufacturer, Juul Labs Inc., faces a host of legal woes, including a joint investigation by 39 attorneys general announced on Tuesday. (Both Vital Strategies and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids are supported financially by Bloomberg Philanthropies.)

Story continues

After his talk, Myers was joined on stage by another e-cigarette critic, Joanna Cohen, the director of the Institute for Global Tobacco Control at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The two of them took turns bashing e-cigarettes. Myers complained about the few zealous people who continued to argue that e-cigarettes could save lives; Cohen claimed that there was some evidence of nicotines effect on the cardiovascular system. And so on.

Among those who had registered to attend the talk was Moira Gilchrist, the vice president for scientific and public communications at Philip Morris International. Thats right: Shes part of Big Tobacco. Gilchrist is in charge of the companys harm-reduction efforts. The scientists she leads devise nicotine products that wont kill consumers the way cigarettes do.

Virtually everyone in the public health community is skeptical that Philip Morris is serious about transitioning the company to products that dont rely on deadly combustible tobacco. But Gilchrist is a true believer. She joined the company a dozen years ago after working at a leading cancer charity in the U.K., she told me the other day. This is not something we are doing for show, she said. This is our commercial future.

A few days before the Vital Strategies talk, Gilchrist received a note from the group disinviting her. In accordance with our non-engagement policy, tobacco industry representatives will not be granted access, it read. In an accompanying statement, Vital Strategies elaborated:

Let us be clear: There is a fundamental and irreconcilable conflict of interest between public health and the tobacco industry. And as an organization whose mission is to ensure everyone is protected by a strong public health system, we at Vital Strategies align ourselves with the World Health Organization, governments around the world, and the global health community in upholding a firm non-engagement policy with the tobacco industry.

As it turns out, the talk was streamed, and Gilchrist was able to watch it. When we spoke the next day, she told me that there were things that Myers and Cohen had said that she would have liked to challenge if she had been allowed in the room.

For instance, the case that nicotine harms the cardiovascular system has been made most prominently by Stanton Glantz, an anti-tobacco zealot who is a professor at the University of California, San Francisco. One widely quoted Glantz study published last year purported to show that e-cigarettes doubled the risk of heart attacks. But last week, the Journal of the American Heart Association retracted that study because its data was unreliable.

As for Myers, one of the key points he made in his talk was that there was no evidence that smokeless nicotine devices were causing large numbers of adults to quit smoking but there was lots of evidence that they were hooking teenagers. Of course, part of the reason adult smokers arent racing to take up e-cigarettes is that the public health community has heaped such abuse on them that many adults dont realize they are safer than cigarettes.

Philip Morris doesnt make an e-cigarette like Juul. Its product, called IQOS, delivers nicotine by heating tobacco rather than burning it. And as Gilchrist pointed out when we spoke, there is plenty of evidence that it is moving smokers away from cigarettes. In Japan, IQOS has nearly 18% of the market  not the smokeless market, but the tobacco market, including cigarettes. (We have seen the most remarkable drop in cigarette sales, she said.) In Russia it has 5% of the market. In Portugal 7.2%.

Last spring, the FDA approved the device for sale in the U.S., ruling that it is appropriate for the protection of public health because it contains fewer toxins than cigarettes. Philip Morris has now submitted data to the agency as it seeks a designation that would allow it to market IQOS as less harmful than cigarettes  something e-cigarettes are not allowed to do. That would be a tremendously big deal.

Gilchrist told me that there were many things public health advocates believe that Philip Morris also believes: that e-cigarettes should be kept away from youths, for instance, and that the products should be heavily regulated, based on sound science. But, she added, what I see is that the public health organizations are using youth use as a reason to deprive 40 million U.S. smokers from having access to these products. She added:

This is the future of this company. We have the product, the science, and the will to make it work. For us, there is one path forward and it is smoke-free products. The question is whether public health wants to make it more difficult for us or less difficult.

I understand why the public health community doesnt want to legitimize the tobacco companies by meeting with them; they did a lot of shameful things in the past, and they still sell a product that kills about half its users. The memory of those old sins makes public health officials skeptical that tobacco executives like Gilchrist are sincere when they say they want a cigarette-free future.

But the only way were going to solve the e-cigarette conundrum  namely, how do we keep the products away from youths while urging adult smokers to make the switch?  is if the two sides sit down and start talking. I think the public health officials would see  just as Parrish saw two decades ago  that those on the other side genuinely want to find a solution. At that point, the two sides could fairly easily come up with proposals that would work for everyone. The refusal to engage with the tobacco companies is actually harming public health.

As Ive noted before, one of the people who negotiated with Parrish all those years ago was Myers. It took a lot of guts; when his allies in the public health community discovered that he was involved in the tobacco settlement talks, he was roundly denounced. But he stuck with it and helped change the cigarette landscape for the better. If only he were willing to do it again, he could hasten the end of cigarettes.

(Corrects the given name of Stanton Glantz, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco, in the 11th paragraph. A previous update added an announcement of an investigation into Juul Labs Inc. in the fifth paragraph. )

To contact the author of this story: Joe Nocera at jnocera3@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Daniel Niemi at dniemi1@bloomberg.net

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Joe Nocera is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering business. He has written business columns for Esquire, GQ and the New York Times, and is the former editorial director of Fortune. His latest project is the Bloomberg-Wondery podcast "The Shrink Next Door."

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

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HALIFAX - Nova Scotias Liberal government is opening the spending taps for roads and hospitals as economic growth is projected to flatten in what could be an election year.

The 2020-21 provincial budget tabled Tuesday features $11.5 billion in spending with a modest surplus of $55 million and a record-setting capital plan of just over $1 billion for school building, highway twinning and hospital renovations and redevelopment.

The government is also adding $54.3 million to the Community Services Department budget, mainly aimed at increasing access to child benefits and raising the limits for housing expenses in welfare programs.

Finance Minister Karen Casey said in her budget speech that a strong economy, fuelled by a rising population, means the time has come to share the provinces prosperity.

As a new decade begins, Nova Scotians can be optimistic, she said.

We have worked hard together to get the province in a position where we can provide investments and support to all of our communities and to all of our citizens.

However, her high hopes come amid projections of a major hit to the economy with the closure of the Northern Pulp mill in Pictou County. The Finance Department says the decline in forestry will deprive the province of $32 million in personal and corporate taxes this year.

Last years economic growth, which at just under two per cent was the highest in the past decade, is projected to plummet in 2020 to 0.4 per cent.

The province is also saying it doesnt yet know what the impact of the new coronavirus may have in areas such as seafood exports to Asia.

Provincial finance officials are projecting that rising immigration and a generally healthy economy in areas such as shipbuilding and ongoing provincial capital projects will help offset the impact of the mill closure.

Still, the higher spending on infrastructure means the province has had to reverse course on reducing its debt-to-GDP ratio in the next four years.

The Liberals now foresee a gradual rise in the provinces net debt, from this years projection of $15.7 billion to $17.8 billion in three years.

Premier Stephen McNeil said the infrastructure spending is not connected to the mill closure.

Those decisions were made prior to the outcome of Northern Pulp, but they certainly will continue to drive and help provide support and economic opportunity for the citizens of our province, he said.

McNeil also brushed aside questions about an election in the offing later this year, calling it a concern more for the media and opposition parties.

However, both opposition leaders called the budget a pre-election document, saying that it provides too little, too late for areas of need.

Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Houston noted that a lot of the spending was thanks to continuing yearly increases in federal transfer payments.

A steady series of increases in equalization payments have helped keep the Liberal government in the black, as the revenues from Ottawa are projected to be over $2 billion  up 10.5 per cent compared with 2019-20s budget.

Nova Scotia is not in the great shape that the government will have you believe, Houston said. The economy is slowing right down and could easily contract this year. When you think of the risks on the horizon, with the coronavirus and ... the impact of the Northern Pulp closure, there are huge headwinds before this province.

The second-term Liberals are approaching the third anniversary of their current mandate, but their majority could be narrowed due to the recent resignation of a backbencher from caucus after he was charged with impaired driving, and two byelections in March.

If an election does come later this year or in 2021, McNeil will have a number of spending initiatives to point to.

The budget confirms a recent series of announcements on capital spending for schools and hospitals, and there is $385 million for Nova Scotias roads, highways and bridges.

Businesses are receiving a previously announced tax break with a reduction in the corporate and small business taxes at a combined cost to the province of just over $80-million.

NDP Leader Gary Burrill called the move a banquet feast for business while noting there was relatively little in the budget for people who are in need.

After years in which the province has really been starved for social spending, now on the front porch of an election we have all these crumbs being tossed in all different directions, said Burrill. Its a little bit little and its a whole lot late.

One exception to the provinces trend to decreasing taxes is coming for smokers and people who use vaping devices, with the province saying the aim is to reduce use.

As of Sept. 15, the government will tax about 50 cents per millilitre for vaping liquids and 20 per cent of the retail value of all vaping devices, with $2.3 million in revenues in this year. The annual take is expected to be about $4.3 million.

Many typical vaping devices hold slightly less than a millilitre of fuel, meaning the tax on a package of four would total about $1.50.

There is also a two per cent tax increase on cigarettes, along with hikes in taxes on cigars and other forms of tobacco.

New spending was also announced for people with disabilities, with $7.4 million to help them move from larger institutions into homes with four or fewer residents.

This comes in the wake of a high profile human rights decision ruling the province was discriminating against three people with intellectual disabilities who were forced to live in a psychiatric hospital due to the lack of smaller homes.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 25, 2020.
Bahrain's Ministry of Health has registered nine new cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) carried by Bahraini and Saudi citizens arriving at Bahrain International Airport via Dubai and Sharjah, confirming a total of 17 registered cases in the kingdom so far.

The ministry highlighted that all necessary tests were taken on all nine cases, in a well-equipped, isolated area at the airport, after which the patients were transferred to the Ebrahim Khalil Kanoo Community Health Center in Al Salmaniya, for complete isolation and treatment, a Bahrain News Agency report said.

The ministry outlined that the nine new registered cases were detected among four female Bahraini nationals arriving from Iran, via Sharjah, and three male Bahraini nationals arriving from Iran (two arriving via Sharjah and one arriving via Dubai), and two female Saudi nationals arriving from Iran, via Sharjah.

All patients are under isolation and are receiving treatment from a specialised team. In addition, the ministry has quarantined all individuals the patients have been in recent contact as a precaution, after they tested negative for the virus.

The ministry further noted that the infected individuals had arrived in the kingdom before the Civil Aviation Authoritys decision to suspend flights from Dubai International Airport and Sharjah International Airport for 48 hours.

The ministry stressed that all necessary measures are being taken to examine each passenger arriving from affected countries, adding that patients will be immediately transferred to isolation for treatment if symptoms of the condition are found or confirmed following laboratory analysis.

The ministry highlighted that a comprehensive medical protocol is being followed to combat COVID-19, which is in line with established international guidelines as set out by the Gulf Health Council (GHC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The ministry calls upon all citizens and residents who are experiencing symptoms of COVID19 to isolate themselves, call 444 and follow the instructions given by the medical team, and avoid close contact with others.
A Miami man has received a nearly $3,500 medical bill after getting coronavirus tests following his trip to China.

Osmel Martinez Azcue returned from a work trip last month to China and discovered he was feeling flu-like symptoms. Worried about the coronavirus, the man decided to go to a Florida hospital to get tested, according to the Miami Herald.

Testing revealed Mr Azcue had the flu, not the coronavirus. But his limited health insurance left him with a bill of $3,270 two weeks after his test. He will be responsible for $1,400 of that bill.

"How can they expect normal citizens to contribute to eliminating the potential risk of person-to-person spread if hospitals are waiting to charge us $3,270 for a simple blood test and a nasal swab?" Mr Azcue told the newspaper.

Mr Azcue previously had insurance through the Affordable Care Act. He picked that insurance as he makes $55,000 through his job at a medical-device company, and it does not provide a health insurance plan.

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

Once he first purchased the plan, he was paying $278 per month. These premiums then shot up to $400 once his full salary kicked in, forcing the man to cancel the coverage and pay $180 per month for a limited plan through National General Insurance.

This decision comes as the Trump administration rolled back the Affordable Care Act regulations in 2018 and allowed "junk plans" on the market.

These junk plans offer short-term, low-benefit coverage for people, but they also are not required to meet the law's standards for health coverage, meaning the plans could avoid covering pre-existing conditions or offering protections from large out-of-pocket expenses.

One problem people run into when shopping for insurance plans is the way these junk plans are advertised. Someone might think they have coverage for certain expenses only to discover later they don't.

Mr Azcue discovered that not only does he owe $1,400 out of pocket, but he also needs to provide his insurer with three years of medical records to prove that the flu he got didn't relate to a pre-existing condition. If for some reason the flu related to a pre-existing condition, then the insurer would no longer pay a portion of the man's bill.

Jackson Memorial Hospital, where Mr Azcue received his tests, told the Miami Herald more bills are on its way to the man. It is not clear what else he will have to pay for after getting tested for the coronavirus.
Members of Oregons Republican House caucus are boycotting Legislative action on Tuesday, joining their Senate counterparts who walked out Monday morning to stop progress on a controversial climate bill.

Both the House and Senate adjourned for the day shortly after 11 a.m. when it became official that absent Republicans had made it impossible to move forward on bills.

In a statement explaining why House members, too, walked out, House Republican Leader Christine Drazan cited objections to what she said has been Democrats rigged handling of the climate cap-and-trade bill.

The upshot of the Republicans walkout is to halt progress on all remaining legislation, including the climate bill; funding for homelessness, mental health, foster children, people with disabilities, wildfire prevention and other budget items; independence for the states government transparency advocate; requiring free school breakfast be offered to more than 100,000 children; bonding for building improvement and expansion at all of Oregons public universities; and other bills that are still alive this session but need House or Senate approval or both.

Oregon is one of a handful of states that require two-thirds of a chambers members to be present in order to read and pass bills on the House and Senate floors. Democrats hold supermajorities in each chamber, so they can pass bills without any Republican support, but they need Republican cooperation to reach a quorum.

Senate President Peter Courtney said Monday that Senate Republican Leader Herman Baertschiger Jr. has not definitively told him there is no scenario under which some or all of his members would return to vote on legislative business before the mandated adjournment date of March 8. But Courtney said Senate Democrats whove been key architects of the climate plan, Senate Bill 1530, wont give in and do the one thing that Baertschiger and others have said would bring them back to the Capitol: Refer the climate bill to voters.

On Tuesday Courtney said his message to Republicans is I beg and implore you to return to do what we came here to do. He said its not too late to pass many more bills and that he and his caucus will stay here to the very end in hopes of doing so.

Baertschiger told reporters on a telephone call Tuesday that hes confident other Senate Republicans have left Oregon. "Theyve been through this before, and its just a lot less pressure on them if they leave the state, the Senate Republican leader said. When asked where he was, Baertschiger refused to say. Why would I tell you that? he said.

On the House floor, Speaker Tina Kotek appeared unruffled as she introduced civil air patrol members to lead a flag salute and a teenage singer-songwriter from Beaverton to perform. The plaintive Fleetwood Mac song the high school sophomore sang is about keeping sight of love and a goal, even when things appear to be falling apart, said Rep. Courtney Neron of Wilsonville. Kotek pronounced the song one of my favorites before allowing lawmakers to introduce guests and reminding her audience about a food drive, then adjourning.

Drazan issued a statement saying, From the first day of this short session, it has been clear that Governor Brown and the majority party have not had an interest in respecting the legislative process and have repeatedly refused to compromise. ... I had remained optimistic up until yesterday that a compromise could be reached. Unfortunately, our attempts to achieve a bipartisan consensus that would take into account the views of all Oregonians were denied. Oregon House Republicans are taking a stand, with working families, in opposing cap-and-trade and this rigged process. We will continue to keep all lines of communication open.

Kotek for her part issued a statement denying she has been unwilling to compromise and urging House members to report to work. I have routinely reached out to Republicans in a genuine effort to hear their ideas and compromise where we can. My door is always open. For now, they have chosen to walk off the job. We may disagree on policy, but one thing is for sure  we cant reach consensus if the Republicans dont show up for work.

House Democratic Leader Barbara Smith Warner took a more exasperated and partisan tone in her statement: In just the last year alone, we have held more than 35 hours of public hearings, gone on a statewide tour, had countless hours of conversations between stakeholders and made significant changes in response to our Republican colleagues concerns.The reality is, in todays Republican party run by Donald Trump, nothing will ever be enough for them.

One moderate Republican House member, Cheri Helt, remained at the Capitol. She said she opposes the climate bill but wishes to continue working in a bipartisan spirit. Her district is home to more registered Democrats than registered Republicans.

Similarly, in the Senate, moderate Republican Tim Knopp of Bend reported for a second day of work. He said Monday that he felt he could help make progress on bills other than the climate bill that have bipartisan support.

In a letter to Baertschiger and Drazan Monday, Gov. Kate Brown listed several compromises that she and other Democrats made in response to cap-and-trade opponents concerns. For example, Brown pointed out Senate Bill 1530 would essentially exempt trade exposed businesses that purchase natural gas through 2030, including all nurseries, food processors, wood products manufacturers, and other rural manufacturers. Brown told Baertschiger and Drazan that she informed fellow Democrats, environmentalists and businesses that support cap-and-trade that such changes were necessary.

These were difficult discussions, but I know they had to happen and I had them, Brown wrote. Unfortunately, neither of you have exhibited any similar fortitude in leading activists or your fellow legislators to negotiate and find compromises. I am disheartened by your lack of leadership on this matter.

Republicans say they object to Democrats plans to impose limits on the amount of carbon that many of the states industries and sectors can emit and to use a market-based approach to drive those limits down and encourage consumers and businesses to opt for greener options. Republicans in both chambers have said they would return and allow Legislative business to resume only if Democrats agree to refer the proposal to voters.

The Republicans who walked out represent 36% of Oregon by population, according to the Census Bureaus most recent estimates, from 2014 to 2019.

Committees can continue to meet even with all Republicans absent, and the rules committee in each chamber as well as the budget-writing Joint Ways & Means Committee and its subcommittees can continue to pass bills on purely Democratic votes.

The House Rules committee, for example, unanimously advanced two new bills of note today related to climate change and fuel taxes. One would allow the Legislature to designate up to half of proceeds from a fuel tax to be spent as lawmakers direct, not necessarily put into the State Highway Fund, as current law directs. The second would lower Oregons greenhouse gas emissions much like the climate bill that spurred the walkouts. But rather than set out how the state would accomplish that, it would direct a state agency to come up with a plan and implement it.

Both of those bills include a provision that would place them on the November ballot and only allow them to take effect if approved by voters.

But bills that dont clear both chambers by March 8 will die.

Senate Republicans walked out twice during last years long legislative session, first over a $1 billion a year tax for education, which subsequently passed, then over last years version of the cap-and-trade bill, which they helped derail.

Last session, the House Republicans, led by Wilson, remained on the job from start to finish.

Senate President Peter Courtney on Monday implored his Republican colleagues to return to work but he declined to send state police troopers to try to find them and persuade them to return. Courtney said that, unlike last year when a shortage of Democratic support ultimately doomed the climate bill, he said he has more than the 16 votes he needs to pass it.

Under this years version of the bill, most of the money raised would come from taxes on transportation fuels. But most parts of the state, including all of rural eastern Oregon, would be exempted from the gas tax indefinitely.

Helt, in a statement, explained her rationale for not walking out with the rest of her caucus. Sadly, partisan polarization has pushed the Capitol to this moment once again, she said. As a moderate who wants to vote for common ground climate legislation, I will remain in the Capitol in hopes we can dig deeper, try harder and reach further to find a policy that works for all Oregonians.

House Democrats pushed back against the Republicans narrative that Democrats have been disrespectful and refused to engage in bipartisan compromise. They put out a fact sheet noting that 24 of the 59 bills passed so far in the session had at least one Republican chief sponsor.

This is a developing story and will be updated. Politics editor Betsy Hammond contributed to this report.

-- Hillary Borrud; hborrud@oregonian.com; @hborrud
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a joint press briefing with US President Donald Trump, said India and USA would soon start talks on a big trade deal. "Our commerce ministers have had positive talks on trade. Both of us have decided that our teams should give legal shape to these trade talks. We also agreed to open negotiations on a big trade deal," said PM Modi.

Bilateral trade between the two countries had seen two-digit growth and increased trade stability in the last three years, he said.

President Trump, too, said that India and USA were at the peak of their relationship and expected that the countries would soon agree upon a comprehensive "trade deal". Trump on Monday had termed Modi a "tough negotiator" saying the two countries would sign one of the biggest trade deals. India and USA were supposed to sign a trade deal before Trump's visit, but both the countries failed to reach an agreeable deal.

During an interaction with reporters at the Joint Base Andrews outside Washington last week, Trump said, "Well, we can have a trade deal with India, but I'm saving the big deal for later on."

"We're doing a very big trade deal with India. We'll have it. I don't know if it'll be done before the election (in November), but we'll have a very big deal with India," he added. Trump, forcefully pursuing his 'America first' policy, has previously described India as a "tariff king" for imposing "tremendously high" tariffs on American products.

India is demanding exemption from high duties imposed by the US on certain steel and aluminium products, resumption of export benefits to certain domestic products under their Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), greater market access for its products from sectors including agriculture, automobile, auto components and engineering.

On the other hand, the US wants greater market access for its farm and manufacturing products, dairy items and medical devices, and cut on import duties on some ICT products. The US has also raised concerns over high trade deficit with India which was USD 16.9 billion in 2018-19.

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FRANKFORT, Ind. (WLFI)  News 18 is honoring Carol Price as one of YWCA's Salute to Women honorees.

Price has transformed the school curriculum in Frankfort and helped make the city a healthier place to live.

Price said she is driven to help.

"I'd say now I'm a little old lady," said Price.

Price is more than just a little old lady.

"Everyone knows me," said Price.

Frankfort is a healthier, smarter and more educated community because of Price.

"I enjoy doing things in my community to improve the lives of other people," said Price.

People can thank Price for her federal and state level grant writing, her program Healthy Communities and the fact teen pregnancy has almost gone down half from 4.6 percent to 2.46 percent in Frankfort.

At 70 years old, Price said she's just a local volunteer, but she has also been a member of the Frankfort Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Wesley Manor.

"I've just always been the type of person that if someone seeks my help that means, I assume, they think I can do it and I can help and if my calendar is free than I say yes," said Price.

For now Price is saying yes to her success of Frankfort.

"I'm getting close to letting Healthy Communities fly." said Price.

She'll let her team take over the coalition with the goal of making a healthy choice the easy choice.

"We've come to the point where people trust us," said Price.

That's why she is confident leaving her role in good hands when she steps aside.

She's not sure when that time will come but she's ready to travel the world with her husband Larry.

"We have changed a lot of the environment and a lot of the policies in our community because it's about health in all policies," said Price.

Price said Healthy Communities is leasing its current building from Frankfort.

The coalition will move into a new building soon.
University bans student from handing out Christian pamphlets to LGBT studies class

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The University of Louisville in Kentucky is barring an unnamed Christian student who passed out literature about the Bibles teachings on homosexuality from having any more contact with students or a professor associated with an LGBT studies course.

A spokesperson for the university confirmed to The Courrier-Journal last week that the institution issued a no-contact order to a student who passed out pamphlets to students in Professor Kaila Storys Introduction to LGBT Studies course earlier this year.

The student was not enrolled in the class and reportedly lurked outside the classroom after handing out the pamphlets.

According to the university's Title IX resource guide, a no-contact order is "a university directive to cease and desist from any intentional contact, direct or indirect, with a designated person(s)."

The student in question is banned from having any contact with students of the LGBT studies class or Story. It is not clear how long the no-contact order is valid.

Professor Story had complained to leaders within the Pan-African Studies Department, who then raised the incident further with university administration.

University spokesperson John Karman told the newspaper that officials met with the student, who assured that his intention was only to inform, not to intimidate.

The no-contact order represents a course reversal by the university. Initially, after the complaint was raised by Story, The Courier-Journal reported on Feb. 4 that the Office of Student Affairs told the student he was allowed to return to the class only if he gave 48 hours notice.

"While the students actions caused concern among the students and faculty in the classroom, he apparently followed the law and university policy when distributing the literature, Karman stated at the time.

But Karman stressed that the university would continue to monitor the situation. Story and leaders in her department continued to push for the university to take action.

In an interview with the newspaper, Story accused the Dean of Students Office of showing disregard and dismissive attitude when it comes to the concern of student and faculty safety. Some students complained that the incident made them feel unsafe and some planned a protest on campus.

Ricky Jones, the chair of the universitys Pan-African Studies Department accused the university of administrative incongruity and equated the situation to a student passing out racial slurs or Nazi propaganda.

All this on the same day of yet another campus shooting, Jones argued. Sorry, but I cant be a team player on this one. This is problematic and shameful.

He further contended that there is a difference between free speech and hate speech.

The 30-page pamphlet in question  God and Sexuality  was written by Christian evangelist Ray Comfort and published in 2015. The pamphlet argues why homosexuality is sinful.

Perhaps you believe you are gay, or maybe you are sympathetic toward homosexuality and you think that what people do sexually is their own business, the pamphlet reads. Whatever the case, I want to convince you that you are sitting in a car on a railroad track with a train coming, and you dont know it.

After the backlash to the pamphlets, university President Neeli Bendapudi said in a statement that the university has much work to do to make sure that all students (and faculty and staff) feel welcome and supported.

However, Bendapudi stated at the time that the university must uphold the ideals of free speech to prepare students for ideas rather than protect them from ideas.

In 2019, Gov. Matt Bevin signed into law a bill that supposedly protects the rights of free speech on college campuses.

The bill requires universities to adopt policies protecting the free expression of students and faculty. The bill is designed to ensure that students and faculty do not substantially obstruct or otherwise substantially interfere with the freedom of others to express views they reject.

The socially conservative Kentucky Family Foundation criticized the schools decision to issue a no-contact order. In a Facebook post, the organization said it cant wait to see a court get involved in the matter.

A spokesperson for the Kentucky Family Foundation told Inside Higher Ed that administrators cracked under the pressure of a particular privileged ideological group on campus.

Martin Cothran argued that it is not a safety risk for a student with a differing opinion to show up at a class.

Our concern here is that the university might be considering alternative ideas as safety threats, Cothran argued. That itself is a threat to the free exchange of ideas.
Paleontologists have discovered the microscopic fossilized remains of green seaweed near Dalian in the Liaoning province of northern China. The microfossils are approximately one billion years old. They represent a previously unknown species of green seaweed, named Proterocladus antiquus, and are barely visible to the naked eyed at 2 mm in length, or roughly the size of a typical flea.

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, said senior author Professor Shuhai Xiao, a researcher in the Department of Geosciences and Global Change Center at Virginia Tech.

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.

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. What kind of seaweeds supplied food to the marine ecosystem.

The current hypothesis is that land plants  the trees, grasses, food crops, bushes, even kudzu  evolved from green seaweeds, which were aquatic plants. Through geological time they moved out of the water and became adapted to and prospered on dry land, their new natural environment.

These fossils are related to the ancestors of all the modern land plants we see today, Professor Xiao said.

However, the caveat that not all geobiologists are on the same page  that debate on the origins of green plants remains.

Not everyone agrees with us; some scientists think that green plants started in rivers and lakes, and then conquered the ocean and land later.

There are three main types of seaweed: brown (Phaeophyceae), green (Chlorophyta), and red (Rhodophyta), and thousands of species of each kind.

Fossils of red seaweed, which are now common on ocean floors, have been dated as far back as 1.047 billion years old.

There are some modern green seaweeds that look very similar to the fossils that we found, Professor Xiao said.

A group of modern green seaweeds, known as siphonocladaleans, are particularly similar in shape and size to the fossils we found.

Photosynthetic plants are, of course, vital to the ecological balance of the planet because they produce organic carbon and oxygen through photosynthesis, and they provide food and the basis of shelter for untold numbers of mammals, fish, and more.

Yet, going back 2 billion years, Earth had no green plants at all in oceans, Professor Xiao said.

Proterocladus antiquus seaweeds display multiple branches, upright growths, and specialized cells known as akinetes that are very common in this type of fossil, said lead author Dr. Qing Tang, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Geosciences and Global Change Center at Virginia Tech.

Taken together, these features strongly suggest that the fossil is a green seaweed with complex multicellularity that is circa one 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.

The discovery is described in a paper in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.

_____

Q. Tang et al. A one-billion-year-old multicellular chlorophyte. Nat Ecol Evol, published online February 24, 2020; doi: 10.1038/s41559-020-1122-9
WALNUT CREEK, Calif., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Paradigm, the industry leader in solving catastrophic and complex health care challenges for injured workers, announced today that the company was selected as a 2019 Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation. This award is given annually by the National Association for Business Resources (NABR) to influential and innovative companies in the U.S. that meet high standards in employee satisfaction and human resources best practices. Paradigm's Catastrophic Care Management and Complex Care Solutions divisions were recognized with this distinction in 2018. This marks the first year the entire company, including the Specialty Networks division, collectively applied for and earned this notable award.

"We are honored to be recognized once again as one of the best places to work by the National Association for Business Resources," said John S. Watts, Jr., CEO, Paradigm. "At Paradigm, our people are our strongest asset. This distinction affirms our commitment to a company culture that is supportive, enriching, and positive for all of our employees. Their commitment to excellence is what allows us to provide the highest level of care and best possible outcomes for injured workers and their families."

The Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation competition identifies and honors companies that deliver exceptional human resource practices and an impressive commitment to their employees. Companies and their employees participate in a thorough survey and documentation process. Organizations are assessed based on categories such as communication, work-life balance, employee education, diversity, recognition, retention, and more.

"This award represents Paradigm's dedication to a company culture that puts people first," said Karen Jones, Chief Human Resources Officer, Paradigm. "We believe delivering exceptional outcomes for the injured worker requires a workplace that provides equally exceptional support and resources for our team. As we continue to grow, we hope this award reinforces the importance we place on a positive work environment and will continue to attract top talent for our business."

About Paradigm

For almost 30 years, Paradigm has been the industry leader in solving catastrophic and complex health care challenges and improving lives. With the most connected and experienced team in health care, we define and deliver outcomes that exceed financial and health expectations for our clients, as well as for individuals and their families.

Paradigm delivers its solutions through three divisions: Catastrophic Care Management, Complex Care Solutions, and Specialty Networks. The Paradigm divisions are built on expertise from six best-in-class businesses: Paradigm Outcomes, The ALARIS Group, Encore Unlimited, Restore Rehabilitation, ForeSight Medical and Adva-Net. Founded in 1991, Paradigm is headquartered in Walnut Creek, California with offices across the U.S. For more information, please visit https://www.paradigmcorp.com/ .

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OTTAWACanadas 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 countrys 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 dont 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.

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 governments 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 its 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.

Canadas priority wouldnt 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.

Its 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 tendency for Canadians to show up to work even when theyre 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 Im pleased to say is presently recovering well at home and in isolation, said Dr. Eileen de Villa, Torontos 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, Ontarios associate chief medical officer of health, said given the limited contact with others and the womans 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 on Tuesday, the second large group of evacuees to be allowed to go home.
Our city has a fundamental obligation to ensure Chicagos most vulnerable youth are connected with high-quality diversion opportunities that will put them on a more productive path for a successful future, mayoral spokesman Patrick Mullane said in a statement. We take the concerns outlined by the Office of Inspector General with the utmost seriousness, which is why as part of our commitment, the Chicago Police Department and the Department of Family and Support Services have already begun to implement these recommendations that will build a stronger, more coordinated Juvenile Intervention and Support Center to prioritize services over punishment and improve youth outcomes.
World Health Organization expert Bruce Aylward speaks at a press conference in Geneva after returning from China, on Feb. 25, 2020. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)

Canadian Doctor Leaves China Without Entering Quarantine

The Canadian expert leading the World Health Organization (WHO) team in China responding to the new coronavirus departed Beijing without entering quarantine before landing in Geneva on Tuesday and going straight to a press conference, where he appeared without a mask.

Dr. Bruce Aylward is an infectious disease expert who led the organizations team in China. The team traveled to different parts of the country, including Wuhan, the epicenter of the new virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease.

Aylward stopped in Beijing for a joint press conference with Chinese officials on Monday before departing and touching down in Switzerland, where the WHO is based.

Asked why he wasnt wearing a mask, Aylward told reporters: I dont have COVID-19. Im very low risk.

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)

Aylward said that his team had no contact with patients in China or even contact with people who were in contact with suspected or confirmed patients.

I never had any exposures, he said. We are careful and we run careful.

While in China, team members ate most of their meals in their hotel rooms. While on the job they ate at separate tables, Aylward said, recounting a lunch in the cafeteria at Chinas Centers for Disease Control.

You had to shout at each other, he said.

The distance kept between people was two meters, or 6.5 feet. Experts say close contact means coming within six feet of those infected with the new virus.

A security guard wears protective clothing as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus as he stands at the entrance of a restaurant in Beijing, China, on Feb. 25, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

The WHO team was in Wuhan, Aylward said, but even the hospitals they went to there werent a concern because they were in the clean section.

Any of the hospitals we went to, we go into the clean section. We go nowhere near, you know theres a dirty section and then theres also a gray zone. We went nowhere near those things, he said. Aylward may have been referring to an area known in Chinese as the infected zone.

There have been at least thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of cases in Hubei Province, which includes Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus. Data from Chinese Communist Party officials is widely believed to be lower than the true numbers of cases and deaths, both at the provincial and national level.

China requires anyone traveling from other provinces to Beijing to undergo a two-week quarantine. The policy applies to WHO officials as well, Aylward said, unless theyre in transit to somewhere else.

Chinese officials took a swab from the doctor when he arrived in Guangdong Province on Monday and the test came back negative. There were negotiations over how the situation was managed.

Aylward, who wore a mask at his Monday press conference in China, told reporters in Geneva that if there was a risk he had the disease, he wouldnt be at the press conference. He wouldnt just appear and put on a mask, he said.
(ANSA) - Rome, February 24 - Italy has proposed holding a meeting with the health ministers of the States it has borders with in order to agree on "common guidelines" after an outbreak of the coronavirus in the north of the country, sources said Monday. A meeting on the coronavirus emergency at the civil protection department chaired by Premier Giuseppe Conte with several ministers and some regional governors in video link considered the idea of suspending the Schengen regime and reinstating intra-EU border controls but dismissed it.

"Although it is legally feasible, such a suspension would not be sustainable in practical terms," the civil protection department said. "In any case, such a measure would not guarantee any precautionary effectiveness".

As of Tuesday the civil protection department will host a meeting of ministers and governers every day for as long as necessary to address the emergency.


A bit of back story. Nacho and Jimmy met in Season 1, and their relationship includes a very unpleasant detour to the desert. Jimmy had gotten crosswise with the volcanic Tuco Salamanca in one of the shows early and most disastrous short cons. Nacho worked for Tuco at the time and helped haul Jimmy to a forsaken patch of land outside of town. There, Jimmy frantically produced what might have been his finest closing statement, and saved his own life.

Nacho and Jimmy subsequently had more amicable dealings, but that terrifying round trip to the desert would surely have been on Jimmys mind as Nacho rolled up in that car.

Were left to surmise that whatever much better plan Lalo has in mind, it is likely to involve Jimmy. Of course, it was inevitable that Jimmy would get tangled in Lalos life, a development that was preordained, in a time-bendy kind of way, courtesy of an early episode of Breaking Bad. Walter White and Jesse Pinkman haul Jimmy to another part of New Mexicos ample desertscape and make a good show of threatening to kill him. (They, too, were worried about a recently arrested colleague.) Once Jimmy figures out that these two masked men were not sent by Lalo  Lalo didnt send you? he screams  he is vastly relieved.

Then again, Lalos much better plans for Krazy-8 could involve an idea that springs from his meeting with his uncle, Don Hector (Mark Margolis), in some kind of nursing facility. Now wheelchair-bound and mute, Don Hector tries to help his nephew figure out how to handle Gus Fring, whose machinations mystify Lalo. Fring is protected by the money he makes for the cartel, Don Hector suggests, through a bit of tactical bell ringing.

So expect Lalo to go on the offensive against Fring and his supply system.

Finally, the episodes saddest scene belongs to Mike, who rages at his granddaughter after she asks one too many questions about her deceased father. Mike blames himself for his sons death, as longtime viewers know, and his guilt and self-loathing have recently been re-triggered by his murder of the homesick construction manager, Werner Ziegler, at the end of Season 4.

Its excruciating to watch Mike lash out at the one person he seems to love unconditionally, and to whom he will try to give all of his ill-gotten fortune in Breaking Bad. But the outburst might also help explain a mystery. Throughout Breaking Bad, Mike happily spent time with his granddaughter, but he interacted with his daughter-in-law in a way that strongly suggested that the two were estranged. Maybe they will reconcile. But if they dont, this is why  or perhaps, its the start of why.
Panicked investors have pushed gold to an all-time high in sterling terms as they scrambled to protect their savings from the coronavirus contagion.

European stock markets were in turmoil yesterday as a flare-up of the deadly Covid-19 virus in Italy claimed six more lives.

Investors were quick to drop travel firms and miners, amid fears that the outbreak would deter travel and stymie industrial activity, and rushed to the relative safety of gold.

European stock markets were in turmoil yesterday as a flare-up of the deadly Covid-19 virus in northern Italy claimed six more lives

The precious metal, which is seen as a safe haven in times of uncertainty, hit a record 1,300 per ounce before settling later in the day at 1,293.

In dollar terms, it jumped to a seven-year high of $1,677.21 per ounce.

But the flood of money out of equities wiped almost 361billion off the value of Europe's listed companies.

The FTSE 100 index of Britain's biggest listed companies accounted for 62billion of those losses.

And the price of oil plummeted as traders began to worry that the economic effect of the coronavirus would be worse than originally anticipated.

Brent crude was trading down 5.3 per cent at $55.42 per barrel, well below the $69 level at the turn of the New Year.

Florian Hense, an economist at broker Berenberg, said: 'We still have to brace for worse news in the next few months linked to the outbreak of the coronavirus and its spreading beyond China.

'Lower demand for travel and tourism is already harming services activity.

'Manufacturers may face increasing supply chain disruptions in the weeks to come.

'The surge in cases in Italy presents a risk to the European economic outlook. The potential lockdown of bigger parts of the highly industrialised region accentuates the downside risks for Italy's neighbours, too.

'Germany, Switzerland and Austria all have close links to northern Italy's manufacturing hubs.' The FTSE 100 slid by 3.3 per cent or 247.09 points to 7156.83, in its worst day in four years.

Travel companies took a thrashing, with Easyjet being the biggest faller, tumbling by 16.7 per cent, or 251.5p, to 1257p.

Tui was close behind, shedding 9.8 per cent, or 83.4p, to 767.6p. And British Airways owner IAG lost 9.2 per cent, or 57p, closing at 566p.

Primark's owner Associated British Foods warned several of its food factories were operating at reduced capacity due to labour constraints.

And it said it could run out of some clothing lines if factory delays were prolonged. Its shares slipped 1.6 per cent, or 40p, to 2543p.

Across the rest of Europe, Germany's Dax, France's CAC and Italy's FTSE MIB indices were all down between 4 per cent and 5.4 per cent.

And the US was not immune, as the S&P 500 slid 3.4 per cent.

But American billionaire Warren Buffet, who has been dubbed the Sage of Omaha for his investing prowess, advised investors to be cautious of selling on impulse.

He said the coronavirus was 'scary stuff', but added that most investors should keep a long-term outlook.
One more defendant in crime boss murder case detained

 RAPSI

16:15 25/02/2020

MOSCOW, February 25 (RAPSI)  Moscows Basmanny District Court has detained Kakha Gazzayev, a defendant in a case over killing a crime lord Vyacheslav Yaponchik Ivankov, for two months, the Investigative Committees press service reports.

In early February, the court detained another defendant Murtaza Shadaniya until April 5. The both men are charged with murder, illegal keeping of weapon, the statement reads.

Investigators believe that in 2009 Shadaniya, acting as a member of an organized gang, murdered Ivankov, a so-called thief-in-law, who at the time was the top boss in the criminal hierarchy. Shadaniya allegedly undertook to discretely stake out Ivankov to choose the place, where the murder was to be committed. Together with other co-conspirators he acted as a lookout to ensure safety of the criminal groups members when committing the murder.

Gazzayev, according to investigators, gave his accomplices a gun for the murder, personally participated in its transportation and keeping and was at the scene during the crime.




Mumbai, Feb 25 : The Centre will send a special chartered flight to Tokyo on Wednesday to bring back the stranded Indians on the Diamond Princess cruise ship which is currently quarantined off the Japanese coast of Yokohama, an official said here on Tuesday.

Quoting an Indian Embassy official in Japan, Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party Vice-President Kirit Somaiya said that the consent of all Indians on board the ship to return to India before the expiry of mandatory Japanese quarantine requirements, had been obtained on February 17.

There are a total 138 on board the Diamond Princess.

Two more Indian crew members have tested positive for the COVID-19, raising the total to 14, according to the Indian Embassy, but all were responding positively to the treatment.

There is at least one female crew member who has tested positive from Maharashtra.

"PCR test results announced, from the samples collected earlier, include two Indian crew members on board Diamond Princess, testing positive for COVID-19. The total number of crew members tested positive so far is 14 - responding well to treatment," said an embassy tweet.

Accordingly, all those who tested negative in the tests conducted by Japanese authorities and who have given their consent will be permitted to board the special flight scheduled to depart on Wednesday evening.

However, all the Indians would have to undergo the compulsory medical checkup by an Indian medical team before they can disembark from the cruise ship and undergo the mandatory 14 days quarantine after landing in India.

The Indian Embassy and the Japanese local authorities will make arrangements to ferry the Indians along with their permitted baggage from the Yokohama port to Tokyo's Haneda Airport.

It is not immediately clear at which Indian airport the flight will arrive from Tokyo.

As of Tuesday, 691 coronavirus cases have been confirmed on the Diamond Princess which was quarantined on February 3 in the port of Yokohama after a passenger who disembarked in Hong Kong on January 25 tested positive for the virus.
Bumblebees remember objects they see and recognize them by touch Agence France Presse

Colombia has a hippopotamus problem  thanks to Pablo Escobar AP

Three charts on private equity FT Alphaville

World Banks pandemic bonds sink as coronavirus spreads FT

#COVID-19

Lambert here: Todays links are a bit heavy on #COVID-19. But it does seem to be a big story, with a lot happening at once. Ill try for better balance next Links.

Potential Presymptomatic Transmission of SARS-CoV-2, Zhejiang Province, China, 2020 Emerging Infectious Diseases CDC

Characteristics of and Important Lessons From the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak in China JAMA. From the Response to the COVID-19 Epidemic section:

The timing of the COVID-19 outbreak, prior to Chinas annual Lunar New Year holiday, was an important factor as China considered how to respond to the outbreak. Culturally, this is the largest and most important holiday of the year. It is the expectation that people return to their family homes, which is the cause for the several billion person-trips made by residents and visitors during this time, mostly on crowded planes, trains, and buses. Knowing this meant each infected person could have numerous close contacts over a protracted time and across long distances, the government needed to quickly act. However, it was not only the speed of the governments response, but also the magnitude of that response that were influenced by the impending holiday travel time.

Remarkably, or not, the debacle of the CCPs initial response goes undiscussed.

* * *

Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by Johns Hopkins CSSE Johns Hopkins. This is the ArcGIS map that required a log-in yesterday. It is working for me as of this writing. We werent the only ones asking:

The acting deputy secretary of homeland security is asking the internet where to get information about the spread of #Covid19. We are so borked. pic.twitter.com/hWony9uGG4  Greg Greene (@ggreeneva) February 24, 2020

Why does the US have so few confirmed coronavirus cases? AEI

* * *

Youre Likely to Get the Coronavirus The Atlantic. Deck: Most cases are not life-threatening, which is also what makes the virus a historic challenge to contain.

Spreading Across Continents, a Lethal Virus Tests a Fraying Global Order NYT

* * *

Collect 620 kg of used medical masks (Google translation) VN Express (Re Silc). Speaking of the rules-based international order, whose key rule is that you can screw people like this:

Classic example of a tie-in sale, the only way to purchase a box of 50 masks at Bonjour is to get this package, which includes facial masks, moisturiser, wipes  available only to VIP members. pic.twitter.com/xBcSt4Xacu  Rachel Cheung (@rachel_cheung1) February 24, 2020

Scoop: Coronavirus threatens shortages of about 150 drugs Axios
Mayo GAA have cut off all official ties with benefactor Tim OLeary after he appeared to call for James Horan to be removed in a tweet.

OLeary apologised for the #horanout post, owing it to a day of socialising at the England-Ireland Six Nations game in Twickenham on Sunday as Monaghan were beating Mayo by nine points in Clones.

He has also deleted his Twitter account.

Last night, the Mayo executive were directed by delegates to sever their relationship with the head of the Mayo International Supporters Foundation.

Their statement read: The Mayo GAA Executive can this evening confirm that we have ceased all dialogue with Mr Tim OLeary.

Although relations were strained for a number of months, a way forward was agreed in January and it was hoped that both parties would be able to work together for the betterment of Mayo GAA, this however is now not the case.

The club delegates of Mayo GAA have mandated agreed behaviours based on mutual respect, the exclusion of animosity and the inappropriate use of communication channels such as social media.

Mayo GAA will not engage with stakeholders whose behaviours deviate from what has been mandated by our clubs and in light of recent social media comments made by Mr O Leary engagement has now ceased. Mayo GAA will be making no further public comment on this matter.

Last year, OLeary and the foundation had withheld 250,000 funding raised for Mayo as the board executive had not provided an agreed business plan. OLeary had previously provided a 150,000 donation and had issued court proceedings about retrieving it before the dispute was resolved.

New county chairman Liam Moffatt last month afforded OLeary and his family an apology after he was the subject of inappropriate and personal remarks and OLeary himself acknowledged regret at some of his behaviour during the stand-off.

Moffatt stated on January 24: I fully accept that Mr O'Leary's motivation, as indeed all parties' motivation, from the outset was to assist Mayo GAA and it is regrettable that relationships between Mayo GAA and the foundation deteriorated over governance concerns.

OLeary expressed delight at a distraction being removed before the start of Mayos Allianz League campaigns. It remains to be seen if the 250,000 earmarked for a new academy in the county will be released.

Dalo's Hurling Show: Reffing frustrations. Limerick statement. Corks consistent inconsistency. Cahill on a roll
VANCOUVER BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 25, 2020 / Lincoln Gold Mining Inc. ("Lincoln" or the "Company") (TSXV:LMG) announces that it has entered into debt settlement agreements with certain arms' length and non-arms' length parties (the "Creditors") to settle or reorganize an aggregate C$1,355,720 in debt (the "Debt").

The Creditors include, among others, Paul Saxton, President, CEO and a director of the Company (through his consulting company), Eugene Beukman, CFO (through his consulting company) and Jeffrey L. Wilson, Vice President Exploration and Executive Vice President of the Company. In partial settlement of the Debt, the Company will issue 500,000 common shares of the Company to Mr. Saxton, 410,000 common shares of the Company to Mr. Beukman and 660,000 common shares of the Company to Mr. Wilson for an aggregate of 1,570,000 common shares of the Company (the "Debt Shares") at a deemed price of C$0.10 per Debt Share (the "Debt Settlement"). An additional 630,000 Debt Shares will be issued to certain arms' length Creditors at a deemed price of $0.10 per Debt Share in partial satisfaction of the Debt.

In addition to the Debt Settlement, the Company has negotiated agreements with certain of the Creditors to defer repayment of $1,135,720 short term debt for a period of up to three years from the date of the debt settlement agreements with each respective party (the "Debt Reorganization"). Certain short term debt owed to Mr. Saxton and Mr. Wilson has been deferred in the Debt Reorganization.

Each of Messrs. Saxton, Beukman and Wilson are considered to be a "related party" of the Company within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") and each issuance of Debt Shares pursuant to the Debt Settlement is considered to be a "related party transaction" within the meaning of MI 61-101, but each is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to the exemptions contained in sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) in that the Company's shares are not listed on a specified market and the fair market value of the consideration for the securities of the Company to be issued to the related parties does not exceed 25% of its market capitalization.

All securities issued in connection with the Debt Settlement will be subject to a hold period required by the TSX Venture Exchange and a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation. Closing of the Debt Settlement is subject to a number of conditions, including receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The Debt Settlement has been unanimously approved by the Company's board of directors with the exception of Mr. Saxton, who disclosed his interest in the Debt Settlement and abstained from consideration or approval of matters relating to the Debt Settlement.

The Company expects that the proposed Debt Settlement and Debt Reorganization will assist the Company in preserving its current cash for working capital and seeking new financing opportunities in order to maintain its operations and advance the permitting and development of the Company's Pine Grove project in Nevada.

About Lincoln

Lincoln Gold Mining Inc. is an advanced-stage gold mine exploration and development company holding a 100% interest in the Pine Grove Gold Project, in the Walker Lane structural zone of western Nevada. The Company has prepared a preliminary economic assessment of the Pine Grove Gold Project pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Lincoln is working with the USFS to secure the permits necessary to develop the Pine Grove Gold Project into a low-cost heap leach operation with a high-grade gravity circuit.

Lincoln also owns an interest in a joint venture in respect of the Oro Cruz Gold Property in California. Lincoln's joint venture partner is advancing the Oro Cruz Gold Property towards further exploration, development and production.

Lincoln holds its interests in these projects through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Lincoln Resource Group Corp. and Lincoln Gold US Corporation, both Nevada corporations.

For more information, please contact Paul Saxton, President and CEO of the Company.

On behalf of Lincoln Gold Mining Inc.

Paul Saxton

President and CEO, Lincoln Gold Mining Inc.

Tel: (604) 688-7377

Email: saxton @ lincolnmining.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

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

All statements, trend analysis and other information contained in this press release relative to markets about anticipated future events or results constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, statements relating to the permitting process, future production of Pine Grove Gold Project, budget and timing estimates, the Company's working capital and financing opportunities, the Debt Settlement and Reorganization and statements regarding the exploration and mineralization potential of the Company's properties, are forward-looking statements. Forward- looking statements are subject to business and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results of operations to differ materially from those contained in the forward- looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Lincoln's expectations include fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; the need for cooperation of government agencies and native groups in the exploration and development of properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; and uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. Lincoln does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Lincoln Gold Mining Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/577701/Lincoln-Gold-Announces-Debt-Settlement-and-Reorganization
Meanwhile, other countries have stepped up investments. The European Union has committed to directing 25 percent of its budget  nearly $350 billion  toward climate objectives between 2021 and 2027. French President Emmanuel Macron explicitly sought to lure U.S.-based researchers by offering millions of Euros in grants. And China has probably surpassed the United States to become the worlds biggest investor in scientific research and development, according to the National Science Foundation.
Never has a US President -- as the leader of the oldest democracy -- showered such unadulterated praise and heartfelt appreciation on the Prime Minister of the largest democracy in the world, as Donald Trump did for Narendra Modi in his address at the jam-packed Motera stadium at Ahmedabad, on his maiden trip to India.

Declaring that "America loves India and will always be a friend of Indian people", he referred to the landslide victory of Modi in the "largest democratic election ever held any where in the world" and described India as a "miracle of democracy" with its diversities, noble people and a tolerant character.

He particularly extolled India for the freedom of worship that it gave to all communities. The US President referred to Prime Minister Modi as a "special friend" and contended that "America-India relationship was now inclusive and exhaustive and not just another relationship". Listing the achievements of Prime Minister Modi's governance he pointed out how "12 Indians were pulled out of poverty every minute" and how every village now had electricity.

Highlighting the new level of defence cooperation between US and India he reiterated that he and Prime Minister Modi were working for the biggest economic deal -- adding in jest that Modi was a tough negotiator.

A notable part of Trump's speech was his categorical denunciation of radical Islamic terror as the biggest threat to both India and US and an affirmation upfront of their expectation that Pakistan must crack down on the terrorists operating from its soil.

The President declared that the US had destroyed the Caliphate in Syria and recalled how its founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was eliminated. This zero tolerance towards Islamic extremism and terrorism remains one of the most important binding factors in the India-US relations under the Trump regime.

It is unfortunate that in many tinted writings of strategic analysts during the run up to the Trump visit, the "inadequacies" of trade relationship between the two countries were selectively highlighted to create a construed negativity around it and the high visibility of the "Namaste Trump" event in Ahmedabad -- that has expectantly added to the credentials of India on the world stage and put a seal of continuity on Indo-US strategic partnership -- decried for no reason. What is worse, the American President was ridiculed in an undignified manner just out of spite for the proven friendship Prime Minister Modi had built with him to strengthen this country's economic and defence perspectives.

The 'big picture' around the visit is that Indo-US relations have bloomed to the advantage of both the countries during the Modi regime, that they are propelled by the top men on both sides whose personal chemistry had brought about an exceptional convergence on strategic goals and that on economic and trade issues the two largest democracies had a basic understanding that mutually beneficial solutions could always be found with further negotiations. For the first time in the post-Cold War era India is handling the US without an ideological baggage and consciously opting for some give and take to advance our national interests in the spheres of both development and security.

The opposition here spent a lot of energy to run down Modi government for doing a lot of paint work to make up the 'atmospherics' for the drive of the US presidential cavalcade at Ahmadabad and for creating the optics of a spectacle for the 'Namaste Trump' event to match the 'Howdy Modi' of Houston last year. This sounded petty.

The opposition also prematurely talked of 'failure' of the Modi government to clinch a comprehensive trade deal with the US at one go- forgetting that US has emerged as the biggest trading partner of India leaving China behind and that India continued to have a trade surplus in relation to America. All of this unfair criticism was a sad reflection of our domestic politics in which the opposition would take to a total denunciation of whatever the Modi government did to deal with the world outside.

The fact is that on foreign and national security policies India has done exceptionally well under Modi's leadership and a proof of this is the success achieved by India in isolating Pakistan in the international community on the issue of the new faith-based global terror that was being fostered from its soil. For India the prime threat to national security emanates from cross border terrorism -- that was keeping Kashmir on the boil -- and it goes to the credit of our foreign policy and national security handlers that they succeeded in getting Trump -- who luckily for India has a visceral dislike of Islamic extremism himself -- to abandon the American policy of making a distinction between 'good terrorists' and 'bad terrorists' which had in the past, given a leeway to Pakistan at the cost of India.

As far as economic deals are concerned Prime Minister Modi's acumen for pushing the national gains ahead can match the will and skills of any other leader of the world -- this was openly acknowledged by Trump in his Ahmedabad speech. Prime Minister Modi indeed has the ability to get over the bureaucratic recalcitrance on either side by engaging his counterpart in a personal discussion and review -- this is something that did not go unnoticed in the context of the Trump visit.

At the Motera stadium, President Trump defined the basic approach that gave positivity to India-US relations -- he said that both Modi and he wanted to do what they believed was in the best interests of their people. This made for the continuity of talks on trade and commerce as also on strategic issues.

President Donald Trump's visit to India with his family has not only added to the visibility of US' friendly ties with this country but has also enhanced his standing at home in an election year because of the expectation of an increased support for him from Indians settled in the US. The visit hit the global headlines for its geo-political significance for this part of the world where competing interests of Russia and China also come into play and underscored India's position as one of the prime movers particularly in the Indo-Pacific context.

The visit reportedly, fast tracked the talks for the finalisation of the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) that would allow India and the US to exchange geospatial maps to get pinpointed military accuracy of automated hardware systems and weapons such as cruise and ballistic missiles. President Trump announced in Ahmedabad itself that a $3 billion deal signed for the supply of Sikorsky and Apache attack helicopters to India.

Talks in Delhi also focussed on terrorism and ways and means of the two countries jointly tackling the common threat. It is hoped that apart from Intelligence exchange, a track would be created for interaction between the special knowledge people on both sides for an ongoing study of the roots of Islamic radicalism and the pattern of its spread as well as formulation of 'de-radicalisation' programmes. India unlike US has no comfort of distance in facing the new global terror and is better placed for understanding the nuances of the problem and keeping both strategic partners on the same grid on this threat.

Speaking alongside Prime Minister Modi for a joint statement at Delhi, President Trump talked of the 'majesty' of India and the grand hospitality received by his family, expressed his optimism about a comprehensive trade deal with India and went at some length to enumerate the agreements that had been reached for expanding defence cooperation and improving partnership in energy sector, healthcare and homeland security. He gave out that he and Prime Minister Modi were working together for a free and balanced Indo-Pacific region.

He specifically mentioned the advance made by the two countries in jointly defending their people against radical Islamic terror and getting Pakistan to take full and effective action against the terrorists operating from its soil. There is little doubt that the maiden visit of President Trump would do a lot to benefit the two countries both in the economic sphere as well as the security domain. The two largest democracies of the world are likely to work together as 'natural partners' in a transparent way under the leadership of Trump and Modi whose personal equation with each other and the known commitment to their respective countries provide a strong foundation for the Indo-US friendship as it exists today.

(The writer is a former Director Intelligence Bureau. The views expressed are personal.)
Gaza, Feb 25 : A senior official of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) said that a ceasefire with Israel in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip has come into effect.

Ihsan Ataya, the Lebanon-based senior official, told Xinhua news agency that the ceasefire came into effect at 11.30 p.m. on Monday following Egyptian and international mediation.

"It was agreed that the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is mutual and synchronous," he said, adding that his group's members "will respond to any breach or violation of the ceasefire".

The ceasefire implementation was also confirmed by the PIJ's armed wing Saraya al-Quds.

It has ended two days of tension that broke out on Sunday between Israel and the Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip after the former shot and killed PIJ member Mohammad Naem and then tried to remove his body with a bulldozer.

The scenes of pulling Naem's body by the bulldozer had sparked widespread outrage among the Palestinians.

In response, Saraya al-Quds fired barrages of rockets on Sunday night into southern Israel.

In retaliation, Israeli war jets launched missiles on military posts and locations that belong to 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 the country's defence system. Damage was caused to houses and cars in several towns.

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.
Spectacle turned to substance on Day 2 of United States President Donald Trumps visit as he had talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the nations capital.

After a day of lapping up attention from cheering crowds and taking in India's most famous sites, including the Taj Mahal, Trump lay the groundwork for longer-term deals on trade and other matters.

-- NAMASTE TRUMP

Take a look.

US President Donald Trump, his wife and first lady Melania Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind pose for a photo during Trump's ceremonial reception at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan Presidential Palace in New Delhi. Photograph: Altaf Hussain/Reuters

US President Donald Trump inspects guard of honour during his ceremonial reception at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan Presidential Palace in New Delhi. Photograph: Altaf Hussain/Reuters

US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump arrives for the ceremonial reception of her father, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi. Photograph: Subhav Shukla/PTI Photo

US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump lay wreath at Rajghat, the memorial for Mahatma Gandhi, in New Delhi. Minister of State (Independent Charge) Hardeep Singh Puri accompanied Trumps to the spot. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo

US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump offer floral respects at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat in New Delhi. Photograph: Al Drago/Reuters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes the US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Hyderabad House. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

US First Lady Melania Trump attends a meeting with children at the Sarvodaya Co-Education Senior Secondary School in Moti Bagh, in New Delhi. Melania attended a Happiness Class at the school. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

US First Lady Melania Trump being presented Madhubani paintings by students during her visit to a government school in New Delhi. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo

US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend a joint news conference after bilateral talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi embrace during a joint news conference after bilateral talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

US President Donald Trump speaks during an interaction with business leaders at US embassy in New Delhi. Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani is also seen. Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI Photo

Trump and the First Lady stand with President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife Savita Kovind during the playing of the national anthem at a state banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi. Photograph: Alex Brandon/pool via Reuters

White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump are greeted by President Kovind during the state banquet. Photograph: Alex Brandon/pool via Reuters
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. 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." Penn Nursing's Catherine C. McDonald, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor and lead investigator of the study
Facing flak for his speech during a gathering in favour of CAA at Maujpur Chowk in northeast Delhi, BJP leader Kapil Mishra remained defiant on Tuesday saying he was not scared of the "massive hate campaign" against him for "speaking truth" and supporting the amended citizenship law.

Mishra, a former AAP MLA who unsuccessfully contested the recent Assembly polls on a BJP ticket from Model Town, led a gathering in support of the CAA at Maujpur Chowk in Jafarabad area on Sunday, after which violence erupted between pro and anti CAA groups.

In a series of tweets on Tuesday, Mishra said that he was being abused and issued "death threats" and stressed that he did not commit any crime by supporting the amended citizenship law.

"I have received calls by many to kill me. Many people including politicians and journalists are abusing me. But, I am not scared because I have not done anything wrong," Mishra told PTI.

BJP's East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday supported strict action against anyone, including Mishra, if they gave "provocative" speeches.

"Whoever, no matter which party he belongs to, whether he is Kapil Mishra or anyone else, who gave speeches to provoke people, action should be taken against them," Gambhir told reporters after visiting injured police officers admitted at Max hospital in Patparganj.

During his pro-CAA demonstration at Maujpur Chow, Mishra had also issued an ultimatum to police to vacate the roads blocked by anti-CAA protesters in Jafarabad and Bhahanpura areas in three days, warning that he will come back on the streets if no action was taken.

Mishra also attacked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who held a meeting with MLAs of violence hit areas in north east Delhi on Tuesday.

"Why did you not appeal in your speech to open the blocked roads in Delhi? Being the chief minister, you should immediately appeal for opening of roads. Why are yousaving rioters blocking the road?" Mishra alleged in a tweet.

Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari appealed to all the BJP leaders to do everything possible to establish peace in Delhi.

"No leader should do such a thing that causes confusion and sends a wrong message among the people. Everyone should refrain from making inflammatory statements," Tiwari said in a statement.

Mishra, however, received support from some BJP leaders including party MLA and former Delhi president Vijender Gupta who tweeted: "Some friends in media and so-called intellectuals are saying that Kapil Mishra is responsible for violence in Delhi, while they keep mum on statements on those like Waris Pathan. They do not want to stop violence, but are sharpening their agenda in the fire of violence."



Pathan is an AIMIM leader.

Delhi BJP spokesperson Tajinderpal Singh Bagga also tweeted in support of Mishra.

Without naming Kapil Mishra, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi alleged that the violence was a result of "incitement by a former MLA and BJP leader" and it cannot be termed as communal riot.

"I believe that this whole thing cannot be called a communal riot. It started because an ex-MLA of BJP stood shoulder to shoulder with a DCP and openly gave an ultimatum," he alleged in his interaction with mediapersons in Hyderabad.

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, blaming Kapil Mishra for the violence in northeast Delhi.

A petition before the high court related to the violence in northeast Delhi accused Kapil Mishra and other BJP leaders of making hate speeches and inciting violence, and has sought action against them.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Anne Burnett Windfohr Marion, a prominent Texas rancher, oil heiress and patron of the arts who helped found the Georgia OKeeffe Museum in Santa Fe, N.M., died on Feb. 11 in Palm Springs, Calif. She was 81.

The cause was lung cancer, said Neils Agather, a family representative.

Mrs. Marion represented the fourth generation of a renowned Texas ranching family that once owned more than a third of a million acres; today the holdings amount to about 275,000 acres. Its 6666 Ranch, known as the Four Sixes, has long been one of the biggest in Texas and much celebrated for its Black Angus cattle, quarter horses and oil. In the 1960s and 70s, its distinctive red and white barn provided the backdrop for Marlboro cigarette ads.

While the family fortune was founded on ranching and cattle, it was the discovery of oil, in 1921 and then in 1969, that produced the riches that made it possible for Mrs. Marion to become a major benefactor of the arts and culture in Fort Worth and beyond.

Former President George W. Bush, in a statement, called her a true Texan, a great patron of the arts, a generous member of our community and a person of elegance and strength.
Thousands send a message to Trudeau, Feb. 23

I heard the speakers at Queens Park on Saturday, including Eve Saint, and I would like to point out a choice made in the reporting of Eves speech. It is exactly what the colonial mind is in the habit of doing.

Saint explained that she had been arrested on Feb. 2 at a camp on Wetsuweten unceded territory. That included her description of how terrified she and her partner were that she would get  shot by an RCMP officer over a sudden or misinterpreted gesture she might make. She also reminded us that this kind of violence is not new, is running deep and is the default.

In your paper, however, the space that could have been dedicated to report this  was instead given to the RCMPs justification of why Saint was arrested.

The Toronto Star is committing verbal violence every day by using the label of protesters, instead of protectors, supporters or defenders of the land, as it has been asked (to do). It cannot add complicity with the RCMPs violence to that.

Indigenous law has never been extinguished.
Olympic legend Cathy Freeman is calling for Australia's national anthem to be changed, adding her voice to other indigenous sporting stars who argue Advance Australia fair ignores the country's pre-colonial past.

The song contains the words 'we are young and free'. Indigenous Australians object to the word 'young' because they lived on the land for tens of thousands of years before Europeans arrived.

Freeman (pictured last month) has joined a growing number of Australian sporting stars who believe Advance Australia fair is disrespectful to indigenous people

Campaigners say the words should be changed to 'one and free'.

Victorian Supreme Court judge Peter Vickery QC founded the Recognition in Anthem Project in order to change the wording.

On Tuesday Freeman threw her support behind the project.

'I agree with Peter Vickery that the national anthem doesn't acknowledge indigenous existence in Australia,' Freeman told The Australian.

Several indigenous NRL players, including Cody Walker, Josh Addo-Carr and Will Chambers, refused to sing the anthem before game one of the State of Origin series last year.

The anthem was not played before last weekend's indigenous All-Stars game between Indigenous and Maori teams.

Advance Australia Fair was chosen as the de facto national anthem in a 1977 plebiscite by just over 8.4 million voters who picked the song over God Save the Queen, Waltzing Matilda and Song of Australia.

It was officially adopted as the national anthem on April 19, 1984 on the recommendation of the federal government.

The song was composed by the Scottish-born Peter Dodds McCormick, first performed in 1878 and was sung in Australia as a patriotic song.

Later it was used at the start of official functions and the ABC used the melody to announce its news bulletins until 1952.

Freeman was the first Australian Indigenous person to become a Commonwealth Games champion at age 16 in 1990.

Ten years later she won gold in the 400m at the Sydney Olympics.
The US government wants the extra funds for vaccine development, therapeutics and stockpiling medical equipment.

United States President Donald Trumps administration is asking Congress for $2.5bn to fight the fast-spreading coronavirus, the White House said on Monday.

The White House said more than $1bn of the requested virus budget would go towards developing a vaccine, while other funds would be used for therapeutics and the stockpiling of personal protective equipment such as masks.

With financial markets falling on concerns that the virus will have a significant effect on the global economy, the Trump administration is eager to show it is prepared to combat the virus despite the limited number of cases so far in the US.

The virus has spread to some 29 countries and territories beyond mainland China, with outbreaks in South Korea, Iran and Italy.

The Trump administration continues to take the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease very seriously, said Rachel Semmel, a spokeswoman for the White House Office of Management and Budget.

Today, the administration is transmitting to Congress a $2.5bn supplemental funding plan to accelerate vaccine development, support preparedness and response activities, and to procure much-needed equipment and supplies.

Of the $2.5bn request, $1.5bn represents new funding. The rest would come from funds already budgeted by Congress, such as unused money to fight the Ebola virus. The administration requires congressional approval to redirect that money to fight the coronavirus.

House of Representatives Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey, a Democrat, said in a statement the Trump administrations funding request was woefully insufficient to protect Americans from the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

The US has not seen the virus spread through its communities the way that China and other countries have experienced but health officials are preparing for the possibility even as Americans affected so far have been quarantined.

There have been 53 confirmed US cases of the new coronavirus so far  14 in people diagnosed in the US and 39 among Americans repatriated from the outbreaks epicentre of Wuhan, China, and the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined in Japan, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Travel warning

US health officials have warned that cases among repatriated citizens will likely increase.

The CDC warned Americans on Monday to avoid travel to South Korea because of the virus.

We have aggressively worked to combat the spread of this virus, tried to prevent it as best we could from coming into this country, White House spokesman Hogan Gidley told reporters earlier on Monday.

Trump has been at odds with his own White House advisers over Chinas coronavirus response. He has sought to downplay the effects of the virus, saying it could fade in April with warmer weather  something health experts said is unknown.

Trump has praised the work of Chinese President Xi Jinping, even as his advisers have questioned the reliability of the information Beijing has shared on the virus and expressed frustration over its reluctance to accept US expertise in combating it.

The Trump administration is also grappling with where to send Americans evacuated from the Diamond Princess who tested positive for the virus after backing off plans to quarantine them in a federal facility in Alabama.

In a statement on Monday, the Department of Heath and Human Services cited a rapidly evolving situation, but said the Alabama centre was not needed at this time and that it was looking for alternatives.
Advocate Seema Kushwaha, representing the victim's side in the 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case, on Tuesday said that the Central government's petition being adjourned till March 5 has no impact on the execution of the convicts in the matter.

Earlier today, the Supreme Court adjourned till March 5 hearing in the petition filed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs seeking to execute the convicts in the Nirbhaya case separately.

"The petition filed by Union Ministry of Home Affairs has been adjourned till March 5. The petition has no impact on the hanging as it is concerned with the question of law," Kushwaha told ANI here.

She said that the delay tactics employed by the convicts in the matter have raised a legal question.

"The convicts were taking advantage of the loopholes in the law. They were moving all their legal remedies separately. Their delay tactics have raised a legal question," Kushwaha added.

On the other hand, advocate AP Singh who is representing the death row convicts in the matter has claimed that the hanging of the convicts cannot be carried out when a petition in the matter is pending.

"The execution of the convicts cannot take place on March 3 since the petition is scheduled to be heard on March 5. A person cannot be executed when a plea in their case is pending before any court," Singh told reporters here.

The Centre had moved the top court after the Delhi High Court had rejected its petition and observed that the death warrant of all convicts in the case should be executed together.

The case pertains to the brutal gangrape and killing of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012, by six people including a juvenile in Delhi. The woman had died at a Singapore hospital a few days later.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
REUTERS

Chuck Schumer has managed to keep his Senate Democratic caucus together since becoming its leader. But next time one of his members needs a favor, perhaps they can appeal to his sweet tooth.

It turns out the Senate Democratic leader has dropped $9,000 on cheesecakes from a Brooklyn bakery over the years  and he's fully embracing his habit.

After intrepid reporters at the New York Post uncovered federal campaign finance disclosure forms showing a political action committee closely affiliated with the New York Democrat has spent thousands on cheesecakes from Junior's, which Mr Schumer claims puts out the finest in the world.

"Guilty as charged," Mr Schumer told reporters while holding a tray full of Junior's cheeseckakes.

"I love Junior's cheesecake so much. It's the best cheesecake in the world," he said. "It is made in Brooklyn. I've been going to Junior's since I've been a little boy. And it's my guilty pleasure."

"Oh, baby. Now you're talking," Mr Schumer said at a press conference as he prepared to bite into a piece. "In Brooklyn, they would say 'So something good,'" avoiding dropping an expletive. "But I'm just going to say so good."

If the Senate Democratic leader had purchased the store's most popular pie, the "Original NY Plan Cheesecake" at its current price of $43.95, the PAC would have bought 196 of them.

Mr Schumer's staff also had some fun with the matter.

"No matter how ya slice it, Chuck is proud of his years of support for the Downtown Brooklyn institution that is Junior's cheesecake," Schumer spokesman Angelo Roefaro told The Post, adding no taxpayer funds were used to buy the tasty treats.

Read more

Fired Trump aide McMaster could criticise president in new book

White House refuses to deny Trump accused Boris Johnson of 'betrayal'
Mosque in Indian capital set ablaze as police accused of helping Hindu mob target Muslims and their properties.

The death toll in Delhis worst religious violence in decades has risen to 24 as Indian police have been accused of looking the other way while Muslims and their properties were targeted.

A mosque was set on fire in the Indian capital on Tuesday by Hindu mobs, as several Muslim-populated areas in the city were attacked during three days of violence, which were triggered after attacks on sit-ins against a new citizenship law.

Muslims say the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Hindu supremacist agenda and is against the countrys secular ethos.

Indian website The Wire reported that a mob shouting Jai Shri Ram, translated to hail Lord Ram, paraded around the burning mosque in the Ashok Nagar area of the capital.

Video footage shared on social media showed a mob climbing to the top of the mosques minaret where they attempted to plant a saffron flag, a banner associated with Hindu far-right groups.

The mosque was set on fire in the Indian capital on Tuesday by Hindu mobs [Sajjad Hussain/AFP]

Local media reported that shops in the area were also being targeted by the mob.

Police imposed a restriction on large gatherings in northeast Delhi as reports emerged of stone-throwing and more structures being set ablaze.

Horrific! Injured people are laying down on the ground and they are forced to sing the national anthem. Security forces record them, beating them and shout "freedom". #DelhiBurning #DelhiViolence #India #DelhiIsBurning #DelhiPolice #TrumpIndiaVisit pic.twitter.com/qrUWTrrz0g  DOAM (@doamuslims) February 24, 2020

Anil Mittal, a senior police officer, said approximately 150 people were injured in the violence that started as US President Donald Trump arrived on a two-day India trip.

Some of the people brought in had gunshot wounds, Rajesh Kalra, additional medical superintendent at the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, said of Mondays violence.

Renewed violence has been reported in Muslim populated areas such as Karawal Nagar, Maujpur, Bhajanpura, Vijay Park and Yamuna Vihar, while stones were thrown in neighbourhoods such as Maujpur.

Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal appealed to residents to maintain peace after an urgent meeting of his newly elected legislators in the capital.

Severe shortage of police officers

Kejriwal told ANI news agency that his partys legislators from the affected areas said there was a severe shortage of police officers.

The clashes erupted on Sunday after supporters of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed by Parliament last December, attacked anti-government protest sites. The CAA, dubbed anti-Muslim, has triggered nationwide protests, especially by Muslims.

Two of my colleagues @arvindgunasekar and @saurabhshukla_s were badly beaten by a mob just now in Delhi, they only stopped beating them after realising they are our people- Hindus. Absolutely despicable.  Nidhi Razdan (@Nidhi) February 25, 2020

The violence started a day after the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kapil Mishra warned anti-CAA protesters to end their peaceful sit-ins in the northeastern Jafrabad and Maujpur areas of the Indian capital.

On Monday, police used tear gas and smoke grenades but struggled to disperse the stone-throwing crowds.

A tyre market was set on fire later on Monday, the Press Trust of India said. A video posted on social media showed crowds of men shouting Jai Shri Ram as they went on a rampage, according to AFP.

Several vehicles and a fire truck were torched in Jafrabad and Maujpur as police imposed prohibitory orders to prevent further violence.

A man is beaten during a clash between people supporting a new citizenship law and those opposing the law in New Delhi [Danish Siddiqui/Reuters]

A dditional police officers deployed 

Mittal, the Delhi Police official, said on Tuesday additional police officers had been deployed in the northeast district of Delhi.

One police constable was among those killed in the violence that erupted just ahead of Trumps maiden visit to the capital city.

Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks on Tuesday at a venue located a few miles away from where the clashes occurred.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal: MLAs of the affected areas informed me that there is a severe shortage of police force and police can't take action till they receive orders from the top. I have also asked District Magistrates to take out peace march with police in these areas. https://t.co/K9UcxvCSYR  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

Tension in parts of the city remained high on Tuesday with schools remaining shut in some areas amid news reports of fresh clashes. At least five metro stations in the city were closed.

Several journalists covering the violence were also attacked by angry mobs at several locations.

Two of my colleagues Arvind Gunasekar and Saurabh Shukla were badly beaten by a mob just now in Delhi, they only stopped beating them after realising they are our people  Hindus. Absolutely despicable, senior journalist Nidhi Razdan wrote on twitter.

Mondays clashes were among the worst seen in Delhi since the protests against the CAA began in early December.

Indias capital has been a hotbed of protests against the law, which eases the path of non-Muslims from three neighbouring Muslim-majority countries to gain Indian citizenship.

This has led to accusations that Modi and his Hindu nationalist BJP are undermining Indias secular ethos.

The BJP denies any bias against Indias more than 180 million-strong Muslim minority but objectors have been holding protests and camping out in parts of New Delhi for two months.

Bilal Kuchay contributed to this report from New Delhi
NYS scandal suspect, Phyllis Njeri, once again broke down at the Milimani Law Courts on Monday, February 24, exactly one month after her earlier plea with the court to unfreeze her bank accounts.

Njeri, through her lawyer Evans Ondieki, has been seeking access to her monies to pay her sons school fees at the prestigious Pembroke House School in Gilgil.

Last month, she claimed she owed the school up to Ksh3.4 million in unpaid fees.

On Monday, she took her plea a notch higher as she appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene.

I want the President to know that we are being persecuted. My family has been through a lot. Even if I am a suspect, we have been persecuted for two years. I used to work and all my money is stuck at NYS.Id rather die or been thrown in jail than go through this, a weeping Njeri told reporters.

According to the Ngirita sibling, her Class Seven son can no longer speak German because he has been out of school. Apparently, the son now speaks Swahili and Kikuyu languages and she fears he is turning into a street urchin (Chokoraa).

She also lamented that her cars, which were bought on hire purchase, were impounded forcing her to rely on matatus. She also complained that she cant travel to Germany because her passport was seized.

Njeri also accused the investigating agencies and prosecutors of leaving out a key suspect in the National Youth Service scandal.

The Ngiritas are being sacrificed. I want them to show us the list of the other suspects. Where are they? They claim that we stole billions. There were too many people in that list and the Ngiritas are being used as a sacrifice, lamented Njeri Ngirita.

Watch the video courtesy of Citizen TV.
A 16-member business delegation



from Down Under is currently in the city as a part of Australia-India Business Exchange 2020 and exploring collaboration opportunities in the mining industry of Eastern India, officials said.

The government last year allowed 100 per cent foreign investment in coal mining.

Coal India Ltd also seeks to ramp up production to one billion tonnes by 2024 advancing the target by two years offering greater opportunities for mining technology and equipment companies.

Coinciding with the visit of the Australian delegation, a panel discussion titled "India's mining industry



Targets, Reforms and Roadmaps" was organised by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BIG RAPIDS  Mike Poumade believes that not enough locals know about the extraordinary life, or military heroism, of Big Rapids native and U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Ben Hebard Fuller.

The 150th anniversary of Fuller's birth, on Thursday, is a great time to change that, Poumade said.

A fellow Big Rapids native now living in Annandale, Virginia, Poumade recently put together a research paper on Fuller, who he believes may be the most highly ranked military officer to come from the city. Despite Fuller's accolades, city officials say they know of no public monument bearing his name.

"I work as a defense contractor, and I've done some work for Marines," said Poumade, himself a retired U.S. Army officer. "I'm not a researcher by trade, but I came across (Fuller's) name and thought, 'Oh, Big Rapids, that's cool.' Then, I thought, 'I spent the first 18-19 years of my life up there and never heard anything about him.'

"I think these were pretty significant accomplishments, especially considering the size of the town, or the county, for that matter. Seeing as it's the 150th year, I thought that was interesting -- maybe there's interest in putting a marker in somewhere."

'Source of pride'

Poumade's research helps illustrate Fuller's long and decorated career in the U.S. military. He was appointed as a major general and served as the 15th commandant in the history of the U.S. Marine Corps from 1930-34, when he left the corps at the mandatory retirement age of 65. At the time Fuller served as commandant, major general was the highest USMC rank attainable.

As a captain, he participated in a Philippine-American War battle in 1899, and received commendation for gallant, meritorious and courageous conduct for fighting during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. Fuller did not see combat during World War I, but commanded the Second Brigade of Marines in the Dominican Republic from 1918-20. Fuller served as assistant commandant in the Marine Corps from 1928-30 and fulfilled many of the responsibilities of his superior officer, Wendall Cushing Neville, who was ill at the time.

Among the other areas of the world Fuller served in were Hawaii, Panama and Cuba.

In 1892, Fuller married Katherine Heaton Offley and moved to Hamilton, Virginia. The couple had two children -- a son, Edward Canfield Fuller, who became a USMC captain, and a daughter, Dorothy Nelson Fuller Fordney, who married a USMC colonel.

Fuller died in 1937 and was buried in the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Maryland, beside the grave of his son, who was killed in action in the Battle of Belleau Wood during World War I.

The elder Fuller was well-memorialized after his death. During WWII, the USS Fuller, an attack transport ship, was named for him. It earned nine battle stars for service in the Pacific Theater, in famous locations including Guadalcanal, Leyte and Okinawa, and was decommissioned following the war.

"I think that should be a source of pride, coming from small-town roots. It might be an inspiration for people in a rural area, who might feel like there aren't so many opportunities out there," Poumade said.

Little known in Big Rapids?

Today, a Virginia state historical marker marks the Fuller home in Hamilton. A main road into Marine Corps Base Quantico is named for him. His official portrait and biography -- prominently stating Big Rapids as the place of his birth -- is on display at the Pentagon.

However, despite Fuller's long list of accomplishments, it appears he is not well known in Big Rapids.

While Fuller Avenue is a highly trafficked thoroughfare in town, Poumade believes it probably wasn't named after the military hero. Fuller's father, Ceylon --who served as one of the first lawyers in Big Rapids and owned several acres in the area, including the "Fuller Addition" to the town plat -- seems to be the more likely namesake, Poumade said.

Big Rapids city officials said they believe there is no public monument to Ben Fuller, either -- not even at the Veterans and Homefront Heroes Memorial at Holland Park. City manager Mark Gifford said he had never heard of Fuller before seeing what Poumade had to say.

"It's pretty neat. First I've heard of it, although I wouldn't be surprised if some of the old-timers around town knew all about (Fuller)," Gifford said. "It's really interesting and exciting, it's just not something I know a lot about. We'd certainly love to come up with some way to honor him."

Even Mark Brejcha -- a Big Rapids Middle School social studies teacher, self-professed military history buff and U.S. Air Force veteran with nearly 30 years of service -- said Poumade's findings came as news to him. Brejcha is now working with the local branch of the American Legion, of which he is vice commander, in order to formally honor Fuller in some way.

"For (Fuller) to get up to those heights, I just don't know how he escaped the public eye without being recognized," Brejcha said. "You can't go any higher in your military service than where Fuller got -- and for him to come from Big Rapids, when it was a really small town, it's really something. You have to demonstrate that you're a step above, every step of the way, and he did.

"Hats off to Mike for remembering where he came from and being proud of it."

It is not clear whether or not Fuller has living descendants, either in the Big Rapids area or elsewhere. Brejcha said if Fuller does have family members who are still alive, he would like to meet them.

"I would say, 'Tell us what you know,'" Brejcha said. "It'd be nice to have some welcome to extend to family members, especially if they're from out-of-state. It would help us put together a way to display his accomplishments and show what it means for the Big Rapids area."
Technavio has been monitoring the feed yeast market and it is poised to grow by USD 558.26 million during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 5% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

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(Newser)  Psychologists looking into the death of Edgar Allen Poe are disputing a widely held theory that the famous author committed suicide. The 40-year-old Poe died in a hospital in 1849 after what has been described as days of delirium, notes Fast Company. The cause of his death remains unclear to this day, but contemporary Charles Baudelaire pushed one theory into the mainstream by observing that Poe's death was "almost a suicide, a suicide prepared for a long time." However, in a new study in the Journal of Affective Disorders, researchers cast doubt on the notion that Poe killed himself. They did so after a close examination of Poe's lifelong writing, particularly in his later years, searching for telltale clues about his mental state.

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"My hunch is that he was indeed spiralling into a depression toward the end of his life, but that he didn't kill himself," says psychologist Ryan Boyd of Lancaster University in a news release. The team looked for "linguistic markers" in samples of Poe's work from throughout his lifespecifically 309 personal letters, 49 poems, and 63 short storiesto look for signs of depression. Those include more "negative emotion words" (bad, sad, or angry, etc.) and increased use of first-person singular pronouns (I, me, my). While the analysis suggests that Poe suffered from depression at rough periods, including the death of his wife, "significant, consistent patterns of depression were not found and do not support suicide as a cause of death," the researchers write. (Poe once had a mysterious, modern visitor who showed up at his burial site in Baltimore every year.)
As we think about solutions to the upcoming workforce shortage, I am passionate about finding ways to ensure that underrepresented minorities are part of the solution and reach future successes in cybersecurity.

Sid Sidhu, from Facebook, set to be keynote at Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) conference

Three influential women are set to present keynotes at the next Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) conference, March 12-14, in Aurora, Colorado. One of the presenters is Sid Sidhu, a leader in Production Engineering at Facebook.

Sidhu is presenting Scaling for the Future. From her vantage point working at the intersection of Production Engineering and Security at Facebook, she will share some of the challenges and lessons learned in scaling infrastructure, and how they can be applied to security. She believes this transformation is critical for security organizations in the industry to scale for the future. They need to reach the next level through a skillset evolution, a mindset shift, and cultural and organizational change.

At Facebook, Sidhu's team works on the scalability of infrastructure services with a focus on security. Her role gives her a unique perspective on technical and organizational drivers in scaling infrastructure that can be leveraged to build future security teams. Originally from India, she has called Silicon Valley home for the last 15 years with prior stints at Box, Juniper and Sun Microsystems.

I'm excited to be a part of WiCyS 2020  a forum to celebrate the women in cybersecurity and inspire the next generation of leaders. The growing field of cybersecurity is going to afford a lot of opportunities for years to come. As we think about solutions to the upcoming workforce shortage, I am passionate about finding ways to ensure that underrepresented minorities are part of the solution and reach future successes in cybersecurity, Sidhu said.

The WiCyS conference will bring together more than 1,650 women and allies in cybersecurity from industry, academia, government, nonprofits and research to share their knowledge and expertise while networking and mentoring. The conference is unique as it zeroes in on recruiting, retaining and advancing women in cybersecurity careers.

Journalists are invited to attend and should email info@wicys.org to request a media pass. For more information on WiCyS or the conference, visit http://www.wicys.org.

About WiCyS:

Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) is the premier nonprofit organization with international reach dedicated to bringing together women in cybersecurity. Founded by Dr. Ambareen Siraj from Tennessee Tech University through a National Science Foundation grant in 2013, WiCyS offers opportunities and resources for its members and collaboration benefits for its sponsors and partners. The organizations founding partners are Cisco, Facebook and Palo Alto Networks. WiCyS strategic partners include Amazon Web Services, Bloomberg, Cisco, Equifax, Facebook, Google, HERE Technologies, IBM, Lockheed Martin, Nike, Optum, Palo Alto Networks, PayPal, SANS Institute, Target, and University of California San Diego. To partner with WiCyS, visit https://www.wicys.org/become-a-partner
NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake will be recognized by Mutual of America Financial Group for its HabiCorps program during a special event at The Hotel at Arundel Preserve on February 26 at 12:00 p.m.

The program was named a Merit Finalist award recipient in the Mutual of America 2019 Community Partnership Award competition, which received entries from organizations nationwide.

For more than 35 years, Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake has been a catalyst for moving low-income families out of poverty toward more prosperous, stable futures through affordable homeownership. In 2016, they created HabiCorps, a first-of-its-kind workforce development program that provides training in the construction trades and landscape/property maintenance industry to Baltimore residents facing significant employment barriers. Under the supervision of skilled instructors, HabiCorps trainees work on Habitat for Humanity projects, gaining hands-on experience in demolition and renovation of existing structures and new construction. During the full-time, 10-month program, they also receive training to achieve various industry certifications, including first aid and CPR.

Vital to HabiCorps' success is its collaboration with two partners. Aerotek is a recruitment and staffing agency that guides HabiCorps trainees through resume writing and interview preparation, and Project JumpStart refers trainees to HabiCorps and works with the Baltimore chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors to place graduates into permanent construction jobs.

"HabiCorps addresses several critical needs in Baltimore  we provide training for well-paying trade careers and also build affordable housing in underserved communities," said Mike Posko, Chief Executive Officer of Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake. "It's a 360-degree approach that enables us to invest both in people facing employment barriers and the Baltimore neighborhoods they call home. We're excited to help our affiliates replicate this program on a national scale."

About the Mutual of America Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Community Partnership Award annually honors the outstanding contributions that nonprofit organizations, in partnership with public, private and other social sector organizations, make to society. Since 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 240 partnerships from cities and towns across America. To watch videos of all of the national award-winning programs, visit the Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award channel on YouTube.

About Mutual of America

Mutual of America is a leading provider of retirement products, offering personalized service at a competitive price to help plan participants and individuals build and preserve assets for a financially secure future. Integrity, prudence and reliability are the values that have guided us since our inception in 1945 and that continue to serve us well. For more information, visit mutualofamerica.com, and connect with us via Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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While the legal orders for the Butte Hill cleanup plan have been laid out, some Butte residents are questioning one of the areas earmarked to be used as a disposal site for mine waste.

The tailings and sediments to be removed from the Blacktail Creek and Silver Bow Creek cleanup areas are designated for storage at one of two approved disposal locations.

The first option is to expand the existing mine waste repository located east of Walkerville on the Butte Hill. That would add 160 acres of Atlantic Richfield-owned land.

The second option is to expand the mine waste repository at the Copper Mountain Recreation Complex at Timber Butte. Both mine waste disposal locations were approved in the 1990s.

The mine waste repository on Butte Hill has been under current operation, but the waste site at Timber Butte hasnt been in operation in years. While Timber Butte residents knew that their neighborhood was built adjacent to a former landfill and tailings disposal site, they never considered the possibility of their neighborhood playing host to an expansion of that repository.

That news hasnt settled well with area residents.

Jackie Higgins and her husband, Collin, sold their current house at the junction of Clay and Colorado streets and are in the final stages of purchasing a roughly $395,000 property a few blocks away.

But that new house, near the junction of Montana and McKinley streets, is adjacent to the proposed new waste site location and this fact has caused them to consider backing out of the purchase.

I would not be buying the house that we're buying if [the mine tailings] were already there, Higgins said. I mean, were going to buy it. But we wouldn't have even looked at it. That house to me would not be an option.

Higgins is concerned about how the additional tailings would affect real estate value of homes in the area.

I just can't imagine it being good for anybody, Higgins said. I feel like the prices, the value of houses around here will just go down because the waste site is right out your back door.

Higgins said what troubled her most was the lack of notice from officials about plans to store mine waste in her neighborhood.

I'm so glad our neighbor stopped by [on Sunday] because we would have had no idea, Higgins said.

On Monday, Atlantic Richfield Company representatives and Julia Crain of Butte-Silver Bow met with concerned citizens at the Copper Mountain Recreation Complex to address concerns and answer questions. Josh Bryson, AR project manager, answered most of the attendees' questions.

The folks who showed up were mainly Timber Butte residents, who raised concerns about the dust, traffic, air quality, potential health impacts and property valuation.

Atlantic Richfield stated in an email Monday night that the company  is evaluating existing and potential repositories to determine the most appropriate location to safely dispose of impacted soils excavated during the course of the proposed work.

Mason Masters, who lives just over a block from the proposed site off of Calhoun and Montana Streets, was born and raised in Butte and owns and operates All American Construction, LLC. His wife works for NorthWestern Energy, and his son attends Montana Tech.

He clearly has a lot invested in this town and didnt mince words when asked what his initial reaction was to learning about the possibility of additional tailings being added to the mine waste disposal site.

I guess not in my backyard, was my first reaction, Masters said.

He said he understands that there are two locations for the repository and he would obviously prefer the waste be sent to Walkerville where a repository already exists.

The one over here is just, first of all, still close to my house. I'm kind of biased here, but it's right in the backyards of all these other houses, said Masters. But they're eyeing this area because it's closer, but the [repository] up there isn't as close to a residential area.

Masters said, if they do use some of this area, I would hope that they don't at least use this finger, this little area right here that's in everyone's backyard.

The proposed repository at Timber Butte covers a 16.6 acre strip of land that runs northeast except for a section that runs directly north and south and divides 3 Legends Stadium to the west and housing along Montana Street to the east. Masters referred to this portion as the finger and it is this section, and the possible air quality issues that could be stirred by wind carrying toxic particles, that has him most worried.

I just think (the mine waste) would be better up by the Yankee Doodle tailings, he said. We love it up here  its just our neighborhood. I've lived here for 15-16 years, and I don't want to move.

Jon Sesso, Superfund coordinator for Butte-Silver Bow, said the parties in the consent decree worked together to determine where to store the mine waste. It all came down to which one would have that least impact on public safety and human health, he said.

Sesso said Timber Butte was pitched as an alternative for the mine waste disposal location because it is already a permitted repository.

However, Sesso said, the Superfund parties are still in the process of determining if the [Timber Butte] site is suitable and that they then would have to determine how to transport the mine waste to that site.

Our number one goal is public safety, Sesso said. By placing tailings at Copper Mountain site, big benefit is that we can keep the haul trucks off city streets and major roads ... We have to figure this out and do right by the community.

Another Timber Butte resident, Steve Jaksha, said that he doesnt think storing the mine waste in a residential neighborhood is a good idea.

From everything that Ive seen, not knowing much about reclamation, [Atlantic Richfield] seems to be doing good work, Jaksha said. I get that theyre planning to put 36 inches of top soil, if they choose [Timber Butte] ... I personally dont want to live with all the dust this will cause 5 to 7 years down the road.

I dont want to get dust blowing into my window in the summer because I dont have air conditioning. I dont want my daughter to be in it, and I dont want my dog to be in it, Jaksha said.

Why not just leave it where its at? Jaksha said. If they cant, I think they should just put the mine tailings back by the pit, if thats where they came from.

He said hes worried that Butte already has a dust problem and that transporting the mine tailings from one part of town to another will aggravate the problem.

Jaksha said hes most upset about the lack of communication from the Superfund parties about their plans to expand the Timber Butte repository to store more mine waste.

Not once did we receive a letter from them, he said.

Sesso said there is no perfect answer.

But if we can stay off the main roads to transport the waste, we will put less people at risk, Sesso said. And the more we can get this done efficiently, the less risks to safety.

Nikia Greene, remedial project manager with the Environmental Protection Agency, said the agencys job is to review and approve proposals on how to transport hazardous waste from Blacktail Creek. He said that the transportation of the mine waste will follow the guidelines and regulations outlined by Superfund regulatory compliance.

Right now, were in the preliminary investigation of determining if it is a suitable site for hazardous waste, Greene said. No decisions have been made at this time.

Butte-Silver Bow is hosting an open house 6 to 8 p.m. tonight, Feb. 25 at Butte Justice Center, 3619 Wynne Avenue. Another meeting is scheduled at 8:30 to 10 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 26, at City Brew, 2902 Harrison Ave.

An End Land Use presentation is also scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 27, at Butte Brewing Co., 465 E Galena St.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 25)  Coconut oil, whose health benefits have been proven in the past, will be tested for use as a potential treatment for the novel coronavirus infection.

That [VCO] is being looked into, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III told CNN Philippines Newsroom on Tuesday.

We have heard very good studies with regard to its ability to neutralize the viruses, but for the COVID- 19, it is not clear, the top health official added.

Duque also said the VCO would not be used to treat the viral infection caused by the new strain of coronavirus here in the country until the World Health Organization confirmed its antiviral effects.

He made the reaction following Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles' announcement Monday that a former academician from one of the countrys top universities proposed to test coconut oil as COVID-19 treatment amid the absence of a specific treatment.

In a research proposal published on January 31, Ateneo de Manila University Professor Emeritus Fabian Antonio Dayrit and Dr. Mary Newport of Spring Hill Neonatolody in Florida, United States proposed to conduct a clinical study on patients infected with the COVID-19 involving VCO, saying this treatment is affordable and virtually risk-free, and the potential benefits are enormous. Nograles said the National University of Singapore has agreed to test VCO as a prophylactic against the COVID-19.

Current evidence suggests coconut oil and its derivatives are safe and effective antiviral compounds in both humans and animals, the researchers noted.

Several in vitro, animal, and human studies support the potential of coconut oil, lauric acid and its derivatives as effective and safe agents against a virus like nCoV-2019 [COVID-19], they said.
Experts are warning of an impending global pandemic as the Novid-19 virus has invaded 30 nations since December 8, when the first Wuhan patient developed symptoms.

Chinas obstinacy in delaying Indias proposed IAF C-17 Globemaster flight to China to evacuate the last 80 Indians still stranded in Wuhan goes beyond the inscrutability of the dragons decision-making. Given that the outbound flight was to carry medical supplies like masks and gloves as a humanitarian gesture in Chinas greatest hour of need, the four-day delay is shaping into a political message for India.

Has China, guilty of initially suppressing news of the virus while discrediting whistleblower doctors, lost the plot? Has the shutdown of big cities with millions of people helped contain the virus spread. President Xi Jinping sounded humble while declaring this was the gravest public health crisis since the Peoples Republic was founded in 1949, but there are signs that the disease is overwhelming totalitarian China as it employs measures impossible to even comprehend, far less carry out globally.

Experts are warning of an impending global pandemic as the Novid-19 virus has invaded 30 nations since December 8, when the first Wuhan patient developed symptoms. The fatalities stand at 2,619 in China even as 79,000 have been infected, while 27 died outside China. More worryingly, the virus is spreading in mysterious clusters. Person to person transmission, spread by carriers with little or no symptoms, far beyond the epicentre in Hubei province, including in South Korea thanks to mass prayer assemblies of the religious group Shincheonji church, and Italy and Iran, is pushing it into the pandemic category.

India has good reason to feel annoyed as its checks on medical exports to China are based on logistical issues and are temporary. Chinas appeal for commerce to go on uninterrupted is understandable but hard to attempt in the prevailing atmosphere of fear and rising panic over a runaway pathogen for which a vaccine is still far from ready.
It's that time of year. Many of us are bunged up and miserable, the rest desperately in need of the sort of warm sun and celestial light that northern Europe doesn't do this side of the equinox.

On every bus and train, in each office and factory, anywhere where people are bunched together because they have no choice, it's muffled sneezes, stifled coughs and pasty complexions.

Sometimes the more gregarious and giving among us don't bother with the smothering and stifling at all. Such people generously recycle whatever viruses they've collected elsewhere, in a spirit of sharing and giving common to our Christian heritage.

I escaped the worst of it. Until this week. Today I woke up feeling like someone had mixed concrete in my head and it had just set. My nose is clogged too and my throat wouldn't feel any worse if I had tried to swallow razor blades.

But I have places to be, things to do and commitments to keep. Do I release myself out into the wider world and do what I damn others for doing: spraying infected and demonic spores among the innocent and the many?

Or do I stay home - duveted, Lemsipped and self-pampered - and write the entire day off?

The public is traditionally forgiving, even sympathetic, in these types of situations. A muffled sneeze into a Kleenex will often win the sufferer a generous 'gesundheit' on the Dart.

But this year is different because of the coronavirus, the publicity-crazed, narcissistic bug that has locked down China and traumatised the world in the past month or so.

Far be it for me to play doctor, but in a world where up to 650,000 can die of the flu in any given year I've found it difficult to have my temperature raised by a virus that has killed about as many as expire from boredom watching 'Oireachtas Report'.

Someone told me the other day that she brought a tickly cough with her to see 'Uncle Vanya' in the West End at the weekend and it earned her more attention than its lead Toby Jones.

In the light of this sort of catastrophisation, all the rage in a world where people demand a daily crisis fix, it might be best that I stay put and sniffle in martyred silence.

If you do catch a bug from reading this, however, I suggest you contact the Editor.

Democracy is irrelevant in Republic of Populism

It became something of a national pastime to sneer and come over all superior as the British blundered and elbowed their way out of Europe.

All the empirical economic evidence provided, each ounce of common sense uttered, every cultural instinct felt, led to the conclusion that Brexit was insane. But it happened anyway.

That's how populism works, as we saw with Trump immediately before. It's the sort of thing that is unleashed after the trauma and pain of a major economic crash. People, understandably, hit out.

We watched our televisions transfixed as an endless queue of demagogues and liars, incompetents and knaves, inside and outside of Westminster, outbid each other in a race to the bottom. We were smugly confident that nothing like that could happen here.

But we have it seems succumbed to something very similar. Different lyrics perhaps, but it's the same tune once you know the key.

Not surprised so to read that some voters in west Dublin have threatened to protest if Mary Lou isn't made Taoiseach. The little matter of her winning the necessary Dail vote is obviously irrelevant in the Republic of Populism.

But that's only me being a boring old democratic fart. Carry on.
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(Newser)  A Belgian city heard much criticism last year after its carnival parade included caricatures of Jewish people. The reaction of Aalst's leaders was to double down. When UNESCO moved to take the city off its cultural heritage list, local officials asked for the action to be taken. When this year's parade was held Sunday, it included people wearing huge fur hats and long fake noses, the BBC reports. Some were dressed in ant costumes. City leaders made no apologies. "It's our humor," a spokesman for the mayor said. "Just fun." It was a weekend of free speech, he said. "There isn't a movement behind it." The city responded to UNESCO's complaints by mocking the agency in the parade. Other targets were Boris Johnson, Queen Elizabeth and Brexit; climate activist Greta Thunberg; and Jesus.

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Early estimates had more than 60,000 people attending the parade, per the Brussels Times, which included the group dressed as antscriticized as echoing the Nazi labeling of Jewish people as "vermin." There were also marchers in Nazi SS uniforms. Belgium's prime minister was among those denouncing the parade; Sophie Wilmes said the caricatures were opposed to the nation's values, per the Times, and harmful "to the reputation of the country." Wilmes, who is of Jewish heritage, singled out the city's decision to increase the caricatures this year. Israeli's foreign minister appealed to the city to cancel carnival. One national politician said it's unfair to blame the city for the actions of a few. "Wilmes makes it seem like the entire Aalst carnival is full of antisemites," he said. The mayor's spokesman said: "What can we do about it? Put people in prison? No." (Read more anti-Semitism stories.)
New Delhi: In the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case, the Supreme Court on Tuesday (February 25) will hear a petition, filed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), seeking a direction to execute the death row convicts separately. A three-judge bench, comprising Justice R Banumathi and Justice Ashok Bhushan and Navin Sinha, will hear the petition.

The Centre had moved the top court as the Delhi High Court had on February 5 had rejected its petition saying that the death warrant of all convicts in the case should be executed together.

Further, the High Court had observed that prison rules of Delhi do not state whether when the mercy petition of one convict is pending, the execution of the other convicts can take place, adding that from the trial court to Supreme Court all convicts have been held by a common order and a common judgment.

On Saturday, a Delhi court dismissed the application of Vinay Sharma, one of the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya case, seeking medical treatment for his claimed "grievous head injury, fracture in his right arm, insanity, mental illness and schizophrenia".

Meanwhile, a fresh death warrant has been issued for the four death row convicts -- Vinay Sharma, Akshay Thakur, Pawan Gupta, and Mukesh Singh -- in the Nirbhaya case for their hanging at 6 am on March 3.

Vinay's lawyer, AP Singh, had earlier argued that the convict was kept in illegal confinement and "illegally tortured" in Tihar Jail. He also claimed that there has been a history of physical assaults on Vinay, who "had been sent for psychiatric treatment on many occasions.

Singh had said, "Vinay should have been treated with proper medical treatment for his poor mental health. He was provided complete medical treatment for his mental illness," adding "non-application" of mind by President of India is one ground for commutation of death sentence to life imprisonment.
A measure of how rapidly changes are happening in the physical demands for theater spaces can be calculated in the relatively short span since Studio underwent its last big rehab. That occurred in 2004, when founding artistic director Joy Zinoman oversaw a $12 million project that included the construction of both the Metheny and Stage 4. As a result of that project, Studio had Stage 4 and three fixed-seat spaces  the Metheny and the previously existing Mead and Milton theaters, all about the same size. Muse said that he believed the redundant design of its fixed-seat theaters was hamstringing its aspirations. (The Mead and Milton will remain as-is in the new plan.)
United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday said if there is anything he can do to help resolve the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan, he is ready to do it.

"Anything I can do to mediate or help, I would do. They (Pakistan) are working on Kashmir. Kashmir has been a thorn in lots of people's sight for a long time. There are two sides to every story," Trump told reporters here.

His statement came in response to a question on the terrorism emanating from Pakistan. The US President said he discussed the issue "at length" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"We talked a lot about it at length today. No question it is a problem. They are working on it. I said I will do whatever I can do to help because my relationship with both gentlemen (PM Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan) is so good," he said.

However, further in the conference, when asked about mediation, Trump said, "I didn't say anything about that (being a mediator). Kashmir obviously is a big problem between India and Pakistan, they are going to work out their problem. They have been doing it for a long time."

A proposal of mediation was last offered by President Trump in January during talks with Imran Khan in the US.

Tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad escalated after the Indian government revoked Article 370 of the Constitution that accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Commenting on radical Islamic terrorism, Trump who is currently on a two-day visit to India, said he doesn't think anyone has done more than he has to contain the same.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The silver Mercedes station wagon that a German citizen drove into a Rose Monday procession, injuring at least 52 people in Volkmarsen, police say.

Uwe Zucchi/picture alliance via Getty Images

At least 52 people were hurt when the driver of a silver Mercedes station wagon drove into a carnival procession in Volkmarsen, Germany, on Monday.

Eighteen children who were celebrating Rose Monday have been injured and 35 people are still in hospital, police say.

A 29-year-old German man has been arrested in connection with the attack, but a motive is still unknown since police have been unable to interview him since he too was injured.

Volker Bouffier, the leader of Hesse, the state in which Volkmarsen is located, said he was "shocked at the terrible act."

This attack comes on the heels of a far-right mass shooting that left nine people dead in Hanau, Germany, on February 19.

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A day that is usually honored with jaunty floats and colorful costumes was instead marred by terror and chaos when a car mowed down a carnival crowd in central Germany, wounding more than 50 people.

Police have arrested the 29-year-old German man who, around 2:45 p.m. local time on Monday, plowed a silver Mercedes station wagon through plastic barricades and into a procession for Rosenmontag in the town of Volkmarsen, BBC reported. The car is registered to the still-unidentified man who is accused of attempted homicide, police say.

Rosenmontag  also known as Rose Monday  is one of the highlights of the traditional German Karneval (or carnival) celebration that precedes Ash Wednesday, which, according to Al Jazeera, marks the start of Lent for many Christians. Cologne, Duesseldorf and Mainz see the biggest parades.

Carnival decorations and balloons are seen at a house in Volkmarsen, Germany, on February 25, 2020.

INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images

The Frankfurt General Prosecutor's Office said that the 52 victims range from two to 85 years old, and 18 among them are children. Thirty-five people who were hurt are still in the hospital while 17 were treated and sent home, the Associated Press said.

Local media reports cite eyewitness accounts of the driver speeding up as he neared the carnival procession and allegedly making a beeline for children who were partaking in the festivities.

Story continues

Federal prosecutors say the suspect sustained serious head injuries. He will be treated before being taken to an investigating judge, the AP reported.

"We can't say anything about his precise motives," police spokesman Henning Hinn told reporters, AP said. Officers haven't yet been able to interview the suspect because of his condition, he added.

Officers investigating a car that a German citizen drove into a Rose Monday procession in Volkmarsen.

Swen Pfortner/picture alliance via Getty Images

Authorities denied reports of the man driving under the influence of alcohol, but it's unclear whether drugs played a role, according to BBC.

Another person was accused of filming the incident and arrested for it, police say. German officials urged people not to share photographs of the scene in the crime's aftermath.

A picture made the rounds of the internet apparently showing the suspect getting nabbed, but BBC said, the wrong person had been photographed. Police debunked the rumors by tweeting the incorrect picture and labeling it "fake news."

Fire brigades and victims near the site of a car attack at a carnival procession in Volkmarsen near Kassel in Germany on February 24, 2020.

ELMAR SCHULTEN/AFP via Getty Images

Volkmarsen, located near Kassel in the state of Hesse, is home to around 7,000 people. All other carnival parades in the state were called off on Monday as a precaution, police told AP.

Tuesday's carnival events will go on as planned, officials said, because there are no "concrete indications" of an ongoing risk, the BBC reported. However, the festivities will occur amid a heightened police presence.

Volker Bouffier, the leader of Hesse, the state in which Volkmarsen is located, said he was "shocked at the terrible act," but also urged people not to hypothesize about the suspect's motive.

A forensic investigation is being conducted at the crime scene at a Volksmarsen carnival procession where a car drove into a crowd and injured at least 52 people, many of whom are children

Uwe Zucchi/picture alliance via Getty Images

This attack comes mere days after a racist extremist man, identified by authorities as Tobias Rathjen, gunned down nine people at two hookah bars in Hanau, Germany. He and his mother were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide, police say.

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I am relating this episode to you so that whether you are on a jury or just trying to figure out who to vote for maybe just using your common sense is the way to go. Will someone who became a billionaire by using proven capitalistic principles and taking advantage of modern laws regarding intellectual property be better to run the state? Our state does not need more people working for it that are making more money. Our state needs a person who was not afraid to put on a military uniform and actually meant it by saying he would preserve and protect our Constitution. This individual also understands why medical costs are so high and has provided common sense and constructive ways of containing them. That is why I am supporting Dr. Al Olszewski for governor.
Southeast Asia's most populous country, Indonesia, has not had an incidence of coronavirus infection, despite being at the crossroads of global trade and with some of its region's top tourist destinations. But the virus scare is having an impact on many parts of the country, including the popular tourist destination of Bali. The coronavirus outbreak has led to trip cancellations but has also led many Chinese still on the island to apply to extend their vacations there. VOA's Ahadian Utama reports. VOA Khmer's Sophat Soeung narrates.
Several events this year will celebrate the 300th anniversary of the founding of Mission San Jose. Theres a poetry reading, a Fiesta event, a movie night, a farmers market, an 18th century living history event, a walk-run fest and holiday-related offerings at years end. Several are annual events placed under the tricentennials banner.

Two related groups noticed a void in the lineup  the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation, a tribal community fighting for the preservation of Native American burial sites, including those at the Alamo; and its nonprofit educational and service agency, the American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions.

Nowhere on the schedule does the city, the mission, the Catholic Church or the National Park Service acknowledge the Native Americans who helped found Mission San Jose, the queen of the San Antonio missions collectively recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

So on a cold, windy Sunday afternoon, Tap Pilams leaders stood outside the mission church and welcomed about 70 descendants of Gaspar Romero, who lived in San Jose, and Jose Damacio de la Cruz, the missions last gobernador, or chief, whose land grant included what is now Mission County Park.

The familial lines represent two of the best-documented indigenous families who lived uninterruptedly in San Jose and who belonged to the Pampopa, Suliajame and Pastia tribes, said Ramon Vasquez, executive director of American Indians in Texas.

Descendants were at times emotional about the tribute. One came from Brooklyn, but most of them live in San Antonio, Poteet, Karnes City and other nearby communities.

They received a Native American blessing and listened to presentations on the history of San Jose.

Tap Pilam tribal council member Mickey Killian, who sits on the Bexar County Historical Commission, spoke to descendants about records that show Native American leaders asked the Spanish to found San Jose.

Native leaders made the request after seeing the success that natives were having at Mission San Antonio de Valero, now called the Alamo, he said.

Raymond Hernandez, another tribal leader and a descendant of natives who lived in Valero, spoke of the contributions the areas Native Americas made to the American Revolutionary War under Spanish Gen. Bernardo de Galvez, for whom Galveston is named.

A diverse group of vaqueros participated in a 1779 cattle drive to Louisiana under Galvez. It included Native Americans from Bejar, he said.

Some of the attendees Sunday were new to genealogical and historical research. Others had heard stories from grandparents and great-grandparents. From generation to generation, sometimes in whispers, the connections made their way down.

Killian reminded them that in the mid-1800s, some Native Americans blended into the Mexican, Spanish and Tejano populations, because it was dangerous to be Indian, he said.

Some whove long known of their ties to early Texas history lamented their peoples absence from school textbooks. They said Native Americans are often forgotten in the midst of celebrations such as the tricentennial of Mission San Jose.

Rebecca Simmons, director of Old Spanish Missions, a private fundraising group that has helped preserve mission church structures, said there was no intent to exclude Native American descendants from the San Jose celebration.

She said that several of the planned events, such as the poetry and living history events, are expected to draw Native Americans, and that additional events are being planned. Many will have a Native American presence.

Diana Moreno Reyes, 50, teared up after the ceremony and told a story about the trouble with historical omissions. She walks in the area and a few years ago encountered a man who expressed aloud his dismay about the citys strong Hispanic presence.

Jesus, this is feeling like Mexico, he said.

Moreno Reyes and a friend were within earshot. At first, she was angry. Then she wished Texans were better-educated and that the man knew more about the land on which he was standing.

She said it once belonged to de la Cruz, of whom shes a descendant.

Shes grateful that Tap Pilam organized the unofficial event, which included a picnic where people shared genealogies and marveled at copies of old Spanish documents, including enlarged pages of a census that de la Cruz conducted in 1818. It names every inhabitant of Mission San Jose.

They dont know we exist. Were still here. We havent gone anywhere, Moreno Reyes said.

For someone to finally acknowledge us, even another Indian nation, is amazing. It means the world to me. Its something I can leave to my kids.

eayala@express-news.net | @ElaineAyala
The government has revealed the names of the Catalan representatives who will engage in talks with their Spanish counterparts starting tomorrow. President Quim Torra and VP Pere Aragones will be joined by ministers Jordi Puignero and Alfred Bosch, plus three MPs (Marta Vilalta, Josep Maria Jove and Elsa Artadi) and Josep Rius, president Puigdemonts former chief of staff. This came as a necessary move after Madrid announced the names of their representatives: VPs Carmen Calvo and Pablo Iglesias, ministers Carolina Darias, Salvador Illa and Manuel Castells, plus PM Pedro Sanchez.

The Catalan team includes names that do not form part of the government, but carry significant political heft nonetheless. Vilalta represents ERC as a party and Jove enjoys the complete trust of Oriol Junqueras. Besides, both of them have the experienced of having clinched the deal with the PSOE that led to the talks which are about to kick off.

JxCats choices can also be interpreted politically. Puignero, Artadi and Rius are all very close to Carles Puigdemont so the party which is busy sorting itself out at the moment is sending a crystal clear message about the authority of the exiled president. Absent from the delegation are the minister for the Presidency, Meritxell Budo someone who is close to Jordi Turull and other ministers who harbour ambitions about their own political careers, such as Damia Calvet (close to Josep Rull) and Angels Chacon, the candidate proposed by the PDECats pragmatic faction. All in all, Puigdemont will have full control of the JxCat representatives in these talks, a clear sign that the exiled leader is taking this opportunity very seriously. Given that there will be a snap election later this year and the Catalan governments days are numbered, both ERC and JxCat have opted for a more political profile when picking their representatives.

At any rate, the eight Catalan representatives will be faced with a great responsibility from Wednesday: their job is to steer the negotiation towards a successful end, event though this will take time and wont be an easy endeavour. There is no magic solution for it, but there are some prerequisites that must be met. First of all, the Catalan team must work as one and disregard the election calendar in Catalonia, as well as everyones individual interests. If they engage in a race to show who is the best, who makes the boldest demands or who is the most skeptical, rather than negotiating with the PSOE, failure will ensue. It has been extremely difficult to get this far and partisan shortsightedness cannot be allowed to ruin it all.

The second condition for these talks to bear fruit is that together they manage to build a climate of mutual trust between the two teams, which should be able to shield themselves from the loud chatter that will surround the negotiation. The objective will be achieved only by ignoring the more mundane issues and establishing rapport. You could argue that it is naive to think that these talks will lead to anything substantial. But the question remains: what is the alternative?
Student bodies will stage a protest march from Ramlila Maiden to Parliament on March 3 against the amended citizenship law and to condemn the communal violence in northeast Delhi, which has claimed 13 lives.

The Young India Coordination Committee, comprising student bodies, also urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi Police to take action to control the violence.

They also demanded the arrest of BJP leader Kapil Mishra for allegedly inciting violence. Mishra, who led a pro-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) rally at the Maujpur Chowk on Sunday, has been accused of delivering a "provocative" speech at the event.

Former JNU Students' Union president N Sai Balaji said they are forming peace committees at various protest sites where students are also participating to ensure that the situation does not go out of hand.

Meanwhile, the Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India (NSUI)protested outside the residence of Delhi LG Anil Baijal.

NSUI members demanded the resignation of Home Minister Shah and alleged that the Delhi Police, which is under his ministry, has failed to contain the violence in northeast Delhi. They claimed that they were detained by police.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.  The search of a vehicle in Klamath County last week yielded large amounts of smuggled drugs, according to Oregon State Police.

State troopers made the stop on Thursday, February 20, along Highway 97. After pulling over a black Chevrolet Tahoe with California plates, the agency said that they found a man driving the car and a woman with a baby as passengers.

"During the course of the traffic stop, multiple factors of criminal activity were observed," OSP said.

After troopers brought in a K-9 to check out the outside of the vehicle, the dog reportedly alerted to the presence of drugs. A search eventually found about 66 pounds of methamphetamine, two kilograms of heroin, ten "suspected fentanyl pills," and a loaded gun.

The driver was taken to the Klamath County Jail for possession, distribution, and manufacturing of narcotics, as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm. OSP said that the woman was released to care for the baby while the investigation continues. The agency said that it notified Child Protective Services of the bust.
UTICA, N.Y. (UPDATED) -- Utica Police have confirmed one woman is dead following a shooting on Blandina Street on Monday afternoon.

Police say they located a deceased woman upon arrival and a man who was suffering from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. At the time, the man showed signs of life. He was rushed to a local hospital and underwent emergency surgery. Police say he is alive and in critical condition.

Keith Hunt // WKTV Keith Hunt // WKTV

Utica Police are monitoring his condition and will provide updates on the investigation as they arise.

The shooting took place in the second-floor apartment of 1002 Blandina Street just after 3 p.m.

The names of the parties involved will be released pending notification of next of kin.

At this point, we have one victim and we are seeking any information from any of the public who may have heard the shots  or have any information, said Sgt. Michael Curley.

If anyone has information regarding this incident please contact the Criminal Investigation Division at 315-223-3510.




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PALM SPRINGS, Calif.  This isnt the Cadillac CT5-V we were expecting. After years of successively higher horsepower and world-beating performance statistics, Cadillac flipped the script with the CTS-replacing CT5 by making the reborn cars first V-badged sedan a middle performance tier that will slot below a new model that hasnt yet been released. The outgoing CTS-V pounded the pavement with 640 horsepower; the CT5-V were discussing here offers up a seemingly paltry 360 ponies.

The CT5s styling aligns with recent models like the XT4, XT5, XT6 and CT6, but is another major departure from the CTS it replaces. The automakers abandoned Art and Science design philosophy culminated in a CTS that looked modern and distinctive. Crisp lines, clean edges and sharp features have given way to the CT5s more flowing sense of style, and with the exception of its gracefully curved pseudo-fastback greenhouse that results in an unfortunately awkward C-pillar transition, its right on the border of blending in instead of standing out.

As you would expect, the CT5-V has a more aggressive look than other CT5 models. Bits that are bright on the standard car are blacked out on the V, and the sportier car has a more chiseled front face with a mesh grille that flows more air than if it were just wide open. Similar changes are seen in the cabin, where the V replaces wood trim with carbon fiber. Wed prefer some other trim options in the V, like maybe brushed aluminum, since the monochromatic dark leather with dark trim leads to  you guessed it  a starkly dark interior.

Cadillac has a brand-new infotainment system that will be launching soon in the upcoming Escalade SUV, but the CT5 sticks with the brands oft-maligned CUE. As much as customers and journalists like us have complained about CUE, the latest (and likely last) version found in the CT5 works pretty well. All the necessary functions are easy to find, and the touchscreen is quick and responsive. And if you really dont like the interface, there are physical buttons for the climate control and a pair of dials for audio. An available rear camera mirror offers a wider field of view, or can be used as a regular mirror. Forward collision alert, automatic braking and pedestrian detection are standard. A 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, automatic parking assist and rear auto braking are available.

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At 193.8 inches long on a 116-inch wheelbase, the CT5 is a tad shorter overall than the CTS, but with a wheelbase thats about an inch and a half longer. Its bigger in every significant exterior dimension than the segment-defining BMW 3 Series. With the exception of 2.7 additional inches of rear legroom, which is a solid notch in the CT5s favor, its about the same size inside. The most glaring surprise of the CT5 spec sheet is its tiny 11.9-cubic-foot trunk. Thats 43% less cargo space than the BMW. Its even smaller than the trunk in the subcompact sedans like the Kia Rio and Chevy Sonic. In practical terms, CT5 owners will find it much more difficult to fit all their luggage into the Caddy than its competitors.

Like the CTS that preceded it (and the smaller ATS and upcoming CT4, not to mention the current Chevy Camaro), the CT5 rides atop an evolution of GMs Alpha architecture. Sturdy bones are crucial for a sporting sedan, and the CT5s stiff structure doesnt disappoint. Standard multi-valve dampers in all non-V CT5 trims provide a comfortable ride while keeping body roll in check during hard cornering. Cadillacs much more advanced Magnetic Ride 4.0 suspension, with high-tech brains that actively adjust damping every five milliseconds to suit current road conditions and the drivers level of enthusiasm, comes standard on the CT5-V.

The CT5-V gets a 3.0-liter twin-turbo engine that makes 360 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. In Premium Luxury trim, the same engine produces 335 hp and the same 405 lb-ft. The more powerful version separates itself from the lesser model at around 4,500 rpm, and carries those extra ponies as it approaches its redline just past 6,000 rpm. That means in most typical driving situations, theres very little difference between the two. Cadillac estimates the CT5-V will hit 60 in 4.6 seconds, and it feels that quick from behind the wheel. The force-fed V6 gets an estimated 19 miles per gallon city, 26 highway and 21 combined.

A 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine will be the base engine for the CT5, but we havent yet sampled it. Wed guess its 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque will prove adequate for buyers who care more about maximizing fuel efficiency than launching away from stoplights.

The turbocharged V6 feels a little flat right off idle  likely a combination of throttle tuning coupled with a wee bit of lag  but comes on strong after a split second of hesitation. It pulls strongly through about 5,000 rpm before tapering off as it nears its redline a little after 6,000 rpm. A 10-speed automatic is the only transmission available in the CT5 and CT5-V, and it can be shifted manually using a set of steering wheel-mounted paddles. Its not the quickest shifter weve tested, but its smooth and feels refined.

Driver Mode Control offers Tour, Sport, and Track options (in addition to Snow/Ice and a customizable My Mode). The CT5-V gets an additional V-Mode to further customize the car. Toggling between modes alters the CT5s transmission algorithms, steering effort and feel, and the amount of engine sound the car pumps through its audio system. Interestingly, even the brake effort and feel changes between modes, made possible by brake-by-wire technology (with a mechanical backup).

Out in the real world, the CT5-V is smooth, quiet and comfortable. Its a bit more relaxed in Tour than Sport, as it should be, but even Sport isnt overtly sporty. Toggling between modes doesnt stiffen the suspension, so theres no ride penalty. Likely due in part to Cadillacs Active Noise Cancellation, acoustic glass and aerodynamic underbody, there isnt much wind or road noise, and its firm but comfortable over broken pavement. The overall feeling is one of solidity, with no unwanted vibrations through the seats or steering wheel.

CT5-V models get Brembo braking bits up front, and they work well on the street with solid initial bite and good overall stopping power. If equipped with all-wheel drive, the front-to-rear torque split also adjusts between modes. The optional all-wheel drive does have an impact on the CT5-Vs steering feel, which in general is quite good the Sport mode we ended up defaulting to after a full day behind the wheel, but it also helps put the power down while exiting corners and, of course, over loose road surfaces.

We sampled the CT5-V at The Thermal Club outside of Palm Springs, California. We think its highly unlikely that CT5-V owners will actually take their mid-tier sport sedans to the race track, and this particular flavor of V isnt going to be setting any records. Yet a few dozen laps of a short circuit did prove the Alpha-chassis CT5-V is willing to zig (cue the Zeppelin), minus a few points for some seriously smoky rear brakes after several hot laps.

We used the V button on the steering wheel and the Performance Traction Management system to maximize the cars on-track reflexes. In Track mode, the computer nannies allow more slip than Sport. The all-wheel-drive system sends more torque to the rear wheels (85% to the rear in Track versus 80% in Tour and Sport), and will shift power around as needed to maximize available traction. We preferred the playful nature of the standard rear-drive CT5-V, even if we were probably a little quicker with all-wheel drive.

The CT5 Premium Luxury with the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 will cost $45,190 including a $995 destination charge. Adding all-wheel drive brings the sticker to $48,280. The higher-powered CT5-V starts at $48,690 with rear-drive or $51,290 with all-wheel drive. For comparison, the 349-hp Audi S4 starts at $50,895 with Quattro all-wheel drive. The 382-hp BMW M340i starts at $54,995 and the 385-hp Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43 tops the competitive set at $56,945. Given the options lists of these respective automakers, the Cadillacs actual transaction prices will likely be much lower than its German competitors, meaning a real value proposition should present itself to buyers.

As for the confounding rollout and naming strategies, a multi-tiered approach to performance is a sensible thing to do, and it mirrors the lineups of Caddys aforementioned German competitors. We think itll all make more sense once Cadillacs full lineup is fleshed out. And regardless of our expectations, the new 2020 Cadillac CT5-Vs excellent chassis and adequate power will be enough to keep plenty of drivers entertained. Is it a strong enough package to attract buyers who would otherwise be shopping for an Audi S4, BMW M340i or Mercedes-Benz C 43 AMG? Probably not.

Without driving the quartet back to back on the same roads and tracks, were not sure how they all stack up in terms of driving enjoyment. That said, our initial sense is the German competitors are more overtly sporty than this flavor of CT5-V, which comes across more as an upgraded version of the Premium Luxury than a detuned version of the departed CTS-V. Those looking for the Cadillac V experience they have been trained to expect arent going to find what theyre looking for in the 2020 CT5-V.

On a positive note, Cadillacs excellent Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving technology will come to the 2021 CT5 and CT5-V, and that might be the killer app that puts the Caddy on more buyers lists. Failing that, were confident the next rung up the V-shaped ladder will bring a whole lot more horsepower and aggressiveness. And the best news of all is that the CT5s chassis is more than up to the task of lighting up the leaderboards of race tracks the world over once that massive infusion of ponies comes to fruition.

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NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Frommer's, America's leader in travel guide information since 1957, has revealed the current results of its popular Best and Worst Airfare and Hotel Booking Sites studies.

In two separate studies, Frommer's pitted the biggest brands in airfare and hotel booking engines against each other in multiple rounds of intense head-to-head competition to determine which 10 sites in both categories were best at delivering the cheapest prices, the most useful results, and the best user experience.

Since Frommer's last rankings three years ago, the playing field has been transformed. For 2020's list, upstart sites have boomed. Big brands have closed shop and some, like GoogleFlights, failed to even crack the top 10. Amid the scuffle, scrappy underdog Agoda climbed on one list but tumbled on another, and new champions HotelsCombined (hotels) and Skiplagged (airfares) won first place.

Using a bespoke, weighted scoring systemincluding negative points for finding the worst priceseach big name in contention was ranked.

Airfare sites: The Top Ten, along with analysis of what the results revealed about those websites, is at www.frommers.com/bestairfaresites.

Hotel sites: The final results, along with detailed commentary, can be found at www.frommers.com/besthotelsites.

Media opportunities: Frommer's Editorial Director Pauline Frommer is available for interviews in New York City and by phone. Frommers.com Editor in Chief Jason Cochran can do interviews in Los Angeles. Contact [email protected]

Landing pages: www.frommers.com/bestairfaresites Or: https://www.frommers.com/slideshows/848046-10-best-and-worst-airfare-booking-sites. And www.frommers.com/besthotelsites or https://www.frommers.com/slideshows/819303-best-and-worst-hotel-booking-websites

About Frommer's: Frommer's, one of the most venerable brands in travel, has been in continuous publication since the 1957 debut of Arthur Frommer's revolutionary Europe on $5 a Day, which changed the way the world traveled. The Frommer's collection of travel products has expanded to include over 100 award-winning guidebooks, a nationally syndicated radio show and a show on WABC in New York City, as well as the popular Frommers.com website, reaffirming Frommer's as the most trusted name in independent travel information. Join us on Frommers.com, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Frommers), Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/Frommers), and Instagram (www.instagram.com/Frommers). Our two radio shows are streaming and podcasted at www.frommers.com/podcast.

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Uganda is spearheading East African Member states in developing harmonized cancer registration guidelines for East Africa.

The discussion of the second draft of harmonized cancer registration guidelines is ongoing at K-Hotels, Entebbe- Uganda.

The three-day discussions with representatives from East African member states 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.

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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.

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.
General Dmitry Yazov, the last Soviet marshal and a member of the so-called Gang of Eight that tried to take over the collapsing Soviet Union in 1991, has died in Moscow at the age of 95.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on February 25 that Yazov died "after a severe and long illness."

Yazov was defense minister when he supported a group that tried to take over the Soviet Union just four months before its collapse in 1991 and placed Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev under house arrest.

The group declared itself the provisional government, the State Committee for Emergency Situations, known by its Russian acronym GKChP.

One "Gang of Eight" member, Soviet Interior Minister Boris Pugo, committed suicide shortly after the coup collapsed.

The 10 other men named as coup plotters were all granted amnesty by the State Duma on February 23, 1994 -- ending their 14-month trial on high treason charges by the military branch of the Supreme Court.

They went on individually to play various roles in politics and the private sector in post-communist Russia.

The leader of the group, Gennady Yanayev, who at the time declared himself acting president of the Soviet Union, died in Moscow at the age of 72 in September 2010.

With Yazov's death, only one member of the GKChP remains alive -- 87-year-old Oleg Baklanov, who was then deputy chairman of the presidential Defense Council.

Last year, a court in Lithuania sentenced Yazov to 10 years in prison in absentia for his role in a deadly crackdown on the Baltic state's independence movement in January 1991.

Yazov, along with former KGB officer Mikhail Golovatov, were the most prominent of 67 defendants in the trial over the momentous events that unfolded in Vilnius, when the Soviet government tried to halt the country's collapse by cracking down on the first republic to declare independence.

Golovatov was sentenced in absentia to 12 years in prison.

The verdicts followed three years of proceedings focusing on the deaths of 14 people killed by the Soviet Army in the Lithuanian capital that month.

Lithuanian prosecutors say all but one of the victims died during the storming of the state television headquarters and TV tower by Soviet paratroopers on January 13, 1991. More than 700 people were wounded.

With reporting by Interfax, TASS, and Dozhd
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.
Washington DC : 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.
Some Signs of Panic as Coronavirus Appears to Spread from Iran to Neighboring States

By Edward Yeranian February 24, 2020

Iran's health ministry says 60 people have been infected by the coronavirus and that 12 people have died, so far, with the holy city of Qom being the hardest hit part of the country. Panic over the virus appears to be spreading to Iran's neighbors, as well, with cases being reported in Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain and Lebanon.

Iran's health ministry spokesman told journalists Monday that authorities are taking strict measures to control the spread of the coronavirus. He also defended a decision not to place the Shi'ite holy city of Qom under quarantine, saying that doing so would have scared people and caused many to flee to other parts of the country, further spreading the virus.

The spokesman went on to say that 60 people have been infected by the coronavirus across Iran, with 12 people succumbing to it. He said claims on social media of higher casualty figures were false.

Amateur video on social media showed workers spraying subway cars in the Tehran metro to prevent the spread of the virus. Other video showed workers spraying Iranian passenger jets and city buses as well. State television reported that President Hassan Rouhani would preside over a crisis committee to oversee handling of the virus.

In neighboring Iraq, some panic was reported after an Iranian student in the holy city of Najaf came down with the virus. Iraqi officials told Arab media that a handful of suspected caseswere taken to Baghdad's Euphrates Hospital.

Iraqi media showed protesters trying to block the Mahran border crossing from Iran. Several protesters criticized the country's interior minister for allegedly refusing to stop Iranians from entering the country. VOA could not independently confirm the claim.

Amateur video broadcast by Arab media showed visitors from Iran being held in quarantine at a hotel in the city of Kut, near the Mahran border crossing. One man could be heard saying that armed men were posted outside the hotel.

Arab media say three coronavirus cases have been reported in Kuwait, which is refusing to allow ships from either Iraq or Iran to dock. Another case was reported in nearby Bahrain. Both Qatar and Bahrain say they are monitoring arriving passengers from countries hardest hit by the virus.

Here in Egypt, state media report that one patient who came down with the virus in the coastal town of Marsa Matrouah "has now recovered." In Lebanon, a passenger arriving from Iran came down with the virus several days ago. Meanwhile, officials at Beirut Airport reportedly forced passengers on a plane arriving from Tehran Monday to disembark far away from the terminal.

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In order to adequately tackle terror financing, apart from adopting laws to eradicate terror-related crimes, international cooperation must be enforced for a better investigation and prevention of terrorism financing, the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), an Amsterdam-based think-tank, said in one of its reports.

In South Asia, regional tensions and complex geopolitical situations render difficulty in international cooperation, hence weakening the effect of counter-terror financing measures.

"Cutting the financial bloodline of terror organisations is the only way to prevent the proliferation of terror organisations, the dissemination of their radical ideology and the occurrence of their violent activity," the report said.

Hinting towards Pakistan, where terrorism has been enjoying a backing by the state, the think-tank noted, "Terrorist groups in South Asia are able to thrive financially and will continue to do so until they are taken from under the wings of States that use them as 'strategic assets' to pursue political agendas and foreign policy."

In South Asia, it is the Pakistani Intelligence Services' (ISI), which has been sponsoring various anti-India insurgencies in Jammu and Kashmir, and its dubious relationship with the Taliban and the Haqqani network in Afghanistan.

"During the Soviet war in Afghanistan, Pakistan received millions of dollars from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to train and assist Afghan Mujahideen fighters. However, at the end of the war in 1989, Pakistan diverted these militants towards Jammu & Kashmir, to wage a proxy war against India," the report added.

The think-tank in its report further estimated that Pakistan had spent up to USD 50 million on anti-India jihadist organisations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul-Muhjahideen in the 1990s.

The support provided by the ISI enhanced the abilities of the groups to raise funds and recruit individuals.

Apart from providing financial support, Pakistan is internationally known for being a 'safe haven' for terrorists where some of them run training camps, recruit and train individuals, collect funds, transit and operate cross-border terrorism.

Pakistan has been on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) 'grey-list' since 2018, and narrowly avoided being 'blacklisted' twice in 2019, June and October, as it managed to obtain the three votes required to stay on the grey list, courtesy of China, Malaysia, and Turkey.

The Mutual Evaluation Report published by the Asia Pacific Group, the FATF's regional body for Asia, established that Pakistan lacked certain measures and enforcement mechanisms to target legal persons, such as trusts, and its number of terror-financing convictions did not reflect the magnitude of the issue in the country.

Despite such deficiencies in its legal framework, the Pakistani government has not taken any noticeable actions to improve the situation and completely implement the FATF's plan of action.

"If Pakistan were to be blacklisted, this would prove to be devastating for its already fragile economy, as it would render any foreign investment nearly impossible. It remains to be seen how the Pakistani government will implement its action plan and whether or not its continuous policy of tolerating the operations of terrorist groups on its territory, if not supporting them, will finally catch up to Pakistan," the think-tank warned.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Austria on Tuesday placed a hotel in the Alpine city of Innsbruck under lockdown after an Italian receptionist working there contracted the virus, media reports said.

"No one can get in and out while the authorities assess who she has been in contact with," a spokeswoman for the Tyrol province state government told AFP, adding the place where the woman lived in Innsbruck was also being isolated.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Donald Trump accused Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Tuesday of anti-Trump bias and said they should stay out of cases involving him.

Trump cited Sotomayor's scathing dissent last week in the court's decision to allow the administration to enforce its "public charge" immigration rule in Illinois.

Ginsburg called Trump a "faker" in 2016, while he was the presumptive Republican nominee for president, and later apologized.

"I just don't know how they cannot recuse themselves to anything having to do with Trump or Trump related," the president told reporters during a trip to India.

His comments come just weeks before the court will hear arguments in three cases concerning whether the president can shield his personal and business financial records, including his tax returns, from state prosecutors and Congress. Trump has bucked modern precedent by refusing to make his tax returns public.

Sotomayor's comments on Friday concerned the Trump administration's unusual practice of skipping federal appeals courts to bring cases directly in front of the justices.

In the case in question, Wolf v. Cook County, the administration was asking the court to remove a statewide block on a rule that would allow it to add new restrictions on those applying for green cards. The rule would make it more difficult for immigrants to obtain permanent citizenship if they have used or are likely to use public benefits like food stamps.

The top court removed a nationwide block on the rule in January by a 5-4 vote of the court's conservatives, and the same majority voted Friday to remove the Illinois block, just five days before the matter was to be considered by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Traditionally, the Supreme Court hears cases after they have worked their way through the lower courts, except in extraordinary circumstances. The Trump administration has routinely skipped the appellate stage when its policies have been blocked from going into effect.

"It is hard to say what is more troubling: that the Government would seek this extraordinary relief seemingly as a matter of course, or that the Court would grant it," Sotomayor wrote in her dissent.

Trump said in India that the statement was "inappropriate" and that Sotomayor was trying to "shame" her colleagues into voting with her.

"When you're a justice of the Supreme Court, it's almost what she's trying to do is take the people that do feel a different way and get them to vote the way that she would like them to vote," Trump said. "I just thought it was so inappropriate. Such a terrible statement for a Supreme Court justice."

The cases involving Trump's financial records will be argued March 31. Trump has asked the court to reverse three lower court rulings requiring his longtime accounting firm and two of his banks to turn over his financial records to investigators from the Manhattan district attorney's office and Democratic-led congressional committees.

Ginsburg and Sotomayor did not immediately respond to requests for comment submitted through the court.
The 2010s introduced moviegoers to a number of new filmmakers who provided their visions and perspectives to the landscape of cinema. Stacker has highlighted the top 50 of these up-and-coming directors.

This article was first published on theStacker.com
Supreme Court appointed interlocutors - advocates Sanjay Hedge and Sadhana Ramachandran - during their visit to Shaheen Bagh to initiate talks with the protesters demonstrating against Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens (NRC), in New Delhi, Thursday, February 20, 2020. (Photo | PTI)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court appointed mediators  senior lawyer Sanjay Hagde and Sadhana Ramachandran  on Monday submitted in a sealed cover the report on their interaction with the protestors at Shaheen Bagh who are protesting against CAA, NPR and NRC since December 15, 2019, resulting in serious hindrance to movement of traffic.

The report by two lawyers who had series of meetings with the protestors at Shaheen Bagh was submitted to a Bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice K.M. Joseph in a sealed cover.

While Hegde along with Sadhana Ramachandran had visited the protest site thrice, Ramachandran visited the place four times.

Observing We will like to peruse it, Justice Kaul said that they would hear the matter day after tomorrow (Wednesday).

As the lawyers for the petitioners  Amit Sahni and former BJP MLA in Delhi assembly Nand Kishore Garg  seeking the eviction of the protestors, sought a copy of the report submitted by the court appointed interlocutors, Justice Kaul said that the report was only for them and they were not taking it on record.

It is only for us. We are not taking it on record, Justice Kaul heading the bench said and listed the matter for hearing on Wednesday.
Bahrain's Ministry of Health has registered six new cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), confirming a total of eight registered cases in the kingdom so far.

The cases were registered after two Bahraini citizens (one male and one female) and four Saudi nationals (four females) arrived at Bahrain International Airport from Iran via Dubai and were examined as part of the precautionary measures taken in light of the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, a Bahrain News Agency report said.

The ministry outlined that all necessary tests were taken while the infected individuals were in a designated and isolated area at the airport where the positive results for COVID-19 were confirmed.

The ministry further outlined that the infected individuals had arrived in the kingdom before the Civil Aviation Authoritys decision to suspend flights from Dubai International Airport for 48 hours.

The ministry indicated that the infected individuals had arrived in Bahrain after a visit to Iran, highlighting that individuals who were accompanying them were also moved to isolation as a precautionary measure after testing negative for the virus.

The Ministry of Health stressed that all necessary measures are being taken to examine each passenger arriving from affected countries. They are transferred immediately for treatment if symptoms of the condition are found or confirmed following laboratory analyses.

The ministry highlighted that a comprehensive medical protocol is being followed to combat COVID-19, which is in line with established international guidelines as set out by the Gulf Health Council (GHC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The ministry called upon all citizens and residents who are experiencing symptoms of COVID19 to isolate themselves, call 444, follow the instructions given by the medical team, and avoid close contact with others.
(TNS)  The downtown area envisioned for the Stafford County, Virginia, 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.
Bangladesh will invite former president Pranab Mukherjee to address a special Parliament session on March 22 and 23 to mark the Mujib Year, coinciding with its founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birth centenary.

Nepalese President Bidhya Devi Bhandari will also be invited along with Mukherjee.

"The President (Abdul Hamid) is set to send the invitation letters to the two dignitaries to address the special parliament session on March 22 and 23 to mark the Mujib Year," a presidential palace spokesman told newsmen.

The announcement came after parliamentary speaker Shirin Sharmin Choudhury called on the president this evening.

A parliament secretariat spokesman said this would be the third such instance when foreign dignitaries would address Bangladesh's parliament.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman served as the first President of Bangladesh and later as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from April 17, 1971 until his assassination on August 15, 1975.

He is considered to be the driving force behind the independence of Bangladesh. He is popularly dubbed with the title of "Bangabandhu" (Friend of Bengal) by the people of Bangladesh. His daughter Sheikh Hasina is the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Donald Trump went on the attack against Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor at a press conference in India Tuesday, after claiming they should both recuse themselves from any future cases related to his presidency.

He told a room full of American and Indian reporters that he has always felt Ginsburg, 86, should recuse herself since she went 'wild' during the 2016 campaign and is so anti-Trump.

The president added that Sotomayor, 65, should do the same because he says she is trying to 'shame' other Justice into voting with her.

'I just don't know how they cannot recuse themselves from anything having to do with Trump or Trump-related,' Trump said during a press conference at the end of his trip to India.

'The right thing to do is that  Supreme Court Justice is a different standard, but at the same time I think it's a higher standard, in a certain sense. So they'll have to decide what to do,' the president said of the two female, Democrat-appointed Justices.

Donald Trump doubled-down on his assertion that Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotmayor should recuse themselves from any future cases involving himself or his administration

'I just don't know how they cannot recuse themselves from anything having to do with Trump or Trump-related,' Trump said during a press conference Tuesday concluding his trip to India

Trump said he always believed Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 86, should removed herself from cases because she is anti-Trump. 'I always thought that frankly, Justice Ginsburg should do it because she went wild during the campaign when I was running,' Trump said

His calls for Sonia Sotomayor to do the same came after she issued a harsh dissent of a Trump administration case

Trump went on to further explain the reasoning behind the assertion he made Monday, calling for the two Justices to recuse themselves from future cases.

'Well it's very obvious. I mean, I always thought that frankly, Justice Ginsburg should do it because she went wild during the campaign when I was running,' Trump said of the progressive Justice. 'She said some things that were obviously very inappropriate. She later, sort of, apologized. I wouldn't say it was an apology, but she sort of apologized.'

'And then, Justice Sotomayor said what she said yesterday. You know very well what she said yesterday  it was a big story,' he said.

It is extremely uncommon for Supreme Court Justices to recuse themselves from cases that reach their desks.

Typically, this only happens when one of the Justices were already previously involved in the cases at a lower level before joining the highest U.S. court.

The presidents comments refer to a sharp dissent Sotomayor wrote in a case involving the Trump administrations expansion of government powers to deny visas to non-citizens looking to enter the U.S.

'It is hard to say what is more troubling: that the Government would seek this extraordinary relief seemingly as a matter of course, or that the Court would grant it,' Sotomayor wrote in her dissent of the case.

'Claiming one emergency after another, the Government has recently sought stays in an unprecedented number of cases, demanding immediate attention and consuming limited Court resources in each,' Sotomayor continued.

'And with each successive application, of course, its cries of urgency ring increasingly hollow. Indeed, its behavior relating to the public-charge rule in particular shows how much its own definition of irreparable harm has shifted,' she wrote.

Trump responded by quoting a report from Fox News' Laura Ingraham, and accused Sotomayor of trying to get others to side with her in Trump-related cases by 'shaming' them.

''Sotomayor accuses GOP appointed Justices of being biased in favor of Trump.' @IngrahamAngle This is a terrible thing to say. Trying to 'shame' some into voting her way?' Trump charged.

'She never criticized Justice Ginsberg when she called me a 'faker'. Both should recuse themselves on all Trump, or Trump related, matters!' he continued in a Twitter post from India Monday.

'While 'elections have consequences', I only ask for fairness, especially when it comes to decisions made by the United States Supreme Court!' he said.

Fox News' Laura Ingraham did a segment Monday night where she discussed Sotomayor's dissent from last week. 'It is hard to say what is more troubling: that the Government would seek this extraordinary relief seemingly as a matter of course, or that the Court would grant it,' Sotomayor wrote

Trump responded to the reports in a duo of tweets Monday calling for Sotomayor's and Ginsburg's recusal. He also claimed that Sotomayor was trying to 'shame' her colleagues into voting her way

'I only ask for fairness, especially when it comes to decisions made by the United States Supreme Court!' Trump tweeted on Monday

The public attacks against Sotomayor and Ginsburg came right after the president said at the top of the press conference concluding his trip to India that he would stay 'conservative' in his answers so he wouldn't ruin the purpose of the trip.

'I thought it was a great two days. It was a fantastic two days,' Trump lauded of the trip before heading to a dinner with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

'I'm going to be not at all controversial because I don't want to blow the two days, plus two days of travel, on one answer. One little answer. Little answer  like John will ask me one little, simple question and you'll blow it out and that will be the end of the trip. They won't even talk about the trip,' Trump said, referring likely to Fox News' John Roberts.

'So I'll be very, very conservative in my answers, if you don't mind,' the president vowed at the top of the press conference.

Trump said earlier that 'tremendous advancements' were made in talks with Prime Minister Modi even though no deal was struck to end the trade war between the two nations.

Both leaders were effulgent in their praise for one another but underneath the glowing words were the stark reality that Modi's lavish welcome for the president didn't result in a deal.

Trump's fury against Sotomayor was sparked when Ingraham devoted a large portion of her Fox News program Monday night to discussing Justice Sonia Sotomayor's scathing dissent last week after the high court ruled in favor of the Trump administration on its 'public charge' policy.

The Supreme Court lifted an injunction allowing the administration to move ahead with plans to deny would-be immigrants green cards if they are thought likely to use public services like Medicaid, food stamps, and vouchers.

Sotomayor blasted her conservative colleagues, accusing them of showing favoritism toward the administration by granting its request to lift the injunction.

Trump's tweet was referring to the comment made by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in July 2016, when the current president was locking up the Republican nomination.

Ginsburg said of Trump at the time: 'He is a faker.

'He has no consistency about him. He says whatever comes into his head at the moment,' she continued.

'He really has an ego,' the Justice said. 'How has he gotten away with not turning over his tax returns?'

'The press seems to be very gentle with him on that,' which later on turned out not to be true as several report about Trump's tax returns flooded media outlets.

Trump slammed Sotomayor (left) and demanded that she and Ginsburg (right) recuse themselves 'on all Trump-related matters'

Ginsburg was also quoted as saying of Trump: 'I can't imagine what this place would be - I can't imagine what the country would be - with Donald Trump as our president.'

Days later, Ginsburg apologized, calling her comments 'ill-advised.'

'On reflection, my recent remarks in response to press inquiries were ill-advised and I regret making them,' Ginsburg said in a statement.

'Judges should avoid commenting on a candidate for public office. In the future I will be more circumspect.'

Sotomayor generated headlines over the weekend when she blasted the Trump administration as well as her conservative colleagues in a harsh dissent.

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.

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

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.

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.'

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.
A developing storm could have significant effects on Midwest freight markets in the coming days. Heavy snow and gusty winds will likely slow down truckers, as well as disrupt air cargo flows at airports.

SONAR Critical Events: Monday, Feb. 24, 2020; Great Lakes snowstorm

The Setup

A low pressure system is in the process of intensifying across the Plains and will make a beeline toward portions of the Midwest and Great Lakes. Today, the storm will be a big snow and wind maker in parts of the Rockies, as well as some of the prairies in Montana, the Dakotas and Nebraska.

As the storm approaches the Midwest-Great Lakes, it may take a track that is farther south than previously forecast and now includes the Chicago metro area. The storm will slow down as it taps into some colder air. As a result, rain on the leading edge of the system will change to snow late tonight into early Tuesday, with snowfall persisting in some areas throughout Wednesday night.

This is shaping up to be a nearly 48-hour snow event for many locations in the potential impact zone. Snowfall totals could reach 6-12 inches from Davenport, Iowa and northern Illinois to South Bend, Detroit, and Toronto, Canada. Isolated spots of more than 12 inches are possible.

Additionally, there will be some moderate wind gusts, blowing snow and reduced visibility at times, but a major blizzard is not expected. Nonetheless, this system is looking noteworthy due to the long duration, intensity, and number of interstates that could be at risk  I-90, I-94, I-80, I-88, I-65, I-55, I-57, I-69 and I-75.

Impact On Freight

Not only will this snowstorm likely slam the Chicago freight market, which is doing well in terms of market share, but it will also hit the adjacent Joliet, Illinois market, one of the strongest in the country.

SONAR Ticker: OTMS Tree Map

The latest FreightWaves SONAR data shows Chicago's outbound tender market share (OTMS.CHI) at 1.85. This means that the Chicago market is currently handling 1.85% of the nation's outbound freight volume among the 135 markets. But Joliet (OTMS.JOT) trumps that with 2.92%, the fourth-highest in the U.S, and an increase in outbound volumes of 12.2% over the past week. So, there seems to be plenty of loads available there.

Story continues

Hopefully, carriers have arranged to pick up loads by this evening before the storm rolls into the region. Otherwise, they will have to wait until later in the week. Late-week could be a good time for brokers to check for any missed pick-ups they may be able to negotiate for higher profit margins. Shippers may be willing to pay top dollar on the spot market to get that cargo on a truck as soon as possible.

By early Thursday, most of the storm will be entering the Northeast region, where the heavy snow and wind will hit the Adirondacks, Green Mountains, White Mountains and Mahoosuc Mountains  areas that have seen their share of snowfall this winter. However, even colder air will move into the Great Lakes behind the storm, with no chance of a thaw for a few days. High temperatures will stay below freezing, with lows in the teens. Roads will remain frozen and slick, especially secondary routes, bridges and overpasses.

Have a great day, and be careful out there!

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 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
WASHINGTON  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has a favorite nickname for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell: the Grim Reaper, a jab at his strategy of killing Democrats bills without a vote.

Since Democrats flipped control of the House in the 2018 elections, McConnells desk has become a legislative graveyard for more than 275 bills passed by Pelosis Democrats. He has sidelined major bills designed to lower prescription drug costs, create a path for legal status for undocumented farmworkers and expand background checks on gun sales  a measure that passed the House exactly one year ago.

The blockade resumed this week as Congress returned from a one-week recess. And no end appears in sight. If McConnell doesnt budge, the legislation dies this year, and Democrats would have to start over in 2021.

McConnell, R-Ky., actually gave himself the Grim Reaper nickname, saying last year that he would block many progressives bills from going to the Senate floor. He called himself the guy who is going to make sure that socialism doesnt land on the presidents desk.

Pelosi has taken up the nickname to argue McConnell is killing bills that average voters support on issues such as health care  a key argument as Democrats try to hold seats in swing districts this fall.

I have news for him, Pelosi said in December. He may think they are dead on arrival there, but they are alive and well in the general public.

Among the bills stuck in purgatory are dozens of measures sponsored by Bay Area lawmakers. Here are some of their most high-profile bills on McConnells desk:

Background checks on gun sales

Primary sponsor: Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena.

What it would do: HR8 would expand the federal requirement for criminal background checks on firearm sales to include transactions between private parties. The bill would prohibit gun sales between private parties unless a licensed gun dealer takes possession of the gun first and runs a background check. Democrats say closing the gun show loophole would stop owners from irresponsibly selling to buyers who could pose a threat to public safety.

Its just tragic that McConnell wont take this up, Thompson told The Chronicle, noting that guns kill about 100 people in the U.S. every day. Hes hurting and putting at risk all Americans.

GOP stance: Republicans say the bill would criminalize lawful Americans who want to trade or sell their guns without additional paperwork. They also argue it wont stop violent people from illegally obtaining guns on the black market.

House vote: Passed 240-190 on Feb. 27, 2019, with eight Republicans in support and two Democrats in opposition.

Elections and campaign money

Primary sponsor: Pelosi; co-sponsored by every Democrat.

What it would do: HR1, also known as the For the People Act, would make sweeping reforms to the election system and limit the influence of money in politics. It would create automatic voter registration by requiring states to register every person who proves their citizenship to a government agency, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles or Social Security Administration, and establish a federal holiday on election day.

The bill would also create a publicly financed campaign system for congressional candidates and require all district maps to be drawn by independent commissions or a panel of judges.

Another provision would require presidential candidates to release their tax returns, which President Trump has refused to do.

GOP stance: Republicans say the bill is designed to create a playing field that favors Democrats at the ballot box. They say changes it proposes, such as streamlining voter registration, could increase the risk of fraud.

House vote: Passed 234-193 on March 8, with only Democrats in support.

Lower prescription drug prices

Primary sponsor: Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., co-sponsored by Bay Area Reps. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, and Jerry McNerney, D-Stockton.

What it would do: HR3 would combat soaring prescription drug prices by allowing the federal government, a huge purchaser of medicines, to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies and require that costs be aligned with the average price in other developed countries. The bill has become a rallying cry for Democrats, who chanted HR3 during Trumps State of the Union speech.

GOP stance: Republicans argue the bill would hamper medical research and innovation by reducing the financial incentive to bring new drugs to market.

House vote: Passed 230-192 on Dec. 12, with nearly all Democrats and two Republicans in support.

Equality for LGBTQ people

Primary sponsor: Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I.; co-sponsored by nearly every Democrat.

What it would do: HR5, also known as the Equality Act, would prohibit federal discrimination against LGBTQ people in many areas, including public accommodations, education, employment and housing. Existing federal law doesnt prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

It is a basic heralding of human decency, said Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo.

GOP stance: Republicans said the bill would infringe on religious liberties. Several Republican lawmakers have pushed a competing bill that would create broad exemptions to HR5, including allowing health care providers with religious objections to refuse treatment to transgender people.

House vote: Passed 236-173 on May 17, with all Democrats and eight Republicans in support.

Legal status for undocumented farmworkers

Primary sponsor: Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose; co-sponsors include Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley.

What it would do: HR5038, also known as the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, would provide a path to legal status to undocumented farmworkers. In exchange, the bill would mandate that agricultural employers ensure that the workers they hire are in the U.S. legally.

GOP stance: Although nearly three dozen House Republicans supported the bill, a majority opposed it. The conservative Heritage Foundation labeled it a clear-cut example of amnesty.

House vote: Passed 260-165 on Dec. 11, with 34 Republicans in support, including three members of Californias delegation.

Equal Rights Amendment

Primary sponsor: Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo.

What it would do: HJR79 would remove Congress 1982 deadline for three-quarters of the states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, a constitutional amendment that would guarantee equality of rights under the law regardless of sex. Proponents say the law would help women close the gender-pay gap and fight cases of sex-based discrimination.

GOP stance: ERA opponents say its really an attempt to curtail state laws that restrict access to abortions.

House vote: Passed 232-183 on Feb. 13, with all Democrats and five Republicans in support.

Fighting climate change

Primary sponsor: Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla.; original co-sponsors include the full Bay Area delegation.

What it would do: HR9 would require that the U.S. rejoin the Paris climate agreement, an international pact to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and stick to its emissions reduction targets  a 26% to 28% cut in 2005 levels by 2025. Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2017.

GOP stance: McConnell and Republicans say the agreement could harm U.S. ability to compete with China and India.

House vote: Passed 231-190 on May 2, with all Democrats and three Republicans in support.

Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: dustingardiner
WABCO Holdings Inc. (NYSE: WBC) is leveraging existing technology and components from other suppliers to create a connected and intelligent trailer platform.

The Auburn Hills, Michigan-based global supplier of commercial vehicle braking control systems is using open software architecture to get other suppliers involved with the intelligent trailer platform.

The foundation is four WABCO technologies, including an Intelligent antilock braking system (ABS), trailer ABS, an intelligent trailer program and its TrailerCAST telematics device.

The goal is to get tractors and trailers to proactively talk to each other to manage critical safety and diagnostic issues. Vehicle diagnostics provider Noregon and trailer axle manufacturer Hendrickson are integrating their products and services into the connected trailer platform.

"Looking to the future, WABCO's position in truck and trailer braking will facilitate true connectivity between truck and trailer, helping to pave the way to higher levels of safety and efficiency," said Collin Shaw, WABCO North America director of Business Development and Marketing,

Intelligent ABS

WABCO has sold close to 6 million Trailer ABS systems in North America. The iABS system helps make the most of trailer control during emergency braking and enables intelligent trailer program features like lift axle control, door ajar and axle load monitoring.

Great Dane's Fleet Pulse, introduced in October 2019 at the North American Commercial Vehicle show in Atlanta, uses iABS and other WABCO components.

"They use a lot of the intelligent trailer products that we have," Shaw said. "They used odometer readings, ABS faults as well as the intelligent trailer product we use. We worked with them to help build their system."

Importing Telematics

The TrailerCAST telematics device, which WABCO debuted in Europe, helps get critical trailer information to customers through GPS and 4G cellular connectivity to iABS and its features, including a GPS location for trailers across North America.

Story continues

"With our connected trailer platform, we'll be able to provide real-time insights into information that previously was hard to get to, like ABS faults, decoding those faults, odometer readings and things like that," Shaw said. "Those are the things that fleets in Europe have said they appreciated."

TrailerCAST can transmit critical trailer information to WABCO's data cloud and fleets can access this information in real-time through Noregon's TripVision.

"You have to buy an ABS unit," Shaw said. "We're simply just adding on a couple of pieces to that rather than multiple gateways or other devices that get all the data together and send it out. I think what this does is allow [trailer customers] to very simply add on telematics."

German supplier ZF Friedrichshafen is expected to close soon on a $7 billion deal to acquire WABCO.

Image Sourced from Pixabay

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Around 11am on Monday, the anti-CAA protesters who had gathered on the main road under the Jafrabad Metro station had red roses in their hands, planning to welcome the CAA supporters, who were gathering roughly a kilometre away on the same road under Maujpur-Babarpur Metro station, with flowers.

If they throw stones at us, we will welcome them with roses, the protesters said.

By 2pm, within minutes of repeated violent face-offs, for which both the sides blamed each other, the roses were replaced by wooden sticks, metal rods, stones, bricks and glass bottles.

At least three vehicles parked outside houses on the main road were gutted, a building with a shop on the ground floor was set afire, several houses and shops were vandalised and several people were injured.

By 3pm, when additional forces were called in and a flag march was conducted, after many rounds of stone-pelting, the roads were carpeted with bricks, stones, shattered glass bottles and rose petals the protesters had brought.

Monday in Jafrabad had begun differently from how it ended.

Around 10am, we brought bunch of roses and distributed among the anti-CAA protesters. During the face-off, we asked our men to stand behind the barricades that the police had erected and not cross them. As we saw the other group (those supporting CAA) raising sticks and rods from the other side, trying to provoke us, we show them roses, said one of the protesters.

Another man, who also asked not to be named, said: But when the other group were set free to attack us, how can they expect us to not retaliate? We had planned that we will welcome them with flowers, but not those who intend to attack our wives, daughters and sisters.

On Sunday, too, people on both sides of the CAA divide were seen hurling stones and attacking each other.

A woman at the protest site, who identified herself as Tabassum, a mother of two, added, No force can drag us out of the country. We are sitting here since Saturday night. We have been there in Shaheen Bagh for so long and there has been not a single incident of violence. We do not want violence. We are fighting for our rights, we are fighting for our children and their future. But the other group has the support of the police, she said.

Another woman, Shehnaz, 32, said it is sad to see that when they are armed with roses, the other groups were pelting stones. They do not want peace. They want violence, she said.

The Jafrabad main road that connects GT Road to Jafrabad and further to Maujpur-Babarpur has a busy market on the left. On Monday, all shops remained shut. By evening, most of them had their boards and hoardings broken or pulled down.

The wooden hoardings were converted into sticks and glass doors and lights were shattered. Most of these buildings have shops on the ground floor and houses on the floors above. As windows of the houses overlooking the main road were shattered during stone pelting, residents remained locked inside their houses for hours.

We shut the doors of the rooms that had windows overlooking the main road. Many of us had covered the windows with almirahs so that the stones do not enter our houses. Some people have left the area until the situation returns to normal, said Moin Khan, a 19-year-old resident of the area.
Your teams' meeting results belong to your business. Employees get paid to work through problems, make decisions, come up with new ideas, and commit to action. Teams meet to get those results, and yet very few businesses require employees to capture and publish these results where others can put them to use.

Last November, researchers combed over 400 meeting-science studies to find the top 10 rules for business meetings. Failing to follow the tenth rule, "Plan for creativity and capture these outcomes," is, by far, the most wasteful mistake my team sees business leaders make.

When you leave it up to every individual to rely on their memories, you will inevitably spend time combatting these preventable problems:

Waiting for someone to complete a task, only to discover too late that they never realized they were supposed to do it.

Repeating discussions your team seems to forget you've already had about decisions you've already made.

Combing your email to figure out what the real story is before you head into a client meeting.

Managing bad assumptions, politics, and all kinds of wasteful baloney as your leadership team second-guesses what they're each doing in their black-box silos.

Scrambling to figure out what's going on with a project or customer or supplier when the person who normally meets with them leaves.

Do any of these problems sound familiar? You can prevent a lot of that drama by having everyone capture and publish meeting notes. Here's how.

1. Assign someone to type notes for every meeting.

You may have read that it's better to take notes on paper, which is true for college students attending lectures. Research shows paper notetaking helps individuals remember complex topics better, but it does nothing to help a whole group remember anything.

When you assign a designated note taker, they act as the representative hands for the whole group. Their job is to capture key points. While they could do this on paper, typed notes save them time when they publish these notes afterward.

Typed notes are also easier to present on screen. You want others in the meeting to see these notes because, while the note taker types, the whole group should take responsibility for making sure what they type accurately reflects the discussion.

2. Capture the key details only.

Useful notes make it fast and easy to see the value created in that meeting. You want notes you can scan, task lists you can check off, and insights that leap out at anyone who reads the notes later.

What constitutes a useful note? That depends on the meeting.

At a minimum, you need to capture decisions and action items. These are the promises your team is making to each other, or that they're making to clients on behalf of your company. You want those in writing.

You might also capture:

Announcements: important dates, new team members, etc.

New issues and concerns

New ideas or insights

Useful links and references

Anything else that helps you achieve your goals!

Remember, though, that you don't want a verbatim transcript. That's what recordings are for. These notes are about results, so stick to the highlights.

3. Review notes as a group before the meeting ends.

In the last five to 10 minutes of the meeting, review all notes by asking:

Did we miss anything important?

Is everything accurate?

Is each note clear enough that other people will understand it? Will we know what it means when we look at it again in two weeks?

Your team might try to rush through the first few questions, but that last one will make them think, and notes that say things like "Look into that report" will get fixed. Look into that report won't mean anything in two weeks, whereas Check the totals on the Q4 sales report will be obvious later when you're trying to hold each other accountable.

4. Publish those notes where people can find them.

Your email inbox doesn't count. You want meeting notes to live somewhere accessible to your whole team, including people who didn't attend the meeting.

With notes on hand, you can easily get new team members up to speed. Reviewing client meetings makes it easy to build case studies. Most importantly, your teams will stop rehashing conversations and failing to follow through on promises they've forgotten, increasing momentum in every part of your business.
A story like this usually has a face: for example, an accompanying photo of a grave person standing outside the place where a grave thing happened.

But the subject of this story doesnt want to be defined by that thing. Or in this case, by that word.

I dont want the word f----t attached to my face ad nauseam, says Jeremy, a 29-year-old Torontonian who alleges that in the early morning hours of Feb. 15, an employee at a midtown Ginos Pizza used the homophobic slur against him three times.

Jeremy, who asked to be identified only by his first name for safety reasons, alleges that after working a late shift at a nearby restaurant he and a group of friends entered the pizza shop to pick up a few slices.

Some of Jeremys friends waited outside, so he entered and exited Ginos two or three times in order to ask them what theyd like to eat.

This let cold air into the store, apparently angering an employee behind the counter, who then allegedly used the homophobic slur twice to reprimand Jeremy, who is openly  and in his own words  flamboyantly gay.

The third time the employee allegedly used the slur, Jeremy caught it on tape.

You might have seen the footage.

Jeremy, who goes by the alias Jeremy Mizu online (the latter is a nickname, not his legal surname), filmed part of the altercation and posted the video to social media that same weekend; it has since been viewed thousands of times.

The video begins in the middle of a loud argument between Jeremy and the employee, who is clearly visible behind the counter; Jeremy is behind the camera.

I can film you, Im allowed, Jeremy says.

The employee smirks. You are? he says. Because youre a f----t?

Yeah, cause Im a f----t! Jeremy shouts.

The video currently making the rounds online is a shorter version of the original clip Jeremy posted to social media and later removed, in order, he says, to protect the privacy of the other people visible who came to his defence.

But both the short and the long versions of the video tell virtually the same tale: an employee at Ginos Pizza in Toronto discriminated against a customer. The lead up to the discriminatory act, Jeremy argues, is irrelevant.

Having worked in the service industry myself, you just dont go to a slur, he says. No matter how annoyed you are or angry with somebody, whether I opened the door and it was cold, you dont call somebody a f----t or a racist term.

Ginos Pizza seems to agree.

The Ontario chain announced in a statement shortly after the incident went viral it has terminated the offending employee. A spokesperson for the chain told the Star that as a direct result of the homophobic event, it is rolling out a province-wide retraining program around issues of diversity, hidden bias, sensitivity and overall customer service experience.

When I meet Jeremy in a downtown coffee shop a week after the incident, hes skeptical about the retraining scheme. He wonders if some people are capable of being retrained. But more so, hes skeptical of the presumption many Torontonians have that what happened to him is extremely unusual.

I think its important for people to know that this stuff still does happen, he says. Its something people face everyday, not just for being gay, but for being Black, First Nations. I think a lot of the time people think were all good now. 

Jeremy tells me hes been the victim of verbal homophobic attacks in the city a handful of times before, on the subway, outside a bar where he used to work and once on King Street during Pride month, where he was told by a stranger, F----t, dont show your face around here.

When you look at me, he says, you know Im gay. When I open my mouth, you know Im gay. Regardless of how PC people want to be, you know Im gay. Im that showtunes, drag queen loving, walks with a sway in his hips kind of gay.

This description might bring to mind a few names in lights: Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness, drag matriarch Ru Paul, actor Chris Colfer in Glee. Our popular culture is increasingly friendlier to and inhabited with figures like these; people who complement Jeremys picture of himself. And yet while representation in media is encouraging, it doesnt inoculate anybody from hate in everyday life.

Things might be better than they were before, in Toronto and elsewhere.

But theyre not quite so good that a noticeably queer person can get a slice of pizza in the middle of the night with the certainty they wont be called a f----t.

This isnt something that happens in a vacuum, says Jeremy. It doesnt cease to exist when this story ends.
Medical staff in Vietnam's central city of Da Nang spray disinfection over luggage of South Korean passengers arriving on February 24, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Truc Lam.

No person coming from any area that has experienced a Covid-19 outbreak will be allowed to enter Vietnam, the PM directed Tuesday.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to apply the new policy to South Korea, Japan, Italy, Iran and all other countries and territories that have reported cases of Covid-19 caused by the novel coronavirus.

Vietnam has so far achieved positive results in fighting the Covid-19, but the epidemic has entered its next stage, spreading to many other parts of the world and is now developing complicatedly and unpredictably in South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran, the PM noted.

For those who have to enter Vietnam for state affairs or exclusive matters, the government requests them to follow the nations health declaration procedure and stay in quarantine for 14 days.

Citizens of countries stricken by Covid-19, but from cities/provinces free of the epidemic, will have to submit a health declaration and submit to further procedures deemed necessary when entering Vietnam.

Vietnamese citizens from Chinas epidemic hit areas can return home, but only via international border gates and will have to be quarantined for two weeks on entry, continuing the policy being followed for the past month.

For its part, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on all Vietnamese citizens not to travel to affected areas and if such travel is unavoidable, they have to be quarantined on return.

Vietnamese expatriates in epidemic-hit areas have been told to strictly follow regulations and guidance of the local authorities; and advised not to return to Vietnam at this time.

Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam had said earlier Tuesday that in order for the country to achieve the positive results it has so far, Vietnam had been proactively implementing measures to prevent and limit the epidemic from mid-December last year, as soon as reports appeared of the Covid-19 in China's Wuhan City.

Staring February 1, Vietnam had suspended all flights to and from China and stopped granting tourist visas to Chinese from epidemic-stricken areas.

After South Korea raised its disease alert to the highest level, the Vietnamese government has tightened controls for visitors from that country. Starting Monday, everyone coming in from South Korea has to make health declarations, and those with symptoms like high fever, coughing and breathing difficulties will be placed in quarantine for a minimum of 14 days.

Now all flights from infected areas in South Korea will be diverted to smaller airports - Van Don in the northern Quang Ninh Province, Phu Cat in the south central Binh Dinh Province and Can Tho in the Mekong Delta.

Saigon and Da Nang are currently quarantining 83 people coming on Monday from South Korea's Daegu City, where a major coronavirus outbreak has been detected. Some South Koreans who refused to be quarantined will be flown home late Tuesday night.

South Korea is making headlines internationally as one of the worst-hit countries and territories by the coronavirus epidemic, recording 977 infections by Tuesday evening, second only to China.

As of Tuesday, the last of the 16 infection novel coronavirus infections detected so far in Vietnam had fully recovered. Over the past 13 days, no new infection case has been reported in the country.

The Covid-19 is affecting 39 countries and territories. Death toll has crossed 2,700, mostly in China, followed by Iran with 15, South Korea with 11 and Italy with seven.
For former Vice President Joe Biden, Tuesday nights Democratic presidential debate in South Carolina is a chance to shore up support in a southern state hes been banking on as the progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders racks up victories, delegates and momentum.

For Sen. Elizabeth Warren, its an opportunity to pick up where she left off from last weeks Nevada debate  pouncing on former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg and other candidates to gain back steam and a fundraising push heading into Super Tuesdays 16 voting contests.

Bloomberg will look to bounce back and Sanders  a surging frontrunner whose recent comments regarding Fidel Castro on 60 Minutes caused a stir among Cuban-Americans and Florida Democrats  could be under fire from everybody on the stage.

Heres how to tune in.

What time is the debate and where?

Tuesday, Feb. 25, from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. EST in Charleston, South Carolina, hosted by CBS News and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute.

Which candidates qualified for the debate?

Former Vice President Joe Biden

Former Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg

Former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg

Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont

Businessman Tom Steyer

Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts

Who is moderating?

Norah O'Donnell, CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor

Gayle King, CBS This Morning co-host

Margaret Brennan, Face the Nation moderator and senior foreign affairs correspondent

Major Garrett, chief Washington correspondent

Bill Whitaker, 60 Minutes correspondent

What channels can you tune in to watch the debate?

The debate will be broadcast live on CBS, BET and Twitter.

Channel finder: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, Cox, DIRECTV, Dish

Where can you stream the debate for free online?

The CBS News website, the CBS News app and Twitter at @CBSNews will stream the debate live. Viewers can download apps through iOS, Android, Roku, Amazon Fire and other devices.

CBS said viewers can also try the following services, which offer CBS or BET, or both: Sling TV, YouTube TV, Hulu TV, FuboTV and AT&T TV Now.

Things to look for:

Sanders comes into the debate following a dominant victory in Nevada, where he surprised establishment Democrats by garnering strong support among African American and Latino voters.

Biden, who recently said Steyers advertising blitz has severely cut into his support among African American voters in South Carolina, came in second place in Nevada but has been losing traction in national polling as Sanders topped two of the three early voting states and nearly tied Buttigieg in Iowa.

Warren, who broke her previous fundraising records after a fierce debate performance that reminded supporters, and opponents, of her Senate hearing takedowns, has maintained that shes the best bet to face President Donald Trump on the debate stage and in the general election. But a recent poll from UMass Lowells Center for Public Opinion showed the rise of Sanders is making for a tough fight in Warrens home state of Massachusetts, where voters will head to polls on March 3, Super Tuesday.

Klobuchar and Buttigieg, who have pitched themselves as moderates who can better unite the party than Sanders or Warren, will try to recapture some momentum that both have seen through the race  Buttigieg in Iowa and Klobuchar after a strong debate performance and third place finish in the New Hampshire primary.

Related Coverage:
VANCOUVER, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Choom (CSE: CHOO;OTCQB: CHOOF), one of the Canada's leading recreational cannabis retailers, is pleased to announce the opening of their next licensed cannabis retail store in Calgary, AB. The store, opening in the bedroom community of Shawcliffe, is the first Choom retail store to open in Calgary, the 14th Choom store in Alberta, and our 15th location in Canada.

"We are very pleased to be opening our first location in the City of Calgary. This new location is another example of the continued commitment to our growth strategy and the vision of sharing our unique retail experience across Canada." said Corey Gillon, CEO of Choom.

The store is located at 631 Shawcliffe Gate SW, Calgary, AB. Operating hours will be 10am  10pm, 7 days a week.

For further details about Choom and our growing retail network, visit www.choom.ca.

Say hello to Choom

Choom is an emerging adult use cannabis company whose mission is to establish one of the largest retail networks in Canada. The Choom brand is inspired by Hawaii's "Choom Gang"a group of buddies in Honolulu during the 1970's who loved to smoke weedor as the locals called it, "Choom". Evoking the spirit of the original Choom Gang, our brand caters to the Canadian adult use market with the ethos of 'cultivating good times'. Choom is focused on delivering an elevated customer experience through our curated retail environments, offering a diversity of brands for Canadians across a national retail network.

Cautionary Statement:

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.



Forward-looking information

This news release contains forward-looking information relating to the Company's proposed activities and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking information relates to management's future outlook and anticipated events or results, and include statements or information regarding the future plans or prospects of the Company. Although management of 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. These factors include risks and uncertainties associated with or arising as a result of delays in obtaining or an inability to obtain required regulatory approvals, access to sufficient quantities of cannabis, the results of diligence investigations, the actions of third parties, the results of negotiations with third parties, developments in the cannabis sector, the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, reliance on key personnel, regulatory risks and delays and other risks and uncertainties discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of the Company's interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings, including those made with the CSE and applicable Canadian securities regulators. There can be no assurance that such forward looking 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.

SOURCE Choom Holdings Inc.

Related Links

https://choom.ca/


The new polymer 20 note, which recently entered circulation, is made by De La Rue. (Leon Neal/WPA Pool/Getty Images)

De La Rue (DLAR.L), the embattled manufacturer of the new polymer 20 note, on Tuesday unveiled an extensive three-year cost-cutting plan, and said it hoped to save 35m ($45m) per year from the second half of its upcoming financial year.

The company, which has issued four profit warnings in around two years, is currently under investigation for suspected corruption in South Sudan.

De La Rue said that it was targeting cost savings in its currency division. The company, which prints Bank of England banknotes, designed the polymer material and technology used in the new 20 note featuring artist JMW Turner.

The company said that, as part of the accelerated cost-cutting plan, it would achieve saving of 35m per year on an annualised basis from the second half of its 2020/21 financial year.

This includes 10m in already realised savings from previous measures, but means that the companys annualised savings target of 20m has been increased significantly.

De La Rue said that it was too early to determine what impact, if any, the plan would have on jobs at the company.

Read more: New 20 polymer notes enter circulation

Clive Vacher, who was appointed as chief executive in October, said the plan would deliver significant improvement in the operational and financial performance of the company.

The plan drives extensive cost reduction and, in parallel, offers a substantial investment opportunity for growth.

Vacher was appointed to the position in large part because of his extensive experience with company turnarounds.

In July, De La Rue, which last year lost the contract to print UK passports, said that the UKs Serious Fraud Office had opened an investigation into suspected corruption relating to its business in South Sudan.

De La Rue is the largest commercial printer of passports in the world, and has designed around a third of the banknotes in circulation around the world.

In October, the company said that full-year profits would come in significantly lower than expectations, giving no explanation for the warning.

In November, it said that profits for the six months to the end of September fell 87% to 2.2m.

The banknote and passport maker announced a suspension of dividend payments and said that there was significant doubt over the groups ability to continue as a business.
Measuring Mastercard Incorporated's (NYSE:MA) track record of past performance is an insightful exercise for investors. It enables us to reflect on whether the company has met or exceed expectations, which is a powerful signal for future performance. Below, I will assess MA's recent performance announced on 31 December 2019 and compare these figures to its historical trend and industry movements.

View our latest analysis for Mastercard

How MA fared against its long-term earnings performance and its industry

MA's trailing twelve-month earnings (from 31 December 2019) of US$8.1b has jumped 39% compared to the previous year.

Furthermore, this one-year growth rate has exceeded its 5-year annual growth average of 15%, indicating the rate at which MA is growing has accelerated. What's enabled this growth? Well, lets take a look at if it is merely attributable to industry tailwinds, or if Mastercard has seen some company-specific growth.

NYSE:MA Income Statement, February 25th 2020

In terms of returns from investment, Mastercard has invested its equity funds well leading to a 136% return on equity (ROE), above the sensible minimum of 20%. Furthermore, its return on assets (ROA) of 28% exceeds the US IT industry of 7.1%, indicating Mastercard has used its assets more efficiently. And finally, its return on capital (ROC), which also accounts for Mastercards debt level, has increased over the past 3 years from 51% to 56%.

What does this mean?

While past data is useful, it doesnt tell the whole story. While Mastercard has a good historical track record with positive growth and profitability, there's no certainty that this will extrapolate into the future. I suggest you continue to research Mastercard to get a more holistic view of the stock by looking at:

Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for MAs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for MAs outlook. Financial Health: Are MAs operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why weve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the trailing twelve months from 31 December 2019. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
In combining CelPlans drive test software with our spectrum analyzers, RF engineers now have all the analysis, scanning and storage capabilities they need for CBRS in one system.

ThinkRF Corp., the leader in software-defined spectrum analysis, today announced a fully integrated wireless network testing system with CelPlan Technologies, Inc. The solution allows RF engineers to conduct drive tests and evaluate network performance, map coverage, or identify issues with Citizens Broadband Radio Service(CBRS), a new network standard which leverages the previously underutilized 3.5GHz spectrum range for shared public use in commercial wireless services.

With the high-performance ThinkRF Spectrum Analyzer as the scanning receiver and leading drive test software from CelPlan, the solution offers the highest frequency range in the smallest form factor, with 100 MHz real-time bandwidth. It enables engineers to simultaneously monitor and record the 3.5 GHz band of interest as well as the surrounding spectrum for accurate performance prediction, or playback and post-processing.

The demand for new applications which use wireless communications is developing at an incredible speed, said Dr. Jasvinder Obhi, VP, Product Management and Marketing, ThinkRF. To cope with this demand, CBRS-enabled spectrum sharing is a necessity, bringing with it additional levels of complexity when it comes to test and measurement. In combining CelPlans drive test software with our spectrum analyzers, RF engineers now have all the analysis, scanning and storage capabilities they need for CBRS in one system.

Test equipment is typically limited to a few specific bands, said Leonhard Korowajczuk, CEO, CelPlan. Each time a new band is added or wireless technology changes, RF engineers have to purchase additional equipment at great expense. CelPlans solutions allow spectrum analysis and technology scanning to be done on the same captured spectrum. Working with ThinkRFs software-defined spectrum analyzers, that cover up to 40 GHz, allows us to deliver a versatile, cost-effective alternative, which will be crucial to successful deployments of 5G and CBRS.

By integrating software-defined radio technologies from ThinkRF and spectrum analysis tools from CelPlan, the solution offers:



Built-in Spectrum Analyzer for signal and interference analysis

I/Q data recording capability for post-analysis

Deeper analysis and visualization tools for fading and MIMO analysis

High performance receiver with automatic gain control, pre-select filtering

and much more.

The solution is available from ThinkRF today. For more information, contact info@thinkrf.com.

About CelPlan Technologies, Inc.

CelPlan Technologies is a leading provider of Radio Frequency (RF) planning and optimization tools and solutions. CelPlan's expertise extends from the conception and development of wireless infrastructure to planning, deployment, and optimization of telecom networks. CelPlan has rapidly established itself as an innovative leader in providing the most advanced engineering solutions for the wireless industry. The company's broad, inclusive focus on all wireless industry segments - from equipment and software to applications - enables successful and efficient resolution of the most intractable problems. For more information please visit: https://www.celplan.com/.

About ThinkRF

ThinkRF is the leader in software-defined spectrum analysis platforms that monitor, detect and analyze complex waveforms in todays rapidly evolving wireless landscape. By providing more flexibility, greater coverage, increased functionality and better ROI, ThinkRF solutions are ideal for regulatory and intelligence monitoring, telecom deployment optimization and RF application development. With open APIs and proven integrations, ThinkRF offers the only compact and networkable spectrum analyzer that can be deployed without a PC and the best price to performance on the market. Founded in 2006, ThinkRF is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada with offices and partners globally.

For more information, visit http://www.thinkrf.com, contact info@thinkrf.com or on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
LONDON, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Plug and Play, a pioneering US innovation platform for startups, has today announced it will be partnering with MIRA Technology Park, Europe's leading automotive R&D cluster, to create the UK's first Mobility Innovation Hub.

- Startup accelerator and investor Plug and Play plans to establish an Innovation Hub at the MIRA Technology Park, bringing together some of the world's best startups to help major mobility focused corporates innovate

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Plug and Play is the world's largest innovation platform. It specialises in corporate innovation and the development of early-to-growth stage technology startups, bringing together the best startups, entrepreneurial investors, and ambitious global corporations. The exciting move marks the first time the technology accelerator has brought its well-proven business model to the UK.

Situated at the heart of the nation's automotive sector, the Mobility Innovation Hub will be located at the MIRA Technology Park. It provides extensive R&D facilities and access to highly-skilled engineering expertise, thereby immersing the successful startups in a rich eco-system to facilitate their rapid growth. The unique partnership, supported by key government bodies such as Zenzic, will enable OEM and Tier 1 corporates to fast track their innovation agendas whilst supporting startups to prove their concepts and find routes to market for their innovations.

Mike Olmstead, CRO at Plug and Play, said: "With the global mobility industry facing unprecedented change amid megatrends in EVs and connected and autonomous vehicles, the need to accelerate innovation, through investment in talent and technology has never been greater.

"Having already established a successful track record in the US and the rest of Europe, the high-quality of startups and academic research emerging from UK universities makes it an attractive market to enter. As such, we knew the MIRA Technology Park  with its prime location in the heart of the UK mobility sector, pioneering facilities and high-profile tenants  was the right fit for us. We look forward to achieving some great things from this exciting collaboration."

Jack Bartlett, responsible for Global Strategic Development at MIRA Technology Park, said: "We considered for some time how we could facilitate innovation, when we discovered Plug and Play and got to grips with their unique business model it was very clear that this was the right solution. Our collaboration will provide large corporate organisations in the mobility sector with a means to innovate, utilising the benefits of the established and proven Plug and Play innovation model and the locational benefits of MIRA Technology Park.

"With future mobility technologies evolving at such a rapid pace, the importance of collaboration between enterprising startups, investors and established organisations cannot be overstated. Plug and Play's decision to set up their UK mobility operations here will be a major step forward in how the UK industry will develop and deploy the next generation of automobiles."

Daniel Ruiz, CEO of Zenzic, said: "Attracting a pioneering innovation platform such as Plug and Play to the UK represents a huge opportunity for the nation's mobility industry to break fresh ground in self-driving technologies. The move is a real testament to the great work MIRA Technology Park has done in recent years in pooling together the best minds, investment and facilities into one location in order to drive cutting-edge developments that will benefit future mobility for all."

A renowned automotive 'technology cluster', MIRA Technology Park is currently home to 40 mobility sector companies, including many iconic brands and they collectively employ over 1,200.

For further information about HORIBA MIRA, please contact

Monira Matin or Hayley Longdin at Whistle PR on 0121 517 5177 or email HORIBAMIRA@whistlepr.co.uk.

Notes to Editors

About Plug and Play

Plug and Play is a global innovation platform. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we have built accelerator programs, corporate innovation services and an in-house VC to make technological advancement progress faster than ever before. Since inception in 2006, our programs have expanded worldwide to include a presence in over 25 locations globally giving startups the necessary resources to succeed in Silicon Valley and beyond. With over 10,000 startups and 300 official corporate partners, we have created the ultimate startup ecosystem in many industries. We provide active investments with 200 leading Silicon Valley VCs, and host more than 700 networking events per year. Companies in our community have raised over $7 billion in funding, with successful portfolio exits including Danger, Dropbox, Lending Club and PayPal. For more information, visit www.plugandplaytechcenter.com.

About HORIBA MIRA

HORIBA MIRA is a global provider of pioneering engineering, research and test services to the automotive, defence, aerospace and rail sectors. We work in close collaboration with vehicle manufacturers and suppliers around the world, providing comprehensive support ranging from individual product tests to turnkey multi-vehicle design, development and build programmes.

With over 70 years' experience in developing some of the world's most iconic vehicles, our engineers utilise the latest test facilities and simulation tools to make vehicles and journeys safer, cleaner and smarter. Our suite of 40 major test facilities, 100km of specialised proving ground and wealth of engineering experience, combined with our expanding international presence, means we are confident that we can achieve our vision  that every journey in the world will be positively influenced by us.

About MIRA Technology Park

MIRA Technology Park was established in 2010 and has already attracted over 30 major global OEM's, Tier 1 and specialist automotive technology companies. In 2010 it was granted planning approval for its Masterplan which extends to a total of 1.75million sq ft set within the 842 acre site. It has also been recognised by the UK government and was awarded Enterprise Zone status in 2011.

Company Name HORIBA MIRA Ltd. Address Watling Street, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV10 0TU, UK Incorporated 1st January 1946 Business domain Engineering Consultancy, Test Consultancy, Transport Technology Park Representative Declan Allen - Managing Director Web address www.horiba-mira.com

About HORIBA

Headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, the HORIBA Group is a global leading supplier of measurement technology and systems for various fields from automotive testing, process and environmental monitoring, in-vitro medical diagnostics, semiconductor manufacturing and metrology to scientific R&D and QC measurements.

Company name HORIBA, Ltd. Address 2, Miyanohigashi-cho, Kisshoin, Minami-ku, Kyoto, Japan Web address www.horiba.com Founded October 17, 1945 Incorporated January 26, 1953 Net sales 195,399 million Japanese yen (Consolidated, Fiscal 2017) Paid in capital 12,011 million Japanese yen (As of December 31, 2017) Business domain Manufacture and sale of analytical measurement equipment Fiscal closing date December 31, annually Annual meeting of shareholders Held in March Number of employees 7,399 (Consolidated, as of December 31, 2017) Representative Atsushi Horiba  Chairman and Group CEO Stock listings Tokyo Stock Exchange, First Section Securities Code: 6856

About HORIBA Automotive Test Systems

A business segment of the HORIBA Group, Automotive Test Systems (ATS) which has developed global leadership in the fields of engine test systems, driveline test systems, brake test systems, wind tunnel balances and emissions test systems. HORIBA ATS is able to offer its customers complete solutions with full turnkey capability for all industries using electric motors, internal combustion engines and turbines. These include the automotive, heavy-duty, off-road, consumer goods, marine, aerospace and locomotive sectors.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1094499/PlugandPlay_Flags.jpg

Related Links

http://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com



SOURCE Plug and Play
Trustpower Case Study

A leading New Zealand power, gas, broadband and phone company, Trustpower, needed to:

Improve and modernize their security posture

Discover what was happening across their entire network

Provide high OT security in line with government guidelines

View this case study to learn how Nozomi Networks was able to help Trustpower achieve these goals.
President Donald Trump trails his top Democratic opponents in a new poll of a key Pennsylvania swing county, though most voters surveyed have positive feelings about the economy, usually a predictor of reelection strength.

Trump is running narrowly behind most of the Democratic contenders in Erie County, a longtime Democratic stronghold that swung dramatically his way in 2016. Erie was one of three Pennsylvania counties that voted for Barack Obama before swinging to Trump, helping put the state in the Republican column for the first time since 1988.

An important question in the 2020 election is whether Trump can hold on to those voters who abandoned Democrats last time, or if they turn away from him. The poll from Mercyhurst University, in Erie, found the following results in the county in hypothetical matchups between Trump and top Democratic candidates:

Mike Bloomberg 51, Trump 41.

Bernie Sanders 50, Trump 44.

Joe Biden 48, Trump 44.

Amy Klobuchar 46, Trump 42.

Pete Buttigieg 46, Trump 42.

Elizabeth Warren 46, Trump 45.

The poll was conducted Feb. 10 to 18, before the Democratic debate in Nevada last week, in which Bloomberg endured a series of biting attacks from his rivals, and before Sanders added to his early momentum by winning the Nevada caucuses. It surveyed 454 registered voters in Erie County by telephone.

 READ MORE: Elizabeth Warren wasnt playing around at the Democratic debate. A lawyer from the Philly suburbs has seen it before.

Some of the Democratic leads are also small enough to fall within the surveys 4.6 percentage-point margin of error, and therefore statistically insignificant. And of course, months of campaigning could change the dynamics of the general election in November.

In some ways, the poll reflects the changing state of the Democratic race. Biden, the early front-runner, has seen his lead over Trump fall from 26 percentage points in September to 4 points. Sanders margin over Trump is about the same as in September.

Less than four years ago, Erie County voters helped Trump win the presidency, so a tightening of the race was entirely expected, said Joe Morris, director of the Mercyhurst Center for Applied Politics. In 2016, Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in the county, 48 percent to 44 percent.

 READ MORE: Pa. hit a record low in unemployment. Will that help Trump win again in 2020?

Despite potentially falling behind his rivals, the economy, one of Trumps main calling cards, got positive reviews. Some 65% of Erie County voters described the nations economy as excellent or good, up from 58% in September. While most voters still say the local Erie County economy isnt good, the 32% who rated it as excellent or good was almost triple the share from February 2017, a month after Trump took office.

As long as the economy holds, we can expect a further tightening of the race," Morris said. If this continues through the summer, it appears Erie County will once again be a battleground county.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered government agencies to quarantine all people arriving from areas hit by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in South Korea to prevent the spread of the epidemic.

The order was given at a government meeting to discuss COVID-19 prevention measures, which was chaired by PM Phuc in Hanoi on Monday afternoon.

South Korean health authorities have reported 893 infections nationwide as of Tuesday morning, making it the largest national total anywhere outside China, according to Reuters.

At the meeting in Hanoi, Vietnams Minister and Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung said that 200,000 Vietnamese citizens currently live and work in South Korea, including 26,000 residing in areas where COVID-19 cases have been reported.

In addition, four Vietnamese and eight South Korean airlines currently operate 563 flights connecting Vietnam and South Korea weekly, Dung reported.

Moreover, Vietnam now adopts a visa exemption policy for South Koreans, making it more difficult to track arrivals from South Korea as passengers can travel from affected areas to non-affected localities before making their entry into the Southeast Asian country, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung told the meeting.

The risk of the disease spreading from the outbreak zones in South Korea into Vietnam via flights is very high, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen stressed.

To solve this problem, Deputy Minister Dung suggested several solutions including placing people arriving in Vietnam from South Korea under 14-day quarantine, and restricting or suspending all flights between the two countries.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen speaks at a government meeting to discuss COVID-19 prevention measures in Hanoi, Vietnam, February 24, 2020. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Phuc ordered ministries and localities to continue taking preventive measures against COVID-19.

Anyone who arrives [in Vietnam] from outbreak areas must be quarantined, PM Phuc affirmed.

He underlined that the governments key goal is to protect the health and lives of Vietnamese people and not to let the disease spread in Vietnam.

No Vietnamese was ill with COVID-19 in South Korea as of Monday, according to Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs Le Van Thanh.

Vietnam has already advised its citizens against visiting South Koreas Daegu City and North Gyeongsang Province  the countrys COVID-19 epicenter  as well as discouraging foreigners from flying into Vietnam via those places.

Vietnam has also required all travelers from South Korea to submit health declaration forms at immigration upon arrival, starting from Sunday afternoon.

The COVID-19 has killed 2,702 people and infected over 80,100 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.

All of them have fully recovered and 15 have been discharged from the hospital as of Tuesday. The other patient remains hospitalized but is eligible for release after testing negative for the virus several times.

The country has recorded no new infection since February 13.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Facebook is eyeing minority stakes in various Indian startups under a unique programme as the company usually pursues majority stake or full ownership in other markets.

Facebook does not do minority investments anywhere in the world an extremely unique Indian programme The idea is to accelerate this even more, Ajit Mohan, VP and MD, Facebook India told The Times of India.

The investments would likely be in 'new-age companies' through the traditional venture capital funding (VC) and private equity (PE) route, the report said. Sources told the paper that cheques would range within $20-25 million for 'growth-stage startups'.

Mohan said there is no limit on the intended investments, but would focus on inclusion and internet benefits beyond large cities.

Facebooks recent investments were in edu-tech startup Unacademy with General Atlantic in February and in social-commerce startup Meesho with Prosus (formerly Naspers) in June last year. Mohan said both these service Tier II and III markets.

Prior to these, the company acquired Hyderabad-based performance analytics startup Little Eye Labs in 2014. The company also runs incubator programme tied with VC funds Fireside Ventures and SAIF Partners.

US-based Google and Facebook have lagged behind Chinese giants Tencent and Alibaba as active startup investors in India, who have invested over $1 billion in multiple unicorns.

Facebook has a large customer base in India, with the platform counting 260 million users as of January, while WhatsApp has 400 million monthly active users, data from Statista showed.
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Importance of IT in healthcare has increased significantly, as it helps in managing healthcare data and boosts the growth of advanced healthcare activities. Moreover, increasing use of cloud-based services has also boosted demand in the global healthcare IT market. In this market, big data helps in effectively managing population health management programs through data analytics, and also reduces expenses on chronic health conditions. Sharing health data with academic researchers has increased with healthcare IT, as it helps in developing new medical therapies and drugs. Moreover, providing precision medicine (PM) can be easily on individual patients thorough cognitive computing. Integration of IT software solutions increases reporting, evaluation, and monitoring in the healthcare industry have grown substantially, thus making appropriate use of data as one of the healthcare technology trends. Additionally, healthcare IT is also estimated benefit from blockchain to get medical records through a streamlined and secure process.

Attributing to these factors various players offering healthcare IT services are coming up with new more advanced solutions. One of the leading players in the global healthcare IT market is CERNER CORPORATION. This company provides robust HCIT product portfolio designed for medium-sized and large-sized organizations. This is expected to help them with advanced software services and products designed for specific needs. As the company focuses on expanding its geographical presence, the company is growing its network in different regions by collaborating with other companies. CERNER has recently partnered with NeuroLogix Technologies (US) with an objective to integrate the Cerners HealtheAthlete health management system with C3Logix concussion management system. This step will help the company to enhance the quality of care given to athletes. Moreover, the company will gain a competitive edge, as they will be providing high-value services at a reduced cost to smaller hospitals, physician practices, and critical access hospitals.

Interesting.? Apply For A Sample Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3084

Healthcare information technology (IT) is a vast field that involves the use of information technology for designing, creating, developing, using and maintaining information systems in the field of healthcare. Healthcare IT market is growing at a fast rate due to technological advancement in the field and increasing demand for improved healthcare facilities worldwide. Healthcare IT allows exchange of health-related information among organizations electronically. On the basis of applications, healthcare IT market can be segmented into clinical technology, non-clinical technology and payer technology. Various wireless technologies are available in the market such as radio frequency identification (RFID), bluetooth, WLAN, WWAN, WMAN, zigbee technology and others. Use of healthcare IT lowers the cost of treatment and reduces errors associated with healthcare facilities; thus improves the efficiency of the healthcare system.

On the basis of delivery mode, web-based technology has the largest market. However, cloud technology is growing at the fastest rate. This is due to various successful technologies being used in cloud technology, such as Saas, Paas, Iaas and others. North America, followed by Europe, has the largest market for healthcare IT due to rise in incidence of various diseases, increasing adoption of electronic health records and technological advancement in the region. Asia is expected to show high growth rate in healthcare IT market in next few years due to rise in ageing population, increasing patient pool in the region and government initiatives sin the region.

Technological advancement, government initiatives, rise in investments from healthcare IT players, increasing number of patients are some of the key factors driving the growth for global healthcare IT market. In addition, increasing demand for better healthcare facilities and rising need for integrated healthcare systems are expected to drive the market for healthcare IT. However, high maintenance and service expenses, lack of experienced professionals and interoperability issues are some of the major factors restraining the growth for global healthcare IT market.

IT-enabled healthcare solutions for physicians, emerging markets such as China and India and innovation of some new information technology in healthcare are expected to offer good opportunities for growth of global healthcare IT market. In addition, shifting focus towards patient-centric healthcare facilities is anticipated to develop good opportunity for global healthcare IT market. Some of the trends that have been observed in healthcare IT market are increase in the use of mobile devices, rising adoption of electronic health records and wireless and cloud technology in healthcare. Some of the major companies operating in the global healthcare IT market are CERNER CORPORATION, Dell, McKesson Corporation, GE Healthcare, Agfa Gevaert NV, Siemens Healthcare, NextGen Healthcare Information Systems Inc., Epic Systems Corporation, Allscripts and CareFusion Corporation.

To get Info on Business Strategies, Challenges & Policies Request Detailed TOC@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3084

Key points covered in the report
[February 25, 2020] APWG Reviews Phishing in 2019: Record Highs and Phishing Attacks Against Social Media Sites Continue to Grow

According to the APWG's new Phishing Activity Trends Report, the number of reported phishing attacks stabilized closer to the statistical mean at the end of 2019, after a record breaking third quarter. The total number of phishing sites detected by APWG worldwide in October through December 2019 was 162,155, following the all-time-high of 266,387 attacks recorded in July through September 2019. Most menacing, however, were targeting trends exhibited by cybercrime gangs focusing on: users of web-hosted email and social media to multiply the numbers of potential victims; and Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes of increasing sophistication to exploit key executives' broader access to corporate resources - and greater payments authority. By most other measures, 2019 was one of the most dangerous years on record for online users. During the course of 2019, the number of phishing incidents in Brazil increased 232 percent. APWG member company Axur recorded these attacks against Brazilian brands and services that are available in Portuguese in Brazil, noting an increase around the Black Friday shopping weekend. Similarly, APWG member company Agari recorded criminals perpetrating Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks and using gift cards to cash out during the holiday shopping season. APWG contributor OpSec Security saw attacks against more than 325 different brands (companies) per month in Q4. Stefanie Wood Ellis, Anti-Fraud Product & Marketing Manager at OpSec Security, noted that the most frequent targets of phishing attacks continued to be Webmail, payment, and bank sites, but that "Phishing against Social Media targets grew every quarter of the year, doubling over the course of 2019." The researchers at APWG member PhishLabs documented the rising use of SSL certificates on phishing websites. Almost three-quarters of all phishing sites now use SSL protection. This was the highest percentage since tracking began in early 2015, and is a clear indicator that users can't rely on SSL alone to understand whether a site is safe or not. Also in this quarter's Trends report: APWG member RiskIQ analyzes where phishers register domains for their nefarious purposes. The full text of the report is available here: https://docs.apwg.org/reports/apwg_trends_report_q4_2019.pdf



About the APWG Founded in 2003, the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) is the global industry, law enforcement, and government coalition focused on unifying the global response to electronic crime. Membership is open to qualified financial institutions, online retailers, ISPs and Telcos, the law enforcement community, solutions providers, multilateral treaty organizations, research centers, trade associations and government agencies. There are more than 1,800 companies, government agencies and NGOs participating in the APWG worldwide. The APWG's <www.apwg.org> and <education.apwg.org> websites offer the public, industry and government agencies practical information about phishing and electronically mediated fraud as well as pointers to pragmatic technical solutions that provide immediate protection. The APWG is co-founder and co-manager of the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Messaging Convention, the global online safety public awareness collaborative <https://education.apwg.org/safety-messaging-convention/> and founder/curator of the eCrime Researchers Summit, the world's only peer-reviewed conference dedicated specifically to electronic crime studies <www.ecrimeresearch.org>. APWG advises hemispheric and global trade groups and multilateral treaty organizations such as the European Commission, the G8 High Technology Crime Subgroup, Council of Europe's Convention on Cybercrime, United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Europol EC3 and the Organization of American States. APWG is a member of the steering group of the Commonwealth Cybercrime Initiative at the Commonwealth of Nations. Among APWG's corporate sponsors are: AhnLab, Area 1, AT&T (T), Afilias, Allure Security, Amazon Web Services (News - Alert) (AMZN), AnchorFree, Avast!, AVG Technologies, Axur, Baidu Antivirus, BANDURA Systems, Bangkok Bank, BBN Technologies, Barracuda Networks, BillMeLater, Bkav, Blue Coat, BrandMail, BrandProtect, Bsecure Technologies, CSC Digital Brand Services, Check Point Software (News - Alert) Technologies, CipherTrace, Claro, Cloudmark, Cofense, coinbase, Comcast, CrowdStrike, CSIRTBANELCO, Cyxtera, Cyber Defender, CYREN, DNS Belgium, DigiCert, Domain Tools, Donuts, Duo Security, Easy Solutions, PayPal, eCert, EC Cert, ESET, EST Soft, Facebook (FB), FeelSafe Digital, FEBRABAN, Fortinet, FraudWatch International, F-Secure, GetResponse, GlobalSign, GoDaddy, Google (News - Alert) (GOOGL), Hauri, Hitachi Systems, Ltd., Huawei, Hyas, ICANN, Identity Guard, Illumintel, Infoblox (BLOX), IronPort (Cisco), Ingressum, Intel (INTC), Interac, IT Matrix, iThreat Cyber Group, iZOOlogic, Kaspersky Lab, KnowBe4, LaCaixa, Lenos Software, LINE, LookingGlass, MX Tools, MailChannels, MailJet, MailChimp, MailShell, MailUp, Microsoft (MSFT), MicroWorld, Mimecast, Mirapoint, NHN, MyPW, nProtect Online Security, Netcraft, Network Solutions (News - Alert), NeuStar (NSR), Nominet, Nominum, NZRS Limited, OpSec Security, PARENTHETIC, Public Interest Registry, Phishlabs, PhishMe, Planty.net, Prevalent, Prevx, Proofpoint, PSafe, RSA Security (EMC), Rakuten, RedMarlin, Return Path, RiskIQ, RuleSpace, SalesForce, SecureBrain, SegaSec, SendGrid, S21sec, SIDN, SLASHNEXT, SilverPop, SiteLock, SnoopWall, SoftForum, SoftLayer, SoftSecurity, SOPHOS (News - Alert), SunTrust, SurfControl, Symantec (SYMC), TDS Telecom, Telefonica (TEF), ThreatSTOP, TransCreditBank, Trend Micro (TMIC), Trustwave, UITSEC, Vasco (VDSI), VADE-RETRO, VeriSign (VRSN), VILSOL, Webroot, Wombat Security Technologies, ZIX, and zvelo.

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Functional Correctness, Safety, Trust and Security Solutions Address Needs Others Can't

OneSpin Solutions, provider of certified IC integrity verification solutions for building functionally correct, safe, secure and trusted integrated circuits, announced that fast-growing customer acceptance of its verification solutions has led to a 37 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in revenues during the past five years.

The revenue growth has come from leading companies in areas such as 5G cellular, automotive, industrial, and defense, where new technology challenges are prompting design teams to move to verification platforms that have the scale and accuracy to handle leading-edge problems. These challenges include ever larger chip sizes, time-to-market, technological complexity, functional safety and security requirements, and new processor architectures.

"OneSpin continues to execute our vision of delivering best-in-class verification solutions that assure IC integrity for today's complex chip designs," said Raik Brinkmann, President and CEO, OneSpin. "We've recognized that our customers are dealing with extremely critical challenges when it comes to making sure their designs work as intended and are free from attack. To that end, we are committed to developing verification solutions that enable our customers to provide worry-free electronics to the world. Our strong growth is a testament that the market recognizes the need for our advanced verification technology that addresses the full spectrum of IC integrity."

Recently, OneSpin listened to the dynamic needs of its customers by adding solutions for FPGA equivalence checking, safety, and trust and security in addition to increasing user value to its family of design verification apps. All of these solutions work together to assure IC integrity: ensuring designs (IP/IC/SoC) operate as intended, even under adverse conditions caused by hardware faults or malicious attacks in the field. The solutions tackle three critical design areas.

Functional correctness: Rigorous coverage-driven functional verification from block to chip, leveraging formal technology

Safety: Analysis and higher diagnostic coverage to meet strict certification requirements

Trust and security: Automated detection of RTL Trojans and hardware vulnerabilities to adversary attacks.

These solutions are ideally suited for developing heterogeneous computing platforms, using programmable logic, and designing and integrating processor cores, such as RISC-V.

"Very few startups and especially EDA companies can deliver top line growth with increasing profitability. OneSpin is one of the few that have achieved this. They have done this by taking a holistic approach to IC integrity," said James Hogan, Board of Directors member for OneSpin. "OneSpin's customer-oriented dedication is key in developing solutions together to address the industry's most pressing verification problems."

Hogan, a well-known semiconductor and EDA industry investor with his company Vista Ventures, LLC., said in his experience "the type of growth OneSpin is experiencing positions them as the leading privately held verification company in the EDA industry." The combination of savvy technology development, close customer collaboration and passion for users' success has led to the company's revenue growth, he added.

To learn more about OneSpin's certified IC integrity verification solutions, visit them at DVCon US being held in San Jose, California, March 2-5, 2020 in booth #1104.

About OneSpin:

OneSpin Solutions is a leading provider of certified IC integrity verification solutions for building functionally correct, safe, secure and trusted integrated circuits. These solutions are based on OneSpin's widely used formal verification technology and assure the integrity of SoCs, ASICs and FPGAs. Headquartered in Munich, Germany, OneSpin partners with leaders worldwide in automotive and industrial applications; defense; avionics; artificial intelligence and machine learning; consumer electronics; and communications. Its advanced solutions are well-suited for developing heterogeneous computing platforms, using programmable logic, and designing and integrating processor cores, such as RISC-V. OneSpin's customer-oriented commitment is fundamental to its growth and success. OneSpin: Assuring IC Integrity. Visit www.OneSpin.com to learn more.

OneSpin, OneSpin Solutions and the OneSpin logo are trademarks of OneSpin Solutions GmbH. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Connect with OneSpin:

Twitter: @OneSpinSolution

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onespin-solutions

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OneSpinSolutions

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005135/en/

Contacts:

Media contact US:

Michelle Clancy, Cayenne Communication

Tel.: 503.702.4732, Michelle.clancy@cayennecom.com

Media contact Europe:

Gabriele Amelunxen, PRismaPR

Tel.: +49 (0) 8106 24 72 33, gabi@PRismaPR.com
- Paris Diamond, a 19-year-old university student in Nigeria reveals how she hustles to take care of herself

- According to the hardworking young lady, she sells water every weekend on the street, sells Jollof rice in school and does petty trading to support herself

- The 19-year-old reveals she does not only do menial jobs. According to Paris, she is also a writer with two novels, though she only printed a few copies for lack of money

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

A 19-year-old girl identified as Paris Diamond who studies Mass Communication at the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education Owerri, in Nigeria has narrated how she engages in tedious hustles to fend for herself.

According to a narration by Paris sighted by YEN.com.gh, she sells water every weekend on the street, sells Jollof rice in school and does petty trading to make money to fend for herself.

In her own words, I sell pure water to buy textbooks for myself in school and sometimes use it to pay bills. I go to the market every Friday evening, Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon after church. I enjoy doing it since I do get money for one or two textbooks".

READ ALSO: "Bring him to us" - Accra Great Olympics calls for talented Ghanaian keeper at Nsawam prison

Interestingly, in her rather difficult situation, the teenager does not see herself to be disadvantaged. Rather, she does what she can to enjoy life one day at a time.

Paris even considers herself a 'slay queen' and does not feel sorrowful about her life. In relation to this, she said:

"I prefer doing this than sleeping with men for money. Yes I slay but guess what, it is pure water business. I sell almost 7 or 8 bags a day depending on the lucky day. Im a mass communication student."

READ ALSO: Despite, Lilwin, Gyan, Sark & 9 others on harsh realities they faced in life before stardom

There is a perception that some university girls sell their bodies for money but Paris Diamonds show of hard work defeats that thinking.

Interestingly, the 19-year-old reveals she does not only do menial jobs. According to Paris, she is also a writer with two novels even in her situation.

Im a Nigerian writer too, I have two novels and one drama I have published already but due to money issue I couldnt make lots of copies, said the young lady.

READ ALSO: Meet 3-year-old Ghanaian kid who's a self-made billionaire in old GH with adverts

Paris Diamond did not mention anything concerning her family and how she got into her present set of circumstances.

This young lady is not the only 19-year-old Black girl doing amazing stuff.

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that a 19-year-old medicine and surgery student of the University of Nigeria was discovered with the ability to speak Korean, Swahili, Shona, Filipino, Spanish, and Indonesian fluently even though she has never left the shores of Nigeria before.

The disclosure was made by a Twitter user Maazi Ogbonnaya, who also said the teenager could write, teach and translate the aforementioned languages.

Enjoy reading our stories? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news!

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Source: YEN.com.gh
PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-25 22:06:10

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 25, 2020 / Lucky Minerals Inc. (TSXV:LKY)(OTC PINK:LKMNF) ("Lucky" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the government of Ecuador "reaffirmed its commitment to promote responsible, regulated and controlled mining in all Ecuadorian territory"1 as a foundation for economic development. This followed a favorable decision by the Constitutional Court of Ecuador to deny a second petition requesting a local referendum to consider the prohibition of mineral development activities within the province of Azuay, Southern Ecuador.The province of Azuay contains part of Lucky Minerals' 100% owned Fortuna project, particularly the epithermal gold targets identified on the Fortuna 8, 9 and 10 concessions. Lucky's twelve concessions cover 55,000 Ha. within the provinces of Azuay, Zamora Chinchipe and Morona Santiago in Southern Ecuador.By this ruling the Constitutional Court denied the petition by which they requested a referendum consisting of two questions:Do you agree with the prohibition, with no exception, of prospection, exploration and exploitation in metal mining artisanal, small, medium and large scale in water sources, recharge zones, discharge and hydric regulation, moorlands, marshes, protected forests and fragile ecosystems, in the province of Azuay?Do you agree with the cancellation of metal mining concessions, given prior to this popular consult, in water sources, recharge zones, discharge and hydric regulation, moorlands, marshes, protected forests and fragile ecosystems, in the province of Azuay?Lucky CEO, Adrian Rothwell, stated, "This is an important step in favour of legal security and development in the country and the mining sector has been united and a strong working group has been created. Lucky Minerals is fully supportive and follows responsible exploration and mining practices as established by local, Ecuadorian and international standards. We seriously consider our operational impact over environmental and social matters, with the objective of minimizing local land use and water quality disturbance." The questions were denied on procedural and constitutional grounds. Due to the new questions raised by this particular petition, the Constitutional Court has provided a specific ruling and arguments to reinforce the legal rights of existing mining concessions by denying retroactive application of any future petition for a referendum. The Court also mentioned that the questions did not meet the minimum requirements established by the Court in previous cases.In our opinion, this decision, in conjunction with the previously rejected petitions of a similar nature in both the Imbabura and Azuay provinces, set a strong precedent for any future petitions for consultation to consider changes to the constitution of Ecuador.About LuckyAn exploration and development company targeting large-scale mineral systems in proven districts with the potential to host world class deposits. Lucky owns a 100% interest in the Fortuna and Emigrant Projects.The Company's Fortuna Project is a royalty-free 550km2 (55,000 Ha, or 136,000 Acres) exploration concession. Fortuna is located in a highly prospective, yet underexplored, gold belt in southern Ecuador.The Emigrant Creek Project covers a 15 km2 area in an intensely altered and mineralized porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum system in southern Montana.The Qualified Person as per NI 43-101 is Mr. Victor Jaramillo, P.Geo. who is responsible for the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD"Adrian Rothwell"Chief Executive OfficerFurther information on Lucky can be found on the Company's website at www.luckyminerals.com and at www.sedar.com , or by contacting Adrian Rothwell, President and CEO, by email at investors@ luckyminerals.com or by telephone at (866) 924 6484.Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Cautionary Statement Regarding Adjacent Properties and Forward-Looking InformationThis news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: uncertainties related exploration and development; the ability to raise sufficient capital to fund exploration and development; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; increases in input costs; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological or operational difficulties or inability to obtain permits encountered in connection with exploration activities; and labor relations matters. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations also include risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations.The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this ca
An NGO on Tuesday approached the Delhi High Court seeking registration of an FIR and arrest of persons involved in ongoing violence in North East Delhi over the Citizenship Amendment Act.

The petition, which is likely to be mentioned before the high court, also seeks setting up of an SIT to inquire into the incident and compensation for those killed and injured in the violence.

The petition filed by NGO Human Rights Legal Network (HRLN) has also sought an inquiry by a retired judge into the violence.

It has also sought directions to the Centre for deployment of the Army to maintain law and order in the national capital and areas where the "communal attack on people are most ferocious".

A Delhi Police head constable, Ratan Lal, was among seven killed in the violence that erupted on Monday over the amended citizenship law.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[February 25, 2020] Allecra Therapeutics Announces Positive Top-Line Results for Phase 3 ALLIUM Clinical Trial of EXBLIFEP for Complicated Urinary Tract Infections

EXBLIFEP demonstrated superiority in the primary endpoint of clinical cure and microbiological eradication at test-of-cure over piperacillin-tazobactam



EXBLIFEP safety profile was comparable to piperacillin-tazobactam SAINT-LOUIS, France and WEIL AM RHEIN, Germany, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allecra Therapeutics today announced that its investigational product EXBLIFEP (cefepime-enmetazobactam) met the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) pre-specified primary endpoint in the Phase 3 ALLIUM clinical trial in patients with complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI), including acute pyelonephritis (AP). In addition, EXBLIFEP demonstrated superiority over piperacillin-tazobactam. Overall success was 79.1% for EXBLIFEP vs. 58.9% for piperacillin-tazobactam (adjusted stratified difference, 21.2% [95% stratified Newcombe CI, 14.3% to 27.9%]). Treatment discontinuations were seen at comparable levels in 5.2% and 4.0% in EXBLIFEP and piperacillin-tazobactam respectively. EXBLIFEP was well tolerated with 4.3% of patients reporting serious adverse events vs. 3.7 % with piperacillin-tazobactam (0.2% vs. 0.6% assessed as drug related), suggesting comparable safety profile to piperacillin-tazobactam. Keith Kaye M.D., MPH, Professor of Medicine and Director of Research for Infectious Diseases at University of Michigan said, Infections from ESBL-producing Enterobactericeae have increased in the US since 2000 and now also cause infection in the community. According to most recent U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data 197400 cases of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae occur every year with 9100 associated deaths. The use of piperacillin-tazobactam for the treatment of such infections has been controversial, and the development of new treatments for these infections has been classified as a critical priority by the World Health Organization (WHO). Cefepime-enmetazobactam combination may provide a novel therapeutic option addressing this serious threat. The superiority demonstrated in the primary endpoint, at test of cure, combined with a comparable safety profile to that of well tolerated and widely used piperacillin-tazobactam support the potential use of cefepime-enmetazobactam as a new empiric and carbapenem-sparing treatment for multi-drug resistant Gram-negative infections, said Patrick Velicitat M.D., Chief Medical Offcer of Allecra Therapeutics.



About ALLIUM Trial design. The ALLIUM trial compared 1034 randomized patients receiving either cefepime 2 g/ enmetazobactam 0.5 g or piperacillin 4 g/ tazobactam 0.5 g every 8 h as 2 h continuous intravenous infusion in a multi-centre, randomized, controlled, double-blind, global study in 112 sites within 19 countries. The primary efficacy endpoint was defined as the composite success outcome of clinical cure (symptoms resolution) and microbiological eradication (< 103 CFU/mL in urine culture) at the test-of-cure visit. The primary efficacy evaluation was performed in the microbiological Modified Intent-to-Treat Population (m-MITT) including patients infected with a Gram-negative pathogen deemed non-resistant to cefepime-enmetazobactam (MIC = 8 mg/L) and piperacillin-tazobactam (MIC = 64 mg/L). There was a prespecified 10% noninferiority margin with superiority to be tested in the event of confirmed noninferiority. Differences in treatment effects were assessed using two-sided, 95% stratified Newcombe confidence intervals. About EXBLIFEP EXBLIFEP is a combination of enmetazobactam, a novel extended-spectrum -lactamase inhibitor belonging to the penicillanic acid sulfone class, with the 4th generation cephalosporin cefepime.

EXBLIFEP has been granted Qualified Infectious Disease Product and Fast Track Designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which will provide five years additional market exclusivity and priority FDA review. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) have indicated that due to combination with already approved cefepime and in light of the Epithelial Lining Fluid penetration study results obtained with cefepime-enmetazobactam combination, Allecra Therapeutics is allowed to seek approval of EXBLIFEP for use in pneumonia, including HAP/VAP without conducting a Phase 3 study in the pneumonia indication. About Complicated Urinary Tract Infections. There are approximately 3.6 million patients with cUTIs in the U.S requiring antibiotic therapy. cUTIs, including acute pyelonephritis, are defined as urinary tract infections ascending from the bladder accompanied by local and systemic signs and symptoms, including fever, chills, malaise, flank pain, back pain, and/or costo-vertebral angle pain or tenderness, that occur in the presence of a functional or anatomical abnormality of the urinary tract or in the presence of catheterization, with treatment typically initiated by IV therapy in a hospital setting. About Acute Pyelonephritis. AP is a bacterial infection causing inflammation of the kidneys and is one of the most common diseases of the kidney. Pyelonephritis occurs as a complication of an ascending urinary tract infection (UTI) which spreads from the bladder to the kidneys and their collecting systems. Acute pyelonephritis in the United States is found at a rate of 15 to 17 cases per 10,000 females and 3 to 4 cases per 10,000 males annually. About Hospital Acquired Pneumonia. HAP is the second most common nosocomial infection (after urinary tract infections) and accounts for 1520% of the total. It is the most common cause of death among nosocomial infections and is the primary cause of death in intensive care units. HAP typically can lengthen a hospital stay by 12 weeks. About Allecra Therapeutics. Allecra Therapeutics, established in 2013, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company contributing towards the global effort to combat antibiotic resistance by developing new therapeutic modalities to overcome emergent resistance mechanisms, thereby saving lives of patients whose infections may otherwise be treated inadequately. Allecra is supported by Forbion, Andera Partners, Delos Capital, Xeraya Capital, EMBL Ventures, and BioMed Partners. Allecras wholly owned French subsidiary is a beneficiary of financial support from the French public bank Bpifrance and from the Region Alsace. For further information please contact

Allecra Therapeutics GmbH

Andrew Smith

Chief Operating Officer

[email protected] For more information on Allecra please visit www.allecra.com

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Christian leaders speak out as Trump's extended travel ban goes into effect

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Christian leaders have spoken out in response to President Donald Trumps expanded travel ban that went into effect last Friday, expressing concern over its impact on countries where religious persecution is severe.

Shortly after taking office in 2017, Trump came under intense scrutiny when he signed an executive order restricting immigration from six Muslim-majority countries that fail to meet minimum security and information-sharing requirements.

But an amended ordersigned by Trump on Jan. 31 adds four African countries as well as Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar to a travel restriction list that already includes Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Venezuela and North Korea.

Under the amended policy, immigrant visas are suspended for Nigeria, Myanmar, Eritrea and Kyrgyzstan. Those from Sudan and Tanzania will not be considered for the U.S. diversity visa program. The new restrictions will not apply to tourists, businesses or other nonimmigrant travel.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the new restrictions are tailored to country-specific deficiencies and travel-related risks due to the countries unwillingness or inability to adhere to our identity management, information sharing, national security, and public safety assessment criteria.

As the Trump administration has been accused of anti-Muslim animus in the past, the DHS asserts that the restrictions do not reflect animus or bias against any particular country, region, ethnicity, race, or religion.

While those on the political left have long been vocal in their opposition to the travel restrictions, the expansion of the policy drew responses from some Christian leaders who have been supportive of the Trump administrations push to promote international religious freedom.

This includes David Curry, president of Open Doors USA, a global persecution watchdog organization active in over 60 countries. Six of the 13 countries included on the travel ban list are listed on Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List of the 50 worst countries in the world when it comes to Christian persecution. Eritrea is ranked No. 6, while Nigeria is ranked No. 12 and Myanmar is ranked No. 19.

Though I recognize there is an important discussion on how to best deal with terrorists who are present dangers to free societies, we must never restrict based on religious identification, Curry said in a statement shared with The Christian Post. Its up to us to exemplify religious tolerance and freedom on a daily basis. To the degree we have failed in the past, lets never fail to fix the wrong and to keep raising the level of freedom.

Travis Wussow, vice president of the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, told The Alabama Baptist that SBC churches are among the most committed people in the country when it comes to ministering to those fleeing persecution.



Wussow asserted that while international religious freedom has been a priority to the Trump administration, any policy that closes the door to refugees undercuts such a priority. He stressed that the U.S. should find a way to balance security and compassion.

[Our churches] recognize that all of those escaping tyranny are made in the image of God, and many of them are our brothers and sisters in Christ, Wussow said in a statement. Thats why, from the beginning, the ERLC has asked our government to do everything possible to provide security without turning away from those in danger and need.

World Relief, an evangelical refugee resettlement agency and humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals that has helped resettle thousands of refugees since the 1980s, has long opposed the travel ban.

World Relief President Scott Arbeiter argued in a statement that the new restrictions will mean families seeking reunification will be stymied.

This overly broad policy unfairly targets individuals of particular nationalities in Africa and Asia, and sadly its consistent with various other policies that have the effect of significantly restricting legal immigration to the United States, Arbeiter stated.

Although the extended travel ban does not apply to the U.S. refugee resettlement program, World Relief fears how the ban will impact Myanmar. Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been the top country of origin for refugees resettled to the U.S. in the past decade with over 150,000 resettled in the last 12 years.

Many of those 150,000, World Relief notes, are persecuted Christians.

Prior to the official signing of the travel ban extension, Michael K. Le Roy, president of the reformed Christian institution Calvin University in Michigan, voiced concern with reports of Nigerias inclusion in the travel ban with U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback.

Le Roy raised the issue during a question and answer session at the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities Presidents Conference in Washington. He said that Calvin Universitys mission is to equip students to think deeply, to act justly and to live wholeheartedly as Christs agents of renewal in the world.

I am really concerned about these reports that I have heard that Nigeria may be [put] on the banned country list, he said, adding that the university has students that come from Nigeria. We have a long history of working with [Nigerian Christian students] to the extent that a ban would limit those students opportunities to be a part of our community.

He argued that a ban on Nigeria and other countries would rob Christian students from those places of the opportunities.

Brownback responded by saying at the time that he didnt know anything about plans to put Nigeria on the travel ban list but noted that the U.S. State Department recently put Nigeria on its special watch list of countries that engage in or tolerate severe violations of religious freedom because of the amount of violence that is going on there and the lack of effective government response.

It seems to me that we really ought to be bringing people into the United States and not excluding them from being in the United States, Brownback said on Jan. 29. Particularly, when people get an education in the United States, they tend to go back and be key leaders in those nations. That has been one of the great gifts that we have given to the world and the world has given back to us.
Mumbai, Feb 25 : Gold prices in India may surpass Rs 47,000 per 10 grams mark in the next 12 to 15 months over mounting concerns due to the coronavirus outbreak, brokerage firm Motilal Oswal said on Tuesday.

High gold prices assume significance as marriage season in India is set to arrive by April and high prices can dent demand. Gold prices on Monday surpassed a record high of Rs 43,500 per 10 grams.

"We continue to maintain our positive bias on gold, targeting the level of Rs 44,700 followed by Rs 47,000 maintaining support at Rs 40,300 followed by Rs 39,100 over the next 12 to 15 months," Motilal Oswal said in a note.

"In the last couple of sessions, we have witnessed a sharp rally in gold prices as until now there is no breakthrough of an antidote for the virus and at the same time, stimulus announcements by the PBoC is suggesting that outbreak of virus could derail the pace of Chinese economy," the brokerage firm highlighted.

In China, the epicentre of the outbreak, coronavirus related deaths increased to 2,663.The deadly virus has infected more than 77,658 people in China and was described by President Xi Jinping as the "largest public health emergency since the founding of the country".

Sparking fears of the virus outbreak turning into and pandemic, cases in Italy, South Korea and in Iran have risen sharply. The European Union (EU) has announced a new aid package worth 232 million euros ($252 million) to boost global preparedness, prevention and containment of the fast-spreading coronavirus.

Gold prices have been on the rise ever since US President Donald Trump decided to impose tariffs on China back in 2018. At the start of this year, trade war related uncertainties started to fade-off and most market participants were expecting gains in gold to be capped.

"But with trade war uncertainty triggers and now the outbreak of Coronavirus is helping the safe haven asset to outperform most global asset classes," the brokerage firm said.
Inside Hook

There are plenty of ways for like-minded car owners to connect. Your local cars and coffee meetup is a good place to start, as are the innumerable online forums. But what if you dont necessarily want to talk about the cars themselves, but the shared interests you have by owning a certain (ultra-exclusive) brand of car?



Thats where Rolls-Royce comes in. Today, the luxury British marque publicly launched Whispers, a social-media-like app only available to owners of new Rolls-Royce cars.

Whispers offers transformative experiences, rare and desirable products, whimsical treasures and exclusive Rolls-Royce previews that are curated by Rolls-Royce and delivered directly to the fingertips of our global community, said Torsten Muller-Otvos, chief executive officer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, in a press release. In other words, Whispers in part acts as a sort of concierge for owners to buy other expensive goods and experiences  and a marketing tool for the brand  but the more intriguing element is the connection between owners.
The Trump administration has upheld one of its gravest attacks on abortion since the election and clinics which offer the procedure could be forced to close, campaigners have warned.

The frontline service providers stark warning comes after the US appeals court upheld rules which implement barriers for women who need abortions.

The changes ban taxpayer-funded clinics in the Title X program  the federal grant program that subsidizes affordable birth control, cancer screenings, HIV screening and other medical care for four million low-income patients  from making abortion referrals.

The rules will bar clinics which get federal money from sharing office space with abortion providers from March 4 onwards  with campaigners and service providers saying this will likely force abortion clinics to relocate or shut their doors entirely.

Alice Huling, a lawyer for the Campaign for Accountability, a public interest watchdog based in the US, said the rule change which the US Department of Health and Human Services initially introduced in March last year was staggering.

Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Show all 11 1 /11 Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Pro-choice campaigners stood outside the Stormont Estate on Monday 21 October with the word "decriminalised" spelt out in front of them as some of Stormonts assembly members returned to the chamber for the first time in nearly three years. A group of Northern Irish lawmakers returned to parliament in a failed last-minute protest at the decriminalisation of abortion in the region. AFP via Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Attendees at a pro-choice press conference embraced one another ahead of the meeting of the Stormont Assembly on abortion rights and same-sex marriage in Belfast. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland A member of pro-choice group Alliance for Choice smiled as she and others marched in support of abortion rights in Belfast, Northern Ireland, following a pro-choice press conference. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Members of pro-choice groups Alliance for Choice and Pro Life held demonstrations outside Stormont on Monday 21 October as a last-minute attempt to stop the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland was made by the Democratic Unionist party. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland A rally was held in Dublin City centre on Monday 21 October in celebration of the eminent decriminalisation of abortion and same-sex marriage. PA Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Equal marriage campaigners Martha Brown and Louise McCullough celebrated at Maverick Bar in Belfast as same-sex marriage and abortion were legalised in Northern Ireland. PA Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Members of pro-choice group Alliance for Choice made their way to Stormont carrying abortion rights signs. Getty Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Kellie Turtle and Emma Campbell embraced as members of pro-choice group Alliance for Choice held a press conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Activist Ashleigh Topley wiped away her tears during the Alliance for Choice press conference on Monday 21 October. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Members of Alliance for Group embraced one another after their pro-choice press conference. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Abortion rights campaigners marched through the streets of Belfast ahead of the meeting of the Stormont Assembly on abortion rights and same-sex marriage. Getty

She told The Independent: It is one of the Trump administrations biggest attacks on the right to have an abortion and the provision of comprehensive healthcare. It is part of an effort to wage war on womens sexual and reproductive freedom.

It is certainly the biggest effort the Trump administration has made to defund Planned Parenthood and to redirect family planning funding to other organisations  some of which give women dangerous, misleading and incomplete healthcare.

Ms Huling said the changes had gone into effect last summer and have already had a detrimental impact on low-income women who have lost their access to vital healthcare.

This change means many Americans cant access birth control or STI treatment, plus it makes it much harder for individuals to access truthful, medically sound options if they are pregnant. But it is also important to note organisations are continuing to provide healthcare through other means via private donations.

The Trump administration was unsuccessfully sued by Planned Parenthood in March in an attempt to block the rule which makes it illegal for all services in the Title X program to tell people how they can get an abortion. The majority of Title X patients are people of colour, Hispanic, or Latino.

Major medical associations, such as the American Medical Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Physicians, have opposed the move.

Alexis McGill Johnson, acting president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said: Your access to health care should not depend on how much you earn, where you live, or who you are. The Trump administrations dangerous gag rule is causing immense harm across the country.

This unethical rule has put up egregious barriers for people with low incomes to get birth control and preventive care like STI testing, education, and cancer screenings. With the court failing to block the rule, congress must take action to reverse this dangerous rule and restore access to care for millions through Title X. Planned Parenthood will never give up on our patients and we will continue to do everything we can to fight this rule.

Planned Parenthood health centres had been part of the Title X family planning program since it was set up and served 40 per cent of all Title X patients each year until the Trump administration pushed them out.
Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein found support from Bill Cosbys camp shortly after the former studio boss was convicted Monday on two charges of sexual assault.

Andrew Wyatt, a publicist for the imprisoned Cosby, called the outcome of the Weinstein case a very sad day in the American Judicial System.

Wyatts statement was posted on the 82-year-old Cosbys official Twitter and Instagram accounts. Cosby is serving a three- to 10-year sentence for sexual assault in Pennsylvanias SCI Phoenix prison.

This is not shocking because these jurors were not sequestered, which gave them access to media coverage and the sentiments of public opinion, the Instagram statement from Wyatt read. Theres no way you would have anyone believe that Mr. Weinstein was going to receive a fair and impartial trial. Also, this judge showed that he wanted a conviction by sending the jurors back to deliberate, after they were hung on many of the counts.

He added, Heres the question that should haunt all Americans, especially wealthy and famous men...Where do we go in this country to find fairness and impartiality in the judicial system; and where do we go in this country to find Due Process? Lastly, if the #metoo movement isnt just about Becky [White women], I would challenge #metoo and ask them to go back 400+ years and tarnish the names of those oppressors that raped slaves.

Weinstein was found guilty of committing a criminal sex act in the first degree involving one woman and rape in the third degree involving another woman.

Cosby was convicted in April 2018 of three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and assaulting a woman.

The tarnished TV icon has a home in the Franklin County village of Shelburne Falls.
The Herald reports:

The Government is seeking public feedback on which new NCEA level one subjects should be taught and which should be merged or scrapped altogether.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has proposed a number of changes to the year 11 curriculum, after the Government gave the green-light to a comprehensive review of NCEA level one.

The MoE has suggested scrapping the teaching of Latin, Classical Studies and Art History but adding a Maori Performing Arts option for students.
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Verkhovna Rada Chairman Dmytro Razumkov has met with Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins as part of an official visit to Latvia.

During the talks, Razumkov thanked Karins for his unwavering support for Ukraine in protecting its territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as for its assistance in rehabilitating Ukrainian military, political prisoners and children affected by the war in eastern Ukraine.

Razumkov separately emphasized the importance of a common position on this issue on the international stage. He expressed gratitude for public support of Ukraine, including within the PACE. "You are heard throughout Europe," he said, adding that Ukraine feels support both at the level of reform and assistance in the rehabilitation of Ukrainian citizens.

Razumkov also stressed the need to continue the positive trend in increasing trade and economic cooperation between Ukraine and Latvia. "We are united not only by a common history and the present, but also by a common future. Ukraine is ready for further cooperation in the economic sphere," he said.

Karins, in turn, said that Ukraine and Latvia are not just neighbors but friendly countries, so it is necessary to look for ways to further develop relations between the states. He also said that Latvia is fully open to cooperation with Ukraine.

At the end of the meeting, Razumkov invited Karins to attend an international conference entitled "Zero Corruption" to be held in Ukraine in April 2020.

op
At the Paris Climate Conference, India pledged to reduce the greenhouse emission (GHE) intensity of its gross domestic product by 33-35% over 2005 levels by 2030. One of the key sectors that need to be factored in to meet this target is the real estate. Indias building stock is expected to double in the next 15 years and buildings are expected to emerge as the largest electricity consuming sector in the country. It is crucial that new buildings in the country are designed to be energy efficient and thermally comfortable.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Sanjay Seth, CEO of GRIHA Council, speaks on why buyers and developers are still shying away from building and buying green homes, how to make affordable housing green; and what makes the GRIHA rating tool different from others.

KD: What is current status of the green building sector in India?

SS: A minuscule part of Indias built infrastructure is green buildings. However, one must understand that bulk of our infrastructure is yet to be built. So there is huge opportunity to make sure that we move on the correct green path. The Indian Green Building Council started with a modest 20,000 sq. ft. green built-up area in India in 2003. By 2019-end, there were more than 5,723 green building projects registered under it, accounting for over 7.09 billion sq. ft. But most of these projects that seek the green tag are commercial spaces. Only 5-7% of the green building stock is of housing projects.

KD: Why is there a slow uptake on green buildings?

SS: This is because green buildings are perceived to be more expensive. This is unfortunate. I agree that some elements of a green building (for example, UPVC windows) are expensive. But when a building is planned, architects and civil engineers discuss the energy requirement, for example the number of air conditioners required. But once you plan for a natural lighting, better insulated walls, UPVC windows and solar panels, the energy requirement will come down. Once the requirement for connected load comes down, the back-up electricity costs will also come down. Then, if you have water harvesting, the water costs will also come down, and also recharging will help improve groundwater levels also.

The life of a building, as per law, is 66 years. But the reduced payback period will be extended throughout the buildings life. People dont want to appreciate that the building will pay back for the rest of its life. In addition, also remember the electricity tariff keeps going up every year on the basis of two parts: fixed cost and fuel cost. But such fluctuation will not affect the owner of a green building.

Second, the energy efficiency building code is new. When it was introduced in 2007, the code was used for the commercial sector first because MPs thought that there would be a cost in going green and they would not want to burden the common man with additional costs. And they said that as and when there is a greater uptake for all this, they will release the regulation for the residential sector.

Although there is a regulatory framework in place, constructions are a state subject. So because of the urban local body by-laws, the implementation has to be at the state level. That becomes a problem and dilutes the effort.

KD: Can older buildings be made green by retrofitting?

SS: Retrofitting has a very limited option. You can buy gadgets which are more energy efficient but you cant break down the house to make it green. If you want to go that extra mile, you can probably change your windows to double glazed. But options are limited. Its always best to weave in green options when your build the house.

KD: Who should be the drivers?

SS: The consumers, you and me, should be the drivers. Developers will never give you [green options]. The energy efficiency labelling programme showed us that once a few manufacturers agree, others will follow because nobody wanted to be left out. With the label, you are empowering the consumer to take an informed decision. Then consumers started demanding energy efficient appliances. Once the manufacturers realise the demand then they will act. Once that happens, then the regulator can further strengthen the benchmarks. Our focus should be to sensitise the consumers and expand the market. If we as consumers start demanding green options there is no way that any developer will not give them.

KD: The government is pushing for affordable housing. How can the developers ensure that these buildings are also green?

SS: In India, access to affordable housing is vital for achieving various social objectives, including poverty reduction. In 2012, urban housing shortage stood at 18.8 million units and is expected to grow at 6.6% to 34.1 million units by 2022. Unfortunately, popular perception associates sustainability with expensive technological advances. Affordability, however, lies at the very core of sustainability. Common sense entails that if something cannot be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished or recycled, it should be restricted or removed from production.

The GRIHA for Affordable Housing rating variant was designed specifically for this purpose, and outlines at length how factors such as climate responsive design help reduce energy demand (and by extension, the electricity bills incurred by residents) at no additional capital cost. GRIHA AH strives to break the myth of expensive green buildings and lays emphasis on cost-effective sustainability measures. India is a tropical country with a requirement for space cooling for much of the year in order to maintain bearable indoor temperatures, yet affordable housing is often conceived as being required to merely provide the very basics in terms of shelter and security for the economically-challenged sections of society. Unlike their counterparts in commercial or high-end residential projects, the occupants of affordable housing do not have access to expensive air conditioning equipment. GRIHA has always emphasised the importance of no-cost design interventions for enhancing performance and meeting thermal comfort through the manipulation of architecture and building material. Through the AH rating system, GRIHA envisions sustainable affordable housing as habitable spaces where the occupants have both the opportunity and the desire to reside beyond the short-term, which is conducive to their socio-economic development and respectful of the natural environment.

Linking sustainability with quality rather than pricing can create opportunities for upcoming housing projects, especially since Indias socio-economic milieu warrants different perceptions of affordability. The underlying idea is that people should be able to maintain comfortable living standards within affordable sustainable housing.

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A teenager who has been dubbed the 'anti-Greta' is to speak at a Republican convention is Washington D.C. later this week.

German citizen and climate change skeptic, Naomi Seibt, 19, will appear at the Conservative Political Action Conference known as CPAC in the biggest annual Republican convention of its type running from Wednesday until Saturday of this week.

The event will feature Republican lawmakers, officials from the White House and Trump's re-election campaign, members of the conservative media and even a speech from the President himself.

Naomi Seibt, left, a 19-year-old German YouTube influencer claims to promote 'climate realism' over 'climate alarmism' on YouTube and the climate-skeptic answer to Greta Thunberg, 17, right

Seibt will be speaking at CPAC in Washington D.C. and join a libertarian think tank and lobbying group that promotes climate change skepticism

Seibt has been dubbed as the 'anti-Greta' because of her views on climate change are the polar opposite to those of Swedish environmental campaigner 17-year-old Greta Thunberg.

Seibt's influence is likely to be significantly smaller given that she only has 5,000 Twitter followers compared to Thunberg's 4 million, however being given the seal of approval by CPAC will surely help to bolster her prospects.

A YouTube video created by the Heartland Institute, a think tank which firmly rejects climate change, pitches Seibt against Thunberg.

'I have good news for you. The world is not ending because of climate change,' Seibt says in the video for the lobbying group.

Siebt has been described as a climate-skeptic answer to Greta Thunberg, 17, the environmental activist from Sweden who inspired international climate protests

Naomi Seibt, 19, of Germany, is seen on her Facebook page. Seibt has 48,000 YouTube followers but Thunberg commands 4 millions Twitter followers

'People are being force-fed a very dystopian agenda of climate alarmism that tells us that we as humans are destroying the planet and that we, the young people especially, have no future.'

In another video entitled 'Naomi Seibt vs. Greta Thunberg: whom should we trust?', footage is seen of both teens as they make their opposing cases.

Greta was named Time magazine's 'Person of the Year' in 2019 after making a speech at the United Nations where she demanded action be taken against climate change by the gathered world's leaders.

'Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money, and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!,' Thunberg bellowed.

Some of Naomi Seibt's videos see her mocking Great Thunberg, right, whom she describes as a 'climate alarmist'

Greta Thunberg was named Time Magazine's Person of the Year and has become the face for youth climate action

Seibt called Thunberg's a proponent of 'climate alarmism.

'I used to be a climate change alarmist myself because, obviously, as a young girl I grew up around the climate change hysteria in the media, in my school books.

'I was an innocent young girl and I thought by hugging the trees I could save the planet, which quite frankly turned out not to be true,' she says in one YouTube video.

Seibt says the current thinking on climate change is an 'insult to science, and the complexity of nature, and freedom of speech' adding 'it is important we keep questioning the narrative that is out there.'

'Climate change alarmism at its very core is a despicably anti-human ideology. We are told to look down on our achievements with guilt, shame, disgust and not even to take into account the many major benefits we have from using fossil fuels as our main energy source.

'Look around. We are living in such an amazing era of fast progress and innovation. We are not allowed to be proud of that at all? Instead debates are being shut down and real scientists lose their jobs.'

Seibt joined the Heartland Institute's Center on Climate and Environmental Policy in February in order to spread her message

A float depicting Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg during the annual Rose Monday parade in Duesseldorf, Germany, 24 February 2020. Rose Monday is the traditional highlight of the carnival season in many German cities

Seibt doesn't totally rule out mankind's influence in the planet's climate but believes that it has been overstated.

'Are man-made CO2 emissions having that much impact on the climate? I think that's ridiculous to believe,' she said in the Washington Post.

The Heartland Institute said that Seibt was a 'fantastic voice for free markets and for climate realism.'

'It is important that we keep questioning the narrative that's out there instead of promoting it,' Seibt said. 'These days, climate change science really isn't a science at all.'

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,'
The coronavirus outbreak in China has not only disrupted trade in the country but has also impacted global trade of companies, either with manufacturing units or stores there. The Coca-Cola Company KO has updated investors on how the COVID-19 outbreak will likely impact its first-quarter 2020 results, following several companies revealing the estimated impacts of the current situation in China on their results.



Given the outbreak in the country, the company has prioritized the health and safety of its associates, and is taking the possible precautionary measures to prevent further spread of the virus.



In first-quarter 2020, it expects that the COVID-19 will hurt organic revenues by 1-2 percentage points, unit case volume by 2-3 percentage points and earnings per share by 1-2 cents. However, the company reiterated its previous guidance for 2020. It also stated that any changes in the guidance, based on the current situation, will be announced on the next earnings call in April.



On its last earnings call, Coca-Cola had anticipated organic revenue growth of 5% in 2020. The company predicted comparable currency-neutral operating income growth of 8%. It expected comparable earnings per share of $2.25, suggesting a 7% increase from $2.11 reported in 2019.



Nevertheless, the company continues to remain optimistic about the long-term growth trends for its business in China, which is its third-largest market in the world based on unit case volume. Notably, China contributes nearly 10% to its global volume. It expects to continue investing in this important world market to deliver long-term growth.



Some of the companies that recently closed stores and expect potential impacts of coronavirus outbreak on their performance are V.F. Corp VFC, NIKE NKE and Ralph Lauren RL. NIKE temporarily closed nearly half of company-owned stores in Greater China, while V.F. Corp closed about 60% of its owned and partnered stores in China. Moreover, Ralph Lauren temporarily closed nearly two-thirds of its stores in mainland China. For fourth-quarter fiscal 2020, Ralph Lauren expects its Asia segments results to reflect impacts of nearly $55-$70 million on net sales and $35-$45 million on operating income.



Price Performance



The update on the impacts of coronavirus on Coca-Colas first-quarter results had a little impact on its stock performance on Feb 21, with shares inching up 0.7%. Analysts see no major impacts on its performance due to the situation in China, given the companys solid global position and constant innovation efforts.



In the past three months, the Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock has gained 13% compared with the industrys growth of 9.9%. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 20:32:54|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Tuesday said the agency will continue to support Japan in safely decommissioning the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant.

In their meeting in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe briefed IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi plant stricken by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

"As the only country which has experienced the devastation of nuclear weapons in war, Japan attaches great importance to the activities of the IAEA, which is the cornerstone of the international nuclear nonproliferation regime," Abe said.

"You mentioned history, history is of course part of that but... I think it's also the present and the future where this organization and Japan have a lot to do together in so many areas," Grossi said.

Japan aims to finish dismantling the plant in 30 to 40 years after the disaster, but the process has been marred by problems including the disposal of more than 1 million tons of radioactively contaminated water in the process of cleanup as the seaside premises are running out of space to store it in tanks.

The IAEA backs Japan's dual-track approach of decommissioning the plant while revitalizing the local community, which remains fractured after the disaster, Grossi said.

The IAEA chief will visit the Fukushima plant on Wednesday for a first-hand look.

On Tuesday, Grossi also met with Japanese science and technology Minister Naokazu Takemoto and plans to meet with Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshi Kajiyama during his five-day trip to Japan.
Mumbai has been put on a high alert in the wake of violent clashes in the capital between pro and anti CAA protestors that has so far claimed the lives of seven people, including a police official.

Maharashtra Home Ministry officials said, "Mumbai has been put on a high alert after recent incidents of violence in Delhi. State Police has taken precautionary measures to maintain law and order."

"Other than the designated area in Azad Maidan, no permission will be granted for any other protest in Mumbai," the statement said.

As many as seven persons were killed and over 100 injured in violent clashes in the North-East district of the capital on Monday. The violence occurred after clashes took place between pro and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protesters at various places in the area.

A statement from the Delhi Police said, "A total of seven deaths were reported - one police personnel and six civilians have lost their lives.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
T he Assistant  a new drama inspired by the #MeToo movement and the Harvey Weinstein scandal  is already shaping up to be one of the most powerful films of the year.

Directed by Kitty Green, the film takes a look at workplace harassment, toxicity and bullying, starring Julia Garner as Jane, an assistant working at a film production company.

The film explores the idea of complicity, with viewers observing implied sexual misconduct and abuse through the eyes of a new employee in a toxic workplace.

The movies appearance at the Berlin Film Festival this week feels particularly timely, with once-powerful movie mogul Weinstein now facing up to 25 years in prison after being convicted of sexual assault and third-degree rape in a landmark trial in New York.

While the film is not based solely on one case, it has its roots firmly in reality. Green researched the film by interviewing former assistants who previously worked for production companies in the US, including Weinsteins Miramax and the Weinstein Company.

Trailer

The films trailer focuses on Garners assistant Jane in a meeting with HR manager Wilcock, played by Matthew Macfadyen.

The clip then shows Janes growing concern during her everyday and otherwise mundane role. We see her being patronised and criticised by her male co-workers, as well as performing tasks like opening boxes of bottled water and cleaning meeting rooms.

She soon grows suspicious of her boss  the omnipotent but unseen figure running the company. She is tasked with organising shady meetings in hotel rooms, before witnessing young women signing legal contracts and overhearing her co-workers warning to never sit on the couch.

We then see Jane registering a complaint with HR, asking the question: What can we do?

About what? Wilcock replies.

Cast and director

Dynamic duo: Kitty Green and Julia Garner / Getty Images

Australian filmmaker Green writes and directs The Assistant. She was previously best known for her work on documentaries, including Casting JonBenet and Ukraine is Not a Brothel but this is her first feature film.

Garner, who stars as Jane, has previously appeared in the TV series Ozark, Dirty John and Maniac, as well as the films We Are What We Are, The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. The cast also includes Macfadyen, Makenzie Leigh, Kristine Froseth and Bregje Heinen.

Reviews

The Guardians Peter Bradshaw is among the critics to praise the film. Writing in his four-star review, he called the film a sombre, realist study of what day-by-day, moment-by-moment abuse actually looks like.

The Los Angeles Times also approved of the film and its timely message. Few things are more difficult for narrative features than creating a compelling scenario out of current events, critic Kenneth Turan wrote, but writer-director Kitty Green, with a big assist from star Julia Garner, has made it happen.

The Assistant is less bombastic than you might expect, and that is all to the good, Turan added.

While Variety argued that films like The Assistant are absolutely necessary, it argued that the movie doesnt go far enough in delivering its message. The world needs movies like this, but it needs for them to be dynamic, dramatic and more empowering overall, wrote critic Peter Debruge.

Greens film feels so restrained, youd think she was afraid of being sued for slander, he added.

Release date
Brian Moynihan has been the CEO of Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) since 2010. First, this article will compare CEO compensation with compensation at other large companies. Then we'll look at a snap shot of the business growth. And finally - as a second measure of performance - we will look at the returns shareholders have received over the last few years. The aim of all this is to consider the appropriateness of CEO pay levels.

See our latest analysis for Bank of America

How Does Brian Moynihan's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies?

According to our data, Bank of America Corporation has a market capitalization of US$300b, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth US$23m over the year to December 2018. While we always look at total compensation first, we note that the salary component is less, at US$1.5m. Importantly, there may be performance hurdles relating to the non-salary component of the total compensation. We took a group of companies with market capitalizations over US$8.0b, and calculated the median CEO total compensation to be US$11m. (We took a wide range because the CEOs of massive companies tend to be paid similar amounts - even though some are quite a bit bigger than others).

As you can see, Brian Moynihan is paid more than the median CEO pay at large companies, in the same market. However, this does not necessarily mean Bank of America Corporation is paying too much. A closer look at the performance of the underlying business will give us a better idea about whether the pay is particularly generous.

The graphic below shows how CEO compensation at Bank of America has changed from year to year.

NYSE:BAC CEO Compensation, February 24th 2020

Is Bank of America Corporation Growing?

On average over the last three years, Bank of America Corporation has grown earnings per share (EPS) by 22% each year (using a line of best fit). Its revenue is down 3.3% over last year.

This shows that the company has improved itself over the last few years. Good news for shareholders. The lack of revenue growth isn't ideal, but it is the bottom line that counts most in business. It could be important to check this free visual depiction of what analysts expect for the future.

Story continues

Has Bank of America Corporation Been A Good Investment?

Boasting a total shareholder return of 48% over three years, Bank of America Corporation has done well by shareholders. So they may not be at all concerned if the CEO were to be paid more than is normal for companies around the same size.

In Summary...

We compared the total CEO remuneration paid by Bank of America Corporation, and compared it to remuneration at a group of other large companies. Our data suggests that it pays above the median CEO pay within that group.

Importantly, though, the company has impressed with its earnings per share growth, over three years. In addition, shareholders have done well over the same time period. Considering this fine result for shareholders, we daresay the CEO compensation might be apt. CEO compensation is one thing, but it is also interesting to check if the CEO is buying or selling Bank of America (free visualization of insider trades).

If you want to buy a stock that is better than Bank of America, this free list of high return, low debt companies is a great place to look.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Proposed measures in the state legislature to limit use of plastic straws in restaurants and plastic bags in general have been met with a mixed response.

The proposed regulations are part of a series of bills introduced in both the Illinois House and Senate aimed at encouraging environmental consciousness and increasing sustainability. Another goal is to reduce the amount of plastic waste that enters Lake Michigan.

The bills have the support of state environmental groups including the Illinois Environmental Council and the Sierra Club of Illinois, according to the Decatur Herald & Review.

One of the proposals would only allow restaurants to provide single-use plastic straws at the request of the customer. Another would add a 10-cent charge for each plastic bag a customer uses. The plastic bag fee would apply everywhere in the state except for Chicago, which already has a 7-cent tax, according to the Herald & Review.

Edwardsville, Woodstock and Oak Park also have taxes on plastic bag use while Evanston has banned plastic bags, according to the American Recyclable Plastic Alliance.

Stacy Pinkerton, owner of A Little Bit of This & That, said she would need to switch out her restaurants single-use plastic straws for reusable straws or lids that people can drink from if the limit went into law.

I think its crazy because thats what I give my customers  the plastic straws, Pinkerton said.

Pinkerton said she would not expect to the change to be a major blow to her small business, but she could see larger restaurants being hurt.

Some residents on Facebook felt that the fees on plastic bags were unnecessary and would do little to lower overall plastic consumption.

All this is to these people is control over every aspect of our lives so that they can invade more and more every day, Brian Martin of Jacksonville said. Many things you buy in a store are either made of plastic or is stored in plastic and you put it in the plastic bag.

Others believed that the fee could provide necessary encouragement to reduce plastic usage. Megan Kitterman, who grew up in Jacksonville before moving to Austin, Texas, said Austin passed a ban on plastic bags in 2013 that reduced plastic litter and got more people in the habit of using reusable bags even after the ban was lifted because of a Texas Supreme Court decision.

Not using plastic bags can be annoying, but soon it becomes habit, Kitterman said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday wrote to the wife of Delhi Police head constable Ratan Lal, who was killed in violence over the CAA on Monday, conveying his condolences and said the entire country was with the family of the brave policeman in this hour of grief.

In his letter to Lal's wife Poonam Devi, Shah said he had made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.

"Your brave husband was a dedicated policeman who faced tough challenges. As a true soldier he made the supreme sacrifice to serve this country. I pray that God gives you strength to bear this sad and untimely loss," the home minister wrote.

Shah said the entire country was with the family in this hour of grief.

The head constable was among 10 people killed in spiralling violence over the amended citizenship law in northeast Delhi.

Frenzied protesters torched houses, shops, vehicles and a petrol pump, besides hurling stones at security personnel.

Lal hailed from Tehawali village at Fatehpur-Shekhawati Tehsil in Sikar district of Rajasthan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The bank has increasingly become a target of activists, who have denounced it for providing $196 billion in financing for coal, oil, natural gas and pipeline projects from 2016 through 2018, following the Paris climate accord. Among American banks, JPMorgan was the top financier of oil and gas drilling in the Arctic and of tar sands extraction in Canada during that three-year period.
(Newser)  Authorities in Alabama are hunting a 43-year-old man who has been serving a life sentence for murder since he was a teenager. Daniel Miner, who was convicted of a 1993 Marshall County murder in 1994 and sentenced to life with the possibility of parole, escaped from a minimum-security work-release facility on Saturday, ABC reports. Officials say Miner was reported missing from his bed during a Saturday night inmate count at the Childersburg Community Based Facility and Community Work Center in Alpine, around 30 miles southeast of Birmingham. The 40 or so inmates at the facility work for private employers in the community.

story continues below

Minerwho was also convicted of a prison contraband charge in 2003is described as a white man, 192 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair, the Gadsten Times reports. Authorities say he has a tattoo of a dragon on his back and assorted other tattoos, including white power symbols, on his neck, arms, and torso. He was last seen wearing state-issued white clothing. The Alabama Department of Corrections says Miner's custody level was "minimum-out," the level deemed "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." (Read more Alabama stories.)
The BBC's head of drama has defended criticism that it is preoccupied with appearing 'woke' after repurposing classic texts to boost roles for women and ethnic minorities.

Piers Wenger said older stories must be adapted for a contemporary audience.

The broadcaster recently adapted novels to appeal to diversity-obsessed viewers, swapping male leads for female stars and casting ethnic minority actors in traditionally white roles.

Examples from last year include The War Of The Worlds and A Christmas Carol.

The BBC's head of drama Piers Wenger (pictured) said older stories must be adapted for a contemporary audience

Mr Wenger, the BBC's controller of drama commissioning, said: 'They were adaptations of books that were written a long time ago - hundreds of years ago - but we are repurposing them for a contemporary audience.

'They need to speak to a contemporary audience and represent a contemporary world as well as being stories set in our past. That's the point of adaptation. You do that with everything.

'I really object when I hear the word 'woke' used in a pejorative way because what does 'woke' really mean?

The broadcaster recently adapted novels to appeal to diversity-obsessed viewers, swapping male leads for female stars and casting ethnic minority actors in traditionally white roles (Pictured: A Christmas Carol)

Examples from last year include The War Of The Worlds (pictured) and A Christmas Carol

'If it means equality being important and fair representation being important then absolutely, that is important to me.

'Whether that is what 'woke' means, I don't really know, but I do think that equality, fair representation and portrayal are all things that matter hugely to the BBC and it would be a dereliction of our duty if we didn't own those particular initiatives.'

Mr Wenger also said it would be a 'massive loss' and a 'shame' if the BBC moved to become a Netflix-style subscription service.
A new opt out system for organ donation is to be introduced in less than three months, ministers have announced.

According to draft regulations to be presented to Parliament this morning, the new system to address the countrys major shortage of transplant organs will come into force on 20 May.

The new rules are to be named Max and Keiras law - in honour of a boy who received a heart transplant and the girl who donated it.

The system will involve a concept called presumed consent - which means all adults will be considered to have agreed to donate their own organs when they die, unless they opted out.

Under the current opt in system only people who are on the donor register, or whose family decide to donate the organs, have a transplant.

Max and Keira's Law, named after a boy who received a heart transplant from a girl who donated it, cleared the House of Commons last year. Max Johnson (left) was saved by a heart given to him by the family of nine-year-old donor Keira Ball (right) following her death in 2017

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: Too many people lose their lives waiting for an organ, and Ive been determined to do what I can to boost organ donation rates.

So Im incredibly proud of the action we are taking with this new law. This is an important step forward in making organ donation easier and more available to those who need it and could help save hundreds of lives every year.

WHO IS CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE TO DONATE THEIR ORGANS? Everyone can join the NHS Organ Donor Register regardless of age, as long as they: are legally capable of making the decision, and live in the UK. Having an illness or medical condition doesn't necessarily prevent a person from becoming an organ or tissue donor. The decision about whether some or all organs or tissue are suitable for transplant is made by a medical specialist at the time of donation, taking into account your medical, travel and social history. There are very few conditions where organ donation is ruled out completely. A person cannot become an organ donor if they have or are suspected of having Ebola, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), active cancer, HIV or hepatitis C. Advertisement

I pay tribute to the brave campaigning of families such as Max and Keiras, whose tireless work on this issue has made a huge difference.

There are more than 6,000 people currently waiting for an organ in the UK and three people on the waiting list die each day.

Officials hope the change will mean an extra 700 transplants each year by 2023, helping thousands of people across the UK waiting for a transplant.

But they stress that donating organs remains a personal decision. When the new system starts in May families will get the final say.

But doctors hope the presumed consent system will mean more relatives give the go-ahead.

They say relatives often decide not to give permission for organs to be removed because they do not know what their loved one would have wanted.

The current system in England relies on people signing up to the organ donor register - and if someone has done so 91 per cent of relatives agree to a donation.

If they have not done so that drops to 47 per cent. Wales, where a presumed consent system has been in place since 2015, has the highest consent rates in the UK.

Anthony Clarkson, director of organ donation and transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: We hope that the new law encourages more people to record their donation decision and talk about organ donation with their families.

It is important for people to know that they can do this at any time before or after the law comes into effect. There is no deadline for making your donation decision.

Jacob West of the British Heart Foundation added: More than 300 people in the UK are waiting for a heart or a heart and lung transplant in the UK, not knowing when or if they will receive their new organ.

'Max and Keiras Law is a lifesaving change in legislation that will offer hope to these people and their families.
In the wake of roiling protests and painful teacher shortages in key areas, at least 13 governors so far this year have proposed raising teachers pay, according to an Education Week analysis of State of the State addresses.

The ambitious pay proposals, if passed, will impact some of the poorest and most rural regions of the country where droves of teachers have either crossed state lines for better-paying jobs or left the profession altogether. (Nine governors have not yet given, or will not give, a State of the State address this year.)

Governors have asked their legislatures to consider pouring millions more state dollars into K-12 coffers in the coming fiscal year in order to bump the states minimum salary for starting teachers by thousands more dollars, give across-the-board pay increases, or roll out pay-for-performance initiatives.

We cannot simply rely on the good hearts of teachers any longer to retain an effective teaching workforce in Idaho, said Gov. Brad Little, a Republican who is proposing a five-year, $225 million plan to increase teacher pay throughout the career ladder, with an emphasis on veteran teachers.

Interactive: These Governors Are Calling for Teacher Pay Raises

After years of stagnant wages, and a growing tide of activism that has taken root across the country, politicians and K-12 funding advocates have been at odds over the dynamics of the proposals and which teachers in the end would get a pay increase. Several governors, including those of Arizona and Florida, have lashed out at district superintendents for spending new money intended for teachers salaries on other priorities.

While teacher activists say theyre glad to see pay raises on the table this legislative session, some say their governors proposals dont go far enough and that future large-scale protests are still a possibility.

It really shows a dedication [from the governor] to help retain teachersone of the biggest ways to retain teachers is to pay them a competitive wage, Lisa Ellis, a high school journalism teacher in Blythewood, S.C., and the founder of the grassroots teachers group, SCforED, said of Gov. Henry McMasters proposal to give teachers a $3,000 across-the-board raise.

Still, she added, its not quite what were asking for.

Varied Approaches

Ellis said teachers would rather have an across-the-board 5 percent raise. But significantly bumping the salaries of tens of thousands of teachers can be expensive and both technically and politically complicated, since district superintendents, not governors, mostly control teachers pay.

While states have more money to work with this year because of surging income and sales tax revenue, school funding advocates have to compete with growing Medicaid and higher education costs. In addition, some legislators have argued that their state has done its part and if superintendents think teachers should be paid more, they should use local tax dollars in order to pay for it.

Governors in Alabama, Arizona, New Mexico, and Virginia are proposing percentage increases for the entire teaching force. In Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, and South Carolina, governors are proposing to raise teachers pay by a set dollar amount. Governors in Indiana and Tennessee said they want to add more money to the overall pot so districts can increase pay during their own salary negotiations.

And some governors, including in Florida, Idaho, and Pennsylvania, are trying to increase the states minimum pay amounts.

Weve figured out how to give tax incentives to corporations, said Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a newly elected Democrat whos proposing a $2,000 teacher raise, so I know we can figure out how to pay a living wage to the men and women who get up at the crack of dawn every morning to go open their classrooms, stay up late grading papers, and give everything they can so our Kentucky children have every opportunity.

Growing Tide of Activism

Ever since the entire teaching force in West Virginia successfully went on strike in 2018 to gain higher wages, the nations stagnant teacher pay has gained outsized attention. In at least 10 states in two years, teachers have staged multi- or single-day walkouts and protests, shuttering hundreds of schools.

More than a fifth of governors unveiled teacher pay proposals last year, which resulted in teachers getting raises in more than 15 states, an Education Week analysis found.

That activism has not abated. In some states, its intensified. Many teacher activists, dissatisfied with governors proposals or lack thereof, say they will ramp up their pressure this legislative session.

Were going to go to the capitol every day to let legislators know teachers are financially struggling, and they need support, Keith Courville, the executive director of the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana, told the Associated Press.

K-12 advocates there have accused Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards of reneging on a campaign promise when he failed to include in his budget a proposal to raise teacher pay.

Teachers, Courville said, are furious. (For his part, Edwards said the state would give teachers a raise when we can.)

Governors are also responding to increasing pressure from the business community, which has been frustrated with stagnant and, in some instances, dipping test scores, which many researchers are now directly attributing to low state spending on teacher pay. In Florida, a large coalition of business and civic leaders wrote in a widely distributed editorial before the start of this legislative season that it was past time the state pay teachers enough to want to enter and stay in the classroom.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis then dedicated a large swath of his State of the State address to praising teachers, two of whom were featured guests at the capitol, and proposed to spend $600 million to increase the minimum pay from $37,636 to $47,500.

DeSantis has also proposed a new $300 million performance-based bonus program for teachers and principals, which would give teachers who work in Title I schools bonuses of up to $7,500. The bonuses are based, at least partially, on gains that schools make in the states A-F school grading calculation, which is determined by student test scores.

Teacher Groups Frustrated

But Fedrick Ingram, the president of the Florida Education Association, called DeSantis proposal a divide and conquer tactic that pits teachers against each other. The FEA has instead proposed a 10 percent pay raise for every public school employee.

Raising the minimum pay wont help with retention, Ingram said, and teachers dont like the proposed bonus structure plan.

If students do X, then teachers get Ythats not an equation that teachers want to hear, he said. There are so many variables around testing that teachers dont control.

Thousands of Florida teachers and other supporters rallied at the state capitol last month to call for higher pay and more school funding. So far, the FEA has not planned another mass protest, but Ingram said nothing is off the table.

In Indiana, Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb has committed to raising teacher paybut it will have to wait until 2021. He urged lawmakers in his State of the State speech to take $250 million from the state surplus and put it toward the teacher pension fund, which in turn would free up $50 million a year for teacher raises.

Thats on top of an additional $65 million a year that was set aside for teacher pay increases last year. But Holcomb is waiting for his appointed teacher pay commission to release recommendations on raises.

South Carolina teachers, for instance, got a 4 percent across-the-board salary increase last year. Teachers with fewer than five years of experience received an up to 10 percent raise, in an attempt to keep more beginning teachers in the classroom.

This year, teachers were hoping for an additional 5 percent across-the-board raise, instead of the proposed $3,000 across-the-board raise. Ellis, of SCforED, said a nonpercentage raise sends the message that youre not recognizing the value of your veteran teachers.

According to The State newspaper, McMaster, a Republican, said state leaders chose a flat amount instead of a percentage raise because it would have a greater impact inside the classrooms. He also said a flat dollar raise is easy to understand, according to the Post and Courier.

Last May, hundreds of educators took personal days to protest at the state capitol, calling for higher pay, more school funding, and better working conditions.

Another raise is one of those very small steps in the right direction, but theres still a lot that has to change as far as working conditions in South Carolina, Ellis said.

She said SCforED is really trying to prevent [another protest] from happening this year, but activists have set a March 17 deadline for legislators to meet teachers demands.
November 17, 2021, Wednesday

Aggiornamenti Lumia has shared screenshots and gifs, revealing what the new software will look like and what will be its key ...
STAMFORD  OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma has appointed Tom Vilsack, the former governor of Iowa and U.S. agriculture secretary, to monitor its conduct, a hire that puts in place an independent watchdog during the remainder of the Stamford companys bankruptcy case.

Vilsack will be tasked with helping to ensure that Purdue does not revive the alleged OxyContin marketing fraud at the center of the more than 2,700 lawsuits that the company is trying to resolve through its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case.

Purdue announced two years ago that it would stop marketing OxyContin and other opioids and then reaffirmed that decision under a voluntary self-injunction that was approved last November by the federal bankruptcy judge overseeing its case. In a related move, Judge Robert Drain recommended that the company hire a monitor to confirm its compliance.

I hope to provide assurance that Purdue Pharma and its related entities is faithfully abiding by the commitments it made in the voluntary injunction, which is central to its ability to ultimately transition to a public-benefits entity, Vilsack, who is now president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, said Monday in an emailed statement.

Purdue CEO Craig Landau said in a statement that our company supports and welcomes the appointment of Secretary Vilsack as monitor, to further advance the goals of our settlement framework.

Vilsack would have unfettered access to Purdues employees, books, records and facilities and would provide quarterly compliance reports to its Board of Directors and the bankruptcy court, according to Purdue officials.

The company declined to comment on how much it would pay Vilsack.

I do not know how often I will visit the corporate headquarters, but I already have had one visit and expect there will be more in the future, Vilsack said.

A spokeswoman for Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said Monday that we have not taken a position on Vilsacks appointment.

Vilsack served as Iowa governor from 1999 to 2007 and as agriculture secretary from 2009 to 2017.

In the last two years of the Obama administration, Vilsack worked on tackling the opioid crisis as a special assignment. In December 2016, Obama signed into law the related 21st Century Cures Act.

We were building support for funding in the America Cures Act, Vilsack said. The funding was designed to begin investing in more prevention and treatment of opioid abuse, misuse and addiction.

As a personal reason for my interest in this effort, Vilsack cited his mothers battle with prescription-drug addiction in his early years.

He took his current post at the Dairy Council immediately after Obamas second term ended in 2017. He will keep that position, while he works as monitor.

Before I applied to be the monitor, I cleared this opportunity with my employer, Vilsack said. I received the approval based in part on the dairy industry leaderships understanding of how devastating opioid abuse, misuse, and addiction has been in rural communities. The leadership of the industry is confident that I can do both jobs well and I share that confidence.

Vilsack likely will be in role until the bankruptcy plan is confirmed, Purdue said in a statement. The company filed for bankruptcy last September.

At the same time, Vilsack has remained politically active. He has endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

While the parties try to work out a settlement, the lawsuits against Purdue are on hold until at least April 8.

About two-dozen states have accepted the companys proposed settlement terms.

But to gain the bankruptcy courts approval, the firm would also need to secure the support of the 24 non-consenting states including Connecticut that have not accepted its proposal.

Another major faction is the multidistrict litigation local governments, which collectively account for the vast majority of the cases filed against Purdue.

pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2236; Twitter: @paulschott
The American Dental Association as well as various state dental boards have made an organized attack on SmileDirectClub, Inc. in an effort to protect their turf, but savvy investors should look past Big Dental and focus instead on the orthodontics disruptors massive profit potential. Thats according to IPO Edge Editor John Jannarone, who spoke to Cheddar TV ahead of the companys upcoming quarterly result.

Jannarone cited a detailed analysis published on IPO Edge explaining the thinly-veiled attempts by the ADA to suggest both the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission were investigating SmileDirectClub. In reality, there is no evidence whatsoever of such investigations taking place and the FTC and FDA have been silent on the matter for several months after initial complaints were filed.

There are really two things that investors should focus on, Jannarone told Cheddar. One is that dentists make this system workevery SmileDirectClub patient has a dentist or orthodontist working with him or her. The other thing is that there is a dental lobby thats powerful and has a history of doing this.

He also pointed out that theres a clear analogy with orthodontists and incumbent players in other industries. Taxi drivers, for instance, have often gone to great lengths to protect their business from the likes of Uber Technologies, Inc. and Lyft, Inc.

The reality is that with any service you will have anecdotal evidence of things going wrong. But the reviews overall are very, very good, Jannarone continued, referring to reviews on Google and other objective ratings.

The company is on the cusp of breakeven Ebitda for 2020, he continued. If you look at it on a multiple of 2023 numbers its very cheap. Based on consensus estimates from Sentieo, the stock trades at an enterprise value of under 7 times 2023 Ebitda.

Regarding competition, Jannarone pointed out that the company will soon be able to sell its products directly through dentists offices, giving it a major advantage over rivals. SmileDirectClubs main rival, Align Technology, Inc., has also been forced to shutter its standalone retail stores and they will remain closed for some time.

Story continues

View the full interview here.

IPO Edge Contact:

John Jannarone, Editor-in-Chief

www.IPO-Edge.com

Editor@IPO-Edge.com

Twitter: @IPOEdge

Instagram: @IPOEdge
Former AG Loretta Lynch to Review University Police Amid Ongoing Protests

Former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch has been hired to conduct a review of the Syracuse University (SU) campus police department, as student protestors sit-in occupation of an administrative building continues into a new week.

The move comes after the university temporarily suspended more than 30 students last week for refusing to leave the Crouse-Hinds Hall past closing hours. The sit-in occupation is part of #NotAgainSUs ongoing protest against hate crimes and bias incidents that have occurred on or near the New York schools campus since November 2019, according to student newspaper The Daily Orange.

During the course of the sit-in occupation, campus police officers reportedly sealed the Crouse-Hinds Hall as a tactic to starve the protesters out of the building. An SU official denied that allegation however, saying that there was no intention to deny the student protestors access to food or other necessities.

In a campus-wide email, SU Chancellor Kent Syverud apologized for the way campus police handled Crouse-Hinds occupiers, and announced that the university would hire Obama-era Attorney General Loretta Lynch to conduct an independent, expedited review of the universitys Department of Public Safety. Lynch currently works at Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, a law firm, as a partner in its New York headquarters. She served as U.S. attorney general under Obama from 2015 to 2017.

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 protesters, Syverud said in the Monday email obtained by Syracuse.com, adding that Lynch is widely respected for bringing voice to all sides.

Over the last few months, #NotAgainSU protesters have brought up so far as many as 34 demands, reported The Daily Orange. Those demands range from allowing students of color to deny a roommate of other races, to having more multicultural events in residence halls, and the creation of an anti-racism curriculum.

Students raised important issues and asked for changes that were reasoned and reasonable, an SU official told The Daily Orange. The expanded and changing demands made by student protesters and their reluctance to engage in constructive dialogue through the many channels now available to them make this situation challenging.
Surgeons bring a toddler back to life after he received a liver donation from an 11-year-old girl in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [For chinadaily.com.cn]

An 11-year-old gave a toddler a second life by donating her liver after passing way in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The young donor was diagnosed as brain dead when she was admitted to the first affiliated hospital of Guangxi medical university on February 14.

Surgeons pay respect to a liver donor, an 11-year-old girl in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [For chinadaily.com.cn]

A 34-month-old was suffering serious hepatopathy and was in a critical situation at the same hospital.

The girl's heartbroken parents decided to donate their daughter's liver to save another life.

After a 10-hour long transplant operation , the boy was brought to life again on February 17.

(Source: chinadaily.com.cn)
[February 25, 2020] Openpath Chosen As Official Access Control and Technology Partner for Real Estate Powerhouse Lincoln Property Company

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Openpath , a leader in modern mobile access control, is announcing a partnership with Lincoln Property Company (LPC), one of the largest diversified real estate service firms in the United States. Openpath has been selected as LPC's technology partner to standardize and bring best-in-class technology solutions across its current portfolio and planned developments of commercial spaces. Openpath's award-winning platform focuses on integrated technology to provide frictionless mobile access and scalable cloud-based solutions that can also integrate with legacy systems. This collaboration future-proofs LPC's security offerings for modern commercial development. The partnership marks a shift in the commercial real estate market, as operators and tenants demand technology-capable properties that provide ease, efficiency and advancement to address high-risk security challenges. Already deployed in a number of LPC's Los Angeles properties, Openpath will continue to outfit buildings across the country, providing state-of-the-art, personalized security plans and solutions for individually customized building needs. LPC is one of the ten largest commercial property developers in the nation, managing or leasing over 403 million square feet and $76 billion in assets. As the first developer to choose an access control and technology partner, LPC is now leading the charge for tenant experience and innovation. With the built world becoming more technology-reliant, an integrated security solution is critical to making an environment attractive for LPC's tenants and employees. This partnership provides a future-proofed solution for LPC properties, as Openpath's cloud access control technology provides a standardized solution that can be integrated across LPC's current and future technoloy needs.



In addition to mobile access control, Openpath offers LPC buildings a broad range of first-to-market services including Lockdown and Tailgating Prevention to address today's workplace security concerns. While required integrations will continue to evolve, Openpath and LPC's strategic relationship enhances and ensures the property's attractiveness years down the line. "This partnership provides an opportunity for us to continue to develop and personalize our solutions tailored towards Lincoln Property Company's unique portfolio of commercial spaces," said James Segil, co-founder and President of Openpath. "Our mobile platform provides necessary customization capabilities while giving LPC's tenants the freedom of control in their daily security. LPC is focusing on the future of how we integrate better solutions and we're excited to see this next stage of development as we continue to design products that meet evolving property needs"

"Our goal is to ensure that every building provides the highest quality experience for our tenants," said Eric Roseman, VP of Innovation & Technology Ventures, Lincoln Property Company. "We are excited to be the first major real estate firm to partner with Openpath to bring this technology to a nationwide commercial portfolio, and to spearhead the movement of tenant experience by providing our buildings with state-of-the-art security and mobile access control." About Lincoln Property Company

Lincoln Property Company was founded in 1965, by Mack Pogue, as a builder and operator of high-quality commercial and residential communities. Headquartered in Dallas, TX, Lincoln focuses on real estate investment, construction and development, in addition to property management. Their national reputation has enabled Lincoln to attract a large client base of owners and investors who count on their ability to deliver quality results and continually serve as a market leader. Lincoln is currently the second largest multifamily manager in the United States with over 203,000 units under management and the fifth largest multifamily developer. To learn more, visit www.lpc.com About Openpath

Openpath is a leader in mobile access control solutions. Openpath allows anyone to use their mobile phone to open an authorized door with the touch of a finger or wave of a hand, without needing the phone or app open. Openpath's patented Triple Unlock technology delivers 99.9% reliability for a secure, frictionless and fast entry experience. With a robust cloud solution, Openpath provides a nearly unlimited array of enterprise software capabilities, future-proofing the needs of the built environment. The company has introduced innovative Tailgating and Lockdown Solutions providing the ability to lock/unlock any door, zone or building in an emergency from a mobile device. Founded in 2016, Openpath is based in Los Angeles' Silicon Beach, unlocking 1 million doors per week and growing. To learn more, visit www.Openpath.com . View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/openpath-chosen-as-official-access-control-and-technology-partner-for-real-estate-powerhouse-lincoln-property-company-301010379.html SOURCE Openpath

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 03:37:54|Editor: yan

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PARIS, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- France has confirmed two new cases of infection by COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in France to 14, Health Director General Jerome Salomon announced on Tuesday.

A Chinse woman, who returned from China early this month, was hospitalized in a Paris hospital and "is doing well", Salomon told a news conference.

Her husband was tested negative and four people with whom she had contacts would be investigated, he said.

A French man, recently back from Italy's Lombardy, was receiving treatment in a hospital in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region.

Of the previous 12 cases, 11 have recovered. An 80-year-old Chinese tourist died on Feb. 14.
Once again, superannuation is in the news. This time, the debate is about whether the employer contribution should be capped at 9.5 per cent of salary, raised progressively to 12 per cent, or abolished for low-income employees.

To be fair, all sides are making reasonable arguments.

Those opposed to a compulsory super hike say an increase in employer super means workers will have less money in their take-home pay. Credit:Josh Robenstone

Those in favour of raising it point to rising life expectancies and the inadequacy of many super balances. Almost 50 per cent of Australians expect to retire with less than $200,000 in super, and just 19 per cent of us expect to be able to retire with enough to live comfortably.

Those against the increase point out that, in most cases, the employer contribution is taken into account when wages are negotiated. In other words, an increase in employer super means workers have less money in their take-home pay after super is taken into account.
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 $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 news 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 $4.5 billion was stolen from the fund. sr/rbu GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP
New Delhi, Feb 25 : The Delhi Police is mulling to impose curfew in violence hit northeast Delhi.

Unconfirmed sources told IANS that several rounds of meetings are going on at the LG office as well as the new headquarters of the Delhi Police where it will be decided from what time curfew will be imposed, in which areas and for what duration.

One such source said 35 companies of security and police forces have failed to control the situation and the death toll in the violence was reported to be nine.

Earlier, the three districts of northeast Delhi were put on high alert amid prevailing tension which intensified on Tuesday.

IANS tried to contact top officials of the Delhi Police seeking confirmation about imposing curfew in the violence hit areas but none of them responded.

(Sanjeev Kumar Singh Chauhan can be contacted at sanjeev.c@ians.in)
Cranberry Detox Mask We are so honored to finally be in the pages of Harpers Bazaar. Their audience is so loyal and we hope we can drive home the importance of shifting beauty and skincare to a more sustainable, environmentally-conscious path. A publication like Harpers gives us that voice.

Praz Naturals, a skincare company that focuses on fresh all-natural ingredients and clean, easy-to-use products, today announced that their one-of-a-kind Cranberry Detox Mask released last fall, has landed in the pages of the prestigious Harper's Bazaar.

Founded over 150 years ago in 1867, Harper's Bazaar was a self-described repository of fashion, pleasure, and instruction. One of the first publications dedicated to looking at the lives of women through fashion and popular culture. The pages of the magazine have been home to subjects from how to tie a bow to pieces of fiction, career and social life. With Praz Naturals Cranberry Detox Mask featured in the Tips N' Trends Section, is a distinction many home-grown all-natural skincare products hope for amidst the growing $34.12 billion natural skincare market. Praz Naturals has managed to break through the noise with a singular and signature product. The Cranberry Detox Mask, with cranberry as its active ingredient, calms redness from acne, controls oil production, enhances skin texture, as well as exfoliating and brightening rough, damaged, dry, oily, and acne-prone skin. The cutting edge combination of ingredients results in a skin-care solution for frustrated acne-sufferers or anyone wanting a more youthful, healthy glow that has caught the attention of one of the worlds foremost authorities on health and beauty.

We are so honored to finally be in the pages of Harpers Bazaar. Said Sasha Nialla, Founder, Praz Naturals. Their audience is so loyal and we hope we can drive home the importance of shifting beauty and skincare to a more sustainable, environmentally-conscious path. A publication like Harpers gives us that voice.

As with all Praz Naturals skincare products, the Cranberry Detox Face Mask is formulated with 100% USDA certified organic ingredients. In this particular case, the Detox Mask is a powder that gives the user full control and spares the environment the damage of tossing out one and done sheet masks. Praz Naturals continues to stay ahead of the curve by stressing their scientific approach while still using only all-natural products. The company was recently Leaping Bunny certified and they cater to a wide customer base.

"Praz is growing exponentially, Says Nialla, We have doubled sales in a month with our both our All In One Oil and our Muscle Conditioner Soak as top sellers. In the next year, we will expand our sales to include Canada and Mexico."

Harper's Bazaar is on newsstands now.

For more information please visit http://www.PrazNaturals.com or contact Email or call number.

Praz Naturals offers a skincare routine worth celebrating and only gets better as they continue to explore and discover powerful plant-based ingredients. With a foundation built on appreciation, wellness and a commitment to the environment  Praz ensures responsible business practices and manufactures every product by hand. The ultimate goal is to source and share their products in a way that honors humans, animals, and the planet.


Christine McGuinness and husband Paddy have three children who have all been diagnosed with autism (Getty)

Christine McGuinness has admitted feeling unable to speak to anyone about the stresses of parenting three children with autism.

The 31-year-old model  whose children with TV presenter Paddy McGuinness, six-year-old twins Leo and Penelope and three-year-old Felicity have all been diagnosed with autism  confessed she keeps her feelings bottled up for the sake of her family.

Christine told OK! Magazine: I admit Im the worst when it comes to telling people when Im struggling. I will never say if Ive had a bad day and, to be honest, theres no one I feel I can speak to.

The day Felicity got diagnosed, Paddy and I had to take separate cars as he had to be somewhere and I cried all the way home. I felt I had no-one I could call because opening up about it would just make me break down.

Read more: Christine and Paddy McGuinness in disabled parking bay row

She added: I just dont feel theres anyone in my life that I would fully trust with anything. And then its also that fear that if I get upset and let my emotions out, I wont be able to get myself back together.

Paddy and Christine McGuinness attend the National Television Awards (Getty)

Autism is a developmental disorder which can affect social interaction and the ability to communicate. Christine admitted it had caused her to lose friends as people were not always understanding about her childrens behaviour.

The former Miss Liverpool, who is an ambassador for The National Autistic Society, said she didnt feel she had time for therapy or even friends, adding: Thats just something else Ive accepted.

Read more: Christine McGuinness on why Christmas upsets her kids

In 2017 Top Gear presenter Paddy, 46, said he never felt happy in himself, since his children had been diagnosed.

Christine said: It was heartbreaking. I know he didnt mean he wasnt happy with me or the children, just that its difficult to switch off when were at home. Theres no time for us as a couple. No quality time, no date nights.

Not even time to have a laugh together. Were full-time carers and the kids come before everything. But we have to stay strong as a unit for our kids.

But the former beauty queen said she felt encouraged by others being more open and accepting of autism and urged others to keep the conversation going.
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." 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".
The Congress on Tuesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to share with the public as to what has India gained in terms of bilateral trade with the US in the talks with President Donald Trump who is on a two-day visit to India.

"We spent a lot of money on welcoming Donald Trump but did we gain anything, PM Modi needs to inform the Indian citizens," Congress leader Rashid Alvi told ANI.

Speaking on ministers calling the violence in Maujpur and Bhajanpura during Trump's visit as an intention to spoil India's image, he said, "If the violence was intended to spoil Trump's visit then the Centre has failed to govern. I would like to ask what was your intelligence doing previously?"

"I believe that the Delhi Police is helping some people to induce the violence," the Congress leader alleged.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With full sales cycle support and a reciprocal lead program, SysAid introduces the most competitive mid-market ITSM solution for resellers

BOSTON, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SysAid, a leading provider of IT and enterprise service management solutions, today announced the launch of its partner program, which enables resellers to offer its award-winning ITSM platform. SysAid fills the massive need for a mid-market solution that can scale globally, increase agility, and reduce IT costs. The program has garnered support with resellers across Europe and North America.

As an ITSM solution with top user reviews, SysAid is a compelling opportunity for VARs, distributors, and service providers that need a strong mid-market offering to complete their service management offerings. Attesting to the solution's popularity with customers, SysAid outscored all ITSM Magic Quadrant vendors on Gartner Peer Insights and took first place in the 2019 G2 Momentum Grid for Service Desk. SysAid also won several awards on G2 Crowd, including "Best Mid-Market Leader" and "Users Most Likely to Recommend."

Several factors differentiate SysAid's partner program from others. First, getting started with SysAid is easy because it offers full sales cycle support and implementation services for those partners looking for help. Second, SysAid offers the first reciprocal lead program in ITSM, exclusively for large partners. Third, partners can achieve higher margins through deal registration and recurring revenue on renewals, upgrades, and expansion. Finally, for resellers that offer services, such as onboarding, implementation, customization, and integration, SysAid provides an ecosystem that supports this and allows these value-added partners to enjoy additional revenue streams.

SysAid's partners have already found SysAid to be a compelling choice for elite clients, including Coca Cola, DHL, Motorola, and Avis. UK partner, Softcat LLC, and SysAid, jointly implemented the SysAid solution into David Lloyd Clubs, a network of fitness centers with 8,600 employees.

"Softcat is very excited to be working with SysAid," said Matt Ward, ITAM Enterprise Account Director at Softcat. "We think it's an ideal service desk solution for our mid-size clients and demonstrates excellent functionality, feel, and value for the money. We look forward to introducing SysAid to more of the UK market."

"SysAid is an easy sell with a quick implementation, low maintenance requirements, and outstanding support," said David Zeldin, Head of International Channels and Partners at SysAid. "Resellers who have struggled in the mid-market will find that SysAid is much more compelling and cost-effective than similar solutions."

To join SysAid's partner program, visit https://www.sysaid.com/become-a-partner.

About SysAid

SysAid provides IT and enterprise service management solutions that transform IT agent productivity, drastically enhance the end-user experience, and drive value across the organization. SysAid partners with over 10,000 customers, from small businesses to Fortune 500 enterprises across 140 countries.

Available in 42 languages as a cloud-based and on-premises solution, SysAid combines all the essential IT tools in one platform. For more information, please visit www.sysaid.com.

Media Contact

Julie Solomon

jsolomon@sspr.com

267 589 9162

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Peasant leader Akhil Gogoi,



arrested under stringent UAPA during anti-CAA protests in Assam, said on Tuesday he will stage a 24-hour dharna in the jail from March 1 in protest against the contentious law.

A Special NIA Court on Tuesday extended the judicial remand of Gogoi, adviser of peasant body Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), till March 7.

The organisation's general secretary Dhairjya Konwar and Bittu Sonowal, president of KMSS students' wing Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS), were also remanded to judicial custody for the same period.

Both were arrested for their alleged roles in violence during anti-CAA protests.

While being produced before the court on Tuesday, Gogoi told journalists that the movement against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is weakening because people are not united.

"We must be united. We are facing problems because we are not united. From March 1, I will sit on a 24-hour dharna in the jail against CAA and for strengthening the movement," Gogoi said.

He has been lodged in the Guwahati Central Prison.

Gogoi said if BJP has to be defeated in the 2021 Assembly elections in the state, "we must create an alternative force".

Gogoi, also an RTI activist, has been in judicial custody since December 26. He had mobilised public protests against the CAA across several districts in Upper Assam before his arrest on December 12.

His colleagues were taken into custody the next day.

Assam Police had registered an FIR against Gogoi under sections of the IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on December 13 and the case was handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) the next day.

Konwar and Sonowal's cases were also handed over to the agency.

Various organisations, including the Congress, the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP) have been demanding the immediate release of Gogoi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amid violence in Delhi, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi appointed IPS officer SN Shrivastava as Special Commissioner (Law and Order)

Amid unabated violence in northeast districts of Delhi for the past 48 hours, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi has appointed IPS officer SN Shrivastava as Special Commissioner (Law and Order) with immediate effect. Shrivastava's appointment comes at a time when violent clashes between anti and pro-CAA protesters in the National Capital has claimed the lives of 13 people, including a police constable. More than 100 have been injured, which includes several journalists.

The appointment also comes at a time when the Ministry of Home Affairs, headed by Amit Shah, and the Delhi Police (which comes under the jurisdiction of the Centre) have come under intense criticism for the way the violence in Delhi has been handled so far.

Who is SN Shrivastava

A 1985 IPS batch officer, Shrivastava faces the task of bringing the situation in the National Capital under control.

Shrivastava was serving as the DG (Training) in CRPF and was expected to continue in his post till 30 June, 2021, reported News18. A notification towards Shrivastava's appointment has been issued by the Directorate General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

In the past, he has served as Special DG Jammu and Kashmir Zone of CRPF.

Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, whose tenure was extended by a month due to Delhi Assembly election, is set to retire by the end of this month.

Patnaik's tenure has been controversial and the Delhi Police was accused of acting as a bystander while rioters ran amok over the last two days in northeast Delhi.

Sources in MHA said Patnaiks replacement, given the intense scrutiny to which Delhi Police has been subjected, is likely to be a police officer who has served several stints in the NCR.

Among those being considered for the post included Shrivastava, who was prematurely shifted out of his position from a Delhi CRPF directorate today. Shrivastava earlier headed the elite Special Cell of Delhi Police.
What do medicine and flyfishing have in common? Gilbert Thompson's Medicine My Vocation, Fishing My Recreation: Memoirs of a Physician and Flyfisherman is about the author's life motivated by two pursuits: medicine, his profession and flyfishing, his favourite recreation. Interestingly, about 6% of the UK-based members of the Flyfishers' Club are medically qualified, similarly to the author.

The title of Thompson's memoir comes from paraphrasing the Chekov quotation, "Medicine is my lawful wife and literature is my mistress", underlying the importance of both activities - medicine and flyfishing - in the author's life. Each pursuit has provided him with various challenges, enjoyment and fulfilment from the early life and through his medical career. Medicine My Vocation, Fishing My Recreation recounts the period from the Second World War to the present day, during which there have been dramatic changes both in medical practice and social attitudes. It reflects the author's experiences during the latter half of the 20th century from the beginning of his medical career through his army experiences and beyond. The narrative recounts Gilbert Thompson's experiences as a wartime schoolboy, post-war medical student, army doctor in Ghana, medical research worker at Hammersmith Hospital in London and in Boston, Houston and Montreal.

Gilbert Thompson's interesting career and insights into the changing practices and social attitudes will be of use for many medical professionals and general readers alike. Among Gilbert Thompson's achievements was the introduction of plasmapheresis to prolong the lives of severely affected patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), a hitherto fatal disorder. Medicine My Vocation, Fishing My Recreation's author was also among the first to describe the efficacy of statins in FH patients in the UK.

Gilbert Thompson's memoir will be particularly useful for physicians and medical students specialising in cardiology, lipidology and pharmaceutical industry. The easy-to-follow narration style alongside with the insights into the changing cultural and social context on the latter half of the 20th century and the author's personal anecdotes make the book accessible for the general public interested in the subject as well.

This book retails for US$58 / 50 (hardback). To order or know more about the book, visit http://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/q0240.

###

About the Author

Gilbert Thompson has graduated from St. Thomas' Hospital Medical School in London. After military service he joined the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London in 1963 where he worked for most of his career. He had served as a research fellow at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston and an assistant professor at the Methodist Hospital, Houston. He was also a visiting professor at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal and the Mayo Clinic. Gilbert Thompson has received the Lucien Award in 1981. He led the Medical Research Council Lipoprotein Team and was Professor of Clinical Lipidology at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital until his retirement in 1998. Currently, he is Emeritus Professor in Clinical Lipidology at the Hammersmith Campus of Imperial College London.

About World Scientific Publishing Co.

World Scientific Publishing is a leading international independent publisher of books and journals for the scholarly, research and professional communities. World Scientific collaborates with prestigious organisations like the Nobel Foundation and US National Academies Press to bring high quality academic and professional content to researchers and academics worldwide. The company publishes about 600 books and over 140 journals in various fields annually. To find out more about World Scientific, please visit http://www.worldscientific.com.

For more information, contact Jessica Clot at jclot@wspc.co.uk.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday ordered an inquiry against five Mining Department officials who were allegedly involved in illegal mining.

Sudhir Dubey, Senior Drilling Engineer of the Directorate of Geology and Mining, will lead the investigation, an official spokesperson said, quoting a tweet by the Chief Minister's Office said.

Inquiry has been ordered against two assistant geologists who were posted in Shamli and Kaushambi, one geologist who was posted in Hamirpur and a mining inspector and an assistant geologist who were posted in Deoria, the official said.

These officials were later shifted.

Charges against these officials include ignoring government rules, carrying on illegal mining, giving benefits through personal relationships, incurring loss to the treasury and renewal of lease among others, he said.

A case has also been filed against them by the CBI in an illegal mining case, the official added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prohibitory Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) have been imposed in 10 locations of North East Delhi as violence hit during the protests for and against new citizenship law intensified in the area on Monday.

Reuters

Curfew could be imposed anytime if the situation deteriorated in the areas. Security personnel have conducted flag marches in the evening and additional forces of CRPF have been deployed.

Delhi Police have appealed to the people to maintain peace and not to believe the rumours.

Senior Police Officers of Dwarka District conducted Flag march, as a confidence building measure, to maintain peace in the area. @DelhiPolice@CPDelhi@LtGovDelhi pic.twitter.com/qDeYyDx6pS  DCP/Dwarka, Delhi (@DCPDwarka) February 25, 2020

Some of the violent incidents have been reported in east Delhi areas, particularly in Maujpur, Kardarpuri, Chand Bagh and Dayalpur.

Dwarka District police is also using #drone services to keep an eye on the miscreants and maintain peace in the area. @LtGovDelhi@CPDelhi@DelhiPolice pic.twitter.com/AJylLhOUDu  DCP/Dwarka, Delhi (@DCPDwarka) February 25, 2020

Police is using technology to keep an eye on the miscreants and to maintain peace in the affected areas.

The deceased cop was later identified as head constable Ratan Lal. DCP of Shahdara (East Delhi) Amit Sharma currently in ICU and the condition is critical and severe head injuries. He has also got clots and bruises all over his body.

It is not clear yet that the five deceased people died of force trauma or the gunshots.

An official confirmation will be made after the post-mortem of the people who died during the violence will be conducted. The head constable was killed in Gokulpuri while the others were brought from different places and declared dead on arrival at the GTB Hospital.

Reuters

ACP of Gokulpuri Anuj Kumar, two CRPF personnel and three firemen have been injured. Many of the journalists were manhandled and assaulted during the time of the violence.
Amid a record seven Alabama law enforcement deaths in the last 13 months, the Alabama Sheriffs Association has helped state lawmakers on a bill to create a warning system designed to protect officers during traffic stops and investigations.

The Alabama Responding Officer Warning System, or AROWS, would help officers detect fraudulent concealed carry permits while also giving law enforcement information on a suspects criminal history, including recent arrests and any violent offenses, the sheriffs association said Monday. The bill, HB308, was introduced Thursday.

We owe an absolute duty to every Alabama officer who puts his life on the line for us every day to see that he or she makes it home to their family safely, said Alabama Sheriffs Association President and Montgomery County Sheriff Derrick Cunningham. The AROWS system is a huge step towards arming him with as much information as possible to ensure that happens and we dont suffer yet another officer shot or killed.

Seven law enforcement agents have been killed in Alabama in the last 13 months, which marks a record number of deaths in that span, the association said. Kimberly Police Officer Nick ORear, the latest law enforcement officer to be killed, was shot dead earlier this month during a pursuit on I-65 South.

The suspect in ORears slaying, Preston Cheyenne Johnson, has a lengthy criminal history, according to state and federal court records.

According to state court records, Johnson was arrested in Cullman County on Oct. 31, 2019 on charges of possession of drugs with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police found him with 13 grams methamphetamines, suboxone, baggies, and scales. Records state Johnson was also in possession of a stolen Corvette.

The AROWS system would standardize the appearance and information content of all Alabama concealed carry pistol permits to help officers recognize fraudulent permits, according to the sheriffs association.
By Jessica Resnick-Ault

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Crude prices fell about 3% on Tuesday, dropping for a third day, as concerns about the spread of the coronavirus grew after the U.S. government warned Americans to prepare for the disease.

The sell-off accelerated after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Americans should begin to prepare for the new coronavirus to spread after reports this week of new cases in several more countries.

Stocks across the globe fell on Tuesday to their lowest since early December and the benchmark U.S. debt yield hit a record low on concerns about the economic hit of the spread of the virus. [MKTS/GLOB]

Brent crude fell $1.35, or 2.4%, to settle at $54.95 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped $1.53, or 3%, to settle at $49.90 a barrel.

"Demand concerns are wiping out all of the gains we have made over the last few weeks," said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho in New York. "This is not a situation that is going to suddenly get better."

South Korea aims to test more than 200,000 members of a church at the centre of a surge in coronavirus cases. The virus is also spreading in Europe and the Middle East.

Concern about the demand impact from the virus has pushed Brent down by almost $10 a barrel this year despite the shutdown of most of Libya's output and a supply pact between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia, a group known as OPEC+.

However, oil could come under more pressure from the latest weekly U.S. supply reports.

Crude inventories were expected to rise for a fifth week running. The American Petroleum Institute (API) said late Tuesday that crude stockpiles rose 1.3 million barrels last week. Government data due at 10:30 a.m. EST (1530 GMT) on Wednesday was expected to show a 2 million-barrel rise, according to a Reuters poll. [EIA/S]

Potential support for prices could also come from OPEC+ which is considering whether to curb output further. However, scepticism is growing about the chance of further action.

Story continues

"Doubts are emerging about the willingness of OPEC+ to extend and expand the necessary production cuts," said Commerzbank analyst Eugen Weinberg. The producers are due to meet in Vienna over March 5-6 to decide policy.

Saudi Arabia's energy minister on Tuesday said OPEC+ should not be complacent about the coronavirus. But Russia, key to any deal, has yet to announce its position on further curbs.

(Additional reporting by Yuka Obayashi and Alex Lawler; Editing by Marguerita Choy, David Evans and Cynthia Osterman)
Nearly 10 years after passage of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 201, Act 798, Ghana is yet to set up an Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre.



Government has however started discussions with some lawyers at establishing an ADR Centre for settling of disputes through ADR in the future.



Mr Godfred Yebua Dame, Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice said this on Monday at opening of a two-week training programme dubbed; Promotion of Rule of Law and Judiciary in Africa, held in Accra for 100 lawyers selected across the Ghana.



The programme was held by the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) and GIZ, a German technical cooperation as part of continuous legal education for lawyers in the country.



Mr Dame noted that the current arbitration centre was still currently owned and run by a private entity, even though the ADR Act required the state to establish her own arbitration centre.



ADR Act was enacted to provide for the settlement of disputes by arbitration, mediation, and customary arbitration.



According to the Deputy Minister, the state has a direct obligation to set up an arbitration centre, which would be responsible for settlement of disputes through arbitration, medication, and other voluntary dispute resolution procedures among others.



It is a sad testament for commercial dispute resolution, that up-to-date, this provision has been unfulfilled since almost a decade of the enactment of the ADR Act.



The Deputy AG and Minister of Justice noted that the failure to satisfy this mandatory provision in the ADR Act 798 presented a serious problem of conflict resolution in the country.



Some of the practical problems presented by the absence of the ADR Centre are the fact that there is a regular reference in the Act to the Centre as a forum for resolution of disputes in various arbitration agreements when the centre is not yet in existence.



An even greater difficulty is posed by the continued reference to the centre in statutes, when it has not been established.



Mr Dame said gravity of such challenges came to the fore recently, when a couple of cases decided by the High Court in which the courts were handicapped by the absence of an ADR Centre.



Mr Dame, said existence of the ADR Centre would propel Ghana into an arbitration hub on the continent.



The solid democratic credential wielded by this country, and the quality of her legal system will position her as the jurisdiction of choice that is commercially focused and non-partisan for conflicts in businesses, he said.



According to him, a robust legal system, underpinned by the rule of law, went hand-in-hand with economic prosperity.



A justice system that guaranteed all aspect of the rule of law produced a business operating environment characterised by transparency, certainty and fairness, the Deputy AG said.



Thus, he said, the need to strengthen commercial law and justice must sit right at the top of the countrys development agenda.

Source: GNA









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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
Both Vietnamese and foreign airlines have suspended flights to South Korea until March as a precaution against the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic.

South Korean tourists visit Vietnam.

Bamboo Airways has cancelled flights from Nha Trang and Da Nang to Seoul indefinitely from February 26.

It currently operates seven flights a week on these routes.

Passengers who have booked tickets during the suspension period will receive full refunds.

Vietnam Airlines has also suspended some flights, though not all, between Seoul and Hanoi.

We are following the direction given by the authorities on disease control, and so will have plans to suspend or adjust flights accordingly.

The carrier has two return flights between Hanoi and Seoul every day.

According to the Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) in Vietnam, Korean Air will suspend flights between Seoul and Hanoi from February 25 to March 23.

Air Seoul has announced the suspension of Hanoi - Seoul flights from March 1 to 28.

Its services from Seoul to Da Nang and Nha Trang remain normal.

Asiana Airlines had earlier suspended its Seoul  Hanoi service from February 18 to March 9.

TWay Air has suspended all flights between Hanoi and South Korea until March 28. It currently operates 12 flights a day from Hanoi, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and HCM City to Seoul, Busan and Daegu.

Tran Phuong Linh of Ben Thanh Tourist said all tours to South Korea in March would be cancelled.

Around 50 per cent of tours to Japan in March will also be cancelled. The remaining await a decision later based on the status of the epidemic.

A representative of Hana Tour, which targets the South Korean market, said the number of visitors between Vietnam and South Korea has plummeted in both directions.

The company has not had any new tours since February, he said.

South Korea is the second largest tourist market for Vietnam after China, with the number of Korean tourists growing steadily by around 20 per cent a year.

With South Korea facing a Covid-19 outbreak, tourism businesses are worried that the number of tourists from there will sharply decline.

The HCM City Department of Health has urged the Ministry of Health to allow it to quarantine people transiting through or coming from South Korea at the airport.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnamese embassy in South Korea have recommended that Vietnamese citizens should avoid travel to areas affected by COVID-19 and places vulnerable to the disease in that country.

They have also been advised to keep a close watch and follow the instructions of local agencies to ensure they do not contract the illness.

South Korea has announced the highest possible alert, which empowers the Government to lock down cities and take other sweeping measures to contain the outbreak.

The number of novel coronavirus cases in South Korea shot up to 763 and death toll at 7 yesterday, up from only 30 a week ago, YONHAP reports.  VNS

Travellers from Korea's outbreak zones quarantined after entering VN Travellers from South Koreas Daegu and North Gyeongsang will be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival in Vietnam, the Ministry of Health announced on Monday.
Battlefields are constantly evolving, leading countries around the world to pump hundreds of billions of dollars each year into their armed forces in a race to develop the most advanced training, technology and weaponry.

As of 2020, Global Firepower, a website that tracks military strength, says the following five armies are the most powerful, based on a rank given to them after looking at how they compare in categories ranging from military might and financials to logistical capability and geography:

Japan's armed forces have to contend with a volatile neighbor in North Korea. (iStock)

With an estimated active military personnel of 247,160, this Asian country only has a fraction of the headcount that volatile neighbor North Korea has, but makes up for it with its updated weaponry.

Japan has 152 special mission aircraft  more than any country in the world other than the U.S., according to Global Firepowers statistics  and a formidable Navy fleet that contains 40 destroyers.

It also has 3,130 armored vehicles, 1,004 tanks and 119 attack helicopters.

Japan is estimated to spend $49 billion on its military in 2020.

India has an estimated 1,444,000 people actively serving in its armed forces. (iStock)

India, which has been engaged in a prolonged territorial conflict with nearby Pakistan over the Kashmir region, has an estimated 1,444,000 people actively serving in its armed forces.

Global Firepower says the developing nation is amongst the worlds leaders in the number of tanks (4,292), towed artillery (4,060) and fighter aircraft (538).

India is estimated to spend $61 billion on its military this year.

China, which has the largest active duty army in the world, is becoming a growing adversary to the U.S. (iStock)

China, the most powerful country in Asia and a growing adversary to the U.S., ranks third on this list.

The communist superpower has an estimated active personnel of 2,183,000  the largest in the world.

China has been building out its Navy in recent years while engaging in territorial disputes across the South China Sea. Today, they have 74 submarines, 52 frigates and 36 destroyers, Global Firepower says.

On land, China has 33,000 armored vehicles and 3,500 tanks. Their Air Force has amassed 1,232 fighter aircraft and 281 attack helicopters.

China is estimated to spend $237 billion on its armed forces in 2020.

Russian soldiers stand near a convoy of rocket launchers in military parade rehearsal on Red Square, Moscow, in 2008. (iStock)

Russia, whose military has become involved in Syria and Ukraine in recent years, has the most tanks of any country in the world: 12,950, more than double what the U.S. has, according to Global Firepowers statistics.

Its estimated 1,013,628 active personnel, on land, are in charge of commanding 27,038 armored vehicles, 6,083 units of self-propelled artillery and 3,860 rocket projectors.

In the skies, Russias air force has 873 fighter aircraft and 531 attack helicopters. In water, they have 62 submarines and 48 mine warfare ships.

Russia is estimated to spend $48 billion on its military this year.

The U.S., Global Firepower says, is the "undisputed" top military power in the world. (iStock)

In what shouldnt be a surprise, the U.S. retains its top spot as the undisputed military power in the world, Global Firepower says.

America has more air units than any other country on Earth, with 2,085 fighters, 967 attack helicopters, 945 transports and 742 special mission aircraft.

The U.S. also leads the world with 39,253 armored vehicles, 91 Navy destroyers, and 20 aircraft carriers. It has an estimated 1,400,000 active personnel.

Washington has allocated $750 billion to the U.S. military budget in 2020.
Beirut: Syrian soldiers track the car through a viewfinder as it approaches a house in western Aleppo, the new front line in the battle between the government and the rebels. There is something unusual about the scene.

"There are women driving. Why are they headed to a battlefield?" one of the troops asks over the radio.

"She looks elderly," another replies. "It's clear she's coming to pack her belongings, then she's leaving."

Syrian army soldiers flash the victory sign in the Rashideen neighbourhood, in Aleppo province, Syria, on February 16. Credit:SANA

They watch the women gathering clothes and other personal items as they prepare to flee a regime advance in the village of Mizanaz, just east of the town of al-Atarib in western Aleppo.
Moral injury" describes the root cause of the anguish among a growing number of healthcare providers: They know how best to care for their patients but are blocked from doing so by systemic barriers related to the business side of health care. Read more

Keith Corl was working in a Las Vegas emergency room when a patient arrived with chest pain. The patient, wearing his street clothes, had a two-minute exam in the triage area with a doctor, who ordered an X-ray and several other tests. But later, in the treatment area, when the physician met the man and lifted his shirt, it was clear the patient had shingles. Corl didnt need any tests to diagnose the viral infection that causes a rash and searing pain.

All those tests? They turned out to be unnecessary and left the patient with more than $1,000 in extra charges.

The excessive testing, Corl said, stemmed from a model of emergency care that forces doctors to practice fast and loose medicine. Patients get a battery of tests before a doctor even has time to hear their story or give them a proper exam.

Were just shotgunning, Corl said.

The shingles case is one of hundreds of examples that have led to his exasperation and burnout with emergency medicine. Whats driving the burnout, he argued, is something deeper  a sense of moral injury.

Corl, a 42-year-old assistant professor of medicine at Brown University, is among a growing number of physicians, nurses, social workers, and other clinicians who are using the phrase moral injury to describe their inner struggles at work.

The term comes from war: It was first used to explain why military veterans were not responding to standard treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Moral injury, as defined by researchers from veterans hospitals, refers to the emotional, physical, and spiritual harm people feel after perpetrating, failing to prevent, or bearing witness to acts that transgress deeply held moral beliefs and expectations.

Wendy Dean and Simon Talbot, a psychiatrist and a surgeon, were the first to apply the term to health care. Both wrestled with symptoms of burnout themselves. They concluded that moral injury better described the root cause of their anguish: They knew how best to care for their patients, but were blocked from doing so by systemic barriers related to the business side of health care.

That idea resonates with clinicians across the country: Since they penned an op-ed in Stat in 2018, Dean and Talbot have been flooded with emails, comments, calls, and invitations to speak on the topic.

Burnout has long been identified as a major problem facing medicine: Four in 10 physicians report feelings of burnout, according to a 2019 Medscape report. And the physician suicide rate is more than double that of the general population.

Dean said she and Talbot have given two dozen talks on moral injury. The response from each place has been consistent and surprising: This is the language weve been looking for for the last 20 years.

Dean said that response has come from clinicians across disciplines, who wrestle with what they consider barriers to high-quality care: insurance preauthorization, troublemaking patient referrals, endless clicking on electronic health records.

Those barriers can be particularly intense in emergency medicine.

Corl said he has been especially frustrated by a model of emergency medicine called provider-in-triage. It aims to improve efficiency but, he said, prioritizes speed at the cost of high-quality care. In this system, a patient who shows up at an ER is seen by a doctor in a triage area for a rapid exam lasting less than two minutes. In theory, a doctor in triage can more quickly identify patients ailments and get a head start on solving them. The patient is usually wearing street clothes and sitting in a chair.

These brief encounters may be good for business: They reduce the door to doc time  how long it takes to see a doctor  that hospitals sometimes boast about on billboards and websites. They enable hospitals to charge a facility fee much earlier, the minute a patient sees a doctor. And they reduce the number of people who leave the ER without being seen, which is another quality measure.

But the real priority is speed and money, and not our patients care, Corl said. That makes it tough for doctors who know they could be doing better for their patients.

Dean said people often frame burnout as a personal failing. Doctors get the message: If you did more yoga, if you ate more salmon salad, if you went for a longer run, it would help. But, she argued, burnout is a symptom of deeper systemic problems beyond clinicians control.

Emergency physician Angela Jarman sees similar challenges in California, including ER overcrowding and bureaucratic hurdles to discharging patients. As a result, she said, she must treat patients in the hallways, with noise, bright lights and a lack of privacy  a recipe for hospital-acquired delirium.

Hallway medicine is such a [big] part of emergency medicine these days, said Jarman, 35, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of California-Davis. Patients are literally stuck in the hallway. Everyones walking by. I know it must be embarrassing and dehumanizing.

For example, an older patient with a broken arm who cannot be released to go home may stay in the ER for days to await evaluation from a physical therapist and approval to transfer to rehab or a nursing home, she said. Meanwhile, the patient gets bumped into a bed in the hallway to make room for new patients who keep streaming in the door.

Being responsible for discharging patients who are stuck in the hallway is so frustrating, Jarman said. Thats not what Im good at. Thats not what Im trained to do.

Jarman said many emergency physicians she knows work part time to curtail burnout.

I love emergency medicine, but a lot of what we do these days is not emergency medicine, she said. I definitely dont think Ill make it 30 years.

Also at UC-Davis, Nick Sawyer, an assistant professor of emergency medicine, has been working with medical students to analyze systemic problems. Among those theyve identified: patients stuck in the ER for up to 1,000 hours while awaiting transfer to a psychiatric facility; patients who are not initially suicidal, but become suicidal while awaiting mental-health care; patients who rely on the ER for primary care.

Sawyer, 38, said he has suffered moral injury from treating patients like this one: A Latina had a large kidney stone and a huge amount of pain, but could not get surgery because the stone was not infected, and therefore her case wasnt deemed an emergency by her insurance plan.

The health system is not set up to help patients. Its set up to make money, he said.

The best way to approach this problem, he said, is to help future generations of doctors understand how decisions made at the systems level impact how we care about patients  so they can stand up for whats right.

Whether these experiences amount to moral injury is open for discussion.

Cynda Rushton, a nurse and professor of clinical ethics at Johns Hopkins University, who has studied the related notion of moral distress for 25 years, said there isnt a base of research, as there is for moral distress, to measure moral injury among clinicians.

But what both of these terms signify, Rushton said, is a sense of suffering that clinicians are experiencing in their roles now, in ways that they havent in the past.

Dean grew interested in moral injury from personal experience: After a decade of treating patients as a psychiatrist, she stopped because of financial pressures. She said she wanted to treat her patients in longer visits, offering both psychotherapy and medication management, but that became more difficult. Insurers would rather pay her for only a 15-minute session to manage medications and let a lower-paid therapist handle the therapy.

Dean and Talbot created a nonprofit advocacy group called Moral Injury of Healthcare, which promotes public awareness and aims to bring clinicians together to discuss the topic.

Their work is attracting praise from a range of clinicians:

In Cumberland County, Pa., Mary Franco, who is now 65, retired early from her job as a nurse practitioner after a large corporation bought out the private practice she worked in. She said she saw a dramatic shift in the culture there, where revenue became all-important. The company cut in half the time for each patients annual exam, she said, down to 20 minutes. She spent much of that time clicking through electronic health records, she said, instead of looking the patient in the face. I felt I short-shrifted them.

In southern Maine, social worker Jamie Leavitt said moral injury led her to take a mental-health break from work last year. She said she loves social work, but I couldnt offer the care I wanted to because of time restrictions. One of her tasks was to connect patients with mental-health services, but because of insurance restrictions and a lack of high-quality care providers, she said, often my job was impossible to do.

In Chambersburg, Pa., Tate Kauffman left primary care for urgent care because he found himself spending half of each visit doing administrative tasks unrelated to a patients ailment  and spending nights and weekends slogging through paperwork required by insurers.

There was a grieving process, leaving primary care, he said. Its not that I dont like the job. I dont like what the job has become today.

Corl said he was so fed up with the provider-in-triage model of emergency medicine that he moved his ER clinical work to smaller, community hospitals that dont use that method.

He said many people frame burnout as a character weakness, sending doctors such messages as, Gee, Keith, youve just got to try harder and soldier on. But Corl said the term moral injury correctly identifies that the problem lies with the system.

The system is flawed, he said. Its grinding us. Its grinding good docs and providers out of existence.

Kaiser Health News is a nonprofit news service covering health issues. It is an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.
WASHINGTON  A National Guard soldier is set to become the Armys first female Green Beret in coming weeks, according to military officials, following the Pentagons opening of all combat and Special Operations jobs to women in 2016.

The woman, an enlisted soldier, is in the final stage of training before graduating from the roughly yearlong qualification course, or Q Course, as a Special Forces engineer sergeant. Her graduation is almost guaranteed, officials said, although occasionally soldiers have failed the course this late in the training or withdrawn because of injuries.

A spokesman for Army Special Operations Command would not release any information on the soldier, citing security concerns.

The soldier is one of only a handful of women who have passed the initial 24-day assessment program that acts as a screening process before the qualification course. The weekslong screening regimen tests candidates on fundamental military skills, including land navigation and marching with heavy combat gear before they are evaluated by Special Forces supervisors  and either denied entry or accepted into the qualification course.
Islamabad, Feb 25 : Qatar on Tuesday extended a formal invitation to Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to attend the signing ceremony of the landmark peace deal between the US and Afghan Taliban in Doha on Saturday, the Foreign Office here said.

The invitation was extended by Qatar's Ambassador to Pakistan Saqr bin Mubarak Al-Mansouri in a meeting with Qureshi at the Foreign Office, reports The Express Tribune.

The US-Taliban deal will lay the ground for a crucial intra-Afghan dialogue focusing on the future of Afghanistan and a permanent ceasefire.

The peace deal was negotiated between the two sides over the past 18 months in Doha.

A seven-day "reduction in violence" pact came into effect on February 22 in Afghanistan a day after the US and Taliban announced the signing of the peace deal which will allow the withdrawal of the remaining 13,000 American troops the war-torn country in return for a guarantee by the militant group that they will not allow Afghan soil to be used again by any terrorist organisation.

Following the announcement, Qureshi had said that Pakistan and Qatar played a key role in brokering the peace deal, The Express Tribune reported.

He said Pakistan always maintained that solution to Afghan war lies in reconciliation.
Two men were sentenced to time in federal prison on Monday for their part in a robbery at the Burger King parking lot on Signal Mountain Road.

Austin Collake got 37 months and Bradley Love received 33 months. After they get out of prison, they will be on supervised release for five years.

Earlier, Dylan Heard was sentenced to serve 60 months.

Prosecutors said the men had told someone they met on Craigs List they would bring a large amount of marijuana to the location in exchange for over $3,000.

The victim said the men had no marijuana with them, but instead each pulled out a gun and they took the money.

Prosecutor Chris Poole said the victim initially did not say the meeting was about a drug deal, but admitted so later.

The victim immediately called police and the trio was located a short distance away. Police found three guns as well as the cash.
Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh will come west next month to be celebrated as a friend of Ireland as part of the Holyoke St. Patricks Parade.

Walsh on Tuesday was named the 29th recipient of the Ambassador Award by the Holyoke St. Patricks Committee, with the award announcement taking place at Boston City Hall in a ceremony that included attendance by Dan Mulhall, Irelands ambassador to the U.S., And the consul general of Ireland, Laoise Moore.

The St. Patricks Committee of Holyoke takes great pleasure in traveling to Boston to announce the selection of Mayor Martin J. Walsh as the recipient of the 2020 Ambassador Award. Mayor Walsh joins a distinguished list of past recipients, some of whom, like him, have significant ties to the city of Boston and the commonwealth, said parade president Marc Joyce. Our committee looks forward to welcoming Mayor Walsh to Holyoke when he will be honored at the Ambassadors Breakfast.

The breakfast is held the morning before the parade on March 22.

For me, the Ambassador Award affirms our values of welcoming and supporting immigrants and celebrating our cultures, said Walsh. I thank the people of Holyoke and the parade organizers for living by these values and creating this opportunity to show that commitment.

The Ambassador Award is presented to a person or group who has worked to promote the relationship between the people of Ireland and the people of the U.S. Past recipients have included entertainer Tommy Makem, author Frank McCourt, philanthropist Loretta Brennan Glucksman and editor-in-chief and co-founder of Irish America, Patricia Harty.

Last years recipient was Christopher Fox, professor of English at the University of Notre Dame and co-founder of the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies.

The award announcement was made in the Eagle Room at Boston City Hall. The ambassador spoke about the importance of Americans who celebrate their Irish heritage and the significant benefits this brings to the United States and Ireland. Connecting culturally significant cities like Holyoke and Boston, Mulhall said, only helps the commonwealth.

I want to thank ambassador Mulhall and the Holyoke parade organizers for this honor that is an affirmation of our relationship with Ireland, the values we share, and the work weve done together, said Walsh.

Along with the breakfast in his honor, Walsh will be marching in Holyokes grand parade on March 22.

The 54th mayor of Boston, Walsh was born and raised in the citys Dorchester neighborhood to Irish immigrant parents. Since his youth, he has often visited Rosmuc, Connemara, the source of his deep Irish roots. In 2014 he formally committed Boston to a sister-city relationship with Belfast.

Before becoming mayor, he was a state representative and had established himself as a labor leader. After following his father into Laborers Local 223 in Boston, he rose to head the Building and Construction Trades Council from 2011 to 2013. He worked with business and community leaders to promote high-quality development, and he created a program called Building Pathways that has become a model for increasing diversity in the workplace and providing good career opportunities for women and people of color.

While working full-time as a legislator, he returned to school to earn a degree in political science at Boston College. Walsh continues to reside in Dorchester, where he shares his life with longtime partner Lorrie Higgins.

To learn more about the parade and related events, including how to purchase tickets to the ambassadors breakfast, go online to holyokestpatricksparade.com.
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.
Hyderabad: AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi talks to the media over Delhi violence that has claimed the lives of nine; in Hyderabad on Feb 25, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad: AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi talks to the media over Delhi violence that has claimed the lives of nine; in Hyderabad on Feb 25, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad, Feb 25 : AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday demanded that the violence hit-North-East Delhi be handed over to the Army.

The Hyderabad MP voiced concern over the situation in the national capital where clashes between pro and anti-CAA protesters have so far claimed nine lives, including a head constable of Delhi Police. Owaisi tweeted that Army should be called to restore peace.

"The situation in North East Delhi is only getting worse. If @PMOIndia wants to restore peace, it is incumbent on you that Army takes over the area," tweeted Owaisi.

"Cops have abdicated their duty & are colluding with mobs. The only way to secure lives & limbs is to hand over the area to the Army," he added.

Earlier, he told reporters that the violence in Delhi was state-sponsored.

Owaisi said the violence started after BJP leader Kapil Mishra issued an ultimatum. "He was standing with the concerned DCP. Why the DCP did not stop him," he asked.

He said the BJP leader gave the ultimatum with tacit support of the government.

Owaisi said the videos which had come out clearly show how police had colluded with the rioters.

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President wondered why the government had not yet condemned the violence.

Referring to the statements made by some ministers that some elements resorted to violence in view of US President Donald Trump's visit, Owaisi said if the government had prior information, why didn't it act to prevent the violence.

The MP slammed the government for not quickly sending the additional forces and imposing curfew to contain the violence.
live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

Ajit Mishra

Last week turned out to be a muted one, impacted by lackluster earnings and weak domestic macro data. Further, the concern over global economic growth slowdown due to coronavirus too impacted investors sentiments.

Indian benchmark indices remained highly volatile and ended the week on a negative note, following the global peers. Both Sensex and Nifty ended lower by 0.2 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively.

This week, participants will be eyeing the GDP estimates and Indias infrastructure output data on February 28. Besides, the first visit of the US President to India is also on their radar.

The movement of the benchmark index in the last two weeks shows indecisiveness among the participants. And, we expect volatility to remain high to the scheduled derivatives expiry of February month contracts.

In the absence of any major event, global cues especially the news related to coronavirus will continue to dictate the market trend.

On the benchmark front, the Nifty has breached its 2-week long consolidation phase on the downside and now the next support is placed at 11,700.

In the case of any rebound, 11,950-12,050 zone would act as a hurdle. Since were seeing a mixed trend on the sectoral front, traders should largely focus on stock selection and risk management.

Here is a list of three stocks which could give 5-7% return in the next 3-4 weeks:

Mahanagar Gas: Buy| LTP: Rs 1101| Target: Rs 1,180| Stop-Loss: Rs 1,020| Upside 7%

MGL has been witnessing profit taking for the last three weeks or so, after a sharp rally from roughly Rs 750 to Rs 1240+ zone.

Considering its overall uptrend, we feel its a healthy correction and the stock is likely to find support around 1060 levels.

We thus advise traders not to miss this buying opportunity and accumulate fresh longs on dips within 1065-1075 levels.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries: Sell March Futures| LTP: Rs 398| Target: Rs 375| Stop-Loss: Rs 420| Downside 6%

Sun Pharma has been trading in a broader range of Rs 360-450 levels for the last nine months or so. It is gradually inching lower after retesting the upper band of late and indications are in the favor of further fall ahead.

The existence of a strong resistance zone of multiple moving averages ribbon around 420 level is added negative. Traders can consider fresh shorts in the mentioned zone of 403-406.

Vedanta: Sell March Futures| LTP: Rs 133| Target: Rs 126| Stop-Loss: Rs 140| Downside 5%

Most of the metal counters are witnessing tremendous selling pressure and VEDL is underperforming the majority of its peers. It is trading on the verge of a fresh breakdown from the consolidation range, after spending nearly six months.

The prevailing chart pattern and positioning of the indicators are also in sync with the negative view. We advise creating fresh shorts in the mentioned zone of 135-137.

(The author is VP Research, Religare Broking)

: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Published on 2020/02/25 | Source

Hong Kong has banned all travelers from Korea due to the explosive rise in coronavirus infections here over the weekend.

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All Koreans who do not live in their home country and any foreigner who visited Korea over the last 14 days are prohibited from entering Hong Kong.

Officials there checked passengers aboard four Korean flights that arrived on Monday and placed visitors from Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province on a monitoring list.

The Hong Kong government also issued a travel advisory recommending that citizens avoid traveling to Korea.

Taiwan said is placing all visitors from Korea under 14 days of quarantine starting Tuesday. Taipei raised its travel advisory to Korea to "warning" on Monday, advising all Taiwanese to avoid traveling to Korea unless absolutely necessary.

In Da Nang, Vietnam all passengers including 20 Koreans aboard Vietjet flight 871 arriving from Daegu on Monday were quarantined. According to the Foreign Ministry, they were transported directly from the airport to a hospital in Da Nang. The ministry said it also lodged a protest because the measure was taken without telling Seoul.

Macau already started subjecting all visitors from Korea to strengthened health screening that lasts six to eight hours after classifying Korea as a high-risk area of coronavirus infection.

In Thailand, the Education Ministry decided to impose a 14-day quarantine on all students who have visited Korea. That brings the number of countries who have banned or restricted travelers from Korea to 18.
An FIR was registered on Tuesday



against a group of people who assembled at the Marine Drive here late Monday night without police permission to hold a candlelight protest against violence in parts of Delhi, an official said.

Several people, including women, gathered at the Marine Drive on Monday night. They said they were against any form of violence and condemned the clashes between pro and anti-CAA groups in Delhi.

"We have registered an FIR against 20 to 25 unidentified people for unlawful assembly. No arrest has been made," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1) Sangramsingh Nishandar said.

Another police official said on the basis of some videos of the spot, they identified 10 protesters who would be summoned to the Marine Drive police station.

Initially, the protesters were likely to assemble at the Gateway of India, but when they come to know about police deployment there, they reached the Marine Drive.

When Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operation) Pranay Ashok was asked if a high alert has been sounded in Mumbai in view of the violence in Delhi, he said,"We can't say so, but we are keeping a watch on suspicious activities."



A head constable was among seven 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 on Monday.

Frenzied protesters torched houses, shops, vehicles and a petrol pump, besides hurling stones.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
EPERNAY, France  Producers from the world's most exclusive wine region fear that the spread of the coronavirus could stifle business opportunities in Asia, a massive and largely untapped market for Champagne.

"It impacts dramatically," explained fifth-generation Champagne producer Evelyne Roques-Boizel when asked whether the virus could threaten her family's ambition to expand into new markets.

"I mean everything has stopped in China completely," she added, sitting alongside her eldest son, Florent Roques-Boizel, whom she tapped a year ago to succeed her as CEO and president of Champagne Boizel.

France exports several types of products to China, including automobiles, pharmaceuticals and wine. According to the French finance minister, China is the No. 2 market for the European country's wine. Champagne exports to China have also recently increased.

This growth is reflected in the strategy at businesses such as Champagne Boizel. Florent Roques-Boizel, now at the helm of the 186-year-old Champagne house, said his focus has been on growing the brand's footprint in Asia.

"Obviously now the timing is not ideal with the virus," he told CNBC during a tour of Champagne Boizel's grounds.

"But it's an interesting market because it's growing for Champagne and has opened up to small producers and more boutique houses. And when I was there maybe about two years ago, we saw that the level of education among the professional sommeliers in the restaurants was increasing."
Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal, and Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik on Tuesday paid tribute to Delhi Police Head Constable Rattan Lal who lost his life during clashes in Northeast Delhi on Monday.

The wreath-laying ceremony of Delhi Police Head Constable Rattan Lal took place at New Police Lines here.

The head constable lost his life after clashes broke out between two groups in Delhi's Gokulpuri on Monday.

Nine people, including the police head constable, have lost their lives and over 100 have been injured in North-East Delhi over a period of two days after clashes broke out between pro and anti CAA protestors.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The oldest school for the deaf in the United States has reported dozens of cases of sexual and physical abuse by nine former staff members that it said took place over more than three decades  including instances in which some students were forced to eat until they vomited or were confined in closets as a form of corporal punishment.

The learning institution, the American School for the Deaf, which was founded in 1817 in Hartford, Conn., detailed the pattern of abuse in a report after a yearlong investigation by an outside lawyer hired by the school.

The report, which was released Friday and based on interviews with 81 alumni, former faculty and staff members and other witnesses, said the abuse occurred from the 1950s through the 1980s at the main campus, now in West Hartford, and at the schools Camp Isola Bella summer facility in Salisbury, Conn.

The school said that the findings were reported to the appropriate authorities, and that it had contacted the West Hartford Police Department, the Connecticut Department of Education and the states Department of Children and Families when it started its investigation.
Crimea will get the water when the peninsula is returned to Ukraine.

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov says it is impossible to supply water to Crimea while the peninsula is occupied by the Russian Federation.

Read alsoLeading party faction chief apologizes over "freshwater for Crimea" statement

"My personal opinion: We can't supply water to occupied Crimea. Moreover, I think, this is impossible politically. If the Russian Federation returns Crimea, the water will be supplied immediately. This is a difficult problem. And it is impossible to think there is a simple solution. It's unlikely that [MP David] Arakhamia had in mind what he said," Danilov said in an interview for the media outlet Liga.net, commenting on Chairman of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction David Arakhamia's statement.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Arakhamia said he would personally agree if water were supplied from mainland Ukraine to Russia-occupied Crimea in exchange for full control of the Ukrainian border in Donbas.

Yet, Arakhamia said, it was his personal opinion rather than the position as the parliamentary faction's head.

Later, he apologized to Ukrainians for his words, saying they were "taken out of context."
Burma Switzerland Agrees to Resettle Wife, Children of Myanmars Rakhine Rebel Leader

Arakan Army leader Major General Tun Myat Naing and his wife Hnin Zar Phyu / Hnin Zar Phyu / Facebook

Switzerland has agreed to resettle the wife and two children of the Rakhine rebel leader Major General Tun Myat Naing, whose Arakan Army is actively fighting the Myanmar military, after they were detained in Thailand for 12 weeks.

The wife and two children were accepted by Switzerland last week but only flew from Bangkok to the European country on Tuesday afternoon, as they had to wait for an available flight, according to a source close to them who spoke on condition of anonymity. Many flights have been canceled due to Chinas coronavirus outbreak.

Immigration officials in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai detained Ma Hnin Zar Phyu, the wife of the chief of the Arakan Army, and their two children on Dec. 4 as she applied for an extension to her visa, which expired a day earlier. The couples elder daughter, who is 11, was studying at an international school in Chiang Mai. The younger child was only 11 months old when detained. The authorities initially planned to deport them back to Tachiliek, a border town in Myanmar, via Mae Sai town in Thailands Chiang Rai province.

However, within five days, they were transferred to Bangkok from Chiang Rai, following the intervention of foreign friends and the United Nations refugee agency, the UNHCR, which helped them resettle in a third country.

According to sources, Thailand decided not to hand them over to Myanmar police but transferred them to the UNHCR, which provided full support to them, including negotiating with officials in different countries over who would accept the AA leaders wife and children.

The sources said Switzerland agreed to help Hnin Zar Phyu and the two children to resettle on a humanitarian basis, adding that it was about the protection of the children, as they no longer have proper documents.

The head of the UNHCR in Thailand, Giuseppe De Vincentiis, declined to comment on the case of Hnin Zar Phyu and the children on Tuesday.

He told The Irrawaddy, We dont comment on any individual situation, individual case or individual person as per UNHCR policy, when asked about whether they had been accepted as refugees or under a different status.

Switzerland is currently playing a key role supporting Myanmars peace building process and human rights in the country. Also, the UN Secretary-Generals Special Envoy to Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, who is a Swiss diplomat, has had a good relationship with the Myanmar government since her appointment on April 26, 2018.

According to sources, the Myanmar government last year gave the Thai government a list of 10 people, including the family of Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing, whom it sought to have arrested due to their affiliation with the AA.

On Oct. 19, police arrested U Kyaw Naing, the AA chiefs brother-in-law, at Yangon International Airport upon his return from Chiang Mai. U Kyaw Naings wife Ma Yamin Myat (aka Moe Hnin Phyu), who is Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naings sister, was also arrested as she came to meet her husband at the airport.

The police opened a case against the pair at Yangons Mayangone Township Court under Section 52 (a) (b) and (c) of the Counterterrorism Law.

The AA is currently embroiled in a serious conflict with the Myanmar military in northern Rakhine State. Tensions have been high in the area since November 2018 and fighting has displaced over 100,000 civilians and left hundreds dead, injured or detained.

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Myanmar Military to Probe Two Alleged Massacres by Troops in Rakhine

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Armys Tough Stance on 3 Northern Alliance Groups Thwarts Bilateral Deals: AA Chief
Students at Amsterdam High School in New York got a mental boost when they arrived back at school Monday after a week-long break.

On each of the 1,200 students' lockers was an inspirational message handwritten on a colorful Post-it note.

"The first thing I noticed was all of the colors and then I started reading them and saw they were all these positive messages and it was really, really nice," Emma Kelly, a 17-year-old senior, told "Good Morning America." "We just got back from break and its pretty stressful and everything is starting up again."

PHOTO: A parent posted 1,200 inspirational messages on students' lockers at Amsterdam High School in Amsterdam, New York. (John Noetzel/Greater Amsterdam School District)

"Being that overwhelmed and coming into school and seeing all these notes, its very helpful," she said. "You could be having a bad day and just walking by and seeing a note can help."

The inspirational notes were the brainchild of Lori Stachnik, whose 15-year-old son is a sophomore at Amsterdam High School.

Stachnik said she saw a news story a few years ago about a teenage girl who left inspirational notes for her classmates and had always wanted to do something similar locally. She was inspired to do it at her son's high school after hearing the conversations her son and his friends have had when she drove them to and from track team practices.

"I just feel like the kids go through so much with bullying and all the pressure they have," she said. "They deal with a lot and you never know what somebody is going through."

MORE: Parents brighten up elementary school's bathrooms to encourage students

Stachnik purchased dozens of packets of Post-it notes and then began the difficult task of finding hundreds of quotes to use.

"I looked on Pinterest and was Googling motivating quotes, quotes for teens, quotes for success, inspiring quotes," she said. "I really tried to find things that would talk to teens, something that would resonate with them."

PHOTO: A parent posted 1,200 inspirational messages on students' lockers at Amsterdam High School in Amsterdam, New York. (Nancy Rad/Greater Amsterdam School District)

Stachnik also did not want the notes to be photocopied so she spent seven days handwriting all 1,200 notes. Last Friday, she and a school administrator placed the notes on the lockers.

Story continues

"We really envisioned that this was going to be an anonymous thing," she said. "I thought hopefully it might impact one or two kids, maybe change the way they were thinking that day."

MORE: 99-year-old presented with his high school diploma on his birthday

The school district shared photos of the notes on the lockers Monday, drawing dozens of comments.

Stachnik said she hopes there is a "snowball" effect from the post, where people are inspired to do something nice for students in their own communities.

"Maybe somebody else will pick up the ball and do something else," she said. "That would be great if that could happen."

PHOTO: A parent posted 1,200 inspirational quotes/messages on students' lockers at Amsterdam High School in Amsterdam, New York. (Nancy Rad/Greater Amsterdam School District)

Kelly has saved her quote -- which read "just because your path is different doesnt mean you are lost" -- in her backpack so she can continue to look at it for inspiration.

"Other friends have taken them home and are reading them in the morning for positivity," she said. "Everyones been talking about how nice it was."

1,200 inspirational notes were posted on every locker at this school originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
The sponsor of the bill that seeks to establish an agency for the rehabilitation of repentant Boko Haram members, Ibrahim Gaidam, has explained why he introduced the bill in the Senate.

The introduction of the bill has attracted outrage from many Nigerians.

They fear that releasing the repentant Boko Haram militants into civilian population could be counterproductive as hardened fighters would return to the terror group to commit more atrocities.

Some serving and past senators have also kicked against the bill.

The lawmakers described the bill as needless, waste of resources and misplaced priority. This is even as they questioned the nationality of the insurgents.

Justification

Explaining his motive, Mr Geidam, who is the immediate past governor of Yobe State, said the proposed commission would help repentant insurgents to re-enter mainstream politics, religion and society. It would also would promote reconciliation and national unity.

According to the Nation Newspaper, Mr Gaidam gave these reasons when he addressed a press conference in Abuja.

The agency when established will help rehabilitate and reintegrate the defectors, repentant and forcefully conscripted members of the insurgent group Boko Haram to make them useful members of the society and provide an avenue for reconciliation and promote national security, he said.

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It will also encourage other members of the group who are still engaged in the insurgency to abandon the group, especially in the face of the military pressure and enable the government to derive insider-information about the insurgency group for greater understanding of the group and its inner workings, he added.

It will enable government to use the defectors to fight the unrepentant insurgents. It will help disintegrate the violent and poisonous ideology that the group spreads as the program will allow some repentant defectors or suspect terrorists to express remorse over their actions repent and recant their violent doctrine and in the long run, re-enter mainstream politics, religion and society.

The agency would also help to combat future recruitments into the insurgents group. If defectors told their stories and were made more public, their experiences would play a key role in countering Terrorist propaganda, which in turn would lessen the appeal of joining the group, he explained.

Rehabilitation, an alternative option

The Yobe East senator said rehabilitating the repentant insurgents is an alternative and the challenge is to ensure that repentant terrorists are rehabilitated in the best possible way so that they become useful members of the society.

In view of the fact that the Boko Haram insurgency is becoming increasingly aggressive since its inception in 2009, marked by extreme brutality and explicit targeting of civiliansit has become necessary for us to go back to the drawing board and adopt an alternative approach, in addition to the military option which has so far performed significantly well.

There is no doubt that many members of the insurgents group have defected and many more are willing to repent given a window of opportunity and this is confirmed by many organisations including NGOs that have unalloyed access to the Boko Haram.

There is the need for a more strategic and comprehensive approach to entice those members of the group who, after realising the futility of the course they are pursuing have eventually decided to voluntarily lay down their arms and chose the path of peace. Hence, the need for the establishment of the National Agency for the Rehabilitation, de-radicalisation and reintegration of repentant insurgents to accommodate the defectors.

He further said those captured active in the battlefields will be required to, in addition to the psychological therapy, participate in the criminal justice process.

Having been introduced, details of the bill will be discussed in the Senate on another legislative day and lawmakers are expected to deliberate on the legislation.
DALLAS, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bone Solutions Inc. (BSI), an orthobiologics technology company located in Colleyville, TX, announces it has surpassed 1,000 cases implanting OsteoCrete in various orthopedic applications.

"The Company has now again reached a wonderful milestone. We have successfully implanted OsteoCrete in over 1,000 cases throughout the United States in various hospitals and teaching institutions," says BSI president and CEO, Drew Diaz.

"OsteoCrete was introduced to me at a time when I was looking for a structural bone void filler that has resorption capabilities as well as prevents subsidence of reduction while having the properties to stimulate natural bone remodeling. It delivered on these expectations and much more. The handling properties and physical characteristics are second to none. I can inject, pack, mold, and even sculpt OsteoCrete to meet any bone void filling need that I encounter in a practice of complex fracture and trauma patients," states Robert J. Wetzel, MD Orthopedic trauma surgeon at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and assistant professor at Case Western Reserve University.

OsteoCrete contains magnesium and as a result has a high compressive strength that is three times stronger than the average cancellous bone. Most of the magnesium in the body (60%) is stored in bone and helps to preserve and develop bone structure by working with Vitamin D and calcium. Its essential role in maintaining healthy bones was a key component of BSI's approach to developing its OsteoCrete technology.

About Bone Solutions Inc.

Bone Solutions Inc. ('BSI') (www.bonesolutions.net) is an orthobiologics company with a vision to provide orthopedic surgeons a means to improve clinical outcomes in a number of complex procedures while lowering costs. The company is revolutionizing a new solution for orthopedic surgeons for human uses with their FDA-cleared magnesium-based platform bone void filler.

Media Contact:

Bone Solutions Inc.:

Drew Diaz

President/CEO

817-809-8850, [email protected]

SOURCE Bone Solutions Inc.

Related Links

www.bonesolutions.net


The regions newest brewery opened its east Vancouver taproom this weekend, as Barlows Brewery began offering an eclectic array of beer styles ranging from lagers, to IPAs, to saisons and fruited beers.

The brewery taproom joins its sister location on the other end of town, Barlows Public House, on the new Vancouver Waterfront west of the Interstate Bridge. That restaurant, and accompanying beer, bourbon and cocktail bar, opened in August with a rarity in the Portland area  a dining balcony with a stunning view of a mighty river rolling past.

Barlows joins a Clark County brewing scene that has grown significantly in recent years. Though rich in brewing history  including the first place Henry Weinhard brewed  Vancouver in modern years had been a Portland afterthought. But a surge in the past decade has created a thriving beer scene of its own, with about 30 breweries.

Youre invited to the #FakeBrewsIPA release party tonight: Subscribe to receive texts from Oregonian Beer Guy and get exclusive, insider beer news in Portland and across Oregon, including releases and events. Sign up today for $3 a month and receive a commemorative #FakeBrewsIPA pint glass at tonights release party for The Oregonian/OregonLive+Labrewatory collaboration beer, and enjoy a beer, too. The open-to-the-public event is at 5 p.m. at Labrewatory, 670 N. Russell St. And we plan more collaborations this year and other giveaways for the text community. "Text Beer to 503-461-5451 to get started.

Barlows west Vancouver restaurant has captured prime real estate in the new development, one of the few waterfront-focused retail hubs in the metro area. Adjacent to a string of other restaurants and retail space still being built out, the area, complete with riverfront walks and parks, office and residential buildings, is quickly becoming a vibrant magnet for the once-moribund downtown area.

The public house is one of the Northwests first establishments with self-serve taps -- a beer-dispensing system along a public-accessible wall. Customers are issued a chip-enabled card that pours by the ounce the desired amount from each tap and tracks consumption.

Barlows owners, the husband-and-wife team of Brian and Alicia Rummer, said they had seen the system in other areas of the country and enjoyed the aspect of allowing customers to pour any sample size of beers, wines or ciders.

When we saw patrons at numerous self-serve tap walls giving recommendations on tastes, smells and truly talking and interacting, Brian Rummer said, it made us decide to bring this new technology to Vancouver.

A love of the outdoors and family connections brought the Rummers to the Northwest recently from Texas, and they quickly began looking for an entrepreneurial opportunity, Brian Rummer said. The couple became involved in the waterfront space with Vancouvers Ghost Runners Brewery, but that venture dissolved, and the Rummers decided to open their own place.

Barlows Public House features large indoor and balcony dining spaces, both overlooking the Columbia River, and a spacious lounge area with a full bar  complete with an Oregon Trail oxen-yoke-inspired draft beer tower  plus the self-serve tap wall. The menu is built around Southern dishes like Braised Mississippi Chuck Roast and Louisiana Seafood Boil, but it also includes classic pub staples such as burgers, fish and chips, and salads.

A settlers and pioneers theme infuses the space, which is adorned with photos from the Clark County Historical Museum. The name is a tribute to Oregon pioneer Sam Barlow.

I enjoyed riding my motorcycle on the Barlow trail, and this led me to researching and exploring the rich history of Fort Vancouver and how the Pacific Northwest first settlers came to be, Brian Rummer said. We liked Sam Barlow as he was an adventurous, entrepreneurial man who was determined to cut his own path around Mount Hood versus making the deadly float down the Columbia River.

The brewery was initially envisioned as attached to the public house, but second-floor access and space proved to be a problem. That led to the east Vancouver brewery site plus a taproom.

There, head brewer Eric Van Tassel oversees beer. Van Tassel got his start at the Brew Kettle in Cleveland and eventually came to Portland and took over Fat Heads Brewery in Portland when Mike Hunsaker left the Pearl District brewery to start Grains of Wrath in Camas in 2016. When Fat Heads closed two years ago, Van Tassel and his wife bought Caps N Taps bottle shop and taproom in Camas.

He got back into brewing when the Barlows opportunity arose. Part of a two-person crew with brewer Bryan Hochrine, Van Tassel in a recent interview said he wanted to brew a variety of styles, including lagers, IPAs and other hop-forward beers.

Im not trying to pigeon-hole myself with any one style," he said. "I want to have something for everyone.

The brewery recently got up to speed, putting out its initial batches. The board for opening weekend at the taphouse included eight beers, including a 3.8% English mild ale, a 5.7% strawberry fruit beer, a 6.5% New England IPA, two American IPAs at 6.5% and 7.1%, a 5.3% Canadian lager, a 6% saison and a 5.9% porter.

And while beer drinkers are likely to find something to please any preference at Barlows, Van Tassel said if he could go one way or another, Id like to go lagers.

Wed love to become lager-driven, he said, but hops are the big sellers.

What to drink:

The Small Easy is an easy-drinking English mild ale, flavorful but quenching.

The Crisp Mitts Canadian Lager is similarly sessionable, a crisp lager that delivers flavor without heaviness.

A bit of spice leads into the classic farmhouse funk of the Out of the Gate Saison.

The Brite Where You Want It is a deliciously bold and dank hop-forward IPA with a touch of tropical fruitiness.

If you go:

Barlows Public House

801 Waterfront Way, Vancouver; 360-719-2043

11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday

Barlows Brewery taproom

705 S.E. Park Crest Ave., Suite D430, Vancouver; 360-859-3795

Closed Monday, 3 p.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 3 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday, noon-10 p.m. Sunday

-- Andre Meunier

Subscribe to Andres text service now and get a month free, an invitation to the #FakeBrews IPA release party, and a free pint there, all while getting ongoing alerts about beer releases and news from the Portland and Oregon beer scene. And check out Andres beer reviews on Untappd, where hes andremeunier13, and follow him on Instagram, where hes @oregonianbeerguy.

More beer coverage:
As many as seven persons were killed in violence in the North-East district of the capital on Monday, police said. The violence occurred after clashes took place between pro and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protesters at various places in the area on Monday.

A statement from the Delhi Police said, "A total of seven deaths were reported - one police personnel and six civilians have lost their lives."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also held a meeting late Tuesday night with senior Delhi Police officers and top Home Ministry officials on the law and order situation in Delhi. He is also scheduled to meet Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to discuss the prevailing situation in the capital.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said he is worried about the prevailing situation in certain parts of the capital and urged everyone to shun violence.

"Am very worried about prevailing situation in certain parts of Delhi. All of us together should make all efforts to restore peace in our city. I again urge everyone to shun violence. Am meeting all MLAs (of all parties) of affected areas along with senior officials in a while," Kejriwal tweeted.

The Commissioner of Delhi Police also held a meeting at Seelampur DCP Office on Monday night.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States  Tue, February 25, 2020 10:20 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20666341b 2 World #USA,#Elections,Bernie-Sanders,Cuba,Fidel-Castro Free

Bernie Sanders, the US Democratic presidential frontrunner, came under fire Monday for defending part of the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro's record.

In an interview that aired Sunday on CBS's "60 Minutes," the Vermont senator who calls himself a democratic socialist noted that after the 1959 Cuban revolution, its leader Castro led a widely successful literacy program.

Sanders asked, "is it bad, even if it was Fidel Castro who did it?"

Sanders stressed that he opposes "the authoritarian nature of the Cuban regime" but said it was unfair to call everything it has done over decades as wrong.

He even made the point to condemn the Americas' only Communist regime for repressing dissidents.

Regardless, some of his rivals seized the chance to criticize Sanders as potentially unable to keep his socialism democratic.

Former vice president Joe Biden's campaign said Sanders had a long habit of espousing the ideas of autocratic leaders.

"Bernies comments indicate he either fails to understand the pain and suffering that Fidel Castro, Nicolas Maduro, and Daniel Ortega have caused to so many people, including Americans now living here, or worse, that his ideology blinds him to the realities of life in these countries, Biden adviser Cristobal Alex said.

Billionaire former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg said Castro's long legacy of repression was so dark and vast that talking about literacy was ludicrous.

"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," Bloomberg tweeted.
A Klemme man has been charged with driving drunk Sunday and causing a crash that killed a 54-year-old woman.

Michael C. Barkema, 47, was charged in Polk County (Wisconsin) Court with one count of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. Barkema appeared in court Monday, where Judge Jeffery Anderson ordered he be held on a $5,000 cash bond. Barkema will return to court for a preliminary hearing March 19.

He does not currently appear on the Polk County Jail roster.

A preliminary breath test given at the scene indicates Barkema had a .28 blood-alcohol level, more than three times the legal limit.

According to the criminal complaint, the two-vehicle crash happened at about 7:05 p.m. Sunday on 202nd St. in Polk County. When the officer arrived, he found the injured woman still behind the wheel of her vehicle, and people at the scene couldnt find a pulse; she was later pronounced dead by the Polk County medical examiner at 9:51 p.m. The womans name isnt included in the criminal complaint.

The officer interviewed the driver of a Chevrolet Silverado, identified as Barkema. He was not injured; the two passengers in his vehicle also werent injured.

Barkema told the officer he was waiting to turn onto E. Cedar Lake Road with his turn signal on, when he was struck by a red Saturn.

The officer smelled the odor of alcohol on Barkemas breath, and observed his speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot and glossy. However, Barkema claimed he had consumed one beer that evening, and nothing since the crash occurred. He agreed to take a field sobriety test, which he failed. Barkema then took the preliminary breath test, which showed the .28 blood-alcohol level.

Barkema was placed under arrest and taken to the Osceola Medical Center for a blood draw.

An eye witness told the officer she observed Barkema slow down, and begin to turn his vehicle prior to the crash, according to the complaint

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When a lean young man landed amid a violent mob on the Jafrabad main road on Monday afternoon, it didnt take the gathering  carrying out demonstrations in support of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act  long to realise he did not belong to their camp.

As soon as uttered his name, one that is common among Muslims, the mob pounced on him with iron rods, sticks and stones.

For the next few minutes, they assaulted him. At first, a single policeman attempted to rescue him before more cops joined in to shield the victim as the attack bordered on a lynching. When the mob refused to relent despite their interventions, the police resorted to a mild lathi-charge -- by now, the mans face was smashed with streaks of blood running down his face.

A few metres away, a taxi inadvertently landed on the riot-hit road. The mob chased the cab, brought it to a halt, forced open the doors and almost managed to drag the occupants out when some people stepped in to rescue them and send them away.

A dozen policemen stood a few metres away, watching.

Minutes earlier, on the opposite carriageway, four buildings were set ablaze by the mob that used torches, burning slippers and balls made of cloth to set off fires after their attempts to break shutters failed.

Each successful attempt at torching the buildings was met with loud claps and religious and political chants.

Dozens of policemen around did nothing to disperse this mob.

The crowd moved away only when the heat from the burning buildings became unbearable.

For a long while, the two rival camps  one supporting the CAA and another against  near the Maujpur-Babarpur Metro station pelted stones at each other. When they failed to hit each other, they resorted to pelting stones at the panes of buildings around them. Afterwards, they brought down banners and hoardings of local businesses and tore them to shreds.

Some distance from this mob stood Vijay Pawar, a resident of Shamli in Uttar Pradesh, holding a pro-CAA placard as patriotic songs played in the vicinity. He had injuries to his hands and a leg. I came from Shamli on Sunday to protest against the road blockade. Ill be here till all roads in Delhi are cleared, said Pawar, adding that he was hit by stones multiple times.

In the streets adjacent to the Jafrabad main road, people belonging to rival camps guarded their entrances. Most people remained indoors while the younger ones took positions.

A mob had barged into our homes and attacked us around 1.30am. We cannot take any chances, said Sahil, a resident.

He was accompanied by a neighbour who had deep gashes on his thigh, allegedly inflicted with a sword, when he visited the main road in the afternoon.

In the morning, a mob had forced me to chant a religious slogan and smeared paste on my forehead, said the man who would neither identify himself, nor visit a hospital for fear of being booked by the police.

On the main road, meanwhile, whenever policemen appeared to crack down on the mob around them, they were met with chants of Delhi Police Zindabad.

Alok Kumar, joint commissioner of police (eastern range), said The police used tear gas and batons effectively, to ensure the situation did not escalate or turn communal.

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The Balearic government is to request that the Balearic Ports Authority, as a matter of urgency, applies a freeze on new licences for cruise ships to dock in Palma. This would take effect in 2022 and is with the expectation that an agreement can be reached with the Spanish government for regulating the number of cruise ships which dock in Palma.

The tourism and environment ministers, Iago Negueruela and Miquel Mir, explained on Tuesday that this suspension of licences would be within the framework of negotiations for regulating cruise ships. Mir noted that the Balearics would be the first region in Spain to adopt such a measure.

Negueruela observed that there have been high-level discussions with the cruise industry since last July. These have involved the two government ministries, Palma town hall, the ports authority and the Cruise Lines International Association. He added that he was sure that agreement will be reached with cruise operators, who have shown their "predisposition to protect the Balearics main sector and achieve a more sustainable tourism".

Mir said that there was a need for "effective and real staggering" of ships in Palma. Within the context of the climate emergency and given the particular vulnerability of the Balearics, the government is taking environmental measures, "one of which is the request to the ports authority for this moratorium".
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Following the violence in North-East Delhi where clashes broke out between pro and anti-CAA protesters, claiming 10 lives besides injuring nearly 180 others, the Delhi Police on Tuesday issued a circular appealing people to maintain peace in the area.

"In the last two days some incidents of stone pelting, arson and damage to property have occurred in some pockets of North-East Delhi area.

"Delhi Police are making all earnest efforts, including deployment of reinforcement and involving respectable citizens of the area, to restore normalcy," the circular said.

The hotspots of the violent clashes are Maujpur, Babarpur, Jafrabad and Kardampuri, in a radius of about 4 km. In the last 48 hours, the government has claimed that 10 people, including a Delhi Police head constable, have been killed and 56 police personnel and 119 residents have been injured.

The Delhi Police appealed to all citizens of Delhi to co-operate with the law enforcement agencies in maintaining peace and harmony in the city. The people were also advised not to lend an ear to rumour mongers and unverified messages being circulated on social media.

"Delhi Police have kept strict vigil on such mischievous elements and miscreants. Strict legal action will be taken against those who are found involved in these incidents. It is also urged that social media platforms should be used with responsibility. Public cooperation is solicited in maintaining peace," the circular said.

On Tuesday night, the police put barricades and sealed all the roads leading to Ghaziabad from North-East Delhi. Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ajay Kumar Pandey, said, "Keeping in mind the violence in Delhi, we have sealed the borders. There is peace in our district. We have also closed all the wine shops in the nearby areas."
Buoyant suburban and city-fringe office markets have amplified leasing activity and income at property manager Growthpoint Properties Australia, putting it on track to deliver its earnings guidance.

The funds manager  which counts the similarly named heavyweight South African-listed Growthpoint REIT as its main security holder  said above average rental growth in Sydney and stable vacancy rates in Melbourne's metro office markets saw its net property income surge 9.1 per cent to $121.4 million, in the six months to December 2019.

Growthpoint has finished construction of Botanicca 3 in Melbourne's Richmond ahead of schedule.

Funds from operations  the earnings measure preferred in the property sector because it excludes fluctuations in portfolio values  were up 11.8 per cent on the previous period.

As a result, Growthpoint has reaffirmed its 2020 financial year guidance of funds from operations per security around 25.4 and distribution per security of 23.8, a rise of 3.5 per cent over the previous year.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Silveria Jacobs, currently serving as Prime Minister announced that she has officially resigned from Parliament as of Tuesday, February 18th. She had just returned from a weeklong working visit to the Netherlands, where it became clear that giving proper representation in Parliament would be a great challenge. In her statement, MP Jacobs explained that carrying the multiple roles of Prime Minister, Member of Parliament and Formateur does not allow enough time for her to carry out all her duties with the attention and dedication to which she is accustomed, and which the people of St. Maarten deserve.

As Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs, the day to day running of Government is also quite a task. While, as formateur, Prime Minister Jacobs is expected to meet the agreed-upon deadlines with His Excellency Governor Eugene B. Holiday. The formation is essential to the continuity of government. By vacating the seat, Prime Minister Jacobs allows for the proper representation by the next highest vote getter of the NA party, who will then be joining the other sitting NA MPs.

Its an honor to be elected as a Member of Parliament, as well as to be nominated as Prime Minister by the NA/UP coalition. I vow to continue to serve the people of St. Maarten to the best of my ability, and thank them for this great honor! concluded Prime Minister Jacobs.
In arguing for his release on bond, Gyulai, who had no previous criminal record, said he left the U.S. not to escape any investigation but because his wifes father was gravely ill in Canada. Soon after, Gyulais own father fell ill in Hungary. Both died within weeks of each other in 2016, Theis said.
Temperatures plummeted overnight across Britain as forecasters warned of more ice and snow over the next 24 hours.

The mercury dropped to minus 4.5C at the Cairnwell in the Scottish Highlands, the Met Office said.

Forecaster John Griffiths said: A couple of places could be a bit colder in the next few hours, but only by a degree or so.

If you're up early this morning, wrap up well as the wind will make it feel much colder than recent mornings, especially in the south pic.twitter.com/th9opUkHdd  Met Office (@metoffice) February 25, 2020

Significant snow falls were also recorded overnight, with Aviemore in Scotland recording 7cm and Northern Irelands Lough Fea getting 3cm.

Higher areas in both countries and in northern England were expected to continue to receive snow throughout the day, Mr Griffiths said.

He warned snow and wintry showers would make it a bit difficult for people on their morning commute.

The temperature in London was predicted to hover around 6C most of the day, while the South East experiences slightly warmer temperatures.

(PA Graphics)

Higher regions will be colder, Mr Griffiths said, adding that the temperature would obviously feel a lot colder with the strength of the wind later on.

Showers are expected for much of the UK throughout Tuesday, along with gusts of 40mph to 50mph on the South West coast.

Further inland, wind speeds are forecast to drop to 30mph to 40mph.

Yellow weather warnings were in place for Northern Ireland, Scotland and the central part of northern England, warning of ice and potentially hazardous travel.

The Angel of the North, near Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, following snowfall on Monday (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Two severe danger to life flood warnings have been issued by the Environment Agency for the Shropshire towns of Shrewsbury and Ironbridge, along the River Severn.

A further 110 flood warnings  where flooding is expected  and 201 flood alerts  where flooding is possible  were in place across England on Tuesday night.

The Met Office has warned drivers of blustery showers, with the possibility of ice, sleet and snow during rush hour.
President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to NASA mathematician Katherine G. Johnson on November 24, 2015.

Carlos Barria/Reuters

Katherine Johnson, a pioneering black mathematician who helped NASA launch men to the moon, died Monday at 101.

Johnson was portrayed in the 2017 movie "Hidden Figures."

Celebrities, scientists, and politicians have honored her legacy with kind words and personal stories about Johnson's impact.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Scientists, celebrities, and politicians around the world are paying tribute to NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, who died at the age of 101 on Monday.

Johnson was hired as a "human computer" at NASA's predecessor agency, NACA, in 1953. By hand, she calculated rocket trajectories for NASA's early missions and checked the math for the launches that sent the first American into orbit and put the first men on the moon.

As a black woman in a segregated government agency that was primarily staffed by white men, Johnson faced severe discrimination. Her contributions to history and space exploration went largely overlooked until the 2017 movie "Hidden Figures" highlighted her pioneering work. Johnson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the US' highest civilian honor, by President Obama in 2015.

Public figures impacted by Johnson shared statements of remembrance and gratitude following the news of her death.

Actress Taraji P. Henson, who played Johnson in "Hidden Figures," called the mathematician a "queen" and thanked her for sharing her "intelligence, poise, grace and beauty" with the world.

"You ran so we could fly!!!" Henson wrote on Instagram, alongside an image of Johnson at NASA. She added: "#representationmatters."

The "Hidden Figures" movie was adapted from a book by the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly. Shetterly grew up near the NASA-Langley Research Center where Johnson worked.

Henson told The New York Times in 2017, "I think Hollywood sees that there are interesting stories that we haven't heard before  that was one of a million," she said. "We were all very serious about doing it justice. That movie was bigger than any of us."

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Shetterly also posted a heartfelt tribute to Johnson, writing that it was her "life's honor to tell the story of Katherine Johnson's contributions to NASA, science, our country."

"You changed the narrative," she added.

Margot Lee Shetterly (@margotshetterly) February 24, 2020

Johnson's mathematical prowess was so unmatched at NASA that John Glenn, the first man to orbit Earth, insisted that she personally check the math that an electronic computer had done for his Mercury mission in 1962.

In an interview with WHRO in 2011, Johnson said that Glenn told NASA: "If she says the computer's right, I'll take it." Other accounts report his line as "Get the girl to check the numbers."

Scientist Neil DeGrasse Tyson shared a tribute to Johnson on Monday as well: "May the number of those inspired by her story be computationally incalculable," he said.

Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) February 24, 2020

Astronaut Scott Kelly, who completed eight missions for NASA, called Johnson "a true-life hero" on Twitter.

In 1970, Johnson quickly conducted calculations by hand to save the crew of Apollo 13 after an in-flight explosion.

New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, meanwhile, said Johnson broke barriers for "women of color at NASA and beyond."

Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) February 24, 2020

Apple CEO Tim Cook called Johnson a "trailblazer."

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shared NASA's post about Johnson, adding that she was an "American hero."

"Her pioneering legacy will never be forgotten," NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said.

Sarah Tuttle, an assistant professor of astrophysics at the University of Washington, posted about the personal impact that Johnson had on her and her family.

"Our youngest is taking our book about her life to school," she wrote.

Hillary Clinton also posted a tribute to Johnson that referenced a well-known childhood story about her as a child. As a young girl, Johnson said in interviews, she loved to count and was an incredible student. But her hometown didn't have a school for black students that went beyond 8th grade. So Johnson's father moved the family 120 miles away, so that she and her three siblings could attend high school and college. He worked overtime to pay for it.

Johnson graduated high school at 14 and college at 18.

"I was always around people who were learning something," she said in an interview with WHRO. "I liked to learn."

Musician Pharrell Williams paid tribute to Johnson's legacy and their shared home state, thanking her for "blessing NASA and the world with your gifts and making Virginia proud."

Williams wrote the score for the Hidden Figures movie.

NASA announced Johnson's death on Monday morning. She is survived by her daughters Joylette Hylick and Katherine Moore, six grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Brussels, Feb 25 : The European Union (EU) has announced a new aid package worth 232 million euros ($252 million) to boost global preparedness, prevention and containment of the fast-spreading coronavirus.

The funding will "help detect and diagnose the disease, care for infected people and prevent further transmission", Xinhua news agency quoted the EU as saying in a statement on Monday.

Around half of the total, or 114 million euros, will support the World Health Organization (WHO), in particular the global preparedness and response global plan, and 100 million euros will go to urgently needed research related to diagnostics, therapeutics and prevention.

"As cases continue to rise, public health is the number one priority. Whether it is boosting preparedness in Europe, in China or elsewhere, the international community must work together," said Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission.

Part of these funds will be allocated immediately to different sectors, while the rest will be released in the next months, according to the press release.

The latest EU action was made public after Italy confirmed over 220 cases with seven fatalities, the largest in Europe.

As a reaction to the developments in Italy, the Commission said it was stepping up its support to EU member states.
China's top legislature approves postponement of annual legislative session, thorough ban on illegal wildlife trade

Global Times

Source:Global Times Published: 2020/2/24 16:28:29 Last Updated: 2020/2/24 21:25:54

China's top legislature approves postponement of annual legislative session, thorough ban on illegal wildlife trade

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U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren plans a sixth campaign stop in Colorado. Shes trying to save her floundering campaign before Super Tuesday on March 3.

As she loses momentum, media allies try to make her a victim. Dont believe it. Warren did this to herself.

Here are samples of the Warren-as-victim claim.

Warren seems to have unfairly inherited some of the hallmarks of Hillary Clintons reputation. Clintons devastating 2016 upset sparked practical questions as to whether a woman could win the presidency at all, explains a Feb. 12 article in The Week titled The sidelining of Elizabeth Warren.

Washington Monthly published a Feb. 15 article titled Warren Is Paying the Price for her Honesty. And Her Gender.

Warrens basic decency and honesty have cost her the article claims. And the sexism undergirding much of the conversation around electability hasnt helped.

Her honesty? Oh, yes, like the time she falsely claimed her father was a janitor. Or the conflicting stories about getting fired for getting pregnant. Or, that thing about Im a Native American.

The latter brings us to the dress.

In the spring of 2018, Keziah Daum wore a Chinese-style dress to her prom in suburban Salt Lake City. The teenager snapped a few selfies and posted them on social media. All hell broke loose.

Teenagers Prom Dress Stirs Furor in U.S.  but Not in China, said a New York Times headline over a story about insensitive cultural appropriation by white people.

Its just a dress: Teens Chinese prom attire stirs cultural appropriation debate, said a Washington Post headline.

Insider magazine published an article titled This is why a white woman wearing a traditional Chinese dress is cultural appropriation The teenager was able to wear the dress she did without mockery  because of the power and privilege that her whiteness affords her. And in a country where Asian people are marginalized, the decision for a white woman to wear a dress would be considered cultural appropriation  not cultural appreciation.

The U.Ks Independent covered the dress with a headline that said: There is no such thing as harmless cultural appropriation...

Pundits and news media obsessed over the dress for days, generating attention from nearly all major newspapers, TV networks, and radio talk shows. Somehow it was a big deal for a teenager to wear a dress with Chinese patterns.

When the Kansas City Chiefs made it to this years Super Bowl, media quickly launched a grievance narrative about the teams mascot inappropriately exploiting Native American culture.

The lefts enforcers of identity politics  people Warren needs to win the Democratic primary  have made cultural appropriation a veritable felony offense of the unwritten sensitivity code.

Warren did not wear the wrong dress to a dance one night in high school. Magnitudes worse, she spent much of her adult life checking boxes that said she was a Native American. She checked the boxes despite leading a lifestyle the identity politics movement would view as white privilege.

Warrens declared identity was important to Harvard Law School, whose overlords wanted to believe it. The school was under scrutiny for lacking minority hires. Upon hiring Warren, the school went public to boast of hiring a woman of color. Problem solved.

Warren went with the woman of color narrative for years, never having endured the challenges inherent to minority life. Warren took a job that might otherwise have gone to someone who grew up with all the challenges of dark skin or life on a reservation. Her misappropriation of identity may have taken from someone else an affirmative-action benefit.

The Democratic base cannot nominate Warren. Doing so would mock the cause of cultural and ethnic sensitivity  a loud-and-clear element of the partys values. That conundrum, not gender, likely explains Warrens third-place ranking heading into Nevada.

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Britain's government, parliament and political parties spent decades turning "a blind eye" to high-profile child sex abusers and sometimes actively protected them, an investigation reported Tuesday.

A former Liberal party leader announced his resignation from the House of Lords after the report condemned his failure to act against a paedophile MP from his party.

The government-commissioned report into how Westminster institutions dealt with abuse claims found a culture of deference by police, prosecutors and parties towards politicians. It also noted a widespread failure to put the needs of children first.

"It is clear to see that Westminster institutions have repeatedly failed to deal with allegations of child sexual abuse, from turning a blind eye to actively shielding abusers," said the inquiry's chairwoman, Alexis Jay in a statement.

"A consistent pattern emerged of failures to put the welfare of children above political status, although we found no evidence of an organised network of paedophiles within government." However, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse found no evidence to support reports in recent years of a coordinated "paedophile ring" involving senior political figures.

In the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, MPs including the Liberal Cyril Smith and Conservative Peter Morrison -- both later knighted -- "were known to be active in their sexual interest in children, but were protected from prosecution".

In 1969 Smith admitted allegations he sexually abused teenage boys, but was not prosecuted. Ten years later, the then Liberal party leader David Steel discussed the issue with him but took no action.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Brad Pattison of Kelowna B.C., and his team of six volunteers have just returned to Canada after spending 33 days rescuing wildlife in Australia, amid the country's unprecedented bushfires.

The group left in January with the intention of helping animals left dehydrated, starving and injured by the fires. The work came with its fair share of emotion.

"It superseded what we expected," Pattison told Radio West host Sarah Penton. "There's images that I wish no one to see. You just can't get them out of your mind."

An estimated one billion animals have perished in the Australian fires.

"One minute you're seeing horrible devastation and death and then seven, eight seconds later, you see a wild kangaroo that is frozen in pain, looking at us for help," Pattison said.

"You go from something that is absolutely gut wrenching and rips out your heart to 'we're back on our mission and we've got to snap out of our very sad state' and go do what we're supposed to do and that is help that kangaroo."

Brad Pattison

Each time the group walked through an area devastated by fire, called a 'black walk,' looking for animals, they had to check the pouches of deceased animals for joeys that might have survived.

"You're holding this tiny little creature that's two months old and its parent has died because of, for whatever reason, being burnt to death, but the baby is protected in the pouch," Pattison said.

One marsupial in particular stuck with Pattison  a koala named Bodie. Bodie, who is blind in one eye, was found dehydrated and starving, and veterinarians gave him a low chance of survival.

But shortly after returning to Canada, Pattison learned that Bodie is recovering well, has been released from veterinary care and is climbing and eating eucalyptus.

Brad Pattison

"This koala is now going to go on to breed with other koalas to keep the population strong," Pattison said. "Many many died, we all know that, so any koala that we participated in rescuing and getting to a healthy state is massive for the population."

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Pattison said it will take up to 50 years to know how Australian wildlife will recover from the fires, because of breeding and vegetation loss.

Though the fires in Australia have subsided, Pattison says the need for financial support remains. Feed for animals in care, water, fuel to transport food and water are costs that continue, even after the blaze is extinguished.

Pattison's work with Australian wildlife continues, even from afar; he's allocating monetary donations to help plant specific vegetation to help animals.

"We are one planet," he said. "We're not like, oh there's Australia over there and we need to be worried about our stuff here. We're all one planet."
Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday wrote a letter to the wife of Delhi Police Head Constable Ratan Lal, who died during clashes over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the Northeast Delhi.

"I express grief and deep condolences on the untimely death of your husband," Shah wrote in his letter.

"He was a brave and dutiful policeman who faced tough challenges. Like a true soldier, he has made the supreme sacrifice of his life in the service of the country. The whole nation is with you in this hour of grief," he added.

Earlier today, Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal, and Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik paid tribute to Delhi Police Head Constable Rattan Lal.

The wreath-laying ceremony of Delhi Police Head Constable Rattan Lal took place at New Police Lines here.

The head constable lost his life after clashes broke out between two groups in Delhi's Gokulpuri on Monday.

10 people, including the police head constable, have lost their lives and around 200 been injured in North-East Delhi over a period of two days after clashes broke out between pro and anti CAA protestors.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The ruling BJD in Odisha on



Tuesday asserted it was not under pressure over seat-sharing for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, even as the BJP said it will field candidates for the elections to the Upper House of Parliament.

The BJD had last year supported BJP candidate Ashwini Vaishnav in the Rajya Sabha elections, prompting the opposition Congress to raise doubts whether the party will lend support to saffron party candidates this time as well.

"We are not under any pressure over seat-sharing for the Rajya Sabha elections. The party president will take a call on this matter," government chief whip and senior BJD leader Pramila Mallick told reporters here.

BJP candidate Ashwini Vaishnav was last year elected to Rajya Sabha from Odisha despite the party not having the required number of MLAs.

BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik had then clarified that his party had supported Vaishnav following requests by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash said that the BJD president will choose the candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls.

Four Rajya Sabha seats from Odisha will fall vacant after completion of tenure of three BJD lawmakers -- Anubhav Mohanty, Narendra Swain -- and Sarojini Hembram and Congress member Ranjib Biswal on April 2.

Mohanty has been elected to the Lok Sabha in last year's general elections.

While the BJD is set to retain its three seats, it is not sure about bagging the fourth seat that is being vacated by the Congress MP.

According to the existing formula for the Rajya Sabha polls, one candidate needs at least 29 first preference seats for victory. Since BJD has 113 MLAs, it can easily win three seats, but it is short of three members to win the fourth seat.

The BJP, with 23 MLAs which is less by 6 first preference votes for the RS Polls, said it will field one candidate for the fourth seat.

"We are likely to field a candidate in the RS polls though we are short of the required number. The party's central committee will take a call on this matter," Leader of Opposition, Pradipta Kumar Naik of the BJP said.

Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra, however, said his party will not be able to contest the polls as it has fewer members in the Assembly. The Congress has only 9 MLAs in the 147 member-strong House.

"But the party can nominate its candidate with the support of the Left. The Congress high command will take a decision this regard," Mishra said.

The CPI(M) has only one member in the House and there is also an Independent MLA.

While notification for the biennial elections will be issued on March 6, March 13 is the last date of filing nominations.

Counting will be held on the evening ofMarch 26, an hour after the conclusion of polls.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
John Deere, the world's leading manufacturer of farm equipment, is teaming up with Africa's "Uber of tractors" - betting on a future where farmers summon machines at the touch of a button.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHN DEERE'S HEAD OF AFRICA, JACQUES TAYLOR, SAYING:

"We do like to see that every farmer has access to mechanization."

The American company is hoping to boost sales of its famous green and yellow tractors on the continent - via Hello Tractor's technology, a small black box allowing farmers to hail tractors, monitor their movements and transmit information such as fuel levels.

It's currently being trailed on 400 tractors in Ghana and Kenya - but John Deere plans to offer it to all contractors who buy its equipment in Africa.

But the risks are clear: held back by low incomes, tiny landholdings and a lack of bank financing, tractor numbers have long been stagnant on the continent.

Jacques Taylor is John Deere's head of sub-Saharan Africa.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHN DEERE'S HEAD OF AFRICA, JACQUES TAYLOR, SAYING:

"The biggest challenge at this stage is to justify the capital investment in agriculture, and financing linked to that."

He argues the new collaboration can help as data pulled from Hello Tractor could be used by farmers - who typically lack credit histories - to secure bank loans.

Pascal Kaumbutho, chairman of agricultural services firm Agrimech Africa, agrees.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) AGRIMECH AFRICA'S CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, PASCAL KAUMBUTHO, SAYING:

"It is one thing to walk into a bank and say 'You know. Hey I work very hard.' It's another thing to be able to show it."

No loans decisions have yet been made based on such data, but with the continent's population set to double by 2050, increased productivity is a necessity.

Outside South Africa, 80% of African cropland is still cultivated by hand and yields are half the global average.

Hello Tractor founder Jehiel Oliver sees that as an opportunity.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) HELLO TRACTOR FOUNDER, JEHIEL OLIVER, SAYING:

Story continues

"The global average is 200 hundred tractors per 100 square kilometers of arable farm land. Africa averages around eight tractors per 100 square kilometers, Nigeria alone needs 750,000 tractors to be on the global average."

John Deere declined to comment on the cost of its tech investment.

Africa makes up just a fraction of its annual revenues of around $40 billion - which are dominated by the Americas and Europe.
The U.K. has a strong history when it comes to processors, but the global chip market has seen some ups and downs of late. Today comes some big news that underscores how investors are doubling down on one of the big hopefuls for the next generation of chipmaking to see it through any possible winter winds. Graphcore, the Bristol-based startup that designs processors specifically for artificial intelligence applications, announced it has raised another $150 million in funding for R&D and to continue bringing on new customers. Its valuation is now $1.95 billion.

Graphcore has now raised over $450 million and says that it has some $300 million in cash reserves -- an important detail considering the doldrums that have plagued the chipmaking market in the last few months, and could become exacerbated now with the slowdown in production due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The funding is an extension of its Series D, it said, and brings the total valuation of the company to $1.95 billion. (For reference, the original Series D in December 2018 valued Graphcore at $1.7 billion.) This latest round includes investments from Baillie Gifford, Mayfair Equity Partners and M&G Investments -- all new backers -- as well as participation from previous investors Merian Chrysalis, Ahren Innovation Capital, Amadeus Capital Partners and Sofina. Other past backers of the startup include BMW, Microsoft, Atomico and Demis Hassabis of DeepMind.

Graphcore's big claim to fame has been the development of what it calls its Intelligence Processing Unit (IPU) hardware and corresponding Poplar software, designed specifically for the kind of simultaneous, intensive calculations demanded of AI applications (which are designed based on how humans think, in "parallel" processing mode).

Graphcore describes its IPU as the first processor to be designed specifically for AI. However, a number of other companies including Nvidia, Intel and AMD have made huge investments into this area and have ramped up their pace of development to meet market demands -- and hopefully to overtake what have been limitations in the wider area of AI processing, a problem that still continues to persist.

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"Deep learning has only really existed in since 2012," Nigel Toon, founder and CEO, said recently to TechCrunch. "When we started Graphcore, what we heard from innovators was that hardware was holding them back."

This D2 round comes ahead of what Graphcore describes as strong demand for 2020, and is happening on the heels of a strong year for the company, including a commercial deal with one of its previous strategic backers.

2019 was a transformative year for Graphcore as we moved from development to a full commercial business with volume production products shipping," said Toon. "We were pleased to publicly announce our close partnership with Microsoft in November 2019, jointly announcing IPU availability for external customers on the Azure Cloud, as well as for use by Microsoft internal AI initiatives. In addition, we announced availability of the DSS8440 IPU Server in partnership with Dell Technologies and the launch of the Cirrascale IPU-Bare Metal Cloud. We also announced some of our other early access customers which include Citadel Securities, Carmot Capital, and Qwant, the European search engine company."

Here's Nigel Toon speaking at our recent Disrupt conference in Berlin about the prospect for chips here:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiH3kAOHpfE]
RTE star Miriam O'Callaghan has asserted that having it all really is a myth, especially if you are self-employed.

The Prime Time presenter, who is the highest paid female presenter in Montrose with an annual salary of 299,000, said that she has long since accepted that the odds were stacked against her as a working mother. "When I started having my children in my mid-20s, it was very, very difficult because you daren't bring up the fact that you had kids or that a child was sick," she told the RTE Guide.

"So my philosophy has always been to accept that it's an unfair world and do your best to overcome that by fighting your corner."

Miriam has eight children - her four eldest are from her first marriage to Tom McGurk and her four youngest are with husband of 24 years Steven Carson - said that because she is self-employed, she has never been afforded the option of a full maternity leave with any of her children.

Expand Close Miriam O'Callaghan at the IFTA Gala Awards 2018, / Facebook

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"I know that women have fought for generations to get the right to maternity leave and you should," she said. "But for someone like me or those who are self-employed, it's more difficult. If I had taken full maternity leave for each of my eight children, I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now and that is the harsh reality of life."

Miriam, who also hosts a Sunday radio show on Radio One, said she has been struggling to find the appropriate balance between her home and family life for years, but has always priotised her children. "If you are going to have a large family, you have to be there all the time for your children. I never missed a parent-teacher meeting, I never missed a school concert, but at the other end, I remember running into Prime Time at 9:28 and my editor wondering where I was.

"I knew those parent-teacher meetings were never coming back and I erred on the side of never missed them and flying by the seat of my pants at work."

Her husband moved to Glasgow in 2013 to take up the mantle as Head of Production at BBC Scotland and returns home to Dublin at the weekends to spend time with his family.

"I drop him to the airport every Monday morning at 5:30am. We have a little routine - I love routine - we drink a coffee in the car and listen to Shay Byrne's Rising Time on RTE Radio One. Then I come home and if I'm not doing radio, I go back to bed for an hour," she told VIP Magazine last year.

"I look at it differently in that I think this is our only life. So I want everyone to have the best life they can have. This is a fantastic opportunity - he loves BBC Glasgow, he's so happy and I want him to be happy."

Video of the Day

"It's such a busy house...and he never gives me any reason to worry. Somebody said to me recently, 'Only you Miriam could have a husband working away all week and not have a problem with it'."
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the Central Board of Secondary (CBSE) to make a decision on the board examination centre at a school in violence-hit Chandu Nagar area of the capital.

A bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdar slated the matter for further hearing on Wednesday.

The court observed that prima facie it appears that exams cannot be held in Chandu Nagar area given the inputs provided by the SHO and said that the CBSE should keep this factor in mind while taking any decision in the matter.

It was hearing a petition filed by a school in Chandu Nagar area seeking directions to the CBSE to change the board examination centre for Class 10 and 12 to another school due to "violent clashes and riots" taking place in the area.

The CBSE told the court that it was going to take a decision in the matter within a couple of hours adding that the safety and security of the children is the prime concern for the board.

The petition, filed by Bhai Parmanand Vidya Mandir and parents of some of the students, said that the CBSE allowed an examination centre for class 10 and 12 students of the petitioner school 16 km away from it.

"As per the general conditions of examinations issued by the CBSE, the centre has to be located within 10 km and is generally, by and large, allotted within 5-6 km to every school, keeping in mind the convenience of the parents who have to make their own arrangements to drop their children to the examination centre," it said.

The plea said that the school wrote to the Controller of Examinations of the CBSE on several occasions and forwarding the complaints and requests of several parents seeking a change of examination centre but did not receive any response.

"The current and latest violent clashes and riots that have taken place at the said area have made it absolutely impossible for the students to be even reaching the examination centre for taking the examinations," it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
T he key for the American presidential hopefuls currently hoping to secure the Democrat nomination could be outside of their own borders.

As the field of Mike Bloomberg, Amy Klobuchar, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg battle for support from the United States, Democrats overseas are also having their say.

Through Democrats Abroad - an arm of the Democratic Party that is recognised as a "state" - Americans have until March 10 to vote for who they would like to see face off against Donald Trump to be the next President.

This foreign wing of the party has 21 delegates - more than New Hampshire and Iowa - and, in what will likely be a close race candidates, will be looking for all the support they can get.

Bernie Sanders has taken an early lead in the Democratic Primaries / Getty Images

There are millions of Americans living overseas - and many in the United Kingdom and London.

A number of delegates are assigned to each state depending on the population.

A candidate needs 1,991 to win the nomination for the party ticket.

The state with the most delegates is California - which has 494 - and the lowest is Wyoming, with 17.

Tatiana Amlin, 38, is working to try and get Pete Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, on the ticket.

Mr Buttigieg is one of the more centrist candidates that seem to be vying for support against early favourite Bernie Sanders, a Washington veteran and committed socialist.

Ms Amlin moved to the Surrey a year-and-a-half ago, and has taken to campaigning full time, organising events across the UK.

She told the Standard: I think my vote is so much more potent over here than in America.

The mother-of-two was a prosecutor in New York, but is not licenced to practice law in the UK.

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I think its very important to vote, she added. It is one of the most important responsibilities as a citizen. We have a responsibility to hold power to account.

Part of the campaign is to tell American expats that they are entitled to vote while they are out of the US.

Voting is different from the General Election that will take place in November.

When choosing between the Democrat or Republican candidate in the winter, Americans can cast their votes from abroad, but it is counted in the state they last lived in.

As the primaries give the expats a separate allocation of delegates - like a 51st state - changing a few minds could be potent.

With only three states declared so far, the field for the primaries is still wide open / Reuters/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo

Ms Amlin said: To be able to bring in 50 women I have coffee with or 10 people who come to an event is powerful.

Young Americans come to the UK for their first jobs, to work for startups or follow a boyfriend or girlfriend here.

There are also American companies, like law firms and banks, that have offices in the UK.

There are also American schools.

One woman from Plymouth has told me that she is getting a sleeper train to London to vote in person."

And there are hopes that the mobilisation of voters against President Trump will help spur people into action.

Ms Amlin added: The primary is so tight, and is very possibly going to be one of the most contested primaries in history.

Weve had 18-year-olds come to Pints for Pete events with their parents.

These are the people I want to get voting. They may have never voted in America but they are still a part of the country.

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg has Ms Amlin's support / AP

As well as being to vote electronically by printing and scanning ballot papers, from March 3 there will be Democrats Abroad voting events around the world.

People hoping to take part in the vote can register on the same day as they wish to vote.

Julia Bryan, Chair of Democrats Abroad, said: Voting in-person in the primary is exciting for lots of our members.

For many of them, its the one chance theyll have to vote in-person during this critical election year.

Remote voting helps our voters who cant reach our voting stations, and ensures that every Democrat living outside the US has the same chance to participate, regardless of where they live.
A fire was reported at the tyre market in Karawal Nagar in Northeast Delhi on Tuesday morning, but rescue efforts were hampered as fire tenders sent to douse the blaze are stuck in Jafrabad, where violent protests took place on Monday.

The fire tenders have asked for police protection before moving forward. The officials said that though the fire started around 8:30 am on Tuesday, they have no idea about the damage, and will be able to comment only when the fire tenders reach the area.

News agency PTI said that seven people, including a Delhi Police head constable, were killed on Monday violence and more than 100 got injured when people for and against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA clashed in Northeast Delhi. The affected localities lie between Jafrabad and Maujpur.

We received total 45 fire calls from yesterday till 3 am today. Three firemen got injured. One fire tender was set ablaze, Atul Garg, Fire Director, North-East Delhi had said on Monday.

The Centre is keeping a close eye on Delhi; Home Minister Amit Shah has called for a review meeting - the second one in 12 hours. He has invited the representatives of all the political parties for the meeting. Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal are also expected to attend the meeting.

Kejriwal has, meanwhile, also called an urgent meeting at his residence of MLAs and officials of the violence-hit areas of Delhi. Am very worried about prevailing situation in certain parts of Delhi. All of us together should make all efforts to restore peace in our city. I again urge everyone to shun violence, Kejriwal tweeted.
EPA

Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg has been accused of plagiarising Barack Obama in several campaign speeches.

In a compilation video featuring side-by-side comparisons of the two men's speeches, Mr Buttigieg is shown using almost the exact same words as Mr Obama on multiple occasions.

The embarrassing video comes as Mr Buttigieg faces mockery for a tweet in which he seemed to borrow from one of the speeches in question.

Describing how the audience at a campaign event used their phone screens when the room hit by a power cut, Mr Buttigieg tweeted: If we can light up a high school gym  we can light a neighborhood.

If we can light up a neighborhood  we can light a city.

If we can light up a city  we can light up our country.

Right-wing Twitter users were quick to point out the similarity with a tweet Mr Obama sent out on the eve of the 2012 election.

One voice can change a room, read Mr Obamas tweet. And if it can change a room, it can change a city. And if it can change a city, it can change a state.

View host Meghan McCain, daughter of Mr Obamas onetime rival John McCain, tweeted Oh COME ON! I know Pete thinks hes the next Obama but this is ridiculous.

The Daily Callers Logan Hall added to the ridicule: tfw you copy your friends homework and make a few slight changes so it wont look too obvious. Another conservative site, the Daily Wire, accused Mr Buttigieg of cribbing.

However, some on the left also took note of the tweet: Obama campaign veteran and speechwriter Jon Lovett responded with a simple oh man.

And the video comparison of Mr Buttigieg and Mr Obama was tweeted out by Sawyer Hackett, who served as communications director for Julian Castro  another Democratic candidate who's now dropped out.

While he retains a strong following and has received plenty of positive media coverage, Mr Buttigieg is performing weakly in national polls, and came third in the Nevada caucuses.

Read more

Williamson endorses Sanders after calling Buttigieg a corporate tool

Story continues

Pete Buttigieg helps nine-year-old come out as gay at campaign rally

Buttigieg celebrates after getting half as many votes as Sanders in NV

walking down a hallway

Iowa

New Hampshire
Sofia Richie struck a pose in nothing but her jeans for her sizzling new campaign celebrating her new collaboration with the Australian denim brand Rolla's.

The Rolla's x Sofia Richie Spring/Summer 2020 collection launched online on Sunday, and the racy images show the 21-year-old model covering her bare chest with her hands as she strikes a pose for the camera.

Sofia teased one of the photos from the '90s supermodel-inspired campaign in October before revealing earlier this month that she had teamed up with the brand for a capsule collection.

Project: Sofia Richie has debuted her collection with the Australian denim brand Rolla's

Ready to go: The Rolla's x Sofia Richie Spring/Summer 2020 collection launched on Sunday

Showing off: The 21-year-old model posed topless for the sizzling campaign images

In the sultry images from the shoot, Sofia is posing topless while modeling distressed high-waisted cutoff shorts and straight-legged jeans.

Her feet are bare in many of the shots, and she is standing in front of a plain white background  making sure all eyes are on her.

Sofia's blonde hair is styled in loose waves around her shoulders, and she is giving the camera a come-hither stare.

Other pictures show her modeling key pieces from the 15-piece capsule collection, including pink-flared corduroys, a pink patterned peasant blouse, and a white Rolla's logo sweatshirt.

All eyes on her: In the pictures, she can be seen covering her bare chest with her hands as she strikes a pose for the camera

Throwing it way back: The shoot was inspired by '90s supermodels

Striking: One image shows Sofia modeling noting but destroyed cutoff jeans as she gives the camera a come-hither stare

Minimalist: In many of the shots, Sofia has nothing on aside from her Rolla's denim

Go-to look: Sofia's blonde hair is styled in loose waves around her shoulders in all of the shots

Hint: Sofia teased one of the photos from the campaign in October

The pieces are available in sizes XS to XL and prices range from $49 for a classic white T-shirt to $109 for a floral sundress.

'Rollas aesthetic is inspired by classic, iconic denim looks and Sofia Richie is the perfect fit  a confident, modern woman with laid back Californian style,' the brand explains on its website.

'Sofia embraces her sensuality, something that is close to the heart of Rollas ethos. We celebrate empowered self expression and embrace modern femininity.'

Sofia's close friend Kylie Jenner promoted the collaboration on her Instagram Stories over the weekend, sharing a photo of the pink corduroys the brand had sent her.

Fruits of her labor: The model revealed earlier this month that she had teamed up with the brand for a capsule collection

Summer look: One image shows Sofia modeling a a pink patterned peasant blouse and high-wasited jean shorts

Stylish ensemble: In another, she has on a white eyelet top and straight-leg jeans

Size guide: Items from the 15-piece capsule collection are available in sizes XS to XL

Unforgettable look: One standout piece is a pair of pink corduroy pants that Sofia paired with a classic white tank

Strike a pose: Sofia grabbed the top of her blonde locks while modeling the pink cords

Natural choice: Rolla's said Sofia is a 'perfect fit' for the brand because she is a 'confident, modern woman with laid back Californian style'

Designs: Prices range from $49 for a classic white T-shirt to $109 for a floral sundress

'Yes @sofiarichie,' she wrote. 'Love you!!'

Grammy winner Lionel Richie sweetly supported his youngest daughter Sofia at the launch of her Rolla's denim collaboration at 1 Hotel in West Hollywood on Thursday night.

Sofia's boyfriend Scott Disick, 36, was also at the event, and she shared a sweet snapshot of herself kissing him on her Instagram Stories, writing: 'My Love.'

The model looked spectacular in a pair of light-wash jeans from her line, which she tapered at the angle with silver wire.

Added touch: Sofia donned a gold necklace while modeling a classic white T-shirt and light-wash jeans

Brand: Sofia also modeled white Rolla's logo sweatshirt with a pair of medium-wash jeans

Go-to shoes: In many of the images, Sofia has on the same pair of strappy white heels

Support system: Sofia's close friend Kylie Jenner promoted the collaboration on her Instagram Stories over the weekend

Party time: Sofia celebrated the launch of the collection in Los Angeles on Thursday

Rare PDA: Sofia posted a photo of herself kissing her boyfriend, Scott Disick, at the party at 1 Hotel in West Hollywood

Thanks pops: Grammy winner Lionel Richie sweetly supported his youngest daughter Sofia at the launch

She paired her jeans with a black blazer that she cinched at the waist with a brown corset-style belt.

Also enjoying the Australian denim brand's bash was 'Friday' hitmaker Rebecca Black, who showed a little leg in a black leather mini-skirt and knee-high PVC boots.

Popstar Sia's dancing avatar Maddie Ziegler bared her belly in a cropped white turtleneck beneath a black leather blazer, matching peep-toe heels, and blue jeans.

And Amelia Hamlin  whose parents are Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin  also flaunted her taut tummy in a white corset top, black faded jeans, and black platform boots.
10 people tested for Coronavirus on Isle of Man

Ten people have been tested for Coronavirus on the Isle of Man.

An update from Public Health Isle of Man confirmed all tests had come back as negative for the virus.

Testing for COVID-19 is being carried out by a UK specialist laboratory.

Health officials say the risk to the public on the Island remains low.
The first time it was attempted, there werent enough signatures on the petitions, Roberti said. The second time, the petitions were submitted too late, she said. This time, the group went to Elgin Township officials, who agreed to put it on the ballot, said Roberti, who is retired and serves on the Township Committee for Seniors.
With her initiatives and great efforts to help protect the environment, Nguy Thi Khanh has become the first Vietnamese Climate Breakthrough Project awardee.

Born in Bac Giang, near a thermal power plant which emits smoke all year round, Khanh witnessed many people suffering from cancer and understood the misery of not living in a clean environment.

Environment Hero Nguy Thi Khanh

In 2011, the government of Vietnam made public the energy development plan for 2011-2020 with a vision until 2030, or Plan No 7, which estimated that 75,000 MW of electricity would be generated by coal firing until 2030. In the same year, Khanh set up Green Innovation and Development Center (GreenID) to enhance the use of green energy in Vietnam.

Khanh read documents and was impressed by the information that 40 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions was created by coal. She felt concerned about the plan to rely on coal to develop thermal power in Vietnam.

In 2013-2015, Khanh joined forces with energy experts and colleagues to carry out research works and organize a series of workshops to discuss the problems of Plan 7.

Khanh read documents and was impressed by the information that 40 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions was created by coal. She felt concerned about the plan to rely on coal to develop thermal power in Vietnam.

The research works found a negative impact of coal-fired power plants on the environment, national energy security, livelihoods and local sustainable development.

The great efforts by Khanh and co-workers brought encouraging results. Khanh and her team were invited by the Energy Institute to join forces to re-draw the power development plan.

In the amended Plan 7 released in 2016, the government cut a number of coal-fired power plants compared with the previously drafted plan, while increasing the proportion of wind, solar and biomass power plants to 21 percent of total electricity sources by 2030.

The quiet hero

Khanh studied international relations at university with a plan to become a diplomat. After graduating from university, she worked for an NGO, participating in projects on community development, women and orphan assistance, social integration, the environment and clean water development.

When implementing projects related to water source protection, she met communities of people who had to leave their homes with no job to make room for hydropower plants. She began thinking about ways to develop energy without causing a bad impact on the environment and the community.

Khanh and her co-workers put forward LEP initiative, or local energy planning, in which people and authorities build plans together to solve energy issues in their localities, with experts technical support.

Khanh received the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2018.

Thien Nhien

Vietnam to develop a master plan on environmental monitoring system Vietnam is planning to develop a master plan on an environment and natural resource monitoring system to better prevent natural disasters and protect the environment.
New Delhi: US First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday (February 25) visited a Delhi government school in south Moti Bagh area to review the "Happiness Class" programme. The school teachers and staff members scurried to make the day perfect for the visiting dignitary.

Prior to the arrival of the US First Lady, excited students dressed in traditional attire were waiting for her patiently, while the Sarvodaya Co-Educational Senior Secondary School was decked up with floral garlands and motifs to welcoming her.

As soon as she entered, lensmen scurried to get a perfect shot. The children welcomed the First Lady by applying 'teeka' on her forehead, and was also handed over a bouquet after which she lit the ceremonial lamp.

In the school premises, floral rangolis were drawn at multiple places and a student band was waiting to welcome her. Children were seen rehearsing just outside the gate of the school.

In the Happiness programme, students are taught various activities including meditation, street plays, basic obedience aimed at reducing anxiety and stress levels among children.

Earlier, the US Embassy had stated that it had no objection to the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia during Melania Trump`s visit to the government school.

The Embassy added, "it is best to ensure focus is on education, school, and students".

Earlier, US President Donald Trump received a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on. Trump, accompanied by wife Melania, arrived at the President House in the famous `The Beast` car, accompanied by Presidential Bodyguards and was warmly welcomed by President Ram Nath Kovind, his wife Savita Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The US President Donald and his wife Melania later paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and planted a sapling at the memorial of India's Father of the Nation.
The Emirates' General Civil Aviation Authority made the announcement via the country's state-run WAM news agency, just hours after Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel, said there would be restrictions on flights there. "All passenger and cargo aircraft travelling to and from Iran will be suspended for a period of one week, and could be up for extension," the authority said. "The decision is a precautionary measure undertaken by the UAE to ensure strict monitoring and prevention of the spread of the new coronavirus." Loading Emirates, the government-owned carrier based in Dubai, flies daily to Tehran. Its low-cost sister airline, FlyDubai, flies to multiple Iranian cities, as does the Sharjah-based low-cost carrier Air Arabia. The announcement came after Bahrain said it would suspend all flights from Dubai and Sharjah, a neighbouring UAE emirate that is home to Air Arabia, for 48 hours.

Bahrain's Health Ministry on Tuesday raised the number of infected cases from the new virus to eight, saying that all had travelled from Iran via Dubai. Four of them have been identified as Saudi nationals. The cases were confirmed upon arrival to Bahrain during screenings at the airport, and prior to the suspension on flights to Dubai and Sharjah, according to Bahrain's official news agency. Dubai has been screening passengers on incoming flights from China, where the outbreak began in December. Long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad are among the few international airlines still flying to Beijing. However, the outbreak in Iran only became public in recent days. The novel coronavirus has infected more than 80,000 people globally, causing around 2,700 deaths, mainly in China. The World Health Organisation has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it. Iran's government said Tuesday that 15 people had died nationwide from the new coronavirus, rejecting claims of a much higher death toll of 50 by a lawmaker from the city of Qom that has been at the centre of the virus in the country. The conflicting reports raised questions about the Iranian government's transparency concerning the scale of the outbreak. The new death toll came from Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour during an interview with Iranian state television. He said there were 95 confirmed cases of the virus in Iran, with many linked to Qom, a major Shiite religious centre where other cases have emerged.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani sought to reassure the nation in a speech on Tuesday, calling the new coronavirus an "uninvited and inauspicious passenger." "We will get through corona," Rouhani said. "We will get through the virus." Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq and Oman also announced their first cases of the virus on Monday and connected them to travel with Iran. The UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula, has reported 13 cases of the new virus. Most of those were connected to Chinese travel.

Also on Tuesday, Kuwait raised the number of its infected cases to eight, according to the state-run KUNA news agency, after earlier raising the number to five. It said the three latest cases involved Kuwaiti citizens just back from Iran, without giving more details. The five previously reported cases were passengers returning on a flight from the Iranian city of Mashhad, where Iran's government has not yet announced a single case of the virus. Kuwait had halted transport links with Iran over the weekend and said it was evacuating its citizens from Iran. Meanwhile, Iraq's Health Ministry said four new cases of coronavirus were diagnosed in the northern province of Kirkuk. It said the afflicted were members of an Iraqi family who had returned from a recent trip to Iran. Iraq announced the discovery of the first coronavirus case in the country on Monday in the Shiite Muslim holy city of Najaf. Iraq had earlier closed its border with Iran to Iranian nationals but apparently Iraqis can still cross the boundary. Also Tuesday, a Turkish Airlines flight from Tehran to Istanbul landed in Ankara with 17 passengers suspected of having coronavirus, including some who had been to the Iranian city of Qom, Turkey's CNN-Turk broadcaster reported. The passengers were to be quarantined at an Ankara hospital that had previously quarantined Turks returning from China's Hubei province. Turkish Airlines has temporarily suspended most flights with Iran, apart from those with Tehran.
In context: If you've lived on this planet for longer than a couple decades, there's a good chance you've experienced a natural disaster or two. Tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis are common throughout the world, but new information suggests they're common on other planets as well: Mars, in particular.

Back in 2018, NASA's "InSight" lander touched down on the surface of Mars, with the goal of examining the Red Planet's interior. InSight has been in operation for around three months, and it's already turned up some interesting results. According to reports, InSight has detected hundreds of "marsquakes"; planetary tremors that behave similarly to the ground-shaking natural phenomena we experience here on Earth.

These quakes are caused by the "long-term cooling" of Mars -- as the planet cools, its crust becomes more brittle and begins to crack or even shatter. The impact of these cracks can be felt on the way on the surface.

The severity of most detected marsquakes paled in comparison to earthquakes, but about 20 tremors were "relatively significant," The Verge claims, coming in at a magnitude of "3 or 4." However, for the most part, even the worst quakes would not pose much of a threat to human life. "Mars is a place where we can probably say the seismic hazard is extremely low," InSight team member Philippe Lognonne reportedly said in a press release. "At least at this time."

That's good news for humanity in the long term; provided our efforts to colonize the Red Planet pay off down the line. For now, though, this news is just an interesting piece of trivia that further demonstrates the many differences between Earth and our distant, significantly less hospitable cousin.
MediaTek announced strong interest from IoT device makers for its MT3620 offering, a microcontroller unit (MCU) chip designed in close cooperation with Microsoft for direct integration of Microsoft Azure Sphere security solution. The MCU enables manufacturers to develop secure IoT devices connected to Microsoft Azure Cloud services. As the industrys first MCU with Microsoft Azure Sphere directly integrated into its hardware, the Azure Sphere solution has been successfully adopted by major brands and global companies including Starbucks, Leoni, e.on and Gojo.

The MT3620 is a fully-integrated, high-performance MCU that provides the highest level of security for modern, robust Internet-connected edge devices. Demand for the MT3620 is due to its extensive input/output (I/O) peripheral subsystem that offers device makers flexibility and freedom in device design, so it can be utilized in a wide range of IoT applications including smart home, commercial and industry. The MT3620 is now commercially available in the form of chipsets, modules and development kits.

MediaTek is encouraged by the adoption of its MT3620 platform, as we pave the way for extended applications of Azure Sphere, MPU-based SoC chipsets and for OEMs to make great technology accessible to everyone, and on their own terms, said Mohit Bhushan, VP and GM of US Business Development, MediaTek. Security is the single-most pivotal issue facing broad-based adoption of cloud-driven IoT services, particularly for mission-critical industries. We believe Microsoft Azure Sphere is the solution for secure cloud deployments.

The MT3620 is the only MCU available on the market today that incorporates Azure Spheres comprehensive end-to-end security, allowing manufacturers to develop highly secured IoT devices that easily connect to Microsoft Azure Cloud Services. The secured solution provides device authentication and attestation, supports remote over-the-air software updates to maintain security in the face of evolving attacks, and automates error logging and reporting.

IoT security starts in the silicon. The MT3620 is the first Azure Sphere certified chip, designed to deliver unparalleled IoT device security that keeps devices secured over time. This chip runs the Azure Sphere operating system and connects to the Azure Sphere Security Service out of the box, said Anita Rao, Principal Program Lead, Azure Sphere, Microsoft. Today, customers across industries are adopting the MT3620 to design and produce everything from consumer appliances to retail and manufacturing equipmentthese chips are also being used to power a series of guardian modules to securely connect and protect mission-critical equipment.
Did you hear the one about Meghan Markles BFF, Jessica Mulroney, being accused of secretly registering charities for the duchess and Prince Harry? Well, Mulroney is finally speaking out about the gossip, and all we have to say is...yaaasss!

Heres what you need to know: Over the weekend, The Daily Mail published an article, claiming that Mulroney registered a new website (sussexglobalcharities.com) through her own charity, the Shoebox Project. Some believed she created the domain on behalf of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, making it seem like they tried (and failed) to go unnoticed.

Why would Meghan and Harry have supposedly wanted to secretly register such a domain? Well, in stepping down as senior royals, they will no longer be able to use the term royal in connection with their charities. Therefore, they will have to inevitably change Sussex Royal to something else. These false rumors made it seem like they got Mulroney to use her own charity to secure the domain for them days before they announced that theyd be dropping the royal from their charitable organization.

Shortly after the news broke, Mulroney addressed the rumors on Twitter and debunked the gossip once and for all. 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. Happy Sunday, she wrote.

Basically, Mulroney is saying that she had nothing to do with the registration. Instead, it was created by another entity, who just so happens to have a similar name as her charity. What are the odds?

This is a pretty big deal, since Prince Harry and Markle have been the center of criticism as of late. Although we still dont know why the domain was created, its nice to see someone is sticking up for the royal couple.

Shout-out to Mulroney for setting the record straight once and for all.

RELATED: Listen to Royally Obsessed, the Podcast for People Who Love the Royal Family
CITY HALL -- State Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay has tapped Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis to lead the minoritys efforts to gain access to the states Department of Motor Vehicles database following the passage of the states Green Light Law.

The law allows undocumented immigrants to obtain a drivers license in the state and prevents federal immigration authorities from accessing their DMV records.

Federal immigration officials lost access to those records after the Green Light Law passed last year.

The Trump administration said that cutoff from state records threatened public safety and has responded by blocking New Yorkers from enrolling in Global Entry and other trusted traveler programs.

The move prompted New York to sue over its expulsion.

Malliotakis said she was briefed by officials from the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Monday.

New York is the only state in the nation that currently does not comply with the regulations key to protecting our nation from a potential terrorist attack in a post 9/11 world. Fourteen other states provide drivers licenses to those in the country illegally and those 14 other states comply with DHS requirements without an issue, said Malliotakis.

Shockingly, New Yorks law also requires that the Department of Motor Vehicles notify the license holder within three days when a law enforcement agency has requested their personal information for an investigation, and prohibits local law enforcement from sharing information with federal partners,z she added.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said he is willing to restore federal access to driving records on a limited basis.

But he has vowed not to let federal immigration agents see lists of people who had applied for a new type of license that doesnt require applicants to prove they are in the U.S. legally.

Associated Press material was used in this report.

FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER.
Amid the ongoing protests in different parts of Bihar over the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act, National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR), Bihar Assembly on Tuesday (February 25) passed a resolution to not implement the NRC in the state. The assembly also passed a resolution to implement the National Population NPR in its 2010 form, with an amendment.

The resolution was tabled in the Assembly by Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and was passed unanimously. The resolution mentioned that there is no need of NRC in Bihar and the Centre should implement the NPR in 2010 format.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Bihar Legislative Assembly witnessed ruckus as the members of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Opposition parties indulged in a heated debate over issues such as NPR and NRC, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for 15 minutes.

As soon as the proceedings of the Assembly started, Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of misleading the people on National Population Register (NPR). Terming the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and NPR "black laws", he said that the new constitutional Acts are dividing the country.

The ruling MLAs created a ruckus over his statement. "The opposition is trying to defame the country`s Constitution. This cannot be tolerated," members of the ruling NDA alleged.

The house was adjourned for 15 minutes amid uproar. Following the adjournment, Tejashwi told reporters, "The government has issued the NPR notification whereas the Chief Minister is saying that the NPR will happen on the basis of how it was conducted in 2010. They should clarify that the NPR will take place as per the 2010 rule," Tejashwi said.

State Minister Nandkishore Yadav said, "The opposition can only create ruckus. It has nothing to do with public issues. The government is ready to answer every question of the opposition parties in the House."
The State Departments diversity problems go back decades, despite programs that aim to bring in more minorities. Diplomats and recruiters visit university campuses across the country, including historically black colleges as well as other schools with sizable minority enrollments. The State Department also has two programs, the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program and the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program, that seek out job candidates from various ethnic, racial, gender, social and geographic backgrounds.
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he discussed the issue of terrorism emanating from Pakistan with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the two leaders sat down for one-on-one talk at New Delhis Hyderabad House.

We discussed the issue... he is very very strongly against terrorism. Let me tell you, Modi is a very religious and calm man, but he is actually a very very strong person, very tough. I have seen him in action. He has got foremost in his mind - terrorism - and hell take care of it, Trump said while interacting with mediapersons before wrapping up his two-day visit to India.

We talked a lot about Pakistan. I have a very good relation with Prime Minister (Imran) Khan. We talked about it at length actually. There is no question that its (terrorism) a problem and they are working on it. India is a brave nation, there is no pullback from India. There is difficulty in Pakistan and well see what we can do about it, he further said.

ALSO WATCH | PM Modi, friend Donald Trump announce $3 bn defence deal, invoke Pak terror

Addressing a press briefing on talks between Trump and PM Modi, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said that India raised concern with the United States over the cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

With regard to Pakistan, the issues of cross border terrorism, the issue to ensuring financial accountability when dealing with terrorism, the issue of narcotics, the issue that concern Pakistan was certainly raised. These concerns were put out on the table. The discussion took place in a restricted and confidential manner, he said.

After the talks, Trump, in a joint statement with PM Modi, had said that the two leaders affirmed their commitment to protecting our citizens from radical Islamic terrorism.

In this effort, the United States is working productively with Pakistan to confront terrorists who operate on its soil, Trump said.

He had touched upon the issue of terrorism during his address on Monday in Ahmedabad during Namaste Trump event.

My administration is working in a very positive way with Pakistan to crack down on terror organizations and the militants that operate on the Pakistani border, Trump had said. Our relationship with Pakistan is a very good one, thanks to these efforts that we are beginning to see signs of big progress with Pakistan, he had said.
A couple had 25,000 in savings cleared from their account while travelling in South America after one of their phone numbers was ported without consent.

The pair, who wish to remain anonymous, slammed their phone company Three stating it does not take security seriously enough, effectively helping 'facilitate' so-called 'Sim swap' scams.

They contacted This is Money at the start of December 2019 while in Colombia, after their number was stolen - Three gave it away to an identity thief.

After our involvement, the money stolen through a Revolut account was returned and they received compensation from Three.

A man lost his phone number and then his money in a Sim swap scam which took place while he and his partner were travelling in South America

However, it took more than a month to have their cash returned. They blame the telecoms company for 'emotional turmoil, stress and anxiety' caused by the situation.

Their case once again highlights the key role phone companies play in enabling or preventing fraud, especially Sim swap scams where fraudsters are able to obtain victim's phone numbers through persuading providers to hand out Pac codes.

This is a unique code that allows customers to jump from one company to another and should only be dished out once security checks are made.

Fraudsters port the telephone number away, obtaining the Pac by using certain personal information they have gleaned, and then use this to steal money.

Many people now use banking apps and mobile numbers can be used as a back-up way of logging in to bank accounts.

More than 9.1million has been stolen over the last five years through this kind of scam, according to Action Fraud.

One high profile victim was chef and writer Jack Monroe, who lost 5,000 after her number was hijacked.

Why did it take so long to refund?

This is Money was messaged on business network website LinkedIn at the start of December by a reader who told us her partner had lost 25,000 and his phone number after a fraudster persuaded Three to port his number at the end of November.

The thief used the number to access Lloyds Bank and Revolut accounts to transfer the money into multiple currencies and send it away.

The couple, who were travelling in South America for six months, had come across a previous story we had published in November where a reader had lost almost 80,000 while away in Spain.

Hijack: This is Money was previously contacted by someone who lost 80,000 after their number was stolen while on holiday in Spain

She contacted This is Money because, she claimed: 'it's been impossible to get through to the head of financial crime or anyone at Revolut's fraud department.

'We cannot use the in-app live chat because my partner's mobile phone was also hacked and ported out without his permission, meaning he doesn't have a working phone number.

'All his banking apps are tied to that phone number and he has been kicked out of all of them.

'We have attempted contact with Revolut via various channels and the response is always the same: to contact the fraud team via the mobile app.

'While we have managed to access the app, it either crashes or says "looking for an agent" for over an hour and then kicks us out.'

We contacted Revolut on 10 December, three days after they told us they had been made aware of the case, though the couple appeared to have no joy in getting through to them.

We later contacted Three 13 days later after the couple got back in touch to say they had been told by Revolut that the fintech firm needed 'an official letter from Three with the outcome of their investigation confirming that my partner's account was indeed hacked.'

However, they said Three were unable to tell them when they would be able to do this, despite initially pledging that it would conclude their case by 15 December.

Our reader added: 'It feels like we can't move on until Three conclude the investigation but no one is able to provide us with any tangible information via the chat.'

She said throughout the attempt to try and get their money back it was incredibly difficult to get through to either Revolut or Three.

Eventually, after This is Money contacted Three, the telecoms company confirmed it had emailed Revolut on 3 January, and emailed acknowledging the number had been hacked four days later.

According to Revolut, his account was restored on 15 January, and the money refunded six days later, 49 days after it was stolen.

Our reader told This is Money: 'We feel the main fault sits with Three and other telephone companies that allow for these scams to take place.

'The fact they can move your number to another provider without double checking with you that its a genuine request is a terrible thing.

'These scammers can then steal your identity, and this is scarier than the fact they can steal your money.

'I feel strongly that cases of identity theft should be made public so that companies like Three can do what is necessary in order to ensure the highest security for their customers.

'While Revolut has refunded and I am grateful, the emotional turmoil, stress and anxiety I experienced was caused by Three in the first instance.

'There are hundreds of cases every year that are a direct result of phone companies like Three, whose emphasis is on automating their services to such a high degree that not only is human interaction almost non-existent, it actually encourages and invites scams and fraudulent activity.'

She added since her partner lost 25,000 to the scam she has added a second layer of authentication to her own O2 account, but said: 'I had to approach them myself and ask that in no circumstance could they port out my number in case a fraudster tried to get to me as well.'

Fortunately, both are now in Argentina and told This is Money they were enjoying the trip.

Revolut said in a statement: 'In instances of suspected Sim swaps, we help the customer to gather the necessary information from their telecommunications provider to confirm the fraud and that the Sim is now secure.

'This is a regulatory requirement to ensure the account is safe before any funds are transferred.

'Revolut users who believe they have been the victim of scams or fraud should contact us via our dedicated customer service chat for guidance.'

The couple had their phone number and money stolen while travelling in Colombia (above). Fortunately, they have now had both returned and told This is Money they were enjoying their time in Argentina (below)

Three said: 'We are sorry that he has been the victim of fraud, and sincerely apologise for the delay in getting this issue sorted.

'The primary goal of obtaining someone else's phone number is to commit financial fraud.

'Generally, by the time criminals are attempting to obtain someone else's phone number, they have substantial amounts of personal and financial information to impersonate them.

'This meant that the fraudster was able to pass our security checks and request a new Pac.'

Despite this and the monetary loss, it insisted no Sim swap scam had occurred.

It said he had been given 75 compensation and that Three would cancel 47.64 in incurred charges.

Three added: 'We've recently introduced a number of enhanced checks for anyone attempting to obtain someone else's phone number and are working in close collaboration with the rest of the telecoms industry to monitor, identify threats and take action.'
A 16-year-old boy on trial for terrorism offences downloaded guides on how to make homemade guns, used racist Nazi rhetoric and called the New Zealand mosque killer a 'saint', a court heard today.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, believed in the 'twisted ideology of Nazis and white supremacy' and joined conversations about mass shootings on right-wing chat forums, Birmingham Crown Court was told.

The jury was shown censored footage of the Christchurch terror attack in which 51 people were shot dead by gunman Brenton Tarrant, and were told the defendant had a recording of the killings on his phone 'in graphic detail'.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, believed in the 'twisted ideology of Nazis and white supremacy' and joined conversations about mass shootings on right-wing chat forums, Birmingham Crown Court heard

The boy also had videos glorifying Anders Breivik - the Norwegian terrorist who shot 69 people on the island of Utoya in July 2011, the court heard.

Prosecutors allege the teenager, from Rugby in Warwickshire, searched for information about where to buy a blank-firing gun and discussed how to convert it into a live-firing weapon.

The jury was shown pictures which prosecutors allege were found on the defendant's laptop - including one image with the caption 'how to spot a criminal starter pack' next to pictures of a black man.

The court heard the teenager told members of a right-wing chat forum that 'the fuhrer' had 'given me the go-ahead to start the first UK cell'.

Opening the case against the teenager, prosecutor Matthew Brook said: 'In this case, the evidence will prove that he became radicalised so he fully believed in extreme right-wing ideology.

'That is the twisted ideology of Nazis and white supremacy. He came to believe an ideology which thinks a race war is coming. An ideology which believes its followers should bring about a race war, should accelerate its start, so that the white race can become supreme.

Charges denied by teenage 'terrorist' Engaging in preparation of terrorist acts between July 20 and September 3 last year. Nine counts of possessing a document containing information useful for a terrorist about homemade firearms. Advertisement

'He came to believe in an ideology which praises terrorists who carry out mass shootings, like the Christchurch shootings in New Zealand, and called the perpetrators of such massacres 'saints'.'

The prosecution alleges the teenager told like-minded people he was prepared to act as an 'independent unit' and was 'ready to take action'.

In a post on a neo-Nazi website, he allegedly wrote: 'The Fuhrer has given me the go-ahead to start the first UK cell. I'm going to function as an independent unit. We are going to be taking action.'

In the post he continued: 'I'm sick of people talking s**t online. We are going to crack some skulls. We need to be more IRL (In real life) focused.

'Whatever happens, I'm going to have a local unit. I'm working on propaganda and weapons. I need men.

'In the next few weeks, I will have a functioning handgun. Enough to outgun any non-state actors.'

The jury was shown censored footage of the Christchurch terror attack in which 51 people were shot dead by gunman Brenton Tarrant

The court was shown pictures downloaded to the defendant's laptop, including various assault rifles, shotguns and machine guns, which he viewed online in early 2018.

He also downloaded images of soldiers doing a Nazi salutes and pictures of a cartoon dog saying the words, 'read a book n***er, you sure are f***ing stupid'.

Mr Brook told the court the boy's mindset became more and more right-wing heading into 2019.

On February 22 last year, he accessed images of a black man next to the text 'how to spot a criminal'

The boy had various pictures of the book Siege, by American Neo-Nazi James Mason, which is a core text among extreme right-wing groups,' Mr Brook explained.

The book venerates Hitler and advocates 'Lone Wolf' attacks. In it, the author, James Mason, states: 'ANY action taken against the Enemy, no holds barred, is a heroic deed.'

Breivik is referred to as a 'saint' on one of these Telegram chats, which is called Feuerkrig Division, another message group that the defendant was looking at.

When police searched the teenager's bedroom, they also found a black mask with a skull on the front, the court heard, which is allegedly used as a uniform by neo-Nazis.

The court heard the boy also had an image of a Fox newsreader with the words 'Day of the Rope' across it - a reference to the first day of the race war.

Mr Brook continued: 'The evidence will show that (the defendant) joined extreme right-wing chat forums on the internet and joined in the conversations about guns and mass shootings.

'The evidence will show that he searched the internet for information on firearms, ammunition and weapons.

'Having found that information, he did not keep it to himself but shared information about how to make homemade guns to people he believed shared the same extreme right-wing ideology and views of an impending race war as him.

'The evidence will show that he searched for information about where to buy a blank-firing gun, which he discussed converting to a real live-firing gun with others.'

The teenager, who sat with his head bowed throughout proceedings as the evidence was presented, denies engaging in preparation of terrorist acts between July 20 and September 3 last year.

He also denies nine counts of possessing a document containing information useful for a terrorist about homemade firearms. In court, he was wearing a navy suit, white shirt and red tie.

The trial continues, and is expected to last four weeks.
Albuquerque, N.M.

A new Netflix series is tackling questions around the 1965 assassination of civil rights icon Malcolm X.

"Who Killed Malcolm X?" dives into questions surrounding his accused killers and allegations of a botched investigation. The show available now on the streaming service comes as Friday marked the 55th anniversary of Malcolm X's death.

The series follows activist-scholar Abdur-Rahman Muhammad, who revisits the assassination through interviews and archives. Muhammad argues in the series that at least two of the men charged with the slaying were innocent and that the real killers got away.

Three men  Muhammad Aziz, Mujahid Abdul Halim and Khalil Islam  were convicted of killing the civil rights leader and sentenced to life in prison. Aziz and Islam had long denied they were connected to any plot to kill Malcolm X, and Halim had said the two were not involved.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance's office announced earlier this month after the release of the series that it will revisit the 1965 assassination.

"(Vance) has determined that the district attorney's office will begin a preliminary review of the matter, which will inform the office regarding what further investigative steps may be undertaken," district attorney spokesman Danny Frost said in a statement.

The assassination of Malcolm X has long interested scholars and activists, who point to the feud he had with Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad after publicly breaking with the group. A daughter of Malcolm X was charged in 1995 with trying to hire a hit man to kill Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. Malcolm X's widow, Betty Shabazz, said in a 1994 television interview that she believed Farrakhan was involved in her husband's assassination.

Farrakhan, who was recruited into the Nation of Islam by Malcolm X, wrote in the Dec. 4, 1964, issue of Muhammad Speaks, the organization's newspaper: "The die is set and Malcolm shall not escape. ... Such a man is worthy of death." Farrakhan was chief minister of the Nation of Islam's Boston mosque at the time Malcolm X was killed.

Farrakhan acknowledged in a 2000 interview with CBS' "60 Minutes" that his incendiary rhetoric played a role in the assassination.

The Omaha, Neb.-born Malcolm X, who had changed his name to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, was killed in Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom by gunmen who opened fire during a speaking engagement. He was buried at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said the meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah was positive and all parties have stressed on restoring peace in the national capital.

"Meeting with HM Amit Shah was positive and it was decided that all parties will take steps to restore peace," he told reporters after the meeting.

"The police are doing their bit and HM has assured that whatever force is needed, will be provided," Kejriwal said.

Shah on Tuesday held a meeting to discuss the prevailing situation in the national capital after violence in northeast Delhi over the amended citizenship law left seven people, including a head constable, dead.

Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Kejriwal, Commissioner of Police Amulya Patnaik, Congress leader Subhash Chopra, BJP's Manoj Tiwari and Ramvir Bidhuri attended the meeting.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Washington: The White House has sent lawmakers an urgent $US2.5 billion ($3.7 billion) plan to address the deadly coronavirus outbreak, whose rapid spread and threat to the global economy rocked financial markets.

The White House budget office said the funds were for vaccines, treatment and protective equipment. The request was immediately slammed by Democrats as insufficient and came as COVID-19 fears were credited with Monday's 1000-plus point drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and are increasingly seen as a potential political threat to President Donald Trump.

Mary Cahill, left, leaves a news conference where officials discussed the proposal for housing coronavirus patients at the Fairview Development Center in Costa Mesa, California. Credit:Orange County Register/AP

The request was released on Monday evening, US time, and came as key government accounts were running low. The US Department of Health and Human Services had already tapped into an emergency infectious disease rapid response fund and was seeking to transfer more than $US130 million from other accounts to combat the virus but is pressing for more.

"Today, the administration is transmitting to Congress a $US2.5 billion supplemental funding plan to accelerate vaccine development, support preparedness and response activities and to procure much needed equipment and supplies," said White House budget office spokeswoman Rachel Semmel. "We are also freeing up existing resources and allowing for greater [flexibility] for response activities."
As one of the most talked-about films on the social media, Thappad inches towards the theatres, actor Kumud Mishra showers praises on Taapsee Pannu and director Anubhav Sinha. Kumud Mishra, who portrays the role of Taapsee's on-screen father, lauds the actress and tells Ahmedabad Mirror, "She is instinctive; her acting process keeps changing with the moment, just like mine. She is a fantastic actress and I have never seen her in a role like this. Thappad is one of her finest works."

When asked what made him say 'yes' to Thappad, he said 'the brilliant script'. Hinting at domestic violence, Kumud adds, "We pretend that it isn't happening, but it is and unfortunately is considered normal."

Directed by Anubhav Sinha, Thappad throws light on domestic violence and how the domestic violence is not only associated with uneducated families.

Kumud Mishra, who has earlier worked with Anubhav Sinha in Mulk and Article 15, raves about the director and asserts that despite sharing a close bond with him, he likes to maintain a distance from him to allow the space for dialogue.

Is Taapsee Pannu's Thappad A Male-bashing Film? Here's What Actor Pavail Gulati Has To Say

Kumud Mishra says, "For an actor, he is a wonderful director as he gives us creative freedom and is open to discussion. Unka alag hi jadoo hai. I'd drop everything to take up a role if he made the offer."

Thappad, which marks the second collaboration of Anubhav and Taapsee after Mulk, is all set to hit the theatres on February 28, 2020. The film also casts Dia Mirza, Pavail Gulati, Ratna Pathak Shah, Manav Kaul and Tanvi Azim in the key roles.
In fact, one would argue it was a capacity crowd.

There was hardly an empty seat in the fellowship hall at All Saints Episcopal Church, and it was not just a full house with an audience, it was an engaged one, as children were dancing along and parents were seen keeping pace with the show.

To say it was a success might even be a bit of an understatement considering the circumstances coming into the event, circumstances completely out of Swains control.

Weve always had that personal and intimate touch, being in families homes through the home-visiting program, so theyre very used to just getting texts and calls from us, Hey, come on out! so we were discouraged (by the weather) but at the same time we were just going at it last night  Were going to be there, the show must go on, theyre coming, Spencer said.

The symphony did arrive, as did the audience, and the show went off without a hitch. This is the second time in the last three years they have come out to play for Families First in Cabarrus County, and the symphony truly does enjoy opportunities like this.
WUHAN, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in Hubei, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, issued a statement on Tuesday to provide further help for stranded passengers and those in need.

The statement said non-local residents who work or study in Hubei will be supported by their employers or schools. Self-employed professionals and stranded passengers will be taken care of by local communities or villages.

The government will also offer help to those in need of jobs, medical treatment and accommodation.

Stranded personnel can seek help via the hotline 12345 or register their information on the government website and official app, according to the statement.
US President Donald Trump on February 25 said that he discussed the issue of religious freedom with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his comprehensive talks.

On being asked about the violence on north-east Delhi over the Citizenship Amendment Act, Trump said, "PM Modi wants people to have religious freedom. We talked about it (Citizenship Amendment Act) for very long. If you look back, India has worked hard for religious freedom."

However, when asked if he discussed the violence in parts of Delhi during his visit, Trump said, "As for the particular attack (in north east Delhi), I heard about the attack, but we didn't really discuss it. It is up to India."

Addressing a press conference, Trump described Modi as a "terrific" leader and India as a "tremendous country". He reiterated, "Citizenship Act is India's matter, PM Modi will do what is right for the people." says US President

He also said that India is buying a lot of military hardware from the US.

To a question about reports of Russia trying to influence the US presidential poll, he said intelligence agencies never shared such information with him.

With inputs from PTI
A Delhi court on Tuesday disallowed advocate Rosemary Patrizzi to hold a legal interview with Christian James Michel, an accused in the AgustaWestland case, as a legal aide in Tihar Jail, but allowed her to meet the latter as a friend as per prison rules.

Michel, the alleged middleman and accused in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case, was extradited from the UAE in December 2018.

Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar, after noting down all the submission, did not allow Patrizzi to have a legal interview with the accused as a legal advisor.

A foreign lawyer if intending to meet or visit the accused as a friend, same can be allowed as per Jail rules, the court said.

Advocate Aljo K Joseph, appearing for Michel, submitted that accused is a British citizen and does not have any near relatives or friends in India and sought that the accused may be allowed to meet his lawyers in jail during the period of his judicial custody so that the accused will be in a position to explain his case, which is very much necessary for his defence during the trial of the case.

It was also submitted that the accused is facing prosecution in different parts of the world and not all the cases are handled by Indian lawyers.

Earlier in February 2019, Patrizzi was allowed to meet Michel when she intended to meet him as a friend.

The court further noted that no details of cases pending outside India, regarding which the accused wants to have a discussion with a foreign lawyer, should take place during legal interviews which had been mentioned in the application.

Michel is currently lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with alleged irregularities in the multi-crore chopper deal. While the CBI is probing his alleged role as a 'middleman' in the deal, the ED is investigating money laundering charges against him.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Interim Interior Minister Marcel Vela said on Monday that the authorities adopted a decision approving the measures necessary to increase the intervention capacity in preventing and combating infections with the new coronavirus.

During a press conference held at the ministry's headquarters, he also announced that there was a video conference attended by all emergency county committees."Following the discussions, we decided and voted unanimously on several important articles that are part of this decision. Article 1: establishment of quarantine for persons arriving in Romania from Italy, from the 11 communes (...) and self-isolation at home for the people from the areas that are declared at risk in Italy. The Ministry of Health will complete the list with the areas and localities that are at risk, updated according to the current situation in Italy or other countries," said Vela.Regarding the second measure, the official stated that a government decision will be issued for the allocation, from the reserve fund made available to the Government, of the financial resources needed by the ministries in order to establish the quarantine, pay measures and related to the production of information materials.At the same time, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Defence will appoint experts to be part of a working group in order to establish possible action scenarios, depending on the evolution of the infection.Another measure concerns the establishment of a telephone line managed by the Ministry of Health, dedicated to the callers who request information regarding the infection with coronavirus.A strategic communication group will also be set up, under the leadership of the Emergency Situations Department, with representatives from the institutions involved, so that the press and the citizens can be efficiently informed from official sources. AGERPRES
Use online quotes to compare offers in your area and get the best deal. Our website will help you get free quotes and compare all available offers, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

Compare-autoinsurance.org has released a new blog post that explains how the clients should compare car insurance rates and save money.

For more info and free quotes online, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/how-to-compare-auto-insurance-prices/

When determining rates, companies analyze several socio-economic factors. Age, gender, employment status and driving history are top influential factors. Clients who want to get quotes, compare prices and choose the best offers, should follow the next steps:



Analyze the factors used to determine premiums. There are many factors taken into consideration when determining insurance costs. The most influential factors are cars make and model, driving history, demographic factors, recent claims, and traffic violations and coverage options. All these variables are added in a rates calculator and the client will be presented with an insurability score and a quote. Each factor has its importance. For example, married persons are statistically safer drivers and they end up paying less on car insurance.

Understand which risk category they are placed, then look for adequate companies. For Standard and Preferred drivers, the insurance process is really simple. Make a list with top reputable companies and get quotes for each one of them. Things get complicated for high-risk drivers. They must find non-standard carriers, get quotes and compare prices. Comparison is really important in this case since high-risk drivers will have to pay a whole lot more.

Get multiple quotes from brokerage websites. There will be many smaller, more local companies included in those quotes obtained from brokerage websites. But in many cases, smaller companies offer top competitive services at lower costs. It really pays to shop around and not limit the options to just 2 or 3 companies. Furthermore, all results are obtained using the same data and for the same product. This gives no room for errors. Clients who use brokerage websites can quickly sort offers by prices. But do not be guided only by price. Check what other benefits and bonuses can be obtained by applying to each offer.

Making several changes will help drivers get better rates. Many insurance questionnaires ask about installed anti-theft devices, graduating defensive driving or installing telematics. These will help lower the costs. Teens can also get better rates if they agree to follow the rules of a customized contract. UBI programs will help good drivers get better rates.

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 and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/
HOUSTON, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 4,000 people will participate in Walk With Me, a non-competitive 5K or shorter family fun walk, on Saturday, April 25, at the Houston Zoo to raise awareness and resources for Easter Seals Greater Houston, which serves veterans, children and adults with all types of disabilities. The annual event, presented by Prosperity Bank, is sponsored by Team Industrial Services, Alvarez & Marsal, the WithMerci Foundation, John Eagle Honda, Texas Children's Hospital and many other community supporters. Join the Walk Ambassadors, clients, staff, underwriters and thousands of others as they journey through the Houston Zoo to support this great cause and see what happens when businesses like these set the bar high and engage their employees through corporate social responsibility. Following the walk, there is an after-party featuring animal shows, music, food and various children's' activities held at the Masihara Pavilion inside the zoo. After the event, participants are welcome to stay and enjoy the zoo for the remainder of the day.

This year's 9th Annual Walk With Me is chaired by Richard Holt, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal, and Steve Thompson, Jr., President, Prosperity Bank Medical Center. Larry Dierker, former Houston Astros Pitcher, Broadcaster and Manager will also be in attendance serving as Celebrity Chairman. Last year's walk made it possible for Easter Seals Greater Houston to proudly serve over 12,000 individuals with disabilities and their families in 2019 and ESGH knows that number will continue to grow as 1 in 6 babies are born with a developmental delay or disability. Community support of Walk With Me is a gift to many families in the greater Houston area who benefit from the agency's high quality, low cost services.

REGISTER TODAY and make a huge difference in the life of a child with a disability! Anyone interested in walking can register online at walkwithmehouston.org or by contacting Madison Shofner at [email protected].

About Easter Seals Greater Houston Easter Seals Greater Houston, Inc., a United Way Agency, is a non-profit corporation established to provide comprehensive services to individuals of all ages with all types of disabilities and veterans as well as their families. As the only local organization providing a broad range of comprehensive services to individuals and families affected by disabilities, ESGH operates: Early Childhood Intervention; Caregiving Services; Toy/Tech & Play Groups; BridgingApps Assistive Tech Lab; High School/High Tech; Housing / Financial Literacy; Therapy Services; The Caroline School; Camps and Recreation; Case Management; Transition Services; Adult Services, and Veterans Services. For more information about Easter Seals Greater Houston, visit www.eastersealshouston.org or visit us on Facebook and Twitter (@eastersealshou).

SOURCE Easter Seals Greater Houston

Related Links

http://www.eastersealshouston.org


The campaign will go on till March 23 and bring the Kejriwal model of development to every household in Maharashtra.

Mumbai: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday launched its national outreach programme Politics of Work from Maharashtra. This comes days after the partys landslide victory in Delhi.

The campaign will go on till March 23 and bring the Kejriwal model of development to every household in Maharashtra.

This will ensure that like in Delhi, politics 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 Delhi and the Maharashtra model, said a press release by AAP.

It further claimed that the campaign will allow people to understand better the change that has come into the lives of people in Delhi due to AAPs politics of work.

The party has claimed that the Delhi governments work had awakened people who are now disgusted with tradition politics of caste and religion.

The party statement stated that massive victory in the Delhi polls, where it won 62 out of 70 seats, is attributed to the transformative development across all sectors, including schools, hospitals, water, electricity and womens safety.

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 Kejriwal government, said the partys statement.
New York: 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..."
Aged 49, Iranian diabetic Parviz Sadeghi appears closer to 70 with deep wrinkles surrounding his clear blue eyes and sunken cheeks testifying to shortages at a time of intensifying medical crisis. After a six-hour wait, he is relieved but exhausted as he emerges from a pharmacy in the capital Tehran with insulin -- an increasingly scarce necessity, as US sanctions bite. "I've been a diabetic for nearly 10 years," the out-of-work labourer said, adding that he lives in Karaj, about an hour west of the capital. "Before... you'd go to any pharmacy and they'd give it to you, but now you have to go to 1,000 places," he lamented, after spending a week trudging from one dispensary to another. Iranians had been hit by low medicine supplies even before the new coronavirus broke out in the central city of Qom and spread, claiming several lives and fostering panic amid a lack of face masks. The medical shortages kicked in after the US pulled out of a landmark nuclear deal and reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran in 2018. Washington had exempted humanitarian goods, especially medicines and medical equipment from its punitive measures. But international purchases of such supplies are forestalled by banks being wary of conducting any business with Iran, for fear of falling foul of sanctions themselves. This in turn has worsened the acute shortage of medicines and led to skyrocketing prices, against the backdrop of an increasingly devalued rial. "I used to get insulin about three years ago for 17,000 tomans ($1.10, one euro), now it's 50,500 tomans," said Sadeghi. "And it's getting even more expensive. "Insurance does cover this. That's why I've been to 1,000 places since last Saturday to get them to approve this. They did accept eventually, but it took a long time, and you have to go to a lot of places," he said. Sadeghi "borrows" life-saving insulin from other patients during lean periods just to survive. He struggles to find pharmacies that provide needles with the syringes. "Recently, they've started forcing us to pay for the needle." - Overburdened pharmacies - Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told AFP that Iran was "today capable of producing more than 97 percent of its needed medicine. "We only import about three percent of the drugs we use, which is obviously just about new and hi-tech drugs -- medicine which is used in limited amounts and would not be feasible to produce inside the country," he said. But he admitted that the country had been struggling to import "medicines for rare and special diseases" for around a year now. Located right in the heart of Tehran, the "13 Aban" state-run pharmacy is a hive of activity, drawing hordes of patients daily who queue patiently for hours as it stocks and subsidises medicines for rare diseases. It and a handful of other pharmacies in Tehran work with the government-run insurer. Mohammad Aminian, 73, who needs insulin for his diabetic wife, blamed the sanctions for his woes in procuring a supply. "The government tries to make things work, even though it creates some problems of its own... We would have preferred if they did negotiate" with the United States, he said. Diabetic Sadeghi meanwhile squarely blames the government. "It's definitely the government. They don't have the ability to manage things. Some people who don't have insurance, they have to buy" at the inflated prices. "They have to either die or... pay." Mohammad Rezaei, the deputy director of pharmacies attached to the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, said: "Insulin is one of the main medicines affected... and our stocks of it along with other medicines are reducing with time." Alongside diabetics, cancer patients and people suffering from thalassaemia, a genetic blood disease common in the country, have been hit hard. A young woman with a serious disease called epidermolysis bullosa -- a group of rare genetic conditions that result in easy blistering of the skin and mucous membranes -- died recently due to a lack of specialised bandages. - Smuggling - Shahrzad Shahbani, the owner of a private pharmacy in the capital, points to another grave problem -- medicines for people with psychiatric problems. "A patient with a prescription for say, 200 pills, can only come and get 100, or even 20 ... and this is getting even more frequent," she said. Another medicine in short supply is Depakine, a drug manufactured by French company Sanofi and used by epilepsy patients. Mohammed, an Iran-Iraq war veteran in his 50s, is one of them. He also has post-traumatic stress disorder. He uses a locally made medicine for PTSD, saying "it sometimes causes stomach problems, burning. And it doesn't even calm you down enough. If I get nervous, it might work half as (well as) the other one." Pharmacy owner Shahbani backed him. "The quality is really a problem unfortunately. It's not something you can talk about officially," she said. "There's even a difference (of quality) from company to company, because the formulations are different." Shahbani said people with Parkinson's disease sometimes even smuggled in foreign medication through Turkey, in order to get a better quality supply. A new financial channel set up by Switzerland to facilitate humanitarian trade with Iran appears to have made little difference. Meanwhile, some pharmacies continue to charge exorbitant black market rates to Iranians already reeling under recession and the plunging currency. Iranians had been hit by low medicine supplies even before the new coronavirus broke out in the central city of Qom and spread, claiming several lives and fostering panic amid a lack of face masks Iranian medical staff at the state-run "13 Aban" pharmacy in Tehran -- hordes of patients queue patiently for hours as the dispensary stocks and subsidises medicines for rare diseases Iranian Mohammad Rezaei, the deputy director of pharmacies attached to the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, says insulin stocks are depleting While Washington exempted medicines and medical equipment from its sanctions, international purchases of such supplies are forestalled by banks being wary of conducting any business with Iran, for fear of falling foul of sanctions themselves
Some of the new technology is aimed at easing language difficulties. Kennedy International Airport in New York recently installed three A.I.-based real-time translation devices from Google at information stations around the airport. Travelers choose their language from a counter-mounted screen and ask their questions aloud to the device. The device repeats the question in English to the person at the station. That person responds in English, and the device translates that aloud to the travelers.

Artificial intelligence is also being used behind the scenes to reduce the time airplanes spend at the gate between flights, which can mean shorter waiting time for passengers who have boarded and buckled up. London-Gatwick, Quebec City and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky airports are among about 30 around the world testing or installing a visual A.I. system made by the Swiss company Assaia. The system uses cameras pointed at a plane parked at the gate to track everything that happens after the aircraft lands: how long it takes for fuel and catering trucks to arrive, whether the cargo door is open, and even if employees on the ground are wearing their safety vests.

While humans can do each of these tasks, monitoring and analyzing the operations of these various functions can speed the turnaround of the plane and prevent accidents, according to Assaia. After the same plane has, for instance, been filmed doing hundreds of turnarounds at a particular airport, the A.I. system can identify the elements or situations that most often cause delays, and managers can take corrective action. Accidents like ground crew injuries or service vehicle collisions can also be analyzed for their causes.
Actress Lysette Anthony claims Harvey Weinstein raped her in the 1980

A Hollyoaks star who says she was raped by Harvey Weinstein today praised the US victims who helped bring him to justice as he faces further abuse claims from women in the UK.

The disgraced Hollywood producer, 67, who faces dying in prison after a New York jury convicted him of rape and sexual assault, faces a series of allegations he abused women in London during his regular visits there over the last four decades.

Actress Lysette Anthony, who claims Weinstein raped her in the 1980s, called the conviction a 'seismic moment for victims of sexual assault' and praised his American victims for helping to 'slaughter' his 'vicious, petty, transactional defence'.

She added to The Guardian: 'The important thing here is that these women have been believed  that is a hugely positive message to send to anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault. All credit to the jury for seeing the truth of the situation.'

Jill Greenfield, who is representing six women in civil claims against Weinstein with the London firm Fieldfisher, called his conviction 'fantastic news' and a 'relief for everybody'.

'People underestimate the way in which juries can see through these things,' she said. 'Lots of women don't get to bring claims for sexual assaults, but they should.'

Greenfield said British police are still investigating the claims against Weinstein in London.

Weinstein's former British assistant, Rowena Chiu, who accused Weinstein of rape, called yesterday's conviction 'partial justice' and said she was 'staggered' it took so long to achieve the outcome

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 faces up to 29 years in prison.

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.

His former British assistant, Rowena Chiu, who accused Weinstein of rape, called the outcome 'partial justice' and said she was 'staggered' it took so long to achieve the outcome.

Weinstein was convicted yesterday and rushed to hospital by ambulance shortly afterwards while suffering chest pains on his way to New York's notorious Rikers Island prison.

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'.

Weinstein was found guilty of raping and sexual assaulting two women by a New York jury yesterday, when he is pictured going into court

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, 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?'

Weinstein will be sentenced on March 11. He denies all claims of non-consensual sex and his lawyers say will appeal his conviction in New York. He is also facing charges in Los Angeles.
Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein found support from Bill Cosbys camp shortly after the former studio boss was convicted Monday on two charges of sexual assault.

Andrew Wyatt, a publicist for the imprisoned Cosby, called the outcome of the Weinstein case a very sad day in the American Judicial System.

Wyatts statement was posted on the 82-year-old Cobys official Twitter and Instagram accounts. Cosby is serving a three- to 10-year sentence for sexual assault in Pennsylvanias SCI Phoenix prison.

This is not shocking because these jurors were not sequestered, which gave them access to media coverage and the sentiments of public opinion, the Instagram statement from Wyatt read. Theres no way you would have anyone believe that Mr. Weinstein was going to receive a fair and impartial trial. Also, this judge showed that he wanted a conviction by sending the jurors back to deliberate, after they were hung on many of the counts.

He added, Heres the question that should haunt all Americans, especially wealthy and famous men ... Where do we go in this country to find fairness and impartiality in the judicial system; and where do we go in this country to find Due Process? Lastly, if the #metoo movement isnt just about Becky [White women], I would challenge #metoo and ask them to go back 400+ years and tarnish the names of those oppressors that raped slaves.

Weinstein was found guilty of committing a criminal sex act in the first degree involving one woman and rape in the third degree involving another woman.

Cosby was convicted in April 2018 of three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and assaulting a woman.
An Irish drug dealer has lost acces to a bitcoin fortune worth millions of euros after the access codes were reportedly sent to a landfill site.

Clifton Collins, 49, wrote the private keys to digital wallets containing 6,000 bitcoin onto a sheet of A4 paper, which he hid in a fishing rod case in early 2017.

Collins, who is originally from Dublin, was arrested later that year and jailed for five years for cannabis-related offences. His landlord subsequently cleared many of his possessions from his house and sent them to a landfill site in County Galway.

According to the Irish Times, who first reported the story, workers at the dump remembered seeing discarded fishing gear, however waste from the site is sent to incinerators in China and Germany.

At current exchange rates, the fortune is worth 54 million (45m).

Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Satoshi Nakamoto creates the first bitcoin block in 2009 On 3 January, 2009, the genesis block of bitcoin appeared. It came less than a year after the pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto detailed the cryptocurrency in a paper titled 'Bitcoin: A peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System' Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin is used as a currency for the first time On 22 May, 2010, the first ever real-world bitcoin transaction took place. Lazlo Hanyecz bought two pizzas for 10,000 bitcoins  the equivalent of $90 million at today's prices Lazlo Hanyecz Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Silk Road opens for business Bitcoin soon gained notoriety for its use on the dark web. The Silk Road marketplace, established in 2011, was the first of hundreds of sites to offer illegal drugs and services in exchange for bitcoin Screenshot Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures The first bitcoin ATM appears On 29 October, 2013, the first ever bitcoin ATM was installed in a coffee shop in Vancouver, Canada. The machine allowed people to exchange bitcoins for cash Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures The fall of MtGox The world's biggest bitcoin exchange, MtGox, filed for bankruptcy in February 2014 after losing almost 750,000 of its customers bitcoins. At the time, this was around 7 per cent of all bitcoins and the market inevitably crashed Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Would the real Satoshi Nakamoto please stand up In 2015, Australian police raided the home of Craig Wright after the entrepreneur claimed he was Satoshi Nakamoto. He later rescinded the claim Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's big split On 1 August, 2017, an unresolvable dispute within the bitcoin community saw the network split. The fork of bitcoin's underlying blockchain technology spawned a new cryptocurrency: Bitcoin cash Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's price sky rockets Towards the end of 2017, the price of bitcoin surged to almost $20,000. This represented a 1,300 per cent increase from its price at the start of the year Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures What goes up... Bitcoin price crashes spectacularly, losing half of its value in a matter of days Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin plunges The cryptocurrency eventually bottoms out below $4,000 in 2019 before slowly rebuilding momentum to outperform more traditional assets Getty Images

The bitcoin fortune, which is spread across 12 online accounts, was allegedly amassed in late 2011 and early 2012 using cash obtained by growing cannabis.

The Irish Criminal Assets Bureau is monitoring the wallets, however it has no way of accessing it without Collins's private keys.

Private keys are made up of a string of letters and numbers that are designed to be deliberately hard to remember. The alphanumeric code is the only way to access a bitcoin wallet and it is impossible to spend or transfer the cryptocurrency without it.

A 2017 study by digital forensics firm Chainalysis estimated that nearly four million bitcoin have been lost forever, representing around 20 per cent of the total number that will ever exist.

Collins's lost fortune is not the largest to have diappeared. In 2013, Welsh IT specialist James Howells made headlines after accidentally throwing away a computer hard drive containing 7,500 bitcoin.

In an interview with Newsweek in 2017, when the price of one bitcoin was approaching $20,000, Mr Howells said he was "pretty Zen" about the misplaced cryptocurrency.

"I have good days and bad days, but overall I'm good," he said. "Anyway, no point crying about it."
: As part of security measures



in view of Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu's visit to Pondicherry University, police on Tuesday removed 80 protesting students from the administrative block of the varsity and shifted them to the silver jubilee block on the campus.

The students have been protesting for the past 20 days, demanding total scrapping of the increase in fees.

Security has been tightened in the university with the police and Rapid Action Force personnel being deployed ahead of Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu's address the 28th convocation in the university on Wednesday, an official source said.

The university said the campus has been brought under tight security and as a preventive measure, the agitating students occupying the corridors of the administrative block have been removed but kept within the campus to maintain law and order, a press release from the varsity said.

The university tried its best to avoid unforeseen developments by engaging four rounds of talks by itshigh- level committee with the students but there was no breakthrough in the negotiations because of the 'adamant attitude' of the protesting students, the release said.

The varsity management claimed that efforts to end the impasse would continue, it said.

The university had its earlier convocation in December last when President Ram Nath Kovind was the chief guest and the need to have a convocation within two months of the earlier ceremony was to clear the backlog of degrees, the Vice-Chancellor of the University Gurmeet Singh had told PTI on Monday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
25 February 2020

Type Media Article



By Dermot Forristal, Teagasc Oak Park



Todays fertiliser spreaders are increasingly complex with advanced control systems often coupled with on-board weighing and GPS control. But whether a spreader has complex electronic or simple mechanical controls, its setting and adjustment to ensure accurate and even spreading is absolutely essential.

Accurate and even fertiliser spreading is important to optimise yield and crop/grass quality and to protect the environment. While there is lots of research on the rates and timing of fertiliser application, we rely on the spreader to apply that fertiliser accurately. The challenge to spread very variable fertiliser products at bout widths of between 12 and 30m in variable fields is immense.

Spreading evenly

Spreading evenly across the width is the first priority. There are a number of steps that will ensure this is achieved.

Correct choice of machine for the fertiliser being used at the chosen bout width

Use of fertiliser with good physical quality characteristics

Correct setting of the machine for fertiliser and bout width using setting resources based on comprehensive tests.

Correct setting and use of the machine on the field headland and narrow bout widths

Spreader setting resources  comprehensive testing essential

For wider spreading machines, the importance of the availability of good setting resources, cannot be over-emphasised. These are generated by the spreader manufacturer carrying out multiple spreading tests at different rates with a huge variety of fertiliser products. Access to a suitable test hall is essential for this. Depending on the manufacturer and the machines characteristics, once a basic set of tests are complete, the correct settings for particular fertiliser product can be achieved by size and physical quality matching the fertiliser with some of those already in the database. There are two ways that this can be achieved; the simpler form involves characterising the fertiliser using information such as:

Particle size distribution by sieving (hand held testers available)

Density by weighing a volume

Particle strength by crush testing

Particle shape by matching to images

Most of the spreader manufacturers use a system like this today. Its accuracy depends on how representative the sample is; how sensitive the spreading mechanism on the spreader is to variation in quality; and how comprehensive the manufacturers full spread-test database is. An alternative approach is to subject a sample of the fertiliser to a standardised throw test where the spreading characteristics are assessed and again compared to database information to get a proper setting.

The right machine

Having a spreader capable of spreading the particular fertiliser evenly over the desired bout width is essential and can only be verified by having full spread test information which should show the shape of the spread pattern and verification of even spreading by having a low CV (coefficient of variation). Test hall CV values should be less than 10% and preferably in the range 2-7%. Independent test results would provide more complete verification, but these are difficult to secure, forcing us to rely on manufacturers information. Its often wise to stay well within the claimed limits of the spreader; if the manufacturer claims 27m bout widths are possible, it might be wise to stick with bout widths of 24m or less!

Settings to spread evenly

The adjustments to be made to ensure even spreading with a particular product depend on the design of the spreading mechanism which differs significantly between makes and models. Note too that the setting appropriate for one model in a range may not be correct for a different model. The spreader components that may be adjusted to ensure even spreading include:

Disc type

Disc speed

Vane type and position on disc.

Position of fertiliser drop point onto disc.

Spreader angle to crop and height over crop

Disc height over crop/soil, or spreader / disc angle.

Source of setting data

The manufacturers setting database, can be accessed by a number of means. The operators manual shows how the adjustments can be made. A settings manual is usually still available to give settings for fertiliser types and even specific products. In recent years there has been a move to either on-line or smart phone app based systems. These offer three main advantages:

They allow the type of fertiliser being spread to be matched to something in the database by inputting physical characteristics like size distribution, density etc.

The database that underpins the setting information can be continuously updated unlike setting books

You cannot mislay the app or on-line website unlike the setting book!

Its possible to have this information directly available on the in-cab monitor for the spreader also.

Setting the machine

Using these resources is not difficult, but seek help from smart phone-savvy (younger!) people if necessary. There are often two ways in which these resources can be used. In many cases, the manufacturer may have tested the actual product (including Irish fertiliser) that you are using and the settings are provided on this basis. However fertiliser can change from season to season and with blended products, even from batch to batch. This makes it very difficult to rely on the database information without verifying that the physical quality matches that in the database. The second method allows the physical quality characteristics to be inputted. In an ideal world, this information should be provided for each batch of fertiliser supplied by the fertiliser industry, but typically it will require simple sieve box testing of representative samples in addition to appearance and maybe strength testing.

When the fertiliser data, and the desired bout width are entered, the app or website will then give the setting to use to ensure the fertiliser is spread evenly across the width. Most of these setting resources will also give an approximate rate setting too if the desired application rate in kg/ha and forward speed are inputted. However the accuracy of these will depend on how well the database sample matches the product being used, and weather conditions, as high humidity will reduce flow rate.

Rate setting / calibration

Getting the correct rate of fertiliser out (kg/ha or bags/acre) is also important and while manufacturers setting guides are a starting point, some level of field calibration is often needed.

Many high-spec spreaders now have on-board weighing systems which allow automatic calibration; just input the desired application rate and the controller will take over from there. A full calibration requires the fertiliser to be run-through the spreader and flow rate to be calculated, typically with a disc removed. Forward speed needs to be accurately measured too. Some manufacturers have very useful setting aids such as calibrated flow bags that guide setting without full calibration. Field calibration (without on-board weighing) where the area on which a known quantity of fertiliser is spread is measured is possible. But with 500kg bags, a lot of area may be spread before the correct rate is achieved.

Headland spreading

Current Oak Park research suggests that fertiliser distribution in the headland areas of fields is quite uneven compared to the in-field area, contributing to yield loss. There are two challenges: 1) spreading to the boundary and 2) merging the in-field runs with the headland runs.

To spread evenly to the field margin, manufacturers offer different adjustments such as: deflectors; altered disc speed and fertiliser drop point etc to alter the headland pattern, but these must be set very carefully.

Merging the in-field runs with the headland runs requires the spreader to be turned on and off at a precise distance from the headland. This can be very difficult with spreaders which throw fertiliser considerable distances. Accurate GPS systems can automatically control the on/off point making this more precise than can typically be achieved manually, thus avoiding fertiliser waste and crop lodging at the headland.

Finally - The impact of fertiliser spreader use on crop/grass performance and profitability can be enormous. Fertiliser must be spread evenly and accurately. Careful setting is essential.

Videos on how to spread accurately and evenly can be found here
The Haryana Assembly on Tuesday witnessed the ruling BJP members and main opposition Congress legislators exchanging barbs over the disbanded Haryana State Industrial Security Force.

During the Zero Hour, Congress MLA Kiran Choudhary raised the plight of a large number of personnel of the disbanded force who lost their job over a decade ago.

The force was formed by the then Indian National Lok Dal government, but was disbanded due to various technicalities and objections during previous Congress regime after which nearly 3,000 personnel lost their jobs.

Later, the Congress government adjusted some of the personnel in the police department while the BJP government later engaged some of them as Special Police Officers on contract basis.

Kiran Choudhary wanted that some permanent solution should be found to adjust them as contracts were only annual.

On this home minister Anil Vij claimed that it was the previous Congress government which had disbanded the force.

"Did you ever raise the issue during the past decade," former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda told Vij, who retorted by saying, I did, but you (Hooda) behaved like a dictator and never listened to the opposition voice (BJP was in opposition then)".

As soon as Vij had said this, Congress MLAs were up on their feet and sought an apology from Vij.

Intervening in the issue, Chief Minister Khattar said that Zero Hour does not mean that House decorum will not be maintained.

"Do not politicise the issue," Khattar told opposition Congress members.

The din continued for a while till Hooda asked Khattar to mention about Congress government's gesture to adjust some of the personnel of the disbanded force like the BJP government.

Kiran Chaudhry said it was on humanitarian grounds that she had raised this issue of the personnel of the disbanded force and while targeting Vij, she said, unfortunately, Mr Vij has to intervene in everything and he twists entire debate into a different scenario."
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 Tuesday to tentatively approve an ordinance that would ban the sale of vaping products in the county's unincorporated areas.

The ordinance represents an effort to quell the rising use of tobacco vaping products and e-cigarettes, particularly among young people. Nearly 70 percent of high school students in Alameda County who have bought vaping products reported doing so at a store or through another person; only 6.5 percent bought their vaping products and devices online.

The ordinance would build on the county's tobacco retailer licensing ordinance, which the board adopted last month.

Under the licensing ordinance, tobacco retailers must meet requirements for pricing, packaging and retailing density and are prohibited from selling flavored tobacco products. Roughly 115 tobacco retailers have obtained a license in the county's unincorporated areas alone.

The ban does not apply to tobacco-related products that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, such as nicotine patches or chewing gum, or to vaping devices that use cannabis rather than tobacco.

"If (vaping) is a deterrent to smoking, then do what they did with Nicorette in the beginning and that was to get it through a pharmacy," Supervisor Scott Haggerty said. "That is the way of making sure that our children are not getting these, our children are not getting chronic coughs because their lungs are damaged."

A July 2018 Gallup poll found that 20 percent of adults ages 18-29 said they vape, while 8 percent of adults age 30-64 and less than 1 percent of adults over age 65 said the same. In addition, a 2018 survey by the University of Michigan found that 21 percent of 12th graders and 16 percent of 10th graders had vaped in the last 30 days.

Several other municipalities around the Bay Area -- including the counties of Santa Clara, Contra Costa, San Mateo and San Francisco -- have enacted some type of restriction on the sale of vaping products. The cities of Livermore and Dublin have also banned the sale of the devices.

Supervisor Nate Miley was the only board member not in support of the ordinance but chose to abstain rather than cast a vote in opposition. Miley argued the ban was akin to the early 20th-century effort to ban the sale and consumption of alcohol and will only push vaping product sales onto the black market.

He suggested more regulation without an outright ban would be a more successful method of keeping children and young people from vaping and developing nicotine addictions.

"We regulate (guns, tobacco and alcohol). We regulate all of it because if you try to ban stuff, it's only going to produce unintended consequences," Miley said. "Young people are still going to get this product."

The board must vote on the ordinance a second time to ratify it. A date for the second vote has yet to be revealed. If ratified, the ordinance would go into effect 90 days after the second vote.

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A court in the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo on handed down a 10-year jail term to former Hong Kong bookseller and Swedish national Gui Minhai for "illegally providing intelligence overseas."



"We did not receive any information about this, did not have access to the trial and have not been able to examine the prosecution," Sweden's foreign minister Ann Linde said via her Twitter account.



"The [Swedish] government continues to demand that Gui Minhai be released, as well as access to our citizen to provide consular support," she wrote.



The Ningbo Intermediate People's Court made the announcement in a statement on its website, saying that Gui had pleaded guilty and wouldn't be appealing.



A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said the case had been "handled according to law" by the Chinese judiciary.



"China is opposed to any foreign countries, organizations or individuals interfering in China's internal affairs and judicial sovereignty," the spokesman said in response to questions about the case.



Gui's wife Jennifer declined to comment on her husband's sentence, suggesting that the family remains under heavy pressure from the Chinese authorities.



"I don't want to say anything, sorry," she told RFA.



Repeated attempts to contact Gui's daughter Angela via phone and social media were unsuccessful on .



Hong Kong-based booksellers

Gui was one of five Hong Kong-based booksellers detained by the Chinese authorities for selling "banned" political books to customers across the internal border in mainland China in 2015.



He disappeared under murky circumstances from his holiday home in Pattaya, Thailand, in , only to reappear in China "confessing" on video to a decade-old alleged drunk-driving offense.



Gui was "released" by the Chinese authorities in , but his daughter said he was still not free.



Instead, he was placed under various forms of control and surveillance in his birthplace, Ningbo, during which time he was reunited with his wife Jennifer, who is a German national.



Gui was suddenly redetained in while en route by train to Beijing in the company of two Swedish diplomats. State security police said they suspected him of carrying state secrets to supply to overseas organizations, according to state media reports at the time.



Lam Wing-kei, Gui's former colleague at the now-shuttered Causeway Bay Books in Hong kong said he was a little surprised at the harshness of the sentence.



"I hadn't really expected this," said Lam, who has since fled to the democratic island of Taiwan. "I am still very sad about it."



"He had already served two years in jail ... so what secrets would he have had access to?" Lam said. "Mainland China is a ridiculous country."



Angela Gui campaigns for the release of her father, Swedish national and former Hong Kong book publisher Gui Minhai. Credit: Free Guiminhai Court assertion ridiculed

Lam said Gui's 10-year jail term could be linked to a book he had planned to publish.



"They were going to bring out a book about the most influential leaders in Zhongnanhai [ruling Chinese Communist Party headquarters]," he said. "Maybe all five of us booksellers got detained because of that?"



"It's very likely that someone in the highest echelons of power didn't want that book published," Lam said.



The court statement also alluded to Gui's having "reapplied for Chinese citizenship" in 2018.



"Gui Minhai, male, Han nationality, was born on , 1964," the court statement said. "He was originally born in Ningbo, China. He became a Swedish citizen in 1996. In 2018, he applied for restoration of Chinese nationality in accordance with the law."



Poet Bei Ling, who is a friend of Gui's, said the authorities had likely demanded that Gui renounce his Swedish citizenship.



"The most ridiculous thing about it is their demand that he return to Chinese citizenship," Bei said. "Does that mean Gui needs to be a Chinese national in order to serve 10 years in a Chinese jail?"



"It's a joke, and [this assertion by the authorities] shouldn't be taken at face value, that something Gui agreed to freely," Bei said. "They just don't want any involvement from the Swedish government."



Chinese author Ma Jian, who heads the Independent Chinese PEN Center, said President Xi Jinping has presided over a huge clampdown on the freedom of press and publication in Hong Kong, which was promised the maintenance of its traditional freedoms under the terms of the 1997 handover.



"I am extremely angry about this, and I have been watching the way this has progressed in Hong Kong," Ma said. "Gui Minhai has become a scapegoat."



"Ever since Xi Jinping came to power, he has taken China ever faster towards dictatorship," he said. "The Chinese Dream is actually a Dream of Red Imperialist China."



Reported by Gao Feng for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Ng Yik-tung and Sing Man for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
A runaway baboon and his two wives have been recaptured by police in Sydney after the trio escaped while being transported to a medical research facility.

This is not a Mandrill, police posting on Twitter joked, after concerned members of the public called the emergency services after spotting the fugitive primates in the grounds of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Camperdown.

The three baboons apparently engineered their escape from a van while they were being transported on Tuesday.

The male baboon was due to undergo a vasectomy, and the two females considered his wives, according to local journalists, had been brought along to help keep him calm during the transportation and procedure.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard told AAP there had been a lock failure either on the truck or on the crate in which a 15-year-old male and two females were being transported, and they had seized their chance for freedom.

Alien corpse turns out to be a female mummified Baboon Show all 3 1 /3 Alien corpse turns out to be a female mummified Baboon Alien corpse turns out to be a female mummified Baboon Baboon-1.jpg Tsitsikamma National Park Alien corpse turns out to be a female mummified Baboon Baboon-3.jpg Tsitsikamma National Park Alien corpse turns out to be a female mummified Baboon Baboon-2.jpg Tsitsikamma National Park

The three baboons decided to take a bit of a look around RPA grounds, he said.

They didnt know what to do nor did the people around them.

Mr Hazzard said the baboons were not being transported for research purposes and the male was at the facility for a vasectomy, Australias 7News reports.

If he had been kept fertile he would have had to (have) moved from the family he knows, Mr Hazzard added.

NSW Police said there was no immediate danger to the public but that people were advised to avoid the area.

The baboons are expected to be awake and well in a few hours, Mr Hazzard said.

He said baboons form part of research programmes which cover a range of health issues but when they are finished with the programme, they are always returned to their colonies.

Former GP and animal activist Kevin Coleman told AAP the primates escape was a major concern which could raise biosecurity issues.

If an animal the size of a baboon can escape, how many mice have escaped, how many other animals have escaped? he said.

Dr Coleman is apparently a spokesperson for Sydney Save Animals in Laboratories and told the news agency he believed experts were undertaking research into human-baboon hybrid organs to address the transplant crisis.

When asked if the baboons were there for the creation of human-baboon hybrid organs, Mr Hazzard said it was rubbish.

These baboons were simply there for the old vasectomy, he said.
Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, who reigned over Egypt for 30 years before he was ousted in the Arab Spring uprisings, died on Tuesday, state television reported.

He had been taken to an intensive care unit the day before, according to reports, following complications from a previous surgery. He was 91.

Mubarak, who served as president from 1981 to 2011, played a major role in Egypts recent history, ushering in an era of relative prosperity and close political and military relations with the United States, but also a time of corruption and economic polarisation.

He took over following the assassination of Anwar Sadat at the hands of violent Islamist extremists, having previously commanded the air force during the October 1973 war with Israel. His efforts in this battle meant many Egyptians saw him as a heroic figure, particularly after a humiliating 1967 loss to Israel.

Last year, he spoke about the October War in a video interview that was his first in years.

The first airstrike was launched in the first few minutes of the war and it hit the intended targets, he said. When the planes came back, I called the president in the main operations room to tell him the mission was a success and the losses were minimal.

Recommended Meet the controversial Egyptian actor standing up against Sisi

He entered politics as a leading member of Egypts dominant National Democratic Party, using his stature as a war hero to consolidate his rule over 30 years.

His reign became one characterised by uneven and even frenetic economic growth that enriched some, including his own family members, but kept millions of Egyptians mired in poverty. Educational and health infrastructure lagged while state enterprises were ignored in favour of the rising private sector.

Mubarak also became adept at using the secret police to hunt down and suppress dissidents, including Islamists and leftists. Elections were a sham, with police sometimes physically blocking voters in opposition districts from reaching the polls.

Despite the political repression under his rule, he was considered far more tolerant than Egypts current ruler, Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, and allowed opposition political parties and news outlets.

Scattered protests against Mubarak gelled into a movement in 2005, fuelled by rising discontent among labour activists and civil society figures who declared kafia, or enough, which became a slogan of a reform movement.

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad (left) visiting the pyramids in Giza with his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak, in 2002 (AFP/Getty) (MENA/AFP via Getty Images)

He was toppled in a popular uprising during the 2011 wave of protests across the Middle East and North Africa.

Jailed on corruption and human rights charges, he was convicted but later acquitted.

Since his 2017 release from prison, he has led a fairly quiet life with his wife, Suzanne, and their two sons, Alaa and Gamal, who were both convicted on corruption charges but released after four years in prison.

Egyptian media reported that Mubarak would receive a full military funeral, a decision that could prove controversial among the millions who consider him a criminal.

The presidency mourns with deep sorrow the death of former President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, the spokesperson for Mr Sisi wrote on Facebook. The deceased was the commander of the Air Force during the October War, which restored the dignity of the Arab nation.
(CNN)  Warren Buffett, one of Apple's largest shareholders, finally owns one of the company's most popular products.

The billionaire investor revealed Monday that he recently traded in his flip phone for an iPhone. The Berkshire Hathaway CEO told CNBC that his old Samsung phone is "permanently gone." He teased that he might crush his old phone at Berkshire Hathaway's upcoming annual meeting in May.

It doesn't sound like he has many apps or uses the customizable memojis on his iPhone -- he says he simply uses it "as a phone." Berkshire owns around 5.6 percent of Apple.

"You're looking at an 89-year-old guy that's barely beginning to be with it," Buffett said.

Although he's been given "several" iPhones over the years, including from Apple CEO Tim Cook, he hasn't used any of them as his personal phone until now.

Buffett's new iPhone is not his first Apple gadget: He previously said he uses an iPad to check stocks. He even sent his first tweet from an iPad in 2013.

Buffett's old phone was a Samsung SCH-U320. He showed that phone off to CNN in 2013 and joked that Alexander Graham-Bell gave it to him.

His comments come after his company, Berkshire Hathaway, reported its latest quarterly results on Saturday. The conglomerate posted a net profit of $29.2 billion and operating earnings of $4.4 billion.

Berkshire Hathaway is one of the most valuable companies in the United States, worth more than $560 billion. Buffett's company has investments in blue chip stocks like Apple, Bank of America, Coca-Cola and American Express.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Warren Buffett finally traded in his flip phone for an iPhone."
Highlights The EC in one of its internal messaging boards has asked its staff to ditch apps like Facebook, WhatsApp and iMessage.

To communicate, the EC wants its staff to use Signal that is considered a safer messaging app.

The move reportedly comes because the phones of EU diplomats have been targeted in a bid to steam data from them.

WhatsApp may be the world's most used chat app with over 2 billion users but it seems it is not safe enough to be used by EU diplomats and officials. The European Commission has asked its staff to ditch many popular apps, including Facebook, WhatsApp and iMessage, that they are using and move to Signal. It is believed that Signal is more secure app, with better security practices as well as higher standards of encryption.

The message to the EC officials and diplomats was sent on an internal messaging board, report Politico, a website that often covers news coming out of EU institutions. The EC reportedly notified its employees by stating Signal has been selected as the recommended application for public instant messaging.

Signal is an app developed in 2013 by privacy activists. It even got nod from NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden and later it got financial backing from WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton after Acton left Facebook in 2017 that had acquired his chat app. In fact, after leaving WhatsApp and Facebook Acton has been fairly vocal about the data security practices employed by Facebook and has repeatedly said that people should delete Facebook app and for messaging should use Signal.

It is not right away clear why the EC made its recommendation for Signal at this moment, but it the past EU diplomats have faced data security scares. In 2017, a EU delegation suffered cyber security breach in Moscow when two computers were allegedly hacked to steal confidential information.

Then back in December 2018, research firm Area 1 Security had found thousands of diplomatic cables that were downloaded from EU's COREU system, which is used by national governments and EU institutions to exchange day-to-day information on foreign policy.

While both WhatsApp and Signal offer end-to-end encryption, Signal's code is open source and that gives it some advantage. What this means is that anyone can check the code of Signal and see whether all the claims it is making about its security are accurate or not.

"It's like WhatsApp and iMessage but it's based on an encryption protocol that's very innovative," Bart Preneel, cryptography expert at the University of Leuven told Politico. "Because it's open-source, you can check what's happening under the hood."
But the crisis evolved rapidly over the weekend. Dozens of Italians suddenly fell ill in villages to the country's north. By Tuesday morning, the number of confirmed cases leapt from single digits to 229, seven people were dead and authorities were scrambling to contain the outbreak before it spread to the rest of Italy and central Europe.

Birdal spent four days enjoying Italys fashion capital and had little cause to fear a virus that started more than 8500 kilometres away in China and - at that point at least - posed little threat to Europe.

Her dream trip took a twist when she was told she had coronavirus. Her fortunes changed again when she was cleared of the virus after being quarantined.

Birdal left Milan on Thursday and went to Rome and then Palermo in Sicily. At each airport she was scanned for signs of fever and cleared. By Sunday night though, fever had set in and a doctor diagnosed her on Monday. Before being cleared she faced a quarantine period of two weeks in Sicily that was preventing her returning to her studies at King's College London. The health minister in her home country of Turkey even called to wish her a speedy recovery.

"Its just such a shame what is going on because its going to really hurt the economy," Birdal said. "The Italian economy relies heavily on tourism and cultural events."

While the Italian government has moved quickly to deal with the crisis, the economic consequences will be severe. Museums, schools and some government offices have been shut in Milan and Venice, where about one in four people are wearing face masks in public and supermarkets are being cleaned out by panicked shoppers. One checkout worker at a tourist gift shop near Milan's famed Gothic cathedral reckoned trade was down about 60 per cent on Monday and feared it would only get worse. Meanwhile, 10 towns in the country's affluent north have been sealed off entirely and anyone who tries to sneak out through roadblocks is being detained by armed police and the military.

Italy's economy already shrank in the last quarter of 2019 and another negative quarter at the start of 2020 will push the country into its fourth recession since the global financial crisis. Complicating matters, the wealthy areas worst affected by the outbreak are responsible for well over one third of the country's exports and Milan is the nation's financial hub.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday hit back at Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, G Kishan Reddy, and said that the latter should go and control the situation in Delhi.

"He (G Kishan Reddy) should go back to Delhi, why is he here in Hyderabad? He is the MoS Home. He should go and control the situation in Delhi. He must douse the fire there. Seven people have died already," Owaisi said here.

Reddy on Tuesday criticised Owaisi for alleging that the Delhi Police sided with "rioters" to pelt stones, saying, "he has made the statement irresponsibly" and added, "Owaisi had given such provocative statements in the past."

Seven persons lost their lives in the clashes that took place yesterday after protests related to the CAA took a violent turn at various places in the North-East District of Delhi. Over 100 have also been injured in the clashes.

"I believe that this whole thing cannot be called a communal riot. It started because of an ex-BJP MLA. He stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the concerned DCP, who is an IPS officer, and openly gave an ultimatum," Owaisi said.

He added, "Why is the government quiet on it? And if the government believes that a foreign dignitary is coming to India, if you had specific information why didn't you have enough police forces? Why didn't you impose curfew immediately? Why did you allow that entire tyre market to be burned down? That is why I say that this is not a communal riot.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat and expressed concern over the violence which took place in the capital in the past two days.

"The entire country is worried about the violence that took place in Delhi in the past two days. There has been a loss of lives and properties. If violence increases it will affect everyone. All of us are here to offer our prayers to Gandhi Ji who was a follower of non-violence," said Kejriwal while speaking to reporters here.

He further made an appeal to the citizens to maintain peace and harmony.

Kejriwal was accompanied by Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders.

Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also chaired a meeting with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik and other political leaders regarding the violence and prevailing situation in North-East Delhi areas.

Seven people, including one police head constable, have lost their lives and over 100 have been injured in North-East Delhi over a period of two days after clashes broke out between pro and anti CAA protestors.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Safin (Rami Malek) in NO TIME TO DIE, a DANJAQ and Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. (Credit: Nicola Dove  2019 DANJAQ, LLC AND MGM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

James Bond looks set to face his toughest villain yet in the forthcoming No Time To Die.

In a new promotional video released for the film (watch it below), director Cary Joji Fukunaga teased that the Bonds adversary in the film  presumably Rami Maleks Safin  is more dangerous than anyone he has ever encountered, and whoever they are is smarter and and stronger than Spectre.

Spectre is the name of the shadowy organisation headed up Christoph Waltzs Blofeld, that has clashed with 007 countless times over 25 movies.

Read more: Malek pushed Craig to the limit while filming Bond

Fukunaga explains that the upcoming James Bond film will be a culmination of all the spy has become over the years.

The movie will be the final outing for Daniel Craig in the lead role and "everything that was left unsaid will finally be said", the filmmaker promised.

It will find Bond after he has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica when his old friend Felix Leiter, played by Jeffrey Wright, from the CIA turns up asking for help.

A mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading to a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.

In a new featurette for the movie, co-written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fukunaga says: "For me as a writer and a director, it was essential to rediscover Bond. Where is he? After five years of retirement, who has he become?

Read more: Could Bond go to a streaming platform

"He is sort of a wounded animal, struggling with his role as a 00. The world has changed, the rules of engagement aren't what they used to be, the rules of espionage are darker in this era of asymmetric warfare.

"The people close to Bond, those he considers to be family, are at great risk and now there is someone new out there, more dangerous than anyone he has ever encountered, and whoever they are is smarter and and stronger than Spectre.

"From the moment he's called to action to the end of the film is a race, not only to save the world but their lives.

Story continues

(Universal Pictures)

"No Time To Die is a culmination of all that Bond has become, it's all that he's seen, all the trauma, the loss.

"What is that mission, that will be his most challenging and his most difficult? That was our target. We aim to do something extraordinary with this one.

"Every Bond film has that thing, the danger but also the emotional punch. Everything that was left unsaid will finally be said. This will be the final chapter for Daniel Craig."

Read more: Why Craig didnt quit after Spectre

The clip shows behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the film, including a look at Rami Malek as villainous Safin, Lea Seydoux returning as Madeleine Swann, Lashana Lynch as the new double-O agent Nomi and Ana De Armas as Paloma.

It ends with a shot of shell casings pouring out of the side of the Aston Martin DB5, as it take heavy fire before disappearing into a cloud of smoke.

No Time To Die is released in UK cinemas on 2 April.
Because these awards are based on real, unfiltered feedback from clients and caregivers, we know first-hand that our efforts are making a difference in peoples lives.

Kadan Homecare, a highly respected provider of quality home care for Atlanta area families for more than 35 years, announced today that it received the distinguished Best of Home Care  Leader in Excellence Award from Home Care Pulse, the industrys leading firm in quality assurance for home care.

The Leader in Excellence Award is the highest recognition awarded by Home Care Pulse and is given to select home care businesses that consistently rank among the very highest in 10 or more quality metrics. As a Leader in Excellence, Kadan is now ranked among the top 10% of home care providers participating in the nationwide Home Care Pulse Satisfaction Management Program.

This accomplishment demonstrates Kadans long-term dedication to excellent care and quality improvement. To qualify for this award, 10% of Kadans clients and caregivers were interviewed each month by Home Care Pulse. Over a 12-month period, Kadan received high client and caregiver satisfaction ratings in areas such as caregiver training, compassion of caregivers, communication, scheduling, and client/caregiver compatibility. Using feedback from clients and employees, as well as quality benchmarks from Home Care Pulse, Kadans management team set goals to reach the highest level of excellence possible.

We are extremely proud to earn the Leader in Excellence Award from Home Care Pulse this year, said Linda Kadan, founder and CEO of Kadan Homecare. Receiving this recognition is a true reflection of our commitment to delivering the highest quality home care services to our clients and maintaining the best caregiving team in the business. Because these awards are based on real, unfiltered feedback from clients and caregivers, we know first-hand that our efforts are making a difference in peoples lives.

The Best of Home Care  Leader in Excellence Award highlights the top-performing home care businesses in the nation. Home Care Pulse believes that by honoring these providers, families looking for in-home care for a loved one will be able to recognize and choose a trusted home care provider.

Our goal at Home Care Pulse is to empower home care businesses to reach their goals and deliver the best home care possible, said Erik Madsen, CEO of Home Care Pulse. We are happy to recognize Kadan Homecare as a Leader in Excellence. Weve been impressed by their commitment to their clients and caregivers, as well as the quality of the overall care they provide. They really stand out in their market as a top home care provider.

To find out more about Kadans commitment to excellence, please visit http://www.kadan.org.

About Kadan Homecare

Celebrating more than 35 years in business, Kadan Homecare is a family owned, private duty homecare agency that provides companion and personal care, as well as skilled nursing, to help support families with short and long-term needs. Kadans comprehensive C.A.R.E. Transitions program enhances post-discharge monitoring to help minimize hospital readmissions. Kadan currently provides caregiver services ranging from post hospitalization and respite relief to hospice assistance for families spanning 16 metropolitan Atlanta counties. For more information about Kadan, please visit http://www.kadan.org or call 770-396-8997.

About Home Care Pulse

Home Care Pulse is the home care industry's leading firm in satisfaction research and quality assurance. On behalf of home care businesses across North America, Home Care Pulse gathers unbiased satisfaction ratings from clients and caregivers and detailed feedback to ensure the best in-home care possible can be provided. Powerful online reports allow businesses to identify needs and take action to increase satisfaction, reduce caregiver turnover, and address client needs. For more information, please call Home Care Pulse at (877) 307-8573 or visit homecarepulse.com.


The celebration was attended by CEO Tarek Fayed and a number of other members of the bank's leadership

Banque du Caire opened its latest branch in Gezira Sporting Club in 6 October city on Monday, part of an expansion strategy to enhance its presence in the new cities.

The opening celebration was attended by Tarek Fayed, chairman and CEO, Amr El Shafei, vice chairman of the board, and a group of sector heads at the bank.

The opening ceremony coincided with the official opening ceremony of the clubs headquarters, which saw the presence of the prime minister and a group of ministers, businessmen and public figures.

The bank plans to open 20 new branches during 2020.

The bank is planning to launch its first digital branch this year, to provide banking services by technology, Fayed said.

The bank signed a sponsorship deal with Gezira Sporting Club in 2018 to sponsor the 6 October branch of the club for ten years.

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2019 net sales to third parties up 3%, or 5% constant currency (cc)

Third consecutive year of top line growth

Generated $920 million in cash from operations and free cash flow of $367 million

Full year 2020 outlook: net sales growth of 5% to 6% (cc) and core EPS $1.95 to $2.05

Regulatory News:

Alcon (SIX: ALC) (NYSE: ALC), the global leader in eye care, reported its financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2019. Full year worldwide net sales of $7.4 billion, increased 3%, or 5% on a constant currency(2) basis, compared to the full year ended December 31, 2018. Full year 2019 diluted losses per share were $1.34, primarily as a result of non-cash amortization of certain intangibles. Full year core earnings per share were $1.89, driven by core operating income growth of 4%, or 11% on a constant currency basis.

2019 key figures

Three months ended

December 31 Twelve months ended

December 31 2019 2018 2019 2018 Net sales ($ millions) 1,881 1,789 7,362 7,149 Operating margin (%) (3.6)% (4.2)% (2.5)% (3.5)% Core operating margin (%)(1) 17.1% 14.5% 17.2% 17.0% (Loss) per share ($) (0.19) (0.15) (1.34) (0.46) Core diluted earnings per share ($)(1) 0.45 0.39 1.89 2.00

David Endicott, Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Last year was a remarkable milestone in Alcon's history. We completed our spin-off as an independent company and delivered strong growth in net sales and improved core profitability. We achieved these results while standing-up new functions, launching two important new products in the US and installing new, flexible Vision Care lines at several of our manufacturing facilities."

Mr. Endicott continued, "With the spin-off behind us, the year ahead is about unlocking Alcon's potential in an attractive global market for eye care. Continued investment behind our robust pipeline and new product launches position us well to deliver upon our growth aspirations. As the industry leader and innovator, we are focused on developing solutions to address significant unmet needs, improve patient outcomes and increase access to care. We look forward to spearheading an exciting decade of innovation in ophthalmology and optometry."

For the full year ended December 31, 2019, worldwide net sales were $7.4 billion, up 3%, or 5% on a constant currency basis, compared to the full year ended December 31, 2018, representing the third consecutive year of constant currency top line growth, as the business benefited from steady improvements in innovation, new product flow and strong commercial execution.

The following table highlights net sales by segment:

Three months ended

December 31 Change % Twelve months ended

December 31 Change % ($ millions unless indicated otherwise) 2019 2018 cc(2) 2019 2018 cc(2) Surgical Implantables 338 290 17 17 1,210 1,136 7 9 Consumables 594 579 3 4 2,304 2,227 3 6 Equipment/other 172 158 9 10 660 636 4 6 Total Surgical 1,104 1,027 7 8 4,174 3,999 4 7 Vision Care Contact lenses 460 450 2 3 1,969 1,928 2 4 Ocular health 317 312 2 3 1,219 1,222 2 Total Vision Care 777 762 2 3 3,188 3,150 1 3 Net sales to third parties 1,881 1,789 5 6 7,362 7,149 3 5

Surgical momentum driven by strong PANOPTIX reception

Full year Surgical net sales of $4.2 billion, which include implantables, consumables and equipment/other, increased 4%, or 7% on a constant currency basis, with growth in all three categories. Implantables sales grew in the high-single digits, with strong demand for PANOPTIX trifocal IOLs, particularly with the recent launches in the US and Japan. Strong pull-through demand for cataract and vit-ret drove the increase in consumable sales. Equipment/other grew, driven by service revenue and procedural eye drops, while base equipment sales remained broadly in line with prior year.

Steady growth in Vision Care; PRECISION1 launch on track

Full year Vision Care net sales of $3.2 billion, which include contact lenses and ocular health, increased 1%, or 3% on a constant currency basis, compared to the full year ended December 31, 2018, driven by the continued demand for DAILIES TOTAL1 and dry eye products, offset by the decline in contact lens care. PRECISION1, our newest SiHy contact lens, is off to a good start in the US, with encouraging trends in new account activation.

Income statement highlights

Full year operating loss was $187 million, which includes $1 billion from the non-cash amortization of certain intangible assets, $237 million of separation costs, $72 million of spin readiness costs and $52 million of transformation program costs. Excluding these and other adjustments, core operating income for the full year was $1.3 billion. Core operating margin for the full year of 17.2% increased by 20 bps, including an unfavorable impact of 60 bps from foreign exchange, compared to the full year ended December 31, 2018.

Diluted earnings per share (EPS)

Full year diluted losses per share for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 were $1.34 per share, including $1.84 per share from non-cash amortization of certain intangibles and $0.62 per share in non-cash tax expense resulting from Swiss tax reform. Full year core diluted earnings were $1.89 per share.

Proposed dividend

The Company's Board of Directors proposes a dividend of CHF 0.19 per share for 2019, the Company's first proposed dividend as an independent company. The Company's shareholders will vote on this proposal at the 2020 Annual General Meeting on May 6, 2020.

Balance sheet highlights

The Company ended the year with cash and cash equivalents of $822 million, an increase of $595 million. Cash flows from operations totaled $920 million and free cash flow(5) amounted to $367 million in 2019, despite significant investments and costs related to the Spin-off and interest payments on financial debts.

Debt totaled $3.5 billion as of December 31, 2019, including $1.5 billion of the borrowings executed immediately prior to the Spin-off and $2 billion in senior notes issued in September 2019 to refinance certain pre Spin-off borrowings. The Company ended the year with a net debt(3) position of $2.7 billion.

Financial Outlook; Investing in growth

The Company expects worldwide net sales growth for the full year 2020 of 5% to 6% on a constant currency basis, core operating margin of 17.5% to 18.5%, and core effective tax rate(4) of 19.5% to 21.5%. Full year core earnings per share is expected to range between $1.95 to $2.05.

Webcast and Conference Call Instructions

The Company will host a conference call on February 26 at 2:00 p.m. Central European Time 8 a.m. Eastern Standard Time to discuss its full year 2019 earnings results. The webcast can be accessed online through Alcon's Investor Relations website. Listeners should log on approximately 10 minutes in advance. A replay will be available online within 24 hours after the event.

Today, Alcon will issue its 2019 Annual Report, which will be available on https://investor.alcon.com/financials/annual-reports/default.aspx. Alcon will also file its 2019 Annual Report on Form 20-F with the US Securities and Exchange Commission today, and will post this document on https://investor.alcon.com/financials/sec-filings/default.aspx. Alcon shareholders may receive a hard copy of either of these documents, each of which contains our complete audited financial statements, free of charge, upon request.

The Company's supplemental presentation materials can be found online through Alcon's Investor Relations website under the Events section or by clicking on https://investor.alcon.com/news-and-events/events-and-presentations/event-details/2020/Alcons-Fourth-Quarter-Earnings-Conference-Call/default.aspx.

Footnotes (pages 1-3)

Core results, such as core operating margin and core EPS, are non-IFRS measures. For additional information, including a reconciliation of such core results to the most directly comparable measures presented in accordance with IFRS, see the explanation of non-IFRS measures and reconciliation tables in the 'Non-IFRS measures as defined by the Company' and 'Financial Tables' sections. Constant currency (cc) is a non-IFRS measure. Growth in constant currency (cc) is calculated by translating the current year's foreign currency items into US dollars using average exchange rates from the prior year and comparing them to prior year values in US dollars. An explanation of non-IFRS measures can be found in the 'Non-IFRS measures as defined by the Company' section. Net (debt)/liquidity is a non-IFRS measure. For additional information regarding net (debt)/liquidity, which is a non-IFRS measure, see the explanation of non-IFRS measures and reconciliation tables in the 'Non-IFRS measures as defined by the Company' and 'Financial Tables' sections. Core effective tax rate, a non-IFRS measure, is the applicable annual tax rate on core taxable income. For additional information, see the explanation regarding reconciliation of forward-looking guidance in the 'Non-IFRS measures as defined by the Company' section. Free cash flow, a non-IFRS measure. For additional information regarding free cash flow, see the explanation of non-IFRS measures and reconciliation tables in the 'Non-IFRS measures as defined by the Company' and 'Financial Tables' sections.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "intend," "commitment," "look forward," "maintain," "plan," "goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "will" and similar references to future periods.

Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on Alcon's current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of its business, future plans and strategies, and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties and risks that are difficult to predict. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties facing Alcon, including: the commercial success of its products and its ability to maintain and strengthen its position in its markets; the success of its research and development efforts, including its ability to innovate to compete effectively; its success in completing and integrating strategic acquisitions; pricing pressure from changes in third party payor coverage and reimbursement methodologies; global economic, financial, legal, tax, political, and social change; the ability to obtain regulatory clearance and approval of its products as well as compliance with any post-approval obligations, including quality control of its manufacturing; ongoing industry consolidation; its ability to properly educate and train healthcare providers on its products; changes in inventory levels or buying patterns of its customers; its reliance on sole or limited sources of supply; ability to service its debt obligations; the need for additional financing through the issuance of debt or equity; its reliance on outsourcing key business functions; its ability to protect its intellectual property; the impact on unauthorized importation of its products from countries with lower prices to countries with higher prices; the effects of litigation, including product liability lawsuits; its ability to comply with all laws to which it may be subject; effect of product recalls or voluntary market withdrawals; data breaches; the implementation of its enterprise resource planning system; its ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; the accuracy of its accounting estimates and assumptions, including pension plan obligations and the carrying value of intangible assets; legislative and regulatory reform; the ability of Alcon Pharmaceuticals Ltd. to comply with its investment tax incentive agreement with the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs in Switzerland and the Canton of Fribourg, Switzerland; its ability to operate as a stand-alone company; whether the transitional services Novartis has agreed to provide Alcon are sufficient; the impact of being listed on two stock exchanges; the ability to declare and pay dividends; the different rights afforded to its shareholders as a Swiss corporation compared to a US corporation; and the effect of maintaining or losing its foreign private issuer status under US securities laws. Additional factors are discussed in Alcon's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 20-F. Should one or more of these uncertainties or risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of its filing, and Alcon assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Intellectual Property

This report may contain references to our proprietary intellectual property. All product names appearing in italics or ALL CAPS are trademarks owned by or licensed to Alcon Inc.

Non-IFRS measures as defined by the Company

Alcon uses certain non-IFRS metrics when measuring performance, including when measuring current period results against prior periods, including core results, percentage changes measured in constant currencies, EBITDA, free cash flow, and net liquidity/(debt).

Because of their non-standardized definitions, the non-IFRS measures (unlike IFRS measures) may not be comparable to the calculation of similar measures of other companies. These supplemental non-IFRS measures are presented solely to permit investors to more fully understand how Alcon management assesses underlying performance. These supplemental non-IFRS measures are not, and should not be viewed as, a substitute for IFRS measures.

Core results

Alcon core results, including core operating income and core net income, exclude all amortization and impairment charges of intangible assets, excluding software, net gains and losses on fund investments and equity securities valued at fair value through profit and loss (FVPL), fair value adjustments of financial assets in the form of options to acquire a company carried at FVPL, obligations related to product recalls, and certain acquisition related items. The following items that exceed a threshold of $10 million and are deemed exceptional are also excluded from core results: integration and divestment related income and expenses, divestment gains and losses, restructuring charges/releases and related items, legal related items, gains/losses on early extinguishment of debt or debt modifications, impairments of property, plant and equipment and software, as well as income and expense items that management deems exceptional and that are or are expected to accumulate within the year to be over a $10 million threshold.

Taxes on the adjustments between IFRS and core results take into account, for each individual item included in the adjustment, the tax rate that will finally be applicable to the item based on the jurisdiction where the adjustment will finally have a tax impact. Generally, this results in amortization and impairment of intangible assets and acquisition-related restructuring and integration items having a full tax impact. There is usually a tax impact on other items, although this is not always the case for items arising from legal settlements in certain jurisdictions.

Alcon believes that investor understanding of its performance is enhanced by disclosing core measures of performance because, since they exclude items that can vary significantly from period to period, the core measures enable a helpful comparison of business performance across periods. For this same reason, Alcon uses these core measures in addition to IFRS and other measures as important factors in assessing its performance.

A limitation of the core measures is that they provide a view of Alcon operations without including all events during a period, such as the effects of an acquisition, divestment, or amortization/impairments of purchased intangible assets and restructurings.

Constant currencies

Changes in the relative values of non-US currencies to the US dollar can affect Alcon financial results and financial position. To provide additional information that may be useful to investors, including changes in sales volume, we present information about changes in our net sales and various values relating to operating and net income that are adjusted for such foreign currency effects.

Constant currency calculations have the goal of eliminating two exchange rate effects so that an estimate can be made of underlying changes in the consolidated income statement excluding:

the impact of translating the income statements of consolidated entities from their non-US dollar functional currencies to the US dollar; and

the impact of exchange rate movements on the major transactions of consolidated entities performed in currencies other than their functional currency.

Alcon calculates constant currency measures by translating the current year's foreign currency values for sales and other income statement items into US dollars, using the average exchange rates from the prior year and comparing them to the prior year values in US dollars.

EBITDA

Alcon defines earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") as net (loss)/income excluding income taxes, depreciation of property, plant and equipment (including any related impairment charges), depreciation of right-of-use assets, amortization of intangible assets (including any related impairment charges), interest expense and other financial income and expense. Alcon management primarily uses EBITDA together with net (debt)/liquidity to monitor leverage associated with financial debts.

Free cash flow

Alcon defines free cash flow as net cash flows from operating activities less cash flow associated with the purchase or sale of property, plant and equipment. Free cash flow is presented as additional information because Alcon management believes it is a useful supplemental indicator of Alcon's ability to operate without reliance on additional borrowing or use of existing cash. Free cash flow is not intended to be a substitute measure for net cash flows from operating activities as determined under IFRS.

Net liquidity/(debt)

Alcon defines net liquidity/(debt) as current and non-current financial debt less cash and cash equivalents, current investments and derivative financial instruments. Net liquidity/(debt) is presented as additional information because management believes it is a useful supplemental indicator of Alcon's ability to pay dividends, to meet financial commitments and to invest in new strategic opportunities, including strengthening its balance sheet.

Growth rate and margin calculations

For ease of understanding, Alcon uses a sign convention for its growth rates such that a reduction in operating expenses or losses compared to the prior year is shown as a positive growth.

Gross margins, operating income/(loss) margins and core operating income margins are calculated based upon net sales to third parties unless otherwise noted.

Reconciliation of guidance for forward-looking non-IFRS measures

The forward-looking guidance included in this press release cannot be reconciled to the comparable IFRS measures without unreasonable efforts, because we are not able to predict with reasonable certainty the ultimate amount or nature of exceptional items in the fiscal year. These items are uncertain, depend on many factors and could have a material impact on our IFRS results for the guidance period.

Financial tables

Net sales by region

Three months ended

December 31 Twelve months ended

December 31 ($ millions unless indicated otherwise) 2019 2018 2019 2018 United States 780 41 730 41 3,055 41 2,942 41 International 1,101 59 1,059 59 4,307 59 4,207 59 Net sales to third parties 1,881 100 1,789 100 7,362 100 7,149 100

Consolidated income statement (unaudited)

Three months ended December 31 Twelve months ended December 31 ($ millions except (loss) per share) 2019 2018 2019 2018 Net sales to third parties 1,881 1,789 7,362 7,149 Sales to former parent 2 4 Other revenues 32 146 Net sales and other revenues 1,913 1,791 7,508 7,153 Cost of net sales (972 (912 (3,719 (3,961 Cost of other revenues (28 (127 Gross profit 913 879 3,662 3,192 Selling, general administration (714 (734 (2,847 (2,801 Research development (164 (166 (656 (587 Other income 20 (26 55 47 Other expense (123 (28 (401 (99 Operating (loss) (68 (75 (187 (248 Interest expense (34 (5 (113 (24 Other financial income expense (5 (7 (32 (28 (Loss) before taxes (107 (87 (332 (300 Taxes 16 14 (324 73 Net (loss) (91 (73 (656 (227 (Loss) per share Basic (0.19 (0.15 (1.34 (0.46 Diluted (0.19 (0.15 (1.34 (0.46 Weighted average number of shares outstanding (millions)(1) Basic 488.2 488.2 488.2 488.2 Diluted 488.2 488.2 488.2 488.2

(1) For periods prior to the spin-off, the denominator for basic and diluted earnings per share was calculated using the 488.2 million shares of common stock distributed in the Spin-off.

Balance sheet highlights

($ millions) December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018 Cash and cash equivalents 822 227 Current financial debts 261 47 Non-current financial debts 3,218

Free cash flow

The following is a summary of Alcon free cash flow for the full year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, together with a reconciliation to net cash flows from operating activities, the most directly comparable IFRS measure:

Twelve months ended December 31 ($ millions) 2019 2018 Net cash flows from operating activities 920 1,140 Purchase of property, plant equipment (553 (524 Free cash flow 367 616

Net (debt)/liquidity

($ millions) At December 31, 2019 Current financial debt (261 Non-current financial debt (3,218 Total financial debt (3,479 Less liquidity: Cash and cash equivalents 822 Derivative financial instruments 1 Total liquidity 823 Net (debt)/liquidity (2,656

Reconciliation of IFRS to Core results

2019

($ millions except (loss)/earnings per share) IFRS

Results Amortization

of certain

intangible

assets(1) Separation

costs(2) Transformation

costs(3) Legal

items(4) Other

items(5) Core

Results Gross profit 3,662 1,007 10 (16 4,663 Operating (loss)/income (187 1,040 237 52 32 91 1,265 (Loss)/income before taxes (332 1,040 237 52 32 91 1,120 Taxes(6) (324 (140 (54 (7 (8 338 (195 Net (loss)/income (656 900 183 45 24 429 925 Basic (loss)/earnings per share (1.34 1.89 Diluted (loss)/earnings per share (1.34 1.89 Basic weighted average shares outstanding(7) 488.2 488.2 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding(7) 488.2 490.1 Adjustments to arrive at core operating income Selling, general administration (2,847 30 15 (2,802 Research development (656 33 4 35 (584 Other income 55 (9 46 Other expense (401 193 52 32 66 (58

(1) Includes recurring amortization for all intangible assets other than software. (2) Separation costs are expected to be incurred over the two to three-year period following the completion of the Spin-off from Novartis and primarily include costs related to IT and third party consulting fees. (3) Transformation costs, primarily related to restructuring and third party consulting fees, for the multi-year transformation program. (4) Includes legal settlement costs and certain external legal fees. (5) Gross Profit includes $37 million in fair value adjustments of contingent consideration liabilities, partially offset by $21 million in spin readiness costs, manufacturing sites consolidation activities, and integration of recent acquisitions. Selling, general administration primarily includes spin readiness costs and the integration of recent acquisitions. Research development includes $73 million for the amortization of option rights, post-marketing study following a product's voluntary market withdrawal, and the integration of recent acquisitions, partially offset by $38 million in fair value adjustments for contingent consideration liabilities. Other income primarily includes a realized gain on a financial asset. Other expense primarily includes spin readiness costs, fair value adjustments of a financial asset and other items. (6) Total tax adjustments of $129 million include tax associated with operating income core adjustments and discrete tax items. Tax associated with operating income core adjustments of $1.5 billion totaled $215 million with an average tax rate of 14.8%. Core tax adjustments for discrete items totaled $344 million, primarily including $304 million in non-cash tax expense for re-measurement of deferred tax balances as a result of Swiss tax reform, tax expense related to rate changes in the US following legal entity reorganizations executed related to the Spin-off, non-cash tax expense related to the re-measurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities following a tax rate change in India, and net changes in uncertain tax positions. (7) Core basic earnings per share is calculated using the weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Core diluted earnings per share also contemplate 1.9 million dilutive shares associated with unvested equity-based awards.

Reconciliation of IFRS to Core results (continued)

2018

($ millions except (loss)/earnings per share) IFRS

Results Amortization

of certain

intangible

assets(1) Impairments(2) Restructuring

items(3) Legal

items(4) Other

items(5) Core

Results Gross profit 3,192 996 376 (23 4,541 Operating (loss)/income (248 1,007 378 9 28 38 1,212 (Loss)/income before taxes (300 1,007 378 9 28 38 1,160 Taxes(6) 73 (186 Net (loss)/income (227 974 Basic (loss)/earnings per share (0.46 2.00 Diluted (loss)/earnings per share (0.46 2.00 Basic weighted average shares outstanding(7) 488.2 488.2 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding(7) 488.2 488.2 Adjustments to arrive at core operating income Selling, general administration (2,801 2 13 (2,786 Research development (587 11 47 (529 Other income 47 (4 (19 24 Other expense (99 13 28 20 (38

1) Includes recurring amortization for all intangible assets other than software. (2) Includes impairment charges related to intangible assets. (3) Includes restructuring income and charges and related items. Certain amounts previously reported under "restructuring items" in the 2018 Form 20-F have been reclassified to "other items" to conform with presentation in the current year. (4) Includes legal costs related to an investigation. (5) Gross profit, selling, general administration and research development include charges and reversal of charges related to a product's voluntary market withdrawal. Research development also includes amortization of option rights and a fair value adjustment of a contingent consideration liability. Other income includes fair value adjustments on a financial asset. Other expense includes spin-readiness costs and other items. Certain amounts previously reported under restructuring items in the 2018 Form 20-F have been reclassified to other items to conform with presentation in the current year. (6) Total tax adjustments of $259 million included tax associated with operating income adjustments and discrete tax items. Tax associated with operating income adjustments of $1.5 billion totaled $237 million with average tax rate of 16.2%. Core tax adjustments for discrete items totaled $22 million, including a net out of period income tax benefit of $55 million partially offset by net changes in uncertain tax positions of $33 million. (7) For periods prior to the Spin-off, the denominator for both core basic and diluted earnings per share was calculated using the shares of common stock distributed in the Spin-off.

Reconciliation of IFRS to Core results (continued)

Three months ended December 31, 2019

($ millions except (loss)/earnings per share) IFRS

Results Amortization of

certain

intangible

assets(1) Separation

costs(2) Transformation

costs(3) Legal

items(4) Other

items(5) Core

Results Gross profit 913 253 3 5 1,174 Operating (loss)/income (68 269 82 39 (1 321 (Loss)/income before taxes (107 269 82 39 (1 282 Taxes(6) 16 (36 (17 (4 (18 (59 Net (loss)/income (91 233 65 35 (19 223 Basic (loss)/earnings per share (0.19 0.46 Diluted (loss)/earnings per share (0.19 0.45 Basic weighted average shares outstanding(7) 488.2 488.2 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding(7) 488.2 491.0 Adjustments to arrive at core operating income Selling, general administration (714 9 1 (704 Research development (164 16 1 (4 (151 Other income 20 (8 12 Other expense (123 69 39 5 (10

(1) Includes recurring amortization for all intangible assets other than software. (2) Separation costs are expected to be incurred over the two to three-year period following the completion of the Spin-off from Novartis and primarily include costs related to IT and third party consulting fees. (3) Transformation costs, primarily related to restructuring and third party consulting fees, for the multi-year transformation program. (4) Includes legal settlement costs and certain external legal fees. (5) Gross Profit includes $5 million in manufacturing sites consolidation activities and integration of recent acquisitions. Selling, general administration includes integration of recent acquisitions. Research development includes $24 million in fair value adjustments for contingent consideration liabilities partially offset by $20 million for the amortization of option rights and the integration of recent acquisitions. Other income primarily includes a realized gain on a financial asset. Other expense primarily includes fair value adjustments of a financial asset and other items. (6) Total tax adjustments of $75 million include tax associated with operating income core adjustments and discrete tax items. (7) Core basic earnings per share is calculated using the weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Core diluted earnings per share also contemplate 2.8 million dilutive shares associated with unvested equity-based awards.

Reconciliation of IFRS to Core results (continued)

Three months ended December 31, 2018

($ millions except (loss)/earnings per share) IFRS

Results Amortization of

certain

intangible

assets(1) Impairments(2) Restructuring

items (3) Legal

items(4) Other

items(5) Core

Results Gross profit 879 245 2 1,126 Operating (loss)/income (75 248 2 8 7 69 259 (Loss)/income before taxes (87 248 2 8 7 69 247 Taxes(6) 14 (56 Net (loss)/income (73 191 Basic (loss)/earnings per share (0.15 0.39 Diluted (loss)/earnings per share (0.15 0.39 Basic weighted average shares outstanding(7) 488.2 488.2 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding(7) 488.2 488.2 Adjustments to arrive at core operating income Selling, general administration (734 2 13 (719 Research development (166 3 19 (144 Other income (26 (2 1 24 (3 Other expense (28 10 6 11 (1

(1) Includes recurring amortization for all intangible assets other than software. (2) Includes impairment charges related to intangible assets. (3) Includes restructuring income and charges and related items. Certain amounts previously reported under "restructuring items" in the 2018 Form 20-F have been reclassified to "other items" to conform with presentation in the current year. (4) Includes legal costs related to an investigation. (5) Gross profit and selling, general administration include charges and reversal of charges related to a product's voluntary market withdrawal and spin readiness costs. Research development includes amortization of option rights. Other income includes fair value adjustments on a financial asset. Other expense includes spin-readiness costs. Certain amounts previously reported under "restructuring items" in the 2018 Form 20-F have been reclassified to "other items" to conform with presentation in the current year. (6) Total tax adjustments of $70 million include tax associated with operating income core adjustments and discrete tax items. Tax associated with operating income adjustments of $334 million totaled $48 million with average tax rate of 14.4%. Core tax adjustments for discrete items totaled $22 million, including a net out of period income tax benefit of $55 million partially offset by net changes in uncertain tax positions of $33 million. (7) For periods prior to the Spin-off, the denominator for both core basic and diluted earnings per share was calculated using the 488.2 million shares of common stock distributed in the Spin-off.

About Alcon

Alcon helps people see brilliantly. As the global leader in eye care with a heritage spanning more than seven decades, we offer the broadest portfolio of products to enhance sight and improve people's lives. Our Surgical and Vision Care products touch the lives of more than 260 million people in over 140 countries each year living with conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases and refractive errors. Our more than 20,000 associates are enhancing the quality of life through innovative products, partnerships with eye care professionals and programs that advance access to quality eye care. Learn more at www.alcon.com

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Foreign lawyers are not entitled to hold interviews with prisoners of Tihar jail, as legal advisors, a Delhi court has said while rejecting a plea by Christian Michel James, an accused in the AgustaWestland chopper scam, seeking permission to meet a foreign lawyer.

Special judge Arvind Kumar said if a foreign lawyer intends to meet or visit the accused as a friend it can be allowed as per prison rules.

The rules make it clear that foreign lawyers are not entitled to have legal interviews with the inmate/prisoner of Tihar Jail, as legal Advisor.

Delhi Prison Rules, 2018 permit lawyers who are registered under the Advocates Act to have legal interviews with prisoners and meet them, the court said.

"It is clear from the bare reading of aforesaid rules that legal practitioners registered under the Advocates Act, 1961 are permitted to meet the accused/ have legal interviews as per the aforesaid Jail Rules. So far as foreign lawyers are concerned, the Advocates Act, 1961 do not recognize or permit foreign lawyers to practice in India in the litigation side," it said.

The court referred to a Supreme Court judgement which said that foreign lawyers do not have a right to practice in India either on litigation or non-litigation side. They can, however, appear before the Court with its permission.

The court said no application has been filed by Rosemary Patrizzi seeking permission to represent accused Christian before this court.

"The aforesaid rules make it clear that foreign lawyers are not entitled to have legal interviews with the inmate/prisoner of Tihar Jail, as legal advisor. Thus, Ms. Rosemary Patrizzi cannot be allowed to have legal interview with accused Christian James Michel as legal advisor," the court said.

It said if a foreign lawyer intends to meet or visit the accused as a friend, it can be allowed as the rules.

"Vide order February 12, 2019, Ms Rosemary Patrizzi was allowed to meet accused Christian James Michel when she intended to meet accused Christian James Michel as friend. It is further noted that no detail of cases pending outside India, regarding which the accused wants to have discussion with aforesaid foreign lawyer, during legal interviews, has been mentioned in the application," the court said.

It noted that the accused is already being represented by three Indian lawyers who are entitled to meet and have legal interview with the accused as per jail rules.

"Hence, no specific directions are needed in this regard," it said.

Michel had submitted that he may be allowed to meet his lawyers in jail during the period of his judicial custody so that he will be in a position to explain his case which is very much necessary for his defence during the trial of the case.

He also argued that he was facing prosecution in different parts of the world and not all the cases are handled by Indian lawyers.

CBI had argued that the prison rules restrict the scope of legal interviews with the inmate for the legal practitioners under the Advocates Act, 1961 and it does not recognize any foreign lawyer to practice in India, including litigation/ non-litigation work.

As such, while the advocates of the applicant are entitled to meet him in jail subject to Jail rules, no such permission can be granted to any foreign lawyer, the agency had argued.

With regard to his second plea seeking permission to make ISD calls, the court said the matter is pending before the Delhi High Court and the counsel for accused has himself stated that he is not pressing his prayer for permission to make ISD calls, therefore it would delve on this issue.

Michel is among the three alleged middlemen being probed in the case by the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The others are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.

The ED, in its charge sheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he had received 30 million euros (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland.

The CBI charge sheet alleged an estimated loss of 398.21 million euros (about Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer due to the deal which was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth 556.262 million euros.

The deal was scrapped in January, 2014.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India and United States (US) on Tuesday finalised defence deals worth $3 billion, and signed three memoranda of understanding (MoU), including a pact in the energy sector. During the joint media address, US President Donald Trump said the US had expanded its defence cooperation with agreements for India to buy advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo Helicopters -- finest in the world. "These will enhance our joint defence capabilities," he added.

On the issue of trade deal between India and the US, Trump said teams from both the countries had made tremendous progress for a comprehensive trade agreement. "I'm optimistic we can reach a deal of great importance to both countries. Since I took office, the US exports to India are up nearly 60 per cent and the exports of high-quality American energy have grown by 500 per cent," he added.

Trump added that both India and the US were committed to protect their citizens from "radical Islamic terrorism". "In this effort the US is also working productively with Pakistan to confront terrorists who operate on its soil," he added.

Apart from the defence deals, Trump said they discussed the importance of a "secure 5G wireless network" and the need for this emerging technology to be a tool for freedom, progress, prosperity, not to do anything with where it could be even conceived as a conduit for suppression and censorship.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said the two countries had decided to take Indo-US ties to comprehensive global partnership level. The unprecedented and historic welcome given to Trump in India would be remembered, said Modi.

"The relations between the two countries have never been as good as they are now," Trump said, adding that the countries have made "wonderful deal".

Earlier, Modi welcomed the US president and thanked him for taking time out for the visit to India. President Trump, in turn, said the last two days in India were amazing, especially the event at the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad. "It was a great honour for me. I would imagine they (the people) were there may be more for you than for me... 125,000 people were inside. Every time, I mentioned your name, there were cheers. People love you," Trump said.

Also Read: Melania Trump attends 'happiness class' with students at Delhi govt school

Also Read: Trump India Visit Day 2: POTUS has a busy day ahead; check full schedule

Also Read: SBI Cards IPO: Price band fixed at Rs 750 to Rs 755, employees to get discount of Rs 75 per share
Shan A S By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Exploring a new possibility in the bullet seizure, the police team probing the recovery of 14 bullets from Kulathupuzha has been liaising with various Central agencies to ascertain whether the bullets belonged to the batch that was seized from Pakistan army during the 1971 war. The 1971 war had led to the liberation of Bangladesh after Pakistan army was routed by Indian forces and large quantity of war booty, including ammunition, was seized by Indian Army during the operations.

Highly-placed sources told TNIE that a large part of the seized Pakistan ammunition was distributed by the then Central Government mostly to high-profile military officers and other elites as war trophy. We are exploring all possibilities on how the cartridges made by Pakistan Ordnance Factory reached the place. The 1971 war and subsequent seizure of Pak weapons by our Army could be one of the reasons. Since a part of the seized ammunition was distributed to various individuals, we are checking whether the cartridges belonged to that batch, said sources.

Sources said that investigation is going on in the right direction and all angles, including terrorism, are being perused thoroughly. The cartridges, the police sources said, were more than 40 years old and bore the head stamp of Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF). If we connect these dots, then the 1971 war angle also comes under our purview, the sources added.

State police chief Loknath Behera, meanwhile, said the probe is going on in the right direction and the investigators are working on certain leads that they have obtained so far. Our first goal is to identify who carried these bullets. Only by identifying the person, we can unearth more details, he said.

The bullets were recovered from Thiruvananthapuram-Thenmala State Highway near Kulathupuzha forest area on Saturday. Twelve of the bullets were found wrapped in a pouch, while the rest was found separately. The primary observation is that the 7.62 mm bullets were used in long-range weapons. Since the cartridges bore POF head stamp, Central agencies too joined the bandwagon. The NIA and Military Intelligence personnel had visited the place where the bullets were found, seeking more details.

In right direction

State police chief Loknath Behera said the probe is going on in the right direction and the investigators are working on certain leads that they have obtained so far
Ambitions for Mexico to gain access to UK pork has moved a step closer after a recent delegation to inspect facilities was described as 'positive'.

The delegation of Mexican officials spent two weeks visiting abattoirs and processors to learn more about the UKs pork production controls.

They also met with pork processors Cranswick, Karro and Tulip as well as viewing several cold storage facilities across the country.

The inspections formed part of ongoing work by the AHDB in partnership with Defra, to open the market for pork exports.

Mexico represents a major opportunity for the UKs pork sector. It is the second largest importer of pork  accounting for nine per cent of total international trade.

In 2018, the country imported 1.2 million tonnes of pig meat, three quarters of which was fresh/frozen primary pork. The remainder was mostly offal.

The US is by far the dominant supplier, providing around 85 per cent of imports  with the majority of the remainder coming from Canada.

A few EU suppliers play a small part, with 8,500 tonnes of pig meat imported from Spain in 2018.

AHDB International Market Development Director, Dr Phil Hadley said: The Mexican market represents a major opportunity for the UK pork sector with a rise in consumption and demand currently outstripping production capabilities.

We are confident this inspection will be another step forward in the UKs ambition to access this important market and build on our already impressive pork export figures.
Photo: The Canadian Press Ontario Provincial Police make arrests at a rail blockade in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, near Belleville, Ont., on Monday.

A police operation that saw officers descend on a rail blockade on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in central Ontario and arrest several protesters has cleared the way for train service to resume.

Ontario Provincial Police say officers moved in Monday morning after efforts to negotiate a peaceful resolution were exhausted and a midnight deadline to clear the 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 but the use of force angered Indigenous leaders, community members and advocacy groups who had hoped for a peaceful resolution.

The protesters had set up the blockade in support of the hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en Nation, who oppose the development of a natural gas pipeline project that crosses their traditional territory in northwestern British Columbia.

CN issued a brief statement Monday saying the company was pleased 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.
The grandmother of little Evelyn Boswell, a 15-month-old toddler who has been missing for two months, have been extradited to Tennessee with her boyfriend after being arrested in a stolen car in North Carolina.

Wilkes County Sheriff's Office deputies say Angela Boswell, 42, and William McCloud, 33, were apprehended Friday in a reportedly stolen 2007 BMW thought to be connected with Evelyn's disappearance.

Evelyn, who vanished in early December and was the focus of an Amber Alert on February 19, was not with the suspects when they were captured.

Angela Boswell (left) and boyfriend William McCloud (right) waived extradition on Monday and will be transferred from North Carolina to Tennessee

Evelyn Boswell (pictured) is the 15-month-old toddler whose been missing since early December 2019, but only became the focus of an Amber Alert on February 18

The couple appeared before a Wilkes County judge Monday and Boswell waived an extradition hearing, telling the judge she wants to return to her home in Tennessee.

'I'd like to get back there and get this situation with my granddaughter resolved,' she said, according to Knox News.

McCloud has also waived extradition. He told the courtroom that BMW was a gift from Evelyn's mother, Megan 'Maggie' Boswell.

He said: 'I had no idea anything had went wrong with the car. Apparently her daughter hadn't paid for the car. Neither of us was aware of anything about that.'

Court records show that McCloud was previously charged with misdemeanor assault and battery in Wilkes County, but it was later dismissed.

Boswell and McCloud are charged in Sullivan County with theft of property over $2,500 in regards to the stolen car.

Authorities have not revealed why the couple was in North Carolina in the first place as Tennessee investigators and the FBI are searching for Evelyn.

McCloud (pictured) claims that that Evelyn's mother, Megan 'Maggie' Boswell, gave them the car without mentioning that it wasn't paid for

Boswell told a judge she wanted to be extradited because she'd 'like to get back there and get this situation with my granddaughter resolved'

Sullivan County detectives traveled to Wilkes County over the weekend to interview Boswell and McCloud while they were in custody. Details regarding those conversations have not been disclosed.

The pair will remain in custody without bond in North Carolina until they can be extradited to Tennessee.

Evelyn vanished from Blountville in a confusing case that has been bogged by misinformation and conflicting accounts.

She wasn't reported missing until February 18, prompting an Amber Alert to be issued for the toddler at the request of the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities say Evelyn (pictured) was officially reported missing on February 18, but that she was last seen two months earlier around December 10 or 11

It was initially reported that Evelyn hadn't been seen since December 26, but it's now thought she was last seen by a babysitter on December 10 or 11.

Authorities say Megan Boswell is cooperating with authorities, but has told inaccurate 'stories' and false information.

On Friday, Megan spoke out for the first time about her daughter's disappearance claiming she knows who has the toddler.

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.

'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 was 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 child's biological father, Ethan Perry, who is an active-duty US Army soldier stationed in Louisiana, is also involved in the investigation.

Perry 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 message on Wednesday, after the AMBER Alert was issued for his missing daughter and shared a further post Friday about the arrests

On February 14, 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.


An exhibit showing supposed social advances in Tibet was closed in a New York City library this weekend following ten days of protests by Tibetan activist groups and their supporters, ending a Chinese consulate-sponsored effort to show Chinas rule of the once-independent Himalayan nation as beneficial.



The exhibit was removed from the Elmhurst branch of the Queens Public Library on Saturday, and plans to rotate the exhibit through six other library branches in Queens have now been stopped, sources said.



Speaking at a rally outside the library this weekend, Congressman Tom Suozzia member of the bipartisan U.S. Congressional Executive Commission on Chinacalled the outcome of the ten days campaign a major victory for Tibet.



Tibetans have been protesting, and I have personally called the library and raised concern. And now the library has made the decision to discontinue the exhibition, said Suozzie, a Democrat and representative for New Yorks 3rd District.



In the end, truth prevails, Suozzi said, adding, The American people need to realize how China treats its own peoplenot only Tibetans but Uyghurs and students in Hong Kong.



We have to stand up for human rights for all people in the world. I will continue to fight for you, Suozzi said.



Also speaking at the rally, Queens resident Ngawang Tashi expressed happiness at the librarys decision to remove the Chinese governments exhibition on Tibet from its building.



I am also very excited to learn that the library is planning to archive books about Tibet along with Tibetan [Buddhist] scriptures, Tashi said.



The librarys decision to take down the exhibition show that activism and truth are more powerful than propaganda and dictatorship, said Dorjee Tseten, executive director of the advocacy group Students for a Free Tibet, one of the groups participating in the protest.



Other learning institutions must now be careful of efforts by Chinas government to use them as platforms for propaganda, Tseten said.



Strengthened attempts by Beijing to project soft power image-building efforts worldwide were launched a decade ago when then President Hu Jintao gave that goal priority at a Communist Party Congress.



Since taking power in late 2012, President Xi Jinping has devoted even more attention to soft power and propaganda outreach, ordering state media to tell a positive story of a rising China and permitting Chinese diplomats to use social media to attack Beijings critics.



Reported by Lobsang Chopel for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Equinor Ends Oil Exploration Project in Great Australian Bight

Planned oil exploration in the Great Australian Bight wont go ahead after Norwegian oil company Equinor pulled the plug on the A$200 million project.

Equinor said the proposed oil drilling was no longer deemed commercially competitive compared with other exploration opportunities in the company.

We will engage with the federal and state authorities regarding our decision to discontinue the exploration program, the companys local boss Jone Stangeland said on Tuesday.

We hold an exploration permit offshore Western Australia and will maintain other ongoing interests and activities in Australia.

Federal Resources Minister Keith Pitt is disappointed by the decision and is encouraging other proponents to fill the void.

I know many will find Equinors decision not to proceed with this oil exploration project in the Great Australian Bight extremely disappointing, and it is particularly hard for South Australia, he said.

The Liberals and Nationals Government remains committed to encouraging the safe development of Australias offshore petroleum resources, which is overseen by a world-class independent regulator in the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA).

The Bight Basin remains one of Australias frontier basins and any proposals for new oil and gas fields in this area will be assessed fairly and independently.

The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) is also gutted, saying the project could have shored-up local energy supplies and eased Australias reliance on imported oil.

Successful development could also boost our energy security. Australias oil production has fallen significantly over the last 10 years, and we now import over 80% of the oil we use, APPEAs South Australian Director Matthew Doman said in a statement. While our energy mix is changing, all credible analysis shows Australia will use a lot of oil and gas for decades to come.

He added that the proposed exploration activity had been subject to an extreme campaign of false and exaggerated claims that deliberately overstated the risks and ignored the potential benefits.

Of course, any exploration and development have to be done in an environmentally safe manner, he acknowledged. We have to make sure theres no negative impact on existing industries or coastal communitiesand the industry remains committed to that.

Australias independent regulator approved the oil drilling in December.

An earlier study found oil exploration in the Great Australian Bight could create 2,000 jobs and generate more than A$7 billion in annual tax revenues.

Greenpeace and others have welcomed the withdrawal as a win for the environment.

A man holds up a board reading Big oil dont surf during a surf demonstration, a so-called paddle-out, taking place on May 12, 2019, in the harbor pool outside the Opera House in Oslo, Norway, against a planned oil exploration of Norwegian multinational energy company Equinor in the The Great Australian Bight. (OLA VATN/AFP via Getty Images)

The Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) has been representing the Wilderness Society in a bid to overturn Equinors environmental approvals.

The EDO has hailed the legal action as a factor in Equinors decision, saying the company would have had to go back to the drawing board if the move was successful.

The case is due to appear in the Federal Court next week but may no longer be necessary.

BP, Chevron, and Karoon Gas have all withdrawn from the Bight, but Santos, Murphy Oil and Bight Petroleum still have plans to drill there.

By Daniel McCulloch and Katina Curtis. With additional reporting by The Epoch Times.
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A grace note, according to my dictionary, is an extra note added as an embellishment and not essential to the harmony or melody. Sitting in the audience on opening night for Lawrence Wrights new play, Camp David, now on stage at Houstons Alley Theatre, its the term that kept coming to mind.

Camp David focuses on 13 days in 1978 when President Jimmy Carter persuaded the leaders of Israel and Egypt, Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat, to come to the Presidential retreat in Maryland to negotiate face-to-face accords for peace in the Middle East. It was a daring diplomatic gamble for all three: trying to establish a formal peace or at least a framework for one between countries that had been at odds for thousands of years.

A planned few days of meetings stretched into two weeks as Carter kept pressing the two enemies to find and build on cracks in their absolute positions. In the end, an accord was reached and signed, producing one of the 20th centurys most famous photo-ops: enemies Begin and Sadat shaking hands with each other along with the American president who had brought them together.

It didnt last of course. Carter would be voted from office at the end of his first term; Begin would resign in disgrace after miring Israel in a war in Lebanon, and Sadat would be assassinated by extremists. In the tragic symphony that is the Middle East, the Camp David moment now seems like a lovely grace note about what might have been.

The triumph of Wrights play is that it brings that moment to life, sounding the grace note of hope within the range of the human ear. In a moment when the music of our politics seems a discord of horns honking and cymbals crashing, Camp David suggests there was a time when politics could be entwined with prayer. Indeed, one of the plays most poignant scenes counterpoints its three politicians praying, each in his own tradition and all summarized by Carters blunt plea to heaven: Dont let us screw it up.

And though the play is in many ways an old-fashioned political dramathink films and plays such as Gore Vidals The Best Man or Lee Blessings A Walk in the Woodsits characters are neither pillars of virtue and wisdom nor demons to be wrestled into submission. Carter is worried his poll numbers will send him back to Plains. Sadat arrives announcing, Im flexible on everythingexcept land and sovereignty. Begin is the child of holocaust survivors who explains, We have a complicated relationship to this Deity.

Moreover, the play adds a fourth voice: that of Rosalynn Carter, the presidents wife. She is ever the graceful Southern hostess of her guests but also the voice of common sense and political practicality to her husband. As played by Rebecca Brooksher, she is also the figure the audience can identify with, the gentle voice and shy if steely demeanor that brings much of the action into a clear perspective.

The cast as a whole is strong. None of the three male leads settle for physical or vocal impersonations. Stephen Thornes Jimmy Carter is less the public politician than a man driven by both idealism and doubts. Elijah Alexanders Sadat exudes confidence and bluster. When he enacts his morning walk with strides that seem yards wide, he is all boldness, but when he confers with his advisor and Foreign Minister, he is a man who knows he treads on thin ice. As Begin, Jordan Lage communicates the brittle and prickly Prime Ministers sense of a burden imposed by the history of the Jewish people and the worries of a father and grandfather. Always standing rigidly erect, unhappy to be seen without his suit jacket, he makes Begins resistance to compromise seem physical, and yet he has traveled across half the world for his possibility of peace.

Oskar Eustis direction is strikingly simple and without flourish, like the rustic setting itself. Using David Rockwells stripped-down set designa gray-stained wooden floor with a few movable gray bencheshe recreates the sense of enclosure that all the characters experience, their sense of being hemmed in by history and fear with only one tool to dig an escape tunnel: themselves. Eustis keeps most of the scenes sharp, close, and hard, and he reinforces this when he allows rare scenes of softer intimacy: a Sabbath toast, a late-night meeting between husband and wife, a moment looking at photographs. Its superb pacing that doesnt try to be edgy but natural.

Is it true? Wright in interviews has stressed his historical research and the responses of the surviving figures who have seen the play, but Camp David works best, not as truth, but as imaginative creation of the human longing for accomplishment and peace. The play closes with Mrs. Carter giving a mournful rendition of the old gospel song that ends, There will be peace in the valley for mesomeday.

Camp David is a hope for that peace, if not now, then somedayto which we can all say, Amen.

Camp David is on the Alley Theatres Neuhaus stage through March 15.

Robert Donahoo is a professor at Sam Houston State University and writes theater reviews for The Courier.
Donna Minter approached the new Krispy Kreme Doughnuts shop in North Charleston Tuesday morning to pick up a dozen or two of the company's signature "Original Glazed" sweet treats.

Then the Ladson resident saw the line of cars backed up around the Ladson Road store, behind Bojangles' chicken restaurant and down Palmetto Commerce Parkway, dozens of vehicles deep.

"I decided it might be quicker if I went inside," Minter said.

With no spaces available in the Krispy Kreme lot and North Charleston police officers on site directing traffic, Minter parked her car at Bojangles' next door, where hardly a space was available. She then found another long line of people waiting at the restaurant door to get inside.

Undeterred, she inched forward with the long line from outside to inside for more than an hour before reaching the counter.

"I was ready," she said, hoisting her folded-up umbrella because of the threatening skies as she stood in front of a display case filled with sprinkled, glazed and chocolate-drizzled doughnuts.

"I just love Krispy Kreme," Minter said. "And I hate going to West Ashley because it's too far for me."

The Winston-Salem, N.C.-based company operates another doughnut shop on Savannah Highway, its only other shop in the Charleston region.

And while it took several years for the North Charleston site to become a reality, it may not be the last new shop in the Lowcountry.

"Charleston could handle two, if not three, more Krispy Kreme locations," said Miles Herring of Myrtle Beach, the franchisee for the Lowcountry.

He hasn't closed on any new sites in the Charleston area, but he believes the market is ripe for further development.

"We are always looking for opportunities," Herring said after snipping the ribbon on the Ladson Road restaurant, his ninth.

His others are in Myrtle Beach, Wilmington and Jacksonville, N.C.

Tony Ashe, the manager of the new North Charleston venue, said he and his staff began preparing doughnuts on Monday for the expected onslaught.

"It will be like this for the next week or two," said Ashe, who came to the new store from the West Ashley location.

"People have been waiting for this to open," he said. "It's been a long time coming."

Retired Air Force veteran Derryl Randolph of North Charleston was one of those who looked forward to the new shop and stood in line for about an hour before getting served.

"It's the grand opening," he said. "If you want it, be ready to wait."

The new store is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
The Queen has praised intelligence officers for their response to changing threats to the UK, in a secret visit to MI5s head office.

She was pictured speaking to director general Sir Andrew Parker outside the headquarters in London on Tuesday lunchtime, after giving a speech to staff based there.

The Queen praised their tireless work to keep our country safe and said I am always struck by the remarkable resolve with which you carry out your vital role.

Queen Elizabeth II thanked the staff during the visit. (Press Association)

Read more: How Sussex Royal loss will impact Harry and Meghan

In a speech, she said: There will no doubt continue to be significant threats and challenges ahead. But on each of my visits to MI5, I have been impressed by the way that you have adapted to the changing threats to our nation.

Whether responding to the threats from the Nazis or the Cold War, domestic terrorism or the cyber sphere, you have always demonstrated the utmost commitment to your motto: Regnum Defende.

Because of the nature of your work, it is without public recognition, so it is on behalf of the country that I say to you all, thank you.

Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to the headquarters of MI5 at Thames House. (Press Association)

Queen Elizabeth II looks at artifacts relating to MI5 D-Day operations Sir Andrew. (Press Association)

Read more: Harry and Meghan announce transition details as they confirm end of Sussex Royal branding

MI5s motto means defence of the realm.

Sir Andrew gave the Queen a tour of MI5s private museum, where he showed her artefacts relating to double agents who helped deceive the Nazis over the site of the Second World War D-Day landings.

During the tour, he described the MI5 double agent operation as the most important thing MI5 has done, to which the Queen replied and very successfully too.

She was also shown a Nazi Iron Cross awarded to Garbo described as the greatest double agent of the Second World War, for his work in tricking German high command over the D-Day landings.

Queen Elizabeth II gave a speech at the HQ. (Press Association)

Queen Elizabeth II talks with MI5 officers who were not allowed to be named. (Press Association)

His real name was Juan Pujol and he fed misinformation to Nazis from a fictitious group of informants, which left Adolf Hitlers senior officers thinking they were getting important landing information.

Story continues

Sir Andrew said: Because they so believed the intelligence they were receiving, he was decorated for it; in reality he was deceiving them and saved many lives at Normandy.

She was also told about the work of her father, King George VI, who deceived the enemy by visiting a fake oil storage depot in Dover built by Shepperton film studios on behalf of the War Office.

The visit comes after the government had to deny claims that MI5 chiefs dont trust Home Secretary Priti Patel and have been limiting intelligence sharing.

Queen Elizabeth II with Director General Andrew Parker at her first public visit. (Press Association)

Read more: Prince Charles visits flood-hit town in South Wales

MI5s work now focuses on Islamist extremism, Northern Ireland-related terrorism and hostile foreign state activities as well as right-wing terrorism.

At any one point there could be 600 investigations underway about up to 3,000 individuals.

The Queen met a range of staff at the head quarters, and spoke to one who manages MI5 officers as they recruit members of the public to provide intelligence on terrorist threats.

Queen Elizabeth II paid tribute to the way the staff adapt to changing threats. (Press Association)

The manager, who cannot be named, said: I told the Queen we rely on the bravery of the members of the public. They do extraordinary things on our behalf.

Sir Andrew gave a speech and praised the Queen, telling her: Your powerful sense of duty and public service to the nation has been an inspiration to us.

For more than a century MI5 has undertaken vital work to keep the country safe. Your Majestys support for the work we do is appreciated by us all.

Queen Elizabeth II talks to Director General Andrew Parker outside MI5. (Press Association)

Last year, the Queens grandson Prince William spent three weeks at MI6, MI5 and GCHQ, spending a week with each agency in what he called a truly humbling experience.

After the three weeks, he said: These agencies are full of people from everyday backgrounds doing the most extraordinary work to keep us safe. They work in secret, often not even able to tell their family and friends about the work they do or the stresses they face. They are driven by an unrivalled patriotism and dedication to upholding the values of this country.

We all owe them deep gratitude for the difficult and dangerous work they do.

Watch the latest Royal Story videos from Yahoo UK
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Waterloo Greenway, formerly Waller Creek Conservancy, has announced its Creek Show 2020 Call for Ideas is officially open! The non-profit is now seeking light-based art installation ideas from local artists, landscape architects and designers for the 7th Annual Creek Show . The deadline to submit is midnight on Monday, March 9, 2020.

Creek Show seeks to celebrate outstanding design while sparking conversation about the transformation of Waterloo Greenway into a series of urban parks, trails and a restored Waller Creek. Through this event, the organization activates the creek by commissioning innovative installations and provides free programming for the entire community to enjoy.

Six artists or teams will be selected by a committee of local leaders from the design and art community to display their work along Waller Creek, between 9th and 12th Streets, from November 12-22, 2020.

"We look forward to Creek Show every year," said Meredith Bossin, Director of Engagement at Waterloo Greenway Conservancy. "The show continues to get bigger and better thanks to all the incredible artists who submit. Austin is full of talented designers and it's so exciting to see how they dazzle us with their colorful, illuminating installations."

Each year, artists explore different Waller Creek-inspired themes, ranging from environmental stewardship to the region's rich history. Last year, Waterloo Greenway hosted its biggest and brightest Creek Show yet, with over 60,000 people and seven original art installations.

The selection committee is looking for artists who can bring unique designs to life, from conception to realization. The most successful concepts brought forward will be highly spectacle, use common materials in uncommon ways and tell a compelling story about Waterloo Greenway.

Additional information regarding eligibility can be found here . To learn more about Creek Show and the mission of the organization, visit waterloogreenway.org .

ABOUT WATERLOO GREENWAY CONSERVANCY

Waterloo Greenway Conservancy is a non-profit organization whose mission is to create and maintain an extraordinary urban park system and a restored Waller Creek, in partnership with the City of Austin, for the benefit of all. The Conservancy renews the natural environment, promotes play, health and wellness, economic vitality and mobility, and engages the community through outreach, education, cultural events, and the arts.

SOURCE The Waterloo Greenway Conservancy

Related Links

https://waterloogreenway.org


3rd SFAB and Kurdish Peshmerga work side by side to defeat threats

U.S. Central Command

By Sgt. Sean Harding U.S. Army Central

ERBIL, Iraq, Feb. 24, 2020 -- In the Makmuhr mountains of northern Iraq where fighters for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria are regrouping and reforming, the Kurdish Peshmerga operate a small military base close to a series of lookout posts where ISIS fighters have attempted to infiltrate Iraq's Kurdistan region.

Just last week, ISIS fighters attacked and injured several local shepherds in the area before local fighters killed them.

A portion of the U.S. Army's 3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade is in Iraq on a mission to train, advise, assist and enable local security forces. This time, the brigade has partnered with the Peshmerga's 3rd Battalion, 14th Regional Guard Brigade, training side-by-side to increase their capabilities.

The Peshmerga is a volunteer military force operated by the Kurdish regional government in Iraq. Not only are they a standing army, but they also assist civilians, similar to what the National Guard does in the United States. Peshmerga troops help provide locals with medical care, as well as identify unexploded ordnance, which is a persistent problem in the area. Militant groups like ISIS have placed some of the explosives. There is also a large number of unexploded ordnances remaining in the area from the Iran-Iraq war, which occurred more than 30 years ago.

Peshmerga literally translates to "those who face death."

This week, the Peshmerga unit is running a class on how to deal with unexploded ordnance. The 3rd SFAB is assessing what the Peshmerga's knowledge level is and how their leadership conducts operations, simultaneously looking for opportunities to enhance the Peshmerga's capabilities.

"They requested us to go with them," said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Duehning, 3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade team leader. "Partly because we have experience with these people and this job as well as the assets."

The course consisted of classroom instruction, followed by practical exercises and a culminating event where the Peshmerga identified unexploded ordnance and responded to the threats appropriately, calling in explosive ordnance disposal units if necessary.

The Peshmerga soldiers might not have to wait very long to put their training to use.

"Of course, we're going to see it  I've seen those firsthand," said Maj. Ihason Zebari, Peshmerga's 3rd Battalion, 14th Regional Guard Brigade executive officer, through a linguist. "This training is actually very important not just for the military but also for civilians. We could save a lot of lives."

Zebari said there is still a large amount of unexploded ordnance remaining from the Iran-Iraq war, which took place before the Gulf War. People continue to walk and drive over the ordnance, and animals and livestock are casualties as well.

"Those IEDs have been planted in the ground from the 1980s," Zebari said. "And nobody knows."

ISIS is also planting IEDs in the region, Zebari said.

The cooperation needed to defeat threats in the region stems from the trust that the American and Kurdish forces have built through months of working together. U.S. and Peshmerga troops lived side-by-side with each other on the same base, in some cases.

"They're not hard to work with," said Staff Sgt. Kimberly Chavez, 3rd SFAB logistics advisor. "All the training that we did, we can see the interest that they had."

Not only do Peshmerga seem to enjoy working with U.S. troops, but locals have also displayed affection for the help and security that the Americans provide in the region.

"They are also very friendly to us," Duehning said. "They wouldn't, I say, consider the Americans heroes. But kind of, almost. That's why all the people on the street when you pass by are smiling and waving."

However, Zebari warned that the security in northern Iraq should not be taken for granted.

"ISIS is very dangerous because we think they're coming back," Zebari said. "They're making a comeback. We are and we have been fighting against ISIS on behalf the whole world. But we are also fighting with the help of the Americans, and we want that help to continue."

Several U.S. Army AH-64 Apaches provided additional security during the unexploded ordnance training, scanning the area where ISIS fighters are known to be hiding, highlighting the threat the militants still provide.

"The fight against ISIS is not over because they are still here," Duehning said.

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Amid the current outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), leading market research firm STR analysed historical data for China and found that the countrys hotel performance recovered quickly following the containment of SARS in 2003. Recovery around the current outbreak situation of 2020 could follow a similar timeline.



Significant market, economic and social changes over the past two decades render a direct comparison of coronavirus to SARS rather complex when it comes to hotel performance, said Jesper Palmqvist, STRs area director for the Asia Pacific region. However, we felt it important to analyse hotel performance and recovery in China during the early part of the millennium in order to derive possible projections for 2020. All areas of the country, which likely differed in terms of number of reported cases, suffered a negative impact during the SARS outbreak. Some recovered quicker than others, but all bounced back swiftly after containment.



In the scenario where there is a slowing in new coronavirus cases reported by the end of February, we can then project the recovery trajectory with both historic and current signs that China will rebound quickly, particularly in the domestic market. Regardless, there are questions to be answered around eventual readiness of those hotels that are currently closed in China and how outbound travel will develop.



For Mainland China, the lowest occupancy month during the SARS outbreak was May 2003 at 18 per cent. At the same time, ADR was at CNY518 ($74.1). Then by August, after containment, occupancy was back up to 67 per cent and ADR was at CNY552 ($78.9). From an ADR perspective, Mainland China reported just three months of declines in April, May and June of 2003.



Beijing was one of the severely infected areas and the last Mainland China city removed from the list of areas with local transmission (June 24, 2003). Occupancy fell to as low as 10 per cent in May, then recovered back to 52 per cent in July, 65 per cent in August and 72 per cent in September.



Performance in Guangdong, where the SARS outbreak originated, fell in April 2003 and continued until the World Health Organisation removed its travel alert at the end of May. The organisation then removed Guangdong from the list of areas with local transmission on June 13, and the market quickly bounced back and showed occupancy of 56 per cent in July.



Hong Kong was removed from the list 10 days later, and occupancy jumped to the 60 per cent level in July, then to 75 per cent in August.



Shanghai, Chengdu and Chongqing were not under the spotlight during the SARS outbreak, but were significantly affected. After hitting a low occupancy point in May, occupancy for each was back to the 60 per cent level in July. - TradeArabia News Service
IPS officer S N Shrivastava has been appointed as the new Delhi Police Special Commissioner (Law and Order) after the Union home ministry repatriated him from the CRPF on Tuesday night to take control of the violence in the national capital, officials said.

Shrivastava, a 1985-batch AGMUT cadre officer, is tipped to take over as the new Delhi Police chief after incumbent Amulya Patnaik's extended tenure ends on February 29.

An order issued by the home department of the Delhi government said the officer is being appointed to the Delhi Police post with "immediate effect".

The Central Reserve Police Force, where Shrivastava was serving as the Special Director General (Training), also issued an order reliving the officer to join the new post after the home ministry ordered his premature repatriation from the paramilitary force.

Officials said Shrivastava, who has served the Delhi Police in various capacities in the past, has joined the new posting and is already interacting with police officials to control the violence that has engulfed parts of north-east Delhi since the last two days and has claimed 11 lives including of a policeman.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BEIJING,CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / February 25, 2020 / The novel coronavirus outbreak(COVID-19)in China has gained world's attention recently. The U.K. government had donated vital medical equipment to Wuhan, including tens of thousands of protective medical gowns, medical masks and gloves, to help the public health service and front-line medical staff to cope with COVID-19, according to Barbara Janet Woodward, the British Ambassador to China.

Barbara Janet Woodward said,she is honored to stay in Beijing and witness the tenacity and fortitude of the Chinese people. The UK and China work together to eliminate the global threat of new outbreaks. The UK fully supports the Chinese government in taking active and strong measures for the epidemic, sharing data and collaborating with global scientific community to prevent the spread of the epidemic worldwide.

Novel coronavirus pneumonia has affected China's local economy and trade and investment activities, and China's outbound tourism and shopping are decreasing. According to the BBC (February 17, 2020), the number of customers at the Bicester village, a famous British discount village in Oxfordshire, has recently declined significantly, and sales are facing a huge decline. According to statistics, the number of Chinese customers who come to shop has dropped by about 85%.

In the short term, the epidemic will affect China's economic growth, but it will not fundamentally change China's consumption pattern. "Although China is currently going through a critical stage of epidemic prevention and control, these figures remind us that the great potential of long-term cooperation between our two countries will not change," Matthew Lawes, head of the UK China Trade Association, said in an interview with Chinese media. He believes the cooperation between the two countries in retail, science and technology, health and other fields will continue to grow. It is too early to assess the impact of the outbreak.

After the outbreak of SARS in 2003, Britain's exports to China fell sharply, but rebounded significantly in the second half of the year. According to the 2019 UK foreign trade data released by the UK National Bureau of statistics, the UK's exports to China reached a new high in 2019, and China is the third largest export market of the UK.

Meanwhile, the British government has no plans to impose travel restrictions on Chinese citizens to the UK and strive to resume visa business in China as soon as possible to welcome Chinese tourists to the UK.

For more information, please contact:

Yu.Ji

Queqi Media Culture Co.,Ltd

media.yu@foxmail.com

086 18717184481

www.queqicn.com

SOURCE: Queqi Media Culture Co.,Ltd

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/577739/Ambassador-of-the-United-Kingdom-UK-to-China-Barbara-Janet-Woodward-provides-encouragement-to-Wuhan-and-will-stay-in-Beijing
COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio  A teen girl from Wooster who had been reported missing last week from a group home in southwest Ohio was found dead at a Cincinnati-area park, according to reports.

The Hamilton County coroner has not determined the cause of death for Emma Roberts, 15, whose body was found Friday at Clippard Park in Colerain Township, WCPO Channel 9 reports. The girls mother tells WCPO she believes Roberts might have died of a drug overdose.

Police tell the Cincinnati Enquirer they have no suspects in connection with Roberts death. The teen had been placed in a group home by Wayne County Jobs and Family Services, WCPO reports.

Police are encouraging anyone with information to contact investigators.

To comment on this story, visit Mondays crime and courts comment section.

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MMA fighter accused of assaulting two people at bar near Akron

Man shot in head in downtown Akron parking lot

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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.
NEW YORK - The credibility of porn star Stormy Daniels will be the central issue when Michael Avenatti goes on trial in April on charges that he cheated her of $300,000 from a book deal, his attorney said Tuesday.

Lawyer Tom Warren spoke outside court after his client, his feet and hands shackled, shuffled from a Manhattan courtroom with federal marshals to an elevator on his way back to a federal lockup next door to the courthouse.

He said he expects the trial to occur, although he added that its his responsibility to listen to any plea deal offerings by prosecutors. He wouldnt say if any had occurred.

I wouldnt pass on the opportunity to cross examine Stormy Daniels in a million years, Warren said, saying he believes she has made conflicting statements.

Warren said a jury would learn how much Daniels owed Avenatti for all the legal work he did for her while she was challenging President Donald Trump over a hush money payment made to her after she alleged that she had an affair with Trump before he ran for president.

During that time, Avenatti, a California attorney, appeared frequently on cable television programs, gaining a measure of fame and drawing the ire of Trump.

It isnt a documents case really, Warren said. Its about the credibility of Stormy Daniels.

Clark Brewster, a lawyer for Daniels, said the deal between Avenatti and Daniels called for Avenatti to be paid $1 and whatever he could get from a crowdfunding drive, which generated about $600,000.

He said the written agreement said any additional fees would be described in separate deals, but there were none.

He can try to obscure and smear and make up testimony as he goes along, but the upshot is that the agreement was very simple, Brewster said.

Warren spoke after U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman confirmed that the trial will begin on April 21, as planned, even after a judge who had earlier presided over the case died.

Avenatti, 49, was recently convicted of trying to extort up to $25 million from sportswear giant Nike. His court appearance Tuesday was his first since he was convicted at the Nike trial.

Avenatti is also facing charges in Los Angeles federal court that allege he cheated clients and others of millions of dollars. He has denied wronging, and the trial is scheduled to start in May.
Mumbai, Feb 25 : Former "Bigg Boss 13" contestant Shehnaaz Gill, who is fondly called "Punjab ki Katrina Kaif", has gone down memory lane and shared a photograph of herself from her days in the controversial reality show.

Shehnaaz shared a picture from the stand-up comedy task inside the "Bigg Boss" house.

She captioned it: "All I need is a Mike and stage... balle balle to genes mein hai... #shehnazians #shehnazgill (Sic)." Shehnaaz is currently featuring in the "Bigg Boss 13" spin-off series "Mujhse Shaadi Karoge" hosted by Maniesh Paul. It also has the previous show's finalists Paras Chhabra Gill hunting for the perfect marriage partner.

The show will unfold as a swayamvar, and will see all contestants staying in the same house where "Bigg Boss 13" was played out as they get down to wooing Shehnaaz and Paras.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Future Professor: Dr Philani Mashazi has been appointed to the Future Professors Programme

In an attempt to prepare academics for the professoriate level, the Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology (DHEST) has launched a Future Professors Programme (FPP). Rhodes University academic, Dr Philani Mashazi, is one 29 academics from different South African universities to be selected into the programme.

Vice-Chancellors had to nominate academics who are doing well in research to be included in the programme. A selection committee was appointed by DHEST to rigorously review all nominations with the aim of selecting suitable candidates. The programme is a first-of-its-kind and it seeks to empower academics who are not yet professors on the various aspects related to professorship. The programme will include national and international engagements with expert panel to advise the candidates on their intellectual project and getting exposure of international teaching.

Dr Mashazi said he is hoping that the FPP will stimulate and assist in improving his productivity within his research group and help graduate more students. I am grateful to be part of the first cohort of candidates for this programme. This is the opportunity I have been waiting for, and I feel it will help me grow as a researcher scientist and my scholarly output will without a doubt increase. I am also grateful to the Vice-Chancellor for seeing a potential in me and to be considered for this programme, said Dr Mashazi. He said the programme will give him access to grants, extend his collaboration with international scholars and strengthen national collaboration with academics in his field of interest.

In a letter sent to Dr Mashazi, DHEST Minister Dr Blade Nzimande said, Congratulations on your well-deserved success and best wishes for an excellent experience as a participant in the programme. I trust that you will take full advantage of the opportunity that has been afforded to you and I look forward to the contribution you will make as leading academic in higher education in South Africa and beyond.

Dr Mashazi hails from a small town in KwaZulu-Natal called Nqutu. He studied Bachelor of Science degree, Honors in Chemistry, Masters of Science in Chemistry and PhD, all from Rhodes University. He is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Chemistry Department.

Source: Communications

Please help us to raise funds so that we can give all our students a chance to access online teaching and learning. Covid-19 has disrupted our students' education. Don't let the digital divide put their future at risk. Visit www.ru.ac.za/rucoronavirusgateway to donate
GUANGZHOU, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Luigi Cormaci, an Italian trader living in the city of Foshan, south China's Guangdong Province, had a different Spring Festival with his family this year.

"This year's Spring Festival is cheerless, but as foreigners in China, we do feel warm," Luigi said.

The novel coronavirus outbreak started in central China's Hubei Province. But the deadly virus soon spread across the country.

To contain the contagion, Chinese provinces and regions rolled out a series of policies, while Guangdong Province, one of the country's major economic powerhouses, activated a level I public health emergency response to control the epidemic on Jan. 23, two days before the Spring Festival.

Cities in Guangdong, including Foshan, canceled all commercial celebrations and traditional New Year activities.

Luigi has been working in China since 2004. In 2014, he came to Foshan with his wife. For the past six years, celebrating the Spring Festival has been an annual tradition, like Christmas. But without cheers and jubilation, this year's Spring Festival left Luigi a profound impression.

In the following days, a multilingual notice was issued by Luigi's community for foreign residents, informing them to strengthen epidemic prevention and control and avoid outdoor activities.

Romeo Mattia, from Milan, who lives in neighboring Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong Province, also received a similar notice.

Romeo said that apart from the community's anti-epidemic efforts, the provincial government and the consulate general of Italy in Guangzhou also took actions to guarantee the safety of Italians amid the outbreak.

In addition, communities also checked their temperature, and foreign residents were asked to report their health conditions online.

Luigi said that China's urgent response and warm notices alleviated his anxiety about the virus. "My family in Italy was worried, but I didn't panic."

In 2003, when SARS broke out in China, Luigi was on a business trip in north China's Tianjin Municipality, which neighbors Beijing, one the worse-hit areas. He said China won the battle against SARS and he is confident in China's actions' against the new virus.

It should be a family reunion time for Chinese, but they made a great sacrifice by staying at home, Luigi said.

He said Chinese have also demonstrated their solidarity, selflessness and kindness throughout the epidemic.

"A courier gave me a face mask when I collected my package without wearing my own," Luigi said. "Chinese people always help each other, especially when they cope with a common challenge."

Luigi believes the virus will be defeated soon, and the finish line is in sight.

Guangdong lowered its emergency response on Monday, a positive sign in one of the most populous provinces.

Lucia Pasqualini, consul general of Italy in Guangzhou, said previously in an interview, "We all stand together undertaking the same mission. I am sure China is going to overcome this very difficult situation."
Can social media be saved? Can democracy be saved?

The first question may seem less compelling than the second, but to some very worried observers, they are intimately entwined.

Social networking  on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and a host of other online networks  is the root of all current cultural evils, in the eyes of some critics. However, campaigns to persuade users to withdraw from it have gained little traction.

Undeniably, social networks offer positive experiences that are hard to give up. They connect people instantly. They disseminate photos of newborn babies, delicious recipes and miraculously standing brooms. They let us know when celebrities  or old acquaintances  have passed on. They help raise money for good causes. They educate. They provide a forum for discussions that are penetrating and sincere. For some, they are an antidote for loneliness.

They also vacuum up users personal data and share it with marketers to support alarmingly targeted advertising campaigns. They provide convenient tools for bullies to harass their victims. They offer a platform for hate speech and terrorist recruitment. They distort the truth. They spread and amplify fake news and other lies. They sow distrust and enmity among family members and friends. They chip at the very foundation of long-treasured institutions. Some see them as an existential threat.

As part of a comprehensive virtual discussion on the state of technology in 2020, we put two central questions to ECTs panel of industry insiders in an effort to tease apart some of these tangled issues. We asked them to identify the biggest problems with social media and to propose some potential solutions.

We also asked how concerned they were about the spread of disinformation online, particularly with respect to elections, and for their insights on how that issue should be addressed.

Our roundtable participants were Laura DiDio, principal at ITIC; Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group; Ed Moyle, partner at SecurityCurve; Denis Pombriant, managing principal at the Beagle Research Group; and Jonathan Terrasi, a tech journalist who focuses on computer security, encryption, open source, politics and current affairs.

Social Media Ills in a Nutshell

The trouble with social media platforms, according to our panelists, is that they make it so easy for people to behave badly. Also, people are too careless with their information. Its too easy for an impulsive moment to go viral.

Theres a lack of foresight when it comes to managing these vast personal data respositories. Social networks have all but destroyed privacy.

Social networking is addictive.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Platforms are biased. Standards are not applied fairly.

Theyre businesses that want to profit, above all else.

Some solutions? Break them up. Require licensing. Deploy artificial intelligence monitors. Regulate.

The Social Blob

Users are both the victims and the villains on social media, suggested Rob Enderle, who noted the tendency for people to post without thinking.

In general, many people think they can hide behind the anonymity of their keyboards and use social media as a weapon to bully other people, with little thought for the consequences of what they type, said Laura DiDio.

Many people also overshare and provide too much information about themselves and their personal life. This too, can have unintended and often tragic consequences, she added.

The social media business model is exploitative, remarked Jonathan Terrasi, in the sense that consumers only nominally consent to it, very seldom providing truly informed consent.

Privacy is the biggest issue, said Ed Moyle.

One macabre factor is that users social media accounts often outlive them, noted DiDio.

I still get notifications for birthdays, anniversaries, etc., for deceased friends and coworkers, she remarked.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

The challenge of fixing social media may seem insurmountable, but there is no shortage of potential solutions on offer, ranging from creative ways to modify personal behavior to business self-regulation to accepting the need for governmental intervention.

The most obvious solution is to practice discretion, but Im not sure how realistic that is for many people, said DiDio. Ive seen some people say theyre taking a break from Facebook or Twitter or Instagram in the morning only to be back posting a few hours later! To paraphrase Karl Marx: Social media is the opiate of the people.

AI to the Rescue?

Instead of persuading people to stop using social media platforms, why not provide tools that can help them engage more wisely?

Perhaps artificial intelligence systems could be of use in this regard, Enderle suggested.

Imagine that youre firing off an angry reply to your brother-in-laws snarky political jibe and, as you type, a little thought balloon pops up and asks you if you really want to post that comment. Perhaps the AI even suggests language that makes your point in a less confrontational way.

Speaking Freely

To me, the most significant issue with social media is uniform and transparent applications of a platforms community standards,' said Terrasi.

At this point, people seem to have not just conceded that social media puts limits on online speech, but have actually welcomed certain forms of what is, at the end of the day, censorship, he pointed out.

Whether its removing Islamic State (ISIS) content at the behest of the Obama administration, or social media cracking down on disinformation in the face of vociferous pressure from their users, policing certain kinds of speech on social media is a practice that users truly want, Terrasi maintained.

However, what were finding, both historically and presently, is that social media companies do not enforce their standards uniformly, and a lot of users  activists especially  feel that they are being dealt with more harshly than other users who have committed more grave infractions, he said.

Its gotten to the point where different political factions believe that a given social media platform is secretly carrying water for their opponents, which at the very least creates a toxic atmosphere for discourse, Terrasi observed.

About 100 years ago, Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. wrote the defining standard for free speech, said Denis Pombriant.

It had something to do with issuing propaganda during wartime. Holmes said that the speech much present a clear and present danger to society for society to take action against it. Thats where we get the idea that free speech or not, you cant yell fire in a crowded theater. It makes sense, he continued.

Using that standard, there are many things happening on social media today that violate the standard set by Holmes. Rather than regulating speech per se, which is a never-ending pit to fall into, if we applied simple structures that have worked well for centuries already, we could reduce the problem to a minimum without trampling anyones rights, Pombriant suggested.

The Self-Policing Approach

One of the underlying problems with social media is the internal corruption of the platforms that is attributable to runaway greed, suggested Pombriant.

The CEOs represent a new gilded age, he remarked.

Social media has a business model problem that will be solved when they are broken up into platforms and apps, Pombriant suggested.

Further, like other professional organizations that police themselves, social media platforms should be subjected to certification and licensing for professional participation, he argued.

This works well for all kinds of occupations, from doctors and lawyers to electricians and barbers. You can cut your own hair, you can wire a socket in your own home, you can treat your own cold without professional intervention  but if you want to do any of those things for others you need a license, Pombriant noted.

Social media for personal use should not require any form of licensing, but when organizations use it to influence the public it is reasonable to require them to have demonstrated competency up to and including identifying who they are unambiguously, he said.

How many social media ills could be solved right now with just minimal transparency? Not having that transparency is the core of a clear and present danger, maintained Pombriant.

I see what youre saying, Denis, and it seems very elegant on paper, but I dont see that working in practice  at least in the realm of political speech, which produced the consternation that precipitated the present vigorous public discourse on online speech, Terrasi responded.

If corporate or governmental political actors identified themselves as such, then we could by all means require licensing on their part, he agreed.

The reality, though, is that nothing will compel these actors to do any such thing. If, for instance, a private sector entity with fringe political agendas wants to incept its narrative, they will just get people to create accounts and generate content under the pretense that they are individuals sharing their sincerely held personal beliefs, Terrasi said.

There is literally no way to police this practice, short of shaking down every user of every account and investigating the possibility that they represent some entity other than themselves, he pointed out.

Not only would these rogue political actors do this, but they have in fact done this: Russia sowed discord in the American public discourse in 2016 by fabricating fake personas of individuals with supposedly personally held beliefs, and these messages resonated with American voters enough that they were amplified, Terrasi added. I dont see a realistic way to out every account that serves the interests of a larger entity, with or without licensing requirements.

The Big Guns

Manipulation at a national scale requires intelligent regulation, according to Enderle.

That said, I fear intelligent regulation is an oxymoron, he added.

It seems to me that the only long-term viable solution is regulation, Moyle agreed.

Social media needs to make money to operate, and companies will derive revenue in whatever way theyre allowed, so the business model wont change until substantive government regulation gives them an ultimatum, Terrasi chimed in.

I believe that eventually the liabilities surrounding social media will eliminate or nationalize most of it, Enderle predicted. It is becoming one of the most useful tools to coordinate a variety of attacks and, traditionally, governments will prioritize eliminating risks like that.

Doomed by Disinformation?

In this weeks informal ECT News poll, we asked readers how concerned they were about online disinformation during the U.S. presidential election cycle. Although were still polling and the final results arent yet in, a whopping 58 percent of respondents so far said they were very concerned, and 15 percent were somewhat concerned. In contrast, 27 percent of those polled were not at all concerned.

There was no waffling among our roundtable panelists. Theyre very worried.

Disinformation is everywhere. It is a potent weapon and made all the more so because many people simply do not recognize it as such, said DiDio.

Too often the news media is guilty of promoting opinion instead of fact and in trying to be first instead of right, she pointed out. Early on in my career as a reporter, Ted Kavanau who was the news director at WNEW-TV in New York, had a sign posted as you entered the newsroom: There are two sides to every story. How many sides did you get?'

There are many forces seeding the mushrooming disinformation cloud, Enderle suggested.

The proliferation of disinformation increasingly tied to foreign governments and fringe groups is greatly concerning as is the increased use of false statements of fact from political figures and national news organizations, he said.

This appears to be tearing much of the West apart. Yet fixes could destroy free speech. These unfortunate trends could eventually destroy much of the democratic governments that exist and at the heart of the efforts are our own social networks. I fear the repercussions will be far more dire than we currently realize, Enderle added.

The problem is larger than elections IMHO, agreed Moyle.

The election problem is especially vexing because it involves foreign nations and such interference can be construed as an act of war, noted Pombriant.

We need to come together globally to agree on standards for what is OK and what is out of bounds.  It probably involves a cyberwar treaty or addendum to the Geneva Conventions, he suggested.

So Andrey Krutskikh, a senior Kremlin advisor, bragged about the Russian disinformation capability in 2016, Moyle pointed out.

They will absolutely do this again. They have to in order to achieve the objective they wanted, as a negotiation instrument with the U.S., he continued.

So get ready for that. More disinformation incoming for sure, Moyle said.

While there is probably no way to know definitively one way or the other, elections prior to the 2016 U.S. federal election were not perceived, or forensically proven, to have been compromised by disinformation on social media  disinformation being intentional inaccuracy while misinformation is unintentional  despite the fact that social media has been a factor in campaigning for at least the previous two federal elections, Terrasi pointed out.

So the question we have to pose to ourselves is, did social media platforms actually become a more fertile ground for disinformation since 2012, or did the agent provocateurs and partisan political operatives simply get more adept in abusing social media to proliferate disinformation? he wondered.

It takes time for any actor to become versed in a new medium, and it could be that political actors are just acclimating to social media just as it took a while for them to fully leverage television, Terrasi suggested.

Political speech is one of the rare forms of First Amendment speech that is truly unlimited, so the government cant really regulate what is said. Concurrently, social media has no incentive to ban all political speech from their platforms  even if they ban paid political ads, as some platforms have to date, he added.

Bearing all of that in mind, the only viable remedy for the manipulation of information intended for the political forum is tighter regulation on political spending, which is not something the federal government has pursued very far lately. Any change on this front will have to come from a bipartisan groundswell of popular support, Terrasi maintained.

What to Do?

As grave as the problem may be, there are ways to combat the tsunami of disinformation, our panelists maintained.

The problem, and it is serious, can be solved through certification of users, breaking up the vendors, and demanding transparency, insisted Pombriant.

This is an ideal use of a behavioral AI looking for data trends and red flagging them for mitigation, or automatically mitigating with a defined escalation path to remediate any mistakes, suggested Enderle.

The best solution could be a more basic one, however. To reduce the effectiveness of disinformation campaigns, we need an increase in critical thinking skills across the board, said Moyle.

Many people arent trained well in critical thinking skills. They literally are unable to tell a biased or untrustworthy source from a reliable one, he pointed out.

Fixing this requires building up those skills  which is challenging to do. Long term, this issue will resolve itself. Young people now learn to tell the difference between news and spurious crap early as a survival skill, Moyle noted.

We likely should aggressively teach both confirmation bias and argumentative theory at a young age so our race learns to self-mitigate. We have found the problem and it truly is us, Enderle added.

The only sure defense is equipping everyone to serve as their own best advocate and critically evaluate all the information presented to them  and the motives behind its presentation. It is an arduous, unglamorous task, but it is the only one that promises a durable solution, said Terrasi.

Everyone needs to check and vet their sources of information and not simply jump to conclusions and retweet or share so-called facts before they are certain that it is factual and correct information, urged DiDio.

Think for yourself and question everything! Thats a good start, she said.

In the digital age, information and disinformation is literally no further than our fingertips. Unfortunately, many people tend to consume information with less thought then they would give to what flavor they want in their morning beverage, DiDio remarked.

We as individuals and collectively as organizations  news, vendors etc.  have to demand critical thinking and apply standards and regulations for noncompliance, she maintained.

Once disinformation hits the Internet, its very difficult to take down, DiDio observed.

So there must be consequences. Current laws have many loopholes, and we as a society must work to close those loopholes  and we must also enact new legislation that keeps pace with and adequately delivers punishment that fits the crime, she argued.

The Institutions That Sustain Us

One possible approach to stopping the madness could be to shore up the institutions that have served our society well when other crises have threatened the social fabric.

The threat posed by disinformation is certainly dire, but I think it is early to sound the death knell for liberal democracies, Terrasi said.

I think some of this pessimism owes to the admittedly difficult nature of education-based campaigns, because all it takes is a large enough segment of uneducated or easily misled voters to swing an election  another case of the chain being only as strong as the weakest link, he pointed out.

I think that this effort can be bolstered by restoring integrity and vigor in our civil institutions, Terrasi suggested.

I know that that is a somewhat unpopular opinion at the moment, but institutions have historically been arbiters of contentious but complex subjects that make their outcomes felt on society at large, he continued.

I dont think having expert bodies weighing in on complicated issues is a bad thing, Terrasi added.

What I will grant is that many institutions have been co-opted by narrow powerful interests, and that has to be addressed. I can accept if we need to clean house in some institutions, but I still think we need functioning ones to anchor public discourse in facts, he emphasized. It requires a compromise in which institutions admit their failings, and the public admits that ordinary people usually dont have better answers to the intricacies of policy making than experts do.
(Newser)  John King really, really wanted his clothes. Police say the Florida man had been admitted to a New Smyrna Beach hospital for respiratory failure Saturday and felt like the nurses were ignoring his request for his clothing, so he set his hospital bed on fire to get their attention. They say he first lit a plastic bag on fire, but the other man in the hospital room convinced him to put that one out, ClickOrlando reports. The roommate returned to his bed on the other side of a curtain, then saw King light another fire, police say. That's when the roomie used his emergency button to call staff to the incident.

story continues below

"The (expletive) in here lit his bed on fire. I cant breathe. The smoke is in the room," the roommate told nurses, per records. One nurse called 911 while another doused the flames with a fire extinguisher; meanwhile, King was allegedly trying to get to the elevator to escape, but staff stopped him. He was ultimately arrested on a felony charge of arson (and handed over the red and silver Bic lighter he allegedly used to spark the fires). No one was injured in the incident, but the bed will need to be replaced at a cost of $4,000. (Read more weird crimes stories.)
[February 24, 2020] Pacific Specialty Insurance Company Provides Notice of Data Security Incident

PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Specialty Insurance Company ("Pacific Specialty") is taking action after discovering that it became the target of a phishing email campaign that compromised several employee email account credentials. What Happened? On June 14, 2019 Pacific Specialty became aware of suspicious activity in employee email accounts. It immediately began an investigation to determine what happened and what information may have been affected. With the assistance of third-party forensic investigators, it was determined that certain employee email accounts were subject to unauthorized access between March 20, 2019 and March 30, 2019. Every potentially accessible file within the impacted accounts was reviewed to determine what files may have been accessible to the unauthorized actor. On November 7, 2019 Pacific Specialty became aware of the identities of the individuals whose information was included in the impacted accounts. It continued working to obtain contact information for impacted individuals through January 14, 2020. What Information Was Involved? The types of information contained within the potentially impacted emails varied by individual but include: an individual's name, Social Security number, driver's license and/or government issued identification, financial information, payment card information, medical information, and health insurance information. What is Pacific Specialty Doing in Response to this Incident? Pacific Specialty is committed to, and takes very seriously, its responsibility to protect all data in its possession. Pacific Specialty is continuously taking steps to enhance data security protections. As part of its incident response, it changed the log-in credentials for all employee email accounts to prevent further unauthorized access. Since then, it has continued ongoing efforts to enhance security controls, such as enabling multifactor authentication, and implemented additional controls to help protect employee email accounts from unauthorized access. In an abundance of caution, Pacific Specialty is offering 12 months of complimentary credit monitoring to potentially affected individuals so that they may take further steps to best protect their personal information, should they feel it is appropriate to do so. On January 24, 2020, Pacific Specialty also began mailing notice letters to individuals whose information was contained within the impacted accounts and for whom it had a postal address. For More Information. Pacific Specialty established a dedicated assistance line for individuals seeking additional information regarding this incident. If you believe you were impacted by this incident, you can call 833-991-1528 Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Central). What Individuals Can Do. Individuals may contact the dedicated assistance line, or visit Pacific Specialty's website at www.pacificspecialty.com to learn more about steps they can take in response to this incident. Monitor Your Accounts Pacific Specialty encourages potentially impacted individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud, to review your account statements, and to monitor your credit reports for suspicious activity. Under U.S. law you are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or the three major credit reporting bureaus. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or all, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. You may also contact the three major credit bureaus directly to request a free copy of your credit report. You have the right to place a "security freeze" on your credit report, which will prohibit a consumer reporting agency from releasing information in your credit report without your express authorization. The security freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent. However, you should be aware that using a security freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application you make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, you cannot be charged to place or lift a security freeze on your credit report. Should you wish to place a security freeze, please contact the major consumer reporting agencies listed below:







Experian PO Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013 1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com/freeze/center.html TransUnion P.O. Box 160 Woodlyn, PA 19094 1-800-909-8872 www.transunion.com/credit-freeze Equifax PO Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 1-800-685-1111 www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services

As an alternative to a security freeze, you have the right to place an initial or extended "fraud alert" on your file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer's credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer's credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer's identity before extending new credit. If you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any one of the agencies listed below: Experian P.O. Box 2002 Allen, TX 75013 1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com/fraud/center.html TransUnion P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19106 1-800-680-7289 www.transunion.com/fraud-victim-resource/place-fraud-alert Equifax P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348 1-888-766-0008 www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services Although we have no reason to believe that your personal information has been used to file fraudulent tax returns, you can contact the IRS at www.irs.gov/Individuals/Identity-Protection for helpful information and guidance on steps you can take to address a fraudulent tax return filed in your name and what to do if you become the victim of such fraud. You can also visit www.irs.gov/uac/Taxpayer-Guide-to-Identity-Theft for more information. You can further educate yourself regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, security freezes, and the steps you can take to protect yourself, by contacting the consumer reporting agencies, the Federal Trade Commission, or your state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission can be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580, www.identitytheft.gov, 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. You can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. You have the right to file a police report if you ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, you will likely need to provide some proof that you have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement. For New York residents, the New York Attorney General provides resources regarding identity theft protection and security breach response at www.ag.ny.gov/internet/privacy-and-identity-theft. The New York Attorney General can be contacted by phone at 1-800-771-7755, toll-free at 1-800-788-9898, and online at www.ag.ny.gov. For North Carolina residents, the Attorney General can be contacted at 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001, 1-877-566-7226 or 1-919-716-6400, www.ncdoj.gov. For Maryland residents, the Attorney General can be contacted at 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202, 1-888-743-0023, www.oag.state.md.us. For New Mexico residents, you have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in your credit file has been used against you, the right to know what is in your credit file, the right to ask for your credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting agencies must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to your file is limited; you must give your consent for credit reports to be provided to employers; you may limit "prescreened" offers of credit and insurance you get based on information in your credit report; and you may seek damages from violators. You may have additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act not summarized here. Identity theft victims and active duty military personnel have specific additional rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We encourage you to review your rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by visiting www.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb_summary_your-rights-under-fcra.pdf, or by writing Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pacific-specialty-insurance-company-provides-notice-of-data-security-incident-301010131.html SOURCE Pacific Specialty Insurance Company

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Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) unloaded on Sen. Bernie Sanders for his pro-Castro during a 60 Minutes interview.

Manu Raju tweeted:

Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez unloaded on Bernie Sanders about his Fidel Castro comments and raised major concerns about Sanders' viability as a candidate. "I think they're outrageous," Menendez told us about his Castro comments  Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 25, 2020

I'm sure all those who died at Castro's hands  and all those who (were)tortured, those who live in my state and suffered enormously under the regime  the more than million people who fled  I'm sure they all think that the literacy program was worth all of that, he said  Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 25, 2020

Asked if Sanders should apologize, Menendez said: "Listen, Sanders, if that's going to be his foreign policy  that's only one of a microcosm of foreign policies  then we're doomed. At the end of the day."  Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 25, 2020

I'm thinking of my homestead in New Jersey, we got three new House members. They run in districts that were held by Republicans. I don't know how do they triangulate?  Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 25, 2020

Menendez added: "I think it's a losing proposition."  Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 25, 2020

Expect there to be a lot of comments like Sen. Menendez expressed. Sanders supporters are trying to compare the Senators statements to those made by Barack Obama, but the problem is that Sanders has an affection for far-left Latin American dictators that goes back decades.

Florida Democrats are fleeing Sanders and backing away from his remarks, and the fallout is growing. Sanders praising Castro is like Trump praising Putin. It seems undemocratic and it rubs some Americans the wrong way.

It is unusual to see one senator publicly criticizing another, but it likely wont be the last if Bernie Sanders continues to lead the Democratic primary.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook
Ottawa, Feb 25 : The Canadian government has put forward a bill to make medically-assisted death available to people who were not terminally ill, the media reported on Tuesday.

The bill, which was introduced in parliament on Monday and has cross-party support, opens the door to allowing Canadians with degenerative illnesses like cerebral palsy to seek medically-assisted death, the BBC said in a report.

It would create a two-track system for determining a person's eligibility. One track for people who are terminally ill, and one track for people who are not.

Patients in both tracks must prove they are facing "intolerable" suffering.

The bill would explicitly exclude eligibility for individuals suffering solely from mental illness.

The legislation was precipitated by a 2019 Quebec Superior Court decision that struck down the requirement for patients to prove their natural death was "reasonably foreseeable" in order to seek to terminate their life, the BBC report said.

While Health Minister Patty Hajdu said the proposal would protect vulnerable people while giving Canadians autonomy.

The minority government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will need the support of parliamentarians from other parties to pass the bill.

New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh has previously signalled support for expanding assisted dying.

Canada made medically-assisted death legal in September 2016, becoming one of the few places in the world where it is legal to help sick people die.

More than 13,000 Canadians have been given a medically-assisted death, according to data provide by the justice department.

Two-thirds of patients receiving an assisted death cited cancer as the underlying reason, followed by neurological conditions and cardiovascular or respiratory conditions.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS -- As long as they stay healthy, two Central New York couples who have spent nearly a month in two different quarantines are days away from getting to come home.

The couples vacation was cut short last month after COVID-19, a deadly coronavirus, broke out on the Diamond Princess cruise ship

Cheryl and Paul Molesky, of Syracuse, and Pete and Cindy Molesky, of Rome, spent close to 14 days confined to their cabin aboard the Diamond Princess, moored in Yokohama Bay in Japan. Of the close to 4,000 people who were on the ship, three have died and over 690 people have been sickened by COVID-19, reported the Japan Times.

After close to two weeks quarantined in Japan, the couples -- along with over 300 other Americans -- were flown back to the United States by the federal government. They were then placed in a new quarantine on the Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.

Nine days into their second quarantine, the couples are keeping positive.

Were feeling fine! Cheryl Molesky told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. All 4 of us.

As their quarantine comes closer to ending, she said they are all getting anxious and excited to go home.

Cheryl and Paul Molesky have kept a YouTube video diary during their time in both quarantines to lift their spirits and keep their loved ones updated.

On Sunday, day seven of their 14-day quarantine in Texas, the couple posted a video to give people a silly look at their frightening circumstances.

Their unwritten quarantine rules included saying thank you to everyone -- albeit while donning masks -- and refraining from drinking hot tea or taking a hot shower before their daily temperature-taking time.

The couple commented on serious news out of Texas: Six people on the Lackland Air Force Base have tested positive for COVID-19, according to Texas Public Radio. Five of the sickened people were passengers on the Diamond Princess.

Fortunately, they all have minor or zero symptoms! the Moleskys wrote on YouTube. We wish them and their families the very best.

Over 80,200 cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed across the world, the World Health Organization reported Tuesday morning. So far, 2,700 people have died.

While cases have been reported in 34 countries, China has been the hardest hit: There have been 77,780 cases of COVID-19 confirmed, so far, in China, reported the WHO.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have warned Americans to brace themselves for the likelihood that COVID-19 will spread to the United States.

Its not so much of a question of if this will happen in this country any more but a question of when this will happen, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told The New York Times on Tuesday. We are asking the American public to prepare for the expectation that this might be bad."

Want to keep up with the Moleskys? Watch their video diary on YouTube.

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.

Have a tip, a story idea or a comment? You can reach me at shouse@syracuse.com | text/call (315) 466-4160 | Twitter | Facebook
Two civilians were injured when Pakistan Army shelled forward posts and civilians areas along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Tuesday, officials said.

The shelling and firing has triggered panic in border areas in the district, they said.

Pakistani troops lobbed mortars and fired from small arms targeting Kirni, Qasba and Shahpura areas along the LoC, the officials said, adding two civilians suffered injuries due to splinters.

On Friday last, at least seven residential buildings were damaged in heavy Pakistani shelling along the LoC in Shahpur, Dokri and Qasba areas in Poonch.

The Indian Army gave a befitting response to silence the Pakistani guns, the officials said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The mass shootings at sheesha bars in Hanau, Germany, and the stabbing of the muezzin of Londons Regents Park mosque have put far-right extremism back in the headlines. For too long extremism was intrinsically linked with violent extremist Islamists, while attacks such as the Hanau tragedy were dismissed as the acts of a crazed loner. That has changed. But the continuing lack of precise definitions continues to muddy public discourse on extremism, with serious implications for policy and law.

The multitude of labels applied to the Hanau gunman demonstrate the difficulty of articulating far-right extremism: neo-Nazi, anti-immigrant, Islamophobe, white supremacist, white nationalist, incel, terrorist, etc. But there is an urgent need to better define far-right extremism because consistent language is the first step towards generating coherent policy responses and proportionate legal outcomes.

Many argue that there is a futility to defining extremisms. After all, extremist is a judgmental term that can be used to describe anyone you dont agree with. There can be no neutral definition of the term because an extreme point of view can only exist in relation to something else. As such, extremism is usually defined in relation to a centrist political position. But attempts to label different types of extremism have merely highlighted the political and ideological inconsistencies that thrive at the centre in most countries.

The difficulty of defining extremism does not, however, detract from the importance of doing so. Clear definitions of extremist categories help countries identify and monitor them. Studies after the New Zealand mosque attacks last year showed that the global media is three times more likely to describe violent Islamist extremists as terrorists than the far right. Consistent use of labels in the media would give the public a more accurate sense of the prevalence of an extremist ideology, and drive effective policy articulation. This is most apparent in the US, where battles over what to call far-right extremists have allowed the administration to obfuscate over  and even align with  the rise of a hateful and violent movement.

The US experience also shows how languages of extremism affect legal outcomes. Islamist extremists in the US are more likely to face terrorism charges than far-right extremists who commit identical crimes but face lesser penalties.

Transparent, consensus definitions of extremism are also needed to prevent the label from being cynically used to criminalise dissent. Politicians and corporates alike enjoy terming their critics extremists as a way of silencing them. Indeed, there is a current outcry in the UK as counterterrorism police are defining environmental activists, particularly those associated with Extinction Rebellion, as extremists.

More efforts are needed to tackle the selective use or abuse of the term extremist. In the UK, the Commission for Countering Extremism in 2019 defined a new category of extremist behaviour: hateful extremism. This includes amplifying hate and drawing on hostile beliefs against an out-group who are perceived to be a threat to an in-group. The us versus them aspect enshrined in this definition should capture a range of far-right extremisms.

Writing in the New Statesman, Quassim Cassam has argued that focusing on the extremist mindset is a more effective way to identify and respond to new extremist categories. Extremists perceive themselves to be victims; they aspire to a utopian society; they are obsessed with purity (eg: racial or theological); they thrive on conspiracy theories; they are angry. A focus on the extremist mindset (which would also capture non-violent actors) would give rise to more thoughtful and pre-emptive policy responses.

Debates about how to define extremism may seem ex post facto in Pakistan, where the language wars have been under way since the early 2000s. But we should not think definitions are irrelevant to us. After all, the failure to appropriately articulate extremist threats has led us to transition from serious concerns about violent extremism and terrorism to liberal fascism and sedition. Indeed, the idea that a pro-democracy, pro-human rights positioning is as extreme and threatening as violent or supremacist religious ideologies has been normalised (this is also the case in India, where the urban naxal is perceived to be as problematic as the Hindutva ideologue).

The power of this language of extremism is apparent in legal outcomes here as well. As Irfan Husain recently noted on these pages, the treatment of liberals (detention, harassment, sedition charges) is more appropriate to that of extremists, while extremists are rewarded with cash, land, media coverage and prestige. Rethinking how we define extremism  with a focus on mindset, approach and social outcome  may be our only option to course correct now.

By arrangement with Dawn
Sen. Susan Collins broke with President Donald Trumps decision to replace his acting director of national intelligence with U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, deeming the longtime GOP operative inexperienced for the critical position.

The Maine Republican said Trump should have retained former acting DNI Joseph Maguire, who was abruptly dismissed last week after his aides delivered a briefing on Russian election interference to House members that displeased conservatives.

I would have much preferred that the president nominate acting director Maguire for the post, Collins told reporters Monday afternoon. I care deeply about that position and believe the person needs experience in the intelligence community which regrettably ambassador Grenell does not have.

Collins serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee and is the first Senate Republican to question Trumps intelligence shake-up. She helped write the law creating the position in 2004.

Grenell was confirmed by the Senate as the top diplomat to Germany, allowing him to assume the DNI role. Trump, however, also said last week that hes considering four great candidates to fill the DNI role and will make a decision in the coming weeks.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell delivered a floor tribute to Maguire on Monday, but did not mention Grenell in his remarks. Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) has also not commented on Trumps pick.
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 25 : Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Tuesday said that his party's leadership will hold discussions with all constituents of the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) led by it to sort out differences among UDF leaders.

He said that while the UDF was democratic, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by the ruling CPI-M had no democracy.

"In the LDF, there is only one voice (Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan) and no one else speaks; but in the UDF, there is no such thing and all leaders express their opinion," the Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly told the media here soon after a UDF meeting.

"Does the CPI-M now have a State Secretary (present secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan is convalescing). Everything is dictated," claimed another former minister and RSP leader Shibhu Baby John.

Chennithala's statement comes in the wake of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the second biggest party in the UDF, expressing unhappiness on Monday over squabbles in the Congress and Kerala Congress (Mani).

After IUML's Lok Sabha member PK Kunhalikutty called on state Congress chief Mullapally Ramachandran and faction-ridden Kerala Congress (Mani) leaders and expressed concern over frequent airing of differences by them, Chennithala said that refreshing discussions were held during the meeting.

"Everything was discussed and soon you will all find a rejuvenated UDF. It has been decided that the Congress leadership will now start one-on-one discussions with all constituents of the UDF and thrash out their differences," said Chennithala.

"UDF supporters will hold a day-long protest on April 2 by gheraoing the state Secretariat to take on the corrupt Vijayan government. The Chief Minister continues to maintain a stoic silence on the CAG report. His silence means he is party to corrupt deals," Chennithala said.
Ruckus prevailed in the Bihar Assembly on Tuesday as BJP members strongly objected to the opposition describing the amended citizenship act as 'Kala kanoon', leading to brief adjournment of House proceedings.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said that the constitutionality of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) lies with the Supreme Court in the Bihar Assembly on Tuesday. His comments came amid a ruckus in the House as BJP members strongly objected to the Opposition describing the amended citizenship act as 'kala kanoon', leading to brief adjournment of proceedings.

Kumar on Tuesday reiterated his opposition to "additional clauses" inserted in the National Population Register (NPR) forms and said that the state government has written to the Centre urging that these be dropped.

Replying to a debate on an adjournment motion moved by Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav and others, Kumar told the Assembly that there should be "no confusion" regarding how the NPR exercise would be carried out in the state and that nobody would be asked to furnish information like places of birth of parents. Reading out the text of the letter to the Centre, Kumar said it has also been proposed by the Bihar government that "transgenders" be included in the gender column.

The Hindu reported that Kumar also asserted that that NRC will not be implemented in the state and that NPR should be implemented in its old format of 2010.

Trouble erupted during the debate on the adjournment motion on CAA-NPR-NRC, which was moved by Tejashwi and others and approved by Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary after initial objection raised by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shravan Kumar.

A strong opponent of the National Register for Citizens despite an alliance with the BJP, Kumar, however, disapproved of "hauva" (bogey) of the NRC being raised by the Opposition despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's categorical statement that a countrywide implementation was not on the anvil.

He also sought to make light of the virulent opposition by leaders of the RJD and the Congress to the CAA, reading out from the parliamentary proceedings of 2003 to underscore that leaders such as former prime minister Manmohan Singh, former president Pranab Mukherjee and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav had been in favour of fast-tracking of grant of citizenship to refugees from the neighbouring countries.

Opposition members were on their feet no sooner than the House assembled for the day, demanding a debate on the motion and Kumar said it should be taken up at an appropriate time and not during the Question Hour.

However, Tejashwi pointed out that at a special session convened last month, the chief minister had given an assurance that the issue will be debated during "the next session".

Chaudhary said that since the budget was to be presented around 2 pm and both the treasury and the Opposition were in agreement that a debate could be held, he was approving the adjournment motion.

However, chants of 'kala kanoon' (black law) were made from the Opposition's side when Kumar began replying to the adjournment motion. This was strongly objected to by BJP ministers like Nand Kishore Yadav and Vijay Kumar Sinha, who countered the opposition with the question "does Parliament pass a black law?"

Heated exchanges ensued and members from both sides trooped into the well forcing adjournment of House proceedings for 15 minutes.

With inputs from PTI
Johnny Flynn, photographed by Emma. director Autumn de Wilde. Photo: Autumn De Wilde

A stylish hotel screens my call when I first try to reach Johnny Flynn. Sorry, I was in the bathroom, the British actor and musician says with amusement over the line when I call back. Good to know theyre protecting people. Though hes done plenty of stagework, in America, Flynn is best known for the shaggy characters hes played on British television like Lovesick, or for the Anne Hathaway movie Song One. In Autumn de Wildes sparkling adaptation of Emma, hes cast both to and against type as the fittingly uncomfortable romantic lead, and hes also found himself at the start of a potentially very big run of Hollywood work. In addition to playing Mr. Knightley, hes just finishing a new David Bowie movie, Stardust, and hes about to start work on a new adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley. He talked us through de Wildes unconventional approach to Jane Austen, writing music based off his characters, and why Stardust is not really a biopic.

How did Autumn de Wilde first approach you with the idea for Emma.? What was the pitch?

When I met her on my own for the first time, she had this box of wrapped-up treasure things, which was all the characters laid out, photographs, props. She started talking about screwball comedy, old 30s Hollywood movies like Bringing Up Baby and His Girl Friday, and then things like the Marx Brothers  which is all stuff I love and get, but its not something youd naturally apply to Jane Austen. It works really well, because I guess the novel is reams of these incredibly witty sentences. Ive always loved Jane Austen movies, but I think that some of them are a bit earnest. To a fault, perhaps. And thats an easy thing to fall into when adapting Austen, when the humor is so important.

It also felt like a departure from the typical Austen adaptation to have your character, Mr. Knightley, introduced with a sequence where hes fully nude and shot from behind. How did Autumn pitch that?

Thats the kind of decision that wasnt, I guess, in Eleanor Cattons screenplay. It just said, Knightley dives in, gets dressed, and leaves. Its something about seeing these characters behind their bedroom doors. As an American, Autumn would go round these big houses and look at the bedrooms and think, How did people actually do it? What did they really do here? She was fascinated to hear that the men didnt wear underwear, for instance. So she was just like, I really want us to see that.

Then there was a thing she mentioned to me about wanting, in quite a playful way, to objectify a male body. But also its not sexual. Its not a sex scene. Autumns going, All right, boys. This is how you do it. Because often, mens ideas of womens bodies in sex scenes, and what women would do in those situations, is so off. Given that Emma is a novel written by a woman, and Knightley is a man drawn by a woman, its nice to do all that.

Knightleys an interesting acting challenge because he has to seem so completely not an option for the first half of the movie and then totally the right match by the end of it, while still remaining a consistent character.

It requires a little bit of courage to hold off on showing too much heart early on. I felt like Mel Gibson in Braveheart, when the English are charging toward the Scottish line, and hes like, Hold. Hold. Hold. I just wanted to be as unlikable as I could dare to make him for as much of the first couple acts. Then you start to see him having these almost panic attacks, because theres a schism within him, and what I realized would be successful in telling the story would be for the audience to go, Oh, something else is going on there. Hes really wrestling with himself beneath that veneer of prudishness and kind of mansplainy bachelor thing.

You should have a sense that theyre quite a bad match to begin with. Or that its a silly idea. But basically, when he starts in the proposal scene, he apologizes to her. He says, Look, I know I did this and this and this, but he says, Youve borne it as no other woman in England could have borne it. I dont know  I like it when people say sorry. My wife told me, I liked it in the beginning when you were all stern. And then you got all soft. I was like, Thats not what youre meant to say!

In your screenwork thats made it to America, like Emma. or Lovesick or Song One, youve played a fair number of romantic leads. What do you think it takes to make that archetype work?

When I was at college, and maybe onstage, I played many more character roles. I try and bring as many charactery quirks to those straight romantic leads as I can. Im certainly not drawn to the very straight romantic leads, but I think most people dont realize quite how hard they are to do. Everything you do feels like youre maybe isolating some of the audience, who youre supposed to be inviting in through you to the story. Theres an openness thats required.

Actors dont often get a choice in what comes their way, and if I get a call from my agent saying, Do you want to go up for Knightley?, Im not in the position to go, Nah, I wouldnt do Knightley, but Ill go for Elton because Id have more fun. Youre supposed to be grateful. And I am grateful. But I do relish the chance to do comedy. Onstage more recently, Ive played a few characters, certainly not romantic-lead types  in Martin McDonaghs play Hangmen  so I do get to scratch that itch. At drama school, I was into a lot of clowning.

Hangmens coming to Broadway this spring, sadly without you. What happened there?

Im absolutely gutted that I couldnt come. Mainly, my 8-year-old son is at school. When I heard about the transfer, I went to the headmaster of the school and said, Can I take him out and put him in school for a time in New York? Hes at the local state school, and theyre very strict about that. Its fair enough. But I havent quite got my head around it, because obviously its a bit of a disadvantage with certain work opportunities. Its happened to me a couple of times with Broadway runs for a similar reason. I just wasnt prepared to be away from my family for six months.

Speaking of exercising your range, you play David Bowie in the biopic Stardust, which from what I understand is about him arriving in New York and figuring out the Ziggy Stardust persona?

Yeah, we finished it, and its hopefully out this year. Its going to be at a festival. They havent announced it yet. But its going to be out on the back of that, if it goes well. Its very much a tiny moment in his life. Its not really a biopic. Hes in New York without a visa, so hes playing house parties and shitty corporate gigs in hotel lobbies, vacuum sales kind of things, but he has this guy from the American label driving him around in his parents car, which really happened. They struck up this odd-couple relationship. The label guys played by Marc Maron. So we spent a few weeks doing scenes in a car together last summer, which was fun.

When Stardust was announced, Bowies son, Duncan Jones, came out and said that Bowies estate hadnt licensed any music for it. How does the movie work around that?

Well, to begin with, they never wanted the music. They never asked for it. If you see the film, you realize that to have the music, or to be playing a lot of the music, would have been almost detrimental to the telling of the story. Because at this point in time, he was promoting The Man Who Sold the World. Its a really interesting record, but it was a full-band sound, quite heavy rock sound at times. But Bowies out there just with a 12-string guitar. He wasnt actually playing a lot of his own music. So thats what we do when he plays gigs. We show him singing the real songs that he was singing at the time. But he had shame about his own writing and music at the time. Once we get to the end of the story, you can see that the fire has been lit, and its the beginning of the Ziggy period.

But the press around it was interesting, because Duncan Jones was asked by journalists, Theyre making a movie about your dad. Howd you feel about that? And you can understand that he just said, Well, they dont have the music. Which is true. But he did know about the film. He just said, Thats fine. Im not going to be involved or whatever. Thats absolutely fair enough. Being a great filmmaker himself, Duncan, Im sure that perhaps hell make a film when he feels ready, and this doesnt tread on the toes of that possibility. Its really just a tiny moment.

David Bowies life certainly seems too big for one movie to cover alone.

Yeah, I wouldnt really want to do that film. Im not a huge fan of the big biopics. When I first heard about Stardust, I didnt even want to be considered. I just said, You cant do it. And then I met Gabriel Range, the director, and he told me, No, its more like Control, the Joy Division film, or Nowhere Boy.

I saw you had written a song for Stardust, and you also wrote a song for Emma. You have a separate music career, but how often does acting end up providing material for it?

Theyve always been intertwined. In the case of Emma., it was lovely that Autumn asked me to write the song, because I wrote it from Knightleys perspective. Weve been very much in Emmas perspective and inside her head for the duration, and he gets to kind of sing this slightly tongue-in-cheek but very heartfelt dedication to her. Writing the song felt like a further point of research, or like one of these acting exercises that you do where you write an essay from the perspective of your character.

And then the Bowie situation, similarly, Im playing a songwriter at a point where hes trying very hard to find his flow. So I was doing it anyway, trying to write as David for my research. I told Gabriel, and he loved it. He said, Bro, why dont we have you singing this song in one of the gigs? As if its like a lost demo from the time. Its not going to be a perfect song. The song I wrote gets sung at this very depressing gig when hes playing to vacuum salesmen who arent listening. It should sound like a crap demo from that period that gets discarded.

Funnily enough, youre in a streak of making new versions of things that once starred Gwyneth Paltrow  youre also doing a Talented Mr. Ripley series with Andrew Scott. Where are things with that?

I literally just came back from having breakfast with Steven Zaillian and Garrett Basch, the producer. Thats the first meeting. Its a little way off when we start filming. Itll be fun. They were telling me all the amazing locations. Apart from anything else, thats going to be pretty nice to be on the Amalfi coast for a time.

Very nice to get a paid trip to Italy.

Im not any good at the beach-holiday type of thing either. So actually, the best way for me to be anywhere is to have a job to do. Or to just keep moving.
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After a month-long effort led by Stamford art teachers and other public school staff members, student artists will unveil an array of final artwork creations on Sunday, March 1, as UConn-Stamford hosts the 16th annual Student Cultural Arts and Literary Program, commemorating the finale of Black History Month.

The community is invited to join keynote speaker, Congressman Jim Himes, D-4, along with Stamford Mayor David Martin, and Stamford School Superintendent Tamu Lucero as students showcase their artistic talents and honor local, as well as national, black men and women who have made significant contributions to society.
Indian Idol 11 winner Sunny Hindustani became quite a sensation ever since he made into the show Indian Idol despite his underprivileged circumstances, making his eventual win all the more triumphant, like rest of the nation Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan actor Gajraj Rao too felt emotional and moved by Sunny Hindustani victory and took to Instagram to make his emotions known to everyone.

In the post shared by the actor, he can be seen wiping his tears, while the caption to the picture reads he polished shoes while his mother sold ballons yet they continued to dream, and their dreams became a reality two days back upon hearing the story of their pain and big heart I couldnt stop my tears, to Sunny Hindustani and people like him out there I salute your passion.

The post from Gajraj Rao also thanked Sony for allowing unknown artists like Sunny Hindustani to showcase their talent on a platform like Indian Idol.

Gajraj Rao is just one of many Indians that are taken aback by the inspiring story of Sunny Hindustani who against all odds has managed to win one of the most prestigious singing reality shows in India.

Sunny Hindustani won the Indian Idol trophy and along with it won a cheque for Rs 25 lakhs, the moment was overwhelming as Sunnys mother stood beside him in tears of joy as he kissed and lifted the trophy of Indian Idol. Assuring to one and all that dreams come true if one is persistent enough.

Also Read: Indian Idol 11 grand finale winner social media reaction: Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh congratulates Sunny Hindustani

Sunny managed to emerge victories against a tough competition put forward by Rohit Raut, Adriz Ghosh, Ankona Mukherjee and Ridham Kalyan who were impressive in their own right but fell short in the vote count.

Sunny Hindustani managed to get the highest votes on the night of the finale and won the 11th season of India Idol.

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WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Tuesday injected new political drama into the legal debate over whether Roger Stone deserves a new trial, tweeting during a hearing in the matter that the jury forewoman who voted to convict his longtime friend and confidant was "totally biased" and seeming to suggest the judge was, as well.

Trump's comments came just as U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson had rebuked him and others over their attacks on the juror, and it seemed to put the president at odds with his own Justice Department, which argued against Stone's bid for new legal proceedings.

Jackson ultimately ended the hearing without a decision after taking testimony from three jurors on the panel - including the forewoman. The judge is expected to issue a ruling soon.

Trump's attorney general, William Barr, has warned him publicly and privately to stop tweeting about Justice Department criminal cases, though Trump proved again Tuesday that the advice has fallen on deaf ears.

"There has rarely been a juror so tainted as the forewoman in the Roger Stone case," Trump wrote. "Look at her background. She never revealed her hatred of 'Trump' and Stone. She was totally biased, as is the judge. Roger wasn't even working on my campaign. Miscarriage of justice. Sad to watch!"

Minutes later, Trump seemed to add an attack on the judge, retweeting a link that Fox News analyst Andrew Napolitano had tweeted with the headline, "Roger Stone judge's bias may have jeopardized entire trial: former Democratic Party lawyer."

"A total miscarriage of justice!" Trump added in his own voice.

A jury convicted Stone in November of lying during testimony to the House Intelligence Committee in September 2017 to conceal his central role in the Trump campaign's efforts to learn about Democratic computer files hacked by Russia and made public by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks to damage Trump's opponent, Hillary Clinton. Stone was sentenced to three years and four months in prison, though he has been aggressively seeking a new trial.

Just days ago, Jackson had slapped down Stone's request that she be disqualified from the case, writing that it "appears to be nothing more than an attempt to use the Court's docket to disseminate a statement for public consumption that has the words 'judge' and 'biased' in it."

Though the juror's name was not mentioned in court, Jackson made clear the person at issue was the forewoman. She has publicly identified herself as Tomeka Hart, a former president of the Memphis City Schools Board of Commissioners and unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Congress.

At issue were her responses to a questionnaire she filled out before her jury service, and her social media posts about Trump, Stone and other politically charged topics.

The hearing was only partially public - with reporters allowed to listen to an audio feed - after Jackson expressed concern about jurors' safety following comments from Trump and others. A day before Stone requested the new trial this month, Trump suggested on Twitter that the forewoman of the jury in the case had "significant bias."

"This is indisputably a highly publicized case in which the president himself shone a spotlight on the jury," Jackson said, adding, "Any attempt to harass or intimidate jurors is completely antithetical to our system of justice."

A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment on Trump's tweets.

Stone defense attorney Seth Ginsberg said Hart was not truthful when she denied recalling commenting publicly on Stone's case, citing her retweet of a news article about Stone's arrest and indictment, with the comment, "Brought to you by the lock her up peanut gallery." He also singled out an August 2019 post in which, he said, "the foreperson equated being a supporter of Trump with being a racist."

In one post, Hart seem to refer to Trump as a "#KlanPresident," a reference to the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan group.

"She failed to disclose evidence regarding her strong views of Mr. Stone and the political issues in this case," Ginsberg said.

The judge, though, seemed skeptical. She drew a distinction between animus against Stone and commentary on other political topics, and noted that the forewoman did not hide in her questionnaire that she had views on Trump.

Growing heated at one point, Jackson pointed out that during jury selection it was she, the judge, who pressed the potential juror about her ability to remain impartial, and that Stone's defense attorney said he had no questions. That defense attorney, Robert Buschel, said "Thank you" and sat down, never challenging the juror's selection, Jackson asserted.

Stone's attorneys also conceded during the hearing that neither they nor his jury consultants ran a Google search on the juror, despite knowing for days she was likely to be among the first selected, citing "cost-slash-strategic" considerations.

For her part, Hart acknowledged making Twitter posts that noted Stone's indictment. One referred to Stone and other charged Trump associates as the "lock-her up peanut gallery," another retweeted without comment a defense of the manner of his arrest. But Hart insisted she had "no intention" of misleading the court in her responses before she was selected and said she ignored anything about the case that came to her via social media during the trial.

To one question, which asked whether she had written or posted anything for public consumption about the defendant, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, or the investigation conducted by special counsel Robert Mueller III, Hart responded, "Honestly not sure."

"I was zeroed in about Roger Stone in responding to that question, but I still didn't remember," she said.

Asked about her posting an image of a fist bump and another raised fist early on the morning the panel began deliberations and reached a verdict, she said she was "absolutely not" celebrating the conclusion. She called the post a sign of "solidarity," but did not elaborate.

Two other jurors, a man and a woman, both said that no outside social media posts had been brought to their attention during deliberations and that the panel debated each count carefully. The woman said the forewoman insisted they "slow down," even as some in the group were ready to decide.

Prosecutors' contention seemed to be that Stone's defense attorneys had ample time to review juror questionnaires, which they were given on Sept. 13, and did not raise an objection in real time.

Prosecutor J.P. Cooney said none of the postings made by the forewoman during the trial, from Nov. 6 through Nov. 15, were related to Stone's case when he and another prosecutor examined them two or three days after Stone's Feb. 14 filing.

He added, however, that some links have subsequently been disabled.

In an unusual twist, the government on Tuesday called as a witness one of the prosecutors who brought the case against Stone at trial, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Marando.

Marando withdrew from the case in recent weeks after Justice Department leadership intervened to reduce the sentencing recommendation he and the other career prosecutors on the team made for Stone.

Marando testified that Stone's defense was given a list five days before jury selection began of about 80 potential jurors in the order they would be questioned, meaning those at the top would be likeliest to be selected.

"It's coming back to me now. A lot has happened since them," Marando said.

The Supreme Court standard for juror qualification is that they need not "be totally ignorant of the facts and issues involved. . . . It is sufficient if the juror can lay aside his impression or opinion and render a verdict based on the evidence presented in court."

- - -

The Washington Post's Paul Duggan and Devlin Barrett contributed to this report.
TORONTO, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - GFL Environmental Inc. (" GFL ") today announced the launch of its initial public offering of 73,170,733 subordinate voting shares and its concurrent offering of 14,000,000 tangible equity units (" Units "), with a stated amount of US$50.00 (or C$66.67) per Unit, in each case, pursuant to a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and an amended and restated preliminary base PREP prospectus filed with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada (the " Canadian Regulators "). The initial public offering price for the subordinate voting shares is expected to be between US$20.00 and US$21.00 (or C$26.66 and $28.00) per share.

GFL expects to grant the underwriters in the subordinate voting share offering a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 10,975,609 subordinate voting shares to cover over-allotments, if any. GFL also expects to grant the underwriters in the Unit offering a 13-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,100,000 Units to cover over-allotments, if any.

The subordinate voting shares have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "GFL" and have been conditionally approved for listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "GFL". GFL has applied to list the Units on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "GFLU", subject to satisfaction of minimum listing standards with respect to the Units.

GFL intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to redeem all of its outstanding 5.625% senior notes due 2022, all of its 5.375% senior notes due 2023, US$270.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.000% senior notes due 2026 and US$240.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 8.500% senior notes due 2027, to pay related fees, premiums and accrued and unpaid interest on such notes and to repay indebtedness outstanding under its credit agreements. Any remaining net proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions.

J.P. Morgan, BMO Capital Markets, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, RBC Capital Markets and Scotiabank are acting as joint lead book-running managers for the proposed offering. Barclays, BC Partners, Raymond James, Stifel and TD Securities Inc. are acting as joint book-running managers for the proposed offering. BofA Securities, CIBC Capital Markets, HSBC and National Bank Financial Inc. are acting as co-managers for the proposed offering.

A registration statement, including separate prospectuses, which is preliminary and subject to completion, relating to these securities has been filed on Form F-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the " SEC ") but has not yet become effective. Each preliminary base PREP prospectus contains important information relating to the subordinate voting shares, or the Units, as applicable, and is still subject to completion or amendment. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective and a receipt for the final base PREP prospectuses has been issued by the Canadian Regulators, and, even then, the securities may only be sold pursuant to the registration statement and final prospectuses and final base PREP prospectuses, as applicable.

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. This release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction.

Each offering will be made only by means of a prospectus relating to such offering. Copies of each preliminary prospectus and/or amended and restated preliminary base PREP prospectus may be obtained from J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, Attn: Prospectus Department, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or telephone: 1-866-803-9204 or J.P. Morgan Securities Canada Inc., Suite 4500, TD Bank Tower, 66 Wellington Street West, Toronto, ON M5K 1E7 or by telephone: Canada Sales 416-981-9233; BMO Capital Markets Corp., Attn: Equity Syndicate Department, 3 Times Square, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10036, or by telephone at 1-800-414-3627 or by email at [email protected] or BMO Capital Markets, Brampton Distribution Centre C/O The Data Group of Companies, 9195 Torbram Road, Brampton, Ontario, L6S 6H2 or by telephone at 1-905-791-3151 Ext 4312 or by email at [email protected]; Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, or by telephone: 1-866-471-2526, or by facsimile: 212-902-9316 or by emailing [email protected] or Goldman Sachs Canada Inc., TD North Tower, 77 King Street West Suite 3400, Toronto, ON M5K 1B7; RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10281, by telephone at 1-877-822-4089, or by email at [email protected] or RBC Dominion Securities Inc., 180 Wellington Street West, 8th Floor, Toronto, ON M5J 0C2, Attn: Distribution Centre, or via telephone: 1-416-842-5349, or via email at [email protected]; Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., Attention: Equity Capital Markets, 250 Vesey Street, 24th Floor, New York, New York, 10281, or by telephone at 1-212-225-6853 or by email at [email protected] or Scotia Capital Inc., Attention: Equity Capital Markets, Scotia Plaza, 64th Floor, 40 King Street West, M5H 3Y2, Toronto, Ontario, or by telephone at 1-416-863-7704 or by email at [email protected].

Canadian dollar denominated amounts referred to in this release are calculated based upon an exchange rate of US$1.00 = C$1.333.

About GFL

GFL, headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario, is the fourth largest diversified environmental services company in North America, providing a comprehensive line of non-hazardous solid waste management, infrastructure & soil remediation and liquid waste management services through its platform of facilities across Canada and in 23 states in the United States. Across its organization, GFL has a workforce of more than 11,500 employees and provides its broad range of environmental services to more than 135,000 commercial and industrial customers and its solid waste collection services to more than 4 million households.

Forward Looking Statements

This release includes certain disclosures which contain "forward-looking statements." You can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as "believes" and "expects." Forward-looking statements are based on GFL's current expectations and assumptions. Because forward-looking statements are related to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements, which are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are set forth in GFL's registration statement on Form F-1 and amended and restated preliminary base PREP prospectuses, in each case, as amended from time to time, under the caption "Risk Factors." Any forward-looking statement in this release speaks only as of the date of this release. GFL undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws.

SOURCE GFL Environmental Inc.

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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".
But Ms. Klobuchars votes shifted in 2019, the year she announced her presidential campaign. Last year, Ms. Klobuchar voted for far fewer of Mr. Trumps judges over all and none of his appeals court nominees, according to Demand Justice  a shift her campaign attributes to a protest by Democratic senators to rule changes forced through by Republicans in early 2019.

For Ms. Klobuchar, that record puts her at odds with a party base that sees any compromise with the president as a capitulation to an administration many view as corrupt and immoral. Her decision to back many of Mr. Trumps judicial nominees in the first two years of his administration threatens to undermine a central theme of her candidacy: that Ms. Klobuchar is a battle-tested legislator who has been in the arena fighting for progressive values in the Senate.

Amy Klobuchar was an accomplice in the conservative capture of the courts, said Meagan Hatcher-Mays, the director of democracy policy for Indivisible, a liberal grass-roots group that sprang up after Mr. Trumps election and has not made an endorsement in the primary race. What a lot of people dont understand is that Trump is temporary but these judges are there for life.

More than three years into his presidency, Mr. Trump has installed judges at the fastest pace of any president in decades. If current trends hold, a quarter of federal judges will be Trump appointees by the end of this year, according to an analysis by The Economist. Even if Mr. Trump loses in November, those justices will remain on the bench, leaving them in position to impede or block the liberal proposals that Democratic presidential candidates like Ms. Klobuchar promise to deliver.

Their impact is already apparent.

Less than a year after Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt was nominated by Mr. Trump and confirmed by the Senate to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, he voted to strike down part of the Affordable Care Act in December, putting the health care law in legal limbo.
My sledding memories were formed in a 360-acre county park in Wisconsin, on a menacingly steep, icy hill lined by forest.

Every winter weekend, my sisters and I would trudge up the hill carrying round aluminum saucers, each equipped with two floppy canvas handles. We sat cross-legged, the saucers spinning in dizzying circles as we whooshed down the slope and hoped to avoid flying into the trees. There was no steering mechanism. It was the 80s.

The most cherished winter pastime of the Upper Midwest still endures, and still lacks any real frills or pesky safety features.
A new study marks a significant advance in developing a gene therapy for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary disease that leads to severe sight loss in young males.

Researchers at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, took part in the international multi-center study and are actively participating in further clinical trials. Its the latest published study for the Bascom Palmer specialists who have performed nearly 100 gene therapy surgeries to date for several types of inherited retinal disorders.

X-linked retinitis pigmentosa related to the GTPase regulator (RPGR) gene is one of the most common and severe types of this disease, said Byron L. Lam, M.D., the Robert Z. & Nancy J. Greene Professor of Ophthalmology, and Bascom Palmers principal investigator. This gene therapy study offers hope for patients with this currently untreatable blinding disease.

The study, Initial Results from a First-in-Human Gene Therapy Trial on X-linked Retinitis Pigmentosa Caused by Mutations in RPGR, was published February 24 in the journal Nature Medicine. Bascom Palmer co-authors with Dr. Lam were Janet L Davis, M.D., Leach Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology; Ninel Gregori, M.D., professor of clinical ophthalmology; and Potyra Rosa, M.D., clinical coordinator. Dr. Robert E. MacLaren of Oxford University led the study on this novel treatment. In addition, Dr. Rene Moya at the University of Chile, and Dr. Juliana Sallum at Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, provided support by referring patients for the study.

A total of 18 patients took part in the six-month Phase I/II dose escalation clinical trial for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (RP) caused by the RPGR gene mutation, which blocks production of a protein necessary for proper functioning of the photoreceptor cells in the retina. The mutation accounts for approximately 70 percent of all cases of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, which causes night blindness in early childhood followed by progressive daytime vision loss.

The results from this initial trial showed no significant safety concerns after gene therapy surgery, said Dr. Davis. Visual field improvements were observed in some patients, and these favorable findings support Bascom Palmers wide-ranging gene therapy research.

Since performing RPGR gene therapy surgery using an adeno-associated viral vector on one patient in the initial study, Dr. Davis and Dr. Gregori have treated nine more patients using the optimized dosing determined from the initial trial. Those results have not yet been published.

The initial phase I/II study provides the basis for an ongoing randomized phase II/III clinical trial, said Dr. Lam. Bascom Palmer is the only U.S. site participating in these trials. We now have more than 15 patients enrolled in the new study, and our team is forging ahead with gene therapy research in many types of inherited retinal diseases.

In 2018, Bascom Palmer ophthalmologists performed one of the nations first gene therapy surgeries using Luxturna, the first ocular gene therapy drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration, to treat a child with a blinding vision disease. We have treated a significant number of those cases since then, said Dr. Gregori.

Last year, Drs. Lam, Davis and Gregori published results of a phase II clinical trial of gene therapy for choroideremia, another inherited disorder that causes progressive vision loss in males. We are now taking part in a phase III trial for this treatment, said Dr. Davis.

Dr. Gregori said most patients in Bascom Palmers gene therapy trials are men in their 20s and 30s who are experiencing serious vision problems. Patients are given genetic tests to identify the mutation so that appropriate gene therapy can be administered.

We use advanced microperimetry technology to identify the cells that are still functioning and deliver the new genes into those cells in the retina, she said.

The Bascom Palmer team has deep experience in delivering the appropriate localized dose to the patients eye, added Dr. Gregori. Its very exciting to see the impact our gene therapy surgeries can make in the quality of vision of our patients.

Miller School of Medicine
Aligarh, Feb 25 : An uneasy calm has prevailed in Aligarh following the clashes and arson that took place in the town two days ago.

Agra Zone Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Ajay Anand said that no fresh incident of violence have been reported and the situation was returning to normal.

Though a number of shops remained shut on Monday, the district officials have persuaded owners to open their shops on Tuesday.

On Sunday, over a dozen people had to be hospitalized following incidents of 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, was now stable after emergency surgery and has been shifted to the ICU at the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital's trauma centre.

"If necessary, we will shift him to AIIMS, New Delhi. Currently, doctors are satisfied with his progress," he said.

He further said the police were in the process of identifying those involved in Sunday's violence.

"We are also 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. Internet services that were suspended on Sunday were yet to be restored in some areas.

Trouble began on Sunday evening in the Upper Kot locality when police tried to remove women squatting on the Mohamed Ali Road near the Kotwali police station in an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest.

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 the neighbouring localities, including Babri Mandi, where members of the two communities pelted stones at each other and shots were fired.

Meanwhile, police in Aligarh on Monday registered eight FIRs against more than 350 persons in connection with the arson.

Aligarh Senior Superintendent of Police Muniraj G, said FIRs have been registered under various sections of the IPC including section 153 A (Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion), 307 (attempt to murder) at the Kotwali police station.

He said about 100 people have been identified and 40 of them were named in the FIRs.
As part of the centennial celebrations of the American University in Cairo (AUC) last week, three exhibitions were inaugurated at the Tahrir Culture Center (TCC) in three different galleries  connected by the theme of arts relationship to technology.



Curated by Shiva Balaghi, senior advisor to the President of AUC, the three shows are a perfect opportunity for imagination to extend the boundaries of rigid technology. The shows also examine the relationship between technology and society in the most creative ways.



With the aim of hosting shows that bring together art and science departments, Balaghi started organising this project a year ago. In addition to the need to have a database on artists whose artworks harmonize with the theme, I wanted the artworks to look good together, she explained.



At the Margo Veillon Gallery, Glitch showcases paintings, drawings and digital animations by a group of Egyptian and international artists. The show casts light on how past, present and future could be mediated through the intricate games of technology.



Artists participating in Glitch represent different countries, including UK, Iran, Morocco, Bangladesh, US, Egypt and Pakistan.



I actually picked artists with works I like, Balaghi said, and whose works are relevant to the theme. And it so happened that the majority are women. I dont think the biography of an artist stands in the way of accepting their participation.



I dont think that knowing the artist is Iranian would help the viewer understanding the work better.



Among the highlights are three pictures by Basim Magdy, an Egyptian artist whose works capture themes of love, beauty and time, combined with his own poetic texts.



AUCs mission is to be a global university in Cairo, Balaghi went on. Therefore, our policy should reflect being both global and rooted in the Egyptian culture.

Balaghi mentioned Petra Cortright, a popular US YouTube artist whose works are being exhibited for the first time in Cairo. Cortright collects images from the Internet. They could be anything: a picture on Facebook or an advertisement. Then she makes videos or digital paintings out of them, posting them for free.One of these artworks is exhibited in the form of a painting, featuring a format resembling a vase of blossoming flowers, which are actually made of hundreds of images on the internet. The painting echoes the composition of traditional Dutch still lifes with floral themes, according to Balaghi: It is all made digitally on the computer, so we call it a digital painting.Equally interesting is Aish baladi or local bread, a digital installation by Egyptian artist Haytham Nawwar. In digital black and white drawings, bread emerges in different forms and situations like different expressions of human face. As aish, life, and baladi, my country, have different connotations in Arabic, Nawwar plays an ingenious game connecting digital and human worlds.The culture scene in Cairo is thriving, with a huge number of artists and events. However, it is hard to bring artworks by international artists or Arabs who live in Europe or the US to Cairo because of the high expenses. And here is our point of uniqueness, because there are few places where international artists can show in Cairo, Balaghi said.In addition to Glitch, the Future Gallery hosts artworks by Laila Shereen Sakr, an Egyptian-American artist and professor of digital arts at the University of California. Laila describes her exhibition as a personal biography. She invented the name VJ Um Amel for herself as she likes the idea of being an Arab cyborg.VJ Um Amel is a name I use in a set of art performances where I examine the association between the identity of mother and techno-feminist construct of a cyborg and local and international conceptions of Arab, Sakr explained.The exhibition suggests that there is no longer any division between theory and practice and that the routine integration of technology into every aspect of our daily lives actually reflects the fact that we are immersed in a huge digital experience.Sakr earned her MFA in digital arts and media from the University of California Santa Cruz. Her scholarly writing and art practice are intertwined around glitch aethetics and Egypt. I had my first baby, Amel in the middle of my studies, so this is how it started. Now that I had my first baby, I realized that I needed to stay at home more. Therefore, I started to learn more on how to do art via internet.Beit Um Amel (Um Amels Home) is the artists debut solo exhibition in Egypt, where she was born. The paradox is not lost on her: home refers to an emotional warmth, but the exhibits present a lifeless virtual world. They portray digitally treated pictures, either taken by the artist or given to her by friends living in different countries.One intriguing picture is an appalling scene of destroyed homes in Yemen. The artist adds threads of torn clothes, enhancing the drama. Another interesting picture, The Beach, was originally sent to the artist by a friend in Columbia. A favourite destination of hers, the beach has become a fixed corner of her virtual home.Sakr uses different techniques, gama, glitch and pixel sorting, to produce a totally different version of the image.Other pictures feature images of her own profile, and her belly while she was pregnant.I attempted to bring motherhood, softness and love back home, she said. I have been doing this sort of art for eight years now. My girl, Amel, is 12. I guess you have a better understanding now of the concept of my project, she laughed.

At the Marriott Gallery, Corners of a Dream by Bahiya Shehab  professor of arts at AUC  takes up a fairly narrow room barely big enough five viewers: four documentaries visualising four lines by Mahmoud Darwish  My country is not a suitcase; Those who have a land have no sea; Imprisoned butterflies; and We love life if we have access to it  are shown one after another, but each uses four screens.The viewer has to shift their eyes between the four screens to grasp the message of each film. The most intriguing film is My country is not a suitcase, which features scenes of empty suitcases with anxious hands adding some vegetables in one scene, or spice cans on the opposite screen, books and newspapers on the third screen, and clothes for a newborn girl on the fourth.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 27 February, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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A photo of a green seaweed fossil dating back 1 billion years. The image was captured using a microscope as the fossil itself is 2 millimeters long, roughly the size of a flea. The dark color of this fossil was created by adding a drop of mineral oil to the rock in which it's embedded, to create contrast. CREDIT Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech paleontologists have made a remarkable discovery in China: 1 billion-year-old micro-fossils of green seaweeds that could be related to the ancestor of the earliest land plants and trees that first developed 450 million years ago.

The micro-fossil seaweeds -- a form of algae known as Proterocladus antiquus -- are barely visible to the naked eyed at 2 millimeters in length, or roughly the size of a typical flea. Professor Shuhai Xiao said the fossils are the oldest green seaweeds ever found. They were imprinted in rock taken from an area of dry land -- formerly ocean -- near the city of Dalian in the Liaoning Province of northern China. Previously, the earliest convincing fossil record of green seaweeds were found in rock dated at roughly 800 million years old.

The findings -- led by Xiao and Qing Tang, a post-doctoral researcher, both in the Department of Geosciences, part of the Virginia Tech College of Science -- are featured in the latest issue of Nature Ecology & Evolution (link not active until embargo lifts). "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," Xiao said.

"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," Xiao said. "Our study shows that green seaweeds evolved no later than 1 billion years ago, pushing back the record of green seaweeds by about 200 million years. What kind of seaweeds supplied food to the marine ecosystem?"

Shuhai said the current hypothesis is that land plants -- the trees, grasses, food crops, bushes, even kudzu -- evolved from green seaweeds, which were aquatic plants. Through geological time -- millions upon millions of years -- they moved out of the water and became adapted to and prospered on dry land, their new natural environment. "These fossils are related to the ancestors of all the modern land plants we see today."

However, Xiao added the caveat that not all geobiologists are on the same page - that debate on the origins of green plants remains debated. "Not everyone agrees with us; some scientists think that green plants started in rivers and lakes, and then conquered the ocean and land later," added Xiao, a member of the Virginia Tech Global Change Center.

There are three main types of seaweed: brown (Phaeophyceae), green (Chlorophyta), and red (Rhodophyta), and thousands of species of each kind. Fossils of red seaweed, which are now common on ocean floors, have been dated as far back as 1.047 billion years old.

"There are some modern green seaweeds that look very similar to the fossils that we found," Xiao said. "A group of modern green seaweeds, known as siphonocladaleans, are particularly similar in shape and size to the fossils we found."

Photosynthetic plants are, of course, vital to the ecological balance of the planet because they produce organic carbon and oxygen through photosynthesis, and they provide food and the basis of shelter for untold numbers of mammals, fish, and more. Yet, going back 2 billion years, Earth had no green plants at all in oceans, Xiao said.

It was Tang who discovered the micro-fossils of the seaweeds using an electronic microscope at Virginia Tech's campus and brought it to Xiao's attention. To more easily see the fossils, mineral oil was dripped onto the fossil to create a strong contrast.

"These seaweeds display multiple branches, upright growths, and specialized cells known as akinetes that are very common in this type of fossil," he said. "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 1 billion years."

According to Xiao and Tang, the tiny seaweeds once lived in a shallow ocean, died, and then became "cooked" 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 by Xiao and his team, which included scientists from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology in China.

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Linkedin Yulia Savitri (The Jakarta Post) Palembang, South Sumatra  Tue, February 25, 2020 15:30 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206681c48 1 National COVID-19,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,Palembang Free

A patient at Mohammad Hoesin General Hospital (RSMH) in Palembang, South Sumatra, has been declared negative for COVID-19 following a second examination.

Head of the RSMH emerging infectious disease team Zein Ahmad said that the 62-year-old patient was first tested on Feb. 17. The patient was experiencing breathing problems after returning from a trip to Malaysia. On Feb. 21, the examination result stated that the patient was free from coronavirus infection. On Feb. 22, the hospitals research staff examined the patients blood sample and larynx tissue.

The result of the final diagnosis has been released already, and the patient officially tests negative for coronavirus, Zein said on Monday. [The patients] condition is stable with a normal temperature, he added.

The hospital decided to conduct a second laboratory examination on the patient given that Malaysia is one of the countries that has reported COVID-19 cases. The patients health record from their previous hospital revealed that they also suffered from heart problems.

Read also: South Sumatra resident put in quarantine for showing symptoms of pneumonia

Although the hospital was satisfied that the patient suffered from an acute lung inflammation due to a bacterial infection, RSMH decided to put them in an isolated room after seeing their travel record to Malaysia.

South Sumatra Health Agency head Lesti Nuraini said that she had already received the report on the patient. The information had also been delivered to the patients family, which allowed them to publish the news.

Lesti said that the patients family was in constant contact seeking treatment updates.

Weve always communicated about [the patients] condition in the isolation room with the family. The family might feel very worried considering that they saw the patient being treated in an isolation room with special equipment, she said.

She added that her team had already quarantined 40 South Sumatra residents who had returned from trips to China since Jan. 29. The quarantine period is 14 days as stipulated in the standard procedures. The health agency is being assisted by community health center workers from the patients respective areas.

The latest update states that 34 people have tested negative, while six others are still in quarantine.

So far we can declare that South Sumatra is safe, we have no cases here, Lesti said.

Read also: Palembang wont let coronavirus fears spoil Cap Go Meh

To prevent further virus transmission, the South Sumatra administration has inspected every entry point to the province, as well as instructing every hospital in the regencies and cities to provide isolation rooms.

The government is also urging the public to maintain healthy and hygienic lifestyles.

Fenty Wardhapada of the Palembang Port Health Authoritys (KKP) quarantine and epidemiology surveillance said that he was keeping an eye on aircraft, cargo vessels and passenger ships at the international arrival sections of airports and seaports, especially for vessels from China, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Weve already inspected four vessels from Malaysia and Vietnam today with 71 crew members in total. There is also an incoming direct flight from Malaysia with 100 passengers in total. All is under control, he said. (dpk)
Fast Company magazine recently announced the appointment of Wesley Diphoko as editor-in-chief.

Wesley Diphoko, Fast Company SA's new editor-in-chief.

#AfricanOpinion Wesley Diphoko says Africa needs to drive its own digital disruption, most of the technologies used for African problems coming from foreign technology https://t.co/29VNT8B9t5  Brand Africa (@brandafrica) July 26, 2019

Congrats on your appointment. How do you feel about it?

What do you love most about your career and media/publishing in particular?

Any other career highlights youre particularly proud of?

Tell us a bit about your experience and how this has equipped you for your new position.

My experience in media, communications as well as the tech sector, has given me the insider advantage as well as media industry experience to develop compelling stories about technology, innovation and design. I dont write stories based on theory but on lived experience of working with tech and in technology companies.

Whats at the top of your to-do list (at work)?

What are you currently reading/watching/listening to for work?

Tell us something about yourself not generally known?

Im honoured to be appointed editor ofmagazine, the worlds most respected business innovation and technology publication of its kind, comments Diphoko. I'm looking forward to growing the localedition into an authority on the innovation and technology ecosystem in South Africa.He goes on to tell us that hes looking forward to contributing to the process of shaping the narrative about African innovation. Im of the view that African innovation receives less attention and Africans have raised concern about this matter. Im looking forward to playing my part in correcting the skewed view about African innovation.He also shares more about his background in technology and innovation: Society is at a point where so much is happening in the technology and innovation sectors, and a lot of people are confused and frankly misinformed.It excites me that asSouth Africa, we can be torchbearers towards the fourth industrial revolution and really inform people in a manner that will allow them to make informed decisions.I feel deeply honoured and excited to be tasked with the responsibility of overseeing the management of this important publication. At the same time, Im humbled to be in a position to lead a media brand in South Africa with the mandate to inform the nation about technology, innovation and design trends, as well as their impact.I started working in the media space for a community newspaper as a correspondent covering the township area. At the time, I had a responsibility to ensure that a neglected community saw itself in the media space.I felt that was powerful and I love that about media and publishing. I like the fact that through media, one can make a positive contribution towards advancement of people by giving them a voice via media platforms.Ive been writing a technology column for South Africas leading financial daily,. This led to an invitation by SAfm to comment weekly, based on my weekly technology column, about the latest developments in technology and their future impact.This was an important moment for me because I felt technology media coverage lacked deep insights about why certain things are happening in the technology space.Ive worked in communications roles, in startups and with technology organisations.The integration of print and digital. I believe there should be no division between print and digital. I believe they are one.In 2019 I had limited time to read. Im currently reading this book,by Prof Shoshana Zuboff, as I believe it is one of the best books written in our time.I carry two mobile phones. One is my favourite phone  a Nokia 3310 which is a feature phone. Its my preferred phone over the always-connected smartphone, because I believe as human beings we need time to disconnect and reflect. This mobile phone allows me to ignore the noise and focus on what matters, especially when I need to focus on work.
Egypt's former president Hosni Mubarak, who ruled for three decades before he was ousted amid the Arab Spring protests in 2011, died Tuesday at age 91. The once burly autocrat with the trademark sunglasses, who became frail after multiple surgeries towards the end of his life, spent years in custody for his role in the deaths of protesters, but was freed in 2017 after the convictions were overturned. His son Alaa Mubarak wrote on Twitter: "This morning my father, president Mubarak, passed away". His death was confirmed by the presidency and on state television. Mubarak's brother-in-law, General Mounir Thabet, told AFP that the family was by Mubarak's side at the hospital. A military funeral was planned for Wednesday, to be followed by three days of mourning, said the office of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. On Tuesday, at the cemetery in eastern Cairo where Mubarak will be buried, AFP reporters saw several military vehicles parked next to the family grave and plainclothes policemen patrolling the area. Mubarak had long battled illness and was recently admitted to a Cairo military hospital's intensive care unit, as media speculated on whether he suffered cancer, heart troubles or respiratory ailments. Tributes poured in from leaders in the Middle East, where Mubarak's Egypt, a key ally of the United States, had at times served as a mediator, especially in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Mubarak's commitment to "peace and security" when he ruled Egypt, the first Arab state to make peace with Israel and establish full diplomatic relations. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said he mourned Mubarak's death "with great sorrow" and hailed his support of the Palestinian cause. - Dodged bullets - President Sisi's office offered condolences and lauded Mubarak as one of the "heroes of the October 1973 war against Israel". The long-time president started off as a military pilot and was commander of the air force in the 1973 war with Israel. He became vice president in 1975 before taking power in 1981, following the assassination of former president Anwar al-Sadat by Islamist militants. Mubarak was sitting near Sadat, but survived, going on to dodge bullets during several more attempts on his life, including one by Islamist militants in 1995 in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. He remained head of state for three decades, but was overthrown in 2011 after three weeks of mass protests that started on January 25. His ouster came amid mounting popular anger triggered partly by rampant police brutality and by 2010 parliamentary elections which were widely slammed as rigged. Some reactions to his death online, in particular from staunch anti-Mubarak activists, recalled the anger with his rule that stoked the uprising. "He lived as a criminal and a tyrant and died a criminal and a thief," tweeted Rasha Azab, a prominent leftist writer who was at the forefront of the revolution. Mubarak faced multiple charges after his overthrow, including over the deaths of protesters in 2011 and for corruption. But in the years since, many Egyptians' aversion to Mubarak has gradually given way to indifference mixed with nostalgia, and many now remember his rule as a bygone period of stability. - 'History will decide' - Mubarak, a determined foe of Islamist radicalism, maintained a state of emergency for the entirety of his rule that gave sweeping powers to the country's feared security services. Internationally, he garnered respect as a regional power broker. Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan described Mubarak as "an Arab leader who worked loyally for Arab unity and stability and stood firmly against extremism and terrorism". The former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed El-Baradei, who was a key opposition figure in Mubarak's waning years, paid his respects. "May God have mercy on the former president... and grant his family patience and comfort," he said on Twitter. Other opposition activists who played a critical role in the 2011 revolution, such as Wael Ghoneim, were also forgiving in their words on social media. "He was loyal and loving of Egypt... He took on a great responsibility towards the Egyptian people," Ghoneim wrote on Twitter. "He was right a lot of the time and also wrong a lot of the time... history will decide." Former presidential candidate Ayman Nour -- who ran against Mubarak in multi-candidate elections widely seen as fraudulent in 2005, lost and was subsequently jailed -- was also conciliatory in his tone. "I promise to God I personally forgive him," he said. Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, who faced multiple charges after his overthrow, including over the deaths of protesters in 2011 and for corruption, appeared with his two sons Alaa (R) and Gamal at their trial in Cairo in September 2013 Mubarak with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad (L) at the pyramids in Giza in 2002 Mubarak, a determined foe of Islamist radicalism, maintained a state of emergency for the entirety of his rule that gave sweeping powers to the country's feared security services
Barely six months have passed since the Prudential split off its high-flying international operations from its UK fund management and life assurance side.

It hasn't taken long for investment activists to see a flaw in the new structure. US hedge fund Third Point does not see much sense in the UK-quoted insurer operating in two territories, Asia and the US. It has a 1.5billion stake and is demanding further changes.

Third Point, run by Daniel Loeb, wants Prudential to close its London HQ and a further split between the Asian operations and US annuity specialists Jackson Life.

Threat: Third Point, run by Daniel Loeb, wants Prudential to close its London HQ and a further split between the Asian operations and US annuity specialists Jackson Life

It has struck when the new Pru is in transition. After a hugely complex separation, which involved sorting out the legacy of 170 years as a life company, it has barely had a chance to establish a record as an independent outfit.

Indeed, the assault from across the Atlantic comes at an awkward moment as the architect of the current shape of the group, Paul Manduca, makes way for Shriti Vadera who currently chairs Santander UK and is one of the most experienced hands in financial policy making.

There is some logic to Third Point's call for hiving off the American operations. In fact, it would not have been surprising if a new structure had been high up on Baroness Vadera's agenda.

What would be deeply disturbing, in the post-Brexit era, would be a departure from these shores of the UK's most historic and largest insurers with a market value of 37billion.

Even though much of the Pru's earnings are in the Pacific region, most investors are here in traditional UK long funds.

It is carefully supervised from London, and well away from political upheaval in Hong Kong and coronavirus and autocracy in China.

It is also a large overseas earner for the City, UK plc's service sector, and pays its taxes in the UK.

Chief executive Mike Wells should show the New York marauders the door. It will be up to new chairman Baroness Vadera and her board to decide if the current structure is fit for purpose.

Chinese chutzpah

The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is one of those UN agencies most people have never heard of. As the trade battle between China and the United States moves from physical trade to AI, telecoms and technology, it is at the centre of the geopolitical universe.

There is a tendency to regard any campaigns led by the Trump White House as misguided. But when it comes to intellectual property the US President enjoys widespread support in his determination to head off China.

Trump is not alone in disparaging Boris Johnson's decisions to give Huawei a big role in our next-generation 5G networks.

The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives and our Anglosphere pals in Australia don't like it either.

Evidence suggests that some 85 per cent or more of technology and intellectual property theft is down to Beijing.

The cost of tech transfer is reckoned to be 460billion a year to the US alone. It also costs Europe billions of pounds a year.

As Britain has the most highly developed tech sector in Europe we are highly vulnerable. China, preposterously is seeking to put one of its own, Wang Binying, in charge of WIPO when the job of director general comes up in Geneva on March 5.

WIPO regulates and polices 46m patents across 200 jurisdictions so allowing the Chinese delegation to seize control could encourage the biggest breach in patent and data security ever.

Beijing is campaigning hard and has fertile support in Africa, where it has invested billions of dollars in infrastructure, and across the world.

American officials believe that widespread corruption has been involved. The US and other Western countries are seeking to rally support for a more neutral candidate. Singapore and Japan have been mentioned.

Allowing China to take charge of WIPO is to invite the fox into the chicken house.

Brexit bonus

Blackstone has a mixed history in the UK as anyone who followed its short but highly profitable and ethically questionable stewardship of Southern Cross care homes would testify.

Even so, it will be music to the ears of No 10 that the New York private equity colossus is ready to plough billions of pounds into renewing British infrastructure.

If it happens, that should go some way to cleaning the slate.
Home Search ICH Liberal democracy is a lie - Assange extradition hearing - Day 1 By Craig Murray February 25, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Woolwich Crown Court is designed to impose the power of the state. Normal courts in this country are public buildings, deliberately placed by our ancestors right in the centre of towns, almost always just up a few steps from a main street. The major purpose of their positioning and of their architecture was to facilitate public access in the belief that it is vital that justice can be seen by the public. Woolwich Crown Court, which hosts Belmarsh Magistrates Court, is built on totally the opposite principle. It is designed with no other purpose than to exclude the public. Attached to a prison on a windswept marsh far from any normal social centre, an island accessible only through navigating a maze of dual carriageways, the entire location and architecture of the building is predicated on preventing public access. It is surrounded by a continuation of the same extremely heavy duty steel paling barrier that surrounds the prison. It is the most extraordinary thing, a courthouse which is a part of the prison system itself, a place where you are already considered guilty and in jail on arrival. Woolwich Crown Court is nothing but the physical negation of the presumption of innocence, the very incarnation of injustice in unyielding steel, concrete and armoured glass. It has precisely the same relationship to the administration of justice as Guantanamo Bay or the Lubyanka. It is in truth just the sentencing wing of Belmarsh prison. When enquiring about facilities for the public to attend the hearing, an Assange activist was told by a member of court staff that we should realise that Woolwich is a counter-terrorism court. That is true de facto, but in truth a counter-terrorism court is an institution unknown to the UK constitution. Indeed, if a single day at Woolwich Crown Court does not convince you the existence of liberal democracy is now a lie, then your mind must be very closed indeed. Extradition hearings are not held at Belmarsh Magistrates Court inside Woolwich Crown Court. They are always held at Westminster Magistrates Court as the application is deemed to be delivered to the government at Westminster. Now get your head around this. This hearing is at Westminster Magistrates Court. It is being held by the Westminster magistrates and Westminster court staff, but located at Belmarsh Magistrates Court inside Woolwich Crown Court. All of which weird convolution is precisely so they can use the counter-terrorist court to limit public access and to impose the fear of the power of the state. One consequence is that, in the courtroom itself, Julian Assange is confined at the back of the court behind a bulletproof glass screen. He made the point several times during proceedings that this makes it very difficult for him to see and hear the proceedings. The magistrate, Vanessa Baraitser, chose to interpret this with studied dishonesty as a problem caused by the very faint noise of demonstrators outside, as opposed to a problem caused by Assange being locked away from the court in a massive bulletproof glass box. Now there is no reason at all for Assange to be in that box, designed to restrain extremely physically violent terrorists. He could sit, as a defendant at a hearing normally would, in the body of the court with his lawyers. But the cowardly and vicious Baraitser has refused repeated and persistent requests from the defence for Assange to be allowed to sit with his lawyers. Baraitser of course is but a puppet, being supervised by Chief Magistrate Lady Arbuthnot, a woman so enmeshed in the defence and security service establishment I can conceive of no way in which her involvement in this case could be more corrupt. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter It does not matter to Baraitser or Arbuthnot if there is any genuine need for Assange to be incarcerated in a bulletproof box, or whether it stops him from following proceedings in court. Baraitsers intention is to humiliate Assange, and to instill in the rest of us horror at the vast crushing power of the state. The inexorable strength of the sentencing wing of the nightmarish Belmarsh Prison must be maintained. If you are here, you are guilty. Its the Lubyanka. You may only be a remand prisoner. This may only be a hearing not a trial. You may have no history of violence and not be accused of any violence. You may have three of the countrys most eminent psychiatrists submitting reports of your history of severe clinical depression and warning of suicide. But I, Vanessa Baraitser, am still going to lock you up in a box designed for the most violent of terrorists. To show what we can do to dissidents. And if you cant then follow court proceedings, all the better. You will perhaps better accept what I say about the Court when I tell you that, for a hearing being followed all round the world, they have brought it to a courtroom which had a total number of sixteen seats available to members of the public. 16. To make sure I got one of those 16 and could be your man in the gallery, I was outside that great locked iron fence queuing in the cold, wet and wind from 6am. At 8am the gate was unlocked, and I was able to walk inside the fence to another queue before the doors of the courtroom, where despite the fact notices clearly state the court opens to the public at 8am, I had to queue outside the building again for another hour and forty minutes. Then I was processed through armoured airlock doors, through airport type security, and had to queue behind two further locked doors, before finally getting to my seat just as the court started at 10am. By which stage the intention was we should have been thoroughly cowed and intimidated, not to mention drenched and potentially hypothermic. There was a separate media entrance and a media room with live transmission from the courtroom, and there were so many scores of media I thought I could relax and not worry as the basic facts would be widely reported. In fact, I could not have been more wrong. I followed the arguments very clearly every minute of the day, and not a single one of the most important facts and arguments today has been reported anywhere in the mainstream media. That is a bold claim, but I fear it is perfectly true. So I have much work to do to let the world know what actually happened. The mere act of being an honest witness is suddenly extremely important, when the entire media has abandoned that role. James Lewis QC made the opening statement for the prosecution. It consisted of two parts, both equally extraordinary. The first and longest part was truly remarkable for containing no legal argument, and for being addressed not to the magistrate but to the media. It is not just that it was obvious that is where his remarks were aimed, he actually stated on two occasions during his opening statement that he was addressing the media, once repeating a sentence and saying specifically that he was repeating it again because it was important that the media got it. I am frankly astonished that Baraitser allowed this. It is completely out of order for a counsel to address remarks not to the court but to the media, and there simply could not be any clearer evidence that this is a political show trial and that Baraitser is complicit in that. I have not the slightest doubt that the defence would have been pulled up extremely quickly had they started addressing remarks to the media. Baraitser makes zero pretence of being anything other than in thrall to the Crown, and by extension to the US Government. The points which Lewis wished the media to know were these: it is not true that mainstream outlets like the Guardian and New York Times are also threatened by the charges against Assange, because Assange was not charged with publishing the cables but only with publishing the names of informants, and with cultivating Manning and assisting him to attempt computer hacking. Only Assange had done these things, not mainstream outlets. Lewis then proceeded to read out a series of articles from the mainstream media attacking Assange, as evidence that the media and Assange were not in the same boat. The entire opening hour consisted of the prosecution addressing the media, attempting to drive a clear wedge between the media and Wikileaks and thus aimed at reducing media support for Assange. It was a political address, not remotely a legal submission. At the same time, the prosecution had prepared reams of copies of this section of Lewis address, which were handed out to the media and given them electronically so they could cut and paste. Following an adjournment, magistrate Baraitser questioned the prosecution on the veracity of some of these claims. In particular, the claim that newspapers were not in the same position because Assange was charged not with publication, but with aiding and abetting Chelsea Manning in getting the material, did not seem consistent with Lewis reading of the 1989 Official Secrets Act, which said that merely obtaining and publishing any government secret was an offence. Surely, Baraitser suggested, that meant that newspapers just publishing the Manning leaks would be guilty of an offence? This appeared to catch Lewis entirely off guard. The last thing he had expected was any perspicacity from Baraitser, whose job was just to do what he said. Lewis hummed and hawed, put his glasses on and off several times, adjusted his microphone repeatedly and picked up a succession of pieces of paper from his brief, each of which appeared to surprise him by its contents, as he waved them haplessly in the air and said he really should have cited the Shayler case but couldnt find it. It was liking watching Columbo with none of the charm and without the killer question at the end of the process. Suddenly Lewis appeared to come to a decision. Yes, he said much more firmly. The 1989 Official Secrets Act had been introduced by the Thatcher Government after the Ponting Case, specifically to remove the public interest defence and to make unauthorised possession of an official secret a crime of strict liability  meaning no matter how you got it, publishing and even possessing made you guilty. Therefore, under the principle of dual criminality, Assange was liable for extradition whether or not he had aided and abetted Manning. Lewis then went on to add that any journalist and any publication that printed the official secret would therefore also be committing an offence, no matter how they had obtained it, and no matter if it did or did not name informants. Lewis had thus just flat out contradicted his entire opening statement to the media stating that they need not worry as the Assange charges could never be applied to them. And he did so straight after the adjournment, immediately after his team had handed out copies of the argument he had now just completely contradicted. I cannot think it has often happened in court that a senior lawyer has proven himself so absolutely and so immediately to be an unmitigated and ill-motivated liar. This was undoubtedly the most breathtaking moment in todays court hearing. Yet remarkably I cannot find any mention anywhere in the mainstream media that this happened at all. What I can find, everywhere, is the mainstream media reporting, via cut and paste, Lewiss first part of his statement on why the prosecution of Assange is not a threat to press freedom; but nobody seems to have reported that he totally abandoned his own argument five minutes later. Were the journalists too stupid to understand the exchanges? The explanation is very simple. The clarification coming from a question Baraitser asked Lewis, there is no printed or electronic record of Lewis reply. His original statement was provided in cut and paste format to the media. His contradiction of it would require a journalist to listen to what was said in court, understand it and write it down. There is no significant percentage of mainstream media journalists who command that elementary ability nowadays. Journalism consists of cut and paste of approved sources only. Lewis could have stabbed Assange to death in the courtroom, and it would not be reported unless contained in a government press release. I was left uncertain of Baraitsers purpose in this. Plainly she discomfited Lewis very badly on this point, and appeared rather to enjoy doing so. On the other hand the point she made is not necessarily helpful to the defence. What she was saying was essentially that Julian could be extradited under dual criminality, from the UK point of view, just for publishing, whether or not he conspired with Chelsea Manning, and that all the journalists who published could be charged too. But surely this is a point so extreme that it would be bound to be invalid under the Human Rights Act? Was she pushing Lewis to articulate a position so extreme as to be untenable  giving him enough rope to hang himself  or was she slavering at the prospect of not just extraditing Assange, but of mass prosecutions of journalists? The reaction of one group was very interesting. The four US government lawyers seated immediately behind Lewis had the grace to look very uncomfortable indeed as Lewis baldly declared that any journalist and any newspaper or broadcast media publishing or even possessing any government secret was committing a serious offence. Their entire strategy had been to pretend not to be saying that. Lewis then moved on to conclude the prosecutions arguments. The court had no decision to make, he stated. Assange must be extradited. The offence met the test of dual criminality as it was an offence both in the USA and UK. UK extradition law specifically barred the court from testing whether there was any evidence to back up the charges. If there had been, as the defence argued, abuse of process, the court must still extradite and then the court must pursue the abuse of process as a separate matter against the abusers. (This is a particularly specious argument as it is not possible for the court to take action against the US government due to sovereign immunity, as Lewis well knows). Finally, Lewis stated that the Human Rights Act and freedom of speech were completely irrelevant in extradition proceedings. Edward Fitzgerald then arose to make the opening statement for the defence. He started by stating that the motive for the prosecution was entirely political, and that political offences were specifically excluded under article 4.1 of the UK/US extradition treaty. He pointed out that at the time of the Chelsea Manning Trial and again in 2013 the Obama administration had taken specific decisions not to prosecute Assange for the Manning leaks. This had been reversed by the Trump administration for reasons that were entirely political. On abuse of process, Fitzgerald referred to evidence presented to the Spanish criminal courts that the CIA had commissioned a Spanish security company to spy on Julian Assange in the Embassy, and that this spying specifically included surveillance of Assanges privileged meetings with his lawyers to discuss extradition. For the state trying to extradite to spy on the defendants client-lawyer consultations is in itself grounds to dismiss the case. (This point is undoubtedly true. Any decent judge would throw the case out summarily for the outrageous spying on the defence lawyers). Fitzgerald went on to say the defence would produce evidence the CIA not only spied on Assange and his lawyers, but actively considered kidnapping or poisoning him, and that this showed there was no commitment to proper rule of law in this case. Fitzgerald said that the prosecutions framing of the case contained deliberate misrepresentation of the facts that also amounted to abuse of process. It was not true that there was any evidence of harm to informants, and the US government had confirmed this in other fora, eg in Chelsea Mannings trial. There had been no conspiracy to hack computers, and Chelsea Manning had been acquitted on that charge at court martial. Lastly it was untrue that Wikileaks had initiated publication of unredacted names of informants, as other media organisations had been responsible for this first. Again, so far as I can see, while the US allegation of harm to informants is widely reported, the defences total refutation on the facts and claim that the fabrication of facts amounts to abuse of process is not much reported at all. Fitzgerald finally referred to US prison conditions, the impossibility of a fair trial in the US, and the fact the Trump Administration has stated foreign nationals will not receive First Amendment protections, as reasons that extradition must be barred. You can read the whole defence statement, but in my view the strongest passage was on why this is a political prosecution, and thus precluded from extradition. For the purposes of section 81(a), I next have to deal with the question of how

this politically motivated prosecution satisfies the test of being directed against

Julian Assange because of his political opinions. The essence of his political

opinions which have provoked this prosecution are summarised in the reports

of Professor Feldstein [tab 18], Professor Rogers [tab 40], Professor Noam

Chomsky [tab 39] and Professor Kopelman:-

i. He is a leading proponent of an open society and of freedom of expression.

ii. He is anti-war and anti-imperialism.

iii. He is a world-renowned champion of political transparency and of the

publics right to access information on issues of importance  issues such

as political corruption, war crimes, torture and the mistreatment of

Guantanamo detainees.

5.4.Those beliefs and those actions inevitably bring him into conflict with powerful

states including the current US administration, for political reasons. Which

explains why he has been denounced as a terrorist and why President Trump

has in the past called for the death penalty.

5.5.But I should add his revelations are far from confined to the wrongdoings of

the US. He has exposed surveillance by Russia; and published exposes of Mr

Assad in Syria; and it is said that WikiLeaks revelations about corruption in

Tunisia and torture in Egypt were the catalyst for the Arab Spring itself.

5.6.The US say he is no journalist. But you will see a full record of his work in

Bundle M. He has been a member of the Australian journalists union since

2009, he is a member of the NUJ and the European Federation of Journalists.

He has won numerous media awards including being honoured with the

highest award for Australian journalists. His work has been recognised by the

Economist, Amnesty International and the Council of Europe. He is the winner

of the Martha Gelhorn prize and has been repeatedly nominated for the Nobel

Peace Prize, including both last year and this year. You can see from the

materials that he has written books, articles and documentaries. He has had

articles published in the Guardian, the New York Times, the Washington Post

and the New Statesman, just to name a few. Some of the very publications for

which his extradition is being sought have been refereed to and relied upon in

Courts throughout the world, including the UK Supreme Court and the

European Court of Human Rights. In short, he has championed the cause of

transparency and freedom of information throughout the world.

5.7.Professor Noam Chomsky puts it like this:  in courageously upholding

political beliefs that most of profess to share he has performed an

enormous service to all those in the world who treasure the values of

freedom and democracy and who therefore demand the right to know

what their elected representatives are doing [see tab 39, paragraph 14].

So Julian Assanges positive impact on the world is undeniable. The hostility

it has provoked from the Trump administration is equally undeniable.

The legal test for political opinions

5.8.I am sure you are aware of the legal authorities on this issue: namely whether

a request is made because of the defendants political opinions. A broad

approach has to be adopted when applying the test. In support of this we rely

on the case of Re Asliturk [2002] EWHC 2326 (abuse authorities, tab 11, at

paras 25  26) which clearly establishes that such a wide approach should be

adopted to the concept of political opinions. And that will clearly cover Julian

Assanges ideological positions. Moreover, we also rely on cases such as

Emilia Gomez v SSHD [2000] INLR 549 at tab 43 of the political offence

authorities bundle. These show that the concept of political opinions extends

to the political opinions imputed to the individual citizen by the state which

prosecutes him. For that reason the characterisation of Julian Assange and

WikiLeaks as a non-state hostile intelligence agency by Mr Pompeo makes

clear that he has been targeted for his imputed political opinions. All the

experts whose reports you have show that Julian Assange has been targeted

because of the political position imputed to him by the Trump administration 

as an enemy of America who must be brought down. Tomorrow the defence continue. I am genuinely uncertain what will happen as I feel at the moment far too exhausted to be there at 6am to queue to get in. But I hope somehow I will contrive another report tomorrow evening. With grateful thanks to those who donated or subscribed to make this reporting possible. This article is entirely free to reproduce and publish, including in translation, and I very much hope people will do so actively. Truth shall set us free. Craig's blog has no source of state, corporate or institutional finance whatsoever. Support Craig's work https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/support-this-website/ Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== CIA Says Russia Is Boosting Bernie As Predicted! REVEALED: Chief magistrate in Assange case received financial benefits from secretive partner organisations of UK Foreign Office Assange fight draws in Trump's new intel chief: Lawyers for Assange plan to use newly obtained recordings and screenshots to argue that Assange's prosecution is political in nature. Julian Assange extradition hearing sees US attack bravery, press freedom
A man communicates with a customer through the door of a market in Dongsi Subdistrict on February 24, 2020 in Beijing, China.

The World Health Organization warned countries on Tuesday to be prepared for the coronavirus to be "literally knocking at the door."

The warning comes amid intensifying concern about the coronavirus outbreak, with the deadly flu-like virus spreading to more than two dozen countries in recent weeks.

Speaking in Geneva, Switzerland, WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said some countries had "pandemic plans" on standby in a bid to prevent the outbreak, Reuters reported. But, while many were ready to act upon them depending on their situation, Lindmeier said the WHO was not planning a "big announcement."

Late last month, the WHO declared China's fast-spreading coronavirus a global health emergency.

Lindmeier's comments appeared to confirm the United Nations health agency would not declare the deadly flu-like virus as a pandemic over the coming days.

As of Tuesday, China's National Health Commission reported 77,658 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 2,663 deaths nationwide.

South Korea, Italy and Iran have all recorded a sharp uptick in cases of the coronavirus in recent days, with many other countries imposing travel restrictions on virus-hit areas worldwide.

Lindmeier said officials meeting in Rome to discuss "pretty strong" measures implemented in Italy.

A WHO mission to Iran has been delayed, Lindmeier said, with no new date for departure. The mission was initially scheduled to arrive in the Islamic Republic on Tuesday.
Yellow police tape remains on the ground near where a 27-year-old part-time Temple University student was killed Monday night in a hit-and-run collision at Eight Street and Cecil B.Moore Avenue. Read more

A 27-year-old Temple University student was killed in a wrong-way hit-and-run Monday night near the university, police said.

About 8:50 p.m., the man, identified as Ajay Agnihotri, was crossing Eighth Street at Cecil B. Moore Avenue when he was struck by a Hyundai sedan heading north on Eighth at a high speed, said Capt. Mark Overwise of the Accident Investigation Division. Eighth Street is a southbound one-way street.

Police found the victim lying in the street unresponsive, suffering from severe head trauma and other injuries. Medics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Temple, which released the victims name, said Agnihotri was a fourth-year student in the College of Liberal Arts from Reinholds in Lancaster County. He was pursuing a double major in political science and economics, the university said.

The death of any member of our community is heartbreaking and takes a significant emotional toll on us all, Temple president Richard M. Englert and dean of students Stephanie Ives wrote in a message to the university community.

The school said counseling resources were available.

Police found the Hyundai several blocks away at Eighth and Berks Streets. It had considerable front-end damage.

Overwise said two people in the car ran away on foot and he urged them to surrender.

He said the car was not reported stolen and investigators were seeking to contact the owner.

Anyone with information or surveillance video that might assist investigators was asked to call the Accident Investigation Division at 215-685-3180.
Is it not true that you withdrew all of your applications for this project in December 2019? Schocke said, to which Wieser said the petitions were withdrawn in November. And here we are on Feb. 24, and you saunter in here and say, Oh, by the way, I filed it again today. So are you not in breach?
Rapper Pop Smoke died from a gunshot wound to the torso after last week's shooting inside a home he was renting in Hollywood Hills, the Los Angeles County coroner's office said.

The 20-year-old artist, whose real name was Bashar Barakah Jackson, was shot in a home invasion involving a group of masked men at around 4.30am last Wednesday.

He was rushed to a local hospital and pronounced dead soon after.

Almost a week later, police are still searching for at least four suspects who were seen on surveillance footage at the house moments before gunfire erupted.

Law enforcement sources have said investigators believe the suspects targeted the $2.5million home, which Pop Smoke was reportedly renting from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp.

Hours before the shooting, Pop Smoke shared a video on social media which featured the exact address of the home.

Police have not yet concluded whether the attack was a robbery-gone-wrong or a possible gang-related hit, based on the rapper's alleged ties to the infamous Crips street gang.

Rapper Pop Smoke died from a gunshot wound to the torso after last week's shooting inside a home he was renting in Hollywood Hills, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office

Paramedics are seen carting Pop Smoke out of the home after he was shot in a home invasion involving at least four masked men at around 4.30am last Wednesday

Hours before the shooting, Pop Smoke shared a video on social media which featured the exact address of the home

Insiders who have seen CCTV footage told TMZ four men can be seen approaching the 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, suggesting that robbery may not have been the goal.

In an Instagram post over the weekend, Pop Smoke's girlfriend Yummy Yellow revealed that the rapper had warned her to keep her door locked when they met for the last time before he was shot dead two days later.

'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.

'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?'

Those comments were part of a lengthy heartfelt tribute Yummy Yellow shared in honor of her slain boyfriend.

'The more I get to thinking, I realize I tend to have a cold heart but, you melted mine so quickly,' she wrote.

'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].'

Pop Smoke's girlfriend Yummy Yellow (pictured) revealed over the weekend that her rapper boyfriend instructed her to lock her door in their final meeting before he was gunned down

Yummy Yellow paid tribute to her late boyfriend with an Instagram video of them together

The post came after it emerged that Pop Smoke cancelled a performance just three days before he was killed over concerns there would be gang members present.

The rapper was scheduled to play a show at the Kings Theater in his hometown of Brooklyn, New York, last Sunday when he announced on Instagram it would be axed.

He initially cast blame of the canceled show on the New York Police Department, but a law enforcement source told TMZ that Pop Smoke made the decision to pull the plug.

'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 canceling the show was done for protection.

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.

Pop Smoke (pictured in January) cancelled a performance just three days before he was killed over alleged concerns there would be gang members present

The rapper apologized to fans in an Instagram post about canceling a show (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 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 California when the rapper spends so much of his time in New York.

The source said Pop Smoke was in Los Angeles to promote his new album and to 'relax a bit' before going on tour in March.

He was reportedly renting the home where the attack occurred from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp and her husband, actor and producer Edwin Arroyave.

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 apparent home invasion unfolded at about 4.30am at 2033 Hercules Drive (pictured)

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)

The murder came several hours after Pop Smoke shared several social media posts showing off high-value items at the home.

One of the posts featured three photos of the rapper in front of the property.

In two photos, he is seen posing with Louis Vuitton luggage next to the same white Range Rover that was parked in the driveway when medics arrived after the shooting.

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.

Pop Smoke, who hails from Brooklyn, rose to fame last summer with the release of his debut mixtape Meet the Woo. He released his second mixtape, Meet the Woo V.2, earlier this month

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:
The Trump administration on Monday began enforcing new rules designed to weed out immigrants who have used public assistance in the U.S.  or are at risk of doing so in the future.

Building on existing federal law, the new public-charge rule requires U.S. officials to apply more stringent income- and wealth-based requirements to green card and some visa applicants, while giving the officials wide latitude to reject immigrants who they determine are  or could become  reliant on a variety of social welfare programs, including food stamps, housing assistance and Medicaid.

Under the rule, any immigrant who receives certain kinds of public assistance for more than 12 months in the previous three years will be ineligible for entry or permanent residency. Officials can also consider other factors for each applicant, including age, language skills, wealth and education, and weigh those factors to determine the potential for welfare use in the future. In a surprising twist, the very fact of applying for a green card can count against an applicant, as The Washington Posts Catherine Rampell reported last week.

The rule could have a big effect: The sweeping policy change, one of the administration top immigration priorities, is expected to block the entry of hundreds of thousands of people, disproportionately prospective immigrants from Asia, Africa and Latin America, CBS News said.

Estimates of the number of immigrants who could be affected by the rule vary, ranging from 400,000 to 3.9 million. And some of those people will be middle-class, Axios said, since anyone with an income below 250% of the poverty line  or $76,700 for a family of five  will be penalized in the new system. Having a mortgage or credit card debt will also be negative.

Proponents of the law say it will save money by removing immigrants from social welfare programs, and the administration estimates the savings will come to more than $3 billion a year. Critics, however, say any savings will be dwarfed by the economic losses associated with fewer workers and economic output. New American Economy, an advocacy group founded in 2010 by then-New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, said the rule could generate an economic loss of more than $80 billion.

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A victory for conservatives: The new rule is the product of a long-standing effort on the right to reduce the number of poorer immigrants, who are seen as imposing a high cost on society. Conservatives have been trying for decades to create an immigration system that rewards immigrants who wont be a burden on society and discourages those who will, The Washington Times said.

At the White House Saturday, press secretary Stephanie Grisham said that the rule 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 director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said the rule was intended to encourage self-sufficiency, promote immigrant success and protect American taxpayers."

Critics see something more sinister: The Trump administration is trying to turn back the clock and close the door on poor and non-white immigrants, says Doug Rand, an immigration specialist who worked in the Obama White House. "It's the administration saying let's get as close as we can to the 1924 act that restricted immigration from everywhere but Northern Europe," Rand told Axios.

In an editorial Monday, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) said the public charge rule is un-American and cruel, and likely to hurt the country in the long run. Immigrants are not burdens upon the American public as the Trump administration wants you to believe, Swalwell said. In fact, our economy likely would suffer without the immigrants this rule could bar from living in the US.

More legal challenges ahead: The public-charge rule was issued last August  you can see the final version here  and scheduled to take effect in October, but legal challenges delayed its implementation. The rule cleared a significant hurdle last Friday, when the Supreme Court voted 5-4 along ideological lines to allow it to take effect in Illinois  sparking a fiery dissent from Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who accused the conservative majority of rushing the case in order to give the Trump administration a victory.

Additional legal challenges are making their way through the courts, and the Supreme Court may address the issue again in the coming months.

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Researchers tested the calming effect of music for kitties during vet visits; 'cat-specific' music was the winner.

The last time we took our cat to the vet, I literally thought he was going to have a heart attack. Tough guy is king of the savannah at home, but once in his carrier and headed to the place with the scary people in scrubs, he was a panting, hissing, mewling mess. Poor kitty. And I didn't envy the vet who had to wrestle with the freaked-out mini tiger either.

But after reading about a new study from Louisiana State University (LSU), I think I have a gameplan for the next time: We are going to play him some relaxing cat music.

It's no secret that music works magic on humans. Anyone familiar with Dr. Oliver Sacks and his exploration of the power of music knows this. Actually, anyone who has listened to music and felt its power knows this!

Indeed, a growing body of evidence has led to the popularity of using music in human medicine. Research has shown it to be efficacious in everything from improving motor and cognitive function in stroke patients to reducing anxiety associated with medical examinations, diagnostic procedures, and surgery.

Along these same lines, researchers previously have found that during general anaesthesia, cats remain physiologically responsive to music; and beyond that, classical music was found to be more soothing than pop or heavy metal.

Enter cat-specific music

The LSU study went in a slightly different direction and decided to investigate the effect of music specifically created for cats. (There are people out there making music for cats = faith in humanity restored.)

The authors describe cat music as being comprised of "melodic lines based on affiliative vocalizations and rewarding sounds. These melodies are interpreted as more likely to be effective if the goal is to calm an agitated cat. The thought and musical design behind composing cat-specific music was based on the idea that the development of the emotional centers in the brain of the cat occur shortly after birth, during the nursing stage. Because purring and suckling sounds are common in this developmental stage, these sounds are layered into tempos and frequencies used in feline vocalization to create cat specific music."

To see if cat music would work to calm cats at the vet's office, they experimented with 20 cats who enrolled in the study. The felines were played 20 minutes of Scooter Bere's Aria by David Teie, classical music, or no music at all in random order at each of three physical examinations at the veterinary clinic, two weeks apart.

This is the cat music. (Is it weird if it makes humans calmer too? Asking for a friend.)

As evidenced by lower cat stress scores and handling scale scores, the researchers claim that the cats appeared to be less stressed during the exams when played the cat-specific music, compared with both classical music and silence.

The examination period, they write, showed "significantly lower CSSs [cat stress scores] when cats listened to cat music compared with listening to silence or classical music," write the authors. They conclude of their findings,

"... that cats respond more positively to music made specifically for them and suggest that tranquil behaviors can be achieved in a veterinary clinical setting with the introduction of cat-specific music. Our results also suggest that this would not be the case for classical music or silence."

We have heard of all kinds of ways people try to quell the nerves of anxious cats traveling to the vet, from special pheromone sprays to Ativan and Xanax. Forget that, try some nice soothing cat music  complete with purring and suckling sounds!  and chances are you may even feel a bit more relaxed as well.

The study, Effects of music on behavior and physiological stress response of domestic cats in a veterinary clinic, was published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.
New Mexico has a wealth of public lands and wide open spaces. Now, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Forest Service and the National Parks Service are asking for help to identify public lands that have limited legal access or no public access. Agencies will use the input to create a priority list of public land parcels with restricted access.

A 2019 report from the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and GPS hunting app creator OnX estimates more than 550,000 acres of federal land in New Mexico are landlocked or have restricted access.

To be eligible for nomination to the priority list, land parcels must be managed by one of the agencies and span at least 640 contiguous acres.

Agencies will use the priority list to report to Congress with options for improving access.

Legal access to public lands can be increased by acquiring easements across non-federal lands that would provide legal access to public land parcels, BLM Albuquerque District Office spokesperson Jamie Garcia said in an emailed statement to the Journal. Access can also be increased by acquiring non-federal lands or easements through land exchanges, donations, or purchases.

New Mexico has instituted an Open Gate program to boost access to state lands. Private landowners provide right-of-way access through their properties for hunters and anglers as part of the program.

Recent efforts to increase access to public lands are mandated by the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act, a package of more than 100 bills President Donald Trump signed into law last March. The Dingell Act designated several new wilderness areas on federal land in New Mexico.

As part of the Dingell Act, BLM New Mexico is also adding public outreach improvements in the form of signage, education, updates to area maps and brochures, and providing additional park rangers and recreation specialists, where possible, Garcia said.

The BLM public nomination period will close on Feb. 29, and the Fish and Wildlife and Forest Service comment periods will close on March 11. The National Parks Service comment period closed in early January. Each agency will publish a priority list by mid-March.

Submissions must include the lands location, potential for recreational use and the limits to public access. BLM submissions can be made online by visiting eplanning.blm.gov and searching for the Public Land Access Project. Fish and Wildlife is accepting email submissions at PriorityList@fws.gov. Nominations for Forest Service lands can be emailed to SM.FS.nominations@usda.gov.

Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal.
YEREVAN.  Armenias third President Serzh Sargsyan arrived in court. But before entering the court, he thanked his supporters.

"I am grateful that you came to support me and, to a large extent, you came to defend justice," he said, in particular. There is hope that there are still judges in Armenia for whom justice is above everything; just as for me, for you, for the majority of the Armenian people."

Sargsyan also noted that the independence of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) is above everything, and he asked his supporters to return home, to engage in their daily work, but not forgetting about Armenia's security.

"I have repeatedly stated, from the highest tribunes of the world, and now I repeat that Nagorno-Karabakh will never be part of Azerbaijan; this has been the overriding goal of my life, and it will accompany me to the end and everywhere."

As reported earlier, the first court hearing on the criminal case against Serzh Sargsyan, former Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan, owner of Flash company Barsegh Beglaryan, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture Samvel Galstyan, and former head of the Ministry's Department of Crop Production Gevorg Harutyunyan has kicked off today.

They are charged under the Criminal Code article on organizing, inciting and assisting large-scale appropriation or squander, whereas former Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyanunder the article on large-scale appropriation or squander.

During the investigation of the criminal case being investigated at the Special Investigation Service of Armenia, it was found out that with the organization of third president Serzh Sargsyan, the impelling of the owner of Flesh company Barsegh Beglaryan, with the assistance of former deputy minister of agriculture Samvel Galstyan and head of the Agriculture Ministrys Department of Crop Production Gevorg Harutyunyan, former Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan misusedfrom January 25 to February 7, 2013the government reserve fund for state support the subsidy of 489,160,310 drams allocated for the 15,391,765 liters of diesel fuel that was sold during the implementation of assistance programs.

Serzh Sargsyan does not accept the charge against him. His lawyer Amram Makinyan argues that the charge is concocted. According to press reports, Sergo Karapetyan's testimony is on the bases of this accusation. He and Serzh Sargsyan have been confronted.
KYODO NEWS - Feb 25, 2020 - 11:25 | All, World, Coronavirus

The United States and South Korea are considering scaling back joint military exercises planned for the spring over the outbreak of a new coronavirus, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Monday.

Esper, speaking at a joint press conference with his South Korean counterpart Jeong Kyeong Doo after their talks at the Pentagon, also said that South Korea should shoulder more of the costs of hosting the U.S. military.

(Defense Secretary Mark Esper, left, and South Korean National Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo hold a joint press conference following their meeting at Pentagon in Arlington Virginia, United States on Feb. 24, 2020.)[Anadolu Agency/Getty/Kyodo]

South Korea has been hit by a surge in virus infection cases in recent days. More than a dozen members of the South Korean military have also been infected.

The joint exercises, held every spring with North Korea in mind, have been criticized by the North. In late January, the North warned the planned exercises could bring the Korean Peninsula to a "grave confrontational stage."

Last spring's exercises were scaled back as the United States continued diplomatic engagement with North Korea.

North Korea has long bristled at U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises, calling them a rehearsal for invasion.

On Monday at their talks, Esper and Jeong also reaffirmed plans to continue cooperation among the United States, South Korea and Japan on a range of issues, including intelligence-sharing and policy coordination.

Regarding the costs of hosting U.S. forces on South Korean soil, the U.S. government under President Donald Trump has pressed South Korea to shoulder a much greater share of the costs from 2020 on, but South Korea is reluctant to accept the demands.

The negotiations between the two countries have carried into this year, while leaving them without a bilateral accord on how the force-stationing costs should be shared.

Related coverage:

South Korea sees virus cases surge to 833, 2 more deaths

South Korea raises virus alert level to highest amid surge in cases
A man found a hidden GPS tracking device on his car. He removed it, and the police who put it there were so mad they arrested him for theft of government property. But a judge in Indiana found the man not guilty, reports Ars Technica:

But at trial, [Derek] Heuring's lawyers argued that the warrant to search the home and barn had been illegal. An application for a search warrant must provide probable cause to believe a crime was committed. But removing a small, unmarked object from your personal vehicle is no crime at all, Heuring's lawyers argued. Heuring had no way of knowing what the device was or who it belonged toand certainly no obligation to leave the device on his vehicle.

An Indiana appeals court ruled against Heuring last year. But Indiana's Supreme Court seemed more sympathetic to Heuring's case during oral arguments last November.
When Leroy Enck enlisted in the Marines at age 18, he had the misfortune to begin training on Sept. 11, 2001. He was among the first ground forces to push into Baghdad.

Enck, now 37, was deployed three times and witnessed horrors that a Marine might expect, and others he could never have imagined, such as a starving puppy feasting on a dead soldier. Several months after he returned home, Encks neighbors got a puppy. And Im seeing this person with his face eaten off, the South Philly resident recalled.

When his unit reached Fallujah, Iraq, Encks commander directed Enck and his fellow Marines to stand on rooftops to announce their presence, even though they were surrounded by enemy snipers. Its a miracle more people didnt get killed, said Enck, whose profound sense of helplessness haunted him long after he got home.

He suffered from PTSD and substance use disorder. Last year, Enck entered eight months of inpatient treatment at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center, which offered him some relief and coping tools. But it was the moral injury group led by VA psychologist Peter Yeomans and VA chaplain Chris Antal that steered Enck onto a path to healing.

Moral injury refers to the impact of feeling either betrayed when trying to uphold or expecting certain moral values to be in place, Yeomans explained. Another source of moral injury comes from violating your own values or seeing others do that.

And importantly, its not a clinical diagnosis, he said, explaining that its not something thats wrong with the soldier. Rather, its about the burden of having to shoulder far too much, and suffering the results physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

The concept of moral injury  first developed by former VA psychiatrist Jonathan Shay, is about the unfair distribution of appropriate moral pain.

The veterans who are morally serious and morally sensitive are holding something that often the society wants to ignore, avoid, and that exacerbates the pain of the veteran community, Antal said.

In the group, Antal said, veterans can speak honestly and feel some sense of assurance that they wont be judged, that they will be heard, and that the community will accept their fair share of responsibility for sending these people into harms way, for training them to do the difficult work of killing.

Yeomans and Antal run the 12-week program for about seven veterans at a time. At a community healing ceremony in the 10th week, veterans testify about their experiences at war before willing members of the public, gathered in the VAs chapel. Community members are drawn to the ceremonies through word-of-mouth from past attendees, pastors bringing congregants, clinical professionals observing Yeomans and Antal, along with family members and friends of the veterans.

After the veterans speak about what moral injury means to them and tell their stories, the community makes a circle around the veterans, laying hands on their backs as a way of showing support. A water cleansing ritual and the lighting of candles to signify hope are also part of the ceremony. Then veterans meet twice more in their 90-minute group to process how the ceremony affected them.

During his testimony at the ceremony in December, Herbert Campbell, 72, who served as an infantryman in the Army, said he could remember only 18 months of the 28 months he fought in Vietnam. The rest of it he blocked out. But he does recall plenty of horrors, as well as a prayer he said while serving.

I asked God not to be part of my life because I enjoyed the fighting and the killing, said Campbell, of West Philly, who suffers from PTSD and depression.

That was his moral injury, he told the audience. What I did not know was that there was a life I would have to lead after Vietnam and that my actions would haunt me for the rest of my life.

When the group met the week after the ceremony, Campbell seemed less depressed, Antal said.

Veterans often use the word deliverance to describe how they feel in the weeks after the ceremony, a deliverance from the shame that had isolated them, Antal said. Yeomans added that unburdening is a common word he hears.

People are brighter, happier, Yeomans said. Theyre looser. Theres a sense of a weight being lifted  and we always hear about openings in relationships with their family members.

James Dixon, who served in 1967 and 1968 as an infantryman in Vietnam, said he was able to speak about memories at the December ceremony that he had never before told his wife, who was in the audience.

Dixon was 23 when he was drafted, newly married, and a devout Christian.

While in Vietnam, I asked a chaplain, How do I deal with morals in combat? recalled Dixon, of Columbus, N.J. His answer was, There are no morals in combat. I did not fully believe his answer because I knew I still had my own personal morals.

Dixon witnessed and heard secondhand about atrocities that still haunt him today. He saw pictures other soldiers had taken of the corpses they had mutilated and heard about enemy combatants being shoved alive out of flying helicopters.

In combat, youre often wracked with revenge and rage, often believing you are justified to act the way you have to, to take orders and things that I know I would never have done on my own, Dixon testified at the ceremony. The public has to understand I was sent to war by military leaders, politicians, and even you, the voting citizens.  I served our country fighting for freedom and now deal with combat experiences for the rest of my life.

Back then, fellow soldiers warned him that he would be killed if he spoke up. Yet today, what still tortures him is that he didnt do anything to stop the monstrous behavior he witnessed.

Thats where the guilt comes in, he said.

The moral injury group let me express some things, but that doesnt mean its over, Dixon said. Even though my family, friends, religious leaders, and definitely God have forgiven me, I havent yet forgiven myself.

Enck recalled a memorable moment during his community healing ceremony before Dixons. When community members came up on stage and circled the veterans, it was, he said, the first time I let people behind [me] like that since he entered the service.

Enck, who is part of an alumni gathering called the Moral Injury Leadership group, which meets regularly for support, said he felt an unburdening at the healing ceremony.

The veteran community, for all our positive attributes, were our own echo chamber of false narratives, that civilians cant relate to us, Enck said. But he found it both powerful and healing to have a group of civilians there saying, We want to be better. Show us how. Teach us. Share your story with us.
Roger Stone, longtime political ally of US President Donald Trump, flashes a trademark Nixon victory gesture as he departs following a status conference in the criminal case against him brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller at US District Court in Washington, US, February 1, 2019.

Jim Bourg/Reuters

Despite being told by the attorney general not to do so, President Trump attacked a juror Tuesday in the case of his former adviser Roger Stone.

"There has rarely been a juror so tainted as the forewoman in the Roger Stone case," the president tweeted. "Look at her background. She never revealed her hatred of "Trump" and Stone. She was totally biased, as is the judge."

After agreeing in-part with Stone's lawyers' request to open up the courtroom for a hearing, Judge Amy Berman Jackson put restrictions in place because of intense efforts to reveal the identities of jurors.

"The risk of harassment and intimidation of any of jurors who may testify in the hearing later today is extremely high," the judge said. "Individuals that may be angry about Mr. Stone's conviction may choose to take it out on them personally."

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Despite being warned by his own attorney general not to do so, President Donald Trump once again weiged in on Twitter to air grievances over ongoing legal proceedings.

This time, Trump called out a juror in the case against his former adviser, Roger Stone.

Stone was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison last week. Shortly afterwards, Trump intimated that he may pardon him.

In his tweet, Trump amplified allegations that have been featured on Fox News and other conservative media outlets recently surrounding whether the lead juror in the case harbored anti-Trump sentiments on social media and subsequently witheld them from Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who presides over the proceedings and selected the jury.

"There has rarely been a juror so tainted as the forewoman in the Roger Stone case," Trump tweeted. "Look at her background. She never revealed her hatred of "Trump" and Stone. She was totally biased, as is the judge.

Story continues

"Roger wasn't even working on my campaign," he continued. "Miscarriage of justice. Sad to watch!"

Efforts to reveal the identities of jurors have gotten so bad that the judge had to put in place restrictions on jury access when agreeing to a hearing on potential juror misconduct after a request from Stone's lawyers, according to the New York Times.

"The risk of harassment and intimidation of any of jurors who may testify in the hearing later today is extremely high," she said, according to The Times. "Individuals that may be angry about Mr. Stone's conviction may choose to take it out on them personally."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The disease is not spreading anymore; the overall number of the infected in this country made 11 people, including a child

Open source

French doctors have cured all patients who got infected with COVID-19, the Chinese coronavirus. Olivier Veran, the country's Healthcare Minister said this, as quoted by BFMTV.

"There are no cases of infection with the virus on the territory of the country, and the disease is not spreading anymore", he claimed.

According to Verand, the last patient who was hospitalized in Lyon has been cured.

The overall number of the infected in France made 11 people; that included a child, too.

According to Ukraine's Healthcare Ministry, as of February 25, 80,150 medically confirmed cases of COVID-19 were observed worldwide. 2,699 of these appeared to be lethal. 27,695 people across the globe have been cured. Not a single case was observed in Ukraine.

A man with fever, who previously had been in contact with a Chinese in Hungary, was hospitalized in Zakarpattia region. The patient was working for a Chinese citizen from Hubei Province and contacted him 21 days ago. He went to the doctors in Berehove where they called an anti-epidemic commission. The authority made the decision to commit the man to a regional infectious hospital using special protective equipment.
By Online Desk

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that the markets will fall drastically if he doesn't win the upcoming presidential elections scheduled in November this year.

We are going to win again because if you look at what we have done, you will realise it. That is why you are happy in the United States, Trump said addressing the India Inc at the Embassy in Delhi.

He also invited India Inc to invest "billions" of dollars in the US to reap the benefit of tax and regulation cuts that his administrations has implemented.

On Tuesday, the second and final day of his visit, Trump interacted with top honchos of India Inc including RIL's Mukesh Ambani, Aditya Birla Group's Kumar Mangalam Birla and Tata Group's N. Chandrasekaran amongst others at the business round table event organised at the US Embassy here.

Inviting India Inc to invest in the US economy to create jobs, he talked about an upcoming tax cut for the American middle class and how that unemployment in the US was at a record low.

The President said that the US economy was performing very well and that the consumers there have more disposable incomes due to growing numbers of jobs.

Thanking Indian industry for creating jobs in the US, he said that governments can only aid in employment generation, but its is the private industry which actually creates jobs.

During the event, Trump also said the coronavirus epidemic will soon be brought under control as China has been working very hard.

Trump said the US plans to spend about USD 2.5 billion in fighting the deadly coronavirus.

"China is working very very hard, I have spoken to President Xi they are working very hard.

They had a rough patch and right now it seems they are getting it under control, they are getting it more and more under control so I think it is a problem that is going to go away," Trump said.

Asserting that the situation in the US is under control, Trump said the US also does business with other nations and wants other countries to be "happy healthy and well".

"Let us see how it works out but I think it is going to work out fine. I hope so. We are working very hard, we are spending a tremendous amount of money also. About USD 2.5 billion on getting everything ready just in case something should happen and also helping other nations who are unequipped to do it," Trump added.

The high profile CEO roundtable with Trump included captains of the Indian industry such as Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran and Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla.

China reported the outbreak of novel coronavirus on December 31, 2019.

On Monday, Chinese officials said the death toll has climbed to 2,592, while the total number of confirmed cases increased to over 77,000.

(With IANS and PTI inputs)
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Unprecedented security is in place at Delhi's ITC Maurya hotel where US President Donald Trump and his family are lodged.

According to sources five-layer security is in place at the hotel. First two layers are manned by personnel of American security agency and FBI while the rest three layers are manned by Indian security forces.

Delhi Police's security wing personnel will form the inner cordon, taking care of security around the hotel's lobby, parking, lawn and pool areas. NSG, SPG commandos and Delhi Police personnel have sanitized every floor of the hotel to ensure complete security.

A senior police official in the security of Trumps, said that the hotel is out of bounds for others, even the hotel staff are not allowed to go near the presidential suit where Trumps are staying.

This is the first time the entire hotel has been evacuated for the American president as all the 438 rooms at the hotel have been booked for the Americans.

The primary responsibility of the security of the US President lies with American Secret Service, which has deployed over a thousand personnel equipped with all the latest technology.

All roads leading to ITC Maurya have been fortified with snipers, elite SWAT commandos and sharp shooters on high-rise buildings. Traffic in the area has also been diverted.

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.

Mobile phone jammer system will be automatically activated along the route through which Trump and his convoy will pass, an official said.

US President has an action packed day in Delhi on Tuesday - a visit to Rajghat and then to Hyderabad House for bilateral talks, and also the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
"We pride ourselves on becoming a low-cost airport and our approach is proving to be attractive to our airline partners," said Mark Thorpe, chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA). "Ontario has capacity to grow which is advantageous to carriers adding new aircraft and our hallmark no-hassle experience continues to appeal to our traveling customers."

"We're proud to lead the unprecedented growth in air service from Ontario and further expand our network to nine routes from ONT with new nonstop flights to Seattle," said Daniel Shurz, senior vice president of commercial for Frontier Airlines. "Ontario International Airport's convenience paired with Frontier's low fares and friendly service have proven to be a combination for success and we look forward to enhancing our valued partnership."

In addition to Seattle, Frontier previously announced plans for new nonstop service to Las Vegas, Newark and Miami beginning in April, as well as San Salvador in May and Guatemala City in June.

Frontier currently operates from Terminal 2 at ONT with flights to Denver, Orlando, Austin and San Antonio.

Ontario has been the fastest-growing airport in the U.S. for the past two years, according to the trade journal Global Traveler. Total passenger volume increased more than 9% in 2019 and 12.4% in 2018.

About Ontario International Airport

Ontario International Airport (ONT) is the fastest growing airport in the United States, according to Global Traveler, a leading publication for frequent fliers. Located in the Inland Empire, ONT is approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport with nonstop commercial jet service to 26 major airports in the U.S., Mexico and Taiwan, and connecting service to many domestic and international destinations. There is an average of 72 daily departures offered by nine air carriers. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com. Follow @flyONT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

About the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA)

The OIAA was formed in August 2012 by a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino to provide overall direction for the management, operations, development and marketing of ONT for the benefit of the Southern California economy and the residents of the airport's four-county catchment area. OIAA Commissioners are Ontario City Council Member Alan D. Wapner (President), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Vice President), Ontario City Council Member Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Commissioner) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner).

About Frontier Airlines

Airlines is committed to delivering 'Low Fares Done Right' to over 100 cities in the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic and Mexico on 400 daily flights. Headquartered in Denver, Frontier Airlines is the proud recipient of the Federal Aviation Administration's 2018 Diamond Award for maintenance excellence and was named the industry's most fuel-efficient airline by The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) as a result of superior technology and operational efficiencies.

OIAA Media Contact:

Steve Lambert, (909) 841-7527 [email protected]

Frontier Airlines Media Contact:

(720) 374-4560 [email protected]

SOURCE Ontario International Airport

Related Links

www.flyontario.com


When the new revival of the Leonard Bernstein-Stephen Sondheim classic West Side Story opened on Broadway last Thursday night, it was met by scores of protesters demanding that Amar Ramasar, who plays Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks street gang, be fired on grounds of sexual misconduct.

Ramasar has become the target of a small but vocal group of #MeToo supporters over charges that were filed in a lawsuit against the New York City Ballet and three of its dancers, including Ramasar, in 2018. A former student at the School of American Ballet, Alexandra Waterbury, accused her ex-boyfriend (Chase Finlay) and Ramasar of sharing explicit photos of her. The actual charge against Ramasar was that he shared the photo of another dancer at that time. That dancer, not then identified, is Alexa Maxwell, who has in recent weeks strenuously defended Ramasar, with whom she has lived for nearly five years.

The New York City Ballet at first fired Ramasar and the others accused, before an arbitrator reversed that action and ruled that counseling was sufficient punishment. Ramasar, 38, remains a member of the ballet company. He has also previously appeared on Broadway, most recently in a revival of Rodgers and Hammersteins classic Carousel.

The decision of the arbitrator met with opposition from Ms. Waterbury and her supporters. For months they have conducted a campaign on social media, and have also circulated an online petition. There have been protests at recent previews as well as the opening night last week, with signs calling Ramasar a sexual predator.

These actions show the reactionary logic of the #MeToo movement. There is also growing and healthy opposition, however, to the neo-Victorian sexual witch-hunting and attempted blacklisting of men who, in many cases, are guilty of little but what in this case Ramasars girlfriend simply calls a misstep in judgment, for which he has long since apologized and which she has long since forgiven.

Alexa Maxwells statement, issued on the day of the shows premiere and denouncing the protest against her boyfriend, deserves to be quoted at some length. I am not a victim in this and no longer wish for my truth to be misrepresented, she wrote. [The] only photograph that was shared by Amar was of me, his girlfriend of nearly five years. I knew about the photos of me when they were taken, and while sharing it privately with a close friend was a misstep in judgment, Amar immediately told me when he sent them to Chase and his sincerest regrets have led us to today, where we reside together and are building a loving and happy relationship. The incident was a personal matter between me and Amar, and I am okay with what happened.

With a demonstration planned for this evening [February 20] in front of the Broadway Theater to protest Amars role in the current production of West Side Story, I want to share my story so that the public is clear, Maxwell added. On social media, Alexandra and other people out there have recklessly tossed around phrases like rapist, sexual predator, and pedophile when referring to Amar. Amar never raped anyoneand Alexandra in her lawsuit does not allege that he did. Amar is not a sexual predatorand Alexandra in her lawsuit does not allege that he is. And Amar is no pedophileand Alexandra in her lawsuit does not allege anything like that. And while Alexandra in her lawsuit makes allegations about group texts in which men spoke of women in horrible terms, Amar was not a participant in those group texts, and Alexandra does not allege that he was.

Earlier, Maxwell had also said that Waterbury, in an hour-long phone call at the time of the original complaint, tried to convince her to join the lawsuit by saying that the New York City Ballet is worth half a billion dollars, and that she could win a lot and could have an entirely new life. Waterburys attorney has denied this account.

The response thus far by management and the West Side Story company as a whole to the campaign to fire and essentially blacklist Ramasar is also significant. The management of West Side Story stands, as it always has stood, with Amar Ramasar, the managements press statement said.

While we support the right of assembly enjoyed by the protestors, the alleged incident took place in a different workplacethe New York City Balletwhich has no affiliation of any kind with West Side Story, and the dispute in question has been both fully adjudicated and definitively concluded according to the specific rules of that workplace, as mandated by the union that represents the parties involved in that incident. Mr. Ramasar is a principal dancer in good standing at the New York City Ballet. He is also a member in good standing of both AGMA (representing the company of NYCB) and Actors Equity Association (representing the company of West Side Story).

Even more categorically, the statement continued: There is zero consideration being given to his potentially being terminated from this workplace, as there has been no transgression of any kind, ever, in this workplace. The West Side Story Company does not as a practice terminate employees without cause. There is no cause here. The West Side Story Companys relationship to Mr. Ramasar is completely private to that company and exists solely between Mr. Ramasar and his fellow company members. He is a valued colleague who was hired to play a principal role in this production, which he is doing brilliantly, and which he will continue to do for the entire unabated length of his agreement.
STUTTGART, Germany, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A new exchange-traded product (ETPs) that tracks the inverse value of Bitcoin BTC is now available for trading on the Boerse Stuttgart in Euro. Boerse Stuttgart is Germany's second-largest stock exchange, reporting trading volumes of EUR 68.5 billion in 2019.

The ETP's value represents the inverse performance of the underlying asset Bitcoin BTC; when the price of Bitcoin goes down, the ETP goes up correspondingly, minus a daily management fee. The product is fully hedged with the corresponding underlying asset 1:1. The launch of the first inverse or 21Shares Short Bitcoin ETP is a natural extension to the existing unleveraged range of crypto ETPs and offers a greater choice to investors by which they may better manage the increased volatility and changing dynamics of the cryptocurrency markets.

"This is a first in the bitcoin industry to list a financial instrument wrapped as an ETP with an ISIN/WKN and trading in EUR. Investors in Germany have demonstrated strong support for prior crypto offerings. As an issuer of crypto products, it is important for us to listen, though with caution, to the requests of our investors and respond in kind by supporting the investor community who have a strong appetite in cryptocurrencies," explains Hany Rashwan, CEO of 21Shares.

"Today's announcement further stated that 21Shares's PD3 Prospectus is approved by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (SFSA) for the existing ETPs governed under Swiss law. This is an important milestone for traditional investors and the crypto community alike as SBTC is effectively available to both retail and institutional clients in Germany and the rest of Europe," comments Laurent Kssis, Managing Director of 21Shares.

Fully collateralized by underlyings, custodied in segregated accounts with an independent custodian and listed on a regulated Swiss stock exchange, these institutional-grade trackers are ideal product structures for both retail and institutional investors to get exposure to these nascent digital asset classes. With the introduction of the SBTC tracker, investors can immediately and securely capitalize on falling adverse price movements of Bitcoin using a tracker.

21Shares represent the new name of the family of Exchange Traded Products issued by 21Shares AG, formerly named Amun AG. The entire suite of existing ETPs will be migrated over the new 21Shares brand in the early part of the second quarter 2020.

Disclaimer: https://www.amun.com/documents/disclaimers.pdf

Contact:

Press@amun.com

+4144 260 8660
What defines New York City? Is it the land itself, or the architecture that has grown increasingly homogenized over the last few decades? Most people would say its the vast variety of people who call it home  all 8.4 million of them spread across the five boroughs. Now, a small selection of those residents have been featured in a monumental new mural by artist JR, whos best known for his black and white photographic works.

JR's new

More than 1,000 New Yorkers came together to be photographed by the French artist for The Chronicles of New York City, a collaboration with architecture firm LOT-EK, who designed the stack of shipping containers hosting the mural in Williamsburgs Domino Park. The mural is a compilation of images collaged together into an urban scene and reproduced on a tremendous scale. Overlooking the East River, it draws people into the newly completed park to engage with it via a smartphone app.

The Brooklyn Museums description of the artwork reads: This soaring multimedia installation traces JRs career from his early documentation of graffiti artists as a teenager in Paris to his large-scale architectural interventions in cities worldwide to his more recent digitally collaged murals that create collective portraits of diverse publics. The centerpiece of the exhibition is The Chronicles of New York City, a new epic mural of more than 1,000 New Yorkers that is accompanied by audio recordings of each persons story.

The Brooklyn Museum's indoor exhibit for JR's

The Brooklyn Museum's indoor exhibit for JR's

All of the projects on view honor the voices of everyday people and demonstrate JRs ongoing commitment to community, collaboration, and civic discourse. Working at the intersections of photography, social engagement, and street art, JR collaborates with communities by taking individual portraits, reproducing them at a monumental scale, and wheat pasting them  sometimes illegally  in nearby public spaces.

Story continues

The Chronicles of New York City is the final work crowning the exhibition JR: Chronicles, the first major North American exhibition the artists works, which officially opened in October 2019. Set at the Brooklyn Museum, the show features murals, photographs, videos, films, dioramas, and archival materials spanning JRs entire two-decade career.

Close-up of street artist JR's new

Close-up of street artist JR's new

You can also view close-ups of the Williamsburg mural itself, getting a better look at both the individuals featured in it and how the imagery was assembled. Some of the portraits are tucked into windows, or peeking out from the basement level of the brick building. Other subjects are dancing, performing stunts, or playing music. And its loads of fun to pick out humorous little details, like a group of people using extra-long straws to drink from soda bottles on a lower floor.

JR: Chronicles will be on view until May 3rd, 2020. Other murals can be seen at the Kings Theater in Flatbush and the Brooklyn Academy of Global Finance in Bedford-Stuyvesant, with even more set to appear through the run of the exhibition.

Faraway view of JR's massive

Check out more of JRs work, including a giant optical illusion mural outside the Louvre Museum in Paris and a poignant US-Mexico border art installation featuring a Latino child peering over the wall. The latter was created as a response to President Trumps attacks on DACA (the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program), which protects people who were brought illegally to the United States as minors from deportation.
In 2015 and 2016, he sued the government multiple times while working at Cause of Action Institute, a tax-exempt group affiliated with the conservative Koch network and that seeks to curb the authority of federal agencies, according to legal and tax filings. There are lots of circumstances today in America where agencies of the federal government exercise their discretion in ways that are terrible for personal liberty, for economic freedoms, he said in a radio interview at the time.
MIAMI  Like many young voters in Florida, Jared Machado is concerned about rising sea levels, college tuition and landing a job when he graduates from the University of Florida in a few months. But the political science and history major cant ignore how his father and grandparents came to the United States: as refugees fleeing communist Cuba.

As he considers his options for president in Floridas March 17 primary, Machado was disappointed and disturbed when U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, seemed to praise former Cuba dictator Fidel Castro in a recent interview.

He doesnt understand the traumatizing experience endured by the Cuban people, said Machado, 22, whose grandparents left the island more than a half century ago, carrying his father, then just a few months old.

Making inroads into Latino communities has been a priority among Democrats and Republicans alike  and Sanders big win in the Nevada caucuses Saturday demonstrated his progress toward that goal. But the 78-year-old senators remarks, aired Sunday as the candidate was still celebrating, may also show where Sanders outreach hits a speed bump.

Sanders socialist identification and his willingness to praise leftist regimes have given his Democratic opponents ammunition to question his electability in a state with a large Cuban American population that remains fiercely skeptical of leftist governments.

In Florida, where Hispanics account for nearly one in every five voters, that skepticism could present a major hurdle for Sanders in the states primary, and for Democrats hoping to win Floridas 29 electoral votes in November.

Candidates need to understand our immigrant communities shared stories, as well as provide solutions to issues that matter to all Floridians, Florida Democratic Party Chair Terrie Rizzo said Monday.

During an interview aired Sunday on the CBS news program 60 Minutes, Sanders said he opposes Cubas authoritarian regime but its unfair to simply say everything is bad.

He went on to say: You know, when Castro came in office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing, even if Fidel Castro did it?

A Sanders spokesman on Monday downplayed the controversy.

Senator 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, said the spokesman, Mike Casca.

His rivals seized on the unforced error to deepen questions about his ability win support in November among independents and Hispanic voters in Florida, particularly those whose families escaped repressive regimes.

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, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg tweeted Monday afternoon. But sure, Bernie, lets talk about his literacy program.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, arguably the most prominent Cuban American in the country, also railed against his Senate colleague from Vermont.

While democratic socialism might sound benign, Rubio said in a video that he tweeted, at the core its Marxism and this fake offer of security, free healthcare and education.

The state Democratic party has hired scores of Spanish-speaking staffers to fan out into Hispanic communities in preparation for November. Republicans widely view Florida as a must-win state for President Donald Trump and Democrats are determined to force him into an expensive fight to defend it.

Nationally, two-thirds of Hispanic voters casting ballots in 2018 supported Democratic candidates for the U.S. House, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of voters. In Florida, only 53% favored Democratic House candidates.

And Cuban Americans in Florida were more likely to support Republicans than other Hispanic voters, 56% to 42%.

According to the AP survey, about a third of Cuban American midterm voters identified as Democrats.

However, Democrats hardly have a lock on that vote in battleground Florida, particularly among the nearly 2 million Floridians of Cuban, Venezuelan and Nicaraguan origin.

In 2018, Republican Ron DeSantis narrowly won Floridas governors mansion. While more than two-fifths of Florida Latinos voters favored DeSantis overall, a clear majority of Cuban American voters  57%  cast their support for the Republican.

Critics say Sanders needs to more strongly disavow Cuba and other authoritarian regimes.

Its not just about Cuban American voters, its Hispanic voters as well, many of whom would never consider voting for an avowed socialist , said Fernand Amandi, a Cuban American pollster based in Miami.

Geraldo Cadava, a professor of history and Latino studies at Northwestern University, says Sanders must address his stance on left-wing governments, such as when he traveled to Nicaragua to celebrate the sixth anniversary of the Sandinista revolution with Daniel Ortega.

He is in a bit of a difficult spot trying to figure out how to answer these questions, said Cadava, who wrote a book about how the Republican party has rallied Hispanics.

For the past decade, Cadava says, Democrats have courted the younger generation of Cuban-Americans, seeing that more new voters in the Miami area register as independent.

Machado, the University of Florida student, is among them.

Until the Florida primaries arrive, he said, he remains undecided  even if hes currently leaning toward supporting former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg.

Machado comes from a politically split household, the product of a Puerto Rican mother and Cuban father.

My parents definitely vote, but they split between Democrat and Republican,' he said. Thats how you get a centrist child like me.



Calvan reported from Tallahassee, Florida. Associated Press reporters Hannah Fingerhut in Washington and Will Weissert contributed to this report.
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion curated for you at this hour. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

SN Shrivastava appointed special Commissioner of Police law and order in Delhi

With Delhi Police brass failing to control the riots in North East Delhi, the government immediately repatriated 1985 batch IPS officer  S N Shrivastava from the CRPF back to Delhi Police and appointed him as special commissioner of police  law and order. Read more

11 dead in northeast Delhi violence, says GTB hospital

Apart from 11 deaths including that of a Delhi Police Head Constable, over 150 have been injured in the North-East Delhi violence over a period of two days after clashes broke out between pro and anti CAA protestors.Read more

PM Modi a tough man, will take care: Donald Trump on Pak-backed terrorism

After one-on-one talks, Trump, in a joint statement with PM Modi, had said that the two leaders affirmed their commitment to protecting our citizens from radical Islamic terrorism.Read more

Amid violence, Delhi Police appeals to citizens to cooperate in maintaining peace and harmony

The appeal by the city police came as the death toll in the incidents of violence that took place in various areas of northeast Delhi over the past two days rose to ten.The dead include one Delhi Police Head Constable. Read more

Kashmir a big problem between India and Pakistan, says US president Donald Trump

Trump who had earlier offered to mediate between India and Pakistan, said Kashmir is a big problem but refrained from another offer of mediation. Read more

Ivanka Trump stuns in a traditional white Anita Dongre sherwani

Donald Trumps daughter, Ivankas outfit that really won us over. Ivanka was spotted in a white sherwani made of handwoven silk by Indias very own Anita Dongre. Read more

Battle of the 5G smartphones: iQOO 3 5G vs Realme X50 Pro

India is nowhere close to getting 5G connectivity but that is not hindering smartphone companies from racing towards trying to become the first to launch 5G devices in the country. We have two devices launched back-to-back. Who wins the specs face-off? Read more

Mentalhood trailer: Karisma Kapoors web series debut will give you Big Little Lies deja vu. Watch

Mentalhood trailer: Karisma Kapoor returning to acting with Zee5s new show about moms and their kids. Read more

All 10 wickets in 4.5 overs including a hat-trick - Chandigarhs Kashvee Gautam creates history

Opening the bowling, right-arm seamer Kashvee Gautam, picked up 10 wickets for just 12 runs in her 4.5 overs. Her superlative effort also included a hat-trick in the third over of the Arunachal Pradesh innings. Read more
WILMINGTON, Del.  When Rachel Jimenez prayed that she would meet her husband, she didn't expect that heavenly request to be granted at a poker game.

But that's where she first locked eyes with Gus Jimenez, and where they both instantly felt the stuff of Disney fairy tales.

She talked to him first, even though he wasn't her type.

Rachel, 32, had asked God to find her the kind of man who could redo her kitchen floor.

Gus, 46, owns his own construction company.

Gus and Rachel Jimenez married at Wilmington Hospital on Sunday. The wedding was planned in three days, since Gus has been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

The Wilmington, Delaware, couple soon became inseparable. Gus kept jokingly proposing to her, since they both knew they had found the one.

Earlier this month, after a year of being together, Gus proposed for real  this time in a hospital bed where he is being treated for a rare form of cancer.

On Sunday, Rachel and Gus married in the atrium of ChristianaCare's Wilmington Hospital, surrounded by family and friends. The wedding was planned in three days, through the kindness of strangers, after the couple learned that Gus' cancer was getting worse.

Decades apart: Father and son cared for by same NICU nurse in New Jersey

"We didn't dream of a wedding at a hospital, of course," Rachel said, "but it was such a fairy tale."

In August, Gus was having difficulty breathing. He eventually went to the hospital. Doctors first thought it could be pneumonia, but then discovered a tumor in his lungs. Weeks later, the diagnosis of NUT carcinoma came.

His cancer quickly spread to Gus' entire abdomen.

This aggressive cancer often appears in the middle of the body, typically the head, neck and lungs, according to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The cancer is so rare that it's not clear what the incidence rate is.

But the median survival time from diagnosis is about six to seven months, according to the institute.

So when the couple got the bad news last week, they decided it was the right time to get married. Gus' mother was visiting from Colombia, his native country, and Rachel's sister was also in town.

Story continues

And then a chain reaction of kindness ignited: Rachel's friend knew a manager at David's Bridal, who provided her a free dress (which she loved and which didn't need alterations). That manager then called his counterpart at Men's Warehouse, who offered to give Gus a free tuxedo rental.

The managers also had a relationship with a local florist who provided flowers. The couple's pastor was able to officiate the wedding, despite having three other services that day.

They found a photographer who donated his time. And nurses made cookies for the reception.

Several nurses also offered to officiate the wedding, Rachel said.

In a 15-minute ceremony, Rachel and Gus exchanged vows in the atrium of Wilmington Hospital. For those few minutes, Gus disconnected from the IV providing him his pain medication.

"I do," Gus said, looking at his bride. "I would be insanely crazy not to."

The couple danced to "Boat Song" for their first dance, which has the lyrics of "Oh, do you know we belong together? Do you know my heart is yours?"

Gus and Rachel Jimenez got married at Wilmington Hospital on Sunday. Gus is currently undergoing treatment for a rare form of cancer.

Rachel danced with her father, and Gus briefly danced with his mother.

In a way, the wedding had all the traditional components, except for the setting.

"Gus loves nontraditional," Rachel said, so it was perfect for them.

Now, the couple is focusing on getting Gus back to their Wilmington home, where he can receive palliative care. The couple has chosen to live in the moment, she said, and not fear for the future.

"We're married," Rachel said, "and we're here."

Follow reporter Meredith Newman on Twitter at @merenewman.

They're a 'scientific marvel': World's first in vitro cheetah cubs born at Ohio zoo

Rare, 'cryptic' rainbow snake: Spotted in a Florida forest for the first time since 1969

This article originally appeared on The News Journal: After rare cancer worsens, couple marries at ChristianaCare hospital
By Abdul Kerimkhanov

Iran and Kazakhstan have inked an agreement to jointly build an industrial, commercial complex in Kazakhstans Aktau Special Economic Zone.

The project to construct the mentioned complex worth 15 million euros is aimed to facilitate exporting Iranian goods to Kazakhstan and Central Asia and vise-versa, Kazakhstans Embassy in Iran has reported.

The complex will be located in a five hectare area on the Kazakh part of the Caspian Sea.

SEZ Sea Port Aktau and Qazvin Chamber of Commerce signed the agreement during a visit of a delegation of officials from SEZ Aktau lead by the board chairman of the Special Economic Zone Bekbol Orynbassarov to Irans Qazvin Province.

The visit of the officials of the Special Economic Zone Sea Port Aktau to Qazvin was organized with support and facilitation of the Kazakh Embassy in Tehran. Note that the visit was organized as a follow-up of a recent meeting of the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Iran Askhat Orazbay with officials of Qazvin Province on February 18.

As part of the visit, a meeting was held with the Deputy Governor of Qazvin Province on Economic issues Issa Qobadi and representatives of the local business.

Another meeting was held with the President of Qazvin Chamber of Commerce Mehdi Bakhshandeh and the members of the chamber as well as site visits to the leading companies of the province and Anzali Port were organized.

Diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Iran were established on January 29, 1992.

Kazakhstan supplies barley, wheat, rolled iron, meat, sunflower seeds and rapeseed to Iran while importing pistachios, dates, apples, plastics, tableware and meat processing equipment from Iran.

---

Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Linde India was down 5.88% at Rs 726 after the company announced its third quarter earnings after trading hours on Monday.

The stock has fallen 7.82% in two sessions from a recent closing high of Rs 787.65 recorded on 20 February 2020.

Linde India reported a standalone net profit of Rs 634.50 crore in Q3 December 2019 as compared to a net profit of Rs 15.42 crore in Q3 December 2018.

Net sales, however, declined 26.6% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 412.82 crore in Q3 December 2019. Profit before tax and exceptional items in the December quarter stood at Rs 34.89 crore, up by 64% from Rs 21.27 crore reported in the same period last year.

The company said that in connection with the global merger between Linde AG and Praxair Inc., the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has required divestiture of certain assets of Linde India, as a condition to approving the global merger. Accordingly, South Region Divestment Business were divested during the year on a "slump-sale" and "as is where is basis" and the total profit on such divestment was Rs 840.75 crore after adjusting for carrying value of the business of Rs 273.92 crore, consent fees for assignment of contract of Rs 250 crore and other related expenditure for sale of the business of Rs 15.32 crore, which has been shown as exceptional item.

It added that the divestment of "Belloxy Divestment Business" has not been completed as at 31 December 2019. The company has signed a term sheet with a buyer on 20 December 2019 and has obtained approvals from board of directors on 12 January 2020 and from shareholders on 20 February 2020. The company is in the process of obtaining approval from the CCI.

Linde India is the gases business, providing a one-stop solution to all businesses for gas supply and related equipment and services. It manufactures cryogenic and non-cryogenic vessels and also design and commission projects.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Algerian government will grant scholarships to 400 PhD students to be enrolled at the Irish University of Limerick (UL).

The program to cost up to 20 million over four years comes as the North African country embarks on a switch from French to English as the official language of teaching and learning in third level.

Algeria recently adopted English as a medium of education at its higher education system with the aim of increasing the visibility of research in its higher education institutions.

Per the agreement, the Algerian doctoral student will take one year of English intensive classes and will embark on three years of individual research to be crowned with a PhD.

After graduation, the students will return home to be positioned as lecturers in Algerian universities.

Our job now is to bring students, who have competed nationally in Algeria for these scholarships, over to us so that they can be trained on how to teach through the medium of English while also doing a PhD at the same time, said Dr Mairead Moriarty, assistant dean of arts, humanities and social sciences at UL

The program, according to Dr Mairead Moriarty, has the potential to provide a significant economic boost for both individuals and the Algerian economy.

A first batch of 117 students, mostly females, has already joined the international PhD program at UL.
Fitch Solutions has lowered its growth forecast for Vietnam to 6.3 percent this year due to the possible impacts of the coronavirus.

The company, a subsidiary of credit rating firm Fitch Group, said in a release on Wednesday the downward revision from an earlier forecast of 6.8 percent comes since the novel coronavirus epidemic could disrupt supply chains.

Vietnams manufacturing sector, which accounts for 16 percent of GDP, will come under heavy pressure as the result of the outbreak in China, a key source of raw materials and a major export market.

Small and medium-sized companies are likely to struggle in their search for alternative sources of feedstock at short notice, and underemployment of labor and work stoppages are likely, it said.

Services growth would also come under stress due to a major decline in tourism revenues as a result of Vietnams ban on flights and from China, its largest market, and a fall in tourist numbers from two other key markets, South Korea and Japan, it warned.

But it said growth is expected to rebound in the second half of the year when the virus is expected to be contained.

Trade could benefit from Vietnams ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) in the second half, which would eliminate tariffs on more than 90 percent of Vietnams exports to the bloc, the release said.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment had earlier forecast GDP growth could fall to a seven-year low of 5.96 percent this year from a decade-high 7.02 percent last year.
Factories that make the world's smartphones, toys and other goods are struggling to reopen after a virus outbreak idled China's economy.

But even with the ruling Communist Party promising help, companies and economists say it may be months before production is back to normal.

The problem is supply chains the thousands of companies that provide components, from auto parts to zippers to microchips. China's are famously nimble and resourceful, but they lack raw materials and workers after the most intensive anti-disease measures ever imposed closed factories, cut off most access to cities with more than 60 million people and imposed travel curbs.

In smartphones, an industry that relies on China to assemble almost all its handsets, some components suppliers say production is as low as 10% of normal levels, according to Nicole Peng of Canalys, a research firm.

The bad is that there will be further impact, and the impact is worse than a lot of people initially expected, said Peng.

Travel and retail businesses that need Chinese customers have suffered the most so far from the partial shutdown of the second largest economy.

But brands including Apple Inc. say it is starting to disrupt their supplies. Analysts warn the longer that disruption lasts, the more damage will spread to wider industries and other economies. Global brands have used low-cost Chinese labor to assemble goods for three decades. Now, they increasingly depend on China to supply auto, computer and other components. So disruptions can make this country a bottleneck, choking off their sales.

The most optimistic forecasts call for bringing the virus under control by March, allowing manufacturing to rebound. Gloomier outlooks would have the outbreak lasting through mid-May or later. Or, as the World Health Organization warned this week, authorities might fail to stop its global spread.

Automakers and other factories are reopening, but analysts say they won't restore normal production until at least mid-March.

If factory work does not spike in the coming weeks, a global parts shortage would likely emerge, Taimur Baig and Samuel Tse of DBS said in a report.

President Xi Jinping has put his personal authority behind reviving industry.

Beijing is promising tax cuts, though economists say financial help will have limited impact when anti-disease controls still in effect are still keeping workers away from factories and disrupting the movement of goods.

On Sunday, Xi said low-risk areas should change disease-control measures to fully restore production while high-risk areas focus on fighting the epidemic, according to the official Xinhua Agency.

Manufacturers face a shortage of workers after millions who visited their hometowns for the Lunar New Year holiday were stranded there by the suspension of plane, train and bus services.

Officials must unblock transportation channels, Xinhua cited Xi as saying.

The government of Yiwu, a southeastern city known for its thousands of suppliers of buttons, doorknobs and other components to export manufacturers, says it arranged planes and trains to help their employees get back to work.

China accounts for about one-quarter of global manufacturing when measured by the value added in its factories. But it is the final assembly point for more than 80% of the world's smartphones, more than half of TVs and a big share of other consumer goods.

Apple, which has most of its iPhones and other products assembled by contractors in China, rattled stock markets when it warned Feb. 17 that revenue would suffer due to supply disruptions. We would certainly expect to see more like that, said Simon Weston of AXA Investment Managers in Hong Kong.

Other global companies that need Chinese plastics, chemicals, steel and high-tech components also face reduced production, according to Kaho Yu of Verisk Maplecroft, a consulting firm. Yu said that is likely to last through the quarter ending in September.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai said last week half of 109 companies that responded to a survey reported their global operations already are affected. It said 78% reported they lacked sufficient staff to run production lines.

Some companies including Ralph Lauren Corp. already were moving out of China due to rising costs and U.S. tariff hikes in a fight over Beijing's technology ambitions and trade surplus. But many still depend on China for components or some stages of manufacturing.

Samsung is feeling the heat because it shifted smartphone assembly to Vietnam but has factories run by Chinese managers who returned home for the Lunar New Year and are blocked from returning to their jobs, Peng said.

Other companies including global automakers that rely increasingly on the Chinese market are restarting production but say the pace depends on whether they can get components.

China accounts for about one-quarter of global auto production and according to UBS provides 8% of global exports of auto components. Many use just in time manufacturing, delivering components when needed. Those factories have limited stockpiles to ride out disruptions.

Volkswagen, the country's biggest-selling auto brand, said Monday its challenges include slow national supply chain and logistics ramp-up. In China, factory production in export-oriented coastal provinces is back above 70% of normal levels, according to Cong Liang, the general secretary of the Cabinet's planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission.

Companies are working overtime, Cong said at a news conference. He insisted the epidemic's impact is short-term and generally controllable. Private sector forecasters are less upbeat. Economic activity is likely 45% back on track, said a Citigroup report.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Photo : ANTARA FOTO on Reuters) Coronavirus Update: COVID-19 Symptoms May Only Appear After 2 Weeks Quarantine Says Studies (Photo : PRESS SEC. OF EL SALVADOR GOVT on Reuters) Coronavirus Update: COVID-19 Symptoms May Only Appear After 2 Weeks Quarantine Says Studies (Photo : DR. PETER LO on Reuters) Coronavirus Update: COVID-19 Symptoms May Only Appear After 2 Weeks Quarantine Says Studies

Coronavirus quarantine should last until straight 30 days and not only 14 days or two weeks, says current studies. This was revealed when a man from Hubei province, China-- where the outbreak was first detected -- shown his Coronavirus symptoms after the day he was quarantined or for the last 14 days. What does it mean for people that have been quarantined and should we panic?

Study: Coronavirus symptoms may appear after 30 days not two weeks

The Novel Coronavirus or officially called as COVID-19 has already killed more than 2,000 confirmed victims of the disease. Over 70,000 people have already been diagnosed around the world that contained the viral respiratory illness.

One of the stringent health measures that the government has been doing to prevent its widespread is to quarantine all people that came from the infected countries. As advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, there must be a two to 14-day quarantine period for all people that might have the disease. After this, once the person did not experience any symptoms, the alleged Coronavirus victim should be able to get home and enter the country.

"It's widely accepted that there's a 14-day rule of thumb," Stephen Morse, an epidemiologist at Columbia University, told Business Insider. "That's how long you have to wait to go back to your daily life."

However, two health studies explained that there might be huge misinformation regarding the quarantine process. There are cases that Coronavirus symptoms may only appear right after the standard 14 quarantine days.

WTF! Officials say Coronavirus quarantine should be 30 days, not two weeks only

A 70-year-old man that came from Hubei Province, China, visited her sister that was confirmed to have the viral disease. After this, the man did the quarantine process, and after 14 days of no diagnosis, the man had a fever and experienced the symptoms. On Feb. 20, he was diagnosed and was tested positive with Coronavirus. It was estimated that the man only experienced the Novel symptoms after 26 days since he was quarantined.

Another study published on Friday in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) said that one of their patient's incubation period lasted for straight 19 days and not only two weeks.

Zhong Nanshan, who discovered the SARS virus, also published research on Feb. 6Feb. 6, saying that governments around the world should apply at least 24-day quarantine to all suspected Coronavirus victims as some people only experienced the said symptoms longer than expected.

Business Insider interviewed Lauren Ancel Meyers, a professor of integrative biology at the University of Texas at Austin; she said that "every day there are new estimates coming out for the incubation period."

CDC clarified that they are confident with a 14-day quarantine period

Though there are already confirmed cases of Coronavirus victims that were only identified right after the quarantine period, CDC said that people should not panic with this news and that incubation is the top priority in preventing it is widespread. Hence, they are careful about each of their steps. The agency clarified that 14 days is enough for all suspected victims.

"The incubation period is obviously really important for us as we look to make sure that we're releasing these people safely from quarantine," Nancy Messonnier, the director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said on Feb. 12Feb. 12. "We still think that for today, for now, 14 days is the right interval to use," she added.

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Prime Minister Hun Sen said Monday the government will help factories pay 60 percent of workers minimum wage for up to six months and offer exporters tax breaks in an effort to mitigate effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and revocation of EU trade privileges.

In a five-hour long speech, Hun Sen outlined measures to save the national economy, saying the government will ensure workers receive 60 percent of their minimum wage for up to six months, if factories were to request work suspensions. This would reduce the impact of raw material shortages due to COVID-19, he said, and the potential effects of the Everything But Arms (EBA) trade privileges partial withdrawal.

Additionally, factories do not have to pay their contributions to the National Social Security Fund and some factories would receive up to 12 months of tax breaks, though he did not mention which factories.

The government and garment manufacturers have maintained that work suspensions were only linked to raw material shortages as China deals with the COVID-19 outbreak, though Mondays announcements clearly reveal the EBA to be another concern for authorities.

Hun Sen said Cambodia would not give up its sovereignty in exchange for the EBA preferential trade scheme. Cambodia would not negotiate with the EU to ease or take back the partial suspension of the EBA privileges, he said.



We only have to pay tax, about $100 million, he said, referring to tariffs that will be applicable on the $1.1 billion of exports. Therefore, theres no reason to exchange sovereignty with that $100 million. Remember this point.

EU Commission decided to suspend the Everything But Arms (EBA) trade privileges earlier this month on all travel goods and sugar exports, but imposed only a partial suspension on garment and footwear products.

The suspension would affect 20 percent of exports to the EU, an estimation of $1.1 billion of exports annually. Cambodia exported 45 percent of its products to the EU in 2018, accounting for around $5.8 billion.

For the payments to garment workers, the government would pay for 20 percent of the basic minimum wage, while factory owners will pay 40 percent of the wage. Additionally, factories will get tax breaks for six to 12 months.

On account of a sharp decrease in Chinese tourist arrivals, Hun Sen announced that hotels and guesthouses in Siem Reap will also get tax breaks to mitigate a fall in tourists on account of COVID-19.

Pon Heng, a 28-year-old local union leader working for a factory producing for H&M and Levis, said that the 60 percent of basic salary, around $120, wont be enough for them to survive and support their families.

He said that his factory has already seen the impact of the EBA investigation process as it has already decreased its production.

At the factory I work, I think that the main issue is not about the lack of raw materials supply, but the buyers reduce their order, he said.

He said the union had received notice from the factory's administration that if there is a suspension in operations, the factory plans to cut the 18-day annual leaves to pay them during lay-off.

Pon Heng said if the work suspensions turned into layoffs then a lot of workers would be unable to find other work.

They are around 40 or 50 years old. If they do not have a job at the factory, I am afraid other places wont take them, he said.

VOA Khmer could not reach Ken Loo and Kaing Monika, spokespersons for the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia, also known as GMAC.

Prime Minister Hun Sen also stressed that in order for workers to be paid, they must attend training courses in vocational skills and soft-skill under the arrangement of the Ministry of Labor.

Sam Heang has been working in the garment industry for over 20 years. The 51-year-old mother of four children said apart from her two children also worked as a vendor and security guard, respectively, at the same factory.

A factory closure, she said, would deal her family a big economic blow, which she doubts can be reduced by vocational training.

I am concerned that I dont know what to do next, she said. I am already getting old. I dont know what other skills I should learn.
Concluding his jam-packed maiden two-day visit to India, President Donald Trump on Tuesday night emplaned for his country from New Delhi.

The US President participated in a host of engagements over the course of his nearly-36-hour-long trip, including a roadshow, visit to the Taj Mahal, addressing a mammoth crowd at the 'Namaste Trump' event at Ahmedabad, among others.

During the visit, India and the further strengthened their defence cooperation, with the two countries giving a nod to an agreement under which India will get USD 3 billion of advanced military equipment including Apache and MH-60 Romeo helicopters.

In the final engagement of the visit, the US President participated in a banquet dinner hosted by his Indian counterpart Ram Nath Kovind at the here. Several Indian dignitaries including Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Ministers of several states, among others were also present at the dinner.
SPRINGFIELD  More than half of Illinois residents are burdened by the high cost of health care and prescription drugs, according to a new Consumer Healthcare Experience State Survey commissioned last month by Protect Our Care Illinois and Altarums Healthcare Value Hub, with the support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The survey found that 54% of respondents are either worried or very worried about affording the cost of prescription drugs, and 28% of Illinois adults have rationed or gone without medication due to the skyrocketing cost of prescription medication.
Masterchef judge Gregg Wallace left viewers giggling when he described food as being 'creamy with a salty finish' on last night's episode.

Wallace, 55, and co-judge John Torode, 54, were joined by a fresh cast of amateur cooks as the hit BBC1 show returned for its 16th series last night.

The home chefs impressed with their culinary creations - but it was Wallace's comments that had fans of the show talking.

Gregg Wallace, 55, and co-judge John Torode were joined by a fresh cast of amateur cooks as hit BBC1 show Masterchef returned last night. One of his comments had viewers talking

Masterchef judge Gregg Wallace left viewers giggling when he described Dev's flavourful food, pictured, as being 'creamy with a salty finish' on last night's episode

The seemingly innocuous comment was interpreted in a rather more X-rated way by viewers, with one tweeting he was 'sniggering like a 15-year-old boy'

Judging a dish from retail manger Dev, 44 , from High Wycombe, Wallace said: 'Your cooking is very unusual, Dev. Coconut and olive? It is creamy with a salty finish.

'It is lovely. And to make a chicken breast that moist - that's skillful.'

The seemingly innocuous comment was interpreted in a rather more X-rated way by viewers, with one tweeting: '#MasterChefUK Gregg just said creamy with a salty finish and I am sniggering like a 15 year old boy.'

Another posted: 'Just heard the phrase creamy with a salty finish on #MasterChefUK , and thought Id put pornhub on by mistake....'

Wallace was judging a dish from retail manger Dev, 44, pictured, from High Wycombe

Twitter users were quick to note the second X-rated meaning in Wallace's judgement

A third added: 'Hehe, creamy with a salty finish.'

Dev, who grew up in Calcutta, took a risk by presenting the judges with a complex mix of ingredients and flavours for the first 'signature dish' round.

He served a chicken, olive and coconut curry with a mango and apple salad; a 'jungly' pilau, a wild rice salad served in an aubergine shell and an aubergine and garlic paste with popadom shards.

The plate impressed both Wallace and Torode and was ultimately enough to get Dev through to the next round, where they presented a two-course meal to John, Gregg and a panel of returning winners, finalists and contestants, all of whom have gone on to work in the food industry.

Dev presented yet another impressive dish and was given a place in the quarter-finals alongside recruitment consultant Teddy, 28, from London, and IT consultant Pete, 47, also from London.
Ghana and the Kingdom of Norway have pledged to deepen the ties of co-operation that exist between the two countries, following the holding of bilateral talks between President Akufo-Addo and Prime Minister Erna Solberg on Monday.

At a joint press conference addressed by the two leaders, as part of President Akufo-Addos official visit to Norway, the Ghanaian leader stated that the purpose of his visit was 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 and her government and people for the considerable support they have offered Ghana through various interventions, such as the Oil for Development Programme, which according to him, has been running successfully for more than a decade, and has enhanced Ghana's 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 Ghanas 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.

Particularly delighted with Norways new partner country initiative, which is aimed at ensuring that partner countries become independent of aid in the long term, President Akufo-Addo indicated that it fits in perfectly with my Governments vision of a Ghana Beyond Aid.

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.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Over objections from all but a few New Mexico county sheriffs, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday signed into law a red flag gun bill that will allow firearms to be temporarily taken away from those deemed dangerous to themselves or others.

The Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Act, which takes effect in mid-May, will make New Mexico the 18th state to enact such a law.

If we can make a difference for one person, thats the right difference to make, Lujan Grisham said during a bill signing ceremony at the state Capitol.

The Democratic governor made the red flag gun bill one of her top initiatives during the 30-day legislative session that ended last week and predicted the new law would reduce New Mexicos high rates of firearm-related deaths, including suicides.

We know this is a meaningful tool to address gun violence, Lujan Grisham said Tuesday.

However, the red flag gun measure, Senate Bill 5, was fiercely opposed by Republican lawmakers during this years session, and several New Mexico counties have passed resolutions opposing it.

Some sheriffs have indicated they might not enforce the bill, citing concerns over constitutional due process issues.

Theyve made this bill so horrible that we cant (enforce it), Cibola County Sheriff Tony Mace told the Journal. Somebody hasnt even committed a crime, and youre taking their personal property.

Mace, chairman of the New Mexico Sheriffs Association, said a court challenge will be filed before the law takes effect in an attempt to block it from being implemented.

Asked Tuesday about the sheriffs resistance, Lujan Grisham said the elected law enforcement officials should resign if theyre not willing to enforce the states laws.

They have to enforce the law. They take an oath to do that, she said. You dont get to make those decisions.

However, she suggested her administration would not retaliate by withholding funding from any counties that do not enforce the law, while adding that she believes law enforcement officers will ultimately decide to do so.

The governor also said she believes the new law will be upheld if challenged in the courts.

Concerns for students

Although 30 of the states 33 county sheriffs opposed this years bill, some law enforcement officials backed it, including State Police Chief Tim Johnson, a Lujan Grisham appointee, and top Albuquerque Police Department officials.

Aztec Police Chief Mike Heal spoke in support of the legislation Tuesday, invoking a December 2017 school shooting in Aztec that left two students dead, as well as the 21-year-old shooter, a former student at the school.

I will never stop pushing for the safety of our children, Heal said.

And Rep. Joy Garratt, D-Albuquerque, one of the bills sponsors, described the legislation as a response to concerns raised over a spate of school shootings, lockdowns and threats nationwide.

The students across the country have really asked for this, said Garratt, a teacher at Jimmy Carter Middle School on Albuquerques West Side.

This years bill passed just months after a mass shooting in neighboring El Paso in which a gunman killed 22 people, allegedly targeting those of Mexican descent. Several backers of the bill cited the incident in pushing for the measures passage.

However, the legislation passed in the Senate 22-20, before winning approval in the House on a 39-31 vote. A similar bill failed to pass the Senate during last years session.

Under the final version of the bill, law enforcement officials could be held liable for failing to enforce the new statute.

Attorney General Hector Balderas has previously warned sheriffs and police chiefs about enforcing New Mexico gun laws, and a spokesman said Tuesday there will be similar vigilance with the new red flag law.

As with our prior guidance, law enforcement officials must follow the rule of law in a fair manner that considers the safety, peace and the rights of all families in our state, AGs Office spokesman Matt Baca said.

Previous gun laws

New Mexicos adoption of the red flag gun law comes one year after two separate firearm-related laws were enacted  one dealing with expanded background check requirements and the other with gun possession by domestic abusers.

National groups on both sides of the debate have made hefty campaign contributions, including nearly $400,000 given by Everytown for Gun Safety, a national group affiliated with former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, to New Mexico Democrats and Democratic-leading political committees during the 2018 election cycle.

The state Republican Party cited those special interests in a Tuesday news release, claiming this years bill infringes on New Mexicans rights.

This bill was rammed through the Legislature with a total disregard of New Mexicans rights, said Anissa Tinnin, the state GOPs executive director. There were many constitutional and legal questions surrounding this legislation, and progressive Democrats ignored those from the beginning.

However, Democrats have cited the National Rifle Associations opposition to the gun-related legislation, and Lujan Grisham suggested Tuesday that the NRA organized local opposition to this years bill.

The governor did not directly say whether she would push for additional gun-related legislation but said top officials in her administration will continue to hold monthly meetings on public safety issues.

Lujan Grisham also said its unclear how often the New Mexico red flag law might be used.

In Florida, which enacted a similar law after the February 2018 shooting in Parkland that left 17 dead, the law was used more than 2,200 times from March 2018, when it was enacted, to July 2019.

Judges in that state granted nearly 97% of the temporary risk orders and about 99% of final orders, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

New Mexicos new law will take effect May 20, which is 90 days after the sessions end date.

About the law

Understanding New Mexicos red flag law:

 A law enforcement officer, or a prosecutor in cases involving a law enforcement officer, will be able to file a petition in state court for an order to prohibit someone from possessing firearms.

 The petitions could be filed upon request from a spouse, ex-spouse, parent, child, grandparent, school administrator or employer.

 If a law enforcement officer declines to file a petition upon request, the officer will have to file a notice of the decision with the county sheriff.

 A judge can enter an emergency 10-day risk protection order if probable cause is found that an individual poses a danger of causing imminent injury to themselves or others.

 The individual is then required to surrender all their firearms within 48 hours of a judges order  or sooner.

 A one-year order can then be imposed after a court hearing, although such an order requires a higher evidence threshold.

 One-year risk protection orders are subject to appeal.

 All firearms are required to be returned to their owner within 10 days after an orders expiration.
Egypt's former president Hosni Mubarak ruled with an iron fist for 30 years before being deposed amid street protests, defending his chequered reign to the end.

He died on Tuesday aged 91.

Once dubbed "the Pharaoh" for his long, autocratic rule, he was swept from power, like other regional potentates, by the popular uprisings of the 2011 Arab Spring.

His mixed legacy is that of a strongman who employed emergency powers, led a police state and rigged elections, and of a guarantor of stability who battled jihadists, maintained close ties with the West and kept peace with Israel.

A former air force chief, he became Egyptian vice president and then, in 1981, head of state after Islamist militants assassinated his predecessor Anwar Sadat during a military parade.

Mubarak was also wounded, having sat next to Sadat in the attack by jihadists who had infiltrated the army.

He would survive several more attempts on his life, most dramatically in 1995 when militants sprayed his motorcade with bullets at a roadblock in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mubarak was the fourth president of the Arab Republic of Egypt, which was founded in 1952 when the military overthrew the monarchy.

He was considered neither an inspirational revolutionary like Gamal Abdel Nasser, who ruled from 1956 to 1970, nor a charismatic politician like Sadat, who succeeded Nasser and led Egypt until 1981.

But his diplomatic prowess showed on the international stage where he proved to be a deft statesman.

He maintained Egypt's peace treaty with Israel -- the reason Sadat was assassinated by militants -- and became a main player in the US-sponsored Israeli-Palestinian peace process more than a decade later.

Born on May 4, 1928 in the Nile Delta village of Menufiyah, Mubarak went on to rise through the air force ranks before becoming vice president and then Egypt's leader.

Seen as a somewhat bland politician, he earned the moniker "The Laughing Cow", after the mascot of a processed cheese brand, an image that would be sprayed on Cairo walls during the Arab Spring protests.

Critics say that during the Mubarak years the government and economy were hobbled by rampant corruption, bureaucratic mediocrity and rights abuses.

Mubarak did not introduce Egypt's police state, but under him the secret police, known to torture and disappear opponents, came to control almost every aspect of daily life.

"We knew everything about everyone," said one senior secret police official after Mubarak's overthrow.

The stifling police state impacted society and culture. Even as Egypt's population boomed during the Mubarak era, the Arab world's one-time intellectual and cultural centre faded as a regional power.

On the plus side, Mubarak has been credited with bringing economic reforms in the 2000s.

Under the direction of his unpopular son Gamal, who was groomed to take over the presidency, the government began a programme of economic liberalisation.

At the same time, and largely in response to US pressure, Mubarak in later years began to ease his grip of political life.

An independent and often critical press flourished, and protests were largely tolerated, despite police occasionally beating up and arresting demonstrators at Cairo rallies.

In 2005, Mubarak emerged the winner of what observers said was Egypt's latest rigged election. His principal opponent, Ayman Nour, was later jailed.

In the last years of Mubarak's reign, it was unclear whether he was truly in charge or had devolved many of his responsibilities to his son Gamal, then a senior party figure.

Mubarak's ouster came in the heady Arab Spring days, soon after Tunisians overthrew their leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011.

Egyptian activists took to the streets on January 25 and quickly hundreds of thousands demanded Mubarak's departure.

Within three days Mubarak had sacked his cabinet in a gesture to the protesters, presenting them with a tough choice: either he stayed or chaos would follow.

Later, the military decided that Mubarak could not remain in power any longer.

On February 11, he was flown to a Red Sea resort far from Cairo, leaving his hastily appointed vice president to announce his resignation and the onset of military rule.

That announcement on national television sparked jubilation by millions in Egypt.

Mubarak was later arrested and put on trial over the deaths of protesters during the 18-day revolt as well as for corruption.

Once a robust man and a keen squash player, Mubarak was wheeled into court on a stretcher, his sunglasses barely disguising his look of disgust as lawyers and prosecutors demanded he be hanged.

He was condemned to life in jail in 2012, but an appeals court ordered a retrial.

During his detention, Mubarak denied wrongdoing.

"When I heard the first verdict I laughed. I said: 'Ha!'," Mubarak told a private broadcaster after his 2012 sentencing.

"I did nothing wrong at all," he said.

By 2017, he was cleared of all charges brought against him and released. His two sons, Alaa and Gamal, were also sentenced in a graft case, but were released after time served.

Mubarak spent his final days in a military hospital, leaving only occasionally.

Many Egyptians, fatigued by a revolution that failed to bring tangible democratic and economic change, have increasingly begun to pine for Mubarak's days.

He is survived by Alaa and Gamal and by his half-Welsh wife Suzanne.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two members of the New York City fire department were arrested by Trenton police earlier this month after ignoring multiple requests to stay behind the lines at a three-alarm blaze in the citys North Ward.

Veteran FDNY firefighters Matthew J. Paglione and Matthew R. Farletta appeared to be intoxicated when they approached a fire scene Feb. 2 on Brunswick Avenue, Trenton city and police officials said.

The two, who are both originally from Mercer County, were told several times to stay behind lines police established so Trenton firefighters could fight the fire, which consumed four homes in the 400 block of the street, officials said.

When they continued to ignore police commands, officers arrested them and charged each with failure to disperse - a disorderly persons offense. Trenton Municipal Court records show each pleaded guilty the next day and paid a fine, Farletta $233 and Paglione $183.

FDNY spokesman Frank Dwyer on Monday said the firefighters work status was not affected by the incident. And he reiterated the comments he gave to the New York Post, which first reported the firefighters identities. There are no allegations at this time which would warrant a suspension.

Paglione and Farletta could face internal discipline by the FDNY, Dwyer said.

Paglione, 41, has been an FDNY firefighter for 16 years and is stationed at Ladder 27 in The Bronx and Farletta, 35, has been on the job for 13 years and is at Squad 61 in The Bronx, the Post reported.

Farletta was a volunteer firefighter in Lawrence and Paglione a volunteer in Hightstown before becoming New York City firefighters. Paglione also worked in Robbinsvilles fire department, according to online biographies in his work as a fire instructor.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 02:15:48|Editor: yan

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BAGHDAD, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- An Iraqi demonstrator was killed in clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces in Baghdad, Iraqi Independent High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR) said on Tuesday.

The clashes in al-Khalani Square in downtown Baghdad prompted the security forces to use tear gas canisters and fired bullets in the air to disperse the protesters, leaving a protester killed and 15 others wounded, Ali al-Baiyati, an IHCHR member, told Xinhua.

Meanwhile, the Baghdad Operations Command, responsible for the security of Baghdad, said in a statement that 19 security members and three officers were wounded in the clashes.

Mass anti-government demonstrations have been continuing in Baghdad and other cities in central and southern Iraq since October 2019, demanding comprehensive reform, fight against corruption, better public services and more job opportunities.

According to IHCHR, the nationwide anti-government protests over the past four months has caused the death of 544, with 23,700 others wounded.
The verdict in Harvey Weinsteins sexual assault trial is in, but Canadian experts say it remains to be seen how the landmark #MeToo case will be judged by history.

After five days of deliberation, a jury convicted Weinstein 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. The disgraced movie mogul faces up to 29 years in prison.

Weinstein was found not guilty of the most serious charges, two counts of predatory sexual assault, each carrying a sentence of up to life in prison.

Canadian actor and #AfterMeToo co-founder Mia Kirshner, who was among the dozens of Weinstein accusers watching the trial, tweeted that Weinstein was found guilty. He is. He did this.

But Halifax legal scholar Wayne MacKay said the mixed verdict may come as a disappointment to some #MeToo supporters, because it doesnt account for the full breadth of Weinsteins alleged pattern of predatory behaviour.

The #MeToo movement was largely galvanized by cases of powerful men accused of abusing their authority to commit serial acts of sexual violence against women, said MacKay, a professor emeritus at Dalhousie Universitys law school.

I think the predatory sexual assault (charges) best captured that kind of problem, MacKay said, noting there is no Canadian equivalent for the New York criminal charge, which requires prosecutors show the defendant committed a prior rape or other sex crime.

The fact that they did not find beyond a reasonable doubt that he engaged in that is whats disappointing.

Sociologist Judith Taylor said the fact that Weinstein was found guilty on two counts likely comes as a relief to sexual-assault survivors who long ago lost faith in the criminal system as a mechanism for justice.

I dont think that theres a bitter sweetness to the actual finding, said Taylor, an associate professor at University of Toronto. I think that he was found guilty in any way is quite shocking for most women.

The Weinstein trial shows that society has evolved when it comes to understanding sexual assault cases, said Taylor, noting the extraordinary camaraderie among the women who testified in support of those bringing charges.

I do think that it was, in many ways, a kind of litmus test of how powerful #MeToo was, she said. This will be part of the history books of the efficacy of the movement. Theres no doubt about it.

Farrah Khan, manager of Ryerson Universitys Consent Comes First sexual violence support and education office, warned against letting the courts render judgement on the #MeToo movement, which is being led by the survivors it has systematically silenced.

This movement is not about holding people who cause harm like Harvey Weinstein accountable, said Khan. Its about ensuring that the voices of people whove been hurt and harmed are heard, seen and believed.

Weinstein is set to be sentenced on March 11. His lawyers have said Monday they intended to appeal the verdict.
Sun Pharma was the top loser in the Sensex pack, shedding 2.37 per cent, followed by HCL Tech, Reliance Industries, IndusInd Bank and L&T.

Benchmark Sensex ended 82 points lower after a highly volatile session on Tuesday, extending losses for a third day, as investors continued to weigh the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the global economy.

A day after a steep fall due to concerns over Mauritius being added to the "grey list" of Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Indian equities steadied in the opening deals on Tuesday, with regulator Sebi saying that foreign investors from the island nation will continue to be eligible for FPI registration.

After oscillating over 300 points during the day, the 30-share BSE gauge finally settled 82.03 points, or 0.20 per cent, lower at 40,281.20.

Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty declined 31.50 points or 0.27 per cent to 11,797.90.

Sun Pharma was the top loser in the Sensex pack, shedding 2.37 per cent, followed by HCL Tech, Reliance Industries, IndusInd Bank and L&T.

On the other hand, TCS settled 1.98 per cent higher. Tata Steel, Bharti Airtel, SBI and HUL too finished with gains.

According to traders, global equity markets were still unnerved by the spread of coronavirus to countries beyond China.

Investors on Dalal Street also weighed the repercussions of Mauritius being added to the "grey list" of Financial Action Task Force (FATF), they said.

Market regulator Sebi on Tuesday said foreign investors from Mauritius will continue to be eligible for FPI registration with increased monitoring as per international norms.

On a net basis, FPIs sold equities worth Rs 1,160.90 crore on Monday, data available with stock exchanges showed.

Bourses in Shanghai and Tokyo ended in the red, while Seoul and Hong Kong settled with gains.

Stock exchanges in Europe were trading on a negative note in their morning sessions.

Brent crude oil futures slipped 0.16 per cent to $55.68 per barrel.

Experts said, the growing risk aversion is clearly visible in the sudden spike in safe heaven asset like gold prices seen lately.

In addition, the expiry weak and the fiscal year-end pressure is adding to near-term volatility.
Delhi Police has appealed to all the citizens of the capital to co-operate with Delhi Police in maintaining peace and harmony across the city in view of the ongoing violence erupting across the Northeast parts of Delhi.

In the last two days some incidents of stone-pelting, arson and damage to property have occurred in some pockets of North-East Delhi area.

Delhi Police is making all earnest efforts, including the deployment of reinforcement and involving respectable citizens of the area, to restore the normalcy.

"Therefore, it is appealed to all citizens of Delhi to co-operate with Delhi Police in maintaining peace and harmony in the city. They are also advised not to lend an ear to rumour mongers and unverified messages being circulated on Social Media," said Delhi Police in a statement.

Delhi Police has kept strict vigil on such mischievous elements and miscreants.

Strict legal action will be taken against those who are found involved in these incidents. It is also urged that social media platforms should be used with responsibility. Public cooperation is solicited in maintaining peace.

Meanwhile, Shahdara towards Apsara Border traffic movement has been closed.

"Shahdara towards Apsara Border traffic movement has been closed after barricading by UP police. Traffic has been diverted towards Surya Nagar," Delhi Traffic Police said in a statement.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tesco has sold its stake in a Chinese joint venture for 275m (Nick Ansell/PA)

Tesco has completed its exit from China after selling its stake in a joint venture in the country as part of a reorganisation of overseas business.

The retailer said it has sold its 20% stake in the Gain Land joint venture to a unit of its state-run partner China Resources Holdings (CRH), raising 275 million.

Tesco struggled to crack the Chinese market, ultimately combining its 131 stores in the country with partner CRHs almost 3,000 sites in 2014.

The disposal will allow Tesco to further simplify and focus the business on its core operations, it said.

The supermarket chain signalled in December that it was reviewing the future of its Asian operations, after already selling its South Korean operations.

Its much larger operations in Thailand and Malaysia have reportedly been the subject of interest from investors in the region, as Tesco looks to continue to simplify its operations.

The disposal of sites in Asia comes as chief executive Dave Lewis winds down his tenure at the retail firm, before new chief Ken Murphy takes over in the summer.

An exit from Asia will leave Tesco with its Central European operations as its only remaining overseas business, alongside its core UK and Ireland business.
DGAP-News: Securecell AG / Key word(s): Agreement

Securecell AG: Securecell partners with Alit Life Science, Biofors Global Inc. and Danyel Biotech as Marketing & Sales Partners in China, South Korea and Israel



25.02.2020 / 11:00

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Securecell partners with Alit Life Science, Biofors Global Inc. and Danyel Biotech as Marketing & Sales Partners in China, South Korea and Israel



Securecell expands its market activities in Asia and Israel by cooperating with Shanghai based Alit Life Science, South Korea based Biofors Global and Rehovot based Danyel Biotech as partners for marketing and sales activities in China, Korea and Israel.

Urdorf (Zurich), Switzerland, February 25, 2020 - Securecell is proud to announce the partnership with Alit Life Science , Biofors Global and Danyel Biotech to build its market presence in China, Korea and Israel as a major step to further penetrate new markets.

"Alit, Biofors and Danyel were selected based on the strong connection and network within China, Korea and Israel biopharma market as well as the existing competence in selling high value products to bioprocessing industries. It is an excellent addition to our expanding worldwide network of marketing and sales partners addressing the needs of a growing and demanding biopharma business." said Dr. Michele Bomio, CFO of Securecell.

Initially, the new partners will focus on distributing Lucullus PIMS software solution which has been Securecell's flagship product for many years, as well as Numera autosampling and sample processing machine. In a second step, they will enrich their portfolio by adding Securecell's new products tailored to improving perfusion cultures at the benchtop scale.

David Chen, founder of Alit Life Science commented: "We are very excited to cooperate with Securecell in China. I believe there is a big market for their advanced products, both the software system and the automation sampling machine. Today China is one of the biggest worldwide players in the biotech field. I believe this new cooperation will help Chinese customers to use innovative and world leading software engineering technology to improve their processes in R&D and production, thanks also to Securecell's PAT system, which helps to supply better biotech medicaments to help the improvement of human health. Our team is looking forward to working with Securecell's people in order to realize our marketing goal in China".

Biofors CTO Keebung Rhee stated: "Not only Lucullus will be the perfect solution for Korean biotech players as a part of MES in Smart factory environments but also Numera will be very helpful for automated sampling of bioprocesses in biopharma companies.

Smart factory, PAT, DoE and QbD are a big issue in recent manufacturing technology in Korea and Securecell products will dramatically contribute to enlarge and improve the process technology developments in our country".

Luly Gurevich, CEO of Danyel Biotech, said: "This new partnership with SecureCell helps us to deliver high-end technological solutions in the biopharmaceutical industry and biological research fields. Lucullus will enable much better control of our customers processes and having Numera will open new opportunities, along with our wide portfolio of instrumentation, media, supplements and consumables for Upstream."



About Securecell AG - www.Securecell.ch

Securecell is the partner of biopharma innovators, enabling them to bring new therapies in a safe, efficient and economical way to the patient.

Securecell automates and manages bioprocess workflows.

Securecell's product portfolio consists of a comprehensive Process Information Management System (Lucullus) and an automated sampling and sample processing instrument (Numera).

Securecell's pipeline within the Biotech and Medtech industry is based on a revolutionary membrane technology.

Securecell is working on leveraging its patented membrane technology into Medtech applications where it will move diabetes care to a new level thanks to direct in blood glucose measurement and insulin application.

About Alit Life Science Co, Ltd www.alit.com.cn/en

Headquartered in the high-tech district of Shanghai, after over 10 years of development, Alit Life Science has become one of the leading biotech lab instruments and technical suppliers in the Biopharma industry in China.

Over 120 employees, Alit is not only a distributor but also a manufacturer of a smart cell analyzer and an R&D provider. Today Alit is cooperating with a good number of American and European suppliers, servicing more than 1000 leading Chinese biotech companies, in the field of vaccine, antibodies and stem cells.

About Biofors Global Inc. https://biofors.co.kr/

Biofors is an expertise turnkey bioprocess engineering organization distributing cost effective solutions to the Bioindustry and Biopharmaceutical sector across the globe. Built with a state-of-the-art facility and equipment, Biofors undertakes bioprocess equipment manufacturing, distribution, consultancy services, manpower training and bioprocess research. Decades of experience and good process knowledge of the bioprocess industry help us to find innovative and cost-effective solutions.

Danyel Biotech LTD. www.danyel.co.il

Danyel Biotech is one of the leading Israeli distributors, suppling high-end instrumentation, consumables and solutions for Israeli industry and academy, covering Upstream to Downstream, Protein Chromatography, Bio interaction systems, Biochemical, Next Generation Sequencing and advance Molecular Biology diagnostics products to the life science research laboratories in universities, research institutes, biotech-industries, hospital research, HMO diagnostics laboratories.

Danyel Biotech is committed to furnishing its customers thorough solutions to their needs by means of both close partnerships with its suppliers and a high level of customer service and technical expertise.



Contact

Securecell AG

Laura Bizzotto

+41 44 732 9070

contact@securecell.ch
The archaeologists emailed a photo, asking whether anyone at the Houston Chronicle might recognize an artifact theyd dug up. Chronicle, say the letters stamped on the brass disc. 30 cents.

Its the diameter of a Kennedy half dollar, but thinner. Judging from other objects where they dug it up, its from the late 1940s or early 50s.

Whose was it? What was it for? Maybe its from a promotion the Chronicle once ran. Maybe its related to the coin-operated vending boxes that once sold newspapers on street corners and stores all across Houston. Maybe its something else entirely.

Were hoping that you, readers, can help us figure it out.

Clue #1: The site, Frost Town/El Alacran

From its name, youd think the Elysian Viaduct whisks souls of the heroic dead to glory. Disappointingly, its a four-lane freeway flyover connecting Near Northside to a downtown spot a little north of Minute Maid Park.

The viaduct was built in 1955. As with many midcentury highway projects, a historic minority neighborhood was condemned to make way, in the name of urban renewal.

Recently, the Texas Department of Transportation hired archaeologists to excavate the historically important site. For generations, it was immigrants first rung on the ladder, the place they first settled after coming to Houston to work their way up in the world.

The neighborhoods story begins in 1836  the year of the Texas Revolution, the year the Allen brothers founded Houston in hopes of getting rich by selling its real estate. They sold 15 acres along Buffalo Bayou to Jonathan Frost, a German immigrant whod fought for Texas independence.

Frost Town, as Frost and his brother called the place, became a magnet for German and Irish immigrants, then Eastern Europeans. They built little clapboard houses and businesses, covered the narrow streets with boards, and as they could afford to, moved up and out, into grander neighborhoods.

After the Civil War, former slaves settled in Frost Town and the blocks surrounding it, making it one of the rare neighborhoods where blacks and whites lived next door to each other. Starting in the 1890s, mexicanos  both Mexican Texans and immigrants from Mexico  came, too.

By then, the houses, almost entirely rentals, were run-down. The streets werent paved, and few houses had running water. But the neighborhood remained a hard-working place. Census records show that nearly every head of household and many older sons held jobs. Some worked in the expanding industries at the Houston Ship Channel; others as bakers, shoemakers, cooks, construction laborers, plumbers.

By the 1930s, the neighborhood was racially diverse, an unusual thing in its era  mainly African American, about a quarter mexicano and the rest white.

The old Frost Town and its surrounding blocks began to be called El Barrio del Alacran  Neighborhood of the Scorpion. The names explanation isnt glamorous. Scorpions infested Schrimpf Street , the most run-down part of the neighborhood, and were at their worst in the outhouses. But the dangerous sound suited neighborhood gang members, Houston history expert Louis Aulbach writes. In the 40s, the zoot-suited Alacran gang wore scorpion tattoos.

Its likely those tattoos went overseas in World War II: Many of the neighborhoods men fought. Some, maybe seeking to get out of El Alacran, took advantage of the GI Bill to earn a college education.

None, though, grew old in the neighborhood. Businesses and factories encroached. In the early 50s, the notorious Schrimpf Street was razed to make way for the Clayton Homes housing project. And a few years later, the last disappeared, flattened so the Elysian Street Viaduct could fly over the land where the neighborhood once stood.

Clue #2: The families, the store

The coin was found in a cistern behind a corner store, says Doug Boyd of Prewitt and Associates, the principal investigator for TxDOTs archaeological investigation. When the archaeologists dug it up, it was so begrimed they couldnt read it. Texas A&M Universitys Conservation Research Laboratory sent it back shiny, legible and ready to raise new questions.

Both the cistern and the corner store date from around 1853, when the Klee family from Germany built them. Their store  95 Spruce Street, at the corner of Race  was likely one of Frost Towns major social centers, Boyd says. And the brick-lined cistern would have held the water they used.

Over the years and immigrant waves, the store and its building changed owners a few times, and many families appear to have lived at the address. At some point in the 1940s or 50s, the cistern stopped holding water and filled with debris.

Archaeologists love a trash pile like that.

They think the coin most likely had something to do with two related families of Mexican immigrants who lived at 95 Spruce at the time of the 1940 U.S. Census. The first was Odilon Otis Carrizal, his wife Josefina Carrizal Escobedo (who ran the store), and his brother Willie. The second, Frank Escobardo, his wife Trenidad, and three other people, including Franks brother Escobedo. It might be significant that the Census lists Escobedos job as Newspaper Boy.

In 1952, the grocery store made one last appearance in the media  this time, under yet another owner, another Alacran resident anxious to move up and out.

Theres an open sewer down each side of Spruce, wrote Houston Press columnist Sig Byrd, each filled with stagnant green water, where great clouds of flies swarm. Theres a lone chinaberry tree on the east side of the street, and at 96 Spruce, corner of Race, is Dave Martinezs grocery store .

I got to get away, Dave says. I got to get a new location.

He got his wish, though maybe not the way he wanted. Plans for the Elysian Viaduct, which would wipe out El Alacran, were already underway.

The corner store and its people are long gone. We dont know what the mystery coin was for. We dont know who it belonged to, or who it might have belonged to, or what happened to them after they left El Alacran.

But theres a story there. So please, if you recognize that coin or have information about those families, email me: lisa.gray@chron.com.
US First Lady Melania Trump on Monday arrived at a Delhi government school to attend a 'happiness class'. She was given a traditional welcome by students who lined the entrance holding flags of the two countries in honour of the visiting dignitary.

A young girl student handed a bouquet to Melania as the First Lady wore a tilak on her forehead after being welcomed with an 'arti thali'.

Wearing a white middy length dress with flowers imprinted in yellow and red, Melania will be spending around 15-20 minutes while interacting with the students and teachers of Sarvodaya Vidyalaya Senior Secondary School co-ed school in South Moti Bagh.

The school has undergone beautification work in view of the US First Lady's visit.

"We have been beautifying the path through which Melania Trump will go to the school. All municipal departments are busy in the preparations," Vasant Vihar Councilor Manish Agrawal had said.

"This is a very proud moment for us that the US First Lady Melania Trump is visiting the school in our ward. As soon as we got the news by school's administration, we began our preparations for the visit," he added.

In addition, the young and enthusiastic school children were dressed in bright-coloured sarees and traditional dresses like ghagra-choli to welcome Melania.

Some of them were also carrying bagpipes and several other musical instruments.

Special classes by the name of Happiness Classes were started by the Delhi government in its schools in 2018.

As a part of the programme, students are taught various activities including meditation, street plays and basic obedience with an aim to reduce anxiety and stress levels among children.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's names have been dropped from the school event Melania is scheduled to visit on February 25.

Last week, the US Embassy here had stated that it had no objection to the presence of Delhi Chief Minister and his deputy during the US First Lady's visit to the government school, but "it is best to ensure focus is on education, school, and students."

Programme organisers, who are engaged in arranging the visit of the First Lady, said that she would witness the programmes organised by the children followed by a short meeting with the staff.

In view of Trumps' visit, the Delhi Traffic Police earlier today issued an advisory for February 24 and 25 asking people to keep VVIP movement in mind while planning their commute. However, there will be traffic diversions as per the ground situation for the smooth flow of traffic.

US President Donald Trump and his wife, along with the US delegation, will be in India on a maiden two-day visit beginning from February 24.

On Monday, Trump had a jam-packed schedule in Ahemdabad. Upon his arrival, the dignitary addressed a mammoth crowd of around one lakh people during the 'Namaste Trump' event at Motera Stadium and then left for the Taj Mahal to spend roughly an hour experiencing the historic monument before flying to Delhi.

Earlier today, the US President was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. From there, he went to the Rajghat to pay homage at the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi and then headed to Hyderabad House for other engagements.

Trump is scheduled to meet President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan at 7:30 pm before departing for the US by his special flight on Tuesday night.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- Akufo-Addo has revealed that since he took over the reins of government in 2017, he has fulfilled majority of his pledges

- This according to him, should convince electorates to give him another term in office

Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo has revealed that since he took over the reins of government in 2017, he has fulfilled the majority of his pledges.

This according to him, should warrant him another term in office.

President Akufo Addo said his administration, over the last three years, has improved considering the circumstances of the countrys economic, energy, health, educational and agricultural sectors.

He made this known while speaking to members of the Ghanaian community as part of his official state visit to Oslo, Norway, Sunday, February 23, 2020.

READ ALSO: I didnt receive GETFund scholarship allocated to me - Beneficiary fumes

That is the basis on which I am going to the electorate to ask for Four More for Nana,' President Akufo Addo posited

Akufo-Addo indicated that these achievements are the pivot around which he would seek a renewed mandate to lead Ghana.

Touching on the Banking sector, the president said the Central Bank of Ghana has had to undertake some painful reforms of the financial system which in turn helped the economic environment.

The banking sector cleanup and several other interventions of government, President Akufo Addo said, are signs that the fundamental framework that needed to move the country ahead rapidly is now firmly in place.

READ ALSO: NPP is just like NDC - Ghanaian replies Ursula Owusu's Ghana in good hands comment

In other news, the minister for communication, Ursula Owusu Ekurful, has made certain comments that members of the opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC), would not be so happy with.

According to her, there was no way the sitting government, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), would allow the NDC to come to power. She added that it would be over their dead bodies for the NDC to come to power.

Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM, she added that the real owners of Ghana are in charge now, since the good people of Ghana only deserve quality leadership.

READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo is the worst President Ghana has ever had - Badu Kobi

Yenkasa: I will buy my wife a Rolls Royce on Val's Day: Ghanaian man hints | #Yencomgh

Have national and human interest issues to discuss?

Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition?

Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Among them is Anastasia Zinchenko, who was denied boarding during a previous evacuation attempt over the lack of veterinary papers for her pet dog.

Another six Ukrainian citizens expressed their will to be evacuated from the Chinese province of Hubei and the city of Wuhan, the area most affected by the novel coronavirus COVID-19.

"The embassy is aware of 39 citizens of Ukraine remaining in Wuhan and Hubei. So far, six citizens of Ukraine have expressed such will," said Maksym Kovalenko, head of the crisis management unit at the foreign ministry's consular services department.

He told UNIAN those citizens include three persons who were denied boarding during the previous evacuation, as well as another three who had not previously requested to be taken to Ukraine.

Among those who want to be evacuated to Ukraine is Anastasia Zinchenko, who was not allowed on an evacuation plane earlier over a lack of veterinary papers for her pet dog.

Read also'Too early; to speak of pandemic, WHO says virus can be contained  media

Another two Ukrainians were denied boarding due to fever, the diplomat recalled.

The Ukrainian Embassy in China provides Ukrainian citizens with comprehensive assistance, including financial and organizational aid (facilitating in their housing).

"Now they are undergoing constant medical exams. Their health condition is satisfactory. Wuhan municipal healthcare agencies constantly monitor their well-being, making lab. All Ukrainians in question have so far tested negative.

Ukrainian diplomats in China are constantly monitoring the situation in all consular districts throughout China if any other Ukrainians are willing to be evacuated to Ukraine, and working to identify any other issues that may arise in this regard to provide relevant assistance.
Several of Gobbis grandchildren live in the same town, but now he mostly talks to them on the phone. He no longer has a place to stop for a coffee. When he went outside Tuesday morning, he said he saw people lining up for two things, medicine and cigarettes. They took care to remain several feet apart from anybody else.
On Monday, in the morning, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC received Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr Norihiro Nakayama, accompanied by Senior Deputy Director for Oceania Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr Masaharu Shimizu, and Consul-General of Japan in Brisbane, Mr Kazunari Tanaka

Following, His Excellency departed Government House for official travel to Livingstone Shire and Rockhampton.

In the afternoon, at Farnborough, His Excellency visited Farnborough State School, and the Governor addressed students and guests.

Following, at the Hub, Yeppoon, His Excellency received a briefing from Livingstone Shire Council representatives.

Following, at the Hub, Yeppoon, His Excellency received a briefing from Livingstone Local Disaster Management representatives.

Following, at Keppel Bay Sailing Club, Yeppoon, His Excellency hosted a reception for members of the community affected by the recent bushfires, and the Governor addressed guests.
Foreign investors still pay great attention to Vietnam albeit the complicated developments of the acute respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 which started to hit the world earlier this year.

In January, the total newly registered capital, capital contributed and shares purchased by foreign investors reached 5.33 billion USD, up 179.5 percent against the same period last year.

The investment disbursement was estimated at 1.6 billion USD, a year-on-year rise of 3.2 percent.

According to head of the foreign investment department under the Ministry of Planning and Investment Do Nhat Hoang, a major group from the US is considering the registration of new projects worth billions of USD in Vietnam.

Businesses of other countries have also arrived in Vietnam to study power and infrastructure projects.

The Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) reported that 122 Japanese businesses have decided to remove their production activities from China and over 42 percent of the firms surveyed revealed that Vietnam is a leading destination.

Director General of the General Statistics Office (GSO) Nguyen Bich Lam has forecast the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 could speed up the removal of production facilities of foreign investors in China to other countries, including Vietnam./.

FDI enterprises in Vinh Phuc active in fighting Covid-19 Many foreign-invested enterprises in Vinh Phuc, where 11 out of 16 Covid-19 cases in Vietnam have been confirmed, have taken measures to curb the virus spread, ensuring labourers health.
The Coalition for Restoration (CFR), invites the General public to its public forum which comes off at 1pm tomorrow, Tuesday 25th February at the KAMA Conference center in Accra.



The objective of the program is to undertake a constructive, objective and comprehensive assessment of the three year reign of the Akufo-Addo government.



The forum will be addressed by Hon. Isaac Adongo, MP for Bolgatanga Central and Hon. Eric Opoku, MP for Asunafo South and ranking Member of the Parliament Select Committee on Agriculture. Our speakers will also use the opportunity to deal with the factual distortions peddled by President Akufo-Addo in the 2020 State of the Nations Address and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia during governments Town Hall meeting in Kumasi.





Attendees will also be allowed the opportunity to comment and ask questions in an open forum session.



All media houses and the general public are cordially invited to attend this all important program.





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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Killer Graham Dwyer watched the court proceedings on RTE from his cell in the Midlands Prison

Killer Graham Dwyer's bid to overturn his murder conviction will be delayed for up to two years after the Supreme Court referred key legal questions on the retention of communications data to a European court.

The referral will also delay the introduction of a new legislative regime for gardai to access such data.

Hundreds of investigations have been stifled since Dwyer secured a High Court declaration in 2018 that legislation used by gardai to access his phone data contravened EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights.

The data was crucial to proving he murdered childcare worker Elaine O'Hara.

Dwyer wants to rely on that ruling in a separate challenge to his conviction, where he intends to argue the data should not have been admitted in evidence at his trial.

A jail source told the Herald that Dwyer seemed "happy out" after learning of the decision.

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In a significant judgment delivered by Chief Justice Frank Clarke yesterday, the Supreme Court upheld the High Court ruling that the manner in which gardai accessed retained phone data did not meet EU standards due to a lack of independent oversight.

Televised

However, he also said he believed an Irish court making a finding that an Irish law was inconsistent with EU law had the power to decide any such invalidity was not retrospective.

This means such a decision would only apply from the date of the decision, ruling out the prospect of Dwyer being able to rely on it as a ground of appeal.

But the court will not finalise its ruling until three key questions have been considered by the Court of Justice for the European Union (CJEU).

It is understood that Dwyer watched proceedings, which were screened live on RTE, from his cell in the Midlands Prison.

"There was no major excitement out of him - he does not really interact with many staff or other inmates," a jail insider told the Herald.

"But it was fairly clear that he was happy out with the result as he looked content and was smiling a lot," the source added.

While the average waiting time for a referral to be processed is around 15 months, lawyers say it can take between 12 months and two years.

Dwyer (47) was jailed for life in 2015 for the murder of Ms O'Hara (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.

In a statement, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said it was clear the current legal framework needed to be modernised.

He said drafting of legislation to replace the legislation at issue, the 2011 Communications Act, was "well advanced", but now needed to take account of the CJEU referral.

In the absence of new legislation, gardai have no other means for lawfully accessing communications data.

Yesterday's decision came after the State appealed the 2018 High Court ruling. The key 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 O'Connor 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.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court found 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," Mr Justice Clarke said.

He said the Supreme 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.

Sources in the prison where Dwyer is serving his life sentence said the architect had consistently predicted to other inmates that his case would ultimately be decided in Europe.
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. Patients can use the website to see how many transplant recipients at any US center have characteristics like themselves." Cory Schaffhausen, Ph.D., first author

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.

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.
Social media sensation TikTok has become the second most used app for young Australians - even more popular than Instagram.

The surge in popularity comes despite fears the mini-movie app is a magnet for paedophiles, amid concerns Australian children are being targeted online.

Users of the app only have to be 13 years old to sign up - and can be contacted by anyone unless they make their profile private.

But this hasn't stopped much younger children flocking to use the app, with 40 per cent of girls between 10 and 13 using the app despite the age restriction.

Even children as young as six are regularly using the app, where anyone can request to view their videos or pose as a kid.

Research shows children as young as six are regularly using TikTok, which is against its own safety rules (stock image)

The Beijing-based company behind TikTok has more than 500 million active users and is now worth more than $110 billion, but has sparked security concerns (stock image)

Stats from researcher company Roy Morgan showed 517,000 Australian children aged between six and 13 use TikTok - which is far younger than the app's rules allow.

A whopping 676,000 young people between 14 and 29 use the social media site.

How does TikTok work? Users post videos of themselves and broadcast them on the app Anyone can find these videos and post comments on them It also allows you to message that person privately Some of the most popular videos are watched more than 10 million times Each TikTok video is generally 15 to 60 seconds long The videos are typically set to music, often showing the user dancing, doing a trick, or lip-syncing Advertisement

Cyber safety experts have warned against young kids using the app, as any user can request to look at their pictures and videos, and even pretend to be another child.

The most used app by young Australians is YouTube, followed by TikTok, then Instagram and Facebook.

Michele Levine, CEO of Roy Morgan, said: 'TikTok is no doubt an unknown quantity to many Australians, but it is increasingly popular amongst the digital natives of Gen Z (born 1991-2005) and Gen Alpha (born since 2006).

'Already over 1.6 million Australians are using TikTok in an average four weeks and this includes nearly 540,000 in Gen Alpha and over 670,000 in Gen Z  over 1.2 million across these two youngest generations.'

Young girls and women are even more likely to use TikTok, making up more than two-thirds of users.

Of those in the 10-13 age group, 40 per cent of girls are using TikTok compared to less than 20 per cent of boys.

In a dire warning to parents, 'Cyber Cop' Susan McLean told Daily Mail Australia TikTok was 'not safe' for kids due to grooming, bullying and privacy fears.

'TikTok is not a safe app and there are many concerns, not the least bullying and grooming by predators,' Ms McLean, a former Victorian police cyber safety specialist of 27 years, said.

'Any app that allows communication can be used by predators.'

Susan McLean (pictured), one of the country's foremost experts on cyber safety and security, said TikTok is 'not safe'

Worryingly, the cyber safety expert warned TikTok has been known to fail to remove suspicious accounts even after being warned they could be run by a child groomer.

'TikTok does not have the same safety sessions as some of the more well-known apps and routinely do not remove accounts that have been flagged as potentially a predator,' she explained.

'Paedophiles like to watch kids sing and dance so they can take the videos and share them.

'The data gathering is a huge concern and if the government is worried then it is not a place for kids.'

Her comments come after an investigation in the UK found children as young as eight were being groomed on TikTok.

TikTok has around 1.4 million monthly active users in Australia and New Zealand, driving 1.6 billion video views every month (stock image)

It found kids were being bombarded by explicit messages on the app.

On its website, TikTok explained to parents that they can set their child's profile to private.

But it admits that 'even with a private account, profile information  including profile photo, username, and bio  will be visible to all users.'

It encouraged parents to 'counsel' their children not to reveal personal information such as age, address, or phone number on their profile.

Kids Helpline also revealed there was scope for 'bullying' on the app, and said it had received concerning reports from its counsellors.

In one incident, a child discovered a girl at school had posted a TikTok video saying she should 'die in a hole'.

There are also concerns about privacy and data used by the Chinese-owned company.

Cyber security expert Susan McLean (pictured) warned parents that TikTok has been known not to remove accounts even after they were flagged as being run by potential groomers

'Both the US and Australian governments have told serving soldiers that they are not to use it because of security fears,' Ms McLean explained.

'TikTok also received the biggest fine in US history for gathering data on kids and selling it.'

TikTok lets users create and share short singing and dancing videos that are set to well-known songs.

The Beijing-based company behind the app has more than 500 million active users and is now worth more than $110billion.

Since Instagram took away the option to see how many 'likes' a post has, TikTok has become teenagers' favourite app for checking their popularity.

The Beijing-based company behind the app (pictured) has more than 500 million active users and is now worth more than $110billion.

TikTok also has a direct message function, as well as live-streaming and public comments.

A spokesperson for TikTok said: 'TikTok is an app for users age 13 and over, and weve given the app a 12+ App Store rating so parents can simply block it from their childs phone using device-based controls.

'In our Safety Centre we offer a library of educational resources for teens and their families, including safety educational videos and a safety blog series.

'As one of many apps with teenage users, we encourage parents to monitor their teenagers account, review and adjust their privacy settings, help them report any inappropriate behavior, and have an open dialogue with their teenagers about how to be responsible and safe in all online activity.'
By Eamon Quinn and Geoff Percival

Global shares crashed as fears over the fallout of the spread of the coronavirus in Italy hit the shares of Ryanair and EasyJet hard, and led to a warning from retailer Penneys about potential difficulties sourcing its clothes from Chinese factories later this year.

Penneys owner ABF said supplies could be hit should the reopening of Chinese factories be delayed because the retailer sources much of its clothing lines from Asia.

Amid fears that Italy could be tipped into another recession, the shockwaves sent global shares reeling.

Worst hit were the airlines and travel firms as investors feared that fewer tourists and business people will travel in Europe.

Shares in Ryanair tanked by 13% EasyJet shares tumbled 17%, while IAG, the owner of Aer Lingus, British Airways, and Vueling, shed 9%. Shares in travel giant TUI also tumbled by 10%.

Global stock indices slumped: The Ftse 100 in London lost 247 points, or 3.3%, and the Stoxx index that tracks Europes largest companies fell even more, by 3.7%. Other signals of global economic stress flashed red.

The price of crude oil slid by $2.40 to $56.10 a barrel on fears over European and global economic growth, and the price of gold soared to a seven-year high of over $1,677 an ounce, as investors sought havens for their money.

The Iseq index of Irish shares suffered more than many European stock markets  dropping 4.3%.

Bank of Ireland shares declined 5% as it posted 2019 earnings and CRH, the global building products firm, shed 3.7%.

Coronavirus concerns have hit markets hard today, with a more global reach raising fears that the virus cannot be contained as easily as many had presumed, said Joshua Mahony, a senior market analyst at online brokers IG.

Experts had so far focused on the effects on European businesses from their disrupted supply chains with China.

Capital Economics said the weekend cases of the virus in Italy gave another channel through which the virus could hurt the economy, making another recession in Italy more likely than not.

Meanwhile, Irish citizens were advised not to travel to parts of Italy where the virus is spreading.
Marie Hediard stood in front of the small alley, her legs trembling because she knew that when the door opened, her benefactor of 45 years ago would appear.

As expected, when entering the yellow-painted house, she saw the doctor who treated her infertility over four decades ago, helping her conceive her first child. "Hello, sister Xiem," Hediard said in Vietnamese, despite not using the language for years.

Professor Nguyen Thi Xiem, 90, sits motionless in a wheelchair, with Hediard holding her thin hands. Upon meeting, Hediard, memories ablaze, tells of her son, aptly named Marco Thang, now the father of three boys himself.

Hediard and her second husband embrace Professor Xiem and her daughter, Doctor Le Thi Phuong Lan (in floral dress). Photo by Le Lan.

The story harks back to April 1973, when French Hediard came to Hanoi with her husband, an Italian reporter covering the "Dien Bien Phu On-air" campaign in December 1972 alongside the Vietnam War.

Most foreigners at the time stayed at Thong Nhat Hotel, Hoa Binh Hotel or at embassies. Hediard herself was recruited to teach French at Foreign Trade University. Each day, the young teacher rode her bicycle to school, together with Vietnamese students experiencing a very special historical period.

"I cannot forget April 30th, 1975, when South Vietnam was liberated and the country was unified. The classroom and the whole schoolyard burst with happiness. We were so happy, and kept dancing and hugging each other," she said. "From the bottom of my heart, I hope the lives of Vietnamese could be less difficult and that everyone could enjoy peace."

It was during this time that Hediard discovered she was pregnant. More than a year previously, she attended the Institute for Maternal and Newborn Protection (now the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology) for treatment by none other than Professor Xiem.

"My mother gave me a handmade doll, hoping I would be lucky. But it was Doctor Xiem who performed the miracle," she said.

In pregnancy, Hediard was thoroughly taken care of by Doctor Xiem, who speaks fluent French and gave her plenty of helpful advice.

At 2 a.m. in early February 1976, Hediard successfully gave birth. Placed on a labor table in a land far from home, she was so frustrated and frightened she forgot how to push. Suddenly, Doctor Xiems voice permeated the room. "The doctors presence eliminated all fear and gave me strength. An hour later, I gave birth to a son weighing 3.6 kg," Hediard recalled.

Since her son was born exactly 9 months after Vietnam's liberation, she named him "Thang Loi", meaning victory, along with first name Marco.

Hediards husband kept a photo of Doctor Xiem holding Marco Thang in his luggage on the way home in 1977, the imaging gracing the family photo album for the past 40 years.

Hediard (L) and Doctor Xiem at Maternal and Newborn Protection Institute, following the birth of Marco Thang. Photo courtesy of Marie Hediard.

Life in Italy was harder to adapt to than in Vietnam. Hediard, with no job, relatives or friends, struggled to care for Marco Thang and his sister. "I often miss my Vietnamese friends, including Mrs Lien who helped me take care of my children, Mr Duong who taught Vietnamese and Doctor Xiem who helped bring Marco Thang into the world."

"Despite the war, Vietnam at the time was still easier to live in compared to Italy," she said.

After Hediard and her first husband divorced, she found a job at a university where she met Kurt, her second spouse. Marco Thang, very proud of his birthplace, always looked forward to returning to Vietnam. "He always asked to wear Vietnamese costumes at festivals, which made my daughter slightly jealous," Hediard said.

Unforgettable memories urged Hediard to briefly visit Vietnam in 1998 and 2006. The third time round, both retired, the couple decided to visit Hanoi with their entire family.

"Before the trip, I could not imagine seeing Doctor Xiem. I met many elderly people during my time in Vietnam and worried that it might be impossible to see her," she said. On leaving Rome, Hediard made a copy of the old picture.

In early December 2019, the couple visited Central Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital to enquire after Doctor Xiem, with only a photo and name. Asking around, they learned the doctor had retired 30 years ago, with no one sure of her exact address. Leaving her phone number and email address, Hediard waited anxiously for information.

The next day, she received an invitation from Doctor Xiem's daughter - Doctor Le Thi Phuong Lan, now retired - to meet at her home on Ba Trieu Street. "I am overjoyed to learn that Doctor Xiem is still alive," Hediard declared.

On reunion day, Hediard and her husband spent over an hour talking with Doctor Xiem's family. Although the old doctor could no longer speak, she grasped Hediard's hands tightly when recalling their shared history. "I believe Doctor Xiem still remembers me," Hediard said, adding Marco Thang, now a 44-year-old computer engineer, was very happy to learn Doctor Xiem was still alive.

Le Dinh Loc, son of Doctor Xiem, said the reunion after 45 years is one of many joys his mother experienced in the last few decades. One time, a farmer whose son she had helped birth, now grown up, paid her a similar visit.

On another occasion a letter reached the doctor from a teacher in a mountainous area sending her benefactor her best regards. Sometimes, a mere phone call from a former patient she can no longer remember would brighten up her smile.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal once again called for peace on Tuesday as violence continued in the northeastern part of the national capital and the death toll in the incidents of shooting, stone-pelting and arson increased to 10, including one policeman who died on Monday, according to Delhi Police spokesperson MS Randhawa.

Met with victims of violence being treated at the GTB Hospital and Max Hospital. Hindus, Muslims, policemen - none have escaped unhurt.. this madness must end immediately, he tweeted after visiting the hospitals.

Before meeting the victims of the violence, Arvind Kejriwal prayed at Mahatma Gandhis memorial Rajghat. Kejriwals deputy Manish Sisodia and other leaders of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were also present with him at Rajghat.

ALSO WATCH | Delhi violence: CM Arvind Kejriwal appeals for calm, meets Amit Shah

The entire country is worried about the violence that took place in Delhi in the past two days. There has been a loss of lives and properties. If the violence increases it will affect everyone, Arvind Kejriwal said, according to news agency PTI, at Rajghat.

All us are here to offer our prayers to Gandhi Ji who was a follower of non-violence, he said.

Kejriwal met Union home minister Amit Shah earlier in the day and took part in a meeting the Bharatiya Janata Party leader chaired to review the situation in the national capital.

Meeting with home minister Amit Shah was positive and it was decided that all parties will take steps to restore peace, he said while speaking to reporters after the meeting.

Delhis Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, commissioner of Delhi Police Amulya Patnaik, Congress leader Subhash Chopra, BJPs Manoj Tiwari and Ramvir Bidhuri also attended the meeting.

Kejriwal also held an emergency meeting of his partys legislators and officials from the affected areas and appealed the protesters to maintain peace.

Four persons have been brought dead today. Five people lost their lives yesterday. The toll has risen to nine, Sunil Kumar, the medical superintendent of GTB Hospital, was quoted as saying by ANI.

More than 100 people have also been injured in northeast Delhi violence over two days after clashes broke out between pro-and anti-CAA protesters.
WICHITA, Kan., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Car accident attorneys Corey Sucher and Jay Sizemore of Brad Pistotnik Law  tried the case of Tiara Franklin v. Parth Amin, et al, case number 2018-CV-2555. This case was tried in Sedgwick County District Court resulting in a jury verdict on January 31st, 2020. The client suffered back and shoulder injuries. Allstate sent the client's medical records for an independent medical record review with Dr. Michael Johnson. Dr. Johnson is a paid consultant who frequently works for Allstate. Brad Pistotnik Law  had only been offered $15,000.00 prior to trial. The jury returned a verdict for $63,245.55 in total damages.

Car accident attorney William (Bill) Barr of Brad Pistotnik Law  tried the case of Keilani Hubbard v. Allstate Fire & Casualty Insurance Company under case number 2019-CV-364. Allstate was being sued on an underinsured motorist claim in Sedgwick County District Court. The client suffered back and shoulder injuries resulting in surgery. Allstate again consulted with Dr. Michael Johnson, who testified, that in his opinion, Ms. Hubbard only experienced temporary injuries; thus resulting in a $0.00 settlement offer from the Allstate adjuster and attorneys. Ms. Hubbard had purchased additional underinsured motorist coverage which would complement her Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. The underinsured motorist coverage was $50,000.00 which allowed her to obtain an additional $25,000.00 in UIM benefits plus PIP benefits if a jury awarded enough money for a verdict. The Sedgwick County jury returned a jury verdict for $87,463.00 on February 20, 2020.

The Bull Attorneys  file hundreds of lawsuits against negligent car, tractor-trailer, and semi-truck drivers. The trial lawyers from Brad Pistotnik Law  know how to win against insurance companies who refuse to pay fair amounts to injured persons from a car, motorcycle, or trucking accident.

About Brad Pistotnik Law and The Bull Attorneys!

For your free consultation with The Bull Attorneys!  call 1-800-WIN-BULL. Brad Pistotnik Law  represents a lifelong dedication to helping personal injury victims. Our trial attorneys are licensed in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, Florida, and Illinois and we work in other states. If you've been injured in a motor vehicle accident, motorcycle accident, tractor-trailer accident, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence or Worker' Compensation injury you need The Bull Attorneys! , Brad Pistotnik, Tony Atterbury, Jay Sizemore, Bill Barr, and Corey Sucher. If I don't win you don't pay me a dime. 

SOURCE Brad Pistotnik Law  and The Bull Attorneys! 
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

WHAT: The U.S. Small Business Administration will hold a conference call for nonprofit organizations, state and local agencies, and institutions of higher learning interested in competing for grants. Up to six awardees will receive a total of $300,000 in grants to deliver entrepreneurship training to women service members, women veterans, and women military spouses.



WHEN: Wednesday, February 26 at 2 p.m. EST.



HOW: Call in at (202) 765-1264; Conference ID: 214972520

A transcript of the webinar will be posted on grants.gov and www.sba.gov/ovbd once it is available.

Eligible organizations should submit applications for the Women Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program funding opportunity (WVETP-2020-01) through Grants.gov . Applications not submitted via Grants.gov will not be evaluated. The submission deadline is Thursday, March 19 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

Contact: [email protected] (202) 205-6987

Follow us on Twitter , Facebook , Blogs & Instagram

Release Number: MA20-01

SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

Related Links

http://www.sba.gov


Did you know that infamous Nazi Hermann Goring was a great lover of animals, a protector of birds, and head of the forestry service in Germany? Unless youre a history buff, probably not. After all, almost no one feels the need to preface their comments about the Third Reich with Sure, the authoritarianism was pretty bad, but, boy, that Goring was one hell of an environmentalist!

Western elites, however, like to use this kind of absurd criterion whenever they talk about socialism, ignoring its vast failures and praising its piddling and alleged successes  you know, Denmark, but not Algeria, Albania, Angola, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, China, Congo, East Germany, Ethiopia, Hungary, Latvia, Mongolia, Romania, Somalia, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, and so on and on.

And unlike many modern progressives, Bernie Sanders is old-school, still in the habit of praising old comrades. When Fidel Castro came into office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing? Bernie told 60 Minutes this past weekend, reacting to criticism of his near-complete praise of the dictator back in the 1980s.

The answer is: Yes, massive literacy programs instituted using the machinery of a tyranny are, indeed, a bad thing. For one thing, you can institute massive literacy programs without authoritarianism, just as you can build impressive highways without fascism or alleviate most poverty without collectivism. Just ask the United States, or any other capitalistic nation with wealth and high literacy rates.

Even then, Sanders is regurgitating Communist propaganda. Cuba already had the highest literacy rate in Latin America before the revolution, and it basically kept trending in the same direction as every other nation in the region. When Castro triumphantly entered Havana in 1958, he didnt bring truckloads of books; he ordered thousands of arrests and summary executions. When Castro came into office, he canceled elections, terminated the free press, and turned Cuba into the island prison that still exists today.

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Cubans havent been able to freely read about their own oppression since Castro took power. (Cuba, though, has nearly eradicated the scourge of inequality, with most people making around 20 bucks a month.) And the only possible reason any American would feel the need to defend that dictators programs  Sanders once said Castro educated the children, gave them health care  is because theyre sympathetic to the cause.

What might be helpful in explaining the nuances of [Sanderss] views on the Soviet Union & the international left would be a degree of literacy about them from commentators, CNNs Andrew Kaczynski recently noted. Bernie, after all, was always critical of authoritarianism in the Soviet Union.

Can you imagine this kind of goodwill being extended to someone who had spent 50 years praising fascist regimes? Its truly unfathomable. The Soviet Union was authoritarianism  it had no other way to exist. When Sanders was honeymooning in Moscow, refuseniks  fellow Jews he didnt think enough about to mention once between the singing and drinking  were still begging to leave the place.

But okay, lets concede for the sake of argument that Bernie was genuinely impressed by some of the commissars more liberal reform ideas. Sanders claimed that Americans could learn a lot from the Soviet Union. So which of these nuanced ideas did Bernie admire? Does he still admire them? Its a shame theres no one at CNN who has access to the candidate and can ask these questions.

When Voxs Ezra Klein, joining the effort to reimagine Sanders as some innocuous idealist, argued that the nowDemocratic Party favorite isnt really running on socialist economic ideas (highly debatable) but rather on a socialist ethic, a deep, animating belief that our political and economic system is unjust, he inadvertently hit on an ugly truth.

Theres little doubt that Bernie believes collectivism  the discarding of property rights, for starters  offers a more equitable and decent option than capitalism. Bernies career has never been propelled by policy, most of them untenable here, but rather by class warfare.

And younger voters are, and often have been, more susceptible to the ethics of socialism. At this point in history, theyve not seen the economic infeasibility of those ideas, many of the massive disasters spawned by them, or the coercion thats inevitably required to make them work.

Or, maybe they dont care.

A number of people  some on the right, who are increasingly comfortable with statist economic ideas  have told me that no one wants to relitigate the 1960s or Bernies old opinions. Socialism is not the pejorative it once was. Voters, they say, are uninterested in a candidates decades-old actions or positions.

I suspect there are a few thousand people in Florida who still care very much about Cuban totalitarianism and who might disagree. Its also worth remembering that Bernie defended a Communist dictator this weekend  a dictator whose brother still holds millions of people hostage. Bernie has never walked back his positions.

No, Bernie isnt Stalin, but he also isnt some naive college freshman high off of reading his first Chomsky screed. Bernie is a socialist. Hes been a lifelong defender of authoritarians. Were debating his positions. If it were really about Denmark, Bernie wouldnt have defended virtually every Communist tyrant hes ever been asked about over the past 50 years. This is who he was, and more importantly, this is who he is right now.

More from National Review
BELLINGHAM, Wash., Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- eXp Realty, The Real Estate Cloud Brokerage and a subsidiary of eXp World Holdings, Inc. (EXPI), today announced that Chuck and Angela Fazio and Revelation Real Estate, one of the largest independent brokerages in the United States, have joined eXp Realty.



Revelation Real Estate has been ranked No. 1 in production for a single office in the East Valley of Arizona for many years and was among the top, single-office brokerages in the nation in 2019, according to REAL Trends. Revelation Real Estate is consistently recognized as a top-producing brokerage, with more than $1.7 billion in annual sales in 2018. Chuck and Angela Fazio are the co-founders of Revelation Real Estate, and they have been in the real estate business for 20 years.

As an independent brokerage, we have been able to stay ahead of the curve for 15 years, said Angela Fazio. In our marketplace, we more than doubled the market share of any other single office, and did so for years, but we recognized that this industry is rapidly changing and that eXp is able to fill in the gaps that we cant. eXp is the answer and we went for it.

Todays announcement reaffirms that we are building an innovative brokerage that attracts top producers and creates a new level of opportunity for independent brokerage owners to succeed, while continuing to provide the best environment and tools for their agents, said eXp Realty President of Growth Dave Conord. eXp Realty is committed to empowering agents with tools, technology and training to thrive and grow their own businesses. We are excited to welcome Angela and Chuck and all of the great agents from Revelation, and our entire company will benefit from their expertise and passion for serving their clients.

About eXp Realty

eXp Realty is an eXp World Holdings, Inc. (EXPI) company. eXp World Holdings also operates VirBELA.

eXp Realty, The Real Estate Cloud Brokerage, is the largest residential real estate brokerage by geography in North America. It is one of the fastest-growing firms with more than 26,000 agents across North America, the United Kingdom and Australia. As a subsidiary of a publicly traded company, eXp Realty uniquely offers real estate professionals within its ranks opportunities to earn eXp World Holdings stock for production and contributions to overall company growth.

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VirBELA offers a modern, cloud-based environment focused on education and team development with clients in various industries from government to retail. VirBELA developed eXp Realtys current cloud campus, which provides 24/7 access to collaborative tools, training and socialization for the companys agents and staff.

For more information or to contact a local eXp Realty agent, visit www.exprealty.com.

Media Relations Contact:

Cynthia Nowak

Vice President, Marketing and Communications, eXp Realty

360.419.5285 ext. 116

cynthia.nowak@exprealty.net

Investor Relations Contact:

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360.761.4393

investors@expworldholdings.com
Seven of the eight candidates still in the race are expected to appear at the Charleston, South Carolina debate.

Democrats remaining in the race to challenge President Donald Trump in November will gather in Charleston, South Carolina on Tuesday night just days before voters in that state make their choice for the nomination known in a statewide primary election.

Tuesdays showdown, the 10th one, will begin at 8pm local time (01:00 GMT on Wednesday) and will be hosted by CBS News and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute. The event will air on the CBS television network as well as its streaming platforms and BET. Twitter is a debate partner, and voters can use the hashtag #DemDebate to submit questions that might be posed to the candidates.

Moderators include CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor Norah ODonnell and CBS This Morning cohost Gayle King, along with senior foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan, chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett and 60 Minutes correspondent Bill Whitaker.

Seven of the eight candidates still in the race are expected to appear  former Vice President Joe Biden, Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, former Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and billionaires Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer. The eighth candidate, Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, did not qualify under rules established by the Democratic National Committee.

Sanderss strong showing and now-undisputed status as frontrunner mean he will likely find himself on the receiving end of many of his rivals attacks. But if he is worried about such attacks, it was not showing at campaign rallies during the weekend. In a rally on the campus of the University of Houston in Texas, he sounded like a candidate who has already secured the nomination.

If working people and young people of this city, black and white and Latino, gay or straight, if our people stand together, come out to vote, were going to win here in Texas, he said.

Biden, seen until recently as the likely nominee, desperately needs to stop Sanderss momentum in order to keep his candidacy alive through Super Tuesday on March 3, when 14 states hold primaries and award one-third of the delegates needed for the nomination.

Until recently, Biden held a commanding deal in polls in South Carolina  which is almost 30 percent African American  but his numbers tanked following poor showings in Iowa and New Hampshire. He now leads Sanders by less than four points in the state.

Buttigieg, who has struggled among black voters, is not expected to do well in South Carolina but could benefit from holding himself up as the moderate alternative to the progressive Sanders, taking shots at the latters more radical and politically unpalatable economic policies such as Medicare-for-All and student loan forgiveness.





The participation of the Congressional Black Caucus in the event, along with South Carolinas high number of black voters, would suggest that racial issues will play a large role in the evenings discussion. Even though he is not on the February 29 ballot, Bloomberg is likely to face scrutiny yet again for a controversial stock-and-frisk policy when he was New York City mayor that critics called racist.

For candidates still struggling in the single digits in national polls and with no wins in the early voting states, namely Klobuchar and Warren, the debate could easily be their last chance to appeal to voters on a national stage.

Speaking to reporters in Denver over the weekend, Warren continued the attacks on rival Bloomberg that served her so well during the debate in Nevada last week, calling him the riskiest candidate standing on that stage because of his history of hiding his taxes, his history of harassment of women and his history of defending racist policies.

Steyer shied away from criticism of Bloomberg during campaign stops in South Carolina on Monday, opting instead to focus his attention on Sanders. He told more than 100 people gathered at a Monday breakfast gathering on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, that he loves the diversity of the Democratic Party but that unity is the only way to defeat Trump in November.

He warned: We cant nominate somebody who is going to divide us and who is not bringing all the Democrats.
(Newser)  A lawyer for Julian Assange complained Tuesday that the WikiLeaks founder was handcuffed 11 times, stripped naked twice, and had court papers taken away on the first day of a hearing on his extradition to the United States, per the AP. Attorney Edward Fitzgerald told a judge that the treatment of Assange at London's Belmarsh Prison could be a contempt of this court. The extradition hearing opened on Monday at Woolwich Crown Court, which is located next to the prison. District Judge Vanessa Baraitser, who is hearing the case, said she had no power to act unless Assange became unable to participate in the proceedings, which are expected to last several months. "If it comes to that, please let me know, the judge said.

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Another lawyer for Assange, Gareth Peirce, told the judge on Tuesday that Assange was struggling and finding it hard to concentrate. Assange, 48, is wanted in the US on espionage charges over the leaking of classified government documents a decade ago. US prosecutors accuse Assange of conspiring with Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to crack a password, hack into a Pentagon computer, and release hundreds of thousands of secret diplomatic cables and military files on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They allege that WikiLeaks' publication of the unedited documents put US intelligence sources who were mentioned in them at risk of torture of death. Assange says he was acting as a journalist entitled to First Amendment protection. (On Monday, prosecutors disputed that journalist argument.)
LONDON - A lawyer for Julian Assange complained Tuesday that the WikiLeaks founder was handcuffed 11 times, stripped naked twice and had court papers taken away on the first day of a hearing on his extradition to the United States.

Attorney Edward Fitzgerald told a judge that the treatment of Assange at Londons Belmarsh Prison could be a contempt of this court. The extradition hearing opened on Monday at Woolwich Crown Court, which is located next to the prison.

District Judge Vanessa Baraitser, who is hearing the case, said she had no power to act unless Assange became unable to participate in the proceedings, which are expected to last several months.

If it comes to that, please let me know, the judge said.

Another lawyer for Assange, Gareth Peirce, told the judge on Tuesday that Assange was struggling and finding it hard to concentrate.

Assange, 48, is wanted in the U.S. on espionage charges over the leaking of classified government documents a decade ago.

U.S. prosecutors accuse Assange of conspiring with U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to crack a password, hack into a Pentagon computer and release hundreds of thousands of secret diplomatic cables and military files on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

They allege that WikiLeaks publication of the unedited documents put U.S. intelligence sources who were mentioned in them at risk of torture of death.

Assange says he was acting as a journalist entitled to First Amendment protection. His lawyers argue that the U.S. charges  which carry a maximum sentence of 175 years in prison  are a politically motivated abuse of power.

Defence lawyers also deny that Assange put lives at risk. Attorney Mark Summers said that in 2010 WikiLeaks worked with international news organizations to publish the trove of files in edited form.

He said that the following year Assange phoned the White House to warn that a password published in a book about WikiLeaks by journalists from The Guardian newspaper  one of WikiLeaks then-media partners  could allow people to view the full unredacted cache of documents. Summers said Assange had warned that unless we do something, then peoples lives are put at risk.

WikiLeaks relationship with its media partners, which included The Guardian and The New York Times, soon soured, and in 2011 WikiLeaks began releasing large numbers of the uncensored documents.

The Guardian said it was entirely wrong to say the Guardians 2011 WikiLeaks book led to the publication of unredacted U.S. government files.

The book contained a password which the authors had been told by Julian Assange was temporary and would expire and be deleted in a matter of hours, the newspaper said in a statement. The book also contained no details about the whereabouts of the files.

Assange has been jailed in England since April 2019, when he was evicted from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. He took refuge in the embassy seven years earlier to avoid being sent to Sweden over allegations of rape and sexual assault.

A British court handed him a 50-week sentence for jumping bail in 2012.

The extradition hearing is expected to continue for the rest of the week, then take a break before resuming in May.
A member of Task Force-Mali's Canadian Medical Emergency Response Team during an exercise in Mali, March 31, 2019.

Canada Department of National Defence

The Canadian military made a statement supporting women in uniform days after a spiritual author suggested women should "stick to being feminine" instead of serving in the military.

Author and columnist Lori Alexander questioned "how men could be attracted to women dressed as men like female police officers and females in the military."

Alexander's message received over 5,000 comments as of Monday afternoon, with criticism from many current and former service members and law-enforcement officers.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Canadian military tweeted a video supporting women in uniform days after a spiritual author suggested that women should not serve in the military and should instead "stick to being feminine."

"They've always dressed for the job. They've always dressed like us. They are Us," the official Twitter account for the Canadian Armed Forces in the United States said in a video featuring women in military uniform.

Canadian Forces in  (@CAFinUS) February 23, 2020

The message came three days after author and columnist Lori Alexander questioned "how men could be attracted to women dressed as men like female police officers and females in the military," though the Canadian military's tweet did not directly reference Alexander's comments.

"These are men's jobs," Alexander said in a tweet that went viral. "If they weren't, then women could dress like women in these jobs but they can't. Stick to being feminine, women."

Alexander's original tweet spread across social media and military groups, receiving more than 5,000 comments as of Monday afternoon. Many current and former service members and law-enforcement officers criticized her statement with their own experience in their respective organizations.

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RDO Lisa Burnett (@DCP_RDOBURNETT) February 21, 2020

Alexander, who authors the self-help blog "The Transformed Wife," frequently provokes controversy with posts asking questions like "should mothers have careers."

A mother of four who describes herself as a "Born Again Christian," Alexander has claimed she received support for the views expressed on her blog.

"It took off like wildfire," Alexander told USA Today in December 2018. "Of course, in general, men prefer women without tons of debt. People were telling me to take it down, saying I was shaming women. But I also got support  why shouldn't I be able to speak my opinion to women who are virgins, with no debt or tattoos, encouraging them?"

Roughly 15% of troops in the Canadian armed forces are women, the service found in a 2018 study. The number is generally the same in the US military, where 16 to 18% of troops are women, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.

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The United States on Tuesday urged Afghan leaders to unite for upcoming talks with the Taliban, pointedly not congratulating President Ashraf Ghani on his disputed victory.

In a statement a week after the results were published, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said the US "notes" the announcement and warned against "destabilizing actions." She confirmed that Ghani had agreed to postpone the presidential inauguration that had been set for Thursday -- two days before the expected US signing of a peace deal with the Taliban.

"The Afghan people want peace," Ortagus said.

"It is time to focus not on electoral politics, but on taking steps toward a lasting peace." She called for feuding leaders to set up "an agreed national framework for peace that is fully representative" to prepare for talks with the Taliban, which are expected to begin in March.

The State Department specifically warned against "purported efforts to establish parallel government structures," in a clear reference to a call by Ghani's rival Abdullah Abdullah to set up a rival government.

"Such moves call into question the country's sovereignty and unity that the United States strongly supports," Ortagus said.

The US stance is in sharp contrast with that of the European Union, whose top diplomat Josep Borrell quickly congratulated Ghani in a telephone call. Regional power India, a key ally of the internationally recognized government, has also congratulated Ghani.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The UAE-Russian Business Forum held in Sharjah and organised by the Sharjah Economic Development Department, SEDD, in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and Industry, discussed ways to enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries and focused on the importance of benefiting from the economic, commercial and large investment elements of both sides.

It was also aimed at exploring more opportunities for future cooperation, considering the strategic initiatives and projects in the two countries and their future directions for development, reported WAM..

The forum was held in the presence of Dr Matar Hamed Al Neyadi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Industry; Sultan Abdullah Al Suwaidi, Chairman of SEDD; Aleksey Gruzdev, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, and a number of officials and businessmen from the two countries.

Al Suwaidi pointed out that bilateral relations between the UAE and Russia are witnessing development in all areas of economic and technological cooperation, confirmed by the volume of non-oil trade exchange recorded in the last six years, which amounted to $15 billion.

In his speech, Al Neyadi noted that the UAE pays great attention to diversifying its economic base and enhancing the role of innovation as an engine for development.

The forum witnessed two panel discussions. The first one, "Prospects for Cooperation and Investment in Knowledge-based Industries between UAE and Russia", saw the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Mubadala Investment Company, Rosgeo Authority, and VR-Technologies as participants.

The second panel discussion, Sharjah...a Stimulating Investment Environment, dealt with a number of specialised papers, where Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, presented a speech on the role of the complex in researching and testing future technical investments, attracting technology and localising it to represent the role of Sharjah as a capital for knowledge investment.

Also, a paper titled Investment Opportunities in Sharjah Healthcare City was presented by Dr Abdulaziz Saeed Bin Butti Al Muhairi, Director of Sharjah Health Authority, while Mohamed Juma Al Masshrakh, CEO of Sharjah FDI Office, also presented a paper on Investment Opportunities in the Emirate of Sharjah.

Mohammed bin Kuwair, Senior Manager of International Business at Bee'ah, made a presentation on Sharjah...a Sustainable Environment. Later on, the session concluded with a speech by Ahmed bin Saed Al Suwaidi, Head of Commercial Investment Section at SEDD, during which he discussed the economic opportunities in Sharjah.

The forum witnessed the signing of a number of MoUs and agreements. The first MoU was between SEDD and Sharjah Media City, through which the two parties seek to activate their role in developing economic activity. Another MoU was signed between SEDD and the Russian Business Council, signed by Al Suwaidi and Oleg Lafrik, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Russian Business Council.-- Tradearabia News Service
Daniel Park, a Penn graduate student, and Faraz Zaidi, a Wistar Institute project manager, use an ImmunoSpot machine to test the immune response of a vaccine for the new coronavirus. Read more

Problems with a government-created coronavirus test has limited the U.S. capacity to rapidly increase testing, just as the outbreak has entered a worrisome new phase in countries around the world.

While South Korea has run more than 35,000 coronavirus tests, the U.S. has tested only 426 people for the virus, not including people who returned on evacuation flights. Only a handful of state laboratories can currently run tests outside of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta because the CDC kits sent out nationwide a week and a half ago included a faulty component.

Currently, U.S. guidelines recommend testing for a very narrow group of people - those who display respiratory symptoms and have recently traveled to China or had close contact with an infected person.

But many public health experts believe that in light of evidence the disease can take root and spread in Singapore, South Korea, Iran, and Italy, it's time to broaden testing in the United States. The small number of U.S. cases thus far may be a reflection of limited testing, not of the virus' spread. Infectious disease experts fear that aside from the 14 cases picked up by public health surveillance, there may be other people, undetected, mixed in with colds and flu. What scares them the most is that the virus is beginning to spread locally in countries outside China, but no one knows if that's the case here, because they aren't checking.

"Coronavirus testing kits have not been widely distributed to our hospitals and public health labs. Those without these kits must send samples all the way to Atlanta, rather than testing them on site, wasting precious time as the virus spreads," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

On Friday, the agency said it wasn't yet ready to broaden its testing.

"We are going to continue to look at travel history and see when and if there's the right reasons to expand that beyond China," said Nancy Messonnier, a top CDC official, who added that a pilot of expanded testing in five cities should be "on track" for this week.

But Tuesday, an agency spokesperson said that CDC could not commit to shipping the new test by the end of this week.

The nation's public health laboratories, exasperated by the malfunctioning tests in the face of a global public health emergency, have taken the unusual step of appealing to the Food and Drug Administration for permission to develop and use their own tests. In Hawaii, authorities are so alarmed about the lack of testing ability that they requested permission from the CDC to use tests from Japan. A medical director at a hospital laboratory in Boston is developing an in-house test but is frustrated that his laboratory won't be able to use it without going through an onerous and time-consuming review process, even if demand surges.

"This is an extraordinary request, but this is an extraordinary time," said Scott Becker, the chief executive officer of the Association of Public Health Laboratories, which is asking permission from the FDA to allow the laboratories to create and implement their own laboratory-developed tests.

At one hospital in the Mid-Atlantic region, a patient who recently returned from Singapore, which has 90 cases, was admitted to the hospital with mild upper respiratory symptoms, according to a hospital official who requested anonymity to protect the patient's privacy. The patient tested negative for flu. With the person's underlying medical conditions, the person was at higher risk for severe illness if this was a coronavirus infection.

Even though clinicians suspected a coronavirus infection, and the person was treated as if they had one and placed in isolation, the patient was not tested.

"If this person had returned from mainland China, they would have been tested for coronavirus," the official said. The patient recovered and was discharged to their home.

Testing also affects other aspects of care.

People with confirmed cases can enroll in clinical trials for therapeutics. For patients who need more intense care in a facility with a biocontainment unit, that facility can receive reimbursement from the federal government for care, the official said.

The CDC announced a week and a half ago that it would add pilot coronavirus testing to its flu surveillance network in five cities, a step toward expanded testing of people with respiratory symptoms who didn't have other obvious risk factors. Specimens that test negative for flu will be tested for coronavirus. But that expanded testing has been delayed because of an unspecified problem with one of the compound used in the CDC test. About half of state labs got inconclusive results when using the compound, so CDC said it would make a new version and redistribute it.

To public health experts, the delays - and lack of transparency over what, exactly, is wrong with the test - are extremely concerning.

"We have over 700 flights every month between Hawaii and Japan or South Korea," where the virus is spreading in the community, said Hawaii's Lt. Gov. Josh Green, who is also an emergency physician. It's unlikely that CDC would allow state labs to accept a test from another nation, he said, but "this is an exceptional circumstance."

In a letter to the FDA, the Association of Public Health Laboratories, which represents state and local laboratories, asked the agency to use "enforcement discretion" to allow the laboratories to create and use their own laboratory-developed tests.

"While we appreciate the many efforts underway at CDC to provide a diagnostic assay to our member labs . . . this has proven challenging and we find ourselves in a situation that requires a quicker local response," said the letter, which was co-signed by Becker. "We are now many weeks into the response with still no diagnostic or surveillance test available outside of CDC for the vast majority of our member laboratories."

Currently, Becker said, only five public health laboratories - in Illinois, California, Nevada, Nebraska and Tennessee - are able to use the CDC test.

Because a public health emergency has been declared, certified hospital laboratories that usually have the ability to internally develop and validate their own tests can't use them without applying for an "emergency use authorization," a major barrier to deploying the test.

"I think a lot of people, myself included, think it's very likely this virus might be circulating at low levels in the United States right now. We can't know for sure because we haven't seen it," said Michael Mina, associate medical director of clinical microbiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital. He said the optimal testing scenario for flu is a 30-minute turnaround on a test, but right now, shipping samples to Atlanta to test for coronavirus means a 48-hour wait.

"A lot of hospitals are trying to do something similar, which is get a test up and running on an instrument, get it validated in-house," Mina said. "I think all of us are coming to the same realization that we can't do anything as long as this remains under the control of CDC and state labs."

Marion Koopmans, a virologist at the Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands, which has performed a few hundred tests on behalf of more than a dozen countries, said that developing a test for a new pathogen is complicated and involves refinement and a back and forth between researchers who are constantly learning from one another.

"That is typical for a new disease outbreak. No one actually knows how this works, so you really have to build these assays on the fly," Koopmans said.

But as the U.S. is still struggling to ramp up its capacity, the coronavirus test was added to the sentinel flu surveillance system in the Netherlands two weeks ago. The test was recently rolled out to 12 high-performing molecular diagnostic laboratories in the Netherlands so that they can be ready to scale up if demand increases.

Part of the problem in the United States is the tension between regulations intended to ensure a high quality standard for tests and the need to roll out diagnostic capabilities very quickly. No test is perfect, and with high stakes for missing or misidentifying a case, public health officials want to make sure that tests are as accurate as possible and are validated by labs that run them. But the slowness may also reflect years of underinvestment in public health infrastructure - and a bias toward developing treatments that may seem more appealing to the public.

The public health system is not sufficiently built to surge very rapidly, said Luciana Borio, the former director of Medical and Biodefense Preparedness Policy at the National Security Council and currently a vice president at In-Q-Tel, a strategic investor that supports the U.S. intelligence community. Over the years, when given limited dollars, we applied it toward vaccines and therapeutics, more so than diagnostic tests. I think theres this idea: the diagnostic test is not going to save my life. But the fact is they underpin so much of the response and deserve a lot more attention.
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Linkedin Louisa Veronica Hartono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 25, 2020

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.

Examples are Law No. 23/2004 on the elimination of domestic violence, the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women through Law No. 7/1984, and most recently, the revision of the 1974 Marriage Law to increase the legal marriage age to 19 for both genders, which was earlier 16 for females and 19 for males.

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Syracuse, N.Y. -- The Syracuse womens lacrosse team kept its foot on the pedal two days after a competitive early season victory.

The Orange (5-1) rolled past Colgate 21-4 in the Carrier Dome on Monday night, picking up its fourth straight win. SU defeated No. 6 Northwestern 16-11 in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday.

Megan Carney led the way for Syracuse against the Big Red (1-2), logging four goals and two assists, while Tewaaraton Award candidate Emily Hawryschuk (three goals) picked up her fifth hat trick in six games this season.

Sam Swart also recorded three goals, to go with an assist, while Meaghan Tyrrell posted two goals and two assists. Orange goalies Asa Goldstock and Hannah Van Middelem combined to save five of Colgates nine shots on goal.

SU returns to action on Friday when it hosts Maryland (1-2) on Friday at 3 p.m. That contest will be Syracuses last game in the Dome before it closes for renovations.

Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider subscribing to our Orange Insider package.
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
HAMILTON - The chaos that has engulfed Canada's national rail system reached southern Ontario commuters on Tuesday as a fresh wave of blockades caused major delays and service suspensions across a popular regional train network.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ontario Provincial Police officers make arrests at a rail blockade in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, near Belleville, Ont., on Monday Feb. 24, 2020. A police operation that saw officers descend on a rail blockade on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in central Ontario and arrest several protesters has cleared the way for train service to resume. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

HAMILTON - The chaos that has engulfed Canada's national rail system reached southern Ontario commuters on Tuesday as a fresh wave of blockades caused major delays and service suspensions across a popular regional train network.

The company that operates GO Transit said at least three blockades caused outright cancellations or significant slowdowns across all of its routes, which cover the Greater Toronto Area and beyond.

"These are all related to security incidents that are quickly evolving," Metrolinx spokeswoman Anne Marie Aikins said, noting at least one of the two Toronto-area blockades she blamed for the disruptions cropped up and dissipated quickly. "It's an extremely unfortunate, difficult situation for us to manage and for our customers to manage."

Toronto police did not immediately comment on the most recent blockades erected in solidarity with the hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation in northwestern British Columbia.

But in a tweet Tuesday evening, they said they responded to a protest in the city's west end to keep the peace and limit disruption to "critical infrastructure."

Video footage and photos on social media showed protesters around a rail line, but police would not confirm if it had been blocked.

Protesters in multiple provinces have been mounting rail and road blockades for nearly three weeks as a show of support for the chiefs, who oppose a natural gas pipeline project that cuts across their traditional territory and are engaged in contentious negotiations with the federal government over police presence on their land.

Smaller blockades also surfaced in Quebec and other parts of Ontario on Tuesday.

Delays on GO Transit began Monday afternoon when a blockade went up in Hamilton. The disruption along what the commuter service describes as its busiest route left thousands of passengers scrambling to make alternative travel arrangements.

The Hamilton Police Service said protesters left the blockade site in the city peacefully at around 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Another popular route running west of Toronto was suspended altogether. A route covering an area east of the city was briefly shut down before resuming with significant delays expected, Aikins said.

GO Train service in Hamilton and all points on the route to Niagara Falls, Ont., had been halted since Monday evening, said Aikins. Shuttle buses were running to help commuters, she said.

A group called Wet'suwet'en Strong: Hamilton in Solidarity, claimed responsibility for the blockade.

"It's a new day, and we started it by burning the injunction delivered by CN rail!" the group wrote on Facebook.

"Remember why we're out here; the violence the state has perpetrated towards Indigenous land defenders and their supporters, the forced removal and criminalization of Indigenous people from their lands."

Concordia University professor Carolina Cambre had her travel delayed Tuesday due to the blockades, but she supports the demonstrators despite the hassle.

"I feel that there's a greater story here to think about the historical injustice and inactivity or lack of appropriate response on behalf of the government," she said while sitting at a GO Station near Hamilton. "The people who end up looking bad are the Canadian governments here, at all levels."

Tom Nederpel cancelled plans to take transit into Toronto on Tuesday afternoon when he heard of the blockade, fearing he wouldn't be able to take the train to return home to Dundas, Ont., later that night.

"They're completely out of order," he said. "They're blocking railways that don't belong to them. They're blocking national railways, and businesses and commuters."

Two other disruptions surfaced on Tuesday, one along a highway near the site of an ongoing land dispute in Caledonia, Ont., and the other along a stretch of rail in Sherbrooke, Que., about 150 kilometres east of Montreal.

Both blockades were being maintained by small groups of demonstraters, and Ontario Provincial Police said the protest along Highway 6 has kept the road closed since Monday.

Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett said the federal government was still hoping for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

"That's why I have been in regular communication with hereditary chiefs over the last week and I have communicated that we are available to meet in person any time."

A leader of a B.C. First Nation that borders Wet'suwet'en territory said 14 people were arrested on Monday at a blockade outside New Hazelton, B.C.

Gitxsan Nation Hereditary Chief Spookwx said he and three other hereditary chiefs were taken into custody as RCMP removed a demonstration on the CN Rail main line in northern B.C.

A similar blockade was set up by the Gitxsan earlier this month and removed as a show of good faith on Feb. 13.

But Spookwx, who also goes by Norm Stephens, said the protest resumed because RCMP have not acted quickly enough to leave the Wet'suwet'en territory.

All 14 demonstrators have since been released by Mounties, he said.

A similar operation from the Ontario Provincial Police on Monday resulted in the arrest of 10 protesters who had been occupying a stretch of track in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near Belleville, Ont. They, too, were released with conditions.

Police said a smaller encampment remained in place on the CN-owned line on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Canadian Pacific Railway obtained an injunction Tuesday to end a blockade that began in early February in the Mohawk community of Kahnawake, south of Montreal, a spokeswoman said.

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The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake called the move a "confrontational tactic," adding it was developing plans to challenge the edict.

"We must make it clear to our own people that this injunction will not be executed on this Territory," Grand Chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton said in a statement. "It is truly unfortunate that CP is taking this rash course of action, which will only add to the problems at hand.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault stressed caution in ending the blockade in Kahnawake.

"Of course we have to be very, very careful," he said in Montreal. "But at the same time, we've been in this situation for 20 days now, people in Quebec are suffering and I think we need to dismantle those barricades."

with files from Liam Casey in Toronto, Sidhartha Banerjee and Christopher Reynolds in Montreal and Elizabeth Leighton in Vancouver.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 25, 2020.
Ukraine and Armenia are stepping up dialogue to strengthen cooperation in various fields.

Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine Yulia Sokolovska discussed this issue with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Ukraine Tigran Seyranyan, the Ministry of Social Policy reports.

"The parties agreed that Kyiv and Yerevan should strengthen cooperation in economy, humanitarian and social policy, culture, science and computer technology," the statement reads.

It is noted that since the previous meeting of the Ukraine-Armenia Intergovernmental Commission took place in 2013, the parties agreed that a meeting of the Commission co-chairs should take place in the coming months to outline further steps of cooperation development.

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[February 25, 2020] MANTL Raises $8 Million in Series A Funding to Power the Modernization of US Banks and Credit Unions

MANTL, a leading account opening software solution for banks and credit unions, announced today an $8 million Series A funding round led by Point72 Ventures, with additional participation from Endicott Group. MANTL's software platform allows banks and credit unions to quickly launch next-generation digital capabilities on top of their existing infrastructure, enabling them to kickstart their digital transformation with limited disruption to their day-to-day processes. "We've seen a rift where new FinTech companies are able to leverage the latest technologies to grow faster and more efficiently, while banks and credit unions (where most people actually keep their money) are tethered to their outdated systems and vendors, and struggle to remain competitive," said Nathaniel Harley, CEO and co-founder of MANTL. "That divide continues today. MANTL builds solutions that can be easily integrated with legacy core banking systems to deliver significant improvements to our customers' bottom line. We exist to give these banks and credit unions the technology they need to grow." "Smaller banks and credit unions play an important role in the U.S. economy, but as they face growing competition from large banks and fintech startups they are at a major disadvantage from a technology perspective," said Tripp Shriner, Partner at Point72 Ventures. "MANTL helps level the playing ield by enabling smaller financial institutions to modernize their customer experience and operations without needing to change their existing infrastructure."



MANTL's initial product, an online account opening solution, enables banks and credit unions to quickly modernize a key element and fundamental first stem of the customer journey. With industry-leading time to market, bank customers can go live in less than 3 months and gain access to best-in-class fintech providers, resulting in greater efficiency and improved risk management. For example: On average, customers open a checking, savings or CD account through MANTL's white-labeled platform in two minutes and thirty-seven seconds, leading to conversion rates that are nearly 4x higher than prior solutions.

On average, 92% of KYC/AML decisions are automated using MANTL, leading to a 67% reduction in fraudulent account activity.

MANTL customers have seen a 325% increase in initial funding amounts - driving billions in deposits raised across the platform to date.

MANTL's solution gives banks and credit unions access to more than thirty best-in-class fintech providers and solutions, such as automated customer due diligence. As a result, MANTL's account opening solution has helped its bank customers open hundreds of thousands of new bank accounts while also improving the customer experience:

"MANTL's automation has allowed us to grow our deposits in a cost-effective manner," said Cooper Thomas, VP of Operations at Web Bank.

"MANTL's market-leading solution has driven significant value to Radius consumer checking strategy," said Mike Butler, CEO of Radius bank.

"MANTL's API-first open architecture allows us to access best-in-class technology partners to better serve our customers," said Mark Tracy, CTO at Cambridge Savings Bank. The success of its consumer account opening product with its Core Wrapper API - which allows MANTL to easily integrate with all major core banking systems, such as FIS, Fiserv, Jack Henry, and COCC, as well as best-in-class third parties in a one-to-many approach - is paving the way for the company's fast-growing product offering. About MANTL: MANTL is a banking technology firm offering the leading account opening software. Our platform empowers regional and community banks and credit unions to grow up to 78% faster. These institutions play a critical role in our economy and we're passionate about preserving that. Founded in 2016, MANTL's customers have raised billions in core deposits to date. MANTL is a privately held company headquartered in New York with the backing of prominent venture capital investors. For more information, visit www.mantl.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005329/en/

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AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi



has condemned the violence in Delhi over the amended Citizenship law that has claimed the lives of five people including a police constable, and urged the Centre to take steps to bring the situation under control.

Addressing a protest here on Monday night against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), he said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah your police, the Delhi police was hurling stones along with the rioters. We condemn it(violence).. it is a matter of shame that violence occurred."



"The president of a foreign country comes to Delhi and violence takes place. It is a matter of shame for the country..," the AIMIM leader said adding violence in any form was "condemnable."He asked Amit Shah to take steps to check the violence in the national capital.

Owaisi also said he would meet Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and request him to "impose a stay" on NPR.

The state cabinet had at a recent meeting, presided over by Rao, urged the Centre to abrogate the CAA.

The Cabinet has decided to pass a resolution in the Assembly against the CAA.

In a tweet last evening, Owaisi alleged that the violence in Delhi was a result of "incitement" by an ex MLA and BJP leader.

"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, itll spread," he tweeted.

A head constable was among the seven people killed while at least 50 others, including several paramilitary and Delhi Police personnel, were injured as violence spiralled over CAA in northeast Delhi on Monday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from East Delhi Gautam Gambhir, here on Tuesday, called out fellow party leader Kapil Mishra for his "provocative" remark amid clashes that has claimed 10 lives and injured many others, including policemen, in the national capital.

"This is unfortunate. Whoever -- whether from the BJP, the Congress or the AAP -- has done this, strict action must be taken against them. Kapil Mishra's speech is not acceptable. This is about Delhi not about any political party," Gambhir said after visiting a hospital where cops injured in the violence are being treated.

Going against the stated party-line, Gambhir, in fact, called the Shaheen Bagh protest "peaceful". "Shaheen Bagh was peaceful protest all this while. But US President Donald Trump is here and there are violent protests -- this is not fair," he said.

While defending the right to peaceful protest, he hit out at the violence that rocked the national capital. "How can you stand with a pistol in front of a cop," he asked, referring to the photograph from the Jaffrabad area that has gone viral.

Mishra, in a video that has also gone viral, is seen telling people in the presence of cops that they would "hit the streets" in three days if anti-CAA blockade was not cleared.

While Mishra has been widely criticised for ythe statement, he defended it. Hitting out at nay-sayers, he tweeted, "It's me who is receiving death threats...Only terror sympathisers have problems with me." The clashes between anti- and pro-new citizenship law (CAA) activists have claimed 10 lives and left more than 150 injured. Head constable Ratan Lal died on Monday, while several injured security personnel are hospitalised.

The clashes continued despite appeal by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
AP

SPRINGFIELD  A nonprofit foster organization spent 2019 offering traumatized teenage youth in care alternatives to psychotropic medication and the group said the approach is working.

In 2016, there were 53,898 children that, at one time or another, entered into foster care in Illinois, according to a 2018 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services investigation. Of those, 10,109, or 18 percent, were prescribed psychotropic medications at a cost of more than $10.7 million to the federal government.
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.
25.02.2020 LISTEN

The ongoing issues relating to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) are becoming more interesting, with the name of a former deputy Minister of Education, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, popping up.

He is reported as having signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lovely Professional University (LPU) on behalf of the GETFund in 2016.

The mystery about the MoU is that at the time the Deputy Minister signed the MoU, the GETFund Secretariat, had a substantive administrator.

Lovely Professional University is located in the state of Punjab in India.

The move smacks of the Deputy Minister hijacking the work of the GETFund administrator at the time, something which defeats the corporate governance.

It is not clear whether or not the MoU has been beneficial to Ghana or not.

Lovely Professional University is not well known among top Indian universities, and it is not clear what informed the signing of the MoU.

It is not clear whether or not some Ghanaian students have pursued programmes at LPU, as there are no such records at the GETFund Secretariat.

Mr. Okudzeto, who is also the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, in the Volta Region, is among the several top personalities that have spoken on the Auditor Generals performance report on the GETFund.

He is pushing for the establishment of a code of conduct barring all legislators, ministers and high-ranking officials from directly benefitting from GETFund scholarships intended for brilliant but needy students.

---GhananewsOnline
After days of "dilly-dallying"



over granting permission for Union Home Minister Amit Shah's proposed rally here on March 1, the Kolkata Police has finally accorded it, a senior BJP leader said on Tuesday.

The saffron party had on February 20 submitted a letter to the Kolkata Police seeking permission for the rally, he said.

"We have got the permission on Monday. Now things will move as per schedule. It will be a mega event," BJP state general secretary Rathindra Bose said.

Shah is scheduled to address the rally at Shaheed Minar Ground where state BJP leaders will felicitate him for the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the Parliament, party sources said.

This will be Shah's second visit to West Bengal after assuming the office of the Union home minister.

He had addressed a seminar on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 at Netaji Indoor Stadium on October 1 last year.

Earlier last week, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh had accused the Kolkata Police and the district administration of dilly-dallying over granting the permission by giving "lame excuses".

"The police is delaying the issue by citing board exams and said we will not be able to use loudspeakers during our programme," Ghosh had said.

The Madhyamik examinations began on February 18 and will end on February 27. The class 12 examinations will be conducted from March 12 to March 27.

The blaring of loudspeakers has been restricted for the examinations.

The TMC government had earlier denied police permission for several rallies of Amit Shah when he was the BJP president.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Berlin, Feb 25 : The number of people confirmed as injured after a car ploughed into a carnival crowd in Germany has increase to 52, police said on Tuesday.

Eighteen of those hurt in Monday's incident were children. In total 35 people remain in hospital, the BBC quoted the police as saying.

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

A silver Mercedes drove through plastic barricades set up for the parade and into a group of people at 2.45 p.m.

A 29-year-old German citizen was arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide.

The police said that the motive behind the attack was yet to be determines.

German newspaper Der Spiegel said in a report that the suspect was drunk at the time, although this claim was unconfirmed.

Frankfurt police chief Gerhard Bereswill said there had been a second arrest in Volksmaren, but did not say how the person was connected.

The person arrested was filming behind the car at the time, the BBC quoted German media reports as saying.
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that issues involving the Citizenship (Amendment) Act are up to India and asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants people to have religious freedom.

Trump, who held comprehensive talks with Modi on the second and the last day of his visit, said these were great and fantastic two days.

"I'm gonna be not at all controversial because...I don't want to blow the two days plus two days of travel on one answer, one little answer, like John will ask me one simple question and you will blow it out and that will be the end of the trip. You wont even talk about the trip. So I will be very conservative in my answers if you don't mind," Trump said at a press conference.

Describing the Kashmir issue as a "big problem" between India and Pakistan, he said it is "a thorn in a lot of people's sides" and reiterated his offer to mediate between the two countries to ease the tension.

"If anything I can do to mediate, I will do," he said, adding that Pakistan figured in his talks with Modi.

"I have good equation with Pakistan PM Imran Khan. They are working to control cross-border terrorism," he said.

He said he discussed the issue of religious freedom at length with Modi during his comprehensive talks and that the Indian leader wants people to have this freedom.

"We discussed it. Prime Minister Modi said they work very closely with Muslims," Trump replied when asked if raised the allegations of discrimination against Muslims in India.

Trump described Modi as a "terrific" leader and India as a "tremendous country".

"We did talk about religious freedom. Prime Minister Modi wants people to have religious freedom in India...If you look back India has worked hard for religious freedom," Trump said.

To a question about India's new citizenship law, he said, "I don't want to say anything on CAA. It is up to India. I hope it will take the right decision for its people."



Asked if he discussed the incidents of violence taking place during his visit here, he said that he didn't discuss individual attacks and "that is up to India".

He also said that India is buying a lot of military hardware from the US.

On the issue of trade, he said India is probably the nation with highest tariffs and noted that the Harley Davidson has to pay "huge amount of tariff".

The US has to be treated fairly, he added.

He also talked about his country's peace deal with the Taliban with Modi, and said that India will like to see it happen.

To a question about reports of Russia trying to influence the US presidential poll, he said intelligence agencies never shared such information with him.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
W orldwide stock markets have plunged for a second day due to fears around the global coronavirus outbreak.

The FTSE 100 dropped by 0.7 per cent by Tuesday lunchtime, having slipped by 3.3 per cent on Monday.

Mondays drop was the biggest fall in four years, and it saw more than 62 billion scrubbed from the value of the market index.

Tensions over Covid-19 are rising as Italy scrambles to contain a large outbreak of more than 280 cases in the north of the country and seven deaths.

It comes as Brits have been left trapped in a Tenerife hotel after it was put on lockdown due to an Italian national being diagnosed with the virus.

Coronavirus: Costa Adeje Hotel lockdown in Tenerife 1 /32 Coronavirus: Costa Adeje Hotel lockdown in Tenerife A police officer stands by a barrier in front of the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel where the number of coronavirus cases has doubled AP People stand on their balconies of the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel AP General view of H10 Hotel, which is on lockdown after novel coronavirus has been confirmed in Adeje Reuters Tourists sunbath at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace Hotel in La Caleta AFP via Getty Images Police officers stand outside of H10 Hotel, which is on lockdown after novel coronavirus has been confirmed in Adeje, on the Spanish island of Tenerife Reuters Spanish police officers stand outside the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in Tenerife, Canary Island, Spain AP Emergency workers rest at a health control outside H10 Hotel, which is on lockdown after novel coronavirus has been confirmed in in Adeje, on the Spanish island of Tenerife REUTERS PA AP A woman looks from a terrace of H10 Hotel, which is on lockdown after novel coronavirus has been confirmed in Adeje, on the Spanish island of Tenerife, Reuters General view taken on February 25, 2020 of the H10 Costa Adeje Palace Hotel in La Caleta, where hundreds of people were confined to their rooms after an Italian tourist was hospitalised with a suspected case of coronavirus. - Tourists staying in a four-star hotel on the Spanish island of Tenerife AFP via Getty Images H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in Tenerife, Canary Island, Spain, Google A police officer controls the road to the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in Tenerife, Canary Island AP via Reuters An employee wears a protective mask as he talks with guests inside a hotel under lockdown after a coronavirus case was identified in Adej via Reuters Tourists stand on the balcony of their rooms at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace Hotel in La Caleta AFP via Getty Images H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in Tenerife, Canary Island, Spain Google AFP via Getty Images A Spanish police officer sets a barrier blocking the access to the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in Tenerife, Canary Island, Spain AP A Spanish National Police car is parked outside a hotel under lockdown after a coronavirus case was identified in Adeje, in the Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife via Reuters Spanish police officers patrol outside the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in Tenerife, Canary Island AP Employees wearing protective masks arrange water bottles in the lobby of a hotel under lockdown after a coronavirus case was identified in Adeje, in the Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife via Reuters H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in Tenerife, Canary Island, Spain, Google H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in Tenerife, Canary Island, Spain, Google StreetView

Markets on the continent were harder hit than the UK.

On Tuesday, the Dax in Germany and Frances Cac 40 were 0.9 per cent lower each, having both fallen 4 per cent on Monday.

Spains Ibex was also more than 1 per cent lower after news broke of the positive case in the Canary Islands.

There was a slight rise on Tuesday morning as traders looked to take advantage of the previous days low prices.

The gentle upswing was also thanks to a cautious rise on the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong overnight.

But investors soon continued heading for the exit as it became clear the outbreak is far from being contained and will take a heavy toll on the global economy.

The FTSE 100s woes were also compounded by gains for the pound on hopes of a major fiscal spending boost in next months Budget.

Sterling lifted 0.3 per cent to 1.30 US dollars and 0.5 per cent to 1.20 euros.

Police officers block access to Schiavonia hospital in Monselice, near Venice / AFP via Getty Images

Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets, warned there was likely to be further stock market uncertainty to come as the outbreak develops.

He said: There is no question financial markets are coming round to the realisation that this particular crisis is likely to have a slightly longer shelf life than many thought was the case a couple of weeks ago.

There appears little prospect that financial markets look likely to settle down in the short term, which means investors will have to get used to an extended period of uncertainty and volatility."

Travel stocks and airlines were once again among the biggest losers in London, following steep declines in Mondays market falls.

Holiday giant TUI and low-cost carrier easyJet fell another 3 per cent and 2 per cent respectively, while Holiday Inn owner Intercontinental Hotels Group was 1 per cent down.
BOISE  Idaho Powers chief executive says he will retire June 1 after 24 years with the company.

CEO Darrel T. Anderson, 61, will be succeeded by Lisa Grow, 54, an engineer who has risen through the ranks in 32 years with the states largest utility. With her promotion to chief executive, she is joining the board of directors effective immediately, the company said in a news release.

Darrel has done an outstanding job during his tenure, leading Idacorp to a record-setting 11 consecutive years of earnings growth, said Richard J. Dahl, chairman of the board of Idaho Power and its parent company, Idacorp. He also led Idaho Power to its best safety record in its history.

Grow held several engineering positions within the company before moving into management.

In 2017, she was named senior vice president and chief operating officer. She was named president last October.

Grow is a University of Idaho electrical engineering graduate and holds a masters degree in business administration from Boise State University.

Lisas appointment to her role is a result of purposeful succession planning combined with her hard work and dedication to the organization, Dahl said.

Idaho Power has 2,000 employees serving 560,000 customers in a 24,000-square-mile area of southern Idaho and eastern Oregon.

Last year, the company set a goal to provide 100% clean energy by 2045. Most of Idaho Powers electricity is generated at hydroelectric dams on the Snake River. But as recently as 2013, Idaho Power used coal for more than 40 percent of the power it generates. Falling solar-energy and electrical-storage prices have enabled the shift away from coal.

The companys power was entirely hydro until 1974.

Anderson will remain on the board after his retirement, subject to annual election by Idacorp shareholders.

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Mubadala Investment Company, a leading sovereign wealth fund in the UAE, has signed an agreement with Bpifrance, the French national investment bank, committing to the LAC I Fund, a multibillion fund managed by Bpifrance.



The fund targets to raise 10 billion which will be invested in approximately 15 listed companies taken from a large pool of French world leading corporations over the next decade, reported Emirates news agency Wam.



The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi, CEO of Mubadalas Alternative Investments and Infrastructure Platform and Mubadalas deputy Group CEO, and Nicolas Dufourcq, CEO of Bpifrance, in presence of Bruno Le Maire, French Minister of the Economy and Finance and Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Mubadalas Group Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director.



Al Muhairi said: "Mubadala has a strong track record of performance in France and we continue to see significant investment opportunities in the market. Through our partnership with Bpifrance, and the commitment to the LAC I fund, we will have access to exceptional businesses in France that deliver compelling returns. As a global investor, Mubadala continues to deploy capital across markets and sectors as part of a highly-diversified and growing portfolio of assets."



Nicolas Dufourcq added, "In strengthening our partnership with Mubadala, an experienced global institutional investor, we can help businesses across France to overcome their financing challenges and achieve their long-term goals. Over the coming years, we anticipate that an even wider range of dynamic French companies will require capital to catalyze their development. Our fund will be well-positioned to deploy capital to businesses in promising sectors that can deliver exceptional returns while contributing to the French economy."



In 2017, Mubadala joined Bpifrance to create a 1 billion investment platform aimed at private investments in the French economy. The investment platform was designed to foster the growth of French companies across technology, healthcare, education and others while pursuing superior risk-adjusted returns.
She said the accusations did not reflect who Mr. Bloomberg is, but rather revealed a bro culture that existed at the time  a culture that she said she grew up in but has since changed.

We have come a very, very long way, Ms. Taylor said, and Michael Bloomberg has been at the forefront of that change.

Ms. Taylors remarks, which were broadcast on Tuesday  hours before the Democratic candidates debate in South Carolina  came three days after Mr. Bloomberg said he was willing to release three women from nondisclosure agreements with his company, reversing his stance from last weeks debate.

Ms. Taylors comments drew criticism from some who said that she was being insensitive to women who have faced harassment and discrimination.

Erin McPike, a spokeswoman for Mr. Bloombergs campaign, responded to the criticism on Tuesday, saying that Ms. Taylor had the utmost respect for women and was addressing the difficult workplace culture that they had endured for decades.
A tourist hotel on the Canary Island hotel of Tenerife was placed in quarantine Tuesday after an Italian doctor staying there tested positive for the new virus from China that has infected thousands worldwide.

The press office for the town of Adeje said Tuesday that the H10 Adeje Palace hotel was in quarantine.

Spanish media reported that some 1,000 tourists staying at the complex are not allowed to leave.

The Canary Islands, an archipelago located some 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of the African coast, is a popular vacation destination that attracts many northern Europeans all-year-around.

The Italian doctor who is positive for the COVID-19 disease has been quarantined in a local clinic while samples are analyzed in a hospital near Madrid to confirm the initial diagnosis, the archipelago's President ngel Vctor Torres announced late on Monday in a series of tweets.

Spanish private agency Europa Press, citing the regional government's health department, said the visiting tourist had arrived from one of the areas in northern Italy where a cluster of the coronavirus has infected hundreds. The patient voluntarily went to a clinic in Tenerife on Monday when he began feeling unwell, Europa Press reported.

It's Spain's third case of COVID-19 and the second in the islands that lie some 100 kilometres (62 miles) west of the African coast. A German tourist was quarantined earlier this month in the island of La Gomera and a British citizen in the Mediterranean's Balearic Islands. Both were released after recovering and showing no further symptoms of the illness.

The Spanish government has convened a special commission of various ministries Tuesday and a separate meeting with health authorities of all the Spanish regions to assess preparations for a possible uptick in cases.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Thousands of terrorists might have been airlifted out of Kabul: Trump slams Biden

Never in history has withdrawal from war been handled so badly: Trump

Warangal based artist creates miniature version of Trump's wax statue on eye of needle

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Warangal(AP), Feb 25: A city-based micro artist has created a miniature wax statue of visiting American President Donald Trump in the eye of a needle. Mattewada Ajay Kumar, known for his miniature sculptures, came up with the unique idea of making a wax statue of Trump to mark the leader's visit to the country.

The height of Trump's statue is 1.25 mm and width 0.32 mm. A tiny US national flag is seen draped over the statue of the President. The flag measures 0.94 mm in height and is 0.64 mm in width. Ajay Kumar said he spent 13 hours to complete the miniature art.

Last October, his micro sculpture skill was recognised internationally. He had bagged the first prize in 'Art in a capsule competition-2019', an international contest organised by ACG World Group, a pharmaceutical solutions and manufacturing company.

Ajay Kumar received 5,000 American dollars as prize money in the contest, which witnessed participation of around 80 micro artists from across India, USA, Latin America and European nations.

It may be recalled that Ajay Kumar created a miniature sculpture depicting Dandi March 'National Salt Satyagraha,' in the eye of a needle to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary celebrations, on October 2, 2018.

Modi-Trump hold talks; trade, defence, security and investment on agenda

In the sculpture Mahatma Gandhi could be seen leading seven men and women following him and that amazing work is now showcased at National Salt Satyagraha Memorial (NSSM) at Dandi in Gujarat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the memorial to the nation on January 30 this year and expressed his amazement after watching the miniature sculpture created by Ajay Kumar. He is the one of the 12 artists chosen from across India and the world to showcase their work at the NSSM. Ajay Kumar comes from a family of goldsmiths.

His parents are late Mattewada Venkata Chary, who was a Freedom Fighter and a famous goldsmith; and mother Hymavathi, who is now 85 years old.

Ajay Kumar's earlier creations, a functional miniature a lock and key, an electric fan, gold scissors and violin all made in gold earned him place in Limca Book of Records for five times, including a world record.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 12:24 [IST]
CHARLESTON, S.C. - High political stakes and a ticking electoral clock triggered short tempers and strong words Tuesday as the Democrats vying to defeat Donald Trump clawed away at each other on the debate stage in South Carolina, saving their strongest vitriol for the two most prominent outsiders: independent front-runner Bernie Sanders and billionaire Mike Bloomberg.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during First in the South Dinner, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

CHARLESTON, S.C. - High political stakes and a ticking electoral clock triggered short tempers and strong words Tuesday as the Democrats vying to defeat Donald Trump clawed away at each other on the debate stage in South Carolina, saving their strongest vitriol for the two most prominent outsiders: independent front-runner Bernie Sanders and billionaire Mike Bloomberg.

Both literally and figuratively, Sanders  the standard-bearer for America's progressive left  found himself front and centre in the final televised debate before South Carolina voters head to the polls Saturday, three days before nearly 1,400 delegates go up for grabs next week on Super Tuesday.

"I'm hearing my name mentioned a little bit tonight," Sanders deadpanned at one point. "I wonder why."

With 14 states and one territory voting next week, time has nearly run out for much of the field to attract votes and financial support before Sanders builds an insurmountable lead, which is why he found himself the target of multiple attacks. Bloomberg, despite a lack of experience that was on display again Tuesday, also remains a formidable rival, thanks to his bottomless campaign war chest.

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who kneecapped Bloomberg in his disastrous maiden debate last week in Nevada, sought to reprise that performance with a searing attack on the former New York mayor, accusing him of urging one of his pregnant employees to "kill it"  a charge Bloomberg strenuously denied.

Warren also took a rare swipe at Sanders, her progressive ally, painting him as a divisive figure whose nomination would be a disaster for the Democrats  a common theme throughout the night.

"Progressive ideas are popular ideas, even if there are lot of people on this stage who don't want to say so," Warren said.

"Bernie and I agree on a lot of things, but I think I would make a better president than Bernie and the reason for that is that getting a progressive agenda enacted is going to be really hard, and it is going to take someone who digs into the details to make it happen."

Bloomberg, keen to erase memories of Nevada, took early aim at Sanders, citing recent intelligence reports that indicate Russia has been meddling in the campaign on behalf of the independent senator from Vermont.

"Vladimir Putin thinks that Donald Trump should be president of the United States," he said. "That is why Russia is helping you get elected, so you will lose to him."

Russia is indeed sowing chaos in the U.S. electoral process, and that's exactly what they'll get if Sanders becomes the nominee, said Mike Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind.

"If you think the last four years has been chaotic, divisive, toxic, exhausting, imagine spending the better part of 2020 with Bernie Sanders vs. Donald Trump. Think about what that will be like for this country," Buttigieg said.

"There's a majority of the American people who I think, right now, just want to be able to turn on the TV, see their president, and just feel their blood pressure go down a little bit, instead of up through the roof."

It's critical for rivals to slow the Sanders roll: South Carolina is a must-win for former vice-president Joe Biden, while Warren and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar are running low on money and are desperate to build some all-important fundraising momentum going into Saturday's vote.

Biden tried to show a combative side at times, especially when the discussion turned to Barack Obama or foreign policy  two subjects that allow him to tout his White House experience.

"This is a guy who doesn't have a democratic bone in his body," he said of Chinese president Xi Jinping. "This is a guy who I was able to convince to join ... the Paris agreement (on climate change) because guess what? They need to be involved ... (but) they must play by the rules."

He also elicited a roar from the audience when he promised to appoint a black woman to the Supreme Court. At other times, though, Biden found himself drowned out in the crossfire or unable to insert himself into the discussion.

"Can we just speak up when we want to? Is that the idea?" he said plaintively at one point. "Gentlemen don't get treated well up here."

Sanders, a self-styled "democratic socialist" who conjures fear in the party establishment in much the same way Trump once did among Republicans, also seems to have supporters in Canada: he led a recent online survey by the Angus Reid Institute with the backing of 28 per cent of respondents. Biden registered second at 14 per cent.

Sanders often invokes Canada in his public comments, especially when talking about his signature "Medicare For All" policy plank.

"Somehow they manage to guarantee health care for every man, woman, and child in that country at half the cost that we spend per capita," he said. "Is guaranteeing health care to all people as a human right a radical idea?"

Sanders largely batted away attacks on how he plans to pay for big-ticket promises like Medicare For All, free college tuition and forgiven student debt. He denied reports that he considered a primary challenge against Barack Obama in 2012, and defended and a recent interview in which he praised a Cuban "literacy program" launched by Fidel Castro in the early 1960s.

More than once, the candidates returned to the night's overarching theme: a battle between Democratic ideology and a fervent desire to beat Trump in November.

"This conversation shows a huge risk for the Democratic party," Steyer said after one sustained stretch of incomprehensible crosstalk. "We are looking at a party that has decided it is either going to support a democratic socialist or somebody who has a long history of being a Republican," referring to Bloomberg.

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"I am scared. If we cannot pull this party together, if we go to one of those extremes, we take a terrible risk of re-electing Donald Trump."

When it comes to the question of whether either Sanders or Bloomberg can win a general election, it's worth bearing in mind that people used to wonder the same thing about the current occupant of the White House, said Charles Bierbauer, a journalism professor at the University of South Carolina.

"In one sense, we're so far away from the conventional wisdom elections of the past, where you could lay this thing out and based on trajectory and timeline, say, here's what's going to happen,'" Bierbauer said.

"If you say Bernie Sanders can't win, then how do you account for Donald Trump?"

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 25, 2020.

Follow James McCarten on Twitter @CdnPressStyle
The Irish Hotels Federation, led by president Michael Lennon, has warned over high legal costs

MANY hoteliers pay more than 1,000 per room to cover liability claims in a system where "the scales of justice are tipped firmly in favour of the plaintiff", according to the hotel industry chief.

"For an industry that is so price-sensitive, this level of cost is completely unsustainable," Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) president Michael Lennon told his annual conference yesterday in Galway.

He blamed the legal profession for making it prohibitively expensive for many hotels to defend their reputation - and no-claims benefits - in court.

"The exorbitant fees being charged by lawyers are deterring insurance companies from pursuing cases through the legal system," he said.

Earlier, the IHF said only a third of its members saw a positive outlook for 2020.

That is down from the 40pc positive outlook a year ago, 79pc two years ago and 92pc five years ago, when US, UK and European visitor numbers were growing by double digits.

This two-year slump in confidence - attributed mainly to fears that Brexit could weaken UK 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 growth in revenue. But most of the federation's 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 by a 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".

Despite their relatively glum mood, more than three in four hoteliers and guesthouse operators said they planned to refurbish or upgrade their premises this year - including 7pc 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 disrupters offering short-term lodgings.

The federation represents nearly 1,000 hotels and guesthouses, offering nearly 63,000 rooms nationwide.
As analytics becomes main stream and more and more businesses harness its power, the maturity of businesses is also rising, as are the expectations. Analytics has been used to examine historical data to analyse key events and occurrences. Now the focus is on getting gleaning actionable intelligence for future events. And businesses are turning to Predictive analytics to gain this insight. Investopedia.com defines predictive analytics as The use of statistics and modelling to determine future performance based on current and historical data'. Predictive analytics look at patterns in data to determine if those patterns are likely to emerge again, which allows businesses and investors to adjust where they use their resources in order to take advantage of possible future events.

Predictive Analytics is being leveraged to examine past performance and forecast revenue generating patterns, understand customer behaviour and use the information to offer better products and services, fine tune ability to identify risks by catching suspicious trends, optimize processes and more.

1. Companies use predictive analytics in various industries including Retail, Manufacturing, Finance, and Healthcare among others, and across different functions like marketing and operations.

2. Retailers, for example, are using data from loyalty programs to analyse past buying behaviour and predict the promotions a customer is most likely to participate in, or make purchases in the future.

3. Marketing functions can explore analytics for retaining or reactivating customers with the right incentives. On the other hand, a Government initiative such as rarefied as veld and forest fire fighting is using advanced analytical measures to predict possible wildfires in South African grasslands.

4. Financial institutions are using analytics to identify high-risk probable customers and minimize default risks, as well as cross-selling and up selling their products, customer segmentation, fraud detection, cash planning etc.

Healthcare organizations are parsing patient history to enable more accurate diagnoses, studying responses to medication, reducing hospital readmissions, integrating bedside medical device data into algorithms which help detect deteriorating vital signs in critical patients in real-time and more.

The volume and variety of information  both structured and unstructured - is exploding. There isnt one common data source that gives customers or companies insights about the customers. One has to piece together from multiple data sources. Turning data into information and then into action is becoming more important than ever before. Predictive analytics can be used for determining events or outcomes before they happen, simulation of a process to determine bottlenecks and risks as well as in what-if scenarios to determine the best course of action. To develop a robust predictive model, enterprises need to focus on defining a clear set of business rules for each decision and then focus their analytics on driving the best decisions

Predictive analytics practices can help companies in three key areas 

 minimizing risk

 identifying fraud

 pursuing new revenue opportunities

An important challenge to greater adoption is that the skill needed to analyze data, create models and implement them successfully is in short supply. Organizations looking to get more value from the their data assets through predictive analytics will be wise to invest in analytical training and mentoring programs, along with the expertise of partner firms. Effective outsourcing partners understand the nuances and have expertise to ensure the pipelines are built for the flow of data, information and action.

Predictive analytics, thus, delivers strategic value as well as tactical guidance. In some instances, analytics can also help automate decision making, thereby dramatically reducing the cost of operations.

With actionable insights from all the data in their possession, data analysts are now able to get granular visibility into systems and processes. Understandably, the accuracy of the prediction will depend on the volume of data available for analysis. Businesses are exploring social media to obtain that extra volume of data for more accurate guidance. With the explosion of data via social media access to higher intelligence is now possible. In parallel, technology has kept pace making it easier to process large sets of data. Thus, Big data and predictive analytics, together is ready to add yet another dimension to business decision making. Armed with these kinds of insights Predictive analytics certainly holds great promise for organisations across verticals. Big data is the way forward, and predictive analytics will continue to be the science behind all the data.
People wait in line to buy face masks at a retail store in Daegu, South Korea, on Feb. 25, 2020. (Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images)

South Korea Has Nearly 1,000 Confirmed Cases of Coronavirus, Three New Deaths

This article has been updated with the latest information.

South Korea on Feb. 25 reported 144 new cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and three additional deaths.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) announced 84 new cases late on Feb. 25. Earlier in the morning, the Korean government reported a rise of 60 new cases from the previous day.

Three additional deaths were also reported on Feb. 25, bringing the national death toll to 11.

The 11th death was the first foreign national in South Korea to have died from the virus. A 35-year-old male from Mongolia died in a hospital on the outskirts of Seoul, according to the KCDC. He had a history of liver problems.

The 10th death involves a 58-year-old man who died of COVID-19 on Feb. 25 at Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, a county in North Gyeongsang province. Six other deaths are connected to the same hospital.

The countrys ninth death involves a 68-year-old woman who died on Feb. 24 at the Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital. She tested positive for the virus on the same day prior to her death.

South Korea now has at least 977 known cases of coronavirus.

South Korea has seen a huge spike in the number of known cases since Feb. 20, when the countrys tally stood at 104. Since then, KCDC has reported triple digits in new cases every single day: 100 cases reported on Friday, 229 cases on Saturday, 169 cases on Sunday, and 231 cases on Monday.

It was only last week, on Feb. 20, when South Korea reported its first death due to the virus.

Of the 144 new cases, 116 are in Daegu and the broader North Gyeongsang province. Daegu is located about 186 miles southeast of the capital Seoul.

Many of the infection cases in Daegu and North Gyeongsang province are connected to Shincheonji Church in Daegu, after a 61-year-old female super-spreader, a member of the church, tested positive for the virus on Feb. 18 as the countrys 31st confirmed case.

Of the countrys 977 cases, 43 are in South Koreas coastal city of Busan. Among them, 22 are connected to a Christian church in the citys Dongnae district.

Meanwhile, 82 known cases are in Seoul and the broader Gyeonggi province.

According to KCDC, 22 patients have fully recovered from the virus and have been discharged from hospital.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in was in Daegu on Feb. 25 when he set a deadline this week for the very grave situation in the city for a clear turning point.

The government will muster pan-national capabilities and win the fight against the virus together with Daegu and North Gyeongsang province, Moon said, according to local outlet Yonhap News Agency.

Yonhap also reported that many South Korean companies, including conglomerate SK Group and internet company Kakao, have ordered their employees to work from home.
They have been dating since October 2019, with their romance heavily documented on social media.

And Brooklyn Beckham and his girlfriend Nicola Peltz looked every inch the cosy couple as they enjoyed a date at the Hotel Costes during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday.

Brooklyn, 20, is in the French capital with his family and shared a clip of his mother Victoria in a restaurant and captioned it: 'My beautiful mum'.

Romance: Brooklyn Beckham, 20, and his girlfriend Nicola Peltz, 25, looked every inch the cosy couple as they enjoyed a date at the Hotel Costes during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday

The fashion designer, 45, opted for a casual look for the evening meal, donning a dark beanie hat with a long sleeved top as she posed in the clip.

Brooklyn also shared a photo of himself snuggled up alongside Nicola where he wrote that she is the 'love of my life'.

For his date with Nicola, 25, Brooklyn donned a black jumper along with a pair of dark trousers and black shoes.

Nicola donned a knee-length animal coat for the romantic date, also wearing a black top and matching trousers.

Family: Brooklyn, 20, is in the French capital with his family and shared a clip of his mother Victoria, 45, in a restaurant and captioned it: 'My beautiful mum'

Looking good: The fashion designer opted for a casual look for the evening meal, donning a dark beanie hat with a long sleeved top as she posed in the clip

Relationship: Brooklyn and Nicola have been dating since October 2019, with their romance heavily documented on social media

Adding height to her frame with a pair of black boots, the actress let her platinum blonde locks fall loose down her shoulders.

Brooklyn continued to gush over his family during their trip as he shared a snap of his brother Romeo in a hot tub in the snowy mountains.

'Love you bro,' the budding photographer captioned the photo.

Brooklyn also posted a picture of himself wearing a Spider-Man costume from his younger days, captioning it: 'Oh my'.

Casual: For his date with Nicola, Brooklyn donned a black jumper along with a pair of dark trousers and black shoes

Nicola's breakthrough role as an actress came in the 2010 film The Last Airbender and she is also known for starring as Bradley Martin in the series Bates Motel.

Things appear to be getting serious between the two, who recently made their relationship Instagram official after posting pictures of one another on their accounts.

The new couple have barely touched the ground for weeks as they jetted between their families' homes and enjoyed holidays over the festive period.

Glamorous: Nicola let her blonde locks fall loose down her shoulders while she wore an animal print coat

Looking good: On Tuesday, Nicola stepped out in Paris in a black crop top which she wore with blue slim-fitting jeans

Brotherly love: Brooklyn continued to gush over his family during their trip as he also shared a snap of his brother Romeo in a hot tub in the snowy mountains

Outfit: Also sporting black boots, the actress donned a matching leather jacket and a pair of shades

Brooklyn had been linked to a string of women over the past few months, before meeting Nicola, following his split from model Hana Cross, including Canadian actress Natalie Ganzhorn, 21, and brunette actress Phoebe Torrance, 25.

Most recently it was claimed he and Lottie Moss had a 'secret fling' before he started dating his now ex-girlfriend Hana.

Earlier this month, American actress Nicola declared that she and Brooklyn will be together 'forever' as she stressed the strength of their relationship alongside a steamy photograph shared to Instagram.

On Monday, the eldest son of Victoria and David Beckham posted a black and white snap of himself and his new actress girlfriend cosied up together, which he captioned: 'Me and u xx,' with Nicola adding 'Forever' in a comment beneath.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Cameron Renshaw has been playing the cello for three years, and hes already won numerous national and international titles.

Only 8 years old, he even has played at Carnegie Hall and with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra during his short, but amazing career.

When I first saw the cello, Im like, Woah, thats such a cool instrument, Renshaw said.

He was exposed to the cello at a young age because his mother, Tina Renshaw, is a longtime cellist who would practice around her two boys. Renshaw became so interested in watching his mother play that he asked her to teach him.

Honestly. Im pretty sure all the cello talent comes from my mom, which I think is very special, Renshaw said.

The additional time with his mother is one of the things Renshaw likes about playing the cello, he said. But he also credits his father, a veterinarian and owner of Animal Clinic, Inc. in Grand Rapids, for his ambition to keep playing.

Renshaw got into competitions after getting to play for the first time at Carnegie Hall as part of the Academy of Music in Grand Rapids 15th anniversary concert. Tina Renshaw said her son was moved by the experience and, when they saw signs for competitions, they thought they would give it a try.

I went home and Googled it and thought, Hey I think we can give it a shot," Renshaws mom said.

The very first competition we entered him in he got first place, and its been a whole string of first place wins since then.

Tina Renshaw poses with her son Cameron Renshaw, 8, at the Academy of Music in Grand Rapids on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020. (Anntaninna Biondo | MLive.com)Anntaninna Biondo | MLive.com

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Renshaw is up for another competition currently. He won first place at the Camerata International Artists Competition and, as a result, performed in a a winners recital at Merkin Hall in New York City.

The grand prizes for that competition (Grand, Gold, and Silver) have not been awarded yet. The judges choose those prizes based on auditions, audience favorites and You Tube likes. Voting ends on Feb. 27. Those interested in voting in the online portion of the competition can go here.

15 This 8-year-old cello prodigy has performed at Carnegie Hall 5 times

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Amid the riveting works by painters, photographers and other visual artists in the Portland Art Museums new exhibit Volcano! Mount St. Helens in Art, one grouping of pastel drawings pops out in a delightful surprise.

Theyre by the late Ursula K. Le Guin, better known for her literary works, who lived in a Northwest Portland home with a view of Mount St. Helens.

She was enthralled by its many moods in the ever-shifting weather and light, as a curators label in the exhibit puts it, and she made numerous photographs, sketches and line drawings of the mountain, said her son, Theo Downes-Le Guin.

Then Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980.

I drew what I saw as best I could, sitting at my study window, using binoculars to bring details close, Le Guin wrote in an essay in the 2008 book In the Blast Zone: Catastrophe and Renewal on Mount St. Helens. Experimenting then with chalk pastels, I found them a good medium for the drama of ash and cloud and snow going on there, 60 miles away overland and 9,000 feet up in the air.

When Dawson Carr, curator of the Volcano! exhibit, read that, he had to see the pastels.

Im a fan, he said. I knew that she was one of the great literary figures of our city. I knew that this would appeal to people.

And no one else that I know of recorded the mountain over time in the way that she did in these simple little pastels, Carr said.

Of the six pastels he chose for the first public showing of Le Guins Mount St. Helens art, two are from 1979, one is from a couple of months before the eruption, and three are from afterward.

I think theyre rather good, Carr said, adding that they can hold their own with surrounding art by landscape photographers Emmet Gowin and Frank Gohlke and Portland artist Henk Pander. The pastels, each approximately 11 5/8 by 10 inches, flank a 50-inch-wide pen-and-ink drawing by Pander that shows Le Guin visiting the mountain in 1981.

Le Guin never had formal art training, her son said. But she drew throughout her life, starting in early childhood; when she traveled, she almost always took along a sketchbook. Her marginalia and illustrations of personal letters and postcards are wonderful, he said.

She obviously had an excellent eye and developed a style and competence, said Downes-Le Guin, who has a degree in art history and founded the contemporary art gallery Upfor in Northwest Portland.

Downes-Le Guin said his mother would be tickled by the inclusion of her pastels in the exhibit.

Ursula K. Le Guin's pastel drawing of Mount St. Helens: "First snow and river fog," October 28, 1980, 8:30 a.m.Courtesy of Theo Downes-Le Guin and Portland Art Museum

I think she would be humbled to think that she was in an exhibition with full-time acclaimed working visual artists, which she certainly did not consider herself, he said. The subject matter was so important to her and so personal to her, she would have loved the exhibition in total.

The book in which Le Guins essay appeared, In the Blast Zone, which features prose and poetry from 21 contributors, is available in the museums gift shop, along with these other books:

Eruption: The Untold Story of Mount St. Helens, by Steve Olson, which places the eruption within a long historical perspective.

The Eruption of Mount St. Helens: The Deadliest Volcanic Eruption in American History, by Charles River Editors, a short collection of pictures and eyewitness accounts.

Mount St. Helens, Images of America series, by David A. Anderson, a collection of historical photos.

In the Path of Destruction: Eyewitness Chronicles of Mount St. Helens, by Richard Waitt, a geologist familiar with the volcano.

Return to Spirit Lake: Life and Landscape at Mount St. Helens, by Portland native Christine Colasurdo, a personal meditation that was a Spring 2005 Washington Reads selection.

The Restless Northwest: A Geological Story, by Hill Williams, an overview that includes firsthand accounts by those involved in geological discoveries.

The Voice of This Stone: Learning From Volcanic Disasters Around the World, by Kevin Scott, a volcanologist who presents more than a dozen case studies.

Also worth a read:

Eruption!: Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives, by Portland author Elizabeth Rusch, a nonfiction childrens book that includes Mount St. Helens among its examples.

A Hero on Mount St. Helens: The Life and Legacy of David A. Johnston, by Melanie Holmes, a biography of the volcanologist who alerted the world to the eruption just before it killed him.

I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980, by Lauren Tarshis, part of her popular I Survived historical fiction series for elementary school-age children.

Memories of Mount St. Helens, by Jim Erickson, a journalist who covered the eruption.

If you go

What: Volcano! Mount St. Helens in Art

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, through May 17.

Where: Portland Art Museum, 1219 S.W. Park Ave., Portland.

Tickets: $20 for adults, $17 for students and seniors, free for ages 17 and younger; portlandartmuseum.org or 503-226-2811.

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When a hurricane or major storm is in the Gulf of Mexico, Jasper County works with its southern neighbors in Hardin, Jefferson and Orange counties to coordinate evacuations and all-clears, participate in search and rescue and provide medical attention when possible.

The majority of Jasper County residents who work or receive health care outside of the county do so in the southern three counties. And several state agencies include Jasper County with the other three when determining service regions.

Yet, for more than five decades, Jasper County has participated in grant acquisition and long-term planning with the Deep East Texas Council of Governments, a sprawling 12-county group that stretches as far north as Shelby County and east as Houston County.

That could soon change if the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission executive committee next month and later Gov. Greg Abbott approve Jasper Countys request to join.

The Deep East Texas and Southeast Texas groups are two of 24 regional councils of governments in Texas founded to coordinate programs and services to address needs across jurisdictional boundaries. The two have comparable populations, but the Deep East Texas group, comprising 10,383 square miles, has nearly five times the physical footprint.

Hardin County once was a Deep East Texas member, but it switched in 1973 after it was included in the federally designated Beaumont-Port Arthur-Orange Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area. Statewide, the most recent switch was by McMullen County in May 2013, although other requests to transfer have been pending in the Governors Office for extended periods, according to a presentation prepared by Griffith, Moseley, Johnson & Associates for the Jasper County commissioners as they discussed their own request.

Related: Eight SETX counties join together to fight flooding

Jasper County Judge Mark Allen said the county has been considering the switch for several years, but it began formally working with the Southeast Texas group in August 2018.

He said its moved slowly because both groups wanted to slow walk it, to make sure its a good fit for residents of Jasper and the three other counties.

Its been a long process and it needs to be, he said. Everyone needs to work together to make sure its a good match. We need to make sure its going to benefit our people totally and when we come together, itll be more of a friendly partnership instead of a burden.

The countys reasons for wanting to make the switch, however, are pretty clear.

Allen said he first noticed during Hurricane Rita that Jasper County works hand-in-hand with Hardin, Jefferson and Orange counties coordinating evacuations, training for disaster response, helping with search and rescue and finding places in Jasper County for southern-county residents who have ongoing medical needs.

We facilitate their people out during evacuations, let our people out and then close the gates, he said. We work more than those counties than we coordinate with counties in the DETCOG region.

Additionally, many Jasper County residents have for decades worked in Jefferson, Hardin and Orange counties. They send their children to college there, and many of them shop in Beaumont, Port Arthur, Silsbee, Lumberton and Kountze to do shopping. Additionally, Jasper County law enforcement uses resources from Lamar Police Academy and County is a member of the recently created Southeast Texas flood control district.

Our people are their people, and we work together well, Allen said.

According to the presentation, more than 2,700 Jasper County residents commute to work in the three-county Southeast Texas region, while fewer than 1,000 Jasper County residents commute to work in the 11 other Deep East Texas counties combined. Half of hospital days involving Jasper County residents in Medicare-funded hospital stays in 2017 were in hospitals in Jefferson County, second only to the Texas Medical Center in Houston.

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It has long been understood anecdotally that Jasper County residents are more likely to travel south to shop, pursue higher education, and receive veterans administration and other services in the Southeast Texas region, the presentation said. Furthermore, 3,500 separate real property accounts in Jasper County involve owners whose principal mailing addresses are in Jefferson, Hardin and Orange counties.

Allen said its about an hours drive north to Lufkin, while Jasper County borders Orange and Hardin county and is about 22 miles from the Jefferson County line. Livingston to the west is about an hour away as is DeRidder, La., to the east.

Allen said this switch would be tying up Jasper Countys full integration into working with its three southern neighbors, so residents likely wont experience many big changes.

According to the presentation, Jasper County likely would still have to contract with the Deep East Texas group for some services that its Southeast Texas counterpart doesnt offer, such as the housing authority. And the director of SETRPCs foster grandparent program, one that Jasper County doesnt get in its current organization, expressed some concerns that adding the county could require additional staff largely because of travel between Beaumont and Jasper.

The addition of Jasper County would increase the population of the Southeast Texas group by about 8.4 percent. That would place additional demands on Regional Planning Commission staff, but it would qualify the group for increased funding as well.

Allen said he thought certain aspects of services provided by the Regional Planning Commission would be improved, although the presentation notes some residents may see a reduction in some services.

You dont want to do anything thats detrimental to your citizens, which is why its taken a couple of years to do and why the transition would take some time, he said. We dont want to be a burden and we want to do whats right. We want to accomplish this the right way, but if it takes time to make sure a square peg goes into a square hole instead of a round one, well do it.

The Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commissions executive committee is expected to vote on the move at its March meeting, Executive Director Shanna Burke said. Before the vote, Regional Planning Commission staff will present information gathered about what staff believes the impact of approving the switch would be.

From there, Allen believes, the issue will go to the governors office for approval, then back to the Deep East Texas group for authorization to officially separate.

He said the potential to switch hasnt caused any problems with any of the other 11 counties in that group, as they understand Jasper Countys desire to join Southeast Texas.

A call to the Deep East Texas Council of Governments was not returned.

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ATLANTA, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bark Technologies, the award-winning monitoring service that helps keep children safe online and in real life, today announced its acquisition of Router Limits, a router-based online parental controls and internet management company. The partnership will enable both companies to utilize each other's strengths to create the first comprehensive online safety solution for families. In the coming months, Bark will debut screen time management and filtering to complement its existing AI-powered monitoring technology.

Bark is committed to continuing its expansion to internet service providers (ISPs) without any interruptions to the Router Limits product, and this acquisition serves to accelerate Bark's growth into the industry. Existing Router Limits clients will benefit from the addition of Bark's powerful artificial intelligence and monitoring software.

"Together, Bark and Router Limits will be able to offer an unmatched suite of products and services," said Brian Bason, CEO of Bark. "This partnership paves the way for Bark to emerge as the natural leader in parental intelligence software solutions."

Bark monitors text messages, email, YouTube, and 30+ of the most popular apps and social media platforms for potential issues like cyberbullying, online predators, sexual content, suicidal ideation, acts of violence, and more. Bark currently helps protect 5 million children across the U.S. and has helped prevent 16 school shootings to date.

"We're excited to be able to accelerate the growth of our product to serve not only our existing clients and service providers, but Bark's customers, as well," said Skylar Walker, CEO of Router Limits, who joins the Bark team to oversee the combined Bark and Router Limits offering to ISPs. "By joining together, we're poised to help protect even more families across the U.S. as the premiere parental intelligence service in the digital age."

The Router Limits cloud-hybrid software runs locally on home networks and mobile devices to help families manage all of their connected devices  from screen time controls and content filtering to bandwidth monitoring and mobile protection. Router Limits has partnered with many top router hardware manufacturers to enable families to implement control software on hardware they already own or can easily access from their service provider.

About Bark

Bark helps keep children across the U.S. safe from issues like cyberbullying, online predators, adult content, depression, acts of violence, suicidal ideation, and more. Launched in 2015, Bark began with its flagship product, Bark for Families. This award-winning service monitors online activities and sends timely alerts to parents and guardians when it detects potential issues. After the tragic shooting at Parkland, Florida, Bark extended its suite of online safety services to all K-12 public and private schools in the U.S.  at no cost to them or their communities. Offering content monitoring, web filtering, and a Parent Portal for after-hours alerts, Bark for Schools is trusted by more than 1,900 school districts to help protect their students from digital dangers. For more information, visit https://www.bark.us.

SOURCE Bark Technologies

Related Links

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Congress leader Udit Raj on Tuesday said that Police, RSS and BJP have orchestrated riots in parts of Delhi.

"There could be nothing more shameful than the riots that took place in the capital. It was believed that Delhi was safe but yesterday they burnt the capital too. The Police, RSS and BJP have orchestrated the riots in Maujpur, Jaffrabad and Karawal Nagar," Raj told ANI.

The Congress leader's remarks came after seven people were killed and over 100 injured in clashes over CAA in North-East Delhi on Monday.

Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed in Khajuri Khas and Bhajanpura of the capital on Tuesday in the wake of violent incidents in these areas.

Earlier today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a meeting with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik and other political leaders regarding the violence and prevailing situation in Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Mexican authorities arrested three people in connection with the execution-style murder of three aspiring doctors and their Uber driver after the students attended a weekend festival in east-central Mexico.

Authorities discovered the bodies of Colombian foreign exchange students Jose Antonio Parada, 22, and Ximena Quijano, 25, Monday morning in Huejotzingo, a municipality in the state of Puebla.

A third student, Francisco Javier Tirado, 22, a native of the gulf state of Veracruz, and the group's Uber driver, Jose Manuel Vital, 28, were also found near the other bodies.

Surveillance images released Tuesday showed the moment the three students placed their belongings in the taxi before they were killed.

Ximena Quijano, a Colombian medical student, was one of four people killed by at least three gunmen on Sunday after she and two other students attended a festival in Huejotzingo, a municipality in the state of Puebla

Mexican authorities located the bodies of Jose Antonio Parada and three other people on a grass field near a dirt road in the neighborhood of Santa Ana Xalmimilulco on Monday morning, a day after they were killed

The lifeless body of Ximena Quijano was found on an empty lot lying on top of one of the other three males who were executed in the east-central Mexican state of Puebla

The four victims were dumped on an empty grass field near a dirt road in the neighborhood of Santa Ana Xalmimilulco. Area residents made the gruesome discovery and contacted the police approximately 10:20am Monday.

Parada and Quijano, who had been in Mexico since August, and Tirado, were all interns at Cholula General Hospital in the Puebla municipality of Tlaxcalancingo.

The Colombian students were participating in a foreign exchange program at the Popular Autonomous University of the State of Puebla. Tirado was a medical student at the Benemerita Autonomous University of Puebla.

Surveillance camera captures the last moments of Ximena Quijano (right) and fellow medicine students Jose Antonio Parada and Francisco Javier Tirado. They boarded an Uber on Sunday night and were later murdered by at least three men in an incident a state government official labeled an assault

Francisco Javier Tirado was one of the three aspiring doctors whose life was cut short Sunday in Mexico when they were killed moments after attending a local festival

Uber driver Jose Manuel Vita was identified by the Puebla State Attorney General's office as one of the four victims in Sunday's execution. Authorities have arrested at least three suspects

The three future doctors had just finished enjoying the Huejotzingo Carnival on Sunday night when they solicited an Uber ride at 10:15pm, according to the Puebla State Attorney General's office.

The prosecutor's office, which did not reveal the names of the suspects, located the Uber driver's car and also said three homes within the proximity of the crime scene would be searched.

A state government official lawmaker told several Mexican news outlets Tuesday that the incident was an assault.

Pictured above are two of the three men, who along with a Colombian female medical student, were assassinated Sunday in Mexico

Medical examiners remove one of the four lifeless bodies that were located Monday morning

Angelica Cerpa, Parada's mother, told Colombian news magazine Semana that she last spoke to her son at 9:31pm.

'He told me that he was at a friend's house and that he was going to take an Uber, they were going to go to Puebla,' Cerpa said. 'I was following his cellphone's GPS and they never left the sector. I was dialing him, but he didn't answer.'

In a statement, the Popular Autonomous University of the State of Puebla said that it 'expresses its profound indignation and concern over the escalation in crime and violence in our state and our country which condemns families to live in a constant state of fear and uncertainty'.
His announcement on Monday came nominally in response to a question about whether his plan for free college was equivalent to President Trumps promise to build a border wall and make Mexico pay for it: a rallying cry for supporters, but with no realistic path to happening.

But he had clearly anticipated an opportunity for the reveal, because he had a piece of paper ready to pull out of his pocket.

I thought that question might come up. All right. Here it is, he said. This is a list, which will be on our website tonight, of how we pay for every program that we have developed.

Within minutes, there it was.

Later in the forum, the most inevitable subject of the night came up: Mr. Sanderss declaration on 60 Minutes on Sunday that, while he opposed the authoritarianism of Cubas government, its unfair to simply say everything is bad.

When Fidel Castro came to office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program, he said in that interview. Is that a bad thing? Even though Fidel Castro did it?

Those comments angered many Cuban-Americans, who are a powerful voting bloc in Florida. Asked about his comments in the town hall on Monday, Mr. Sanders repeated the example of Castros literacy program and said he had been extremely consistent and critical of all authoritarian regimes all over the world, including Cuba, including Nicaragua, including Saudi Arabia, including China, including Russia.

I happen to believe in democracy, not authoritarianism, he said. But, he added: China is an authoritarian country, becoming more and more authoritarian. But can anyone deny  I mean, the facts are clear  that they have taken more people out of extreme poverty than any country in history? Do I get criticized because I say that? Thats the truth.
The 71-year old Italian citizen who has recently been detected as infected with COVID-19 visited Romania, the Craiova City, between February 18 and 22, informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE).

"The Romanian authorities have activated the necessary protocols for this type of situation, with an epidemiological investigation to be launched soon and quarantine or self-isolation measures to be taken, depending on the case," said the same source.According to the MAE, the man has Italian citizenship and during his stay in Romania he visited the relatives of his wife (who is a Romanian citizen), and also had several business meetings.The information is provided by the Strategic Communication Group, gathered in the context of the coronavirus epidemics.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

People protested against the arrival in Poltava region of 73 evacuees from China, including 45 Ukrainians as well as citizens of Norway, Israel, Belarus, Spain, Montenegro, Kazakhstan, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Panama and other countries. Protesters blocked roads and threw stones at buses carrying the evacuees. The Church urged the faithful to not let fear of disease cloud our mind and our conscience, our very humanity.

Moscow (AsiaNews)  Last week, seven buses with Ukrainians and citizens of other countries, evacuated from China following the coronavirus outbreak, were the object of a protest that included stone throwing. Reacting to the incident, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, led by Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv and All Ukraine, said that fear of disease should not cloud our mind and our conscience, our very humanity.

The evacuees and medical support staff were travelling to a health spa run by the National Guard near the village of Novi Sanzhary, Poltava region, where they are scheduled to spend 14 days under quarantine. As the buses made their way to the health facility, they became the target of protest by local residents, who threw stones, shattering some windows.

A correspondent for Nastoyashee Vremya (Current Times) reported that last Thursday evening (20 February), the police cleared the streets and arrested four people. Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk travelled to the village and issued a local state of emergency.

Protesters complained that the local medical facility is not equipped to isolate completely infected people. For this reason, they tried to block the main access roads to the area, clashing repeatedly with law enforcement.

Poltava Governor Oleh Syniehubov also came to the village to speak to local residents and officials. On Facebook, he made an appeal. Anyone could find themselves in the situation of these people, who are returning home. They are someone's children, parents, relatives, and they have been checked by Chinese and Ukrainian doctors. None of them has shown any symptoms of this serious respiratory infection.

The arrival of the Wuhan evacuees had been reported the day before (19 February). The health facility run by Ukraines National Guard received 73 patients, 45 from the Ukraine, plus citizens of Norway, Israel, Belarus, Spain, Montenegro, Kazakhstan, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Panama and other countries.

Members of the Poltava Regional Council asked President Volodymyr Zelensky to move these people to another facility, claiming that the one selected could not provide the right treatment for patients with this kind of viral infection.

In their statement, they said: We understand that there must be a centre dedicated to coronavirus patients, and to those who have come into contact with those infected, but such centre does not exist in our region.

Previously, the Interior Ministry had announced that four buildings in the health facility had been readied for quarantined people, with a double cordon sanitaire around it for "defence, protection and disinfection. The outer ring of the area is monitored by CCTV and is patrolled by police and National Guard units on foot and vehicles.

President Zelenskyj promised that the health centre in Novi Sanzhary would be the most monitored spot in the country" and that "everything possible and impossible has been done" to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Ukraine. Like in Russia, no one from China can enter the country, except on dedicated charter flights.

On Facebook, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine called for a "show of compassion" for fellow citizens evacuated from China. The Church, led by Metropolitan Epiphanius (Dumenko), notes with regret the spread of aggressive attitudes in connection with the return of some of our fellow Ukrainians. . . . Fear and isolation lead to the inability of mutual acceptance.

The Church cannot speak to the medical aspects of the question, which remain the responsibility of specialists and are regulated by the state. But we are required to highlight the moral significance of this challenge to our common life, to which our society must give an adequate response.

The post ends appealing to compassion and charity towards one's neighbor as  the foundation of divine law. We must not let fear of disease cloud our mind and our conscience, our very humanity.
Hear ye, hear ye, its time for photography (that rhymes, sort of). We have reached a point in our collective art collecting that we have fun abstract paintings, we have quirky still lifes, we have flowers and beaches, faces and watercolored places, and now  were ready to add some photography. This is us now.

Ive started to collect a few pieces myself  Recently, a huge photo taken by a friend in LA of Clara, the 85 yr. old reigning champ of the bikini contest on Venice Beach. Shes in our bedroom now, and it totally changes the whole vibe of the room. It elevates it, and adds a bit of edge. Its a bright happy piece, and its hard to get color so vibrant as it prints in large format photographs. And Ive added a couple more pictures from NYC  a rad guy we met on the street in Soho one Saturday whos been capturing kooky moments in the Nevada desert (think a pile of stuffed animals on the highway, abandoned by a passing car) sold me two great photographs from this series.

But where I really started my appreciation of great photography was with Anna Barzin. Shes been our Furbish photographer for over 7 years now, and Ive traveled all around the world with her  Greece, Mexico, Peru, Turkey. Shes accompanied me on trips to speak on panels, and weve braved many a gift show together in NYC. Weve set off on weekend eating adventures to Chicago, too-turnt up trips to Charleston, cray-filled California vacations and weve lost a few days in Las Vegas.

All the while, Anna has documented some of the best times of my life  shes kept a pulse on my business for all these years, and whats so special to me is, shes saved so many memories for me of how Ive grown, changed, lost and learned. As my horizons expanded, Anna was usually with me  always the most fun, and always taking amazing photos.

Anna has shot all of The Real Raleigh series on my blog, and she also shoots for several brands I creatively consult on. I trust her implicitly to translate my vibe to a visual, and I am so very stoked to offer her work for sale, for the very first time, today at Furbish.

The Anna Barzin pop-up is here! 40 limited edition photographs, exclusive to Furbish, featuring shots from some of our most favorite colorful places around the globe. From Sardinia to Saint-Tropez, NYC to Istanbul, Cambodia to Charleston  this series of photographs is an amazing edit of what Anna is so very good at  finding magical moments that evoke an easy-going emotion.

The photos are offered with a mat, which Ive found is a great way to display this size work. The print size is 10.5 x 13.5, and its matted to 16 x 20. We picked this size because its big enough to totally shine on its own without looking too dainty, and its versatile enough to incorporate into an existing gallery wall. Unexpectedly great places to hang photography this size are the powder room (one piece is perfectly sized to perk up that space over the toilet), prop one on the kitchen sink for some character, or place on over a nightstand, hung low, with a table lamp off to the side.

Id say find a piece that speaks to you  not necessarily the place (thats fine too), but one that instantly sparks a memory, or elicits a little joy particle in your brain. Maybe its the color, or the movement in the photo, or it could even be the juxtaposition of two dissimilar things that provokes tension, and demands attention. Im going to stop myself here because this is starting to sound ridiculous, but you get the point: photography is awesome, Anna is great at it, the pieces in the pop-up are affordable and ready to hang very chic-ly, and theres something for everyone in this collection.

It opens at 12pm est today  you can shop the pop-up here, you can follow Anna on IG here, and you can read plenty of past blog posts featuring Annas photos here:

NYC FEB 18

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THE REAL RALEIGH SERIES
By Christine W. Thorpe

Kean University, where I am the dean of the Nathan Weiss Graduate College, recently welcomed Martin Luther King III to the universitys Distinguished Lecture Series. I was fortunate to serve as the moderator for his lecture.

His visit resonated with the Kean community because it was nearly 60 years earlier that his father, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., spoke on our campus.

Having Martin Luther King III at Kean offered us all a chance to reflect on progress made and progress delayed in the civil rights movement. And, as the son of the nations preeminent civil rights leader reminded us, from the movements earliest days to the present time, it all comes down to voting.

On Feb. 9, 1961, Kean, then known as Newark State College, was honored to have Dr. King speak on campus at a time in our history when the fight against segregation and inequality was at the heart of the civil rights movement. The arrival of his son on campus reminded me that those early activists were fighting not only for a place on the bus and a place at the lunch counter, but also, a place at the voting booth.

Our nation lurched forward thanks to their struggles, and the historic election of Barack Obama in 2008, our first African-American president, was undeniably a triumph for the civil rights movement. It also served as a beacon of hope for greater things to come. Yes, we can, became Yes, we did.

But things have changed since then. In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court effectively neutered the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a landmark piece of legislation that broke down barriers to voting for Blacks in the South. The nations highest court removed federal oversight of election laws in nine Southern states, opening the floodgates to voter ID laws, the purging of voting records and other obstacles to voting.

At Kean, Martin Luther King III told a sold-out audience that the fight goes on. He noted that the United States ranks below most developed nations and several developing nations in voter turnout and that several states are actively seeking to suppress the vote. He called this years election the most important in his lifetime and exhorted the audience, particularly the college students in attendance, to make their voices heard at the polls.

It brought me back again to the start of the civil rights movement, when young people and college students protested and put their lives on the line to bring about change. As much as we encourage all of our students at Kean to take the lead in advocating for the social change they want to see, in this case, it is clear that the responsibility is all of ours.

MLK III spoke about the need for unsung leaders, heroes and sheroes as he called them, who are essential to the success of social change movements. He said we can and we must do a better job in motivating people to use the power of the ballot to improve their lives and their communities.

It is a simple message with powerful potential. I encourage all of us, young and old, to heed it  vote.

Christine W. Thorpe, Ed.D., is the dean of the Kean University Nathan Weiss Graduate College.

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A Wall Street Journal reporter will remain in the locked-down Chinese city at the centre of the new coronavirus outbreak despite being ordered to leave the country, authorities said Tuesday.

Three journalists had their press credentials revoked and were told to depart China last week over what Beijing said was a racist headline in the newspaper's opinion pages, which none of the trio were involved in writing.

Two flew out from Beijing on Monday but the third -- US national Chao Deng -- has been reporting from Wuhan, where the virus was first detected.

The central city and industrial hub has been under effective quarantine for more than a month and its 11 million residents have been largely confined to their homes.

Chao will not be expelled for the time being but will not be permitted to work while she remains in China, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a press briefing.

"Out of humanitarian reasons, we will continue to allow her to stay in Wuhan, but she cannot conduct interviews," Zhao said.

"After the epidemic is over, we will allow her to leave as quickly as possible."



The three reporters were told to pack their bags after the Journal published an opinion piece titled "China is the Real Sick Man of Asia" earlier this month.

The foreign ministry said the article's headline was "racially discriminatory" and slammed its critique of China's response to the new virus epidemic, which has killed over 2,600 people nationwide.

Chao, fellow American Josh Chin and Australian Philip Wen were given five days to leave the country.

The trio were the first overseas reporters outright expelled by Beijing in more than 20 years, according to the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China -- though reporters based in the country sometimes have visa applications denied or delayed without being given reason.

The Journal reporters were told to pack their bags a day after Washington announced new rules requiring Chinese state media outlets in the United States to submit lists of their employees and seek State Department approval before buying property.

US President Donald Trump said his administration was weighing its response to the expulsions.

"It's something that I don't like to see -- I don't think it's fair," Trump told a press conference in New Delhi at the end of a state visit to India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Environment Erik Grigoryan received today Ambassador of Japan to Armenia Jun Yamada, the ministry told Armenpress.

The meeting participants discussed the opportunities to implement the Climate Funding Innovative Mechanism, developed by the ministry with the support of the World Bank, and cooperate within its framework aimed at assisting the implementation of commitments assumed under the UN Climate Change Framework Convention.

With the introduction of an innovative financial mechanism, developed by Armenia, the developed countries can assist the developing states by implementing their commitments under the Paris agreement. This mechanism can also be used for the cooperation between other developing and developed countries by reducing the foreign debt of the developing countries and directing these funds for mitigating the negative consequences of the climate change, minister Grigoryan said.

The Japanese Ambassador highlighted such large-scale actions for fighting the climate change. He expressed readiness to examine the document presented by the ministry and continue the discussions in the future.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Opinion Article

25 February 2020

A guest at the Westin wanted a doctor. I quoted the fee, always a tense moment.

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"Do you take insurance?"

If the caller is American, the visit is doomed, but he wasn't. I asked the insurance carrier's name.

"Assistcard."

I know Assistcard, but it doesn't allow clients to call the doctor on their own. They must phone Assistcard which confirms their eligibility and then phones me.

Most travelers know this. In the past, when I told the rare exception what to do and then waited for the call from Assistcard, it never came. So I told him I would arrange matters.

Foreign insurers have offices in the US, so their customer service is painfully familiar to me. I listened to a recorded welcome in Spanish, Portuguese, and English. I punched "3" to choose English. A recorded voice told me to listen carefully to choices on the menu because they had recently changed. I chose and then listened to muzak.

After several minutes a dispatcher greeted me in Spanish. I proceeded in English which I suspected he spoke and this proved correct. He assured me that he would phone the guest, and arrange approval. He kept his word although an hour passed before he called.

During the wait, the guest's wife decided that it wouldn't hurt to have the doctor check her cold. The approval, when it arrived, added a consult with the wife, so it turned out to be a lucrative visit.
,



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The Ontario governments massive consultations on education showed virtually no support for larger class sizes, according to its own internal reports, which it has repeatedly refused to release publicly.

From school boards to students, from Black educators to directors of education, concerns about bigger high school classes and the impact on teens were raised during two rounds of public consultations last year by the province, information that was revealed for the first time on Tuesday at an Ontario Labour Relations Board hearing.

And among the more than 7,000 additional submissions from the public, about 70 per cent were opposed to larger classes  but at the same time, none of them said they supported such a move even if they did support the government saving money, said Tom Doyle, chief negotiator for the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA).

There is virtually no support, anywhere, for what they are doing, Doyle told the hearing before labour board Chair Bernard Fishbein, adding emails from the public were negative to government changes.

... Clearly , this consultation has no relevance to the direction the government is taking. They heard from every stakeholder. They heard from the public and did the opposite of what they were told, added Doyle.

The provincial government and teachers unions are at a standoff, with unions opposing the governments plans for larger classes and mandatory online learning, among other issues. The government has passed legislation capping wage increases at one per cent annually.

In the legislature Tuesday, before the consultation reports were revealed, Premier Doug Ford said Its time. Its time the unions put the students over politics and compensation, and work with the government to keep these kids in the classroom. Were protecting full-day kindergarten, maintaining the smallest class sizes in Canada for early years. Its a fact  the smallest classroom sizes for early years.

The Catholic teachers union launched its complaint with the labour board accusing the government of bargaining in bad faith by announcing high school class size changes  initially moving from an average of 22 to 28, but now boosting them to 25  and issuing class-size regulations during the negotiating period.

It argues the government pre-empted negotiations, violating the labour and school board bargaining acts, as well as the Charter.

Doyle, reading from the two summaries of the consultations  consultations previous education minister Lisa Thompson had boasted were the largest ever and meant to inform policy decisions  said school boards worried about fewer teachers meaning fewer courses and limiting student achievement and career pathways for kids.

This is not a good idea  there is no pedagogy, there is nothing good for education with this. The only acknowledgment in this document is that, yes, raising class size does save money, he said.

Liz Stuart, president of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, said the consultations were meaningless.

Her union was at the bargaining table on Monday, but talks ended with no new negotiating dates.

We postponed strike action for this week, she added, in anticipation of Mondays bargaining. That is no small feat, and no small thing for us to do. The government is always accusing the union of escalating  so we decided to take that step back, and lets sit and have a discussion without that hanging over everybody and that didnt work for us, either.

Harvey Bischof, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, said the government has wilfully ignored what it heard from the public.

At the labour board hearing, summaries of the two rounds of consultations were entered into evidence. Copies were not immediately available, but their contents were spoken of at length.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce, and his predecessor Thompson have both refused to release the results of the provinces consultations on everything from class size to curriculum, and which cost almost $1 million.

I think we know why they refused, said NDP education critic Marit Stiles. This is clearly a really strong indictment of the governments move to increase class size in particular.

Lecce told reporters on Tuesday that talks broke off with the Catholic teachers because the union insisted on improvements to their benefits packages, and he said the government is sticking to its offers of a one per cent increase on wages annually and one per cent on benefits.

But in a memo to members obtained by the Star, OECTA said while our preference remains to keep details of discussions at the table, it should be obvious to anyone that Catholic teachers would not be taking strike action over benefits enhancements and the real issues are supports for needy students, big class sizes and mandatory online learning.

Meanwhile, the AEFO representing teachers in the provinces 12 French boards, has called off its one-day province wide strike on Thursday because of expected bad weather.

The union returns to the bargaining table Friday.

Lecce spokesperson Alexandra Adamo, said our government is firmly committed to keeping students in class and listening to the voices of parents. That is why we are committed to keeping class sizes low, including maintaining the lowest class sizes in the nation for the early years.

She also said we have provided certainty by protecting full-day kindergarten in writing, as teacher unions have sought.

Our governments priority is investing more in our students and in our classrooms. We will continue to be reasonable, however it is unreasonable that unions continue to hold up a deal on the basis of enhancing already-generous wages and benefits that the taxpayer cannot afford.
England are likely to be without Mako Vunipola for the next stage of their Six Nations title push, according to boss Eddie Jones. Vunipola travelled to Tonga for family reasons last week and missed the 24-12 win against Ireland at the weekend. Jones has revealed the loosehead prop is unlikely to return in time for the penultimate round of the Six Nations against Wales at Twickenham on March 7. However, Anthony Watson will link up with England at their three-day training camp in Oxford if he is able to demonstrate he has recovered from the calf problem that has prevented him from taking part in the tournament to date. England are well stocked for quality looseheads in the shape of Joe Marler and Ellis Genge, making Vunipola's return less urgent, but Watson can play wing or full-back and would be a valuable reinforcement. "Mako probably won't be back for Wales. He's gone home for family business," Jones said on Monday. "Anthony's got to do a running session and if he gets through that we'll get him into camp."
Predator Takes Over Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) in Katowice

KATOWICE, POLAND, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Editor's Summary:

? Innovative, powerful and immersive gaming technologies are set to bring a serious punch and new levels of competitive gameplay with the Official Predator IEM PCs

? Acer reaffirms its commitment to be the exclusive global PC partner for Intel Extreme Masters events over the next two years

? Predator brings the gaming experience closer to fans at IEM Katowice 2020, the world's largest eSports event

Acer, the official global PC partner for the Intel Extreme Masters, will 'go big' during the series signature event in Katowice with the launch of the Official Predator IEM PC range. Predator will take over Katowice from massive Out-Of-Home brand visibility to stage and in-game branding to onsite exclusive fan engagement opportunities-all while 16 teams are fighting for a US$500,000 prize pool. For Acer, IEM is a unique opportunity to connect with loyal eSports fans in an authentic way that adds value to their experience. Fans can get up close and personal with the innovative, high-performance range of Official Predator IEM PCs, take pictures with Predator League cosplayers and the legendary Official Predator IEM Trophy, and also get access to exclusive behind the scenes content and daily recaps on the Predator Gaming's Facebook and Instagram channels.

OFFICIAL PREDATOR IEM PCs: PLAY LIKE THE PROs

The performance boost offered by the Orion 5000, Triton 900 and 500, the Helios 700 and 300 bring new levels of competitive, adrenaline-pumping gameplay to gaming fans across the world, allowing them to play the latest games, such as CS:GO, like the pros.

The new Predator Orion 5000 comes with the overclockable octa-core 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K (with Z390 chipset) with support for dual-channel DDR4 configurations (up to 64GB) to deliver premium a gaming experience. For superior graphics performance, the revolutionary NVIDIA Turing architecture on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 GPU combines real-time ray tracing, artificial intelligence, and programmable shading to immerse players in a visually-stunning gaming experience. With the extreme processor the Orion 5000 has under the hood, a Cooler Master CPU Liquid Cooler1 regulates temperature to maximize peak performance.

A new option for the latest GeForce GTX 1660 Ti has been added to the Predator Helios 300, where the top configuration is a GeForce RTX 2070 GPU with Max-Q Design. Gamers will be most excited about the combination of up to the newest 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H processors with the latest NVIDIA GeForce GPUs, up to 32GB of DDR4 2666MHz memory and up to two PCIe NVMe SSDs in RAID 0 plus a hard drive.

The Predator Helios 700 includes a unique HyperDrift keyboard that slides forward, allowing for increased airflow directly through the top of the notebook and enabling gamers to push the device's powerful components to their full potential. Powering the uniquely designed Predator Helios 700 notebook is an army of the latest and greatest technologies ready to battle, including up to an all new 9th Gen Intel Core i9 processor for top of the line overclockable performance, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 or 2070 GPU, up to 64GB of DDR4 memory and Killer DoubleShot Pro with Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX 1650 and E3000. All that power makes games come to life on the notebook's 17-inch 144Hz FHD IPS display with 3ms response time and NVIDIA G-SYNC technology.

Now with a blazing-fast 300 Hz 15.6-inch Full HD display, the Predator Triton 500 is a powerful gaming notebook that has been slimmed down to be just 17.9 mm thin and weigh 2.1 kg. It has a durable, all-metal chassis and narrow bezels that measure in at just 6.3 mm to offer an impressive 81% body-to-screen ratio. The slim Triton 500 can easily be slipped into a backpack or briefcase, but once taken out and powered on, it takes advantage of up to a 9th Gen Intel Core i7 processor to become a gaming powerhouse.

The Predator Triton 900 is a gaming notebook with an inventive form factor that bears innovative new design features, namely a CNC-machined Ezel Aero Hinge that flips, extends, or reclines the device's 17-inch display. Featuring the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 GPU and a 4K IPS display with NVIDIA G-SYNC technology, the Predator Triton 900 pulls no punches in its mission to bring gamers a best-in-class gaming experience. With up to a six core high-performance 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, NVMe PCIe RAID 0 SSDs and up to 32GB DDR4 memory, gamers can power up the most demanding games while expecting smooth, tear-free gameplay.

The entire Acer Predator range of high-performance gaming devices, including the Official Predator IEM PCs, is now available for sale at major etailers, retailers and the Acer eStore.

To get exclusive content from Intel Extreme Masters in Katowice, follow Predator's Facebookor Instagram.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

The Predator Triton 900 is available in EMEA with prices starting at 4,199.

The Predator Triton 500 is available in EMEA with prices starting at 1,999.

The Predator Helios 700 is available in EMEA with prices starting at 2,699.

The Predator Helios 300 is available in EMEA with prices starting at 1,499.

The Predator Orion 5000 is available in EMEA with prices starting at 1,999.

Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region. To learn more about availability, product specifications and prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office via www.acer.com.

About Acer

Founded in 1976, today Acer is one of the world's top ICT companies and has a presence in over 160 countries. As Acer looks into the future, it is focused on enabling a world where hardware, software and services will fuse with one another to open up new possibilities for consumers and businesses alike. From service-oriented technologies to the Internet of Things to gaming and virtual reality, Acer's 7,000+ employees are dedicated to the research, design, marketing, sale, and support of products and solutions that break barriers between people and technology. Please visit www.acer.com for more information.

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KAMPALA  Businessman Sudhir Rupaleria has been appointed Honorary Counsul of Republic of Nepal to Uganda, in a move aimed at strengthening economic, cultural and tourist links between the countries.

The tycoon will be inaugurated in March 2020 at a ceremony in Kampala to be presided over by His Excellency Ambassador Jhabindra Aryal Rajdoot, the ambassador of Egypt.

Mr. Rajdoot has also been caretaking for Uganda.

Dr Sudhir was appointed by the president of Nepal Bidhya Devi Bhandari.

An honorary consul is someone designated by a foreign government to look after the affairs of their citizens in foreign countries.

For example, they also handle issues like visas and trade.

In most cases, they are local people designated by a foreign governments to represent their interests in a foreign country.

The businessman has had longtime ties with Napel and in March 2019, Dr. Sudhir took a holiday to one of the Asian tigers where he also visited an orphanage centre in Katmandu and handed out scholastic materials.

A known conservationist who supports the likes of Ngamba Chimpanzee sanctuary in Uganda, Sudhir also visited a baby elephant sanctuary in Napel.

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The Co-ordinator for Intentional Discipleship for the Anglican Communion, the Revd Jolyon Trickey, reflects on some recent consultations on Intentional Discipleship in Mozambique.

In August 2019, two Consultations on Intentional Discipleship were held in Mozambique, and could be a catalyst to seismic change in the country. They brought positive winds of change with potential to transform the Anglican Church in Mozambique and the entire Nation.

Two Mozambican bishops, Vicente Msosa and Carlos Matsinhe gathered clergy and laity; men, women and youth, for four days in Lichinga and Lebombo. They had seen and heard about the impact of similar consultations in Jamaica, Ghana and Malawi. This was their response to a nine year Season of Intentional Discipleship and Disciple-Making inaugurated in April 2016 by a resolution of the Anglican Consultative Council meeting in Lusaka, Zambia.

One of the facilitators, Canon Mark Oxbrow, writes:

The programme followed a now standard pattern of Anglican Communion Whole-life Discipleship consultations. After an introductory session on Whole-life Discipleship, full days followed on each of:

discipleship in the family

discipleship in work

discipleship that transforms community and

discipleship and the environment

We also reflected on how discipleship could transform the whole nation of Mozambique.

As part of his introduction Mark emphasised that discipleship is about a way of life, changing our behaviour at work, in the community, towards our spouse and even in our leisure time. It is also life-long  we can never say we have finished being disciples! Participants were encouraged to share with neighbours their own journey of faith based three telling questions:

Who discipled me?

Who is discipling me now?

Who am I discipling now?

In a further session, the other facilitator, Canon John Kafwanka, Director of Mission at the Anglican Communion, reflected upon a common concern across denominations and continents. Whilst the Christian faith is being believed and individuals find a home in worshipping Christian communities, there is a pressing need to follow Jesus daily in a way that attracts others to discover the life transforming experience of knowing and following Jesus Christ.

Our lived out faith is as powerful a witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ as any preaching or verbal proclamation.

The content of the second day offers an insight into the practical, collective and action oriented nature of these consultations.

First, a Bible study on the worker shaped by Jesus, drawing on examples of workers in the Bible and from Colossians 3:23 and Proverbs 14:23a, helping us see the Churchs unique understanding of work compared with that of wider society.

Second, the imperative of character formation was applied to effective Christian witness in each sphere of society: as a Christian community we need to nurture and support one another as intentional disciples in education, business, the arts and media, and every other sphere of society.

The final section of this day and each day, Canon Oxbrow said, encouraged preparation of archdeaconry action plans for support of disciples in this area (work). These considered resources available or required and the time scale in which to implement plans. Archdeacons and participants themselves were encouraged to monitor implementation and progress.

At the end of both consultations, Niassa & Lebombo Dioceses committed to on-going programmes for intentional discipleship. Watch this space for seismic change in Church and Nation.

Maybe a consultation also offers an effective way to catalyse change in your context and to respond to the call to intentional discipleship?
Among manufacturing companies that went to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), chemicals and metal firms witnessed more resolutions while companies in the labour intensive (employment friendly) leather and textile sectors mostly get liquidated, reports Abhishek Waghmare.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) has completed more than three years in operation, and the data is available now.

An analysis of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) data gives insights into how the system has evolved.

The amount recovered by financial creditors has varied, and does not show a clear improvement.

In fact, the recovery rate was just 12 per cent in the quarter ending December 2019, the lowest in at least two years (Chart 1).

Further, the IBBI data processed by EY India shows that bigger cases -- with higher claims by financial creditors -- take more time to get resolved (Chart 2).

Also, the average recovery rate rises with time, but only till the upper limit of 330 days (Chart 3).

After the 330-day period, there is no clear trend as to how fast or efficiently the cases get resolved, aside from this important fact: The most delayed cases are the ones with the higher claims.

Due to such cases, the average time taken for resolution, and even liquidation, is slowly rising (Chart 4).

The data also shows that it is better to admit a company in the IBC process while its in operation, as the recovery rate is better.

A third of the companies not resulting in resolution were already defunct (Chart 5).

Among manufacturing companies that went to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), chemicals and metal firms witnessed more resolutions.

Companies in the labour intensive (employment friendly) leather and textile sectors mostly get liquidated (Chart 6).

In services, companies in the real estate and construction sector go for appeal or review the most (Chart 7).

A resolution is more likely in the power and hospitality sector companies.

Source: IBBI, EY India, Compiled by BS Research Bureau.
A 61-year-old veteran widow living in South Korea who tested positive for the novel coronavirus is believed to be the first case of the virus in the U.S. military worldwide among either service members or dependents, Lt. Col. Christian Mitchell, a Pentagon spokesman, confirmed Monday.

In a statement, U.S. Forces Korea said that South Korea's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (SKCDC) had confirmed that a U.S. military dependent in southeastern Daegu, considered the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak on the peninsula, had "tested positive for COVID-19, making this the first time a USFK individual has tested positive" for coronavirus.

The woman who tested positive is the widow of a retired soldier, according to the USFK. She visited the post exchange at Camp Walker outside Daegu on Feb. 12 and Feb. 15, USFK said, but there are no immediate indications that others were infected.

Base authorities are seeking to determine who the woman may have come in contact with at the post exchange and whether they might be at risk.

Related: Coronavirus Quarantine at US Base: No Booze, Movies or View But 'Safer' Than Cruise Ship

"Korea's Centers for Disease Control and USFK health professionals are actively conducting contact tracing to determine whether any others may have been exposed," USFK said in the statement.

"USFK encourages all personnel to continue to practice strict proper hygiene procedures as the best ways to prevent the spread of viruses and protect the USFK population," the statement said.

As a precaution, "USFK has raised the risk level to 'high' for USFK peninsula-wide as a prudent measure to protect the force" of about 28,500 service members in South Korea, the statement said.

Army Gen. Robert Abrams, the USFK commander, pushed back against local reports that the coronavirus case in the military may have involved a family member of an active-duty USFK soldier.

Abrams said on Twitter that "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."

Several bases in the U.S., including Travis Air Force Base in California and Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, have served as temporary housing facilities for U.S. citizens returning from China, the epicenter of the virus, but to date there have been no other reports of coronavirus among service members or dependents.

Pentagon officials have repeatedly stressed that no U.S. military personnel will have contact with citizens returning from China, who are under the supervision of the Department of Health and Human Services.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in South Korea increased sharply over the weekend, with more than 230 new cases reported to bring the total to 833, South Korean health officials reported Monday. There also have been at least seven confirmed deaths from the virus.

South Korea President Moon Jae-in updated the anti-virus alert level to "Red" over the weekend, giving authorities the ability to close schools and cut services as needed.

U.S. Army Garrison Daegu announced Sunday that USFK, along with the Department of Defense Education Activity, had determined base schools would be closed through Feb. 28 in response to the virus outbreak.

In addition to civilians, 13 members of the South Korean military have been among the new cases reported, and a total of 7,500 troops have been quarantined as a precaution, South Korea's defense ministry said Monday.

There are now 10 COVID-19 cases in the South Korea's Army and one each in its Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, the defense ministry said.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

Read more: Man Arrested at Arlington National Cemetery After Suspicious Behavior at Pentagon
UPSC Recruitment 2022: One day left to apply for several vacancies at upsc.gov.in, here's direct link

Northeast Delhi remains on the boil: Shots fired, attempts to burn down houses made

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 25: Violence erupted again at northeast Delhi as scored of pro and anti protesters of the citizenship law pelted stones at each other.

Rioters had a free run and there were attempts to Brin down a four storey house from where residents were throwing stones on a bomb. At around 1.30 pm, one man pulled out a pistol to fire multiple shots at the rival group who were closing in. Some others in the group also pulled out firearms and fired.

Meanwhile prohibitory orders have been clamped in Northeast Delhi for a month, following the violence that has erupted in which seven persons have been killed.

Hate and rumour mongering must stop says Shah during high-level meet post Delhi violence

During a high level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, issues such a hate mongering, adequate force deployment were discussed. It was also decided to have better MLA-Police coordination. More importantly, it was decided that rumour mongering had to stop in order to ensure peace in the area.

The meeting was attended by Delhi Lieutenant Governor, Anil Baijal, Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal and representatives from political parties. Shah has been reviewing the situation since Monday.

Shah had held a meeting late on Monday night after attending the Namaste Trump event at Ahmedabad. The meeting which began at 11 pm ended at 1.30 am, sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs tell OneIndia.

During the meeting, Shah reviewed the law and order situation in Delhi and directed officials to restore normalcy at the earliest.

Amit Shah chairs high level meeting on North East Delhi violence

Meanwhile the death toll in the northeast Delhi violence climbed to seven, a senior police official on Tuesday.

Death toll in Northeast Delhi climbs to seven

A Delhi Police head constable, Ratan Lal, was among the seven killed in the violence that erupted on Monday over the amended citizenship law.

Till Monday, authorities had said at least four people, including Lal, were killed in the violence. They said that the death toll has increased to seven on Tuesday.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 14:44 [IST]
- Globally renowned Silicon Valley firm has partnered with MIRA Technology Park to create UK's first Mobility Innovation Hub

- Move marks major step forward in helping the UK mobility sector innovate and exploit research in emerging technologies

- Startup accelerator and investor Plug and Play plans to establish an Innovation Hub at the MIRA Technology Park, bringing together some of the world's best startups to help major mobility focused corporates innovate

LONDON, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Plug and Play, a pioneering US innovation platform for startups, has today announced it will be partnering with MIRA Technology Park, Europe's leading automotive R&D cluster, to create the UK's first Mobility Innovation Hub.

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Plug and Play is the world's largest innovation platform. It specialises in corporate innovation and the development of early-to-growth stage technology startups, bringing together the best startups, entrepreneurial investors, and ambitious global corporations. The exciting move marks the first time the technology accelerator has brought its well-proven business model to the UK.

Situated at the heart of the nation's automotive sector, the Mobility Innovation Hub will be located at the MIRA Technology Park. It provides extensive R&D facilities and access to highly-skilled engineering expertise, thereby immersing the successful startups in a rich eco-system to facilitate their rapid growth. The unique partnership, supported by key government bodies such as Zenzic, will enable OEM and Tier 1 corporates to fast track their innovation agendas whilst supporting startups to prove their concepts and find routes to market for their innovations.

Mike Olmstead, CRO at Plug and Play, said: "With the global mobility industry facing unprecedented change amid megatrends in EVs and connected and autonomous vehicles, the need to accelerate innovation, through investment in talent and technology has never been greater.

"Having already established a successful track record in the US and the rest of Europe, the high-quality of startups and academic research emerging from UK universities makes it an attractive market to enter. As such, we knew the MIRA Technology Park - with its prime location in the heart of the UK mobility sector, pioneering facilities and high-profile tenants - was the right fit for us. We look forward to achieving some great things from this exciting collaboration."

Jack Bartlett, responsible for Global Strategic Development at MIRA Technology Park, said: "We considered for some time how we could facilitate innovation, when we discovered Plug and Play and got to grips with their unique business model it was very clear that this was the right solution. Our collaboration will provide large corporate organisations in the mobility sector with a means to innovate, utilising the benefits of the established and proven Plug and Play innovation model and the locational benefits of MIRA Technology Park.

"With future mobility technologies evolving at such a rapid pace, the importance of collaboration between enterprising startups, investors and established organisations cannot be overstated. Plug and Play's decision to set up their UK mobility operations here will be a major step forward in how the UK industry will develop and deploy the next generation of automobiles."

Daniel Ruiz, CEO of Zenzic, said: "Attracting a pioneering innovation platform such as Plug and Play to the UK represents a huge opportunity for the nation's mobility industry to break fresh ground in self-driving technologies. The move is a real testament to the great work MIRA Technology Park has done in recent years in pooling together the best minds, investment and facilities into one location in order to drive cutting-edge developments that will benefit future mobility for all."

A renowned automotive 'technology cluster', MIRA Technology Park is currently home to 40 mobility sector companies, including many iconic brands and they collectively employ over 1,200.

For further information about HORIBA MIRA, please contact

Monira Matin or Hayley Longdin at Whistle PR on 0121 517 5177 or email HORIBAMIRA@whistlepr.co.uk.

Notes to Editors

About Plug and Play

Plug and Play is a global innovation platform. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we have built accelerator programs, corporate innovation services and an in-house VC to make technological advancement progress faster than ever before. Since inception in 2006, our programs have expanded worldwide to include a presence in over 25 locations globally giving startups the necessary resources to succeed in Silicon Valley and beyond. With over 10,000 startups and 300 official corporate partners, we have created the ultimate startup ecosystem in many industries. We provide active investments with 200 leading Silicon Valley VCs, and host more than 700 networking events per year. Companies in our community have raised over $7 billion in funding, with successful portfolio exits including Danger, Dropbox, Lending Club and PayPal. For more information, visit www.plugandplaytechcenter.com.

About HORIBA MIRA

HORIBA MIRA is a global provider of pioneering engineering, research and test services to the automotive, defence, aerospace and rail sectors. We work in close collaboration with vehicle manufacturers and suppliers around the world, providing comprehensive support ranging from individual product tests to turnkey multi-vehicle design, development and build programmes.

With over 70 years' experience in developing some of the world's most iconic vehicles, our engineers utilise the latest test facilities and simulation tools to make vehicles and journeys safer, cleaner and smarter. Our suite of 40 major test facilities, 100km of specialised proving ground and wealth of engineering experience, combined with our expanding international presence, means we are confident that we can achieve our vision - that every journey in the world will be positively influenced by us.

About MIRA Technology Park

MIRA Technology Park was established in 2010 and has already attracted over 30 major global OEM's, Tier 1 and specialist automotive technology companies. In 2010 it was granted planning approval for its Masterplan which extends to a total of 1.75million sq ft set within the 842 acre site. It has also been recognised by the UK government and was awarded Enterprise Zone status in 2011.

Company Name HORIBA MIRA Ltd. Address Watling Street, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV10 0TU, UK Incorporated 1st January 1946 Business domain Engineering Consultancy, Test Consultancy, Transport Technology Park Representative Declan Allen - Managing Director Web address www.horiba-mira.com

About HORIBA

Headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, the HORIBA Group is a global leading supplier of measurement technology and systems for various fields from automotive testing, process and environmental monitoring, in-vitro medical diagnostics, semiconductor manufacturing and metrology to scientific R&D and QC measurements.

Company name HORIBA, Ltd. Address 2, Miyanohigashi-cho, Kisshoin, Minami-ku, Kyoto, Japan Web address www.horiba.com Founded October 17, 1945 Incorporated January 26, 1953 Net sales 195,399 million Japanese yen (Consolidated, Fiscal 2017) Paid in capital 12,011 million Japanese yen (As of December 31, 2017) Business domain Manufacture and sale of analytical measurement equipment Fiscal closing date December 31, annually Annual meeting of shareholders Held in March Number of employees 7,399 (Consolidated, as of December 31, 2017) Representative Atsushi Horiba - Chairman and Group CEO Stock listings Tokyo Stock Exchange, First Section Securities Code: 6856

About HORIBA Automotive Test Systems

A business segment of the HORIBA Group, Automotive Test Systems (ATS) which has developed global leadership in the fields of engine test systems, driveline test systems, brake test systems, wind tunnel balances and emissions test systems. HORIBA ATS is able to offer its customers complete solutions with full turnkey capability for all industries using electric motors, internal combustion engines and turbines. These include the automotive, heavy-duty, off-road, consumer goods, marine, aerospace and locomotive sectors.

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Linkedin Silvester Asa (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, February 26 2020

Very recently, the newly appointed head of the Agency for Pancasila Ideology Education (BPIB), Yudian Wahyudi ,drew the ire of some elements of the Indonesian public for saying in an interview that religion was the enemy of the state ideology, Pancasila.

Religion can indeed be death-dealing and used to perpetuate certain corrupt practices. In fact, Wilfred C. Smith reckoned that the current understanding of religion is insufficient, since it has failed to encapsulate immensely diverse, fluid and subtle data of religious life.

Therefore, in The Meaning and End of Religion, Smith argues for a whole new concept of apparatus or theoretical framework of looking at religion, which is more rewardingly and more truly based on the historical cumulative tradition and the personal faith of men and women.

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Linkedin Alan Charlish (Reuters) Warsaw  Tue, February 25, 2020 14:03 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206679554 2 Entertainment Amazon,Hunters,Holocaust Free

The Auschwitz Memorial criticized Amazon on Sunday for fictitious depictions of the Holocaust in its Prime series "Hunters" and for selling books of Nazi propaganda.

Seventy-five years after the liberation of the Nazi German Auschwitz death camp by Soviet troops, world leaders and activists have called for action against rising anti-Semitism.

"Hunters", released on Friday and starring Al Pacino, features a team of Nazi hunters in 1970s New York who discover that hundreds of escaped Nazis are living in the United States.

However, the series has faced accusations of bad taste, particularly for depicting fictional atrocities in Nazi death camps, such as a game of human chess in which people are killed when a piece is taken.

"Inventing a fake game of human chess for @huntersonprime is not only dangerous foolishness & caricature. It also welcomes future deniers," the Auschwitz Memorial tweeted.

"We honor the victims by preserving factual accuracy."

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

The Auschwitz Memorial is responsible for preserving the Nazi German death camp in southern Poland, where more than 1.1 million people, most of them Jews, perished in gas chambers or from starvation, cold and disease.

"While Hunters is a dramatic narrative series, with largely fictional characters, it is inspired by true events. But it is not documentary. And it was never purported to be," David Weil, creator and executive producer of 'Hunters' said in a statement.

"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 extreme  and representationally truthful  sadism and violence that the Nazis perpetrated against the Jews and other victims," Weil added.

The Memorial also criticized Amazon for selling anti-Semitic books.

On Friday, the Memorial retweeted a letter from the Holocaust Educational Trust to Amazon asking that anti-Semitic children's books by Nazi Julius Streicher, who was executed for crimes against humanity, be removed from sale.

"When you decide to make a profit on selling vicious antisemitic Nazi propaganda published without any critical comment or context, you need to remember that those words led not only to the #Holocaust but also many other hate crimes," the Auschwitz Memorial tweeted on Sunday.

"As a bookseller, we are mindful of book censorship throughout history, and we do not take this lightly. We believe that providing access to written speech is important, including books that some may find objectionable," an Amazon spokesman said in a comment emailed to Reuters.

In December, Amazon withdrew from sale products decorated with images of Auschwitz, including Christmas decorations, after the Memorial complained.

Separately, prosecutors launched an investigation into a primary school in the Polish town of Labunie, which staged a reenactment of Auschwitz with children dressed as prisoners being gassed, local media reported.

The school is accused of promoting fascism in the performance in December. It could not immediately be reached for comment.

Topics : Amazon Hunters Holocaust
Seattle-based SaaS unicorn targets the European market for sales industry disruption and category leadership in customer engagement; Hires sales veteran Tom Castley to lead European expansion

LONDON, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Outreach , the number one sales engagement platform, opens its first international office in London to take over the European sales market. Outreach's London office will focus on customer engagement for the company's more than 200-strong European-based customers. The new office is centrally located in Shoreditch and will support Outreach's ambition to grow its UK workforce. The company is already the largest sales engagement company in Europe and plans to triple headcount by the end of the year.

"We see a very real opportunity to help evolve the sales industry and customer experience in Europe and we see London as the best place to do so," said Manny Medina, chief executive officer of Outreach. "U.S. teams are engaging with customers in new and innovative ways. Our customers in Europe have shared with us that they believe Outreach can provide European customer-facing teams with the tools they need to transform the sector and turn sales into a true engine for business growth."

As part of its commitment to the European market, Outreach has hired industry veteran Tom Castley to lead its London team. With nearly 20 years of experience building high functioning sales organisations in the tech space, Castley provides Outreach with a grounded view of the local market and expertise in growing international brands. Prior to Outreach, Castley spent three years at Apptio running the pan-European account management team responsible for more than $50M of revenue. He also spent several years at Oracle in various roles, concluding with leading CRM sales across manufacturing, retail, high tech, consumer goods, and other verticals.

"The sales industry needs to change its image as an industry full of mavericks who magically secure sales pipeline at the last minute. We think it's time to put this cliche to bed," said Castley. "This is why we're swapping it for a data-driven approach that helps create a steady flow of prospects filling the pipeline and replaces the 'peaks and troughs' of the sales cycle with a predictable process. Companies can then arm their team with relevant data to not only perfect the art of customer engagement but also increase the productivity of the sector."

Outreach currently employs more than 450 employees and is headquartered in Seattle, Wash. The company aims to triple the number of people in the UK across all customer-supporting functions, including sales, account management, customer success, solutions consulting, professional services, member support, and plans to expand to marketing. Today, Outreach works with more than 4,000 customers around the globe. In Europe, Outreach currently has more than 200 customers, including Deliveroo, Docusign, and Signal AI.

Outreach's fast-paced growth was recognised by Deloitte, receiving the prestigious 2019 Technology Fast 500 award, which ranked Outreach the fourth fastest-growing technology company in North America. Outreach was also named to the 2019 Forbes' Cloud 100 and LinkedIn's Top Startups list. Outreach's great workplace culture was recognised by Inc.'s Best Places to Work, Seattle Business Magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For and the Puget Sound Business Journal's Best Places to Work in Washington.

About Outreach

Outreach is the number one sales engagement platform that helps companies dramatically increase productivity and drive smarter, more insightful engagement with their customers. Over 4,000 companies such as Adobe, Tableau, Okta, Splunk, DocuSign, and SAP depend on Outreach's enterprise-scale, unparalleled customer adoption and robust AI-powered innovation. Outreach is a privately held company based in Seattle, Washington. To learn more, please visit www.outreach.io .

PR Contact: Amanda Woolley

pr@outreach.io

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Donald Trump launched a furious tweet storm from Air Force One Tuesday against the judge hearing his former campaign aide Roger Stone's case - while the court was in session.

He accused the juror in the case of being 'totally biased' just at the time U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson was hearing a bid by Stone's legal team to overturn his conviction because of claims jury foreperson was biased - and herself laying into the president.

The three tweets sent as his plane headed from India to Germany created the spectacle of the president and a federal judge - appointed by his predecessor Barack Obama - appearing to feud in real time.

In the Washington D.C. federal courtroom, Berman Jackson herself took aim at Trump, saying: 'The president of the United States used his Twitter platform to disseminate a particular point of view about a juror.

'Any attempt to invade the privacy of the jurors or to harass or intimidate them is completely antithetical to our system of justice. They deserve our protection. They deserve to have their privacy protected.'

The juror at the center of the case, Tomeka Hart, went public just before Stone's sentencing to speak up for the prosecutors, who were at that point the target of Trump's ire. But her social media history was revealed to include a post about Stone's arrest, and a strong of anti-Trump tweets, while it also emerged she had run for Congress as a Democrat in 2012.

Back in court: Roger Stone was present for his attorneys trying to get his conviction overturned, wearing a single-breasted blue suit, cutaway collar shirt and deep navy blue tie, and blue spotted pocket square, accessorized with round tortoiseshell glasses

Tweetstorm: The president sent a string of tweets and retweets assailing the judge and the jury foreperson, Tomeka Hart, from mid-air as he returned from his presidential trip to India

Back at odds: Donald Trump tweeted an attack on U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson just as she accused him of a campaign of 'harassment and intimidation' against Tomeka Hart, the juror in Roger Stone's case

Retrial bid: Roger Stone wants his conviction - and therefore 40 month sentence - overturned because he claims that Tomeka Hart did not tell about her anti-Trump bias when she joined the jury. However his lawyers admitted they hadn't even googled her when they could have

That prompted Stone's lawyers to demand a retrial, with the hearing beginning Tuesday after Berman Jackson sentenced the veteran dirty trickster to 40 months in federal prison for lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstruction.

Berman Jackson used the hearing Tuesday to condemn both Trump and Tucker Carlson, the Fox News host who is a Stone ally, for their comments on Hart.

Then she told Stone's lawyers and journalists covering the case that the safety of the other jurors could be put at risk if their identities are made public.

Less than an hour later, Trump again criticized the forewoman on Twitter - his latest attack.

'She was totally biased, as is the judge. Roger wasn't even working on my campaign. Miscarriage of justice. Sad to watch!' Trump wrote.

He followed by tweeting: 'A total miscarriage of justice!'

The president has previously claimed the jury was 'tainted' and the foreperson 'anti-Trump.'

Berman Jackson summoned the entire jury to the courthouse and held the hearing behind closed doors to protect their identities.

She also warned Stone's lawyers that identifying any of them would result in them being held in contempt.

And Stone's lawyers suffered a rapid setback when they admitted that they had failed to google Hart during the voir dire phase of the run-up to the trial, when jurors can be asked about their views.

Jackson appeared to grow frustrated with Stone's lawyers as they argued for a new trial based on the jury forewoman's social media comments.

One such post linked to an article that referenced Stone's arrest last year, with the juror writing 'brought to you by the lock her up peanut gallery,' referring to 'lock her up' chants by Trump supporters in 2016 toward his Democratic election opponent Hillary Clinton.

The judge pressed defense attorney Seth Ginsberg - who previously represented the head of the Gambino crime family - for evidence that the juror's views about the president implied bias against Stone in a criminal trial.

'Let's get back to the theme of your motion, which is that her views about the president infected her bias against Stone,' Jackson said, pressing Ginsberg to give 'legal support' to back up his claims.

During the hearing, the judge pressed the defense to prove juror misconduct. Two social media posts they cited referenced Stone, but most involved Trump or Mueller's investigation.

The defense also pointed to tweets the juror made during the trial that did not reference the Stone case, saying they implied she may have seen media coverage of the trial and feared she had told other jurors about it.

'You don't have any facts she was reading things she wasn't supposed to read during the trial?' Jackson asked, to which Ginsberg conceded he lacked any such direct evidence.

Berman Jackson brought in nearly all members of the jury that convicted Trump ally Roger Stone on charges related to the Russia investigation in order to answer questions on allegations of juror misconduct.

The surprise revelation by U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson was another highly unusual twist in the Stone saga, which has included a barrage of tweets from President Donald Trump weighing in on the trial, even on Tuesday as the hearing went on, threats by the attorney general to quit and the departure of the entire prosecutor team following Justice Department leaderships decision to back off its sentencing request.

Hart retweeted a post about Stone's arrest in January 2019, months before the trial

Among the social media which Stone's lawyers are pointing to as reason for a retrial is this tweet surfaced by the pro-Trump right-wing blogger Mike Cernovich, a former InfoWars host

Stone has claimed the jury forewoman was biased and requested a new trial; his first such request was denied.

During a trial, jurors are not allowed to read news accounts or social media posts about the case or discuss it with anyone until deliberations, but after their verdict is rendered, they are released from duty and can speak publicly if they wish.

ROGER STONE DID A LOT WRONG: WHAT HE WAS CONVICTED OF Roger Stone was found guilty on all charges of: 1. Obstruction of justice, lying to Congress and witness tampering by trying to get Randy Credico to lie to Congress. Sentenced to 40 months 2. Lying to Congress that he did not have emails or texts about Julian Assange. Sentenced to 12 months concurrent with the first count 3. Lying when he claimed his references to being in touch with Assange were actually about a 'go-between' - Randy Credico. Sentenced to 12 months concurrent with the first count 4. Lying that he didn't ask his 'go-between' to communicate with Assange. Sentenced to 12 months concurrent with the first count 5. Lying that he didn't text or email the 'go-between' about WikiLeaks. Sentenced to 12 months concurrent with the first count 6. Lying that he had never discussed conversation with his 'go-between' with anyone in the Trump campaign. Sentenced to 12 months concurrent with the first count Advertisement

Jackson told Stone's lawyers that she had seen nothing to support his claim that something untoward occurred, but because of the unusual circumstances - including the president claiming both the judge and forewoman were biased - she was taking the extra step of questioning jurors.

Eleven of the 14 jurors turned up, and she permitted the lawyers to choose two for questioning on whether anything fishy had happened behind closed doors during trial. They chose a man and a woman, who were questioned by Jackson. The lawyers opted not to question the jurors themselves.

The man said nothing untoward happened; they'd weighed the evidence and deliberated to reach a conclusion. The woman said no one brought in a social media post or news article about the case, and no one discussed news accounts during the trial. They both described the process of choosing a foreperson: Several jurors were nominated and the forewoman was chosen by secret ballot.

Jackson later questioned the forewoman, who confirmed she had posted articles critical of Trump's policies online, but said she had done her job as a juror fairly and did not look at media during the trial.

Jackson said she will rule at a later date.

After Stone was convicted in November, one juror wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post, explaining why he felt they were right to convict. And the forewoman spoke about the case in a Facebook post.

Jackson said jurors had faced harassment even before they commented, and she worried for their continued safety. She detailed comments about jurors made by Trump in tweets, by Fox News commentator and Trump supporter Tucker Carlson and right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

The hearing was initially sealed, but Jackson agreed to open it as long as there was no identification of jurors who would testify.

'I think its without question then that this is a highly publicized case in a highly polarized political climate in which the president himself has shone a spotlight on the jury,' she said. 'Individuals who are angry about Mr. Stones conviction may choose to take it out on them personally.'

Stone's lawyers said they feel they were misled by the forewoman, even though they had her jury questionnaire and had a hired a jury consultant - who they said did no Google searches on potential jurors before the trial. They pointed to articles she sent online in posts made before the trial on Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, and other posts on the Russia investigation. Jackson asked why the posts suggest she misled them.

'It's a question about did she lie?' Jackson asked. 'I want to know what she lied about in this questionnaire.'

Jackson told Stone's lawyers that it didn't matter if she posted articles critical of Trump because that would not mean she could not render a fair verdict.

'It paints a picture that she cares about immigration, she cares about racial justice, that voice comes through,' Jackson said.

Hart was questioned for an hour and said that when she filled in the questionnaire she was honest.

In the form, she had said she 'may' have posted an article on social media about the Mueller probe - which led to Stone's indictment - but said she did not mean that to say one article, and added: 'I said I'm honestly not sure. That was the honest answer.'

Hart said that she tweets and posts 'a lot of stuff,' and added: 'I absolutely was not trying to downplay anything.'

She was also asked by Jackson about her fist bump post on the day of the verdict and said it was an expression of 'solidarity.'

Jackson asked her: 'Were you celebrating the verdict that had yet to be decided in the Roger Stone case?' but Hart replied: 'Absolutely not.'

Jackson also questioned two other juror, whose names were not disclosed to the court, who said that Hart had acted fairly as foreperson and had actually slowed down the discussion rather than rushing to a guilty verdict.

One juror, a woman, said that the foreperson had been picked by secret ballot and that at one point the jury had been ready to vote on one of the charges against Stone, but Hart had asked them to examine the evidence 'a little more.'

The general thrust of answers seems to be bad for Stone but Berman Jackson appeared to acknowledge a certainty that the 67-year-old will appeal if she refuses his appeal, saying that she was asking questions of Hart at great length for the sake of the appeal courts.

The hearing and the associated Trump tweet-storm comes after U.S. Attorney General William Barr, his own appointee, rebuked the president for prior remarks about the case, saying: 'Stop the tweeting.'

Trump had assailed the prosecutors for a 'miscarriage of justice' after they urged Jackson to sentence Stone to seven to nine years in prison.

The four prosecutors quit the case after Barr and senior Justice Department officials retracted the sentencing recommendation in the wake of Trump's criticism.

It was also after Trump's fresh attack on the judge and the juror came just hours after he lashed out at two members of the U.S. Supreme Court - liberal Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor - and continued a pattern of what his critics call an attempt to politicize the U.S. courts and undermine judicial independence.
Nine persons lost their lives during violence over Citizenship (Amendment) Act in Northeast Delhi on Tuesday. Tensions continued for the third day in Northeast Delhi district, with protesters torching shops, vehicles and houses. Reportedly, some journalists have also been injured. Additional security forces have been deployed in the violence-hit areas -- Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Chandbagh, Khureji Khas, Bhajanpura, Kardampuri, Gokulpuri, and Khajuri.

Check all the timely updates on BusinessToday.In blog

06:40 PM: Amit Shah, in a letter to wife of Ratan Lal, Head Constable of Delhi Police, said I express grief & deep condolences on untimely death of your husband."

Ratan Lal died during clashes over CAA protests in Northeast Delhi, yesterday.

Home Minister Amit Shah writes a letter to wife of Delhi Police Head Constable Ratan Lal, who died during clashes over Citizenship Amendment Act in Northeast Delhi, yesterday. He writes, "I express grief & deep condolences on untimely death of your husband". #DelhiViolence pic.twitter.com/ZP3nJT9Fzn - ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

06:30 PM: "We are deeply disturbed and concerned. I do not know what is going on. We the people of India want peace. I appeal to everyone to maintain peace," West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

06:20 PM: "11 FIRs have been registered and some people have been detained. The situation is under control and the police is responding promptly to any untoward incident," adds Randhawa.

06:10 PM: Cops say 186 people have been injured in violence

56 police personnel injured, head constable Rattan Lal has lost his life and 130 civilians injured, says Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa.

06:00 PM: US President Donald Trump, about the violence in northeast Delhi, said, "PM Modi wants people to have religious freedom. We talked about it (CAA) for very long. As for the particular attack (in northeast Delhi), we didn't really talk about it."

05:50 PM: Special CP Satish Golcha says, "We will be detaining the miscreants and taking legal action against them. People should cooperate with us to maintain peace... Else we deploy more forces," reports ANI.

05:45 PM: Around 1,000 armed battalions of Delhi cops are being deployed in violence-hit areas of the national capital, reports PTI. This was conveyed at a top brass meeting gathered by Home Minister Amit Shah. The meeting was attended by Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, among others.

05:35 PM: Delhi Police didn't have adequat forces to control the violence, conveys Commissioner of Police Amulya Patnaik during his meeting with the MHA.

05:25 PM: Cops and RAF conduct flag-march in Khajuri Khaas area

Delhi: Police and Rapid Action Force are conducting flag-march in Khajuri Khaas area pic.twitter.com/jErabkAolB - ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

05:20 PM: Section 144 imposed in parts of North East Delhi

Delhi: The latest visuals from violence-hit Bhajanpura area; Section 144 has been imposed in parts of North East Delhi #DelhiViolence pic.twitter.com/nJjptDzUf7 - ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

05:10 PM: Death toll rises to nine. So far, 135 people have been injured in Delhi violence.

05:00 PM: National capital's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia visit GTB hospital to meet those who have been injured in the violence.

04:00 PM: Authorities at the GTB Hospital have confirmed that 31 people admitted for treatment.

11.55 AM: Fire at some shops has not been doused yet, after the tyre market in Gokulpuri area was set ablaze yesterday.

Delhi: Fire at some shops has not been doused yet, after the tyre market in Gokulpuri area was set ablaze yesterday. #NortheastDelhi pic.twitter.com/HtQ3wqcyOa ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020 11.53 AM: Kejriwal said MLAs of the affected areas informed him that there's severe shortage of police force and police couldn't take action till they received orders from the top. "I have also asked District Magistrates to take out peace march with police in these areas," he added. 11.53 AM: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has appealed to all Delhites to maintain peace. "We are worried about the violence in Northeast Delhi. Several policemen and civilians were injured and some lost their lives. Several houses were set ablaze and shops were damaged. It is very unfortunate," he said. 11.57 AM: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal says the border areas' MLAs claimed people were coming from outside of Delhi. "There is a need to seal the borders and do preventive arrests." 10.57 AM: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will hold a meeting with Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and various representatives of political parties at 12 pm today. 10.53 AM: The Delhi Police revises death in Northeast Delhi violence yesterday: "A total of 7 deaths were reported -- 1 police personnel and 6 civilians lost their lives." 10.30 AM: MLAs and officials arrive at the residence of CM Arvind Kejriwal. The CM has called an urgent meeting of MLAs and officials of the violence-hit areas of Delhi. Delhi: MLAs and officials arrive at the residence of CM Arvind Kejriwal. The CM has called an urgent meeting of MLAs and officials of the violence-hit areas of Delhi. pic.twitter.com/NKcELXsoKG ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020 9.59 AM: Mumbai has been kept on alert after recent incidents of violence in Delhi. State Police has taken precautionary measures to maintain law & order. Other than the designated area in Azad Maidan, no permission will be granted for any other protest in Mumbai. 9.50 AM: The Rapid Action Force (RAF) team has fond two empty bullet shells in Brahampuri area. A total of five people have already been killed in clashes between pro and anti-CAA protesters in northeast Delhi. Delhi: Two empty bullet shells found by Rapid Action Force (RAF) team from Brahampuri area. More details awaited. #NortheastDelhi https://t.co/3jM0wPUP0x pic.twitter.com/oOLspfKgrT ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020 9.39 AM: Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel hold flag march in Brahampuri area, after stone-pelting incident between two groups in the area, today morning. Delhi: Police & Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel hold flag march in Brahampuri area, after stone-pelting incident between two groups in the area, today morning. #NortheastDelhi pic.twitter.com/NkjrSrmBPD ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020 9.28 AM: On Tuesday morning, five motorcycles were set on fire in Delhi's Maujpur area amid fresh incidents of stone-pelting. 9.18 AM: Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviews the prevailing law and order situation amid the clashes in northeast Delhi; directs officials to restore normalcy at the earliest. 9.00 AM: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said that he's worried over the prevailing situation in certain parts of Delhi. Appealing people of Delhi to make all efforts to restore peace, Kejriwal urged everyone to shun violence. He also called an urgent meeting of the MLAs of all parties along with senior officials in wake of clashes over anti and pro-CAA protesters. Am v worried abt prevailing situation in certain parts of Del. All of us together shud make all efforts to restore peace in our city. I again urge everyone to shun violence



Am meeting all MLAs (of all parties) of affected areas along wid senior officials in a while Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 25, 2020 8.30 AM: Section 144 has been imposed in Northeast Delhi as pro and anti-CAA protesters are still out on the streets. The Delhi Police has also urged the citizens to maintain calm and refrain from believing in rumours. Joint Police Commissioner (Eastern Range), Alok Kumar told the media that police forces have been strategically deployed in Jaffrabad, Seelampur, Maujpur, Gautampuri, Bhajanpura, Chand Bagh, Mustafabad, Wazirabad and Shiv Vihar, where there is a possibility of disturbance. Also Read: Delhi Violence: One head constable killed; forces deployed to stop clashes 8.23 AM: Schools will remain closed in North east district today, says Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. ?????? ??? ????? ???????? ????????? ????? ??? ?? ??????? ?? ??? ????????? ???? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ???????? ????? ??? ??????. ????? ????????? ?? ?????? ??? ????? HRD Minister @DrRPNishank ?? ?? ??? ?? ?? ?? ?? ????? ??? ?? ?? ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ???. Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) February 24, 2020 Schools shal remain closed in North east district. https://t.co/0Ksg1HnR0m Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) February 24, 2020

8.18 AM: Bhim Army Chief, Chandra Shekhar Azad writes a letter to Lieutenant Governor of Delhi: "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."

8.17 AM: Congress President Sonia Gandhi: "I appeal to the people of Delhi to maintain communal harmony and defeat the ill intentions of forces trying to divide India on the basis of religion."

Also Read: Anti-CAA protest: Stone hurled at Kapil Mishra's rally in Maujpur, police lob tear gas

8.10 AM: Delhi Traffic Police: From forenoon till around 4 pm on 25th February, traffic is likely to remain heavy in the areas of Moti Bagh, Chanakyapuri, India Gate, areas around ITO, Delhi Gate and the adjoining areas of Central and New Delhi. In the evening, traffic is likely to remain heavy in Chanakyapuri, RML roundabout, Dhaula Kuan, Delhi Cantonment, Delhi-Gurgaon Road (NH-48) & adjoining areas. Necessary traffic diversions as per ground situation may also be enforced.

Also read: Delhi Violence: Entry, exit gates of 5 Pink Line metro stations closed

8.00 AM: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation: Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar will continue to remain closed. Trains are being terminated at Welcome metro station.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a petition seeking independent judicial inquiry, compensation for deceased and arrest of political leaders for inciting violence in Delhi's north-east area.

A Division Bench of Justices Anup Jairam Bhambhani and G.S. Sistani listed the matter for tomorrow.

Violence erupted between pro and anti-CAA groups in north-east parts yesterday. Several areas including Jaffrabad, Maujpur and Gokulpuri are tense.

Petitioner and social activist Harsh Mander claimed that as many as 10 people have been killed "in cold blood by the Delhi police and members of the organisation connected to the party in power at Centre." Mander has sought arrest of BJP leaders Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma and their prosecution.

"After provocative speech were given by the three prominent politicians liked to the assailants, the assailants carried out mutiple brutal attacks on unarmed persons who were protesting against CAA," the plea claimed.

He has requested the court to constitute a Special Investigating Team (SIT) headed by officers from outside the national capital.

The petition sought for a direction to the Central government to deploy Army to control law and order situation in the affected areas.

Among other prayers, it also sought an inquiry by a retired judge into "communal attacks".

The activist has requested the court to pay "exemplary compensation" to the families of those killed in the violence.

"For a writ of mandumus, direct the respondents to preserve the evidence and CCTV footage of all cameras in and around the protest site," the plea said.
The first COVID-19 case in Switzerland has been confirmed in the southern part of the country bordering Italy, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) said on Tuesday, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

The male patient, who was in his 70s and from Ticino canton bordering Italy, was in Italy on Feb. 15 to attend an event near Milan, and the first symptoms appeared two days later, according to FOPH. His infection was confirmed in a lab test in Geneva.

The patient, having remained with his family ever since, is now in isolation at a clinic in Lugano, Ticino canton.

FOPH said that cantonal and federal authorities will identify other people who may have been in contact with the patient in order to quarantine and monitor them for the next 14 days.

According to FOPH, this first COVID-19 case in Switzerland does not change the risk assessment -- COVID-19 currently represents only a moderate risk for the Swiss population.

Medical establishments in the country are ready to carry out early detection and diagnostic examination of suspected cases as well as to care for other sick people.
Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal led the wreath-laying ceremony organised here on Tuesday to pay tributes to head constable Ratan Lal who lost his life during communal clashes in northeast Delhi.

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai and Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik also paid their respect to the slain policeman along with a host of other police officials here at the Shaheed Smarak Sthal, New Police Lines.

"Ratan Lal's martyrdom is a huge loss to Delhi Police and the nation in whole. I, on behalf of the Delhi police, want to say that we in this time of grief stand in solidarity with the bereaved family," Patnaik said.

Ratan Lal (42), a head constable attached to the office of the ACP Gokalpuri, died after he sustained injuries during stone-pelting at Chand Bagh. He is survived by his wife and three children.

According to police, his body will be now taken to his hometown Sikar in Rajasthan where his last rites will be performed.

Ten people, including the policeman, have been killed in the violence over the amended citizenship law that has rocked northeast Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The European Union on Feb. 25 gave its chief negotiator Michel Barnier a robust negotiating mandate to get a free trade deal with Britain, which counters several of the red lines that London has set.

The 27 EU nations are insisting that if Britain wants the best possible deal in the wake of its Brexit departure last month, it will have to adapt to EU rules and regulations on everything from state aid to environmental standards.

Britain has already rejected this, claiming the ability to diverge from EU rules is a key component of Brexitsupporters of Britains departure from the bloc say the great dividend will lie in the repatriation of powers to London from Brussels for the benefit of the British economy.

The interests are huge. It will be very hard worka tough road ahead, said Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok.

Another stumbling block is the timetable. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson insists that a deal needs to be done by the end of the year so Britain can leave the EUs frictionless single market and customs union. Britain remains within the EUs economic orbit until the end of 2020 to smooth its departure from the bloc. That transition period can be extended once for up to two years but Johnson has said he wont be doing so.

That means the timetable to negotiate everything from fishing rights to access to EU markets is tight, as most trade deals take years to conclude.

We need a good agreement rather than succumb to calendar pressure, said Frances Europe Minister Amelie de Montchalin, who insists the UK aligns itself with EU rules even as they evolve.

The EU is fearful the UK could undercut EU firms if it is allowed to diverge too much from social, industrial and environmental standards that took years to build together. Given that Britain is an intrinsic part of the European economy following its 47 years of membership of the EU, thats a particular concern across EU capitals.

British ministers were also gathering to finalize the UKs negotiating mandate, which is due to be published on Thursday. Britains chief UK trade negotiator David Frost said last week that the right to diverge from the blocs regulations was the point of the whole project to leave the EU.

He said that to think that we might accept EU supervision on so-called level playing field issues simply fails to see the point of what we are doing.

But Britain has also promised it wont undercut the EU by lowering standards on environmental protection, food hygiene or workers rights. Johnson said earlier this month that we are not leaving the EU to undermine European standards.

The challenge for negotiators will be to find a way to make that commitment binding that both sides can agree on.

By Raf Casert and Jill Lawless
Asia stands to lose at least $105billion in lost tourism receipts if the coronavirus shuts down tourism to and from China, according to a senior economist.

Robert Carnell, who is ING Bank's chief economist and head of research for the Asia-Pacific region, says: 'If we assume that tourism to and from China basically grinds to a halt in 2020, and extra-regional tourism also diminishes, then the cost to the region from lost tourism revenues alone is approximately $105-$115 billion.'

This is because China and its citizens are responsible for a considerable proportion of Asian tourism. Chinese visitors are responsible for a third of travellers to South Korea and Cambodia, while over ten million travel to Thailand every year.

ING's Robert Carnell: 'It's far too early to speculate how far this Covid-19 outbreak will go. But barely two months into this epidemic and the ramifications are already far-reaching'

Carnell adds: 'Few if any Chinese travellers will consider a two week lockdown an acceptable price for a similar length vacation elsewhere in Asia, and not surprisingly, Asian tourists are also notable by their absence in China.

Though China would be severely affected on an absolute GDP basis, losing $74billion in inbound tourism, countries like Thailand and Cambodia would likely be more heavily affected on a per capita basis as their economies are more highly reliant on the tourism industry.

The article, titled 'Holidays in Hell,' states: 'It's far too early to speculate how far this Covid-19 outbreak will go. But barely two months into this epidemic and the ramifications are already far-reaching.'

'Parts of China are in a literal lockdown, and there is very little travel between China and other parts of Asia.'

The fall in air traffic is already beginning to impact the airline sector. Hong Kong's flag carrier Cathay Pacific told 27,000 of their workers to take three weeks of unpaid leave between the beginning of March and the end of June to cut costs.

Last week, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) says Asia-Pacific airlines could lose almost $28billion in revenue because of the Covid-19 virus.

The Japanese Association of Travel Agents predicts that about 400,000 Chinese tourists will abandon their planned Japanese vacation by the end of March

British airlines meanwhile saw its share prices plummet on Monday, with budget airline EasyJet losing a sixth of its value and TUI declining by 10 per cent. British Airways owner IAG also performed badly.

Japan is expected to be particularly hurt by the lack of Chinese tourists flying to China, with the Japanese Association of Travel Agents predicting that about 400,000 Chinese tourists will abandon their planned Japanese vacation by the end of March.

Carnell notes: 'From deserted hotels to empty airports, the impact of this little scrap of protein and lipid [Covid-19] on economies in the region is potentially enormous.'

Economics forecaster Oxford Economics estimates that world GDP could be cut by 850billion were the coronavirus to turn into a pandemic

Fears of a coronavirus pandemic grew on Monday after sharp rises in new cases reported in Iran, Italy and South Korea.

The virus has infected more than 77,000 people and killed more than 2,500 in China, most in Hubei province, the epicentre of the 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.

Economics forecaster Oxford Economics estimates that world GDP could be cut by 850billion were the coronavirus to turn into a pandemic, and possibly nudge G7 countries like the UK and Germany into a recession.

From Bali to Bangkok, Asia's main tourism hotspots have suffered thousands of cancellations, even as countries impose travel restrictions to try and halt the spread of the virus.

'While Thailand tops the poll for the region as a whole in terms of pure numbers, Chinese tourists are still a very important source of income for other South East Asian economies,' Carnell says.

As part of its analysis, ING included spending by outbound tourists to China, as well as the inbound Chinese tourists that will no longer be visiting countries in the region.
A woman walks a dog in snowy conditions in Bedale, North Yorkshire (PA via Getty)

London could be doused in snow later this week thanks to the Atlantic jet stream, the Met Office has said.

Snow has already hit parts of Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England in the past few days, but there are warnings that the south of England and the capital could be next.

Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said further snow is on its way to Scotland and Northern Ireland on Wednesday and Thursday.

The cold weather will spread further south, potentially resulting in snow in London on Thursday, he said.

Cars in Bedale, North Yorkshire, after snow hit the UK at the weekend (PA via Getty)

McGivern said there was "a mild bump in the air across the Atlantic" which will lead to an area of low pressure.

Read more: UK hit by snow and floods as 'danger to life' warnings remain

He said: How this interacts with the jet stream come Thursday is currently very uncertain.

"The European computer model sends that low into France. But the Met Office computer model and the American model have it further north and more developed across southern parts of the country.

"At the moment we think it is most likely to run across southern counties of the UK, and bump into the cold air further north.

"And that means that as we start off Thursday, we think it's most likely that southern counties of England and South Wales will see a spell of rain.

"But north of the M4, there is the possibility of some temporary snowfall  not a great deal  it doesn't at the moment look to be widespread, significant disruption. But there is the possibility of some snow, in north London, for example.

Read more: Remarkable Storm Dennis drone pictures show flooding devastation

"It does clear away after lunchtime, and then brighter skies follow, but we will continue to see further wintry showers across northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and further snowfall especially over the hills."

A man walks his dog on Sunday in wintry conditions around the Angel of the North, near Gateshead, Tyne and Wear (PA via Getty)

Temperatures plummeted overnight across Britain between Monday and Tuesday as the Met Office warned of more ice and snow.

The mercury dropped to -4.5C at the Cairnwell in the Scottish Highlands, the Met Office said.

Story continues

A man walks his dog in the snow in Leyburn in the Yorkshire Dales after snow hit parts of the UK (PA via Getty)

Significant snow falls were also recorded overnight, with Aviemore in Scotland recording 7cm and Northern Ireland's Lough Fea getting 3cm.

Read more: Dramatic Storm Ciara video shows lifeboat almost capsizing

Higher areas in both countries and in northern England were expected to continue to receive snow throughout the day.

Yellow weather warnings were in place for Northern Ireland, Scotland and the central part of northern England, warning of ice and potentially hazardous travel on Tuesday morning.

---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK---
Shimla, Feb 25 : Himachal Pradesh Governor Bandaru Dattatraya on Tuesday hailed the Central government for scrapping Article 370 and amending the Citizenship Act (CAA).

Delivering the customary address to the state assembly on the first day of the Budget session, he said the Central government has passed the Constitution (application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order of 2019 in public interest.

By promulgating this order, Section 370 has been abolished and a single Constitution has been enforced bringing the entire nation from Kashmir to Kanyakumari under one Tricolour flag.

Besides this, the apex court, in a historic decision, has paved the way for construction of Ram Mandir by settling the Ram Janmabhoomi land case.

In the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, the government has made amendments to the Citizenship Act of 1955, prescribing provisions for conferring citizenship of India to the members of the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian communities who entered India from Afghanistan, Pakistan or Bangladesh because of religious persecution.

"This became possible only because of the guidance of a strong leadership in this country. My government endorses these decisions and congratulates the Central government for taking these unprecedented decisions," the Governor said in his address in Hindi for nearly two hours.
(Newser)  It's a statement that brings chills even 18 years after the fact: "On the 11th day, Danny miraculously found his brother Tommy in the rubble at the World Trade Center." That's what an official with Rescue Co. 3 in the Bronx had to say of Daniel Foley, a New York City firefighter whose older brother, fellow firefighter Thomas Foley, was killed while responding to the 9/11 terror attacks. Daniel Foley died Saturday at age 46 from pancreatic cancer caused by his own time at Ground Zero, which included the aforementioned 11 days spent searching for his brother's remains but also many months beyond them.

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CNN reports that while Foley wasn't assigned to Rescue Co. 3 as his brother was, he joined them through the entire recovery effort, which lasted through May 2002. He then transferred from Ladder 49 to Rescue Co. 3. The New Rochelle resident was diagnosed on Feb. 24 of last year and retired after 21 years of service. He leaves behind a wife and five children, ages 6 to 17, reports Lohud.com. Officials put the count of firefighters who have died of 9/11-related illnesses at 220. (Read more 9/11 attacks stories.)
Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel, says the UAE is limiting flights to Iran over virus outbreak.

The airport said in a statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday that all flights to and from the Islamic Republic of Iran, with the exception of Tehran, have been suspended until further notice. It added that all passengers arriving on direct flights from Tehran will receive thermal screening at the airport.

The move comes after Bahrain announced a 48-hour ban on flights from Dubai and Sharjah over the outbreak.

The tiny island nation of Bahrain suspended flights on Tuesday to the world's busiest airport for international travel in Dubai over fears about the spread of the new virus.

The move by Bahrain, a small island off the coast of Saudi Arabia, suggested its monarchy had doubts about screenings of incoming passengers in Dubai and nearby Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. It said the ban was immediate and would last at least 48 hours.

Bahrain counted its first case of the coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 illness on Monday in a school bus driver who transited Dubai while coming from Iran. Later, it confirmed a second case, also a traveler from Iran via Dubai.

Dubai International Airport did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Officials at Sharjah's airport could not be immediately reached.

Dubai has been screening passengers on incoming flights from China, where the outbreak began. Long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad are among the few international airlines still flying to Beijing. However, the outbreak in Iran only became public in recent days.

Iran's government said Monday that 12 people had died nationwide from the new coronavirus, rejecting claims of a much higher death toll of 50 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.

Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq and Oman also announced their first cases of the virus on Monday and connected them to travel with Iran.

The UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula, has reported 13 cases of the new virus. Most of those were connected to Chinese travel.

Meanwhile, Kuwait raised the number of its infected cases from three to five people. All five were passengers returning on a flight from the Iranian city of Mashhad, where Iran's government has not yet announced a single case of the virus.

The state-run Kuwait Agency reported the two latest cases on Monday evening in two women whose nationalities were not disclosed. Kuwait had halted over the weekend transport links with Iran and was evacuating its citizens from Iran.

Also, Oman, which has good ties with Iran, has halted flights with its Persian Gulf neighbor. Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are the only two Gulf countries that still have direct flights to Iran.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tucked inside a two-and-a-half story home on May Street there was a secret.

The landscaping to the home was taken care of by someone renting the property, the rent was paid on time and police had no calls to the residence.

But on Feb. 1, a call to respond to the home was made shortly before 4 p.m. A passerby thought they saw smoke coming from the chimney.

When firefighters forced their way into 225 May St., the secret inside the home was discovered. There were 900 marijuana plants in various stages of growth on every floor of the home, including the basement.

But for now, no one is being charged in the case. The reason: police didnt have a search warrant. They didnt expect to need one under the unusual circumstances.

The circumstances of how police found the marijuana and the lack of evidence connecting anyone to the sophisticated marijuana grow operation have Worcester police officials saying they cant pursue anything further on this specific location and cant make any arrests.

It doesnt necessarily mean there is no investigation, however. Worcester police sent all its information to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Worcester Police Capt. Michael McKiernan said on the day of the fire, police went to the scene to help with traffic since the area is smack in the middle of a busy intersection.

Firefighters forced their way into the home and determined the smoke was actually condensation.

Firefighters then told police at the scene that there appeared to be a large grow operation inside the single-family home.

Ductwork, a makeshift sprinkler system, fertilizer and heat lamps filled the rooms. Filters and water lines were found inside the home, authorities said.

It was a significantly organized operation. They had high-tech equipment, McKiernan said.

They put a lot of money into it, said Worcester Police Chief Steven Sargent, who once was the commander of the Vice Squad during his 34 years on the department.

Officers at the scene went inside and noticed the grow operation. Officials determined the drugs would be seized and the Vice Squad headed to the home.

Vice Squad investigators then cut the plants and seized the marijuana. The other items used to grow marijuana can be legally owned and were kept at the house.

McKiernan said when firefighters responded to the home, they saw someone leaving. The man was carrying something, and authorities were given the mans license plate as he drove away.

Officers were able to stop the car. The man was identified as a resident of New York. He didnt have anything illegal inside his car. Police officers, at the time of the stop, weren't aware of the marijuana grow operation.

When we were in the house, we didnt find anything that linked him to that house, McKiernan said.

The captain also spoke to the homes owner, who had a family member translate. Police learned the person who leased the home was not the same person who left the scene when the fire was called.

The homeowner told police she had no idea the grow house was inside and hadnt been to the home in over a year. The person who leased the home took care of the landscaping and paid rent every month, police officials told MassLive.

The person who owned the May Street home owns other properties in the city. Police checked those locations and didnt find anything illegal.

When police started digging into the person on the lease, they discovered he gave the homeowner a fake phone number.

Investigators checked the home and didnt find any biographical information identifying the names of anyone possibly running the marijuana grow.

The people who ran the operation clearly knew to get rid of evidence linking them to the home, McKiernan said.

Police checked records in order to review calls for service to the home since the unidentified man began leasing it.

Theres never been a call for service to that house other than this civilian driving by and seeing what appeared to be smoke, McKiernan said.

In a close neighborhood, there were no indications of activity that revealed what was truly going on inside. Neighbors didnt see any odd activity usually associated with drug dealing and no odor tipped people off to plants growing inside.

Originally, when police went inside the home right after the fire call, police were able to enter because of the emergency call. But without a fire, the emergency disappeared like the condensation that prompted the initial response.

If fire officials told police there was no fire, or if police determined quickly there was no fire before officers entered the home, police investigators would have obtained a search warrant to search the premises.

It is a situation McKiernan and Sargent have never seen. Police officials are now using the scenario as an example to train officers.

Nobody expects to walk into a house with 900 plants and a significant, professional grow operation in the middle of a neighborhood, McKiernan said.

The marijuana evidence in the case has now been destroyed.

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In view of frequent communal



clashes in Khambhat in Anand district, the BJP government in Gujarat has blamed local "demographic changes" for such incidents and decided to impose the Disturbed Areas Act in some parts of the town which is aimed at preventing distress sale of properties in communally-sensitive areas.

The town has been on the boil since February 23 when clashes broke out between two communities.

"Such clashes are happening because of demographic changes. As demanded by the people of Khambhat, the government has decided to start the process of imposing the Disturbed Areas Act in areas where such incidents are happening regularly.

"We have taken this decision to stop further changes in the local demography," Gujarat Minister of State for Home, Pradeepsinh Jadeja told reporters in Gandhinagar on Tuesday.

The Gujarat Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and the Provision for Protection of Tenants from Eviction from Premises in Disturbed Areas Act, 1991, commonly referred to as the Disturbed Areas Act, is aimed at preventing distress sale of properties in communally-sensitive areas.

Under this Act, permission of district collector is mandatory for the sale or transfer of property in the areas notified as 'disturbed' to ensure that the sale was not out of any distress or compulsion, and to see that the seller had received a fair price.

The said Act is currently in force in parts of Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Bharuch, Kapadvanj, Anand and Godhra towns.

Khambhat has the history of communal clashes, with the latest such incident reported in January this year, also from Akbarpur area as was the case on Sunday.

On the third consecutive day on Tuesday, incidents of arson and stone-pelting were reported from the town even as a bandh was observed by some Hindu community groups.

Earlier in the day, a mob set fire to two roadside wooden cabins and some motorcycles after staging a protest at Gavara Chowk.

Police have arrested 47 persons since Sunday for their alleged role in violence, Jadeja said.

He said "anti-social elements" were involved in the incidents of arson and stone pelting in areas like Akbarpura, Lal Darwaja and Bhavsar Colony.

"Some people are trying to disturb the peaceful atmosphere of Khambhat. Till now, we have lodged four FIRs and arrested 47 persons," the minister said.

Meanwhile, the government has appointed Ahmedabad Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Ajit Rajian as the new superintendent of police of Anand district, as the incumbent SP Makrand Chauhan is on leave, Jadeja said



When asked about the measures being taken to mitigate tension in Khambhat, Jadeja said an Additional DGP and two IGs are camping in the town. "We will not spare the culprits," he added.

Incidents of arson and stone-pelting were reported from Akbarpur area on Sunday.

Violence spilled over on Monday as well with fresh incidents of stone-pelting and attack on police personnel reported.

According to police officials, more than 20 houses and as many vehicles were torched by mobs since Sunday in separate incidents of violence.

Jadeja said those people arrested in the January clash and since been out of jails were behind the Sunday violence.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
EU ministers gathering Tuesday to adopt a joint negotiating stance on future ties with Britain warned London it must first respect a treaty struck last year that eased the terms of its Brexit. They also stressed that mirroring EU standards will be crucial for British goods to be allowed tariff-free access to the huge European single market. The stern words highlighted just how fractious EU-UK relations have already become since Britain's departure from the bloc four weeks ago. The talks to define the future relationship are to start next week and wrap up before the end of this year. Britain, which is to unveil its own negotiating mandate on Thursday, has ruled out extending the negotiating period. The outcome of the talks is uncertain. "We have to first seek a good agreement before giving into timetable pressure," France's EU minister, Amelie de Montchalin, told reporters as she went into the meeting. "The time pressure is immense and the interests are huge," said Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok. "It's a very complicated treaty. It will be very hard work, a tough road ahead." - Low trust - The new relationship accord, spanning trade, security, defence and citizens' rights, is meant to kick in from January next year. Failing that, trade would revert to a bare-bones arrangement under WTO rules, causing economic pain on both sides, but especially in Britain. Britain has nonetheless signalled it is willing to walk away rather than obey EU diktats, saying doing things its own way was the whole point of Brexit. The EU, however, is insisting Britain retain European norms and keep apace with new ones, fearing that without a "level playing field" the UK might seek a competitive edge by undercutting tax, environmental and labour standards. Trust is at a low ebb, with France in particular hardening the EU position and Britain signalling that it may not fully implement the Brexit withdrawal agreement that governs the transition period. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman has said British ports are not being readied to carry out checks on goods between Britain and its Northern Ireland territory, despite that being a requirement of the withdrawal agreement. Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney warned that "the implementation of agreements that have already been struck are the test of good faith and trust -- and without good faith and trust, building a future relationship is not going to be easy". Germany's EU minister, Michael Roth, was equally blunt. "My message is crystal clear to our friends in London: keep your promises," he said. - Seeking Canada - Under the withdrawal agreement, a protocol on Northern Ireland is to remain in place unless a devolved local government decides otherwise years down the line. Until then, the British territory is to essentially remain under EU single market rules, with a border for goods down the Irish Sea. But Johnson has repeatedly insisted that there will be no checks on goods going between Britain and Northern Ireland, the agreement notwithstanding. Last weekend, the Sunday Times quoted an unnamed "senior source" in his government saying the British negotiating team was looking at ways aimed at "not obeying the Northern Ireland protocol". For the future relationship, Britain is asking for a similar free trade agreement to the one Canada has with the EU, rejecting Europe's arguments that the UK's proximity, size and economic interconnectedness with the continent require stricter controls. Johnson's government was expected to finalise its own mandate later Tuesday, and publish documents setting out the position on Thursday. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government is said to be looking at ways to wriggle out of Brexit commitments on Northern Ireland Relations between Brussels and London are fractious
ERBIL  We read in articles that there are sleeper cells. These are not sleeper cells. They are active on a daily basis, Ghassan al-Youssef told Al-Monitor about the Islamic State's presence in Syrias eastern Deir ez-Zor region.

Youssef, the civil council chief of the part of the governorate officially under control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), noted in the Feb. 16 interview that recent attacks have been against the SDF, against civilians and against officials.

Deir ez-Zor has suffered an uptick in attacks in recent months, presumably from IS fighters. A few days before, Youssef said a school for some 600 students had been destroyed in eastern Deir ez-Zor.

Youssef spoke to Al-Monitor two days before he met with US special representative for Syria James Jeffrey alongside other local military and civilian leaders.

Deir ez-Zor is one of the most strategic areas in the country and there is a great deal of focus there from Iran and Russia as well as the US-led international coalition, Youssef noted.

In an earlier, previously unpublished interview with Al-Monitor in November 2019, Youssef had said he had several problems with the SDF. When asked in February whether these issues were still unresolved, he said, We have a simple demand: for Arabs to be given a real role in the leadership of the area, adding, We have seen improvement. We hope to see more.

Deir ez-Zor residents have repeatedly claimed to Al-Monitor that corruption is widespread within the SDF ranks and that this is a major reason IS is able to continue operating in the area.

Others also blame the Kurdish-led group for fostering grievances between tribes and clans, such as the recently rising tensions between the Shaitat tribal area and al-Shuhail, most of whose residents are from another part of the same Oegaidat tribal confederation.

As head of the civil council, Youssef bears the burden of moderating between the SDF and locals that often do not trust the Kurdish-led group, which many continue to refer to as PKK (the Kurdistan Workers Party separatist group) and claim that the leadership is from Qandil, occupiers of Arab land that operate on the basis of ideology and loyalty to a foreign leader imprisoned on charges of terrorism in Turkey instead of local interests.

Youssef stressed he does not depend on any external body or country. Not the US, not Russia, not anyone else, adding that in speaking to the SDF every time I have said I am not an employee of the SDF. We are partners. We have the same interests: We want to fight IS.

I am willing to speak to everyone in the interests of the Syrian people. To achieve security for them, he said.

In his view, releasing those from the al-Hol camp in eastern Hasakah province for whom there is no evidence of bearing arms for IS helps toward this end.

Youssef noted, Our council is in charge of an area covering territory about the size of Lebanon, and Deir ez-Zor is an Arab region. There were never any Kurds there. Never.

He noted that he, too, had been arrested and interrogated by the SDF for about a week when he fled IS-held territory after staying for years in the province under IS control. He said the SDF had found it suspicious that he was an academic who preferred to stay.

Now, however, Youssef treats his staying as a badge of honor and says it's why many in the area trust him.

I never left Deir ez-Zor. I know a lot of people, friends, who went to Europe or the US. I stayed.

Reaching for his phone and scrolling through Whatsapp messages during the November interview, Youssef pointed at one and said, This is one of the sheikhs in the Baghouz: We are unhappy about the agreements between the SDF and the regime. This is dangerous. The collaboration, the handing over of people wanted by the regime. We are looking for solutions and we think that the best solution is coalition forces without the SDF. The man went on, What we want from you is to pay attention to the arrests [of Arab locals] in the area because this is very dangerous.

These tribal leaders have a political vision, Youssef noted. Here is another one: Our people here want to demonstrate to support the people in the camps, to get them out of the camps, and we are afraid that the situation will get out of hand. These demonstrations are unhelpful now, we do not want these demonstrations to be used for other ends.

Youssef noted that the complexity of the situation and the widespread destruction after nine years of war meant prospects for Syrians to determine their own future were few.

The Constitutional Committee is not working and the regime is advancing with Russian support in Idlib, while west of the Euphrates there are Iranian militias  in Abu Kamal, al-Mayadeen and the city of Deir ez-Zor.

The SDF, he said, wants to hold on to the structures created in these years, and Russia is putting pressure on all sides to engage in negotiations but the security situation is not good. Many people in eastern Deir ez-Zor  including thousands who fled their homes in the western part of the province to our areas  are concerned about what will happen if the Russian-backed Syrian government were to reenter eastern Deir ez-Zor.

Many are afraid they will be arrested or simply disappeared.

It is also unclear for how long the United States and other international coalition partners will remain in the area.

In a Feb. 20 Whatsapp exchange with anti-IS coalition spokesman Col. Myles Caggins III, the US official told Al-Monitor simply that the coalition partners with the SDF specifically for two missions: defeating [IS] remnants and protecting critical infrastructure and that coalition troops live on SDF bases in Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor provinces, implying that the facilities on the ground are in fact under SDF and not coalition control.
When it comes to matters of the heart, dance can help in more ways than one  as a cardio exercise and providing a path to romance.

Champions residents Karen and Pat McIlvoy say that ballroom lessons are a way to help couples grow closer together.

Its also a good workout, said Pat. Not only is it physically challenging, but its mentally challenging, too. You start off doing a plain vanilla waltz and the next thing you know, youre doing complex steps.

Like in any good aerobics class, its easy to get lost in the music and the atmosphere, Karen added. It doesnt feel like a workout until later, she said.

The couple started taking dance lessons four years ago. They were looking for a fun way to celebrate their 36th anniversary, something more than going out to eat.

Karen had noticed Fred Astaire Dance Studio Houston Champions while shopping in Vintage Park and suggested adding a dance lesson to their dinner date.

I thought it would be fun, so I said yes, said Pat, who thought it would be a great way for the couple to get back into an old hobby. They used to go two-stepping when they first married, but over time, dancing faded from their routine.

It was a blast, said Karen. Now I call it my mini-vacation. Its like our new favorite hobby.

The McIlvoys now regularly take lessons and attend the Practice Party on Fridays to hone their skills. They also have signed up for competitions and traveled with the studio, inlcuding a trip to Cuba to sharpen their salsa moves.

Pat, who is on his second hip replacement, said dance helps improve his flexibility.

I think everyone should do it, Karen added. Its just so much fun.

The benefits of dance are what drew Philip Gutierrez to the field 20 years ago. He was studying computer science at the University of Houston, when he stumbled across a Houston Chronicle ad for a training opportunity at the Fred Astaire location in Memorial.

Gutierrez grew up in Houston and had always loved sports. The prospect of spending his days in a cubicle was beginning to lose its luster, and he wanted to pursue other options.

He signed up for the training program and discovered that ballroom and Latin dance could be just as challenging as his favorite sports. Soon, he realized his students benefits went further than improved dance skills.

Dancing had a healing power, he said. Ladies came in depressed, not feeling sexy or feminine. I could help them with their stress and their confidence.

Gutierrez went from a full-time instructor to a manager, and eventually the owner of the Memorial Studio, then the only location in town. Now there are 10 local Fred Astaire studios, including Cypress and Champion, which are both owned by Gutierrez. He owns a total of eight studios nationally, including two in each San Antonio and Fort Worth.

Fred Astaire continues to be an inspiration for Gutierrez.

He always believed that anyone can be a dancer, Gutierrez said. You dont become the best dancer. Its never over. You just continue to be better. Youre only competing against yourself.

And that makes dancing an option for individuals at all fitness levels, he explained. Anyone can be taught or trained, no matter their age, he said.

His students range in age from 6 to in their 90s. Gutierrez can also adjust the moves to an individuals strengths and abilities. Hes seen clients lose large amounts of weigh, including one 330-pound student who dropped 80 pounds.

Its a really, really good cardiovascular workout, said Gutierrez, who added that dancing also has benefits for mental health, by reducing stress and increasing confidence. He knows students who were able to quit antidepressants thanks to dance.

In fact, Gutierrez added that research shows that dancing can even help prevent Alzheimers and dementia.

Dance can also contribute to healthier relationships, Gutierrez said.

Couples have to communicate on the dance floor, learn when to lead and follow and how to read their partners. Plus, theres physical touch.

It helps rekindle the spark, Gutierrez said. Some couples come in two to three times a week. Theyre touching and looking at each other every day. Of course, their marriages improve.

He encourages couples to make dance lessons a regular thing. I want to help you get to the point where you move the couch to the side and do a rhumba, he said. The lessons will improve your quality of life.

Lindsay Peyton is a Houston-based freelance writer.
Instead of two big-tent parties absorbing the fringes, as Sombart described, the fringes are absorbing the parties. The first to go were the Republicans, taken over by Trump. Now Sanders is bidding to take over the Democrats. You might say they are both becoming third parties.
There are contradictory reports regarding the potential for widespread coronavirus infections in the US, with the White House economic adviser saying that investors need not fear an escalating number of cases.

White House National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow told CNBC on Tuesday that We have contained this. I won't say [it's] air-tight, but it's pretty close to air-tight.

He added that the coronavirus outbreak is a human tragedy but said it is unlikely to become an economic tragedy.

His comments come as the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention announced today that Americans should prepare for the virus to disrupt daily life.

In addition, Mr Kudlow stands in contrast to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, who told Congress that coronavirus is an unprecedented, potentially severe health challenge globally.

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

We cannot hermetically seal off the United States to a virus, and we need to be realistic about that, Mr Azar said.

Donald Trump is also downplaying the seriousness of the spread of coronavirus, telling journalists at a press conference in India: I think that's a problem that's going to go away.

US stocks fell for a second day on Tuesday as further deaths from the virus were reported in Asia and Europe, and spikes in infections were reported in South Korea, Italy and Iran.

Mr Kudlow also said that while markets will see some stumbles, the US was not yet experiencing any supply disruptions.
Iran's deputy health minister has been infected with the new coronavirus, a ministry official said on Tuesday, amid a major outbreak in the Islamic republic.

"The coronavirus test for Mr Harirchi, the deputy health minister who was on the front lines combating the coronavirus, was positive," Alireza Vahabzadeh, a media adviser to the health minister, said in a tweet.

Iraj Harirchi coughed occasionally and appeared to be sweating during a press conference on Monday with government spokesman Ali Rabiei.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Visva-Bharati authorities have informed faculty members of the university and non-teaching staff that there may be a delay in payment of salary for the month of February due to lack of funds.

The premier central university, founded by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore in 1921, issued a notification regarding this on Monday.

"This is for information of all concerned that the salary for the month of February 2020 is likely to be delayed due to paucity of funds," said the notification signed by the registrar of the varsity.

Salaries are paid by the varsity to its staff and pensioners on the last working day of every month.

The Visva-Bharati needs Rs 23 crore every month for payment of salaries to 1,400 teaching and non-teaching staff, and around 1,960 pensioners, a university source said.

A varsity spokesperson said Vice-Chancellor Bidyut Chakraborty is in Delhi and in touch with the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) for release of funds.

The MHRD sends funds for staff salaries to central universities through the UGC.

Last Friday, the vice-chancellor had raised many eyebrows with his remarks that a section of people are using the university "as the goose which lays golden eggs".

He said the university is going through a financial crisis and "is on a ventilator".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
PORTAGE  A Portage man told police he killed his 91-year-old mother by striking her with a sledgehammer because "he is about to be exposed for committing awful crimes" and wanted to shield her from the information, according to charging documents filed Tuesday morning.

Charles Trumble, 59, was charged with a single count of murder and is scheduled to make an initial court appearance Friday morning before Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer.

Trumble called 911 at 7:11 p.m. Sunday and told a dispatcher he had killed his mother, Dixie Trumble, with the sledgehammer, according to court documents.

"He stated that he was in the living room and his mother was in the same room. He further stated that he killed her because he is about to be exposed for committing awful crimes," charging documents revealed.

When officers arrived at the home, they looked through a glass door and saw Dixie lying on her back in the living room with Charles lying on his back next to her with a cell phone in his hand, an investigator said.

Charles was ordered to roll over and place his hands behind his back, at which time he was taken into custody.
Victoria has been growing closer to Luke, brother of the man who raped her last year.

Victoria Sugden will be left wondering if she can ever really move on from her rape ordeal at the hands of evil Lee Posner in Emmerdale next week.

Fans of the ITV soap know that since being brutally attacked by Lee in her own home last year, the chef has given birth to a son, Harry, and found love with Lees brother, Luke.

Victorias worried when Lee and Lukes mum, Wendy (Susan Cookson), crosses a boundary and calls herself baby Harrys nana.

Read more: Bethany Platts leaving date revealed in Coronation Street

But despite her misgivings, Victoria - whos played by Isabel Hodgins - allows Wendy to babysit the tot so she and Luke can enjoy some time together alone.

Victoria Barton's [ISOBEL HODGINS] worried when Wendy [SUSAN COOKSON] crosses a boundary by calling herself Harry's "nana", but she allows her to babysit Harry so that they can spend time together with Luke. (Mark Bruce/ITV Plc)

When things start to heat up between them though, Victoria is sickened to find herself reminded of Lee.

Unable to cope, she ends up pulling away from Luke, to his dismay. Was Victoria being naive to think she could find happiness with her rapists brother?

Vile Lee forced himself on Victoria following a night out last year. She then discovered she was pregnant and left her family concerned when she decided to keep the baby.

Her brother Robert ended up attacking smug Lee with a spade last summer after the rapist taunted him about his night with Victoria.

Victoria Sugden shares a kiss with Luke Posner, brother of rapist, Lee in Emmerdale (ITV/ITV Hub)

The attack left Lee in a coma and  when he finally died from his injuries some months later  Robert was sent to prison for his murder.

Read more: Daniel Osbourne asks Bethany to marry him in Coronation Street

Fans were shocked when a man Victoria befriended at the hospital turned out to be Lees brother, Luke.

The pair have been growing closer over recent weeks with Luke landing a job at the Woolpack and even looking after his nephew while Vic goes to therapy sessions.

But is their fledgling romance over before its even began?

Emmerdale continues tonight at 7pm on ITV
A puppy that was lost is home safe with its owner after a scary situation.



According to the Montville, Connecticut, Police Department, two fisherman heard a cry for help and found a puppy trapped approximately 15 feet down into a well.
One of the fastest-growing social media platforms in the world is raising concerns with security experts.

TikTok is a social media service where users can upload 15-second videos.

"It typically records videos of you dancing to music or singing to music," said cybersecurity technician Jonathan Sweeney.

The often-humorous videos can be addictive. But Sweeney warned that the app could open its users up to security issues.

"When you put the app on your phone, it says, 'Hey, we want permission to use your camera and send a bunch of metadata,' and just like all other apps, we're just, like, 'Yeah, yeah, whatever.' We're just going to move on," Sweeney said.

He said that complacency could lead to a much bigger problem.

"Once it downloads the app, it installs that software and it begins transmitting that software to the company who owns the servers," he said.

A lawsuit filed in federal court in northern California alleges that TikTok and its owner, ByteDance, have "vacuumed up and transferred to servers in China vast quantities of private and personally identifiable user data."

In response, TikTok told WMUR, in part: "Our data centers are located entirely outside of China, and none of our data is subject to Chinese law."

According to the app's privacy policy, the data that TikTok collects includes your cellphone number, your IP address and your geolocation.

Sweeney said China's government has been collecting data on citizens and non-citizens for years.

"In a matter of seconds, they can scan through billions of faces and can say, 'That guy's committed robbery or car thefts, so let's go arrest him,'" Sweeney said.

He isn't alone with concerns. The U.S. military has banned the app from government-owned phones, and lawmakers in Washington are calling for formal investigations.

Sweeney said the concern is that any data collected by TikTok could be used as counterintelligence.

"It makes it so much easier when people are doing it voluntarily," he said. "Why send spies to a different country when you can have people spy for you on themselves?"

Market researchers said 41 percent of TikTok's 500 million active users are ages 16 to 24, and Sweeney said he believes parents should be on high alert.

"I recommend not having TikTok on your phone," he said. "I'll be straightforward. I don't recommend having TikTok on your phone."

Sweeney recommended that everyone check on a few things before installing any app:
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Linkedin Ni Komang Erviani and Asip Hasani (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar and Blitar  Wed, February 26 2020

Get us home: Indonesian crew members on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship display posters in this undated photo calling on the government to bring them home immediately from the ship, which is currently in quarantine in the Japanese port of Yokohama.(Courtesy of Masfud)

After working aboard the Diamond Princess throughout its 14-day quarantine in Yokohama, Japan, I Wayan Sudiarta was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief over the weekend when he found that he had tested negative for COVID-19.

The Feb. 24 records showed that 691 passengers and crew of the cruise ship had contracted the disease, which is caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that emerged in December 2019 in Wuhan, China.

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Passengers have hit out at Ryanair, easyJet and British Airways for refusing to refund flights to Italy after seven people died from coronavirus there.

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 on lockdown by shutting off more than a dozen towns and cancelling public events, with Britons returning from the worst-affected regions of Lombardy and Veneto asked to self-quarantine at home.

But people due to fly to the country with either Ryanair, easyJet or British Airways this week are furious after air carriers told them they cannot get a refund and will have to pay to change their flights as routes are 'operating as normal'.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not changed its travel advice for Italy, so airlines claim there is no reason for extraordinary measures.

But despite the 'danger zones' being outside of major tourist areas, Britons are fearful they may come into contact with the virus and others say they will have nothing to do with attractions shut and residents banned from leaving their homes.

Passengers have hit out at budget airlines Ryanair, easyJet and British Airways for refusing to refund flights to Italy (two passengers pictured at there yesterday) after seven people died there from coronavirus

Britons due to fly to Italy with either Ryanair, easyJet (file image used) or British Airways this week are furious after the airlines told them they cannot get a refund and will have to pay to change their flights as routes are 'operating as normal'.

Customers took to social media to complain, where the airline said flights were operating as normal and no refunds of free flight changes would be offered

One passenger, Alan Byrne, tweeted Ryanair saying: 'Can flights be refunded/booked for another destination following the recent coronavirus outbreak in Italy? We are due to fly out this Friday from Dublin?'

Ryanair responded: 'Hi Alan, Changes can be done online in the 'My Bookings' section, once you have retrieved your booking. Bear in mind that fee + fare difference may apply.'

Someone else commented: 'This is outrageous! There are official government travel warnings to Italy - why don't you offer a free cancellation or at least free change of flight????

'Do the reasonable thing. What do expect? Do we need to put our families in harms way? We paid over $600 for this flight.'

Complaints to easyJet's social media page ballooned yesterday

An easyJet passenger tweeted the airline: '@easyJet not only have we had to change our holiday once because you cancelled our flight home, we now can't seem to speak to anyone about the Coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy which will mean we'll have to change our holiday AGAIN.'

They earlier complained: 'Can you please give us advice on whether we will be safe to travel to Verona (seeing as there have been 7 deaths in Italy already from Coronavirus) and if not will we receive any compensation for having to change our flights (yet again!!) to be able to go away.'

An easyJet spokesman replied: 'At the moment everything is flying as normal.

'There is no advice for airlines or customers not to travel. We will continue to monitor the situation and would like to reassure you that our existing policies and procedures are in line with guidance by the WHO and EASA and that we remain in regular contact with them.'

There are fees to change flight dates with both Ryanair and easyJet. For Ryanair customers it costs between 35 and 95 depending on the route and between 25 and 52 for easyJet customers.

Research has shown very few travel insurance policies cover coronavirus flight cancellations even less for refunds if flights are still operating.

While major airlines, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have suspended flights to Chinese destinations such as Beijing and Shanghai until the end of March, they are unlikely to do the same for Italy.

British Airways is also charging people and refusing to give refunds beyond its 24-hour 'cooling off period' if customers want to change their travel plans to Italy.

Passenger Simon Hetherington tweeted: '@British_Airways Hi - I am flying to Pisa & travelling through parts of Italy by car.

British Airways is also charging people and refusing to give refunds beyond its 24-hour 'cooling off period' if customers want to change their travel plans to Italy

British Airways customers also hit out at their airline on social media after it revealed

'I contacted the support helpline to cancel the flight due to the Coronavirus outbreak there, however was told it was only possible with a fee. Can you help please?'

But BA replied: 'Hey, Simon. I'm afraid we don't have a policy in place for Italy at the moment.

'We follow the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office within the UK, so until then, there would be a fee to make a change. I'm sorry to disappoint you.'

Karen Johncock fumed on Twitter: '@British_Airways Cannot get through at all on the phone have been trying since yesterday morning!!

'Can we change destination or defer flights, Due to go to Venice on Friday...'

The rest of Venice's famous carnival was cancelled by local officials after the Italian coronavirus death toll reached seven yesterday.

For Ryanair (pictured) customers it costs between 35 and 95 to change a flight depending on the route

Passengers also hit out at Ryanair on its social media channels today and yesterday

An easyJet spokesman told MailOnline: 'We are aware that the Italian authorities are taking some additional measures in response to cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

'There is currently no change to advice for airlines or customers, so our flights are operating as normal and standard terms and conditions on tickets continue to apply.

'The health and wellbeing of our passengers and crew is the airline's highest priority.'

A British Airways spokesman said: 'We continue to operate to and from Italy, and are monitoring the situation closely.

'There is no change to travel advice to airlines, however, like all carriers we will continue to liaise closely with government and global health authority advice.

'Safety is at the heart of everything we do.'

MailOnline has contacted Ryanair for comment.

The FCO travel advice for Italy does not warn against travel, but reads: 'There is an ongoing outbreak of coronavirus in China and elsewhere, including Italy.

'The government of Italy has introduced extraordinary measures that allow regions to implement civil protection measures in response to Coronavirus.

'This includes the isolation of 10 small towns in Lombardy and one in Veneto. The regions of Lombardy, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Piemonte and Emilia Romagna have implemented measures including the suspension of public or private events, the suspension of schools and higher education and the suspension on the opening of museums and cultural institutions for seven days.

'If you are already in the regions affected you should follow the instructions of local authorities.'
GENEVA, Feb 24 (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged countries to prevent the novel 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 centre for managing emergencies, called for fully funding the WHO's appeal of $675 million to cover its overall response for three months.

"All countries - and this is now a problem that is affecting many countries in the world - all countries must do everything to be prepared," Guterres said after a briefing by WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other senior officials.

"The disease it's still possible to contain but if some fail, if some do not do everything that is needed, this can still become out of control with dramatic consequences in global health and the global economy," Guterres said.

WHO funding appeals were vital to support governments and "avoid this tragic disease" from becoming "a global nightmare," he said.

Guterres, in response to a question from the Xinhua news agency, said the decline in new cases of coronavirus in China was a good trend which he hoped could be maintained.

China has reported a total of 77,150 cases and 2,592 deaths overall. But new cases, especially outside the epicentre of Hubei province and its capital Wuhan, have been much lower in recent days. Outside mainland China, the outbreak has spread to some 29 countries and territories, with a death toll of about two dozen, according to a Reuters tally.

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay Editing by Bill Berkrot)
ANKARA, Turkey - Two Turkish soldiers have been killed in fighting in Libya, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday as he also defended Ankaras move to also send Syrian opposition fighters to the North African country.

Erdogans remarks followed reports that as many as 16 Turkish soldiers may have been killed in the fighting in Libya since last April, reports that the Turkish leader did not address.

Turkey, which backs the U.N.-supported Libyan government that is based in Tripoli, has sent Turkish military trainers as well as Syrian fighters to battle against rival Libyan forces under commander Khalifa Hifter, who in April launched an offensive to capture Libyas capital.

Erdogan had said on Saturday that a few Turkish soldiers have been killed in Libya but did not say how many. That angered Turkeys opposition, which claimed the government was not disclosing military losses in Libya.

The head of mobilization for Hifters forces, Khaled al-Mahjoub, had claimed that their fighters killed at least 16 Turkish soldiers who were taking part in the fighting in and around Tripoli since April.

Hifters forces also said that a Turkish military officer, an intelligence officer and their Syrian interpreter were killed in artillery shelling that targeted a ship that was about to unload a weapons cargo at the Tripoli port earlier in February.

The Syrian opposition fighters fought along Turkish forces in Ankaras various offensives in Syria.

They are with us in Syria. And these brothers who are with us in Syria consider it an honour to be with us there (in Libya) too, Erdogan said.

The United Arab Emirates and Egypt, as well as France and Russia, support Hifters forces. The embattled Tripoli administration, which controls just a shrinking corner of western Libya, has increasingly relied on Turkey for military aid.
India and the US inked three memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on Tuesday in New Delhi on US President Donald Trumps second day of his maiden visit here. The pacts came on the heels of Prime Minister Modis assertion that the two countries have decided to take their ties to a comprehensive global partnership level.

The agreements were signed in the health and oil sectors. An MoU was signed on mental health between the health departments of the countries. Another memorandum of understanding on the safety of medical products was signed between the Central Drugs ...
Building partnerships with industry leaders and monitoring economic growth in our region has been integral to Palo Alto Colleges continued development of programs that support our community.

Home to the highest number of farms in any state, Texas agriculture continues to contribute nearly $25 billion annually to the economy, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The average age of Texan farmers is 59.2 years old, so it is as important as ever to educate upcoming generations in the agricultural sciences in order to maintain the economic momentum of the industry.
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.
A Yekaterinburg court has remanded a cybersecurity firm owner and former activist in the opposition Anti-Corruption Foundation to nearly two months in pretrial detention for possession of the drug ecstasy.



A native of St. Petersburg residing in Estonia, Aleksandr Litreyev was detained on February 22 at a hotel lobby in Russia's fourth-most-populous city after police said they found two pills of the psychoactive recreational drug during a search.



Their combined weight was 0.87 grams, police said.



Litreyev's defense asked for house arrest but prosecutors argued the suspect wasn't registered in Russia and was a flight risk.



The founder of Vee Security Russia admitted his guilt, repented, and promised to cooperate with investigators and offered to surrender his travel passport.



He will appeal the ruling, local media reported, citing his lawyer.



According to prosecutors, Litreyev arrived by plane to Yekaterinburg on February 22, met his 19-year-old girlfriend, and both went to purchase the pills that he had ordered online.



Litreyev said the police knew who he was and what he does for a living.



He is a co-developer of the Red Button application that allows people detained at protests to expeditiously inform others, including rights groups, of their situation. The app automatically recognizes the location of the police station to where the detainee is taken.



His company has also provided access to a proxy server that allows users to bypass a firewall imposed by the Russian authorities that prevents access to the encrypted messaging app Telegram.



After its release, Russia's telecommunications regulator issued a warning to Litreyev saying his proxy server could be blocked for "extremism."



He also created the Russian Elephant project, a database for storing information on alleged abuse of power by various government officials, including the use of violence against people at rallies, and to identify those who carried out the violence.



He will be held at a pretrial detention center until April 22.



If found guilty of "illegally buying, possessing, transporting, making, or processing narcotics without the intent to sell," Litreyev faces a maximum prison sentence of three years or two years of correctional work.

With reporting by E1.ru and Ekburg.tv
Gaborone (Botswana), 25 February 2020 (SPS) - The Ambassador of the Saharawi Republic and Permanent Representative to SADC, Mr. Malainin Mohamed, paid a courtesy visit Tuesday morning to Honorable Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Phandu Skelemani, in his office in Botswana Parliament (Gaborone).



The Honorable Speaker was accompanied in the meeting with the Honorable Deputy Speaker, Mr. Mabuse Pule, and members of the Speakers bureau and Secretariat of Parliament.



The Saharawi Ambassador briefed his hosts on the latest developments of the Saharawi cause, expressing the gratitude of his government and people for the strong relations of friendship and brotherhood between the two nations.



The visit comes after the recent inauguration of Botswana Parliament and election of the new Speaker to the post last November.



It should be recalled that Botswana has had general elections last October 23rd, 2019, in which H.E. President Mokgweetsi Masisi was elected as the 5th President of Botswana since independence in 1966.



The final vote count of the 2019 elections gave Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) its 12th consecutive victory, with almost 53 percent of the popular vote  and 38 out of 57 parliamentary seats. The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) received 36 percent of the vote and won 15 seats. Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) garnered 3 seats and the Alliance for Progressives (AP) 1 seat.



The elections were highly praised by all observing missions who agreed that they were organized in a democratic, calm and transparent environment. (SPS)



062/SPS/SADREMBW
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said religious freedom in India figured in his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but sidestepped the issue of contentious citizenship law over which the capital has witnessed fresh violence.

When asked at a press conference about the violence in Delhi over the new law, which critics claim discriminates against the Muslim community, President Trump said it was "up to India" to deal with it.

"As far as individual attacks are concerned, I have heard about them. I didn't discuss that with him. It is up to India," the US president said hours after he held restricted and delegation level talks with Modi.

Fresh bouts of violence broke out in northeast Delhi since Sunday over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in which 10 people were killed and over 150 injured.

"We did talk about religious freedom and I would say that the Prime Minister was incredible on what he said. He wants people to have religious freedom, and very strongly said that in India they have worked very hard to have great and open religious freedom," the US president said.

"If you look back and look at what is going on relatively to other places, specially, they (India) have really worked hard on religious freedom," Trump said at the press conference.

On his views on the CAA, Trump said: "I don't want to discuss that, I want to leave that to India. I hope they will do the right thing for the people of India."



Asked specifically about allegations that Muslims are being subjected to discrimination and there has been rising cases of hate crime in India, Trump said: "We did discuss that and specifically Muslims. We also discussed Christians."



"I had a very powerful answer from the prime minister. We talked about religious liberty for a long period of time in front of lot of people. I had a very very powerful answer I think.

Trump said Modi told him that "they are working closely with the Muslim community".

India has witnessed massive protests over the new citizenship law and National Population Register with opposition parties and several rights groups alleging that the measures are aimed at marginalising the Muslim community.

The national capital witnessed massive violence in the midst of Trump's high-profile visit. The government on Monday said the violence was triggered to tarnish India's image.

In a media statement after his talks with PM Modi earlier, Trump said both the countries have always been united by shared traditions of democracy and constitutions that protect freedom, individual rights, and the rule of law.

"As we deepen our partnership with India, we remember that our two countries have always been united by shared traditions of democracy and constitutions that protect freedom, individual rights, and the rule of law," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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".

Not just the daughter Trump but US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were treated to a guided tour of the Taj Mahal on Monday as they arrived in Agra during their two-day maiden visit to India.

The First Couple walked hand-in-hand towards the 17th-century monument of love built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

They posed at the iconic bench, known as the Diana Bench after Princess Diana cut a lonely figure in front of the Taj Mahal in 1992. Trump and Melania, however, did not sit on the bench and proceeded towards the mausoleum.

Leaving a message in the visitors book, Trump said the Taj Mahal is representative of Indias rich and diverse beauty.

The Taj Mahal inspires awe. A timeless testament to the rich and diverse beauty of Indian culture! Thank you India, he said.

(With IANS inputs)
Rome, Feb 25 : Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte on Tuesday denied reports that he had decided to close all schools amid the growing coronavirus emergency in Italy.

"The Prime Minister denies reports that are circulating at the present time that schools of every level and type in Italy are to remain closed on his orders," said a statement from Conte's office.

"Any decisions and measures taken by the government will be communicated solely via official channels and sources," it added.

Italy has been badly affected by the coronavirus with at least 231 cases - the largest number of cases in Europe. Seven people have died from the virus in recent days. Italian authorities announced a series of drastic measures over the weekend to try to contain the outbreak that began in two northern regions - Lombardy and Veneto.

Cases have also been confirmed in Tuscany and Sicily and school trips throughout Italy have been cancelled, initially until mid-March.

Global cases of the coronavirus have topped 80,000, the vast majority in China.
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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.

(Source: Xinhua)
IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- YogaSix, the modern boutique yoga franchise, announced today that it has signed over 400 franchise agreements. YogaSix has 42 studios open currently and plans to open several hundred locations in the next few years.

The recently signed franchise agreements will bring YogaSix to several new markets including Texas, Florida, New York, and New Jersey among others. YogaSix also has signed a Master Franchise agreement in Saudi Arabia.

"We are ecstatic with how well YogaSix has been received among entrepreneurs in our first year of franchising," said Lindsay Junk, President of YogaSix. "With everything going on in the world, people need yoga now more than ever and we cannot wait for our talented franchise partners to share YogaSix's empowering, modern take on the practice with their communities."

YogaSix aims to debunk the stereotype that often surrounds the practice of yoga to eliminate the intimidation factor that many people feel when trying yoga for the first time. With modern-day yoga instruction, YogaSix offers diverse yoga and fitness programming that includes movement and intensity to help customers achieve their fitness goals. Utilizing modern language instead of Sanskrit and offering six core formats  Y6 101, Y6 Restore, Y6 Slow Flow, Y6 Hot, Y6 Power, and Y6 Sculpt Flow  YogaSix's classes are meant to encompass every fitness level, whether the focus is on deep stretching, stress relief or breaking a sweat.

YogaSix is actively seeking qualified franchise partners in various cities across the nation. Headquartered in Irvine, CA, YogaSix is backed by Xponential Fitness, the largest boutique fitness brand with extensive experience in fitness franchising. YogaSix offers potential franchisees the opportunity to be part of a fresh brand with tremendous support, infrastructure and knowledge. The total investment to open a YogaSix franchise is $283,300-$452,800.

For more information about the YogaSix franchise opportunity, please visit https://yogasix.com/franchise/.

ABOUT YOGASIX:

Founded in 2012, YogaSix is a boutique yoga brand that offers a broad range of heated and non-heated yoga classes, boot camp style fitness classes and meditation accessible to all. Class formats include Y6 101, Y6 Restore, Y6 Slow Flow, Y6Hot, Y6 Power, and Y6 Sculpt Flow. Classes at Yoga Six eliminate the intimidation factor that many people feel when trying yoga for the first time, offering a fresh perspective on one of the world's oldest fitness practices. Headquartered in Irvine, California, YogaSix is backed by Xponential Fitness, the largest boutique fitness franchise brand. With modern-day yoga instruction, our diverse yoga and fitness programming includes movement and intensity to help customers achieve their fitness goals. Visit www.yogasix.com/franchise to learn more.

Media contact: David Robertson, Fishman Public Relations, 847-945-1300 or [email protected]

SOURCE YogaSix
New York: A New York court on Monday found fallen Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein guilty of committing a criminal sex act in the first degree, and rape in the third degree.

A New York Supreme Court jury of seven men and five women arrived at the verdict after deliberating in the case for more than 26 hours over five days, reports cnn.com. After the verdict, a handcuffed Weinstein was taken into custody.

On the first charge, the jury found Weinstein guilty of a criminal sex act in the first degree for forcing oral sex on former Project Runway production assistant Miriam Haley in 2006. The guilty filmmaker could get a minimum of five years and a maximum of 25 years in prison on this count, according to theguarardian.com. On the second charge, Weinstein was convicted of raping a woman in a New York hotel in 2013. He could get a maximum of four years on this count.

The Guardian website added that the 67-year-old former film producer was acquitted of three further charges, including the two most serious counts of predatory sexual assault, which carried a possible life sentence and another count of rape in the first degree.

During the trial, Weinstein's defense had tried raising the motion for a mistrial but had been denied by the jury.

The court has reserved the sentencing for a future date. According to cnn.com, Weinstein's still has to take to the stands for the hearing of charges against him of sexual assault and rape in separate incidents in Los Angeles.

In October 2017, according to reporst in The New York Times and The New Yorker, several women came out to accuse Weinstein of rape and sexual assault over at least three decades. The incident had a global chain reaction, triggering off the MeToo movement.

Harvey Weinstein was once acclaimed for his contribution to the development of independent cinema in Hollywood, and for also backing relevant content-driven entertainers with Oscar-winning films such as "Shakespeare In Love" and "Pulp Fiction". His film production companies were Miramax Films and The Weinstein Company.
Technology Development Institute helps Overland Park racing aftermarket parts company gain traction

Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020

Custom parts made by the Technology Development Institute at Kansas State University for BOE Fabrication in Overland Park. | Download this photo.





MANHATTAN  The Technology Development Institute, or TDI, at the Kansas State University Carl R. Ice College of Engineering is helping BOE Fabrication, an Overland Park company, in its drive to success in the Lotus car high-performance racing market.

As part of a current U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration University Center grant, TDI's mission is to advance technologies, people, and companies through collaborative engineering and business development partnerships. A prime example in achieving this mission is assisting BOE Fabrication, a leader in engineering, fabrication and performance tuning specializing in the modern Lotus line of both race and high-performance streetcars.



TDI has been assisting this small business with development and customization of Lotus car parts to meet the needs of the company's customers while at the same time providing TDI engineering interns the opportunity to fabricate production parts and experience customer order fulfillment.



Andrew Moreau, owner of BOE, which stands for Beyond Original Equipment, said K-State has played a significant role in his company's success.



"With the assistance of TDI's engineering and fabrication services, we have been able to go beyond expectations and develop unique, custom parts that satisfy Lotus customers looking to tune up and fabricate their car," Moreau said. "I have been partnering with their engineers and student interns to serve as a part of our design/fabrication team. Because of our abilities and their assistance in customizations for Lotus cars, we are able to meet our customers' needs and become a successful leader in this market."



TDI's capabilities are no surprise to Moreau. As a K-State mechanical engineering alumnus, he was a student intern while attending school. The opportunity gave him the chance to work directly with clients and gain real-world experience. As an intern, he worked with staff engineers to design projects, develop a prototype design and evaluate the performance and feasibility of the client's project. This process, Moreau said, is similar to what he does every day at BOE.



"To have the opportunity to partner with K-State and provide future engineers with the same opportunities I was afforded through my internship experience has been especially gratifying," said Moreau, who credits his K-State education and intern experience with providing him the engineering, design and manufacturing skills needed to succeed in his career and business.



"It has been rewarding to work with BOE as a longtime small business partner to both increase market competitiveness and provide our engineering interns with hands-on fabrication and order fulfillment experience they will benefit from upon graduation," said Jeff Tucker, executive director of TDI. "Our partnership is at the intersection of the university's economic and workforce development missions."



The K-State Technology Development Institute, a U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration University Center, provides a broad range of engineering and business development services to both private industry and university researchers to advance the commercial readiness of new products or technologies. Additional information is available at k-state.edu/tdi.
Presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg is being criticised for telling bankers he would have defended them as president in a leaked audio from a private Goldman Sachs event in 2016.

At the event, Mr Bloomberg first described the audience as his peeps, and said that had he run for president that year, his first campaign platform would have been to defend the banks.

But, he added, you know how well thats gonna go down in this country.

Mr Bloomberg then defended the banks more seriously: Somebody's gotta stand up and do what we need. A healthy banking system that's going to take risks because that's what creates the jobs for everybody. And nobody's willing to say that.

The audio was uploaded to hosting platform Soundcloud and sent to CNN and several journalists. The sender used the email address and username CancelGoldman, and claimed to have worked at Goldman Sachs for 14 years.

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 Bloomberg campaign has confirmed that the audio is real. In an email to CNN, spokesperson Stu Loeser said that much of what Mr Bloomberg said was in jest, and that his remarks were of an analytical standard almost unheard of in current politics.

What you hear in these remarks are a combination of jokes and detailed explanations of ways to make our government better that are far beyond what the current occupant of the Oval Office could read, let alone think."

Besides his defence of banks, Mr Bloomberg also raised the alarm about income inequality, warning his audience that anytime we've had this before, society blows up and they do set up the guillotines, and the guillotines don't have to be chop your head off.

They could be confiscatory taxes, they could be seizing the endowments of uh, educational institutions and um, philanthropic organizations, all of which those proposals are out there.

The audio also contains sections more directly relevant to Mr Bloombergs current presidential campaign.

Asked about the rise of the radical right both in the US and around the world, Mr Bloomberg said the progressive left is also scary  citing current candidate Elizabeth Warren as an example.

"The left is arising. The progressive movement is just as scary," he says in the tape. "Elizabeth Warren on one side. And whoever you want to pick on the Republicans on the right side?"

Ms Warren recently tore into Mr Bloomberg when he appeared at his first Democratic debate, citing his history of sexist remarks and saying that Democrats take a huge risk if we just substitute one arrogant billionaire for another.

Mr Bloomberg has been criticised for the amount he is spending on his presidential campaign, which is now running into the hundreds of millions of dollars  all drawn from his vast personal fortune.

While he has used that money to flood upcoming primaries with advertising and hire hundreds of staffers, recent polling from key states shows him struggling to catch up with frontrunner Bernie Sanders.
February 25 : Career or fashion, we always pit these two gen next actors against one another. They started their career together with their debut film Student of the Year in 2012. Since then Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra have been hungry for success. We are here not to compare their success graph, but to drool over their incredible looks and chiselled physique.

The hottest hunks of Bollywood, they both know how to raise the temperature with their six-pack abs and charm their fans with their dapper looks and classy style statements. While Sidharth can pull off almost any look, Varun can effectuate anything thats atleisure, comfy and fuss-free.

Vibrant, colourful and spiffy

Sidharth is a stylish dude. From classy formals to boho casuals to ensembles with a twist, Sidharth has been treating us to new fashion goals. He pulls off every dapper outfit effortlessly. One of the best-dressed actors of the industry, Sidharth is mostly seen in tees, distressed jeans, jackets and sneakers but his outfits always have a twist.

He was spotted wearing a pair of mismatched sneakersone had a shade of red on it, while the other had a grey pattern. While his T-shirts are usually white, his jackets are always vibrant, colourful and spiffy.

He knows how to creatively pair his outfits and its always a big thumbs up from us. Even when he throws a T-shirt and jeans paired with an open checked shirt, we cant help but drool over this intense look.

On-trends jackets

Varuns style statement is effortless yet on-trend. He is a perfect blend of high fashion and street style, rightly put together.

Varun and Sidharth donned similar royal blue jacket with badges. While Varun paired the jacket with plain black jeans and sneakers, Sidharth wore it with much more style and in a cooler way. He kept the jacket open and paired it with grey tracks.

Varun rocks in an all-black look. We absolutely drooled to see his classy and cool avatar. With his black leather jacket, black t-shirt, black shades, and black sneakers, the actor set cool and classic goals.

Classy, cool avatar

Sidharth looks equally dapper in formals and tuxedos. They perfectly compliment his body. Dont miss his flawless stubble thats complimenting his outfit. His style certainly takes him to a notch higher.

Varun too slays in a complete formal look.

Here hes seen donning a blue suit with a light blue shirt, a red and blue striped tie paired with sunglasses and dark brown shoes. Dhawan pulls off an Emporio Armani tuxedo with a white Gucci shirt with embroidered cuffs. He paired it with Gucci bow tie and Yves Saint Laurent shoes.

Power of sneakers

Both actors know the power of a good pair of sneakers. Sidharths shoes definitely steal the show. He pairs his formals with casual shoes which make the actor look flamboyant.

Only he can pair a shirt and blazer with red sneakers and absolutely kill it.

Varun loves to invest in classic kicks. His wardrobe has innumerable optionsfrom the coolest to rugged to the funky oneshe has them all to match his style.
ROWLEY REGIS, England  Except for protracted uncertainty over Britains future relationship with Europe, these are promising days at Cube Precision, a factory in the Black Country of England.

The company manufactures tools used to make parts for airplanes and cars. Some of those parts eventually wind up in jets made by Airbus, a company now overwhelmed with orders as a safety scandal engulfs its primary competitor, Boeing. Another catastrophe is also increasing its sales: Companies that had been hiring Chinese factories to make their tools are shifting orders to Cube Precision to avoid the chaos of the coronavirus epidemic.

But Brexit threatens revenue-destroying disruption.

Like most of British industry, Cube Precision is intimately intertwined with Europe, selling its wares to companies that send exports there. Last month, Britain officially left the ranks of the European Union. In the next few weeks, negotiators plan to begin hashing out a deal governing future trade across the English Channel. The positions staked out by the British government pose perils for businesses that depend on Europe for sales and parts.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Conservative Party owe their commanding parliamentary majority to nationalist sloganeering that promises to Get Brexit Done and Take Back Control. As the government prepares for trade talks, it is asserting the right to diverge from European rules governing a host of commercial concerns  from fishing access and financial regulations to product safety, labor and environmental standards.
During the time of transition that followed the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Arif left his position within the government to pursue business ventures in the private sector. Arif was attracted to the mineral and natural resources extraction sector that has dominated the Kazakh economy both during and after its time as a Soviet state.

He invested in mining operations, chemical plants, natural resources and import-export operations. Arif's success in this sector provided him with the financial foundation to pursue other business ambitions that were of great interest to him personally.

Tevfik Arif: Real estate investor and property developer

During his tenure in the Soviet government, Arif had developed a passion for real estate and property development, specifically the development and management of luxury hotels and property. Arif began investing in projects across Central Asia before expanding into the European market. Arif was also involved in the development and construction of luxury hotel projects in Turkey.

After finding considerable success in the sector, Arif set his sights on more competitive and prestigious markets. In 2001, Arif established Bayrock Group in New York City. Bayrock represented the businessman's first venture in the United States. The American real estate market is challenging even for the most seasoned businessman.

The first projects completed by Arif and Bayrock Group were modest and small while the company secured its footings in the new market. One of Bayrock's early projects included Loehmann's Seaport Plaza, a shopping complex located in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of Brooklyn. Once Arif had achieved a certain level of confidence in New York City real estate, he moved Bayrock's offices to the heart of the city's most prominent property market - Trump Tower in Manhattan.

It did not take long for the company to begin negotiations for a new project with the building's most famous tenants, the Trump Organization. Arif and Bayrock recognized the power of the Trump brand and it's potential to elevate the value and notoriety of a development project.

Building Trump SoHo Tower

Bayrock Group signed a deal with the Trump Organization to license the company's famous brand on the Bayrock's newest luxury development project, Trump SoHo Tower. Bayrock and its partners the Sapir Organization were the primary developers who constructed and completed the luxury hotel-condominium complex. Trump did not invest any capital in the project but was given a percentage of equity in exchange for the use of the company's brand.

Trump SoHo Tower was completed in 2008. The building stands 46 stories high above the trendy, popular Manhattan SoHo neighborhood. The complex is admired for its architecture, luxury interior design elements, amenities and high-end facilities.

Upon the successful completion of the Trump SoHo project, Bayrock Group and the Trump Organization explored similar licensing and development agreements for projects across the country including hotels in Florida and Arizona.

A shift in market conditions would prevent these deals from progressing and halted negotiations on other projects. The 2008 financial crisis would mark the end of the working relationship between Arif's Bayrock Group and the Trump Organization. Arif turned his business interests back to Central Asia and Europe. Here, he continued to invest in the real estate market in addition to his ventures in natural resources.

Tevfik Arif has largely retired from the day to day operations of his family's business. He continues to provide valuable advice to the company based on his extensive experience, network of connections and unique international perspective. Arif's career is exceptional because it has never been confined to one particular industry or geographic location. He has found success across markets and in all corners of the world.
The FBI and the NYPD raided the Times Square headquarters of Peter Nygard's fashion company as part of a sex trafficking investigation, the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan said.

The searches were conducted Tuesday morning, Nicholas Biase, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office for the Southern District of New York, confirmed to ABC News. He declined to elaborate.

Word of the searches first was reported by The New York Times.

Nygard, 78, has been under investigation after a number of women accused him of sexually assaulting them at his Bahamas estate when they were young teens. Nygard's Bahamas estate has been featured on "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous."

A spokesman for the FBI's New York field office declined to comment.

Searches usually indicate the investigation is in the early stages and not an immediate precursor to criminal charges.

MORE: Harvey Weinstein found guilty on 2 counts in sexual assault case

The accusations were detailed in a lawsuit filed earlier this month.

"When Nygard became aware of the investigation into his sex trafficking ring, he resorted to tactics of violence, intimidation, bribery and payoffs to attempt to silence the victims and to continue his scheme," according to the lawsuit.

Nygard, who has denied the allegations, has also been accused of abusive labor practices and tax evasion.

Ken Frydman, a spokesperson for Peter Nygard, told ABC News in a statement, "Nygard welcomes the federal investigation and expects his name to be cleared. He has not been charged, is not in custody and is cooperating with the investigation."

Greg Gutzler and Lisa Haba, attorneys for victims in the ongoing civil lawsuit, said in a statement to ABC News:

"Given Mr. Nygard's pattern of alleged horrific sexual abuse spanning decades and across the world, it is not surprising that he now finds himself under the scrutiny of the FBI. Our focus remains squarely on pursuing justice for the countless victims who have been so viciously harmed by Mr. Nygard and his enablers."

FBI, NYPD raid New York office of company run by fashion executive Peter Nygard originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
As the first TV series written and directed by Alex Garland, whose previous work includes the screenplay for 28 Days Later, and Ex Machina, his film directing debut, its not surprising that Devs has a strong artistic stamp. Garlands vision is in the forefront here, and the result is a limited series with a frosty emotional tone, and a story heavy on cutting-edge techno-speak, but skimpy when it comes to characterization.

Devs, which is also the first original series to stream exclusively on Hulu as part of the new FX on Hulu content hub, has a plot that initially sounds like a tech-infused conspiracy thriller.

Lily (Sonoya Mizuno) is a software engineer whos living with her boyfriend, Sergei (Karl Glusman). Both of them work for Amaya, a Silicon Valley tech company that has a top-secret development division  known as Devs -- working on something so momentous those recruited to join the team cant even talk about it.

(How to watch Devs": Devs will stream exclusively on FX on Hulu, a new FX content hub available to Hulu subscribers. To subscribe, go to Hulu or Hulu + Live TV)

When the companys founder, Forest (Nick Offerman), invites Sergei to join the Devs division, the coder is excited. But then things go dramatically wrong. Lily learns that Sergei is dead, she begins suspecting her Amaya bosses are to blame, and she determines to find out the truth.

That premise may make Devs sound like an episode of the Black Mirror anthology series, or even a throwback to 70s tech paranoia classics, like Francis Ford Coppolas The Conversation.

Instead of plot, however, Garland is more interested in establishing a mood, one thats sometimes artful and sometimes painfully arty. Unfortunately, the hardest episode  of the eight total episodes -- to get through is the first one. Its about an hour, and it feels like 100 hours.

As with the following episodes, were invited to soak up the aggressive soundtrack, a blend of dissonant instrumentation, chant-like voices and breathy noises (the you-will-pay-attention score is by Ben Salisbury and The Insects, with Geoff Barrow).

The visuals (Rob Hardy is the director of photography) are striking, as we see moody shots of San Francisco, close-ups of Offermans face, the giant statue of a little girl that looms above the Amaya campus, with its sleekly modern structures and woodsy setting (the company CEO is named Forest, after all).

Eventually, we see Sergeis introduction to the super-secret Devs headquarters, which seems like a cross between a futuristic creation and some ancient, gold-encrusted temple.

Sonoya Mizuno as Lily in "Devs." (Photo: Miya Mizuno/FX)

Just in case we dont get the message that this is serious stuff  God forbid anyone say or do anything suggesting humor  the cast members deliver their lines as if theyre reading inscriptions carved into monuments.

Theyre all so deliberate and ponderous, at times I wondered if the characters were robots (shades of that other pretentious, self-serious futuristic series, Westworld).

Clearly, Garland wants to establish an ominous tone, and at times, Devs recalls David Lynchs Twin Peaks: The Return, in which the director brought his own very personal, glacially paced, memorably strange vision to Showtime. As in Lynchs work, Garland takes time to dwell on visual and aural details that let the viewer know this is no ordinary suspense drama.

Since Devs spoilers are discouraged, theres not much to discuss about the storyline, other than to say that things do get more interesting toward the end, as we finally get a sense of what the Devs project is all about. And much of what passes for plot has to do with debates about whether things happen randomly, or whether actions are preordained.

The cast members gamely serve Garlands vision, with varying degrees of success, not surprising considering theyre such thinly developed characters.

Nick Offerman as Forest in "Devs." (Photo: Miya Mizuno/FX)

Mizuno is, sadly, rather wooden and one-dimensional. Offerman, with shaggy hair and beard, is an odd choice for a tech entrepreneur, but his deadpan intensity fits the somber tone. Alison Pill is suitably chilly as Forests second-in-command.

The brightest moments come from the supporting players, including Zach Grenier as Amayas chief of security; Jin Ha as an old flame of Lilys; Cailee Spaeny as a teenage techno whiz; and Stephen McKinley Henderson as an older tech expert who gets to use his mellifluous voice to deliver renditions of Yeats The Second Coming, and Philip Larkins Aubade.

Garlands philosophical flourishes will no doubt inspire some viewers to obsess over Devs, in the way diehards dove into True Detective Season 1, picking apart Rust Cohles (Matthew McConaughey) speeches about time being a flat circle, and so on.

But Devs is most interesting as a show thats helping launch an off-screen tech evolution. Devs premieres on Thursday, March 5, on FX on Hulu. And the FX on Hulu brand launches on March 2, making Hulu the streaming home for series from the FX network.

Thats a big deal, considering that for years, FX has prided itself as the home of prestige TV that didnt require viewers pay the added premium price of HBO or Showtime. The FX library includes such outstanding series as Atlanta, Fargo, Justified, American Horror Story, Sons of Anarchy, Better Things, and more.

Hulu subscribers wont have to pay extra for the FX on Hulu content which, in addition to legacy series, will also include original series that, like Devs, wont air on the FX network, but will be exclusive to FX on Hulu.

Coming up on FX on Hulu are originals including Cate Blanchett as conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly in Mrs. America, which begins streaming on April 15. Later this year, well see Kate Mara and Nick Robinson in A Teacher, about the relationship between a high school teacher and an underage male student; and The Old Man, an espionage thriller starring Jeff Bridges as a retired CIA officer who has to return to action.

Some series, like the new Martin Freeman/Daisy Haggard comedy, Breeders (which debuts March 2 on FX), will still air first on FX or FXX, then be available on FX on Hulu the following day.

The FX on Hulu originals and FX legacy shows will be included in the price of a Hulu subscription, which is $5.99 per month for limited commercials, and $11.99 per month for no commercials.

And if right about now you find yourself thinking, Is there no end to the streaming services? get ready. In addition to Disney + and Apple TV+ having jumped into the Netflix/Hulu/Amazon streaming pool, 2020 will soon bring even more streaming platforms, including Mays launch of HBO Max (which is promising originals, as well as exclusive streaming access to Friends); and the April debuts of Peacock (featuring originals and library titles from NBCUniversal), and Quibi, short for quick bites, which promises dozens of comedy, drama, news and more programs, with episodes planned to be 15 minutes or less in length.

With all that content coming to new providers, the question is: which one will be the first service to make an original comedy about confused consumers trying to decide which streaming platforms to add?

Devs premieres its first two episodes on Thursday, March on FX on Hulu; after that, new episodes will premiere every Thursday.

-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Hyderabad: Former minister and ex-Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir has strongly condemned Home Minister Mahmood Alis announcement that the Telangana Gover-nment would implement the National Population Register (NPR) in the new format.

Addressing a massive Mushaira held against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), NRC and NPR at Quli Qutub Shah Stadium on Monday evening, Shabbir Ali strongly condemned home minister Mahmood Ali for announcing that NPR would be implemented in Telangana with six additional questions that require people to report the date and place of birth of their parents during the NPR survey.

He reminded the audience that it was the Congress-led UPA Government which had launched the population register in 2010. It was a simple form with 21 basic questions and no community or individual had any objection to it. However, the BJP government has made it contentious by adding six new parameters which include Aadh-aar number of the resident, voter ID, PAN, driving licence number and mobile phone and date and place of birth of parents and the last place of residence.

Before asking people, let KCR and Mahmood Ali tell us the date of birth of their parents and furnish documents to prove it, he said.

Shabbir Ali reiterated the allegation that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao was a BJP agent and his government would implement CAA, NRC and NPR in Telangana. He said that the TRS opposing the Citizen Amendment Bill in Parliament was only an eye-wash to mislead the people, especially the Muslims. If TRS was really opposed to CAA, then what is preventing KCR from making an open announcement that CAA, NRC and NPR would not be implemented in Telan-gana?" he asked.

The Congress leader also slammed MIM leader Waris Pathan for his controversial 15 crore Vs 100 crore remark. He accused the MIM leaders of helping the BJP in implementing a communal agenda in the country. With his controversial remarks, the MIM leader has tried to sabotage the Shaheen Bagh and other anti-CAA protests. People belonging to all religions and communities are taking part in the anti-CAA protests. But Waris Pathan, at the instance of the BJP and RSS, has tried to give a wrong impression that anti-CAA agitation belongs to only one particular community, he said.

He further slammed the TRS and Hyderabad city police for denying permission to anti-CAA protests.
Over the past decade, al-Qaeda has bounced back a few times, regaining territory and recruits by taking advantage of security vacuums arising from the conflicts among Yemens myriad warring factions. Now, after a relative lull in the war, fighting is intensifying in at least four provinces, including in or near areas where both al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have a presence or support from local tribes.
EZULWINI - Eswatini MTN Board Chairman David Dlamini (L) welcoming the new CEO of the company Wandile Mtshali during his unveiling ceremony held at Mahlalekhukhwini House yesterday. (Pic: Stanley Khumalo)

MBABANE  The corner office on the first floor in the left wing of Mahlalekhukhwini House shall have a new occupant as of next week Monday.

On March 2, 2020, Wandile Mtshali, as reported by our sister publication, the Times SUNDAY, will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer of MTN Eswatini.



Mtshali was yesterday unveiled as the new CEO of the mobile telephony company in a press conference that started just after 2pm. He was presented to members of media houses by the Chairman of the Board, David Dlamini.



Mtshali succeeds Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, who was appointed to the position of prime minister by His Majesty the King on October 27, 2018.

However, following the departure of Dlamini, the fort at MTN Eswatini was held by the Head of Corporate Services, Sibusiso Nhleko.

When introducing Mtshali, the chairman of the Board first appreciated Nhleko for his leadership while the Board worked with MTN Group to recruit a substantive CEO.



Collaboration



I would like to thank management for working well with Nhleko, because of this collaboration, MTN Eswatini performed well in 2019, the chairman of the Board said.



With a smile, the chairman then introduced Mtshali, stating that the latter was not new to MTN Eswatini and the telecommunications sector. He then read the profile of Mtshali which encompassed the new CEO joining the mobile telephony company as switch and valued added services (VAS) engineer, which quickly led to his acceleration to becoming a senior VAS engineer.



The chairman said this was due to Mtshalis agility and passion in telecommunications. From this role, the chairman highlighted that Mtshali became exposed to other markets in the continent like MTN Guinea Bissau and MTN South Sudan where he worked as chief technical officer.

The chairman concluded by noting that Mtshali was a seasoned executive who was bringing a wealth of industry experience from local and international markets.



The Board of directors is confident that he will harness all resources that MTN has accrued over the years and propel MTN Eswatini to greater heights.

I, therefore, encourage all staff, across all levels, to work with him so that MTN Eswatini continues to be a leading digital operator in the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Board chairman said.



Opportunity



In response to the welcoming remarks by the chairman, Mtshali thanked the shareholders, MTN Group and the Board for affording him this opportunity and trusting him to lead the organisation to achieve its vision.

MTN Eswatinis vision is to lead in the delivery of a bold new digital world.



He said MTN Eswatinis customers lives were set to be brighter if all worked collectively.

Well be the number one digital operator in the country which shall give digital solutions to our clients. This encompasses all needs our customers might have, Mtshali said.



Mtshali further said his focus would be in attaining sustainable growth in the company as shareholders had given them (leaders) targets and objectives which they had to make sure that they attain and bring value to their shareholders.



Also, he emphasised the need for making sure that all customers experience excellent services from his new home  MTN Eswatini  in any manner that they shall be dealing with the mobile telephony company.



The Bhadzeni II in Mankayane descendant, as previously reported by the Times SUNDAY, resigned from Eswatini Mobile last month.

At the time of his resignation from Eswatini Mobile, he held the position of chief technical officer. At some point, he was given the responsibility to serve as an acting CEO for Eswatini Mobile.



He went back to his substantive position when the Board of directors appointed telecoms mastermind Jeff Penberton as the chief executive officer in February 2018.

Meanwhile, in his professional brief, which he published on linked-In, Mtshali said he had successfully held executive positions within the mobile technology industry and produced excellent results in terms of technology strategy formulation and execution.
Activists and supporters of the Sindhi, Baloch and Pashtun ethnic groups on Tuesday held a protest, condemning Pakistan's atrocities against minorities and crimes against humanity, outside the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) headquarters in Geneva.

Protestors gathered at the iconic Broken Chair sculpture in front of the UN Office amidst the ongoing 41st session of the UNHRC to urge the body to take immediate action against worst forms of rights violations by the Pakistani Army in the Sindh, Balochistan and Pashtun region.

Activists also held up huge posters stating "Pakistan Army Stop Atrocities Against Sindh, Baloch and Pashtun".

In the past decade, many mass graves with more than 100 bodies were discovered in Balochistan. Almost 7000 people have been faced with enforced disappearances by the Pakistan Army. Dozens of villages have been destroyed by the security forces and thousands have been forcibly displaced in Makkuran, Jhalawan, Dera, Bugti, and Kohlu regions of Balochistan.

Moreover, the perpetrators have been given immunity by the Pakistani government. Similarly, in Sindh and Pashtun, the Pakistani Army held arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearance, torture, extra-judicial killing, and political repression as a tool to silence their voice and struggle.

Last month, the leader of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) Manzoor Pashteen was arrested due to its critiques against the Pakistani government.

Meanwhile, Pakistan refuses to comply with UN Conventions.

According to Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Article 5 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 7 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance the violent acts of Pakistan constitute a crime.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday banned all flights to and from Iran over the outbreak of the new coronavirus, just a day after its spread was announced across multiple Mideast nations from the Islamic Republic.

The UAE, home to long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad, remains a key international transit route for Iran's 80 million people. The flight ban, which will last at least a week, shows the growing concern over the spread of the virus in Iran amid worries the outbreak may be larger than what authorities there now acknowledge.

The Emirates' General Civil Aviation Authority made the announcement via the country's state-run WAM agency, just hours after Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel, said there would be restrictions on flights there.

All passenger and cargo aircraft traveling to and from Iran will be suspended for a period of one week, and could be up for extension, the authority said. The decision is a precautionary measure undertaken by the UAE to ensure strict monitoring and prevention of the spread of the new coronavirus.

Emirates, the government-owned carrier based in Dubai, flies daily to Tehran. Its low-cost sister airline, FlyDubai, flies to multiple Iranian cities, as does the Sharjah-based low-cost carrier Air Arabia. The announcement came after Bahrain said it would suspend all flights from Dubai and Sharjah, a neighboring UAE emirate that is home to Air Arabia, for 48 hours.

Bahrain's Health Ministry on Tuesday raised the number of infected cases from the new virus to eight, saying that all had traveled from Iran via Dubai. Four of them have been identified as Saudi nationals. The cases were confirmed upon arrival to Bahrain during screenings at the airport, and prior to the suspension on flights to Dubai and Sharjah, according to Bahrain's official agency.

Dubai has been screening passengers on incoming flights from China, where the outbreak began in December. Long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad are among the few international airlines still flying to Beijing. However, the outbreak in Iran only became public in recent days.

The novel coronavirus has infected more than 80,000 people globally, causing around 2,700 deaths, mainly in China. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it.

Iran's government said Monday that 12 people had died nationwide from the new coronavirus, rejecting claims of a much higher death toll of 50 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.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani sought to reassure the nation in a speech on Tuesday, calling the new coronavirus an "uninvited and inauspicious passenger. We will get through corona," Rouhani said. "We will get through the virus. Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq and Oman also announced their first cases of the virus on Monday and connected them to travel with Iran.

The UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula, has reported 13 cases of the new virus. Most of those were connected to Chinese travel.

Meanwhile, Kuwait raised the number of its infected cases from three to five people. All five were passengers returning on a flight from the Iranian city of Mashhad, where Iran's government has not yet announced a single case of the virus.

The state-run Kuwait Agency reported the two latest cases on Monday evening in two women whose nationalities were not disclosed. Kuwait had halted over the weekend transport links with Iran and was evacuating its citizens from Iran.

Also, Oman, which has good ties with Iran, has halted flights with its Persian Gulf neighbor. Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are the only two Gulf countries that still have direct flights to Iran.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, scientists from around the globe race to fight the deadly virus. Now, a team of Harvard scientists has joined forces with Chinese experts to develop new therapies and prevent the further spread of the virus.

Since the novel coronavirus, now officially called COVID-19, emerged in late December, it has evolved into a global threat, negatively impacting nations and killing thousands of people. There are currently over 80,000 infected people worldwide, with 2,699 deaths, and has spread to more than 30 countries.

Currently, health systems in affected areas, especially in mainland China have been exhausted, with many health workers now also infected. Economies worldwide have been affected, with Hubei province still in lockdown.

Collaborative work

To address these challenges, a team of Harvard University scientists will team up with Chinese colleagues to develop new therapies that would prevent new infections. Further, they plan to design treatments that would reduce the effects of the deadly virus in the body.

The team will be composed of health experts, scientists, clinical researchers, and translational investigators from Harvard Medical School and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. They will collaborate with scientists from the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, and with Zhong Nanshan, a reputed epidemiologist, and pulmonologist who headed the Chinese 2019n-CoV Expert Taskforce.

Closeup on automatic multipipette tips over 96 well plate. Image Credit: Anyaivanova / Shutterstock

The work's goal

Though the formal details are still being finalized, the major goal of the project is to better understand the basic biology of the pathogen and its mechanism of infection.

The scientists plan to develop fast and accurate diagnostic tests, which are easily accessible for affected countries. Further, they want to help develop new vaccines to prevent infection, especially for vulnerable and high-risk populations, understand the immune system's role and response, identify biomarkers that aid in monitoring the infection course and disease progression, and predict the onset of life-threatening complications.

The project also aims to develop antiviral therapies to help shorten the duration of the infection and alleviate the symptoms in affected patients. Lastly, the team wants to formulate new therapies for those with severe disease, specifically high-risk people, including seniors and those with underlying health conditions.

The project has $115 million in research funding provided by the 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. 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," Lawrence Bacow, Harvard University President, said.

Meanwhile, Zhong expressed his gratitude for the research funding.

"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," Zhong said. He was the one who identified the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, a pathogen that has caused nearly 1,000 deaths.

"We look forward to leveraging each of our respective strengths to address the immediate and longer-term challenges and fruitful collaboration to advance the global well-being of all people," Zhong added.

Coronavirus by the numbers

More than 30 countries have already reported cases of the coronavirus disease outbreak, with South Korea reporting the highest number of cases outside mainland China, with 893 cases, followed by Italy with 229 cases and Japan with 160 cases. The United States has seen a sharp increase in confirmed cases from 35 to 53 in 24 hours.

As of writing, there are 80,147 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, with 2,699 deaths, most of which occurred in mainland China.
In August 2019, Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a 41-year old Georgia-born ethnic-Chechen former insurgent and a supposed enemy of Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, was killed in Berlin. The assassination has raised renewed concerns about the involvement of Russian security services and Chechen loyalists in the systematic liquidation of political opponents and former insurgents outside Russias borders. While the involvement of Russian security services in assassinating traitors has become a widely-accepted fact following the 2018 Salisbury poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter, less is known about the persecution of dissidents or critics of Kadyrovs regime outside Chechnya and Russia.

BACKGROUND: Khangoshvili was shot dead by a Russian national in central Berlin in broad daylight on August 23. He previously survived several attempts on his life when residing in Georgia. A former insurgent who fought against the Russian Army in Chechnya in the early 2000s and then continued to support Chechen insurgents from his base in Georgias predominantly ethnic-Chechen Pankisi Gorge, Khangoshvili remained a vocal critic of the Chechen leader despite obvious threats to his life. His assassination, which has so far led German authorities to explicitly condemn Russia and expel two Russian diplomats from the country in December 2019, is one in a series of lethal attacks on Kadyrovs critics and rivals going back over two decades. Symptomatically, German authorities have pointed to Russias unwillingness to provide assistance to the German police investigation into the case.

The 2004 assassination in Qatar of Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev, former head of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, was among the first and most high-profile assassinations of Kadyrovs enemies outside Chechnya. The murder of the Yamadaev brothers in Russia and Dubai in 2008-2009 further confirmed the pattern of Kadyrov-related assassinations. Another dissident, Kadyrovs former bodyguard Umar Israilov, met a similar fate in Vienna in 2009. In 2017, an allegedly pro-Kadyrov Chechen attempted to kill Adam Osmayev, a former insurgent and a member of the anti-Russian Chechen militants fighting in Ukraine. While Osmayev survived the attack, his spouse Amina Osmayeva, also known for her anti-Kadyrov activism, was killed. The London-based de facto leader of Ichkeria, Akhmed Zakayev, is also believed to have been the target of several failed attempts by pro-Kadyrov assassins. The attacks on Kadyrovs enemies have implicated both European members of the Chechen diaspora loyal to Kadyrov  so called euro-Kadyrovtsy  and hit men dispatched from Chechnya.

Kadyrov has displayed a similar attitude towards his critics in Russia and abroad. Public figures as well as regular citizens in Chechnya and Russia who dared to oppose or challenge the Chechen leader were offered an opportunity to apologize in public. The latest in a series of public apologies to Kadyrov were offered by the well-known journalist Maxim Shevchenko. In 2016, a member of the Russian parliament, Konstantin Senchenko, was forced to apologize to Kadyrov and in 2017 a similar type of apology was extracted from the Chief Rabbi of Moscow, Pinkhas Goldschmidt.

Much harsher methods were applied to ordinary Chechens suspected of criticizing Kadyrov or his government. Numerous individual Chechen residents have been forced to apologize to Kadyrov on public TV and in some cases, to Kadyrov or Chechen officials in person. Most of these apologies were followed by the expulsion of the offenders and their entire families from Chechnya.

IMPLICATIONS: In Chechnya as well as in Russia, Kadyrov has a reputation for being extremely vindictive. On numerous occasions, Chechen and Russian individuals  even politicians and public figures  were forced by his closest entourage to publicly ask Kadyrov for forgiveness for minor issues unrelated to the Chechen leader, a kind of public humiliation recently established by the pro-Moscow Chechen elites.

While Kadyrov has striven to maximize his clout within Chechnya, his activities have in recent years brought diaspora Chechens to the forefront of his interests. According to information obtained by the authors of this article, Kadyrov has established teams of internet spies who monitor the social networks-based activities of members of the Chechen diaspora, as well as their involvement in public activities that compromise or denigrate Chechnyas legitimate leadership. Grozny has also sent emissaries to various Western European countries to monitor  and affect  the policies of Chechen diaspora organizations, calling on Chechen asylum seekers and those who have been granted political asylum to return to their home country. Allegedly, provisional Chechen departments have been established at several Russian embassies with the same objective. According to some Chechen diaspora activists, Kadyrovs spies have infiltrated Chechen refugee communities, a statement that we were not able to prove.

Those who continue to comment critically on the regime or on Kadyrov personally have, according to several sources, frequently been threatened or physically attacked, most likely by the Chechen leaders emissaries who have managed to make their way to Western European countries. In other cases, threats have been directed at their relatives still residing in Chechnya, which have been subjected to discrimination or forced to leave the country.

Several Chechen youngsters living in Western Europe have disappeared in Chechnya when traveling to their homeland, raising widespread fears in the diaspora of the regime keeping blacklists of disrespectful diaspora Chechens. Some Western-based dissidents, for instance the currently most vocal opponent of the Kadyrov regime, blogger Tumso Abdurrakhmanov, have become primary targets of Chechen authorities. High Chechen officials, including Kadyrov himself, have periodically channeled threatening messages to Abdurrakhmanov and other Western-based opponents demanding their extradition to Chechnya. According to Kadyrov himself, no one disrespecting him should be left in peace because this goes against the Chechen culture of honor by which one must be held responsible for ones words.

As a result, many diaspora Chechens have limited their public criticism of Kadyrov and his regime, particularly if it is thought to be personally offensive to Kadyrov. They avoid commenting on Kadyrov on widely-read social networks, especially those operating in the Russian language and believed to be screened by Kadyrovs men. Those who have continued to comment negatively on the Chechen strongman, all threats notwithstanding, have refrained from visiting Chechnya out of fear of being placed on a blacklist and subsequent revenge. Thus, diaspora-based Chechen intellectuals and public activists often minimize their traceable criticism of Kadyrov or use anonymous accounts and some non-Chechen scholars and journalists have followed suit.

The first author of this article has recently witnessed a dramatic change in the attitudes of Western-based diaspora Chechens. Many, including former insurgents and Kadyrovs one-time personal enemies, who have cooperated closely for years, providing valuable  and often sensitive  information about the peculiarities of the armed conflict in Chechnya, have recently distanced themselves from the author. Some ask to withdraw information that they provided years ago from publications. Several respondents have discontinued their contacts with the author or claim they do not know him, all due to their fear of being identified from scholarly articles  in order to avoid persecution of themselves, their families, and their relatives left in Chechnya. This illustrates the extent of the fear spread by Kadyrov not only in Chechnya and Russia, but also in seemingly secure places like Western Europe, in order to mute all criticism that might challenge his rule  or which he finds disrespectful to his person.

CONCLUSIONS: The assassination of Khangoshvili indicates three important observations relating to Kadyrovs persecution of enemies abroad. First, Kadyrov pursues his enemies regardless of the time passed since they left Chechnya and regardless of their location outside of the Russian Federation. The Chechen leaders perseverance to target offenders does not seem to wane and his enemies from the era of the Chechen Wars are as likely to be persecuted as younger critics, such as Abdurrakhmanov. Second, Kadyrov seems much more concerned with former Ichkerian officials and warlords than with internet-based critics among dissidents or diaspora members based abroad. It is clear that Kadyrov perceives the old Ichkerian guard as a particular threat to the stability of his regime. Third, Kadyrov remains open to co-opting members of the Chechen emigre community in Europe to return back to Chechnya, which is evident from Chechnyas efforts to engage with the diaspora. Given that the murder suspect in Khangoshvilis case is an ethnic Russian, it seems that Kadyrov sought to distance himself from the assassination as much as possible by involving a non-Chechen.

AUTHOR'S BIO:

Emil A. Souleimanov is Associate Professor at the Institute of Political Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, Prague. Huseyn Aliyev is a Lord Kelvin Adam Smith (LKAS) Research Fellow in Central and Eastern European Studies (CEES), University of Glasgow.

Image accessed 2/25/20
By Julia Cheever

Bay City News

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.

Circuit Judge Richard Paez contended in a dissent that the ruling violated Congressional laws requiring non-directive pregnancy counseling and prohibiting barriers to appropriate medical care.

"In vacating the district courts' preliminary injunctions, the majority sanctions the agency's gross overreach and puts its own policy preferences before the law. Women and their families will suffer for it," Paez wrote.

Health and Human Services Department spokesperson Katie McKeogh said, "HHS included in this rule improvements designed to increase the number of patients served and improve the quality of care patients receive through the Title X program.

"This rule is not a 'gag rule' and we are pleased the 9th Circuit agrees. Rather, HHS aims to ensure the integrity of the program so that more women and men are provided services that help them consider and achieve both their short-term and long-term family planning needs," McKeogh said.

California Attorney Genera 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 Essential Access Health, California's largest Title X grantee, which distributes funds to a network of clinics in the state.

Essential 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.

"Despite today's ruling, the facts remain the same -- the Trump regulations are unlawful and harmful and clearly put politics over public health," she said.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America, which joined 20 states in a lawsuit in federal court in Oregon last year, called the revised rule "a dangerous and unethical gag rule" on Title X, and urged Congress to reverse it.

Planned Parenthood, which served 40 percent of all Title X family planning patients nationwide, withdrew from the Title X program in August rather than comply with the rule.

Acting Planned Parenthood President Alexis Johnson said Monday, "Planned Parenthood will never give up on our patients and we will continue to do everything we can to fight this rule."

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.
Its a tough neighbourhood, the Middle East, and few men knew its harsher ways better than Mohamed Hosni Sayyid Mubarak.

His own ascent to power was a blood-drenched affair, an assault that claimed the life of then Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, gunned down one Cairo afternoon in October 1981. Sadats killers were Islamist militants incensed at the peace treaty he had signed two years earlier with Israel.

At the time of the attack, Mubarak was seated next to his mentor, both of them in a VIP viewing gallery, and he himself was wounded in the shooting. As vice-president, he quickly assumed his countrys top political post.

The violence of that day undoubtedly concentrated Mubaraks mind and may well have contributed to the abiding and often brutal preoccupation with security that marked his three-decade reign as Egypts strong-arm president.

Still, shocking though it was, Sadats abrupt demise did not seem to prepare Mubarak for his own eventual removal from high office or for the cruel if not undeserved ignominy of his own death on Tuesday at age 91, a disgraced and widely reviled man. State TV said he died at a Cairo hospital after an unspecified surgery.

In June 2012, an Egyptian court had convicted the former ruler of failing to prevent the murder the previous year of hundreds of peaceful protesters, most of them shot by police during an uprising against Mubaraks rule. That was overturned in 2014, but in a 2015 retrial, he was sentenced to three years in prison for corruption. He was freed in 2017.

This dear nation . . . is where I lived, he said during the breathtaking days now known as the Arab Spring, as his regime seemed to crumble around him.

I fought for it and defended its soil, sovereignty and interests. On its soil, I will die.

And, on its soil, he did.

Mubaraks s fall from power was as rapid as it was ignominious, a loss of status and authority that is almost dizzying to contemplate. In a matter of weeks, Mubarak traded his nearly godlike sway at the helm of the Arab worlds most populous land for a pair of pyjamas, a set of dark eye-glasses, a hospital bed and not much else.

For his ensuing trial on charges of corruption, abuse of power and complicity in murder, Mubaraks minions were obliged to manoeuvre the former president into the defendants cage on a gurney. He said little during the proceedings, merely glared at the ceiling, his face fixed in a bitter and gloomy cast.

In the first trial, he was acquitted on all charges but one  failure to prevent the killing of his opponents  but his conviction on that charge meant life in jail, and he seemed incapable of absorbing this sudden metamorphosis, from all-powerful pharaoh to some guy in a cell.

Mubaraks descent was not only personal but also generational  a punctuated presidency and a dynasty stillborn. His two sons, Alaa and Gamal, the second of whom was thought to be Mubaraks chosen successor, also served time in prison after Mubaraks fall.

After his trial, Mubarak was flown to the Tora prison by helicopter. It was reported in the Egyptian media that he suffered a sort of nervous breakdown after landing.

He wept profusely, it is said, and fought with all his ebbing strength to remain aboard the military aircraft, anything but be locked in a prison  he, who had once commanded the Egyptian Air Force, who had won distinction for his part in the 1973 October War against Israel, who had once reigned supreme in a storied nation of more than 80 million people  now a pathetic old man reduced in the end to petulance, misery and fear.

And what has Mubarak bequeathed to the land he governed for so long?

His legacy is surely not what he himself would have wanted, but neither is it what many of his opponents had hoped for, either.

The heady exultation that greeted Mubaraks downfall on Feb. 10, 2011  when tens of thousands celebrated their apparent victory in Cairos Tahrir Square  has now been replaced by something very different, under a new autocrat.

Long a bulwark of U.S. support in a volatile region, this dour, square-jawed, and seemingly impregnable man presided for decades over a powerful domestic network of cronies and goons, systematically repressing or marginalizing his adversaries while tolerating only the mildest forms of dissent.

He was the antithesis of a democrat.

Still, although many Egyptians despised him, others revere him still.

Hes a good man, a Cairo restaurant waitress insisted just days after Mubaraks downfall, pointing at a magazine photo of the deposed autocrat for the benefit of a visiting journalist.

She was hardly alone in her belief, not then and not now.

The future president was born outside Cairo on May 4, 1928, in a village called Kafr el-Meselha that occupied a modest portion of the Nile River delta. His father was a low-level government employee. From an early age, Mubarak demonstrated an affinity for the armed forces  the air wing especially  and later would study at military academies in Egypt, Moscow and Bishkek in what is now Kyrgyzstan.

On his return to Cairo, he rose quickly through the air force ranks. In 1972, now with the rank of air chief marshal, he became the forces commander. His appointment came just a year before the outbreak of renewed armed hostilities with Israel, a contest known to Arabs as the October War and to Israelis as the Yom Kippur War.

By most accounts, Egyptian pilots distinguished themselves in the conflict. As air force commander, Mubarak won honour as well, and it was likely for this reason that Sadat selected him to serve as the countrys vice-president, a huge and wholly unexpected promotion that came in 1975, when Mubarak was just 47.

Four years later, Sadat astonished not only his compatriots but the entire world by securing a peace treaty with Israel. The agreement resulted in the return of the huge Sinai Peninsula to Egyptian hands, but it also led to Egypts ostracism by the rest of the Arab world.

The accord was deeply controversial among Egyptians, too, and was fervently opposed by a band of religious zealots led by a disaffected army officer named Lt. Khaled Al-Islambouli. The officer and several armed colleagues assassinated Sadat during a public ceremony in Cairo in 1981.

And so Mubarak ascended to the presidency.

Many observers expected him to remain in office only a short while, but Mubarak proved to be a far more resilient character, surviving at least six assassination attempts and remaining in power for a longer period than any Egyptian leader since Muhammad Ali Pasha, whose dynasty ruled the country from 1805 till 1953.

Married to the former Suzanne Thabet, a woman of mixed Egyptian and Welsh origins, Mubarak was a private individual, who kept the details of his personal life to himself and who went about the job of running Egypt with a generous allotment of noblesse oblige, as if carrying out a sacred trust.

He lashed his fortunes to the mast of U.S. geopolitical influence, acted as an intermediary between the Palestinians and Israelis, and gradually restored Egypts standing among its Arab neighbours, initially with the support of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

But Mubarak opposed Iraqs invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and contributed nearly 40,000 troops to the U.S.-led operation to push the Iraqis back.

At home, he rigorously repressed his adversaries, banning the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist organization, from engaging in political activity.

Criticism of the president himself was not permitted, no matter the source.

Given the extent of his power, it is not very difficult to imagine how stunned Mubarak must have been to learn that his sacrifice  the long hours, the sometimes brutal repression of his foes, the endless payoffs to flunkies and subordinates, the sumptuous state banquets, the mysterious accumulation of funds  was so little appreciated by his compatriots.

When the Arab Spring erupted in Egypt late in January 2011, following a similar uprising in Tunisia, it must have appeared at first to Mubarak as merely a perverse and temporary trick of the political weather. But, of course, it was far more than that. No longer an overgrown sultanate, Egypt was an emerging nation in the act of asserting itself.

Mubarak did not go gently. For 18 days, he resorted to every survival tactic he knew. He unleashed the thugs, he feinted and prevaricated, he offered compromises and deals, promising almost anything that might extend his lease on the presidential palace for a few more weeks or months.

In the end, he was largely abandoned by his own armed forces, not to mention the Barack Obama administration in Washington, and he had little or nothing left to prop him up apart from his own fierce pride, and that was not enough.

He flew away in disgrace to a presidential mansion in the resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh on the Red Sea, leaving a welter of social, religious and political forces to jostle for advantage in his wake.

Eventually Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood was elected president. But in 2013, about two and a half years after Mubaraks fall from power, Gen Abdel Fattah el-Sissi led his overthrow.

El-Sissi, now president, is considered by many even more oppressive than Mubarak.

Oakland Ross is a former Toronto Star foreign correspondent and feature writer. With files from The Associated Press

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The labour ministry has implemented retirement fund body EPFO's decision to restore pension commutation under the Employees' Pension Scheme, a move that will benefit 6.3 lakh pensioners

New Delhi: The labour ministry has implemented retirement fund body EPFO's decision to restore pension commutation under the Employees' Pension Scheme, a move that will benefit 6.3 lakh pensioners.

Pension commutation refers to part-withdrawal of fund in advance by a subscriber, who then gets reduced pension amount for 15 years.

With the ministry's latest decision, such pensioners would receive their full pension after completion of 15 years.

On 20 February, the ministry notified the decision of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to restore pension of those who opted for commutation of their pension on or before 25 September, 2008.

In this regard, the Employees' Pension Scheme -- run by the EPFO -- has been amended.

"The normal pension in respect of those members who availed the benefit of commutation of pension under the erstwhile paragraph 12A of this scheme, on or before the 25th day of September, 2008, shall be restored after completion of fifteen years from the date of such commutation," as per the notification.

As many as 6.3 lakh pensioners would benefit from the decision. They had opted for commutation of their pension and got a lump sum at the time of retirement from their pension fund on or before 25 September, 2008.

The provision for pension commutation of pension was withdrawn by the EPFO. Now, the facility has been restored for all those who opted for it on or before 25 September, 2008.

Under the commutation, monthly pension used to be cut by one-third for the next 15 years and the reduced amount was given in lump sum. After 15 years, pensioners were entitled to get the full pension.

In August 2019, the EPFO's apex decision-making body -- Central Board of Trustees headed by the labour minister -- approved the proposal to restore commutation of pension for 6.3 lakh pensioners who had opted for the benefit.

An EPFO panel had recommended for amendment in EPS-95 (Employees' Pension Scheme 1995) for restoration of commuted value of pension to pensioners after 15 years of drawing commutation.

Earlier, under EPS-95, members were allowed to commute one-third of their pension for 10 years, which was restored after 15 years. This facility is still available to certain categories of government employees.
NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT) announced today that national retailer Target has signed a lease at 10 Union Square East for an approximately 33,000 square foot store.

"ESRT is delighted to continue our partnership with Target as they open a new store at our Union Square property. Located in one of the city's most dynamic retail submarkets, it has close proximity to one of the busiest subway stations in New York and access to the 350,000 daily visitors to the bustling neighborhood," said Fred Posniak, Senior Vice President, Retail Leasing.

Retailers interested in capitalizing on Union Square East's heavy traffic from tourists, NYU students, office workers, and locals can join Target in either a 3,084 square foot corner unit with frontage on Union Square and 14th Street or a 4,705 square foot unit with entrances on Union Square and 15th Street.

Richard Skulnik of Ripco Real Estate represented Target. Landlord representation was provided by Fred C. Posniak of ESRT.

About Empire State Realty Trust

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT), a leading real estate investment trust (REIT), owns, manages, operates, acquires and repositions office and retail properties in Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area, including the Empire State Building, the "World's Most Famous Building." Headquartered in New York, New York, the Company's office and retail portfolio covers 10.1 million rentable square feet, as of September 30, 2019, consisting of 9.4 million rentable square feet in 14 office properties, including nine in Manhattan, three in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and two in Westchester County, New York; and approximately 700,000 rentable square feet in the retail portfolio.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Federal securities laws. You can identify these statements by use of the words "assumes," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects" and similar expressions that do not relate to historical matters. You should exercise caution in relying on forward-looking statements, because they involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond ESRT's control and could materially affect actual results. Such factors and risks include, without limitation, a failure of conditions or performance regarding any event or transaction described above, regulatory changes, and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in ESRT's filings with the SEC. Except as may be required by law, ESRT does not undertake a duty to update any forward-looking statement.

SOURCE Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.
Islamabad, Feb 25 : Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday said the importance of US President Donald Trump's statement during his visit to India -- in which he said that the US has a "very good relationship" with Pakistan -- cannot be denied.

A day earlier, US President Donald Trump, while addressing a packed rally in Ahmedabad after his arrival in India on Monday, said the US has "a very good relationship" with Pakistan, the Dawn reported.

"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," Trump had said on the first day of his whirlwind 36-hour visit meant to reaffirm US-India ties.

In a statement released by the foreign minister's spokesperson on Tuesday, Qureshi said that Trump's remark about Pakistan was "extraordinary and its importance cannot be denied".

"Trump wants peace and stability in the region and has asked India to play a positive role in the area and extend a hand for promoting peace and stability in the region." The Foreign Minister said that this will only be possible when the Kashmir issue is solved.

"The current Indian government has further complicated an already complicated problem. India's measures of August 5 have affected the identity of Kashmir and broken it into several parts.

"Kashmir has been under lockdown for 206 days. How can things progress in these conditions?" he questioned.

"Pakistan's stance on the disturbance caused by the Citizenship Amendment Act in India can be seen by what is happening in Delhi. If conditions worsen, the void of peace in the region can affect the whole world." The minister added that India needs to "review its behaviour and policy".

Qureshi said Trump "made it clear that Pakistan is a partner of peace in the war against terrorism". He added that the progress Pakistan has made to defeat terrorism is exemplary.

"Pakistan's role in the Afghan peace process is there for the world to see... and Pakistan's role in the region is being commended.

"The Pakistan which India deemed to be a 'problem' is now being seen by the world as a 'solution'." He congratulated the "people of Pakistan, the armed forces and the political leadership for the positive change".

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan called "Trump's expression of friendship with Pakistan while standing in India is a big development".

In a tweet on Tuesday, Awan said that Trump's acknowledgement of Pakistan's positive role in the fight against terrorism has "buried the Indian stance".

In another tweet, Awan added that "the world's acknowledgement of Pakistan's efforts for regional and international peace is a manifestation of our successful foreign policy" and expressed hope that Trump would talk about the Kashmir issue.
The possible outbreak of coronavirus outside of China has received constant focus around the world, including India. However, healthcare experts say, swine flu is what India should be dealing with on priority while it stays alert on coronavirus.

Cases of swine flu, also known as Influenza A or H1N1, have been increasingly getting reported. On Tuesday, Justice D Y Chandrachud revealed that few Supreme Court judges are down with H1N1.

Doctors point out that the swine flu tends to recur at usual intervals and the solution lies in taking a flu shot since there is a vaccine available for H1N1. The vaccine is made and sold in India by several companies such as Sanofi Pasteur, Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech. For those affected, medication such as Oseltamivir, or more commonly Tamiflu, are available, although doctors suggest a flu vaccine. The cost of vaccines vary depending on the product and its coverage. The expensive ones do not cost more than Rs 2,000. Doctors say one shot is advisable in a year.

The swine flu has become a yearly phenomenon now. It is seen peaking between January and March and then again post monsoon until October. The time period may vary state to state in a country. The vaccine shot is suggested once with every change of season. Although World Health Organisation has a proper guideline on the selection of the vaccine, it is advisable to reach out to the doctor.

"Coronavirus is far away. What we need to be really dealing with is the cases of H1N1 and it is important that people are made aware of the hand hygiene and those who are at risk to take the vaccination. The reason why it is recurring each year is because the virus is undergoing mutation every year and is trying to evade the human immune system that is why the vaccines are also reconstituted every year with different strains of virus," says Dr Satayanarayana Mysore, Head of the Department, Interventional Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine at the Manipal Hospitals Bengaluru. The WHO recommends composition of the influenza virus vaccine for use every year.

When asked about the concerns around H1N1, Vinod K. Paul, member in NITI Aayog and a member of the faculty at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, says he does not see any reason to get alarmed. But he cautions that H1N1 is a resident flu, that is, it is contagious. Data from the National Centre of Disease Control shows that 28,798 H1N1 cases and 1,218 deaths had been reported in 2019. In 2020, there have been 14 deaths and 884 cases as of February 16.

"Seasonal Influenza is caused by a number of circulating Influenza viruses such as Influenza A HINI, H3N2, Influenza B. While declaring the Pandemic to be over in August 2010, World Health Organization conveyed that Pandemic Influenza A (HINI) virus that caused Pandemic [2009-2010] would circulate as seasonal Influenza virus and would continue to do so for years to come. Seasonal Influenza may affect all age groups; globally incidence is higher in young children and those above 65 years. Health workers and persons with comorbid conditions (such as lung disease, heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease, blood disorders, Diabetes) and immuno-compromised persons are at higher risk," says a ministry of Health and Family Welfare note (updated in 2018) on guidelines for vaccination with influenza vaccine.

ALSO READ: Health Ministry springs into action after swine flu scare at Supreme Court

ALSO READ: Bengaluru to Meerut to Delhi, H1N1 virus spreading fast; time to hit the panic button?

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Two gunmen ran up and pumped five bullets into a man in a northwest Toronto housing complex before fleeing in a getaway vehicle driven by a third man, a prosecutor said in his opening address at a first-degree murder trial.

There is no hesitation. There is no confrontation between these parties. There is no altercation, Crown attorney Aaron Del Rizzo told the Superior Court jury Monday.

Jurors were told they will see a preponderance of video surveillance over the next few weeks showing that it was the three defendants who killed Nnamdi Ogba, 26, on March 16, 2018. The electrical engineer was ambushed and gunned down walking to his car.

Abdullahi Mohamed, 24, Abdirahman Islow, 29, and Trevaughan Miller, 24, have all pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors allege that just after 11 p.m., the trio left 25 Martha Eaton Way, an apartment building in northwest Toronto, got into a cab, and drove to a parking lot a short distance away. There, they got into a stolen Nissan Rogue and drove to Scarlettwood Court, a Toronto Community Housing complex near Scarlett Road and the Humber River, Del Rizzo told the jury.

They drove to the Scarlettwood Court neighbourhood, circled a roundabout, and left. A short time later, they returned to the back of the complex, where two of the men got out of the car. The driver remained inside and positioned the vehicle pointing out of the complex, Del Rizzo said.

The two shooters, alleged to be Mohamed and Miller, then proceeded into the complex around the same time Ogba left a building and walked to his car.

He never makes it. These two men walk through the complex, see Mr. Ogba, quicken their pace, run up behind him and shoot him five times. He dies on the street, Del Rizzo said.

The shooters then fled back to the waiting Nissan Rogue, allegedly driven by Islow, which leaves Scarlettwood Court, and returns to the parking lot.

The surveillance camera footage seized by police also captured the three men returning to Martha Eaton Way, where their faces are clearly visible as they walk into the apartment building, Del Rizzo said.

He asked the jury to pay close attention to the video when it plays, ask yourselves, what range of emotions are going through these men. Are they displaying any surprise or shock about the event that just transpired?

The jury spent most of Monday watching surveillance footage compilations before, during and after the shooting, with Toronto police Det. Const. Jason Brady drawing juror attention to distinctive clothing and head coverings worn by the men.

Jurors also saw footage allegedly of the three accused, post-shooting, that showed one of them skipping away from the getaway car, dancing and playfully rubbing his friends head.

Prosecutor Paul Zambonini ended the first day showing mugshots of the three accused on the day of their arrest, March 29, 2018.

The trial continues Tuesday.
NEW HAVEN  A former city resident was sentenced to five years in prison Tuesday for conspiring to distribute kilograms of heroin and cocaine in New Haven as part of a drug ring, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for Connecticut.

William Claudio-Suarez, 34, previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with the intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine and a quantity of heroin in October.

He was charged with fentanyl, heroin and cocaine trafficking offenses, along with 13 others in June 2019, after the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and New Haven Police Department revealed that Malbin Rubiera-Herrera, also known as Chaca, acquired fentanyl, heroin and cocaine from sources in Connecticut and New Jersey and distributed the drugs through a network of associates in the greater New Haven area, officials with the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a release.

As part of his plea agreement, Claudio-Suarez accepted responsibility for two to 3.5 kilograms of cocaine and 400 to 700 kilograms of converted drug weight, including both heroin and cocaine, as part of his role in the conspiracy, according to the sentencing memorandum filed by U.S. Attorney John H. Durham and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Kaoutzanis.

Prosecutors sought a sentence of 70 to 87 months in the case, in line with federal guidelines for his calculated offense level of 23.

Among other arguments, they noted that Claudio-Suarez had previously served two years in prison before becoming involved in the drug ring, which did not deter him, and had recently been involved in disciplinary incidents while in custody.

Prosecutors also said the offense was serious, as the operation Claudio-Suarez was involved with was responsible for distributing kilogram quantities of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine to customers in New Haven and surrounding areas and had ties out of the state and internationally.

Claudio-Suarez was involved in the conspiracy for months and had called Rubiera-Herrera dozens of times, prosecutors said.

Defense attorney Robert Golger asked for a sentence of 60 months in his memorandum. He noted Claudio-Sanchez had been in custody since April 2019 on an unrelated fourth-degree larceny charge and advocated for a concurrent sentence.

Golger said that Claudio-Sanchez did not receive incremental punishment when sentenced in past cases, which raised his offense level to an inappropriately high extent, and had not committed an act of violence.

The general public has no reason to fear the Defendant engaging in future crimes and deterrence can be accomplished by imposing a sentence of less than that called for by the sentencing guidelines. The Defendant has maintained steady employment through most of his adult years and he has never engaged in violence toward anyone, said Golger. It is submitted that a lesser sentence than that called for by the guidelines should be adequate to protect the public while the Defendant receives additional vocational and rehabilitational instruction that will ensure that he becomes a productive member of society.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer imposed a 60 month sentence Tuesday, to be followed by four years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Rubiera-Herrera pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with the intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine and a quantity of heroin in June, according to federal judicial records. He has not yet been sentenced.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
Fianna Fail's Micheal Martin says voters want a government that can act on housing, health and climate change after his first meeting with Fine Gael's Leo Varadkar about coalition options.

He also hit out at rivals Sinn Fein and said party leader Mary Lou McDonald's proposals for a left-leaning coalition option were now effectively over.

Speaking after a brief meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar about whether the two leaders and their parties can work together, Mr Martin said voters wanted parties to get stuck into solving issues:

They expect us to get stuck in, to form a government.

He said voters in his home constituency of Cork South Central had economic concerns.

Brexit again, people are concerned about coronavirus. They can see the impact that is beginning to have economically.

Fianna Fail wanted to form a pro-jobs and a pro-enterprise government that would ensure the economy remained competitive, explained Mr Martin.

Mr Martin and Mr Varadkar have both agreed to meet again after the preliminary talks.

The brief face-to-face discussion looked at how the two parties can work together. But Fine Gael, as a party, have yet to meet this week about whether they should formally enter coalition talks

Mr Varadkar, in his own statement, confirmed that the initial talks with Mr Martin centred on housing, health, climate change, the cost of living as well as taxes.

However, a statement said his party was still continuing to prepare for opposition.

Elsewhere, Mr Martin played down the pressure coming from Sinn Fein to be allowed to form a government, despite continued criticism from that party over being sidelined in coalition talks.

Mr Martin said: The people's government can only be formed by a majority of elected representatives of Dail Eireann. Everybody knows that. Put away all the hype and hyperbole. You can have as many meetings as you like. The bottom line. The people elect Dail Eireann under our constitution.
LONDON (Reuters) - Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg met Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai at Britain's University of Oxford on Tuesday and posed for a photo together. Yousafzai, widely known by her first name, Malala, is a student at the University of Oxford. The 22-year-old posted a photo on Instagram of herself and Thunberg sitting on a bench with their arms around each other, with a caption 'Thank you, @gretathunberg' and a heart emoji

LONDON (Reuters) - Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg met Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai at Britain's University of Oxford on Tuesday and posed for a photo together.

Yousafzai, widely known by her first name, Malala, is a student at the University of Oxford. The 22-year-old posted a photo on Instagram of herself and Thunberg sitting on a bench with their arms around each other, with a caption "Thank you, @gretathunberg" and a heart emoji.

Thunberg, 17, is in the United Kingdom to join a school strike in Bristol on Friday.

Both women shot to worldwide fame after standing up for major global issues: climate change and women's education.

Thunberg became a household name after skipping school in Sweden to protest against climate change, while Malala was shot in the head by the Taliban in Pakistan for campaigning for girls to be allowed to go to school.

In 2014, Malala became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy of education. She became a global symbol of the resilience of women in the face of oppression.

Thunberg was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 and 2020.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Howcroft, editing by Andy Bruce)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Pipeline

25 February 2020

The development team behind Miami Beach's new Convention Center hotel announced today that an 800-room property will be operated by Hyatt under the luxury Grand Hyatt brand, when it opens to guests in 2023. Grand Hyatt Miami Beach will create a new hospitality option for visitors attending events at the adjacent Miami Beach Convention Center, which underwent a $600 million renovation that was completed last year, and anchor the Convention Center District.

The hotel development is being led by David Martin of Terraand Jackie Soffer of Turnberry, whose plans for the hotel were overwhelmingly approved by Miami Beach voters in 2018. The 17-story hotel will be situated at the intersection of 17th Street and Convention Center Drive, within walking distance of the beachfront, Lincoln Road Mall, New World Symphony, The Bass Museum and The Fillmore Miami Beach.

The new hotel will become only the second Grand Hyatt property in Florida, joining Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. Grand Hyatt hotels are designed to connect guests with iconic experiences, landmarks and cultural touchstones in captivating destinations around the world. Hallmarks of the brand include bold and vibrant design and architecture, elevated amenities and welcoming service that creates moments of more.

Grand Hyatt Miami Beach will be designed by internationally acclaimed architect Bernardo Fort-Brescia and his firm, Miami-based Arquitectonica. The team also includes partner Craig Robins of Dacra, who is the visionary behind the Miami Design District and helped revive Miami Beach's Art Deco District in the 1990s; Stonehill Taylor, which is designing the hotel's interior lobby and lounges, ballroom and meeting rooms, hotel rooms and all common areas; EOA, which is designing the pool deck hospitality features of the hotel; and Arquitectonica GEO, which is creating lush pedestrian promenades and landscapes.

Hotel features are expected to include 12 floors of guest rooms offering views of Miami Beach, two floors of meeting spaces and ballrooms that will complement the Convention Center, a resort-style pool deck with panoramic views, and limited retail space that will activate the district at street level. An elevated skybridge will enable event attendees to move freely between the hotel and Convention Center in a climate-controlled, art-filled corridor.

Plans also include landscaped pedestrian promenades on surrounding streets, bike sharing stations, connectivity with public transit routes, dedicated ridesharing pick-up and drop-off zones, and direct access between the Convention Center and Lincoln Road. The project's resiliency and sustainability measures include storm water management and reuse, flood risk mitigation, and the use of solar power - all of which are designed to ensure operational continuity during weather events.
Houston TranStar

A Tuesday morning crash has several northbound lanes of the Gulf Freeway closed at Bay Area Boulevard, authorities say.

The wreck was reported around 6 a.m. in the northbound main lanes of Interstate 45. It is unclear if anyone was injured, but police have most northbound lanes closed as they investigate.
'I do agree with Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin telling Sinn Fein to form your left-wing government.' Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Sinn Fein is organising rallies in the coming weeks to whip up support for it to be allowed into government.

My question to the organisation is, why hold one in Newry? When did it become part of the Republic of Ireland, are the residents of Newry going to vote in the next election?

It seems to forget it only got 24pc of the vote, not 64pc. I would also suggest to Sinn Fein that that 24pc is made up of 12pc republican/true green vote and the balance is made up of an anti-establishment vote, or disillusioned people. Its not a pure Sinn Fein vote.

If we do have another election increasing its candidates will not increase its number of seats as much as it thinks.

I do agree with Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin telling Sinn Fein to form your left-wing government  it has sat on opposition benches whining so now its time to put up or shut up.

Donough O Reilly

Kilmacud, Co Dublin





Let Greens and SocDems lead change agenda in government

The election results suggest that although the electorate wants change, it hasn't given the parties who represent change enough TDs to actually form a government that could implement that change.

A solution could be a government where the change agenda is led by the Greens and the Social Democrats, who would hold departments such as environment, housing and health, with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, who would hold the office of Taoiseach and other senior ministries, providing the numbers to provide stable government until the problems in these areas have been resolved.

Unfortunately, at this time, Sinn Fein would not be part of this new government because its policies on Northern Ireland, in particular its insistence on a border poll, are perceived by many as being insensitive and self-serving and display a desire to achieve a victory over, and not a compromise with, our unionist neighbours, which many people believe could very quickly destabilise not just Northern Ireland, but this Republic as well.

Vincent McMahon

Ennis, Co Clare





Political settlement urgently needed amid refugee crisis

Hats off to the Irish Independent for stressing that the humanitarian refugee crisis is a global reality that should be used as a political lightning rod to mitigate their agony inside Syria and in neighbouring countries like Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon.

In addition to a gruelling winter, refugees have endured trauma, suffering, hardships, extortion, assault, physical and psychological distress.

Despite that they have emerged with astounding strength and resilience to underpin economies, social and health care services and to replenish cultural, racial, ethnic and religious diversity.

The Middle East is the cradle of civilisations and religions: Islam and Christianity and Judaism.

Time to work for a political settlement, to preserve the regions ancient glory and to formulate resilient health systems, inclusive of experiences, religions, cultures and collective insights.

Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob

London, UK





Brexit begrudging is childish  its time for us to get over it

Robert Patrick Abraham raises a very valid point (Irish Independent, Letters, February 24).

The Irish are largely conformist, populist, crowd-followers (mob would probably be more accurate) with an aversion to thinking for themselves.

Thats why there are still so many sour grapes, post-Brexit.

How dare the Brits think for themselves and leave the conformist EU.

However, it looks like Britain will have the last laugh. Its economy is already flourishing and will probably only increase this momentum as Brexit fully kicks in  while we remain tied to the stagnant, bureaucratically controlling EU.

Lets wish our neighbours well, and stop the childish begrudging.

In the words of the ever wise Roy Keane, Brexit is done, get over it.

Eric Conway

Navan, Co Meath





Make Lent the time we start taking more care on roads

I once again hear on the radio of a black weekend for deaths on our roads.

I dont really know what to say; the carnage just scares the hell out of me.

Heres one for Lent, and beyond, for everyone: lets all undertake to drive with care. No need for any other penance. By doing so, we will save lives.

Brian Mc Devitt

Glenties, Co Donegal
Samsung has halted a phone factory after a coronavirus infection. Source: Business Insider

Samsung has confirmed one case of coronavirus infection at its mobile device factory in the southeastern city of Gumi, South Korea on February 22. The entire facility has been shut down, colleagues placed in self-quarantine, and the workers floor shut down until Tuesday.

"The company has placed colleagues who came in contact with the infected employee in self-quarantine and taken steps to have them tested for possible infection," Samsung said in a news release.

Samsung's factory in Gumi accounts for a small portion of its total smartphone production. The facility makes high-end phones, mostly for the domestic market, while the brunt of Samsung's smartphone production takes place in Vietnam and India.

Meanwhile, at the launching ceremony of its latest smartphone (Galaxy S20) in Ho Chi Minh City last week, Samsung said that its Galaxy factories in Vietnam were operating at full capacity. The new devices are assembled at factories located in Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh, both near Hanoi, that together ship half of all Galaxy phones worldwide.

"Samsung Vietnam's operations are in perfect condition," Nguyen Tri Thong, corporate marketing director at local smartphone unit Samsung Vina Electronics, told Nikkei Asian Review on the sidelines of the event. "We are now running at full capacity.

While Samsung said its operations in Vietnam have returned to normal, there are concerns over logistics at the Chinese border as the Korean company's factories source some parts from China. Earlier this month, hundreds of containers of imported products, including parts and materials for electronics, were held up at Huu Nghi in Lang Son province, one of the three busiest checkpoints on the border.
We have to get the money out of politics, Schakowsky said. I have friends on the other side of the aisle. We talk family and everyday stuff. When we talk about the President in the elevator you see their eye rolls. When the elevator door opens, they walk out and look down.
A delegation of civil rights activists, including All India Progressive Women's Association secretary Kavita Krishnan, on Tuesday went to meet Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at his residence to submit an appeal to protect the people in the city from communal violence.

Krishnan said they are outside Kejriwal's residence and are waiting to meet him.

Over 100 activists, including Harsh Mander, Apoorvananad, Annie Raja, Yogendra Yadav, Shabnam Hashmi, and senior advocate Vrinda Grover came out with a statement in which they called upon "all authorities to perform their constitutionally mandated job of bringing the situation under control and restoring peace".

"This is an appeal to all authorities, politicians, residents of Delhi and particularly the Delhi police commissioner, home minister, prime minister, Delhi chief minister to take immediate steps to put an end to all violence and hostilities against ordinary people in various neighbourhoods across Delhi," it said.

"We cannot afford a repeat of outbreak of communal clashes that have enveloped the city in the past. Each person in Delhi must now immediately step forward and ensure peace wherever they are and whenever violence breaks out," it said.

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. Ten people were killed in the violent clashes.

According to police sources, 56 police personnel and 130 civilians were injured in Monday's clashes between pro and anti CAA groups at Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Chandbagh, Khureji Khas and Bhajanpura. Three firemen also received injuries while dousing flames in the area.

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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
 Any conflict between what was said in that brief conversation and how the incident appeared on video can certainly be a simple mistake rather than an intentional lie, Needham said in the filing. For example, Viramontes explained at the hearing that he originally thought that he had been outside of his squad car when the shooting began but (a)fter viewing all the videos he realized he was mistaken and the shooting actually began simultaneously as my doors were being opened. 
F rances biggest commercial television company is launching a major English language drama production company in London to create a European alternative to US studio giants Netflix and Amazon.

TF1s Newen division is investing in a major joint venture with veteran TV producer Gub Neal, famed for hits from The Fall and Cracker to Prime Suspect.

Ringside Studios, as the joint venture company is called, will create English language series and serials using talent from across Europe.

It will both create entirely original dramas, and remakes of existing foreign language series into English versions.

Neal has a track record of both formats, having been one of the most prolific creators of original dramas through his career, and more recently producing The Fall in English with Gillian Anderson, then a successful French remake with TF1.

Neal welcomd the huge investment in Londons drama production industry from Netflix, Amazon, HBO, Hulu and others, but said: We dont want to get into a situation where we are largely serving a US market.

The Crown, Downton Abbey and so on are fine but we also share a lot of common history with Europe. It seems to me that at a time we are leaving Europe politically, we do not want to leave it culturally.

It is Neals third major business venture. He founded Box TV, producer of shows including Martin Scorseses Bob Dylan biopic No Direction Home, before selling it to DCD Media. Then he set up Artists Studio, producer of The Fall, Combat Hospital and other shows which he sold to Endemol Shine.

Neal said: We will be able to collaborate with teams from Belgium, Scandinavia, France, all over, to create an alternative to the US conglomerates.

He said he already had a slate of shows in early stages. These include an adaptation of the hit French childrens fantasy novels featuring Oksa Pollock, dubbed by critics Harry Potters French sister.

Neal said: There is a real appetite in Europe for premium English language content that used to be available but is now hard to acquire because so much of our talent is being bought up by the same US buyers.

He said he anticipated some Ringside shows would be distributed through the US giants but that other broadcasters would also be able to buy them.
Regrets? It looks like Michael Goonan has had a few.

The Married At First Sight villain, 28, appeared to have a breakdown during production on October 15, the day after filming Wednesday's yet-to-air dinner party.

The ashen-faced company director - whose 'marriage' to Stacey Hampton is hanging by a thread on the show after his affair with Hayley Vernon - was overcome with emotion at a cafe in Sydney's CBD.

Regrets? He's had a few: Married At First Sight's Michael Goonan looked strained while visiting a Sydney cafe during filming on October 15, amid his cheating scandal with Hayley Vernon

Michael was taking a break from filming MAFS at the Skye Suites apartment complex when he visited Ministry of Coffee on Clarence Street.

He looked pale and drawn as he paid for his beverage with a $50 note.

Moments later, he buried his head in his hands while reading a newspaper - possibly fearing the day his own scandal would be splashed across the tabloids.

What have I done? The ashen-faced company director - whose 'marriage' to Stacey Hampton is hanging by a thread after his affair with Hayley Vernon - was overcome with emotion

Gutted: Michael looked pale and drawn as he paid for his beverage with a $50 note

Your turn next, buddy: Moments later, he buried his head in his hands while reading a newspaper - possibly fearing the day his own scandal would be splashed across the tabloids

Michael's sad sighting came after his 'wife', Stacey, confronted Hayley on the street after discovering she had kissed her 'husband' behind her back.

They had a tense conversation on October 7, just days after Hayley had been caught kissing and allegedly having 'dry sex' with Michael in another couple's apartment.

'Stacey was waiting for Hayley to return from the gym and ambushed her outside their apartment building [on Kent Street],' an onlooker told Daily Mail Australia.

At war! Michael's sad sighting came after his 'wife', Stacey Hampton (left), confronted Hayley Vernon (right) on the street after discovering she had kissed her 'husband' behind her back

'Hayley wasn't expecting to be confronted like that. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but Stacey was really upset over something.'

In Daily Mail Australia's exclusive pictures, Hayley looked blindsided as Stacey spoke to her outside the Skye Suites apartment complex.

Hayley and Michael hooked up during an 11-day production break at the end of September. At the time, Stacey was visiting her two children in Adelaide.

The secret's out! They had a tense conversation on October 7, just days after Hayley had been caught kissing and allegedly having 'dry sex' with Michael in another couple's apartment

A trailer for Wednesday night's dinner party shows Hayley and Michael telling the group different versions of their night together.

'You macked on with me, sweetheart. You did it. Man up! yells Hayley, as Michael appears to deny anything happened between them.

Married At First Sight continues Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine

'You macked on with me, sweetheart': A trailer for Wednesday night's dinner party shows Hayley and Michael telling the group different versions of their night together
HOLYOKE  The Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce has hired Andrea Marion of Holyoke as its new executive director.

Marion has nearly 10 years of experience working in the community and was executive director of Lorraines Soup Kitchen.

I am excited to continue my work with the community in my new role here at the Chamber. I look forward to learning from our businesses first-hand what the Chamber can do to ensure that they are thriving in our community," Marion said in a news release. "I want the Chamber to be a central location for business resources for not only our members, but for all new businesses starting up in Holyoke. I want folks to know that we are here for them the entire step of the way.

The Chamber is celebrating its 130th year as a recognized chamber of commerce.

We are thrilled to welcome Andrea and are excited and eager to see how her leadership will bring expanded success to the Chamber, said Kevin McCaffrey, chairman of the chambers board of directors and director of government and community relations at Mount Holyoke College. Holyoke has many opportunities to thrive and we are confident that, with her record of success in the community, Andrea will play a formative role in working with businesses and other partners to make Holyoke a stronger and better community for all. Andrea is the right person to guide the Greater Holyoke Chamber at this time, to build new partnerships and to nurture existing relationships.

Marion began her role as executive director starting Monday, according to a news release.

The chamber encourages members and the community to register for its annual St. Patricks Day breakfast, the kickoff to parade weekend, at 7:30 a.m. March 18 at the Log Cabin.

Got a news tip or want to contact The Republican about this story? Email newsdesk@repub.com or message us on Facebook or Twitter.
In a first-person account, Rubina Bano, a resident of Delhi's Chand Bagh area who is three-months pregnantrevealed that she was mercilessly beaten up by male policemen with lathis and batons.

As northeast Delhi witnessed massive riots on Monday, several innocent men, women and children were caught between the clashing groups protesting for and against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the ensuing police crackdown.

Rubina Bano, a resident of Delhi's Chand Bagh area narrated her ordeal. In a first-person account, Bano revealed that she was mercilessly beaten up by male policemen with lathis and batons. She said she had heard about the disturbance but she had only come out of the house as she had to go to pick up her daughter from school who was appearing for her board exams.

Bano was also three-months-pregnant when the incident happened. She said she was on her way to the school when she was stopped and ambushed by a group of policemen and an angry mob.

Bano pleaded with the rioters and the policemen to let her go citing her pregnancy, but she said that the men seemed only "further delighted in mauling her".

Bano's attackers left deep welts and scars all over her body. It was several hours after the attack that someone found her lying bleeding and unconscious, and her family was alerted.

Bano also revealed that the policemen were actually preventing locals from accessing government hospitals or ambulances stationed close to the protest sites.

Her desperate pleas for the CBSE board exams to be cancelled, or for safe transport to be arranged for students seem to echo across the city. In fact, in the recent incidents, children's safety has surfaced as a major issue as rioters run amok committing arson. In a separate but related incident, a video surfaced on Tuesday showing men in Yamuna Vihar making a human chain to grant safe passage to schoolchildren returning home.

The bloody riots that started Sunday night have killed 11 people, including a police head constable as mobs went on a rampage in Maujpur, Jaffrabad, Babarpur, Bhajanpura, Yamuna Vihar and Chand Bagh areas in northeast Delhi. A Delhi Police head constable, Ratan Lal, was among those killed in the violence.

One of the deceased was identified as Vinod Kumar, 45, a resident of Ghonda who was brought dead to the Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital, according to hospital authorities. One of the other deceased was identified as Mohammad Furkaan, they said. The identity of the other deceased is yet to be ascertained.
Tajikistan Suspends Flights To Iran Over Coronavirus

By RFE/RL's Tajik Service February 24, 2020

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. The country had already cut off its land border with Iran.

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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/tajikistan- suspends-flights-to-iran-over- coronavirus/30451515.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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TORONTO - The conviction and 40-year prison term handed a young Canadian for plotting terrorist attacks on New York City was entirely justified, American prosecutors argue in a new appeal brief.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/2/2020 (686 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO - The conviction and 40-year prison term handed a young Canadian for plotting terrorist attacks on New York City was entirely justified, American prosecutors argue in a new appeal brief.

In addition, they reject arguments from Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy that his fair-trial rights were compromised by the judge's refusal to let him fire his legal aid lawyers.

"The imposition of a term of 40 years' imprisonment for an individual who attempted to carry out a mass-casualty terrorist attack for ISIS in New York City was not 'shockingly high, shockingly low, or otherwise unsupportable as a matter of law," the prosecutors say. "El Bahnasawy's challenge to his sentence is easily rejected."

The filing from the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York comes in response to El Bahnasawy's appeal of his conviction and sentence handed down by Judge Richard Berman in December 2018.

Berman's sentence was "carefully considered and well-reasoned" and took into account mitigating factors such as El Bahnasawy's youth and mental health and addiction issues, the prosecution argues.

A 17-year-old El Bahnasawy was living at home in Mississauga, Ont., when he met an undercover FBI agent online. The defence argued unsuccessfully the agent encouraged the youth to plan attacks on the Big Apple, while prosecutors maintained the plot was well underway before the two connected.

The FBI arrested the then-18-year-old El Bahnasawy at a hotel on the outskirts of New York in May 2016. Investigators said he had bought bomb-making materials and helped secure a cabin for the purpose of building bombs.

El Bahnasawy pleaded guilty to terrorism charges in District Court for the Southern District of New York in 2016. The plans, which involved conspirators arrested in Pakistan and the Philippines, called for attacks on the New York subway and Times Square.

In their appeal in December, defence lawyers argued the sentence was inhumane. But prosecutors counter that Berman carefully and thoroughly took into account the various factors in play. In fact, the prosecution says, it was precisely because of factors such as El Bahnasawy's youth and mental health issues that Berman gave him a below-guideline sentence.

At the same time, they said, Berman recognized the "extreme seriousness" of El Bahnasawy's actions and the need to protect the public from a "radicalized terrorist."

"That is particularly true in light of the fact that, as the reports and testimony of the defence's own experts made plain, it was inherently uncertain whether and on what timeline El Bahnasawy would successfully rehabilitate and cease to pose a threat," U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman writes in the brief.

The prosecutors also defend Berman's decision to keep the public defenders on the case but also add private lawyers El Bahnasawy's parents had pushed for. The accused himself wanted the legal-aid lawyers to stay on and made that clear on several occasions, they argue.

El Bahnasawy's argument that he was deprived of his right to be represented by the lawyer of his choice simply doesn't fly insofar as he got what he wanted, they say.

"His lawyers of choice came into the case on his behalf," the prosecution says. "By keeping federal defenders in the case, Judge Berman ensured that El Bahnasawy was represented by an effective advocate at each stage of the proceedings."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 25, 2020
A medical professional is seen at a preliminary testing facility at the National Medical Center, where patients suspected of contracting coronavirus (COVID-19) are assessed, in Seoul, South Korea on Feb. 21, 2020. (Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

US Raises Travel Warning for South Korea as Confirmed Cases Approach 900

South Korea on Tuesday morning reported 60 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the bringing the national total to at least 893. Meanwhile, the United States has upgraded its travel warning for the country.

Of the 60 new cases, 16 are in Daegu and 33 in the broader North Gyeongsang Province, while two are in Seoul, three are in the coastal city of Busan, one is in South Gyeongsang Province, andfive in Gyeonggi Province, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

Korean health officials also reported the countrys ninth death on Tuesday. According to local broadcaster KBS, a 68-year-woman has died of acute respiratory failure in northern Daegu at the Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital. She was hospitalized on Sunday and tested positive for the virus on Monday.

The number of confirmed cases has skyrocketed in South Korea over the past few days, with 100 cases reported on Friday followed by 229 cases on Saturday, 169 cases on Sunday, and 231 cases on Monday.

Medial workers wearing protective gears move a patient suspected of contracting the new coronavirus from an ambulance to the Kyungpook National University Hospital in Daegu, South Korea, on Feb. 19, 2020. (Kim Jong-un/Yonhap via AP)

More than half of 893 cases are related to either a super-spreader who attended Shincheonji Church in Daegu or Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, a county in North Gyeongsang Province.

A 61-year-old female super-spreader, a follower of the church, tested positive for the virus on Feb. 18 as the countrys 31st confirmed case. She was the first case in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province. Since then, there has been a spike of infection cases related to the church.

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)

The South Korean government has announced that all followers of the church will be tested for the virus, Yonhap reported on Monday, adding that there are about 215,000 of them in the country.

Of the 9 fatalities, six have been connected to Daenam Hospital.

On Monday night, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raised its travel advisory to South Korea to Level 3, calling for travelers to avoid nonessential travel to the country.

Older adults and people with chronic medical conditions may be at increased risk for severe disease, CDC stated on its website. There is limited access to adequate medical care in affected areas.

The enhanced travel warning came just two days after the Level 2 advisory was issued, calling for travelers to exercise increased caution in the country.

A number of countries have placed restrictions on travelers from South Korea.

According to local outlet Yonhap News Agency, five countries including Bahrain, Israel, and Jordan have banned travelers from South Korea from entry.

Meanwhile, 13 countries have adopted measures either to put arriving passengers from South Korea into temporary quarantine or to have their health condition closely monitored.

The scheduled jointed military exercises between the United States and South Korea could be scaled back due to the outbreak in South Korea.

General Abrams and General Park are looking at scaling back the command post training due to concerns about the coronavirus, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said at the Pentagon on Monday with South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo.

Abrams is the commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) and Park is chairman of South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The two countries hold military exercise periodically throughout the year for potential combat against North Korea, according to AP.

Currently, 13 Korean soldiers and a USFK dependent are infected with the virus.
Im hearing my name mentioned a little bit tonight. 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. I think I would make a better president than Bernie. Bernie voted to exempt the gun manufacturers from liability. I do not think that this is the best person to lead the ticket. It comes down to Donald Trump with his nostalgia for the social order of the 1950s, and Bernie Sanders with a nostalgia for the revolutionary politics of the 1960s. Do we think health care for all, Pete, is some kind of radical communist idea? Mayor Bloomberg has a solid and strong and enthusiastic base of support. Problem is, theyre all billionaires. Was the way that the mayor implemented stop-and-frisk racist? Yes. Senator Warren, that is a very serious charge that you leveled at the mayor  Yes.  that he told a woman to get an abortion. What evidence do you have of that? Her own words. And Mayor Bloomberg, could you respond to this? I never said it. Period. End of story. My fellow contestants up here ... Im surprised they show up, because I would have thought after I did such a good job in beating them last week that theyd be a little bit afraid to do that. You talk about concerns about race. Well, my good friend on the end of this platform, he in fact bought a system that was a private prison system. You wrote the crime bill  Where we come from, thats called Tommy come lately.  the crime bill that put hundreds of thousands of young black and Latino  Not true.  men in prison. If I were black, my success would have been a lot harder to achieve. We can no longer pretend that everything is race neutral. We have got to address race consciously  Theres seven white people on this stage talking about racial justice. Tom, I think she was talking about my plan, not yours. I think we were talking about math, and it doesnt take two hours to do the math. Because lets talk about what it adds up to. Lets talk about math. What every study out there, conservative or progressive, says, Medicare for All will save money. The math does not add up. Ill tell you exactly what it adds up to. It adds up to four more years of Donald Trump. This is a global problem. Weve got to work with countries all over the world to solve it. if Im elected, N.R.A., Im coming for you, and gun manufacturers, Im going to take you on and Im going to beat you. My secretary of education will be someone who has taught in public school. If you want to make the criminal justice system work, you dont want to have repeat customers and you want to help people to get off of drugs. The biggest misconception about me   is that Im not passionate   that Im boring   is that the ideas Im talking about are radical. That Im six feet tall. That I dont eat very much. I have more hair than I think I do.
A letter, posted online Monday, written by Lee Man-hee, the founder of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, saying the church is cooperating with the government's quarantine efforts. /Screen capture from the Shincheonji Church of Jesus homepage



By Bahk Eun-ji



The government will conduct coronavirus tests on all followers of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, as the religious group agreed to provide a complete list of its members, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSC) announced Tuesday.



As soon as the government secures the list of members, it will conduct diagnostic tests on all of them, starting with high-risk groups.





Lee Man-hee, founder of Shincheonji Church of Jesus /Korea Times file

The move comes as about 60 percent of all infected patients have been linked to the church sect in the southeastern city of Daegu. The minor religious group has been the target of public anger since it was revealed to be connected to the recent surge in coronavirus infections in the region. Korea has reported 977 cases of the highly contagious virus, with 10 deaths, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).



The CDSC said the total number of Shincheonji followers is known to be around 215,000, and the church group said it has decided to provide information such as resident registration numbers and addresses, excluding their names for fear of their personal information being leaked.






Leaders and would-be delegates of the founding congress of an opposition party have been arrested in Kazakhstan ahead of next years parliamentary elections, raising concerns about democratic participation in the Central Asian nation.

The crackdown started last week with a reported arson and the arrest of three activists who were heading to the largest city  Almaty  for Saturdays congress of the nascent Democratic Party of Kazakhstan (DPK) led by former journalist Zhanbolat Mamai.

The move was seen as an attempt to sabotage the assembly of delegates, as Kazakh law requires the participation of at least 1,000 people in the founding congress of a political party for it to be officially recognised.

Mamai, who cancelled the event scheduled for February 22 over the arrests and held a protest rally on Saturday instead, was also detained for three days along with his pregnant wife and dozens of other demonstrators.

Doomed to failure

Dimash Alzhanov, a prominent member of the Oyan, Qazaqstan (Wake Up, Kazakhstan) civic movement, which calls for a parliamentary republic and fair elections, told Al Jazeera that any attempt to create a genuine opposition party was doomed to fail in the current political system.

There is only one way of getting registration. You have to make a deal with the regime. If you just follow the registration procedure and bring all the documents to the Ministry of Justice, they will just not register you. They will have one hundred reasons not to do so, he said.

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Kazakh law mandates at least 1,000 people, representing two-thirds of the regions and major cities, participate in the founding congress of a political party. It is also required that the party have 40,000 members.

Once a party is registered, it receives funding from the state.

Alzhanov said Kazakhstan is a very well-sustained autocracy with the government using a combination of repression, cooptation and patronage system in order to fake a democratic process.

We have one dominant party, the party of the president  Nur Otan  and the other five are technical parties who receive more than $1m annually from the state budget, he said.

You dont have people behind them, you dont have a serious structure behind them. They are registered by the authorities to have some sort of multi-party system.

A demonstration of any size without pre-approval from the authorities is considered illegal [Pavel Mikheyev/Reuters]

Until last year, Kazakhstan was ruled by the same president  Nursultan Nazarbayev  who took power when the oil-rich country of 19 million people gained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

His successor, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who renamed the capital Astana to Nur-Sultan to honour Nazarbayev, promised to carry out reforms, easing the restrictions on protests and the establishment of political parties.

But there is little sign of political reforms in the country, where holding up a blank sheet of paper in protest can lead to an arrest.

Demonstration without pre-approval from authorities is considered illegal, but permits are almost never granted for political rallies.

After last weeks crackdown, Amnesty International condemned the Kazakh authorities, saying the cowardly campaign of intimidation against critics shows how badly the government fears freedom of expression.

These attempts to crush Kazakhstans nascent opposition movement are shameful. Forming a political party is a manifestation of the fundamental human rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, the global rights group said in a statement.

Kazakhstans authorities must fully respect these rights and release anyone who has been detained in the context of protests or opposition support, it said.

Free and fair?

Kazakhstan is scheduled to hold its next parliamentary elections in 2021 with little hope for the vote to be free or fair despite a change in the countrys leadership.

President Tokayev, who succeeded Nazarbayev last year, has pledged to amend laws on public assembly as part of his political reform promises.

Nargis Kassenova, a Kazakh scholar and senior fellow in the Central Asia programme at Harvard Universitys Davis Center, told Al Jazeera that, on the one hand, the government seems to understand there is a need for a certain reformatting of the political scene but on the other, the uncertainty of consequences is scary.

The authorities have been risk-averse for so long and purged the domestic political life so thoroughly, that now they probably find themselves confused how to proceed, she said.

Kassenova also said it doesnt help that there are two presidents in the country, referring to the fact that Nazarbayev remains in charge. The former president continues to head the governing party and remains chairman for life of the powerful Security Council.

This duumvirate is disorienting and conducive to power struggles and negotiations inside the government, she said.

Ruslan Zhangazy, a political analyst who has consulted with a number of government bodies, told Al Jazeera that the parliamentary elections will be dominated by fragmentation of power instead of a race with the opposition.

The competition between the government and the opposition will be controlled and limited, while the struggle between power groups can intensify, he said.

Zhangazy said there appeared to be several centres of political decision-making in the government with no single strategic vision for the future of the country.

Follow Al Jazeeras Tamila Varshalomidze on Twitter @tamila87v
ST. PAUL  Law enforcement officers across the state should train in deescalation techniques and have access to additional mental health and wellness resources, a state workgroup comprised of police officers, lawyers, family members of those killed in police-involved shootings and mental health experts said Monday, Feb. 24.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington and members of a task force that spent six months assessing policy solutions that could reduce instances of officer-involved deadly force encounters put forth the recommendations along with several others.

The suggestions come after 14 people were killed in deadly force-related events last year, as well as one police officer. Another police officer was gravely injured earlier this year in Waseca and is still recovering from his wounds.

The group tasked with reviewing the cases and putting forth solutions to curb future incidents also called for the creation of a central office under the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension tasked with investigating officer-involved shootings, a new "peacemaker" between law enforcement officials and the public, and an ombudsman that could review concerns from Minnesotans about closed cases.

Conversations around the issue challenged stakeholders on all sides, they said Monday. And members of the panel acknowledged they didn't agree with all the recommendations. In some cases, they said they'd oppose legislative changes put forward by the group.

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"Despite the fact that it would've been the easiest thing in the world to leave the table and not to engage in very challenging, difficult conversations ... we had to find some way of getting to a middle ground," Elizer Darris, a field organizer with the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, said.

Law enforcement groups said they were glad to see support for mental health resources for officers as part of the report but raised concerns about proposals that would ask law enforcement agencies to make public certain information and create an ombudsman role to review public concerns about closed cases.

"We are concerned about some of the recommendations, particularly as they relate to the due process of officers who've been exonerated and the potential financial burden to agencies to implement some of the training, technology and initiatives that are being proposed," Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson said. "That said, we have always been and will continue to be willing to work with lawmakers, stakeholders and community members to find new ways to make our state a safer place for everyone."

Clarence Castile, whose nephew Philando Castile died in a deadly force incident in 2016, said he was glad to see recommendations that asked lawmakers to research and evaluate the impact of police bodycams before 2022 and consider mandating their use.

"We have to start somewhere, but hopefully in the future, we can mandate something like that," Castile said. "It's important than an officer have as many tools on his tool belt to be able to do their job in a really good way."

Harrington, the commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, said there were few pieces of "low-hanging fruit" when it came to policy recommendations that could be taken without legislative or local law enforcement agencies' approval. And he didn't have a final price tag for all of the work group's requests. But one item, hiring a liaison for families whose relatives were killed in deadly force encounters, was already in the works at the Department of Public Safety.

Moving forward, he said members would continue to monitor the progress on their action items by issuing additional reports and tracking what they hope will be a reduction in the number of police-involved instances of deadly force. And both Harrington and Ellison said he too would ensure the findings made their way into new policy.

"We are not going to let these recommendations just sit on a shelf and just not go anywhere," Ellison said.

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Work to resolve instances of deadly force and to prevent new ones is likely a first-in-the-nation initiative, said Ronald Davis, who led the Presidents Task Force on 21st Century Policing under the Obama administration, and other states should model their efforts after their work.

"This will be a model for many states to follow," Davis said. "This is unique, this is groundbreaking. And trust me when I say, I am going to take this around to every state that calls me and even those that don't."

Other recommendations
When companies cheat to compete, they harm customers and competitors, said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael D. Granston. This settlement holds Wells Fargo accountable for tolerating fraudulent conduct that is remarkable for both its duration and scope, and for its blatant disregard of customers private information.

Our settlement with Wells Fargo, and the $3 billion monetary penalty imposed on the bank, go far beyond the cost of doing business, said Andrew Murray, US attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. When a reputable institution like Wells Fargo caves to the pernicious forces of greed and puts its own interests ahead of those of the customers it claims to serve, my office will not sit idle. Todays announcement is a stark reminder that no institution is too big, too powerful or too well-known to be held accountable and face enforcement action for its wrongdoings.

The fake-accounts scandal was the first of numerous scandals that have plagued the bank in recent years. The fallout from the scandal led to the ouster of two consecutive CEOs, John Stumpf and Tim Sloan. Stumpf was fined $17.5 million and banned from the banking industry as a result of the scandal. Several other former Wells Fargo executives are also reportedly under criminal investigation.
Neo-Nazis, alt-Right, and white supremacists march the night before the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017. The rising threat of violent white supremacist extremism prompted the state of New Jersey to call the threat "high," a rating above jihadist groups Al Qaeda and ISIS. Read more

New Jersey says white supremacist extremism is one of the states greatest terrorism threats  higher than al-Qaeda and the Islamic State  and in doing so has positioned itself as a national leader in countering domestic terrorism inspired by racism, experts say.

Last week, the state Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness issued a 2020 threat assessment report, for the first time rating the threat of homegrown violent extremism, and specifically white supremacist extremism, as high," noting the increased number of plots, attacks, and recruitment efforts in 2019. Meanwhile, al-Qaeda, an Islamic extremist group founded by Osama bin Laden, and ISIS, which split from al-Qaeda in 2014, were both rated in the low threat category.

Experts say this assessment is true across the country, but New Jersey, in publicly releasing its research and analysis, may be in a better position than other states to dedicate new resources and personnel to addressing violent white supremacist organizations and countering the ideology.

They nailed it, said Colin P. Clarke, a senior research fellow at the Soufan Center, a nonprofit threat and security research organization. I dont think its fearmongering. Its sounding the alarm in the right way, because its now about marshaling the resources to counter the threat and really kind of raising awareness.

Clarke, an assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon Universitys Institute for Politics and Strategy, said governments have been generally slow to recognize and name the threat posed by rising white supremacist activity. A part of the problem, he said, could be that the demographics of white supremacists  as opposed to those of jihadists  represent a majority of Americans. Thats why New Jerseys move is significant, he said. He isnt aware of other states with research and analysis offices that have gone this far.

Earlier this month, FBI Director Christopher Wray elevated addressing racially motivated violent extremism to a top-level priority for the bureau, on par with the threat posed by ISIS and its sympathizers.

The threat assessment noted that of 44 domestic terrorist incidents in the United States in 2019, four had a connection to New Jersey. In addition, six of the 41 homegrown violent extremists arrested in the United States last year were arrested in New Jersey or New York. Homegrown violent extremists are defined as people inspired by, not directed by, foreign terrorist organizations.

Jared M. Maples, director of the office that released the report, said in a statement that the ever-changing threat landscape requires officials to adjust strategies to "anticipate new threats while remaining ready to combat those already existing.

Brian Levin, director of the nonpartisan Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, said white supremacy has been the most ascendant fatal form of extremism over the last few years, replacing violent jihadists at the top of the list of extremists most likely to commit ideologically motivated homicide.

The most clear example was the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va., where one person was killed. But the influence is deeper.

As we have this anti-establishment tilt and this fracturing and splintering of our sociopolitical landscape, what we see is groups that arent meeting as much or holding rallies as much still are able to influence the white-supremacist narrative, Levin said, but merely as one server in a buffet of hatred and a 24/7 Charlottesville online.

Also, Levin cautioned that white supremacists "are by far not the only one in a continuing arms race with a diversifying set of extremist movements both here in the United States and worldwide.

White supremacist groups in New Jersey in particular appear to have ramped up their recruitment in 2019. The state reported there were 168 instances of white supremacist propaganda distribution in 2019, compared with 46 in 2018.

That propaganda is most often in the form of fliers posted in public spaces, a problem the Anti-Defamation League reported was particularly acute on college campuses last year. The group reported 16 Pennsylvania and New Jersey schools were targeted, including the University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University, Princeton University, and Rutgers University.

The New Jersey European Heritage Foundation was responsible for about 10% of the white supremacist literature distribution nationwide last year, the ADL said.

There have been several other instances of white supremacist extremism in New Jersey, including the presence of the neo-Nazi network the Base. Federal investigators said a Camden County 18-year-old used the network to recruit perpetrators to carry out vandalism of synagogues in the Midwest. The reported founder of the Base, believed to be living in Russia, is a graduate of a Catholic preparatory school in Morristown and has held an address in North Bergen.

In addition, a 41-year-old Philadelphia Navy Yard worker from Salem was arrested in October and charged with lying to federal officials about his ties to a white supremacist group.

But its not clear to experts whether threats posed by white supremacist activity is more severe in New Jersey than anywhere else. There were historically hot spots across the country where white supremacists gathered, but much of the activity is now internet-based and increasingly transnational.

When I think of New Jersey, I certainly dont think of white supremacy, Clarke said. Thats whats so bedeviling about the threat from white supremacy. The younger generation getting involved with white supremacist extremism looks just like your next-door neighbor.

In addition to rating white supremacist extremism as a high threat, the state also elevated the threat posed by black separatist extremists from low to moderate after two individuals associated with that ideology targeted police and the Jewish community at a kosher supermarket in Jersey City in December. The gunfight left six people dead, including the assailants and a police officer.

The officials were careful to note that while ISIS has not carried out an attack in the United States, its inspiration of supporters in America still poses a consistently high threat.
The tour by Qatari Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Jordan, Tunisia and Algeria this week was designed to support Qatari-Turkish efforts to resurrect the Muslim Brotherhood

Qatari Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani went on a tour of three Arab countries this week, beginning with Jordan, passing through Tunisia and ending with Algeria. Qatar's foreign minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and finance minister Ali Shareef Al-Emadi were with him.

Though the official goal of the tour as stated by the Qatari official media was to discuss bolstering bilateral relations, exchanging views on regional issues, and the latest international developments, the emir seemed to be following in the footsteps of his ally Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkeys military intervention in Syria and Libya would not have been possible without Qatari support, especially as Turkey is in serious economic difficulties. A few days before starting his tour, Al-Thani telephoned Erdogan to discuss matters of mutual interest.

It doesnt need artificial intelligence to guess what those matters of mutual interest are, said one Gulf analyst in Dubai. Erdogan is spearheading the effort to resurrect terrorism in Libya and bolster the so-called political umbrella of terror groups in the Ikhwan [the Muslim Brotherhood], and Qatar is still on its same old track of supporting and financing this, he said.

The three countries on the tour all have active Political Islam groups of different sizes, though all are associated with the main group that originated in Egypt and nurtured almost all the militant and terrorist groups in the region in recent decades.

The groups share allegiance with similar groups in Syria and Libya. As the Brotherhood has lost support in Egypt and Sudan and other countries, it has been trying to impose so-called Political Islam in Libya and parts of Syria using mercenary-like terrorist militias.

Last month, Erdogan visited Algeria and met its new President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, but his claim that Algeria had agreed with Turkey to support Tripoli-based militias in Libya was later refuted by the Algerian authorities. The same thing happened with his visit to Tunisia in December, though last month he also met speaker of the Tunisian parliament and leader of the Brotherhood-affiliated Ennahda Party Rachid Al-Ghannouchi in Istanbul.

In December, King Abdullah II of Jordan visited Turkey and also met Erdogan.

Many Gulf pundits say that the Qatari emir is trying to secure what Erdogan could not  to sway the countries on his itinerary towards supporting the Turkish-Qatari efforts in Syria and Libya or to stay neutral.

Another issue of concern for Jordan is the US peace plan between Israel and the Palestinians that threatens the stability and security of Jordan. The country has been desperate to find support for its opposition to the plan, but Jordan is a close US ally and is dependent on American and Gulf financial aid.

Thus far, Turkey and Qatar have only offered verbal support for the kings position, and there are fears that any further support for Amman might be tied to the rising political clout of the Jordanian branch of the Brotherhood.

Qatar is aware of Jordans economic hardships, and it also knows that Jordan is not getting the financial assistance it seeks from other Gulf countries.

Jordan reduced its relations with Qatar following the Quartet of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypts boycotting of Qatar over its support for terrorism. But the economic squeeze in the region is not helping Jordan, and thousands of its expatriates are coming back home, depriving it of remittances in hard currency.

In 2018, Qatar announced the provision of work opportunities for 10,000 Jordanians. And during his first visit to Jordan since 2017 this week, the emir announced another 10,000 jobs in Qatar for Jordanians and donated $30 million to the retirement fund for the Jordanian military.

There might also be other perks but attaching them to any overture from Jordan towards the Qatar-sponsored Palestinian group Hamas will not be easy for Jordan. King Abdullah II sees Hamas as a destabilising element, even more than the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood.

The issue of Libya was also on the agenda, though this was not announced. Qatar, like Turkey, wants Jordan to stop supporting the Libyan National Army even if it does not take up a blunt position in favour of the Tripoli-based militias supported by Turkey and Qatar. It is not yet clear whether the emirs efforts on his tour have met with greater success than the earlier efforts made by Erdogan.

In Tunisia, where Al-Thani arrived from Amman on Monday for a two-day visit, it is a relatively easier task. The Ennahda Party is still dominant in government in Tunisia, though it does not have complete power, and the new Tunisian president is avoiding taking strong stands on controversial issues.

Tunisia also needs economic support, but it fears the consequences of getting more involved in Libya, especially siding with militias supported by Qatar and Turkey.

The most ambiguous leg of the emirs tour was to Algeria. The new rulers who came to power following the popular protests that ousted previous president Abdelaziz Bouteflika are trying to follow an independent foreign policy. On Libya, in particular, Algeria is trying to find a neutral position, though this may be impossible.

A few days ago, Tebboune ordered the deportation of the manager of the Ooredoo branch in Algeria after the Qatari-owned telecommunications companys plans to lay off 900 workers was made public. Even the visit by the emir was clouded by an official statement from the presidency not confirming or denying media reports confirming the visit.

Developments in Libya in the coming days and weeks will be the main indicator of the success or failure of the emirs tour of the three countries. The person most concerned about that outcome will be Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 27 February, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Once the results are obtained, they will be made public immediately

Open source

The first results of tests for coronavirus infection that were taken of Ukrainians and foreigners, evacuated from Wuhan, should be obtained on Wednesday, February 26. Deputy Minister of Health Viktor Liashko said this during a briefing in Novi Sanzhary, which was broadcasted by 112 Ukraine TV Channel.

"The samples were delivered to the National Reference Laboratory of the Public Health Center. We will process them within two days. We expect the first results to be available to us on Wednesday and then we will be able to release them," Liashko said.

In addition, he noted that on February 24, the World Health Organization had delivered almost 900 test systems to Ukraine, which means that there are now about a thousand kits available for use.

All kits are now located in Kyiv, the question of their redistribution at the level of the MoH's regional laboratory centers is being worked on.

As we reported earlier, Minister of Health of Ukraine Zoryana Skaletska conducted a morning examination of evacuees from Wuhan who are currently quarantined at a medical center in Novi Sanzhary.

According to the photos, provided by journalist Oleksandr Makhov, the minister, accompanied by doctors, was wearing a special white protective suit, mask, and closed her eyes with something like a transparent plastic.
[February 25, 2020] upGrad Ties Up With Deakin University to Offer Online MBA (Global) Program

NEW DELHI and MUMBAI, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- upGrad, India's largest online higher-education company and Deakin University, Australia have announced an online MBA (Global) program for working professionals. Senator Simon Birmingham, Australian Trade Minister launched the program along with Ronnie Screwvala, Co-founder and Executive Chairman, upGrad and Ravneet Pawha, Deputy Vice President (Global Engagement) and CEO (South Asia), Deakin University, in New Delhi. Deakin University and upGrad will be jointly working towards creating online executive programs for mid-senior and senior professionals offering them learning opportunities to encourage professional growth. upGrad and Deakin is a first-of-its-kind association of an Australian University with an e-learning company to provide transnational educational opportunities for professionals in India. Speaking on the collaboration, Ms Ravneet Pawha, Deputy Vice President (Global Engagement) and CEO (South Asia), Deakin University added, "New digital technologies are disrupting the business landscape and the type of skills required are changing as rapidly as the industry dynamics. Jobs today are highly specialized and require constant reskilling. Our collaboration with upGrad is based on the need for education providers to come together with online learning platforms to create growth opportunities for working professionals by improving access to higher-quality skills." The program has been carefully designed keeping in mind the industry needs and aims to upskill working professionals who are in the early stages of their careers and wish to pursue a post graduate qualification. According to Colin Higgins, Director, Global Courses, Deakin University, "Over the past decade, we have seen a massive change in the kind of courses that are being opted by students. Working professionals are increasngly looking to upskill themselves. Deakin faculty has worked on the course content keeping in mind this need of the professionals. upGrad has ensured that the course remains relevant to Indian job scenario and have taken inputs from industry leaders and key influencers."



"As one of Australia's largest universities, Deakin has strong global linkages, world-class research and, most importantly, an educational portfolio that blends the best of campus and digital delivery into a highly supportive and personalised student experience. We believe that our association with upGrad will help the working professionals in India, while also offering them an opportunity to learn globally-relevant skills," said Professor Iain Martin, President and Vice-Chancellor, Deakin University. The program is a blend of rigorous hands-on teaching along with case studies and projects. The digital learning experience will be accelerated by a 360-degree career support aimed at transforming learning into solid career outcomes for each of the students enrolled in the program.

Commenting on the association, Ronnie Screwvala, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, upGrad said, "Our vision has been to provide working professionals a platform where they can continuously upskill themselves in order to stay relevant. We are excited about the addition of Deakin University to our list of esteemed partners and with this collaboration we hope to bridge the gap between evolving workplace requirements and workforce skilling." About Deakin University: Established in 1974, Deakin University successfully combines excellence in teaching, research and effective partnerships with industry and government to deliver high quality courses and undertake research that makes a difference to the domestic and international communities it serves. Deakin's South Asia operations commenced in 1994 at New Delhi, India, making it one of the first overseas education provider to set operations in this region. In 2019, Deakin celebrated its 25 years of engagement with India. Here, Deakin engages with the government, industry and the academia to share its vibrant culture of education and research. For more information, visit: http://www.deakin.edu. About upGrad: Founded in early 2015, upGrad offers online programs for working professionals. In a short span of around 5 years, upGrad on-boarded over 21.5K paid learners and impacted more than 370K individuals globally, making it India's largest online higher-education company, basis gross revenue generated from the Indian market in FY18-19. upGrad provides programs in the areas of Data Science, Technology, Management and MBA to college students, working-class and enterprises. These programs are designed and delivered in collaboration with top-notch universities like IIT Madras, IIIT-B, BITS Pilani, MICA, NMIMS Global Access, Duke CE, Liverpool John Moores University and others. To further enhance the learning experience, a comprehensive ecosystem has been built which includes one-on-one mentoring, peer-to-peer learning, industry networking and most importantly expert career guidance providing learners holistic support to elevate their careers to the next level. The company has been awarded the title of 'Best Tech for Education' by IAMAI in 2019. The company received the 'Best Education Brands' award by Economic Times and has made it to LinkedIn's 'Top 25 Startups' two years in a row in 2018 and 2019. For more information, please visit https://upgrad.com. Media contact:

Koushik Chakraborty

Deakin University

Phone: +91-9811353257

Email: [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/713572/Deakin_University_Logo.jpg

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A mother has penned an emotional apology to her son after becoming 'hysterical' when she discovered he was gay.

Patrick Abboud, a multi-award winning TV presenter, journalist and documentary maker from Sydney's west, said it took him years to come to terms with his sexuality.

He grew up in a strict Arab household and for years feared coning out to his family.

'At the time it was a choice between being ''me'' and losing my family. I knew that if I came out there was a risk that my family would not be there and I just couldn't live with that thought so I didn't come out,' he said.

Patrick Abboud's mother Marie has penned an emotional apology letter to her son over her reaction when he came out as gay

But the chance for Mr Abboud to come out as gay was snatched away from him when his parents accidentally stumbled across his secret.

'From the moment my parents found out, my life became so incredibly isolating... If I walked into a room my dad would get up and walk out... My mum was wailing hysterically,' he said.

His mother Marie Abboud said she didn't understand homosexuality at the time, so she blamed her son for 'choosing' to be gay.

She has since written a touching letter as part of the #AbsolutLoveLetters initiative, expressing her regret over her initial reaction.

'I wasn't educated about [homosexuality], people said it was a shame to our Arabic community and society didn't accept it,' she wrote.

'I am very proud of you... I will always support you. Love is the biggest power of all and no matter what happens, what anyone says, I love you so much. Love is our leader. Stay strong, keep smiling and keep your head held high.'

Her son said it was a difficult, yet inspiring letter to read.

'To see that she wrote a letter directly to me and wanted to share that publicly, made me ugly cry like you wouldnt believe... My mum is my actual hero... Having her support literally saved my life.'
National security law drive launched in HK

Global Times

By Yang Sheng Source:Global Times Published: 2020/2/24 21:48:40

An online signature drive to push for national security legislation - passing Article 23 of the Basic Law - in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) began on Sunday, with the initiator saying there is an urgent need for the city to pass the law because separatists and anti-government forces are using the epidemic to harm the security of the country, the stability of the city, and public health.

Hong Kong pro-establishment lawmaker Junius Ho Kwan-yiu, the initiator of the signature drive, told the Global Times on Monday that "the virus and the separatism of Hong Kong are threatening the HKSAR. If we still allow the anti-government and separatist forces to harm the city like last year and let them take further control of the Legislative Council after the election scheduled in September, that would be too late."

According to data provided by the Hong Kong-based NGO Politihk Social Strategic, the organizer of the signature drive, 157,332 people have signed online in support of national security legislation in Hong Kong as of press time.

Tang Tak Shing, chairman of Politihk Social Strategic, told the Global Times on Monday that the signature drive had faced some problems, as they previously chose to work with a US company to initiate the drive, but due to interruptions from anti-government forces, the US company closed the previous account on Saturday.

"But fortunately, we downloaded and saved the previous data, which had more than 100,000 signatures," he said.

On Sunday, the NGO restarted the signature campaign with the help of Tencent, a Chinese internet company, Tang noted.

Ho said after the COVID-19 outbreak, medical workers should try their best to safeguard public health. But unfortunately and ironically, opposition politicians and separatists are still urging medical workers to go on strike, and this is seriously threatening the health of the Hong Kong people, and also a threat to public health security, a crucial part of national security.

If Article 23 is passed, the HKSAR government would be authorized to immediately crack down on acts linked to foreign hostile forces' interference that could seriously harm public health and national security in Hong Kong, Ho noted.

"We have experienced so many horrible incidents in the past few years. From the Occupy Central 2014 to the months-long turmoil starting from 2019 to the present, and now the epidemic. There is no reason and excuse for us to wait anymore," he noted.

In 2003, the national security law, or Article 23 of the Basic Law, failed to pass due to complex public opinion, and also partly due to the fact a few lawmakers surprisingly changed their stance in voting.

Ho believes only foreign forces, the traitors of China, the sympathizers of the anti-government forces, and the people who believe in an appeasement policy will oppose the legislation.

At this stage, the purpose of the signature drive is to shape and form a foundation of public opinion to push forward the national security legislation again, Ho said.

"The legislation is the responsibility of the HKSAR government, and the reason why the government is reluctant to push the legislation is that it's worried about public opinion. So what we are doing now is to provide them a solid evidence of public opinion and we will urge the government to bravely push the legislation after the signature drive is concluded," he noted.

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Photo: The Canadian Press Alberta Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley says the decision by Teck Resources to abandon its oilsands mining project should be a wake-up call for Premier Jason Kenney. Notley is shown in this April 16, 2019 file photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says it was a new, last-minute delay by Ottawa on whether to approve the Frontier oilsands mine that led Teck Resources Ltd. to pull the plug on the proposed $20-billion project  an accusation the federal government denies.

Kenney said the delay, coupled with weak federal response to ongoing pipeline protests, scuppered the mine and sent a renewed chill on investment in Canada.

The premier said he spoke twice to Teck CEO Don Lindsay over the weekend, prior to Teck announcing late Sunday it would not proceed with the mine.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet was to grant or reject final approval of the mine by the end of this week, but Kenney said Teck was told that the timing had changed.

"The federal government let Teck know that there would not be a yes-no decision on the application this week, but rather it would be deferred to some point in the future, creating even greater uncertainty for that company," said Kenney.

"I believe had it not been for that uncertainty, they would have proceeded with the project."

In Ottawa, Cameron Ahmad, Trudeau's director of communications, said "it is not true" that the federal government told Teck, before the company made its decision, that cabinet was going to defer.

"We had not arrived at a decision," Ahmad said.

A spokesman for Teck did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The 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.

Kenney's government in recent weeks had drawn a line in the sand on the Frontier project. Kenney had said green-lighting the project was not only critical to Alberta's struggling oil and gas sector but a symbol that Canada was open for business in energy development.

Teck, in a Sunday letter to the federal environment minister, cited political discourse over climate change as a reason for withdrawing its application for Frontier.

In the letter, Lindsay said investors and customers increasingly want jurisdictions to have a framework in place that reconciles resource development and climate change.

Kenney said he was surprised to see climate in the Teck letter, given that Alberta has emissions reduction programs in place for large emitters.

"We had meetings with Teck officials on and off for several months, probably dozens of meetings to communicate about their proposal. And they never raised with me, my staff or officials, (Alberta) emissions policy as an issue. Not once. Not once," he said.

"The first we heard of that was in the statement last night."

Lindsay, speaking at a mining conference in Florida on Monday, said Teck also shelved the project due to tensions over Indigenous rights, resource development and problems over recent rail blockades tied to B.C.'s Coastal GasLink project.

Oil, gas and the economy are key policy planks for Kenney's United Conservatives.

Last spring, the UCP defeated then-premier Rachel Notley's NDP in the election on a promise to boost the oil and gas sector and dismantle the NDP's climate change plan, which included a consumer price on carbon.

Notley, now Opposition leader, said the Teck decision is Kenney's to wear because he has poisoned and polarized the debate by demonizing those fighting against climate change as fringe radicals with a hidden agenda to sabotage Alberta's economy.

"Jason Kenney has staked his political career on tearing all that (consensus) down, sowing division and undermining progress on combating climate change," said Notley.

"The decision we see today with Teck is the direct result of that approach."
Medical staff transfer a patient infected by the Novel Coronavirus at a hospital in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on Feb. 22, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Study Finds High Death Rate for Critically Ill Coronavirus Patients in China

The mortality rate for critically-ill coronavirus patients is highgreater than that for SARS, according to a new study analyzing that cohort of patients in virus epicenter Wuhan.

Chinese researchers, in a Feb. 24 study published on The Lancet, examined 52 critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Wuhan Jin Yin-tan hospital between late December 2019 and Jan. 26, and found that 32, 61.5 percent, later died.

All of those patients had died within 28 days of admission to the ICU, it found. The median duration from ICU admission to death was seven days.

The mortality of critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia [Novel Coronavirus] is high, the study said, adding those who died tended to survive for a period of around one to two weeks after ICU admission.

According to official figures, the coronavirus has killed over 2,000 people in China and infected almost 80,000 people, although experts have suggested the actual number of infections could be far greater.

This mortality rate was higher than that previously seen in critically ill SARS patients, the researchers noted. That outbreak of 2002 to 2003, which also originated in China, killed almost 800 and infected around 8,000 people worldwide. They also postulated the mortality rate to be higher than that seen in critically ill patients who had Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS).

Older patientsthose 65 years and olderare at increased risk of death, the study found.

Researchers also found that patients who did not survive were more likely to develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)a type of respiratory failure characterized by rapid inflammation of the lungsand were more likely to receive medical ventilation.

Of the 20 patients who survived, eight patients were discharged.

Two-thirds of the 52 clinically ill patients were men, the study said, a finding which supports previous data that males are more susceptible to infection.

The severity of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia poses great strain on critical care resources in hospitals, especially if they are not adequately staffed or resourced, the study concluded.

The outbreak has overwhelmed Wuhans public health system, with hospitals facing supply shortages and struggling to cope with heavy caseloads. As a result, many patients, including those suffering from non-coronavirus related ailments, have not been able to obtain treatment. Meanwhile, frontline health workers are bearing intense physical and mental pressure, with many having been infected with the disease themselves while treating patients.
A group of more than 100 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and activist communities in Cambodia expressed dismay Tuesday over the government blocking an annual tree-blessing ceremony at Prey Lang forest in the countrys central plains.

Over the weekend, masked, armed rangers deployed by the Ministry of Environment blocked hundreds of community members, monks, and environmental activists from entering parts of Prey Lang protected area to join a ceremony organized by the Prey Lang Community Network (PLCN) to promote conservation efforts against deforestation.

In a statement on Tuesday, the PLCN said it was outraged and appalled at the restrictions on the ceremony, which it has held for several years, and which it notified authorities about in advance.

In the past, we were able to enter the forest freely to do our activities and protect the forest, said Houen Sopheap, a PLCN representative in Kampong Thom province.

But recently, it has become harder and harder, and the ministry has placed more restrictions on our actions.

According to the PLCN, the Ministry of Environment wrote in a Facebook post after blocking the group that Article 11 of the Protected Areas Law prohibits any persons entry into a protected area without permission.

The group noted that Article 11 refers to areas that have been zoned, and that only the most protected of four types of zonesthe core zonerequires permission to enter. But while Prey Lang was labeled a Protected Area in 2016, none of the forest has been zoned, despite calls from conservation groups to do so because of the added protection against deforestation such a designation would carry.

The ministrys post also referred to Cambodias Law on Associations and NGOs (LANGO), which the PLCN said validated concerns raised by more than 100 communities and civil society groups earlier this month in a statement urging the government to repeal the law due to it being overly broad and subject to abuse.

Despite past assurances from the Interior Ministry that LANGO would not be used to hinder activities of grassroots groups, the Ministry of Environment used it as a justification to prohibit the legitimate conservation activities of the PLCN, the group said in Tuesdays statement.

Using LANGO to prevent community members from blessing trees in a protected forest again demonstrates how harmful the legislation is in its current form.

The PLCN quoted Am Sam Ath, deputy director of monitoring at local rights group LICADHO, as saying that the use of LANGO against its group is highly restrictive and legally inappropriate.

This grassroots community network must be allowed to conduct its conservation activities free from harassment and intimidation, he said.

The Ministry of Environment in its post also accused the PLCN of presenting data that lacked scientific basis and documenting exaggerated reports in its conservation work, but the group maintained that it consistently produces evidence-based research showing deforestation in Prey Lang, which it called on the government to utilize, rather than reject.

We know from experience that dedicated, grassroots community groups such as the PLCN are the most effective at preserving protected forests, the group said.

We strongly encourage the Ministry of Environment to embrace its own call for people to protect natural resources, and to stop opposing the activities, rejecting the research, and intimidating the members of the PLCN.

Forest under attack

Prey Lang has been ravaged by deforestation caused by illegal logging, with much of the illicit timber smuggled outside the country. In a report released last year, the PLCN found that the area lost 56 square kilometers (22 square miles) of forest in 2017 alone.

In prior tree-blessing ceremonies, monks and activists have wrapped cloth representing traditional Buddhist garb around trees under the belief that the loggers, who may themselves be Buddhists, would think twice about cutting them down.

Activists also use the Buddhist ceremony to pray for the forests future, so that indigenous identity can be preserved.

Speaking to RFAs Khmer Service on Tuesday, Ministry of Environment spokesman Neth Pheaktra said authorities had stopped activists from entering Prey Lang over the weekend because the government had not authorized forest patrols.

The Prey Lang activists actions were unauthorized and their network was set up illegally, he said.

The Ministry of Environment also responded to Tuesdays statement with a statement of its own, posted to Facebook, which said it had cooperated with activists for several years, but that the PLCN has since been dishonest and created chaos with exaggerated reports.

The statement quoted Neth Pheaktra as saying that the ministry acknowledges that forest crimes occur in Prey Lang, but that they are small in scale.

The PLCNs Hoeun Sopheap told RFA that NGOs have been able to patrol the forest freely for several years, and were only recently blocked from entering the area by the Ministry of Environment.

The Prime Minister [Hun Sen] and Minister of Environment [Say Sam Al] should investigate the actions of local officials, he said.

Those officials are colluding with criminals to commit forest crimes  If the forest crimes are not stopped, the protected area will be destroyed.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
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In what could be some good news for the global aviation sector, the cargo vertical of Delta Air Lines, the American airline which claims to be the most profitable in the world, is beginning to see some of its business coming back in the corona virus-hit China.

Over the last two weeks, the airline has seen its cargo business get back as much as 10 percent of its 'normal' volumes.

"We are beginning to see some movement happening. Roughly 80 percent of the capacity in Shanghai and many of the northern cities is back on line. So is 60 percent of the manufacturing capacity in the south. This is for across sectors," Eric J Wilson, Managing Director of Delta's Global Cargo Sales, told Moneycontrol.

He expects business to keep normalising further on, thanks to the manufacturing units resuming operations.

China's e-commerce and manufacturing companies are the biggest customers for Delta's cargo service.

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

"These are general manufacturing parts that are used as sub-components in other manufacturing goods in the US and Mexico. E-commerce is the number one customer," added Wilson.

The development will give some relief to the global aviation sector, which like other industries, has been severely impacted by the virus outbreak in China that has till now claimed one 2,600 lives in the country alone.

The International Air Transport Association estimates that carriers in the Asia-Pacific region, and outside, will collectively lose $29.3 billion in revenues. The loss could be nearly $13 billion in China's domestic market alone. And this doesn't include losses in cargo business.

Delta Air Lines, which operates 42 weekly flights between the US and China, had suspended its operations in the virus-hit country on February 2. The suspension is till April 30. India's IndiGo and Air India have also suspended flights.

Delta's model

Then how is it that Delta, which doesn't have any freighter aircraft and carries cargo in a plane's 'belly', moves cargo without any flight service?

That is thanks to the airline's unique model, said Wilson.

Delta Air Lines has created a wider network across the world through equity partnerships with several airlines, including Korean Air, Aeromexico, Air France-KLM and China Eastern Airlines.

Though China Eastern Airlines has suspended operations, Korean Air still has some flights operating in China. Delta Air Lines taps into the space in flights run by its partner airlines to move cargo.

Last year, Delta Air Lines bought 4.3 percent equity in Korean Air's parent company.

While the improvement in the business environment in China will bring back some cheer, there are also concerns about the virus spreading to South Korea, Iran and Italy. "We are closely monitoring the situation. The cargo business hasn't been impacted yet," said Wilson.
By Gilad Atzmon

February 24, 2020 "Information Clearing House" - I launched my study into Jewishness two decades ago. It began as a result of my reaction to the relentless attacks on dissident Jewish thinkers who didnt fit with the revolutionary agenda of the so-called Jewish anti Zionist Left. I quickly grasped that it was actually the Jewish Left, the radicals and progressives, who displayed the most problematic traits associated with Zionism and Jewish identitarianism.

I was perplexed: the same people who adhere to tribal politics and operate in racially segregated political cells preach universalism to others. I came to understand that nothing was transparent or obvious about Jewish culture and identitarianism, and that this was by design. I decided to untangle the Jewish enigma from a new perspective: instead of asking who or what Jews are, I asked what those who self-identify as Jews believe in, what precepts they adhere to. This question was the beginning of my struggle.

By the time I published The Wandering Who? (2011), I realised that those who identify as Jews can be divided into three non-exclusive categories. 1. Those who follow Torah and Mitzvoth. 2. Those who identify with their Jewish ancestry. 3. Those who identify politically as Jews. In The Wandering Who I argued that while the first and the second categories are innocent, the third category is always contaminated by biological determinism. The third category is, in fact, racist to the core. While Jews arent necessarily a race, Jewish politics are, too often, racially oriented. This applies to both Zionists and the so called anti Zionists. In my work there is no real distinction between Jewish Zionists and their Jewish dissenters. I have found them to be equally racist.

There is more to draw from this categorical approach. It is apparent that not many self identified Jews fall exclusively into just one of the categories. Jewish identity is a multilayered construct. A West Bank settler, for instance, is usually a follower of Torah and Mitzvoth (cat 1), most often he/she speaks in the name of their Jewish ancestry and even claims lineage to Biblical figures (cat 2). And it goes without saying that a West Bank Jewish settler identifies and acts politically as a Jew (cat 3). Surprisingly, a JVP activist in Brooklyn isnt all that different. He or she may not adhere to the Torah but likely identifies ethnically as a Jew (cat 2) and certainly acts politically as a Jew (cat 3).

In The Wandering Who I argued that If Zionism is a racist ideology, then Jewish anti Zionists are at least as guilty of the same crime. In fact, in the Israeli Knesset, the third biggest party is a Palestinian party. You do the goy count: try to figure out how many Palestinians or Gentiles are on JVPs board or amongst the British Jewish Voice for Labour (that doesnt even accept gentiles as equal members). Needless to mention, this observation didnt make me overwhelmingly popular amongst Zionists and the so called anti.

On the day of the publication of The Wandering Who, hell broke loose. What started as a struggle to seek the truth or at least some understanding, evolved into a bloody war. Oddly, no one bothered to find a mistake in my work or pointed to where my argument was lacking. No one claimed that the facts I based my argument on were inaccurate. Both Zionists and anti have deployed every trick in their Hasbara book to try and silence me. I was called a racist, an anti-Semite and a Nazi despite the fact that my entire work is anti racist and in defiance of the Jewish racial argument.

Since 2011 I have been subject to a cowardly smear campaign. But the war called upon me has actually helped me to refine my views on Jewish Identity Politics. I realised that Jewishness (yehudiyut) is a manifold of different forms of chosenness. Rabbinical Jews celebrate being Gods favorite children. Atheist Jews in practice, dumped the God who first chose them in order to validate their own superiority as godless people. Jewish Marxists are special for their belief in equality. Tikun Olam Jews believe that it is down to them to save the Goyim. After a few more years of this study I realised that Judaism is just one Jewish religion amongst many and it is not even the most popular Jewish religion.

The great Israeli philosopher Yeshayahu Leibowitz figured out in the 1970s that while Jews uphold many religions and beliefs, all Jews believe in the Holocaust. It was this observation by Leibowitz that planted the notion of the Holocaust religion. When I wrote Being in Time, I realised that practically every precept can become a Jewish religion as long as it sustains a lucid concept of chosenness, self-love or auto validation.

The French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan revealed that the unconscious is the discourse of the Other; the fear that ones deepest secrets could be unveiled and make it into the public discourse. In Lacanian terms, the Jewish unconscious is the fear that the Goyim Know. Their torment is that people out there will start to converse about what has taken place in front of their eyes: whether it is AIPAC dominance of US foreign policy or the destruction of the Labour Party or the constant threat to world peace imposed by Israel and its Lobby.

Judging by their desperate attempts to silence me, I assume that I must be seen, at least in the eyes of my Jewish detractors, as a prime conduit for that ever expanding general awareness  after all I have been blowing the whistle for a while.

Jews do not like those who leave the tribe. Jesus paid a price, as did Uriel da Costa and Spinoza. For Jews, the former Jew, or ex-Jew, is a threat most likely because many Jews may feel insecure about the ethical ground of their core beliefs, culture and ideology. Enlightened Jewish progressives are probably clever enough to admit to themselves that being born into chosenness is a problematic racially supremacist concept. Honest Jews may have gathered that being chosen by a God you yourself invented to favour you over the rest of humanity is actually funny. Orthodox Jews understand that large parts of their core beliefs are inconsistent with the western universal humanist tradition. Many Zionists know that their claims to a historic right to a land they have never been in are ridiculous.

The Jewish strategy to handle their fears includes the suppression of elementary freedoms: Jewish Power as I define it, is the power to suppress criticism of Jewish power. I believe that it was I who coined the slogan, We Are All Palestinians. In accordance with my definition of Jewish power, Palestinians are those who cant even utter the name of their oppressor. While Israel calls itself the Jewish State and boasts about itself as Jewish, the Palestinians and their solidarity movement go out of their way to avoid the J word. When British Jewish institutions including the chief rabbi and the British Jewish press called an open war on the British Labour and its leader no one in the Labour party dared utter the J word except when asking for Jewish forgiveness. The condition of being Palestinian, of not being able to name ones oppressor, is now a global symptom. This suppression of speech and thought has evolved into a tyranny of correctness.

By the time I wrote Being in Time I understood that my struggle has implications that far exceed my initial intellectual objectives. What we face as western subjects is a massive battle between Athens and Jerusalem, where Athens is the birthplace of Western thought and Jerusalem is the city of revelation. Athens teaches us how to think, Jerusalem demands our obedience.

The Western humanist values and intellectual assets we are now nostalgic for came from Athens: democracy, tolerance, freedom of speech, philosophy, Agora, science, ethics, poesis and the tragedy. Jerusalem gave us laws, mitzvoth, regimes of prescribed and proscribed behavior. Athens teaches us how to think ethically: in Jerusalem, ethics are replaced by the Ten Commandments; rules to obey. Jerusalem is not solely a Jewish domain. The Jerusalemization of our universe is apparent in every corner of society: from pop culture, to the work place, to academia and beyond. It is the tyranny of correctness adopted by the new Left and it is at least as infectious within right identitarianism.

My struggle as I now understand it, has evolved into a metaphysical quest. I battle to reinstate Athens within my soul. If you want to make the West great again, my struggle is your struggle. Defy Jerusalem, say no to authoritarianism, embrace Athens in your heart: learn to speak your mind, tell the truth as you see it and bear the consequences
Danny is online weekly to chat live with readers. Heres an edited transcript of this weeks chat.

Q. Is bragging about DNA results racist? My husband and his friend were recently bragging about their 23andMe results. They are both Caucasian. They mentioned several times, and were pretty smug about, the fact that they dont have any black in them. I was speechless. I felt like my husband was a stranger after 22 years (17 married). I am Puerto Rican. Our son and half of my family are obviously of African descent. I may be overreacting, but it felt like a betrayal. I mentioned it to him later and he said I was overreacting. But I cant forget about this conversation. This was six months ago and every time I think about the comment, it makes me upset. I have not mentioned it again, but I feel like I must. Am I crazy to be so worried about this?

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A: Yes, its incredibly racist. Your husband and his friend were being incredibly racist. He said you were overreacting when you brought it up because he was defensive about his racism and wanted to make you feel bad for noticing it. Your husband, after nearly two decades of marriage, suddenly spent an entire conversation crowing about not being black, rejoicing in his shared whiteness with another man in front of you, then insisted you were the problem for noticing his racism. Of course you cant stop thinking about it; of course it makes you upset. I encourage you to mention this again not only to him but to your friends and family so they can better support you as you figure out what you want to do next. Stay worried! This is worth being worried about.

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Q. Reasonable accommodations: I have an almost2-year-old toddler and am beginning to think about trying for another child later this year. I am a high school teacher, and with the first baby, it was a struggle dealing with work and the fact that I was pumping. When I got pregnant the first time, I essentially begged the assistant principal who makes the schedule to give me the same free period on our block schedule, which allowed me to pump at the same time every day. She has since retired, and Im already cringing at requesting this of any of our male assistant principals. Second, I have the ability to lock my classroom, which I did whenever I pumped before, but there are a number of people who have keys to my classroom who just use it without knocking. I happen to teach in a trailer behind the school that sometimes deals with A/C issues, so mechanics from the county just show up with zero notice. Not even our reception staff would know in advance. This is in addition to the rotating custodians who clean after school. I had one nice custodian who, after I told him I would be pumping for 30 minutes right after the bell, would wait to come in. None of the others remembered and I was regularly walked in on. My male department chair offered me his office to pump when I told him, and the idea of that truly skeeves me out. I want to do things better this time and not have pumping be such an added stressor. It boils down to the fact that everyone I need to talk to is male, and with an old and falling-apart school, we dont truly have accommodations for nursing moms. What can I reasonably expect?

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A: With the standard disclaimer that Im not a lawyer and you should supplement this with your own research, under the Fair Labor Standards Act, youre entitled to a reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for 1 year after the childs birth each time such employee has need to express the milk  and a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from co-workers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milkmeaning you dont have to accept your own classroom as a pumping station, given that so many other employees have keys and regularly enter without knocking. Beyond that, I think its totally appropriate to say youre not comfortable using your department chairs office and pushing for a better solution. The responsibility to come up with a safe, reliably private, reasonably comfortable space for pumping is your employers, and youre legally entitled to demand it. I wish there were something I could do about the fact that apparently everyone senior to you is a man, but this is the best Ive got for now.

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Q. Do I really have to come over? Over the past few years, I have tried dating a few men who seemed genuinely interested in me, but I always end up with the same dilemma. After we text for a few days, I like to meet them to talk in person and get to know them. It doesnt have to be a big dinner event; coffee or a drink will do. I just want to see them in person. After two dates, they never want to meet againthey just want me to come over. I am not comfortable going to a mans house I dont really know. If I dont come over, they never want to go out again. The last man I met only wanted to come over (to my house) and wouldnt even commit to meeting me at a coffeehouse to talk in person. Im in my early 60s but this isnt my first dating experience. Is this the way things are now? I dont think you can really get to know someone sitting on the couch (or otherwise). Going out and doing things is how you see their real self in public with you. It doesnt have to cost moneyeven a walk or a bike ride. Any suggestions on how to navigate this? I have tried to convey this thought while talking and texting but it always ends up the same way. Am I looking at this the wrong way?

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A: I mean, I do think you can get to know someone from sitting on a couch together and talking or having sex with them. Nor do I think theres necessarily anything inauthentic about the self a person presents in their home! So Id encourage you to at least be open to the possibility that people are still themselves if they want to have a third date cooking dinner together at home. But it certainly strikes me as reasonable to remain a little cautious on a third date and to insist on getting together in public because youre not yet ready for the kind of emotional and physical intimacy that comes with going home together. If these guys are completely dismissing you just because youre not interested in hooking up on the third date, I think thats a sign these are not the guys for you.

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Q. Havent met the BFs family or friends: My boyfriend and I have been dating for seven months now and have hit some milestones like saying I love you, vacationing together, and working through our first fight. Hes met my family and some friends. However, I have met almost no one in his life outside of our mutual friends, except for one friend of his. For a little bit of background, before we started dating, he had recently finalized his divorce (no kids) and I dont really know what his familys opinions were of his divorce or ex-wife. He recently brought up the idea of moving in with him, but I guess Im questioning the seriousness of our relationship since he hasnt shown any interest in introducing me to anyone. Is it weird that he hasnt introduced me to anyone yet given the circumstances? Am I overthinking this?

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A: Id be happy to talk about the possibility of moving in together! [Assuming thats trueI know seven months is a little early to move in together, although Im hardly one to talk.] I think there are a few steps in between here and cohabiting that Id like to take first. Id love to meet your family and other friends, for example. Does that feel like something youre ready for? Do you have any concerns or fears on that front youd like to discuss first? I dont know much about how that divorce affected you or your relationship with your family, and Id love to talk about it if youre up for it. I dont think its necessarily a bad thing not to have introduced a new partner to your family after seven months, but I think its perfectly reasonable to want to meet your partners family and friends before you agree to live together.

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Q. Online life, offline woes: When I graduated college, I deeply missed having a readily accessible network of friends and acquaintances. In part as a reaction to this, Ive lived a very online life since then. I have significant followings on several social media platforms. Ive planned trips and vacations around when I can get the best pictures. Lately, Ive even sensed that Im oversharing, mostly in a bid to get social media attention. (I come to regret the oversharing a few days or weeks later.) I hate this aspect of myself. Ive decided I want to detox from living for, and through, social media. But Ive gotten so dependent on the constant attention I used to get from it. I only last a few hours, or a day at most, after having deleted everything. Im worried that Ill lose touch with many of the friends I live geographically far from, since much of our contact is now online. I am fully aware this is an absurd problem unique to my generation, but it doesnt make overcoming it any easier. Am I ridiculous for having such a hard time with this? Should I just go cold turkey and find other hobbies? Is a more gradual detox the best option?

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A: If there are specific individuals you want to stay in touch with, why not send them a DM giving them your email address, or number on Signal, or Gchat handle, so that you can stay in touch while youre off social media? I dont think its ridiculous to have a painful, complicated relationship to personal disclosures, attention from strangers, and social media at large; youre far from alone there; I think its really encouraging that youve realized this is getting in the way of your health and happiness and you need to develop new strategies for getting your emotional needs met. I think taking a cold turkey break rather than trying to cut back is probably the best way to start; it will be easier to develop a more moderate relationship to social media once you have a few weeks or months of abstinence under your belt. Anticipate that you will feel anxious, agitated, lonely, bored, and frustrated as a matter of course at first. Social media has been serving as your primary source of affirmation and social interactions for a long time and establishing a different sort of relationship to your own emotions and needs as well as to other human beings is going to take a serious adjustment. Good luck! I think this is necessary and worthwhile work, and I hope it serves you well. If you ever find yourself ready to return to social media in the future I hope youre able to do so in a way that feels sane, healthy, and manageable.

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Q. Low-stakes craft etiquette: I know this isnt the most pressing question in life, but its been tripping me up lately. Various friends, co-workers, and acquaintances have started doing crafting meetups. I know its just an excuse to socialize and catch up in a friendly non-alcohol context, and I appreciate it! Well meet up in a cafe, or somebodys home, or a community space, and well chat and do our crafting. I like having artistic friends! My problem is that my crafts are big and messy. I do a lot of cutting, measuring, gluing, sewing, and waiting. I dont want to bring pots of glue and a fabric cutter to a cafe (or house or library)! Everybody else seems to have nice, portable hobbies. Is it OK to go just to socialize, or do I need to take up cross-stitch?

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A: If its just an excuse to get together without alcohol, it might make sense to have a low-stakes social craft that doesnt require a lot in the way of supplies so you dont have to haul a backpack full of specialized glue sticks across townI dont know how hard it is to learn to cross-stitch, so I dont want to suggest that as your fallback in case that means signing you up for months of extremely challenging work. Maybe you can ask one of your tidy-crafting friends to teach you something theyre working on?

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Q. Freshman -15: Im a freshman in college, and Ive lost some weight over the semester (nothing significant or health-threatening). I dont think my appearance has changed that much. The issue is that for some reason, family members (cousins, grandparents) keep commenting on my weight (Wow, have you lost weight? You look so skinny! Are you eating enough?). It makes me uncomfortable and is making me think about my weight a lot more than ever before. I usually just laugh awkwardly or say that I havent noticed anything. Do you have any tips for how to respond?

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A: Yes, Im eating enough. I dont want to talk about my weight. Lets talk about something else. Im so sorry! I wish I had a grander solution for relatives offering their perspective on the size of their young nieces and nephews and grandkids. There seems to be a real sense that commenting on bodies is appropriate with a 20-year-old, like when you see a 5-year-old after a few months and say, Look at how tall youre getting!

Q. Re: Reasonable accommodations: Can the letter writer not post a sign on the door that indicates the room is in use for pumping?

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A: Thats certainly an option, although I can understand if the letter writer would prefer to use a room thats more out of the way, rather than have to advertise the fact that shes pumping in an already less than ideally supportive environment. Id only recommend that as a last resort, I think, after all other possibilities had fallen through.

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Q. Re: Reasonable accommodations: Oh, God, pumping in a school is a nightmare. Things that may help: reducing the number of keys to your room (does everyone need a key?), putting a Do Not Disturb sign over the lock or handle (laminate it) as it provides another barrier for the types who just walk into your room to remind them to slow down, and getting those drop-down curtains on a roll to place over the door. Drop them during pumping times so that whoever barges in has to figure it out and you get time to yell at them to get the heck out of there.

Listen, your male admin will probably be the exact opposite of helpful, but if youre in a union, you can get the union involved too. They will tell you there is no room or that youll have to use the department chair office or other such nonsense, but there are hidey-holes all over the school. Wishing you strength and luck on this one, and congrats on the new babe! (Also, its much easier to pump in your room, mainly so you can do other stuff while you pump, and carrying equipment through the halls is annoying and embarrassing. Be prepared to push back against those who oppose you.)

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A: A Do Not Disturb sign might feel less daunting than Stay Out, Im Pumping. Obviously theres nothing shameful or embarrassing about pumping, but part of the problem with seeking support about pumping is that sometimes other people respond inappropriately or awkwardly when they know thats what youre doing. Thanks for this!

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Q. Re: Low-stakes craft etiquette: I recently tried to start something similar as motivation to work on my crafts. I personally would not mind if someone I got together with didnt work on something every time, as long as the setting kept me accountable for my own work, so I think there is hope that these friends wouldnt bat an eye. If youre concerned, though, and its applicable, maybe use this time to plan or sketch out ideas for your big and messy craft?

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A: Right. I dont think anyones going to be upset if you show up empty-handed once in a while. And I like the idea of using the time spent together in public for sketching and planning so you can keep all your materials and mess at home. Thanks!

Q. Re: Reasonable accommodations: A great resource is askjan.org, the Job Accommodation Network. It was very helpful for me when I needed to ask for an accommodation for PTSD. From the website: The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues.

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A: Thanks for suggesting it. I do hope that the school administration proves more helpful and organized and has a less slapdash response than last time, but I think its wise to prepare to have to do a lot of the work yourself just in case.

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Danny M. Lavery: Thanks for your help, everyone. Good luck taking up the cross-stitch, if thats in your future.

If you missed Part 1 of this weeks chat, click here to read it.

Discuss this column on our Facebook page!

From Care and Feeding

Q. My wife drinks too much in front of the kids: Several incidents in the past year have me wondering if I have a future with my wife. Last summer we went to a village festival with friends and took our kids along. My wife had too much to drink and ended up sloppy drunk and puking on the train while our kids looked on. This past weekend she took our daughter into the city for an afternoon of shopping and sightseeing. Her friends invited them to a cafe for drinks. Five hours later they get home and my wife has peed in her pants during the trip home. She could hardly talk and walk. My daughter was freaking out. My anger and disappointment were obvious. Read more and see what Carvell Wallace had to say.

Danny M. Laverys new book, Something That May Shock and Discredit You, is out now.
Colombia has remained the deadliest place to live in for environmental and human rights activists according to a recent study.

Human rights and environmental activists play a very important role. They help to maintain balance in the government though most of the time they oppose the administration. However, despite this, their contributions in the country are very significant and could help change practices.

Human rights activists make sure that every citizen in a country has equal rights regardless of their socio-economic status and gender. Meanwhile, environmental activists make sure that a country's environment receives attention and care from the government behind industrialization. Other activists have their own missions based on their philosophical objectives.

In a recent study that monitors violence on activists, it was found that Colombia remains the deadliest place to live for the activists according to a published article in Latin Times. Front Line Defenders, who aim to protect human rights defenders who are at risk, found that Colombia is the deadliest place for them.

Front Line Defenders released its global analysis report for 2019 and they revealed that among the 304 human rights defenders killed last year, 106 deaths were recorded in Colombia. This is the highest among the countries included in the report.

It was also indicated in the report that 85 percent of the activists who were killed have previously experienced threats personally or being threatened in the place where they worked. Moreover, Colombia has been the deadliest place for human rights activists since 2018 and according to a recent study that even though the number of victims went down from 126 to 106 in 2019, still the country remained at the top. Their recorded death is higher compared to the Philippines which has recorded 43 deaths last year.

Moreover, it is also assumed that there could be more deaths related to the activists than the reported and recorded killings. Those who joined in any form to fight for human rights, a fight to protect the land and the environment in Colombia but were killed are supposed to be part of the statistics. However, most of them were not accounted for in the data.

The Insitute for Development and Peace Studies (Indepaz), a non-government and a non-profit organization which is made up of people who have collaboratively work with people in stabilizing peace in Colombia, reported in a news outlet that there were 40 Human Rights Defenders who were killed since January this year and that includes environmental activists, national park ranger, and indigenous rights activists.

The surging number of violent killings in Colombia is getting worse because activists in any form are always associated as the enemy of the government. The Front Line Defenders also told that activists have a big possibility to be assassinated once they intervene or oppose the economic interest.

It is also very important to note that the number of activist killings started when the government signed a Peace Agreement with FARC-EP. It is assumed that this happened because the government cannot fulfill its obligation in the said agreement with the guerilla group.
Andrea Ball-Ryan, a social worker at the school and the BSU sponsor, said the lunch was free to students, faculty and staff because she wanted no barriers for those who wanted to partake of the buffet lunch. It took place over all three lunch periods.
Cairo, Feb 26 : The League of Arab States has renewed its call for a permanent cessation of military operations in Libya.

In a statement, the pan-Arab organisation appreciated the progress made during the second round of the 5+5 Libyan Joint Military Commission (JMC) talks concluded on Sunday in Geneva.

The Arab League also welcomed the announcement by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) that the rival Libyan parties came up with a draft cease-fire agreement to facilitate the return of displaced people, Xinhua news agency reported.

It urged parties involved to urgently resume discussions on the draft in order to endorse it and agree on permanent and comprehensive arrangements to enforce and monitor the cease-fire.

The UNSMIL announced on Monday that UN-backed government and the eastern-based army of Libya prepared a draft cease-fire 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 JMC.

UNSMIL also renewed its call for the rival parties to fully abide by the current truce and the protection of the civilian population and properties and vital infrastructure.

The eastern-based army has been leading a military campaign since April 2019 in and around the capital Tripoli, attempting to take over the city and topple the UN-backed government.

The fighting killed and injured thousands of people and forced more than 150,000 civilians to flee their homes.

The rivals have agreed to cease fire on January 12. However, both parties exchanged accusations of breaching the truce.
TV actor Lovey Susan has given birth to a baby boy and shared her joy with fans on Instagram. She is best known for her performance in Saath Nibhana Saathiya. Loveleen, who married Koushik Krishnamoorthy on February 10 2018, embraced motherhood on February 19.

Koushik and Loveleen have welcomed a healthy baby boy whom they have named Royce. An excited Lovey told Bombay Times, Royce is Gods most special gift to us, and words cannot describe our feeling. We are very thankful to the doctors who ensured that I had an easy delivery. She also shared a clipping of the news on Instagram.

Also read: Ekta Kapoor confirms Anurag will kill Prerna in Kasautii Zindagi Kayy: Viewers will see betrayal at its peak

Lovey and Koushik got married last year in Bengaluru and Amritsar. They had twin weddings - a Punjabi shaadi in Amritsar and a South Indian ceremony in Bengaluru. Talking about her wedding plans, she had earlier told the daily, We were planning a destination wedding in Italy, but since my grandparents do not have passports, we decided to change the venue. My family is from Jammu and we wanted a typical Punjabi wedding. Since wedding ceremonies are not allowed in the Golden Temple in Amritsar, we decided to get married outside and then visit the temple for blessings. I feel that its an ideal way to start our new life. The wedding will be held on February 10. We will then go to Bengaluru for the South Indian ceremony.

On the work front, Lovey essayed a negative role in Devoleena Bhattacharjee and Mohammad Nazims Saath Nibhana Saathiya. She has also featured in popular shows like Kitani Mohabbat Hai 2, Bade Acche Lagte Hai, Kaisa Yeh Ishq Hai... Ajab Sa Risk Hai, Love by Chance, among many others.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.

Latin America

Mexican media workers strike against contract violations, firings

Workers for the News Agency of the Mexican State (Notimex) in Baja California went on strike at midnight, February 21. The Notimex Workers Syndicate (SUTNOTIMEX) called the action, accusing management of refusing to negotiate in good faith over issues like contract violations, changes to the contract and firings.

The issue of the firings was highlighted by the union, since only 60 workers out of 223 are still working at Notimex, and in the last two weeks, the director, Sanjuana Martinez, has hired 60 new people rather than reinstate any of the fired workers. Notimex currently faces 85 labor-related lawsuits.

Police units were stationed at Notimex, and SUTNOTIMEX has accused the agency of hiring thugs to intimidate and assault strikers. The union has called on the Human Rights Commission and the Labor Secretariat to intervene.

Thousands attend anticorruption demonstrations in Belize

Twice last weekFebruary 20 and 22marches and rallies against government corruption, attended by thousands of workers, took place in Belize City, Belize. The actions were organized by the ten-union National Trade Union Congress (NTCU). Teachers, stevedores, water, electrical and other public service workers had a strong presence. Students, defying warnings from their rectories, also showed up for the protests.

Speeches at the rallies were dominated by trade union bureaucrats and a few opposition politicians, who denounced bribery and nepotism and demanded implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, UNCAC. They also called for campaign finance reform and other reformist measures.

Glen Lewis, the president of the Southern Workers Union, was quoted by Amandala, Today is the day when we must introduce hygiene in the politics of Belize. For us to introduce hygiene in the politics of Belize, the quality of life must improve; the misery index must go down; poverty must go down; healthcare must uplift. This is what we stand for. We are not playing games anymore. The speakers did not enunciate a strategy to achieve these aims, other than calls to take a stand and demand good governance of politicians.

Puerto Rican medical services workers vote for strike authorization against privatization plans

Workers for Puerto Ricos Medical Services Administration voted in favor of strike authorization for their union, the General Workers Union, over the possible privatization of the institutions billing and payment departments. They also voted to oppose plans to privatize the Building and Refrigeration Service department.

Antigua & Barbuda: Health center workers protest unpaid wages, unhealthy conditions

After complaining numerous times to management about rat infestations, leaks in the roof, waterlogged grounds and other problems, in addition to unpaid back wages and overtime to no avail, workers picketed in front of St Johns Health Centre in St Johns, Antigua February 17. The workers had been told before that the problems would be fixed or that they would be moved to a different building, promises that never materialized.

Other demands include vehicles to replace the dilapidated old ones they now drive and

a consistent policy of incentive pay for vector control workers, who have to deal with rats, mosquitos and other pests that often carry diseases like dengue.

The workers response to the inattention has been a partial strike and picketing. They say they will only work until noon until their demands are met.

Bahamian water and sewerage workers back on the job after injunction issued

Workers for the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) in the Bahamas were ordered back to work February 17 after nearly a week on strike. The workers, members of the Bahamas Utilities Services and Allied Workers Union (BUSAWU) and the Water and Sewerage Management Union, had walked out on February 11 over the refusal of WSC president Adrian Gibson to negotiate with the unions.

The unions main demand is that Gibson be removed and that a new industrial agreement be signed. Other issues include overtime and holiday pay for post-Hurricane Dorian work; shift premium pay; the alleged hiring of new employees without existing employees having been given a chance to be promoted; docked salary for travel expenses; and removal of allowances for certain employees, according to a Nassau Guardian report.

WSC, claiming that several of the demands had already been addressed, appealed to the countrys chief justice, who issued a temporary injunction, which will be in effect until the end of the month. He said that he would hear arguments from both sides on whether the strike is legal on February 17.

The unions say that they were forced to call the strike because of Gibsons bullying. They also accuse the WSC of not following due process. Gibson threatened to dock striking workers pay. Citing the Industrial Relations Act, Labour Minister Dion Foulkes claimed that the strike threatened the public interest and referred it to the Industrial Tribunal, threatening jail time and fines if they refused.

Colombian teachers strike for 48 hours over violence and threats

Teachers in Colombia went on another temporary strike February 20 and 21 to demand that the government take action against continuing violence and threats against them. Last year, illegal groups murdered 14 teachers and threatened 900. Most recently, a teacher was assassinated on February 7 and at least 240 others have received death threats this year.

After its seventh futile meeting with the government, the National Strike Committee issued a statement which noted, We insist on minimum guarantees [that] are necessary to allow initiating a negotiation, to stop attacks against social leaders, to stop abuses from the police and prevent adopting the set of neoliberal measures that have been questioned in the requests.

Teachers have struck and protested before, but the response of the right-wing government of Ivan Duque has been minimal. In fact, members of his Centro Democratico party claim that the violence is wildly exaggerated or even contrived by the teachers, and they call for the destruction of the teachers union, Fecode.

On February 20, some 800 teachers marched to the Labor Ministry in Bogota, and on the 21st, in response to the nationwide strike and mobilizations involving over 340,000 educators the next day, 2,700 national police and 67,000 soldiers were deployed.

Uruguayan power plant workers hold 24-hour strike over unilateral contract changes

Workers for the National Administration of Power Plants and Electrical Transmissions (UTE), Uruguays government-owned power company, struck on February 19 to protest managements unilateral decision to alter the mechanisms of collective negotiation with the workers, according to the AUTE union.

The communique said that the mobilization was called to defend collective negotiation and for respect for union organization as well as to get management to consider the proposals that the workers have for confronting the enormous changes foreseen in the commercial operation of UTE. Those changes are projected to affect more than 700 UTE workers.

Workers gathered at the UTE headquarters, the Palacio de la Luz in Montevideo at 11:00, where AUTE officials handed over their list of demands.

United States

Trump executive order threatens federal workers

The White House quietly published a memo on February 20 issued by President Donald Trump that gives the secretary of the Department of Defense the power to abolish collective bargaining rights for some 750,000 civilian workers in the interests of national security. The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 provides a provision that allows the president to issue an executive order to exclude collective bargaining rights in the interests of national security requirements.

The memo, signed by Trump on January 20, and states in part:

The national security interests of the United States require expedient and efficient decision-making.

When new missions emerge or existing ones evolve, the Department of Defense requires maximum flexibility to respond to threats to carry out its mission of protecting the American people. This flexibility requires that military and civilian leadership manage their organizations to cultivate a lethal, agile force adaptive to new technologies and posture changes. Where collective bargaining is incompatible with these organizations' missions, the Department of Defense should not be forced to sacrifice its national security mission ...

Canada

Montreal dockworkers vote to strike for third time

About 1,100 stevedores, heavy equipment operators, mechanics and ships helpers organized by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) have voted by over 99 percent to take strike action at the Port of Montreal on the St. Lawrence Seaway. The vote earlier this month was the third time in the past 14 months that the workers have voted overwhelmingly for strike action. Yet job action has yet to be undertaken as the union bows to employer interference and federal government foot-dragging in the strike authorization process.

The workers are demanding a new contract that addresses the oppressive working conditions on the docks. Current scheduling practices force workers to labour 19 days out of every 21. Due to the expansion in the volume of imports and exports at the port, the employer has insisted on a three-fold increase in the pace of work during weekend shifts. In addition, a vicious disciplinary regime has resulted, since the last contract was signed in 2013, in 30 firings and over 1,000 suspension days levied against members who have resisted the brutal working conditions.

After the first strike vote in December 2018, the Canada Industrial Relations Board convened to decide which, if any, essential products would be declared for the various cargoes regularly loaded and unloaded at the port. Federal regulations allow for any service necessary to prevent imminent and serious danger to the health and safety of the public to be designated as essential. Brazenly, the Maritime Employers Association has insisted that all tasks performed by the dock workers fall under an essential designation.

Union officials have pointed out that shipments of wine, furniture and a whole array of other consumer goods were hardly essential. Furthermore, products such as pharmaceuticals that can be considered important for public health can easily be unloaded at other Canadian ports. The employer, it was argued, simply refuses to absorb any extra costs that would ensue from additional overland transport. Although questions of convenience and cost-savings are not part of essential services deliberations, the Industrial Labour Relations Board has still not handed down a ruling more than 14 months since the initial strike vote was registered.
She's been focusing on her mental health since splitting from ex James 'Lockie' Lock.

And Yazmin Oukhellou looked incredible as she made her way to a big night out in Essex on Monday.

The TOWIE star, 25, slipped into a stunning black satin wrap dress and matching pumps to give herself a movie star look.

Dazzling: Yazmin Oukhellou looked incredible as she made her way to a big night out in Essex on Monday

The personality used the racy outfit to show off her ample cleavage and her toned bronze legs.

She played with her long silky dark locks that styled in loose waves as she made her presence known.

Completing her look, the reality star used a light eye shadow and nude lip-gloss to accentuate her stunning facial features.

Stunning: The TOWIE star, 25, slipped into a stunning black satin wrap dress and matching pumps to give herself a movie star look

Cheeky: The personality used the racy outfit to show off her ample cleavage and her toned bronze legs

2020 marked a new beginning for Yazmin as the star took to Instagram to pen 'I'm ready for a new chapter in my life', following a string of public rows with her on/off boyfriend.

During The Only Way Is Essexmas special, Yaz was caught up in another furious row with Lockie, prompting bystander Pete Wicks to advise that the exes should cut all contact.

The Essex native, 30, acted as a mediator between the former couple after the pair struggled to end all contact following their emotional split.

He told Yaz: 'You both obviously care about each other. Together you're a nightmare.'

Glowing: She played with her long silky dark locks that styled in loose waves as she made her presence known

Stylish: Completing her look, the reality star used a light eye shadow and nude lip-gloss to accentuate her stunning facial features

Adding: 'It's not love it's an obsession. I like you as a person but you're as bad as each other.

'He does still care about you. He's worried about you. It's so raw for the both of you the worst thing you can do is keep talking.'

After Lockie apologised for his behaviour during their relationship Yaz started crying as she told Georgia, Gemma and Bobby: 'I'm not buying it.

'I'm sometimes a s**t girlfriend but I didn't deserve this. It's hurtful just seeing him like this. I never want to be with him again, he's hurt me that much.'
Ali Fedotowsky has been enjoying a Hawaiian vacation with her husband Kevin Manno and her two kids, three year old son daughter Molly and one year old son Riley, the latter of which had an 'accident' and pooped in a hotel pool.

The 35-year-old star of The Bachelorette shared in an Instagram post on Monday that Riley, 'hasn't poop in three days,' but that changed later that day.

Fedotowsky took to her Instagram story, stating, 'So Riley pooped, and I am so mortified by what when down when he finally pooped that I don't think I'm ready to share, nor will I ever be ready to share, but I'm just letting you all know it happened.

Pooped: Ali Fedotowsky has been enjoying a Hawaiian vacation with her husband Kevin Manno and her two kids, three year old son daughter Molly and one year old son Riley, the latter of which had an 'accident'

Family: Fedotowsky took to her Instagram story, stating, 'So Riley pooped, and I am so mortified by what when down when he finally pooped that I don't think I'm ready to share, nor will I ever be ready to share, but I'm just letting you all know it happened. Ali Fedotowsky's son pooped in a luxury pool while in Hawaii

She changed her mind when apparently a number of fans guessed that Riley pooped in the pool, and that the luxury resort they were staying at, Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui, had to shut down the pool.

A few hours later, with an adult beverage in hand, Fedotowsky admitted, 'All right, you guys guessed it, Riley pooped in the pool. That's the truth.'

'He pooped in the pool. Jill thought it was going to be her kids, but it was mine. He pooped in the pool and they had to shut the pool down for like an hour and a half and it was super embarrassing,' she added, while showing her friend Jillian Harris.

Guessed: She changed her mind when apparently a number of fans guessed that Riley pooped in the pool, and that the luxury resort they were staying at, Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui, had to shut down the pool

Not Jill's kids: 'He pooped in the pool. Jill thought it was going to be her kids, but it was mine. He pooped in the pool and they had to shut the pool down for like an hour and a half and it was super embarrassing,' she added, while showing her friend Jillian Harris

'So, that's Riley's poop story,' Fedotowsky concluded.

Earlier in the day, Fedotowsky shared a number of other videos, including her daughter Molly 'twinning' with her, while Riley was twinning with her husband Kevin.

She also shared a small video of her son Riley demonstrating how he puts on his own sunscreen, with some of it getting in his mouth.

Twinning: Earlier in the day, Fedotowsky shared a number of other videos, including her daughter Molly 'twinning' with her mom

Sunscreen: She also shared a small video of her son Riley demonstrating how he puts on his own sunscreen, with some of it getting in his mouth

Fedotowsky first came into the public eye as one of the stars of The Bachelor, and she returned as The Bachelorette, where she was engaged to Robert Martinez.

After The Bachelorette she became a local news correspondent in San Diego, before stints on E! News and Home and Family.

She started dating radio and TV host Kevin Manno in 2013, two years after splitting with Martinez.

Public eye: Fedotowsky first came into the public eye as one of the stars of The Bachelor, and she returned as The Bachelorette, where she was engaged to Robert Martinez

News: After The Bachelorette she became a local news correspondent in San Diego, before stints on E! News and Home and Family

Dating: She started dating radio and TV host Kevin Manno in 2013, two years after splitting with Martinez

Fedotowsky and Manno announced their engagement in September 2015, and she gave birth to Molly in July 2016.

The happy couple tied the knot in early March 2017, with their second child Riley born in May 2018.

The couple have been sharing their vacation with Jillian Harris, Justin Pasutto and their two kids as well.

Molly: Fedotowsky and Manno announced their engagement in September 2015, and she gave birth to Molly in July 2016

Riley: The happy couple tied the knot in early March 2017, with their second child Riley born in May 2018
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Nigeria: 5 churches burned, many Christians killed in Boko Haram invasion

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More than 100 Boko Haram militants opened fire sporadically and indiscriminately and set churches and houses on fire, killing many people, in the town of Garkida in Gombi area of the northeastern state of Adamawa, according to initial reports.

At least five churches were destroyed, including two houses of worship belonging to the Church of the Brethren denomination, an Anglican Communion church, and a church and a separate office of Living Faith Church.

There are unconfirmed reports of possible abductions.

Riding on about 60 motorbikes, with two men each carrying AK47s and RPGs, and accompanied by roughly 20 mounted gun trucks, the Boko Haram militants arrived from the Sambisa Forest area on Friday evening, according to Save the Persecuted Christians.

Nigerian security forces initially fought with the attackers but had to retreat for reinforcement. The militants then advanced to neighboring towns and carried out attacks. Civilians fled to a nearby mountain area and into bushes.

Garkida is currently on fire  many people have been killed and their houses covered with smoke, TheCable quoted a source as saying.

People ran to hide inside the mountains while they watched their houses being burnt by the insurgents, a resident added.

The Catholic Women's Conference, an annual large gathering in Gardika, was scheduled for Friday evening and the women were still arriving when the attack took place.

The attack possibly carried on until at least Saturday, when ait.live reported that the insurgents are exchanging gun fire with the local vigilante and security operatives deployed to the area.

Earlier this month, suspected Boko Haram militants burned and killed at least 30 people, including a pregnant woman and her baby, and abducted others in northeast Nigeria and the Lake Chad region. The militants set the sleeping travelers on fire in the Auno village of Borno state as they were camping out for the night after missing an evening curfew in the state capital of Maiduguri, about 10 miles away.

Boko Haram is an Islamic militant insurgency responsible for killing tens of thousands and displacing millions in the last decade-plus. The terrorist group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2016 but soon splintered after Islamic State leadership tried to replace Boko Harams leader, Abubakar Shekau.

Although the Nigerian government claims to have defeated Boko Haram militarily, Boko Haram and its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province continue to carry out attacks in Borno.

Boko Haram over the years has abducted hundreds of school girls. The group has also abducted pastors and others in attempts to raise funds through ransom payments.

Last month, Boko Haram executed Rev. Lawan Andimi, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigerias chapter in the Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State. Andimi was kidnapped in early January and was seen in a ransom video praising God before his death.

Also in January, the Islamic State released a propaganda video purporting to show the killing of a Nigerian Christian university student by a child soldier. In December, the Islamic State faction claimed to have killed 11 Christian aid workers in Nigeria in retaliation for the killing of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Nigerian Minister of Culture and Tourism, and Aviation, recently accused former U.S. President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton of their sheer wickedness in helping Boko Haram by funding and supporting the 2015 election of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who later canceled contracts to eradicate the terrorists, LifeSite reported.

What Obama, John Kerry and Hillary Clinton did to Nigeria by funding and supporting Buhari in the 2015 presidential election and helping Boko Haram in 2014/2015 was sheer wickedness and the blood of all those killed by the Buhari administration, his Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram over the last 5 years are on their hands, Fani-Kayode wrote on Facebook.

The Nigerian government has faced international criticism for an ineffective response to the increasing violence carried out by Boko Haram factions and Fulani radical attacks. Insecurity has led to Nigeria becoming one of the most dangerous countries to live in the world.

As Nigeria ranks as the 12th worst country in the world on Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List of countries where Christians are most severely persecuted, Nigeria was added to the U.S. State Departments special watch list of countries that tolerate or engage in severe violations of religious freedom in December.
A total of 632 firearms were



seized and 32 persons, including 12 Myanmarese, arrested in Mizoram between 2004 and 2020 in this connection, state Home Minister Lalchamliana informed the Assembly on Tuesday.

Replying to a written question by Lalrindika Ralte of opposition Congress, Lalchamliana said that the firearms were smuggled into the state mostly from neighbouring Myanmar.

He said the seized firearms include 134 AK-47 rifles, eight AK-56 rifles and 26 light machine guns.

A total of 47,510 live rounds and 314 magazines were also seized during the period, Lalchamliana said.

Of the 32 arrested persons, eight -- all from Myanmar -- have been convicted while the remaining are under trial, he said.

Lalchamliana said the largest seizure of firearms, at 91, was made in the financial year 2011-12.

He said 23 firearms were seized during the current fiscal against 27 in the previous financial year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Air Arabia awarded Revima an exclusive contract for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of landing gears on its fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft, totalling 40 shipsets for the period.

The MRO work will be provided by Revimas facility located in Normandy, France. Revima has been operating its A320 landing gear repair shop for several years, with a world-class dedicated customer service.

We are pleased to partner with Revima on this A320 maintenance programme which aligns with Air Arabias commitment to always secure highest standards of quality for our fleet operations. We look forward to a fruitful partnership said Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia.

Olivier Legrand, President & CEO of Revima, said, We are proud having been chosen by Air Arabia, one of the very best carriers in the world. We look forward to bringing our tailor-made support and best-in-class services to such a successful and high-performing airline.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 16:36:20|Editor: huaxia

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TAIPEI, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Another relative of the 27th COVID-19 patient in Taiwan was confirmed to be infected Tuesday, raising the total number of COVID-19 cases to 31 on the island, according to the island's epidemic monitoring agency.

The new patient is the grandson of the elderly man who was confirmed to be infected with the virus on Sunday, the agency said in a press release.

The patient had visited his grandfather in the hospital on Feb. 11 and Feb. 19 and took the infection test for being in close contact, though he has shown no symptoms of the illness, the statement said.

It raised the number of family members infected to five in this familial cluster of infection. The other three were the elderly man's wife and two sons.

Authorities are still investigating the infection source of this case. A total of 580 people were identified to have had close contacts with the five people, 122 of whom have been cleared.

As of Monday, the island had 24 suspected cases under quarantine, according to the agency. Five of the confirmed cases recovered while one died.
Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg has been accused of plagiarising Barack Obama in several campaign speeches.

In a compilation video featuring side-by-side comparisons of the two men's speeches, Mr Buttigieg is shown using almost the exact same words as Mr Obama on multiple occasions.

The embarrassing video, assembled by Brennan Murphy at video agency The Recount, comes as Mr Buttigieg faces mockery for a tweet in which he seemed to borrow from one of the speeches in question.

Describing how the audience at a campaign event used their phone screens when the room hit by a power cut, Mr Buttigieg tweeted: If we can light up a high school gym  we can light a neighborhood.

If we can light up a neighborhood  we can light a city.

If we can light up a city  we can light up our country.

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

Right-wing Twitter users were quick to point out the similarity with a tweet Mr Obama sent out on the eve of the 2012 election.

One voice can change a room, read Mr Obamas tweet. And if it can change a room, it can change a city. And if it can change a city, it can change a state.

View host Meghan McCain, daughter of Mr Obamas onetime rival John McCain, tweeted Oh COME ON! I know Pete thinks hes the next Obama but this is ridiculous.

The Daily Callers Logan Hall added to the ridicule: tfw you copy your friends homework and make a few slight changes so it wont look too obvious. Another conservative site, the Daily Wire, accused Mr Buttigieg of cribbing.

However, some on the left also took note of the tweet: Obama campaign veteran and speechwriter Jon Lovett responded with a simple oh man.

And the video comparison of Mr Buttigieg and Mr Obama was tweeted out by Sawyer Hackett, who served as communications director for Julian Castro  another Democratic candidate who's now dropped out.

Mr Buttigieg has also been derided for tweeting a picture of himself walking down a hallway which many users said looked staged and uncomfortable.

The former South Bend mayor is currently hoping to perform well in upcoming primaries to restart the momentum he gained from strong performances in Iowa and New Hampshire.

While he retains a strong following and has received plenty of positive media coverage, Mr Buttigieg is performing weakly in national polls, and came third in the Nevada caucuses.
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The global polymer market for waste management size is expected to reach USD 5.07 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is estimated to expand at a decent CAGR of 4.0% over the forecast period. Several characteristics of polymer resins, including good welding strength, chemical resistance, and excellent low-temperature performance, in waste management processes are expected to drive the industry. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is one of the key raw materials used for manufacturing plastic-based flexible packaging materials.

The demand of polyvinyl chloride is highly dependent on the construction industry, as about 60 to 70% of the global demand is for pipe, siding, fitting, fencing, windows, and other applications. Increasing product demand from other end-use industries may result in tight raw material supply, hampering market growth. Polypropylene and polyethylene are thermoplastic polymers used in a variety of applications. Growth in the manufacturing and construction industry has been driving the polypropylene market over the past few years; however, its overproduction has led to a decrease in prices.

Rapidly expanding construction sector in India and China, on account of the presence of favorable regulatory support to improve the infrastructure at a domestic level, is expected to boost the utilization of geomembranes. This, in turn, is likely to augment the demand for polymers for waste management in this sector. Asia Pacific is expected to witness a rise in construction spending over the forecast period on account of rapid urbanization coupled with burgeoning population. Thus, growing construction sector, particularly in China and India, as a result of increasing disposable income and rising government spending on large infrastructural projects will support the market development.

Access Research Report of Polymer Market for Waste Management @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/polymer-market-for-waste-management

Further key findings from the study suggest:

In terms of revenue, Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) is projected to ascend at a CAGR of 5.8% over the forecast period

Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE) is projected to exhibit a significant growth during the forecast years

Asia Pacific led the global polymer market for waste management in 2017 and is projected to continue the trend over the next few years

Growing awareness about the usage of engineering polymers in the construction industry is likely to open new growth opportunities for the regional market

Some of the prominent companies in the global market are ExxonMobil Corporation, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, BASF SE, LyondellBasell Industries N.V., and Formosa Plastics Corporation, U.S.A.

Most of these industry participants are undertaking various initiatives, such as investments for capacity expansion, to maintain the market position

Grand View Research has segmented the global polymer market for waste management on the basis of product and region:

Polymer for Waste Management Product Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

EVOH

HDPE

LDPE

EPDM

PVC

Others

Polymer for Waste Management Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

North America US.

Europe UK. Germany France

Asia Pacific China India

Central & South America Brazil

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.
Disney fans can soon embark on a whole new world of cruise adventures.

On Monday, Disney Cruise Line announced that summer 2021 will see the return of one of its most popular ports of call, Greece, as well as an opportunity for vacationers to test the waters of several new global destinations including Sweden and  attention Frozen fans!  Norway.

Bookings for the new itineraries will open to the public on Friday.

The first of the new trip packages, set sail around the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas making stops in the Greek Isles (with stops in Santorini and Mykonos), Spain and along the French Riviera between May and July of 2021. One trip stops at the city of Dubrovnik, Croatia, a medieval location known as the Pearl of the Adriatic, which may also appeal to grown-up sailors as the setting of Kings Landing from Game of Thrones.

Later in July and through September 2021, guests can marvel at the British Isles, northern Europe, the Baltic Sea, Iceland and Norways famous fjords.

Select Disney cruises will stop for the first time in the medieval city of Visby, Sweden, and the village of Eidfjord, Norway. Its located at the foot of Hardangervidda, the countrys largest national park and home to many natural wonders  though talking snowmen and troll sightings are not guaranteed.

RELATED: Cinderellas Castle at Disney World Is Getting a Bold New Look  See the Concept Art

Matt Stroshane

Back across the Atlantic, Disney announced Alaskan trips departing from Vancouver, Canada, will offer vacationers the chance to observe the northern locations natural wonders, ranging from glaciers to wildlife.

And for those looking for more tropical surroundings, the cruise line will also head to sunny hotspots in the Caribbean and Bahamas, with trips ranging from three to nine nights. These itineraries hit up picturesque beaches, and most also stop at Disneys very own private island, Castaway Cay.

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Matt Stroshane

RELATED: We Tried It: I Went on a Disney Cruise Without Any Kids  and It Was Magical!

In August, Disney Cruise Line unveiled plans for its highly anticipated fifth ship, which will be named the Disney Wish. As with all the Disney Cruise Line ships that came before it, the Disney Wish will have an iconic character gracing its stern, reflecting the theme of the vessel.

For the Wish, that character is Tangleds Rapunzel.

Scheduled to make its maiden voyage in January 2022, the Disney Wish will feature approximately 1,250 guest staterooms. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the new ship is the destination it will be cruising to  a location called Lighthouse Point on the island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 11:36:45|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)

While the outbreak has indeed exposed some weak links in the ability to deal with major public health emergencies, it has also offered the country a valuable chance to patch up them.

by Xinhua writer Jiang Li

BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The year 2020 is bound to be monumental for China as it strives to hit a historic landmark in the country's long-running story of progress. The sudden strike of the novel coronavirus epidemic only makes the endeavor more epic.

To win this two-front battle, combating the outbreak and bolstering economic and social development, is no doubt difficult, but victory is predetermined. And Chinese President Xi Jinping has made an important speech at a meeting in Beijing on Sunday to showcase China's confidence in winning.

That confidence originates from the unique strengths in China's governance system, revealed in the country's resolute response to contain the outbreak and ensure its development engine is back up and roaring.

The governance system, under the top leadership in Beijing, is able to oversee the big picture and marshal the necessary strength to achieve the country's targeted goals.

Medical personnel from Chongqing communicate the treatments with local doctors at the First People's Hospital of Xiaochang County in Xiaogan City, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 21, 2020. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

The system has demonstrated its efficiency in the country's previous battles against natural disasters like earthquakes and floods. The current battle against this deadly disease adds further proof of the system's viability.

Over the past few weeks, the entire country has been mobilized. Tens of thousands of doctors and nurses nationwide have been sent to China's Hubei Province, the epicenter of the outbreak. Face masks, protective suits and other badly needed medical resources have been handed to those fighting on the frontlines. Hospitals have been built from scratch.

Clearly, these measures have proven effective. The number of newly confirmed cases in China has dropped and more patients have been cured. China's decisiveness has also provided a golden window of opportunity for countries around the world to prevent a global epidemic.

One other feature of this system is its flexibility, allowing local authorities, notably those at the grassroots, to improvise according to their different needs, thereby ensuring substantial results.

Flexibility allows local authorities across the country to take effective measures to stem the spread of the disease, keep all communities and markets sanitized, and guarantee people's safe access to fresh groceries and other daily necessities.

Workers walk through a disinfection channel of a shoemaking factory in Xiangtang Town of Nanchang County, east China's Jiangxi Province, Feb. 22, 2020. Many companies here that rely on exports have resumed production. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi)

More importantly, China is such an expansive and diverse country that its policies need to accommodate a variety of needs. China's leaders in Beijing understand this quite well.

To ensure that China can achieve this year's economic and development goals -- elimination of extreme poverty and the completion of the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects -- Beijing has called for a return to work and resumption of industrial production and manufacturing on a situational basis.

For example, regions with relatively low epidemic risks could see the public return to work sooner rather than later; medium-risk cities and provinces could resume economic activities in an orderly manner; and high-risk areas should continue to be fully committed to epidemic prevention and control.

A woman uses a self-service terminal at a tax service center in Panyu District of Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Huang Guobao)

The central government has also swiftly rolled out a series of targeted interim policies such as cutting taxes and fees to help micro, small and medium-sized firms tide over difficulties, ensuring a stable job market, and boosting consumption.

While the outbreak has indeed exposed some weak links in the ability to deal with major public health emergencies, it has also offered the country a valuable chance to patch up them.

The good seaman is known in bad weather, a Western saying goes. The epidemic has so far shown that China's governance system remains resilient and productive enough to navigate the country through these uncharted waters.

The Chinese nation has in recent history faced down all kinds of hardships. By working more closely with the international community and continuing to nurture economic and social development, the country and its people will come out of this formidable test even stronger. 
Whether theyre hiding them in suitcases, stuffing them into socks or (poorly) disguising them as candy, wildlife traffickers have concocted many schemes to smuggle thousands of turtles out of the United States each year.This illegal trade is fueled by a rabid demand for these reptiles, mostly in Asia, where they are used as pets, food or in traditional medicine. In combination with habitat loss and degradation, illegal trade in turtles has led to the imperilment of more than 60 percent of the worlds 356 turtle species  the highest percentage of any class of vertebrate.Southeast Asia is widely considered by biologists as one of the worlds richest regions for turtle diversity, but many of its lakes, streams and wetlands have been depleted by turtle harvesters.With their native species disappearing, Asian importers have turned to wildlife traffickers in the United States to satisfy demand.When the turtles were used to seeing are literally being taken from their homes, its heartbreaking, says Dave Collins, the Tennessee Aquariums director of forests and animal behavior. When you see pictures of a pen with 200 to 400 Box Turtles all piled on top of one another waiting to be shipped into the trade, its devastating.The Eastern United States comprises another turtle hotspot. Whether its Bog Turtles in North Carolina or Wood Turtles in upstate New York, trafficking is having a dramatic impact on turtle populations all over the country, Mr. Collins explains.Its a serious issue for us, he says. This is a problem that is far too big for one place to solve.Fortunately, the war of attrition to save turtles is about to get a big boost from a sprawling collaborative partnership between dozens of zoos, aquariums, universities, government agencies and conservation non-profits.The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) recently approved the formation of a Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program specifically focused on protecting native turtles. Mr. Collins will serve as program leader and coordinator for the newly formed program.Through the new AZA SAFE American Turtles program, animal care specialists are joining forces with state wildlife agencies, academics, non-government organizations and law enforcement to tackle turtle trade on a level no one organization could manage on its own, Mr. Collins says.I saw that there was a need for a closer working relationship and more cooperation and the ability to share resources, he says. Through this program we can do much more with the resources we have, with very few extra resources required.The Association of Zoos and Aquariums founded the SAFE initiative in 2015 to focus the expertise, resources and audience of its member institutions toward efforts to protect and recover species in need. SAFE American Turtles is the 26th of these programs, which also comprise efforts to protect imperiled animals such as Gorillas, Jaguars, African Penguins and Whooping Cranes, among others.SAFE is AZAs signature conservation program, which allows all members to do more conservation better while harnessing the collective power of our visitors to take action, says Dan Ashe, President and CEO of AZA. For example, resources developed by the SAFE American Turtles team will be utilized by all AZA members, which multiply the impact we can have educating the public of the threats facing turtles.Moving forward, zoos and aquariums will be able to communicate with each other more effectively to ensure confiscated turtles are housed and cared for, freeing up law enforcement agencies to concentrate on apprehending traffickers.Most people are unaware of the rampant problem of turtle trafficking, which has driven some species to the brink of extinction, Mr. Ashe says. Turtle trafficking is a critical issue that compounds other threats they face, such as habitat loss and pollution. Educating people about these threats, and how to be smart consumers, will benefit turtles and the habitats on which they rely.At launch, the SAFE American Turtles program will focus on protecting the Wood Turtle, Bog Turtle, Blandings Turtle and Spotted Turtle. These native species are either federally threatened or under review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for future listing.The SAFE programs fifth focus is on terrapenes (also known as Box Turtles). This group of species wasnt chosen because of their imperilment but rather to serve as ambassadors for the program.Most people will never see these rarer turtles in the SAFE program, Mr. Collins says. Terrapenes, like the Eastern Box Turtle, are the turtles that are probably most frequently seen crossing the road and that people stop to help. It really becomes the face of the program because theyre so familiar.Despite its initial focus on a handful of species, the SAFE American Turtles program will offer rapid-response to provide care and housing for all confiscated turtles, regardless of species. Once in human care, SAFE partners will explore avenues for entering confiscated turtles into conservation programs or reintroducing them to the wild whenever appropriate, Mr. Collins says. When agencies need to confiscate or seize wildlife, they should be free to do that and not be worried about taking care of turtles in the back room.As a group, turtles tend to be slow to reach sexual maturity, meaning the impact of trafficker on a wild population can result in a ripple effect on a wild population that could last for generations. That makes it even more important to stop traders before they can affect those populations, says Julie Slacum, the division chief of strategic resource conservation at U.S. Fish and Wildlifes Chesapeake Bay Field Office.Being able to hand confiscated turtles over to expert care providers through the SAFE program should allow wildlife agencies to focus on being proactive, Ms. Slacum says.This will result in the best conservation outcome for these turtles, whether it be released into the wild, captive breeding for assurance colonies or for use for education or outreach, she says. If we can intercept more turtles and prosecute more traffickers, we are hopeful that we will see a decline in illegal trade.In addition to assisting law enforcement, the SAFE American Turtle program will also encompass a range of other projects, from monitoring patterns in domestic and international turtle trade to locating the wild origin of confiscated turtles through genetic analyses.The initial SAFE partners include more than a dozen AZA-accredited facilities, including: Akron Zoo (Akron, Ohio) Bronx Zoo (New York City) Chicago Zoological Society / Brookfield Zoo (Chicago) Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (Cleveland, Ohio) Maryland Zoo (Baltimore) Potter Park Zoological Gardens (Lansing, Michigan) Roger Williams Park Zoo (Providence, Rhode Island) Tennessee Aquarium (Chattanooga, Tennessee) Toledo Zoo (Toledo, Ohio) Turtle Conservancy (Ojai, California) Turtle Survival Alliance (Charleston, South Carolina) Zoo Knoxville (Knoxville, Tennessee) Zoo New England (Boston)The SAFE program also encompasses more than 30 field partners, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Turtle Survival Alliance, World Wildlife Fund as well as nature centers, universities and state wildlife agencies as far afield as Arizona, Florida, Montana, Rhode Island and Washington.Together, several of these institutions curate data on over 336 species of turtles  including nutritional needs, when they mature, their reproduction, what diseases they may be vulnerable to (and how to treat them), and what environments best suit them. All of this information is shared via the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS), a global cloud service used by wildlife institutions in 99 countries to increase what we know about species worldwide.Reversing declining turtle populations  whether due to trafficking, habitat loss or some other imperilment  represents a tremendous challenge. Nevertheless, Mr. Collins says he is encouraged by the enthusiastic response to a program tailor-made to addressing it collaboratively.Im very optimistic because there are so many interested partners and even more partners who havent even been brought into the picture yet, he says.Mr. Collins has had a lifelong fascination with turtles. In addition to overseeing the Tennessee Aquariums collection of freshwater turtles, he has privately studied and documented a population of Wood Turtles in upstate New York for more than 45 years.For years, hes watched the increase in North American turtle trafficking and seen Asian markets filled with turtles first hand. After such a long period of dour decline, Mr. Collins says hes excited at the prospect of working with so many others to save the animals to which he has devoted so much of his life.The long-term well-being of turtles is really important to me, he says. The idea that so many people can work together toward a common cause of making sure turtles are safe is very exciting.For more information about the AZA SAFE American Turtle program, visit aza.org/safe-species#americanturtle
Lesotho's prime minister appeared in court Monday but the murder case against him failed to proceed as the magistrate referred the matter to the Constitutional Court to decide whether a sitting prime minister can be charged with any crime.

Prime Minister Thomas Thabane's legal team argued against him being charged.

The 80-year-old leader is accused of murder in the 2017 killing of his estranged wife, Lipolelo. His current wife, Maesaiah, already has been charged after briefly fleeing to neighboring South Africa. Last week the prime minister himself left for South Africa for what his lawyer called medical reasons, missing a court appearance.

Monday was Thabane's first public appearance since then, and it came as a surprise to many in the southern African kingdom.

His legal team argued that the defense team's application for referral to the Constitutional Court was premature because Thabane has not yet been charged. The defense said the prime minister's mere appearance in court was enough of a reason.

I must admit from the outset that this is indeed a novel case in our country whose determination we eagerly await,'' Magistrate Phetise Motanyane said.

It was not immediate clear when the Constitutional Court will hear the matter.

If the court decides that a sitting prime minister cannot be charged, the prosecution will have to wait at least until July 31, the date when Thabane has said he will retire. He has been under pressure from his ruling party to step down.

Thabane's current wife is out on bail. The couple sat together Monday in the gallery during arguments.
President Donald Trump says he wants America to win the race to the fast new wireless future. He took it seriously enough to sign a presidential memorandum setting a deadline of July 2019 for a new national strategy on allocating the airwaves. That deadline came and went with no strategy in sight.

In September, a Commerce Department undersecretary promised that the strategy was still on the way, telling a gathering of government officials that it would be released in the fall. A Commerce official assured POLITICO that the department did indeed deliver a draft to the White House. As of this writing, no strategy has been released.

In the void, Trump administration officials have been lobbying their own ideas for how America can win the race to build superfast 5G service  seemingly with no coordination at all. Economic adviser Larry Kudlow talked up a new virtualized network to counter Chinese hardware dominance. Attorney General William Barr suggested that instead the U.S. should buy a controlling stake in one of Huaweis European competitors. The idea was unprecedented  and apparently unsupported: A day later, Vice President Mike Pence seemed to walk it back.

Democrats in Congress havent missed the chance to pounce on the White Houses disarray on such a fundamental new technology. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, the top Democrat on the Commerce Committees telecommunications subcommittee, called the White Houses 5G planning haphazard in the extreme.

Its not just the White House, though: If the strategy is ever finalized, Washington is poised for even more confusion, and the reason dates back long before Trump. As China pushes aggressively ahead, with its leading firm, Huawei, a clear national favorite with strong support from the central party, American wireless-communications policy is overseen by an astonishing tangle of agenciesincluding the Federal Communications Commission, Department of Commerce, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. All have overlapping interests and bureaucratic turf to protect. And most notably, the agency most closely charged with overseeing 5Gthe National Telecommunications and Information Administrationhasnt had a leader for months, with no director even nominated.

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Washington already has a long to-do list where 5G is concerned. Telecom companies are craving more space on the nations airwaves to help build a new and faster network; its promised speeds, up to 100 times faster than what consumers currently get, are possible only with swaths of new bandwidth that government agencies need to free up. They also require FCC and Commerce Department consensus on the standards for how theyre allowed to use 5G airwaves, which has spurred fighting over possible interference with weather forecasting.

Much of that is regulated by the Commerce Department, which has had very high turnover. Nowhere is the problem more acute than the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, an agency created inside the Commerce Department in 1978 to take the lead on allocating wireless airwaves for government use. Along with the Federal Communications Commission, it determines which public and private entities have the right to use which parts of the wireless spectrum.

Last May, the agencys chief abruptly resigned after a year and a half on the job, and his acting successor resigned after just a few months. The administration has never announced plans to nominate a permanent leader in the nine months since. With less than a year left before the November presidential election, its likely the agency will stay headless indefinitely, subject to leadership from officials on an acting basis. And even then, the latest acting chief left in December.

One rumored source of conflict has long been Earl Comstock, a high-ranking deputy to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross who has tried to assert control over the agency. Rep. Greg Walden of Oregon, the top Republican on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, told POLITICO last year he would discourage any candidate from taking the NTIA administrator role due to concerns about department officials intruding on the agencys turf. Id want to know who is really running the show, said Walden, who formerly employed the last NTIA leader as chief counsel on the panel. Its a question of, are you the NTIA? Or is somebody else running the show?

The instability has spelled trouble for the Commerce Departments relationship with the FCC, which unlike the NTIA is an independent agency. Although NTIA manages government-held airwaves and the FCC commercial spectrum, the two frequently have to collaborate to help develop U.S. policy on 5G standards.

Despite the turmoil, there have been some baby steps. Commerce Department and FCC officials seemed to settle some differences in August over 5G standards to safeguard weather forecasting ahead of a global telecom conference.

But doubts still run high on Capitol Hill among some Democrats and Republicans over the terms of the deal and whether administration officials are on the same page. In the past year, the FCC alone has gotten into airwave spats with the departments of Education, Energy, Commerce and Transportation, typically over what airwaves the FCC can free up for the commercial wireless titans it regulates. The Commerce Departments NTIA is supposed to be the agency managing these disputes, but some agencies have bypassed it entirely to take grievances directly to the FCC.

Over the week of Christmas, Trump did make a move to impose some leadership in global 5G policy, assigning 5G coordination duties to Robert Blair, a White House staffer serving as top security adviser to acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney. That made waves for other reasons: Blair had recently defied an impeachment subpoena from the House of Representatives to testify about his role in halting military aid to Ukraine.

Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, told POLITICO that despite having heard favorable comments that [Blair] is a competent guy, he finds the choice surprising. The stakes are high, and U.S. dominance in 5G is necessary to counter the rising threat of China and its titanic firms such as Huawei. Trump has been lobbying allied countries to spurn using Huawei equipment in their 5G networks.







Why would you put somebody thats in the middle of not [just] one controversy into this position? Warner asked. If the West cant offer an alternative, and every month that we dont have a plan, these are decisions countries are going to make.

When it comes to 5G, concern over the chaos has become one of the rare points of bipartisan agreement in Congress. In December, Republicans and Democrats on the House Science Committee asked the Government Accountability Office to step in and disentangle the contradictory statements from the FCC, NOAA, and NASA on 5G airwave safeguards. The lawmakers wrote about apparent lack of coordination among the various agencies on 5G.

Then in January, Walden, the Oregon Republican, joined with House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) to ask the GAO to probe these same issues and others, including agencies sidestepping their traditional deference to Commerce Department processes on wireless spectrum fights.

At a time when the United States is under significant pressure to develop new 5G technology and roll it out on wireless spectrum, Walden and Pallone found inefficient management and chaotic processes.



President Trump speaks on the deployment of 5G technology in the United States during an event at the White House last April.

Last year, they concluded, it was clear that the federal spectrum management process broke down.

Despite these anxieties, the Trump administration has maintained the U.S. is barreling ahead on 5G deployment and has stability, such as the same FCC chair for the duration of Trumps first term, administration conveners like Larry Kudlow and a Senate-confirmed chief technology officer, who has repeatedly pointed to 5G supremacy as an administration technology goal.

Trump, in his budget proposal for the coming fiscal year released this February, even proposed boosting funding for NTIA by tens of millions of dollars, an increase of roughly 80 percent and largely aimed at 5G. And the president himself is projecting optimism despite the concerns of Democrats, the industry and even his own party.

Spectrum, were opening it up, Trump said in January at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Were in very good shape. I think were far advanced, much further than people understand. We got off to a very late start before I got here. But once I got here, weve really caught up.
We are well into the new year and a whole host of new and refurbished venues have sprung up across London's theatrical scene. The Turbine Theatre  as part of the Battersea Power Station redevelopment  is now six months ; the previously named Queen's Theatre has been refurbished and rebranded as the Sondheim Theatre; the multidisciplinary Riverside Studios is currently programming in its studio space and will open the main theatre later this spring, and the now-open Boulevard Theatre in Soho sits on the site of the original building and features a fully revolving auditorium.

So what about all those new theatres planned for the capital and beyond over the next few years? Below we round up some of the most exciting projects in the offing:





Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Theatre Royal Drury Lane

 Andrew DuPont

The West End venue is currently being refurbished ahead of its autumn reopening, when Frozen will run with Samantha Barks in the leading role. The theatre's front of house (currently an 1812 Greek Revival design by Benjamin Wyatt), stage facilities and dressing rooms will be reconstructed and the complex itself will become part of a destination venue known collectively as "The Lane", with new bars and a restaurant that will be open to the public all day.

Why is it exciting?The 60 million restoration project will also reconfigure the auditorium so that it can play in the round as well as the traditional proscenium format.





Bolton Octagon

The Octagon Theatre, Bolton



The swish venue has had a multi-million pound revamp, with a new studio space being added to what is already a beloved space in the heart of Bolton. The versatile 300-400 seater space has long been responsible for some stellar productions (none least the ongoing Shirley Valentine starring Mina Anwar, and long may this continue.

Why is it exciting?: The venue is about to unveil a brand new season, and we're very excited to see what's in store!





The Royal Docks Theatre

A mock-up of the Royal Docks Theatre



Planning permission was recently announced for this new venue, which will be built specifically to house the musical Soldier of Orange, which has been seen by over three million people in Holland.

The 1,150-seater Royal Docks Theatre will now be built adjacent to the Royal Docks in east London, and has planning permission to exist for five years. It's predicted to open as soon as autumn 2020!

Why is it exciting? A key aspect of the new venue is the "360-degree SceneAround staging", with the full seating roster rotating as the musical continues to reveal a 150-foot-wide coastline with sea, sand and rainstorms, student dorms, interrogation cells, a palace and a real DC3 Dakota Airplane.





A new cultural hub with Reading Rep Theatre

Architect's impression of Reading Rep Theatre



Eight years ago, the Reading Rep was founded with a 1,000 gift  it has since created 20 productions from a 60-seat studio space in Reading College. Now, it is expanding into a larger, more permanent home after playing to 100% capacity audiences over the last 12 months. The new theatre, on the site of a former Salvation Army building, will contain a 158-space auditorium and front of house facilities. The company is about to break ground and is aiming to move in to the new space in September this year.

Why is it exciting? The new venue will allow the company to produce and present theatre to more children, young people and vulnerable adults in the local community  in 2018, they reached over 15,000 individuals.





The King's Head Theatre in Islington Square

Architect's impression of King's Head Theatre in Islington Square



It's not moving far  right behind the current pub in fact  but the King's Head Theatre is having a big upgrade! London's oldest pub theatre is planning on celebrating its 50th year by relocating, from its 110-seater black box location in the back room of the King's Head Pub to the multi-million-pound new development in Islington Square.

Why is it exciting? The new venue will boast an 85-seater studio and a 250-seat auditorium, securing the future of a fringe theatre institution for many more years to come.





Southwark Playhouse returns to London Bridge

Architect's impression of new Southwark Playhouse venue at Elephant and Castle

 Safavi PR

25 years after it was first founded and Southwark Playhouse is just a few steps away from a permanent, secure home. First underneath the old London Bridge and now in Newington Causeway, the venue is looking to move to two new permanent spaces  a flagship location in Elephant and Castle, and back into the old London Bridge Station arches as part of the new redevelopment. Fingers cross they make the leap by the end of 2020 as planned!

Why is it exciting? The split will generate three new performance spaces  a 200-seat and a 150-seat space in London Bridge for nurturing new and emerging work, and a 300-seat flexible space dedicated to main house shows in Elephant and Castle.





Ovalhouse travels down the road to Brixton

A mock-up of the new Ovalhouse venue in Brixton



It closed its doors on the site just opposite The Oval at the end of 2019  after a Demolition Party Season that allowed artists to dismantle parts of the building as part of their creative process  and is now moving down the road to a brand-new, purpose-built theatre in Brixton in 2021. Ovalhouse continues its legacy of over 80 years as a community venue and 55 years as a professional theatre.

Why is it exciting? The new venue will have two performance spaces, seven rehearsal studios and supporting facilities to help give Ovalhouse a sustainable future as a major south London programming venue.





Greenwich Festival Theatre on the site of a former Grade II-listed art deco building

Proposed design for Greenwich Festival Theatre

 Gravity Design

The new venue was announced last summer by theatre producers Selladoor Worldwide (Bring It On) and is scheduled to open in spring 2021. The building will occupy the site of the former Borough Halls, a Grade II-listed art deco building, constructed in 1939. It will boast two performances spaces  a 650-seat main stage and a 240-seat studio space  as well as a brasserie bar and rooftop terrace open to the public.

Why is it exciting? The south east London venue will be used by Selladoor Worldwide as a programming and producing venue, with an artistic leadership and development team who will create and launch new work with an eye for touring and transferring to other venues across the globe.





Bridge Theatre co-founders bring second venue to King's Cross

A CGI rendering of the new theatre in King's Cross

 AHMM

After the success of their current venture just a stone's throw from Tower Bridge, Nicholas Hytner and Nick Starr  who together ran the National Theatre for 12 years  are planning a second venue in Facebook's new offices in 2021. The Bridge Theatre opened in 2017 and has played host to such stars as Maggie Smith, Laura Linney, Ben Whishaw and Zoe Wanamaker  it's currently home to Roger Allam and Colin Morgan in A Number. The new, as yet unnamed venue, is marked to open in winter 2021, a 600-seat adaptable auditorium situated on Lewis Cubitt Square, adjacent to London's Coal Drops Yard.

Why is it exciting? The new theatre will be designed by the award-winning Haworth Tompkins in collaboration with TAIT. The architects have been behind the creation of some of the country's most iconic arts centres, including Battersea Arts Centre, the Young Vic and the current Bridge Theatre.





The Nimax Theatre on the site of the old Astoria

Architect's rendering of the proposed plans near Tottenham Court Road



With plans for this new, in-the-round theatre  on the site of the old Astoria building, which was demolished to make way for the new Tottenham Court Road Crossrail station  announced, it will be the first of its kind in the West End. The venue is due to open in November 2021, with a 600-seat capacity and development costs of 25 million.

Why is it exciting? It will be the first West End theatre to open since the Gillian Lynne Theatre, known as the New London Theatre when it was launched 50 years ago.





The Curtain Theatre

Artist's impression of the new area surrounding The Curtain Theatre



When working on a new development in Shoreditch, builders discovered remains of Shakespeare's Curtain Theatre. Alongside apartments, offices and retail outlets, the area, called The Stage, will also be home to a new tourist attraction featuring the preserved remains of the theatre, a purpose-built visitors centre and sunken amphitheatre  presumably where visitors will be able to watch Shakespearean performances, although details are scarce.

Why is it exciting? It's in line to become Hackney's first scheduled ancient monument, so that's something. And anything new when it comes to Shakespeare is pretty darn exciting.





Sadler's Wells at the Olympic Park

Computer generated image of the new Sadler's Wells venue

 Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

In 2013, Islington Dance mecca Sadler's Wells announced their search for a new 500-seat venue to stage contemporary dance pieces more suited to a smaller venue than its main theatre. From plans released at the end of last year, it looks like they have settled on a new development, named Olympicopolis, at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. If it goes ahead, its new neighbours will include the V&A and London College of Fashion.

Why is it exciting? A juggernaut of dance like Sadler's Wells investing in a new venue specifically for smaller-scale contemporary dance will inevitably mean better opportunities for upcoming dance professionals.





Shakespeare North

An artist's impression of Shakespeare North



OK, this is not in London, but it's very exciting. For too long fans of the Bard in the north have had to travel down to Stratford-upon-Avon or London for a dedicated Shakespeare venue. Until now. The Shakespeare North Playhouse, a new theatre and education hub in Knowsley, Merseyside, has been granted planning permission.

Building work has commenced on the 19 million building which will house a 350-seat theatre built to designs drawn by Inigo Jones in 1629. It will be the only replica in the world of Jones' indoor Jacobean Court Theatre.

Why is it exciting? Need you ask? The Jones connection, a beautiful new playhouse for the north west, continued investment in the preservation and promotion of Shakespeare's work...
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 14:26:01|Editor: ZD

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SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A group of Bay Area activists rallied outside the British Consulate General here on Monday to demand the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange from a British prison.

Chanting slogans of "Free Julian Assange!" and "Free journalist whistle blowers!" the protesters said they did not want to remain silent on the issue, accusing the U.S. government of "attacking" the freedom of speech.

Marilyn Langlois, a community activist in San Francisco who used to work for the local government, said she believed Assange had committed no crime and was being held unjustly and tortured in Britain.

"He has simply published the information that was given to him, information that had evidence of U.S. war crimes 10 years ago, and the American public needs to know about those war crimes that should be prosecuted," she told Xinhua.

Langlois said she hoped the U.S. government would not extradite Assange to stand trial in the United States.

"If we as a nation stand opposed to the concept of war crimes in other countries, we must be opposed to war crimes committed by ourselves," she said.

The U.S. government reportedly formally requested Assange's extradition last June to face charges in the United States, as the U.S. Department of Justice accused him of helping former intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning hack into computers of the U.S. Defense Department.

Having been in exile for years to escape the U.S. government's prosecution, Assange was arrested last April after being forcibly removed from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he had been living since 2012.

The protesters in San Francisco demanded a serious investigation of allegations and evidence of war crimes committed by the U.S. government.

Jax Domnitz, who claimed to be an active member of American Civil Liberties Union, Northern California, said the freedom of speech was attacked and eroded in the United States.

She rejected the U.S. accusation against Assange, asserting that all he did was to report the facts.

"He gave us information about the wars, and what's really kind of ironic is that most people don't even know in this country," she said, adding that people in America should wake up and have their voices heard.

The event's organizers said Monday's rally is part of a global protest in solidarity with supporters in other countries who have risen to speak for the WikiLeaks founder.
NINGHAI, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / February 25, 2020 / Risen Energy (Stock Code: 300118, SZ) announced that it reached an agreement with Shanghai Electric Group (referred to as Shanghai Electric) and will provide all modules for Phase I of Vietnam's Forte 50MW photovoltaic project. This project is the first cooperation between Risen Energy and Shanghai Electric, which signals another major breakthrough for Risen Energy in the Vietnamese photovoltaic market, after the company has won a number of major projects in Vietnam.

It is reported that the 50MW photovoltaic project of Forte Phase I is located in Ninh Thuan province, Vietnam, and is the first PV general contracting project undertaken by Shanghai Electric in Vietnam. It is also a solid step forward for Risen Energy, in terms of the Chinese national "Belt and Road" initiative. The project will utilise 72 pieces of Risen Energy's 335W highly efficient polycrystalline modules. The project construction started in November 2019, and is expected to be completed in June or July, 2020. By then, it will effectively improve the local energy structure and greatly satisfy local power needs.

In order to ensure that the project is completed on time and to high standards, , Risen Energy's staff members have tried their best to alleviate the impact of current epidemic diseases and arranged production in a reasonable and orderly manner. The company is expected to deliver all the products this March. In view of this, Shanghai Electric highly applauded the professional level, courage, and enthusiasm of Risen Energy's staff members' response to the current epidemic. .

Xie Jian, President of Risen Energy commented, "Great thanks for Shanghai Electric's recognition of Risen Energy's high-quality component products and professional services. During the cooperation of this project, we have always maintained close communication with each other. In the future, I hope that we can achieve more opportunities for cooperation with Shanghai Electric. Furthermore, we will continue to promote efficient technological innovation and improve the service quality. We are looking forward to working with more partners to help transform and upgrade the global energy industry. "

About RISEN ENERGY CO., LTD

Risen Energy Co., Ltd. was founded in 1986 and listed as a Chinese public company (Stock Code: 300118) in 2010. Risen Energy is one of the pioneers in solar industry and has committed to this industry as a R&D expert, an integrated manufacturer from wafers to modules, a manufacturer of off-grid systems, and also an investor, a developer and an EPC of PV projects. Aiming to deliver the green energy worldwide, Risen Energy is developing internationally with offices and sales networks in China, Germany, Australia, Mexico, India, Japan, USA and others. After years of efforts, it has reached a module production capacity of 8.6GW. While growing rapidly, Risen Energy keeps a stable pace with an average debt ratio at around 50% from 2011 to 2018.

Media Contact:

RISEN ENERGY CO., LTD

Min Xiao

Minerva9@126.com

TEL: 0086-180 5745 9386

SOURCE: RISEN ENERGY CO., LTD

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/577742/Risen-Energy-provides-all-modules-for-Phase-I-of-Shanghai-Electrics-Forte-50MW-PV-Project-in-Vietnam
To complement software engineering capabilities in Guidewire for German and international insurers

Hexaware Technologies is collaborating with IKOR, the Hamburg-based technology consultancy to complement each other's software engineering capabilities in Guidewire for German and international insurers.

Hexaware Technologies GmbH and IKOR AG are partnering for the launch, further development and support of an international software platform for property insurance from Guidewire Software Inc.

The partners are also excited about the potential for joint activities beyond the German-speaking insurance industry. As a specialist for the technical integration of Guidewire and other systems, the partnership will in future, provide international teams for system connections via application interfaces (API) and provide a range of Guidewire-specific automated solutions, such as in testing and others.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India has worked really hard on religious freedom: Donald Trump

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 25: US President Donald Trump said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he wants people to have religious freedom. They have worked really hard on it.

I did hear about the individual attacks, but I did not discuss it. It is up to India, Trump also said at a presser. When asked about the citizenship law and the violence in Delhi, he said that the PM and he did speak about religious freedom. They have worked really hard on it, Trump also said.

Markets will jump thousands of points if I win: Trump tells India Inc

On the peace deal with the Taliban, he said that the issue was discussed with Modi. I think India would like to see it happen. We are pretty close. Everybody is happy about it, he also said.

Trump further said that he had a great time and great meetings. This is a tremendous country. I think they like us more than they ever liked us. There is a great relationship between the PM and myself, Trump also said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 17:54 [IST]
Dionne Batrice Grills (pictured), 34, fronted the Cairns Magistrates Court on Tuesday

The distressing triple-0 call made by the manager of a daycare centre moments after he found the lifeless body of a young boy who had allegedly been left on a minibus in 36C heat has been played in court.

Michael Glenn Lewis faced the Cairns Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with one count of manslaughter over the death of a three-year-old boy who was in his care on February 18.

After being picked up by Mr Lewis on the Edmonton Goodstart Early Learning Centre minibus, the boy was allegedly strapped into a baby seat just two seats away from the front door.

However when the bus arrived at the centre he was forgotten about.

Police allege the child remained trapped in his seat for six hours on the scorching north Queensland day.

Mr Lewis, 45, and daycare worker Dionne Batrice Grills, 34, were both charged by Queensland Police over the tragedy on Monday evening.

During his court appearance, a recording of the emergency call Mr Lewis, 45, made in the moments after finding the dead child was played - with the daycare manager telling the operator: 'I've left a child on the bus all day... my life is over'.

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Ms Grills (pictured) is charged with manslaughter over the tragic death of a three-year-old boy at Edmonton Goodstart Early Learning Centre on February 18

The grim discovery was made on Stokes Street, Edmonton, in Far North Queensland, at 3.15pm on Tuesday. Pictured: the scene where police are investigating

'Oh my God, this kid is dead,' Mr Lewis could be heard saying on the recording.

'Oh my God, I'm the director of the childcare centre... the child was left on the bus all day.

'I've just opened up the bus and he's here, dead... I'm so sorry buddy.

'I'm going to jail, this is all my fault. Oh my God. My whole life is over.'

The court also heard allegations that Mr Lewis and Ms Grills had 'fraudulently' signed in the young boy more than two hours before the bus arrived at the daycare centre.

Police allege that the boy had been signed in by Mr Lewis at 7.35am last Tuesday on the Goodstart Early Learning Centre's electronic sign-in system.

However, the boy was not collected from his home by the bus until 9.15am, and CCTV footage showed the bus did not arrive at the daycare site until 9.33am.

'But the defendant and co-accused failed to remove the boy from the bus,' Police Prosecutor Senior Sergeant Maynard Marcum told the court, The Courier Mail reports.

MICHAEL LEWIS' HORROR 000 CALL 'Oh my God, this kid is dead. 'Oh my God, I'm the director of the childcare centre... the child was left on the bus all day. 'I've just opened up the bus and he's here, dead... 'I'm so sorry buddy. 'I'm going to jail, this is all my fault. Oh my God. My whole life is over.' Advertisement

'In a short trip it was forgotten that the three-and-a-half year old deceased child was strapped into a seat in the bus.

'There wasn't even a cursory glance.'

Police will allege that Mr Lewis - who was granted bail by the Magistrates Court - was obtaining taxpayer-funded benefits as part of the 'fraudulent' sign-in process.

Earlier on Tuesday his colleague Ms Grills - who had worked at the daycare centre for less than a month - also faced court.

Police allege Ms Grills was on the bus with Mr Lewis for the morning run, before the centre manager made the grim discovery when he returned to the vehicle later that afternoon.

The shattered family (pictured) of the young boy was in Cairns Magistrates Court for the brief hearing

The boy was found in a bus outside Hambledon State School, just 1.7km from his daycare, Goodstart Early Learning, in Edmonton (pictured)

The court heard that Ms Grills had been employed at the daycare centre for less than a month when the incident occurred.

THE TRAGIC TIMELINE OF THE BOY'S DEATH: 7.35am: Edmonton Goodstart Early Learning Centre manager Michael Glenn Lewis 'fraudulently' checks in the boy on the electric sign-in system. 8.30am: The boy's mother calls to ask if he can be picked up, as he was not collected on the initial morning run. 9.15am: Lewis and his colleague Dionne Batrice Grills collect the boy from his home on the minibus. 9.33am: The bus pulls into the daycare carpark, but the boy - who is strapped into a baby seat, two seats away from the front door - never gets off, despite being clearly visible. **During the day the temperature rises to 36C in the Cairns area. 2.45pm: The bus leaves for the afternoon run, with the boy still in his seat. 3pm: Lewis makes a desperate call to Triple-0, telling the operator: 'Oh my God, this kid is dead' Advertisement

Ms Grills was granted strict conditional bail and is forbidden from contacting her ex- colleagues, her co-accused or the dead child's family, except through her lawyers.

She was ordered to return to court on March 18.

The shattered family of the young boy was in court for the brief hearing.

A relative told the ABC they were 'distraught' about what had happened and called the young victim a 'cheerful little boy'.

'We're all distraught at the moment. We just can't believe this has happened. We just want answers,' Thomas Namok said.

'The last few days have just been terrible but everyone [in the family] will continue to support each other.

'He was just a cheerful little boy  we would always laugh every time he's around. That's what I remember of him. It's going to be sad he's not going to be around anymore.'

Queensland Police detective acting inspector Jason Smith said he hoped to provide some 'answers' for the family.

Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the child's death

'Her position as an employee of Goodstart Early Learning puts an element of responsibility upon her, and that forms part of the circumstances before the court,' Det Act Insp Smith said.

'The family are suitably distressed and very upset about this, and hopefully now that the matter is before the court they will get the answers that they need.'

A spokesman for Goodstart Early Learning, which operated the bus, previously told Daily Mail Australia the company was 'devastated' to learn of the child's death.

'We are working to support the entire centre team, our families and our children,' the spokesman said.

'The matter is now a police investigation and we will be working with the police, Department of Education (childhood education and care), and Workplace health and Safety.

'Our thoughts are very much with the family of the child at this time.'

The centre was closed on the day after the tragedy, with an ominous sign in its car park reading 'do not leave babies and children in parked cars'.
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GREENFIELD  A 58-year-old woman was flown by helicopter to Albany Medical Center Hospital Monday after her German shepherd attacked her, the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies went to a home on South Greenfield Road at 3:19 p.m. to help a woman with severe injuries to her arms and legs.
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The global wheat germ oil for cosmetics market size is likely to reach USD 8.90 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is projected to register a CAGR of 4.6% during the forecast period. Increasing consumer disposable income coupled with the need to maintain a healthy lifestyle is expected to contribute to the demand for cosmetics made using essential oils, such as wheat germ oil. The plethora of application in skin and hair loss treatment, anti-aging massage, and aromatherapy are anticipated to fuel the demand for wheat germ oil.

Owing to easy availability, the demand for wheat is mainly driven by India, China, Australia, Russia, and Ukraine. Rising population and disposable income in the emerging economies of Asia and Africa are expected to have a positive impact on the wheat market. The increasing direct human consumption of wheat along with easy availability of feedstock is expected to play a crucial role in boosting the overall production of wheat. However, the availability of wheat to produce wheat germ oil is likely to decline over the forecast period with increasing global demand for food aligned with an escalating population.

Distribution channel is another significant factor contributing to the growth of the global wheat germ oil for cosmetics market. With the rising E-commerce industry, there is a huge potential for manufacturers to increase their profitability as the operating costs of online business lower than that of physical stores. The number of retailers has grown globally with the establishment of hypermarkets, supermarket, and drug stores, wherein, the increasing number of stores of major retailers has propelled sales in this market. Wide reach of these stores helps manufacturers to boost their customer base for cosmetics and personal care products thereby catering to the specific consumer requirements in the vicinity.

In terms of volume, Asia Pacific is projected to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period where China and India are among the leading market contributors. Significant growth of the regional cosmetics industry, driven primarily by countries such as India, China, Thailand, and South Korea, is anticipated to bode well for the global market. The region also accounts for a major portion of wheat germ oil production. Europe and North America are other major regions owing to their well-established and dynamic personal care industries. These industries are also responsible for the market growth in Central and South America and Middle East and Africa.

Access Research Report of Wheat Germ Oil for Cosmetics Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/wheat-germ-oil-cosmetics-market

Further key findings from the report suggest:

Central and South America is projected to witness a CAGR of 3.5% in terms of revenue over the forecast years, to reach a market size of USD 208.5 million by 2025

Asia Pacific is expected to observe remarkable CAGR of 5.8% in terms of revenue during the forecast period owing to easy availability of raw materials which facilitates considerable reduction in production costs and result in higher margins for manufacturers

The market is partially consolidated and competitive in nature, with the presence of numerous multinational players

Some of the key companies present in the wheat germ oil for cosmetics market are Connoils, Panhandle Milling, John Aromas, Now Foods, Provital Group, AG Industries and Henry Lamotte Oils Gmbh.

Grand View Research has segmented the global wheat germ oil for cosmetics market on the basis of region:

Wheat Germ Oil for Cosmetics Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

North America US.

Europe UK.

Asia Pacific China India

Central & South America Brazil

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.
A day after US President Donald Trump heaped praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 'Namaste Trump' event in Ahmedabad's Motera Stadium, BJP leader Rahul Sinha on Tuesday said that the country feels proud of the PM.

Speaking to ANI, Sinha said: "What the US President said is right. Thanks to our Prime Minister Modi, every Indian is feeling proud. Today, if there is any biggest leader in the world, the biggest crowd-puller, the biggest people's hero, then his name is Narendra Modi. It is a moment of pride for all Indians."

India has been raising voice against terrorism since the beginning, said Sinha.

While addressing a huge gathering at the 'Namaste Trump' event, Trump referred to PM Modi as his "true friend."

"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. The First Lady and I have traveled 8,000 miles around the globe to deliver a message to every citizen of this nation. America loves India, America respects India, and America will always be faithful and loyal friends to the Indian people," he said.

Thanking the people for their warm hospitality, President Trump stated, "You have done great honour to Melania, my family, we will always remember this remarkable hospitality, we will remember it forever.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 25

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Turkey's steel exports to Uzbekistan decreased in January 2020, Trend reports with reference to the Turkish Trade Ministry.

Turkey steel exports to Uzbekistan exceeded $3.2 million in January 2020, which is 38.72 percent less compared to January 2019.

Steel exports from Turkey to Uzbekistan decreased by 14.8 percent in 2019, compared to 2018, and exceeded $56.8 million.

Turkey's steel exports to world markets decreased by 4 percent in January 2020, compared to January 2019, and amounted to over $1.1 billion.

Steel exports accounted for 7.8 percent of Turkey's total exports in January 2020.

Turkey's steel exports exceeded $13.7 billion in the last 12 months (from January 2019 through January 2020), which occupies 7.6 percent of the country's total exports.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Twenty-six-year-old Joshua Edward Britton of Roblin is charged with manslaughter in connection with the Saturday death of a 35-year old man, RCMP stated Monday afternoon.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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Twenty-six-year-old Joshua Edward Britton of Roblin is charged with manslaughter in connection with the Saturday death of a 35-year old man, RCMP stated Monday afternoon.

Daniel (Boone) Paul succumbed to injuries in hospital after being found unresponsive.

SUBMITTED Daniel (Boone) Paul, 35, of Roblin, succumbed to serious injuries Saturday after being found unresponsive. RCMP announced Monday that 26-year-old Joshua Edward Britton is charged with manslaughter in connection with Paul's death.

Roblin is located approximately 235 kilometres northwest from Brandon.

RCMP stated it received the call about the unresponsive male at approximately 5:10 a.m. on Feb. 22. The male had serious injuries, RCMP said.

"The victim was transported to hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries," added RCMP.

Officers with Major Crime Services and Forensic Identification Services were on the scene and assisted with the investigation.

"It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Daniel "Boone" Paul of Roblin," wrote Sneath-Strilchuk Funeral Services on its website, where friends and family can leave tribute messages.

The funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 29 at 1 p.m. at the New Life Centre in San Clara.

Mother Pearl Paul requested to wait until police had more information before speaking about her sons life.

Britton has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in Dauphin Provincial Court Feb. 24.

The investigation is ongoing.

 mletourneau@brandonsun.com

 Michele LeTourneau covers indigenous matters for The Brandon Sun under the Local Journalism Initiative, a federally funded program that supports the creation of original civic journalism.
People wearing face masks walk past the "I.Seoul.U" sign near Seoul City Hall in central Seoul, Monday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



By Hakim Djaballah





The American politician Benjamin Franklin once said, "By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail," while the French scientist Louis Pasteur added, "In the fields of observation chance favors only the prepared mind."



Geographically, South Korea is in a vulnerable location to many global health threats from emerging viruses such as SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and now SARS-CoV2. Having experienced the global SARS threats in 2002, the country only registered three confirmed cases, with no deaths, over a period of almost one year.



Unscathed and believing that the traditional staple kimchi was responsible for the good fortune and outcome, the government fell short of initiating and investing in a thorough preparedness initiative with appropriate expertise, enhanced surveillance and application of the most effective control measures in case the country was threatened again with another viral attack.



During my tenure as the CEO of the Institute Pasteur Korea, my program called for two new major development areas requiring additional support from the government: training and preparedness for emerging threats, especially in view of the climate changes leading to the emergence and re-emergence of several pathogens.



I recall many discussions with government officials, especially at the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, with members of the National Assembly, the Governor of the Gyeonggi Province and his staff, and with members of the Gyeonggido Assembly seeking additional support to execute the strategy and bring on board international expertise to help with the mission.



What transpired was unprecedented. Instead of providing support and help to achieve the training and preparedness goals of our mission, the doors were shut with no additional support. There was a surprising reduction in the institute's budget approved by the National Assembly and no more funding could be expected from the provincial Gyeonggido Assembly.



These government officials and politicians did not view training and preparedness as critical to safeguard the country's national security and to protect the thriving economy; they must have felt that financial support should go elsewhere and, certainly, not to be given to a foreign research institution with a not-so-welcomed mission.





President Moon Jae-in, left, and his predecessor Park Geun-hye / Yonhap
CHICAGO, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The House of Somrus, the world's fastest-growing line of liqueurs inspired by India, has named Guy May as head of global business, with the responsibility to drive the company's strategic expansion into international and duty-free markets.

Established in 2014, the company created the world's first line of India-inspired liqueurs called Somrus, which means "Nectar of the Gods" in Sanskrit. The owners, being of Indian heritage, have a strong desire to share the best tastes, flavors, and aromas of the Indian subcontinent with consumers around the globe.

May joined House of Somrus in December from leading U.S. spirits supplier Sazerac Company, Inc., for which he served as Global Sales Director, as well as a Board Member for both Hi-Spirits, LTD (UK) and Southtrade International PTY (AUS). In those roles, May was responsible for the international expansion of brands, including Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, and Southern Comfort.

Prior to his tenure at Sazerac, May worked for Constellation Brands, in a global role in charge of export spirits sales, growing the international footprint of brands including SVEDKA vodka, EFFEN vodka, and Black Velvet Canadian whiskies.

Somrus CEO and founder Mr. Pankaj K. ("PK") Garg said, "In just five years of our existence as a brand, we have sold thousands of 9L cases in just a few U.S. states, and the time is ripe for us to scale up nationally, as well as take the brand global. We are gratified to have attracted a talent like Guy to join our already strong team. Guy brings tremendous insight from his decades of growing marquee global brands, as well as the passion and expertise to help set up our global operations. The entire Somrus Board is excited to welcome Guy into our fold."

May added, "The things that most attracted me to join the company are the opportunity to build a next-generation global brand with an eye on India, the strong backing of the Cleveland Avenue food and drink incubator led by Don Thompson, and the innovation pipeline that awaits." A Minnesota native, May holds a bachelor's degree from DePaul University and completed Executive Education at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

About The House of Somrus

The American-owned House of Somrus is based in Burr Ridge, IL. Established in 2014, the company created the world's first line of India-inspired liqueurs called Somrus, "Nectar of the Gods" in Sanskrit. The owners, being of Indian heritage, want to share the best tastes, flavors, and aromas of the Indian subcontinent with consumers around the globe. This has so far resulted in Somrus Chai and Somrus Mango, the fastest-growing India-inspired line of liqueurs in the world, as well as the world's most awarded cream liqueurs. Somrus is produced with all-natural flavors, contains no preservatives, and is gluten-free. For more information, visit somrus.com, @enjoysomrus on Twitter and Instagram, EnjoySomrus on Facebook or on YouTube.

Somrus Chai and Mango / 6 750mLs per case (4.5L cases)

ABV 13.5%; SRP: $24.99 /750ml

/750ml

Available in 22 states; please visit somrus.com for a current list of distributors as well as a complete media kit including downloadable images

Taste More Out of Life Responsibly.

Produced in the USA by SomPriya Fine Spirits, LLC, Pewaukee, WI

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New head of global business for House of Somrus, Mr. Guy May

Established in 2014, the company created the world's first line of India-inspired liqueurs called Somrus, which means "Nectar of the Gods" in Sanskrit. The owners, being of Indian heritage, have a strong desire to share the best tastes, flavors, and aromas of the Indian subcontinent with consumers around the globe.

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Somrus Website

SOURCE Somrus

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What does the behavior of ground squirrels tell us about how people act in different societies?

A lot, according to a new theoretical framework for understanding the psychology of cultural differences. The foundation of the framework is based on a principle from biology called adaptive phenotypic plasticity, which means that the environment of a living thing affects how it develops and acts. The four scientists, from Arizona State University and the University of California, Irvine, who proposed using adaptive phenotypic plasticity as a model for cultural differences will be awarded the 2019 Daniel M. Wegner Theoretical Innovation Prize on February 27 at the meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology in New Orleans. Each year, the prize recognizes the authors behind the most innovative theoretical contribution to social psychology.

"Winning the Wegner award is an honor, and I am excited about the ideas in this paper influencing how people think about and study cultural differences," said lead author Oliver Sng, who is now an assistant professor of psychology at the University of California, Irvine. "The adaptive phenotypic plasticity framework doesn't just connect the dots on cultural differences, it generates new insights by examining situations in the broader context of the biological world and how organisms are influenced by their environment."

Understanding how and why cultures differ is important because until recently scientists assumed that what was true for one group of people would generalize to others, according to ASU's Michael Varnum, associate professor of psychology.

"Many of the previous assumptions about the universality of psychology across cultures were incorrect, even for basic processes like visual perception," Varnum said. "It's becoming increasingly clear that patterns of cultural variation are not arbitrary, and that in fact, basic features of the physical environment like population density or the prevalence of infectious disease appear to play an important role in shaping human cultural variation."

The adaptive phenotypic plasticity framework provides explanations for why cultures differ that are grounded in biology.

Chirping squirrels, compromised nuclear reactors

When a Belding's ground squirrel encounters a threat like a coyote or hiker, it makes a high-pitched chirping sound to warn other nearby squirrels. Sounding an alarm like this can put a Belding's ground squirrel in mortal danger, so why do some of them do it?

The answer is adaptive phenotypic plasticity.

"The way animals -- which includes humans -- develop can vary depending on the environment, and the resulting behaviors and physical characteristics are often tailored to the physical surroundings," said Douglas Kenrick, President's Professor of psychology at ASU.

Individuals with the same genes can vary physically and behaviorally because they developed in different environments and had different experiences.

Like all living things, Belding's ground squirrels do not all grow up with the same experiences or in the same physical environment. Unlike male Belding's ground squirrels, the females tend to live close to where they were born, which means other female family members are also living nearby.

Different environments shape the expression of genes, which affects behavior. Female Belding's ground squirrels are more likely than males to warn other squirrels about danger. And among female ground squirrels, those with living mothers, sisters or daughters are the most likely to sound an alarm call.

Standing tall and chirping a warning might jeopardize the life of the alarm-sounding squirrel, but the lives of its family will be spared.

Another way of thinking about adaptive phenotypic plasticity is as genetic "if-then" statements. These if-then statements are shaped by the environment and determine behavior.

"The instructions contained in an organism's genes are not set in stone: They contain 'if-then' contingencies determined by the physical surroundings," Kenrick said. "If resources like food are scarce, then animals seem to be hard-wired to act more competitively. Or, if a female Belding's ground squirrel detects danger, then she sounds the alarm to protect her family who live nearby."

Adaptive phenotypic plasticity explanations and predictions

Thinking about cultural differences in terms of adaptive phenotypic plasticity can help scientists understand why people act the way they do. After the 6.9 magnitude earthquake in 2011 that threatened the nuclear reactor in Fukushima, Japan, nearly 50 workers stayed behind to prevent a complete meltdown. Like the female squirrel sounding the alarm, these workers risked their own lives to save others nearby.

The adaptive phenotypic plasticity framework explains existing data on human behavior and also lets scientists make predictions about how cultures might differ. On average, people living in Eastern societies like in Asia interact more frequently with their family members than people living in Western societies like the United States and Europe. The framework predicts that proximity to family should be related to high rates of prosocial behaviors like sharing and caring for others.

"The adaptive phenotypic plasticity framework encourages a deeper level of analysis for the study of cultural differences. It also has the potential to help us better understand inter-societal differences and find commonalities with people who might otherwise seem very different than us," said Steven Neuberg, Foundation Professor of psychology at ASU and senior author on the paper.

###
The Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, in its role as Chair of ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community 2020, is chairing the Senior Officials' Meeting for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (SOCA) on February 24-25.

At the event

The meeting aims to conduct the mid-term review of the implementation of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint and SOCA Retreat, attracting nearly 60 senior officials and cadres in charge of ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community from 10 ASEAN member states, ASEAN Secretariat and Vietnamese ministries.

Speaking at the event, ASEAN Deputy Secretary General Kung Phoak said since the groupings foundation, stable strides have been made in regional integration, economic growth, common prosperity and social progress. Meanwhile, efforts to build the ASEAN Community keep yielding fruits.

Participants discussed indexes and roadmap for the mid-term report on the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint, thus conducting national- and regional-level reviews 2020 to lay foundation for the implementation of the blueprint for the 2021-2025 period.

Head of SOCA Vietnam delegation and deputy head of the MoLISAs Department of International Cooperation Ha Thi Minh Duc said 2020 marks the 25th year of Vietnams ASEAN membership.

Given the theme of Cohesive and Responsive chosen by Vietnam for ASEAN Year 2020, ASEAN and its Socio-Cultural Community will continue improving peoples lives and building a better future for partners, she said.

The outcomes of the meeting will be reported to the 28th SOCA and the 23rd ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council Meeting scheduled for April 5-8 in the central city of Da Nang, ahead of the 36th ASEAN Summit./. VNA

ASEAN foreign ministers talk COVID-19 fight Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh attended a special meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) in Vientiane on February 20.
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Tuesday to close the courthouse door on the parents of a Mexican teenager who was shot dead over the border by an American agent.

The courts five conservative justices held that the parents could not use American courts to sue Border Patrol Agent Jesus Mesa Jr., who killed their unarmed 15-year-old son in 2010. Mesa was on U.S. soil in Texas when he fired the fatal shot.

Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the court that the case is tragic, but that strong border security and international relations issues led to the ruling against the parents of Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca.

Since regulating the conduct of agents at the border unquestionably has national security implications, the risk of undermining border security provides reasons to hesitate about allowing the parents to sue in American courts, Alito wrote.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, writing for her liberal colleagues, disagreed, saying the parents lawsuit does not endanger border security or U.S. foreign policy.

Mexicos Foreign Relations Department said in a statement Tuesday it regretted the Supreme Court ruling.

Tuesdays outcome also is certain to doom a lawsuit filed by the parents of a teenager killed in Nogales, Mexico, from gunshots fired across the border by a U.S. agent who was standing in Arizona. That case has been on hold.

The case tested a half-century-old Supreme Court decision that allows people to sue federal officials for constitutional violations. Over the years, the courts have made it harder to bring claims, known as Bivens actions after the name of the high court case.

Ginsburg wrote that it is all too apparent that to redress injuries like the one suffered here, it is Bivens or nothing. I resist the conclusion that nothing is the answer required in this case.

Justice Clarence Thomas, who was part of the court majority, said he would get rid of Bivens lawsuits altogether. Justice Neil Gorsuch joined Thomas separate opinion.

Alito noted that the Justice Department and the parents disagreed about the sequence of events that led to Sergios death. But there is no question that Mesa was standing on the U.S. side of the border when he fired into Mexico and killed him with a gunshot wound to the face.

The family said Sergio was playing a game with friends on a June evening, running through a culvert and over the border, touching it, and running back. Mesa rode up on a bicycle, took Sergios friend into custody, then fired across the border.

The Justice Department said Mesa was trying to stop smugglers attempting an illegal border crossing and fired his gun after he came under a barrage of rocks. Mesa said in court filings that Sergio was among the rock throwers. Video footage of the incident seems to dispute that.

U.S. officials chose not to prosecute Mesa, and the Obama administration refused a request to extradite him so that he could face criminal charges in Mexico. When the parents of the boy tried to sue Mesa, federal judges dismissed their claims.

The Border Patrol drastically changed its use of force policies in the years after the shooting, following several complaints of excessive force. There were 15 instances where officers and agents used firearms during the budget year 2018, down from a high of 55 reported during the 2012 budget year.

But Lee Gelernt, the American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who argued on the parents behalf, said, The gravity of this ruling could not be clearer given the Trump administrations militarized rhetoric and policies targeting people at the border. Border agents should not have immunity to fatally shoot Mexican teenagers on the other side of the border fence. The Constitution does not stop at the border.

The statement from the Mexican government expressed profound concern about the effects this decision will have on other similar cases in which Mexican citizens have been killed by shots fired by U.S. agents toward the Mexican side. With this precedent, these cases will now face barriers to seeking justice and reparations in U.S. courts.

Mexico has energetically condemned situations in which law enforcement authorities use excessive force and, in some cases, extra-territorial force, especially along our common border, Mexicos Foreign Relations Department said.
Salary of more than 1,100 employees, including faculty members, of the Centrally funded Visva-Bharati University (V-B) could be delayed due to paucity of funds, the university said in a notice issued on Monday.

The notice comes a few days after vice-chancellor Bidyut Chakraborty said the university, founded by Rabindranath Tagore, was financially ailing. The university at Santiniketan, about 160 kilometres northwest of Kolkata, functions under the the Ministry of Human Resources Development. The President is the universitys visitor. This is for information of all concerned that the salary for the month of February, 2020, is likely to be delayed due to paucity of funds, read a notice issued by universitys acting registrar Asha, who uses only her first name, on Monday.

The university has about 400 faculty members, apart from 150 teachers in its school, Patha Bhavana, apart from more than 600 non-teaching staff.

No member of the faculty or non-teaching staff offered comments because of an order by the varsity authorities prohibiting them from speaking to the media.

When contacted, a senior HRD ministry official dismissed concerns that funds were not being provided as unfounded.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Snigdhendu Bhattacharya Snigdhendu Bhattacharya, principal correspondent, Hindustan Times, Kolkata, has been covering politics, socio-economic and cultural affairs for over 10 years. He takes special interest in monitoring developments related to Maoist insurgency and religious extremism. ...view detail
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 10:31:38|Editor: huaxia

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A doctor thumbs up before entering isolation wards at the Xiaogan First People's Hospital in Xiaogan City, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 19, 2020. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

by Xinhua writer Jiang Li

BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The year 2020 is bound to be monumental for China as it strives to hit a historic landmark in the country's long-running story of progress. The sudden strike of the novel coronavirus epidemic only makes the endeavor more epic.

To win this two-front battle, combating the outbreak and bolstering economic and social development, is no doubt difficult, but victory is predetermined. And Chinese President Xi Jinping has made an important speech at a meeting in Beijing on Sunday to showcase China's confidence in winning.

That confidence originates from the unique strengths in China's governance system, revealed in the country's resolute response to contain the outbreak and ensure its development engine is back up and roaring.

The governance system, under the top leadership in Beijing, is able to oversee the big picture and marshal the necessary strength to achieve the country's targeted goals.

The system has demonstrated its effciency in the country's previous battles against natural disasters like earthquakes and floods. The current battle against this deadly disease adds further proof of the system's viability.

Over the past few weeks, the entire country has been mobilized. Tens of thousands of doctors and nurses nationwide have been sent to China's Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak. Face masks, protective suits and other badly needed medical resources have been handed to those fighting on the frontlines. Hospitals have been built from scratch.

Clearly, these measures have proven effective. The number of newly confirmed cases in China has dropped and more patients have been cured. China's decisiveness has also provided a golden window of opportunity for countries around the world to prevent a global epidemic.

One other feature of this system is its flexibility, allowing local authorities, notably those at the grassroots, to improvise according to their different needs, thereby ensuring substantial results.

Flexibility allows local authorities across the country to take effective measures to stem the spread of the disease, keep all communities and markets sanitized, and guarantee people's safe access to fresh groceries and other daily necessities.

More importantly, China is such an expansive and diverse country that its policies need to accommodate a variety of needs. China's leaders in Beijing understand this quite well.

To ensure that China can achieve this year's economic and development goals -- elimination of extreme poverty and the completion of building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects -- Beijing has called for a return to work and resumption of industrial production and manufacturing on a situational basis.

For example, regions with relatively low epidemic risks could see the public return to work sooner rather than later; medium-risk cities and provinces could resume economic activities in an orderly manner; and high-risk areas should continue to be fully committed to epidemic prevention and control.

The central government has also swiftly rolled out a series of targeted interim policies such as cutting taxes and fees to help micro, small and medium-sized firms tide over difficulties, ensuring a stable job market, and boosting consumption.

While the outbreak has indeed exposed some weak links in the ability to deal with major public health emergencies, it has also offered the country a valuable chance to patch up them.

The good seaman is known in bad weather, a Western saying goes. The epidemic has so far shown that China's governance system remains resilient and productive enough to navigate the country through these uncharted waters.

The Chinese nation has in recent history faced down all kinds of hardships. By working more closely with the international community and continuing to nurture economic and social development, the country and its people will come out of this formidable test even stronger.
New York: Wall Street whipsawed on Tuesday, with the Dow Jones industrial average digging itself into a 878-point hole after wiping out a 150-point gain, as investors have become increasingly worried that the coronavirus is spreading faster and more broadly than thought.

The plunge worsened after health officials warned that the spread of coronavirus in the United States appears inevitable. In separate briefings to lawmakers and reporters on Tuesday, officials said they were no longer assessing the outbreak in terms of if there would be community spread, but when.

After early gains, Wall Street plunged on Tuesday after a coronavirus warning unnerved markets. Credit:AP

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 878 points, or 3.1 per cent, to 27,081. The S&P 500 fell 97 points, or 3 per cent, to 3,128. The Nasdaq lost 255 points, or 2.8 per cent, to 8,965. The Australian sharemarket is poised for more losses, with futures at 8.15am AEDT pointing to a loss of 162 points, or 2.4 per cent, at the open. On Tuesday, the ASX fell by 1.6 per cent and has shed around $80 billion in value this week.

The volatility followed a dismal session that saw the Dow slide more than 1000 points in one of the steepest point losses in history on Monday, with the three major US indexes all posting declines of 3.5 per cent or more.
A Delhi court has granted bail to Yusuf Chopan, an accused in Pulwama terror attack conspiracy case, observing that he is entitled to statutory bail as the investigating agency has failed to file charge-sheet within the statutory period.

Special NIA Judge Parveen Singh, in an order last week, asked Chopan to furnish a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with one surety bond of the like amount.

Advocate Ankit Karna, appearing for Chopan, told the court that the accused has been in custody for around 180 days and the time for filing charge-sheet has elapsed and no charge-sheet has been filed against the accused.

The court imposed certain conditions, including that Chopan shall join the investigation and attend the court whenever required in accordance with the conditions of the bond executed by him.

The court also directed him not to commit any offence, of which he is accused in the present case and shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case nor tamper with the evidence.

In February last year, 40 CRPF personnel were killed in a JeM-orchestrated terror attack in South Kashmir's Pulwama district.

The incident took place when a CRPF convoy, consisting of around 2,500 personnel, was attacked by a suicide bomber who rammed a car laden with explosives into one of the buses on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company on Tuesday announced the appointment of Mahender Nayak as area head for its ICMEA (India, C.I.S., Middle East, Turkey, and Africa) regions.

Nayak will be based in Dubai and will lead the company's operations from there, Takeda Pharmaceutical said in a statement.

Before this role, Nayak oversaw portfolio management for Takeda's Growth and Emerging Markets Business Unit based in Singapore, it added.

"This is an exciting time to move to a part of the world that is teeming with great opportunities to increase patient access to Takeda's 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," Nayak said.

Nayak has more than 20 years of leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, the statement said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The bad blood between the two public figures became public knowledge after Ginimbi featured in a video clip where he was showing off his latest car to a group of friends who were showering him with praise. In the video one of Ginimbis friends went on to compare him (Ginimbi) to Passion but Ginimbi responded by ridiculing Passion as a poor man who shows off with hired things.
U.S. health officials issued a strong warning about novel coronavirus on Tuesday despite remarks from the Trump administration stating they have the situation under control.

Until now, health officials said they'd hoped to prevent community spread in the United States. But following community transmissions in Italy, Iran and South Korea, health officials believe the virus may not be able to be contained at the border and that Americans should prepare for a "significant disruption."

This comes in contrast to statements from the Trump administration. Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said Tuesday the threat to the United States from coronavirus "remains low," despite the White House seeking $1.25 billion in emergency funding to combat the virus. Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, told CNBCs Kelly Evans on The Exchange Tuesday evening, "We have contained the virus very well here in the U.S."

MORE: US military has first coronavirus patient as cases surge in Italy, South Korea

"Ultimately, we expect we will see community spread in this country," Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said Tuesday at a news conference.

Messonnier added that Americans should channel their concern about the virus, officially called COVID-19, into preparing for its arrival.

PHOTO: (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)

Officials said that Americans should continue to practice protective measures -- hand-washing, staying home from work when sick -- while local officials should make sure systems are in place -- teleschooling, working remotely -- should face-to-face interactions need to be reduced. Health care facilities should be prepared to increase telehealth systems and delay elective surgeries should the need arise, they said.

Messonnier noted that every community's response will be different. What's appropriate for a community with local transmission may not be appropriate for a community in which no local transmissions has occurred.

Story continues

So far there has been no community spread in the United States. Forty-three people repatriated on charter flights from Wuhan, China, and from the Diamond Princess cruise ship have tested positive for COVID-19, and 15 cases have been detected in the United States via the country's health system. Among those 57 cases, only two involved human transmission in the United States, and those transmissions were among members of the same household.

MORE: One man's account of what it's like to have novel coronavirus

Health Secretary Alex Azar told reporters at a Tuesday afternoon press conference that the United States would be undertaking "the most aggressive containment efforts in modern history"

"We are going to continue taking those measures but we are realistic that we will see more cases and as we see more cases we might have to take community mitigation efforts," he said.

If the White House's request for funds is improved, the $1.25 billion will be earmarked for accelerated vaccine development, the procurement of equipment and supplies and to support preparedness and response activities, according to the White House Office of Management and Budget.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the request "long overdue and completely inadequate to the scale of this emergency." She also accused President Trump of leaving "critical positions in charge of managing pandemics at the National Security Council and the Department of Homeland Security vacant."

PHOTO: A tourist wears stickers on her back to identify herself as Taiwanese and not Chinese in Milan, as Italy deals with an outbreak of COVID-19, Feb. 25, 2020. (Yara Nardi/Reuters)

"The president's most recent budget called for slashing funding for the Centers for Disease Control, which is on the front lines of this emergency. And now, he is compounding our vulnerabilities by seeking to ransack funds still needed to keep Ebola in check," Pelosi said in a statement Tuesday morning. "Our state and local governments need serious funding to be ready to respond effectively to any outbreak in the United States. The president should not be raiding money that Congress has appropriated for other life-or-death public health priorities."

She added that lawmakers in the House of Representatives "will swiftly advance a strong, strategic funding package that fully addresses the scale and seriousness of this public health crisis."

MORE: White House prepares emergency spending request for coronavirus

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also called the Trump administration's request "too little too late."

"That President Trump is trying to steal funds dedicated to fight Ebola -- which is still considered an epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo -- is indicative of his towering incompetence and further proof that he and his administration aren't taking the coronavirus crisis as seriously as they need to be," Schumer said in a statement.

PHOTO: Mary Cahill, left, leaves a news conference where officials discussed the proposal for housing coronavirus patients at the Fairview Development Center in Costa Mesa, Calif on Feb. 22, 2020. (Mindy Schauer/AP)

At the same time, Bruce Aylward, an epidemiologist who led a team of international experts in China, said that the epidemic is slowing in China.

In addition to a falling rate of new infections, hospital beds are opening up and there's no wait for tests at fever clinics, Aylward explained. It's impossible to know if this trend of decreasing cases will continue, but for now, Aylward thinks China's response to the outbreak, which included rapidly building hospitals and imposing strict lockdown measures in cities hardest hit by the virus, is working.

"The implications are that you can actually effect the course of this disease, but it takes a very aggressive and tough program," Aylward said at a WHO news briefing in Geneva on Tuesday.

As of Tuesday, China's National Health Commission said it's received 77,658 reports of confirmed cases and 2,663 deaths on the Chinese mainland. More than 83% of the cases and all but one death were in Hubei province, which includes the city of Wuhan. Chinese authorities have since placed the city under lockdown.

An additional 121 confirmed infections have been reported in the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao as well as Taiwan, with two deaths in Hong Kong and one in Taiwan, according to China's National Health Commission.

WHO experts in China are currently reporting a 2% to 4% fatality rate in Wuhan and a 0.7% fatality rate outside the city. For mild cases of the disease, there's a roughly two-week recovery rate, and for more severe cases, the recovery rate is between three and six weeks.

COVID-19 causes symptoms similar to pneumonia, ranging from the mild, such as a slight cough, to the more severe, including fever and difficulty breathing, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is no vaccine yet for the virus.

PHOTO: This photo taken on Feb. 24, 2020, shows medical staff treating patients infected by the novel coronavirus at a hospital in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province. (Str/AFP via Getty Images)

The outbreak of the new coronavirus has continued to spread overseas, with at least 2,069 confirmed cases in at least 33 other countries, resulting in at least 33 fatalities, according to the latest data from the WHO, which has declared the epidemic a global health emergency.

Although the virus "absolutely" has the potential to become a pandemic, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it's still too soon to classify it that way.

"For the moment, we are not witnessing the uncontained global spread of this virus and we are not witnessing large-scale severe disease or deaths," he told reporters at a press conference in Geneva on Monday. "Does this virus have pandemic potential? Absolutely it has. Are we there yet from our assessment? Not yet."

MORE: US military dependent in South Korea diagnosed with coronavirus, triggering precautions

South Korea reported another surge in new infections overnight, making it the second-highest national total behind China. As of Tuesday, South Korea's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 977 confirmed cases and nine deaths.

The recent spike in cases prompted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a warning on Monday advising Americans to avoid traveling to South Korea. The federal agency raised its travel warning to the highest level for those contemplating travel to the East Asian nation.

PHOTO: Railway workers wearing protective gear spray disinfectant, as part of preventive measures against the spread of the novel coronavirus, at a railway station in Seoul, South Korea, on February 25, 2020. (-/YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images)

The heightened warning came on the same day that officials said a relative of a U.S. service member in South Korea had been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus. In a press release, U.S. Forces Korea announced that it had been informed by South Korea's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that a military dependent living in Daegu had tested positive for COVID-19.

It's the first time a U.S. Forces Korea-related individual has been infected with the virus, according to the press release.

South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said as of Monday there were 13 South Korean military personnel infected.

Partly as a result, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Monday that the United States and South Korea were considering scaling back an upcoming joint military command exercise.

PHOTO: American citizens arrive by bus from the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship to Haneda airport on Feb. 17, 2020 in Tokyo to be repatriated to the U.S (Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)

Japan has the third-highest national total, when including the nearly 700 cases diagnosed aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

MORE: China revokes press credentials for 3 Wall Street Journal reporters amid coronavirus crisis

The cruise ship has been quarantined at Yokohama port since Feb. 5 and 695 people on board have tested positive for COVID-19. Three passengers have died, all of whom were Japanese nationals and in their 80s, according to Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

All those who have been infected were brought ashore for treatment, while the rest were confined to their rooms until the quarantine period ends. Passengers who have tested negative for the virus have been disembarking the ship since last Wednesday.

PHOTO: A person wearing a face mask walks out of an entrance gate to the Codogno Civic Hospital, where the emergency room was closed as a precautionary measure, in Codogno, near Lodi, northern Italy on Feb. 21 2020. (MAURIZIO MAULE/EPA-EFE/REX)

Clusters of coronavirus cases in Italy and Iran have raised concerns of the global spread of the outbreak.

As of Tuesday, Italy's Ministry of Health had recorded 322 confirmed cases and 10 fatalities. The majority of those cases were in the northern Lombardy region, prompting some towns to suspend public gatherings, demonstrations and sporting events and to close schools, businesses and restaurants.

The initial cases in Italy were linked to Chinese tourists, according to the health ministry.

Syracuse University in upstate New York alerted students Tuesday that it was closing its Florence campus for the semester and helping the 342 students who were studying there return home.

"We believe this is absolutely necessary to reduce the risk of our students being unable to leave Italy due to Italian containment efforts," the school said in a statement.

Switzerland and Austria, which border northern Italy, reported their first COVID-19 cases on Tuesday.

At least 95 cases have been confirmed in Iran, along with 15 deaths, the country's state-run news agency reported.

Schools were closed across the country on Tuesday for a second day, and health workers have begun a daily sanitizing of public buses and the Tehran metro.

Among those infected is Iran's deputy health minister, Iraj Harirchi, who is head of the national headquarters tasked with containing the coronavirus outbreak. He had strongly opposed suggestions to quarantine the hard-hit city of Qom.

PHOTO: Iranian workers disinfect the Shrine of Fatima Masumeh in Qom, Iran, on February 25, 2020, to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus which has reached the country. (Mehdi Marizad/FARS NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, a tourist hotel on the island of Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands has been placed under quarantine after an Italian guest tested positive for COVID-19. The guest, a doctor from Italty's virus-hit Lombardy region, went to a local hospital on Monday and was placed in isolation along with his wife, who tested negative for the disease, public health officials for the Canary Islands told ABC News.

MORE: PHOTOS: Coronavirus outbreak sparks global health emergency

Around 1,000 guests staying at the Costa Adeje Palace hotel have been confined to their rooms while health workers test everyone for the virus on Tuesday. All samples will be sent to Madrid for testing, officials told ABC News.

So far, Spain has two confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, according to the WHO.

ABC News' Aicha El-Hammar, Somayeh Malekian, Elizabeth McLaughlin, Christine Theodorou and Ivan Pereira contributed to this report.

This report was featured in the Feb. 26 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.

CDC warns Americans of 'significant disruption' from coronavirus originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
(Repeats story published on Monday)

By Colin Packham

SYDNEY, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Australia is under an "unprecedented" threat of foreign espionage and interference, one of the country's most senior spy chiefs said on Monday.

In a rare speech, Mike Burgess, Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) said a range of nations are seeking to influence lawmakers, government officials, media figures, business leaders and academics.

"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," Burgess said in a speech in Canberra.

Burgess did not identify the countries seeking to interfere, but Reuters reported in September that Australia's intelligence agencies concluded China was responsible for a cyber-attack on the Australian parliament and three largest political parties.

China denies responsibility for the attack, which came just months before an general election in May 2018.

Australia decided not to reveal the identity of the attackers in order to protect its trading relationship with China, sources familiar with the decision told Reuters.

China is Australias largest trading partner, buying more than a third of its total exports, including much of its iron ore, coal and agricultural goods, and sending more than a million tourists and students to Australia each year.

Burgess did not name specific attacks on Australia, but he referenced a spate of cyber-attacks.

ASIO had 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, Burgess said.

The speech comes just a few months after Australia's leading universities agreed to name overseas research partners, list financial dealings with other countries and share cyber intelligence with national security agencies to curb foreign interference.

Story continues

Australia, a staunch ally of the United States and its escalating action against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, has been on high alert for attacks by home-grown militants. This has mostly concentrated on extremists returning from fighting in the Middle East or their supporters.

While highlighting the threat of foreign actors, Burgess also said the threat of right-wing extremists had grown, citing mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch in March in 2018.

"In suburbs around Australia, small cells regularly meet to salute Nazi flags, inspect weapons, train in combat and share their hateful ideology," Burgess said.

(Reporting by Colin Packham; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
SANTA FE, N.M., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nature's Toolbox, Inc. (NTx), an early stage biomanufacturing and bioinformatics company, today announced that it has raised $13 million in new funding. The Series A round was led by venture capital firm Anzu Partners. The new funding will be used to advance the company's proprietary host-independent biological manufacturing and development platform used for pharmaceutical drug discovery and manufacturing of biologicals to counter disease. The continuous flow platform can produce biologics with exceptional efficiency, higher yields, less biproduct waste, and a significant departure in physical footprint and cost compared to the world's current batch production processes.

"Current production methods for biologics rely on E. coli enzymes for in vitro methods, or slower and more costly fermentation processes, that are known to be challenged by consistency issues and inefficient in the production of clean, quality products of requisite purity," said Alex Koglin, PhD, co-founder of NTx. "NTx has developed a completely novel recombinant cell-free biosynthesis platform, that is designed to drive and sustain syntheses for days, with the goal of allowing one person, using a single workstation, to produce enough of any single protein vaccine or biologic for 100 million people in a 30-day period."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccines for the influenza virus for the U.S. population take at least six months to produce, requiring manufacturers to begin production long before the flu season begins and before it is known which strain of flu strain will most commonly present itself during peak infection times. Using NTx's platform, manufacturers could produce large quantities of the flu vaccine in real-time, and specific to the predominant strain as it emerges, eliminating the guesswork that currently exists.

The potential of the technology extends far beyond that of vaccines. Protein-based therapies used to fight cancer and autoimmune disorders have traditionally suffered from the same fundamental manufacturing challenges that burden vaccines.

"The tremendous boost to production efficiencies inherent to the NTx process could facilitate the entry of more economically priced biologics and biosimilars," said Koglin.

The company also announced that Charles McMillan, PhD has joined the company's Board of Directors. Dr. McMillan served as the 10th Director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico before retiring from the role in 2017.

"I am excited to join the board and NTx and be part of a company that will change the way we develop and produce pharmaceutical products for the global population, from anti-infective agents to personalized cancer therapies," said Dr. McMillan.

In addition to this significant financing, NTx also announced that it has received a $339,000 grant from the New Mexico Department of Economic Development's Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP). The program funds classroom and on-the-job training for newly created jobs in expanding or relocating businesses and will be used to help train 12 new NTx employees.

"NTx is on the forefront of the biomanufacturing and bioinformatics industry," added New Mexico Economic Development Secretary Alicia J. Keyes. "The state is thrilled that they are based in New Mexico and making Santa Fe their home for the next growth phase."

For more information about NTx Bio, please visit: https://www.ntxbio.com.

About NTx

Nature's Toolbox, Inc. (NTx) is an early stage biomanufacturing and bioinformatics company based in Santa Fe, NM. The company has developed a proprietary host-independent biological manufacturing and development platform used for pharmaceutical drug discovery and manufacturing of biologicals to counter disease. For more information, please visit: https://www.ntxbio.com.

About Anzu Partners

Anzu Partners is a venture capital and private equity firm that invests in breakthrough industrial technologies. Anzu teams with entrepreneurs to develop and commercialize technological innovations by providing capital and deep expertise in business development, market positioning, global connectivity, and operations. For more information, please visit https://anzupartners.com. On Twitter: @anzupartners.

CONTACT

Rob Haralson for NTx

(202) 674-6679, [email protected]

SOURCE Nature's Toolbox, Inc. (NTx)

Related Links

https://www.ntxbio.com


Investors snapped up shares in biotechnology minnow Novacyt as the coronavirus edged closer to becoming a pandemic.

AIM-listed Novacyt is selling a test for the infection that delivers a result in two hours and doesn't need a doctor to oversee it.

It was the first company to receive an approval for a Covid-19 test, meaning it complies with EU health and safety rules.

Novacyt has not revealed how many units of the test, which is designed and made in Southampton, it has sold so far.

AIM-listed Novacyt is selling a test for the infection that delivers a result in two hours and doesn't need a doctor to oversee it

But as the company received a whopping 288,000 inquiries after the news was announced, traders are betting it will be in high demand after the number of global cases topped 77,000, northern Italy went into lockdown and worrying outbreaks emerged in South Korea and Iran.

Its share price tailed off from a high of 166p last week as data over several days showed the spread of the flu-like virus was dropping in China.

But its stock surged 33.3 per cent, or 35p, to 140p last night as outbreaks gained steam elsewhere.

A fellow junior market-listed group, disinfectant maker Tristel, also made gains as analysts said there was the potential for it to benefit from a 'Covid-19 bonus'.

It closed 10.8 per cent, or 42.5p, up at 437.5p, as it also posted financial results that showed its profit rose in the first half, beating expectations to rise 27 per cent to 2.8million in the six months to December 31.

Stock Watch - Loop Up Conference call service provider Loop Up plunged 31.5 per cent, or 25.9p, to 56.6p after it warned it might lose more customers than normal in the first six months of this year. There were disruptions for some users who were moved from a platform provided by Meeting Zone, which it bought in 2018, to its own service. This could lead to higher than normal churn issues. It also said US customers used its software for 8 per cent fewer minutes on average in the second half.

But FTSE 100-listed drug maker Glaxosmithkline, however, failed to be boosted by a collaboration with a Chinese firm to develop a potential coronavirus vaccine.

Glaxo will give Clover Biopharmaceuticals access to ingredients that stimulate an extra immune response, which can help provide immunity for longer and at a stronger rate when compared to just a vaccine alone. But Glaxo fell 1.7 per cent, or 28.4p, to 1629.8p.

Worries about the effect on companies and countries almost across the board meant there were few bright spots in London, with mining companies and airlines hammered especially hard.

The FTSE 100 lost 3.34 per cent, or 247.09 points, to close at 7156.83, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 index shed 3.04 per cent, or 662.33 points, to close at 21,117.87.

One of the few companies staying out of the red was Ascential, which rose 3.8 per cent, or 13.6p, to 367.6p.

Profits at the business data provider and marketing firm, which owns political intelligence brand De Havilland, fell 65 per cent to 10.2million as it spent big.

But revenue rose 19 per cent to 416million on the back of acquisitions, while investors also welcomed news of a 120million share buyback.

Business supplier Bunzl also rose  by 2.7 per cent, or 52.5p, to 2001p  as the takeover-hungry group bought outfits in Brazil and Denmark and flagged that more are in the pipeline.

It sells products that companies need to do business but do not sell directly to customers, such as cleaning equipment, food packaging and hard hats.

Revenue edged 2.7 per cent higher to 9.3billion, while profit before tax rose from 423million to 453million in 2019.

Irish support services group DCC has hired outgoing BP executive Tufan Erginbilgic, who heads its downstream business until the end of March, as a non-executive director. He will join on April 6. DCC fell 4.3 per cent, or 270p, to 5982p.

Blue-chip publishing group Pearson made gains as buyers picked up shares at a cheaper price. It fell on Friday after it said its US education unit was weighing on profits. But it rebounded 3.2 per cent, or 18.2p, to 579.6p.

And Botswana Diamonds rocketed 19.4 per cent, or 0.15p, up to 0.93p, after drilling found kimberlite at a project  it is a type of rock that sometimes contains diamonds.
99 years After the Soviet Occupation of Georgia - GeorgianJournal
L Organisation Internationale de La Francophonie (OIF) on Monday warned Guineas electoral authorities over the accuracy and credibility of the electoral rolls as the country is preparing for polls.

The OIF, the francophone organization equivalent of the Commonwealth, said the registers included nearly 2.49 million problematic names, including duplicated names, people who were too young to vote or individuals who had died.

Of these 2.49 million, 98 percent do not have documents to enable their identification, the OIF said in a statement.

The Paris-based organization urged the government to avoid further deaths and prevent any risk of escalation.

Guineas President Alpha Conde is set to hold a constitutional referendum next month, despite protests led by an opposition alliance.

The referendum, in a country with a long tradition of political turmoil, covers changes to the constitution, which the opposition say is a bid by Conde, 81, to restart his time in office and stay in power beyond two terms.

Jailed under previous hardline regimes, Conde became Guineas first democratically elected president in 2010 and was returned to office by voters in 2015 for his second and final five-year term under the current constitution.

Human rights groups have criticized the Conde administration for banning a number of public demonstrations. Opposition leaders this year have also been sentenced to jail time on charges of insurrection and disturbing the public peace.
Gartner Says Over 40% of Privacy Compliance Technology Will Rely on Artificial Intelligence in the Next Three Years

Over 40% of privacy compliance technology will rely on artificial intelligence (AI) by 2023, up from 5% today, according to Gartner (News - Alert), Inc.

"Privacy laws, such as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), presented a compelling business case for privacy compliance and inspired many other jurisdictions worldwide to follow," said Bart Willemsen, research vice president at Gartner.

"More than 60 jurisdictions around the world have proposed or are drafting postmodern privacy and data protection laws as a result. Canada, for example, is looking to modernize their Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), in part to maintain the adequacy standing with the EU post-GDPR."

Privacy leaders are under pressure to ensure that all personal data processed is brought in scope and under control, which is difficult and expensive to manage without technology aid. This is where the use of AI-powered applications that reduce administrative burdens and manual workloads come in.

AI-Powered Privacy Technology Lessens Compliance Headaches

At the forefront of a positive privacy user experience (UX) is the ability of an organization to promptly handle subject rights requests (SRRs). SRRs cover a defined set of rights, where individuals have the power to make requests regarding their data and organizations must respond to them in a defined time frame.

According to the 2019 Gartner Security and Risk Survey, many organizations are not capable of delivering swift and precise answers to the SRRs they receive. Two-thirds of respondents indicated it takes them two or more weeks to respond to a single SRR. Often done manually as well, the average costs of these workflows are roughly $1,400 USD, which pile up over time.

"The speed and consistency by which AI-powered tools can help address large volumes of SRRs not only saves an organization excessive spend, but also repairs customer trust," said Mr. Willemsen. "With the loss of customers serving as privacy leaders' second highest concern, such tools will ensure that their privacy demands are met."

Global Privacy Spending on Compliance Tooling Will Rise to $8 Billion Through 2022

Through 2022, privacy-driven spending on compliance tooling will rise to $8 billion worldwide. Gartner expects privacy spending to impact connected stakeholders' purchasing strategies, including those of CIOs, CDOs and CMOs. "Today's post-GDPR era demands a wide array of technological capabilities, well beyond the standard Excel sheets of the past," said Mr. Willemsen.







"The privacy-driven technology market is still emerging," said Mr. Willemsen. "What is certain is that privacy, as a conscious and deliberate discipline, will play a considerable role in how and why vendors develop their products. As AI turbocharges privacy readiness by assisting organizations in areas like SRR management and data discovery, we'll start to see more AI capabilities offered by service providers."

For Editors

The 2019 Gartner Security and Risk Survey was conducted from March 2019 through April 2019 to better understand how risk management planning, operations, budgeting and buying are performed. The research was conducted online among 698 respondents in Brazil, Germany, India, the U.S. and the UK. Qualifying organizations have at least 100 employees and $50 million (USD equivalent) in total annual revenue for fiscal year 2018.

Gartner clients can read more in the reports "5 Areas Where AI Will Turbocharge Privacy Readiness" and "Predicts 2020: Embrace Privacy and Overcome Ambiguity to Drive Digital Transformation." Learn more about Gartner's 2020 Predictions in the Special Report "Predicts 2020: Barriers Fall as Technology Adoption Grows."

Additional analysis on driving business performance will be presented during Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2020, the world's most important gathering of CIOs and other IT executives. IT executives rely on these events to gain insight into how their organizations can use IT to overcome business challenges and improve operational efficiency. Follow news and updates from the conferences on Twitter (News - Alert) using #GartnerSYM.

Upcoming dates and locations for Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo include:

March 2-4, 2020: Dubai

May 11-14, 2020: Toronto

September 14-17, Sao Paulo

October 5-7. Cape Town

October 18-22, Orlando

October 26-29, Gold Coast, Australia

November 3-6, Kochi, India

November 8-12, Barcelona

About Gartner

Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) is the world's leading research and advisory company and a member of the S&P 500. We equip business leaders with indispensable insights, advice and tools to achieve their mission-critical priorities today and build the successful organizations of tomorrow.

Our unmatched combination of expert-led, practitioner-sourced and data-driven research steers clients toward the right decisions on the issues that matter most. We are a trusted advisor and an objective resource for more than 15,000 enterprises in more than 100 countries - across all major functions, in every industry and enterprise size.

To learn more about how we help decision makers fuel the future of business, visit gartner.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005196/en/
Inside Hook

Maybe youve seen the 1951 film A Place in the Sun, which stars Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift as star-crossed lovers  a pairing that Steve Erickson, in his novel Zeroville, called the two most beautiful people in the history of the movies. It could be that youve read its source material, Theodore Dreisers classic 1925 novel An American Tragedy. Perhaps youve even seen the lesser-known film adaptation of Dreisers book.

If any of these are the case, then youre familiar with the legal case The People v. Gillette  a sensational murder trial that occurred in 1906 and drew the attention of the nation. At CrimeReads, S.L. McInnis looked back at this case and its aftermath, and explored two elements of it that havent received as much coverage over the years as one might expect.
class="RichText RichText--sans leading-loose lg:text-xl md:text-xl sm:text-l lg:mb-32 md:mb-32 sm:mb-24">In an interview, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg discusses Moscows new arsenal, warnings from French President Emmanuel Macron that Europe needs to decrease its dependency on Washington and U.S. President Donald Trumps mercurial temperament.
The plan could pave the way for an Israeli takeover of the holy site in Jerusalem.

Apart from its many other faults and its overall one-sidedness, and despite its authors claims to the contrary, the US plan for Israel-Palestine, unveiled at the end of January, proposes perilous changes to the historical status quo at Jerusalems Holy Esplanade.

The 14-hectare (35-acre) compound, known to Jews as Temple Mount and to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif, is Judaisms holiest site and Islams third-most sacred after Mecca and Medina. The contested site, which is home to both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque, is currently supervised by Jordans Islamic Waqf according to an unwritten Ottoman-era arrangement. Per the arrangement, Muslims are allowed to pray at the site, while non-Muslims are only allowed entry as tourists.

In its plan, titled Peace to Prosperity, the Trump administration pays lip service to this arrangement, saying the status quo at the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif should continue uninterrupted. Despite this, however, it calls for three major changes that would, in practice, undo the centuries-old arrangement completely: transferring the site to Israeli sovereignty, rescinding Jordans custodianship over it, and ending the ban on non-Muslim prayer.

The plan aims to end Muslim control over the site, merely promising to guarantee Muslim worshippers free access to it. It also seemingly attempts to do away with Jordans custodianship of the compound, making no mention of it, a move that flies in the face of Israels commitment in the 1994 Israel-Jordan peace treaty to give high priority to the Jordanian historic role in these shrines. The plan instead describes Israel as a custodian of Jerusalems holy sites.

The plan calls for freedom of worship at the Holy Esplanade, saying: [p]eople of every faith should be permitted to pray on the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, in a manner that is fully respectful to their religion, taking into account the times of each religions prayers and holidays, as well as other religious factors. This seemingly benign notion  that there ought to be freedom of worship at the site  masks an attempt to make a major alteration to the historical status quo.

Regardless of what the notion means in practice  separate Jewish and Muslim devotions or side-by-side prayer  the mere possibility of separate prayer times triggers visceral Palestinian fears that Al-Aqsa Mosque will one day undergo a forced partitioning akin to the one imposed on Hebrons Ibrahimi Mosque by Israeli authorities in 1994.

The Trump plan is unlikely to ever serve as the basis for negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, let alone a comprehensive peace deal. The Palestine Liberation Organisation and Hamas refused to engage with it long before its announcement. Some Arab states made somewhat supportive statements about it right after its publication but these were soon overtaken by a chorus of disapproval from around the world. The Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation also rejected the plan in early February.

The plan, however, can still cause considerable damage. Israelis could invoke it as setting forth new default parameters for how the site will be governed in the absence of an Israeli-Palestinian deal.

Following the Muslim worlds rejection of the plans attempt to alter the status quo at the Holy Esplanade, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman sought to clarify Washingtons stance on the issue. The status quo, in the manner that it is observed today, will continue absent an agreement to the contrary, he said at a media briefing. So theres nothing in the [] plan that would impose any alteration of the status quo thats not subject to agreement of all the parties.

In theory, Friedmans remarks provide some clarification, suggesting Washington will insist that any change allowing for non-Muslim prayer should occur only as part of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. In practice, however, his comments leave room for ambiguity as the status quo, in the manner that it is observed today  in both Jordanian and Palestinian eyes  is already an eroded version of the historical arrangement.

Over the years, Israel has increasingly allowed Jewish prayer and imposed greater limitations on the Waqfs independence. Growing numbers of religious Jews have visited the site, many of whom are part of Temple movements  activist groups seeking to promote Jewish worship at and Israeli control over the holy site with the ultimate aim of erecting a Third Temple.

They make up a small minority of Israeli Jews, but Israels police has given them significant leeway, tolerating low-profile prayer as well as discreet study of religious texts and conduct of rites of passage, while blocking open and loud prayer.

With Waqf support, Palestinians have regained access over three sections of the compound turning them into prayer halls. This happened most recently at a building near Bab al-Rahma which was shut down by Israeli authorities in 2003.

In light of all this, it is clear that there are major differences between committing to the ever-changing status quo today and the historical arrangement.

Tellingly, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, who is responsible for the police policies at the holy site, seems to publicly encourage ongoing Jewish prayer at the site, in contravention of the prayer ban.

Moreover, Temple activists have already been invoking the plans language to argue for doing away with the non-Muslim prayer ban. The Students for the Temple Mount, for example, launched a media campaign within two days of the plans release, titled The Time Has Come: Sovereignty and Freedom of Worship at the Temple Mount for Jews Now!, quoting the Trump plans statement in support of Jewish prayer.

There are many reasons to reject the plan, including its departure from international norms, its blatant bias, and its treatment of Palestinians in Israel as second-class citizens. But the positions it espouses on Jerusalems Holy Esplanade present a particular danger.

By calling into question the status quo and legitimising exclusivist Israeli positions, it risks making any future resolution ever more elusive. It empowers forces working to shatter the ban on non-Muslim worship on the site and increases the possibility of another episode of religiously motivated violence in Jerusalem.

The US is assertively seeking backing for its plan, including from Arab states. Should President Trump be re-elected in November, his administration may well embark on a more sustained effort to do so. Those hoping for a peaceful and sustainable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should not just withhold their support for it serving as the basis for negotiations, but actively oppose it.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
An employee wears a protective mask as he talks on the phone inside a hotel under lockdown after a coronavirus case was identified in Adeje, in the Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife, Spain, February 25, 2020. Christopher Betts via REUTERS

AN IRISHMAN who is currently in a hotel in Tenerife which is on lockdown following a confirmed case of the coronavirus says that every guest has been told to stay in their rooms and wait for a doctor to test them for the virus.

It emerged this morning that an Italian doctor staying at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace resort in Tenerife tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.

Several hundred guests are currently on lockdown inside the hotel, including overnight staff and a number of Irish guests.

The man is currently on a trip abroad with his partner and several friends and did not wish to be named.

Speaking to Independent.ie, he said that a note was slipped under the door of each hotel room advising guests to remain in their rooms early this morning.

We could see from our balcony that they were serving in the restaurant and that breakfast was open, breakfast was being served, he said.

When we went downstairs we also had seen that the police had cornered off the streets around the hotel, we found out that staff who were turning up for work werent being allowed in.

The only staff that were around were the ones that have been here all night so they were exhausted.

Cafes and poolside bars were not open for business this morning at the resort.

At approximately 1pm Irish time, all guests were asked to return and stay in their rooms.

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They said that they would have some doctors that would be calling to every single room to test people for the virus, he said.

So were here waiting for that to happen.

A fellow Irishman travelling with the couple was due to have surgery this Friday but this has now been cancelled.

The couple were due to fly home this coming Thursday.

But people arent overly concerned about the virus, it kind of seems unlikely, he said.

Nobody is feeling unwell. We dont know whats likely to happen, we dont know if were going to be on lockdown here for two weeks, we dont know if were going to be taken back to Dublin and we self-isolate for a couple of weeks.

We have no idea of any of that kind of stuff, he said.

Were waiting to be tested, we dont know if there is anything to worry about, we simply dont know. Theres no panic around the place, its just a little bit surreal, theres certainly no panic at all, he added.

This view was also echoed by bar staff working in Irish bars in the area,

Manager at Mullerkeys bar in Costa Adeje Lucy Szatmairi said: Nobody is panicked, everything is working normally, its just the hotel is closed, nobody is panicking around here.

Were waiting for further news now, she said.

Also nearby is Irish bar The Temple Bar, where staff worker Peter said that the bar is close to the hospital where the Italian doctor has been taken to.

We are working business as usual here, but we are a bit worried if they will close the whole town.

Especially for the people who are on holiday, it must be terrible for them.

We have business as usual, its like any other day, theres a carnival on in the north of Tenerife so its very busy, he said.

In a statement to Independent.ie, the Department of Foreign Affairs said that Irish nationals have been in touch with the department.

"The Department and our Embassy in Madrid are closely monitoring the situation," the statement read.

"We are in touch with the local health and tourist authorities. A number of Irish nationals staying in the area have been in contact directly with us. We are providing consular advice.

"Anyone who has specific concerns regarding Irish citizens currently in the affected area can contact the Department on 01 4082527," it added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has now opened a dedicated phone line for those with concerns relating to the virus.

In a statement, it said that this is due to a "high volume of calls".

"Given the high volume of calls we have opened a dedicated phone line for callers with concerns relating to COVID-19 outbreak overseas," the statement reads.

"Anyone who has specific concerns regarding Irish citizens currently in any affected areas can contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 01 613 1733."

Meanwhile, British holidaymaker Hannah Green, 27, from Hertfordshire, arrived at the hotel on Saturday with her boyfriend, Court Amys, and their one-year-old son. They are supposed to be staying until Sunday.

She told the PA news agency that communication had been "non-existent", adding: "We woke up to a note under our door this morning saying that for health reasons not to leave our room.

"I called downstairs to reception as soon as I saw it and they wouldn't tell us anything. So I quickly got on my phone and googled and saw a man had tested positive for coronavirus so I basically assumed it was that.

"But since then, we've had nothing from the hotel - no one has told us anything or what's going to happen."

Ms Green said she would like to go home but added: "I don't think we'll be allowed to leave. We don't want to be here. We're fed up now."

She said a sandstorm at the weekend had also confined them to their rooms.

"The sandstorm was the day after we arrived, Sunday, so we had to stay in the hotel then," she said. "Holiday from hell, honestly."

Visit our Covid-19 vaccine dashboard for updates on the roll out of the vaccination program and the rate of Coronavirus cases Ireland

The H10 Costa Adeje Palace is a seafront hotel with nearly 500 rooms, four pools and a gym.

The Italian doctor, who had travelled with his wife, tested positive on Monday and has been placed in isolation in hospital, local media reported, while the El Pais newspaper said about 1,000 guests were affected by the lockdown.

A statement from the hotel said it has "implemented all health and operational recommendations from the health authorities to ensure the safety and wellbeing of customers and employees".

"Additionally, we are providing customers and hotel staff all the necessary care and attention so that, despite the inconveniences this situation may cause, they are taken care of in the best way possible."

With additional reporting from Press Association
Laptops, backpacks and purses left unattended in parked cars get snatched in a matter of seconds in smash-and-grab robberies all the time in San Francisco. When Dave Ford returned to his car parked in the Tenderloin Friday, he found something else missing: his 3-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Holly.

Ford told KGO he had to pay a $1,000 ransom over the weekend to get her back.

"It's getting to the point where dogs are being taken out of cars and windows are being broken for someone's pet. Nothing can be left in a car," he told the news station.

After the dog was stolen Friday night near Bush and Larkin, Ford filed a police report and printed flyers, going person-to-person in the neighborhood to try and track down his stolen pup. He got a call Saturday afternoon from a person holding Holly hostage, he told KGO. The person asked Ford to meet on Fern Street in the Tenderloin and to bring $1,000.

Holly was returned to Ford in a duffel bag in exchange for the cash.

ALSO: Car break-ins surge in SF neighborhood that used to have hardly any

San Francisco dog owners have certainly paid more to retrieve a lost dog. In December, Emilie Talermo raised $7,000 to fund search efforts for her lost Australian shepherd Jackson, including hiring a pilot to fly a banner over the city. In 2018, pug owner Stephanie Lee went on a search-and-rescue saga for her stolen dog Phyllo, which brought her to homeless encampments, soup kitchens and SROs across San Francisco and Oakland.

Read the rest of that crazy story here.

Alix Martichoux is an SFGATE digital editor. Read her latest stories and send her news tips at alix.martichoux@sfgate.com.
British Parliamentary Group headed by MP Debbie Abrahams visited Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK ) on Sunday (February 23, 2020) and met various leaders at an event allegedly organised by Pakistani intelligence body ISI on the Kashmir issue. Zee News had reported earlier that Debbie Abrahams' actual plan was to visit India and from there go to Pakistan and OoK to allegedly demonise Indian security forces deployed in the valley to maintain law and order along with tackling terror activities.

The Indian government had already clarified that her visa was revoked as she had indulged in activities which went against the country's interest.

After being denied entry into India and being sent back to Dubai, Debbie Abrahams reached Pakistan on February 19, 2020. She left from Dubai for Pakistan as she already had a plan to visit the South Asian nation which she had not disclosed earlier, added Indian sources. Her plan also included a visit to PoK but she had kept it a secret when trying to enter India.

As per the sources in intelligence agenciess, she has been active against India at the behest of Pakistan. Her visit to Pakistan and PoK has been sponsored by the Pakistani government.

She was stopped from entering India after her arrival at New Delhi airport on February 17, 2020 and deported to Dubai. The rejection of the e-business visa was already intimated to her on February 14.
" " An estimated one in 2 million lobsters are blue. Gary Lewis/Getty Images/Buzz60

How rare is it to find a blue lobster? For one lobsterman, his lucky day came on Monday, Aug. 8, when he pulled one out from a trap laid in the waters off Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The blue color, which is a liability in the ocean (since it doesn't allow the lobster to blend in with its surroundings) is a benefit on land, as the lobsterman, Wayne Nickerson, hopes to donate it to the New England Aquarium in Boston. That will save it from ending up on someone's dinner plate.

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The blue hue, according to the Lobster Institute at the University of Maine comes from a genetic defect that causes the lobster to make excessive amounts of the protein that creates the color. There's approximately a one in 2 million chance of finding a blue lobster. But, surprisingly, these are not the rarest color of lobster.

The Lobster Institute estimates there's a one in 10 million chance of coming across a red lobster  one that's red before being cooked, that is, and a one in 30 million chance of seeing a yellow lobster or a calico lobster. (A calico lobster is one that's orange but mottled with black shells.) And the rarest lobster of all? An albino or crystal lobster  that's one with no color at all. Odds of finding this one are one in 100 million.

All of this makes the blue lobster seem pretty common by comparison. Indeed, Nickerson said he found another blue one in 1990.

Some experts dispute the one-in-2-million odds for blue lobsters. A researcher at England's National Hatchery thinks it could be as low as one in a few hundred thousand. But a zoology expert at Oxford University supports the one-in-2-million odds. Even Rob Bayer, executive director at the Lobster Institute which quotes the higher figure, admitted that it's just a guess. "The chances of this happening nobody really knows," he told the BBC.

Now That's Cool Two fishermen off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, caught two blue lobsters three days and 92 miles (150 kilometers) apart back in May 2016.
Gandhinagar, Feb 25 : Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Tuesday said that violence like what was witnessed in Khambhat town would not be tolerated at any cost and warned of strict action against those involved.

Rioters had set ablaze 25 to 30 houses and shops in Akbarpura area of Khambhat in Anand district on Sunday afternoon. Around a dozen persons were reported injured following clashes and stone-pelting between two groups. Over two dozen vehicles were also damaged.

"Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja has taken stock of the situation in Khambhat. The Director General of Police too has reached the town. The state government is committed to quell such incidents through strict action," Rupani said.

He said that instructions had been issued to the Home Department, including police, to ensure such violent incidents are not repeated.

Sources said that Akbarpura had witnessed a series of violent incidents in the past month.

Police has so far arrested nearly 40 persons for the Sunday violence. According to police, no serious injury was reported though some persons were hospitalised after the clash. Later, they were discharged from hospital.
A jury in New York City has found former movie producer Harvey Weinstein guilty of sexual assault and rape.

The jury cleared Weinstein on the most serious charges he faced  which carried a possible life sentence. He now faces up to 25 years in prison.

Weinstein once was a powerful producer in Hollywoods film industry. The 67-year-old Weinstein was convicted of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006. He also was found guilty of raping actress Jessica Mann in 2013.

The guilty finding represents an important moment in the #MeToo movement.

The movement gained attention in October 2017. That month, stories published in The New Yorker and The New York Times described Weinsteins mistreatment of women. The #MeToo movement spread from Hollywood to other industries. Women, and some men, publicly reported stories of sexual abuse by powerful people.

More than 80 women, including famous actresses, had accused Weinstein of sexual wrongdoing. He denied the accusations and said any sexual experiences described were consensual  or agreed to by everyone involved.

During the trial, government lawyers described Weinstein as a repeat attacker who manipulated women by offering promises to help their acting careers. Prosecutors said he would ask women to meet him in hotel rooms or private homes, where he would then violently attack them.

Prosecutors added to their case by calling several other accusers as witnesses. One of those women, Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, told jurors that Weinstein came into her apartment one winter night in 1993 or 1994 and raped her.

The reported incident took place too long ago to be charged as a crime. But prosecutors offered it to show Weinsteins past behavior.

Testimony of prior bad acts is generally not permitted in criminal trials. But an exception to the law let prosecutors call additional women as witnesses to show Weinstein had a long history of abusive behavior.

Throughout the case, the defense argued that regret led the accusers to take consensual incidents and redefine them as crimes.

Weinsteins lawyers centered their arguments on evidence of friendly messages and continued contact between the women and Weinstein. His lawyer, Donna 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 opposed claims that Weinsteins accusers were not to be trusted, or that the women were responsible for the reported attacks.

Weinstein still faces sexual assault charges in California. Those charges were announced just hours after his trial on charges of rape began in New York City. He also faces charges in civil court brought by many women.

Im Jonathan Evans.

The Reuters news agency reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

assault - n. a violent attack

convict - v. to prove that someone is guilty of a crime in a court of law

manipulate - v. to deal with or control (someone or something) in a clever and usually unfair or selfish way

prosecutor - n. a lawyer who represents the side in a court case that accuses a person of a crime and who tries to prove that the person is guilty

testimony - n. something that someone says especially in a court of law while formally promising to tell the truth

prior adj. existing earlier in time

overzealous adj. too eager or enthusiastic
When children who are victims of crime have to testify in court in Winnipeg, they dont have to take the stand alone.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When children who are victims of crime have to testify in court in Winnipeg, they dont have to take the stand alone.

Milan, a black Labrador retriever with knowing eyes and a calm demeanour, has become an integral part of the Manitoba Justice Victim Services department since being hired in 2016. She is the provinces first and only accredited facility dog and her job is to support children and youth  many of whom are victims of sexual offences  while they navigate the justice system.

Milan has become an integral part of the Manitoba Justice Victim Services department since being hired in 2016. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)

To date, she has provided support in more than 100 court cases.

"Her purpose is to help us normalize the court procedure for people," says Vivian Bott, a victim services worker and Milans primary handler. "She breaks down barriers, she builds bridges with people, she calms people down."

The pair work and live together full time. Botts office in the Woodsworth Building on Broadway is outfitted with a dog bed full of stuffed animals where Milan can rest while Bott works on the computer. Their weekly routine includes anything from court preparation and client meetings to trial appearances.

Milan doesnt have to do much to have an impact  her presence in nondescript boardrooms and austere courtrooms is often enough.

"Theres like a storm of emotions people have coming into this building because they know why theyre coming here," Bott says, adding that the six-year-old Lab has an innate ability to suss out who needs help regulating those emotions.

Milan with her handler victim services worker, Vivian Bott, in the Law Courts building. (Winnipeg Free Press)

"I bring her into a group of people and she will just go to whoever needs her. Sometimes its the kid, sometimes its the parent because theyre angry that this awful thing has happened to their kid."

When shes wearing her blue-and-yellow work vest, Milans signature move is to approach whoever is in distress and sit on their feet  a courtesy she has extended to staff, police officers, judges and passersby in the halls of the Law Courts.

During court proceedings, she will join children on the stand, within petting distance, and provide physical comfort in difficult moments.

"I can talk to people all day long and I can give them supportive comforting words, but I cant go up to my client and touch them or offer any kind of physical comfort to them. But they can get that from her," Bott says.

At eight weeks old, Milan went to live with raisers, who help socialize the dogs for their future work. (Supplied photo)

The difference Milan has made within the Victim Services department has been profound, not only as a tool to connect with clients, but also as a morale booster in the office.

"I think shes been a valuable addition to our team at Victim Services, not just for the clients we work with, but even for the staff. Working with a dog in the office is just an incredibly rewarding experience," says Ann Desautels, Milans alternate handler.

To become handlers, Desautels and Bott both went through an intensive training program to learn how to command Milan, who is a graduate of the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS).

The non-profit organization has been running in Burnaby, B.C., for 33 years and specializes in raising and training accredited facility dogs, and service dogs for clients with mobility issues, hearing loss and post-traumatic stress disorder. Unlike general therapy dogs, facility dogs, like Milan, are specially trained to provide physical, social or emotional support to those in the justice, education and health-care systems.

Milan graduated from Pacific Assistance Dogs Society which specializes in training facility dogs. (Supplied photo)

"Were looking for dogs that have that natural affinity for people, that are drawn to people when they are upset," says Tara Doherty, communications officer with PADS. "But even more importantly, were looking for dogs that have a really nice resilience... the ability to do that type of work and keep coming back for more without it taking a real toll on them.

"Similar to people, not everyone is suited to work in a victim-services type of role."

Doherty says there are about 180 dogs in PADS two-year training program at any given time; only about half graduate to a work placement. The remainder, while not suited for a career in service work, are adopted as pets by families with children with disabilities.

The organization retains ownership of its dogs throughout their working lives and covers the cost of breeding, training, placement, follow-ups and support during that time. The average cost of each animal from birth to retirement is about $35,000.

Milan wears her blue and yellow vest to signal she's ready to work. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)

Bott, a 16-year veteran of the department, is planning to adopt Milan when she retires from Victim Services, but for now the relationship has to remain professional.

"I dont own her, shes not my pet. Shes my work partner first," she says. "When we retire shell be my pet all the time."

Bott was matched with Milan in 2016 and went through a week of training that included a written and practical test in Burnaby before she could bring the dog home. The pair is required to complete a recertification test annually.

The new partnership took some getting used to in the early days.

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When she's not working, Milan catches a nap in Bott's office. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)

"It takes, I would say, a good three to six months to get used to having a 24/7 companion," Bott says. "We live together, we work together, were together all the time.

"There would be times that I would wake up in the middle of the night and think, Oh my God, did I leave her somewhere? "

Now, on the rare occasion she goes somewhere alone, Bott feels as if something is missing. She has also become accustomed to fielding questions about where her four-legged co-worker is.

"Its all about Milan. Im her accessory and its perfect."

eva.wasney@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @evawasney
By Denis Mukwege, KYODO NEWS - Feb 25, 2020 - 11:35 | All, World

Visiting Japan in October 2019 reinforced my long-held conviction that we humans are in this life as together as ever. Obviously, the pursuit of human aspirations such as women's rights, peace, and security have no national boundaries.

I visited Hiroshima on Oct. 6, 2019, which coincided with the attack on Lemera Hospital in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 1996, where armed rebels from Rwanda killed at least 38 patients and three nurses at a time when the staff was already busy caring for about 300 patients.

Wherever peace and human rights are being threatened on our planet, we have the ultimate moral obligation to remember that national borders do not become boundaries of our humanity. The path to global peace lies in the lessons of our history as one human family. To this end, we should make sure that the tragedy that occurred in Hiroshima 74 years ago is not forgotten -- and, more importantly, is not repeated elsewhere, such as in the DRC, in any form.

(Denis Mukwege gives a lecture at the University of Tokyo on Oct. 4, 2019.)

In Hiroshima I could see the lasting memory of the horror the city experienced in 1945. The atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima is a testimony to the duality of human nature, in which love and empathy on the one hand coexist with cruelty, madness, and indifference on the other. My visit to the A-bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park, and my interactions with survivors, or hibakusha, provided me with many illustrations of the unlimited suffering and destruction that people can impose on their fellow human beings.

Along with such observations, there also emerged a sense of admiration for the Japanese people, as they had been able to rise up out of the ashes of war even stronger than before and with enormous determination to rebuild their country. Learning from their experience against the terrible odds they faced further reinforced my determination to contribute to the emergence of a nuclear-free world as well as the rebuilding of peace and human dignity wherever these are being threatened, particularly in places such as the DRC, my home country.

It would be incomplete to evoke feelings about the A-bomb dropped in Hiroshima without pointing out that in two tragic ways the destinies of Japan and the DRC have been linked. The first link is through the raw uranium used in the fabrication of that atomic bomb, which was extracted from the DRC.

Another unfortunate and major link connecting Japan and the DRC is through what are known as "conflict minerals," more precisely coltan, which is widely used in the fabrication of key components of electronic devices. Japan is one of the world's electronic powerhouses, and thus its manufacturers are well connected to the related global value chains, which extend to the DRC.

Sadly, the extraction of this mineral has been associated with violence and widespread rape in the eastern part of the DRC. Much of the world's coltan, which is used in electronic devices such as mobile phones, comes from areas of conflict, mainly in the DRC.

Thus, to some extent we all bear some responsibility for the atrocities that take place in areas where coltan is extracted. Of course, the electronic devices themselves cannot be blamed for those atrocities. Rather, it is our silence that should bear the blame. Consequently, the ongoing tragedy in the eastern part of the DRC is more indicative of a crisis of our own humanity than of a humanitarian meltdown.

It is within the context of an economic conflict for the control of minerals imposed upon the people in eastern DRC for more than 20 years that rape as a weapon of war has been widely used. These barbaric acts have the effect of destroying the matrix of life -- the family, and the social and economic fabric -- and of traumatizing entire communities.

As a result, many people have been forced to flee from their land, leaving it to militia groups in their pursuit of capturing mineral fields. This economic war is at the root of insecurity and political instability that has resulted in the deaths of more than six million people since 1996.

Unfortunately, this cycle of violence, with its massive displacement of people and rape of women, is still going on, and it has also been fueled by a climate of impunity, corruption, and lack of accountability. Peace cannot be built on mass graves or on denial of truth and justice.

Almost 10 years ago, the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights published the Mapping Report documenting the most serious violations of human rights and provided a tally and evidence of 617 cases of crimes against humanity, and probably cases of genocide as well. Although the Report recommended the establishment of an international tribunal for investigation of crimes in the DRC, nothing has yet been done to implement this recommendation. Yet, justice is a prerequisite for building lasting peace insofar as it is not only the most effective mechanism for preventing crimes but also a crucial step in the process of healing for the victims.

In this connection, on Oct. 30, 2019, with my co-laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize, Nadia Murad, we have launched the Global Fund for Survivors. This fund provides reparations for rehabilitation and reinsertion programs in countries that have either denied their responsibility or cannot support the victims because of a lack of technical capability and/or a lack of the financial means to do so.

It is my strong conviction that peace and human rights should not be taken for granted. I believe that human beings everywhere should collectively fight for these pillars of human values.

Regardless of whether one visits memorials of human suffering such as the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945 or ongoing violence in the DRC, human tragedies reveal the same colorless tears. Even as we see the worst in humankind, we also have to fight and to display the very best of the human spirit. Hence the future of global peace demands that we fight first and foremost in the name of our common humanity rather than for narrower national interests.

(Denis Mukwege is a Congolese gynecologist who was awarded the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for his contribution to the fight against wartime sexual violence. Mukwege set up the Panzi Hospital in 1999 in Bukavu, an eastern city of the DRC where he was born.)
Travellers have been left thousands of dollars out of pocket after online flight retailer Fly365 collapsed.

The flight booking company entered into voluntary administration on Friday and removed both its website and Facebook page - leaving customers in the lurch.

Around 600 customers are waiting for refunds after the shock development.

Melbourne couple James Price and Steven Somers had spent $11,500 on flights to Europe and have been left without a refund.

Travellers have been left thousands out of pocket after flight retailer Fly365 entered into administration (stock image)

Mr Price and Mr Somers had organised a family trip to Europe and booked flights on February 14.

Mr Somers estimated that with flights, a cruise and accommodation his trip was worth around $30,000.

He said he is unable to buy more flights without a refund from Fly365, and fears his whole trip will be ruined if he doesn't get his money back.

Mr Somers had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in January and wanted to take the opportunity to travel while he could.

The couple's money was withdrawn from the account five days after buying the flights but when Mr Somers tried to book seats he noticed his reference number wasn't working.

He attempted to get in touch with Fly365 only to hear a response that the company was no longer trading via an email.

'They were still taking bookings up until the 19th [of February] so it's quite bad what they've been doing,' Mr Somers told Daily Mail Australia.

James Price (right) and Steven Somers (left) are now $11,5000 out of pocket after using Fly365 to buy flights to Europe

'It's a disaster. People have told me (Fly365) knew they were insolvent but they were still taking bookings.'

Mr Somers estimated that bookings from as recently as January and February weren't being honoured, and he is in limbo as he waits for a refund.

Customers are met with a 'this page isn't working' pop-up message when they try to access the Fly365 website

The Australian retailer went into administration on Friday and its website and Facebook page have since been removed

'I haven't seen my parents since I was diagnosed with MS last month, so that was why we wanted to plan this trip because I don't know what my mobility is going to be for the next few years,' he said.

Mr Somers - who had to resign from his job after being diagnosed with MS - said Fly365's collapse had caused him 'huge stress'.

The Australian Federation of Travel Agents said they were given no warning before the flight retailer went belly-up.

'This is a very regrettable situation and AFTA strongly believes that contributing circumstances beyond the control of AFTA and the ATAS scheme have resulted in this outcome,' said AFTA chief executive Jayson Westbury.

'AFTA, through the robust criteria that surrounds the ATAS scheme, is able to monitor and review the health of travel businesses who hold ATAS accreditation.

'Unfortunately, where there appears to be deliberate withholding of information by the Directors, AFTA was not in a position to either provide advance support to the business prior to its failure or predict this outcome.'

A Melbourne couple have been left $11,500 out of pocket after Fly365 went belly up (stock image)

AFTA is urging customers to contact the airline to confirm their tickets as well as contacting their bank to issue a refund and making enquiries with the liquidator.

Mr Somers said affected customers are now waiting for liquidators to host a meeting to update them on how they can get their money back.

He has since set up a Facebook page for other people who had booked flights with the retailer.

The page, Fly365 Liquidation - Support Group has so far more than 600 members.

Nicarson Natkunarajah from Roger and Carson Pty Limited is the liquidator for the company.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Natkunarajah for comment.
Heather Mac Donald is one of Americas great heroines. For no reason other than love of her country, Western civilization and common sense, she ventures repeatedly into the bizarre and hostile world of Americas colleges and universities. If students listened to her, they would learn a lot. Alas, most of them are not up to that task.

Heather has often been subjected not just to rudeness, but to threats of violence. I can draw on my own experience here. Last year, my youngest daughter invited Heather to give a talk at her college. My wife and I drove Heather down to the college, but before we set out we were told by the schools administration that we should drive up to the loading dock at the back of the student union, because college authorities didnt think they could guarantee Heathers security.

Despite being well past my prime, I was pretty sure that I could guarantee her safety against a group of college leftistsnot, in general, a formidable forcebut we nevertheless complied with the administrations request and entered via the loading dock. That night, Heathers theme was that the full house in the auditorium were among the most privileged people in world history, and their desperation to be oppressed in some fashion was sadly misplaced. By the end of the evening, I think she had won over most of the crowd.

Things didnt go as well last Thursday at Colgate. Leftists stacked the auditorium, briefed to respond rudely to Heathers message. It is an article of faith on the Left that college girls are raped at a rate orders of magnitude above the national average. If that were true, not only would law enforcement be devoting much of its resources to the college rape epidemic, but 18 year old girls and their parents would avoid our universities and colleges like the plague. But, of course, that isnt happening. The whole thing is nonsense. But Heathers message of sanity was wasted on the Colgate students.

The College Fix has the sad story. This video captures the question and answer session, which is more appalling than you probably can imagine.

It is almost unbelievable how ignorant and ill-educated Americas college students are. They are well below average in every material way. For all my life I have been an advocate for higher education, but I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that college is generally a mistake, as young people are mostly misinformed there, rather than educated. There are a few technical fieldsmedicine, engineering, possibly lawwhere such education is actually useful. Otherwise, we and our young people would be better off if they eschewed institutions like Colgate in favor of trade and technical schools, or immediate entry into the labor market. They couldnt possibly do worse than to pursue the typical four-year liberal arts degree.
Key market players analyzed in the research include Pfizer, Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Johnson & Johnsons, Celegene Corporations, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., MedImmune, LLC, Celltrion Inc., Biogen Inc., and Amgen Inc.

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Surge in rheumatoid arthritis incidence, increase in geriatric population, and increase in level of obesity across the globe fuel the growth of the global anti-rheumatics market.

According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the global Anti-rheumatics market held nearly $57.22 billion in 2018, and is expected to generate $71.93 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 2.9% from 2019 to 2026. The research provides a detailed analysis of changing dynamics, recent trends, key segments, major winning strategies, and competitive landscape.

Surge in rheumatoid arthritis incidence, increase in geriatric population, and increase in level of obesity across the globe fuel the growth of the global anti-rheumatics market. However, side effects regarding medication and expensive cost of biologics & biosimilars restrain the market growth. On the other hand, R&D activities taking place in biosimilars and innovative biologics create numerous opportunities in the market.

Scope of the Report:

Report Attribute Details Market size available for years 2018  2026 Base year considered 2019 Forecast period 2019  2026 Forecast units Value (USD) Segments covered By Drug Class, By Type Geographies covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, LAMEA

On the basis of drug class, the disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) segment accounted for more than one-third of the total share in 2018, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. This is owing to its effects on medical conditions rather than symptoms. However, the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) segment would register the highest CAGR of 3.7% from 2019 to 2026.

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On the basis of type, the prescription-based drugs segment held the largest market share in the global anti-rheumatics market in 2018, accounting for more than three-fourths of the total market share in terms of revenue, and is expected to register its dominant position during the forecast period. This is due to rise in the number of specialized hospitals across the globe that offer treatments by specialized professionals. Contrarily, the over-the-counter drugs segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 3.3% during the forecast period, owing to increase in awareness about treatment options and ease in accessibility.

Based on region, North America contributed to the largest share in 2018, contributing to nearly one-third of the global anti-rheumatics market, and is estimated to maintain its lead throughout the forecast period. This is due to ease in availability and rise in aging population susceptible to nephrological disorders. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to witness the highest growth rate with a CAGR of 3.7% from 2019 to 2026. This is due to rise in expenditure in healthcare and rise in awareness regarding anti-rheumatics.

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Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of Market Research Reports and Business Intelligence Solutions. AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, last week once again expressed her opposition to the states Green Light Law, which grants drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants.

Federal, state, county and local law enforcement officers and officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement held a news conference in Troy last Thursday to cite their concerns about the law.

Stefanik called it unacceptable that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has barred federal law enforcement officials from accessing information about drivers in the Department of Motor Vehicles database.

Today, law enforcement officers were extremely clear  the Green Light Law will result in injury or worse to ICE, (Customs and Border Protection), and Border Patrol officers who are trying to do their job to keep our communities safe by stopping human and drug trafficking across our border and heinous crimes against children, she said.

The Department of Homeland Security announced earlier this month that, because of the Green Light Law, the Trump administration is cutting off New Yorkers from trusted traveler pre-screening programs that allow people to bypass customs and passport checks.

Cuomo issued his own statement after meeting with President Donald Trump, saying he would be willing to authorize access to the Department of Motor Vehicles database with removal of Social Security numbers, which could reveal undocumented status, and increase penalties for unauthorized use of the DMV database.

We can provide trusted travel information. We can provide the automobile export industry information. What they really want and what we cant provide is use of the DMV data for immigration purposes. Period. Their extortion and bullying will not work in New York, Cuomo said in a news release.

Assemblyman Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, joined members of the Assembly Minority Conference on Monday to also voice their concerns about the law.

Blocking the federal government from accessing the DMV files of illegals applying for licenses is not only dangerous but reckless, Stec said in a news release. We should not be making the work of law enforcement and those who are protecting us any harder. Its my hope that this issue is resolved quickly.

Independence Party endorses Stefanik

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, has been endorsed by the New York Independence Party.

Elise has been committed to getting bipartisan results for her constituents since day one in office. She works with anyone, regardless of party, on behalf of hardworking North Country families, veterans, small businesses, and farmers, said Frank MacKay, chairman of the Independence Party of New York, in a news release.

Langworthy endorses Stec

Assemblyman Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, picked up the endorsement of NYGOP Chairman Nick Langworthy, in his bid for the 45th Senate District seat.

Stec is running to replace the retiring Sen. Betty Little, R-Queensbury, in the district, which includes all of Clinton, Essex, Franklin and Warren counties, as well as parts of St. Lawrence and Washington counties. Stec was first elected to the Assembly in 2012.

Whether its leading the fight to reverse the disastrous bail and discovery laws or his work on behalf of property taxpayers and small businesses, Dan delivers results for his constituents. Hes exactly the kind of champion we need fighting for a return to common sense in New York state, and Im thrilled to endorse him for state Senate, Langworthy said in a news release.

Republican Kevin Beary, a retired English teacher from Colton in St. Lawrence County, is also vying for the seat. Clinton County Treasurer Kimberly Davis, of the town of Plattsburgh, is the Democratic candidate.

Stec gains Independence nod

Stec, R-Queensbury, also picked up the endorsement of the New York State Independence Party.

We need elected officials that are willing to buck the trends and do whats right for everyday New Yorkers. That describes Dan Stec perfectly, said Independence Party Vice Chairman Tom Connolly in a news release.

Working Families Party endorses Moreschi

Glens Falls City Court Judge Nikki Moreschi has picked up an endorsement from the Working Families Party.

The party said in a statement that Moreschi is also the supervising judge of Warren Countys only Domestic Violence Court and has participated in multiple court improvement programs, including a countywide misdemeanor drug treatment court, according to a news release.

The party said it confidently endorsed Judge Moreschi based on the fact that she has already earned public confidence by consistently demonstrating trustworthiness, credibility, fairness and impartiality as a judge and attorney in the public eye.

Also running for the position is Greg Canale, a Democrat and a lawyer, who has been endorsed by the Warren County Conservative Committee. Rob Smith, principal court attorney for Warren County Court Judge John Hall, has the Republican endorsement.

Reach Michael Goot at 518-742-3320 or mgoot@poststar.com and follow his blog poststar.com/blogs/michael_goot/.

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For more than a decade, Kate Fall was at the heart of David Camerons team.

As his deputy chief of staff, she was his gatekeeper  the person who sat outside his office and decided who came in and who didnt.

Now she has written the riveting inside story of her years in the nerve-centre of power, serialised exclusively in the Daily Mail.

In this final extract, she reveals how, even though the Conservatives had won an unexpected majority in the 2015 General Election, the issue of Europe quickly began to divide David Camerons key allies.

May 2015. Amazing to be back in Downing Street for another five years! David and George are now at the top of their game. However, I soon sense the beginning of a friction between the Cameron and Osborne teams, which hasnt been present before.

Its Davids own fault. He has let slip in an interview that he wont fight another election, thus making himself a partially lame duck in what should be his moment of glory. Only partially, because he has been careful to say hell serve a full five years, and thats a long time in politics.

But still  George Osborne is the coming man. And David has morphed into a sort of king, looking affectionately at his bumptious, ambitious heir apparent.

Election tension: In May 2015, David Cameron gathers a team of advisers (Kate Fall far right) at his home

There have been many things we wanted to do but couldnt, either because we had to make concessions to the Lib Dems or because austerity dominated the political landscape. Now we have political liberty.

Philip Hammond stays in situ as Foreign Secretary. We all like his sweet, dry charm, and the fact that he doesnt play games. He likes to move with caution and check in before doing anything radical.

Apart, that is, from when hes driving his car, which he likes to do at great speed.

The next big decision is whether we keep Michael Gove on as Chief Whip, a job he hates and isnt particularly good at. We agree its best to move him to Justice, where he can put his considerable creative intellect to reforming prisons.

There is another reason for the move. Michael brings much to our team at No 10  not least his brilliance and charm. But although in many ways he fits in as an ultra-moderniser, he is also of a very different political mindset  more radical than conservative.

David once branded him a bit of a Maoist: someone who believes that progress only comes through creative destruction (Gove himself being the force of creative destruction).

This approach to government can be refreshing; its important to be challenged, especially now we are entering our eleventh year of working together.

David Cameron with his Wife Samantha arrives in No10 Downing Street after seeing the Queen the morning he won the 2015 General Election

But sometimes David and Michael just dont agree. And if theres one thing No 10 cant cope with, its confusion.

Anyway, Justice is a big promotion for Michael and we all think he will be pleased.

There is a feeling that Georges team think they are the future and the No 10 team are the past. They fight over column inches. At the party conference there is adulation for George, which amuses David and me, but others in No 10 are less sanguine.

And its not just friction between Nos 10 and 11. After David delivers his 2015 conference speech, Boris Johnson follows David and me to the lift, begging us not to give way to George by giving the go-ahead to the third runway at Heathrow.

Boris sees everything through the prism of how George Osborne plans to torture him next.

Right now, he is still mayor of London but his time in office is nearly up. So David discusses giving Boris the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with a view to something more senior when he retires from the mayoralty.

Boris turns it down. He is nervous of joining the team  and nervous of not, always trying to gauge the political advantage. But the money weighs heaviest with him.

To become the Culture Secretary, he would need to give up all his outside interests, including his weekly column with the Daily Telegraph. So, instead, it is agreed that hell attend the Governments political Cabinet, which meets once a week, as mayor.

It is strange to see him there, sitting alongside other members of the Cabinet, after having been an outsider for so long. We brace ourselves for his motivational Churchillian interventions but they never seem to materialise.

On the horizon looms the promised referendum on Europe.

When David was elected party leader in 2005, he was very much in step with the party on Europe. A self-confessed Eurosceptic, he was strongly anti-euro and pro-reform. He was never a Leaver, however; there werent many of those around at that time. But since then, their numbers had grown; so most of all, David just wanted the party to stop banging on about Europe.

William Hague, who is pragmatic about these things, felt wed never be able to keep the party together, marching unified into the 2015 election, without a commitment to an in/out referendum.

The strong arguments against were voiced most convincingly by George Osborne, who believed a referendum would be potentially devastating for our country and split the Tory party for a generation. But David believes in confronting political demons and resolving them, which means allowing the country to discuss and debate, then choose.

All three main parties had gone into the 2015 election pledging an in/out referendum in one form or another. So there was a strong sense that a referendum was coming, whether we wanted it to or not.

For David, the sooner he holds the referendum, the sooner he can turn to other things. George Osborne, though still uncomfortable with the whole idea, sees the attraction of an early vote for different reasons: he is worried that the economy may turn against us if we wait, losing us support.

The Johnsons formed their very own global elite Survivors: Stanley, Rachel, Boris and Jo Ive known Boris Johnson and his siblings since childhood because our fathers were friends. Each is clever and compelling in his or her own way, but they are also a tribe with a high level of Darwinian survival instincts. This, Im sure, comes from being brought up in one of the coldest houses in England (the last time I slept there, it actually snowed on my head in bed) and having to compete with each other. But they have chosen to keep close and form a sort of global elite, all their own. As head of the Oxford Union, Boris was already somebody when I arrived at university. His sister Rachel  in the year below him  was his loudest cheerleader. After Boris left Oxford, my family visited them at their farm in the West Country, Boris with his fiancee Allegra. Sitting around, discussing what to do next, Rachel announced they would write a book together, about how Oxford is a playpen for running the country. The Johnsons had conquered Oxford and were now off to conquer the world. And nothing changed very much over the years. Advertisement

And there is another, more personal, reason. An early referendum would give George time to rebuild his relationship with the party membership, who are 80 per cent for Brexit, before he takes his own shot at the leadership when David stands down.

We argue furiously about the timing among ourselves. In the end, over a curry in St Jamess, David and George decide on an early date: June 23, 2016.

But first, we have to get cracking with negotiations to deliver a new deal for Britain in Europe. This engulfs all and everything  including my diary, which fills up with meetings.

The most important of these is a weekly session, chaired by George, in the No 11 dining room, where we thrash out the guts of the package.

We keep returning to the vexed issue of getting an emergency brake on immigration from Europe. The Euro-pragmatists argue that the policy floated in the speech will never be accepted in Europe, so why ask for it? David will lose all credibility.

It is still undecided whether or not, when the time comes, all MPs will be free to choose which side they support in the referendum. Those who favour a free vote (David, me) do so mostly because we believe the referendum should, in part, be a cathartic exercise for the nation and the party.

Have a fair fight and the issue can be laid to rest for generations, and we can regroup as a party afterwards. Hobble the horse and the issue will remain an open sore.

George disagrees. He thinks a free vote encourages people who would otherwise stay loyal to the leadership to take the opposite side. It could become a test of Tory virility to vote Brexit.

In the meantime, the Eurosceptics are busy working on a Leave campaign. We are totally hamstrung because we cannot be seen to take sides  remain or leave  until we know the outcome of the renegotiations.

For New Year 2015, the Camerons stay at Chequers and ask the Goves to join them. The main thing that comes out of this gathering is that Michael is going to do the right thing on Europe, says David, when I catch up with him after the break.

Really? I say.

David nods.

I am relieved. We need our closest and most talented allies around us at this time. Michael may not be a fan of the EU but he is above all a loyalist  and he urged David not to hold the referendum in the first place.

On our first day back in the office, chief of staff Ed Llewellyn and I both have a missed call from Chris Grayling. We look at each other, smelling a large rat.

It turns out that he wants an urgent word with the PM. Never a good sign.

Just as we suspect, Chris wants to resign  to fight for Leave. Our sense is that he has mused over his career during the Christmas break and decided (rightly) that its not on an upward trajectory.

There will certainly be a reshuffle after the referendum. And his calculation is that in making himself the senior outer, he will be near-impossible to leave out of a post-referendum Cabinet, which will need to be balanced between Leave and Remain supporters as we try to heal party rifts.

Its clever thinking, but there is a flaw. We have decided, on balance, to go for a free vote, so he is going to look a bit foolish resigning for nothing.

Gordon Brown resigns After the 2010 election, Gordon Brown resigns  and we watch, captivated, as the two Miliband brothers battle it out for leadership of the Labour Party. We consider David by far the more problematic adversary. George Osborne welcomes the news of Eds triumph on bended and grateful knees in front of the TV set. Advertisement

Pulling Chris Grayling back from the brink is difficult  like stopping a JCB digger heading over a field. Fortunately, he sees the sense in our argument.

Then there is the question of what to do about Boris  by no means a new one. Now that he is coming near to the end of his mayoralty, he is interested at last in doing a job in government.

So David is dangling a senior Cabinet role. We talk quite a lot about what this should be  Defence, probably.

George thinks this will simply be a showcase for Boris: all uniforms and no tough decisions. What about Health, he jokes.

All initial signs show Boris as being pretty supportive of David, when it comes to the referendum. We are less sure about which way Michael Gove will turn.

There are ominous signs: texts and calls from David, and suggestions for family dinners, are just making him clam up.

Then there is a difficult meeting between David and George in the Prime Ministers flat. Michael seems to be heading for one of his infarctions, as his wife is fond of calling them  a sort of intellectual, emotional paralysis brought on by stressful situations.

We are all increasingly worried about him. I send him a text: This has got to be your choice Michael  but promise whatever you do, youll tell Dave your decision first.

I know Michael, and above all he is a polite and honourable person.

A deal has been struck. We have got most of what we wanted from Europe, including a brake on in-work benefits for EU citizens working in the UK, and a pledge that Britain will never be part of a European superstate.

Davids speech is carried live from Brussels on the Ten OClock News. Im about to turn off the TV when there is further news: Michael Gove has just announced that he is supporting Leave.

No warning  no text to me, David or George. Splat  a spoiler, right after Davids big moment, his first chance to stamp a mark on his new deal and make the case for Britain staying in Europe. It is the worst, most damaging time for this announcement.

The next day, there is a Cabinet meeting. We dont know exactly how the Cabinet will divide, and Michaels announcement has unnerved David.

I glance over at Michael, who is studiously looking down at his papers. The meeting begins with David making the case for Britain staying in a reformed EU, based on his renegotiation.

Over the next two hours, each and every Cabinet member speaks. All praise Davids leadership and congratulate him on his deal. Just six of the 24, including Michael, declare for Leave.

As I leave the Cabinet room, I notice the six Leave ministers have gathered outside.

Are we going ahead with the plan? I hear one ask, and they scuttle off together. An hour later, they launch their campaign, holding up a poster for Leave.

This comes as a shock. Suddenly we are split, campaigning openly against each other.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) is calling on members of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva to take urgent action to address the "brutal crackdown" by Iranian security forces on anti-government protests that rocked Tehran and more than 100 other cities and towns late last year.

Iranian authorities have failed to hold security forces accountable for "excessive and unlawful use of lethal force" in dealing with the weeklong protests that began on November 15 following a government decision to raise fuel prices. The demonstrations turned political as young and working-class protesters demanded clerical leaders step down.

More than three months later, officials have failed to announce the total number of deaths and arrests during the protests, HRW said in a statement on February 25.

"Iranian authorities have systematically repressed dissent for decades, and they are now confronting popular protests with an astonishing level of violence," said Michael Page, deputy Middle East director at the New York-based human rights watchdog.

"Principled international voices should send an unequivocal message that Iran cannot get away with killing protesters," Page added.

HRW said that interviews with victims and witnesses, a review of photos and videos from the demonstrations, and satellite imagery analysis "strongly suggest" that unlawful lethal force was used on at least three occasions while security forces responded to protesters who were blocking roads, or in some cases throwing stones and attempting to take over public buildings.

People interviewed and videos posted on social media indicate that in these three instances people who were fleeing the scene of protests were shot, the group said. One of these cases can be seen in a video posted online on November 17, recorded from a highway overlooking Taleghani Street in Tehran.

Due to a near-total Internet shutdown maintained by the authorities for five days and threats against families of victims, documenting the full extent of the crackdown, including the total number of people killed, has been difficult, according to HRW.

It quoted informed sources as saying that the authorities had banned families from conducting interviews with media and threatened them with retaliation if they do.

Amnesty International has estimated that at least 304 people were killed and thousands wounded as the authorities "crushed protests using lethal force."

Iranian officials have dismissed such figures as "lies."

A member of parliament has put the number at 170, while official media reported the deaths of at least five members of the security forces.

One parliament member said about 7,000 people were detained.
Veteran Nollywood actor, Chiwetalu Agu, has, in a series of Instagram posts, refuted a death rumour currently being peddled.

He also said he has not been sick, contrary to the rumour.

The 64-year-old actor, who was obviously upset about the speculation which he described as malicious, resorted to cursing those behind it.

His statement read, Yesterday, I got over 500 calls from Friends Fans and Family who want to know if the stories that they read on Facebook was true. Im not on Facebook

Now I dont know who started this nonsense stories of them being dead not me but one thing I know is that all the people that started this story and posted it on Facebook will DIE before me in the name Chukwu Okike Abiama. Iseeeeeeeeeee

If you see such nonsense post on Facebook please report the owner of the account.

The actor also expressed gratitude to all the people who tried to reach him and those who condoled with his family and friends for the love they have for him.

Death rumours are quite rampant in the Nigerian film industry.

From Pete Edochie to Odunlade Adekola and most recently Kannywoods Maryam Yahaya, several Nigerian actors have been rumoured to have died at various times in their careers.

Agu shot into limelight through two popular soap operas- ETV Channel 50, now ESBS Baby Come Now in Enugu and on NTAs Ripples in Lagos 31 years ago.

As one of Nollywoods A-list actors, he is also highly sought after by Nigerian filmmakers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B88IShwDgy3/
A man has filed a lawsuit against Sacramento County after he claim he spent nearly a month in jail without being charged with a crime.

Taylor Brophy said he spent 27 days in jail after being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, despite not receiving a formal charge for the crime.

He said his time in jail led to 'financial loss, extreme emotional distress, mental anguish, outrage, frustration, severe anxiety, damage to his reputation, embarrassment, and the disruption of his personal life.'

Taylor Brophy spent 27 days in jail after DUI arrest without receiving a criminal charge

After being arrested on or about March 21, 2019 for DUI, Brophy was taken to the Sacramento Main Jail, where he was booked and tested for blood alcohol level.

Brophy said even though his BAC did not test above the legal limit to operate a motor vehicle, he still spent five days in behind bars.

Then he was later transferred to the Rio Consumnes Correctional Center to serve an additional 22 days in jail.

During his time on lock down, Brophy never saw a judge and wasn't given an arraignment, bail hearing or probation revocation hearing, according to the lawsuit.

According to the suit, Brophy remained in jail even after other inmates heard a judge in the Sacramento Superior Court call his case.

The suit claims employees at the Sacramento Main Jail, Rio Consumnes Correctional Center, and Sacramento County Sheriffs Department 'knowingly and intentionally promulgated, maintained, applied, enforced and suffered the continuation of policies, customs, practices and usages in violation of the Constitution of the United States.'

Taylor Brophy said the time in jail caused 'mental anguish, outrage, frustration, severe anxiety'

Weighing in on the lawsuit, Sacramento attorney Mark Reichel told CBS Sacramento: 'Ordinarily in California, 99 per cent of the time on a first time DUI, as soon as you're sober enough, you're out the door.

'They don't have places to hold you so they do want you out of there.'

After his release on April 13, 2019, Brody said jail officials never gave him a reason why he was kept in jail.

The suit claims Brophy is entitled to both 'economic and non-economic damages' from Sacramento County.
The next River City Sessions will be held Friday, March 6, at Cadek Hall. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door. Performers will include Cody Ray, Cannon Hunt and Ben Strawn.

Review for the performers:

Cody Ray is poignant folk tunes from Chattanooga. Equal parts southern gothic, Pabst Blue Ribbon, The Bahamas, and a roll of 35mm film developed years later.

Cannon Hunt: Theres an honesty lining his songs which feels refreshing in its tone and expression. Theres emotional depth but no sentimental subterfuge, a rare combination for someone whose youthfulness might seem at first to be an impediment to his musical maturity. But Hunt deftly overcomes any such assumptions and delivers a sound thats both heartfelt and established. Touching on aspects of his relationship with God and how music is the conduit through which he accesses that spiritual reservoir, he imbues his music with the conviction of his own faith, with hope that it might help others who are looking for a surer handle on the nature of the divine and how it personally affects them.  - Joshua Pickard (Southern Sounding)

Ben Strawn: Cleveland, TN based songwriter, Ben Strawn, began his journey into songwriting five years ago as a college freshman. After cutting his teeth in the Chattanooga songwriting community and releasing his EP, "At Sunset", in 2017, Ben began pulling from current influences such as The Paper Kites, Death Cab for Cutie and Ryan Adams to usher himself into a new era. Blending acoustic guitars, 80s synthesizers, and a quiet yet powerful voice, Ben released his first LP, "See in Color", on January 10, 2020, and is currently playing shows around the Southeast to promote the record.




Amritsar The acting jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Harpreet Singh on Tuesday sought probe into the ongoing Delhi violence that has coincided with the visit of US President Donald Trump. At least 10 people have been killed in the national capital in the violence over the past two days.

He made the statement immediately after his return from Pakistan. The jathedar, along with 12 other Sikhs, had gone to Pakistan to take part in a function to observe the anniversary of the Nankana Sahib massacre on February 21.

See, when Bill Clinton (the then US president) had come to India in 2000, 36 Sikhs were killed in Jammu and Kashmir, and, now, when Trump is around, Delhi is burning. It should be probed why India sees violence whenever a US president is around? he said.

The jathedar said, We talked to the Pakistan government and they agreed to open two gurdwaras  named after Shaheed Bhai Taru Singh and Bhai Money Singh (both Sikh martyers). The shrines will be opened after renovation.

On being asked if he was satisfied with the apology of director general of police (DGP) for his Kartarpur remark, he said, His mistake is very big and should step down on moral ground. The statement has hurt the sentiments of Sikh community, adding, I have spent five days in Pakistan and I have not become a terrorist. How can a person become a terrorist spending some hours there?

On minorities condition in Pakistan, he said, Minorities in Pakistan, especially the Sikh community, are safe and at peace. We met several Sikhs and no one complained of any type of persecution.

Earlier, the jathedar had said that Pakistan was a safe country and maximum Sikhs from India should visit all historic gurdwaras there.

The jathedar had also met the family of a Sikh girl of Nankana Sahib who was allegedly abducted, forcibly converted to Islam and married to a Muslim youth in Pakistan. They informed me that the girl is under some pressure, he said.

On the row over Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwales interpretation of Gurbani and Sikh history, the Jathedar reiterated that he should appear before the five-member committee.

Quote:

See, when Bill Clinton (the then US president) had come to India in 2000, 36 Sikhs were killed in Jammu and Kashmir, and, now, when Trump is around, Delhi is burning. It should be probed why India sees violence whenever a US president is around?

Harpreet Singh, acting Akal Takht jathedar
Addis Ababa [Ethiopia], Feb 24 (Sputnik/ANI): 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. (Sputnik/ANI)


BRIDGEPORT  Settlement negotiations are winding down in the civil case of a former Fairfield police detective who claims he was forced to resign after he pleaded guilty to stealing thousands of dollars in heroin and OxyContin pills from the Fairfield Police Department.

Stephen Rilling, the son of Norwalks Mayor Harry Rilling, claims in his lawsuit against the town of Fairfield that his superiors in the Police Department ignored his pleas to keep him away from drug investigations and later refused to allow him to retire on a disability  being addicted to powerful pain killers.

Lawyers for the town and Rilling have been ordered to present their settlement positions before Superior Court Judge Richard Arnold on March 5. If no settlement is reached, the trial is scheduled to begin March 9.

Michael Rose, who represents the town, declined comment. Rillings lawyer, Eric Brown, did not return calls for comment.

Rilling, a 19-year veteran of the Fairfield Police Department, agreed to a plea bargain in March 2018 and pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor possession of narcotics and three counts of fourth-degree computer crime. He was sentenced to a suspended 5-year sentence with three years probation.

Police said between June 2016 and February 2017, Rilling signed out more than 225 folds of heroin, more than 800 OxyContin pills and a few packets of cocaine from the departments evidence room on the false pretext of needing to have the drugs tested.

Police said he ultimately converted these narcotics for his personal use and consumed them as a result of an addiction to said drugs.

Police said the drugs originated from a number of raids, undercover operations and from the homes of people who overdosed on the drugs.

In one case between Feb. 20, and May 1, 2014, police said, Rilling conducted an investigation that resulted in the seizure of 58 folds of heroin. Police said the target of the investigation pleaded guilty in October 2016 and on Dec. 31, 2016, Rilling signed out all 58 folds from the evidence room on the pretense that a follow-up investigation was being done.

In his lawsuit, Rilling claims that in 2009 he was injured in a car accident while on the job and was prescribed opioid medication which led him to be addicted to opioids. He states in the suit that in 2013 he told his superiors in the department he was addicted to opioids and admitted himself to a drug treatment facility.

When he returned to work, he claims that despite his protests, he was ordered to resume investigating narcotics crimes. This led him to relapse and begin using opioids again and taking opioids and heroin from the Police Departments evidence locker, the suit states.

The plaintiff was forced to resign from employment with the defendant but if his disability had been accommodated, he could have continued in his position as a Fairfield police officer without relapse or resignation, the lawsuit states.
That whole five months, my parents were constantly looking for who was going to India of all our friends living in the United States, Ms. Eichler said. I had to coordinate all sorts of handoffs between uncles.

Until more options emerge for Indian bridal wear in the United States, the shopping trip to India and all its accompanying chaos remains the norm for many women. On Facebook, a roughly 2,200-member group for Indian-American women planning weddings called The Little Brown Diary regularly lights up with recommendation requests for visits to Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and more, where they intend to buy their own clothes as well as outfits for family members and bridal parties.

Itineraries are hastily stitched together through tips and direct messages from strangers and references from loved ones, and then, its time to hope for the best and prepare for totally unpredictable events. For example, when my older sister, Dr. Deepali Maheshwari, traveled to Jaipur, India, ahead of her wedding in July 2016, there was a strike that shuttered every jeweler in the country. I managed to order my wedding lehenga just before protests over a contentious citizenship law made it virtually impossible for my parents to access Chandni Chowk.

In my case, Im pleased to report that Asiana Couture was, in fact, as good as my cousin said it was. In fact, we ended up buying a lehenga that I tried on that first, exhausted night in Delhi  but only after days of visiting a slew of other shops, to the chagrin of my patient father.

And even though I was halfway around the globe from home, fighting jet lag and wearing an outfit that had been lifted and tied onto me by no fewer than three people  I still felt that common spark that most of my friends describe when they buy their wedding dresses as I exchanged a tearful hug with my mother.

Now, lets just hope that it fits.
Playing special music tailored for cats may help reduce the feline's stress levels during a visit to the veterinary clinic, according to a study which may lead to new ways of helping the furry friends remain calm during medical check-ups and procedures.

The study, published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, noted that the use of music has become increasingly popular in human medicine, with benefits including the reduction of anxiety associated with medical examinations, diagnostic procedures, and surgery.

According to the researchers, including those from Louisiana State University in the US, cats under general anaesthesia remain physiologically responsive to music.

They said the felines appear to be in a more relaxed state when played classical music, compared with pop and heavy metal.

In the current study, the scientists analysed the impact of different types of music on cats, particularly exploring the calming effects of music composed specifically for the felines.

The study noted that musical pieces that are considered pleasing to the human ear often have a beat similar to the human resting pulse rate -- which is generally between 60 and 100 beats per minute for adults -- and contains frequencies from the human vocal range.

Extending this principle to cat-specific music, the scientists composed lines based on cat-associated vocalisations like purring and suckling sounds, as well as frequencies similar to the feline vocal range.

To assess this hypothesis, they enrolled 20 pet cats and played 20 minutes of the cat-specific music Scooter Bere's Aria by David Teie, classical music (Elegie by Faure), or silence in a random order at each of three physical examinations at the veterinary clinic, two weeks apart, according to the study.

Based on video recordings of the cats' body postures and reactions to the handler during physical examinations, the researchers assigned stress scores and handling scale scores to each of the felines.

They also estimated the ratio of the immune system's cells neutrophils and lymphocytes from blood samples drawn from the cats to look for a physiological stress response.

According to the study, 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.

However, the scientists said this effect was not reflected in the ratio of their neutrophil and lymphocyte levels.

They speculated that 20 minutes may not have been long enough to allow music to affect this measure.

According to the researchers, cat-specific music may not only have benefits in terms of the welfare of the cat, but owners may feel reassured that their cat will have a more comfortable visit to the veterinarian.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- Young Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels, have proven that she is a good big sister

- The billionaire wife who cares very much for her little sister, Destiny Daniels, took to social media to express this love as she clocked a year older

- Regina paid a surprise visit to Destiny in school and gifted her a bouquet of money instead of flowers as well as a brand new iPhone 11 pro

Many people wish they have siblings when they are opportune to witness the love other people with brothers and sisters display.

For the youngest ones in the family, older siblings serve as older parents whom they look up to. These older siblings also do not disappoint as they try to make their younger ones feel special and loved at all times.

Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels, no doubt cares very much for her little sister, Destiny, as she is fond of expressing her affection on social media.

Well, the film stars sister clocked a year older on February 25, 2020, and she made sure to make it a celebration to remember.

Regina paid a surprise visit to Destiny at her school and she was presented with a cake as well as a bouquet of money instead of flowers. To top it off, the film star gifted the celebrant a brand new iPhone 11 pro.

See screenshots below:

Regina Daniels' sister clocked a year older on February 25, 2020, and she made sure to make it a celebration to remember.

Source: Instagram

Destiny was obviously very pleased by the visit and the gifts she received and it was evident in her huge smile. Regina shared videos from the special moment on her Instagram page and accompanied it with a caption that reads:

Happy birthday my baby

I wish you happiness and joy on this special day and may this beautiful day of your life bring you uncountable reasons to smile baby

I just want you to know that I love you sooo much my love.

See her post below:

Beautiful.

Just recently, Legit.ng reported that Regina Daniels was spotted with her billionaire husband, Ned Nwoko, at her magazine launch and the couple could not keep their hands off each other.

In a recent video, the couple showed the world the depth of their love again. Daniels and Nwoko were spotted having fun with each other at an event.

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The other billionaire in the race, has staked his campaign on both his accomplishments as mayor and his advocacy work during and after his time in office.

From the Feb. 19 debate: Fortunately or unfortunately, I make a lot of money and we do business all around the world. The number of pages will probably be in the thousands of pages. I cant go to Turbo Tax.

National polling average: 15%

Bloomberg 0% 30%
Ukraine has set a record for grain exports over the past 10 years. In 2019, it exported 56.7 million tonnes of grain crops, which is four times higher than in 2010, Deputy Director of the National Research Center Institute of Agrarian Economics Mykola Puhachov has stated.

"Ukraine over the past decade has significantly increased grain export volumes. Last year, another record was set: 56.7 million tonnes of domestic grain crops were exported to foreign markets. This is four times higher than in 2010 and 36% more than in 2018," Puhachov said.

He noted that the overall growth in grain exports led to its high cost in the history of Ukraine  USD 9.6 billion.

The largest buyers of domestic grain in 2019, as before, were the countries of Asia, Africa and Europe. A characteristic feature of 2019 was a significant update of the top 10 exporters of Ukrainian grain. Turkey, Bangladesh and Israel joined the list.

In the current marketing year, there is also an increase in domestic grain exports. In the first half of the 2019/2020 marketing year, Ukraine exported about 30.5 million tonnes of wheat, Puhachov summed up.

ish
Two years after Harris County approved an agreement with a private firm to display a dozen wooden/bronze sculptures/statues in Precinct 1 facilities, more than 1,200 pieces of African art sit in a county warehouse amid questions regarding the collections ownership and the use of taxpayer dollars to store and secure it.

The provenance, ownership and value of the artworks remain a mystery the county attorneys office is attempting to unravel. Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, meanwhile, hopes to secure an agreement to legally borrow the art and display it in county buildings.

That could expose Harris County to legal action unless the county can determine the arts rightful owners, Assistant County Attorney Melissa Spinks said Monday. A pair of investigators interviewed Sam Njunuri, the man who claimed ownership of the art, but he was unable to provide any supporting documentation, she said.

He was a very nice guy, but he has no records. He couldnt tell us anything, Spinks said. We are no further along at being confident as to who the legal owner is.

Spinks said Njunuri has stopped returning investigators phone calls.

His refusal to cooperate leaves Harris County in a quandary with a 5,000-square-foot warehouse filled with 1,267 artworks  many more than 6 feet tall  that can neither be returned to an owner nor put to public use. The county attorneys office has asked Precinct 1 to secure the site and ensure no pieces are moved. Another 140 pieces remain on display in Precinct 1 facilities, according to Ellis spokeswoman Maureen Haver.

As you can imagine, we are not art experts, Spinks said. We dont know if were dealing with stuff that belongs in a museum or belongs at a flea market.

Deal to display art

News of the stored art first was reported by KPRC Channel 2 earlier this month.

According to court records, Ellis persuaded his Commissioners Court colleagues in 2018 to approve an agreement with a business called African Art Global to display 12 wooden/bronze sculptures/statues for free as part of the precincts public art program.

Haver last week said the commissioner met the companys owner, Njunuri, in 2017, and the men share a deep appreciation for African art. Ellis staff said his sister-in-law, Angele Johnson, is a board member with African Art Global but does not have a financial stake in the firm.

Haver said Ellis public art director left in 2018, after the office had accepted more pieces from African Art Global, resulting in a high volume of art being stored. A new art director was hired this past fall.

It was Precinct 1s understanding that the paperwork had been updated to reflect this, Haver said in a statement. We recently learned thats not the case, and weve been working with the county attorneys office to complete the necessary updates.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Radack said the 2018 agreement was about displaying art in public buildings, not providing storage space to a private dealer.

I dont think we ever agreed to anything being stored in a warehouse, Radack said.

The agreement with African Art Global expired Jan. 30, depriving the county of any legal right to possess the art. Ellis has proposed a new, four-year agreement, which does not specify a number of artworks. On Feb. 11, however, he referred the item to the county attorney for review before a vote.

The new proposal, like the original, relies on African Art Globals claim to be the sole legal owner of the art works. First Assistant County Attorney Robert Soard said his office has yet to determine if that is accurate. Precinct 1 likewise was noncommittal last week.

Sam Njunuri  told Precinct 1 he owned the artwork, Haver said in an emailed response to questions about the art stored in the warehouse.

Haver declined to share an inventory Precinct 1 sent to the county attorney. Spinks said that record included photographs of pieces but no documentation of ownership. Spinks said Njunuri volunteered in an interview that he also has art stored in Austin, La Grange, Philadelphia and Georgia but was unable to provide receipts or bills of sale for any of it.

Attempts to reach Njunuri and Johnson on Monday were unsuccessful. African Art Global does not appear to have a physical office, phone number or website.

Spinks said she understood the warehouse previously was used to store recreation supplies. Access to the site is restricted by a secure gate and the warehouse has wooden barn doors that look pretty new, she said. Inside, the art sits in metal cages and is monitored by cameras overhead. Spinks said she was was unsure when the beefed-up security measures were added.

Ellis passion

Ellis long has had an interest in celebrating African-American history and culture. He was instrumental in creating a memorial in downtown Houston for four lynching victims and supported the creation of a board to advise the county on how to preserve black heritage.

He also has tapped his campaign account to purchase African art to display, an unusual though permissible use of political donations under Texas law.

The stored art became became a campaign issue Monday when Maria Jackson, Elliss opponent in the March 3 Democratic primary, said in a news release that the arrangement was an example of corruption.

Ellis is storing unauthorized pieces of priceless works of art in a county-owned facility at the expense of Harris County taxpayers, Jackson wrote.

Jackson did not respond to questions asking her to provide evidence supporting her claims. The Ellis campaign dismissed the allegations.

Its a completely false statement by a failing political candidate propped up by bail bondsmen and Republicans, campaign consultant Grant Martin said. The art is part of a broader public art program that has already brought art into Precinct 1 communities.

zach.despart@chron.com
Attempting to get a trade deal signed within a year, rival sides have agreed to their red lines ahead of talks.

The United Kingdom has been warned it faces a tough road ahead in post-Brexit trade talks as the rival sides  European ministers in Brussels and the UKs cabinet in Westminster  signed off on their negotiating red lines.

The European Union General Affairs Council on Tuesday approved the blocs mandate for negotiations with the UK  talks which are set to start next week.

Meanwhile, in Westminster, Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday chaired a meeting of senior ministers on his Brexit committee, as they agreed on their starting point for talks ahead of the publication of the UKs negotiating position on Thursday.

A spokesman for Johnson added that the UKs negotiating mandate for trade talks with the United States would also be published early next week.

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It was a very smooth process to agree our approach, the spokesman said. We look forward to engaging with the EU constructively. The UK position was based on other existing FTAs [Free Trade Agreements] between the EU and like-minded sovereign nations.

Immense time pressure

But Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok, arriving at the meeting in Brussels, warned of the immense time pressure facing both sides as they attempt to agree to a future trading relationship by the end of the year  a deadline insisted upon by the UK side.

The past has shown that we managed to do good work as a united European Union with regard to the Withdrawal Agreement, so that gives me hope for the negotiations to come, he told reporters.

But the time pressure is immense, the interests are huge  its a very complicated treaty  so it will be very hard work. A tough road ahead.

(Left-to-right): Slovak State Secretary Frantisek Ruzicka, Austrian Minister for European Union Affairs Karoline Edtstadler, Finland Minister for European Affairs Tytti Tuppurainen, and German Minister of State for European Affairs Michael Roth were among those who agreed the EUs negotiating position [Olivier Hoslet/EPA-EFE]

Simon Coveney, Irelands foreign minister, said the EU was making a generous and fair offer to the UK but warned Johnson not to renege on the commitments made in the Withdrawal Agreement.

Michel Barnier and the Irish government are at one on this: the Withdrawal Agreement involves significant commitments in the context of Northern Ireland through the Irish protocol that both the EU and the UK need to follow through on, he said.

If that doesnt happen, then I think it will damage significantly the prospects of being able to get even a bare-bones trade agreement  along with a number of other things that need to be done [and] in place by the end of the year.

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His comments follow reports that the prime minister had ordered his Brexit team to find ways to get around the Northern Ireland protocol, which aims to avoid the introduction of a hard border on the island of Ireland.

Barnier, the EUs chief Brexit negotiator, wrote on Twitter: We will keep a very close eye on the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement  this will be key for building a solid future partnership with the UK.

Croatias european affairs minister, Andreja Metelko-Zgombic, said the EU would be willing to offer a substantial and ambitious partnership in post-Brexit trade talks with the UK.

Todays General Affairs Council will adopt a mandate for the future relationship with the UK  and from our side we are really willing to offer a substantial, ambitious, balanced and wide-ranging partnership, she said.

The EUs negotiating mandate will be published later on Tuesday.

Fishing for a deal

British ministers are expected to seek a Canada-style agreement  but with zero tariffs, a proposal Johnson and his Europe adviser, David Frost, have set out in speeches in recent weeks.

But the push for a Canada-style deal could set up a clash with the EU after Barnier ruled out such an agreement.

He has previously said the UK was too close in proximity to be permitted to compete with the other 27 member states on such terms.





The prime ministers official spokesman, asked about the trade talks on Monday, said: The UKs primary objective in the negotiations is to ensure that we restore our economic and political independence on January 1 2021.

Frost and his team will head to Brussels for the first round of negotiations on March 2. One of the flashpoints expected with the forthcoming publication of the EUs negotiation mandate is on fishing, with leading member states speaking regularly about wanting continued access to UK waters.

Johnson used a speech in Greenwich earlier this month to announce that, once free of the EUs Common Fisheries Policy, British fishing grounds are first and foremost for British boats.

Fishing accounts for just 0.1 percent of the UKs gross domestic product (GDP), but the industry is of great symbolic value and dominates coastal communities.

Frances Europe minister, Amelie de Montchalin, signalled that fishing would be a hotly contested topic when the two negotiating teams come to spar in London and Brussels over the coming months.

The fishermen have the right to be protected; they know very well that if we sign a bad deal they will lose enormously, she told TV station France 2.

UK losing its marbles?

A leaked draft of the EU negotiation mandate last week also included a stipulation that the UK should return unlawfully removed cultural objects to their countries of origin.

The passage is thought to refer to the Elgin Marbles, ancient Greek sculptures brought to the UK  allegedly illicitly  more than 200 years ago, and now on display in the British Museum.

Greece has been vocal about demanding the return of the marble sculptures, which once adorned the Greek Parthenon temple, to Athens.

Downing Street has insisted that the future of the marbles is not up for discussion as part of our trade negotiations.

The prime minister is expected to meet Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz at Number 10 on Tuesday as part of his diplomatic efforts with EU leaders before talks commence.
GLENVILLE, Minn. - One person was injured when a train collided with a pickup truck in Freeborn County on Tuesday.

Just before 10 a.m., the Freeborn County Sheriffs Office received a 911 call from a Union Pacific train engineer who reported that his train collided with a Dodge Ram pickup at the 120 Street railroad crossing, about 50 ft from Hwy. 65, according to a press release from Freeborn County Sheriff Kurt Freitag.

The sheriffs office's initial investigation determined the pickup, driven by Gary Walstrom, a Freeborn County resident, was eastbound on 120 Street. The intersection is controlled with a yield sign for east/west vehicle traffic.

The train engineer told deputies they were northbound at about 35-40 mph when they were approaching 120 Street. He said they sounded their whistle/horn and saw the pickup slow down to the point where they thought the pickup was going to stop, however, the pickup continued into the crossing.

The train engine hit the passenger compartment of the pickup's passenger side. The pickup was pushed about 60 to 75 feet before the train came to a stop and the pickup it came to rest in the ditch on the west side of the tracks.

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Deputies and first responders arrived within minutes. Mr. Walstrom, who was the sole occupant, was removed without extrication and he was airlifted to Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester.

The Minnesota State Patrol, Glenville Fire and Rescue and Mayo Clinic Ambulance assisted at the scene.
A 62-year-old man from Illinois has broken the male Guinness World Record for the longest time spent holding an abdominal plank.

On February 15, George Hood, of Naperville, held a plank for an astonishing eight hours, 15 minutes and 15 seconds.

That's longer than the entire third season of Netflix's TV series Stranger Things.

Hood held the title back in 2011 and - after losing it in 2016 - his three sons inspired him to try and break the record again.

It was the culmination of seven hours a day of training for the last 18 months, including doing 674,000 sit ups, 270,000 push ups and one practice 10-hour plank.

George Hood, 62, of Naperville, Illinois, first broke the Guinness World Record for planking in 2011, but he lost his title in 2016. Pictured: Hood breaks the world record on February 15

To prepare, Hood spent seven hours every day training for the last 18 months. He estimates he performed about 674,000 sit ups, 270,000 push ups and one practice plank lasting 10 hours and 10 minutes. Pictured, left and right: Hood breaks the world record on February 15

Planking is an exercise known for helping to strengthen the muscles of your core, shoulders and neck as well as helping to improve posture.

Most beginners hold three planks for up to 60 seconds each to reap maximum benefits.

Hood first set the record for planking in 2011, when he held a plank for one hour and 20 seconds - one-eighth as long as his current record.

Mao Weidong, a police officer from China, took the title in 2016 when he held a plank for eight hours, one minute, and one second.

Hood says that he's spent at least seven hours a day every day training over the last year-and-a-half for this moment.

'It's at least four to five hours a day of planking,' he told DailyMail.com.

'At least 700 push-ups a day, 500 squats. 500 band curls. It's all floor work. And then there's a cardio block - 30 mins on the treadmill. That's just power-walking and jogging to elevate the heart rate.'

To prepare for the event, Hood did around 2,100 hours of planking, according to a release from Guinness World Records.

The release also states that Hood did a practice attempt in 2018, in which he lasted 10 hours and 10 minutes.

Hood - a Marine veteran and former Drug Enforcement Agency Supervisory Special Agent - broke the record at Illinois facility 515 Fitness, which addresses mental health through exercise.

'I'm very inspired by the work they do and I want to raise awareness of the mental health issue,' he said.

'I want to break the stigma of seeking help and asking for help. You have to take mental fitness as seriously as physical fitness.'

Hood (left) broke the record (right) at a Chicago gym on February 15 with an abdominal plank that lasted eight hours, 15 minutes and 15 seconds. It was in honor of the Illinois gym 515 Fitness, which address mental health through exercise.

Hood says his next goal is to break the record for most push-ups completed in one hour, which currently sits at 2,806. Pictured: Hood breaks the world record on February 15

Twelve hours before starting, Hood had his last meal, a combination of protein and carbohydrates: spinach, salmon and potatoes

Then, waking up four hours before the event he had one cup of coffee, a hardboiled egg, one hot cup of oatmeal and two to three large glasses of electrolytes.

Hood says he stopped planking at 8 hours, 15 minutes and 15 seconds in honor of 515 Fitness gym.

After he reclaimed his world title, Hood did 75 'celebratory push-ups.'

He says he doesn't plan to try to break the world record for planking again and that his next goal is to break the record for most push-ups completed in one hour, which currently sits at 2,806.

Hood says that for anyone starting a fitness journey, even holding just a 30-second plan, it requires repetition.

'I equate planking to planting a tree, you have to plant the seeds,' he said.

'Everyone has a first plank. Mine was my five minutes back in the day. But you repeat sets and once you repeat sets, you'd be surprised how much progress youll make.'

The female abdominal plank world record holder is Dana Glowacka, from Canada, who held a plank for four hours, 19 minutes and 55 seconds last year.
New Delhi: The Union Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry has decided to seek an explanation from the Santiniketan-based Visva Bharati University management.over the issuance of a notice, which claimed that the varsity was in a dire financial crisis and February salaries of over 1,100 staff might not be paid on time.

A senior HRD ministry official, who didnt wish to be named, told Hindustan Times on Tuesday that the concern regarding salaries would not be paid on time was unfounded because vice-chancellor, Bidyut Chakrabarty, was assured by Union HRD secretary, Amit Khare, on Monday evening of being provided additional funds.

The vice-chancellor was told that additional funds would be sent to Visva Bharati before February 28. We are seeking an explanation from the V-C for creating a wrong impression, said a second official on condition of anonymity.

It is inexplicable that the head of an important institution would create panic that would shift focus from academic activities. We are writing to the varsity seeking an explanation about the notice, said the senior official.

Earlier, a notice issued by the varsity had created a flutter claiming that the February salaries of over 1,100 employees, including faculty members, of the Centrally-funded Visva-Bharati University (V-B) could be delayed due to paucity of funds.

The notice comes a few days after V-C Chakraborty said that the university, founded by Rabindranath Tagore, was grappling with fund crunch.

This is for information of all concerned that the salary for the month of February, 2020, is likely to be delayed due to paucity of funds, read the notice issued by the universitys acting registrar Asha, who goes by only her first name, on Monday.

We do have a scarcity of funds. Our annual budget for salary, pension, other allowances and arrears was Rs 230 crore, of which Rs 160 crore was approved and so far we have received only that much. This amount makes for 10 months expenses under these heads. We will be able to pay salaries for February and March, including the arrears, only after receiving the remaining Rs 70 crore, said Sanjoy Ghosh, joint registrar (accounts), Visva-Bharati.

The university, located at Santiniketan and about 160 kilometres north-west of Kolkata, functions under the HRD ministry. The President is the universitys visitor.

Visva-Bharati has about 400 faculty members and 600 non-teaching staff. Besides, primary and secondary school, Patha Bhavana, has 150 teachers on its rolls.
ITHACA, N.Y. - A new study has uncovered key details for how the Salmonella bacteria that causes typhoid fever identifies a host's immune cells and delivers toxins that disrupt the immune system and allow the pathogen to spread.

The findings, published Feb. 21 in the journal PLOS Pathogens, provide new directions for developing treatments for typhoid fever.

The Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi bacteria that causes the fever annually infects up to 21 million people worldwide and close to 6,000 people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease is most common in areas with poor sanitation and unsafe water and food, including South Asia, and especially Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.

The study identifies three subunits on a typhoid toxin protein, one of which is key for delivering the toxin into host cells.

"Typhoid fever is life-threatening but the underlying pathogenic mechanisms are not well understood," said Jeongmin Song, assistant professor of microbiology and immunology in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Tri Nguyen and Sohyoung Lee, both postdoctoral researchers in Song's lab, are co-first authors of the study.

"Here we show that one of the proteins secreted by the typhoid bacteria plays an important role for this pathogenic mechanism," Song said.

The study focuses on a toxin, a protein compound secreted by S. Typhi that helps the bacteria evade the host's immune response. This toxin consists of three protein subunits that form a complex.

Two of the subunits, called 'A' subunits, are enzymes; after entering host immune cells, they disrupt immune responses.

A third 'B' subunit recognizes and binds to specific target sugars on the host immune cell's surface, which initiates a process whereby the toxin enters the cell.

The study's authors found that the bacterial B subunit recognizes and attaches to the sugars, known as trisaccharides, on the membranes of immune cells. A trisaccharide called N-acetylneuraminic acid comes in unmodified and modified forms: The B subunit attaches to the unmodified form, but it has a higher affinity to the modified form. Once attached, the toxin gains entry into the cell.

Once inside an immune cell, also known as a white blood cell, the two enzymatic subunits work to disable the cell's innate immune response, which is the body's immediate and general response when a pathogen is detected. Disabling the innate immune response limits the body's adaptive immune response development, where cells have a memory of a prior infection and launch an attack if the pathogen returns.

The findings open the door to develop small molecules that block the high affinity trisaccharides and inhibit the toxin from binding to and entering the target cell.

"We are not saying this is all we should know," Song said, "but this typhoid toxin is essential in this important pathogenic mechanism behind typhoid fever."

###

The study was funded in part by National Institutes of Health.
US First Lady Melania Trump virtually turned into a student herself on Tuesday in the "Happiness Class" at a Delhi government school here, joining the children in meditating, storytelling and other relaxing activities, and noted that the unique curriculum has set a "healthy and positive" example for educators.

Excited students dressed in traditional attire welcomed Melania as she arrived at the Sarvodaya Co-Educational Senior Secondary School at Moti Bagh in south Delhi.

The school was decked up with floral garlands and motifs to welcome the US First Lady, while student bagpipers added to the festive mood.

A smiling Melania joined the students in three classrooms, where she was briefed by the teachers, and interacted with the children, before enjoying boisterous dance performances by the youngsters.

After lighting the ceremonial lamp, the First Lady took a tour of the school, heading to a reading room for class 4 students where she attended a storytelling session.

The First Lady, who donned a white embroidered shirt-dress paired with a red belt, visited an activity classroom for kindergarten students where she sat among the children who were engaged in drawing, clay modelling and playing with building blocks.

'How big is America', 'Is it very far', 'What do you do as the First Lady', 'What is your favourite cartoon" were among the few questions asked by the curious kindergarten students.

Melania then headed to the playground to observe a yoga session where students were performing 'surya namaskar' (Sun salutation).

The First Lady also meditated with class 4 students in their "happiness class".

"I am feeling very relaxed," she said after the brief meditation as part of "mindfulness" activity of the 'Happiness Class'.

The 'Happiness Class' was started by the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi government schools in 2018. As part of the programme, students are taught various activities, including meditation, street plays, basic obedience and aims to reduce anxiety and stress levels among children.

Following the school tour, Melania was welcomed by students with garlands at an outdoor event and treated to performances of Rajasthani dance "Padharo Mahre Des" (welcome to our country) and Punjabi folk dance 'gidda'.

While Melania enjoyed the foot tapping number, a student in the audience became the show-stealer with his impromptu jig as everyone including the First Lady cheered for him.

When the child suddenly scooted up to perform 'bhangra' moves, the security men were taken by surprise and one of them stepped forward but did not interfere.

Addressing the students, Melania praised the concept of happiness class and spoke of her similar 'Be Best' initiative to promote well-being.

"It is my first visit to India and I am grateful to have received such a warm welcome today. The name of this school 'sarvodya' means prosperity for all.

"I was able to see how the concept exists in the curriculum -in the leadership of teachers, and in the spirit of enthusiasm in students. I visited happiness class, it was very nice to see students practice mindfulness.

"From mindful breathing to telling a story to a friend or simply connecting with nature, I cannot think of a better way for all of us to start our day," she said.

"I am totally impressed with the teachers and the efforts of the school towards its students," she said.

Melania said it is good to see the happy faces of the students and the school exemplifies that promoting values of kindness, compassion and respect can bring about positive change within the communities.

" I want to thank all the educators here who are setting positive examples for young people to ensure a promising future," she said.

The First Lady also talked about her "Be Best" initiative among children.

"In the US, I work with children like you to promote similar ideas of well-being through my 'Be Best' initiative. 3 pillars of 'Be Best' include dangers of drug abuse, importance of online safety and overall well-being of children," she said.

Melania was cheered by students who waved Indian and American flags and was presented four handmade Madhubani paintings before she left. The First Lady reached out to shake hands with many children and hugged one of them.

Earlier, when she arrived at the school, the children welcomed the First Lady by applying 'teeka' on her forehead. She was also handed over a bouquet, while lensmen scurried to get a perfect shot.

Before her arrival, children were seen rehearsing outside the school gate. Massive security was also put in place for her visit.

Melania is accompanying US President Donald Trump on a whirlwind 36-hour tour of India which will conclude on Tuesday night



Ahead of her arrival, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had tweeted to welcome her.

"@FLOTUS will attend happiness class in our school today. Great day for our teachers, students and Delhiites. For centuries, India has taught spirituality to the world. Am happy that she will take back the msg of happiness from our school," Kejriwal said.

The children were dressed in bright-coloured sarees and traditional attire like 'ghagra-choli' to welcome Melania Trump. Some of them were carrying bagpipes and other musical instruments.

"Welcome to our school @FLOTUS! We hope you would have a great time here in #HappinessClass It's just 18 months old initiative but early results have made us confident that @HappinessDelhi is the ultimate solution to all violence & hate in mindsets that we are facing worldwide," tweeted Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the portfolio.

In another tweet, he said, "Its a proud moment for my Team of Delhi today. All are excited to see @FLOTUS in one of our school. She just visited 'room to read' now she would move for #HappinessClass and then address the kids in assembly."



Kejriwal and Sisodia were to welcome Melania at the school and brief her about rationale behind introduction of the 'Happiness Classes' as well as the Delhi government's overall reform initiatives in the sector but the US embassy had later communicated to the city administration that their names do not figure in the list of invitees for the event.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
I dont usually assign my readers homework in advance of seeing a show, but it seems appropriate in connection with Theater Under the Stars current offering of the 1990 Broadway musical, Once on This Island. Directed by Michael Arden and featuring the music of Stephen Flaherty, with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, I would suggest that prospective audience members prepare a bit before attending this somewhat unusual, one-act production. (No intermission).

I make this recommendation because there is quite a lot going on during this compact and complex 90 minutes on a very crowded stage, and depicting the modest beach-hut world of the lower class on an island in the French Antilles. (Scenic designer, Dane Laffrey). It is a world where the fair-skinned and wealthier descendants of earlier aristocratic French settlers (known as the Grand Hommes) live separately from the islands darker native peasants.

As the play opens, a little girl (Mimi Crossland & Mariama Diop alternate in the role) is terrified by a well-staged and frightening storm that crosses the island. The action that follows is musically guided by a chorus of local Storytellers portrayed by McKynleigh Alden Abraham, Briana Brooks, George L. Brown, Michael Ivan Carrier, Jay Donnell, Alex Joseph Grayson, Phyre Hawkins, Savy Jackson, Tatiana Lofton and Robert Zelaya. They undertake to calm the frightened child by singing the mythical tale of another young island girl named Ti Moune (Courtnee Carter), who according to legend was once caught in a similar storm brought about by Agwe, the god of the sea (Jahmaul Bakare). The raging storm left Ti Moune clinging to a tree to survive the flooding. Because much of this tale is sung rapidly and with distinct island accents, some of the lyrics were not clearly audible for the audience, as was the case in the vibrant and undulating full-company opening number, We Dance. (Choreographer, Camille A. Brown, Music Director, Steven Cuevas). For these reasons I suggest serious readers go online in advance of attendance to become familiar with the plot structure, and perhaps some of the music itself.

That being said, there is a certain mystery and enchantment surrounding this musical folktale that plays out under the glow of dreamlike lighting (designers, Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer). Orphaned Ti Moune is adopted by Mama Euralie (Danielle Lee Greaves) and Tonton Julian (Phillip Boykin), and their haunting song, One Small Girl, celebrates Ti Mounes rescue. Soon she has grown to be a lovely young woman. It is then that we first hear the beautiful voice of Miss Carter, with her lashing vocal power for the prayerful song, Waiting for Life. Ti Moune imagines what it would be like to mingle with the wealthy and fast-driving grand hommes who crisscross the island in their fine cars. The gods hear her prayer, and Erzulie, the Goddess of Love (Cassondra James), wishes to give Ti Moune the gift of love, while the sinister Demon of Death called Papa Ge (Tamyra Gray) proposes a challenge to see which is more powerful, love or death. Asaka, the Goddess of Mother Earth (Kyle Ramar Freeman) joins the other gods for the torch-lit and whirling excitement of And the Gods Heard Her Prayer. Agwe then creates a storm that causes the car crash of a handsome young grand hommes gentleman named Daniel Beauxhommes (Tyler Hardwick). Ti Moune witnesses the accident and runs to his aid singing the beautiful and haunting, Finding Daniel. Miss Carter joins forces with Mr. Boykin and Miss Greaves as Ti Moune and her adoptive parents sing both the tender, Pray, and the song titled, Ti Moune, which cautions us to, choose your dreams with care. There is also a fascinating shadow play as we hear, The Sad Tale of the Beauxhommes, but there is great fun ahead as gaily dressed Mr. Freeman (with a fruit-laden headdress that would be the envy of Carmen Miranda), literally lights up the stage as the explosive Mother Earth. Singing, Mama Will Provide, he is surrounded by the joyous and whirling chorus of the ensemble. Unaware that since childhood Daniel has been betrothed to Andrea (Briana Brooks) among his people on the other side of the island, Ti Moune falls in love him. She has saved his life by making a kind of deal with the devil in the person of evil Papa Ge. But for the complicated details of those final chapters you will need to buy a ticket. Dont forget to do your homework.

ONCE ON THIS ISLAND continues through Sunday March 1 at Houstons Hobby Center main stage with performances Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday at 7:30 pm, Friday & Saturday at 8pm, and 2pm matinee performances on both Saturday and Sunday. For tickets visit the website at www.tuts.com , or call (713) 558-8887 locally, and (888) 558-3882 (outside of Houston).

A member of both The Lambs Club Inc. and The American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA), the columns of DAVID DOW BENTLEY III have appeared on Broadway websites, in newspapers from the East Coast to the Gulf Coast, and may be viewed online at the website: www.ThePeoplesCritic.com . E-mail may be directed to ThePeoplesCritic3@gmail.com .
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) New York, United States  Tue, February 25, 2020 08:44 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206658a87 2 Entertainment Harvey-Weinstein,rape,Sexual-assault,rape-culture,Hollywood Free

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..."
Maharashtra Water Conservation Minister Shankarrao Gadakh on Tuesday said the 'Jalyukt Shivar' campaign launched by the previous government has not been given an extension.

In a written reply tabled in the state Legislative Council, he said the period given to the campaign is already over, hence there is no question of the state closing it down.

He was responding to a question raised by Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) leader Jayant Patil in the Upper House.

Later, Gadakh told PTI, "The campaign's period was up to December 31. We have not given extension to the campaign."



Asked about the incomplete works, he said, "Permission is given to complete the incomplete works under the campaign till March 31. No fresh work will be undertaken."



After March end, there will be a detailed review of the campaign, he added.

"There is no question of the state closing down the Jalyukt Shivar campaign. It's tenure is already over," he said in the written reply.

He further told the House that from 2015 to 2019, 22,586 villages were selected for the implementation of the campaign.

"So far, 6,32,708 works have been completed with total expenditure of Rs 9,707 crore," he said.

On recommendations of an expert committee about the quality of works, Gadakh said a committee headed by former chief secretary of Maharashtra has already submitted its recommendations to the Bombay High Court as a writ petition was filed in 2018.

The state also filed an affidavit in the court on June 17, 2019, informing about the action plan, he added.

BJP MLA Narayan Kuche on Monday appealed to the Shiv Sena-led coalition government not to wind up the Jalyukt Shivar and the water grid project of the previous Devendra Fadnavis government.

"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," the legislator from Badnapur in parched Marathwada region said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
"It is an absolutely unthinkable, catastrophic, apocalyptic scenario," he said. Loading "This challenge is real. The objective of net zero emissions by 2050 is not a 'nice to have' or an 'interesting' target, a 'would be nice to do if we can' or 'if we can afford it'. "The alternative is unthinkable  apparently except in the bubble down to the south of us in Canberra." While Mr Turnbull has taken issue with Mr Morrison in the past, the speech represented a significant and forceful attack when the government is fomenting political alarm over Labor's policy of net zero emissions by 2050.

Mr Turnbull said the facts showed Australia could achieve net zero in a way that lowered energy prices. He said while the Howard government confronted a cost barrier to reducing emissions when it advocated an emissions trading scheme, the dramatic fall in the cost of renewable energy meant it was now cheaper to reduce emissions than to use coal. "We have the means, with the engineering and economics, as opposed to the ideology and idiocy  to move to a zero-emission energy sector which will deliver cheaper and cleaner and reliable energy," he said. The arguments in favour of coal are just sheer ideological claptrap. Malcolm Turnbull "The reality is the cheapest form of new generation in Australia right now is solar supported by firming  by pumped hydro or other forms of firming depending on the location.

"The cost of batteries, in particular, continues to come down." Mr Turnbull said the cost per watt of a photovoltaic cell has fallen by 90 per cent over the last eight years, a point echoed by experts in the audience who noted it had gone from more than $2 to about 20 cents per watt. Loading "We've got the means to get there and we can be a cheap energy economy if we choose to be." The speech did not criticise Mr Morrison by name and did not explicitly endorse Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese for setting a net-zero target for Labor in recent days.

Mr Turnbull's position was in line with the support for net-zero by the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Industry Group, agricultural groups and leading scientists. NSW Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean conspicuously praised Mr Turnbull at the conference, using his speech to thank the former prime minister. Mr Kean said the politics in Canberra were "challenging" but said he was working with his state counterparts in Victoria, South Australia and elsewhere to reduce emissions. "Let me make it very clear to my friends in Canberra: we should and we must move towards zero net emissions," Mr Kean said.

The government has not ruled out having a net-zero target of its own for 2050 but has mounted an attack on Mr Albanese on the grounds that he could not say how he would achieve the target. While Nationals MPs such as Barnaby Joyce and Matt Canavan argued for coal-fired power, Mr Turnbull said the party was letting down its rural constituency when coal was no longer economic. Loading "The trend is absolutely clear  the arguments in favour of coal are just sheer ideological claptrap," he said. "There is no economic case for building a new coal-fired power station in Australia anymore, regardless of what you think about carbon policy  and everyone in the energy sector knows that.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 25, 2020) - David H. Brett, President & CEO, EnGold Mines Ltd., (TSXV: EGM) "EnGold" or the "Company") reports that EnGold has engaged the international firm SRK Consulting to complete an updated Mineral Resource estimate for the Spout Lake Deposit and a Maiden Resource estimate for the G1 zone at EnGold's 100% owned Lac La Hache Property in the Cariboo region of BC. Both Spout and G1, located within 2km of each other, are copper, gold, silver and magnetite bearing skarn/carbonate replacement zones outlined by over 240 drill holes to date. Both estimates will focus on higher grade mineralization that could potentially support underground extraction.

"Moving forward with these resource estimates is part of EnGold's strategic vision to develop higher-grade zones at Lac La Hache into underground minable deposits," said EnGold President & CEO David H. Brett. "At the same time, our exploration model and strategy also engage the property's lower-grade, bulk-tonnage porphyry copper-gold potential, including deeper drilling such as the planned 800 metre deep hole at Ann North Zone, commencing soon."

Map 1: Lac La Hache Project

To view an enhanced version of this map, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2268/52758_9b2edae2c4df4888_002full.jpg

About the Spout Lake Deposit

Discovered in the late 1960s by Amax Exploration Ltd., Spout Lake's high magnetite content gave rise to one of the highest amplitude aeromagnetic responses in British Columbia. Semi-massive magnetite-copper skarn mineralization crops out at surface, locally containing copper grades exceeding 1 to 3 percent or more. Since 1987, EnGold (formerly GWR Resources) has completed over 200 drill holes at Spout, leading to a resource estimate completed by SRK utilizing an open-pit mining model, published by EnGold in April 2012. As the Company faced challenges financing a preliminary economic assessment of the 2012 resource, management decided to focus on the significant higher-grade material that occurs within (ie. DDH 10-18 cut 10m grading 4.6%Cu) and below (ie. DDH 11-177 cut 10 m grading 7.9%Cu) the outlined pit shell. EnGold believes this is potentially extractable via more constrained, selective mining methods, and the new estimate will provide the information required to assess this option.

The Spout Lake mineralization lies within two distinct zones, Spout South and Spout North. The Spout North is a steeply dipping structure that is open at depth, extending hundreds of metres below the limits of the open pit shell outlined by SRK in 2012. In 2018, EnGold completed 6 deeper drill holes to test below prior drilling, and results included many intervals exceeding 1% Cu over significant core lengths. For example, DDH 18-181 cut 1.7%Cu/8m, 2.1%Cu/6m and 3.3%Cu/8.8m, more than 400 m below the surface; DDH 18-179 cut 1.2%Cu/5.8m 425 m from surface; DDH 18-184 cut 1.9%Cu/5m, 2.8%Cu/2.1m and 3%Cu/0.9m 350m from surface. These results and many more intervals not previously included in the 2012 resource calculations will be incorporated into the new estimate.

About the G1 Copper Zone

Based on the interpreted gentle southeasterly dip of the favorable sedimentary horizon hosting the Spout South deposit, EnGold VP of Exploration Rob Shives in 2012 hypothesized that additional high-grade copper deposits might be found to the southeast. Ground gravity surveys in 2015 produced an anomaly located 1800m from Spout, supporting interpretation of mineralization at a depth of 336 metres below surface. This geological prediction was validated in 2017 when drill hole G16-01 intersected flat-lying semi-massive magnetite-chalcopyrite mineralization grading 1.76%Cu over a true width of 26.6m, from 337.3-363.9 metres below surface. Subsequent drilling in 2017-2018 of another 30+ holes on 50m step-outs delineated a stratabound, near-horizontal carbonate replacement zone measuring roughly 300m by 150m. The best hole, DDH G17-16, cut 1.31% Cu over a true thickness of 43.45m. The style and grade of the mineralization appears relatively consistent vertically and laterally within the zone, with several intervals exceeding 2%Cu or better.

Table 1 Drill Hole G16-01

From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Cu % Au (gpt) Ag (gpt) Fe (%) 337.30 339.00 1.70 1.930 0.320 10.0 34.80 339.00 341.00 2.00 1.765 0.250 9.7 34.70 341.00 343.00 2.00 1.920 0.320 8.3 33.90 343.00 345.00 2.00 2.120 0.320 10.1 35.90 345.00 347.00 2.00 1.970 0.060 9.5 35.30 347.00 349.00 2.00 1.945 0.190 10.4 36.30 349.00 351.00 2.00 1.760 0.190 10.0 37.60 351.00 353.00 2.00 2.070 0.320 15.7 36.50 353.00 355.00 2.00 2.280 0.520 11.7 37.70 355.00 357.00 2.00 2.510 0.270 19.0 35.60 357.00 359.00 2.00 1.605 0.310 10.0 32.50 359.00 361.00 2.00 0.908 0.130 6.0 36.60 361.00 363.00 2.00 0.398 0.025 3.5 37.20 363.00 363.87 0.87 1.065 0.890 9.9 38.30

"The geological evidence and geophysical data suggest good potential for discovery of additional Spout/G1-style zones within similar stratigraphy along the favorable trend, as predicted by our exploration model at Lac La Hache," said EnGold VP of Exploration Rob Shives, P.Geo. "The updated Spout and new G1 resource estimates based on underground methods are a logical next step that will build our overall resource and will bolster the case for further exploratory drilling of the favorable host strata."

The SRK engagement includes completion of an updated Technical Report prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 supporting both the Spout and G1 zone estimates.

About EnGold

EnGold (www.engold.ca) is focused on exploring its 100% owned mineral property located near the town of Lac La Hache in BC's prolific Cariboo mining region. EnGold's corporate philosophy rests on three interdependent pillars: Environment, Engagement and Gold. Through sound environmental stewardship, commitment to transparent engagement with local communities, the Company is dedicated to driving shareholder and stakeholder value by discovering and developing mineral resources.

Rob Shives P.Geo., VP Exploration and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release.

EnGold Mines Ltd.

Per/

David Brett, MBA

President & CEO

Contact: David Brett, 604-682-2421 or david@engold.ca

Forward Looking Statements: The information in this news release contains forward looking statements that are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include: changes in world commodity markets, equity markets, costs and supply of materials relevant to the mining industry, change in government and changes to regulations affecting the mining industry and failure to obtain regulatory approval in a timely manner. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding plans to raise financing for operations, future exploration programs and operation plans and anticipated timing for completion of the next tranche of the financing. Although we believe the expectations reflected in our forward looking statements are reasonable, results may vary, and we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. EnGold disclaims any obligations to update or revise any forward looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.

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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52758
Shahid Kapoor Birthday Special: Mira Rajput Along With Kids Misha And Zain Pose In Udta Punjab Tees! See Picture...
A Boeing 737 MAX sits outside the hangar during a media tour of the Boeing 737 MAX at the Boeing plant in Renton, Washington.

Private equity giant Carlyle Group in recent weeks paused the sale of an engine parts maker because of uncertainty about the Boeing 737 Max, which has been grounded for nearly a year, according to people familiar with the matter.

Paradigm Precision, which Carlyle has been growing for about a decade, didn't attract high enough bids as the private equity firm had hoped because of the 737 Max crisis, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private.

Some of the bids were more $1 billion, according to one of the people. Paradigm counts General Electric and United Technologies among its customers.

The delayed sale is the latest impact from the 737 Max's grounding, which has affected other deals. Stanley Black & Decker last month said it reached a deal to acquire Boeing supplier Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing for up to $1.5 billion, but said $200 million would be held back "contingent on the Boeing 737 Max receiving FAA authorization to return to service and Boeing achieving certain production levels."

The plane has been grounded since March after two fatal crashes killed all 346 people aboard the flights.

Boeing suspended production of the jetliners  its bestselling plane  last month. It is not clear exactly when the 737 Max will fly again, but Boeing in January said it expects regulators to sign off on the planes around midyear.
They are an active industry, and they certainly have been working on benefiting the industry through the Assembly, especially when you look at the Assembly approving things like on-site consumption, Kennedy said. The Assembly in October approved a ballot measure that would allow people to smoke pot in retail locations around Anchorage. Anchorage voters will decide on the measure in the upcoming city election.
U.S. airlines on Monday said they would waive cancellation and change fees for travelers booked to South Korea as the coronavirus spreads beyond China, prompting a warning from government officials about travel there.

Earlier on Monday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned travelers to avoid non-essential travel to South Korea, where the disease has sickened close to 900 people.

Delta Air Lines travelers who booked tickets to the South Korean capital of Seoul through April 30 can change flights until May 31 or cancel their trips without paying a fee, the airline said on its website. American Airlines customers booked to Seoul through April 24 can change their flights without paying a date-change fee, or they can cancel the trip altogether. Those travelers can also change the origin or destination of their trips to the Japanese capital of Tokyo, and take another plane to or from South Korea.

United Airlines issued a similar waiver for Seoul. The Chicago-based airline offers the most service to Asia of the U.S. carriers, and on Monday suspended its full-year guidance because of the outbreak because of uncertain demand for air travel. The carrier said near-term demand for its trans-Pacific routes outside of China has declined 75%

U.S. airlines have suspended their service to Hong Kong and to mainland China, where most of the cases are located. Chinese officials have reported more than 77,000 cases of the new coronavirus, known as COVID-19, and more than 2,660 deaths.

Airline shares fell sharply in Monday's session as more cases of the virus were reported in South Korea and Italy, raising concerns about travel demand broadly.
In a major setback to the Imran Khan government, President Donald Trump on Tuesday reiterated that India and the US were together in their fight against "radical Islamic terrorism" and his government was committed to "confront" terrorists operating from Pakistan's soil.

In a joint press briefing of the US and India, President Trump at Hyderabad House in the capital said during his discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, "the two countries agreed to protect their citizens from radical Islamic terrorism".

"The US is also working productively with Pakistan to confront terrorists who operate on its soil."

The President's scathing attack against Islamabad and holding it responsible for terror groups operating from Pakistan's soil, comes a day after he said, during his Ahmedabad visit, that the US has very good relations with Pakistan.

During the briefing, both Trump and Modi reaffirmed their commitment to US-India strategic partnership in all areas from defence to women empowerment.

The US President said that during their discussions in New Delhi today, the two countries have agreed to expanded defence cooperation. India, he said, is "to purchase more than $3 billion of advance American military equipment, Apache and MH60 Romeo helicopters, the finest in the world."

These deals, he said, will enhance the US-India joint defence capability as militaries of the countries continue to train and operate side by side.

President Trump said that together with PM Modi, they were revitalising the QUAD initiative with US, India, Australia and Japan. He said the first ministerial meeting on QUAD was "so much more than a meeting" because they had agreed to cooperate on counter-terrorism, cyber security and maritime security for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
The Charger Blog

A new initiative at the University of New Haven, the Womens Leadership Council brings female students and prominent women leaders together for mentorship and networking opportunities, as well as for inspiration and empowerment. By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications "Women as Leaders" brought together students, faculty members, and leaders.

When Rachana Pillai 20 MBA attended a recent "Women as Leaders" panel discussion and networking event, she was moved by the conversation about balancing work and personal lives, as well as the message of empowerment.

"Women in leadership know that it is essential to help other women," she said. "When you learn from other women, they can encourage you and give you the strength and inspiration to achieve your goals."

Hosted by the Universitys Womens Leadership Council (WLC), a group that provides inspiration, guidance, and opportunity for women at the University, the event brought together students, faculty members, and leaders such as Josephine Moran 01 M.S., 19 EMBA, a member of the Universitys Board of Governors and an executive vice president at Provident Bank.

The WLC was first conceived when Moran became chairperson of the Universitys College of Business Advisory Board in 2018. Committed to the engagement, growth, and development of women, the WLC aims to help women to reach their full potential.

"It's important for future female leaders to have role models who they can emulate to increase their chances of becoming leaders, themselves, one day." Courtney Smith 20

"Mentorship has had a tremendous impact on me," said Moran. "Without the belief and encouragement I had earlier in my career from both male and female mentors, I would not be where I am in my career. I would like the council to do the same for current students."

The University has hosted a Womens Leadership Conference for the past five years, and the hope is that the new Womens Leadership Council will be a female student-focused program that will host even more events geared toward networking and empowerment.

"The Women's Leadership Council is an exciting new initiative, building on five years of success with the Women's Leadership Conference," said Nancy Savage, Ph.D., the conferences steering committee chair and associate dean of the University's Tagliatela College of Engineering. "I look forward to working with the Council membership in creating meaningful opportunities for our women students and alumnae to connect."

Endeavoring to encourage women to become inspirational, transformational leaders in their communities  while fostering a robust learning environment and connections with one another  the WLC leadership committee includes more than 20 professional women, who represent diverse backgrounds, industries, and areas of expertise.

Josephine Moran 01 M.S., 19 EMBA (right) was part of the panel discussion at the Women as Leaders event.

"I expect the WLC to empower women at the University to be confident changemakers," said Khadija Al Arkoubi, Ph.D., an associate professor of management. "It will hopefully boost their confidence and self-efficacy as well as create opportunities that support their quest for personal and career growth."

Courtney Smith 20, a business management major who also attended the "Women as Leaders" event, is grateful that the WLC will continue to provide these meaningful opportunities for students.

"A Women's Leadership Council is important to have at the University because it allows upcoming female leaders to see examples of women who have already become leaders in their fields," she said. "It's important for future female leaders to have role models who they can emulate to increase their chances of becoming leaders, themselves, one day."

The WCLs next event will be on Wednesday, March 4, from 4:30-7 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge in Bartels Hall on the Universitys main campus. Entitled "Strategies to Survive Student Debt," it will focus on assisting students with understanding credit and paying off student debt. The first in a series focused on student financial wellness, the event is part of the Universitys celebration of womens history month.
The actor who plays Prince Harry in royal parody The Windsors has told how his character has turned from a pint-sinking rugby player to a 'smoothie-drinking yoga king'.

British star Tom Durant-Pritchard, 32, makes his debut in the Channel 4 show as it returns for its third series tonight, taking up the mantle from Richard Goulding, who played a laddish version of the Duke of Sussex in the first two series.

But audiences will now be introduced to a new, wholesome side of Harry as he settles into life with wife Meghan Markle.

Tom Durant-Pritchard, 32, makes his debut in the Channel 4 show as it returns for its third series tonight, taking up the mantle from Richard Goulding, who played a laddish version of the Duke of Sussex in the first two series. Pictured, with Kathryn Drysdale as Meghan Markle

Speaking to the Telegraph, he recalled a scene where Harry turns his back on a party: 'He gets asked if he wants to stay and get s---faced in a bar, and his immediate reaction is "yah" and then the process happens... "No, got to go home, family, Meghan, yoga"'

He added: 'Harry's now a wannabe yoga king, smoothie drinking, namaste'

The show began back in 2016 with writing duo George Jeffrie and Bert Tyler-Moore creating parodies of all the key members of the family  apart from the Queen and Prince Philip.

Drysdale with Durant-Pritchard in character as Meghan and Harry with Louise Ford as Kate Middleton and Hugh Skinner as Prince William. The show returns tonight on Channel 4

'I think from the beginning everyone thought the Queen's so loved and respected and doesn't do much wrong that it was best to steer clear,' Bert explained in an interview with Weekend Magazine.

'There's not much to take the mickey out of, whereas with the others there's plenty.'

Series three follows on from the Harry and Meghan royal wedding special in 2018, and sees the couple adjusting to life as new parents with Harry trying to stick to Meghan's clean-living ways.

Series three follows on from the Harry and Meghan royal wedding special in 2018, and sees the couple adjusting to life as new parents with Harry trying to stick to Meghan's clean-living ways. Pictured, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on a visit to Sydney in October 2018

Prince Harry and Meghan also move to North America - a bold prediction made by George and Bert last year, months before 'Megxit'.

Speaking to Weekend Magazine, Bert said: 'Oddly, we predicted a move to America for Meghan and Harry so it's almost like events are playing out exactly as we prophesied.

'We saw there was a feud brewing and that there was a bit of unhappiness there, so we thought that might be the upshot of it.'

The Windsors airs at 9pm tonight on Channel 4.
By Trend

Bilasuvar border checkpoint continues operating on the Iranian-Azerbaijani border, Director of Irans Bilasuvar Customs Administration Ramin Zahiri said, Trend reports on Feb. 24.

The joint work is being carried out at the border checkpoints of the two countries to reveal those infected with coronavirus, Zahiri said.

Zahiri added that buses, cars and passengers continue crossing the Bilasuvar border terminal.

The director of the customs administration denied rumors about the closing of Bilasuvar customs in connection with coronavirus.

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.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
New Delhi: Ahead of crucial one-to-one talks between visiting United States President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, New Delhi`s iconic Hyderabad House has been fully decked up for the occasion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also arrived at Hyderabad House - the place where meetings with foreign dignitaries are held - to receive the US President.The building was adorned with flags of India and the US.

The bilateral talks between two leaders will be followed by the signing of agreements between two sides and press statements by the two leaders. Earlier, the US President paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and was also given a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, laid a wreath at the memorial and also observed one minute of silence. The US President, a short while ago, was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

On Monday, the US President had addressed the `Namaste Trump` event at Ahmedabad`s Motera Stadium along with Modi, where both the leaders had hailed the growing ties between the two countries.

The US President and his wife Melania Trump later visited the Taj Mahal in Agra.Trump will depart for the US tonight.
Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/25/2020 -- This CNG and LPG Vehicles Market report puts a light on various factors that have direct or indirect effect on the growth of business which includes historic data, present market trends, environment, technological innovation, upcoming technologies and the technical progress in the automotive industry. This market research report identifies as well as analyses the emerging trends along with major driving factors, challenges and opportunities in the market for automotive industry. CNG and LPG Vehicles market report displays detailed market analysis with inputs from industry experts. This market report also discovers the emerging trends along with major drivers, challenges and opportunities in the market.



CNG and LPG Vehicles Market 2020 Analysis and Precise Outlook: Revenue Analysis, Technological Adoption and Developments, Major Trends, and Market Overview



Leading Players operating in the CNG and LPG Vehicles Market are:



Key players are involved in mergers and acquisition to strengthen their market position. Owing to increasing competition frequent innovations are taking place in the market. Some of the companies operating the industry are:





- Ford Motor Company,



- Nissan,



- General Motors,



- Volkswagen,



- Groupe Renault,



- HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP,



- suzuki motor corporation,



- Honda Motor





Global CNG and LPG Vehicles Market is witness a healthy growth rate in the forecast period to 2026 due to the rise in awareness of low emitting fuel alternatives, along with the rise in prices of other available fuel alternatives.



Access insightful study about CNG and LPG Vehicles market! Click here To Get FREE Sample Report @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-cng-and-lpg-vehicles-market&AM



Be the first to knock the door showing potential that Global CNG and LPG Vehicles market is holding in it. Uncover the Gaps and Opportunities to derive most relevant insights from our research document to gain market size.



A team of experienced and consummate market research professionals persistently track key industries to spot key developments, unmet needs and possible growth opportunities. A numerous markets, marketing strategies, trends, future products and rising opportunities have been considered while studying market for preparing this CNG and LPG Vehicles report. This market research report serves the clients by providing data and information on their business scenario with which they can stay ahead of the competition in today's rapidly changing business environment.



Market Drivers:



Rise in adoption of CNG and LPG vehicles due to the environmental degradation and global warming caused with the usage of alternatives is expected to act as a driver for the market growth



Rise in costing of crude oil impacting the prices of petrol and diesel resulting in the high price is also expected to drive the market growth



Market Restraints:



Drastic effects on the vehicle and their performance with the usage of CNG in vehicles is expected to act as a restraint to the market growth



Lack of awareness and availability of services and pumping stations of CNG and LPG in the various regions is also expected to restrain the market growth



Competitive Landscape and CNG and LPG Vehicles Market Share Analysis



CNG and LPG Vehicles market competitive landscape provides details by competitor. Details included are company overview, company financials, revenue generated, market potential, investment in research and development, new market initiatives, global presence, company strengths and weaknesses, product launch, product width and breadth, application dominance. The above data points provided are only related to the companies' focus related to CNG and LPG Vehicles market.



Market Segmentation



By Type (CNG, LPG), Vehicle Type (Commercial Vehicles, Passenger Vehicles), Geography



Regional and Country-level Analysis



To comprehend Global CNG and LPG Vehicles market dynamics in the world mainly, the worldwide CNG and LPG Vehicles market is analyzed across major global regions. DBMR 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, NORDIC {Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark etc}, BENELUX {Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg}, and Russia.



Asia-Pacific: India, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, and Australia.



Key Market Competitors: CNG and LPG Vehicles Industry



Few of the major competitors currently working in the CNG and LPG vehicles market are Ford Motor Company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, General Motors, Volkswagen AG, Groupe Renault, HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP, suzuki motor corporation, Honda Motor Co. Ltd., Navistar Inc., Nissan, Tata Sons Private Limited, AB Volvo, KION GROUP AG, AC S.A. and Landi Renzo S.p.a.



Global CNG and LPG Vehicles Market Methodology



Data Bridge Market Research presents, all the information, statistics and data included in this CNG and LPG Vehicles report is gathered from the truthful sources such as websites, newspapers, journals, white papers, mergers, and annual reports of the companies. To succeed in this competitive market place, market research report plays a very important role by offering important and consequential market insights for your business.



This involves data mining, analysis of the impact of data variables on the market, and primary (industry expert) validation. Apart from this, other data models include Vendor Positioning Grid, Market Time Line Analysis, Market Overview and Guide, Company Positioning Grid, Company Market Share Analysis, Standards of Measurement, Top to Bottom Analysis and Vendor Share Analysis. Triangulation is one method used while reviewing, synthesizing and interpreting field data. Data triangulation has been advocated as a methodological technique not only to enhance the validity of the research findings but also to achieve 'completeness' and 'confirmation' of data using multiple methods



Market Dynamics:



Set of qualitative information that includes PESTEL Analysis, PORTER Five Forces Model, Value Chain Analysis and Macro Economic factors, Regulatory Framework along with Industry Background and Overview



What Porter's Five Forces of Competitive Analysis Provides?



Competitive rivalry:- The main driver is the number and capability of competitors in the market. Many competitors, offering undifferentiated products and services, will reduce market attractiveness.



Threat of substitution:- Where close substitute products exist in a market, it increases the likelihood of customers switching to alternatives in response to price increases. This reduces both the power of suppliers and the attractiveness of the market.



Threat of new entry:- Profitable markets attract new entrants, which erodes profitability. Unless incumbents have strong and durable barriers to entry, for example, patents, economies of scale, capital requirements or government policies, then profitability will decline to a competitive rate.



Supplier power:- An assessment of how easy it is for suppliers to drive up prices. This is driven by the: number of suppliers of each essential input; uniqueness of their product or service; relative size and strength of the supplier; and cost of switching from one supplier to another.



Buyer power:- An assessment of how easy it is for buyers to drive prices down. This is driven by the: number of buyers in the market; importance of each individual buyer to the organisation; and cost to the buyer of switching from one supplier to another. If a business has just a few powerful buyers, they are often able to dictate terms.



Five forces analysis helps organizations to understand the factors affecting profitability in a specific industry, and can help to inform decisions relating to: whether to enter a specific industry; whether to increase capacity in a specific industry; and developing competitive strategies.



Key Developments in the Market:



In November 2018, MARUTI SUZUKI INDIA LIMITED subsidiary of suzuki motor corporation announced that they will launch the CNG variant of their Ertiga model in the first half of 2019. Other fuel variants of the model were launched in November 2018.



In February 2018, Zoilo Rios Group announced that they are planning to build a new CNG pumping station in Zaragoza, Spain under their own brand name "Los Ibones service station". High demand of alternative fuels and low emitting fuels is the major factor regarding the construction of this station in the region.



TABLE OF CONTENTS



1 Introduction



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Premium Insights



5 Market Overview and Industry Trends



6 CNG and LPG Vehicles Market, By Type



7 CNG and LPG Vehicles Market, By Organization Size



8 CNG and LPG Vehicles Market Analysis, By Region



9 Competitive Landscape



10 Company Profiles



New Business Strategies, Challenges & Policies are mentioned in Table of Content, Request FREE TOC @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/toc/?dbmr=global-cng-and-lpg-vehicles-market&AM



Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe, MEA or Asia Pacific.



About Data Bridge Market Research

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Data Bridge set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.



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Windcrest will add six paid firefighters to its payroll starting in April after the City Council on Monday approved the first reading of an ordinance for the citys first paid career firefighters.

And its not going to take a tax increase to pay for it.

Mayor Dan Reese, a former Windcrest fire chief and a strong supporter of a paid department, emphatically told the council and residents attending Monday nights meeting that the positions were discussed months ago and were added to the departments wish list nearly nine months ago.

There would be no tax increase and we maintain a 28 percent cash reserve, Reese said. This has been on the agenda, we had it on the last budget, its here before us, and we are being extremely transparent about this.

The council voted 4-1 to accept the ordinance, with Councilman Frank Archuleta opposing. He said there should be public hearings and public input before addressing the new positions.

Councilman Wes Manning said the city had experienced instances where there were not enough volunteers to properly respond to fire and fire alarms.

Now we have to go out of service because enough people dont show up to drive the vehicles, Manning said. Theres a million square feet of buildings over there. All that (commercial property) has to be protected. All that stuff in those buildings, if you dont get there in a rapid response time, its gone.

Fire Chief Dan Kramer said once the council gives final approval to the ordinance, the hiring process will begin.

Once its approved at the next council meeting, well open applications for two weeks. The hiring process should take about a week, Kramer said. That way, well always have someone to drive the ladder truck and pumper to every call.

Kramer said he expects up to a dozen of his current 26 volunteers to have the proper qualifications to apply. There will be agility and written tests administered ahead of an interview process.

Itll probably take about a week. The goal is to have them start April 6, he added.

The department will continue to have volunteers on staff but the core will be the paid firefighters, the first to be hired since the city was incorporated in 1959. Only the fire chief has been paid. The volunteer fire department was established in 1970.

Finance Officer Don Hakula told council members that the citys budget is in a good place and that the hiring of the firefighters is indeed sustainable for the coming years.

If Council does take action on all of the items listed here, it is sustainable, Hakula said. We did some things to increase the purse in the city to make the city more solvent. I see no reason why there would be any problem funding and sustaining these issues.

Councilman Gene Turner said change is inevitable and that the fire departments all-volunteer status needs to change.

The city can sustain it. Its change, I get it, Turner said. But the change will be for the better. Change is occurring, and we have to be ready for it.

jflinn@express-news.net
Irans deputy health minister tested positive for coronavirus Tuesday, showing the growing reach of the COVID-19 virus as governments around the world struggle to try to contain it. The growth of cases in Iran is a new concern for global health experts because of the countrys role as a regional hub and the presence of a high number of constantly shifting regional populations, including religious pilgrims and migrant workers who often traverse state borders into neighboring countries. Irans geopolitical isolation also poses problems in information exchange to contain the virus, which Irans health ministry confirmed has now been contracted by Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi, who is now in quarantine.

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The news comes after Irans government announced Tuesday that 15 people had died from the virus and five of Irans neighbors reported their first cases, all in people who had links to Iran. Iraq and Afghanistan both closed their borders with Iran after diagnosing their first coronavirus cases. The United Arab Emirates, with one of the worlds busiest airports, has suspended all travel to and from Iran. The Iranian government said the total number of coronavirus cases now stood at 95, but that number is surely far too low considering the numbers of deaths attributed to the virus, which has maintained a worldwide mortality rate in the range of 2 percent of cases so far.

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One Iranian lawmaker told the semi-official ILNA news agency that the death toll was, in fact, 50, dating back to before Iran officially announced its first case. There are concerns that the virus has been in the country for far longer than the government is officially acknowledging, given Iran near-simultaneous announcement of the countrys first case and first death. Adding to worries about the pervasiveness of the virus, Iranian news reported that the head of a medical university in Qom, charged with overseeing the response in the city, is now in quarantine.

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Iran: Prominent reformist MP, Mahmoud Sadeghi, says he has tested positive for coronavirus. Earlier, deputy health minister Iraj Harirchi also announced he tested positive. https://t.co/7YbaoHOR5x  Erin Cunningham (@erinmcunningham) February 25, 2020

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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, the New York Times reports. Iranians, distrusting the authorities, were ignoring official urgings to stay away from hospitals for fear of spreading the disease, instead crowding into emergency rooms to get themselves tested.

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Elsewhere, South Korea confirmed 144 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, bringing the country total to just under 1,000, the most outside of China. The Chinese government reported 508 new cases and 74 additional deaths, putting the nationwide infections at nearly 78,000 and the total deaths at 2,663. Italy has recorded the most cases outside of Asia and imposed sweeping restrictions on movement in the countrys north. Meanwhile, in New Delhi Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump told business leaders at a roundtable that he thinks coronavirus is a problem that is going to go away.
Three Irish Army Rangers have been airlifted to safety after they were injured when a roadside bomb blast hit their patrol in war-torn Mali in Africa.

The Rangers suffered minor injuries in the blast and later received medical treatment at a military hospital near their base in Gao.

The soldiers were part of a multi-national convoy carrying out a routine patrol about 70 kilometres east of Gao around 2 pm yesterday.

One of the vehicles in the convoy appears to have driven over the improvised explosive device, which had been concealed by the roadside.

The blast shook their light armoured vehicle, a Mowag Eagle.

The three men all sustained bruising and scratches as the Mowag was hit but were all said to have been capable of walking as they were being moved by helicopter from the scene back to their base.

Earlier today 3xDF personnel deployed with MINUSMA in Mali sustained minor injuries when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded close to their convoy. All personnel are safe and their next of kin have been informed. For a note on the incident click https://t.co/XsmglcEqCz. pic.twitter.com/X4L2XWSdhR  Oglaigh na hEireann (@defenceforces) February 25, 2020

The Rangers reached the base about 3pm and were immediately taken to the military hospital.

Peacekeeping troops in the area are constantly on a high state of alert in the Gao area as a result of the tensions.

There have been many attacks using improvised explosives on the multinational United Nations mission.

But this was the first attack in which Irish troops were involved.

The Defence Forces said last night that the Rangers, who are serving with the MINUSMA mission in Mali, were all safe and well and their next of kin and families had been contacted.

Army sources said the force protection measures for the deployment had worked well.

The Defence Forces carries out intensive pre-deployment mission training to prepare their personnel for an incident similar to yesterdays attack.

This is the first deployment of the Army Ranger Wing as an unit in overseas duties since their special forces role in Chad in 2008.

14 Rangers were deployed last year and they are based with the mission  on a four-month and six-month rotation  for two years.

The Rangers are the special operations group within the Defence Forces and are regarded as an elite military group, trained and equipped to undertake a range of specialist roles.

Their capability is seen as a significant asset to the State, both in a domestic, national security role and in overseas duties.

The Rangers have been previously deployed on US mandated peacekeeping operations in East Timor, Liberia and Chad where their particular skill sets had been required.

The peace enforcement mission, MINUSMA, is the most dangerous United Nations missing in the world with fatal casualties running into three figures since 2013, as a result of improvised explosive devices, rocket strikes and suicide attacks.

Deployment of the Rangers was approved last summer by the Cabinet after Minister with responsibility for Defence, Paul Kehoe ordered a comprehensive review of possible Irish participation by military management and his own senior departmental officials.

The Defence Forces also have a detachment serving with a separate UN mission in Mali, dedicated to training local military.

Those personnel are all deployed in relatively safe jobs and are not active in danger zones.

Ireland has declared it has a key interest in contributing to security and stability in Western Africa, which is a prime focus of the international aid programme.

The Rangers will also form a significant element within the 148-strong military detachment, participating in a German-led battlegroup, which will be on stand-by for the second half of this year.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 25)  Businessman Dennis Uy's plan to acquire a huge stake in the Malampaya gas field has secured the approval of the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC).

Specifically, PCC cleared Uy's buyout of a 45 percent stake in the gas-to-power project owned by Chevron Philippines, Ltd., adding it would not take further action on the transaction.

The Uy-led Udenna Corporation earlier revealed that it struck an acquisition deal with Chevron on October 25, 2019 to take the latter's stake in the gas field off Palawan province after a year of negotiations. The tycoon from Davao also owns the Phoenix Petroleum chain of gasoline stations.

"[T]he Commission finds that the acquisition by UC Malampaya of shares in Chevron Malampaya will not likely result in substantial lessening of competition," the antitrust body said in its January 22 decision, noting that there were no direct relationships between the two companies.

READ: Gov't to retake Batangas lot leased by Chevron next year

Malampaya supplies roughly 20 percent of the country's energy demand. The project site spanning 83,000 hectares is near Reed Bank, a part of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone but is also being claimed by China as theirs.

The gas field is operated by Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. with the government's Philippine National Oil Company. The contract with Shell expires in 2024, the same year that the Department of Energy estimates Malampaya to have substantially reduced its capacity.

Malampaya: When the gas runs out will Luzon have power?

Udenna earlier said that it is looking to further develop Malampaya "and its surrounding fields," adding that it would help the conglomerate shift into sustainable clean energy.

Uy beat tycoon Manny Pangilinan into taking Chevron's place in the natural gas project, with the government rejecting Pangilinan-led PXP Energy's pitch to further develop the oil-rich area.

READ: PXP asks gov't to reconsider Malampaya takeover bid

Once the petroleum exploration and production contract lapses, full control and ownership of the Malampaya natural gas and oil facilities will be turned over to the national government.
Trump admin. can enforce ban on Title X funds for clinics that promote abortion, Ninth Circuit rules

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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that the Trump administration can enforce a rule denying Title X funds to family planning clinics that promote abortion.

In an opinion released Monday and authored by Circuit Judge Sandra Ikuta, the Ninth Circuit vacated multiple injunctions from lower courts against the Protect Life Rule and sent it back to the lower courts for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Regulations issued in 1988, and upheld by the Supreme Court in 1991, completely prohibited the use of Title X funds in projects where clients received counseling or referrals for abortion as a method of family planning, wrote Ikuta.

In light of Supreme Court approval of the 1988 regulations and our broad deference to agencies interpretations of the statutes they are charged with implementing, plaintiffs legal challenges to the 2019 rule fail.

Ikuta took issue with the term Gag Rule that critics use, as Ikuta wrote that the Trump administration regulation, created in March of last year, is less restrictive than the 1988 regulations.

But the 2019 rule is less restrictive in at least one important respect: a counselor providing nondirective pregnancy counseling may discuss abortion so long as the counselor neither refers for, nor encourages, abortion  There is no gag on abortion counseling, noted Ikuta.

Circuit Judge Richard A. Paez authored a dissent, being joined by Chief Judge Sidney R. Thomas and Circuit Judges Kim McLane Wardlaw and William Fletcher.

Three separate district courts in well-reasoned opinions recognized that the Rule breaches Congresss limitations on the scope of HHSs authority and enjoined enforcement of the Rule, dissented Paez.

In vacating the district courts preliminary injunctions, the majority sanctions the agencys gross overreach and puts its own policy preferences before the law.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, whose state was among those fighting the rule, denounced the Ninth Circuit opinion in a statement.

This reckless rule is just another attempt by the Trump-Pence Administration to roll back womens access to reproductive healthcare, stated Becerra.

Leaving women in the dark about their healthcare and restricting doctors from providing candid advice is simply not in the best interest of public health. In California, we will continue to fight for comprehensive reproductive healthcare, including safe and legal abortion.

However, Steven Ertelt of Lifenews.com defended the rule, writing that it doesnt require doctors or nurses to withhold information but rather merely prevents Planned Parenthood from promoting abortion using taxpayer funds.

The abortion chain could continue to receive Title X funds if it stops aborting unborn babies or if it completely separates its abortion business from the real health care services it provides, stated Ertelt.

Meanwhile, community health centers vastly outnumber Planned Parenthoods and provide far more comprehensive medical services to low-income and minority women across the country. They still have access to those funds, assuring that low-income individuals still will have options for their medical needs.

SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser also celebrated the 7-4 ruling. Abortion is not family planning and a strong majority of Americans  including 42 percent of Independents and more than one third of Democrats  oppose taxpayer funding of abortion," she said.


Mt Ida And Bottle Creek Exploration Update

Canberra, Feb 25, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - ALT Resources Limited ( ASX:ARS ) is pleased to provide the following exploration update for operations at its Mt Ida and Bottle Creek Gold Projects (the Project) incorporating the Bottle Creek, Quinn's and Mt Ida South project areas, located 90km north-west of Menzies in Western Australia's Northern Goldfields.Alt has commenced a 3,500 metre RC drilling program on Friday 21st February 2020, at the Mt Ida Project with drilling currently underway. The Company has elected to fast track exploration drilling with Challenge Drilling mobilising an RC rig to site on the 20th February.The Company will be drilling several deposits and new prospect areas during this current program of RC drilling, including the Single Fin prospect which is south and along strike from the Boags open pit at Bottle Creek. Additional drilling will be undertaken at the Shepherds Bush deposit and the newly acquired White Eagle prospect recently purchased from Mr Bruce Legendre and announced to the market on 18th December 2019.Alt technical staff have spent several months reviewing historical data from work undertaken by Hamill Resources Ltd, Newcrest Mining Ltd ( ASX:NCM ) and La Mancha. The stratigraphy, structure and mineralisation relating to Ora Banda Mining Ltd's ( ASX:OBM ) historical Timoni gold mine and the Timoni Mineralised Trend (TMT) have also been reviewed.MT IDA PROJECT, TIMONI MINERALISED TRENDThe TMT area is located approximately 6 kilometres north-east of the Bottle Creek mining leases (Figure 2*). The Company's Mt Ida tenements cover significant parts of the TMT, surrounding Ora Banda Mining's lease M29/2 and M29/165 which contains the historic Timoni underground gold mine and a current contained JORC 2004 Indicated and Inferred resource of 320,000t at 13.8g/t Au for 140,000oz Au.The TMT is considered to be highly prospective for high grade gold mineralisation. Known deposit styles include high grade shear/vein hosted gold and base metal sulphides. Historically over 300,000 ounces of high-grade gold has been mined from the various mines in the Copperfield/Mt Ida area. Numerous brownfields exploration opportunities are present with the potential to make many potential new discoveries.The TMT is a structure located adjacent to the western margin of the Copperfield Granite, and sits to the east of, and parallel to, the Bottle Creek Trend. The structure hosts the Copperfield Mining Centre. Mineralisation along the TMT generally comprises narrow, high grade quartz veins hosted predominantly by mafic volcanics (amphibolites), ultramafic intrusions and anorthosite. Gold mineralisation is primarily associated with NW-SE striking shear zones, that contain mineralised lenticular quartz veins. Mineralisation is observed in the form of free gold, pyrite, pyrrhotite, galena and minor amounts of chalcopyrite and sphalerite, hosted within a strongly developed carbonate-biotite wall rock alteration envelope.The Ballard Shear zone is located in the east of the Mt Ida area and is interpreted to be the northern continuation of the Zuleika Shear. The Ballard shear hosts the Company's Quinn's, Tim's Find, Spotted Dog and the newly discovered Shepherds Bush deposits. The Ballard Fault is noted by a series of shear zones, trending north-south transecting the eastern portion of the Mt Ida area and is approximately conformable to stratigraphy.The Ballard Shear transects a series of mafic and ultramafic flows with associated interflow sediments. Conformable dolerites and gabbros dominate, with lesser occurrences of pegmatite and aplite intrusions. The shear zone is observed at surface as an outcropping chert unit. Drilling in the Ballard shear zone has intersected silicified sediments, iron rich rocks, graphitic shales and calcareous schists with abundant sulphides. Gold mineralisation at surface is commonly seen in gossans and hosted in pyrite, arsenopyrite and pyrrhotite bearing quartz veinlets within the shear.In the Mt Ida area, a folded greenstone belt forms a southerly plunging antiform, called the Kurrajong Anticline and the Copperfield Granite occurs within it's fold axis. The anticline is interpreted to be an isoclinal fold plunging at a low angle to the south. The fold has been overturned to the east-north east. This model is supported by the sub-vertical dips measured on the eastern Mt Ida limb and western Timoni/Bottle Creek limb. In the NE of the Mt Ida area folding is interpreted to be recumbent. Strong mineral lineations plunging to the south have been measured, this is indicative of a compressional environment and further support the proposed geological model in this area.TMT EXPLORATION DRILLINGThe company has delivered several priority drilling targets for the Mt Ida TMT. These targets have been generated by an in-depth review of all available historical data, including geophysics, structural works, geological findings and geochemical analysis.Alt considers the TMT which incorporates several of the historically mined Timoni lodes, the TMT may extend into the Company's tenements to the south east and adjacent to the old Timoni mine. Based on the review of all available historical data the Company has delivered several priority drilling targets for the Mt Ida TMT, based on multi layered magnetic, structural, geological and geochemical results. Figures 4 and 5* provide more detail of the Company's recent review of the historical data and interpretation). The Company intends to test several of these projected load extensions with RC drilling.TIMONI MINERALISED LODESHistorical loads of interest adjacent to Alt's tenement boundaries and within target areas generated by the Company over the past few months include the Unexpected, Federation, and Baldock lodes.Dave and Baldock LodesThe Dave Lode was discovered during the early development years of the Copperfield camp (Raymond, 1898). The Baldock Shoot is located to the south of the Whinnen lode towards Alt's tenement E29/0921. The upper extent of the Baldock shoot is ~100m deeper than the Whinnen Shoot, it is interpreted to gently plunge to the north and remains open at depth. A common feature of the Dave, Whinnen and Baldock Lodes are there composite natures, with as many as five distinct mineralised horizons intersected in historical drilling. Only one of these horizons has consistently returned economic values and is a marker for mineralisation, it hosts both the minearalised zones of the Whinnen and Baldock Shoots and these zones range in width from 1-4m.The Unexpected LodeThe Unexpected load dips steeply to the west, it is hosted in a NW-SE striking ultramafic package of rocks and is situated towards the southern end of the Timoni mine area (See Figure 3*). Historic production records found in the Swan Gold Prospectus dated 11th August 2014 suggest that Unexpected produced 17,666oz Au @ 50.1g/t Au.The highly magnetic character of the Unexpected ultramafic means that it can be traced on aeromagnetic images. High grade mineralisation was historically mined from lenticular quartz veins within the talc-chlorite schist (part of the ultramafic package). The lode correlates with a thickening of the ultramafic package, which may reflect its proximity to the hinge of the Timoni Anticline. Earlier reports (Finucane 1963) suggest the ultramafic increases in thickness to the South. The strike of the ultramafic where it hosts mineralisation is 330deg although, in the vicinity of the Main shaft, the trace of the lode is approximately north-south. High grade mineralisation was found in lenticular quartz veins within the talc-chlorite schist. The lode dips steeply to the west.The Federation LodeThe Federation (Fred) lode is also hosted by Timoni amphibolite, some 300m west of the Timoni lode. Historic production records found in the Swan Gold Prospectus dated 11th August 2014 suggest that Federation mine produced 4,997oz Au @ 70.3g/t Au5.Sparse historical data indicates that the nature of the structure is similar to the Timoni lode, although the host rocks are recorded as being less foliated. Historical sections of the mine development highlight the high-grade shoots plunging ~60SW within the lode.*To view tables and figures, please visit:About Aurenne Alt Resources Pty Ltd

Aurenne Alt Resources Pty Ltd is an Australian based mineral exploration company that aims to become a gold producer by exploiting historical and new gold prospects across quality assets and to build value for shareholders.
We are thrilled to see Altium has simplified electronic engineering to a new standard. Geppetto is lowering the barrier for everyone to turn their sketch into a real board, thus enabling emerging applications on AI, IoT, Automations for wider deployment, said Eric Pan, CEO of Seeed.

Altium (ASX:ALU), announces that Seeed, the IoT hardware enabler, has embedded the Geppetto electronic design application into its Seeed platform. Seeed users can now go straight from creating a design, to manufacturing a working printed circuit board in just one session.

Geppetto is a ground-breaking cloud-based design tool that allows anyone to design electronics. Until now, Gumstix was the only company using Geppetto to create and manufacture custom electronics. Now users can create Geppetto-based designs and have them manufactured by Seeed. A hardware design can be completed in minutes, and ready to ship from 7  20 working days.

We are thrilled to see Altium has simplified electronic engineering to a new standard. Geppetto is lowering the barrier for everyone to turn their sketch into a real board, thus enabling emerging applications on AI, IoT, Automations for wider deployment, said Eric Pan, CEO of Seeed. Seeed is honored to join the adventure by supporting our latest collection of open source hardware and agile manufacturing services!

Geppetto Key Capabilities:



Custom Web-design tool  embedded directly into the Seeed ecosystem, Geppetto provides a simple drag and drop design platform for all levels of designers enabling them to quickly build production-ready prototypes for IoT and AI applications.

Design to Build  Geppetto allows Seeed users, makers or professional engineers, to design custom hardware from the Seeed component library. The Board Builder is a menu driven application that allows users to rapidly populate a Geppetto board, making the design/prototype process trivially easy.

Rapid Manufacturing  Seeed can manufacture and deliver custom hardware directly, or with partners.

Exciting new electronics are being conceived by programmers who are putting their innovative software in specialized devices, said W. Gordon Kruberg, M.D., head of Modular Hardware, Altium, LLC. We are thrilled to be working with Seeed to put Geppettos power of authorship and design in the hands and minds of this new generation of makers.

Visit the Seeed stand to view the Geppetto demonstration (Hall 3A-100) at Embedded World 2020, February 25-27, 2020 in Nuremberg, Germany.

About Geppetto

Geppetto is a free online design tool that lets almost anyone create electronic device designs. Hardware design can be created in minutes, complete with BOM documentations and pricing. Users can create multiple projects and go straight from a design to a production ready order in one session. To learn more about Geppettos web design tool integration into Seeed visit http://geppetto.seeedstudio.com/

About Altium

Altium LLC (ASX:ALU), a global software company headquartered in San Diego, Calif., is accelerating the pace of innovation through electronics. From individual inventors to multinational corporations, more PCB designers and engineers choose Altium software to design and realize electronics-based products. Products include Altium Designer, Altium Concord Pro, Altium 365, Altium NEXUS, CircuitMaker, CircuitStudio, Octopart, and TASKING. To learn more about Altium, visit http://www.altium.com.

About Seeed

Seeed provides the latest open hardware for IoT, AI and Robotic systems, and help developers scale new applications. Founded in 2008, Seeed is based in Shenzhen with branch offices in the EU, US and Japan. By partnering with top tech providers, we speed up the application of new technologies across industries. By enabling global developers to solve real-world problems, we encourage collaboration for a sustainable future. Visit http://www.seeed.cc for more information.
As Mountaineers Booksthe nonprofit publisher of outdoor recreation, sustainable lifestyle, and conservation booksturns 60, its longtime publisher will step down and transition to a new role.

Helen Cherullo, who has served as publisher of Mountaineers Books for the past 20 years, will step down and shift her focus to the companys conservation imprint, Braided River, where she has also been acting as executive director of conservation and advancement. The imprint, which published its first title in 2003, is built around a nonprofit model merging "philanthropy and mission impact with a book as the centerpiece of a conservation campaign," which includes, the press said, partnering with grassroots organizations and foundations focused on advocacy efforts in western North America.

As a result of Cherullo's shift, Tom Helleberg, who has been director of finance and operations for Mountaineers Books since 2018, will take on the role of publisher, overseeing Mountaineers and its two imprints, Braided River and Skipstone. Prior to joining the company, Helleberg served as CFO of the University of Washington Press and finance manager of NYU Press. Longtime sales director Darryl Booker, who has been with the company for 15 years, will step into the role of director of sales and marketing. Kate Rogers, who has been with the company for 14 years, remains editor in chief. All changes are effective March 1.

Mountaineers Books was founded in March 1960, when the first edition of Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, written by volunteer members of the press, were printed to the tune of 5,000 copies. Since then, more than 750,000 copies, in nine editions and eight translations, of the book have been sold, and Mountaineers has more than 700 titles currently in print, including National Geographic Adventurer of the Year Heather Andersons memoir Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home; photographer Gerrit Vyn's The Living Bird; David Gutersons Turn Around Time; and James Edward Mills in The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors.
This speech was delivered by Socialist Equality Party National Secretary Chris Marsden to a public rally held in London on Sunday. A video of the speech can be viewed here.

Speech by Socialist Equality Party (UK) National Secretary Chris Marsden

Comrades and friends,

The efforts to imprison and silence Julian Assange and the struggle to defend him has already stretched over almost a decade.

It began when the frame-up was first concocted in Sweden in August 2010, leading to the Swedish international arrest warrant in November and then Assange seeking asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy on June 19, 2012.

Many of you here have been fighting to defend Assange ever since.

Tom noted that the International Committee of the Fourth International, the Socialist Equality Parties, held their first meetings on Assange in 2010 in Australia, Sri Lanka, Germany, the US and here in Britain.

SEP supporters protest outside Ecuadorian embassy to demand Assanges freedom

Since then we have written over 700 articles specifically on Assange and over 2,000 in which he is made a point of reference in calls to oppose imperialist war, colonialism and war crimes.

On August 18, 2012, Barry Grey and myself wrote a perspective for the WSWS, which declared:

There is no serious legal basis for the allegations of sexual abuse against Assange Not since the 1930s, with the triumph of fascism in much of Europe and the build-up to a second world war, has imperialism operated on the world stage with such brazen disregard for legality. Once again, the law of the jungle prevails in international relations. This is the external expression of the turn to unmitigated class war within the imperialist countries, driven by a global breakdown of the capitalist system.

The persecution of Assange being orchestrated by the US has united a gang of cutthroats, thieves and professional liars. They are collectively the political representatives of an oligarchy whose fabulous wealth is coined from the blood, sweat and tears of countless millions throughout the world.

Such is our record. And this was the stand on the truth taken by all those who opposed the slander campaign, the witch-hunt orchestrated by the CIA and its allies when so many othersyou know who they areabandoned him to his fate.

It has been a long and hard struggle, but it nevertheless was only preparation for the main event now underway. The opening of the extradition trial for Assange tomorrow at Woolwich Crown Court is a turning point. It means the fight is joined in earnest.

SEP members and supporters protest outside Belmarsh prison

Yes, in the court itself between the judiciary, the prosecution and Assanges legal team. And against a hostile press, which will make up the bulk of the maximum 34 places available to the entire worlds media.

It is there where the drama will be played outbefore a public gallery accommodating just 24 people.

But as important as this legal fight is, the court is not the arena where Assanges fate will ultimately be determined. If that was the case, then there would be little hope of victory.

Assange has one of the best legal teams in the world. He has truth on his side. The case against him is a tissue of lies that runs counter to all legal and democratic norms.

He is a publisher, not a whistleblower and certainly not a hacker. He simply published information that was clearly in the public interest.

He is being pursued by a US government made up of war criminals to cover over the crimes of their predecessors in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere and to clear the path for yet greater crimes.

Assange is being charged under the Espionage Act, as if he was a spy, not a publisher and a multi-award winning journalist.

He is an Australian citizen. The US is arrogating to itself an extraterritorial power to come after foreign nationals, lock them up and throw away the key. The motive for doing so is unarguably political, meaning that the UK has no right to extradite Assange under existing law.

The treatment of Assange is not an extradition, because no crime has been committed. It is the extraordinary rendition of a political opponent by the Trump administration, the Pentagon and the CIA.

SEP Assange defence rally in Melbourne, Australia, March 2019

And if he is locked up for life, this will be no different to the treatment of the 40 plus people known to be still rotting alive in Guantanamo.

If he is given the death penalty, then it will be a state-orchestrated assassination of a journalist, just like when US Apache helicopters fired the missile that killed two Reuters war correspondents, as revealed by WikiLeaks.

These are the issues that will be argued in court, with all their chilling implications for press freedom and basic democratic rights. But one must expect, as has been proved already, that however eloquently the facts and principles are argued this will be a dialogue of the deaf.

Assange faces a kangaroo court and no one should have any faith in it.

Even the venue has been chosen to prejudice Assanges case. Woolwich is a high security courtroom that is the preferred venue for terrorism trials.

There is a tunnel linking Belmarsh maximum security prison to the court. It remains to be seen whether Assange will be delivered to his tormentors by this route.

District Judge Vanessa Baraitser will rule on the extradition proceedings that begin Monday. But the power behind the bench is still Lady Emma Arbuthnot, whose husband, James, is a Conservative MP closely connected with the armed forces and security services.

He is co-chair of the UK advisory board for defence manufacturer Thales and an advisory board member of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) for Defence and Security Studies. There are almost 2,000 references in the WikiLeaks database to Thales and nearly 450 to RUSI. Lord Arbuthnot is mentioned in over 50 entries.

This week we learned from Matt Kennard and Mark Curtis that Lady Arbuthnot took part in all expenses paid trips, sponsored by organisations chaired by her husband, to political and corporate partners of the Foreign Office in Spain and Turkey.

I say this not to argue for a better judge, or more transparent proceedings, let alone to advise Assanges legal team. There are already too many barrack-room lawyers proofreading the legal case being mounted without any idea what they are talking about.

My essential point is this. If Assanges extradition is to be prevented, were Baraitser to deliver a surprise verdict or the one that many expect is overturned on appeal, then it will be because the judiciary are too scared to do otherwise.

As important as endorsements from prominent personalities, politicians and civil rights groups are in raising awarenesseven ones that stayed silent for yearsmore is needed now than changing public opinion.

Success depends on mobilising the only social force that strikes fear into the hearts of the worlds oligarchs, their judges, their police state apparatus, their media and their politiciansthe working class.

I want to speak here about what separates our approach from that of the Dont Extradite Assange campaign.

The SEP tells the truth, even when it is awkward, uncomfortable, unpopular. Even when moral and political pressure is brought to bear urging silence. And that has been the case, particularly since the formation of the DEA, as the official campaign for Assanges freedom.

Jeremy Corbyn refusing to speak in defence of Julian Assange when challenged over his silence at last months Stop the War protest

We have explained that the pseudo-left groups, including Counterfire led by John Rees, and above all Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell and the Labour lefts played the key role in isolating Assange and maintaining the cordon sanitaire placed around him by the state and the media.

This was epitomised by Corbyns silence during the last general election, when Assange was just weeks away from facing extradition.

We were all told that discretion was requiredDont embarrass Jeremy and prevent a Labour victory, because a Corbyn government was Assanges best chance of freedom.

We know how that turned out.

John McDonnell

Victories are not won through political cowardice, but in struggle. And there is no fight in Corbyn because he is loyal to the bureaucracy, first, last and always.

As a result of this and countless other retreats, Boris Johnson squats in Number 10, the man who declared on April 11 last year, Its only right that Julian Assange finally faces justice. Credit to foreign office officials who worked tirelessly to secure this outcome.

Only now have Corbyn and McDonnell come out in purely personal support for Assange.

Critical voices will be told, dont look a gift horse in the mouth, better late than never, and similar. Historically, of course, the British working class has been too forgiving, too generous to its leaders, by far. It should and will learn to be more ruthless.

Nevertheless, if Corbyn and McDonnell had now begun a systematic campaign to mobilise their albeit reduced support base in the working class, then this argument might carry more weight.

All sorts of political forces are involved in the campaign to free Assange, who we work alongside because we are not sectarian.

Moreover, Corbyns and McDonnells endorsement certainly helps raise Julian Assanges profile. Corbyns video on Assange has more than a million viewings on Twitter and Facebookunderscoring what he has been sitting on for all this time.

But we will not conceal our political differences. It cannot be a case of simply letting bygones-be-bygones, because Corbyns role and his promotion by the DEA is bound up with an attempt to channel the fight to free Assange in a direction that can only end badly.

Corbyn claims that Johnson, based on his response to questions from himself, accepts that the UK-US extradition treaty is unbalanced and not a fair one. This, he says, is a big change by the British government.

He advances this as a basis for pressing Johnson to take a stand against Assanges extradition.

What really happened? During Prime Ministers Questions, Corbyn first asked Johnson about Anne Sacoolas, the CIA operative who ran down and killed Harry Dunncalling the extradition treaty with the US one sided and asking whether he would commit to seeking a more balanced extradition relationship.

Johnson said Corbyn may have a point on the treaty but insisted that is totally different from the case of Harry Dunn and Anne Sacoolas.

When Corbyn followed up by asking whether Johnson felt Assanges extradition should be opposed and the rights of journalists and whistle-blowers upheld, Johnson replied that he would not comment on any individual cases, then claimed that his government protects the rights of journalists and whistle-blowers.

Johnson is Trumps ally, his creature, and a fellow warmonger. It has just been revealed that the Tories have already agreed to buy a new range of nuclear warheads for Trident from the US without even telling anyone! The UK is involved in an ongoing conspiracy with the US against Assange in pursuit of its own imperialist interests.

What change, therefore, is Corbyn speaking about? Not from Johnson, but a change of focus for Corbyn in spreading illusions in the possibility of mercy from the Tories and the courts!

McDonnell is singing the same tune, saying he will try and build a cross-party alliance to reflect the deep doubts in the Tory government about the unbalanced nature of the US extradition treaty! He combined this with a statement that, from tomorrow, he is constrained in even raising the issue in Parliament, let alone campaigning actively for Assanges freedom, by sub judice protocols.

By the time the extradition hearing resumes in May, Labour will likely be led by Sir Keir Starmer, the former Director of Public Prosecutions when the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) opposed a bail application for the WikiLeaks founder and even pressured Swedish prosecutors not to drop their sexual misconduct investigation in a letter warning them, Dont get cold feet!!!

In short, while claiming to defend Assange, Corbyn and McDonnell are covering the backs of the political scoundrels and warmongers who make up the Parliamentary Labour Party and are sowing illusions in a Tory government intent on delivering him to the war criminals in the White House and the Pentagon.

There are lessons from history in the dangers posed that must not be ignored.

Sacco and Vanzetti after they were arrested

Tom referred in his opening remarks to Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, Italian anarchists framed for murder amid a massive red scare and the arrests of thousands of socialists and communists in the US.

The campaign for their freedom mobilised millions and yet, on August 23, 1927, they were put to death. A turning point in the campaign was the substitution of reliance on the organised might of the working class for a focus on appeals to the state, the progressive politicians and judiciary.

Reviewing the experience, Max Shachtman wrote:

The defence turned more and more towards reliance upon the false friends concerned more with the vindication of confidence in our institutions and their capacity to rectify errors

 it helped to discredit the honest and powerful class support of the toilers, the grimy and despised, the brothers of Sacco and Vanzetti, and leaned instead upon the thoughtful editorials, the impartial fairness and pious wishes of the liberal journals

It played the soft pedal to the raucous, determined cries of the living movement of the workers and strained anxiously for respectability and polite prayers to those honorable gentlemen who, oblivious to everything but the demand for blood, were putting the final touches to the electric chair that was to burn all life out of the two fighters.

Because it failed or refused to understand the intensely class nature of the case, the defense succumbed to the demands of the lawyers; it exchanged the movement of the workers for the motions of the lawyers; it sold the class birth-right of Sacco and Vanzetti for a mess of liberal milk and pap.

We are not yet at the stage where millions of workers are involved in active struggle for Assanges freedom. But the potential is emerging for such a developmentprovided it is fought for.

The political perspective advanced by the SEP must be taken up by all those seeking Assanges freedom, all those seeking to stand against imperialist war and colonialism.

Victory can be ours because we represent the progressive forces of history.

John McDonnell is presently being denounced by the Labour right and the Zionist press for describing the trial of Assange as the Dreyfus case of our age.

The usual scoundrels have lined up to declare this analogy deeply offensive.

Alfred Dreyfus

Mike Katz, national chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, which is staffed by Blairites, is a political creature of the Netanyahu government. In his words, Dreyfus was a loyal soldier wrongly accused of treason because he was a Jew while Assange is apparently an entitled bloke who hid in a foreign embassy to evade extradition on a rape allegation.

Assange is entitled! There is no depth to which the lackeys of British imperialism will not stoop.

Katz is on the side of the forces of reaction, seeking to denigrate a heroic and entirely innocent journalist and publisher using long discredited slanders stemming from a state frame-up. He shares nothing with Dreyfus other than his religion. His politics are closer to those who framed and imprisoned Dreyfus than the Dreyfusards who waged a titanic 12-year struggle to clear his name and free him from Devils Island.

Leon Trotsky in 1915

That titanic conflict went well beyond the issue of Dreyfuss personal innocence, and even beyond taking a stand against the poison of anti-Semitism.

The Dreyfusards stood for progress. The anti-Dreyfusards for blackest reaction, of which anti-Semitism provided the ideological cement.

You here are the modern Dreyfusards, whose struggle Trotsky summarised as the fight against clericalism, against reaction, against parliamentary nepotism, against race hate and militarist hysteria, against backstage intrigues amongst the general staff, against the servility of the courtsagainst all the despicable forces that the powerful party of reaction could swing into motion to achieve its ends.

And we here can say, with Emile Zola in his Jaccuse, It is a crime to lie to the public, to twist public opinion to insane lengths in the service of the vilest death-dealing machinations Truth and justice, so ardently longed for! How terrible it is to see them trampled, unrecognized and ignored!

Emile Zola

Today human progress, the defence of democratic rights, the fight against austerity, against colonial exploitation, against militarism and war, and the re-emergence of the fascist threat, so terribly foreshadowed this week by the murderous rampage in Hanau, Germany, depends on ending the capitalist system of class exploitation that is plunging humanity towards disaster.

The ruling class, faced with rising social opposition, is turning ever more directly towards authoritarian forms of rulepolice state measures backed by right-wing terror.

The international working class must be unified and mobilised against this danger in the struggle for world socialism.

In that struggle, the fight to free Julian Assange assumes immense importance.

We are not with Johnson and the Tory right against dark forces. The Tories are dark forces! We are with the American working class against Johnson and Trump.

The silencing of Assange and the heroic whistleblower Chelsea Manning would be a terrible blow to us all. Securing his freedom would be a victory from which many, many more would follow.

Join us going forward in that historic struggle.
A Maoist, carrying a



reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head and allegedly involved in many incidents of crime, including killings, surrendered before the police in Odisha's Malkangiri district on Tuesday, police said.

He did this with a desire to return to the mainstream, a senior police official said.

Kamlu Beti, a resident of Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh, who was an area committee secretary of the banned CPI (Maoist), surrendered before the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, South Western Range, Shefeen Ahamed K, here.

The Maoist was active mostly in Malkangiri and nearby areas in Odisha and he carried a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh announced by the Government of Odisha, the DIG said.

Suspected to be involved in many incidents of crime, including assault and killing of civilians, exchange of fire with security forces and destruction of government properties, Kamlu told police that he decided to give up the path of violence as he was disillusioned with the Maoist leaders.

Beti saw various developmental activities being undertaken by the government in this area and realized the futility of violent path of Naxalism before deciding to join the mainstream of the society, the DIG said.

He was disappointed with the behaviour of senior Maoist leaders and regional feelings among Telugu and other cadres, Shefeen Ahamed K said, adding, the Maoist had also realized that the Maoists are doing nothing for the development of the villagers in forest areas.

The DIG said that people want development and police is providing security for these works which are being welcomed by people Maoists are losing support in Swabhiman Anchal and other parts of Malkangiri.

Their cadres became disheartened with the organisation and they are surrendering as they realized that Maoists are not for the development of the region or for the welfare of the people, he said.

"They have vested interests. This has resulted in the desertion of the organization by their cadres, he added.

Having joined the CPI (Maoist) in 2007, Kamlu was working as the area committee secretary of Kangerghati area committee under Darva Division of Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), the DIG said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
W ell, here we are, another new year. Another new variant in the coronavirus. And with the new year, the wine trade in Italy and America is ...
Cairo, Feb 25 : Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak -- ousted by the military in 2011, has died in Cairo at the age of 91.

Mubarak spent three decades in office before a popular uprising swept Egypt.

He was found guilty of complicity in the killing of protesters during the revolution. That conviction was overturned and was freed in March 2017.

His death was confirmed by Egyptian state TV on Tuesday, the BBC reported. Earlier in the day, the Al-Watan website reported that he died at a military hospital.

Mubarak underwent surgery in late January and was photographed with his grandson as he recovered.

On Saturday, however, Mubarak's son Alaa said that the former president remained in intensive care.

Born in 1928, Mubarak entered the air force as a teenager and went on to play a key role in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.

He became president less than a decade later, following the assassination of President Anwar Sadat, and played a key role in the Israel-Palestinian peace process.

But despite the billions of dollars in military aid Egypt received during his time in office, unemployment, poverty and corruption continued to grow.

Discontent boiled over in January 2011, after similar protests in Tunisia led to the overthrow of the president there. Mubarak was forced to step down 18 days later.

Just over a year after Mubarak's overthrow, Mohamed Morsi, an Islamist politician, won Egypt's first democratic presidential election.

Morsi himself was ousted by the military in 2013 and died in 2019 while still in prison.

Mubarak, meanwhile, was initially sentenced to life imprisonment over the deaths of some of the 900 protesters who were killed by security forces during the 2011 uprising.

These charges were later overturned and Mubarak was released in 2017.
By 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.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Stacey Burling | The Philadelphia Inquirer

The patient, a 61-year-old woman, insisted she had not been drinking, even though multiple tests found alcohol in her urine.

The stakes were high. She had come to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center seeking a liver transplant. Another hospitals transplant program had rejected her because of positive urine tests, and now UPMCs transplant team was also refusing to add her to their waiting list. Instead, they referred her for treatment for alcohol addiction.

Soon after that, in early 2019, Andrea DiMartini, a psychiatrist with the transplant center, came with one of her students to the office of Kenichi Tamama, a clinical pathologist and medical director of the UPMC Clinical Toxicology Laboratory. They said the woman denied drinking and did not seem impaired. Could he take another look at the lab results?

He says what he saw led him to identify a new medical condition that he and his team want to call auto-brewery syndrome or bladder fermentation syndrome. Essentially, the womans body was making alcohol by itself. The findings, Tamama said, have implications for programs that test urine for alcohol, including addiction treatment and transplant programs.

A description of the case was published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Tamama noticed that the womans blood tests were negative for alcohol. By itself, this was not proof she hadnt been drinking. As the body metabolizes alcohol, it clears it from the blood faster than from urine. Then he looked at the results of tests for two byproducts or metabolites of alcohol: ethyl glucoronide and ethyl sulfate. If she had been drinking, they should have been in her urine. They werent. He also noticed that the patient had yeast in her urine. And she had uncontrolled diabetes, a sign that sugar levels in her urine would be high.

I just tried to put these pieces of the puzzle together, he said.

Tamama had heard of rare cases of gut fermentation syndrome, in which alcohol was produced in the gastrointestinal tract. In those cases, patients were intoxicated, and their blood had alcohol in it. There also had been reports of doctors who had fermented urine in a lab. Tamama and his team wondered if something similar could be happening in this patients bladder. How could they prove it?

He wanted to make sure the patient was treated fairly. He worried that she might have been falsely blamed as an alcohol abuser. If thats the case, it is extremely unfair for that patient.

They got a fresh urine sample from the patient and had it rushed on ice to the lab. It arrived smelling of alcohol. Then Tamama let it sit in the lab for 24 hours at various temperatures. At 98.6 degrees, the alcohol level increased by a massive 18 times, Tamama said. That was proof that yeast in the womans urine was converting sugar to alcohol. He added that the alcohol smell is intensified  like wine. The researchers were stunned.

The yeast was Candida glabrata, which is commonly found in people. It is closely related to brewers yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the study said.

The experience we describe here of two liver transplant teams at different institutions demonstrates how easy it is to overlook signals that urinary auto-brewery syndrome may be present, the study said. The team called for standardized guidelines for alcohol abstinence monitoring. Tamama said he expects that auto-brewery syndrome will be rare.

The case report said the patient was reconsidered for a transplant. This is a game-changer for the patient, Tamama said.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the report presented by health minister Saeed Namaki amid the outbreak of coronavirus in the country is 'promising', Mehr reported.

His remarks came in a session of the National Coronavirus Combat and Prevention Headquarters.

According to him, everything will be back to its normal condition as of the beginning of the next week unless the Headquarters takes new decision with regards to closure of centers on special occasions.

He thanked the doctors for containing the outbreak of coronavirus. Rouhani called for collaboration with the health ministry and relevant organizations to combat the deadly disease.

According to him, hospitals throughout the country are equipped with the necessary medical equipment, in addition, Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran has also promised to mobilize all their facilities and amenities to contain COVID-19 which has currently claimed lives of 15 people across the country.
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Linkedin Joseph Sipalan and Rozanna Latiff (Reuters) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  Tue, February 25, 2020 14:28 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20667e9c6 2 World Mahathir-Mohamad,Malaysia,Prime-Minister,political-party,political-parties Free

Rival political factions competed to win favor with Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday after he plunged Malaysia into political turmoil by resigning as prime minister, reinforcing the likelihood his shock move will strengthen his power.

Mahathir, who at 94 is the world's oldest government leader, stepped down on Monday but was immediately named as interim prime minister by Malaysia's king - a role that carries all the authority of a permanent leader.

The move effectively broke apart an increasingly fragile and unpopular coalition Mahathir had formed with old rival Anwar Ibrahim, 72, to win government on an anti-corruption platform in 2018. It also potentially freed Mahathir from a pre-election promise to hand over the reins to Anwar before his term ends in 2023.

"He has total freedom to decide as he pleases," said Ibrahim Suffian, director of pollster Merdeka.

In one of his first acts as interim leader, Mahathir disbanded his entire cabinet late on Monday, opening up political negotiations to form another government.

An official from Mahathir's Bersatu party, which is trying to put together one alliance, said a group of senior members met with Mahathir on Tuesday.

The Democratic Action Party (DAP), part of a rival pact, also said it wanted Mahathir to continue in office.

"He is the person most likely to be the next prime minister," said DAP parliamentarian Ong Kian Ming.

Whatever the outcome of coalition talks, it will mark yet another realignment of politics just two years after Mahathir made a stunning political comeback to topple former leader Najib Razak and bring down the party that had ruled for six decades - and which he had once led.

Mahathir, a former doctor, is credited with transforming Malaysia into an industrial nation from a rural farming backwater when he previously served as prime minister from 1981 to his retirement 2003.

"Just another day in the office," Mahathir said in a post on his official Twitter account that was accompanied by a series of photos of him reading through paperwork at the prime ministerial desk.

Interviews with the King

Under Malaysia's constitution, any lawmaker who can command a majority in parliament can stake a claim to form a government, which must then be approved by the king.

The palace said the king would hold individual interviews with all 222 elected members of the lower house of parliament on Tuesday and Wednesday, to assess who was likely to succeed.

"For Malaysians, the trauma of uncertainty is hard to overstate," the pro-establishment New Straits Times newspaper wrote in an editorial.

The political crisis comes at a particularly bad time for the Malaysian economy, after growth fell to a decade low in the final quarter of last year. Mahathir had been scheduled to announce a stimulus package to deal with the coronavirus outbreak on Thursday.

Malaysia's stock market recovered slightly on Tuesday after falling to an eight-year low on Monday while the currency also rose after hitting a near six-month low.

Mahathir and Anwar formed the Pakatan Harapan coalition to defeat the UMNO party and its Barisan Nasional alliance in 2018. Anwar was Mahathir's deputy prime minister when he was arrested and jailed in the late 1990s for sodomy and corruption, charges that Anwar and his supporters maintain were aimed at ending his political career.
While the prosecution says a gag order appeal in the Jennifer Dulos case is now moot after her estranged husbands apparent suicide, his attorney argued in a Tuesday court filing that there is still merit for a Supreme Court ruling.

Defense attorney Norm Pattis, representing Fotis Dulos, filed an appeal in October, seeking a state Supreme Court ruling on the gag order imposed by Stamford Superior Court Judge John Blawie in the criminal cases against his client.

Fotis Dulos died on Jan. 30, two days after attempting suicide at his Farmington home. He was charged with murder Jan. 7 in the death and disappearance of his estranged wife, who has not been found.

Attorneys on both sides had until Tuesday to file a five-page memoranda with the court stating their position on whether the appeal should be dismissed.

The gag order appeal is now moot and should be dismissed since Fotis Dulos has died, according to Senior Assistant States Attorney Robert Scheinblum, who is representing the state in the appeal.

But Pattis, in his Tuesday filing, said even though this client is dead, the gag order still applies to Mr. Dulos counsel and the other defendants charged in connection with Jennifer Dulos disappearance.

Pattis said Fotis Dulos estate has a liberty interest in his legacy that public speculation tarnishes while a gag order silences his advocates and family. The court can still grant practical relief through the disposition of Mr. Dulos appeal.

Scheinblum contends that since the defendant is dead, there would be no available remedy if the states highest court struck down the gag order. The others whose speech was curtailed by the gag order also have no remedy since the order will expire when the charges are dropped on March 3, Scheinblum said.

Scheinblum said Pattis argument that the appeal has significance since it could apply to other high-profile cases, has no bearing since appeals of any future gag orders can be filed.

Gag orders, though rare, are capable of arising again in another high-profile case in which the parties would have ample opportunity to appeal the gag order due to the protracted nature of litigation such as this one, Scheinblum said.

Pattis contends the issue is very much alive, and not at all moot.

Judge Blawie wrote to address the influence of social media on high-profile trials, Pattis said. There will be other such cases. The issue is very much capable of reporting yet evading review, the well-known exception to the mootness doctrine that has been used extensively in abortion cases.

The exception was invoked in the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion rights case with the U.S. Supreme Court recognizing that women have a finite gestation period, which would make every pregnancy-related appeal moot since litigation tends to last beyond nine months.

But the court also acknowledged that the exception can only be used in circumstances when someone could likely be subjected to the same illegality, since women can be pregnant more than once, if the case didnt continue.

The order in the Dulos case has banned police, attorneys and witnesses involved in the investigation into the death and disappearance of the New Canaan mother from speaking publicly about the case. Pattis argued the order prohibited him from adequately defending his client from the charges filed against him.

The case was argued before the state Supreme Court in December  about three weeks before Fotis Dulos was charged with the murder of his estranged wife.

In a brief order filed last week, the state Supreme Court asked attorneys involved in the appeal to file a memo not to exceed five pages addressing why the appeal should not be dismissed because the defendant has died.

Scheinblum went along with the appeal in the hopes that the justices would set precedent for future gag orders, which are rare in Connecticut criminal courts.

Our appellate courts have yet to address the appropriate legal standard for imposing a gag order; accordingly, hearing this appeal would provide guidance to the trial bench on the law that applies, Scheinblum wrote in court documents filed last year.

Scheinblum, however, argued against lifting the order in a brief filed with the high court and during oral arguments in December.

Pattis argued that his clients right to a fair trial was being impeded since he was not able to present his defense tactics to the public or respond to comments on evidence from reporters. Fotis Dulos and his girlfriend Michelle Troconis were arrested twice on tampering with evidence charges in the weeks and months before they were both charged Jan. 7 in the murder of Jennifer Dulos.

Pattis contended that the order favored Richard Colangelo, the lead prosecutor in the case, since arrest warrants detailing police beliefs of how the disappearance and death occurred were public documents.

Colangelo sought the gag order in September after Pattis floated theories to the media that Jennifer Dulos may have disappeared like the main character in the novel Gone Girl, to get back at her estranged husband as the two were involved in an acrimonious two-year divorce.

Blawie wrote in his order that pervasive information or misinformation in the social media age could prevent a fair trial in this type of high-profile case.

The 35-page warrant for his arrest on murder charges details the exhaustive investigation into the disappearance and likely death of Jennifer Dulos at the hands of her estranged husband.

Police believe Fotis Dulos was lying in wait for his estranged wife when she returned to her New Canaan home after dropping their children off at school the morning of May 24.

He used zip ties, which were later found stained with her blood, according to arrest warrants. Jennifer Dulos suffered injuries that the states Chief Medical Examiner James Gill called non-survivable without medical intervention.

Gills conclusions were based on blood splatter found in her garage and bloodstained items found a week later in trash bags that Fotis Dulos and Troconis had dumped along a busy street in Hartford that night, the warrants state.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 25) Even with Congress order for a temporary license, media giant ABS-CBN will still not be able to continue operations once its franchise lapses in May, a former top official of the Supreme Court said Tuesday.

Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno refuted Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarras claim that lawmakers through a joint resolution can authorize the National Telecommunications Commission to grant provisional authority pending legislative action on the networks franchise renewal.

Speaking to CNN Philippines The Source, Puno cited the high courts 2003 decision (Associated Communications & Wireless Services versus NTC) which stated that there is a need for an existing license before a corporation can operate.

We were unanimous in holding that there is need for a franchise before the NTC can grant a provisional permit. Without a franchise, the television station concerned has to cease operations, Puno said of the decision which he penned.

The former top magistrate likewise referred to Republic Act No. 7925 or the Public Telecommunications Policy Act of the Philippines, a measure which specifies the roles of the NTC.

They (ABS-CBN) cannot (operate) because of that decision by the Supreme Court and the laws we have, particularly R.A. 7925, Puno added.

Section 16 of the R.A. 7925 states that no person shall commence or conduct the business of being a public telecommunications entity without first obtaining a franchise.

Guevarra, in response, said it won't be fair for to close down ABS-CBN if violations are not proven. In a message to CNN Philippines, he maintained Congress has the power to do such move pending action on the renewal measures.

'Mere tolerance for other companies, networks'

Guevarra, during Mondays Senate inquiry into ABS-CBNs franchise issues, bared the upper chamber and the House of Representatives can file the concurrent resolution prior to the networks license expiry date on May 4.

But even without the Congress move, the Justice chief said ABS-CBN should still be allowed to operate, given that some companies including the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines with expired licenses were able to do so in the past.

Puno took a swipe at the fact, saying the practice of granting permits should not be sustained.

That is by mere tolerance by mere practice. That practice cannot be sustained if you have a decision of the Supreme Court, and you have a law saying that you need to have a franchise, Puno stressed.

ABS-CBNs franchise renewal was highlighted earlier this month following the quo warranto petition of Solicitor General Jose Calida. Calida had cited highly abusive practices by the networkincluding foreign ownership and operational issues allegations that ABS-CBN itself had debunked.

Some lawmakers earlier allayed concerns over ABS-CBNs looming shutdown, saying the media company can still broadcast news and content as there are pending renewal measures in Congress.

A total of eleven measures remain pending before the lower chamber, which just started its proceedings on the case on Monday.

READ: House panel asks for position papers on ABS-CBN franchise issue as case proceedings start

CNN Philippines' Anjo Alimario contributed to this report.
It is impossible not to admit that this final volume, nearly twice the length of the more kinetic Bring Up the Bodies, becomes woefully labored. Thomas Cromwell is a marvelous prism and a phenomenally round character, but by the time weve had 1,700 pages of him, he is drastically overdetermined. Some of the repetition may stem from a desire to give each volume in the trilogy a degree of autonomy, but in this latest book one senses Mantels simply excessive zeal in sculpting the protagonist. Theres the frequent puffing of his fascinating nature  even Henry says: I dont know what makes you as you are. Gods mystery, I suppose  and a thick layering of his memories, flashback upon flashback to the forge and to Italy and to his going about Wolseys business. The effect is more oppressive than illuminating. When Lady Mary says to him, I cannot imagine you as a child, he thinks: Neither can I. I cannot picture myself. But by this time it may seem to the reader that Cromwell does little else.

The Wolf Hall trilogy is probably the greatest historical fiction accomplishment of the past decade; the first two volumes both won Man Booker Prizes. But after Bring Up the Bodies, the enterprise, like Henry, has put on weight and self-importance. The final book feels heavier with food and custom and ceremony; catalogs of saints relics, clothing and wedding presents; an epic paragraph about plums. Mantels brilliance is never far from being in evidence, as in this line about gargoyles: Outside the rain runs down the windows: Lead men on rooftops spout it from their maws. And yet, the sentence is deployed, like dozens of others, to impart a portentous tone just before a section break, as if we need regular reminding that the story, like Cromwells knotty nature, really should compel us. Long since convinced of that, we would rather be left alone to delight in all the animated, independent particulars, such as the obsessive removal of HA-HAs, architectural ornaments that entwine Henrys and Anne Boleyns initials. When Mantel stages a fiesta of pain, she never stints. Along with heads and bodies, one finds on the execution ground, shaken adherent flesh from chains. When the method is burning instead of the ax, the friar raises his arms, which have been left free, as if he is clawing towards Heaven.

[ Read our profile of Hilary Mantel. ]

At its end, The Mirror and the Light recovers a brutal momentum from Cromwells fall. (Historical fiction doesnt really require spoiler alerts, but if youre rusty in the Tudor period, you may want to skip these last paragraphs.) After the vast and painstaking narrative that has preceded them, the books final 75 pages may actually feel rushed, but the speed is artistically appropriate to the abruptness of the matter. Just after Cromwell has been made Earl of Essex, the ground gives way beneath his feet. He has always known that Henry uses people up, and his own expiration date has now arrived, as if he were one of the kings wives. He is held responsible for the Anne of Cleves fiasco and the failure to kill Reginald Pole, along with a host of new threats to the kingdom, including possible invasion by the French king and the emperor. Right now the king rains and shines like April. Men change their religion as they change their coats.  We are playing chess in the dark.

But there is enough light for his old enemies, including Norfolk, to spot an opening for themselves. The ensuing interrogations are brisk, Cromwells replies sarcastically superb. He has been manhandled, stripped of his badge, chain, papers and properties, and the process has been organized so neatly you would think he had done it himself. The kings secretary can now be blamed openly, not just for the realms insecurity but for having had the presumption to wear an overly regal doublet of purple satin. He retains the loyalty of his servant Christophe, the roaringest of the roaring boys, along with the devotion of his tenderhearted clerk, Rafe Sadler. But he is condemned to the Tower, to read Erasmuss Preparation Unto Death and be visited by the ghosts of Wolsey and Thomas More. Any hope of Henrys mercy will prove no more fruitful than Anne Boleyns hope for the same. The king has two marriages to go, but this is the end of Henrys story as well: After what Mantel has achieved, the reader will likely refuse to see that tale through any eyes but Thomas Cromwells.
Haji Hassan Group, a leading construction company in Bahrain, has renewed its strategic sponsorship for the Gulf Construction Expo, the largest showcase for the building and construction sector in the Northern Gulf being organised by Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE).



The Gulf Construction Expo will be held from April 14 to 16 at the Bahrain International Exhibition Center, under the patronage of HRH Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, said the event organisers.



One of the pioneers in the construction sector in the kingdom, Haji Hassan Group has established its reputation as a well-known driver in its field by successfully delivering remarkable high-profile projects such as the Sitra Causeway, Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain International Airport, Riffa Footbridge, Four Seasons Hotel, Oncology Center at King Hamad University Hospital, Housing Projects in Askar, Diyar Al Muharraq and Al Madina Al Shamaliya.



Its current ongoing projects include Shaikh Zayed Highway, Saar Interchange, Jasra Interchange, Bapco Modernization Program, King Abdulla Medical City, Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Highway, Daytona Towers, Iconic Mall and Carpark Project, it stated.



On the strategic partnership, executive director Hani Hassan Al A'ali said: "Here at Haji Hassan Group we believe in celebrating our achievements and connecting with our audience on a continuous basis, something which the Gulf Construction Expo delivers year after year."



"The Expo provides us with the proper platform to promote our diverse portfolio of products across all our joint businesses, therefore helping us maintain our connections to our various stakeholders," he stated.



Some of the groups companies which will be at the expo include the Arabian Parts Company, Bahrain Asphalt, Arabian Chemical Industries (Isola), Haji Hassan Ready-mix, Bahrain Pipes, Bahrain Precast Concrete, Bahrain Blocks and Haji Hassan Reinforcement, said the statement from HCE.



Each entity specialises in essential resources for the construction sector such as building materials, precast concrete, ready-mix concrete, plastic and sewage pipes, construction chemicals, concrete blocks, steel reinforcement, rubber and mechanical engineering spare parts, it stated.



HCE managing director Jubran Abdulrahman said: "We are delighted to have Haji Hassan renew their sponsorship at the Gulf Construction Expo as they represent one of the powerhouses of the Building and Construction Sector in Bahrain."



"As HCE, we are proud to have facilitated our clients to the multibillion-dollar construction market place and we will continue to deliver the same for a phenomenal success for our clients," noted Abdulrahman.



"Haji Hassan Groups sixth year renewal at the Gulf Construction Expo is a testimony of HCEs vision to deliver business success to our exhibitors," he added.



Gulf Construction Expo carries the strategic support of Tamkeen alongside sector sponsors Universal Rolling for the Metal and Steel sector and Arcal for the architectural aluminium sector.-TradeArabia News Service
Excited students dressed in traditional attire welcomed United States First Lady Malania Trump as she arrived at a Delhi government school in south Moti Bagh area on Tuesday to attend a session of the 'Happiness Class'.

IMAGE: US First Lady Melania Trump being welcomed during her visit to a government school to witness various activities as part of the happiness curriculum, in New Delhi. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo

Sarvodaya Co-Educational Senior Secondary School was decked up with floral garlands and motifs to welcome the US First Lady.

Floral rangolis were also drawn at multiple places in the school and a student band welcomed her playing bagpipes.

As soon as she entered, lensmen scurried to get a perfect shot. The children welcomed the US First Lady by applying 'tika' on her forehead. She was also handed over a bouquet after which she lit the ceremonial lamp.

She proceeded to take a tour of the school and also attend a session of the 'Happiness Class'.

IMAGE: Children dressed in colourful saris and ghagra cholis put a tika on the forehead of US First Lady Melania Trump to welcome her to Sarvodaya Co-Educational Senior Secondary School. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

Before her arrival, children were seen rehearsing outside the gate of the institution. Massive security was also put in place for her visit.

Ahead of her arrival, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had tweeted to welcome her.

IMAGE: US First lady Melania Trump talks with children at a school in New Delhi. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

"@FLOTUS will attend happiness class in our school today. Great day for our teachers, students and Delhiites. For centuries, India has taught spirituality to the world. Am happy that she will take back the msg of happiness from our school," Kejriwal said.

SEE: US First Lady Melania Trump interacts with students at Delhi government school

The children were dressed in bright-coloured sarees and traditional attire like ghagra-choli to welcome Melania Trump. Some of them were carrying bagpipes and other musical instruments.

IMAGE: Melania attends a Happiness Class in the school. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo

"Welcome to our school @FLOTUS! We hope you would have a great time here in #HappinessClass It's just 18 months old initiative but early results have made us confident that @HappinessDelhi is the ultimate solution to all violence & hate in mindsets that we are facing worldwide," tweeted Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio.

In another tweet, he said, Its a proud moment for my Team Education of Delhi today. All are excited to see @FLOTUS in one of our school. She just visited 'room to read' now she would move for #HappinessClass and then address the kids in assembly."

IMAGE: The 'Happiness Class' was started by the Aam Aadmi Party in 2018. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo

Kejriwal and Sisodia were to welcome Melania at the school and brief her about rationale behind introduction of the 'Happiness Classes' as well as the Delhi government's overall reform initiatives in the education sector but the US embassy had later communicated to the city administration that their names do not figure in the list of invitees for the event.

The 'Happiness Class' was started by the Aam Aadmi Party in 2018. As part of the programme, students are taught various activities, including meditation, street plays, basic obedience and aims to reduce anxiety and stress levels among children.

IMAGE: US First Lady Melania Trump hugs a school girl during her visit to the government school in New Delhi. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo

Following her visit to the school, US First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday said she was inspired by the Happiness Curriculum.



"Thank you for welcoming me. This is my first visit to India. People here are so welcoming and kind," she said.

WATCH: Melania enjoys folk dance performance by schoolchildren

She said it is "very inspiring" that students begin their day with practising mindfulness and connecting with nature".



"A healthy, positive example has been set for educators to ensure a promising future," she said.

Students of Sarvodaya Co-education Senior Secondary School gifted Madhubani paintings made by them to US First Lady Melania Trump.
In better days, Tom Conway, International Vice President of the United Steelworkers (right) joined (from left) then-Gov. Tom Corbett; John Farrington, a worker at the refinery for 44 years; and refinery executive Phil Rinaldi for the 2012 restart of the former Sunoco refinery as Philadelphia Energy Solutions. Read more

As a vice president of the United Steelworkers union, Thomas M. Conway was deeply involved in talks that led to the 2012 rescue of the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery. This year, as president of the 860,000-member international union, Conway had an inside view on failed efforts to rescue the South Philadelphia refinery out of bankruptcy.

From the unions standpoint, the decision to sell the refinery to a buyer that has pledged to dismantle a plant that had employed more than 600 steelworkers was a frustrating turn of events, especially after efforts the union made since 2012 to keep the refinery operating. PES was the largest refinery on the East Coast.

I wanted that refinery up and going and to put as many of those 600 jobs back in there as we possibly could, said Conway. Thats what weve been fighting for all those years.

The role of Conways USW team inside the closed-door talks over the sale of PES to Chicagos Hilco Redevelopment Partners came under fire following the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts confirmation of the plan on Feb. 13. Some members of USW Local 10-1, which represented the unionized PES workers, called Conway a sellout on social media for dropping objections to the Hilco sale. Conway felt compelled to post a letter on the USW website defending the unions role.

In an interview, Conway said it was disingenuous and dishonest to say USW abandoned the members. Faced with a decision by PES and its major creditors to dismiss a union-supported bid from rival Industrial Realty Group (IRG), the labor negotiators were left to salvage what they could out of the bankruptcy procedure, he said.

People think this is all in the hands of the union," said Conway. "Its just not true. I mean the debtor gets to determine whos winning the auction. And IRG in the end never gets to a point where the owners of PES are accepting their bid.

Conway said that the union was involved in talks until the last minute with IRG, whose plan included a promise to lease the refinery to Philip Rinaldi, the retired PES chief executive.

I had an agreement with IRG and had been in constant contact with Rinaldi, and had been pushing the IRG bid as much as I could, Conway said. But in the end, theres no bid if the debtor is saying this bid isnt getting there.

Conway said that IRG attached a number of conditions to its bid that were unacceptable to the sellers, who primarily wanted assurances a buyer could close a deal, since maintaining the refinery was draining its remaining cash reserves, even in a mothballed state.

It was frustrating for me because I thought IRG and Rinaldi had this figured out and they were going in there with a bid that was going to succeed and make PES change their mind and turn from Hilco to IRG," he said. "And they never got that done.

He said PES management did not object to a refinery restart.

The PES management themselves, they were willing to start the refinery. I dont know about the banks that owned it, or if they just wanted to get out from under it. It wasnt like the management was thrilled with the Hilco idea. They were just faced with a better bid from Hilco.

So Conway said the USW faced a decision: The union still represented 87 workers at the refinery, who are operating utility systems and providing security under a contract that will expire in September. The union also had outstanding grievances against PES, which it had raised in a formal objection to the courts approval of the reorganization plan.

 READ MORE: Sold: Chicagos Hilco is the new owner of Philadelphia refinery and 1,300 acres

I want to preserve as much of that work as I can for our bargaining unit, he said. Hilco is pushing to put in what they call a labor peace agreement, which essentially says, We can put people out and you can organize them again if you want to.

So the union decided to settle its objections in exchange for a one-year extension of the contact  to September 2021  that applies to any USW workers who remain employed. And it negotiated a $5 million severance payment for laid-off workers.

Its the only deal out there and I try and do the best I can to get the best I can out of the whole mess, said Conway.

Conway had experience working with Hilco in 2012, when the company was in a partnership that successfully bid to acquire the bankrupt Sparrows Point steel mill near Baltimore. The Baltimore steelworkers, much like the Philadelphia refinery workers, maintained that their plant could still operate. But investors were unwilling to buy into that plan.

Hilco agreed to hold off on demolishing the steel mill, to give a potential buyer time to step forward. But in the end, the only buyer who emerged bought the old Sparrows Point blast furnace, and hauled it away.

Hilco did what they said they were going to do, Conway said. They said to us, We will hold off on this for a couple of months and well see if someone materializes. I dont think anybody had any Illusions about what that meant. They werent going to go out and market it for us  they were anxious to tear it down  while we could see if someone could come forward.

 READ MORE: This Chicago firm is about to make its mark on South Phillys refinery site

The closure of the Sparrows Point mill left some steelworkers embittered, much like workers at the Philadelphia refinery. Conway said both were iconic businesses that had been operating for more than a century, and left behind a lot of history and emotions.

All the years of legacy and parents and grandparents who worked in them and made a living, and then to have it go this way, its just frustrating," he said.

These are good jobs and people were able to raise their families on it, he said. "Id like nothing better than a bidder who went in there and made the bid and were able to pull this off.
In The Headlands, the latest offering at LCT3's Claire Tow Theater, playwright Christopher Chen tries to elevate the classic "whodunit." Beyond the bread-and-butter intrigue of your average police procedural, Chen sets out to expose the whole backward-looking process of fact-finding and narrative-shaping for what it is: an inexact science clouded by perception, emotion, and bias. The mission for the play is clear. The results, however, are mixed.

Chen played a similar cat-and-mouse game (to great acclaim) in an earlier play, Caught, which used shifting perceptions of art to challenge the traditional American perception of Chinese politics. In The Headlands, he shrinks the scope to a single family, building a walking tour of all the vantages from which you can view your own upbringing. The character going on this harrowing trip down memory lane is Henry (Aaron Yoo, leading with youthful enthusiasm), a Google employee and sleuthing hobbyist who applies his amateur crime-solving skills to the 20-year-old case of his father's murder. A random burglary isn't a good-enough explanation anymore  but whether that dissatisfaction has more to do with the details of his father's cold case or his own surfacing demons is yet to be determined.

Narrating each step of his investigation, Henry looks back at his joyous jaunts to the title's Marin Headlands of San Francisco with his father George (Johnny Wu); the parental tiffs he has eavesdropped on as a child (Laura Kai Chen plays the younger version of his mother Leena); and the final days of his father's life, which in retrospect, hold some foreboding signsor do they? Information provided by his father's former business partner (Henry Stram) and his now-deceased mother's best friend Pat (Mia Katigbak, who doubles as the older version of Leena) also refocus Henry's recon.

Aaron Yoo stars as Henry in Christopher Chen's The Headlands.

( Kyle Froman Photography)

Peeling away these layers  family secrets, personal baggage, generations-old lies  should be a thrilling adventure. And for Chen's characters, these layers are enveloped in a specific Chinese-American story with unique cultural stakes (George and Leena meeting as first- and second-generation immigrants, respectively). But as revelations are ripped off like Band-Aids, surprises that should have snuck up on us with thoughtful subtlety end up feeling clunky and anticlimactic. They also keep the piece feeling like the rote crime thriller it doesn't want to be.

Shifting perspectives and rock-solid truths that disintegrate before your eyes should be the magic of this production. But unless we're the ones regrouping the facts ourselves, that theatrical magic trick becomes little more than a collection of characters correcting falsehoods. That effectively sums up the main narrative function of Henry's girlfriend Jess (a charming performance by Mahira Kakkar, but the other half of a passionless couple), who innocuously joins in his game of detective until removing herself in frustration with a sweeping explanation of all of Henry's biases toward the case.

In the spirit of classic murder mystery, the play borrows style elements from film noir  though to what creative end, Chen and director Knud Adams still seem undecided. From Henry's omniscient narration, to the illustrative black-and-white projections (designed by Ruey Horng Sun), to the revised memories of his parents playing and replaying behind him in shadowy lighting (designed by Mark Barton), the effect fluctuates from melodrama to camp. And you can never quite tell which, if either of those spaces, The Headlands would prefer to be sitting in. In all other respects, in fact, the play takes itself rather seriously. A young man venturing into adulthood is questioning his life, his memories, and his family legacy while also coming to terms with the grisly murder of his father. With all of that genuine tension spinning around, broadcasting more drama accomplishes just the opposite.
[ Spoiler (click to open) ]





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67s-dlx_58A







https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt-rtmEhBP8



Emanuel was senior advisor to Clinton 1993-1998 and WH Chief of Staff to Obama from 2009-2010 (among other roles). Has no epiphany about campaign. Super Tuesday will be a deciding factor. Talks about playbook, cites Clinton 1992, 1996, Obama 2008, 2012, plus midterms 2006, 2018, do well in urban areas, do really really well in suburban areas, and dont get killed in rural areas. But Sanders is saying he doesnt need that strategy. Sanders isnt going after moderates or independents, thinks he can win on left Democratic base. RE says we have 6 models of success spanning two presidencies, but oh ok. RE says not a single congressional win that flipped a red seat to a blue seat has endorsed Sanders. Its not ideological its Darwinian, survival of the fittest. Top goal is get T45 out but this isnt a playbook thats been successful in the past. Base of party is more progressive, but thats not a winning strategy for the general election (re/electoral college). Only 4 Potus have lost re-election in decades. Hoover = depression. Ford (plus Nixon fallout), Carter, Bush41 = all recession. There are people who say theyll never vote for T45. But there are the same who say theyll never vote for Sanders (versus will consider others). RE says we have real shot at more state trifectas, keep House, win Senate, win WH, but this requires a proper strategy.



Sunny wonders when Obama will weigh in. RE doesnt think its a good idea for Potus to put their thumb on the scale [PSA Potus never endorse until conventions choose the nominee, either party]. Points out the worst mass shooting was in Vegas, but nobody brought up Sanders vote on gun rights. Sanders had heart attack in Vegas, but nobody brought up whether he used Medicare or government provided private health care. Joy says T45 won nomination because the others refused to drop out, now the Dems have same dilemma. RE says if you place 3-4, normally youd be out, but the field is too different now.



RE talks about his book, which focuses on how Mayors are getting it done at the local level. Mentions London Mayor Sadiq Khan visiting him. Your local government is often far more important than federal government. Had free community college if hs was over B-average. Free public transportation and free books. Took Khan to Synagogue, showed him, here we pray together even if different faiths. RE wont say who the moderate is to beat T45. Joy pushes. RE says again, hello, he is not answering. Sunny asks about Mayor Pete, due to it being such a small city.

Emanuel was senior advisor to Clinton 1993-1998 and WH Chief of Staff to Obama from 2009-2010 (among other roles). Has no epiphany about campaign. Super Tuesday will be a deciding factor. Talks about playbook, cites Clinton 1992, 1996, Obama 2008, 2012, plus midterms 2006, 2018, do well in urban areas, do really really well in suburban areas, and dont get killed in rural areas. But Sanders is saying he doesnt need that strategy. Sanders isnt going after moderates or independents, thinks he can win on left Democratic base. RE says we have 6 models of success spanning two presidencies, but oh ok. RE says not a single congressional win that flipped a red seat to a blue seat has endorsed Sanders. Its not ideological its Darwinian, survival of the fittest. Top goal is get T45 out but this isnt a playbook thats been successful in the past. Base of party is more progressive, but thats not a winning strategy for the general election (re/electoral college). Only 4 Potus have lost re-election in decades. Hoover = depression. Ford (plus Nixon fallout), Carter, Bush41 = all recession. There are people who say theyll never vote for T45. But there are the same who say theyll never vote for Sanders (versus will consider others). RE says we have real shot at more state trifectas, keep House, win Senate, win WH, but this requires a proper strategy.Sunny wonders when Obama will weigh in. RE doesnt think its a good idea for Potus to put their thumb on the scale [PSA Potus never endorse until conventions choose the nominee, either party]. Points out the worst mass shooting was in Vegas, but nobody brought up Sanders vote on gun rights. Sanders had heart attack in Vegas, but nobody brought up whether he used Medicare or government provided private health care. Joy says T45 won nomination because the others refused to drop out, now the Dems have same dilemma. RE says if you place 3-4, normally youd be out, but the field is too different now.RE talks about his book, which focuses on how Mayors are getting it done at the local level. Mentions London Mayor Sadiq Khan visiting him. Your local government is often far more important than federal government. Had free community college if hs was over B-average. Free public transportation and free books. Took Khan to Synagogue, showed him, here we pray together even if different faiths. RE wont say who the moderate is to beat T45. Joy pushes. RE says again, hello, he is not answering. Sunny asks about Mayor Pete, due to it being such a small city.

Rahm Emanuel is promoting his bookMore clips and summary of conversationPlays clip. Panel debates new demographics now that more poc are voting. How many are supporting progressive vs how many are supporting moderates.Moves to possible outcome of SC. Sanders has supporters who are mad at the establishment, but he hasnt been effective in DC himself. Sunny expects him to be challenged on his previous votes on key topics. Joy explains her dog name. She thought Hillary was a shoo-in and was having fun with it. She didnt dislike Bernie but naming her dog after him was to be funny. Sunny thinks the GOP doesnt exist anymore, as we know it. We have Russiapublicans and now the left of progressives. So far there was a fubar in Iowa and a caucus in Nevada which disenfranchises a lot of voters. Will be curious to see with Super Tuesday in traditional primary states, representing diverse voter.Sunny brings up that Sanders was briefed about Russia interfering in his campaign, then he blamed the media for leaking that information and wasnt really forthcoming. T45 is going to contest the election no matter what. Meghan thinks the only time Russia comes up is in relation to T45 but what about Sanders who has the same problem. The House passed three bills for election security but the Senate vetoed them, why? Plays clip. Joy makes a joke, Meghan is a petulant child. Thanks someone in the audience who claps for her snappy remark.Click to read more about B Smith See related post byClick to read more about JaNet DuBois See related post byClick to read more about Katherine Johnson See related post byWhoopi thought they were over, re/View Your Deal, and she has to go to the bathroom. Joy almost had her bra off already. They spend the first two minutes laughing at panic having to return pronto to the set. Why Boomers are cheating ranges from unresolved issues from youth, to questioning life choices, childhood trauma, married for the wrong reason. They debate the age in which this kicks in. Sunny thinks thats not why, theyre just done with whoever theyre with. Whoopi is like, it can get better, so bye. Menopause is not the end of your sex life. You get to wear white pants anytime you want.Click here to read more about these amazing women The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was an all-black battalion of the Women's Army Corps (WAC). The 6888th had 855 black women, both enlisted and officers, and was led by Major Charity Adams Earley.. The group was nicknamed "Six Triple Eight" and their motto was "No mail, no morale". The battalion was organized into five companies, Headquarters, Company A, Company B, Company C, and Company D. Most of the 6888th worked as postal clerks, but others were cooks, mechanics and held other support positions, so that the 6888th was a self-sufficient unit.If you took a drink every time she talked over someone or interrupted them, wed be drunk every morning before noon.Source links are below each video or section
The First Lady of the US Melania Trump visited the Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary school in Nanakpura, Delhi. She spent about an hour at the school and witnessed a 'happiness class'. The FLOTUS also interacted with the students and teachers at the school in South Moti Bagh.

Delhi: First Lady of the US, Melania Trump meets and interacts with students at Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School in Nanakpura. pic.twitter.com/8kX03rmnNV ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

Melania Trump was welcomed by students with flowers. They also waved the Indian and American flags as they greeted her. She was welcomed with an arti and was given a tilak. A young student gave the First Lady a bouquet to welcome her. The school also underwent beautification work ahead of the US First Lady's visit.

Delhi government started the Happiness Classes for students studying in classes I-VIII in the year 2018. Under this programme, students are taught several activities such as meditation, storytelling, question answer sessions to reduce anxiety and stress levels among children.

Delhi CM Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, who were scheduled to welcome the FLOTUS earlier, have been dropped from the list of invitees. The ministers have expressed their anguish over the removal of their names from the list and said that it is "protocol" for state leaders to be present when foreign leaders visit or attend events in their respective states.

Earlier today, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter to express his joy at the FLOTUS visiting a Delhi government school. Kejriwal tweeted, "FLOTUS will attend happiness class in our school today. Great day for our teachers, students and Delhiites. For centuries, India has taught spirituality to the world. Am happy that she will take back the msg of happiness from our school".

Also read: Melania Trump to visit Delhi govt school; CM Kejriwal says 'great day for teachers, students'

Also read: Trump India Visit Day 2: POTUS has a busy day ahead; check full schedule

Also read: 'My great friend Modi: Trump thanks Prime Minister for 'wonderful visit'
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast  The Executive Council of the African Union has supported Dr. Akinwumi Adesinas candidacy for a second term as President of the African Development Bank.

The decision was taken during the thirty-sixth Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council, held during the AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 6-7 February 2020.

Adesina was elected to his first term as President by the Banks Board of Governors at its Annual Meetings in Abidjan on 28 May 2015. He is the eighth President of the African Development Bank Group and the first Nigerian in the post.

During his first term, the Banks shareholders approved a landmark $115 billion capital increase in late October. The increase in the capital base, from $93 billion to $208 billion, signaled strong support from the Board of Governors in the continents foremost financial institution.

Adesina is a renowned development economist who has held a number of high-profile international positions, including with the Rockefeller Foundation, and as Nigerias Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from 2011 to 2015.

The African Union Executive Council comprises 55 ministers of foreign affairs representing the member states of the African Union.

In December 2019, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also endorsed Adesina for a second term as Bank chief. The election will again take place at the Banks Annual Meetings in May in Abidjan.

Related
Why NIA arrested former Congress MLAs daughter-in-law in an Islamic State case

How this ISIS operative from Mangaluru lured her victims and converted them to Islam

ISIS planned murder of Hindu leaders to create communal tension in India

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 25: The National Investigation Agency conducted raids at 25 different locations in South India in connection with an Islamic State related case.

Raids were conducted in 10 different locations in Tamil Nadu and 25 places in Karnataka.

This case pertains to a criminal conspiracy with an objective of murdering Hindu Leaders, creating communal riots and to do anti-national activities by forming a terrorist gang, being inspired by ISIS, a proscribed terrorist organisation. 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.

My court is Allah says ISIS operative before hurling shoe at judge

NEWS AT NOON, FEBRUARY 25th, 2020

In this case 5 accused namely Mehaboob Pasha, Mohammed Mansoor Ali Khan, Saleem Khan, Zabiulla, Syed Azmathulla were arrested earlier and other accused are absconding.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 7:47 [IST]
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 14:11:59|Editor: ZD

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CANBERRA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government is exploring leasing its warships from shipbuilders to alleviate budget pressure on the Defence Department.

Mathias Cormann, the minister for finance, has told shipbuilders that they must come up with "innovative" financing proposals if they want to receive defence contracts.

One such proposal, according to the Australian Financial Review (AFR), would see the Australian Defence Force (ADF) lease military equipment under whole-of-life contracts rather than buy it, allowing the government to spread out the upfront cost.

The government has committed to spending 90 billion Australian dollars (59.4 billion U.S. dollars) on the construction of new warships and submarines under the naval shipbuilding plan.

As the program progresses to the construction phase it is expected to cost the ADF up to 4 billion Australian dollars (2.6 billion U.S. dollars) per year, almost 10 percent of its total budget.

"Governments have previously leased some Defence capabilities for limited, specific, short-term needs," Cormann told the AFR on Tuesday.

"So that's not new as a methodology. Approaches to financing arrangements for projects or capability - including leasing - will always be subject to strategic, security and value-for-money considerations.

"There has been significant interest and the government will continue to encourage defence industry participants to consider innovative contracting models in circumstances where that provides the best value for money and capability for our Defence forces."

The government is facing a looming decision on the future of the Armidale class patrol boats, the navy vessels responsible for border patrols.

The boats are at the the end of their operating lifespan but Mike Noonan, the chief of Navy, has flagged extending their service until the new patrol boats, the 12 Arafura class currently under construction, are ready in 2021.

Instead, shipbuilder Austal has proposed leasing six other vessels to the ADF to bridge the gap, which the company says will save 150 million Australia dollars (99 million U.S. dollars).
New Delhi: A Delhi court has granted bail to Yusuf Chopan, an accused in Pulwama terror attack conspiracy case, observing that he is entitled to statutory bail as the investigating agency has failed to file charge-sheet within the statutory period.

Special NIA Judge Parveen Singh, in an order last week, asked Chopan to furnish a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with one surety bond of the like amount. Advocate Ankit Karna, appearing for Chopan, told the court that the accused has been in custody for around 180 days and the time for filing charge-sheet has elapsed and no charge-sheet has been filed against the accused.

The court imposed certain conditions, including that Chopan shall join the investigation and attend the court whenever required in accordance with the conditions of the bond executed by him.

The court also directed him not to commit any offence, of which he is accused in the present case and shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case nor tamper with the evidence.

In February last year, 40 CRPF personnel were killed in a JeM-orchestrated terror attack in South Kashmir`s Pulwama district.

The incident took place when a CRPF convoy, consisting of around 2,500 personnel, was attacked by a suicide bomber who rammed a car laden with explosives into one of the buses on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.
A teenage boy who ran from his apartment after his 5-year-old sister was shot Monday is now facing charges and has turned himself in, police say.

The girl is currently in stable condition, according to Houston Police Department spokesperson Jodi Silva. 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.
Bachelor Nation bad boy Chad Johnson's girlfriend is accusing him of punching a hole into her wall during a drunken rage.

Annalise Mishler took to social media to document the incident, telling followers how Johnson lashed out after getting 'drunk for the first time in 50 days.'

The Sunday night posts included shots of fist-sized holes in the apartment walls, as well as a followup video of an angry reality persona verbally attacking Mishler while trying to get back into her apartment.

Outburst: Bachelor Nation alum Chad Johnson has been accused of lashing out at girlfriend Annalise Mishler and punching a hole in her apartment's wall during a drunken rage. The pair are seen in November 2019 above

Hole in the wall: The Sunday night posts included shots of fist-sized holes in the apartment wall

Illustrating the damage, Annalise told followers: 'So Chad just got drunk for the first time in like 50 days and punched a hole in my wall, for no f***ing reason.'

'This is the reality of my life, which is great,' she continued, then showing her 'traumatized' calico cat.

Her next posts showed her boyfriend of several month Chad screaming from outside of her apartment.

Annalise noted that she was lucky to have already asked for her key back.

She is then heard confronting Chad from within her apartment, telling him to look at the damage, which he denies he had anything to do with.

'Go home, you're scaring me,' Mishler, a YouTuber pleads.

The clip takes a shocking turn as Johnson then tells Annalise 'Good f***ing luck then. I hope you f***ing die' while continuing to bang on the door.

Unreasonable: Illustrating the damage, Annalise told followers: 'So Chad just got drunk for the first time in like 50 days and punched a hole in my wall, for no f***ing reason'

Witness: 'This is the reality of my life, which is great,' she continued, then showing her 'traumatized' calico cat

Unacceptable: Her next posts showed her boyfriend Chad screaming from outside of her apartment and trying to maneuver his way inside

Things continued to escalate according to Mishler's video.

On top of another clip, she wrote: 'Then he screamed the r-word at me over and over and all my neighbors came out and I heard him screaming at them.'

Talking directly to the camera in another video, Annalise explained how things began when she confronted her boyfriend after seeing alerts from the dating app Hinge on his phone.

But instead of explaining himself, Chad exploded.

'He went crazy,' she said, 'On me. Like, how dare I have the audacity.'

Protecting herself: She is then heard confronting Chad from within her apartment, telling him to look at the damage, which he denies he had anything to do with

Awful: The clip takes a shocking turn as Johnson then tells Annalise 'Good f***ing luck then. I hope you f***ing die' while continuing to bang on the door

Reasons: Talking directly to the camera in another video, Annalise explained how things began when she confronted her boyfriend after seeing alerts from the dating app Hinge on his phone

Strangely, she then blamed herself for the incident telling the camera: 'Look, I know I'm the idiot. I'm aware, OK?'

Hours later Annalise returned to Instagram with an update.

She thanked everyone who reached out to her, writing: 'Wow so many nice messages today.

'Things escalated this morning and are being taken care of now. Update soon maybe, I'm being guilted for sharing this/"ruining his life" and i know that's not true but it's still scary ya know.'

'He took my phone and chucked it while I was calling 911 this morning so if you've tried texting/calling that would be why i'm not responding lol.'

Freak out: 'He went crazy,' she said, 'On me. Like, how dare I have the audacity'

Better times: Chad and Annalise have been dating for several months

This isn't the first time Chad's violent temper has gotten him into trouble.

The reality star first appeared on JoJo Fletcher's season of The Bachelorette in 2016 where he was portrayed as the villain and earned the nickname Bad Chad.

He was invited back to Bachelor In Paradise the same year but was given the boot after he got drunk and slung violent threats at fellow cast members.

Before hooking up with Annalise, Johnson was rumored to have had a relationship with former Playboy pinup Kendra Wilkinson.
Air Mauritius wishes to inform the travelling public that with the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, the Mauritian Authorities have advised that the following restrictions now apply in the Republic of Mauritius.

Any foreign national having resided in China, the Republic of Korea and from following provinces of Italy: Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia Romangna or with a history of travel to and from China, The Republic of Korea and from following provinces of Italy: Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia Romangna within the last 14 days, will not be allowed entry or to transit in the Republic of Mauritius.

The directives from the Authorities also specify that Mauritian nationals, residents, their spouse and children coming from or having travelled through the above regions within the last 14 days, will be allowed entry in Mauritius and will be placed in quarantine.

Air Mauritius regrets inconveniences caused by these restrictions and wishes to reiterate that the health and safety of its passengers and crew remain its topmost priority.

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An attack against a response unit of the Burkinabe national police in the province of Sanmatenga, in the center-north of Burkina Faso, left four dead, including three policemen, and five injured.

The attack was perpetrated by armed men on the Pissila-Gibga axis, said the police in a statement.

Meanwhile, around 20 alleged terrorists were reportedly killed Saturday evening in the locality of Dablo.

Since 2015, Burkina Faso, which is member of the G5 Sahel group, has been facing jihadist and intercommunity attacks, which have left more than 750 dead and thousands displaced.
3,000 Ag Science students set to learn about sustainability at the heart of Irish farming at Agri Aware Farm Walk and Talk 2020 series

Pictured at the launch of Agri Awares Farm Walk and Talk 2020 series are Wesley College students Sophie Doyle Smyth, Christopher Bailey, Rachel Patterson, Avalily lEstrange, Ethan OConnor and Sophie OConnor with Agri Aware Executive Director Marcus OHalloran, Katriona Kinsella of the Irish Farmers Journal Teagasc chairman Liam Herlihy, Agri Aware chairman Alan Jagoe, and UCD School of Agriculture and Food Sciences Dr Bridget Lynch at UCD Lyons Farm.

Over 3,000 Agricultural Science secondary school students will swap their school books for welly boots this March to take part in Agri Awares Farm Walk and Talk 2020 series.

The event series which takes places from March 2 to 13 will focus on the sustainability of Irish agriculture and will allow students gain a practical insight into Irish farming through a range of hands on visits to Teagasc farms, UCD Lyons Farm and the Irish Farmers Journal Farm.

As improving sustainability in Irish agriculture is the key theme of the 2021 Agricultural Science project and central to the new syllabus, Teagasc experts and key patrons will be on hand to inform students of the activities Irish farmers are undertaking in order to reduce their carbon footprint and make their farms more environmentally and economically sustainable.

From examining soil profiles and viewing new technologies to watching cows being milked and comparing different breeds of sheep, the Farm Walk and Talk series is an unmissable experience for Leaving Cert Agricultural Science students who want to experience real life on a farm.

The fun and educational events include presentations from Teagasc lecturers as well as a variety of Agri Aware patrons who provide industry and curriculum linked talks. Dairygold, Glanbia, Aurivo, Arrabawn and Lakeland Dairies will give informative talks on the Irish dairy industry, while Slaney Meats, ABP, Dawn Meats, Kepak and Truly Irish will be on hand to educate students about the Irish meat sector.

Speaking at the launch of the Agri Aware Farm Walk and Talk 2020 series in UCD Lyons Farm today, Agri Aware Executive Director Marcus OHalloran said:As sustainability is a key component of the new Agricultural Science syllabus we felt it was only right to make it a focus of Agri Aware Farm Walk and Talk 2020 which has become a major event highlight of the Agricultural Science calendar over the last number of years.

The events are a brilliant opportunity for students to engage with industry experts and Agri Aware wouldnt be able to facilitate them without the help of Teagasc, UCD, IASTA and our patrons from the agri-food industry.

Agri Aware chair Alan Jagoe added: We are delighted to host over 3,000 students at these events nationwide which we believe are key to giving young people an accurate insight in to farming and enticing them to consider a career in the diverse Irish agri food sector.

For many students this will be their first time ever stepping foot on a working farm which will help in increasing awareness of sustainable food production and bridging the gap between young consumers and producers.

While Teagasc chair Liam Herlihy stated that Teagasc colleges and research centres are delighted to once again host students as part of the Farm Walk and Talk series. Its a great opportunity to showcase the sustainability of Irish farming and to highlight the actions being taken on farms to protect our water, to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and to encourage biodiversity.
TONIGHT WE FEATURE YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF KANSAS CITY GROWING ACCUSTOMED TO RISING CRIME WITH LITTLE OR NO CONSEQUENCES!!!

Victims worry teen who stole truck, hitting house and van, will get slap on wrist despite dangerous acts KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A Kansas City teen is behind bars after he allegedly slammed into a house, then a disability services van before being caught. But the victims of those crimes now worry the suspect could be getting off with a slap on the wrist.

To be fair, the pr0n star in that pic preview isn't smacking a wrist. Still, the pop culture reference to permissive behavior is supposed to be instructive and educational. But I digress . . .Here's the bigger deal and a suggested story from a few of our readers . . .As, here's concern amid more serious crime that hurt people and property . . .Developing . . .
Expedia Group said on February 24 it would lay off about 3,000 or 12 percent of its staff as a part of its plan to streamline its business.

The online travel services company had 25,400 employees globally as of December 31.

We are announcing our intent to reduce and eliminate certain projects, activities, teams, and roles to streamline and focus our organisation, the company said in an email to employees, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters.

The job cuts include 500 people in its headquarters in Seattle, a company spokeswoman said in a statement.

Earlier this month, Expedia said it was not providing a full-year forecast as the company assessed the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on its operations.

(With inputs from Reuters)
DGAP-News: Corestate Capital Holding S.A. / Key word(s): Real Estate/Personnel



The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Dr. Georg Allendorf to be named new Chairman of the Supervisory Board of CORESTATE Frankfurt, 24 February, 2020. Former DWS Managing Director Dr. Georg Allendorf will be proposed for election to the Supervisory Board at the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the SDAX-listed company CORESTATE Capital Holding S.A. He will offer himself for Chairmanship of the company's Supervisory Board. The current Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Micha Blattmann, is stepping down from the Board as his statutory term expires. In addition, the currently four-member Supervisory Board of CORESTATE is to be expanded to include at least one further member. The other candidates, in addition to Georg Allendorf, will be presented to the shareholders at the end of March when the AGM is convened. The AGM of CORESTATE will take place on 29 April, 2020. Georg Allendorf's candidacy was preceded by a structured search process initiated by the Supervisory Board. "We are very pleased that we have been able to attract such a high-profile candidate for the Supervisory Board in Dr. Georg Allendorf," said Supervisory Board Chairman Micha Blattmann. "Dr. Allendorf is one of the most distinguished German experts on the European real estate markets." Georg Allendorf has around 30 years of experience in the real estate and asset management industry. Among other roles, he was with Deutsche Asset Management - now DWS Group - for 16 years in various positions, most recently as Managing Director of DWS Real Estate GmbH and Head of Real Estate Europe. Before joining Deutsche Asset Management, he was responsible for the management of the real estate portfolio of R+V Versicherung for four years. Georg Allendorf is a member of several Supervisory Boards, including DWS Grundbesitz GmbH and DWS Alternatives GmbH. He is also an honorary member of the Board of INREV, a European non-profit organization dedicated to transparency in the real estate sector among other topics, and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). He was also a member of the Board of the Bundesverband Investment and Asset Management (BVI) for eight years. Georg Allendorf has been working as an independent management consultant since 2019.

IR Contact

Dr. Kai Gregor Klinger

T: +49 69 3535630107 / M: +49 152 22755400

ir@corestate-capital.com



PR Contact

Jorge Person

T: +49 69 3535630136 / M: +49 162 2632369

jorge.person@corestate-capital.com





About CORESTATE Capital Holding S.A.: CORESTATE Capital Holding S.A. (CORESTATE) is an investment manager and co-investor with more than EUR 28 billion in assets under management. As a fully integrated real estate platform, CORESTATE offers its clients combined expertise in the areas of investment and fund management as well as real estate management services. The company operates as a respected business partner of institutional clients and wealthy private investors internationally. CORESTATE is headquartered in Luxembourg and has 42 offices, e.g. in Frankfurt, London, Paris, Madrid, Zurich and Amsterdam. The company employs around 800 people and is listed in the Prime Standard (SDAX) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Further information may be found at www.corestate-capital.com. Forward-looking statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by our management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of our company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in our public reports, which are available on our website at www.corestate-capital.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.

24.02.2020 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

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Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian leader who was the autocratic face of stability in the Middle East for nearly 30 years before being forced from power in an Arab Spring uprising, died Tuesday, state-run TV announced. He was 91.

Mubarak was a stalwart U.S. ally, a bulwark against Islamic militancy and guardian of Egypt's peace with Israel. But to the hundreds of thousands of young Egyptians who rallied for 18 days of unprecedented street protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square and elsewhere in 2011, Mubarak was a latter-day pharaoh and a symbol of autocratic misrule.

His overthrow, however, plunged the country into years of chaos and uncertainty, and set up a power struggle between the military and the Muslim Brotherhood group that he had long outlawed. Some two and a half years after his ouster, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi led the military overthrow of Egypt's first freely elected president and rolled back freedoms gained in the 2011 uprising.

State TV said Mubarak died at a Cairo hospital where he had undergone an unspecified surgery. The report said he had health complications but offered no other details. One of his sons, Alaa, announced over the weekend that the former president was in an intensive care after undergoing surgery.

El-Sissi offered condolences and praised Mubarak's service during the 1973 war with Israel, when he commanded the air force, but made no mention of Mubarak's almost three-decade rule as president of the most populous Arab state. He announced three days of national mourning beginning Wednesday.

The Presidency mourns with great sorrow the former President of the Republic, Mr. Mohammed Hosni Mubarak," he said in a statement. It referred to Mubarak as "one of the leaders and heroes of the glorious October war, as he assumed command of the Air Force during the war that restored dignity and pride to the Arab nation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed deep sorrow over Mubarak's death. President Mubarak, a personal friend of mine, was a leader who guided his people to peace and security, to peace with Israel, Netanyahu said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Mubarak spent his life serving his homeland and the issues of righteousness and justice in the world, with the issue of our Palestinian people at the top of them. Born in May 1928, Mubarak was vice president on Oct. 14, 1981, when his mentor, President Anwar Sadat, was assassinated by Islamic extremists while reviewing a military parade.

Seated next to Sadat, Mubarak escaped with a minor hand injury as gunmen sprayed the reviewing stand with bullets. Eight days later, the brawny former air force commander was sworn in as president, promising continuity and order.

Over the next three decades, as the region was convulsed by one crisis after another, Mubarak was seen as a steady hand and a reliable U.S. partner against Islamic extremism. He sent troops as part of the U.S.-led coalition in the 1990-1991 Gulf war and contributed to efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Within Egypt he presided over slow but steady economic growth and largely kept the country out of armed conflicts after decades of war with Israel. Unlike his predecessors, both Sadat and Egypt's towering nationalist leader Gamal Abdel Nasser, Mubarak pursued no grand ideology beyond stability and economic development.

Over the years, Mubarak tinkered with reform but shunned major change, presenting himself as Egypt's sole protection against Islamic militancy and sectarian division. The U.S., particularly under President George W. Bush, pressed for democratic reforms but was wary of alienating a key ally.

The failure to fulfill repeated promises of change steadily deepened public despair. Those seeking a democratic future were dismayed to see Mubarak making apparent moves to groom his businessman son, Gamal Mubarak, for a dynastic succession.

At multiple points during Mubarak's reign, he had the opportunity to reform the Egyptian state, H.A. Hellyer, a scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, tweeted. He didn't. The Jan. 25 uprising didn't come out of nowhere it was the result of many years of pent-up anger at how the state was failing the citizenry, save a tiny slice at the top," he added.

Inspired by the first Arab Spring revolt in Tunisia, protesters took to the streets in January 2011. They harnessed the power of social media to muster tumultuous throngs, unleashing popular anger over the graft and brutality that shadowed Mubarak's rule.

In the end, with millions massed in Tahrir Square and other city centers, and even marching to the doorstep of Mubarak's palace, his resignation was announced on Feb. 11, 2011. The generals took power, hoping to preserve what they could of the system he had led. Though Tunisia's president fell before him, the ouster of Mubarak was a watershed moment in the history of the region, and gave impetus to uprisings in Libya, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Its National Pancake Day, and you can celebrate with a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes at IHOP in exchange for a donation to one of the restaurants charities.

Every guest who visits IHOP from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., or until 10 p.m. at select locations, on Tuesday can enjoy a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes, IHOP said in a news release. The Staten Island IHOP restaurant is located at 935 Richmond Ave., Graniteville.

Now in its 15th year, IHOP National Pancake Day is the brands signature giving event.

This year, IHOP and its franchisees aim to raise more than $4 million for its national charity partner, Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals, and other local charities including Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Shriners Hospitals for Children.

IHOP launched its National Pancake Day event 15 years ago as a way to celebrate the best food ever -- pancakes -- and put a purpose behind the day by partnering with Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals and other charities to help kids in our communities, said Stephanie Peterson, executive director of communications for IHOP.

Since 2006, IHOP has raised more than $30 million for its charity partners. Guests can donate via their restaurant check, with cash at donation boxes, or by purchasing a wall tag at the restaurant.

The communities where IHOP and our franchisees operate is at the core of everything we do, and National Pancake Day serves as a great example of our commitment to helping the kids and families who are our guests, neighbors, friends and family, said Peterson.

More than 32 million patients visit one of the 170 Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals in North America each year, according to IHOP. Donations raised on IHOP National Pancake Day will help provide families with everything from critical care to necessary items like chemotherapy, which costs up to $7,000 a treatment, or even a package of preemie diapers.

All donations raised during the campaign stay local and support the nearest childrens hospital associated with the charity partners.

Guests can also try their luck at winning one of more than 250,000 instant win prizes, plus the grand prize of Pancakes for Life. To enter, guests need to scan a QR code located on the signage at their table to find out if they are an instant prize winner. After completing the required information, all participants will also be entered into the grand prize drawing.

Instant win prizes include limited-edition pancake-themed merchandise such as bicycles, scooters, customizable jackets, handmade berets and more. In addition to the Pancakes for Life grand prize, 10 lucky winners will also win $500 in IHOP gift cards. The grand prize will be paid out in gift cards totaling $15,000. The winner will be announced on or around March 7.

Today is National Pancake Day! Come to IHOP and celebrate with a free buttermilk short stack and a chance to win Pancakes for Life. Hip, hip, pancakes! Hip, hip, pancakes! pic.twitter.com/aB0WWnQzmL  IHOP (@IHOP) February 25, 2020

FUN PANCAKE FACTS

Holiday experts at National Today conducted a survey of 1,000 Americans to find out the truth about pancakes.

According to the study, pancakes rank third as Americas favorite breakfast food after bacon and eggs, respectively.

Fifty-nine percent of Americans said they love pancakes, while 7% said theyre not fond of flapjacks. The most popular type of pancake is buttermilk, with 33% of the votes, followed by blueberry, chocolate chip, original/plain and banana.

Heres a look at the most popular pancake toppings:

Maple syrup (62%)

Butter (10%)

Fresh fruit (8%)

Fruit sauce (4%)

Peanut butter (4%)

Nutella (4%)

Chocolate syrup (3%)

Honey (2%)

Jelly/jam (2%)

Apple butter (2%)

FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
Almost five years after Cleveland Clinics world-class standard of patient care became available in the Gulf, Bahrains citizens are increasingly benefiting from the hospitals patients first approach.

While patients from Bahrain have received treatment for complex health issues at Cleveland Clinic in the US during the last several decades, a growing number of Bahrainis have travelled to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi since 2015 to address equally complex heart, neurological, and eye ailments with the hospitals multidisciplinary team of American board-certified physicians.

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has welcomed close to 2,000 Bahrainis in the last five years.

The hospitals Digestive Disease Institute, Heart and Vascular Institute, Medical Subspecialties, Eye Institute, and Imaging department have delivered successful outcomes and restored quality of life to Bahraini patients with the most challenging health issues.

This influx of patients signifies an important change as Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi increases access to healthcare for patients across the Middle East, with services designed to better suit their needs and reduce the need for travel to Europe or the US for treatment.

The hospitals American and European Board-certified physicians continue to achieve regional and global medical firsts performed in Abu Dhabi, including more than 70 major organ transplants (heart, lungs, liver), minimally-invasive heart and eye surgery, and a range of innovations in neurology and digestive treatments  with more than 75 firsts recorded in the last three years.

A senior member of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabis leadership team commented on the growing strength of the Cleveland Clinic brand in the Gulf. I was warmly welcomed by senior health officials and partners in Bahrain this month and saw value in the immense potential in providing further tertiary and quaternary care to Bahrainis. To that end, we plan to extend our collaboration and encourage further avenues of complex treatment for their needs, said Dr Fahed Al Marzooqi, Chief Administrative Officer at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

When the hospital was officially opened in 2015, the total number of visits by Bahrainis was 114, growing to 399 in 2017. The total number of visits jumped to 540 in 2019.

Similarly, the number of visitors from Bahrain to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabis Heart and Vascular Institute increased in 2019. The growth in first in the region heart treatments also increased at Cleveland Clinic during this time period, including robotically assisted mitral valve repair, and totally endoscopic bypass surgery.

Visitors from Bahrain seeking Medical Subspecialties treatment for severe conditions around arthritis, thyroid disorders, immunodeficiency, and diabetes also jumped significantly in 2015 to 2019.

At Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, providing world-class care is paramount, and the fact that we are increasingly seeing Bahrainis actively seeking out complex care just an hour away, rather than travelling to Europe or elsewhere, is a testament to our outcomes and standard of culturally-aware healthcare, added Dr Al Marzooqi.

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabis international patient services team provides a seamless experience for patients who require specialised medical care. The hospital employs dedicated Patient Ambassadors to guide international patients through every step of their journey, including greeting them on arrival and providing medical interpretation services. -- Tradearabia News Service
A Westfield man who was apprehended by Lenox police after a car chase and a foot pursuit Sunday morning was caught again when he tried to escape custody by climbing through a restroom ceiling at Berkshire Medical Center, according to reports.

The Berkshire Eagle reports that Matthew D. Witazek, 36, is facing multiple charges for driving with a suspended license, failing to stop for police, driving to endanger, resisting arrest and attempting to escape police custody.

He was apprehended Sunday morning at the end of a police pursuit that involved Lenox, Lee, Stockbridge and Massachusetts State Police. At one point, he ditched the car and ran through the woods before he was eventually apprehended on West Dugway Road.

The attempted-escape charge is the result of officers finding him trying to climb into the drop ceiling in the hospital restroom, according to the Eagle. He had been brought to Berkshire Medical Center after complaining of chest pains during his booking at the Lenox police station.

He entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment Monday in Southern Berkshire District Court.
The United States government has unveiled its case against imprisoned WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange. Its aim is the criminalisation of journalism that exposes war crimes, illegal mass surveillance and other forms of lawlessness by the imperialist powers.

Amid growing popular outrage over the railroading of Assange to a US prison, lawyers for the Department of Justice sought to reframe the charges against him. James Lewis QC claimed, This is not a case about the disclosure of war crimes.

Referring to the iconic WikiLeaks exposure of a US Apache helicopter attack on civilians in Iraq in 2007, he said that Assange, is not charged with publishing the so-called Collateral Murder video.

The defence wishes to present Assange as an embodiment of press freedom and to paint him in glowing colours of liberty, Lewis told the court. What Mr Assange seeks to defend by free speech is not the publication of classified materials but the publication of names of sources.

Assange was no journalist, he said, and his reckless actions had jeopardised the lives of human rights activists and dissidents who risked their safety and freedom to provide information to the United States and its allies.

Silent on the more than one million Iraqis killed as a result of the illegal US invasion and occupation of the country, Lewis claimed that US government informants identified by WikiLeaks had subsequently disappeared providing not a shred of evidence in support.

Significantly, Lewis cited as authorities on Assanges alleged recklessness both the Guardian and the New York Times. The liberal news media has been at the forefront of the demonisation of Assange. Lewis read from a September 2, 2011 statement by the Guardian, the New York Times, El Pais, Der Spiegel and Le Monde, stating, We deplore the decision of WikiLeaks to publish the unredacted State Department Cables which may put sources at risk. The decision to publish by Julian Assange was his, and his alone.

In fact, unredacted files were only published due to the actions of Guardian journalists.

Lewis then sought to counteract growing concern over the 175-year prison term facing Assange. He told presiding judge, Vanessa Baraitser, One should not be beguiled by the hyperbole of the defence in relation to sentencing, claiming Assange would face a relatively minor sentence of perhaps 42 monthsthis under conditions in which senior US politicians, including President Trump, have called for the death penalty.

Having denied the case had any bearing on press freedom, Lewis outlined the far-reaching implications of the US indictments for journalists in Britain. The actions of US army whistleblower Chelsea Manning and Assange were illegal under Britains Official Secrets Act (OSA), Lewis argued.

If a journalist or newspaper publishes secret information that is likely to cause harm to UK interests, they are undoubtedly committing an offence, emphasising there is no public interest defence under the OSA.

Edward Fitzgerald QC presented opening arguments for the defence. The history of the case against Assange showed that, this prosecution is not motivated by genuine concerns for criminal justice but by politics.

Fitzgerald refuted Lewiss claim that Assange was engaged in a conspiracy with Manning, involving theft and computer hacking. He cited Mannings own courageous words, The decisions I made to send documents and information to the [WikiLeaks] website were my own decisions and I take full responsibility for my own actions. Assanges lawyer rejected any suggestion his client was engaged in hacking, saying that allegations were incorrect and in any event a complete red herring.

He also explained the lengths to which Assange went to prevent the disclosure of unredacted names.

Fitzgerald reminded the court that plans to prosecute Assange had been dropped by the Obama administration in 2013, over what the Washington Post called the New York Times problem. US prosecutors concluded that charging Assange would have been tantamount to prosecuting the New York Times and others who published leaked security information.

The case against Assange was revived by the Trump administration as part of its war on journalists, with the US President having denounced the press as enemies of the people, sick, crazed and unpatriotic. In February 2017, FBI director James Comey had declared, well be putting journalists in jail and putting a head on a pike.

In April 2017, the Trump administration began its pursuit of Assange and WikiLeaks, described by then-CIA director Mike Pompeo as a non-state hostile intelligence agency. Fitzgerald emphasised they pursued Assange despite having no new evidence. The case was escalated after Assange refused the offer of a presidential pardon delivered by Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher. Trump wanted Assange to publicly deny having used a Russian source in connection with leaked information showing that Hillary Clinton conspired with the Democratic National Committee (DNC) against the Sanders campaign in 2016.

The Computer Misuse criminal complaint against Assange was certified in December 2017, coinciding with Ecuadors granting him diplomatic status. The superseding indictment, with 17 additional charges under the Espionage Act, was brought forward in May 2019ten days after Swedish prosecutors announced plans to reopen investigations into state-manufactured sexual allegations against Assange. Fitzgerald claimed, the US ratcheted up the charges to ensure their extradition request would take precedence.

Fitzgerald cited the opinion of key defence witnesses, including law and journalism scholars, that the superseding indictment breaks all legal precedents No publisher has ever been prosecuted for disclosing national secrets since the founding of the nation more than two centuries ago.

Assange was being targeted for his political opinion, Fitzgerald said. He is a leading proponent of an open society and of freedom of expression. He is anti-war and anti-imperialism. He is a world-renowned champion of political transparency and of the publics right to access information on issues of importance.

Those beliefs and those actions inevitably bring him into conflict with powerful states, including the US administration, for political reasons.

Fitzgerald outlined how Assanges US extradition would breach Articles 10, 6, 7 and 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (respectively, a fair and independent hearing; recognition as a person before the law; the right to equal protection before the law; and life, liberty and security of person).

Assanges right to a fair trial in the US was irretrievably prejudiced, with the US President, Secretary of State and Attorney General all having publicly denounced him, violating the presumption of innocence.

Fitzgerald described the outrageous methods employed by Spanish security firm UC Global on behalf of the CIA to monitor and target Assange inside the Ecuadorian embassy. This included plans to kidnap or poison him. According to a protected witness, a former employee at UC Global, Mr Assange and his lawyers were priority targets.

Fitzgerald said these were the actions of a lawless state bent on adopting any means necessary to bring him down. Even if it meant violating public international law. Even if it meant violating legal professional privilege and the sanctity of the Embassys protection.

Assanges defence team outlined several bars to his extradition under current Anglo-US treaty arrangements: a politically motivated prosecution, the denial of a right to a fair trial, the passage of time since the alleged offences were committed, the oppressive conditions under which he would be detained in the US.

Fitzgerald also cited section 91 of the US-UK extradition treaty, which affords a protection from extradition, where it, would be rendered unjust or oppressive by reason of physical or mental disorder. He cited the opinions of key medical witnesses, Professor Kopelman and Dr Sondra Crosby.

Kopelman said, I am as confident as a psychiatrist can ever be that, if extradition to the United States were to become imminent, Mr Assange would find a way of suiciding.

Crosby said, It is my strong medical opinion that the extradition of Mr Assange to the United States will further damage his current fragile state of health and very likely cause his death. This opinion is not given lightly.

The hearing continues.
A Willis Independent School District officer is the inaugural recipient of a new program encouraging residents of Montgomery, Liberty and San Jacinto counties to single out members of law enforcement for outstanding work.

The Back the Blue program will periodically award a nominated officer with a $50 gift card at Texas Top Cop Shop, a police supply store in Conroe. The nonprofit Multi-County Crime Stoppers is collaborating on the initiative with radio station K-Star Country FM 99.7 and Texas Top Cop Shop.

Announced a couple of weeks ago, Back the Blues first honoree is Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constables Lt. Leslee Zemlicka, campus security director at Willis ISD.

Zemlicka quickly forwarded plaudits sent her way to her bosses, Pct. 1 Constable Philip Cash and Willis ISD Superintendent Tim Harkrider.

Between Constable Cash and Harkrider, its amazing how much support we get for the school district and my division, Zemlicka said in an interview last week.

Zemlicka, 49, has been with Willis ISD for the last 21 years. A native of Palestine in East Texas, Zemlicka previously served as a Huntsville ISD police officer for five and a half years and as a Walker County sheriffs deputy for some years before that.

Each day, Lt. Zemlicka achieves her goal to establish a safe educational learning environment and offers support for approximately 7,800 students and 1,000 faculty and staff members at Willis ISD, the nomination entry read.

More Information Want to nominate a cop? Go to multicountycrimestoppers.org, click on the "commend an officer" tab and fill out the form. See More Collapse

It praised Zemlicka as delivering hard work and dedication. The nominator has requested anonymity.

We like, everyone else, want to give a positive (message) to our officers and first responders that serve us and our community and keep us safe, said Barbara Farr, senior account executive at the Lake Conroe-based K-Star Country.

The intent, Farr said, is for Back the Blue to become a weekly commendation announced Thursdays at 4 p.m.

That aim is what got Conroes Texas Top Cop Shop owner Steve Schneider involved with Back the Blue.

Law enforcement needs to be recognized for the good things that they do. Theres so much good stuff goes on from law enforcement officers that no one ever knows about, Schneider said. All we ever hear is the negative. Lets promote the good.

As of last week Zemlicka was still deciding what to spend her gift card on. She is being practical on her choice, likely opting for a flashlight.

Things that you always need, things that you always use, she said.

jose.gonzalez@chron.com

twitter.com/jrgzztx
25.02.2020 LISTEN

This is a must-read article for everyone on the street and those that are really going through hill in the hands of their friend. To the youth, widows, the abused children. One thing I want you to know is that, there is hope for everyone. All you have to do is just trust the Lord.

Before anything happen in life, you ought to look at yourself and asked yourself what is going on with me? Sometimes it is very difficult to deal with life when things are not going your way. But then one thing you have to know is that, life is up and down. Of which you have to be bold to standfast and give it all your best. Some people have been through a lot and think that is the end of life, but mind you that, that is not the end of life but rather boost yourself and start all over again. Give yourself the second chance and get yourself back to the track. There is a popular says that goes that the down fall of a man is not the end of his life and by this statement I will entreat everyone to be courageous in life and fight life to it very last.

Life is a journey and everyone who is born onto the planet earth has to embark on that journey to it end. The journey is not that easy but when you are determining, you will surely prevail. The uncertainty of events that happens in our life can cost us a lot but it prudent if you can look back on what you do and make it possible for the life of yourself and that of the people that are looking out to you. Dont forget that whatsoever you do and whatever you are going through, you are a beckon of home to someone and I think that alone should guide you when making decision in life.

If you always want to think about what you are going through and give up hope, trust me life is going to be more bitter for you as far as you are still living and my last advice to you in the introduction is that, never think that, committing suicide is an option to anything that you are going through in life. Because suicide is never a solution and it can never be a solution. But rather bond yourself with faith and hope that something would surely come out from somewhere.

CAUSES OF THE CHALLENGERS WE ARE FACING: Whatsoever we are facing as individual is a result of somethings that either we did not do well or the superiors did not do well. And some of these causes are as follows:

LACK OF UNEMPLOYMENT: Unemployment is one of the biggest challenges that confront the whole world, even the U.S.A have their fair share when it comes to unemployment but then some of the countries are trying their best to tackle the ganga of unemployment. But as to how they are going to tackle that, is also another issues.

Due to this unemployment rate, both the young and the old are fighting for the little things that are available to them. Now because of these the work that our parents are supposed to do, to keep us going, have become problem and they really find it extremely difficult to meet the needs of the children in the house. Sometimes these unemployment issues even bring about broken homes and single parenting. Because of the inability of the parents not been able to meet the needs of the children, the children are forced to hit the street for a greener pasture elsewhere. Some of the needs that force the children into whatsoever that they are doing is payment of school fees, food, shelter and co.

There has been a lot of private sector business in the country to help reduce the unemployment that has become headache of the country by building companies all over the country just to be able to reduce these margins. With the effort of these private sectors, it is prudent the government of the day would help the private sector to reduce the rate of unemployment in the country by giving them aid in terms financial support.

RURAL URBAN-MIGRATIONS: The rural urban-migration is becoming rampant in the country, and it needs to be address as soon as possible before it gets out of hand. But the question one would ask is what brings about the migration? The rural urban-migration is as a result of the same unemployment issues that we have talk about but then that is not the only reason why people really want to come to the city other factors to, come to play as far as migration is concern in the country.

Some travel from one place to the other in search of peace and harmony. For instances the conflict that happen between the Kokombas and that of the Anufor in the northern region last year has made a whole lot of people travel from their home town to others areas for peace. Others things got to do with school and that very important to talk about. If you take a look at things that is going on, you will know that, some part of the country doesnt even have one classroom block of school building standing. So, in search of this the student are force to leave their various places or homes to get access to education because they are so much determined to make sure they get access to education.

I think when there is a peace and harmony in all the regions and equally employment rate in the country, there migration rate would surely come down. Also, there should be equal distribution of the national cake for the young people to be able to stay in their home town.

ILLITERACY: When the illiteracy becomes phenomenal, and we think it should happen like it is happening, then things become complicated for us as a nation because the illiterate would not listen to whatsoever you tell them not because they arent ready to listen, but because they dont understand what you are trying to tell them. This illiteracy rate goes up because, our brothers and sister need our help to build themselves but no one is ready to give them that kind of help.

Some of these people lost everything they have and believe that one day someone can come to their aid but their faith would yield to nothing because it seems everyone is busy minding their own business than to help an innocent person. Now these illiterates would have to travel to make a living. And the city become congested, somewhere to sleep is a problem, what to do becomes the major headache so the best option is for them to either hawk or steal from people which can also result in death should they be caught.

IS LIFE WEALTH LIVING? Sometimes most of these young and old in the society think life is not wealth living for and that it would have been better if they take their own life than to go through whatsoever, they are going through. The maltreatment some of these people have been in life, should they tell you, you will be surprise. These treatments are still ringing bell in their ears and that should anything of such happening again it becomes very serious for them to deal with.

Is life wealth living, is something that have been running through the mind of the people who have been through such a hardship treatment from others and thinking that they have nothing living for. Now because most of these people didnt get access to education and vocation training, getting employment becomes problematic to them. About 80% of these people thinks because they are not working, and things are really bad today, it means that is going to be like that forever but it never so.

One thing you have to know is that there is a lot to leave for. Where you are today, is someones prayer request so dont ever give up in life, because life is full of drama and a lot is to be expected from it. I have seen young people that think there is nothing good to come from me again. I personal was one person who have also gone through that stage of thinking if life is wealth living for. If you look at things family do to you, the neglect, the rejection, the feel of loneliness and etc. can even make you take your own life. trust me I have been in the stage where I think the whole world is against me.

But trust me there is an answering praying God who always listen to the voice of the voiceless and make a way for them. So, what you are going through shouldnt be the end of your life stand up and become a champion fight for what is right and make it work for you in a Godly manner, dont listen to people would or think about you. Thank God Stacy M. Foundation have come to stay. The Foundation is set to give the less privilege the chance to also get a formal training to begin something for their lives and I encourage you to get yourselves involve and make a good use of the foundation. Is because of you that is why she established the foundation and therefore let be courageous in our life and make good live of the life we have.

It is not easy for someone to say that am setting up a foundation that would give a free vocational training. One thing you have to also know is that, no one knows what tomorrow would bring so dont jump into conclusion by saying that there is nothing living for.

WHO CAN BE OF HELP? The question of who can be of help seems have got a way in all my article. That tells you how important that is and how we should take a critical look at it. Life is full of ups and downs and therefore it is important that we look at for people that can be of help to us.

I recall when I was in school and there was nothing to take to school, in terms of fees and books. But I recall that time there was no one to call and even if I did there was an excuse from one person to the other. Everyone is just busy doing their own thing and it is important to noted that helpers are few but when it comes make good use of it. Sometimes there are a lot of people in the country and also elsewhere who just want to hear someones voice telling them is okay and they would believe and continue their journey but such people are very hard to fine.

Someone is by this time thinking suicide is the only option to end everything that is happening to him or her, but the true is that you are not the only person in this. Most of us have also been through that stage before so taking your life is neither here nor there but the only thing, I can tell you is to believe in the judgement of God.

Help does not necessary means that you give the person millions of cedis or dollars that is when you are helping someone but you can help someone by even just your voice and your attitude towards that person would make that person change completely. Sometimes too these people just need something to eat at that very moment. And things would be okay for them but our brothers may have all these and would not even show concern, I understand you are busy searching more money or you are busy with your own family, but one thing we are supposed to know is that the riches God gives us is not for our own consumption but to be able to help our neighbors and friends, that is why we are bless. God knows that if he should give you that blessing, you would be able to help others that is why he shower that blessing on you.

We are living in a society where we have lot of churches, mosques and the rest of the believes in the area. These people are supposed to guide and give us direction as to how one should live meaningful with other without any difficulties but most of these leaders are not up to the task. There are a lot of Foundations too in the country but lack of adequate resource has left them hanging seeking for help which is not coming from anywhere. If you should go to the various orphanage homes in this country, there is nothing to write home about. It all boil down to help.

Helping someone to be responsible in life is one of the best anyone can do in the life of someone to also stand on their feet. The Stacy M Foundation is one the best Foundation that can give that help that you have always been crying for. Make a way to take part in the on-going free vocational training that is been organized across all the 16 regions in the country and beyond.

WHY GOING THROUGH THESE ALONE? Why going through all these alone? My brother and sister you are not alone in this situation, someone have also been through this situation and they are also asking the same question as to why they are all alone in such a nightmare but one thing we should know is that whatsoever you are going through now, someone have been there before and someone is currently praying to be where you are now.

Your current situation is someone else prayer request so dont you dare look down upon yourself. Even Christ Jesus once ask God why thy forsake me? But the truth is that he was not forsake but for the grace of God to manifest for others to see and believe that indeed he is the God of all and he is capable of doing all things at his own time, he has to make Christ Go through that as if he has forsaken him which is not the case. What am trying to make you understand is that God have time for everything that we are going through. He knows that we are going through such predicament but he has a special plan for us that is why he is not rushing us now.

Sometimes people write you off from whatsoever they are doing they said there is nothing good about you. A friend told me a story about himself some times and I want to share this story with you that you will know that you are not in this all alone. He said and I quote my brother do you know that because of my situation when my father passed on my family couldnt tell me that my father is dead? I the one who is the elderly among my siblings, no one told me about my fathers sickness left alone his dead. I have to heard that from my friend that we are just coming from your fathers funeral and I didnt see you there. So, I ask him what are you talking about how can you say such a thing about my father? To cut matter short he called his younger brother and asked him if what he is hearing is true and he confirm to him that yes, it is. He continues by telling him that, they know he is not working so he coming to the village would mean that, they have to give him transportation and that, that money have been used as a contribution on his behalf.

How would you feel if you happen to be this guy in question now? But the guy never gave up, but rather keep on pushing and God changed everything within second for him. Now he is the one taking care of the family that wrote him off some years ago. All that am trying to put across here is that, dont give up because things are not going through your direction so you think that is the end of life for you. My brother and sister that is not the end of the road for you. Keep on keeping and hope for the best moment and know that you are not the only person okay. I the one writing this article have also got my fair share of the cake. It wasnt easy for me at that time but I believe in God and he has change things for me although am not where I want to be but am grateful for how far he has brought me.

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT CAN HELP ME ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA?

Social media arguably have had its own disadvantages but that does not mean that there is nothing good on social media. Social media have offer us a lot and is still offering us a lot. If only you are on social media for a better thing, you will get that better thing that you want. Because social media now can even let you get a lot of work to do that is if you are really looking for work.

Some people go to the various social media platform to do their own things not the things that would help all of us. So, the rhetoric of if there is something that can help us on the various social media platform is yes. There is a lot to gain that would change your life on the social media platforms if search well. There are pastors that preach a touching and powerful message that can change our lives on the social media platform. The only thing you have to look out for is positive news on the platforms and not what other stuffs. People use social media for business and other great activities which is helping them in their lives.

HOW DO I OVERCOME THE ABUSIVE NATURE OF LIFE? one of our biggest obstacles is abuse that we go through in life. sometimes life dont even give us the best in ourselves due to what we have been through because of abuse. Now as to whether one can overcome abuse or not is a very difficult thing to tackle in our society. The very reason why it difficult to deal with abuse in the society is because even the society we live in, most of them are behind this barbaric act and it really making it difficult for them to help fight this very act.

Now the question is can you overcome abuse is yes. Everyone can overcome abuse no matter where you are, or what you do you can overcome abuse. You can overcome abuse by reporting the very people who are behind this act to the authorities in every corner you find yourself been abuse. One thing abuse is not only when you are been raped but then it goes beyond that. Sometimes, some people can even let you do things that affect you as an individual that alone is a form of abuse on its own. When this continue happening just report to the authorities said the police and other law enforcement agencies and they would take the issue and for justice to be done.

As a student, if you are denying the right to go to school, you can equally report your parents or caregiver to the authority for denying you your right to school.
[February 25, 2020] Community First Credit Union Chooses ClickSWITCH's Renowned Account Switching and Automation Technology to Drive Deposits

Community First Credit Union of Appleton, Wisconsin, has selected ClickSWITCH as its technology provider for automating the account switching process for direct deposits and recurring payments. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005241/en/ ClickSWITCH's automated switch solution (Photo: ClickSWITCH) "Improving the experience of new and existing members who are switching accounts to Community First is incredibly important. ClickSWITCH's technology simplifies what is oftena cumbersome process, bringing a simplified experience that removes barriers to help us serve our members better," noted Cathie Tierney, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We feel that ClickSWITCH will be a valuable tool in achieving our deposit growth goals and increase the number of new and existing members that use us as their primary financial institution."



ClickSWITCH provides a solution to financial institutions, allowing account holders to switch direct deposits and recurring payments in just a few minutes. The solution also enables financial institutions and neobanks the ability to fund new accounts and increase the profitability of new account holders. "Community First's relationship-based focus is the perfect complement to the technology ClickSWITCH provides. Our solution provides a quick and easy process for consumers to change their banking relationship without hassle," said Eric Edwards, Chief Revenue Officer for ClickSWITCH. "From neobanks, to credit unions, ClickSWITCH is now helping over 400 financial institutions meet their growth goals."

To learn more about ClickSWITCH, visit booth #272 at the CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C., February 23 - 27, 2020. For more information on Community First Credit Union, please visit communityfirstcu.org. About ClickSWITCH

ClickSWITCH is an automated account switching solution for financial institutions and fintechs that simplifies the process of bringing new account holders onboard by quickly, safely and efficiently switching direct deposits and automatic payments from old accounts to new ones. The company enables clients to drive deposit growth, increase primary account holders and expand cross-selling opportunities. ClickSWITCH is a technology leader delivering world-class solutions to financial institutions of all sizes. For more information, visit www.ClickSWITCH.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005241/en/

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Coronavirus fears have gripped South Korea as President Moon warned of a 'very grave' outbreak, officials screened 200,000 'cult' members and a Korean Air cabin crew member tested positive for the deadly virus.

Concerns centred on the southeastern city of Daegu this morning where residents donned face-masks, wore vinyl gloves on trains, rushed to supermarkets to stock up on instant noodles and rice, and called friends to ask if they were still alive.

The streets of its usually bustling Dongseongro commercial district were quiet, with only a few pedestrians seen, as workers wearing black protective gear sprayed disinfectant at a deserted Lotte Department Store branch.

Efforts to halt the spread have focused on the city after more than 80 per cent of the country's cases were identified there.

South Korea has said it aims to test the 200,000 members of its 'cult-like' Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which accounts for 68 per cent of the metropolis' cases. There are 1,300 members of the Daegu church that are said to already be showing symptoms. They have been placed in mandatory quarantine with 8,000 other members.

The virus was first identified in the city in a 61-year-old woman from the religious group. However, it is unlikely that this individual set off the chain of infections as she has no record of overseas travel, authorities said.

Authorities said they had tested 13,000 people on Monday and expect to test another 12,500 today, up from about 7,500 a day previously.

A Korean Air cabin crew has also tested positive for the virus, the airline said, prompting it to shut its office near Incheon International airport and fears that an aircraft may have carried COVID-19 to other countries.

South Korea reported its tenth death from coronavirus and a further 144 new cases this morning, bringing its total cases to 977 since the outbreak began.

Coronavirus fears have gripped South Korea today. Above, a man in a hazmat suit sprays disinfectant outside Korean Air's office at Incheon International Airport after one of its cabin crew members was diagnosed with the virus

South Korea's president Moon Jae-in appeared on camera today wearing a yellow government emergency uniform and face mask as he said the country faces a 'very grave' situation. He is pictured at Daegu city hall

The President shown being briefed on the situation by the head of Daegu medical centre Yoo Won-Shik (dressed in white)

The outbreak in the city centres on the 'cult' Shincheonji church, pictured above, where 68 per cent of cases are reported

South Korea reported its tenth death and a further 144 cases this morning, bringing its total to 977 cases

Residents in Daegu, which was placed under 'maximum' quarantine measures this morning by the government, have said they fear contracting the virus which is shutting down normal life in their hometown.

'I'm also a human being and scared of contracting the virus,' Choe Hee-suk, a 37-year-old office worker in Daegu, said. 'We call each other here and half-jokingly ask whether they are alive and tell each other not to wander around.'

Oh Sang-hak, a taxi driver, said he hadn't worked for several days because he was uneasy about picking up strangers with the virus circulating in the city.

'It's like time has stopped ... and there is just no movement,' Oh said. 'Until last week, we thought the coronavirus was someone else's problem.'

Lee Nag-hyeon, 63, said he thinks media reports on virus fears in Daegu have been a bit exaggerated. But he said he saw a masked woman wearing a pair of disposable gloves when he took a subway on Monday. He said he also heard about convenience store staff wearing goggles when dealing with customers.

On Monday, people wearing masks stood in long lines outside an Emart discount store in Daegu's Mancheon district as they tried to stock up on face masks, which have also been quickly selling out online.

Choe, the office worker, said she had three boxes of ramen, four boxes of cereal and three 20-kilogram (44-pound) bags of rice at her home. Lee said he began writing on his masks the dates he last wore them to re-use later, when there are no more available for sale.

South Korea's president Moon Jae-in pictured speaking to the nation at Daegu City Hall today

Workers spray disinfectant on the ground at Seoul railway station in the capital, as officials battle to slow the rate of infections

A man wearing a hazmat suit sprays disinfectant in front of Korean Air's office at Incheon this morning

At Daegu's Gyodong traditional market on Monday, about half of the roughly 1,000 shops were closed, with the number of visitors declining recently by more than 90 per cent.

'Maybe it would be better for all the merchants to shut their doors, but their means of a living are here. So some have made the difficult decision to open their shops,' said Ahn Sook-hee, an official at an association of merchants at the market.

The virus is also changing the scenes at weddings and funerals, events that typically draw large crowds in South Korea.

At Daegu's Gangbug Convention wedding hall, only two of the 10 scheduled wedding ceremonies were held over the weekend, with the other eight couples postponing their big day at the last minute. A typical wedding ceremony would draw around 200 people, but the two held on Saturday had only about 50 each, according to wedding hall employee Park Ye Jin.

At both ceremonies, everyone except for the bride and groom were required to wear masks. 'We didn't let anyone enter the hall if they didn't wear masks,' Park said.

She said most guests left without eating any of the food set up at the banquet reception.

Ahn said that all of her planned gatherings of relatives and friends had been cancelled, and that she recently skipped a funeral and just sent condolence money to the bereaved family. Lee said that even if a loved one of a close friend were to die, he wouldn't go to the funeral - an event he would feel obligated to attend in ordinary times.

Choe said her family cancelled her father's 70th birthday party, which was scheduled to take place at a Daegu restaurant this past Saturday with about 30 guests.

'We just had barbecues at home, and my father was very disappointed,' Choe said, adding that her family plans a more formal party for him at home later this week.

President Moon Jae-in appeared on camera this morning wearing the uniform of a government emergency official and mask to announce 'the situation is very grave'.

'We will achieve a victory in the fight against this virus,' he said as he tried to reassure citizens.

Passengers pictured wearing face masks after returning to South Korea from Israel, which has also reported cases

Two workers wearing hazmat suits shown on standby at the Chonnam National University today

A worker from the Korean Pest Control Association sprays disinfectant as part of preventative measures at the National Assembly Building in Seoul

Korea's president Moon Jae-in wears a mask as he talks to medics outside the Daegu Medical Centre today

South Korea has ramped up efforts to test for the virus as it attempts to establish the extent of the outbreak. Each polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine that South Korea is using to test for the virus is running four tests a day, up from three in recent days, the KCDC said. Each test takes two to three hours.

The leader of the Shincheonji Church said it had agreed to give authorities the names of all members in South Korea.

The government would test all members as soon as possible to 'to contain the spread of the virus and relieve public anxiety', the prime minister's office said in a release.

The 'cult' church has agreed to hand over names of all members of its congregation but has asked the government to ensure that these details are kept private.

The government's goal is to stabilise the situation in Daegu within four weeks, Vice Health Minister Kim Kang-lip said.

North Gyeongsang Province has also seen surges in cases, most from a hospital in Cheongdo, and it was designated a 'special care zone' along with Daegu last week.

On Tuesday, 21 of the 33 cases from the province were confirmed to have come from a home for the disabled people in Chilgok County, also near Daegu, traced to a worker there whose mother is a member of the Shincheonji Church in Daegu, Governor Lee Cheol-woo said.

Workers wearing hazmat suits clean Seoul railway station following fears over the virus

South Korea's president wears a face mask at a press conference in Daegu city hall today

Workers spray disinfectant over chairs at the Songpa Culture and Sports Centre in Seoul, South Korea, today

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meanwhile, raised its warning level for South Korea and recommended Americans avoid all nonessential travel to the country, citing the 'widespread, ongoing outbreak' of the coronavirus.

The U.S. and South Korean militaries said they were considering scaling back joint training due, in one of the first concrete signs of the virus' fallout on global U.S. military activities.

South Korean Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo told a news conference in Washington 13 cases had been confirmed in the South Korean armed forces.
Syracuse, NY -- Onondaga County prosecutors Tuesday dramatically reduced the criminal charge in a 2017 rape case on the Tully High School grounds, a move approved by a judge in the interests of justice.

Gavin Maloney was 16 years old when he was accused of meeting up with a fellow teen around 3:50 p.m. Sept. 19, 2017 for planned sex in a vehicle on school grounds.

But the rendezvous went horribly wrong, leaving the girl accusing Maloney of forcibly raping her.

For years, Maloney, of Preble, has faced the worst rape charge possible, punishable by 5 to 25 years in prison. First-degree rape alleges that he used physical force to have sex with the other teen, who was under the age of 16.

Maloneys fate seemed sealed after he admitted raping the girl in response to a question by police.

Tuesday, however, with the case nearing trial, prosecutors asked for a reduction in the charge. First Chief Assistant District Attorney Rick Trunfio joined sex crimes prosecutor Ariana Doty in making the request to a judge.

And state Supreme Court Justice Gordon Cuffy agreed, noting the reduction was in the interests of justice, among other reasons.

Instead, Maloney now faces a lesser, third-degree rape charge, that can be punishable by a short prison sentence, but does not require time behind bars.

The case will continue to trial under the theory that Maloney had non-consensual sex with the girl, but physical force will no longer be an element of the crime. The new charge alleges non-consent for any reason. Its otherwise known as the no means no charge.

Gavin Maloney leaves court in June 2019.

Trunfio told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard afterward that there were proof problems with the case that made forcible rape difficult to prove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. And Trunfio noted Maloneys young age, as well as the circumstances of the relationship between Maloney and the girl, as other reasons to reduce the charge.

One of Maloneys defense lawyers, Ed Klein, said after court that his client maintained the sex was consensual, as had been planned before the encounter. So far, Maloney has balked to pleading guilty to any crime.

Klein hinted in court that he planned to bring in an expert who could explain Maloneys rape admission to police. The teens use of the word might not have been the legal definition of rape, the lawyer suggested.

Maloney remains free as his case heads to trial in June on the lesser rape charge.

Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or 470-6070.

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Senior Congress leader and Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Tuesday described the violence over the amended citizenship law in Delhi as "unfortunate" while calling the CAA 'ill-conceived'.

"We (Puducherry government) have been opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) , National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) all along" he said.

"Most of the states are on the boil in the wake of implementation of the CAA by the NDA government at the Centre. This and also the NPR and NRC are injurious and ill-conceived," the chief minster told newspersons on the sidelines of a programme organised by the Social Welfare Department to spread awareness among the people on drug abuse.

Narayanasamy said it was really unfortunate that violence marked by killing of 11 people in Delhi had broken out over the amended Citizenship law.

Communal violence over the amended citizenship law escalated in northeast Delhi on Tuesday taking the death toll to 13 as police struggled to check the rioters who ran amok on streets, burning and looting shops, pelting stones and thrashing people.

Narayanasamy also referred to the Bihar Assembly which passed a unanimous resolution hon Tuesday holding that there is no need for NRC in the state and updating of the NPR should be done according to the 2010 format.

Asked about the ongoing students' protest at the Pondicherry University over the issue of increase in fees, he said, "The DGP of Puducherry had held talks with the student representatives. I will also invite the student leaders for a talk in a bid to address their grievances".

As part of security measures in view of Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu's visit to Pondicherry University, police on Tuesday removed 80 protesting students from the administrative block of the varsity and shifted them to the silver jubilee block on the campus.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Researchers at the University of Southampton have identified how new checkpoint inhibitor treatments for cancer can activate tuberculosis in some patients.

Immune therapies for cancer are transforming treatment by activating the body's immune cells to fight off cancer. Immune checkpoints are part of the human body's immune system that prevent damaging inflammation, and checkpoint inhibitors are drugs used in immunotherapy to permit the body's immune system to attack cancer cells.

Surprisingly, immune activation with checkpoint inhibitors can sometimes lead to rapidly progressive tuberculosis, an infection that used to kill one in three people in the UK. Researchers in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton described one of the earliest cases of immunotherapy-associated tuberculosis in December 2018 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, and reports of similar cases have progressively accumulated. However, the true incidence is unknown as progression of cancer and the development of tuberculosis can be similar.

To understand mechanisms underlying this emerging phenomenon, Dr Liku Tezera, a senior research fellow at the University who led the project, used a 3-dimensional cell culture model to measure the effect of checkpoint inhibitors on the immune system's ability to control the bacteria that causes tuberculosis disease. The team's findings, reported in the latest edition of eLife, demonstrate that the addition of an immune checkpoint inhibitor, anti-PD1, led to an excessive immune response, which actually increased growth of the bacteria. The involvement of PD-1 in the natural immune response to TB infection in patients was demonstrated with long-term collaborators based at the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), in Durban, South Africa.

This is an important emerging clinical phenomenon, and by understanding the process that leads to increased tuberculosis growth, we can identify existing treatments that could be used reduce severity of infection and permit continuation of the cancer treatment. This may improve outcomes when this surprising side-effect of emerging cancer immunotherapies occurs". Dr. Liku Tezera, senior research fellow at the University of Southampton

The group are currently aiming to establish a national register to capture the true incidence of this phenomenon, and are developing the laboratory system to predict what other new cancer therapies may have a similar effect. The Southampton - Durban team was funded by an MRC Global Challenges Research Fund foundation award to establish sustainable research collaborations to address globally important diseases.
Researchers from the School of Life Sciences at China's Tianjin University have claimed to product the oral vaccine for coronavirus

Scientists have developed an oral vaccine for the new coronavirus using baker's yeast, Chinese state media reported.

A professor in charge of the project has reportedly taken four doses of the drug without having any side effects.

However, the expert said the product was still 'far from' being sold on the market because it needed to pass animal tests and clinical trials.

The news was announced by Professor Huang Jinhai from the School of Life Sciences at Tianjin University and reported by state newspaper People's Daily.

The immunisation uses food-grade saccharomyces cerevisiae, or baker's yeast, as the carrier and aims at the Spike protein of the virus, Prof. Huang said.

It helps people generate antibodies against the deadly virus.

The Spike protein, or S protein, is responsible for inducing the virus into the host cells inside a patient and is the key to tackling the infection, the expert explained.

Prof. Huang said he was looking for partners to help his team complete the project.

Coronaviruses are so named because their structure has jagged edges which look like a royal crown - corona is crown in Latin (Pictured, an illustration of the COVID-19 virus released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Professor Huang Jinhai from Tianjin University said he and his team were looking for partners to help them complete the project. The picture shows medics working in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital designated for COVID-19 patients in Wuhan on February 24

The new coronavirus - known as COVID-19 - has killed at least 2,663 and infected more than 77,660 people inside China. Two men wearing face masks are pictured walking on a commercial street during the coronavirus outbreak in Beijing, China, on February 25

Speaking to Beijing News, Prof. Huang said he believed that the drug would work because 'we have produced similar animal vaccines in the past', but it will have to pass a series of tests on animals and humans to prove its effectiveness.

And after that, Chinese authorities will run clinical trials and evaluations on the product before allowing it to hit the market, Prof. Huang added.

The expert suspected that it would take at least six months for the invention to be used by hospitals in large quantities.

The novel coronavirus has killed at least 2,705 people and infected more than 80,320 globally

Multiple research teams have begun developing vaccines for the disease since an outbreak emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei Province late last year.

Last month, a Russian diplomatic mission in China said that Russia and China were working to develop a vaccine and that Beijing had handed over the genome of the virus to Moscow.

Johnson & Johnson is one of the drugmakers that have begun work on developing a vaccine for the coronavirus.

Jack Ma, China's richest man, donated 100million yuan (11million) to help scientists develop anti-coronavirus inoculations.

While the United States pledged $2.5 billion (1.9 billion) to fight the disease, with more than $1 billion (770 million) going towards developing a vaccine.

Jack Ma, the 55-year-old founder of e-commerce conglomerate Alibaba, has donated 100million yuan (11million) to help scientists develop the vaccine for the deadly coronavirus. The self-made entrepreneur announced the generous aid last month through his foundation

Scientists in China and around the world are striving to create the first vaccine for the coronavirus. In the picture taken on October 18, scientists are seen working in a laboratory of Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada. The organisation is researching a vaccine for novel coronavirus

The new coronavirus - known as COVID-19 - has killed at least 2,663 and infected more than 77,660 people inside China.

Hubei, situated in central China, accounts for more than 80 per cent of the confirmed cases and 95 per cent of the deaths globally.

Wuhan, the provincial capital with 11 million residents, went into lockdown on January 23 in the wake of the outbreak. The majority part of Hubei then followed suit.

Overnight, the Hubei health officials reported 499 new cases out of a nationwide total of 508 and 68 of the 71 new deaths across China.

Globally, the coronavirus epidemic has killed at least 2,705 people, infected more than 80,340 and spread to at least two dozen countries.
CNN Philippines (February 25)  China said it started laying the groundwork to stop cybercrimes committed by Chinese nationals outside of China, including the Philippines.

To crack down on cross-border telecom fraud, [China's] Ministry of Public Security has obtained a list of Chinese nationals suspected of committing long-term telecom fraud crimes abroad, who are classified as the persons prohibited from exiting China, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said in a statement on Sunday.

The reaction stemmed from a report that thousands of Chinese nationals illegally working for Philippines offshore gaming operators or POGO may have their passports revoked for supposedly being involved in illegal activities.

China then expressed its willingness to work with the Philippines in its fight against POGO amid issues on lost job opportunities for Filipinos, tax evasion and even national security. The Bureau of Internal Revenue earlier revealed over 27 billion worth of tax liabilities remain uncollected from the POGO sector.

RELATED: Defense chief fears POGOs may shift operations to spying

The embassy said the close coordination is aimed at protecting the legitimate rights and interests of nationals of the two countries, and to promote the China-Philippines friendship and cooperation.

A whistleblower revealed in a Senate probe last week a scheme that allowed Chinese nationals, mostly POGO workers, to enter the country with ease by paying immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport a minimum of 10,000 in grease money.

READ: Witness: 90% of Immigration Bureau personnel involved in 'pastillas' scheme

This prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to relieve 19 Immigration employees from their duty pending investigation.

PAGCOR stopped accepting new applications for POGO licenses in August last year.
'Melania Trump asked about the mud-pack treatment and was amazed when she got to know the details of the process'

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump, and First Lady Melania Trump visit the Taj Mahal, the 17th century monument to love in Agra, on February 24, 2020. Photograph: PTI Photo

The architectural grandeur of 17th century Taj Mahal and the story of its construction by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan left United States President Donald Trump "impressed" during his visit to the famed mausoleum on Monday, according to the guide who accompanied him.

Nitin Kumar, an Agra-based guide, said the first word the president said after laying his eyes on the marble marvel was "incredible".

He and First Lady Melania Trump visited the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra, the second stop on his little less than 36-hour-long trip of India, and marvelled at the Mughal-era mausoleum built as a monument of love.

After Dwight David Eisenhower (1959) and Bill Clinton (2000), he became the third US president to visit the architectural icon.

"I told them the story of the Taj Mahal, the construction, and the story behind it. President Trump got very emotional after knowing the story of Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal. How he was kept under house arrest by his own son Aurangzeb, and buried here at Taj, next to Mumtaz's grave, after his death," Kumar told reporters.

The couple was left speechless on the first sight of the monument, and showed interest when they were told about the history and architecture of the dome, and the design details, Kumar said.

"Melania Trump asked about the mud-pack treatment and was amazed when she got to know the details of the process," he said.

One of the most photographed sites in the world, it is always high on the itinerary of head of states visiting India.

The monument was built over a period of nearly 20 years by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife after her death in 1631.

"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 jointly wrote in the visitors' book before signing it.

According to Mohammed Zafar, who lives close to Taj Mahal complex, Nitin has been conducting guided tours for many years.

"He was selected for this VVIP visit," he said.

"Many people were taking selfies with him, after the end of the visit. So, many media persons interacted with him. He has got some instant fame of sorts," Zafar said.

Authorities at Archaeological Survey of India had "advanced the dates" for mud-pack treatment for the graves of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal at Taj Mahal in view of the US President Trump's visit to Taj, a senior official had earlier said.

The architectural marvel inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 is made of white Makrana marble and red sandstones, and renowned for its intricate inlay work on the stone surface.
A Russian internet activist who created a popular app allowing people to send alerts over arrests by the police was Monday remanded in custody awaiting trial on charges of drug possession. The jailing of Alexander Litreyev for at least the next two months sparked concern that he had been specifically singled out due to his activism, although he has admitted the charges. Litreyev was detained on Sunday shortly after arriving in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg and was found to be in possession of less than a gram of ecstasy, the Interfax news agency reported. His lawyer Alexei Bushmakov told Interfax that Litreyev had confessed his guilt and expressed remorse and was thus surprised by the court's "tough" decision to hold him for two months in jail in pre-trial detention. His arrest comes amid growing concern among activists that the Russian authorities are using drugs charges to target campaigners behind troublesome initiatives, especially concerning the police. Litreyev designed a special mobile phone app called Krasnaya Knopka (Red Button) that allows people to rapidly alert relatives and civil society campaigners if they are arrested in a demonstration and indicate which police station they have been taken to. Bushmakov told the Meduza website that Litreyev had travelled to Yekaterinburg for just one day to meet a woman he had met on Instagram. The woman gave evidence in the court hearing, Meduza said. Litreyev will now be held in prison for the next two months until the next hearing when the judge will decide again whether he stays in jail. A date for the trial has yet to be sent. Pre-trial detention periods can be lengthy in Russia. - 'Set up and framed' - The Rosuznik Russian prisoner support group said on Twitter that the jailing of a person "who has admitted his guilt on a non-serious offence is an outrage. He should be immediately released". Video posted on Russian news sites showed Litreyev, standing in a courthouse cage, unsuccessfully trying to persuade the judge he was not a flight risk and should not go to jail ahead of trial. Meduza said the expert in data security had previously worked with the anti-corruption group of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Litreyev was "specially lured, set up and framed. A honey trap, straight out of the text book," Navalny wrote on Twitter. However some Russian news sites carried interviews with the woman he had met, reportedly aged 19, in which she vehemently denied setting up Litreyev and complaining she had been the victim of attacks on social media since the news broke. She said she had been detained with him before being released. Litreyev, who is based in Estonia, also heads a company called Vee Security which offers VPN connections allowing Russian users to see sites blocked in Russia. Arrests by Russian police of activists on suspicion of possessing drugs have been in the spotlight since reporter Ivan Golunov was detained on trumped-up drug charges last June. Five former police officers have been detained for planting drugs in Golunov's backpack and at his flat. He was released after an unprecedented public campaign in his defence by supporters. Kremlin critics say drugs charges are routinely used in Russia to silence rights activists or to settle scores with opponents in disputes.
The deadly coronavirus outbreak is forcing Chinese manufacturer CRRC Dalian to look at other avenues to get its rake for the Kolkata Metro Railway tested, an official said here on Tuesday.

A team of Chinese engineers was supposed to come to the city for conducting Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) tests of the first rake that arrived in March last year but it has now become uncertain, the official said.

Radio frequency interference is the conduction or radiation of radio frequency energy that causes an electronic or electrical device to produce noise that typically interferes with the function of an adjacent device.

At present there are 10 to 12 Chinese engineers here for coordination and integration of the Dalian-made rake, a metro official said, adding that they have been working here for the last six months.

The Railway Ministry placed an order for 14 rakes from Dalian for the Kolkata Metro Railway.

"They are involved in various tests of the rake for integration into the Kolkata Metro system and are working with engineers of the Metro Railway and the RDSO," the official said.

The RFI test of the rake was to be done by the manufacturer, but owing to the outbreak of the virus, the arrival of the experts has become uncertain, the official said.

"Engineers of an agency of Dalian was to arrive in the first week of March, but the outbreak has jeopardised the schedule," Kolkata Metro Railway spokesperson Indrani Banerjee said.

She said that since the RFI trials cannot be put off indefinitely, Dalian is consulting the Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER), which is under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Union government, for the purpose.

SAMEER has expertise in conducting RFI tests and has done such trials for the Medha rakes manufactured by ICF Perumbur for the Kolkata Metro, Banerjee said.

These rakes are currently in service.

"Dalian is in talks with this company and the set of protocols to be followed are being discussed," she said.

"If the talks are fruitful and Dalian contracts the Indian company for the test, then the RFI trials can be completed without delay by March or April," Banerjee said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Majority of Nigerians who participated in an online poll by PREMIUM TIMES, backed the Supreme Court on its ruling on the Bayelsa governorship election.

The Supreme Court, on February 13, sacked David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governor-elect of Bayelsa State, barely 24 hours to his inauguration.

The court ordered INEC to declare the party with the highest number of lawful votes and geographical spread the winner of the election. The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Douye Diri, was later sworn in as governor.

The ruling has since generated outrage among Nigerians. While many say the court was wrong to have made the judgement, others believe otherwise.

The Poll

Over 23,066 voters participated in the poll which was conducted on the PREMIUM TIMES website and on its official Twitter and Facebook pages.

The poll lasted for about seven days and was conducted in a way that made it impossible for a respondent to vote more than once from the same computer or mobile device.

Participants were asked a single question: Do you agree with Supreme Courts ruling on the Bayelsa governorship election? with options of yes, no, and I dont care.

It was almost a tie on the Facebook poll as over 9,984 respondents (52 per cent) aligned themselves with the apex court while 9,216 participants (48 per cent) voted against the judgement.

On Twitter, 1,055 participants (50.8 per cent) voted in support of the ruling, 646 respondents (31.1 per cent) voted against. While 376 participants (18.1 per cent) said they do not care.

And on the website, 836 respondents (46.7 per cent) voted yes, 676 respondents (37.8 per cent) voted no, and 277 respondents (15.5 per cent) said they do not care.

The ruling

A five-member panel of the apex court led by Justice Mary Odili nullified Mr Lyons election 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 State.

The apex court, in the judgement delivered by Justice Ejembi Eko, consequently ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Messrs Lyon and Degi-Eremienyo.

This was sequel to a suit filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Douye Diri, against the APC candidates 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.

Mr Diri and Lawrence Ewhrujakpor have since been declared winners of the election and sworn in as governor and deputy respectively.

Mr Diri came second in the election with 143,172 votes to Mr Lyons 352,552 votes. He won the election in two of Bayelsas eight local governments while Mr Lyon won in the remaining six.

Conflicting arguments

Besides participants from the poll who have agreed and disagreed with the ruling of the Supreme Court, other legal experts have argued for and against the judgement, too.

The argument has been that while Mr Degi-Eremienyo is guilty, the punishment should not rub off on Mr Lyon. Many have also said the Supreme Court is wrong to have declared the candidate with the highest votes as winner of the election, rather than order a fresh one.

A senior lawyer, Sebastine Hon, said the Supreme Court was correct in its decision.

He explained that under the constitutional scheme of the 1999 Constitution, one is not qualified to become a governor unless and until he chooses a running mate, who will contest the election with him.

The fate of each, therefore, is inextricably intertwined, until they are inaugurated, in which case, each acquires a distinct legal personality and has to personally answer for his good or bad deeds, he said.

A lawyer, Musa Maina, said in as much Mr Degi-Eremienyo is disqualified for presenting false information to INEC and the election of the governor cannot stand without a deputy (in accordance with Sec 187(1) of the Constitution of the FRN, 1999 as amended), he faulted the Supreme Court for making the order to install the highest winner in the election.

He said the election was voided on qualification and the most appropriate order to make is for a fresh election.

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Sec 140(2) of the Electoral Act, 2010 provides: Where an election tribunal or court nullifies an election on the ground that the person who obtains the highest votes at the election was not qualified to contest the election, the election tribunal or court SHALL NOT DECLARE THE PERSON WITH THE HIGHEST VOTES as elected, BUT SHALL ORDER FOR FRESH ELECTION.

The reasoning of the learned jurists should always go in tandem with the position of the law. Anything outside that is catastrophic to the legal system in particular and our democracy in general, he said.

Senior lawyer, Femi Falana, earlier said the apex court made a mistake when it treated a pre-election matter as a post-election case.

Section 133 of the Electoral Act stipulates that upon the conclusion of an election and once candidates are declared, any challenge of the conduct of the election, of the qualification of the candidates shall be heard and determined by an Election Petition Tribunal.

The election was held on the basis of the judgement of the Court of Appeal which was to the fact that yes! Degi-Eremienyo changed his name many times, not that he forged any of his certificates; there was no such proof. Therefore, he can contest the election. On the basis of that judgement, the people voted; which means by that judgement, the election was valid and legal.

The APC has since filed a suit seeking a review and reversal of the judgement, and the court has set February 26, to hear the case.
A former poster girl for the Met Police firearms unit illegally emailed herself personal data in a bid to expose 'corruption and prejudice' against BAME officers, a court heard today.

Carol Howard, 41, worked for the Met between 2001 and 2014 and featured on the force's security posters during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

She was later employed by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) on a short-term contract from October 2016 to March 2017.

The IPCC, now the Independent Office for Police Conduct, oversees the police complaints system in England and Wales.

Croydon Crown Court heard Howard forwarded 101 emails from her IPCC account to her Hotmail one, including sensitive information about a sexual offence case committed by a police officer.

The court was told she was compiling evidence for a whistleblowing complaint she launched against the IPCC for their alleged mistreatment of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) officers after she left in March 2018.

She denies one count of unlawfully obtaining personal data and another of unlawfully disclosing personal data between March 28 and April 6 2017.

Carol Howard, 41, is pictured outside Croydon Crown Court, south London today, where she is charged with two data offences

Howard was employed as an IPCC investigator in 2016 and is said to have to sent the emails to her solicitor weeks after her contract ended.

In her role, she had direct access to personal and sensitive data for cases on which she was working, including criminal and disciplinary matters.

A jury was told sensitive data could include information about a person's race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual life, physical and mental health and criminal offences.

Prosecuting, Eva Niculiu said: 'As part of her role as investigator, the defendant had daily access to personal data and sensitive data for the cases on which she was working.

'Two to three weeks after the defendant's employment was ended, the emails were accessed.

'What transpired was in the days leading up to April 6 2017, 101 emails had been sent from the defendant's IPCC email address to her personal email addresses - a Hotmail address.

'Some of these emails contained personal data including sensitive personal data.

'For example on April 14, the defendant forwarded herself an email containing four attachments containing alleged sexual offences committed by a serving police officer with the address of the alleged victim and perpetrator.

'She also obtained when she left a copy of her blue books and provided a copy of that blue book to her solicitor.

'Subsequently, the defendant started an employment tribunal claim against the IPCC between March 1 and March 22 2018.'

The 41-year-old (pictured in 2014) worked for the Met between 2001 and 2014 and featured on security posters for the force during the London 2012 Olympic Games

When interviewed by police, Howard admitted to forwarding the emails to herself and then onto her personal email, the court heard.

Ms Niculiu added: 'Her reasons for sending out the emails were set out as to obtain legal advice on them to gather evidence for her whistleblowing case.'

The court heard this case included whistleblowing against alleged discriminatory officers and the corruption and cohesive targeting of IPCC staff, referring specifically to the emails sent on April 4.

In her police interview, Howard said she was not aware if the attachment related to the serving police officer and had she known, she would not have sent it.

Ms Niculiu added: 'The defendant said in her statement that [...] she was unaware of the particular attachment.

'She accepted that that attachment was not relevant to her tribunal case whatsoever and had she been aware she would not have forwarded it and she apologised for forwarding it.'

Five months after Howard's employment ended, the IPCC reported the matter to the Information Commissions Office and she was later interviewed by police.

The two charges against her relate to identifiable individuals, namely information related to victims, witnesses and service users. The trial continues.
No lockdown in Delhi for now but some curbs, says Arvind Kejriwal amid Covid surge

Delhi violence: Kejriwal calls for an urgent meeting with MLAs, officials of violence-hit areas

India

oi-Mousumi Dash

New Delhi, Feb 25: Observing the violent clashes between pro and anti-CAA groups near Jaffrabad in the northeast Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday has called for an urgent meeting, at his residence, with the MLAs and officials of the violence-hit areas of the national capital.

The Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel along with the Delhi Police held a flag march in Brahampuri area, after stone pelting incidents were reported between two groups in the area on Tuesday morning.

How the violence unfolded in Delhi

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.

NEWS AT NOON, FEBRUARY 25th, 2020

The anti-CAA groups clashed for the second consecutive day on Monday and hurled stones at each other in the northeast Delhi, protesters also vandalised houses and a fire tender in the Jaffrabad and Maujpur areas.

Violence was also reported from the Chandbagh area in Jaffrabad.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 9:39 [IST]
The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the parents of a 15-year-old boy cannot sue the federal agent who fatally shot him by firing across the border separating the United States and Mexico  a case that inflamed tensions over border security.

The ruling was a defeat for the parents of Sergio Hernandez Guereca, who was on the Mexico side when he was killed in 2010 by a Border Patrol agent who fired from the U.S. side of the boundary separating El Paso, Texas, from Juarez, Mexico.

The teen, a Mexican national, was playing with three friends in the concrete culvert that separates the two cities. They dared one another to cross the unmarked border, run up and touch the fence on the U.S. side, then run back to the Mexican side.

Image: Jesus Hernandez and Maria Guadalupe Guereca

The Border Patrol agent, Jesus Mesa Jr., detained one of the boys for illegal border crossing, but Hernandez ran away and made it back to the Mexican side. Mesa drew his weapon and fired from about 60 feet away, killing the 15-year-old with a shot to the head.

An investigation by American authorities concluded that Mesa fired in self-defense in response to smugglers who were throwing rocks at him, although it found no evidence that Hernandez threw anything at the agent.

Mexican prosecutors charged Mesa with murder. When the U.S. refused an extradition request, the parents sued. American courts threw their case out, however, concluding that the Constitution's protection against excessive force did not apply to someone outside the United States.

Writing for the Supreme Court's five-member conservative majority, Justice Samuel Alito said the court would not extend the reach of federal law into claims against U.S. law enforcement actions that have effects in other countries.

"A cross-border shooting is by definition an international incident," Alito wrote, calling for a diplomatic solution, not a legal one. He said it is up to Congress, not the courts, to decide the scope of civil rights law in such contexts.

Story continues

In a dissent for the court's four more liberal members, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said the lawsuit should have been allowed because the agent was on U.S. soil when he fired the shot.

"It scarcely makes sense for a remedy trained on deterring rogue officer conduct to turn on the happenstance subsequent to the conduct  a bullet landing in one half of a culvert, not the other," she wrote.

Lee Gelernt, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union who argued the case, disagreed with the ruling.

"The gravity of this ruling could not be clearer given the Trump administration"s militarized rhetoric and policies targeting people at the border. Border agents should not have immunity to fatally shoot Mexican teenagers on the other side of the border fence," Gelernt said. "The Constitution does not stop at the border."
U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Robert Abrams on Monday warned that indefinite unpaid leave for Koran USFK staff amid wrangling over cost-sharing could have a negative impact.

"The potential furlough will have a significant impact -- both emotionally and financially -- [on] our Korean national employees," Abrams said in a press release. "It will also have some negative repercussions [for] installation services."

The remarks add further pressure on Seoul ahead of talks Tuesday between the two countries' defense ministers to bow to exorbitant American demands to hike the money Korea pays to keep 28,500 U.S. troops here.

In a separate press release Sunday, the Pentagon warned, "If agreement cannot be reached on a comprehensive new [cost-sharing agreement], it will be necessary to furlough most [Korean] employees on April 1, 2020, and suspend many construction and logistics activities."

Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper are meeting in Washington.
Kathmandu, February 25

A lawmaker of the main opposition party, Nepali Congress, has raised concerns over Prime Minister KP Sharma Olis recent birthday celebration.

Minendra Rijal, speaking in the House of Representatives meeting on Tuesday, said Olis lavishness surpassed celebrations of the monarchs in the past. He said people were disappointed by the prime ministers boastfulness.

A sarcastic Rijal said, I wonder if his house recognised him. It might have thought it was not the same KP, he was already transformed into a new monarch. The house might have felt disrespected by the money of Yeti Holdings and a cake fetched on a helicopter.

He said the former monarchs would envy the prime minister for his birthday celebration was more lavish than theirs.

In another context, he said the recently leaked out audiotape allegedly involving former communications minister Gokul Baskota ridiculed the prime ministers commitment against corruption. The opposition leader urged the PM to express his views in the House about the issue.
Earlier on Tuesday, a spokesman for Mr. Nygard, Ken Frydman, said the fashion executive welcomed the investigation and expected that his name would be cleared. Mr. Frydman accused Mr. Nygards neighbor, the hedge fund founder Louis Bacon, of being behind the litigation and federal raids.

Mr. Nygard is now believed to be in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he started his company and maintains an office.

Federal authorities raided Mr. Nygards home in Marina del Rey on Monday evening. About a dozen investigators in F.B.I. and New York Police jackets worked Tuesday morning at Mr. Nygards corporate headquarters near Times Square in Manhattan, even bringing in a crow bar and a sledgehammer. They spent time on the sixth floor of the building, which he illegally converted into a private apartment with a Jacuzzi, according to a citation from the city in 2013. The headquarters and adjacent flagship store are emblazoned with his name and feature a large picture of him, golden muscles flexing, long gray hair flowing.

Investigators, who spent about five hours in the building, carried out at least eight boxes of materials, including at least one computer hard drive.

It is not the first time Mr. Nygard has been investigated by the federal authorities: The F.B.I. briefly looked at Mr. Nygard in 2015 and 2017 over allegations of sex trafficking. The Department of Homeland Security also investigated Mr. Nygard for nine months starting in 2016. The inquiries sputtered out.

Mr. Nygard was estimated to be worth roughly $750 million in 2014 by Canadian Business magazine. An avowed playboy, he has fathered at least 10 children with eight women. In the Bahamas, he demanded a steady supply of sex partners, six former employees told The Times. The employees said they searched for young women at shops, clubs and restaurants to invite to parties and dinners.

Mr. Nygard called his Bahamian estate the eighth wonder of the world: It featured sculptures of predators like lions and smoke-breathing snakes, a human aquarium where topless women undulated in mermaid tails, and a disco with a stripper pole.
17-year-old high school student Wolf Cukier made a major discovery on the third day of his NASA internship, when he noticed the telltale signs of a distant planet orbiting two stars.

Cukier was viewing data from exoplanet TOI 1338 b , a Saturn-size gas planet that travels in a circumbinary orbit, or around two stars, 1,300 light-years away from our sun, in the constellation Pictor. Cukier spotted the planet using data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), which is tasked with detecting distant planets by spotting when the light from their stellar parents dim as the exoplanets travel in front of the stars, as seen from our perspective. The student's observations mark the first detection of a planet around two stars using TESS data.

Space.com had an opportunity to interview Cukier and hear him share this wonderful story. In speaking with Space.com, the teenager also opened up about how the media attention has made him feel, as well as how young STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) enthusiasts can push through the ''noes'' until they get a ''yes.''

Related: NASA's TESS exoplanet-hunting mission in pictures

Space.com: Have you always been fascinated with astronomy or science in general?

Wolf Cukier: I've probably always been interested in science. My mom is trained as a geologist. She passed that love of science down to me  when I was in middle school, whenever we would get on a plane to go somewhere, my mom would get me a science magazine to read, and I think reading those helped pique my interest even more in science and, in particular, astronomy. And [science] just kind of always has been interesting to me.

Space.com: What kind of science magazines were you reading?

Cukier: I think, usually, like a Scientific American and occasionally National Geographic. [I leaned more] towards the sciency articles in that.

Space.com: When did you know that you wanted to apply for the NASA internship? Can you describe a little bit of what they were proposing to have you do for the internship?

Cukier: As part of my school, I signed up for the science research program, which basically provides a support structure for kids interested in doing research to find a mentor in order to start doing research. So, as part of this program, students are required to find a mentor, like an actual trained scientist or engineer in the field that they're interested in to provide a project and help them through it.

So in order to continue in this program, to do research, I sent emails to various researchers in my field [of interest] throughout the country, and eventually I found someone who referred me to Ravi [Kopparapu, Research Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center] who was my mentor for the summer of 2018 at NASA. And then, this past summer, I was invited back, but Ravi had other travel stuff he had to do. So I worked with Veselin Kostov [Research Scientist at NASA GSFC, SETI Institute] this past summer, [when] the goal was to find one of these planets. And we just happened to find one pretty quickly.

This mosaic of the southern sky combines 208 images taken by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite during its first year of science operations. Visible in this image are the Milky Way, the Orion Nebula (near the top) and the Large Magellanic Cloud (at the center). (Image credit: NASA/MIT/TESS/Ethan Kruse/USRA)

Space.com: Can you talk a little bit more about how the high school mentorship program led to the NASA internship? Did one of your supervisors at the high school have a list of contacts? When you say ''in your field,'' do you mean astronomy or a specific interest (like exoplanet studies) within astronomy?

Cukier: I was specifically looking towards astrobiology. My teachers didn't have a list. They just had a knowledge of what other students in the past [had done] that worked and how to properly send emails, etc., and also how to read the scientific articles, [which is] necessary in order to understand the field.

Space.com: So you looked for people who are experts in astrobiology and then you reached out to them?

Cukier: Yes. So I actually found on my [search] a list of grant recipients, with all their emails. That's what I used as a starting point.

Space.com: And so then, how was that first internship (the 2018 internship) different from the one you did the year after?

Cukier: The 2018 internship was more theoretical astronomy; so it [involved] trying to calculate the Goldilocks, or habitable, zone around binary star systems. So I was updating the climate model that Ravi Kopparapu, my mentor, had already used to develop the single-star habitable zones. And through updating that model, I was able to use it to calculate a habitable zone for planets orbiting two stars.

Space.com: The light curves of stars and star systems dip when there is a transit of a planet or the smaller star. Can you describe what was it [was] about this light curve that caught your attention?

Cukier: I was looking for a circumbinary planet. When we have a binary star and some planet around it, stars generally exhibit (if the planet's such that we would be able to detect it) a phenomenon called an eclipsing binary. So what that is is the series of alternating, or generally alternating, dips [in the light curve].

When the light from the big star is blocked by the light of the small star, there's a large dip. And when the small star is blocked by the big star, there is a small dip. So [when there is also] a planet, we generally see the transit when the planet blocks some of the big star's light. So this planetary transit can look surprisingly similar to the secondary eclipse, because it's a small thing blocking, like, a bright star  They can sometimes look similar, and they did in this case.

I was looking at data from the Planet Hunters TESS citizen science project  it's a project where ordinary people are able to log on to their computers from home and help scientists find planets and classify star systems that TESS has been observing.

This animation shows a transit. A planet can cause a dip in the observed brightness of a star by passing in front of the star from Earth's perspective. (Image credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center)

I was looking through everything that a citizen scientist  any citizen scientist  had flagged as being an eclipsing binary  so going through this has the benefit of it narrow[ing down] my field of search to only two-star systems or generally two-star systems. There may be a couple of false positives in there, but that doesn't really matter.

But there's one trade-off in that it only shows a small segment of the data at once to the citizen scientists, and therefore, I was only able to see a small segment of data from each star. So when I stumbled upon the light curve of what would later be named TOI 1338, I saw a big primary eclipse and almost immediately after  like a day or two [later]  there was a small dip, which I thought was a secondary eclipse...

And when I looked at the full data for the system, the predicted location of the secondary eclipse was not where the small dip on the data I was looking at was. It was about four days later.

So, the fact that the small dip I saw in the data did not match the predicted [dip], based on all the data, meant that what I was looking at was very likely not the secondary eclipse. It was something a lot more interesting than that, and it turned out to be a planet.

Space.com: When you made this realization, what was the next step?

Cukier: My next step was to bring it to my mentor's attention. So it was on like Day 3 of my internship, about Day 1 [or] Day 2 of actually looking through data, and so I was just going through flagging everything that looked somewhat interesting. So I had a spreadsheet of about 100 different targets that my mentor, [Kostov], and I would later look through. But this one was by far the most interesting target.

There were about 10 asterisks next to it on my spreadsheet.

I was looking through the data with Veselin, and we noticed that there was another transit  another dip in the data. And then we looked at an even more complete version of the data from the stars, and we noticed the third transit.

So, having three transits, that was sufficient in order to actually deem it worthy of further study, because we're able to actually make predictions or reasonably gain confidence off three things.

Related: NASA's exoplanet-hunting TESS space telescope moonlights in studying stars

An artist's illustration that shows the concept of the TESS mission. (Image credit: MIT)

Space.com: Talk to me about the experience of being a part of this very public, very popular scientific news story.

Cukier: It's a bit intimidating. And overwhelming. It's kind of weird. I went to the store the other day, and the cashier asked me, ''Were you on the news?'' and [I answered], ''Yes I was!'' That's not an exchange I expected  I never expected it to get this big. I just didn't expect to be recognized as, ''oh, you had your face on the news."

Space.com: Have you shared these feelings with one of your mentors at NASA or your parents? It seems like something that is very unusual for a young person to be on the news as often as you have.

Cukier: Yeah, we're all kind of surprised and overwhelmed at how much this has been taking off. But it is good for science outreach and education to continue doing this.

Space.com: Have you already started the college application process? What are you imagining for your future?

Cukier: I don't know exactly what my future will entail. Research is a very significant possibility. I currently have applications pending at a few colleges. My top three choices are Princeton and Stanford and MIT [the Massachusetts Institute of Technology] ... They all have slightly different pros and cons, and I still need to decide  first I need to get in! I need to decide which ones best suit my interests.

Space.com: What would you say to someone who is maybe a few years younger than you and may be feeling some trepidation about applying to positions at really big places, like big internships with NASA or whatever is their dream?

Cukier: I would tell people to ask. The worst thing that can happen is you get a ''no.'' And I had no idea where I would end up when I started asking people, and I got a few ''noes.'' I got a few people who didn't respond to emails when I started reaching out for internships. And I know some people in my [high school] program got over 100 ''noes,'' but eventually they ended up with a research project that they enjoy and spend time on.

I would just tell people to reach out and don't be afraid of people saying ''no.'' People will say ''no,'' but all you need is one ''yes.''

Editor's Note: This interview was edited for clarity and length.

Follow Doris Elin Urrutia on Twitter @salazar_elin . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook .
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the United States Supreme Court held that a fifteen-year-old Mexican national, standing on Mexican soil and shot by a border patrol agent standing in the United States, does not have Fourth Amendment constitutional protections. Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca, an unarmed teenager, was playing with his friends in a concrete culvert near the U.S./Mexico border when he was shot and killed on June 7, 2010 by U.S. Border Patrol agent, Jesus Mesa, Jr.

Robert C. Hilliard, representing the teenager's family, argued the case before the U.S. Supreme Court on February 21, 2017.

Mr. Hilliard stated:

"In this case, Justice doesn't travel as far as a bullet does. The old adage that 'The Supreme Court isn't last because they're right, they are right because they are last' rings especially true in Sergio's case. To be left with no remedy ("nothing" as Justice Ginsberg notes) given such a violent and unprovoked shooting, weakens the constitutional foundation of America's house."

"Mexican nationals shot and killed for no reason or bad reasonwhile standing in Mexico, by the U.S. Border Patrol in the United States have no redress in U.S. courts. Does it promote a Wild West attitude on our borderwhere accountability depends solely upon internal policy reviewand a "shoot fast" mentality? We will have to wait and see, but I'm not hopeful."

ABOUT HMG http://www.hmglawfirm.com/

Hilliard Martinez Gonzales LLP (HMG) specializes in mass torts, personal injury, product liability, commercial and business litigation, and wrongful death. Hilliard Martinez Gonzales LLP has been successfully representing clients in the United States and Mexico since 1986. Bob Hilliard obtained the Largest Verdict in the country in 2012 and the #1 verdict in Texas, he currently is co-lead counsel in the single biggest litigation in US history, GM's ignition switch defect litigation, currently pending in the Southern District of New York.

SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW WITH BOB HILLIARD

Contact Lauren Gomez at 361-960-3146

SOURCE Hilliard Martinez Gonzales LLP

Related Links

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Vanessa Romito's relationship with Chris Nicholls isn't making fast progress on Married At First Sight.

But it seems they may be heading for trouble, after Vanessa gatecrashed another couple's date during filming on Monday, October 7.

The pharmacy manager, 31, joined Ivan Sarakula and Aleks Markovic for a day out in Cronulla, Sydney, but her 'husband' was nowhere in sight.

Drama ahead? Married At First Sight's Vanessa Romito gatecrashed Ivan Sarakula and Aleks Markovic's date during filming on October 7, but her own 'husband' was nowhere to be seen

Vanessa kept things casual in denim shorts and a blue-and-white striped crop top, and accessorised with flip flops and a cross-body bag.

Meanwhile, Aleks looked chic in an asymmetric white bodysuit with high-waisted black pants and Valentino sandals.

Ivan opted for a more relaxed look in a T-shirt, lightwash denim jeans and sneakers.

Girls' day out! Vanessa (right) kept things casual in denim shorts and a blue-and-white striped crop top, and accessorised with flip flops and a cross-body bag

Designer threads: Meanwhile, Aleks looked chic in an asymmetric white bodysuit with high-waisted black pants and Valentino sandals

Chilled out: Ivan (left) opted for a more relaxed look in a T-shirt, lightwash denim jeans and sneakers. The trio were joined by another man (right), who was possibly a MAFS producer

The trio were joined by another man, dressed in a white T-shirt, black jeans and sunglasses, who was possibly a MAFS producer.

Later on, Aleks and Vanessa enjoyed some alone time without Ivan as they walked around a shopping district together.

Aleks - who, like her 'husband', is a real estate agent - sipped on a takeaway coffee as Vanessa snacked on a bag of mixed nuts.

Out and about: Later on, Aleks and Vanessa enjoyed some alone time without Ivan as they walked around a shopping district together

Who's that guy? Meanwhile, Ivan and the other man went off on their own

Meanwhile, Ivan and the other man went off on their own.

Vanessa and Chris' relationship is rumoured to hit a roadblock on MAFS later this week, which perhaps explains why she wasn't spending time with her husband.

Married At First Sight continues Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine
(Photo : Unsplash)

An uptick in phishing attempts the usage of a fake and badly created Office 365 credentials update form in the guise of Google Docs is taking place, according to a new Cofense report.

Cofense discovered that the phishing emails originated from a compromised automated mail account with privileged access to financial services provider CIM Finance. By the usage of CIM Finance's website to host their phishing emails, the malicious players ensured that their messages could pass necessary email protection checks together with DKIM and SPF.

After creating a shady email account with privileged access to CIM Finance, the perpetrators used the CIM Finance internet site to ship a flow of phishing emails. They are then cleared of the first email protection checks as emails originate from a valid source.

Cyber-criminals utilized Google Docs for phishing campaigns

Cofense's Europe director Dave Mount told SC Media that phishing risk players have long abused cloud services to supply malicious payloads through Google Forms.

"In this campaign and others like it, Google Forms is used to create faux Microsoft login pages to harvest company consumer credentials."

The emails themselves masqueraded as notifications from the IT crew informing recipients that "[updating the user's] Office 365" is needed to prevent the suspension in their accounts. By creating this experience of urgency, nefarious individuals tried to strain recipients into clicking on the "Update Now" button.

ALSO READ: Watch Out For Gmail Phishing Scam, Tricks Users To Give Up Google Credentials

Appearing like a notification from the "IT company team," the email also informs the target that their Office 365 has expired, and it needs to be "up to date" soon. As expected, the targets panic and click on the phishing link, providing their details right into a poor copy of the Microsoft Office 365 login page. The discerning eye can spot the danger here, Cofense's blog wrote.

According to Cofense, the threat actor installed a staged Microsoft form hosted on Google that gives the real SSL certificates to entice give up recipients to believe the users would be connected to a Microsoft page related to their company. "However, [the users] are instead linked to an external website hosted by Google," said Cofense.

"Half the words are capitalized, and letters are replaced with asterisks; examples include the keywords 'email' and 'password.' In addition, when cease users type their credentials, they seem in the simple text in place of asterisks, elevating a red flag. The login page isn't always real. Once the user enters credentials, the records are then forwarded to the threat leads through Google Drive."

ALSO READ: Sophisticated Google Docs Phishing Attack Looks Legit: Here's What To Do If You're A Victim

Impact of said phishing 'tough to track'

The Cofense Phishing Defense Center was alerted by the company's clients about the campaign. However, the reach of this particular marketing campaign is not yet assessed.

According to Mount, the impact of specific campaigns are "tough to track" and is typically not in the purview of Cofense. However, Mount said any credentials harvested by using campaigns like this could cause a widespread compromise or statistics breach.

Cofense has seen hundreds of examples of phishing emails using Google Forms as the payload for harvesting person credentials, said Mount. Other not unusual cloud offerings that are frequently abused via phishing hazard players include OneDrive, Sharepoint.Com, Google Docs, WeTransfer, and Dropbox.

Alerted users could spot such campaigns most of the time

However, alert and aware users can spot such campaigns most of the time, Mount stated.

End-customers, according to Mount, must be able to document suspicious emails to their security teams and to enable them to take suitable action to understand the warning.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
By Bahk Eun-ji



Parents are struggling to find care for their young children after the government ordered all kindergartens, and elementary, middle and high schools to delay their new school year by a week amid the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus. As a result, the spring semester will begin March 9.





A preschool in Seoul has its front door closed after the government recommended all schools nationwide delay opening for the spring semester to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. Korea Times file

Following the measure, an emergency care service for preschool and elementary-age children of working parents has been put in place.



However, while most parents are reluctant to increase the risk of infection by allowing their young children to attend the emergency care service, many face a dilemma as alternative options are limited. This is the first time in Korea's modern history that schools have been ordered to close temporarily to prevent the spread of a virus.



In addition, while preschool and elementary school teachers continue to work as part of the emergency service, school buses have ceased to operate. This leaves parents responsible for taking their children to the institution.



Kim Do-yeon, 35, an office worker and a mother of a three-year-old son, said she had no choice but to ask for help from her parents.



"I'm going to ask my parents to take care of my son until the preschool is open again, but I'm seriously considering whether all family members should take it in turns to take leave if the schools decide to delay their opening for more than a week," Kim said.






Currency and former UK passport printer De la Rue has said it plans to make savings of 35million to improve financial performance, 15million more than its previous target.

The Basingstoke-based firm says the cost-cutting will 'enable it to compete more strongly across all its market segments' and improve profitability at its flagship currency division.

It also wants to 'improve efficiencies' across its manufacturing bases and to boost capabilities at the sites to allow it to be more flexible to adapt to market conditions.

CEO Clive Vacher said the firm was 'on track with the Turnaround Plan, which will deliver significant improvement in the operational and financial performance of the Company

De La Rue is targeting a return to margin growth within its currency division in 2020-21 to coincide with its 200th anniversary helped by the cost savings and investment in polymer notes.

The efficiency savings will form part of a plan to turn around its fortunes, and included the 42million sale of its International Identity Solutions business to focus on its currency and authentication divisions.

CEO Clive Vacher said the firm was 'on track with the turnaround plan, which will deliver significant improvement in the operational and financial performance of the Company.

'The plan drives extensive cost reduction and, in parallel, offers a substantial investment opportunity for growth.'

De La Rue's value took a major blow when it lost the 490million government contract to design the post-Brexit blue passports in May last year. Controversial chief executive Martin Sutherland subsequently announced his departure.

He earned nearly 5million in the five years he oversaw De La Rue, despite overseeing thousands of job cuts and failing to win the blue passport tender.

It has already warned over profits twice in recent months and its half-year results in November showed 12.1million of losses against profits of 7.1million a year earlier.

Bank of England governor Mark Carney announced last year that the new 50 sterling polymer note designed by De La Rue will feature the face of pioneering computer scientist Alan Turing

But on Tuesday it confirmed the group is in line for adjusted operating profit of between 20million and 25million for the year to the end of March, with trading in both its currency and its authentication divisions "satisfactory" so far in the second half of the year.

Since May, its share price has been cut by two-thirds and its debts have risen to 170million. The Georgian-era firm warned in November that if the turnaround plan fails, it would go under.

However, the company says the growth of currencies being made with polymer will help it to turn around its fortunes.

Last week, the Bank of England released the new 20 note, which comes coated with the Safeguard's polymer substrate.

Next year will see the new 50 sterling polymer note designed by De La Rue is due to come out.

It will feature the face of pioneering computer scientist Alan Turing, who was infamously persecuted for his sexuality in the 1950s.

The launch will take place 200 years after its founding by Guernsey-born printer Thomas De La Rue, who started out making straw hats before securing a Royal Warrant from King William IV to produce playing cards with 'certain improvements.'

De La Rue made the burgundy passports for UK citizens, but lost the 490million government contract to design the post-Brexit blue passport, causing its share price to dive

These included making cards with enamel paper, designing colourful court cards of Kings and Queens, and better glazing technology.

His younger brother Paul managed to convince the Tsarist Court in Russia, which was the only body licensed to produce playing cards in the country, to let them manufacture playing cards.

Within a short time, De La Rue's Russian plant was making four million packs of playing cards every year and was the biggest playing card factory in the world.

De La Rue then moved into train tickets, stamps, before the British colony of Mauritius commissioned them to create the five pound, pound and ten shilling notes in 1860, the company's first banknotes.

They later made Christmas cards, developed the Onoto fountain pen, and until recently, was contracted to make UK passports. Currency manufacturing has remained their trademark brand though.

It printed cash for exiled Allied governments during World War II and for Iraq after the toppling of its dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003.

The same year, the struggling firm won the right to run the Bank of England's printing plant.

Today it works with over 140 countries on banknote production, but is also involved in product authentication to stop the illicit goods trade and makes identity cards.

Shares in De La Rue performed strongly this morning, jumping 18.9 per cent to 145.3p.
Police in Dansoman, led by the Divisional Police Commander, ACP Isaac Asante, have seized 105 motorcycles suspected to be used for several criminal activities.

This happened after the Division, on the morning of Sunday, February 23, embarked on an operation to clamp down on the use of motorcycles for criminal activities within the area.

The police, in a communique sighted by citinewsroom.com indicated that the motorcycles are being screened for further action.

Korle-Bu District operation

In a similar drive, Operation Absolute Sanity was embarked upon by the Korle-Bu Division of the Ghana Police Service.

Eighty-five motorcycles and 14 tricycles were impounded in an operation in the Korle-Bu District.

In view of the rampant reports on street robbery, stealing and total disregard for road traffic regulations, the Korle-Bu District Commander DSP Cephas Edzeani, the MTTD Commander and District Crime Officer and personnel including the Community Protection Personnel (CPP) within the Korle-Bu District embarked on the operation exercise.

According to the communique, the exercise was conducted between the hours of 5:30 and 11:30 on Monday morning.

A number of motorists were also arrested for varying road traffic offences and other suspected crimes.

At the end of the exercise, 99 motorcycles and tricycles were impounded for investigation and prosecution.

At Batsoona

Also on Monday around midday, the Baatsonaa Divisional Police Command received information to the effect that a group of unidentified individuals were engaging in drug-related activities in an apartment at Baatsonaa, Spintex Road.

A team of personnel was quickly dispatched to the scene where the team raided the unaddressed house in question but nobody was found therein.

However, a search conducted in the room led to the discovery of 119 small sachets and three big sachets of dried leaves suspected to be Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug.

Also discovered were 51 wraps of whitish rocky substances suspected to be narcotic drugs, among others.

Furthermore, three mens chain necklaces, four wristwatches, 11 unserviceable mobile phones, four laptop computers, and a set of home theatre, all suspected to be stolen properties were discovered.

All the exhibits were retained for investigation whilst efforts are underway to track down other suspects.

citinewsroom
Guwahati/Agartala, Feb 25 : Chief Ministers of northeastern states have reiterated to maintain the funding pattern to 90:10 ratio in all central government sponsored schemes and projects including Smart City projects, officials said on Tuesday.

The demand to revise the funding pattern for all schemes and projects from 50:50 ratio to 90:10 ratio was raised by the chief ministers of northeastern states in the ongoing three-day Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Conclave 2020 in Guwahati.

The NITI Aayog sponsored three-day event, which began on Monday, was attended by chief ministers, officials from the northeastern states, DoNER Minister, officials from central ministries, experts and academicians, representatives from the civil society and international development organisations.

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has demanded revision of existing 50:50 fund sharing pattern to 90:10 for various schemes and projects like Smart City for the northeastern states.

Deb also urged NITI Aayog's support for pursuing central government to sanction more power and sufficient funds to North Eastern Council (NEC) so that each state of the region can get proportionate share of required funding.

The funding pattern of many central government schemes for the special category states including eight northeastern states was in the ratio of 90:10, where 90 percent of the total expenditure was borne by the central government and 10 percent contributed by the state concerned.

However, in many other schemes including Smart City projects, funding pattern is 50 : 50 ratio. There are 11 states in India clubbed under the special status category - the eight northeastern states, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand.

Tripura Chief Minister also said that the NITI Aayog may also provide active support for simplification of sanctioning procedure for the projects taken up under externally aided project (EAP) by reducing the number of clearances required to be obtained from different Ministries in respect of projects taken up in the northeastern states.

"Tripura government is focused to achieve double digit growth of economy of the state and sustain the same in the long run, through concerted efforts to make the state a trading hub and gateway to northeastern states," Deb said.

He said that, export promotion of items like bamboo, rubber, tea, fruits and nuts, value addition of exportable surplus items produced in Tripura like rubber, bamboo, and augmentation of service sector like tourism, hospitality, health care through capacity building and high end skilling would be the key strategies for economic growth.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, his Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang also supported the Tripura Chief Minister's demand for 90:10 funding pattern.

Assam Chief Minister said: "Guwahati would play a crucial role as it is India's gateway to Southeast Asia. Together, with NITI Aayog's support, we would continue our journey in ensuring the prosperity of the region and its people." Union DoNER (Development of North Eastern Region) Minister Jitendra Singh, NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar, CEO Amitabh Kant also spoke in the conclave, being held at the Assam Administrative Staff College.

Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog stressed on the need for mainstreaming the northeastern region in the national development agenda and identification of state specific and region specific priorities as key to SDG localisation.

NITI Aayog CEO said: "India, especially the northeast region, offers unique challenges and opportunities. The solutions need interventions that bring disruptive change and, thus, fostering a tech-embedded development trajectory is of paramount importance." The three-day conclave (February 24-26) focused on the 'Partnership, Cooperation and Development of North East States'.

NITI Aayog has the mandate of overseeing the adoption and monitoring of SDGs at the national and sub-national level. Progress in the northeast region is crucial in this decade of action for the country to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

The Guwahati conclave is part of NITI Aayog's continuous efforts towards fostering partnerships at the sub-national level. In terms of SDG localisation, the states in the region have taken major strides in integrating the "Agenda 2030".
New Delhi, Feb 25 : US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that India and the US will reach a comprehensive agreement on intellectual property rights (IPR).

Trump held official bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day and spoke on a number of subjects, including partnerships in trade, defence and energy.

A comprehensive deal on the IPR front would be a major development as India has slipped to the 40th position on the US Chamber's International IP Index.

The country continues to figure in the US' Priority Watch List that identifies trade barriers to US companies due to IP laws of other countries.

India and the US recently signed an agreement on IPR and the Union Cabinet last week approved a memorandum of understanding with the US on the issue of IPR along with other subjects, including information and broadcasting.

The statement by Trump also came at a time when both the countries are already in negotiations for a trade deal. Both India and the US have said that talks are on for a major trade deal between the two countries.

Addressing the media here, the US President also said that he discussed an energy deal with Prime Minister Modi.

His statement assumes significance as India imports a significant portion of its energy needs from the US, which has only increased in the past few years. The US is the sixth largest oil supplier to India.

Trump also discussed business related issues with India's policy makers and industrialists.

Regarding the current trade relations with India, the US President said that India has the highest tariffs in the world and due to this, business cannot be conducted with it. He added that trade deficit has also been discussed.

On the upcoming Presidential elections in the US where he will be seeking a second term, Trump, a billionaire businessman with investments across the world, said that if he wins, stock markets in America will jump by "thousands and thousands" of points.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has cancelled his visit to Thiruvananthapuram scheduled for Wednesday. The decision to cancel the visit comes against the backdrop of the continuing violence in north-east Delhi that has killed 13 people so far. The Union Home Ministry, however, did not comment or ascribe a reason for the change in Amit Shahs schedule for the day.

Amit Shah had spent most of Monday in Gujarat in connection with the visit of US President Donald Trump to Ahmedabad. He rushed back to Delhi late on Monday evening and held a late-night meeting with top officials of the security establishment that went beyond midnight.

The Home Minister was to reach Delhi late yesterday. However, the special flight flew out hours ahead of the scheduled departure, a senior MHA official who didnt want to be named said.

On Tuesday noon, he reviewed the situation again with Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik. This time, he invited Delhi politicians including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to get them on board with efforts to make a joint effort. At this meeting, Kejriwal reported the feedback that he had received from lawmakers from north-east delhi about the less than adequate presence of police men. And police officers on the ground, Kejriwal complained, were often not equipped or empowered to take decisions and appeared to be waiting for instructions from superiors.

Amit Shah nudged all political parties to work towards and formation of peace committees comprising eminent citizens and political party representatives to reach out to people in the violence-affected parts and neighbouring areas.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also asked all political parties to avoid provocative speeches and statements, the Union Home Ministry said in a statement.

The borders of Delhi with the states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have been under surveillance for the last three days and Delhi Police has been taking adequate steps, like checks and other precautionary measures in view of the upcoming Supreme Court hearing relating to issues pertaining to Citizenship Law, the Home Ministry said in a statement.

Although initial assessments indicated that Delhi Police was outnumbered by the mob, the Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik denied that Delhi police faced a shortage of manpower leading to the riots spiralling out. We have enough manpower and total support of the government, he said.

We have all agreed to rise above politics and ensure the situation is brought under control, Manoj Tiwari Delhi BJP chief who attended the meeting told reporters after the meeting.

Senior Delhi Congress Subash Chopra who attended the meeting said inflammatory statements by political figures triggered the violence. These need to stop if the situation is to be controlled.  Chopra was referring to statements of Delhi BJP leader Kapil Mishra.
A rock spotted by China's Yutu 2 moon rover, with the robot's tracks also visible.

China's Chang'e 4 mission has entered its 15th lunar day of work on the far side of the moon, with both the Chang'e 4 lander and the Yutu 2 rover still in good condition.

The mission made a historic, first-ever landing on the lunar far side in January 2019, and its two surface craft are still going strong, despite the moon's harsh radiation and temperature environment.

Yutu 2 awoke on Feb. 17 following sunrise, with a preset plan to continue driving northwest and then southwest across the floor of Von Karman Crater . Back on Earth, the Yutu 2 drive team has implemented measures such as wearing masks to combat the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

Related: Chang'e 4 in pictures: China's mission to the moon's far side

Image of the surface of Von Karman Crater from Yutu 2, released in February 2020. (Image credit: CNSA/CLEP)

The rover has covered a total of 1,204 feet (367 meters) during the mission, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA) . Yutu 2's predecessor, the Chang'e 3 mission's Yutu rover , lost mobility during its second lunar day. (One lunar day is about two Earth weeks long, as is a lunar night.)

The Chang'e 4 lander, meanwhile, resumed its own activities 13 hours after Yutu 2. Science instruments on both spacecraft are working well, the CNSA said.

Communications between teams in China and the awakening spacecraft on the far side of the moon, which never faces the Earth, were facilitated by the Queqiao relay satellite, which operates in a halo orbit around a special point beyond the moon.

Yutu 2 looks back toward the Chang'e 4 lander in July 2019. (Image credit: CNSA/CLEP)

The solar-powered Chang'e 4 lander and Yutu 2 rover had earlier completed their 14th lunar day of science and exploration on Jan. 31, ahead of sunset over the landing area .

These two spacecraft spent more than two weeks in a dormant state to protect against temperatures that can drop as low as minus 310 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 190 degrees Celsius) during lunar night .

This map by Phil Stooke shows the driving activity of China's Yutu 2 rover on the far side of the moon as of the mission's Day 13. (Image credit: Phil Stooke)

Last month, China released a huge batch of Chang'e 4 data, including amazing high-resolution images from the mission. During lunar Day 13, back in December, Yutu 2 spotted and analyzed what could be rocks much younger than their surroundings .

While Chang'e 4 continues operations and sets records , China is set to launch another ambitious lunar mission late this year. Chang'e 5, a sample-return mission, will collect around 4 lbs. (2 kilograms) of samples from Oceanus Procellarum on the moon's near side before returning to Earth.

Follow Andrew Jones at @AJ_FI . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook .
As Democrats seek to flip a number of competitive Senate seats this November, theyre relying on a network of undisclosed donors to match the GOPs massive funding apparatus. At a time when swearing off so-called dark money is something of a litmus test in the party, at least six races where candidates have the backing of national Democrats are seeing major funding from super PACs, whose donors will not have to be disclosed.

In their longshot bid to take control of the upper chamber, Democrats are focusing on races races in Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Michigan, North Carolina, Maine, Texas, and Kentucky, and are also putting resources toward races in South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has backed candidates in all of those races. The Senate Majority PAC, the largest Democratic super PAC to focus on Senate races, is running ads in a number of those states as well. The PAC, which is aligned with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, announced in February it would partner with another Democratic PAC, Priorities USA Action, to run a multimillion-dollar ad campaign in Arizona, Maine, and North Carolina.

Their efforts are being supplemented by a number of new, smaller, dark-money groups that have spent around $7 million so far on ads in six Senate races. The four state-level groups are linked to one another and to Majority Forward, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit group affiliated with Senate Majority PAC, and they also share a network of Democratic staffers and strategists. The president of Senate Majority PAC, JB Poersch, used to head up both Majority Forward and the DSCC  and remains a close ally of Schumer. He did not respond to requests for comment.

The groups, which are operating in Iowa, Arizona, Colorado, and Maine as 501(c)(4)s, are not required to disclose their donors to the Federal Election Commission, but will have to report top contribution amounts when they file form 990s with the IRS after the 2020 election. Their spending comprises just a fraction of the money put forward by Senate-affiliated groups, but they have dropped a remarkable amount of money for entities that were formed less than a year ago and bill themselves as grassroots groups.

OpenSecrets noted in December that the four state-level groups might be linked to one another. According to state tax records, all four groups used Washington, D.C.-based CT Corporation System as their registered agent, a firm offering agent and incorporation services. In addition, they were all set up around the same time last spring, and share some of the same advisers.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : A petition has been moved in the Delhi High Court seeking independent judicial inquiry, compensation for the deceased and arrest of political leaders for inciting violence in north-east Delhi.

A large swathe of north-east Delhi -- Jaffrabad, Maujpur and Gokulpuri -- remains tense following clashes between pro and anti-CAA groups resulting in the death of seven people, including a head constable.

The petition, filed by activist Harsh Mander has sought arrest of BJP leader Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma and their prosecution in accordance with law.

Additionally, he has requested the court to constitute a Special Investigating Team (SIT) headed by officers from outside the national capital to probe the matter.

It also sought a direction to the Central government to deploy the Army to control law and order situation in the affected areas.

The petition wants a a retired judge to "inquire into communal attacks" and compensation to the families of those killed in the violence.

"For a writ of mandumus, direct the respondents to preserve the evidence and CCTV footage of all cameras in and around the protest site," the plea stated.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Six cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Texas, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The patients are being quarantined at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. The first case involves a traveler who returned to the U.S. on a State Department-chartered flight from Wuhan City, China the epi center of the outbreak. The others were passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined in Japan.

The individuals will remain isolated at medical facilities until they test negative for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, and are no longer at risk of spreading it, the Texas Department of State Health Services said.

The six cases are the only ones in Texas. Health officials said the risk to the public is low as the patients have been under federal quarantine since their return and have not interacted with the public.

The Texas military base is one of four identified by the Department of Defense as possible housing for quarantined coronavirus patients. The DOD is currently housing 198 people at March Air Reserve Base in California and has identified housing support for up to 1,000 additional people.

In addition to Lackland, the other bases tapped as possible quarantine sites are the 168th Regiment, Regional Training Institute in Fort Carson, Colorado; Travis Air Force Base, California; and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California.

Coronavirus evacuees not coming to Alabama

Plan to bring coronavirus evacuees to Alabama cancelled by Trump, lawmakers say
India VIX eases to 16.73

The Nifty February 2020 were at 11,834, a premium of 20.80 points compared with the Nifty's closing of 11,813.20 in the cash market.

Turnover on the National Stock Exchange's & options (F&O) segment was Rs 14.15 lakh crore compared with Rs 12.76 lakh crore reported in the previous session.

In the cash market, the Nifty 50 index was down 16.2 points or 0.14% to 11,813.20.

The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of market's expectation of volatility over the near term, fell 1.54% to 16.7350. A fall 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 52.68 lakh at the 12,000 strike price. Maximum put OI of 34.15 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 0.43%) 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), ICICI Bank and Reliance Industries were the top traded individual stock contracts in F&O segment of NSE.

SBI February 2020 futures were at 328.05, compared with spot closing price of 327.75. ICICI Bank February 2020 futures were at 531.70 compared with spot closing price of 530.90. Reliance Industries February 2020 futures were at 1,423.10, compared with spot closing price of 1420.

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.)
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- It is not uncommon to be fooled by history that is essentially and historically false says Dr. Henry Balogun, author of the new book "Culprit of Division  The Naked Truth." This is not unexpected in light of the self-serving, unyielding, persistent and destructive desire of the privileged few. This mind bending and thought-provoking book challenges everything you've been told and grew up to know as fact about humanity. How much do you know about the very foundation upon which pride is built? Better yet, how much do you know about those who took it upon themselves to color code humanity and rewrite history? Have we all been living and breathing under the assumed "holier-than-thou" attitude created by people whom the author believed are not without dehumanizing and destructive motives?

Book cover

What about things presumed obvious? Is anyone really "white" or really "black?" The author genuinely disagrees. You've got to see what he uncovered and the reason for his disagreement. Once you've taken the time to read the book, you cannot but ask: is any ethnic group qualified to call another ethnic group "people of color"? To say that this book is written to correct erroneous history is an understatement. It exposed what was never revealed about humanity and places our existence on a new height, a new plateau, likely to make some feel betrayed by history. Dr. Balogun did not stop there. He completely reject such phrases as "since slavery" and "skills brought here by slaves" which are nothing but the slogan of the prejudice few weaponized to shame, marginalized, nullify creativities, destroy innovations and ingenuity, thereby lead to denial of media coverage to Africans who are as equally at the forefront of creativity and innovation.

Dr. Balogun meticulously and probably convincingly disagrees with diverse outcome of many of what he called "quasi researches" of the past along with the role of dictionaries, he alleged, are "on steroid" coupled with what he sees as countless nonchalant attitude of those who could have done something but turned their back against humanity. "Culprit of Division  The Naked Truth" challenges historians, legal scholars, theologians and many others in academia and broadcasting. This book is written to reveal a lot about who we are.

Before you react, make sure you read the book over and again, collect whatever you believe are facts, if any, to dispute the author's possibly well-researched and well thought out presentation. This is not the type of book you can react to impulsively, or with anemic, baseless, irrational and emotional rejoinder. It is advisable to read the author's earlier book, "Enemy of The Human Race," by LifeRich Publishing, to understand his thought process.

"Culprit of Division  The Naked Truth" is all about human rights at its best and Dr. Balogun presumably went deeper. He did not hide his resentment and ultimate rejection of some of what we thought were established, settled and carved in stone. He did it without trashing one ethnic group in favor of irrationally uplifting another. Not only that, he concluded with practical, useful and problem-solving suggestions. This is a must-read book for everyone regardless of age and level of education.

Published by iUniverse, "Culprit of Division  The Naked Truth" backed by Bookseller's Return Program is available in Audio Book (coming in a week), eBook and paper back on Audible.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple and Google Play. Preview it for free and obtain your copy. Follow us on twitter @CulpritDivision.

Media Contact:

Henry Balogun

[email protected]

215-704-8223

SOURCE Henry I. Balogun
Los Angeles, Feb 25 : Hollywood star Harrison Ford says he is determined to get 'Indiana Jones 5' just "right".

The team is finetuning pre-production details so that shooting can start, Ford has informed.

"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," the actor told HeyUGuys.com.

The actor who has been playing the iconic Indian Jones over decades now, said he wasn't excited about doing another film in the franchise unless they can "kill it", reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Citing the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he said: "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." The 77-year-old actor is back with a starring role in his new film "The Call Of The Wild", which is based on Jack London's novel of the same name.

"It's very gratifying if it (acting) brings pleasure to the audience. My job is to tell stories and disappear into the character, I don't want to be Harrison Ford, I want to be a character," he said.
There can be no re-occurring increases beyond this year, Superintendent Nikolai Vitti told Detroit public school teachers, whose contract expires June 30. But while the political establishment claims that there is no money to fund public schools, the Detroit-based automakers have received billions of dollars in local tax concessions, even after ten years of record profits.

Vitti threw down the gauntlet as negotiations begin on a new three-year deal between the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) and three unions, the Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT), the Detroit Association of Educational Office Employees (DAEOE) and the Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals (DFP). The unions, with 6,000 members combined, are jointly bargaining for the first time.

However, these contract talks will cover only a portion of teachers in the city. Nearly half of Detroit students attend privately operated but publicly funded charter schools, many of which are for-profit, and almost all of which are nonunion. Former US Secretary of Education under Obama, Arne Duncan, proclaimed Detroit ground zero in school reform, as managers shut schools and turned them into charters.

In 2015-16, Detroit teachers organized rolling wildcat sickouts in defiance of the unions and Democratic Party officials, drawing worldwide attention to filthy, rodent-infested and crumbling classrooms in the city. Organizing independently across social media, the educators also highlighted the years of attacks on educators living standards under various Emergency Managers imposed by both Democrats and Republicans.

Detroit teachers during sickouts in 2016

In 2020, all these problems persist across the 50,000-student district.

Vitti was installed as superintendent in the aftermath of the dissolution of the Detroit Public Schools under Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and US bankruptcy judge Steven Rhodes in 2016, who previously oversaw the 2013 Detroit bankruptcy, where he oversaw massive cuts to public spending. Dubbed the Detroit bankruptcy part 2, the reorganization of the schools into a new district, DPSCD, secured the interests of state bondholders, but left the schools criminally underfunded and without the means to either adequately pay educators or fix decrepit buildings. The unions not only endorsed but campaigned for the treacherous deal.

Salaries are so dire that Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals president Donna Jackson admitted that an increase in the minimum wage to $15 per hour would be a lift. New hires for paraprofessionals are near minimum wage. Its not an attractive salary to try to feed your families, pay for health care, trying to pay bills and a lot of that is being subtracted out. Here, Jackson inadvertently calls attention to the unions abject refusal to fight over decades.

As for first-year teachers in DPSCD, they begin at about $38,000, with a measly $1,000 yearly increase, significantly less than the statewide average, itself notoriously low. With the collapse of funding for education and six straight years of declining average teacher salaries in the state, the number of college students studying to be teachers is down more than 60 percent. Teachers across Michigan also say their healthcare costs are rising faster than salaries.

Chronic teacher shortages mean classrooms are without certified teachers, the use of sometimes inadequate alternative credentials and widespread reliance upon long-term substitutes. Secretaries, clerical staff and paraprofessionals are sometimes called upon to take charge of classes when subs cannot be located. Student education is being systematically downgraded as teachers are voting with their feet and leaving the profession in growing numbers.

With the full support of Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the DPSCD administration is now attempting to tie the fate of city schools to regressive tax millages set to appear on the November ballot. In other words, they are demanding that residents in one of the poorest large cities in America foot the bill for minor school building repairs or a modest salary bump for educators.

For 2020, there are multiple ballot attempts to impose tax hikes in the name of education funding in Detroit:

* A two-mill enhancement millage for Wayne County schools, which previously provided a small pot of money for schools to use for technology, reducing class sizes or fixing buildings. A new state law requires that should the millage pass this year, it will be shared with charter school operations.

It was this millage that Vitti referred to in ruling out pay increases, saying, We have to begin to speak with one voice and provide clarity that there can be no re-occurring increases beyond this year due to the fact that this enhancement millage will have to be renewed.

* By far, the largest regressive tax is an 18-mill operating millage. Since the restructuring of the public school system in 2016, the $70 million generated annually by these millages goes, not to running the schools, but to pay off bondholders debt.

This millage expires December 31, 2022, but August 2020 is the first opportunity by the district to seek voter renewal; if it fails, they will continue to push advertising dollars into generating support. If further attempts fail, bondholders are empowered to seek a judgment against all city residents for payment. The debt is not scheduled to be paid off until 2027, effectively draining the bulk of all education millage money.

* A one-mill tax countywide earmarked for after-school and summer programs across Wayne County has been ruled off the ballot due to a technicality. Nearly 90,000 signatures were submitted to the Wayne County clerks office before the deadline but it will not appear on a March 10 ballot. However, this regressive measure, supported by Democratic Mayor Mike Duggan, Wayne County Executive Warren Evans and the big business-dominated Skillman Foundation, may still be resurrected for the November elections.

Earlier this month, Vitti proposed $25 million for repairing buildings which pose immediate safety-to-life issues. His proposal covers 14 schools with boilers past their life expectancy that have failed in the last two years, 19 buildings with cracked pavement and eight buildings with leaking roofs in classrooms.

This is literally a drop in the bucket, to use Vittis own words: a 2018 facility audit found the district requires more than $500 million to repairs its buildings. This figure is expected to soar to $1.4 billion by 2023. At the time of the audit, 30 percent of buildings were rated unsatisfactory with another 20 percent as poor. In other words, half the school buildings in Detroit have been deemed inadequate.

In addition to pay and working conditions, educators are incensed by overcrowded classes, pervasive standardized testing, a state mandate to hold back third-graders who fail reading tests, and new punitive evaluation policies which include student ratings of teachers.

Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer is pursuing a ban on lunch shaming, or refusal to serve students in the cafeterias whose lunch accounts are in arrears. In some cases, school personnel literally throw lunches in the trash when the student tries to check out. This crisis will now be greatly compounded with the Trump administrations slashing of funds to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

However, this is only a fig leaf designed to conceal her abandonment of pledges for substantial increases to K-12 budgets and universal pre-K. Whitmer proposed only $1 million to address the problem of hungry students. According to Whitmer, schools are to make up the gap through fundraising, but not more than two times as week and by begging for philanthropic donations.

While public education has been cut to the bone, Michigan has provided lavish tax credits to Ford, GM and Fiat Chrysler and other billionaire developers and major corporations over decades. In 2014, the value of GMs tax credits alone was $2.1 billion.

Detroit educators cannot limit themselves to what big business and politicians claim is affordable, but must continue their struggle to fight for what students and teachers need. The WSWS Teacher Newsletter calls on Detroit teachers to form rank-and-file committees, independent of the unions, to organize this struggle. The committees will provide the means to link up with educators in the United States and throughout the world who are engaged in a global strike wave in defense of public education.
UPS accused of banning drivers' prayer meetings, claims there's a 'misunderstanding'

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The United Parcel Service  better known by its initials UPS  is being accused of banning drivers at a shipping center from holding prayer meetings before their shifts. However, the shipping giant contends that a misunderstanding has occurred.

The Christian conservative legal nonprofit Liberty Counsel sent a demand letter to UPS general counsel last week asking that employees at a shipping center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, be allowed to hold prayer meetings on UPS property.

According to the letter, about 40 drivers began gathering every morning in the UPS parking lot for prayer meetings last July before their 9:15 a.m. shifts.

The gatherings were optional and organized by the drivers on their own free will, the letter explains. Over the months, the group grew to as big as 60.

But on Jan. 16, the centers manager is alleged to have told an employee who also serves as a union representative that the group "cannot pray anymore on company property because someone else might feel discriminated against," the letter says.

Four days later, on Jan. 20, the center manager is alleged to have told another driver who serves as a union steward that drivers couldnt pray any longer "on company property because it violates others religious rights."

The following week, the drivers met and did not pray, the demand letter explains. They did announce that anyone who chose to do so could bow their heads in a moment of silence.

On Jan. 27, the demand letter says, a friend of a driver published a widely-shared Facebook post stating that UPS was prohibiting drivers from praying.

After the post was published, several employees who regularly participated in the prayers have been fired for pretextual reasons, according to Liberty Counsel.

The remaining drivers believe these firings are retaliation for the Facebook post that a drivers friend made online about UPSs preventing them from praying and retaliation for the drivers filing grievances against UPS for failing to pay the drivers properly in 2019, the demand letter explains.

UPS Senior Manager of Public Relations Matthew OConnor told The Christian Post that UPS investigated the claims made in Liberty Counsels letter and believes there is a misunderstanding.

We have reached out to them to clarify the situation regarding employees at our site, UPS' OConnor wrote in an email to CP. UPS employees are permitted to assemble before they start work as long as they follow truck yard safety and conduct rules.

OConnor added that no employees were disciplined in connection with the pre-shift prayer assembly.

We look forward to clarifying this situation with Liberty Counsel and our employees at the site, OConnor stressed.

Liberty Counsel demanded a written response from UPS by the close of business Wednesday, assuring that the ban on prayer meetings on UPS property has been revoked and that the drivers who were fired have been reinstated.

Liberty Counsel threatened to take additional action to protect the religious free exercise rights of UPS employees, such as filing complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Liberty Counsel's Communications Director Holly Meade told CP that the law firm held a conference Thursday morning with interested parties. An update on the Thursday meeting and UPS' formal response to the Liberty Counsel's demand letter could not be provided by press time.



Liberty Counsel lawyer Richard Mast argued in the demand letter that UPS violated the rights of its employees guaranteed by Title VIIs prohibition of employment discrimination based on religion.

Employees may voluntarily read the Bible, pray together, or discuss spiritual matters before their shifts begin for the day; during their lunch breaks; or during any other off-the-clock time when they may otherwise read or discuss secular topics, Mast wrote.

An order that employees refrain from praying together under the circumstances described herein by our employee contacts appears to constitute a prima facie case of discrimination on the basis of 'religion,' which is a violation of Title VII."
As we traded decades-old stories from first jobs when men did all the hiring, I wondered whether women were tougher back in the day. Clark at first said yes, and then she clarified that to mean that she and her friends were by training and culture less sensitive to things that would be considered unacceptable today. Perhaps this was a function of having little choice, but Clark didnt think of her experience that way. For whatever reasons, she came to the job steeled for battle and then worked as hard as the boys.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- An Onondaga County judge is ordering an emergency hearing on the eve of a double murder trial after evidence was revealed suggesting a court reporter mistakenly wrote down a confession that never happened.

Lawyers for Treamon and Jazzmin Elmore, siblings accused of a double execution over drugs, asked for the entire indictment to be dismissed over the apparent error. The biggest problem surrounds the testimony of the Elmores younger brother, Brendell, 13, who is the prosecutions star witness at trial.

The official court transcript has Brendell confessing that he shot the dude. But no one believes thats what the brother actually told the grand jury.

In fact, Brendell simply said that he shut the door," according to a revised account of the proceedings.

Prosecutor Shaun Chase, who did not dispute the error, countered that no official transcript is 100 percent accurate. Any mistakes could be addressed simply by fixing the record.

But the Elmores defense lawyers said the revelation calls into question the entire integrity of the judicial system. In court, if a court reporter (or stenographer) doesnt take down whats said, its like it never happened. That transcript, for example, is the only thing that judges rely on in making rulings and deciding appeals.

So an error that has someone confessing to a fatal shooting is a big problem, defense lawyer Ben Coffin argued Monday. How can anything in the grand jury transcript be trusted? How can such a botched transcript be used at trial?

Its the latest bizarre twist in what may be Onondaga Countys oldest homicide case still awaiting trial. The Elmores were indicted in the June 2018 home-invasion murders of Luis Sepulveda, 21, and Christopher McLaurin, 28, inside an Eastwood residence.

Jazzmin Elmore is accused of setting up the murders, with her brother Treamon and their younger brother Brendell actually carrying out the crimes. Prosecutors indicated for the first time Monday that marijuana was believed to be taken during the double murder.

The way the apparent error was caught is equally bizarre: an illegal audio recording was made of the grand proceedings. That recording was later compared to what was written down by the court reporter.

Under law, grand jury proceedings are secret and no audio recordings are allowed. Thats why the official transcript is so important: if its not accurate in the transcript, then it cant be scrutinized later.

And usually, theres no way to tell if theres an error in the transcript. But in this case -- and others recently -- a court reporter accidentally activated an option that saved an audio recording of the proceedings. While illegal, a judge has previously ruled that there was no intent to commit a crime.

Still, that seemed a minor blip because everyone assumed the official transcript was accurate. But prosecutors realized that something was wrong: they flagged Brendells apparent confession, defense lawyers indicated in court.

Brendell had already testified that he carried out the robberies with a broken gun: it had a magazine that didnt work, prosecutor Shaun Chase revealed Monday. Theres no way Brendell could have shot someone.

In fact, prosecutors are counting on Brendell at trial to say that it was his older brother, Treamon, who carried out the shootings as orchestrated by their sister, Jazzmin.

A lawyer representing Brendell Elmore, who sat in the grand jury proceedings, also disputed the official record of his confession, lawyers indicated Monday.

A further review of the official transcript by defense lawyer Coffin found dozens of other small errors, but nothing else so egregious.

Still, Coffin and another defense lawyer, Graeme Spicer, asked the judge to probe the issue further. The case is due to go to trial next Monday.

State Supreme Court Justice Gordon Cuffy ordered everyone back to court Wednesday afternoon for further discussions.

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.
P roperty developer Derwent London on Tuesday toasted a rise in the number of businesses looking to open new offices since the general election.

Chief executive Paul Williams said strong demand suggested rents could rise by as much 4% this year - a far stronger forecast than Derwent has made for the past three years.

Total returns for 2019 came in at 6.6% thanks to a big upward revaluation of the groups new developments. Rental income improved 10.5% to 178 million.

Williams said: We had a number of lettings last year, and sentiment has improved even more. Firms were relieved to see a clear political outcome in December.

He said Derwent felt confident to start building more, including newoffices in Baker Street in 2021.

Last year it let new offices including Soho Place above the Tottenham Court Road Crossrail station to investment firm Apollo.
Norwegian energy giant Equinor has abandoned plans to drill for oil in the Great Australian Bight after months of protests by green activists.

Equinor is axing planned oil exploration in the region for 'commercial reasons' after sustained pressure from activists, the company announced on Tuesday morning.

The company had hoped to tap into the huge multi-billion dollar oil resources in the area, which could have provided 5,000 jobs in South Australia.

Some supporters predicted it could have increased Australia's GDP by $6billion.

The Great Australian Bight (pictured) has been a source of rows between energy companies and environmental activists

They said it had been misrepresented by 'perpetually outraged' green activists, and would have provided a huge boost for the economy.

But environmental campaigners had warned any oil drilling would destroy 'one of the most stunning marine environments in the world'.

Equinor's exploration well was due to be set up about 400km off the SA coast in water deeper than 2.2km - a depth which considered dangerous by activists, and could increase the chance of a spill.

Nearly 3,800km wide, the area is home to sea lions, dolphins, penguins and a huge population of exotic fish.

Around 85 per cent of its species cannot be found anyone else in the world.

Tens of thousands of green activists (pictured at Bondi Beach) protested against Equinor's plans to drill oil in the Great Australian Bight

Equinor is hoped to start drilling in the area by November this year, creating up to 5,000 jobs in the region (stock image)

'Equinor has made it clear this was a commercial decision,' Resources Minister Keith Pitt said.

'I know many will find Equinor's decision not to proceed with this oil exploration project in the Great Australian Bight extremely disappointing, and it is particularly hard for South Australia.

'The Liberals and Nationals Government remains committed to encouraging the safe development of Australia's offshore petroleum resources.

'The Bight Basin remains one of Australia's frontier basins and any proposals for new oil and gas fields in this area will be assessed fairly and independently.'

Two activists protest against the planned drilling in an event at Bondi Beach last year (pictured)

Oil and gas drilling can create thousands of jobs but also comes with environmental risks (stock image)

In December, the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) gave second approval for the project to go ahead.

This means the company would have been allowed to drill 24 hours a day for about 60 days between November and April.

But it has been sensationally pulled, despite drilling due to start as early as November this year.

In a statement, Equinor said that after a 'a holistic review of its exploration portfolio' it decided the project's potential was 'not commercially competitive compared with other exploration opportunities in the company.'.

Activists previously released a map showing what could happen in the event of an oil spill, with material leaking up the east coast as far as Sydney.

Greenpeace made this map (pictured) to show the potential results of an oil spill in the area, but was slammed for 'misrepresenting' the issue

A dead dolphin on the shore of Elmer's Island, Louisiana after an disastrous spill in 2010 (pictured)

Fred Pawle of the Menzies Research Centre wrote an article in the Spectator calling the map an 'illusion'.

He said: 'The response from the perpetually outraged has been to misinterpret a map of the area that would be affected by a spill, share it extensively on social media and invite people to send their objections.

'The illustration looks scary but thankfully it is an illusion.'

Pawle went on to back the drilling project, citing research that oil in the Bight could produce up to six billion barrels by 2060 and create up to 5,000 jobs in Australia.

He said this activity would 'increase Australia's GDP by $6 billion to $19 billion per year.'

An exhausted oil-covered brown pelican tries to climb over an oil containment boom along after a catastrophic oil spill in Mexico in 2010 (pictured)

Drilling the Bight is not new - 13 wells have been drilled since 1972, the most recent in 2006.

But protesters said that the 2km depth of the ocean - 750m deeper than the Gulf of Mexico - and notoriously stormy conditions make the project potentially dangerous.

Their concerns came after the Deep Water Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.

More than three million barrels of oil were spilled into the ocean, killing 10 people and thousands of animals in the world's worst oil spill which had a clean up bill of $25 billion.

It isn't the first time a major energy company has pulled out of planned explorations of the Great Australian Bight.

In 2016, BP abandoned plans to drill the bight, with Chevron doing the same in 2017.

But in December, both companies committed $116.5 million to oil and gas exploration, with at least half to be directed to projects in South Australia.

'This investment will help tap the immense promise of South Australia's resources sector driving job creation, investment and royalties,' South Australian Minister for Energy Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan said at the time.

'Australia's offshore oil and gas policy ensures companies who commit to a program of exploration deliver on their investment commitments.'

Both companies now have three years to conduct the exploration work, with BP to spend $40.6 million by October 2022 and Chevron to invest $75.9 million by September 2022.
Poultry farmers in the Greater Accra Region have appealed to the government to expedite investigations into the bacteria-infested gizzard brought into the country and sanction the importers involved.

The appeal follows a revelation by officials of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) last week that they had intercepted a 40-footer container of salmonella-infested gizzard at the Tema Port after receiving a tip-off from authorities in Brazil, where the gizzard was imported from by two Ghanaian food import companies.

The importers, however, were able to clear three out of four of the containers ahead of the undercover work that threw light on their activities and succeeded in getting the products onto the market.

The Greater Accra Poultry Farmers Association (GAPFA), which made the call, has since 2019 advocated strict regulation on importation of poultry products and also campaigned for local consumption of poultry and for support from the government to empower local poultry farmers.

Condemnation

The President of GAPFA, Mr Michael Nyarko Ampem, in an interview, condemned the importation of the bacteria-infested gizzard and said the persons behind it must be brought to book since the health and safety of Ghanaians were at risk.

He reiterated the associations call for the government to institute a regulated quota system that would limit about 80 per cent of poultry products imported into Ghana annually.

A well-structured quota system with market availability, he said, would encourage local poultry producers to fill the gap and produce enough poultry products to feed the public.

If these gizzards were produced locally, it would have been easier for the authorities to trace the producers and demand accountability. It becomes difficult to trace the culprits of the imported product, Mr Nyarko Ampem said.

No import permit

Confirming the incident, the Director of Veterinary Services at MoFA, Dr Kwabena Asiedu-Baah, said: We traced and found out that indeed the importers had taken out three containers and sold the unwholesome products to the public.

Dr Asiedu-Baah said it was unfortunate that the veterinary service was not included in the inspection of animal products imported into the country, even though they had the expertise to check all such products before they were allowed into the country.

He said consuming the infested gizzards could have dire consequences on human health, especially children and older persons above 60 years.

MoFA officials have indicated that the container found with the contaminated gizzard was part of four containers of unwholesome poultry products belonging to Perez Frozen Foods and Perfect God Enterprise.

The ministry also found that the companies allegedly imported the products without import permits and veterinary health certificates.

MoFA has since filed a complaint with the Bureau of National Investigations and made arrangements to destroy the remaining container with the unwholesome product.

---graphic.com.gh
In her sixty-plus years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II has dealt with a lot. From droves of Prime Ministers, through tumultuous times across the globe, and scandals and deaths within her own family, at 93-years-old, there isnt much the queen hasnt dealt with.

Still, though she knew Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex had been struggling in the spotlight  Megxit came as quite a shock to the Sovereign Monarch. Apparently, Prince Harry was unable to speak with his grandmother prior to announcing Megxit, so the queen found out like the rest of us.

Now, the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes final month as senior working members of the British Royal family is approaching and their April 1, 2020 transition date cant come quickly enough.

Royal fans think Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are being disrespectful toward Queen Elizabeth

Though she was shocked by the news of Megxit  the queen has done her best to meet Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex halfway. However, she is asking them to remove the name royal from their brand  forcing them to rebrand altogether.

The Sussexes have agreed to comply with the queens wishes. However, they are not pleased about it. While there is not any jurisdiction by The Monarchy or Cabinet Office over the use of the word Royal overseas, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use Sussex Royal or any iteration of the word Royal in any territory (either within the UK or otherwise) when the transition occurs Spring 2020, they said in a recent statement regarding Megxit. Now, royal fans believe Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are being disrespectful.

The statements underlying message is they are very, very unhappy with this arrangement, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun. It was completely unnecessary. Imay 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. 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.

Queen Elizabeth may think Megixt is temporary

In some ways, it appears that Queen Elizabeth believes Megxit is just a phase for the Sussexes. The terms of Megxit will be reevaluated by the remaining senior members of the royal family in one year. For now, it looks more like a trial separation.

Also, the prince will keep his titles, retain his place in line for the throne and the royals even have a plan in case the Sussexes come back. They are making contingency plans in case the Sussexes suddenly turn round and say: Can we come back under your wing?  an insider told The Sunday Times. You could bring them back to Frogmore to look after them. They wouldnt return to royal duties, but they could have a period of rehabilitation and recuperation.

The queen is done thinking about Megxit

For now  Queen Elizabeth is beyond over Megxit. She generally doesnt want to talk about it, Vanity Fair is reporting.  it. 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 doesnt want to think about it anymore, she just wants it over and done with.

We just hope that the queen drawing the line in the sand for Sussex Royal doesnt sour the Sussexes and the British royal familys relationship completely.
Hyderabad: A couple from Hyderabad, Divya Avula, 34, and her husband Raja Gavini, 41, were among three persons who were killed in Frisco of Texas state in the US in a car accident on late on Sunday. A third person, identified as Premnath Ramanatham, 42, was also killed in the accident.

The couple leaves behind an eight-year-old daughter. The family is from Gandhinagar of Musheerabad in the city.

An inconsolable Akula Gautam Buddha, father of Divya, told some mediapersons on Tuesday here that his daughter and son-in-law were travelling in their car, accompanied by their friend, after they dropped the eight-year-old at a dance class when the accident occurred.

A report in Frisco Entreprise, a local media outlet that quoted the local police, said the crash involving the car and a pickup truck, occurred at approximately 6.40 pm Sunday local time.

The initial investigation, the report said citing a Frisco Police press release, showed that a black Ford F-150 was travelling northbound on FM 423 road and struck a black Acura that was attempting to make a turn from southbound FM 423 to eastbound Del Webb.

The Frisco Enterprise reported that according to witnesses on scene, the northbound FM 423 traffic had a green signal light, and southbound left-turn traffic had a flashing yellow arrow at the time of the crash.

The driver and two passengers of the Acura were pronounced dead at the scene. The juvenile driver of the Ford was transported to a local hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries, the report said. The identity of the juvenile truck driver was not released by the police.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 13:23:54|Editor: Liu

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The United States and South Korea are weighing scaling back upcoming joint military exercises due to growing concerns over the novel coronavirus outbreak, said U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Monday.

Esper made the remark at a joint press conference with visiting South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo at the Pentagon.

The Pentagon chief said the two sides "are looking at scaling back the command post training due to concerns about the coronavirus."

Echoing Esper's remarks, Jeong said the combined exercises may have to be "curtailed."

South Korea confirmed 60 more cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, raising the total number of infections to 893. The country raised its four-tier virus alert to the highest "red" level on Sunday.
A DINER at a top Belfast restaurant allegedly found a live beetle in their meal, Sunday Life can reveal.

A council inspector called to AM:PM on Upper Arthur Street after the customer alerted staff to the insect in their meal last October - and found more beetles in the kitchen.

During his visit three days after the incident, he found a number of live beetles under upturned trays where raw vegetables were stored in the kitchen area.

The details were revealed in a Freedom of Information request by Sunday Life to the city council's City and Neighbourhood Services Department.

It revealed that during a follow up inspection in November "nothing had been done with regard to the issue" and they found beetles in two other locations in the kitchen.

The inspector also found a "significant number of adult and larvae under a wall coving piece that had become detached from the wall".

However, after this visit significant cleaning was carried out and in a further visit "no evidence of an ongoing infestation" was found.

The inspection resulted in the restaurant being given a two out of five on the food hygiene rating system, commonly known as Scores on the Doors.

In a letter sent to the restaurant the council told the owners they should "review your procedures to ensure you are more proactive in responding to such complaints".

It added: "Some simple checks after you were initially made aware that you may have had a problem (when the complainant first made the complaint) could have averted much of this issue."

The explanation for downgrading its rating stated the "fact you were made aware of a complaint on October 26 and again at my visit on October 29 yet did not react to the issue until my further visit on November 4 affects your rating under 'Confidence in Management'."

The rating of two out of five means "improvement is necessary" with food hygiene rated as "good" but structural compliance deemed to be "poor" with "some" confidence in management.

Eamon McCusker, manager of AM:PM, told Sunday Life: "It was an anomaly which was addressed when it came to our attention.

"We have requested a rescore and we are confident we will get a five."

The restaurant was established in 2002 and bills itself and having an "intimate, unique cutting edge ambiance" and is "known for its combination of unique, original, incomparable, quirky decor, ambiance and cuisine". On its website it is described as having "exceptional service, sumptuous food".
A heated exchange took place between the US president and CNN journalist Jim Acosta at a press conference here on Tuesday after Donald Trump raised questions over the integrity of the TV network. After Acosta asked Trump if he would pledge to reject any foreign interference in the upcoming presidential polls and also questioned his move to appoint a new acting Director of National Intelligence who apparently does not have any intelligence experience, the US president said he does not want any help from any country and hasn't been given help from any country.

Trump also spoke of an 'apology' CNN reportedly made recently for reporting false information.

Acosta shot back,"Mr President, I think that our record on delivering the truth is a lot better than yours sometimes, if you don't mind me stating."

Continuing the verbal sparring, Trump said, "Let me tell you about your record. Your record is so bad you ought to be ashamed of yourself."

"I'm not ashamed of anything and our organisation is not ashamed," retorted Acosta.

The US president also accused the CNN of having the worst record in broadcasting.

Acosta and Trump have clashed numerous times in the past.

The White House in 2018 had suspended Acosta's press pass after a heated exchange during a presidential news conference, barring him from the White House.

The Trump administration went on to suspend Acosta's White House pass, but it was reinstated by a judge after the network sued the White House.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump met at the Hyderabad House here on Tuesday and posed for a handshake. The US President said, "The last two days, especially yesterday at the stadium, it was a great honour for me."

Appreciating PM Modi's population, Trump said, "People were there maybe more for you (PM Modi) than for me. 125 thousand people were inside. Every time I mentioned you, they cheered more. People love you here."

The Prime Minister said, "I welcome you (President Donald Trump) and the US delegation to India. I know that you are busy these days, still, you took out time for the visit to India. I am grateful to you for this."

During his two-day maiden official visit to India, the US President is accompanying a 12 member delegation, which comprises US National Security Advisor Robert O`Brien, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette, Trump`s daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law 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.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and planted a sapling at the memorial of India's Father of the Nation.

"The American people stand strongly with a sovereign and wonderful India -The vision of the great Mahatma -- This is a tremendous honour!" Trump wrote in the visitors book at Rajghat. The First Lady also signed the message.

The US president and the first lady laid a wreath and paid floral tributes at Rajghat. The Trumps reached Rajghat after a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
WEST HAVEN  The University of New Haven recommended Tuesday that students and faculty at its Tuscan campus return to the United States due to the evolving threat of the coronavirus in Europe.

President Steven H. Kaplan, a letter to the school community, said the institution would help students, faculty and staff who choose to return make it back to the United States in the coming days.

Our main concern is ensuring the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our campus community. We also want to ensure a smooth transition back to the United States for students who wish to return from Prato and limit the disruption this has on our students current academic pursuits, Kaplan said.

Those individuals will be required to return to their homes until the schools spring break concludes March 22, at which time they will either have the chance to return to Tuscany or continue the spring semester in West Haven, he said.

The school will do our best to provide resources to students who decide to remain in Italy, Kaplan said.

Kaplan said the recommendation was made following consultation with the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Consulate, the Italian Educational Ministry, the Italian Department of Civil Protection, Italian health authorities, and the Association of American College and University Programs in Italy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an alert for those considering traveling to Italy, suggesting that they take enhanced precautions.

Older people and people with chronic medical conditions should consider postponing nonessential travel to Italy, CDC officials said.

Doug Whiting, associate vice president for marketing and relations at UNH, said approximately 80 university students currently are studying at its Tuscan campus.

According to the New York Times, 322 cases of coronavirus were reported in Italy as of Tuesday, up from 229 the day prior, including in Tuscany.

The virus has infected nearly 80,000 people in 37 countries and caused at least 2,600 deaths, including 10 reported in Italy, according to the Times.

The strain of coronavirus sickening people in Italy and other countries is known as COVID-19.

According to Yale University, coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause respiratory illnesses such as the common cold, and more severe illnesses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 25, 2020 10:07 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2066629d3 1 City Nuclear,radioactive,BATAN,radioactive-waste,Bapeten,radiation,South-Tangerang Free

A joint team from the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten) and the National Police has discovered illegally owned radioactive substances in a house in the Batan Indah housing complex in South Tangerang, Banten.

The radioactive sources contain caesium-137 and other radioactive isotopes, Bapeten spokesperson Indra Gunawan said in a press release on Monday.

Indra said the team would further investigate the matter to ascertain whether the illegally owned substances were linked to the recent discovery of caesium-137 radioactive waste in the complex.

Bapeten first detected high levels of radiation in the Batan Indah complex during a routine check at the end of January. Between Feb. 7 and Feb. 8, a joint Bapeten and National Nuclear Energy Agency (Batan) team discovered several radioactive fragments in a vacant lot next to a volleyball court in the housing complex.

The fragments contained caesium-137, which is commonly used for industrial purposes.

It could be a bright spot for the case [..]. Bapeten is committed to ensuring the safety and security of the community and the environment in this incident, Indra said.

He added that the polices crime investigation unit had secured evidence found in the house and put up police tape to support the further investigation. Police were also interviewing the owners of the house. (syk)


By Mark Leonard





BERLIN  After the United Kingdom voted in 2016 to leave the European Union, policymakers and political leaders across Europe feared that they, too, would soon face a similar crisis.



They worried about a domino effect in which populist movements and politicians would lead other member states out of the EU one by one, effectively reversing a decades-long process of European integration.



But, at least until recently, Brexit had the opposite effect. Much to everyone's surprise, the EU in the years after the U.K.'s referendum enjoyed a Brexit dividend. Europeans watched the U.K. descend into political chaos, with Britons literally stockpiling food and medicine for fear of what the future might hold.



EU member states that typically agree on very little suddenly found themselves united behind the European Commission's negotiating strategy. Support for the EU among Europeans soared. The new joke was that thanks to U.S. President Donald Trump and Brexit, America and Britain had saved the Europeans from themselves for the third time in a century.



But, rather than averting an EU-wide crisis, the Brexit dividend may have merely deferred an inevitable reckoning. In speaking with European presidents, prime ministers, and foreign ministers at this year's Munich Security Conference, one could detect a palpable fear that the costs of Brexit would soon start to outweigh the benefits. Many national politicians and EU-level policymakers are now worried that the dividend will become a liability.



Having reached an agreement on the transition period, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government finds itself in the strange position of being able to claim that it "got Brexit done" without actually having made any of the sacrifices necessary for leaving the EU.



Until Dec. 31, 2020, British companies will continue to have full access to the EU single market, Britain will remain in the customs union, and British citizens will be able to travel freely across Europe.



So far, then, the real-world costs of Brexit have been essentially nil. Hence, on the day after Britain's formal withdrawal from the EU, the pro-Brexit journalist Daniel Hannan could gloat on Twitter that: "One day in and so far: No food riots / No medicine shortages / No gridlocked motorways / No migrant camps in Kent / No collapse in house prices / No emergency tax rises / No world war / Weren't we told that 'It's not Project Fear, it's Project Reality'?"



With a massive 80-seat parliamentary majority, Johnson has been able to present himself as more statesman-like and dynamic than his European counterparts, many of whom are dealing with political crises of their own.



In Germany, the two biggest political parties are in the grips of an ongoing psychodrama, owing to challenges from the Greens on the left and the Alternative for Germany on the (far) right.



In France, President Emmanuel Macron is pursuing a difficult pension reform, and will likely have his nose bloodied in local elections next month. Spain and Italy, meanwhile, have weak and divided governments.



Moreover, Johnson is preparing a populist economic-policy package, complete with fiscal stimulus and Trump-like handouts to favored constituencies. The hope is to engineer an economic upswing that will position the U.K. to outperform the eurozone, at least in the short term.



If the gambit succeeds, populist parties in other EU member states will once again see Britain as a model (rather than a cautionary tale) for their own Euroskeptic causes.



Making matters worse, European leaders will now find it much more difficult to maintain the impressive level of intra-EU unity achieved by Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, during the first phase of the talks.



Once the EU begins to negotiate the details of a trade and investment deal with the U.K., the divergent economic models and security needs of northern, southern, eastern, and western member states will be much harder to reconcile. Johnson's government, embracing the role of Perfidious Albion, will not hesitate to exploit these divisions.



And yet, there can be no doubt that Brexit will hasten the U.K.'s decline in the medium and long term, leaving the country poorer, more insecure, and less influential than it otherwise would have been.



Although the transition has been designed specifically to avoid a cliff edge or a single moment of crisis, it will inevitably be remembered as a period of missed opportunities for slowing Britain's steady slide into middling provincialism.



For now, though, this decline will be obscured by Johnson's infectious bonhomie and public grandstanding, touting the political benefits of Brexit while ignoring the looming costs of leaving the single market.



In the next round of talks, worries French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, the U.K. and the EU will be trying to "rip each other apart."



Whereas Johnson's political fate rests on making Brexit look like a cost-free success, the EU's interests run in exactly the other direction. The worse Brexit looks, the easier it will be to fend off Euroskeptic challenges from within the EU.



European leaders are now weaving a new narrative to show that Britain will suffer from its decision. Even with so many other mounting crises  from trade and technology wars to climate change and the re-emergence of the Islamic State  the need to convince European voters that Brexit was a bad idea is once again rising to existential importance.





Mark Leonard is director of the European Council on Foreign Relations. His article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org).


Partnership with Ellie Mae dedicated to streamlining and automating the valuation portion of loan origination

RENO, NV / ACCESSWIRE / Febuary 25, 2020 / Clear Capital today announced that it is a platinum sponsor/exhibitor of Ellie Mae Experience 2020. The annual conference will be held March 23-25, 2020 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, California. This year's conference theme, "Driving Innovation Home" encourages attendees to learn about the latest technologies defining the mortgage industry while offering training, solutions, and networking to improve compliance, loan quality, and efficiency.

Clear Capital is the premier provider of modern real estate valuations, analytics, and technology solutions. The company maintains critical information on nearly every U.S. metro, neighborhood, and property, and its solutions are used by some of the nation's largest financial institutions including mortgage lenders, investment banks, and credit unions.

Clear Capital has recently grown its partnership with Ellie Mae with a dedicated focus on streamlining and automating the valuation portion of loan origination. Through Clear Capital's relationship with Ellie Mae, valuations can help drive value earlier in the process through increased transparency. By providing added benefits to the lending ecosystem, lenders can take a more efficient approach when originating and funding a loan.

"We truly value our ongoing work with Ellie Mae and view the platinum sponsorship as a direct reflection of our growing partnership together," said Kenon Chen, executive vice president of corporate strategy at Clear Capital. "We are excited by the growth of our partnership with Ellie Mae and look forward to the numerous, upcoming initiatives that will help transform the way valuations are integrated into the lending process."

Ellie Mae Experience 2020 will bring together 2,500 mortgage industry professionals for three days of specialized tracks, breakout sessions, training, networking, and keynotes. To learn more about Ellie Mae Experience 2020, visit http://experience.elliemae.com.

About Clear Capital:

Clear Capital is pioneering the future of real estate valuation, analytics, and platform technology solutions. Powered by its nearly 50 years worth of information on nearly every U.S. metro, neighborhood, and property, Clear Capital's solutions are trusted by the smallest community credit unions and the nation's largest financial institutions alike. Clear Capital is headquartered in Reno-Tahoe, Nevada with a team of nearly 600 nationwide, dedicated to going wherever it leads, and doing whatever it takes. Discover more at ClearCapital.com.

PR Contact:

Adam Gerber

Caliber Corporate Advisers for Clear Capital

917-985-6630 ext. 09

adam@calibercorporateadvisers.com

SOURCE: Clear Capital

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/577556/Clear-Capital-Named-Ellie-Mae-Experience-2020-Platinum-SponsorExhibitor
Jules Evans in Aeon:

When I was a teenager, I came across Aldous Huxleys The Perennial Philosophy (1945). I was so inspired by its array of mystical jewels that, like a magpie, I stole it from my schools library. I still have that copy, sitting beside me. Next, I devoured his book The Doors of Perception (1954), and secretly converted to psychedelic mysticism. It was thanks to Huxley that I refused to get confirmed, thanks to him that my friends and I spent our adolescence trying to storm heaven on LSD, with mixed results. Huxleys Perennial Philosophy has stayed with me through my life. Hes been my spirit-grandad. And yet, in the past few years, as Ive researched his life, I find myself increasingly arguing with Grandad. What if his philosophy isnt true?

The phrase perennial philosophy was first coined by the Renaissance humanist Agostino Steuco in 1540. It referred to the idea that there is a core of shared wisdom in all religions, and to the attempt by Marsilio Ficinos Neoplatonist school to synthesise that wisdom into one transcultural philosophy. This philosophy, writes Huxley, is immemorial and universal. Rudiments of the perennial philosophy may be found among the traditionary lore of primitive peoples in every region of the world, and in its fully developed forms it has a place in every one of the higher religions. As Huxley argues, there is a lot of agreement between proponents of classical theism in Platonic, Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Jewish philosophy over three main points: God is unconditioned eternal Being, our consciousness is a reflection or spark of that, and we can find our flourishing or bliss in the realisation of this. But what about Buddhisms theory of anatta, or no self? Huxley suggests that the Buddha meant the ordinary ego doesnt exist, but there is still an unconditioned essence (which is arguably true of some forms of Buddhism but not others). I suspect scholars of Taoism would object to equating the Tao with the God of classical theism. As for the traditional lore of primitive peoples, Im sure Huxley didnt know enough to say.

Still, one can see striking similarities in the mystical ideas and practices of the main religious traditions. The common goal is to overcome the ego and awaken to reality. Ordinary egocentric reality is considered to be a trancelike succession of automatic impulses and attachments. The path to awakening involves daily training in contemplation, recollection, non-attachment, charity and love. When one has achieved total selflessness, one realises the true nature of reality. There are different paths up the mystic mountain, but Huxley suggests that the peak experience is the same in all traditions: a wordless, imageless encounter with the Pure Light of the divine.

More here.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Patrols were directed to a jewelry store in the vicinity of Maho on Saturday night, February 22th 2020, at approximately 08:45 pm for an armed robbery that had just taken place.

According to the information gathered on the scene, two men dressed in black and armed with weapons entered the store and began destroying the glass cases to access the jewelry.

After robbing the establishment of its jewels, the suspects fled in a vehicle in the direction of Mullet-Bay. A search was carried out by the patrols in the area of Mullet-bay for the vehicle and the suspects but without the desired result.

The Sint Maarten Police Force is fully aware of the video that has been circulating regarding the robbery and is requesting any information from persons who may have seen or recognize the suspects connected to this investigation, please do not hesitate. See something; Say something; share something, it can help save a life.

The more the community comes together to assist in the combat against these crimes the faster the robber(s) can be apprehended.

The Special Unite Robbery (SUR) can be contacted via phone at 542-2222 ext 203 204 205, the anonymous tip line # 9300 or persons with information can also send a private message via our Facebook Page- Police Force of Sint Maarten - Korps Politie Sint Maarten or website https://www.policesxm.sx/ 24/7.

KPSM Press Release.
UPDATE: Cops issued 25 tickets during raucous car meet that popped up in Jersey Shore town

For the second time in as many months, another seemingly impromptu car meet took over streets along Belmars beachfront Monday night, catching residents and the towns police off-guard.

The area along Ocean Avenue surrounding 8th Avenue was inundated with vehicles and attendees of the latest car meet.

Busy night for Belmar PD. A pop up car rally last night in Belmar on a Monday night did not go over well with residents, according to a local resident who runs the Belmar Beach NJ page on Facebook.

A social media video showed a rowdy crowd yelling around one car bouncing on hydraulics and the poster complained that police broke up the meet. Another video showed dozens of people crowded around the front of the Belmar 7-Eleven with a stream of cars circling and revving engines.

In the past, a group known as New Jersey Automotive Events has advertised about meets in several locations on their Facebook and Instagram accounts. The meets, typically held in shopping center parking lots after the stores close, often feature vintage or souped-up vehicles, loud music and can draw hundreds of people.

Please be respectful. No burnouts, the group typically will state in their promotions.

Cars line Ocean Avenue in Belmar for the latest "Pop Up Car Meet."Bill McKim

Such events are often organized in the summer months, like Belmar Cruise Nights sponsored in August 2019 by the boroughs business partnership. But in winter, the meets often annoy residents and catch police by surprise, particularly on week nights.

Belmar police on Tuesday did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last month, the police department said a Jan. 11 meet occurred about 8 p.m. on Ocean Avenue.

The Borough of Belmar and the Police Department were not aware of the event and that the meet would take place on Ocean Avenue at 8:00 p.m., police said in a statement on Facebook. Within 20 minutes, the entire beach front was filled with vehicles participating in this event."

That meet caused severe congestion and resulted in police writing several tickets for a range of violations, including the boroughs noise ordinance, according to published reports. Its unclear if any summonses were issued Monday night.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Pakistan's Punjab government on Tuesday decided



not to extend the bail granted on medical grounds to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who is currently in London for treatment, according to media reports.

Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat said the Punjab Cabinet decided that there was "no legal, moral or medical basis without any concrete proof" for the further extension of the bail to the 70-year-old leader.

Amid bickering between the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party and Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the three-time prime minister left for London for medical treatment on November 19, 2019.

On December 23, he sought an extension in his stay abroad on the expiry of the four-week period granted by the Lahore High Court. Following this, the Punjab government constituted a four-member committee to decide on it and sought fresh medical reports to make an "informed decision".

Addressing a press conference alongside other members of the Punjab Cabinet, including provincial health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, Basharat said: "The committee has decided that Nawaz Sharif's bail can't be extended further."



He explained that the Lahore High Court order said Sharif was granted bail for eight weeks. However, a further eight weeks had passed since then as discussions were underway, the minister said.

"Till the Punjab government had not made a decision, this bail was to be automatically extended, therefore it was extended for 16 weeks," he said.

After the passage of 16 weeks, Basharat said the provincial government wanted to be informed about developments regarding Sharif's health on the basis of which a decision to extend his bail could be made.

"Till today he (Nawaz) has not been admitted in any hospital in London," Basharat said, adding that nothing specific had been shared with the government regarding the PML-N supremo's health.

Basharat said the Punjab government would now share its decision with the federal government, which will decide on the matter.

In January, a picture of Sharif at a London restaurant along with some members of his family had surfaced on social media, raising questions about the condition of the former premier's health.

Following this, on January 15, the Punjab government rejected Sharif's medical reports which had been submitted on December 23.

Once again on January 30, the Punjab government asked Sharif to submit fresh medical reports so that a decision on his request seeking more time abroad could be made.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President Donald Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, on Tuesday, visited Raj Ghat here and paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi. They also laid a wreath at the Gandhi samadhi.

Trump also wrote in the visitor's book at Raj Ghat. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri was seen standing beside him.

Trump and the First Lady also planted a tree at Raj Ghat.

Earlier, US President and the First Lady arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhavan for ceremonial welcome, where they were greeted by President Ram Nath Kovind, his wife and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A guard of honour was presented to the US President at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Later in the day, Trump will go to Hyderabad House for bilateral talks.
A bitterly divided federal appeals court upheld the Trump administrations rules Monday that prohibit recipients of U.S. family planning funds from referring any of their 4 million low-income patients for abortions and require separate physical facilities for abortion services. Those mandates have already driven Planned Parenthood out of the program.

The regulations, in effect since June, are a reasonable interpretation of laws that ban most federal funding for abortions, and do not interfere with womens access to health care or with physicians duty to give accurate medical information, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said in a 7-4 ruling.

The Supreme Court has ruled that a states decision not to subsidize abortion on the same basis as other procedures does not impose a burden on women, even those who  through no fault of the government  could not afford abortions on their own, Judge Sandra Ikuta said in the majority opinion. She said the new rules were simply intended to ensure government funds are not spent for an unauthorized purpose.

In dissent, Judge Richard Paez described the regulations as a gag rule that muzzles doctors, harms patients, and violates a 1996 law requiring federally funded pregnancy counseling to be nondirective. Women and their families will suffer for it, he said.

The majority consisted entirely of appointees of Republican presidents  including Eric Miller and Kenneth Lee, both appointed by President Trump  and all of the dissenters were Democratic appointees. Although the Ninth Circuit, long one of the nations most liberal appeals courts, still has a 16-13 Democratic majority, Trumps 10 appointees have shifted the balance and increased the likelihood that random selection would produce a panel like the one that ruled Monday.

The ruling also makes it likely that Trumps restrictions on the Title X family-planning program will remain in force, at least until he leaves office. Judges in California, Oregon and Washington state had all blocked the rules, in suits by California, other states and abortion-rights advocates, but all three injunctions were lifted by the appeals court last year.

This is a devastating decision for the millions of low-income patients who rely on the Title X program to receive comprehensive, quality sexual and reproductive health care, said Julie Rabinovitz, president of Essential Access Health, which distributes Title X funds in California. She said the regulations have already caused a 40% drop in the 1 million Californians formerly served by the program.

Katie McHugh, spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, said the regulations are not a gag rule, but were designed so that more women and men are provided services that help them consider and achieve both their short-term and long-term family-planning needs.

Title X has prohibited nearly all federal funding for abortion since it was enacted in 1970. California and 15 other states provide their own funding for poor womens abortions.

The federal program provided $286 million this year for birth control and reproductive care to low-income patients, mostly women, including screenings for breast and cervical cancer and sexually transmitted diseases.

Under the new regulations, doctors can discuss all options with pregnant patients at their clinics but must refer them only to prenatal care, not to abortion providers. They can give patients a list of providers in the area, including up to half who offer abortions, but cannot identify the abortion providers. And federally funded family-planning providers must place their abortion clinics in separate facilities from Title X offices.

Planned Parenthood, the largest provider of services under Title X and the only provider available in many rural areas, withdrew from the program after the rules took effect.

Ikuta, in the majority opinion, noted that the regulations were similar to rules adopted in 1988 under President Ronald Reagan and upheld by the Supreme Court before being repealed by President Bill Clintons administration in 2000. Although Congress in 1996 required Title X counseling to be nondirective, Ikuta said the law does not mandate presentation of all possible medical options, including abortion, but simply a neutral discussion of various options.

The regulations require referral to prenatal care because such care is medically necessary for a pregnant client, even one who wants an abortion, Ikuta said. She also said the restrictions do not violate a provision of the 2010 federal health care law that prohibits government interference with access to medical care, because the rules do not prevent women from obtaining abortions on their own.

The requirement to physically separate Title X facilities and abortion clinics was a reasonable step to minimize the appearance that the government is funding abortion, Ikuta said.

Paez, in dissent, said the rules interfere with health care and with clinics ability to offer abortions and require a doctor to refer an unwilling patient to prenatal care, while gagging her doctor from referring her for abortion or even from telling her which local clinics provide abortions.

Referring to the Clinton administrations 2000 regulations that Trump repealed, Paez said the court majority disregards 20 years of progress, insistent on hauling the paternalism of the past into the present.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he had discussed his countrys planned peace deal with the Afghan Taliban with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India would like to see it happen.

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo told reporters that a partial truce in Afghanistan between the Taliban, American and Afghan forces is holding despite insurgent attacks and US strikes against the Islamic State.

The Taliban, US and Afghan forces have committed to a partial, week-long truce, only the second such lull in fighting since 2001. If the truce holds, the US and the Taliban are expected to sign a deal in Doha on Saturday that would see thousands of American troops leave Afghanistan after more than 18 years.

I spoke with Prime Minister Modi today and I think they [India] would very much like to see it happen and were pretty close, Trump told a news conference hours after holding talks with Modi when he was asked about Indias security concerns regarding the proposed deal.

Though the Taliban are expected to offer various security commitments to the US, the Indian side harbours deep suspicions about the terrorist group because of its deep and long-standing links to Pakistans security establishment. Trump, however, appeared optimistic. He said, Weve got two days now under our belt without violence, or I guess a minimum of violence, and well see what happens. But people want to see it.

The US is trying very hard to bring its troop levels in Afghanistan down to 8,600 and from there, well make a decision as to what the final outcome would be, he said.

Were really serving not as a military force but as a police force, and were not a police force, they [Afghans] have to police their own country, he said.

Even after a possible troop drawdown, the US will maintain a presence in Afghanistan. Well always have intelligence, they will have other things there, but for the most part, wed like to bring them back home, Trump said. Were going to watch the area, [which] is a hotbed of problems and when we bring them home, well let them know that if something happens, we will hit them so hard.

Trump reiterated his contention that he could easily win the war in Afghanistan if I wanted to kill millions of people, but added he didnt want to do that. So lets see what happens, so far so good, he said.

New Delhi also has concerns about the Talibans inclusion in any future dispensation in Kabul without any assurances from the group that it will give up violence and retain the constitutional structures that have been built over the past 18 years with the assistance of countries such as India.
A mysterious sea creature has left beachgoers scratching their heads after it washed ashore in Western Australia.

An image of the gelatinous yellow sea monster was posted to Facebook after being found at Leighton Beach, south of Perth on Monday.

Locals were quick to raise the alarm when the image was published, identifying the animal as a 'dog-killer' with venom known to be toxic to man's best friend.

When the image was first shared, the creature was jokingly referred to as an 'alien looking thing'.

A mysterious sea creature (pictured) has left beachgoers scratching their heads after it washed ashore in Western Australia

'ID on this alien looking thing that washed on Leighton Beach,' the beachgoer wrote.

But scientists soon weighed in and the animal was identified as a Sea Hare, Yahoo News reported.

The Sea Hare is actually a common occurrence in Australian waters, and the species which is usually around 20 centimetres long can grow to a whopping 14kg.

The creature has next to no predators because of its toxic slime and camouflage abilities.

The toxicity is actually released in the form of a purple ink when the animal feels threatened.

The gelatinous yellow creature washed ashore at Leighton Beach, south of Perth (pictured)

Associate Professor Culum Brown from Macquarie University told Australian Geographic this can be deadly for pet dogs.

'The trouble with dogs is they go up and lick them and sometimes they eat them, too, and as soon as they go in your mouth, if they're super toxic, then they can cause spasms,' Professor Brown said.

But he told Yahoo the creatures don't always pose a risk to pets.

'They are mildly toxic ... depending on the algae they have been eating,' Professor Brown said.

The Sea Hare is actually a common occurrence in Australian waters, and the species which is usually around 20 centimetres long can grow to a whopping 14kg (stock image)

But Swans Veterinary Services associate veterinarian Dr Joshua Ovens told the Esperance Express urgent vet care should be sought if anyone suspects their dog has come into contact with a Sea Hare.

'In terms of clinical signs, if your dog has licked or eaten one, they'll tend to drool excessively, they can get muscle spasms and begin shaking, vomiting and it can progress to seizures and possible death if they get a really large dosage,' he said.

His comments followed the discovery of six toxic Sea Hares on beaches across Esperance in Western Australia in early 2018.
The company appears in the ranking for the tenth time and is the only Brazilian organisation featured in the list of 132 companies from 21 countries with the best ethical practices

SAO PAULO, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Natura has been recognised as one of the most ethical companies in the world in 2020 by the Ethisphere Institute, global leader in the definition of standards for ethical business practices. The only Brazilian organisation on the list of 132 companies from 21 countries, Natura is featured for the tenth time in the Health & Beauty category.

"Our vision of ethics goes beyond compliance with norms and legislation. It is a responsibility that permeates all levels of the company and our relations with different audiences", states Joao Paulo Ferreira, CEO of Natura &Co Latin America. "After ten years of recognition, we reaffirm our commitment to best governance practices and integrity in our actions, agendas inherent to sustainable development", he adds.

"I would like to congratulate everyone at Natura for achieving this recognition. It is time to recognise that the organisations which adopt a long-term vision, with a purpose-driven strategy, not only exceed expectations, but also last longer", said Ethisphere executive director Timothy Erblich.

The classification of the most ethical companies in the world is based on the Ethisphere Institute's Ethics Quotient (EQ) structure, a quantitative methodology for measuring a company's performance in an objective, standardised way. The evaluation process with more than 200 questions serves as an operational structure for capturing and codifying organisations' leadership practices in all sectors worldwide. Inclusion in the list depends on the score achieved in five main categories: ethics and compliance programme, an ethics culture, citizenship and corporate responsibility, governance and leadership and reputation.

The full list of the most ethical companies in the world in 2020 may be accessed at https://worldsmostethicalcompanies.com.

About Natura

Established in 1969, Natura is a Brazilian multinational in the cosmetics and personal care segment. Market leader in direct sales in Brazil, with over 1.7 million Beauty Consultants, Natura is part of the Natura &Co group, a corporate brand that brings together Natura, Avon, Aesop and The Body Shop. Natura was the first publicly-traded company in the world to receive a B Corp certification in December 2014, underscoring its transparent and sustainable social, environmental and economic performance. It is also the first Brazilian company to be awarded the "Leaping Bunny" certification, granted by the animal protection organisation Cruelty Free International, which certifies a company's commitment to not test its products or ingredients on animals. It has operations in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the US, France, Mexico, Peru and Malaysia. Products bearing the Natura brand can be purchased from Natura Beauty Consultants, through Natura's e-commerce, the Natura App or in stores in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, New York, Santiago Buenos Aires and Kuala Lumpur. For more information about the company, visit www.naturabrasil.com and its profiles on the following social networks: LinkedIn,? Facebook and Instagram.



About the Ethisphere Institute

The Ethisphere Institute is the global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices that fuel corporate character, marketplace trust and business success. Ethisphere has deep expertise in measuring and defining core ethics standards using data-driven insights that help companies enhance corporate character and measure and improve culture. Ethisphere honors superior achievement through its World's Most Ethical Companies recognition program and provides a community of industry experts with the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA). More information about Ethisphere can be found at: https://ethisphere.com.
By PTI

LUCKNOW: Kuldeep Singh Sengar, expelled from the BJP last year, has been disqualified from the membership of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, following his conviction in a rape case. According to a notification issued in this connection, Sengar, who was elected from Bangarmau constituency in Unnao, has been disqualified as per the rules following his conviction by a Delhi court.

The Delhi court had pronounced its verdict of life imprisonment on December 20, 2019 and Sengar has been deemed disqualified from that date, it said. His Bangarmau seat in Unnao district has been declared vacant from that date, the notification said.

Sengar, a four-term MLA, was expelled by the BJP in August 2019 following furore after his name cropped up in a rape case. The case hit the headlines after the victim attempted self-immolation outside the chief minister's residence in April 2017 when the police did not take action on her complaint.

The victim's father, who had been arrested by the police, had died in police custody two days later, after he was beaten up in the lock-up by Sengar's brother, Atul Sengar. The case was later handed over to the CBI and Kuldeep Sengar, his brother Atul and others were arrested.
M icrochips maker Graphcore today said it was mulling a stock-market float after raising a fresh 116 million from investors.

The funding round, which values the company at 1.5 billion, attracted new backers, including fund management giant Baillie Gifford as well as Mayfair Equity Partners and M&G Investments. Graphcore hired Goldman Sachs to bring in the new investors.

Chief executive Nigel Toon, left, said there was no timetable for an IPO but admitted that at some point the companys backers would want an exit.

Toon, who has previously been damning about UK investor attitudes towards technology, refused to say if a float would take place in London or the US.

These are long-term backers that typically invest in public markets. There will be an IPO further down the line but no timetable is in place, he said.

Toon, who founded the company in 2016, said Graphcore would use the fresh capital to improve and develop chips designed for artificial intelligence software.

Demand for high-powered chips is booming as tech giants look to fill data centres with artificial intelligence-capable hardware. Chips designed by Graphcore are already being used by Microsoft for its cloud business.

Troubled Revolut also raised a fresh 387 million, making it the UKs most valuable tech start-up.
HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's Liberal government is opening the spending taps for roads and hospitals as economic growth is projected to flatten in what could be an election year.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Finance Minister Karen Casey briefs reporters on the Nova Scotia provincial budget for 2019-2020 at the legislature in Halifax on Tuesday, March 26, 2019. Nova Scotia's Liberal government is expected to table its fifth consecutive balanced budget today, in what opposition leaders believe is a portend of a possible early election call later this year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's Liberal government is opening the spending taps for roads and hospitals as economic growth is projected to flatten in what could be an election year.

The 2020-21 provincial budget tabled Tuesday features $11.5 billion in spending with a modest surplus of $55 million and a record-setting capital plan of just over $1 billion for school building, highway twinning and hospital renovations and redevelopment.

The government is also adding $54.3 million to the Community Services Department budget, mainly aimed at increasing access to child benefits and raising the limits for housing expenses in welfare programs.

Finance Minister Karen Casey said in her budget speech that a strong economy, fuelled by a rising population, means the time has come to share the province's prosperity.

"As a new decade begins, Nova Scotians can be optimistic," she said.

"We have worked hard together to get the province in a position where we can provide investments and support to all of our communities and to all of our citizens."

However, her high hopes come amid projections of a major hit to the economy with the closure of the Northern Pulp mill in Pictou County. The Finance Department says the decline in forestry will deprive the province of $32 million in personal and corporate taxes this year.

Last year's economic growth, which at just under two per cent was the highest in the past decade, is projected to plummet in 2020 to 0.4 per cent.

The province is also saying it doesn't yet know what the impact of the new coronavirus may have in areas such as seafood exports to Asia.

Finance Minister Karen Casey heads to table the Nova Scotia provincial budget for 2020-2021 after briefing reporters at the legislature in Halifax on Tuesday, February 25, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Provincial finance officials are projecting that rising immigration and a generally healthy economy in areas such as shipbuilding and ongoing provincial capital projects will help offset the impact of the mill closure.

Still, the higher spending on infrastructure means the province has had to reverse course on reducing its debt-to-GDP ratio in the next four years.

The Liberals now foresee a gradual rise in the province's net debt, from this year's projection of $15.7 billion to $17.8 billion in three years.

Premier Stephen McNeil said the infrastructure spending is not connected to the mill closure.

"Those decisions were made prior to the outcome of Northern Pulp, but they certainly will continue to drive and help provide support and economic opportunity for the citizens of our province," he said.

McNeil also brushed aside questions about an election in the offing later this year, calling it a concern more for the media and opposition parties.

However, both opposition leaders called the budget a pre-election document, saying that it provides "too little, too late" for areas of need.

Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Houston noted that a lot of the spending was thanks to continuing yearly increases in federal transfer payments.

A steady series of increases in equalization payments have helped keep the Liberal government in the black, as the revenues from Ottawa are projected to be over $2 billion  up 10.5 per cent compared with 2019-20's budget.

"Nova Scotia is not in the great shape that the government will have you believe," Houston said. "The economy is slowing right down and could easily contract this year. When you think of the risks on the horizon, with the coronavirus and ... the impact of the Northern Pulp closure, there are huge headwinds before this province."

The second-term Liberals are approaching the third anniversary of their current mandate, but their majority could be narrowed due to the recent resignation of a backbencher from caucus after he was charged with impaired driving, and two byelections in March.

If an election does come later this year or in 2021, McNeil will have a number of spending initiatives to point to.

The budget confirms a recent series of announcements on capital spending for schools and hospitals, and there is $385 million for Nova Scotias roads, highways and bridges.

Businesses are receiving a previously announced tax break with a reduction in the corporate and small business taxes at a combined cost to the province of just over $80-million.

NDP Leader Gary Burrill called the move a "banquet feast" for business while noting there was relatively little in the budget for people who are in need.

"After years in which the province has really been starved for social spending, now on the front porch of an election we have all these crumbs being tossed in all different directions," said Burrill. "It's a little bit little and it's a whole lot late."

One exception to the province's trend to decreasing taxes is coming for smokers and people who use vaping devices, with the province saying the aim is to reduce use.

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As of Sept. 15, the government will tax about 50 cents per millilitre for vaping liquids and 20 per cent of the retail value of all vaping devices, with $2.3 million in revenues in this year. The annual take is expected to be about $4.3 million.

Many typical vaping devices hold slightly less than a millilitre of fuel, meaning the tax on a package of four would total about $1.50.

There is also a two per cent tax increase on cigarettes, along with hikes in taxes on cigars and other forms of tobacco.

New spending was also announced for people with disabilities, with $7.4 million to help them move from larger institutions into homes with four or fewer residents.

This comes in the wake of a high profile human rights decision ruling the province was discriminating against three people with intellectual disabilities who were forced to live in a psychiatric hospital due to the lack of smaller homes.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 25, 2020.
It is easy to believe the United States future will include less international trade. U.S. President Donald Trump insists other countries import more from the United States or face high tariffs, and his top Democratic critics basically just quibble with the details. But a better path is already being forged, thanks to last months United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. With USMCA, the United States can quickly move forward on trade with up to half-a-dozen countries, a process which has already started.

The deal was a political winner, passing with enormous bipartisan support. Because it governs trade with our two biggest partners, it is comprehensive enough to be the template for negotiations with everyone else. While far from perfect, the agreements problems stem primarily from the U.S.-Mexico relationship. Most of its imperfections can be fixed or avoided in negotiations with other countries. Further, Trade Promotion Authority is in effect through at least June 2021. This mandates an up-or-down Congressional vote on trade deals, which makes passing them much easier.

During this year, it is possible to finish free trade agreements with the United Kingdom and Kenya and to upgrade existing deals with Israel and possibly Jordan. If Switzerland and Taiwan are willing to use the USMCA as a basis, as they have suggested, those talks could also rapidly progress.

USMCA Setting the Stage

Trade agreements make sense when they allow countries do more of what they do best, exploiting their comparative advantage. The United States leads the global economy in agriculture, innovation and most services. The USMCA scorecard on this is decent, though not ideal. Because all three participants are competitive farm exporters, they were willing to accept more open trade than most farm importers. USMCA agriculture terms are an ambitious target for others, requiring for example harmonization of health and safety guidelines among the partners.

For innovation, a key driver is the protection of intellectual property. There is a legitimate debate over how much to protect intellectual property here, but protection around the global is clearly too weak. IP-intensive sectors employ tens of millions of Americans, pay better salaries than other sectors and generate hundreds of billions of dollars in annual exports. The USMCA is solid on intellectual property, for instance in extending the core principle of national treatment to copyrights. It breaks new ground in protecting trade secrets, for example by including penalties even against government officials for abetting loss of trade secrets.

The services outcome is mediocre. Services comprise the bulk of American gross domestic product, and the United States runs the worlds largest services trade surplus, nearly $250 billion in 2019. Trade deals cannot help most Americans without liberalizing services. While the principles laid out in the USMCA are fine, Mexicos non-conforming measures with those principles are extensive, particularly in transportation and finance, leaving little in new gains for the United States.

Related to all three areas of comparative advantage is perhaps the best element of USMCA: guarantees for open digital trade. The growth of e-commerce, which passed half a trillion dollars in global trade in 2018, gives world governments incentives to tax and regulate, which would blunt American competitiveness in any product or service provided at least in part electronically. Chapter 19 of the USMCA sharply limits this kind of government interference.

There is a set of issues best described as trade irritants. The most important in the USMCA itself mixes automobiles and labor. The Trump administration hiked the North American content requirement for vehicles to qualify for low trade barriers, creating more of an auto bloc. House Democrats added a wage floor for auto workers. Both were aimed chiefly at Mexico.

Important to both USMCA and future agreements is a sunset clause, which schedules reviews of the terms and opens the possibility of revision or of withdrawal with notice. While this has drawn criticism, trade agreements, like all laws, benefit from re-examination and updating. If public opinion shifts, it is not helpful to insist an unpopular trade agreement be maintained indefinitely.

Another, partial review can be triggered if a USMCA party starts trade talks with a non-market economy such as China. USMCA is weak on state-owned enterprises, missing the fact that such firms never fail due to competition and thus unavoidably block foreign goods and services. The clause on non-market partners can lock out countries which abuse state ownership.

A final trade irritant does not matter in USMCA but can elsewhere: exchange rate policy. Canada and Mexico are rarely accused of currency manipulation, and prohibitions of manipulation remain vague in the treaty. But currency manipulation can cause trade deficits, and President Trump, Senator Bernie Sanders, and others believe trade deficits cost jobs and cannot be allowed to rise further.

Whos Next?

One free trade agreement passed with overwhelming support plainly makes the next one easier, but a more subtle advantage of USMCA is that most partners have less baggage than Mexico. They are either rich economies with higher wages, or small economies that matter less to the United States. Examining key USMCA outcomes and Americas most likely partners makes clear that at least three free trade agreements can be wrapped this year, with progress possible on several more.

Earlier this month, President Trump disclosed talks with Kenya, which could lead to the United States first free trade agreement with a sub-Saharan African country. Its a low-risk deal with potentially large benefits, if only in the longer term. Annual imports from Kenya have yet to reach $700 million - no agreement with Kenya will affect the American economy. This minimizes concerns over currency manipulation and the like, allowing the United States to immediately offer Kenya unhindered market access. In addition, the size of Kenyas economy simplifies negotiations.

Benefits would come from establishing precedents for economies at Kenyas development stage to slowly improve protection of intellectual property; open digital trade; and expand agriculture and services access in phases. The two sides should move quickly on one issue among these where Kenya is most comfortable. The bigger goal, of course, is other African countries finding the agreement attractive, in which case mutual U.S.-Africa gains could soar over the course of the 2020s. A review clause would be entirely appropriate, given that both sides hope for rapid Kenyan development.

The most discussed potential FTA partner is the United Kingdom. While London must consider its evolving relationship with the European Union, an Anglo-American deal will strengthen the British negotiating position with Europe and build business confidence. Annual economic gains for the United States are again limited, in this case because bilateral trade is already open. But the United Kingdom will not only effectively expand the USMCA, it will do so on more liberalizing terms.

In particular, because the United Kingdom needs fewer exceptions, services will be improved over USMCA and far better than the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which was overrun with non-conforming measures. The importance of services alone makes an Anglo-American FTA worthwhile. The UK will be a valuable signatory to the digital trade framework, and there is no issue with labor practices. All of this could also be said of fellow EU outsider Switzerland, but that country has a deal in place with China. The biggest barrier to a Swiss goal of an FTA with the United States is ensuring Chinese-owned firms like Syngenta cannot engage in non-market behavior, a difficult topic that needs addressing.

Thats two entirely feasible free trade agreements and a long-shot third. What has been overlooked is more upgrades of older deals. The oldest American free trade agreement is with Israel, and it is badly out of date. It was signed 35 years ago, and Israel now is a very different economy, a technology center with roughly seven times the level of personal income it had in 1985. A review clause then would have led to quicker and broader liberalization now. A modernized U.S.-Israel free trade agreement could be done in a few months and will be, among other things, a useful step for global IP protection.

As with Kenya, however, the bigger gains would come from potential regional expansion. The existing American free trade agreement with Jordan is 19 years old. If politics do not intrude, it is easy to improve. (There is also a deal with Oman.) Other small Gulf states, such as Kuwait, could follow as long as state control of the energy sector is accepted at the outset. As a group, these countries will be large-scale agriculture importers indefinitely - natural partners for the United States.

A final opportunity lies on Taiwan. It has a deep economic relationship with China that will demand complex negotiations. It risks charges of currency manipulation and auto-parts import barriers. But Taiwanese labor practices are sound, and the auto issue with Taiwan is easier than Mexico. Despite a tiny population and complaints about access, Taiwan is already a top 10 buyer for American farmers without an FTA. As much as any partner, the USMCA template opens the door for Taiwan to meet U.S. trade standards.

Beyond 2020

Deals with Kenya, Britain, and Israel can be finished and pass Congress this year. With Trump or most Democrats, Taiwan and others have time to pursue an American FTA. With a President Sanders, time may run out. However, Congress will not permit renegotiation of USMCA, and it seems unlikely that even Sanders would oppose free trade agreements with small partners in Africa and the Middle East featuring labor and environment rules approved overwhelmingly by Democrats. The trade door is largely open.

The views expressed are the author's own.
Former Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has called for the reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), days after a Remo Stars player identified as Kazeem Tiyamiyu (Kaka) was allegedly killed by some operatives of the security outfit deployed to Sagamu-Abeokuta road.

In his tweet, the former Vice President stated that the reform of the Nigeria Police especially the SARS unit, is long overdue. He added that the police was created to protect the life and property of citizens and not to put them into harms way.

Atiku tweeted;

The reform of the Nigeria Police, especially the SARS unit, is long overdue. The@PoliceNG is meant to protect the life and property of our citizens and not to put them into harms way. -AA

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Linkedin Joe Jackson (Agence France-Presse) London  Tue, February 25, 2020 08:03 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206656334 2 Entertainment Alexis-Ffrench,pianist Free

British composer and pianist Alexis Ffrench, a rising black star in the overwhelmingly white world of classical music, is on a mission "to change the narrative" that the genre is stuffy and outdated.

The 48-year-old, who is set to release his latest album next month, is trying to counter what he sees as a false perception by using his fresh take on the music and growing status to reach new audiences.

Ffrench's 2018 hit record "Evolution" propelled him to wider recognition after topping Britain's classical music charts for three weeks and spending around three months in the top 10.

He now boasts nearly two million regular listeners on Spotify and has to date garnered around 200 million streams online, while also hosting a weekly show on new classical music digital station Scala Radio.

"Classical music is under-represented in certain echelons of society, no doubt about that," he told AFP during a practice session this week at legendary piano-maker Steinway and Sons' central London store.

"I'm determined to use whatever profile, influence, I can to help young people who are certainly disadvantaged in one way or another," he added.

Ffrench was poised to dash from the interview to London's famous Abbey Road studios to continue working with a group of British youngsters not typically identified with classical music.

The scheme is a collaboration between his record label Sony and the Prince's Trust, a charity helping people aged 11 to 30 get into jobs, education and training.

Ffrench, who will embark on a European tour in April, also uses his radio show to "talk about classical music in a new and exciting ways" and play music sometimes only loosely inspired by the traditions of the genre.

"I talk about Childish Gambino and all manner of hip hop artists and what classical music can learn from that," he added, referring to the US rapper Donald Glover.

"I think my duty is to change the narrative."

'Soulful sensibility'

Ffrench, whose parents emigrated from Jamaica as teenagers, actually trod an orthodox path to a classical music career from the family home in suburban Surrey, southwest of London.

He trained at the Purcell School -- Britain's oldest specialist music school -- before moving on the renowned Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal Academy.

Despite his classical training, Ffrench sees his compositions as a synthesis of many styles, with classical music "in the DNA".

He draws on the influence of childhood favorites such as Stevie Wonder and Bob Marley as well as classical greats like Mozart and Beethoven.

"It's classical music, but it's imbued with this kind of soulful sensibility," he explained.

For his latest album "Dreamland", which he describes as a collection of "lyrical piano songs", Ffrench took inspiration from fans sharing on social media how his music had helped them deal with their life struggles.

"What I wanted to do with 'Dreamland' is create a body of music which acted as a place of solace or an oasis of calm that people could retreat to and, in a sense, just stop, listen and breathe," he said.

Read also: Indonesian pianist among winners at Kennedy Center young soloists competition

'I played the table'

Ffrench, who is married with two teenage children and lives in the British countryside, credits his disciplinarian father in particular with instilling in him a drive to succeed.

A jet engineer who left Jamaica aged 16 and eventually worked for Britain's Royal Air Force, his dad instituted a schedule of early starts, regular exercise, church-going and academic rigour in his three children.

"It's about the idea of being better today than you were yesterday," Ffrench recalled warmly of his "old-fashioned" upbringing.

Although "quite autocratic", his father was a music lover and often had records playing in the family home, meaning music flowed through Ffrench's ears from the earliest age.

"Before I had a piano, I played the table because I could hear the music and I thought: 'I'll play this'," he recalled.

Before long, he was playing the organ in church -- including at weddings, to the amazement of some couples -- and well on his way to some of the country's top music schools.

It is this access to opportunities that Ffrench is now eager to replicate for others less fortunate.

"I had teachers who never put limitations on what you could do," he said. "I was really grateful for that."
Bengaluru: The confrontation between anti and pro-CAA protesters in Karnataka has intensified with two BJP state leaders on Tuesday threatening to kill freedom fighter and Gandhian, H.S. Doreswamy and CPI leader Kanhaiah Kumar for opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Former Union minister and BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, known for his controversial statements in the past, made a scathing attack on Doreswamy and termed him a Pakistan agent.

He also expressed the wish that Doreswamy should better die for opposing the implementation of CAA.

Even at 101, Doreswamy has been raising his voice against the anti-people policies of both the state government and the Centre. He was often critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government but leaders cutting across party lines including BJP leaders had taken his suggestions and advice in the past. Till date, no leader had dared to criticize or condemn Doreswamy but now Yatnals scathing remarks are sure to embarrass the BJP.

Yatnal made the shocking statement at a pro- CAA protest rally in Vijayapura district on Tuesday. People like Doreswamy and others are giving pro-Pakistan statement, he is an agent of Pakistan. Such people do not deserve to live in the country and they better die soon, Yatnal remarked.

In another incident, former BJP MLC, Narayana S. Bandge, threatened to kill CPI leader and former student union leader of JNU Kanhaiya Kumar.

Attending a pro-CAA protest at Bagalkote here on Tuesday, Bandge said, there is no place for anti-nationals in the country. Police have not taken any action against those who support Pakistan. If I had an AK-47 rifle, I would have finished Kumar, such anti-nationals should be killed, Bandge remarked at the protest.

During both incidents, police remained mute spectators and did not do anything to stop these two BJP leaders from giving scathing remarks.
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A stronger east coast presence makes sense in light of increased CPA firm and customer relationshipsAUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / February 25, 2020 / Cloud based CAS (Client Accounting Services) provider, Complete Controller(R) announces the opening of two new east coast offices in Raleigh, North Carolina and New York City, New York. The company originated in Southern California, moved its corporate headquarters to Austin, Texas in 2018 and provides services to a nationwide market."Recently, we have experienced an increase in CPA firm and SME relationships on the eastern seaboard and we need to have a presence in that geographic market," says Jennifer Brazer, Founder and CEO. "Specifically, New York offers us access to new relationships in the city as well as Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Jersey where new CPA firms and service partners have recently adopted us as their CAS partner or turnkey CAS solution." Complete Controller operates entirely in the cloud, with all customers, CPAs, and staff members interfacing with the bookkeeping, financial document storage, and integrated back office programs and services on a proprietary platform. Its CAS platform provides a unified place for all financial tools as well as stakeholder access for true transparency. It offers that platform in white label for CPA firms that want to turnkey a standardized CAS department. It also offers bookkeeping services for CPAs looking for a national brand referral partner.While the company is truly virtual, its office locations allow it to have a presence within key markets, providing a place for in person meetings and a jumping off point for community outreach.A recent study by GOBankingRates confirms Raleigh is one of the fastest-growing cities in North Carolina in both population and per capita income. Sherri McKeel, Director of Operations shares, "We chose Raleigh because it has incredible growth potential. Business is booming and we want to be in the middle of that boom." Jennifer goes on to say, "Where there is growth, there are businesses and families that need CAS. Because we do not touch tax preparation or audit, we partner well with CPAs to bring the market a complete solution to its financial needs. And we bring the transparency that is lacking in so many failure scenarios. We want to make a difference and in this economic boom we are finding new markets where we can do just that." About Complete Controller(R):Complete Controller is the nation's leading provider of virtual CAS (client accounting services), offering a turnkey solution for CPA firms to fulfill their SME bookkeeping needs. Utilizing Complete Controller's technology, customers gain access to a cloud-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks file, auxiliary back office tools, and critical financial documents in an efficient and secure single login environment. Complete Controller's team of US based accounting professionals are certified QuickBooks(R) ProAdvisors, providing bookkeeping and controller services including training, full-cycle or partial-service bookkeeping, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, vendor bill-pay and client invoicing, payables and receivables management, process and controls advisement, periodic close and customized reporting. Utilizing a true FAAS model, Complete Controller offers a cost effective solution with flat rate pricing to businesses, family trusts, and households of any size or complexity. For more information, please visit https://www.completecontroller.com/ Contact:Brittany Griffinclientrelations@ completecontroller.com 866-443-8879 ext. 4SOURCE: Complete Controller
The result is a work that recounts the companys narrative mainly through the lens of its central figures. It is a largely sympathetic, and occasionally fawning, portrait of Facebook that seems at odds with the companys recent emergence as an avatar for the risks of unchecked corporate power.

Although the book raises questions about Facebooks serial privacy violations and handling of foreign election interference on its site, sections addressing those issues often feel pro forma or tacked on. Levy seems much more at home narrating Zuckerbergs high-speed upward trajectory from a rule-flouting Harvard student who capitalized on other peoples ideas to the Silicon Valley mogul who muscled the founders of Instagram and WhatsApp into selling him their start-ups.

Not for nothing is the book subtitled The Inside Story. Levy, who first met Zuckerberg in 2006, takes readers inside his college dorm suite; inside the late-night coding and cavorting at the companys first home base in Palo Alto; inside meetings with the tech moguls who were the start-ups first major investors; inside design choices that fueled the social networks popularity; and inside Zuckerbergs head.

During a 2016 trip to Lagos, Nigeria, to meet young entrepreneurs, Zuckerberg tells Levy about his personal engineering mind-set, an approach hes also instilled at Facebook. The idea is to view everything  computer programming, company growth  as a system that can be broken down and improved step by step. It may even be more a value set than a mind-set, Zuckerberg says. Alas, this is one of many passages in the book that seem to take Silicon Valleys self-mythology as gospel.

The heroic, rational, problem-solving engineer is a near-religious icon in the tech industry. But another writer might have pointed out that the engineering mind-set led Facebook to develop a powerful surveillance system that tracks users to target them with ads, nudge them to stay online longer, prompt them to share more personal details and prod them to keep compulsively coming back. Another writer might also have suggested that all those evildoers  the dictators, the genocidal generals, the traffickers of political propaganda, the purveyors of false news  did not hijack Facebook. They simply used the platform as it was designed: to try to influence user behavior.

But Facebook does not delve deeply into the companys data-mining practices  like the medical marketing it once offered targeting 110,000 Facebook users with a diagnosis of H.I.V./AIDS and 76,000 with bulimia awareness. (The company has said it no longer offers these ad-targeting categories.) Nor does the book examine the companys outsize role in the surveillance economy. That is partly because Levy accepts Zuckerbergs narrow view of privacy as the control individuals have over the personal information they choose to share. People think that weve eroded [privacy] or contributed to eroding it, Zuckerberg tells him in their last interview. I would actually argue we have done privacy innovations, which have given people new types of private or semiprivate spaces in which they can come together and express themselves.

Levy doesnt question that assertion or ask Zuckerberg about the millions of non-Facebook sites and apps from which the company harvests details about peoples behavior. Unfortunately, the books cursory explanations of Facebooks data operations, one of the linchpins of its success, will make it difficult for readers to fully grasp the many antitrust and privacy investigations with which the tech giant is now grappling.

The story of how Facebook came to capture the attention of nearly one out of three people on earth, with profound repercussions for humanity, is truly astonishing. But Facebook tells only half of it. It is a tour de force of access journalism. It is not a tour de force of critical thinking.
Anyone who requests an absentee ballot wont then be able to vote on Philadelphia's new voting machines, even if a candidate dropped out. Read more

Every Pennsylvania voter can vote by mail starting with the April 28 primary, but theres one reason you may want to wait a little bit: Once youve sent your absentee ballot, youre done.

Unlike in the past, a new election law means any voter who has sent in an absentee ballot cant then vote in person.

Thanks to Lauren Rinaldi, a Philadelphia artist whose tweet prompted us to look into this question.

Do you have questions about the primary, or the 2020 election and how it will affect Pennsylvania? Ask Curious Philly, our portal where reporters track down answers for readers.

 READ MORE: ASK US: Submit your question to Curious Philly

If I vote absentee, I cant vote again?

Once elections officials have received your absentee or mail-in ballot, youre not allowed to vote in person. (The law distinguishes between absentee and mail-in ballots, but they are functionally the same thing, and well use the two interchangeably here.)

When you sign in at your polling place, poll workers should flag you as an absentee voter, stopping you from voting.

What if I requested an absentee ballot but didnt vote?

You can still show up at the polls, but youll have to vote by provisional ballot, not a normal one. Because voters have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to turn their mail-in ballots in to county elections officials, poll workers will let you vote, but your provisional ballot is set aside and only counted if officials later determine that you didnt in fact vote by mail.

But my candidate dropped out, or I changed my mind.

Theres nothing that can be done. Often, candidates suspend their campaigns but dont formally withdraw from the race (and ballot). Plus, ballots are printed in advance of elections, and its not unusual for candidates to be listed on Pennsylvania ballots even after dropping out.

Cant they just void my absentee ballot?

In the past, absentee voters who showed up to the polls were allowed to vote in person, and election workers would simply void their mail-in ballots. Thats not allowed anymore, thanks in part to administrative changes like the absentee ballots no longer being distributed directly to each polling place.

What other changes are there to absentee ballots?

The big change is that everyone is eligible for a mail-in ballot. Technically, absentee ballot requirements are the same as before  basically, you have to be unable to vote in person on Election Day. But everyone else is now eligible for mail-in ballots that require no justification. That created a no-excuse absentee voting system, but it does also lead to some confusion with voters. Just remember: If you could vote in person, you should probably be using a mail-in ballot.

 READ MORE: How tight are Pa.s absentee-ballot deadlines? The rate of late ballots is 11 times the nations.

The deadlines have also changed. Absentee and mail-in ballots must still be requested by 5 p.m. a week before the election, but they can now be returned until 8 p.m. on Election Day itself. Thats the deadline to have those ballots in county elections officials hands, not postmarked or given to the state.

Absentee ballots can also now be requested online.
In a forceful decision challenging the underpinnings of the gig economy, couriers for the app-based food delivery company Foodora have won the right to join a union.

The Ontario Labour Relations Board decision issued Tuesday opens the door for couriers, who mobilized around low wages and safety issues on the job, to become the first app-based workforce in Canada to unionize.

Courier Ivan Ostos, who helped lead the union drive, said he was jubilant.

This is going to be used as a precedent for every other case in Ontario and for that matter elsewhere in Canada, so its a big deal.

Foodora couriers participated in a vote to join the Canadian Union of Postal Workers in August. The results of the vote are still sealed and will not be revealed until further legal issues between the company and union are resolved.

But Tuesdays decision clears one of the biggest hurdles to app-based couriers unionizing: it recognizes their legal right to actually do so.

Foodora had challenged the union vote by arguing that the couriers were independent contractors who cannot unionize and are not protected by provincial labour laws.

In Ontario, independent contractors are defined as self-employed entrepreneurs who are not disciplined or controlled by a boss. Most app-based companies across North America, including Foodora, classify workers this way.

But in a 44-page decision, labour board vice-chair Matthew Wilson ruled that couriers were a mere cog in the wheel that is powered by Foodora.

In a very real sense, the couriers work for Foodora, and not themselves, Tuesdays decision said.

The decision accepts CUPWs position that couriers are dependent contractors  a middle ground between traditional employees and independent contractors that gives workers the right to join a union.

The board pointed to a long list of contributing factors, including the fact that Foodora maintains a Strike Log that monitors couriers behaviour and job performance. Couriers were sometimes disciplined by Foodora or even de-activated from the app for poor performance.

The board also found that couriers have little opportunity to act as true entrepreneurs. Their pay rates are set by Foodora and they are not given the opportunity to negotiate their contract with the company. Their access to shifts is also controlled by Foodora. Couriers also cannot develop their own relationships with restaurants or customers, or sub-contract work to other couriers.

Foodora argued that its couriers were independent entrepreneurs in part because they could freely work for competitors like Uber Eats. The board rejected the argument.

This is not entrepreneurial activity, the board ruled. It is hard work.

The fact that couriers had other sources of income is not necessarily indicative of economic independence, the decision added. It is not uncommon for individuals to have multiple part-time jobs.

Foodora, a multinational company headquartered in Berlin, said it inherited the independent contractor model from the Toronto-based food delivery startup it bought and took over in 2015.

The companys managing director David Albert said Foodora was now reviewing the decision and assessing how well move forward with the couriers in Toronto and Mississauga.

We respect the boards process under the Labour Relations Act, he added. Were continuing to focus on Foodoras growth, and to operate in the best interest of our three key stakeholders: customers, vendor partners and couriers. Until the voter list is confirmed, and the unionization application votes are counted, we cannot speculate at this time as to whether the vote will sway in favour of CUPW and what this might mean for our business moving forward. Right now, its business as usual.

The labour boards decision said that the use of new app-based technology did not change the level of control Foodora wields over couriers  in fact, the decision found that the app was a key part of that control.

The software developed and owned by Foodora in the form of an App is the lynchpin in the process to deliver food, the decision says It is the single most important part of the delivery process and is a tool owned and controlled by Foodora.

The board acknowledged that despite some documented instances of couriers being disciplined or terminated, Foodora rarely interacted with its couriers daily work. But the decision ruled this was ultimately irrelevant because the company had the power to exercise control if it chose to.

The focus is not on the frequency of exercising control. Rather, it is about the right and ability of the company to control how the work is performed.

So far, just one other app-based workforce in North America has successfully unionized. In January, workers at a grocery store in a Chicago suburb for the online delivery platform Instacart voted to join the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union.

The Foodora proceedings have thrown a spotlight on the app-based economy more broadly in Canada; earlier this year, drivers for Uber Black followed in couriers footsteps and filed an application to join the UFCW in Toronto.

This decision shows that the tide is turning towards justice for thousands of gig workers in Ontario and soon these workers will have the right to their union, said CUPW president Jan Simpson.

CUPW is proud to be part of challenging the big app-based employers, and reshaping the future of work in favour of workers rights, safety and respect.

But the labour boards decision made clear that while app-based technology is novel, the nature of the work is not.

This is the boards first decision with respect to workers in what has been described by the parties and the media as the gig economy, the decision reads. However the services performed by Foodora couriers are nothing new.

Ryan White, the lawyer with Toronto-based firm Cavalluzzo who argued on behalf of Foodora couriers said the boards decision vindicates the union, which has known all along that Foodora controls the way that couriers work too much for them to be classified independent contractors.

This decision sets a historic precedent for precarious workers, he said.
Sheriffs Office: Authorities Havent Concluded Whether Obama DHS Whistleblowers Death Was Suicide

A sheriffs office in California said authorities havent yet concluded whether the death of a former Department of Homeland Security whistleblower was a suicide.

The Amador County Sheriffs office said over the weekend that Philip Haney, 66, was found dead on Feb. 21. Deputies said that Haney appeared to have suffered a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound, the office said in a statement.

A firearm was located next to Haney and his vehicle. This investigation is active and ongoing, the office added.

In a new statement, the office said that there were misleading reports that authorities had determined Haneys death was self-inflicted.

Unfortunately, there was misinformation immediately being put out that we have determined Mr. Haneys death to be a suicide. This is not the case, the office said in a statement.

We are currently in the beginning phase of our investigation and any final determination as to the cause and manner of Mr. Haneys death would be extremely premature and inappropriate. No determination will be made until all evidence is examined and analyzed.

Haney, officials said, was found dead in a park and ride open area right next to State Highway 16, near State Highway 124. The location where his body was found was less than three miles from where he was living.

A forensic autopsy of the body is scheduled with the Sacramento County Coroners Office. Additionally, the sheriffs office contacted the FBI to assist in analyzing documents, phone records, and a laptop that were recovered from the scene and Mr. Haneys RV, the office said in the statement. The FBI will also be asked to help process Haneys vehicle, his gun, and his RV.

Philip Haney testifies during a 2016 congressional hearing in Washington in a file photo. (Senate Judiciary Committee)

As part of working on the case, investigators canvassed the neighborhood and interviewed Haneys neighbors. They also checked for video surveillance along key areas around the RV park and the crime scene.

The investigators are continuing to follow up with the overwhelming number of persons who are calling our office from throughout the United States asking for detailed information on our investigation, the office stated.

Haney was an outspoken critic of President Barack Obamas administration and alleged that the government shut down a surveillance program that could have prevented the 2015 Islamic terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California.

Haney testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2016 (pdf), telling lawmakers that records of potential terrorists were deleted in what he referred to as purges. At the Department of Homeland Security, Haneys job was to identify people with terror links. Syed Farook, one of the perpetrators of the San Bernardino massacre, could have been stopped from entering the United States, Haney said during an appearance on Fox Newss Hannity in 2016.

Either Syed Farook would have been put on a no fly list and not allowed to travel or his pending fiance would have been denied a visa because of his affiliation with an organization with plausible ties to terrorism, Haney said.

Thats at least two different ways we could have stopped it.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : US President Donald Trump on Tuesday again offered to mediate between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.

Addressing a press conference on Day 2 of his two-day state visit to India, Trump said, "Anything I can do to mediate or help, I would do." Bringing in Pakistan's reference, he said, "They (Pakistan) are working on Kashmir. Kashmir has been a thorn in lots of people's sides for a long time. There are two sides to every story. We discussed terrorism at length today." Earlier, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said, "Discussion was centred on positive developments in Jammu & Kashmir. Things are moving in the right direction." Soon after the abrogation of Article 370 that granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in August last year, Trump had offered to mediate the "explosive" situation in Kashmir amid mounting international concern over a flare-up in violence between India and Pakistan.

Trump had told reporters at the White House on August 21 last year: "Kashmir is a very complicated place. You have the Hindus, and you have the Muslims, and I wouldn't say they get along so great. And that's what you have right now.

"Kashmir is a very tough situation, and this has been going on for decades, and decades; shooting, and I don't mean shooting like shooting a rifle, but major shooting of howitzers, of heavy arms, and this has been going on for a long, long period of time.

"And I think we're helping the situation, but there's tremendous problems between the two countries. And I will do the best I can to mediate or do something." Again in January this year on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump had repeated his mediation offer at an interaction with the press ahead of his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

"We will discuss the situation in Kashmir. We can meditate on the issue. If we can help, we certainly will be helping. We have been watching that and following it very very closely," he had said.

On both the occasions, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs had rejected the US President's offer, saying, "Kashmir is a bilateral issue and will have to be solved bilaterally."
Soon after former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was held guilty of criminal sexual act and rape on Monday, many from the film fraternity reacted to the development.

The 67-year-old film producer was found guilty of committing a criminal sex act in the first degree involving one woman and rape in the third degree involving another woman, reported CNN.

Soon after, American actor Rosanna Arquette took to Twitter to express gratitude to the women who testified.

"Gratitude to the brave women who've testified and to the jury for seeing through the dirty tactics of the defence. 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," the BAFTA Award winner tweeted.

As cited by CNN, the 60-year-old actor is one of the more than 80 women who have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct.

Another one to join in was actor Ashey Judd, who in her tweet, credited the women who testified in the case.

"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," Judd tweeted.

Applauding the 'brave woman' who stepped forward, actor Anthony Rapp tweeted: "I applaud the women who bravely stepped forward to help forever alter the conversation around what they -- and all of us -- have to put up with. Gratified to see some justice being served here."

The 48-year-old actor earlier in 2017 had accused actor Kevin Spacey of making a sexual advance at him when Rapp was 14, CNN said in its report.

Another actor who reacted to the judgment was Rose McGowan.

In her tweet, the 46-year-old actor wrote: "Today is a powerful day & a huge step forward in our collective healing."

.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- A career criminal will spend the next 25 years in jail after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including two Jackson County carjackings.

Clinton Haas Pierce, 29, of Lucedale, entered guilty pleas to two counts possession of stolen property, one count of carjacking and one count of armed carjacking in Jackson County court Monday.

Pierce, who already had a lengthy criminal record including arrests for armed home burglary in Vancleave in 2012; domestic violence arrests in 2012 and 2013; grand larceny in 2010; and uttering forgery in 2014, began his latest crime spree in November 2017, when he stole a Jeep Grand Cherokee in Jackson County.

He was later arrested in the stolen vehicle after being located by police.

A year later, while out on bond for the first charge, Pierce was found in George County in a vehicle which had been reported stolen in Biloxi.

In August 2019, Pierce flagged down a passerby, said his vehicle had broken down and asked for a ride. Pierce, in possession of a firearm, assaulted the victime and pushed him out of the vehicle near Wade Baptist Church.

Two days later, Pierce struck again, this time pushing a victim out of his Chevrolet Colorado truck and stealing the vehicle. At the same time, the Jackson County Sheriffs Office was searching for Pierce for the first carjacking two days earlier.

Pierce was spotted by Lucedale police, with Pierce leading them on a high-speed chase through George County until he crashed the vehicle and was apprehended.

Harkey handed down sentences for all three crimes on Monday.

For stealing the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Pierce was sentenced as an habitual offender to five years, day for day, plus court costs and a $1,000 fine.

For being found in possession of the vehicle stolen out of Biloxi, Harkey sentenced Pierce to 10 years, plus court costs and a $1,000 fine.

On the armed carjacking charge, Pierce was sentenced to 30 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections, with 25 to serve without possibility of parole, followed by five years of post-release supervision. Harkey also imposed another $1,000 fine and ordered Pierce to pay $100 to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund.

On the final charge of carjacking, Pierce was sentenced to 15 years in prison, court costs, a $1,000 fine and $100 to the victims compensation fund.

Harkey ordered all sentenced run concurrent.

This defendant has shown a clear disregard not only for the laws of this state, but for the safety of innocent members of our community. He has endangered the public, even those who offered to help him in his time of need," said assistant district attorney Bill Barrett.

The defendant has spent a majority of his adult life making decisions that placed himself, and others, in danger," added district attorney Angel Myers McIlrath. "I hope this sentence shows that our office will prosecute those who habitually commit crimes to the fullest extent of the law.
F1 teams are unlikely to give up their impressive paddock motorhomes, according to Christian Horner.

Recently, F1 sporting director Ross Brawn said he is looking into making the sport more sustainable.

One idea is to transport more equipment by sea and rail, and another is to end the fleet of trucks that take the huge 'motorhomes' to the European races.

"Everywhere else, the teams are quite happy with the sort of prefabricated buildings they get in Baku," he is quoted by Speed Week.

But Horner, whose Red Bull team has led the way with grand motorhome design in recent years, said he doubts F1 is about to kick the habit.

"Maybe Ross should read his own regulations, because there's not a single word in the draft Concorde Agreement about it," he said.

"I think motorhomes make sense at the European races. Yes, we can make do at the overseas races, but we also get a big bill for what we are provided."

(GMM)
The jury was shown shrapnel from the deadly Manchester Arena bombing and CCTV chilling CCTV just 19 seconds before Salman Abedi detonated the homemade device on his back and murdered 22 people.

The forensic investigators recovered 1,675 nyloc nuts, 156 flanged nuts, 663 plain nuts and 11 fragments from the deceased, survivors, and crime scene.

The majority of the nuts, measuring 8mm, 10mm and 12mm, had been damaged and numerous parts of yellow and black metal screws were also recovered, but due to their damaged state they could not be quantified accurately.

The jury at the trial of his brother Hashem - who is accused of allegedly helping him plan the killings - were also shown Salman's shredded clothing, mobile phone and bank card, they found a quantity of wires, an electrical rocker switch and battery fragments.

CCTV pictures of the attacker taken 19 seconds before the 22-year-old detonated his powerful rucksack bomb, sending thousands of nuts and screws shredding everything in their path, were also seen at The Old Bailey yesterday.

A CCTV image of Salman Abedi in Manchester Arena, on May 22, 2017, moments before he detonated his bomb, which was shown at the Old Bailey in the court case of Hashem Abedi, brother of the Manchester Arena suicide bomber, who is accused of mass murder

Shrapnel that was recovered after Salman Abedi set off his bomb at the Manchester Arena on May 22, 2017, which was shown at the Old Bailey

A graphic issued by Greater Manchester Police showing where pieces of shrapnel ended up after Salman Abedi set off his bomb at the Manchester Arena

Abedi had waited an hour in the City Room, the foyer outside the venue, before blowing himself up while surrounded by youngsters and their parents leaving an Ariana Grande concert at 10.31pm on May 22 2017.

The suicide attack left 22 innocent people dead and hundreds more injured, the Old Bailey has heard.

In it, Salman was seen wearing a large Karrimor rucksack containing the bomb.

The court heard 14,054 people had attended the pop concert that night and 359 people were in the foyer at the time of the detonation.

Security and medical staff provided first aid and checked for signs of life immediately after the blast.

British Transport Police officers from Victoria Station were the first to arrive at the scene.

A variety of screws nuts and other shrapnel recovered by Greater Manchester Police and shown to jurors at The Old Bailey

Bits of a 5 pound note that was recovered after Salman Abedi set off his bomb at the Manchester Arena

Charred clothing recovered after Salman Abedi set off his bomb at the Manchester Arena

Abedi was caught on CCTV footage leaving his rented flat on Granby Row in Manchester with a large suitcase then returning empty handed

Abedi making his way to a Metrolink tram station at 8.12pm, circled in red, and he is clearly carrying a large backpack

Abedi getting ready to board the Metrolink tram, circled in red, at 8.16pm

Abedi boarding a Metrolink tram at 8.28pm, circled in red, and he is clearly carrying a large backpack

Abedi leaving a Metrolink train as he makes his way to the Manchester Arena in May

Abedi at Victoria Station making his way to the Manchester Arena, on May 22, 2017, where he detonated his bomb, which was shown at the Old Bailey today

Abedi used the toilets at Victoria station before he made his way to the Manchester Arena

Greater Manchester Police officers then checked for any 'secondary devices' and secured the area, jurors were told.

A 'major incident' was declared and a triage medical station was set up on the Victoria Station concourse for paramedics to treat the wounded.

All living casualties were moved out by 11.30pm and 19 people were confirmed dead at the scene, jurors heard.

The father of 15-year-old victim Meghan Hurley remained with her body until after 1am, the court heard.

Salman Abedi's body was recovered in four parts and was riddled with nuts, wire and metal parts, jurors were told.

Abedi wandered around Victoria station, before making his way to the Manchester Arena

Walking with his hands in his pockets, and the rucksack on his back, Abedi, can be seen wandering through the crowds of commuters

Abedi entered a lift and his face can be seen clearly as he makes his way down in the lift to the Manchester Arena Foyer

Abedi, circled in red, arriving at the Manchester Arena, where he detonated his bomb

He was identified by his DNA and finger prints taken in 2012 when he was arrested for shop lifting, the court heard.

In the days before the Ariana Grande concert, the 20,000 capacity Manchester Arena had hosted a series of Take That concerts and a Professor Brian Cox Live event.

Earlier on May 22 2017, Salman had arranged to send 460 to Libya, jurors heard.

He was caught on CCTV footage leaving his rented flat on Granby Row in Manchester with a large suitcase then returning empty handed.

Later, he went out with his rucksack and took a Metrolink tram to Victoria Station in Manchester.

While waiting for the tram, he made a call lasting just over four minutes to his family in Libya, the court heard.

The bomber remained in the area of the Manchester Arena for two hours before detonating his device at 10.31pm.

Hashem Abedi, 22, who was in Libya with his family at the time of the attack, has denied 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause explosions.

Today, the Old Bailey also heard of horrific shrapnel injuries, which for many would have caused rapid loss of consciousness and death.

The youngest victim, Saffie-Rose Roussos, eight, from Preston, had attended the Ariana Grande concert with her mother Lisa, 48, and sister.

Officers and members of the public, including an off-duty nurse, rushed to her aid, but she was pronounced dead in hospital just over an hour after the attack.

Saffie-Rose had more than 70 external injures, and 17 metallic nuts were found lodged in her body, the court heard.

The oldest victim, 51-year-old school receptionist Jane Tweddle, from Blackpool, died at the scene after a single metal nut hit her in the neck.

Megan Hurley, 15, from Liverpool, was walking across the foyer with her brother Bradley to rejoin their parents after the gig.

Her father found her collapsed just minutes after the explosion and she was pronounced dead despite resuscitation attempts.

A post-mortem examination identified 80 external injuries, including lacerations and burns, and widespread internal injuries.

She had 22 metal nuts in or on her body and the court heard it was "very likely" she died quickly.

Student Chloe Rutherford, 17, and her boyfriend Liam Curry, 19, from South Shields, were both killed in the blast.

Liam sustained 60 penetrating injuries and had 51 metal nuts in his body and clothes, while Chloe suffered more than 100 external injuries and 45 nuts were found.

Support worker John Atkinson, 28, from Manchester, was initially found conscious and talking, but suffered a cardiac arrest at Manchester Royal Infirmary and died early the next day.

A post-mortem examination showed he had sustained very severe leg injuries as a result of penetration by multiple metal nuts.

The court heard that of the 264 people physically injured, 28 suffered life-threatening or life-changing wounds.

A girl aged 10 suffered two broken legs as well as shrapnel wounds to the stomach and chest.

Donna Currie, 51, who was waiting in the foyer for her daughter and her friend, suffered multiple fractures to both legs and shrapnel wounds.

She had previously sustained shrapnel injuries in the 1996 IRA bombing in Manchester and experienced extensive psychological trauma.

A 50-year-old woman, who was waiting with a friend to collect their daughters, sustained life-threatening blast, burn and shrapnel wounds.

The court heard the unnamed survivor had been present in Warrington during the 1993 IRA bombings.

The court previously heard that Abedi performed a solo reconnaissance trip on his first day back from Libya, where he is suspected of learning bomb-making, in May 2017.

Chilling footage shows the moment that Abedi walked past Take That concert-goers as he plotted the suicide bombing which also left 119 with serious injuries.

He arrived back in Britain from Libya after 11am on May 18, before meeting with a Nissan Micra parked in Rusholme to purchase bomb parts.

Abedi then told a landlady that he wanted to rent a Granby Row flat for two weeks.

The trial continues.
Photo: Contributed Summerland Village one of four BC seniors villages from the same owner facing concerns over care.

News of Interior Health Authority taking over administration of Summerland Seniors Village due to concerns over care standards is just the latest in many red flags to Jennifer Whiteside of the Hospital Employees' Union.

"This is beyond being a crisis at this point. Health authorities need to take this very, very seriously," Whiteside said.

The 112 long-term bed facility is the fourth facility in the past five months owned by Retirement Concepts to be taken over by a local medical governing authority in B.C. over concerns of inadequate care.

Comox Valley Seniors Village had an administrator appointed by Island Health in September, followed shortly by two others in Nanaimo and Victoria.

Retirement Concepts was purchased by Chinas Anbang Insurance for $1B in 2017. Whiteside says union employees have been sounding the alarm about the understaffed facilities for years.

"This is unprecedented. I've never seen a situation where we've had four long-term care facilities under administration at the same time all operated by the same company, in 20 years in healthcare," she said.

"The fact that these facilities have been placed under administration validates the concerns [union members] have continually raised."

Whiteside says staffing shortages have long plagued the industry, but points out companies like this don't exactly provide good advertisement for the career path.

"I can tell you it's not a very attractive proposition to come and work in long-term care when folks are seeing on the news chronic problems with staffing, complete instability around staffing and facilities that are so overloaded that health authorities have to take this extreme measure and intervene to operate the facilities themselves," she said.

Her hope is that this latest administrator appointment in Summerland produces results, or spurs the government to step in further to fix the issues.

"We're concerned that we have a pattern of administration being imposed in these facilities, not sure what the outcome actually is with respect to is that doing what needs to be done to stabilize the staffing," Whiteside said.

"Government really needs to act to use whatever possible mechanism they have to ensure that this company is providing stable staffing for seniors."

Retirement Concepts also owns two other long-term care facilities in the Interior Health region in Williams Lake and Kamloops. IH says they do not have similar concerns about care at those locations.
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There cant possibly be a modern image that more viscerally drives a dagger through the heart of reconciliation than the sight of five heavily armed bullet-proof-vested Ontario Provincial Police officers wrestling a Mohawk demonstrator to the ground.

There cant possibly be words more ironic than Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus on Friday saying Canadians are running out of patience. That he said this just days after telling opposition leader Andrew Scheer patience may be in short supply and that makes it more valuable than ever highlights the insincerity of his political statements. That he thinks he can lecture Indigenous folks on patience highlights colonial hubris.

There cant possibly be actions more divergent from words than a police force saying, as the OPP did, that use of force remains a last resort, and then scuffling with Mohawk demonstrators within seconds of telling them to back off.

On Monday, the OPP moved to dismantle rail protests by the Mohawk in their own Tyendinaga territory near Belleville, Ont., when they towed away a snow plow parked close to the line (not blocking it), but likely too close to the tracks for trains to run safely. It was Day 19 of the Mohawk demonstration in solidarity with the Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs in B.C. who are against a Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline running through their unceded territory.

The Mohawk were also protesting historical grievances. For instance, they didnt consent to CN Rail laying that rail line through their land nor to Ontario building the 401.

For those of us who have experienced the Oka crisis, we know what its like to be forced off our land, Kenneth Deer, secretary of the Mohawk nation at Kahnawake (near Montreal) told media on Monday after the arrests in the Tyendinaga territory. The Mohawks soon loaded Quebec highways with slow-moving convoys in protest.

All of this should make decent Canadians pause and think about what ongoing colonialism means. This isnt about past Europeans who forcibly took the land and handed present-day Canadians a fait accompli to deal with. This is about how Canada continues to dispossess Indigenous folks from lands they never ceded. Those arrested Monday have been charged, though police have yet to specify what the charges are. Thus demonstrators can be criminalized. There are many rule of law ways to do wrong.

When Minister of Public Safety Bill Blair, a key Trudeau adviser, told reporters Monday, Were not in any way compromising our commitment to the reconciliation agenda, did he think he had any credibility on relationship building with the marginalized? That people would have forgotten his defence, as Toronto police chief, of carding  the police practice of stopping, questioning and documenting predominantly Black and brown folks on mere suspicion of wrongdoing?

Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, was heading into a meeting of the prime ministers incident-response group Monday when he told media: Were committed to sitting down and having a dialogue, but the barricades had to come down because of the profound effects it had on the economy. Does dialogue mean: my way or we dont speak? What about the profound effect the pipelines have on Wetsuweten rights?

The Tyendinaga Mohawk had released a statement early Monday that they would peacefully exit if the RCMP withdrew from Wetsuweten lands. They were awaiting confirmation that the RCMP had withdrawn.

Yet, even as they were being arrested, the RCMP entered a Unistoten camp set up to block the pipeline in B.C. Was that to negotiate a withdrawal? If so, why the rush to arrest people in Ontario? As Deer said, if police had waited another 12 hours, its likely there would have been a peaceful resolution.

What about the role of the media? The OPP took care of that by keeping them far from the scene, in sight, but out of earshot.

Had it not been for social media; the thoughtful tweets by Indigenous folks and specifically, a Facebook livestream by Real Peoples Media from the Mohawk side, Canadians would have continued to be spoon-fed information that the state allowed, with reporters reduced to speculating on the scenes unfolding in front of them.

For far too long, such one-sided narratives have shaped Canadian opinions on Indigenous issues.

Watching the CBC coverage and the livestream from the Mohawks side by side was a jarring exercise in dissonance.

While the CBC said things like, Police have been calm, not been saying anything aggressively, and its visuals just showed gigantic OPP vans that blocked a view of the barricade of armed cops, the Mohawks livestream showed the hostile face of the operation. (The CBC did eventually add snippets of Mohawk footage to its coverage.)

An OPP liaison officer was filmed asking the Mohawk to leave.

You leave, said one of the land defenders. Your ancestors came here sick, tired and oppressed. Our ancestors took care of them, taught them how to live, let them live on their land.

And what did your ancestors do? They violated their treaty, they stole, they killed. They did it when we were sick.

Seconds later, a few police officers advanced, a scuffle broke out and two more defenders were handcuffed. A total of 10 people were arrested, according to the OPP. What wrong did the land defender say? They just laid down historical facts. In response, the OPP did what armed Canadian forces have always done: react with aggression.

When it comes to reconciliation, we like the pretty words that accompany it, but we dont have the stomach  the guts really  for the difficult negotiations it entails in reality. When push comes to the gentlest of shoves, Canadians go right back to showing who we are: colonials through and through.
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India on Tuesday observed the first anniversary of the National War Memorial that was dedicated to martyrs of the Indian Armed Forces who lost their lives since 1947. The National War Memorial was dedicated to the Armed Forces by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 25, 2019.

A wreath-laying ceremony by Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat along with veterans from the three services was organised on Monday. The first anniversary events commenced from February 22 with a static band display by three services on three consecutive days.

A quiz competition, based on Indian military history, will also be held on February 26 comprising students from schools and colleges across Delhi. It was a great opportunity for citizens to observe and interact with members of the armed forces and take part in the celebration of India's first National War Memorial.

The memorial has witnessed enthusiastic participation with over 21 lakh visitors, both foreign and domestic since it was built. Over 7,000 people visit the monument every day which includes large numbers of school students from NCR.

President Ram Nath Kovind and PM Modi have paid tribute thrice at the Memorial in since 2019. The wreath-laying ceremony is conducted every evening, wherein one of the next of kin of martyrs lay the wreath at the Amar Chakra.
Authorities say theyre testing the air quality after a pipe ruptured, prompting the evacuations of more than 300 residents and sending dozens of people to hospitals.

The Mississippi Department of Emergency Management said 46 people were treated at area hospitals after the Saturday night rupture, but all of them had been released by late Sunday morning.

Authorities said the 24-inch pressurized pipe ruptured in a heavily wooded area near Satartia, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northwest of Jackson.

They say the pipe contained carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide and that residents in the area complained of green gas and a noxious odor. Residents were expected to be able to return to their homes soon, emergency officials said in an update late Sunday morning.

It appears the ground caved into a ravine, damaging the 24-inch pipe, the state agency said.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Mississippi
Jammu and Kashmir: DDC Gbal flags-off 20 Progressive Fish Farmers under ATMA

February 25,2020 | Source: Kashmir News Service

District Development Commissioner (DDC), Ganderbal, Shafqat Iqbal, today flagged off 20 progressive fish farmers including a women entrepreneur on exposure visit under Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA), here today from the premises of Mini Secretariat, DC Office Complex Ganderbal. Assistant Director Fisheries, Ganderbal, Ghulam Jeelani Pandith, District Information Officer, Ganderbal, Riyaz Fazili, and other concerned officers were present on the occasion.



On the occasion, the DDC Ganderbal interacted with the farmers and urged then to expand their units and promote fish culture in the district. He assured the farmers that the district administration will provide every facility including marketing facilities to boot the sector.



The tour will enable the farmers to get acquainted with the latest fish farm techniques, he said and urged the farmers to make best of the training and demonstrations. It was informed that 108 private fish farming units including 55 Trout units and 53 Carp units are operative in the district. Under the Blue Revolution Scheme, the department provides rupees 80 thousand for construction of Trout unit and Rs one lakh input cost for feed, seed and equipment while for construction of carp unit 42 thousand are provided as construction cost and rupees nine thousand as input cost. On the occasion, the AD Fisheries said that the touring farmers will be will be visiting the Trout Fish Farm Laribal, Trout Farm Harwan, Fish Farm cum demonstration center Pandach and other progressive units in Srinagar.
The United States is working with a range of partners to make the Blue Dot network a major initiative for the sustainable and quality developmental project, US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, after holding talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.

"To guarantee that infrastructure of the future is built in a safe, transparent, and accountable manner, the United States is working with a range of partners, including Australia and Japan to create a Blue Dot network a major initiative to ensure countries around the world have access to private-sector-led sustainable, trustworthy options for high-quality infrastructural developments," Trump said in his statement after holding restricted and delegation-level talks with PM Modi.

The Blue Dot Network aims to promote quality infrastructure investment that is open and inclusive, transparent, economically viable, financially, environmentally and socially sustainable, and compliant with international standards, laws, and regulations, as per a statement by the US State Department.

It will bring together governments, the private sector, and civil society under shared standards for global infrastructure development and will certify infrastructure projects that demonstrate and uphold global infrastructure principles.

The US President further said that he also discussed with Prime Minister Modi the importance of secure 5G wireless network "and the need for this emerging technology to be a tool for freedom, progress. prosperity, and not to do anything where could be even conceived as a conduit from suppression censorship.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 25

By Ilhama Isabalayeva  Trend:

The Administration of the Icherisheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve and the City Hall of Rome will cooperate in the field of protection and conservation of monuments, a source in the Administration told Trend on Feb. 25.

During the recent state visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Italy, a meeting was held with Mayor of Rome Virginia Raggi. Following the meeting, the declaration on cooperation was signed between the Administration of the Icherisheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve and the City Hall of Rome.

The document was signed by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Mayor of Rome Virginia Raggi.

The declaration is aimed at establishing cooperation relations between two historical cities, in which there are many historical and cultural monuments included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, joint work in the field of preservation and conservation of monuments and the exchange of experience.

This is the first such document signed by the Administration of the Icherisheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve and the City Hall of Rome.

"The negotiations are underway to sign cooperation documents with several cities that have an ancient historical and cultural heritage, which creates more opportunities for promoting Icherisheher and Azerbaijans national and cultural heritage in general, the source added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, who died on Tuesday aged 91, for delivering "peace and security" to his people and for achieving "peace with Israel".

"In the name of Israel's citizens and government, I'd like to express deep sorrow over the passing of president Hosni Mubarak," Netanyahu said, calling the long-serving Egyptian leader "a personal friend.. who brought his people to peace and security (and) to peace with Israel.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Patrick Martin

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.

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.

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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.

This article was published by " WSWS "

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The KISS principle applies to everything, including building design.

On Tuesday afternoons in winter I teach sustainable design at Ryerson School of Interior Design at Ryerson University in Toronto. This year I have been concentrating on themes that we have covered in TreeHugger, and a lot of this has been in previous posts, but I am continuing to refine and develop the points, and in this lecture I am concentrating on just the Radical Simplicity.

Slide 1 in my lecture at Ryerson University last week/ Lloyd Alter/CC BY 2.0The four points of my manifesto are:

1. Radical Efficiency  Everything we build should use as little energy as possible.

2. Radical Decarbonization  Why we need to build out of natural, low carbon materials and electrify everything

3. Radical Sufficiency  What do we actually need? What is the least that will do the job? What is enough?

4. Radical Simplicity  Everything we build should be as simple as possible.

A reader informed me that Radical Simplicity is the title of a much-loved book by Dan Price, where he writes that "you can live a life of freedom, in harmony with the rhythms of nature, and your own internal rhythm and creativity. You can live very well with very little money. " I would have defined that as Radical Sufficiency, and will define radical simplicity differently.

20 Niagara Street/ Lloyd Alter/CC BY 2.0

I led off with a photo of Vancouver House by Bjarke Ingels Group, or BIG, which I saw during construction. Like all of his buildings, it is a stunner, twisting as it rises. But I couldn't help thinking back to my experiences as a real estate developer, where I had a penthouse unit with a balcony on top of another unit, the upper left unit in the photo. A small leak caused $16,000 damage in the unit below; a more experienced developer told me that roof leaks from this kind of balcony are a constant problem.

Vancouver House detail/ Lloyd Alter/CC BY 2.0

In Vancouver, Bjarke has designed a building where every single balcony is the roof of another unit. Every jog and every corner is an opportunity for failure. Every living room there has four surfaces exposed to weather; at least it is temperate Vancouver, but he did the same thing in Calgary.

And don't even get me started on the upfront carbon emissions produced by designing a facade with twice the surface area that you actually need to enclose the building.

Model of New York West 57/ Lloyd Alter/CC BY 2.0

When I visited the BIG offices in Copenhagen a few years ago, I saw the model for a building proposed for New York City and spent some time staring at it, trying to figure out how one could actually build it. All that water, pouring off the roofs into those balconies, with no way out but a drain. Every single one of them a minor clog away from being a swimming pool, again on top of another unit. Who would even think of doing this? I thought that it was an interesting building, but I didn't think it would ever get built; it's too scary to think of all the problems.

Jim Henderson via Wikipedia/CC BY 2.0

Once again I was wrong. It exists, and it is marvelous to look at. Fortunately, it is a rental rather than a condo, so it is more likely to be maintained and to have those drains checked regularly.

Marine Museum Denmark/ Lloyd Alter/CC BY 1.0

Back in Denmark in 2016 I visited Bjarke's incredible Marine Museum, built around an old drydock, with these flying occupied ramps connecting that you walk down to enter the underground building. It is a brilliant building, a great museum.

Walking down the ramp/ Lloyd Alter/ 2016/CC BY 2.0

Most architects, when designing ramps, would not make them out of shiny aluminum sheets. But Bjarke likes shiny, so the aluminum plates have little grooves to make them supposedly non-slip. But since he is always reinventing everything, they are all bent, coming apart, and actually had duct tape added over many of the joints. Because he just can't keep it simple.

Marine Museum rebuild, 2018/ Lloyd Alter/CC BY 2.0

Visiting again in 2018, they are rebuilding the whole thing. I continue to wonder how many buildings by Bjarke have to go through this kind of exercise. I could go on about Bjarke, who I do admire for doing wonderful, innovative and challenging buildings.

Mies and Morris/via

But he reminds me of Morris Lapidus, architect of over-the-top hotels in Florida, who never agreed with Mies's Less is More. He turns it on its head; he revels in adding stuff, laying it on thick. "If you like ice cream, why stop at one scoop? Have two, have three. Too much is never enough." Bjarke is the leader of the Too Much Is Never Enough School.

As an architect, I learned that you shouldn't reinvent the wheel, but you should use tried-and-true, tested methods, because when something goes wrong, you get sued. When I became a real estate developer, I learned that you shouldn't reinvent the wheel, because it always costs more, and you get sued, or you get broke. Or both. Perhaps that is my problem with Bjarke; I don't see buildings, I see lawyers.

 Nick Grant's presentation, photo by Juraj Mikurcik

Perhaps that's why I fell in love with Passive House or Passivhaus. They tend to be relatively simple, to minimize surface area and eliminate jogs and bumps that can be thermal bridges. There is a price to pay every time you get fancy. I first heard the phrase Radical Simplicity at a presentation by Nick Grant at the 2018 Passivhaus conference in Munich.

Nick Grant explaining Value Engineering/ Lloyd Alter/CC BY 2.0

Nick explains that if we are going to build affordable housing to Passivhaus standards, we have to keep it simple, and plan with that in mind right from the very beginning, because if you try to hit the standard after, it just costs more money. He says we should embrace the box. "Passivhaus advocates are keen to point out that Passivhaus doesn't need to be a box, but if we are serious about delivering Passivhaus for all, we need to think inside the box and stop apologizing for houses that look like houses."

Perhaps the best definition came from architect Mike Eliason, who wrote in praise of dumb boxes.

...dumb boxes are the least expensive, the least carbon intensive, the most resilient, and have some of the lowest operational costs compared to a more varied and intensive massing....Every time a building has to turn a corner, costs are added. New details are required, more flashing, more materials, more complicated roofing.

Rows of low dumb boxes in Munich/CC BY 2.0

Wandering around Munich during the Passivhaus Conference, I saw lots of dumb boxes. They didn't look so bad; the architects there have had a lot of practice at keeping things simple.

Housing in Munich/ Lloyd Alter/CC BY 2.0

Simple, modern forms, not too many windows but a careful eye to their placement, and you can have really nice housing to really high standards of energy efficiency, at reasonable costs.

CC BY 2.0. Passivhaus Institut via Wikipedia

Passivhaus Institut via Wikipedia/CC BY 2.0

The very first Passivhaus, built over 25 years ago, doesn't look much different. Dr. Feist wasn't impressed with me calling it a dumb box, but that's what it is. It worked then and it works now.

Apartment on St. Clair Avenue, Toronto/ Lloyd Alter/CC BY 2.0

In Toronto where I live, the building code changed a few years ago to improve energy efficiency, and architects could no longer do the all-glass buildings that were the norm. They don't have the 25 years of learning from Passivhaus, so have been trying to make their buildings more interesting by pushing and pulling out bits and pieces and adding different materials. A tweeter I follow defined it:

Good architects who have worked on Passivhaus solve the Big Building problem by having a good eye for proportion. They don't need to slap a sample room's worth of material on it.

Dumb box with dumb chain link fence balconies in Berlin/ Lloyd Alter/CC BY 2.0

Perhaps my favorite dumb box is this one in Berlin, the R50 cohousing project that I described as "a study in simple, minimalist construction." I think it's actually beautiful because of that; just chain link fencing and galvanized balconies clipped on a very efficient, simple building.

Lloyd Alter/ 56 Leonard, 2018/CC BY 2.0

As I noted about a building that I love to hate so much that I have written four posts about it,

If we are going to ever get a handle on our CO2, we are going to see a lot more tall urban buildings without big windows, without bumps and jogs. Perhaps we might even have to reassess our standards of beauty.

In this era where every tonne of carbon has to be weighed against our carbon budget, we can't afford to build like this anymore. We have to demand radical simplicity.
Michael Bloomberg launched a series of Twitter attacks on Bernie Sanders Monday as the billionaire former New York mayor seeks to slow the Vermont senators march to the Democratic presidential nomination.

Bloomberg, a strong gun-control advocate, attacked Sanders over votes that were aligned with the position of the National Rifle Association.

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.#NotMeNRA pic.twitter.com/HLYZe4J5PM  Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) February 24, 2020

Jeff Weaver, a senior adviser to Sanders, noted that Sanders has supported a ban on assault weapons, a controversial position in his state.

The NRA never endorsed Bernie Sanders and he has never taken a dime of their money. In fact, he lost his 1988 congressional race because he backed an assault weapons ban, Weaver said in a statement. But even after that, Sanders maintained his opposition to these weapons of war.

Michael Bloomberg. (Rick Bowmer/AP)

Bloombergs online ad was one of several promoted on his social media channels Monday that sought to draw a contrast between the two candidates on the issue of guns.

Ive been the NRAs #1 enemy for decades. Bernies been the NRAs buddy for decades.



Who do we want to represent the Democratic Party? pic.twitter.com/I7vgubn1Hl  Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) February 24, 2020

For his part, Sanders responded with a tweet saying Bloomberg profits from private equity vultures and the destruction of the planet. It linked to a story on the left-wing website the Intercept, which pieced together fragmentary details of how Bloomberg invests his $60 billion fortune.

Story continues

We do not need a nominee who profits from private equity vultures and the destruction of the planet.



We need someone who is willing to stand up for workers and will stop the greed of the fossil fuel industry.



Unlike Mr. Bloomberg, as president, that's exactly what I will do. https://t.co/Qsz8gRAxZ8  Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 24, 2020

Bloomberg, who has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on advertising that until now has been aimed mostly at President Trump, has not attacked any of the other Democratic candidates. His campaign is considering unleashing a wave of advertising against Sanders on a wide range of platforms, CNBC reported, although he has pledged to keep his massive campaign operation going through November, in support of the eventual Democratic nominee, whoever it is.

In another tweet, Bloomberg joined the chorus of criticism over Sanderss praise on 60 Minutes on Sunday for the literacy program of Cubas late communist dictator Fidel Castro.

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. pic.twitter.com/3Xqu435uoA  Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) February 24, 2020

In his interview with 60 Minutes, Sanders stopped short of saying he would refuse to accept money from Bloomberg should he win the nomination, but also noted that he wouldnt need it to win in the general election.

I dont think were going to need that money because, interestingly enough, I think when you have an agenda as we have that speaks to the needs of working families, youre going to have millions and millions and millions of people chipping in 10 bucks apiece, 50 bucks a piece, and thats how youre going to raise the money you need to defeat Trump, Sanders said.

Before that happens, however, Sanders may be on the receiving end of millions of dollars worth of negative Bloomberg ads. As of last Friday, Bloomberg had spent $505.8 million promoting his candidacy.

Sanders notched an impressive victory in the Nevada caucuses and is rising in the polls in South Carolina, the next state to vote in the primary. Bloomberg, who entered the race in late November, will not be on the ballot until the March 3 Super Tuesday contests, comprising 14 states.

While Bloombergs rise in the polls appears to have been slowed by a poor showing in the Nevada debate, he will have a second opportunity to convince voters that he is a better choice than Sanders in a Tuesday debate in South Carolina.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
MILFORD  A Milford man who was the pilot involved in a large-scale marijuana trafficking ring received his federal prison sentence in New Haven court on Tuesday, officials said.

Donald Burns, 62, was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for his role in the trafficking, according to a news release for U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham.

In 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration started to investigate a single-engine aircraft, owned by Burns, that was making regular flights between Stratford and northern California through the southwestern part of the United States.

On June 28, 2017, Burns flew form northern California to Lubbock, Texas. The next day, he flew from Texas to Arkansas, then to West Virginia before landing in Connecticut at the Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford.

After it landed, a law enforcement search of the plane revealed approximately 400 pounds of marijuana in vacuum-sealed packages, and Burns was arrested, authorities said.

Investigators learned that the marijuana was intended to be distributed in Connecticut by Robert Capelli, Scott Bodnar, Terrell Givens and others.

The investigation revealed that Capelli and his associated earned millions of dollars by trafficking nearly two tons of marijuana from California to Connecticut for more than two years.

Officials said members of the conspiracy also laundered more than $6 million to buy weed in California, maintain properties for distribution in Connecticut, pay Burns to transport the product and for other expenses related to the trafficking ring.

Burns pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana on May 6, 2019. He agree to forfeit his aircraft.

He was released on bond and told to report to prison on May 26.

On July 25, 2019, a jury found Milford resident Capelli guilty of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana.

Capelli was found not guilty of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and money laundering.

He was sentenced to 95 months in prison on Dec. 3, 2019. Capelli also forfeited $55,000.

On May 3, 2019, Beacon Falls resident Givens pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

Givens was sentenced to 55 months in prison on Sept. 4, 2019. He was ordered to forfeit his 2009 Jaguar XF and jewelry valued at approximately $8,000.

On May 2, 2019, Ansonia resident Bodnar pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

Bodnar was sentenced to serve 55 months in federal prison on Sept. 4, 2019. He was told to forfeit his 2012 Toyota Camry.
RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Capital Square, a leading sponsor of tax-advantaged real estate investments, announced today the launch of CSRA/GS Opportunity Zone V, LLC. The project-specific opportunity zone fund is raising capital to develop 1601 Roseneath Road, a 350-unit multifamily community with ground-floor retail space, in the Scott's Addition designated opportunity zone in Richmond, Virginia. CSRA/GS Opportunity Zone V, LLC seeks to raise $32,396,000 in equity from accredited investors.

"Capital Square is thrilled to enter this joint venture with Greystar Real Estate Partners to develop a Class A, mixed-use multifamily community in Scott's Addition," said Louis Rogers, founder and chief executive officer. "Greystar is the largest property manager in the nation as well as a top 10 builder and owner of apartment communities."1

Located at the intersection of two main thoroughfares in Scott's Addition, 1601 Roseneath Road will be a six-story, Class A multifamily community with 15,000 square feet of retail space. The 2.28-acre property will have 380 onsite parking spaces.

Established in 1901, Scott's Addition is a historic area that is now the City of Richmond's fastest growing neighborhood and the second-highest performing market with 97.6% occupancy, according to Yardi Matrix. Scott's Addition is a designated opportunity zone with a census tract that stretches across Virginia Commonwealth University and the Carver neighborhood. Apartment rental rates in the neighborhood have increased 8.1% on a year-over-year basis and are projected to increase 3% to 4% per year for five years.

The project will be co-developed by Capital Square and Greystar, a global leader in the investment, development and management of high-quality rental housing properties that is based in Charleston, S.C. The Greystar team is led by Todd Wigfield, senior managing director, John Clarkson, managing director, George Hayward, senior director, and Russell Whitworth, managing director.

"The Richmond market possesses substantial growth opportunity and will continue to be an important part of our long-term development strategy in the Mid-Atlantic," said John Clarkson, Greystar's managing director of development for the Mid-Atlantic Region. "Capital Square has a strong track record of successful project execution in Scott's Addition, and together with the expertise of our local team of professionals, we look forward to providing future residents with attractive amenities at this Class A property."

1601 Roseneath Road is Capital Square's fourth new project in the Scott's Addition designated opportunity zone. Previously, Capital Square launched a trio of developments  Scott's Collection I, II and III  within a few blocks of the 1601 Roseneath Road project. The Scott's Collection projects each feature a single-structure, ground-up development with Class A multifamily communities ranging in size from 60 to 80 units, and will include private unit balconies, a lobby area and onsite parking.

Opportunity zones were created by Congress to stimulate long-term private investments in low-income urban and rural communities, along with certain contiguous areas. Conceived as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, opportunity zone funds are intended to help foster economic growth by providing tax benefits to incentivize private investments in designated opportunity zones.

About Capital Square

Capital Square is a national real estate firm specializing in tax-advantaged real estate investments, including Delaware statutory trusts for Section 1031 exchanges and qualified opportunity zone funds for tax deferral and exclusion. Capital Square has completed approximately $1.9 billion in transaction volume. Capital Square's executive team has decades of experience in real estate investments. Its founder, Louis Rogers, has structured hundreds of investment offerings totaling in excess of $5 billion. Capital Square's related entities provide a range of services, including due diligence, acquisition, loan sourcing, property/asset management, and disposition, for a growing number of high net worth investors, private equity firms, family offices and institutional investors. In 2017, 2018 and 2019, Capital Square was awarded by Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest growing companies. In 2017 and 2018, the company was also ranked on Richmond BizSense's list of fastest growing companies. In 2019, Capital Square was listed by Virginia Business on their "Best Places to Work in Virginia" and "Fantastic 50" reports. To learn more, visit www.CapitalSquare1031.com.

About Greystar

Greystar is a leading, fully integrated real estate company offering expertise in investment management, development, and management of rental housing properties globally. Headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, Greystar manages and operates an estimated $160 billion+ of real estate in nearly 200 markets globally including offices throughout the United States, UK, Continental Europe, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region. Greystar is the largest operator of apartments in the United States,1 managing more than 525,000 units/beds, and has a robust institutional investment management platform with approximately $36.1 billion of assets under management, including nearly $14.2 billion of assets under development. Greystar was founded by Bob Faith in 1993 with the intent to become a provider of world-class service in the rental residential real estate business. To learn more, visit www.greystar.com.

Source: 1. National Multifamily Housing Council 2019 Rankings

Disclaimer: Securities offered through WealthForge Securities, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Capital Square, Greystar and WealthForge are not affiliated. Market information is provided for educational purposes and is general in nature. It may not predict the performance of the property. Opportunity Zone Fund Investments involve a high degree of risk. There are risks associated with acquiring, financing, owning, constructing, leasing and operating multi-family real estate located in Richmond, Virginia. Investor Units do not represent a diversified investment because each of the Opportunity Zone Funds' activities will be limited to the Property. Although Capital Square and its affiliates have extensive experience in acquiring, improving and operating commercial real estate, Opportunity Zone Funds and the Manager were recently organized and do not have an operating history or significant assets. Investors will rely solely on the Manager to manage a particular Fund and the Property; the Manager will have broad discretion to make decisions regarding the Property. There are substantial risks associated with developing the Property in an economically disadvantaged, qualified opportunity zone that permits investors in a Fund to qualify for available Opportunity Zone Tax Benefits. A Fund may not make capital distributions until the sale or refinancing of the Property, if at all. Real estate related investments involves substantial risks. Funds will pay substantial fees to the Manager and its affiliates (including CS Development). The Investor Units will be highly illiquid; transferability of the Investor Units is restricted and withdrawals of capital contributions are prohibited. Substantial actual and potential conflicts of interest exist among the Funds, the Manager, Capital Square, CS Development and their affiliates. An investor could lose all or a substantial portion of his investment in any of the Funds. There are tax risks associated with an investment in the Investor Units, including the possibility that government regulations regarding Opportunity Zone investments may change.

Contact: Lauren Burgos

Spotlight Marketing Communications

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SOURCE Capital Square

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At a Beijing "disinfection station", a driver for a ride-hailing company is installing a plastic shield between the front and rear seats of his car to reassure passengers during the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

Zhao Haijun, a Didi Chuxing driver, says the shield helps isolate him from passengers, and prevents the virus being spread through droplets in the air.

"Now, I don't chat with the passengers," said Zhao. "In an extraordinary period, it's better to be careful." The car-hailing giant has nine disinfection stations in the capital, each of which can sterilise around 400 vehicles a day.

In addition, there are also 46 plastic shield installation points around the city handling up to 100 cars each per day.

China has implemented unprecedented measures to try and contain the spread of the virus -- which has killed more than 2,600 people in the mainland -- including locking down tens of millions of people in the city's epicentre, Hubei province.

There have also been tight restrictions on transport.

Across the country, residential buildings, offices and shopping centres are regularly spraying disinfectant, and checking the temperature of visitors.

In Beijing, all taxi drivers have to wear face masks, must direct customers to sit in the rear, and disinfect their cars twice a day.

But Didi -- which says it has 30 million drivers and more than 550 million users across its various services -- is hoping to reassure its customers with extra measures.

Wang Weijia, driver service manager at Didi Beijing, told AFP that given the current mood even a sneeze "could cause tension between the driver and the passenger".

Staff in protective suits spray medical disinfectant work inside and outside, while handles, pedals and steering wheels are doused in cleaning fluid.

After attaching the dividing shield, Didi staff also post a health reminder with a cartoon of a car with a large red heart next to it.

"Safety means protection, and love can cross the plastic cover," the notice reads. As well as visiting the disinfection stations, Zhao says he also takes his own measures.

"When the passengers get out, I open the window to ventilate, and I disinfect before I receive a new order," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Urban development minister K.T. Rama Rao engaging with people in Devarakonda on day 2 of the Pattana Pragati urban renewal programme on Tuesday.

Hyderabad: Municipal administration and urban development minister K.T. Rama Rao said development activities should be taken up in all municipal areas irrespective of which party had won an individual ward.

Addressed a meeting at Devarakonda on Day 2 of the Pattana Pragati urban renewal programme, Mr Rama Rao said that development activities should be taken up in all the wards and towns and there is no need to differentiate between wards won by ruling party and the Opposition.

The minister said, There are no elections in the next four years. All we have to do now is work hard to find a permanent place in the hearts of the people.

He instructed the councillors and ward committee members to identify problems and start addressing them right away. Mr Rama Rao toured Devarakonda and Kalwakurthy and participated in various programmes.

He asked residents to segregate domestic waste at the household itself so that sanitary workers can process it accordingly. He took the example of Sircilla municipality, and said, The authorities are earning a considerable amount of money by separating dry and wet waste. The government will soon issue instructions to the municipalities to refuse garbage if people of a locality or a household do not segregate garbage. He asked people to cooperate with the municipal authorities in keeping the towns clean.

He laid foundation stones for development works in Devarakonda, including the construction of an underground drainage network, a sewerage treatment plant, roads and a park at Rs 48.2 crore.

The minister went on a padayatra and inspected the condition of sanitation, drinking water supply, greenery and other facilities in Devarakonda.

Later, Mr Rama Rao inaugurated a 32/11 KV sub-station in Kalwakurthy and addressed the councillors, ward members, ward officers and ward committee members at the Pattana Pragati programme.
Journalists on Tuesday staged a



protest here against the alleged attack on scribes in Delhi covering the violence over the support and opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Raising slogans, journalists demanded the authorities to provide safety and security to newsmen.

Also, they wanted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami to ensure security of reporters and photojournalists from the state working in the national capital by taking the matter up with the Centre.

One of the journalists, who faced the mob fury was Arvind Gunasekar from the state, they said.

They wanted the Central government and the Delhi police to take swift action.

A journalist with JK 24X7 received a bullet injury and two reporters from NDTV were allegedy beaten and punched by rioters in northeast Delhi, which was wracked by fresh violence on Tuesday.

Akash sustained a bullet injury while covering the clashes in Maujpur locality and is in hospital where his condition is serious, said a tweet from JK 24X7 channel.

NDTV said its journalist Arvind Gunasekar was hit by rioters while he was at one of the spots in northeast Delhi, and lost a tooth. His fellow reporter Saurah, who tried to shield him, was punched, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
S uper Tuesday - March 3, this year - is one of the most pivotal dates in the US Presidential Election campaign.

Between February and June, elections - known as primaries or caucuses - are held in each state as the Democrats and Republicans choose their candidate to be the next president.

Donald Trump will win the Republican nomination, despite facing competition from Bill Weld and Rocky De La Fuente.

But the Democratic race is far more contested, with front-runners Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden hoping March 3 will give them a massive boost over their rival.

However, on the eve of Super Tuesday both Pete Buttigieg, who surprisingly had won the first contest in Iowa, and Amy Klobuchar both withdrew from the race, leaving Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bloomberg hoping Super Tuesday will kick-start their campaigns to close the gap on Biden and Sanders.

Four states have held their primaries already but Super Tuesday is seen as a major indicator towards the ultimate victor because 14 states and the backing of 1,357 out of 3,979 delegates up for grabs.

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So, what is Super Tuesday and why is it so important? Here's everything you need to know...

What is Super Tuesday and what date does it fall on this year?

This year Super Tuesday falls on March 3, as voting takes place in 14 states.

Many states bring forward their voting day in the schedule for presidential primaries to boost their importance in the overall outcome, resulting with multiple states going to the polls on the same day.

Since most states vote on Tuesday, the date with the largest number of State contests is called "Super Tuesday".

Democratic presidential hopeful billionaire-philanthropist Tom Steyer on the campaign trail. / AFP via Getty Images

In any US primary race, a lot of hype surrounds the first four contests to take place - in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

But often no significant result emerges from just these four states alone.

Out of the thousands of delegates to be won, Bernie Sanders currently leads with 58 declared delegates, eight ahead of Joe Biden. Elizabeth Warren has eight.

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What states are included in Super Tuesday?

The 14 states voting on Super Tuesday this year are Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia.

One US territory is also going to the polls to vote that day - American Samoa.

How does the Democratic primary race work?

During the primaries, the number of delegates representing each state or territory is decided through a formula based on its population and levels of support for the party candidate in the last three presidential elections.

Candidates gain "pledged delegates", who will likely support them, in proportion to their share of the vote in the state's primary election.

Super Tuesday can be a decisive date in the battle for the Democratic nomination / AFP via Getty Images

Candidates need 1,991 pledged delegates to win the nomination outright out.

This year there are 3,979 in total and on Super Tuesday, 1,357 are up for grabs.

In the Democrat primary election, more than 700 additional delegates are also drawn up automatically from the party's leadership and elected officials.

These super delegates are "unpledged" meaning they can support any candidate.

Under new rules adopted by the Democrats in 2018, super delegates will vote for the final nominee only if no candidate secures a majority of the pledged delegates.

Ahead: Bernie Sanders marks his Nevada win with supporters in Houston, Texas / Getty Images

Some states have "closed primaries" like Connecticut and Kentucky, where only registered members of the party can vote.

Others have "semi-closed primaries", which means both registered or unaffiliated voters can participate in only one party's primaries.

"Open" contests allow anyone in the state to vote in any party's primary and "semi-open" contests allow anyone to vote in just one party's primary.

Given it is only March, why is Super Tuesday so important?

While it is not the final result, Super Tuesday is hugely significant for indicating who may be chosen to challenge Donald Trump in November as candidates start to break ahead from the pack or drop out.

Often a winning candidate for the nomination becomes clear on that day, however this can also depend on how many are in the race - and how much they split the vote on the day.

There are eight candidates still in the running this year, and if the vote is too fragmented on Super Tuesday, a longer more chaotic multi-candidate battle could ensue.

This could hinder strong party unity behind the final selected nominee, who will take on Mr Trump in the November elections.

Elizabeth Warren on the campaign trail. / Getty Images

On Super Tuesday, frontrunners Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden have a chance not just to capture delegates but to win in large swing states like Colorado and Minnesota, signalling them as a strong national candidate to take on Mr Trump.

Meanwhile, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who did not compete in the first four contests, has instead invested vast sums of money into the Super Tuesday states.

He is relying on results from this date to propel forward his campaign for the nomination.
New Delhi: Traffic in some parts of the national capital on Tuesday (February 25) will be affected in view of US President Donald Trump`s visit. A traffic advisory from Delhi Traffic Police said, "From forenoon till around 4 pm on 25th February, the traffic is likely to remain heavy in Moti Bagh, Chanakyapuri, India Gate, and areas around ITO, Delhi Gate and the adjoining areas of Central and New Delhi."

It further said, "On February 25 evening, the traffic is likely to remain heavy in Chanakyapuri, RML roundabout, Dhaula Kuan, Delhi Cantonment, Delhi-Gurgaon Road (NH 48) and adjoining areas."

On Tuesday morning, Trump will first receive a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan 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 afternoon. The talks would be followed by the exchange of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries.

Trump will also attend a short programme at the US Embassy and meet Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the Hyderabad House in the evening.

The US President will also meet President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan before leaving for the United States by his special flight at 10 tonight.

Earlier on Monday, President Trump along with his accompanying delegation reached ITC Maurya Hotel in the evening after completing his Day-1 of India visit.

The US President, who is currently on a two-day maiden visit to India, addressed around one lakh people at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday upon his arrival during the `Namaste Trump` mega-event that was set on the lines of `Howdy Modi` programme attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Houston last September.

Trump, along with his wife Melania, arrived in the national capital after completing their engagements in Ahmedabad and taking a family trip to the Taj Mahal in Agra.
Entertainment Watch the New Orleans Mardi Gras parade live stream

Mardi Gras live

25.02.2020 10:50:37 - Live streaming from the streets of New Orleans for the 2020 mardi gras parades on Fat Tuesday. Watch on TV and free live stream.



(live-PR.com) - The New Orleans mardi gras parade on Fat Tuesday remains the iconic carnival celebration in the United States, and will once again be watch by a huge audience both live, on TV and online.



To watch the free live stream of the parade:



www.myworldevents.com/parade/mardi-gras.html



Mardi Gras in New Orleans



The holiday of Mardi Gras is celebrated in all of Louisiana, including the city of - The New Orleans mardi gras parade on Fat Tuesday remains the iconic carnival celebration in the United States, and will once again be watch by a huge audience both live, on TV and online.To watch the free live stream of the parade:Mardi Gras in New OrleansThe holiday of Mardi Gras is celebrated in all of Louisiana, including the city of New Orleans. Celebrations are concentrated for about two weeks before and through Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday (the start of lent in the Western Christian tradition). Usually there is one major parade each day (weather permitting); many days have several large parades. The largest and most elaborate parades take place the last five days of the Mardi Gras season. In the final week, many events occur throughout New Orleans and surrounding communities, including parades and balls (some of them masquerade balls).



The parades in New Orleans are organized by social clubs known as krewes; most follow the same parade schedule and route each year. The earliest-established krewes were the Mistick Krewe of Comus, the earliest, Rex, the Knights of Momus and the Krewe of Proteus. Several modern "super krewes" are well known for holding large parades and events, such as the Krewe of Endymion (which is best known for naming celebrities as grand marshals for their parades), the Krewe of Bacchus (similarly known for naming celebrities as their Kings), as well as the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Cluba predominantly African American krewe. Float riders traditionally toss throws into the crowds. The most common throws are strings of colorful plastic beads, doubloons, decorated plastic "throw cups", Moon Pies, and small inexpensive toys, but throws can also include lingerie and more sordid items. Major krewes follow the same parade schedule and route each year.



While many tourists center their Carnival season activities on Bourbon Street and in New Orleans and Dauphin, major parades originate in the Uptown and Mid-City districts and follow a route along St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street, on the upriver side of the French Quarter. Mardi Gras day traditionally concludes with the "Meeting of the Courts" between Rex and Comus.



The first record of Mardi Gras being celebrated in Louisiana was at the mouth of the Mississippi River in what is now lower Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, on March 2, 1699. Iberville, Bienville, and their men celebrated it as part of an observance of Catholic practice. The date of the first celebration of the festivities in New Orleans is unknown. A 1730 account by Marc-Antione Caillot celebrating with music and dance, masking and costuming (including cross-dressing). An account from 1743 that the custom of Carnival balls was already established. Processions and wearing of masks in the streets on Mardi Gras took place. They were sometimes prohibited by law, and were quickly renewed whenever such restrictions were lifted or enforcement waned. In 1833 Bernard Xavier de Marigny de Mandeville, a rich plantation owner of French descent, raised money to fund an official Mardi Gras celebration.



In New Orleans, the Zulu parade rolls first, starting at 8 am on the corner of Jackson and Claiborne and ending at Broad and Orleans, Rex follows Zulu as it turns onto St. Charles following the traditional Uptown route from Napoleon to St. Charles and then to Canal St. Truck parades follow Rex and often have hundreds of floats blowing loud horns, with entire families riding and throwing much more than just the traditional beads and doubloons. Numerous smaller parades and walking clubs also parade around the city. The Jefferson City Buzzards, the Lyons Club, the Irish Channel Corner Club, Pete Fountain's Half Fast Walking Club and the KOE all start early in the day Uptown and make their way to the French Quarter with at least one jazz band. At the other end of the old city, the Society of Saint Anne journeys from the Bywater through Marigny and the French Quarter to meet Rex on Canal Street. The Pair-O-Dice Tumblers rambles from bar to bar in Marigny and the French Quarter from noon to dusk. Various groups of Mardi Gras Indians, divided into uptown and downtown tribes, parade in their finery.

New Orleans. Celebrations are concentrated for about two weeks before and through Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday (the start of lent in the Western Christian tradition). Usually there is one major parade each day (weather permitting); many days have several large parades. The largest and most elaborate parades take place the last five days of the Mardi Gras season. In the final week, many events occur throughout New Orleans and surrounding communities, including parades and balls (some of them masquerade balls).The parades in New Orleans are organized by social clubs known as krewes; most follow the same parade schedule and route each year. The earliest-established krewes were the Mistick Krewe of Comus, the earliest, Rex, the Knights of Momus and the Krewe of Proteus. Several modern "super krewes" are well known for holding large parades and events, such as the Krewe of Endymion (which is best known for naming celebrities as grand marshals for their parades), the Krewe of Bacchus (similarly known for naming celebrities as their Kings), as well as the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Cluba predominantly African American krewe. Float riders traditionally toss throws into the crowds. The most common throws are strings of colorful plastic beads, doubloons, decorated plastic "throw cups", Moon Pies, and small inexpensive toys, but throws can also include lingerie and more sordid items. Major krewes follow the same parade schedule and route each year.While many tourists center their Carnival season activities on Bourbon Street and in New Orleans and Dauphin, major parades originate in the Uptown and Mid-City districts and follow a route along St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street, on the upriver side of the French Quarter. Mardi Gras day traditionally concludes with the "Meeting of the Courts" between Rex and Comus.The first record of Mardi Gras being celebrated in Louisiana was at the mouth of the Mississippi River in what is now lower Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, on March 2, 1699. Iberville, Bienville, and their men celebrated it as part of an observance of Catholic practice. The date of the first celebration of the festivities in New Orleans is unknown. A 1730 account by Marc-Antione Caillot celebrating with music and dance, masking and costuming (including cross-dressing). An account from 1743 that the custom of Carnival balls was already established. Processions and wearing of masks in the streets on Mardi Gras took place. They were sometimes prohibited by law, and were quickly renewed whenever such restrictions were lifted or enforcement waned. In 1833 Bernard Xavier de Marigny de Mandeville, a rich plantation owner of French descent, raised money to fund an official Mardi Gras celebration.In New Orleans, the Zulu parade rolls first, starting at 8 am on the corner of Jackson and Claiborne and ending at Broad and Orleans, Rex follows Zulu as it turns onto St. Charles following the traditional Uptown route from Napoleon to St. Charles and then to Canal St. Truck parades follow Rex and often have hundreds of floats blowing loud horns, with entire families riding and throwing much more than just the traditional beads and doubloons. Numerous smaller parades and walking clubs also parade around the city. The Jefferson City Buzzards, the Lyons Club, the Irish Channel Corner Club, Pete Fountain's Half Fast Walking Club and the KOE all start early in the day Uptown and make their way to the French Quarter with at least one jazz band. At the other end of the old city, the Society of Saint Anne journeys from the Bywater through Marigny and the French Quarter to meet Rex on Canal Street. The Pair-O-Dice Tumblers rambles from bar to bar in Marigny and the French Quarter from noon to dusk. Various groups of Mardi Gras Indians, divided into uptown and downtown tribes, parade in their finery. Author:

Martin Kerrigan

e-mail

Web: http://www.myworldevents.com

Phone: 0035799813173 25.02.2020 10:50:37 -

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.
On Monday morning, a Manhattan jury found Harvey Weinstein guilty of two of the five charges prosecutors brought against him: criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree. The jury also acquitted Weinstein of two counts of predatory sexual assault, the most serious charges prosecutors had brought against him, which would have required the jury to conclude that Weinstein had committed first-degree sex crimes against two or more victims. In other words, the verdict is a mixed bag: Harvey Weinstein has now been convicted of rape. The counts that he was acquitted on, however, seem at odds with the number of allegations that have publicly surfaced against him.

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This was just one trial, set up to evaluate a specific set of crimes and circumstances. But it has been impossible to think of it as anything other than a referendum on the entire contemporary #MeToo movement. Weinstein was the person whose long-ignored abuses and alleged assaults spurred thousands of women to reassess their own experiences. Donna Rotunno, Weinsteins lead attorney, has spent her weeks in the spotlight accusing rape survivors of failing to take responsibility for their own mixed signals and explaining how the #MeToo movement has denied men their due process rights, even as her own client was enjoying his in the courtroom. Since the fall of 2017, when dozens of women first shared their stories about Weinstein, countless defenses and dismissals of the sexual misbehavior of other men have rested on the conviction that if sexual offenses dont rise to the level of Weinsteins misbehavior, they dont merit consideration under the purview of #MeToo. Weinsteins trial morphed into the ultimate #MeToo test: If a jury couldnt convict Weinstein, the benchmark against which all other alleged abusers are now measured, what hope does any other survivor have of holding a rapist accountable in the criminal justice system?

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The two guilty verdicts against Weinstein seem like major wins for activists and advocates who see the case as an imperfect bellwether of shifting cultural beliefs about what constitutes sexual assault. Six women testified that Weinstein had assaulted them: the two victims whose assaults informed the criminal charges; Annabella Sciorra, who recounted being raped in the 1990s; and three other women who prosecutors brought in to establish a pattern in Weinsteins behavior. To counter their stories, Rotunno and her team relied on fictions about how a real victim of rape reacts to an assault. The defense made much of friendly sounding correspondence some of the women exchanged with Weinstein in the months and years after their assaults; Rotunno questioned why theyd agreed to see him afterward if the sexual encounters were nonconsensual. Weinsteins defense team asked jurors to believe that if a woman willingly gets in a car with her rapist after being raped, she has not, in all likelihood, been raped.

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With their verdict, jurors rejected the perpetrator-serving definition of sexual assault that demands survivors respond to sexual violence in a predictable, identical fashion, the way most people who havent been raped imagine they would. They appear to have understood that some people respond to rape not by screaming, running, and calling the police, but by dissociating, appeasing, and attempting to normalize relations after the fact. They seem to have reflected on the ways physical and verbal intimidation, professional power imbalances, and self-preservation reflexes can shape the details of a sexual assault and its aftermath. The defense argued for a constricted framework of rape, one in which, in order to be believed, a victim would have to physically fight off her assailant (until, presumably, some unspecified point of injury and incapacitation), then spend the rest of her life telling anyone wholl listen that one of the most powerful men in her industry has raped her. The jury refused to buy it. It is a testament to the work of the #MeToo movements advocates, many of whom had been doing anti-rape work for decades before Weinstein was publicly accused, that Jessica Mann and Miriam Haleys stories were heard in all their complexity, subjected to the defenses most punishing scrutiny, and still believed.

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But the jurors not-guilty verdicts on the predatory sexual assault charges complicate the story of Weinsteins conviction. Sciorra testified in court that after giving her a ride home from a restaurant in the winter of 199394, Weinstein entered her apartment, chased her as she tried to hide in the bathroom, pinned her on her bed as she fought against him, and raped her. During the trial, the defense dinged her on her inability to remember exact dates related to the assault, questioned why she didnt immediately report the alleged rape to the police, and played a video of her telling David Letterman in 1997 that she sometimes fabricated stories for the press when she didnt want to elaborate on her personal life. Weinsteins lawyers also said Sciorra later told prosecutors of the alleged assault, I didnt report it because I didnt think it was rape.

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The not-guilty verdicts indicate that at least one juror believed the defense attorneys who said this sex was consensual. In other words, at least one juror heard Sciorras story, plus the gutting testimonies of five other women who say they were assaulted by Weinstein, and still thinks that Sciorra was lying on the stand, or perhaps that she was retroactively rape-ifying a bout of consensual, if unpleasant or regretted, sex. This is somewhat remarkable considering the fact that Weinstein has been accused of sexual harassment and assault by more than six dozen women, many with strikingly similar stories of manipulation, threats, and violation, though most of those women didnt testify in this trial. The vast majority will never get to face Weinstein in court, and hell never have to answer to most of their allegations. (Those who are eligible for a monetary settlement will receive a pittance.) Sciorras case was one of very few to make it before a jury. The acquittals on these two counts are disappointing.

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In sharing their stories, the participants in #MeToo tried to replace an impossibly narrow definition of sexual assault with a more accurate and expansive one.

One of the #MeToo movements core lessons is that sexual assault survivors are subject to the same cultural mythmaking around rape as everyone else. They absorb the same messages from people like Rotunno, who argue that if you enter a hotel room where a man is present, its your own fault if your night ends in sexual assaultthat if you werent pulled into an unmarked van by a stranger, bound, and gagged, you werent actually raped. The #MeToo movement caused many people to reevaluate sexual encounters from their pasts and reclassify some of them. Survivor after survivor processed the fact that even if theyd been on a dinner date, or had consensual sex a month later, or had dismissed it as bad sex, it didnt mean they hadnt been raped. They realized and then declared that just because a person didnt think he was raped at the time, or worked hard to convince himself he wasnt, that doesnt mean hes wrong when he later realizes that he was. In sharing their stories, the participants in #MeToo tried to replace an impossibly narrow definition of sexual assault with a more accurate and expansive one.

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With the not-guilty verdicts on the charges pegged to the Sciorra case, the Weinstein jury appears to have rejected this argument. No jurors have made their reasonings public yet, but I suspect that those who disbelieved Sciorra were swayed by the defenses contention that she didnt think shed been raped then, so they shouldnt believe her when she says shes been raped now. Or maybe they got hung up on the forcible compulsion component of the first-degree rape description, which required them to agree that Weinstein had made Sciorra feel that she (or someone else, technically) was in immediate risk of death, injury, or kidnapping. Never mind that this is exactly what she said Weinstein did.

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Whatever their thinking, the jurors decision to disbelieve Sciorra and let Weinstein off the hook on the predatory sexual assault charges will likely have a dramatic effect on his sentencing. It also makes it more difficult to interpret his conviction as a straightforward victory. Yes, Weinstein still faces charges in Los Angeles. But in Manhattan, the abuses and alleged abuses that were gruesome enough to launch an international movement against sexual harassment and assault were not enough to convict him of all the charges on the table.

When Sciorra first told her story to the New Yorker in 2017, she said she was partially motivated by the way some observers tried to downplay some of the initial allegations against Weinstein. O.K., you want rape? Heres fucking rape, she said at the time. On Monday, the jury said, fucking rape wasnt rape enough.
CAIRO  News about Egypt banning Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas political bureau, from returning to Cairo following his foreign tour was expected to stir a crisis between the Egyptian authorities and Hamas. However, a security delegation from the Egyptian General Intelligence Service completed its visit Feb. 12 to the Gaza Strip peacefully after meeting with Hamas leaders.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said in press statements that day that the Egyptian delegation met with Hamas chief in Gaza Yahya Sinwar and his deputy, Hamas political bureau member Khalil al-Hayya.

Qassem noted that the meetings focused on strengthening relations between the two sides, the Egyptian role to ease the Israeli siege on Gaza and the reconciliation between Palestinian factions," particularly Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Fatah in the West Bank.

As for Haniyeh, Hamas sources confirmed in a Feb. 2 press statement that he would continue to run the movement's political bureau, but would do so from Doha, so he can freely conduct his foreign trips, which are expected to continue until the end of 2020 or the beginning of 2021.

The announcement of Haniyeh settling in Qatar followed reports in the past month that the Egyptian authorities prevented his return from the foreign tour  which so far has included Qatar, Turkey, Iran and Malaysia  to Egypt, which is the only passage to Gaza via the Rafah border crossing.

Numerous statements from Hamas denied the reports.

However, a Palestinian journalist close to Hamas leaders told Al-Monitor they were fully aware that Egypt had asked Haniyeh not to travel to Tehran to participate in the funeral of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Qasem Soleimani. But Haniyeh deliberately violated this condition, making it difficult for Cairo to allow his return at present, he added.

The journalist, who asked for anonymity, said there are two possibilities concerning Haniyeh's issue with the Egyptian authorities. The first possibility is that Haniyeh traveled to Iran expecting that Egypt would later overlook this breach of its condition to avoid tense relations," he said.

He added, The second is that Haniyeh traveled to Iran while ignoring the Egyptian condition because he had made a decision, from the beginning, not to return to Egypt or Gaza, in light of Egypts restriction of his movement since 2017."

A source from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who preferred anonymity, said Egypt was not seeking to restrict Haniyeh's movements. Gaza lacks an Egyptian Consulate from which Gazans can get the required visas, he told Al-Monitor.

So even if Haniyeh had not visited Tehran, Gazans in general are not allowed to enter Egypt through any land, sea or air outlet except the Rafah land crossing  with the exception of those who hold another nationality or have residences in Egypt."

The Rafah crossing is managed by Egyptian Intelligence.

With the absence of the Palestinian Authority (PA) from Gaza, which has been under Hamas rule since 2007, the Agreement on Movement and Access, signed between the PA and Israel in 2005 to regulate the crossing's operation, was halted. Subsequently, the crossing should have been completely closed except for some exceptional cases approved by Egyptian Intelligence.

Since Haniyeh assumed the Hamas political bureau presidency in May 2017, replacing Khaled Meshaal, Egyptian border guards at the Rafah crossing have prevented Haniyeh from carrying out any visits outside Gaza, including to Egypt, except on three occasions.

The first and second were in September 2017 and February 2018 when he went to Cairo, but was prevented from embarking on his planned visits to Qatar and Turkey because he failed to carry an "exceptional" visa to allow him to reenter Egypt on his return. The third instance came in December 2019 when he was allowed to travel to Cairo, and later to Turkey, Qatar and Malaysia.

Despite many news reports that Haniyeh had agreed in advance not to visit Iran, and that Egypt was furious that he did so anyway, Haniyehs media adviser Taher al-Nono told Al-Monitor that was not the case. Haniyeh's planned visits, including to Iran, "were discussed before he left Egypt or even Gaza, as was his decision to move to Qatar, Nono said.

Nono denied any tensions between Egypt and Hamas that might have pushed Haniyeh to settle in Doha.

So, why did Egypt allow Haniyeh to leave on a foreign tour for the first time since 2017?

Mohamed Bahaa el-Din, a retired political science professor, told Al-Monitor that Egypt might have allowed Haniyeh to leave after learning from him or other Hamas leaders that he intends to settle in Doha.

Bahaa el-Din noted that Haniyeh has strong ties with Qatar, Turkey and Iran, all of which Egypt accuses of supporting and financing terrorism in the Sinai Peninsula. Therefore, Haniyehs presence in Gaza on the Sinai border could have been unwelcomed and Egyptian authorities preferred to expedite his absence [from Gaza], considering he might have supported those countries agenda. This was not the case with Sinwar and Hayya, who have rarely visited Qatar, Turkey or Iran, he said.

Haniyeh is not the first head of Hamas political bureau to settle in Qatar. In January 2012, Meshaal announced that he also settled in Qatar, without disclosing why.

The absence of both Haniyeh and Meshaal from the Gaza Strip may create greater opportunities for Egypt to implement its policy for solving the Palestinian crisis, especially since the crisis is likely to become further complicated since US President Donald Trump announced Jan. 28 the details of his proposal for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

The plan, which the United States calls the "deal of the century," was unanimously rejected by Palestinian factions.

Amr Helmy, a political science researcher at Cairo University, told Al-Monitor that Egypt may intend to counter the US plan diplomatically by reactivating the 1993 Oslo Accord, which is binding for both Israel and the PA.

The Oslo Accord gives a unified Palestinian authority the right to negotiate with Israel for an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 242. This contradicts Trump's plan, which would take away Palestinian lands, including most of East Jerusalem.

To reactivate the Oslo path, truce agreements between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza  most notably Hamas  should last until Palestinian factions [Hamas and Fatah] can reconcile, allowing presidential and parliamentary elections to be held in both Gaza and the West Bank with the aim to unify Palestinians under one authority. Haniyehs and Meshaals presence in Gaza was an obstacle to [a truce] with Israel, reconciliation with Fatah and holding elections, Helmy added.

Haniyeh had repeatedly threatened to halt the truce talks with Israel in the past, before the US peace plan was unveiled.

He and Meshaal were also at the head of the Hamas political bureau during the operation that resulted in the expulsion of PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah from Gaza in 2007, and the announcement of Hamas' defection from the Palestinian presidency. This resulted in a split into two Palestinian authorities: Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Fatah/Abbas in the West Bank.
By Laman Ismayilova

The third World Harmony International Competition of Young Performers has come to an end with a spectacular closing ceremony.

The large-scale project brought together young talents from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia and Ukraine.

Founded in 2017, the contest aims to discover young talents and promote classical music and folklore.

Speaking at the event, the project founder, president of the organization of the Union of Georgian Folklore and Classical Music "Harmony" Tsitsino Bichikashvili congratulated all participants and winners of the competition.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the project founder, President of Union of Georgian Folklore and Classical Music "Harmony" Tsitsino Bichikashvili stressed that the contest aims to expand its geography.

At the event, congratulation words were read out on behalf of the director of the State Philharmonic Hall, Peoples Artist of Azerbaijan Murad Adiozalov.

In his letter, Murad Adiozalov congratulated all contest participants and wished them further success.

Next, young talents were awarded with honorary diplomas.

Asim Rzazade (clarinet), Elmira Hasanova (vocal), Jamala Abdinzade and Nargiz Aliyeva (piano duo) were among the winners.

The competition was held for the second time in Vilnius, Lithuania in 2018. Next February, the 4th World Harmony competition will be held once again in Vilnius.

The contest was co-organized by the Georgian Union of Folklore and Classical Music "Harmony" and "Gnclr dstk" (Youth Support) project with the support of the Culture Ministry as well as Baku Music Academy and the National Conservatory.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Oscar-nominated writer-director Lee Daniels has made his choice for president in the 2020 election: On Tuesday he announced that hes supporting Pete Buttigieg.

The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, 38, is one of the leading candidates for the Democratic Partys nomination after winning the Iowa caucus and narrowly losing the New Hampshire primary earlier this month.

He faces a stiffer challenge ahead, however, against front-runner Sen. Bernie Sanders (who won New Hampshire and the Nevada caucus) and former Vice President Joe Biden, who aims to triumph in South Carolinas primary.

Buttigieg finished third in last weeks Nevada caucus behind Sanders and Biden and is making a push for another strong finish in this Saturdays vote in South Carolina. With his Iowa win, he made history as the first openly gay candidate to win a presidential nominating contest.

Daniels  who made a splash in Hollywood with his 2001 Halle Berry-starring film Monsters Ball, followed by 2009s Precious and 2013s The Butler and the hit TV series Empire  said in a statement shared with PEOPLE that he believes Buttigieg is the candidate who can lift the U.S. out from the divisive political landscape created by President Donald Trump.

RELATED: Every 2020 Presidential Candidate Celebrities Have Supported So Far

The next leader of our country has a daunting task ahead of them, but I believe that Pete is prepared to bring our country together to confront the biggest challenges we face, from dismantling systemic racism to passing gun violence prevention legislation and combating climate change, said Daniels, 60. This is the most critical election of our lifetimes, and I am supporting Pete because he is our best hope to unify the country to resoundingly defeat Trump and Trumpism at the ballot box in November.

Buttigieg has scored celebrity endorsements from the likes of Michael J. Fox, Sharon Stone, George Takei, Kevin Costner, Mandy Moore and Seth MacFarlane, among others.

Story continues

Lee Daniels has brought us powerful stories which examine the conscience of the country and reflect the struggles that too many American families face, Buttigieg said in his own statement on Tuesday. As a major fan of his career and his work, Im honored to have Lees support in this election. His ability to communicate the urgency of this moment and the need to bring about a new era is invaluable in this election.

Lee Daniels (left) and Pete Buttigieg | Gabriel Olsen/FilmMagic; Lorenzo Bevilaqua/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

The Democratic candidate and his 30-year-old husband, Chasten, recently opened up to PEOPLE about the campaign and their life together, including when they may be ready to start a family.

I obviously threw a wrench in our short-term plans, Buttigieg said last month. No matter what happens, I think the next chapter in our personal lives is going to be about kids.

RELATED: Pete Buttigiegs Next Chapter Is Starting a Family with Husband, No Matter What 2020 Brings

According to RealClear Politics, Mayor Pete  as hes become colloquially known to those unsure of pronouncing his last name  is currently fifth in national polling among the Democratic candidates, behind Sanders, Biden, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

He vaunted from a national unknown last year to rack up strong primary showings so far.

The candidates will be on stage again for a debate Tuesday night in Charleston, South Carolina, ahead of the primary there.

As voting continues, more and more celebrities are speaking out for their preferred candidates. Biden has gotten the support of Vivica A. Fox, Warren was picked by Megan Rapinoe and Bloomberg has the vote of Michael Douglas.
Sonora, CA  As the governors emergency plans for combatting homelessness roll out, those at the local forefront are hoping to combat resistance by explaining how bad things really are.

Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency (ATCAA) Shelter Director Denise Cloward, spoke with Clarke Broadcasting on Monday about some of the negative responses she has seen on social media over the past few days in response to Governor Gavin Newsoms actions last week.

One of them, as reported here, was releasing a list of state-owned properties with which local governments could apply to partner with the state to build out emergency shelter projects.

As ATCAA also serves as lead agency, Cloward is very involved within the Central Sierra Continuum of Care (COC), a four-county planning body for service providers and others serving the homeless communities in Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa, and Tuolumne. Over the past two years, it has received major funding awards for numerous programs and is building out a mutually shared database to better assist clients across county lines.

Among the Mother Lode-located properties on Newsoms list are Caltrans-owned parcels in Valley Springs near Warren Road in the 9800-block of Highway 26, in Sonora at 785 Mono Way, flanked by Greenley and Sanguinetti roads, and adjacent to Preston Castle in Amador.

Cloward acknowledges that she has not been monitoring comments on social media about the Valley Springs site but what she has seen regarding the latter two sites is perhaps 70 to 80 percent negative. Its never a question of helping the homeless, its always a question of when locating resources where will you put it, she says ruefully.

The Broadening Face Of Homelessness

While she says she understands how those choosing to avoid services with severe behavioral health and substance abuse issues impact peoples desire to not have shelters located near their homes or businesses, Cloward points to the broadening face of homelessness.

The senior population is growing so rapidly, many people are not being triaged correctly and communities are lumping everyone together into one negative homeless imagethe wage and equality issue is very real and the cost of rents is too high for the wages that people are making so people are falling into homelessnessit is not a choice.

Cloward believes that some who are among the angriest are those who are struggling to hold on to what they have themselves while others might not understand the enormity of the problem. As she puts it, Its hurting and forgetting all the so many more people that are over age 60, single moms with babies in campgrounds, people with cancer, people with domestic violence  these folks are now also outside because there are not enough places to go.

She stresses a very real need for people to understand that the problem will not go away but only continue to grow if it is not adequately addressed and that the COC partnering entities are all working hard and having success with many of the programs and services that are already being delivered through the communities.

We need to let everyone know, especially the local boards of supervisors that we very much understand the pressures that are falling on local government to make noticeable changes, and we are readywe want to share the data because we have a regional system of care that is collecting all that information, so they can see it for what it really is and look at the gaps.

It really has come down to educating residents about local needs and having communities working together to develop what they need, Cloward says. Whether or not a local government chooses to build out one of the listed sites for emergency shelter, if we have clear planning, and we have coordination and we have accountability we can really do something good in these communities to make a difference.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pie Insurance, one of the fastest-growing insurtechs in the country, today announced it has expanded its workers' compensation insurance offering to Alaska and Missouri. These two additions increase Pie's coverage area to 34 states and the District of Columbia.

Alaska is home to more than 16,000 small businesses1 while Missouri contains more than 120,0002. Despite their differences in size, the two economies both rely heavily on the success of their entrepreneurial workforces. Healthcare, food service, and retail small businesses are among the most successful ventures in both states.

"We're delighted to launch coverage in Alaska and Missouri," says John Swigart, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Pie. "Starting now, the states' small business owners can get a quote in three minutes and get covered in as little as a day."

Pie not only offers a simple and secure alternative to traditional insurance shopping, it also works directly with small business owners to help them save up to 30%. With the addition of Alaska and Missouri, the insurtech is on track to provide coast-to-coast coverageand savingsby the end of 2020.

About Pie Insurance

Pie Insurance provides workers' compensation insurance directly to small businesses and also partners with local, regional, and national insurance agencies to provide coverage to their clients. The company began offering policies in 2018 with a goal of helping small businesses experience true savings and an unmatched level of service. Pie operates as a managing general agency for Sirius America Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Sirius Group, offering A.M. Best "A" (Excellent) rated workers' compensation insurance. Pie's investors include SVB Capital, Greycroft, Aspect Ventures, Sirius Group, Moxley Holdings, and Elefund.

1 U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, 2019 Small Business Profile, Alaska, small businesses with 1-499 employees.

2 U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, 2019 Small Business Profile, Missouri, small businesses with 1-499 employees.

SOURCE Pie Insurance

Related Links

pieinsurance.com


The writer and director of Jurassic World 3 has finally revealed the title of the 2021 dinosaur sequel.

Colin Trevorrow took to Instagram to inform fans that the sixth Jurassic Park film will be called Jurassic World: Dominion.

Colin uploaded a snap of a production assistant clutching a clapper board on set in Canada, with the movie's title emblazoned across it, as day one of filming commenced.

Finally revealed! Jurassic Park: Dominion is the name of the sixth Jurassic Park film, as announced by director Colin Trevorrow

He simply captioned this: 'Day One #JurassicWorld'

The movie serves as the second sequel to Jurassic World, and is the sixth film overall in the series.

It will be released in June 2021 and follow on from the events of 2018's Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

This might come as a shock to some fans, after Trevorrow suggested the subtitle of the film could be 'A New Era' or 'Edge Of Chaos'.

Far from blue! The movie serves as the second sequel to Jurassic World, and is the sixth film overall in the series

At the helm: Colin is the man responsible for resurrecting the Jurassic Park franchise - and teased that he had decided what Jurassic World 3 would be called last month

Last month, a fan appeared to have guessed the movie's title during a casual discussion on Twitter. Trevorrow responded to a thread which saw movie buffs speculating what the film will be officially called, with one fan's guess apparently proving to be right.

The filmmaker was tagged in the debate and replied: 'Wow, somebody in this thread actually got it. Respect.'

But 'Dominion' was not on the list - with the 26 guesses ranging from the more fathomable 'Survival' and 'Chaos Effect' to the less-realistic 'Rex In The City' and 'You Asked for It Humans'.

Teasers: While Trevorrow did not reveal the title last month, he confirmed on Twitter that he had a name in mind

Colin is the man responsible for resurrecting the Jurassic Park franchise - and teased that he had decided what Jurassic World 3 would be called last month.

One fan asked him directly: 'By any chance, do you already have a potential title in mind -- or is that something that evolves over time?'

To which he answered: 'Ive got it.'

He clarified at the time what the title won't be. Many had speculated the film to be called Jurassic World: Extinction, as most of the dinosaurs from the film's Isla Nublar were killed in a volcano eruption during Fallen Kingdom, with the ones that managed to escape thought to be targeted in the next part of the story.

Red herring? Last month Trevorrow suggested the subtitle of the film could be 'A New Era' or 'Edge Of Chaos'

Correct! Responding to a thread which saw movie buffs speculating what the film will be officially called, one fan's guess proved to be right, according to screenwriter/director

But Trevorrow was sure to set this straight.

A fan posted: 'I hope to GOD it isn't Jurassic World Extinction. Its such a obvious and cliche title [sic].'

To which Trevorrow clarified: 'It isnt.'

While most details are sparse regarding the next chapter in the iconic franchise - which began in 1993 with Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park, based on the novel of the same name by author Michael Crichton - other details have leaked over the last few weeks.

Next year: The movie will be released in June 2021 and follow on from the events of 2018's Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Canada's British Columbia will serve as a location - with principal photography already taking place at Cathedral Grove on Vancouver Island. Malta, including the capital Valletta, will also play host, as will Pinewood Studios, in England's Buckinghamshire, as well as O'ahu, Hawaii.

The latter suggests an island-setting will be involved, despite the destruction of Isla Nublar in Fallen Kingdom. The plot is expected to focus on the dinosaurs escaping on mainland USA. Could they be rounded up and returned back to the tropics in the film?

Casting for Jurassic World 3 has set fans of the franchise buzzing, after it was confirmed original stars Laura Dern, Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum will star alongside Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt.

Returning stars: Trevorrow will bring back Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt for the next film [pictured in 2019]

Back again: Casting for Jurassic World 3 has set fans of the franchise buzzing, after it was confirmed original stars Laura Dern, Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum will star [pictured in Jurassic Park with the late Richard Attenborough]

Goldblum will be back as Dr. Ian Malcolm for the fourth time and said in a recent interview on Virgin Radio that he 'can't wait' to get started on the movie with original Jurassic Park stars Neill and Dern.

He said: 'We're gonna do another one of those [Jurassic Park films] around these parts come this summer. Colin Trevorrow as the great director is going to be writing and directing it. And I can't wait.'

Trevorrow, 43, admitted recently that he always wanted to include the original cast in the new trilogy, but there needed to be a logical reason to get them back.

Speaking in Empire Magazine's 2020 preview issue, he said: 'We'd have had to come up with a reason why Ellie, Malcolm and Grant all went to the theme park on the exact same day it broke down - again.

Back again: Goldblum is set to return to the dinosaur franchise as Dr. Ian Malcolm for the fourth time and he 'can't wait' to get started [pictured in Jurassic Park]

What to expect? Laura Dern and Sam Neill return to the franchise for the first time since 2001's Jurassic Park III

'The next film allows the legacy characters to be part of the story in an organic way. I call it Jurassic Park VI because it is.'

Colin went on to admit that the filmmakers have also been considering how the characters have changed since their last appearances.

He said: 'You start asking the most basic questions: who are those people now? What do they make of the new world they're living in, and how do they feel about being part of its history?'

Jurassic World 3 is set for a June 2021 release.
CAIROHosni Mubarak, the Egyptian leader who for nearly 30 years was the resolute face of stability in the Mideast before being forced by the military to resign after 18-day nationwide protests that were part of the Arab worlds 2011 pro-democracy upheaval, died on Tuesday, the countrys state-run TV said. He was 91.

Throughout his rule, he was a stalwart U.S. ally, a bulwark against Islamic militancy, and guardian of Egypts peace with Israel. But to the tens of thousands of young Egyptians who rallied for 18 days of unprecedented street protests in Cairos central Tahrir Square and elsewhere in 2011, Mubarak was a relic, a latter-day pharaoh.

They were inspired by the Tunisian revolt, and harnessed the power of social media to muster tumultuous throngs, unleashing popular anger over the graft and brutality that shadowed his rule.

In the end, with millions massed in Tahrir Square and other city centers around the country, and even marching to the doorstep of Mubaraks palace, the military that long nurtured him pushed him aside on Feb. 11, 2011. The generals took power, hoping to preserve what they could of the system he headed.

The state TV said Mubarak died at a Cairo hospital where he had undergone an unspecified surgery. The report said he had health complications but offered no other details. One of his sons, Alaa, announced over the weekend that the former president was in intensive care after undergoing surgery.

Though Tunisias president fell before him, the ouster of Mubarak was the more stunning collapse in the face of the Arab Spring shaking regimes across the Arab world.

He was convicted along with his former security chief on June 2012 and sentenced to life in prison for failing to prevent the killing of some 900 protesters who rose up against his autocratic regime in 2011. Both appealed the verdict and a higher court later cleared them in 2014.

The acquittal stunned many Egyptians, thousands of whom poured into central Cairo to show their anger against the court.

The following year, Mubarak and his two sonswealthy businessman Alaa and Mubaraks one-time heir apparent Gamalwere sentenced to three years in prison on corruption charges during a retrial. The sons were released in 2015 for time served, while Mubarak walked free in 2017.

Since his arrest in April 2011, Mubarak spent the nearly six years in jail in hospitals. Following his release, he was taken to an apartment in Cairos Heliopolis district.

For the man who was long untouchableeven a word of criticism against him in the media was forbidden for much of his ruleprison was a shock. When he was flown from the court to Torah Prison in Cairo in 2011, he cried in protest and refused to get out of the helicopter.

Over the years, Mubarak tinkered with reform but shunned major change, presenting himself as Egypts sole protection against Islamic militancy and sectarian division. The United States tried pushing him harder for reforms, but succeeded only in alienating him. Fearful of losing its alliance with the most powerful Arab country, Washington backed off.

But the failure to fulfill repeated promises of change steadily deepened public despair, and those seeking a democratic future were dismayed to see Mubarak making apparent moves to set up a dynastic succession in the shape of his businessman son, Gamal Mubarak.

Hosni Mubarak, born in May 1928, was vice president on Oct. 14, 1981, when his mentor, President Anwar Sadat, was assassinated by Islamic extremists while reviewing a military parade. Seated next to Sadat, Mubarak escaped with a minor hand injury as gunmen sprayed the reviewing stand with bullets. Eight days later, the brawny former air force commander was sworn in as president, promising continuity and order.

By Samy Magdy
Eamonn Holmes has lost his tax case against HMRC (PA)

Eamonn Holmes could face an enormous tax bill after he lost a court case against HMRC.

The 60-year-old TV and radio presenter - who has hosted This Morning with wife Ruth Langsford on Fridays and during school holidays since 2006 - claimed he worked freelance for ITV, but a tribunal ruled he was effectively employed by the network.

A spokesperson for Holmes said in a statement to ContractorCalculator: Eamonn has always considered himself a self-employed freelancer and has never knowingly avoided paying taxes. He is taking the time to understand the extensive document detailing the outcome.

Like many people across the country and from many different professions, he is seeking to comprehend what this means; and simply wishes for clarity and consistency across the guidelines so that people dont suffer the same confusion over these retrospective IR35 rulings.

Read more: Eamonn Holmes and wife Ruth Langsford joke about erectile dysfunction

Eamonn Holmes rehularly presents 'This Morning' with wife Ruth Langsford (AP)

The former GMTV and Sky News Sunrise presenter was paid for his work on This Morning via his company, Red, White and Green Limited.

But tribunal Judge Harriet Morgan concluded that there was sufficient mutuality of obligation (MOO) and, at least a sufficient framework of control to place the assumed relationship between ITV and Mr Holmes in the employment field.

Holmes is consulting with his lawyers before he makes a decision to appeal the ruling, which applies to the 2011/12 and 2014/15 tax years.

Holmes, who received an OBE in 2018, has previously said he was a test case in HMRC's crackdown on freelance workers, claiming if they won against him they would go after everyone else.

He said: I was in a court in central London for a week in June. I've been freelance for 28 years and that's been okay.

Eamonn Holmeswas presented with his OBE for services to broadcasting by the Queen in 2018 (PA)

Now they've said it's not okay. They have reinvented the rules in the past couple of years. There is nobody more freelance than me, but they are trying to prove our jobs are regular and guaranteed. They could go at any moment.

Story continues

Read more: Eamonn Holmes fights back tears as he addresses wifes absence

As well as his current presenting role on This Morning Holmes hosted a weekly radio show on TalkRadio from January 2018 to February 2020. He and wife Langsford also wrote a joint coumn for Best magazine.

Last year Lorraine Kelly dodged a 1.2million tax bill for her ITV work after a judge ruled shes performing the role of a friendly, chatty and fun personality, rather than appearing as herself.

The HMRC has pursued other stars over the use of personal service companies and former BBC Look North presenter Christa Ackroyd lost an appeal and was ordered to pay a 420,000 tax bill.

Yahoo UK has contacted Holmes representatives for comment.
LANSING, MI -- Lottery players in the Saginaw area may want to check their lottery tickets as someone bought a Lucky for Life ticket that is now worth $25,000 a year for the rest of their life. The lucky winner matched all five numbers drawn -- 3-27-33-44-48 -- in Monday nights drawing to win the prize.

The ticket was old at the 7-Eleven store located at 2032 Bay Street in Saginaw. This marks the 28th time someone from Michigan has won the $25,000 a year for life prize. The lucky winner now has two options on how they can claim the prize. The winner may elect to receive their prize as:

Annual $25,000 payments for a minimum of 20 years or life, whichever is greater, or

A one-time lump sum cash payment of $390,000

The winner must contact the Michigan Lottery Public Relations Division at 517-373-1237 to schedule an appointment to collect their winnings. The prize must be claimed at the Lotterys headquarters in Lansing and must be claimed within one year of the drawing date. If the prize is not claimed within a year, the prize money will go to the state school aid fund.

To play Lucky for Life players must try to match all five winning numbers ranging from 1 to 48, plus one Lucky Ball ranging from 1 to 18. If you match all five white numbers and the Lucky Ball, you win $1,000 a day for the rest of your life. If you match all five winning numbers, but not the Lucky Ball, you win $25,000 a year for life.
Korean Air is not offering refunds to flights to South Korea as of Tuesday.

Kate Taylor/Business Insider

Korean Air is not offering refunds on flights on flights to South Korea, even as the country struggles with the most severe outbreak of coronavirus outside China.

The airline is making exceptions for flights to China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, or for passengers who would be affected by disease-related travel bans.

On Tuesday, Korean Air announced that a flight attendant had tested posted for coronavirus.

The CDC recently issued a warning telling American travelers that they should avoid all non-essential travel to South Korea.

There have been 893 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in South Korea as of Tuesday.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Korean Air is not offering refunds to flights to South Korea, even after a flight attendant tested positive for coronavirus and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised against non-essential travel there.

On Tuesday, Korean Air announced that a flight attendant tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.

A representative for the airline told Business Insider that Korean Air is taking measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus including disinfecting aircraft and self-quarantining flight attendants with symptoms.

Details of the routes and flights of the Korean Air flight attendant who was infected with the coronavirus have not bee released.

As of Tuesday, Korean Air is not offering refunds to customers who booked tickets to travel to South Korea, a representative confirmed to Business Insider.

Travelers are flooding Korean Air's social media with attempts to cancel flights

On Monday, the CDC issued a level three travel advisory for South Korea, telling travelers to avoid all non-essential travel to the country.

Korean health officials reported 60 new confirmed cases of coronavirus and one additional death in South Korea on Tuesday morning. That bring the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 893, with eight dead.

Story continues

The airline's social media has been flooded with people trying to get a refund on tickets or change their flights.

"Hi, I am trying to contact Korean Air service centre to cancel tickets to Korea," said one Facebook comment on Tuesday.

"It is impossible to get connected to your service representative! I was waiting on hold forever the past 2 days," reads another Facebook comment. "I have a reservation to fly to Korea in May and [am] very concerned about the current situation."

One person tweeted at Korean Air: "hi are you gonna cancel flights and refund ??? my mom wants to cancel but i think the 100usd cancellation fee is ridiculous considering that this is an unforeseen circumstance that she has no control over."

"I would like to know about flight cancellations and refunds due to coronavirus situation," tweeted another. "One of your cabin crew is confirmed positive with the virus and I am not confident in flying with Korean Air."

Korean Air is offering refunds on certain flights impacted by the coronavirus. The airline is offering refunds on tickets for flights through China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan purchased before January 28.

Additionally, Korean Air is offering refunds to passengers with "entry restriction regarding novel coronavirus," meaning if you can get a refund if you have recently visited a country for which another country issued a travel ban.

For example, if you recently visited China, you can get a refund on your flight into the US, which has barred foreigners who have visited China in the last 14 days.

The International Air Transport Association said on Thursday that it expects global air-traffic demand to fall roughly 4.7% in 2020 from its previously predicted figures for the year, due primarily to the coronavirus.

The IATA is forecasting a 8.2% year-over-year reduction in demand in the Asia-Pacific region, resulting in a $27.8 billion revenue loss.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 20:12:51|Editor: huaxia

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MAPUTO, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Mozambican national flag carrier Linhas Aereas de Mocambique (LAM) announced on Tuesday that it will resume flights from Maputo to Lisbon and vice versa in June this year.

LAM has not operated direct flights to Lisbon since 2011 allegedly due to security deficiencies.

"The route was introduced decades ago, but because of operational and commercial reasons it was interrupted, but now we have all the conditions in place to resume the operations", said Joao Carlos Jorge, the General Director of LAM at a press conference in Maputo.

According to Jorge, Mozambique have commercial relations with European countries such as Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and England and the flight resumption is intended to serve this market.

In 2019, Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi said that LAM could resume flights in March 2020, during a state visit to Portugal.

The Maputo-Lisbon route will also be used by people traveling to other countries in Europe, said Jorge, considering it is sustainable and competitive.
New Yorks assessment tool should likewise be clear, reviewable and studied annually so that it similarly guards against racial bias.

As with bail, reforms to New Yorks discovery laws were long overdue. We agree with the Legislature that individuals charged with a crime should have access to vital evidence against them to defend themselves.

But we strongly believe that more flexibility is needed in the discovery process. The new law requires the disclosure of every single item of information in every case without regard to the seriousness of the case or the relevance of the information, or whether the case is going to trial, within 15 days.

This mandate has placed insurmountable burdens on the criminal justice system. Our assistant district attorneys now find themselves spending all of their time tracking down tangential information that may never be used in court. This has begun to result in important cases being dismissed because we are unable to produce every single piece of information within the rigid time frame set by the new law. Based on our analysis, no other state in the country requires prosecutors to turn over this volume of information, in so short a time, and none ties discovery deadlines to the prosecutions declaration that it is ready to proceed, which is required under the states speedy-trial rule. This can threaten prosecutions, because the speedy-trial rule sets time limits for when criminal cases must be ready for trial or be dismissed.

We propose several reasonable and sensible adjustments to the law that will meet the important goals of the reform  that no one is forced to take a plea simply to get out of jail, or face a trial or plea decision without the relevant information about the charges. They will also relieve the burden that the new law has placed on our ability to do justice in individual cases.

We propose that shorter disclosure timelines apply to individuals who are jailed before trial. For defendants who are not in jail, we propose longer deadlines for the provision of the information.

Additionally, we propose that the Legislature revisit the items of discovery that the new law requires prosecutors to turn over, prioritizing information to be used at trial and applying a relevance test to other discovery requirements, subject to a judges approval when challenged by the defense. Again, looking to other states would be instructive  no other state requires anything close to the amount of discovery New Yorks law now does.
All life is challenged by oxidants  reactive molecules or compounds that remove electrons from other molecules  often with adverse effect, commonly referred to as oxidative stress. Consequently, all organisms have evolved specialized antioxidant defenses. In humans and other multicellular animals, that defense depends upon a protein called NRF2 and its inhibitor, KEAP1.

In a new study, published February 24, 2020 in the Journal of Hepatology, a team of scientists, led by postdoctoral fellows Feng He, PhD, and Laura Antonucci, PhD, and senior author Michael Karin, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Pharmacology and Pathology at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, suggest prolonged exposure to NRF2 and KEAP1 may contribute to enlargement of the liver and fatty liver diseases.

NRF2 (Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) is the master regulator of the antioxidant response. When cells are healthy and unstressed by oxidants, levels of NRF2 are kept low by KEAP1 (Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1), which is constantly degrading NRF2.

But in response to oxidative stress, KEAP1 is inactivated, releasing NRF2 from its inhibitory grip. NRF2 levels subsequently build within the cell with the protein entering the nucleus, where it stimulates expression of numerous genes that code for enzymes and other proteins that detoxify harmful oxidants.

By being able to reduce the devastating impact of oxidative stress, the KEAP1-NRF2 system has long been thought to protect us from cancer and aging, said Karin. And much effort has been dedicated to the development of NRF2 activators for cancer prevention and age-related diseases. Many such compounds are being sold at health food stores as anti-aging remedies.

But research in recent years has found that several cancers, including liver and lung cancers, harbor mutations that decouple NRF2 from KEAP1, suggesting that persistent NRF2 activation may not be such a good thing after all. Some researchers now believe cancer cells may actually use NRF2 to protect themselves from radiation and chemotherapeutics.

Using a new mouse model whose liver cells express a KEAP1-resistant form of NRF2, Karin and collaborators found that persistent activation of NRF2 in these mice resulted in rapid and dramatic enlargement of the liver, known as hepatomegaly. In humans, hepatomegaly can appear after insulin overdosing, exposure to various toxins, certain viral and bacterial infections or as an indicator of an underlying disease, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Because NRF2-induced hepatomegaly is similar to insulin-induced hepatomegaly, which relies upon activation of a protein kinase called AKT, the research team investigated the involvement of insulin and AKT in NRF2-induced hepatomegaly.

Although no evidence for excessive insulin production was uncovered, the scientists found that AKT (otherwise known as Protein kinase B) was activated in livers expressing the degradation-resistant form of NRF2. The scientists also discovered that inhibiting AKT produced complete reversal of hepatomegaly and rapid restoration of normal liver size and physiology in the mice. And that chronic NRF2 activation causes persistent production of growth factors that activate AKT.

Working with co-corresponding author Beicheng Sun, MD, a liver surgeon at Nanjing University Medical School in China, the team also reported that human hepatomegaly that is caused by either toxin exposure or autoimmune hepatitis also entails NRF2 activation, enhanced growth factor signaling and stimulation of AKT activity.

In addition to liver enlargement, the scientists said persistent NRF2 activation produced excessive fat and glycogen accumulation, suggesting that NRF2 may also be involved in fatty liver disease, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis  common metabolic disorders affecting millions of Americans.

The new findings, said Karin, suggest that AKT inhibitors, some of which have already been evaluated in humans for their anti-cancer activity, may be effective in the treatment and reversal of hepatomegaly, which affects more than 200 million persons worldwide.

Co-authors include: Shinichiro Yamachika, Zechuan Zhang, Koji Taniguchi and Atsushi Umemura, all at UC San Diego; Georgia Hatzivassiliou and Merone Roose-Girma, Genentech; Miguel Reina-Campos, Angeles Duran Molina, Maria T. Diaz-Meco and Jorge Moscat, Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute.

Funding and support for this research came, in part, from the Superfund Basic Research Program (P42-ES010337), the National Institutes of Health (grants P01-DK098108, R01-CA118165, R37-AI043477, P01-CA128814, R01-CA211794, R01-CA192642, R01-DK108743 and R01-CA211794), C3 Pedal the Cause, the National Key Research and Development Program of China (grant 2016YFC0905900), the State Key Program of National Natural Science Foundation (grant 81430062), and the Eli Lilly LIFA program.
By Trend

The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project is highly significant for Italy, as well as for the whole of the EU, Ziba Norman, director of the UK Transatlantic & Caucasus Studies Institute, told Trend.

Italy is now the third largest economy in the EU and the second largest consumer of gas in the EU after German since Brexit. The ability to diversify sources is therefore important for Italy, as well as the EU. After a low point in 2014, Italys consumption of gas has steadily increased, but this, as we can see, is about more than Italys own consumption of gas. The 8.8 billion cubic meters projected for 2020 could provide for roughly 10 percent of Italys total consumption, or even more as supplies can be easily increased, she said.

Norman went on to add that gas should be welcomed as it is one of the cleaner forms of energy, and will reduce the usage of coal and other more polluting sources.

It is highly likely that consumption, due to the CoVID-19 could be down worldwide, though longer term prospects and demand for gas should continue to be strong. It is important for Italy to be able to establish itself as an entry point for Europe. Equally, it is also significant for Azerbaijan as this deepens its ties with the the EU, added the expert.

Italy will receive 8.8 billion cubic meters of gas via TAP, with supplies expected by late 2020. TAP project is 92 percent complete as of late January.

TAP project, worth 4.5 billion euros, is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union (EU). The project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz Stage 2 to the EU countries.

Connecting with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Greek-Turkish border, TAP will cross Northern Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea before coming ashore in Southern Italy to connect to the Italian natural gas network.

The project is currently in its construction phase, which started in 2016.

Once built, TAP will offer a direct and cost-effective transportation route opening up the vital Southern Gas Corridor, a 3,500-kilometer long gas value chain stretching from the Caspian Sea to Europe.

TAP shareholders include BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam S.p.A. (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday exuded confidence after talks with US President Donald Trump that a big trade deal with the United States will yield good results.

We have agreed to initiate negotiations for a big trade deal. We are confident that it will yield good results. Both of us have decided that our teams should give legal shape to these trade talks, he said after his talks with Trump at the Hyderabad House.

US President Donald Trumps India visit Day 2: Follow live updates here

India and the US are committed to openness, fair and balanced trade. Our bilateral trade has witnessed double-digit growth in the last three years, and has also become more balanced, Modi said.

India and the US have so far failed to reach an agreement on their trade dispute despite ongoing talks. The US wants 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.

After his meeting with Modi, Trump said, There was focus on having comprehensive trade deal. On Monday at the Namaste Trump event in Ahmedabad, Trump had described Modi as a very tough negotiator.

Ahead of his visit, Trump himself had said that he was saving the big deal with India for later.

Although a trade deal is some distance away, the American President said he was happy with the defence deals.

Earlier today we expanded our defence cooperation with agreements for India to purchase more than $3 billion of advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo Helicopters - finest in the world. These will enhance our joint defence capabilities.

Earlier in the day, Trump was accorded a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. He and First lady Melania Trump then visited Rajghat before his talks with Modi.
Brigadier Gen. Philip Kearny fought in four wars while he was alive and now hes embroiled in another 158 years after his death.

Youve probably been reading how upset Kearny residents were to learn the statue of their hero and the man for whom their town was named, might be kicked out of Statuary Hall in Congress and replaced by suffragist Alice Paul.

Nobody objects to another woman in Statuary Hall but many folks want to know who decided and why they werent notified, and even more want to know who the heck was Gen. Kearny.

The second question is easier to answer than the first.

Born in New York City in 1815 to a wealthy family (his father was a founder of the New York Stock Exchange), he later moved to New Jersey near the then-blurry border between Newark and Belleville, where he married and had one child.

But he had always wanted to be a soldier. His family had talked him out of attending West Point, so he enrolled in Columbia College and got a law degree. Then he enlisted.

He started as second lieutenant in the U.S. Dragoons based in Leavenworth, Kansas, and was later sent to Cavalry School in France to prepare to establish cavalry training for American forces. However, teaching horsemanship was too dull for him, so he returned to France, joining the Chasseurs dAfrique Regiment to fight Arabs in Algiers. Back in the U.S. after that war, he obtained a position on the staff of Gen. Winfield Scott as captain of a military unit that had untrained troops and no funding.

He was miserable. He went to Springfield, Illinois, to ask Abe Lincoln for money for his troops, but, disappointed, he decided just to pay them himself. Once they were trained and fitted-out, Gen. Scott took them back, leaving Kearny out in the cold, unreimbursed, and angry.

He fought anyway. During the battle of Churubusco in Mexico, he was hit in the left elbow by cannon fire and his arm was amputated. He still wouldnt quit, so the Army promoted him to major and put him in charge of recruitment in New York, where the poor guy got smallpox.

Was he finally finished?

Not a chance. Known by then as the One-Armed Devil, he held the reins in his teeth and waved his sword with his hand while he fought Indians in California, fought Italians for France, was awarded the Croix de Guerre, and then moved on to fight in the Crimea.

Returning to the states, he enlarged his home on what is now known as Belgrove Drive, Kearny, and amassed a collection of paintings by American artists while experiencing a domestic scandal, a divorce, and a new marriage. Then the American Civil War broke out and he jumped back into action.

Lincoln, president by then, put Kearny in command of a New Jersey regiment to fight in northern Virginia. In September 1862 his troops were ambushed by Confederate fighters and he was shot in the spine and killed.

Hes now buried in Arlington Cemetery, and in 1888 the New Jersey Legislature chose him as one of two heroes to represent our state in Statuary Hall of Congress.

Each state is limited to two statues there and theres been a recent move to exclude confederate leaders and include more women. Legislation was introduced in January as an emergency in the New Jersey Senate to bump Kearny for Paul. The Assembly hasnt voted on it yet and the governor will have the final say, so theres still time for Gen. Kearny and his supporters to fight on to preserve his place in history.

A former assemblywoman from Jersey City, Joan Quigley is the president and CEO of North Hudson Community Action Corp.

Submit letters to the editor and guest columns at jjletters@jjournal.com.
Doris Rink believes she is part of living history and wants to put a price on it -- $1.75 million, to be exact. Shell also throw in historical artifacts found in and around the log cabin she has lived in for the last 47 years in the Gibbstown section of Greenwich, built in 1638 and listed in the state and national historic registry, for an extra $1.2 million.

It is for sale, as it has been for the past three years.

The 1,800 square-foot dwelling includes an upstairs addition from the 1700s and some modern amenities, such as central air conditioning, even in the 382-year-old log cabin. It sits on 1.3 acres near a creek, just off of busy Swedesboro Road in Gloucester County, 49 miles southeast of Philadelphia.

Rink, 76, wants to live here for the remainder of her life. Her hope is that an investor or an institution will see the value she and her husband, who died last year, had seen in the structure, which historians regard as one of the oldest dwellings in its original locations in North America.

My selling point is I hope they will fall in love with this place as much as I have, Rink said this week. You really feel like youre really a living part of history living in this property. I reflect on what life was like back in the 17th century.

Rink and her husband Harry, who was 89 when he died, had poured their own money and know-how into maintaining the historic property. Doris said they would also occasionally get historic preservation grants for major repairs like a roof.

They willingly gave free tours of the 16-by-22 foot cabin, including once at 2:30 a.m. to a busload of tourists from New Hampshire. The bus driver was once a neighbor and Doris said though she was sound asleep when the bus pulled up, she and Harry proudly showed off the cabin and its artifacts including some 17th Century ironwork.

But not everyone sees the inherent value in what is known as the Nothnagle Log Cabin. The assessed property value where it is located in Greenwich is $156,400.

Obviously the owner has a longtime connection to that property and feels its worth a little bit more than what the market does, Gloucester County Tax Assessor Craig Black said Friday. What were evaluating is market value. Were not going to assess a historic value to that property. You couldnt do that for tax purposes.

But Margaret Westfield, a historical architect, has evaluated Nothnagle Cabin and sees its value.

Within the context of South Jersey it is one of the most, if not the most important structure still standing, Westfield said. It is one of a kind and built so early and it is still intact. It is irreplaceable. You cant understand it from a picture. You have to stand in it and understand people lived in this space.

Westfield said she thinks the property should be acquired and preserved by local, county and state officials.

The Rinks were asking for $2.9 million in 2017 when the cabin went on the market. Doris said she agreed to reduce the price to $1.75 million without the artifacts but would include them for an additional $1.2 million. She also said her willingness to not live out here days here also factored into the price.

But she reasons whoever buys it may want her to stick around as a tour guide and onsite historian.

Rink said they had a few inquiries into the property when it was originally listed but hopes the reduced price will stir interest again.

I want everything in place when I die so it will last a long time, Harry told the New York Times in 2000. I like to have the school kids here and I show them how people lived and what they grew in the area.

The cabins original logs are practically all intact, constructed in what is called a full dovetail meaning the corners are carved at an angle and are bonded together without nails. The foundation bricks are believed to have been ballast for ships carrying the Swedish/Finnish settlers who built the cabin.

When Harry was young, he helped his aunt and uncle, the previous owners, maintain the cabin including making mortar out of clay and mud to patch space between the logs. He eventually bought it from them in 1968 and Doris moved in six years later and has lived there since.

Its one of a kind, listing agent Christina Huang said. No one knows more about the cabin than they do.

Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bduhart. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

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LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Today's Daily Dose brings you news about NGM Biopharma's phase II NASH study results, Moderna's Coronavirus program, COCRYSTAL's focus on COVID-19 coronavirus and norovirus, Lipocine's update on the New Drug Application of TLANDO, growing woes of Mallinckrodt, and Takeda Pharma's date with FDA, among others.



Read on.



Shares of COCRYSTAL PHARMA INC. (COCP) jumped over 160% on Monday, following a license agreement with Kansas State University Research Foundation to further develop certain proprietary broad-spectrum antiviral compounds for the treatment of Norovirus and Coronavirus infections.



The agreement enables Cocrystal to secure an exclusive, royalty-bearing right and license to certain antiviral compounds for humans covered by KSURF's patents. (KSURF is Kansas State University Research Foundation).



Cocrystal intends to pursue research and development of the antiviral compounds, including preclinical and clinical development.



'This license agreement opens several development opportunities for us to expand the broad utility of our platform to address significant viruses for which there are unmet medical needs, particularly the COVID-19 coronavirus and norovirus,' commented Dr. Sam Lee, President of Cocrystal.



COCP closed Monday's trading at $1.33, up 166.53%. In after-hours, the stock gained another 27.82% and was at $1.70.



Shares of Enlivex Therapeutics Ltd. (ENLV) gapped open 32% above the prior day's close after the Company announced that it is initiating a plan to increase its manufacturing capacity of Allocetra, in preparation for potential treatment of Coronavirus (COVID-19) patients with organ failure.



Allocetra is an experimental therapy being investigated for the treatment of patients with organ failure associated with sepsis, a syndrome whose lethal pathophysiology - cytokine storm followed by organ failure - is similar to that of the coronavirus (COVID-19).



As previously announced, the Company is slated to initiate a phase I/II clinical trial of Allocetra for sepsis and a phase II /III trial of Allocetra for the prevention of GvHD in patients who undergo bone-marrow transplantations this year.



However, towards the closing of the trade, the shares took a hit after the Company announced it has entered into definitive agreements with certain institutional investors for the purchase in a registered direct offering of an aggregate of 1 million ordinary shares of the Company at a purchase price of $8.00 per share.



The gross proceeds to the Company from the offering, slated to close on February 26, are expected to be $8.0 million.



ENLV closed Monday's trading at $8.73, down 6.33%.



GlaxoSmithKline plc's (GSK) supplemental New Drug Application seeking approval of Zejula for first-line maintenance treatment for women with platinum-responsive advanced ovarian cancer has been accepted for review by the FDA.



The application is being reviewed under the FDA's Real-Time Oncology Review pilot program.



Zejula is currently approved in the U.S. as a maintenance treatment for women with recurrent ovarian cancer who are in response to platinum-based chemotherapy regardless of BRCA mutation status. It is also approved as a treatment for women with advanced ovarian cancer, following three or more chemotherapy regimens.



Zejula came under GlaxoSmithKline's fold, following the acquisition of TESARO Inc. in January 2019. Sales of Zejula were 229 million in the period from the date of acquisition till December 31, 2019.



GSK closed Monday's trading at $41.92, down 2.69%.



Lipocine Inc. (LPCN) is all set to submit its New Drug Application for TLANDO, an oral testosterone product candidate for testosterone replacement therapy in adult males for conditions associated with a deficiency of endogenous testosterone, also known as hypogonadism, this quarter.



TLANDO had been rejected thrice by the FDA - in June 2016, citing deficiencies related to the dosing algorithm for the proposed label, in May 2018 too, saying that the product could not be approved in its current form, and in November 2019, citing the failure of the efficacy trial to meet three secondary endpoints for maximal testosterone concentrations ('Cmax').



LPCN closed Monday's trading at $0.77, up 67.39%.



Shares of Mallinckrodt Public Limited Company (MNK) took a hit, following a report by the Wall Street Journal that the Company is considering a possible Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing owing to opioid litigation pressure.



Mallinckrodt is one of the many companies named in the National Prescription Opiate Litigation, which accuses the companies of grossly misrepresenting the risks of long-term use of prescription opioids and failing to properly monitor suspicious orders of those prescription drugs, all of which have led to the current opioid epidemic.



MNK closed Monday's trading at $4.17, down 18.55%.



Moderna Inc. (MRNA) announced that it has shipped the first batch of mRNA-1273, the Company's vaccine against the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, for the planned phase I study in the U.S.



mRNA-1273 is an mRNA vaccine against the novel coronavirus encoding for a prefusion stabilized form of the Spike (S) protein, which was selected by Moderna in collaboration with investigators at the NIAID Vaccine Research Center (VRC).



The Company said that it has shipped the vials of mRNA-1273 to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).



Moderna's portfolio of mRNA development candidates, including mRNA-1273, is manufactured at its Norwood manufacturing facility.



As per the latest update by the WHO, China has reported a total of 77,362 cases of COVID-19, including 2,618 deaths.



MRNA closed Monday's trading at $18.59, up 1.97%. In after-hours, the stock was up 18.34% at $22.



NGM Biopharmaceuticals Inc.'s (NGM) 24-week placebo-controlled cohort of phase II study of 1 mg Aldafermin in patients with biopsy-confirmed non-alcoholic steatohepatitis with stage 2 or 3 liver fibrosis has yielded positive results.



According to the preliminary topline results, treatment with Aldafermin 1 mg resulted in a fibrosis improvement of more than or equal to 1 stage with no worsening of NASH in 38% of patients compared to 18% in the placebo arm. In the Aldafermin treatment arm, 24% of patients achieved the endpoint of resolution of NASH with no worsening of liver fibrosis compared to 9% of placebo patients.



Moreover, 22% of patients in the Aldafermin treatment arm versus 0% in the placebo arm achieved the composite endpoint of both fibrosis improvement and resolution of NASH, which was statistically significant, added the Company.



A phase II/III clinical study of 0.3 mg, 1 mg and 3 mg of Aldafermin compared to placebo in patients with biopsy-confirmed NASH and F2-F3 liver fibrosis, dubbed ALPINE, is underway, with data expected in the first half of 2021.



NGM plans to initiate a phase IIb study of Aldafermin in NASH patients with F4 liver fibrosis and well-compensated cirrhosis, dubbed ALPINE 4, in the first half of 2020.



NGM touched a new high of $22.95 on Monday, before closing at $18.87, up 16.55%.



Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.'s (TAK) supplemental New Drug Application for ALUNBRIG has been accepted for priority review by the FDA, with a decision date set for June 23, 2020.



The Company is seeking to expand the use of ALUNBRIG as a first-line treatment for patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+) metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as detected by an FDA-approved test.



ALUNBRIG is currently approved in more than 40 countries, including the U.S., Canada and the European Union, for the treatment of people living with ALK+ metastatic NSCLC who have taken the medicine crizotinib, but their NSCLC has worsened or they cannot tolerate taking crizotinib.



TAK closed Monday's trading at $18.28, down 2.71%.



United Therapeutics Corp.'s (UTHR) phase III study of Tyvaso Inhalation Solution in patients suffering from World Health Organization (WHO) Group 3 pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease has met its primary efficacy endpoint.



In the phase III study, dubbed INCREASE, Tyvaso increased six-minute walk distance by 21 meters versus placebo after 16 weeks of treatment. This is the first pivotal clinical trial to demonstrate a benefit in patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease, the Company noted.



Tyvaso is already approved by the FDA for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. The Company plans to seek revised labeling for the drug that reflects the outcome of the INCREASE study by mid-2020.



The drug generated sales of $110.8 million in the third quarter of 2019 compared to $107.8 million in the year-ago quarter.



The Company is slated to report its fourth-quarter and full-year 2019 financial results before the market opens on Wednesday, February 26, 2020.



UTHR closed Monday's trading at $115.35, up 7.84%.



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Nasihah Travers, 7, right, cant decide what safari animals she wants to paste onto her African grasslands art project, in Tamar LaSure-Owens class at Leeds Avenue Elementary School in Pleasantville. Read more

When Black History Month ends this week, first-grade teacher Tamar LaSure-Owens plans to stay on her mission to change how the subject is taught in New Jersey public schools  year-round.

At the Leeds Avenue Elementary School in Pleasantville, LaSure-Owens has been leading a charge to infuse black history into everyday lessons. A state mandate requires it for all public schools, but compliance has been spotty.

 READ MORE: N.J. sending teachers to visit trans-Atlantic slave sites to teach black history in public schools

This isnt written down, said LaSure-Owens. This is something that all students should have.

The states Amistad law, signed by Gov. Jim McGreevey in 2002, requires public schools to incorporate African American history into K-12 social studies lessons. The law honors the enslaved Africans who gained their freedom after overthrowing the crew of the slave ship Amistad in 1839.

Stephanie Harris is executive director of the Amistad Commission, which provides training to help teachers develop lesson plans that accurately reflect black history and the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Educators plan to meet Friday in Trenton to promote awareness.

Black history is American history. Well get it done, said Gary Melton, associate director of the executive office of the New Jersey Education Association.

The Amistad law is similar to a 1994 law requiring Holocaust and genocide education in public schools and talks about bias, prejudice, bigotry, and bullying. Starting in September, New Jersey schools must also include instruction about the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

 READ MORE: Cheltenham teacher is inspired by great-grandmothers work rescuing Jews during Holocaust

It is unclear how many of the states 600 districts are embedding African American history into lesson plans. State Education Commissioner Lamont O. Repollet has said districts that fail to comply can lose points in their state evaluation.

(Pennsylvania also requires history to be taught, but districts decide the content of their courses. In Philadelphia, a course in African American history is a graduation requirement.)

At the Leeds Avenue school, there are posters on the hallways, including portraits of civil rights icon Rosa Parks created by students. The Amistad curriculum is infused into language arts, math, and science at the Atlantic County school.

On a recent morning, first graders in LaSure-Owens class learned about African safari animals such as lions, elephants, and giraffes. For a vocabulary lesson, they used Chromebooks with headsets to practice pronouncing the words.

Three other first-grade teachers worked from the same lesson plan, which was developed by LaSure-Owens. She hopes to create more black history lessons for the entire school, which enrolls about 500 pre-K to fifth graders.

This is what we do daily, said LaSure-Owens.

Next door, geometry teacher Jayson Benson put his third graders in small groups and taught a lesson on a timeline of ancient Egypt. Another group watched a video on how the pyramids were built. Another group worked on a hieroglyphic activity.

The kids have really embraced it. They see its not a one-month activity," said Benson, who has been teaching for 17 years. Its exposing them to things I have never taught.

Fifth-grade teacher Ronald Fogg grilled students on world geography.

How many countries in the continent of Africa?" he asked.

Joycelyn Howard, 10, quickly answered: 54.

The lessons include discussions about other cultures and ethnicities. The Leeds Avenue school is about 75% Latino.

Its my culture and I love learning about new things, said third grader Gianna Ulloa, 9, who is of Hispanic and Latino ancestry.

In a second-grade language arts class, students read the book Bad Hair Does Not Exist! in English and Spanish. A Hair Love lesson covered grammar, social studies, and cultural respect. Students made artwork of popular hairstyles, including an Afro, twists, and braids.

The Leeds school integrated the Amistad content for the 2018-19 school year with 13 units. Principal Lisa Stuart-Smith praised LaSure-Owens as the driving force behind the curriculum, which has been heralded by state education officials as a model for other districts.

LaSure-Owens, 46, said she became interested in the Amistad curriculum after attending a summer institute sponsored by the Amistad Commission. She was surprised to learn that many social studies lesson plans were outdated and teachers lacked textbooks and resources needed to properly teach black history.

This summer, about 20 educators will be selected for an Amistad journey program to visit U.S. slavery sites, such as New Orleans and Jamestown, Va., and later include a trip to Ghana, where Africans walked through the door of no return at Cape Coast onto slave ships.

Its a statement on who we are as a people, she said. Its crucial and its needed.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday said aviation regulator DGCA ought not to have "certified" action of the airlines, other than IndiGo, which imposed an indefinite flying ban without an inquiry on stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra for allegedly heckling journalist Arnab Goswami on a flight.

"Why did you (DGCA) give a certification on Twitter? Look at your tweet. You said the action by the other airlines was in compliance of the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR). Not just IndiGo, you gave a certificate to the others also. You should withdraw your tweet," Justice Navin Chawla said to the regulator.

The court further said, "You have to now satisfy this court that their (airlines) action was in consonance with the CAR."



The DGCA's lawyer said she will take instructions on the query raised by the court and urged that the matter be listed on February 27, to which the judge agreed.

The court, during the hearing, also said that once Kamra moved a complaint before the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) claiming violation of CAR by the airlines, the regulator cannot say it will not look into it.

The comedian, represented by senior advocates Vivek Tankha, Gopal Sankaranarayanan and Mohit Mathur, has claimed that all the airlines imposed the flying ban on him without there being a complaint as required under the CAR.

In his plea, Kamra has said he was banned by IndiGo for a six-month period before it even received a complaint.

He has further said the complaint, as per CAR, has to be made by the pilot of the flight, but in the instant case it was not done and despite that the airline constituted an internal committee which is scheduled to have a final hearing of the matter on February 26.

Kamra has contended that the other airlines -- Air India, SpiceJet and GoAir -- banned him for an indefinite period without even setting up an internal committee to enquire into the issue.

During the hearing, the court also questioned how the other airlines acted without a committee and put him on a no-fly list.

The comedian has sought directions to the DGCA to direct the airlines to revoke the ban and also action against them for alleged violation of CAR.

The DGCA in its defence said it was only a regulator and the airlines had the freedom under CAR to take action against passengers for unruly or disruptive behaviour.

"As per CAR, it is an internal decision of the airlines," DGCA told the court and added that the other carriers be also made a party in the matter as the regulator cannot answer for them.

Indigo said its internal committee was already looking into the matter and will give a decision soon.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Credit Suisses 2019 global wealth report suggests that the total money in the world amounts to $360.6 trillion. The US remains the richest country with almost 30 percent of the worlds total net worth. Here is a list of the top 10 richest countries. The report defines wealth or net worth, as the sum of all financial assets minus debts. (Image: Reuters)
Police are searching Yellowstone National Park in the hunt for "doomsday cult" mom's missing children, investigators revealed.

The investigators are searching for missing Idaho teen Tylee Ryan, 17, and her younger brother, seven-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow. The children have not been seen since September.

Their mother, Lori Vallow, was arrested in Hawaii on child abandonment and desertion charges after she failed to comply with a Madison County, Idaho, order to physically produce her children by 30 January.

Relatives say a radical doomsday group, which Ms Vallow is believed to be in, could be the cause of the children's disappearance.

AP

Ms Vallow reportedly believes she is "a god assigned to carry out the work of the 144,000 at Christ's second coming in July 2020".

The children went missing while the family was living in Idaho, according to reports.

JJ, who has autism, was adopted by Ms Vallow and last seen alive on 23 September at his Kennedy Elementary School in Rexburg, Idaho, according to an affidavit obtained by ABC News.

Ms Vallow then called the school the following day to inform administrators JJ would no longer be attending. Instead, she said she would be homeschooling the child.

Doorbell footage obtained by investigators also shows JJ in the family's Idaho neighborhood playing outside in September.

Police are looking into Yellowstone National Park because phone records show Tylee, her younger brother, their mother, and uncle all visited the park on 8 September, CBS News reports.

A photo "obtained from Ms Vallow's iCloud account" shows Tylee at the park. There is no sign of life since for the teen.

In order to search the park, though, investigators have to wait until the snow melts.

An investigation into the missing children started after a welfare check by police in November. Ms Vallow is accused of lying to investigators at the time about JJ being in Arizona with a friend, Fox News reports. She and her fifth husband, Chad Daybell, then fled to Hawaii amid questions about their children and their whereabouts.

Story continues

Relatives are hopeful Ms Vallow's arrest will help investigators determine what happened to the two children. Ms Vallow is being held in jail on $5m bail.

Read more

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A Chinese court has sentenced Swedish book publisher Gui Minhai to 10 years in prison on charges of illegally providing intelligence abroad in a case that has rattled relations between Beijing and Stockholm.

The court in the eastern city of Ningbo said Gui was convicted on Monday and that he had his Chinese citizenship reinstated in 2018, but it was not immediately clear if he had given up his Swedish nationality.

Gui, one of five Hong Kong-based booksellers known for publishing gossipy titles about Chinese political leaders, was snatched by Chinese authorities while on a train to



Beijing in February 2018, the second time he disappeared into Chinese custody. Gui first vanished in 2015 while on holiday in Thailand and eventually surfaced at an undisclosed location in China, confessing to involvement in a fatal traffic accident and smuggling illegal books.

He served two years in prison but three months after his October 2017 release, he was again arrested while on a train to Beijing while travelling with Swedish diplomats.

His supporters and family have claimed his detainment is part of political repression campaign orchestrated by Chinese authorities.

The Ningbo court also sentenced Gui to five years of "deprivation of political rights", which in practice means he cannot lead state-owned enterprises or hold positions in state organs.

China does not recognise dual citizenship and foreigners are required to renounce their foreign nationality once they gain Chinese citizenship.

A video released by China three weeks after Gui's disappearance showed him purportedly confessing wrongdoing and blaming Sweden for "sensationalising" his case and "instigating" law-breaking behaviour.

Gui's friend, dissident poet Bei Ling, said at the time that Gui's confession was likely made under coercion.

Chinese criminal suspects often appear in videotaped "confessions" that rights groups say sometimes bear the hallmarks of official arm-twisting.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
English German

Stuttgart, 25 February 2020  A new exchange-traded product (ETPs) that tracks the inverse value of Bitcoin BTC is now available for trading on the Boerse Stuttgart in Euro. Boerse Stuttgart is Germanys second-largest stock exchange, reporting trading volumes of EUR 68.5 billion in 2019.

Unprecedented in the crypto space as well as the ETP world, the tracker product's value represents the inverse performance of the underlying asset Bitcoin BTC; when the price of Bitcoin goes down, the ETP goes up correspondingly, minus a daily management fee. The product is fully hedged with the corresponding underlying asset 1:1. The launch of the first inverse or 21Shares Short Bitcoin ETP is a natural extension to the existing unleveraged range of crypto ETPs and offers a greater choice to investors by which they may better manage the increased volatility and changing dynamics of the cryptocurrency markets.

The newly-listed product (WKN: A2781V), which is already listed and traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange in Zurich in USD, is part of the 21Shares product suite that has previously seen a basket of crypto assets (HODL), Bitcoin (ABTC), Ethereum (AETH), XRP (AXRP), Binance (ABNB) and Tezos (AXTZ) tracking products brought to market on the SIX Swiss Exchange in 2018 and 2019 respectively in USD. Also admitting to listing on BX Swiss for the ETP in CHF as well as Boerse Stuttgart in Euro.

This is a first in the bitcoin industry to list a financial instrument wrapped as an ETP with an ISIN/WKN number and trading in EUR. Investors in Germany have demonstrated such strong support for prior crypto offerings. As an issuer of crypto products, it is important for us to listen, though with caution, to the requests of our investors and respond in kind by supporting the investor community who have a strong appetite in cryptocurrencies. explains Hany Rashwan, CEO of 21Shares.

"Todays announcement further stated that 21Sharess PD3 Prospectus is approved by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (SFSA) for the existing ETPs governed under Swiss law. This is an important milestone for traditional investors and the crypto community alike as SBTC is effectively available to both retail and institutional clients in Germany and the rest of Europe. This was not an easy feat and a lot of credit is due to the hard work of the team for their expertise in navigating the complexities of the traditional system and bringing these innovative digital assets to all European investors says Laurent Kssis, Managing Director of 21Shares.



Fully collateralized by underlyings, custodied in segregated accounts with an independent custodian and listed on a regulated Swiss stock exchange, these institutional-grade trackers are ideal product structures for both retail and institutional investors to get exposure to these nascent digital asset classes. With the introduction of the SBTC tracker, investors can immediately and securely capitalize on falling adverse price movements of the largest and most liquid digital asset.

21Shares represent the new name of the family of Exchange Traded Products issued by 21Shares AG, formerly named Amun AG. The entire suite of existing ETPs will be migrated over the new 21Shares brand in the early part of the second quarter 2020.

About 21Shares

21Shares makes investing in crypto assets as easy as buying shares using your conventional broker or bank. Investors can invest in cryptocurrencies using a conventional ETP structure (or tracker) easily, with total confidence and security, cost-effectively thanks to the 21Shares suite of ETPs launched by 21Shares and now composed of 11 Crypto ETPs: the Amun Crypto Basket Index ETP (HODL:SW), Amun Bitcoin (ABTC:SW), Amun Ethereum (AETH:SW), Amun XRP (AXRP:SW), AMUN Bitcoin Cash ETP (ABCH:SW), Amun Binance ETP (ABNB:SW), Amun Tezos ETP (AXTZ:SW), Amun Bitcoin Suisse ETP (ABBA:SW), Amun Bitwise 10 ETP (KEYS:SW), Amun Sygnum Platform Winners Index ETP (MOON:SW) and Amun Short Bitcoin ETP (SBTC:SW). The entire suite is listed on a regulated framework on the SIX Swiss Exchange, BX Swiss and some on Boerse Stuttgart in USD,CHF and EUR. Founded in 2018, 21Shares is led by a team of talented serial entrepreneurs and experienced banking professionals from the technology and financial world. Incorporated in Zug, with offices in Zurich, Berlin and New York, the company has launched several world firsts, including the first listed crypto index (HODL) in November 2018. 21Shares has 11 crypto ETPs listed today and has over $70 million in AuM in total listed.

Press Contact 21Shares

Laurent Kssis

+4144 260 8660

press@amun.com

Disclaimer

This document and the information contained herein are not for distribution in or into (directly or indirectly) the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the distribution or release would be unlawful. This document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.

This document does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities in the United States. The securities of 21Shares AG to which these materials relate have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. There will not be a public offering of securities in the United States.

This document is only being distributed to and is only directed at: (i) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"); or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"); or (iv) persons who fall within Article 43(2) of the Order, including existing members and creditors of the Company or (v) any other persons to whom this document can be lawfully distributed in circumstances where section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply. The Securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

In any EEA Member State (other than the Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden) that has implemented the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State, the "Prospectus Regulation") this communication is only addressed to and is only directed at qualified investors in that Member State within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation. Exclusively for potential investors in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden the 2019 Base Prospectus (EU) is made available on the Issuers website under www.21Shares.com . The approval of the 2019 Base Prospectus (EU) should not be understood as an endorsement by the SFSA of the securities offered or admitted to trading on a regulated market. Eligible potential investors should read the 2019 Base Prospectus (EU) and the relevant Final Terms before making an investment decision in order to understand the potential risks associated with the decision to invest in the securities. You are about to purchase a product that is not simple and may be difficult to understand.

This document is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for securities of 21Shares AG. Neither this document nor anything contained herein shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any offer or commitment whatsoever in any jurisdiction.

This document constitutes advertisement within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (the "FinSA") and not a prospectus. In accordance with article 109 of the Swiss Financial Services Ordinance, the Base Prospectus dated 13 November 2019, as supplemented from time to time (the "Base Prospectus") and the final terms for SBTC dated 22 January 2020 (the "Final Terms", and together with the Base Prospectus, the "Prospectus") have been prepared in compliance with articles 652a and 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations, as such articles were in effect immediately prior to the entry into effect of the FinSA, and the Listing Rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange in their version in force as of January 1, 2020. Consequently, the Prospectus has not been and will not be reviewed or approved by a Swiss review body pursuant to article 51 of the FinSA, and does not comply with the disclosure requirements applicable to a prospectus approved by such a review body under the FinSA. Copies of the Prospectus are available free of charge from the website of the Issuer. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Base Prospectus and the final terms of any product mentioned herein can be obtained from 21Shares AG on the website.

Copies of this document may not be sent to jurisdictions, or distributed in or sent from jurisdictions, in which this is barred or prohibited by law. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any jurisdiction.
[RemoteLock's] partnership with Buyers Access will allow more property owners to take control of managing access to their properties with a solution that is not only easy to use, but that showcases a level of technological sophistication that todays savvy renter is looking for.

RemoteLock, a leading provider of cloud-based access control and smart lock management software, today announced it has partnered with Buyers Access, a leading provider of purchasing optimization services and customized purchasing solutions to the multifamily industry.

We are thrilled to partner with RemoteLock, who brings a cloud-based solution to key control that so many multifamily properties need as a solution, says Dan Haefner, CEO and president of Buyers Access. RemoteLocks technology solves some of the biggest access management and scheduling headaches that our members face on a daily basis at their properties.

RemoteLocks cloud-based application, EdgeState, consolidates connected locks on an easy-to-use software platform enabling property managers to remotely control access for tenants, guests, employees and support staff that in turn, saves time, money and manpower. EdgeState allows property managers to secure and manage any door at any of their rental properties from anywhere around the world. The platform can support Wi-Fi and Z-Wave smart locks for any type of door including resident units, elevators, garage doors and common area doors.

Our goal at RemoteLock is to simplify access control management for everyone at a multifamily property, from property management to maintenance teams to residents, said Barclay Friesen, executive vice-president of direct sales for RemoteLock. Our partnership with Buyers Access will allow more property owners to take control of managing access to their properties with a solution that is not only easy to use, but that showcases a level of technological sophistication that todays savvy renter is looking for.

About RemoteLock

RemoteLock is the leading provider of cloud-based access control and smart lock management software. Its cloud-based application, EdgeState, consolidates connected locks on an easy-to-use SaaS solution enabling customers to remotely control access for guests, employees and support staff, saving time, money and manpower. RemoteLock opens doors across the world more than 100+ million times per year, secures doors in more than 65 countries and engages with more than 40+ million users on its EdgeState software application each year. RemoteLock is headquartered in Denver, CO.

For more information visit http://www.remotelock.com or contact:

Kim Garcia, Director of Dealer Marketing

kgarcia@remotelock.com

About Buyers Access

Buyers Access (BA) is the United States leading provider of customized purchasing solutions, serving more than 650,000 housing units in the multifamily space.

For more information: visit: http://www.buyersaccess.com or contact:

Dan Haefner, CEO

303-991-5577

dhaefner@buyersaccess.com
Pressure mounted on Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane to step down Monday as he appeared in court over the murder of his estranged wife after failing to turn up for a hearing last week.

The latest twist in a saga that has gripped the southern African kingdom came after a weekend in which the 80-year-old premier was said to be receiving emergency medical care in South Africa.

The magistrates court in Maseru had been expected to formally read out charges against Thabane 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.

No date has been give for the prime minister's appearance at the High Court.

But the case has increased pressure on Thabane to step down.

The supreme decision-making executive committee of his All Basotho Convention (ABC) party has asked him to leave office "immediately" as it picked his possible replacement.

"We have asked the PM to step down while on the other hand we have submitted (to a party parliamentary caucus) the name of Mr Sam Rapapa to succeed him," party's spokesman Montoeli Masoetsa told AFP.

Rapapa is a lawmaker and the party's chairman.

Citing advanced age, Thabane last week announced on national television that he would retire by July 31.

Thabane was accompanied to the magistrates court 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 had 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.

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.

Flashback to June 16, 2017: Thabane and his future wife, Maesaiah Thabane, attend his inauguration, two days after his wife's murder. By SAMSON MOTIKOE (AFP/File)

During the hearing, the lawyer asked whether a sitting prime minister should be subject to criminal prosecution as this could mean that he may be held in custody.

"Whether a sitting prime minister can be criminally charged, I must admit at the outset that this is indeed a novel case in our country and whose determination we shall eagerly anticipate," magistrate Phethise Motanyane said.

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.

Appeared nervous

On Saturday, police said Thabane's sick note said that the premier would be "unfit" until February 27.

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 main opposition party the Democratic Congress, on Friday filed in parliament a motion of no confidence in the prime minister.

If Thabane loses the motion, he could either step down or advise King Letsie III to dissolve parliament and call for fresh elections.

On the streets of Maseru, the people of Lesotho also want him gone from office.

"He should be stripped of ... his title and face all the charges and, like anyone else," said Lynor Mahase.
(Photo : YouTube)

A team of Japanese scientists has invented a robot, a 'blade runner'-Esque creation that can feel what humans feel-pain. This group of experts from Osaka University in Japan programmed the robot to gasp or wince each time an electric current is applied to its skin, with the hope of instilling empathy to what's called AI or artificial intelligence in science and technology.

The scientists collaborated to insert a synthetic pain system presented in an 'affetto' form. Affetto, as described by observers as a "hyper-realistic child robot," was developed by engineers a couple of years ago. Indeed, in 2018, the 'blade runner' was designed with a little child's face. More so, this child-like robot can make and display real-looking facial expressions, and reacting to touches by means of a smile, grimace, or frown.

ALSO READ: Top 3 iRobots for Mom from Amazon this Christmas

How 'Affetto' was Created

For the inventors to create 'Affetto,' they identified "116 different facial points," and thoroughly evaluated the mechanisms required for the creation of specific and unique expressions. To date, these Japanese geniuses aim to enable the robot to process pain. Head researcher and Professor Minoru Asada, also Japan's Robotics Society president, ardently hopes that consequently, machines tend to have the capability and ability to feel morality and empathy.

Also, Professor Asada said, in Japan, they firmly believe all lifeless objects have a soul too, and these include the metal robots, which they claim to have no difference from humans in that aspect. Specifically, the lead researcher stated that there are fewer restrictions between objects and humans. As for the artificial or synthetic pain system, this was revealed at the previously held American Association for the Advancement of Science Meeting.

ALSO READ: Overheating Mobile Phones Can Now be Solved by Use of Spin Waves and Magnon Torque

'Affetto' Feels the Pail

As earlier mentioned, 'Affetto,' a "life-like human head," was first unveiled in 2018, and it has been, until now, said to be the most advanced android around the globe. Utilizing coded mapping of over 100 pressure points on the face, inventors can now create nuanced expressions like frowning and smiling. And the first time ever, they can even create reactions to pain. Similarly, the tactile sensors can trace gentle touches, as well as painful blows.

Remarkably, the Osaka University's R&D team is concealing the lines between human nature and machine efficiency through the use of AI to make the robots a bit more emotional and believe that they, like humans, are alive. And, by coding the sensors of pain into the robots' artificial skin, they are looking forward to seeing the machines displaying human feelings and emotions.

And finally, as to how Professor Asada describes their invention in general, they are implanting a pain nervous system and touch into the robot to make it feel pain. Their main intention to make the machine feel the pain is for it to understand the pain and touch in others. And to sum this all up, the leader, together with his team, aims to form a symbiotic society with synthetically intelligent robots, and one that can get hurt is the key element of that society.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 15:25:09|Editor: huaxia

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Besides, several houses belonging to the suspects were also reportedly razed.

The victims said to be three middle-aged boys and a female native doctor allegedly carried out the gruesome murder on Sunday night at Ikhuera quarters of the community.

The girl whose identity could not be ascertained, reportedly met her untimely death after a neighbour had disguised and sent her on an errand to get him sachet water.

She was said to have returned from the errand to deliver sachet water in the mans room when she was beheaded.

Trouble was said to have started when the parents of the girl could not find her and raised the alarm over her sudden disappearance.

It was gathered that the alleged culprits, in an attempt to dump her body at a nearby bush in the early hours of yesterday, were apprehended by residents.

They were said to have confessed to the crime moments after they were caught, even as the female native doctor who was contracted to perform the rituals, was said to be from Kogi State.

Two of the boys said to be of the same parents and the female native doctor, were reportedly burnt alive at popular Women Center (hall) after they were dragged to the location.

It was learnt that the burnt two brothers had accompanied one Lukeman from Auchi, who is said to be the ring leader, to commit the crime. Lukeman was said to have been traced to his farm.

Edo Commissioner of Police, Mr. Lawal Jimeta, said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area had briefed the Command about it, adding that operatives of the State Criminal Investigative Department (SCID) were carrying out thorough investigation of the incident.
The Xbox Series X console will provide 12 TFLOPS of graphical performance, double that of the existing Xbox One X, and in excess of Google Stadia. Microsoft has drip-fed another batch of information about the late 2020's Xbox Series X console platform. With 12 teraflops of GPU performance, the Series X is to be more powerful than the PlayStation 4 Pro (4.2 TF), Xbox One X (6 TF) and Google's cloud gaming platform Stadia (10.2 TF at launch in November 2019). It's also going to offer backwards compatibility with games from the original Xbox generation, the Xbox 360, and the Xbox One era, offering "steadier framerates, faster load times and improved resolution and visual fidelity" straight off the bat, per Xbox divisional head Phil Spencer.

Xbox confirmed that the Series X will introduce its own spin on cross-buy, called Smart Delivery. It means that players can buy a game once and play it on Xbox One or Series X regardless, just as they would with the Xbox One and its more powerful mid-cycle edition, the Xbox One X. Smart Delivery will apply to all releases from Xbox Game Studios, and other developers will be able to opt-in. September's "Cyberpunk 2077," for example, has made a commitment to do so.

Xbox One controllers and accessories will also carry over to Series X. Other features named in the announcement included proprietary technologies such as Variable Rate Shading, DirectX Raytracing, and Dynamic Latency Input. That's significant, given speculation that the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 will be largely similar under the hood; specific implementations of hardware standards will help differentiate them.

Similarly, while the Xbox Series X will conform to an HDMI 2.1 display output standard, Xbox has been working with select TV manufacturers on the development of an Audio Low Latency Mode and Variable Refresh Rate capability. Xbox also confirmed that the Series X contains a Solid State Drive for speedy loading -- something PlayStation executives had also prioritized, and, through a Quick Resume feature, will let players return to multiple games from where they left off without having to wait through long loading screens.

At a May 2019 investors meeting, Sony said that the PlayStation 5 would support ray tracing technology, backwards compatibility, 3D audio and 8K graphical resolutions. Both Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's PlayStation will be entering a market where the portable Nintendo Switch is now well established, and Google Stadia and Nvidia GeForce Now among cloud gaming services have begun competing for player custom and loyalty.

At this point, neither of the two console manufacturers has outlined price, date, launch library or release scheduling plans, though Sony's Chief Financial Officer proposed that the PS5's selling price was partly contingent on the XSX's own tag.
The recently appointed Chief Judge of Boko Haram terrorists, Muhammad Shuwa, has been killed in a brutal air raid operation, just as the camp of the splinter terror group, Islamic State in West Africa, is currently in disarray due to intense infighting.

Series of air raids and the merciless operations from the ground troops have recorded massive eliminations of Boko Haram Terrorists in the lake Chad region.

So also is the ISWAP camp is in disarray as infighting has further factionalized the insurgents, especially with the appointment of Amir Abba-Gana as the new factional leader.

Sources informed PRNigeria on Monday that ISWAP appointed Abba-Gana as the new factional leader for the group following the elimination of Baa Idirisa by the sect on February 9, 2019.

Baa Idirisa had replaced Abu-Mossad Albarnawee, both biological children of late Muhammad Yusuf, a few months ago after infighting.

Intelligence sources noted that on the spot assessment conducted on the Jihadists group had revealed that about 25 high profile Boko Haram Terrorist Commanders were killed within the past two months following intensified military offensives in the North-eastern Lake Chad.

Terrorists and inhabitants have continued to flee the lake chad general area to the neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

An intelligence source told PRNigeria of the massive death from explosions of Undetonated Improvised explosive Devices used to fortify the camps by the insurgents after aerial attacks.

The source said: Two foreign terrorist sponsors were killed during the air raid and ground assault by the Nigerian troops in their camps.

During the operations, most of the foreign commanders fled, leaving behind few local commanders who move around Tumbun Kibiya, Tumbun Alura, Tumbun Kurna and Kayewa, where their fighters relocated to after striking Sabon Tumbun and Tudun Wulgo recently.

The Tumbus are now virtually left in the hands of local inhabitants who were forcefully recruited or abducted into the sect mostly from Mobbar, Abadan, Guzamalla, Kukawa and Marte Local Government Areas of Borno State, North-East Nigeria.

The local terrorists fighters were also said to have been forcibly recruited along with some few Budumas who stayed back to hold ground in anticipation for elevation in status, who mostly cannot operate some of the supporting weapons left by the feeing commanders.

There is an anticipation of an imminent and massive protest in the ISWAP camps as some fighters started accusing the leadership of misleading them, while on the other hand mothers of the trained child soldiers are also calling on their children to lay down their arms and surrender.
Canberra, Feb 25 : Threat from the far right was real and growing in Australia, which also faces the danger of unprecedented foreign espionage and interference, a top intelligence official said here.

During this annual threat assessment here on Monday night, the head of the Australian Security and Intelligence Organization (ASIO), Mike Burgess said that in addition to the danger posed to the country by Islamic extremism, was the threat of violence by neo-Nazi and supremacist groups, reports Efe news.

Burgess said that while far-right organisations had been under the ASIO's radar for some time, the threat they posed came into focus after the white supremacist attack on two mosques by an Australian in March 2018 in New Zealand, which left 51 people dead.

"In Australia, the extreme right wing threat is real and it is growing. In suburbs around Australia, small cells regularly meet to salute Nazi flags, inspect weapons, train in combat and share their hateful ideology," he said.

"These groups are more organised and security conscious than they were in previous years." The intelligency chief said that these extremists use online forums to connect with like-minded individuals around the world and added that the ASIO expected "such groups will remain an enduring threat, making more use of online propaganda to spread their messages of hate".

In his address, Burgess also warned of the danger of foreign espionage in Australia, which has already taken various legal and preventive measures against foreign interference and attacks on its computer systems, suspected to be coming from China.

Burgess mentioned the case of a "sleeper" agent sent by foreign intelligence services to Australia, who he said, remained "dormant for many years, quietly building community and business links, all the while secretly maintaining contact with his offshore handlers".

The agent then started providing information about Australia-based expatriate dissidents, which led to harassment of the dissidents and their relatives overseas.

He also provided on-the-ground logistical support for spies who travelled to Australia to conduct intelligence activities, Burgess added.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As four Catholic elementary schools on Staten Island are expected to form two separate academies beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, many families are welcoming the mergers.

The Archdiocese of New York announced Monday that St. Rita School in Meiers Corners will merge with St. Teresa School in Castleton Corners, to form the St. Teresa-St. Rita STREAM Academy. The students will attend classes at the St. Teresa School building. St. Adalberts School in Elm Park will merge with Holy Rosary School in South Beach to become the Father Vincent Capodanno Catholic Academy, to be housed at Holy Rosary School.

Students will no longer attend school at the St. Rita School building or the St. Adalberts building beginning in the 2020-2021 school year.

Our commitment to Catholic education is as strong as ever, and we have our fingers on the pulse of our communities and understand the needs they have for a high-quality education rooted in the Catholic faith, Cardinal Timothy Dolan said in a news release.

Families at the merging schools said they like the idea of the change, instead of schools closing permanently.

Id rather they merge than the school close completely, said Stephanie Badalamenti, mother to St. Rita fifth-grader Sofia Tornabene. Sofia will still be with the same kids. My mindset is, its just a change in location and maybe a few new friends. Im just hoping we dont lose too many teachers and the transition is smooth for all.

Christine LoPorto, who has two children at St. Teresa School -- a son in seventh grade and a daughter in fifth grade -- is welcoming the merger.

We welcome the merger of St. Rita school families, faculty and administration, she said. As with all change I am certain that there will be a few bumps in the road, but I am hopeful that by bringing together these schools, we will build a strong foundation for continuing the Catholic education and rigor on Staten Island.

Another parent of a sixth-grader at St. Rita School said it will be an adjustment for students.

Its sad that all the Catholic schools are closing and/or merging, said Andrea Bruno. St. Ritas is a wonderful school with wonderful students, families, and faculty. When one door closes, one opens. Our school principal, Mrs. Fresca is wonderful and we will be in great hands.

Families at Holy Rosary School and St. Adalberts School couldnt be reached for comment Tuesday.

PARENT MEETINGS

The Archdiocese is holding meetings for parents to address questions and concerns. There will be a meeting for St. Rita parents at the school on Tuesday at 7 p.m., while St. Teresa parents can attend a meeting in the church on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Meetings for Holy Rosary School and St. Adalbert School parents have not been posted as of Tuesday. However, it is recommended that parents continue to check the Archdioceses website at https://catholicschoolsny.org/fr-capodanno-academy/ for updates on upcoming meetings.

Tours of the St. Teresa campus and Holy Rosary campus will be held on March 3 and March 24, from 9 to 11 a.m.

In addition, for students who will attend St. Teresa-St. Rita STREAM Academy next year, there will be a welcome night for all families at the new campus building on May 12 at 7 p.m. Both Home School Association members at St. Adalberts School and Holy Rosary School will meet in April to collaborate on a Back to School Cupcake Social, to be held in August.

Diana Gatto, regional director of enrollment, is reaching out to individual families in the next week to answer questions and provide updates. She can be reached at 664-995-9327 or by email at Diana.Gatto@archny.org. A bilingual hotline is available at 646-798-7773, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

ABOUT THE NEW ACADEMIES

The new St. Teresa-St. Rita STREAM Academy will focus on a rigorous instructional program that challenges them in a Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, and Math (STREAM)-supported atmosphere that focuses heavily on community partnerships and project-based learning, according to a letter sent to parents of both schools.

In addition to the new STREAM initiative, the academy will offer a National Junior Honor Society, a seamless online learning environment in partnership with St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School, and robotics, according to the Archdiocese.

Additional information about the school can be found here.

The Father Vincent Capodanno Catholic Academy, named after the Staten Island priest who died while administering last rites to a dying soldier during the Vietnam War, will allow both the St. Adalbert and the Holy Rosary school communities to enhance existing programs and increase community partnerships ... [and explore] the possibility of creating educational opportunities beyond elementary school, which will welcome traditional learners as well as those with varying learning styles, according to the Archdiocese.

The new academy will feature: a National Junior Honor Society; an Italian Immersion Program with language and culture components; a Kiwanis Builders Club, featuring community service activities; a Young Ambassador Club; Trout in the Classroom, which helps students understand ecosystems and stewardship of all Gods creatures, according to the Archdiocese.

More information about the new academy can be found here.

The unification of both school communities will allow us to enhance existing programs, increase community partnerships and expand our preschool program, according to a letter sent to parents, which was signed by Zoilita Herrera, the regional superintendent of the Catholic School Region of Staten Island, and Deacon James Cowan, chairman of the Catholic School Region of Staten Island.

PAST CLOSURES, MERGERS

Last year, Our Lady Help of Christians in Tottenville was one of seven Catholic schools across the Archdiocese that closed at the end of the 2019-2020 school year. The Archdiocese that cited the buildings were underutilized or in need of significant repairs.

Before that closure, the Archdiocese said it hadnt closed any Catholic elementary schools in the prior five years.

A string of Staten Island Catholic schools closed in 2011, including: St. Marys School in Rosebank; St. Rochs School in Port Richmond; St. Sylvesters School in Concord; St. Margaret Marys School in Midland Beach, and St. Peters Girls High School in New Brighton.

St. Peter-St. Paul Elementary School in New Brighton was created in 2011 by merging St. Peters Elementary with the former St. Paul School, which closed several years prior. In 2013, St. Josephs School in Rosebank and Immaculate Conception School in Stapleton closed its doors for good.

In 2018, the Sisters of St. John the Baptist announced that the elementary and high school at St. John Villa Academy would close at the end of the 2017-2018 school year. While the school was affiliated with the Archdiocese of New York and the Office of Superintendent of Schools, St. John Villa Academy was a private school, led by the Sisters of St. John the Baptist.

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NEW YORK  Harvey Weinstein, the powerhouse film producer whose downfall over sexual misconduct ignited a global movement, was found guilty of two felony sex crimes Monday after a trial at which six women testified that he sexually assaulted them.

A Manhattan jury convicted Weinstein of rape and criminal sexual act but acquitted him on three other counts, including the two most serious charges against him: being a sexual predator.

Weinstein sat motionless as the verdict was read.

But, Im innocent, he said three times to his lawyers, appearing stunned a few minutes later when he was handcuffed and two court officers led him off to jail to await sentencing. He was taken first to Bellevue Medical Center by ambulance after complaining of chest pains and showing signs of high blood pressure, his representatives said.

Sexual misconduct complaints about Weinstein, an Oscar-winning producer of films like Shakespeare in Love, had circulated for years, but exposes published by The New York Times and The New Yorker opened the floodgates in late 2017.

Scores of women went public with accusations that Weinstein had sexually assaulted or harassed them, while thousands more shared similar stories on social media about abuse by powerful men. Weinstein quickly became a symbol not just of Hollywoods casting-couch culture, but also of what women had endured in all kinds of workplaces for years.

For many, Weinsteins trial in state Supreme Court in Manhattan was a watershed moment for the #MeToo movement and a crucial test in the effort to hold influential men accountable for sexual misconduct. He faces a prison sentence of up to 29 years.

Dozens of Weinsteins victims and womens rights groups celebrated the conviction, saying it heralded a new era of empowerment for women.

This verdict made it real for people watching from afar that you will be held accountable for your actions, said Dawn Dunning, a former actress who testified at the trial. You cant take advantage of people just because you have power and money.

The criminal charges brought against Weinstein, 67, in Manhattan rested narrowly on the complaints of two women: Miriam Haley, a production assistant who said he had forced oral sex on her in 2006; and Jessica Mann, a former actress who said he had raped her at a hotel in 2013.

Jurors also had to consider the testimony of actress Annabella Sciorra, who said that Weinstein raped her in the early 1990s, in deciding whether to convict him of being a sexual predator. As part of prosecutors effort to establish a pattern of behavior, three other women testified about what they said were his assaults against them, but he was not charged over the events they described.

But the jury found him not guilty on two counts of predatory sexual assault, suggesting they had doubts about Sciorras accusation.

Jurors left the courthouse without commenting to reporters and were ferried away in a government van. Hours later, the foreman, Bernard Cody, speaking from home, would say only that the deliberations had been exhausting. It was stressful, he said. The whole thing was long, long.

The case was unusually risky for the district attorneys office. There was no physical or forensic evidence to support the womens allegations, turning the trial into a battle over their credibility.

Prosecutors portrayed Weinstein as a calculated predator who kept his victims close after attacking them in an effort to control them, using his power over their careers to silence them.

But defense lawyers said the women had willingly had sex with Weinstein to further their careers. Only years later, his lawyers said, after 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 Haley and Mann not only had friendly communications with Weinstein after they said they were attacked, but also had consensual sex with him.

After deliberating for five days the jury, seven men and five women, determined that 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 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 Vance in late 2017 when dozens of women came forward to accuse Weinstein of sexual misconduct. The district attorney became a target of protests, even as Weinstein went on trial last month.

After the verdict was announced, Vance said that the women who testified against 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. Weinstein, he added, was a vicious serial sexual predator who used his power to threaten, rape, assault, trick, humiliate and silence his victims.

Weinsteins lawyers said they would appeal the conviction, as well as the judges decision to hold their client in jail until his sentencing, which is set for March 11.

Were going to fight, Donna Rotunno, his lead lawyer, said.

Weinstein also faces a criminal trial in Los Angeles, where he has been charged with several felonies stemming from accusations by two women who say he sexually assaulted them.

From the start, much about the story of Weinsteins mistreatment of women had been outsize, including the number of accusers  at least 90  to the range of the misconduct they said he had engaged in: from lewd propositions and unwanted touching to forced oral sex and rape.

But authorities in New York faced hurdles in building a case, law enforcement officials said. Many of the crimes Weinstein was accused of happened outside the state. Others happened too long ago to prosecute. Some of the accusers were unwilling to testify.

The case that Vances office ultimately brought in May 2018 was challenging for prosecutors to prove, in part because two of the three accusers continued to see Weinstein after what they said were his attacks.

Charges related to the third woman were thrown out because, prosecutors said, the lead detective on the case had withheld evidence from them that could have been used to discredit the womans account.

To bolster their weakened case, prosecutors got permission last summer from the judge overseeing the trial, Justice James M. Burke, to include a rape accusation by Sciorra, an actress known for her work on The Sopranos.

Sciorra, 59, testified that after giving her a ride home from a dinner party in the early 1990s, Weinstein had pushed his way into her apartment and violently raped her even as she kicked and punched him.

The encounter had happened too long ago to be the basis for a separate rape charge, but prosecutors used it to support charges of predatory sexual assault, which required them to prove that Weinstein had committed a serious sex crime against at least two women.

Actress Rosie Perez backed up Sciorras testimony, recounting how Sciorra had told her at the time, I think I was raped, and had later identified Weinstein as her attacker.

Burke also allowed prosecutors to call the three other women  Dunning, Tarale Wulff and Lauren Young  who said that Weinstein had lured them into private meetings, either at hotels or at his apartment, under the pretense of discussing job opportunities, and had then sexually assaulted them. At the time, they were actresses trying to get film parts.

Weinstein was not charged based on those accounts, which involved events that were too old or happened in other jurisdictions, but the women were allowed to testify to establish what prosecutors said was a pattern of abuse. A similar legal strategy led to a conviction in the sexual assault trial of comedian Bill Cosby in Pennsylvania.

The defense called friends of Manns and Sciorras who said that the women had never described their experiences with Weinstein as rape. His lawyers also stressed during cross-examination that Sciorra could not recall the date of the assault and could not explain how Weinstein got past a doorman and to her apartment.

Scores of friendly and sometimes flirtatious emails were shown to the jury showing that Mann and Haley maintained relationships with Weinstein years after the attacks they described.

In one message to a friend, Mann called Weinstein a pseudo father who had given her all the validation she needed.

Mann, 34, acknowledged in three days of grueling questioning that her romantic relationship with Weinstein was complicated and different. She said that she last had sex with Weinstein in 2016, after he asked her to console him because his mother had died.

It does not change the fact that he raped me, she said.

Haley, 42, who changed her legal name from Mimi Haleyi, testified that Weinstein got her a job as a production assistant on the television show Project Runway.

She said she rejected his sexual advances during early meetings, but that on July 11, 2006, she accepted an invitation to visit his Lower Manhattan apartment. She said he pushed her onto a bed as she protested, held her down and forced oral sex on her. Im being raped, she recalled thinking.

Haley acknowledged that she had continued to see Weinstein, and that she did not resist having sex with him two weeks later at a hotel. She also told friends about her friendship with him, proposed project ideas to him and accepted tickets to movie premieres and a flight to London.

Rotunno, Weinsteins lawyer, argued that the women had consented to having sex and that prosecutors had invented a world in which women had no free will and were not responsible for their own decisions

Joan Illuzzi, the lead prosecutor, countered that it was Weinstein who had created a world in which women with less than him, and more to lose, had no choice but to subjected to his unwanted advances and abuse.

He was the master of his universe, and the witnesses here were merely ants that he could step on without consequences, Illuzzi said in her closing argument. The fact they wanted to get into his universe was all he needed to turn around and say  they dont get to complain when they are stepped on, spit on, demoralized, and yes, raped and abused by the defendant.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Dozens of people under mandatory quarantine at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield will not be allowed to be transferred to a facility in the Orange County city of Costa Mesa  at least for the next week, a federal judge decided Monday.

U.S. District Judge Josephine Staton extended a temporary restraining order she issued Friday, in which she sided with Costa Mesa officials seeking to block the transfer over worries it might put local residents at risk of infection of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The order is in place until Monday.

It is the latest development in a conflict that pits federal and state health officials against the city of Costa Mesa over where to treat coronavirus patients in California.

The clash began last week, after state officials proposed potentially transferring 30 to 50 people from Travis Air Force Base  where passengers from the cruise ship Princess Diamond were taken for a mandatory federal quarantine after returning from Japan  to Fairview Developmental Center, a state-owned facility in Costa Mesa that once housed residents with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

The move would apply to the estimated 30 to 50 people at Travis who have undergone lab testing but have not received confirmation from the CDC that they tested positive  but likely will, based on estimated rates of infection for the new virus. It would not apply to the 15 cruise ship passengers whose coronavirus diagnoses were confirmed by CDC testing and who were taken to local hospitals last week for treatment and monitoring.

The relocation of coronavirus patients to Fairview would not have been imminent, and had been proposed as part of contingency planning in case there is a surge in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases at Travis. About 150 people from the cruise ship remained under quarantine at Travis as of Monday.

At its peak in 1967, Fairview housed about 2,700 residents with developmental and intellectual disabilities, but is now nearly vacant. It is scheduled to close next year as part of a state budget plan to relocate the residents to other facilities.

In court filings, attorneys for Costa Mesa say Fairview is surrounded by residential neighborhoods and was not intended to house people with infectious diseases. They also said federal officials failed to consult local governments in the planning process to potentially use the center as a quarantine site. A spokesman and attorneys for the city did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Attorneys for the state said Costa Mesas objection to the transfer of patients is based on speculation and unfounded internet fear, and that there is an urgent need to house evacuees who have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Safely and securely isolating our fellow Californians who are under federal care is an important way to keep all of our communities safe from novel coronavirus, and we will continue to communicate with local partners  both those in Costa Mesa and communities that are being greatly impacted by shortages of hospital isolation beds, the California Health and Human Services Agency said in a statement following the judges decision Monday.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

The transfer would apply to patients who have the virus but whose symptoms are not severe enough to require hospitalization. Some may be asymptomatic. About 80% of people who have coronavirus exhibit mild to moderate symptoms and do not need to be hospitalized. It would make sense to house those types of patients away from those who are testing negative for the virus to prevent transmission, and to keep them out of the hospital, said Dr. Stephen Parodi, an infectious disease expert at Kaiser Permanente.

Ideally you would not put those individuals in a hospital setting, because, number one, they dont require hospital care and, number two, theres potential for risk of spread of (coronavirus) in a hospital setting, he said. So in order to minimize that, ideally, those individuals would be housed in a different setting other than a hospital if they dont need hospital care.

The new coronavirus has infected more than 80,000 people and killed nearly 2,700, with the vast majority of illnesses and deaths in China. There have been 53 confirmed cases in the United States.

Catherine Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Cat_Ho
New York's notorious Rikers Island prison complex, where Harvey Weinstein will be jailed while awaiting sentencing for rape and sexual assault, is antithesis of his covetable former life, with violence and alleged corruption running rampant in the dilapidated, vermin-infested halls.

The 400-acre lockup, nicknamed Gladiator School, Torture Island and the Guantanamo of New York, has long been plagued by gang brutality, overcrowding, and allegations of human rights violations so severe that Mayor Bill de Blasio vowed in 2017 to close it down within a decade.

Located on the East River between Queens and the Bronx, Rikers Island sits in the shadow of the glittering Manhattan skyline Weinstein is accustomed to enjoying from the comfort of his apartment and now-shuttered offices in Midtown.

On Monday, the disgraced producer began his day with an expensive coffee and Acqua Panna mineral water at a breakfast meeting in a Four Seasons hotel in the Financial District.

Hours later in nearby Manhattan Supreme Court, a jury found Weinstein guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting another, after which the judge remanded him to Rikers Island until his sentencing on March 11.

Weinstein was instead diverted to Bellevue Hospital Center by ambulance on Monday after suffering chest pains.

But he will arrive at the jail after his release from the hospital.

At New York's notorious Rikers Island prison complex (pictured), where Harvey Weinstein will be jailed while awaiting sentencing for rape and sexual assault, violence and alleged corruption run rampant in the dilapidated, rat infested halls

On Monday, Weinstein began his day with expensive coffee and Acqua Panna mineral water at a breakfast meeting with his lawyers in a Four Seasons hotel in the Financial District (pictured)

A jury found Weinstein guilty on Monday of raping one woman and sexually assaulting another

Weinstein's lawyers are asking that the 67-year-old, whose inmate number will be 06581138Z, be sent to the jail's North Infirmary Command - two dank buildings that house sick inmates and those with enough notoriety to require protection from their neighbors.

An attorney for Weinstein reminded Judge James Burke on Monday of some of her client's ailments, noting he takes several medications and requires injections in his eyes to forestall blindness.

He entered and left the Manhattan court each day leaning on a walker, a remnant of back surgery he had in December according to his lawyers.

New York City's Department of Correction declined to say where he would be sent.

Housed partly in the jail's original hospital building, the North Infirmary Command is not much of a respite, according to people who have worked there.

'It's not the cleanest,' Malissa Allen, a mental health counselor who has treated inmates at the infirmary, said in an interview. 'It's a very old jail. A lot of people complain about the smell. It has the old basement smell.'

Rikers is one of America's most high-profile prisons and has incarcerated celebrities including Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols, rapper Tupac Shakur and former International Monetary Fund managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

Lawyers and criminologists have been calling for the jail's closure for years, citing its age and regular violent incidents against inmates and guards that are blamed in part on its remote location, which makes family visits difficult.

In 2015, federal prosecutors in New York concluded after an investigation that guards routinely abused inmates at the jail.

Stats released last fall revealed that violent incidents have increased every year since that 2015 investigation, despite efforts over the years to improve security and an increased scrutiny of conditions at Rikers.

New York city council speaker Corey Johnson recently called the jail 'a symbol of brutality and inhumanity'.

Beyond the violence, the jail is known to be in very poor condition.

'It's not uncommon to walk into a cell and the paint is coming off the walls,' former inmate Johnny Perez told France14 in 2018.

'There are roaches  definitely roaches  mice and rats. I've had mice climb up on the bed that I'm sleeping on and that's one of the scariest things ever.'

Perez, who landed at the jail on multiple occasions between 2011 and 2017, described the putrefying stench as 'toxic, like sewage mixed with cheap disinfectant' and said it 'sticks to your clothes'.

The jail's steel and concrete structure does little to regulate temperature, leaving it ice cold in winter and unbearably hot in summer.

Lawyers and criminologists have been calling for Rikers Island's closure for years, citing its age and regular violent incidents against inmates and guards that are blamed in part on its remote location, which makes family visits difficult

In October last year New York officials approved a multi-billion-dollar plan to close the city's notorious Rikers Island prison and replace the sprawling complex with smaller jails. This 2016 photo shows a solitary confinement cell at the Rikers

Weinstein's lawyers are asking that the 67-year-old, whose inmate number will be 06581138Z, be sent to the jail's North Infirmary Command (labeled 2 above)

Operated by the New York City Department of Correction, the prison was first open in 1935 to house prisoners from the overcrowded and dilapidated jail on Roosevelt Island.

The main building went up in 1932, according to the Correction Officers' Benevolent Association, the labor union representing the jail's guards.

Weinstein would likely wear a tan jumpsuit to indicate he has yet to be sentenced, Allen said, with his hearing set for March 11. Sentenced inmates are dressed in green.

Weinstein's bail was revoked and he was handcuffed shortly after the jury found him guilty of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping Jessica Mann, a onetime aspiring actress, in 2013. He has maintained his innocence and a long appeals battle is likely.

It was not clear in what kind of room or cell Weinstein would be held. There are bunk rooms with up to 40 or so patients, which have beeping hospital machines to monitor vital signs, Allen said. He may end up in a private or semi-private cell, as often happens with inmates who might be threatened by others.

'I would think if you had to be at Rikers Island, you might prefer the infirmary,' Lisa Pelosi, a criminal defense lawyer in New York, said in an interview. 'But it is definitely not a pleasant place.'

Weinstein's bail was revoked and he was handcuffed shortly after the jury found him guilty of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping Jessica Mann, a onetime aspiring actress, in 2013. He will be held on Rikers Island, pictured in 2015

The jail sits on an island in the East River, beneath the LaGuardia Airport flight path

A cell in an enhanced supervision housing unit on Rikers Island pictured in 2015. Weinstein would likely wear a tan jumpsuit to indicate he has yet to be sentenced, Allen said, with his hearing set for March 11. Sentenced inmates are dressed in green

Rikers is one of America's most high-profile prisons and has incarcerated celebrities including Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols (right), rapper Tupac Shakur and former International Monetary Fund managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn. John Lennon's assassin Mark David Chapman (left) was also held there

Rikers Island is one of the most recognizable of US prison names, together with Sing Sing, located in Ossining in New York state, San Quentin in California and ADX in Colorado, a so-called 'supermax' prison nicknamed the 'Alcatraz of the Rockies'.

Fake heiress Anna Sorokin had been in custody at Rikers Island since her October 2017 arrest, but is believed to have recently been moved upstate to the Albion Correctional Facility.

The number of inmates at Rikers has fallen from around 20,000 in the 1990s to around 7,000.

The 400-acre island in the East River, connected by bridge to the borough of Queens, is home to nine jails.

Most inmates are defendants awaiting trial or serving sentences of less than one year.

An ambulance carrying Harvey Weinstein is escorted from a Manhattan courthouse Monday
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San Francisco, 25 February 2020: The Report Dental Equipment Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Radiology Equipment, Lasers, Systems & Parts, Laboratory Machines, Hygiene Maintenance Device), And Segment Forecasts, 2019  2025

The global dental equipment market size is expected to reach USD 10.47 billion by 2025, according to a report published by Grand View Research, Inc. It is anticipated to expand at a lucrative CAGR of 4.5% over the forecast period. Key factors attributed to the growth include increasing demand for dental procedures owing to prevalence of dental disorders and rising awareness and demand for preventive, restorative, and surgical services for dental care.

Moreover, favorable government initiatives regarding dental hygiene is also a significant factor responsible for driving the market. Due to increasing number of initiatives, there is an increase in awareness regarding dental hygiene leading to increasing adoption of dental treatments, which in turn is anticipated to drive the market for dental equipment over the forecast period.

Dental equipment are classified on the basis of product into dental radiology, dental lasers, systems and parts, laboratory machines, hygiene equipment, and others. The systems and parts segment held the leading market share of 39.9% in 2018 and is anticipated to grow at a lucrative pace over the forecast period. The segment is further classified into instrument delivery systems, vacuums and compressors cone beam CT systems, cast machines, furnace and ovens, CAD/CAM, and electrosurgical equipment. The CAD/CAM sub-segment led in 2018 owing to the technological superiority of these equipment over traditional die casting techniques.

North America led with a market share of 29.6% in 2018. Some of the key reasons attributed to the high share include technological advancements, rising demand for dental surgeries, growing geriatric population, and increasing number of dentists and dental clinics. On the other hand, Asia Pacific is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR of 4.9% over the forecast period. Constantly developing healthcare infrastructure and increasing healthcare expenditure coupled with the presence of high unmet medical needs are expected to serve this market as high-impact rendering drivers.

Few significant companies venturing in the market include, Denstply International Inc.; A-Dec Inc.; Planmeca Oy; Sirona Dental Systems Inc.; Patterson Companies Inc.; Straumann; GC Corporation; Carestream Health Inc.; Biolase Inc.; Danaher Corporation; and 3M.

Access Research Report of Dental Equipment Market @ www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/dental-equipment-market

Further key findings from the report suggest:

Systems and parts product segment led the market in 2018 and is anticipated to grow at a lucrative rate over the forecast period

CAD/CAM sub-segment of systems and parts accounted for the largest market share in terms of revenue in 2018, owing to technological advancements

North America led the dental equipment market in 2018 with a revenue share of USD 1.84 billion owing to the presence of advanced healthcare facilities and strong reimbursement scenarios

Some of the key players operating in the market are, Cook Medical; Smiths Medical; Edwards Life Sciences Corporation; Medtronic Inc.; and Johnson & Johnson.

Browse more reports of this category by Grand View Research at: www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/medical-devices

Grand View Research has segmented the global dental equipment market on the basis of product and region:

Dental Equipment Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

Dental Radiology Equipment Intra-Oral Digital X-Ray Units Digital Sensors Extra-Oral Digital Analog Dental Lasers Diode Lasers Quantum Well Lasers Distributed Feedback Lasers Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers Heterostructure Lasers Quantum Cascade Lasers Separate Confinement Heterostructure Lasers Vertical External Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers Carbon Dioxide Lasers Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Lasers Systems & Parts Instrument Delivery Systems Vacuums & Compressors Cone Beam CT Systems Cast Machine Furnace & Ovens Electrosurgical Equipment CAD/CAM Other Systems and Parts Laboratory Machines Ceramic Furnaces Hydraulic Press Electronic Waxer Suction Unit Micro Motor Hygiene Maintenance Devices Sterilizers Air Purification and Filters Hypodermic Needle Incinerator Other Equipment Chairs Hand Piece Light Cure Scaling Unit



Dental Equipment Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

MEA

Access Press Release of Dental Equipment Market @ www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-dental-equipment-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
A panel on implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord on Tuesday submitted its report to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, suggesting among other things a definition of who can be referred to as an Assamese and also a cut-off year for identifying an indigenous person.

Justice (retd) B K Sharma, the chairman of the MHA-constituted high-level committee, handed over the report to the chief minister in the presence of the state cabinet members, top government officials and journalists.

Sharma said the 15-member committee has met people across Assam before preparing the report.

"The report was prepared well within the target time of January 15... Our term ended on February 15. An invitation had come to us to hand over the report to the chief minister for onward transmission to the Union Home Minister... That we have done today."



Asked about the content of the report, Sharma said it would not be "prudent" on his part to say anything.

"As it has not been made public and not yet handed over to the Union Home Minister, it will be not prudent on my part to divulge anything... Wait for a while.

"We deliberated on the various clauses of the Assam Accord, visited places in Assam, and received more than 1,200 representations. We talked with the various stakeholders and then we prepared this report that we submitted today to the chief minister," he said.

Clause 6 of the Assam Accord pledges to provide constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate, to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.

Sharma also said a definition as to who can be referred to as an 'Assamese' has been given in the report.

Talking about the cut-off year for identifying an indigenous person of Assam, he said, "Various suggestions were forwarded by different quarters, with some saying it should be the year of the Treaty of Yandabo 1826 (when Burma agreed to cede to the British-Assam, Manipur, Rakhine (Arakan), and the Taninthayi (Tenasserim) coast south of the Salween River).

"Some others said 1950 should be the cut-off year when India became a republic, yet another suggestion was that 1971 should be the date. After examining all suggestions, we arrived at a date we thought was right."



The former Gauhati High Court judge also warned against incorrect information doing the rounds.

"Claims that a team from the committee is going to meet the Union Home Minister in Delhi are absolutely incorrect. Another incorrect piece of is that it has been submitted to the state chief secretary and the Assam Accord Implementation Department.

"That department is part of us... It was kept in its custody under a sealed cover," he clarified.

Asked why some of the members of the committee, including three top leaders of the influential All Assam Students' Union (AASU), skipped the occasion on Tuesday, Sharma said he would not be able to comment on that.

AASU chief advisor Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya, president Dipankar Nath and general secretary Luringjyoti Gogoi - all part of the panel - were not present during Tuesday's hand-over.

The leaders had told reporters on Monday that their "job is over as the report has been prepared".

North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor and state finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Sonowal is scheduled to submit the report later in the day or on Wednesday to Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had in January last year announced the formation of the high-level committee, with retired Union Secretary M P Bezbaruah as its head, to look into the implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord.

However, six of the nine chosen members declined to be part of it, following which the panel was reconstituted on July 16, 2019, with 14 members and Sharma as its chairman.

The Assam Accord was a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) signed in 1985 between representatives of the central government and the leaders of the Assam Movement -- a six-year-long statewide agitation seeking detection and deportation of illegal Bangladeshis -- in the presence of the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NANJING, China, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In September 2019, Carrefour China was officially acquired by Suning Group. Tian Rui, Carrefour China CEO publicly disclosed the achievements of Suning Carrefour's integration for the first time and looked forward to the future with strategic development on February 25, 2020.

Tian Rui said that in the past five months, Carrefour China has steadily improved its operating efficiency through the digital transformation of its stores and accelerated integration with Suning ecological system. The effect is magnificent, in Q4 2019, Carrefour China achieved its first quarterly profit among the last seven years. In January this year, Carrefour's profits increased significantly compared with the same period last year, exceeding the sum of January and February last year.

After the acquisition, Carrefour China management team emphasized on consumers' needs, and strengthened the construction of commodities, operations, marketing and membership management as well. In terms of merchandise operations, Carrefour China took full advantages of imported goods supply chain and accelerated the integration with Suning FMCG supply chain. At present, Carrefour China has opened up the supply chain with Suning Convenience Store in the majority of regions in China, which has strengthened the supply chain capabilities of Suning Convenience Store and effectively reduced costs.

In terms of the digitalization of Carrefour China, existed 209 stores nationwide have completed smart retail transformation to meet the one-hour service within three kilometers of the surrounding area and the half-day service within 10 kilometers of the same city.

Carrefour China has integrated with Suning Logistics warehousing resources. In the future, it will cooperate with Suning Logistics to establish its own cold chain service capability and achieve better quality control. At the same time, Carrefour's 40 million members have connected with Suning members and linked Suning.com and other business formats to further strengthen membership privileges.

During the epidemic recently, Carrefour China actively secured the supply of residents' living materials, and at the same time vigorously developed Flash Delivery to satisfy consumer demands during the period.

On February 6, Carrefour China entered the Suning Convenience Store APP, covering all Suning Convenience Store across the country. Since its launch, the average daily order volume of Carrefour Flash Delivery has increased by 202% month-on-month on Suning Convenience Store APP. On February 12, the updated version of Carrefour Flash Delivery mini program was launched nationwide, it has accumulated more than 700,000 users so far. On February 21, the average daily order volume increased by 329% from the previous month.

"Carrefour China is the core business of Suning FMCG matrix. In 2020, we will accelerate store upgrades, supply chain construction, and other ecological integration with Suning to recreate the glory of Carrefour like seven years ago!" said Tian Rui.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1095135/Carrefour_China.jpg
[February 25, 2020] Vertosa Earns Two Esteemed Certifications: Organic Hemp-CBD Emulsions and Good Manufacturing Practice

Vertosa, an innovative hemp and cannabis technology company providing customized emulsion systems for infused products, today announced that it has earned two certifications validating its best-in-class active ingredients and formulas: Vertosa's Hemp-derived CBD Emulsion System is now certified organic by CCOF, a United States Department of Agriculture-accredited certifier and nonprofit advocacy group, and the company has also received its Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification, confirming their offerings follow regulations promulgated by the US Food and Drug Administration and are safe, pure, and effective. The organic certification marks a major milestone in the maturation of the Hemp-CBD industry, which became federally legal a mere two years ago via the 2018 Farm Bill. USDA Certified Organic CBD products weren't available until 2019 and there are still only a handful on the market. Vertosa carefully developed their organic emulsion system to ensure that all the emulsifiers and surfactants (compounds that lower the surface tension between the cannabinoid oil and water, allowing them to merge) meet organic certification requirements, as well as organically certified the process used to create their Organic Emulsion. Vertosa's current and future Hemp-CBD partnr brands, which include a variety of food, beverage, and cosmetic producers, amongst other consumer packaged goods, will now have the opportunity to introduce products infused via the certified organic emulsifiers. Vertosa's team of scientists, led by Founder/CSO Dr. Harold Han, will continue to custom design emulsion formulas to fit the needs of each partner brand, tailoring their desired experiences for bioavailability, taste, color, clarity, texture and stability.



"We're thrilled to be one of the few companies fulfilling the need for Certified Organic Hemp-CBD Emulsions," said Dr. Han. "We pride ourselves on customization for clients and this allows us to provide another important offering. More options on the shelves in accordance with USDA guidelines is a step forward for the progression of the hemp-CBD industry and normalization of cannabis at large." The GMP certification, considered the gold standard for global quality compliance, sets the stage for Vertosa to collaborate with and extend their services to international companies and solidifies their reputational advantage as the premier infusion partner.

"Vertosa's GMP certification reflects our commitment to establishing strong quality management systems, obtaining quality raw materials, establishing robust operating procedures and maintaining reliable testing laboratories," said Lab Director Kais Shirgul. "Clients and consumers can depend on the emulsions produced in our facility to bond the highest standard of quality with remarkable consistency." For more information on Vertosa, its technology and client roster, please visit vertosa.com. About Vertosa Vertosa creates industry-leading active ingredients for infused product makers. Their patent pending nano- and micro-emulsions are carefully designed for the specific needs of each customer, with pre-suspended aqueous solutions that create incredibly homogeneous and stable products while maximizing bioavailability, clarity, and taste. Vertosa works closely with their lab partners and clients of all sizes throughout the manufacturing process to achieve target potency and accelerate products to market. Learn more about Vertosa at vertosa.com, and connect on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005671/en/

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WEST OLIVE, MI -- Faulty tires caused a rollover crash Monday morning on U.S. 31 near Taylor Street.

The driver of the only vehicle involved, a 38-year-old man, was treated at the crash scene and declined transportation to a hospital, according to the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies say the man was headed north on U.S. 31 around 8:20 a.m. Monday, Feb. 24, when he lost control of his 2008 Kia Optima due to faulty tires.

The vehicle slid through the median and then rolled into the southbound lanes of U.S. 31, blocking traffic for about 45 minutes, according to deputies.

The driver was able to remove himself from the vehicle and was treated by fire and ambulance crews.

Read more on MLive:

Grand Rapids woman dies after crash on U.S. 131

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
Berbatov: Even if Bale scored a hat-trick every week he'd be criticised Real Madrid Bulgarian has faith in the Welshman

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has come in for a lot of criticism over the last couple of seasons after failing to fill the void that was left when Cristiano Ronaldo departed for Juventus in 2018, but Dimitar Berbatov is convinced that the Welshman can quieten his doubters.

Given the injury to Eden Hazard, Wednesday's Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City could be a perfect opportunity for Bale to showcase his quality.

"I hope he plays as he obviously enjoys playing against Premier League clubs, having scored twice in the final against Liverpool a couple of years ago," Berbatov said of Bale to Betfair

"But even if Bale scored a hat-trick every week he'd still be criticised by some Madrid fans.

"I hope [Zinedine] Zidane gives the Welshman the opportunity to show that he's still one of the best forwards in the world, but his brilliance will never be enough to shut some people up."

In terms of how the two teams can nullify each other at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Berbatov has identified the key players for both sides.

"The best way for Madrid to stop City is to cut off the supply line from Kevin De Bruyne to Sergio Aguero," Berbatov noted.

"City's weakness is at the back and Aymeric Laporte and Fernandinho need to keep close tabs on the in-form Karim Benzema.

"Luka Modric and Toni Kroos will also be key for Madrid and, if City are any way short of their best in defence, they will struggle to contain them."
In Declan Learys analysis of Pope Franciss apostolic exhortation Querida Amazonia, he seeks to defend the proposition that the document reveals Francis to be a man of Tradition, maybe even a man of the Right. The apostolic exhortation, which comes in the wake of clerical flirtations with paganism at the Amazon synod, does not abolish or otherwise dilute the discipline of priestly celibacy, nor does it propose the institution of a heretofore unthinkable female diaconate, as suggested by the synods Final Document.

It is to Franciss credit that he resisted the radical agenda pushed at the synod by the German bishops, two-thirds of whom, according to their news agencys head, Ludwig Ring-Eifel, support ordaining married men to the priesthood and admitting women to the diaconate. So I am less interested in quibbling with Learys assessment of Querida Amazonia  a document that contains, for all of its strange verbiage and rhetorical imprecision, an edifying defense of the Amazonian region against rapacious business interests  than I am in challenging his claim that Francis is a man of Tradition, maybe even a man of the Right.

Leary asserts that Franciss failures  of which he admits there are a few  are due to the pontiffs inferior political ability and relative limitations of mind, not to what he dismisses as an imagined, covert plot by the pontiff to institute a New Christianity. This suggestion  that Francis is a man of Tradition whose failures are due to incompetence rather than a deliberate agenda  is belied by the Popes repeated heterodoxy and imprecision, particularly as concerns matters in which the Petrine heir most owes the Catholic faithful clarity and fidelity to the Magisterium.

It is difficult to square the suggestion that Pope Francis is a man of Tradition with his first apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium. While some assert that Pope Benedict XVI was primarily responsible for the document, nearly every inside source we have confirms that Gaudium is much more of a Francis document than a Benedictine one, and it regularly emphasizes the distinctive thought and themes of the current Pope.

Story continues

Indeed, Gaudium is full of Franciss trademark calls for innovation  it asks the Church to embrace new narratives and paradigms, new forms of cultural synthesis, and, new signs and new symbols to better commune with todays world. None of these vague novelties can be classified as right-wing or deferential to the Churchs patrimony. Francis calls the very power structure of the Church into question when he suggests, in Gaudium, that the Church examine the possibility of imputing genuine doctrinal authority to episcopal conferences, a divestiture of papal authority that would grant bishops conferences the power to enact new doctrines under the guise of synodality and the fleeting dictates of the popular will.

This exhortation is awash in the pluralistic ecumenism that has dominated post-conciliar thinking. Elsewhere in Gaudium, Francis goes out of his way to heap abundant praise upon non-Christian religions, assuring readers that authentic practitioners of Islam are opposed to every form of violence and instructing Christians to heed the practical wisdom contained in other faiths. Apprehending these bits of practical wisdom will, he writes, allow Christians to better accept the different ways of living, thinking and speaking among those schismatics and dissenters who would, in a faraway time of moral clarity, have been prompted to return to the one true Church of Christ for the sake of their eternal souls.

The documents ebullient praise for dissidents and acceptance of divergent ways of . . . thinking, however, is mysteriously denied to some Catholic believers, whom the Pope deems to possess an ostentatious preoccupation for the liturgy, for doctrine, and for the Churchs prestige and a nostalgia for structures and customs which are no longer life-giving in todays world. Never mind the consolation offered by the unchanging majesty of those structures and customs to the poor and dispossessed; while some of those customs may be beautiful, Francis writes, they must be abandoned for improperly communicating the Gospel to the spiritual paupers of modernity.

It is stupefying that in the midst of an unprecedented collapse of the Churchs liturgical practice, a decline in priestly vocations and entrants into religious life, and the mass apostasy of the West from the Christian faith, the Pope saw fit to warn Catholics about nostalgia for their own religious inheritance  or at least those parts of it that run afoul of papal taste and the pontiffs assessment of what is life-giving to secular, modern men  while at the same time enjoining Christians to learn from the treasures built up over many centuries by other faiths. In kowtowing to the deracinated pluralism of todays world, Francis tethers a Church that has conceived of itself as an institution standing athwart modern thinking to the very pulse of modernity.

To be sure, one might reasonably say that Francis is not the only post-conciliar Pope with ecumenical zeal  John Paul II and Benedict XVI were both exponents of aimless interreligious dialogue, after all. But it nevertheless seems unthinkable that these priorities might be said to obtain to a man of Tradition or a man of the Right.

Leary proceeds to claim that Querida Amazonia contains criticism of anti-traditionalism . . . stronger than anything to be found in the writings of Benedict. I find this assertion thoroughly confounding. Not only does it denigrate Benedicts commitment to the Churchs liturgical patrimony  as Cardinal Ratzinger, Benedict called the new liturgy a fabrication, a banal product of the moment, and proclaimed that a community is calling its very being into question when it suddenly declares that what until now was its holiest and highest possession [the Tridentine Mass] is strictly forbidden  but it ignores the unceasing drumbeat of anti-traditionalist sentiment that has flowed from Franciss mouth, to the delight of the secular press, from the moment he assumed the Petrine office.

For instance, at the conclusion of a general episcopal assembly during the Synod on the Family, Francis decried the tendency of traditionalists to close themselves off to the God of surprises. By his own account, the putative man of Tradition once rebuked a woman in Manila who was pregnant eight times, deriding her supposed irresponsibility and the behavior of those who breed like rabbits. He has claimed that traditionalist Catholics stubbornly try to recover a past that no longer exists  they have a static and inward-directed view of things. And he has focused his scorn on young people attracted to the Latin liturgy, whom he deems morally defective:

I always try to understand whats behind the people who are too young to have lived the pre-conciliar liturgy but who want it. Sometimes Ive found myself in front of people who are too strict, who have a rigid attitude. And I wonder: How come such a rigidity? Dig, dig, this rigidity always hides something: insecurity, sometimes even more. . . . Rigidity is defensive. True love is not rigid.

It has been clear from the first days of his pontificate that Francis holds a manifest disdain for those within the Church who take solace in its liturgical patrimony. But none of the incidents above pose a greater challenge to the portrait of Francis as a man of Tradition than the eighth chapter of his apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, and the subsequent affirmation of the chapters radical implications in Acta apostolicae sedis (AAS).

Released in the aftermath of the Synods on the Family from 2014 and 2015, Amoris Laetitia was a collection of Pope Franciss thoughts on marriage and the family, particularly vis-a-vis divorced and civilly remarried Catholics. Because of Christs multiple injunctions against the dissolving of a validly entered marriage  as well as the adultery inherent in the conjugal unions indulged by the remarriages of absconding partners  it had to this point been the millennial practice of the Church to deny those living in public adultery admission to confession and the Eucharist without a commitment to either, as dictated by their situation, live in continence with their second spouse for the sake of children arising from the union or to leave the union altogether. Francis seemed to obviate that unchanging teaching, passed down in unbroken succession from the apostolic age, in Amoris:

Because of forms of conditioning and mitigating factors, it is possible that in an objective situation of sin  which may not be subjectively culpable, or fully such  a person can be living in Gods grace, can love and can also grow in the life of grace and charity, while receiving the Churchs help to this end.

As Catholic author Chris Ferrara noted at length, the relevant footnote appended to this passage, which avails those in second marriages of recourse to the sacraments without exacting a commitment to abstain from conjugal relations in said marriages, threatens to upend an unchanging (indeed, unchangeable) teaching of the Church, and the coherence of Catholic dogma itself:

Consider the moral catastrophe Francis has just unleashed: A public adulterer in a second marriage is admitted to Holy Communion as part of a process of discernment that allows integration while he gradually moves toward an acceptance of Church teaching that may never come. Yet once he is made aware by the priest conducting this discernment that the Church teaches that his condition constitutes adultery  as if he didnt know this before!  how can he continue to claim inculpable ignorance of the moral law? Of course he cannot. But, as we saw above, Francis has the answer: even those who know the law are now to be excused from compliance by way of pastoral discernment because they find it very difficult to act differently (302) on account of mitigating factors (301-302). This logic obviously leads to the de facto elimination of mortal sin as an impediment to Holy Communion on the part of any and all habitual sinners who find it very difficult to change their behavior. In which case, as Fr. Schall wonders , why would anyone need to go to Confession at all? If this conclusion is correct, he writes, we really have no need for mercy, which has no meaning apart from actual sin and its free recognition. . . . Therefore, there is no pressing need to concern oneself too much with these situations.

Lest this interpretation be thought the aberrant ramblings of a traditionalist, Francis himself confirmed in the AAS to the Buenos Aires bishops that his proposal opens the sacraments to those who persist in a second union without living in continence. The Buenos Aires bishops sent their interpretation of Amoriss eighth chapter to Rome, which read as follows:

If it comes to be recognized that, in a specific case, there are limitations that mitigate responsibility and culpability (cf. 301-302), especially when a person believes they would incur a subsequent wrong by harming the children of the new union [by refusing to live in continence], Amoris laetitia offers the possibility of access to the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist (cf. footnotes 336 and 351).

In the AAS, Francis replied that the document is very good and completely explains the meaning of chapter VIII of Amoris Laetitia. There are no other interpretations. (Emphasis added.)

The entire affair, from start to finish, was emblematic of the bait-and-switch technique deployed by defenders of the Francis pontificate. When critics noted ambiguities or plain heterodoxy in the papal decree, their stated concerns were derided as the result of paranoia and an uncharitable reading of the text motivated by a distaste for the Popes merciful and charitable modus operandi. Such critics were called Pharisaical, insubordinate, legalistic, and  a papal favorite  rigid. When the manifest ambiguities in the exhortation were deployed in precisely the subversive manner that the dissenters feared  as Franciss exponents had assured was not intended by the text or would never happen  traditionalist objections were taken as further evidence of insubordination to the Peoples Pope.

In short, at every turn, Francis and his defenders have chided and cast aspersions upon those inclined to Tradition and the faith of their fathers, even as the human element of the Church collapses atop the shifting sands of modernity and the clarity of its bimillennial dictates is obscured by both the moral relativism of the prelature and its institutional complicity in the sexual-abuse crisis. There is plenty of reasonable debate to be had about the Francis pontificate, and the impact the Jesuit has thus far had on the Petrine office. But to call the Pope who heralds the God of surprises a man of Tradition and a man of the Right is to tragically misapprehend his own words and actions.

More from National Review
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats will convene a special congress on April 25 to pick a new leader, participants at a meeting of top CDU officials said yesterday as they sought to resolve a crisis shaking the party's hold on power.

The meeting took on added urgency after voters handed the CDU its worst result in a state vote in Hamburg on Sunday, punishing it for flirting with the far-right in an eastern state and driving it into a messy leadership battle.

The April 25 congress will be held in the German capital Berlin, the participants said.

The CDU succession debate was blown wide open earlier this month when party leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer unexpectedly said she would no longer seek to succeed her mentor Ms Merkel.

'Bild' dubbed the Hamburg result a "debacle" for the CDU, whose faltering leadership has raised questions over the future course of Europe's largest economy.

The CDU slipped into third place in Hamburg, scoring just 11.2pc in the northern port city - behind the Social Democrats (SPD), for whom the city is a stronghold, and the Greens.

"The dismal result adds to the pressure on the party to resolve the leadership crisis fast," Berenberg bank analyst Holger Schmieding said.

Ms Merkel, chancellor for almost 15 years, has said she will not run in the next federal election, due by October 2021.

Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer's decision to give up her ambition of succeeding Ms Merkel came after an eastern branch of the CDU defied the national party and voted with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to install a state premier from a third party. That broke a post-World War II consensus among established parties of shunning the far-right.
Static traffic officers will be removed from Kenyan roads, Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai announced on Monday.

Speaking at the Police Pavilion in South C after receiving 19 vehicles from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), Mutyambai said static cops will be replaced by mobile traffic officers who will conduct vehicle patrols along the highways.

He said all the Regional Commanders will also be facilitated with efficient means of transport.

We have realised that the way weve been doing traffic is not the right wayofficers are not going to be static in one area the whole day, he said.

The vehicles are marked. Serial number 1-38 and the routes. The vehicles will also be provided with the registration numbers and the names of the officers, Mutyambai said.

The registration on each vehicle will enable the National Police Service to take action against police officers whose complaints will be raised.

Motorists will also be required to dial 999 for help and the controller will liaise with personnel on the affected routes for response.

Deputy IG Edward Mbugua noted that the deployment of excess traffic officers on roads is purely for personal gains.

It has come to my attention that commanders are deploying many officers to perform traffic duties at the expense of other police duties. Due to the many officers, there are many complaints on harassment of motorists. I have no doubts that this is happening for personal gains thus your integrity is questionable, Mbugua said.

Youre aware that 14-seater matatus are not to enter the CBD except for those on long distance. Arresting drivers and keeping them in police stations is not going to be allowed, he added.

Officers will be required to give notice to those drivers to appear on court.

Mbugua said traffic officers will only be deployed to ensure that there is a smooth flow of traffic in specific areas

Traffic officers on duty should have a uniform while on duty have tags with their nameand should not be covered by jackets, he said.
THE NATION CITY

Why Mayors Are Now Running the World

By Rahm Emanuel

At what had promised to be the pinnacle of his career in Washington, Rahm Emanuel came to a realization: A major shift was happening. The national government was in retreat and cities were emerging as the new power centers filling the void. And so, in the autumn of 2010, he tendered his resignation as Barack Obamas White House chief of staff, pulled up stakes and headed home to run for mayor of Chicago.

Nearly a decade on, Emanuel is more convinced than ever that the future of progressive politics lies beyond the Beltway. We need to shift much of our focus away from Washington and direct it to places that really matter, he urges in his spirited manifesto, The Nation City.

A presidential election year with Donald Trump on the ballot is an odd time to make this argument. And because its Emanuel, some readers will see the book as an effort to recover space for a style of business-friendly liberalism increasingly beleaguered on the national scene. (Both Michael Bloomberg and Pete Buttigieg feature prominently in The Nation City.) Still, marshaling a host of fascinating case studies and drawing on the work of the political theorist Benjamin Barber and others, Emanuel makes a strong case for the vitality of local governance in an age of dysfunction.

While national politicians cower in fear of donors, pressure groups and cable television coverage, mayors can act. As Emanuel recounts, at the same time that Congress was frustrating Obamas desires for a national pre-K program, Americas mayors were getting started locally. When Washington acts cruelly, cities can try to blunt the impact  as Emanuel shows in a discussion of how cities have responded to the Trump administrations immigration policy. And because they operate where people live, cities can open up fresh opportunities in everyday life  for instance, by putting new libraries in public housing complexes, as Emanuel did in Chicago.
Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at 1:57PM

Microsoft has shared more details about its upcoming Xbox Series X console, and one of the more essential points raised is its backwards compatibility. The company said it will support "four generations" of Xbox games while making these look "better than ever before."

Xbox head Phil Spencer wrote in a blog post, "Our commitment to compatibility means existing Xbox One games, including backward-compatible Xbox 360 and original Xbox games, look and play better than ever before. Your favourite games, including titles in Xbox Game Pass, benefit from steadier framerates, faster load times and improved resolution and visual fidelityall with no developer work required. Your Xbox One gaming accessories also come forward with you."

Microsoft is also introducing a new feature called "Smart Delivery," which can turn Xbox games into universal apps if publishers and developers use it. Microsoft detailed it as, "This technology empowers you to buy a game once and know thatwhether you are playing it on Xbox One or Xbox Series Xyou are getting the right version of that game on whatever Xbox you're playing on. We're making the commitment to use Smart Delivery on all our exclusive Xbox Game Studios titles, including Halo Infinite, ensuring you only have to purchase a title once in order to play the best available version for whichever Xbox console they choose to play on. This technology is available for all developers and publishers, and they can choose to use it for titles that will be released on Xbox One first and come to the Xbox Series X later."

We expect to hear more about the console in the coming months leading up to E3 in June, with the Xbox Series X launching this holiday season.
ENGLISH, Ind. - An Indiana couple accused of locking a teenage girl in a cage and denying her food, water and clean facilities wont serve any prison time.

Alan and Aimee Friz pleaded guilty Friday to neglect of a dependent in Crawford Circuit Court in exchange for two years of probation and the dismissal of their criminal confinement charges, WXIN-TV reported. Several charges of sexual misconduct with a minor levied against 57-year-old Alan Friz were also dismissed.

The Huntingburg couple was arrested in October 2017 after deputies responded to their Dubois County home on a report of a juvenile that was out of control. Authorities interviewed the girl with help from the county prosecutors office. Alan Friz was taken into custody as the investigation continued.

Police subsequently obtained a search warrant for the home and discovered a closet area of a bedroom that had been converted into a lockable cage. Authorities said the couple locked the girl in the cage at night and possibly at other times.

Both were originally charged in Dubois County, but the case was moved to Crawford County after they argued that they wouldnt get a fair trial there.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Feb.25

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

Turkmen delegation has taken part in Global Forum of GS1, international organization which maintains registration and barcode standardization matters, held in Brussels (Belgium), Trend reports via Business Turkmenistan agency.

Turkmenistan at the event was represented by Aykamar Malikguliyeva, Chairman of the National Organization of Turkmenistan for the barcode (NOTB). The event was dedicated to discussion of modern digital transformation, challenges on Global Data Model and information exchange perspectives.

Turkmenistan became member of GSI in 2015, and the products made in the country have been assigned a relevant international bar code. The decision to admit the country was supported by 111 member countries at the General Assembly of GS1 in Sydney (Australia).

Turkmenistan's national organization for bar coding is co-funded by the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan.
Hungary is in talks on the issue of a three- to five-year green bond with investors in Japan and China, Finance Minister Mihaly Varga said in an interview published on business news website mfor.hu.

Were currently in talks on the green bond in two markets, in Japan and in China. There is stronger interest [in Japan] where a number of players have appeared as partners for an issue. Well launch this year; the framework will be established by mid-year on the basis of which we can decide the issue scale of such a security.



Were thinking of a three- to five-year maturity, and well use the proceeds to finance investments that specifically protect the climate, Varga told mfor.hu.



Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced the launch of the green bond that will be used to finance climate-friendly programmes in the framework of a climate protection action plan unveiled at an annual state of the nation speech earlier in February.



Varga told mfor.hu that the government is also weighing the possibility of making the green bond available to resident retail investors, but he said the securities would first be issued to institutional investors.



Varga confirmed that a new government security targeted at Hungarians saving for retirement would be launched this year.



We want to launch a kind of construction that draws [retail] investors with more favourable conditions, getting them to buy the securities sooner, at a younger age. We want to ensure favourable yields[and] sufficient flexibility allowing savings to be topped up at any time, based on the needs of the client, he told mfor.hu.



Asked about the term of the bond, Varga said the government had not wound up consultations on the matter of, for example, allowing access to the savings after a period of ten years, similar to the practice of pension funds, or only after the investor reaches retirement age.



Commenting on the impact on the retail investment market of the governments popular Plus bond, Varga said the overall effect had been positive. Strong demand for the Plus demand has reduced price pressure on the real estate market and supported a better balance between supply and demand, he explained.



Responding to criticism that the high-yield bond had hoovered up retail savings from other banking sector products, Varga said banks are free to compete with the Plus bond.



The goal is not to cannibalise the market and suck up all the money, rather it is to further improve the competitiveness of the economy and strengthen the foundations of growth by increasing savings, he said.



If more people make savings, thats good for banks, too, he added.



Varga said the earlier announced goal of raising the outstanding amount of retail government securities to 11,000 billion forints (EUR 33.3bn) in five years could be achieved before the 2023 target date.



MTI Photo: Mohai Balazs
A manhunt is underway for a hooded tradesman after a woman was sexually assaulted at a bus stop on her way to work.

The 23-year-old woman was waiting for her bus at Blackburn Road, near the corner of Maggs Street in Victoria about 8.55am on January 27 when the man approached and sat beside her.

The victim got up to leave and the man followed her before sexually assaulting her and exposing himself. He then walked away on Maggs Street.

Victoria Police released an image of a man they believe can assist with their enquiries.

Victoria Police released an image (pictured) of a man they believe can assist with their enquiries

The man is believed to be of Middle Eastern appearance and about 165cm-175cm tall with medium build, long brown beard and a moustache.

He was last seen wearing a gray or white hoodie with a black rectangular logo in the middle, navy shorts that were also splattered with paint or plaster, and dark boots with no shoelaces.

Officers from Transit Safety Division will be handing out flyers to members of the public today in hopes of finding the man responsible.

Transit Senior Sergeant Michele Clooney said the flyers would encourage the community to come forward with any information.

'Even if you think it's insignificant, the smallest detail can often be the breakthrough we need,' Sen-Sgt Clooney said.

'Our monthly days of action are all about taking a proactive stance against sexual offences and showing offenders that we absolutely will not tolerate it.

'Too many sexual offences unfortunately go unreported on the public transport network, often for a range of reasons, but we need the community to understand that any unwanted sexual behaviour is a crime and will be taken seriously by police.'
The number of people seeking help to stop viewing child sex abuse images online has doubled in a year, a charity has revealed.

A staggering 94,342 people in the UK contacted Stop It Now! by phone or through its website in 2019, compared to 43,019 who used the service in 2018  a 119 per cent increase.

The surge follows a campaign, run by child protection charity The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, highlighting the damaging consequences of viewing indecent images of under 18s  both to victims and the perpetrators.

The anonymous helpline offers support to paedophiles concerned they are a menace to children. It also provides advice and information to those worried about the behaviour of friends or family.

The service also supports those close to people arrested for  or suspected of  looking at child abuse images online.

A staggering 94,342 people in the UK contacted Stop It Now! by phone or through its website in 2019, compared to 43,019 who used the service in 2018  a 119 per cent increase (stock image)

Two years ago, the Home Secretary Sajid Javid warned thousands of youngsters were in danger of being groomed, exploited and blackmailed by sexual predators on the internet.

He said at least 80,000 paedophiles were using websites including social media.

Police forces in the UK make around 520 arrests a month linked to viewing or sharing illegal images of children.

Today the charity will launch two new online films raising awareness of the problem and encourage those looking at depraved images to get help in case their offending escalates and they molest a youngster.

The films depict men who look at sexual images of children being caught by a loved one.

Donald Findlater, director of the Stop It Now! Helpline, said: Tens of thousands of men in the UK are viewing and sharing sexual images of under 18s  these men are our friends, family, neighbours and colleagues.

Most are adults, but a significant proportion are teenagers. Many of these men started viewing this illegal material as part of their adult pornography habit, somehow not noticing or perhaps caring that these were images of children being abused.

Police forces in the UK make around 520 arrests a month linked to viewing or sharing illegal images of children (stock image)

Some don't know the law and need it spelling out. A few are struggling with a long-standing sexual interest in children and think that looking at only pictures is a way of containing that interest.

Whoever they are, they need to know this behaviour is illegal, that children are harmed by it, that serious consequences await those involved in it, but that our helpline and website give anonymous and confidential support and advice to stop and stay stopped.

Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the National Police Chiefs' Council child protection spokesman, said: Accessing these images is not a victimless crime and viewing them creates more demand for these appalling offences.

We are committed to targeting the perpetrators of these crimes and bringing them to justice. The consequences of being caught are huge and include losing your job, your family life, being imprisoned and registered as a sex offender.

Anyone who is having inappropriate thoughts about children should seek help from Stop It Now!, otherwise they should expect a visit from police officers.

To seek help, call 0808 100 0900 or go online at www.stopitnow.org.uk
PUNE: A case of trespassing and criminal intimidation was registered late on Monday night against men who claimed to be workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and asked for proof of nationality from three persons in Balajinagar area of Pune.

A complaint was lodged by Roshan Noorhasan Shaikh, 35, a resident of Balajinagar near Satara road area of Pune, who was one of the three men who were rounded up by the MNS workers with the help of police on Saturday morning. Shaikh owns a jewellery repair and polishing shop in Dattawadi area and used to be a member of the MNS in 2010.

Two of the accused were identified as local MNS leaders Ajay Shinde and Sachin Katkar, according to the complainant.

No arrests have been made yet. We are looking into the incident of that day. Legal action will be taken, said inspector (crime) Vijay Puranik of Sahakarnagar police station who is investigating the case. When asked about the police officials who were with the MNS workers, Puranik said, We will identify who were there and take appropriate action.

According to the police, the accused claimed to be activists of MNS working to keep a track on Bangladeshi nationals living in India illegally.

In his complaint, Shaikh told the police that the men arrived at his house around 8:30 am and took him to the ground floor of the building he lives in.

He used to be a member of MNS and later quit the party as he did not identify with the ideology. They repeatedly kept on asking him if he was Bangladeshi even though he said he was from West Bengal. They made him speak in Bengali, said advocate Tosif Shaikh who helped Shaikh register a case.

The family has been living here for several years. They (accused) were illegally trespassing in the house of innocent poor people and targeting the minority community people of Maharashtra calling them Bangladeshi and harassing them and demanding proof of citizenship. The police were also present with them. Who are these people to ask for proof of citizenship? Country should be governed by rule of law and the Constitution, said Tosif.

A case under Sections 143, 147, 149, 448, 506 of Indian Penal Code and Section 37(1) of Maharashtra Police Act, 1951 was registered at Sahakarnagar police station against the accused.

Meanwhile, MNS city unit president Ajay Shinde said, This is the first part of our operation to throw out illegal immigrants from the city. We had caught three suspected illegal immigrants and handed them to the Pune police. Few families escaped from the area where we carried out a search operation. The entire operation was carried out with the help of the police.
(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Americans to prepare for a coronavirus outbreak at home that could lead to significant disruptions of daily life, though the warnings were downplayed by the White House. Congress was told that theres shortage of masks needed for health workers if one occurs.

New cases were reported in Europe, prompting worries of a widening outbreak there. Iran reported a total of 15 deaths, the most fatalities outside China, and a top health official tested positive. Chinese President Xi Jinping said his country was confident of limiting the impact, though new cases continue to be identified elsewhere in Asia.

Stocks fell and bonds rose as worries mounted in the market over the virus. Airline stocks were hit particularly hard.

Key Developments

China death toll 2,663, up 71; total mainland cases at 77,658

Italy cases rise to 322; Austria reports two infections

United Air abandons profit goal, Mastercard cuts forecast

U.S. stocks head for a fourth straight decline; bond yields fall

Click VRUS on the terminal for news and data on the coronavirus and here for maps and charts. For analysis of the impact from Bloomberg Economics, click here.

Airline Stocks Fall Over Concerns on Travel Impact (4 p.m. NY)

U.S. airlines posted the biggest two-day drop since 2016 on worsening fears that the spread of the coronavirus will further stymie travel.

American Airlines Group Inc. led the decline, tumbling to the lowest since its 2013 merger with US Airways. President Donald Trumps administration is considering whether to adopt more restrictions on air travel because of the outbreak, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Tuesday.

Read the full story here.

Kudlow Urges Calm After CDC Virus Warning (1:40 p.m. NY)

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow called for calm after U.S. health officials said that an outbreak inside the U.S. could cause significant disruptions to daily life if emergency plans were put into place.

I think people should be as calm as possible in assessing this, Kudlow said at the White House. Emergency plans dont necessarily mean theyll have to be put into place.

There have been fewer than 20 coronavirus cases diagnosed in the U.S., though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said it expects the pathogen to eventually spread locally.

We have contained this, I wont say airtight, but pretty close to airtight, Kudlow said. He called it a human tragedy because of the toll in China, but said it was not an economic one.

Cases Grow in Italy and Across Europe (1:02 p.m. NY)

Italy saw its 10th casualty from the coronavirus outbreak, with 322 confirmed cases nationwide, as the infection began to appear across Europe and threatened to further disrupt tourism and business. Health ministers in Germany, France, Italy and other neighboring countries vowed to keep Europes borders open and to improve information-sharing about travelers to and from areas with infections.

Spains authorities held about 1,000 guests and workers at a seaside hotel on Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, after an Italian tourist there initially tested positive for the virus. Croatia and Switzerland reported their first cases, and Austria confirmed two more. All the patients had links to Italy.

CDC Warns Americans to Prepare for Outbreak (12:53 p.m. NY)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Americans should prepare for school closings, cancellations of sporting events, concerts and business meetings if the coronavirus spreads in the U.S.

We expect we will see community spread in this country, Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said on a call with reporters Tuesday. It is not a matter of if, but a question of when, this will exactly happen.

The outbreak is rapidly evolving and expanding, she said. Now is the time for businesses, schools and hospitals to begin preparing. She said that Americans should prepare for the coronavirus epidemic on our shores and to assume it will be bad.

U.S. Is Short on Masks in Case of American Outbreak (11:30 a.m. NY)

The U.S. has far fewer protective masks than it would need in the case of a major outbreak of the coronavirus in the country, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told Congress Tuesday.

The U.S. has about 30 million stockpiled N95 masks that can help stop a person from inhaling infective particles, Azar said, but would need as much as 300 million for health workers in an outbreak. U.S. health officials have said theyre preparing for the coronavirus to eventually begin spreading locally.

Gilead Drug Being Tested on Evacuees in Nebraska (11:20 a.m. NY)

Gileads antiviral drug remdesivir will be tested on coronavirus patients at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, which is housing people who were evacuated from a virus-infested cruise ship in Japan, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said.

Although remdesivir has been administered to some patients with the virus, we do not have solid data to indicate it can improve clinical outcomes, said Anthony S. Fauci, director of the institute, said in a statement.

The first trial participant is an American who was repatriated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that docked in Japan. So far, 11 of the 13 patients who were repatriated from the ship to the Nebraska hospital have been confirmed to have the coronavirus.

Remdesivir is also being tested in trials in China and Japan, said U.S. Heath and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar at a Senate hearing Tuesday.

Pompeo Criticizes China, Iran Reponse (10 a.m. NY)

U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo criticized China and Irans response to the coronavirus, saying that suppression of information about the infection may have made the outbreak worse or put other countries on the back foot.

The United States is deeply concerned that the Iranian regime may have suppressed vital details about the outbreak in that country, Pompeo said at a press conference in Washington. At least 15 people in Iran are dead, authorities there have said, though there are reports of higher numbers and hundreds of potential cases.

Pompeo also criticized Chinese authorities, after the government said it would expel three Wall Street Journal reporters. In the province of Hubei, where the outbreak began, some early warnings of a new virus were initially suppressed.

Expelling our journalists exposes once again the governments issue that led to SARS, and now the coronavirus -- namely censorship. It can have deadly consequences. Had China permitted its own and foreign journalists and medical personnel to speak and investigate freely, Chinese officials and other nations would have been far better prepared to address the challenge.

Senators Say Administration May Request More Virus Funds (9:45 a.m. NY)

Several U.S. senators emerging from a classified briefing on Capitol Hill Tuesday said they expected the Trump administration to ask for more money to combat a potential coronavirus outbreak, depending on how the situation plays out in the U.S.

Senators were told, Lets see how it evolves and then we can put more dollars in, said Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana. The administration has requested $2.5 billion -- half new money, half repurposed from other efforts -- from Congress to deal with the virus.

U.S. Will Test Experimental Gilead Drug in NIH Trial (8:44 a.m. NY)

The U.S. government will oversee an international trial of Gilead Sciences Inc.s experimental drug remdesivir, which is already being tested in China as a potential treatment for the coronavirus there.

The trial is being run by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, and seeks to sign up about 400 people in the U.S. and at foreign sites. Its expected to be completed by April 1, according to information about the trial posted on the ClinicalTrials.gov registry.

Drugmakers and governments are working on vaccines and therapies to use against the virus. On Tuesday, the U.S. drug developer Vir Biotechnology Inc. and Shanghai-based WuXi Biologics announced they would work together to find other potential new therapies.

China Pledges Cheap Credit, Tax Cuts to Aid Small Firms (7:50 a.m. NY)

The Peoples Bank of China will offer $71.2 billion of relending and rediscounting funding to commercial lenders for loans to small companies and the agricultural sector, Central China Television reported.

Catastrophe Bonds Signal Virus Nearing Pandemic Status (7:49 a.m. NY)

The World Health Organization says the coronavirus isnt yet a global pandemic. Bonds that insure against just such a catastrophe say that it probably is. The bonds, sold in 2017 by the World Bank to raise money for poor countries in a global pandemic, are quoted as much as 40% below their face value following coronavirus outbreaks in countries such as Iran and Italy, according to investors who own the securities.

Moderna Rallies on Quick Vaccine Turnaround (7:33 a.m. NY)

Moderna Inc., the biotechnology company developing an experimental coronavirus vaccine in collaboration with the U.S. government, said it shipped a first batch of the inoculation to begin human testing. The stock jumped as much as 25%.

The experimental vaccine was sent to the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and is to be used in an early stage study to test its safety. It will likely take months of testing to determine whether or not the vaccine can successfully stop infections, and more time to roll it out if it does work.

Top Iranian Health Official Tests Positive (7:32 a.m. NY)

A top Iranian health official has been diagnosed with coronavirus in another sign the disease may be spiraling out of control in the country. Iraj Harirchi, a deputy health minister who has been the face of the governments campaign against the virus, said he tested positive for it late Monday, the day he gave a press briefing on efforts to combat the outbreak.

Separately, Tehran lawmaker Mahmoud Sadeghi tweeted that he had tested positive. Sadeghi is a prominent reformist who was barred from participating in the latest parliamentary elections.

Earlier on Tuesday, Iran reported 34 new cases, with the death toll rising to 15. Bahrain reported nine new cases, while Kuwait has an additional three and Oman another two. So far, there are about 140 confirmed cases in the Middle East, all of them linked to Iran.

The U.A.E. has banned travel to all cities in Iran and has already suspended all flights to and from China, except Beijing. Kuwait, which has already stopped flights to Iran, on Monday suspended travel to South Korea, Thailand, Italy and Iraq. Separately, a Turkish Airlines flight from Tehran bound for Istanbul made an unscheduled landing in Ankara, according to Turkeys Haberturk television.

Italy Infections Rise, Austria Reports Two Cases (7:00 a.m. NY)

Italy reported 283 cases, up from 229. The death toll was unchanged at seven.

Separately, Austria confirmed two cases, APA said. Croatia reported its first case earlier on Tuesday -- a man who recently returned from Milan in Italy has mild symptoms and was hospitalized in Zagreb.

Tenerife Hotel in Lockdown (6:25 a.m. NY)

An Italian staying on the Spanish island of Tenerife tested positive for the virus and a second test to confirm the case will be carried out in Madrid, the government said. The case would be Spains third and the first on the island. Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, attracted more than 5.7 million tourists last year.

The tourist, a doctor, had come from Lombardy, a region of northern Italy that is a focus of an outbreak of the virus, Efe news service reported. Spains two previously confirmed patients no longer have the infection.

About 1,000 guests and hotel workers wont be able to leave pending definitive results of the test expected later on Tuesday, a person familiar with the situation said.

Luxury Sales Could Drop by $44 Billion (6:20 a.m. NY)

A survey showed that industry executives expect a severe fallout from the coronavirus. The impact of the outbreak is likely to reduce industry sales by as much as 40 billion euros ($43.5 billion) in 2020, according to the survey of 28 top executives undertaken by Boston Consulting Group and Sanford C. Bernstein. China is a key market for most luxury firms, and signs that the virus has been spreading more widely are causing jitters to increase.

Sino Biopharm Drug Included in China Guidelines to Treat Virus (6 a.m. NY)

A drug developed by a subsidiary of Sino Biopharmaceutical was put in Chinese government guidelines as a supportive treatment for mild and common cases of coronavirus infection. The drug, Magnesium Isoglycyrrhizinate, has the brand name Tianqingganmei.

Singapore to Ban Visitors from Daegu, Cheongdo (6:41 p.m. HK)

Singapore will ban all short-term visitors with recent travel history to Cheongdo county and Daegu city, which are central to the coronavirus outbreak in South Korea, effective Feb. 26.

Earlier, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Americans to avoid all non-essential travel to South Korea. The level 3 warning, the CDCs highest, matches the caution it previously placed on China. The CDC previously issued lower-level alerts for Italy, Iran and Japan, telling travelers to take extra care and consider postponing non-essential travel.

Beijing Getting it Under Control, Trump Says (6:29 p.m. HK)

President Donald Trump said U.S. markets took a hit yesterday because of concerns surrounding the coronavirus, but said Beijing was getting it under control more and more.

Trump, said he believed things would work out fine in the U.S. and that his administration was spending a tremendous amount of money to prevent the spread of the disease and assist other countries. He noted the White House had requested $2.5 billion in supplemental funds to fight the virus.

Chinese Cities Curb Travel From Other Countries (6:28 p.m. HK)

Some Chinese cities have begun to restrict arrivals from overseas, as growing outbreaks elsewhere prompt the country to enact curbs similar to those facing its own travelers. The moves signal that the epidemics momentum has shifted outside of China.

The coastal city of Weihai said all people arriving from Japan and South Korea would be required to undergo 14-day quarantines in designated hotels. The adjacent city of Yantai said those whove entered China for short-term business and tourism visits would be required to stay in selected hotels.

China customs is closely monitoring the coronavirus epidemic in other countries.

HK Leaders Approval Rating Plunges (6:16 p.m. HK)

Carrie Lams approval rating has sunk to a new low of just 9.1% as her government faces criticism over its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. The government has come under fire from some groups for not doing enough to ward off a public health crisis as the number of confirmed virus cases continues to climb. The virus first emerged in central China in December, piling pressure on Lam after months of often-violent demonstrations in Hong Kong.

Singapore Eases Rules for Chinese Workers in More Sectors (6 p.m. HK)

Singapore will loosen restrictions on Chinese work-permit holders in the country to help businesses in manufacturing and services industries that have been hit by labor disruptions during the coronavirus outbreak.

For six months beginning March 2, the Ministry of Manpower will allow companies in those sectors to hire Chinese workers who are already in the country, with the agreement of their existing employers. Currently, businesses can only hire Chinese work-permit holders once they have left Singapore.

Thailands Tourism Income Tumbled in January (5:55 p.m. HK)

A slump in Thailands foreign tourism income underlines the damage being inflicted on its economy. Receipts tumbled 3.6% in January from a year earlier to $6 billion), dragged down by a 10% slide in outlays by Chinese visitors.

HK Exports Slid Most in Decade in Jan. Ahead of Virus (5:26 p.m. HK)

Hong Kongs exports plummeted the most in more than a decade in January, as the government warned of further weakness in the coming months with the full force of disruptions from the coronavirus outbreak still ahead. Exports sank 22.7% in January from year-ago levels to HK$269.4 billion ($34.6 billion), the most since February 2009.

European Corporate Bond Market in Deep Freeze (4:50 p.m. HK)

Global borrowers shunned Europes corporate debt market for a second day as a cluster of new coronavirus cases in Italy sent yields sharply higher, bringing sales of new bonds to a near standstill.

ING Groeps downsized debt offering is the only deal priced so far this week, which had been expected to deliver more than 20 billion euros ($22 billion) of sales, according to a Bloomberg News survey. Non-financial borrowers are nowhere to be seen, with Spain the only sovereign issuer braving the market so far on Tuesday.

Gileads Drug Leads Global Race for Treatment (3:40 p.m. H.K.)

China will release results on April 27 of a clinical trial of Gilead Sciencess remdesivir drug that the World Health Organization said may be the only effective treatment so far for the disease. The trials of the experimental medication involved 761 patients in Wuhan, the city where the virus originated.

--With assistance from Yasna Haghdoost, Daniel Flatley, Bill Faries, Nick Wadhams and Robert Langreth.

To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: Adveith Nair in London at anair29@bloomberg.net;Drew Armstrong in New York at darmstrong17@bloomberg.net

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
President Moon Jae-in speaks during a meeting in Daegu, Tuesday./ Yonhap





Korea reports 144 new cases, 10th death







By Kim Se-jeong







The government designated Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province as special management areas for infectious disease Tuesday, vowing to use all possible quarantine measures to stop the COVID-19 virus from spreading outside them.







"The best way to stop the virus from spreading would be to seal off the affected areas completely, not physically but in terms of a quarantine," said Democratic Party of Korea spokesman Hong Ik-pyo, following a meeting with the government.







With the move, the government will mobilize the military and police to enforce quarantine efforts in the areas.







According to the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), 144 additional cases were confirmed with two additional death Tuesday, bring the total number of confirmed patients to 977 and 10 dead.






Egypt buries its former president on Wednesday after a military funeral in the capital Cairo.

Hosni Mubarak, Egypts president for almost 30 years who stepped down after a popular revolution in 2011, has died. He was 91.

Mubarak served as Egypts fourth president starting in 1981 until his removal in what became known as the Arab Spring revolution.

Egypt will bury its former president on Wednesday after a military funeral in the capital Cairo. Egypts top military officials are expected to attend the funeral in an eastern suburb of Cairo, but it was not clear if President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi would do so.

Mubaraks coffin will be air lifted from the mosque where the funeral will be held to the burial grounds, state television reported.

Mubarak was jailed for years after the 2001 uprising, but was freed in 2017 after being acquitted of most charges. The acquittal stunned many Egyptians, thousands of whom poured into central Cairo to show their anger against the court.

The Arab Spring protests convulsed regimes across the Middle East.

State television said Mubarak died at a Cairo hospital where he had undergone an unspecified surgery. The report said he had health complications but offered no other details. One of his sons, Alaa, announced over the weekend the former president was in an intensive care after undergoing surgery.

Egypts presidency said in a statement that it mourned Mubaraks death as a military leader and war hero and has offered its condolences to his family.





Complicated legacy

Throughout his rule, Mubarak was a stalwart United States ally, a bulwark against armed groups, and guardian of Egypts peace with Israel.

But to the tens of thousands of young Egyptians who rallied for 18 days of unprecedented street protests in Cairos central Tahrir Square and elsewhere in 2011, Mubarak was a relic, a latter-day pharaoh.

Al Jazeeras Jamal al-Shayyal, reporting from Tunis, Tunisia, where the Arab Spring originated, said it was unclear what exactly killed the former leader.

What were looking at now is a statesman who was so controversial in the past three-four decades of Egypts history. It was under his rule that Egypt became more corrupt. It was under his rule that the infrastructure in the country reached a demise, he said.

For sure his passing is something that will remind people of the situation in Egypt as well as the political legacy that he left behind, which is one that has allowed for the current military regime to continue in its ruling.

National hero

Mubarak was born in a rural village in the Nile Delta on May 4, 1928. He left behind a complicated legacy as his rule was partly characterised by corruption, police brutality, political repression, and entrenched economic problems.

The former president had long maintained his innocence and said history would judge him a patriot who served his country selflessly.

He joined the Egyptian air force in 1949, graduating as a pilot the following year. He rose through the ranks to become the commander-in-chief of the Egyptian air force in 1972.

Mubarak became a national hero the following year with reports that the Egyptian air force dealt a substantial blow to Israeli forces in Sinai during the Yom Kippur War.

Mubarak was vice president on October 14, 1981, when his mentor, President Anwar Sadat, was assassinated by fighters while reviewing a military parade.

Seated next to Sadat, Mubarak escaped with a minor hand injury as gunmen sprayed the reviewing stand with bullets. Eight days later, the brawny former air force commander was sworn in as president, promising continuity and order.

His harsh stance on security enabled him to maintain the peace treaty with Israel. Under his rule, Egypt remained a key US ally in the region  receiving $1.3bn a year in US military aid by 2011.





Crony capitalism

Mubarak had been sentenced to life in prison in 2012 for conspiring to murder 239 demonstrators during the 18-day revolt.

An appeals court ordered a retrial and the case against Mubarak and his senior officials was dropped. He was finally acquitted in 2017.

He was however convicted in 2015 along with his two sons of diverting public funds and using the money to upgrade family properties. They were sentenced to three years in jail.

Since his arrest in April 2011, Mubarak spent the nearly six years in jail in hospitals. Following his release, he was taken to an apartment in Cairos Heliopolis district.

Many Egyptians who lived through Mubaraks time in power view it as a period of autocracy and crony capitalism. His overthrow led to Egypts first free election, which brought in President Mohamed Morsi.

Morsi lasted only a year in office after mass protests in 2013 led to his overthrow by then defence chief General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who is now president.

Mubarak-era figures, meanwhile, are gradually being cleared of charges, and laws limiting political freedoms have raised fears among activists that the old regime is back.

Over the years, Mubarak tinkered with reform but shunned significant change, presenting himself as Egypts sole protection against militancy and sectarian division. The US tried pushing him harder for reforms, but succeeded only in alienating him. Fearful of losing its alliance with the most powerful Arab country, Washington backed off.

But the failure to fulfil repeated promises of change steadily deepened public despair, and those seeking a democratic future were dismayed to see Mubarak making apparent moves to set up a dynastic succession in the shape of his businessman son, Gamal.

Mubarak is survived by his wife, Suzanne, and his sons, Gamal and Alaa.
B rits returning from northern Italy quarantined by the country's government over the coronavirus have been told to self-isolate.

New advice published by the Chief Medical Officer on Tuesday said that anyone returning from the locked down areas of Italy should quarantine themselves regardless of whether they feel ill.

Anyone who has travelled north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini and shows the symptoms Covid-19 has been told to self-isolate as well.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Hancock said: "Yes, the official advice which will be formally updated at eight oclock this morning is going to change so that those who have been to northern Italy  north of Pisa  if they have flu-like symptoms should self-isolate.

If people have been to the affected areas that the Italian government have quarantined then they should self-isolate whether or not they have symptoms.



Health Secretary Matt Hancock made the announcement on Tuesday morning / AFP via Getty Images

The Chief Medical Officer added that anyone returning from Iran should self-isolate, as should anyone returning from a "special care zone" in South Korea.

Anyone who has been to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar and has the symptoms of Covid-19 should also self-isolate.

On Friday the number of cases there was in single figures.

Now there are at least 229 confirmed diagnoses with seven deaths, mainly centred on the Lombardy region.

A masked festival in Venice was interrupted over the weekend by Covid-19 (Reuters) / REUTERS

Lombardy and the region of Veneto have been put on lockdown as the country battles the worst outbreak of Covid-19 in Europe.

A case of a person travelling abroad from Italy with the disease has also been confirmed.

An Italian national in Tenerife on the Canary Islands has been put in isolation after testing positive for the coronavirus.
[February 25, 2020] Aaron's, Inc. to Participate in March Investor Conferences

ATLANTA, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a leading omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions, announced its investor conference schedule for March 2020: Raymond James 41 st Annual Institutional Investors Conference on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 in Orlando, Florida . Steve Michaels , Chief Financial Officer and President of Strategic Operations, and Michael Dickerson , Vice President of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, are expected to attend.

41 Annual Institutional Investors Conference on in . , Chief Financial Officer and President of Strategic Operations, and , Vice President of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, are expected to attend. Bank of America Merrill Lynch Consumer & Retail Technology Conference n Wednesday, March 11, 2020 in New York . John Robinson , Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Michaels and Mr. Dickerson are expected to attend.



About Aaron's, Inc.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), is a leading omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions. Progressive Leasing, a virtual lease-to-own company, provides lease-purchase solutions through more than 20,000 retail locations in 46 states. In addition, the Aaron's Business engages in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories through its approximately 1,500 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states, Canada , and Puerto Rico , as well as its e-commerce platform, Aarons.com. Vive Financial (formerly Dent-A-Med, Inc.), provides a variety of second-look credit products that are originated through federally insured banks. For more information, visit investor.aarons.com, Aarons.com, ProgLeasing.com, and Vivecard.com.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aarons-inc-to-participate-in-march-investor-conferences-301010922.html SOURCE Aaron's, Inc.

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Zagreb, Feb 25 : Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic announced here on Tuesday that Croatia has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 infection.

The patient -- a young man -- is, so far, feeling well and is admitted at University Hospital for Infectious Diseases "Dr. Fran Mihaljevic" Zagreb, the prime minister said at a press conference, Xinhua reported.

Health Minister Vili Beros told media on Tuesday that the patient was in Milan, Italy between the February 19-21. He said that quarantine will be arranged for all people who have been in direct contact with the patient.

The minister noted that the country is raising the level of defence and measures. "The health system is ready and we will work to ensure the health of the nation," Beros said.

On Tuesday, nine people were hospitalised in Croatian port city Rijeka after they returned from northern Italy where they had worked.

The minister said that Croatia is ready to close its borders if needed.
India and USA on Tuesday announced expansion of the growing defence ties by concluding two deals to purchase 30 front-line military helicopters from the USA for the Indian Navy and Army.

Of the two, the bigger deal is to procure 24 MH-60R helicopters at a cost of $2.12 billion (about Rs 15,000 crore) for the Navy to replace its ageing Sea King helicopters on-board the destroyers and frigates.

The second one is $930 million (nearly Rs 6,500 crore) contract to buy six Apache armed choppers for the Army.

Earlier today, we expanded our defence co-operation with agreements for India to purchase more than $3 billion of advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60R helicopters  the finest in the world. These will enhance our joint defence capabilities, said President Trump at a press conference after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Out of the 24 choppers for the Navy, the first six are to be delivered by Sikorsky  now owned by Lokheed Martin  early next year while the remaining 18 are to be handed over to the Navy in the subsequent two years.

The government-to-government deals mark the end of 14 agonising years for Indian Navy, which is severely short of its helicopter fleet, crippling much of its blue water ambitions. The Navy now manages only a handful of old Sea King and Kamov choppers.

The Apache deal on the other hand is a follow-on contract that originates from a 2015 deal to buy 22 of these gunships for the Indian Air Force. Both contracts were approved by the Cabinet Committee on security last week.
Tesco is to slash more than 1,800 jobs as part of changes to bakeries in its large supermarkets.

The retailer said 1,816 bakery staff are at risk of redundancy as part of the overhaul, which will take place from May.

Tesco said it will convert 58 of its bakeries to be able to finish off pre-baked products in-store, and 201 sites will only bake some of its most popular items from scratch.

It said the move, which will also see bakeries at another 257 sites remain unchanged, means it will need fewer staff members.

Jason Tarry, Tesco's UK and Ireland chief executive, said: "We need to adapt to changing customer demand and tastes for bakery products so that we continue to offer customers a market-leading bakery range in store.

"We know this will be very difficult for colleagues who are impacted, and our priority is to support them through this process. We hope that many will choose to stay with us in alternative roles."

Tesco said it will look to find other jobs for the staff, with "thousands of store vacancies" expected to be available across its network between now and May.
Tension prevailed at Budarsingi village in Hubballi taluk for a while after the villagers noticed a pro-Pakistan slogan written on the walls and the door of the Government Higher Primary School.

It was found that Pakistan Zindabad and Tipu Sultan School was written in chalk at five places, including the headmasters room and a classroom.

A group of villagers, including the School Development and Monitoring Committee (SDMC) members, staged a protest in front of the school and demanded action against the perpetrators.

Incidents of anti-nationals raising pro-Pakistan slogans are on the rise in the state. Such incidents are reported from the village too. The authorities must ensure such incidents dont repeat in

future, the agitating villagers urged.

Headmaster M S Hulgeri said, I noticed pro-Pakistan slogans written on school walls and the door. This must be the handiwork of miscreants. I have brought this to the notice of the SDMC and the higher-ups. I have lodged a complaint with the jurisdictional police in this regard, he added.

The agitating villagers relented after senior police and government officials visited the village and assured them of appropriate action.
A significant reduction in the backlog of security clearance investigations over the past two years has contractors feeling more optimistic, but concerns about lengthy adjudications and reciprocity between federal agencies still linger.

According to testimony from National Counterintelligence and Security Center Director William Evanina, the government's backlog has dwindled from 725,000 cases in 2018 to approximately 231,000 as of January 2020. Evanina has cited increased focus on speeding up Secret and Top Secret investigations. The Department of Defense, which took over responsibility for background investigations last year from the Office of Personnel Management, has also said an increase in the use of automation and continuous vetting has also helped clear the logjam.

At a Feb. 24 roundtable discussion hosted by George Mason University, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va,) said he and other members of House Oversight's Government Operations Subcommittee were initially "dubious," thinking the shift from OPM could result in DOD prioritizing its own personnel over other feds and contractors. David Berteau, president of the Professional Services Council, an industry group representing more than 400 large and small contractors, said the change is "off to a good start" in that regard.

"I would say in the initial stages that we've seen here, we are not hearing from the other federal agencies that they're being [shortchanged]" by the move, Berteau said.

While Berteau expressed optimism about the long-term prospects of the move, he and others consistently flagged outstanding problems with the way clearances are adjudicated, arguing many agencies simply do not dedicate enough staff to handle current workloads in a timely manner.

A number of contractors talked of challenges caused by the delays, from potential new hires who don't want to be sidelined while they wait for the government to clear them to vendors fighting with each other to recruit and poach from the same small pool of already-cleared workers. The delays could be particularly severe for smaller contractors, where profit margins are tighter and employers lack the capital to hire and pay someone while they're waiting to be cleared.

"As a small business, I don't have the deep pockets that the larger organizations have to be able to place a person on the bench for a year and a half, waiting for their security clearance to be processed," said Kevin Manuel-Scott, CEO of RONIN Information Technology Services. "I can't do that. I can't hold them for two months, I can't hold them for two weeks."

Even if they have the financial resources to do so, companies aren't allowed to build a bench of pre-cleared employees for future contracts in certain areas, like national security work.

"If you have a very high talent and your business is  getting more into the intelligence community sector, you cannot simply clear people for the sake of having clearances," said Jennie Brackens of SAIC. "You have to have a contractual need, there has to be an established  contract or similar specifications."

Others flagged longstanding reluctance on the part of many agencies to reciprocally accept clearances approved by other agencies, despite a years-long push by Congress and policymakers to do so. While many agencies have developed policies that openly support the concept of clearance reciprocity, contactors say they often come with substantial carve outs that give those agencies wide latitude to reject or reinvestigate a candidate.

"It's just crazy that you can be OK with the State Department and OK with the CIA and not get a job [with another agency], said Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.).

Following the roundtable, Connolly told FCW that his committee wants to see "reasonable uniform standards" for agencies to better handle both issues, and that moving away from "whimsical" and "capricious" rules for each agency could also reduce the likelihood of security lapses.

"Having a high uniform standard gives us a running chance at protecting the assets better than the system of being all over the line," Connolly said.

He also said his subcommittee would look to hold hearings in the coming months on how agencies were adapting to the new clearance regime, floating the possibility of scoring agencies' performance and improvement similar to House Oversight's "FITARA Scorecard" hearings.

"That's actually been a tool for modernizing government and keeping the pressure on and supporting people who are reform agents within government, knowing we have their backs and are going to be prodding their bosses to go along with their reforms," said Connolly. "So maybe we come up with something like that on this subject, I don't know yet."
India is preparing to evacuate a large group of its citizens, who are stuck in China's coronavirus-hit Wuhan city, by a special IAF plane, which is expected to land there with relief medical supplies on Wednesday.

"We are working on our plan for operating the relief flight tomorrow," said an Indian Embassy message sent to the Indians who have enrolled to go by the special flight.

About 90 to 100 Indians were expected to board the flight.

India has also expressed its willingness to evacuate citizens from the neighbourhood countries.

India had announced plans to send Indian Air Force's largest plane C-17 Globemaster with medical supplies to China several days ago. Indian officials have blamed China for not granting the requisite clearance, a charge Beijing denies.

However, officials here said on Tuesday that the special flight is expected to land in Wuhan on Wednesday as necessary permissions are being obtained. It is bringing relief supplies like medical gloves, suits and other materials to be used in efforts to combat the COVID-19 in China.

The death toll from coronavirus has reached 2,663 while the number of confirmed cases jumped to 77,658, Chinese officials said on Tuesday.

India operated two special Air India flights on February 1 and 2 and airlifted 647 Indian nationals, mostly students, and seven Maldivian nationals.

About 100 people were expected to join the third flight which would take them to Delhi where they would undergo quarantine in special camps.

The previous batches were kept at an army camp in Manesar.

In a special note for the Indians in Wuhan and Hubei province who wanted to be evacuated, the mission informed them that arrangements are being made to pick them up and take them to airport.

"Embassy representatives who are already in touch with you individually will directly advise you regarding the exact time of pick up. We are making arrangements for your pick up and onward movement to Wuhan airport by vehicles hired by the Embassy," the note said.

"You are requested to prepare for departure tomorrow morning bearing in mind the points mentioned in the advisory already issued on this group," the note told the Indians.

"Kindly note that these arrangements are still tentative and subject to change. We appreciate your understanding and patience," it said.

Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Misri recently said that the previous evacuations were difficult and a logistical nightmare as Hubei province and its capital Wuhan were under lockdown since January 23 with a complete ban on transportation services.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Opinion Article

25 February 2020

Throughout the last 10+ years, there has been a new type of hotel emerge. A hotel that brings forward the idea of "Affordable Luxury". In fact, that very statement was coined by the innovative hotel chain CitizenM.

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Since CitizenM burst onto the European scene in 2008/2009 with their first hotel in Amsterdam, actually, Schipol airport Amsterdam, they have grown considerably, every hotel centred around the idea of affordable luxury.

Of course, what happens when you get something so right? You get imitators. As the old saying goes, "Imitation is the highest form of flattery". In this case, I'd say that's very true.

As I'm sure regular readers will know by now, this is a hotel technology & travel technology blog. So what I'm certainly not here to do is call out those who are imitating the success of CitizenM. No, as I don't think that is much use, plus you can draw your own conclusions.

No, we're going to look at what CitizenM did so right to create this affordable luxury. By designing a hotel with technology at its heart.

HotelTCS  Photo: HotelTCS

Designing A Hotel For Luxury With Technology

Launched by two industry veterans, CitizenM was over 3 years in the planning. However, once the first site was open, it was clear their decisions were correct.

As I mentioned before, one of the biggest focuses of CitizenM's idea was enabling Affordable Luxury. If we're honest, this is something many of us are looking for. The key here was how could they break the mould, the norm, and achieve this.

Delivering luxury hotels is not easy, however, it is achievable. There are many hotels out there doing it now and doing it very well. The challenge they presented themselves with was delivering that same level of luxury (or feeling) but at an affordable price.

Designing A Hotel - The Traditional Approach

They knew the traditional approach would not work for them. It was not the approach of a new brand. A brand that targeted a new age of traveller. In fact, opening at a time when the Millennial generation began travelling independently.

The full-service/luxury model is not what was required here. Butlers, footmen, and concierges were out. Team members and Hotel technology were in.

Photo: HotelTCS

Breaking The Mould In Hotel Design

It was just deploying technology for the sake of it though. Every deployment had to have its place. A clear use-case that contributed to the mantra of affordable luxury.

However, by far the most groundbreaking part of the technology deployment was the integration.

For years when designing hotel technology we have been getting systems to talk to each other. API's (Application programming interfaces) have been used for some time to enable this. CitizenM's approach was different. They decided to get every system to talk to just one piece of middleware.

Having the control and integration of the system handling in one place was the genius of this design. No longer waiting for multiple systems to amend API's and develop the required integration. Now, it was centralised by design.

I'm not here to go into the in-depth technical details of the solution, just the theory. But what a theory!

Designing Hotel Technology Right

Getting the right Hotel technology blend can be a minefield. This is something HotelTCS can help with.

As well as the middleware, that enabled some of the Hotel Technology marvels, they took some steps that the guests could actually see.

The traditional front desk is gone. Team members are there, but they support you to check yourself in at terminals. The personal touch is not gone, instead it augments the technology. Let's not forget, this is hospitality after all, and our guests expect that!

Ever checked into your room and looked for an iron and ironing board to prepare your shirts for tomorrow? You find yourself phoning down to have one sent up, or using an iron in the room that has seen better days?

It was clear neither of these approaches granted affordable luxury. The answer? Ironing rooms on each floor. Giving guests what they need, but encouraging the social aspect as well.

Photo: HotelTCS

My favourite by far was the lack of a gym. Now, before you jump to conclusions, this is not my way of avoiding a workout.

No, this illustrates CitizenM's more abstract way of thinking. Who says you can't work out without a gym?

Using the TV system they enabled guests to not only cast their own workout videos and podcasts to the TV for an in-room workout but also enabled workout videos on the TV for those that didn't already have favourites!

Think Video On Demand in hotels is dead? CitizenM didn't. They could see that guests still wanted to consume content, and made it as easy as possible, and affordable. The last time I looked, the uptake was over 2 movies per room per day. Conclusive to say the least.

They really did bring so many great ideas, the above just being a sample of my favourites. They pioneered content casting in hotels. The WiFi was always free. The Lobby became a co-working space before people even knew that's what they wanted.

HotelTCS  Photo: HotelTCS

So, Are You Designing A Hotel?

Hopefully, the points above give you something to think about in your hotel design. Maybe you are designing a hotel, and want to bring affordable luxury to your guests through technology too. Bringing the right team together and think outside the box.

Building technologically advanced hotels is a favourite subject of mine and one I am so passionate about, as it's an easy area to see money wasted by very simple mistakes.

Also, if you love IoT, we've looked at this not once, but twice before! Read, enjoy, comment and share!
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he talked with Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding Taliban peace deal and noted that everybody is "happy" about it.

"I spoke to PM Modi on it. I think India would like to see it happen. We are pretty close. Everybody is happy about it," said Trump during a press conference.

US and Taliban negotiators agreed earlier this week to finalise the pact on February 29 if a seven-day cooling-off period was passed off peacefully. The truce came into effect on Friday night.

Trump had said he would put his name on the peace deal with the Taliban if a week went by without major violence in Afghanistan.

The US President, who is here on a two-day visit, said that India is a tremendous country and he had a great time here.

"We had a great time. We had great meetings. This is a tremendous country. I think they like us more than they ever liked us. There is a great relationship between the Prime Minister and myself," he said.

Trump, who visited Ahmedabad and Agra on Monday, had delegation-level talks with the Prime Minister on Tuesday.

In Ahmedabad, he addressed Namate Trump event which was attended by over one lakh people. In Agra, Trump and his wife Melania visited Taj Mahal.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Elizabeth Police Chief John Brennan said he will retire effective March 1 after almost three years as the top cop of a department that came under new leadership following the resignation of its longtime police director.

Brennan joined the department in 1983 and rose through the ranks to eventually serve as the chief of police in the states fourth-largest municipality. The approximately 300-member department serves the largest municipality in Union County.

Its time for the next chapter, yknow, Brennan told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday. I never planned on staying for any length of time, so Im looking to enjoy retirement.

His departure follows a major shakeup at the department and county that occurred about eight months ago. Former Police Director James Cosgrove resigned in the spring of 2019 after state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal called for his ouster when it was proven he used the n-word to refer to African American employees and the c-word to refer to women.

Mayor J. Christian Bollwage in June chose Earl Graves, a former East Orange cop, as the new civilian director. He is the citys first African American police director.

Brennan at one point during the shakeup was removed from overseeing the police departments internal affairs division, which handles complaints about officers. The Union County Prosecutors Office assumed oversight of the unit around the same time Cosgrove resigned.

The internal affairs unit has no authority to discipline a police director. That power lies with the mayor.

While Bollwage faced mounting pressure to discipline his police director, he revealed that an unspecified complaint against Brennan from another officer was being investigated. The mayor had also asked Brennan to step aside.

The details of that complaint against the chief were not revealed, but Brennan told NJ Advance Media that it was never sustained against him.

Brennan said he was not retiring due to a change in leadership or because of the complaint. He said he was happily going into retirement.

I only planned on staying a couple years as chief and then moving out, he said. So this was planned all along.

A city spokeswoman did not respond to multiple requests for comment about Brennans retirement.

The police departments internal affairs unit is no longer under the supervision of the prosecutors office, which underwent its own leadership changes amid the revelations about Cosgrove.

State Attorney General Gurbir Grewal also took the unusual step of removing the acting county prosecutor last spring. He installed one of his top aides, Jennifer Davenport, to temporarily lead the agency in April.

The current acting prosecutor, Lyndsay Ruotolo, was installed by the state attorney general about two months later. She completed an audit that found no institutional racism within the department but called for improvements to diversify the ranks.

Elizabeth has one of the most diverse populations in Union County. An estimated 65% of residents identify as Hispanic, while 19% are African American and 45% are white.

Salaam Ismial, a longtime activist who has been critical of the citys police department, said he hopes diversity issues in the ranks will be addressed by the next chief.

We want an active police chief thats willing to go into these communities, thats willing to speak even to their worst critics -- even people like me, he said.

State pension records show that Brennan makes about $202,000 annually.

Brennan grew up in a family of Elizabeth police officers. His father, John Brennan, Sr., was the citys police director for a year in the 1960s and went on to become chief from 1982 to 1990.

Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @BeccaPanico.
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - FEBRUARY 3: European Union Chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier makes a speech during a press conference in Brussels, Belgium on February 3, 2020. Anadolu Agency

The EU and the U.K. are starting their first post-Brexit trade talks on Monday, in what European ministers are expecting to be "complicated" negotiations. The United Kingdom left the European Union on January 31, but it is still subject to European law and rules at least until the end of the year, when the so-called "transition period" is due to end. During this period, both sides of the English Channel are meant to agree on a new trade relationship. European ministers, who gathered in Brussels on Tuesday, said that they are ready to offer a "substantial, ambitious and wide-ranging partnership" to the U.K. The U.K. government published its negotiating mandate Thursday, where it said "that a Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement should be at its core" in upcoming talks. Negotiating teams will have a first round of discussions next week. However, as they enter a new phase in the Brexit process, the U.K. and the EU have quite different views about how their future relationship should look like. There is an "acrimonious" start to U.K.-EU trade talks, analysts at Berenberg bank said in a note Friday.

What are their differences?

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants a Canada-style agreement with zero tariffs. This refers to a trade deal that the European Union negotiated with Canada over seven years and concluded in 2014  although it is yet to be fully ratified by national parliaments in Europe. The deal, named CETA, got rid of most of the tariffs between the EU and Canada. However, their level of trade is much smaller than the one between the U.K. and the EU. In 2018, the balance of EU and Canada trade in goods was 10.4 billion euros ($11.27 billion). The balance of trade in services was 8.5 billion euros in 2017, according to the latest data published by the EU. In comparison, the U.K. had an overall trade deficit of 66 billion ($85.6 billion) with the EU in 2018. This resulted from a surplus of 28 billion on trade in services and a deficit of 94 billion on trade in goods. Furthermore, the U.K. government has said it wants to diverge from European rules and create its own laws and standards.

As a result, the EU's negotiator Michel Barnier has rejected the idea of essentially copying the Canada deal. Brussels is worried that given the U.K.'s proximity to the EU's 27 member countries (often known as the "EU27"), British business will be able to undercut their European rivals. The new EU-U.K. partnership must "ensure a balance of rights and obligations, and a level playing field that will stand the test of time," European countries said in their latest mandate to Barnier. Speaking at her arrival in Brussels, France's Europe Minister Amelie de Montchalin said if there is no regulatory proximity, then the EU will have to apply tariffs and quotas, Reuters reported. "Because the EU27 imports nine times more from the U.K. than from much more distant Canada, ensuring a level playing field matters much for the EU27 in its trade talks with the U.K. than it did in the CETA negotiations," Berenberg analysts said in their note.

Talks on fisheries and financial services done in parallel

The EU also wants the negotiations to "be conducted in a way that ensures parallelism among the various sectoral tracks of the negotiation." This means that it will be looking to address different areas at the same time. The U.K. government also said Thursday that it will be looking to address all areas in parallel. The U.K. wants to speed up the process and have a "broad outline of an agreement" by June. "Negotiations will be complicated. I really hope we will manage to reach an agreement with the U.K. by the end of the year," Stef Block, the Dutch minister for foreign affairs, said Tuesday in Brussels.
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After an eight-year wait, the third and final part of Hilary Mantel's trilogy about Thomas Cromwell, the blacksmith's son who became right-hand man to Henry VIII, is here.

So strictly has the publisher's embargo been enforced that reviewers like me have feared that a single loose word, whether of praise or damnation, could see us taken to the Tower for one of Cromwell's special chats which invariably conclude with your head and body in different postal districts. An epic work of historical fiction, the series has already sold over five million copies and made history of its own. The previous two volumes, Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies, both won the Booker Prize (in 2009 and 2012). Mantel is the first woman and the first British author to win the prize twice. Can The Mirror & The Light make it a hatrick?

The book begins where its predecessor ended, with the execution of Anne Boleyn. "Once the queen's head is severed, he walks away". It's a terrific opening, superbly re-imagined by Mantel. For Cromwell, this is just another day at the office. While Anne's ladies "slide in the gore", the remorseless brain of the Secretary to the King has already moved on to his master's marriage to Jane Seymour.

"His chief duty is to get the king new wives and dispose of the old," reflects Cromwell with a pitch-black humour which crackles through these pages and makes our hero such good company.

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Cromwell combines both, which is why his story is so compelling. That battered little boy from Putney whom we first met in Wolf Hall has made a vertiginous ascent to become the pitbull enforcer of the Reformation, "the second man in England".

In this jam-packed, 912-page volume, Cromwell is 50 years old, growing ever wearier but still with the longest To-Do list in Christendom. It would read something like this: check the King is having sex so he can make a son and stop disposing of his wives; persuade stubborn Lady Mary, who refuses to renounce Catholicism, to accept her father as head of the Church; dissolve the monasteries and distribute the spoils among the great families of England without upsetting anyone (yeah, right!); put down a rebellion in the North, manoeuvre to try and stop France and the Emperor combining forces, watch own back against those who hate you (who doesn't?); above all, keep the ailing king happy

It's a tall order and Cromwell gives away his mounting unease in fierce, pep-talk soliloquies: "You must crunch up the enemy, flesh, bones and all. You cannot afford to fail, you must bring Henry good news, you must dredge it up from somewhere Do not falter, Master Secretary. Have no qualms, my Lord Privy Seal; Baron Cromwell, do not fail. You must not soften now."

As before, Mantel immerses us with extraordinary skill in the teeming Tudor world that has preoccupied her for over a decade. But that list above of Cromwell's own titles indicates the book's main problems. Who are all these people? The Cast of Characters has a staggering 102 names including Jenneke, a daughter to Cromwell who is invented by the author only to disappear again. With very little scene-setting and chapters heavily reliant on dialogue, halfway down a page you can suddenly find you have no idea who's speaking so you have to go back to the top and start again.

In a recent interview, Mantel said that, since starting the Wolf Hall series, one of the big changes has been the digitisation of material, which means she can access almost everything online, resulting in "an infinite choice of material. So what do you select?"

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I suspect she found that selection almost impossible, which would account for the rumours of writer's block. Her prodigious learning, worn with such incredible lightness in the earlier books, sometimes clogs the narrative here. Somebody should have done it for her, but one hazard of a bestselling series is that editors may be less willing (or permitted even) to interfere with their golden goose and prize-winning authors less inclined to heed advice. JK Rowling's Potter books got bigger and baggier, but not better.

If The Mirror & The Light is the least perfect volume in the Wolf Hall trilogy, that still makes it better than almost anything else of its kind. Hilary Mantel has written an epic of English history that does what the Aeneid did for the Romans and War and Peace for the Russians. We are lucky to have it. As Cromwell approaches his end, cast off by an ungrateful master, Mantel pulls together the strands of his life into a sublime tapestry embroidered with the initials HT-HT. Forget the six queens, Henry and Cromwell's was the marriage that mattered.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 01:19:43|Editor: yan

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DAMASCUS, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army shot down a Turkish drone in the northwestern province of Idlib on Tuesday, state news agency SANA reported.

The army gunned down the drone in the town of Dadikh in the southeastern countryside of Idlib, said the report without giving further details.

This came amid heightened tension between Syria and Turkey over the situation in Idlib province.

A day earlier, the Turkish army captured the town of Nairab in the eastern Idlib countryside after eight hours of intense fighting and heavy Turkish shelling against the Syrian army, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

A total of nine Syrian soldiers were killed by the Turkish shelling, said the Britain-based watchdog group.

Later on, the Syrian forces fired surface-to-surface missiles on the town.

The town is strategic for the Turkish forces and allied rebels due to its proximity to the M4 highway, which connects Aleppo with Latakia province in northwestern Syria.

The town is also considered the gate for capturing the city of Saraqeb, a strategic area that has been captured by the Syrian army recently as it overlooks the M5 highway that connects Damascus in the south with Aleppo in the north.

The Syrian army secured the entire M5 highway and opened it for travel.

On Tuesday, the observatory said the Turkey-backed rebels captured several areas near Saraqeb.

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.
science Reporter's Take | Investors worried as COVID-19 spreads to Italy, France Moneycontrol's Shraddha Sharma gets in conversation with Viswanath Pilla to understand why investors are cautious of the COVID-19 outbreak amid a global slowdown.
PORTAGE  A 59-year-old Portage man is expected to be formally charged Tuesday with murdering his 91-year-old mother in their home, authorities said.

Charles H. Trumble called 911 at 7:11 p.m. Sunday and told a dispatcher "he had just killed his mother," Portage police said.

Officers responded to the home in the 5800 block of McCasland Court and discovered Dixie L. Trumble inside the residence with head trauma, police said. Officers provided immediate medical care, but the elderly woman died at the scene.

Charles Trumble was home when officers arrived and was taken to the Portage Police Department, where he declined to provide a statement to detectives, police said. He is being held at the Porter County Jail.

Porter County Prosecutor Gary Germann said Trumble will be charged with murder Tuesday morning.

Police said the weapon believed to have been used in the killing was recovered.

"Although no motive was given, this appears to be an isolated incident between family members, and there is no reason to believe there is any danger to the community," according to a statement from Portage police.
Australian cleaners have been offered an all-expense paid trip to Japan in exchange for risking their lives to clean a cruise ship contaminated with the coronavirus.

Cleaning company, Broadspeactrum, sent a text message to cleaners who work mainly in schools on Monday offering them temporary employment in Japan.

The message read: 'A really great opportunity has arrived. Would you like to earn some good money  all you need is a valid passport to go to Japan and clean for 6 days'.

One of the cleaners claimed she was told she would be cleaning the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was forced into lockdown for more than two weeks due to an outbreak of the deadly virus.

The virus infected more than 690 passengers on board the luxury cruise and has killed more than 2,200 people worldwide.

The cleaner said she was shocked at the offer as she believes it is a high-risk job.

Australian cleaners have been offered an all-expense paid trip to Japan in exchange for risking their lives to clean a cruise ship contaminated with the coronavirus

Cleaning company, Broadspeactrum, sent a text message to staff on Monday offering them temporary employment in Japan

'I said, are you serious? What compensation do you get if you die?

'I can't believe that the company is putting our cleaners at risk. This is a virus that can kill people.'

The owner of the ship has been searching for the 'best-in-class cleaning and disinfection service provider' since passengers disembarked the vessel last week.

United Workers Union has urged staff not to consider the offer as it is specialised cleaning, requiring extra training and equipment.

'We also don't know what the health and safety rules are in Japan so would be concerned that appropriate steps are not being taken to protect workers.'

Lyndal Ryan, United Workers Union director of property services said it seemed that Broadspectrum saw their cleaners as disposable.

'The information provided is unbelievably scanty for the huge expectation that some of their workforce will put up their hands for one of the most perilous cleaning jobs in the world at the moment.

Four Australians evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship on Thursday are confirmed to have coronavirus

'We are very concerned with this targeting of our members employed in schools.

'Our members have specific skills and knowledge in cleaning the state's education facilities, not in cleaning during an extreme public health crisis in another country.

'We are also concerned that Broadspectrum are not across the current upgraded Australian Government warnings on travel to Japan.'

A spokeswoman for Broadspectrum told the Sydney Morning Herald staff would not be cleaning the ship.

She said they would be working from a 'sanitised facility' provided by the Japanese government to support the quarantine efforts.

'All of our people who have nominated themselves to support the quarantine efforts in Japan will go through the highest level of medical safety advice and support before and while working there.

'This will be under the strictest safety and medical processes managed by Aspen Medical.'

Japan Self-Defence Forces officers use canvas sheets to cover the walkway from the cruise ship Diamond Princess

Carnival Corporation, which represents Princess Cruises, issued a statement saying it requires cleaners who the capability to sanitize the vessel to stringent standards set by CDC, WHO and the Japanese government.

'All carpets, drapes and furniture must be disinfected, and all cabin textiles (and mattresses) must be discarded.'

The call for cleaners comes as the Department of Foreign Affairs warned travellers to reconsider their travel plans to Japan and South Korea.

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'.

Medical personnel outside the quarantine zone in front of the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The boat now hosts the largest concentration of coronavirus outside of China

The Diamond Princess cruise ship with some 3,700 people on board arrives at Yokohama port

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.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Broadspectrum for comment.
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI)-The Coronavirus continues to be a concern of health professionals all over the world. That's why the Health Department in Tippecanoe County has a plan in place in case the virus makes its way to Indiana. Local health professionals say the plan is a team effort.

"Local health departments coordinate with ISDH to put together a plan, said Khala Hochstedler with the Tippecanoe County Health Department. We have been working with our community partners which include both hospitals,EMS, fire and Purdue University to make sure we have a plan in place for Coronavirus."

Local hospitals say, their biggest role in the plan, is screening patients properly.

"We do a screening process where we ask families or we ask patients a few screening questions to see if that's a possible risk, Jim Bien Chief Medical Officer of Quality and Safety, IU Health Arnett. So, before an outbreak would occur I think we would start to see a few people enter the community and we would start to detect that there was disease in the community."

Any time there is a new communicable disease an alert is sent out by the Indiana State Department of Health, which is what prompted this plan to be enacted.

"We have international students here, we have people who travel for business, we have all sorts of opportunities for people to have been to china or been to where maybe the outbreak is greater and return. said Michael Bayci the Emergency Preparedness Manager at Franciscan Health.

The health department says it's highly unlikely the virus will end up in Tippecanoe county.

"Everyone who is coming back from China is being monitored with temperature checks by their local health department for two weeks," added Hochstedler.

However, regardless of what happens, health professionals in the area are prepared.

"We are working closely as a hospital with our peer hospital over at IU, with the county health department, and with our district coalition and state department of health to keep everyone safe. added Bayci.

These types of preparations haven't taken place since the Ebola outbreak back in 2014. All of the health organizations in our area want to remind people that these are just preparations, there have been zero cases of the Coronavirus in Indiana.
Is China Yuchai International Limited (NYSE:CYD) a good dividend stock? How can we tell? Dividend paying companies with growing earnings can be highly rewarding in the long term. Yet sometimes, investors buy a stock for its dividend and lose money because the share price falls by more than they earned in dividend payments.

A high yield and a long history of paying dividends is an appealing combination for China Yuchai International. We'd guess that plenty of investors have purchased it for the income. Before you buy any stock for its dividend however, you should always remember Warren Buffett's two rules: 1) Don't lose money, and 2) Remember rule #1. We'll run through some checks below to help with this.

Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis

NYSE:CYD Historical Dividend Yield, February 25th 2020

Payout ratios

Dividends are usually paid out of company earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. As a result, we should always investigate whether a company can afford its dividend, measured as a percentage of a company's net income after tax. In the last year, China Yuchai International paid out 41% of its profit as dividends. A medium payout ratio strikes a good balance between paying dividends, and keeping enough back to invest in the business. Besides, if reinvestment opportunities dry up, the company has room to increase the dividend.

With a strong net cash balance, China Yuchai International investors may not have much to worry about in the near term from a dividend perspective.

Remember, you can always get a snapshot of China Yuchai International's latest financial position, by checking our visualisation of its financial health.

Dividend Volatility

One of the major risks of relying on dividend income, is the potential for a company to struggle financially and cut its dividend. Not only is your income cut, but the value of your investment declines as well - nasty. For the purpose of this article, we only scrutinise the last decade of China Yuchai International's dividend payments. The dividend has been stable over the past 10 years, which is great. We think this could suggest some resilience to the business and its dividends. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was CN0.68 in 2010, compared to CN5.82 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 24% a year over that time.

Story continues

It's rare to find a company that has grown its dividends rapidly over ten years and not had any notable cuts, but China Yuchai International has done it, which we really like.

Dividend Growth Potential

While dividend payments have been relatively reliable, it would also be nice if earnings per share (EPS) were growing, as this is essential to maintaining the dividend's purchasing power over the long term. Over the past five years, it looks as though China Yuchai International's EPS have declined at around 5.2% a year. If earnings continue to decline, the dividend may come under pressure. Every investor should make an assessment of whether the company is taking steps to stabilise the situation.

Conclusion

Dividend investors should always want to know if a) a company's dividends are affordable, b) if there is a track record of consistent payments, and c) if the dividend is capable of growing. Firstly, we like that China Yuchai International has a low and conservative payout ratio. Moreover, earnings have been shrinking. While the dividends have been fairly steady, we'd wonder for how much longer this will be sustainable if earnings continue to decline. While we're not hugely bearish on it, overall we think there are potentially better dividend stocks than China Yuchai International out there.

Are management backing themselves to deliver performance? Check their shareholdings in China Yuchai International in our latest insider ownership analysis.

Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our curated list of dividend stocks with a yield above 3%.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 19:09:41|Editor: huaxia

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SHANGHAI, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-one foreign investment projects were signed Tuesday in Shanghai's Pudong New Area, with a total contract value of over 1.7 billion U.S. dollars, according to the local authority.

The investment will go to a wide range of fields including supply chain management, smart manufacturing, medical supplies and equipment, and assets management, with projects funded by industry-leading players from the United States, Singapore, Britain, Japan and Switzerland, among others.

Major investors include Air Products, Liebherr, Siemens Healthineers, and ExxonMobil, among which Air Products plans to add another 470 million U.S. dollars to projects in the Chinese market in areas of project investment and asset management.

Pudong is one of China's major investment destinations for foreign companies, said Wang Hua, deputy head of the Pudong New Area. In January, Pudong attracted 710 million U.S. dollars of foreign investment, up 57.6 percent year on year and accounting for 47 percent of the total foreign capital inflow to Shanghai in the same month.
Amy Kurland (second from right) at the time of her appointment by Mayor Michael Nutter (left) to serve as inspector general. Read more

Twelve years ago I became the Inspector General for the City of Philadelphia. I had been a federal prosecutor for 24 years and during that time I prosecuted city employees in many departments for bribery and other corrupt actions, at one point including almost the entire plumbing inspection unit of the Department of Licenses and Inspections.

Paying city employees to get city services that our tax dollars already covered was simply the way things were done in Philadelphia and we lived with the reputation of being corrupt and contented.

Then, in 2008 Michael Nutter was swept into office as mayor after running on a clean government and reform platform, and he brought me into city government. Mayor Kenny has continued this emphasis on integrity. Now, as I leave the Office of Inspector General (OIG), I believe the City has reached a major milestone. We are finally shedding that corrupt and contented reputation. Bribery and payoffs are the exception rather than the rule and we have moved away from a culture of corruption, gradually becoming a city that cares about operating with integrity.

Today we have a Chief Integrity Officer, a Board of Ethics and an Inspector Generals office that work together to ensure honesty. We collaborate with the Controllers Office. We are partners with federal, state and local law enforcement and, above all else, we police ourselves. Yes, there have been indictments and we have disciplined and fired city employees. There will always be people who try to get around the system  thats human nature. But now, more often than not, honest city employees turn in money from those who have tried to bribe them instead of soliciting those bribes. And we are sending the message that city employees are not for sale, that we can and will clean our own house.

But integrity is not like picking up trash or filling a pothole. It is more elusive and has to influence everything we do. We must be vigilant every day and continue to reinforce the message that integrity is our bedrock principle. We must constantly remind ourselves and our colleagues that working in public service isnt merely about earning our paychecks; because we work for the public, we also must earn the publics trust by doing our jobs the right way  openly and honestly.

In this regard, Philadelphia is a more ethical, transparent and accountable city than it has ever been. But we cannot go backward  we must continue to move forward.

It is time to change the Home Rule Charter and make the Office of the Inspector General a permanent City department with broad jurisdiction. Without a permanent OIG, a mayor could misuse the office for political purposes, drastically reduce its budget or eliminate the office altogether. Large cities like New York, Chicago, Baltimore, Detroit and Miami have recognized the success of the Philadelphia OIG model, but they have moved forward making their Inspector General offices permanent with broad jurisdiction. We should do the same.

This charter change begins with City Council. And now, more than ever, with new council members beginning new terms of office, lets make an honest government a citywide priority.

Amy Kurland was Philadelphias longest-serving Inspector General. She recently left the position to join the team at Bloomberg Associates.
A breakthrough has been reached between the national government and Nairobi county government.

In a deal signed at State House this afternoon, the national government will take over the functions of the capital, perhaps bringing relief to a city that has all but ground to a halt.

Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko and Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa signed the documents, in a ceremony witnessed by the President, Speaker of the Senate, Hon. Kenneth Lusaka and the Attorney General Paul Kihara.

According to spokesperson Kanze Dena, the functions being transferred from the county include:

i) County Health services

ii) County Transport services

iii) County Public Works, Utilities and Ancillary services

iv) County Government Planning and Development

This will put many services and infrastructure under the President, meaning there is a higher chance the capital will be better funded.

This proposal has been floated around for several years, with those supporting it claiming Nairobi should not be treated as just another of the 47 counties. This is owing to its special status in the country and the region.

Its share of revenue allocation particularly has not been in line with its importance.

More on this story later..
'Disgusted' vegans claim they 'nearly vomited' after discovering Urban Outfitters flogging sweets labelled vegan - when they contain pork and beef gelatine.

The lifestyle brand appeared to list three different types of gummy sweets on their websites with 'vegan' explicitly in their title despite the animal-laden ingredients being listed in the small print below.

The chain's high street stores also added to the confusion as photos emerged of the same treats being sold alongside other vegan products in their Manchester store, leaving customers 'confused'.

Angry customers slammed Urban Outfitters online while others emailed complaints - prompting the brand to pass the issue on to their 'escalations team' and relabel the products on their website.

'Disgusted' vegans claim they 'nearly vomited' after discovering Urban Outfitters flogging sweets labelled vegan - when they contain pork and beef gelatine. Pictured, the sweets on display in Urban Outfitters' Market Street store in Manchester

The lifestyle brand appeared to list three different types of 'vegan' gummy sweets on their websites - despite the animal-laden ingredients being listed in the small print. Pictured, more sweets on display in Urban Outfitters' Market Street store in Manchester

Emily Sharp, 20, Tweeted complaining to Urban Outfitters about the mislabelled sweets on its website

However vegan Jessica Bedford, 22, from Manchester, who complained to the company on Saturday, February 15 to point out the error, said just seeing the sweets listed as vegan had left her feeling sick.

She says when she didn't hear back from the chain she instead reported them to Trading Standards the following day.

The chewy snacks are made by sweets firm The Treat Kitchen, who clearly label the ingredients on the products and do not list them as vegan - prompting shoppers to lay the blame for the confusion at Urban Outfitters' door.

'It's disgusting,' explained Jessica. 'Somebody said they got them over Christmas and they ate them, and I was nearly vomiting reading that. You'd be devastated. What kind of a dumb a**e wrote that, though.'

Pictured, the supposed 'vegan' sweets on display in Urban Outfitters' Market Street store in Manchester

One of the sweet products displayed on Urban Outfitters' website labelled vegan but with ingredients that show it contains animal products (pictured)

Jessica Bedford (pictured), 22, from Manchester, complained to the company on Saturday, February 15 to point out the error - and said just seeing the sweets listed as vegan had left her feeling sick

'Like seriously, writing vegan, putting vegan in the description and then continuing to write the ingredients list which has pork and beef gelatine in it, like what?

'Fair enough if it was a small company who hadn't noticed they'd put beeswax in it, but not Urban Outfitters and f***ing gelatine.

'I don't understand how they are getting away with this, it's appalling.'

The term has since been removed from the products' titles but Jessica fears customers who have bought the sweets believing them to be vegan might not have been contacted to highlight the blunder.

Urban Outfitters sell products made by sweets firm The Treat Kitchen in-store and online, and it was their 'message bottles' filled with chewy sweets that appeared to be wrongly described on Urban Outfitters' website.

The 'Vegan Good Egg Gummies' contain pork gelatine, the 'Vegan Banana Gummies' have beef gelatine in them and the 'Luv Ya Vegan Heart Gummies' include gelatine too.

Kieren Igoe (pictured), 21, who studies at Leeds university, was so outraged by the error that he tweeted Urban Outfitters to confront them

An angry Kieren penned: '@Urbanoutfitters would you care to explain why you are labelling sweets on your website as vegan when they have beef and pork gelatine in??'

Kieren (pictured) added: 'If it was milk or eggs it would be a bigger thing because it's linked to allergies, but because it's vegan it goes under people's radars and they think they can get away with it'

Each of the products' descriptions had 'vegan made' written directly above the ingredients list, despite them including animal-based gelatine.

Urban Outfitters removed all three items from their site on Monday, February 17 and have since re-uploaded some of them with the vegan labelling.

After discovering the sweets for sale, Jessica shared screenshots of the apparent error on social media to warn others.

Jessica, who works in catering herself, then complained to Urban Outfitters via email and social media.

Her email read: 'Been looking at Vegan sweets on your website, but looking at the ingredients some contain beef and pork gelatine?! This is surely misrepresentation and can't be allowed??

'Vegans could easily eat this without realising, they're not even vegetarian!!'

She then contacted trading standards on Sunday, February 16 after having not yet heard back from Urban Outfitters.

Urban Outfitters finally responded to her on Tuesday. Their email said: 'Our escalations team have informed us that the sweets have been taken down until this is further investigated and an accurate representation of the sweets is updated.'

Jessica isn't satisfied with the way the company has dealt with the situation and believes they should have publicly raised awareness of their error.

'I think they should have put something on, either a Tweet or Facebook or Instagram, just warning people and just offering a refund,' she explained.

Alisha Bardsley (pictured), a vegan from Manchester, explained the impact eating non vegan foods can have on people with her beliefs, claiming that it could affect people's mental health

Urban Outfitters removed all three items from their site on Monday, February 17 and have since re-uploaded some of them with the vegan labelling. Pictured, the sweets on display in Urban Outfitters' Market Street store in Manchester

Pictured, the sweets on display in Urban Outfitters' Market Street store in Manchester

An email exchange between Jessica and Urban Outfitters sent from her partner James' email address

'There's probably people who've received it over Christmas thinking it's vegan, and their grandma is probably well chuffed that they found some vegan sweets for them.

'It's probably still in their bedrooms somewhere and they're still going to eat that.'

Kieren Igoe is a 21-year-old vegan who was so outraged by the error that he tweeted Urban Outfitters to confront them.

He wrote: '@Urbanoutfitters would you care to explain why you are labelling sweets on your website as vegan when they have beef and pork gelatine in??

'Just a clear sign of another company jumping on the vegan bandwagon with 0 care for the meaning of the word.'

Kieren, a Leeds University student, said: 'It angers me because it's exploitive. They need to be careful with the words that they use within the products and to double check that when label something vegan its not got an animal derived ingredients in.

'If it was milk or eggs it would be a bigger thing because it's linked to allergies, but because it's vegan it goes under people's radars and they think they can get away with it.'

Alisha Bardsley, a vegan from Manchester, explained the impact eating non vegan foods can have on people with her beliefs, claiming that it could affect people's mental health.

Alisha added: 'It's like a heartbreak. It could really affect your mental health, because it's eating an animal you're trying to support.'

Emily Sharp (pictured), 20, believes the incident is part of a wider problem of big companies like Urban Outfitters appealing to people's beliefs without enough care

One of the sweet products displayed on Urban Outfitters' website labelled vegan but with ingredients that show it contains animal products

Emily Sharp, a 20-year-old vegetarian, also tweeted Urban Outfitters. She wrote: 'You have a range of sweets on your website you are claiming to be vegan when they include pork gelatine in their ingredients this is not okay.'

Earlier this month, Iceland recalled a number of vegan products believed to contain cheese, a non-vegan ingredient. Products included 'No Cheese and Onion Pasties' and a number of 'no-cheese' pizzas.

Emily believes the incident is part of a wider problem of big companies like Urban Outfitters appealing to people's beliefs without enough care.

'I think at the moment there are a lot of brands who are using vegetarianism and veganism as a trend, but I don't think they understand what a vegan is or care about the beliefs behind it much,' she explained.

'They have to be careful when they use the definition vegan.'

Emily says Urban Outfitters' error has made her think twice about shopping there, and she warns other vegans to be weary.

'Don't put your beliefs in other people's hands,' she continued. 'Take responsibility for it yourself and read the description yourself.'

Urban Outfitters, Trading Standards and The Treat Kitchen, or TTK Confectionary, have all been contacted for comment.
'Directed by the high priestess of experimental theatre Anuradha Kapur, Daughters Opera is based on librettist Tammy Brennans evocative Daughters, a song-cycle of a dozen compositions by David Chisholm that gives voice to the fortitude of women lost to violence, anywhere or everywhere,' writes Vikram Phukan.

An inter-cultural Indian-Australian opera project quietly opened in Delhis Black Box Okhla in early January. Directed by the high priestess of experimental theatre Anuradha Kapur, Daughters Opera is based on librettist Tammy Brennans evocative Daughters, a song-cycle of a dozen compositions by David Chisholm that gives voice to the fortitude of women lost to violence, anywhere or everywhere.

Embittered but resilient, their lives find expression in soprano Aivale Coles soaring vocals, with musicians Eduardo Baltar Soares, Moa Edmunds Guevara and Miranda Hill providing intimate musical accompaniment. The longing and the loss inherent in Portuguese fado music provides a melancholic soul to working-class subcontinental women who occupy the lowest of rungs. Kapur sets her work against the backdrop of the botched NRC (National Register of Citizens) exercise in Assam, which left lakhs of people summarily disenfranchised, with women being the worst victims. This is a premise with nation-wide implications, now that protests have flared up across the country against similar exercises in other states, with the spectre of the discriminatory CAA looming over the lives of millions. Scenography by Deepan Sivaraman and a live soundscape by Marco Cher-Gibard provide the project its cultural coordinates and class bearings.

Kapurs all-women ensemble, which includes the likes of Shilpika Bordoloi, Aashima Mahajan and Uma Katju, is first introduced to us in the form of an impassive tableau primed for an imminent blood-letting, pulled inexorably towards us in an open-faced shipping container on creaking wheels. The bunker, while no doubt rigged for spectacle or immersion, immediately brings to mind images of human trafficking, even as a miniature pop pop steam-boat makes its way across a slim reservoir of inert water (a nice touch). The musical quartet take their place in a boxed-in area (the best views, but possibly not the best acoustic experience, can be had from the Black Boxs cheap and cheerful balcony seats).

The set design seems effective in its economy and doesnt call undue attention to its portents, allowing audiences to become better acquainted with the women, even if they can only be viewed from afar. These are working-class women who ferry across from tenements to sweatshops and fish-pits, their colourful saris underneath regulation overalls belying the drabness of a fatiguing existence that nonetheless cannot extinguish their spirits. Daughters Opera is no smorgasbord of darting vignettes and focuses instead on limited excursions into the world of this so-called forgotten populace. The music becomes a dramaturgical through line that strings together their quotidian lives. Gibard works off a foley set-up thats akin to a factory workstation, with deafening fog horns and the clangour of industrial machinery par for the course.

Daughters Opera runs into roughly an hour that seems both hurriedly and lovingly put together. The scenes come across as a tad one-note but allow us to seep into the depths of the mundane because of the durational aspects of the staging. For instance, in one interlude the women spend their time sorting out rags of different colours, very efficiently at that. The scraps of cloth could well be the guts of rotting fish or the entrails of bovine mammals, and, at least cerebrally, we are reminded of the hazards of industry. The violence meted out to these women are societal and institutional, and their working conditions leave much to be desired.

In another set-piece, that speaks of the tenuous link to nationhood that legacy documents dipped in brine provide, the women try to reclaim papers washed away in floods. The seawater is never absent, and the plastic laminates allow these identities to last forever in a nowhere land. The collective labour, and shared arduousness, gives way at times to moments of lightness, as when the hardened women huddle together to smoke in a break, with Cole in hand to sing La Madrina, an ode to Cocaine Godmother Griselda Blanco perhaps. Their raw voices sometimes sing along. We are never touched enough to really care, but the information booklet has been passed along. The All in a Days Work format doesnt let us follow the women into the squalor or colour of their homes.

The sparing use of spoken text is often effective, and also spurious and tokenist at times. The found texts include passages from Kumkum Sangaris Solid : Liquid  A (Trans)National Reproductive Formation, and testimonials in tri-lingual triplicate, that show how similar immigrant and native lives are to each other. The politics of the market force the stateless to remain in a state of permanent limbo because that might enable the powers-that-be to control behaviours and migrations in a way citizenry would never permit. Adding to this disaffection, the chamber music sometimes doesnt live down its alien ethos, piping in from a stately abode the women cannot enter, but could possibly peer into from the outside, if they werent otherwise preoccupied.

As art in the capital is often wont to do, Daughters Opera bears the charge of being Rich Mans Theatre of Poor Peoples Souls. These optics are unavoidable and shouldnt be simply disregarded. Its never likely to cross over beyond the echo chamber, never likely to be anything more than effulgently aesthetic. Its intersectionality is moot. Fortunately, Brennans libretto is full of the universal cadences that dont fetishise or exoticise the local trappings Kapur has mounted for it.
Mhairi Black has criticised online trolls over their homophobic response to a drag queen being invited to a primary school.

On Thursday, the SNP politician, who became the youngest MP since the 17th century in 2015, visited Glencoats Primary School in her constituency alongside a local drag performer who uses the stage name Flowjob.

The pair were invited to the school to mark LGBT History Month by reading stories to the children and discussing the Section 28 Act, which was introduced by Margaret Thatcher in 1988 to ban the "promotion of homosexuality" in schools.

However following the visit, the school, Black and the drag performer have all faced intense criticism from anti-LGBT campaigners online.

While the drag queen was introduced to the children simply as Flow, people online expressed their concerns after inappropriate images from the performers social media account were brought to parents' attention over the weekend.

Thanks Flow full name @flowjobqueen. Why would anyone think this is suitable for pre teens. Its grooming, one person tweeted.

Another added: Their username is 'flowjobqueen' and their timeline is full of explicit images of them simulating sexual acts. Of course they've just done a drag queen story reading to primary school children.

A third person agreed, commenting: I wouldnt tell a small child about drag acts at home. Why should it be imposed on children at school? Bad MP. Really BAD!

Following the backlash against the trip, Black applauded the school for arranging a great day and hit out at critics for being homophobic.

If my school had invited a gay MP and a drag queen to visit during LGBT History Month, or even acknowledged that LGBT History Month existed, it would have made an immeasurable difference to the difficult childhoods my LGBT classmates and I had, Black wrote on Twitter.

Yet so many people in my mentions want acknowledgment of LGBT people shut down because you still think therea something inappropriate in our existence. Youre willing to see another generation of LGBT people growing up believing that who they are should be hidden away.

She continued: You just know that the people pretending to be livid that a drag queen read a book in a school in my mentions rn are also the people who run out to buy their kids the latest Grand Theft Auto on release day. Your homophobia is transparent. [sic]"

Flow also responded to the criticism on Twitter, saying: Yes Flowjob is my stage name, but I was introduced as Flow and Ill have you know when the children were asked what they wanted at LGBT+ History Month, the first thing they wanted was a drag queen.

The perfomer added: It was amazing to see what the kids have learned, we live in a time where kids will be going to school with two mums/dads or LGBT+ family, we are showing them that its normal.

Seeing how much the kids loved it honestly is worth all this online abuse, if we can teach them now it means stuff like this wont happen to them when they are older.

LGBT Youth Scotland, a national charity for LGBT young people, also weighed in on the criticism, writing: Were 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.

Despite the overwhelming support from members of the LGBT community, Renfrewshire Council has issued a formal apology to parents and confirmed that it is investigating the visit.

"All school visits are arranged and managed with the wellbeing of pupils first and foremost," a spokesperson said.

"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.
ZUG, Switzerland, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Atomyze tokenization platform, developed using Hyperledger Fabric blockchain technology, launched in test mode. PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel, the world's largest producer of palladium and high-grade nickel and a major producer of platinum and copper, will be the first issuer of tokens in the project and the first industrial company to tokenize its assets on the platform.

Atomyze tokenization platform uses distributed ledger technology to represent physical assets in digital form, making trading easier, providing faster transaction time and providing a permissioned view of transactions. Atomyze will help transform traditional ways of how industrial companies are working with their key counterparties.

Major industrial partners of the company will be given access to the platform during the test phase. Among those invited to the test phase are Nornickel's partners Trafigura, Traxys, and Umicore. Later on, once Atomyze secures all licensing required, its doors will open to other types of issuers, and the platform will go into full commercial operation.

Atomyze services will also give issuers access to financing on efficient terms, introduce them to a new pool of investors, and will also provide issuers with an opportunity to make their operations more efficient, which will allow them to achieve new levels of flexibility in trading with their consumers.

"The main idea of tokenization is not in buying or trading cryptocurrencies; it lies in the creation of a modern and transparent mechanism for digitizing of assets, and in the creation of new digital markets, where tokenization is a service helping issuers transfer rights to their assets into a digital form," explained Atomyze CEO, Marco Grossi.

Nornickel plans to use the platform's services to tokenize part of its contractual volumes, thereby providing a new class of product for a broad range of players eager to invest in digital asset markets. The issued tokens will be backed by metal reserves, which will undergo a regular audit. Initially, Nornickel will test tokens backed by palladium, cobalt and copper. In the future, the company intends to tokenize other metals, with plans to gradually switch to digital means of trading. Total anticipated volume of issuance in the first year is expected to be up to 10 percent of overall sales volume of Nornickel's production.

"The economy is being digitalized, that is to say, the flow of capital is spilling over from the traditional economy to the digital one. Nornickel invests in a variety of digital solutions for industrial applications. The tokenization of payment settlements is one of them. Nornickel will be the first company among the extractive industry leaders to begin trading using tokens. Nornickel is interested in this project because it will enable the Company to popularize palladium and other metals by transitioning to digital trading methods," noted Vladimir Potanin, President of PJSC "MMC "Norilsk Nickel."

IBM has played a vital part in the project as a key technology partner helping to develop the platform and helping Atomyze integrate an advanced Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT) consensus mechanism into the Hyperledger Fabric blockchain platform. This novel consensus-building mechanism and the participation of a broad range of trusted validators increases the platform's credibility, makes transactions more transparent for investors, auditors and regulatory bodies, and also creates a foundation for further expansion of the community of issuers.

"The joint efforts among Atomyze, IBM and Nornickel have made it possible to develop a truly powerful and unique industry solution. Asset/commodity trading is only one of many opportunities in our industry where tokenization can transform current business processes," said Manish Chawla, Global Managing Director, Energy & Natural Resources Industries at IBM. "As the leader in the creation of permissioned and governed private blockchain networks for industry outcomes, we are eager to help advance the idea of a new token-based economy with this project."

Atomyze deploys the platform in IBM public cloud, to provide highly secure user data, supporting Atomyze's GDPR and C5 compliance obligations, as well as protection against external and internal threats. The security by design principle was considered from the very first stages of the system's development. Another feature of the platform to help ensure trust is the mandatory identification of each user for KYC (Know Your Customer), KYB (Know Your Business) and AML (Anti Money Laundering) requirements.

Atomyze by Tokentrust AG is a Swiss based blockchain platform aimed at digitizing and tokenizing the multifaceted commodities industry. Utilizing distributed ledger technology of Hyperledger Fabric, Atomyze will facilitate simple, fast and transparent online trading for professional and institutional participants. Tokentrust AG is in the application process to become a member of a self-regulatory organization ("SRO") for anti-money laundering purposes and is separately seeking a license as a securities firm (including the operation of an Organized Trading Platform) under Swiss law.

PJSC "MMC NORILSK NICKEL" is a diversified mining and metallurgical company, the world's largest producer of refined nickel and palladium and a leading producer of platinum, cobalt, copper and rhodium. The company also produces gold, silver, iridium, selenium, ruthenium and tellurium.

The production units of "NORILSK NICKEL" Group are located at the Norilsk Industrial District, on the Kola Peninsula and Chita region in Russia as well as in Finland and South Africa.

PJSC "MMC "NORILSK NICKEL" shares are listed on the Moscow and on the Saint-Petersburg Stock Exchanges. PJSC "MMC "NORILSK NICKEL" ADRs trade over the counter in the US and on the London and Berlin Stock Exchanges.

IBM is a global technology and innovation company, the largest technology employer in the world serving clients in 170 countries. IBM is a cognitive solutions and cloud platform company with one purpose: to be essential to the clients and to the world. IBM's technology and talent have the power to help transform institutions, communities and the quality of life.

This press release is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an advertisement or recommendation nor an offer or solicitation to buy or sell investment instruments, to effect any transaction or to enter into any legal relations.

Contact details:

[email protected]

Tokentrust AG

Baarerstrasse 22

6300 Zug

Switzerland

Web: www.atomyze.com

SOURCE Atomyze

Related Links

https://www.atomyze.com


Mughal Cultural Forum Tuesday celebrated the 537th birthday of great statesman, poet and writer Zahir ud-Din Muhammad Babur - Founder and first Emperor of the Mughal dynasty in the Indian subcontinent

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Feb, 2020 ) :Mughal Cultural Forum Tuesday celebrated the 537th birthday of great statesman, poet and writer Zahir ud-Din Muhammad Babur - Founder and first Emperor of the Mughal dynasty in the Indian subcontinent.

The event was attended by heads and responsible persons of the literary critics, scholars, writers and poets and media persons, said a press release.

Uzbek Ambassador to Furkat Akhmed Sidikov said Babur was a national hero of Uzbekistan and every year Uzbek people and government celebrate his birth anniversary in the month of February.

He said a number of Pakistani tourists and traders who visit Uzbekistan is increasing steadily. Last year alone some 6,000 Pakistani tourists visited Uzbekistan and "we hope to see this number grow in coming days".

He said Uzbekistan has a huge number of religious sites and holy relics. 7-8th century Caliph Uthman's Mushaf and Katta Langar Qur'an are one of the oldest and unique manuscripts of Qur'an in the world.

In Tashkent, you can visit the religious center of Hazrat Imam Complex, which keeps one of the most valuable relics of islam the Quran of Caliph Osman. Samarkand is the famous Shahi Zinda necropolis, where the cousin of the prophet Muhammad Qutham Ibn Abbas is buried and the mausoleum of Khoja Doniyar is located.

There are seven graves of the great Sufis of the Nakshbandiya order, one of the most influential Sufi movements in Uzbekistan, he said.

Speakers at the event noted that Babur's life path, his patriotism, creativity and ideas are important in educating the younger generation.

Speakers presented interesting and historical information about Babur-name.

Speakers inform that Babur's dominions were now secure from Kandahar to the borders of Bengal, with a southern limit marked by the Rajput desert and the forts of Ranthambhor, Gwalior, and Chanderi. Within that great area, however, there was no settled administration, only a congeries of quarreling chiefs. An empire had been gained but still had to be pacified and organized. It was thus a precarious heritage that Babur passed on to his son Humayun.

In 1530, when Humayun became deathly ill, Babur is said to have offered his life to God in exchange for Humayun's, walking seven times around the bed to complete the vow. Humayun recovered and Babur's health declined, and Babur died the same year.
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Linkedin Hyonhee Shin and Josh Smith (Reuters) Seoul, South Korea  Tue, February 25, 2020 10:34 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2066642c7 2 World South-Korea,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,Daegu,church,outbreak,COVID-19 Free

The number of coronavirus cases in South Korea rose to 893 on Tuesday, as health authorities said they plan to test potentially more than 200,000 members of a church at the epicenter of the outbreak.

Of the new 60 cases reported on Tuesday, 16 were in the southeastern city of Daegu, where the church is located, and 33 from nearby North Gyeongsang Province, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.

South Korea also reported its ninth death from the virus, a patient from a hospital in North Gyeongsang Province.

On Tuesday, the leader of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus said it had agreed to provide authorities with the names of all its members in South Korea, estimated by media at about 215,000 people.

The government plans to conduct coronavirus tests on all of the members "as soon as possible" once it has the information, the prime minister's office said in a statement.

"We have constantly requested the list based on our assessment that it is essential to test all of the church members in order to contain the spread of the virus and relieve public anxiety," the statement said.

The church, which has faced public criticism of its handling of the outbreak, asked the government to ensure the personal details in the lists do not become public.

"We have been actively cooperating with the government to prevent the spread of the virus and overcome the outbreak," church founder and self-proclaimed messiah Lee Man-hee said in a letter posted online. Besides its members, the church would also check the people in training programs to become full members, he added.

"All of these will be implemented on the premise that the government takes steps to protect their personal information," Lee said.

Around 60 percent of cases in South Korea have been linked to the outbreak at the church, where the first case was reported in a 61-year-old woman who contacted the virus from a still-unknown source.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meanwhile, raised its warning level for South Korea and recommended Americans avoid all nonessential travel to the country, citing the "widespread, ongoing outbreak" of the coronavirus.

The US and South Korean militaries said they were considering scaling back joint training due, in one of the first concrete signs of the virus' fallout on global US military activities.
New York, Feb 25 : Democratic presidential contender and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has sharpened attacks on Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders after the latter's victory in the party's Nevada caucuses.

A spokesman for Bloomberg's campaign told reporters here on Monday that it was very important for the billionaire businessman's team to state what they think about Sanders and his policies and why they don't believe he would be the Democratic Party's best presidential nominee against incumbent President Donald Trump in the November 3 election, reports Efe news.

The media mogul's campaign also released a statement later Monday in which it accused Sanders of having voted in the past against bills that would increase regulations on firearms and coming down on the side of the National Rifle Association, the biggest US pro-gun lobbying group.

"The NRA paved the road to Washington for Bernie Sanders," Bloomberg tweeted. "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." Along with the Twitter message, the campaign posted a 90-second video claiming that the gun rights lobby helped Sanders win a seat in Congress in 1990.

Bloomberg campaign chairman Kevin Sheekey also listed in the campaign's statement all the gun control bills that Sanders has voted against over his years in Congress.

In addition, Bloomberg's campaign - which has already spent hundreds of millions of dollars in political advertising lambasting Trump and promoting the former Mayor - on Monday announced that starting Tuesday it would send a bus loaded with staff on a road trip around California to tell voters about the differences between Bloomberg, a former Republican now turned Democrat, and Sanders, a Democratic socialist.

Sanders, who represents a state with a strong hunting tradition, was already attacked over his gun control stance in 2016 by Hillary Clinton's campaign.

In recent years, Sanders has insisted that he supports much stricter gun control and measures similar to those proposed by other Democrats such as banning assault rifles, and he has expressed pride over the poor rating the NRA has given his positions.

With his victory in the Nevada caucuses, Sanders has emerged as the frontrunner in the Democratic primary process, while Bloomberg seems to have lost some of his own momentum after the televised Democratic debate last week in which he was harshly attacked by other candidates.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 00:35:31|Editor: yan

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NEW DELHI, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Indian police on Tuesday evening issued shoot-at-sight orders in the affected areas in New Delhi, as communal violence over the controversial citizenship law intensifies in the capital, officials said.
(Reuters) Hedge fund Third Point LLC amassed a more than $2 billion stake in Prudential Plc (PRU.L) and called on the British insurer on Monday to split into two companies.

To read this article:
Erich Fromms The Sane Society Offers Guidance





by John Stanton





His value as a person lies in his salability, not in his human qualities of love, reason, or in his artistic capacities. Happiness becomes identical with consumption of newer and better commodities,the drinking in of music, screen plays, fun, sex, liquor and cigarettes. Not having a sense of self except the one which conformity with the majority can give, he is insecure, anxious, depending on approval. He is alienated from himself, worships the product of his own hands, the leaders of his own making, as if they were above him, rather than made by him. He is in a sense back where he was before the great human evolution began in the second M illen nium BC. He is incapable of love and to use his reason, to makedecisions, in fact incapable to appreciate life and thus ready and even willing to destroy everything. The world is again fragmented, has lost its unity; he is again worshiping diversified things, with the only exception that now they are man-made, rather than part of nature.













The facts, however, are that the modern, alienated individual has opinions and prejudices but no convictions,has likes and dislikes, but no will. His opinions and prejudices,likes and dislikes, are manipulated in the same way as his tastes, by powerful propaganda machineswhich might not beeffective were he not already conditioned to such influences byadvertising and by his whole alienated way of life.The average voter is poorly informed too. While he reads hisnewspaper regularly, the whole world is so alienated from himthat nothing makes real sense or carries real meaning. He readsof billions of dollars being spent, of millions of people beingkilled; figures, abstractions, which are in no way interpreted in aconcrete, meaningful picture of the world. The science fiction hereads is little different from the science news. Everything isunreal, unlimited, impersonal. Facts are so many lists of memoryitems, like puzzles in a game, not elements on which his life andthat of his children depends.we come across aperson who acts and feels like an automaton; who never experiences anything which is really his; who experiences himselfentirely as the person he thinks he is supposed to be; whose artificial smile has replaced genuine laughter; whose meaning-less chatter has replaced communicative speech; whose dulleddespair has taken the place of genuine pain.





Suppose that in our Western culture movies, radios, television,sports events and newspapers ceased to function for only four weeks. With these main avenues of escape closed, what would be the consequence for people thrown back upon ownresources? I have no doubt that even in this short time thousandsof nervous breakdowns would occur, and many more thousandsof people would be thrown into a state of acute anxiety, notdifferent from the picture which is diagnosed clinically as neurosis.  Erich Fromm, The Sane Society Erich Fromm,, 1955





++++





Democratic Republican One Percent The derisive childrens sandbox terms used by media pundits,andstooges and theto describe Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a millionaire himself, would be comedic if it were not so sad. The words used to denigrate Sanders would be instantly recognized by Fromm since they were used in 1955 in the same fashion during the first Cold War.





Democratic Socialist, The Hill Sanders, a self proclaimedis, in fact, not the demon that nuts like MSNBCs Chris Matthews claim him to be. According to the publication, Matthews compared Sanders to the Nazis. Thats interesting because, according to The Hill, Sanders is Jewish and most of his family members were killed in the Holocaust.





Antisemitism anyone?





What is a Democratic Socialist?





Fromm describes a Democratic Socialist as one who believes this:





We cannot afford to lose any of the fundamental achievements of modern democracy--either the fundamental one of representative government, that is, government elected by the people and responsible to the people, or any of the rights which the Bill of Rights guarantees to every citizen. Nor can we compromise the newer democratic principle that no one shall be allowed to starve, that society is responsible for all its members, that no one shall be frightened into submission and lose his human pride through fear of unemployment and starvation.





These basic achievements must not only be preserved; they must be fortified and expanded.In spite of the fact that this measure of democracy has been realized--though far from completely--it is not enough. Progress for democracy lies in enhancing the actual freedom, initiative, and spontaneity of the individual, not only in certain private and spiritual matters, but above all in the activity fundamental to every man's existence, his work.What are the general conditions for that? The irrational and plan-less character of society must be replaced by a planned economy that represents the planned and concerted effort of society as such. Society must master the social problem as rationally as it has mastered nature. One condition for this is the elimination of the secret rule of those who, though few in number, wield great economic power without any responsibility to those whose fate depends on their decisions. 





We may call this new order by the name of democratic socialism but the name does not matter; all that matters is that we establish a rational economic system serving the purposes of the people.





With the United States devolving into some sort of weird corporate fascist state, isnt it time to get back on track toward evolving towards a progressive, stable, all-inclusive, well-defended union? America is going the wrong way. Hell will not be pleasant.





I Like the F-35: I Get High on the Jobs it Creates for Vermont





Let  s take a brief look at Sander  s voting record.





repeal of President Donald Trumps tax cut He voted to confirm General David Petraeus, (USA, Ret.) to run operations in the Middle East area of operations. He voted yes on funding wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, unemployment benefits extensions for veterans of those wars, and enhancing the GI Bills benefits. He also voted for funding for a border fence and security along the US-Mexico border. He supports jobs programs, infrastructure improvements, national health insurance and the





Sanders supported the deployment of F-35s The National Interest reported thatto Vermont because its a great jobs program for the tiny state and its National Guard Unit was eager to get the aircraft. The publication cited figures that showed that constructing components for the F-35, (its bomb bays and the aircrafts Gatling Gun) in Vermont accounts for 1600 jobs and roughly $222 million in economic activity





whopping increases in the US defense budget While Trumps fascist and racist tendencies have made mincemeat out of the traditional, moderate Republican Party into a bunch of Trump ring-kissers, he has also exposed the centrist and right wing elements of the Democratic Party for what it is: A quiet partner in Trumps assault on immigrants, social programs, and. Its rightward tilt matches the Republican swing in the same direction. No where is that more evident in the desiccated, flip-flopping, right wing leaning Joe Biden (Democrat), put up by Democratic Party leaders as a viable presidential candidate. Yuck!





Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez voting record , a Sanders disciple, is the long term future of what remains of the Democratic Party; that is, if she doesnt start a new, progressive party that breaks with one head of the two headed monster. Herincludes support for not allowing Russia back into the G7 groups of nations until it gets out of Ukraine; and, on another piece of legislation, voted yes to stopping Trump from reducing funding for NATO. Her voting record matches Sanders in many instances.





Cold War 2020: Nukes and Propaganda





Great Power Competition open talk of using nuclear weapons Stanley Kubricks classic movie Dr. Strangelove or How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. The timing of the attacks by the Democratic and Republican party vanguard coincides neatly with the new reality ofwith China and Russia, which the Pentagon and denizens of in the mainstream mediaand Washington, DCs many Thinks Tanksare pushing. With the trillion dollars to be spent on the nuclear Triad modernization, the current deployment of low yield nuclear weapons on some US Navy submarinesand the, if only in a simulation, by the Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper, youd think the US is heading back to the Cold War mentality of 1955. Perhaps is time to replay





That means that language has to accompany the shift to fighting the Stalinist Commies/Socialists in Russia and China. In the coming months and years, US propagandists will have to created an atmosphere of fear in the general public not unlike was done for the War on Terror, and Saddam Husseins regime in Iraq in the lead up to both wars waged by the US on that hapless country.





The terms Left and Democratic Socialist will become equated with sympathy for China and Russia; support for repeal of tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy; fighting for funding of food stamp programs and environmental protections; the protection of Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid; and pushing for healthcare-for-all and employment insurance.





Those attacks must be pushed back by coalitions like the one Sanders has worked so hard to build. Ocasio-Cortez, and those like her, will have to carry the torch once Sanders passes it on to them. The young men and women of the United States are critical in building a Democratic Socialist front.





The End?





dangers in war and peace Synthetic Biology With all the talk of Artificial Intelligence, robotics and its, plus the ominous consequences ofgone wrong, its worth closing with a comment by Fromm on the matter. The world is always looking for modern-day thinkers to divine the future. But thats already been done by real intellectuals like Erich Fromm. He was right on many aspects of Democratic Socialism (though not on a total command economy) and below is his take on the future of humanity written in 1955. I fear he may be right.





In the nineteenth century the problem was that God is dead; in the twentieth [and 21st] century the problem is that man is dead. In the nineteenth century inhumanity meant cruelty; in the twentieth [and 21st] century it means schizoid self-alienation. The danger of the past was that men became slaves. The danger of the future is that men may become robots. True enough, robots do not rebel. But givenman's nature, robots cannot live and remain sane, they becomeGolems, they will destroy their world and themselves becausethey cannot stand any longer the boredom of a meaningless life.





John Stanton can be reached at jstantonarchangel@gmail.com
An armed battalion of Delhi Police, comprising around 1,000 personnel, is being deployed in violence-hit areas of Delhi while inter-state borders are being closely monitored, officials said on Tuesday.

This was conveyed at a high-level meeting convened by Home Minister Amit Shah and attended by Delhi's LG Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Commissioner of Police Amulya Patnaik among others.

It was also decided in the meeting to enhance police-MLA coordination in the national capital and also reactive peace committees with representatives of all sections of society, religions and eminent local citizens, an official said.

Special officers along with the additional forces are being deployed in violence-hit areas of Delhi where at least seven people, including a policeman, were killed.

An armed battalion of the Delhi Police is being deployed to ensure peace in affected areas, the official said.

Borders of Delhi with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are being monitored by the police for the last three days and Delhi Police has been taking adequate steps like checks and other precautionary measures, especially in view of the upcoming Supreme Court hearing on the protests against Citizenship Amendment Act at Shaheeen Bagh here.

According to professional assessment, the violence in the capital has been spontaneous and the forces have shown maximum restraint and will continue to do so.

The home minister noted that many hoaxes and rumours are being spread, which occupy the resources of the police, and appealed to the public at large and media to communicate responsibly and avoid spreading unverified rumours.

He asked the Police Commissioner of Delhi to depute senior officers in police control rooms so that rumours can be dispelled as quickly as possible.

Shah spoke of the need to re-activate local peace committees and said those committees should include representatives of all sections of society, religions and eminent local persons.

He urged political parties to ask their local representatives to hold meetings in sensitive areas and instructed senior police officers to visit vulnerable police stations at the earliest.

The home minister urged everyone to maintain restraint and rise above party lines to find the solution and that cadres of political parties must be given assurance that the situation is under control.

He further urged political parties to avoid provocative speeches and statements.

Shah appreciated the participation of all parties and urged them to maintain restraint and rise above party lines to find the solution and that cadres of political parties must be given assurance that the situation is under control.

He said warnings are being given by the police in response to hate speeches that vitiate the atmosphere.

Feedback has been taken from local representatives and incorporated in further course of action after discussions with the Lieutenant Governor and the Delhi Police Commissioner, another official said.

Shah emphasised on the need to avoid criticism of Delhi Police and said that unnecessary and unwarranted criticism can have a negative impact on the morale of the force.

He said the Delhi Police is a professional organisation and is adequately empowered to be able to decide on the amount of force needed to diffuse tensions where necessary.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Director of Intelligence Bureau Arvind Kumar, Congress leader Subhash Chopra, BJP's Manoj Tiwari and Ramvir Bidhuri attended the meeting.

In the 70-member Delhi Assembly, Aam Aadmi Party has 62 MLAs while BJP has eight.

A head constable was among seven 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 on Monday.

Frenzied protesters torched houses, shops, vehicles and a petrol pump, besides hurling stones.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Life expectancy in England has ground to a halt for the first time in a century, according to a landmark report.

Professor Sir Michael Marmot, a leading expert on public health, said the widening gap between the rich and poor is to blame.

His 172-page report said life expectancy in England has barely improved in the last decade - the first time in more than 100 years it has failed to significantly increase for a 10-year period.

And for those in the poorest areas it has actually declined  by almost a year for women living in the North East.

The University College London professor said the nation had 'lost a decade' and 'England is faltering,' Professor Marmot said.

The graphic above shows the life expectancy rates for both women and men from 1981 to 2018

Life expectancy for those in the poorest areas has actually declined  by almost a year for women living in the North East

Figures show how the UK has gained less than eight weeks in life expectancy improvements since 2011. The US has barely had an improvement for men, and has had less than a two week rise for women. Estonia leads the way, with men gaining more than 20 weeks in the last decade

A graph shows how life expectancy at birth has changed across England since 2010 for men, with jumps recorded in all of the least deprived areas  but the opposite has happened in some of the most deprived parts of the country

The report also contained data showing how life expectancy at birth has changed for women, with similar increases seen in the least deprived areas. The rate only increased in one of the deprived regions

HOW HAS LIFE EXPECTANCY CHANGED IN THE MOST DEPRIVED AREAS OF ENGLAND SINCE 2010? NORTH WEST Men: +0.43 years Women: +0.04 years NORTH EAST Men: -0.5 years Women: -0.85 years YORKSHIRE & THE HUMBER Men: -0.28 years Women: -0.36 years EAST MIDLANDS Men: +0.13 years Women: -0.81 years EAST OF ENGLAND Men: -0.18 years Women: -0.31 years WEST MIDLANDS Men: +0.27 years Women: +0.09 years SOUTH WEST Men: +0.08 years Women: -0.5 years LONDON Men: +1.23 years Women: +0.91 years SOUTH EAST Men: +0.14 years Women: -0.32 years Advertisement

'From the beginning of the 20th century, England experienced continuous improvements in life expectancy but from 2011 these improvements slowed dramatically.'

Life expectancy in men has risen by just half a year, from 79.01 in 2010-12 to 79.56 in 2016-18.

While in women it rose by about a third of a year from 82.83 to 83.18, according to the report by the Institute of Health Equity.

The University College London-led body launched in 2011, and is supported by the Department of Health and the British Medical Association.

Professor Marmot said this was a dramatic slow-down compared to before 2010, when life expectancy had steadily risen for more than a century.

'Pretty much - with a few dips and bounces - life expectancy improved about one year every four years from the end of the 19th century until 2010, then it slowed down dramatically,' he said.

He calculated that only 20 per cent of the recent slow-down was due to bad flu seasons - and the rest down to deep-rooted issues.

'If health has stopped improving, that means society has stopped improving and if health inequalities continue and in fact increase, that means inequalities in society have been increasing,' Professor Marmot said.

'A similar lost decade would mean continuing worsening of health inequalities and continued flatlining of life expectancy.' He said poverty, inequality and the politics of austerity were to blame.

The difference in life expectancy between the richest and poorest 10 per cent of people has increased from 9.1 years to 9.5 years for men since 2010 and from 6.8 years to 7.7 years for women, he said.

'This damage to the nation's health need not have happened,' Professor Marmot said.

'It is shocking. The UK has been seen as a world leader in identifying and addressing health inequalities but something dramatic is happening.

Men born in the most deprived areas of Britain can expect to live until they are around 74, almost a decade less than those born in affluent areas. For women, the difference is about eight years (78 compared to 86)

Data shows how men born in the least deprived areas of England (on the right of the graph) can expect to live for longer than those born in the most deprived areas (on the left of the graph)

Life expectancy has ground to a halt for the first time in a century. Men's life expectancy rose by half a year from 79.01 in 2010/12 to 79.56 in 2016/18. In women it rose by about third of a year from 82.83 to 83.18 in same time period (file)

WHERE DO PEOPLE LIVE THE LONGEST IN THE WORLD? Swiss women live the longest in the world, suggests a review of life expectancies from 15 major countries. Females living in the land-locked European nation can expect to live for 79.03 years. Australian women rank second at 78.9 years, with Norway coming in at third place at an average of 78.61 years. Italy came bottom of the pile for women, with females from the nation famous for its cuisine living until they are 72.14, on average. Women in the UK and US have a life expectancy of 76.43 years and 76.08, ranking sixth and eighth, respectively. Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania revealed Australia tops the charts for male life expectancy at 74.1 years. Men in the European countries of Sweden and Switzerland came second (74.02 years) and third place (73.7 years). Males from sunny Portugal only have a life expectancy of 64.77 years, placing them last out of the 15 countries. For men, the UK ranks sixth (72.33 years) and the US fares slightly worse at eighth place (71.57 years). The findings were published in the journal Population Studies in August. Advertisement

'This report is concerned with England, but in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the damage to health and wellbeing is similarly unprecedented.' He added: 'Austerity has taken a significant toll on equity and health and it is likely to continue to do so.

'If you ask me if that is the reason for the worsening health picture I'd say it is highly likely that is responsible for the life expectancy flatlining, people's health deteriorating and the widening of health inequalities.

'Poverty has a grip on our nation's health - it limits the options families have available to live a healthy life.

'Something has gone badly wrong.' Professor Marmot accepted that the Government has pledged an end to austerity - with spending increasing on the NHS, education and the police.

But he said to really end austerity ministers need to undo the damage done by a decade of cuts.

And he said the Prime Minister must take bold action if he is to keep his promise to 'level up' the North - pointing out that Conservative seats taken from Labour in December's general election have an average female life expectancy of just 60.9 years, compared to 65.0 years in seats the Tories had held previously.

Dr Jennifer Dixon, chief executive of the Health Foundation charity, which commissioned the report, said: 'To "level up" the country as the Government aims, it must take action to level up the health and wellbeing of the population.

'Having secured new support from voters in "red wall" areas, there is a real opportunity for the Government to show more leadership to narrow the health gap.

'Existing efforts are welcome but fragmented and under-powered.' Imran Hussain of the Action for Children charity said: 'This landmark report delivers a devastating judgement on a decade of crippling cuts to lifeline services like Sure Start and benefits for families fighting to keep their heads above water.

'While politicians hail the end of austerity, every day at Action for Children our frontline services tell us child poverty levels are at the worst they can remember with parents coming to us desperate for help to keep their families warm and well fed.'

Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour's Shadow Health Secretary, said: 'There is no greater social injustice than people dying sooner because of poverty and austerity.'
[February 25, 2020] Makedonski Telekom Automates Operations with Stonebranch

Leading North Macedonia telecom provider selects Stonebranch to support the automation of major revenue-critical applications for real-time charging and billing. ATLANTA, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stonebranch Inc., a leading provider of dynamic IT automation solutions, today announced that Makedonski Telekom, North Macedonia's leading telecom provider, selected Stonebranch to manage and automate applications in support of real-time charging and billing, interconnect, fraud management and billing mediation. "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with the team at Makedonski Telecom," said Sebastiano Mion, VP at Stonebranch. "Stonebranch's leading suite of automation solutions, local team of developers, and expertise in the telecom industry make this an excellent partnership," continued Mion. Makedonski Telekom, part of Deutsche Telekom Group, is the leading telecommunications opeator in North Macedonia with more than 1.2M active customers. Deutsche Telekom, moreover, is Europe's largest telecommunications provider.



"This initiative is part of Makedonski Telekom's corporate focus on digitalization and innovation to continue driving an exceptional customer experience for our subscribers. Stonebranch was selected because of the company's deep domain knowledge and specific software automation expertise within the telco industry," said Miroslav Jovanovic, CTIO of Makedonski Telekom. To support this venture, a new Stonebranch office has been established in Skopje to guarantee greater customer intimacy with the local team. In addition, Stonebranch has created a DevOps lab focused on both the immediate and future operational needs of Makedonski Telekom.

About Stonebranch

Stonebranch builds dynamic IT automation solutions that transform business IT environments from simple IT task automation into sophisticated, real-time business service automation, helping organizations achieve the highest possible Return on Automation. No matter the degree of automation, Stonebranch software is simple, modern, and secure. Using its universal automation platform, enterprises can seamlessly orchestrate workloads and data across technology ecosystems and silos. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with points of contact and support throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia, Stonebranch serves some of the world's largest financial, manufacturing, healthcare, travel, transportation, energy, and technology institutions. Learn more at www.stonebranch.com. Contact: Marissa Walker, (513) 260-0984, [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1089016/Stonebranch_Logo.jpg

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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- At the dawn of a new decade, changes in U.S. foreign relations are unfolding at a breakneck pace. In just the first couple months of 2020, two major foreign trade deals have been signed, the U.S. killed an Iranian military commander in a drone strike, the U.S and Taliban have signed a partial truce in the Afghanistan War, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union has been fired, and Congress has attempted to limit the president's war powers.

President Donald Trump has met with foreign leaders from Greece, Israel, Kenya and the Venezuelan opposition leader. Meanwhile, a large crop of Democratic candidates seeks to unseat him in the upcoming election -- each with different outlooks from Trump on U.S. military, diplomacy and trade decisions.

This is a key moment in global affairs and a critical time to measure U.S. public opinion. Gallup's annual World Affairs survey, conducted each February, sheds light on how Americans perceive their country's role in the world across a wide range of measures.

Stay tuned for Gallup's World Affairs series, when Gallup will release its latest findings and updated trends on the following topics:

Week of Feb. 24:

Week of March 2:

Week of March 9:

Views on the job performance of the United Nations and what kind of role Americans would like it to play in world affairs

Week of March 16:

Views on the strength of the U.S. military and how much the U.S. spends on national defense

Support for establishing an independent Palestinian state on the West Bank and Gaza Strip and where Americans' sympathies lie in the Israeli-Palestinian situation

Check back here or at news.gallup.com for the latest updates from the series. Reporters seeking embargoed copies of these findings can contact mediainquiry@gallup.com.
NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With new retirement planning laws in place, the demand for education among financial professionals is higher than ever. This is evident as Ed Slott and Company's recent 2-Day IRA Workshop in San Francisco sold out in record time. More than 200 advisors attended this educational workshop where they earned CE credits and gained a new understanding of the opportunities and challenges surrounding the SECURE Act.

The 2-day training, which was the first and most comprehensive place to receive updates on the SECURE Act, covered the latest retirement planning strategies. From raising the age of RMDs to removing roadblocks for annuities within company plans, and from recognizing new back-door Roth IRA opportunities to planning strategies with the termination of stretch IRAs, attendees learned how the SECURE Act impacts any American that owns a retirement account and their families. Financial professionals interested in honing their knowledge in this area are encouraged to reserve their seats early for Ed Slott and Company's next 2-Day IRA Workshop in Nashville, Tenn. on July 9-10. Click here to register for the workshop by April 24 and use promo code PREARLYBIRD for $500 off.

"The SECURE Act has brought some of the biggest changes to retirement planning in more than a decade, creating a high demand for continuing education among financial professionals," said Ed Slott, CPA, a nationally-recognized IRA expert, founder of Ed Slott and Company and creator of www.irahelp.com. "Our workshop focuses on providing the latest information on IRA and tax planning strategies so financial professionals can leave with the actionable knowledge and tools needed to successfully navigate retirement planning in 2020 and beyond."

Ed Slott and Company is the nation's leading provider of accurate, timely IRA expertise and analysis to financial professionals across the country. Slott, along with his team of IRA experts, educates financial advisors, CPAs and attorneys on the complexities of IRAs so they are better equipped to navigate their clients through the distribution phase of retirement.

To view the agenda and to register for Ed Slott and Company's 2-Day IRA Workshop, click here.

ABOUT ED SLOTT AND COMPANY, LLC: Ed Slott and Company, LLC is the nation's leading provider of technical IRA education for financial advisors, CPAs and attorneys. Ed Slott's Elite IRA Advisor GroupSM is comprised of approximately 400 of the nation's top financial professionals who are dedicated to the mastery of advanced retirement account and tax planning laws and strategies. Slott is a nationally recognized IRA expert, bestselling author and professional speaker. He was named a 2020 InvestmentNews Innovator and has hosted several public television specials, including his latest "Retire Safe and Secure! With Ed Slott." Visit www.irahelp.com for more information.

CONTACT

AdvisorPR

(702) 685-7450

SOURCE Ed Slott and Company

Related Links

http://www.irahelp.com


"Most investors want some of their portfolio in a conservative instrument that improves returns in both bull and bear markets," says David Epstein, MAI CEO and Co-founder. "SNUG seeks to do just that."

Each month, the MAI Tactical Growth and Income Index (which SNUG exclusively tracks) evaluates more than 400 US ETFs across broad and divergent markets and selects a portfolio of eight diverse ETFs. During bull markets, SNUG targets a conservative portfolio's allocation of 30% equities and 70% bonds. During bear markets, SNUG automatically moves to defensive positions, holding up to 100% in treasuries, bonds, gold, and other defensive ETFs.

"SNUG is a paradigm shift in ETF design," says Sue Guzman, MAI COO. "Its index seeks to provide an automated, self-contained tactical portfolio management system in a tax-efficient ETF wrapper that is designed to deliver the five things investors want most."

According to Ms. Guzman, those five things are:

A portfolio of momentum leaders in bull markets; A portfolio of defensive leaders in bear markets; An expert automatic method for switching between bull and bear portfolios; The benefits of tactical trading without abandoning tax-efficiency; And, perhaps most importantly, the automation of important investment decisions so investors can focus on enjoying life.

SNUG's integrated design may enable ordinary taxable accounts to enjoy the benefit of tactical trading without abandoning tax-efficiency. Like many ETFs, it employs the IRS 'in-kind exchange' rule [Section 852(b)(6) of the tax code] to make most trading within its ETF wrapper a non-taxable event.

"Investing well requires simultaneously solving multiple problems. While the industry remains focused on neural networks and the belief that one AI tool can solve everything, SNUG takes a divide-and-conquer approach by using the best tool for each job," says Scott Juds, MAI Co-founder and Chief Science Officer. "SNUG employs multiple AI tools that seek to eliminate hindsight bias, analyze multiple market indicators, assess the market's bull vs. bear status, and genetically evolve its underlying strategies as it learns market behavior."

According to Mr. Juds, risk is not a one-dimensional problem cured by a single dose of diversification. Traditional diversification's passive risk reduction is only just a start. SNUG's index additionally seeks to avoid bear market losses by assessing US markets across key metrics, including price-trend, market momentum and value sentiment. When a bear market is indicated, SNUG's index automatically switches to a portfolio of defensive leaders that seek to avoid bear market losses.

The MAI Tactical Growth & Income Index is the result of more than 30 years of research and development by Mr. Juds, who discovered trends in market data using advanced signal processing in early 1992. Juds has been refining his system through many bull and bear markets ever since. This new approach, branded Temporal Portfolio Theory, has been fueling the success of Juds' SumGrowth Strategies LLC in Seattle, WA, which for more than a decade has had strong subscription support from both individual investors and financial professionals around the country. To improve investing simplicity and provide tax efficiency, Merlyn.AI Corporation was formed to commercialize indexes using this approach as ETFs.

SNUG joins WIZ, an 80/20 growth allocation ETF of similar design, launched by the company in October 2019. Together, SNUG and WIZ provide the means to target an allocation blend anywhere along the spectrum, from conservative to growth, and better serve the specific needs of each investor. For example:





(Conservative)

(Moderate)

(Growth) Target Allocation 30/70 40/60 50/50 60/40 70/30 80/20 SNUG Allocation 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% WIZ Allocation 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

About Merlyn.AI Merlyn.AI Corporation (MAI) is a Palo Alto-based exchange traded fund provider launched in January 2019 by two long-time friends, David Epstein and Scott Juds. MAI is exclusively licensed to create and market ETFs based on the Merlyn AI technology developed by Seattle-based SumGrowth Strategies, LLC. The SNUG ETF investment advisor is Empowered Funds LLC, dba Alpha Architect. The SNUG ETF is distributed by Quasar Distributors LLC, a member of FINRA, SIPC. Neither Merlyn.AI nor SumGrowth Strategies LLC is affiliated with Quasar Distributors LLC. MAI funds are not sponsored, endorsed, issued, sold or promoted by its indexing agent, Solactive AG, nor does Solactive AG make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in SNUG. MAI, Quasar Distributors, and SumGrowth Strategies are not affiliated with Solactive AG. For more information, please visit the www.Merlyn.AI website.

Disclosures:

Before investing one should carefully consider the Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. This and other information can be found in the fund's summary or full prospectus, which may be obtained by visiting www.MerlynETFs.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

An investment in the ETFs is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of principal. ETF shares may be bought and sold through a brokerage account. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce investment returns. There can be no assurance that an active trading market for ETF shares will be developed or maintained. There is no guarantee the ETFs' strategy will be successful. Because they invest primarily in other ETFs, the WIZ and SNUG ETFs' investment performance largely depends on the investment performance of those underlying ETFs. An investor will indirectly bear the principal risks and its share of the fees and expenses of the underlying ETFs. The risks associated with these ETFs are detailed in the prospectus and could include factors such as concentration risk, foreign and emerging markets risk, equity market risk, momentum investing risk, value investing risk, fixed income risk, dividend investing risk, gold risk, high portfolio turnover risk and bull index bond risks. Maintaining investments regardless of market conditions or the performance of an individual investment could cause the ETFs' returns to be lower than if the ETFs employed an active strategy. The performance of the ETFs and their Indexes may differ due to tracking error. The Indexes uses a form of (AI) artificial intelligence. Investments utilizing quantitative methods may perform differently than the market as a whole. Momentum investing can turn quickly and cause significant variation from other types of investments. There may be periods when the momentum style is out of favor, and during which the investment performance of an ETFs using a momentum strategy may suffer. The ETFs are non-diversified and may be more sensitive to economic, business, political or other changes affecting individual issuers or investments than a diversified fund, which may result in greater fluctuation in the value of the ETFs' Shares and greater risk of loss.

Nothing contained on this communication constitutes tax, legal, or investment advice. Investors must consult their tax advisor or legal counsel for advice and information concerning their particular situation.

The Index is based on a proprietary methodology developed by SumGrowth Strategies, LLC, and licensed to Merlyn.AI Corporation, the Fund's sponsor, and sublicensed to Empowered Funds, LLC, the Fund's investment advisor. The WIZ and SNUG ETFs are distributed by Quasar Distributors LLC.

NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT BANK GUARANTEED

RELATED LINKS:

www.Merlyn.AI

www.MerlynETFs.com/snug/

SOURCE Merlyn.AI Corporation

Related Links

http://www.Merlyn.AI


The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress will soon finalise names of their respective candidates for the Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh, the voting for which is scheduled to be held next month.

One of the three Rajya Sabha seats from Himachal Pradesh will fall vacant as Vipolve Thakur of the Congress will retire from the Upper House of Parliament on April 9.

The other two Rajya Sabha seats from the hill state are being currently represented by BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda and senior Congress leader Anand Sharma.

Nadda will retire from the Rajya Sabha in 2024, whereas Sharma will retire in 2022.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to conduct the election for this seat along with 54 Rajya Sabha seats of 17 states in March.

Himachal Pradesh Congress president Kuldeep Rathore told PTI that the name of the candidate will be finalised soon.

Similarly, state BJP chief spokesperson Randhir Sharma told PTI, "The process of finalising name of the BJP candidate is on."



As per the election schedule issued by the ECI on Tuesday, the nomination for the Rajya Sabha will be filed till March 13 after notification on March 6. The scrutiny will be held on March 16, whereas last date for withdrawal will be March 18.

Voting will be held from 9 am to 4 pm on March 26.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Central Reserve Police Force Srinagar sector has organised a 'Bharat Darshan' (Know your Country) tour for Kashmiri youth from their headquarters at Pantha chowk here. The youth will be taken to Mumbai as part of the tour.

The tour has been planned to allow Kashmiri youth to understand and experience a different part and culture in the country.

Speaking to ANI, IG CRPF Operations Kashmir, Rajesh Kumar said, "For this tour, we have selected children from remote locations to visit Mumbai. These children do not get the opportunity to visit far off destinations. The children will get exposure to different cultures and they will also get to know how big our nation is. Through this tour, they will attain more knowledge about our country."

A Kashmiri youth, selected for the tour, Sahil Ashraf said, "This tour will be very helpful and through this, we hope to get exposure to know about Mumbai. This is beneficial for us as we get to know about the lifestyle and culture of people living in Mumbai."

Another youth in the group, Abrar Ahmad said, "I thank CRPF for giving us the chance to visit Mumbai that will make us explore a different culture. This is the first time I will fly by airplane.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A pack of pasta is pictured on empty shelves at a supermarket, after a coronavirus outbreak, in Pioltello, near Milan, Italy. Photo: REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo

Concern about the spread of the coronavirus seems to have escalated sharply in recent days. Why?

The large outbreak in Italy is very unsettling. At least 219 people in Italy's north have tested positive for the virus and seven have died. None of the people had been to China. Officials have still not identified the person who brought the infection to Italy.





Is it under control now?

The Italian government has introduced draconian measures, closing off the worst-hit areas in the regions of Lombardy and Veneto. Milan city is not under lockdown and airlines are continuing to fly in and out. In 11 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.





Does the significant travel back and forth between Ireland the Italy increases our risk of seeing a case?

There is no case of the coronavirus detected in Ireland. Around 79 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.

But they must weigh up the risk as well as restrictions on 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 affect 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 today before the expert group may 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.





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. It's unchartered territory but some lockdown could not be ruled out. The advice is to prepare for the worst.
After years of the Canadian business community calling for improvements, Canada has taken one more step in modernizing the process of hiring temporary foreign workers

Canada makes it possible for employers to apply for Labour Market Impact Assessment online After years of the Canadian business community calling for improvements, Canada has taken one more step in modernizing the process of hiring temporary foreign workers

Canada makes it possible for employers to apply for Labour Market Impact Assessment online After years of the Canadian business community calling for improvements, Canada has taken one more step in modernizing the process of hiring temporary foreign workers

Canada makes it possible for employers to apply for Labour Market Impact Assessment online After years of the Canadian business community calling for improvements, Canada has taken one more step in modernizing the process of hiring temporary foreign workers Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Employers looking to hire temporary foreign workers are now able to manage their Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application through an online portal.

The new pilot project comes after many calls from Canadian business leaders to improve the current LMIA process for employers.

The online pilot will allow Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) employers to register for online access to manage their accounts, conduct transactions and correspond with Service Canada, the governments website says.

The portal will be accessible using the same login credentials employers use to access the Job Bank for Employers. It will include an electronic questionnaire guiding the user through the completion of the LMIA application and tracking its progress. Users will be able to upload supporting documents, return to their saved LMIA application at any time and view Service Canada decision letters.

Find out how to obtain a Canadian Work Permit

For years the Canadian business community has been calling for the government to reduce red tape and processing times around hiring temporary foreign workers. Business development groups like the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), have put forth numerous recommendations for improvements.

One of the first changes the Canadian Chamber of Commerce recommended to the federal government in 2017 was to modernize LMIA applications by increasing the use of online applications with streamlined forms.

This past month the CFIB released its own report on the concerns of small to medium-sized businesses with hiring foreign talent through the current TFWP process.

Corinne Pohlmann with CFIB described the process as lengthy, complicated, and expensive. She told CIC News that there are still many improvements to be made but the online system is some good news.

I think this will be an improvement to what is in place, and hopefully well get some clarity and answers in a much better way, Pohlmann said.

Without the online system employers are not able to track the applications, and wait times are on average anywhere from three to twelve months. Many business owners find it difficult to get answers to their questions.

The LMIA is required in most cases where an employer wants to hire foreign workers. It proves the business tried recruiting Canadian workers before looking abroad for talent. It costs over $1,000 to submit the application for each position that needs to be filled, a fee that is not refundable even if the application is denied. Employers are often not informed of the reasons for the rejection and therefore cannot assess whether or not it is worthwhile to re-apply.

For Pohlmann, reducing wait times and improving communication are some of the most important revisions the government needs to implement.

Were calling for a full review of the LMIA process to understand: where the bottlenecks liereduce the complexity of the application, as well as make sure the governments service is better in terms of replying and feedback, Pohlmann said.

Find out how to obtain a Canadian Work Permit

 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved
VALPARAISO  Portage resident Fleshia Lewis said her struggle with drugs began following her mother's death in a vehicle crash on Mother's Day 2007.

Lewis was 16 and what followed was more than a decade of drug use and crime.

But after her arrest on a high-level felony charge of dealing drugs, Lewis was given a shot at clearing up her record and receiving a new, sober start to life.

That was 18 months ago and despite some setbacks, Lewis, now 28 and mother of four children, earned that second chance.

She, along with Valparaiso resident Bryce Lange, graduated Monday afternoon from Porter County's adult drug court, which is one of the county's problem-solving courts.

The courts offer qualified offenders the opportunity to wipe their records clean or at least reduce the impact of their offenses by successfully completing a highly structured program aimed at helping them overcome drug, alcohol and other problems. If they fail, they face the original penalties for their offenses.
Suella Braverman, who was appointed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to the cabinet role of attorney-general for England and Wales on February 13, was sworn in to the key role at the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday.

Goa-origin Braverman (nee Fernandes), 39, was first elected to the House of Commons in 2015 from Fareham; re-elected in 2017 and 2019. A pro-Brexit campaigner, she also chaired the European Research Group comprising Conservative MPs favouring a hard Brexit.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by justice secretary Robert Buckland, chief justice Ian Burnett and the chair of the Bar Council, Amanda Pinto. She is the second woman appointed to the role in British legal history.

Braverman said: It is a privilege to be sworn in as attorney general and a moment I will cherish as the second woman to be appointed to this historic role. Restoring confidence in the criminal justice system is my top priority.

She was previously parliamentary under secretary of state at the Department for Exiting the European Union from January to November 2018.

Braverman studied Law at Cambridge and gained a Masters in Law from the University of Paris 1, Pantheon-Sorbonne and qualified as a New York attorney. Called to the Bar in 2005, she specialised in public law and judicial review.

From 2010-2015 she was on the attorney generals panel of treasury counsel. She has defended the Home Office in immigration cases, the Parole Board in challenges by prisoners and the Ministry of Defence in matters relating to injuries sustained in battle.

The attorney general has a number of independent public interest functions, besides overseeing departments such as the Crown Prosecution Service, Serious Fraud Office and the Government Legal Department.

Other responsibilities include acting as principal legal adviser on questions of EU and international law, human rights and devolution issues; bringing proceedings for contempt of court; and legal aspects of all major international and domestic litigation involving the government.

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[February 25, 2020] Cymatic Wins Three 2020 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards

Cymatic today announced that has been recognized as the gold award winner for the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards in three top categories: best start-up, most innovative company, and best web application security. Such prestigious recognition is a testament to the company's next-generation all-in-one web application defense platform. The Cymatic platform moves protection from the network side to the client to defend against today's most sophisticated client-and browser-based attacks. It provides universal in-session visibility and control to reduce risk across web applications, networks, and users while decreasing network traffic loads and eliminating user friction. "We are proud to be recognized for our revolutionary work in web application defense," said Cymatic Founder and Chief Executive Jason Hollander. "Our early success in leading secure web application protection underscores the need for solutions that provide unified visibility and real-time remediation without causing user friction or prolonged deployment times, which are fundamental shifts from traditional approaches to security." Instead of just protecting network-based threats like traditional WAFs, Cymatic uses sophisticated artificial intelligence and machine-learning algorithms to identify page mutations and user anomalies. The platform protects againt user-derived and device-based threats such as poor credential hygiene, dark web vulnerabilities, and potentially risky devices. It is invisible and frictionless to users, deploys in mere minutes, and has immediate time-to-value.



"Congratulations to Cymatic for being recognized as the gold award winner in three highly competitive categories of the 2020 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards," said Holger Schulze, CEO of Cybersecurity Insiders and founder of the 400,000-member Information Security Community on LinkedIn (News - Alert) that jointly produce the awards program. "With over 500 entries in more than 90 award categories, the 2020 awards reflect the very best in today's cybersecurity industry." Cymatic was selected from organizations around the world that vied for top honors. Its advanced microservices and real-time message-bus architecture offer unparalleled scale to provide the resilience necessary to validate and process the millions of users and transactions that touch web properties every second. The platform is engineered to work across all web applications regardless of operating system, browser, or device. It eliminates the OWASP top 10, bots, CAPTCHAs, dark web threats, forced MFA (News - Alert), shared accounts, IP threats, device vulnerabilities, and other cloud-based threats with no erosion of the user experience.

Join Cymatic at RSAC 2020 at booth 5354 in the North Expo or click here to see Cymatic's all-in-one web application security at work. About Cymatic

Cymatic offers the only all-in-one web application security platform that deploys at the client rather than the network for improved efficacy and ease and speed of deployment. Cymatic's first-look, first-strike capability is earliest in the kill chain, reducing risk across applications, networks, and users while decreasing network traffic loads. The solution is invisible and frictionless to users and deploys in minutes. Organizations that have web applications rely on Cymatic for real-time visibility and control to protect their web properties from OWASP top 10 threats, including credential-, user-, and device-based threats. Cymatic is headquartered in Raleigh, NC with offices in California and New York. Learn more at cymatic.io and follow Cymatic on Twitter and LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005483/en/

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WSU Students Spend Spring Break Serving Community

February 25, 2020

OGDEN, Utah  Sixty-four Weber State University students are choosing to spend Spring Break, the first week of March, volunteering in communities around the country and the world. Groups are headed to North Carolina, New Orleans, Washington, D.C. and the Dominican Republic.

Alternative Spring Break trips, hosted by the Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL), give students a chance to spend a week immersed in service work. Participants will connect with nonprofit organizations during the trips to serve in meaningful and efficient ways.

Kylee Treseder attended Alternative Spring Break in Seattle in 2019 to work on issues of food insecurity and to help in a food pantry. This year, shes the Alternative Spring Break student director, and shes enthusiastic about what they will experience and accomplish.

Alternative Spring Break is a special program that gives students an opportunity to engage in direct service throughout the world, Treseder said. These trips are an unforgettable experience and have changed my life in so many ways for the better. It opened my eyes to a broader perspective of social justice issues and a love for helping others.

Eleven students are going to Dover, North Carolina, and will focus on disaster recovery from hurricanes Florence and Dorian. In partnership with the National Relief Network, volunteers plan to help rebuild homes and repair areas damaged by flooding to allow as many families as possible to get back into their homes.

In New Orleans, 15 students will focus on neighborhood revitalization projects. Volunteers will address issues such as hurricane-related housing damage, homelessness, neighborhood beautification and clearing debris.

Sixteen students are headed to Washington, D.C., to work with the Steinbruck Center. Through the Steinbruck Center, volunteers will be placed with different nonprofit organizations to focus on poverty and community research. The two groups will come together each night to share their experiences and reflections.

During the trip to the Dominican Republic, 17 students will work to improve health and resource assistance for local communities. Volunteers will collaborate with doctors and professionals to organize brigades to bring medical access directly to families in need.

CCEL offers Alternative Break trips during spring and fall. The generous support from nonprofit partners, as well as WSU faculty and staff who donate their time, contributes to the success of the trips. For more information, visit weber.edu/ccel/alternative-breaks-team

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
Rev. Jun Kwang-hoon waves at supporters waiting for him in front of Seoul Central Court in southern Seoul, Monday, where he was brought in for questioning over his political activities. Yonhap



CCK leader under fire for going too far



By Park Ji-won



"There is no one who was infected with the coronavirus while attending the outdoor public gathering."



Rev. Jun Kwang-hoon, head of the Christian Council of Korea (CCK) and pastor of Sarang Jeil Church in Jangwi-dong, Seoul, said in front of thousands of protestors who gathered in Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on Sunday, amid fears of the spread of the deadly COVID-19.



"God will treat us and save us from the deadly disease. So please come again next week as we will host another rally here," he said.



The 63-year-old pastor is a self-proclaimed right-wing crusader. But his controversial remarks and "overconfidence" regarding potential health risks have pitted him against other right-wingers.



Criticism came from all over the political spectrum after he pushed for the public gathering despite the nationwide spread of the deadly coronavirus that originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan. As of Tuesday morning, the epidemic has killed eight people, and over 800 Koreans have been infected with the deadly virus.



The controversial rally in central Seoul, however, won't be held this week because Jun, the initiator of the anti-Moon Jae-in protests, was detained Monday night after the Seoul Central Court issued an arrest warrant for the pastor. He is accused of having violated the election law that prohibits pre-election campaigning in favor of certain political parties or candidates.



Noting that Rev. Jun's voting right was suspended for five years for his previous violation of the election law, the court said the pastor tried to exert influence on the public to vote for a certain party. The court issued an arrest warrant, saying otherwise he may flee.



The outspoken pastor showed up at the court without wearing a face mask.



He is an outspoken critic of President Moon.






U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, left, and Minister of National Defense of South Korea Jeong Kyeong-doo observe the playing of the U.S. national anthem by a U.S. military band during an honor cordon held to welcome Jeong at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, the U.S., Feb. 24. EPA-Yonhap



U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Monday that South Korea can and should contribute more to its defense in terms of financial contributions to the upkeep of American troops on the peninsula.



Esper, speaking at a joint news conference after talks with South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, also said that the two countries are considering scaling back combined military exercises due to concerns about the new coronavirus spreading in the South.



"General Abrams and General Park are looking at scaling back the command post training due to concerns about the coronavirus," Esper said, referring to U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Robert Abrams and South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Park Han-ki.



Jeong said the two generals are looking into the "serious" situation caused by the coronavirus but stopped short of confirming Esper's remarks. The allies will decide how to conduct the exercises after completing a joint assessment, he said.



The two countries have been negotiating a new Special Measures Agreement to split the cost of the 28,500-strong U.S. troop presence in South Korea, with Washington demanding a significant increase in Seoul's contributions.



"Shouldering the cost of our common defense cannot fall disproportionately to the American taxpayer," Esper said. "As such, we must find a more sustainable and equitable means of sharing the costs of our combined defense with the Republic of Korea.



"As a global economic powerhouse and an equal partner in the preservation of peace on the peninsula, South Korea can and should contribute more to its defense," Esper said.



Last year South Korea agreed to pay $870 million toward salaries for South Koreans working on U.S. military bases, construction projects and logistical support.





Defense Secretary Mark Esper, left, listens as South Korean National Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo speaks during a news conference at Pentagon in Washington, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. AP



The U.S. has argued that South Korea should cover other costs too.









"The current Special Measures Agreement captures only a portion of the overall cost associated with the United States' defense of South Korea," Esper said. "The United States believes it should cover more. While much work needs to be done to bridge the gap between our two sides on the 11th SMA, we had a productive and candid discussion on this topic today. The United States remains fully committed to reaching a mutually beneficial and equitable agreement that will strengthen the alliance and our combined defense long into the future."



The U.S. defense secretary added that if no deal is reached, the 9,000 South Korean workers on U.S. military bases will be furloughed in April as planned.



Jeong acknowledged that differences between the two countries remain and expressed hope for a speedy resumption of the negotiations.



He said he spoke with Esper about ways to ensure that Korean workers are not furloughed.



"I requested that the USFK first provide assistance through their budget, and if that's not possible ... that (we) first reach a deal on salaries, even if conditionally," the minister said.



Jeong also stressed that South Korea has made contributions outside the framework of the SMA, including by setting aside $43 billion for this year's defense budget.



That budget, he said, will help improve South Korea's capabilities to respond to nuclear and weapons of mass destruction threats, and contribute to international efforts for peace and stability.





U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper and South Korea's National Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo participate in a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington, U.S., Feb. 24, 2020. Reuters-Yonhap
BAY CITY, MI  A Bay City man is heading back to prison on his 14th drunken driving conviction, this time for riding a Jimmy Buffett-themed motorized bicycle while intoxicated.

Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran on Monday, Feb. 24, sentenced 56-year-old Brian S. VanHurk to four to 10 years in prison. The judge gave him credit for eight days served in the county jail.

VanHurk in November pleaded guilty to single counts of third-offense operating a motor vehicle while under the influence and second-offense driving while license suspended, denied, or revoked. The prosecution did not dismiss additional charges.

The convictions stem from a Bay County Sheriffs deputy on the night of Sept. 2 spotting VanHurk riding a Margaritaville bike north on Henry Street, then turning onto eastbound East Wilder Road in Bangor Township.

The bike had no headlight, so the deputy followed it before turning on his emergency lights, according to his report in court files. VanHurk pulled into a business parking lot in the 3700 block of Wilder, then drove down the sidewalk before coming to a stop, police reports said.

VanHurk told the deputy he had just built the bike four hours earlier, reports show. VanHurk gave the deputy an identification card but did not have a drivers license.

VanHurk smelled of intoxicants, according to the deputys report. Asked if he had had anything alcoholic to drink, VanHurk initially didnt respond, before saying he had consumed one Busch Light can four hours prior, reports state.

VanHurk blew into a preliminary Breathalyzer test, which yielded a result of 0.17, police reports state. In Michigan, a person is legally intoxicated when his or her blood alcohol level reaches 0.08; a person can be charged under the states super drunk driving law when that level is 0.17 or higher.

The deputy arrested VanHurk and had his bike impounded.

Court documents indicate VanHurk has 13 prior drunken or impaired driving convictions spanning 1982 to 2011. At least four of those convictions landed him in prison, most recently in 2011 when a Bay County judge sentenced him to 42 months to 20 years. The Michigan Department of Corrections discharged him in May 2017.

Margaritaville bikes, like the one VanHurk was riding, are a line of pedal bicycles that come in a variety of colors and feature Jimmy Buffett lyrics like Five oclock somewhere. They can have a motor added to them.

Related:

Man pleads to 14th drunken driving charge after police stop him on motorized bicycle

Man riding Margaritaville motorized bike faces 14th drunken driving charge

Bay City man pleads guilty to 11th drunken driving charge

Man pleads guilty to 13th drunken driving charge, faces up to life in prison
Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz spent the morning of Feb. 24 skipping from one interview to the next, part of a media blitz in the last week of his 2020 election campaign. Most of the interviews took place in his election headquarters in Tel Aviv, in a well-equipped studio mockup of the prime ministers office. The warmly lit set was decorated with an Israeli flag, shelves of neatly arranged books and a desk covered with family photos.

But now, less than a week away from the March 2 election, Gantz path to prime minister seems particularly unlikely. Throughout the election campaign, the Blue and White party has kept a steady lead over the Likud and maintained its position as the biggest party. But polls released early this week by the two major television networks seemed to show a very different trend. The Likud was now ahead, with Blue and White losing anywhere from two to four seats.

The brakes began to squeal Feb. 20, when it was reported that the police will investigate the Fifth Dimension, a company Gantz headed that allegedly won a tender by improper means. Even though Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit stressed that Gantz was not implicated in this affair, the Likud has managed to attach the scent of scandal and corruption to the Blue and White Party and its leader. Having centered its own campaign on Netanyahus corruption scandals, Blue and White suddenly found itself on the defensive. At the same time, Netanyahu projected the message that the Blue and White party was planning to form a coalition with the Joint List, even though Gantz repeatedly denied it. The Jewish Israeli mainstream, including the political center, would have a hard time accepting such a partnership.

Blue and White found itself losing voters, not only to the right but also to the leftist Labor-Gesher-Meretz list as some voters were put off by the way Gantz and the other Blue and White seniors dismissed any cooperation with the Joint List. Turning such a trend around one week before the election is daunting task indeed, even if there is some consolation in the fact that Netanyahu does not yet have 61 seats. Since Gantz doesnt have 61 seats either, the possibility of a fourth round of elections is not out of the question.

Gantz does not deny the danger. I am very disturbed by this shifting trend. This is the first time that we are not ahead, he said in an interview with Al-Monitor. "We kept our cool when polls predicted a two- or three-seat difference [in our favor], and now as well we are not getting anxious about the difference we currently see, as disturbing as it is. Every voter in the State of Israel who wants to see change has a personal responsibility to do the minimum required of them by getting out to vote. Otherwise, we risk having a fourth round of elections. I can see Netanyahu leading us there. I will not sit with Netanyahu [in the same government].

What seemed far-fetched a few weeks ago has become a realistic possibility in a matter of days. There may yet be a fourth round of elections after all, with all of the parties taking harder lines on their positions and the option of a unity government off the table, at least for Gantz.

After the second round of elections in September, Gantz came very close to reaching an agreement with Netanyahu to form a unity government. In the end, however, it was blocked by the Blue and White's number two, Yair Lapid. Now Gantz seems no less determined than Lapid to reject partnering with Netanyahu in any way. In the not so distant past, when Gantz spoke about Netanyahu, his criticism came off as a campaign tactic. Now, however, he sounds like he strongly believes all the harsh things he has to say about Netanyahus character and behavior. As a result, it seems a unity government is not on the horizon.

The more I see of his lies and dirty tactics, the less chance there is of me sitting with him in the same government, said Gantz. If I were the person [in the party] most likely to agree to sit with him just a few months ago, today I feel very removed from that. I think that Netanyahu crossed several red lines that should never have been crossed. He has been indicted. There is a date for his trial.

Gantz is convinced that it will be easy for him to fill Netanyahus shoes and take US President Donald Trumps peace process to the next level. I have a good relationship with the White House. My meeting with President Trump was excellent, he explained. Gantz added that he has the impression that the White House isnt worried about a possible change of government in Israel. They will get the same friendly government that cooperates with the US strategically, and we will continue with the 'deal of the century.'

Meanwhile, a Channel 13 poll released on the evening of Feb. 24 showed a further decline in support for the Blue and White Party, while the Likud regained its position as the largest party. Though the poll does not show either of the two blocs winning the election, it's hardly good news for Blue and White.

In an effort to stop the bleeding, Blue and White is clutching at a security agenda centered on the current escalation in Gaza. On Monday evening, the party canceled a big rally to mark the anniversary of the partys founding. Instead of celebrating, Gantz went with Gabi Ashkenazi and Moshe Yaalon, the two other former chiefs of staff in the Blue and White leadership, on a visit to the communities surrounding the Gaza Strip. Rockets were still being fired from Gaza when Gantz stood before the cameras and promised that Ashkenazi would be minister of defense in his government: Netanyahu, you failed! You appointed ministers of defense as part of your political wheeling and dealing. You appointed a puppet cabinet  and its all because youre so focused on your trial.

The cease-fire entered into effect at midnight, and it is doubtful that the brief round of fighting and Gantz promise to appoint Ashkenazi minister of defense will turn the polls around. Gantz and the Blue and White Party will have to fight to control the hemorrhage for the rest of the week.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 21:00:59|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Justice has issued a circular calling for more convenient and effective public legal services to protect migrant workers' interests amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Judicial and administrative organs at all levels should give full play to the role of government lawyers, corporate lawyers and legal consultants in enterprises and public institutions, soliciting their advice when rolling out policies concerning rural migrant workers amid the outbreak, according to the circular.

Judicial and administrative organs were asked to organize primary-level mediators to help migrant workers settle possible disputes such as wage arrears.

The circular also asked judicial administrative organs to invite experts to interpret issues concerned by migrant workers and strengthen the publicity of public legal services to guide migrant workers to protect their rights in accordance with the law.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and a former judge of Kerala High Court, Kemal Pasha, have locked horns, with the latter even accusing the chief minister of supporting the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

Without naming Kemal Pasha, the chief minister on Monday said that a former judge was speaking on the lines of Islamic fundamentalist outfits. He said that the former judge was speaking as if he was the spokesperson of outfits likes Jamaat-e-Islami and was hurt when outfits like SDPI were being criticised. Vijayan also accused the former judge of spreading lies about Kerala government's stance on NPR and CAA.

The chief minister's statements come against the backdrop of a series of communally sensitive speeches by Kemal Pasha during various anti-CAA protests in Kerala.

Reacting to the chief minster's accusations against him, Kemal Pasha said on Tuesday that he doubted whether the Chief Minister was actually supporting CAA. He said that while chief minister said he was with those opposing CAA, he actually supported those favouring the act.

"I don't represent any Islamic outfits and don't have any agendas," Kemal Pasha further added.

Pasha, who had strongly criticised the Kerala police on several occasions, said that the chief minister might be unhappy against him owing to his critical remarks against the state police.

The Kerala Government had even withdrawn the security provided to Pasha a couple of months back.
Relax. Its not what you think, though it may soon happen. We are talking about Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu who is in Mumbai as you read this, shooting an ad for a cola brand with Ranveer Singh.

And the two superstars are killing it with their colaboration.

A source very close to the project informs, Ranveer and Mahesh really get along well. They make for a contrasting companionship. Ranveer is outgoing, exuberant and talkative. Mahesh is reticent, shy and a man of a few words. Whenever they meet to shoot their Thums Up ads, they get along really well.

We now hear producer Sajid Nadiadwala is planning to cast Ranveer and Mahesh together in a feature film. This, we will have to wait and watch.
As an astronomer at Chicagos Adler Planetarium, Lucianne Walkowicz usually has to stretch to connect the peculiarities of space physics with things that people experience on Earth.

Then came the email about whales.

Sonke Johnsen, a biologist at Duke University, told Dr. Walkowicz that his team had stumbled upon a bizarre correlation: When the surface of the sun was pocked with dark sunspots, an indicator of solar storms, gray whales and other cetacean species seemed more likely to strand themselves on beaches. The team just needed an astronomers help wrangling the data.

This was like a dream request, Dr. Walkowicz said. And I finally got to do something in marine biology, even though I didnt study it.

With that assistance, there is some evidence of this peculiar correlation, the researchers said in a paper published Monday in Current Biology.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 25)  The Court of Appeals has ordered GMA Network to reinstate 51 "talents" who were dismissed for joining a protest rally years ago, declaring them as regular workers of the station.

The court's Fifteenth Division instructed the media firm owned by Felipe Gozon to bring back 51 workers who were removed or unrenewed for their posts. The workers were part of the Talents Association of GMA-7.

The petitioners filed a case against the network in 2014, saying some of them were terminated because they took part in a protest picket against "unfair labor practices" of GMA. The court's decision reverses a 2017 decision of the National Labor Relations Commission.

The network argued those who joined the picket took unauthorized absences to cause work delays, saying it was a "breach" in talent agreements and was a ground for dismissal. But the court said that 15 of its employees who joined the protests against the network were not guilty of gross and habitual neglect of duty, and should not merit termination from work.

"The terms and conditions of petitioners' Talent Agreements and General Terms show that they are not independent contractors and are regular employees of GMA," the appellate court said in its February 19 decision.

The association also accused the network of harrassment when it banned workers from handling two or more programs, and when it shifted the release of salaries to checks from direct bank deposits, which caused "great inconvenience."

"GMA should have complied with the procedural due process in terminating its employees especially since petitioners are regular employees. It is not enough that petitioners' contracts were simply not renewed for it to comply with the requirements of the law as far as duly terminating regular employees are concerned," it added.

As of November 30, 2016, the labor arbiter computed 21.43 million in back wages for 35 GMA employees. The court ordered the arbiter to recompute the amounts due.

"Petitioners are entitled to reinstatement without loss of seniority rights, full backwages inclusive of allowances, and any and all benefits regular employees of GMA receives computed from the time his or her compensation was withheld up to the time of his or her actual reinstatement to GMA," the court ordered.

The court also clarified that 15 of the workers who submitted their resignation letters in the middle of the case are still entitled to receive back pay.

Another CA division which declared 101 workers as regular employees dismissed an appeal of GMA Network.
Doctors at Hanoi's Military Hospital 108 checks the hands of Pham Van Vuong one month after he received a transplanted left hand, February 24, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Khanh.

A Hanoi hospital has successfully transplanted a hand from one living human to another in the first such instance anywhere in the world.

The capital citys Military Hospital 108 announced Monday that it has given a local man, Pham Van Vuong, 31, a new left hand after he had lost it four years ago in an occupational accident.

The hand was donated to Vuong by a living man, who was himself admitted to the hospital on January 3 after his arm was crushed by a brick conveyor.

In the following three weeks of treatment, the wounded man received three surgeries, but doctors could not save the arm as the elbow area and several muscles had become infected and gangrened. The only way to save his life was amputation of the entire arm.

But the hospital also assessed that a part of the injured arm, including the hand, had not been damaged and could still be used for transplantation.

After discussing the issue with doctors, the injured man and his family agreed to donate a part of his arm to Vuong.

Nguyen The Hoang, the hospitals deputy director, and the team at the upper limb surgery and microsurgery department carried out the operation to transplant the hand on January 21.

The surgery lasted eight hours and was described as "stressful," as the donors arm had been infected with gangrene and suffered secondary super-infection, posing a high risk of infection for the donated hand.

"Transplanting hands is much harder than other organs because they have lots of structure, tendons, muscles and joints," Hoang said.

The task was made more difficult by the fact that Vuong had lost his hand since 2016 and the muscles around the wrist had not been used for a long time.

But there was also a stroke of luck, which was that the two patients shared many similarities, from their blood types to some aspects of the immune system.

Speaking about the surgery officially for the first time on Monday, the hospitals director, Mai Hong Bang, said: "The hospital has successfully transplanted a hand from one human to another. This is the first hand transplant from a living donor in the world."

Pham Van Vuong holds a ping pong ball in both hands as he convalesces with his transplanted left hand at the Military Hospital 108, Hanoi, on February 24, 2020. Photo by the Vietnam News Agency.

So far all the veins in the transplanted hand have been functioning like a normal one. Shortly after the transplantation, Vuong was able to move the fingers of his new hand, doctor Hoang said.

More than a month after the surgery, he can hold objects. It is estimated that it will take him six-12 months of practice to use the hand like a normal person. However, Vuong will have to take anti-rejection medication for the rest of his life, with the dose reducing gradually over time.

"When I opened my eyes and saw that I have got a new hand, I was so happy. I wanted to tell my family right away, but could not use a phone then," he said.

According to the hospital, there have only been 89 cases of limb transplantation officially reported in the world so far, including 24 in the U.S., 13 in China and 11 in France, but none have so far involved a hand donated by a living, aware human being.
Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Monday appealed to the people of Delhi to maintain communal harmony after violence rocked North East Delhi claiming four lives.

She expressed condolences over the death of head constable Rattan Lal, who lost his life as a pro and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protesters clashed in Gokulpuri.

"Any form of violence cannot have any place in Mahatma Gandhi's India and no place of those forces in the country who want to impose their communal and divisive ideology on India," Gandhi said in a statement.

She also asked people to thwart the "intentions" of those who want to divide the country on the basis of religion.

Four people, including a head constable of Delhi Police, lost their lives in clashes 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.)
A Chinese officer has been caught on camera performing martial art moves to stop a villager from returning to his home after his village was locked down due to the coronavirus.

The video shows the community worker and his colleague standing guard behind a red ribbon stretched across the entire width of a road, preventing outsiders from entering.

The male resident is seen in the footage arriving on his small electric bike and trying to cross the blockade.

The video shows the community worker and his colleague standing behind a red ribbon stretched across the entire width of a road, blocking outsiders from entering the area

The villager is pictured trying to enter his neighbourhood. He is taken by surprise when the inspector screams and performs a back flip, followed by another spinning sweeping kick

The cyclist says to the two black-suited officers: 'Just for a short while. I want to go home and have a look.'

The villager is taken by surprise when the inspector screams and performs a backflip, followed by a spinning sweeping kick.

The officer then does another kung fu move while the intimidated traveller gets back on his motorbike and rides off in a hurry.

The officer then does another kung fu move to prevent the visitor from crossing the blockade

The traveller, who appears to be scared, gets back on his motorbike and rides off in a hurry

It is believed that the incident took place in Shandong Province, eastern China as the visitor speaks with a heavy local accent.

The officer was allegedly one of the volunteering villagers who acted as checkpoint security guards during the coronavirus outbreak.

The village has reportedly imposed self-isolation measures amid the deadly epidemic, with no one allowed to enter or leave the area.

The village has reportedly imposed self-isolation measures amid the epidemic of coronavirus. The picture shows villagers with masks guarding a checkpoint in a rural area of Beijing, China

Villages across China have reportedly set up temporary fences in an effort to contain the coronavirus outbreak. A villager in Beijing is seen driving his tractor through a checkpoint

The picture shows passengers with masks travelling on the underground in Shanghai, China

The novel coronavirus, which was first discovered in Wuhan, has so far killed 2,705 people and infected over 80,326 people globally.

Iran's coronavirus death toll has risen to 15 today with the regime refusing to seal off the holy city at the centre of the crisis and pilgrims spreading the virus around the Middle East.

Italy now has at least seven deaths as the country imposes drastic security measures to contain the first major outbreak in Europe.

People are seen wearing protective masks walking through a market in Wan Chai, Hong Kong

The novel coronavirus has killed 2,705 people and infected over 80,326 people globally

South Korea has confirmed an additional 84 cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections nationwide to 977.

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.
A WCO Sub-regional Workshop on Transit for the Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was held in Melaka, Malaysia, from 17 to 21 February 2020. The event was organized with the financial support of the Indian Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF India) and was hosted by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department.

The Workshop aimed to provide support to ASEAN Members in addressing any challenges they may face in the process of implementing the relevant international legal instruments in the area of transit, such as Article 11 of the WTO TFA and the ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Goods in Transit.

During the Workshop, transit experts from six of the ASEAN Members discussed the relevant provisions of the Revised Kyoto Convention, the guiding principles for the establishment of efficient and effective transit regimes as outlined in the WCO Transit Guidelines and the provisions of Article 11 Freedom of Transit of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation of the World Trade Organization (WTO TFA). Representatives of Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam delivered presentations on the legislative framework for transit and transit procedure automation in their respective countries. They also shared information on challenges faced in the efforts towards trade and transit facilitation. The WCO team of facilitators presented and discussed with the participants some best practices in the area of transit from other WCO regions. Special focus was placed during the Workshop on the deployment of the ASEAN Common Transit System (ACTS).
A tourist hotel on the Canary Island of Tenerife has been placed in quarantine after an Italian doctor staying there tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.

The press office for the town of Adeje confirmed that the restrictions are in place at the H10 Adeje Palace hotel.

Spanish media said some 1,000 tourists staying at the complex are not allowed to leave.

The Canary Islands, an archipelago located some 62 miles west of the African coast, is a popular holiday destination that attracts many British tourists all year around.
San Francisco police arrested an 18-year-old man on suspicion of attempted homicide after he struck two people Monday night while driving on a Haight-Ashbury sidewalk and later intentionally collided with a marked police vehicle, authorities said.

Officers responded around 9:15 p.m. to the area of Haight and Ashbury streets to investigate a report of a vehicle collision involving pedestrians, according to San Francisco police. Witnesses told police a motorist had been driving on the sidewalk, and authorities found two injured men and took them to a hospital.
The generic drugmaker Mallinckrodt has a tentative $1.6 billion deal to settle lawsuits over its role in the U.S. opioid crisis, it announced Tuesday.

The deal is intended to end hundreds of lawsuits faced by the company over opioids.

The company said that it had an agreement with a key committee of lawyers representing thousands of local governments suing various drug industry players over opioids  and that the deal has the support of the attorneys general of 47 states and territories.

The company, based in Staines-Upon-Thames, England, was one of the highest-volume opioid producers in the U.S. at the height of the nations prescription drug crisis, shipping 2.3 billion pills from 2006 to 2014, according to federal data.

In 2010 alone, Mallinckrodts SpecGX subsidiary, shipped 210 million doses of oxycodone to Florida, then the epicenter of the black market opioid trade. The companys potent 30 milligram pills were especially sought after by people with addiction.

Documents gathered as the company prepared for trial showed that a Mallinckrodt sales manager told a distributor in 2009 of the pills: Just like Doritos; keep eating, well make more. A company spokesman later called the statement outrageously callous.

The company argued in court filings that unlike makers of brand-name drugs, it did not promote opioids to doctors or understate the addiction risks. But plaintiffs in the cases said Mallinckrodt continued to ship suspicious orders without making sure the drugs werent going to be diverted to the black market.

Under its agreement, Mallinckrodt is filing for bankruptcy. The plan calls for it to make payments for eight years after the company emerges from the protections. That route is similar to one OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma is taking to settle opioid claims against it.

For Mallinckrodt, there are business concerns, beyond the potential liability in opioid cases, that contributed to its seeking bankruptcy protection.

Reaching this agreement in principle for a global opioid resolution and the associated debt refinancing activities announced today are important steps toward resolving the uncertainties in our business, Mark Trudeau, president and CEO of the company, said in a statement.

Joe Rice, a lawyer on the executive committee of plaintiffs suing in federal court over opioids, said in an interview Tuesday that some details of the Mallinckrodt agreement still remain to be ironed out.

Most of the money contributed by Mallinckrodt would go to a trust to pay for addiction treatment and other costs related to an opioid crisis that has been linked to more than 430,000 deaths in the U.S. since 2000. Additionally, the trust would be able to buy Mallinckrodt stock at a fixed price; it could be sold to help the cause.

State attorneys general praised the deal.

My focus is on not only accountability, but also obtaining the resources we need to get victims of this epidemic the help they deserve, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a written statement. This agreement is a significant step in the right direction.

Mallinckrodts announcement comes weeks before a trial on the toll of opioids is scheduled to start in Central Islip, New York. The looming trial has been a factor in a ramped-up push for other drugmakers and distributors to settle, as well.

There have been increasingly public tensions between attorneys general and the private lawyers for local governments over the biggest of the proposed settlements, which would involve at least the three biggest U.S. drug distribution companies. States have also been divided on whether to accept the deal, under which the distributors would pay a total of $18 billion over 18 years.

___

Follow Mulvihill at http://www.twitter.com/geoffmulvihill
Hmmm. Folks in southwestern Oregon may be onto something.

They are fed up with how liberal Trump-hating politicians are running the state, so they want to move to Idaho  without physically moving to Idaho, of course. Petition drives have been launched in Josephine and Douglas counties to be part of Idaho  where the conservative politics are more to their liking.

The petition drive, as part of the Greater Idaho project, could extend to 17 other counties who are tired of the liberal landscape in Oregon.

They would love Idaho, where worshiping President Trump is part of the political mainstream for the GOP. Republicans hold all congressional seats and state constitutional offices, and 80 percent of the Legislature. This is no joke. A petition drive is in the works, and it could go before voters.

We are starting with county ballot initiatives first, because we want to prove that after the campaign this summer, ordinary voters in rural Oregon will show that they dont want to be ruled from Salem anymore, said Mike McCarter, one of the chief petitioners, in a news release. Convincing the state to let these counties go is the second step.

Democrats in Oregon should be saying good riddance, and Republicans in the Gem State should be laying out the welcome mat for their disgruntled neighbors.

Republicans in Idaho and Democrats in Oregon can gain more control, without resorting to gerrymandering.

The configurations of the states would look a little funny if the Greater Idaho project goes through, but thats a small price to pay for political bliss. The good news for the Gem State is that it would be closer to the shape of a potato.

McCarter, according to a news release, is a veteran and a former president of the Oregon Agribusiness Council.

Hes a life member of the National Rifle Association and is a committee co-chair of Friends of NRA. Thats a winning resume for anyone in Idaho running for public office.

As he explains: Rural counties have become increasingly outraged by laws coming out of the Oregon Legislature that threaten our livelihoods, our industries, our wallets, our gun rights, and our values.

We tried voting those legislators out, but rural Oregon is out-numbered and our voices are now ignored. This is our last resort.

Oregon isnt the only state looking to end the political divide. Four years ago, shortly after Trumps victory, a bill was filed in the legislature to split Washington state.

Trump supporters on the eastern end have long complained about control from Democrats in the west.

As for McCarter, hed have no trouble finding sympathy in North Idaho, where people know all about being alienated. All the high congressional and state offices are filled by politicians from the south.

The closest state representative for the Silver Valley, where I grew up, and part of Bonner County, lives in Grangeville  with little hope of redistricting changing this sorry situation. Legislative races are won or lost in Idaho County, where conservative candidates tend to thrive. Centrist candidates from the north dont have a prayer of winning.

If part of Oregon can move to Idaho, then maybe Shoshone County can look into creating a Greater Montana project. Or, better yet, build a coalition that wants to chop off the Panhandle somewhere around White Bird Hill and create the great state of North Idaho. It would be nice to have political leaders who realize Canada is not a road that separates Canyon and Ada counties.

Offices, such as governor or Congress, could be filled by the likes of Sen. Mary Souza of Coeur dAlene, Rep. Caroline Troy of Genesee or Sen. Dan Johnson of Lewiston. The big fight would be whether to locate the state capital in Coeur dAlene or Lewiston.

One downside that comes to mind is that Marty Trillhaase, the hard-hitting opinion editor of the Lewiston Tribune, wouldnt have southern Idaho politicians to kick around anymore.

But Im sure my friend would find plenty of editorial battles in North Idaho.

Talk about North Idaho forming its own state is not new. Ive heard it for much of my life, mostly in the form of wishful thinking from coffee shops and barrooms.

But people from the north should be paying attention to whats happening in Oregon, especially if those petition drives are successful.

Chuck Malloy, a long-time Idaho journalist, is a columnist with Idaho Politics Weekly. He may be reached at ctmalloy@outlook.com

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Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion curated for you at this hour. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Pakistan human rights minister may raise Jammu and Kashmir in UN speech today

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. Read more

Began with roses, ended with bullets: How CAA protests in Delhi unfolded

Around 11am on Monday, the anti-CAA protesters who had gathered on the main road under the Jafrabad Metro station had red roses in their hands, planning to welcome the CAA supporters, who were gathering roughly a kilometre away on the same road under Maujpur-Babarpur Metro station, with flowers. Read more

On Day 2 of India visit, Modi and Trump to get down to business

Trump, his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and top brass of his administration, arrived in Gujarats Ahmedabad around noon on Monday for his nearly 36-hour-long first-ever visit to India. Read more

Those chanting pro-Pak slogans should be shot at sight: Karnataka MLA

After the Karnataka Agriculture minister called for a law to shoot at sight those who raise pro-Pakistan slogans in the country, another state lawmaker has raised a similar demand. Read more

India vs New Zealand: Scott Styris reveals why Indian pacers struggled on a pitch where Kiwi fast bowlers succeeded

Indias toothless performance in the first Test against New Zealand came as a surprise for many as Virat Kohli and his men went down by 10 wickets within 4 days at Wellington. Read more

Happy Birthday Shahid Kapoor: Kumar Sanu music video to 90s ad, have you seen these old videos of the actor?

Shahid Kapoor, who turns 39 today, has been in the film industry for more than a decade and a half. But his career in showbiz started much earlier, with music videos and commercials. Read more

US First Lady Melania Trumps desi sartorial touch on her India trip

Known for her body-con dressing, penchant for tailoring and fit-and-flare silhouettes, Melania Trump hit all the right sartorial notes on her arrival to India. Read more
The students of Pondicherry University protesting against a fee hike were forcefully evicted by police ahead of Vice President Venkaiah Naidu's visit to the University.

Naidu is slated to visit the university to address the convocation on Wednesday.

The administration had earlier requested the student protesters to clear the premises of the administrative block. However, the students refused to do so. This led to their forceful eviction by the police from the main entrance of the university.

The students from various outfits including the Students' Federation of India (SFI), DMK Student Wing, All India Students' Federation (AISF) and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) have been protesting against the fee hike for more than two weeks.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Our Hometown Conway

No one knows your hometown like you.

Stories from Conway, NH, told by the hometown's residents, and hosted by Rebecca Rule.

Established: 1765

Location: Carroll County

Population: 10,115

Name: The town was named for Henry Seymour Conway, Commander in Chief of the British Army.

Notable: White Mountain National Forest, Outlet shopping!

Try it: The Mount Washington Observatory's Weather Discovery Center, u=is located in downtown North Conway.

Support for the production of OUR HOMETOWN: CONWAY comes from: Eversource Energy | Conway Scenic Railroad | Cranmore Mountain Resort | Leone, McDonnell & Roberts, PA | Memorial Hospital | Settlers Green and Zebs Country Store

Community Partners: The Town of Conway | Conway Public Library | North Conway Public Library

The Eastern Slope Inn | North Country Independent Living | White Mountains Television

Watch Online Conway | Kelley Jon Scruggs

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Jesinta and Lance 'Buddy' Franklin have welcomed their first child, a baby girl.

The AFL glamour couple confirmed the arrival on Tuesday, and also revealed the newborn's sweet name.

'Jesinta and Lance are thrilled to announce the arrival of their beautiful baby daughter, Tullulah Franklin,' a spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

Baby joy! AFL glamour couple Jesinta and Lance 'Buddy' Franklin have welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Tullulah. Pictured: Jesinta at the Melbourne Cup on November 5

'They are both absolutely besotted with her.'

Fashion model Jesinta, 28, and Sydney Swans player Lance, 32, announced they were expecting a child in August last year.

In recent months, Jesinta revealed that her pregnancy had been challenging.

Baby makes three! Fashion model Jesinta, 28, and Sydney Swans player Lance, 32, announced they were expecting a child in August last year. Pictured on September 24, 2018 in Melbourne

'The journey to get here hasn't been easy': In recent months, Jesinta revealed that her pregnancy had been challenging. Pictured on January 19, 2020 in Melbourne

'The journey to get here hasn't been easy and this little life is the greatest gift and we feel truly blessed and grateful that we will have a little angel of our own,' she said in August.

Jesinta also told Daily Mail Australia at the Melbourne Cup last November that she was starting to feel better after a difficult first trimester.

'I feel great,' she revealed. 'I think it's quite common for a lot of women to feel terrible in the first trimester, but I feel really good and feel really healthy.'

Confirmation: Jesinta confirmed the unusual spelling of her daughter's name by posting this photo to Facebook

Ups and downs: Jesinta also told Daily Mail Australia at the Melbourne Cup last November that she was starting to feel better after a difficult first trimester

The former Miss Universe Australia previously said that she and Buddy knew the sex of their baby early on but were keeping it private until the birth.

In January, Jesinta told Daily Telegraph that she was counting down the days until her due date.

'I am very ready. It has been a long, hot summer, let's put it that way,' she said.

Sshh! The former Miss Universe Australia previously said that she and Buddy knew the sex of their baby early on but were keeping it private until the birth

Lance and Jesinta recently told Marie Claire that constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples was especially important to them because of their growing family.

Lance is an Indigenous Australian of Noongar-Wajuk heritage.

'We want our child to feel included, recognised, heard and worthy, which is why constitutional recognition is so important to us,' Jesinta said December.

Last sighting: Jesinta was pictured on January 19 in a Burberry trench coat as she wheeled a Louis Vuitton suitcase down the street in Sydney

'I know I'm going to have these discussions with my child and explain the dark parts of history, but we also want to celebrate the beautiful Indigenous culture and stories.'

Buddy told the Daily Telegraph in August that he recognised the importance of being a role model for the next generation of Aboriginal sportsmen.

'It's a real privilege to be able to play the game I love and I want to inspire other indigenous kids to achieve their best. The opportunity is definitely there for them if theyre prepared to work hard and put in that effort,' he said.

'We want our child to feel included': Lance and Jesinta recently told Marie Claire that constitutional recognition of Aboriginal peoples was especially important to them because of their growing family. Lance is an Indigenous Australian of Noongar-Wajuk heritage

JESINTA AND BUDDY'S LOVE STORY October 2013: They begin dating December 2014: Buddy proposes with a diamond ring worth $100,000 November 2016: Jesinta and Buddy tie the knot in the Blue Mountains August 2019: The Franklins announce the are expecting their first child February 2020: Jesinta welcomes a daughter named Tullulah Franklin Advertisement

Jesinta and Buddy tied the knot during a secret ceremony in the Blue Mountains in November 2016.

The bride wore a custom-made design by Vera Wang, and clutched several single-stem peonies instead of a bouquet.

Jesinta told Vogue Australia in 2017 that she hoped to pass the dress on to her future daughter to wear on her own wedding day.

Buddy had proposed to his girlfriend of 14 months in December 2014, presenting her with a diamond ring reportedly worth $100,000.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP)  Some Nebraska lawmakers expressed shock and outrage Monday that gun owners were allowed to bring loaded, semi-automatic rifles into the state Capitol to protest bills that would have imposed new restrictions on gun ownership.

Some lawmakers said they viewed the demonstration as an intimidation tactic during a contentious legislative hearing Friday afternoon that drew an estimated 400 protesters. A few of those protesters displayed their guns in the hallways and in a public hearing room, even though the Nebraska Capitol bars people from wielding political signs or props in the building and doesnt allow concealed firearms.

I was intimidated. I was scared, said Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, of Omaha, who sponsored a bill to prohibit people with domestic violence convictions from buying guns. I was worried about how someone might react to my bill, and how what I had to say might lead to a dangerous reaction.

Cavanaugh said the Legislatures current rules are egregiously inadequate to protect lawmakers and the public.

Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks, who serves on the Legislature's Judiciary Committee, said she didn't feel comfortable asking questions about the bills with armed opponents in the room.

Something needs to be done, said Pansing Brooks, of Lincoln. We should have the ability for people to come into our capitol, our state building, and feel comfortable and safe."

Similar conflicts have sprouted up in statehouses throughout the country. In Idaho, an 11 year-old girl toted a loaded AR-15 assault weapon into a legislative hearing Monday with her grandfather to support a proposal that would allow visitors to Idaho who can legally possess firearms to carry a concealed handgun within city limits.

Last month, Virginia lawmakers banned guns at the state Capitol despite bitter protests from Republicans who argued that guns protect public safety.

Nebraska bans concealed guns in the Capitol but allows gun owners to carry their firearms openly, except on the legislative floor or the balconies above it. Guns are also banned in the Nebraska Supreme Courts chambers, the only place in the Capitol where metal detectors are commonly used.

Nebraska state Sen. Tom Brewer, a champion sniper and gun-rights supporter, said he understands that some people are afraid of guns but argued that further restricting them would only draw more opposition in the gun-friendly state.

I didnt think there was a need for anyone to bring a gun into the building, but it is their right to do that, Brewer said Monday. If you want to write rules to prohibit that, have at it, but understand that 400 (protesters) could turn into 800 pretty quick, because this is an issue that people will stand their ground on.

Speaker of the Legislature Jim Scheer said in an interview Monday that he was looking into why the Capitols policy is written as it is.

Scheer said he isnt pursuing any changes that would bar guns from the Capitol, but he acknowledged that a person displaying a gun could be perceived as threatening. He also questioned why one type of gun possession is allowed in the building while the other isnt.

Im not exactly sure why theyre being treated differently, he said.

The hearing Friday was also noteworthy because of public remarks from a Lincoln gun shop owner with purported ties to a white supremacist group. In 2018, the Nebraska Firearms Owners Association dropped its plans to hold its meeting in Pringles shop after learning that he had been identified as a member of the National Alliance.

When a senator asked Pringle if he wanted to respond to the accusation, he acknowledged that he was the National Alliance's membership coordinator. He said he also knew Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke and added, I love my race more than any other race, just like I love my family more than any other family and my children more than any other children.



Follow Grant Schulte on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrantSchulte

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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Sanders Says Major Plans to Be Funded by New Taxes, Lawsuits, and Defense Spending Cuts

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) released a fact sheet on Feb. 24 detailing how he would pay for his proposals, moments after announcing he would do so during a CNN town hall in South Carolina.

The presidential candidate said he would be publishing the plans detailing how he will pay for ambitious proposals like Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, and canceling student debt, by way of distinguishing himself from Trumps campaign.

The Democratic candidate said he plans to create a 4 percent income-based premium while exempting the first $29,000 in income for a family of four, requiring employers to pay a 7.5 percent income-based premium, eliminating health tax expenditures, and raising the top marginal income tax to 52 percent on incomes over $10 million.

As for his Green New Deal, Sanders said he plans to raise $16.3 trillion to transform the energy system away from fossil fuels and toward energy efficiency and renewable energy. The plan would also create 20 million well-paying union jobs in the process, he added.

This would be funded by making the fossil fuel industry pay for their pollution through litigation, fees, and taxes, and eliminating federal fossil fuel subsidies, generating revenue from the wholesale of energy, decreasing defense spending by $1.215 trillion, collecting $2.3 trillion in new income tax revenue, saving $1.31 trillion by reducing the need for federal and state safety net spending, and raising $2 trillion in revenue by enforcing higher taxes on large corporations.

Additionally, Sanders said it will cost $2.2 trillion to make public colleges, universities, and trade schools tuition-free and to cancel all student debt over the next decade. This will be paid for by a modest tax on Wall Street speculation, which he said will raise an estimated $2.4 trillion over 10 years. Housing for All and universal childcare and pre-K will also be funded by the wealth tax on the top one-tenth of one percent, or those making more than $32 million.

The fact sheet comes ahead of the Feb. 25 Democratic debate in Charleston, South Carolina, the last opportunity candidates will have to make their pitch on a national stage before Saturdays critical South Carolina primary.

However, the debate comes shortly after Sanders faced criticism over his comments regarding former Prime Minister of Cuba, Fidel Castro, during an interview with CBS Newss 60 Minutes on Feb. 23.

The 2020 Democratic White House candidate praised certain elements of former Cuban dictator Castros government and said that not everything was bad under his rule.

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.

Sanders told the show, Were very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba, but you know, its unfair to 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?

He later defended his comments during Mondays town hall in South Carolina, adding that he has been extremely consistent and critical of all authoritarian regimes all over the world including Cuba, including Nicaragua, including Saudi Arabia, including China, including Russia.

I happen to believe in democracy, not authoritarianism. China is an authoritarian country  but can anyone deny, I mean the facts are clear, that they have taken more people out of extreme poverty than any country in history. Why you criticize when I say thatthats the truth. So that is the fact. End of discussion, he added.

That so-called fact is based on a political slogan used by the Chinese regime to boost the countrys international image. As The Epoch Times previously reported, the measure of the poverty line is far below the international standard.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia visit Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital to meet the injured people in violence on Monday.

Kejriwal who visited with his deputy also talked to the victims admitted in the hospital.

Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also chaired a meeting with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik and other political leaders regarding the violence and prevailing situation in North-East Delhi areas.

Seven people, including one police head constable, have lost their lives and over 100 have been injured in North-East Delhi over a period of two days after clashes broke out between pro and anti CAA protestors.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
EAST ST. LOUIS  A Los Angeles man has been convicted on drug-related charges in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis.

Fernando Alvarez-Carvajal, 49, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine after a three-day trial Feb. 20. He remains in custody pending a May 20 sentencing hearing where he could sentenced from 10 years to life in prison.

The charges stem from a two-year investigation by the FBI and Alton Police into drug trafficking in the Alton area.

During his trial, prosecutors presented evidence that from October 2016 through December 2018 Alvarez-Carvajal and five co-conspirators distributed pound quantities of methamphetamine in Madison County, Philadelphia and elsewhere. Alvarez-Carvajal was specifically accused of using his bank account to funnel drug proceeds and served as a courier of drugs and money for the organization.

The case began in May 2016 when the FBI began investigating drug sales in Alton. Alvarez-Carvajal was arrested Dec. 11, 2018 in California.

Alton Police Department Deputy Chief Marcos Pulido confirmed the department was part of the investigation, but deferred comment to federal authorities.

Alvarez-Carvajal attempted to have evidence obtained through federal wiretaps suppressed. But Chief U.S. District Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel denied that motion in an order dated Oct. 31, 2019.

Four other defendants in the case are also awaiting sentencing.

The case was investigated as part of the work of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karelia S. Rajagopal and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Boyce.
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Tuesday revoked the suspension of a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer by the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh.

The CAT also directed that the state government repatriate Jasti Krishna Kishore to his parent department of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), where he was working as additional commissioner of Income Tax department till 2014, before he joined the Andhra Pradesh government on deputation as chief executive officer of Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB).

However, the tribunal allowed the government to continue the ongoing investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau and Crime Investigation Department of the police into the pending charges against him.

The 1990-batch IRS officer was stripped of his post in the APEDB, soon after Jagan Reddy took over as the chief minister in May 2019. He had not been given any posting nor was he paid any salary.

The Jagan government also turned down his request for cancellation of his deputation and repatriation to his parent department, where he was expecting promotion as principal commissioner of Income Tax.

In the second week of December, the Jagan Reddy government placed Kishore under suspension on charges of committing grave financial irregularities during his tenure as CEO in the APEDB.

Several cases were filed against him under various sections of IPC including Section 420 (cheating) and 120 (b) (criminal breach of trust) and the investigation was handed over to the ACB and CID. The government also asked him not to leave Vijayawada till further orders.

Subsequently, Kishore moved the CAT challenging the government orders and got a stay on his suspension. The court also asked the government to clear his salary backlog.

The Telugu Desam Party alleged that Jagan had targeted Kishore only out of personal grudge. A TDP leader familiar with the development said the IRS officer was one among the Income Tax department officials, who investigated the alleged disproportionate assets case against Jagan.

He assessed the income of Jagati Publications owned by Jagan and levied a hefty Rs 122.78 crore tax in 2010. He also pointed out irregularities in the alleged share of Jagati Publications shares at premium rates, the TDP leader said.

TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu alleged that the Jagan government was hounding the IRS officer only because the latter had worked during his regime. He argued that there was no scope for irregularities in the APEDB as it was a body meant to only attract investments into Andhra Pradesh but had no powers to allot lands or grant incentives to the investors.

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The Irish Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) has been unable to access 53.6 million in Bitcoin that was seized earlier this week as the suspected drug dealer lost the private keys.

Coin Rivet reported on the case on Wednesday  the largest seizure of assets in Ireland in more than 25 years.

While it was initially being hailed as a success it is now being described as a nightmarish situation for Irish authorities, who fear that the Bitcoin fortune will be irretrievable.

According to the Irish Times, Clifton Collins bought most of his Bitcoin in 2011 and 2012 using cash he made by growing cannabis, which the Irish High Court ruled as the proceeds of crimes.

In early 2017 Collins had more than 6,000 Bitcoin in one account although he feared it was easy for hackers to eventually steal.

This led him to dispersing his Bitcoin holdings across 12 new accounts before storing the private keys in hard-to-find places.

He printed the private keys onto sheets of A4 paper before hiding them in an aluminium case containing his fishing rods.

But when he was arrested for cannabis offences in 2017 his house was cleared by his landlord, with many of his items being taken to a waste disposal centre in Galway.

Workers at the dump backed up Collins claims by stating that they remember seeing fishing equipment before confirming that it was probably sent to Germany or China to be incinerated.

The alleged dealer had admitted to coming to terms with the losses, blaming his own stupidity.

While the large haul of Bitcoin remains unrecoverable, police did manage to seize a smaller amount of Bitcoin that was accessible as well as 100,000 in cash.

The total amount of accessible Bitcoin that has been seized is worth 1.5 million which still marks a significant haul for the Criminal Assets Bureau.

The post Suspected drug dealer loses private keys to seized 53.6m Bitcoin appeared first on Coin Rivet.
Three years ago, in February 2017, Vladimir Kara-Murza was rushed to a Moscow hospital, where he suffered massive organ failure, forcing doctors to place the Russian democracy activist on a ventilator, put him in a coma, and purify his blood. The symptoms were almost identical to what had happened to him two years earlier.

Days after the second incident, Kara-Murzas wife took some of the blood drawn by the Moscow doctors and flew to the United States. Upon arrival, she was met by FBI agents who took the samples for testing. After U.S. senators, including Marco Rubio (Republican-Florida) and Roger Wicker (Republican-Mississippi), took a specific interest in the case, FBI officials assured another senator, the late John McCain (Republican-Arizona), that some sort of result would be forthcoming.

But the FBI then reversed itself, according to congressional officials, and declined to release any results: not to Kara-Murza, and not to Congress.

In a lawsuit being filed February 25 in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., Kara-Murza is suing the FBI to obtain records and results of the tests, charging that the U.S. Justice Department -- of which the FBI is a part -- was improperly withholding them.

Vladimir wants to know what they found, Kara-Murzas lawyer, Stephen Rademaker, told RFE/RL. Any person who was poisoned wants to know what hes been poisoned with.

The FBI did not immediately respond to inquiries from RFE/RL, which has also sought access to the agencys toxicology records and other test results.

In a statement to RFE/RL, Kara-Murza said he believed the FBI records, if they prove he was poisoned, would help protect him against any future threats in Russia.

I need this not out of curiosity or for vain interest, but as a small measure of protection against repeated attacks on my life, Kara-Murza said.

The lawsuit comes amid heightened concern about the activities of Russian security and intelligence agencies and their operations in Europe and elsewhere. The poisonings of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in England in March 2018 and a Bulgarian arms dealer in Sofia in 2015 focused attention on a unit operated by Russian military intelligence that is known for conducting sabotage, surveillance, and even assassinations outside of Russia. Aleksandr Litvinenko, a former Russian intelligence officer, died in London in 2006 after being poisoned with a highly radioactive isotope.

Within Russia, there are prominent cases of Russians who have fallen ill under suspicious circumstances -- for example, Yury Shchekochikhin, a journalist and liberal lawmaker who died in 2003 following a weeks-long battle with a mysterious illness that his colleagues believe was a deliberate poisoning.

The legal action in U.S. federal court also coincides with the fifth anniversary of the killing of Kara-Murzas friend and political mentor, Boris Nemtsov, who was gunned down on a bridge near the Kremlin walls on February 27, 2015. A former deputy prime minister, Nemtsov was an outspoken opponent of President Vladimir Putin and was seen by many opposition activists as a potential rival to Putin.

Five men from Russias Chechnya region have been convicted and sentenced to prison for Nemtsovs killing, but his relatives and supporters say justice will not be done until those behind the slaying are identified and prosecuted.

In the months immediately following Nemtsovs killing, Kara-Murza, who owns a home in the United States, continued traveling to Russia, and elsewhere, to raise awareness of the Nemtsov murder investigation and to highlight growing repression in Russia under Putin.

Kara-Murza had also worked for Open Russia, a group funded by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the exiled oil tycoon who is also a vocal Kremlin opponent. In the United States, he also actively lobbied for a law passed in 2012 called the Magnitsky Act, which sanctioned Russians deemed to have committed human rights abuses or financial crimes.

On February 2, 2017, Kara-Murza fell ill in Moscow and was hospitalized in an intensive-care unit for weeks.

Doctors initially concluded that he had suffered acute "toxicity from an unspecified substance, according to his wife, Yevgenia.

In the previous medical emergency, in 2015, his Russian doctors had suggested he may have suffered unintentional poisoning due to a widely prescribed antidepressant he had taken, though Kara-Murza and his supporters dismissed that possibility. Independent toxicologists also called this scenario highly unlikely. He stopped taking the antidepressant after the 2015 incident.

On February 19, 2017, nearly three weeks after the second hospitalization, Yevgenia brought blood samples to the United States for testing, and also provided samples to laboratories in France and Israel.

Neither of the laboratories that tested the samples on behalf of Kara-Murza reached a definite conclusion on the cause of his illness.

Kara-Murza says he believes his illness was caused by a sophisticated toxin that would likely only be accessible to security agencies. In July 2018, he formally requested records and results of the FBIs analysis under U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act laws.

The FBI, according to the lawsuit, has stated it has relevant records, but also has denied his request to release the records more quickly, despite provisions in the law that allow for expedited processing in cases involving threats to the life or physical safety of an individual.

In Russia, Kara-Murzas lawyer, Vadim Prokhorov, has filed appeals to the Investigative Committee  the equivalent of the FBI -- for help in investigating both incidents. To date, there has been no response, he told RFE/RL.

Just as so many of my colleagues in the pro-democracy opposition, I know the risks our work involves, Kara-Murza said. We do what we do because we believe in our cause -- and in our country. And if there is any way of defending ourselves, it is with transparency and truth. This is what my lawsuit aims to achieve.

The offices of U.S. senators Rubio or Wicker did not respond to queries about the lawsuit or whether they had concerns about the FBIs administrative procedures.
By Online Desk

India and the US finalized two defence deals worth USD 3 billion and signed three MoUs, including one in the energy sector, in New Delhi on Tuesday. In a joint press briefing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump confirmed that the deals had been finalised, adding that both countries were focusing on a comprehensive trade deal.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the defence cooperation between the two countries is reflective of the rising strategic partnership between India and the US.



The deals will involve the procurement of 24 MH-60 Romeo helicopters worth $2.6 billion to be inducted to the Indian Navy and 6 AH-64 E Apache helicopters worth $800 million to the Indian Army.



The deals will be signed under the US Foreign Military Sale Programme, entailing the long term manufacture of 123 multirole helicopters in India.

ALSO READ | Trump India visit LIVE

The AH-64 E which is also called the flying tank is considered the most advanced combat helicopter in the world. These twin turboshaft attack helicopters are capable of detecting moving targets and engaging with them.



The real show stopper is the induction of 24 MH-60R helicopters that will be a major boost to the Indian Navy which is looking forward to replacing its ageing Westland Sea King fleet.



The MH-60R choppers, manufactured by the Lockheed Martin group, are used by the US Navy primarily for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface operations for near-shore areas, combat search and rescue missions, and naval gunfire and logistics support.



These multirole choppers are equipped with Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and Mark 54 anti-submarine torpedoes which will help the Indian Navy ward off interferences in the ocean, hunt for enemy submarines and carry out precision surveillance.
The Rouhani government is obliged to present its economic record to the public but refuses to do so with the excuse that it does not want to give the Americans and the international institutions a clear image of Irans economy.

However, President Hassan Rouhani understands that in the age of communications and observation by reputable international organizations, there are few economic subjects of which he can conceal important parts.

Some time ago, the head of the Budget and Planning Organization of Iran, Mohamad Bagher Nobakht, implicitly referring to the regimes economic downturn and said:

We are in a position that we must explain while there is not the opportunity for us to explain, I cannot provide you with a clear report on the treasury, oil and other issues, and we must grit our teeth and with a smiling face to run the country. (Darayan, 30 August 2019)

Giving false and misleading statistics, instead of presenting a true record, has become a common factional and political issue in the rule of the mullahs. These statistics pursue two goals at the same time  to soothe the discontent of the people on the high rates of unemployment and high costs, and the growing problems of life, on the other hand, to keep the rival factions silent.

Giving confusing statistics, the task of Rouhanis ministers

The Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade announced the growth of cement, ceramic and tile production by 31% in the country. (Jahan Sanat, 11 February 2020)

The same newspaper challenges the statistics of this Minister, and said, how it is possible that construction activities in the country dramatically decreased, but the production of building materials is growing, a question that was not answered by the Minister concerned.

Another example relates to statistics provided by Irans Minister of Economy, Farhad Dejpasand, who said: The agricultural sector is at the peak of economic growth, and the industrial sector also shows about 7.5 percent growth in the nine months of 2019 and other signs show positive economic growth in the non-oil sector. (Ba-Eghtesad, 10 February 2020)

At the same time, in its latest report on Irans economic growth rate (first nine months of 2019), the Statistical Center reveal his intentions of the Minister of Economy and provided new statistics showing that Irans economic growth rate during this period, with counting the oil income 7.6 percent and without oil it has been declared zero. In fact, the economy has shrunk by almost eight percent due to the regimes inability to sell oil and investing in this sector.

The statistics center reported GDP, with the counting of the oil income in the first nine months of 2019, at around 500 trillion tomans, this number was 541 trillion tomans in 2018, which shows the shrinking of the Iranian economy. (Etemad, 10 February 2020)

With regard to the growth of the non-oil economy that Hassan Rouhani has referred to several times in the past few months and has called it a positive result of his governments performance, one should only refer to statistics from the Ministry of Economy showing that, for example, car production for the second year has declined dramatically, and car production has fallen by about one-third in the first nine months of 2019 compared to 2018 and by nearly half compared to the same period in 2017.

In another example, the central bank in its latest report on the amount of non-oil exports, by appropriating the sale of gas condensates has estimated that the countrys non-oil exports amounted to $31.9 billion, but despite such confusing statistics, non-oil exports declined by 5.3 percent compared to the same period in 2018.

The budget deficit and the decline in Irans foreign exchange reserves from the IMFs perspective

According to the latest report by the Central Bank in the first nine months of 2018, budget revenues for the same nine-month period were only 61 percent, suggesting a sharp deficit of up to $ 37 billion.

According to the International Monetary Fund, Irans total exports will decline to $ 55.5 billion in 2020, at half the volume of exports in 2018, and Iran will face a negative trade balance for the first time.

The latest report by the Central Bank does not say about the number of foreign exchange reserves, but Irans currency reserves have fallen sharply due to international sanctions and will fall from $ 117 billion in 2018 to $ 73 billion in the spring of 2020. (Deutsche Welle, 13 February 2020)

However, these figures are also very optimistic because the forecast is true if the economic data for the next few years is almost constant, but with the pressure of sanctions and corruption on government bodies, the economic situation is deteriorating not year-on-year, but day by day.

That is, the governments budget deficit alone in 2020 will be $37 billion. Much of this deficit, which belongs to the salaries of employees, workers, and retirees, leaves no room for the Rouhani government to make up for it either by removing it from foreign exchange reserves or by taxing more people and not government holdings.

Although it is important to note that the amount of foreign exchange reserves in a country is confidential and will be not made public, but given the harsh conditions the regime faces, it can be assumed that the foreign exchange reserves are much lower than those provided by the IFI.

Achieving a new record in losing Irans share in the world economy

Irans economy has been severely affected by the war, ineffective governance, corruption, non-transparent economy and sanctions since the beginning of the revolution.

Iranian officials have always spoken of the post-revolution economic boom and growth of the countrys economy, which at first glance does not look bad, but in comparison with the average growth of the world economy, it is very low.

For example, according to IMF statistics, Irans GDP will be $463 billion this year, more than five times the size that it was at the time of Irans revolution in 1979, but the average economic growth in the world at that time was much higher than Irans. While Irans share of the world economy was about two percent in 1980, it will fall below one percent in 2020.

It is not only in terms of losing the global economic share that the regime has managed to set new records on Irans economic collapse and set a negative record; Transparency Internationals 2019 CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX report ranked Iran in 146th position in terms of government corruption from 180 countries.

Read more:

Irans Economy Has More Capital Depreciation Than It Has Capital Production
SAN CARLOS, Calif., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global diabetes nonprofit Beyond Type 1 announced today a new collaboration with the National Association of School Nurses to raise awareness for the warning signs of Type 1 diabetes (T1D). With this new collaboration, awareness materials will be distributed to tens of thousands of school nurses nationally in the United States.

Type 1 diabetes onset can happen to anyone at any age. A delayed Type 1 diabetes diagnosis can lead to a life-threatening condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Knowing the warning signs of Type 1 diabetes can save lives. At diagnosis of Type 1, approximately 42% of patients are in DKA in the United States. This is a solvable problem and an issue where awareness can make a meaningful difference.

The early warning signs of T1D are simple: excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss. When these symptoms are recognized, a blood glucose reading from a finger prick helps with a diagnosis, and can be made safely and quickly by a healthcare provider. When missed, DKA often occurs. Symptoms of DKA include fruity-smelling breath, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, extreme lethargy, drowsiness, rapid or heavy breathing, confusion and unconsciousness, and can lead to death. Please contact your healthcare provider if you're experiencing any of these symptoms.

Since 2016, Beyond Type 1 has been working with volunteer advocates to place the warning signs of Type 1 diabetes in front of as many people as possible through strategic partnerships, volunteer advocates, and mass media opportunities. To date, the warning signs have been distributed in 25 states and U.S. territories to over 28,000 pediatrician's offices, reaching millions of patients annually through partnerships with state chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The collaboration with school nurses is part of the latest phase of this ongoing effort. Additionally, Beyond Type 1 advocates will be enhancing efforts in ten target states: Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas. State-specific expansion will be broad, led by advocates sharing the warning signs in schools, gyms, healthcare provider offices, workplaces and more.

The latest phase of the campaign is supported by a grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

Explore more about the campaign + how to get involved here .

Learn more about Beyond Type 1 at beyondtype1.org

About Beyond Type 1

Beyond Type 1 is a nonprofit organization changing what it means to live with diabetes. By leveraging the power of social media and technology, Beyond Type 1 empowers people to both live well today and supports a better tomorrow. Through peer support programs, global campaigns, and digital platforms, Beyond Type 1 is uniting the global diabetes community across both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, helping to change what it means to live with chronic illness.

About NASN

The National Association of School Nurses is a non-profit specialty nursing organization, representing school nurses exclusively. NASN has more than 17,000 members and 50 affiliates, including the District of Columbia and overseas school nurses. The mission of NASN is to optimize student health and learning by advancing the practice of school nursing. Our vision is that all students are healthy, safe, and ready to learn. Please visit us on the Web at www.nasn.org.

Media Contact

Dana Howe, Beyond Type 1

[email protected]

SOURCE Beyond Type 1

Related Links

http://beyondtype1.org


Air New Zealand has released a prototype of a new economy section that will allow long-haul travellers to lie down in bunk beds.

The Economy Skynest was the result of three years of research into customer needs - with many pointing out the need for a personal space where passengers can fully relax and sleep on long-haul flights.

The Skynest is a secluded section with six bunk beds - three on each side - that are two metres long and 58 centimetres wide at the shoulder area.

Popular airline Air New Zealand have released their prototype that allows travellers in economy class to lay down

Each bed comes with a full-sized pillow, sheets and a blanket.

There are also ear plugs, lighting designed to promote sleep and privacy curtains.

The airline is also looking to including a USB outlet, more ventilation and a reading light separate to the main connection.

Air New Zealand said they are yet to determine the costs of running the product, or how many beds would be on commercial flights.

Greg Foran, the airline's CEO, said: 'Here you get the opportunity to lie down and take a bit of a nap.

'It was one of the most innovative things that i have seen in an airline in all the years I've been travelling.'

The Skynest has six beds that are two metres in length and 58 centimetres in width at the shoulder area

There are also ear plugs, lighting designed to promote sleeping conditions and privacy curtains

Air New Zealand surveyed more than 200 customers before filing their patent on Tuesday.

The airline's chief marketing officer Mike Tod said it was looking at introducing the Skynest on services such as Auckland-New York which takes close to 18 hours.

Kerry Reeves, Head of Airline Programmes, said there were challenges in developing the Skynest with regulators but it is a 'prize worth chasing'.

Air New Zealand will determine whether to operate the Economy Skynest in 2021 after assessing a year's worth of Auckland to New York flights.
Exxon Mobil is slashing 1,900 jobs from its U.S. workforce as the pandemic saps demand for fuel.

Stephanie Cargile, a spokeswoman for Exxon Mobil in Baton Rouge, said the reductions "are primarily in Houston, and primarily office-based."
NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Blood Banking and Blood Products market worldwide is projected to grow by US$12.7 Billion, driven by a compounded growth of 4.2%. Blood Components & Plasma Products, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 4.4%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$40.6 Billion by the year 2025, Blood Components & Plasma Products will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05442546/?utm_source=PRN

- Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 3.3% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$455.3 Million to the region's size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over US$368.6 Million worth of projected demand in the region will come from Rest of Europe markets. In Japan, Blood Components & Plasma Products will reach a market size of US$2.4 Billion by the close of the analysis period. As the world's second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 6.7% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$3.6 Billion in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders. Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies.



- Competitors identified in this market include, among others,

AABB

America's Blood Centers

American Red Cross

Canadian Blood Services

Japan Red Cross Society

New York Blood Center

Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation

Abbott Laboratories

Beckman Coulter , Inc.

, Inc. Becton

Dickinson and Company

bioMerieux SA

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

Cerus Corporation

CSL Behring LLC

Fresenius Kabi AG

Fenwal Inc.

Haemonetics Corporation

Immucor Inc.

Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc.

MacoPharma SA

Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc.

Terumo BCT Inc.

Beijing Tiantan Biological Products Co., Ltd.

Bharat Serums and Vaccines Ltd.

Bio Products Laboratory Ltd.

Biotest AG

China Biologic Products, Inc.

Grifols S.A.

Huanlan Biological Engineering Inc.

Kedrion S.p.A.

LFB Group

Octapharma AG

Shanghai RAAS Blood Products Co., Ltd.

Shire plc

Sichuan Yuanda Shuyang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.









Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05442546/?utm_source=PRN



I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE



II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



1. MARKET OVERVIEW



Blood Transfusion Worldwide: A Kaleidoscope of Stark Contrasts

Recent Market Activity

Safety and Availability: The Core Issues

Current and Future Analysis

World Blood Components and Plasma Market Analysis

Table 1: Equipment, Blood Tests & Other Consumables (Product

Type) Market Sales Breakdown by Region/Country in Percentage:

2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Red Blood Cells - A Key Blood Component

Global Competitor Market Shares

Blood Banking and Blood Products Competitor Market Share

Scenario Worldwide (in %): 2020 & 2029





2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS



AABB (USA)

America?s Blood Centers (USA)

American Red Cross (USA)

Canadian Blood Services (Canada)

Japan Red Cross Society (Japan)

New York Blood Center (USA)

Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation (The Netherlands)

Abbott Laboratories (USA)

Beckman Coulter, Inc. (USA)

Becton, Dickinson and Company (USA)

bioMerieux SA (France)

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (USA)

Cerus Corporation (USA)

CSL Behring LLC (USA)

Fresenius Kabi AG (Germany)

Fenwal Inc. (USA)

Haemonetics Corporation (USA)

Immucor Inc. (USA)

Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc. (Japan)

MacoPharma SA (France)

Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc. (USA)

Terumo BCT Inc. (USA)

Beijing Tiantan Biological Products Co., Ltd. (China)

Bharat Serums and Vaccines Ltd. (India)

Bio Products Laboratory Ltd. (UK)

Biotest AG (Germany)

China Biologic Products, Inc. (China)

Grifols S.A. (Spain)

Huanlan Biological Engineering Inc. (China)

Kedrion S.p.A. (Italy)

LFB Group (France)

Octapharma AG (Switzerland)

Shanghai RAAS Blood Products Co., Ltd. (China)

Shire plc (Ireland)

Sichuan Yuanda Shuyang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.(China)





3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS



Blood Plasma Demand Exceeds Supply: Self-Sufficiency is the New

Mantra

Growing Affinity for Home Care Unlocks Opportunities for Home-

based IVIg Therapy

Higher Plasma Center Numbers Key to Secure Raw Material Supply,

Costs Remain A Bottleneck

Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy Market Scales New Heights

Evolution in Plasma Collection Technologies - Current

Achievements and Way Ahead

Demand for Plasma Derivatives on the Rise

Immunoglobulins to See Steady Growth

Increasing Awareness of PID and CIPD Disorders to Drive IVIg

Market

Indications Addressed by Major Global IVIg Manufacturers

Growing Affinity for Home Care Unlocks Opportunities for Home-

based IVIg Therapy

New Indications to Drive Demand for Albumin

Low Awareness Affects Apha1 Market

Recombinants Lead FVIII Market

Rising Incidence of Cancer Drives Demand for Apheresis Systems

PrIME: An Innovative High-Yield Process to Address Supply Dearth

Present State of Plasma Fractionating Industry

Plasma Fractionation Industry Concentrated in Developed Countries

PrIME Tackles the Issue of Currently Unprocessable Plasma

Industry Grappling with Blood Safety & Availability Issues

New Infections - A Continuous Threat

Synthetic Substitutes to Bridge Demand-Supply Gap in Blood

Autologous Transfusion Gearing up for High Growth

Out-of-Hospital Transfusions: An Emerging Phenomenon

Automation Tapping into Blood Market

Automation in Pre-Transfusion Diagnostics

Penetration of Automated Equipment in the Plasma Market

The Red Blood Cell Collection Opportunity

Robots in Blood Banking

Blood Banks Switching from Manual to Automated Cooler Validation

Automated Systems in Cancer

Automated Blood Processing Systems in Open Heart Surgeries

Cerus? INTERCEPT Blood System Set to See Wider Adoption

Pooling: Economical HIV Testing

Ballooning Global Geriatric Populace to Drive Demand for Blood

Products

Improving Healthcare Expenditure to Foster Growth of Blood

Banking Sector





4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE



Table 2: Blood Banking and Blood Products Global Market

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country:

2018-2025

Table 3: Blood Banking and Blood Products Global Retrospective

Market Scenario in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 4: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market Share Shift

across Key Geographies Worldwide: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 5: Blood Components & Plasma Products (Product Type)

World Market by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025

Table 6: Blood Components & Plasma Products (Product Type)

Historic Market Analysis by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009

to 2017

Table 7: Blood Components & Plasma Products (Product Type)

Market Share Breakdown of Worldwide Sales by Region/Country:

2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 8: Equipment, Blood Tests & Other Consumables (Product

Type) Potential Growth Markets Worldwide in US$ Million: 2018

to 2025

Table 9: Equipment, Blood Tests & Other Consumables (Product

Type) Historic Market Perspective by Region/Country in US$

Million: 2009 to 2017





III. MARKET ANALYSIS



GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS

UNITED STATES

Market Facts & Figures

US Blood Banking and Blood Products Market Share (in %) by

Company: 2020 & 2025

Market Analytics

Table 10: United States Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Product Type: 2018

to 2025

Table 11: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in the United

States by Product Type: A Historic Review in US$ Million for

2009-2017

Table 12: United States Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Share Breakdown by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

CANADA

Table 13: Canadian Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type: 2018 to

2025

Table 14: Canadian Blood Banking and Blood Products Historic

Market Review by Product Type in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 15: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in Canada:

Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Product Type for 2009,

2019, and 2025

JAPAN

Table 16: Japanese Market for Blood Banking and Blood Products:

Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by

Product Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 17: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in Japan:

Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type for the

Period 2009-2017

Table 18: Japanese Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Share Analysis by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

CHINA

Table 19: Chinese Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Growth Prospects in US$ Million by Product Type for the Period

2018-2025

Table 20: Blood Banking and Blood Products Historic Market

Analysis in China in US$ Million by Product Type: 2009-2017

Table 21: Chinese Blood Banking and Blood Products Market by

Product Type: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and

2025

EUROPE

Market Facts & Figures

European Blood Banking and Blood Products Market: Competitor

Market Share Scenario (in %) for 2020 & 2025

Market Analytics

Table 22: European Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Demand Scenario in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 23: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in Europe:

A Historic Market Perspective in US$ Million by Region/Country

for the Period 2009-2017

Table 24: European Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Share Shift by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 25: European Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type:

2018-2025

Table 26: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in Europe in

US$ Million by Product Type: A Historic Review for the Period

2009-2017

Table 27: European Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Share Breakdown by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

FRANCE

Table 28: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in France by

Product Type: Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 29: French Blood Banking and Blood Products Historic

Market Scenario in US$ Million by Product Type: 2009-2017

Table 30: French Blood Banking and Blood Products Market Share

Analysis by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

GERMANY

Table 31: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in Germany:

Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by

Product Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 32: German Blood Banking and Blood Products Historic

Market Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type: 2009-2017

Table 33: German Blood Banking and Blood Products Market Share

Breakdown by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ITALY

Table 34: Italian Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Growth Prospects in US$ Million by Product Type for the Period

2018-2025

Table 35: Blood Banking and Blood Products Historic Market

Analysis in Italy in US$ Million by Product Type: 2009-2017

Table 36: Italian Blood Banking and Blood Products Market by

Product Type: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and

2025

UNITED KINGDOM

Table 37: United Kingdom Market for Blood Banking and Blood

Products: Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Million

by Product Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 38: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in the United

Kingdom: Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type

for the Period 2009-2017

Table 39: United Kingdom Blood Banking and Blood Products

Market Share Analysis by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

SPAIN

Table 40: Spanish Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type: 2018 to

2025

Table 41: Spanish Blood Banking and Blood Products Historic

Market Review by Product Type in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 42: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in Spain:

Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Product Type for 2009,

2019, and 2025

RUSSIA

Table 43: Russian Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Product Type: 2018

to 2025

Table 44: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in Russia by

Product Type: A Historic Review in US$ Million for 2009-2017

Table 45: Russian Blood Banking and Blood Products Market Share

Breakdown by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF EUROPE

Table 46: Rest of Europe Blood Banking and Blood Products

Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type:

2018-2025

Table 47: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in Rest of

Europe in US$ Million by Product Type: A Historic Review for

the Period 2009-2017

Table 48: Rest of Europe Blood Banking and Blood Products

Market Share Breakdown by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 49: Asia-Pacific Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country:

2018-2025

Table 50: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in

Asia-Pacific: Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by

Region/Country for the Period 2009-2017

Table 51: Asia-Pacific Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Share Analysis by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 52: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in

Asia-Pacific by Product Type: Estimates and Projections in US$

Million for the Period 2018-2025

Table 53: Asia-Pacific Blood Banking and Blood Products

Historic Market Scenario in US$ Million by Product Type:

2009-2017

Table 54: Asia-Pacific Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Share Analysis by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

AUSTRALIA

Table 55: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in Australia:

Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by

Product Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 56: Australian Blood Banking and Blood Products Historic

Market Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type: 2009-2017

Table 57: Australian Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Share Breakdown by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

INDIA

Table 58: Indian Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type: 2018 to

2025

Table 59: Indian Blood Banking and Blood Products Historic

Market Review by Product Type in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 60: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in India:

Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Product Type for 2009,

2019, and 2025

SOUTH KOREA

Table 61: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in South

Korea: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million

by Product Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 62: South Korean Blood Banking and Blood Products

Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type:

2009-2017

Table 63: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market Share

Distribution in South Korea by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS

2025

REST OF ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 64: Rest of Asia-Pacific Market for Blood Banking and

Blood Products: Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$

Million by Product Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 65: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in Rest of

Asia-Pacific: Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Product

Type for the Period 2009-2017

Table 66: Rest of Asia-Pacific Blood Banking and Blood Products

Market Share Analysis by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

LATIN AMERICA

Table 67: Latin American Blood Banking and Blood Products

Market Trends by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018-2025

Table 68: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in Latin

America in US$ Million by Region/Country: A Historic

Perspective for the Period 2009-2017

Table 69: Latin American Blood Banking and Blood Products

Market Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Region/Country: 2009,

2019, and 2025

Table 70: Latin American Blood Banking and Blood Products

Market Growth Prospects in US$ Million by Product Type for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 71: Blood Banking and Blood Products Historic Market

Analysis in Latin America in US$ Million by Product Type:

2009-2017

Table 72: Latin American Blood Banking and Blood Products

Market by Product Type: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for

2009, 2019, and 2025

ARGENTINA

Table 73: Argentinean Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type:

2018-2025

Table 74: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in Argentina

in US$ Million by Product Type: A Historic Review for the

Period 2009-2017

Table 75: Argentinean Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Share Breakdown by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

BRAZIL

Table 76: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in Brazil by

Product Type: Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 77: Brazilian Blood Banking and Blood Products Historic

Market Scenario in US$ Million by Product Type: 2009-2017

Table 78: Brazilian Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Share Analysis by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

MEXICO

Table 79: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in Mexico:

Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by

Product Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 80: Mexican Blood Banking and Blood Products Historic

Market Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type: 2009-2017

Table 81: Mexican Blood Banking and Blood Products Market Share

Breakdown by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF LATIN AMERICA

Table 82: Rest of Latin America Blood Banking and Blood

Products Market Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by

Product Type: 2018 to 2025

Table 83: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in Rest of

Latin America by Product Type: A Historic Review in US$ Million

for 2009-2017

Table 84: Rest of Latin America Blood Banking and Blood

Products Market Share Breakdown by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019

VS 2025

MIDDLE EAST

Table 85: The Middle East Blood Banking and Blood Products

Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by

Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 86: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in the Middle

East by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 87: The Middle East Blood Banking and Blood Products

Market Share Breakdown by Region/Country: 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 88: The Middle East Blood Banking and Blood Products

Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type:

2018 to 2025

Table 89: The Middle East Blood Banking and Blood Products

Historic Market by Product Type in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 90: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in the Middle

East: Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Product Type for

2009, 2019, and 2025

IRAN

Table 91: Iranian Market for Blood Banking and Blood Products:

Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by

Product Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 92: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in Iran:

Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type for the

Period 2009-2017

Table 93: Iranian Blood Banking and Blood Products Market Share

Analysis by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ISRAEL

Table 94: Israeli Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type:

2018-2025

Table 95: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in Israel in

US$ Million by Product Type: A Historic Review for the Period

2009-2017

Table 96: Israeli Blood Banking and Blood Products Market Share

Breakdown by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

SAUDI ARABIA

Table 97: Saudi Arabian Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Growth Prospects in US$ Million by Product Type for the Period

2018-2025

Table 98: Blood Banking and Blood Products Historic Market

Analysis in Saudi Arabia in US$ Million by Product Type:

2009-2017

Table 99: Saudi Arabian Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

by Product Type: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019,

and 2025

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Table 100: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in the

United Arab Emirates: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis

in US$ Million by Product Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 101: United Arab Emirates Blood Banking and Blood

Products Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by Product

Type: 2009-2017

Table 102: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market Share

Distribution in United Arab Emirates by Product Type: 2009 VS

2019 VS 2025

REST OF MIDDLE EAST

Table 103: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in Rest of

Middle East: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$

Million by Product Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 104: Rest of Middle East Blood Banking and Blood Products

Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type:

2009-2017

Table 105: Rest of Middle East Blood Banking and Blood Products

Market Share Breakdown by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

AFRICA

Table 106: African Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Product Type: 2018

to 2025

Table 107: Blood Banking and Blood Products Market in Africa by

Product Type: A Historic Review in US$ Million for 2009-2017

Table 108: African Blood Banking and Blood Products Market

Share Breakdown by Product Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025





IV. COMPETITION



Total Companies Profiled: 209

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05442546/?utm_source=PRN



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SOURCE Reportlinker

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[February 25, 2020] Kickstart Your ERP Software Selection at ESS (Enterprise Software Showcase), the Nation's Leading Event for ERP Selection May 12 in Orlando, FL

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Godlan, a specialist in manufacturing ERP software (Infor CloudSuiteTM Industrial - SyteLine), CPQ (Configure Price Quote), industrial automation (IIoT), and an Infor Gold Channel Partner, announced today that it has been selected to partner with the ESS (Enterprise Software Showcase) event hosted by TEC (Technology Evaluation Centers). ESS (Enterprise Software Showcase) is the nation's leading ERP software evaluation event for manufacturers and distributors planning to evaluate enterprise software. Godlan will provide logistical support of the event alongside TEC as well as additional promotion. ESS (Enterprise Software Showcase) will take place May 12-14, 2020, in Orlando, Florida, at the Renaissance Orlando Airport Hotel. Designed specifically for companies in need of an ERP system, the Enterprise Software Showcase (ESS) provides manufacturers and distributors with a winning strategy to make the best choices for their ERP selection and implementation. "We are thrilled to have Godlan join us in this new adventure. We've moderated many similar events in the U.S. and the rest of the world, so we know Gdlan's deep industry expertise in manufacturing will be an added value to attendees," said TEC's Director of Selection Services, Michael Thaw.



Created by Technology Evaluation Centers (TEC) and hosted by TEC and Godlan, Inc., ESS is a learning hub for businesses to gain an understanding and learn best practices on how to make more informed, smarter software decisions. ESS for ERP offers a comprehensive, content-rich agenda that includes scripted demonstrations of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software products from top vendors such as SAP, Sage, Infor, IFS, and Microsoft Dynamics 365. The event also offers presentations that provide essential insights into the enterprise software selection process. About Technology Evaluation Centers (TEC)

Technology Evaluation Centers (TEC) is the world's leading provider of software selection resources, services, and research materials, helping organizations evaluate and select the best enterprise software for their needs. With its advanced decision-making process and software selection experts, TEC reduces the time, cost, and risk associated with enterprise software selection. Over 3.5 million subscribers leverage TEC's extensive research and detailed information on more than 1,000 leading software solutions across all major application areas. TEC is recognized as an industry-leading software selection advisory firm offering resources and services both online and onsite. For more information, visit www.technologyevaluation.com. About Godlan, Inc. Godlan is a leading manufacturing performance specialist that has been implementing integrated technology solutions since 1984. As an approved Infor Gold Channel Partner with a focus on manufacturing performance, Godlan supports the implementation of world-class processes and best practices throughout discrete manufacturing organizations. For more information about Godlan or Infor CloudSuite (SyteLine) ERP manufacturing software demos, call 586-464-4400, visit godlan.com or follow us on Twitter @Godlan_Inc. For more information: Stephanne Marsh

Godlan, Inc.

586-464-4400

[email protected] Related Files Infor CSI Brochure.pdf Related Images ess-enterprise-software-showcase.jpg

ESS (Enterprise Software Showcase) ERP for Manufacturers

ESS (Enterprise Software Showcase) ERP for Manufacturers is May 12-14, 2020, Orlando, Florida Related Links Godlan Overview Video View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kickstart-your-erp-software-selection-at-ess-enterprise-software-showcase-the-nations-leading-event-for-erp-selection-may-12-in-orlando-fl-301010765.html SOURCE Godlan, Inc.

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Now that a Portland jury has found Jeremy Christian guilty of the first-degree murders of two men on a MAX train, many people might assume that  given the horrific nature of his crimes -- hell end up serving the rest of his life with the possibility of never being released.

Think again.

A growing chorus of legal experts say they believe theres a glaring flaw in Oregons new first-degree murder law that effectively eliminates the possibility that Christian and other convicted murderers in the future will end up serving true life prison terms.

Critics say the new law, passed last summer as Senate Bill 1013, is unconstitutional and vague. They say it disregards two landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions that invalidate the procedure laid out in the law for handing down true life sentences.

In a flurry of paperwork filed Monday, Christians lawyers told Multnomah County Circuit Judge Cheryl Albrecht that given the laws constitutional problems, her only remaining option under the law is to sentence Christian to life in prison with the possibility of release after 30 years.

Other lawyers representing first-degree murder defendants across Oregon are beginning to make similar arguments, as the first batch of accused killers head toward trials since the law took effect Sept. 29.

Defense attorneys arent the only ones pointing to a problem.

In the prosecution community, theres considerable concern, said former prosecutor Josh Marquis. Itd be naive to say this is some idle speculation.

Marquis retired as Clatsop County district attorney about a year ago after handling about 25 aggravated murder cases during his 35-year career as prosecutor.

He said few lawyers are aware of the impact that the Supreme Court cases -- Apprendi v. New Jersey in 2000 and Blakely v. Washington in 2004 -- have on true life in Oregon.

Of 13,000 lawyers in Oregon, maybe 1,500 of them practice criminal law and maybe 125 of them have tried a capital case, Marquis said.

A jury box (Beth Nakamura, The Oregonian/OregonLive)

The Supreme Court rulings require a jury, not a judge, to decide on an elevated prison sentence, such as true life, critics of SB 1013 say. And criteria  or specific questions asked of jurors -- must be laid out by the law before the jury can hand down the harsher sentence, they say.

The problem with Oregons law is that it grants sentencing powers solely to a judge and doesnt include sentencing criteria.

As a result, retired Multnomah County prosecutor Norm Frink believes theres a high degree of probability that the Oregon Supreme Court will overturn true life sentences for defendants convicted of first-degree murder.

That means the only defendants who can be sentenced to true life -- or for that matter, receive the death penalty -- are those convicted of aggravated murder under the significantly revised section of SB 1013.

People need to know what is happening, said Frink, who handled dozens of aggravated murder cases during his prosecutorial career.

SB 1013 significantly narrowed the definition of aggravated murder, to include only defendants who have killed two or more people as an act of organized terrorism; killed a child younger than 14; killed another person while locked up in jail or prison for a previous murder; or killed a police, correctional or probation officer as part of a premeditated plan.

***

The uncertainty over how the law will affect the first batch of defendants found guilty of first-degree murder is beginning to play out in courtrooms across the state.

In Christians case, Albrecht could go along with the law as stated and decide to sentence him to true life by simply giving what the law calls the reasons she thinks he deserves that sentence.

Judge Cheryl Albrecht (Beth Nakamura, The Oregonian/OregonLive)

But Albrecht appears to recognize a problem with this because, after jurors found Christian guilty last week, she asked them to return to court Tuesday and Wednesday. She plans to ask them questions about Christian that will help her decide his sentence.

In court filings Monday, prosecutors came up with their own suggestions for what she should ask, including:

Is there a high probability that Christian cant be rehabilitated? Were his crimes fueled by unreasonable racial and religious bias? Has Christian shown remorse for plunging the knife into the necks of the three men?

Tuesday, defense attorney Greg Scholl cautioned the judge that she is stepping onto shaky ground.

Theres nothing in the statute that says this is how they (jurors) are supposed to do it," Scholl said.

Were operating in a new and somewhat gray area," prosecutor Jeff Howes responded. Howes said just because SB 1013 doesnt lay out a process for the judge and jury, that doesnt mean the judge cant create a process that is constitutional.

Regardless of how Albrecht handles this, Christians attorneys are likely to appeal whatever process she devises.

The judge also has the option of sentencing Christian to two life terms with 30-year minimums -- one for the death of Taliesin Namkai-Meche, 23, and one for the death of Ricky Best, 53, for a total of 60 years.

Plus, she could sentence him to another 7  years for the attempted first-degree murder of Micah Fletcher and maybe years more for some of the nine other guilty verdicts on counts ranging from hate crimes to assault.

That means Christian -- who was 35 at the time he attacked the men on a MAX train after a hate-filled rant on May 26, 2017 -- would be more than 100 years old when hes eligible for release if he lives that long.

But theres no guarantee that Christian wouldnt get out before a term of 67  years or longer minimum term expires.

The Oregon Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision allows people sentenced to two consecutive life terms with 30-year minimums to be eligible to be considered for release after 30 years, not 60 years.

If hes considered for release after 30 years, Christian would still need to prove that hes rehabilitated and is no longer a danger to others. With the evidence that came out about Christian during his trial, that could be a high bar for him to reach.

Christians sentencing date hasnt been scheduled yet.

***

Outside Portland, other Oregon judges also have been grappling with what to do.

In November, a Hillsboro jury found Martin Allen Johnson guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of a 15-year-old girl whose body washed up on the banks of the Columbia River more than 20 years ago.

Martin Allen Johnson was convicted in November 2019 of first-degree murder for the 1998 death of 15-year-old Heather Fraser.

Using suggestions from prosecutors, Washington County Circuit Judge Eric Butterfield also came up with a list of questions for jurors. Among them was whether the defendant knew he was preying on a particularly vulnerable person and if prior punishment in the criminal justice system had deterred him from reoffending.

Butterfield then sentenced Johnson to true life. Johnson is appealing.

In Linn County, Brenton Wade Richmond faces a double murder trial in the shooting deaths of his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend in her home in 2019.

Brenton Wade Richmond is accused of murdering two. (Linn County Sheriff's Office)

Wades defense attorney asked Circuit Judge David Delsman to prevent the prosecution from seeking true life because of what they see as the first-degree murder laws many constitutional issues.

Lawyers for the Oregon Department of Justice, however, have weighed in, saying in court filings that the true life option is legal and valid.

***

Sen. Floyd Prozanski, the Eugene Democrat who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he wasnt aware of the deep concerns some critics have over the validity of the laws true life option for first-degree murder. His committee backed the bill.

Democrat Sen. Floyd Prozanski helped pass Senate Bill 1013. (Dave Killen/The Oregonian)

Well, thats their opinion, their interpretation, said Prozanski, who is a municipal prosecutor and handles misdemeanor cases. I had not heard that. And I will say that the law is pretty clear... The intent was not to do away with whats called true life.

The highly contentious bill has been mired in controversy almost from the time of its passage  with confusion about whether it would apply to old aggravated murder cases in which defendants past sentences had been successfully appealed.

Marquis, the retired Clatsop County prosecutor, said he believes at least one of the bills backers -- former Oregon House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson  misled colleagues into believing the law wasnt retroactive so she could get the bill passed, then revealed that the bill actually did apply to past cases.

The bill, I believe, was deliberately engineered to create these mistakes, Marquis said.

Frink, the retired Multnomah County prosecutor, calls them poison pills meant to secretly repeal true life in first-degree murder cases.

Jennifer Williamson is a lawyer and shes smart enough so the question is: Why did she do it? When she knew, Frink said.

Williamson didnt respond to phone calls or email messages over the past 10 days seeking her response.

Former Rep. Jennifer Williamson, D-Portland, at the Oregon Capitol in January 2019. (Beth Nakamura, The Oregonian/OregonLive)

Williamson has been embroiled in another controversy lately  dropping out of the Oregon secretary of state race earlier this month just before Willamette Week published a story questioning her use of campaign money to pay for international trips.

Rep. Mark Hass, D-Beaverton, also said he voted for the bill with the understanding that first-degree murder defendants could get true life.

This discussion never came up, said Hass, who also is running for secretary of state.

If it turns out the true-life portion of the law is unconstitutional, Hass said state lawmakers can rewrite the law. But not this year  the short session is already under way and ends in less than two weeks.

Defense attorneys, however, will most certainly argue that any rewritten law doesnt apply to their clients who have already been sentenced.

In other words, they believe courts cant retroactively apply true life sentences for Christian or others if theyve been sentenced to true life but their sentences were overturned as unconstitutional.

-- Aimee Green

agreen@oregonian.com

o_aimee

Keep up with key trial events and takeaways by signing up for The Oregonian/OregonLives Jeremy Christian trial newsletter at oregonlive.com/newsletters.

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The men and women of Australias military deserve our respect both for their bravery and their decency. They risk their lives on distant battlegrounds, from Syria to East Timor, fighting against terrorism and keeping the peace. But at the same time as they serve Australias interests abroad, they must strive to prevent needless loss of life. Nowhere has the task proved more difficult than in Afghanistan, where the war against an elusive enemy embedded in a civilian population is now approaching its third decade.

An Australian Special Operations Task Group soldier in Afghanistan in 2010.

Broadly, we should be confident Australias troops perform admirably. However, it is now clear the actions of some soldiers should prompt deep introspection about what we expect of our troops.

In his annual report tabled in Parliament yesterday, the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force, James Gaynor, has revealed worrying new information about a long-running inquiry into allegations of misconduct by some members of the Special Operations Task Group in Afghanistan from 2005 to 2016.

The inquiry by former NSW Appeal Court judge Paul Brereton is close to completing its report and this weeks update by the Inspector-General has given crucial new details on what it is likely to contain.
Nine persons lost their lives during violence over Citizenship (Amendment) Act in Northeast Delhi on Tuesday. Tensions continued for the third day in Northeast Delhi district, with protesters torching shops, vehicles and houses. Reportedly, some journalists have also been injured. Additional security forces have been deployed in the violence-hit areas -- Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Chandbagh, Khureji Khas, Bhajanpura, Kardampuri, Gokulpuri, and Khajuri.

Check all the timely updates on BusinessToday.In blog

06:40 PM: Amit Shah, in a letter to wife of Ratan Lal, Head Constable of Delhi Police, said I express grief & deep condolences on untimely death of your husband."

Ratan Lal died during clashes over CAA protests in Northeast Delhi, yesterday.

Home Minister Amit Shah writes a letter to wife of Delhi Police Head Constable Ratan Lal, who died during clashes over Citizenship Amendment Act in Northeast Delhi, yesterday. He writes, "I express grief & deep condolences on untimely death of your husband". #DelhiViolencepic.twitter.com/ZP3nJT9Fzn - ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

06:30 PM: "We are deeply disturbed and concerned. I do not know what is going on. We the people of India want peace. I appeal to everyone to maintain peace," West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

06:20 PM: "11 FIRs have been registered and some people have been detained. The situation is under control and the police is responding promptly to any untoward incident," adds Randhawa.

06:10 PM: Cops say 186 people have been injured in violence

56 police personnel injured, head constable Rattan Lal has lost his life and 130 civilians injured, says Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa.

06:00 PM: US President Donald Trump, about the violence in northeast Delhi, said, "PM Modi wants people to have religious freedom. We talked about it (CAA) for very long. As for the particular attack (in northeast Delhi), we didn't really talk about it."

05:50 PM: Special CP Satish Golcha says, "We will be detaining the miscreants and taking legal action against them. People should cooperate with us to maintain peace... Else we deploy more forces," reports ANI.

05:45 PM: Around 1,000 armed battalions of Delhi cops are being deployed in violence-hit areas of the national capital, reports PTI. This was conveyed at a top brass meeting gathered by Home Minister Amit Shah. The meeting was attended by Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, among others.

05:35 PM: Delhi Police didn't have adequat forces to control the violence, conveys Commissioner of Police Amulya Patnaik during his meeting with the MHA.

05:25 PM: Cops and RAF conduct flag-march in Khajuri Khaas area

Delhi: Police and Rapid Action Force are conducting flag-march in Khajuri Khaas area pic.twitter.com/jErabkAolB - ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

05:20 PM: Section 144 imposed in parts of North East Delhi

Delhi: The latest visuals from violence-hit Bhajanpura area; Section 144 has been imposed in parts of North East Delhi #DelhiViolencepic.twitter.com/nJjptDzUf7 - ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

05:10 PM: Death toll rises to nine. So far, 135 people have been injured in Delhi violence.

05:00 PM: National capital's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia visit GTB hospital to meet those who have been injured in the violence.

04:00 PM: Authorities at the GTB Hospital have confirmed that 31 people admitted for treatment.

11.55 AM: Fire at some shops has not been doused yet, after the tyre market in Gokulpuri area was set ablaze yesterday.

Delhi: Fire at some shops has not been doused yet, after the tyre market in Gokulpuri area was set ablaze yesterday. #NortheastDelhipic.twitter.com/HtQ3wqcyOa  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

11.53 AM: Kejriwal said MLAs of the affected areas informed him that there's severe shortage of police force and police couldn't take action till they received orders from the top. "I have also asked District Magistrates to take out peace march with police in these areas," he added.

11.53 AM: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has appealed to all Delhites to maintain peace. "We are worried about the violence in Northeast Delhi. Several policemen and civilians were injured and some lost their lives. Several houses were set ablaze and shops were damaged. It is very unfortunate," he said.

11.57 AM: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal says the border areas' MLAs claimed people were coming from outside of Delhi. "There is a need to seal the borders and do preventive arrests."

10.57 AM: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will hold a meeting with Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and various representatives of political parties at 12 pm today.

10.53 AM: The Delhi Police revises death in Northeast Delhi violence yesterday: "A total of 7 deaths were reported -- 1 police personnel and 6 civilians lost their lives."

10.30 AM: MLAs and officials arrive at the residence of CM Arvind Kejriwal. The CM has called an urgent meeting of MLAs and officials of the violence-hit areas of Delhi.

Delhi: MLAs and officials arrive at the residence of CM Arvind Kejriwal. The CM has called an urgent meeting of MLAs and officials of the violence-hit areas of Delhi. pic.twitter.com/NKcELXsoKG  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

9.59 AM: Mumbai has been kept on alert after recent incidents of violence in Delhi. State Police has taken precautionary measures to maintain law & order. Other than the designated area in Azad Maidan, no permission will be granted for any other protest in Mumbai.

9.50 AM: The Rapid Action Force (RAF) team has fond two empty bullet shells in Brahampuri area. A total of five people have already been killed in clashes between pro and anti-CAA protesters in northeast Delhi.

Delhi: Two empty bullet shells found by Rapid Action Force (RAF) team from Brahampuri area. More details awaited. #NortheastDelhihttps://t.co/3jM0wPUP0xpic.twitter.com/oOLspfKgrT  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

9.39 AM: Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel hold flag march in Brahampuri area, after stone-pelting incident between two groups in the area, today morning.

Delhi: Police & Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel hold flag march in Brahampuri area, after stone-pelting incident between two groups in the area, today morning. #NortheastDelhipic.twitter.com/NkjrSrmBPD  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

9.28 AM: On Tuesday morning, five motorcycles were set on fire in Delhi's Maujpur area amid fresh incidents of stone-pelting.

9.18 AM: Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviews the prevailing law and order situation amid the clashes in northeast Delhi; directs officials to restore normalcy at the earliest.

9.00 AM: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said that he's worried over the prevailing situation in certain parts of Delhi. Appealing people of Delhi to make all efforts to restore peace, Kejriwal urged everyone to shun violence. He also called an urgent meeting of the MLAs of all parties along with senior officials in wake of clashes over anti and pro-CAA protesters.

Am v worried abt prevailing situation in certain parts of Del. All of us together shud make all efforts to restore peace in our city. I again urge everyone to shun violence



Am meeting all MLAs (of all parties) of affected areas along wid senior officials in a while  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 25, 2020

8.30 AM: Section 144 has been imposed in Northeast Delhi as pro and anti-CAA protesters are still out on the streets. The Delhi Police has also urged the citizens to maintain calm and refrain from believing in rumours. Joint Police Commissioner (Eastern Range), Alok Kumar told the media that police forces have been strategically deployed in Jaffrabad, Seelampur, Maujpur, Gautampuri, Bhajanpura, Chand Bagh, Mustafabad, Wazirabad and Shiv Vihar, where there is a possibility of disturbance.

Also Read: Delhi Violence: One head constable killed; forces deployed to stop clashes

8.23 AM: Schools will remain closed in North east district today, says Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

Schools shal remain closed in North east district. https://t.co/0Ksg1HnR0m  Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) February 24, 2020

8.18 AM: Bhim Army Chief, Chandra Shekhar Azad writes a letter to Lieutenant Governor of Delhi: "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."

8.17 AM: Congress President Sonia Gandhi: "I appeal to the people of Delhi to maintain communal harmony and defeat the ill intentions of forces trying to divide India on the basis of religion."

Also Read: Anti-CAA protest: Stone hurled at Kapil Mishra's rally in Maujpur, police lob tear gas

8.10 AM: Delhi Traffic Police: From forenoon till around 4 pm on 25th February, traffic is likely to remain heavy in the areas of Moti Bagh, Chanakyapuri, India Gate, areas around ITO, Delhi Gate and the adjoining areas of Central and New Delhi. In the evening, traffic is likely to remain heavy in Chanakyapuri, RML roundabout, Dhaula Kuan, Delhi Cantonment, Delhi-Gurgaon Road (NH-48) & adjoining areas. Necessary traffic diversions as per ground situation may also be enforced.

Also read: Delhi Violence: Entry, exit gates of 5 Pink Line metro stations closed

8.00 AM: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation: Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar will continue to remain closed. Trains are being terminated at Welcome metro station.
WASHINGTON  The Democratic National Committee is adding Texas to its list of 2020 targets just days before Super Tuesday, vowing to invest heavily in the state to help Democratic candidates up and down the ballot in the latest sign that the national party is taking Texas more seriously than it has in years.

That investment includes getting more organizers on the ground as the party also seeks to take control of the Texas House from Republicans who have held it for a generation. While the DNC is focused on helping the Democratic presidential nominee beat President Donald Trump, the party also says it will help with the race against Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, as well as efforts to win the nine seats needed to flip the state House.

Know the candidates: Houston Chronicle 2020 primary election voter guide; San Antonio Express-News 2020 primary election voter guide

The DNC is making historic, early investments to build strong, multiple pathways for our eventual nominee to win in November and support Democrats at every level of the ballot, DNC Chair Tom Perez said in a statement. By investing in these states now, were putting the Trump campaign on defense, helping ensure our eventual nominee will be able grow their general election operation as quickly as possible, and helping make sure that every Democrat running for office has the infrastructure they need to be successful.

The news comes as national money is pouring into Texas to support Democratic candidates, part of a new reality for the party that has long struggled for relevance here.

Youve got a whole new era of Democratic politics in Texas, and you have a national party making a commitment to lift Texas up, said Manny Garcia, executive director of the Texas Democratic Party. This is a significant investment from the DNC to make sure we lay the groundwork necessary for a competitive and strong battleground presidential race.

The party would not disclose how much the national arm plans to pour into Texas and said it will roll out more detailed plans for the funding in the coming weeks. But the investment will include additional staff and organizers.

Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

Without Texas, Donald Trump cannot win the election, Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilbero Hinojosa said in a statement. The Texas Democratic Party is committed to building the largest coordinated campaign in Texas history to take him down.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee opened an office in Austin this year, as well, and Senate Democrats waded into the crowded race to challenge Cornyn early, signaling to donors to send their money to former Air Force pilot MJ Hegar.

Democratic presidential hopefuls have spent more time in Texas this year than in recent memory as the state looms on Super Tuesday, with 228 pledged delegates up for grabs. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren will be in San Antonio on Thursday, while former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg will be in Houston. Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg is scheduling a stop in Dallas on Sunday, as well. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders held four rallies in Texsa over the weekend, including stops in Houston and San Antonio.

President Donald Trump and the Republican Party have also ramped up their activity in Texas ahead of the March 3 primary. Trump has already visited Texas 14 times in his first term.

At a mid-October rally with Donald Trump Jr., Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale told supporters that the campaigns mission is to boost its number of volunteers from 2016 with an emphasis on neighborhood team leaders who can be more influential in 2020 than television ads or mailers.

For subscribers: GOP candidate wins in bellwether Fort Bend runoff election

This fight is fought neighborhood by neighborhood, Parscale said.

He said data from 2018 shows that turnout for Trump was 15 percent higher in neighborhoods with designated team leaders. In 2016, the Trump campaign had about 3,000 neighborhood team leaders nationwide. In 2020, Parscale said he wants 90,000 of them.

The DNC is broke with a nonexistent data program, Samantha Cotten, a spokeswoman for Trumps reelection campaign, said. Good luck trying to spread a socialist agenda into Republican strongholds like Texas with no money and no ground infrastructure.

Staff writer Jeremy Wallace contributed reporting from Austin.

ben.wermund@chron.com
Long before the days of swiping left on a phone app, or posting carefully crafted profiles on paid websites, people sought love in the back pages of a newspaper.

Cassandra Rundle was one of them.

In the summer of 1984, the shy and twice-divorced Rundle took out two personal ads in the now-defunct Colorado Spring Sun, seeking one good man.

When she and her two children were slain in their home on Valentines Day 1985, police wondered if the ads were what introduced her to the killer.

The second episode of Colorado Cold Case, which airs Monday, looks at the earliest days of the police investigation into the unsolved murders of Rundle, 12-year-old Detrick Sturm and 10-year-old Melanie Sturm.

In the nearly four decades since the slayings, online dating has replaced personal ads and transformed the landscape when it comes to finding love or a casual hookup. Over the years, online dating has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry.

Despite increasing popularity, dating apps and sites have brought horror to unsuspecting victims around the world, including Colorado Springs, where a man looking for a casual encounter on a gay dating app in 2015 ended up fatally stabbed.

In this episode, reported and produced by The Gazette, listeners will hear from a police detective, a Match.com spokeswoman and professional matchmaker from Colorado Springs as they talk about the risks in online dating and safety tips.

A biology professor at University of Colorado-Colorado Springs shares her unique view on how online romance can go bad, including her personal link to Boston's so-called "Craigslist Killer," who allegedly stalked his victims in the personal sections on the free classified site, killing one woman and robbing two others.

Seasons 1-4 of Colorado Cold Case can be found on iTunes, Spotify and wherever else you get your podcasts. Listen here: https://gazette.com/colorado-cold-case.
Sweden: 1,500 percent documented rise in gender dysphoria in teens since 2008

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Mirroring other Western countries, the nation of Sweden has documented an astronomical rise in gender dysphoria diagnoses among teenagers in the past decade.

Between 2008 and 2018, the rate of teen girls ages 13 to 17 being diagnosed with gender dysphoria grew by approximately 1,500 percent, a report from Sweden's Board of Health and Welfare said, according to The Guardian.

The report follows backlash, which began in March, in the Scandinavian country after the government, heavily swayed by the Swedish LGBT group RFSL, proposed a new law in the fall of 2018 that would have lowered the age for medicalized gender treatments, scrapped parental consent, and permitted kids as young as 12 to change their gender on legal documents.

In October, an investigative news program highlighted Stockholms Karolinska University hospital, which received criticism for performing double mastectomies on trans-identifying females as young as 14.

As has been the case in other gender identity medical outfits around the world, the Karolinska Institute was accused of hurriedly steering young people through the experimental practices without giving due consideration to other contributing factors to gender dysphoria and relevant psychiatric comorbidities. The Swedish center pushed back, asserting it was carefully reviewing every case.

Amid the allegations of the rushing of patients through the gender change process, including one from the father of a trans-identified person  who died by suicide four years after surgery  authorities ordered the Board of Health and Welfare to reassess the issue just before legislation that would lower the age for such treatments was about to be debated in parliament.

In December, the Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment reported that "there was very little research either into the reason for the increase or the risks or benefits of hormone treatment and surgery," The Guardian reported.

"The recent report from the Board of Health and Welfare also found that 32.4 percent of 13 to 17-year-olds with gender dysphoria registered at birth as women also had diagnoses for anxiety disorder, 28.9 percent had depression, 19.4 percent had ADHD, and 15.2 percent had autism."

Heightened state scrutiny to the medicalization of gender is presently appearing around the world.

In the U.S., the state of South Dakota recently attempted to ban such practices for minors but the legislation died in a Senate committee. A handful of other states have either introduced or are presently considering such measures.

Meanwhile, the lone gender clinic in the U.K., the Tavistock Centre, is facing a legal challenge as former psychological professionals from the National Health Service's Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) and a detransitioner assert the facility did not adequately explain the risks of the hormonal interventions to suffering people and that the drugs being used lack a robust evidence base.

In June, the trans-critical website TransgenderTrend documented that "in 2009/10 there were 32 girls and 40 boys referred to Tavistock GIDS. In 2011/12 the sex ratio reversed and the gap between boys and girls has continued to widen year on year ever since. The total number of referrals for 2018/19 in England alone is 624 boys and 1,740 girls. In less than a decade there has been a 1,460% increase in referrals of boys and a staggering 5,337% increase in girls."

The National Health Service announced earlier this month that it was both revisiting its rules around allowing children to take the experimental drugs without parental approval in addition to setting in motion a task force of doctors to scrutinize puberty-blocking agents being prescribed to gender-confused youth.
(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"
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(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Its long been obvious that one of Germanys formerly grand centrist parties, the left-leaning SPD, is in decline. But another and even grander centrist bloc, the Christian Democratic Union of Chancellor Angela Merkel, had hopes of avoiding that fate, by defending the hallowed middle ground in politics. Suddenly, though, Germany is having a full-bore political crisis of centrism.

Since Feb. 10, when the CDUs chairwoman, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, shocked the country by announcing that she would stand down, the party has descended into a leadership vacuum and an uncharacteristic bout of internal chaos. It now plans to clarify its succession at a party conference on April 25. Until then, the position as the CDUs next boss and the partys future direction are both up for grabs. So is German, and even European, politics, because the partys new leader is also likely to be its candidate to succeed Merkel as chancellor.

Germans are already punishing the CDU for the turmoil. On Feb. 23 only about 11% of voters in Hamburg plumped for the party, its lowest share in that city state since World War II. That follows setbacks in other big cities. Though still the strongest bloc nationally, the CDU is gradually becoming a redoubt of the rural and the old.

More dramatically, the Christian Democrats in the eastern state of Thuringia are rebelling against their partys national leaders, as they contemplate whether and how to collaborate with the post-communist Left Party, which the CDU officially considers a pariah. That follows the Thuringian CDUs disastrous decision on Feb. 5  also in defiance of party bosses  to cooperate tacitly with the extreme-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), triggering a constitutional crisis in the state.

Are the CDUs travails in Thuringia a harbinger of things to come in national politics, and perhaps in Europe as a whole? The ruckus may be another warning that centrism as such is losing its viability or even meaning.

Story continues

The CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the CSU, were born in the immediate post-war years as Christian unions in the sense that they mopped up former parties of the Weimar era that appealed narrowly either to Catholics or Protestants. That early preponderance of clergy gave the bloc its color in the spectrum of German parties: black, like the robes.

From the start, the Union, as the pair are jointly known, amalgamated a range of interest groups, from cultural conservatives to Catholic quasi-socialists and free-market liberals. Unlike the red SPD, which appealed to blue-collar workers, black was always a big tent. Its pitch was never ideological purity but tight discipline among the rank and file and pragmatism in government. Tellingly, its winning slogan in 1957 was no experiments. Pundits dubbed it a club for the election of chancellors  the CDU has fielded five of post-war Germanys eight leaders.

One of the Unions roles was to be a bulwark against extremism. Franz Josef Strauss, a grandee of the CSU, famously said that there must never be a legitimate party to the Unions right. Nowadays, of course, there is, after the AfD entered the federal parliament in 2017. One theory is that Merkel bears part of the responsibility for its rise. As CDU leader from 2000 to 2018 and chancellor since 2005, she tried to modernize her party by nudging it further left, thus alienating conservatives and leaving the right flank open.

The stated policy of the CDU and CSU has always been to shun and shame the AfD. According to a so-called horseshoe theory that regards far left and far right as equally dangerous, the Union also spurns the Left, which descends from the Communist Party of the former East Germany, contains radical factions, disdains NATO and coddles Russia.

The problems with horseshoe shaming have become clear in Thuringia. The state is unusual in that the centrist parties are already in a minority in the local legislature, and the AfD and Left together have the majority. By simple arithmetic, as long as all centrist parties rule out any cooperation, even of the passive sort, with both the far left and right, there will be stalemate. Who can and will govern Thuringia remains unclear.

Another question is whether the symmetrical treatment of far left and right still makes political sense. After a racist murder rampage by a right-winger, some of the AfDs political rhetoric increasingly sounds like demagogic arson. By contrast, the Left may be unsavory, but in eastern Germany its part of the woodwork. Its Thuringian candidate, Bodo Ramelow, is pragmatic and harmless, almost bourgeois.

Nonetheless, the candidates now jostling to lead the CDU fear touching anybody on left or right. If we start voting for Mr. Ramelow as premier, then we cant represent the center anymore, says Norbert Roettgen, one of the runners to replace Kramp-Karrenbauer.

The sentiment is understandable. And yet, German and European politics keeps fragmenting. Sooner or later this will necessitate new, strange, even awkward forms of parliamentary collaboration  not to betray but to save democracy. Otherwise centrists may find that treading the middle of an ever busier road will get them run over.

(This column was updated to correct the date of the CDU conference in April.)

To contact the author of this story: Andreas Kluth at akluth1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Boxell at jboxell@bloomberg.net

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Andreas Kluth is a member of Bloomberg's editorial board. He was previously editor in chief of Handelsblatt Global and a writer for the Economist.

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

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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said he is very happy that US first lady Melania Trump will attend happiness class at a city school on Tuesday.

.@FLOTUS will attend happiness class in our school today. Great day for our teachers, students and Delhiites. For centuries, India has taught spirituality to the world. Am happy that she will take back the msg of happiness from our school, Kejriwal said on Twitter.

.@FLOTUS will attend happiness class in our school today. Great day for our teachers, students and Delhiites. For centuries, India has taught spirituality to the world. Am happy that she will take back the msg of happiness from our school  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 25, 2020

Melania Trump will visit a Delhi government school in Moti Bagh where she will review the Happiness Class programme implemented by the government of the capital city.

Also Watch | Metro Matters | Delhis Happiness lessons: Making studies a source of joy

After meeting the children, she is expected to attend happiness classes started by the Delhi government. As a part of the programme, students are taught various activities including meditation, street plays, basic obedience aimed at reducing anxiety and stress levels among children.

According to the sources, Melania Trump will reach the school in south Delhi around noon and spend over an hour there. The US first lady will visit the school solo.

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 Trumps school visit.

Sisodia, who is also Delhis 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.

Melania and her husband, US President Donald Trump, are in India on a 36-hour visit. On the second day of the visit today, Trump will get a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan at 10:00 am followed by a visit to Rajghat where he will pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. The US President will lay the wreath at Rajghat and observe one-minute of silence. He will also be signing the Visitors Book.

Trump will hold restricted and then delegation-level bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House. This will be followed by the signing of agreements between the two sides and press statement by both the leaders.

In the evening, the US President will hold a presser before he drives to Rashtrapati Bhavan again for meeting President Ram Nath Kovind. He will aslo attaend the state banquet hosted in his honour by President Kovind.

Later, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will also call on the visiting US President.

Trump is scheduled to depart at 10:00 pm tonight.
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.
ATLANTA, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, American Trucking Associations' Technology & Maintenance Council honored four professionals with its highest honor  the Silver Spark Plug at the opening of TMC's 2020 Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition.

"The Silver Spark Plug is given to individuals who demonstrate professional excellence in commercial vehicle maintenance as our industry's highest honor," said TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell. "Our winners this year represent the highest level expertise and ability in our industry and we are pleased to recognize them with this award."

This year's honorees are: Stacy Earnhardt, director of asset management and specialized operations at Best Specialized; Fred Kelley, director of engineering at Prestolite, General Cable; Peter Savage, director of quality and implementations at Clarke Power Services; and Paul Wion, northeast market fleet manager at Charter Communications.

"TMC's members keep our industry moving, and these four individuals represent the highest level of the professional excellence the council strives for," said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. "More than half of the 7.3 million people employed by the trucking industry do something other than drive a truck, and without them, our nation's goods don't get to our stores, hospitals and factories. These individuals are examples to all of us in this industry and they're to be commended."

"The Silver Spark Plug honors those who TMC members who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to improving our industry," said TMC General Chairman Kenneth Calhoun, fleet optimization manager for Altec Industries. "I congratulate all these winners for their achievement and commitment to the ideals of TMC."

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

Related Links

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With six Supreme Court judges infected with H1N1 or swine flu, Chief Justice of India S A Bobde Tuesday held a meeting with judges of the apex court and suggested that lawyers and court staffs be vaccinated to curb the infection.

The issue came to the fore after Justice D Y Chandrachud told lawyers in his court room that judges of the apex court held a meeting with the CJI to take remedial steps to check the spread of swine flu.

Justice Chandrachud said it was decided in the meeting to make H1N1 vaccination available for advocates for inoculation.

The CJI also held a meeting with office bearers of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) to discuss the issue.

Due to the meeting, the bench led by CJI Bobde sat late, at around 11.08 am, as against the scheduled time of 10.30 AM.

The Supreme Court administration spoke to the concerned officials of the Health Ministry for taking immediate measures.

Apex court sources said that the CJI asked the secretary general to speak to the ministry for augmenting the CGHS facility and setting up of temporary dispensary to attend to lawyers requiring medical facilities for H1N1.

Sources said that measures have already been taken for augmenting CGHS facilities and setting up of the dispensary.

"The CJI and judges were very concerned for taking affective measures. They want immunization and sensitisation procedure to be carried out in the apex court," sources said.

SCBA secretary Ashok Arora said, "the CJI had called the meeting in the morning and discussed with us the seriousness of H1N1".

He said on Wednesday, there will be a awareness meet about the spread of H1N1 in the apex court and vaccination drive will commence from Thursday.

Further, Arora said the health ministry officials are going to visit the Supreme Court on Wednesday to take effective measures including augmenting the CGHS dispensary in the campus.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday slammed the Congress party for blaming the BJP for the incidents of violence in the capital.

Chief Minister Khattar, who was talking to media persons, said: "It is unfortunate that this statement by the Congress comes at a time when US President Donald Trump is on his visit to India."

"It seems that it is a mischievous attempt," he said, adding that the government would get the entire issue investigated and whosoever committed this act of hatred would not be spared.

At least 10 people have lost their lives in the acts of violence which rocked north-east Delhi in the past two days, leaving nearly 200 injured.

Chief Minister Khattar also said that he got an invitation for the dinner at Rashtrapati Bhavan, which is being hosted for Trump.

"It is a good opportunity. I have accepted the invitation. It will provide me with an opportunity to interact with different dignitaries and also apprise them about Haryana," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Robert Iger attends the premiere of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" in Los Angeles

By Helen Coster

(Reuters) - Walt Disney Co's <DIS.N> Robert Iger will step down as chief executive officer, handing the reins to Disney Parks head Bob Chapek, the company said on Tuesday, ending years of speculation on who will take over Hollywood's most powerful studio.

Iger is still keeping a significant role at the company. He will assume the post of executive chairman and direct the company's "creative endeavors" until his contract ends on Dec. 31, 2021, Disney said.

"The company has gotten larger and more complex just in the recent 12 months," Iger said on a conference call on Tuesday, citing its purchase of 21st Century Fox and launch of direct-to-consumer services such as Disney+ last year.

"I felt that with the asset bases in place and with our strategy deployed I should be spending as much time as possible on the creative side of our business."

Chapek, who will be the seventh CEO in the company's nearly 100-year history, has most recently served as the chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. Chapek will report to Iger.

Analysts on the call, as well as two former employees Reuters interviewed, questioned if Chapek had sufficient experience in the entertainment business. The former employees expressed surprise that Kevin Mayer, chairman of Direct-to-Consumer and International, was not named to the top job, especially after the roll-out of the Disney+ streaming service, which attracted 10 million sign-ups in its first day.

In Chapek's new role, which is effective immediately, the company said he will directly oversee all of Disney's business segments and corporate functions.

As chairman of Disney theme parks division, Chapek oversaw Disney's largest business segment, including the opening of Disney's first theme park and resort in mainland China and the creation of the new Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge lands at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. He joined Disney in 1993.

Story continues

Chapek "did a great job of growing the home entertainment business and built consumer products at Disney," said Michael Wolf, founder of Activate, a technology and strategy consulting firm. "Bob is one of the best managers in the entertainment business. And not a lot of people know about him."

Iger, who has been CEO since 2005, built up the Disney brand through a series of acquisitions, including animation studio Pixar in 2006, Marvel in 2009, and "Star Wars" franchise owner Lucasfilm in 2012. His biggest bet was the purchase of 21st Century Fox, a deal that was instrumental in launching Disney+.

Shares of Disney, which ended the day down 3.6%, fell another 2.2% after the markets closed.

(Reporting by Helen Coster and Kenneth Li in New York; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
Senior US Democratic officials said President Donald Trumps administration should immediately impose sanctions on Russia after US intelligence told Congress members that Russia seems to be trying to influence the US presidential election this year, Reuters reported.

Senators Chuck Schumer, Bob Menendez, and Sherrod Brown wrote to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, demanding the US presidential administration immediately and decisively impose sanctions on the Russian government and Russians involved in the election.

A source in Congress earlier reported intelligence officials told lawmakers that Russia seems to be conducting disinformation and propaganda campaigns to help both Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and Trump, who will be seeking re-election in November.

The Kremlin rejected any allegations on interference.

The US law allows the administration to propose sanctions on Moscow responding to the interference with the election. Congress passed the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act in 2017 partly in response to the intelligence communitys finding that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to boost Trumps chances of winning the White House. Moscow denies allegation, while Trump has repeatedly questioned the finding.

The White House, the State Department and the US Treasury did not respond to a request for comment.
In a crowded meeting room at the Lincolnwood Library, the groups leader, Caren Ex, was revving up to show some 25 attendees how to research about 61 candidates for judgeships. These range from the Illinois Supreme Court to the Cook County Circuit Court, listed in lengthy fashion on the Democratic ballot for the March 17 primary. No Republicans slated judicial candidates.
Morocco is firmly determined combat torture in all its forms and is strongly committed to the Convention against Torture Initiative (CTI), said on Monday in Geneva Moroccan minister for Human Rights Mustapha Ramid.

Speaking at a meeting held on the sidelines of the 43rd session the UN Human Rights Council, the minister said the countrys constitution prohibits torture and makes it a punishable criminal offense.

Confessions obtained under torture are considered null and void, added the minister, noting that the law includes several measures to prevent abuses or ill-treatments during the investigation and trial.

He also explained the mechanisms set up by the North African Kingdom for the prevention of torture under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against torture, and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT).

In 2014, Morocco, Denmark, Chile, Indonesia and Ghana launched the Convention against Torture Initiative (CTI), to mark the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention against Torture. The CTI is an innovative inter-governmental and cross-regional initiative seeking to prevent torture and other ill-treatment in the world.

In his opening address at the Human Rights Councils 43rd session convening in Geneva, UN secretary general Antonio Guterres called for action to reduce inequalities, advance sustainable development, prevent conflict, alleviate human suffering and build a just and equitable world.

High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said human rights agenda offers guidance to resolve grievances and conflicts, improve lives, and create greater justice, more peace and more sustainable development.
A Tanzanian judge ordered the release of investigative journalist Erick Kabendera, who was jailed last year after he criticized President John Magufuli.

After he was freed Monday, Kabendera thanked Tanzanians for the support they have shown him since his arrest.

Kabendera said his mother died while he was in jail, and his relatives couldn't afford the burial, but Tanzanians donated money to make sure that his mother was buried properly.

Kabendera has written for several British newspapers, including the Guardian and the Economist. Following his arrest July 29, his lawyer, Jebra Kambole, said his client faced charges in connection with an article in the Economist, in which Kabendera said Magufuli was "bulldozing" Tanzania's freedom.

Kabendera was charged with tax evasion, money laundering, and organized crime  all non-bailable offenses.

Human rights groups and media freedom advocates called on Tanzania to release Kabendera and ease the pressure the government has put on journalists since Magufuli took office in 2015.

Under terms of a plea deal, Kabendera pleaded guilty to the tax evasion and money laundering charges, while the other charges were dropped.

He will be fined more than $100,000.

Kambole said his client has already paid a portion of the fine, while the remainder should be paid within six months.


Premier Doug Ford is privately seething over his governments flawed licence plates, Progressive Conservatives confide.

Ford has not held a news conference since it emerged last week that the new double-blue plates give off glare under certain lighting conditions and cannot be read easily at night.

But Tory insiders, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal deliberations, said the premier, who ran his familys label-printing company before entering politics, is livid.

Hes very unhappy with this, a Tory said as the governing party held its Tuesday caucus meeting.

Its totally embarrassing, said another insider.

At the partys convention in Niagara Falls last weekend, the faulty plates were widely mocked by PC delegates.

Some fingers are being pointed at Government and Consumer Minister Lisa Thompson, who ducked reporters Tuesday after the legislatures daily question period.

Ford, who sits one row ahead of Thompson in the house, turned to closely watch his embattled minister answer opposition questions on the fiasco.

You have to understand, this is something really important to him and he understands why people are up in arms, said a third Tory.

Another Conservative wryly noted the premier is a populist who listens to Newstalk 1010 and AM640 where hosts and callers are having a field day with the imbroglio.

Last Wednesday, in his only public comment so far on the debacle, Ford told Global News Travis Dhanraj that you almost had to peel me off the roof after first hearing about the visibility issues.

That was the premiers reaction last September after the Star revealed his gas-pump decals attacking federal carbon-pricing measures were failing to stick.

They had to pull me off the ceiling, Ford said when he read about the stickers adhesive problems.

In the legislature, Thompson said the government is taking action with our partners, 3M, which manufactured the plates.

Im so appreciative of the fact that our partners are working around the clock to address what weve heard. I can assure you that 3M is working diligently alongside us to  address the concerns that have been shared, she said.

NDP MPP Jennifer French (Oshawa) expressed concern that the government has yet to say how much reissuing some 50,000 new plates will cost or who will pay.

Will this government please stop wrecking things, stop scapegoating, be responsible and stop putting these unsafe, problematic partisan plates on our roads? said French.

Former Tory MPP Randy Hillier, who now sits as an Independent, shook his head at the snafu.

Licence plates should be a pretty insignificant aspect of life in the legislature and in the province, said Hillier (Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston).

Listen, weve known how to make those things for a long time  it shouldnt be a difficult process to deliver, he said, wondering how the government didnt get the results it needed.

You have to put some thought into what youre doing, you have to put the criteria in that youre expecting  if you dont do that, then dont be surprised if you get lemons instead of apples.

Liberal MPP Mitzie Hunter (Scarborough-Guildwood) said the government was clearly rushing in an effort to rebrand Ontarios traditional white licence plates in PC blue.

They got blinded by a desire to have their own branding on everyones licence plate. I question the procurement as well, the responsibility for setting the criteria, said Hunter, a former cabinet minister.

Its the minister and those who report to the minister that bear that responsibility. It is not to the supplier to set the criteria.

Last Thursday night, 3M issued a statement saying a new plate is being developed and will be given to the province so that it can then be tested by law enforcement and key stakeholders.

We stand behind our products and continue to actively provide solutions to the Ontario government.

Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie

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Find all our Student Opinion questions here.

Does your school try hard to make students from different backgrounds feel welcome and included?

Do your teachers provide space for students to thoughtfully tackle complex issues related to race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality?

Do you feel that youre able to bring your whole self to school?

In Bringing a New Vibe to the Classroom, Kerry Hannon writes about teachers across the country who are trying to honor the diversity of their students identities:

At the forefront are teachers like Christopher Emdin, 40, a science educator and the author of For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood  and the Rest of Yall Too. He has been a leader in the #HipHopEd initiative, which integrates urban youth culture with learning. The Science Genius program, for example, uses hip-hop music and rhymes in teaching science. Mr. Emdin  who said he did not like school growing up  co-founded an initiative in 2012 with the rapper GZA to use hip-hop to teach science in 10 New York City public schools. It is about remixing education, he said. Today, he advises educators on ways to incorporate these techniques into their classrooms. Writing these raps, poems over beats, is a way of giving students voice, he said. Louis Tavares, 17, a senior at Brooklyn Prep, said hip-hop motivated him to learn. Before hip-hop, I would go to school and not really look forward to learning, he said. But now with hip-hop, he said, It brings a certain type of vibe to the classroom. Teaching Tolerance, the education arm of the Southern Poverty Law Center, has produced social justice teaching standards that many teachers are using, from kindergarten through high school, to guide curriculum development. We are beginning to address race and racism explicitly in the classroom, said Lecia Brooks, a former teacher and a member of the senior leadership team of the Southern Poverty Law Center. We are letting go of the false notion that it is too heavy, too much for children to talk about it head on.

The article features several other teachers who are doing similar work:

Another powerhouse behind the transformation of teaching is the National Council of Teachers of English, with more than 25,000 members and subscribers worldwide. Lorena German, an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, is the chair of the councils Committee Against Racism and Bias in the Teaching of English. Ms. German, who came to the United States as a child, teaches at the Headwaters School in Austin, Tex. She said she experienced classroom racism as a child in Lawrence, Mass. They wanted to bring us into a classroom that required us to dismiss our way of being in order to assimilate  as if ours had no value, she said. She rebelled. I was a menace, she said. My chemistry teacher, for instance, would not speak to me or respond when I raised my hand. Today, after nearly two decades as an educator, she practices activism every day in the classroom, she said. This is not about politics. This is about working toward social justice. I am constantly asking myself how I can model that thoughtfully in my classroom. Ms. Germans ninth-grade students, for example, study graffiti and debate questions such as: Is it vandalism? Where does it come from? What does it mean? What does it contribute to society? Does it count as text? Is there a message there? The students read Gene Luen Yangs American Born Chinese, a graphic novel that centers on issues of conformity, issues of identity, particularly around race, she explained. The discussions get pretty heavy. My students are really engaged with the content, Ms. German said. Over and over, they comment on how modern it is. What they are saying is that its very relevant to their lives.

Students, read the entire article, then tell us:

Are you reading texts in school that are written by authors from diverse backgrounds and who represent different perspectives? Do you see your own identity represented in the content youre studying in school?

Do your teachers provide space in class for students to speak openly about issues related to culture, identity and differences? Do you feel comfortable speaking about these topics in school?

One student, Louis Tavares, says that using hip-hop in the classroom brings a certain type of vibe to the classroom. What does vibe or atmosphere mean to you? Do you think that teachers should try to create a vibe in their classroom? Can it help students learn more and perform better in school? Do you think that the atmosphere of classes can make them more relevant or meaningful to students in general  and to you as a learner?

Christopher Emdin, a science educator and author, says, Writing these raps, poems over beats, is a way of giving students voice. Do you feel your teachers let you express your voice through your projects and assignments? In what ways?

In general, do you feel engaged by what you are studying in school? Do your classes feel relevant to your life? Please share.

In the comments section of the article, Times readers expressed a range of opinions about the teaching strategies and approaches shared in the article. Choose one comment and respond to it here. Do you agree or disagree with the comment, and why?

Students 13 and older are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.
A health worker screens the temperature of an airline passenger at Debrecen International Airport in Debrecen, Hungary, on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Bloomberg

Italy is struggling to contain a rapid outbreak of the coronavirus, with new cases confirmed in the capitals of Tuscany and Sicily  the first case south of Rome. As of Tuesday morning, 283 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed, Italian media reported, including in Florence, the capital of Tuscany, and Palermo, in Sicily. Seven people have died from the virus in the country. As with many victims elsewhere, those who have died in Italy were elderly or had preexisting health conditions. The number of cases is rising rapidly: On Friday morning, Italy only had 3 confirmed cases before a sharp spike over the weekend. The outbreak was previously contained to the wealthy northern regions of the country but has now spread, with cases recorded in Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont and Lazio. The outbreak has prompted a blame game between the northern region of Lombardy and the government in Rome. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the outbreak in Italy  the largest outside of Asia  had been caused by a hospital that had not followed proper protocol. He did not name the hospital but it was presumed to be in the north.

"There was a hotspot and it spread from there in part due to the management of a hospital that was not done entirely according to the prudent protocols that are recommended in these cases," Conte said Monday, Italian news agency ANSA reported. But an official in the region of Lombardy, where most of the cases (for now, over 200) are concentrated, hit back by calling the government "incapable" and saying Conte's remarks were "groundless and unacceptable," ANSA said. Meanwhile, opposition politician Matteo Salvini, the leader of the anti-immigration Lega party, said Monday on Facebook that "someone will have to answer to the Italian people about what it was supposed to do and was not done." He said that on Jan. 30, his party had started to request obligatory controls on anyone coming from virus-hit countries but had not been listened to.

'Knocking at the door'


The picture shows a Russian Military outlet store.

By Li Zishi

Feb. 25 -- According to Izvestia, a daily broadsheet newspaper in Russia, the Russian Defense Ministry decided to launch a new policy that will entitle national award-winning service members to up to 20% discount when they shop at specific stores using their salary cards issued by contracted banks.

Russian banks flock to join the program

According to a source in the Russian Defense Ministry, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has signed an agreement with the public joint stock company Promsvyazbank to provide shopping discounts for Russian servicemen who joined the banks salary program. Other banks in the country, including GazpromBank, Sberbank and VTB Bank, also expressed willingness to issue special salary cards relevant with this favorable policy.

The Russian military has also carefully selected the retailers that implement this policy, with Russian Military and Store for Service Members joining the pilot run. Russian Military is a chain store specializing in military-style clothing and accessories and dedicated to promoting the Russian armed forces, a healthy lifestyle and patriotism, while Store for Service Members is aimed at making shopping easy and convenient for troops serving in remote areas, especially the troops stationed in overseas regions like Syria.

It is learnt that the Russian Defense Ministry is in talks with X5 Retail Group, a leading Russian food retailer, whose Karusel hypermarkets last May said they will offer 5% discount on all goods for national award-winning Russian service members who buy with credit card. The ministry is also talking with institutions like the Gazprom bank in hopes of lengthening the list of contracted institutions in the future.

The program brings benefits to multiple parties

Military personnel, banks and retailers will all benefit from this program, said Andrey Karpov, executive director of Russias Retail Companies Association.

The new policy will help contracted retailers to attract more customers and make more profits. The contracted banks will demonstrate their service level and capability to the customers, enhance their loyalty and gain more businesses. Service members will get tangible benefits from the policy in return for their loyal service.

The shopping discounts for the awarded service members will further enhance their sense of honor and motivate them when serving the country in the future, said a professor at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, adding that there should be both moral and material rewards.

The Russian Defense Ministry has adopted a series of preferential measures in recent years to raise its servicemens sense of honor. For instance, contract service members can take a vacation at sanitariums affiliated to the defense ministry and are entitled to free medical care when in service.
India and the US held talks in five major categories - security, defence, energy, technology and people to people contact, with President Donald Trump assuring India highest consideration for collaboration in defence sector, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Tuesday.

Shringla told reporters that the two countries have also decided to set up working groups on curbing narcotics trafficking and reinvigorating homeland security, he told reporters.

"President Trump has assured highest consideration to India for procurement, technology and joint collaboration in defence sector," he said.

Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks for five hours to arrive at a slew of agreements, Shringla said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A surge of new home development is expected in Albuquerque and its surrounding areas in coming months, according to a panel of real estate professionals speaking at a NAIOP New Mexico event Monday.

The swell of development anticipated in 2020 is driven by a metro area housing shortage as well as an increase in the availability of build-ready land, according to Mackenzie Bishop, owner of Abrazo Homes.

Its a pretty pivotal moment, he said.

Bishop said building permits in the metro area in the past five months have surged 40% year over year, largely due to an increase in the number of new lots ready for building. Over the last several years, Albuquerque-area developers were working their way through building-ready land that had been sitting vacant since the Great Recession. That land has now largely been built upon, and more land is newly primed for builders. Its expected builders will begin construction on some 3,000 lots in the metro area this year.

The vast majority of new housing developments are slated to be built on Albuquerques West Side, in Rio Rancho and in Valencia County.

John Garcia, executive director of the Home Builders Association, said homes currently available for purchase in the metro area could only sustain the market for 1.5 months  far lower than the national average of three to four months.

Supply is non-existent, he said.

The Albuquerque-area housing shortage has resulted in a deeply competitive market with some homes being sold within 24 hours of being placed on the market, according to Bishop. He said it is becoming increasingly common for bidding wars to take place on prime houses, and new home owners are frequently being outbid by more established buyers or those who can pay upfront.

Cash buyers are getting preference, Bishop said.

Additionally, an increasing number of homebuyers are coming from outside New Mexico. Bishop said there is no one demographic for out-of-state buyers, who seem to be ranging from younger professionals working remotely to retirees locating to the state.
Abnormal formation and growth of the placenta is considered an underlying cause of various pregnancy complications such as miscarriages, preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. Yet, much remains to be learned about molecular mechanisms regulating this blood-vessel rich organ vital to the health of a pregnant woman and her growing fetus.

A new study by University of South Florida Health (USF Health) Morsani College of Medicine researchers has discovered how a very large human non-protein coding gene regulates epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) -- a process that contributes to placental implantation during early pregnancy as well as cancer progression and spread.

The USF Health researchers used a powerful genome editing technology called CRISPR (shorthand for "CRISPR-dCas9) to activate all of the chromosome 19 microRNA cluster (known as C19MC), so they could study the gene's function in early pregnancy. C19MC -- one of the largest microRNA gene clusters in the human genome -- is normally turned off and becomes expressed only in the placenta, embryonic stem cells and certain cancers.

In their cell model study, published Feb. 20 in Scientific Reports, a Nature research journal, the USF Health team showed that robustly activating C19MC inhibited EMT.

But when cells from which the placenta arises (trophoblasts) were exposed to hypoxia -- a lack of oxygen like that occurring in early placental development -- C19MC expression was significantly reduced, the researchers found. This loss of C19MC function then freed the trophoblasts to differentiate from stem-like epithelial cells into mesenchymal cells that can migrate and invade much like metastatic tumors.

"We were the first to use CRISPR to efficiently activate the entire gene, not just a few regions of this huge gene, in human cell lines," said the paper's senior author Hana Totary-Jain, PhD, an associate professor in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. "Our study indicates C19MC plays a key role in regulating many genes important in early implantation and placental development and function. The regulation of these genes are critical for proper fetal growth."

Dr. Totary-Jain and others in her department collaborated with colleagues in the medical college's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology on the project.

The USF Health study offers new insight into how trophoblasts interact with the maternal uterine environment to become more invasive or less invasive in the formation of the placenta, said co-author Umit Kayisli, PhD, a USF Health professor of obstetrics and gynecology. "More research on microRNA expression and how it inhibits the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition may help us better understand and control preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction, which account for 5-to-10 percent of all pregnancy complications and premature births."

EMT happens early in the formation of the placenta, an organ which attaches to the lining of the uterus during pregnancy and supplies oxygen and nutrients from mother to the growing fetus. During the first trimester, fetal trophoblasts penetrate the maternal uterine lining and modify its blood vessels. This remodeling of the mother's spiral arteries allows oxygenated blood to flow from the mother to fetus.

However, the trophoblast invasion prompted by EMT is a tightly coordinated balancing act. If the invasion is too shallow to adequately remodel the maternal blood vessels, preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction can occur. Invasion that progresses too deeply -- beyond normal anchoring of the placenta to the uterine wall -- leads to placenta accreta, a rare condition that can cause dangerous bleeding and often require pregnancy termination.

"You need the EMT process, but at some point it needs to stop to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes," Dr. Totary-Jain said. "You really need a balance between not enough invasion and too much invasion, and C19MC is important in maintaining that balance."

Investigating the effects of altered C19MC expression on cell differentiation and trophoblast invasion has implications not only for a better understanding of normal and abnormal placenta development, but also for cancer and stem cell research, Dr. Totary-Jain added.
NASA

The Pentagon wants to extend the reach of its satellites tens of thousands miles toward the moon. And its working on a high-tech, atomic-powered nuclear thermal propulsion engine to make it possible.

The militarys goal is to deploy maneuverable satellites into the vast space between the Earth and the mooncislunar space, its calledbefore China gets there with its own spacecraft.

But this isnt the first time the U.S. government has tried to develop an atomic rocket. And theres no guarantee the same problems that ended previous efforts wont also scuttle this one.

The capability afforded by [nuclear thermal propulsion] will expand the operating presence of the U.S. in space to the cislunar volume and enhance domestic operations to a new high-ground, which is in danger of being defined by the adversary, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which oversees the atomic rocket effort, explained in its budget proposal.

The U.S. and Chinese space agencies and even private corporations are eager to mine the moon for minerals that could support deep-space missions, potentially including humanitys first trip to Mars.

An agile nuclear thermal propulsion vehicle enables the [Defense Department] to maintain space domain awareness of the burgeoning activity within this vast volume, Jared Adams, a DARPA spokesperson, told The Daily Beast.

DARPAs budget request for 2021, which the agency released in early February, asks for $21 million for the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations program, or DRACO.

Congress gave DARPA $10 million in 2020 to start studying the DRACO engine. The 2021 budget would allow the agency to start building components. The plan is for DARPA to test DRACO before handing it over to the U.S. Air Force for routine operations.

The militarys nuclear thermal propulsion project is a virtual twin of a similar NASA program thats a couple of years older.

Story continues

DRACO is what experts call a high-assay low-enriched uranium nuclear-thermal propulsion system. Basically, its a small nuclear reactor atop a space rocket. The reactor heats up a propellanthydrogen, for examplethat accelerates through a nozzle, pushing the satellite in the opposite direction.

Nuclear-thermal engines arent for launching from Earths surface. Theyre for cruising long distances through space or maneuvering a lot while keeping closer to Earth.

The moon is 240,000 miles from Earth. Most man-made satellites orbit no more than a few thousand miles from Earths surface. The United States and China are both in a scramble to fill that gap.

Beijing in 2019 landed humanitys first-ever probe on the moons difficult-to-reach far side, which always faces away from Earth.

Now the Chinese space agency is working on follow-on moon missions and could even send human explorers to the lunar surface as early as the mid-2020s.

NASA, meanwhile, has at the urging of President Donald Trump tried to accelerate a potentially $30 billion plan to build a new manned station in cislunar space. That would function as a staging base for U.S. astronauts to return to the moon by 2024, the theoretical final full year of a possible second term for Trump.

Atomic rockets could support Americas new moon push. You launch the pieces of the reactor into Earth orbit on top of traditional chemical rockets and then assemble them while theyre zooming thousands of miles per hour around the planet.

Attach the nuclear motor to a space capsule, spy satellite or orbital weapon, and it could travel huge distances over a span of years or even decades.

It was the long-distance potential that motivated early American efforts to build a nuclear thermal propulsion system back in the 1960s and 70s. NASA was making progress when President Richard Nixon abruptly canceled a bunch of rocket programs in order to focus the space agency on arguably less ambitious missions.

Now the idea of a reactor on a rocket is back in vogue. Compared to chemical propulsion systems, the performance advantages of NTP can enable shorter total mission times and enhanced flexibility for crewed Mars missions, Clare Skelly, a NASA spokesperson, told The Daily Beast.

For the armed forces, nuclear thermal propulsion is a way to get more maneuverability in their satellitesrepositioning satellites chews through the onboard propellant of a satellite, Dale Thomas, a space expert at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, told The Daily Beast.

Of course, civilian and military space funding are both subject to political whims. Just because the Pentagon and NASA want nuclear thermal propulsion systems today doesnt mean the president and Congress will be equally enamored of the idea long enough to actually build them.

Congress has already begun to cool on Trumps moon plan. Trump wanted $1.6 billion for the moon mission in the 2020 budget. Lawmakers approved $1.3 billion.

Plus theres the issue of all that radiation. In the 60s, NASA could test an atomic rocket in the desert, venting radioactive gas straight into the air, without too many people protesting. That is not acceptable today, Thomas pointed out.

The government could replace live testing with sophisticated computer simulations, Thomas explained.

The last time a human explorer set foot on the moon was in 1972 during the final U.S. Apollo mission. NASA hopes the current moon race results in a sustainable long-term human presence on or above the lunar surface.

The Pentagon wants to get there first with spacecraft that can keep an eye on whatever arrives next.

To DARPA, that means building an atomic rocket. The agency surely hopes that, this time, it actually finishes building the thing.

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It was, strictly speaking, a coincidence that Teck Resources cancelled a massive oilsands project in Alberta just hours before police moved in and cleared away the blockade that had paralyzed rail traffic in eastern Canada.

The blockade wasnt about Teck. It was about protesting the Coastal GasLink pipeline through British Columbia, and supporting the Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs who oppose it.

But it wasnt really a coincidence. Who can doubt it was the blockade and everything around it that put a spike through the heart of Tecks proposed Frontier oilsands mine?

The company didnt actually mention the protests in the letter it released on Sunday explaining its decision. It didnt need to.

Its CEO simply said the company finds itself squarely at the nexus of much broader issues that need to be resolved and has concluded there is no constructive path forward for the project. It didnt want to be the target of the same forces that turned the B.C. pipeline into a national crisis.

In fact, the two projects are very different. Tecks Frontier mine was deeply problematic; it would have involved a major expansion of the oilsands and badly compromised Canadas climate goals. It wasnt even clear it made sense economically, given the price of oil and projections about the future of the oilsands.

But Coastal GasLink is much more benign. It would carry cleaner liquefied natural gas destined for Asia, where it would displace dirty coal.

Its a pet project of B.C.s NDP government, arguably the most progressive in the country when it comes to relations with Indigenous peoples. And its gone through eight years of rigorous approvals, including negotiating lucrative benefits agreements with the elected councils of 20 First Nations.

That should be enough to proceed. The fact that it clearly is not speaks volumes about the yawning gap between the high hopes raised by the Trudeau government for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and the reality laid bare over the past three weeks.

No government has spoken more about the importance of reconciliation than this one. No government has set aside more money to support services for Indigenous people  a quarter of all new spending in last years budget. As Perry Bellegarde, chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said last year, no government has done more overall for First Nations than this one.

Yet here we are, with many Indigenous people more embittered than ever, and a troubling number of other Canadians resentful that after all the money and all the disruption, things seem to sliding backwards, not moving forward.

We have also learned some worrisome things, or at least had them confirmed.

For one, Indigenous leadership is badly divided, making it more complicated than ever to find solutions. Divisions among the Wetsuweten people have became all too clear. And established figures like Bellegarde were caught badly off-guard by the eruption of protest. They were running to catch up to the demonstrators, not leading them.

We learned that many politicians are all too ready to use these difficult issues to score partisan points, at the very real risk of inflaming the situation. Instead of exercising restraint and showing true leadership, they exaggerated the early impact of the blockades and egged on the government to crack down immediately.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer and his co-thinkers on the right were certainly in that group. He could quite legitimately point out that Trudeau and his cabinet were slow to take charge in the first week of the blockades, but he went far beyond that by playing to the frustrations of non-Indigenous people. If his words result in a backlash against First Nations, that will be on him.

The government was right to let the situation unfold, even at the risk of being accused of being weak. Trudeau waited until it was clear that the blockades were having a serious economic impact before calling for an end. By then only the protesters most extreme ideological sympathizers thought the rails could  or should  be shut down indefinitely.

Those at the extremes who want efforts at reconciliation to fail, either because they pine for an older Canada in which Indigenous people were kept out of sight and out of mind, or believe that the country is too set in its colonial ways to make any progress, will take comfort from the events of the past weeks.

They should not be allowed to win. The government is right to re-commit to working toward reconciliation, even if those words ring hollow this week. The alternative would be wrong morally, politically and economically.

It has taken Canada decades, centuries really, to get to where it is now in its relationship with First Nations. Getting to a fairer, more just place will not happen quickly, and there will be many setbacks along the way.

The government must learn the lessons. Most importantly, perhaps, it should stop letting its rhetoric get ahead of its actions. Rather than over-promising and under-delivering, it should do the opposite. The prime minister made grandiose statements about bringing in a new framework for Indigenous rights as recently as two years ago, and the absence of action on that front has come home to haunt him.

Better to take it step by step, backing up words with concrete actions.
Two men were sentenced to years in federal prison for a string of armed robberies across central Alabama.

On January 29, 41-year-old Marcus Greathouse was sentenced to 72 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Greathouse, of Opelika, pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery in October.

Branden Tyrone Matthews, 32, was sentenced to 92 months in prison on February 20. His prison sentence will also be followed by three years of supervised release as well. The Camp Hill man pleaded guilty to ten counts of robbery in October.

Matthews was ordered to pay $11,206.29 in restitution; Greathouses restitution amount was not yet determined.

The robbery spree the men are convicted of happened in 2018. According to court documents, Matthews robbed businesses in eight counties over an eight-month period. He was charged with ten robberies, and prosecutors said Greathouse was involved in three-- the robberies in Hurtsboro, Greenville, and one of the incidents in Tallassee. The robberies and where they occurred are listed below.

 January 26, 2018- OReilly Auto Parts, Auburn

 June 20, 2018- Auto Zone, Alexander City

 July 13, 2018- Auto Zone, Opelika

 July 25, 2018- Auto Zone, Eufaula

 July 28,2018- OReilly Auto Parts, Tallassee

 July 30, 2018- Dollar General, Hurtsboro

 August 4, 2018- Dollar General, Roanoke

 August 5, 2018- Dollar General, Montgomery

 August 12, 2018- OReilly Auto Parts, Tallassee

 August 16, 2018- Dollar General, Greenville

Court records state a pellet gun, which resembled a pistol, was used in the robberies.

U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama Louis V. Franklin Sr. in a press release thanked the multiple law enforcement agencies involved in the case. Those agencies include the FBI, the Alexander City Police Department, the Auburn Police Division, the Butler County Sheriffs Office, the Eufaula Police Department, the Hurtsboro Police Department, the Montgomery Police Department, the Opelika Police Department, the Roanoke Police Department, the Russell County Sheriffs Office, and the Tallassee Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Davidson prosecuted the case.
UPPER THUMB  Michigan State Police Community Service Trooper Nicole Dhooghe said the Caro Post needs the communitys help spreading the word about the posts Angel Program.

The Angel Program, which is based off a program launched in 2015 by the Gloucester, Massachusetts Police Department, offers a unique way to combat drug and alcohol dependency by offering assistance for recovery.

The MSP Angel Program allows individuals struggling with addiction problems to seek help at an MSP post during and asking for assistance.

Someone suffering from a substance use disorder, such as drugs or alcohol, can come to the state police post and the desk sergeant will contact an Angel, who would come and help them with paperwork and finding a treatment center for them, Dhooghe said. The Angel will then transport them to the treatment center.

The Angels are volunteers from the community, who have passed a background check and are willing to support an individual through the process and provide transportation to an identified treatment facility.

A misconception some might have is that by approaching the police, they could face arrest. Dhooghe said of the 235 people enrolled through the program since its inception, no one has been arrested.

No one has been arrested through the Angel Program, she said. All the warrants have been able to be taken care of or respond when you are done. Our goal is not to arrest people, it is to get people help.

Unlike other parts of the of the state, the local Angel Program isnt struggling with having volunteers to serve as Angels. Instead, the local struggle is getting people to participate in the program.

Locally, the program hasnt been utilized, she said. I think a lot of people dont know the program exists.

Prior to focusing on community service, Dhooghe was a trooper that traveled the roads of Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola counties, and she said there are substance abuse issues that need to be addressed. These substances range from alcohol and marijuana to heroin, cocaine, opioids and methamphetamines.

We live in a county that suffers from drug abuse and suicides, she said. We are trying our hardest to provide education and trainings to educate the public and get them out of the cycle.

Dhooghe said studies have shown that substance abuse issues can have negative impacts on others in the family.

If your parents suffered through drug or alcohol abuse, it will put you further behind in life, she said. We are just trying to stop the cycle. We need to get it out there that this program is available. We need word of mouth to spread that we arent here to arrest you, we are here to help.

If you are seeking help, or know someone that needs help, contact the Michigan State Police Caro Post at 989-673-2156.
Kolkata, Feb 25 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she was "deeply disturbed and concerned" over the situation in Delhi even as the police here were asked to remain "extremely alert" to prevent any untoward incidents.

Speaking to media persons before leaving for Bhubaneswar to attend the Eastern Zonal Council (EZC) meeting to be held later this week, Banerjee appealed to everybody to "maintain peace".

"We are deeply disturbed and concerned about the situation in Delhi.

"Ours is a country of peace, it takes everybody along, it is a secular country. There is no scope of any violence.. We appeal to all to maintain peace," the Chief Minister said.

Banerjee said she was not sure what was going on in Delhi, but was keeping a watch on the situation.

Meanwhile, the city police top brass held a meeting during the day in view of the situation in Delhi where at least 10 people have died in violence following clashes between pro-CAA and anti-CAA protestors.

Senior officers, including all Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners and officer-in-charges attended the meeting.

The police force has been asked to remain "extremely alert", a source said.

West Bengal saw large-scale violence during anti-CAA protests in December last year when railway stations, trains and buses were torched and vandalised.

On Tuesday, a protest rally was organised in the city against the violence in the national capital.

The rally, organised by the 'No NRC Movement', began from Moulali in central Kolkata but was stopped by the police before it could reach Esplanade.

--IANS ssp/vd

A
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 21:05:00|Editor: huaxia

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by Pankaj Yadav

NEW DELHI, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- India and the United States on Tuesday signed defense deals worth over 3 billion U.S. dollars, ensuring the sale of 24 "MH-60 Romeo" and six "AH-64E Apache" helicopters to India. However, the highly anticipated trade deal remained elusive.

Addressing reporters after talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that he and Trump decided to give a "legal route" to the negotiations that have already taken place between the two countries' trade ministers recently.

"We have an understanding for a big trade deal. I am sure that the talks between our trade ministers will yield good results. We have decided to give a legal route to their talks," said Modi.

Modi noted that he and Trump both favored "open, fair and balanced trade" between the two sides.

"In the past three years our bilateral trade growth has been in the double digits. Areas like energy, civil aircraft, defense and higher education have made an immense contribution of 70 billion U.S. dollars in the past four to five years," he told media alongside Trump.

"Trump's policies and decisions have allowed all this to happen. I hope this would increase further," said Modi.

The U.S. president was also confident about a possible trade deal with India at the joint press conference with Modi.

"Our teams have made tremendous progress for a comprehensive trade agreement, and I am optimistic we can reach a deal of great importance to both countries," Trump said.

"Since I took office, the U.S. exports to India have gone up by nearly 60 percent and exports of high-quality American energy have grown by 500 percent," said the U.S. president.

While Trump has been repeatedly blamed globally for adopting "protectionist" policies, he has often called India a "Tariff King" for imposing high tariffs on American goods. He had been asking Modi to reduce tariffs on Harley Davidson motorcycles to zero as a reciprocal gesture.

According to India's media group India Today, the U.S. negotiators pulled back at the last minute, telling India to "wait for a bigger deal."

Quoting sources, the group's magazine said in an article that the two sides had got "pretty much of a handle" over the contentious issues that had stalled such a deal in the past.

"They had worked on resolving a set of issues that dealt with lowering tariffs and providing market access on both sides in a range of sectors and then to create a package acceptable to both sides," it said.

"This included the U.S.' demand for relaxing price restrictions on certain medical devices and India's demand that the U.S. restore the Generalised Systems of Preferences (GSP) that it had withdrawn last June. The GSP had allowed Indian manufacturers duty free exports of over 3,000 select products to the U.S."
The Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday told the Gujarat High Court that it has no role to play in disputes between concerned banks and their employees.

The RBI was responding to a PIL seeking the HC's direction to the central bank to direct banks to take action against their employees for joining union-led strikes as it caused great financial damage to the nation and adversely affected consumers.

The RBI told the division bench of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice AJ Shastri that it had no role to play in disputes between banks and their staff, and the issue was not policy-related where it can intervene.

It further told court that each bank had its service rules and the RBI had no control over the staff of these lenders.

The matter was adjourned after the lawyer for the employees' union said a meeting was scheduledwith banks to resolve the matter.

The PIL has been filed by seven industry outfits, including Gujarat Traders Federation, and the chambers of commerce and industry of Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Gondal, Sorath, and Central Gujarat, as well as Ahmedabad Automobile Dealers Association.

The PIL sought the court's direction to the RBI "to issue circular or directions to banks to take strict action against employees who go on frequent strikes".

The PIL contended that bank consumers, trade and industry suffered due to the tussle between government and bank employees which led to such strikes.

"The employees of banks can achieve their demands of wage revision, etc. as per the provisions of the law and not by declaring strikes, which cause great financial damage to the nation as a whole and the public at large," they said.

The petitioners were referring to the strikes called by bank unionson January 31 and February 1, followed by a three-day strike from March 11-13, and indefinite strike from April 1, mainly over their demand for wage revision.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
JERSEYVILLE  Chili Fest, the Jerseyville Rotary Clubs largest yearly fundraiser for almost four decades, willl be held 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, at the Jerseyville Knights of Columbus Hall, 307 N. State St., Jerseyville.

The $8 tickets can be bought in advance from any club member, at the First Bank Jerseyville at 117 S. State St., or at the door on the day of the event. The meal includes all-you-can-eat chili or beef vegetable soup, hot dogs, cookies and a drink. Carryout meals are also available.
US President Donald Trump was accorded a traditional welcome at the ITC Maurya hotel in the national capital following his arrival from Agra.

Trump, who reached Delhi after attending the Namaste Trump event at Ahmedabad and a visit to 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.
Executive Director of the Association of Romania's Large Retailers George Badescu said on Tuesday at the Ministry of Health that there are no concerns about food stock amidst coronavirus affecting some countries.

"Going forward, for a predictable period of time, we do not anticipate shortages... or empty shelves. (...) The stocks we have at this moment, if we consider what sells in a busy period of time, close to the holidays, we could say that this is also the prediction in time. In other words, the volume of available merchandise would be able to meet the demand we normally anticipate when shopping is hectic. At the moment, there is no reason to anticipate food shortages. On the other hand, as you know, there are networks of different shops with different approaches, so I, an association member, would stay away from giving a specific term. But, as I was saying, there are no worries for the foreseeable period - say weeks, months," said Badescu.He explained that over the last few days there were "higher" sales."There is no reason at this point in time for us to worry. There were some higher sales. That is one of the strategies we have in mind, to try to increase the orders," said Badescu.
With two stake sales in airport and energy businesses, GMR Infrastructure is back in the spotlight, leading the revival of the sinking segment. France's Groupe ADP agreed to acquire 49 per cent stake in GMR's airport business for Rs 10,780 crore, a deal that will help the domestic entity reduce its debt burden. Competition Commission of India (CCI) has given its approval for the deal. The second deal is with JSW Energy, which has signed a share-purchase agreement with the subsidiary GMR Energy to acquire entire stake in 1,050 MW thermal power plant, GMR Kamalanga. The deal is valued at Rs 5,321 crore.

The deals will primarily help GMR Infra to cut down its debt drastically. According to the December quarter numbers, the group has a net debt of Rs 25,660 crore. It is expected to come down to at least Rs 12,000 crore, if the group uses most part of the transaction proceeds for deleveraging the balance sheet. Besides, the company is looking to divest more non-core assets, including roads and power plants.

ALSO READ: France's Groupe ADP to buy 49% stake in GMR Airports for Rs 10,780 crore

In the last six months, the share price of GMR Infra has risen 67.65 per cent and closed at Rs 25.55 on Tuesday. However, the BSE India Infrastructure Index has slipped 3.44 per cent in this period. From January 1, the share price rose 22.54 per cent, while the index was 6.2 per cent down. Other infrastructure companies like Larsen and Toubro (L&T) and NBCC fell 6.85 per cent and 11.18 per cent, respectively, in the last six months. IRB has risen 21 per cent.

The deal with JSW Energy is expected to be completed in three months. The first tranche of Rs 5,248 crore from Groupe ADP will be received by GMR Group immediately. The deleveraging will help the group to improve the cash flows and profitability. GMR will retain management control over the airports business with Groupe ADP having the customary rights and board representation at GMR Airports Ltd and its key subsidiaries.

ALSO READ: JSW Energy to acquire 100% stake in GMR Kamalanga Energy for Rs 5,321 crore

The debt-ridden firm had earlier entered into an agreement to divest the same amount of stake in the airports arm to a consortium led by Tata Group. But the deal fell apart due to a conflict of interest issue involving Tatas' stake in Vistara and AirAsia India. GMR and Groupe ADP plans to strengthen their airport business, offering new passenger experiences. As per 2019 passenger statistics, GMR Airports and Groupe ADP handled 336.5 million passengers, the highest across the world.

GM Rao, Chairman, GMR Group said that the partnership is in line with GMR's business direction to become a global airport developer and operator. "With Groupe ADP, GMR will have smoother access to global markets, opening up newer avenues of business growth," he said. The company reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 280.74 crore in third quarter this fiscal as compared to a net loss of Rs 561.04 crore in the same period previous year. Net sales in the December quarter rose 7.6 per cent to Rs 1,990.76 crore.

ALSO READ: JSW Energy net profit jump to Rs 394 crore on reduced expenses
President Trump on Tuesday played down concerns about the coronavirus in the U.S., saying the situation was "under control" and was a "problem that's going to go away."

"We have very few people with it," Trump told reporters at a news conference in New Delhi, adding that he was not totally caught up on the latest details because of his trip to India but that "the people are getting better, they're all getting better," referring to patients in the U.S.

"I think that whole situation will start working out. Lot of talent, lot of brain power is being put behind it," he said.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in New Delhi, Feb. 25, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)

Trump's comments came as the administration is preparing to ask Congress for emergency funding to deal with crisis -- $1.25 billion in new funding and another $1.25 billion shifted from existing funding previously allocated for other reasons, including some designated to deal with the Ebola virus.

MORE: White House requesting $1.25B as part of $2.5B plan to fight coronavirus

HHS Secretary Alex Azar was expected to detail the supplemental budget request at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing Tuesday morning.

If approved, the funds would be earmarked for accelerated vaccine development, to support preparedness and response activities, and for the procurement of equipment and supplies, according to the White House Office of Management and Budget.

Democrats immediately attacked the administration response, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling it "too little, too late."

"That President Trump is trying to steal funds dedicated to fight Ebola is indicative of his towering incompetence and further proof that he and his administration arent taking the Coronavirus crisis as seriously as they need to be," he said on Twitter. "Weve seen no sign that President Trump has any plan or urgency to deal with the spread of the Coronavirus. We need real leadership, and we need it fast."

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the request was "long overdue and completely inadequate to the scale of this emergency" and said the House would put forward its own emergency funding measure.

"Two and a half billion dollars, we're putting in. I see that Chuck Schumer criticized it; he thought it should be more. And if I gave more, he'd say it should be less. Automatic, you know, with these characters. They are just not good for our country," Trump responded at his news conference.

PHOTO: Pedestrians wearing face masks walk in front of the Daegu branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the southeastern city of Daegu, South Korea, Feb. 24, 2020. (Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images)

Senators who were given a closed-door briefing on the coronavirus situation Tuesday morning gave sharply different accounts, depending on their party.

Republicans came out supporting the president's line, with GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee noting there were only 14 cases in the U.S., which he called "remarkable."

Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut called making the briefing "classified" was "inexplicable" and that if the American people had heard what senators were told, there would be "outrage" and "uproar."

Senators said Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases helped give the briefing, along with Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn, and Acting Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli.

MORE: As coronavirus cases surge worldwide, Dow plummets 1000 points )

At an earlier event in India Tuesday, reacting to Monday's stock market drop amid fears of the spreading coronavirus, President Trump said it was pretty bad and a very serious thing but expressed confidence that its going to work out fine and that the virus will go away.

I see the [market] futures are up today, fairly substantially, but thats a very serious thing but we think we are in very good shape in the United States, Trump said during remarks with a group of Indian business leaders in reacting to the stock drop.

MORE: US military dependent in South Korea diagnosed with coronavirus, triggering precautions

It looks like they're getting it under control, more and more, they're getting more and more under control. So I think that's a problem that's going to go away,Trump said.

Relating to the business leaders in the room, the president compared the virus to an outside factor that can impact a business.

We lost almost 1000 points yesterday on the market and that's something you know things like that happen where, and you have it in your business all the time had nothing to do with you its an outside source that nobody would have every predicted if you go back six months or three months ago nobody would have ever predicted, Trump said. In fact, the Dow lost more than a thousand points, closing down 1031 points.

But let's see I think it's going to be under control and I think I can speak for our country for our country is under control And so, let's see how it all works out but I think it's going to work out fine, he continued.

ABC News' Trish Turner contributed to this report.

Trump says coronavirus 'under control' in US, problem going to 'go away' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Megan the sheepdog is preparing for her new life on a huge ranch after being sold at auction in the UK for a record 18,900 ($21,000).

The border collie is to travel from the UK to her new home in Oklahoma, where she will live with her new owner, oil and gas magnate Brian D. Stamps.

The two-and-a-half-year-old fetched the huge sum at Skipton Auction Mart in North Yorkshire last Friday because she comes from a family of champions.

The Oklahoma farm in USA, where Megan the world record breaking Collie is to live after being bought at auction in the UK

Brian Stamps (pictured) from Oklahoma, who bought Megan the Collie for a world record 19000

Megan became the Neymar of the sheepdog world after selling for a record 18,900 at auction

Sweeping plains await the world's costliest sheepdog when she completes her transfer to the US.

Mr Stamps, 44, has become the proud owner of border collie Megan, raised from a puppy on a modest 100 acre farm in the Northumberland countryside.

Last Friday she was sold for 18,900 by Emma Gray, 34, the shepherdess who had lovingly raised her in the British countryside since she was a few weeks old.

Cows at the vast, 2,000 acre Oklahoma farm where Megan will call home

Her new home on Mr Stamp's vast 2,000 acre ranch in Tuttle, Grady County, Oklahoma, could scarcely be more different from the modest 100 acre farm in the Northumberland countryside where she was raised

Her new home on Mr Stamp's vast 2,000 acre ranch in Tuttle, Grady County, Oklahoma, could scarcely be more different.

Shepherdess Emma is getting ready to say farewell to the black and white Collie as she prepares for a new life in about three weeks time.

After selling for the world record fee on Friday at Skipton Auction Mart, North Yorkshire, Emma daren't let her star out of her sight and Megan slept on the pillow next to her in a guest house.

Emma, 34, said: 'I feel as though I should wrap her up in cotton wool after she sold for that price, you hope for a good fee but it was still a surprise when the bidding stopped at 18,000 guineas.'

Megan the Collie pictured with breeder Emma Gray, who has raised the dog since she was a pup

Megan's father Roy was a two-time international sheepdog champion and her mother is the sister of another champ

Similar farm dogs usually sell for around 2,000.

But Megan's father Roy was a two-time international sheepdog champion and her mother is the sister of another champ.

Mrs Gray set the previous record of 14,700 for sheepdog bitch Brenna a year ago.

The world's most expensive dog is a Tibetan mastiff, sold for 772,000 in China in 2014.
A former Deputy General Secretary of the Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana (TTAG) has called on the Minister of Education, Dr. Mathew Opoku-Prempeh to as a matter of urgency resign or be relieved of his position by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The former student leader said,  A whole Minister of Education who should know better cant close his two eyes and rape the public purse in this manner.

He argued that the minister should have known he doesnt qualify to be sponsored, as such, he should have used his influence to lobby for brilliant but needy students in our societies and not greedy but hungry appointees as we have seen

Mr. Djan is calling on the President to sack the minister from office for the constant erroneous conduct he has exhibited over the years as Minister of Education since he is not fit to handle such a sensitive ministry. He quickly added that it would even be better for him to resign as a Minister long ago.

The Minister of Education Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, Minister of State in charge of Procurement Hon. Sarah Adwoa Sarfo and other appointees of the Akufo-Addo administration were sighted by Auditor General to have illegally benefited from GETFund.
The Department of Finance suggested carbon tax could be raised by 10 in last years budget to frontload the increase and make it more effective in encouraging people to be climate-friendly.

A submission prepared for Paschal Donohoe, the finance minister, explained how carbon tax was designed to change behaviour and that the more effective way to do this would be with a large increase to begin with.

Mr Donohoe instead opted for a 6-per-tonne increase, which will be levied every year to bring it to an 80 target by 2029.

The department suggested three options for increased carbon taxes according to the pre-budget submission, which was released under freedom of information legislation.

A 10 rise would bring in 220m if it was applied to all fuels from New Years Day, with a plan to then increase it by 5 annually to bring it towards 2030 climate change targets. Another option of increasing it by 5, and then in successive years by 5.50 was also put forward.

However, Mr Donohoe opted for the third 6 option, even though the submission had said:

It can be argued that frontloading the increases would be more effective from an environmental perspective and would better support the targets in relation to take-up of electric vehicles, home insulation etc.

The option chosen was expected to bring in 90m with increases applying immediately to diesel and petrol but delayed until May for other fuels. The submission had warned that Ireland is well off its targets for reducing emissions and that this exposes the State to environmental, reputational, and financial risks.

The minister was also told that Irelands heavy reliance on diesel cars is contributing to the country having the worst performance of all EU states when it comes to dangerously high levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. Road transport is a major source of air pollution, it said, and emerging evidence suggests a particular problem with NOx levels in urban areas. This is a public health issue [and] options for increasing diesel excise rates are set out.

The pre-budget submission said the lower rates of tax on diesel were also creating fuel tourism where drivers from the North would fill their cars south of the border leading to up to 230m per year for the exchequer but also a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr Donohoe was told equalising tax on petrol and diesel over the course of five years would bring in around 80m a year.

However, this option was not taken with the increased carbon tax taking precedence and the introduction of a new emissions-based charge for new cars.

Other changes introduced include a doubling of the rate of electricity tax on businesses, which was expected to bring in 2.5m.

The submission explained that the tax only applied to a relatively small proportion of the electricity consumed by businesses and that this change represented only a modest policy option.

It said: [It] would have minimal impact on the average electricity tax bill of business customers, in absolute terms and relative to the size of the business.

A Department of Finance spokesman said: The budget submissions are designed to assist the minister in making his determination to proceed or not to proceed in a particular policy direction.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: Allegations of 'love jihad' have surfaced again in Kerala after a 24-year-old woman lodged a complaint of sexual abuse against her ex-employer. The police on Tuesday arrested Ali Makkar, 54, a native of Paipra village, who runs Aleena Tours and Travels in Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district, on charges of rape.

The accused sexually assaulted her multiple times at his travel agency office in Muvattupuzha and then at locations like Goa, Mysuru and Wagamon for nearly a year in 2019, as per the complaint. The Muvattupuzha police on Monday registered a case based on the statement of the victim under sections 376 (rape) and 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the IPC. Following this, the accused, who has a wife and family, was on the run in order to evade arrest.

The 'love jihad' angle came up following allegations that the accused, who belongs to the Muslim community, promised to marry the complainant, a Christian, if she converts to Islam. The victim lodged a complaint when the accused threatened her while she was at her house in Thodupauzha after leaving the job. She also complained that the accused promised her money to conceal the issue.

However, the police are yet to receive clinching evidence to prove the accused was guilty of 'love jihad'. The accused will be produced before the court on Tuesday.

"We will record the statement of the victim once again as part of our probe into the alleged 'love jihad' angle. Only then can we ascertain whether such an issue was behind the incident," said Muvattupuzha CI MA Mohammed.

Earlier, the Synod of the Syro Malabar Church had expressed apprehensions about Christian girls being targeted in the name of 'love jihad' in the state. The Synod also claimed that according to multiple reports, there was a 'love jihad' targeting Christians, stating that over half of the 21 women who joined Islamic State hailed from the Christian community.

In this incident, the main allegation was that the girl was sexually assaulted multiple times and that the accused told her that only Islam allows a man to keep multiple wives and he would marry her if she converts. However, Syro Malabar church spokesperson Fr. Jimmy Poochakkatt said that they were not aware of the incident so far.
The Netherlands prosecutor Fred Westerbeke said there were witnesses to testify that the rocket, which had struck the Boeing 777 Malaysian Airlines (MH17 flight) in 2014, had been launched by a Russian Armed Forces brigade. The head of the Netherlands' National Prosecutor's Office stated this on CBS News.

"I would say I have an eyewitness. And how many, I did not say how many," Westerbeke said.

According to him, there is no doubt the missile system came from the 53rd Brigade of the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

The head of the Netherlands' National Prosecutor's Office also noted the absence of help on behalf of Russia in the investigation.

"Because what they should've done is give us all the information and all the proof we needed in this difficult investigation. They should have told us that on the second day after it happened, they should have told us, 'We made a mistake,' or 'We did something which shouldn't have happened.' They should have come forward. That is what they should have done, and they never did," he added.

As we reported earlier, the Ukrainian side of the joint investigation team, which is inquiring into the MH17 crash, is represented by four representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor General.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES



TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hampton Financial Corporation (Hampton or the Corporation) (HFC.V) (TSXV:HFC.PR.A) is pleased to announce, further to its press release dated February 19, 2020, that it has entered into a non-convertible debenture (a Debenture") with each of Peter M. Deeb and Axium Capital Corp. for the principal amount of $175,000 CAD and $1,000,000 CAD, respectively (the Loans).



Each Debenture bears interest at the rate of 9.0% per annum payable in equal payments quarterly in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December in each year, commencing at the end of the first calendar quarter following the issue date (the Initial Interest Payment) until the Maturity Date. The Initial Interest Payment will include accrued and unpaid interest for the period from the issue date to the end of the first calendar quarter following the issue date. Interest will be payable in cash only. The principal amount owing under each Debenture, and any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, will be payable in cash on the date that is 60 months from the issue date (the Maturity Date).

In connection with the Loans, the Corporation has issued: (a) to Peter M. Deeb, 87,500 warrants; and (b) to Axium Capital Corp., 500,000 warrants, under TSXV Policy 5.1  Loans, Loan Bonuses, Finder's Fees and Commissions, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV). Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one subordinate voting share of the Corporation at the exercise price of $0.60 per share for a period of 60 months.

The proceeds from the Loans will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes.

All securities issued are subject to a four-month hold period under applicable securities laws.

The loan from Peter M. Deeb to the Corporation (the Related Party Loan) constituted a related party transaction for purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101) and Policy 5.9  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions of the TSXV. The Corporation was not required to obtain a formal valuation for the Related Party Loan as it is not a related party transaction described in any of paragraphs (a) to (g) of the definition of related party transaction in MI 61-101. The Corporation relied on an exemption from the minority approval requirements available under MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value of the consideration for, the Related Party Loan, insofar as it involves interested parties, exceeded 25% of the Corporations market capitalization. The Corporation did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the expected date of the closing of the Related Party Loan, as the Corporation deemed the shorter period reasonable in the circumstances so as to be able to avail itself of the proceeds of the Related Party Loan in a timely manner.

Story continues

About Hampton Financial Corporation

Hampton Financial Corporation is a unique private equity firm that seeks to build shareholder value through long-term strategic investments. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hampton Securities Limited (HSL), Hampton is actively engaged in family office, wealth management, institutional services and capital markets activities. HSL is a full service investment dealer, regulated by IIROC and registered in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Ontario and Quebec. In addition, the company provides investment banking services, which include assisting companies with raising capital, advising on mergers and acquisitions, and aiding issuers in obtaining a listing on a recognized securities exchange in Canada.

For more information, please contact:

Peter M. Deeb

Executive Chairman & CEO

Hampton Financial Corporation

(416) 862-8651

The TSXV has in no way approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release. This press release does not constitute or form a part of any offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction outside of Canada. The securities being offered have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or the securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to a U.S. person absent registration or pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. There will be no public offering of securities in the United States.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which may include, but are not limited to, information and statements regarding or inferring the future business, operations, financial performance, prospects, and other plans, intentions, expectations, estimates, and beliefs of the Corporation. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should" or similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes.

Forward-looking statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors beyond the Corporations ability to predict or control which may cause actual events, results, performance, or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements herein. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance. Although the Corporation believes that any forward-looking statements herein are reasonable, in light of the use of assumptions and the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in such statements, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results may vary, and vary materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements herein. Accordingly readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of the risks and uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements herein and should not place undue reliance upon such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. Any forward-looking statements herein are made only as of the date hereof, and except as required by applicable laws, the Corporation assumes no obligation and disclaims any intention to update or revise any forward-looking statements herein or to update the reasons that actual events or results could or do differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise.
Market regulator Sebi on Tuesday said foreign investors from Mauritius will continue to be eligible for FPI registration with increased monitoring as per international norms.

The announcement comes after the tax haven was put on the "grey list" of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) -- an inter-governmental policy making body that sets anti-money laundering standards.

A significant percentage of foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) investing in the Indian market is registered in Mauritius.

The island nation is the second largest source after the United States from which foreign portfolio investments come into the country.

As per January NSDL data, assets under custody of US FPIs are worth Rs 11,62,579 crore and those from Mauritius stood at Rs 4,36,745 crore.

Following the FATF notice, some fund managers knocked on Sebi's door overnight, raising concerns over validity of FPI registration done through the tax haven.

The regulator on Tuesday said, "Foreign investors from Mauritius will continue to be eligible for FPI registration with increased monitoring as per FATF norms".

For several years, there have been apprehensions about Mauritius being a money laundering route for FPIs due to its limited regulatory oversight. But, the Indian Ocean island nation has been taking several steps in recent years to address the concerns.

Jurisdictions under the "grey list" face increased monitoring. They work closely with FATF to address strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.

Currently, there are 18 jurisdictions identified as having "strategic deficiencies", including Mauritius and Pakistan, as per the FATF.

Equity benchmark BSE Sensex was trading 43.29 points higher at 40,406.52, and the broader NSE Nifty was up 10.10 points at 11,839.50.

On a net basis, FPIs sold equities worth Rs 1,160.90 crore on Monday, data available with stock exchanges showed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bala Chauhan By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: Kya ho raha hai, Saheb? (What is happening, sir), was the first exchange of words between the notorious underworld don Ravi Pujari and Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order) Amar Kumar Pandey who brought him to justice. This conversation took place soon after the dreaded outlaw was handed over to the Karnataka police team headed by Pandey, by their counterparts in Senegal at the international airport in the West African country.

February 22 was a day of reckoning for Pandey, when he arrested Pujari in Senegal and got him extradited to India. Pandey and his team brought Pujari to Bengaluru on the midnight of February 23/24 in a closely guarded cross-continent operation. Pandey had worked hard for the D-day for 20 months since the time he was tasked with Pujaris extradition by a former state police chief in July 2018. He worked through a maze of clues; often dead leads that he had hoped would get him to identify Pujari.

Ravi Pujari (wearing white cap) being brought out of Kempegowda International Airport early on Monday morning. (Photo | Pandarinath B, EPS)

I didnt know what he looked like. It was like chasing a ghost. Pujari was on the run for more than two decades and his last photograph available was of 1994. There were some photographs of him on the Internet, including the one in a swimming pool. I sieved through the news reports on Pujari andall that was available on him on the Net and began tracking his extortion calls. But soon I hit a wall. Pujari was using Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) to make extortion calls.

His phone number was not reflected in his calls. Initial investigation showed that he was making calls using SIMs of different countries. He had not used the same SIM for two calls, narrated Pandey. In December 2018, the officer got an input that his hunt could end in Burkina Faso but by the time he could act on it, Pujari had moved out.

First, we tracked Pujaris extortion calls: Police official

Tracking Pujaris call list had revealed a certain geography from where he was making the extortion calls. That was the first tangible clue on hand. I was sure that he was overseas and hypothetically, in Africa. I started making efforts through the Ministry of External Affairs and reached out to the Indian embassies, and through them, the local agencies, where I suspected Pujari could be hiding. The second input of him being in Senegal got me the man. Based on our inputs the Senegal police arrested him from a salon in Dakar on January 19, 2019. His identity was previously confirmed by matching his fingerprints in the Bala Zalte murder case in Mumbai in 1994 against which there was a Red Corner Notice issued against Pujari with his fingerprints, said Pandey.

The don had been in judicial custody in Senegal since his arrest. The process of extradition took time because Pujari had the right to appeal against it. On February 19 he exhausted all his legal options when the Supreme Court of Senegal rejected his extradition plea. On the midnight of February 18 we had boarded the flight on way to Senegal to get Pujari back, said the police officer.At the airport, I told Pujari that we were taking him back to India. Tumhara extradition ho gaya hai. (You have been extradited). He was stressed and looked nervous when he was handed over to us. I asked him if he was alright. He was emotional on the flight, said Pandey.

Pujari was arrested in Senegal on February 22 by Pandey and his select team comprising Sandeep Patil, Joint Commissioner, Crime, Bengaluru City Police, and Siddappa Mallappa Bottelin and Jayaprakash Chandramohan of the Central Crime Branch (CCB). His extradition is on a bilateral agreement between India and Senegal since we dont have the extradition treaty with them. That he will not be given capital punishment is one of the caveats, added Pandey.

Blood dossier to be re-investigated



Pujaris blood dossier will be re-investigated by the CCB. The first case on hand is the infamous 2007 Shabnam Developers murder case, which was allegedly committed by one of Pujaris henchmen
Area Girl Scouts took a whirlwind trip around the world on Friday night without even leaving the Great Lakes Bay Region.

Nineteen troops gathered at Trinity Lutheran Church in Midland in celebration of World Thinking Day to learn more about other countries.

World Thinking Day was established in 1926 when delegates from the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and Girl Scouts of the USA gathered at Camp Edith Macy. They agreed to recognize Feb. 22 as a special day for both organizations. Local Girl Scouts congregated a day early in the Gathering Room at Trinity Lutheran, where 17 booths were set up with information, food and SWAPS (special whatchmacallit affectionately pinned somewhere).

Troop 50219 presented the country of Australia, with pins of koalas to hand out as well as fairy bread, which is white bread with butter and sprinkles.

"Most animals native of Australia are found nowhere else in the world including the koala, kangaroo, dingo and platypus," said Tiffany Curran, 9, of Midland.

Many of the Girl Scouts came dressed up in outfits traditionally oriented with their chosen countries, including kimonos from Japan, checkered flannel shirts representing Canada, and skirts and headdresses for Romania.

After reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, Girl Scout promise and law, nine troops presented quick skits about their countries. Performances included a version of a Chinese dragon dance, a discussion about the difference between llamas and alpacas in Peru, a maypole dance from Sweden, and a recital of the children's singing game "London Bridge Is Falling Down" for England. Afterward, all the girls were free to roam between the tables.

Amy Rankin, of Midland, who is with Troop 50834, hoped the girls learned about other countries and the worldwide organization of Girl Scouts.

"One of the things that we say is that we're a sister to every Girl Scout," she said. "They can see that there are Girl Scouts/Girl Guides in other countries, and that we're all unified by that movement."

For more information about how to join Girl Scouts in the Midland area, contact Alana Plamondon at aplamondon@gshom.org or 989-399-7241.
The spread of coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, to and within Europe has sparked huge concern among travellers.

Several towns in northern Italy have gone into isolation, while a hotel in Tenerife is now on lockdown.

For holidaymakers with advance bookings, these are the key travel questions and answers:

Is northern Italy off limits?

No. The latest Foreign Office travel advice to Italy warns against all but essential travel to 10 small towns in Lombardy (mainly southeast of Milan) and one in Veneto (south of Vicenza). They are currently under lockdown because of the coronavirus. None is a familiar tourist destination.

The health secretary, Matt Hancock, has said that anyone returning from the 11 towns should self-isolate for two weeks.

In addition, anyone returning from northern Italy with possible symptoms of Covid-19 should also self-isolate.

The symptoms are similar to a heavy cold: sneezing, itchiness and a blocked or runny nose. Maybe a cough, tightness of the chest, adds Dr Simon Clarke of the University of Reading.

If you do [show symptoms], quarantine yourself for a couple of weeks.

Travel to the region is continuing, although British Airways has cancelled 22 return flights between London Heathrow and Milans Linate airport over the next two weeks.

A BA spokesperson said: To match reduced demand due to the continuing coronavirus issue, we are merging a small number of flights to and from Milan.

We will be contacting customers on cancelled flights so we can discuss their travel options including alternative British Airways flights within two hours of their original departure time, full refunds or booking for a later date of travel.

Meanwhile, the regional airline Flybe is allowing passengers booked to Milan Malpensa to postpone their journey or choose a credit to the value of their ticket to be used in the next year: Flybe recognises that some of its customers booked to travel on flights between Birmingham and Milan Malpensa may wish to change their travel plans in light of the current coronavirus situation affecting parts of Northern Italy.

You can rebook your flight on the same route for any future date, providing that seats are still available at the same price as that originally paid. If you would like to choose an alternate flight, please note that we will waive any change fee for your booking, however you will have to pay any change in fare (if higher than your original fare).

Alternatively, if you are unsure of your future travel dates we will offer you a voucher to the full value of your booking valid for 12 months from the date of issue.

I have a short break to Italy planned for this weekend. What are my options?

You can decide not to travel if you wish, of course, but you are likely to lose most or all of your money.

The Foreign Office warning does not apply to any tourist areas of Italy, and therefore airlines and tour operators are continuing to run trips as normal.

The only possible grounds for cancellation are if you have booked a package holiday with a specific purpose, for example going to see a sporting event that is cancelled (or ordered to be played behind closed doors), or a cultural tour focused on a specific museum which is now closed.

Since such a holiday would be regarded as significantly changed, you have the right under the Package Travel Regulations to get a full refund. But normal holidays have no such entitlement.

I am booked into a hotel close to the H10 in Costa Adeje, Tenerife, which is currently in lockdown. Can I cancel?

Local reports said that guests staying at the hotel have been prevented from leaving. But you cannot cancel trips to the island without penalty.

A spokesperson for Jet2 Holidays said: We are aware of reports that a non-Jet2holidays customer staying at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace in Tenerife has tested positive for coronavirus. Under the advice of the regional and the Spanish authorities, the hotel has been placed under quarantine.

We have stopped all sales to the hotel, and customers who are due to travel to the hotel will be transferred to other accommodation.

In line with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office advice, our flying programme remains unchanged.

The health and safety of our customers is our absolute priority, and we will continue to release more information as it becomes available.

A spokesperson for Tui, Britains biggest holiday company, said: Our holiday programme to Tenerife continue to operate as planned for all other hotels.

We will provide a further update as soon as we have more information.

Can I claim from my travel insurance if I decide not to travel?

If there is no general warning against travel to a destination, your decision will be classed as disinclination to travel  which is not covered by standard travel insurance policies.

I am in a high-risk group. Does that change things?

The vast majority of people who contract the coronavirus make a full recovery. The people at highest risk are elderly travellers and those with a weakened immune system, for example because of cancer treatment.

If you have a travel insurance policy that takes account of your age and/or pre-existing conditions (for which you may have paid significantly more for than the standard cover), and your GP advises against travel, then you may be able to make a successful claim.

Is it correct that travel insurers will not pay out for claims associated with the coronavirus as it is a known risk?

This is only true for policies taken out after late January, when coronavirus became widely known. Policies taken out before then will continue to cover you  as long as you dont stray into one of the locations to which the Foreign Office advises against travel.

 Coronavirus: Emergency tents erected overnight outside A&Es in Mondovi north west Italy to help deal with outbreak

What countries are on the no-go list?

The only general travel warning from the Foreign Office is for mainland China: it advises against travelling to the whole of the Peoples Republic of China, except for Hong Kong and Macau. The Foreign Office says British citizens should get out while they can  before more flights are cancelled and more countries ban travellers who have recently been to China.

The Foreign Office is also warning against travel to the parts of Italy and South Korea which have been ruled off-limits because of the local quarantine measures, but British holidaymakers wouldnt be going there anyway.

Are people travelling elsewhere in Asia at particular risk?

No. The coronavirus does not constitute grounds for abandoning a trip. There are some much more serious dangers that you need to protect against.

Dengue fever and other diseases transmitted by mosquitoes are most abundant in towns, cities and surrounding areas. Rabies is another concern. And the number one killer of British travellers abroad is road accidents. Vietnam has the most dangerous roads on the planet.

If I do go ahead with my travel plans, what precautions should I take?

Compared with the multitude of other risks on the average holiday, the chances of being anywhere near someone with this unpleasant virus are very low  and drastically reduced if you keep washing your hands thoroughly and avoid people who look unwell. Practice good travel hygiene, which we should all be doing at all times.

1. Wash your hands frequently, and carry hand sanitiser just in case soap and water are not readily available. Avoid touching your face if you possibly can.

2. Keep your distance from people who are obviously sick.

3. Avoid direct contact with animals.

What about on planes? Its very difficult to keep your distance.

Airline passengers are inevitably in close proximity to lots of people whose health is unknowable. Plenty of people say they have picked up coughs and colds on planes. But aircraft are fitted with good filtration systems, and if diseases do spread, it tends to be restricted to the few people around one individual.

I believe a bigger risk is presented at airports, where microbiological hazards from across the globe are most concentrated.

What are the long-term lessons we can learn from this, which could help travellers in the future?

Keep risks in perspective. Statistically, travel has never been safer. But if you are risk-averse, then dont commit months in advance for a trip
- Minister for communication, Ursula Owusu Ekurful has said there was no way the sitting government would allow the NDC come to power

- She added that it would be over their dead bodies should the NDC come to power

- Ursula said the real owners of Ghana are in charge now since the good people of Ghana only deserve quality leadership

Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

The minister for communication, Ursula Owusu Ekurful, has made certain comments that members of the opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC), would not be so happy with.

According to her, there was no way the sitting government, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), would allow the NDC to come to power. She added that it would be over their dead bodies for the NDC to come to power.

Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM, she added that the real owners of Ghana are in charge now, since the good people of Ghana only deserve quality leadership.

"We aren't going to allow the NDC to ever come to power. Over our dead body. The real owners of Ghana are now in charge. Whatever the NDC has chopped in the past they should keep it but we are sounding a note of warning to them that they will never see power again. Ghana deserves quality leadership and not this bunch of incompetent people," she said.

READ ALSO: Napo reacts to GETfund scholarship; says he hasn't received any funds as a minister

Ghanaians have however shared their thoughts and ideas on the comments made by the minister in a native post by YEN.com.gh

Emmanuel gave her a gentle reminder of what awaits them in December 2020.

Robert said NPP is no different from NDC.

Antoine said since the power is in the hands of the NPP.

Abubakar said this goes to confirm what he has been trumpeting for quite a long time. The Ashantis and NPP thinking the country is theirs.

Jacob said the fact that NPP belongs to Dambo Busia family and the Akans doesn't make it a bona fide owner of Ghana.

READ ALSO: GETFund brouhaha: Top NPP officials listed as beneficiaries

Meanwhile, a performance audit report from the Auditor-General on the activities of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) from 2012 to 2018 has revealed serious breaches and infractions.

According to the report sighted by YEN.com.gh, GETFund instead of funding eduction of brilliant and needy students, paid huge sums of monies as scholarships for politicians and rich people.

The Auditor-Generals report noted that the administrators of GETFund deprived the needy students and rather favored the politician and well-to-do.

READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo maintains Bawumia as running mate for 2020 polls

"I don't believe there is a president in Ghana" - Frustrated taxi driver speaks | #Yencomgh Read more: https://yen.com.gh/148183-getfund-brouhaha-top-npp-officials-listed-beneficiaries.htm

Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh
The plague of locusts ravaging East Africa has spread to the Congo, marking the first time the crop-chomping insects have been spotted in the country in 75 years.

The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation said the cluster of desert locusts arrived on Friday on the western shore of Lake Alberta near the town of Bunia.

Since spawning on the Ethiopia-Somalia border, winds have blown the swarms inland where they have since blitzed a path of destruction through pastures in Kenya, Djibouti, Eritrea, Tanzania, Sudan and South Sudan.

Governments are scrambling to prevent the billion-strong swarms - comparable to cities the size of Moscow - from compounding starvation among the population.

A swarm of desert locusts fly over a grazing land in Nakwamuru village, Kenya. Desert locusts have now been spotted in the Congo

A soldier of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces spray plants where the locust swarms will land with insecticides, with the hopes of killing the locusts, in Otuke

Countries have employed aircraft and the army to spray the plants, while desperate locals have employed tactics like banging pots and pans or shooting at them.

The worst outbreak confronting East Africa in 70 years last week spread to South Sudan, where more than half the people already go hungry after years of bloody civil war.

The insects can destroy crops and devastate pasture for animals, and experts have warned that the outbreak is affecting millions of already vulnerable people across the region.

Uganda's government said Tuesday it was trying to contain a large swarm and will need more resources to control the infestation that has spread to over 20 districts in the north.

Soldiers have been battling swarms using hand-held spray pumps, while experts have said aerial spraying is the only effective control.

Samburu men try to fend off the swarm of locusts which are ravaging crop fields and threaten to compound hunger problems

Since spawning on the Ethiopia-Somalia border, winds have blown the swarms inland (pictured in the Puntland region of Somalia)

The UN recently raised its aid appeal from $76million to $138million, saying the need for more help is urgent.

Experts have warned that the number of locusts if unchecked could grow 500 times by June, when drier weather is expected in the region.

A changing climate has contributed to this outbreak as a warming Indian Ocean means more powerful tropical cyclones hitting the region.

A cyclone late last year in Somalia brought heavy rains that fed fresh vegetation to fuel the locusts that were carried in by the wind from the Arabian Peninsula.

A new generation of the locusts has been growing up in the Somalia desert in recent weeks, preparing to take flight as the next wave headed toward Kenya, Ethiopia and beyond.

There have been six major desert locust plagues in the 1900s, the last of which was in 1987-89. The last major upsurge was in 2003-05.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  The head of an Iranian government task force on the coronavirus who had urged the public not to overreact about its spread has tested positive for the illness himself, authorities said Tuesday, as new cases emanating from the country rapidly emerged across the Middle East.

Only a day earlier, a coughing and heavily sweating Iraj Harirchi said at a televised news conference in Tehran that the situation is almost stable in the country.

The acknowledgement of Harirchis illness underscores a growing crisis of confidence felt by many in Iran after nationwide economic protests, a U.S. drone striking killing a top Iranian general and Iran accidentally shooting down a commercial jetliner and insisting for days that it hadnt.

Iran on Tuesday also saw a crucial air link cut to the United Arab Emirates, home to the worlds busiest airport for international travel in Dubai, as Bahrain announced more confirmed cases of the virus from passengers who transited through the UAE. The number of cases also increased sharply elsewhere in the region.

Qatar Airways, one of the Mideasts biggest carriers, also said it was essentially halting operations to Iran and South Korea until further notice.

Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour confirmed Harirchi had the virus. Harirchi himself posted an online video saying he had it and that he had quarantined himself at home. He promised that authorities would bring the virus under control.

I wanted to tell you that, rest assured that with efforts of your servants at the Health Ministry  and backed by you people, the government and all elements of the establishment, we will be victorious in our combat against this virus within the next few weeks, Harirchi said.

On Monday, however, he had offered a far different assessment while repeatedly wiping his brow while standing beside government spokesman Ali Rabiei.

Currently the situation is almost stable in the country and we could manage to minimize the problem, Harirchi said. He also said that quarantines belong to the Stone Age.

That optimism, while no longer held by Harirchi, also appeared to be undercut by Jahanpour himself on Tuesday. The Health Ministry spokesman suggested it may take at least until Nowruz, the Persian New Year on March 20, for Iran to reach a point where the virus was contained. He added that a more pessimistic assessment suggested Iran would contain it by late April.

We dont expect a miracle in the short term, Jahanpour said.

A prominent pro-reform lawmaker, Mamoud Sadeghi of Tehran, also said in a tweet that he tested positive for the virus.

The coronavirus has infected more than 80,000 people globally, causing about 2,700 deaths, mainly in China. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19.

Jahanpour on Tuesday said 15 people had died in Iran so far amid 95 confirmed cases. However, experts remain concerned Iran may be underreporting cases and deaths, given the rapid spread from Iran across the Persian Gulf.

A hard-line lawmaker in Iran alleged Monday there had been 50 deaths in the Iranian city of Qom alone, which was denied by authorities.

What do you have to say about those buried in Qom cemetery? tweeted lawmaker Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani. Practitioners in hospitals write respiratory problems as the cause of death. But you know that they are from those quarantined for corona.

While Farahanis politics make him eager to undercut moderate President Hassan Rouhani, his earlier warning that Qoms top doctor fighting the coronavirus also had been infected has proven to be true.

Rouhani said he opposed closing public and government offices.

This is one of the plots by the enemy to shut down the country through spreading fear, he said in a speech, although he also urged people to avoid crowds, including at major Shiite shrines.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. is deeply concerned that Iran may have suppressed vital details about the outbreak.

All nations, including Iran, should tell the truth about the coronavirus and cooperate with international aid organizations, he said.

The UAEs General Civil Aviation Authority said it would halt all flights to and from Iran. The announcement came hours after busy Dubai International Airport said there would be restrictions on flights there.

The UAE, home to long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad, remains a key international transit route for Irans 80 million people.

All passenger and cargo aircraft traveling to and from Iran will be suspended for a period of one week, and could be up for extension, the authority said.

Passengers on a Mahan Air flight from Tehran to Dubai on Tuesday said their flight was delayed some two hours, only to repeatedly circle the UAE city-state, then land and sit for another two hours before authorities agreed to let them off. The passengers, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution, said authorities let them walk off one at a time while being monitored with a thermal scanner.

Emirates, the government-owned carrier based in Dubai, flies daily to Tehran. Its low-cost partner airline, FlyDubai, serves several Iranian cities, as does the Sharjah-based low-cost carrier Air Arabia.

The announcement came after Bahrain said it would suspend all flights from Dubai and Sharjah, a neighboring UAE emirate home to Air Arabia, for 48 hours. The small island nation off Saudi Arabia announced its first cases of the virus on Monday. By Tuesday, Bahrain said it had 23 confirmed cases.

Dubai had been screening passengers on flights from China, where the outbreak began in December. Emirates and Etihad still fly to Beijing as the UAE works to maintain close ties with China.

Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq and Oman also announced their first cases of the virus Monday and connected them to travel with Iran. The UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula, has reported 13 cases of the virus. Most of those were connected to Chinese travel.

Also Tuesday, Kuwait raised the number of its infected cases from five to eight, according to the state-run KUNA news agency. It said the three latest cases involved Kuwaiti citizens just back from Iran. The five previously reported cases were passengers on a flight from the Iranian city of Mashhad, where Irans government has not yet announced a single case of the virus.

Iraqs Health Ministry said four new cases of coronavirus were diagnosed in the northern province of Kirkuk. It said the afflicted were members of an Iraqi family who had returned recently from Iran. Iraq announced its first case Monday in the Shiite Muslim holy city of Najaf: an Iranian student who has since returned to Iran.

The northern region, which shares a border with Iran, is a hub of economic activity and the primary gateway for the Kurdistan Regional Government to import Iranian goods and fuel, and Kurds in Erbil lined up for gas, fearing shortages. The KRG also suspended working hours across educational institutions for a month.

Harirchi, the ailing Iranian official, had the following advice for worried Iranians: Take care of yourselves. This virus is a democrat virus! It does not differentiate between the rich and the poor or official and nonofficial and anyone could get it.

___

Associated Press writers Aya Batrawy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Nasser Karimi, Saeed Sarmadi, Mohammad Nasiri and Mehdi Fattahi in Tehran, Iran; Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey; Munir Ahmed in Islamabad; and Samya Kullab in Baghdad contributed.
Angela Orosz-Richt is the youngest Canadian survivor of Auschwitz  and she has a story to tell.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Angela Orosz-Richt is the youngest Canadian survivor of Auschwitz  and she has a story to tell.

The Montreal resident was born Dec. 21, 1944, in the death camp in German-occupied Poland.

Friso Gentsch / The Associated Press Holocaust survivor Angela Orosz-Richt speaks in Winnipeg Thursday evening.

Her mother, Vera Bein, was three months pregnant in May 1944, when she and her husband were deported by the Nazis from Hungary.

"She kept her pregnancy a secret from everyone," said Orosz-Richt, 75, adding her mother was experimented on at Auschwitz by the infamous "Angel of Death," Josef Mengele.

The birth was also kept quiet. "We would have been killed if discovered," she said, noting her father died in the camp.

Baby and mother survived and were liberated Jan. 27, 1945. by the advancing Russian army. (Only one other Jewish baby born in the camp survived, Gyorgy Faludi, born the day of liberation.)

In 1973, Orosz-Richt immigrated to Canada from Hungary, joining her mother who arrived in 1966. For decades, she lived a private, busy life, saying nothing about her experience.

"I was busy making a living, looking after my family," she said, adding "it was too painful to remember."

As well, she didnt want to reawaken painful memories for her mother, who died in 1992.

All that changed five years ago, when she returned to Auschwitz on the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the camp. At first, she didnt want to go, but now shes glad she did.

"I woke up," she said of the visit. "I realized God spared me for a reason. It opened my eyes to the need for me to tell my story."

She also wants to acknowledge her mother in her storytelling. "I want to make sure her fight to save my life is not forgotten. In spite of giving birth to me in the worst nightmare imaginable, she never gave up."

Orosz-Richt will share her story Thursday, 7 p.m., at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, 561 Wellington Cres. Admission is $5.

In addition to making presentations across Canada, Orosz-Richt also volunteers at the Montreal Holocaust Museum and speaks at local schools about the need to fight against racism and anti-Semitism.

"As the years go by, I see how important the work of education is," Orosz-Richt said, noting she still meets people who dont know about the Holocaust. "We need to tell people the Holocaust is true: it happened."

One of the best ways to do that, she added, is to see and hear a survivor. "Thats different than reading about it in a book. It can wake something in others."

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.

In this, she feels a sense of urgency. "Soon we survivors will all be gone."

Roberta Malam, assistant program director at Winnipeg's Rady Jewish Community Centre, feels the same way.

"In a decade or so, there could be no living witnesses left," she said, noting there about 125 survivors in Winnipeg and an estimated 10,000 in Canada.

Although, as a Jew, she feels a special connection to the Holocaust, it is "everybodys history," Malam said.

She hopes people will come away from the evening with Orosz-Richt with a renewed sense of hope things can be better for everyone if "we come together, stand up for others and be advocates for change."

faith@freepress.mb.ca
Finance Minister Tito Mboweni will deliver one of the toughest Budget Speeches to date on 26 February 2020.

Whatever he announces will have a massive impact on individuals and businesses  and its likely that tax increases will be one measure to revive the economy.

Its hard not to get caught up in the cloud of negativity hanging over the country: the budget deficit is at its highest in 20 years; investor confidence is low; unemployment is at record levels; the tax base is declining as more businesses resort to retrenchments; economic growth is dismal, dragged down by flailing State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs); and the threat of being downgraded to junk status is still very real.

Speaking in a recent podcast, Yolandi Esterhuizen, registered tax practitioner and Compliance Manager for Sage Africa & Middle East, and Gerhard Hartman, Vice President for Medium Business, Sage Africa & Middle East, discussed the tough decisions the Minister will need to make, and how businesses can help to soften the blow, not only for their own organisations but for the country in general.

Between a rock and a hard place

The Minister will have little option but to increase taxes. This could include hikes in personal income tax and value-added tax (VAT), and will very likely include increases in fuel levies and sin taxes. We can only hope that this money will be allocated where its needed most  education, job creation, and stabilising the power grid.

Yes, its a bleak picture, but we were in a similar situation in the early 90s and we pulled through. But if theres one thing weve proven as South Africans, its that, when we apply our minds to something, we make it happen. And we can pull through again.

What we need  and what global investors will be listening out for in the Budget Speech  is a plan with concrete timelines, and a commitment from all stakeholders to execute it. Crucially, theyll want accountability, especially when it comes to struggling SOEs like Eskom and SAA. Theyll want confident communication that the government is doing everything possible to turn these businesses around, to escape a ratings downgrade.

That said, we cant only rely on the government to make change happen. We all have a role to play, as individuals and businesses, to fix South Africa. We should view the upcoming Budget Speech not as a harbinger of more bad news, but as an opportunity to engage on the economic policies and initiatives that are available to businesses to turn things around.

Look for the silver lining

The Employment Tax Incentive (ETI) and the Youth Employment Services programme are excellent initiatives aimed at creating employment and skills development opportunities for young people. Yet few businesses take advantage, either because theyre not aware of them, they dont want the extra administrative burden, or they dont understand the compliance requirements.

The ETI and Youth Employment Services programme incentivise businesses to employ young people through a reduced PAYE bill and extra points towards their Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) scores, respectively.

But the real motivation should be an opportunity to give back to their communities and to contribute to South Africas recovery by equipping the youth with the skills and knowledge to either start their own businesses or to make them immediately employable.

These are just two avenues that businesses can start using immediately to grow their operations and to reduce the unemployment rate. They deserve ample airtime in the Budget Speech so that more businesses are made aware of the immediate value and long-term benefits.

Building business resilience

To survive tough economic times, businesses need to manage their finances better and invest in the things that will drive growth and profitability.

Weve already discussed skills development as one such investment, but there are other things you can do to boost your businesss resilience, like:

Being cash smart. Find ways to make any spare cash work for you. If youre in retail, for example, invest in a new product line that will boost your success. If you need to lend money or take out additional capital, think about how youll manage and repay your debt.

Find ways to make any spare cash work for you. If youre in retail, for example, invest in a new product line that will boost your success. If you need to lend money or take out additional capital, think about how youll manage and repay your debt. Appointing people who fit your culture. Find people who believe in your vision for your business and who have the right mindset to take your business forward. Look after your people, invest in their development, and ensure theyre equipped for regular change. Open the lines of communication, offer flexible ways of working, and encourage them to give back to their communities through corporate volunteer programmes.

Find people who believe in your vision for your business and who have the right mindset to take your business forward. Look after your people, invest in their development, and ensure theyre equipped for regular change. Open the lines of communication, offer flexible ways of working, and encourage them to give back to their communities through corporate volunteer programmes. Staying on top of compliance and automating processes. Cloud-based accounting software that evolves with your business can help you to stay on top of your finances and give you insights into your operations. By automating admin-heavy processes, it also frees up your time to focus on your people. With access to accurate, real-time information about your business, youll be able to monitor trends and do forecasting that will help you identify investment opportunities, stay profitable, and service your debt.

Cloud-based accounting software that evolves with your business can help you to stay on top of your finances and give you insights into your operations. By automating admin-heavy processes, it also frees up your time to focus on your people. With access to accurate, real-time information about your business, youll be able to monitor trends and do forecasting that will help you identify investment opportunities, stay profitable, and service your debt. Taking risks. If you dont test your limits, youll never know whats possible. Take the leap of faith  there are so many positive, inspiring stories of entrepreneurs who have taken risks and reaped massive rewards.

If you dont test your limits, youll never know whats possible. Take the leap of faith  there are so many positive, inspiring stories of entrepreneurs who have taken risks and reaped massive rewards. Getting expert advice. Not sure where to start with any of this? Speak to a business analyst or your accountant to help you spot unnoticed opportunities or warning signs.

The cycle of forecasting, investing in your people and opportunities, increasing revenue and profits, and paying off debt is ultimately what will support business success. The moment you step outside this circle, review your situation, make adjustments, and start moving again.

Standing still during tough times is not an option. Businesses need to keep adjusting, adapting, and taking as many people along for the ride as possible.

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Three councils will have to refund almost $20 million in parking fines after it was found they unlawfully outsourced their review process to a private company.

Glen Eira, Port Phillip and Stonnington councils in Melbourne will refund more than 200,000 fines.

The announcement was made after Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass found they acted illegally by outsourcing the review of challenged parking fines to Tenix.

Three councils in Melbourne (pictured) have been forced to refund almost $20 million in parking fines after the Ombudsman found they acted illegally by outsourcing fine reviews

The fines were issued between 2006 and 2016 and take in popular areas including St Kilda and the Chapel Street shopping precinct.

'The legal issues have not been tested in court, so I cannot definitely determine the lawfulness of the councils' actions,' Ms Glass said on Tuesday.

'But I can express my opinion, which is that the three councils acted contrary to law.'

In her report, Ms Glass said the law 'strongly suggests' internal reviews must be decided by the agency issuing the infringement.

The three councils have disagreed with the Ombudsman's findings but agreed to refund the fines anyway.

They argued officials still had the final say over each fine review, but Ms Glass found they 'rubber-stamped' the contractor's recommendations.

In one example, a council officer managed to approve 107 recommendations from a private contractor from 107 fines in just one minute.

Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass said internal reviews must be decided by the agency issuing the infringement

'The suggestion that council officers were making genuine decisions on the evidence was simply not credible,' Ms Glass said.

'It is also apparent that none of the three councils disclosed who was making internal review decisions, each of them providing a similar squiggle by an anonymous officer.'

It comes after Kingston and Monash councils announced last year they would repay 46,000 fines because of similar issues to the tune of $4.9 million.

In a statement, Glen Eira Council said the issue had been 'vexed by multiple and conflicting legal opinions and unclear communications' from the state government.

'While we have always held the view that we were conducting reviews lawfully, we have welcomed the Ombudsman's consideration, and will be guided by her recommendations,' a spokeswoman said.

Port Phillip Council said it believed it had acted lawfully and urged the government 'to rectify this ambiguity in the legislation'.

The refunds will only apply to motorists in the affected areas who appealed their infringement between July of 2006 and August of 2017.
It was a great compliment to our country: Trump on Ahmedabad visit

Trump again offers to mediate between India and Pakistan

Want to leave that to India: Trump on CAA

'We are being charged large amount of tariffs'

US President Donald Trump with PM Modi at Hyderabad House, New Delhi, Feb 25, 2020.

A day after Donald Trump was lavishly welcomed by India, US President and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held extensive talks on several issues including trade and signed deals.

On his day 2 in India, US President Donald Trump started his day by attending a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan in Delhi at 10 am, followed by a visit to Rajghat. The first lady Melania Trump visited a school in Delhi.

At the meeting held in New Delhi's Hyderabad House, Trump and Modi got down to business during the delegation-level talks. Besides the signing of the defence deals and at least five memorandum of understanding (MoUs) on issues ranging from natural gas, trade facilitation to civil nuclear cooperation, the two leaders also reviewed the global and regional situation and discussed ways to take forward bilateral relations.

Later the US President met CEOs of Indian companies, interacted with press at the US embassy and then attended a state banquet at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Here are the highlights of day 2 of President Trump's visit
Several Romanian servicemen participating in the peacekeeping mission in Mali were awarded on Tuesday decorations and distinctions from the Romanian authorities, in a ceremony held in the Camp Castor military base in Gao, being rewarded for their outstanding results in the first mission of the Romanian Air Force under the aegis of the United Nations (UN).

Captain-commander Gabriel Goaga, second-in-command of the Romanian airlift helicopter detachment "Carpathian Puma" deployed in Mali received the "Aeronautical Virtue" Order in the rank of Knight, with military insignia, granted by President Klaus Iohannis. Sergeant Major Daniel Mitrica was decorated with the medal "Aeronautical Virtue" - Class II.At the same time, the Romanian Air Force Staff awarded the Emblem of Merit in the Service of Peace - Class III to Colonel Leonard Lupu and Majors Madalin Toader and Vladimir Zahiu.Under an order signed by the Chief of the Romanian Air Force Staff, the Emblem of Honour was awarded to Major Madalin Toader, sergeant Florina Bratosin, Msgt. Dumitru Stoica and sergeant Elvis Costea.The Emblem of Honor of the Romanian Air Force was also awarded to the Honorary Consul of Romania in Bamako, Aly Sayegh.The decorations and distinctions were handed by the head of the Joint Forces Command, General Dorin Ionita.The Romanian airlift helicopter detachment "Carpathian Puma" has been participating since October 2019 in the multidimensional UN integrated stabilization mission in the Republic of Mali, performing medical evacuation missions, air patrol, search-rescue, search and reconnaissance, troop transport, VIP transport and transport of materials to provide logistical support.As many as 120 Romanian soldiers are deployed in Camp Castor in Gao. The UN mission in Mali is one of assistance to the government of this country, amidst the instability generated by intertribal disputes and the presence of Islamist groups, some affiliated with the Al Qaeda group.
Eight Year-Old Boy Dies In A Well In Kano

An eight-year-old boy, Ahmed Isyaku, has died after falling into a well at Kadebawa in Garko Local Government Area of Kano State.

The spokesman of the State Fire Service, Alhaji Saidu Mohammed, made the disclosure in Kano on Tuesday. Mohammed said that the incident occurred on Monday evening when the deceased went to fetch water.

We received a distress call from one Malam Tijjani Ayuba at about 5:05 p.m.

On receiving the information, we quickly sent our rescue team to the scene at about 5:40 p.m.

Ahmed was found dead and his corpse was handed over to his father, Malam Isyaku, of Kadebawa village, he added.
supplies to India have jumped ten-fold to 2,50,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the last few years, visiting US Secretary Dan Brouillette said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a business meeting alongside US President Donald Trump, he said Indian imports of were 25,000 bpd a couple of year ago, and have now risen to 2,50,000 bpd.

US is India's sixth largest oil supplier.

India began importing crude oil from the US in 2017 as it looked to diversify its import basket beyond the OPEC nations. It bought 1.9 million tonnes (38,000 bpd) of crude oil from the US in 2017-18 and another 6.2 million tonnes (1,24,000 bpd) in 2018-19.

In the first six months of current fiscal (2019-20), US supplied 5.4 million tonnes of crude oil to India.

Iraq is India's top crude oil supplier, meeting close to one-fourth of the country's oil needs. It sold 26 million tonnes of crude oil to India during April to September.

India, which is 83 per cent dependent on imports to meet its oil needs, bought 111.4 million tonnes of crude oil from overseas during April-September.

Saudi Arabia has traditionally been India's top oil source, but has been relegated to the second spot, exporting 20.7 million tonnes of crude oil in the first six months.
Cambia's commitment to ethics is grounded in our Cause to transform health care to be more person-centric and economically sustainable for people and their families. Cambia pursues innovative partnerships to simplify consumers' health care experiences, empowering them with the tools and human support to best navigate their health journeys.

Cambia Health Solutions has been recognized the past three years and is one of two companies being honored in Oregon this year. In 2020, 132 honorees were recognized spanning 21 countries and 51 industries.

"We are honored and humbled by this recognition. Cambia is privileged to serve people and their families at some of the most difficult and challenging moments in their lives. What we do matters greatly, and it is equally important to hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards as we work together to make health care better," said Mark Ganz, CEO of Cambia Health Solutions. "We are a human organization; we will make mistakes. How we respond, learn and grow is a reflection of our values and culture."

"Cambia Health Solutions is dedicated to their cause of ethics, innovation and upholding the trust placed in them by their local communities," said Ethisphere's Chief Executive Officer, Timothy Erblich. "From their ethics podcast for employees to the ways they encourage people to speak up and ask questions, we see them reinforcing the highest possible standards and taking their ethical commitment to the next level."

Methodology & Scoring

Grounded in Ethisphere's proprietary Ethics Quotient, the World's Most Ethical Companies assessment process includes more than 200 questions on culture, environmental and social practices, ethics and compliance activities, governance, diversity and initiatives to support a strong value chain. The process serves as an operating framework to capture and codify the leading practices of organizations across industries and around the globe. Best practices and insights from the 2020 honorees will be released in a report and webcast in March and April of this year.

All companies that participate in the assessment process receive an Analytical Scorecard providing them a holistic assessment of where their programs stand against the demanding standards of leading companies.

Honorees

The full list of the 2020 World's Most Ethical Companies can be found at https://worldsmostethicalcompanies.com/honorees.

About Cambia Health Solutions

Cambia Health Solutions, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is dedicated to transforming health care. We put people at the heart of everything we do as we work to make the health care system more economically-sustainable and efficient for people and their families. Our company reaches nearly 70 million Americans nationwide, including more than two million people in the Pacific Northwest. To learn more about us, visit CambiaHealth.com or Twitter.com/Cambia .

About the Ethisphere Institute

The Ethisphere Institute is the global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices that fuel corporate character, marketplace trust and business success. Ethisphere has deep expertise in measuring and defining core ethics standards using data-driven insights that help companies enhance corporate character and measure and improve culture. Ethisphere honors superior achievement through its World's Most Ethical Companies recognition program and provides a community of industry experts with the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA). More information about Ethisphere can be found at: https://ethisphere.com.

SOURCE Cambia Health Solutions

Related Links

www.cambiahealth.com


(Bloomberg) -- Follow Bloomberg on LINE messenger for all the business news and analysis you need.

A long-simmering power struggle in Malaysia boiled over on Monday, with Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad kicking off a leadership race with his main coalition partner that could finally determine his successor.

Mahathir abruptly submitted his resignation to the king on Monday and his party exited the ruling coalition. The monarch accepted the resignation, dismissed the cabinet and appointed Mahathir as interim prime minister until a new leader emerges.

While the outcome of the power struggle is unknown, its another stunning twist in the decades-long rivalry between Mahathir and Anwar Ibrahim. The distrust between them dates back to the 1990s, when Anwar was ousted from Mahathirs cabinet and arrested for sodomy.

The re-emergence of political instability pummeled investors on Monday, and threatens the economy at a time when the global coronavirus epidemic and trade wars are hurting growth. Malaysias benchmark stock index entered a bear market for the first time in 12 years, while the ringgit slumped to the lowest in almost six months.

It remained unclear whether Mahathir would form a new administration with other political parties, whether Anwar would retain enough lawmakers to lead the government, or whether a new election would take place. Azmin Ali, who was Anwars deputy and a rival to succeed Mahathir, left his party with 10 other lawmakers to form an independent bloc, saying it aimed to thwart a plot to topple the 94-year-old prime minister.

Mahathir could end up having more power in determining who joins the next government after this episode, according to Bridget Welsh, an associate professor at John Cabot University in Italy who writes frequently about Malaysian politics.

Short Window

Mahathir has a short window to show he can form a stable government with the numbers, Welsh said. Otherwise there will likely be a call for elections.

Story continues

The drama had been building for months as Mahathir refused to set a firm date for handing over power to Anwar. The long-time rivals had joined hands ahead of elections in 2018 for a stunning victory that ousted the previous coalition, which had ruled Malaysia for six decades.

When it took power, the new administration sought to usher in a new era of transparency and good governance, marking a rare victory for democracy and openness in Asia. It prosecuted former Prime Minister Najib Razak for corruption in the 1MDB scandal, and promised policies that aimed at helping Malaysians of all races rather than just the Malay majority.

Never Happened Before

The outcome of the power struggle could determine whether Malaysia continues moving toward policies that treat all races equally, or reverts toward a model aimed at giving preferential treatment to Malays and indigenous groups who make up nearly 70% of the population. Those policies had prompted many educated ethnic-Chinese and Indians to look for work overseas, draining Southeast Asias fourth-biggest economy of some of its top talent.

This has never happened before in Malaysia, said James Chin, a Malaysian academic and a political analyst who heads the Asia Institute at the University of Tasmania. What we have now is a political play to bring in a stronger Malay government, and thats essentially it. Previously the opposition were accusing the government of being too much under the control of the Chinese.

Tensions came to a head over the weekend. On Friday, the ruling coalition announced that it unanimously agreed Mahathir would stay in power through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings this year, and retain the authority to decide whether to step down at all.

But on Sunday, that all appeared to unravel. Anwar confirmed that some members of his party were working with Mahathirs camp to form a new government, and they had met with the king. That included Azmin, Anwars rival: He later hosted members of Najibs old party the United Malays National Organisation, or UMNO; the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, or PAS; and Mahathirs party, called Bersatu.

The Sarawak Report, an online media outlet, reported that Azmin triggered the political upheaval because he was upset about the Friday agreement that Anwar would eventually succeed Mahathir. The group on Monday denied accusations of betrayal, blaming Anwar instead.

Those who tried to topple the prime minister in the middle of the term are the real traitors as they prioritized an agenda to take the prime ministerial power, Azmins bloc said in a statement late Monday, adding that it would still support Mahathir as prime minister.

By Tuesday morning, it was still unclear which side would command the 112 out of 222 members of parliament needed for a majority.

Even before this latest twist, Malaysias political rhetoric had become increasingly divisive, with UMNO playing up racial sentiment and accusing the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition of undermining Malay rights. A coalition that unites Mahathirs Bersatu party with UMNO and PAS would include the key parties that represent ethnic Malays under one roof, leaving Anwars Peoples Justice Party and the predominately ethnic-Chinese Democratic Action Party to represent a multicultural-led platform -- if they hold together.

Usurp Power

Still, both Anwar and Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said Mahathir assured them he wouldnt work with UMNO. Several other political parties in the coalition, including the DAP, said they would continue backing Mahathir.

Suffice that we are clear so far, Anwar told reporters after meeting with Mahathir on Monday. It was a very good meeting and I am touched by his attitude and stance to not bow down to a group that wants to usurp power without setting an agenda of change.

--With assistance from Yantoultra Ngui, Philip J. Heijmans and Adrian Leung.

To contact the reporters on this story: Anisah Shukry in Kuala Lumpur at ashukry2@bloomberg.net;Hadi Azmi in Kuala Lumpur at klnews@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Daniel Ten Kate at dtenkate@bloomberg.net

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

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

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 24, 2020) - North American Nickel Inc. (TSXV: NAN) (OTCQB: WSCRF) (CUSIP: 65704T 108) (the "Company" or "NAN") announces it has granted incentive stock options to certain directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company.

The Company has granted incentive stock options to certain directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company to purchase up to 6,650,000 common shares in the capital of the Company pursuant to the Company's stock option plan. All of the options are exercisable for a period of five years at an exercise price of $0.16 per share.

About North American Nickel

North American Nickel is a mineral exploration company with 100% owned properties in Maniitsoq, Greenland and Ontario, Canada.

The Maniitsoq property in Greenland is a Camp scale permitted exploration project comprising 3,048 square km covering numerous high-grade nickel-copper + cobalt sulphide occurrences associated with norite and other mafic-ultramafic intrusions of the Greenland Norite Belt (GNB). The >75km-long belt is situated along, and near, the southwest coast of Greenland accessible from the existing Seqi deep water port with an all year-round shipping season and hydroelectric power potential from a quantified watershed.

The Post Creek/Halcyon property in Sudbury is strategically located adjacent to the past producing Podolsky copper-nickel-platinum group metal deposit of KGHM International Ltd. The property lies along the extension of the Whistle Offset dyke structure. Such geological structures host major Ni-Cu-PGM deposits and producing mines within the Sudbury Camp.

The Company recently completed an earn-in agreement with the option to acquire 100% ownership of property near Timmins, Ontario known as Loveland Nickel. The property is underlain by a mineralized differentiated mafic-ultramafic intrusion that hosts the historic non 43-101 compliant Enid Creek historic resource estimate. The Company has also acquired 100% ownership of property near the southern extent of the Lingman Lake Greenstone Belt in northwest Ontario known as Lingman Nickel and in the Quetico region near Thunder Bay Ontario. The acquisition of these properties are part of the company's strategy to develop a pipeline of new nickel projects. The Company is evaluating direct and indirect nickel asset acquisition opportunities globally.

Story continues

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Keith Morrison

Chief Executive Officer

North American Nickel Inc.

For more information contact:

North American Nickel Inc.

Jaclyn Ruptash

Corporate Communications

+1 (604) 770-4334

Toll free: 1-866-816-0118

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

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of the Company. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements about the ability of the Company to access capital to satisfy the fees and expenditures under the earn-in agreement, the ability of the Company to complete the expenditures under the earn-in agreement, spending commitments, the success of exploration activities, the future economics of minerals including nickel and copper, the benefits of the development potential of the properties of the Company, the benefits of drilling and advancement of projects, engagement and dialogue with First Nations groups and formalizing the scope of work. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including the risks identified in the Company's disclosure documents available at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Statements concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered if the property is developed.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52754
24 February 2020, will probably go down in history as the most dramatic and confusing day in Malaysia. What began as a fairly normal Monday quickly turned into the biggest clusterfuck of betrayals, defections, and plots since Game Of Thrones ended.

Heres a summary of betrayals past, and a list of possible betrayals to come:

1. Azmin Ali betrays PKR

On Sunday evening, PKRs Deputy President Azmin Ali met with 130 MPs from Bersatu, UMNO, PAS, Warisan, and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) at the Sheraton hotel in Petaling Jaya.

The purpose was to plot a parliamentary coup. Mahathirs Bersatu and Azmins PKR allies would defect from the Pakatan Harapan to form a new ruling coalition with UMNO and PAS, who had recently declared their everlasting love for each other. Mahathir can stay as Prime Minister, Anwar can return to the political wilderness and Mr Azmin Ali will become the heir presumptive to this brave new coalition of Bersatu-PKR-UMNO-PAS.

2. Mahathir Betrays Anwar (Again)?

It all sounds very plausible because tensions have been simmering between Anwar and Mahathir for months. Before GE14, it was agreed that Mahathir would leave within the year and hand over the prime ministership to Anwar. One year turned into two, which soon turned into a carte blanche of no time, no date, no nothing. Its up to me whether I want to relinquish or not (Mahathir).

Furthermore, UMNO and PAS have been making overt overtures to Mahathir for months now. Near Valentines day, for example, PAS tabled a vote of confidence in parliament for PM Mahathir because they just love Tun so much. Whoever heard of an opposition party giving a vote of confidence to the sitting Prime Minister?

And lets not forget. Mahathir has already betrayed Anwar once, with the help of his good friend, Datuk Semen-stained Mattress. Hence, it was not entirely inconceivable that the two men had fallen out again.

3. Bersatu Betrays Mahathir

Anwar admits that treachery is afoot. Speaking on Facebook live, he calls out former friends from Bersatu and a small group within his own PKR had betrayed him. The real question is, is Dr Mahathir the mastermind? Is the good doctor villain or victim?

Story continues

On Monday morning, he visits the Prime Ministers Office. Mahathir is working from homepresumably to set a good example for Covid-19. Anwar goes to his house and emerges in the afternoon. He tells the press they had a very good meeting.

All hell breaks loose. Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, the president of Bersatu announces on FB that Bersatu is no longer in a relationship with PH. Mahathir resigns as Prime Minister. More importantly, he also resigns as Bersatus chiefwhich seems to indicate that hes not playing along with whatever Azmin and Muhyiddin is plotting. Azmin visits Mahathir. Anwar tells the press he begged Mahathir not to resign.

Mahathir meets with the king, who accepts his resignation and re-appoints him as interim Prime Minister.

4. Najib Betrays Najib, But Maybe Also Azmin

Last week, The Malaya Postfollowed by Yahooreported that Najib, who still commands a sizable faction within UMNO, had agreed to support a new coalition with Mahathir at the helm.

Today, Najib tells everyone that he had never even heard of The Malaya Post. Malaya Who?

I have never spoken to The Malaya Post. Why pick my name all of a sudden?, he tells The Malay Mail.

He then mocks Azmin by asking where theyre going for dinner tonight. (It is undecided) Whether or not this counts as a betrayal depends on what Najib did or did not promise Azmin.

5. Bersatu Betrays Muhyiddin?

A clearer picture is now emerging of what transpired. It seems that Mahathir did not plot with Azmin and Muhyiddin to join UMNO-PASs Muafakat Nasional. Whatever the hell is going on, it was backroom politics and personal ambitions spilling over into the public. However, with Azmins leaving PKR (with 11 MPs in tow) and Bersatu quitting (taking 26 MPs), Pakatan Harapan no longer has a majority.

So its time for more backroom politics.

Bersatu has called an emergency meeting for 8:30 PM, but it remains to be seen if all of Bersatu MPs will leave the coalition. The first-past-the-post system means that MPs can keep their seats, even if they leave their party. They are not beholden to its President Muhyiddin, or ex-Chairperson Mahathir, and can theoretically reform the Malayan Communist Party if they want.

Hence, theres a great likelihood that Bersatu will be split between Bersatu Mahathir and Bersatu Muhyiddin, making it not very Bersatu. Bersatu a.k.a PPBM was formed in 2016 as an alternative to UMNO. The Star reports that Muhyiddin had forced its members to agree, and its supreme council is divided over the decision to quit Harapan. Hence theres a likelihood that Bersatu members, currently in opposition, might betray Muhyiddin and defect back to the PH.

This would be extremely ironic, because many Bersatu members had defected from BN to PH after GE14.

6. Sarawak Betrays BN?

Even if a majority of Bersatus members re-defect to PH, it might not be enough to restore the majority. In such a scenario, the smaller parties will become kingmakers.

PAS is unlikely to join PH because theyre still in the honeymoon stage with UMNO. UMNO will rather join Israel. That leaves the parties from East Malaysia: Sarawaks GPS and Sabahs Warisan and GPB.

Warisan is on friendly terms with PH, but it only has 9 seats in total. GPS is a Sarawak-based party formed after the decline and fall of Barisan Nasional in GE14. They are currently an opposition party with 18 seats in parliamentenough to replace Azmins PKR defectors. They attended Azmins meeting with UMNO and PAS, but its anyones guess whether theyll join the new PH coalition with Mahathir and Anwar.

In the past, Anwar had tried to woo parties from Sarawak and Sabah, with little avail. Its also extremely unlikely because DAP has been making inroads into Sarawak, pissing GPS off rather badly.

Azmin: Actually, it was Anwar who betrayed Mahathir

After a long day of being called traitor and Judas by the Malaysian press, Azmin Ali came out to say that he did not betray Mahathir. Au contraire, he is just protecting Mahathir from a malicious conspiracy.

In fact, he accuses those who want to set a handover date of being the real traitors, because they want to make Mahathir a lame duck PM. In fact, they did not just betray Dr. M, theyve betrayed the whole of Malaysia because *quote* they prioritise power transition over the implementation of government policies which are aimed at restoring the economy *unquote*.

7. Mahathir Betrays Anwar (Again)?

Of course, theres a possibility this whole thing is being orchestrated by Mahathir in some elaborate 4D chess game so he can stay as PM for another 10 years. After all, its hard to believe the worlds longest-serving politician is so inept at politics he did not see the rumblings of ambition from within his own party and cabinet.

Its even harder to understand why he does not just come out and say: That cocksucker Azmin betrayed me. Fuck him. I stand with Anwar. He is being awfully quiet for a man who simply could not shut up about George Soros, Lazy Malays, The International Jewish Banking Conspiracy and How He Is Not At All A Dictator.

However, Im inclined to believe hes not the mastermind behind The Greatest Betrayal In Malaysia History. Pakatan Harapan, after many tortured negotiations, had already given up on getting him to hand over power. At the Presidential council, they basically gave him free rein to stay as long as he desired. He has full discretion on when to step downa suitable time for retirement was left to Dr. Mahathirs wisdom. Hence, with free rein to do whatever he pleases, it seems unlikely that Mahathir would leave PH to rejoin Najib.

Its not that I trust in his integrity. I trust his vanity.

The man is 94 years-old, and with Covid-19 in the air, he honestly might die any day. I dont think he wants to go down in history as Malaysias oldest and most promiscuous Prime Minister. I dont think he wants to be remembered as the man who saved Malaysia, only to betray it once again, to further entrench the corruption hes spent years railing against.

Nevertheless, he does have a share of the blame for this entire fiasco. By failing to commit to an exact date for the transfer of power to Anwar, and by refusing to honour the pre-election deal, he has weakened the PH coalition and its reform agenda. His refusal to handover has led to backroom dealing and backroom-stabbing on an unprecedented magnitude because everyone was keen to exploit his purported rift with Anwar.

Lets just hope it doesnt descend into further chaos. Theres plenty of time to backstab each other when the Covid-19 outbreak is over.

Is Mahathir actually Sosuke Aizen? Let us know at community@ricemedia.co

The post Top Ten Anime Betrayals Of All Time, Malaysia Edition appeared first on RICE.
Chinese companies are making every effort to ensure smooth progress in their overseas projects amid the novel coronavirus epidemic.

The construction of the Hunutlu Thermal Power Plant Project, China's biggest project with direct investment in Turkey, is underway despite the epidemic.

A meeting aiming to guarantee work safety is held at the Hunutlu Thermal Power Plant Project on Feb. 10. (Photo via the State Power Investment Corporation Limited)

The project undertaken by the Shanghai Electric Power Co., Ltd. (SEP) affiliated to the State Power Investment Corporation Limited, is a flagship project linking the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative with Turkey's "Middle Corridor" vision.

"After the epidemic, we mobilized staff members of all construction companies to continue working, and cancelled the Spring Festival holiday for 120 project managers on site," said Li Xiaofeng, deputy head of the Hunutlu Thermal Power Plant, adding that the company will rearrange a vacation for them when they return to China based on the epidemic situation.

The construction of the Karot Hydropower Plant in Pakistan is also advancing in an orderly manner. During the Spring Festival holidays, 896 Chinese construction workers and 4,370 of their Pakistani counterparts stayed in their positions, striving to realize flood prevention goals this year.

The plant, undertaken by China Three Gorges Corporation, is a priority project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

(Photo via China Three Gorges Corporation)

When completed, it will produce some 3.2 billion kilowatt-hours of clean power annually, providing a reliable energy source for Pakistan's economic and social development.

Meanwhile, Chinese companies have also taken measures in their overseas projects to prevent the spread of the epidemic, including enhanced disinfection operations and providing personal protective equipment for all personnel, such as masks.

Peng Huagang, secretary general of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, said that state-owned enterprises hire a large number of local people and international employees for their overseas projects, and are seeking to guarantee rational allocation of resources and smooth progress in their overseas projects.

"We believe that state-owned enterprises will surely overcome difficulties and promote smooth progress of their overseas projects as long as they fully implement the measures, Peng added.


LONDON (dpa-AFX) - SIG plc (SHI.L) announced the resignations of Meinie Oldersma from the role of Chief Executive Officer and as a director and Nick Maddock from the role of Chief Financial Officer and as a director.



In December 2019, SIG announced that CEO Meinie Oldersma is anticipated to be absent for a number of weeks due to a family illness.



SIG has appointed Steve Francis as Chief Executive Officer on an initial contract until December 31, 2020. The Board has also appointed Kath Kearney-Croft interim Chief Financial Officer and as a director. Kath joined the company in January 2020 initially to provide support to the executive team during the leave of absence of Meinie Oldersma.



In addition, SIG announced that it expects results for the year ended 31 December 2019 to be in line with prior guidance for underlying profit before tax for the year of c.42 million. SIG noted that trading in the early period of 2020 has seen a continuation of the trends in the last quarter of 2019.



The company plans to now announce its 2019 full year results in the second half of April 2020, later than its previously planned date of March 6, in light of the directorate changes announced today.



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T he scourge of NMC Health today attacked New Zealand billionaire Richard Chandlers judgement as he increased his stake in the troubled hospital group.

Hedge fund Muddy Waters founder Carson Block pointed out that Chandler, who today upped his NMC stake to 3.18% from 2.7%, previously bet against his short position in Chinas Sino-Forest, which went bust.

Block said: Chandlers investment in NMC Health is probably less moronic than his investment in Sino-Forest, which followed our report that established it as a zero. We dont know whether NMC is a zero or something much less bad, and Im not sure how another investor - particularly one whose past judgment in a similar situation was so bad - could have a clearer idea. It is simply not possible at this point for an investor to know how deep the rot goes at NMC.

Muddy Waters has mounted attack on NMC, accusing the company of manipulating its balance sheet.

A spokesperson for Clermont, which owns Hoan My, a private medical group in Vietnam, said: Mr Block clearly has a vested interest in talking down companies that Muddy Waters may hold a short position in.

"By contrast, the Clermont Group has a formidable track record of investing in and building businesses across emerging markets over the last thirty years, and has been a long-standing advocate for good corporate governance.

"As owners of another large emerging markets healthcare group, we understand how strong and resilient NMCs business model could be if not compromised by excessive debt. To that end, we encourage the Board to temper NMCs growth until its leverage has been reduced.

"Muddy Waters has played a valuable role in highlighting several corporate governance concerns at NMC. We hope that, if these concerns are addressed thoroughly by the Board, NMC will be a stronger company in the future.
A Katy bar is set to host a series of all-you-can-eat crawfish events featuring some very special guests: alpacas, llamas and pygmy goats.

The Wildcatter Saloon off I-10 in Katy will host a "Pygmy goats & Brews" event 2 p.m. - 5p.m. on March 15, an "Alpacas & Brews" event 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. on March 29 and a "Not yo' Mommas Llamas & Brews" event 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. on April 26. Each event will allow patrons to get up close and personal with alpacas, goats and llamas and will feature all-you-can-eat crawfish for $20 while supplies last, according to owner Justin Whitfield.

ON HOUSTON CHRONICLE.COM: Growing appetite for crawfish has Texas rice farmers hooked

"Our saloon is on three and a half acres," Whitfield said. "We have a lot of space so I am always thinking of unique things to do."

Whitfield said he decided to host the animal-themed events after seeing success from a previously-held goat yoga event.

CRAWFISH 2020: These are some of your favorite mud bug spots in Houston

"It just blew up so I thought I need to keep the momentum going," Whitfield said.

Animals at the upcoming events will be fenced off on the saloon property, where patrons can visit and pet them while enjoying drinks and crawfish. Radio personality radio Outlaw Dave will host the event. Admission is free.

Whitfield stressed that crawfish typically sells out fast so anyone interested in attending the events should plan to arrive early to ensure they grab the $20 all-you-can-eat deal. After a certain time, the bar will offer crawfish by the pound only.

"We start serving crawfish around 1:30 [p.m.], but chances are we will run out before 3 [p.m.]," Whitfield said.

The Wildcatter Saloon is an indoor-outdoor bar and music venue featuring a stage, pavilion and patio. For more information about the events and The Wildcatter Saloon, visit the bar's website. The Wildcatter Saloon is located at 26913 Katy Fwy., Katy.

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
Blue Ridge, 7th Fleet Staff Arrive in Thailand

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS200224-01

Release Date: 2/24/2020 9:21:00 AM

From USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) Public Affairs

LAEM CHABANG, Thailand (NNS) -- U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), along with the embarked 7th Fleet staff, arrived in Laem Chabang, Thailand, for a scheduled port visit as part of their continuing mission of relationship-building in the Indo-Pacific region.

The visit gives the combined Blue Ridge/7th Fleet team a chance to continue its standard of giving back to Thai citizens, with community-relations events and 7th Fleet Band hosting performances in the community. In addition, 7th Fleet leadership will take part in a series of staff talks for professional exchanges with their Thai counterparts.

Blue Ridge's last visit to Thailand was in April 2019. Capt. Craig Sicola, Blue Ridge's commanding officer said this visit underscores U.S. Navy's continued commitment to Thailand.

"It's been nearly a year since our last visit, and while that may seem like a short amount of time for those who were here last April, the landscape in the region is ever changing," Sicola said. "So it's important to show that we are still here, still relevant and committed to the people of Thailand."

Part of the foundation of commitment comes with opportunities for Blue Ridge and 7th Fleet personnel to give back to the community. A portion of Blue Ridge and 7th Fleet Sailors will support community-relations events. Sailors will also have an opportunity to experience Thai culture through numerous tours offered by the ship's Morale, Welfare and Recreation program, such as elephant riding and visits to cultural sites.

"Thailand offers so much for our Sailors to learn about a new culture and enrich themselves by being an active participant in the community," said Lt. James Hicks, Blue Ridge's chaplain. "We're very humbled for the opportunity to immerse ourselves into the community and in the process give back something in exchange."

The community-relations opportunities will allow Sailors to contribute to Thailand youths through a two separate events hosted by local charitable organizations in the area, where Sailors will dedicate time interacting with children through games and fun-filled activities.

As 7th Fleet's flagship, Blue Ridge, provides a mobile command and control capability throughout the Indo-Pacific. Blue Ridge is commanded by Capt. Craig Sicola and serves under Expeditionary Strike Group 7/Task Force 76, the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force.

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A firefighter was injured as the Delhi Fire Service on Tuesday attended to 70 calls from violence-hit northeast Delhi, an official said.

The department received fire-related calls from 8 am-8 pm. A firefighter was injured due to stone-pelting while five fire tenders were damaged, according to the official.

On Monday, the department had received 45 calls and in attending to those, a fire tender was pelted with stones, while another was torched by protesters. Three firefighters had sustained injuries during violence on Monday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Its hard to shake a feeling of deja vu when observing what is playing out in Australias casino industry. Just think of the reports that rumbled through the banking sector a few years back.

The playbook looks eerily familiar.

Much is at stake for Crown Resorts as the NSW inquiry gets underway. Credit:Bloomberg

The spotlight turned on the banking industry in the same way: a series of media exposes involving unsavoury practices ultimately created overwhelming pressure on the government to set up a royal commission.

Cast back to before the banking royal commission started, when the investment community took a near universal view that the probe would yield nothing other than a few red faces.
The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday directed a CBI probe into the killing of dreaded criminal Munna Bajrangi inside the Baghpat district jail in 2018.

The court also directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a progress report of the investigation by April 20, the next date of hearing.

The bench comprising justices Sudhir Agarwal and Rajeev Mishra passed the order on a petition filed by Seema Singh, the widow of Munna Bajrangi.

The petitioner contended that there might be involvement of some mafia in the killing. She also said the role of jail officials was doubtful and therefore, the probe had to be transferred to the CBI.

The Uttar Pradesh government had opposed the petition on the ground that there was no need of a CBI probe in the case as three inquires were already underway -- one under the district judge, another under the district magistrate and yet another being conducted by the jail authorities.

Munna Bajrangi, a dreaded criminal from eastern Uttar Pradesh, was killed inside the Baghpat district jail on July 9, 2018. He was shot 10 times in the head within the jail premises allegedly by another prisoner, gangster Sunil Rathi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two servicemen were killed after protesting police officers exchanged gunfire with soldiers outside the national palace in Haiti on Sunday.

A protest over pay turned bloody as off-duty Haitian police officers opened fire with soldiers of the newly reconstituted army during a nearly two-hour running gun battle in Port-Au-Prince Sunday.

More than a dozen were wounded and two were confirmed to be killed during the dangerous escalation of protests over police pay and working conditions. A soldier was also confirmed to have been wounded by a bullet in the back.

The violence prompted the government to cancel Haiti's three-day Carnival celebration, which was supposed to have started Sunday afternoon, in order to "avoid a bloodbath."

The off-duty Haitian cops had also set fire to dozens of Carnival floats and stands during recent protests.

Journalists from the Associated Press said they saw dozens of men marching toward the palace to demand better pay for Haitian law-enforcement officers. They also saw the soldiers at the army headquarters building fire into the air. Afterward, an exchange of fire erupted between both parties.

It was not clear which side began firing at the other first.

The clash on Sunday was the most violent since the Haitian police officers started protesting late last year.

More officers in cream and blue police uniforms joined their colleagues outside the palace as the Sunday afternoon wore on. The masked men also opened fire at the military base with semi-automatic pistols and rifles.

Men who spotted a drone taking images of the violence was also tailed back to the offices of Radio Caraibes. The men who followed it also shot at the broadcaster's building. There were no reports of casualties in the attack.

The Haitian cops' protests this month began after over a half-dozen officers were fired over their attempt to unionize. The demonstrations also draw on the widespread dissatisfaction with Haiti's prolonged political and economic crisis, as well as President Jovenel Moise's inability to improve the quality of life.

The government issued a statement on Sunday evening saying it had observed 'with concern and dismay that terror has reigned in certain arteries of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area'.

Moise, the president, said he recognized the legitimacy of the complaints and would increase collateral benefits for officers during a news conference Saturday. He also announced measures designed to ease the crisis, including a fund to provide officers with insurance.

The protesters, however, said the concessions were not enough.

General Jodel Lessage said soldiers returned fire. He refused to give an injury toll, nor how many people were at the headquarters during the attack.

A uniformed Haitian police officer said they were also demanding the reinstatement of their fired colleagues as well as a pay raise for all officers.

The Haitian cops have been demanding better working conditions for months. They have also been demanding the right to form a union to ensure transparency in talking with the police hierarchy.

Kidnapping for ransom in Haiti has witnessed a spike since the beginning of the year. Fights between rival crime gangs, which regularly set up roadblocks on Haitian highways, have also been a regular occurrence.

The Haitian people have been demanding the resignation of Moise, causing a political crisis that has gripped the Caribbean country for more than a year.

Since coming to power in February 2017, President Jovenel Moise has faced accusations of corruption and opposition against his victory during the elections.

Moise reformed the army in 2017 after it had been disbanded in 1995. He said the military would patrol borders, assist in natural disasters, and avoid domestic affairs.

He has been ruling by decree since January after the country failed to hold elections and the mandates of deputies and senators expired in October.

The political situation has cut Haiti off from some international funding, despite it being the poorest country in the Americas.

Haiti ranks 111 out of 117 countries on the Global Hunger Index.
Jane Etta Goeller Cory, 93, of Dunkirk, MD passed away on Monday, February 24, 2020 surrounded by her loving family at her home. Jane was born on December 22, 1926 in Collingdale, PA one of nine children born to Theodore Agustus Goeller and Jane Booty Doughty. Jane graduated with the class of 1945, then went on to work as support staff at Fine Arts Sterling Silver Co.



She met Robert Lawrence Cory, the love of her life, in New Jersey and were married on August 22, 1948 at the Methodist Church in Media, PA. They spent their honeymoon at the Poconos Mountains. Jane and Robert had five children together. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who loved her family, church, and community, and serviced them all faithfully during her lifetime. She was a wonderful homemaker and she especially enjoyed sewing, cooking, and entertaining. In her spare time, she enjoyed antiquing, garage sales, and tea parties. Jane also enjoyed dabbling in politics and campaigning for her favorite candidates.



As a devout Christian woman, she was a member of the First Baptist Church of Graham, where she served as Sunday School teacher, part-time bookkeeper, and chair of numerous committees. In addition to the Baptist church, she taught bible classes at her local Presbyterian church, Women's Home Bible Studies, Aglow Ministries, Cedar Grove United Methodist Church in Deale, MD, and Grace Brethren Church, where she was a member for 30 years. She dedicated her life to the Lord and to teaching and praying for her family, friends, community, and country.



Jane is survived by her husband, Robert Cory of Dunkirk, MD, daughters Linda Hans of Waldorf, MD, Nancy Gardner and husband Jim of Dunkirk, MD, sons Billy Cory and wife Terri of Fort Washington, MD, Steve Cory and wife Cyndi of Arlington VA, and Ken Cory of Dunkirk, MD, 20 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, a sister Margie Standen and husband Dave of Media, PA, sisters-in-law Beatrice Owens (Tom), and Jane Ryan. She was preceded death by her parents, Theodore and Jane, and seven siblings. Arrangements by Rausch Funeral Home.


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Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) hosts the Ebrahim K Kanoo Drag and Drift Nights today in Sakhir. The event is one of the most popular on offer for motoring fans at The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East.

It gives participants the chance to take their very own cars or motorbikes and push them to their limit either down BICs world-class drag strip or around the circuits Vehicle Dynamics Area, or both! BIC is a member of the prestigious National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Worldwide Network, and its quarter-mile strip is highly regarded as one of the best across the globe. Meanwhile, the circuits Vehicle Dynamics Area is a specially configured venue at BICs car park that has been surrounded by safety barriers. It is the largest open tarmac area in Bahrain.

Both the drag and the drifting can be enjoyed for a single fee of BD10.500. Participation in just the drag racing or just the drifting costs BD7.500. Registration can be done on site from 5pm, and the action will be held from 6pm to 11pm. Those who would like to experience the drag or drift as a passenger can get into a participants car for an additional BD4.

Spectators can purchase tickets for BD2 apiece. Also as part of the evenings drag racing programme, BIC is offering the immensely thrilling Dragster Xperience. This is one of the circuits most unique and ultimate-adrenaline activities, as it gives participants a taste of pure speed as they are taken from zero to 100kph in just one second while seated in a Top Dragster.

The Dragster Experience costs BD42. Safety standards of the highest level are followed at all times during the evenings events for both drivers and spectators alike.
ADEL, Ga. - For years, the hospital in this small, south Georgia city was in grave financial trouble.

Like other rural American hospitals, Cook Medical Center was saddled with an outdated building, trouble recruiting doctors and a patient population short on health insurance.

In 2017, hospital officials shut down the emergency room, and the 60-bed hospital itself was next, local officials say, unless the city and county could cover some of the cost of a new building.

I think we were weeks away from our hospital going away forever, said Jerry Connell, former president and CEO of the Adel-Cook County Chamber of Commerce.

Adel and Cook County did approve public financing, and a new, $52 million hospital opened its doors in October. Southwell Medical has far fewer patient beds than the old hospital and at least for now, lacks an ER.

Some community leaders see the streamlined facility as a model for other rural communities struggling to save their hospitals. More than 120 rural hospitals in the U.S. have closed since 2010  seven of them in Georgia , and last year, nearly 200 were thought to be at high risk of financial distress, according to researchers at the University of North Carolinas Sheps Center.

But key factors in Adel and Cook Countys outcome show it may be difficult to replicate in other rural communities. And even in Adel, where support for the new hospital is strong, many people are concerned about not having an emergency room.

You never know what the next minute brings, said Tammie Bobo, 47, as she tidied up her downtown thrift store on a recent morning. I worry that extra five minutes of not having the ER could cost me my life, my familys life.

The emergency room was a major financial drain on the old hospital, yet it treated few true medical emergencies, said Chris Dorman, president and CEO of Southwell, the non-profit corporation that runs the new hospital in Adel about three hours south of Atlanta. Cook Medical spent millions of dollars on doctors and services to run the ER 24 hours a day, and many patients couldnt pay.

About a quarter of Cook Countys 17,000 residents live in poverty, and nearly one in five lacks health insurance, according to U.S. Census estimates. Cotton and vegetable production dominate the local economy.

Folks come in for whatever their needs may be, and we cant say, We cant treat you if you dont pay your bills, Dorman said.

Hospital officials plan to build a new ER in Adel, but dont have a timeline for the project, Dorman said. Southwell has an emergency room at its other hospital in Tifton about 25 miles north of Adel.

The focus at Southwell Medical is not on filling hospital beds, but preventing illness and drawing patients for services that can generate revenue such as same-day surgeries and CT scans. The sleek design includes pendant lights, a piano in the lobby and colorful photos of the region on the walls.

We told area citizens that smaller rural communities cant support a traditional hospital any longer, Jimmy Allen, chairman of Southwells board, said at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new facility.

But other small communities may find it a challenge even to build a more efficient, refocused hospital like this one. Adel has economic advantages, including its location on a major interstate and a Walmart that generates significant tax revenue. A boutique candle shop and other new businesses have opened downtown, and crews in late January were completing construction of a town home and apartment complex nearby.

The city and county were able to commit a total of $9 million to the project without raising taxes.

Southwell, additionally, is a relatively big health care provider with roughly two dozen physician practices in addition to its other hospital. It had strong financial reserves and put up the rest of the money for the project with the help of a federal loan, according to Allen.

Adel Mayor Buddy Duke said he had concerns about investing public funds, but losing the hospital would have been catastrophic.

We have seen that in other towns. Literally, they just end up being a ghost town.

A similar infusion of public funding was not an option when Stewart-Webster Hospital closed in 2013 in Richland, Georgia, 30 miles (48 kilometres) south of Columbus, Mayor Adolph McLendon said during a recent phone interview.

Were real small, and we just dont have that much of a tax base, he said. The closure put several restaurants and a grocery store out of business, he said.

When the hospital closed, you done everything but kicking the dirt over.

Cook Medicals hospital executives, some of whom grew up in the area, discussed their financial struggles with city and county officials more than a year before deciding to close the emergency room, said Lisa Collins, executive director of the countys Economic Development Commission.

When it appeared public officials might balk at funding a new hospital, hundreds of residents signed a petition supporting the project even without an emergency room, Connell said.

It is a very, very strong emotional tie that people have with the medical facility, said Howard McClain, a judge who sits on the countys economic development commission.

For Stephanie Maine, 51, Cook Medical was where she learned in 2018 that she had breast cancer, and where her doctor prayed with her before her biopsy. She still recalls the comfort of that prayer.

I had this warm feeling everywhere, she said. I was very thankful for that.
As much as $90 million of PE capital has flowed into the Indian student housing sector in the last three years with Pune, Bengaluru and Delhi-NCR leading the segment, according to a report by Anarock.

As many as 13 prominent student housing brands now have 1.5 lakh beds across India, the report said.

The report highlighted that new student housing opportunities are emerging in cities such as Kota, Pilani, Indore, Nagpur and Mesra. These smaller cities provide more lucrative opportunities to student housing investors due to low land costs and scope for expansion and experiment.

In the recent Budget, the Finance Minister allocated Rs 99,300 crore towards the education sector and Rs 3,000 crore for skill development. To boost the 'Study in India' initiative declared in the previous Budget, an Ind-SAT program is proposed to be held in Asian and African countries to attract overseas students to Indian universities.

The government hopes to attract 200,000 international students to India - more than four times the current number. Currently, the total number of foreign students enrolled in India is 47,427 from 164 different countries. This number has risen by 36% since 2012-13 when the number of international students in India was a little over 34,770, said Anuj Puri, Chairman  ANAROCK Property Consultants.

Pune, a major IT hub and emerging Smart City, is home to almost 3 lakh students. Anticipating the growing demand in this segment, Kohinoor Group has invested Rs 100 crore in the student housing franchise Youthville. The company started with a 150-bed facility in Pune and aims to have 40,000 beds by 2021.

Another local player, The Tribe, has set up a 194-bed facility in Viman Nagar in Pune offering purpose-built facilities at 6-month and 12-month packages to match university schedules. Other players active in the market include Stanza Living, Your Space and Oxfordcaps.

In Bengaluru, there are over 10,000 overseas students. Sensing potential in the citys student housing sector, Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs has acquired a 75 percent stake in Yoho for Rs 350 crore, helping the company to expand its footprint and add another 20,000 rooms. National players like Stanza Living are also betting big on Bengaluru and have plans to provide 5,000 beds to cater to the city's growing population. The average rate per bed is Rs 10,000 to Rs 35,000 per month.

Operators such as Stanza Living and Your Space have been active in the Delhi-NCR market. Placio and CoHo Singapore-headquartered Oxfordcaps is prominently present in NCR. The average rate per bed is in the range of Rs 8,000 to Rs 20,000 per month.
Two more victims today, but data is contested: a Qom MP speaks of at least 50 deaths alone in the holy city. Categorical denial of the authorities, but the toll remains uncertain. Several countries in the area close borders with the Islamic Republic. Qatar calls for voluntary isolation of passengers from Iran and South Korea.

Tehran (AsiaNews / Agencies) - With the last two victims recorded in these hours, the overall death toll related to the new coronavirus in Iran rises to 14 while the controversy rages over a possible "cover-up" by the authorities about the real extent of the emergency . The latest deaths are confirmed by the University of Medical Sciences in Saveh, according to which "tests showed that [the victims] had" Wuhan's coronavirus (Covid-19).

As for the infections, the official figures released by the Ministry of Health speak of 61 people affected. Most of these are in the area of Qom, the Shiite holy city where the outbreak of the epidemic originated in the country which then spread to other countries in the Middle East. Government sources, behind anonymity, say that the cause of the epidemic would be "the illegal entry of people from Pakistan, Afghanistan and China".

To date, several countries in the area have decided to close the borders with the Islamic Republic. Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Afghanistan and Iraq have registered the first cases of coronavirus. All the infected people had previously been to Iran. Kuwait, in an attempt to contain the epidemic, has asked Baghdad to close the borders between the two nations. In addition, Qatar intends to ask passengers from Iran and South Korea to remain in voluntary isolation - at home or in appropriate facilities - for quarantine for a period of 14 days.

Meanwhile, the Iranian deputy minister of health has denied the allegations of covering up the emergency linked to the epidemic, in response to statements by a Qom parliamentarian that so far only "lies" have been spread. For Ahmad Amirabadi-Farahani the death toll, in the holy city alone, would be at least 50. The ministry rejected "this information categorically". "This is not the time for political controversy," added Iraj Harirchi, because coronavirus is "a national problem".

However, Ahmad Amirabadi-Farahani insisted on the accusations stressing that "he had provided 40 names of deceased persons to the vice minister. Now I await your resignation. " For the World Health Organization (WHO), the peak in infections that has been reported in recent days in Iran - as in Italy and South Korea - is a source of "great concern" with a view to containing the global spread of the virus. Today a team of experts is expected to arrive in the country.
Indian-American Microsoft CEO is expected to visit India on February 24, and will likely visit Mumbai, Bengaluru, and New Delhi.

FREMONT, CA: Satya Nadella, Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is expected to visit India on February 24, around the same time U.S. President Donald Trump will be visiting India.

His visit comes barely a month after he had voiced his opinion on the new citizenship law (CAA). Nadella, who hails from Hyderabad and became the Microsoft CEO in 2014, said last month whatever was happening in India on this new legislation was just bad. Talking to editors in New York in January, Nadella said he would like immigrants to come and set up startups in India. He also mentioned that he think what is happening is sad, and bad.

I would love to see a Bangladeshi immigrant who comes to India and creates the next unicorn in India or becomes the next CEO of Infosys," tweeted Ben Smith, editor-in-chief of buzzfeednews.com, who asked Microsoft CEO about the CAA at the meeting.

Later, Microsoft India issued a statement on behalf of Nadella. "Every country will and should define its borders, protect national security and set immigration policy accordingly. In democracies, that is something that the people and their governments will debate and define within those bounds," said the India-born CEO.

"I am shaped by my Indian heritage, growing up in a multicultural India and my immigrant experience in the US. My hope is for an India where an immigrant can aspire to set up a prosperous startup or lead a multinational corporation, benefitting Indian society and the economy at large," Nadella said.

As per one of the sources, Microsoft is trying to arrange for Nadella to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A visit by Nadella would be in the midst of the government taking a tougher stance against foreign technology companies competing in the domestic market by drafting laws aimed at more tightly-controlled cross-border data flows. Nadella is also planning to visit Bangalore, New Delhi, and Mumbai.
Vietnam expects to have some 1,000 houses integrated with sustainable energy solutions by the end of this year under an initiative by the Vietnam Coalition for Climate Action (VCCA).

EVN workers set up solar panels at a household in Hanois Me Linh District.  VNA/VNS Photo Ngoc Ha

Entitled 'Millions of green houses', the project was launched by the VCCA and local NGO GreenID in September 2019, aiming to accelerate efficient energy use and the development of rooftop photovoltaic power stations in 1 million houses and buildings in Vietnam by 2030.

GreenID director Nguy Thi Khanh, on Monday, said after the piloting period, until February, more than 430 households in Dak Lak and Ca Mau provinces had set up rooftop solar panels, solar water heater, biogas and energy-saving LED lights.

A reverse osmosis water purifying system using solar energy was built at a school in Dak Lak to provide drinking water for about 500 students.

The project expects to benefit people living in isolated areas who have limited access to the national power grid in approaching sustainable energy, effectively treating agricultural waste and protecting the environment.

Participating households in Hanoi can both reduce energy expenses and sell electricity to Vietnam Electricity.

Our mission is to promote win-win co-operation among stakeholders including customers, providers, researchers and authorities to reduce costs and come up with more green solutions. In 2020, the project will expand to central provinces, said Khanh.

Tran Huong Thao, a representative of SolarBK  a solar energy solution provider, said they had helped more than 90 households in Hanoi set up rooftop solar panels under the support of GreenID.

Each of them also receives maximum monthly assistance of VND9 million.

We hope to better raise awareness of Hanois residents about the project and develop a wide range of products to best suit peoples demands, said Thao.

The company has worked with banks to offer microfinance packages for participating households.

Vu Dai Thang, a participant in Hanoi, said all the registration procedures were simple as they could access the projects official website at trieungoinhaxanh.com.vn for information and membership inquiries.  VNS

Vietnam encourages private investment in energy: Politburo The Politburo will encourage all economic sectors, especially private businesses, to invest in energy projects, Party General Secretary, President Nguyen Phu Trong has said.

Solar power providers left with excess After rushing to connect to the national grid prior to end-June to benefit from price policies, solar power developers have now found that the grid can't handle the extra capacity.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that India and US expanded their defence cooperation as New Delhi agreed to purchase more than USD 3 billion of advanced American military equipment including Apache and MH-60 Romeo helicopters.

He also said that the deals will "enhance" joint defence capabilities between the two countries.

"Earlier today, we expanded our defence cooperation with agreements for India to purchase more than USD 3 billion of advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo helicopters -- finest in the world. These will enhance our joint defence capabilities," said Trump, during a joint conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi following US-India delegation-level talks.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had given its nod to the acquisition of the choppers, designed for hunting submarines and conducting search and rescue operations at sea, just days ahead of Trump's visit.

The US had in April last year approved the sale of these choppers under its Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.

The Lockheed Martin-built helicopters would replace India's ageing fleet of British-made Sea King choppers.

The MH-60 Romeo choppers are being acquired by the Navy after several failed attempts to replace their Sea King fleet.

The last deal was scrapped after the Defence Ministry and America's Sikorsky Aircraft failed to agree on the price of the choppers.

Due to the long delays in the acquisition of multi-role helicopters, Indian Navy adopted the government-to-government route for acquiring these choppers to save time instead of going in for the multi-vendor tender route.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Cobee, a Spanish fintech startup that has developed an employee benefit management app and accompanying card, has closed 2.1 million in "pre-Series A" funding.

The round was co-led by Speedinvest and Target Global. Other backers include Chris Bouwer (an early employee of Adyen) and existing investors Encomenda Smart Capital, BStartup (Banco Sabadell), Lanai Partners and Abac Nest.

Founded in 2018 by Borja Aranguren and Daniel Olea, Cobee aims to help employees "leverage better economic performance" from their salary via a range of employee benefits and discounts offered through the platform. These are managed within the Cobee app and redeemed through use of the Cobee payment card.

The draw for companies signing up is that Cobee already claims its platform has higher engagement than many existing employee benefit programmes. And by being a fully digital and automated solution, there is considerably less administration needed to manage the programme.

"We realized that there is an increasing number of solutions that are being sold as benefits or products to the end employees through their HR department (gyms, insurance products, perks, vouchers, salary sacrifice formulas, etc.)," Cobee co-founder and CEO Borja Aranguren tells TechCrunch. "This, on the one hand, means administrative hassle for the HR departments to manage all the different providers and processes and, most importantly, on the other hand, brings a totally fragmented and unclear value proposition for the employee".



With this problem in mind, Aranguren and Olea set out to build Cobee, which the pair describe as a fintech HR solution that empowers employees to consume their compensation and benefits on-demand.

"All our efforts are focused on making employees feel happy about their benefits, trying to unify the value proposition in an understandable and easy to use formula," Aranguren explains. "For the companies, we offer an easy-to-use SaaS platform to configure their benefit offering and upload their employees. For the employees, it is an app and a payment card to consumer those benefits as they like, with funds coming from a company subsidy or from their own salary".

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The current Cobee offering includes benefits like meals, transportation, childcare, health insurance and training courses. Additional options, such as gym membership, are said to be coming in the next few months.

"Our product can cater for companies of all sizes, from SMEs or startups to large corporations of any sector," adds Aranguren. "However, our main target segment are those companies ranging between 50 to 5,000 employees. We have customers and users like Petronas, Avis Budget Group, Opinno, Glovo, and Willis Towers Watson".

Meanwhile, Cobee says it will use the new funding to "scale up its business model" in Spain and expand into international markets. To support its mission to become a European category leader, the company plans to strengthen its team and enhance its platform by integrating new products and benefits.

The business model is straightforward, too: Cobee charges companies a SaaS fee per active employee. "We follow a pure success-based approach and we only win if the employees win, which, after all, makes the companies win," says the Cobee CEO. "Besides that, we leverage purchasing volumes to build a marketplace that we can monetize and that also allows us to create savings that can be transferred to our end customers/employees."
Its been a long week, and we know, its only Tuesday. Not to worryweve got you covered. Stay in the know with BOHs weekly news digest, including business headlines, launches and events, recommended reading and more.

NEW Dates for Salone

Organizers of Milans Salone del Mobile met today to discuss canceling or postponing this years furniture fair due to Italys novel coronavirus outbreak. The outcome? The show, originally scheduled for late April, just announced that it will now be held June 16 to 21.

The decision comes after more than 150 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Italy, with seven people having died of the virus. The Italian government has declared a state of emergency, quarantined more than 10 towns and canceled Venices annual carnival in addition to other cultural and sporting events. Many of the cases have occurred in Codogno, a town southeast of Milan.

Last week, Italian trade body Confapi Matera called on the organizers of Salone del Mobile to postpone the event. The risk of flop of the fair worries local entrepreneurs who will have to bear the costs of participation, the trade organizations president, Massimo De Salvo, and director, Vito Gaudiano, told Dezeen.

BUSINESS NEWS

Online rental furniture brand Feather has raised $30 million in series B funding in a round led by Cobalt Capital, reported Furniture Today. This brings the brands total equity funding to $46 million. The investment shows that money is hot on the furniture rental spacecompetitor Fernish has raised a total of $30 million across three rounds of funding, while Oliver Space received $6.8 million in seed funding in October 2019.

In more funding news, air purification startup Molekule landed $58 million in series C, reported Crunchbase. Most air purifiers on the market function as air filters, catching particlesMolekule, however, has developed photo-electrochemical oxidation technology to destroy pollutants entirely.

This week, Brooklyn-based lighting design and manufacturing company Roll & Hill announced its purchase of the Alexis Manufacturing Company, a 75-year-old wood furniture producer in Grand Rapids, Michigan. With this acquisition, Roll & Hill hopes to infuse Alexiss history with new energy; the lighting company also plans to launch its first furniture collection later this year.

Sears will receive $100 million from hedge fund Brigade Capital Management, reported Reuters. The U.S. department store declared bankruptcy in 2018. Its current owner, Eddie Lampert, took over last year for $5.2 billion.

The new coronavirus outbreak is impacting many supply chains as travel bans to and from China remain in effect. According to market research firm TrendForces predictions, smart technology shipments will decrease significantly; already, the 5G supply chain in particular has been hit.

OPENINGS, AUCTIONS AND EVENTS

Los Angelesbased European furniture and design retailer MASS Beverly has a new 3,000-square-foot space focused on brutalist art and sculpture. The collections, curated by MASS Beverly founder Mary Ta and Italian artist Mattia Biagi, will feature different artists between now and June. Come June, MASS Beverlys current buildings will be demolished; a new three-story showroom will take their place.

A backpack from the exhibition To Go Courtesy of the Swedish Design Museum

Stockholms Swedish Design Museum has opened an exhibit focusing on takeout, titled To Go. Objects are put inside backpacks that visitors carry around for a week and then return. For instance, a Swedish designer towel brand may put a towel inside the backpack and send the visitor to lake Kalltorpssjon, just outside Stockholm. The museum will clean and reuse each item in the backpacks, which can be reserved here.

Apartment Therapy will host the Small/Cool Experience, a pop-up in Brooklyns Industry City, from April 4 to 5. There will be 20 vignettes made by the sites editors, including work by designers such as Emily Henderson, Shavonda Gardner, Orlando Soria, Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent. The majority of items on display will be donated to Habitat for Humanity following the event.

LAUNCHES, COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS

Los Angeles designer Leanne Ford has a new minimalist collection with Crate & Barrel, reported Curbed. The 109-piece line spans the bedroom, dining room, seating and decor. Fords predilection for light colors and soft shapes takes center stage with a cushy white sofa that looks just a little bit lived-in, bent cane chairs, and pale wood curved dressers and armoires, writes Liz Stinson.

Crate & Barrel sister retailer CB2 is making a splash of its own, debuting a furniture and accessories collection with jewelry designer Jennifer Fisher today.

Hausera, an online platform for kitchen and bath products, announced its national launch today. The companys vice president of marketing and merchandising, Wesley Ward, hopes that the platform will help to reinvigorate the experience of renovating ones kitchen or bathroom.

SHOWROOM REPRESENTATION

The Tetra design by Oliver James Lighting Courtesy of Oliver James Lighting

New York brand Oliver James Lighting is now represented at Atelier Gary Lee in Chicagos Merchandise Mart. The lighting brands first collection, Tetra, resembles the molecular structure of a diamond.

RECOMMENDED READING

House Beautiful explored the home of Good Housekeeping editor in chief Jane Francisco and her husband, photographer Colin Faulkner. They live in a lovely midcentury minimalist home, with a cute dog that seems to match the neutral black-and-white decor. The houses standout is the library, which boasts a beautiful bright pink sofa!

Those in the industry are well aware of the impact of creative leadershipresearch shows that design-led companies have 32 percent more revenue than other companies. Fast Company reports that in a new study from McKinsey, results show that most CEOs dont actually understand what their design leadership does day to day. The management consulting firm analyzed data from 1,700 companies, interviewing 200 senior design leaders and 100 CEOs, and the results may surprise you: 66 percent of CEOs couldnt say what their CDO actually did, or how that success should be measured. Unsurprisingly, only 10 percent of CEOs reported that a senior designer played a meaningful role in the companys strategy, and only 17% of design leaders thought they were in the right position to give a company their full value. The conclusion? McKinsey believes that 90 percent of companies arent using design talent to their full potential.

CUE THE APPLAUSE

Christi Barbour Courtesy of Barbour Spangle Design

Christi Barbour is a recipient of the 2020 Outstanding Women in Business award by Triad Business Journal, a Greensboro, North Carolinabased B2B publication. This was in recognition of her leadership, community engagement and volunteerism, as well as her mentoring and entrepreneurship. Barbour created the nonprofit High Point Discovered Instagram page and blog celebrating the community, in addition to her role as founding partner for local firm Barbour Spangle Design.

The International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) has named its 2020 board of trustees: New foundation chair Gail Belz and new board members Karen Dzendolet and Joyce Poynton will join returning members Merry Mabbett Dean, Sarah Fletcher, Donna Ralston-Latham, Shirley Ebert, Earline Feldman and Ida McCausland.

CALL FOR ENTRIES

IFDA has begun its call for entries for design student scholarships for 2020. There are nine available, for a total of $18,000. Applicants must be current students; scholarships are paid to the school. Recipients will be notified by July 31. Apply during the month of March here.

IN MEMORIAM

Restaurateur and lifestyle guru Barbara Smith has passed away at 70. She died Sunday at her home on Long Island due to early-onset Alzheimers disease, which she was diagnosed with in her 50s. She was best known for her Manhattan restaurant, B. Smith, reported The New York Times, and she designed furniture for brands with national prominence, including Bed Bath & Beyond and La-Z-Boy. As designer Sheila Bridges wrote on Instagram: B. Smith truly was legendaryshe broke so many racial barriers as a model, chef, restaurateur, magazine publisher, TV host and lifestyle guru.  [She] had such charisma (and a beautiful smile) and I remember being saddened when I heard that she had been diagnosed with Alzheimers at such a young age. Thank you Barbara Smith for setting such a high bar and touching all of our lives with such style and grace.

Homepage image: Courtesy of MASS Beverly
One of the reasons why animal cruelty prevails is because there are no strict laws against it. And then there are the heartless miscreants who see nothing wrong with what they do.

A heartbreaking video of an endangered manatee being tied up and dragged along a dirt road is going viral. It can be seen frantically trying to escape.

Daily Mail

More than half a dozen men can be seen pulling the manatee with ropes as its skin scraped across the ground and it frantically tries to resist with its flippers, Daily Mail reports.

An investigation into the video has been launched by the country's environment ministry.

Hunting of manatees is illegal in Nigeria but they are targeted for their meat and oil. Their organs are reportedly used for traditional medicine.

The helpless animal can be seen flailing its flippers. It is not known when the clip was filmed but since it has gone viral Nigeria's deputy environment minister, Sharon Ikeazor, has condemned the capture.

My attention has been drawn to a very distressing & distasteful video of a captured manatee in the Niger Delta Region being dragged on bare ground to a cruel fate by some ill-informed/uninformed youth. I strongly condemn this act .... she wrote on Twitter.

My attention has been drawn to a very distressing & distasteful video of a captured manatee in the Niger Delta Region being dragged on bare ground to a cruel fate by some ill informed/uninformed youth. I strongly condemn this act .... pic.twitter.com/08yPCUf35o  Sharon Ikeazor (@sharon_ikeazor) February 23, 2020

Wildlife Conservation Society in Nigeria, legally protects endangered species, but hunting still continues.
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, Pfizer board member and former FDA commissioner, is making regular appearances on CNBC to discuss coronavirus (COVID-19).

Here are some key points

* The US has very few testing labs that can confirm coronavirus (COVID-19) and there is a two-week lag to get results back from the CDC (Center for Disease Control)

* The US has performed about 500 tests. There is likely low-level outbreaks that cannot be detected. If there was an outbreak with thousands of cases we would know about it because a hospital would get a surge of cases

* Coronavirus (COVID-19) has cases and transmission in warm countries now. This means that April or Summer and warm weather alone will not stop the virus. There could be a dip in the spread of the disease like we saw with H1N1.

Almost Half of Infected Travelers Will Not Get Detected With Airport Screening

The newest coronavirus incubation period estimate is around 6.4 days, ranging from 2-11 days. This long incubation period means that people can be unaware that they are sick for about a week, and there have been multiple reported cases of people transmitting the virus prior to the onset of symptoms.

A new study predicted that 46% of infected travelers will board planes with undetected infections, therefore limiting the effectiveness of airport screening and risking spread to other passengers and diverse locations.

Parameter values and assumptions for the baseline scenario estimating effectiveness of exit and entry screening at airports for detecting passengers infected with novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

Wuhan Outbreak Seems to Be Peaking Now

The number of new cases in Wuhan seems to be going down. Modeling has suggested that the Wuhan outbreak is peaking in late February 2020.

Latest Estimate of Transmission is a Higher Infection Rate

The latest estimate of infection rate is that cases double every 2.4 days. The transmission rate is estimated at 4.7-6.0.

Quarantine and contact tracing of symptomatic individuals alone may not be effective and early, strong control measures are needed to stop transmission of the virus.

SOURCES  medrxiv, Eurosurveillance, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Disease, Doherty Institute  University of Melbourne

Written By Brian Wang, Nextbigfuture.com
WASHINGTON  Russ Feingold, the former Democratic senator from Wisconsin, is assuming the leadership of the American Constitution Society, a progressive group active on judicial nominations and the justice system, signaling that Democrats are planning an aggressive effort to sharpen their focus on the federal courts as a defining issue.

Mr. Feingolds elevation is the latest sign that Democrats are looking for ways to counter President Trumps efforts to reshape the federal judiciary through a three-year campaign  steered by Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader  to confirm conservative judges for lifetime appointments. It comes as Mr. Trump has renewed criticism of judges he claims are biased against him, while seeking to impose his own will on the justice system.

Mr. Feingold, best known as a crusader for overhauling campaign finance laws, said he believed the Republican push to stack the federal courts with conservatives, along with mounting questions about political interference at the Justice Department, has led to a crisis moment that called for a heightened response.

The former senator, who taught at several leading law schools after losing his seat in 2010, said he intended to reinvigorate the organization and intensify its efforts to counter what he saw as an assault on the justice system.
Triggering a controversy, senior BJP MLA from Vijayapura Basanagouda Patil Yatnal on Tuesday called centenarian H S Doreswamy a "fake freedom fighter who behaves like a Pakistan agent".

"There are many fake freedom fighters. There is one in Bengaluru. Now we have to say what Doreswamy is.

Where is that old man? He behaves like a Pakistan agent," Patil told reporters without elaborating in response to a question in the district headquarters town of Vijayapura.

Yatnal was reacting to Congress leaders' statements in Vijayapura during a public meeting titled 'Save the Constitution' on Monday.

Former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah had told the gathering that it was the Congress which helped the country attain freedom and was instrumental in preparing the Constitution, whereas RSS' contribution in the freedom struggle was "nil".

Reacting to Siddaramaiah's statement, Yatnal demanded to know if Congress leaders like Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi or Siddaramaiah ever fought for Independence or went to jail.

In this context, Yatnal called 102-year-old Doreswamy, who has criticised the BJP on various issues in the past, a fake freedom fighter who behaves like a Pakistan agent.

The Congress took a strong view of Yatnal's statement, saying it was unsolicited and unpardonable for the MLA to call "the conscious and socially alert" Doreswamy thus.

"The BJP should ask Yatnal to immediately step down for his communally venomous verbose and seek an apology," it said in a tweet.

When contacted, BJP spokesperson and MLC N Ravikumar said it was not proper for Yatnal to speak like that.

"We have lots of respect for Doreswamy, but we too feel that he (Doreswamy) is biased."



Denouncing Yatnal's statement, leader of the opposition in the Karnataka Assembly Siddaramaiah demanded that Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa initiate action against the MLA or else accept his views as that of the government.

In another tweet, Siddaramaiah asked Yediyurappa to keep in mind the "uncontrollable" situation in Delhi.

"A major trouble is awaiting if you don't control hate speeches," Siddaramaiah tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
CHARLESTON, S.C.Hard-charging Bernie Sanders might want to wear a helmet when he takes the stage tonight for the Democratic debate in South Carolina.

The Vermont senator, the clear front-runner in the race to challenge Donald Trump for the White House, has largely avoided being at the bottom of the primary pile-on  until now.

Its critical for rivals to slow the Sanders roll: South Carolina is a must-win for former vice-president Joe Biden, while senators Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren are running low on money and are desperate to show signs of life in Saturdays vote before next weeks key Super Tuesday primaries.

Meanwhile, businessman Tom Steyer has been coming on strong in the Palmetto State, while Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., needs to show he can garner support from black voters, who comprise nearly two-thirds of the states Democratic voters.

And then theres Mike Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor whos not on the ballot until Tuesday but will be on the stage tonight, looking to redeem himself after a dismal debate performance in Nevada.

Sanders, an independent, self-styled democratic socialist who conjures fear in the party establishment in much the same way Trump once did among Republicans, also seems to have supporters in Canada: He led a recent online survey by the Angus Reid Institute with the backing of 28 per cent of respondents.

It is a little bit funny to find myself as the so-called front-runner, Sanders told a CNN town hall event Monday.

We are going to enter this debate with the full knowledge that tens of millions of Americans want fundamental change in terms of what is going on in this country. They are tired of a president who is a pathological liar, who is running a corrupt administration, who is a racist and a sexist, and a homophobe, and a xenophobe.

Sanders often invokes Canada in his public comments, especially when talking about his signature Medicare For All policy plank.

Somehow they manage to guarantee health care for every man, woman, and child in that country at half the cost that we spend per capita, he said. Is guaranteeing health care to all people as a human right a radical idea?

But hes sure to face attacks on multiple fronts, including how he plans to pay for big-ticket promises like Medicare For All, free college tuition and forgiven student debt; reports that he considered a primary challenge against Barack Obama in 2012; and a recent interview in which he praised a Cuban literacy program launched by Fidel Castro in the early 1960s.

There was a lot of folks in Cuba at that point who were illiterate. And he formed a literacy brigade ... he went out and they helped people learn to read and write, Sanders said.

You know what? I think teaching people to read and write is a good thing.

Read more about:
YEREVAN, 25 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 25 February, USD exchange rate down by 0.09 drams to 478.33 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.09 drams to 517.46 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.12 drams to 7.31 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 4.33 drams to 621.40 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 431.23 drams to 25707.75 drams. Silver price up by 3.25 drams to 288.73 drams. Platinum price down by 187.37 drams to 14825.03 drams.
The sole Nevada question at the February 19 Democratic presidential candidates debate was posed by moderator Jon Ralston, editor of The Nevada Independent, and dealt with their plans to combat climate change in Las Vegas and Reno.

In response, former Vice President Joe Biden identified the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Plant as a source of new energy: When the fourth stage is completed, it will be able to take care of 60,000 homes for every bit of their energy needs.

Astonishingly, Biden was unaware that Crescent Dunes had already gone bust after receiving a $737 million federal loan guarantee. In fact, this $1 Billion Solar Plant was obsolete before it ever went online.

In 2011, the $1 billion Crescent Dunes project was to be the biggest solar plant of its kind, and it looked like the future of renewable power. In addition to $140 million in private investment, the U.S. Department of Energy offered the developer, SolarReserve Inc., $737 million in government loan guarantees, and Nevada Senator Harry Reid, then the Senate majority leader, cleared the way for the company to build on public land.

The state of Nevada contributed another $119.3 million in tax abatements over 20 years.

The Crescent Dunes solar plant looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. Ten thousand mirrors form a spiral almost 2 miles wide that winds around a skyscraper rising above the desert near Tonopah. The operation soaks up enough heat from the suns rays to spin steam turbines and store energy in the form of molten salt.

By the time the plant opened in 2015, the increased efficiency of cheap solar panels had already surpassed Crescent Dunes technology, and today its obsolete. Late last year, Crescent Dunes lost its only customer, NV Energy Inc. The plant has no prospective clients and couldnt supply energy even if it found a buyer.

The plants technology was designed to generate enough power night and day to supply a city the size of Sparks (population 100,000), but it never came close. Its power cost NV Energy about $135 per megawatt hour, compared with less than $30 per MWh today at a new Nevada photovoltaic solar farm.

SolarReserve told a federal court in November that the plant is moribund  neither generating energy or revenue. The entity running Crescent Dunes is insolvent, with debt of more than $440 million.

The Crescent Dunes failure is reminiscent of another giant taxpayerfunded boongoggle of the Obama administrations green energy enthusiasm  Solyndra. Then Vice-President Biden touted Solyndras Fremont, California solar-panel factory groundbreaking in 2009.

In May 2010, President Obama visited the plant declaring, the true engine of economic growth will always be companies like Solyndra. But despite $535 million in federal loan guarantees, Solyndra declared bankruptcy 16 months later. Solyndra went bust.

Many in the Obama administration had a genuine belief that fossil fuels were dangerous and unsustainable. But when government picks winners, politics usually intercedes.

Both government investigators and reporters found, as the Washington Post observed, Obamas green technology program was infused with politics at every level.  Political considerations were raised repeatedly by company investors, Department of Energy bureaucrats and White House officials.

The Energy Departments inspector general reached similar conclusions in their report, which took four years to complete.

Promises of a Green New Deal are predicated on the belief that government planning and subsidies will make America the worlds green-energy superpower, create millions of jobs, and supercharge the economy.

Scores of new businesses fail, but private investors lose their own money. Government investments turn on politics more than feasibility. There is a long and growing list of failed government alternative energy projects.

Hand the energy economy over to the government in the name of climate change, and there will be countless more Crescent Dunes and Solyndra fiascos.

Jim Hartman is an attorney residing in Genoa, Nevada.

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The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Wednesday pleas seeking removal of the crowd protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) from Delhi's Shaheen Bagh area.

The apex court had adjourned the hearing in the matter after the interlocutors appointed by it submitted their report in a sealed cover on Monday.

A division bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and also comprising KM Joseph will take up the matter on February 26 after going through the report.

The two amicus curiae submitted their report in a sealed cover to the apex court. "We will go through the report," Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul had said.

The Supreme Court-appointed mediators -- senior advocates Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandran -- had last week engaged with the anti-CAA protestors for shifting the venue from Shaheen Bagh.

The top court had last week appointed senior advocates -- Sanjay Hedge, Sadhana Ramachandran and former bureaucrat Wajahat Habibullah -- as interlocutors to talk to the protestors here and urge them to clear the road and protest at an alternate site.

Thousands of people, including a large number of Muslim women, have been staging a sit-in protest at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh area since mid-December last year against the CAA and the proposed Register of Citizens (NRC).

A public interest litigation (PIL) in the matter, filed by Nand Kishore Garg and Amit Sahni through their lawyer Shashank Deo Sudhi, sought appropriate directions to the Centre and others concerned for removal of protestors from Shaheen Bagh near Kalindi Kunj.

The petition seeks appropriate direction to the respondents, including the Centre, for laying down "detailed, comprehensive and exhaustive guidelines relating to outright restrictions for holding protest/agitation" leading to obstruction of the public space.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Satya Nadella, chief executive officer of Microsoft Corp., speaks during a meeting of the Economic Club of Washington in Washington on Oct. 4, 2017.

The coronavirus could delay an anticipated bump in Microsoft's Windows revenue, as PC makers delay building new business computers that come with the operating system.

Microsoft, a key driver of the S&P 500, benefited from strong sales of Windows licenses for business PCs, as companies rushed to upgrade their hardware before Microsoft stopped supporting Windows 7 in January.

That trend should continue, but factory work stoppages in China could delay sales into later quarters. For Microsoft, 15% of revenue comes from Windows, and 40% of Windows revenue comes from licenses for commercial devices.

Microsoft issued wider-than-usual first-quarter guidance for the More Personal Computing segment that contains Windows on January 29 to acknowledge dynamics in China, finance chief Amy Hood told analysts on a conference call. Single-digit revenue growth in the More Personal Computing segment should reflect the demand for Windows 10 and the end of support for Windows 7, Hood said.

Apple had also provided wider revenue guidance than usual in January in connection with coronavirus. Then, on February 17, the company said it didn't expect to achieve the guidance. Microsoft declined to comment on whether it would update its guidance before the next time it reports earnings.

"I think what's important is, if you try to take out, which is challenging, some of the comments we've had on either chip supply constraints or some of the uncertainty related to the public health situation in China, you would say what we have in terms of what the cycle would look like compared to prior cycle ends would actually be quite similar," Hood said on Microsoft's earnings call last month.
Pipeline

25 February 2020

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a franchise agreement with Orjin Konaklama Yonetim Hizmetleri A.S. for the first Hyatt branded hotel in Izmir, Turkey. Expected to open in 2021, the 161-room hotel marks the seventh Hyatt branded property in Turkey and the brand's entry into Izmir, the country's third largest and one of the oldest cities in the Mediterranean.

Hyatt Regency Izmir Istinye Park will be part of a new major development, Istinye Park Izmir, slated to become a local landmark comprising of a high-end shopping mall and an impressive 860,000 square foot (80,000 square meter) park. Located 12 miles (20 kilometers) from the airport, the hotel will be in close proximity to the metro, tram and bus stations, providing direct access to downtown Izmir.

The property, which will overlook the Gulf of Izmir, will be designed with business and leisure travelers in mind, offering seamless and personalized experiences for any occasion. Hyatt Regency Izmir Istinye Park will feature a restaurant and bar, as well as a spa and a fitness center. Additionally, with more than 21,500 square feet (2,000 square meter) of flexible event space, the hotel will also offer a premium venue for corporate meetings and social gatherings alike.
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. Dr. Jennifer Beebe-Dimmer, Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University in Detroit
Charges pertain to a tax-related case linked to Bonaparte.

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Investigator of the National Criminal Agency has charged Ladislav Basternak and three other people in the case of tax crimes linked to the Bonaparte building on Bratislava's castle hill, where Robert Fico used to live until last year.

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The police informed on Facebook that the charges pertain to unauthorised claims for VAT refunds of more than 900,000.

The sum included supplier invoices for construction materials and works on construction on the building.

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The accused are the former executive directors of two companies. Besides Basternak, also Stanislav Plutko and Ivan Piterka were executive directors in Real Forum Invest. The fourth accused has been identified as Peter H.
Tourists will soon have a



smooth ride to the world famous Ajanta Caves here in Maharashtra as the work of four-laning of the 150-km Aurangabad-Jalgaon highway will be completed by this year end, an official said on Tuesday.

The four-laning work is going on in full swing and one side carriage way will be completed by March 31, he said.

"The entire work will be completed by December 31 this year. Traffic on this route will not be interrupted during the forthcoming monsoon," Public Works Department executive engineer Jayant Chivane told PTI.

The widening of Aurangabad-Sillod-Ajanta-Jalgaon road was supposed to be completed in June last year, but it got delayed due to irregularities in work by the contractor.

A new deadline was later set for the work and four- laning of this route will be completed by December 31, another official said.

"The concretisation work has picked up pace. The contractor is completing 800 metres of concretisation in a day," he added.

The number of tourists visiting the Ajanta Caves has been going down due to poor condition of the key connecting road as its repair and widening work got delayed due to deficient services of the contractual agency, officials earlier said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mumbai, Feb 25 : Looks like Mahira Sharma is in no mood to give up on the 'fighting spirit' that she imbibed during her stay in the "Bigg Boss 13" house.

A couple of days ago, Mahira took to Instagram Story and shared that she was given the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Award for the 'Most Fashionable Contestant on Bigg Boss 13'. But her post did not go down well with the organisers of the festival. They released an official statement slamming Mahira for forging the certificate.

Reacting to their accusation, Mahira on Monday penned an open letter stating her manager Abhinav Tanwar was contacted by a man named Premal Mehta, who had informed that Mahira would be given the award.

"Charges made against me for receiving and forging the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival 2020 is untrue and totally uncalled for. In my defense I would like to clarify with exact details on what went that day. On Thursday, 20th February 2020, I was invited for the reputed DadaSaheb Phalke International Film Festival 2020 by Mr Premal Mehta from Purple Fox Media along with Yash Naik who is an artiste manager for the said award show. They informed us that they have been associated with Dadasaheb Awards past two years.

"My manager, Mr Abhinav Tanwar was informed by Mr Mehta that we will be gratified at the event with the title of Most Fashionable Bigg Boss 13 Contestant. At the event, the team of Bigg Boss 13 was called on stage and gratified with a token of appreciation. On questioning about my solo award by my manager to Mr Mehta, he handed over the award to my manager stating that I cannot be called on stage owing to the huge hue and rush on stage," she wrote.

Mahira insists that she did not forge any certificate.

"I did my media bytes at the event and later had put a social media story (on my personal Instagram account) to express my love and gratitude. Little did I know this would turn against me within two days. Since Sunday night, I was told that there has been some miscommunication and will be rectified as soon as possible. I would like to inform that I did not forge any award and would never intend to do so. The managing team of Premal Mehta and Yash Naik have taken the onus of this fiasco completely and have stated that I had nothing to do with it," she concluded.

However, organisers have a different view. They are still awaiting Mahira's apology over the matter. In an open letter, the organisers have shared the pictures of a real certificate and the fake certificate one that Mahira shared on her social media.

"Ms. Mahira, We hereby present the required facts on the matter. We further await for your apology as we don't want to drag this further and close it on a good note," the post read.

The organisers also claimed that Mahira Sharma received a fake certificate from a third party PR agency, which has no direct link with the festival.

"Two formal communications were made with her, where one was the intimation letter mentioned above and the other was a formal mail shared to her and her team on 24th February 2020 (Monday). The team had clearly mentioned to her that a formal apology has to be shared from her end within 48 hours as her post had clearly violated the brand's IP assets and brand collaterals which led to negative PR and damages to the DPIFF team.

"Even now, we are looking for an amicable resolution in this regard through an apology which we have asked Ms Mahira Sharma to post. Even though she has called this incident to be 'untrue', we still stand by our claims on this matter and expect her to share an apology. We shall be patiently waiting for the same," the letter added.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kuwaiti special forces wearing protective masks are seen at the entrance to a hotel where people evacuated from Iran are being held in quarantine, in Fahaheel, Kuwait. Photo: REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee

The Iranian government has insisted it is not covering up the true scale of the coronavirus outbreak in the country after an MP claimed the death toll from the disease was five times higher than official figures.

Neighbouring Middle Eastern states have since shut land borders and cancelled flights to the Islamic republic.

Iran's health ministry said there were 64 confirmed cases of the virus with 12 deaths, but Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani, an MP from Qom, said the government was "lying" and that there were 50 deaths in his city alone.

The World Health Organisation has estimated the coronavirus has an estimated 2pc fatality rate, meaning the total number of infected people in Iran could be about 2,500.

Many Iranian citizens are already deeply suspicious of the government after it lied for several days about accidentally shooting down a Ukrainian airliner last month.

Mr Farahani's claim was reported by the semi-official ILNA news agency. Iraj Harirchi, the deputy health minister, said he "categorically" denied the claim of 50 deaths in Qom. "This is not the time for political confrontations. The coronavirus is a national problem," he said.

By yesterday afternoon, there were confirmed cases of coronavirus in Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman and Afghanistan.

In each case, the infected person had recently travelled to Iran.

Turkey, Pakistan and Armenia have all closed their land borders with Iran, while Iraq is only allowing Iraqi citizens to cross. Flights to and from Iran have been cancelled in Tajikistan and Oman, while Turkish Airlines has cancelled most flights.

Meanwhile, China decided to postpone its annual parliament session for the first time since the 1990s yesterday as the country continues to battle the coronavirus outbreak.

The National People's Congress, China's parliamentary body, meets annually for around 10 days to set key policies for the coming year, and was supposed to begin on March 5.

But most top officials are now focused on containing the spread of the virus, which has now reached every province of the country. In a sign of the unpredictable nature of the crisis, no new date has been fixed for the session to begin.

The postponement of the meeting could hamper measures by President Xi Jinping's government to mitigate the economic impact of the epidemic. China yesterday also declared an immediate and "comprehensive" ban on the trade and consumption of wild animals, a practice believed to be at the root of the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

Outside of China, South Korea has suffered the highest number of infections, ballooning to more than 830, with eight deaths. More than half of the cases are linked to Shincheonji, a controversial ultrareligious group in Daegu, the fourth largest city.

Thirteen military personnel have been diagnosed with the disease, prompting the lockdown of their barracks, and a US Forces family member, with access to the American military base in Daegu, has also tested positive.

At least half a dozen countries have banned the entry of visitors travelling from South Korea.
PARIS - A Christian woman acquitted of blasphemy after spending eight years on death row in Pakistan, and who faced death threats from Islamic extremists, said she is going to request asylum in France.

Asia Bibi will receive her diploma Tuesday as a Citizen of Honor of the city of Paris, a title she was awarded in 2015. She will meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, officials said.

Bibi has lived in Canada since she was released by Pakistan last year. She expressed her desire to live in France in an interview on French radio RTL on Monday.

Macrons office said French authorities are ready to welcome Asia Bibi and her family in France if this is what they wish to do.

Bibi was convicted of blasphemy in 2009 after a quarrel with two fellow farm workers, who refused to drink from the same water container as a Christian. Five days later, the women said Bibi had insulted Islam, a crime punishable by death. Bibi was charged with blasphemy despite repeatedly denying the accusation. The Supreme Court overturned her conviction last year, and she had been in protective custody since then.

Islamic extremists have rioted over the case and threatened to kill Bibi.

The case has brought international attention to Pakistans controversial blasphemy law, which carries an automatic death penalty. The mere suspicion of blasphemy against Islam is enough to ignite mob lynchings in the country. Blasphemy allegations have also been used to intimidate religious minorities and to settle scores.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Volta Regional Secretariat has condemned the Paramount Chief of the Nyagbo Traditional Area, who doubles as an Appeals Court Judge, Justice Clement Jackson Honyenuga for endorsing the candidature of President Akufo-Addo.

Justice Honyenuga in his welcome address to President Akufo-Addo at a durbar of chiefs and people of the Afajato South District had commended the President for various developmental policies introduced under his leadership.

He said with the vision of the President and the gains made in his first term, Ghanaians may consider giving him another four years to the loud cheers of people at the durbar grounds.

The Secretariat in a statement signed by the Volta Regional Chairman, Henry Kwadzo Ametefe said the endorsement violates the Judicial code of conduct.

While taking due cognizance of the fact that Justice Honyenuga may have made those comments in his capacity as a traditional ruler, it is reprehensible and regrettable, especially for a man who is supposed to know our laws better than any ordinary man and to uphold and respect same.

Not only is this conduct by the Appeals Court Judge a blatant violation of the Judicial Code of Conduct but it very well sins against the very sanctity of the institution of Judiciary as we know it.

The Secretariat also called on the Judicial Council and the General Legal Council, the Chairman of which is the Chief Justice himself to take judicial notice of his actions and take appropriate action.

Below is the full statement:

---citinewsroom
Stress may make us more willing to give, and receive, emotional support. (Getty Images)

Whether its looming work deadlines, the pressure of running a home or just being stuck in traffic, stress usually brings out our irritable side.

New research suggests, however, feeling frazzled may make people more supportive towards their loved ones.

Stressed out people were also found to be more willing to receive emotional support from those around them.

Read more: Can stress kill you?

Our findings suggest that just because we have a bad day, that doesn't mean it has to be completely unhealthy, said study author Professor David Almeida.

If stress can actually connect us with other people, which I think is absolutely vital to the human experience, I think that's a benefit.

Stress could potentially help people deal with negative situations by driving them to be with other people.

Feeling continuously frazzled has been linked to everything from heart disease to depression.

Scientists from Pennsylvania State University were curious whether pressure to meet that work deadline may also bring some benefits.

Read more: Stress could leave you at risk of infections by turning off the immune system

Looking at the current research, I realised a lot of studies looked at how emotional support is beneficial to other health outcomes, but not many looked at the determinants of social support, said study author Hye Won Chai.

We thought stress could be a facilitator in these interpersonal exchanges.

The scientists interviewed more than 1,600 people every night for eight nights. The participants were aged between 33 and 84.

Questions probed into stressors the participants may have experienced that day, like arguments, as well as whether they gave or received support.

Giving and receiving support are said to be 'the most effective and easiest coping strategies to utilise in times of distress'. (Getty Images)

Results, published in the journal Stress & Health, suggest the participants were more than twice as likely to give or receive support on days they came across a stressor.

They were also 26% more likely to be open to helping others emotionally, or receiving that themselves, the following day.

Story continues

The scientists were surprised by the results, with them expecting the giving of emotional support to be a stressor in itself.

We saw that someone experiencing a stressor today actually predicted them giving emotional support the next day, said Professor Almeida.

This made me think it's actually possible that stress helps to drive you to other people and allows it to be okay to talk about problems  your problems, my problems.

Giving and receiving support are said to be the most effective and easiest coping strategies to utilise in times of distress, the scientists wrote.

Stressed people may also help others through difficult times to boost their potential pool for social support in the future.

Read more: Flexible working may cause burn out: heres how to stay stress free

Overall, the results were similar between the sexes. There were, however, a few differences.

Women tended to engage in more giving and receiving emotional support than men, said Chai.

This supports previous findings that women tend to seek more emotional support from other people when they're stressed.

In our study, men were also more likely to engage in emotional support on days they were stressed, but to a lesser extent than women.

The scientists hope their results will help doctors better manage stress in patients.

The findings suggest an intervention geared toward social interaction rather than individual may be very beneficial, said Professor Almeida.

If we're naturally being drawn toward other people when we're stressed to get help, then interventions may benefit by incorporating the people around us.
NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Tupperware Brands Corporation (Tupperware or the Company) (NYSE: TUP). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 9980.

The investigation concerns whether Tupperware and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On February 24, 2020, post-market, Tupperware issued a press release announcing that the Company will be unable to timely file its annual report for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2019. Tupperware also announced that it expects 2019 net earnings per share (EPS) in the range of breakeven to $0.34 versus $3.11 in the prior year[,] and adjusted EPS of $1.35 to $1.70. Tupperware stated that its financial results were affected by financial reporting issues concerning the Companys Fuller Mexico beauty brand and that the Company is conducting an investigation primarily into the accounting for accounts payable and accrued liabilities at Fuller Mexico. Additionally, Tupperware announced that it is forecasting a need for relief concerning its existing leverage ratio covenant in its $650 million Credit Agreement dated March 29, 2019 [], to avoid a potential acceleration of the debt, which could have a material adverse impact on the Company. On this news, Tupperwares stock price fell sharply during intraday trading on February 25, 2020.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com.
MADRID, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Central banks' main objective on climate challenges should be to allow markets to correctly assess the risks, European Central Bank policymaker Pablo Hernandez de Cos said on Tuesday.

"The central banks' main objective, jointly with other public agents, should be to allow the market to correctly assess climate risk," De Cos said.

The ECB has started a one-year review of the ECB's policy framework. Finding a way to combat climate change has been one of the priorities of the ECB's president Christine Lagarde since taking office on Nov. 1.
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
ATLANTIC CITY  City Council is considering a return to two monthly meetings as a way to expedite city business while also reducing the introduction of last-minute items, said Council President George Tibbitt.

The idea had been floated among council members since the start of the new year, according to several officials, but Tibbitt expressed some frustration at the most recent public meeting with the amount of new business items added to the agenda.

Tibbitt said it was not fair to his colleagues  three of the nine council members are in their first term  who are not afforded adequate time to review some of the new business items.

This is the second meeting in a row I took a lot of new business, Tibbitt said at councils Feb. 19 meeting. Im very pro-business, and I want everything to move. But it cant continue to have this many things on new business.

On Monday, Tibbitt said it was possible City Council would consider a resolution at its next meeting in March to expand.

The second monthly meeting would be limited to second readings of ordinances or development-related items, Tibbitt suggested.
Seattle, Wash., Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rescue Rebuild , a community-driven animal shelter renovation program of GreaterGood.org, joins forces with PetSmart Charities to give a necessary makeover to the Humane Society of Grand Bahama (HSGB) that was ravaged by Hurricane Dorian. The renovation of this 50-year-old shelter, which serves more than 1,400 animals annually and is the only animal welfare organization on the island, is made possible by a generous $225,000 grant by PetSmart Charities.

To date, PetSmart Charities has donated more than $10 million in grant support to GreaterGood.orgs disaster relief efforts and lifechanging programs, that have provided pet food, pet supplies and monetary aid to millions of people and pets impacted by food insecurity and natural disasters.

We are grateful for our partnership with PetSmart Charities to help the Humane Society of Grand Bahama get back to a safe working environment for their staff and animals, said Liz Baker, CEO of GreaterGood.org. After Hurricane Dorian, shelter operations were crippled, decreasing adoptions by 80% a month. This renovation, which is a huge undertaking, will help the animal shelter return to its normal adoption volume of 100 pets a month.

The devastation from Hurricane Dorian is immense, and we know the continued need for support of recovery and relief efforts is equally as great, said Lindsay Del Chiaro, director of community relations and programs at PetSmart Charities. As an organization that is committed to supporting pets and the people who love them, we are proud to join Rescue Rebuilds efforts to restore the Humane Society of Grand Bahamas shelter for the pets and people of Grand Bahama who depend on this vital community resource. Through our longstanding partnership with both GreaterGood.org and Rescue Rebuild, it is our hope this work continues to help pets in need.

Last September, Hurricane Dorian landed on the Eastern side of Grand Bahama Island with 185 mph winds. It stalled over the island, adding 36 inches of rain to the already tremendous amount of damage from the wind and storm surge. During the storm, the HSGB took on approximately 12 feet of water in all four of its buildings and approximately 50% of the building interior was destroyed. While shelter staff and some animals narrowly escaped the flooded shelter, 90 animals perished in the devastating storm.

The Rescue Rebuild team will travel to HSGB in February 2020 with a staff of six and enlist volunteers from around the country to clean out and rebuild the facility. The renovation will last two weeks and includes removing large amounts of debris, fencing repair, installing sunshades, installing drywall, doors and molding on the interior.

Due to the depth of the destruction of HSGB, this is only phase one of a two-part renovation that will be completed beginning March 7th.

# # #

About Rescue Rebuild

Rescue Rebuild is a shelter renovation program of GreaterGood.org that recruits volunteers from all over the country to help animal shelters in need. The organization travels to selected shelters in need to complete general repairs and renovations.

About GreaterGood.org

GreaterGood.org is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that works to improve the health and well-being of people, pets, and the planet. Over the last 12 years, GreaterGood.org has given over $250 million in cash and in-kind grants to over 3,000 charitable partners worldwide. To learn more, visit GreaterGood.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

About PetSmart Charities

PetSmart Charities, Inc. is committed to finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities helps to find forever homes and families for more than 600,000 shelter pets each year. PetSmart Charities also provides grant funding to nonprofits aligned with its mission. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, granting more than $390 million since its inception in 1994. Independent from PetSmart Inc., PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization that has received the Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator, a third-party organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 16 years in a row  placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.

Follow PetSmart Charities on Instagram: @PetSmartCharities

Follow PetSmart Charities on Twitter: @PetSmartChariTs

Find PetSmart Charities on Facebook: Facebook.com/PetSmartCharities

See PetSmart Charities on YouTube: YouTube.com/PetSmartCharitiesInc

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Tamara Ingram has stepped down as global chair of Wunderman Thompson as per international media reports. Her exit was confirmed in a staff memo.

Tamara Ingram was erstwhile CEO of J Walter Thompson Worldwide before it merged with Wunderman. During her career, she has worked with agencies such as Saatchi and Saatchi, Grey Group London and McCann Worldgroup, Kantar and WPP. Her longest stint was at Saatchi where she worked for 16 years and became CEO in 1995 and executive chairman in 1999.

She took over the lead of JWT in March 2016 when the previous CEO was facing allegations and was sued for sexual misconduct.
SpendEdge, a leading provider of procurement market intelligence solutions, has announced the completion of their latest article on the challenges in healthcare procurement.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005694/en/

Health care services have improved significantly in the last few years. Researchers today have solutions for diseases that could not be treated earlier. Such improvements could be contributed to growth in the healthcare procurement process involving segments like clinical research and medical equipment procurement. However, there are certain challenges that suppliers face in healthcare procurement.

At SpendEdge, we understand that the hardships faced by suppliers and healthcare organizations in procurement. Therefore, we have highlighted the key challenges in healthcare procurement.

Challenges in Healthcare Procurement

Limited control in price

Many times, healthcare organizations lack the procurement data required to develop actionable steps to boost efficiency. This results in a lot of wasteful spending. Companies must implement health IT systems that can manage procurement costs under value-based reimbursement models and compare healthcare costs with the outcomes of the patient.

Want to identify the best value-based reimbursement model for your organization? Request free platform access to leverage our smart procurement solutions now and 1000+ procurement reports

Healthcare procurement involves many hidden costs

The cost of the product forms the core of healthcare procurement. But healthcare organizations must be aware of invisible costs such as inventory holding, and distribution expenses associated with the procurement. This will not only help companies to yield savings but will also enhance clinician and patient satisfaction. To know how you can achieve significant cost savings and stay ahead of the curve, get in touch with our experts now!

Medical equipment procurement

Usually, medical equipment is produced in bulk with standard specifications. Any customization in specification can increase the procurement cost of products. Also, it may result in errors as companies face predicaments to meet end-user demands within the stipulated time.

To know more about challenges in healthcare procurement, read the complete article here!

You may also like:

Global Clinical Research Services Market Procurement Intelligence Report

State of the Nation: 2020 US Healthcare Supply Chain Predictions and Why they Matter

Strategic Sourcing Analysis Helps a Fortune 500 Health Care Enterprise Transform Procurement and Drive Savings

About SpendEdge:

SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions.

Want to gain detailed insights? https://www.spendedge.com/get-more-info

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005694/en/

Contacts:

SpendEdge

Anirban Choudhury

Marketing Manager

US: +1 630 984 7340

UK: +44 148 459 9299

https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us
A Texas-based demolition company has been forced to apologize for accidentally tearing down a 97-year-old Craftsman home.

On Wednesday, JR's Demolition was supposed to demolish the home at 5336 Richard Avenue, but the company mistakenly tore down a residence known as the 'pink house' at 5532 Richard Avenue in Dallas.

The demolished home belonged to Jeremy Wenninger, who purchased the property in 2019 after the former owner and friend passed away.

On Wednesday, JR's Demolition mistakenly demolished a residence known as the 'pink house' (pictured) at 5532 Richard Avenue in Dallas

The Irving-based demolition company apologized for the mistake on Thursday. This image shows the debris after the home was destroyed

Bobby Lindamood, the owner of JR Demolition, said that employees from his small business thought they were at the correct location. This image shows the debris from the 'pink house'

The home known as the pink house by neighbors sat on the same block as the home that was supposed to be destroyed (depicted above)

Wenninger, who lives in California, told WFAA that his friend asked him to 'save her home and not bulldoze it' two months before she passed away in 2018.

'And I did everything in my power to make that happen, and I feel like Ive just been knocked off my feet'.

Wenninger said the home was in the process of receiving renovations when it was torn down.

The home, which was built in 1923, was constructed when the Craftsman design was most popular.

The demolished home belonged to Jeremy Wenninger (pictured) who purchased the property in 2019 after the former owner and friend passed away

Wenninger, who lives in California, said his friend asked him to 'save her home and not bulldoze it' two months before she passed away in 2018. This image shows the dining area inside the home

Wenninger said the 97-year-old home was in the process of receiving renovations when it was torn down. This image shows another angle of the dining room inside the home

The home (porch pictured), which was built in 1923, was constructed when the Craftsman design was most popular

From 1905 to 1930, the American Craftsman was a movement that saw architects Greene and Greene create products that emphasized the grain of oak over Victorian-era excesses.

Some of the home's features included a low-pitched gable roof with deep, bracketed overhangs and exposed rafters; a porch supported by massive piers; and windows and doors with long vertical panes.

Bobby Lindamood, the owner of JR Demolition, told WFAA that employees from his small business thought they were initially at the correct location.

Lindamood said the house 'wasn't marked' with an address and had 'no power and no gas'.

In a statement to CBS Lindamood said that several homes along Richard Avenue have been demolished by his company in the past due to the redevelopment of the area.

'JRs inspected this property ensuring that it was empty. The house was stripped of all plumbing and electrical. It lacked a foundation without concrete, and the gas meter was gone.

The home (pictured) that was supposed to be torn down was also demolished by JR's Demolition

This image shows the debris from the home that was supposed to be torn down in the first place

'In short, the property was similar in appearance and condition to many of the properties that JRs demolished on Richard Street'.

Lindamood said he has spoken to the new owner of the property and 'will be working with him toward a resolution'.

It's unclear what the resolution will be but the Craftsman home is one that can range from just under $300,000 into the millions depending on the state.

The home that was supposed to be torn down was also razed by JR's Demolition.
Premier carrier Virgin Atlantic on Tuesday said it will launch air services to UK's third largest city Manchester from New Delhi from October 26 this year.

Manchester, which has a sizeable population of Indians, was earlier being served by the now defunct Jet Airways, which used to fly to the UK airport from Mumbai five times per week.

For the first time, Virgin Atlantic will fly from India to Manchester, starting October 26, the airline said in a release.

The new flights will be up for booking from March 3, it added.

Virgin Atlantic already flies to London's Heathrow Airport with daily service from New Delhi and Mumbai.

With the commencement of operations on Delhi-Manchester route, the airline would offer a total of over 6 lakh seats seats per year between India and UK, it said.

"The year 2020 marks our 20th anniversary of flying to India and as the destination continues to grow in popularity for both business and leisure travel, we're thrilled to announce for very first time a new service flying three times a week from Delhi to Manchester, our home in the north," Virgin Atlantic Chief Commercial Officer Juha Jarvinen said.

The new service will also be Virgin's first flight to Asia from Manchester, the airline said, adding that A330-200 aircraft will be deployed to service the new route.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Joe Biden still leads in South Carolina, but Bernie Sanders is in spitting distance of the former vice president in a new poll from NBC News and the Marist Poll.

Biden - long been the favorite in the first-in-the-south primary - has the support of 27 per cent of Democrats and Democratic leaning independents. Sanders is preferred by 23 per cent of respondents.

The poll was largely taken before Sanders' overwhelming victory in the Nevada caucuses on Saturday, where Biden came in a distant second.

Former Vice President Joe Biden still leads in South Carolina, which holds a primary Saturday, but Bernie Sanders is 4 points behind him according to one new poll

Another South Carolina poll that dropped Monday had Biden in front with a sizeable lead.

Another poll, from Public Policy Polling shows Joe Biden with a 15-point advantage over Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders is 4 points behind Joe Biden in a new poll from South Carolina, where Democratic voters will head to the polls on Saturday. Biden has been the long-time favorite in the Palmetto State

The ex-vice president had a 15-point advantage in a Public Policy Polling survey earning the support of 36 per cent of survey respondents, versus the 21 per cent who reported backing Sanders.

In the NBC poll, billionaire candidate Tom Steyer comes in third place with 15 per cent support.

Steyer didn't make the debate stage last week in Nevada. He will, however, appear in the Democratic debate Tuesday night in Charleston, meaning both billionaire candidates - Steyer and Mike Bloomberg - will be on hand.

Steyer has focused much of his campaign's efforts on performing well in South Carolina.

No other Democratic candidates had double-digit support in the state, NBC and Marist found.

Pete Buttigieg had 9 per cent, followed by Elizabeth Warren with 8 per cent and Amy Klobuchar with 5 per cent.

Besides Biden and Sanders, the PPP found that every other candidate's was in the single digits.

Warren had 8 per cent support, Steyer and Buttigieg were both polling at 7 points, Gabbard had 6 per cent and Klobuchar was only polling at 3 per cent.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 19:22:44|Editor: huaxia

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YAOUNDE, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Cameroon on Monday opposed French President Emmanuel Macron's remarks over a separatist crisis in the country's English-speaking regions.

Cameroonian President Paul Biya "is accountable for his actions to the sole sovereign Cameroonian people and not to a foreign leader, even from a friendly country," Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, secretary general of the Cameroon presidency, said in a statement released Monday evening.

On Saturday, Macron, while speaking to a Cameroonian activist at a farm show in Paris, promised to put "maximum pressure" on Biya over a humanitarian crisis in Cameroon's Anglophone regions where armed separatists are clashing with government forces.

Biya is fully engaged to accomplish his mandate "and does not need external pressure to do so," commented Ngoh.

He also urged Cameroonians to remain calm and open to strengthen the "historic relations" between France and Cameroon.

Early on Monday, hundreds of demonstrators, brandishing placards and chanting slogans, gathered in front of the French embassy in Cameroon to protest against what they described as Paris' intervention in their internal affairs.

According to the UN, there have been over 700,000 refugees and internally displaced persons since separatists began clashing with government forces in 2017 to establish an independent nation they call "Ambazonia" in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear a petition, filed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), seeking a direction to execute the death row convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape 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 plea today.

The Centre moved the apex 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.)
By 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.
Patna, Feb 25 : The second day of the budget session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly witnessed ruckus as the members of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Opposition parties indulged in a heated debate over issues such as NPR and NRC, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for 15 minutes.

As soon as the proceedings of the Assembly started, Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of misleading the people on National Population Register (NPR).

Terming the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and NPR "black laws", he said that the new constitutional Acts are dividing the country.

The ruling MLAs created a ruckus over his statement.

"The opposition is trying to defame the country's Constitution. This cannot be tolerated," members of the ruling NDA alleged.

The house was adjourned for 15 minutes amid uproar. Following the adjournment, Tejashwi told reporters, "The government has issued the NPR notification whereas the Chief Minister is saying that the NPR will happen on the basis of how it was conducted in 2010. They should clarify that the NPR will take place as per the 2010 rule," Tejashwi said.

State Minister Nandkishore Yadav said, "The opposition can only create ruckus. It has nothing to do with public issues. The government is ready to answer every question of the opposition parties in the House."
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."
The U.S. Army recently deployed the first full brigade combat team with all of its equipment to Germany to take part in DEFENDER-Europe 20, a large-scale exercise designed to hone the service's prowess in rapid-deployment operations.

The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Fort Stewart, Georgia, is part of a division-size force of 20,000 U.S. soldiers that will descend upon Europe over the next few months in the largest deployment of U.S. land forces in the last 25 years.

Unlike exercises in the past, the 3rd ID unit deployed with all of its M1 tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles and other equipment.

"There has been a pattern in Europe that has been generated where a unit would draw equipment or take only a portion of what a brigade combat team might have," Col. Scott O'Neal, commander of 2nd BCT, said in a recent Army news release. "However, we are bringing our entire brigade combat team, all of our personnel and equipment."

Other units participating in DEFENDER-Europe will draw equipment from Army Prepositioned Stocks located throughout the region.

Related: The Army Is Increasing Combat Gear Stockpiles in Europe and Pacific

For the past two years, Army leaders have stressed the need for the service to build its strategic readiness by increasing the amount of no-notice Emergency Deployment Response Exercises (EDRE) as well as conducting DEFENDER-Europe this year and a similar exercise in the Pacific scheduled for fiscal 2021.

"We have increased our [EDRE] as well as our DEFENDER-series exercises," Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told an audience at a Feb. 21 event at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"We take a [U.S.-based] unit and send them to the Pacific as well as the European theaters, so we have increased the rotational deployments to the areas of the world where we have a particular competition play, if you will, against near-peer competitors," he added.

The Army has budgeted more than $300 million in the operations and maintenance account for the fiscal 2021 budget request to fund these exercises, McCarthy said at a Feb. 14 speech at the National Press Club.

"The Army's ability to rapidly mobilize, deploy and sustain combat forces ... gives us the advantage over threats and potential adversaries," he said.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Read More: Emergency Paratrooper Deployment Is First for New Army Response Force
A childcare worker charged with the manslaughter of a three-year-old boy found dead on a mini-bus has been banned from contacting the victim's family, her co-workers and the co-accused.

Dionne Batrice Grills, 34, appeared in Cairns Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning, where she was granted bail with non-contact provisions.

Police have laid charges after the boy's body was discovered on the minibus in Cairns. Credit:Nine News Queensland / Twitter

Her case is set to return to court on March 18.

A 45-year-old male, who was driving the minibus in which the child died after being left alone for more than six hours, will face court later on Tuesday.
He was kidnapped in Thailand in 2015, around the same time that several other people affiliated with the bookstore also vanished  an operation widely believed to be the work of Chinese agents. Gui reappeared in Chinese custody months later and delivered a scripted confession in which he suggested he had secretly smuggled himself to China to turn himself in for his involvement in a 2003 car crash. He also said he didnt want help from Swedish authorities.
As Queen Elizabeth II continues to deal with the biggest scandal the royal family has faced over the years, she has proven that she is not called the Queen for nothing.

Last week, the 93-year-old monarch had her last laugh over the controversial decision of her grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle to step down as senior members of the royal family dubbed as "Megxit." It is by prohibiting the couple from using the term "Sussex Royal" in the future endeavors outside the royal family, as per Daily Mail report.

It only means that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not have a chance to "milk in" using the branding that they have always known for.

A few days after the Queen reportedly banned the couple from using Sussex Royals, the 38-year-old Meghan and 35-year-old Harry made it clear that they will not use the multi-million dollar branding after their transition in March 31.

Through their official website, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said that they "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."

Royal Ignorance?

The rest of Meghan and Harry's statement lead to several criticisms in the United Kingdom, particularly on the chosen tone of the statement confirming they will not use the Sussex Royal after the transition period.

Royal expert Camilla Tominey first pointed out how the statement is obviously written by an American, citing that the American author could be the Duchess herself.

In an interview with ITV's "This Morning" show, the royal commentator explained how the official statement lacked a fundamental understanding of how the monarchy works.

"The tone of this statement is pretty pointed. It's certainly been drafted by an American because there are Americanisms in it," Tominey said.

"It talks about Spring 2020 rather than Spring of 2020. And it says 'per the agreement' as opposed to 'as per the agreement."

Tominey argued that while Meghan and Harry play an essential role as royal figures, they should understand that they are not as important as the institution itself.

"Yes, Harry and Meghan are important profile figures. But news flash, no individual royal is bigger than the institution. Not even the Queen," the royal expert added.

She furthered that while Meghan and Harry do not regret turning their back on the royal family, the lengthy statement on their website seems coming from two people who have not yet taken what they wanted.

When asked by the host if the couple will ever be allowed to live a private life, Tominey said that they are already enjoying a private life in Vancouver Island and the British press is no longer bothering them.

"My argument would be, if you want a fully independent, private life, and just to be treated like high-profile celebrities effectively, then you have to cut all ties," she added.

It remains to be seen what will happen next to the Sussexes, but it is certain the drama will not be ending any time soon.
A bill that would grant immunity to the presiding officers of the National and State Assemblies narrowly scaled second reading in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

The bill seeks to amend Section 308 of the 1999 constitution.

Section 308 of the Constitution shields the quartet of the president, the vice president, state governors and their deputies, for their period in office, from all forms of civil and criminal prosecution.

The sponsor of the bill, Odebunmi Olusegun of Ogo-Oluwa/Surulere federal constituency (APC, Oyo), wants the presiding officers of the federal and state houses to enjoy similar privilege for them to shrug off frivolous suits while in office.

Mr Olusegun argued that the bill is targeted at avoiding distraction for the leadership of the legislative arm. He said it is his aim to protect, stabilize the house and ensure our democracy continues to flourish at national and state levels.

Proponents

Toby Okechukwu (PDP, Enugu) pitched his tent with the bills sponsor. He said, if passed, the bill would shield presiding officers from the prying eyes of witch hunters.

He argued that once the leadership of the legislature is protected from possible blackmail while in office, then they can do their job without fear. He urged his colleagues to give their nod to the bill and allow Nigerians to decide during its public hearing.

Nkem-Abonta Uzoma (PDP, Abia) took off from where Mr Okechukwu stopped. He argued that the bill is not about the sitting speaker but the office itself. He said any criminal blemish ascribed to the office of the Speaker would cast the entire House in a bad light.

If the president, his deputy, state governors and their deputies can enjoy immunity, why cant the leadership of the National Assembly, he asked.

Let us protect the (legislative) institution from institutional embarrassment with suits, arraignment from the EFCC, CCB, ICPC, he said after which the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, cut in.

The Speaker buttressed this by saying potential lawsuits against a presiding officer can come not only from agencies of the executive but also from individuals.

Opponents

Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta) begged to differ. He said the bill should not be allowed as it is coming at the wrong time because people should be held accountable for their actions.

He called for the bill to be jettisoned and that attention should be redirected to tackle insecurity ravaging the country.

Also, Sergius Ogun (PDP, Edo) frowned at the bill. He said if he had his way, he would remove the immunity the president and the governors enjoy.

As parliamentarians, I do not believe this is what we need today. We should lift the immunity that presidents and the governors enjoy. There is no reason why a sitting president or governor should not go to jail, Mr Ogun noted.

As Mr Ogun rounded off, House Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila asked: Is the head of the executive covered by immunity? And directly or indirectly, is the head of the judiciary covered by immunity?

To that, he got a response in the affirmative. He then said he asked to weigh the various angles to the debate at hand. He called for equity in terms of privileges enjoyed by the each arms of government.

While the debate lasted, Mr Gbajabiamila said he was against the bill and was not willing to benefit from the privileges the bill might bring. He, therefore, suggested that the bill, should it be passed and assented to, would not take effect while the current leadership is in office.

In 2016, the same bill was read on the floor of the lower house. It came in the wake of the charges filed against former Senate President Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct Bureau during the eighth assembly. It was, however, thrown out, having divided the House over whether or not it should be passed.

Mr Gbajabiamila, then Majority Leader, was one of the fierce opponents of the bill.

The bill, however, still has a long way to go to become law. It will still pass through a public hearing and is expected to be included among the issues to be debated by a National Assembly committee to review the Constitution. The Senate is also yet to debate the bill.

Group Condemns Bill

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has condemned Tuesdays passing of the bill.

Responding to the development, SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare said: Providing immunity for presiding officers against crimes of corruption is tantamount to ripping up the constitution. Its a blatant assault on the rule of law and breach of public trust.

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SERAP said: The leadership of the House of Representatives must immediately withdraw this obnoxious bill. We will vigorously challenge this impunity.

The statement read in part: Its a huge setback for the rule of law that the same privileged and powerful leaders of parliament that regularly make laws that consign ordinary, powerless Nigerians to prison for even trivial offences yet again want to establish elite immunity to protect themselves from any consequences for serious crimes of corruption and money laundering.

Whereas countries like Guatemala has voted unanimously to strip their president of immunity from prosecution for corruption our own lawmakers are moving in the opposite direction.

The message seems to be that in Nigeria, powerful and influential actors must not be and are not subject to the rule of law. Its simply not proper for lawmakers to be the chief advocates of immunity for corruption.

Its a form of political corruption for the parliamentarians to abuse their legislative powers, intended for use in the public interest but instead for personal advantage. This is an unacceptable proposition as it gives the impression that both the principal officers of the National Assembly are above the law.

If the House of Representatives should have their way, this will rob Nigerians of their rights to accountable government.

Public officials who are genuinely committed to the well-being of the state and its people, and to the establishment of an effective and functioning system of administration of justice, should have absolutely nothing to fear.
[February 25, 2020] Attivo Networks Named Grand Trophy Winner in Info Security PG's 2020 Global Excellence Awards

Attivo Networks, the award-winning leader in deception for cybersecurity threat detection, has been named a Grand Trophy Winner in Info Security Products Guide's 16th annual 2020 Global Excellence Awards. The company also earned Gold, Silver and Bronze accolades across several categories for its leadership and innovations in cybersecurity. These global awards recognize cybersecurity and information technology vendors with advanced, ground-breaking products, solutions and services that are helping set the bar higher for others in all areas of security and technologies. Attivo Networks executives and solutions received the following awards: Gold Winner Deception Technology & Solution: ThreatDefend Detection Platform for the most comprehensive, advanced, and automated deception-based detection portfolio; Silver Winners Company of the Year Award in Security Software : two different awards were received, which honored Srikant Vissamsetti and the Attivo Networks engineering team. The first award is based in the company's new deception technology innovations that are designed to ambush attackers at the endpoint and the second for a solution that efficiently derails attacks targeting Active Directory;

: two different awards were received, which honored Srikant Vissamsetti and the Attivo Networks engineering team. The first award is based in the company's new deception technology innovations that are designed to ambush attackers at the endpoint and the second for a solution that efficiently derails attacks targeting Active Directory; Most Innovative Security Software of the Year : ThreatDefend  Detection Platform for the most comprehensive, advanced, and automated deception-based detection portfolio;

: ThreatDefend Detection Platform for the most comprehensive, advanced, and automated deception-based detection portfolio; Chief Technology Officer of the Year for the Security Software : Tony Cole; for his leadership within Attivo Networks, market influence and impact, and contributions to cyber industry diversity and improvement;

: Tony Cole; for his leadership within Attivo Networks, market influence and impact, and contributions to cyber industry diversity and improvement; Deception Technology & Solution: Attivo Networks' Endpoint Detection Net Suite for accurately raising alerts and taking proactive measures to derail attackers when they attempt to break out from an endpoint;



Bronze Winners Company of the Year for the Security Cloud/SaaS (News - Alert) : ThreatDefend  Detection Platform for providing comprehensive threat detection coverage of containers, serverless functions, and cloud shared-security environments;

: ThreatDefend Detection Platform for providing comprehensive threat detection coverage of containers, serverless functions, and cloud shared-security environments; Privileged Access Control, Security & Management : Attivo ThreatDefend  ADSecure Active Directory Protection Solution;

: Attivo ThreatDefend ADSecure Active Directory Protection Solution; Hot Security Technology of the Year category: Attivo ThreatDefend ADSecure Active Directory Protection Solution. "Attivo Networks is thrilled to be recognized in Info Security PG's annual excellence awards," said Tushar Kothari, CEO of Attivo Networks. "We're excited to honor our innovative people, products and services that contribute to our overall success and we remain dedicated to addressing key customer challenges associated with threat detection and reducing security vulnerabilities."

More than 35 judges from around the world representing a wide spectrum of industry experts participated in the judging process. As organizations look for ways to reduce security vulnerabilities, Attivo Networks has continuously enhanced its deception technology to help enterprise customers efficiently reduce dwell times and accelerate response time. The company's ThreatDefend Detection Platform is designed to detect threats early in the attack cycle by attracting the attacker away from production assets with decoys, lures, and other misdirections. The new Attivo Endpoint Detection Net Suite elevates security control by accurately raising alerts and taking proactive measures to derail attackers when they attempt to break out from an endpoint, serving as a powerful protection force-multiplier for businesses using Endpoint Protection (EPP) and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions. This week, Attivo Networks will be demonstrating its enhanced ThreatDefend Detection platform in San Francisco as part of RSAC 2020. Recognition in this year's Global Excellence Awards adds to the more than 125 industry awards highlighting Attivo Networks' continued growth, product, solution leadership and executive accomplishments. 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. The guide includes information including best deployment scenarios, people and technologies shaping cyber security and industry predictions and directions that facilitate in making the most pertinent security decisions. About Attivo Networks

Attivo Networks, the leader in deception technology, provides an active defense for early detection, forensics, and automated incident response to in-network attacks. The Attivo ThreatDefend Detection Platform provides a comprehensive and customer-proven platform for proactive security and accurate threat detection within user networks, data centers, clouds, and a wide variety of specialized attack surfaces. The portfolio includes extensive network, endpoint, application, and data deceptions designed to misdirect and reveal attacks efficiently from all threat vectors. Advanced machine-learning makes preparation, deployment, and operations fast and simple to operate for organizations of all sizes. Comprehensive attack analysis and forensics provide actionable alerts and native integrations that automate the blocking, quarantine, and threat hunting of attacks for accelerated incident response. The company has won over 125 awards for its technology innovation and leadership. For more information, visit www.attivonetworks.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005764/en/

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 25)  Opposition Senator Leila de Lima has submitted to the US government a list of people who should be banned from the country for their involvement in her detention.

De Lima sent the list through the US Embassy on the second week of January  less than a month after the passage of the US' 2020 budget, which includes a provision that allows for a ban on De Lima's accusers.

EXPLAINER: How the US budget law bans Philippine officials

In a letter to CNN Philippines, De Lima said she "justified each and every name on why they are part of my persecution." She refused to disclose their names and how many they are.

De Lima stressed that her list is only recommendatory, stressing that the US government still has the final say.

"With or without my list, they (US) are mandated to come up with a list," De Lima said.

Under the US' 2020 Further Consolidated Appropriations Act is an order to implement the controversial provision prohibiting the entry of foreign government officials involved in the "wrongful imprisonment" of De Lima. It gives US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo the power to name the Philippine officials to be covered by the sanction.

Philippines' Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he trusts the call of the American government.

"I am not interested to know who are in her list... I trust that the US State Department will exercise its own independent evaluation and exercise prudence and circumspection," Guevarra said in a statement.

Denying entry to De Lima's accusers is in line with the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which allows Washington to punish foreign officials implicated in "significant corruption or gross violations of human rights" in any part of the world.

De Lima's chief of staff, Fhillip Sawali, said the Australian Parliament has also reached out to De Lima, asking for her views on the Global Magnitsky Act. Sawali said Australia is also studying the possibility of adopting the measure.

De Lima, a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, has been detained since 2017 for alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade inside the national penitentiary when she was Justice Secretary. She has denied the charges, accusing the government of fabricating the cases against her.

The Duterte administration vigorously denied that the De Lima case was political persecution, noting that the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of her arrest on drug charges.

Meanwhile, the Philippines has banned American Senators Dick Durbin and Patrick Leahy for introducing the amendment to bar De Lima's accusers. Senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts could no longer set foot in Manila as well for calling for De Lima's release.

CNN Philippines' Joyce Ilas, Eimor Santos, and Anjo Alimario contributed to this report.
Future USS Delbert D. Black Completes Builders Trials

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS200224-11

Release Date: 2/24/2020 11:44:00 AM

From Team Ships Public Affairs

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (NNS) -- The future USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) successfully completed Builder's trials Feb. 22 after spending three days underway in the Gulf of Mexico. The trials were conducted by the shipbuilder, Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), Ingalls Shipbuilding Division.

The ship was previously underway for Alpha trials in Dec., and will be underway again in Mar. for Acceptance trials, which will be conducted by the U.S. Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey.

"The Navy and our dedicated shipbuilders have continued to make strides towards delivering this exceptional capability to the fleet, and performed well during builder's trials," said Capt. Seth Miller, DDG 51 class program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. "This ship continues the proud Aegis shipbuilding legacy and will provide the Navy with a 21st century fighting edge."

Delbert D. Black is configured as a Flight IIA destroyer, which enables power projection, forward presence and escort operations at sea in support of Low Intensity Conflict/Coastal and Littoral Offshore Warfare as well as open ocean conflict. DDG 119 will be equipped with the Navy's Aegis Combat System, the world's foremost integrated naval weapon.

HII's Pascagoula shipyard is also currently in production on the future destroyers Frank E. Petersen Jr (DDG 121), Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123) and Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), the first ship to be built in the Flight III configuration.

As one of the Defense Department's largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and special warfare craft.

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What just happened? Intuit, the financial software giant responsible for products like TurboTax, QuickBooks and Mint, on Tuesday announced plans to acquire personal finance company Credit Karma for $7.1 billion in cash and stock.

Credit Karma was founded in 2007 as a personal finance management platform where consumers can check their credit scores and reports, prepare their taxes and find unclaimed money such as insurance payouts or refunds. To date, Credit Karma has over 100 million members in the US, Canada and the UK with more than 37 million monthly active users  88 percent of which engage with the platform via mobile devices.

The acquisition is the largest ever for Intuit, a company founded in 1983.

Intuit CEO Sasan Goodarzi said their mission is to power prosperity around the world with a bold goal of doubling the household savings rate for customers on their platform.

Specifically, Intuit believes it can help people find the right financial products by matching consumers with pre-approved offers for loans and credit cards, turn users on to higher yield savings accounts and provide insight and advice to help consumers make better decisions with their money and improve their credit score.

Per TechCrunch, Intuit plans to run Credit Karma as a standalone venture thatll continue to be led by co-founder and CEO Kenneth Lin.

The deal is expected to close in the second half of calendar year 2020.

Masthead credit: Fish by maxsattana.
SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading semiconductor test equipment supplier Advantest Corporation (TSE: 6857) has announced the cancellation of its 2020 VOICE Developer Conference in Shanghai due to health and safety concerns following the novel coronavirus outbreak. The two-day VOICE 2020 U.S. conference and follow-up workshop day will proceed as planned on May 12-14 in Scottsdale, Arizona.



With the well-being of our employees, partners and customers being Advantests first priority, we have made this decision to avoid the risk of exposing VOICE China attendees to potential illness, said Judy Davies, Advantests vice president of Global Marketing Communications and VOICE 2020 Developer Conference ambassador. As the virus continues to spread across borders and travel becomes increasingly restrictive, we must regretfully cancel this years event in Shanghai to protect the health of industry personnel.



Although the conference in China will not be held this year, a new keynote presenter, more speaker awards and a customer-recognition honor have been added to Mays VOICE program in the U.S.

U.S. Program

Designed by test engineers for test engineers, the core of the May 12-13 VOICE conference remains its extensive learning and networking opportunities including a technical program featuring more than 60 presentations with submissions from authors representing 28 companies from 11 countries, a partners expo, a technology kiosk showcase, innovative keynote speakers and social gatherings. A follow-up day of workshops will be held in Scottsdale on May 14.



This years technical program will feature hot topics including artificial intelligence (AI) and SmarTest 8 software, new tracks on DC parametric and 5G testing as well as device/system-level test, test methodologies, hardware and software design integration and Advantests T2000 platform. Workshop day will consist of sessions covering 5G/mmWave, V93000 test program generation and power/analog device testing. In addition, a technology kiosk showcase at VOICE will offer attendees the opportunity to interact directly with Advantest product experts.

Keynote Addresses

On May 12 in Scottsdale, the general session will feature two keynote speeches on the future of test and technology. The first speaker, Steve Pateras, senior director of marketing for the Test Automation Group at Synopsys, will deliver a keynote titled Test Evolves  New Access to Adaptive Learning. Afterwards, research specialist Dr. Kate Darling will discuss the future of human-robot interactions in her keynote sponsored by EAG Eurofins Engineering Science. Dr. Darling is a leading expert in social robotics who explores humans emotional responses to robots.



On the second day, industry expert Dan Hutcheson, CEO and chairman of VLSIresearch, has been added as a keynote speaker. He will cover 5G, IoT, AI and other critical IC markets including key trends. Then Fredi Lajvardi, vice president of STEM Initiatives at Si Se Puede Foundation, will discuss how he transformed a group of high school students into a national-champion robotics team. Using humor and compassion to recount his inspiring journey, Lajvardi will illustrate the need to embrace diversity and invest in people to help others realize their potential.



Read more about all the VOICE 2020 keynote speakers at https://voice.advantest.com/keynotes/.

Contributor Awards

As in previous years, attendees at VOICE 2020 will vote for the best papers and kiosks with the winning presenters receiving awards and prizes. For the first time in 2020, the event will recognize two best papers and two honorable mention papers  one given to a customer and one given to an Advantest employee.



At the closing ceremony, the VOICE committee will endow the new VOICE Visionary Award, recognizing a customer who has made significant, sustained contributions to VOICE over time.

Attending the Conference

Register for VOICE 2020 now at https://voice.advantest.com/register/. Group discounts are available; email mktgcomms@advantest.com for details.



The day after the VOICE Developer Conference on May 12-13, Advantest is offering a workshop day on May 14 comprised of three sessions covering 5G/mmWave, V93000 test program generation and power/analog device testing. Register for one of the full-day sessions at https://voice.advantest.com/workshop-day/.



Registered attendees are encouraged to make their hotel reservations early. The deadline to take advantage of the group rate at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia is April 10. Rates will increase after this date. For additional hotel information and to make a reservation, visit the VOICE website at https://voice.advantest.com/hotel-reservations/.

Sponsoring VOICE 2020

Discover VOICE 2020 sponsorship opportunities by visiting https://voice.advantest.com/opportunities/ or contacting Amy Gold at amy.gold@advantest.com.

Online Presence

To help attendees get the most from VOICE 2020, Advantest will provide a mobile app, which will be available for download in May. To learn more about VOICE 2020, visit https://voice.advantest.com.



Follow #VOICE2020 and @Advantest_ATE on Twitter or visit https://voice.advantest.com/spread-the-word/ for more ways to connect and get involved.

About VOICE 2020 Developer Conference

Managed by a steering committee of volunteer representatives from Advantest and its customers, VOICE is the leading conference for the growing international community of users and strategic partners involved with Advantests V93000 and T2000 SoC test platforms as well as Advantest memory testers, handlers and test cell solutions. The conference offers a unique opportunity to take part in making semiconductor testing operations as efficient and cost-effective as possible. Attendees gain and share valuable insights, build long-lasting relationships and learn whats new about Advantest test equipment, handlers and applications.

About Advantest Corporation

Advantest (TSE: 6857) is the leading manufacturer of automatic test and measurement equipment used in the design and production of semiconductors for applications including 5G communications, the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, smart medical devices and more. Its leading-edge systems and products are integrated into the most advanced semiconductor production lines in the world. The company also conducts R&D to address emerging testing challenges applications, produces multi-vision metrology scanning electron microscopes essential to photomask manufacturing, and offers groundbreaking 3D imaging and analysis tools. Founded in Tokyo in 1954, Advantest is a global company with facilities around the world and an international commitment to sustainable practices and social responsibility. More information is available at www.advantest.com.

ADVANTEST CORPORATION

3061 Zanker Road

San Jose, CA 95134, USA

Judy Davies

Judy.davies@advantest.com
BJP lawmaker Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday criticised his party colleague Kapil Mishra for his provocative speech on Sunday and said strict action must be taken against those responsible regardless of their allegiance after large-scale violence in parts of Delhi.

The comments by Gautam Gambhir, who represents East Delhi in the Lok Sabha, came after violence spun out of control in northeast Delhi over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Monday.

At least seven people, including a policeman, were killed and hundreds injured in the violence over the amended citizenship act in northeast Delhi on Monday after anti- and pro-CAA protesters clashed with each other.

ALSO WATCH | Delhi violence: Gambhir trains guns on Kapil Mishra over provocative speeches

Tensions in parts of the city remained high on Tuesday with schools remaining shut in some areas amid fresh clashes.

The member of Parliament also asked those protesting against CAA to talk to the government instead of resorting to violence.

Whoever, no matter which party he belongs to, whether he is Kapil Mishra or anyone else, who gave speeches to provoke people, action should be taken against them, Gambhir said while speaking to reporters.

Kapil Mishra had issued a call to gather pro-CAA protesters on Sunday afternoon.

Mishra, who failed to win the Model Town seat in the recent assembly elections, later posted a video on Twitter, saying he was giving an ultimatum to the Delhi Police to clear the anti-CAA protesters within three days.

They want the situation in Delhi to remain volatile. Thats why they [anti-CAA protesters] are blocking roads and creating a riot-like atmosphere. We have not picked up a single stone till now, Mishra said in the video.

We will wait till [US President Donald] Trump is here [in Delhi]. But after that, we wont even listen to you [the police] if the roads arent cleared. We are appealing to you [police] to clear Jafrabad and Chand Bagh... If not, well have to take to the streets, he had said.

Mishra on Monday evening blamed anti-CAA protesters for the violence after the clashes erupted and even went to the extent of claiming that religious places were being targeted by rioters.

Eventually, in an appeal aimed at anti- and pro-CAA groups, he tweeted an appeal for peace.
New Delhi: Earlier this month, when it was hearing a matter relating to road blockades due to the Shaheen Bagh protests, the Supreme Court expressed apprehensions on what if another section, for some other cause, takes the same path. The bench of Justices Sanjay K Kaul and KM Joseph had remarked that the indefinite protests on roads cannot be permitted.

But when the highest court of the land passed its first effective order in the matter after a week, it seemed to have abdicated its responsibility to the interlocutors, nominated by the bench, ostensibly on the spur of the moment.

We only want laws to be followedWe dont worry about the outcomes of our orders which must uphold the majesty of lawIt is for the State to maintain law and order. These are some of the comments often made by the judges in the Supreme Court, and are also incorporated by them in innumerable judgments.

However, these issues of law and order, role of a constitutional court and the scope of the petitions in question were apparently given a go by when the bench dealt with the Shaheen Bagh matter and chose the route of negotiation and mediation.

The judges, promptly and rightly so, spoke about the peoples fundamental right to protest even when the legal validity of the controversial legislation in question, namely Citizenship Amendments Act (CAA), remained disputed before the Supreme Court in separate proceedings.

But the judges did not mention about the reasonable restrictions attached as a latent condition to the exercise of this right. The judges also did not discuss about whether others right to feely move on a public road can be curtailed by another section and what happens when the two sections with diametrically opposite views clash while asserting the same right  exactly what the Delhi is witnessing right now.

The national capital, in the last two days, has seen confrontations between pro-CAA and anti-CAA groups and warnings of more sit-in protests at public spaces while the apex court is yet to decide its future course of action on Shaheen Baghs protests.

Are protests allowed on public roads? If yes, how and when they can be allowed? How are the courts to act when these issues come up?

A series of judgments starting from the Privy Councils decisions may come handy to clarify all this.

Way back in 1950, the Privy Council held in Manzur Hasan Vs Muhammed Zaman: In India, there is a right to conduct a religious procession with its appropriate observances through a public street so that it does not interfere with the ordinary use of the street by the public, and subject to lawful directions by the magistrates.

Later in Saghir Ahmmad Vs State of U.P., 1955, the Supreme Court defined the characteristics of a public roads when it stated as: The true position then is, that all public streets and roads vest in the State, but that the State holds them as trustees on behalf of the public. The members of the public are entitled as beneficiaries to use them as a matter of right and this right is limited only by the similar rights possessed by every other citizen to use the pathways. The State as trustees on behalf of the public is entitled to impose all such limitations on the character and extent of the user, as may be requisite for protecting the rights of the public generally.

In Railway Board Vs Narinjan Singh (1969), the Supreme Court held that there is no fundamental right for anyone to hold meetings in government premises. It was observed: "The fact that the citizens of this country have freedom of speech, freedom to assemble peaceably and freedom to form associations or unions does not mean that they can exercise those freedoms in whatever place they please."

The specific issue of protests on public streets had also come up before the Supreme Court, perhaps for the first time, in 1972 when a Constitution Bench, in Himat Lal K Shah Vs Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad, ruled that the right that flows from Article 19 (1) is not a right to hold a meeting at any place, at any time.

In this verdict, the five-judge bench had held as: We may make it clear that there is nothing wrong in requiring previous permission to be obtained before holding a public meeting on a public street, for the right which flows from Article 19 (1) (b) is not a right to hold a meeting at any place and time. It is a right which can be regulated in the interest of all so that all can enjoy the right.

The top court concluded in this ruling that in India a citizen had, before the Constitution, a right to hold meetings on public streets subject to the control of the appropriate authority regarding the time and place of the meeting and subject to considerations of public order.

If we consider the recent judgments on the rights to protest, in Anita Thakur Vs State of J&K, 2016, the Supreme Court held that right to protest is a fundamental right but these rights are subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, as well as public order. It is for this reason, the State authorities many a times designate particular areas and routes, dedicating them for the purpose of holding public meetings, said the top court.

Again, in Bimal Gurun Vs Union of India, 2018, the Supreme Court had held that demonstrations whether political, religious or social or other demonstrations which create public disturbances or operate as nuisances, or create or manifestly threaten some tangible public or private mischief, are not covered by protection under Article 19(1).

In 2018, in yet another judgment, the top court had the opportunity to decide a clutch of cases relating to demonstrations at certain specific spots in the national capital.

Speaking about the protests at Jantar Mantar, the two-judge bench had then maintained: During the course of heavy protest day, the police completely blocks the road of Jantar Mantar by barricading, which coerces the residents of the area to park their vehicles elsewhere and make way to their residences on foot. This becomes extremely difficult for senior citizens and small children. In fact, there had been instances of medical emergencies where police had to plough the ambulance through the vehicles of the protestors, the police and the crowd. The presence of large number of people as well as vehicles in the area causes traffic jams.

This judgment underscored that although holding protests and demonstrations is an accepted right, at the same time, nobody can claim that I have a right to hold demonstration at one particular area only.

This judgment in Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangthans case also dealt with situations when exercise of the fundamental right by one group may come in conflict with the right of a different group. In all such situations, the Court has to examine as to where lies the larger public interest while balancing the two conflicting rights. It is the paramount collective interest which would ultimately prevail. To put it differently, the greater community interest or interest of the collective or social order would be the principle to recognize and accept the right of one which has to be protected, held the court.

This judgment, most importantly, also talked about the legitimacy to claim or assert a right as a primary consideration. Therefore, if the collective interest or the public interest that serves the public cause and further has the legitimacy to claim or assert a fundamental right, then only it can put forth that their right should be protected, it said.

Given the body of judgments the apex court has delivered in the last six decades, the Supreme Court bench hearing the Shaheen Bagh protests case might have taken a cue and decided the questions of legality and legitimacy itself, for all the judges involved in the cases cited hereinabove decided what was before them on the basis of sound constitutional principles.

All these judgments laid down comprehensive doctrines on peoples right to protest by relying upon the chapter on fundamental rights, judicial precedents and interpretations of laws while not waiting for a report from the interlocutors or mediators. The judges simply acted to uphold the rule of law.

But in the Shaheen Bagh protests case, the questions still loom large as to whether blocking public roads qualifies as causing public disturbances or creating a nuisance; whether the protesters could secure any permission to hold demonstrations on public roads indefinitely; whether authorities have taken any measures to maintain social and public order; whether the rights of the commuters have been infringed; whether there is a legitimacy to such protests and the most significant question, and probably the most significant one, whether Supreme Court will appoint interlocutors in every such case for a mediation.

The national capital is burning today as different groups have indulged in violence. Four people, including a policeman, lost their life on the day when the Supreme Court adjourned the hearing of the matter to Wednesday after receiving a report from the interlocutors in a sealed cover envelope. Three more died the next day.

On February 7, when this case was taken up for the first time, the judges had cited impending Delhi assembly elections as the chief cause why they were deferring the proceedings. They had also observed what could be so urgent about the whole thing when the situation was like this for over a month now.

After the violence and the deaths, the Supreme Court must now comprehend the urgency, the anxiety of the people in Delhi and pass some effective orders immediately that should only go further in upholding the rule of law rather than being perceived as deferment of justice or abdication of responsibilities.
Cong accuses BJP of using Tek Fog app to propagate agenda on SM, seeks intervention by SC

Congress not attending state banquet, because no invite to Sonia Gandhi

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 25: 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.

From H-1B visas to trade, Congress throws questions at Modi before Trump visit

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.

NEWS AT NOON, FEBRUARY 25th, 2020

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. He asked why was Sonia Gandhi not invited. Trump is coming here. India to host grand dinner for him, but the Opposition is not invited. Why Sonia Gandhi is not invited for the dinner. What kind of democracy is this, he also asked.

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.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 8:27 [IST]
A deliveryman appeared at a press conference held by Chinas State Council Information Office (SCIO) on Feb. 23 to share his stories of epidemic prevention and control from the perspective of an ordinary working man.

Wu Hui (Photo/Hubei Daily)

It was the first time a deliveryman had attended the SICOs press conference.

A police officer, a doctor, a nurse assisting in the epicenter Wuhan, and a teacher also participated in the 40-minute press conference held in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province.

The deliveryman, Wu Hui, explained that what prompted him to stay in Wuhan after the city was hit by the severe outbreak was his sympathy for the frontline medical staff, who could only have instant noodles for their meals.

Though the novel coronavirus has brought the entire city to a standstill, Wu decided to stay and serve as a conveyor to help keep the city running, delivering vegetables and drugs to peoples doorsteps.

Wu was born in Shiyan, a prefectural-level city in Hubei province, in 1980. He became a deliveryman last July after working as a waiter and running small businesses in his hometown, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Chongqing.

After the outbreak, Wu gained over 60,000 followers on Weibo, the Twitter-like social media platform, where he records his stories and shares his thoughts on the epidemic with people from across the country.

Wu said at the press conference that he once ran an errand for a doctor combating the virus on the frontline  to deliver a meal his wife had made him. Wu noted that it was an honor to serve such a family, as they are both ordinary and extraordinary at the same time.

SCIO spokesperson Qiu Yanchun said that deliverymen like Wu always appear on the streets, but receive little attention. However, they are making an important contribution to keeping cities running, she added.

Many people extended their gratitude to the busy deliverymen across the country on the internet. Wu responded by saying that every person must participate in the peoples war against the epidemic to create a better life and to protect it. There are no outsiders or on-lookers in this battle, he said.

After the press conference, Wu once again went to a pharmacy to fetch drugs for customers. Speaking of his expectations, he said that he hopes life can get back to normal as soon as possible, and he can receive more orders to make more money.

Wu said he also hopes to visit his mother back in his hometown when the epidemic is over.
BCN40)

OAKLAND (BCN)

Oakland Unified School District officials said Monday that McClymonds High School students will be separated and resume classes Tuesday at three schools after they were displaced from their school by a carcinogen in the groundwater under the school.

Ninth-graders and Mr. Heath's ninth- through 12th-grade classes will meet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ralph J. Bunch Academy at 1240 18th St.

Tenth- and 11th-graders are scheduled to attend classes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at West Oakland Middle School at 991 14th St. Tenth-graders will take classes in the H Building and 11th-graders in the A Building, district officials said.

Twelfth-grade students along with Ms. Tolbert's and Ms. Calloway's ninth- through 12th-grade classes will attend school from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Westlake Middle School/MetWest Ericka Huggins campus at 2629 Harrison St.

About 350 students attend McClymonds High School.

School district officials said Monday morning they hope to reopen McClymonds High School next week following its closure Thursday, Friday and Monday due to concerns of a toxic chemical in its air and groundwater.

The district closed McClymonds after the carcinogenic chemical compound trichloroethylene was found in the campus' groundwater with the concern that it could have evaporated into its air. The school's drinking water was unaffected, according to district officials.

State environmental health officials swarmed the school over the weekend to conduct air testing at roughly 50 locations around the campus, including every classroom. Final sampling results are expected later this week.

"We trust this data, but we view it as screening data," California Department of Toxic Substances Control engineer Cheryl Prowell said. "We really want to see the data from the analytical laboratory before we say with certainty, because the analytical laboratory is a certified method ... We don't have the same level of scrutiny on this field screening method."

More testing will be done Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Results of those tests are expected to go to the Department of Toxic Substances Control next week.

District officials are posting updates regarding the closure at ousd.org/mcclymondstce.

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 Tuesday said India and Pakistan will have to work to solve the Kashmir issue.

Trump who had earlier offered to mediate between India and Pakistan, said Kashmir is a big problem but refrained from another offer of mediation.

I didnt say anything about that (being mediator). Kashmir obviously is a big problem between India and Pakistan, they are going to work out their problem. They have been doing it for a long time, he said at a press conference.

India had rebuffed the American presidents earlier offers of mediation, insisting that Kashmir was a bilateral issue with Pakistan.

He has made more than half a dozen offers to mediate between India and Pakistan on Kashmir. The latest one was last month in Davos when told Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan he wants to help resolve the Kashmir issue.

One of Trumps offers to mediate came after Imran Khan met him ahead of the UN General Assembly session last year.

India maintains that no third party has any role in the Kashmir issue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also categorically rejected any scope for third party mediation between India and Pakistan on Kashmir.

Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after India scrapped the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 last year and bifurcated it into two Union territories. Pakistan reacted by downgrading ties and expelling the Indian ambassador.
NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) market worldwide is projected to grow by US$81.5 Billion, driven by a compounded growth of 6.6%. Road, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 6.1%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$108.5 Billion by the year 2025, Road will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05443565/?utm_source=PRN

- Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 5.6% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$2.9 Billion to the region's size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over US$2.5 Billion worth of projected demand in the region will come from Rest of Europe markets. In Japan, Road will reach a market size of US$5.5 Billion by the close of the analysis period. As the world's second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 9.6% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$22 Billion in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders. Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies.



- Competitors identified in this market include, among others,

Avidyne Corporation

FEI-Zyfer Inc.

Furuno USA Inc.

Inc. Garmin International Inc.

Harris Corporation

Hemisphere GNSS Inc.

Hexagon AB

KVH Industries Inc.

Leica Geosystems AG

Magellan Navigation Inc.

Microsemi Corporation

Mio Technology Benelux N.V.

MiTAC International Corporation

NavCom Technology Inc.

Navico Inc.

Navman New Zealand

NovAtel Inc.

Orolia Group

Raytheon Company

Rockwell Collins Inc.

TomTom International B.V.

Topcon Corporation

Trimble Navigation Limited









Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05443565/?utm_source=PRN



I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE



II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



1. MARKET OVERVIEW



Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS): A Prelude

GPS, GLONASS, Beidou/BDS, Galileo and NAVIC: A Comparison of

GNSS Platforms

Recent Market Activity

Economic Benefits Offered Create Conducive Environment for

Wider Proliferation

Expanded Use Case & Wide Addressable Market Keep Market

Momentum Intact

High Tide in Satellite Services Sector Lends Platform for

Market Growth

Global Positioning System (GPS): The Widely Adopted GNSS Platform

Full-Fledged Roll Out of GPS III to Further Augment Commercial

Use of GPS

Developed Regions: Key Revenue Contributors

High-Growth Opportunities in Developing Regions

Bright Prospects Ahead for GNSS Solutions Market

Global Competitor Market Shares

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Competitor Market

Share Scenario Worldwide (in %): 2020 & 2029





2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS



Avidyne Corporation (USA)

Collins Aerospace (USA)

FEI-Zyfer, Inc. (USA)

Furuno USA, Inc. (USA)

Garmin International, Inc. (USA)

Hemisphere GNSS Inc. (Canada)

Hexagon AB (Sweden)

Leica Geosystems AG (Switzerland)

NovAtel, Inc. (Canada)

KVH Industries, Inc. (USA)

L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (USA)

Microsemi Corporation (USA)

MiTAC International Corporation (Taiwan)

Magellan Navigation, Inc. (USA)

Mio Technology Benelux N.V. (Belgium)

Navman New Zealand (New Zealand)

NavCom Technology, Inc. (USA)

Navico, Inc. (USA)

Orolia Group (France)

Raytheon Company (USA)

TomTom International B.V. (The Netherlands)

Topcon Corporation (Japan)

Trimble Navigation Limited (USA)





3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS



Road Applications: Important End-Use Category for GNSS Solutions

As Satellite Navigation Becomes a Core Technology Block for

Connected Car Systems & Autonomous Driving, Automotive

Industry Emerges as a Key Revenue Pocket

Intelligent Highway & ITS Favor Adoption of GNSS

Expanding Role of Telematics in Fleet Management & Asset

Tracking Augurs Well

Driverless Cars: A Bright Prospect for High-End GNSS Systems

Mining Entities Prefer GNSS for Machine Control Applications

GNSS Gains Prominence in Infrastructure Development & Road

Construction

Increased Uptake of LBS Propagates Huge Growth Opportunities

Advanced Surveying/Mapping Technologies Widen Scope & Span of GNSS

Integration of GNSS Improves Architectural Survey Process

Growing Lenience towards GIS Instigates New Opportunities for GNSS

Aviation: A Niche End-Use Market for GNSS

Healthy Commercial Aviation Outlook Bodes Well

Rise of Unmanned Aircraft Extends New Set of Opportunities

GNSS Extends its Proficiency in Marine Applications As Well

Military & Defense: The Traditional Application Segment for

GNSS/GPS Devices

GNSS Continues to be a Specialized Tool for Timing Applications

GNSS Assumes Critical Importance in Agriculture Sector

Precision Farming Programs Lend Platform for GNSS in

Agriculture Sector

GNSS Emerges as Viable Tool for Georeferencing

GNSS for Ecology & Geology Study Programs

GNSS Seeks to Emerge as Disaster Prediction Tool

GPS and HazMat Tracking - A Critical Use

GNSS Makes Huge Progress in Mobile Devices

Convergence with Smartphones: The Path-breaking Development for

GNSS

Handheld GNSS/GPS Devices Gain Mass Market Appeal

Smart GPS Devices Outwit Traditional GPS Units - Attract New

Opportunities

Traditional GNSS Device Manufacturers Focus on Innovations amid

Growing Competition from Smartphones

Fitness & Sports: Fast Emerging Application Areas

Technology Developments: The Lifeline for Commercial GPS Devices

High-Precision Receivers Elevate Performance of GPS

Augmentation Technologies Enhance Geographic Reach &

Reliability of GPS

Growing Availability and Declining Device Prices Provide Growth

Impetus

Availability of Economical GPS Chips Boost Commercial Application

Affordable GPS Devices Rise in Popularity

Wireless Connectivity Drives GPS Market





4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE



Table 1: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Global

Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by

Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 2: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Global

Retrospective Market Scenario in US$ Million by Region/Country:

2009-2017

Table 3: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market Share

Shift across Key Geographies Worldwide: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 4: Road (Application) Global Opportunity Assessment in

US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 5: Road (Application) Historic Sales Analysis in US$

Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 6: Road (Application) Percentage Share Breakdown of

Global Sales by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 7: Location-based Services (LBS) (Application) Worldwide

Sales in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 8: Location-based Services (LBS) (Application) Historic

Demand Patterns in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 9: Location-based Services (LBS) (Application) Market

Share Shift across Key Geographies: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 10: Survey/Mapping (Application) Global Market Estimates &

Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 11: Survey/Mapping (Application) Retrospective Demand

Analysis in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 12: Survey/Mapping (Application) Market Share Breakdown

by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 13: Other Applications (Application) Demand Potential

Worldwide in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 14: Other Applications (Application) Historic Sales

Analysis in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 15: Other Applications (Application) Share Breakdown

Review by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025





III. MARKET ANALYSIS



GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS

UNITED STATES

Market Facts & Figures

US Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market Share (in

%) by Company: 2020 & 2025

Market Analytics

Table 16: United States Global Navigation Satellite System

(GNSS) Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Application:

2018 to 2025

Table 17: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Historic

Demand Patterns in the United States by Application in US$

Million for 2009-2017

Table 18: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market

Share Breakdown in the United States by Application: 2009 VS

2019 VS 2025

CANADA

Table 19: Canadian Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Million by

Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 20: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market in

Canada: Summarization of Historic Demand Patterns in US$

Million by Application for 2009-2017

Table 21: Canadian Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Market Share Analysis by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

JAPAN

Table 22: Japanese Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Global

Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) in US$ Million by

Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 23: Japanese Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Market in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017

Table 24: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market

Share Shift in Japan by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

CHINA

Table 25: Chinese Demand for Global Navigation Satellite System

(GNSS) in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 26: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market

Review in China in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017

Table 27: Chinese Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Market Share Breakdown by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

EUROPE

Market Facts & Figures

European Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market:

Competitor Market Share Scenario (in %) for 2020 & 2025

Market Analytics

Table 28: European Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Market Demand Scenario in US$ Million by Region/Country:

2018-2025

Table 29: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market in

Europe: A Historic Market Perspective in US$ Million by

Region/Country for the Period 2009-2017

Table 30: European Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Market Share Shift by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 31: European Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Million by Application:

2018-2025

Table 32: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market in

Europe: Summarization of Historic Demand in US$ Million by

Application for the Period 2009-2017

Table 33: European Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Market Share Analysis by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

FRANCE

Table 34: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Quantitative Demand Analysis in France in US$ Million by

Application: 2018-2025

Table 35: French Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Historic Market Review in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017

Table 36: French Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Market Share Analysis: A 17-Year Perspective by Application for

2009, 2019, and 2025

GERMANY

Table 37: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market in

Germany: Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by

Application for the Period 2018-2025

Table 38: German Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Market in Retrospect in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017

Table 39: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market

Share Distribution in Germany by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS

2025

ITALY

Table 40: Italian Demand for Global Navigation Satellite System

(GNSS) in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 41: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market

Review in Italy in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017

Table 42: Italian Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Market Share Breakdown by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

UNITED KINGDOM

Table 43: United Kingdom Demand Estimates and Forecasts for

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) in US$ Million by

Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 44: United Kingdom Global Navigation Satellite System

(GNSS) Market in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017

Table 45: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market

Share Shift in the United Kingdom by Application: 2009 VS 2019

VS 2025

SPAIN

Table 46: Spanish Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Million by

Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 47: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market in

Spain: Summarization of Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Million

by Application for 2009-2017

Table 48: Spanish Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Market Share Analysis by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

RUSSIA

Table 49: Russian Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to

2025

Table 50: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Historic

Demand Patterns in Russia by Application in US$ Million for

2009-2017

Table 51: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market

Share Breakdown in Russia by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF EUROPE

Table 52: Rest of Europe Global Navigation Satellite System

(GNSS) Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Million by

Application: 2018-2025

Table 53: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market in

Rest of Europe: Summarization of Historic Demand in US$ Million

by Application for the Period 2009-2017

Table 54: Rest of Europe Global Navigation Satellite System

(GNSS) Market Share Analysis by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS

2025

ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 55: Asia-Pacific Global Navigation Satellite System

(GNSS) Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by

Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 56: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market in

Asia-Pacific: Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by

Region/Country for the Period 2009-2017

Table 57: Asia-Pacific Global Navigation Satellite System

(GNSS) Market Share Analysis by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS

2025

Table 58: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Quantitative Demand Analysis in Asia-Pacific in US$ Million by

Application: 2018-2025

Table 59: Asia-Pacific Global Navigation Satellite System

(GNSS) Historic Market Review in US$ Million by Application:

2009-2017

Table 60: Asia-Pacific Global Navigation Satellite System

(GNSS) Market Share Analysis: A 17-Year Perspective by

Application for 2009, 2019, and 2025

AUSTRALIA

Table 61: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market in

Australia: Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million

by Application for the Period 2018-2025

Table 62: Australian Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Market in Retrospect in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017

Table 63: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market

Share Distribution in Australia by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS

2025

INDIA

Table 64: Indian Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Million by

Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 65: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market in

India: Summarization of Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Million

by Application for 2009-2017

Table 66: Indian Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Market Share Analysis by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

SOUTH KOREA

Table 67: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market in

South Korea: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$

Million by Application for the Period 2018-2025

Table 68: South Korean Global Navigation Satellite System

(GNSS) Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by Application:

2009-2017

Table 69: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market

Share Distribution in South Korea by Application: 2009 VS 2019

VS 2025

REST OF ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 70: Rest of Asia-Pacific Demand Estimates and Forecasts

for Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) in US$ Million by

Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 71: Rest of Asia-Pacific Global Navigation Satellite

System (GNSS) Market in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017

Table 72: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market

Share Shift in Rest of Asia-Pacific by Application: 2009 VS

2019 VS 2025

LATIN AMERICA

Table 73: Latin American Global Navigation Satellite System

(GNSS) Market Trends by Region/Country in US$ Million:

2018-2025

Table 74: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market in

Latin America in US$ Million by Region/Country: A Historic

Perspective for the Period 2009-2017

Table 75: Latin American Global Navigation Satellite System

(GNSS) Market Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Region/Country:

2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 76: Latin American Demand for Global Navigation Satellite

System (GNSS) in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 77: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market

Review in Latin America in US$ Million by Application:

2009-2017

Table 78: Latin American Global Navigation Satellite System

(GNSS) Market Share Breakdown by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS

2025

ARGENTINA

Table 79: Argentinean Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Million by Application:

2018-2025

Table 80: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market in

Argentina: Summarization of Historic Demand in US$ Million by

Application for the Period 2009-2017

Table 81: Argentinean Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Market Share Analysis by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

BRAZIL

Table 82: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Quantitative Demand Analysis in Brazil in US$ Million by

Application: 2018-2025

Table 83: Brazilian Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Historic Market Review in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017

Table 84: Brazilian Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Market Share Analysis: A 17-Year Perspective by Application for

2009, 2019, and 2025

MEXICO

Table 85: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market in

Mexico: Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by

Application for the Period 2018-2025

Table 86: Mexican Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Market in Retrospect in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017

Table 87: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market

Share Distribution in Mexico by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS

2025

REST OF LATIN AMERICA

Table 88: Rest of Latin America Global Navigation Satellite

System (GNSS) Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by

Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 89: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Historic

Demand Patterns in Rest of Latin America by Application in US$

Million for 2009-2017

Table 90: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market

Share Breakdown in Rest of Latin America by Application: 2009

VS 2019 VS 2025

MIDDLE EAST

Table 91: The Middle East Global Navigation Satellite System

(GNSS) Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by

Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 92: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market in

the Middle East by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 93: The Middle East Global Navigation Satellite System

(GNSS) Market Share Breakdown by Region/Country: 2009, 2019,

and 2025

Table 94: The Middle East Global Navigation Satellite System

(GNSS) Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Million by

Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 95: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market in

the Middle East: Summarization of Historic Demand Patterns in

US$ Million by Application for 2009-2017

Table 96: The Middle East Global Navigation Satellite System

(GNSS) Market Share Analysis by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS

2025

IRAN

Table 97: Iranian Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Global

Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) in US$ Million by

Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 98: Iranian Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Market in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017

Table 99: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market

Share Shift in Iran by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ISRAEL

Table 100: Israeli Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Million by Application:

2018-2025

Table 101: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market in

Israel: Summarization of Historic Demand in US$ Million by

Application for the Period 2009-2017

Table 102: Israeli Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Market Share Analysis by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

SAUDI ARABIA

Table 103: Saudi Arabian Demand for Global Navigation Satellite

System (GNSS) in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 104: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market

Review in Saudi Arabia in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017

Table 105: Saudi Arabian Global Navigation Satellite System

(GNSS) Market Share Breakdown by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS

2025

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Table 106: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market in

the United Arab Emirates: Recent Past, Current and Future

Analysis in US$ Million by Application for the Period 2018-2025

Table 107: United Arab Emirates Global Navigation Satellite

System (GNSS) Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by

Application: 2009-2017

Table 108: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market

Share Distribution in United Arab Emirates by Application: 2009

VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF MIDDLE EAST

Table 109: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market in

Rest of Middle East: Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in

US$ Million by Application for the Period 2018-2025

Table 110: Rest of Middle East Global Navigation Satellite

System (GNSS) Market in Retrospect in US$ Million by

Application: 2009-2017

Table 111: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market

Share Distribution in Rest of Middle East by Application: 2009

VS 2019 VS 2025

AFRICA

Table 112: African Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to

2025

Table 113: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Historic

Demand Patterns in Africa by Application in US$ Million for

2009-2017

Table 114: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market

Share Breakdown in Africa by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025





IV. COMPETITION



Total Companies Profiled: 57

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Hong Kong has banned all travelers from Korea due to the explosive rise in coronavirus infections here over the weekend. All Koreans who do not live in Hong Kong and any foreigners who visited Korea over the last 14 days are prohibited from entering Hong Kong. Officials there checked passengers aboard four Korean flights that arrived on Monday and placed visitors from Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province on a monitoring list. The Hong Kong government also issued a travel advisory recommending that citizens avoid traveling to Korea. Taiwan said is placing all visitors from Korea under 14 days of quarantine starting Tuesday. Taipei raised its travel advisory to Korea to "warning" on Monday, advising all Taiwanese to avoid traveling to Korea unless absolutely necessary.



Korean tourists board an Israeli charter plane in Tel Aviv on Monday. /Yonhap

Israel, which already closed its door to new Korean visitors, decided to send back 1,000 Korean tourists who are currently there. The Korean Embassy in Israel issued an urgent notice on Monday and said the Israeli government prepared two charter flights to transport them safely back home on Tuesday. Some 200 returned on Tuesday and another 200 are set to arrive later this afternoon. A group of Korean honeymooners who visited the island nation of Mauritius have been quarantined by government officials there. Mauritius barred the 34 Koreans who arrived there on Sunday. Some of the honeymooners are pregnant. After being detained at the airport for about seven hours, the newlyweds had their passports confiscated and were transported to a quarantine facility about an hour from the airport. The Foreign Ministry here said, "We lodged a protest with the government of Mauritius, which prohibited entry to our citizens without prior consultation with our government." The Korean Consulate in Madagascar, which handles diplomatic affairs with Mauritius, said officials there confirmed that the Korean honeymooners will be sent back to Korea once flights are arranged.

Korean newlyweds are detained in a quarantine facility in Mauritius on Monday. /Yonhap

In Da Nang, Vietnam all passengers including 20 Koreans aboard a VietJet flight from Daegu on Monday were quarantined. According to the Foreign Ministry here, they were transported directly from the airport to a hospital in Da Nang. The ministry said it also lodged a protest because the measure was taken without telling Seoul. Macau has already started subjecting all visitors from Korea to strengthened health screening that lasts six to eight hours after classifying Korea as a high-risk area of coronavirus infection. Thailand decided to impose 14 days' quarantine on all students who have visited Korea. That brings the number of countries who have banned or restricted travelers from Korea to 18. Meanwhile, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there were 893 confirmed infections as of Tuesday morning, over 80 percent of them in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, and one more patient died of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total to eight.
Northern Ireland's locally owned businesses reported variable trading results in their most recent trading year. Media headlines were memorable for the unwelcome news from Wrightbus, Bombardier and Harland and Wolff. Those were the conspicuous concerns. However, hundreds of trading companies continued on with their business, with a wide spread of results

Northern Ireland's locally owned businesses reported variable trading results in their most recent trading year. Media headlines were memorable for the unwelcome news from Wrightbus, Bombardier and Harland and Wolff. Those were the conspicuous concerns. However, hundreds of trading companies continued on with their business, with a wide spread of results.

As part of a comprehensive monitoring process of the performance of companies doing business from a Northern Ireland base, a review has been conducted of the profit performance of businesses filing trading results.

Smaller businesses not required to file trading accounts are excluded. Results for large and medium sized locally owned and registered trading companies have been collated.

Generally locally owned businesses might be described as family businesses or as bringing together a group of local shareholders.

These results are separate from those for businesses registered in Northern Ireland but with owners usually resident elsewhere, including a large number of businesses controlled from Great Britain or Ireland or as 'foreign direct investment'.

An analysis of the profitability of locally owned trading businesses, from over 350 companies, businesses registering the better or poorer levels of pre-tax profit have been identified.

One hundred businesses recording the highest levels of pre-tax profits were reviewed.

Each of these companies in the most recent trading year showed annual pre-tax profits of over 2m.

This result is comparable but slightly less buoyant than the experience a year ago when 100 local businesses registering the highest profit figures were compared.

The comparison of pre-tax profit figures (see table above) confirms that, recently, more businesses were enjoying better profit figures than a year ago although a simple 'up' or 'down' comparison says nothing about whether the level of profits is satisfactory.

It says little about the underlying viability of a business. The ratio of 57 reporting higher profits, compared to 43 reporting lower profits, is encouraging, but it would fall short of a claim to be a booming economy.

The spread of businesses across the main sectors of the economy is broadly consistent with the expected role of local businesses. The number of businesses in the construction related sector emphasises the surprisingly heavier reliance on domestic construction activity.

Amongst local manufacturing firms, the proportion reporting lower profits, at just over 60% of the qualifying firms, is consistent with the more general reporting in late 2018 and into 2019 that manufacturing output was less buoyant than in other sectors. The other sector where the numbers reporting lower profits is notable was the distributive trades.

Less obvious from the simple numbers of businesses showing higher or lower profits was that the manufacturing businesses recording lower profits were disproportionately found at the upper end of the spectrum of profit makers: in other words the previously more profitable had less successful results in their 2018-19 results than a year earlier.

If, instead of analysing only locally owned trading companies, the analysis had been extended to include all businesses registered in Northern Ireland whether locally or externally owned, the 100 local businesses analysed, at the same minimum profit cut-off, would have increased to 173.

The results for the externally owned businesses contrast with the locally owned. Of the externally owned businesses, 32% had reduced profits in the more recent year which compares with lower results for 43% of the local companies. These differences reflect a concern that locally owned companies faced a less encouraging environment than the bigger multi-nationals.

One other feature is cautionary. A year ago, 28 (of 350) locally owned companies in the sample were registering pre-tax losses. Unhappily, now, a year later, there are 34.

Company report: Andras House

Andras House combines major property interests and a number of hotel and hospitality businesses located mainly in Belfast but with plans for a new hotel in Portrush. The parent company is Greystone Ltd (IOM), registered in the Isle of Man. The group is owned by Lord Rana and his family and is one of the largest providers of hotel accommodation in Northern Ireland.

A year ago, the group opened a new 178 bedroom hotel, Hampton by Hilton, in central Belfast. Recently, planning consent for an 87 bedroom hotel costing 6.6m has been received for a new hotel, in Portrush.

Existing plans will bring the total number of bedrooms provided by the company to 1,043. This includes six hotels operating under franchise arrangements in the greater Belfast region: the Crowne Plaza at Shaws Bridge, the city centre Holiday Inn (in Great Victoria Street), the Ibis Belfast (close to Queens University), the Ibis Belfast City Centre and the Cordia Apartments (Lisburn Road).

The group also owns the Riverside Hotel in the Isle of Man as well as some commercial offices, retail outlets and a number of car parking sites in the Belfast area.

Annual turnover figures continue to increase, year by year, but in the most recent year, operating and pre-tax profits fell significantly. In the year to April 2017 turnover increased by 10%. Operating profits in 2018-19 fell by 19% compared to 2017-18 and pre-tax profits were 26% lower.

In 2018-19 the balance sheet value shareholders funds increased to just under 60m. This was an increase of 7% in the year. As in 2017-18, the directors made no dividend payments. Post-tax profits were retained in the business. The balance sheet records that the business was financed by an increase in access to borrowed funds. Short and longer term borrowing amounted to nearly 35m: up nearly 6m on a year earlier.

Employment averaged 347 people in 2018-19, a large increase of 40% during this year.
Britain's Financial Conduct Authority on Tuesday admitted to a data breach, in an embarrassing revelation for the regulator and its boss, who shortly takes over at the Bank of England.

The FCA said it had mistakenly published the details of around 1,600 consumers who had complained about the regulator, which is tasked with overseeing the conduct of Britain's key financial sector, including any data breaches by banks for example.

The revelation comes just a few weeks before FCA chief executive Andrew Bailey replaces Mark Carney as governor of the Bank of England.

On Tuesday, the FCA said its website had mistakenly allowed visitors to see the names, addresses and phone numbers of complainants, as well as details of the complaints they had made over a period of 18 months to mid-July 2019.

"In many instances, the extent of the accessible information was only the name of the person making the complaint, with no further confidential details or specific details of their complaint," the FCA said in a statement.

"However, there are instances where additional confidential information" was on view.

The data, which revealed no financial details of individuals, was available to the public between last November and this month, the FCA added. "As soon as we became aware of this, we removed the relevant data from our website," the regulator said.

"Our primary concern is to ensure the protection and safeguarding of individuals who may be identifiable from the data." Bailey is to take over at the BoE on March 16.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Page Content

Member of Parliament Silveria Jacobs, currently serving as Prime Minister announced that she has officially resigned from Parliament as of Tuesday, February 18th. She had just returned from a weeklong working visit to the Netherlands, where it became clear that giving proper representation in Parliament would be a great challenge. In her statement, MP Jacobs explained that carrying the multiple roles of Prime Minister, Member of Parliament and Formateur does not allow enough time for her to carry out all her duties with the attention and dedication to which she is accustomed, and which the people of St. Maarten deserve.





As Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs, the day to day running of Government is also quite a task. While, as formateur, Prime Minister Jacobs is expected to meet the agreed upon deadlines with His Excellency Governor Eugene B. Holiday. The formation is essential to the continuity of government. By vacating the seat, Prime Minister Jacobs allows for the proper representation by the next highest vote getter of the NA party, who will then be joining the other sitting NA MPs.





Its an honor to be elected as a Member of Parliament, as well as to be nominated as Prime Minister by the NA/UP coalition. I vow to continue to serve the people of St. Maarten to the best of my ability, and thank them for this great honor! concluded Prime Minister Jacobs.




A Rohingya woman looks outside her hut at the Theh Gyaung displacement camp outside Sittwe in western Myanmar's Rakhine state, February 2020.

Rohingya Muslims displaced by communal violence with ethnic Rakhine Buddhists across western Myanmars beleaguered Rakhine state nearly eight years ago say prospects for the betterment of their lives look dimmer than ever as they still live in near-apartheid conditions.

The wave of brutal slayings and attacks in June 2012 left more than 200 people dead and displaced about 120,000 Rohingya, who were later forced to live in squalid camps scattered around the state.

Entire communities were burned down, including Narzi ward in Rakhines capital Sittwe, where Khin Maung, a 30-something year-old Rohingya said he lived with his family.

During the violence, Khin Maung, his relatives, and other residents escaped to the west side of town where other Muslims resided.

Khin Maung told RFAs Myanmar Service that he does not know whether his family will ever be able to return to their original ward, with restrictions still imposed on the free movement of the Rohingya in Rakhine and beyond.

I cannot guess when our return to the original place will take place, he said. Only Allah knows. I am only expecting Allahs decision.

Khin Maungs mother, Ah Ray Shah, said she misses her house in Narzi ward.

Even though everything has been destroyed and I've lost everything, I miss my house, she said. I miss my small shop. I would like to go back and live there now.

Amid the riots in June 2012, Rohingya Muslims torched eight ethnic Rakhine communities on the south side of northern Rakhines Maungdaw township: Go Mu, Way Thali, Shwe Yin Aye, Bawdigon, Khayay Myaing, Thayay Konbaung, Mawrawaddy, and U Daung villages.

In retaliation, the Rakhines destroyed and burned many wards and villages in townships, including Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, Pauktaw, Myebon, and Kyauktaw, where the Rohingya lived.

The government then resettled displaced ethnic Rakhines and herded tens of thousands of Rohingya into camps where they still live today.

Though officials have closed several of the camps and relocated the Rohingya to other settlements, about 14 still exist, including Theh Gyaung, Dah Pine, Manzi, Thekkeh Byin, Baw Duga, and Ohn Daw Gyi on the west side of Sittwe.

Because racial tensions have not subsided, it is nearly impossible for any Rohingya who has permission to travel the 10-minute drive from the camps to Sittwe even with security guards, some say.

Bahusa Nara, who is in her 30s and lives in the Theh Gyaung displacement camp, said she began suffering from hepatitis two weeks ago, but hasnt received sufficient medical treatment because she cannot pay for it.

The Rohingya woman also said she could not afford the cost of hiring a security guard to escort her to Sittwe Hospital if she had permission to travel.

If I go to the hospital in the city, I need money, she told RFA. I will have to pay the driver and the police. I cannot afford that much. How can I go? Thats why Ive only been going to the Thekkeh Byin Clinic.

Rohingya children walk to a schoolhouse at the Thekkeh Byin displacement camp outside Sittwe in western Myanmar's Rakhine state, February 2020. Credit: RFA video screenshot Wherever you go

Rohingya who want to leave the camps to go into town must first obtain written permission from officials.

If you must travel, you have to report to the government and then you can go, said Kyaw Thein Maung, another displaced Rohingya who lives in one of the camps. The government provides you with security. You have to travel with that security.

The government does give us that right, he added. Its not that they dont give it to us. If you go to the hospital, you have to go with the security. Wherever you go, you have to go with security.

The problems faced by Bahasu Nara and Khin Maung are typical of the systematic discrimination confronting Rohingyas in Myanmar, where members of the minority group are considered illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Not only are their movements restricted and their access to health service limited, but they are also denied citizenship and prevented from obtaining jobs and formal education.

Because of a lack of income, displaced Rohingya living in the camps must rely on international NGOs to fill the gaps.

After moving from Sittwe in 2017, children from the more than 2,000 families who live at the Thekkeh Byin camp were unable to attend school for two years, because there was no school in the settlement.

An NGO eventually build a primary school facility, and international organizations provide support for those who teach classes there, said camp resident Mohammed Shobi.

Rohingya adults in the camps build their own huts in instances where the government does not build the structures for them.They are dependent mostly on odd jobs to try to eke out a living.

Ka Sein, who ran his own business in Narzi ward before he was forced to flee in June 2012, said he now has had to improvise so his family can makes ends meet.

When I was in Narzi, I had a shop in the market, he said. At that time, we were able to eat. But weve been encountering problems since we arrived here."

After building the house, I worked as a cobbler, [and] people hire me to build houses, he said. If theres no job, I go around and sell Popsicles.

Not asking for a state

The Myanmar government has been shutting down the camps one by one and relocating the Rohingya to other settlements in accordance with recommendations made in an August 2017 report by an advisory commission led by former U.N. chief Kofi Annan to help resolve the religious and ethnic divisions in the unstable region.

Amid the gradual closures of the camps, the country is still grappling with the fallout of a larger round of violence against the Muslim minority group that began in August 2017 when a military-led crackdown in northern Rakhine left thousands dead and drove more than 740,000 others into southeastern Bangladesh where they now live in sprawling displacement camps.

Despite an agreement between Myanmar and Bangladesh to repatriate Rohingya refugees who receive approval to return, none of them have shown up at border crossings to go back to northern Rakhine state through the official program, citing fears of ongoing discriminatory policies, more violence, and denied citizenship rights.

The Rohingya in the Rakhine displacement camps say members of the minority group have lived in the region for generations and should therefore be accorded equal rights to full citizenship.

We are not asking for a state, and we are not asking for a country either, said Kyaw Hla, a member of the management committee at the Thekkeh Byin camp. Recognize us as citizens and allow us to live as we did before.

Nearly all, except for a few hundred Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, have decided to remain in the squalid but relatively safe displacement camps in Bangladesh. But tens of thousands of others, mainly living in Rakhine state, have paid human traffickers to ferry them to Muslim-friendly countries like Malaysia and Indonesia.

However, many are caught by Myanmar authorities and returned to their places of origin where they face charges for violating immigration laws.

Rights activists say more Rohingya will continue to embark on such risky flights because the government has done nothing to address the underlying causes pushing the Muslims out of the country illegally.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Than Than Win. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
A man was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police in the northwest Alabama city of Tuscumbia early this morning, the authorities said.

Kenneth Sashington, 38, was declared dead at the scene, said Colbert County Coroner Justin Gasque. Sashingtons body was sent for autopsy at the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.

Officers were called just before 4 a.m. to investigate a report of a suspicious person banging on doors at an apartment complex on Trenholm Memorial Drive, said police Chief Tony Logan. When officers found a man at the apartment complex, he fired shots at them, according to the chief.

After an exchange of gunfire, Logan said, the man ran. Additional shots were fired after a brief chase, and the man was killed.

The chief said none of the officers suffered any serious injuries.

Tuscumbia police said the State Bureau of Investigation and Colbert County District Attorneys office are investigating the deadly incident. Those agencies didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

Logan said he will conduct an interval review and meet with the investigating agencies to determine whether any officers should be put on leave.

Updated oin Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2020 at 2:26 p.m. to include Sashingtons name.
A referendum on changing one article of the constitution is scheduled for April 5 in Armenia. Authorities insist on the need for early termination of powers of seven of the nine members of the Constitutional Court (CC), including its chairman Hrayr Tovmasyan, who is identified with the structures of the previous regime. Almost the entire political elite of the republic, with the exception of the ruling bloc "My Step" and the ex-president of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan, refrains from participating in this process, identifying it as legally vulnerable.

But weak domestic political support is not the only problem of the ideological inspirer of the referendum, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. A number of European political structures explicitly allude to unacceptable "legal abuses" in connection with the referendum. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe drew attention to the fact that the proposed changes may have long-term consequences for the functioning of the constitutional institutions of the republic, since such issues are resolved, as a rule, without referenda.

In turn, the head of the Venice Commission (expert body of the Council of Europe on constitutional law) Gianni Buquicchio drew attention to the fact that campaigning and elaboration of the referendum procedure were carried out against the backdrop of an open conflict between the government and the Constitutional Court of Armenia. Accordingly, European structures are concerned that under the pretext of reforming the judicial system of the republic, the current regime seeks to implement a constitutional coup, having previously legitimized it as much as possible.

The timeline of the confrontation between Pashinyan and the judges of the Constitutional Court is rich in unfinished processes. In October 2019, the Armenian parliament, on the initiative of the ruling faction "My Step" in an appeal to the Constitutional Court, announced the need to terminate the powers of its chairman. The Constitutional Court refused the National Assembly, stating that the resignation procedure does not comply with the regulations, according to which the chairman of the court Hrayr Tovmasyan would resign. Leaving the implementation of his initiative halfway, the ruling party hastily drafted a law on the early retirement of judges of the Constitutional Court, thereby forcing Tovmasyan to voluntarily leave the Constitutional Court. He did not leave.

Considering the second attempt to remove Tovmasyan from the Armenian policy to be unsuccessful, Pashinyan and his team again left the implementation of the plan halfway, resorting at least to the criminal prosecution of Tovmasyan.

At the end of December 2019, Hrayr Tovmasyan was charged with abuse of power, which the current chairman of the Constitutional Court was ready to challenge in European arbitration. A lengthy trial at the ECHR, for which Pashinyan clearly did not expect a positive outcome, significantly cooled the ardor of the ruling party, but did not prompt him to abandon his plan. Now Pashinyan is trying to resolve the issue through a referendum, the legality of which is being questioned.

In international practice, there are standards and principles through which political power cannot influence the judicial system. In all modern democracies, the highest judicial bodies are considered a deterrent in the system of separation of powers, which does not allow political forces that come to power to apply the laws of the country in their political interests.

Now in Armenia there is an attempt to restore order in the Constitutional Court of the republic, camouflaged by checking the degree of public trust in the judicial system. This can lead to an excessive concentration of power in the hands of one person, and Pashinyan risks being accused of usurping power.

It is not known whether the prime minister will have enough political resources to neutralize the negative consequences of the referendum. However, most likely, it will only lose, even if it manages to get the desired outcome of the will. The referendum will go down in the modern history of Armenia as one of the most controversial decisions of the Peoples Prime Minister and will always cause criticism from the point of view of legitimacy. In the end, the judges of the Constitutional Court can always apply for the restoration of their rights to the European Court of Human Rights. And if the ECHR takes their side, then the results of the referendum and its very expensive conduct can be considered meaningless.
(Natural News) The City of Costa Mesa, California, located about an hour south of Los Angeles, is suing to stop the federal government from relocating as many as 50 people diagnosed with the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) to a local dilapidated complex surrounded by residential neighborhoods.

The city has asked a federal judge to temporarily block the moving of these infected people, who are being transferred out of Travis Air Force Base in Northern California, to whats known as the Fairview Development Center until all necessary precautions and protective measures have been implemented to protect the safety of the general public.

In its filing, the city noted that the Fairview Development Center is ill-equipped to house people who are infected with a highly contagious and deadly diseases like the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19). The site was also recently deemed unsuitable for use as an emergency shelter because it needs about $25 million in upfit renovations, which would take about two years to complete.

Fairview is an inappropriate location for a quarantine, as there is no way to restrict access to or from the facility, the city contends.

It is in some places about two hundred yards from residential neighborhoods, and there are no security measures in place to keep the quarantined individuals isolated from each other and from the residents of Costa Mesa, a city of over 113,000 people.

The city is requesting that absolutely no relocation take place until a complete survey has been conducted to determine whether or not the site is suitable for such a purpose. If its not, then these 50 infected individuals, and any future ones, need to be housed elsewhere.

Listen below as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, explains how the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is right now covering up about 1,000 coronavirus infections in the United States while claiming that there far fewer cases:

Judge issues temporary restraining order blocking coronavirus patients from entering Fairview Development Complex

Late on Friday, as a bit of good news, U.S District Judge Josephine L. Staton issued a temporary restraining order to stop the relocation of these 50 infected individuals to the Fairview Development Complex.

In the meantime, the California Health and Human Services Agency is actively working with federal authorities to find a new suitable place for a very few people who were evacuated from the infamous Diamond Princess cruise ship and initially taken to Travis Air Force Base.

As we reported, the Americans evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship all shared the same evacuation plane regardless of whether or not they were infected with the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19).

Individuals from Travis Air Force Base who test positive for novel coronavirus are referred locally for medical care, an official statement reads.

The federal government determined that anyone who tests positive for novel coronavirus cannot be returned to Travis Air Force Base for the rest of their quarantine period.

The state health agency further explained that only Californians who were on the Diamond Princess cruise ship will be relocated to whatever site ends up being chosen in the end. And all of these individuals, the agency added, will have already received necessary medical treatment.

While the CDC website says that 18 total American cruise ship passengers have thus far tested positive for the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19), only two of these are reportedly being housed in California. Another 11 are being hospitalized in Nebraska, while six are said to be under mandatory quarantine in Texas.

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, stated Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley.

Be sure to check out the new Pandemic.news for more related news about the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19).

Sources for this article include:

Bloomberg.com

OCRegister.com

NaturalNews.com
JETNET offers dozens of time-saving tools business aviation professionals can use to identify prospects and better understand their clients.

JETNET LLC, a leading provider of aviation market information, will be demonstrating its recently announced JETNET for Salesforce on Salesforce AppExchange at this years NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference at Booth #339 from March 10-13 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. JETNET is empowering customers of JETNET and Salesforce services to access and import aircraft, companies and contacts from JETNET, including their simple step sync of chosen datasets. They will also be showcasing updates to their extensive list of products and services.

JETNET for Salesforce

The new app allows JETNET and Salesforce clients to access and import JETNET company, contact, and aircraft data; create, update, and customize company, contacts, and aircraft records with a single click; maintain originalor create newcompany relationships in aircraft records; navigate JETNET program links and records without leaving the Salesforce platform; and easily identify and sync data changes since your last visit, among other capabilities. JETNET worked closely on the implementation with CRM consulting/development firm CloudOne+, which specializes in Salesforce implementations for the aviation industry.

JETNET for Salesforce provides access to one of the largest and most accurate business aviation databases from within the Salesforce Platform, said Tony Esposito, JETNET President. Salesforce clients can now work faster, identify prospects sooner, and better qualify opportunities.

New Products, Services

JETNET will also be demonstrating a full suite of products and services tailored to supporting the needs of companies that provide fuel services, aircraft maintenance, interior and exterior aircraft refurbishment, concierge services, catering, ground service support, avionics equipment, aircraft management, insurance, and appraisal work, among others. JETNET also offers dozens of time-saving tools business aviation professionals can use to identify prospects and better understand their clients.

Our Tech/Fuel Stop Search, Operator/Airport Flight Activity View, Route Analysis Tool, and Fleet Portfolio Manager Solution all continue to please customers and tantalize prospects, says Mike Foye, Director of Marketing. We are filled with an amazing sense of pride and exhilaration when the work of the research and program designers comes to life in our trade show demonstrations. Its the rare occasion that people seeing our products are not transfixed, and ask how we can possibly get all of this information into a user-friendly interface. Despite all of the tools weve added and upgraded over the years, our tail number search remains a constant favorite. When that aircraft record opens and they start reading and clicking into the details, its magic.

Research

JETNETs tools capture aircraft specific data that is only actionable when paired with accurate contact information. Knowing that the industry depends on our professional research staff to update and discover new owner/operator contact information on every aircraft record we archive keeps us centered and extremely focused, says Lisa Carnevale, JETNETs Director of Research. Weve elevated the research process to a science, and are constantly improving ways to clearly and concisely detail the key players associated with each aircraft. Our research team specializes in investigating and verifying key data found in a wide range of sources, such as fractional positions, leases, shared ownership, trusts, delivery positions, owners/operators, foreign registries, industry publications, and FAA documents. If we find a stone, we turn it over.

JETNET iQ 2020 Summit

JETNET has also announced its 10th Anniversary JETNET iQ Global Business Aviation Summit, to be held at the The Ritz-Carlton New York, Westchester in White Plains, NY, June 8-9, 2020. This years event features Keynote Speaker John G. Rosanvallon, Special Senior Advisor to the Chairman & CEO of Dassault Aviation, and brings together business aviation industry leaders from around the globe to to present information and engage in conversation on a wide range of topics facing the business aviation industry. Learn more at http://www.jetnet.com/summit/

JETNET invites attendees of the NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference to stop by their booth #339 to see live demonstrations of the latest products and features.

As a leading provider of aviation market information, JETNET delivers a comprehensive and reliable business aircraft research to its exclusive clientele of aviation professionals worldwide. JETNET is a source for information and intelligence on the worldwide business, commercial, and helicopter aircraft fleet and marketplace, comprised of more than 110,000 airframes. Headquartered in its state-of-the-art facility in Utica, NY, JETNET offers comprehensive, user-friendly aircraft data via real-time internet access or regular updates.

Salesforce and AppExchange are among the trademarks of salesforce.com, inc.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on Tuesday asked Pakistan to ensure that no territory under its control is used to launch terrorist attacks, calling for perpetrators of Mumbai and Pathankot attacks to be brought to justice and concerted action against terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Following wide-ranging talks between Modi and Trump, India and the US announced defence deals for 30 military helicopters worth more than $3 billion and decided to upgrade their ties to the status of a comprehensive global strategic partnership before the US President wrapped up a whirlwind, stand-alone visit to India that lasted less than 36 hours.

The two leaders also agreed to form a working group to combat narco-terrorism and organised crime.

A joint statement released on Tuesday night said: Prime Minister Modi and President Trump denounced any use of terrorist proxies and strongly condemned cross-border terrorism in all its forms. They called on Pakistan to ensure that no territory under its control is used to launch terrorist attacks, and to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of such attacks, including 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot. They called for concerted action against all terrorist groups including Al-Qaida, ISIS, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Hizb-ul Mujahideen, the Haqqani Network, TTP, D-Company, and all their affiliates.

The two leaders held talks at Hyderabad House during the second leg of Trumps two-day visit, after they jointly addressed the Namaste Trump rally in Ahmedabad on Monday, and spoke of their vision for taking forward ties in areas ranging from trade to defence and security.

Making a statement to the media alongside Modi, Trump said the two sides had expanded defence cooperation with agreements to sell India Apache and MH-60R helicopters worth more than $3 billion. These deals will enhance our joint defence capabilities as our militaries continue to train and operate side by side, he said.

Modi described the bilateral relationship as the most important partnership of the 21st century and said: Therefore, today, President Trump and I made a decision to raise our partnership to the level of a comprehensive global strategic partnership. Until now, it has been described as a strategic partnership.

In recent years, India has acquired military equipment worth more than $18 billion from the US.

Trump said he and Modi were revitalising the Quad initiative comprising the US, India, Australia and Japan, which recently held their first ministerial meeting. The two sides also expanded cooperation in counter-terrorism and cyber and maritime security to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific, he said.

Modi described the growing security cooperation as a very important part of the partnership and said Indian and US defence manufacturers were becoming part of each others supply chains, while Indian forces are conducting maximum exercises with their American counterparts.

In the last few years, there has been an unprecedented increase in inter-operability between our armies. In the same way, we are increasing cooperation in homeland security and fighting international crime, Modi said, adding, Today, we have also agreed on a new mechanism to fight serious problems such as drug trafficking, narco-terrorism, and organised crime.

Modi said the two sides had also decided to increase our efforts to hold the supporters of terrorism responsible, while Trump spoke about the joint commitment to protecting the citizens of the two countries from radical Islamic terrorism.

Without giving details, Trump added: In this effort, the US is also working productively with Pakistan to confront terrorists who operate on its soil.

Trump reaffirmed the support of the US for Indias permanent membership on a reformed UN Security Council and for Indias entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group without any delay.

The two countries concluded three agreements  a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the safety of medical products signed by Indias Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation and the US Food and Drug Administration, a letter of cooperation between Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and ExxonMobil and Chart Industries to improve Indias natural gas distribution network, and an MoU on mental health between the health and family welfare department and the US health department.

Trump noted that since he assumed office, American exports to India had grown nearly 60% while energy exports had increased by 500%. The agreement between IOC and ExxonMobil will help the US export more liquified natural gas (LNG) to India, he said.

Without referring to Chinas Huawei Technologies, which has been allowed to participate in Indias 5G trials, Trump said he had discussed the importance of a secure 5G wireless network and the need to ensure the emerging technology doesnt become a conduit for suppression and censorship.

Trump also pitched the Blue Dot Network, on which the US is working with partners such as Australia and Japan, to ensure countries around the world have access to private sector-led sustainable and trustworthy options for high quality infrastructure built in a transparent and accountable manner.

Salil Gupte, president of Boeing India, welcomed Indias decision to acquire six AH-64 Apache helicopters for the Indian Army. We congratulate the US and Indian governments on this key milestone and welcome the positive momentum in the bilateral defence trade and industrial partnership, he said.

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Chandigarh, Feb 25 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said the public reaction to the Constitutional (Amendment) Act (CAA) was "expected" since the BJP government at the Centre was trying to destroy India's cherished constitutional and social fabric through this draconian legislation.

Responding to a question from the media informally outside the Vidhan Sabha, the Chief Minister said the BJP-led central government had failed to factor in the possible reaction of the people in its plans to impose the CAA, as well as the NRC and NPR, on the nation.

"Naturally, there had to be a reaction to the Centre's attempt to trample over the country's democratic ideals of socialism and secularism," he said, adding that the people's angst would not end but would only grow bigger till the central government realised its mistake and withdrew the legislation.

Asked about the Centre's decision not to invite Congress President Sonia Gandhi to the banquet hosted for the visiting US President Donald Trump, Amarinder Singh described it as unfortunate and said such a thing had never happened under Congress governments.

Replying to another question, he said the Delhi Chief Minister should have been invited for theA US First LadyaAs visit to Delhi schools.

Though he was not a supporter of AAP policies, it was customary for the Chief Minister to be invited when a VIP, such as US President Donald Trump, was on a visit and his wife was going to a school of that state, he said.

Asked about the probe into the drugs charges against former SSB member and Akali leader Anwar Masih, Amarinder Singh said the investigations were in progress.

On the demand of cancellation of power purchase agreements (PPAs) with private power companies, the Chief Minister said that closing down the plants might not be a feasible alternative but his government would renegotiate the agreements.

Though he had announced his government's decision to bring out a White Paper on the PPAs signed by the previous SAD-BJP government in the monsoon session of the Assembly, his government was working on trying to present it before the House in the current budget session itself, he added.

"Wait for my speech tomorrow in Vidhan Sabha," the Chief Minister quipped, on being asked about the smart schools in the state.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has outlined what schools and businesses would need to do if the coronavirus reaches pandemic levels, which officials say is likely.

"It's not so much of a question of if this will happen in this country any more but a question of when this will happen," Dr Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters.

Public officials do not know if the spread of the virus will be mild or severe, she added, but Americans should prepare for it to disrupt their daily lives.

"We are asking the American public to prepare for the expectation that this might be bad," Dr Messonnier said.

Schools are recommended to consider dividing classrooms into smaller groups or use internet-based teleschooling" to limit person-to-person contact among students. When it comes to businesses, the official advised for in-person meetings to be replaced by telephone conferences or other "teleworking" options.

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

Hospitals are encouraged to potentially alter how they triage patients and delay elective surgeries if need be. Communities might also need to postpone mass gatherings to limit contact with others.

The World Health Organisation's director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus released a statement on Monday about the growing panic with the coronavirus. The organisation has yet to call the coronavirus a "pandemic", but is prepared for it to reach that stage.

Recommended Romney returns to attack Trump administration over coronavirus plans

"Our decision about whether to use the word 'pandemic' 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 a whole society," he said.

"For the moment, we are not witnessing the uncontained global spread of this coronavirus and we are not witnessing large-scale disease or death. Does the virus have pandemic potential? Absolutely. Are we there yet? From our assessment not yet."

President Donald Trump spoke about the coronavirus on Tuesday during his trip to India, saying the country was well protected if an outbreak were to occur. I think the whole situation will start working out, Mr. Trump said during a news conference.

His administration asked Congress on Monday to authorize $2.5bn in funding to combat the deadly virus, with $1.25bn towards emergency funds and another $1.25bn to federal programs.

Both Republican and Democratic senators have questioned the White House's request for funding to combat the potential pandemic on Tuesday, saying what the administration is asking for won't be enough.

"If you low ball something like this, you'll pay for it later," Alabama Senator Richard Shelby told Mr Trump's top health official, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. The senator said if the threat continued to spread "it could be an existential threat to a lot of people in this country".

Democratic Senator Patty Murray of Washington said the administration's handling of the coronavirus was "unacceptable".

"We cannot afford to plan on the cheap or at the last minute," she said.

The CDC confirmed 53 cases in the US on Monday evening. A majority of these cases came from the Diamond Princess cruise liner that was recently quarantined off the coast of Japan after an outbreak on the ship. Of the 53 people, 36 of these cases are credited to the cruise ship.

There are a total of more than 80,410 cases worldwide and an estimated 2,711 deaths from the virus.
Description

GIS - 25 February, 2020: The ministerial committee on the Covid-19, under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications, Minister for Rodrigues, Outer Islands and Territorial Integrity, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, met yesterday to review the situation of the coronavirus both locally and internationally.

Accordingly, the Committee took several temporary preventive measures.

All foreign passengers coming from, or having stayed in South Korea during the last 14 days will not be allowed in Mauritius. Also, all foreign passengers coming from, or having stayed in the three Italian provinces affected by the Covid-19, which are Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia Romagna, during the past 14 days will not be allowed to enter the Mauritian territory.

As for Mauritians coming from the regions mentioned above, they will be automatically placed in quarantine.

The Mauritian authorities are also closely monitoring the situation in Japan and Singapore as these countries have been affected by of the Covid-19.

Further, passengers with symptoms of Covid-19, including fever and cough, will also be placed in quarantine.

It is to be noted that all measures that have been mentioned are temporary and will be subjected to changes depending on the international situation.

A total of 67 people are under observation in Mauritius. As at date 153 people have been placed in quarantine with a total of 86 discharged.

24 people are currently under observation at the New Souillac Hospital, including five placed in isolation and 43 individuals are under observation at Anse-La-Raie quarantine facility.
Alger brings a long history of creating work that works. For more than eight years, Alger was the creative lead for The Martin Agency's GEICO account, where the work he and his teams created helped elevate the brand to the overall #2 position in the car insurance category. During that time, Alger created Cannes Grand Prix winning campaigns like "Unskippable," as well as many other favorites, like "Happier Than" (Hump Day), and "It's What You Do" (Pinocchio and Squirrels). Alger created Emmy Award-winning work for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and also co-wrote The World's Biggest Asshole for Donate Life America, which saw registrations of organ donation increase over 638%. "I like doing work that works and that is what I see in Zimmerman; their model of data-driven results and proprietary technologies combined with real-time metrics. It excites me and I hope I can add even more creativity to a model that is already firing on all cylinders," said Alger.

"We are happy to welcome Wade into the Zimmerman family. He brings a strong creative pedigree, but more importantly, he brings big ambition and an unrestrained passion for innovating across multiple platforms; something so critical to keep up with the dynamic retail marketplace our clients must thrive in," said Zimmerman Advertising Founder and Chairman, Jordan Zimmerman.

"Creative ideas are more important than ever, especially in retail, because they need to be big enough to prop up the brand, but agile enough for the Immersive Commerce ecosystems we now live in where consumers are shopping anywhere, anytime and any way. Our job is to better the client's business, as well as our own. Wade is an amazing addition to do both," said Michael Goldberg, CEO of Zimmerman.

"The chance to work with the talented leadership and people of Zimmerman, including my old partner Brad Higdon (CMO), made this the right opportunity and one that I have been looking for," said Wade Alger.

About Zimmerman Advertising

Zimmerman Advertising, an Omnicom Group company, is the leading integrated, retail agency in the country. Zimmerman's clients represent some of the most prominent retail brands in the country, including McDonald's, Tire Kingdom, Kay Jewelers, Five Below, AutoNation, Transitions, Nissan, Planet Fitness and Essilor. Headquartered in South Florida, the agency has retail service offices throughout the country, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, and Atlanta. For information on the agency, visit http://www.zadv.com .

SOURCE Zimmerman

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New Delhi, Feb 25 : The Conservation Action Trust (CAT) and Shweta Wagh, founder of the Collective for Spatial Alternatives, on Tuesday filed a plea urging the Supreme Court to stay the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) reclamation work for the coastal road project to connect Marine Drive in south to suburban Borivali in north.

They contended before a Bench, headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and Surya Kant, the BMC was violating the apex court order by reclaiming more land than required for the Rs 14,000 crore 29.2 km project.

On December 17, the top court had stayed the Bombay High Court decision to quash the coastal road zone (CRZ) clearances granted to the project.

They submitted instead of 22 hectares of coastal land, 75 hectares had been reclaimed.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Maharashtra government and its authorities, opposed this by citing minimum requisite land for the project. "Can I stand in sea and build road," Rohatgi said and added some minimum facilities were required for the coastal road's construction.

The court asked the parties to bring on record through an affidavit whether 95 hectares land reclamation was required. It also asked the authorities concerned to examine the loss of livelihood of the local fishermen due to the construction activities.

The court will hear the matter after two weeks.

The apex court in its December order had restrained the BMC from carrying out any other development work, apart from the coastal road project, until further orders The Bombay HC in July 2019 had quashed the CRZ clearances granted to the project, saying there was "serious lacuna" in the decision-making process and lack of proper scientific study.

The HC reportedly raised the issue of corals despite their "miniscule presence at Haji Ali and Worli. The court also said the project also required approvals under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Though CRZ clearance from the MoEF had been obtained, the HC said the BMC couldn't proceed with work on the project.
(Bloomberg) --

Revolut Ltd. has raised $500 million in a funding round that values the London financial-technology firm at $5.5 billion, making it one of Europes most valuable fintech startups despite still being loss-making.

The company will use the cash for product development and to increase banking operations across Europe, it said in a statement on Tuesday. Revolut said it plans to begin making loans for retail and business banking customers, expand its savings accounts beyond the U.K., and improve its customer service.

Our focus is on rolling-out banking operations in Europe, increasing the number of people who use Revolut as their daily account, and striving towards profitability, Chief Executive Officer Nik Storonsky said in the statement.

The market for financial technology firms offering an alternative to traditional banks is fiercely competitive with Revolut going up against other established rivals, such as Monzo and Starling Bank. German mobile bank N26 GmbH said earlier this month it would close all U.K. mobile banking accounts in April. The firm, backed by billionaires Peter Thiel and Li Ka-Shing, blamed Brexit for the withdrawal.

Swedish payments and banking firm Klarna became the most valuable European fintech startup in August after new funding pushed its post-money valuation to $5.5 billion.

Read more here: Why Peter Thiels Fintech Is Fleeing Britain: Elisa Martinuzzi

Revolut reported revenue of 58.2 million pounds ($63 million) in 2018, the last period it released financial results, up from 12.8 million pounds in 2017. Its loss for the year more than doubled to 32.8 million pounds. The firm said the number of daily active customers grew by 380% last year.

The company is targeting 100 million customers in the next five years -- up from over 10 million now -- and will focus on increasing daily accounts and expanding outside of Europe, Storonsky said in an interview on Bloomberg Television on Tuesday.

Part of the $500 million that we raised, were going to spend on creating new features for daily users, he said.

Story continues

The startup was last valued at $1.7 billion when it raised $250 million in April 2018. It also faced regulatory scrutiny following an alleged compliance lapse that could have allowed illegal transactions on its app.

Revolut bolstered its executive ranks in 2019, hiring former Metro Bank Plc finance director Dave MacLean as chief financial officer and naming Standard Life Aberdeen executive Martin Gilbert as chairman.

The company will likely add another 1,000 employees by the end of the year to the 2,000 it has now, Storonsky said in the interview. About 200 of those new hires will be in the compliance department, he said.

The funding brings the total Revolut has raised to $836 million and was led by U.S. venture capital firm TCV, which also invested in London-based fintech WorldRemit, which helps people send money across borders, last year.

(Updates with CEO comments from interview starting in seventh paragraph.)

To contact the reporter on this story: Amy Thomson in London at athomson6@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Giles Turner at gturner35@bloomberg.net

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

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Two senior civil servants have been forced out of the Home Office after clashing with Priti Patel, it was revealed today as the row at the heart of the department showed no sign of abating.

A top official working in police oversight transferred to the Department of Transport and a member of the Home Secretary's private office left their post in recent weeks, the Times reported.

Ms Patel is at the heart of a furious row over her treatment of staff in the department, which she has been in charge of since July.

The 47-year-old's opponents have accused her of bullying staff, while her supporters say she is tough and wants to get results.

Lord O'Donnell, who was Cabinet Secretary during the New Labour Cameron governments, attacked political attacks on civil servants, telling the paper: 'The ideal relationship between a minister and a senior civil servant is one of creative tension.

Ms Patel is at the heart of a furious row over her treatment of staff in the department, which she has been in charge of since July. Lord O'Donnell (left) said: 'The ideal relationship between a minister and a senior civil servant is one of creative tension'

She received support from an unlikely corner this morning - the aristocratic father-in-law of Boris Johnson's chief aide, Dominic Cummings (pictured today)

'The last thing you want is a permanent secretary who is a yes man or woman - that is not good for the secretary of state or the government.

Now Dominic Cummings' aristocratic father-in-law wades into defend Priti Patel The father-in-law of Boris Johnson's chief aide Dominic Cummings made an astonishing intervention in the Home Office bullying row today. Humphry Wakefield accused mandarins who have squared up to Home Secretary Priti Patel of acting to protect their 'relaxed life'. The aristocratic interior designer, 83, used a letter sent from his 14th century Northumberland castle to attack 'relaxed disciplines' in offices whose fans paint any attempt at changing the environment as bullying. It came as two senior civil servants have been forced out of the Home Office after clashing with Ms Patel, 47, it was revealed today as the row at the heart of the department showed no sign of abating. In a missive to the Times from his home, Chillingham Castle, the baronet said: 'I have worked in many long established offices around the world. Almost invariably, relaxed disciplines have become the norm. 'I have found it near impossible to change old habits without appearing to ''bully''. 'Throwing chilling water on attempted inspiration is a special skill of department leaders whose relaxed life is under threat.' Advertisement

'This goes wrong if such tension results in private briefings against the permanent secretary. Trust breaks down and all lose.'

Health Secretary Matt Hancock became the latest minister to leap to Ms Patel's defence today, insisting she was 'forthright but not a bully'.

The thing about Priti is that she is direct, she knows her own mind, she is very clear, but she is also polite and very kind,' he told Sky News.

'But also there is a wider point about the civil service, which is they do an incredible job delivering for ministers  these spats can often be overblown when they end up in the press.

'I know Priti and she is absolutely determined to deliver on her agenda and thats right.'

Yesterday Britain's top civil servant tried to end the toxic briefing war engulfing Ms 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 country's hard-won reputation for good governance'.

The Cabinet Secretary's comments follow days of extraordinary briefings about relations between Ms Patel and Sir Philip Rutnam, who is permanent secretary at the Home Office.

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 don't 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.

Sir Humphry Wakefield accused top civil servants of acting to protect their 'relaxed life'. In a letter to the Times from his home, Chillingham Castle in Northumberland (pictured)

The Cabinet Secretary's 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.
A mum who has prepared for the coronavirus to spark economic collapse insists she's not paranoid, despite melting down jewellery to trade for food, breeding fish to eat, and stockpiling weapons in case of a global pandemic.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, is a self-professed zombie apocalypse movie enthusiast from Scenic Rim in south-east Queensland, and has enough food and medicine to last a year.

Despite having five pantries brimming with 50kg each of rice and lentils, boxes of cereal and bottles of hand sanitiser, the mum-of-four said she doesn't think the coronavirus will get 'really bad', but believes 'you can never be too safe'.

The family have five pantries brimming with 50kg each of rice and lentils, boxes of cereal and bottles of hand sanitizer

'We've gone a little above and beyond,' she told news.com.au, detailing her new collection of water filters, camping gear, vegetable seeds, dog food, weapons and surplus of paracetamol, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications.

The 32-year-old said she initially started hoarding medicine for her son who takes medication for ADHD that is manufactured in China.

She fears that if the Chinese borders aren't re-opened soon, her son will be without medicine.

'If it ever did go bad, medicine would be something to trade for, for maybe food or something else. Asthma puffers, we've stocked up on them, because let's face it, half of Australia has asthma.

The 32-year-old said she initially started hoarding medicine for her son who takes medication for ADHD that is manufactured in China

The family have started a fish breeding program in three large tanks in their living room

'We've got about 15 pouches of tobacco so far. It's not a lot but it can still be traded for food if need be. Smokers, no matter how crazy it is, will still want to smoke.'

She has also melted silver and gold jewellery down in case a bartering system becomes the new normal and the family need something valuable to trade.

The family has also started to research survival skills and natural healing methods, and her husband is learning to blacksmith in case forging metal becomes a coveted skill in a post-apocalyptic world.

Along with a fish breeding program in three large tanks in their living room, the family have a full survival plan in case the coronavirus gets out of control in Australia.

A Chinese couple wear plastic coats and protective masks as they shop for groceries at a supermarket amid coronavirus fears

While the woman admitted it's possible the precautions won't be necessary, she said all the items they have collected can still be used.

There have been 22 cases of the 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 travelled 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 80,352 cases worldwide and 2707 deaths.
Ruckus prevailed in the Bihar Assembly on Tuesday as BJP members strongly objected to the opposition describing the amended citizenship act as "kala kanoon", leading to brief adjournment of House proceedings.

Trouble erupted during the debate on the adjournment motion on CAA-NPR-NRC, which was moved by Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav and others and approved by Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary after initial objection raised by Parliamentary Affairs minister Shravan Kumar.

Opposition members were on their feet no sooner than the House assembled for the day, demanding a debate on the motion and Kumar said it should be taken up at an appropriate time and not during the Question Hour.

However, Yadav pointed out that at a special session convened last month, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had given an assurance that the issue will be debated during "the next session".

Chaudhary said that since the budget was to be presented around 2 pm and both the treasury and the opposition were in agreement that a debate could be held, he was approving the adjournment motion.

However, chants of 'kala kanoon' (black law) were made from the opposition side when Kumar began replying to the adjournment motion.

This was strongly objected to by BJP ministers like Nand Kishore Yadav and Vijay Kumar Sinha, who countered the opposition with the question "does Parliament pass a black law?"



Heated exchanges ensued and members from both sides trooped into the well forcing adjournment of House proceedings for 15 minutes.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar got an invitation from a farmer to attend his daughter's wedding after his loan was waived off.

Speaking to media, Ajit Pawar said, "Yesterday after the announcement of the first list of farmers who got loan waiver, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and I was interacting with farmers through video conferencing. During the interaction, one farmer who was very happy as his loan was waived off, invited us."

"The Chief Minister asked him are you satisfied with the government and the farmer replied now as I am tension free I would like to invite both Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister for my daughter's wedding," Pawar said.

"We would have gone for the wedding but since the assembly session is going on, it will be difficult for us to go there, but we will surely send our blessings. I have also informed officers from the revenue department to visit his place once," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
INDIANAPOLIS -- In a new study, researchers from Regenstrief Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine and Indiana University Health provide insight into physician moral distress, a condition correlated with burnout and depression. The researchers report that about four of 10 doctors caring for older adult patients who require a surrogate decision-maker experienced moral distress.

As defined in the study, moral distress is an emotional experience in which an individual feels constrained from acting on deeply held beliefs, resulting in the sense of compromising one's professional integrity. Moral distress has been correlated with traumatic stress, burnout, depression and even intent to leave a position or profession.

When hospitalized older adults have impaired cognition, family members or other surrogates communicate with clinicians to provide information about the patient and to make medical decisions for them. When working with these surrogate decision makers, physicians often encounter ethical challenges - such as whether to continue life support or not - that may cause them to experience moral distress with its potential negative consequences.

"Making decisions for patients who can't participate in the decision-making process is hard for everyone and has a significant likelihood of causing physicians to experience moral distress," said study senior author Alexia Torke, M.D., associate professor of medicine at IU School of Medicine and Regenstrief Institute research scientist. "About half of older adults rely upon surrogate decision makers, so our findings that 42 percent of these doctors experience moral distress is a large and concerning number which, unless we address the issue, will likely grow as our population ages."

The study reported that physician moral distress occurred more frequently when (1) the physician was male; (2) the physician was an intern or other junior level doctor; (3) the patient was older; or (4) decisions were required about life-sustaining treatments.

The authors found that physicians were less likely to experience moral distress when (1) caring for patients residing in a nursing home; (2) the physician or family members had discussed care preferences with the patient before that individual became unable to make his or her own decisions; (3) the surrogate decision maker felt emotionally supported by the physician and other clinicians, and (4) whether or not the physician and surrogate decision maker agreed on the course of treatment.

"We learned that communication is clearly key to diminishing physician moral distress," said study corresponding author Lucia Wocial, PhD, R.N. a nurse ethicist. "Physician moral distress was lower when the patient had expressed his or her preferences through an advance medical directive or even orally to someone - a clinician, the surrogate or other family member or friend - before the patient was cognitively impaired and these preferences were made known to the treating physician." Dr. Wocial co-chairs the IU Health Ethics Consultation Service and is a faculty member of the Charles Warren Fairbanks Center for Medical Ethics at IU Health.

Dr. Torke added, "Since physician moral distress diminished when the patient's surrogate decision maker felt supported, efforts to forestall or decrease physician moral distress can focus on working with surrogates as well as the physicians themselves."

A total of 362 surrogate decision makers of older adult patients who lacked decisional capacity and 152 physicians carrying for these patients were surveyed for the study. The researchers found that a significant cause of physician moral distress was related to the feeling that the care plan included more life-sustaining treatment for the patient than the physician believed was appropriate.

###

"Factors Associated with Physician Moral Distress Caring for Hospitalized Elderly Patients Needing a Surrogate Decision-maker: a Prospective Study," was published online ahead of print in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Study authors in addition to Dr. Torke and Dr. Wocial are Susan Hickman, PhD of Regenstrief Institute, IU School of Medicine and IU School of Nursing; Christopher Callahan, M.D. of Regenstrief Institute, IU School of Medicine and Eskenazi Health; Greg Sachs, M.D. of Regenstrief Institute and IU School of Medicine; Kianna Montz, M.A.; Lev Inger, B.S. and Emily S. Burke, B.A., all of Regenstrief Institute; James E. Slaven, M.S.; Patrick O. Monahan, PhD. and Paul R. Helft, M.D., all of IU School of Medicine. Dr. Hickman is the director of the IU Center for Aging Research at Regenstrief Institute.

This study was funded by the Research in Palliative and End-of Life Communication and Training (RESPECT) Signature Center at IUPUI, the Greenwall Foundation and the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Aging (R01 AG044408 and K24AG053794).

About Alexia Torke, M.D., M.S.

In addition to her Regenstrief appointment, Alexia Torke, M.D., M.S., is an associate professor of medicine and associate chief of the Division of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics at IU School of Medicine. She also directs the Daniel F. Evans Center for Spiritual and Religious Values in Healthcare at Indiana University Health.

About IU School of Medicine

IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.

About 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.
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), one of Saudi Arabias premier research universities, is collaborating with networking specialist Riverbed on a project to deliver cutting-edge digital services to faculty and students.



Riverbed Network Performance Management (NPM) solution, AppResponse, will give KAUST comprehensive visibility across its entire network, enabling rapid troubleshooting for better network performance and visibility while significantly reducing IT complexity and management overheads.



As a leading destination for scientific and technological education and research, KAUST leverages the latest technologies to facilitate corporate interactions, innovation, knowledge transfer and thus support the economic development of the country in line with Saudi Vision 2030.As a result, the University has successfully attracted over 2,500 talented graduates, student alumni and former postdoctoral fellows from over 80 countries.



KAUST aspires to be a destination for scientific and technological education and research. By inspiring discoveries to address global challenges, we strive to serve as a beacon of knowledge that bridges people and cultures for the betterment of humanity, said Abdulmajeed Serajuddin, director of IT Operations at KAUST.



Our partnership with Riverbed will help us achieve two key objectives  giving our staff and students seamless access to the services, information and applications they need in this digitally-driven era and enabling seamless real-time collaboration with research institutes across the globe. In this way, the deployment will support our mission of establishing KAUST as an incubator for technological innovation and progress in the Middle East.



Riverbed was selected for its established market-leadership, strong presence in the Middle East and its ability to provide the University with a clear long-term solution roadmap.



Several members of our IT team were already aware of and have used Riverbeds solutions. This gives us added confidence, as we have first-hand experience of the rich features and capabilities of Riverbeds portfolio, explained Abdulmajeed Serajuddin.



Riverbeds solutions will serve to replace the complex mix of siloed technologies that were limiting the Universitys ability to gain full visibility across its entire network  a shortcoming that introduced complexity, increased licensing costs and translated to difficulties in identifying the root cause of network performance issues. The deployment is on track for completion in the first quarter of 2020.



Saudi Arabia is an important market for Riverbed in the Middle East, and our objectives are fully in line with the Kingdoms vision in all its dimensions. Riverbed will continue to work hard and invest with enterprise customers across higher education and other verticals to help enable economic transformation under the Saudi Vision 2030, and to enable organizations to maximize performance and visibility across networks and applications, said Moueen Zahreddine, regional sales director Mena, at Riverbed.



We are proud to support KAUST in their digital transformation strategy and the addition of this reputable University to our customer-base stands as a testament to the great strides we have been making in establishing ourselves as a leading technology provider to the largest and most prestigious organizations in the Kingdom.



KAUST is also looking to advance its hybrid cloud strategy to take advantage of the scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness that this paradigm offers.



"Our partnership with Riverbed strongly aligns with this vision as their solutions address the potential complexity of the hybrid cloud and provide a clear path to cloud success," concluded Serajuddin.  TradeArabia News Service
Police in Uttar Pradesh have enhanced security and patrolling along Ghaziabad and Noida borders the state shares with Delhi, where violence over the amended citizenship law has claimed 11 lives in the last two days, officials said on Tuesday.

The Noida police said it was on high alert and Section 144 of the CrPC, which bars assembly of four or more people, was in place in the district, while the Police Armed Constabulary (PAC) has also been deployed in huge numbers.

"Liquor shops near Delhi border areas were being closed and comprehensive checking was being carried out, the Noida Police said in a statement on Tuesday night.

Similar measures were being taken in Ghaziabad, where police have increased security on Loni border which is close to northeast Delhi.

"The security apparatus is active in the border areas, like Loni, where patrolling has also been increased. Peace committee meetings are being convened across the district. Intelligence unit is also active, Ghaziabad Senior Superintendent of Police Kalanidhi Naithani told PTI.

Mobs roamed unchecked through the streets, burning shops, pelting stones and threatening locals, as fresh violence tore through northeast Delhi, resulting in death of six more people on Tuesday and taking the toll in the communal clashes to 11. More than 200 people have suffered injuries.

Ghaziabad is barely 1.5 km from Gokalpuri, adjoining Yamuna Vihar, Musfatabad, Bhajanpura and also close to Maujpur and Jafrabad in northeast Delhi -- the main areas hit by the violence that broke on Sunday night.

"Precautionary deployment of the force has been increased in border areas along with checking of vehicles and patrolling in parts leading to Delhi," Deputy Commissioner of Police, Noida Zone I, Sankalp Sharma told PTI.

"Senior officers are also on the ground to take stock of situation, while intelligence unit has also been activated in the wake of the violence in the national capital," Sharma added.

While Noida does not share a border with northeast Delhi, it is close to Shaheen Bagh in southeast Delhi -- the epicentre of the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protests. A major road connecting Noida with South Delhi and further to Faridabad is closed for vehicular movement except ambulances and school buses since December 15.

So far, there has been untoward incident reported in Noida or Ghaziabad which could be linked with the clashes in Delhi, officials said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indie Label Uses WhatsApp To Discover, Release Music From Disenfranchised Musicians

Indie label Sahel Sounds is asking disenfranchised musicians to use WhatsApp, the wildly popular online messaging app to record and submit music for release.

Label founder Chris Kirkley has been documenting the music of the Southern Sahara Desert for a decade and just released his 60th record.

Two weeks ago Kirkley began asking a far-flung group of African musicians to record a short session using their cell phone and send it to him via WhatsApp. He would sell it online on a pay-what-you-will basis for one month and then replace it with new music. All of the profits would be sent directly to the band.

The result will be a yearlong series called Music from Saharan WhatsApp.

In some ways, the music seems secondary to the model  the record label equivalent of a sponsored Snapchat message, wrote journalist Grayson Haver Currin on the must-follow Bandcamp blog. Its an experiment in giving African bands a more direct income stream, and empowering them in the worldwide monetization of their own art.

We work with some of the most disenfranchised artists, really underground artists from small towns that are not well-connected or major in their countries, Chris Kirkley told Currin. You are working across power differentials. I was always uncomfortable with the idea of creating a transactional relationship with those artists, but then I came to understand that it could be beneficial to them.

H/T Music Ally

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An Oregon company is recalling some of its candy bars because they contain milk, which is not listed on the ingredients.

According to an announcement from Moonstruck Chocolate Co. of Portland, Ore., filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Praline Pecan and Ginger Element Bar in Dark Chocolate contains milk, which is an allergen and can cause a severe reaction for people allergic to milk.

The 1,500, 3.1-ounce bars were distributed nationwide in retail stores, online and direct delivery between Nov. 9, 2019, and Feb. 19, 2020.

The SKU No. is 312806, UPC code 711175123288.

The gold box package has an SKU number of 312806 and UPC code 10711175128068.

The best by dates are between Aug. 11, 2020, and Oct. 10, 2020.

For more information, contact Moonstruck Chocolate at 800-557-6666 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on weekdays.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
The deceased is an 80-year old citizen of Japan

On February 25, one more passenger of Diamond Princess cruise liner with diagnosed coronavirus died, as Mainichi Shimbun reported.

The deceased is an 80-year old citizen of Japan.

851 cases of infection with coronavirus are confirmed in the territory of Japan. The majority of infected, 691 people, are the passengers and crew of Diamond Princess.

Totally, 3,700 people from 56 countries were on the board of the vessel. 2,700 are the passengers and the rest is the crew.

As we reported, more than two dozen Ukrainians aboard the Diamond Princess cruise liner are still not willing to be evacuated to their homeland.

Earlier, Deputy Minister of Health Viktor Lyashko stated that not a single case of infection with the new pneumonia coronavirus was recorded in Ukraine, including among citizens evacuated from Wuhan

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government 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.
The number of foreigners visiting Turkey jumped 16.11% on a yearly basis in January, the countrys Culture and Tourism Ministry said on Monday.

Turkey, which hosted almost 1.8 million foreign visitors last month, saw the highest January tourist number, the ministry data showed.

Istanbul continued to be Turkeys top tourist draw, attracting nearly 57% of all visitors -- around 1 million.

Edirne, in northwestern Turkey, which borders both Bulgaria and Greece, saw the second-highest number of foreigners, with 222,494 in the month.

The Mediterranean resort city of Antalya followed them with 8.04% or over 143,679 foreign visitors last month.

Bulgarians accounted for over 9% or nearly 162,200 of the visitors, followed by Georgians with some 7.4% (132,674 visitors), and Russians with 7.3% (130,608).

Last year, more than 45 million foreigners -- historical high -- entered the country, up from nearly 39.5 million in 2018.

Meanwhile, the hotel occupancy rate across Turkey reached 61.9% in January, up 6.4% year-on-year, the Turkish Hotel Association (TUROB) said in a statement on Monday.

The sector's revenue per available room (RevPAR) rose to 42 ($45), up 16%, while average daily rate (ADR) for rooms went up 8.9% to 68 last month, on a yearly basis.

In Europe on average, the hotel occupancy rate was 58.5% and RevPAR was 101.1 in January.

Meanwhile, the occupancy rate was 69% in Istanbul and 56.5% in Antalya.

The average Euro/U.S. dollar exchange rate was 1.11 last month.

Image Credit:  AA
Adding feline-specific music to veterinary offices as environmental enrichment could provide great value to the cats welfare in the clinic, to the clients comfort and confidence in the veterinary team and their ability to accurately assess the patient, according to a new study published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.

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.

Scientists know that cats under general anesthesia remain physiologically responsive to music; furthermore, they appear to be in a more relaxed state when played classical music, compared with pop and heavy metal.

In the new study, Amanda Hampton from the School of Veterinary Medicine at Louisiana State University and colleagues explored 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 vocalizations, 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 study were played 20 minutes of cat-specific music (Scooter Beres Aria), 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 behavior 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 researchers 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 20 minutes may not have been long enough to allow music to affect this measure, the scientists said.

By decreasing stress levels, 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.

_____

Amanda Hampton et al. 2020. Effects of music on behavior and physiological stress response of domestic cats in a veterinary clinic. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 22 (2): 122-128 ; doi: 10.1177/1098612X19828131
She's the actress who never fails to raise a laugh in her movies.

And Rebel Wilson was all smiles herself as she put on a chipper display while heading to dinner at Craig's restaurant in West Hollywood on Monday.

The Pitch Perfect star, 39, dressed to impress for the occasion, slipping into a sleek little black dress.

Good spirits: Rebel Wilson was all smiles as she put on a chipper display while heading to dinner at Craig's restaurant in West Hollywood on Monday

Rebel looked lovely in her plunging, long-sleeved number, which she teamed with a simple pair of black slingback mules.

Adding a pop of colour, the Australian star carried her essentials in a stylish turquoise handbag.

Rebel allowed her blonde tresses to fall loosely over her shoulders, while she enhanced her features with a subtle palette of make-up.

The Cats star was clearly in a good mood, stopping to sign autographs as she made her way into the eatery.

Looking good: The Pitch Perfect star, 39, dressed to impress for the occasion, slipping into a sleek little black dress

Rebel recently spoke out about the lack of plus-size actresses in lead roles in an interview with Stellar magazine.

The 'Cats' star finds it frustrating that larger women are not represented by Hollywood even though they form the 'majority of women' across the world.

She said: 'I am the average size of the American and Australian woman, and yet plus-size actresses have less than one per cent of all leading roles, I think, even though they are the majority of women, she told the magazine.

Adding: If you think about it in those terms, it's still really important to have representation like me in those type of leading-lady roles because it's still unfair.

Keeping it simple: Rebel looked lovely in her plunging, long-sleeved number, which she teamed with a simple pair of black slingback mules

Fun night out: Rebel allowed her blonde tresses to fall loosely over her shoulders, while she enhanced her features with a subtle palette of make-up

Rebel continued: 'And the beauty standards put up there, especially for young women, [they] can be unfair at times.'

I'm so proud of the film [Isn't It Romantic], of the message. In the works that I do, I am trying to put those positive messages in there,' she said.

And the actress says her character in Isn't It Romantic is the one people most related to in the last year, and it mirrors her won views of love.

She added: 'I found, out of anything in 2019 - I had four movies come out, and shot three TV series; two of which haven't come out yet - that Isn't It Romantic and my character Natalie resonated the most with people. It was definitely in the top 10 movies of last year.'

Adding: 'Netflix did tell me it was the third-highest-watched movie, but that could be in the Pacific territories. So many people related to it, and I love that because it was kind of my story about being very closed off to love, and having to love yourself first in order to be open to love. It is my views on love and my evolution as a person.'
Decatur Police arrested two California residents after discovering drugs and cash in their hotel room.

Shane Antoine Tillman and Jennifer Gomez face a variety of charges after Decatur Police responded to a call reporting subjects trespassing in a room at the Holiday Inn Express on Beltline Road.

Police said found about 8.5 pounds of marijuana, a quantity of prescription medications and a large amount of money in the room.

Tillman was arrested and charged with trafficking in cannabis and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. He was transported to Morgan County Jail on $,6000 bond. Gomez was arrested for trafficking in cannabis and is being held on $5,000 bond.
Harvey Weinstein arrives at a Manhattan courthouse for jury deliberations in his rape trial, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in New York.

Associated Press/Seth Wenig

Harvey Weinstein's defense attorneys announced Monday they intend to immediately appeal his convictions of third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual act.

A jury found the Hollywood producer guilty of forcing oral sex on a woman in 2006 and raping another woman in 2013.

Weinstein faces up to 29 years behind bars, including a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison on the criminal sexual act conviction and a maximum of four years on the rape conviction.

The defense team said they intend to raise issues in their appeal around the jurors and the jury selection process, as well as the inclusion of three witnesses in the trial who were unrelated to the charges.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Harvey Weinstein intends to appeal his convictions of third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual act "as soon as possible," his defense attorneys said Monday.

A jury found Weinstein guilty of forcing oral sex on the former production assistant Mimi Haley in 2006 and raping the hairstylist Jessica Mann in 2013.

"We'll absolutely be appealing. The fight is not over," defense attorney Donna Rotunno told reporters in a press conference outside the Manhattan courthouse. "Harvey is very strong; Harvey is unbelievably strong. He took it like a man, and he knows that we will continue to fight for him, and he knows that this is not over."

Weinstein now faces a maximum of 25 years in prison on the criminal sexual act conviction and a maximum of four years in prison on the rape conviction.

Harvey Weinstein arrives at the courthouse during jury deliberations in his rape trial, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in New York.

Associated Press/Craig Ruttle

He was acquitted of the most serious charges he faced: two counts of predatory sexual assault and one count of first-degree rape. He could have faced a sentence of life in prison for the predatory sexual assault charges if convicted.

Rotunno said in her press conference she didn't want to comment on her thoughts on the trial until after the appeal process was over. But she and her colleague Damon Cheronis told Insider in a statement there were "issues in this trial that were extremely troubling, and they prejudiced Mr. Weinstein's ability to have his case fairly judged."

Story continues

Rotunno was likely referring to the countless motions her team made before and during the trial that were denied by Justice James Burke  including one last-ditch attempt to have a juror removed from the trial last week.

Weinstein's defense team will likely raise questions over the jury's fairness and the witnesses permitted to testify

Arthur Aidala, another of Weinstein's attorneys, told media the defense team intends to raise issues around the jurors and the jury selection process, as well as the complicated verdict sheet that jurors had raised questions about during their deliberation.

Lara Yeretsian, a California-based criminal defense attorney who reviewed the verdict sheet for Insider, expressed surprise at the document jurors were given. She said the form was "confusing to me as an attorney, let alone a jury."

The sheet listed five felony counts against Weinstein but issued a number of labyrinthine instructions on how the jury should proceed, including which charges the jury should skip or continue onto based on their verdicts for the predatory sexual assault charges.

Harvey Weinstein and his lawyer Donna Rotunno arrive at New York City Criminal Court on January 21, 2020 in New York City.

Getty Images/Jeenah Moon

"The defense should raise that on appeal because the jury may have been confused into thinking that they had to find him guilty on the two charges they found him guilty on in order to acquit him of the more serious charges," Yeretsian said.

The defense team also made multiple complaints throughout the trial about one juror who had written a novel about "predatory older men," whom they argued would not treat Weinstein fairly.

That same juror came under scrutiny on February 19 after she posted a review on Goodreads about the novel "My Dark Vanessa," which the defense team argued was also about "predatory older men," according to Vulture.

Burke denied the defense's motion to replace the juror with an alternate.

Aidala added on Monday that his team would also argue against the trial's inclusion of three accusers whose allegations against Weinstein were unrelated to the criminal charges and did not result in criminal charges of themselves.

Attorneys Arthur Aidala and Donna Rotunno wait to speak to reporters outside a Manhattan courthouse after her client, Harvey Weinstein, was convicted in his rape trial, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in New York.

Associated Press/John Minchillo

The model Tarale Wulff, former actress Dawn Dunning, and model and writer Lauren Young all testified in court that they met with Weinstein under the pretense of business meetings, only to be allegedly groped or even raped when they arrived.

Those witnesses, known as "Molineaux witnesses," were permitted to testify about "prior bad acts" involving Weinstein. Prosecutors sought to use their testimony to establish a pattern of Weinstein's alleged sexual misconduct.

Pennsylvania prosecutors successfully used the same strategy during the 2018 retrial of Bill Cosby, where he was charged with sexually assaulting one woman but faced testimony from five other accusers.

Yeretsian told Insider all the Molineaux witnesses called by the prosecutor were an "overkill" and good cause for Weinstein's attorneys to appeal the convictions.

"Without those witnesses and the #MeToo movement, the prosecution would have had an uphill battle in proving the charges," she said. "Basically, the prosecution case was weak and without the prior bad acts witnesses they would not have gotten the guilty verdicts."

Weinstein is set to be sentenced on March 11, and Burke ordered him remanded to the Rikers Island jail in the meantime. He faces a different criminal case in Los Angeles, where prosecutors have charged him with rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by use of force, and sexual battery by restraint.

Weinstein also faces a number of civil lawsuits by dozens of women who have accused him of various forms of sexual misconduct. Late last year, Weinstein's team reached a tentative $25 million settlement that would resolve most of the lawsuits against him, without requiring Weinstein to admit wrongdoing.

Read the original article on Insider
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Bernalillo County Commissioners are scheduled to decide Tuesday whether to add $3 million to the construction contract for its new Downtown Albuquerque headquarters.

The money would pay to restucco Alvarado Square, create a rooftop deck and reconfigure the customer service parking lot to add 10 more spots. If approved, the change order would increase the HB Construction contract to $53.9 million.

But the projects total budget goes well beyond that.

A series of other expenses not contained in the contract have raised the total project cost to $64.8 million.

Thats about 80% more than the county presented when the commission decided to buy and repurpose the building at 415 Silver SW.

When officials approved the $2.7 million building purchase in 2017, county documents estimated it would take $33 million to renovate the building, buy furnishings, fixtures and equipment, and pay for the move and related expenses.

But the price tag to create the new Bernalillo County @ Alvarado Square at the old Public Service Company of New Mexico headquarters has changed dramatically.

Although officials have blamed some of the price differences on unexpected challenges, they say some of the new costs are prudent, given the countys financial situation. Stucco would have been necessary in five to 10 years, they say, but the county has the money to do it now, given some fiscal year 2019 budget savings, combined with higher-than-forecast gross receipts tax revenue.

Its just like if youre buying a house and you pay for it and are renovating it and discover you have more money that could be utilized in this area that doesnt take it away from this area, county spokeswoman Tia Bland said. Its available to use now as opposed to budgeting it down the road.

The price has evolved several times since the $33 million estimate.

The initial design-build contract with HB Construction, signed last March, was $49.4 million, including taxes. Officials gave several reasons it was so much higher than the 2017 estimate. Among the biggest was realizing the eight-story, 282,000-square-foot building could not accommodate meeting chambers for the County Commission, as originally planned. The contractor is now building separate chambers next door. The county also discovered the building needed more HVAC upgrading than expected, and decided to invest more heavily in security.

The contract passed the $50 million mark last summer with approval of a $1.3 million change order. It covered the cost of swapping out an existing escalator for stairs, building out the propertys gym, health clinic and on-site cafe.

Tuesdays change order for stucco, the deck and more would add $3.2 million.

Bland said the rooftop deck is part of a larger effort to get certified by Fitwel, which considers a buildings features as they relate to employee and community health.

Its not just having a space to walk out and eat your lunch or have a meeting outdoors, she said, adding that it will allow the buildings roughly 800 employees to get fresh air without congregating in front of the building. It really is connected to employee wellness.

But outside the HB contract, there are $11.1 million more in project expenses, according to numbers provided by the county.

That includes the property acquisition, $3.6 million in one-time funding requests, and another $3.6 million for utilities, operations and maintenance, professional services.

The one-time requests include such customer service systems as kiosks and software; about $600,000 for moving costs; a $10,000 vault for the treasurer; and items for employees, such as desk plants ($10,400), gym equipment ($85,000) and microwaves ($7,200).

The utilities/operations/maintenance costs include a data center, elevator maintenance and information technology.

Shirley Ragin, deputy county manager for finance, contends that the total cost of remodeling the old PNM building for county employees remains less than building from scratch. The county estimates a similar-sized, ground-up construction project would cost at least $80 million.

Theres (also) all the intangibles, she said. Were staying Downtown, so were supporting Downtown revitalization; were helping the vendor Downtown.

The new headquarters will consolidate employees from several other buildings, some of which the county plans to sell.

The county anticipates moving in the first employees in spring of 2021.




By Park Jae-hyuk







The government established a help desk in Singapore last month to support Korean fintech startups' expansion into Southeast Asia, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) said Tuesday.







The Singapore Venture Desk opened at the Korea Development Bank's (KDB) branch in the city-state, which many Korean firms use as a bridgehead for inroads into Southeast Asia.







KDB said the desk will help Korean startups meet with investors in the region.







"The desk is an overseas version of our KDB NextRound platform which enables startups to introduce themselves to investors," a KDB official said.







"As Singapore is a mecca for the Southeast Asian startup industry, our employee there will connect Korean startups with Southeast Asian investors and help foreign startups attract investments from Korean investors."







KDB sent one of its employees who was in charge of NextRound to its Singaporean branch to manage the Singapore Venture Desk.







The state-run bank will gradually expand the size of the desk, depending on its performance.







The FSC also said it will open at least two additional fintech labs overseas and hold investor roadshows in many countries for fintech startups.







The regulator plans to open a platform in the second quarter of this year for fintech firms to search for useful information needed for their overseas expansion.







In May, the Korea Fintech Week 2020 will take place at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, so that domestic and foreign fintech firms may form global networks.







The number of firms participating in the event will increase to 120 this year from 54 in 2019.







The FSC said it will go all out to nurture the fintech industry this year. This includes using an allocated budget of 19.8 billion won ($16 million) to support the fintech industry in 2020, up 96.1 percent from 10.1 billion won last year.


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...
Solomon Harper is teaching both himself and his classmates hip hop as a way to motivate them all to graduate, one dance move at a time.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Solomon Harper is teaching both himself and his classmates hip hop as a way to motivate them all to graduate, one dance move at a time.

The Grade 11 student is one of two junior choreographers leading a dance class of 24 students after school hours for curriculum credits at Southeast Collegiate.

Its the first year the Winnipeg high school for teenagers from First Nations across the province has tested out the classes, which are part of the Canada-wide Outside Looking In program (more commonly known as OLI).

Solomon Harper instructs the students at the Outside Looking In hiphop dance class at Southeast Collegiate in Winnipeg. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press)

"I was a shy kid, in my own little bubble until OLI came. I began to believe in myself; I gained all the confidence," said Harper, 16, reflecting on his introduction to the program five years ago at St. Theresa Point First Nation. (He has since transferred to Southeast Collegiate.)

Confident, he is, directing a class of grades 11 and 12 students, sporting sweat pants and sneakers in their high school gym on a recent evening. All eyes are on Harper as he bounces and slides during his homemade routine to All I Do is Win by DJ Khaled.

The group will perform the number at a grand showcase of all OLI chapters on a Toronto stage at the end of the year. There will be dancers from schools across the country, many of them programs in First Nations, such as Manitoba's St. Theresa Point, Wasagamack, and Pinaymootang.

The accredited hip-hop program has been ever-expanding since founder Tracee Smith came up with the idea in 2007, when she was running casual dance classes for children on reserves in Ontario.

Ryan Ross participates in the Outside Looking In hiphop dance class at Southeast Collegiate on Thursday, February 20. The after school dance program encourages students to stay in school and graduate as they earn a credit by participating every week. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press)

Smith wanted to boost Indigenous graduation rates, and realized dance could be the answer, since students genuinely enjoyed it and their communities were proud to see them perform.

Heres how it works: students must attend at least 90 per cent of rehearsals, 80 per cent of academic classes and maintain a 60 per cent average in school in order to obtain a credit and get their ticket punched for the annual Indigenous Youth Dance Show. Both OLI staff and volunteer choreographers (such as Harper, who started off as a participant five years ago) teach the classes.

"A lot of our kids drop out of school after Grade 8 and a lot of them dont have a connection to education because their parents didnt have a connection to education," said Smith, a member of Missanabie Cree First Nation, located near Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

"Giving them more of a cultural connection to come to school  like dance and music, gives them a reason to come back through the door of school."

Thirteen years later, Smiths hypothesis has proven accurate.

The four-year high school graduation rate for Indigenous youth in Manitoba was under 50 per cent in 2018, while the non-Indigenous student graduation rate was 88 per cent.

Between 2007 and 2017, OLI conducted a survey of its own students, and found drastically different results: a total of 96 per cent of participants in the program obtained high school diplomas.

"Ive danced my whole life; I knew how transformative dance could be," Smith said, adding students begin to exercise more, eat healthier foods and become invested in their academics once they join.

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By the end of 2020, there will be approximately 500 alumni. Bradley Monias, 19, is one of them.

Monias is currently a second-year humanities student at the University of Manitoba  something he never could have imagined saying out loud five years ago. Like Harper, Monias grew up in St. Theresa Point First Nation, and thats where he was introduced to OLI.

His younger brother and a fellow dancer, Jerett Monias, recalls his sibling was a "mischievous" child, and Monias admits it himself. The 19-year-old said he was hanging around people who were more interested in drugs than textbooks before he started dancing. Now he helps out with Southeast Collegiates program.

"It feels good to feel like Im an inspiration for some people, that whatever Im doing is influencing a lot of peers and people who look up to me," he said.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie
A mother has been scolded by police after leaving three kids inside an SUV on a 30C day as she went shopping.

Dramatic footage captured the moment police confronted the woman when she returned to the underground car park on Belmore Road in Riverwood in Sydney's south-west on Tuesday.

A witness saw a nine-year-old boy and twin four-year-old boys in the car and called police. They were reportedly left in the vehicle for over an hour.

A mother has been scolded by police officers after leaving three kids inside an SUV on a 30 degree day

A witness saw a nine-year-old boy and twin four-year-old boys in the car in the underground car park on Belmore Road in Riverwood and called police

'Why did you leave the kids in the car?' a policeman said. 'You've got three kids in the car on a 30C day!

'It's ridiculous!'

The boys were removed from the car and taken to Hurstville Police Station, where Family and Community Services were informed.

They were uninjured.

'Officers attended, and attempts were made to locate the parents in a nearby shopping centre without success,' NSW Police said in a statement.

'While conducting inquiries at the scene the childrens mother returned to the vehicle and spoke with police.'

No charges have been laid and inquiries will continue.
LOBAMBA - It wasnt a pleasant morning for the Minister of Health, Lizzie Nkosi and her team yesterday when they were kicked out of Parliament.



This was when the ministry was supposed to appear before the House of Assembly Portfolio Committee to debate the annual budget performance report.

The committee is chaired by Maseyisini MP Mduduzi Small Joe Dlamini.



The bone of contention was that the ministry had only availed the performance report yesterday morning and therefore the MPs did not have time to read and familiarise themselves with it.



The sitting was scheduled for 9am, but the committee first held a caucus to discuss the ministrys fate.

First to raise the matter was Sithobela MP Bhekitje Dlamini, who asked the chair if they were going to debate the ministers report or preamble.

I ask this because the report has about 105 pages which we have to read yet we were only given the report a few minutes ago, said the MP.



Secure



Mhlangatane MP Madala Mhlanga also supported his colleague, stating that he had even made calls over the weekend to try and secure the report.

Khubuta MP Mduduzi Mabuza wondered why they had not been given the report on time because he had been informed that they were delivered in Parliament last Friday.



The report was supposed to be distributed to the MPs last week Wednesday when it was tabled by Nkosi.

This was highlighted by Ndzingeni MP Lutfo Dlamini who also submitted that he had also spent the weekend looking for the report.

However, two other MPs said they had received the report on time, but lost out in the voting process when it was asked if the MPs should continue with the sitting.



In response, the minister apologised for not bringing the report on time and said there was simply no excuse.

The chairperson then postponed the sitting to next week Monday, and told the ministry officials that they would be notified if there were any changes.

It would seem the Health ministry was the unlucky one as the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs also distributed its report yesterday, but they were not kicked out.
President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are set for talks at Hyderabad house on the second day of the American leaders two-day visit to India.

On the anvil, is the signing of the defence deals and at least five memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on issues ranging from civil nuclear cooperation to natural gas and trade facilitation. One of the defence deals is the sale of military helicopters worth more than $3 billion to India.

Modi and Trump are also expected to review the global and regional situation and discuss ways to take forward bilateral relations.

Tuesdays talks between Modi and Trump are also likely to send across a clear message of growing equivalence of interests between India and the US on major geopolitical developments in the region and beyond, particularly when China has been expanding its military and economic clout. At the Namaste Trump event in Ahmedabad on Monday, Trump had said that Modi was a tough negotiator.

The talks are also expected to include counter-terrorism, H1B visas, energy security, religious freedom, the proposed peace deal with Taliban in Afghanistan and situation in the Indo-Pacific, Indian and US officials have said.

Though a trade deal has proved elusive, it is expected to be a major topic of conversation.The US wants 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.

Ahead of his visit Trump himself had said that he was saving the big deal with India for later.

In Ahmedabad on Monday, Trump had nudged India to resume talks with Pakistan. He could take up the matter again with Modi on Tuesday. India and Pakistan have not had official-level talks since 2013.

At the Motera Stadium, Trump had also said that Washingtons efforts to get Islamabad to act against terrorists, was paying off. Washington would also like India and Pakistan to start some kind of a dialogue as it prepares to a peace deal with Taliban on February 29.

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My eyes have been weepy for a year and every morning they are stuck together with a crusty discharge. The optician says I have dry eyes, but I have tried drops, hot pads, massages and eye baths with no improvement.

Carolyn Williamson, Swansea.

While it may sound paradoxical that your 'weepy' eyes are dry, the diagnosis is probably correct.

Dry eye disease occurs when the mechanism that maintains a stable 'tear film' (watery fluid) across the surface of the eye is disturbed.

Around 5 per cent of the population is affected, the problem becoming more common with age.

Other risk factors include hormonal changes (thus women are more often affected), use of contact lenses, a number of medications (including oestrogen and some antidepressants), and diseases such as diabetes.

Dry eye disease occurs when the mechanism that maintains a stable 'tear film' (watery fluid) across the surface of the eye is disturbed

The role of the tear film is to protect the eye. It is made up of a complex structure of water, mucus and oil, secreted by three sets of glands.

Poor function of one of these sets of glands  the lacrimal glands, in the corner of each eye  leads to reduced tear production, resulting in a tear film that is over-concentrated (too salty).

This can then cause inflammation, as the eye is not sufficiently lubricated and protected against the elements. The condition can also be caused by Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease that affects moisture-secreting glands throughout the body  dry mouth is also a symptom.

Poor function or blocking of the oil-secreting meibomian glands along the eyelids can be another cause  this leads to water being more easily lost from the surface of the eye.

Poor function of one of these sets of glands  the lacrimal glands, in the corner of each eye  leads to reduced tear production, resulting in a tear film that is over-concentrated (too salty)

Without the oil to act as a barrier, the tear film breaks down, causing your weeping.

The other symptoms you mention in your letter  redness, discharge and crusting  are due to the inflammation caused by the eye being insufficiently lubricated.

The eye drops and warm compresses you say you have tried are important and, even if you are not yet noticing any improvement, please continue to use these  as a long-term strategy they will provide relief by 'softening' any blockage in the meibomian glands and making the oil more fluid.

Use the drops at least four times each day  it will take several weeks to produce a significant improvement in your symptoms.

Write to Dr Scurr To contact Dr Scurr with a health query, write to him at Good Health Daily Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT or email drmartin@dailymail.co.uk  including contact details. Dr Scurr cannot enter into personal correspondence. Replies should be taken in a general context and always consult a GP with any health worries. Advertisement

I also recommend trying a shaped eye pad containing linseeds (available online), which you can warm in the microwave (be cautious not to overheat the pad  you don't want to burn your eyelids).

This should be applied for at least ten minutes twice-daily, while lying down.

I always encourage patients to spend the time in a quiet moment of meditation  this might bring additional relief as this condition does cause considerable anxiety.

There are other suggestions that are thought to contribute to the effective oil production of the meibomian glands, including taking omega-3 fatty acid capsules.

Studies have failed to prove a benefit, but anecdotally I have heard good results.

However, I stress that the hot eye pads and lubricant drops used long term and regularly are the key to easing symptoms.

I am 68, fit and healthy  but since the menopause started I have needed to go to the loo at least twice a night. When I spoke with my GP, she was very reluctant to prescribe anything.

Name and address supplied.

The tissues of the genital area, including the urethra and bladder, are highly dependent on the female hormone oestrogen, which drops during the menopause.

This results in changes to the local anatomy  known these days as genitourinary syndrome of the menopause.

Symptoms include dryness, burning and irritation during sex, or urinary symptoms such as urgency, stress incontinence and the nocturia (the need to urinate at night) you describe.

There are drugs that can address these problems: one commonly prescribed group are anti-muscarinics, which work by making the 'smooth muscle' of the bladder less irritable.

However, side-effects  particularly as these are long-term therapies  are a problem.

The tissues of the genital area, including the urethra and bladder, are highly dependent on the female hormone oestrogen, which drops during the menopause

Rapid heartbeat, acid reflux, difficulty with near vision, urinary retention, dry mouth and constipation are all too common, along with cross-reacting with other medic- ations that you might be taking, which likely explains your doctor's reluctance to prescribe them.

But there is another option, which has none of the troublesome issues listed above: Local hormone replacement therapy (HRT)  oestrogen in the form of a cream or pessary applied topically to the vulva and vagina only.

This would not be appropriate medication if you have a history of oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, but otherwise, issues with the treatment are few.

Raise this possibility with your doctor  I have high hopes it will improve your nocturia.

IN MY VIEW ... Charging patients who miss appointments is wrong

Working out how to control the runaway train of NHS spending is far from easy  and missed GP appointments have become an emotive flashpoint in the discussion about where money is being wasted.

Every year, patients fail to turn up to 15 million scheduled GP appointments  each of these equating to around 30 down the drain, in an NHS that is already desperately short of funds.

As much as it might put some people's hackles up, a rarely discussed aspect of missed appointments is a doctor's reaction to them: the current workload of most GPs is so crushing that when a patient fails to attend an appointment, it can actually be a relief.

The next patient can be seen sooner, a telephone call can be made, emails read, or a moment of research into a previous patient's problem conducted.

It has been suggested that patients who miss appointments should be charged a fee  but this, I think, is wrong, not least as it may hit the most vulnerable. There are multiple reasons why some patients fail to turn up to appointments, many understandable, particularly when so many people have to book maybe two or even three weeks in advance just to secure a meeting with a GP.

It would be better to invest in public education, and to encourage people to take responsibility to minimise defaults and wastage in the NHS, while accepting that many vulnerable patients should not be discouraged from seeing their GPs.

Already, many  especially the elderly  are likely to stand back, disinclined to burden the service with their problems. We must not allow confused messages to the public to put another nail in the coffin of primary care.
A court in Kolkata on Tuesday sentenced three persons to prison terms of one year each for assaulting and molesting a woman boxer.

Chief judicial magistrate Subhodip Chowdhury sentenced the three to prison terms of one year each on the charges of intent to outrage the modesty of the woman and voluntarily causing hurt.

Both sentences will run concurrently.

The convicts, who underwent custodial trial, were also fined Rs 5,000 each for the first offence and Rs 1,000 each for voluntarily causing hurt.

The woman, an acclaimed boxer, was on her way to office on June 28, 2019 on her scooter when the three men -- Sk Firoz, Wasim Khan and Rahul Sharma accosted her on the pretext that she came on their way while boarding a bus.

The three abused and assaulted her and touched her in an inappropriate manner, public prosecutor Sourin Ghosal said.

The three were arrested soon after a complaint was lodged by the woman and custodial trial was held after the prosecution filed the charge sheet within 11 days of the incident, Ghosal said.

The incident took place near Remount Road in South Port police station area.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi: Former 'Bigg Boss 13' contestant Mahira Sharma recently attended the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2020 held in Mumbai. Several big names from the world of cinema and television had graced the gala night celebrating talent and hard work.

However, a controversy unfolded after Mahira Sharma's name popped up for forging a certificate which she didn't actually win. The 'Lehenga' star has now opened up on the whole fiasco and clarified her stand through a long Instagram post.

She slammed the haters for targetting her and maintained, "Charges made against me for receiving and forging the prestigious DadaSaheb Phalke International Film Festival 2020 is untrue and totally uncalled for. In my defense I would like to clarify with exact details on what went that day."

Mahira denied claims of it being a PR gimmick and stated and after doing 'Bigg Boss 13' and staying strong inside the house amongst the top 7 contestants, she doesn't really need to stir up controversy like this.

Meanwhile, the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival (DPIFF) on their official Instagram page has demanded an apology from the star.

Let's see if Mahira apologises to the DPIFF or the person responsible for giving Mahira the token of appreciation at the awards night shows up and throws light on the matter.
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Z5 Inventory, a national leader in identifying and reallocating excess medical supplies, today announced its latest charitable program, 50 For 50. As a celebration of its fifth year in operation, Z5 is challenging its hospital partners across the United States to save $50 Million of medical supplies from expiration in 2020. For each $5 Million saved, Z5 Inventory will donate $5000 to a charitable organization.

Z5 Inventory presents a $5000 donation to nonprofit Miracle Foundation in Austin, TX. Z5 Inventory announces the 50 For 50 program, which will provide charities with $5000 each time that Z5 customers save a cumulative $5 Million of medical supplies from expiration.

January 2020 concluded with a customer savings of $5.8 Million, prompting the first donation. Its recipient was Miracle Foundation, a nonprofit empowering orphans and vulnerable children to reach their full potential.

"We are so honored to be the winning recipient of the 50 For 50 campaign!" said Leslie Beasley, CEO of Miracle Foundation. "Partners like Z5, with their generous support, are what enable Miracle Foundation to make a difference in so many children's lives."

"Helping others has been a crucial part of Z5's mission from the beginning," said Carl Natenstedt, CEO and cofounder of Z5 Inventory. "And everyone on the 50 For 50 team was so excited that we could support Miracle Foundation's mission with the first of many such donations."

Miracle Foundation, currently offering support to more than 15,000 children in India and across the world, was chosen as the first recipient from charities submitted by Z5 Inventory staff, but with the announcement of the 50 For 50 program comes a call for submissions.

Individuals, particularly those from participating client hospitals, are encouraged to submit charities close to their hearts for consideration. The 50 For 50 team will then draw from the available pool of 501(c)(3) candidates at each $5 Million savings milestone.

Savings are calculated through Z5 Reallocate, a proprietary solution to prevent excess medical and surgical supplies expiring and becoming waste. Partner hospitals are able to avoid this expense by moving supplies between facilities, selling supplies to other systems, and donating supplies to charities providing care to in-need communities worldwide.

Z5's largest donation of medical supplies benefited children affected by HIV/AIDS in Uganda, one of the countries where Miracle Foundation has provided resources and advocacy for children.

"Our passions for service are so perfectly aligned," Mr. Natenstedt said. "Donating to Miracle Foundation was an obvious fit for us. And I hope that's the case for many, many other businesses and individuals, as well."

To donate or volunteer with Miracle Foundation, visit MiracleFoundation.org/get-involved .

To submit a charity as a possible recipient of a 50 For 50 donation, or to find out more about Z5 Inventory and the Z5 Reallocate solution, visit Z5Inventory.com/50For50 .

Media Contact:

Shane Pratt

512-215-9473

[email protected]

SOURCE Z5 Inventory

Related Links

https://www.z5inventory.com/


[February 24, 2020] McAfee to Acquire Light Point Security to Extend MVISION Unified Cloud Edge (UCE) Capabilities for Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)

McAfee (News - Alert), the device-to-cloud cybersecurity company, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Light Point Security, LLC, an award-winning pioneer of browser isolation. Upon the close of the acquisition, the Light Point Security team will join McAfee. The increasing use of the Internet, and the accelerating adoption of the cloud by companies, has made the browser one of the most vulnerable parts of an enterprise's IT attack surface. When full isolation is implemented, no web content ever gets to the user's computer. All browsing is done in an isolated environment so no browser-based malware can infect the system. Gartner (News - Alert) has identified remote browser isolation as a recommended capability of SASE components1. According to Gartner, "remote browsing is becoming a recognized method to keep the browsing away from the endpoint and to enforce policies on the interactions." Gartner recommends organizations consider remote processing in any risk-averse environment.2 Founded by former NSA employees, Light Point Security's solution can protect users from zero-day and other emerging malware like Ransomware and credential phishing attacks by isolating browser sessions in a remote virtual environment outside of the corporate network. Light Point Security utilizes proprietary technology to deliver highly performant, complete isolation, preventing elements of a page from reaching or being able to attack a client browser. McAfee plans to integrate Light Point Security's browser isolation technology into McAfee Secure Web Gateway (News - Alert), complementing its existing comprehensive inbound and outbound protection for all web and cloud traffic. With this combination, enterprises will be able to prioritize both security efficacy and user experience by removing user exposure to malware while maintaining responsive access to legitimate websites and cloud applications. Additionally, McAfee plans to integrate browser isolation into the newly released MVISION UCE solution, which includes McAfee Secure Web Gateway, McAfee Data Loss Prevntion and MVISION Cloud (CASB), thus enabling a complete and simplified implementation of the SASE Architecture. This will allow customers to apply a consistent threat protection policy across their network and SaaS (News - Alert) applications, such as Office365 and other collaboration applications.



"Web browsing is one of the most common threat vectors for endpoints to get infected. Adding Light Point Security's capabilities into our products will create solutions that enable our customers to mitigate web-based threats without impacting user experience," said Ash Kulkarni, EVP and Chief Product Officer, Enterprise Business Group, McAfee. "We are constantly working to find ways to help our customers safely adopt the cloud so they enjoy increased productivity without experiencing heightened concerns about cyber-attacks. Light Point Security's browser isolation capabilities will bolster the McAfee Unified Cloud Edge offering to make it a preferred solution for security-focused businesses without compromising on productivity." "Light Point Security's technology enables users to browse any website safely, securely and without limitations, without having to keep up with website changes. This stops attacks launched against a web browser before they can even enter the network without hampering user experience," said Zuly Gonzalez, co-founder and CEO of Light Point Security. "We've been recognized for revolutionizing the way that organizations think about security; now we will be joining a leading standalone cybersecurity player to be part of the next revolution. Together, we'll advance McAfee's mission to protect the world from cyber threats while supporting customers as they accelerate their own businesses by removing limitations."

McAfee's agreement to acquire Light Point Security demonstrates how McAfee continues to strengthen its solutions through innovation and acquisition to provide its customers with state-of-the-art solutions to prevent and detect threats without limiting performance. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. For more information about McAfee's market-leading cloud security, please visit: McAfee Secure Web Gateway

McAfee Unified Cloud Edge 1 Gartner, The Future of Network Security Is in the Cloud by Neil MacDonald, Lawrence Orans, Joe Skorupa, August 2019 2 Gartner, 5 Core Security Patterns to Protect Against Highly Evasive Attacks by Mario de Boer, November 2019 About McAfee McAfee is the device-to-cloud cybersecurity company. Inspired by the power of working together, McAfee creates business and consumer solutions that make our world a safer place. www.mcafee.com About Light Point Security Light Point Security protects organizations from browser-based attacks. The company pioneered the concept of remote browser isolation to eliminate web-based threats without impacting user experience. McAfee technologies' features and benefits depend on system configuration and may require enabled hardware, software, or service activation. No computer system can be absolutely secure. McAfee and the McAfee logo are trademarks of McAfee, LLC or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Other marks and brands may be claimed as the property of others. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005839/en/

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Chennai, Feb 25 : PMK founder S. Ramadoss on Tuesday demanded a probe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the student suicides at the SRM University.

In a statement issued here, he said a B.Tech student from Punjab, Ayushi Rana, was found hanging dead in her hostel room on Saturday and the reason for her taking the extreme step is not known.

Ramadoss said last year the Director General of Police had transferred the student suicide cases to Crime Branch-Crime Investigation Department (CBCID) but no progress has been made in the case.

He said last year three students had committed suicide.
Accusing the Maharashtra



government of not keeping the loan waiver promise made to farmers, the BJP staged protests in parts of the state on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters outside the Legislature building here, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Devendra Fadnavis said the protests will continue till the cultivators get justice.

Protests were being staged by the BJP outside tehsil offices in the state, he said.

Fadnavis, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil and former state finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar took part in a protest over the issue at the Azad Maidan in Mumbai.

A BJP delegation will raise the issue with Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari later in the evening, Fadnavis said.

"There are 1.45 crore farmers. But the government has released a list of only 15,000 farmers (for grant of loan waiver)," the former chief minister said.

He claimed that not even 25 per cent of farmers in are part of the list.

"We are trying to raise the issues concerning farmers before the government. Our struggle against the government will continue till the farmers get justice inside the House and outside it as well," he said.

He also said that more than 50,000 farmers from Kolhapur district have written a letter to Koshyari, alleging false loan waiver promise.

The letter will be submitted to the governor in the evening, the BJP leader said.

The Maharashtra Assembly was on Tuesday adjourned for the day after pandemonium over the farm loan waiver issue.

The state government on Monday released the first list of 15,358 beneficiaries of the 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 with funds.

"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 said the scheme's implementation has been done within 60 days of its announcement, and credited the state machinery for the speedy execution.

The scheme to write off debts of farmers whose crop loan outstanding is up to Rs two lakh till September 30, 2019, was announced by the chief minister in December last year, after he took charge of the coalition government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 23:36:31|Editor: huaxia

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A Syrian soldier is seen standing at the entrance of the Maarat al-Numan city, Idlib Province, Syria, on Jan. 30, 2020. (Photo by Maher/Xinhua)

The de-escalation zone in Idlib is turning into "an escalation zone" as militants there attack targets outside the zone, Lavrov said.



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. 
Market regulator Sebi on Tuesday said foreign investors from Mauritius will continue to be eligible for FPI registration with increased monitoring as per international norms.

The announcement comes after the tax haven was put on the grey list' of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) -- an inter-governmental policy making body that sets anti-money laundering standards.

A significant percentage of foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) investing in the Indian market is registered in Mauritius.

Following the FATF notice, some fund managers knocked on Sebi's door overnight, raising concerns over validity of FPI registration done through the tax haven.

The regulator on Tuesday said, "Foreign investors from Mauritius will continue to be eligible for FPI registration with increased monitoring as per FATF norms".

For several years, there have been apprehensions about Mauritius being a money laundering route for FPIs due to its limited regulatory oversight. But, the Indian Ocean island nation has been taking several steps in recent years to address the concerns.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 15:48:13|Editor: huaxia

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SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The 29th annual RSA Conference that focuses on internet security, security technology, data protection, security products and strategies kicked off here Monday.

The conference brought together the world's top cybersecurity professionals, business leaders and scholars from top U.S. universities, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to discuss emerging trends and formulate the best strategies for tackling current and future threats in the cyber world.

The event, themed Human Element this year, will highlight global efforts to protect not only data, but also vulnerable people and every aspect of their daily life, from online misdeeds such as hacking, privacy violation and weaponization of social media.

"In its 29-year history, RSA Conference has evolved to meet new demands of the ever-changing world of cybersecurity," said Linda Martin, senior director and general manager of the RSA Conference 2020.

"One thing has always remained constant, and that's the importance of the human element in driving the industry forward," she added.

The RSA Conference 2020 will feature nearly 700 exhibitors from across the industry, including some from China.

On Thursday, San Francisco Mayor London Breed encouraged companies and exhibitors to participate the conference, which is expected to draw more than 40,000 participants in the next four days.
A woman wearing a protective facemask to protect against the COVID-19 coronavirus cycles in front of the Lama Temple in Beijing, China on Feb. 23, 2020. (NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP via Getty Images)

Amid Anxieties About Coronavirus Outbreak, Chinese Leader Calls on Officials to Ensure Economic, Social Stability

In a video teleconference to officials across the country, Chinese leader Xi Jinping emphasized the gravity of the outbreak, calling it the most difficult to control public health emergency since the Communist Party took power.

He also expressed concerns about the long-term impact on the economy, urging local authorities to create incentives for businesses to resume operations.

Though the Chinese regime asked businesses to reopen on Feb. 10, many firms are reluctant to risk the potential spread of the virus among staff.

Xi also called on all farmers to return to work, to ensure that the virus does not impact agricultural production.

Speech

Xis speech was broadcast to all local officials whose ranking was higher than county level roughly 170,000 officials in totalon Feb. 23. The information was delivered directly from Xi to local officials in order to avoid information being reduced and distorted when passed from senior level to junior level, according to state-run media.

Chinese state-run media Xinhua published the entire speech. Xi spent roughly half of his time talking about the coronavirus outbreak response, and the other half on the economy.

He called the current outbreak grim and complex, with the quickest spread, widest reach, and most difficult to control and prevent since the Party began ruling China in 1949.

He called on officials to control the outbreak in the ground zero of Wuhan city and the broader Hubei province, as well as to prevent the virus from spreading in Beijing.

The safety and stability of the capital is directly related to the Party and country, Xi said.

In recent days, hospitals in Beijing reported patients and medical staff contracting the virus within hospital premises, while an e-commerce company confirmed that one of its employees became infected after returning to work.

Xi also emphasized that local authorities should maintain social stabilityusually a euphemism for containing any dissent against authoritiesand report positive news about the virus response.

A woman wearing a protective facemask to protect against the COVID-19 coronavirus cycles on a nearly empty street close to the Lama Temple which is closed off to the public in Beijing, China on Feb. 23, 2020. (NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP via Getty Images)

Economy

The economy is a dynamic circulation system that cannot be stopped for a long time, Xi said, explaining that enterprises resuming operations and people returning to normal life were important to the societys stability.

Several economic indices indicate that Chinas manufacturing, transportation, and real estate sectors have already taken a hit due to the virus.

Xi called on low-risk areas to adjust disease-control measures in order to fully restore production. Low-risk areas are the 1,396 counties in which there are no diagnosed cases, and counties in which there are currently few diagnosed cases.

To encourage companies to return to work, Xi asked local governments to issue subsidies, tax breaks, and other aid. Meanwhile, the central government will launch more policies to cut taxes and fees, and launch a new monetary policy to support firms, he said.

Xi said that local governments should encourage migrant workers to return to the city for work, and should transport them from their hometowns to the city. Migrant workers typically move to metropolises from small villages and towns in order to make higher wages.

He also requested that all farmers return to work according to their situation, even in Hubei province.

[Local governments] must promptly solve outstanding problems that affect springtime plowing and production, he said.

Return to Work

But in the past two weeks, there have been scores of reported cases wherein staff who return to work are later diagnosed with the virus, leading to factory shutdowns and mandatory quarantines.

On Feb. 15, the southern city of Shenzhen reported that an employee at the Huarun Wanjia supermarket was diagnosed with the virus on Feb. 14.

The employee was originally from Jiangxi province. She went back to her hometown for the Lunar New Year holidays on Jan. 25, and returned to work on Feb. 8. On Feb. 11, her mother-in-law who lived in her hometown was diagnosed with the virus. The employee then started to show symptoms.

After the employee was diagnosed positive for the virus, the supermarket was closed. Nine employees were identified as close contacts and were placed under quarantine at a quarantine center. The other employees were under self-quarantine at home.

Meanwhile, Chinese media reported cases of at least 14 firms with migrant workers who were diagnosed with the coronavirus after they returned to work. In all cases, the workers had contracted the virus while visiting their hometowns.
China's thorough ban on illegal wildlife trade timely amid COVID19

Global Times

By Liu Caiyu Source:Global Times Published: 2020/2/24 21:23:41 Last Updated: 2020/2/25 0:17:42

Chinese lawmakers agreed Monday to thoroughly ban the illegal wildlife trade and eliminate bad habits of eating wild animals in China, the decision was hailed as "timely" and demonstrates a "global impact" experts agreed.

The decision will "thoroughly ban illegal wildlife trade and eliminate bad habits of eating wild ani-mals to safeguard people's health and livelihoods." The decision was made on Monday's bimonthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

The decision expands the legal sphere and establishes a system for the future of "complete prohibi-tion of wild animals." The current Wildlife Protection Law is only limited to national protected an-imals or other wild animals that have no legal source and have not passed quarantine inspection, according to the legislature.

But comprehensive revision of the wildlife protection law requires a process. The special decision on Monday is to clear and comprehensively prohibit the consumption of wild animals in a timely manner before the relevant laws are amended. This provides strong legislative guarantees to win the war against the epidemic and protect the lives and health of individuals, Chinese lawmakers said.

Violators of Wildlife Protection Law shall be given harsher punishment and face crackdowns and stricter monitoring, lawmakers said.

Some illegal wildlife venues are still not prohibited and wildlife markets in some places are preva-lent during the outbreak. Experts reached by the Global Times said the decision helps to crackdown on such illegal behavior and curb disease originating from animals that can be transmitted to human beings.

"It's a big step toward the complete ban on the wildlife trade in China. It expects to help some re-gions to alter their bad habits of eating wild animals and fundamentally change the industry," a re-search fellow from the Beijing Forestry University's College of Nature Conservation Wildlife Insti-tute told the Global Times on the condition of anonymity.

The research fellow suggested that the government shall release specific lists on what animals are included in the ban and highlight those wild animals that may pose health risks to human beings.

The decision doesn't include wildlife products and wildlife in medicine use. Wild animals such as pangolin scales are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to promote lactation and impo-tence.

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, issues regarding wild animals and its hidden dangers to public health safety have attracted widespread attention. Many believe the coronavirus was trans-mitted from wild animals, such as bats and pangolins, before it spread to humans.

"Thoroughly banning the illegal wildlife trade will provide an example for neighboring countries, forcing them to change their views on the wild animal industry as a whole. It will strengthen Chi-na's global ecological and environmental governance, "Sophia Zhang, assistant Secretary General of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation, told the Global Times.

Before the nationwide ban on the illegal wildlife trade, many local governments, including northern China's Tianjin Municipality and southeast China's Guangdong and Fujian Provinces announced a ban on trading and indiscriminate consumption of wildlife after the coronavirus outbreak.

The Law on Wild Animal Protection, which was released in 1989 and amended in 2018, prohibits the consumption of protected animals. According to Xinhua News Agency, the law bans hunting and killing key protected animals, as well as selling, buying and using these animals and their prod-ucts.

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New Rochelle, NY, February 25, 2020--A new study has shown that experiencing personalized experiences in a virtual reality setting can improve affect among university students. The study, which also showed that the use of personalized 360 video experiences is feasible for use in hospitalized patients to improve affect, is published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. Click here to read the full-text article free on the Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking website through March 25, 2020.

Christopher Evans, Elodie Chiarovano, and Hamish MacDougall, University of Sydney, Australia, coauthored the article entitled "The Potential Benefits of Personalized 360 Video Experiences on Affect: A Proof-of-Concept Study." Poor affect can worsen the outcomes for patients in long-term hospital or institutionalized settings. Although these patients may not be able to attend events or visit with family that could improve their affect, they could possibly do so in a virtual reality setting through 360 video experiences.

The researchers found the virtual reality intervention to target negative affect levels, and those with high levels of negative affect benefited the most from the 360 video experiences. After testing the intervention on a population of university students, the researchers demonstrated the feasibility of using it in a hospitalized patient, enabling the patient to virtually attend an important life event. The patient had an increase in positive affect and a decrease in negative affect, with no side effects.

"Virtual reality may benefit hospitalized patients as well as those who are in long-term care facilities or those who have difficulties traveling. With increasing age, travel can become more difficult and VR may offer the opportunity for inclusion of family members and loved ones no matter their location, enriching important social occasions and family gatherings, and further improving quality of life," says Editor-in-Chief Brenda K. Wiederhold, PhD, MBA, BCB, BCN, Interactive Media Institute, San Diego, California and Virtual Reality Medical Institute, Brussels, Belgium

###

About the Journal

Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published monthly online with Open Access options and in print that explores the psychological and social issues surrounding the Internet and interactive technologies. Complete tables of contents and a sample issue may be viewed on the Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking website.

About the Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Games for Health Journal, Telemedicine and e-Health, and Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. Its biotechnology trade magazine, GEN (Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 90 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available on the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers website.
Ukraine exports half of honey produced in 2019

21:50, 25.02.20 1011

Annual honey consumption in Ukraine is 1-1.1 kilograms per capita on average.
Pacemaker Press 16/01/2020 Police and ATO at the scene of a security alert on the Lurgan Road near Maple Park in Crumlin , Co Antrim on Thursday evening, A number of homes have been evacuated. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

The burned out home of Robert Clarke near Dundrod. Picture taken on Wednesday 27th November 2019.

Martin Finucane beside the window damaged in the bomb attack

The pipebomb attacks on the homes of republicans Harry Maguire and Martin Finucane are being blamed on the same gang that threw fireworks at Gerry Adams' house.

The criminals, based in Crumlin, Co Antrim, recently shot up a hair salon owned by Emma Cassidy and placed a crude bomb on a car owned by an employee at the Kennedy Centre in west Belfast.

On both occasions the targets were the victims of failed extortion attempts.

Sunday Life understands that after last month's Kennedy Centre blackmail bid, the victim approached senior Sinn Fein members for help.

Expand Close Police have said a device thrown at the west Belfast home of the brother of murdered solicitor Pat Finucane was a "crude explosive device that did not ignite". / Facebook

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Whatsapp Police have said a device thrown at the west Belfast home of the brother of murdered solicitor Pat Finucane was a "crude explosive device that did not ignite".

Republicans believe innocent Martin Finucane, the brother of murdered lawyer Pat, was targeted because his nephew John is Sinn Fein's North Belfast MP and his younger brother Seamus, an ex-IRA prisoner, is a senior figure in the party.

Both men were pictured at Martin's home in the Lenadoon estate in west Belfast the day after the early morning pipebomb attack.

The device thrown at the home, which was made up of batteries and nails and powered by gas cannisters used to fire airguns, broke a window but failed to ignite.

The attackers fled on a motorbike, with republicans believing that they used quiet country roads to escape back to Crumlin.

Provisional IRA members visited the village on Friday looking to track down members of the gang.

They were after a west Belfast man who recently moved there. He is in his 30s, has more than 100 criminal convictions and previously served a prison sentence over a random stabbing.

Expand Close Emma Cassidy's business in Crumlin was shot up after she too was targeted in an extortion. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Emma Cassidy's business in Crumlin was shot up after she too was targeted in an extortion.

He is understood to have been part of the gang behind firework attacks on the homes of Gerry Adams and IRA chief Bobby Storey in July 2018.

The same individual was linked to a gun attack on a Sinn Fein office in the Turf Lodge estate in west Belfast.

It was after this that he fled to Crumlin, having been warned he was being targeted by the Provisional IRA.

Expand Close Emma Cassidy with her husband Sean 'Cash' Cassidy / Facebook

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Whatsapp Emma Cassidy with her husband Sean 'Cash' Cassidy

Republicans believe he returned to west Belfast yesterday to attack the homes of ex-IRA prisoner Harry Maguire and his 85-year-old mother.

Since basing himself in Crumlin, the career criminal has set up an extortion gang targeting shop owners.

Considered erratic, he intimidates locals by walking around country lanes at night in full combat gear.

His victims include Emma Cassidy, whose Style and Smile beauty salon was shot up last November after she refused cash demands.

She told Sunday Life afterwards: "It's disgraceful I am being targeted like this when I've caused no one any trouble."

Another target was convicted UDA double killer Robert 'Brooksy' Clarke, who owns a fuel yard near Crumlin.

Expand Close General view at the home of Gerry Adams after an explosive device thrown at former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams' house in west Belfast Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E / Facebook

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Whatsapp General view at the home of Gerry Adams after an explosive device thrown at former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams' house in west Belfast Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

The 67-year-old's former home was petrol-bombed by the gang after he rejected a blackmail bid.

The criminals' latest victim was an employee at the Kennedy Centre in west Belfast. Last month a crude bomb was attached to his car after he refused to hand over cash.

He discovered the device on his vehicle after parking outside a house in Crumlin where a wake was taking place.

Had it detonated, dozens of mourners at the property on Maple Park could have suffered serious injuries. It was after this that the victim sought help from Sinn Fein.

The bomber then carried out the pipebomb attacks on the home of Martin Finucane and Harry Maguire. The criminals responsible were hoping they would be blamed on the New IRA because they came in the days after Sinn Fein claimed its members were under threat from the dissident group.

Speaking outside his damaged home, Mr Finucane said: "I hope I am the last person to be attacked. If it's in connection with any ulterior motive - threats have been issued to members of Sinn Fein - I would like them to explain why this has happened (because) I am not a member."

His North Belfast MP nephew John Finucane added: "(This) is something that shouldn't happen. I would call on people with influence to make sure that that is the last time someone's home is attacked."

The PSNI said detectives were investigating a number of motives for the attack.

Following the attack, the New IRA sent word to mainstream republicans to deny involvement. It also denied threatening Sinn Fein members following the attendance of Michelle O'Neill and Gerry Kelly at a PSNI recruitment event.

The politicians were warned they were at risk of being killed by an under-car bomb.

Sunday Life understands the message was conveyed to them after 'Army Council' meetings of the New IRA were reported in the media.

The PSNI believes possible attacks were discussed during the get-together.

Sinn Fein sources say the party is taking the threats seriously. They are understood to have emanated from the Derry New IRA unit that killed journalist Lyra McKee last April and which is led by Thomas Mellon.

However, Saoradh, the New IRA's political wing, poured cold water on the claims.

A spokesman said: "These threats are non-existent and totally bogus.

"It is quite clear to anyone with an ounce of sense that they have been collectively manufactured by the MI5-directed PSNI and Sinn Fein."

Explaining the detail of the PSNI warning, Sinn Fein North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly said: "It was very specific that it was going to be an attack, it was going to be an under-vehicle car bomb and that it could be anywhere at anytime."

Mr Kelly added: "Is it serious? The police are taking it very seriously and I am taking it very seriously."

cbarnes@sundaylife.co.uk
The Supreme Court on Tuesday deferred the hearing on the Union home ministrys petition, seeking a direction to execute four death row convicts in the 2012 Delhi gang rape case separately to March 5, ANI reported.

The Centre had moved the top court after the Delhi High Court rejected its petition on February 5. The High Court had stated that the death warrant of all convicts in the case should be executed together and cannot be hanged separately.

The High Court had observed that under 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.

On February 17, a Delhi court had issued a new death warrant against the four convicts  Vinay Sharma, Mukesh Kumar Singh, Pawan Gupta and Akshay Thakur and ordered their hanging at 6 am on March 3. This is the third time a new death warrant has been issued against the four convicts.

Last Saturday, a court had dismissed the plea of one of the convicts  Vinay Sharma - seeking treatment at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) for mental illness.

Vinays counsel, AP Singh, had told the court last week that his client suffers from mental illness, schizophrenia and has failed to recognise his counsel and family.

Tihar Jail authorities in Delhi have written to all the four convicts about their last meeting with families ahead of their March 3 hanging.

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MANILA, Philippines  The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday reminded foreigners that they are not allowed to engage in any political activity in the country.

In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente reiterated the prohibition in time for the celebration of the EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary.

Morente said that foreigners joining mass protests and actions for or against the government may lead to their arrest and deportation.

He added that such right is only reserved for Filipino nationals.

A visitor of a country is allowed to stay here for health, business, or pleasure, Morente said.

Joining rallies and protests is an utter display of disrespect to the country, and is equivalent to meddling in our internal affairs as a sovereign nation, he added.

The Bureau clarified that they have not received any intelligence information about foreigners joining protests, but are sending out warnings regularly to remind the public of this rule.

BI Operations Order No. SBM-2015-025 prohibits foreigners from engaging in political activities while in the country.

Foreigners who join mass actions are violating the conditions of their stay. If found guilty, we will blacklist these foreigners, effectively barring them from re-entering the country, Morente warned.

The Philippine government has previously expelled foreigners for allegedly violating this policy.

The post PH Immigration reminds foreigners of ban on attending political rallies appeared first on UNTV News.
This is a new one in terms of claiming a right not to have infectious disease introduced into your community, said Polly Price, a professor of law and global public health at Emory University. Although cities and towns once claimed an absolute right to guard against disease, she said, state-level control over isolation and quarantine has been the norm for more than a century.

In a decision that could complicate Californias efforts to deal with the coronavirus crisis, Judge Josephine L. Staton on Monday kept a temporary restraining order in place that would prevent the infected patients from being moved to Costa Mesa, at least for now. The judge said she would reconsider the issue after state and federal authorities provide more details about how they plan to protect the health of the community, as well as the people with coronavirus. She set a hearing for March 2.

The state has shown great empathy for the patients, the judge said in a ruling that drew applause, adding that she wanted to see the same empathy for the residents of Costa Mesa.

It was uncertain exactly how many people California intended to move into the facility in Costa Mesa, but they are among the 53 people in the United States who have tested positive for the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly all of those people had traveled to Asia, and many of them have been staying on American military bases since returning to the United States on government-arranged flights.

In recent days, officials had announced that infected Americans at Travis Air Force Base who were not ill enough to be hospitalized would have to leave the base in Fairfield, Calif. Many of them had been evacuated from a cruise ship in Japan.
Consignments are now being accepted for the company's Polotitlan auction on March 6, 2020

POLOTITLAN, Mexico, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Ritchie Bros., the world's largest industrial auctioneer, held its first auction in Mexico 25 years ago, selling equipment used for the construction of the Zimapan Dam. Since then, the company has sold assets for thousands of Mexican companies at various auctions across the country. Today, Ritchie Bros. holds four auctions each year at its permanent auction site in Polotitlan, including a 25-year celebration auction next month.

On Friday, March 6, 2020, Ritchie Bros. will sell hundreds of items for dozens of consignors. Early equipment highlights include loaders, excavators, dozers, truck tractors, trailers, and more.

"When we started in Mexico we didn't even have a company website, now online bidders represent more than 60 percent of our registered bidders in Mexicoit's changed the landscape for equipment auctions," said Richard Aldersley, Sales Director, Ritchie Bros. "Our reach across Mexico, Central America, and South America is unmatched in the auction industry. I encourage interested sellers to contact us as soon as possible to get their equipment in our March auction."

Ritchie Bros. offers a variety of flexible contract options to meet the needs of customers. Over the last ten years alone, the company has held 52 auctions in Mexico and sold more than 44,000 pieces of equipment.

Mr. Aldersley continued, "We are so proud of our history in Mexico and all the amazing relationships we've built. On behalf of Ritchie Bros, thank you so much to all the consignors and buyers who have participated in our events over the past 25 years."

For more information about the Polotitlan auction on March 6, visit rbauction.com/polotitlan or call 52.427.2660909.

About Ritchie Bros.:

Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. (NYSE and TSX: RBA) is a global asset management and disposition company, offering customers end-to-end solutions for buying and selling used heavy equipment, trucks and other assets. Operating in a number of sectors, including construction, transportation, agriculture, energy, oil and gas, mining, and forestry, the company's selling channels include: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, the world's largest industrial auctioneer offers live auction events with online bidding; IronPlanet, an online marketplace with featured weekly auctions and providing the exclusive IronClad Assurance equipment condition certification; Marketplace-E, a controlled marketplace offering multiple price and timing options; Mascus, a leading European online equipment listing service; and Ritchie Bros. Private Treaty, offering privately negotiated sales. The company's suite of multichannel sales solutions also includes RB Asset Solutions, a complete end-to-end asset management and disposition system. Ritchie Bros. also offers sector-specific solutions including GovPlanet, TruckPlanet, and Kruse Energy, plus equipment financing and leasing through Ritchie Bros. Financial Services. For more information about Ritchie Bros., visit RitchieBros.com.

Photos and video for embedding in media stories are available at rbauction.com/media.

SOURCE Ritchie Bros.
Students protesting a proposed rent hike at University College Cork (UCC) occupied the Quad today by pitching several tents and vowing to stay put until the policy is reversed.

The group of students says it plans to continue its protest, day and night, until the university reverses a planned 3% rent increase for college-owned accommodation, due to be introduced in September.

This is the third such rent increase in recent years introduced by the university, according to students. Rents increased by 5% in 2018, and by a further 11% in 2019.

The protesting students are also demanding that rents for all accommodation owned by UCC are frozen for the next three years.

The UCC Students Union simply cannot stand by and support such dramatic rent increases, according to a statement issued by the union.

These students are demanding that the 3% rent increase be reversed and that a rent freeze on all UCC-owned accommodation be put in place for a period of three years.

They do not intend on ceasing their occupation of the Quad until these demands are met.

Students protesting rents at the Quad in UCC. Picture: UCC Students Union

A spokesman for UCC said that the universitys campus accommodation rates are significantly below rates provided by private operators.

UCC has already committed to review the applicability of the 2020/21 increase for students in receipt of student assistance funding, the spokesman said.

Campus Accommodation UCC is financially self-sufficient, and receives no State funding towards its efforts to create and maintain high-quality student accommodation at rates below the market average.

Students protesting rents at the Quad in UCC. Picture: UCC Students Union

Similar rent increases for the upcoming year have been announced at University College Dublin; Dublin City University; National University of Ireland, Galway; University of Limerick; and Trinity College Dublin. Last week, students at UCD staged a sit-in in protest of what they described as the commercialisation of third-level education.

UCD is set to implement a 12% increase in 4% increments over the next three years. The university said this increase is necessary to cover costs of existing on-campus accommodation, and to create more accommodation.
The seminar, organised by the State Audit Office of Hungary since 2014, focuses on integrity, transparency and corruption fight to provide specialised assistance for members of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI).

Welcoming delegates, President of the State Audit Office of Hungary Laszlo Domokos said this time's event centres on the integrity of public businesses, noting that this topic features a number of challenges facing INTOSAI members which hold an important role in corruption prevention and control.

From 2016 to 2018, the State Audit Office of Hungary conducted an integrity survey at State-owned enterprises (SOEs). Basing on survey results, the countrys Government has issued policies for enhancing integrity in these firms  one of the main pillars in Hungarys anti-corruption strategy, according to him.

During the five-day seminar, participants will share auditing knowledge and experience. They will also listen to speeches on governments expectations of integrity enhancement at SOEs, integrity surveys at SOEs, and the use of survey results in risk analysis.

As part of the event, the Vietnamese delegation had a meeting with audit officials of Hungary. Both sides said they attach importance to the two state audit offices cooperation and hope that this relationship will be reinforced more comprehensively and effectively in the time ahead.
XOX MOBILE SDN. BHD. (Company No. 200801011962 (813250-K)) (XOX) announced today its collaboration with ADVANCE TECH COMMUNICATION SDN BHD (Company No. 200401004202 (642705-H)) (ATC) to launch, over the next nine months, a range of innovative 4G and 5G smartphones. Termed XPLORE, the mobile devices are aimed for the everyday user with the additional advantage of satellite communication capabilities.

Targeted for consumers across Southeast Asia, the first model, X5 will combine 18 band 4G LTE connectivity with Iridium satellite networks to enable satellite messaging and emergency services. This is to be followed by Digital Mobile Radio capabilities which will allow for short band two -way radio communications in the subsequent 90 days . The device is aimed to integrate real-time communication applications providing a unified messaging , as well as safety location-sharing capabilities across the cellular, broadband, satellite and digital radio networks.

Our vision is to provide a unified network plan by integrating XOXs prepaid plans and messaging platform with ATCs extensive satellite emergency services. Our users will then be able to activate a satellite service as and when necessary, be it for leisure in remote areas, work purposes, day-to-day contact or emergencies. In short, we are innovating rapidly to provide affordable satellite smartphones - first for the country and then the region, said Steve Tan, the Executive Director of XOX.

XOX looks to develop the multi -mode devices through ATCs customizable software expertise and platforms. The company intends to distribute these new offerings across Southeast Asia through its existing partnerships in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia by the second quarter of 2020.

We trust our partner to provide all required technical integration as well as an integrated communication serviced platform to ensure a speedy and timely deployment of these new space connectivity services, Steve surmised. Satellite network is the future of mobile communications and by working with a satellite phone provider that has proven themselves, we will be able to offer, truly global connectivity in a world that relies on real-time communication, Steve added.

We are excited to collaborate with XOX to bring space connectivity to consumers across South East Asia in 2020. Through seamless integration of 4G, 5G and space networks in Android devices, we provide Mobile Operators and consumers a unique value proposition to increase network coverage, internet access and safety services in ways that are simply not possible with terrestrial networks, said CP Loi, Chief Executive Officer of AdvanceTC Limited.

For many remote areas, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite networks are about to become the most affordable internet connectivity solution, Loi added.

With as many as 1,500 new LEO satellites being launched in 2020 and up to 12,000 over the next few years, space networks will soon enable mobile communications and broadband internet connectivity everywhere on earth.

ATC is a 95% owned subsidiary of AdvanceTC Limited, a company incorporated in Australia and listed on Australias National Stock Exchange since 2014 and has been a pioneer in the development, manufacturing and distribution of mobile devices with space connectivity as well as related satellite and communication services for over ten years. ATC aims to become the leading provider of multi-mode terrestrial and satellite communications devices and services in Southeast Asia.

As to date, XOX is the leading mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in Malaysia voted Best Mobile Virtual Operator by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) with over 2.5 million active subscribers and has recently launched its embedded SIM (eSIM) to its users. In recent months, XOX has been expanding its regional partnership in Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand and further plans to provide both terrestrial and satellite connectivity services to its users in these regions via the collaboration.

Disclosure statement

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and information, as defined within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of AdvanceTC Limited, to be materially different from the statements made herein.

About XOX

XOX Berhad is a mobile virtual network operator that provides mobile phone services in Malaysia via Celcoms 4G+, 4G, 3G and 2G network infrastructure, founded in 2005 and using Celcom network. XOX Bhd was listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange in Malaysia.

About Advance TC Limited

AdvanceTC is a premier company specializing in the design, development & commercialization of high tech mobile wireless computing & telecommunication devices Since 2005.

Our operations are mainly focused on developing intellectual property through proprietary hardware/software design and system integration. Product prototyping and manufacturing are outsourced to appointed manufacturers.
Nineteen months after announcing they would cost-share a massive $540 million lake flood-mitigation project, Ottawa and the Pallister government are still working out details of the formal consultation process with Indigenous communities.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Nineteen months after announcing they would cost-share a massive $540 million lake flood-mitigation project, Ottawa and the Pallister government are still working out details of the formal consultation process with Indigenous communities.

However, instead of continuing to complain about how long the process is taking, the provincial Progressive Conservatives are now saying "a good working relationship has been established" between the two levels of government.

Premier Brian Pallister has often expressed frustration at the slow pace of the federal environmental approval process, claimed that the province has set a "gold standard" for consulting Indigenous groups and accused Ottawa of "moving the goalposts" as Manitoba has tried to satisfy federal regulators.

On Monday, Indigenous and Northern Relations Minister Eileen Clarke and Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler struck a more conciliatory tone, admitting that the province is not yet in compliance with federal law on the environmental assessment process, but working to get there.

They claimed to have engaged all 39 Indigenous communities and groups that could be impacted by the project, which will see outlet channels built to drain both Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin. But they said there is more work to do.

"We want to reaffirm that the consultation process is not yet complete," Schuler told an afternoon news conference.

"There's been some confusion and some discussion about this project and the process required to get it built and what stage that we are in that process. So we're here today to provide clarity to all Manitobans, particularly in impacted communities," he said.

Schuler credited a positive meeting last month in Winnipeg between Pallister and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for moving the project forward.

"Manitoba and Ottawa are having very healthy and concrete conversations... and we're very pleased that the project is now moving forward, whereas we felt previously it wasn't," he said.

However, he could not provide any timelines and admitted, under questioning, that the two senior levels of government are still negotiating exactly what constitutes "consultation" with Indigenous communities.

The province says it has already spent $650,000 on engagement and consultation with affected communities. It says it has held 139 meetings with Indigenous groups, and it claims to have 1,083 records of communication, including phone calls, emails and letters, with the same communities.

Once Ottawa approves the province's environmental impact statement, the project will advance to the technical review stage and the next  more formal  phase of consultation will begin, the province says.

Clarke said the province is committed to "meaningful and respectful consultation" with affected Indigenous communities.

"We believe in a co-operative approach that is inclusive, respectful and that engages all impacted communities so that they can have their say," she said.

A few weeks ago, First Nations leaders in the Interlake said it's been impossible to consult with the provincial government on the large flood-mitigation project.

Lake Manitoba First Nation Chief Cornell McLean, who chairs the six-member Interlake Reserves Tribal Council, said Indigenous communites have asked repeatedly to meet with the provincial government on the issue, blaming the premier for the lack of formal talks.

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On Monday, McLean, commenting on the government's communications claims, said what's needed are face-to-face meetings  not emails and phone calls.

"Our communities have not been consulted," he said.

At the news conference, Clarke cited a December meeting with the premier that McLean participated in (along with other Southern Chiefs Organization members) as an example of the province's consultation efforts.

However, McLean said the meeting was not specifically about the project and many topics were discussed.

"She didnt say boo at that meeting (except to introduce herself), he said of Clarke. "The premier didnt allow his ministers to talk at all. He did all the talking during that meeting."

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
Well they say that records are made to be broken and CUNAs 2020 Governmental Affairs Conference kicked off on Monday morning by doing just that. Over 5,500 credit union advocates were on hand to set a new record attendance at #CUNAGAC!

Weve broken another #CUNAGAC attendance record with over 5,500 people here!  @JimNussle  CUNA (@CUNA) February 24, 2020

CUNA President Jim Nussle (along with Karen Nussle) opened up the mornings General Session by making everyone aware that even though the economy is in a good place, your members arent necessary feeling the same way.

Right now in America, 8 out of every 10 Americans is living from one paycheck to the next paycheck.  @JimNussle #CUNAGAC pic.twitter.com/0e9Zew1MB2  CUNA (@CUNA) February 24, 2020

The good news is that credit unions are there to help and are taking the time to talk to their members about their financial well-being. And thats the CU Difference.

Nussle challenged credit unions to tell the powerful stories of how theyre making a difference in members lives and to also think about 3 things while theyre at GAC:

Next, we need to amplify our stories to create awareness about our #CUDifference. #CUNAGAC  CUNA (@CUNA) February 24, 2020

The third thing we need to think about this week at #CUNAGAC and beyond pic.twitter.com/2wrFFW9Qg8  CUNA (@CUNA) February 24, 2020

The National Credit Union Foundations Gigi Hyland then asked credit unions to take this GAC energy back home.

Raise your hand if @hylandhighways speech inspired you to get up and do more! #CUNAGAC https://t.co/Su0RH6VUhY  CUNA (@CUNA) February 24, 2020

Author Marcus Buckingham then had some inspirational words on success when it comes to finding and leveraging talent

Its not about not studying failure, its that excellence has its own pattern. Failures and successes offer valuable insights, but you have to apply those insights accordingly. Failure tells you very little about success. #CUNAGAC @mwbuckingham  Sarah Jo Brenner (@Sarah_Brenner) February 24, 2020

In the afternoon General Meeting, outgoing Chairman Brett Martinez had great things to say about his time on the CUNA board and urged credit unions to keep advancing the CU movement.

CUNA cannot do it alone. Weve got CUNA, here in DC, the Leagues at the state level and all of you at the local level.  Brett Martinez #CUNAGAC pic.twitter.com/Rv8B56iXfP  CUNA (@CUNA) February 24, 2020

CUNA Chief Advocacy Officer Ryan Donovan had some inspiring words for credit unions before they Hike the Hill on Wednesday.

We are committed to growing and advancing Americas middle class by ensuring that people from all walks of life have access to credit and the opportunity to build a strong and comfortable life. @RyanDonovan #CUNAGAC pic.twitter.com/Eq4QzLCrzr  CUNA (@CUNA) February 24, 2020

Today will be another exciting day at GAC. In the morning, after some time with NCUAs Rodney Hood and CFPBs Kathy Kraninger, newly elected CUNA Board Chair Troy Stang will give his first remarks to the GAC crowd. Afterwards, former UN Ambassador and Governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley will deliver the morning keynote address. The afternoon session will feature David Plouffe, former Campaign Manager and White House Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama.
Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Tyler Mongan, a member of our Emerging Fellows program inspects change drivers that facilitate the Great Game in his second post for our EF blog. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the APF or its other members.

It is estimated that the Arctic could experience ice-free summers as early as 2050. However, the changes in the region are not uniform, resulting in an uneven distribution of stakeholder nation accessibility to trade routes, fisheries, and trillions of dollars in natural resources. Although the Arctic is considered a single region, in reality it is a climate with diverse zones. The maritime areas are opening at a faster rate, specifically along the coasts of Norway and Russia. One of the more important geopolitical consequences of this uneven ice-melting is that the Northern Sea Route (NSR), which links Northeast Asia and Northwestern Europe, is rapidly increasing in accessibility. This will also reduce shipping times between Northeast Asia and Northeastern North America via the Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom (GIUK) Gap.

The opening of the NSR has allowed Russia and Norway to expand their Arctic operations over the past decade with investments in gas and oil infrastructure, deep-water ports, and arctic ships, including ice-breakers, that are essential for navigating the iceberg populated seas. These developments increase the potential for the NSR to become a viable alternative to the Suez Canal trade route, and could cut transportation times from 15 to 10 days.

On the opposite side of the circle, the Northwest Passage (NWP), primarily linking Canada, USA and Northeast Asia, is opening at a slower rate. Infrastructure Investment and resource accessibility in the region is more limited. Opening of the NWP, or even a Transpolar Passage, would benefit Chinas trade operations and increase its role in the region. The uneven pace of ice melting favors investments in the Russian and Norwegian owned regions, with investment in North American regions remaining more uncertain.

Even with the increase in ice-free zones in the Arctic and the promise of shorter transportation times, the steady increase in vessels utilizing the routes must factor in new costs and risks into the investment equation. Access to new routes will be subject to transit and insurance fees, depend heavily on ice-breaker escorts and infrastructure, and will have limited search and rescue support. At the same time, the Arctic routes offer shipping companies the opportunity to utilize larger shipping vessels. Currently, ship capacity is constrained by the Straits of Malacca, the worlds second busiest waterway. With larger shipping vessels utilizing the Arctic sea routes, companies could offset the increase in costs by reducing the freight cost per unit.

Along with continued opening of new sea routes, stakeholder nations are also looking for opportunities to extend their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to claim a future stake in the resources hidden below the melting ice. It is estimated that 13 percent of the worlds undiscovered oil and 30 percent of its undiscovered gas are in the Arctic. Current Arctic mining operations of minerals, precious metals, and construction materials (rock, stone, sand, and gravel) could also expand.

Due to warmer waters pushing into the High North and changes in nutrient conditions and water currents, Arctic fisheries are transforming. Some harvest sites are experiencing an increase in stock productivity, while others are seeing a decline as fish migrate north to find colder water. For example, Greenland has seen an influx of Bluefin tuna and mackerel into their fishing region, boosting their export revenue. With the melting ice, fishing vessels will be able move further north to follow the changing migration patterns, but this could result in disputes over EEZ lines. If history repeats itself, we could see Cod War like scenarios.

If the ice continues to melt in the Arctic, competition in the region is more likely to be about access to transportation routes, oil/gas deposits, precious natural resources and fisheries, than it is about claiming new territory. The borders of stakeholder nations in the arctic region are well established. However, current organization structures, such as the Arctic Council and the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), are weak buffers of potential Great Game conflicts.

The Arctic region is both an environmentally and geopolitically complex system; melting ice does not equal decreased costs and accessibility does not equal economic feasibility. A reversal of ice-melting trends would rapidly shift the trajectory of infrastructure development, sea route access, and fish migration patterns. And the hunt for trillions of dollars of undiscovered natural resources beneath the melting ice could be another Eldorado.



Tyler Mongan 2020
JetBlue Becomes First Sustainability-Linked RCF for the Sector Linking the Airlines Strategic Tangible ESG Results with Financial Incentive

NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BNP Paribas, a premier global bank, today announced that it has closed a sustainability-linked loan (SLL) with JetBlue Airways (JetBlue or the Company), via an amendment to its existing Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility (RCF or the Facility).



JetBlue has amended its existing $550 million Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility by including a sustainability-linked provision to align its strategic initiatives with its environmental, social, and governance performance (ESG) goals and objectives. BNP Paribas assisted the Company as the sole Sustainability Structuring Agent in this effort.

This SLL includes a pricing mechanism related to the applicable margin and commitment fee, which is then linked to the Companys ESG score provided by Vigeo Eiris, an international provider of ESG research and services for investors and organizations.

Our owners, many of whom are also crewmembers, want to see how ESG initiatives are connected to our financials. As the first airline to accomplish this type of transaction, we are directly linking our commitment to addressing environmental and social issues with our bottom line. We are proud of what we have accomplished, but also understand we have more to do in reducing our carbon footprint and meeting the needs of our stakeholders, said Sophia Mendelsohn, Chief Sustainability Officer for JetBlue.

In 2018, JetBlue started to formally review its financial partners sustainability strategy and commitments, shifting business to financial partners with stronger ESG policies themselves. Last year, BNP Paribas also helped the Company move to Sustainable Cash Management by creating tailor-made solutions that meet the airline's ESG and treasury guidelines.

In 2020, JetBlue was the first U.S. airline to announce that it would operate carbon neutral on all domestic flights by offsetting emissions from jet fuel, ramping up to eliminate more than 17 billion pounds of CO2 emissions per year. JetBlue will also start flying with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on flights from San Francisco. SAF has up to an 80% smaller carbon footprint versus regular jet fuel. In addition, JetBlue has previously placed orders for 70 Airbus A220s powered by Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan (GTF) PW1500G fuel-efficient engines reducing emissions per seat by 40%.

Story continues

We couldnt be happier to continue our partnership with JetBlue as the Company progresses on its sustainability journey. JetBlues SLL is just one element of the airlines comprehensive ESG and sustainable finance strategy, which is incredible to see. As a leader in sustainable finance, BNP Paribas is dedicated to working with our corporate clients to identify tailored solutions that align with their specific efforts and commitments toward achieving their ESG goals, said Florence Pourchet, Co-Head of Global Banking Americas at BNP Paribas, who also oversees the Banks Sustainable Finance strategy in the Americas.

BNP Paribas has acted as Sustainability Coordinator or Sustainability Structuring Agent for many sustainable finance transactions. Earlier this month, the Bank closed the first sustainability-linked syndicated credit facility in Canada with WSP Global, one of the world's leading professional services firms, and last month closed a bi-lateral, incentive-linked corporate RCF with Brookfield Renewable Partners in Canada, one of the first SLLs offered in Canada.

About BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas is a leading bank in Europe with international reach. It is present in 72 countries, with more than 202,000 employees, of whom more than 154,000 are in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three major business areas: Domestic Markets and International Financial Services, whose retail banking and financial services networks are grouped into Retail Banking & Services, and Corporate & Institutional Banking, which focuses on corporate and institutional clients. The Group supports all of its customers (individuals, associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, large businesses and institutions) in carrying out their projects by offering them financing, investment, savings and protection services. In Europe, the Group has four domestic markets (Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg) and BNP Paribas Personal Finance is the leading specialist in retail financing in Europe. BNP Paribas is also developing its integrated retail banking model in the Mediterranean basin countries, Turkey and Eastern Europe and has a significant network in the West of the United States. In its Corporate & Institutional Banking and International Financial Services businesses, BNP Paribas enjoys leadership in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas, as well as a solid and fast growing business in Asia Pacific.

About JetBlue

JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles (Long Beach), Orlando, and San Juan. JetBlue carries more than 42 million customers a year to nearly 100 cities in the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America with an average of more than 1,000 daily flights. For more information, please visit jetblue.com.

Press Contacts

BNP Paribas

Keely Gispan

212-340-5867

keely.gispan@us.bnpparibas.com

JetBlue Corporate Communications

1-718-709-3089

corpcomm@jetblue.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 17:00:23|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Forces of Libya's UN-backed government on Tuesday accused the rival eastern-based army of attacking a residential area in south of the capital Tripoli and injuring five people.

"A new violation to the cease-fire has been committed by the militias of the war criminal Haftar (eastern-based army commander). A shell was fired by them later Monday on Abu-Salim district (southern Tripoli) that injured two men and three children of the same family," the UN-backed government's forces said.

However, the spokesman of the eastern-based army, Ahmad al-Mismari, on Monday accused the UN-backed government's forces of the attack.

The eastern-based army has been leading a military campaign since April 2019 in and around the capital Tripoli, attempting to take over the city and topple the UN-backed government.

The fighting has killed and injured thousands of people and forced more than 150,000 to flee their homes.

The rivals have agreed to cease fire on Jan. 12. However, both parties exchanged accusations of breaching the truce.
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.
A heated exchange took place between the US president and CNN journalist Jim Acosta at a press conference here on Tuesday after Donald Trump raised questions over the integrity of the TV network.

After Acosta asked Trump if he would pledge to reject any foreign interference in the upcoming presidential polls and also questioned his move to appoint a new acting Director of National Intelligence who apparently does not have any intelligence experience, the US president said he does not want any help from any country and hasn't been given help from any country.

Trump also spoke of an 'apology' CNN reportedly made recently for reporting false information.

Acosta shot back,"Mr President, I think that our record on delivering the truth is a lot better than yours sometimes, if you don't mind me stating."



Continuing the verbal sparring, Trump said, "Let me tell you about your record. Your record is so bad you ought to be ashamed of yourself."



"I'm not ashamed of anything and our organisation is not ashamed," retorted Acosta.

The US president also accused the CNN of having the worst record in broadcasting.

Acosta and Trump have clashed numerous times in the past.

The White House in 2018 had suspended Acosta's press pass after a heated exchange during a presidential conference, barring him from the White House.

The Trump administration went on to suspend Acosta's White House pass, but it was reinstated by a judge after the network sued the White House.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Bethlehem Area School Board shot down Lehigh Valley Academys request for a new charter so it can build an $80 million school in Bethlehem Township, setting off whats sure to be a lengthy legal battle between the two public schools.

The regional K-12 charter schools operating charter doesnt expire until 2021, but LVA sought a new charter from Bethlehem and the Saucon Valley School District to avoid a mid-construction renewal process.

Despite the denial, the school can continue operating under its existing charter and could even build the new school without district permission. Under state law, LVA just needs Bethlehem to approve its relocation.

The school wants to build a new three-story, 200,000-square-foot school east of Butztown Road on farmland abutting Route 22, with hopes of opening by 2023. The charter school is located in a Hanover Township, Northampton County office park, in space that lacks an auditorium, gym and open space for students.

Charter schools are independent public schools funded by taxpayer dollars funneled from each enrolled students home district. Lehigh Valley Academy currently enrolls about 1,800 students from 17 districts across the Lehigh Valley, but the majority -- about 1,035 students -- come from the Bethlehem Area School District.

Ahead of Monday nights 8-0 vote, the Bethlehem school board held two public hearings on LVAs request for a new five-year charter. The Saucon Valley School Board approved the new charter request in a 6-1 vote Feb. 11.

School board President Michael Faccinetto said LVA provided his district with incomplete and conflicting information regarding the proposed facility, financing for its facility plans and budgetary implications. He noted the charter school hasnt received preliminary land development approvals from Bethlehem Township.

Nothing was submitted by the applicant to suggest it will be able to obtain bond financing in the amount of $80 million, or that it will be able to afford the debt service and increased facility costs associated with the new facility, if approved, Faccinetto said. Those are material omissions that support the boards decision to deny the application.

The board also voted 8-0 to pass an adjudication laying out the legal cause for the denial, which will be sent to Lehigh Valley Academy for review shortly.

LVA CEO Susan Mauser said the charter school would have to read the adjudication to determine its next steps. The school could opt to resubmit an application addressing the alleged deficiencies or it could appeal the denial to the states Charter Appeal Board. Once the appeal board rules, either side could appeal that decision to the state Commonwealth Court.

We started this process early because we expected this response, Mauser said.

The projected 2023-24 school year opening remains on track, she said following the meeting.

Lehigh Valley Academy argues that the new school will allow it to fix its operating costs long-term while providing students a more suitable learning environment where they have a gym, fields and an auditorium. The school plans to take out 35-year bond financing to fund the project and the estimated annual payments are within the charters means, Mauser said.

On Monday night, Faccinetto said under the charter school law the school district is not liable for any debt LVA takes on.

However, depending on how that debt could be structured, it is not yet known whether or not taxpayer funds would be implicated, he said, hinting that a public authority may be asked to issue some of the debt on behalf of the school.

LVA is funded solely through the tuition payments funneled from a students home school, Mauser said. Because the school itself is constructing the building -- not its foundation -- it wont qualify for state lease reimbursement any longer, she said.

There are many charter schools that have taken out bond financing, she said.

The charter argues its $80 million school, which would serve 1,950 students, is more economical on a per-student-cost than Bethlehems $55.5 million Nitschmann Middle School, which can enroll up to 900 students.

Neither the school district nor the taxpayers would secure, assume or repay any debt if there were to be a default, LVA writes in a document filed with the district after the hearings. The administrations suggestions otherwise is simply false.

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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Florida Democrats tore into Bernie Sanders after the Democratic front-runner praised Cuban dictator Fidel Castro in a 60 Minutes interview that aired on Sunday.

Were very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba but you know, its unfair to simply say everything is bad, Sanders said.

He added, 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?

According to Politico, despite Sanders insistence that hes the best candidate to take on Trump in November, Florida Democrats insist hes the worst-equipped after Sanderss refusal Sunday night to thoroughly condemn the Cuban Revolution.

Donald Trump wins Florida if Bernie is our nominee, state Rep. Javier Fernandez said, according to the report. If Bernie Sanders is atop the ticket, its going to make it tougher for all of us to win in Florida.

More via Politico:

His comments on 60 Minutes sent shockwaves through the nations biggest battleground state, where Democratic members of Congress, state legislators and party leaders warned that his nomination  and Sanderss self-described Democratic socialism  will cost them the biggest battleground state of them all.  In Florida, the concerns with Sanders are particularly acute in the Jewish- and Hispanic-heavy southeast, notably the Miami-area, a liberal bastion that a Democrat needs to carry by big margins to win the state. Top Florida elections are often decided by about a percent or less, making small shifts in the electorate loom large on Election Night.

This is not the message that will beat Donald Trump in November

It doesnt matter whether Bernie Sanders thinks he has a point by offering a nuanced position on Fidel Castros agenda. The fact that  if hes the nominee  hell have to spend time and resources defending that position is already victory for Donald Trump.

The only way for Democrats to win in November is to make the campaign a referendum on Trump  his incompetence, his lies, his corruption, his moral bankruptcy.

Bernie Sanders past comments  and now his fresh comments about Castro  along with his self-given socialist label will guarantee that Democrats up and down the ticket will have to play unnecessary defense if hes the nominee.

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CHESEAUX-SUR-LAUSANNE, Switzerland and PHOENIX, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kudelski Security, the cybersecurity division within the Kudelski Group (SIX:KUD.S), today announced it has been named LogRhythm's 2019 European Partner of the Year. Kudelski Security and its Managed Security Services were honored by LogRhythm for outstanding sales performance throughout the year.

"Based on the rapid adoption of their managed security offerings, Kudelski Security's delivery throughout 2019 was exceptional," said Rob Plonk, Regional Director, Continental Europe. "We have a long-standing relationship built on a shared commitment to empowering organizations to protect their assets. The European Sales Partner of the Year award is well deserved, and we look forward to continuing our strong collaboration in 2020."

Kudelski Security built its next-generation MSS from the ground up to provide visibility and protection for data  wherever it resides. This accolade is the latest in a growing body of global recognition endorsing the effectiveness of Kudelski Security's approach and partner-first service, including from IDC, Gartner and Forrester. Last year also saw Kudelski Security MSS named key player in Gartner's " Europe Context: Magic Quadrant for Managed Security Services, Worldwide ."

Speaking on the award, Philippe Borloz, VP Sales, EMEA, said: "We are delighted to receive this award. LogRhythm is renowned for next-gen SIEM technology that provides rapid threat detection and response. This award speaks volumes about our ability to deliver solutions to our joint clients that maximize the value of their IT investments and reduce risk."

LogRhythm is a strategic partner for Kudelski Security globally, and one of the technologies integrated with the infrastructure that supports the company's Cyber Fusion Centers in Switzerland and the United States.

About Kudelski Security

Kudelski Security is the premier advisor and cybersecurity innovator for today's most security-conscious organizations. Our long-term approach to client partnerships enables us to continuously evaluate their security posture to recommend solutions that reduce business risk, maintain compliance and increase overall security effectiveness. With clients that include Fortune 500 enterprises and government organizations in Europe and across the United States, we address the most complex environments through an unparalleled set of solution capabilities including consulting, technology, managed security services and custom innovation. For more information, visit www.kudelskisecurity.com .

Media Contact

John Van Blaricum

Vice President, Global Marketing

+1 650 966 4320

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He donned a variety of dapper suits last month for his many red carpet appearances during awards season.

But Brad Pitt attempted to go incognito when he stepped out of the airport in Paris on Tuesday beneath with a large red umbrella.

The 52-year-old appeared fresh faced after his flight and donned a casual ensemble of blue jeans and a camel coloured jumper.

Incognito: Brad Pitt attempted to go incognito when he stepped out of the airport in Paris on Tuesday beneath a large red umbrella

The hunk wore a brown hat and shades as he made his exit while he carried his belongings in a large beige bag.

The Once Upon A Time in Hollywood star wore his Master & Dynamic noise cancelling headphones around his neck and wore a black shirt over the top.

Brad made his way to the awaiting car while airport staff protected him from the elements.

Casual cool: The 52-year-old appeared fresh faced after his flight and donned a casual ensemble of blue jeans and a camel coloured jumper

The star was no doubt ready for his trip to Paris, where Fashion Week has just begun.

Last week the Hollywood star faced criticism from Donald Trump.

While attending a rally at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado, the President said of the actor: 'I was never a big fan of his.

Arriving: The hunk wore a brown hat and shades as he made his exit while he carried his belongings in a large beige bag

'He got up, said a little wise guy thing. Hes a little wise guy.'

Trump was obviously retaliating to Brad's Best Supporting Actor acceptance speech at The Oscars earlier this month in which he used his platform to complain about the impeachment trial.

While collecting the award for his role in Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, that actor complained that former national security adviser John Bolton did not testify at President Trump's impeachment trial.

Staying hidden: The Once Upon A Time in Hollywood star wore headphones around his neck and stayed chic in a black shirt worn over the top

He said: 'They told me I only had 45 seconds up here, which is 45 seconds more than the Senate gave John Bolton this week.

'I'm thinking maybe Quentin (Tarantino) does a movie about it and in the end the adults do the right thing,' he said.

It was Brad's first ever Oscar for acting as he had previously won a Best Picture award as a producer for 12 Years A Slave in 2013.

'I was never a big fan of his': Last week the Hollywood star faced criticism from Donald Trump and called him 'a little wise guy'

He beat out heavy competition for the honour, including Tom Hanks (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood), Anthony Hopkins (The Two Popes), Al Pacino (The Irishman), and Joe Pesci (The Irishman).

The end of his speech featured a dedication to his six children, Maddox, 18, Pax, 16, Zahara, 15, Shiloh, 13, Vivienne, 11, and Knox, 11, whom he with ex-wife Angelina Jolie: 'This is for my kids who color everything I do. I adore you.'

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood tells the story of TV star Rick Dalton (Leonardo) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad), who make their way around an industry they hardly recognize anymore.
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MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / February 25, 2020 / The 20-year-old partnership aims to expand and improve maternal and pediatric health services in the republic's Northern DepartmentThe University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in partnership with Justinien Hospital in Haiti today announced their efforts to seek donations for the development of much needed women's and children's health services in the country's Northern Department. The funds raised will be used to train Haitian doctors in improved prenatal care as well as enhanced methods for diagnosing and treating cervical cancer. The plans also include the expansion of immunization of children to include pneumococcal vaccine and train doctors in other hospitals to duplicate the sickle cell anemia screening and treatment program pioneered by The University of Miami at Justinien Hospital."This new initiative of improvement of maternal- infantile health will bring the hospital closer to achieving its goals of training its staff and delivering the highest standards of care. We want to thank you for your commitment to find new support for this valuable program," said Dr Geto Dube, Medical Director, Justinien Hospital.The partnership began 20 years ago when The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine wrote a successfully funded grant to establish a family medicine residency program in Cap-Haitien, Haiti. The program is the first ever family medicine residency training program to be established in the resource-poor country and, to date, has produced more than 70 family doctors who are still working inLearn more about this partnership by visiting friendsofhopitaljustinien.org . Donations by check can be made directly to Friends of Justinien. To donate by credit card or paypal go to HealthShareGlobal.com/donate and add the memo: For Friends of Justinien.About Arthur M. Fournier, M.D.Professor Emeritus - Department of Family Medicine & Community Health, University of Miami Leonard Miller School of MedicineDr. Fournier graduated from Merrimack College and Tufts University School of Medicine. His residency training at the hospitals affiliated with the University Of Miami Miller School Of Medicine was followed by two years voluntary service in the National Health Service Corps on Virginia's Eastern Shore.Dr. Fournier's academic career at the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami began in 1978. He served as a Professor of Family Medicine and Internal Medicine, Vice-Chairman of Family Medicine and Associate Dean for Community Health.Dr. Fournier taught at every year level at the Miller School of Medicine and also taught residents from training programs in both Family Medicine and Internal Medicine. He has pioneered innovative primary care education models that bring preventive and primary health care to the underserved both in South Florida and Haiti. These innovations include health fairs and model teaching clinics serving minorities, inner city school children, the homeless migrant farm-workers and immigrants. In 1994, he, along with Dr. Barth Green, founded Project Medishare, a charity dedicated to improving heath in Haiti. Since then, he has made over one hundred and fifty trips to Haiti, supervising medical student volunteers and providing direct patient care. In 1998, he received a grant from the Open Society Institute to establish a family medicine residency-training program for Haitian physicians. More recently, he founded Healthshare Global to support medical education in Haiti and develop innovative health programs there.For media inquiries, please call the NALA at 805.650.6121, ext. 361.SOURCE: Arthur M. Fournier, M.D.
A road safety campaigner feels money is being wasted on steel wire rope barriers on the side of road when it should be spent on improving road surfaces.

In Geoff Upsons latest video, he talks about the wire barriers on State Highway 2 between Trig Road and Waihi.

SunLive spoke to Geoff and he says the wire ropes run on either side of the highway and they cost $611,000.

It's a 4.8km long wire rope, which costs $611,000. It's part of a $105 million programme to upgrade that road, its part of a bigger process so the $611,000 is just for that wire rope,

Geoffs brother and his wife live in Katikati and Geoff was driving that road when he noticed damage to the rope after a crash and decided to do the video.

The road surface right here is all bumpy and its got dips and it looks alright in the video but to drive it, its rubbish.

In the video Geoff uses the example of a truck hitting a dip, blowing a tyre and crossing the centre line.

He says all the wire rope is good for is preventing the vehicle from going off the road but it would still hit other traffic if it crossed the centre line.

Lets say, for example, one of these dips back here, a truck hits it a bit quick, their tyre blows out the truck loses control.

That trucks veering across the centre line, its going to run straight over the top of a Suzuki Swift thats going that way or the Nissan March thats going that way and then its going to be stopped by the wire rope and the farmers grass is perfect.

Those wire ropes they're not going to do anything positive except protect that farmers paddock.

Wire ropes down the centre of the road are better at preventing head on collisions but in some instances dont improve road safety, he says.

In some cases they don't do anything, they are restrictive for passing slow drivers.

In a situation where a truck has a tyre blowout it's going to stop that truck from running over an oncoming car and it's also half the price, one barrier in the middle of the road is half the price of the cost of doing one either side.

A wire rope in the centre is going to prevent a 200km/h crash, because if you've got a car going 100km/h one way and a 100km/h the other way it's a 200km/h crash, whereas at the moment on the outside, it's only protecting from a 100km/h crash with a grass paddock.

Geoff also wants to see roads around the country better maintained, without pot holes dips and bumps.

To me it's common sense that the road surface needs to be flat or smooth.

We actually don't have enough money, taxpayers' money, in that pool of funds to be paying for things like the wire ropes if we can't even fix the potholes.

The New Zealand Transport Agencys SH2 Waihi to Omokoroa safety improvement project is being completed in 10 stages it involves widening the road, widening the centreline, widening the road shoulders to give drivers more room and putting in roadside safety barriers where there are power poles, trees and deep ditches.

The safety improvements along the first section of SH2 between Heath Road and Trig Road have been completed.

According to the NZTA website around 40km of state highway is being made safer.

The project is being split into 10 sections to help limit the number of roadworks that people encounter along the highway. Each section will take between 12-18 months to complete. The project is expected to be finished in 2023, the website says.

SunLive has contacted the NZTA for more information and will update the story when we can.
The Tennessee Supreme Court today affirmed the convictions of Alexander Vance despite the trial courts error in admitting testimony at trial regarding a non-testifying co-defendant.

Mr. Vance and another co-defendant, Damonta Meneese, were tried jointly for the murder of Stephen Milliken. A third co-defendant was severed from the case because of issues regarding his competency to stand trial. This third defendant made pre-trial statements to police that implicated Vance and Meneese in the murder. Vances counsel filed a motion to exclude any of the third partys statements because of questions regarding the partys ability to provide competent testimony. The trial court granted the motion.

During the trial, the State requested permission to ask a detective about the third partys statements to police, arguing that defense counsel opened the door to the statements on cross-examination by implying only one witness had provided information regarding the defendants involvement in the alleged crime. Vance objected on hearsay grounds. The trial court allowed the State to ask a limited question, specifically tailored toward informing the jury that there was another party who identified the defendants as participants without sharing the third partys identity or the specific content of the statement. The third party was not called as a witness in the trial.

Both defendants were convicted, and the trial court sentenced each defendant to life imprisonment plus 21 years. In Vances motion for a new trial, he challenged the trial courts admission of testimony regarding the third partys statements, arguing for the first time that the testimony violated his Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses. The trial court denied the motion for new trial.

The Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the judgments, and Vance filed an application for permission to appeal, which the Tennessee Supreme Court granted. Before the Supreme Court, Vance argued that the trial court violated his Sixth Amendment right to confront the witnesses against him when it allowed the State to admit inculpatory statements by a non-testifying witnessthe third defendantunder the doctrine of curative admissibility. The Supreme Court requested that two additional issues be addressed by both parties: (1) whether plenary or plain error review applies to the constitutional ground, when Vance included it in his motion for new trial but contemporaneously objected only on other grounds; and (2) whether the admissibility of the evidence is controlled by the doctrine of curative admissibility.

In the unanimous opinion authored by Chief Justice Jeff Bivins, the Court first addressed the distinction between the doctrine of curative admissibility and the separate concept of opening the door. The Court determined that the doctrine of curative admissibility did not apply under the facts of this case. On the other hand, the Court did agree that the defendants had opened the door to some type of additional proof by the State regarding the misleading impression created by defense counsel. The Court, however, ruled that the specific testimony allowed by the trial court was not appropriate. The Court held that the prejudicial impact of the detectives testimony substantially outweighed the misleading impression created by defense counsel on cross-examination.

The Court then addressed whether plenary review or plain error review applied under the facts of this case to determine if Vance was entitled to relief from the trial courts error. The Court held that Vance was only entitled to plain error review because he did not raise the constitutional objection until his motion for new trial. This deprived the trial court of having an opportunity to rule on the constitutional ground during the trial. As a result of plain error review, the Court concluded that the jury probably would have convicted Vance based on the other proof presented at trial. Therefore, substantial justice did not require reversal of Vances convictions.

To read the Courts unanimous opinion in State of Tennessee v. Alexander R. Vance and Damonta M. Meneese, authored by Chief Justice Jeff Bivins, go to the opinions section of TNCourts.gov.
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.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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.

A CRTC logo is shown in Montreal on September 10, 2012. A coalition of groups representing consumers, low-income and Indigenous people in Manitoba says Canada's telecom regulator needs to do something to ensure mobile wireless services become more affordable soon. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

The CRTC has proposed that Canada's 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 won't really be helped if the CRTC artificially creates more competition.

They also said Canada is widely recognized as having some of the world's fastest, furthest reaching mobile networks in the world, despite the country's 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 can't 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 Canada's mobile data prices had fallen from 2018 but the decline was slower than in other jurisdictions.

Testimony from several of Canada's largest wireless network operators pointed out last week that many statistics, including the Wall report, didn't 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 Canada's 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 I've 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.

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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.
His Bulgarian lawyer is drawing up an appeal.

One of the suspects in a deadly attack on Kherson activist Kateryna Handziuk, Oleksiy Moskalenko (aka Levin), has appealed the ruling of the district court of the city of Burgas (Bulgaria) on his extradition to Ukraine.

"My client has decided to file an appeal against the ruling of the Bulgarian court regarding permission for extradition at the request of the Office of the Prosecutor General [of Ukraine]. This decision was taken by Levin himself. His Bulgarian lawyer is preparing an appeal. And it will be filed," Levin's lawyer in Ukraine Mykhailo Velychko said.

Read alsoSuspect wanted in Ukraine activist murder arrested in Bulgaria

The lawyer says he cannot not yet say how long the issue will be considered in the court of appeals, but predicts it will not happen this month.

"At least, I think it will happen by the end of this month. I look forward to a court hearing in Bulgaria in the first ten days of March," Velychko said.

UNIAN memo. Kherson activist, advisor to the Mayor of Kherson and acting manager of affairs at Kherson City Council's executive committee Kateryna Handziuk, 33, on July 31, 2018, survived an act of acid throwing. She suffered burns to more than 35% of her body and underwent 11 operations in Kyiv. Handziuk died on November 4, 2018. The immediate cause of her death was a severed blood clot resulting from the acid attack. Police originally qualified the attack as an attempted murder committed with extreme cruelty, then its status was changed to completed murder.

Six suspects were detained, one of whom, Mykola Novikov, was later released from custody as charges against him had been dropped. On May 7, 2019, the Prosecutor General's Office sent an indictment against five defendants in the case of the murder: Mykyta Hrabchuk, Volodymyr Vasyanovych, Vyacheslav Vishnevsky, Serhiy Torbin, and Viktor Horbunov. On June 6, the court announced their sentences.

Torbin, the organizer of the murder, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison. Hrabchuk, the actual perpetrator of the crime, was sentenced to six years in prison. Accused of aiding, Vasyanovych and Horbunov were sentenced to four and three years in prison, respectively; accomplice Vishnevsky's sentence is four years' imprisonment. Oleksiy Levin, who has a criminal record, as well as Chairman of Kherson Regional Council Vladyslav Manger and Ihor Pavlovsky, who was an assistant to MP from the Petro Poroshenko's Bloc Mykola Palamarchuk, are also figures in the Handziuk murder case.

Moreover, public activists believe that former Chairman of Kherson Regional State Administration Andriy Gordeev and former Deputy Chairman of Kherson Regional State Administration Yevhen Ryshchuk were involved in the crime.

On January 27, Levin was taken into custody in Bulgaria's Burgas for a 40-day term after being detained on January 24.

On February 22, the court of the city of Burgas (Bulgaria) ruled to extradite Levin to Ukraine.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunniva Inc. ("Sunniva", the "Company", "we", "our" or "us") (CSE:SNN,OTCQB:SNNVF) has become aware that it has been named in a lawsuit (the "Lawsuit") commenced by Cura-Can Health Corp. ("Cura-Can") in connection with an amended and restated share purchase agreement dated December 16, 2019 (the "Share Purchase Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell its wholly-owned subsidiary, Natural Health Services Ltd. ("NHS") to Cura-Can (the "Transaction"). The Transaction closed on December 18, 2019. The remedies sought by Cura-Can in respect of the Lawsuit include damages from alleged misrepresentations made by the Company in the Share Purchase Agreement in respect of ongoing investigations related to the previously disclosed privacy breach of NHS.

A statement of claim was filed in the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta on February 20, 2020 in respect of the Lawsuit. Sunniva intends to defend this action.

For more information about the Company please visit: www.sunniva.com.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information or Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information or statements. All statements that are or information which is not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding Sunniva's intent to defend the Lawsuit are "forward-looking information or statements". Forward-looking information or statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. With respect to forward-looking information and statements contained herein, Sunniva has made numerous assumptions including, among other things, assumptions about general business and economic conditions. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risk factors included in the Sunniva's continuous disclosure documents available on www.sedar.com. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information or statements. Although Sunniva has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information or statements, there may be other risk factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking information or statements. Sunniva assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or statements, even if new information becomes available as a result of future events, new information or for any other reason except as required by law.

Company Contacts:

Sunniva Inc. Sunniva Investor Relations Dr. Anthony Holler Rob Knowles Chairman and Chief Executive Officer VP Corporate Development Phone: (866) 786-6482 Phone: (587) 430-0680

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Sunniva Inc.

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Greene County, deep in Alabamas Black Belt region, is the smallest county in the state, and one of the poorest. Its one of only two counties in Alabama with fewer than 10,000 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And its shrinking - it lost nearly 10 percent of its population between 2010 and 2018.

As Greene loses population, the people who remain are forced to deal with the properties left behind. More than 42 percent of all housing units in Greene County were vacant in 2018, according to the Census. Thats the highest rate in Alabama, a state that itself is near the top of the country in terms of vacancy rate.

Alabama is fourth in the country for raw vacancy rate. More than 18 percent of all housing units in the state are empty. Not all empty houses and apartments are are a bad thing, though. Many areas of the country, included certain parts of Alabama, see their vacancy rates climb because they have lots of seasonal housing.

Think of Alabama beaches in Baldwin County. There are lots of beach houses and condos that sit empty for most of the year, but are used throughout the summer. As a result, Baldwins raw vacancy rate is high - nearly 30 percent. And Baldwin is the fastest growing county in Alabama.

The Census has multiple designations for vacant housing units, including one for units that are for seasonal, recreational or occasional use. Baldwin County has a very high number of units in this category. Another category, classified as other vacant by the Census, could be a better indicator of areas that have seen houses that are abandoned or areas where housing markets are in bad shape, according to a 2018 report from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.

Some housing vacancy is a good, even vital, thing for a healthy real estate market, according to the report from the Lincoln Institute. People move all the time, and for all kinds of reasons, and if there was no available housing, there wouldnt be anywhere for them to move to. This other vacant category, though, isnt a good thing.

'Other vacant is a catch-all category that includes but is not limited to properties that are neglected and abandoned," according to the report. This category is a significant indicator of property and overall neighborhood conditions.

When excluding seasonal rentals, and looking at the other vacancy statistic, Alabama jumps to the second-highest vacancy rate in the country, behind only West Virginia. Nearly 9 percent of all housing units in Alabama are empty with this more significant designation.

This data was only available from the Census for 2017.

Alabama has the second highest percentage of vacant housing in the country. | Graphic by Ramsey Archibald

Within Alabama, when looking at other vacant, Baldwin County sees the raw vacancy rate of 30 percent fall to just 4 percent - the third lowest in Alabama.

Fast-growing Lee County, home of Auburn University and a hub of new development along the Alabama-Georgia line, has the lowest other vacancy rate in the state at just 2.6 percent. Shelby County, an affluent suburb of Birmingham and one of the richest counties in Alabama, is second. Just 2 percent of housing units there are classified in this way.

Madison County, home of Huntsville, is fourth, at 4.2 percent. Elmore County, just north of Montgomery, rounds out the five counties with the lowest rates of empty, neglected and/or abandoned homes.

Greene County rises to ninth-highest on the list in terms of other" vacancy rate. Conecuh County, in South Alabama, jumps to first. Nearly 24 percent of all housing units there fall under this category. Bibb County, just south of Birmingham, is second, with 21 percent. Choctaw and Washington, neighboring counties in southwest Alabama along the border with Mississippi, are third and fourth, respectively. Perry County, in the Black Belt, is fifth.

High vacancy rates like this can have far-reaching implications. If a specific neighborhood has a lot of abandoned houses, it can lead to lower housing values for their neighbors, according to the Lincoln Institute report.

Vacant buildings and lots can significantly reduce the value of the occupied properties close to them, the reports author, Alan Mallach, wrote. Studies in Philadelphia and Columbus, Ohio, found that a vacant building on a block can reduce the value of nearby properties by 20 percent or more.

Obviously its not a good sign when you have a well above average vacancy rate in an area, said Stuart Norton, a research coordinator for the Alabama Center for Real Estate at the University of Alabama. But in the long term, it could present an opportunity for investment."

Norton pointed to two neighborhoods in the Birmingham area - Woodlawn and Avondale - as examples of what can happen when investors come into areas with high vacancy rates.

In Jefferson County, home of Birmingham and the largest county in the state, 8.6 percent of housing falls under the other vacant" classification. Thats up nearly three percentage points since 2010.

Mobile saw a rate of nearly 7 percent under this category, and Montgomerys rate was 7.2 percent.

Greene County, in the Black Belt, has the highest vacancy rate in Alabama. | Graphic by Ramsey Archibald

Do you have an idea for a data story about Alabama? Email Ramsey Archibald at rarchibald@al.com, and follow him on Twitter @RamseyArchibald. Read more Alabama data stories here.
Administrator Jim Bridenstine, who leads NASA in the 'return to the moon' will help usher in a newer generation of space explorers, and astronauts in the next 10 years. The next moon landing will be another giant step for mankind, not a small one. A whole new generation of astronauts and spacecraft will be going there before the 2030s.

Bridenstine related that going back is important because of many reasons. First, the moon is the next waypoint to establish. Second, so mankind will have one foot to the stars once again, after the last Apollo missions.

Returning to the moon is as important as before, especially with ambitions to have foothold outside of earth.

The Artemis mission will be an extension of the Apollo missions, that explored only part of the moon. This Artemis program, see more of the moon will be explored and NASA intends to stay, not just pay a visit.

Establishing the moon as an outpost to the next stage of space exploration that may free man as another frontier.

Bridenstine also said that by travelling up to 250,000 miles till the moon, it demonstrates the technology, new developments, and how to handle the business of sending the first manned exploration of Mars. Gaining new technologies and establishing jump-off points for a 250-million-mile journey to the red planet Mars.

Nasa will send Artemis teams on a moon landing into the polar regions and in the south of the moon. It will be another step for mankind, just like Neil Armstrong and 'Buzz' Aldrin in 1969.

Also read: NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory Unveil 10 Discoveries About the Sun



In between 1969 and 1972, the Apollo spacecraft was sent on six missions to the lunar surface, but only on the equatorial line. This was located in the median line of the moon's circumference, but the Artemis missions are going to unexplored areas of the surface.

Water sources are important, so NASA will land in areas with frozen water, inside dark craters that have been unexplored by Apollo missions. Water sources are necessary to placing a waystation on the moon.

Accessing and controlling these vital water resources will help secure it for future settlements in the future.

These are the goals that NASA is convinced that will become a reality with the end of the Artemis program in 2028, which is not too far away, that is eight years from this time.

It is but natural for NASA to push for the Artemis program, that will be a stepping stone without the restrictive pull of Earth's gravity. It will be the ultimate springboard to sending the first men to Mars, in human history.

For the most part, the moon is not fully known, exploring more of the moon will be like never before.

Bridenstine said the International Space Station (ISS) has been manned and up there at 250 miles, in a low Earth orbit. It has been up and running for 20 years already. It demonstrates what humanity and cooperation can achieve and gain.

Most lunar mappings were done by the NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) since Apollo 17, and no human has visited since 1972.

The Artemis 4 will change history in 2024 when NASA will send another mission with astronauts on this historic moon landing. Next will be the big jump off to Mars in the 2030s.

Related article: White Dwarfs Might Be the Place to Find Alien Life

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump met at the Hyderabad House here on Tuesday and posed for a handshake, with the iconic building decked up with flags of the two countries.

US First Lady Melania Trump also stood by the two leaders as they posed for photographs.

The US President is accompanying a 12 member delegation during his two-day maiden official visit to India. The delegation comprises of US Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette, Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law 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.

On Monday, the US President, while addressing the 'Namaste Trump' mega event at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad announced that his country will sign deals with India worth USD 3 billion for the supply of choppers to the Indian military.

At a press briefing in New Delhi last week, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson had informed that New Delhi and Washington are eyeing at around five Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the areas of intellectual property, trade facilitation, and homeland security, among others.

Earlier today, the US President received a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the capital in the presence of ministers holding several portfolios. Trump, along with his wife Melania, then paid floral tribute at the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi in Rajghat.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party chief Manoj Tiwari on Tuesday appealed to the people of the capital to stop violence and maintain peace in the city, which saw seven lives being lost in the mayhem. He blamed the prevailing tension on "anti- elements" and claimed it "indicates a bigger conspiracy" at the time of US President Donald Trump's India visit.

"Whatever happened yesterday is unfortunate and saddening. I appeal to everyone that they should not be manipulated and should not involve themselves in violence. Everyone should stand against those who are manipulating people in such a tense situation. Peace should be maintained in the country, " Tiwari told ANI.

"The situation is tense. This indicates a bigger conspiracy by anti- elements. Some people are trying to provoke others at the time of US President Donald Trump's India visit. Everyone should understand that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is not taking away anyone's citizenship." He added.

Tiwari also accused the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of not taking enough measures to control the situation. "Delhi Chief Minister acted a little late. He should have asked his MLAs to take stock of the situation and immediately control it," he said.

Attacking Congress, he said: "Congress Chief Ministers are unnecessarily spreading propaganda about the CAA. These people are making things worse. Congress should think about what they did instead of fake drama by giving calls for peace in Delhi."

Meanwhile, thirty-five companies of additional paramilitary forces have been deployed in North-East Delhi, along with Special Cell, Crime Branch and Economic Offences Wing officials, on Tuesday following violence in the area which led to the deaths of seven persons in clashes between pro and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protesters yesterday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Moody's Analytics, a global provider of financial intelligence, today announced that its software has been selected by Kommunal Landspensjonskasse Mutual Insurance Company (KLP), one of Norway's largest life insurance companies. KLP will use the Moody's Analytics RiskIntegrity for IFRS 17 solution to address the new IFRS 17 accounting framework for insurance contracts.

Designed to support the needs of actuaries, finance, and IT professionals, the RiskIntegrity solution for IFRS 17 comes with all the capabilities required for an efficient implementation of the accounting standard. Available as a software-as-a-service solution, it integrates seamlessly with an insurer's existing infrastructure, connecting data, models, systems, and processes between actuarial and finance functions.

"The RiskIntegrity solution for IFRS 17, combined with Moody's Analytics expertise in this area, will enable KLP to confidently meet the new financial reporting requirements under IFRS 17," said Bjrn Rnningsbakken, Senior Vice President of Accounting at KLP. "We look forward to working with Moody's Analytics as we make the transition from current insurance accounting frameworks to IFRS 17."

"Our core capabilities in software, actuarial modeling, and reporting mean that we are well positioned to help firms address new, and evolving reporting standards," said Christophe Burckbuchler, Managing Director at Moody's Analytics. "We are delighted that KLP has selected our solution for their implementation of IFRS 17, which is a priority for insurance companies worldwide."

This month, Moody's Analytics won IFRS 17 Solution of the Year at the annual InsuranceERM awards.

Click here to learn more about the Moody's Analytics RiskIntegrity solution for IFRS 17.

About Moody's Analytics

Moody's Analytics provides financial intelligence and analytical tools to help business leaders make better, faster decisions. Our deep risk expertise, expansive information resources, and innovative application of technology help our clients confidently navigate an evolving marketplace. We are known for our industry-leading and award-winning solutions, made up of research, data, software, and professional services, assembled to deliver a seamless customer experience. We create confidence in thousands of organizations worldwide, with our commitment to excellence, open mindset approach, and focus on meeting customer needs. For more information about Moody's Analytics, visit our website or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Moody's Analytics, Inc. is a subsidiary of Moody's Corporation (NYSE: MCO). Moody's Corporation reported revenue of $4.8 billion in 2019, employs approximately 11,100 people worldwide and maintains a presence in 40 countries.

About KLP

Kommunal Landspensjonskasse Gjensidig Forsikringsselskap (KLP) was established in 1949. KLP is Norway's largest pension company. The main aspects of KLP's public sector occupational pension scheme include:

Membership, pension entitlements in connection with change of employer and leave of absence, applications for pensions.

KLP is a mutual company owned by customers with the public sector occupational pensions with the Company.

The KLP Group has total assets of NOK 745 billion and annual gross written premiums of NOK 40 billion. 1 million Norwegians have earned pension rights in KLP.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005528/en/

Contacts:

TRACEY SCOTT

Moody's Analytics Communications

+44.207.772.5207

Moody's Analytics Media Relations

moodysanalytics.com
Hillary Clinton justified receiving campaign donations from Harvey Weinstein by saying he donated to 'everybody's campaign on Tuesday.

Hillary was promoting her new Hulu documentary in Berlin when she was asked for her opinion on the verdict.

She said it 'speaks for itself' and that it was 'time for an accounting'.

'Well, I think that the jury's verdict really speaks for itself.

'And it is obviously something that people have looked at and followed because it was time for an accounting. And the jury clearly found that,' she said.

Weinstein was found guilty of third degree rape and a first degree criminal sexual act. He now faces up to 29 years behind bars.

Hillary Clinton with Harvey Weinstein in 2004. They were friends and he raised money for a number of Democrats

Hillary made the comments on Tuesday while promoting her new Hulu documentary

He was brought down first in 2017 by a series of explosive magazine articles. It triggered a wave of women coming forward and forced Hollywood hypocrites, many of whom had ignored his behavior for years, to confront his behavior.

Clinton and her husband were friends with him and she accepted donations from him to her campaign.

On Tuesday, she said of that: 'Well, it's true. He contributed to every Democrat's campaign.

'He contributed to Barack Obama's campaign and John Kerry's campaign and Al Gore's campaign and everybody's campaign.

'I don't know whether that should chill anyone else from contributing to political campaigns, but it certainly should end the kind of behavior that he was just convicted for.'

She previously insisted she knew nothing of his predatory behavior.

Clinton and Weinsten together again in 2012, with his wife Georgina Chapman in the background. Clinton said on Tuesday that he donated to 'everybody's' campaign

'How could we have known? He raised money for me, for the Obamas, for Democrats in general.

'And that at the time was something that everybody thought made sense.

'And of course, if all of us had known what we know now, it would have affected our behavior,' she said.

Weinstein gave $3,000 to Bill Clinton's re-election campaign in 2000. He then went on to give more than $60,000 to super PACS backing either Hillary or Barack Obama.

He is now in the hospital, where he was taken with 'chest pains and heart palpitations' on Monday after the guilty verdict, before he could be taken to jail to await sentencing on March 11.
Police in Kazakhstan is investigating over 120 criminal cases following massive ethnic clashes earlier this month that resulted in 11 deaths and over 180 people being injured, the country's chief investigator, Sanjar Adilov, said Tuesday

NUR-SULTAN (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th February, 2020) Police in Kazakhstan is investigating over 120 criminal cases following massive ethnic clashes earlier this month that resulted in 11 deaths and over 180 people being injured, the country's chief investigator, Sanjar Adilov, said Tuesday.

On the night of February 8, riots broke out in the Korday district of the southern Kazakh province of Jambyl after a road incident turned into a brawl between ethnic Kazakhs and Dungans, a Muslim group of Chinese origin. Nearly 50 people were detained and dozens of private homes and cars were set ablaze and vandalized.

"We are currently investigating more than 120 criminal cases regarding Korday [incidents]," Adilov told reporters.

Adilov added that 11 cases dealt with murder charges.
Prudential is UK's largest insurance company. (Frantzesco Kangaris/Bloomberg)

US hedge fund Third Point, which has a $2bn (1.6bn) stake in British insurance giant Prudential (PRU.L), wants to split the company into two and shut the UK head office.

Prudential said in a statement on Tuesday that it had received the letter from Third Point, and will proactively engage with shareholders in regards to groups strategy and structure. It confirmed that it will provide an update on the Prudentials performance and strategy at its full-year results on 11 March.

Third Point said in a letter to Prudential directors late on Monday that there was no strategic logic to the company's current structure and that the company should split into two units  US and Asia. Currently those units are run from London office.

Third Point, which has $14bn in assets under management, said in the letter that by closing Prudentials UK-based head office, it would save 200m a year.

The US hedge fund is run by shareholder activist Daniel Loeb. Third Point has a history of urging companies to split apart, which includes Dow Chemical (DOW) and United Technologies (UTX).

Prudential is Britains largest insurance company by market capitalisation with 36.8bn ($46.93bn). Third Point is the groups second-largest shareholder with a stake worth 5%.

Shares are up by nearly 4% in early trading:
Kuwait Ports Authority has announced a ban on entry of ships from Iraq to the ports of Shuaiba, Shuwaikh and Doha until further notice, as part of efforts to stop the new coronavirus (COVID-19) from spreading.

According to KUNA, General Manager of Kuwait Ports Sheikh Yousef Abdullah Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah said in statement that this decision is within precautionary measures taken by the authority to stop this epidemic from spreading into the country.

The decision also comes in line with a government contingency plan, taking all necessary measures to combat the virus, he added.

Earlier, the Iraqi Ministry of Health announced registering first infection with the coronavirus - an Iranian student in the Iraqi province of Najaf.
A fuel distribution company has lost its challenge against a tax bill of over 1.3m from Revenue over its failure to keep proper records of sales of large volumes of marked diesel to a customer suspected of involvement in fuel laundering.

The Tax Appeals Commission, or TAC, has ruled that the unnamed company is liable to pay the demand following an extended Revenue audit into its affairs between from the start of April 2012 and the end of 2014.

The sum was based on the difference between the excise duty charged at the standard rate and discount rate for agricultural diesel.

A hearing of the TAC was informed that the company kept no records of the address of a customer or his vehicle registration number to whom it sold over 3.7 million litres of low sulphur gas oil, or Lsgo,  otherwise known as green diesel  over a two-year period up to the end of March in 2013.

Lsgo is a marked fuel which means it is illegal if used as a fuel for road vehicles.

TAC heard that the customer purchased around 36,000 litres of the fuel each week for which he would pay 30,000 in cash.

The company director said he did not believe the transactions were unusual as the firm was lodging 150,000 in cash sales each week on average.

Revenue claimed the company facilitated the Lsgo to be used for fuel laundering by failing to comply with Mineral Oil Tax Regulations which required it to keep the name and vehicle registration number of its customers. As a consequence the true identity of the customer suspected of fuel laundering remains concealed from Revenue.

TAC Commissioner Conor Kennedy ruled the company was obliged to obtain the name, address and vehicle registration number of customers. Mr Kennedy claimed the evidence of witnesses on behalf of the company were unreliable.
Without naming Mr. Trump during Thursdays sentencing hearing, Judge Jackson cited entirely inappropriate comments by partisan onlookers. She amplified her warning on Tuesday, saying, I need to state this clearly, that any attempt to invade the privacy of the jury is completely antithetical to our entire system of justice.

The case also exposed a rift between career prosecutors in the United States attorneys office for the District of Columbia and their superiors at Justice Department headquarters. Four prosecutors withdrew from the case this month after Mr. Barr overruled their sentencing recommendation and insisted the department request a less severe prison term than the seven to nine years the prosecutors sought.

Tuesdays four-hour hearing was itself highly unusual. Last-ditch attempts by defense teams to keep their defendants out of prison are typical, but their motions rarely receive so much judicial attention. Legal experts said that Judge Jackson is probably both anticipating Mr. Stones appeal of his conviction and striving to defend the integrity of the proceedings in the face of attacks by the president and his allies.

Three months after the jurors rendered their verdict, she summoned about a dozen of them back to the courthouse. Three of them, including the forewoman, were questioned on the stand, as was one of the prosecutors who withdrew from the case.

Defense lawyers claim that the forewoman failed to disclose important information during the jury selection process that would have prompted them to move to exclude her from the panel. Tomeka Hart, a program officer for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, identified herself as the forewoman in a Facebook post this month.

She voiced concerns in that post about Mr. Barrs decision to overrule the prosecutors, saying: It pains me to see the DOJ now interfere with the hard work of the prosecutors. They acted with the utmost intelligence, integrity and respect for our system of justice.

On Tuesday, Mr. Stones lawyers claimed that during jury selection, the forewoman concealed her level of knowledge about Mr. Stone and his relationship with the president, as well as animosity toward Mr. Trump. They said they only recently learned of her views by examining her posts on social media, even though they had hired consultants to help them identify potential jurors who could be biased.




Haiti - Security : The DG of the PNH takes stock of the situation and calls for calm





On Monday, Rameau Normil, the Director General a.i. of the National Police of Haiti (PNH), accompanied by members of the High Command, met with the media to take stock of the current situation within the police institution.



From the outset, Rameau Normil, considered the police demands just and legitimate https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30077-haiti-flash-claim-of-the-police-the-government-sets-up-a-crisis-cell.html while asking them to keep calm and return to their duty station in order to continue to fulfill the mission that has been assigned to the PNH, which is to protect and serve the population as a whole recalling that the police institution was apolitical.



The Director General of the PNH condemned the incidents that occurred at the Champ-de-Mars Sunday, February 23 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30102-haiti-flash-high-tension-at-champ-de-mars.html which have caused loss of life https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30109-haiti-flash-clashes-in-champ-de-mars-at-least-a-dozen-victims-provisional-assessment.html and expressed its sympathies to the families of the victims.



He recalled the provisions adopted by the authorities at the highest level to facilitate the improvement of the living and working conditions of all the police https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30100-haiti-flash-moise-s-promises-to-the-police-officers.html . He also mentioned the creation of a Facilitation and Dialogue Commission, made up of 5 members of the PNH, responsible for meeting all the protagonists of the crisis with the aim of determining reasonable ways and means for a sustainable return. institutional stability and public peace. This Commission has two weeks to submit its report



Members of the Commission :



Jean Gardy MUSCADIN (Inspector General)



Smith PAYOT (Inspector General)



Magalie BELNEAU (Curator)



Jean Mary Rosa LEONARD (Agent 4)



Michelson FORTUNE (Agent 3)



In addition, in a press note made public the same day, representatives of the unrecognized Syndicate of the National Police of Haiti, asked the police who have been demonstrating for a week now to return to their police station to start negotiations with authorities. On the other hand, these representatives warned any sector which would like to use the police movement to give it an orientation which does not correspond to its demands.



Remember that the police are demanding better working conditions, social benefits, respect for their constitutional right to organize and as a precondition the reinstatement of dismissed members by the PNH high command last week. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30061-haiti-flash-5-police-officers-dismissed-for-indiscipline-attack-on-the-honor-of-the-pnh-and-acts-of-vandalism.html



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30112-haiti-security-meetings-of-the-high-command-of-the-fad-h-and-the-pnh.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30111-haiti-flashthe-ministry-of-justice-evoke-an-attempted-coup.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30109-haiti-flash-clashes-in-champ-de-mars-at-least-a-dozen-victims-provisional-assessment.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

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30100-haiti-flash-moise-s-promises-to-the-police-officers.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30077-haiti-flash-claim-of-the-police-the-government-sets-up-a-crisis-cell.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30069-haiti-flash-panic-and-violent-demonstration-of-police-offciers-in-port-au-prince.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30061-haiti-flash-5-police-officers-dismissed-for-indiscipline-attack-on-the-honor-of-the-pnh-and-acts-of-vandalism.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30051-haiti-flash-police-protesters-set-fire-to-champ-de-mars.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Direct sales giant Amway is ramping up production in West Michigan of several immune system-boosting supplements for the Chinese market after the rapidly spreading coronavirus disrupted the supply chain in the worlds most populous country.

Our challenge from a business point of view in China  its not so much demand, its supply, Amway CEO Milind Pant said Monday, speaking to the Economic Club of Grand Rapids at the JW Marriott.

Our factories here are going on overdrive to produce for China.

After factories throughout China were shuttered last month to slow the spread of the virus, which has killed more than 2,600 people in the country and infected tens of thousands more, the Chinese government granted Amway special permission to reopen its manufacturing facility in the port city of Guangzhou, Pant said.

He said the Chinese government made that decision because it believed that products aimed at strengthening the immune system, including Amways line of Nutrilite vitamins and supplements, were part of the solution to combating the spread of coronavirus.

But because of other factory closures in the country, Amway had been unable to secure the necessary packaging and ingredients to meet demand for select Nutrilite products, Pant said. That includes the Bio C Plus, Garlic and Peppermint, and Immunity Echinacea supplements.

These three have just spiked up in demand, Pant said. We are almost scrambling to different manufacturing locations and global supplies to meet that demand.

As a result, the company boosted production of the supplements at its Ada headquarters and its factory in Buena Park, California.

The coronavirus originated in China but has spread to other countries, including South Korea, Italy and Iran. Nearly 80,000 people have been infected, and more than 2,600 people have been killed, the vast majority in China. Symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties, according to the World Health Organization.

In severe cases, it can cause kidney failure, pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome and death.

China is Amways largest market, accounting for nearly one-third of the companys global revenue, which totaled $8.4 billion in 2019. Worldwide, Amway has roughly one million distributors, also known as Amway Business Owners. About 250,000 of them are in China.

In addition to supply chain challenges, the virus has affected how Amways distributors sell the companys products.

Traditionally, Amway distributors would do business through face-to-face and group meetings, during which the distributors explain the companys products and make sales. But technology has changed that. Now, the companys distributors can host such meetings online through social networking platforms -- a practice the coronavirus outbreak has accelerated.

In China, theyre now doing it all online, Pant said. Virtual meetings, virtual trainings. In some sense, in crisis there is opportunity, and we are looking at those opportunities.

Disruptions in the Chinese market can have a significant impact on Amways bottom line.

Last year, for example, the companys sales fell 5 percent, due in large part to heightened scrutiny by the Chinese government of many businesses in the direct selling and health food industries, Amway said. The heightened scrutiny was a result of exaggerated product claims made by Quanjian, a Chinese company, according to a report by China Daily.

Pant said its too early to say how the coronavirus outbreak will affect Amways finances.

Its unpredictable and too early, he said. As the year goes along, we will know better the impact of this. But that is really not our priority just now. Our priority is to have the Amway family safe, help the communities and those needs the society has.

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 Associated Press contributed to this report

Read more:

Buttigieg calls for shutdown of Enbridge Line 5 pipeline through Straits of Mackinac

Grand Rapids delays recreational marijuana, suspends medical applications

Landlord uses prison experience in providing housing for ex-offenders
QUEBEC CITY, Feb. 25, 2020, an industry leader in LiDAR technology who provides the most versatile and scalable auto and mobility LiDAR platformin the market, will exhibit and take the stage at Automotive TECH.AD Berlin as Pierre Olivier, Chief Technology Officer, presents "Solid-State Flash Sensors for Autonomous Driving." This session takes place from 08.55 to 09.20 on Monday, March 2nd. Mr. Olivier will present the role LiDAR plays in the automotive ecosystem for ADAS and Autonomous Driving applications as well as an exploration of promising LiDAR development platforms. In the afternoon, Mr. Olivier will also be on hand for the ever-popular "Challenge Your Peers" segment of TECH.AD; this session, which runs from 16.00 to 16.45, is entitled "The 'Safe' Sensor Set for L5 AD Vehicles."



As Europe's foremost technical autonomous vehicle L4+ development conference for the automotive industry, the theme of TECH.ADBerlin is to address the challenges of achieving full autonomy. One of Europe's leading knowledge exchange events, Automotive Tech.AD brings together stakeholders who play an active role in the vehicle automation scene under the motto "From Development & Deployment to Series-Production."

"The automotive industry continues to evolve with greater innovations in ADAS solutions that will inevitably lead to level 3-5 autonomous driving. The rapid pace of these innovations brings LiDAR to the forefront," stated LeddarTech's Pierre Olivier. "I look forward to exploring industry requirements as well as key LiDAR developments while providing insights into LeddarTech's platform model for LiDARs in relation to automotive applications to the attendees of this year's TECH.AD in Berlin."

LeddarTech will also be demonstrating its award-winning Leddar Pixell and platform technologies at booth 20 at TECH.AD. Members of the team will be on hand to answer your questions and share ideas. The Pixell was most recently recognized this past January as a CES 2020 Innovation Award Honoree in the Vehicle Intelligence & Transportation Category and TECH.AD is the perfect backdrop to see, firsthand, how LeddarTech is defining the future of LiDAR.

About LeddarTech

LeddarTech is an industry leader providing the most versatile and scalable auto and mobility LiDAR platform based on the unique LeddarEngine which consists of a suite of automotive-grade, functional safety certified SoCs working in tandem with proprietary LeddarSP signal processing software. The company is responsible for several innovations in cutting-edge mobility remote-sensing applications, with over 70 patented technologies (granted or pending) enhancing ADAS and autonomous driving capabilities.

LeddarTech also serves the mobility market with solid-state high-performance LiDAR module solutions for autonomous shuttles, trucks, buses, delivery vehicles, and robotaxis. These modules are developed to support the mobility market but also to demonstrate the capabilities of LeddarTech's auto and mobility platform as a basis for other LiDAR suppliers to build upon.

Additional information about LeddarTech is accessible at www.LeddarTech.com , and on LinkedIn , Twitter , Facebook , and YouTube.

Contact: Daniel Aitken, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, LeddarTech

Tel.: +1-418-653-9000 ext. 232 Daniel.Aitken@Leddartech.com

Leddar, LeddarTech, LeddarEngine, LeddarSP, LeddarCore, and LeddarTech logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of LeddarTech Inc. All other brands, product names, and marks are or may be trademarks or registered trademarks used to identify products or services of their respective owners.
Jon Snow had just returned to the UK from Iran (Jane Barlow/PA)

Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow has announced that he is in precautionary self-isolation after travelling abroad amid fears over the coronavirus outbreak.

He will remain in isolation for the next two weeks after visiting Iran to cover the countrys election.

The presenter is following Department for Health guidelines, according to Channel 4 News.

Snow said that he does not have any symptoms of the virus.

Jon Snow is tonight in self-isolation after his return from Iran, covering the country's elections.



He's following government guidance for those recently returned from areas with high numbers of coronavirus infections - and will be staying at home for the next two weeks. pic.twitter.com/bVpCcFxU1m  Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) February 25, 2020

He told Channel 4 News via a videolink from his home: I woke up this morning feeling rather tired, but that was from the trip.

But we werent actually anywhere near where the main virus outbreak has occurred.

He said that he is not really supposed to congregate with any crowds or go anywhere where there may be people, adding: So that means Im sitting at home.

To be honest, the absolute enormity of the prospect of 14 days hasnt really hit me.

Snows producer and cameraman are also in self-isolation (Ian West/PA)

Video of the Day

He added: Maybe if you call me again in 14 days you will have a headcase on your hands.

Snows producer and cameraman are also self-isolating after the trip to Iran.

None of the team are currently showing any symptoms of Covid-19 but the official advice is to self-isolate regardless, Channel 4 News tweeted.

The head of Irans virus task force, who just a day earlier gave a news conference in Tehran in which he tried to minimise the danger posed by the outbreak, tested positive for the illness on Tuesday.

His diagnosis came amid a worsening outbreak of coronavirus in the country.
Captain Cindy Guay Leads First All-Female Flight Crew

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (February 25, 2020)  Silver Airways, Americas leading independent regional airline, is proud to announce the history-making milestone appointment of Cindy Guay as the first female Captain to fly the ATR-600 series aircraft in the U.S., including both the ATR 42-600 and ATR 72-600.



In addition, Captain Guay is now flying alongside Silver Airways first all-female flight crew, including First Officer Susan Sugar, and Flight Attendants Rachel Peacock and Flavia Fabiano, all based in Orlando.



This is not only a momentous milestone for Silver Airways, but for all women in aviation, said Silver Airways CEO Steve Rossum. All of these women are truly talented hardworking professionals who have overcome many obstacles in pursuit of their passion for flying and are exemplary role models for all women interested in pursuing a career in aviation.



Cindy Guay joined Silver Airways three years ago as a First Officer flying the airlines Saab 340s and quickly advanced her career to become a Saab 340 Captain in just shy of two years. She began transitioning to the ATR fleet last fall and this month became the first female Captain to operate the ATR in the U.S. She thoroughly enjoys flying the new ATRs which feature the latest in technology. Guay began her career in aviation as a flight attendant where she was immediately drawn to flying and knew she wanted to become a pilot. After earning her pilot's license, she went on to become a flight instructor for four years before joining Silver Airways. I love flying for Silver in particular because we are a family, says Guay. While juggling a family and flying is challenging, Silvers schedules give me the opportunity to pursue my passion for flying and be with my family. In her spare time, Guay enjoys taking care of her kids and family. Her advice for women: If you enjoy what you do, its not a job. You may have to sacrifice to achieve your goals, but if you stick with it, you can do anything.



First Officer Susan Sugar began her career more than 10 years ago as a flight attendant. After sitting in the cockpit for take-off and landing, I was immediately hooked and knew I wanted to fly, says Sugar. After earning her pilot's license, she started flying with American Eagle. Sadly it was two weeks after the tragedy of 9/11 and she was furloughed. She then went on to a real estate career while flying sky diving planes. Then, while on vacation a year ago and watching small planes landing in St. Thomas, she knew she needed to fly commercially again. Shortly thereafter she joined Silver Airways. While its been the hardest thing shes ever done, shes glad she did it. Now Im fulfilled, she says. When not flying, Sugar enjoys working out, cooking and eating, traveling and spending time with friends. Her advice for women: Follow your dreams and you can do it.



Flight Attendant Rachel Peacock loves flying for Silver because theyre my family, says the Alabama native who joined Silver Airways four years ago. Peacock first flew Silver Airways as a passenger and she was instantly drawn to the airline. Not knowing what the future held, but always wanting to live in Orlando, Peacock hit the road to follow her passion for flying for Silver. Always a nurturer who took care of people, Peacock says Silver is not a job for me. Theres not a single day that I wake up and dont want to fly. I absolutely love my Silver family and taking care of my passengers. In her spare time, Peacock takes care of herself by exercising, walking and spending time with her family. Her advice for women: There is nothing you cant accomplish if you jump in with no fear.



Flavia Fabiano has been crazy about aviation since she was a young child when she played with aircraft models. She achieved her dream of becoming a flight attendant when she joined Silver Airways five years ago. Fabiano says shes here today because of my son who helped and encouraged me to pursue my passion for flying. I enjoy working with the public and helping others, and as a flight attendant I can give back to others. And it gives me the opportunity to be on an aircraft and in the sky, and thats where Im happiest. Her advice for women: If you have a passion, pursue your dreams. Its not always an easy road, but through willingness, you can realize your dreams.



To learn more about a career in flying with Silver Airways, visit the airlines Pilot Recruitment & Emerging Aviators Program and Career Opportunities at SilverAirways.com.
The Adani group, which has already won the bid to manage 6 airports, is now all set to join the race of acquiring the state-run airline - And for this, the conglomerate is planning to submit an expression of interest (EoI) by next month, disclosed a source close to the development.

However, the final decision depends on the outcome of the due diligence post submission of the EoI. Since, after the EoI process only prospective bidders will get access to airline data.

The is not the only one interested in this complex deal. The Tata group, the Hinduja group, and a New York-based fund, Interups, are also expected to submit their EoIs. The deadline of submitting the EoI is 17th March.

This is the second attempt made by the Centre to sell the airline after it failed to receive interest in the first round last year.

As a matter of fact, sale of to a private player is important for the central government as it has had to pump in Rs 30,000 crore of tax payers money into the airline since 2012. The airline, however, has not made money since the merger of and Indian Airlines in 2007.

Apart from Air India, the government has also offered to sell and its 50 per cent stake in Air India SATS Airport Services.

Therefore, they have come up with changes like relaxation of various norms, including clearing of the balance sheet, transfering of remaining portion to the special purpose vehicles, introduction of minimum shareholding of an investor and much more to ensure success this time.

Despite this, things are not easy for the as, according to the bid criteria an airline or a group owning an airline cannot own more than 27 per cent in the six airports that are already with the

A similar clause restricting airlines or group owning airlines from owning more than 10 per cent in Delhi airport recently resulted in collapse of the Tata-GIC groups investment in GMR.

A banker, close to the sale process of Air India, said the present rules will not bar the Adani group from bidding for the airline. We want as many to bid for the airline as it is a good asset after Rs 30,000 crore of debt was removed from the airline along with the governments offer for 100 per cent stake, said the source.

According to present aviation sector norms, foreign airlines can bid but can only acquire a maximum of 49 per cent stake due to sectoral caps on foireign direct investment.

Air India and its subsidiary, had about 120 aircraft at FY18-end and 126 aircraft till September last year. Its fleet has both narrow-body aircraft from Airbus and wide-body planes from Boeing, making it simpler for ...

To know more, listen to this podcast
Chhindwara (Madhya Pradesh) [India], Feb 21 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Friday questioned the Central Government over its claim of conducting a surgical strike across the border into Pakistan and demanded that proof regarding the operation should be presented before the people.



When asked if he thought the strike was fake, the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister quickly stated he is proud of the Indian Armed Forces and added the forces do not conduct fake operations.

"When 90,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered during Indira Gandhi's tenure, people saw it. The BJP claims to carry out a surgical strike. Which surgical strike? It was the media that was making noise about the surgical strike. Tell the country about it clearly," he said.

"The army and the Air Force do not conduct fake operations. But provide information about the strike," he added.

The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister's comments came after he offered prayers to Lord Shiva at Patalleshwar temple in Chhindwara. (ANI)
Press Release

Nokia named as one of the world's most ethical companies by Ethisphere

Recognition honors those companies that take the long view with a purpose-based strategy and strive to create positive change throughout their global communities.

Nokia is one of just three telecommunications companies to be included, and the only Finnish honoree.

Marks the fourth time Nokia is included on the list.

25 February 2020

Espoo, Finland - Nokia has been recognized as one of the 2020 World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices.

This recognition reflects the work undertaken at Nokia to reinforce ethical behavior at all levels of the business, and promote high standards of corporate governance.

"It is a great honor to be recognized once again as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. Our reputation is built on more than 150 years of trustworthiness and ethical business practices. This award is due to the hard work and commitment of the entire Nokia team, who ensure we put our values of trust, integrity, and social and environmental responsibility into everything we do," said Rajeev Suri, President and CEO, Nokia.

Nokia has been recognized four times overall, with three consecutive wins since 2018. It is one of only three honorees in the telecommunications industry and the only company in Finland to be included in 2020. In total, 132 honorees were recognized, spanning 21 countries and 51 industries.

"Nokia is one of just three telecom companies to make the list, highlighting how much the company is doing to enhance ethical business practices in the sector", said Ethisphere's Chief Executive Officer, Timothy Erblich. "Congratulations to everyone at Nokia for earning this recognition."





Nokia is committed to being an industry leader on governance, corporate responsibility and compliance. Key elements of its compliance program include a focus on early identification and proactive mitigation of regulatory and corruption risks associated with products, services, and go-to-market strategy; continual assessments and enhancements of programs and processes to reduce inefficiencies and strengthen compliance oversight, and multiple avenues open to employees to voice and report concerns in an open-reporting environment with a strict non-retaliation policy.

About the Ethisphere Institute

The Ethisphere Institute is the global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices that fuel corporate character, marketplace trust and business success. Ethisphere has deep expertise in measuring and defining core ethics standards using data-driven insights that help companies enhance corporate character and measure and improve culture. Ethisphere honors superior achievement through its World's Most Ethical Companies recognition program and provides a community of industry experts with the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance.

Methodology & Scoring

Grounded in Ethisphere's proprietary Ethics Quotient, the World's Most Ethical Companies assessment process includes more than 200 questions on culture, environmental and social practices, ethics and compliance activities, governance, diversity and initiatives to support a strong value chain. The process serves as an operating framework to capture and codify the leading practices of organizations across industries and around the globe. Best practices and insights from the 2020 honorees will be released in a report and webcast in March and April of this year.



All companies that participate in the assessment process receive an Analytical Scorecard providing them a holistic assessment of where their programs stand against the demanding standards of leading companies.



Honorees

The full list of the 2020 World's Most Ethical Companies can be found at https://worldsmostethicalcompanies.com/honorees .

About Nokia

We create the technology to connect the world. Only Nokia offers a comprehensive portfolio of network equipment, software, services and licensing opportunities across the globe. With our commitment to innovation, driven by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, we are a leader in the development and deployment of 5G networks.

Our communications service provider customers support more than 6.1 billion subscriptions with our radio networks, and our enterprise customers have deployed over 1,000 industrial networks worldwide. Adhering to the highest ethical standards, we transform how people live, work and communicate. For our latest updates, please visit us online www.nokia.com and follow us on Twitter @nokia.
CHICAGO, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Weapon Mounts Market by Mount Type (Turret, Coaxial, Fixed, Pintle/Pedestal, RWS, Swing Arm, Monopods, Bipods, Tripods), Platform (Ground, Naval, Airborne), Mode of Operation, Weapon Compatibility, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, is projected to grow from USD 1.1 billion in 2019 to USD 1.8 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 7.7% from 2019 to 2025. The growth of the market can be attributed to the increasing procurement of armored vehicles, rotorcraft, machine gun,and aircraft by militaries globally, and ongoing modernization of naval platforms by various countries among others.

Ask for PDF Brochure @ : https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=75671571

Based on platform, the naval segment is projected to lead the weapon mounts market during the forecast period.

Based on platform, the market is projected to be led by the naval segment from 2019 to 2025. This segment is expected to grow during the forecast period due to factors such as the continual upgrades of weapon systems on ships such as destroyers, frigates, and corvettes, among others. Additionally, the procurement of new battleships by countries such as India, China, the US, and Saudi Arabia, among others, is also driving the market for naval weapon mounts.

The static mounts segment is projected to lead the weapon mounts market from 2019 to 2025.

Based on mount type, the static mounts segment is projected to lead the weapon mounts market during the forecast period. The high demand for remote weapon stations is a key contributor to the growth of this segment. Demand for remote weapon stations can be attributed to the significant investments made by countries such as the US, Saudi Arabia, India, China, and South Korea to upgrade their armored vehicles fleet to include remote weapon stations.

Asia Pacific is projected to be a high growth market for weapon mounts during the forecast period.

The weapon mounts market in Asia Pacific is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Various border disputes between countries such as China, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, North Korea, and South Korea, among others, are driving these countries to increase their investment in defense technology, which includes the procurement of armored vehicles, combat aircraft, naval ships, and weapons for soldiers, among others.

In 2020, FN Herstal secured a contract worth USD 110 million for the supply of 2,620 FN SCAR H PR rifles from the French Ministry of Defense under its Fusil de Precision Semi-Automatique (Semi-Automatic Precision Rifle, FPSA) program. The contract includes the supply of a total of 2,620 rifles with day sights and accessories such as bipods and suppressors.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Weapon Mounts Market"

208- Tables

69 - Figures

236 - Pages

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In 2018, ISTEC Services Ltd. secured a contract worth USD 334,870 for the supply of weapon mounts to the Canadian Ministry of Defense.

In 2018, Leonardo S.P.A signed a contract with the German Federal Agency for Military Procurement (Bundesamt fur Ausrustung, Information Technology and Nutzung der Bundeswehr) for the supply of seven OTO 76/62 systems (Super Rapid version) to equip the K130 corvettes of the German Navy.

Major players in the weapon mounts are Kongsberg Gruppen (Norway), Raytheon Company (US), Elbit Systems (Israel), Saab AB (Sweden), BAE Systems (UK), Dillion Aero (US), AEI Systems Ltd. (UK), FN Herstal (Belgium), Capco LLC. (US), and ISTEC Services Ltd. (UK), among others.

Related Reports :

Remote Weapon Station Market by Application (Military, Homeland Security), Platform (Land, Airborne, Naval), Component (Sensors, HMI, Weapons & Armaments), Weapon Type (Lethal, Non-lethal), Mobility, Technology, and Region - Global Forecast to 2023

Armored Vehicles Market by Platform (Combat Vehicles, Combat Support Vehicles, Unmanned Armored Ground Vehicles), Mobility (Wheeled, Tracked), System (Engine, Drive Systems, Ballistic Armor, Turret Drive, C2 Systems), Region - Global Forecast to 2023

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Woman survives after calling on Jesus when husband shoots her, then kills himself outside church

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It was the second day of the 2020 Women of God Through Promise Conference at True Cornerstone Church in Mobile, Alabama, on Friday, when the devilshowed up in a deadly way, according to Pastor Derek Scott Gandy.

Pray for True Cornerstone Church. Tragic incident tonight after a Holy Ghost blow out service that I cannot discuss at all but your prayers are greatly appreciated. Cannot answer or respond. Have to wait around to secure our building. Thanks in advance for your prayers, Gandy wrote in a series of Facebook posts early Saturday morning. Arrived home about 30 minutes ago trying to wind down and get some sleep. Women Of God Through Promise was much more anointed than the devil desires and he showed up in a deadly way. Cannot go into specifics or names but please pray for those who witnessed what no one should, especially children.

The Mobile Police Department said in a statement that at approximately 11:23 p.m. on Friday, they responded to the church on Halls Mill Road after receiving a report about a person being shot. When they got there, they saw a woman on the ground who had been apparently shot.

The suspect involved reportedly fled the scene as police arrived. He was pursued by authorities and subsequently returned to the church. As officers approached his vehicle, however, the suspect shot himself. His car then crashed into the church. He was pronounced dead on the scene while his wife was taken to a local hospital where she is recovering.

Friends of the woman told WKRG that the man came to the church looking for his wife and just shot her outside.

Pastor Gandy, who said both the shooter and his wife were friends of his family, was not available to discuss the incident with The Christian Post on Monday. His wife, Kula, told WKRG that as soon as the victim was shot, she started praying right away.

She was calling on Jesus, even with the bullet in her she was calling on Jesus, Kula Gandy said.

Despite the tragedy, she insisted the devil did not get the victory he was seeking.

The Devil is not going to get the victory, at all, he is not going to get the victory, she said. To be able to come and pray for her and see she was already looking up that she was already praying that she was already calling on Jesus I already knew Jesus was going to take care of her.

Kula Gandy said she is thankful that the shooter did not crash his car into their packed church or shoot his wife multiple times along with others.

Im still alive, that young lady is still alive, she said, noting that the tragedy has strengthened her faith.

I cant preach faith if I dont live by faith, cannot preach determination if you dont live by it, said Derek Gandy added.

The MPD has not yet formally released the names of the couple involved in the shooting.
"So like I said, in the beginning, I sort of believed Mara, but Curtis Hill said it didnt happen that way, that it was crowded bar and all this," Suggs said. "I was wavering between the two, but ... what made me tend not to believe it is  how traumatized the individual was by it."

Suggs said Reardon's claim that the incident traumatized her "didn't ring well" with her.

"So thats why I kind of had to go to one side versus the other," she said.

Suggs told The Times she had a private conversation with Reardon in which she stated she wasn't trying to victim shame anyone, but that this belief was "just her opinion."

Indiana Attorney General Groping Allegations Gabrielle McLemore, left, Niki DaSilva left center, Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, right center, and Samantha Lozano listen as their attorney a

She said she told Reardon that this is a case of two people with different stories, Suggs said.

Reardon declined to comment on their private conservation or beyond her written statement.

Weinstein, Kavanaugh cases

Suggs suggested there are also critical differences between Weinstein's case and Hill's case  in that one involved rape in a hotel room and the latter was an alleged groping in a bar.
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Residents in areas of Shropshire were urged to evacuate today as the River Severn rose to all-time high levels amid severe flooding after more than 400 tonnes of water per second rushed down towards Shrewsbury.

Large parts of the county are already underwater, with many access roads closed, and things could get worse with the river due to peak tonight amid further heavy rain in the Welsh mountains over the next 48 hours.

In Ironbridge, the Severn could breach flood defences, with Telford and Wrekin Council and West Mercia Police urging affected residents to get out of their homes and take up the council's offer of accommodation.

Rain is expected for much of the UK today, along with 50mph gusts in the South West, while the Environment Agency has imposed more than 300 alerts or warnings across England as the flooding risk continues.

The Severn at Montford was at 23ft (7m) by 2pm today, beating the highest recorded level set in November 2000, while a prolonged peak at Welsh Bridge in Shrewsbury of up to 5.5m (18ft) is predicted this evening.

Two severe 'danger to life' flood warnings have been issued for Shrewsbury and Ironbridge, while there is severe weather of a different kind in the North and Scotland where the Met Office has issued an ice and snow warning.

The alert - which also covers Wales - runs from 8pm tonight until 10am tomorrow and warns of 3.1in (8cm) of the white stuff on higher ground, with wintry showers expected to fall as a mixture of rain, hail and snow.

Most showers will tend to ease by tomorrow evening, while Thursday will be dry with sunny spells for most areas along with some wintry showers - while Friday will be grey with patchy rain for many, especially in the South.

Meanwhile most of South London and East Surrey has been put under a flood alert by the Environment Agency due to groundwater levels rising throughout the winter following higher than average rainfall.

The EA, which is monitoring the situation with local councils, said properties with deep basements in some parts of Purley 'will start flooding imminently' and warned more rainfall could cause groundwater levels to rise further.

The River Severn remains extremely high in Shropshire today, as it flows under the historic bridge in Ironbridge today

The Iron Bridge in the Shropshire town is pictured in September 2014 when the River Severn was at a more normal level

Thousands of residents living near the Severn have been warned to expect yet more flooding, with a 100-mile stretch of the river now issued with flood warnings

In Ironbridge, the Severn could breach flood defences tonight, which have been put up on the side of the river

Temporary flood barriers on the Wharfage in Ironbridge, Shropshire, today as the River Severn remains high

A bridge over the River Severn is almost underwater in Shrewsbury today as the Shropshire today faces severe flooding

A woman looks out at flooding around a property in Ironbridge, Shropshire, today which has sandbags by the door

Temporary flood barriers on the Wharfage in Ironbridge, Shropshire, as the River Severn remains high today

An aerial view of flooding in Shrewsbury this morning where the River Severn is still rising and threatening further disruption

Flooding in Ironbridge, Shropshire, today with the River Severn's level at some points expected to peak tonight

Temporary flood barriers installed in Ironbridge, Shropshire, today, as there are fears that the river could breach them

Flooding at the Riverside Caravan Park in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, today as the River Severn hits a record high level

Flooding is also affecting properties in the nearby Shropshire town of Ironbridge today as the River Severn remains high

Thousands of residents living near the Severn have been warned to expect yet more flooding, with a 100-mile stretch of the river now issued with flood warnings

Local EA manager Dave Throup said the situation was 'getting ridiculous.' He added: 'The UK's longest river is absolutely heaving. From Newtown in Wales to Gloucester the whole length of the Severn is on flood warning.

River levels on parts of Severn at all-time record Parts of the River Severn are now at their highest level on record  with others not far off the all-time high, according to the latest Environment Agency data. The Severn at Montford was at 7m (23ft) by 2pm today, beating the highest recorded level set in November 2000 At Welsh Bridge in Shrewsbury, the Severn stood at 5.07m (16.6ft) at 12.45pm today - just below the all-time record of 5.25m (17.2ft), set on November 1 2000. The level has nearly doubled in the last 72 hours, jumping from 2.80m (9.2ft) at lunchtime on February 22. It is forecast to peak this afternoon - possibly just below the record - before falling over the next 24 hours. Along the river at Buildwas, which is just upstream from Ironbridge, the Severn had reached 6.66m (21.9ft) at 1pm today, slightly below the record for that stretch of 7.04m (23.1ft). And in Bridgnorth, the Severn stood at 5.08m (16.7ft) at 1pm, close to its all-time record there of 5.26m (17.3ft). Both of these records were set on November 2, 2000. Further downstream at Bewdley, the Severn had reached 5.21m (17.1ft) at 1.30pm on Tuesday and is forecast to rise higher in the next 24 hours, coming very close to the all-time record of 5.56m (18.2ft). Again, this record was set on November 2, 2000. Meanwhile at Saxons Lode near Upton upon Severn, where a 'danger to life' severe flood warning was in place a few days ago, the level had been dropping until Monday night. It has since started to rise and measured 5.13m (16.8ft) at 1pm today - although this is some way below the all-time record of 5.93m (19.5ft), which was set on July 22, 2007. Advertisement

'There are exceptionally high levels and flows resulting in dangerous conditions in many areas. Severe flood impacts are expected on Wednesday. We are seeing historic levels and there are significant problems in Shrewsbury.'

In Shrewsbury many schools and businesses have closed, including the town's three shopping centres after the underground car parks flooded.

More than 40 homes were evacuated while others were rescued by firefighters after water started entering their homes.

In Ironbridge, 40 people were evacuated and police warned there was a 'strong chance' the temporary flood barriers would be breached.

West Mercia Police Chief Superintendent Tom Harding said: 'The levels of the river in Ironbridge are set to rise to unprecedented levels with a strong chance they could overtop the temporary flood barriers.

'Our absolute priority is the safety of local residents and we would strongly advise those who live in the affected area to evacuate, we know people don't want to leave their homes but we are only giving this advice as we believe it is absolutely necessary.

'We are working very closely with our emergency response partners to ensure plans are in place should the water overtop the barrier however at the moment we don't know what impact that will have but my warning is we may be in a position where we can't rescue residents who don't leave their home.'

Elsewhere, the mercury dropped to -4.5C (23.9F) at the Cairnwell in the Highlands overnight. Met Office forecaster John Griffiths said: 'A couple of places could be a bit colder in the next few hours, but only by a degree or so.'

Significant snowfalls were also recorded overnight, with Aviemore in Scotland recording 2.8in (7cm) and Northern Ireland's Lough Fea getting 1.2in (3cm).

Higher areas in both countries and in northern England will continue to receive snow today, Mr Griffiths said. He warned snow and wintry showers would make it 'a bit difficult for people' on their morning commute.

A series of Environment Agency flood alerts (in amber) and warnings (in red) are in place along the River Severn today

The Severn at Montford was at 23ft (7.01m) by 10am today, beating the highest recorded level set in November 2000

Most of South London and East Surrey has been put under a flood alert by the Environment Agency due to groundwater levels rising throughout the winter following higher than average rainfall

Two severe 'danger to life' flood warnings (in red) have been issued by the Environment Agency. A further 110 flood warnings (also red) - where flooding is expected - and 200 flood alerts (amber) - where flooding is possible - are in place across England

Further sleet and snow is expected in some areas today (left), and again tomorrow with rain also expected to fall (right)

Conditions on Thursday (left) and Friday (right) will again be wet, although temperatures will rise towards the weekend

The temperature in London was predicted to hover around 6C (43F) most of the day, while the South East experiences slightly warmer temperatures.

The Met Office has imposed a further snow and ice warning for Scotland and Northern England tonight, as well as an ice warning for southern England tomorrow (both above)

Higher regions will be colder, Mr Griffiths said, adding that the temperature would 'obviously feel a lot colder with the strength of the wind later on'.

Showers are expected for much of the UK throughout today, along with gusts of 40mph to 50mph on the South West coast. Further inland, wind speeds are forecast to drop to 30mph to 40mph.

Business owners in Shrewsbury criticised the local council and Environment Agency over a lack of help and information.

Mike Evans, of Evans Carpets, said he had been told that the council had run out of sandbags. 'We've had nothing  no help or assistance whatsoever. We haven't seen anyone from the council or the Environment Agency,' he said.

Mark Davies, 59, who runs Darwin's Townhouse B&B in Shrewsbury, said he had suffered thousands of pounds of damage and had been unable to obtain insurance.

Asked about the Prime Minister's absence in the crisis, he said: 'Boris Johnson should make some sort of nod to acknowledge all the devastation.'

No 10 yesterday defended Mr Johnson's absence from flooded areas, saying it was important not to 'distract' attention from the relief effort, and that Environment Secretary George Eustice was 'rightly' leading the Government's response.

An aerial view of the Shropshire town of Ironbridge where the River Severn is set to peak around 7pm tonight

An aerial view of flooding in Shrewsbury today where the River Severn is still rising and a severe flood warning is in place

The River Severn is set to peak around 7pm tonight, with the residents of Ironbridge on high alert

An aerial view of flooding in Atcham near Shrewsbury today where the River Severn is still rising and flooding the roads

Temporary flood barriers have been installed to property homes and businesses in Ironbridge, pictured this morning

In Shrewsbury, pictured today, the three main shopping centres of Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside have been shut for safety

Ironbridge resident Vic Haddock surveys flooding around his property in Shropshire today on the banks of the River Severn

An aerial view of Ironbridge in Shropshire today where the River Severn is set to peak this evening

An aerial view of flooding in Atcham near Shrewsbury today where the River Severn is still rising and causing chaos

Vic Haddock's boathouse in Ironbridge, Shropshire, is partially submerged as the River Severn remains high this morning

A vehicle drives along a flooded road today in Atcham near Shrewsbury where the River Severn is still rising

Severe flooding in Atcham near Shrewsbury is pictured today as the level of the River Severn continues to rise

Waves crash onto rocks near to St Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay on the North East coast this morning

But David Bickle, 57, whose ground-floor flat in Shrewsbury was under a foot of water last night, criticised the Prime Minister's excuses, saying: 'What relief effort? There is no one helping us for him to disturb.'

'Stop building houses on flood plains', warns boss of Environment Agency Houses should not be built on flood plains unless there is 'no real alternative', the head of the Environment Agency will warn today. Sir James Bevan will say that tackling the risk of flooding needs a twin-track approach. He will tell the World Water-Tech Innovation Summit in London: 'First, we must continue to do what we have been doing for some years: building and maintaining strong defences. 'But we now need a second, parallel, track: making communities more resilient to flooding so that when it does happen it poses much less risk to people, does much less damage, and life can get back to normal much quicker. The best way to defuse the weather bomb is better protection and stronger resilience.' Advertisement

Shropshire Council insisted last night that it has not run out of sandbags. A spokesman said: 'Any residents or businesses requiring sandbags are asked to contact the council and we will supply them.'

In Scotland yesterday, many higher routes faced white-out conditions, especially the A68 at Carter Bar, Roxburghshire, the A82 at Altnafeadh, Inverness-shire, and higher stretches of the A9.

The snow gates were closed on the B974 at Glen Dye in Aberdeenshire. In West Lothian, experts spent the day examining the roof of Livingston's court complex, where gale force gusts tore a sheet of metal from the roof.

Conditions were also particularly bad in North Yorkshire and County Durham, with major problems on the A1M and A19 roads. The A66 trans-Pennine route was closed for much of the day.

The A68 near West Auckland, County Durham, was closed following a crash between a car and lorry in snow.

The snow and flooding caused further severe disruption on the M606 in West Yorkshire and the A58 in Leeds.

The chaotic start to the day meant dozens of schools were either closed or opened late on the first day back from the half term break.

B&B owner loses 40,000 after his business is flooded twice in a week after being told no one would insure him By Miles Dilworth, Money Mail Reporter Mark Davies, who runs Darwin's Townhouse B&B in Shrewsbury A B&B owner has spoken of his devastation over losing around 40,000 in damages and loss of takings after his business was flooded twice in a week. In a bitter blow, Mark Davies, who runs Darwin's Townhouse B&B in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, had been told he could no longer get insurance flood cover just 12 days before the River Severn burst its banks last Tuesday. Mr Davies, 59, said his broker had spoken to several insurance providers before the floods hit  but not a single one was willing to insure his business against flood damage. He said it would be months before his B&B is fully operational again following further flooding yesterday. 'It's been a double whammy,' he said. 'No one is touching this any more. It's a crying shame really when you think of some of the businesses around here and the losses that could kill them.' The entire basement of his guesthouse has been flooded, wrecking stores of linen and food, while ten of the 20 rooms at his B&B have been put out of action. When asked what his message to the Prime Minister would be, he said: 'Come down and say hello. 'I would throw down that gauntlet. What are you going to do? I have had to pay a phenomenal amount in tax and rates and yet I'm seeing very little in return. 'My personal feeling on Boris Johnson is he should make some sort of nod to acknowledge all the devastation across the country that he is responsible for,' he said. Mr Davies had been told he could no longer get insurance flood cover just 12 days before the River Severn burst its banks last Tuesday Advertisement

Bournemouth beach looks more like the Sahara desert after stormy weather displaced hundreds of tonnes of sand

A popular seaside resort has been left looking more like the Sahara desert after the recent storms displaced hundreds of tonnes of sand.

Scores of large sand dunes have appeared on the beach and promenade in Bournemouth, Dorset, in the wake of Storms Ciara and Dennis.

Some of the huge mounds measure over 10ft tall. The local council is deploying specialist machinery to replenish the famous beach.

Bournemouth has been battered by storm weather this month, creating a number of enormous dunes on the promenade

Bulldozers are seen at the Dorset coast in Bournemouth today flattening the piles and shovelling the sand back into place

Bulldozers were today seen at the coastal beauty spot flattening the piles and shovelling the sand back into place.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council say the work is ongoing and have warned people to stay away while the machinery is there.

A spokesman said: 'Our seafront team has been working hard to clear the high amount of sand on the promenade following recent storms.

'We've had to bring in extra resources and the bulldozers they're using are not standard kit. We would ask people to be mindful of the machinery and stay clear whilst they work.'

Lighthouse dating back 230 years will be demolished after falling victim to storms Ciara and Dennis

One of Britain's last historic lighthouses is to be demolished after falling victim to the powerful storms that rocked the country in recent weeks.

Storms Ciara and Dennis pounded the East Coast, causing erosion of beach that protects the 230-year-old redundant light tower on Orford Island in Suffolk, leaving it in imminent danger of collapsing into the sea.

Now the trust set up to save it seven years ago has admitted defeat and will spend its last 50,000 on its demolition - and hopes to sell off the bricks as souvenirs.

The lighthouse will not be rebuilt having already been decommissioned.

Erosion of beach that protects the Orford Island lighthouse in Suffolk has left it in imminent danger of collapsing into the sea

Recent storms have dramatically increased rate of erosion and now the 100ft-tall red and white tower.

Trust spokesman Nicholas Gold said today: 'It became clear to us then that the long-avoided time had come to dismantle the lighthouse if there was to be any hope of preserving any of the artefacts.

'We have now found suitable demolition company that could carry out the work and find a way forward with ten separate statutory bodies who all have an interest in the outcome of lighthouse's fate and her immediate, highly-protected environment.

'During that process East Suffolk Council decided that Orfordness lighthouse was now unsafe and ordered that it be taken down though we have long known this day would come. '

Some 11 years ago Trinity House decided that the lighthouse could not be maintained nor moved and instead decommissioned it saying the building would survive only a short while before it succumbed to the sea.

The Orfordness Lighthouse Trust was set up and took responsibility and committed itself to defend the lighthouse where it stood for as long as possible - and preserve the artefacts after that.

The trust set up to save the lighthouse seven years ago has admitted defeat and will spend its last 50,000 on its demolition

Mr Gold added: 'We have enabled thousands of visitors to visit the lighthouse and learn about this iconic feature of the Suffolk coast. The lighthouse has been used as for concerts, music videos, television documentaries and even proposals of marriage.

'We have had great fun sharing the building and the history of the lighthouse and we know it has brought interest and a lot of joy to many people.'

The trust added that it had negotiated an agreement with a demolition firm to carry out the work in a way that the will enable them to preserve key artefacts.

In the recent lull between storms Ciara and Dennis, specialist plant has already been taken onto the island to begin dismantling the building, initially to demolish the undermined oil-store and build up the beach in front.

Workmen have also prepared the beach to provide a stable platform for the crane that will take down the lantern room from the top of the lighthouse and then begin to take apart the rest of the building over the coming days.

But the announcement means there will be no more visits to the lighthouse. The trust said it had received many requests but now their only focus was the safe dismantling of the building and the preservation of the artefacts.

The demolition process will be filmed as a time-lapse video which will be made available after the operation is complete.

More than 1,000 homes confirmed to have flooded in Wales during recent storms

More than 1,000 homes and hundreds of businesses in Wales were flooded in recent storms, the Welsh Government has confirmed.

Welsh Government minister Lesley Griffiths described the damage caused as 'absolutely devastating' for those affected and for 'Wales as a nation'.

A number of flood warnings remain across the country, including on the River Severn, with Mrs Griffiths warning that the 'threat of flooding' had not yet passed.

The Assembly Member for Wrexham told a briefing in Cardiff Bay that the cost of the damage was expected to run into 'tens of millions of pounds', which the Welsh Government would not be able to fund.

Local authorities have confirmed than more than 1,000 homes were flooded, with unconfirmed reports of more than 300 businesses also affected, she said.

'The number of properties that have been affected and the damage and losses caused over the last two weeks right across Wales have been absolutely devastating for the individuals and I think also for Wales as a nation,' Mrs Griffiths said.

'I came down from north to south Wales yesterday and to see the impact everywhere - it really, really hits you. These were very, very significant storm events, I think we have to recognise that. A month's worth of rain fell in 24 hours.'

River levels in many places across Wales hit record or near-record levels in the wake of both Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis.

The River Taff, which caused devastation in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area of south Wales including the town of Pontypridd, was 80cm higher than during widespread flooding in 1979.

Mrs Griffiths said flood defences had meant more than 9,000 properties were protected from flooding on the River Taff alone, with a total of 73,000 homes across Wales protected.

On Monday, the Welsh Government announced that all households affected by flooding would receive 500, with an additional 500 available to those without house insurance cover.

First Minister Mark Drakeford and Simon Hart, Secretary of State for Wales, chaired a meeting on coal tip safety following the recent storms.

'They discussed having a database of where we know the tips are,' Mrs Griffiths said. 'We obviously know where those coal tips are and they're monitored very, very closely. I think a single point of contact with the public was an area that they discussed.

'This is obviously a legacy of our coal mining history. It is something that is continually monitored. I think it was a very constructive meeting and those discussions will continue.'

On Monday, a spokeswoman for the UK Government said it had been in 'regular touch' with emergency services, local authorities, public bodies and the Welsh Government following the flooding.

Flood hardship payments made to individuals and families will not affect their eligibility for benefits issued by the Department for Work and Pensions, she confirmed.

'Flood defences and the response to flooding in Wales are a responsibility of the Welsh Government but the Secretary of State for Wales told the First Minister that the UK Government will look seriously at any request from the Welsh Government for additional support and assistance for flood relief,' the spokeswoman said.
People in Northern Ireland have been warned to brace themselves for the coronavirus, after an expert warned that it is a case of 'when' the deadly disease is going to hit these shores - not 'if'.

Dr Connor Bamford, a leading virologist and research fellow at Queen's University Belfast, issued the stark warning after Italy confirmed its seventh death in Europe's first major outbreak.

As the impact of fatal virus became more pronounced, Ulster Rugby cancelled its PRO14 game against Benetton in Treviso on Saturday, while a question mark is hanging over the Six Nations clash between Ireland and Italy in Dublin on March 6.

Northern Ireland businesses who trade with China and other markets including Italy, where 165 cases of the disease have been detected, are scaling back on visits to their facilities as part of a plan to manage risk.

A lockdown is in place in several small towns in the Italian regions of Lombardy and Veneto, while South Korea and Iran have also been hit, prompting fears that the world is edging closer to a coronavirus pandemic.

No cases of the coronavirus, which causes respiratory disease Covid-19, have been found in Northern Ireland, according to the Public Health Agency (PHA) - but Dr Bamford warned that its arrival is imminent.

"It's not a case of 'if' the coronavirus will hit Northern Ireland - it's definitely more a question of when it's going to get here," he said. "That's just based on its spread to other countries. England has had multiple cases and we're just as susceptible as England."

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Dr Bamford said he was particularly concerned about the appearance of the virus - which presents itself with flu-like symptoms - in countries with no connection to China, where it originated.

"Internationally the situation is getting worse and more complicated so it's quite hard to contain travel and transmission if it's coming from multiple parts of the world like the Middle East, Europe and China," he said.

"It can also be more difficult to detect because it resembles flu and we're currently in winter."

He described the fatalities from the disease in Italy and Iran as "especially unsettling" because they "didn't think they had any cases".

"We know the virus will only kill about 1% of people so that means you're missing 100-fold more than what you have," said Dr Bamford.

"Also, and very worrying, a lot of these cases aren't connected to travel to China and that means the virus is probably spreading in the community."

On a positive note, Dr Bamford said the UK "has shown that it's very good at detecting cases coming in, even when it becomes more complicated".

"It could be bad in Northern Ireland but it can be dealt with," he said. "We have a lot of information. People know to get tested if they feel sick.

"Thousands of suspected cases have been tested across the UK and we've found between nine and 13 positive cases so we're good at detecting it and that means we can quickly minimise any impact.

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"The concern is what happens when you have many more cases coming in that are harder to manage but the UK and Northern Ireland are the best places to do that."

The PHA confirmed that no cases of Covid-19 have been diagnosed in Northern Ireland, adding that 35 tests have been completed as of February 19, with all results negative.

The Foreign Office has not advised Britons against travel to Italy, but has updated its website with information about the situation there, although the Irish Republic has advised against travel to virus hotspots.

In the local travel industry, firms haven't "hit the panic button yet" but they are "keeping a close eye" on the spread of the virus, particularly in Italy where there are more cases than in any other European country.

Gallagher Travel proprietor Heather Fielding, who sits on ABTA's Council of Regions for Northern Ireland, said they are currently dealing with "a lot of queries" from customers about certain holiday destinations as fears over the outbreak grow.

But she also said it has not yet affected bookings, adding that travel agents will continue to be led by the Foreign Office, which has deemed the current threat as "low".

Ms Fielding said: "Italy is concerning because it's closer to home but the outbreak isn't in tourist areas. We're not panicking but we're hoping and praying that the virus doesn't spread much further."

Meanwhile, Ian McMichael, Oasis Travel business relationship manager, said it is too soon to talk about the impact of the virus on bookings. "We don't know what the future holds," he said.

"The coronavirus wouldn't fill people with confidence but it's far too early to tell whether it will have an impact on the travel industry in Northern Ireland."

Bangor woman Jennifer Timmons (30) revealed that she was forced to cancel a birthday trip she had booked to Milan with her partner Gary (34) due to the coronavirus outbreak.

She said the fear of being stuck in Italy or potentially quarantined on return was "not worth the risk", despite now being left out of pocket. Ms Timmons added: "You don't know what will happen in the next few days and we have two kids, so there is no point taking a risk and going somewhere especially if you then can't leave."

Several local companies who do business in China and other affected markets are now falling back on email, telephone and social media for communications.

Stephen Kelly, chief executive of Manufacturing NI, said that many firms here receive component parts from China, adding that members were scaling back on unnecessary visits to their sites.
(Sharecast News) - Stocks in London were set for a positive start to Tuesday, after suffering its heaviest single-day losses in more than four years on Monday, as the Covid-19 strain of coronavirus continued to spread outside of China.

The FTSE 100 was expected to open 46 points higher at 7,202 points.



In equities, Tesco said it had sold its 20% share in the Chinese Gain Land joint venture to its partner China Resources Holdings (CRH) for ?275m.



The supermarket chain on Tuesday said the sale would help its "further simplify and focus the business on its core operations" and the cash used for general corporate purposes.



The transaction will be completed on February 28 and there were no conditions to closing or regulatory approvals required, it added.



Retail property developer Hammerson held its dividend, reported an 8.5% fall in earnings per share and wrote down the value of its assets.



Full year adjusted earnings per share came in at 28p against 30.6. The company reported a widened basic loss per share of 102.1p compared with a loss of 34.1p in 2018.



Hammerson held the full year dividend at 25.9p but said it would rebase the 2020 payout to a sustainable level, removing the direct link between earnings generated and dividend paid.



AstraZeneca has agreed to sublicense its global rights to 'Movantik', or naloxegol, excluding Europe, Canada and Israel, to RedHill Biopharma, it announced on Tuesday.



The FTSE 100 pharmaceuticals giant described Movantik as a peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist, indicated for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation.



It said RedHill would make an upfront payment of $52.5m to AstraZeneca on closing, and a further non-contingent payment of $15m in 2021.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to increase police force in violence-affected areas in northeast Delhi and held a meeting with AAP MLAs and officials to discuss measures to restore peace.

The chief minister, accompanied by his deputy Manish Sisodia, other ministers and party MLAs, visited Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat to pray for peace in Delhi. He also requested the people to maintain calm and peace.

Earlier, attending an all-party meeting convened by Shah, Kejriwal requested that police force be increased in affected areas and powers be given to it to take necessary action to contain violence.

He also visited the family of Delhi Police Head Constable Ratan Lal who was killed in violence on Monday. The chief minister faced protests as a crowd gathered outside Lal's house in Burari and raised slogans asking him to go back.

"Violence can solve nothing. The people of Delhi should maintain calm and peace," Kejriwal urged on more than one occasion.

Kejriwal started the day meeting his party MLAs and officials at his residence to discuss the situation in the city.

He instructed the district magistrates and SDMs to carry out peace marches in the affected areas, said a Delhi government statement.

In the afternoon, Kejriwal attended a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, the Delhi police commissioner and leaders of different political parties.

"In the meeting with the Union Home Minister, he appealed for deployment of additional forces in Delhi and allow the police to take necessary action."



He also requested that proper security be maintained at the borders of the city so that no outsiders can enter Delhi to create trouble.

"The authorities have assured us that they will strengthen the police force and deploy as many police personnel as needed. Everybody has decided to rise above party and work towards reinstating peace in the city", he said after meeting Shah.

He appealed to the people of Delhi to join hands together to stop violence, saying that no one is going to benefit from it and every issue will be resolved through peaceful negotiations.

"The violence that has erupted in North East Delhi in the last few days is a matter of grave concern for all of us. I want to appeal to the people of Delhi to maintain peace and harmony. All problems can be resolved with a peaceful discourse on the matter. Violence is never the answer," he said in a press conference.

The chief minister said that hospital authorities in the affected area have been alerted and instructions provided to them so that the injured people can get proper treatment.

The Fire Department has been instructed to coordinate with the police, so that they can reach the affected areas in time, he said.

The temples and mosques situated in the affected areas must also appeal to the people to maintain peace and calm, Kejriwal said.

The chief minister along with Sisodia also met the injured policemen and civilians at GTB hospital in Shahdara and Max hospital in Patparganj.

"I met the people injured in the violence, including those with bullet injuries. I have instructed that special care be given for the injured, more beds arranged, more doctors roped in and all possible measures are taken to save the lives of the victims. Treating the injured is not an issue," he said.

Thirteen people died and over hundred were injured in the violence, so far, in several parts of north east Delhi over Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The CB-310 from AVer Europe helps to maximise existing classroom equipment and create new interactive experiences

AVer Europe, the award-winning provider of video collaboration solutions and education technology solutions, has today announced the UK launch of CB-310, its interactive control box designed to increase the capability of existing equipment within the classroom and raise student engagement.

As a stand-alone Android module, the CB-310 easily connects to any display and is designed for seamless integration via multiple output ports. The device keeps costs low by making the most of existing equipment within the classroom, fully integrating with TVs, interactive whiteboards, monitors, projectors and visualisers. The CB-310 allows educators to use Windows, Mac, Chrome and Android platforms at the same time by simply switching input sources.

The powerful ScreenShare technology of the CB-310 allows students to work on a smartphone, tablet or laptop then wirelessly share their thoughts with everyone. By remotely mirroring the content from a range of devices, the CB-310 provides a platform for all students and enables new possibilities within the learning and teaching environment as a result.

The CB-310's split screen feature enables up to four different student ideas or presentations to all be displayed simultaneously, making it a perfect solution for side-by-side comparisons and group collaboration.

"The CB-310 control box helps educators to make the most of their existing equipment inventory through flawless integration, while also helping to engage students using inclusive collaboration tools," explains Rene Buhay, AVer Europe Vice President of Sales Marketing. "The possibilities at your fingertips with the CB-310 make it the hub of any classroom."

AVer Europe's CB-310 control box is available with a 3-year warranty at MSRP 479. For more information, please visit www.avereurope.com.

ENDS

About AVer Europe

AVer Europe provides intelligent technological solutions to harness the power of visual communications for business and education.

With over 20 years of research, development and manufacturing excellence, AVer holds numerous international design, innovation, application, and service awards for exceptional product usability, reliability and customer satisfaction, sustaining a market leadership position with top quality products and services.

www.avereurope.com.

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Horse trainer Tom Cleary, who is based just outside Athlone, has told of efforts to keep stables clear of flood water and to ensure the horses are safe.

This is the third time in 11 years that they have been faced with such a dilemma he told RTE radios Morning Ireland.

Theres not a lot we can do but move the animals to safety. There are some good people out there offering to take them," he said.

Most of the stables can be saved, but we need pumps which we have ordered, but we are still waiting for them from the council.

Its a bit worse this morning, theres two inches more (of water) and four stables are now affected.

Mr Cleary said two local politicians  Robert Troy and Peter Burke had been in repeated contact with him and the council who had promised that pumps would be provided, but have yet to arrive.

Nobody appeared, but I understand they must be very busy."

Kevin 'Boxer' Moran stands in flood water in Athlone. Picture: PA

Outgoing Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief Kevin Boxer Moran, who lives in Athlone, said that land in the area has been saturated since last October but has been flooded over the last week with heavy rain.

Units from the local fire brigade had been on duty all night attempting to keep water pumped away from housing areas, however, water levels did rise two inches over night said Mr Moran.

Conditions are a small bit better today with showers rather than rainfall forecast, but more rain is due on Saturday.

There is talk of bringing in the army to help.

When the media frenzy dies down people will still be facing this for the next six to eight weeks.

Meanwhile, in Clare, Geraldine Mason was relieved that efforts by the fire brigade who had kept pumps going all night, had kept her home dry.

After the last floods she had taken up all wooden floors and put in tiles. Her husband and son had stayed in the house over night while she had stayed in Annacotty, she admitted she shed tears of relief this morning that her home was not flooded as she has no home insurance.

Other residents spoke about their difficulties due to the floods including Seamus Reddin, a student who expressed concern for older residents in the area, but said there was a great community spirit.

Luke Kinsella told of how portaloos have been delivered to every home because of possible problems with toilets and flood water.

His brother Philip told of how the last time there was flooding in 2016 he had an asthma attack and had to wade through flood water to the ambulance which could not get through the water.

Tom Lane, speaking for the Clare branch of the IFA said that there is a need for a single authority to deal with the issue and for proper funding to carry out the necessary works.
A midstate mother accused of starving her 16-year-old son so severely that he weighed about as much as a toddler is headed for trial after waiving her preliminary hearing Tuesday on charges including aggravated assault.

Elisabet Estradas decision moves her case on to Franklin County Court.

Chambersburg police claim Estrada, 41, deprived her son of food to the point where he weighed just 26 pounds when he was admitted to a hospital in the fall.

Her other three children are in foster care while Estrada sits in prison in lieu of $125,000 bail. In addition to aggravated assault, Estrada is charged with two counts of child endangerment.
SALEM, Ore.  Oregon will join a bipartisan coalition of other states in launching an investigation into vaping company JUUL Labs, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum anounced on Tuesday. She joins the attorneys general of Connecticut, Flordia, Nevada, and Texas in leading the investigation.

With 39 states signed on, the coalition says it plans to investigate JUUL's marketing and sales practices  including the alleged targeting of youth, claims regarding the product's nicotine content, and its statements regarding the device's safety and efficacy as means of quitting smoking.

I have long been concerned about how JUUL targets children with their sleek devices and marketing practices. They have almost singled handily gotten a whole new generation of teens hooked on tobacco," said Rosenblum in a statement. "JUULs aggressive advertising has significantly contributed to a public health crisis in Oregon and across the country. I am proud that my office has taken a lead role in this investigation, and we will work with the coalition to make sure JUUL is held accountable for their actions."

According to Rosenblum's office, one in four high school students and one in ten middle school students in the U.S. reported that they had used an e-cigarette in the past 30 days.

"I will not prejudge where this investigation will lead, but we will follow every fact and are prepared to take strong action in conjunction with states across the nation to protect public health, said Connecticut Attorney General William Tong.

The issue has also seen an alliance between Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Mitt Romney of Utah, who have championed legislation in the Senate to permanently ban flavored vaping products and extend tobacco taxes to e-cigarettes.

The FDAs recently issued January Guidance on vaping falls short of protecting youth and the public health, the senators said. We urged the agency to reconsider the January Guidance and apply the temporary flavor ban to all types of ENDS products, such as disposable e-cigarettes and small open-tank systems, which are known to entice youth and keep them addicted. We will continue to press FDA to prioritize the health and safety of our nations youth.

In Oregon, A.G. Rosenblum has urged lawmakers to pass a ban on sales of e-cigarettes over the internet, which passed the House earlier this month. The current Republican boycott over cap-and-trade, however, means the bill's fate remains uncertain.

Internet sales historically have allowed minors relatively easy access to tobacco. No matter how much so-called 'proof' is required to make a purchase online, remote sellers just cannot adequately verify the age or identity of remote purchasers. Neither can they verify that their products are being delivered to people who are old enough to legally use them," said Rosenblum in her testimony before lawmakers. "This legislation is an important step in reducing youth access to these deadly products.
The Lebanon County Correctional Facilitys handbook says no inmate can have long hair unless it is worn in a ponytail or a bun. But for many black inmates, that rule doesnt apply. Instead, they are placed in solitary confinement if they refuse to cut their hair.

One inmate currently in segregated housing says that policy violates his religious rights. Eric McGill, who is Black, wears his hair in dreadlocks. A practicing Rastafarian, McGill has refused to cut his hair since he was taken into custody more than a year ago. (Rastafarians do not cut their hair, ascribing to a strict reading of the Old Testament that forbids it.)

McGill, 27, reached out to PA Post in January this year, saying he was placed in segregated housing on Jan. 19, 2019, because of his refusal to cut his dreadlocks.

I havent cut them due to my beliefs and way of life, he said in an online message to PA Post.

Inmates kept in solitary confinement are allowed just five to 20 minutes of time outside their cell per day. McGill is also limited to two hours a day to make phone calls to his family  between midnight and 2 a.m. Not uncommon for people who are in solitary for extended periods of time, McGill has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, severe depression and anxiety, according to court records.

In an affidavit filed with the court, Robert J. Karnes, the warden of the Lebanon County jail, said inmates who choose to cut off their dreadlocks are able to leave solitary confinement.

Though not mentioned in the handbook directly, dreadlocks and other long hair styles are forbidden, corrections officials say, because inmates can use the hair to hide weapons or contraband.

According to the affidavit Karnes signed, McGill hasnt committed any other infractions to justify solitary confinement.

In a Feb. 6, 2019, plea to Karnes, McGill noted the rule book issued to inmates doesnt mention dreadlocks, while long hair is allowed if its worn in certain styles. Im being told I have to cut my hair, he wrote.

But Karnes, in a letter back to McGill and obtained by PA Post, said the inmate had a choice: keep his dreads and stay in confinement, or shave his head and be moved to a regular cell block.

No one is making you cut your dreadlocks, Karnes wrote. You may take them out on your own or leave them in. That is your choice. If you take them out you will be taken out of [solitary]. If not you wont.

Outside the Lebanon County Correctional Facility. The Pennsylvania institutional Law Project is suing the jails warden and two deputy wardens for violating inmates religious rights.

Sending inmates to solitary because of their religious practice is a violation of federal law, said Amy Fettig, director of the American Civil Liberties Unions National Prison Project

Under the Religious Land Use and Incarcerated Persons Act, prisons are required to accommodate inmates religious practices. In 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court concluded that the Arkansas Department of Corrections violated a Muslim inmates religious liberties by trying to force him to shave his beard.

That hasnt stopped many correctional facilities from putting people in solitary for not abiding by jail rules, Fettig said, even if complying with rules would require an inmate to go against a religious practice.

Its not uncommon, Fettig said. Youve got an entire class of people whose rights are routinely violated, who are absolutely unprotected. Theres nobody holding prisons or jails accountable.

The extended use of solitary in McGills case is extreme, according to psychologists and corrections experts. In 2015, the Department of Justice recommended no more than 90 days of solitary for only the most serious offenders, and only if the inmate commits multiple offenses while incarcerated.

Citing the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes rules of solitary confinement, which defines reasonable usage of solitary confinement in certain cases, prisoner rights advocates say that any use of solitary confinement longer than 15 days is tantamount to torture.

Hes being tortured for his religious beliefs, essentially, Fettig said.

In Lebanon Countys jail, its unclear how long inmates are kept in solitary confinement and for what reason. In January, PA Post requested the records of inmates kept in solitary. Karnes, through the county commissioners assistant, said that prison records with inmate names on them are not public record.

There is no Pennsylvania statute that limits access to public records based on inmate names.

McGill was arrested on Jan. 19, 2019, after he and two others were accused of shooting and injuring four people in Lebanon. He is being charged with conspiracy to commit homicide, aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault. The judge offered McGill bail, which he couldnt afford, so he was placed in Lebanon County Correctional Facility.

Challenging his solitary confinement, McGill filed a suit against Karnes and the jails two deputy wardens, Michael Ott and Timothy Clements, last October. Since then, the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project took on the case, filing a preliminary injunction against the correctional facility to release McGill from segregated housing into the general population.

Citing pending litigation, the county declined to comment. An email and voicemail left with both Ott and Karnes were not returned.

McGills attorney said the ban on long hair at the Lebanon County prison is racist because it singles out Black hairstyles like dreadlocks, cornrows or braids.

If you have straight hair, you can keep it long. If you have dreadlocks or other hairstyles commonly worn by African Americans, then you cant, said Matthew Feldman, the attorney representing McGill. Its difficult to ignore the racism of whats happening here.

Follow Joseph Darius Jaafari on Twitter @JosephJaafari.
Laura Black (pictured) had her holiday ruined when Fly365 collapsed

A devastated holidaymaker who spent more than $2,000 on a trip of a lifetime to Italy has told of her devastation after holiday booking giant Fly365 collapsed.

She is one of hundreds of Australians left out of pocket after the online flight booking company went into administration.

Lauren Black, 39, planned to fly to Rome from Brisbane for three weeks with friends to celebrate her 40th birthday, but was left in tears when told her flights were cancelled.

The Sydney-based company went into voluntary administration on Friday, immediately closing down its website and Facebook page.

The surprise action took hundreds of customers by surprise, with more than 700 already joining a support group on Facebook for those whose holidays are ruined.

'I searched Google for Fly365 and found a product review page and there were comments on it from the last three days,' she told news.com.au.

Travellers have been left thousands out of pocket after flight retailer Fly365 entered into administration (stock image)

'I called Thai Airways (and) I explained what I was checking on.

'(Thai Airways) found our booking reference and then said that our flights had been booked, but was cancelled by Fly365 last week. I just started crying. I started to feel quite sick. It was horrible.'

Customers are unable to log on to the agency's app or website, leaving hundreds with no where to turn for refunds.

Around 600 customers are waiting for refunds after the shock development.

Melbourne couple James Price and Steven Somers had spent $11,500 on flights to Europe and have been left without a refund.

Mr Price and Mr Somers had organised a family trip to Europe and booked flights on February 14.

Mr Somers estimated that with flights, a cruise and accommodation his trip was worth around $30,000.

James Price (pictured, right) and Steven Somers (left) are now $11,5000 out of pocket after using Fly365 to buy flights to Europe

He said he is unable to buy more flights without a refund from Fly365, and fears his whole trip will be ruined if he doesn't get his money back.

Mr Somers had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in January and wanted to take the opportunity to travel while he could.

The couple's money was withdrawn from the account five days after buying the flights but when Mr Somers tried to book seats he noticed his reference number wasn't working.

He attempted to get in touch with Fly365 only to hear a response that the company was no longer trading via an email.

'They were still taking bookings up until the 19th [of February] so it's quite bad what they've been doing,' Mr Somers told Daily Mail Australia.

'It's a disaster. People have told me (Fly365) knew they were insolvent but they were still taking bookings.'

Mr Somers estimated that bookings from as recently as January and February weren't being honoured, and he is in limbo as he waits for a refund.

'I haven't seen my parents since I was diagnosed with MS last month, so that was why we wanted to plan this trip because I don't know what my mobility is going to be for the next few years,' he said.

Mr Somers - who had to resign from his job after being diagnosed with MS - said Fly365's collapse had caused him 'huge stress'.

Customers are met with a 'this page isn't working' pop-up message (pictured) when they try to access the Fly365 website

The Australian Federation of Travel Agents said they were given no warning before the flight retailer went belly-up.

'This is a very regrettable situation and AFTA strongly believes that contributing circumstances beyond the control of AFTA and the ATAS scheme have resulted in this outcome,' said AFTA chief executive Jayson Westbury.

'AFTA, through the robust criteria that surrounds the ATAS scheme, is able to monitor and review the health of travel businesses who hold ATAS accreditation.

'Unfortunately, where there appears to be deliberate withholding of information by the Directors, AFTA was not in a position to either provide advance support to the business prior to its failure or predict this outcome.'

The Australian retailer (pictured) went into administration on Friday and its website and Facebook page have since been removed

AFTA is urging customers to contact the airline to confirm their tickets as well as contacting their bank to issue a refund and making enquiries with the liquidator.

Mr Somers said affected customers are now waiting for liquidators to host a meeting to update them on how they can get their money back.

He has since set up a Facebook page for other people who had booked flights with the retailer.

The page, Fly365 Liquidation - Support Group has so far more than 600 members.

Nicarson Natkunarajah from Roger and Carson Pty Limited is the liquidator for the company.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Natkunarajah for comment.
Amadeus delegation headed by Maher Koubaa, Executive Vice President, Airlines, Middle East, Turkey & Africa has arrived in Baku for a working visit.

The successful integration of Amadeus Altea Passenger Services Systems (PSS) new solution by Azerbaijans National air carrier was discussed at a meeting with AZAL President Jahangir Asgarov. This solution will allow AZAL to personalize passenger services and will qualitatively improve the functionality of the booking system, take-off control, inventory database and income management systems.

The advantages of Altea will also be noticed by the airline's travel agents. The quality of stock-taking and booking management systems will be significantly improved due to the centralized storage of passenger name records (PNR).

"We continue our active cooperation with Amadeus, a leading aviation IT solutions provider. Switching to the new Altea PSS system will allow us to improve the quality of services provided to AZAL passengers", - Jahangir Asgarov noted.

According to Jahangir Asgarov, due to the maintenance to the new system, passengers have encountered some inconveniences with online booking for a certain period. However, the system is now functioning normal and almost all these issues have been resolved.

By implementing Amadeus Altea PSS and Revenue Management solutions, Azerbaijan Airlines can provide its customers with an even greater level of service. The countrys flag carrier will be able to support the growing travel demand to Azerbaijan as it forms part of the Altea global community of airlines working to provide seamless travel solutions for travelers, Maher Koubaa noted.

It should be noted that Amadeus solutions are actively used at Heydar Aliyev International Airport as well. The capitals airport, having implemented the latest Amadeus solutions last summer, became the first airport in the world to fully switch to cloud technologies.

"Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) is a major air carrier and one of the leaders of the aviation community of the CIS countries. Total route network of the airline is 40 destinations in 25 countries. Azerbaijan Airlines and its subsidiary low-cost carrier Buta Airways carried a total of more than 2.6 million passengers in 2019.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Nearly two years after resigning amid mass protests against his continued rule, Armenias former President Serzh Sarkisian went on trial on Tuesday on corruption charges which he rejects as politically motivated.

Sarkisian stands accused of giving privileged treatment in 2013 to his longtime friend and businessman Barsegh Barseghian which cost the state 489 million drams (just over $1 million) in losses. According to law-enforcement authorities, he made sure that a government tender for supplies of subsidized diesel fuel to farmers is won by Barseghians Flash company, rather than another fuel importer that offered a lower price.

Sarkisian is standing trial together with Barseghian, former Agriculture Minister Sergo Karapetian and two other former Agriculture Ministry officials also indicted as part of the criminal case. All five suspects deny any wrongdoing.

Sarkisians lawyers again dismissed the embezzlement charges leveled against him when they spoke during the first session of the high-profile trial at a district court in Yerevan. One of them insisted that they are based on contradictory, incredible and illogical testimony given by a single person.

The trial prosecutor, Arsen Martirosian, denied that, saying that investigators collected enough evidence to press the charges against the man who ruled Armenia from 2008-2018.

The incriminating pre-trial testimony was reportedly given by Karapetian. The former minister was jeered by the ex-presidents supporters when he entered the courtroom moments before the start of the trial. He refused to talk to reporters afterwards.

The defense lawyers also alleged numerous procedural violations committed by investigators. They accused Martirosian of being biased against their client and demanded his replacement by another prosecutor. The presiding judge, Vahe Misakian, adjourned the court hearing to consider the demand.

Sarkisian, 65, was greeted by more than 100 supporters rallying outside the district court building when he arrived for the hearing. Addressing the small crowd, he seemed to link the case against him to his position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

From the highest podiums of the world I have periodically stated and will repeat now that Nagorno-Karabakh will never be part of Azerbaijan. This has been the supreme goal of my life and it will accompany me to the end, the Karabakh-born ex-president said in a short speech greeted with applause and President! chants.

The crowd included senior members of the former ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) still headed by Sarkisian. In a statement issued earlier in the day, the HHK leadership similarly alleged a connection between the trial and the current state of the Karabakh negotiating process.

With such steps the authorities aim to deflect the Armenian peoples attention from numerous internal and external problems that are becoming more acute by the day, said the statement.

HHK representatives claimed earlier that their leader was indicted in early December in retaliation for his public criticism of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian. Law-enforcement officials and Pashinians political allies brushed aside those statements.

Sarkisian accused Pashinians government of jeopardizing democracy and stifling dissent in a November 20 speech at a congress of the European Peoples Party held in Croatia. He had kept a low profile since resigning in April 2018.

Pashinian repeatedly implicated Sarkisian, his family and political entourage in corruption both before and after coming to power in the Velvet Revolution led by him.
[February 25, 2020] Zendesk to Hold Annual Analyst and Investor Event on March 4, 2020

Zendesk, Inc. (NYSE: ZEN) today announced that as part of its global user conference, Relate 2020, it will hold its annual analyst and investor event on March 4, 2020 in Miami, Florida. The analyst and investor event will include executive presentations followed by a question and answer session. It will be available via live webcast beginning at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and an archive version will be available for six months. Both will be accessible by visiting Zendesk's investor website at investor.zendesk.com. About Zendesk The bes customer experiences are built with Zendesk.



Zendesk is a CRM company that builds support, sales, and customer engagement software designed to foster better customer relationships. From large enterprises to startups, we believe that powerful, innovative customer experiences should be within reach for every company, no matter the size, industry or ambition. Zendesk serves more than 150,000 customers across a multitude of industries in over 30 languages. Zendesk is headquartered in San Francisco, and operates 17 offices worldwide. Learn more at www.zendesk.com. Source (News - Alert): Zendesk, Inc.

Zendesk, Inc.

Investor Contact:

Karen Sansot, +1 415-215-2739

[email protected] or Media Contact:

Analisa Schelle, +1 510-292-5410

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A new NGO report has found that the treatment suffered by families forcibly separated at the US-Mexico border meets the definition of torture.

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) says its report provides the first medical and psychological evidence of the long-lasting harm associated with family separation.

In the report, You Will Never See Your Child Again: The Persistent Psychological Effects of Family Separation, PHR describes findings from in-depth psychological evaluations of 26 asylum seekers, nine of them children and 17 parents.

Of those evaluated, all the children and all but two of the adults showed the symptoms of various psychological problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder.

One of the reports co-authors, Ranit Mishori, MD, said that Even when evaluated by medical professionals a year after being reunited with their families, these kids and parents still exhibit signs of compound trauma.

Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Show all 20 1 /20 Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The prototypes for President Trumps border wall are being demolished. AP Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The US Customs and Border protection had built the eight 30-foot tall steel and concrete models near San Diego on the US-Mexico border. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A 2018 report from the Government Accountability Office found that the construction challenges presented by the four concrete models would be extensive and those presented by two of the other models would be substantial. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California It was intended that Mr Trump would choose his favourite of the designs after testing had been completed. AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The President is yet to comment. AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Each prototype cost $300,000 to $500,000 to build and they are being knocked down in order to make way for the San Diego Secondary Wall project which will see up to 14 miles of barrier being built to support the existing steel border fence. AP Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The new barrier will not employ the design of any of the prototypes, instead being built of the favoured steel bollards which make up the current section of the wall at San Diego. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The new secondary barrier being built near San Diego. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The rubble of one of the demolished prototypes. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A steel wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A wall prototype made from a mix of steel and concrete AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A wall prototype made from a mix of steel and concrete AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A steel wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A digger approaches the prototype wall AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Aerial view of the wall prototypes at the US-Mexico border after they were torn down AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California An aerial view showing Tijuana, Mexico on the left and the demolished wall prototypes on the right AFP/Getty

Many of the families arrived at the border already suffering psychological trauma thanks to violence they had experienced in their home countries or en route to the border, including threats and abuse from gangs.

According to the report, parents and children were often separated in traumatic ways, with children forcibly removed from their parents arms, left sleeping alone while their parents were taken away, or disappeared while their parents were elsewhere.

The families interviewed for the report described being told they would never see each other again, and recounted that the conditions they suffered in detention were often overcrowded and even violent.

The policy of separating children and parents who crossed the Mexican border without documents  including asylum seekers  began after the Trump administration moved to a zero-tolerance approach to border crossings. It attracted both public outrage and legal challenges, and Donald Trump signed an executive order to end the practice in June 2018.

However, the administration has continued to pursue hardline immigration policies since then, including ones that would affect families, and the separations continued after Trump signed his order. According to government numbers received by the American Civil Liberties Union, more than 1,110 families have been separated since then.

In September 2019, a federal judge rejected new regulations that would have allowed the government to detain children and their parents indefinitely.

Commenting on the reports launch, PHR executive director Donna McKay stated that Family separation has not ended, nor have all separated families been reunited. She called on the Trump administration to immediately reunite families, including deported parents, and end this deplorable family separation practice for good.
Technavio has been monitoring the IT market in Germany and it is poised to grow by USD 13.92 bn during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of 3% 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/20200224005737/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled IT Market in Germany 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Increased adoption of IT solutions among German SMEs has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Request a free sample report

IT Market in Germany 2019-2023: Segmentation

IT Market in Germany is segmented as below:

End-User

Manufacturing

Government

BFSI

ICT

Business Services

Other Sectors

Category

IT Services

Software

IT Hardware

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=IRTNTR31177

IT Market in Germany 2019-2023: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our IT market in Germany report covers the following areas:

IT Market in Germany size

IT Market in Germany trends

IT Market in Germany industry analysis

This study identifies government support for IT solutions as one of the prime reasons driving the IT market in Germany growth during the next few years.

IT Market in Germany 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the IT market in Germany, including some of the vendors such as Accenture, IBM, Microsoft, SAP SE and T-Systems International GmbH. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the IT market in Germany are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

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Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of IT market in Germany vendors

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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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Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails announced Tuesday it has hired Rebecca Latham as its new chief executive officer effective March 2, 2020.

She succeeds longtime CEO Peggy Sanchez Mills, who retired in January after 10 years with the organization, officials said in a news release.

After a comprehensive nationwide search, we are pleased to have found the best person to assume leadership of Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails right here in Albuquerque, said Board Chair Maribeth Thornton in a statement. Rebecca has a track record of leadership success in New Mexico, and her passion for the future of both our organization and the state is evident in everything she does.

Latham, a Brownie Troop Leader and former New Mexico cabinet secretary, will leave American Mothers Inc. at the end of February. She served as the CEO of the DC-based nonprofit for 14 months.

Prior to that she was secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department for four years, overseeing development and expansion of the New Mexico True brand advertising campaign.

My earliest lessons on leadership and civic responsibility came during my time as a Girl Scout, said Latham in a statement. Ive enjoyed passing those lessons on to my daughter and her peers, and I look forward to expanding my love for this organization from our troop of 20 girls to a council of thousands.

With offices in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Aztec and Clovis, Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails serves approximately 6,000 girls and adults across central and northern New Mexico. The council serves 23 counties: Bernalillo, Cibola, Colfax, Curry, De Baca, Guadalupe, Harding, Lincoln, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Socorro, Taos, Torrance, Union, and Valencia.
The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday claimed that it prevented Karnataka from discussing the contentious Mekedatu reservoir issue at the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) meeting held here.

Besides the representatives of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the fifth meeting of CWMA, presided over by Central Water Commission Chairman R K Jain, officials of Kerala and Puducherry also participated.

CWMA member and TN PWD Secretary K Manivasan told reporters after the meeting that the state government prevented Karnataka from discussing the dam issue by pointing out the pending petitions in the Supreme Court against the project filed by the E Palanisami government.

"We have told participants of the meeting that Mekedatu reservoir will be against the interests of Tamil Nadu and its farmers. Our consistent stand is that it should not be built at any cost. Finally the issue was not discussed in the meeting," Manivasan said.

The Mekedatu reservoir is proposed to be constructed by Karnataka across Cauvery river near Mekedatu, about 110 km from Bengaluru, in Kanakapura taluk.

It was first proposed along with Shivanasamudra hydro power project at Shimsa in 2003 with an intention to use the water for a hydro power station and supply drinking water to Bengaluru city. It was designed to store 67 tmc feet of water.

While Tamil Nadu is claiming that the construction of a balancing reservoir will disturb Cauvery water flow to the state affecting irrigation, Karnataka says the project is basically designed to take care of the drinking water needs of Bengaluru after releasing water to Tamil Nadu as per the quantum specified by the Cauvery water disputes tribunal.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is showing no signs of slowing down. The virus is now a more global problem than ever before. 893 reported cases of Coronavirus in South Korea, 229 in Italy, 160 in Japan and 90 in Singapore, to name a few countries worst hit along with Chinaand counting. The World Health Organization (WHO) as well as authorities around the world are still at a loss to explain the sudden surge in cases in Italy, Iran and South Korea over the past few days. But the one thing that authorities are convinced about are the superspreaders, the Coronavirus secret weapon.

Italian authorities believe that a still-to-be-tracked superspreader is the source of the virus in the country. The biggest jump in cases of COVID-19 has been reported in Lombardy, which includes the financial capital Milan, with around 100 confirmed cases. Patient Zero, as they are calling the person, remains unidentified. South Korean authorities have identified a 61-year old woman who attends the Shincheonji Church of Jesus the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony in Daegu as the possible superspreadershe has been labelled "Patient 31" by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in South Korea. She has not travelled abroad recently, and The Guardian reported on February 20 that around 37 fellow churchgoers have already tested positive for Coronavirus and another 52 are showing symptoms. We've asked [all members of the church] to stay at home, isolated from their families, Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin, told the media.

The Coronavirus has a trump card, the superspreader, much like SARS before it. But what is a super spreader? While there is no strict medical definition for this term as yet, it usually refers to the person who is infected by a particular virus or disease and subsequently spreads the infection to significantly more people than someone else also infected by the same virus or disease. A typical infection spreader follows the traditional steps. He or she catches a virus but would likely not know about it at this point. Then as carriers, they each infect people in close proximity, completely unknowingly. Science is at a consensus that this spread is usually 2.6 people per person, on an average. Subsequently, the carrier and ones the infection was spread to show the symptoms and are taken into quarantine for treatment. But a super-spreader works a bit differently. A super-spreader also catches the virus or infection much like everyone else, but unknowingly spreads it to 8 people on an average immediately, as against 2.6 people that someone else would. If like the Coronavirus, the infection stays in the body for up to 14 days before showing symptoms, the spread can continue without the superspreader or anyone in their vicinity realising it.

ALSO READ | This Scary Map Shows How Coronavirus May Be Spreading Globally Through Wuhan Travellers

In China, there is a 20-year old woman who has become the first case that indicates that a person can spread Coronavirus to others without actually showing any symptoms themselves. The Wuhan native is under observation at the Fifth People's Hospital of Anyang after having believed to have passed on the COVID-19 virus to 5 family membersthey insist she is the only relative who had been to Wuhan recently. It has already been reported that the Coronavirus incubation period may be much longer than the previously thought 14-days, and instead could be as high as 27-days before the first symptoms show up.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has already explained that the name COVID-19 comes from "co" which stands for "corona", "vi" for "virus" and "d" for "disease". Therefore the name COVID-19 and also known as 2019-nCoV.

ALSO READ | Coronavirus Scare Has People Searching For Answers; Google Lists The Common Questions

Earlier, reports out of Hong Kong suggest that a super spreader at the high-rise tower called Hong Mei House in north-western Hong Kong's Tsing Yi has put more than 3000 residents at risk, after the Coronavirus appeared to have spread inside the complex via pipes and ducts. According to a study published in JAMA on February 7 which analysed as many as 138 confirmed Coronavirus cases in Wuhan confirms that some people may pass on the virus more readily than the average person. One reason for the rapid spread may be related to the atypical symptoms in the early stage in some patients infected with nCoV, says the research.

Briton Steve Walsh is perhaps the most high profile among the Coronavirus super spreaders thus far. It is believed that Walsh caught the virus, at that point unknown to him, in Singapore. He then made a long journey home, via a ski resort in The Alps, and ended up infecting as many as 11 people along the way. He has since recovered, but the weight of being the reason for 11 other people catching Coronavirus because of him, is clearly weighing heavily.

There is no scientific explanation for how some infected people become super spreaders. But the virus uses some human carriers in a way that the infection spreads to more people than the average. In most outbreaks youll find super spreaders but we dont really understand the mechanism. What we often think is these people are producing lots of virus, and that generally translates to lots of transmission potential. But why do certain people produce lots of virus? Were unsure, Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham, said to The Telegraph.

ALSO READ | Coronavirus: This Website Has A Realtime Map Tracking The Deadly Virus in All Countries

The main signs of the Coronavirus infection are high fever, cough, cold and a shortness of breath. In short, typical flu symptoms at first. Doctors suggest that frequently washing your hands with soap, using hand sanitizers regularly, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth and avoiding contact with a potentially infected human can reduce the chances of the spread of infection.

According to the constantly updated data from The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China as well as information shared by local governments, there are now more than 77,658 confirmed cases in Mainland China but we must also add 81 from Hong Kong and 10 from Macau to the overall China numbers. While the governments of Italy, South Korea and Japan have been quite forthcoming in the release of information thus far, Iran still remains a cause of concern because of the conflicting reports emerging from the countryPakistan and Turkey have closed their borders with Iran at the time of writing this.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Councilman Kerry McCormack said Tuesday that residents have run out of patience with the city over its management of the West Side Market and that he, too, is at the end of his rope.

McCormack, who represents the markets Ohio City neighborhood, said hes open giving the market operation more autonomy within city government or finding an operator to run it for the city on a nonprofit basis.

He was quick to add that his comments, made at a budget hearing, are not meant as criticism of Mayor Frank Jacksons administration or the people within the Public Works Department who are running the market.

The community is done with their patience on this issue, he said. People are very frustrated, and they are looking for a road forward."

Related coverage

The first fix for the West Side Market is to shop there now: Michael K. McIntyre

City Hall causes rather than solves problems at Clevelands troubled West Side Market: Brent Larkin

The century-old Cleveland landmark has been beset by criticisms recently.

Vendors have left, creating vacancies, particularly in the produce section. Those remaining have complained about issues with plumbing, electricity, heating and cooling.

The community is done with their patience on this issue, he said. People are very frustrated, and they are looking for a road forward.

The city operates the West Side Market as an independent enterprise that is supposed to generate enough revenue to pay for itself. That hasnt happened in years.

And when revenue falls short, the citys general fund picks up the tab.

In 2019 that subsidy was nearly $300,000, according to budget figures. For 2020, Jacksons administration projects revenue will be nearly $500,000 short of covering expenses.

McCormack said the city needs to address the issues at the market now.

My concern is that were setting them [the citys management staff and market vendors] up to fail, McCormack said. We need to give the market room to breathe and grow.

The administration did not respond to McCormacks remarks during Tuesdays hearing.

But the administration is not in favor of handing operations to an outside entity. During a recent appearance on a WCPN 90.3 Sound of Ideas community forum, Jacksons chief of operations, Darnell Brown, said the administration believes it is in the citys best interests to retain control of managing the market.

The administration announced this week it was taking proposals from consultants.

We are in search of a consultant that can think outside of the box to enhance the markets competitive edge, Brown said in a news release. As the historic institution continues to adapt to the evolving demands of 21st century customers, the city of Cleveland seeks a consultant who can evaluate and recommend ways to enhance overall customer experience, vendor mix, and the quality of products and services. We also want to create a process for customers to be able to provide feedback.

McCormack had previously proposed that the city turn management of the market over to a nonprofit. Its an approach used by several other cities  Cincinnati, Columbus, Philadelphia among them  that have public markets.

Regardless, the city needs to recognize that the West Side Market must be allowed to flourish  if not through an outside operator, then perhaps by giving it more independence from the city bureaucracy, McCormack said.

You can see that those [other cities] are nimble and changing to meet the public demand, McCormack said. We have to see how we can do this in a manner that will allow [the West Side Market] to thrive.

More from Cleveland City Hall

City plans top-to-bottom assessment of Cleveland Public Power to help identify needed improvements, consider rate increase

Cleveland City Council introduces $100M package of incentives for Sherwin-Williams new downtown headquarters

Is Cleveland-owned property along the Shoreway a good site for an outlet mall? Some members of City Council are wary

Cleveland police Chief Calvin Williams says staffing now above 1,600, wants to focus on stability, efficiency, good policing

Get insider texts about Cleveland City Hall on your phone from Robert Higgs. Cut through the clutter of social media and communicate directly with cleveland.coms City Hall reporter, just like you would with your friends. Sign up here and give it a try. Its just $3.99 a month, which works out to about 13 cents a day.
Australians and Americans are locked in heated debate over which country offers the greatest quality of life, safety from crime and best opportunities to further your career.



The discussion began when Sydney man Peter Morgan wrote a lengthy explanation of why Australians have a greater quality of life than Americans on question and answer forum Quora.

He said while America is 'bigger and better in many ways', Australian companies pay more reasonable wages than their US counterparts, which makes things more affordable and gives residents greater quality of life.

Mr Morgan believes Australia is safer with considerably lower rates of crime, and argued that the tipping culture, hefty taxes and mandatory service charges in American bars and restaurants makes him 'prefer backward Australia' to the US 'any day'.

His post started a lively debate with Australians praising their nation and expatriates from various countries disagreeing, arguing that robbery and antisocial behaviour is rife while forging a respected career is almost impossible Down Under.

Australians and Americans are arguing over which country offers the greatest quality of life, safety from crime and opportunities to further your career (stock image)

British man Jon Faulkner, who has lived in Queensland since 2015, branded Australia a 'backwards, third world' country and slammed its citizens for being 'arrogant' and 'unfriendly'.

'I moved to the Gold Coast from the UK five years ago. I wish I had bought some more clothes in Europe - it's so bad and tatty in Australia for clothes, it's third world,' he said.

'If you have any professional ambition in Australia, you are 100 percent wasting your time... you're going nowhere no matter how hard you try.'

Mr Faulkner also said Australia is 'at least 40 years behind' Europe and the US in 'every field'.

An anonymous American contributor told Australians to 'get off their high horse' and accept that crime rates are soaring in their country, particularly in rural parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory.

'Open your eyes - the crime in Australia is staggering,' he said.

'Crime committed by youth - trespassing, thievery, break-ins etc. - is through the roof.'

The positives of Australia - Unrivalled work-life balance - Fairer wages - Safe and low rates of crime - Reasonable cost of living Advertisement

The positives of America - High-flying career opportunities - More cosmopolitan society - 24-hour lifestyle - Stunningly diverse nature Advertisement

A British man who has lived in Queensland since 2015 slammed the lack of professional opportunities in Australia, declaring it to be 'at least 40 years behind' Europe and the US in 'every field' (stock image)

A man posting under the name George N. argued that the US has more than 13 times the population of Australia with citizens from a wide range of ethnicities, which makes its society more complex to govern.

'Australia is an island. That alone makes it harder to smuggle illegal items. The US has borders with developing countries. It also has 327 million people with very different backgrounds - Australia has only 25 million,' he said.

'Australia is very strict with immigration. [Anyone] caught entering the country illegally is instantly deported. Laws alone don't make crime less, the people, society and environment matter as well.'

An anonymous American contributor told Australians to 'get off their high horse' and accept that crime rates are soaring in their country (stock image)

Australians didn't hold back from defending their homeland and waxed lyrical about the idyllic life on offer Down Under.

Kevin van Buerle, who lives in Perth, said he 'couldn't agree more' about the toxic tipping culture in the US hospitality industry.

'We have a fairer system of wages compared to the US,' he said.

'Essentially the wait staff are paid such low wages that they depend on tips. The public is in fact paying their wages, [even though] it's the employer's responsibility to pay a decent wage.'

Adelaide woman Pauline Newman said her country is 'way better than America' because it has fewer murders, more effective gun laws and greater security for children.

Australians said companies Down Under pay more reasonable wages than their US counterparts, which gives residents greater quality of life (stock image)

Daily Mail Australia previously spoke to American expats living in Australia about the cultural differences they found most unusual after moving Down Under.

Many were shocked by how early Australian shops and cafes close, while others were baffled by the unique names Australians use for coffee.

Samantha Berger, 26, moved to Sydney six months ago from Saint Paul, Minnesota, and said she was shocked to see a lack of 24-hour shops

In the US, filtered coffee is commonplace and brewed by the pot, while terms for espresso drinks like 'long black', 'short black' and 'piccolo' are unheard of.

'Seriously I have ordered coffee at least 12 times without them understanding a single word I said and my order is extremely simple,' Brooke Stamm, 24, from Mishawka, Indiana, told Daily Mail Australia.

Sarah Florio said she tried ordering a 'regular coffee', which back home would mean a black filtered coffee with milk and sugar, but in Australia, would only indicate the size of the drink.

'I looked like an idiot when I first got here trying to get a cup of Joe,' she said.

The vast majority of those interviewed praised the unrivalled work-life balance that exists all over Australia.

'In America, we live to work. In Australia, they work to live - not just in attitude, but also in the strict labor laws and strong wages they have there,' said Cassie Warner, who lived in Australia for two years before moving back to the US.
Cult church at center of coronavirus outbreak in South Korea is shuttered

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A young man was seen putting no entry signs on the doors of a church that is seen as a cult that is at the center of South Koreas largest coronavirus outbreak in the southeastern city of Daegu, as all of its 9,000 members remained inside their homes Friday amid reports of 142 new cases of the virus, bringing the total in that country to 346.

All of our 9,000 believers are at home, the member of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, told Reuters, which also reported that at least 500 church members in this city of 2.5 million had developed symptoms of the virus as of Friday amid ongoing tests.

The virus has passed on to others mostly through a 61-year-old woman who attended services at the church, which was holding services several times a week until recently.

The street on which the church is situated now looks unusually quiet.

When a service was over, thousands of people in the same black suits would emerge from the exterior top floor staircase and come all the way down to the ground because they only have two elevators, a 28-year-old resident was quoted as saying. That would go on for more than 10 minutes. Really bizarre if you watch it. There are that many people.

The church followers reportedly believe that its founder, Lee Man-hee, is the fulfillment of Jesus promised second coming and that only Lee can interpret and understand the Bible.

On its website, the church claims, Currently, the pastor of Shincheonji Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony is creating Gods kingdom of heaven here on earth, exactly as he witnessed it in heaven.

It adds, Similar to how Jacob had created the 12 tribes of Israel through his 12 sons (Gn 49), he became the new spiritual Israel who created the 12 tribes which bear 12 crops of fruit every month. This is proof that he is the one who overcomes. (Mt 19:28; Rev 22:1-2)

In November 2016, the Church of England warned around 500 of its parishes in London about the activities of an affiliate of this church, known as Parachristo, a charity in the U.K. that runs Bible study courses in London Docklands.

In China, where the virus originated, more than 76,000 people are infected and 2,300 have died.

The virus has affected 26 countries and territories outside mainland China, killing at least 11 people, according to Reuters.

World Health Organizations director-general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said Friday that while the number of cases outside China is not high yet, infections have emerged with no clear link to China. I believe the window of opportunity is still there, but that the window is narrowing, he said, according to The Telegraph.

He added, We still have a chance to contain it. But while doing that, we have to prepare for all eventualities as this outbreak could go in any direction  it could even be messy  but it is in our hands now. We can still avert any serious crisis.

The United States has at least 34 cases, and Italy has more than 40 confirmed cases and two deaths.
Everyone knows that the royal family has plenty of rules and a protocol that they follow on a daily basis. Most of the rules have been in place for decades but now Queen Elizabeth II is being accused of making up her own when it comes to her grandson, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan Markle, and Prince Harry | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

The pair announced on Jan. 8, that they planned to step down as senior royals in whats been referred to as Megxit.

In a statement via Instagram, the duke and duchess said, We have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role  We intend to step back as senior members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent.

However, they didnt have a clean break from the family as the queen called for a summit along with Prince Charles and Prince William before she threw Harry and Meghan any support. Things havent exactly been smooth since they retreated to Canada either and now some are saying that Her Majesty is just making up rules as she goes along.

When you think about it though, the queen always did bend and even create new rules for the couple since theyve been together. Here are some examples of what she did for them pre-Megxit, plus what shes being called out for doing post-Megxit.

Breaking rules pre-Megxit

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and Queen Elizabeth II | JOHN STILLWELL/AFP via Getty Images

When the prince and Meghan announced their engagement in 2017, the former actress was widely viewed as a breath of fresh air who would help modernize the monarchy.

Meghan did show that she wasnt afraid to shake things up almost immediately when she went against and completely ignored certain protocols that the other family members have always stuck to.

However, instead of showing anger, Queen Elizabeth seemed to embrace her even more and allowed Meghan to do things that she never permitted other royals like Kate Middleton or Princess Diana to do. That includes spending Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham before the former Suits star and Harry even tied the knot.

As time went on, the Sussexes continued to break the rules and the queen continued to allow it. But now what Her Majesty is demanding post-Megixit has many believing that the monarch is acting in retaliation for whats been done in the past and making her own rules for the pair.

Making up rules post-Megxit

The queen was criticized shortly after Meghan and Harry announced their plans when she refrained them from using their HRH titles. Royal expert Nigel Cawthorne spoke to The Express about the queens decision and he slammed Her Majesty for not allowing the Sussexes to use that style anymore.

Under Letters Patent proclaimed in 1917, Harry has the right to call himself a prince and Meghan is a princess of the United Kingdom as his wife, Cawthorne said. The only precedent for the monarch actively preventing relatives from calling themselves a prince were the Letters Patent. They were proclaimed at the outbreak of war with Germany by George V to strip his German relatives from their right to call themselves a British prince.

A few weeks later, Queen Elizabeth banned the couple from using the word royal as the intended to be part of their Royal Sussex brand. The duke and duchess obliged but made it clear that they werent happy about it and dont understand why Harrys grandmother thinks she has the right to block them from using the word royal.

On their website, they stated that there is not any jurisdiction by The Monarchy or Cabinet Office over the use of the word royal overseas.

The Sussexes will officially step down from their royal duties on March 30.

Read more: Which Royal Does Queen Elizabeth II Trust More Now After Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Stepped Down?
Another family in the Daraa countryside has been informed that their missing son was tortured to death in a regime prison reports Jesr.

A young man named Hamza Mohamed al-Mekdad from the town of Maariba in the Daraa countryside was killed under torture in a regime prison, three years after he was initially arrested, according to the Free Horan Association.

Regime forces sent a death certificate on Wednesday to the martyrs family in the town of Sheikh Maskin in the Daraa countryside.

Daraa province has been constantly mourning its young men killed under torture. A few days ago, Mohamed Dhiab Fawaz al-Fannish was killed under torture in a regime prison, after over a year of detention.

Fannish was arrested by the Criminal Security branch on Oct. 28, 2018. after an arrest campaign by the branch in Sheikh Maskin, which affected dozens of opposition members, including former workers in the local councils.

Rateb Osman al-Jabawi from the city of Jassim north of Daraa was killed under torture a regime prison, after being held in the Sadnaya Military Prison in the Damascus countryside for more a year and two months.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The population of endangered



dolphins has further declined in Odisha's Bhitarkanika National Park and nearby Gahirmatha seawaters, officials said.

The latest headcount of dolphins, a report of which was released on Monday, spotted only 62 dolphins, a big drop from the last years census of these aquatic species.

Last year the census teams had spotted 126 dolphins in the Bhitarkanika National Park and nearby water bodies.

The forest officials spotted only 62 dolphins during the census conducted this year on January 19, while last year it was 126, Deputy Conservator of Forest (Wildlife Management) Pradipta Kumar Sahoo said.

The drop in the population of dolphins, accorded endangered status in the International Union for the Conservation of Natures (IUCN) Red List, has apparently assumed alarming proportion, officials said.

In the 2018 census, 307 dolphins were spotted. It dropped to 126 in 2019 and this year only 62 were spotted, he said.

The deputy conservator of forest (wildlife management) said factors leading to the drop in the number of dolphins in Bhitarkanika and Gahirmatha are being studied.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The prominent civil Rights Advocacy group  HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has suggested that there could be a sinister nexus between the spike in kidnappings for ransom all over Nigeria with the widespread commercialization of federal civil service employment slots by key officials in government and officials of the national ruling party  All Progressives Congress (APC).

Besides, the Rights group has suggested the constitution of an independent judicial commission of inquiry on the large scale employment scams involving key government officials just as the Rights body said the National Assembly, the Nigeria Police Force, Central Bank of Nigeria; NNPC; Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and a lot of presidency officials have at one time or the other been accused of engaging in employment corrupt practices but these accusations have been swept under the carpet of impunity just as the Rights group said if this menace is not tackled headlong it could constitute a grave threat to Nigeria's national security. "There is therefore the imperative need that the 'umbilical cord' of employment racketeering buried deep inside the inner sanctum of federal Government's POWERFUL and influential officials is excavated and dealth with. The enemies of transparent and merit based employments into the natiobal agencies and institutions are very powerful men and women who are in the corridors of power. Any cosmetic measure to end the menace has failed ab initio."

The Rights group said these vital security and political institutions including majority of the cabinet level appointees have soiled their hands in this rapidly expanding federal jobs racketeering scheme which has become a multinlbillion industry and so cannot be trusted to thoroughly, comprehensively, honestly and professionally embark on a proper, forensic and result oriented investigation into this disturbing social evil in Nigeria.

From 2015 on inception, this administration has been dogged with widespread allegations of jobs fixing, jobs racketeering and the selective and illegal employment of unfit Nigerians only because they are children of the political, military or governmental elite just as the Central Bank of Nigeria; Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Petroleum Equalization Fund; Petroleum Education Trust Fund; Federal Inland Revenue Services and the Nigerian Police Force; EFCC; are some of the many government institutions that are now viewed as cesspools of corrupt practices in the area of employment of young Nigerians. It is possible that desperation for jobs may have motivated some youths to embark on kidnappings to raise cash to buy up the secretly auctioned federal employment slots. Millions of university graduates are roaming major streets of Nigerian cities in search of white collar jobs because the federal and state governments have failed to put the enabling environment to train the youths to become entrepreneurs and creators of jobs and wealth. Even the much publicised entrepreneurial development fund of the Central Bank of Nigeria has been hijacked by children of top political elite. The few job slots not allocated to Children of ministers and top federal government appointees that are available at the federal levels are now sold to the highest bidders.

"These corrupt practices have been there for years before the advent of the Muhammadu Buharis administration. But with the emergence of the current government, the racketeering of jobs and outright commercialization of employments has assumed frightening proportions with some job slots costing as much as #10 million thereby forcing some desperate unemployed but deviant youths to embark on different types of crimes like advanced fees fraud (419) and kidnappings for ransom to raise cash needed to buy their ways into federal employment. The worst dimension is that the law enforcement agencies that should chevk this menace are deeply involved in the scams".

"This is now a national epidemic requiring national surgical action to be done by a committed group of judges to investigate the extent of these crimes, name, shame, and prosecute the key perpetrators and to fish out the beneficiaries so the employment slots can be filled through merits and competence.

HURIWA dismissed the drama going on in the senate in which federal character commission is accused of auctioning employment slots to the highest bidders at #3 million per slot. "HURIWA is of the position that these senators are not altruistic because the National Assembly members are the worst culprits in the crime of employment racketeering.The moment they are offered slots, this dramatic probe will die a natural death."

HURIWA recalled that the Senate had raised the alarm over allegations of job racketeering in the Federal Character Commission with jobs reportedly being traded for as much as N3 million.

HURIWA recalled that the Chairman of its Committee on Federal Character Commission, Senator Danjuma Laah, who spoke after some agencies failed to honour the panels summons regarding the scrutiny of their nominal rolls in Abuja, confirmed that they got reports from Nigerians alleging sale of jobs in the agency. He said one of the accounts claimed that someone bought his job at N3 million from NPA, adding that the sellers are in Federal Character Commission.

HURIWA however dismissed the Senate probe as a gambit because it is just like appointing owners of brothels as officers of NAPTIP. How can the job racketeering National Assembly be trusted to probe the same crime that they are accused of by millions of Unemployed Nigerians? Who is deceiving who?"
When the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness issued its terrorism threat assessment for 2020 last week, it noted a marked shift.

The threat level from violent, homegrown extremists, and specifically white supremacists, was marked in red as the top category: High. The threat from the Islamic State, al Qaeda and their ilk was demoted to third, in green: Low.

Terrorism experts believe that holds true for the entire United States.

In the U.S., more people are killed by far-right extremists than by those who are adherents to Islamist extremism, said Mary McCord, a Georgetown University law professor and a former senior Justice Department official for national security. Her comments came at a discussion last week at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, which commemorates victims of the most notorious attack by international terrorists on U.S. soil.

Even as the menace from homegrown extremists grows more explicit, however, law enforcement is wrestling with how to combat it. That challenge has spawned a fervent debate over whether the United States needs a new law to specifically criminalize domestic terrorism, or whether such a statute would threaten basic First Amendment rights.

Proponents argue that a domestic terrorism law would streamline and clarify the patchwork of charges now used against homegrown extremists, charges that often avoid even mentioning terrorism.

Opponents counter that a new law amounts to a worrisome expansion of government powers and might face constitutional challenges on the grounds of impinging on free speech.

Yet the New Jersey report laid out what is at stake in stark terms. Some white supremacist extremists argue that participating in mass attacks or creating other forms of chaos will accelerate the imminent and necessary collapse of society in order to build a racially pure nation, it said.

After Latino shoppers were targeted in a shooting in El Paso, Texas, in August, leaving 22 people dead, Congress proposed a new wave of laws. However, most of those have stalled.

But the recent arrests of eight members of a white supremacist group called the Base, some of whose members were accused of planning a mass attack in Richmond, Va., have renewed focus on the issue. Three members arrested in Maryland pleaded not guilty last week to various charges, including transporting a firearm and ammunition with the intent to commit a felony.

Senior law enforcement officials express frustration that cases like those cannot be called terrorism in court.

The statutes that are typically deployed in connection with domestic terrorism cases are really kind of pedestrian in nature, said Thomas Brzozowski, the Justice Departments counsel for domestic terrorism. This confuses people. It leads to this pervasive but false narrative that somehow the government is paying more attention to the Islamic extremist threat than to the domestic threat.

Neil MacFarquhar is a New York Times writer.
[February 25, 2020] College Outside Optimizes Operations with TrueCommerce Drop Ship and eCommerce Solutions

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TrueCommerce has announced today that College Outside , a members-only online retailer of outdoor gear for outdoor education groups and college students, has successfully streamlined shipping relationships with key vendors with TrueCommerce Drop Ship and eCommerce solutions. In a recent success story the global provider of trading partner connectivity, integration and unified commerce solutions, analyzed how its unified commerce platform helped the emerging e-merchant eliminate manual bottlenecks and errors through order and inventory data exchange automation.

Background

College Outside is a members-only online retailer of outdoor gear for outdoor education groups and college students. This innovative company leverages a drop ship business model to sell products from over 50 leading outdoor brands at a deep discount to their customers.



Working with so many brands presents huge daily challenges around exchanging order and inventory data in multiple forms, as well as keeping product availability up-to-date on College Outsides online storefront. This time-consuming manual activity constrains business growth and can negatively affect the customer experience by introducing errors and delays. More Connected, with Unique Integration and Automation

To gain more regular and accurate inventory updates, as well as more timely shipping and tracking data, College Outside took advantage of a cloud-based integration made possible by TrueCommerces eCommerce platform and customizable supply chain collaboration tools. TrueCommerce worked directly with College Outsides vendors to link their systems with the retailers eCommerce platform. The integration automates the exchange of critical supply chain data to accelerate fulfillment, eliminate errors and reduce out-of-stocks. Sarah Lockwood, Founder and CEO, explains: The TrueCommerce portals cloud-based technology acts like middleware between our TrueCommerce Nexternal eCommerce platform and our vendors systems. It delivers automation that ensures we get proper inventory updates, that our vendors receive our orders, and that we get timely order status and tracking information back from vendorsits very cool! The new integraion also benefits College Outsides vendors, by helping to eliminate manual effort, delays and errors on their end as well.



The retailer launched the new program with two key brands in October 2019. They plan to migrate more brands to the new, integrated workflow over time. More Prepared for Whats Next, with End-to-End Drop Shipping Automation

When a customer places an order through College Outsides web storefront, it is processed automatically at the line item level and POs are sent to each of the brands involved.

Unlike most eCommerce platforms, TrueCommerce Nexternal can process orders at the line item level out-of-the-box, notes Ms. Lockwood. With our new integration, some line items are now routed through the TrueCommerce suppler portal and then on to the brands as POs. The two brands that integrate through the TrueCommerce platform receive POs directly into their order management systems. The vendor then automatically sends back an order confirmation. When the vendor drop ships the order, the solution automatically sends back shipment and tracking data, which updates College Outsides Nexternal eCommerce system. Nexternal then automatically notifies the customer that their order has been shipped and provides tracking data. College Outside also automatically receives an invoice for the shipped order, including shipping and freight costs. Its all very clean, transparent and organized, Ms. Lockwood states. Under the hood the data is exchanged using electronic data interchange (EDI), but our team receives the documents in human-readable PDF or CSV formats. Creating the Best Possible Customer Experience

Integration with its vendors through the TrueCommerce suppler portal and e-commerce solution provide critical support for College Outsides unique business model. The automation takes a big load off our team and enables us to scale as we add new vendors and grow our sales, Ms. Lockwood emphasizes. Even more importantly, it enables us to create the best customer experience that we possibly canby making sure that our website accurately reflects whats in stock, accelerating our shipping timeline, and ensuring that customers get their order and tracking information quickly. More Supported, with Responsive, Dedicated Customer Service Teams

College Outsides commitment to streamlining its drop ship order processing is matched by TrueCommerce support. The TrueCommerce supplier portal team has been incredibly responsive and professional, relates Ms. Lockwood. Weve trusted them to represent us with our vendors, and that experience has been entirely positive. Anytime an issue comes up they respond immediately and dig into solving the problem.



College Outside has been a TrueCommerce Nexternal customer for over five years, and the experience has been similar. Our TrueCommerce Nexternal account manager and support team have been incredible, Ms. Lockwood reports. Weve worked with them through many iterations of our site. Theyve gone above and beyond to create tools that we need or help us customize our eCommerce platform, to support our unique business model and help us grow. The combined platform helps College Outside to be a more agile and efficient team.



Instead of being forced to hire a team of engineers to build the supply chain platform we need, we get to work with TrueCommerce and thats really wonderful, Ms. Lockwood shares. I would certainly recommend this solution. Especially from cost and ease-of-use standpoints, its a great option for any company in the drop ship space that is working with multiple vendors. About TrueCommerce TrueCommerce is the most complete way to connect your business across the supply chain, integrating everything from EDI, to inventory management, to fulfillment, to digital storefronts and marketplaces, to your business system, and to whatever comes next. To stay ahead in todays dynamic global market, companies need to be able to do business in a lot of different directions at once. But too often, doing so means too many solutions and too much assembly required. For decades TrueCommerce has helped businesses be more connected, more supported, and more prepared for whats next. Thats why thousands of companies  ranging from startups to the global Fortune 100, across various industries  rely on us. TrueCommerce: Do business in every direction For more information, visit https://www.truecommerce.com . Media Contact

Yegor Kuznetsov, TrueCommerce

703-209-0167

[email protected]

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
A NUMBER of large trees have been removed from a location in the city centre following an incident last week when one fell into the road due to high winds.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) has removed 13 trees from outside Sarsfield House, Francis Street, with calls being made to legally protect such trees.

On the afternoon of Monday, February 10, the citys fire service attended the scene of a fallen tree on the premises, with traffic diversions put in place as the tree had fallen across the footpath and into the road.

Matthew Bridge in Limerick City was closed to outbound traffic in the direction of Corbally for a short period of time, while Francis Street was closed until approximately 6.30pm.

No cars or people were involved in the incident, which occurred during a nationwide Status Yellow wind warning, referred to as Storm Ciara.

The newly-elected Brian Leddin, Limericks first Green Party TD, took to Twitter to express his disappointment that the rest of the trees were being removed.

Sad to see the fine trees by Sarsfield House all cut down by the OPW after one tree fell over the weekend, he said this Tuesday, we need legal protection for significant trees and a commitment from public bodies that they will consult before felling where there is not an immediate risk to public safety.

A council spokesperson said: Limerick City and County Council is not carrying out any work on trees at Sarsfield House, however the council was involved in the removal of two of the trees that fell during previous storms, the latest during Storm Ciara.

An OPW spokesperson said: Following a recent incident the OPW decided to organise a survey of the remaining thirteen trees in the vicinity as a matter of urgency.

This assessment stated that the remaining trees had outgrown their available planter bed space, and periodic drought and waterlogging of the planter beds had made them unstable. The tree root zones were also erupting the hard landscaping and pavement infrastructure, posing ongoing health and safety issues.

Following OPW consultation with an ecologist, landscaping contractor and National Parks & Wildlife Service, it was decided to remove these trees. Each tree was inspected before felling was allowed, no bats or birds were present within them. It has been decided to plant appropriate new trees and shrubs incorporating decorative stone gravel and hard surface reinstatement with new paving at damaged areas, it was added by the spokesperson.
Coronavirus or Covid-19 currently has at least 2,592 death cases in China as of February 23, the window of opportunity to stem this epidemic was "narrowing" says the World Health Organization (WHO). This new type of virus was first detected last December 2019 and has infected more than 78,000 people in more than 30 countries. The vast majority of these cases were recorded in China.

As the virus continues to spread, fear also spreads across the globe. Scientists in the frontline in Wuhan, China and researchers around the world ramped up efforts to understand its effects on the human body.

The virus has varying levels of severity like mild, severe, and critically ill. Most of the cases recorded are mild but all the patients have developed pneumonia. The Chinese Center for Disease Control reported that among the confirmed cases about 81% develop mild cases, 14% develop severe symptoms and 5% of them are critically ill.

Just like the SARS-Cov-2, Covid-19 also infects the tissues and airways deep in a person's lungs rather than the nose. The patient experiences the common symptoms such as fever, fatigue and a dry cough.

However, not all confirmed cases reported the same symptoms. For example, the scientists from Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University and Jinyintan Hospital from Wuhan say that 31% reports shortness of breath, 11% have muscle pain, 9% have confusion, 8% have a headache, and 5% has a sore throat.

Most of these symptoms came from the study conducted on the severe cases of the virus. Pneumonia- an inflammation to the lungs, and eventually organ failure is expected if the patient is not yet cured.

As detailed in the Lancet Medical Journal, the first two patients to die in Jinyintan Hospital were long-term smokers and that could have weakened their lungs even though they were seemingly healthy before their death.

The first patient was a 61-year old man with severe pneumonia. Despite being on the ventilator, his lungs failed and his heart stopped beating because he was already in acute respiratory distress, wherein his lungs are unable to provide enough oxygen to his body. He died just 11 days after he was admitted.

The second one is a 69-year old man, also with acute respiratory distress. He was attached to an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine or an artificial lung but this was not enough. When his blood pressure collapsed, he died of septic shock and severe pneumonia.

The oldest are most likely to die with less than 0.5% of patients aged under 50 who have died, the Chinese Center for Disease Control said.

That figure spikes quickly to 1.3% in their 50s, 3.6% in their 60s, 8% in their 70s, and 15% over 80s. These are just estimates of the death rate since many mild cases are still unnoticed and some patients are still being treated.

People who have no health problems other than the virus is 0.9% likely to die. But this rises when a patient has already an existing medical condition. There is a 6% chance in people with high blood pressure, 6% in people with long-term lung problems, 7% in people with diabetes, and 11% in people with cardiovascular disease.

Keeping in mind these growing statistics, countries around the world are also doing precautionary measures and looking for ways to battle this unknown disease.
Tara Battle, a nurse, and her daughter at their home in Chicago on Feb. 21, 2020. Battle finds multiple policies are burdening, if not outright dividing, their family with her Nigerian husband unable to return to the United States. President Donald Trump has highlighted the construction of a border wall to stress his war on illegal immigration, but it is through policy changes, not physical barriers, that his administration has been able to seal the United States with two more measures expected take effect by Feb. 24. (David Kasnic/The New York Times)
US First Lady Melania Trump was back to school on Tuesday as she attended a Happiness Class at a government school in south Delhi and interacted with children.

She was welcomed by excited students dressed in traditional attire as she arrived at the Sarvodaya Co-Educational Senior Secondary School in Moti Bagh, which was decked up with floral garlands with a massive security ring thrown around.

Melania Trump interacted with the students and teachers for around 30 minutes as her husband US President Donald Trump held delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House near India Gate.

Wearing a white dress with yellow and red flowers with a red tilak on her forehead, she also attended a cultural programme at the school with children dancing to Bollywood music.

Melania Trump took a tour of the school, went to a reading room as well as an activity room for kindergarten students. She also saw a yoga session and interacted with students. She visited classrooms decorated with paintings and boards to welcome her.

One of them read Welcome First Lady Melania Trump into the treasure of books and another said, We welcome First Lady Melania Trump to our Happy World.

The gates too were decorated with various paintings and a Welcome to Happiness Class inscribed over them.

On being prodded by a teacher, the students said namaste to which Melania Trump replied with folded hands. In another class, excited children interacted and shook hands with the US First Lady.

This is my first visit to India and I cannot express how delightful it is. People here are so welcoming and so kind. I learned that Sarvodaya means prosperity for all, she said while addressing students and teachers.

As I walked around, I was able to see how the concept exists amid the curriculum in the leadership of the teachers as well as the spirit of enthusiasm of the students, she said.

Melania Trump attended a Happiness Class, started by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2018, at the school through which students are taught meditation, street plays, basic obedience aimed at reducing their anxiety and stress levels.

It is very inspiring to me that the students here begin each day by participating in mindfulness, from mindful breading, telling stories to friends, listening to another classmate, or simply connecting with nature. I cannot think of a better way for all of us to start our day, she said.

Melania Trump said in her speech that in the US she works with several children to promote similar ideas of well-being through her BE BEST initiative.

It teaches about the dangers of drug abuse, the importance of online safety and the overall well-being of children.

Before leaving, Melania was also gifted Madhubani paintings made by the school children. She was also seen hugging the small children who were dressed in colourful clothes.

She is currently on a two-day state visit with her husband in India. Earlier today, she took part in the ceremonial welcome of the US President at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and then paid a floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi Samadhi at Rajghat.

(With agency inputs)
Every name on the BrandBucket marketplace is exclusively listed with BrandBucket. That means that all of our sellers are very responsive, making for quick domain transfers.

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US President Donald Trump and Indian PM Narendra Modi said their countries are working on a major trade agreement, Voice of America reported.

Their remarks came after talks in Delhi.

Trump announced an agreement with India on the supply of US helicopters and other military equipment totaling $ 3 billion and said that Washington and Delhi are expanding cooperation in the fight against terrorism, cybersecurity and maritime security.

Trump said US-Indian relations today are truly stronger than ever.

Modi made a similar assessment, saying that the volume of trade between the two countries increased significantly, and relations between them reached a new level under the leadership of Trump.

He also noted he had held fruitful talks with Trump on various key aspects of the US-India partnership, including defense and security, energy and technology.

Indian officials announced memoranda of understanding on mental health and safety of medical devices, as well as a letter of cooperation on oil before Trump and Modi spoke.

Earlier that day, Modi and Indian President Ram Nath Kovind greeted Trump at a ceremony in the presidential palace. Trump and his wife Melania laid wreaths at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial. The visit of the US president takes place shortly after the protests in India amid the new citizenship law, which, according to critics, marginalizes over 200 million Muslims of the country. The Modi government rejects these allegations. At a rally on Monday, Trump hinted at the pluralistic nature of Indian society.

Trump is the fourth American president in a row to come to India. He continues Washington's transition in allied relations from the archenemy of India, Pakistan, to Delhi.
Israeli PM pledged to revive contentious E1 plan and to build 3,500 new illegal settler homes in occupied West Bank.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to build 3,500 new illegal settler homes in the strategically sensitive E1 region of the occupied West Bank.

The announcement on Tuesday came a week ahead of Israels general election  the third in less than 12 months  and is the latest in a string of promises to expand illegal Jewish settlements as the right-wing prime minister also faces a corruption trial.

I have given instructions to immediately publish for deposit the plan to build 3,500 housing units in E-1, Netanyahu said in a speech, describing the first phase of a planning process. This had been delayed for six or seven years.

Nabil Abu Rdainah, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said Netanyahus announcement crossed all red lines and he called on the international community to act.

This is dangerous policy and we consider this an act of destroying the peace process, Abu Rdainah said about Israeli settlement activities.

Israel froze a plan to build settlements in the E1 region since 2012 because of objections from the United States, European allies and other world powers who considered the project a threat to any future peace deal with the Palestinians.

Palestinians say it would split the West Bank in two and cut off its residents from access to occupied East Jerusalem, also territory Israel captured in the Six-Day War of 1967, and then later annexed in a move that was never recognised by the international community.

Palestinian leaders perceive East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

The planned E1 corridor will connect Israeli settlements, such as Maale Adumim, to Jerusalem, ending any chance of territorial contiguity for Palestinians in the West Bank.

Some 600,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank and Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem among about 2.9 million Palestinians.

War crime

Angela Godfrey-Goldstein, codirector of Jahalin Solidarity, an NGO working to prevent the displacement of Palestinian Bedouins living in the E1 area, said the construction could mean their forced expulsion and constitute a war crime.

If allowed to go ahead, this move will end the potential for a viable, sustainable Palestinian state, and is yet another example of how desperate Bibi [Netanyahu] is to buy votes so as to stay out of prison at the expense of our future, she said.

Netanyahu, 70, is struggling to keep hold of power in a third vote after failing to secure a majority in two inconclusive elections last year. He will stand trial next month after being indicted for bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

Last week, Netanyahu announced he was reviving a separate project, also frozen after international opposition, to build 3,000 new settler homes in the illegal Givat Hamatos settlement in the West Bank, on the outskirts of Jerusalem.

Settlement watchdog Peace Now said the Givat Hamatos area was the last point enabling territorial continuity between Bethlehem and East Jerusalem, saying the plan to build there was proof Netanyahu was doing everything to prevent peace.
From left: Dougald McCaughey and brothers Joseph and John McCaig were killed in 1971

A former Parachute Regiment soldier was "centrally involved" in one of the most notorious episodes of the Northern Ireland Troubles, it has been claimed.

Three off-duty Scottish soldiers, two of whom were brothers, were lured from a pub in Belfast city centre on March 10, 1971 and executed by the IRA.

John McCraig (17), his 18-year-old brother Joseph and Dougald McCaughey (23) of the Royal Highland Fusiliers were found shot dead by the side of a road in Ligoniel, north Belfast.

A BBC Spotlight documentary, to be aired on Tuesday night, names Paddy O'Kane, who had served seven years in the Parachute Regiment, as being involved in the killings.

The former soldier, who is now dead, is reported to have shared a drink with the three Scots before they were led to their deaths.

A former IRA member and members of O'Kane's own family confirmed to Spotlight that he said he played a key role in the killings.

O'Kane, who was from north Belfast, joined the Parachute Regiment in 1957 and served in Jordan and Cyprus.

He left the Army in 1964 with a "very good" service record and later joined the Provisional IRA at the outbreak of the Troubles in 1969.

O'Kane was identified by police as a prime suspect in the killings almost immediately after they were carried out, however he evaded arrest and went on the run in Republic.

Former IRA intelligence officer Kieran Conway said O'Kane spoke openly about his involvement in the murders, describing him as a "psychopath".

"I believe any man that could execute three young Scottish soldiers in that manner must have been a psychopath," he told Spotlight.

The programme also reports that O'Kane was a lead suspect in the Kingsmills massacre in January 1976, when 10 Protestant workmen was taken off their minibus and shot dead by the IRA.

He was granted a controversial "on-the-run" (OTR) letter 2007, after previously being refused in 2003, which confirmed he was not wanted by police in connection with any crime.

O'Kane died in 2009 in Shannon, Co Clare, were he had lived since 1976.

The murders of the three Scottish soldiers lead to widespread revulsion across the UK, particularly because they were off-duty and in civilian clothes at the time. They were shot while relieving themselves by the side of the road.

In response to the killings, it was announced that the security arrangements of off-duty soldiers would be reviewed.

The bodies of the three soldiers were discovered by a 14-year-old girl, Brenda Kielty.

She only spoke publicly once about what she witnessed, in an interview conducted in 2017.

"They were just shot and dumped on top of each other. I didn't know whether it was three Protestants or three Catholics, but I never dreamt it was three soldiers," she said.

"There was nothing to indicate that it was three soldiers."

Ms Kielty was only three years younger than the youngest of the victims, John McCaig.

"The wee boy had loads of freckles on his face. I actually put my hand on the wee boy's face and he was warm. He definitely wasn't cold like, he was warm," she said.

Spotlight, The Killings of the Three Scottish Soldiers, will be broadcast at 10.35pm on Tuesday on BBC 1 Northern Ireland.
- Kenyan authorities seized Lakeside Dairies' milk after the company was barred from exporting its dairy products in the country

- Ugandan Revenue Authority officials said the company had asked permission to take back its products that were not cleared by the Kenyan government

- A little over a month ago, Pearl Diaries' products suffered the same fate after 19 trucks carrying its milk were forced back to Uganda

Kenya has barred another Ugandan company from exporting milk to the country.

Ugandan Revenue Authority (URA) said Lakeside Diaries wrote to them seeking permission to return the dairy products it had exported to Kenya after they were banned by authorities in Nairobi.

READ ALSO: Raila, you are now a statesman, avoid petty politics - Senator Murkomen

Lakeside Diaries was barred from exporting milk to Kenya.Photo: Daily Monitor.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: TSC promotions and salary increment 2020: what you need to know

Speaking to Daily Monitor, URA head of corporate affairs Ian Rumanyika said they granted the firm the request since the Kenyan authorities were seizing the products.

"We received a letter from Lakeside Dairies asking us to allow them to return their milk products because they were being seized by Kenyan authorities. They asked us to allow them to return their products. We complied," Rumanyika told Daily Monitor.

A source from Lakeside Dairies said the firm had been exporting 80,000 of litres to Nairobi for four years before the ban.

"Our UHT milk was returned. We have asked the Kenyan authorities to return all the milk that was not cleared. The UHT milk has low consumption in Uganda," Rumanyika said.

READ ALSO: Vanessa Bryant sues company that owned helicopter which killed hubby Kobe, daughter

A picture of Ugandan Lato milk. Kenya and Uganda has been having hostility in matters milk exportation. Photo: East African Business Week.

Source: UGC

The media outlet also noted that the halt of the product importation had hurt the company's whole value chain from the farmers to other stakeholders.

This came a month after Pearl Dairies' products suffered the same fate after its milk was seized and returned to Uganda.

A total of 19 trucks carrying dairy products were forced back to Kampala.

There has been a long-standing misunderstanding and hostility in matters milk between Kenya and Uganda.

President Uhuru Kenyatta had earlier quashed a 16% levy on Ugandan milk and said it would be imposed on milk from countries outside East Africa.

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When Ameer Al Sudan learned his girlfriend was pregnant with their third child, he became angry and demanded she get an abortion.

As she instead walked away from his outrage, the Harris County man then began attacking her, first tripping her, then kicking her in the stomach and back, she later told investigators. She lost the fetus about three weeks later.
It fell on Northcote marriage celebrant Sean Whelan to deliver the grim news: Golden Head, the mysterious statue that appeared out of nowhere in All Nations Park, had been "murdered in the dead of night by cold-blooded assassins".

"Gold Head is dead, Long live the Head," he solemnly intoned on the Northcote Plaza Appreciation Society Facebook page.

The mysterious Golden Head at a "secret location" in Northcote. Credit:Eddie Jim

The truth was somewhat less dramatic. The bust was being stored by Darebin council's curatorial team at a secret location in Northcote after the statue was pushed over one night, local councillor Trent McCarthy told the Facebook group.

But this prosaic news did nothing to dent the intrigue surrounding a guerilla sculpture, by artist or artists unknown, that many believe brought a community together.
Belabouring under US and European sanctions, Russia will continue to focus on domestic issues in 2020, while nonetheless remaining influential in the international domain, writes Norhan Al-Sheikh

Russias domestic challenges remain its guiding compass and priority. Prime among these is the demographic composition of the country where youth comprise no more than 10 per cent of the population. This challenge is compounded by the fact that Russia is one of the worlds least populous countries in terms of population growth, which affects economic development in the worlds largest country.

Related to this are the increasing aspirations of the Russian people, especially the youth, where the communications and information revolution, spurring openness to the outside world, especially to the European Union, has led to a clear change in the needs and aspirations of Russians whose lifestyles, standards of living and welfare were previously unknown. This factor is a pressure point against the Russian government that is trying to fulfill its peoples aspirations to win their approval.

This comes at a time when Russia has faced economic difficulties over the past four years as a result of the sharp decline in oil prices, the revenues of which are the backbone of the Russian economy, coupled with the escalation of sanctions by Washington and its allies, especially Europe, which led to a decline in foreign investment flows to Russia. However, 2019 witnessed the relative recovery of the Russian economy, recording positive figures, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF estimated Russias growth rate at 1.2 per cent, and it is expected to rise to 1.9 per cent in 2020.

In the Global Competitiveness Report 2019, issued by the World Economic Forum, Russia ranked sixth globally out of 141 economies in the market size index, which is one of 12 indicators on which the competitiveness report builds the ranking of world countries. Per capita gross domestic product amounted to around $11,320.

The countrys reserves of gold and foreign exchange increased to $489.5 billion, while investment recorded a moderate increase compared to the previous year, after reaching its lowest levels in the beginning of 2018. However, the Russian economy did not recover its full strength, and economic performance is still far from being as solid as it was a decade ago. At that time, oil and investment prices hiked, and with it the Russian economy. The growth rate reached seven per cent, and in 2013 Russia ranked third globally in terms of the volume of foreign direct investment.

Security challenges are no less important. On 10 December 2019, the head of the Russian Federal Security Agency, Alexander Portnikov, announced the success of the agency in the fight against terrorism (which included thwarting in 2019 50 terrorist attacks and dismantling 78 undercover cells affiliated to terrorist organisations). Ten days later, a shooting occurred in front of the headquarters of the agency, in the heart of the capital, Moscow, killing one member of the agency, which brought the elimination of terrorism to the top of Russian priorities.

In light of these challenges, a host of Russian policies, on the domestic and foreign fronts, have emerged in 2020.

 Continuing competition and confrontation between Moscow and Washington on a wide range of issues, foremost among which is competition for energy markets, especially the European market, which is the largest and most important market for Russian gas and oil. The shale gas revolution rendered the US a prominent source for exporting liquefied gas to the rest of the world, especially Europe, which is the most important global market for gas, being the closest and most economically profitable to Washington.

Added to this is competition in the arms market and the USs attempt to block Russian deals for what it regards as its traditional markets, and the threat of a renewed arms race in light of US withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), and the ambiguity of the future of the new Strategic Offensive Reduction Treaty (START) that is due to expire in February 2021.

 A marked improvement in Russian-European relations, especially in the wake of the European Unions refusal of US sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 project to transfer Russian gas to Europe, and Germany and Europes commitment to proceed with the project, confirming the relative independence of the European approach from Washington. This was also reflected in French President Macrons comments about a new European security structure in cooperation with Russia, the resumption of French-Russian 2+2 talks after a seven-year hiatus, and the holding of a Normandy Quad summit on the Ukrainian crisis between the leaders of Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine on 9 December in Paris, after a hiatus of four years.

 Strengthening the Russian-Chinese strategic partnership, supported by the fact that China has become one of the largest Russian gas markets after the opening of the Siberian power line to transfer Russian gas directly to China on 2 December 2019. That is in addition to economic partnership and security and strategic cooperation on the bilateral level, and through collective frameworks, such as BRICS and the Shanghai Organisation, and a coordination of positions on various regional and international issues.

 A greater focus on the Gulf, which was reflected in the first Russian-Chinese-Iranian manoeuvres in the northern Indian Ocean and the Sea of Oman in December 2019, and the development of Russian partnerships with Arab Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE, in light of President Putins visit to the two countries in October, the signing of the agreement on continuing coordination on oil prices by reducing production to maintain prices within the OPEC+ formula, economic cooperation and attracting Gulf investments to Russia, and technical cooperation in the areas of energy and space.

This coincides with the continuation of high-level strategic cooperation with Iran in all fields within the framework of a Russian approach based on parallelism in Russian policy, and pushing towards a system of collective security in the Gulf that is inclusive of all parties.

 Russian policy in the Middle East will adopt the same trends, which include the centralisation of a peaceful settlement to the Syrian crisis through the completion of consensus on the Syrian constitution in preparation for elections, and support for the Syrian army to liberate Idlib from terrorist groups and reclaim control. Russia will also maintain the centrality of its partnership with Egypt in various economic, technical and strategic fields, as well as coordination on regional files, foremost of which is Libya, although Russian interference in the Libyan file will remain cautious and indirect, and in no way will it be the same as in Syria.

These articles were first published in the newly released Outlook 2020: Egypts Projections of Regional and Global Issues by the Egyptian Centre for Strategic Studies (ECSS).

*A version of this article appears in print in the 27 February, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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The election of the new Senate chair will most likely be postponed to next week, although the Committee of Senators' Leaders had decided to hold the election in a plenary meeting on Wednesday.

According to Social-Democratic sources, the election of the President of the Senate will take place only after the meeting of the National Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) on Friday, a meeting that will discuss and validate the candidacy of PSD's Serban Nicolae to the office.The PSD senatorial group on Tuesday nominated Serban Nicolae to run for Senate chair, and Teodor Melescanu, Robert Cazanciuc and Liviu Marian Pop for one office each of deputy chair of the Standing Bureau. The proposals passed by a vote of 35 to 26.The group elections were held in two rounds. Running in the first round were Serban Nicolae, Titus Corlatean and Radu Stefan Oprea, and the two to make it to the second round were Serban Nicolae and Radu Stefan Oprea.
Kuala Lumpur, Feb 25 : The government party led by Interim Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has rejected his resignation, urging him to continue leading it and the country, now shrouded in political uncertainty.

During an extraordinary meeting held on Monday night, the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (Bersatu) unanimously rejected the 94-year-old Prime Minister's decision, reports Efe news.

Mahathir, the world's oldest head of government, presented his resignation on Monday, later accepted by King Abdullah Pahang, on condition that he continue as Interim Prime Minister until a new government is formed.

That decision caused a domino effect that broke the Patakan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) alliance, formed in 2018 by four political parties that prevailed in that year's general elections.

Bersatu and 11 Popular Justice Party deputies announced their departure from the coalition, although they reaffirmed their confidence in Mahathir as Malaysia's political leader.

"We remain intact and prepared to build a party to face the difficulties," Marzuki Yahya, Bersatu Secretary-General, said after the meeting.

Confusion reigns in the country, with some local media claiming Bersatu and the 11 deputies Justice Party deputies intended to form a new government with opposition parties, including the historic Barisan Nasional coalition, under Mahathir's leadership.

Lim Guan Eng, Finance Minister and coalition member, said in a statement that the chief executive himself had informed him he had no intention of forming a coalition with Barisan, which suffered a historic defeat in the last elections.

A future government will need at least 112 of 222 parliament votes.

Mahathir returned to politics in 2018 heading the Patakan Harapan coalition to defeat his predecessor Najib Razak, marred by the corruption suspicions offenses.

To that end, Mahathir joined Anwar Ibrahim, a former political ally who fell out of favour in 1999 and was imprisoned five years on charges of corruption and sodomy, whom he promised to be his successor in power.
The issue of the Citizen (Amendment) Act did not come up during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Tuesday.

"The issue of CAA did not come up. However, with regard to religious freedom, there is an appreciation on both sides that pluralism and diversity are common binding factors in both the countries. US President Donald Trump yesterday in Ahmedabad said about the religious diversity and how it is evident in India," Shringla said during a press conference after India-US talks.

US President Trump and Prime Minister Modi held bilateral talks earlier in the day. The two leaders also presided over India-US delegation-level talks.

The CAA grants citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. Protests have erupted across the country against the contentious CAA since Parliament gave its nod to the law last year.

Addressing a gathering in Ahmedabad at 'Namaste Trump' event on Monday, the US President had lauded India's diversity in his speech and said the harmonious coexistence of millions of followers of various religions in the country served as "inspiration to the world".
NEW DELHI  President Donald Trump said Tuesday he does not want help from foreign governments in his 2020 re-election bid, as he accused Democrats of leaking classified information about Russian interference to tarnish his campaign.

I want no help from any country, and I havent been given help from any country, Trump said during a news conference on the last of his two-day trip to India.

The president, who fielded questions on a wide range of topics for roughly 45 minutes, also weighed in on the conviction of Harvey Weinstein, claiming that prominent Democrats like former first lady Michelle Obama and ex-presidential contender Hillary Clinton "loved" the disgraced movie mogul.

Image: President Donald Trump arrives for a news conference in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Trump declined to say specifically whether he believes Russia is interfering in the 2020 election and issued no warning for Russian President Vladimir Putin not to. Instead, without any evidence, he accused House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., of leaking information from a recent classified briefing, during which U.S. intelligence officials told Republican and Democratic lawmakers that Russia is interfering in the 2020 election to try to help Trump.

Schiff leaked it in my opinion. He shouldnt be leaking things like that. Thats a terrible thing to do, Trump said.

On Weinstein, Trump said the moguls conviction Monday was a victory for women.

From the standpoint of women I think it was a great thing  it was a great victory, Trump said, making no mention of the more than a dozen women who have accused him of sexual assault.

"I was just not a fan of his," the president said of Weinstein. "The people that liked him were the Democrats. Michelle Obama loved him ... Hillary Clinton loved him."

The president also said he planned to get rid of more administration officials he believes dont support his agenda.

I dont think its very many people, he said. We want to have people who are good for the country, are loyal to the country.

Story continues

On U.S. intelligence officials warning Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the front-runner in the Democratic primary race, that Russia aims to interfere in the election to try to help him, Trump said he had no first-hand knowledge of that.

They never told me anything about that, he said. It was sort of a strange thing that they went to Bernie.

Addressing the spread of coronavirus, Trump said the majority of the Americans stricken with it are getting better.

Most of the people are outside of danger right now, he said.

Chinas health officials said Tuesday the number of deaths from coronavirus in mainland China had reached 2,663. The number of dead stood at 2,592 a day earlier.
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World Health Organization officials are holding a press conference Tuesday to update the public on the coronavirus outbreak, which has infected more than 80,200 and killed at least 2,704 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. The localized outbreaks in places such as Italy and Iran 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.
Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian who spent eight years on death row for blasphemy, reportedly said that she is seeking political asylum in France. In 2018, Pakistans Supreme Court acquitted Bibi of Blasphemy which triggered protests from Islamists group and forced the government to appeal against it. However, the Supreme Court upheld the acquittal in January last year in Bibi left for Canada in May to reunite with her family.

"Pakistan is my country. I love my country but I am in exile forever," she wrote in her book 'Enfin Libre!'

In an interview with RTL radio, Bibi said that it is her great desire to live in France and it is the country from where she received her new life. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo is to bestow an honorary citizenship certificate which was granted to Bibi in 2014 when she was still behind the bars on a death row.

Bibi co-wrote the book Enfin Libre! (Finally Free) with Anne-Isabelle Tolle who waged a long campaign for the formers release. France is the country from where I received my new life... Anne-Isabelle is an angel for me, said Bibi. While she did not have any meeting scheduled with French President Emmanuel Macron, she wants him to hear the request.

Read: Asia Bibi To Leave Pakistan After SC Acquitted Her On Death Row For Blasphemy

Argument over water

In June 2009, Bibi was working alongside Muslim field labourers when an argument over sharing water broke out. Bibi alleged that the Muslim labourers refused to share water because of her religion and a Muslim woman later went to a local cleric accusing Bibi of committing blasphemy against Prophet Mohammed.

Read: Pakistan's Supreme Court Rejects Plea Against Asia Bibi's Acquittal In Blasphemy Case

After eight years of captivity, her death sentence was overturned by Pakistans Apex Court in that triggered rampant protests around the country. The petition was filed by religious radicals who expressed their displeasure over her acquittal. They had also called for the killing of the judges who acquitted her and demanded to overthrow the Imran Khan government.

Read: Asia Bibi Freed By Court Is 'frustrated, Frightened And Uncertain Of When She Will Leave Pakistan', Says Friend

Read: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey Close Borders With Iran Over Coronavirus Fear

(With PTI inputs)
Thousands of personal details have been leaked by the city watchdog after it bungled a Freedom of Information response.

The Financial Conduct Authority admitted the personal details of people who complained about it - including names, addresses and telephone numbers - were mistakenly published in November 2019 and left online until earlier this month.

While it is not clear who may have accessed these details, criminals often glean basic personal information - largely from the dark web - for potential future fraud attempts.

The FCA has reported itself to the Information Commissioner's Office with the details of 1,600 people listed on its website.

Bungled: The FCA admitted it published people's personal details on its website by mistake

It followed a response to an FOI request it received asking about the number of complaints made against the regulator between January 2018 and July 2019.

When the response was published on its website, the FCA accidentally published names of complainants and, in some cases, other personal details, when revealing the complaints it had received.

It admitted the publication of this 'underlying confidential information' was 'a mistake'.

According to The Telegraph, more than half of the 1,600 complainants had just their names revealed, with the rest presumably having other details published too.

It is writing to customers who had addresses and contact details accidentally leaked.

It said in a statement in its website: 'As soon as we became aware of this, we removed the relevant data from our website.

'We have undertaken a full review to identify the extent of any information that may have been accessible.

'Our primary concern is to ensure the protection and safeguarding of individuals who may be identifiable from the data.'

It is embarrassing for the regulator, which has come under criticism over the last 12 months over its handling of the collapse of investment firm London Capital & Finance, the demise of fund manager Neil Woodford's asset management business, and its inability to get Google to take down adverts for fraudulent investments.

Given scammers often take advantage of data breaches and use the leaked personal data, there is an irony that the regulator's mistake could end up leading to a new wave of scams or identity theft, which it would then have to warn consumers about.

The mishap could also leave the regulator facing a hefty fine, with the ICO becoming increasingly willing to flex its muscles over data breaches in the last two years.

The UK's data protection watchdog fined British Airways and hotel chain Marriott a combined 282million in July last year after data breaches.

However, these breaches involves customer's bank and payment details, which the FCA insists were not leaked in the November 2019 data breach.
EXPERT OBSERVER

It's a challenging times for policymakers.

I don't know of a single obsever who believes that the unemployment rate is going to fall to below 5 per cent this year, let alone towards full employment, however low that might prove to be.

There was another soft result from SEEK's job ads series, down by 7 per cent over the year to January, and the labour force update for January was also distinctly underwhelming.

Employment increased by +13,500, as the annual growth in employment to decelerated further to +1.94 per cent.

Part-time employment growth (+2.8 per cent) has continued to outstrip the growth in full-time positions (+1.7 per cent).

Employment growth remained solid in Victoria, to be up +91,000 over the year, with Queensland next up at +67,000, but New South Wales (+43,000) has clearly come off the boil, and there's all but nothing meaningful to speak of elsewhere.

With the participation rate ticking back up a notch, the unemployment rate jumped from 5.09 per cent back up to 5.28 per cent in January, which was disappointing, if unsurprising. \

The disruption to the economy in January saw the unemployment rate in Victoria saw spike quickly to 5.4 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms, suggesting that far too much slack remains.

The smoother trend figures plotted below show only New South Wales (4 per cent) as remotely sitting in the right postcode.

Finally, the trend result for monthly hours worked was just +1.3 per cent higher year-on-year, which is also a lacklustre read and well below the rate of employment growth.

Overall, it wasn't a terrible report, but the widely predicted increase in spare capacity does appear to be playing out, with more of the same likely to be in the post as the Chinese travel ban persists throughout February and beyond.

PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of AllenWargent property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and blogger.
NORWALK  Norwalk Public Schools Superintendent Steven Adamowski agreed to a request from the city to cooperate in a performance audit.

Mayor Harry Rilling sent a letter making the request to Adamowski and BOE Chairwoman Sarah Lemieux. The letter asks the schools to publicly commit to cooperating with an independent efficiency expert consultant who will conduct reviews of both city and BOE expenses. The audit will occur over the next 12 months.

Rilling also requested for the district to answer questions raised during the budget process before the city budget is finalized. The questions involve BOE salaries and benefits, a lack of school supplies, a controversial gift card program and the cost and purpose of out-of-town trips. Rilling also asked the district to list all expenditures for training, as well as catering services for the last several fiscal years.

The letter and Adamowskis response were released by Norwalk Public Schools hours before the Common Council is due to set the budget cap which could include $8,000 cut from the BOEs budget request. It also follows a tense budget season where Norwalk Chief Financial Officer Henry Dachowitz called the BOE out for sneaky and deceptive budgeting following its large $216 million budget request.

NPS cannot keep operating in a vacuum, Rilling wrote. Too many questions have been raised about the efficiencies and effectiveness within the $200 million-plus education budget.

In response, Adamowski said the questions will be answered by March 6 and he and Lemieux are willing to cooperating with the performance audit.

I trust that these finding and recommendations will include an approach to shared services between city and schools in the future, he wrote. As superintendent, I have always been supportive of your requests. The districts recent educational performance and achievement-gap closing over better funded and lower-need school districts demonstrates the commitment of our staff at all levels to efficiency and accountability.

erin.kayata@hearstmediact.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 01:26:44|Editor: yan

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TBILISI, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed in a road accident in the western Georgian district of Samtredia on Tuesday, the country's Ministry of Internal Affairs said.

The accident happened when a truck lost control and crashed into a minivan at the highway entrance to Samtredia municipality.

The collision killed all the five passengers in the minivan.

Local police have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.
Bernie Sanders' big win in the Nevada caucuses could spell trouble for the Vermont senator during Tuesday night's Democratic debate in Charleston, South Carolina.

Sanders will be the Democrat to take down, as he joins six primary rivals - including Tom Steyer - onstage at Charleston's Gaillard Center.

That's because Sanders seems to be cementing his frontrunner status with Democratic voters, as 33 per cent said in a new Morning Consult survey that the democratic socialist has the best chance of beating President Trump.

Bernie Sanders' frontrunner status means he'll likely be the target of the other six Democrats on the South Carolina debate stage

Joe Biden (right) has gotten hot and cold on whether to confront Bernie Sanders (left), who has replaced him as the frontrunner in the Democratic primary race

Tuesday night marks the return of Tom Steyer, who didn't qualify for last week's Democratic debate in Nevada

Last week's debate in Las Vegas featured Elizabeth Warren (right) absolutely tearing into Mike Bloomberg (left), who was making his Democratic debate debut

The Las Vegas debate featured Elizabeth Warren (second from left) going after Mike Bloomberg (left), while Amy Klobuchar (right) and Pete Buttigieg (second from right) got into it. Joe Biden (middle right) had a strong night, while Bernie Sanders (center left) maintained frontrunner status

The next-best candidate, Mike Bloomberg, earned a thumbs up from 23 per cent of Democratic voters, while the contest's original frontrunner, Joe Biden, came in third with 18 per cent of Democrats who thought he'd run best against Trump.

Biden is trying to gain back lost ground, after coming in fourth place in Iowa and fifth place in New Hampshire. He then came in a distant second to Sanders in Saturday's Nevada caucuses.

Since New Hampshire primary night, which he left the Granite State for to instead kick off campaigning in South Carolina, Biden has argued that the states that truly matter are the ones that have a more diverse population, which reflect the makeup of the Democratic Party.

But in Nevada, the Latino population propelled Sanders to an overwhelming victory, as he bested Biden by 26.6. points, with 100 per cent reporting.

Now Biden is looking to black voters in South Carolina to keep him in the race.

'It all starts here in South Carolina,' he said at the College of Charleston Monday night. 'For real, for real.'

Biden has gone back-and-forth on whether to damage Sanders.

On Monday, Cristobal Alex, a senior adviser Biden, went after the Vermont senator aggressively for saying that Fidel Castro's regime in Cuba was 'not all bad,' pointing to a literacy program.

'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,' Alex said in a statement sent out to the press. 'He seems to have found more inspiration in the Soviets, Sandinistas, Chavistas, and Castro than in America.'

In addition, the Biden campaign ran a web ad against Sanders capitalizing on a story published Wednesday by The Atlantic that said the Vermont senator had a 'plot' to primary President Obama in 2012.

In person on Saturday, Biden alluded to this reporting during his second-place finish victory speech in Las Vegas. 'I promise you I wasn't talking about running a Democratic primary against him in 2012,' Biden said at the time.

But by Monday night, Biden made no mention of Sanders at the College of Charleston, instead saving his fire for President Trump.

It's unclear how far he'll take things on the debate stage Tuesday night.

The Charleston debate will feature not one, but two billionaires, with Steyer again making the cut.

He missed last week's Las Vegas gathering, which saw Elizabeth Warren take on Bloomberg, who was making his Democratic debate debut.

'I'd like to talk about who we're running against, a billionaire who calls women fat broads and horse-faced lesbians,' Warren said. 'And no I'm not talking about Donald Trump, I'm talking about Mayor Bloomberg.'

That pretty much set the tone.

Bloomberg's team touted the fact that the billionaire left Sanders sputtering over bringing up the fact that the 'socialist' candidate owned three houses.

'I work in Washington, house one. Live in Burlington, house two. And like thousands of other Vermonters, I have a summer camp. Which tax haven is your home?' Sanders bellowed in response.

Meanwhile, there were several nasty back-and-forths between Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar, two midwestern candidates trying to lap up the moderate vote.

Biden had a good night, often forcefully touting his record.

'I'm the only one on this stage who got anything done on healthcare,' he said at one point.

But it was overshadowed by the Warren - and then the rest of the candidates' - pile-on of Bloomberg.

The expectation Tuesday night is that Sanders will take Bloomberg's place.

And team Bloomberg has ratcheted up the rhetoric on Sanders in the hours leading up to the debate.

Bloomberg senior adviser Tim OBrien went on CNN's 'New Day' Tuesday morning and brought up the 'loony side of Bernie.'

'Bernie has loopy stuff in his background, saying women get cancer from having too many orgasms or toddlers should run around naked and touch each other's genitals to insulate themselves from porn,' O'Brien said, speaking of Sanders' 1970s essays.

'Bernie has a very trippy record, to say the least,' O'Brien said.

Later Tuesday, a number of black surrogates for Bloomberg gathered in Charleston to attack Sanders' record - and diss Biden's too.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / FEBRUARY 25, 2020 / Three years ago, Dhany Aryantono opened a small shop selling Unilever and other consumer goods in Pamanukan, a rural village in West Java, Indonesia to support her family of six. Her husband worked as a day laborer in the nearby rice paddy farm, making about one million Indonesian Rupuah ($75) a week. An additional $85 a week income Dhany generated from her small shop helped to make the ends meet for a family of six with four children - three of whom were in school. But with such a meager income to pay her bills and support education for her children, Dhany often doesn't have the cash to stock up inventory for her shop. To save herself from the constant ordeal of not having enough cash, which would have otherwise generated more profit for her thriving business, Dhany and her husband approached few banks for loans but were roundly rejected because the couple had no collateral or credit history. With her back against the wall, Dhany opted for what most people do in rural Indonesia - she ended up with a cash loan from a loan shark at 10% interest per week (520% APR).



Fairbanc founder Mir Haque in front of his startup's San Francisco office.

Last year, Fairbanc, the Silicon Valley-based FinTech operating in Southeast Asia, lent Dhany, 37, $220 a week in revolving digital credit that can only be used every week to buy Unilever products, which are typically fast-moving and return higher margins than other consumer goods. With Fairbanc's digital credit, Dhany bought Unilever products some of which carried a margin as high as 30% a week and was able to increase her shop's sales by around $300 a month.



Dhany Aryantono at her shop in rural Indonesia



Fairbanc, founded in 2018 by Mir Haque, a former business strategist for many of the well-known tech companies in Silicon Valley, recently received funding from globally recognized investors, including from an Indonesian billionaire.

Fairbanc initially tested its closed-loop credit and data analytics platform with Unilever in Bangladesh, and now primarily focuses on Southeast Asian markets. What's so Unique about Fairbanc is that the credit it offers the unbanked merchants to buy products from its large consumer brand partners is simply a one-time passcode sent via text messages to the merchant's cell phone - a deft solution for the unbanked segment of the market that lags behind in smartphone ownership and digital literacy. Fairbanc also heavily relies on data science and machine learning in automating its credit scoring and risk monitoring.

Companies like Fairbanc are at the forefront of the race to deliver rudimentary financial services to the 1.7 billion people on the planet who lack even a bank account. According to a joint study published by IFC and McKinsey, the total unmet need for credit by all formal and informal micro, small and midsize enterprises (MSME) in emerging markets today is in the range of $2.1 trillion to $2.5 trillion. Providing them with the basics of credit is one of the great challenges and opportunities of the century.

Fairbanc founder Mir was born in Bangladesh, the birthplace of microcredit pioneered by Nobel Laureate Mohammad Yunus. Mir, who came to the US all alone as a teenage foreign student, financed his undergraduate tuition by driving a night shift taxi in New York City. Mir has since earned his MBA in finance from the Wharton Business School and previously worked for companies like Mckinsey, Deutsche Bank, Adobe, and Google.

Fairbanc's founding team includes many fintech veterans like the former CTO of Kiva, a San Francisco based microcredit platform that operates in 77 countries and disbursed $1.4B in microloans, and Thomas Schumacher who co-founded California based emerging market microloan giant Tala that recently closed a funding round at $800M valuation.

Where banks saw risk, Fairbanc saw an opportunity. By partnering up with large consumer brand companies and only offering productive loans to purchase high margin products like Unilever, Fairbanc expects to reduce loan default risks significantly while scaling quickly by leveraging the consumer brand's large merchant network.

With its new capital, Fairbanc plans to make a bigger push into Indonesia, a country that hosts the fourth largest unbanked population globally, with 95 million adults still lacking a formal account at a financial institution. However, with a growing middle class, an increasingly tech-savvy youth population and a regulatory environment encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, Indonesia is now home to the most billion-dollar tech start-ups in Southeast Asia (including Bukalapak, Go-Jek, Tokopedia, and OVO), boasting a range of e-commerce, ride-sharing, media distribution, and financial services.

Mir is convinced that Indonesia offers Fairbanc the right backdrop to bring about a scalable solution that can be replicated in many other emerging countries to address one of the greatest challenges and opportunities of the century: providing the millions of merchants with the basics of credit to help fuel economic revitalizations in order to uplift millions of poor merchants like Dhany out of dire poverty.

Contact Details

Company: Fairbanc

Name: Mir Haque

Email: Mir@fairbanc.app

Website: https://fairbanc.app/

SOURCE: Fairbanc

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/577744/The-2-Trillion-Opportunity-How-A-Silicon-Valley-Startup-Vying-To-Provide-Banking-To-The-Worlds-Poorest-Merchants
Guwahati: A 13-member panel set up to study the implementation of the Assam Accords Clause 6, which relates to the protection of the Assamese identity, submitted a 170-page report in a sealed cover to chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday.

The Centre, the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad signed the tripartite accord in 1985 to end a six-year agitation for the identification and deportation of undocumented immigrants from the state.

Clause 6 states: Constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate, shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.

The implementation of Clause 6 remained on the back-burner until the Centre formed a committee in January last year to study it. But all members of this committee resigned amid opposition in Assam to the proposed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) that was eventually passed in December to fast-track the citizenship process for non-Muslims who have entered India from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh before 2015.

The countrywide protests against the CAA first erupted in the North-east, especially in Assam, where residents fear the law could result in a fresh influx of outsiders and put pressure on local livelihoods. Opponents of the CAA there insist it violates the Assam Accord, which promised detection and deportation of undocumented immigrants irrespective of their faith. The accord also set March 24, 1971, as the cut-off date for the detection. A process in line with the accord was carried out in Assam and led to the exclusion of around 2 million people from the National Register of Citizens in 2018.

The 13-member panel was constituted in July last year to replace the earlier committee. We have received nearly 1,200 recommendations and suggestions from all over Assam. After going through all of them, the members of the committee have unanimously formulated this report, said Justice (retired) Biplab Kumar Sarma, who headed the 13-member panel.

None of the three AASU representatives on the panel was present when the report was handed over to Sonowal. They are upset that the report was not handed directly to the Union home ministry that formed the panel.

The members of the panel remained tight-lipped on the contents of the report, which is believed to have recommended 1951 as the cut-off date for determining who an Assamese is and introduction of an Inner Line Permit (ILP) system. ILP is a document that allows an Indian citizen to travel to a protected area.

An upper House for the Assam legislature and reservation of around 67% of seats in the elected bodies for the Assamese people are believed to be some other recommendations of the 13-member panel, according to people aware of the matter.

We have made some important recommendations in our report. Now the ball is in the Centres court, journalist and a member of the panel, Wasbir Hussain, said.

During a visit to Assam earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the people that the Centre would not delay implementation of the panels recommendations.

Since the report is in a sealed envelope, only the Centre would be able to see its contents. The chief minister accepted it on the behalf of Union home minister [Amit Shah]. It is for the Centre to examine the report, and if required, the Assam government would give its suggestions on it, said Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

AASUs chief adviser, Samujjal Bhattacharya, said the Centre constituted the committee to provide constitutional safeguards to the Assamese people. Therefore, the Centre should have accepted the report of the committee directly. We would not be present at Tuesdays event [for the submission of the report], he said on Monday.

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Oregon still has no cases of the new coronavirus, but local officials are monitoring 76 people who dont have symptoms of an infection but may have been exposed.

The people are being watched to see if they develop symptoms, the Oregon Health Authority said Monday. So far, the state and local agencies have finished monitoring 178 people who may have been exposed to the disease through contact with a person who was infected or through travel to China. None of them developed symptoms, according to the agency.

We recognize people are very worried about COVID-19, Lillian Shirley, director of the OHA Public Health Division, said in a statement referring to the name given the virus. People need to understand their real risks and feel confident the state and their local health departments are working hard to protect their health.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tells Oregon about people returning from China and Oregon then relays that information to the health departments in the counties where those people live, said health authority spokesman Jonathan Modie. The local agencies then contact the individuals and ask them to report if they have any COVID-19 symptoms, which include a fever and cough.

If a person has symptoms within two weeks of the last possible exposure to the virus, they tell the county and then get tested. Two people developed symptoms while under monitoring, Modie said, and both tested negative for coronavirus.

A total of 254 people in Oregon are either currently being monitored or have already gone through two-week monitoring. All but two of them were put on the monitoring list just because they had been to China. The other two had been to China and flew on a plane with a person infected with the coronavirus.

The agency has previously declined to release information about the number of people being monitored, citing laws on patient confidentiality and health investigations that are ongoing. The agency will update the information every Tuesday, at healthoregon.org/coronavirus.

-- Fedor Zarkhin

fzarkhin@oregonian.com

desk: 503-294-7674|cell: 971-373-2905|@fedorzarkhin

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Queen Letizia of Spain put on a stylish display today as she welcomed representatives of the Spanish media into her home.

The royal, 47, cut an elegant figure in a fashionable floral blouse as she joined her husband King Felipe VI of Spain at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid.

They hosted members of the Spanish media group Atresmedia as it celebrated its 30th anniversary as one of the main communication groups in the country.

Queen Letizia of Spain put on a stylish display today as she welcomed representatives of the Spanish media into her home, alongside her husband King Felipe VI (pictured together)

Looking picture perfect and ready for spring, Letizia, a former journalist herself, donned black, smart trousers with her cream garment.

The mother-of-two teamed her sophisticated outfit with navy high heels, elongating her slender frame, while keeping her hair loose.

She completed her stylish look with a dazzling pair of drop earrings and a sparkling golden ring, as well as a smattering of glamorous makeup.

The royal, 47, cut an elegant figure in a fashionable floral blouse as she joined her husband at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid

Looking picture perfect and ready for spring, Letizia, donned black, smart trousers with her eye-catching, cream garment

The royal couple (above) welcomed members of the Spanish media group Atresmedia as it celebrated its 30th anniversary as one of the main communication groups in the country

Looking equally poised, her husband King Felipe VI donned a grey suit with a vibrant purple tie and lilac striped shirt.

The royal couple, who share daughters Leonor, Princess of Asturias, 14, and Infanta Sofia of Spain, 12, together, stood side-by-side as they posed for several photographs with their guests.

Letizia's parents - Jesus Jose Ortiz Alvarez and Ana Togores - were both journalists, and she enjoyed a long career in TV and newspaper reporting before marrying Felipe in 2004.

The mother-of-two teamed her sophisticated outfit with navy high heels, elongating her slender frame, while keeping her hair loose

Looking equally poised, her husband King Felipe VI donned a grey suit with a vibrant purple tie and lilac striped shirt

She worked for the Asturian La Nueva Espana before moving on the ABC, a popular national newspaper.

She then worked for the EFE news agency, a Mexican local paper Siglo 21, the Spanish version of Bloomberg, before moving to CNN+.

When she met her husband-to-be, Letizia was working for the popular TV channel 24Horas as both a breaking news reporter and anchor for their popular Telediaro 2 evening news bulletin.

She met Felipe VI at a dinner party in 2002, and the pair enjoyed an instant connection, leading to their royal wedding in May 2004.
Kathmandu, February 25

The government on Tuesday issued a white paper on the properties owned by Nepal Trust, the government body formed to manage the properties previously owned by the then royal family members.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ishwar Pokharel, also the chairman of the trust, issued the paper that lists details about all land plots and buildings owned by the trust.

The government had decided to issue the white paper after the media reported irregularities in various deals made by the government in leasing the properties including the ones given to Yeti Holdings.

The government informs that the trust owns around 22,000 ropani, of which around 15,000 ropani is forest. The Kathmandu district has the biggest amount of land (4,442 ropani). Most of them have been given to private companies for commercial purpose.

Besides the immovable property, the trust also owns USD 148,000 and Pound Sterling 50,120, as well as some shares of banks and financial institutions.
[February 25, 2020] Predicting Signal Degradation in Submarine Communication Cables

Lying on the seabed is an interconnected system of submarine communication cables carrying signals for such ubiquitous modern technologies as the internet. Spanning the vastness of oceans, these cables allow for telecommunications between continents. Though difficult, the ability to predict and measure cable performance is necessary for efficiently upgrading the system. Jean-Christophe Antona leads a group of researchers at Alcatel Submarine Networks, France, that propose a quality of transmission estimator for the design, upgrade and interconnection of submarine cables. Antona will present the group's performance estimator at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC), to be held 8-12 March 2020 at the San Diego Convention Center, California, U.S.A. "Speed is key when you design a submarine system, because you need to optimize a myriad of parameters related to physics, cost, deployment and material constraints," Antona said. To determine how to best optimize these systems, the researchers performed transmission studies to measure how the effective noise varies with a number of different parameters, such as signal power. Aside from the expected signals, they found an additional source of noise previous models have overlooked, which scales proportionally with distance and accounts for up to 10% of the total noise along a line. The characteristics of the noise appear in agreement with recent spectral analyses of guided acoustic wave Brillouin scattering. They observed this using the generalized droop model, a method for determining the total droop impact of different noise sources developed and validated by the group. According to this model, the overall droop from a cascade of noise sources is a product of the individual droops. "A consequence is that the optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) degrades faster and faster as distance increases," said Antona. "This phenomenon is all the more important if the distance is long or the signal-to-noise ratio is low, as in typical submarine space-division multiplexing." "From this simple rule, the OSNR can be accurately modeled from the knowledge of individual OSNR degradations caused by independent sources of noise," he said. "With such an approach, w can therefore use simple, available models to estimate the OSNR terms associated with each propagation effect independently, then combine them using the generalized droop model."



This method reduces the problem from a complex, time-consuming process down to simple multiplication. With the generalized droop model, the group was able to estimate independent contributions to OSNR and use them to accurately predict transceiver performances for over 100 subsea experiments of a typical submarine fiber with distances ranging from 1,522 to 16,203 kilometers.

These results and additional research will be presented onsite at OFC 2020. Hear from the Research Team "Analysis of 34 to 101GBaud submarine transmissions and performance prediction models," J.-C. Antona, A. C. Meseguer, S. Dupont, R. Garuz, P. PLantady, A. Calsat and V. Letellier, Tuesday, 10 March 2020, Room 7, 5:15 p.m. PDT Registration Information Register before 10 February 2020 and save on a full technical conference pass. Credentialed media and analysts who wish to cover OFC 2020 can find registration and other essential information in the OFC media room. About OFC The Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC) is the largest global conference and exhibition for optical communications and networking professionals. For more than 40 years, OFC has drawn attendees from all corners of the globe to meet and greet, teach and learn, make connections and move business forward. OFC includes dynamic business programming, an exhibition of more than 700 companies, and high impact peer-reviewed research that, combined, showcase the trends and pulse of the entire optical networking and communications industry. OFC is managed by The Optical Society (OSA) and co-sponsored by OSA, the IEEE Communications (News - Alert) Society (IEEE/ComSoc), and the IEEE Photonics Society. OFC 2020 will be held from 8 - 12 March 2020 at the San Diego Convention Center, California, USA. Follow @OFCConference, learn more at OFC Community LinkedIn, and watch highlights on OFC YouTube. About The Optical Society Founded in 1916, The Optical Society (OSA) is the leading professional organization for scientists, engineers, students and business leaders who fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate achievements in the science of light. Through world-renowned publications, meetings and membership initiatives, OSA provides quality research, inspired interactions and dedicated resources for its extensive global network of optics and photonics experts. For more information, visit osa.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005852/en/

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PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Rinnai America Corporation, manufacturer of the number-one selling brand of Tankless gas Water Heaters in North America, announces the extension of Federal Tax Credits for residential energy efficiency products for their customers; qualifying products include tankless water heaters and boilers.

Homeowners who have made energy-efficient improvements, including an upgrade to a Rinnai Tankless Water Heater, may qualify for a $300 US federal tax credit known as the Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit. For a tankless unit to qualify, it must have a Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) of at least 0.82  all Rinnai condensing tankless water heaters and the V94Xi non-condensing tankless water heater qualify.

In addition, homeowners may qualify for a $150 US federal tax credit with a an installed Rinnai Condensing Boiler. All Rinnai Boilers meet the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AEUF) rating requirement of at least 95 percent.

The tax credit is retroactive, and products must have been purchased between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020.

When claiming your tax credit, you will need to obtain a Manufacturer's Certification Statement from Rinnai. You may access this statement here: https://www.rinnai.us/system/files/2020-02/Manufacturers%20cert%20statement%20for%20fed%20tax%20credit%202018-2020.pdf

For more information about this tax credit, as well as instructions on how to claim the tax credit, visit the Energy Star Website at: https://www.energystar.gov/about/federal_tax_credits/non_business_energy_property_tax_credits

About Rinnai

Rinnai America Corporation, a subsidiary of Rinnai Corporation in Nagoya, Japan, was established in 1974 and is headquartered in Peachtree City, Ga. Rinnai Corporation manufactures gas appliances including Tankless Water Heaters, a wide range of kitchen appliances and heating and air conditioning units. As the technology leader in its industry, Rinnai is the largest gas appliance manufacturer in Japan and is the number-one selling brand of tankless gas water heaters in the United States and Canada. Annual corporate revenues, including those of its subsidiaries, are in excess of $3.2 billion. With a global perspective to create 21st-century products for the home and business, Rinnai Corporation commits itself to safety and the pursuit of comfortable lifestyles. For more information about Rinnai's entire product line, visit www.rinnai.us.

SOURCE Rinnai America Corporation
Its the crossover we never expected. Theres rumor that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are moving into Kylie Jenners old house. Please hold as we wrap our minds around this.

The Daily Mail reported on Friday, February 21, that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were looking to move from Canada to California to be close to Meghans mom, Doria Ragland. The site claimed that Meghan and Harry are eyeing a $7 million mansion in Malibu, California, where they would be neighbors with celebrities like Robert Downey Jr. and Caitlyn Jenner. Another famous name that used to live in the house? Kylie Jenner. The Cut reports that Kylie rented the house, named Petra Manor, in the summer of 2018. (The house...

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A 15-year-old girl diagnosed with Downs syndrome is breaking all the stereotypes by making foray into the modeling industry and earning ad offers.

When Kennedy Garcia was born in Colorado, doctors advised her mother Renee to give her up for adoption or to enroll her into an institution. Renee gained hope after a midwife called Kennedy beautiful and said she also had a daughter with the condition.

According to Mirror, the brush with the kind midwife kept Renee hopeful and now Kennedy has signed with a talent agency, goes to New York and Hollywood for auditions, and has been booked for several modeling gigs.

She has modeled for top American brands such as the American Girl, Justice Clothing, Disney, Zulily and Aetna. Kennedy even appeared on the popular soap opera This is Us.

However, the road to a bright career was a long and difficult one. She was diagnosed with leukaemia, following which she had to undergo a risky surgery to correct a spinal condition that could have left her paralyzed, the report added.

Kennedy had to wear a metal frame screwed to her skull for several months. But all the obstructions could not dent her passion and zeal.

The teen trumped social stigma by maintaining strong relationships with friends and family. She also has a boyfriend, Matthew and has an impressive following on her Instagram.
MONTREAL - The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating after a suspected fire broke out in the landing gear of an Air Canada Jazz plane as it landed at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport Tuesday morning.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/2/2020 (686 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MONTREAL - The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating after a suspected fire broke out in the landing gear of an Air Canada Jazz plane as it landed at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport Tuesday morning.

The agency said no injuries were reported and no emergency evacuation of the plane was required.

The Dash 8 aircraft was heading to the gate after arriving from Ottawa at about 6 a.m. when the fire was spotted in the landing gear, according to the TSB.

A spokesperson said airport firefighters were quickly able to put it out, and the plane was then towed to the gate to allow passengers to disembark.

Air Canada characterized the incident as "a failure on one of the ball bearings on one of the wheels," which caused smoke and sparks.

"In accordance with our procedures, the pilots requested the presence of emergency vehicles as a precaution," the company said in a statement.

The Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a team of investigators to the site to inspect the plane's landing gear and speak with the crew.
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Feb. 24, 2020 | PADUCAH

By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 24, 2020 | 05:02 PM | PADUCAH

A second man has been arrested in connection to a traffic stop last Wednesday that resulted in the seizure of fentanyl and other pills.



Drug detectives with the Paducah Police Department stopped a vehicle Wednesday afternoon at Elmdale Drive and Jameswood Avenue. During the stop, 26-year-old Reco Cunningham was arrested after he reportedly gave one of the detectives a plastic bag that he had been hiding beneath him, which contained suspected oxycodone/fentanyl pills and oxycodone/acetaminophen pills.



Cunningham was arrested and charged with two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance at that time.



According to Paducah Police, the driver, 23-year-old Daniel Seitzinger, was also in possession of drugs, but officers chose not to arrest him at that time. Seitzinger came to the police department Monday morning to meet with detectives and was arrested on a charge of first-degree possession of a controlled substance.



He was taken to the McCracken County Jail.
STRATFORD  A key government committee in India signed off on a $2.1 billion purchase agreement to acquire two dozen naval helicopters manufactured by Sikorsky, with the deal having yet to be finalized.

An initial outline for an agreement was reached in 2018, with India publications citing a Ministry of Defense official last week who indicated a security committee had given its final approval in advance of President Donald Trumps visit this week to India.

India wants 24 Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters powered with engines from the GE Aviation subsidiary of General Electric. The Seahawk variants would replace more than 30 Sea King helicopters built or licensed by Sikorsky, part of Indias total fleet of 185 helicopters, according to FlightGlobal.com, excluding training aircraft.

It is an open question on how much work from any India contract would flow through to Sikorskys main plant in Stratford and satellite offices in Shelton and Bridgeport, which with more than 7,600 employees make Sikorsky and parent Lockheed Martin the largest corporate employer in western Connecticut.

Aviation and defense are two industries subject to Make in India rules established in 2014, under which India requires some domestic manufacturing work for major purchases by its government. Separately more than a decade ago under former parent United Technologies, Sikorsky teamed with the Mumbai-based conglomerate Tata Group to produce cabins in India for its big S-92 helicopters.

Prior to Lockheed Martin acquiring Sikorsky in 2016 from UTC, Sikorsky won a contract to deliver more than 100 utility helicopters to Turkey, agreeing to help the country establish a major manufacturing and assembly facility there. Earlier this month, however, Lockheed Martin warned that remaining work on that contract could be in jeopardy after the Trump administration slapped sanctions on the Turkish government over the purchase of missile systems from Russia.

Regardless of Indias ultimate decision on manufacturing, much of the precision work occurs in Stratford that goes into sophisticated aircraft like the Seahawk, as well as at a Lockheed Martin facility in Owego, N.Y. that focuses on electronic mission systems.

Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin are currently gearing up for full production of the CH-53K helicopter for the Marine Corps, the largest ever deployed by the U.S. military with the Pentagon planning to purchase more than 200 aircraft over the span of a decade.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
A diagnostic mission and an implementation mission were conducted in Malawi in May 2019 and February 2020 respectively under the auspices of the World Customs Organization (WCO) INAMA Project. The activities were funded by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

The diagnostic mission had the objective to assess the Risk Management capacity of the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), in particular in the field of Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT). During the implementation mission, the experts trained and worked together with MRA Head Office and Port officers to, amongst others, develop Risk Profiles.

The implementation mission to Malawi marks the end of this phase of the GIZ component of the INAMA Project. Representatives from Malawi, Nigeria and Vietnam will gather in Hanoi, Vietnam, from 02 to 06 March 2020 for a Risk Management Workshop focused on the development of generic and specific risk profiles and indicators in the field of IWT.

The INAMA Project aims to strengthen the enforcement capacities of targeted Customs administrations in the field of IWT, focusing specifically on the species listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Few have the wisdom, energy and passion to have a lasting personal and professional impact on their community.

Rabbi Norman Koch was one of those few thanks to his efforts during a 35-year tenure as rabbi at Temple Sholom in New Milford.

"He was a friend, teacher, leader and advocate for justice," said Ray Maizel, a longtime member and leader at Temple Sholom, "in our community and in the world."

Koch died Feb. 6 at age 66, just eight months after his retirement from the temple.

He leaves his wife, Rosalyn, five children, five grandchildren and two siblings, as well as grieving congregants at Temple Sholom and many others in the Greater New Milford community.

According to those who knew him best, Koch was a patriarch to generations at Temple Sholom.

"He showed us how to live a Jewish life in a non-Jewish world," explained Maizel, the father of three adult children who grew up with Temple Sholom as a focal point of their lives. "His commitment to Jewish education and creating a new model for educating the children and parents of our community was innovative, and well regarded in the Reform Jewish world."

Among the precepts by which Koch lived, said Maizel, was to "bring Jews and Judaism together."

Koch was an active participant in the Greater New Milford community from the day he arrived to become the first full-time rabbi at Temple Sholom in 1979.

"I got to know Norman's dedication and compassion for all people," said Rev. Michael Moran, the longtime pastor at the First Congregational Church, "through his work on affordable housing, health care for all, the need for chaplaincy at the hospital, Loaves & Fishes, the homeless shelter."

Yet while managing his tireless efforts for those in need throughout the community, from the homeless to those ailing at the hospital, Koch was most at home bringing together his Temple Sholom community.

Tikkun Olam, "to fix the world," was a Judaic philosophy that guided Koch in his endeavors as a role model in spiritual and everyday life concerns.

"He was a man who daily acted on his philosophy of fixing what was wrong in this world," said Liba Furhman, a former New Milford mayor whose adult children also were shaped by their Temple Sholom experience.

"From embracing new residents to the area, to teaching right from wrong, to shaping lives," she added, "he was always there for you, always available when needed."

Koch was widely respected in the region for his work at Temple Sholom and in the Greater New Milford community and that was reflected last weekend.

"The Temple overflowed with rabbis, cantors, temple members, those who had dealings with him over the years," Furhman reported, "whether lawyers, laymen or contractors -- and with longtime friends and a loving family."

" It was a coming together to pay tribute and honor," she said, "and to share memories and love for Norman Koch, rabbi."

Koch had served the last eight months of his life as Rabbi Emeritus at Temple Sholom, guiding interim Rabbi Scott Saulson and temple president Howard Lapidus.

"This was a marriage between Norman Koch and the Temple Sholom community as a whole,"said Lapidus.

During the months leading up to his retirement in June, Koch had reflected on his decision to come to New Miflord in 1979.

"I've never looked back," he said. "I've been thoroughly happy and in love with the congregation from the moment I got here."

The feelings were mutual.

"He always had something more to do, more to learn, more to teach," praised Furhman. "I used to wonder why Norman sang the prayers so fast -- I could hardly keep up with him."

"Now I know it was to get to the next prayer," she smiled, "and the next chapter, and to perform the next Mitzvah (good deed)."

Maizel noted Koch's family was the foundation for how he treated his congregation and all others.

"His family and, especially, his wife Roz, were always his pride and joy," said Maizel, "His commitment to his family was always very real and obvious, and a model for how to bring your family together in times of celebration and in times of loss."

Koch knew during his final months as rabbi at Temple Sholom that his days of active leadership were counting down, yet he was adamant to shape his farewell to smooth the transition to the future.

"I am of a generation whose life is now closer to its sunset than its sunrise," Koch said last year. "My job is not to make today be like yesterday. The rabbi of Temple Sholom's tomorrow should be of tomorrow's generation."

------

"A Commemorative Reflection" on Rabbi Norman Koch will be offered March 8 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Temple Sholom, 122 Kent Road (Route 7 North) in New Milford.

"We extend this invitation," said interim Rabbi Scott Saulson, "realizing that many of Norman's congregants, friends, neighbors and acquaintances, both lay and clergy, were not privileged to attend his funeral or share the blessings of their relationships with him."

"We would be honored by your presence and participation," Saulson added.

Susan Tuz contributed to this story.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An expatriate youth who was languishing in a desert in Saudi Arabia for over two months without proper food or water was rescued and brought back home thanks to the intervention of NORKA Roots.V Adwaidh, who hails from Vithura near here, reached Kuwait on a driver visa. Initially, he was in charge of his sponsors vehicles but after some days, the sponsor deployed him in a farm owned by him in Saudi Arabia.

Adwaidh, who used to graze goats and camels, was provided accommodation in a tent and was denied proper food and water for over two months. The water provided to the animals and the food that he used to get rarely kept him alive. After Adwaidhs father approached NORKA Roots, the expatriate welfare body got in touch with the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia. NORKA Roots CEO Harikrishnan Namboothiri also got in touch with Naaz Shoukathali, a social worker in Dammam, seeking his help in tracing the youth.

After Adwaidh was located in the desert using Google Map, NORKA Roots arranged for his air ticket to fly back to Kerala. He landed at Thiruvananthapuram airport on Monday and was received by NORKA Roots officials. Adwaidhsfather SR Venukumar, who was present to receive his son, thanked NORKA Roots and the state government for their swift intervention.
Two Turkish soldiers have been killed in fighting in Libya, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday as he also defended Ankaras move to also send Syrian opposition fighters to the North African country.

Erdogans remarks followed reports that as many as 16 Turkish soldiers may have been killed in the fighting in Libya since last April, reports that the Turkish leader did not address.

Turkey, which backs the U.S.-supported Libyan government that is based in Tripoli, has sent Turkish military trainers as well as Syrian fighters to battle against rival Libyan forces under commander Khalifa Hifter, who in April launched an offensive to capture Libyas capital.

Erdogan had said on Saturday that a few Turkish soldiers have been killed in Libya but did not say how many. That angered Turkeys opposition, which claimed the government was not disclosing military losses in Libya.

The head of mobilization for Hifters forces, Khaled al-Mahjoub, had claimed that their fighters killed at least 16 Turkish soldiers who were taking part in the fighting in and around Tripoli since April.

Hifters forces also said that a Turkish military officer, an intelligence officer and their Syrian interpreter were killed in artillery shelling that targeted a ship that was about to unload a weapons cargo at the Tripoli port earlier in February.

The Syrian opposition fighters fought along Turkish forces in Ankaras various offensives in Syria.

They are with us in Syria. And these brothers who are with us in Syria consider it an honor to be with us there (in Libya) too, Erdogan said.

The United Arab Emirates and Egypt, as well as France and Russia, support Hifters forces. The embattled Tripoli administration, which controls just a shrinking corner of western Libya, has increasingly relied on Turkey for military aid.
Former Prison Break star Dominic Purcell paid tribute to his 'extraordinary' mother, Maureen, after she passed away on Monday.

In a post on Instagram on Tuesday, the 50-year-old shared an image of himself and his mother enjoying a night out together.

'She was a beautiful human, cool as f**k and a real beauty,' he said of Maureen, who'd previously undergone a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

'She taught me what it is to be a man': Prison Break star Dominic Purcell (pictured) paid tribute to his 'extraordinary' mother Maureen after she passed away on Monday

After sharing a special moment from her life where she wagged school to meet The Beatles and 'flirted' with John Lennon, he went on to reveal the sacrifices she'd made for her family.

'A single mum, five kids, no money. Worked two jobs, one cleaning toilets. A woman that sacrificed so much so we could eat and play without fear,' he wrote.

He explained it was his mum who taught him what really mattered in life - 'unconditional love' and how to be a man.

'A single mum, five kids, no money': Dominic revealed his mum, Maureen (pictured left) had made many sacrifices, including working two jobs

'She taught me what it is to be a man - the true essence of masculinity. No muscles, no posturing. No violence. Just a simple instinctive need to provide, to protect and love my own babies as she did us,' he said.

'You did it, mum. A giant in life. A giant in greatness. You had the last laugh, hey mum, cheeky,' he concluded.

The sad news comes after it was rumoured The Flash star had split from his girlfriend, former model Jodhi Meares, 48.

Special moment: In his tribute, Dominic shared a special moment from Maureen's life - when she wagged school to meet The Beatles and flirted with John Lennon (pictured left to right, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison)

It's believed the pair initially called it quits in September, less than three months after they had debuted their romance.

They looked to have rekindled their romance in December over the holidays, only to split again the following month.

Tellingly, the couple has deleted all evidence of their relationship from their respective Instagram accounts and no longer follow each other.

Dominic has also removed his post from July, in which he first announced he was dating Jodhi.
Director Jagan Shakti is all hale and hearty now and he is thankful to actor Akshay Kumar for lending a helping hand to him. While speaking to a leading daily, Jagan Shakti said, "Akshay sir is the one who brought me back... in giving me a life, giving me a film, and now he has brought me back to walkable situation."

Akshay Kumar To Play Antagonist In Dhoom 4? Here's The Truth

For the unversed, Jagan was hospitalised in January. Reportedly, the filmmaker was collapsed while he was with his friends and was rushed to a hospital in Mumbai immediately. He was later diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation (AVM).

When asked about how he is feeling now, he said that he is all good. "Just coming back to the grind, and back to business. I'll come back and show more good cinema. Every year in the winter, I used to get headaches which would remain for around one week or 10 days, and then go away. Now everything is fine," added the Mission Mangal director.

Wait, What? Is Akshay Kumar Getting Rs 120 Crore For Atrangi Re?

Jagan also asserted that the woman brigade of Mission Mangal - Vidya Balan, Taapsee Pannu, Sonakshi Sinha, Kirti Kulhari and Nithya Menen were very supportive and used to keep a tab on his health regularly.

Inputs - HT
The manager of a Cairns childcare centre told authorities "my whole life is over" after finding the body of a toddler in the back of the kindy bus he had been driving.

Centre manager and bus driver Michael Glen Lewis and childcare worker Dionne Beatrice Grills faced Cairns Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with the manslaughter of the three-year-old.

Close family of the three-year-old boy leaving court. Credit:Brian Cassey/AAP

Mr Lewis made a call to triple-zero after finding the boy dead on the Goodstart Early Learning Centre bus last Tuesday afternoon, media reported.

In the call, which was played to the court, Mr Lewis could be heard telling the emergency operator: "Oh my God, this kid is dead.
(@FahadShabbir)

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th February, 2020) Russian inspectors will visit the Slovak armed forces' military facility, Sergei Ryzhkov, the head of the Russian Defense Ministry's National Center for Reducing Nuclear Danger, said.

"Per the Vienna Document 2011 on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures, a group of Russian inspectors is planning an information assessment visit to a military facility of the armed forces of Slovakia. The evaluation visit will be conducted on February 26, within a day," Ryzhkov said.

He specified that such visits are conducted to assess data on military capabilities as well as weapons systems and military equipment deployment plans.

According to Ryzhkov, the inspectors will visit the facility in its peacetime location and will be briefed by the command on its personnel, military equipment, and weapons systems.

The Vienna Document 2011 on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures, adopted by the members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), stipulates information exchange regarding defense capabilities, budgets, and planning. The OSCE countries also inform each other about certain types of military activity, invite observers, and organize inspections.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 05:11:03|Editor: yan

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ALGIERS, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Algeria and Qatar on Tuesday confirmed that they share convergent views on prevailing regional and international issues.

The remarks came as Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani wrapped up a one-day visit to the North African nation at the invitation of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

Upon the end of the talks with the emir of Qatar, Tebboune told reporters that "there is complete convergence between the two countries on all economic related issues, in addition to political, regional and international ones."

The Algerian president further expressed his hope to maintain this convergence which serves the common interest of the two nations.

The Qatari emir stressed that his talks with Tebboune were "constructive and fruitful," noting that he would work on "developing bilateral relations in economic and investment fields."

Qatar has a couple of investments in Algeria, particularly in the field of steel, with the ongoing construction of a mega steel plant in the province of Jijel.
What just happened? Mega-rich investor Warren Buffett has long sung the praises of Apple, but hes never been a smartphone fan, preferring instead to stick with a $20 Samsung SCH-U320 flip phone that he joked was given to him by Alexander Graham-Bell. Now, however, hes finally upgraded to an iPhone 11.

My flip phone is permanently gone, Buffett told CNBC. With an estimated $89.5 billion net worth, its not as if he couldnt afford the most expensive model, but the 89-year-old didnt even buy the handset himself. Hes received several of them as gifts, including from Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Apple is Berkshire Hathaways third-largest business, with Buffett praising it as probably the best business I know in the world. It owns around 5.5 percent of the company, which equates to more than 245 million shares, or almost $72 billion.

Like most octogenarians who own smartphones, Buffett doesnt intend to load his device with apps and games or spend a lot of time trying out the different camera modes. Youre looking at an 89-year-old guy whos barely beginning to get with it, he said, adding that he doesnt use all its facilities like most people.

I use it as a phone, confessed Buffett. Although if he is having trouble with his handset, Cook did say in 2018 that hed fly to Omaha, Nebraska, to help set up his friend's new phone.

In other Apple news, it was revealed earlier this month that the company was trying to ban a book authored by a former executive for allegedly revealing trade secrets.
A doctor wears protective gears at a quarantine center for Covid-19 patients and suspected cases in Vinh Phuc Province, northern Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy.

Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam says Vietnam has won round one, but the fight against the Covid-19 epidemic is far from over.

In fact the next round can be unpredictable, he warns.

"With all modesty and eagerness to learn, Vietnam has so far controlled the Covid-19 epidemic well," Dam said at an online meeting Tuesday on epidemic prevention measures.

As of Tuesday morning, the last of the 16 infection novel coronavirus infections detected so far in Vietnam had fully recovered. The 50-year-old man, who had contracted the virus from his 23-year-old daughter, one of eight workers sent to Wuhan for work training, has tested negative two times in a row.

He had stayed with his daughter after she returned from Wuhan on January 17 until she was quarantined on January 25. Other members of the family were also infected, but they have been treated successfully and discharged.

Dam said that over the past 13 days no new infection case has been reported in Vietnam as officials continue to supervise and quarantine those suspected of carrying the virus to avoid its spread among the community.

Meanwhile, Vietnam has also dealt with people coming from China, the epicenter of the Covid-19 epidemic, from South Korean and other novel coronavirus-hit countries, Dam said.

Staring February 1, Vietnam suspended all flights to and from China and stopped granting tourist visas to Chinese from epidemic-stricken areas.

After South Korea raised its disease alert to the highest level, the Vietnamese government has tightened controls for visitors from that country. Everyone coming in from South Korea has to make health declarations, and those with symptoms like high fever, coughing and breathing difficulties will be placed in quarantine for a minimum of 14 days.

Dam said that to achieve the positive results so far, Vietnam has been proactively implementing measures to prevent and limit the epidemic from mid-December last year, as soon as reports appeared of the Covid-19 disease in China's Wuhan City.

The deputy PM expressed appreciation for the efforts of everyone involved in fighting the epidemic, particularly mentioning those who completely gave up their Lunar New Year holiday this year.

He said Vietnam began quarantining those suspected of carrying the virus on Lunar New Year's Eve. At that time, Vietnam was also the first country (outside China) to begin isolating suspected people, taking more drastic measures than recommended then by the World Health Organization (WHO), Dam stressed.

The WHO has also lauded Vietnams response to the Covid-19 epidemic, saying measures taken at the very outset had effectively prevented its spread.

Dam also highlighted the military's role in the fight, describing it as "a rehearsal for disease response situations in particular and non-traditional security situations in general."

It was the first time that the Vietnam People's Army had joined an anti-epidemic campaign.



"We have won the first battle against the epidemic but have not won the whole battle as we have entered a new stage with the situation worsening in South Korea, Japan and Italy," Dam said.

He said localities organizing centralized isolation have to react quickly. The case of Vinh Phuc, where the virus was spread among 11 people, is a lesson, he said, adding that timely quarantining had prevented the risk of the disease spreading further.

Dam also welcomed the prompt action taken by Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City in quarantining people from Daegu City, the heart of the outbreak in South Korea.

In the coming time, military and defense forces will participate in quarantine work in border provinces, the deputy PM said.

Vietnam will not give into any pressure to "abandon anti-epidemic principles," he said, adding: "We need to be flexible but very resolute."

Dam also noted efforts were being made to bring life and business back to normal soon while remaining on heightened alert with anti-epidemic measures. "We plan to ensure safe schooling and safe travel," he said.

As of Tuesday, the global Covid-19 death toll had climbed to 2,699 and confirmed infections topped 80,000. More than 27,000 patients have recovered.
Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday called for peace and harmony in the capital amid the ongoing violence in Delhi between pro and anti CAA protestors, which has led to the death of seven people.

"Both the Chief Minister (Arvind Kejriwal) and I want that peace and harmony should remain intact in Delhi. We should do everything possible to maintain peace and order," he said while speaking to media in New Delhi.

The Delhi Lieutenant Governor also stressed upon working in coordination with the Delhi government led by Arvind Kejriwal to help the police to curb violence. "We (Centre and Delhi government) should also help Police in this," he said.

The Delhi Chief Minister had also told media earlier in the day that discussion with Amit Shah was "positive" and said all political parties have stressed upon restoring peace.

"It was decided in the meeting that all the political parties will take requisite steps to restore peace in Delhi. The meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah was positive," CM Kejriwal had said.

Seven people, including one police head constable, have lost their lives and over 100 have been injured in North-East Delhi over a period of two days after clashes broke out between pro and anti CAA protestors.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
European Union governments were expected to adopt a negotiating mandate on Tuesday for the tricky task of reaching a deal with Britain on future ties after it left the bloc last month.

The EU mandate aims to offer Britain, which sells 45% of exports and buys 53% of imports from the 27-nation bloc, no tariffs and no quotas in the future.

In exchange, it wants London not to undercut European companies with lower - and therefore less costly - environmental, labour, tax and state aid standards.

But Britain does not want such a commitment, stressing its "primary objective in the negotiations is ... economic and political independence". It is ready to accept tariffs and quotas similar to a deal the bloc has with Canada.

"We can have an agreement with zero tariffs and zero quotas if we can be sure ... we will have common norms ...regulatory proximity on the basis of EU rules," France's Europe Minister Amelie de Montchalin told reporters on entering the meeting with colleagues from the bloc in Brussels.

"If we cannot maintain this regulatory proximity, then we must ... apply tariffs or quotas," she said. "It's not a position of revenge, it's an economically rational position."

Britain will publish its own negotiating stance on Thursday and talks are to start next week. Both sides want a deal by the end of the year, when Britain's transition period ends.

"This is an extremely ambitious timetable," German Europe Minister Michael Roth said.

Without a trade deal, business contacts would be based on World Trade Organisation rules, which assume tariffs, quotas and cumbersome paperwork.

"Fisheries are important but also our trade relations, security, people-to-people contacts, and that makes the negotiations so challenging," said Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok.

"The time pressure is immense, the interests are huge, it's a very complicated treaty, so it will be very hard work."

The agreed text of the EU negotiating mandate, which diplomats said the ministers would ratify on Tuesday, says any new trade treaty between the EU and Britain "should prevent distortions of trade and unfair competitive advantages so as to ensure a sustainable and long-lasting relationship".

"The envisaged agreement should uphold common high standards, and corresponding high standards over time with (European) Union standards as reference point," says the document, seen by Reuters. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States  Wed, February 26, 2020 05:41 686 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20669a4ac 2 World Joe-Biden,US-presidential-race,US-presidential-election,campaign Free

Joe Biden's White House bid has been rocked by a series of verbal slip-ups days before South Carolina's Democratic primary, a make-or-break contest as the former vice president struggles to reverse his campaign's slide.

Eclipsed by a surging Bernie Sanders, Biden suggested to supporters Monday that he was campaigning "for the United States Senate" -- where he served for 36 years, until a decade ago.

Biden also blundered by saying he had negotiated the 2015 Paris climate accord with China's Deng Xiaoping, who died in 1997.

Biden, 77, is known for his verbal stumbles. While they may not be disqualifying -- last year he mixed up then-prime minister Theresa May with Margaret Thatcher -- they are providing ammunition for critics who question his mental acuity.

The latest gaffes come as Biden seeks to make a "comeback" after miserable showings in Iowa and New Hampshire and a second-place finish in Nevada, and days before Saturday's primary, a monumental test for his campaign.

Speaking at a Democratic Party Dinner in Charleston, South Carolina, Biden asked the attendees, many of them African Americans who support his bid, for help in making him the nominee.

"Where I come from you don't get far unless you ask," Biden said. "I'm a Democratic candidate for the United States Senate. Look me over. If you like what you see, help me out."

Several US media reported that he added "if not, you can vote for the other Biden," although review of the video does not conclusively show him saying his name. No other Bidens are in the race.

There was no mistaking Biden's error at a second event, when he claimed to have worked on the Paris climate accord with a Chinese leader who died 19 years before the deal was signed.

"I'm the guy that came back after meeting with Deng Xiaoping and making the case that I believe China would join if we put pressure on them," Biden said.

The error was quickly pointed out by President Donald Trump's re-election campaign.

"I honestly wish he would've retired & not subjected himself to the rigors of this campaign," added online personality, activist and Sanders surrogate Shaun King.

Biden was to take the debate stage Tuesday with six rivals: Sanders, former mayors Michael Bloomberg of New York and Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, senators Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar, and billionaire activist Tom Steyer.
Mid Michigan College will present a millage proposal on the March 2020 ballot for voters in Beaverton, Clare, Farwell, Gladwin and Harrison school districts.

Mid Michigan College was established and approved by taxpayers from the above school districts in 1965 and became Michigan's 25th community college. In 1965, voters passed a millage of 1.5 mills to support college construction and operations. Since that time, the millage rate has dropped due to impacts from the Headlee Amendment to 1.2232 mills, the second lowest college millage in the state.

Compared to the other 28 community colleges in the State, Mid is the most dependent on tuition and fees for revenue, collects the lowest amount of property tax per fiscal year equated students, and operates with the fourth lowest expenditures per fiscal year equated students.

Mid collects the lowest tax revenue per FYES out of all 28 Michigan community colleges. At $949 per fiscal year equated student, Mid's rate is considerably less than the state average and neighboring community colleges.

The college's unstable revenue situation, due to its heavy reliance on tuition, and its low revenue overall have made Mid a very efficient institution.

"Although there is so much more the college would like to do for its students and the communities it serves, Mid has always lived within its means. The college operates well below the state average in both revenue and expenses," explained Scott Mertes, vice president of community outreach and advancement.

In late 2019, EMSI, a labor market analytics firm, conducted an economic impact study, which considered the overall impacts of Mid Michigan College within Clare, Gladwin, and Isabella counties.

EMSI findings concluded that Mid Michigan College creates a significant positive impact on the business community and generates a return on investment to its major stakeholder groups -- students, taxpayers and society.

In FY 2018-19, Mid added $69.2 million in income to the Clare, Gladwin, and Isabella county economies, and supported 1,314 jobs. For perspective, the activities of Mid and its students support one out of every 43 jobs within the above mentioned counties.

For every tax dollar spent educating students attending Mid, taxpayers will receive an average of $5.50 in return over the course of the students' working lives. In other words, taxpayers enjoy an annual rate of return of 12.5%.

In an effort to stabilize the college's funding model and build even greater positive community impact in the future, Mid Michigan College's Board of Trustees has authorized a millage proposal for an additional 0.6268 mills to appear on the March 2020 ballot.

If passed, the college's total millage rate would increase to 1.85 mills for 10 years. Revenue from this increase will be used for college operating purposes. Largely, it would fund advanced technology for students and academic programs, including for the health sciences and skilled trades areas.

Taxpayers who own property or live in the school districts of Beaverton, Clare, Farwell, Gladwin, and Harrison, currently and would continue to contribute to Mid Michigan College's operational funding. Taxpayers and their dependents realize a lower tuition rate as a result of their tax contributions; $129/contact hour vs. $217/contact hour for out-district students based on 2019-20 tuition rates.

For more information about the millage request, contact Jessie Gordon, associate vice president of strategic communications, at jmgordon@midmich.edu or 989-317-4626.
The Odisha government on Tuesday informed the state Assembly that it will withdraw fixed deposits of Rs 545 crore that has been kept in a private bank in the name of Lord Jagannath and keep it in a nationalised bank.

Law Minister Pratap Jena, while replying to a written question in the Assembly, said the decision regarding this was taken during a meeting of the Temple Management Committee.

The decision is significant as legislators cutting across party lines had expressed concern over the deposit of the funds in a private bank.

Jena said the funds will be transferred from the private bank on March 19 and March 30.

The funds will be deposited in a nationalised bank which will give more rate of interest, he said.

The minister informed the House that Lord Jagannath has a cash deposit of Rs 626.5 crore including Rs 255.9 crore Sri Jagannath Temple Corpus Fund, Rs 99 crore in Sri Jagannath Temple Foundation Fund and Rs 271.6 crore in Sri Jagannath Temple Fund.

"The funds amounting to Rs 592 crore was deposited in a private bank as it gave more rate of interest. Rs 545 crore was kept as fixed deposits and Rs 47 crore as flexi-fixed deposits," the minister said.

He said that the flexi-fixed deposits have been withdrawn from the private bank and after the tenures of the remaining Rs 545 crore fixed deposits end on March 19 and March 30, the amount will be withdrawn from the bank on the same days, he said.

The minister also informed the House that Lord Jagannath owns 60,426.94 acres of land spread over 24 districts in Odisha.

Record of rights of 34,803.01 acres of land is with the possession of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, he said.

As many as 864 illegal encroachment cases have been filed to free 151.47 acres of land from encroachers in seven districts of the state under Section 16-A(1) of Shree Jagannath Temple Act, 1955, the minister added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
According to his niece, Adong Akot, who lives in Lincoln, her uncle has been in a coma.

The Corrections union updated Akot's condition late Tuesday, saying doctors removed his breathing tubes and sedation and he slowly started to awaken. After about an hour he was able to recognize family members and friends from his past. It is expected to be a long road to his full recovery, the union said.

His niece said her uncle has faced many tragedies as a Lost Boy of South Sudan, and coming to America alone.

The Lost Boys refers to a group of about 20,000 children, mostly boys, between 7 and 17 years of age who were separated from their families during a brutal war in southern Sudan. They trekked long distances seeking refuge from the fighting. Hungry, frightened and weakened by sleeplessness and disease, they crossed from the Sudan into Ethiopia and back, with many dying along the way.

Akot plays an important role in his family, his niece said, and is the reason she and others were allowed into America as refugees. He has always urged his family to pursue college and graduate to help their family back in Sudan, she said.
The Daily Telegraph has apologised to an alleged top-ranking Comanchero gang member and withdrawn "any suggestion" he was involved in the murder of former Comanchero boss Mick Hawi, bringing to an end a lengthy Federal Court defamation fight.

In an apology published on Tuesday, the Telegraph said it "apologises for the hurt caused to" Ali Bazzi over two reports in August 2018 linking him to the shooting death of Mr Hawi earlier that year and "withdraws any suggestion of wrong doing" by him in relation to the murder.

Ali Bazzi (right) with Comanchero boss Mark Buddle in the Mediterranean. Buddle allegedly tasked Bazzi with taking charge of the gang in Australia.

Mr Bazzi launched defamation proceedings against the Telegraph's publisher, Nationwide News, in October 2018 over reports on August 23 and 25 that suggested he met the men who were later charged with the murder of Mr Hawi prior to his shooting.

In documents filed in court, Mr Bazzi claimed the stories carried the defamatory meanings that he sanctioned and plotted the death of Mr Hawi.
The coronavirus has claimed the lives of elderly care home residents in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, with outbreaks likely in other similar facilities, local media reported, amid strenuous denials from local government officials.



Cutting-edge news website Caixin said in a recent report that 11 elderly people had died at the Wuhan Social Welfare Institute from "fevers and respiratory failure."



A statement on the official website of the Wuhan municipal cyberspace administration denied the report.



Caixin then doubled down and published the names and dates of all of the deaths after a local official threatened to pursue the organization for rumor-mongering, a crime carrying a maximum jail sentence of seven years in China.



A source close to a care home run by the government's Ximajie Community Health Center who gave only her surname Chen said more than 120 residents were taken away in ambulances on .



"They were saying that 120 were infected [with coronavirus] and taken to hospital," Chen said.



Repeated calls to the Ximajie Health Center in Wuhan's Jiang'an district rang unanswered during office hours on .



Ren Aiping, the manager of another care home nearby, said there had been several outbreaks in local facilities for the elderly, but was unsure of the exact number.



Nucleic acid tests

Xia Houmin, an employee at the Dannan Community Care Home, said all staff and residents in that facility were undergoing nucleic acid testing for coronavirus.



"We are doing nucleic acid tests right now on all of the elderly in our nursing home, as well as the employees," Xia said, before hanging up.



Employees who answered the phone at several more care homes in Wuhan cut off the phone immediately when contacted by RFA.



According to Caixin, the deaths of the 11 elderly patients were recorded as being caused by sepsis, heart attack and stroke, but many had also had a fever, suggesting that the coronavirus may have triggered the other problems.



An earlier Caixin report had said there were suspected coronavirus cases in care homes run by the Wuhan municipal government's civil affairs bureau.



Wuhan volunteer Gao Mingyu said Caixin's reports were entirely credible.



"It just goes to show that some people dare to tell the truth, and some people are controlled by the system and dare not tell the truth," Gao said. "In this case, a conscientious reporter wanted to tell the truth, and Caixin was courageous enough to [publish] it."



Repeated calls to the Wuhan civil affairs bureau rang unanswered during office hours on .



The reports come as 2,563 deaths were reported in Hubei, compared with 2,705 deaths worldwide from coronavirus, or COVID-19. Nearly 19,000 people have recovered in the province since the start of the epidemic, according to a tracking website run by Johns Hopkins University.



High pay for crematorium work

Wang Yan, whose hometown is in Hubei's Xiangfan city, told RFA that crematoriums in Wuhan, the provincial capital, are continuing to advertise for new staff at a high salary.



"Someone living in Nanzhang county told me that someone had given him a phone number to call and told him to get in contact with the guy and go and work in Wuhan moving dead bodies," Wang said.



"They pay 4,000 yuan (US$ 670) for the night shift, which is a job that usually pays 5,000 yuan a month if you work in the daytime," he said. "He said they are recruiting large numbers of people right now."



Repeated calls to the recruitment number were cut off by the recipient on , likely because they showed up as being from overseas.



However, an advertisement seen by RFA showed that recruiters were looking for 50 people who would be billeted in a guesthouse while they worked. Transportation to Wuhan would be provided, as well as an evening meal, it said.



New recruits would receive 4,000 yuan to fetch and take away two dead bodies per night, which would rise to 5,000 yuan if they kept at the job, the notice said.



Social media users have previously told RFA that there are 84 incinerators located at seven funeral homes across Wuhan, with a capacity to perform 2,016 cremations in any 24-hour period.



All of those funeral homes have been working around the clock in recent weeks, with dead bodies lying in rows waiting for cremation, social media reports said.



Wuhan voluntary worker Zhong Qiang, who recently carried out an unofficial survey of funeral homes and crematoria in Wuhan, said what he saw backed up the claims of 24-7 cremation in the city.



He said a small crematorium typically has around 11 furnaces that can cremate 120 bodies a day, while the larger facilities have double that number.



Reported by Wong Siu-san and Sing Man for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Qiao Long for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The Bachelor's senior citizen spin-off is a go.

Bachelor Nation's latest addition was officially announced via a casting commercial appearing during last night's episode.

ABC head of alternative programming Robert Mills then further confirmed the news on Twitter, writing: '#BachelorNation, give us your Grumpiest Old Men, give us your Goldenest Girls. #TheBachelor. To be clear, this is 65+.'

Will you accept this rose? The Bachelor's over 65 spin-off has been confirmed

The possibility of The Bachelor's silver spin-off was first teased back in January when a casting call for the show started circulating on social media.

According to the original announcement, which was posted on producer Lindsay Liles' Instagram, the show is in search of 'active and outgoing single men and women IN THEIR GOLDEN YEARS' who are 'ready for a committed relationship.'

Bachelor host/love guru Chris Harrison chimed in several weeks after, all but confirming the news during a chat with TMZ.

Golden years: ABC head of alternative programming Robert Mills confirmed the news on Twitter, writing: '#BachelorNation, give us your Grumpiest Old Men, give us your Goldenest Girls. #TheBachelor. To be clear, this is 65+'

Love at any age: The Bachelor's host Chris Harrison seemed to confirm that a senior citizen version of the show is in the works during a chat with TMZ last week

'Everybody deserves love, right?' he coyly told the site.

Harrison explained that an over 65 version of The Bachelor is one of the 'number one things' people ask him.

Still, he neither confirmed nor denied if the show was indeed happening.

'We're thinking about it, we'll see,' he said with a wry smile.

The Bachelor's senior edition will come on the heels of two new spin-offs.

Love songs: A musical version of The Bachelor called Listen To Your Heart is also in the works, set to premiere April 13 on ABC

Last month ABC announced The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart, a dating contest where 20 single men and women will look for love with the help of music.

Mixing elements of American Idol with the long-running love show, contestants will perform songs both solo and as couples, in addition going on the type of over-the-top dates the show is known for.

And following in the footsteps of 2016's Olympic-themed Bachelor Winter Games, The Bachelor Summer Games will return for the Tokyo 2020 Games in July.

Other Bachelor spin-offs include the summer romp Bachelor In Paradise and the now-cancelled Bachelor Pad.

Listen To Your Heart is set to premiere April 13 on ABC. The current season of The Bachelor featuring pilot Peter Weber airs Monday nights.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Awal Mohammed says the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Mahama has no campaign message for Ghanaians ahead of the 2020 general elections.

According to him, the same people who are saying the Akufo-Addo administration has done nothing over the last three years in office are the same persons who, prior to the 2016 elections, stated that free SHS was not possible, and described as lies the pledge to restore the nursing and teacher trainee allowances.

NDC and Mahama has no campaign message ahead of the 2020 elections,they are only noted for propaganda and lies to distract the good work of President Akufo-Addo, Awal Mohammed told Kwaku Dawuro on Medo Ghana on Accra-based Kingdom TV.

Awal Mohammed, the opposition is clinging on to character smearing and vague suppositions in an attempt to divert attention from the laudable achievements of the Akufo-Addo government.

However, he challenged the NDC to come out with their policy position about the future of the country.

He said it would be difficult for Mr. Mahama and his NDC to project themselves as the messiahs of the economy after running same down between 2012 and 2016.
The agreement between South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and ex-rebel opposition leader Riek Machar to form a transitional national unity government after repeated delays marks an important breakthrough on the six-year-long road to peace. However, it is still not clear sailing to end the civil war that killed an estimated 400,000 people. There remain pending differences over power sharing arrangements, the assimilation of rebel militias into a unified national army and police force, and other major issues, each capable of raising major stumbling blocks and, perhaps, triggering another backslide, as occurred in 2013 and 2016.

If there are things we have not agreed upon, we have agreed to resolve them. We shall finalise them in the coming days, President Kiir said Thursday when the agreement was announced. As reassuring as that sounded, it was not clear whether this meant by 22 February, the deadline for forming the government or in the days after that.

One of the remaining bones of contention has to do with the number of states and their borders. On 14 February, Kiir, under immense pressure, backed down from his insistence on retaining 32 states he had created and agreed to return to the original 10, as the opposition demanded. But he then insisted on adding three administrative areas  the oil-rich Ayei, Pibor and Ruweng  which the opposition adamantly refused. This remains unresolved. When announcing arrangements for the formation of the new government, Minister of Information Michael Makuei said that the vice presidents would be sworn in 22 February and that the appointments of cabinet members, the governors of the 10 states and officials responsible for the three administrative areas would follow soon afterwards. Then parliament voted to amend the constitution to provide for 10 states plus three administrative areas. Following this, a spokesman for Machar said that Machar and Kiir would resume work on resolving that problem after the government is formed.

The number of states and their boundaries are critical to the process of distributing power. Most of the oil producing areas fall under the influence of the Nuer, the ethnic group to which Machar belongs. The Nuer see attempts to create more administrative divisions as a device to curtail their influence.

The agreement also called for Machars reinstatement as first vice president after which Kiir and he would work out a power sharing formula. But will Kiir actually concede real powers and jurisdictions to Machar? Or will he attempt to limit Machar to nominal posts or restrict his ability to exercise his given authorities as occurred during the first national unity government, triggering a replay of mutual tensions, recriminations and accusations that quickly escalated into civil war before?

Security arrangements in the capital, Juba, is another deferred issue. President Kiir has promised a more inclusive government. However, he mentioned nothing of Machars demand for an international peacekeeping force in Juba in advance of the formation of the new government. Will Kiirs vow to protect opposition members appointed to the new government be enough? Ambiguous security arrangements and a lack of mutual trust were chief reasons for the collapse of the national unity government six years ago, only three months after it was formed. Dozens of people were killed in the fighting that erupted in Juba before spreading to the rest of the country, while Machar and other opposition leaders were forced to flee on foot to neighbouring Congo and hundreds of other opposition members were jailed.

But perhaps the most intractable obstacle has been the failure to implement the provisions of the agreement calling for the decommissioning and dissolution of rebel militias and the assimilation of their members into a unified national army and police force or, alternatively, the civil service. Will the new government be able to allocate the estimated $285 million needed to rehabilitate members of the rebel militias, compensate them for surrendering their weapons and incorporate them into the state? Will donor nations continue to be reluctant to help the government find the funds on the grounds that the factions are not serious enough about achieving peace? Certainly, the alternative would be grim: another collapse of peace while angry ex-rebels regroup into their former militias or enlist with factions not yet subscribed to the peace process.

According to UN relief agency figures, the civil war in South Sudan caused the worst refugee crisis in Africa since the Rwandan Genocide in 1994. The crisis is not just about a political power struggle between Kiir and Machar, or even between the majority Dinka peoples to which Kiir belongs and the Nuer, the largest ethnic group in the country. It is also a conflict over who controls the land, its wealth and its people, and it involves many other ethnicities and tribes, such as the Shilluk, the third largest ethnic group among approximately 60 ethnic groups in South Sudan. South Sudan had around 157 ethnicities who had been caught up in two long civil wars, the first from 1956 to 1972 and the second from 1983 to 2005, the date of the Naivasha Peace Agreement that upheld the South Sudanese peoples right to self-determination as expressed in a referendum over independence.

There is another major opposition alliance outside of Machars Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO). Formed in February 2018, its most prominent leaders are former chief of staff Paul Malong, Thomas Cirilo of the National Salvation Front (NAS) and Pagan Amum who had served as secretary general of the ruling Peoples Movement Party before Kiir dismissed and imprisoned him. This alliance, called the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA), was sworn to overthrow Kiir, but in January 2020 it signed a memorandum of understanding known as the Rome Declaration in which it committed to halt hostilities, engage in a political dialogue conducive to peace, and facilitate the arrival of humanitarian relief to civilians.

Unfortunately, there are no concrete signs that SSOMA will remain committed to the MoU. Perhaps its members are waiting until they are assured their piece of the power pie that Kiir and Machar are divvying up. Given the volatility in South Sudan, it is not difficult to predict that, if they do not feel satisfactorily rewarded, they will jettison the MoU, revert to combat and rob the deeply traumatised country of the opportunity to reap some of the fruits of the cessation of hostilities and the formation of a national unity government.

Without a doubt, Washingtons arm twisting  of Kiir in particular  was instrumental in spurring the concessions needed for the current political breakthrough. In addition to recalling the US ambassador to Juba because Kiir had not taken a single tangible step to ensure the political and security conditions needed to create a national unity government and to implement other terms of the peace agreement, Washington also sanctioned First Vice President Taban Deng Gai, whom it accused of engineering the disappearance and deaths of human rights lawyer Samuel Dong Luak and SPLM-IO member Aggrey Idry, and it sanctioned Defence Minister Kuol Manyang Juuk and Minister of Cabinet Affairs Martin Elia Lomura in their capacity as senior leaders in South Sudan that have perpetuated the conflict for their own personal enrichment. Lomuro was allegedly responsible for actively recruiting and organising local militias to conduct attacks against opposition forces in South Sudan while Juuk fomented violence with rival tribes, and oversaw the training of tribal militias to prepare for the possibility of renewed violence.

Hopefully Kiir, Machar, the nine members of SSOMA and others will get the message. This may be the only guarantee that will prevent the new national unity government from going the way of its predecessors and that will keep South Sudan from relapsing into the conflict that has displaced more than two million people.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 27 February, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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A U.S. appeals court in San Francisco has 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 Monday 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.

A man who said he was brutally beaten by San Francisco police officers in the Fisherman's Wharf area last year has sued the city in federal court for alleged civil rights violations and assault.

Dacari Spiers, 31, alleges in the lawsuit, filed Monday, that he was hugging his girlfriend as they leaned against their parked car and consoling her for the theft of her wallet on Oct. 6 when two or more officers abruptly grabbed him and "began to beat him mercilessly with their batons."

The lawsuit says he suffered a severely broken leg and a severely broken wrist, both requiring surgery, and a large laceration to his other leg.

The suit includes claims of unconstitutional excessive force, assault, emotional distress, negligence and inadequate training and supervision of police by the city. It asks for an unspecified amount of financial compensation, including a punitive damages award.

San Francisco City Attorney's Office spokesman John Cote said, "We'll review the lawsuit and address it in court. This matter is still under investigation."

A 12-year-old girl died in a hit-and-run collision Monday afternoon in Castro Valley, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The collision was reported at 3:27 p.m. at Manter and Crow Canyon roads in the unincorporated Alameda County community.

The girl was in the crosswalk with another girl when a truck traveling west on Manter Road turned south onto Crow Canyon Road and struck the girl.

CHP Officer Gabe Walters described the suspect as a white or Hispanic man, 25 to 35 years old, driving a lifted, black Ford F-150.

Walters said the suspect stopped, looked and drove away from the collision. It's unclear whether the other child was injured.

Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, introduced a bill Monday that would clear the criminal records of certain people once they complete the terms of their sentence.

Assembly Bill 2978 would automatically clear the records of people with eligible convictions dating back to 1973 to make it easier for them to find a job, apply for housing or seek other potentially restricted opportunities. The bill is sponsored by Californians for Safety and Justice and has received the support of multiple district attorneys from around the state.

Currently, residents with a prior conviction can only clear their record by filing a legal petition, which can necessitate costly actions like hiring a lawyer and filing paperwork.

According to Ting, the bill is a companion to his AB 1076, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed last year and will offer the same record clearance to new cases beginning in 2021.

Both bills apply to most misdemeanor and felony convictions, save for major felonies like rape, murder and sexual misconduct with a minor.

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors will consider an ordinance Tuesday that would ban the sale of vaping products in the county's unincorporated areas.

The ordinance represents an effort to quell the rising use of tobacco vaping products and e-cigarettes, particularly among young people. Nearly 70 percent of high school students in Alameda County who have bought vaping products reported doing so at a store or through another person; only 6.5 percent bought their vaping products and devices online.

The ordinance would build on the county's tobacco retailer licensing ordinance, which the board adopted last month. Under the ordinance, tobacco retailers must meet requirements for pricing, packaging and retailing density and are prohibited from selling flavored tobacco products.

Several other municipalities around the Bay Area -- including the counties of Santa Clara, Contra Costa, San Mateo and San Francisco -- have enacted some type of restriction on the sale of vaping products. The cities of Livermore and Dublin have also banned the sale of the devices.

Tuesday will be sunny and clear across most of the Bay Area with a high of 66 in San Francisco and mid-70s inland.

Tuesday night will remain clear with temperatures dipping to around 50 on the coast and light north winds picking up early Wednesday morning.

Wednesday will be sunny and slightly warmer, with highs in the 60s to mid-70s.

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.
Former chairman of Assam



Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board (ABOCWWB) Gautam Baruah, wanted in connection with a vigilance case, has been arrested from New Delhi, police said.

A non-bailable arrest warrant had been issued against him by a special court here in 2019 for alleged misappropriation of board funds, and a process had been initiated for attachment of his property.

A cash reward of Rs one lakh had also been announced by the Chief Ministers Special Vigilance Cell, for any information leading to his arrest.

The accused will be produced before a court in the national capital on Tuesday seeking his transit remand, a police spokesperson said here.

The former ABOCWWB chairman was arrested from a rented accomodation in New Delhi on Monday, the spokesperson said.

Baruah, who held the position as the officiating chairman of the ABOCWWB from 2011 to 2017, was evading the police dragnet ever since a case was registered against him in 2017, he said.

The case was registered on the basis of a complaint lodged by Tapan Sarma, the then labour commissioner-cum-member secretary of the ABOCWWB.

Sarma in his complaint had alleged forgery and large scale misappropriation of board funds, by his predecessor member secretary and chairman of the ABOCWWB.

On the basis of an inquiry conducted by the Chief Minister's Special Vigilance Cell in 2017, it was established that there was a criminal conspiracy by the then member secretary of the board Chohan Doley, the then chairman Gautam Baruah, former administrative officer Nagendra Nath Choudhury and the then proprietor of M/S. Purbashree Printing House Priyangshu Boiragi.

The conspiracy had resulted in alleged misappropriation of over Rs 121 crore from the fund accumulated through collection of cess by the ABOCWWB, vigilance officials said.

Doley, Choudhury and Boiragi were arrested in 2017 and a chargesheet was filed against them in 2018.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Driver, Abuja and Maiduguri (three posts), Abuja, Nigeria

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

Country: Nigeria

City: Abuja, Nigeria

Office: UNDP Abuja

Grade: G-2

Closing date: Wednesday, 4 March 2020

Job ID: 28980

Practice Area - Job Family: Management - TRANSPORT

Vacancy End Date: (Midnight New York, USA) 04/03/2020

Duty Station: Abuja, Nigeria

Education & Work Experience: C-HS Graduate or Equivalent - 2 year(s) experience

Languages: English, Hausa

Grade: G2

Vacancy Type: FTA Local

Posting Type: Common System

Bureau: Africa

Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension

Background

OCHAs mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors to:

alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies

advocate for the rights of people in need

promote preparedness and prevention

facilitate sustainable solutions.

In December 1991, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 46/182 designed to strengthen the United Nations response to both complex emergencies and natural disasters. In addition, it aimed at improving the overall effectiveness of the UNs humanitarian operations in the field.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Admin & Logistics Associate, the Driver provides reliable and safe driving services ensuring high accuracy of work. The Driver demonstrates a client-oriented approach, high sense of responsibility, courtesy, tact and the ability to work with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

The Driver provides driving services to the UNOCHA staff in the South Sudan, Consultants and Experts and UN staff on mission.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Provision of reliable and secure driving services

Proper use of vehicle

Day-to-day maintenance of the assigned vehicle

Availability of documents/ supplies

1. Ensures provision of reliable and secure driving services by a) driving office vehicles for the transport of authorized personnel and delivery and collection of mail, documents and other items and b) meeting official personnel and visitors at the airport, visa and customs formalities arrangement when required.

2. Ensures cost-savings through proper use of vehicle through accurate maintenance of daily vehicle logs, provision of inputs to preparation of the vehicle maintenance plans and reports.

3. Ensures proper day-to-day maintenance of the assigned vehicle through timely minor repairs, arrangements for major repairs, timely changes of oil, check of tires, brakes, car washing, etc.

4. Ensure that the assigned vehicle is wash and clean.

5. Ensures availability of all the required documents/supplies including vehicle insurance, vehicle logs, office directory, first aid kit, and necessary spare parts.

6. Ensures that all immediate actions required by rules and regulations are taken in case of involvement in accidents.

7. Ensure insurance cover of assigned vehicle is valid.

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the accurate, safe and timely execution of the OCHA transport services.

Competencies

Operational Effectiveness

Ability to perform a variety of repetitive and routine tasks and duties

Ability to review data, identify and adjust discrepancies

Ability to handle a large volume of work possibly under time constraints

Good knowledge of administrative rules and regulations

Ability to operate and maintain variety of computerized business machines and office equipment to provide efficient delivery of service

Ability to organize and complete multiple tasks by establishing priorities

Demonstrates excellent knowledge of driving rules and regulations and skills in minor vehicle repairs.

Tags complex emergencies customs formalities knowledge management logistics natural disasters vehicles word processing

Demonstrates excellent knowledge of protocol

Demonstrates excellent knowledge of security issues

Managing Data

Collects and compiles data with speed and accuracy identifying what is relevant and discarding what is not, records it in an accessible manner and maintains data bases

Thoroughly and methodically collects, verifies and records data, demonstrating attention to detail and identifying and correcting errors on own initiative.

Transmits file data: creates and generate queries, reports and documents utilizing databases, spreadsheets, communications and other software packages with speed and accuracy

Interprets data, draws conclusions and or /identifies patterns which support the work of others.

Managing Documents, Correspondences and Reports

Creates edits and presents information (queries, reports, documents) in visually pleasing, clear and presentable formats such as tables, forms, briefing notes/books and reports using advanced word processing and presentation functions and basic database and spreadsheet software.

Ability to produce accurate and well documented records conforming to the required standard

Planning, Organizing and Multi-tasking

Organizes and accurately completes multiple tasks by establishing priorities while taking into consideration special assignments, frequent interruptions, deadlines, available resources and multiple reporting relationships

Plans, coordinates and organizes workload while remaining aware of changing priorities and competing deadlines

Demonstrates ability to quickly shift from one task to another to meet multiple support needs

Establishes, builds and maintains effective working relationships with staff and clients to facilitate the provision of support

Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Secondary Education. Valid Drivers license.

Experience:

2 years work experience as a driver; safe driving record; knowledge of driving rules and regulations and skills in minor vehicle repair.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required, good knowledge of local Nigerian language is desirable.

QUALIFIED FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Disclaimer

Important applicant information

All posts in the GS categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.
One person has died and another was injured in a car bomb explosion in the Syrian capital of Damascus, the state-run SANA news agency reported on Tuesday

BEIRUT (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th February, 2020) One person has died and another was injured in a car bomb explosion in the Syrian capital of Damascus, the state-run SANA news agency reported on Tuesday.

According to the media outlet, the improvised explosive device was placed in a car, which detonated near the Tishreen stadium.

The device was reportedly planted by militants.
A woman wanted for a shooting in Atlantic City was arrested Monday afternoon in Pensacola, Florida, authorities said Tuesday.

Myasia Adubato, 21, was charged with attempted murder in the Feb. 8 shooting, Atlantic City police said.

Sgt. Kevin Fair said in a statement that Adubato got in a cab on North Carolina Avenue near the beach. The driver, a 65-year-old man, took Adubato to Vermont Avenue. There, she shot him and ordered him to hand over his money and belongings. Then he got out of the cab as Adubato ordered him into the backseat.

She drove the cab northwest into the city. The driver was able to escape at Virginia and Baltic avenues and call for help, Fair said. Officers found the man at that corner and he was later taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Adubato abandoned the cab several blocks away.

She then appears to have made her way to a Florida trailer park.

Officers with the Escambia County Sheriffs Office arrested Adubato Monday afternoon at a residence in Patriots Park 2, a mobile home park. She was arrested without incident and is in the Escambia County jail awaiting an extradition hearing to New Jersey.

She is also charged with aggravated assault, robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, tampering with evidence, and criminal mischief.

Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Ross Houllis, 28, was allegedly assaulted by two men and dragged through the car park of the Wakeley Shopping Centre

A second man has been charged with murder after a man was killed trying to sell a pair of Apple Airpods he listed on Facebook.

Ross Houllis, 28, was allegedly assaulted by two men and dragged through the car park of the Wakeley Shopping Centre near Fairfield in Sydney's west at 9pm on Valentines Day.

The incident was described as 'cold and calculating' by the top cop investigating the alleged murder.

Police arrested 26-year-old Abdul Karaali at a home in Yagoona at about 10am on Tuesday after storming the man's home with assault rifles in tactical gear.

He is the second person to be charged with Mr Houllis's murder, after father-of-two Sami Hamdach was arrested last week.

Fairfield City Police Area Commander Superintendent Brett McFadden described the alleged assault as a 'horrific incident for the family'.

'The level of violence. It was cold, it was calculating, it was very deliberate there is no mistakes or accidents associated with what's taken place. It's just something that's unacceptable for our society to condone in any way,' Superintendent McFadden said.

He said the arrest of a second man has provided some solace for Mr Houllis' family, but they continued to mourn the loss of their son.

'We have been in contact with the family over the course of the day, they gained some consolation. However the tragic loss of Ross they're still coming to terms with,' Superintendent McFadden said.

The arrest of Karaali involved a heavy police presence as officers in full tactical gear with assault rifles charged into the man's home before handcuffing him on the lawn outside.

Abdul Karaali, 26, (pictured) was arrested over the alleged murder of Ross Houllis at his Yagoona home on Tuesday

Police stormed the man's home with assault rifles in tactical gear before arresting Abdul Karaali, 26, (pictured)

The matter was briefly mentioned at Bankstown Local Court, where Karaali did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.

Karaali is next due at the same court on Wednesday.

Mr Houllis was at the Wakeley Shopping Centre car park on February 14 where he was meeting with two strangers off Facebook Marketplace after advertising a pair of Apple Airpod Earphones for sale.

After arriving he was allegedly approached by two men who demanded cash before they allegedly assaulted him and dragged him across the ground.

The arrest of Abdul Karaali, 26, (pictured) involved a heavy police presence as officers in full tactical gear with assault rifles charged into the man's home before handcuffing him on the lawn outside

Abdul Karaali is the second person to be charged with Mr Houllis's murder, after father of two- Sami Hamdach was charged on Thursday

After the alleged assailants drove away in a Toyota Hilux, Mr Houllis was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, where he died three days later.

Mr Houllis listed the Apple wireless earphones for sale on the Sydney Marketplace Facebook group on January 23.

'Brand New Airpods generation 2 haven't been used got them as a gift a while back,' he captioned the post.

Apple AirPods sell for $250 at retail but Mr Houllis had listed them for $170.




Sam Houston Collegiate Prep Elementary parents and staff heard from a potential in-district charter operator about the future of the central Midland school.

Third Future Schools executive Mike Miles told those in attendance Monday that Third Future was in negotiations with Midland ISD about operating Sam Houston not because he was looking to check a box or because something needed to be fixed. Instead, he referred to his three schools in Colorado and the good things they have done for kids.

That is the interest I have, said Miles, former superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District.

Miles and MISD superintendent Orlando Riddick talked about the journey that brought Third Future to Midland and what a potential marriage could look like if the board gives its approval in March. Houston has had a string of unsuccessful academic years. Texas Education Agency ratings show three improvement required marks (2016-18) and an F grade in 2019. The streak of failing grades has forced MISD officials to venture into a situation such has happened with the former Crockett Elementary. The students were sent to other schools and the east side building was repopulated with other students and re-opened as Gen. Tommy Franks Elementary. Another model is the partnership MISD sought with IDEA Public Schools to transform Travis Elementary, which has one of the longest failing streaks in the state.

RELATED: MISD to evaluate options at Houston elementary

Riddick said Third Future has become a candidate for a transformation at Sam Houston. And the partnership could prevent the state from taking over the campus should it receive a fifth-straight failing grade.

Miles, who was superintendent at Dallas ISD when Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath was a board member in Dallas, said his three Colorado-based schools are in their infancy but already have a record of speeding up student growth. He said the Colorado campuses have shown the ability to make up a full year of academic progress in just five months and demonstrated cases of delivering two years of academic growth in one school year.

He said the Third Future calendar in Midland will be a longer one than the regular MISD schedule. Teachers will be paid more, and academic staff will teach to the students ability. Miles called it differentiated instruction.

The unique instructional model that helps narrow achievement gaps is an added value of the charter operator. Other added values include free before- and after-school care. The school day will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. (depending on grade), but the building will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Miles said that part of the student experience goes beyond the classroom. He said there will be field trips, including one outside the state for fifth-graders at no extra cost to families. The on-campus experience also includes an art of thinking class  90 minutes a day on information literacy, communications or learning how to learn.

Both Riddick and Miles agreed that Houston will remain a college prep. Miles described his critical- thinking operation as a ramped up model of AVID.

Houston will remain a school of choice that starts with central Midland neighborhood students. Riddick said those students at Sam Houston will have the opportunity to come back. Those who want to go to another campus can do so. He also said once all neighborhood students and those currently in the student population make their decisions about attending Sam Houston, then the opportunity will be there for students living outside the Sam Houston circle.

The same holds true for teachers. Miles expects to have an advantage with the higher salaries offered. Teachers currently at Sam Houston may have the opportunity to stay. Riddick said those who dont want to teach in the Third Future concept will have the opportunity to move to another campus, just as those who teach at another school or outside the school district will be able to join returning Principal Brandon Thurston at Sam Houston.

Riddick said he expects because charter operators can offer things such as higher teachers salaries, MISD may have to make some changes at schools not connected with Third Future or IDEA.

Still, the schools connected with HB 1882 benefit in that the outside operator receives $1,000 extra for each student, Miles said.

The night ended with Miles, Riddick and others going through 45 questions asked by parents and staff in attendance. Much of that addressed Third Future processes. For instance, Sam Houston will remain a Title I school. The goal is for 24 kids in a class, except for kindergarten and first grade -- 22 kids. Lastly, both sides expect a five-year deal, if approved by the board.

Miles also said when it comes to staffing and other challenges impacting the district, Third Future isnt a magic bullet.

We have only one piece; we dont have the other answers, Miles said. I dont have any illusions that I have the answers for a city that I have not lived in.
A Revolut debit card. (Karol Serewis/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty)

Revolut on Tuesday said it had raised $500m (385m) in new funding, valuing the London-based challenger bank at around $5.5bn.

The round of funding, which makes Revolut the UKs most valuable fintech firm, was led by US-based private equity firm TCV. Many existing investors participated, Revolut said.

The company, one of Europes most prized digital banking upstarts, said it would use the money to strengthen its product development, roll-out banking operations in the continent, and increase daily engagement from its 10 million users.

The series D investment  the firms fourth major round of funding since it was founded in 2015  pushes Revoluts valuation beyond that of rival Monzo, which was valued at around 2bn in 2019.

Revolut has now raised a total of $836m (644m). Among other services, the bank provides current accounts, money transfers, currency-exchange services, and commission-free stock trading tools.

Revolut said on Tuesday that it raised the funding on the back of high demand and customer engagement and its strong financial performance in 2019.

It said that it notched customer growth of 169% last year, and that the number of daily active users  considered a key measure of engagement for tech startups  surged by 380%.

The bank also pointed to a 354% increase in financial revenues in 2018. According to its most recently filed accounts, Revolut lost 32.8m ($42.6m) in 2018.

Going forward, our focus is on rolling-out banking operations in Europe, increasing the number of people who use Revolut as their daily account, and striving towards profitability, said Revolut chief executive and founder Nikolay Storonsky.

Revolut said it will also use the funding to further develop its premium subscription offerings, known as Premium and Metal.

The bank said that subscriptions had proven to be a successful revenue stream, noting that they grew by 154% last year.

TCV general partner John Doran said it was investing in Revolut because it believes its truly exceptional customer experience exceeded that which existing banks can offer.

Story continues

We look forward to supporting the team on their journey to build Revolut into one of the biggest financial services companies in the world, Doran said.

TCV has a long history of backing founders who are changing their industries on a global scale, so we are excited to partner with them as we prepare for the next stage of our journey, said Storonsky, a former Credit Suisse (CS) trader.

The UK government on Tuesday said the haul was evidence that the UK fintech sector continues to thrive.

UK economic secretary and city minister John Glen said the announcement was a clear indicator of our strength as a place for fintech business as we leave the EU.

While Revolut may now be the UKs most valuable fintech firm, it has experienced its fair share of problems.

In the wake of criticism of its work culture and the systems it uses for flagging suspect payments, the bank has been hiring executives with more traditional banking experience.

In July, the bank said that Metro Bank (MTRO.L) executive David MacLean would join the company as its new chief financial officer.

Martin Gilbert, the former co-chief executive of Standard Life Aberdeen (SLA.L), joined Revolut as chairman in November.
On Monday, Huawei officially confirmed a March 26 debut date for the P40 series smartphones.

For a few weeks now, rumors suggesting that Huawei's upcoming flagship devices, the P40 and P40 Pro, will be unveiled next month on the 26th have been circulating the web; now Richard Yu, the CEO of Huawei Technologies Consumer Business Group, has officially locked that date in.

These new devices will be the first ever in the brand's P-series to go without Google's apps and services like Gmail, YouTube, and the Play Store. Over the weekend, Google even issued a warning about upcoming Huawei devices, urging future owners not to sideload their applications onto the phones because the reliability and security of sideloaded apps cannot be guaranteed.

Based on rumors and leaks, three phones are expected to launch: the P40, P40 Pro, and a budget iteration called the P40 Lite. The most powerful of the series, the Pro version, is expected to have at least four -- maybe five -- cameras with the primary lens being a 64MP camera. The OLED display, which could be up to 6.7-inchs in size, has been rumored to have a 120Hz refresh rate.

Given that the top tier phone of the previous P-series generation line-up started at 999 EUR, the P40 Pro is expected to start well above 1,000 EUR.

As of right now, none of these details have been confirmed by the company. Official specifications will be revealed in Paris on March 26.
A research group from Zhejiang University in China has found that the noncentrosymmetric compound CaPtAs is a superconductor, which shows evidence for unconventional properties. This compound provides a new opportunity for studying unconventional superconductivity in systems with broken inversion symmetry.

The lack of an inversion center in the crystal structure of a compound can have profound effects on its physical properties. The interesting phenomena which have been found to arise includes spin-splitting of the Fermi surfaces, the lifting of the four-fold degeneracy of a Dirac point to yield two doubly degenerate Weyl nodes in Weyl semimetals, magnetic skyrmions with complex spin textures, and the characteristic properties of noncentrosymmetric superconductors.

The intensive study of noncentrosymmetric superconductors can be traced back to 2004, when the first example of this class of materials with strong electronic correlations was discovered by E. Bauer et al. In such a superconductor lacking an inversion center, the symmetry-allowed antisymmetric spin-orbit coupling (ASOC) allows for the admixture of spin-singlet and spin-triplet pairing states, which can give rise to a nodal superconducting gap. This has been evidenced in the weakly correlated noncentrosymmetric superconductors Li2(Pt, Pd)3B, where H. Q. Yuan et al. found that the strength of the ASOC can tune the relative strengths of the singlet and triplet components in the superconducting pairing wave function. In recent years, an increasing number of noncentrosymmetric superconductors with novel properties have been discovered, where some systems have been theoretically predicted to potentially exhibit topological superconductivity.

Recently, noncentrosymmetric superconductors where there are weak correlations but time reversal symmetry is broken below the superconducting transition temperature, have been much discussed. However, most of the other properties of these systems appear to be analogous to those of conventional BCS superconductors, with a fully open superconducting gap. The origin of this unusual behavior still requires explanation.

Here a research group led by Prof. Huiqiu Yuan from the Center for Correlated Matter (CCM) and Department of Physics at Zhejiang University have discovered a new noncentrosymmetric superconductor CaPtAs with possible unconventional pairing, which is published in SCIENCE CHINA: Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy, entitled "CaPtAs: a new noncentrosymmetric superconductor".

CaPtAs is a member of the alkaline-earth based equiatomic ternary compounds, crystallizing in a noncentrosymmetric tetragonal structure (space group I41md, No.109) with three-dimensional (3D) honeycomb networks. This is different to compounds such as SrPtAs, BaPtAs, and BaPtSb, which have structures consisting of stacked hexagonal honeycomb layers. Both single- and poly- crystals of CaPtAs have been successfully synthesized, and bulk superconductivity is confirmed below 1.5 K. Measurements of thermodynamic properties indicate possible nodes in the superconducting gap, where the electronic specific heat is well fitted by a p-wave model, as shown in Figure 1(d). Further collaborative studies are currently ongoing to determine the nature of the superconducting pairing state of CaPtAs.

###

More information about noncentrosymmetric superconductors can be found in the review paper: M. Smidman, et al. Superconductivity and spin-orbit coupling in non-centrosymmetric materials: a review, Rep. Prog. Phys. 80, 036501 (2017) (highly cited paper).

This research was funded by the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant Nos. 2016YFA0300202, and 2017YFA0303100), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. U1632275, and 11874320), the Science Challenge Project of China (Grant No. TZ2016004), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.

See the article: W. Xie, P. R. Zhang, B. Shen, W. B. Jiang, G. M. Pang, T. Shang, C. Cao, M. Smidman, and H. Q. Yuan, CaPtAs: A new noncentrosymmetric superconductor, Sci. China-Phys. Mech. Astron. 63, 237412 (2020), https://doi.org/10.1007/s11433-019-1488-5

http://engine.scichina.com/publisher/scp/journal/SCPMA/63/3/10.1007/s11433-019-1488-5?slug=fulltext
Iran Official Running Anti-Coronavirus Task Force Has Virus

An Iranian health minister tested positive for coronavirus as the country struggles to contain the outbreak that has left more than a dozen people dead.

In a video posted online by the state-run Fars News Agency, Iraj Harirchi, a deputy health minister, confirmed he was infected.

I wanted to tell you that I got corona, said Harirchi, according to a translation from the Guardian. I had a fever yesterday. The tests came back positive last night. I isolated myself. Just a few moments ago, I was told that the final test came. Ill start taking medicine. Generally, I feel fine. I just felt a bit tired, I had a fever, and it will drop.

According to the BBC, Harirchi was seen wiping his forehead during a press conference before he tested positive for the virus, which causes a disease called COVID-19.

Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour confirmed to The Associated Press that Harirchi contracted the virus, while the news agency and other outlets noted that Harirchi was the head of Irans task force to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Harirchis case is sure to place even more pressure on Tehran as it struggles to contain the outbreak amid crippling sanctions. Several of Irans neighbors have also implemented more stringent travel restrictions, going so far as to close down the border to travelers coming from the country.

It comes as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) cut off flights to and from Iran. The UAE is home to international carriers Emirates and Ethiad, and reports noted that Iranians are heavily dependent on using its airports.

An Iranian street vendor sells protective masks in the capital Tehran on Feb. 20, 2020. (Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images)

All passenger and cargo aircraft traveling to and from Iran will be suspended for a period of one week, and could be up for extension, the UAEs General Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement, reported Al Jazeera. The decision is a precautionary measure undertaken by the UAE to ensure strict monitoring and prevention of the spread of the new coronavirus.

As many as 95 cases have been confirmed so far in Iran, and 15 people have died from the virus, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency. Most of the cases are centered in Qom, and other cases in the country were linked back to the city.

Neighboring countries including Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, and Afghanistan reported their first cases on Monday, saying the infected persons recently traveled from Iran. Other than the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait have also suspended flights with Iran.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday said hes deeply concerned that Tehran may have covered up cases of COVID-19 and called on every nation to report accurate information. All nations, including Iran, should tell the truth about the coronavirus and cooperate with international aid organizations, he said, Reuters reported.

Pompeo also criticized the Chinese Communist Party for what he described as an effort to censor media outlets and medical professionals who were reporting on the true scope of the outbreak. Tens of thousands of people are believed to have been sickened by the virus, although outside medical experts have questioned the number of cases that are being reported by Chinese health authorities.

If China permitted its own and foreign journalists and medical personnel to speak and investigate freely, Chinese officials and other nations would have been far better prepared to address the challenge of coronavirus, he added.
(Photo : www.pxhere.com)

Lenovo mentioned on Monday, Feb. 23, that they would be revamping their ThinkPad laptops using the AMD Ryzen Pro 4000 Mobile series. That sentence is impressive by itself, and if you're not hyped, I don't know what is wrong with you.

Read More: Mini-LED to be Given to Apple's iPad Next Generation? Leaks and More Only Here

Lenovo's premium T-series, X-series, and L-series will offer Ryzen Pro 4000 models. It will also come alongside Intel's' 10th-gen Comet Lake chips for the business-focused vPro version. We covered the difference between Ryzen 9 and Intel's 10th-gen, and it's right here for your convenience.

When can you expect to get one

Initially, this was supposed to be unveiled in the MWC show in Barcelona. However, it was canceled due to the COVID-19, which was covered on this site as well. Sources from Laptopmag.com say that it might come out sometime during Q2 if all goes well, and production and manufacturing will be as planned.

Read More: Intel Core i9 CPU Will Not Win Over Ryzen! Watch to Find Out!

Why so giddy about AMD Ryzen 4000

The AMD Ryzen 4000 series of processors, which were announced back in CES, has people excited. The chips are using the "Pro" version of the chip, which is most probably the equivalent of vPro architecture that is used by team Blue, Intel. No tests about the Ryzen 4000 chips have gone out yet, but with Ryzen 9 3900X has proven time and time again, Intel has to be worried.

What other things to look forward to

Lenovo mentioned that the new ThinkPad models would offer Wi-Fi 6(802.11ax), regardless of the processor used. The ThinkShutter webcam shutter will also be included in all of the modes. Will have PrivacyAlert, which uses the IR camera to detect when someone is peeping at your screen, also can be optional with an IR camera regardless of the chips used.

What else to take note of

Lenovo hasn't told anyone how many Lenovo ThinkPad models out there will use the AMD mobile Ryzen, as a different option to Intel's 10TH-gen mobile carps. The spec sheets handed out by Lenovo are the usual but except the 10th-gen mobile chips from Intel but did not indicate the model. It might be Ice Lake or Comet Lake, but you can assume to bank on the latter for this one since Ryzen 4000 models will give in that easily.

The most potent T-series ThinkPads like the T14, T14s, and T15 will include either AMD mobile Ryzen 4000 or Intel's 10th-gen parts. Modern Standby, Dolby Audio Speaker System, Wake on Voice, used by optional Dolby Vision.

Starting prices predicted will be around $849 for the base T14 at $1,029 for the T14s and $1,079 for the T15. Expected to be released in the second quarter of this year.

It's indeed the right choice for Lenovo to give options for customers to either go with team Red or team Blue for this one since the competition is hotter than ever with AMD Ryzen 4000 as well as Intel's 10th-gen chips.

Read More: Samsung Wins Bid on New Qualcomm X60 Modem

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
By Chris Helgren TYENDINAGA, Ontario (Reuters) - Police on Monday made 10 arrests and cleared a rail blockade by an indigenous group in eastern Canada that had been stopping freight and passenger traffic for almost three weeks on one of the country's busiest lines.

By Chris Helgren

TYENDINAGA, Ontario (Reuters) - Police on Monday made 10 arrests and cleared a rail blockade by an indigenous group in eastern Canada that had been stopping freight and passenger traffic for almost three weeks on one of the country's busiest lines.

Police secured the area near Belleville, Ontario, Canadian National Railway Co (CN) said, and one train was allowed to pass in the evening.

Soon after, however, protesters set a large fire on the tracks and firefighters were called to put it out, raising doubts as to whether the line will remain clear.

"CN is pleased that the illegal blockade in Tyendinaga has come to an end," the company said in an earlier statement, without saying when rail services would resume.

Tyendinaga Mohawk campaigners barricaded the line in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en from British Columbia, who are seeking to stop construction of a gas pipeline over their land.

Dozens of Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) descended on the site of the blockade a little after 8 a.m. ET.

Media were kept at a distance. But a group called Real People's Media, which is affiliated with an indigenous clan, posted a video on Twitter showing police wrestle two men to the ground after they refused to back away from the tracks.

"All demonstrators were given the option of leaving the site or being arrested. Ten people were arrested and face multiple charges. All have been released on conditions," the OPP said in a statement posted on Twitter.

CN obtained an injunction on Feb. 7 against those preventing rail traffic from running along its trunk line near Belleville, but provincial police took their time to enforce it in a bid to ease tensions.

In Ottawa, hundreds of protesters met in front of parliament and marched through downtown in support of the Wet'suwet'en.

"We worked extremely hard to obtain a peaceful solution to this situation, but we couldn't allow these barricades to continue," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in parliament.

On Friday, Trudeau demanded aboriginal groups lift the rail blockades amid railroad layoffs and shortages of goods like propane.

Trudeau has said it is his government's priority to reconcile with indigenous peoples, who face higher levels of poverty and violence and shorter life expectancies than the national average.

Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said the government was still seeking dialogue with the Wet'suwet'en and is "even more committed to a peaceful solution".

The Wet'suwet'en band in British Columbia has been fighting the construction of TC Energy Corp's planned Coastal GasLink pipeline for a decade. Savvy social media use and years of outreach have won the group allies from across Canada.

(Reporting by Chris Helgren in Tyendinaga, Ontario, additional reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa and Allison Lampert in Montreal, writing by Steve Scherer; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, David Gregorio and Richard Pullin)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Bob Chapek, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Experiences, stands for a photograph at an unveiling event of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Walt Disney Co.'s Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, California, U.S., on Wednesday, May 29, 2019.

That's why Tuesday's announcement that Bob Chapek , chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products , is taking over as CEO for Bob Iger is surprising and confusing. Disney's future is supposed to be streaming  not theme parks. Media industry insiders almost unanimously expected Kevin Mayer to be Iger's heir . Mayer has been running Disney's streaming services as the company's chairman of direct-to-consumer and international.

The story has worked. Disney racked up a whopping 28.6 million paying Disney+ subscribers in its first three months. And its multiple has crept higher  not Netflix high, but higher than its media peers. Disney's forward price-to-earnings ratio is now close to 21. Netflix's is 43. For comparison, ViacomCBS ' is about 4.

Disney 's Wall Street narrative the past two or three years has been very straightforward: We're leaning into streaming video. Value us like Netflix , not like your father's Disney.

Investors were not impressed, sending Disney's stock down about 2% after hours.

It's possible Iger had picked Chapek as the next CEO years ago. He said Tuesday he had "identified Bob quite some time ago as a likely successor."

But choosing the guy who runs parks over the guy who runs streaming is odd because of the signal it sends to investors. Disney is supposed to be a high-flying technology-based streaming company now. The strategy is working. Not rewarding Mayer, who has spent more than two decades at Disney, is odd.

Iger isn't going anywhere. He will remain Chapek's boss as chairman of the board and, in an unusual move, will "continue to direct the company's content creation." Iger said himself the reason for this change was to "free me up to focus on the creative side."

So will Iger's focus continue to be streaming? Does that effectively split Disney into two pieces  Iger leading content and Chapek everything else? And what does that mean for the future of Disney?

There may be more clarity in the coming days. But on the surface, it's a huge twist in the story Disney has been telling. And if there's one thing Disney knows, it's storytelling.

Watch: Disney CEO Bob Iger to step down
The Xayaburi dam in the lower Mekong River in Laos. Photo by CK Power/Handout via AFP.

Transboundary environmental impacts of Laos' Xayaburi and Don Sahong dams will be monitored under a two-year program following a call for more data transparency.

The Mekong River Commission (MRC) said Monday the pilot program would allow stakeholders to identify practical adaptive management actions and initial measures to mitigate some of the potential impacts from the mainstream dams.

Joint Environment Monitoring of Mekong Mainstream Hydropower Projects (JEM) aims to "systematically collect, generate and share reliable and scientific data and information through a standardized basin wide joint environmental monitoring program on site-specific issues that have cross-national implications," said Dr. So Nam, chief environmental management officer at MRC.

The program brings together a diverse team consisting of dam developers, MRC technical specialists and those from lower Mekong countries Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam.

Most funding for the program, more than $2 million, comes from German development agency Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Sopeak Meas, MRC communication officer, said.

"Data collection will begin in a few months' time because field staff and specialists from member countries need training on how to collect info first," she told VnExpress International.

Relevant training started Tuesday.

The program will run until 2021 and involve monitoring hydrology and hydraulics, sediment, water quality, aquatic ecology, a well as fish and fisheries.

Data collection equipment would be installed in at least three locations in each dam. There will be at least one monitoring site at the lower-reach.

Throughout the pilot program, reports will be released via MRCs regional stakeholder forum, website and other communication channels, it was confirmed.

Findings will also be used to improve the JEM program itself.

The team will test out and refine proposed monitoring approaches and methodologies that could later be applied on a basin-wide scale and incorporated into MRCs core monitoring work.

"With these preliminary findings, we will be able to understand the effectiveness of dam facilities, including fish passes and sediment flushing gates," Dr. So Nam indicated.

It is unclear how effective fish migration data collection is at Xayaburi Dam, according to Brian Eyler, director of the Stimson Centers Southeast Asia program and author of "Last Days of the Mighty Mekong."

Existing and proposed dams on the Mekong River. Photo courtesy of International Rivers.

The lower Mekong river, which flows through Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, is home to an extremely rich inland fisheries industry, boasting hundreds of species.

Xayaburi Dam uses sophisticated underwater cameras to count fish that pass through the fish pathway, Eyeler said, shedding light on fish movements throughout this part of the river.

"But the use of sophisticated tech doesn't necessarily translate into effective results. I'm not sure how fish that move through the fish elevator are counted. In fact, I'm puzzled at how the fish elevator actually works," he stated.

Xayaburi and Don Sahong are the first two dams along the lower Mekong in Lao PDR.

Xayaburi Dam was built by Ch. Karnchang, one of Thailands largest construction companies, in 2010. The 1,285-megawatt dam, located 150 km downstream of northern Luang Prabang, began commercial operation last October.

Don Sahong Dam, with a capacity of 260 megawatts, came online a month later. Work on the dam started in 2016 with 80 percent of investment from Malaysias Mega First company and 20 percent from Laos EDL-GEN public power company.

Kickoff of the pilot program followed government officials and experts urging the developer of Xayaburi Dam to share information on operations with lower Mekong countries in early February.

The group, including an official from the Cambodian government and energy experts from Vietnam and Thailand, called for data on water flow, sediment transport and fish migration to be shared at a visit to the dam facilitated by MRC and the Lao government.

During the six-month consultation process lead by MRC and throughout dam construction, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and other stakeholders have called for a program to properly and systematically assess their impact once online.

Construction of dams along the Mekong River has been a source of intrigue for many experts and countries, including Vietnam.

Mekong Delta in the south of Vietnam is home to 12 provinces with a combined population of 22 million.

Known as the rice bowl and aquaculture hub of Vietnam, it is critical to the food security of the country's 95 million people.
Labour and Employment minister Swami Prasad Maurya on Tuesday said the Defence Industrial Corridor project was likely to generate 32 lakh jobs in the state.

He was replying to an adjournment motion in the legislative assembly by SP MLAs Sangram Yadav and Sanjay Garg, who had alleged that state government had failed to fulfill promises made to the youths during the 2017 assembly elections. Large numbers of youths are unemployed even as posts in various state government departments are lying vacant. The state government has cheated the unemployed youths and failed to fulfill their aspirations, the SP MLAs said.

Maurya said during its five-year tenure the SP government had outsourced the hiring of the employees in the government departments to contractors and private companies. But under the BJP government, unemployed youths registered at the employment exchange were being given employment through the employment department. There is no corruption in the recruitment of employees as well, he said.

Hitting at the SP members, Maurya said when SP was in power for five years from 2012-17 the government gave jobs to 1.81 lakh unemployed youths. During the three years tenure of the BJP government, 2.90 lakh youths had been given jobs through the rojgar melas, 2.60 lakh were given employment in the industrial units, the state police recruited 86,500 constables and recruitment of 49,568 constables was under progress, 91,248 teachers have been recruited in the schools run by basic education department and 6,883 teachers recruited in secondary schools. Another 4 lakh youths have been given employment through outsourcing, he said.

Maurya said, in 2007 the then UPA government had issued an order that recruitment of the employees in various government departments will be done through outsourcing. Under the SP government 60,000 crore was invested in the state whereas under BJP government 60,000 and 65,000 crore has been invested in various sectors within two years, he said.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the state government reply, the SP MLAs staged a walkout.
The Court of Appeal will hear an urgent appeal by an intellectually disabled man aimed at halting an inquiry into whether he should be made a ward of court.

That inquiry is scheduled for next month, before any hearing of his challenge to the constitutionality of the High Court's wardship jurisdiction and its ban on his civil marriage.

Aged in his forties, the man objects to wardship and the order which prevented his civil legal marriage last June to an intellectually disabled woman described as high-functioning with whom he has been in a relationship for several years.

Last January, High Court president Mr Justice Peter Kelly refused an application by lawyers for the man to adjourn the wardship inquiry and fixed it for hearing on March 12.

Frank Callanan SC, instructed by the Free Legal Advice Centres, sought the adjournment pending a hearing of their application for a protective costs order against the State, aimed at ensuring the man would not be liable for costs should his constitutional case fail. If a protective costs order was refused, that case would not proceed, counsel indicated.

The man's siblings and a charity providing services for him opposed any adjournment and said they wanted the wardship inquiry to proceed.

Mr Justice Kelly refused an adjournment, saying it was in the man's best interests and the interests of justice that the wardship inquiry should proceed.

Until it is decided, the man remains in a legal limbo concerning his welfare and his substantial estate in circumstances where six doctors have all reported he lacks capacity to manage his person and finances, he said.

One report, by a consultant psychiatrist asked by the mans side to assess him, concluded he met the narrow criteria for wardship but had demonstrated a basic but sufficient level of understanding of marriage for him to be deemed to have capacity to marry his intended bride.

The judge said the mans estate is already jeopardised as a result of the constitutional case been issued in his own name and the court had no idea how he gave instructions to bring those, given the views on his capacity.

Today, the judge was informed the Court of Appeal has agreed to hear an appeal on March 10 over the adjournment refusal.

Felix McEnroy SC, for the charity, and the man's sister, both supported the wardship inquiry proceeding on March 12 as fixed. His sister said she believed the appeal was "more delaying tactics".

Mr Callanan said the appeal hearing on March 10 may have implications for the wardship hearing on March 12.

Mr Justice Kelly said he would leave the wardship inquiry date in place as there was an element of urgency and the inquiry, directed last September, had already been delayed for much longer than the norm and what was desirable.

The Court of Appeal may, in light of the appeal, consider the inquiry should not proceed on March 12 and it was for that court to make whatever directions it considered appropriate when the appeal comes before it, he added.

In proceedings initiated last December, the man is challenging two Acts - the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871, which regulates the High Court's wardship procedure, and the Marriage of Lunatics Act 1811, under which any marriage entered into by a ward of court is automatically void.

His intended bride, who is not subject of any court order, has taken separate proceedings claiming the marriage ban order against him breaches her rights.
Two weeks before Michigans presidential primary, Democratic hopeful Pete Buttigieg has called for the shutdown of the controversial Enbridge Line 5 pipeline through the Straits of Mackinac.

With such a high risk of an oil spill under the Great Lakes, Michigan cant afford to keep the Line 5 pipeline in operation. In every community, we need new clean energy solutions to meet our climate crisis, Buttigieg said on Twitter.

With such a high risk of an oil spill under the Great Lakes, Michigan cant afford to keep the Line 5 pipeline in operation. In every community, we need new clean energy solutions to meet our climate crisis. https://t.co/NWZRwA30BO  Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) February 24, 2020

Buttigieg is the third Democratic presidential candidate to oppose the continued operation of Line 5. Bernie Sanders and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who has since dropped out of the race, made similar statements last year.

Buttigieg is the former mayor of South Bend and his husband, Chasten Buttigieg, grew up in Traverse City, where the debate over Line 5 is particularly intense.

Enbridge Energys Line 5 pipeline spans 645 miles between Superior, Wisconsin, and Sarnia, Ontario, carrying 23 million gallons of crude oil and natural gas liquids per day. The contested area is a four-mile segment divided into dual pipes that extend across the Straits of Mackinac, linking Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.

Enbridge reached a deal in 2018 with then-Republican Gov. Rick Snyder to decommission the twin underwater pipes and replace them with a single pipe housed in a tunnel built in bedrock beneath the straits.

The idea remains controversial for environmentalists and some Democrats in the state Legislature, who would prefer no oil be transported across the straits at all. Republican lawmakers say there is no other alternative to satisfy the demand for energy, and closing the pipeline would cost thousands of jobs.

Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has tried to block the Snyder-Enbridge deal, but the Michigan courts have backed Enbridge so far, the latest being a Michigan Court of Appeals ruling last month.

In his statement last July, Sanders called the pipeline and a proposed replacement tunnel a clear and present threat to the environment earlier this month.

In a statement on Twitter, Sanders recognized the 9-year-anniversary of Enbridges oil spill on the Kalamazoo River, the largest and most expensive inland oil spill in American history. More than 1 million gallons of crude oil spilled into the river in 2010 after an Enbridge pipeline broke near Marshall.

9 years ago, 1.2 million gallons of crude oil spilled from Enbridge's 6B pipeline into the Kalamazoo River.



Today, with the climate crisis worsening, we must #ShutDownLine5 pipeline in Michigan and ban all new fossil fuel infrastructure. What we need is a Green New Deal.  Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) July 25, 2019

Sanders said the pipeline should close, and all new fossil fuel infrastructure should be banned.

A July poll of 665 likely Michigan voters found environmental and climate change are top issues in the 2020 campaign.

The poll, conducted on behalf of the League of Conservation Voters by Public Policy Polling, found Michigan voters support moving to a completely clean energy economy in the next 30 years by a 2-1 margin.
Ukraine's Economy Ministry to reform anti-trust agency

16:45, 25.02.20 1012

The move is being discussed with representatives of international organizations and Ukrainian lawmakers.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osino Resources Corp. (TSXV: OSI) (FSE: RSR1) ("Osino or the Company), is pleased to announce bedrock percussion drill assay results for the Otjikoto East and Etekero licenses, with drilling having been concluded in late 2019. Otjikoto East and Etekero are adjacent to B2Golds license areas in northern Namibia, respectively 30kms east and 80kms southwest of B2Golds Otjikoto Gold Mine (refer to inset on Figure 3 below). They form part of Osinos early stage, northern Namibian regional exploration portfolio and are unrelated to Twin Hills.

Regional exploration in 2017/2018 identified eight surface termite hill and calcrete anomalies located along the prospective sedimentary package which also hosts B2Golds Otjikoto Gold Mine. The objective of the late 2019 bedrock drilling campaign was to test five of the eight anomalies delineated in 2017/2018 with the aim of demonstrating coincident gold mineralization in bedrock below calcrete and wind-blown sand cover.

Highlights of the program are as follows:

T wo of five targets drilled (Fairview and Etekero) returned anomalous bedrock gold

Coincident Au/Cu bedrock anomaly confirmed at Fairview target over a strike length of 1,000m

Coincident Au/As bedrock anomaly confirmed at Etekero target over 900m strike length

Both Fairview and Etekero are located in highly prospective structural settings with coherent bedrock anomalism now identified over significant length and open along strike

Fairview is located just 30kms east of B2Golds producing Otjikoto Gold Mine

Follow-up RC/Diamond drilling will be carried out at Fairview and Etekero later in 2020

Target generation and confirmatory work will continue on Osinos other earlier stage exploration targets on the Otjikoto East and Etekero licenses

Dave Underwood, Osinos VP Exploration commented: The surface gold anomalies previously identified in this emerging gold district were followed up with a small percussion drill program to sample bedrock through sand and calcrete cover under the surface gold anomalies. This was successful at two of the five tested anomalies, with bedrock gold having been identified at Fairview and Etekero up to a tenor of 200ppb Au to date. This is a strong indication that our pioneering surface sampling techniques are also effective in this challenging, previously unexplored terrain. We are particularly excited about the Fairview gold target, which includes two mineralized quartz veins at surface, and is situated just 30kms from the producing Otjikoto Gold Mine. We are currently planning follow-up drilling of these targets for later in 2020 as well further target generation in these prospective settings.

Osino has a large land holding across the Damara orogenic belt in northern Namibia totaling 6,577km2 split into three project areas, Twin Hills/Karibib, Otjikoto East and Otjiwarongo. Osino has had early success at Twin Hills, making a significant gold discovery under cover in 2019 and now entering into a major drill program. The company is using similar exploration techniques to identify gold prospects on the other green field exploration projects under license.

Otjikoto East Exploration Methodology and Results

The Otjikoto East Project lies immediately to the east of the Otjikoto Gold Mine and covers an east-west syncline containing approximately 110km strike length of the lithologies hosting the gold mineralization at the mine. The prospective lithologies do not outcrop in the Otjikoto East area as they are covered by thick calcrete and wind-blown sand. In 2017 Osino carried out a detailed aeromagnetic survey to map the buried geology and select the most prospective areas for surface geochemistry.

A total of 5,116 calcrete, 3,623 termite hill, 1,014 soil and 123 rock samples were subsequently collected on the Otjikoto East Project between October 2017 and April 2019. This regional surface sampling exercise generated seven geochemical anomalies and after ground truthing, four anomalies, namely Fairview, Okumukanti South, Platform and Okumukanti (refer to Figure 1 below) were selected for follow-up bedrock sampling.

Figure 1: Location of Anomalies on Otjikoto East Project:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/43f88de4-365b-475e-b24d-6fc6fc768c19

Bedrock samples were collected by using a percussion rig to drill vertical holes through the calcrete or sand cover. At least three 1-meter samples were collected at the top of the bedrock and submitted for gold and multi-element analysis. This drilling was carried out in H2 of 2019 and assay results were recently received and interpreted.



Fairview Target

A total of 153 vertical percussion holes were drilled on two lines across a surface gold-in-termite hill anomaly and outcropping quartz veins (rock chip samples up to 1.16 g/t Au and >3,000ppm Cu) (refer to Figure 2 below). The bedrock assays highlight a coincident gold and copper anomaly orientated ENE, parallel to the termite hill anomaly. The Fairview bedrock anomaly also coincides with prominent structures up to 5km in strike length visible in the aeromagnetic data. The marble unit drilled at Fairview is interpreted to be located between two sinuous faults and has been rotated in an anti-clockwise direction (refer to Figure 2 below).

This rotational movement has created extensional stress in the marble resulting in the emplacement of (mineralized) quartz veins.

Figure 2: Fairview Bedrock Sample Results:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e433d7e6-ec26-4774-bcf5-a437f65f8ebb

There is also a potentially prospective magnetic anomaly located along the bend of the northern structure (refer to Figure 2 above).

Etekero Exploration Methodology and Results

The Etekero license is 75,000ha in size and lies 25km to the south of Otjiwarongo town on the tar road to Okahandja. Osino applied for the Etekero license in 2017 to cover a gold-in-termite hill anomaly discovered by Teck Resources but never followed up. The gold anomaly was originally detected during a regional stream sampling program and subsequently followed up with termite hill sampling at a spacing of about 200m.

The highest value in the termite hill samples was 131ppb Au. Osino flew an aeromagnetic survey over the southern portion of the license in 2017 and subsequently carried out a desktop geological interpretation and regolith (cover) mapping exercise.

In November 2019, Osino drilled a total of 93 vertical percussion holes to bedrock, on three fence lines across the termite hill anomaly (refer to Figure 3 below for location). The geology consists of granite to the northwest and greywacke intruded by granite sills, to the southeast. A coincident gold and arsenic anomaly is associated with the greywacke unit near the granite contact. The bedrock anomaly is currently 900m in strike length and is open to the northeast and southwest (refer to Figure 3 below).

The anomaly is parallel and closely associated with the regional scale Omaruru lineament, which is over 300km long and clearly visible in the aeromagnetic data. The Omaruru lineament is a fundamental basin margin structure that was reactivated as a steep reverse fault during the Damara Orogeny and could have acted as a conduit for circulation of metalliferous basinal brines.

Figure 3: Etekero Bedrock Anomaly and Geology:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1a4739cb-102e-48f6-b989-873dc2d824f0

This structural setting is highly prospective for orogenic gold deposits and resembles the setting for Twin Hills which is adjacent to the basin margin Karibib Fault.

Further Work

Follow-up RC and/or diamond drilling is planned to test the width and strike of mineralization at the Fairview target (part of Otjikoto East project) later in 2020. In addition, the three untested surface anomalies at Otjikoto East (Omagonde, Gaidaus and Omahona), which have not been drilled to bedrock yet, will become part of the next follow-up program (refer to Figure 1).

Regional surface sampling will also be completed over the remaining prospective parts of the Otjikoto East stratigraphy, particularly certain structures and geology which were interpreted from the aeromagnetic data acquired by Osino in 2017. These targets will include:

Devon South  In an area completely covered with calcrete, a large-scale northeast striking structure and splay has been identified that may act as a conduit for mineralizing fluids into the prospective schist/greywacke host rocks

The margins of the covered Kuiseb Basin areas in the center of the Otjikoto syncline  these basins have not been sampled or tested in any way to date (refer to Figure 1). The Kuiseb Basin margin is the location of Osinos Twin Hills gold discovery further south within the Damara Belt

At Etekero, follow-up RC and/or diamond drilling will be carried out later in the year to drill inclined holes across the bedrock anomaly for width and grade information. Surface sampling is also planned for the 35km strike length of the fertile Omaruru lineament, to locate further mineralization within the Etekero license.

Qualified Person

David Underwood, BSc. (Hons) is Vice President Exploration of Osino Resources Corp. and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information related to geology and exploration in this news release, and is a registered Professional Natural Scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (Pr. Sci. Nat. No.400323/11) and a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.

Quality Assurance

All Osino sample assay results have been independently monitored through a quality assurance/quality control ("QA/QC") program including the insertion of blind standards, blanks and duplicate samples. QA/QC samples make up 10% of all samples submitted. Bedrock samples are prepared at Actlabs sample prep facility in Windhoek, Namibia. The rock is dried, crushed to 95% -10mesh, split to 250g and pulverised to 95% -150mesh. Sample pulps are sent to Ontario, Canada for analysis. Gold analysis is by 30g fire assay with AA finish and automatically re-analysed with Gravimetric finish if Au >5 g/t. In addition, pulps undergo 4-Acid digestion and multi-element analysis by ICP-AES or ICP-MS.

About Osino Resources

Osino is a Canadian gold exploration company, focused on the acquisition and development of gold projects in Namibia. Our 23 exclusive prospecting licenses are located within Namibias prospective Damara mineral belt, mostly in proximity to and along strike of the producing Navachab and Otjikoto Gold Mines. Osino is targeting gold mineralization that fits the broad orogenic gold model. We are actively advancing a range of gold discoveries, prospects and targets across our 6,577km2 ground position by utilizing a portfolio approach geared towards discovery.

Osinos focus in 2020 is on defining and advancing the Twin Hills project and making new discoveries within the developing Karibib Gold District, testing our Otjikoto East and Otjiwarongo targets and generating new ones on our remaining licenses. Our core projects are favorably located north and north-west of Namibias capital city Windhoek. By virtue of their location, the projects benefit significantly from Namibias well-established infrastructure with paved highways, railway, power and water in close proximity. Namibia is mining-friendly and lauded as one of the continents most politically and socially stable jurisdictions. Osino continues to evaluate new ground with a view to consolidating its Namibian portfolio.

Further details are available on the Company's website at https://osinoresources.com/ .

CONTACT INFORMATION

Osino Resources Corp.

Heye Daun: CEO

Tel: +27 (21) 418 2525

hdaun@osinoresources.com

Julia Becker: Investor Relations Manager

Tel: +1 (604) 785 0850

jbecker@osinoresources.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
TUSCUMBIA, Ala.Police officers in Alabama shot and killed a person who opened fire at them as they responded to reports of suspicious activity in a neighbourhood early Tuesday, the police chief said.

Tuscumbia officers were dispatched to an apartment complex just before 4 a.m. Tuesday on a call about someone banging on doors, police Chief Tony Logan confirmed. Officers spotted a suspect they believed was involved, and the person fired shots and ran away.

The suspect was hit and killed in an exchange of gunfire with officers after a short foot chase, Logan said.

No officers were seriously injured, the chief said. The suspect and officers involved havent been identified.

The Alabama Bureau of Investigation and Colbert County district attorneys office are reviewing the case.
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File image of former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad

Malaysia's king will meet all members of parliament to decide the next prime minister, a palace official said on Tuesday, after 94-year-old premier Mahathir Mohamad unexpectedly resigned a day earlier.

Mahathir, whom the king has appointed as interim prime minister, on Tuesday posted on Twitter a picture of himself seated at his desk in his office with the caption: "Just another day in the office."
The Opposition on Tuesday targeted the Congress government in the Punjab Assembly over "rising" power tariff and unemployment, calling the governor's address a "pack of lies" and "far from reality".

Legislator and leader of the Akali Dal's legislative wing Sharanjit Singh Dhillon claimed that the power consumers in the state have been burdened with high electricity bills.

"During our regime, the power was being supplied at Rs 5 per unit to people, but now they are being charged Rs 10-11 per unit," he alleged.

Attacking the Congress dispensation over the issue of unemployment, Dhillon said the 'Ghar Ghar Rozgar Yojana' of the state government has "completely failed".

"They shut down 1,500 sewa kendras causing loss of 6,000 jobs," he said while lashing out at the Congress government for allegedly not filling the posts of lecturers in the colleges.

He further accused the state government of not paying the arrears and dearness allowance to its employees.

Participating in a discussion on Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore's address last month during a one-day special session, Dhillon said, "The governor's address was completely a pack of lies."



Echoing a similar sentiment, BJP MLA Arun Narang dubbed the governor's address as "far from reality".

AAP MLA Baljinder Kaur claimed that all sand, transport and land mafias were still operating in the state.

"There has been no development activity in the last three years," she said.

Another AAP MLA Meet Hayer alleged that people who had passed teacher eligibility test (TET) and elementary teachers test (ETT) were still jobless.

"Thirty thousand posts of teachers in schools were still vacant," he claimed.

State Parliamentary Minister Brahm Mohindra urged the assembly speaker to reprimand those MLAs who do not take up the issues mentioned in their calling attention notices.

"Some legislators, who have given calling attention notices on public interest issues, remain absent despite being in the House. They waste efforts and time of the departments concerned in preparing the replies. They should be reprimanded," Mohindra said while pointing to some members of the Opposition who stormed the Well of the House.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Assembly has passed a resolution, recommending the state government to urge the Centre to ensure continuation of reservation for Scheduled Caste in promotions and appointments.

Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot moved the resolution which was unanimously passed by the House.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had said that the states were not bound to provide reservation in appointments or promotions. The apex court verdict upheld the Uttarakhand government's contention on the issue.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[February 25, 2020] Nummo Releases 2020 US Robo-Advisor Performance Ranking

As robo-advisors head toward the $1T asset mark, new performance data from Nummo, a leading budgeting and financial management platform and app, shows that the majority did not come close to beating the market in 2019. Today, Nummo released the Nummo Robo-Advisor Performance Ranking 2020, comparing 2019 full-year performance of over 300 portfolios from 19 robo-advisors across all investment categories, from the most aggressive to the most conservative.1 The top standout for best performing taxable "just invest" portfolios was TIAA, winning a top three spot in each of the Growth, Balanced, Income and Conservative categories. Wealthfront wins best performing "retirement" portfolio in four out of five categories. Sogo Marketriders and Stash also performed well in some of the categories. The top category results are as follows: VALUE

The Value category which allows up to 100% in equity allocation showed how challenging the 2019 market was for investment advisors. All but four of the 50 top robo-advisor portfolios in this group underperformed the S&P 500 which was up 30% in 2019. The average performance in this category was 22% with the bottom three portfolios returning 8% or less to investors.



The top three robo-advisor portfolios were Stash Invest "Clean & Green," up 43.81%, Aspiration "Redwood," up 37.30% and Stash Invest "Blue Chips," up 31.43%. While Schwab's "94% Stock" portfolio was up 22.7% for example, the two portfolios at the bottom were Wealthsimple "Risk Level 8," up 7.70% and SoFi Wealth "Moderately Aggressive," up 7.59%. GROWTH

The Growth category that allows up to 75% equity exposure showed an average return of 18.71% across all portfolios. TIAA won the top three spots for taxable "just invest" portfolios, all up around 22%. Top three "retirement" portfolios came from Wealthfront, all up 23% or more.



The bottom three "retirement" and taxable "just invest" portfolios returned 8% or less. JP Morgan's (News - Alert) "Growth" portfolio for example was up 8.13% lagging behind both the index and most of its peers. BALANCED

The majority of portfolios in the Balanced category (max. 60% equity) underperformed the benchmark (S&P Target (News - Alert) Risk Growth Index) that was up 19.20% in 2019. Acorns "Moderate" (+20.97%), TIAA "Moderate" (+20.55%) and Axos "60% Stock" (+20.42%) held the top three spots on the taxable side, with JP Morgan's "Moderate" portfolio up just 7.34%. INCOME

In the Income category (max. 45% equity) the average robo-advisor performance for taxable "just invest" portfolios was up 14.24%. Only ten out of the category's 31 portfolios outperformed the benchmark (S&P Target Risk Moderate Index) that was up 15.7%. Sogo Marketriders "Moderate Income - Starter" was the category winner (+18.24%), followed by TIAA "Moderately Conservative" (+17.95%) and Acorns "Moderately Conservative" (+17.73%). The bottom three portfolios returned 8% or less to investors. CONSERVATIVE

The Conservative category (max. equity 30%) was the only category where half of the ranked portfolios outperformed the average of 9.34% ("just invest") and 10.25% ("retirement"). Again, Sogo Marketriders, TIAA and Wealthfront led with returns over 14%. At the bottom, Ellevest "An Emergency Fund" returned 0% while Acorns "Conservative" had a performance of 0.47%. "2019 was a record-breaking year for the stock market, but most robo-advisors significantly lagged their benchmarks and a number of the largest firms including JP Morgan, Charles Schwab and Morgan Stanley had a challenging year," said Roi Y. Tavor, Co-founder and CEO of Nummo. "While past performance is just one variable to consider, our research shows that it is not always readily available. Now that this industry segment is so large, we feel that greater transparency is needed for investors to make more informed decisions." To view the Nummo Robo-Advisor Reports for 2020 and 2019 please follow the links below:

Nummo Robo-Advisor Performance Ranking 2020

Nummo 2019 YTD Robo-Advisor Ranking







1 This release is not intended to provide legal, tax or financial advice. It is strictly educational in nature and is provided with the understanding that Nummo is not engaged in rendering accounting, investment, tax, legal, or other professional services. Nummo makes no representations, warranties, or guarantees, express or implied, regarding the results or savings that may be obtained through your use of any of the reviewed robo-advisor services. Investment markets have inherent risks and historic performance does not assure future results. The release is intended only to assist you in your banking decision-making and financial planning and management, and is provided without complete knowledge of your financial situation. If legal, financial, or other professional advice is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

About Nummo Nummo is a personal financial management platform that empowers individuals to live better lives by helping them manage, maintain and improve their financial health. The company does that through its website nummo.com and an app with a suite of features that allow them to consolidate accounts and manage their money in a completely transparent and conflict-free environment. Founded in 2016, Nummo is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. For more information, visit www.nummo.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005115/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Hollister Biosciences Inc., the creator of California's #1 hash-infused pre-roll HashBone, enters into Letter of Intent to acquire Venom Extracts, one of Arizona's largest producers of award-winning medical cannabis distillate and related products

VANCOUVER, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Hollister Biosciences Inc. (CSE: HOLL, FRANKFURT: HOB, OTC: HSTRF) (the "Company" or "Hollister")  a vertically integrated cannabis branding company with products in 220 dispensaries throughout California, is pleased to announce that the Company signed a Letter of Intent ("LOI") on February 20th, 2020 to acquire Venom Extracts ( "Venom"), one of Arizona's premier extract brands and one of the state's largest producers of award-winning medical cannabis distillate and related products.

HIGHLY ACCRETIVE $20,000,000 ACQUISITION

For the year ended December 31, 2019, Venom Extracts reports having generated CDN$ 16.4 million in revenue and CDN$ 2.48 million in EBIDTA from its product line of Cannabis Concentrates, P.H.O Concentrates and Cartridges. Hollister cautions that revenue and EBITDA figures have not yet been audited and are based on reports prepared by Venom management. Though Hollister believes the figures to be highly reliable, their audit will be part of the due diligence before closing.

The all stock purchase price is anticipated to be CDN$ 20,000,000, with 70% to be paid upfront and 30% to be paid upon milestone achievements. The acquisition is expected to close by March 31, 2020 subject to normal course due diligence.

"Venom has established itself as a leading extraction operation with a prominent brand in the Arizona marketplace", said Carl Saling, Founder and CEO of Hollister Biosciences Inc. "We feel this acquisition will present a great deal of opportunity for synergy between Hollister and Venom, providing avenues for both companies into the Arizona, California and additional marketplaces for cannabis products. Venom Extracts has a highly skilled and experienced management team with a track record for operational excellence. This transaction is highly accretive and represents a fundamental part of the future growth of both companies."

LOI TERMS

The terms of the LOI, which will be formalized by a definitive agreement on closing, are as follows:

The Company will acquire Venom Extracts for CDN$20,000,000 with such payment to be issued in Hollister common stock (the " Payment Shares ")

with such payment to be issued in common stock (the " ") The stock price will be determined based on the greater of:

The 14-day VWAP (Volume Weighted Average Price) capped at $0.25 subsequent to announcing the transaction and $0.20

subsequent to announcing the transaction and Once the share price is established, 70% of the Payment Shares will be issued upon closing of the transaction, subject to hold periods.

The remaining 30% of the Payment Shares will be issued when and if the following milestones have been met on or prior to December 31 st , 2021:

, 2021: 20% (of the total number of Payment Shares) will be issued when revenue of Venom Extracts reaches CDN$ 30,000,000 (calculated in accordance with IFRS from January 1, 2020 ).

(calculated in accordance with IFRS from ).

10% (of the total number of Payment Shares) will be issued when revenue of Venom Extracts reaches CDN$ 40,000,000 (calculated in accordance with IFRS from January 1, 2020 ).

"We are very pleased to be entering into this transaction with Hollister", shared Mason Cave, CEO of Venom Extracts. "The opportunities for resource and capability sharing between the two companies are plentiful. This also represents a more expeditious avenue for us into the large and rapidly growing California marketplace. Hollister has an excellent management team in place and has established itself as a sought-after brand house of popular cannabis and hemp products in California. We feel that our contribution on the extraction side will help diversify Hollister's product offering and continue to build out the brand equity of both companies across multiple state and eventually global marketplaces"

In association with the arm's length transaction, Hollister will not be assuming any long-term debt, a new control position will be created and there is no change in Management, or the Board of Directors of Hollister being contemplated at this time.

Finder's fees will be payable in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

About Hollister Biosciences Inc.

Hollister Biosciences Inc. is a vertically integrated cannabis company with multiple, high-quality products now carried in 220 of Indus Holdings (CSE: INDS), Hollister's exclusive distribution partner's 600 dispensaries. This level of penetration is expected to grow as the Company accelerates its seed to shelf, high margin business and product development model.

Capitalizing on this success, Hollister's vision is to become the sought-after premium brand portfolio of innovative, high quality cannabis across multiple states and hemp products nationwide.

Our wholly owned California subsidiary, Hollister Cannabis Co, is the 1st state and locally licensed Cannabis Company in the City of Hollister, California, the birthplace of the "American Biker" from which we embrace the outlaw roots of Hollister to drive our Company fearlessly down the road of success.

Products from Hollister Cannabis Co. include HashBone, the brand's premier artisanal hash-infused pre-roll ranked as California's #1 hash infused pre-roll, along with solvent-free bubble hash, pre-packaged flower, pre-rolls, tinctures, vape products, and full-spectrum high CBD pet tinctures.

Website: www.hollistercannabisco.com

About Venom Extracts

Venom Extracts is one of Arizona's premier extract brands and one of the state's largest producers of award-winning medical cannabis distillate and related products. With an experienced management team and unparalleled reputation for quality, Venom Extracts prides itself as a differentiated extraction company by producing legal Marijuana products at a price point that allows retailers to generate higher profits. Focused on proprietary efficiencies, the Company is able to produce more product per square foot than its competition, maintaining lower costs and risks than a typical extraction company. The company's expansion strategy is centered on entering new markets/states that are approved for medical cannabis use and/or approved or have a reasonable expectation to be approved for recreational use in the near future.

Website: www.venomextracts.com

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.

Forward-Looking Information: This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "would", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this News Release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents which can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com

SOURCE Hollister Biosciences Inc.
Mark Davis, a Chicago native who retired in 2017 from a forty-seven-year career in law enforcement, thirty-two of which he served with the Chicago Police Department and fifteen as the chief of police for the village of Calumet Park, a small community just south of the city, has published his latest book Race Traitors 2: a gritty tale rich in insider police knowledge gleaned from his nearly fifty years on the job.

Race Traitors 2 presents the continuing conflicts of gang violence and murder in the city of Chicago in the year 1974. A record number of homicides and shootings plagued the city with no end in sight. Gang Crimes detectives, Myles Sivad and Aristotle Ashford were trapped in a wedge of gang violence as they struggled to address the carnage. Detective Sivad often found himself overwhelmed with duties and personal conflicts that subjugated his conscious and stirred his ability to stay focused on the present state of conditions in the city. His partner, detective Ashford was his pillar and he too found himself struggling with the tasks at hand. Murder had become a virus in the black south side communities as mothers of young victims continued to mourn the death of a son.

From 1971 through 1974, hundreds of young black males were murdered or gunshot victims as gang supremacy surged. Detectives Ashford and Sivad were bound by their oath to serve and protect life and property and committed to their pledge. In their attempt to deal with the physical and psychological stress of their duties, they fought against the intruders that were determined to destroy the black community. Entrenched in this struggle, they were forced to become participants in the growing reality of human anguish in an urban warfare that pitted race, culture and dedication to duty in a triangle of conflict.

Published by Page Publishing, Mark Daviss engrossing book is a richly detailed police drama painting a devastatingly vivid portrait of the heartbreak of a community that lost so many sons to the intractable violence in 1970s Chicago.

Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase Race Traitors 2 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 partnership came at just the right time, states SASpine's CEO, LeAnn Cyr, as the San Antonio-based company had been looking for the best location in the expansive city to call home after a tumultuous last five years dealing with the unraveling of their previous practice, OSI, and formation of the newly managed SASpine.

In early 2018, Ms. Cyr made the difficult decision to dissolve OSI, a company they had built for the past twelve years. The Orthopaedic & Spine Institute (OSI) was a management company started in 2005 by Dr. Steven Cyr and LeAnn Cyr. They started operations in 2005 in San Antonio, Texas, while Dr. Cyr was still in the military. LeAnn was able to keep the company going with a full-time staff by hiring mid-level providers to triage the patients and contract pain management physicians to treat the non-operative patients. It was a gamble and certainly risky, especially during Dr. Cyr's long deployments. LeAnn explains that without a primary surgeon for months on end, there was no telling if the patients would stay or even come, but they did. This was in large part because of Steve's reputation as a Mayo Clinic-trained spine surgeon and his phenomenal bedside manner.

The deployments were hard on LeAnn; she had to keep the business afloat, while managing the household (at the time they had two children). However, after his second deployment, Steven retired from the military and was able to walk into a full-time, thriving practice. The gamble paid off and things began to come together. LeAnn, acting Chief Operating Officer, decided to market the practice pretty aggressively through billboards, radio ads, and tv commercials, something that was not done very often in the medical field at the time. It was controversial and, again, a bit of gamble as it was very expensive, but it paid off. OSI enjoyed sustained growth for approximately 10 years averaging a 20-30% increase in annual revenue each year consecutively until early 2014.

In late 2013, LeAnn decided to step down from her role as COO of OSI to focus on her family and the adoption of their fourth child. Knowing that Dr. Cyr was busy taking care of patients, she hired a high-level Chief Executive Officer in early 2014 to take over her duties and part of Steven's. By no fault of hers, the perfect storm commenced one year later when Victory Hospital declared Chapter 11 on June 12, 2015, in the US Bankruptcy Court. The Cyrs were minority investors in the hospital, with a substantial investment in the San Antonio location. Taking this hit financially led to disgruntled physician partners in both the hospital and the practice, which led to a mass exodus of the 10-15 contracted physicians over the course of the next 12-18 months. Consequently, Dr. Cyr was left with excess building space and a tremendous amount of over-head that he had to carry on his own, while concurrently taking care of his patients. Needless to say, it was an impossible situation as creditors hounded OSI's upper management until a mutually agreed upon resignation of the company's CEO put LeAnn back in the driver's seat in 2017. Legal battles ensued and legal fees mounted to the point where LeAnn realized that there was no saving the flailing company. At the end of 2017, LeAnn made the decision to shut down operations. "Shutting down OSI was one of the most difficult decisions that I've ever had to make. We put our heart and soul into building it," recalls Ms. Cyr.

In 2018, LeAnn started SASpine, and took on the role of CEO. "We started from scratch; new insurance contracts, new billing and practice management systems, new benefits, etc. I wanted a new start with no baggage," states Ms. Cyr. With Dr. Cyr as the Chief Medical Officer, one of the first orders of business for the Cyrs was to expand offices down the I-10 corridor to Houston, Texas. Houston is one of the biggest markets in the United States and arguably the best medical community. "I felt that a presence there made the most sense for future growth and positioning," states Ms. Cyr. So far, so good as the company is on solid ground thanks to Dr. Cyr's continued reputation as being one of the best revision spine surgeons in the country. "We are expanding and we are growing, we have the right team in place now and I'm very confident about the future," says Ms. Cyr. LeAnn credits much of their current success to the team she has put in place, stating, "I have an amazing Director of Administration, marketing team, and the best medical providers in the field!"

(210) 487-7463 San Antonio

(832) 919-7990 Houston

Related links:

www.saspine.com

www.facebook.com/saspine

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Exactly a year ago, India carried out a daring airstrike at Balakot to signal that Pakistans terrorism export would no longer be cost-free. Internationally, this marked the first-ever conventional military attack by a nuclear-armed nation on the undeniably sovereign territory of another nuclear-weapons State. The fact that Indian warplanes, unchallenged, struck a deep target in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province led an apprehensive Pakistan to close its airspace to all international overflights for months thereafter.

According to the theory of nuclear revolution, nuclear weapons offer a powerful deterrent against a major attack. Attacking another nuclear-armed State, according to this theory, is dangerous, because it could invite a nuclear reprisal. Pakistans nuclear shield, however, did not prevent India from retaliating against a Pakistan-aided terrorist attack on a security convoy in Pulwama, in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

The Pakistani nuclear shield failed to deter the Indian strike largely because Pakistans actions have long militated against the dominant theory of nuclear revolution. The theory posits that, by guaranteeing a countrys security, nuclear weapons make nations less inclined to engage in aggression or belligerent acts.

ALSO WATCH | President Kovind, PM Modi & others pay tributes to Pulwama martyrs

Instead of viewing nuclear weapons essentially as tools of deterrence, a scofflaw Pakistan  with Chinas protection  has been emboldened to engage in roguish actions. By valuing nuclear weapons as political tools for belligerent goals, including seeking to blunt its widening power asymmetry with India through a death-by-a-thousand-cuts strategy, Pakistan has sought to validate the rival theory of nuclear opportunism.

Balakot, however, showed that, when Pakistans nuclear bluff was called, its situation paralleled Hans Christian Andersens famous tale about the emperor with invisible clothing who was indeed naked. By leaving a gaping hole in the nuclear shield behind which Pakistan has pursued its terrorist agenda, Balakot sent a chilling message to the all-powerful Pakistani generals, including about the vulnerability of their military and intelligence headquarters. And, as if to underline that power respects power, the strike drew no international criticism, but prompted a chorus of calls to Pakistan to root out the terrorist entities it harbours.

Tellingly, no major Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack has occurred in India in the last 12 months, underscoring Balakots game-changing potential. As the late senior minister, Arun Jaitley, declared, The security doctrine of India has changed. We now attack the point of origin of terror. Balakot indeed created the strategic space for India to carry out the constitutional reorganisation of J&K.

Pakistans generals know that, with its threshold-breaching Balakot strike, India turned the page on its failed policy of strategic restraint. Indian Air Force chief Rakesh Bhadauria pointed to a paradigm shift in Indias posture, with a new political resolve to punish perpetrators of terrorism. Given that Indias new Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, and its new Army chief, General Mukund Naravane, have both spoken about liberating Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Pakistans generals are currently loath to provoke a conflict with India, especially when their country is relying on international dole-outs.

The Balakot attack, like Indias 2016 ground-launched surgical strike, targeted the enemys non-uniformed soldiers  terrorist proxies. Indeed, India went out of its way to say it hit a non-military target at Balakot, although the terrorist group whose camp was struck is a known front organisation of Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence. Pakistans military regards its terrorist surrogates as de facto special operations forces, and employs them cost-effectively as a force multiplier against India. This explains why, just 30 hours after the Balakot strike, Pakistan tried to bomb military sites in J&K in a daring aerial blitz.

In repulsing the Pakistani aerial attack, India not only lost a MiG-21, with its pilot captured by Pakistan, but also mistakenly shot down its own Mi17 chopper  a horrific incident in which six Air Force officers and a civilian were killed. Pakistans attack opened an opportunity for India to wreak massive punishment. But, averse to triggering a spiral of escalation at a time when national elections were looming, India let go of that opportunity.

Against this background, if Pakistans risk-seeking behaviour, territorial revisionism and terrorist agenda persist, the risks of a major military confrontation with India cannot be discounted. India seems no longer willing to put up with Pakistans terrorism-driven asymmetric warfare, which cumulatively has proved costlier for India in financial, human and internal security terms than even the historic 1971 war that gave birth to Bangladesh.

Deterrence works if the punitive response to aggression is prompt and effective. Pakistans generals are uncertain about the extent or severity of an Indian military response if they stage another major cross-border terrorist attack.

To compel a fundamental change in Pakistans conduct, India appears ready to impose greater costs. The next Indian reprisal attack could seek to target the terror masters, not their surrogates. Unless the puppeteers  not their puppets, who essentially serve as cannon fodder  begin bearing escalating costs, there is not much likelihood that Pakistan would reform and be at peace with itself.

Brahma Chellaney is a geostrategist

The views expressed are personal
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 04:01:57|Editor: yan

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MADRID, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The first case of novel coronavirus on Spain's mainland was confirmed on Tuesday, bringing the country's total to five.

According to health authorities in the northeastern region of Catalonia, the patient is a woman who lives in the city of Barcelona and who had recently returned from a trip to the north of Italy where 10 people have died as of Tuesday and over 320 confirmed to be infected.

Joan Guix, secretary of public health at the Catalan Health Authority, explained that the woman had been admitted in the Hospital Clinic in Barcelona on Monday night with flu-like symptoms and was tested for the virus after saying that she had been in the north of Italy.

This is the third case in Spain confirmed in less than 48 hours, after a 69-year-old Italian doctor and his wife from the affected region of Lombardy were tested positive while on holiday on the island of Tenerife.

Around 1,000 residents in the Costa Adeje Palace Hotel on the south coast of Tenerife have been under quarantine.

"H10 Hotels has implemented all health and operational recommendations from the health authorities to ensure the safety and wellbeing of customers and employees," the hotel owner commented in a statement.

Tuesday also saw Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez chair the first meeting of an inter-ministerial committee his government has set up to deal with the crisis.

The government has pledged to act with "measure, transparency and proportionality" in the face of the coronavirus.

Two previous cases of COVID-19 in Spain were confirmed on the island of La Gomera in the Canary Island chain, and Mallorca, which is part of the Balearic Islands off the east coast of Spain. Both have made full recovery.
By Trend

Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of Energy Resources at the US State Department Kurt Donnelly will visit Azerbaijan in late February, the US State Department told Trend.

Donnelly will attend the 6th meeting of the Advisory Council of the Southern Gas Corridor to be held on February 28 in Baku on behalf of the State Department.



The first meeting of the SGC Advisory Council was held on February 12, 2015, the second meeting - on February 29, 2016, the third meeting - on February 23, 2017, the fourth meeting - on February 15, 2018 and the fifth meeting  on February 20, 2019.

The Southern Gas Corridor project aims to increase and diversify European energy supply by bringing gas resources from the Caspian Sea to markets in Europe.

The Southern Gas Corridor comprises the following four projects: (i) operation of Shah Deniz natural gas-condensate field ("SD1" project) and its full-field development ("SD2'" project), (ii) the operation of the South Caucasus Pipeline ("SCP" project) and its expansion ("SCPX" project), (iii) the construction of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline ("TANAP" project) and (iv) the construction of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline ("TAP" project) (SD2, SCPX, TANAP and TAP collectively, the "Projects").

The Projects have an estimated investment cost of approximately $40 billion. Upon completion, the SD2 project will add a further 16 bcm of natural gas per annum to 10.9 bcma (maximum production capacity) already produced under SD1 project.

Total length of the newly constructed SCPX, TANAP and TAP pipelines will be more than 3,200 kilometres.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The agreement was signed on February 21 between JICA Vietnam head Konaka Tetsuo and Ho Chi Minh City Vice Chairman Vo Van Hoan.

The project will be implemented by an experienced Japanese company over 24 months and is scheduled to be completed in March 2023.

Rapid urbanisation in Ho Chi Minh City is putting a strain on its drainage system and the rehabilitation of old water pipes built during the French colonial period is a major challenge given the heavy traffic in central areas such Districts 1 and 3.

In 2015 an experimental project using the trenchless technology by the Osaka City Public Works Bureau and Sekisui Chemical helped restore dilapidated pipes at the Cong Quynh-Nguyen Cu Trinh intersection.

The trenchless technology has proved to be an effective method to rehabilitate old pipes at locations with heavy traffic without disrupting lives and damaging road surfaces.

Osaka City will continue provide technical support to Ho Chi Minh City for the upcoming project.

JICA has been supporting Ho Chi Minh City in enhancing its sewage system since 1999 through the formulation of a master plan on the citys water drainage system until 2020, which includes an already completed project on improving water quality at the Tau Hu-Ben Nghe canal system.
25.02.2020 LISTEN

The Ghana CSOs Platform on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sub-platform 4 (SDG4) continues to advocate for life long learning through the promotion of multilingualism.

Last Friday, 21st February, 2020, the International Mother Language Day was marked at Ho in Ghana under the auspices of Pencils of Promise and World Vision Ghana.

The outcome of discussions shown clearly that multiplicity of languages is not a problem but development of the indigenous languages for national development is now more imperative.

Inspite of the benefits associated with indigenous languages, policy inconsistencies in Ghana regarding language development has been recognized as a key challenge hindering the full realization of its benefits.

As it is said that education is the key that unlocks greatness, we are of the considered view that it is important children are educated at the formative stage in their mother language for easy understanding of concepts and the acquisition of a second language for better learning outcomes.

From the foregoing, we encourage the following critical conditions to be of importance to ensuring language development;

1. Ghana should take a critical look at the development of indigenous Ghanaian languages, which is a catalyst for national development.

2. The ministry of education should address the policy inconsistencies inherent in the implementation of the language policy in schools through enforcement of same.

3. Teaching and learning materials in Ghanaian languages provided to support the learning and teaching at school and at the household level.

4. Ghanaian families should be encouraged to speak local languages with their children.

In the spirit of inclusivity and not leaving no one behind, the SDG4 sub-platform will continue to advocate and make sure that school children are taught in Ghanaian languages for national development.

Sgd

Madam. Joyce Larnyo

(Convener, SDG4 Platform)

0200221014
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.
The new Chinese coronavirus suddenly claimed clusters of victims in Italy, Iran and South Korea during the weekend. World stock markets were rattled on Monday by a feeling that this disease is on the move and is much more volatile than it previously seemed.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The new Chinese coronavirus suddenly claimed clusters of victims in Italy, Iran and South Korea during the weekend. World stock markets were rattled on Monday by a feeling that this disease is on the move and is much more volatile than it previously seemed.

Canada has been handling the disease outbreak well so far. The latest flare-ups, however, should warn Canadian health authorities that their task may suddenly become more difficult.

In northern Italy, 219 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed and seven people have died of the disease. Lodi and other towns in Italys Lombardy region were locked down after panicked shoppers emptied grocery-store shelves. South Korea has confirmed 760 cases, mainly connected to a single religious congregation. Iran has reported 12 deaths, but Iran has a history of covering up or understating bad news. Travellers from Iran have carried the virus to other countries in the Middle East.

In Hong Kong, thousands of people are under quarantine while doctors try to figure out how bad the outbreak is. Community spread has also been found in Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam, meaning people in those countries have been infected but no one knows how they caught the disease.

China is still bearing the main impact of the coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan in December. The Chinese authorities severely restricted movement of people and banned public gatherings in the hope of stopping spread of the disease.

China announced Monday postponement of the scheduled March meeting in Beijing of the National Peoples Congress. Travellers arriving in Beijing from other parts of the country are immediately placed in two-week quarantine these days. Under these circumstances, it is simply not possible to gather delegates from the provinces for a legislative gathering in Beijing.

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Canadians have been getting off lightly up to now. A few plane loads of Canadians from Wuhan and from a virus-infected cruise ship at Yokohama have been repatriated into quarantine. A handful of other travellers from China have identified themselves. With such small number of potential carriers, the authorities could readily tell who needed to be tested and how they should be isolated.

Outbreaks outside China, however, suggest that numbers of cases can suddenly multiply, taxing the abilities of laboratories and hospitals that were never built or staffed to test and treat hundreds of patients who suddenly all need immediate attention.

Workers wearing protective gear spray disinfectant as a precaution against the COVID-19 coronavirus in a local market in Daegu, South Korea, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. South Korea's president has put the country on its highest alert for infectious diseases and says officials should take "unprecedented, powerful" steps to fight a viral outbreak. (Im Hwa-young/Yonhap via AP)

The stock market was affected because people in infected cities  quarantined or confined to their homes  are neither producing nor consuming, neither buying nor selling. They may be perfectly healthy, but they are for the moment out of the economic picture. The companies that employ them or sell products to them must eventually feel the impact. If medical science had a vaccine or a cure for this disease, the economic impact would be less, but for the foreseeable future quarantine and lockdowns are likely to continue.

Canada should profit from the experience of countries that have suffered COVID-19 outbreaks. Every province should have people qualified to train health workers in the safe and effective treatment of COVID-19 patients. Authentic information about the disease and its spread should be promptly published because where information is lacking, rumour will soon fill the gap.

Mondays stock market gyrations showed how touchy this subject is. Fear and its consequences may be kept to a minimum if the authorities seem to be meeting the challenges efficiently.
The chef Ashley Palmer-Watts has helped Heston Blumenthal create global brands, including the Fat Duck and Dinner restaurants, over the last 20 years, and the two have now led a culinary push into an entirely new industry.

Mr. Blumenthals long-term right-hand man, Mr. Palmer-Watts has shuttled between London and Dubai to oversee the opening of a restaurant that is at the heart of a new facet of luxury residential property development.

Linking up with a property development is a very different thing for us, but with the right quality and the right offering, this could be the start of a trend, Mr. Palmer-Watts said.

Celebrity chefs and famous restaurants like Mr. Blumenthals are the latest front in the endless battle to lure property buyers and renters, a competition that has moved well beyond offering amenities such as concierges, pet spas and yoga studios.
MEDFORD, Ore.  The next time entrepreneurs and business leaders in the Rogue Valley get together, they'll be lauding the launch of the Medford Cowork Collective that recently opened downtown. Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc. plans to mark the event at its next Launch Talk.

The Launch Talk is scheduled for March 4 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Medford Cowork Collective, 122 E Main Street. Tickets cost $10.

Abigail Schilling, founder of Medford Cowork Collective will welcome guests and provide a tour of the new space. There will also be panelists Jeff Sharpe, CEO of Sharpe Energy (Ashland), Linda Nichols-Plowman, CEO of EdForTech Corp (Phoenix), and Tia Bodington, Founder of Resource Efficiency Products LLC (Talent).

Each panelist will provide an update on their recent business successes, and have a candid conversation about regional business challenges and pitfalls to avoid, followed by an audience Q&A session.

Medford Cowork Collective will also be represented by some inaugural clients. Guests will be able to discover how the coworking model fits into the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Southern Oregon.

"Similar spaces are already available in Grants Pass and Ashland, so a partner in downtown Medford gives us reason to celebrate!" SOREDI said.

During the evening, Colleen Padilla, SOREDI Executive Director Colleen Padilla will also make timely announcements. SOREDI has entered into an agreement with Oregon Technology Business Center to create a seed fund for Southern Oregon startups. The Rural Oregon Startup Challenge includes three regions in Oregon; Roseburg, Salem and Southern Oregon.

"With contributions from local partners and the Oregon Growth Board, this Startup Challenge model will allow local entrepreneurs to apply for $10,000 investments to seed their ongoing growth," SOREDI said.

You can visit SOREDI's Events page to register for the Launch Talk.
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Aajnama.com scored 70 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 3.5/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 24 Dec 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

The total number of people who shared the aajnama homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the aajnama homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if aajnama has a Facebook fan page). This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the aajnama homepage on Twitter + the total number of aajnama followers (if aajnama has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the aajnama homepage on StumbleUpon. The total number of people who shared the aajnama homepage on Delicious.

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PAGE TITLE aajnama DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS december, comments, december 23, december 23, december, singh, december



CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The title found in the head section of the homepage. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage.

Domain and Server

DOCTYPE HTML 5.0 CHARSET AND LANGUAGE English (United States) UTF-8English (United States) SERVER Apache (PHP/5.3.26) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux

The language of aajnama.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Operative System running on the server. Character set and language of the site. Type of server and offered services.

Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world.

Referring domains for aajnama.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines.

Facebook link

FACEBOOK PAGE LINK FOUND FACEBOOK PAGE www.facebook.com/baltej.pannu.1?hc_location=stream DESCRIPTION LIKES PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT PAGE TYPE TIMELINE PAGE NO TIMELINE

Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The type of Facebook page. The URL of the found Facebook page. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days.

Twitter account link

TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND
Bengaluru, Feb 25 : Global diversified energy giant Shell on Tuesday launched fleet management solutions in India, aimed at reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO) for fleet owners.

"A convergence of new technologies, services and greater connectivity is reshaping the fleet sector, demanding new skills and creating new players and business models," said Shell fleet solutions business development general manager Parminder Kohli in a statement.

As fleet owners are struggling to acclimatise to this transition, Kohli said the company is offering Shell Fuels, Shell Fleet Prepaid programme and Shell Telematics.

She said Shell's solutions will enable a fleet owner to reduce operational cost and stay competitive with real time information about the fleet.

Zain Hak, Shell Fleet Solutions Asia general manager said the company has extensive fleet management experience across 30 countries.

"Our promise to our customers in India is to bring our most relevant mobility solutions from across the globe and offer them the right tools enabling transparent operations," said Hak.

Employing 8,500 people in India, Shell is present in India across upstream, integrated gas, downstream, renewable energy and deep capabilities in research and development.

The company also retails fuel in six states.
SAULT STE. MARIE, MI  A university in the Upper Peninsula celebrated the opening of its new cannabis training and research center this month.

Lake Superior State University held a ribbon cutting for the 2,600-square-foot Cannabis Center of Excellence on Friday, Feb. 21, the Associated Press reports. The university in Sault Ste. Marie announced in 2019 its plans for a cannabis chemistry program.

The center will provide a place to train undergraduate students as job-ready chemists, with hands-on, innovative experience using state-of-the-art instrumentation and industry protocols, according to a news release.

Michigan voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2018; medicinal use was legalized in 2008.

LSSU launch both Cannabis Chemistry and Cannabis Business majors in fall 2019. Students can earn an associates or bachelors degree in the chemistry program, and a bachelors degree in the business program.

Never in someones life does a huge market almost overnight become legalized and available, Lake Superior State University President Rodney Hanley said previously. In terms of cannabis, you almost have a market thats been parachuting into various states and theres no education in how to work within that marketplace. Theres a tremendous opportunity to focus on the business side of cannabis.

Hanley said LSSUs chemistry program will allow students to study both hemp and marijuana starting in their first year -- a factor that he said will help them differentiate themselves from other institutions.

Majoring in marijuana: Michigan universities expand their degree programs

Job prospects are good for college students with technical chemistry backgrounds in the emerging cannabis industry. The average starting salary for a cannabis chemist is $72,000, and the industry is expected to create 500,000 jobs by 2022, according to LSSU.

Graduates from the new chemistry programs are expected to be in high demand for safety labs and quality assurance positions in any industry, officials said.

Marijuana remains illegal to the federal government, as its still a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act. In order for a university to grow marijuana for research, the institution has to get approval from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. To obtain marijuana for research, universities have to go through the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Hanley said LSSU is abiding all federal laws.

In Marquette, Northern Michigan University first launched its Medicinal Plant Chemistry program in 2017. The program grew to 240 students enrolled in two years. In 2019, the University of Michigan has also added a marijuana course: PharmSci 420, which covers the underlying biology, chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, epidemiology and pharmacokinetics of cannabis.

READ MORE:

Woman rescued from Upper Peninsula river was found clinging to ice shelf

Manistee County animal shelter confirms 2 canine distemper cases

Detroit ice fisherman, 27, dies after diving into Clinton River to retrieve his phone

U.S. Marshals, Detroit area police search for man linked to 6 homicides
A tradie has broken his silence after learning his face was used to 'catfish' a woman who tragically ended her life when she learned her boyfriend wasn't real.

Camila Zeidan allegedly deceived her best friend and former lover Renae Marsden, 20, into believing she had a boyfriend, 'Brayden Spiteri', in a catfishing scandal that ran from 2011 to 2013.

'Catfishing' - the practice of creating fictional online love personas - is not a criminal offence in New South Wales.

Camila, 27, told her friend that Brayden was her ex-boyfriend who was supposedly behind bars over a motorcycle accident in which his best friend had died.

To make her story more convincing, she showed Renae a photo of her with the man she said was Brayden.

But the man in the photo has come forward as tradesman Cameron Lang, who had no idea his face was used in the scandal until he saw it on the news.

Tradesman Cameron Lang has revealed he is the man in the photo used to catfish Renae Marsden - and he had no idea his face was used in the scandal until he saw it on the news

'It's daunting ... [I'm] shocked in a way because I've now got an image put out there that's an image no one wants to be associated with,' he told A Current Affair.

While Cameron confirmed it was him in the photo, he has no memory of meeting Camila.

'It is me in the photo, but I personally had nothing to do with any of the girls. Either of them. Just my face was used.'

He said the photo was likely taken at a bar or club during a night out many years ago.

'I don't remember ever meeting (Camila) anywhere, at any point.'

While Cameron (left) confirmed it was him in the photo, he has no memory of meeting Camila (right)

Renae's mother Teresa Marsden (pictured with Renae's father Mark) said she would never forgive herself for what happened to her daughter

Renae was last seen leaving her home in Glenhaven, in Sydney's north-west, on August 5, 2013.

It is believed she drove to the The Gap in Sydney's eastern suburbs before throwing her phone into the ocean and taking her own life. Her body has never been found.

Renae's mother Teresa Marsden said she would never forgive herself for what happened to her daughter.

'I felt like my job as a mum  I was supposed to protect her and I failed her. That's something I have to live with. I would never have let her go.'

'Brayden' was a concoction of Camila's (right), Coroner Elaine Truscott was told earlier this month at an inquest into Renae's (left) suicide at The Gap in August 2013

'Brayden' was a concoction of Camila's, Coroner Elaine Truscott was told earlier this month at an inquest into Renae's suicide.

The court heard Camila and Renae were in a relationship at school, at Mount St Benedict College in Sydney's north-west, when they were in Year 10 in 2008.

The court heard Camila and Renae (pictured) were in a relationship at school in 2008.

Camila denied her relationship with Renae was 'obsessive'. But counsel assisting the inquest Sasha Harding pointed to emails Camila sent to Renae that year to argue the opposite.

One email said: 'I swear to God kid, you r going no where, do you understand, you abuse me, I'll laugh, you kill me, I'll be your ghost, you hate me, I'll still love you, run away, chase you; you hide, I'll hunt you down... Only I'll own you ... I'm too in love with u and too obsessed with you and crazy about you baby.'

Renae and Camila's relationship fell apart after school. But the inquest heard evidence from Renae's mother that Camila engaged in behaviour 'like stalking' in the years that followed.

Teresa Marsden claimed in an affidavit that Camila would lurk at the top of the driveway in her car and follow her. Camila denies both accusations.

Camila also allegedly bombarded Renae with 54 missed calls in the one evening, the inquest heard.

In a Facebook message, Renae told Camila: 'I had 54 calls last night Camila. That's f***ed. I'm sorry, but that's possessive.

Camila (left, in green) allegedly bombarded Renae (left and white, and right) with 54 missed calls in just one evening, the inquest heard

'If you can't see that then there is something terribly wrong with you'.

Camila told the inquest: 'I probably did try and talk to her ... I don't know what was going on at the time... It works both ways'.

Ms Harding told the inquest Camila had used 'Brayden' as a tool to break up Renae and the boyfriend she had after Camila, Angus Young. Camila denies this.

'Camila as the Brayden identity asserted mental control over Renae... Brayden sought to limit and sour Renae's social life,' Ms Harding said in her closing address.

'(Meanwhile) for nearly two years, (Renae) dedicated her mental and emotional life to Brayden.'

The Marsden family pictured at the end of day three of the Renae Marsden inquest at the NSW State Coroner's Court on February 12

'(Renae's) life was on hold, lived via her mobile phone, receiving and sending incessant messages to a fictional person.'

It is not clear whether Renae herself learned she was allegedly being 'catfished' prior to her death.

Police investigators told the inquest Renae had called Goulburn prison, where she believed Brayden was jailed, for 90 seconds at 2.44pm that afternoon.

An operator would have told Renae there was no one by that name at the prison, Detective Senior Constable Brent Bell told the court.

For 24/7 confidential crisis support, contact Lifeline 13 11 14
3 civilians, cop killed as pro & anti CAA protesters clash in NE Delhi.

A protester brandishes a pistol during clashes between anti-CAA protestors and supporters of the new citizenship act at Jafrabad in northeast Delhi on Monday. In a video, the 33-year-old man, identified as Shahrukh, is seen running at an unarmed Delhi police officer in Jaffrabad brandishing a gun. He approaches the cop and then forces him to back away with his hands raised before firing eight rounds in the air. (Photo: PTI)

NEW DELHI: Four people, including three civilians and a police head constable, were killed and a deputy commissioner of police (DCP) was among 40 people injured on Monday in violence that broke out across northeast Delhi for the second time in less than 24 hours.

Protesters for and against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act clashed with each, threw stones, set vehicles and shops ablaze and transformed parts of the national capital into a war zone, forcing the deployment of paramilitary forces and banning of large gatherings in affected areas. Eight companies of the CRPF, including two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and one company of women security personnel, have been deployed in violence-hit areas of northeast Delhi, including Maujpur and Jaffrabad, amid reports of a petrol pump, two houses, seven shops, a dozen-odd vehicles and a fire tender being set on fire.

Union home minister Amit Shah called an urgent meeting of top officials of Delhi and said it will monitor the situation.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal instructed police commissioner Amulya Patnaik to maintain law and order. Taking to Twitter, Mr 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. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the Centre to restore law and order in the city. As Delhi is a Union territory, police and law and order fall under the Union home ministry.Satish Golcha, special commissioner of police (Crime), Delhi, said, We are trying to maintain law & order. Our officers

are holding foot marches and appealing the protesters to disperse peacefully. In the evening Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla said the situation was under control but the death toll kept mounting and violence continued to be reported from neighbourhoods in the area. Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik was closely monitoring the situation from control room.

The clashes took place hours before US President Donald Trump arrived in the city, and seemed to be a fallout of Sundays violence that broke out after local BJP leader Kapil Mishra, who has a history of making communal and incendiary comments, held a pro-CAA rally in Maujpur, near Jaffrabad where a protest has been on since Saturday night against the citizenship law.

During the rally he gave an ultimatum to Delhi police to clear the roads in the area or else, he said, they would have to hit the streets.

Three days ultimatum for Delhi Police - clear the roads in Jaffrabad and Chand Bagh. After this, dont make us understand. We wont listen to you. Three days, he had tweeted in Hindi, along with a video of him speaking. We will be peaceful till (Donald) Trump leaves. After that, we wont listen to even you if the roads are not cleared, he says. We will have to hit the streets, he adds.

As pro and anti-CAA protesters clashed on Monday, several disturbing videos of violence emerged throughout the day, including one late in the evening that showed a massive fire consuming the tire market in Gokulpuri. Six fire engines were rushed to the spot to control the blaze.

In a video a 33-year-old man, identified as Shahrukh, a local resident, is seen running at an unarmed Delhi Police officer in Jaffrabad brandishing a gun. In a chilling scene, he approaches the cop and intimidates him, forcing him to back away with his hands raised before firing eight rounds repeatedly into the air.

In other videos of the violence, which rapidly spread to the Bhajanpura, Maujpur and Jaffrabad areas, among others, vehicles, shops and buildings were also set ablaze. A petrol pump was set on fire in Bhajanpura as petrol bombs were thrown by anti-CAA protesters.

Other videos show people from both groups breaking off chunks from the concrete divider along the road to throw at each other. In at least one of these videos shouts of Jai Shri Ram can be heard.

Police fired tear gas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse the violent crowd. Once the violence escalated, paramilitary forces were called in to restore peace. The police imposed section 144 of the CrPC, which prohibits assembly of four or more people, in 10 violence affected areas of northeast Delhi. The Delhi Metro also shut entry and exit gates of five stations  Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar.

Delhi head constable Ratan Lal, 42, who died of head injuries sustained during clashes between two groups in Chand Bagh near Bhajanpura was a native of Sikar in Rajasthan. He 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.

The violence claimed the lives of three civilians who succumbed to injuries hours received during the clashes. One has been identified as Furqan Mohammad who is said to have died of head injuries.

DCP (Shahdara) Amit Sharma has also sustained serious injuries in Gokulpuri.




Argentina's beef exports to China fell 30% in January



Mario Ravettino, head of ABC, a consortium of Argentine meat exporters, said sales have fallen due to the coronavirus outbreak and price disputes with buyers in China, reported Reuters.

China's demand for meat to supplement dwindling domestic pork supplies caused by the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak meant Argentine frozen boneless beef exports to China doubled to 408,500 tonnes at US$2 billion in 2019.

China accounted for three quarters of Argentina's beef exports as Chinese buyers paid higher prices in the wake of the ASF outbreak.

However, Ravettino said January 2020 sales dropped an estimated 30% to 31,500 tonnes compared to December 2019 sales of 44,878 tonnes. Chinese importers are renegotiating deals for lower prices because the coronavirus outbreak has affected port activity.

The January total is still higher compared to January 2019.

The ABC head said China had limited credit to Chinese companies for meat imports from Argentina at end-2019, and diversified purchases to other countries in an effort to lower contract prices. As a result, many orders were cancelled.

He added that deals have dropped to US$4,300 per tonne compared to US$7,000 per tonne at its peak.



The measure imposed by China has also affected farmers in Argentina. Nicolas Lafontaine, a rancher from Buenos Aires said prices have fallen as buyers are more particular over their livestock purchases.

Lafontaine said previously, buyers will buy any livestock for China, but now there is distinction between low quality canned beef and high quality beef.

Ravettino said the coronavirus outbreak in China has caused logistical problems at ports in China, which has affected Argentina shipments. He said ports are overflowing with merchandise and the quarantine (imposed because of the coronavirus) meant port workers aren't going to work.

He said some Argentine shipments have diverted to Singapore, while other exporters are exploring the possibility of increased sales to Russia.

Ravettino said while China recognises the quality of Argentine beef, he is unsure how long the problems at China will last, whether it be two months or six months.

- Reuters
UTICA, N.Y. - Congressman Anthony Brindisi announced to a room full of constituents and supporters that he is officially running for re-election to represent the 22nd Congressional District.

Brindisi held a re-election rally Monday night at 171 Genesee Street in Utica.

The congressman touted his accomplishments so far, including sponsoring and co-sponsoring several bipartisan bills, four of which have been signed by the President Donald Trump that address issues from job creation to supporting Veterans.

Brindisi emphasized uniting Democrats and Republicans to move the country forward.

"I love representing this community and I truly do believe our best days are ahead of us but we need people who can come together and put aside their party differences to actually get things done for the American people," Brindisi said. "That's what I've done over my last two years in office and it's what I'm going to continue to do as long as the people will have me."

One of Brindisi's republican opponents, congresswoman Claudia Tenney, responded to Brindisi's announcement.

Anthony Brindisi spent the last 13 months voting for a pro-impeachment, pro-Sanders, anti-Trump agenda. Now hes desperately backpedaling because he knows the people of our district dont support his far left agenda, Tenney said. President Trump endorsed our campaign because he knows I will beat Anthony Brindisi and support his pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda that we jump started for Upstate New York.

There are two other candidates running for the 22nd Congression District seat, George Phillips and Franklin Sager, both from Broome County.

Phillips also responded to Brindisi's announcement in a statement.

"Before the race in November against Congressman Brindisi, voters will select his opponent in a June primary.

I believe Republican primary voters will agree that we need a fresh face to take on Brindisi. I am the Republican candidate who has the strongest vision and is the most electable in this primary race.

I have and will continue to lay out a bold vision of freedom and American values to counter the rise of socialism.

Former Congresswoman Tenney lost this district with 30,000 more Republicans that President Trump won by 15 points.

I nearly won a district under the old district lines with 43,000 more Democrats that President Obama won by 20 points.

I will continue to hold Tenney to task on her voting record in Congress which included an "F" rating with the American Conservative Union, votes on stand alone legislation to force the U.S. military to pay for transgender military surgeries and studies on climate change and opposition to work requirements for welfare recipients."

The primary election is June 23.
Now, she is asking anyone who wants to help further to vote for AJ on a nonprofits website so he can win an adaptive bike. It will enable him to get outside and have fun like other kids and a more normal life, she said, instead of sitting inside and looking out the window.
A notorious armed robber, Mohammed Buzu aged 29 has been arrested from his hideout at Kwame Nkrumah circle by the Accra Regional CID officers.

Buzu has been arrested in connection with breaking into the residence of the IMF Country Director, stealing from the residence of the Ambassador of Kuwait to Ghana and also from the residence of a Lebanese businessman in Ghana.

The Police say they have retrieved assorted visa cards, wristwatches, mobile phones, bag packs, a diplomatic card issued by the government of Ghana and drivers license issued in Virginia, USA both bearing the name of the wife of one of the victims, passport size photographs of white male and female adults and many more from suspects place of abode at Dansoman in Accra.

Two of Buzus accomplices, Kenneth Antwi and Baffuor Adjei Gyimah have also been arrested. According to the Police, Antwi is a receiver and sponsor for Buzus robbery escapade while Gyimah is a receiver.

All three suspects have been remanded into police custody by the circuit court Accra presided over by Her Honour Mrs Rosemary Baah Torsu.

The suspects are believed to connected to other crimes committed at residences at cantonments and North Ridge both at Accra and other similar areas.

Any person who wants to provide further information on the victims have been encouraged to call the investigative team on 0242814863 or on Toll free numbers 18555, 191 and 112.

----classfmonline
Its no surprise that Florida carriers are raising homeowners insurance rates given several years of catastrophes and losses from litigation related to assignment of benefits and water damage claims.

What may be surprising for insureds, however, is how substantial the increases to their premiums may be, particularly if current filings being evaluated by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation are approved without modification.

In rate hearings before OIR over the last two months, several Florida carriers explained their filings for rate increases ranging from more than 20% to nearly 40%. Since December, Edison Insurance Co., Capitol Preferred Insurance Co., and Velocity Risk Underwriters (on behalf of National Specialty Insurance Co.), have told regulators that these rate increases are needed for their companies to remain healthy.

Unfortunately, times come that you have to do certain things to increase your rates and make sure your company stays viable and functional and healthy, said Capitol Preferred President and CEO Jimmy Graganella at its Feb. 7 rate hearing. His company is seeking a 36.5% rate increase on one of its 14 insurance programs covering about 28,000 consumers in Florida.

Capitol Preferred is one of many insurers responding to deteriorating conditions in the Florida homeowners insurance market from a combination of AOB, water damage loss claims and several years of major hurricanes, as well as a what insurers call loss creep from those claims in recent months.

According to a June 2019 AM Best report, several carriers, including the top five publicly traded Florida insurers (United Insurance, FedNat, Heritage, Universal and Homeowners Choice) have reported adverse development related to Hurricane Irma, considerably increasing ultimate loss estimates since impact, Best said.

The report also noted claims from Hurricane Michael appear to be taking a similar, though less severe, trajectory, with several carriers increasing ultimate loss estimates as time passes.

These factors are being blamed for the need for higher insurance rates and a tightening of coverage in several regions of the state, particularly in South Florida.

AOB reforms (House Bill 7065 ) passed last year are expected to help the issue, but insurers say many of these claims could still take years to resolve and will have an impact on insurer losses in the short-term, thus contributing to the need for rate increases.

Insurers are required by state law to participate in rate hearings before the Florida OIR for any rate increase filings of more than 15%.

Floridas Edison Insurance Co. was the first to go through an OIR rate hearing back in December for a 21.9% rate increase. Representatives with the company told regulators the frequency of water damage losses was largely to blame and that without the recent enactment of AOB reforms, the insurer would have needed a 38% rate increase.

Ryan Purdy, Merlino & Associates principal and consulting actuary assigned to the Edison filing, told regulators while the AOB reforms have helped, the frequency of the insurers water damage losses without an AOB increased 56% over a three-year period, and severity of those claims that were represented by an attorney increased by about four-fold. The company currently receives about a thousand first party lawsuits a year.

While theres great optimism about how House Bill 7065 will improve the claims environment of the state, it cannot be said with great certainty at this point in time what specific value these savings might be given these uncertainties, Purdy said.

OIR approved Edisons 21.9% insurance rate filing last month with an effective date of Feb. 15, 2020, for new policies and March 24, 2020, for renewal policies statewide.

At the Capitol Preferred Insurance Hearing on Feb. 7, Graganella noted three factors that have brought the company to the point of needing a 36.5% rate increase  reinsurance costs, AOB abuse and, more important, first party lawsuits. According to Graganella, 36% of his companys claims are now called in represented by an attorney. It used to be 4%. Thats a massive number, he said.

He told regulators the new AOB reforms havent affected the number of AOB lawsuits the company has received, so far, but it has seen a decrease in the severity of AOB claims.

We are seeing the AOB bill having minimum effect, he said. Its really too early to tell what the true longevity effects going to be.

Non-AOB water damage claims are driving much of the insurers current litigation and costs, Graganella said, noting the average cost of represented claims is twice the cost of non-represented claims at $24,000. He said the company pays out $1.77 on water losses for every dollar it takes in and has experienced a 727% increase in lawsuits since 2016.

Thats substantial. Thats lawsuits, thats not cases that are represented files that we are able to negotiate prior to the lawsuit  thats actually lawsuits, he said.

He said while the number of represented claims and lawsuits has been increasing, the company has taken care of its consumers in Florida. The carrier has paid out more than $416 million in claims for 30,000 insureds over the last three years, and has a closing ratio of 98% for Hurricane Michael, he told regulators.

Barry Gilway, president and CEO of the state-backed insurer of last resort, Citizens Property Insurance Corp., also highlighted the Florida insurance market issues during a December board of governors meeting. He cited third quarter underwriting losses of $378 million for Florida insurers and said these losses could have an impact on any efforts to further reduce Citizens policyholder count, which the insurer plans to try to do this year.

The market impact [of losses] is a continuation of increased rates  rates [increases] are being filed consistently on a monthly basis ranging from 3% to the 14.9% allowed for automatic approval by OIR, he said. These rates are absolutely necessary to overall stability to the marketplace.

Update: According to OIR, there is no automatic approval threshold for personal residential rate filings.

OIR carefully reviews all proposed rate filings, regardless of the amount requested, to ensure they comply with all applicable laws and are not excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory. OIR holds public rate hearings in compliance with section 627.0629(6), Florida Statutes, when a rate filing exceeds 15 percent, and if it is based in whole or in part on data from a computer model, a spokesperson from OIR said.

Ratings agency Demotech, which provides financial stability ratings (FSRs) to more than 40 Florida domestic insurers and warned recently that many are facing downgrades, said the 15% rate threshold has led to carriers taking less than needed increases despite a significant accumulation of losses. As a result, rates are below where they should be, Demotech President Joe Petrelli said in a letter to Floridas insurance regulator and Citizens Property Insurance Corp. in December.

The cumulative impact of carrier acceptance of rate revisions at a percentage change that eliminates the time, effort and expense for a hearing and decision, i.e., less than 15%, has had a cumulative impact over the past several years, he wrote.

Demotech said carriers must take several steps to improve their financial stability, including securing actuarially sound rates at the earliest possible date.

Rising Reinsurance Costs

Increasing reinsurance costs are also hitting Florida insurers, as they rely heavily on reinsurance to maintain their surplus and claims paying ability. According to a recent report by AM Best, reinsurance rates are going up after several years of losses and rates are likely to increase by 15% to 20% for the June renewal period. Carriers that depend highly on reinsurance may be most affected, according to the ratings firm.

Companies with high reinsurance dependence face difficult choices. Higher reinsurance rates may pressure earnings if insurers decide to continue writing business at existing levels. Those opting to retain more business may see declines in capitalization in the event of catastrophic storms; these companies may be forced to write less business to maintain existing capital, Best said.

Velocity Risk Underwriters, the managing general agency underwriting risk on behalf of National Specialty Insurance Co., said at its Feb. 14 rate hearing that its requested 28.1% rate increase is due to its wind loss ratio and increasing reinsurance costs. The filing is for HO-3 policies for more than 35,000 Florida policyholders.

The company began writing in Florida in 2016 and has grown to a policy count of 41,753 as of Dec. 31, 2019. Its policies are backed by reinsurance and insurance-linked security capital.

Representatives of Velocity Risk said reinsurance costs account for 25% of the needed rate increase.

The reinsurers and the capital base we have would like our competitive position to be better than it is, said Velocity Risk CEO Phil Bowie. They take all of the risk, including the non-hurricane risk as well, so they definitely would like to get some increases and achieve some stability in the other perils of this program.

AM Best noted in its report that from mid-2016 through early 2018, Florida OIR approved more rate increases than it denied, after which it denied more increases than it approved. Through August 2019, it resumed approving more rate hikes that should help offset the rise in reinsurance costs slightly, Best said.

Legislative Help

Industry representatives are hoping the Florida Legislature will pass reforms they say will stem the excessive litigation losses and help the states private market.

Graganella told regulators he is working with Florida lawmakers on bills that he thinks can impact the state of Florida in a positive fashion.

Several bills have been introduced this session that would target first party litigation abuses and insurer bad faith cases, but a couple of the bills were temporarily postponed in mid-February by the bills sponsor, State Senator Jeff Brandes. In an interview with the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Brandes said property insurers cannot sustain the huge increase in litigation that is occurring.

The insurance industry, frankly, isnt designed for that level of legal engagement, Brandes said. We have got to begin to put some parameters on this issue.

Graganella said parts of Central Florida are now becoming as hard for insurers to offer coverage in as areas of South Florida due to lawsuit abuse. He pointed to laws that were passed targeting the abuse of sinkhole claims as an example of how issues can be addressed.

We had legislation that got the fraud out of the statutes and all of a sudden we have sinkholes get healed, he said. Central Floridas going to be the next [Miami] Dade County in rates if something is not done.

Related:

Topics Lawsuits Carriers Catastrophe Trends Legislation Florida Claims Profit Loss Reinsurance Pricing Trends Hurricane Market
(Photo : REUTERS/Salvador Rodriguez/File Photo) FILE PHOTO: Attendees at Amazon.com Inc annual cloud computing conference walk past the Amazon Web Services logo in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., November 30, 2017.

Amazon, the world's largest online retailer, is not immune to the outcomes of the hastily spreading coronavirus disease. The e-commerce giant, according to the New York Times, expressed its concern that it may run out of inventory on a lot of its China-made merchandise.

The contagious disease, officially called COVID-19, has closed factories and slowed the production of almost everything from Apple iPhone parts to drug ingredients in China used by the United States. Pharmaceutical makers.

Amazon, with its reliance on Chinese manufacturing, examined how a giant retailer grapples with the fallout from the coronavirus and what may lie ahead for other stores. With Apple cutting its sales expectations this week and airlines canceling flights, dozens of companies have already indicated that the virus has already taken a toll on them.





ALSO READ: Amazon Takes Down Products That Claim to Kill Coronavirus





Amazon orders more Chinese-made items shipped to the U.S.





Amazon has a tendency to stock fewer goods in warehouses than other outlets do, relying on a so-known as "lean inventory." The said business model would make things more prone to coronavirus-related delivery issues. Even those goods which might be assembled elsewhere, however, depend upon parts that come from China might be at risk.

According to the Times' report, the warehouse is now ordering more Chinese-made items shipped to the United States. Amazon, however, did haven't replied to CBS MoneyWatch's request for comment as of writing.

An Amazon spokeswoman told the Times that the e-commerce giant is working closely with the suppliers out of an abundance of caution to secure additional inventory to ensure it keeps its choice for customers.

"We are monitoring developments associated with the coronavirus and taking appropriate steps as needed," the corporation later added, according to the report.





ALSO READ: [WARNING] Buying Items Online May Transfer Coronavirus From China? Amazon Takes Immediate Action





Amazon imports six to eight weeks worth of products from China

Amazon has ordered six to eight weeks worth of some products made in China contrary to its ordinary two-to three-week stash, the Times reported. The report cited experts who work with manufacturers that sell through the platform.

Those same providers are also in impact stockpiling inventory by using reducing lower back on advertising and marketing and advertising efforts at the Amazon platform, efforts that presumably lower demand for the goods.

Amazon is likewise worried it will no longer have enough inventory for its mid-summer time Prime Day event - and is speaking with third-birthday party sellers to decide how the coronavirus ought to interrupt their deliver chains.





ALSO READ: FedEx To Stop Ground Delivery Services To Amazon

The Times' report added Amazon emailed a beauty logo on Wednesday, February 19, asking if it expected to have its top five products in adequate stock this summer season.

"Amazon is attempting to establish a stock hazard for your business shifting forward and mainly for Prime Day," the Times stated of the email's content. "We admire your feedback by TODAY."

The deadly virus continues to spread and has infected more than 79,000 people as of writing. More than 77,000 of the cases are in China.













 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The man who invented Legos iconic minifigures has died at the age of 78.

Jens Nygaard Knudsen worked on creating the yellow characters, complete with movable arms and legs, in the 1970s before the toy was finally released in 1978.

The designer had been suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neurone disease (MND), and was being cared for in a hospice when he passed away on 19 Feburary.

Nygaard Knudsen worked for the Danish toy brand from 1968 to 2000.

During his time at the company, he developed some of Lego's classic sets, including Space and Pirates, and had a hand in designing early versions of the family theme park Legoland.

Commenting on the news, former colleague and Lego designer Niels Milan Pedersen paid tribute to the children's toy maker, saying: His imagination was so fantastic. If we had a brainstorm it was more like a brain hurricane, because he had so many ideas.

The Lego Group also issued a statement regarding the sad news on Twitter, writing: 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 an additional statement, Julia Goldin, Lego Group's chief marketing officer, added: 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.

Matthew Ashton, vice president of design at Lego and producer of the Lego movies, also commented on the designers passing and thanked him for inspiring generations of children.

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, Ashton wrote on Twitter.

"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."

Following his death at the Anker Fjord Hospice outside the small town of Hvide Sande, the designers wife told local press that her husband was a man of ideas.

The figure was created so that there would be life in the houses. At the time Legos houses were empty, but then he drew this man.

Lego fans have also expressed their sympathies on social media, with person writing: A small salute, to the man who designed my happiest childhood memories.

Another person agreed, commenting: Thank you for your invention, the firefighter was my first of the new wave of figures I had in 1978. You have been a big part of my childhood & now my adult life as I explore Lego with my son Cam.

Lego was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Christiansen and began manufacturing toy bricks in 1940s.

The brands name is an abbreviation of two Danish words leg godt, meaning play well.
WILLIAMSPORT  A Lycoming County native now living in Arizona is headed to trial on charges he scammed a woman he met on an Internet dating site out of $80,000 in late 2017 and early 2018.

District Judge Gary Whiteman on Monday found sufficient evidence to hold Adam Richard Schick, 34, of Gilbert, Arizona, for court on charges of theft by deception and receiving stolen property.

Kayla Darling testified she met Mike Schick on the Plenty of Fish dating site and later met him at a convenience store in Williamsport where he told her his wallet and debit card had been stolen.

Schick is alleged to have shown Darling on his phone his bank account contained $11,000 but claimed it was frozen and he needed money for a car payment, insurance and other bills.

From there it snowballed, she said, describing some of the reasons he gave for needing money. He used her credit card to pay $5,000 in county court costs, she said.

Court records show Schick pleaded guilty in October 2015 to a theft charge and was released early from supervision in January 2018 after fulfilling all terms of his probation.

Darling testified she received a text that appeared to be from a Williamsport attorney telling her to take out a $20,000 bank loan for court costs and put the money in Schicks account, which she did.

State trooper Jamesan Keeler testified he contacted the lawyer who told him he did not represent Schick and knew nothing about the text.

Other testimony at the preliminary hearing included Schick claiming he had a child by an unknown female, fabricating his place of employment and needing her credit card to get a car out of impound.

Schicks cell phone stopped working in October 2017 and, according to Darling, he began calling her using a restricted number.

Under cross-examination, she said she lost the test messages between Schick and her and made no effort to retrieve them. She alleges he deleted them when he used her phone.

The source of the $80,000 was approximately $70,000 in borrowed money and $10,000 from her savings, she said.

Darling, who went to state police on Feb. 9, 2018, with bank records, said Schick promised to repay the money but never did. To her knowledge, Schick was not married when the relationship began but he is now, she said she learned.

Defense attorney George E. Lepley argued for dismissal of the charges citing the lack of documents to prove Darling provided the money, which she said was in cash.

Schick remains free in lieu of $15,000 unsecured bail.

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Photo Illustration by Lyne Lucien/The Daily Beast/Getty

A former top Ukrainian official said he is concerned that President Donald Trumps efforts to force out administration officials deemed to be disloyal from their posts would in the short term leave a hollowed out U.S. office in Kyiv and space for Russia to ratchet up its aggressive political influence operations.

Oleksandr Danylyuk, the former chairman of Ukraines national-security and defense council, said that as the White House turns its attention to its post-impeachment victory lap, there are growing fears that Russia will step up attempts to distort the relationship between Washington and Kyiv. Danylyuk, who served as a former official in President Volodymyr Zelenskys administration, said that Rudy Giulianis partnership with Kyiv politicos closely linked to Russia was only making matters worse by worrying officials that Trumps inner circle is forming long-lasting partnerships with rogue, corrupt individuals.

Russia is getting more ambitious. They are already taking an aggressive position. Putin knows what he wants and he does not need to seek approval for his actions inside Russia let alone outside of Russia, Danylyuk said. There are not enough people in the administrationin the U.S. administrationto focus on Ukraine and Russia issues. A lot of people left. It will not be easy to find several counterparts. I would expect sometime after the presidential elections the U.S. will have to compensate for that. They will have to find a very strong team to deal with this.

Danylyuks comments provide one of the earliest indications to date as to how Trumps attempt to install political allies in key national-security posts is stirring fears not only among domestic officials but in foreign capitals around the world. Since the impeachment investigation began last fall, at least five high-level officials focusing on Ukraine policy have left their posts, including former Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, Acting Ambassador Bill Taylor, Tim Morrison, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, and Fiona Hillall of whom testified in the House hearings this fall.

Story continues

Its been two weeks and Trump shows no sign of slowingor that hes learned his lesson as some GOP lawmakers have claimed. That has Danylyuk concerned. Already, he had expressed fears that the push by the White House to convince Ukraine to investigate the former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter left Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys team rattled.

Danylyuk said he tried to wade through the mess of those summer months by speaking directly to his counterpart in the administration, former National Security Adviser John Bolton, who he said he trusted more than anyone inside Trumps orbit. Bolton has since left and with the dust still unsettled from the impeachment proceedings, the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations has grown even less clear.

There is no alternative to the U.S.its a reality, Danylyuk said.

Top Ukraine Official: I Trusted Bolton More Than Anyone

Throughout the past several months, Danylyuk said that the Trump administration has tried to re-establish a working relationship with Kyivan effort to make amends, of sorts. Trumps pressure on Zelensky to open investigations into Democratic rivalswhich involved the withholding of military aidfollowed by a long impeachment trial, cost Ukraine not only time and effort but reputation points as well. Danylyuk described a recent meeting with representatives of foreign corporations:

One of them didnt know I represent Ukraine, Danylyuk recounted. And one person said that there is such as situation now that I am ready to consider investing even in Ukraine. And I said look, Why even in Ukraine? It was because of that perceptionthat Ukraine is corrupt. Thats what this whole thing did to us. It made it seem like were all corrupt. But things are changing in the country and there is a commitment by Zelensky to fight this. And it deserves recognition. Now is the time for Zelensky to make corrections and drive reforms.

Ukraine is trying to rebuild its image after the impeachment investigation in an effort to attract foreign investors, particularly to its energy sector. For months the Zelensky administration, which at one point included Danylyuk, pushed for a deal whereby the U.S. would export American liquified natural gas through Poland to Ukraine. Danylyuk said he worked closely with Bolton in developing the deal. Since then, shipments of the gas have made their way to Poland, but experts say the plan is far from being commercialized on a large scale.

More than anything, Danylyuk said the Ukraine sagafrom the phone call between Trump and Zelensky in July, to the whistleblower complaint about that call, and the following impeaching investigation and votedisrupted the alliance that he and others on the Zelensky team had worked for months to establish with Washington, one that they hoped would result in an in-person presidential meeting.

I hope there will be a new opportunity with the U.S. The narrative needs to be different, Danylyuk said, adding that he hoped the image of Ukraine as a victim would change. The world is getting tired of this image, he said. After five years we are stronger. We need to be positioning ourselves as a player. Otherwise I dont think we will go far.

Dems Fear They Wasted Their Best Shot on Impeachment

Trump allies, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), have traveled to Kyiv recently to meet with top officials to reinforce the U.S. commitment to maintaining an alliance with the country.

We clearly have bilateral support in Congress, Danylyuk said, adding that he hoped that if the administration appointed new individuals to posts in Kyiv they would have the backing of the White House. Sometimes you can have people who might have the knowledge on something but they dont for some reason have the trust of the president. This is not a good situation. At the end of the day were hoping that the new team that they would have the trust of the president.

Complicating matters in Kyiv is Giuliani. The former New York City mayor has had ongoing interactions with members of the Ukraine political scene who are known to associate themselves with Russia. As one of President Trumps closest advisers, Giulianis presence in Ukraine and his on-air appearances with parliamentarians like Alexander Dubinksy and Andrii Derkach are concerning officials in the highest ranks in the Zelensky administration.

The fear is that Russia has established a clear outlet to propagate conspiracy theoriesand propagandanot only in Ukraine media but in U.S. media as well. The problem, Danylyuk said, is that powerful oligarchs, such as Ihor Kolomoisky, who is under investigation in the U.S. for financial crimes, and Viktor Medvedchuk, a pro-Russia former politician, own large corporations and use their platforms to push out false information.

That is a problem that makes democracy much weaker in Ukraine. Whoever controls the media, I can say controls the results of the elections, broadly speaking with some exceptions, Danylyuk said. Zelensky got support from 1+1the Kolomoisky channel. So that was sufficient for him to be a strong candidate for elections.

In December, Giuliani met with Dubinksy, who used to work for 1+1, and Derkach in an effort to aid his investigation of the Bidens. At the same time, Giuliani worked with One America News and the Ukrainian officials to create a documentary series that focused on countering the congressional impeachment probe. Giuliani has recently aired his sit-down interview with Derkach on his personal video channel.

We have these corrupt individuals. Ukrainians hate them. They dont want these people in the government, Danylyuk said, specifically calling out Yuriy Lutsenko, the former Ukrainian general prosecutor who worked with Giuliani to dig up dirt on the Bidens. These corrupt people are going to try ways to get connections in the U.S. administration. But they dont represent Ukraine.

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Syracuse, N.Y. -- The woman was crying so hard she couldnt talk. She had a bag full of clothes and food.

Al-amin Muhammad couldnt figure out what else she needed.
Boris Johnson has condemned Harvey Weinstein following his conviction for rape and sexual assault as pressure continued to grow for the disgraced movie mogul to be stripped of his CBE.

Weinstein was made an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2004 for services to the film industry.

MPs from all parties have demanded that he forfeit the honour and today Downing Street added to the outcry.

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

Weinstein met the Queen at a reception in Buckingham Palace in February 2014

Number 10 made clear that the decision to takeaway a CBE was ultimately a matter for the independent honours forfeiture committee.

But the Prime Minister's official spokesman said Weinstein's behaviour was 'completely unacceptable' in comments which will be seen as supporting calls for the honour to be removed.

The PM's spokesman said: 'It's a matter for the independent honours forfeiture committee to consider cases where the honours system has been brought into disrepute.

'We are crystal clear that any unwanted sexual behaviour is completely unacceptable and we condemn sexual violence in all of its forms.'

Number 10's intervention comes after numerous MPs demanded Weinstein now lose the honour.

Dawn Butler, Labour's equalities spokesman, said: 'Weinstein should have been stripped of his honours a long time ago, but now he's been found guilty there's no excuse.'

Tory former minister George Freeman echoed a similar sentiment as he 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.

A spokesman for Boris Johnson, pictured in Downing Street yesterday, said of Weinstein's conviction that 'unwanted sexual behaviour is completely unacceptable'

Criteria can include the holder being jailed for three months or more, or being struck off by a professional body.

A recommendation is made by the Honours and Appointments Secretariat to the forfeiture committee which is made up of senior civil servants.

The final decision to takeaway an honour 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.
It is said that if you choose a job you love, you will never have to work a day in your life. That is perhaps, the best summation of my time at Hood, White said. I have been incredibly blessed to work with and serve students and a community that values, cares and supports each other...."

Hood College has announced that Olivia G. White, Ph.D., vice president for student life and dean of students, will retire later this year after more than 27 years at Hood and more than 40 years in higher education administration.

Olivia has served our students, faculty and staff with her leadership, sense of humor and warmth and will be greatly missed, College President Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D. said. She has been a pillar of the Hood community for nearly 30 years. It is hard to express the impact she has had on countless members of our community or to imagine Hood without Olivia White.

White joined Hood in July 1992 and has been the vice president for student life and dean of students since 1994. In that time, she has created a student-centric environment that promotes academic achievement and a successful college experience. Under her leadership, she is responsible for departments that serve students everyday lives, including residence life, student engagement, commuter life, judicial affairs, health and wellness, orientation, diversity and inclusion, campus safety and spiritual life.

Dean White has an energy and excitement while working with students that goes unmatched, said Christian Hoch 20. Being the SGA President, I am so thankful that I have been able to work closely with her over the past four years on projects that have made a difference to Hood students. She has always had my back and supported me since I began attending Hood. She has taught me to always have a positive outlook on life despite the situation. No matter what, everything gets better, and every day is a gift. I cherished working with Dean White, and I wish her the best in all her future endeavors. She brightens everyones day, and she worked hard to make sure all students were supported. She will truly be missed here at Hood.

White is an active member of the Frederick community and currently serves as vice chair of the Board of Directors at the Weinberg Center for the Arts. She is a Paul Harris Fellow and active member of the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek, for which she has held multiple leadership roles, including former president; she is a graduate of Leadership Frederick County (2010-11); and former board member of the Heartly House, Advocates for Homeless Families, and UNESCO.

White is a charter member, executive board member and immediate past president of Frederick County Alumnae Chapter (FCAC), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (2012-2016); she was recognized by FCAC as Delta of the Year (2012 and 2016) and Delta Dear of the Year (2018-2019); selected as a National Leadership Academy Delta Fellow (2018-2019), she also serves as a member of the national Strategic Partnership Task Force, chairing the Charitable Partners subcommittee, and is the primary advisor to Kappa Psi Chapter at Frostburg State University. She is an active member and co-director of Vacation Bible School at Beltway Church of Christ in Camp Springs, Maryland.

In 2014, White co-chaired the Hood College Planning Committee for Realizing the Dream, a year-long series commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act and featuring guest lectures, performances, documentaries, the historic Sept. 26, 2014 March on Frederick, and a conference on contemporary Civil Rights issues. The March on Frederick attracted national civil rights activist Julian Bond, numerous state and local officials and nearly 1,200 marchers and participants over the three-day weekend celebration. White was recognized as 2014 Citizen of the Year by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Alpha Lambda Lambda Chapter.

White also had a leadership role in bringing to Frederick a four-day international conference that commemorated the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education in March 2004. She encouraged representation from many national, state and Frederick County agencies and organizations to develop and implement this momentous celebration, which was hosted at Hood College.

In 2017, she was honored with the George B. Delaplaine Distinguished Citizen Award in recognition of the positive and lasting impact she has made in the community. She was the first female to be selected for this award in Frederick County, a unanimous choice by a community involving scouting leaders in Frederick County and the Delaplaine Center.

It is said that if you choose a job you love, you will never have to work a day in your life. That is perhaps, the best summation of my time at Hood, White said. I have been incredibly blessed to work with and serve students and a community that values, cares and supports each other. My daily prayer is that I do the right thing, treat people the way I want to be treated and remain focused on what is best for our community, particularly our students, who provide me with unspeakable joy.

Hood has been my HOME for nearly 28 years, and I will continue to give my heart to Hood. l am looking forward to this new chapter in my liferetirement, the opportunities to continue serving Hood, the organizations I am passionate about, and especially spending more time with family and friends, White said.

Prior to her appointment at Hood College in 1992, where she also served as assistant dean of students and director of student activities, and director of multicultural affairs, White was director of special undergraduate programs and staff counselor at the College of Charleston in South Carolina; director of the Single Parent/Displaced Homemaker program at Trident Technical College in Charleston; and assistant director of placement, coordinator of student development and adviser to the National Pan Hellenic Council and the Association of African American Students at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. White also served as student development specialist/career counselor at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, and minority recruiter/counselor at the College of Dental Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

White earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the College of Charleston; a Master of Education in College Student Personnel from the University of South Carolina, Columbia; and a doctorate in higher education administration and educational leadership from Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, Ohio. She took additional graduate coursework at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, and completed the Management Development Program at Harvard University.

White is the daughter of Marthena Guest and the late Arthur Guest of Charleston, South Carolina. She was married to the late James R. White Jr. for nearly 30 years and is the mother of four children: Brittani, Tiffany, Aaron and Stephanie, and mother-in-law to Aarons wife, Julie.

Whites last day will be on or around July 1, 2020; Chapdelaine said that transition plans for student life will be announced later this spring.

Hood College is an independent, liberal arts college, offering 28 bachelors degrees, four pre-professional programs, 19 masters degrees programs, two doctorates and 10 post-baccalaureate certificates. Located in historic Frederick, near Washington, D.C., Baltimore and the I-270 technology corridor, Hood gives students access to countless internships and research opportunities.
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 (stock photo)

Seaweed fossils that are one billion years old are believed to be the oldest green algae discovered.

They could also be related to the ancestor of the earliest land plants and trees that first developed 450 million years ago, researchers say.

The micro-fossil seaweeds are hardly visible to the naked eye, at 2mm in length. 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.

Before the discovery, published in 'Nature Ecology and Evolution', the earliest fossil records of green seaweeds were found in rock dated at about 800 million years old.
25.02.2020 LISTEN

The Ashanti Region Police has charged 16 persons in connection with Tuesday's clash between some butchers at the Kumasi abattoir.

The 16 persons who have been charged with disturbing public peace at a public place are leaders of two factions who are battling over the position of the chief butcher after the demise of the substantive one.

Armed police and military personnel were deployed to the Kumasi abattoir after the two factions engaged in a stone-throwing clash.

Six people who sustained injuries were later treated and discharged after they were rushed to the hospital.

A reporter with the Islamic Library channel television who was covering the event was injured in the process.

Although police have not spoken on record, they told Citi News the 16 persons will be arraigned.

Background

On October 13, 2019, the Council of Zongo Chiefs installed one Alhaji Muntari Bature as the Chief Butcher after the demise of Alhaji Musah Bawa Tanko on October 3, 2019.

Another person, Ibrahim Wahab Tikuma says he was elected by the Butchers Association and thus recognizes himself as the Chief Butcher.

Butchers at the Kumasi Abattoir remained divided over the matter.

The Ashanti Regional Security Council later intervened and asked both factions to hold on until they investigate the matter and come out with the final report.

Confusion, however, broke out when Alhaji Bature went to the Abattoir today [Tuesday].

Both factions narrated their sides of the story to Citi News.

Ibrahim Wahab Tikuma, one of the leaders of the groups, claimed he had been elected and recognised by the majority of the butchers as the Chief Butcher.

Just this morning, I arrived at the abattoir around 10:30 am and saw Alhaji Bature with about 50 people entering the abattoir. We, however, did not do anything. They came and bypassed us. Then just a few metres away, they started throwing stones on us. So because our members were working, we did not want to do anything that will disturb the abattoir and the butchers. So we decided to control our youth but the situation got out of hand and they also started throwing stones. As at now, five of my people are wounded and some were sent to the hospital and discharged, he stated.

The other leader, Alhaji Muntari Bature, also said he was born into the profession and has been installed and recognised by the Council of Zongo Chiefs as the Chief Butcher.

Some Frafra and Dagomba people just harassed me. Im a butcher. I was born into the profession. Everything about me is about the job and because I was enstooled as a chief butcher, they are angry and sour with it. That is why we are here at the Central police station to give our statement so they can take it to court. And I said Im ready for it.

---citinewsroom
[February 25, 2020] Wind River Names Former Microsoft Executive Kevin Dallas as Chief Executive Officer

Wind River, a leader in delivering software for the intelligent edge, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Kevin Dallas to the role of Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors, effective immediately. Dallas succeeds Jim Douglas, who has decided to step down as President and Chief Executive Officer of the company. Douglas will continue to advise Wind River (News - Alert) and TPG Capital during a transition period. As a leading software provider for the intelligent edge, Wind River is delivering the highest levels of security, safety, performance, and reliability in industries that include aerospace and defense, industrial, medical, automotive, and telecommunications. "Wind River has revolutionized industries through advanced technology in billions of edge devices and systems. It is an honor and a privilege to be able to lead the company through its transition to an Intelligent Systems Platform company," said Dallas. "The growth opportunity ahead for Wind River is significant, and my job is to accelerate the delivery of innovative products that enable the digital transformation of our customers in a data-driven, AI-first world. I look forward to working with our talented team, the board, and TPG Capital to accelerate the company's growth trajectory." Dallas brings more than 25 years of experience driving digital innovation and growth at technology companies. He most recently served as the Microsoft (News - Alert) Corporate Vice President for Cloud and AI Business Development. Dallas has demonstrated a strong track record of growing businesses, delivering advanced intelligent cloud and edge product innovation, and enabling customer digital transformation. Prior to joining Microsoft in 1996, he held roles at NVIDIA Corporation ad National Semiconductor (now Texas Instruments (News - Alert) Inc.) in the U.S., Europe, and Israel.



"We thank Jim for his decade of service and important work in leading Wind River through its transition phase and positioning it for future growth. Under his leadership, the company has made tremendous progress," said Moshe Gavrielov (News - Alert), Executive Chairman of the Board of Wind River. "Looking ahead, Kevin brings the perfect mixture of executive leadership experience and digital expertise to lead Wind River through its next chapter. We are pleased to welcome him aboard." "Jim has been central to Wind River's strategy, and we congratulate him on a long and successful tenure," said Nehal Raj, Partner at TPG Capital. "Kevin's appointment builds on Wind River's strong momentum, following its recent acquisition of Star Lab in embedded security and significant progress in the 5G edge computing arena. His vision and strategic insight will be invaluable as we work together to advance the company's mission to deliver innovative software solutions that power today's modern infrastructure."

Wind River was acquired by TPG Capital in 2018 in a transaction that established the company as a standalone entity. The company has since taken meaningful steps to strengthen and reinforce its market-leading position, including growing its customer base, enhancing and expanding its portfolio, and investing in strategic growth initiatives. "It has been a privilege to help lead Wind River for the last decade. I am proud of the results we have delivered as a company, particularly over the last two years since becoming an independent business," said Douglas. "Wind River's prospects are strong, and I look forward to helping the company and TPG Capital ensure continued success going forward." About Wind River Wind River is a global leader in delivering software for the intelligent edge. The company's technology has been powering the safest, most secure devices in the world since 1981 and is found in more than 2 billion products. Wind River offers a comprehensive portfolio, supported by world-class global professional services and support and a broad partner ecosystem. Wind River software and expertise are accelerating digital transformation of critical infrastructure systems that demand the highest levels of safety, security, performance, and reliability. To learn more, visit Wind River at www.windriver.com. About TPG TPG is a leading global alternative asset firm founded in 1992 with more than $119 billion of assets under management and offices in Austin, Beijing, Boston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Luxembourg, Melbourne, Moscow, Mumbai, New York, San Francisco, Seoul, and Singapore. TPG's investment platforms are across a wide range of asset classes, including private equity, growth equity, real estate, credit, and public equity. TPG aims to build dynamic products and options for its investors while also instituting discipline and operational excellence across the investment strategy and performance of its portfolio. For more information, visit www.tpg.com. Wind River is a trademark or registered trademark of Wind River Systems, Inc. and its affiliates. Other names may be the trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005903/en/

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New Delhi, Feb 25 (UNI) A division bench of Delhi High Court, on Tuesday, accorded urgent hearing to a plea seeking registration of an FIR and arrest of persons involved in the violence in northeast Delhi over the Citizenship Amendment Act.

The division bench of Justices G S Sistani and A J Bhambhani adjourned the matter for further hearing on Wednesday.

A human rights activist had sought action against individuals inciting people and making hate speeches which has sparked violence in various areas of north east Delhi.

Plaintiff sought a direction to the Centre for deployment of the Army to maintain law and order in parts of Delhi in the grip of communal frenzy.He requested setting up an Special Investigation Team to inquire into the fracas and compensation for those killed and injured in the violence.

Seven persons, including a Delhi Police Head Constable, were killed in unrest that broke out in north east Delhi on Monday over the Citizenship Amendment Act, which is perceived as anti-Muslim.

UNI XC RP1651
China has sentenced Swedish book publisher Gui Minhai to 10 years in prison on charges of illegally providing intelligence abroad, and claimed him as a citizen, prompting Stockholm to call for his release in a case that has rattled diplomatic relations. Gui, one of five Hong Kong-based booksellers known for publishing salacious titles about China's political leaders, was snatched by authorities while on a train to Beijing in February 2018, the second time he disappeared into mainland custody. A court in the eastern city of Ningbo said Chinese-born Gui was sentenced Monday to 10 years in jail, and claimed he had also voluntarily reinstated his Chinese citizenship in 2018. Since Beijing does not recognise dual citizenship, "China, according to law, only recognises him as a Chinese citizen", foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Tuesday. But Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde on Tuesday said in a statement to AFP that Stockholm continues to call for Gui's release and "demand access to our citizen to give him the consular support he has the right to". The Swedish foreign ministry told AFP that citizenship can "only be renounced after an examination and a decision by the Swedish Migration Agency" and that Gui remained a citizen. Later Tuesday, the ministry summoned China's ambassador and "reiterated our demands that Gui Minhai be released," spokesman Johan Ndisi told AFP. - 'He just published some books' - Gui first vanished in 2015 while on holiday in Thailand and eventually surfaced at an undisclosed location in China, confessing to involvement in a fatal traffic accident and smuggling illegal books. He served two years in prison, but a few months after his October 2017 release, he was again arrested -- while on a train to Beijing accompanied by Swedish diplomats. His supporters and family claim his detention is part of a political repression campaign. "He hasn't done anything wrong, he just published some books," said Lam Wing-kee, another Hong Kong bookseller previously detained by Chinese authorities. "Obviously (it) is meant as a warning to those who oppose China." The Ningbo court also sentenced Gui to five years of "deprivation of political rights" -- which in practice means he cannot lead state-owned enterprises or hold positions in state organs. Zhao said Gui's alleged crime "seriously damages China's national security and interests". "China resolutely opposes any country, any organisation, and anyone's using any form to interfere in China's internal affairs and judicial sovereignty," he said. - Rights prize - A video released by China three weeks after Gui's disappearance showed him purportedly confessing wrongdoing and blaming Sweden for "sensationalising" his case and "instigating" law-breaking behaviour. Gui's friend, dissident poet Bei Ling, said at the time that Gui's confession was likely made under coercion. Chinese criminal suspects often appear in videotaped "confessions" that rights groups say sometimes bear the hallmarks of official arm-twisting. The Ningbo court's decision to highlight Gui's citizenship was "obviously politically motivated" and intended to stop Sweden from assisting him, Amnesty International researcher Patrick Poon told AFP. Gui's detention has put a strain on relations between Sweden and China in recent years, with Stockholm repeatedly calling for his release. China called off two business delegation visits to Sweden after Culture Minister Amanda Lind defied a Chinese threat of "counter-measures" and presented a rights prize to Gui in November. Sweden's former envoy to China, Anna Lindstedt, is being investigated for allegedly overstepping her duties by arranging an unauthorised meeting between Gui's daughter and Chinese businessmen in an effort to get Gui freed. Yang Hengjun, a Chinese-born Australian writer known for his series of spy novels, has also been detained in China since January 2019 and was recently charged with spying. He reportedly once worked in China's foreign ministry in Hainan province -- although this has been denied by Beijing.
In order to address regional development challenges, the World Bank said it spent $580 million in the three phases of its Africa Centre of Excellence (ACE) projects.

The projects cuts across 22 centres in West and Central Africa countries.

The Education and Capacity Specialist of the World Bank, Ekua Benti, said this at the 16th African Higher Education Centre of Excellence workshop in Abuja on Tuesday.

The ACE Project was instituted in 2013 by the governments of Burkina Faso, Republic of Benin, Ghana, Cameroun, Nigeria, Togo and Senegal, with support from the World Bank.

However, the scope has been widened to accommodate 54 ACE spots hosted in 22 centres across 12 countries. They include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Cote dIvoire, Djibouti, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Niger, Senegal, Togo and Nigeria.

The project was initiated to promote regional specialisation amongst universities in the participating countries within the West and Central African sub-regions, to address common regional development challenges and strengthen their capacities to deliver high-quality training and applied research.

It is aimed at addressing common regional development challenges and strengthening capacities to deliver high-quality training and applied research.

Ms Benti said the projects focused mostly on Masters and PhD students with some support for undergraduate students for specific centres.

We have three different phases of ACE- Ace 1 for West and Central Africa which started in 2014 and it is closing in March 2020. We have ACE 2 for East and Southern Africa which started in 2016 and the third phase was launched in 2019.

In overall, we have spent more than $580 million. World Bank sees human development as a key thing for Africas sustenance, she said.

According to her, in 2030, we are going to have an explosion of the youth and if we do not start investing in our human capital then Africa is going to suffer in the end.

We are investing to make sure there is quality in education, quality faculties, quality in terms of the facilities the student has and quality in the research that is being done in Africa universities. When we started, we had challenges but the centres have been very committed and we have seen a lot of results, she said.

One of the centres at the Redeemer University was able to develop a tool for identifying and diagnosing Ebola virus which helped Nigeria, she added

She also said the researches done must have an impact and focus on sexual harassment policy. She said opportunities will be created for more female students into the project.

We want the centres to bring more female students, recruit them and retain them. We have centres that focus on mining water, energy, ICT, water, coastal resilience and environment.

She said over 2000 PhD students and 9000 Masters students have benefitted from this programme.

Education ministry

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono, said the project had continued to encourage the internalisation of students in the country with the enrolment of regional students.

Mr Echono said that the federal government had allowed all Nigerian universities to participate in the ACE projects which shows that the present administration was key to the research development of the country.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Abubakar Rasheed, said the project was aimed at addressing common regional development challenges and strengthening their capacities to deliver high-quality training and applied research.

Mr Rasheed said the objective of the project was also to meet the labour market demands for skills within specific areas where there are skill gaps that affect development, economic growth and poverty reduction.

He said that the ACE1 Project in Nigeria had recorded a number of successes in the last five years.

He said the project has increased enrolment of regional students from West and Central African countries into the Nigerian University System and developed the anti-snake venom vaccine known as COVIP-Plus.
The Tanaiste has said that the coronavirus and ongoing Brexit negotiations add further urgency to forming a government in Ireland.

Simon Coveney was speaking in Brussels ahead of the special EU Council summit.

Mr Coveney warned Brexit will dominate Irish politics for the foreseeable future.

I think it will because the future relationship with the UK is something that is going to fundamentally impact on the health of the Irish economy, its growth rates and how goods come and go in and out of our markets which is based on exports with the rest of the EU, but also with the rest of the world, he said.

So, of course if we could have a government in place following on from the general election recognising the mandates that all parties have that would be great, but Im afraid its not as simple as that, if it was we would making more progress on it.

 Ahead of the Council today, good to touch base with @simoncoveney, @HMcEntee and team. We will keep a very close eye on the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement - this will be key for building a solid future partnership with the #UK. pic.twitter.com/8zqaLbYHWI  Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) February 25, 2020

I think its going to take some more time to deal with the new realities of Irish politics which is that the political landscape is quite fractured, and certainly Fine Gael will try to be be constructive in terms of how we move forward.

In many ways the meetings that Helen (McEntee) and I are having today are a reminder of why its important for a new government to be formed soon.

His comments come ahead of a meeting between the leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail later on Tuesday.

It is the first time Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin will hold talks since the general election.

Today we had the first of a set of exploratory talks, starting with Sinn Fein. Mostly overview, tomorrow we'll be getting into the nitty gritty policy debates. We'll meet other parties later in the week. (Not just me and @pippa_hackett btw! ) pic.twitter.com/dohWhtdb56  Neasa Hourigan TD (@neasa_neasa) February 24, 2020

On Monday, Mr Varadkar described the meeting as exploratory discussions, adding that his party is still preparing to go into opposition.

The Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has also scheduled talks with Sinn Fein following on from discussions with the party on Monday.

Meanwhile Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said the partys rallies are to continue the conversation with people.

On Monday the party held their first in a series of meetings to rally support for Sinn Feins efforts to get into government.

Between 800 and 1,000 people attended the meeting in Cork.

Over the next fortnight, further meetings are planned for Dublin, Galway, Cavan and Newry.

I am very conscience that election day came and went but the issues didnt come and go, she said.

We still have a housing crisis, we still have huge difficulties in our health services, people are still under real pressure.

I dont believe that you have the election and then politicians retreat behind high walls and have a private discussion.

I think its really important that you come out, that you set out your stall for people, that you report on progress and also that you take questions and you answer them and you listen to peoples ideas.

Faith has been fractured in politics.

A lot of people are very cynical about the entire political process, thats negative, thats a bad thing and I want us to rebuild confidence and hope and that sense of connectedness between people and the political system, and between people and their government.

Ms McDonald added that Sinn Fein has been elected on a mandate of change.

People have told me that  people told me they voted for Sinn Fein because they wanted a new government, she added.

They dont want Fianna Fail and Fine Gael back in government, they want a new approach to government, they want the priorities of ordinary working people to be put front and centre.

They want a government of change, so I want to continue that conversation with people around that government for change, and I have said to people my job as a political leader is to do everything that I can to ensure that government comes to be.

This is for me a priority as the leader of the party, that we consistently engage with people and that people have every opportunity to be connected and involved in politics and in the processes that make critical decisions that affect their live.

I think thats real democracy in action.

Ms McDonald said they are continuing their talks with the Greens, Social Democrats and Solidarity-People Before Profit this week

We are knuckling down beyond generalities and into specific policy areas and proposals, she added.

I think its important everyone talks to each other and people are grown up and mature and they dont adopt an attitude that would seek to set aside the mandate of Sinn Fein.
Senior Pastor Adewale Giwa of Awaiting The Second Coming Of Jesus Christ Ministry released a three-page letter to the President of the...





Senior Pastor Adewale Giwa of Awaiting The Second Coming Of Jesus Christ Ministry released a three-page letter to the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, asking him to save Nigeria from President Muhammadu Buhari and Boko Haram.





The open letter is a response to the Boko Haram rehabilitation agency bill being sponsored at the National Assembly. The pastor alleged that Boko Haram has enriched some people by the millions paid by the Nigerian government as ransom.





He added that it is no longer news that terrorism has become a lucrative business under the leadership of Buhari, as according to him repentant Boko Haram members are being treated like kings by the federal government.





These terrorist members are being tagged Repentant Boko Haram Members, and the Federal Government is now treating them like kings, he said.

I want to first commend Mr. President for fulfilling the promises he made to the great people of America. I could recall that Your Excellency promised to protect the citizens of this country during the election campaigns, and you are doing just that. Not only this, the economy of this great nation under your leadership has improved tremendously.





I had served both the United States Department and the United Nations as a foreign journalist, and I can boldly describe President Trump as a God-fearing politician. It is important to add my voice to the security challenges currently facing Nigeria, the most populous among African nations.





Having said this, the good people of Nigeria, especially Christians have continued to pray for Gods intervention against terrorism in Nigeria, but it seems that the more we pray the more the activities of the deadly group, known as Boko Haram persist due to inability of the government under President Muhammadu Buhari to do the needful.





Sir, Nigeria has been ravaged by terrorist activities which has made the country unsafe for Nigerians and foreigners. Founded by late Mohammed Yusuf in 2002, the terrorist group was later hijacked by one Abubakar Shekau in 2009. When the group first formed, its actions were nonviolent. Their main goal was to purify Islam in Northern Nigeria.





In 2015, the group aligned with the Islamic State of Iraq. Boko Haram has since killed thousands of people in Nigeria, and the group continues to kill on a daily basis. Instead of President Buhari to use proactive measures to defeat the deadly group, rather, his administration continues to negotiate with Boko Haram.





Boko Haram is enriching itself via the millions of dollars thus far paid to it by the Nigerian government in the form of ransom payments. It is no longer news that terrorism has become a lucrative business under the leadership of Mr. Buhari. The approach of the Nigerian government in handling the issue of Boko Haram with levity has further given the group power to continue with its nefarious activities, Giwas letter made available to DAILY POST on Tuesday read.





He said that Nigerians were now living in fear of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups like ISIS, the Taliban, AI- Qaeda and Miyetti Allah, known as Herdsmen.





Presently, the Nigerian Senate under the leadership of President Buharis Political Party, APC, is proposing to establish an agency that could further take good care of them. A few weeks into the new year, precisely on January 19, the Islamic group released a video of a child who looked to be around 10 years old executing a Christian man in Borno, Nigeria. As if it was not enough, a few days later, on January 22, a Nigerian Pastor, Rev. Lawan Andimi, was beheaded by Boko Haram Militants.





Boko Haram has split into two main factions. One faction remains aligned with Abubakar Shekau and appears to be centered in the Sambisa forest near Maiduguri, Borno States regional capital, and extends into Cameroon.





The other, often referred to as the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, was until recently commanded by Mohammed Yusufs son, Abu Musab al-Barnawi and officially sanctioned by the Islamic State.





ISWAP reportedly commands up to 5,000 fighters, three times that of Shekaus faction, and its operations are centered around Lake Chad. The evidence suggests that Boko Haram has recently focused more of its attacks on state targets. In 2015, three-quarters of Boko Haram attacks targeted civilians, according to data from the Nigeria Security Tracker.





Today, Boko Haram appears to be on the rise again as it continues to kill the innocent Nigerians consistently. The groups resilience, in particular the effectiveness of its attacks against security forces, has taken a toll on morale and rattled the Nigerian government. In 2018, Boko Haram killed 459 members of Nigerias state security forces, exceeding its previous total of 450 in 2014. Through November 2019, it caused more than 750 state casualties.





Between January and February 23 this year, Boko Haram has killed more than 200 people in the Northeast of Nigeria. In the past five years, more than five thousand Nigerian Christians have been killed for their faith. There is another extremist group operating across the states in Nigeria that is just as deadly as Boko Haram. Every day, hundreds of Nigerian Christians are being assaulted, tortured and killed by Fulani extremists.





One could have thought that President Buhari, being a former General in the army could be able to defeat these groups, but all he keeps promising Nigeria is to exercise patience while Boko Haram continues to kill the people of Nigeria. February 19 this year makes Leah Sharibu two years in Boko Haram captivity. The 16-year old girl was abducted, along with 109 others by Boko Haram in February 2018.





Leah Sharibu was attending class with her colleagues at the Government Girls Science and Technical School in Dapchi, Yobe State, Nigeria when the Islamic terrorists stormed the place and whisked them away. In the process, five of the girls died. 105 students were taken away, including Leah. After paying the ransom, the group released 104 students while Leah remains captive. She is being held captive for refusing to renounce her Christian faith in exchange for freedom.





The Scripture says in Proverbs 17:13 that, Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house,. President Buharis government is rewarding evil for good and the group continues to kill innocent Nigerians.





Mr. President, it is now glaring that Nigerias situation has gone beyond prayers, but all we need now is to cry out for help since our government has failed us. It is evident that Boko Haram has overpowered Buhari and his security personnel. We can no longer fold our arms and watch our people being killed. The deadly group has grown wings under the administration of Mr. Buhari.





The citizens of Nigeria can no longer sleep with their eyes closed. This development has informed some regions in Nigeria to establish their security outfits, yet the situation is getting out of hand.





Sir, I write to beg you on behalf of the good people of Nigeria to save us from these terrorist groups. America remains a great nation to solicit help from in this difficult situation that we are experiencing in Nigeria. I hope that Your Excellency will do everything possible to rescue the good citizens of Nigeria from Boko Haram and other terrorist groups that have taken over Nigeria, he wrote.




Convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein is scared of spending the rest of his life in prison because his two young children rely on him 'on a daily basis' and he is now using a wheelchair instead of his walker following his New York trial, his lawyer has revealed.

In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com on Tuesday, Weinstein's attorney Donna Rotunno said the 68-year-old would likely not survive years in prison and was frightened about the prospect of dying there after a jury being found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting two women.

Weinstein was convicted 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 is facing a 29-year prison sentence on those two charges.

'He's 68 years old,' Rotunno said. 'Obviously he accepts it, look where he is right now. It's a real - with his health - who knows how many years he could survive in there. Probably not that many.'

The disgraced Hollywood producer dodged spending his first night as a convicted rapist at Rikers Island jail after he was instead taken straight from court via ambulance to Manhattan's Bellevue Hospital to be treated for heart palpitations and high blood pressure.

Rotunno said Weinstein has now been confined to a wheelchair after his infamous walker was taken from him when he was handcuffed and removed from the court room just moments after the verdict was handed down.

'He is in a wheelchair for now. They won't let you take the walker because it could be a weapon,' she said.

'Think about a guy who needs a walker to walk and now you're going to put him in a wheelchair. Think about how he is going to deteriorate.'

Harvey Weinstein's attorney Donna Rotunno said the 68-year-old (pictured arriving in court on Monday) would likely not survive years in prison after a jury being found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting two women

In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com on Tuesday, Weinstein's attorney Donna Rotunno said her client was frightened about the prospect of dying in prison

Rotunno said she had been receiving updates on Weinstein's condition since he was hospitalized and that 'we have no reason to believe he's not fine'.

She refused to comment on his specific health conditions other than to say 'it's not great' and that she wasn't surprised 'given the stress of the situation'.

'Have you heard of HIPAA laws? I'm not getting into Mr Weinstein's health problems. He went to the hospital with chest pains and high blood pressure. That's what we know,' she said.

He is currently being guarded by corrections officers in the hospital's designated prison ward. Weinstein is expected to be transferred to the prison once he is released from hospital. It is not yet clear when that will be.

'He's on a lot of medications so I am just hoping that whatever's going on will get stabilized. That he can at least hold out until we can get some papers filed,' she said.

'We're going to try to get him out on bond pending appeal or pending sentencing.'

The judge said following the verdict that he would ask that Weinstein, who had 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.

Rotunno denied claims Weinstein was faking his illnesses to avoid spending time in the notorious Rikers Island jail.

'Absolutely not. Think about the stress you would be under if this is what your life looks like now. Think about your freedom being removed,' she said.

'The thought of his two young children who rely on him on a daily basis. This is not a joke... this is real life.'

The disgraced Hollywood producer was being taken from Manhattan's criminal court to Rikers Island prison via ambulance (above) on Monday afternoon when he started suffering from chest pains

A courtroom sketch of Harvey Weinstein (center) being handcuffed by court officers after a jury convicted him of rape and sexual assault on Monday

Rotunno said she had been receiving updates on Weinstein's condition since he was hospitalized and that 'we have no reason to believe he's not fine'

She said Weinstein's life had been effected in 'every possible way' due to the sexual assault charges.

'His oldest daughters don't speak to him. So I mean it's horrific. The ripple effect of someone losing their freedom is beyond what any of us could comprehend.

'He's been seeing the younger kids their whole lives. They live next door to each other, he has a great relationship with his younger children.'

Asked about his relationship with his ex-wife Georgina Chapman, Rotunno said: 'They're divorced but they work well together with the kids.'

She would not comment on Chapman's reaction to the guilty verdict.

Weinstein and Chapman share nine-year-old daughter India and six-year-old son Dashiell. He has three daughters from his previous 20-year marriage to Eve Chilton - Lily, 25; Emma, 22; and Ruth, 17.

Rotunno, who has already said they will appeal Weinstein's conviction, said they will push the judge for the minimum sentence at his scheduled hearing on March 11.

Weinstein 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.

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.

Bellevue Hospital, the medical facility where Weinstein spent his first night as a convicted rapist, has a prison ward and he was under the close watch of corrections officers

Rotunno said Weinstein has now been confined to a wheelchair after his infamous walker was taken from him when he was handcuffed and removed from the court room just moments after the verdict was handed down. A member of Weinstein's publicity team was seen pushing his walker out of the courthouse following his verdict

Rotunno, in her interview with DailyMail.com, slammed the prosecution for submitting graphic, naked photos of her client as evidence for jurors to examine to corroborate Mann's description of his 'deformed or intersex' body.

'Of course it was horrific and it was completely unnecessary. You'll notice none of that was addressed in their closing arguments. It wasn't necessary for them to prove their case, it was not evidence they needed. That was done to shame him and nothing else,' she said.

'We had filed significant motions during the pre-trial process to stop that from happening. It didn't work.'

Rotunno also defended her rigorous cross-examining of the witnesses, which included questions about why they continued speaking to Weinstein after the rape and assault, and decried the fact it had even been criticized.

Many have lauded the victims for agreeing to take the stand and subject themselves to the tough line of questioning they faced.

Rotunno said it was merely part of the process.

'What was it supposed to be? Where'd you think you were going? You're coming to a courtroom to be questioned about what you're saying,' she said.

'Here I am in court asking questions and very respectfully, I was not screaming at anyone, I'm strong but I'm never disrespectful, and I am reading articles that say that my questioning was monstrous. I thought, "wow, where have we come as a society that we don't even have a right to question. And we're in a courtroom".'

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)

Rotunno, in her interview with DailyMail.com, slammed the prosecution for submitting graphic, naked photos of her client as evidence for jurors to examine to corroborate Mann's description of his 'deformed or intersex' body. Jurors are pictured looking at the naked photos in court

She reserved no sympathy for Mann, who he was convicted of raping, saying it was 'difficult' to consider her testimony 'authentic' when she and Weinstein maintained contact for so long afterwards.

'There was a tape played in court where she talks about Harvey and she's laughing and joking and saying she has all the power. It's hard for me to reconcile listening to that in real time, and then watching her (on the stand) and believe that it's authentic,' she said.

Rotunno added that she had 'binders of email' exchanges between Mann and Weinstein that she did not use in court.

Rotunno said she would not comment specifically on whether she thought the trial process was fair until after sentencing, but did say she thought Weinstein had already been made an example of.

'Most criminal defendants don't walk into a courtroom with the flashes of cameras and clicking of keyboards,' she said speaking about the high-profile nature of the trial.

In terms of possible sentences, Rotunno said: 'Mr Weinstein has no background so he should be treated as someone with no background at all. In our system, you should be entitled to the minimum when you have no background especially in a culture now when we look at prison reform and bail reform - the rules are not different for Harvey Weinstein than they are for anyone else.

'We of course are going to stress that he should have nothing more than the minimum.'

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.

Rotunno said Weinstein's legal team had not yet spoken about that case.

'We have not even broached that subject other than making sure they weren't going to come and arrest him,' she said.

His lawyer Donna Rutonno said outside court on Monday that Weinstein took the verdict 'like a man' and that they were 'absolutely appealing' the conviction

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

The verdict on Monday sealed Weinstein's dizzying fall from powerful Hollywood studio boss to archvillain of the #MeToo movement.

Since 2017, more than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct.

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?'

Following the verdict on Monday, Rotunno said outside court that Weinstein had taken 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.'

While his conviction marked the end of his New York trial, it is likely the beginning of a long legal battle in the appeals courts.

At the start of the case in January, Weinstein's legal team objected to which jurors were chosen and what evidence the jury was allowed to hear.

They accused the judge of bias, the prosecutors of withholding evidence, and the media of turning the trial into a circus. They also unsuccessfully tried to boot a juror who wrote a book about young women and predatory older men.

All of these issues offer potential grounds for Weinstein to challenge his conviction. Weinstein's lawyers said he would appeal but it was not immediately clear what approach they would take.

Following his conviction, 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.
The Queensland babysitter charged with the murder of toddler Connor Horan has fronted court.

Lisa Rose Halcrow, 40, appeared in Warwick Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning following her arrest on Monday.

Connor, 2, died at Warwick Hospital after suffering multiple head injuries in August 2018, police say.

Connor Haran (pictured) died at Warwick Hospital after suffering multiple head injuries in August 2018, police say

Lisa Rose Halcrow (pictured), 40, appeared in Warwick Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning following her arrest on Monday

He was in the care of Halcrow at the time of his death and police were initially told Connor had fallen down the stairs.

Halcrow has been charged with one count of murder and one count of grievous bodily harm following an 18-month investigation by police.

The case was adjourned until May 6. She has been remanded in custody.

Connor's death was brought back into the public eye when his family made a plea for anyone with information to come forward.

Two Warwick homes and a car were then turned into crime scenes.

'This was a very tragic incident and our detectives have been committed to finding answers for Connor's family,' Detective Acting Inspector Matt Howard said on Monday following the arrest.

'I'd like to particularly thank the members of the public who assisted the investigative team over recent weeks with valuable information to the case.

'I think there will be a bit of relief for the members of the community in Warwick.'
Battle for control of strategic highway kills dozens of pro-government fighters, Syrian troops and rebels, monitor says.

Turkey-backed opposition fighters have recaptured a town in northwestern Syria after clashes with government-allied fighters.

Turkish state media and a war monitor reported on Monday that rebels seized the town of Nairab, considered a gateway to the strategic town of Saraqeb, which lies close to a junction between two major highways.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the clashes killed dozens of pro-government fighters and Syrian troops as well as opposition fighters on Monday.

With the help of our Turkish friends, we have regained control of the strategic town of Nairab, the gateway of Saraqeb, after expelling the terrorist Russian militias, Yusef Hamoud, spokesman for the Turkey-backed National Army, told Reuters news agency.

Earlier on Monday, the Observatory reported that Russian air attacks killed five civilians in the Jabal al-Zawiya area in the south of Saraqeb.

Russias defence ministry denied the Observatory report.

Syrian state news agency SANA said units of the Syrian army continued to progress in the south of Idlib province after seizing 10 towns and villages south of the M4 highway.

Turkey-backed opposition fighters cover their artillery gun in the town of Sarmin [Omar Haj Kadour/AFP]

Tough battle expected

Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said the governments aim was to wrest back control of stretches of the M4, which links the cities of Aleppo and Latakia.

That would require operations against the towns of Ariha and Jisr al-Shughour, both along the M4.

Analysts expect a tough battle for Jisr al-Shughour, held by the Turkistan Islamic Party whose fighters mainly hail from Chinas Uighur Muslim minority.

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They are allied to Hayet Tahrir al-Sham, a group that dominates the Idlib region.

Last April, Syrian government and allied forces launched a military offensive to capture rebel-held areas in western Aleppo and Idlib provinces. A number of ceasefires failed to hold in the summer and Damascus relaunched its offensive in December.

Since December, fighting in northwestern Syria has forced about 900,000 people to flee their homes and shelter near the Turkish border.

The United Nations said on Monday that the latest fighting was coming dangerously close to the displaced peoples encampments, risking an imminent bloodbath.

Mark Cutts, a UN humanitarian coordinator, 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.

Turkey has already taken in 3.6 million Syrian refugees and has said it is unwilling to open its borders to a new influx from Idlib.

Fearing a fresh refugee crisis, Turkey has poured thousands of troops into Idlib in the last few weeks and President Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to use military force to drive back Syrian forces unless they pull back by the end of the month.

[Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan is aware of the strong resentment in Turkey against Syrian refugees, Haid Haid, a researcher at Chatham House, told AFP news agency.

Thats why it has been framing its military activities in Idlib as a means to prevent more refugees from crossing, he said.

The [political] cost will likely be high for him if he loses many soldiers in Syria and still fails to stop refugees from crossing to Turkey. But he might be able to gain from the crisis if the outcome of his intervention is positive.

This month, as many as 16 Turkish military personnel have been killed by Syrian forces in northwestern Syria and several Turkish military observation posts  which Ankara thought were safe under deals with Russia, a key Damascus ally  ended up being surrounded in areas retaken by government forces.

No agreement on summit

Erdogan said a Russian delegation would arrive in Ankara on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Idlib.

We try to determine our road map by negotiating with Russia at the highest level, he told reporters on Tuesday.

Erdogan also said he might meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on March 5 at a proposed summit with France and Germany but that there is no full agreement yet between [French President Emmanuel] Macron, [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel and Putin.

Macron and Merkel have urged Putin to end the conflict, concerned about the humanitarian situation.

A Turkish offensive against Syrian government forces is still a possibility if political negotiations between Ankara and Moscow prove fruitless, Haid said.

Allowing Assad to capture Idlib will not only hurt Erdogan domestically, it will likely damage Turkeys reputation and its ability to project power.

For Haid, such a confrontation would not necessarily spell the end of the Turkish-Russian alliance given the burgeoning ties between the two countries in recent years especially in the fields of energy and defence.

The current alliance between Turkey and Russia is broader than Syria, he said.

That is why neither of them is willing, at least for now, to destroy it. Idlib is important for Turkey but it is still not considered a deal-breaker.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : On the second day of reopening of schools in Kashmir after a break of over six months, the netizens continue to respond enthusiastically.

A Twitter user shared the post of kids going to school with the caption, "Schools reopen in Valley, students happy to return to classrooms." The shared post showed students walking towards their respective schools to attend their classes.

Similar photos of the school going children surfaced on the internet, and Twitterati flooded the social media with their reactions.

A user wrote, "Look their faces, glowing in joy." Another wrote, "Wow...How cute these kids are...I pray these flowers will keep smiling always...." A post read, " Today the schools re-open in #Kashmir. It's always a special day after long winter vacation. That feel of your school blazer, hugging your friends, smiles shared with teachers, sitting on your bench.. You realise that you are back in family. I pray this whole year remains special." "Wow! They deserve much more peace and prosperity. Innocents should not suffer at all. They should get healthy atmosphere and good education for doing great for our country as well as the whole world," a user remarked.

For the last six months, most students in Kashmir have been missing school after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5.

The government opened the schools in a phased manner days after the revocation of Article 370, but the move proved a non starter as most students did not attend school. And then, the customary three month winter break were also announced, thus aggregating the break to six months.
BOSTON, Feb. 25, 2020, the leading provider of innovation and intellectual property management solutions, today announced that the Office of Naval Research (ONR) has selected Anaqua's AQX platform for managing its global patent and trademark portfolio.

ONR is responsible for coordinating, executing and promoting science and technology programs for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. For over seventy years, ONR has invested in research that increases fundamental knowledge, fosters opportunities through breakthroughs, and provides technology options for future naval capabilities and systems. The organization's diverse IP portfolio contains several thousand patents with notable inventions focusing on radar, communication, imaging, and navigational systems.

ONR has maintained operations of the intellectual property docketing system requirements for the Department of Navy (DON) Office of General Counsel (OGC) attorneys and support staff. DON's requirements for IP docketing and agreement tracking have evolved over the years and with them, the need for an IP software solution with greater functionality. ONR selected Anaqua's AQX platform to streamline its IP management processes for patent and trademark docketing and agreement tracking. With AQX, ONR can leverage modules and tools for collaboration and workflow, drafting and filing, and portfolio management and licensing. The organization will also leverage Anaqua's Financial Management solution to support the IP team's full spend lifecycle.

"The Office of Naval Research has been a pioneer in the public support of science and technology research that benefits both the naval services and the nation with accelerating technology maturation," said Bob Romeo, CEO of Anaqua. "They have a legacy in innovation and our modern AQX platform will help IP portfolio managers at ONR ensure they maximize the effectiveness of their IP assets."

About Anaqua

Anaqua is a premium provider of integrated, end-to-end innovation and intellectual property.

About the Office of Naval Research

The Department of the Navy's Office of Naval Research provides the science and technology necessary to maintain the Navy and Marine Corps' technological advantage. Through its network of Research Labs and other affiliates, ONR is a leader in science and technology with engagement in 50 states, 55 countries, 634 institutions of higher learning and nonprofit institutions, and more than 960 industry partners. ONR, through its commands, including headquarters, ONR Global and the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., employs more than 3,800 people, comprising uniformed, civilian and contract personnel. To find out more about ONR, please visit onr.navy.mil.

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President Donald Trump has denied that Russia or any country interfered to help his election campaign, as he once again tore into Rep. Adam Schiff and accused him of leaking information about a classified security briefing.

Asked during a press conference in India whether he was briefed that Russia was acting to support him as well as Democratic primary contender Bernie Sanders, Trump responded: 'Nobody ever told me that.'

'I want no help from any country and I haven't been given any help from any country,' said Trump.

'I want no help from any country and I haven't been given any help from any country,' said Trump, when asked about Russian election interference

The U.S. intelligence community and the Mueller report concluded Russia hacked Democratic emails in the 2016 as part of an effort to boost Trump and sow discord in U.S. politics.

Trump wouldn't say directly whether he believed assessments that Russia wants to interfere in the 2020 elections, following explosive reporting that a top administration intelligence staffer briefed lawmakers that it did.

He accused House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) of leaking the information that led to a New York Times report, although he didn't provide evidence to back up his suspicion.

'Schiff leaked it in my opinion. He shouldnt be leaking things like that. Thats a terrible thing to do,' Trump said.

'If they don't stop it, I can't imagine that people won't go after them,' he added. Schiff has denied the charge, and tweeted over the weekend after Trump leveled similar accusations. 'Nice deflection, Mr. President. But your false claims fool no one. You welcomed Russian help in 2016, tried to coerce Ukraines help in 2019, and wont protect our elections in 2020. Now you fired your intel chief for briefing Congress about it. Youve betrayed America. Again,' Schiff tweeted.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) shakes ands with US President Donald J. Trump (L) after addressing the media after a meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, 25 February 2020. US President Trump is on a two-day state visit to India

Trump has long cast doubts on evidence Russia interfered in the 2016 elections, and said he hasn't been told they are interfering in 2020

Trump accused Adam Schiff of leaking information on a classified briefing

Trump also denied that he pushed out acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire over the briefing conducted by his subordinate.

'Not at all. He was pushed out because frankly if he wasn't pushed out, he would have had to get out,' Trump said, noting the clock was ticking on Maguire's acting capacity.

Trump also indicated his post-impeachment purge isn't over. 'We want to have people that are good for the country, are loyal to our country because that was a disgraceful situation,' he said.

Trump drew fire last year when ABC's George Stephanopoulos asked if he would accept help from a foreign country. 'I think you might want to listen, there isn't anything wrong with listening,' Trump said. Trump was acquitted on an impeachment article of abuse of power over pushy by Trump and his allies to get Ukraine to investigate the Bidens.
WATERTOWN, N.Y. -- Two 15-year-old girls are now accused of intentionally setting fire to a house three days after Christmas, Watertown police said Monday.

Police charged the girls with third-degree arson, a felony. They arrested one of the teens on Thursday and the other on Monday.

The girls, whose names were not released, are accused of intentionally damaging the duplex by starting a fire inside, Watertown Police Detective Sgt. Joseph A. Giaquinto said in a news release. They were both sent to Jefferson County Family Court for arraignment.

After the fire Dec. 28, News Channel 7 reported a neighbor had called in the fire after seeing an fiery orange glow and smoke." No one was injured. Firefighters rescued pets inside an apartment in the duplex, the television station reported.

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ITHACA, N.Y. - New research from an interdisciplinary Cornell team has found that as little as 10 minutes in a natural setting can help college students feel happier and lessen the effects of both physical and mental stress.

The research, published Jan. 14 in Frontiers in Psychology, is part of a larger examination of "nature therapy" and aims to provide an easily-achievable dosage that physicians can prescribe as a preventive measure against high levels of stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues college students face.

"It doesn't take much time for the positive benefits to kick in -- we're talking 10 minutes outside in a space with nature," said lead author Gen Meredith, associate director of the Master of Public Health Program and lecturer at the College of Veterinary Medicine. "We firmly believe that every student, no matter what subject or how high their workload, has that much discretionary time each day, or at least a few times per week."

Meredith and her co-authors reviewed studies that examined the effects of nature on people of college age (no younger than 15, no older than 30) to discover how much time students should be spending outside and what they should be doing while they're there. They found that 10-50 minutes in natural spaces was the most effective to improve mood, focus and physiological markers like blood pressure and heart rate.

"It's not that there's a decline after 50 minutes, but rather that the physiological and self-reported psychological benefits tend to plateau after that," said co-author Donald Rakow, associate professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science.

To enjoy the positive effects of being outside, students need only to be sitting or walking, the two primary activities the researchers examined in an effort to provide accessible recommendations.

"We wanted to keep this access to nature as simple and achievable as possible," says Rakow. "While there is a lot of literature on longer outdoor programs, we wanted to quantify doses in minutes, not days."

For Cornell students, there are a multitude of options for escaping into nature. For urban universities, research suggests that adding green elements to a built space can produce the same results. It is the time spent in nature, not necessarily nature itself, that's beneficial.

"This is an opportunity to challenge our thinking around what nature can be," says Meredith. "It is really all around us: trees, a planter with flowers, a grassy quad or a wooded area."

The impetus for this work is a movement toward prescribing time in nature as a way to prevent or improve stress and anxiety, while also supporting physical and mental health outcomes. The researchers wanted to consider what "dose" would need to be prescribed to college-age students to show an effect. They are hoping that when it's applied at universities, it becomes part of a student's routine and is consumed in regular doses, like a pill.

"Prescribing a dose can legitimize the physician's recommendation and give a tangible goal" says Meredith. "It's different than just saying: 'Go outside.' There is something specific that a student can aim for."

###

Meredith and Rakow's co-authors include Erin Eldermire, head librarian at the Flower-Sprecher Veterinary Library; Cecelia Madsen '12, M.P.H. '19; Steven Shelley, M.P.H. '19, epidemiologist at the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention; and Naomi Sachs, assistant professor at the University of Maryland.
She picked up almost every trophy going this awards season, but Renee Zellweger revealed away from the spotlight her mind was firmly on one thing: her sick dog.

The actress, 50, who bagged an Oscar, a BAFTA and a Golden Globe for her breathtaking portrayal of Judy Garland in Judy, explained that one of her two dogs was unwell while she was jetting between events, leaving her full of concern every time she was away.

'We see her play or in public win statuettes and smile and we forget that there is a woman behind, who worries about her dog,' she said in an interview with French newspaper Le Parisien earlier this month.

Renee Zellweger, 50, who bagged an Oscar, a BAFTA and a Golden Globe, explained that one of her two dogs was unwell while she was jetting between events, leaving her full of concern every time she was away. Pictured, at the Vanity Fair Oscars party last month

The actress is thought to live in Los Angeles with two dogs, one of which is called Charlotte. It is not known whether it was Charlotte or the other dog who was sick. Pictured walking her dog Charlotte in Los Angeles in March 2011

Zellweger won an Oscar, a Bafta and a Golden Globes for Best Actress for her performance in Judy (pictured as Judy Garland in the movie)

Speaking shortly before the Oscars on 9 February, she explained she was juggling her red carpet appearances with trips back to see her dog in hospital.

The actress is thought to live in Los Angeles with two dogs, one of which is called Charlotte. It is not known whether it was Charlotte or the other dog who was sick.

She told Le Parisien: My dog is hospitalized, I try to go see him as much as possible, I focus on it.

'I know, it's always weird to hear this kind of thing: we appreciate an actress, we see her play or in public win statuettes and smile and, it's normal, by the way, we forget that there is a woman behind, who worries about her dog!

'Be careful, I'm not saying that I don't appreciate what is happening to me: playing Judy, celebrating the success of the film and my awards with my friends, I love all of that, but there is always this concern in me: who will take care of the dog while I'm at the Golden Globes or the Oscars.'

The actress explained dogs brought 'normalcy' to her life, and that they kept her focused on what was trully valuable (pictured with Charlotte in Los Angeles in 2011)

In a 2019 interview with People Magazine, Zellweger explained her dogs kept her grounded and brought a sense of 'normalcy' to her life.

The star has owned several dogs throughout the years, including a Golden Retriever Dylan that she brought to a post-premiere party for Deceiver in New York in 1998.

The actress marked a triumphant return to the silver screen with her Oscar win, which she dedicated to Judy Garland, saying 'this is very much for you.'

Garland herself died aged 47 of a drug overdose after being shunned by Hollywood.

Zellweger said she felt Hollywood had 'turned its back' on the Wizard of Oz actress after she contributed so much to the golden age of cinema, but added things were different for mature actresses.

She explained returning to Hollywood after a six-year break had not been difficult.

Zellweger is a famous dog-lover who even once Brought her Golden Retriever Dylan to a post -premiere party in New York in 1998 (pictured)

'I was lucky, I didn't have to make the decision to come back to the market, because I was sent the script for Bridget Jones Baby, it was easy,' she said.

Since then, she has starred in several project, including Here and Now, What If and Judy, which earned her 40 best actress nominations across the festival circuit and movie awards, and 22 wins.

The actress, who won her first Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress in 2004 for her role in Cold Mountain, said she felt that with the rise of streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon, the movie making market was more opened and that more diverse and great roles were available for actresses over forty and fifty.
Most of us know Anna Daly as the bright and bubbly face of Weekend AM, the Virgin Media morning show she co-hosts with Simon Delaney.

So when she arrived for our shoot to discover her usual beachy waves would be swapped for super-straight hair, accompanied by bold make-up and designer clothes, she found herself in unfamiliar territory. "It was very sleek and chic," she laughs, "I would never do luminous orange lips, but it's fun, and it's nice to be pushed out of your comfort zone."

Anna (42) isn't afraid to step outside of her comfort zone - she just needs a little nudge sometimes. It was her husband of 10 years, businessman Ben Ward, who prodded her to reconsider screen work after she initially shot down the idea. She started at TV3 (now Virgin Media) in the sales department, and was promoted to marketing manager two years later, at which point a producer suggested she take a screen test. "I was like, 'God, not a hope'. I told my boyfriend that evening and he said, 'Why would you be so black and white about that?' I was afraid of making a fool of myself, and he said, 'If you don't take a chance, you'll never know. You could be 20 years down the line and go, 'Why did I not do that?' Sometimes you need a bit of a kick up the arse to tell you to do it," she says.

Anna didn't run straight back to the producers, however. Instead, she signed up for a night course in television producing, directing and presenting at the Bill Keating Centre in Milltown. "That's a real me thing to do: I'll go and research it properly and then go back to them. It was in my own time with my own money, and I'd be driving to it after work and be really excited by it. About halfway through, I was like, 'This is for me, I really want to do this now'," she recalls.

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Following a string of screen tests, Anna was offered a reporting role on Ireland AM, where she worked her way up from weather reports to covering the stories of the day, as well as filling in for co-anchor Sinead Desmond. "It was around the time I was covering for her that I thought, I want to do this, I want to do more," says Anna. "Sinead was very much the anchor and that was it, so I knew I needed to create something else. I pitched the idea of a Saturday morning show, and they liked the idea, but they said it's too expensive.

"A year later, they came back and said, 'We will do that show, but we're going to do it on Sundays as well.' I always say, it's a case of be careful what you wish for! But any ambitious person isn't going to say, 'I'll just have one of them', of course you're going to do both."

She adds: "It was a gamble, because there was nothing in the schedule to give us any kind of an audience inheritance, so you were starting from scratch. Now it's three years old, and we're thrilled."

Anna's working week at Virgin Media runs from Thursday to Sunday. We speak on a Friday, when she's between meetings and filming items that will be slotted into the live shows. She's wearing what she calls her "mum on the run uniform": an oversized jumper, skinny jeans, ankle boots and a ponytail. "When you do a job like mine, you spend a lot of time in heels and you're in 'wardrobe', with your hair and make-up done, so when you're not, it's really nice to just be a bit slouchy and not worry too much about that," she explains.

Anna has become a bit of a style sensation - so many people were emailing the show asking for details about her on-screen outfits that she decided to start posting them on Instagram. "That really surprised me, to be honest. There was a big response to what I was wearing, and I thought it was a very efficient way to tell people what you're wearing, but also I enjoy it," says Anna, who now has over 24,000 Instagram followers. Why do people like what she wears so much? "I think my style is relatable, it's real and it's affordable. I think people know that I have three little children and my life is busy," says Anna, referring to James (7), Euan (5) and Rhys (2). "I don't have a ton of time to be trawling shops and I don't have my own personal stylist. I'm running in and out of Topshop, Zara or River Island, or going online to Littlewoods and picking stuff myself. It won't work every time, but hopefully nine times out of 10 it all comes together and looks OK."

On Saturdays and Sundays, Anna leaves her home in Delgany, Co Wicklow, at 6.45am to get to work for a 7.30am start. "It sounds early, but I spent five years on the weekday show. That goes to air at 7am, so you're in for about 5.30am - that's early. This is way more feasible from my point of view," she explains. "I get home at lunchtime, and that's when the real work starts. My husband works all week and then he has the kids on Saturday and Sunday morning. We're like a tag-team, as so many parents of young children are - I come home and let him go clear his head for a while and I take over with the kids. That's proper work, that's why I really take my hat off to women who are with the kids all week, because I think it's the hardest gig in the world."

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Anna, who grew up in Terenure, says her own mother left work when she and her younger brother David were born, and returned when they were old enough to walk to school. "She was a working mother, but I would also describe her as someone who was around a lot when we were young. She got the balance right," Anna recalls.

"I'm around Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to do all the school runs and the homework, and it's lovely because when I go to work, I feel like I've a handle on things at home. By Thursday, I'm ready for adult company and a workplace where you can finish a cup of coffee."

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Supporting working mothers is an issue Anna is particularly passionate about, and last month, she hosted a Women in Business networking event. "We have females that go through the education system in the same way that men do, and then they go out for maternity leave. It could be their first child or their third, but at some point, the sums don't add up, and they realise that it doesn't make sense for both to go back to work," she says.

"I'm not saying I want everybody to go out to work, but if you want to stay in the workplace, I think there needs to be more encouragement. It shouldn't be a straightforward, 'mum's going to have to give up her career she spent 10-20 years building'. That's why we don't have women at the director level, women are falling out of the workplace because of the childcare costs."

Anna took six months maternity leave with all of her children, and says she was eager to get back to work each time. "I've got friends who dread the thought of their leave ending. I've never felt like that; I was really looking forward to going back to work. I think I'm really lucky to feel like that, to go back to a team that you enjoy and a show that you love."

Of course, three hours of live television must be stressful, but Anna is at pains to reiterate, several times, how happy and lucky she is to have the job she does. She mentions that she is often asked about gender discrimination at work, specifically with respect to equal pay, but she has no complaints. "I'm here on a very fair deal, as far as I'm concerned. I don't go around asking everybody what they earn or shouting what's on my contract, but I've been treated very well, and I've been granted amazing opportunities while I've been working here. I don't even know where the HR department is. But I can only speak for myself," she adds hastily.

Anna is wary of saying anything that could be construed as arrogant, controversial or ungrateful - her answers are often prefaced with what she's not saying, a cautious introduction to the point she wants to make. It's understandable, given so much of her appeal lies in being relatable.

"With three hours of live telly, there's no putting on an act. You have to be yourself. The producers tell us that the parts that rate the highest are when we chat off the cuff about some talking point that's in the papers, and hopefully that's the part the audience will relate to, because that's what they'll be talking about themselves, so you're part of the conversation in their kitchen," she says.

The most difficult elements of the job tend to be the real-life stories of people dealing with illness and loss, and Anna admits that she occasionally finds herself welling up during interviews. "It's harder than ever now. When I started, we did loads of stuff with Temple Street and sick children, and I would be sad of course, but I'd bounce back very quickly. Now, I'm literally a mess for days. Weeks later, I'm thinking of one particular child. I keep seeing that little face," she says. "I'm not saying you can't have empathy when you don't have children, but I do think something changes when you have children and you start to personalise it.

"Simon and I will have a little chat before anything that's serious, and we'll agree that one of us is driving the bus on that item. He knows that if I have a quiet lull halfway through a very emotional interview, he will just start driving the bus - he knows I've got a lump in my throat and I'm trying to move past it. Usually I do get to the end of it, but as soon as we go to the break, I'm kind of cut up by it. And then the producer will go, 'Over to fashion!' and you're like, 'Oh god, I want to have a proper cry'."

Weekend AM might cover domestic violence or a child with severe disabilities in one segment, before moving on to eveningwear or 'lust-after properties' in the next. But Anna believes that mixture of moods is vital to the success of the show. "You can't bring people down and not have some lightness. There needs to be light and shade," she says.

She cites a recent interview with Graham Norton as one of her highlights, and names the Obamas as her dream guests. Donald Trump, however, doesn't make the list. "There wouldn't be that level of excitement if he was to come on the couch. I know it would be interesting to ask him the questions that everyone wants to ask, but it wouldn't inspire me."

While Anna is happy to cover current affairs on the show, it's not what drives her. Her real passion is for talking to people and hearing their stories. "I am looking to develop other ideas. I'd love to do a 'Saturday PM' where you might have a little more licence to be a bit cheekier and push boundaries a bit more," she says.

Earlier this year, Anna launched her website, annadaly.com, to give herself a platform outside of Virgin Media to talk about the things she loves - namely, fashion, travel, interiors and wine. But in an increasingly crowded blogosphere, what makes her site stand out? "You need to be true to yourself. You could have digital companies say that there's a gap in that market and to talk about this, this and this, but there's no point if you're not interested," she says.

"If you want an escape from the madness of parenting or work, that's when I would like people to look at my wine recommendation or outfit of the week. That's the way I would like people to see it, as their escape. Hopefully that's what makes it different."

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Her 'wine of the week' posts certainly set her apart, making her something of an outlier among the clean-living enthusiasts. "I'm no expert on wine but I do a lot of research," she jokes. "There are #FitFam people that I follow on Instagram, and I take lots of inspiration from them, but I'm all about balance. I'm not telling people to get pissed every night of the week, I'm saying drink responsibly. It's nothing reckless, it's just a nice hobby."

Anna studied marketing in college, and started out in marketing at TV3, something I'm reminded of each time she points out that she's not "driving an agenda": she's not gunning to be the next Miriam O'Callaghan or Claire Byrne, she's not trying to use her blog to voice political opinions, she doesn't want to host a property series during a homeless crisis. In spite of this, she's not entirely clear on what her personal brand is, a concept so vital to today's bloggers. "Even having a marketing background, I don't really know what the answer to that question is. I just want to work, to try to get the balance right," she explains.

Balance, for Anna, means days with her kids, a weekend away with Ben, a satisfying work life, lunches with her girlfriends and, crucially, some time on her own doing yoga, not having to worry about anything or anyone else.

"I joined the gym the other day," she says, genuinely excited. "With three children, it is tricky to find time for stuff like that, but I just thought, for my own sense of wellbeing, it's good to have that hour for yourself. You need to have that time for you."

Photography by Daniel Holfeld
The Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) has announced plans to put secured assets of Xuan Kien Auto JSC (Vinaxuki) up for auction...

A car model by automobile manufacturer Vinaxuki.  Photo dantri.com.vn

The Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) has announced plans to put secured assets of Xuan Kien Auto JSC (Vinaxuki) up for auction to recover the VND1.26 trillion (US$55 million) non-performing loan.

The debt was taken up to support Vinaxuki to manufacture Made-in-Vietnam cars and trucks over the past years.

However, Vinaxuki, with its owner Nguyen Xuan Kien, failed to meet an ambition to become the first Made-in-Vietnam car producer, slipping into losses and having to shut down.

The debt has secured assets including a 139 square metre land lot and attached assets in Me Linh Districts Tien Phong Commune, a suburb of Ha Noi, where a Vinaxuki factory is located. Machinery and equipment of the factory are also secured assets of the debt.

In addition, the assets attached to the land of another Vinaxuki factory in the northern province of Thai Nguyen, and the right to exploit Antimony ore mines, and the ore sorting line in Dak Drong commune of the Dak Nong Province are also pledged for the debt.

The reserve price of the debt has yet to be disclosed by BIDV, however, as of September 15 last year, the sum of the debt and interest was VND1.26 trillion ($55 million).

According to BIDVs announcement, organisations eligible for bidding at the auction are those operating for a minimum of three years and having at least three branches, with a head office in either Ha Noi or HCM City.

Originating from a factory specialising in manufacturing molds and spare parts for automobiles, in April 2004, Vinaxuki was licensed by the Prime Minister to manufacture and assemble cars of all kinds.

According to the design capacity, Vinaxukis three factories in Thai Nguyen and Thanh Hoa provinces and Ha Nois Me Linh District could produce 30,000 vehicles a year, generating jobs for more than 9,000 locals.

In its first years of operation, Vinaxukis performance was positive as it completely recovered its capital and began repaying debts to the bank.

It produced more than 20 types of trucks with a localisation rate of 27 per cent and three types of passenger cars with a localisation rate of 5 per cent in the in 2006-08 period.

After the period, Vinaxuki continued to invest in construction with the ambition of increasing its localisation rate.

However, the economic downturn in 2010 caused the automobile market to plunge. Thousands of vehicles were assembled but could not be sold.

The company was starved of capital, while the fiercely competitive market went into stagnation. In the following years, Vinaxuki operations revolved around interest and debt repayment.  VNS

KEB Hana Bank becomes BIDVs strategic shareholder South Koreas KEB Hana Bank has officially become a foreign strategic shareholder in the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) following a cooperation agreement with the two sides inked on Monday.
The coronavirus outbreak is creating concern, fear and even panic as it spreads and has the potential to affect many of us personally. How will it impact our property markets?

For the likely answer, we need look no further than what occurred during the biggest viral outbreak Australia has ever experienced, the Spanish flu pandemic of 1919.

This is because the current coronavirus crisis is taking an almost identical course and the similarities are so striking that the effects on our property markets are also likely to be the same again.

THE CURRENT OUTBREAK COMPARED TO THE SPANISH FLU PANDEMIC

The Spanish flu pandemic of 1919 struck our shores under very similar conditions to the present.

Having first spread through Europe in 1918, the pandemic was brought here by soldiers returning home at the end of the First World War and rapidly moved around all our major cities.

The death toll overseas was horrifically high; estimated to be over fifty million, and the local media whipped up fear and hysteria with alarmist headlines. People panicked and grabbed anything that they thought might protect them.

The government acted quickly by quarantining overseas arrivals, including all returning soldiers and nurses. They closed the schools, churches, theatres, restaurants and hotels and cancelled sporting events. Even the Sydney Royal Easter Show was cancelled, and war victory celebrations were postponed. People wore facemasks and those infected were isolated and the worst cases hospitalised.

This caused some economic and social hardship and disruptions, but by the end of 1919 only 15,000 Australian had died from the Spanish flu, even though forty per cent of the Australian population had caught the virus.

Our extremely low mortality rate compared to the rest of the world was because the government had acted quickly, limiting the movement and assembly of people. This in turn delayed the spread of the virus and enabled those who needed intensive hospital care to receive it. The Australian response to the Spanish flu outbreak has since become an internationally accepted model for containing, limiting and ultimately eradicating such pandemics.

HOUSING DEMAND TOTALLY OVERWHELMED THE EFFECTS OF THE FLU

As for the property market, capital city housing prices didnt fall at all, as the graph shows. They actually boomed in 1919 and then continued to rise by more than ten per cent each year until 1921.



Clearly, buyer demand was rising to such an extent that it completely overshadowed the effects of the Spanish flu.

The reason for this growth in housing demand was a huge rise in our population, as the green line in the graph shows. During 1919 our population grew by over 100,000 people, despite the fact that the Spanish flu had taken 15,000. The increase was caused by soldiers returning home after years away during the war who were joined by thousands of refugees and immigrants fleeing a disease and war-ravaged Europe to start new lives in Australia.

HOUSING DEMAND IS ALWAYS LINKED TO POPULATION GROWTH

Our population continued to grow by more than 100,000 each year during the first post war decade and this resulted in severe housing shortages in our biggest cities. Housing prices rose for several years and were followed by rent increases as housing demand grew from those who couldnt afford to buy.

The similarities to the present are obvious  we have one of the highest population growth rates in the western world as the graph shows.

Our current growth rate is similar to the post First World War period and it is driven largely by permanent overseas arrivals who need immediate housing.

Housing investors have nothing to fear for one simple reason  housing demand is closely linked to population growth and our largest capital cities are in a more or less permanent state of housing undersupply. It is far more likely that our population growth rate will rise rather fall from the after-effects of the coronavirus.

AUSTRALIA IS ONCE AGAIN SET TO BECOME THE LUCKY COUNTRY

As a result of its location, abundant natural resources, vibrant culture and positive outlook, Australia is seen as a safe haven during times of international strife or recession and we are set to become the lucky country once again. The Spanish flu experience shows us that our population growth rates are likely to rise rather than fall once the panic is over and borders are opened again.

There are other significant similarities to the Spanish flu outbreak and the current pandemic as well, such as falling interest rates and plunging share prices. In 1919 Investors abandoned savings and shares and flocked to the safe haven of property. There is every indication that they will do the same again.

Taken together, all these indicators suggest that property prices will continue to rise in our major capital cities despite the pandemic, and that they could rise strongly once the coronavirus has become old news.

.................................................



John Lindeman is widely respected as one of Australia's leading property market analysts, authors and commentators.

Visit Lindeman Reports for more information.

He has well over fifteen years experience researching the nature and dynamics of the housing market at major data analysts.

Johns monthly column on housing market research featured in Australian Property Investor Magazine for over five years. He is a regular contributor to Your Investment Property Magazine and other property investment publications and e-newsletters such as Kevin Turners Real Estate Talk, Michael Yardneys Property Update and Alan Kohlers Eureka Report.

John also authored the landmark books for property investors, Mastering the Australian Housing Market, and Unlocking the Property Market, both published by Wileys.



To read more articles by John Lindeman, click here



Disclaimer: while due care is taken, the viewpoints expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Your Investment Property.
PARIS (Reuters) - ECB policymaker Francois Villeroy de Galhau said on Tuesday that there was currently no need for more monetary policy action in the face of the coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking at a sustainable finance conference in Paris, Villeroy said the outbreak would have "negative but temporary consequences" on the economy.

"It is mainly a negative supply-side shock, and this has as a consequence that we shouldn't overstate the adequacy of a monetary policy response," Villeroy, who is also governor of the Bank of France, said.

He added that the French central bank was likely next month to revise slightly downward its forecast of 1.1% for French economic growth in 2020.
A 44-year-old man barged into a 20-year-old womans house at night, sexually assaulted her, and said she was going to wake up beside him.

Donal Quirke, of Beech Walk, Clann Ard, Fermoy, Co Cork, faced sentencing yesterday at Cork Circuit Criminal Court having pleaded guilty to a charge of sexually assaulting the woman at her home, physically assaulting her boyfriend, and trespassing in the house.

Sergeant Christopher Murphy, who investigated the case, testified that the woman was at home with her boyfriend that night and he was upstairs asleep. The woman heard someone at the front door and presumed it was a relative.

She opened the door and Donal Quirke barged in without her consent. He was intoxicated and she asked him to leave. He refused, said Sgt Murphy.

He was asking why was she with her boyfriend and said she could do an awful lot better than him.

Quirke asked to use the bathroom. The woman pretended there were dogs in one of the rooms, hoping this pretence would frighten the defendant.

When he returned from the bathroom, his demeanour had changed, said Sgt Murphy. He became quite aggressive. He pinned her against the wall and said: You are going to wake up beside me in the morning.

He put his hand down the waistband of her pants on to her buttocks and tried to pull down her shorts. She was in fear she was going to be raped. He attempted to kiss her. She ran upstairs and woke her boyfriend.

During an altercation with the womans boyfriend, Quirke said he was going to have sex with her.

The boyfriend threatened to throw Quirke down the stairs if he did not leave the house. They managed to get him out of the house and call gardai.

In her victim impact statement, the woman said that, since the incident on August 10, 2019, she felt unsafe being anywhere alone and that this had placed a burden on her boyfriend and family.

I am too scared to be by myself. I just hope I can go back to not being scared all the time, she said.

The one question I keep asking is why he picked me, why it happened to me.

Paula McCarthy, defending, said Quirke had brought 3,000 to court for the victim, who indicated that she did not want to take it and said it could be sent to Marymount Hospice instead.

Judge Brian OCallaghan urged her to think about this and said it was very benevolent of her to take this attitude. The judge suggested she consider using some of the money for a holiday.

He said she could think about it.

The judge adjourned sentencing of Quirke until April 22 so that a probation report could be prepared.

Imelda Kelly, prosecuting, said the injured party did not want to be identified but there was no issue about identifying Quirke.
Egypt has recently changed the law on mining, with the aim of luring new investors

Egypt will launch its first international tender for gold exploration and other minerals on 15 March, the petroleum ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

The round will run until 15 July, and will offer blocks spanning 56,000 square kilometers in the mineral-rich Eastern Desert.

In January Egypt issued the executive regulations for a new mining law aimed at wooing investors. The new measures limit state royalties to a maximum of 20 percent and eliminate a previous requirement to enter into joint ventures with the Egyptian government.

The four-month bid will be organised under the royalties and tax system, instead of the profit and production-sharing system that was previously applied.

The announcement comes a few weeks after Egypt approved a mining license for Canada-based gold miner Aton Ressources for the first time since Centamin received its mining license in 2005.

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(Bloomberg) -- When the Internet Accountability Project popped up late last year and joined the growing crusade against Big Tech, the nonprofit group refused to say who was financing it.

Turns out, at least one of its benefactors is Oracle Corp.

Oracle donated between $25,000 and $99,999 last year to the internet project, according to a new political-giving report Oracle posted on its website. The group calls itself a conservative nonprofit advocating for tougher privacy rules and stronger antitrust enforcement against the internet giants.

The IAP financing is just one part of an aggressive, and sometimes secretive, battle Oracle has been waging against its biggest rivals, including Amazon.com Inc. and Alphabet Inc.s Google.

Oracle spent years fighting to unseat Amazon as the front-runner for a lucrative Pentagon cloud contract, which was awarded to Microsoft Corp. in October.

The Redwood City, California, company has also been locked in a decade-long legal dispute with Google, claiming the search-engine giant violated Oracle copyrights by including some Java programming code in the Android phone. Oracle acquired Javas developer, Sun Microsystems Inc., in 2010.

Earlier this month, IAP filed an amicus brief supporting Oracles position in the case. IAP said it wants to ensure that Google respects the copyrights of Oracle and other innovators. The U.S. Supreme Court on March 24 will hear oral arguments in the Google v. Oracle America case.

The Trump administration on Feb. 19 also urged the Supreme Court to reject Googles appeal in the case. Its brief appeared the same day that Larry Ellison, Oracles co-founder and chairman, hosted a high-dollar fundraiser at his Rancho Mirage estate for President Donald Trump. The event prompted about 300 Oracle employees to stage a protest the next day. The U.S. had previously supported Oracle as the case wound its way through the courts.

Oracles donations disclosure reveals that it contributed to at least four other groups that filed supportive briefs in the Supreme Court case. Google has also donated money to at least 10 groups that have filed briefs on its behalf in the high court case.

Story continues

Oracle and Amazon didnt immediately respond to requests for comment about the Oracle disclosure. Google declined to comment.

IAP President Mike Davis said in a statement the group doesnt disclose its financial backers but specified that Oracle didnt fund its Supreme Court brief.

The internet project was launched in September by Davis, a former aide to Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, and Rachel Bovard, a former aide to Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. The group aims to lend a conservative voice to the calls for federal and state governments to rein in Big Tech before it is too late, according to its website.

The IAP is a Section 501(c)(4), known as a social-welfare organization. That designation means it isnt required to disclose donors as long as it doesnt spend more than half of its money on campaign advertisements or activities to sway an election.

Among other policies, IAP supports curtailing Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which shields tech companies from liability for content that users post on their platforms. The clause saves tech companies from having to review content before its published online, and then shields them from lawsuits if that content turns out to be problematic.

Earlier: Barr Takes Aim at Legal Shield Enjoyed by Google, Facebook

In interviews and on social media, IAP has supported Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, who has proposed that tech companies lose the legal immunity unless they can prove to the Federal Trade Commission that they treat their content in a politically neutral manner.

Since September, IAP has tweeted at least 11 times about Hawleys legislative efforts against Google and other tech companies. Other IAP tweets highlight instances in which Google-funded groups fought on the internet giants behalf.

Holy smokes you guys, DC is awash in @Google money, Bovard tweeted in September.

Davis, the groups president, wrote last week on Townhall.com that Googles battle with Oracle is the poster child for what we at IAP call the Great 21st Century Internet Heist. He said the company is anathema to conservatives and everything we stand for, without disclosing that his group is funded by Oracle.

Earlier: Its the Kochs vs. the Mercers in the Rights Big Tech Brawl

Oracle claims Google owes it at least $8.8 billion for using the Java code without a license. Google argues it was fair to use parts of the programming language to help Android communicate more easily with other software.

The case has split Silicon Valley by pitting software makers who favor stronger copyright protections against companies that rely on others code to produce new innovations.

Other Campaigns

IAP is far from the only anti-tech group Oracle has funded. It also gave between $25,000 and $99,999 to the Free and Fair Markets Initiative, according to the disclosure.

Free and Fair Markets claims it is a grassroots coalition of businesses and advocacy groups fighting for a better economy. In practice, it has focused more on publicizing negative reports about Amazon. The Wall Street Journal reported that Oracle, Walmart Inc. and the Simon Property Group had financed the group.

For the last two years, Oracle has also waged a multi-front battle against Amazon over the Pentagons Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure, or JEDI, cloud contract. The deal, which could be worth $10 billion over a decade, is designed to transition much of the Pentagons data into one commercially operated cloud system.

For more: Oracles Catz Is Said to Talk Amazon Contract Row With Trump

Amazon was seen as the leading contender because it had already won a major cloud contract with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and had obtained high levels of security clearance. The move to Amazons cloud would have threatened Oracles legacy database business with the Defense Department.

Oracle led a coalition of other tech companies, including Microsoft Corp. and International Business Machines Corp., to oppose the Pentagons decision to award the contract to a sole bidder. In addition to lobbying Congress and the Trump administration, Oracle also filed -- and lost -- challenges through the Government Accountability Office and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Oracle is currently appealing a July ruling that it lacked standing to challenge the contract.

(Updates with comment from IAP in paragraph 11)

--With assistance from Greg Stohr.

To contact the reporters on this story: Naomi Nix in Washington at nnix1@bloomberg.net;Joe Light in Washington at jlight8@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Sara Forden at sforden@bloomberg.net, Paula Dwyer

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

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

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Some people get the opportunity of becoming parents even grandparents early on in life. Like 21-year-old Becca Keeley who is believed to have become Britain's youngest grandmother recently after she married a 56-year-old grandfather.

Keeley met Mark when she was 16 and he was 51. He was performing in a band.

Facebook

The couple, of Gravesend, Kent, got married last year and welcomed their own daughter, Presley, a few months ago.

Becca is also a step-grandmother to Mark's seven-month-old granddaughter Mollie.

Mark has four children 21-year-olds Aaron and Jake, Luke, 16, and Emma, 13, from a previous relationship.

Facebook

Talking to The Sun, she said, Mark said I surely wouldn't want to be called nan but his family are my family.

Mark on his part said, A lot of people thought it was wrong. I told her to find someone her own age but we made each other so happy we decided to try and conquer it.

Facebook

Last year they got married at a registry office in Maidstone with 300 guests supporting them.

It must definitely be a lot to be the stepmom of four children and a grandma too at such a young age, but she does not seem to mind having children her own age.
In the last decade there has been rapid expansion in the area of ocean designated as a Marine Protected Area (MPA).

Despite this progress, marine biodiversity continues to decline, placing at risk the health of our oceans and the critical role the oceans have in supporting human well-being.

Now a team of marine scientists from across the UK, led by the Marine Conservation Research Group at the University of Plymouth, has called on the Government to increase its ambition to save the oceans by overhauling its approach to marine conservation management.

The researchers have worked at the sharp end of conservation and fisheries management for several decades, and draw on their research and wider expertise to make four key recommendations to Government ministers. They are:

Enable the repair and renewal of marine habitats rather than managing degraded or altered habitats in their reduced state;

Unite conservation policy and fisheries management as the two are critically dependent on each other rather than competing interests;

Establish improved processes for understanding the benefits from ocean protection in a format that leaves in no doubt the links between ocean protection and human lives and livelihoods;

Develop a smarter approach to managing the health of the entire ocean that moves beyond MPAs and enables links to be made across sectors towards sustainability.

The recommendations are published in the journal Marine Policy, and scientists say addressing these issues would enable the UK it to meet its target of becoming a global leader in fisheries management and marine conservation.

Dr Sian Rees, Senior Research Fellow in the University's School of Biological and Marine Sciences and the paper's lead author, said: "2020 is a critical year for ocean protection as we build towards the UN Decade of Ocean Science, and a year where Governments have been invited to step up and support action to halt the global decline in marine biodiversity. In this 'super year' for the ocean it is within the gift of UK Government to set an increased ambition for ocean conservation. This would support the Governments ambition to be 'the first generation that leaves the environment in a better state than that in which we inherited it' and establish the UK as a global leader in fisheries management and marine conservation."

Dr Bryce Beukers-Stewart, from the Department of Environment and Geography at the University of York, added: "There is now substantial evidence that well managed and strategically placed marine protected areas (MPAs) can provide benefits for not only conservation, but also fisheries and human well-being. Unfortunately, many of the MPAs around the UK are not currently managed in a way that delivers their full potential. It is also important that MPAs become better integrated with other marine management measures, if we really want to ensure the long-term future of the benefits provided to us by the ocean."

Jean-Luc Solandt, Principal Specialist in MPAs at the Marine Conservation Society, said: "There has been good progress between many people and organisations to bring effective management for our seas, but this is not enough. More resources and focus on recovery of entire ecosystems has not been forthcoming and we are making the case for stricter management over wider areas of our MPAs."

###
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs have warned Vietnamese people living in South Korea not to leave the country if unnecessary to minimize the potential transmission of the coronavirus.

A health officer sterilises at a hospital in South Korea

In a notice sent to the Vietnamese community in South Korea on the evening of February 24, the ministry advised people to stay calm, avoid travelling and strictly follow instructions from South Korean authorities to protect themselves from the virus.

Starting from February 24, all incoming travellers from epidemic-hit areas including South Korea's Daegu City and Gyeongsangbuk Province shall be isolated for 14 days.

Around 200,000 Vietnamese people are living in South Korea, including up to 8,285 in Daegu City. They remain safe amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed the Vietnamese Embassy in South Korea to carry out measures to protect Vietnamese nationals from the spread of coronavirus.

According to the embassy, Daegu City is home to 8,285 Vietnamese, while 18,502 Vietnamese live in Gyeongsangbuk Province. To date, no Vietnamese person has been infected.

In case of emergency, they are advised to contact the hotline at the Vietnamese Embassy in South Korea on +82 10-3622-6618 or +84 981 84 84 84.

The Vietnamese overseas labour department in South Korea has also announced the phone number +82 103 248.

South Korean visitors to Quang Ninh high despite coronavirus

The northern province of Quang Ninh has received thousands of South Korean tourists per day in the context of coronavirus outbreak.

According to the provincial Department of Tourism, the number of South Korean visitors to Yen Tu tourist site has remained high over recent days. On February 23 alone, the site welcomed up to 1,869 South Korean travellers compared to just a few hundred people after the Tet Holiday.

Ha Long Bay has also seen a large number of South Korean visitors.

Le Trong Thanh, deputy director of Tung Lam Yen Tu Development JS Company, said the firm has arranged 10 fever screening machines and medicine cabinets long the main route of the site.

More doctors and nurses have also been sent to the site's medical stations.

Since early this month, nearly 10,000 masks have been given to the site's visitors free of charge.

Despite being adjacent to China, Quang Ninh has not yet detected any coronavirus cases. The province has tested 173 people with 172 negative, while the remaining person is waiting for the test results.

Quang Ninh has quarantined 1,184 people, including 875 who have already been discharged.

Dtinews/Nguoi Lao Dong

Travellers from Korea's outbreak zones quarantined after entering VN Travellers from South Koreas Daegu and North Gyeongsang will be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival in Vietnam, the Ministry of Health announced on Monday.
Greek riot police on Tuesday fired tear gas to disperse angry locals on the islands of Lesbos and Chios protesting against the planned construction of controversial new migrant camps. Residents have long complained that the presence of thousands of asylum-seekers threatens safety and public health and oppose government plans to build new camps for them on the islands. Tensions came to a head overnight at the harbours of both islands, where hundreds of locals had gathered to prevent the arrival of construction machinery and riot police reinforcements. As two ferries each carrying around 500 riot police docked at Lesbos and Chios, protesters threw stones and firebombs. The police responded with tear gas to clear the way. Residents also parked cars and garbage trucks on rural roads leading to the camp sites, which are to house up to 7,000 people each, in an attempt to block construction. Later in the day protesters threw objects at police in the hills near to the camp sites, local TV footage shows. "We are the victims of an unprovoked attack in the forest with tear gas and flash bombs," Yiannis Bournous, a Chios lawmaker with the leftist opposition Syriza party, said in a video posted online. "Hundreds of unarmed locals are fleeing," he said. A few protesters had to be treated for breathing trouble, an AFP photographer at the scene said. - Battleground islands - There are more than 38,000 migrants crowded into camps on the islands of Lesbos, Samos, Chios, Leros and Kos despite an official capacity of just 6,200. The conservative government which came to power in July has announced that the camps on Lesbos, Samos and Chios will be shut down this year, to be replaced with new, smaller facilities that are to be operational by mid-2020. The administration of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has tried to alleviate the problem by relocating thousands of migrants to other parts of Greece, but many communities on the mainland have also stonewalled the move. After weeks of fruitless talks with local authorities, the government has insisted the plan would go ahead despite opposition. "Work on the closed camps will begin immediately... talks cannot continue indefinitely or be an excuse for inaction," government spokesman Stelios Petsas told reporters Tuesday. Main opposition leftist party Syriza has accused the government of undemocratic behaviour. "We will not allow Mr Mitsotakis and his government to turn the islands into a battleground," said Syriza spokesman Alexis Charitsis. Island officials and residents have told the Greek government that after five years on the frontlines of the European migration crisis, they are no longer prepared to accept thousands of asylum-seekers. The International Rescue Committee called on the EU to step in to help Greece manage the crisis. "Greece cannot continue to deal with the situation on its own," said Dimitra Kalogeropoulou, the IRC director in Greece. "EU member states need to step up in solidarity and share responsibility for protecting people in need," said Dimitra Kalogeropoulou, Greece director of the International Rescue Committee. The UN's refugee chief on Friday called for urgent action to address the "shocking and shameful" conditions migrants are forced to live in at reception centres on the Greek islands. Swift measures were needed to reduce overcrowding and improve living conditions on the islands prioritising water, sanitation and healthcare, UN's High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi said. Riot police use tear gas during clashes with demonstrators protesting against the construction of controversial new migrant camps on Lesbos island
Kathleen Brosnan was revealed to be the professor who interim President Joseph Harroz Jr. said read from a historical document that used the N-word repeatedly.

Another University of Oklahoma professor used a racial slur in class, the school's interim president said, marking the second time in less than two weeks that a faculty member used offensive language in the classroom.

Interim President Joseph Harroz Jr. said in a statement Monday a history professor, whom he didn't name, read from a historical document that used the N-word repeatedly.

Harroz said the professor gave a 'trigger warning' letting students know what she was about to say, but he said that didn't excuse her behavior.

'For students in the class, as well as members of our community, this was another painful experience,' Harroz said in a letter. 'It is common sense to avoid uttering the most offensive word in the English language, especially in an environment where the speaker holds the power'.

Students from the University commented under postings of the statements, asking if the professor in question was Kathleen Brosnan.

Student publication OU Daily confirmed that Brosnan was the professor involved in the incident. The class covered American history from the Civil War to present day.

Oklahoma's interim president said it is 'common sense to avoid uttering the most offensive word in the English language'

According to the university's website, Brosnan's interests include the American West, environmental history, urban history, legal history and public history. She earned a J.D. from the University of Illinois and a Ph.D. in history from the University of Chicago.

Earlier this month, OU journalism professor Peter Gade stepped down from teaching his course for the rest of the semester after telling students during class that the N-word is no more offensive than the term 'boomer.'

Following that professor's actions, Harroz said that all faculty and staff would be required to attend diversity and racial sensitivity training.

'This training will address our implicit bias, it will force us to consider our words and actions and the implications that follow, and more,' Harroz added in his statement. 'While students already engage in this type of training, for the first time our faculty and staff will be required to participate as well.'

Earlier this month, OU journalism professor Peter Gade stepped down from teaching his course for the rest of the semester after telling students during class that the N-word is no more offensive than the term 'boomer'

The university also plans to develop an incident response protocol that will quickly employ 'culturally restorative justice practices designed to create a pathway to reconciliation through education and the changing of behavior.'

Harroz concluded in his letter: 'While it is unfortunate that another incident would occur before we could roll out this action plan, we are resolute in addressing these matters with decisive action'.

The university has grappled with a number of racially charged incidents in recent years. Last year, two students were involved in a video in which one women wore blackface and used a racial slur.

The university also severed ties with a fraternity in 2015 after several members took part in a chant caught on video that used racial slurs and referenced lynching.
Earlier in the day, the advocates representing the accused students, were ferried to the court complex amid tight security as per the high courts order.

Hubballi: Three advocates from Bengaluru, who arrived in Dharwad to move a bail application in favour of three Kashmiri students who were arrested on the charge of sedition for raising pro-Pakistan slogans, were accorded a hostile reception with a few members of the Dharwad Bar Association pelting stones at the car they were travelling in, damaging the glass at its rear.

As the car ferrying the advocates was about to leave the Dharwad court premises, the lawyers pelted stones, resulting in a tense situation. The police who were deployed at the court, rushed to the spot and had a tough time controlling the situation. The students had raised pro-Pakistan slogans in a video circulated on the anniversary of the Pulwama terror attack.

Earlier in the day, the advocates representing the accused students, were ferried to the court complex amid tight security as per the high courts order. The high court had asked Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner R. Dileep to provide total security for the advocates. This decision came in the backdrop of the Hubballi Bar Associations decision not to plead in court in favour of the accused students.

Over 300 policemen were deployed in and around the court complex. The Dharwad Bar Association members raised pro-India slogans and asked the visiting advocates not to plead for anti-nationals. As a precautionary measure, the police did not allow any advocate to enter the court hall and this provoked the local advocates to raise slogans against the police. The visiting advocates from Bengaluru were whisked away to an unknown place by the police.

The court headed by principal district & sessions judge Eshappa Bhute, however, did not admit the bail application citing procedural lapses. The Dharwad Bar Association advocates raised objection to the bail plea and said that the advocates for the accused have not followed the procedure while moving the bail plea and hence, the court should not entertain the application.

Upholding the objection, the judge asked advocates Maitri and Narendra to file the application with documents at the office according to procedure. Following the courts direction, the advocates left the court amid tight police security.
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Linkedin Riza Roidila Mufti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 25, 2020 19:29 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2066920ad 1 National Yogyakarta,scouts,boy-scouts,flash-flood,flood,river,trekking,sleman,tragedy Free

The ill-fated river trek that left 10 junior high school students dead in Sleman, Yogyakarta, last week has put the spotlight on the long skirts worn by the female students as part of their girl scout uniform.

The incident occurred on Friday, when 249 seventh- and eighth-graders from the Turi 1 junior high school went trekking along the banks of the Sembor River as part of scouting activity. During the trek, the river suddenly flooded, sweeping away many of the students.

The 10 fatalities were all female students who were wearing long skirts that made them especially vulnerable to being dragged away by the strong currents, according to Yogyakarta National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) head L. Wahyu Efendi.

Wearing long skirts for outdoor scout activities has drawn offline and online flak.

Nita Azhar, a fashion designer who said that she helped design Indonesias national scout uniform in 2012, said that she was surprised to hear that the Turi 1 junior high students had been wearing long skirts.

It is regrettable because [] I also made a special uniform for field activities such as river trekking that consists of long trousers, including for middle school students and girl scouts, Nita said in a statement seen by The Jakarta Post.

Social media users were also very critical of the fact that the students were made to go trekking while wearing long skirts.

Bergiat di alam bebas, butuh pakaian yang sesuai, dengan rok panjang apa mungkin bisa bergerak dan berenang dengan bebas, sedih sih ini ! https://t.co/n4zXSRqMLS  Arief Ridwan (@tegarid) February 24, 2020

Outdoor activities require proper clothes. How is it possible to move freely or swim freely with a long skirt? This is sad! Twitter user @tegarid posted on Monday.

Read also: Reckless: Parents criticize school for allowing river trek before Yogyakarta flash flood

Some Twitter users recalled their own experiences of being forced to wear long skirts during scouting activities

Gw juga pernah ngalamin ini waktu SD lho!! @kwarnas @kwarda_diy sampai skrg masih trauma! Pdhl udah puluhan tahun yang lalu. masih begini Pramuka kita? Anak usia 12-14 tahun, disuruh nyusur sungai pakai rok panjang? BASARNAS aja pakai alat pengaman. Apa sih tujuannya? Untuk apa?  tom.poetra. (@tombarpt) February 24, 2020

I experienced this when I was in elementary school! @tombarpt tweeted. Are our scouts still like this? Kids the age of 12 - 14 years old instructed to trek a river wearing long skirts?

A National Scout Movement regulation on boy and girl scouts uniforms prescribes two type of uniforms for female Muslim students who wear a hijab: a daily uniform with a long skirt, and a field uniform with long trousers.

The scout movements national council spokesperson Guritno said the teachers who served as scoutmasters during the Turi tragedy were negligent in making the girl scouts go on a river trek in long skirts.

Our guidelines state that for field activities, scouts should wear trousers, Guritno told the Post on Tuesday. This is a must.

He said that the fact that the girl scouts had been wearing long skirts showed that the river trek lacked preparation.

If the school coordinated with the regional scout council, the activity would have been prohibited due to weather concerns and inappropriate uniforms, he said.

The Yogyakarta Police have named three scoutmasters as suspects in the incident.
State-owned Bank of Baroda (BoB) on Tuesday said it has moved the Supreme Court against an order passed by the Calcutta High Court in a matter related to a bank guarantee issued on behalf of Simplex Projects Ltd.

A bank guarantee of Rs 6.97 crore was furnished by BoB to Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) on behalf of Simplex Projects.

IOCL had raised a demand to encash the amounts under the bank guarantee, which the lender did not release since the guarantee was not valid on the date of its invocation.

Earlier this month, the Calcutta High Court directed Reserve Bank to consider appropriate steps against BoB, including revoking its licence or authority to carry on with banking business, if necessary, for failing to honour the bank guarantee.

In a statement on Tuesday, BoB said the bank, after seeking legal advice, decided to exercise its rights available under law, by preferring a challenge against the order passed by the Calcutta High Court before the Supreme Court of India.

BoB is second largest bank and its distribution network, includes over 9,500 branches.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A popular Lehigh Valley food truck with a focus on creative cuisine choices is opening its first brick-and-mortar location in space previously housed by Daves Deli & Gelato at Moravian Book Shop in Bethlehem.

Moravian College, which owns and operates the book shop at 444 Main St., announced Tuesday afternoon it reached an agreement with Zach Umstead, owner of Randevoo Food Truck. Randevoo will sit alongside the Lost Tavern Brewing outpost inside the book shop. The new eatery is known for its specialty food items, such as wontons, sushi tempura and smoked wings.

"Weve heard a lot of great things about Randevoo and their interesting menu items from people all over the Lehigh Valley, said Moravian College President Bryon Grigsby. Everyone at Lost Tavern Brewing is very excited to work together with Zach and his team to provide an amazing experience for the guests of both businesses.

An exact opening date for Randevoo has yet to be announced. Umstead plans to work closely with Lost Tavern Brewing on promoting menu items that complement its craft beer offerings and can be prepared in the existing kitchen facilities. Moravian College spokesman Michael Corr said there will be no impact to Lost Tavern Brewing during the Daves closure and Randevoo opening.

Umstead said he is thrilled to be working with the Hellertown-based brewery.

Weve worked together over the last couple of years quite a bit, and Im looking forward to seeing what we can provide to the Book Shop visitors working together, he said.

Daves Deli & Gelato on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020 announced its closure on the business Facebook page. The deli, along with Lost Tavern Brewing, opened less than a year ago in space formerly housed by Colony Meadery at 444 Main St., in Bethlehem.

Daves Deli & Gelato on Monday announced its closure on the business Facebook page. The deli, along with Lost Tavern Brewing, opened in May 2019 in space formerly housed by Colony Meadery. The posting, as well as signage on the front door of Lost Tavern, stated Tuesday afternoon the business other location would remain open at 310 Stoke Park Road in Hanover Township, Northampton County.

Facebook postings for the Hanover Township site discuss a new grilled cheese menu is coming, as well as longer hours for that location. Daves was known at the Moravian Book Shop for its fresh-made sandwiches, homemade gelato and such dinner entrees as flatbreads and quesadillas. There also were wraps, soups and salads.

Neither the Facebook posting nor the signage indicated a reason behind the closure. However, this was Dave Halls second time trying the business venture at the Moravian Book Shop -- he previously operated a similar deli and gelato concept there in 2010.

Hall wanted to better focus on the Hanover Township location, according to Corr.

Corr added that Daves was a "great partner and were glad they were on board with all of the revitalization of the book shop that happened in 2018 and 2019.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
India and the US on Tuesday finalised defence deals worth 3 billion dollars, and signed three MoUs, including one in the energy sector, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the two countries have decided to take Indo-US ties to comprehensive global partnership level.

New Delhi: India and the US on Tuesday finalised defence deals worth 3 billion dollars, and signed three MoUs, including one in the energy sector, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the two countries have decided to take Indo-US ties to comprehensive global partnership level.

The unprecedented and historic welcome given to Trump in India will be remembered, said Modi at a joint press meet with Trump and added that the relations between the two countries are not merely confined to governments but are people-driven.

Trump announced that the two countries have finalised defence deals worth USD 3 billion and asserted that their focus was on having a comprehensive trade deal.

The relations between the two countries have never been as good as they are now, Trump said, adding that the countries have made "wonderful deal".

In his brief remarks at the start of official talks, Modi said "Defence cooperation between two countries is reflective of rising strategic partnership between India and US. We also agreed on new mechanism to contain drug trafficking" the Prime Minister said.

Modi welcomed the US president and thanked him for taking time out for the visit to India.

President Trump, in turn, said the last two days in India were amazing, especially the event at the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad.

"It was a great honour for me. I would imagine they (the people) were there maybe more for you than for me... 125,000 people were inside. Every time I mentioned your name, there were cheers. People love you," Trump told Modi in front of the media.

Earlier, Trump was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Modi welcomed Trump and First Lady Melania

Trump at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The US president also received a tri-services guard of honour at the presidential palace.

The Trumps, who also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial Rajghat here, arrived in Ahmedabad around noon on Monday for the first leg of their 36-hour India visit has been unforgettable, extraordinary and productive, Trump added.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Feb, 2020 ) :Ambassador of Somalia Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi Monday called on Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi during her visit to Naval Headquarters here.

Both the dignitaries discussed matters of bilateral naval collaboration and mutual interest, said a Pakistan Navy press release.

The Naval Chief highlighted the Pakistan Navy's efforts for ensuring regional maritime security particularly steps taken to curb piracy or pirate attacks in the Arabian Sea.

The Somali ambassador lauded the Pakistan Navy's role in maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Chitwan, February 25

An international poultry exhibition is taking place in Chitwan from this Friday.

The three-day Nepal International Poultry Exhibition-2020 is being organised by Nepal Poultry Federation, in partnership with Media Space Solutions Pvt Ltd and Futurex and Event Pvt Ltd.

The exhibition will be organised with the objective of strengthening and promoting the commercial development of the Nepali poultry industry. It will provide information on the modern machinery, latest technology and other subjects related to poultry and hatchery industry like poultry feed, medicine, and feed supplement.

Information on dairy industry as well as livestock development would also be available during the event.

The exhibition organiser says that a four-day poultry school will also be run as part of the event in conjunction with the Nepal Veterinary Association.

The exhibition will have around 200 stalls. Poultry industry-related companies from India, Bangladesh, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Israel, Turkey, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and the United States among other countries besides Nepal will participate in the exhibition.

RSS
Since announcing their plans to step back from their roles as senior royals and become financially independent, Prince Harry's and Meghan Markles bank account has been the subject of much speculation.

While Harrys inheritance and Meghans former earnings as an actress are certainly helpful as they map out their own plans away from the Royal Family, its the couples future projects (and their earning potential) that have become the focus.

Robert Watts, who is responsible for compiling the annual Sunday Times Rich List of the 1,000 wealthiest residents in the UK, told Hello! he believes the Duke and Duchess will land a spot on the list in the coming years.

Meghan and Prince Harry attend the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance in November 2019. / Getty Images

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, Watts told the publication.

The couple already have an eight-figure fortune, perhaps one as large as 20 million, he went on to say. 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.

Prince Harry and Meghan in Johannesburg, South Africa, October 2019. / Getty Images

Last years top 20 on the Rich List had a net worth of over 6 billion, so Harry and Meghan still have quite a few years of work ahead of them if they plan to top the list.

But even so, Watts has already compared the Duke and Duchess commercial appeal to that of Victoria and David Beckham, who appeared on the 2019 list with 355 million.

Prince Harry and Meghan, October 2018. / Getty Images

Harry and Meghan have been keeping the public up-to-date with their plans on their website, where it was most recently revealed that they will not use the term Royal or Sussex Royal in any capacity once the transition takes full effect on March 31st.

Earlier this month, Harry and Meghan were said to have earned money from a speaking engagement at the JP Morgan Alternative Investment Summit.

The couple have also announced their intentions to continue to support the Invictus Games Foundation and The Endeavour Fund, in addition to founding a new non-profit entity.

Meghan, Prince Harry and Queen Elizabeth II in June 2018. / POOL/AFP via Getty Images

But should Harry and Meghan earn a spot on the Sunday Times Rich List, they won't be the only members of the Royal Family. The Queen has appeared regularly on the annual roundup, taking the 356th spot on the 2019 list with 370 million.
Empower growth through leverage you did not know you had

Growth and Strategic Sustainability Expert Gary W. Patterson Will Attend MODEX

February 25, 2020  Atlanta, GA  Sustainability expert and speaker Gary W. Patterson, FiscalDoctor, will attend MODEX held March 9-12 at Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA, USA.

Who will be there? Professionals, representing a variety of industries, throughout the entire supply chain process looking to identify opportunities, investigate technologies, network and make the right purchasing decisions.

Manufacturers/suppliers

VP's, Directors, Managers of:

Supply Chain

Logistics

Distribution

Operations

IT (related to supply chain)

Transportation/Fleet Management

Manufacturing

3rd Party Logistics Providers

SMB, middle market and global 2000

From over 100 countries around the globe and virtually every market:

Aerospace

Automotive

Chemical & Industrial

Construction

Consumer Package Goods

Electronics

Energy

Food

Luxury Goods

Manufacturing

Paper, Printing

Oil & Gas

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Patterson works with leaders to empower growth through leverage you did not know you had. Uncover million dollar blind spots: before they find you --- to make better business decisions and dramatically accelerate correct fiscal leadership decisions. This helps leaders gain control of their financial destinies and capitalize on hidden high return opportunities, while limiting their exposure to risk.

About Gary W. Patterson

Mr. Patterson, the FiscalDoctor, has helped over 200 companies internationally in service, manufacturing, technology, construction and distribution. He has worked with SMB, the Fortune 500 and methodically helped 2 companies reach the coveted INC 500 list of fastest-growing private companies in America. Several companies reached 10 x compounded annual revenue growth. He was the European coordinator for a global supply chain re-engineering software application for a Fortune 500 company. Mr. Patterson has successfully negotiated over 25 mergers and acquisitions with a market value exceeding $390 million.

FiscalDoctor Inc. works with leaders to uncover million dollar holes to make the best business decisions and dramatically accelerate correct fiscal leadership decisions. This helps leaders gain control of their financial destinies and capitalize on hidden high return opportunities, while limiting their exposure to risk.

Key member of 2 successful INC 500 international companies growing rapidly profitably

Recently honored as published thought leader by the Financial Time's ExecSense service

Served on 10,000 business growth initiative as Virtual National VBA

Visit his website at http://www.fiscaldoctor.com and "free" fiscal fitness test at http://www.fiscaldoctor.com/fiscal-quiz/ , or call 678-319-4739 for a free 10 minute consultation until May 15, 2020.

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The Shiv Sena on Tuesday taunted Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis, urging him to do his work as Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly, instead of disrupting work during the first budget session of the new government that began on Monday.

In its mouthpiece Saamana, the Sena said, If the Leader of the Opposition does his job diligently and has knowledge, many people and officers alike approach him with work, exactly like it is with the Chief Minister. Then the Opposition leader can function like a shadow chief minister. But Fadnavis has half-baked knowledge.

It also exhorted the former chief minister to take lessons in communication and cooperation from the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) while refuting Fadnavis allegations that there is miscommunication and lack of dialogue in the three alliance partners.

Further lashing out at Fadnavis for not attending Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerays programme to discuss state affairs over tea, organised at his official bungalow over the weekend, the Saamana article said, Discussions for the good of Maharashtra could have happened.

Fadnavis had taken to social media on the weekend after missing Thackerays tea programme, and said, There is no point in attending a discussion with MVA as Leader of the Opposition, because MVA does not have any internal communication.

In response, Saamana said on Tuesday, There is no miscommunication in MVA. Everyone in MVA is resolved to run the government and maintain its 5-year tenure. If this cannot be digested by the Opposition, it cannot be helped. Saamana also said that the coming together of three different parties with diverse ideologies to form the government is also proof of the dialogue between them.

Taking a jibe at its former ally BJP, the Sena further said, In the brief 80 hours that Fadnavis was the CM in Maharashtra, before MVA formed the government, he held dialogue with everyone including Enforcement Directorate, Crime Investigation Bureau, Raj Bhavan, but could not break even a single MLA from the then Opposition of NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena.

There is an opinion doing rounds at present that MVA should organise classes in communication and invite all senior BJP leaders to it. If BJP had been good at dialogue, Maharashtras political situation would have been very different, Saamana added.
Ferrari could be sandbagging in the 2020 winter tests, according to former driver and pundit Marc Surer.

The Italian team openly says it is lagging behind Mercedes and Red Bull, and some think even Racing Point could be ahead of Ferrari.

Surer isn't so sure.

"In the last few years Ferrari has been the testing champion and then Mercedes beat them in the first race," he told Germany's Sport1.

"I have the feeling that it is the exact opposite this time - Mercedes is not hiding and Ferrari is behind.

"But they (Ferrari) were absolutely on par with Mercedes on the long runs. Only on the single laps were they not there," Surer added.

He said it is conspicuous that team boss Mattia Binotto is already saying Ferrari will not win in Melbourne.

"Perhaps that is his new philosophy, having gone to Melbourne last year with a lot of premature prizes having been given out," said Surer.

(GMM)
Lbseo.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 8 May 2014, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

The total number of people who shared the lbseo homepage on Delicious. The total number of people who shared the lbseo homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the lbseo homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if lbseo has a Facebook fan page). This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the lbseo homepage on Twitter + the total number of lbseo followers (if lbseo has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the lbseo homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button.

Basic Information

PAGE TITLE ____ DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS , , ?, ?,  OTHER KEYWORDS b ,



The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The title found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site.

Domain and Server

DOCTYPE CHARSET AND LANGUAGE GB2312 DETECTED LANGUAGE SERVER Microsoft-IIS/6.0 (ASP.NET) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003

Type of server and offered services. Character set and language of the site. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Operative System running on the server. The language of lbseo.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms.

Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world.

Referring domains for lbseo.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines.

Facebook link

FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND

The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. The URL of the found Facebook page. The type of Facebook page. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages.

Twitter account link

TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND
When the call came in Saturday evening, Cowlitz County deputies were dubious.

Several miles west of the Cowlitz River and sleepy downtown Castle Rock, a driver said they spotted a massive sea lion walking down the middle of a rural road.

Dispatchers were disbelieving. Im sorry. A feline? No? A Sea lion?

It just doesnt sound right, Troy Brightbill, the chief criminal deputy at the sheriffs office, said of the marine mammal sighting, reported about 8 p.m.

Eventually, law enforcement officers and wildlife officials confirmed it with their own eyes. An estimated 600- to 700-pound female Steller sea lion had indeed made its way into the hills from the river, traveling up various creeks and onto Garlock Road in a wooded area of the southwest Washington county.

Scott Schroeder, a wildlife officer with Washingtons Department of Fish and Wildlife, responded to a landscape he described as a pretty, rolling, forested area.

Steller sea lions are found along the northern Pacific Ocean but often travel up river systems. They go where the food is. Schroeder said hes seen sea lions in a variety of places, even 30 or more miles upriver on the Cowlitz, but never in this setting.

Theres no other way to say it, Schroeder said of sea lions and seals when you spot them in the river. Theyre fairly cute animals.

But in the middle of the night, on a dark forest road, the cuteness fades as the teeth bare. The barks are no longer cute. San Franciscos Pier 39 this isnt.

She was very aggressive, Schroeder said. If you got within 20 feet of her, she would go after you.

Brightbill, with the sheriffs office, said deputies saw the speed and aggression firsthand. As weve learned, theyre fairly mobile on land, he said.

Schroeder said the sea lion would turn on its flippers and lunge like an alligator at anyone who got too close.

She was certainly full of spit and vinegar, he said.

Despite that, people couldnt help but take videos and photos. Sgt. Corey Huffine snapped a bleary-eyed sea lion selfie. A majestic photo posted by the sheriffs office shows the pottering pinniped appearing to take in the grandeur of the forest setting.

Schroeder, the wildlife official said, the animal appeared to be healthy and had her wits about her.

Through Saturday night and into Sunday morning, deputies and other state officials checked in with the animal periodically. Schroeder said he was hoping she would return to the creek and work her way back to the Cowlitz river on her own.

That didnt happen.

Brightbill said for a while the sea lion had a single deputy serving as its personal minder  focused on preventing a collision with a car. The problem was it just kept moving, he said.

Because of the location, time and limited weekend staffing, wildlife officers thought it best to leave her overnight. But about 1 a.m., more calls came in. She was more than 2 miles from a viable water source and was in the middle of the road.

At various points Sunday, as many as 15 people were on scene, especially at the end, when crews from the county public works office, humane society, state wildlife department and sheriffs office joined forces to corral the mammal.

I think everybody had a face full of sea lion breath more than once, Schroeder said.

Sea lions, both Steller and their cousins, California, are increasingly abundant in the lower Columbia River and its tributaries. Schroeder said the marine mammals are feasting on a smelt run in the river system at the moment. He estimated there were hundreds of sea lions in the Cowlitz River alone.

Their presence in the Columbia, Willamette and other major rivers in recent years spawned federal legislation as Oregon and Washington succeeded in pushing for lenience to kill more of the mammals to protect endangered fish.

Eventually on Sunday, the situation had improved significantly, safety-wise. Instead of being in the middle of the road, the sea lion was in someones driveway. Crews responded with a trailer and cage and were able to successfully guide the animal into the cage by holding large sheets of plywood and directing her that way.

Im actually surprised that it worked that well, Schroeder said.

With that, the crews drove the animal back to the Willow Grove boat ramp in Longview, about 14 miles west. At 4:18 p.m., crews dumped the sea lion into the Columbia.

She was off into a different river, after first being given a clean bill of health. Schroeder theorized that the marine mammal may have looked for clearer waters in the tributaries of the Cowlitz, given that the main river currently is clouded with debris and sediment.

Schroeder is surprised by one thing. Given how many of the massive mammals are out in the rivers, he said hes surprised something like this doesnt happen more often.

-- Andrew Theen; atheen@oregonian.com; 503-294-4026; @andrewtheen

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Gordon AuBuchon, Steel Warehouse's executive vice president for product development, points out that Valast rolled-steel will be offered in lighter gauges and tighter tolerances than plate, allowing for lightweighting and cost savings.

A low-alloy steel suitable for welding, Valast also will be available in widths of up to 81 inches, nearly 30 percent more than the maximum of 60 inches offered by many of Tata's strip-steel competitors. Steel Warehouse also plans to introduce autogeneous laser welding at its production facilities to provide Valast in custom widths and lengths not available anywhere else in the world.

"Valast provides our customers with an opportunity to reduce waste and improve efficiency," notes Glyn Martin, a technical support engineer at Tata Steel. "Because it's a strip-steel product, Valast can be cut to any length needed with the added benefit of having the greatest width available in the industry."

Tata Steel is one of the world's largest steel producers with 75,000 employees across five continents. Based in South Bend, Indiana, Steel Warehouse is a leading U.S. supplier of steel-coil products with 12 locations in the U.S., Mexico and Brazil.

Hot-rolled at Tata Steel's recently expanded IJmuiden production facilities in the Netherlands, Valast is especially suited for applications where strength and hardness are required. Dump and refuse trucks, mining and highway-construction vehicles, backhoes and other earth-moving equipment, for example, all rely on abrasion-resistant steel or components heat-treated for abrasion resistance.

"Abrasion-resistant steels are subject to some of the toughest working environments imaginable," AuBuchon explains. "Valast 450 provides our customers with the strength and durability of an abrasion-resistant steel, while at the same time providing them with the quality, inventory management and high-level of technical support they've come to expect from Steel Warehouse and our partners at Tata Steel."

Steel Warehouse processes abrasion-resistant steel from Tata for use on mining, construction and other heavy equipment on production lines that provide custom lengths and exceptional surface quality.

In the United States, Steel Warehouse has facilities in Calvert, Alabama; Osceola, Arkansas; Rock Island, Illinois; Portage and South Bend, Indiana; Cleveland, Ohio; Chattanooga and Memphis, Tennessee; Houston, Texas, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company also has facilities in Monterrey, Mexico, and Paulinia, Brazil.

"We've had an excellent partnership with Steel Warehouse for more than 50 years and are very much looking forward to launching Valast 450 with them in the U.S., Mexico and Brazil this year," says Tata's Martin. "Similar launches are taking place in the U.K., Germany and elsewhere in Europe. The response to date has been outstanding."

About Steel Warehouse

Steel Warehouse is a leading producer of premier steel-coil products based in South Bend, Indiana. Founded in 1947, the family-owned business today has annual sales of more than one billion dollars with 2,100 employees at locations in the U.S., Mexico and Brazil. The company provides distribution, shipping and processing capabilities for high-carbon, stainless and low-carbon steel products to customers in a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, automotive, agriculture, construction, defense and mining. More information about Steel Warehouse is available at www.steelwarehouse.com.

About Tata Steel

The Tata Steel group is one of the world's largest steel producers with 75,000 employees across five continents and a production capacity of more than 28 million tons. The company supplies high-quality steel products to some of the world's most demanding markets, including construction, automotive, packaging, excavating, energy and aerospace. Tata Steel also works closely with its customers to develop new steel products that provide a competitive edge. More information is available at www.tatasteeleurope.com.

SOURCE Steel Warehouse; Tata Steel
Today, we'll introduce the concept of the P/E ratio for those who are learning about investing. We'll look at Avi-Tech Electronics Limited's (SGX:BKY) P/E ratio and reflect on what it tells us about the company's share price. Avi-Tech Electronics has a P/E ratio of 11.95, based on the last twelve months. In other words, at today's prices, investors are paying SGD11.95 for every SGD1 in prior year profit.

View our latest analysis for Avi-Tech Electronics

How Do I Calculate A Price To Earnings Ratio?

The formula for P/E is:

Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price  Earnings per Share (EPS)

Or for Avi-Tech Electronics:

P/E of 11.95 = SGD0.41  SGD0.03 (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2019.)

Is A High P/E Ratio Good?

The higher the P/E ratio, the higher the price tag of a business, relative to its trailing earnings. That is not a good or a bad thing per se, but a high P/E does imply buyers are optimistic about the future.

Does Avi-Tech Electronics Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry?

We can get an indication of market expectations by looking at the P/E ratio. We can see in the image below that the average P/E (15.5) for companies in the semiconductor industry is higher than Avi-Tech Electronics's P/E.

SGX:BKY Price Estimation Relative to Market, February 24th 2020

This suggests that market participants think Avi-Tech Electronics will underperform other companies in its industry. Many investors like to buy stocks when the market is pessimistic about their prospects. It is arguably worth checking if insiders are buying shares, because that might imply they believe the stock is undervalued.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

Companies that shrink earnings per share quickly will rapidly decrease the 'E' in the equation. That means even if the current P/E is low, it will increase over time if the share price stays flat. Then, a higher P/E might scare off shareholders, pushing the share price down.

Avi-Tech Electronics's earnings made like a rocket, taking off 80% last year. The cherry on top is that the five year growth rate was an impressive 36% per year. So I'd be surprised if the P/E ratio was not above average.

Story continues

A Limitation: P/E Ratios Ignore Debt and Cash In The Bank

Don't forget that the P/E ratio considers market capitalization. So it won't reflect the advantage of cash, or disadvantage of debt. Hypothetically, a company could reduce its future P/E ratio by spending its cash (or taking on debt) to achieve higher earnings.

While growth expenditure doesn't always pay off, the point is that it is a good option to have; but one that the P/E ratio ignores.

Is Debt Impacting Avi-Tech Electronics's P/E?

With net cash of S$36m, Avi-Tech Electronics has a very strong balance sheet, which may be important for its business. Having said that, at 48% of its market capitalization the cash hoard would contribute towards a higher P/E ratio.

The Bottom Line On Avi-Tech Electronics's P/E Ratio

Avi-Tech Electronics has a P/E of 12.0. That's below the average in the SG market, which is 13.5. Not only should the net cash position reduce risk, but the recent growth has been impressive. The below average P/E ratio suggests that market participants don't believe the strong growth will continue.

Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. As value investor Benjamin Graham famously said, 'In the short run, the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine. So this free visual report on analyst forecasts could hold the key to an excellent investment decision.

Of course you might be able to find a better stock than Avi-Tech Electronics. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have grown earnings strongly.

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.
What goes on the internet stays on the internet. Anything you say publiclyon a blog, in a Facebook post, in a tweetcould be shared far beyond the audience you imagined, and thats wreaked havoc on countless occasions: Scores of celebrities have come under fire for their social media indiscretions. It can destroy careers for noncelebrities too, like Justine Sacco, who was famously fired after her insensitive tweet went viral.

Its no wonder, then, that people have moved toward smaller, more intimate online communities where conversations arent as public. People are more cautious of having a permanent record of what theyve shared, Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a post announcing the platforms shift toward prioritizing closed groups and other private communications. Twitter, too, is introducing ways for users to interact in smaller, less-public communities. These more private spaces often require a special invitation, curated by moderators, and posts made in them cant be viewed by or shared to people outside the circle. In addition, many groups enforce privacy through norms and etiquette: Like the rules of Fight Club, members shouldnt talk about the group with nonmembers, and most definitely should not share things from this group with anyone outside of it. Text messages abide by similar rules. I cherish the implicit trust that should our conversation about my which March sister are you quiz results turn toward more private topics, those words wont leave my screen or my friends. But one thing challenges all of that: screenshots.

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Sharing screenshots has become a normal part of our digital behavior.

Screenshots reflect the itch to document a moment that evoked emotion: amusement, incredulity, anger (or maybe all three). Scrolling through my own phone, I see screenshots of Instagram comments that made me laugh, a threatening email from an irate reader, and a weird post from my neighborhood group about an aggressive crow. Each of those came from a closed or private online space, but I wanted to make sure I had some record of them just in case. Some screenshots have never left my phone and are only for me, while Ive sent others (usually the funny ones) to friends I think would enjoy them.

Sharing screenshots has become a normal part of our digital behavior. Once-private or semi-private messages make the rounds online, entertaining us and stirring up drama. When someone makes a claim and insists they have the receipts, theyre often screenshotsa series of Instagram DMs, text messages, private social media posts. There are entire online subcommunities dedicated to private drama made public via screenshots; Facebook groups like i am but a simple moth to a dumpster fire and thats it, im wedding shaming or subreddits like r/texts are built on screenshots of silly exchanges and ridiculous arguments.

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The popularity of shared screenshots is a reflection of our slowly eroding private sphere. Try as we might to maintain privacy in personal communications, what the recipients of our data and messages do with our information is largely out of our hands. Take, for instance, Facebooks Cambridge Analytica scandal: It revealed that users who allowed the This Is My Digital Life app to their data compromised not only their own data, but also their friends. (Apps like Farmville did the same, allowing third-party companies to harvest a huge amount of user data.) On a smaller scale, sharing with someoneeven someone you trustcan backfire spectacularly; an investigation revealed that Jeff Bezos texts and photos with girlfriend Lauren Sanchez were compromised by Sanchez herself, when she shared screenshots with her brother.

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And now, screenshots might become fodder for researchers. In January, Stanford scientists announced a new endeavor called the Human Screenome Project, which takes screenshots of participants phone use every five seconds. The idea is that the screenshots will provide a more nuanced look at screen time and the myriad ways we use our phones. On the projects website, a clip shows screenshots representing three minutes of a users activity, which includes Google searches, Spotify playlists, scrolling through Instagram, and texts between friends. The researchers say this data will be encrypted, stored securely, and de-identified. Technically, as long as participants consent to their data being recorded, standard research ethics wouldnt require researchers to do much else to protect users privacy. But required research ethics scratch only the surface of what is morally right. (Another example: Its not technically a violation of ethics to use data from public sources like YouTube videos or tweets, but people who discover that their personal data has been used in research are often put off by it.) And its not only study participants data that will be collectedanyone they text or message with can have their words screenshotted too. If I were a close friend or family member of someone participating in this project, Id want to know if my private conversations were being archived somewhere and potentially viewable by researchers.

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Unfortunately, theres no script for telling your friends and family that youve shared their info with an app, or that youre allowing researchers to access your data. Until we develop social norms for this type of situation, theres one feature that could help: screenshot notifications. At the very least, its high time to think about the screenshot as a privacy liability and consider limiting its power, through app settings and social acceptability.

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This is already a regular feature in some apps. Snapchat gained popularity for the ephemerality of its postsstories stay up for 24 hours, and photos sent directly to another user disappear as soon as the recipient has seen them. To protect that sense of privacy, the app notifies users if someone has taken a screenshot of their content. Instagram used to notify users if someone took a screenshot of a photo they sent directly to another user, but thats no longer a feature.

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If this were standard practice across platformson, say, Facebook, WhatsApp, Tinder, and smartphones native texting appspeople might think twice about taking screenshots without permission. The motivation isnt always nefarious. I have a folder on my phone of screenshots of funny or heartwarming conversations I want to save for later. But I have also taken and received my fair share of screenshots where I suspect the original poster would be a little upset to learn their content or conversations didnt stay private: strangers terrible dating profiles, annoying posts in neighborhood Facebook groups, text exchanges a friend wants help deciphering. An alert cant prevent people from taking screenshots and sharing them, but it could deter them. It could also encourage more dialogue between users about data sharing; a notification that says So-and-so took a screenshot of your photo can open up a conversation about what they intend to do with that snap, or allow a user to just block someone who consistently creeps on their posts.

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Snap says its users have come to expect that screenshot notification. Weve gotten feedback from users that they really love that feature, says Katherine Tassi, Snaps deputy general counsel for privacy. Its really a contract between users, who know if they take a screenshot, the other individual is going to get notified.

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Snaps screenshot alert shows that the absence of such a feature on other apps isnt a matter of technical difficulty. Its not complicated for apps to build such a feature into their platforms, at least on mobile devices. Apple includes code in its Software Development Kit for iOS that developers can use to identify when a screenshot is taken, so simple detection is trivial, says app developer Kevin Donnelly. The next stepsreporting the screenshot to the apps server and then sending a notification to the affected usershould be fairly straightforward as well. A screenshot alert might be more difficult to execute on Android apps, says Donnelly, because of how flexible the operating system is, but in lieu of screenshot notifications, developers might be able to block screenshots altogether. Similar code could also block screen recording on phone operating systems, another popular way to capture on-screen content. If screenshots generated notifications, screen recording might become a more popular workaround, so it seems wise to anticipate how to control recording as well.

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To make this all work, apps would need to encode data in a way that allows for easy identification of whose content is being screenshotted. On Snapchat, for instance, photos display after you click on a user story or open a message, so the app should easily detect exactly whose content a user is looking at. Scrolling through a feed is more complicated. As you read through Facebooks newsfeed, you see a hodgepodge of posts from friends, individuals posting in groups, or ads. That makes things harder, but not very hard, says Donnelly. You can fairly easily get an idea of what components are on the screen at the time of the screenshot and look at the underlying structured data to identify which users content is being displayed. As long as developers are structuring their data properly to leave a paper trail of what users are looking at when they take a screenshot, notifications are certainly possible.

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While notifications or screenshot blocking might be a deterrent, theyre obviously not foolproof. Introducing these features might deter the casual screenshotter, but the truly motivated can always find ways around them. The more tech-savvy could write code to get around antiscreen capture features, but theres also an easy, low-tech workaround: Just take a photo of a screen with another screen. Snap says its aware that people try to get around the apps screenshot notification feature (even publications like Business Insider have run guides on how to screenshot in secret) and remains vigilant about those strategies so they can fix any potential loopholes users discover. On Android, in particular, the customizability of the operating system means that motivated individuals can get around app code. Someone with enough time might be able to configure their phone in a way to get around any system the developer implemented, says Donnelly. And there may be cases where we dont want to block surreptitious screenshots; its a good thing when someone can secretly screenshot evidence to hold a serial harasser or abusive partner accountable, or receipts to trace scammers. The real solution lies beyond code: We need the norms and language to deter malicious screenshots. But in the meantime, alerts could help.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
A former Miramax assistant who was the first to break a non-disclosure agreement with Harvey Weinstein has called for the culture of gagging victims to end.

Zelda Perkins signed an NDA in 1998 after she claimed the disgraced movie producer sexually harassed her when she worked for him at his London office and tried to rape one of her colleagues.

Perkins, who bravely breached the agreement to speak out in 2017, said Weinstein's conviction for third degree rape and a criminal sexual act on Monday has not solved the problem and the #MeToo movement needs to continue.

She told the New York Times: 'Harvey going down for five years, 10 years, is not the end of this. This does not solve the problem. We can't all just turn our eyes back to normal life and think everything is OK.

Harvey Weinstein and his Assistant Zelda Perkins at the Cannes Film Festival in 1998

Zelda Perkins prior to testifying before British politicians investigating workplace sexual harassment in London in 2018

'The fight absolutely doesn't stop here. I think Harvey has become the ogre and the figurehead of this awful situation, but he is not the only one. And I think we have to remember that #MeToo was not about Harvey Weinstein. Tarana Burke did not start #MeToo because of Weinstein.

'#MeToo has not been finished by him going to jail. And I hope this is the beginning of judges and juries understanding and taking the nuances of abuses of power more seriously.'

Weinstein was convicted on Monday 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.

He was due to be sent immediately to Rikers Island prison following the jury's verdict but was rushed to hospital with chest pains and heart palpitations.

Perkins has previously said that she tried to stop the disgraced film mogul's sex abuse 20 years ago but ended up being coerced into signing an NDA.

She said she tried to take action in 1998 as a 22-year-old after her colleague at Miramax told her that Weinstein had tried to rape her at the Venice Fim Festival.

She 'naively' thought that reporting his alleged abuse to the firm's family-friendly parent company Disney would result in his dismissal.

Instead, she was warned against speaking out  and both women quit their jobs at after signing agreements forbidding them to discuss the incident.

'I was made to feel like I was in the wrong for trying to expose his behavior,' she told the UK's House of Commons in 2018.

Weinstein was convicted on Monday 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

Rowena Chiu who says Harvey Weinstein tried to rape her when she was a 24-year-old assistant working in his London office

She said she had felt compelled to sign the 'stringent and egregious' contract after 'humiliating and degrading' talks that finally ended at 5am after a 12-hour meeting.

Rowena Chiu, Perkins' colleague at Miramax who claimed Weinstein attempted to rape her at the film festival, told the New York Times: 'I had said in an interview a few days ago, that this isn't just a story of one man.

'Even in the light of a conviction, it isn't just one person. Obviously it is a really important victory for the #MeToo movement.

'But the #MeToo movement is much, much bigger than what happens to Harvey. This is certainly a moment of great encouragement and a milestone for me personally and the movement as a whole.'

Women's rights campaigner Anita Hill said Weinstein's guilty verdict was 'only the beginning' for the #MeToo movement.

She said the Weinstein case was 'a clarion call of justice for the countless women whose voices have been suppressed in workplaces throughout society.

'The Hollywood Commission's mission does not end with the long overdue prosecution of Mr. Weinstein. Our goal of guaranteeing a safe work environment throughout the entertainment community remains more important than ever.'

She added: 'We must continue to develop policies and practices that make systemic change permanent and to foster a culture that reflects such change.

'It is our hope that more district attorneys will rethink which cases they present for trial and provide appropriate critical expert witness testimony to support those cases.

'Though one conviction is only the beginning, the Hollywood Commission views the Weinstein verdict as a strong statement to our industry that when we honor the voices of survivors progress is possible.'

Tarana Burke, the activist who started the original #MeToo movement more than a decade ago, said: 'Most of us will never see the inside of the courtroom, but these women got to take the stand, look him in the eye and say, 'You did this to me.'

'He will forever be guilty. That's a thing we have.'

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A 15-year-old girl collapsed and died in the kitchen of her family home after food particles got into her lungs during dinner obstructing her lung capacity, an inquest heard today.

Abby Reese Beaumont aspirated on a 'foreign body' at her home in Mold, North Wales on April 2.

The teenager had made herself a dinner a few hours earlier and had gone to her room.

A few hours later Abby started to cough and made her way downstairs to the kitchen, before calling for her mother to come and help her.

Abby Reese Beaumont (pictured above) aspirated on a 'foreign body' at her home in Mold, North Wales on April 2

Abby (pictured above) died after her lung bled because of an obstruction of smaller airways by food particles

She collapsed on the kitchen floor and her sister rushed to get help from their neighbours who are Accident and Emergency doctors.

An inquest in Mold today recorded a conclusion of accidental death and coroner John Gittins stressed the tragedy had not been caused by choking.

He said the teenager had been coughing and feeling sick and that something going the wrong way in the body and had triggered the tragic reaction.

He told the teenager's parents Darren, 51, a businessman, and Alison, 47 : 'I can't begin to adequately express my condolences for the loss of Abby. This was just an awful, awful event which befell you in relation to the loss of a lovely daughter.

Abby (pictured above) was described as being 'full of love' and 'loved trips to America

'She was a girl very cared for and loved. It's a very, very tragic scenario that befell you.'

Paediatric pathologist Dr Rajeev Shukla, of Alder Hey children's hospital in Liverpool, suggested her lung bled because of obstruction of smaller airways by food particles.

Mr Gittins added : 'I don't regard this as choking.'

Abby's father Mr Beaumont said coughing had been heard late at night but it was 'nothing out of the ordinary.'

His daughter came downstairs and coughed again. She made her way to the kitchen before collapsing.

Mr Beaumont found her on the floor, blood coming from her mouth. 'She was still alive but struggling to breathe,' he recalled.

Another daughter rushed to get help from neighbours who were A&E doctors and some in the military.

A paramedic car, ambulance and police also attended and the youngster was rushed to a hospital in Wrexham.

But the coroner said the evidence supported the parents' view that she died at home despite the frantic efforts to save Abby.

'We have always maintained she died at home,' Mr Beaumont said.

Paramedic Jon Cross said Abby had been 'flatlining' despite attempts to save her and there had been extensive blood loss.

Mrs Beaumont said paramedics had 'tried their best'.

Mr Beaumont said the youngster had been 'full of life' and loved trips to America. He said she had died in a sudden 'freak' accident.

She had come home from school that day 'perfectly healthy.'

'I was there in a flash,' he explained about her last moments. 'Unfortunately there was nothing that could have been done to save her.'

Family members have now set up a GoFundMe page to help Abby's family at this difficult time.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he talked with Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding Taliban peace deal and noted that everybody is happy about it.

I spoke to PM Modi on it. I think India would like to see it happen. We are pretty close. Everybody is happy about it, said Trump during a press conference.

US and Taliban negotiators agreed earlier this week to finalise the pact on February 29 if a seven-day cooling-off period was passed off peacefully. The truce came into effect on Friday night.

Trump had said he would put his name on the peace deal with the Taliban if a week went by without major violence in Afghanistan.

The US President, who is here on a two-day visit, said that India is a tremendous country and he had a great time here.

We had a great time. We had great meetings. This is a tremendous country. I think they like us more than they ever liked us. There is a great relationship between the Prime Minister and myself, he said.

Trump, who visited Ahmedabad and Agra on Monday, had delegation-level talks with the Prime Minister on Tuesday.

In Ahmedabad, he addressed Namate Trump event which was attended by over one lakh people. In Agra, Trump and his wife Melania visited Taj Mahal.
A three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Justice R Bhanumathi on Tuesday will hear the petition of the Union home ministry asking for separate executions of the four death row convicts in the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder case.

The Centre moved the top court after the Delhi High Court rejected its petition on February 5.

The High Court had stated that the death warrant of all convicts in the case should be executed together and cannot be hanged separately.

The High Court had observed that under 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.

On Saturday, a Delhi court on had dismissed the plea of one of the convicts  Vinay Sharma - seeking treatment at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) for mental illness.

Vinays counsel, AP Singh, had told the court last week that his client suffers from mental illness, schizophrenia and has failed to recognise his counsel and family.

On 17 February, the court had issued a new death warrant against Vinay and the three other convicts - Mukesh Kumar Singh, Pawan Gupta and Akshay Thakur and ordered their hanging at 6 am on March 3. This is the third time a new death warrant has been issued against the four convicts.

Tihar Jail authorities in Delhi have written to all the four convicts about their last meeting with families ahead of their March 3 hanging. The four men were convicted of raping a 23-year-old woman on the night of December 16, 2012 in a moving bus in South Delhi and throwing her and her friend out of it. She died a fortnight later of serious injuries at a Singapore hospital.

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The Delhi Police on Tuesday said 11 FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence in northeast Delhi, in which 11 people were killed, and the force is responding to incidents involving anti-social elements.

Delhi Police spokesperson Mandeep Singh Randhawa said the situation in northeast Delhi is under control, even as several parts of the area continued to reel under violence. Over 20 persons have been detained and one person arrested till now, police said.

Among the 11 dead was Delhi Police head constable Rattan Lal.

Sources said he was shot in the left shoulder.

Randhawa said 11 FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence. He was also questioned whether action will be taken against BJP leader Kapil Mishra, who has been accused of instigating violence.

"All these things are under investigation. We will investigate and take action against conspirators," he said, in response to the query.

Sources also said Shahrukh, who had fired a few rounds in the air, after brandishing a gun at a policeman, has been arrested.

He said the situation was such as these areas are congested and inhabited by mixed population.

"We are responding to stray incidents of violence. Sufficient force has been deployed in northeast Delhi. RAF, SSB and CRPF have also been deployed.

"The MHA has given us additional force and we are deploying it," he said.

Sixty-seven companies of police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed across the area, police sources said.

He also said senior officers are on ground and even the Crime Branch and other units are working in close coordination to monitor the situation.

Senior police officers are also monitoring the situation closely, he added.

Randhawa said the police started receiving calls related to violent incidents from Monday.

"We received calls from Gokalpuri, Maujpur, Bhajanpura, Karawal Nagar about such incidents and our force was deployed there.

"We had deployed force on important points. Clashes happened between groups of protesters and we sent forces there to control the situation," he said.

Randhawa said 56 police personnel sustained injuries, including two IPS officers.

DCP (Shahdara) Amit Sharma sustained head injuries and is under medical observation.

He also said 130 civilians have been injured and admitted to hospitals.

He appealed to people to maintain peace, cooperate with police and not to pay heed to rumours.

"Despite prohibitory orders being in place, incidents were reported and we took action. We are tackling incidents and taking strong action. All miscreants and anti-social elements will be dealt with severely," Randhawa said.

Drones are also being used to monitor the situation and CCTV footage is being used to identify those who threw stones from their terraces.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The key to a good taco is in the details, Ms. Rocha said. Has the meat been well-cleaned? Are the tortillas homemade? Are high-quality dried beans used? Is attention being paid to the salsa? At Marcelos, another standout is the chicharrones verdes, chewy pork skins bathed in tomatillos, green chiles and cilantro, then served inside plush corn tortillas.

But for all the neighborhoods unanimous enthusiasm about tacos, the people who work at and frequent the taquerias are split in their response to the immigration policies playing out in Brownsville. No one interviewed agreed with those policies, but some said they had no big effect. Others were reluctant to speak out, while some voiced fears about their futures.

Southmost residents live daily with the fallout of immigration politics, from the Casa Padre shelter for minors, near a middle school, to the 2019 Migration Protection Protocols, which require asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their applications are processed. The area around Matamoros has become the one of the largest refugee camps on the border, with people living in squalid and sometimes violent conditions.

Ms. Rocha said she has had a harder time finding new employees at Marcelos since the protocols were put in place. The people who want to work dont have papers, she said, while many of those who do have them rely on unemployment checks and dont feel the need to get a job.

Friends have told her stories about Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raiding restaurants and taking away employees and diners who dont have proper documentation  though she hasnt experienced this herself.

Danielle Bennett, an ICE spokeswoman, said she couldnt confirm or deny that without an account of a specific action. She rejected the term raid, she said, because of the implication of the randomness.
[February 25, 2020] Outreach Chooses London for First International Office

Seattle-based SaaS unicorn targets the European market for sales industry disruption and category leadership in customer engagement; Hires sales veteran Tom Castley to lead European expansion LONDON, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Outreach , the number one sales engagement platform, opens its first international office in London to take over the European sales market. Outreach's London office will focus on customer engagement for the company's more than 200-strong European-based customers. The new office is centrally located in Shoreditch and will support Outreach's ambition to grow its UK workforce. The company is already the largest sales engagement company in Europe and plans to triple headcount by the end of the year. "We see a very real opportunity to help evolve the sales industry and customer experience in Europe and we see London as the best place to do so," said Manny Medina, chief executive officer of Outreach. "U.S. teams are engaging with customers in new and innovative ways. Our customers in Europe have shared with us that they believe Outreach can provide European customer-facing teams with the tools they need to transform the sector and turn sales into a true engine for business growth." As part of its commitment to the European market, Outreach has hired industry veteran Tom Castley to lead its London team. With nearly 20 years of experience building high functioning sales organisations in the tech space, Castley provides Outreach with a grounded view of the local market and expertise in growing international brands. Prior to Outreach, Castley spent three years at Apptio running the pan-European account management team responsible for more than $50M of revenue. He also spent several years at Oracle in various roles, concluding with leading CRM sales across manufacturing, retail, high tech, consumer goods, and other verticals. "The sales industry needs to change its image as an industy full of mavericks who magically secure sales pipeline at the last minute. We think it's time to put this cliche to bed," said Castley. "This is why we're swapping it for a data-driven approach that helps create a steady flow of prospects filling the pipeline and replaces the 'peaks and troughs' of the sales cycle with a predictable process. Companies can then arm their team with relevant data to not only perfect the art of customer engagement but also increase the productivity of the sector."



Outreach currently employs more than 450 employees and is headquartered in Seattle, Wash. The company aims to triple the number of people in the UK across all customer-supporting functions, including sales, account management, customer success, solutions consulting, professional services, member support, and plans to expand to marketing. Today, Outreach works with more than 4,000 customers around the globe. In Europe, Outreach currently has more than 200 customers, including Deliveroo, Docusign, and Signal AI. Outreach's fast-paced growth was recognised by Deloitte, receiving the prestigious 2019 Technology Fast 500 award, which ranked Outreach the fourth fastest-growing technology company in North America. Outreach was also named to the 2019 Forbes' Cloud 100 and LinkedIn's Top Startups list. Outreach's great workplace culture was recognised by Inc.'s Best Places to Work, Seattle Business Magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For and the Puget Sound Business Journal's Best Places to Work in Washington.

About Outreach

Outreach is the number one sales engagement platform that helps companies dramatically increase productivity and drive smarter, more insightful engagement with their customers. Over 4,000 companies such as Adobe, Tableau, Okta, Splunk, DocuSign, and SAP depend on Outreach's enterprise-scale, unparalleled customer adoption and robust AI-powered innovation. Outreach is a privately held company based in Seattle, Washington. To learn more, please visit www.outreach.io . PR Contact: Amanda Woolley

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The All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) has continued to receive best wishes and support from its counterparts in Vietnam, Myanmar and Cuba for the country's all-out efforts in the prevention and control work of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the past few days.

A screenshot of a letter from Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, President of the Vietnam Women's Union, to Shen Yueyue, President of the ACWF [For Women of China]

In a letter to Shen Yueyue, President of the ACWF, Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, President of the Vietnam Women's Union, said that Vietnamese people, including women, have closely monitored the COVID-19 outbreak in China and that Vietnamese women have worked together with their compatriots and all relevant authorities to ensure the prevention and control of the virus in their own country.

Nguyen said that she wanted to convey sincere greetings to the Chinese people, especially women and children, through the ACWF at this special moment. She spoke highly of the efforts and determination of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Chinese government and its people, especially Chinese women, in the anti-virus battle.

Nguyen went on to say that Vietnamese people are touched and inspired by the great sacrifices and losses made by female Chinese doctors, nurses and police officers at the frontline. She stressed that victory will eventually belong to China since it has accumulated rich experience in the curb of the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak in 2003 and has currently adopted comprehensive measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19.

A screenshot of a letter from Thet Thet Zin, President of the Myanmar Women's Affairs Federation, to the President of the ACWF [For Women of China]

Thet Thet Zin, President of the Myanmar Women's Affairs Federation (MWAF), said in her letter to President of the ACWF, on February 10, that it is a great sadness for her and members of the federation to learn that many Chinese people had been infected with the COVID-19 and even lost their lives since the outbreak in Wuhan City of Central China's Hubei Province.

Zin extended condolences to the families of the victims of the contagious virus and conveyed best wishes to virus-related patients for their early recovery. She hoped to see the Chinese government and its people successfully win their battle against the COVID-19 with advanced medical technology as soon as possible.

A screenshot of a letter by Teresa Amarelle Boue, General-Secretary of the Cuban Women's Federation, to the ACWF [For Women of China]

Teresa Amarelle Boue, General-Secretary of the Cuban Women's Federation, on February 12 lauded the measures and efforts made by the CPC, the Chinese government and the Chinese people in the prevention and control work of the COVID-19, and conveyed deep condolences to the bereaved families of those who have lost their lives.

Moreover, she extended an invitation to the ACWF to visit her country at a proper time.

(Women of China)
Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) holds a copy of the Steele Dossier during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on Dec. 11, 2019. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Lindsey Graham Says FISA Probe Will Focus on Mystery Russian Source and Unreliable Dossier

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has revealed the Senates investigation into FBI abuse of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act will focus on a Russian source who disputed much of the information in former British intelligence agent Christopher Steeles dossier.

Speaking on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Features, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee said the investigation will mainly focus on interviews the agency conducted with the Russian source, known in the Justice Department inspector generals report as Primary Sub-Source.

What Im going to do is call the people who were involved in investigating the counterintelligence investigation, Graham told host Maria Bartiromo.

You have 21 people involved that Ive named. And I want to find out what did [former FBI deputy Director Andrew] McCabe and [former FBI Director James] Comey know, when did they know that the dossier was unreliable.

The Department of Justice has withdrawn the two warrant requests saying theyre illegal, and in January of 2017, the primary Russian sub-source told four members of the Department of Justice and the FBI that the dossier was a bunch of bar talk and hearsay and not reliable, Graham continued.

Graham also expressed skepticism that the allegations had failed to reach those higher up in the FBI, adding, I find it hard to believe that that did not work its way up to Comey and McCabe.

I want to find out when did Comey and McCabe understand that it was not reliable and work from there.

The report states that Primary Sub-Source, was Steeles only direct source for information that was utilized in the dossier, which the FBI cited extensively in its four applications for FISA orders on Carter Page.

However, according to the inspector generals report, the source disputed much of what was attributed to him in the dossier, compiled by Steele, who had been hired by Fusion GPS, which in turn was hired by the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee through the Perkins Coie law firm, according to the Washington Examiner.

The source allegedly told the FBI and Justice Department that Steeles allegations were false or misleading.

The primary sub-source made statements during his/her January 2017 FBI interview that were inconsistent with multiple sections of the Steele reports, including some that were relied upon in the FISA applications, the IG report states.

Graham also said he also wants to know who else, if anyone, knew that the dossier was not credible, including former acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

Did Rosenstein know that the dossier had been debunked by the time he signed the warrant? How could he not know? Graham asked.

The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committees investigation comes after the Justice Department inspector general in December released a report (pdf) detailing 17 serious inaccuracies and omissions in their FISA warrant applications to wiretap Trumps 2016 presidential campaign volunteer Carter Page.

FBI Director Christopher Wray has since apologized to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) for the way it conducted surveillance of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page during the 2016 election.
Four student leaders of Samajwadi Party, a key Madhesi party, were arrested on Monday for showing black flags to Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli during an anti-government protest in Pokhara.

The members of the party's student wing had gathered outside the entrance gate of Pokhara City Hall, chanting slogans over corruption allegations against the government.

The protestors raised slogans about the recent audiotape controversy involving the former Information Minister and NCP leader Gokul Baskota and handing over the public land to Yeti Holdings Company.

Oli was in Pokhara, the famous tourist spot of Western Nepal, to address Gandaki Provincial Meeting.

The agitators were chanting slogans against the recent security printing press deal between Nepal government and Swiss Government.

Those arrested during the anti-government protest include Netra Chapagain and Resham Thapa, student leaders aligned to the Samajwadi Party.

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress president and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, alleged that several other ministers including the Prime Minister himself could be involved in the Rs 700 million commission deal.

Addressing a meeting in Lumbini of Western Nepal on Tuesday former Prime Minister Deuba said one single individual could not have been involved in such a huge bribery deal, others also must have been involved in it. He also demanded impartial investigation into the matter.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Delhi Police chief Amulya Patnaik visited the office of North-east DCP Ved Prakash Surya in Seelampur for a meeting late on Tuesday night. Around midnight, Doval left for riot-hit areas to review the situation, according to officials who asked not to be named.

Doval, accompanied by Patnaik and other senior officials visited Maujpur, Jafarabad, Gokulpuri, Bhajanpur and to conduct a first-hand review of the situation.

Delhi: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval leaves from office of Deputy Commissioner of Police North-East in Seelampur after reviewing security situation. pic.twitter.com/VuS7vm291O  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

The intervention by NSA came minutes after Union Home Minister Amit Shah called for a third meeting with Delhi police and his ministry officials on late Tuesday evening. The meeting, according to the news agency ANI, lasted for almost three hours and was the third such within a span of 24 hours.

Parts of north-east Delhi, including Jafrabad, Maujpur and Babarpur have been in the centre of clashes between two groups  one supporting the amended citizenship law and another protesting against its introduction.

Keeping the widespread reports of violence in consideration, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday deferred the Class 10 and 12 papers to be held on Wednesday at 86 centres in north-east Delhi, where 13 people have died in violence related to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
There are more than 12,700 broken street lights across Northern Ireland, with the Department for Infrastructure facing a repair bill of 870,000, according to minister Nichola Mallon.

In response to a question from Ulster Unionist MLA Andy Allen, the Department for Infrastructure said the cost of providing a full street lighting repair service was 3.2m annually.

It added that as of Monday there were 12,713 reported street lighting outages, with the cost of repairing them all estimated at 870,000.

David Ramsay, a DUP councillor in Londonderry, said the issue of broken lighting had created a lot of anger in his local community.

"In this day and age we expect to have street lighting and obviously people pay rates towards all of this," he added.

"The money needs to be invested in this because it is a public service that is very much required.

"There are lights I reported in my area five months ago that are still out."

Mr Allen said he was motivated to raise the issue with the minister after receiving correspondence from a number of residents across his East Belfast constituency.

"It is an issue that has been raised with me by many constituents across east Belfast," he explained.

"I do appreciate and understand the maintenance section in the department is working hard to repair street lighting in a timely manner.

"However, in some cases it is taking a considerable period of time."

In a statement, the Department for Infrastructure welcomed an allocation of 3m for street lighting repairs, winter gritting services and road maintenance.

Infrastructure Minister Mallon said: "I recognise the importance of street lighting repairs in terms of public safety and residents' confidence. My department is striving to repair the outages in the most efficient manner.

"I am delighted that the Finance Minister has listened to my representations regarding the urgent need to fix our broken street lights and potholes and to ensure our roads are salted during cold weather.

"Services like these are vital to ensure communities feel safe."
Permit problems and legal woes have plagued the Windy City Rehab team in the last year. The city held a hearing last week on four Windy City Rehab properties it had deemed dangerous and unsafe. The properties are to be kept vacant and secure until an April court hearing. A Lincoln Square couple, meanwhile, is suing Gramenos and Eckhardt over defects they say they found in their $1.36 million home, which was featured on the first season of the show.
DUBLIN, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BOC Group today announced the latest release of their BPM suite ADONIS NP 9.0, adding a new set of exciting features, enabling smoother analysis and optimization of organizational digital twins (DTO). New insights dashboards, process impact analysis, and 64-bit support are just some of the many highlights of this release, helping users to explore and analyse the process world faster and easier, while setting a new benchmark for tool usability.

Tobias Rausch, ADONIS product manager, elaborates: "We always try to push our boundaries further and outdo ourselves with each new release, to deliver improvements that really have an impact on the quality of our users' work."

"This time, the focus was more on the technical side, covering big milestones like the upgrade to 64-bit. We've ensured that ADONIS is beyond prepared to support customers throughout their BPM journeys, both now and in the long-run  guaranteeing an impeccable, future-proof architecture to build upon for all users in all scenarios."

Rausch continues: "ADONIS NP 9.0 really packs a punch with features like the new process impact analysis, 'my departments view' in the reader portal, and the new insights dashboards for roles and organizational units, as central pieces of any organization. With such capabilities at hand, our customers are fully equipped to enhance their organization's digital twin (DTO) and analyse it efficiently from different perspectives."

A detailed insight into the latest innovations of ADONIS is available on the BOC Group website.

BOC Group recommends all interested parties to register for the 30-Day Free Trial to discover the full potential of this powerful BPM suite.

About the BOC Group

BOC Group develops software products and services for effective and extensive management of all capabilities and assets within your organization. The company puts a strong emphasis on improving Process Management and Enterprise Architecture capabilities, as well as facilitating better Governance and Compliance.

ADONIS global customers include, among others, Airbus, Allianz, Emerson, Generali, Hilti, Rewe and Telefonica.

We deliver our products and services with over 200 employees spread across Athens, Berlin, Dublin, Madrid, Paris, Vienna, Warsaw and Winterthur with more than 90 partners around the globe.

Contacts

BOC Information Technologies Consulting GmbH

Ing. Enrique Lobo Cruz

Market Development Manager

+43-1-905-10-81-2250

[email protected]

SOURCE BOC Products & Services AG

Related Links

https://www.boc-group.com


On Wednesday, Feb. 19, at the High-Performance Computing Center of the University of Stuttgart (HLRS), Baden-Wurttemberg Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Education and Research Michael Meister, and Baden-Wurttemberg Science Minister Theresia Bauer joined in a ceremony marking the beginning of operation of HLRS's new supercomputer, called "Hawk." With a peak performance of approximately 26 Petaflops (26 quadrillion floating point operations per second), Hawk -- an Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) supercomputer system powered by 2nd Gen AMD EPYC processors -- is among the fastest supercomputers worldwide and the fastest general purpose system for scientific and industrial computing in Europe.

Prof. Wolfram Ressel, Rector of the University of Stuttgart, welcomed the inauguration of the new supercomputer: "Hawk expands the University of Stuttgart's already excellent research infrastructure with an additional flagship system. It will enable cutting edge academic and industrial research in a wide range of contexts where simulation and Big Data play important roles. In this way the new high-performance computer also makes an important contribution to realizing the University of Stuttgart's vision, Intelligent systems for a sustainable society."

A central location for cutting-edge research

Hawk will play a central role in the German national and State of Baden-Wurttemberg high-performance computing strategies. Its inauguration marks the beginning of a new era for research in the computational sciences, simulation, and artificial intelligence in Germany and Baden-Wurttemberg, particularly with regard to their applications in engineering.

As Parliamentary State Secretary Dr. Michael Meister explained, "Computers like Hawk are tools for advanced research in the sciences and in industry. They enable excellent science and innovation, and solidify Germany's international position as a top location for supercomputing. High-performance computers also contribute to technological sovereignty in the digital age. For us, technological sovereignty means developing our own expertise in systems and applications that make science and industry competitive at the highest level. It is only in this way that we can guarantee a mutually reciprocal exchange with leading research centers and companies worldwide. Stuttgart's 'Hawk' demonstrates this very clearly, because without the close cooperation between computing center and manufacturer, a system of this caliber would never have been possible."

Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann explained, "With Hawk we can support key industries in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, enabling fields like mobility, mechanical engineering, and health to take advantage of new opportunities using simulation. One of the fastest computers located at a public institution worldwide that is also open for industrial usage is a smart investment in our future as a location for science and industry. Additionally, it offers great promise for climate simulation. HLRS's work is not only of enormous importance for Baden-Wurttemberg: Hawk also strengthens Germany's national supercomputing infrastructure, as well as that of Europe, as HLRS is contributing to the development of four of ten European centers of excellence."

Funding of 38 million Euros

Half of the funding for Hawk -- in total, 38 million Euros -- was provided by the Baden-Wurttemberg Ministry for Science, Research, and Art in conjunction with its high-performance computing/data intensive computing (HPC/DIC) strategy. The second half was provided by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research in the context of the SiVeGCS project. Financing was facilitated by the Gauss Centre for Supercomputing (GCS), the alliance of Germany's three national supercomputing centers.

New opportunities for research and industry

With a peak performance that is 3.5 times faster than HLRS's previous flagship computing system -- Hazel Hen -- Hawk will open up completely new academic and industrial application areas and empower scientists and engineers to conduct research on ever larger and more complex phenomena.

Among Hawk's future application areas are, for example, gaining new understanding for optimizing energy efficiency in wind turbines, optimizing motors and power plants, or improving aerodynamic performance in aircraft and automobile engineering. Hawk could, for example, for the first time make it possible to create a detailed simulation of noise generation for an entire airplane, or calculate the complex interactions between global and regional climate models to enable mid-term predictions of climate change. More comprehensive and more complex simulations related to pandemic research, the prediction of migration flows, and other global challenges will also become possible with Hawk.

In addition to supporting academic research, HLRS makes it possible for private industry to access its supercomputing technologies. Up to 10% of Hawk's computing time is available to provide crucial support for the digitalization of industry in Baden-Wurttemberg and Germany. Currently, more than 40 (primarily medium-sized) companies perform computational research on HLRS's systems. In this regard Stuttgart and the Gauss Centre for Supercomputing stand alone in Europe.

Science Minister Theresia Bauer expands on this, saying, "The concept of high-performance computing means rapid development. As quickly as the peak performance of supercomputers rises, it has an equally decisive impact for cutting-edge research and for the development of innovative products and processes in key sectors of our economy. In all things related to supercomputing, Baden-Wurttemberg is a European leader and globally competitive. Having HLRS as a part of the University of Stuttgart is an important part of this. It means that it is not just the impressive computational performance of the supercomputer -- but also the entire methodological expertise located here -- that enables our leading computational research to achieve breathtaking results."

HLRS, AMD, and HPE begin new cooperation

The beginning of Hawk's operation also marks the beginning of a new collaboration between HLRS, AMD, and HPE to accelerate the development of next-generation supercomputing technologies. Hawk is one of the largest systems to date employing the AMD EYPC 7742 processor, and the collaboration serves as fertile ground for researchers and computer scientists to fine-tune their codes on the latest AMD technology processor. Together, the participants will gain insights into improving the efficiency of massively parallel systems and to apply their technologies in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence and data analytics. Among the topics the organizations plan to address together are the development of new software and tools for high-performance computing, performance optimization, and applications involving artificial intelligence. Such technologies are the springboard for the next level of supercomputer performance -- called exascale computing -- which will become a reality in the coming years.

###

About the High-Performance Computing Center Stuttgart

The High-Performance Computing Center Stuttgart was established in 1996 as the first German national high-performance computing center, building on a tradition of supercomputing at the University of Stuttgart that stretches back to 1959. As a research institution affiliated with the University of Stuttgart and a founding member of the Gauss Centre for Supercomputing -- the alliance of Germany's three national supercomputing centers -- HLRS provides state-of-the-art HPC services to academic users and industry. HLRS operates one of Europe's most powerful supercomputers, provides advanced training in HPC programming and simulation, and conducts research to address key problems facing the future of supercomputing. Among HLRS's areas of expertise are parallel programming, numerical methods for HPC, visualization, grid and cloud computing concepts, data analytics, and artificial intelligence. Users of HLRS computing systems are active across a wide range of disciplines, with an emphasis on computational engineering and applied science.

Expert Contact

Prof. Dr. Michael Resch, University of Stuttgart, High-Performance Computing Center Stuttgart, Tel.: +49 (0) 711 / 685-87200, E-Mail

More information about Hawk

https://www.hlrs.de/systems/hpe-apollo-hawk/
Britain could lose up to $32 billion annually in exports to the if it fails to strike a with the bloc, UN economists said on Tuesday.

The UN Conference on Trade, Investment and Development (UNCTAD) said the losses would be the equivalent of 14 percent of Britain's exports to the EU.

UNCTAD said half of the losses would come from tariffs that could be imposed by both sides and half from non-tariff measures impacting trade such as health and environmental regulations or packaging standards.

"The losses would deal a major blow to the UK's economy, as the EU market accounts for 46 percent of the UK's exports," said the study by the Geneva-based agency.

It also found a negative impact for some EU countries.

The most affected would be Ireland, which could see a 10-percent cut in its exports under the no-deal scenario.

Britain left the last month and has vowed to strike a deal on new trading relations with the bloc by the end of the year, saying that it will adopt much looser economic ties if there is no agreement by then.

But the UNCTAD study found that even a "standard" trade deal, such as one modelled on the EU-Canada deal advocated by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, would still see Britain's exports to the EU fall by 9 per cent.

This is because standard trade deals normally concentrate more on reducing or eliminating tariffs rather than non-tariff measures and Britain has already indicated it will diverge from the EU in terms of regulation.
It's been a long journey for Jennifer Lee and Ben Yeung, who are among the 129 Canadians who have gone from quarantine aboard the Diamond Princess in Japan to another 14 days of isolation in Cornwall, Ont.

But for Lee, one of the scariest parts was the bus trip from CFB Trenton, where they landed early Friday morning, to Cornwall's Nav Centre, their new temporary home.

"We were packed into that bus," she told CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning. "We thought if we were going to contract the virus, it would be there, while we were in the bus."

At one point, Lee said the bus had to pull over until authorities gave the go-ahead to continue.

"We were not allowed to leave the bus, so we just sat there for 45 minutes. Some people were coughing. I hope it was nothing to do with the virus."

Ben Leung

Fears are growing that the COVID-19 outbreak could become a pandemic. Most infections have been confined to China, but other countries including South Korea, Italy and Iran are battling to contain the virus. Canada has a new presumptive case in Toronto after a patient arrived from China on Friday. If it's confirmed, it would be this country's 10th case.

'The view is amazing'

Now four days into their two-week quarantine and ensconced in a room on the Nav Centre's fourth floor, where the B.C. couple has a view of the St. Lawrence River, Lee said things are finally looking up.

"The view is amazing. Beautiful."

Ben Yeung

She said the room is about the same size as the couple's cabin on the Diamond Princess. She said it was a "big relief" to get off the cruise ship.

"It was just the fear. You don't know when you might contract the virus, because the figures kept going up."

Lee said she and her husband were "lucky" to have an outside cabin with a balcony throughout their 16-day quarantine aboard the ship."If I were trapped in a windowless cabin, I think I would [have gone] crazy."

Story continues

Their balcony offered them an up-close look as the crisis unfolded around them. "There were a lot of ambulances at the port. People in full [protective] gear. That's what we saw every day."

Staff friendly but cautious

Lee said they're being cared for very well at the Nav Centre, where the staff is friendly but cautious.

"Of course, they keep a big distance from us. Every time they knock on the door, they'll back up two metres  when they talk to us. Everybody is very cautious. They don't want to get too close to us."

That can add to the psychological toll, Lee said. "It makes us feel like we are already the patient, you know?"

Still, she's glad they're taking precautions."They're on their toes. It's fine."

Ben Yeung

The couple is allowed outside for fresh air, but they don't mix with the others. "We don't even mingle with anybody else. We just don't talk to anyone. We just keep to ourselves."

Lee said she's most looking forward to being reunited with family in B.C. once their quarantine is over, especially her "two daughters"  one her actual daughter, the other her Scottish terrier, Coco.

In the meantime, Lee and her husband say they have no symptoms of coronavirus. "Fingers crossed."
A look at some of the key moments in the life of the man who ruled Egypt for almost 30 years.
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.
The Delhi Traffic Police has urged commuters to plan their travel as they may experience delays owing to traffic restrictions in place for US President Donald Trump's visit, officials said on Tuesday.

Trump, who arrived in the national capital on Monday night, is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including his family members.

According to an advisory issued by the Delhi Traffic Police, 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.

In the 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 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 -- incase 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, reached Delhi after attending the 'Namaste Trump' event at Ahmedabad and visiting the Taj Mahal in Agra on Monday evening.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
THE renaissance of Irish whiskey over the past decade has seen it become the worlds fastest growing brown spirit.

Global sales doubled from less than 6m cases (72m bottles) in 2010 to over 12m cases (144m bottles) by 2020.

Irish drinks exports grew 8% last year to reach 1.45bn with over half of that growth achieved by whiskey.

Ireland was a global powerhouse of whiskey production in the 19th century but it later fell apart and by 1980 there were only two working distilleries left.

The past 10 years have seen a dramatic turnaround with the number of working distilleries increasing from four to nearly 30 by the end of 2019.

Due to the increased demand for Irish whiskey, the areas of malting barley being grown in Ireland for the production process have also increased.

This is giving tillage farmers the chance to enter a niche market with their produce and increase their profitability.

That was the backdrop to the recent malting barley conference in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, part of a joint programme by Teagasc and Boortmalt, the global malting company, which has 27 plants on five continents,

including one in Athy, Co Kildare.

Kieran Kilcawley, Teagasc Moorepark, spoke about research he is conducting on terroir, a concept that the taste and smell of

whiskey can be directly associated with the location where the malting barley crop has been grown. While his research is ongoing, initial results have indicated there is a link.

Tom Bryan, technical manager with Boortmalt, said the companys new malting barley facility in Athy is now complete and operational, with the reconstruction of the old facility due to be completed shortly.

With increased capacity, he said the company aims to purchase a record quantity of malting barley this season to 180,000 tonnes.

The growing interest in Irish whiskey has also boosted the tourism industry here. Over 1m people, a 10.5% increase, visited distilleries and brand homes last year, according to Drinks Ireland/Irish

Whiskey Association.

North America remains the top market of origin for visitors to the whiskey distilleries, with tourists from the US and Canada accounting for 34% of all visits in 2019, followed by Ireland (13%), Britain (12%),

Germany (10%), and France (7%).

Last year also saw a rise in visitor numbers from Australia, Italy, and the Benelux and Nordic countries, all outside the top five markets of origin.

Between 2018 and 2019, the highest increase (32%) was seen in visitors from Germany, while those from Ireland (North and the Republic) grew by 16% and from France by 15%.

These increases were offset slightly by falls in the numbers visiting from North America and Britain. However, North Americans are still the highest

proportion of the visitors to whiskey distilleries and brand centres across the island of Ireland.

More centres are planned to open this year, including one at the Hinch Distillery close to Belfast and a new visitor experience at the Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim.

Existing visitors recorded slight growth. The bulk of these resulted from four new openings: Clonakilty Distillery in West Cork, Powerscourt at Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, and two in the capital, Dublin Liberties and Roe & Co.

The number of staff directly employed in Irish whiskey visitor services increased by 15% in 2019, from 356 to 409, with a resultant economic boost to the communities in which they are located.

Irish Distillers, recently named Cork Company of the Year, produces Jameson in Midleton, Co Cork, where it has a long-established visitor centre. At the other end of the island, Bushmills Distillery in Antrim is another popular tourism attraction.

William Lavelle, head of Drinks Ireland/Irish Whiskey Association, said the total number of visitors to Irish whiskey distilleries and brand homes in just four years has grown by 54%, from 653,000 in 2015 to the 2019 record of 1.02m.

Exceeding 1m visitors annually is a massive achievement and I congratulate the managers and staff of our 17 visitor attractions on achieving this milestone. Irish whiskey distilleries and brand homes are now firmly established as a star performer within Irelands all-island tourism offering.

Jameson Distillery, Bow St, Dublin, remains the No. 1 Irish whiskey visitor attraction; and indeed the No. 1 whiskey visitor attraction in Europe; in addition to being voted the worlds leading distillery tour for the second year running at the World Travel Awards in 2019, he said.

Mr Lavelle said the continued popularity of Irish whiskey visitor experiences could be attributed, in part, to the diverse range of tourism offerings within distilleries and brand homes.

Irish whiskey is set to be a world leader in experiential tourism. Many distilleries and brand homes have innovated and expanded their offerings.

Weve seen a marked increase in blending and cocktail classes, for example, along with more meet the maker, food-pairing, and seasonal special events.

The increase in visitors last year was undoubtedly supported by the Taste

the Island food and drink tourism promotion led by Failte Ireland.

Irish whiskey distilleries and brand homes look forward to enhancing our participation in Taste the Island in 2020, he said.

By throwing open the doors of our distilleries, by showcasing our people, our places and our practices, we are putting our authenticity and the uniqueness of Irish whiskey on display.

Mr Lavelle said while the 2019 visitor numbers are

undoubtedly positive,

year-on-year trends point

to potential challenges ahead.

Future growth in visitor numbers to established Irish whiskey distilleries and brand homes will require a fresh approach to attracting visitors, he said.

Mr Lavelle said it will prioritise its promotional activities in the US and

Canada, working closely with state tourism agencies. It will also continue to

keep a close eye on the

impact of Brexit on tourism figures.
Thailand's 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 Malaysia's 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 Forward's 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 Malaysia's 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 Pannika's accusations. "The ministries are investigating and if it's not true, they can sue," he told reporters. Since 2016, a "red notice" was issued by Interpol at Singapore's request to flag Low's travels. Countries receiving flagged individuals would typically inform requesting governments about the fugitive's whereabouts, executing an extradition process. But Pannika claimed that Thailand's 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 Prayut's 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 year's 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 establishment's side since it scooped up 6.3 million votes. The party's radical anti-military agenda appealed to mostly to millennials or those weary of the conservative royalist army's 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.
Regulatory News:

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) ("PSH") today announced that it has purchased, through PSH's agent, Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies"), the following number of PSH's Public Shares of no par value (ISIN Code: GG00BPFJTF46) (the "Shares"):

Trading Venue: London Stock Exchange Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 25 February 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 21,281 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 1,522 pence 19.79 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 1,484 pence 19.30 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 1,513 pence 19.68 USD Ticker: PSHD Date of Purchase: 25 February 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 9,843 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 19.64 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 19.64 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 19.64 USD Trading Venue: Euronext Amsterdam Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 25 February 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 21,225 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 19.76 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 19.30 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 19.64 USD

PSH will hold these Public Shares in Treasury. The net asset value per Public Share related to this buyback is 27.92 USD 21.48 GBP which was calculated as of 18 February 2020 (the "Relevant NAV"). After giving effect to the above buyback, PSH has 203,246,435 Public Shares outstanding, or 208,950,002 Public Shares calculated on a fully diluted basis (assuming that all Management Shares had been converted into Public Shares at the Relevant NAV). Excluded from the shares outstanding are 7,710,315 Public Shares held in Treasury. The prices per Public Share were calculated by Jefferies.

The number of PSH Management Shares and the one special voting share (held by PS Holdings Independent Voting Company Limited) have not been affected.

About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd.

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American companies.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005941/en/

Contacts:

Media

Camarco

Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk
Generally, 80,248 people infected with the virus spotted in the world

geography of coronavirus FAO

On February 25, 71 new cases of death by coronavirus spotted in China. The mortality amounted to 2,663 people as Al Jazeera reported.

China reports about 77,658 infected and 2,663 deaths from coronavirus, the message said.

71 people died in mainland China, 68 of them were in Wuhan, the epidemic center.

508 deaths from the epidemic spotted outside China.

According to Johns Hopkins CSSE (U.S.), the total amount of deaths by Covid-19 made 2,704 people. Generally, 80,248 people infected with the virus spotted in the world.

As we reported, Afghanistan, Bahrain, and Kuwait stated about the first cases of Covid-19 coronavirus.

Moreover, in China, 195 cases of re-infection with COVID-19 have been recorded.

Meanwhile, 23,290 people in the world have been cured of coronavirus.
The Spartan-like defense and tragedy of Xuan Loc, April 1975.

The last major battle of the Vietnam War was fought at Xuan Loc, only 37 miles east by northeast of Saigon. In April 1975 the town was the eastern anchor of South Vietnams final line of defense against the North Vietnamese rush to the capital. That line ran west through Bien Hoa, just north of Saigon, to Tay Ninh, near the Cambodian border. Once it broke, Saigon was doomedand with it the Republic of Vietnam itself.

When the North Vietnamese Army attacked Xuan Loc (pronounced Swan Lock) on April 9, the communists and almost everyone else expected the Army of the Republic of Vietnams 18th Division to collapse like a house of cards, as had so many other ARVN units during the NVAs massive Spring Offensive of 1975. But ARVN forces under Brig. Gen. Le Minh Dao fought fiercely in a last-ditch effort to save their country. By the time Xuan Loc did fall 12 days later, most of the world was amazed at how well the ARVN had fought, and the NVA had paid a far steeper price than it expected. Indeed, the valiant stand at Xuan Loc by heavily outnumbered ARVN soldiers echoes the famed sacrifice of King Leonidas 300 Spartans facing Xerxes Persian masses at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. Greece. The Persians then marched south and captured Athens.

Xuan Loc, the capital of Long Khanh province, had always been a strategically sensitive place. The town sat astride the French-built Highway 1, near the junction with Highway 20. From Xuan Loc, Highway 1 ran almost 40 miles east until it reached the South China Sea, where it turned north and went up the coast past the Demilitarized Zone and on to Hanoi.



After Da Nang fell on March 29, 1975, a North Vietnamese Army soldier stands alongside the spoils of war, a broken-down American-made Huey helicopter. (A. Abbas/Magnam Photo)

From March 1967 to January 1969 the U.S. 11th Armored Cavalry Regiments Blackhorse Base Camp was some 4 miles south of Xuan Loc. During that time, Highway 1 was relatively secure from Xuan Loc west toward the northern edge of Saigon. But since 1962 the road east to the coast had been shut down completely, as it ran through the heart of the May Tao Secret Zone, a mountainous area where the Viet Cong 5th Division was based and U.S. intelligence hadnt penetrated. From November 1967 to early 1968, Operation Santa Fe, conducted by the U.S. 9th Infantry Divisions 1st Brigade, the 1st Australian Task Force and the ARVN 18th Division, attempted to open Highway 1 to the coast. Although the road was eventually opened, the VC 5th Division mostly avoided contact as it positioned itself for the Tet Offensive in late January 1968.

During the war, North Vietnam launched three major offensives against South Vietnam. The Tet Offensive of 1968 and the Easter Offensive of 1972 were military failures. The 1975 Spring Offensive would succeed. By that time, all U.S. forces were out of Vietnam, and legislation passed by Congress in June 1973 prohibited the use of government funds for military operations in Southeast Asia without congressional approval.

In 1975 North Vietnam, which had organized its army divisions into four corps, committed all four to attacks on the South. The NVA force in South Vietnam totaled 270,000 troops, 1,076 artillery pieces and mortars, 320 tanks and 250 other armored vehicles.

After successful probes in early 1975 in the northern sector of the South Vietnamese III Corps Tactical Zone (a military region encompassing Saigon and provinces to the north), the NVA on March 8 launched Campaign 275, directed at Ban Me Thuot, a provincial capital in the Central Highlands, part of the II Corps zone. The ARVN held out for eight days. When Ban Me Thuot fell, Pleiku and Kontum, also in the Central Highlands, were outflanked and cut off from the south. NVA forces quickly drove toward An Khe and the coasteffectively cutting South Vietnam in two. The NVA then took the northern I Corps zone cities of Hue and Da Nang, which fell on March 29.

ARVN units in those areas had quickly collapsed during the relentless NVA advance. They abandoned their positions and joined tens of thousands of panic-stricken refugees trying to escape to the south, bringing widespread looting and destruction in their wake. By the end of March, the NVA effectively controlled the entire northern half of South Vietnam.

Ignoring frantic pleading from South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu, the United States would not intervene, despite security guarantees given to Saigon in the January 1973 Paris Peace Accords. Even if the president wanted to provide military support, the War Powers Act, enacted in November 1973, severely restricted his ability to commit U.S. forces on his own.

The NVA, meanwhile, positioned its forces for the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, the final phase of the conquest of South Vietnam. The North Vietnamese IV Corps advanced on Xuan Loc from the northeast, while the NVA II Corps converged on the town from the northwest. The ARVN 18th Infantry Division was essentially all that stood in their way.

Earlier in the war, the 18th Infantry Division had the reputation as one of the ARVNs worst units. That changed rapidly in March 1972, after 39-year-old Dao assumed command. Dynamic and aggressive, he was one of the best officers in the ARVN. Unlike so many other ARVN senior officers, whose careers had been built on family, social and political connectionseven on bribery and corruptionDao advanced on sheer ability. Despite the youthful good looks and large dark sunglasses that gave the impression he was just another playboy from the elite, privileged class of South Vietnamese, Dao had an inner core of steel and one of the finest tactical minds on either side of the Vietnam War.

The general eschewed a palatial villa in favor of a modest two-story house close to where his troops were billeted. During the battle, Dao spent much of his time moving among his frontline troops rather than issuing orders from a secure command post bunker. He insisted that all his officers maintain close contact with subordinates at least two levels down. It was an unorthodox style of leadership in an army characterized by a rigid class stratification between officers and enlisted men. Daos troops repaid their commander with unstinting devotion and loyalty.

Before the fight at Xuan Loc, Dao defiantly told foreign journalists: I am determined to hold Xuan Loc. I dont care how many divisions the communist will send against me. I will smash them all! The world shall see the strength and skill of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.

Dao and his commanders prepared well. First, they evacuated the soldiers families to the relative safety of the huge logistical base at Long Binh, close to Saigon, enabling the men to focus on the fight because their families were out of immediate harms way. Dao also had the foresight to establish two fully functional alternate divisional command posts.



Refugees from Da Nang and other areas overrun by the NVA arrive by boat at Vung Tau, a port near Saigon, on April 3, 1975. (The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images)

After studying the approach routes the communists had used to attack Xuan Loc during the 1968 Tet Offensive, Dao moved his 36 divisional field artillery pieces to positions where they could mass their fire into a triangular kill zone on the western side of the town. He placed his guns in reinforced revetments, stockpiled with ammunition, and had them adjusted for pinpoint accuracy on enemy artillery positions and all potential routes of attack. He sent infantry patrols to occupy key pieces of high ground the NVA could use as artillery observation posts.

One of the most important pieces of high ground was Nui Soc Lu, known as Ghost Mountain, astride Highway 20 and just outside the northwestern edge of Xuan Locs defensive perimeter.

Dao positioned two long-range 175 mm M107 self-propelled guns at Tan Phong, his first alternate command post, near the southern edge of Xaun Locs defensive perimeter. He had his communications and intelligence troops monitor all known NVA radio frequencies, and he studied the intercept reports daily.

In addition to the 18th Divisions own 43rd, 48th and 52nd Infantry regiments and the 181st and 182nd Field Artillery battalions, Daos attached forces included troops from South Vietnamese militia organizationsfour Regional Force battalions and two Popular Force companies.

The NVAs IV Corps, commanded by Maj. Gen. Do Van Cam, whose nom de guerre was Hoang Cam, moved toward Xuan Loc with its 6th, 7th and 341st Infantry divisions, supported by two armored and two artillery battalions, an anti-aircraft artillery regiment, two combat engineering regiments and a signals regiment. Cams forward command post was at Nui Chua Chan mountain, outside the eastern end of the Xuan Loc defensive perimeter. The NVA attackers numbered some 20,000, the ARVN defenders about 12,000.

To disrupt the NVA deployment, Dao sent a battalion-sized blocking force from the 52nd Infantry Regiment north along Highway 20 on March 28. For two days those troops held off the NVA 341st Division. By April 1, however, the South Vietnamese soldiers were pushed back to the Xuan Loc perimeter. They brought with them several prisoners of war, and interrogations revealed that many of the 341st Division POWs were barely 16 years old and largely untrained, although all were carrying modern Soviet bloc weapons.

The battle for Xuan Loc started at 5:40 a.m. on April 9 with an intense artillery barrage. The NVA gunners well-targeted very first shell hit Daos house and exploded in the bedroom. It was followed by 2,000 more rounds. At 6:40 a.m. the barrage ended, and NVA tanks and infantry moved against the town from three directions. When the shooting started, Dao was in Long Binh, where he had gone the previous day to coordinate logistical support for his division. Alerted to the attack in a phone call from his chief of staff, Dao left by helicopter for Xuan Loc. En route, he received situation reports by radio from regimental commanders.

The communists were certain Daos troops would break and run as soon as the artillery barrage lifted, but the ARVN soldiers held their ground. The NVAs 7th Division carried out the main assault, attacking from the northeast without tank support. It was slowed by eight belts of barbed wire and minefields, then pummeled from the air by the South Vietnamese air force A-37B Dragonfly attack planes and F-5E Tiger fighters.

Later that morning the North Vietnamese reinforced the 7th Division with eight T-54 tanks. ARVN soldiers destroyed three of them but lost seven of their own M41 Walker Bulldog tanks. The attack from the northeast finally stalled, but not before the 7th Division overran Daos main command post. The general, however, had already shifted his divisional headquarters to the alternate command post at Tan Phong.

The NVA 341st Division, attacking from the northwest, entered Xuan Loc and captured an ARVN communications center, along with a local police station. But the untrained North Vietnamese teenagers could not exploit their initial gains. They were driven back by the ARVN 52nd Regimental Task Force, supported by a South Vietnamese C-119 gunship.

The 6th Division made the only significant NVA gains. Attacking from the south, its troops interdicted Highway 1 east of the Dau Giay intersection with Highway 20, cutting off Xuan Loc from Saigon. When the battles first day ended, the NVA had suffered about 700 dead and wounded, the ARVN 18th Division fewer than 50.

The battle seesawed back and forth for the next two days. At 5:27 a.m. on April 10, NVA artillery opened up with a 1,000-round barrage. The NVA 7th and 341st divisions attacked in their respective sectors but were driven back repeatedly by ARVN counterattacks, sometimes in hand-to-hand fighting. The communists lost five more tanks. Dao ordered two battalions to attack two 341st Division regiments that had reached the heart of the town, and many of the teenage NVA troops broke in panic, scattering into Xuan Locs sewers and ruined cellars. Some captured later had not fired a single bullet from their 72-round basic load.

Meanwhile, fighter-bombers in South Vietnams 3rd and 5th Air divisions, operating from the Bien Hoa and Tan Son Nhut air bases on the outskirts of Saigon, flew more than 200 sorties in support of the besieged garrison. That night, North Vietnamese artillery fired 2,000 rounds into Xuan Loc, but Daos gunners kept up an effective counterbattery fire.

Early in the morning of April 11, NVA artillery opened fire with a 30-minute barrage. The 7th and 341st divisions then resumed their attacks, but again without success. IV Corps commander Cam, who had led a battalion of Viet Minh independence fighters against the French at Dien Bien Phu in 1954, later wrote: This was the most ferocious battle I had ever been involved in! My personal assessment was that, after three days of battle, even after committing our reserves, the situation had not improved and we had suffered significant casualties.

Cam estimated that during the battles first three days his 7th Division had suffered 300 casualties, and the green teens of the 341st Division 1,200. Virtually all of the NVAs 85 mm and 75 mm artillery pieces had been knocked out by ARVN counterfire.



South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu, here in an undated photo, had praised the defense of Xuan Loc, but just days later, on April 21, he resigned to escape the encroaching enemy. (Corbis via Getty Images)

Despite Daos strong defense of Xuan Loc thus far, the South Vietnamese Joint General Staff knew it had to reinforce him. The 11th Armored Brigade was committed from the west on April 11 to clear Highway 1 to the Dau Giay intersection, but the brigades 322nd Armored Regiment lost 11 tanks and could not dislodge the NVA.

The 1st Airborne Brigade, taking off from Bien Hoa in 100 UH-1B Huey helicopters on April 12, landed near the Bao Dinh rubber tree plantation south of Xuan Loc. CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters brought in the brigades supporting artillery and 93 tons of ammunition. On their return to the base, the choppers evacuated wounded 18th Division troops and local civilians in the last large-scale helicopter operation of the war.

Two marine battalions were ordered to form blocking positions between Xuan Loc and Bien Hoa, while ranger, infantry and artillery battalions provided reinforcements against an NVA attack toward Dau Giay. Meanwhile, the air force continued to pound the NVA, dropping several huge 15,000-pound BLU-82 Daisy Cutter bombs from C-130 Hercules cargo planes.

By the end of the fourth day, NVA dead totaled close to 2,000. Col. Gen. Tran Van Tra, the NVA officer who commanded the Viet Cong and the southern region, assumed personal control of the battle on April 13, and IV Corps was reinforced with additional troops, tanks and artillery. That same day, Dao was hit in the arm by artillery shell fragmentation. Tra shifted the NVAs main thrust away from the center of Xuan Loc. He ordered the 6th and 341st Infantry divisions to concentrate instead on hitting Dau Giay, the linchpin of Xuans Locs defenses, from the north and the south, while establishing blocking positions to the west along Highway 1.

In Saigon, Thieu declared that Daos successful defense of Xuan Loc had ended the long string of communist successes and the ARVN had recovered its fighting ability. He spoke too soon. The NVA reinforcements included the 95B Infantry Regiment, one of North Vietnams elite units, which had been in the Central Highlands.

Tra quickly recognized the mistake of the original attack strategy: The NVA had not been interdicting South Vietnamese aircraft taking off from Bien Hoa. Communist gunners shifted their targets from Xuan Loc and began shelling the air base with heavy rocket and artillery fire on April 15. Almost immediately the 3rd Air Division at Bien Hoa was forced to suspend flight operations. NVA commandos infiltrated the base and blew up part of the ammo dump.

The South Vietnamese tried to shift air support operations to the 4th Air Division, flying out of Binh Thuy Air Base in the Mekong Delta, a switch that in the end didnt matter. That same day, the NVA 6th Infantry Division and 95B Infantry Regiment captured Dau Giay. During the next two days the 6th Division beat back all ARVN attempts to retake Dau Giay. Simultaneously, the 7th and 341st Infantry divisions relentlessly hammered the defenders all around Xuan Loc, inflicting especially heavy losses on the 1st Airborne Brigade.

Xuan Loc was now cut off from reinforcement by land. Air support from Bien Hoa was drastically reduced. And the North Vietnamese II Corps was moving down from the northwest. The capture of the town was inevitable. Yet, the fierce and skillful ARVN resistance had shaken the NVA and disrupted the schedule for a final assault on Saigon. Hanoi postponed a planned April 15 attack to allow more forces to converge from the north and finally overrun Xuan Loc.

On April 17 the Senate Armed Services Committee rejected President Gerald Fords request for $722 million in emergency support for Saigon. On April 20, South Vietnams Joint General Staff ordered Dao to evacuate Xuan Loc and withdraw to Bien Hoa to establish a new center of resistance.

The withdrawal began that night under cover of heavy rainfall. In a skillfully coordinated maneuver, Daos troops pulled out by echelon, south through the rubber plantations, along the dirt-road Route 2. The 1st Airborne Brigade acted as the rear guard. NVA troops, taken by surprise, could do little to disrupt the withdrawal.

Unlike so many other ARVN generals who had flown out by helicopter during the 1975 communist offensive, Dao marched out on foot with his troops. In the early morning hours of April 21, the NVA scored its only success against the withdrawal when it destroyed the rearguard 3rd Battalion, 1st Airborne Brigade, near Suoi Ca hamlet. Later that day Hanois troops moved into the deserted Xuan Loc, then little more than a pile of rubble.



A North Vietnamese T-54 rolls past the South Vietnamese Joint General Staff building on April 30, 1975, the day of South Vietnams surrender. (ADN-Bildarchiv/Ullstein Bild via Getty Images)

In Saigon, Thieu resigned as president and was replaced by Tran Van Huong. The air force, however, still had one final blow to strike. On April 22 a C-130 dropped a 750-pound CBU-55 fuel-air bomb, approaching the explosive power of a nuclear bomb, on the headquarters of the 341st Division. The bomb sucked the oxygen out of the air and killed an estimated 250 NVA soldiers in the only time a CBU-55 was used in Vietnam.

South Vietnams 18th Division had suffered 30 percent casualties in defense of Xuan Loc. Its attached Regional Force and Popular Force units were virtually wiped out. The division spent three days at Bien Hoa preparing for the final defense of Saigon. On April 23 Huong promoted Dao to major general. The 18th Division was in defensive positions near the National Military Cemetery close to Bien Hoa when Saigon surrendered on April 30.

Dao wanted to keep on fighting. Dressed in civilian clothes, he made his way south into the Delta, trying to reach Can Tho, the ARVN headquarters for the IV Corps Tactical Zone. Before he got there, however, the corps commander, Maj. Gen. Nguyen Khoa Nam, and his deputy, Gen. Le Van Hung, committed suicide. Dao surrendered on May 9 and spent the next 17 years in brutally repressive re-education camps. In May 1992 he was one of the last four senior ARVN officers freed. Dao arrived in the United States in April 1993.

Throughout the war Americans asked themselves how the North Vietnamese could fight so well and the South Vietnamese could not. The Battle of Xuan Loc indisputably proved the ARVN could fight. The key was leadership. The ARVNs great weakness was that it never had enough generals like Dao, who at Xuan Loc went head-to-head with far more experienced NVA generals, Do Van Cam and Tran Van Tra. Le Minh Dao was the Leonidas at South Vietnams Thermopylae.

Retired Army Maj. Gen. David T. Zabecki is editor emeritus of Vietnam magazine.

This feature originally appeared in the April 2020 issue of Vietnam magazine. To subscribe, click here.
VLORA, Albania - A former independence fighter in Kosovo said Tuesday that he would not submit to questioning by a Netherlands-based court investigating crimes against ethnic Serbs during and after the countrys 1998-99 war.

Faik Zogaj is the second former fighter out of 270 summoned so far to refuse to appear at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, according to Hysni Gucati, head of the Organization of War Veterans.

Zogaj said on Facebook he would not respond to the March 21, 2020 call because personally I do not recognize that court until it sentences the criminals who murdered my loved ones inside home.

Some 60% of the 270 former Kosovo Liberation Army fighters have been summoned as witnesses and 40% as suspects, Gucati said. They include top Kosovar leaders.

The specialist courts prosecutor, Jack Smith, signalled Monday he is preparing to bring the first charges, notifying the court president of his intent to start proceedings. A judge must review any indictments and the evidence supporting the charges, a process that may take up to six months. Only then will a suspect be informed of the accusations.

The court and a connected prosecutors office have operated since 2015 to handle crimes against humanity and war crimes from the war, which left more than 10,000 people dead.

Many in Kosovo consider the court, which was established by an amendment to Kosovos Constitution, to be unfair because Serbian forces carried out massacres during the war. The massacres of civilians led NATO to conduct air strikes that ended the war.

That is a racist court, unilateral and unfair, because it has been proceeding only Albanian independence fighters and citizens. That is a one-ethnic court, Gucati alleged.

The court was set up following U.S. and EU pressure four years after a 2011 report by the Council of Europe, the continents top human rights body, cataloged allegations of widespread crimes committed by members of the Kosovo Liberation Army against ethnic Serbs.

At the time of the war, Kosovo was a Serbian province and KLA members mostly were ethnic Albanians. A bloody Serb crackdown against Kosovo Albanian separatists and civilians led NATO to intervene by bombing Serbia in spring 1999.

Kosovos 2008 independence has not been recognized by Serbia.
HARRISBURG, Ore. -- The Harrisburg School District is getting its middle school back after it was eliminated during the 2019-2020 school year, Superintendent Bryan Starr said.

The school board voted to consolidate the school district last year because of a budget shortfall caused by low enrollment, Starr said.

During the 2019-2020 school year, they have used a kindergarten through sixth grade elementary school, and a seventh through 12th grade high school, and they eliminated the middle school principal position.

Starr said they are switching back after receiving more than $700,000 from the Student Success Act.

"It was made very evident by people that we needed to go back to a three school structure again," Starr said.

RELATED: Harrisburg School Board votes to eliminate middle school

Not only will they once again have all sixth through eighth graders under one roof, but they are also adding the fifth graders to the middle school, Starr said.

"It puts a few more students in with the middle school principal to manage and a couple more staff, and so it takes more pressure of the elementary principal," Starr said.

Along with hiring a new principal and staff member, Starr said they will be using other funds from the Student Success Act to hire full-time behavioral health experts and add physical education to the elementary school.
(TNS)  More than two thirds of all research funds in America are spent in a handful of U.S. coastal and big cities , leaving the rest of the country outside of most of the technology boom and the high-paying jobs it generates.But Chattanooga is trying to shift that direction and an MIT economist who helped author a new book on promoting innovation sees Chattanooga as a prime example of what the federal government can do to boost America's economy.Capitalizing on Chattanooga's high-speed Internet connections, a coalition of government, university, business and nonprofit agencies formed 16 months has succeeded in capturing $110 million of federal research projects. Backed by grants from the National Science Foundation and working with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and others, the Chattanooga Smart Community Collaboration is exploring and applying new technologies in energy, health and traffic services, among other research initiatives.Dr. Jonathan Gruber, a Ford professor of economics at MIT who co-authored a new book on Jump Starting America, thinks mid-sized cities like Chattanooga should get far more in federal research funding and, if they do, the economic gains would more than pay for the investment. Gruber suggests cities like Chattanooga should compete in a new federal research initiative to provide up to $100 billion a year, or $1 trillion over the next decade, to offer R&D programs and to create new hubs outside of Silicon Valley and research centers like Boston where the cost of living is far higher.Despite the hefty taxpayer price tag for the proposed R&D effort, Gruber said as a share of the total economy, such publicly funded R&D would still be only about 1.1% of the Gross Domestic Product. That's up significantly from the current 0.6% of GDP spent on government research but still only about half the 2% share of GDP the federal government spent from World War II until the 1960s to fund military preparedness, the space race and the early stages of computer technology."The U.S., which once led the world in R&D spending and development, has fallen to No. 13th in such spending," Gruber said.The MIT economist said the drop in government research is one of the reasons the U.S. is not maintaining its lead in some new technologies and why the GDP, which grew historically at 3% or more in the 1950s and 1960s, slowed to only a 2.1% growth rate last year.Gruber said the major breakthrough technologies that are propelling the U.S. economy today, including the Internet, computers, transistors, satellite technology, nuclear power and the Human Genome Project, all began with federally funded R&D.Privately funded research will pay for applying new technologies to commercial ventures, Gruber said. But such investors are usually wary about paying for basic, pioneering scientific discoveries.Gruber also said most of the venture capital is concentrated in a few cities, "which furthers the destructive division and inequality" among different regions of the country and among different jobs and workers.The MIT study identified 102 cities, including Chattanooga which ranked No. 96 in his study, where there is sufficient size, research capability and an educated workforce but affordable home prices and cost of living to support more R&D activity. Gruber suggests such cities compete to create new tech hubs around the country."Chattanooga is great example of the potential success of such an initiative," Gruber told community leaders during a forum Thursday night at The Enterprise Center, the city-backed nonprofit coordinating the research collaborative. "I wish I would have included Chattanooga in my book."Gruber said the $226.8 million investment made in building a fiber network by the city-owned electric utility EPB in 2009 helped make Chattanooga the first "Gig City" in the Western Hemisphere and provided the impetus for the downtown Innovation District. About half of the initial cost for building that smart grid was paid for with a $111.6 federal grant to EPB under the stimulus package adopted following the Great Recession a decade ago. A study by University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Economist Benton Lobo found that EPB's Gig service helped add at least 2,800 jobs and pumped an extra $865.3 million into the local economy in just its first four years by cutting power outages, improving data connections, lowering power bills and attracting businesses to the self-described "Gig City." Lobo is now updating the economic impact of the Gig service and smart grid after 10 years and the benefits are expected to be far higher.Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke, who frequently touts Chattanooga as "a city of creators," has tried to build upon the Gig City potential by making Chattanooga the first mid-sized U.S. city to establish an Innovation District in 2015 and by funding The Enterprise Center to find way to promote and recruit more research and startup companies."Chattanooga is rapidly becoming America's living laboratory for smart city research," Berke said. "By combining some of the our nation's most advanced smart city infrastructure with expertise ranging from autonomous vehicles development and healthcare delivery to freshwater conservation and entrepreneurship, Chattanooga is emerging as a singular location for integrated research and testing new technologies."Berke endorsed Gruber's call for more federal research and education support, which he said "could turn the spark of innovation we've started here into an inferno" of economic activity.Even without such a major initiative, EPB, Erlanger Health System, the Tennessee Aquarium, CO.LAB and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga have secured a variety of federal grants for research into ways to improve traffic flow, reduce energy use and improve both human and aquatic life.Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger said EPB's high-speed Internet allows different STEM schools to connect with 4K microscopes "to provide our students with access to cutting-edge technology and the kinds of educational experiences that give them a real advantage."EPB President David Wade said the utility has played a role in more than 60 research projects by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory since 2015, including an ongoing study that is mapping the energy use and needs for every property in EPB's 600-square-mile service territory. Wade said such research has not only improved the reliability of its electricity grid, but the research is attracting engineers and other skilled workers to Chattanooga.Dr. Mina Sartipi, director of the UTC Center for Urban Informatics and Progress, said Chattanooga is "growing a culture of collaboration" to support more research and applying those studies for real-life applications for cities, utilities and businesses. On M.L. King Boulevard, a series of cameras are identifying and documenting the number of cars, trucks, bikes and pedestrians that pass through eight intersections to identify ways to better synchronize traffic lights, improve pedestrian and bike safety and improve vehicular traffic."Chattanooga has a proven record of diverse entities coalescing together quickly to build support and resources for innovation, with the establishment of the smart technology urban test bed in only a matter of months as just one example.But for all its success, Chattanooga and many other U.S. cities need to do more to improve the education of its workforce, Gruber said. Chattanooga ranked near the bottom on the cities identified for potential new R&D investment, in large part, because of lower rates of educational achievement in the metro area."If we want to add to high value jobs, we need to invest in science and spread it around the places like Chattanooga," Gruber said. "Educational investment is key and we need to do more to really train our students for skilled-based economy."
68th annual All Ag Banquet to honor students, alumni and faculty

by Jason Franchuk

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondales College of Agricultural Sciences will host the 68th Annual All Ag Banquet on Friday, Feb. 28. The event celebrates the accomplishments of students, faculty and alumni.

A social hour with cash bar begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Centers International Lounge, with the banquet beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the ballrooms.

An awards presentation follows the banquet. This includes student awards for the outstanding junior student, outstanding senior student, and registered student organization. Two other major awards -- the Donald M. Elkins Excellence Award and the Gary L. Minish Outstanding Adviser/Mentor Award -- are selected based on student nominations, recommendations and student votes. Both awards reward faculty or staff members who show demonstrable dedication to education and mentoring.

The banquet is great, said Sidney Roling, a senior who is graduating in May and will be wrapping up her second year as the Agricultural Student Advisory Council president. We have a lot of outstanding students, faculty and alumni. I know Im going to miss a lot of people.

The banquet is open to the public. Tickets are $20 for students and $25 for non-students.

Banquet is also for a good cause

The Ag Banquet also prides itself on also being a fundraiser.

After the awards ceremony, the Ag Council will host a philanthropic fundraiser for the Playground Project, a project to build a new, inclusive playground in Carbondales Turley Park. The goal is to raise $5,000 by selling raffle tickets in addition to a silent and live auction.

SIU student Ryan Reeverts, a junior in agribusiness economics, is a licensed auctioneer, which should provide immense enjoyment for bidders.

We have a great Saluki family and we all work together, Roling said. This isnt just about us. We want to give back to our community.

Thanks to funding from USG and the generosity of SIU alumni and industry partners, most students are able to attend the banquet for free.

For more information or for tickets, contact Susan Graham at sgraham@siu.edu or 618/453-2469.
KEY FACTS OPP dismantled a rail blockade in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory on Monday arresting 10 people

Those arrested were charged with mischief over $5,000, disobeying a court order, entering land where line work situated, resisting arrest and obstructing police officers.

A second encampment remains not far from the dismantled main rail blockade near Belleville

Calm seemed to prevail at the protester encampment near the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory on Tuesday.

Police closed access to Wyman Road, stopping even media from getting close to rail tracks once occupied by protesters.

A concrete barricade was erected about 400 metres away from the tracks, where Wyman Road intersects with Old Highway 2, a day after police moved in on Mohawk protesters, arresting several people, and breaking up a several weeks of protesters setting up right next to the rail.

Three OPP officers stood guard near the barricade Tuesday, informing the media that the road was closed and they would be unable to get any closer. Police still maintained a strong presence on Wyman overnight, with only a few cruisers spotted near the second Mohawk encampment, about four km east of Wyman, at the Highway 49 rail overpass.

Things were also quieter on the south side of the tracks, where protesters had held camp for several weeks. No one was manning the makeshift gate, guarded Monday by a man who denied media from entering the Mohawk encampment. A pile of wood sat near the gate made of wooden skids, while several Mohawk flags mounted on the gate blew in the early morning wind.

A few cars sit idling, while two men sat next to a fire. Two women sorted food items  cupcakes, donuts, muffin and Tim Hortons coffee containers  sitting on two tables inside the Mohawk encampment.

One told the Star that they had stayed all night and more people would start showing up as the morning progressed. Only a handful of protesters were mulling around, some standing outside, while a few kept warm inside vehicles.

Monday was a dramatic day of police action against the Tyendinaga Mohawk blockade and the country appears no closer to resolving a political crisis that has halted rail transport across the nation and shaken the Liberal governments efforts towards Indigenous reconciliation.

Outside Marysville, Ont., 10 Mohawk activists were arrested after Ontario Provincial Police decided to enforce a court injunction against the protest camp that had blocked transport along one of Canadas key rail lines since Feb. 6, prompting Canadian National and Via Rail to temporarily lay off 1,500 workers.

The people arrested were charged with mischief over $5,000, disobeying a court order, entering land where line work situated, resisting arrest and obstructing police officers.

All of the accused were released from custody and are scheduled to appear in court on March 24.

The arrests were a flashpoint in the ongoing nationwide dispute. They provoked cries of disgust from protesters and fresh demonstrations of solidarity with the Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs who say the Coastal GasLink project cannot proceed through their territory without their consent.

Even as the first train was prepped to roll through the cleared-out blockade site in Ontario, another blockade was set up on the tracks outside New Hazelton, B.C., and demonstrators blocked a road leading to the port of Vancouver.

There is currently no service along the Go Transits Lakeshore West line between Aldershot and Hamilton stations in Ontario after protestors blocked train tracks in support of the Wetsuweten nation Monday night.

A group on Facebook called Wetsuweten Strong: Hamilton in Solidarity says they are blocking trains in response to the OPPs dismantling the rail blockade in Tyendinaga, close to Belleville in eastern Ontario.
A new United Nations report has set out a comprehensive definition of psychological torture for the first time.

An advance, unedited version of the report  titled Torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment  which was released late on Monday, gives a comprehensive legal framework of the concept.

The report was prepared by UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer, a professor of international human rights law at the Geneva Academy of International Law, who says this is the first time a UN special rapporteur systematically addresses the topic of psychological torture.

To date, advocacy on and understanding of psychological treatment has been fragmented and inadequate, he added.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, he said that, while psychological torture has been recognised as a distinct concept from physical torture for a long time, many governments do not recognise psychological torture as torture.

As part of his research for the report, Melzer and a medical team visited Julian Assange in May 2019 while he was detained in Belmarsh prison in London in order to assess his health and conditions of detention.

Melzer is of the view that Assange, who as head of WikiLeaks uncovered torture himself, has experienced torture and could face further torture if extradited to the United States.

The medical team also assessed risks of torture or ill-treatment arising from Assanges possible extradition to the US.





The report will be presented to the Human Rights Council at its annual meeting in March.

What is psychological torture?

Melzer believes the issue of psychological torture, which falls under his mandate as special rapporteur, has long been neglected by the international community.

The report defines psychological torture as including all methods and circumstances that purposefully inflict, or intend to inflict, severe mental pain and suffering. Methods include the purposeful infliction of fear, depriving someone of control over their lives and disrupting a victims self-determination and autonomy.

Psychological torture directly targets psychological needs such as security, self-determination, dignity, social rapport and communal trust.

According to Melzer, to ensure the adequate implementation of the prohibition of torture, its interpretation should evolve with developments in technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and biomedical sciences.
OAKLAND (BCN)

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors will consider an ordinance Tuesday that would ban the sale of vaping products in the county's unincorporated areas.

The ordinance represents an effort to quell the rising use of tobacco vaping products and e-cigarettes, particularly among young people. Nearly 70 percent of high school students in Alameda County who have bought vaping products reported doing so at a store or through another person; only 6.5 percent bought their vaping products and devices online.

The ordinance would build on the county's tobacco retailer licensing ordinance, which the board adopted last month. Under the ordinance, tobacco retailers must meet requirements for pricing, packaging and retailing density and are prohibited from selling flavored tobacco products.

Several other municipalities around the Bay Area -- including the counties of Santa Clara, Contra Costa, San Mateo and San Francisco -- have enacted some type of restriction on the sale of vaping products. The cities of Livermore and Dublin have also banned the sale of the devices.

The board is scheduled to consider the ordinance at its 9 a.m. meeting in the Alameda County Administration Building's fifth floor board chambers, located at 1221 Oak St. in Oakland. The meeting's full agenda can be found at acgov.org/board.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) on Tuesday took over the business premises and assets of Bedko Nigeria Limited belonging to Buba Galadima, a strong critic of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Galadima, a former political ally of the president, has for years been one of the most vociferous critics of the administration.

A one-time Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Agency (NMA) (1996  1998), Mr Galadima was appointed the National Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) formed in the run-up to the 2011 national elections.

He was one of the nine signatories that signed the merger agreement between some political parties that came together to form the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), which President Buhari used as a platform for his election in 2015.

The political parties in the merger deal were the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Congress for Progressive Change (CPC); All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

However, since the presidents election, his relationship with Mr Galadima appeared to have gone sour, with the latter emerging as the leading opposition voice against the administrations policies and programmes.

On Tuesday, AMCON in a statement in Abuja said the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order for it to take over Mr Gladimas properties, including his private residence and company, over alleged N900 million indebtedness.

The order followed a ruling in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1136/2019 against Bedko Nigeria Limited and Mr Galadima, AMCON said.

The spokesperson of AMCON, Jude Nwauzor, said the loan was sourced from Unity Bank Plc in 2011 during the first phase of Eligible Bank Assets acquisition.

Since then, AMCON has offered the obligor a good measure of olive branches and explored all avenues to resolve the matter amicably. But the obligor, and his company, Bedko Nigeria Limited, have remained recalcitrant and unwilling to repay the huge debt to the Corporation, Mr Nwauzor said.

PREMIUM TIMES is yet to see a copy of the order, which AMCON said was granted by Justice A.I. Chikere, empowering it to take over some properties belonging to the politician.

AMCON listed the properties to include House No. 15, Addis Ababa Crescent, Wuse Zone 4, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and House No. 4, Bangui Street, Wuse 2 also in the high-brow area of Abuja.

AMCON said the enforcement of the order on the properties of Bedko Nigeria Limited and Mr Galadima is one of the many it would be undertaking this year since receiving additional powers from the president late last year.

An Inter-agency Committee on the recovery of AMCON debts was constituted by the President Buhari last year following the signing into law of the 2019 Amended AMCON Act.

The amendment gave AMCON additional powers to go after all obligors of the corporation no matter how highly placed in society.

Mr Nwauzor said AMCON would take all necessary actions, including asset take-over, liquidation, winding-up and garnishee proceedings against Bedko Nigeria Limited and its directors in line with the court judgment and relevant sections of the AMCON Act as amended.

Meanwhile, Mr Galadima has denied knowledge of the allegations of indebtedness against him and his company.

Galadima reacts

Meanwhile, Mr Galadima has said he and his company are not indebted to AMCON.

I went to a bank in 2003 to sign for a loan. A letter of credit was opened for me to import fertilizer at that time. But the goods never came. The head office of the bank in America refused to honour the invitation because the Bank in question was under investigation by the FBI (Federal Bureau of Intelligence). I didnt take one kobo from them. They didnt even credit my own account, he said.

Mr Galadima said the collateral was agreed to take effect two or three years after importation of the fertilizer began.

However, he said when AMCON took him to a high court over the money, he protested that he was not satisfied with the judgment and appealed.

He said he won the appeal and the court freed him.

All this is an attempt to disgrace and break me down. But I am unbreakable and they can never silence me, Mr Galadima said, blaming his travails to his political opponents.

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This is injustice and attempt to humiliate me. But, God will not let them. They sacked me and over 50 people that sleep in this apartment. We dont know where to go. We will remain on the streets. We will remain on the streets until God provides another place for us.

They will surely pay for disgracing and humiliating me publicly. I am going back to court, Mr Galadima said.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received the delegation led by Speaker of Parliament of Moldova Zinaida Greceanii, who arrived in Armenia on an official visit, the PMs Office told Armenpress.

Pashinyan welcomed Mrs. Greceaniis visit to Armenia, adding that recently high-level meetings and mutual visits are frequently taking place between the two countries. According to the PM, this shows that Armenia and Moldova are interested in developing and expanding the bilateral cooperation in various areas. I am planning to pay an official visit to Moldova. Before that the bilateral inter-governmental commission will work on the agenda to make the visit more effective. There are high-level political relations between our countries, and we need to work to boost also the mutual economic cooperation, the Armenian PM said, also highlighting the holding of business forums aimed at boosting business ties. Pashinyan attached importance to the development of the Armenian-Moldovan inter-parliamentary cooperation which will contribute to the strengthening of not only political, but also humanitarian and cultural ties.

The Moldovan Speaker of Parliament thanked for the warm welcome and stated that her country is interested in giving a new impetus to the partnership with Armenia not only in political, but also economic sector. She introduced the changes taking place in Moldovas economy and legislative field and thanked the Armenian government for the readiness to share their experience in justice reforms.

The Moldovan delegation members considered Armenias ongoing changes inspiring.

At the meeting the sides also discussed other issues relating to the bilateral relations.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
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 which roamed deep in the forests but one of the most disturbing myths is the one in which Indian Act band councils are labeled 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. They 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 which 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.

Drums are seen at a Wet'suwet'en solidarity protest in Toronto, Ontario, on February 8, 2020. Photo: Jason Hargrove

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 if the money channeled 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 which 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 in which 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.

Singers at a Wet'suwet'en solidarity protest in Toronto, Ontario, on February 8, 2020. Photo: Jason Hargrove

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 defense 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 Valleyfied, QC 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 BC 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 but a very low percentage of potentials voters bother to turn out and if the bc's did not have federal monetary support they would be ejected.

What is needed to resolve the situation at Wet'suwet'en is the acknowledgement 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 indigenous governments which reflect the will of the people, the true First Nations of this continent.

Doug George-Kanentiio, Akwesasne Mohawk, is the vice-president of the Hiawatha Institute for Indigenous Knowledge. He has served as a Trustee for the National Museum of the American Indian, is a former land claims negotiator for the Mohawk Nation and is the author of numerous books and articles about the Mohawk people. He may be reached via e-mail at: Kanentiio@aol.com or by calling 315-415-7288.

Note: Content copyright  Doug George-Kanentiio

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PARSIPPANY, N.J., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the preeminent privately owned financial planning and wealth management firms in the Northeast, Summit Financial announced today that Joseph Spada, CFP was named the firm's 2019 Leading Financial Advisor.

The award recognizes Mr. Spada as head of Summit Financial's most productive wealth management practice for a record 22 consecutive years.

A financial advisor for over 35 years, Joe specializes in providing clients with a range of services, including investment management, retirement, insurance, tax and estate planning. Integrating his client's wealth with their life goals along with reducing their income/estate taxes are at the core of his advisory services.

Mr. Spada is Vice Chairman of the Tri-County Scholarship Fund and a Board of Directors member for Several Sources Shelters. His insights and personal financial advice have been featured in The New York Times, Worth, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and other national publications. He resides in Mendham, NJ with his wife Tamara and four sons.

About Summit Financial:

Headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, Summit Financial, LLC is a privately owned financial planning and wealth management firm with over 200 professionals and support personnel. The firm's multi-disciplined approach to financial planning (combining expertise in estate planning, business planning, investment planning, retirement planning, fringe benefits and insurance) assures that clients receive a coordinated and comprehensive set of solutions to the financial problems faced by successful individuals today. For more information, visit www.jspada.com . Joseph W. Spada, CFP offers Investment advisory and financial planning services offered through Summit Financial, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Adviser at 4 Campus Drive, Parsippany, NJ, 07054. Tel. 973-285-3600. Fax. 973-285-3644. Securities brokerage is offered through Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Member FINRA/SIPC. PKS and Summit are not affiliated companies. Approval Code: 02212020-134

SOURCE Summit Financial, LLC
Billionaire Gautam Adani's energy and infrastructure conglomerate is considering bidding to buy Air India and is pouring into bid documents before finalising a plan, sources said.

The government is offering to sell its entire holding in the loss-making carrier along with its entire interest in its low-cost arm and 50 per cent in the ground handling unit.

Sources with knowledge of the development said the mergers and acquisition (M&A) team of Adani Group is scrutinising Air India bid documents and the interest was at a preliminary stage.

Bidding, they insisted, would depend on the due diligence.

If Adani bids, it will join likes of Tata Group, Hindujas, IndiGo and New York-based fund Interups who are said to be considering putting in an expression of interest (EoI) at the close of the bid deadline next month.

Adani Group's spokesperson could not be immediately reached for comments.

Sources said Adani sees synergy in Air India and its airport operations. It last year won bids to operate six airports at Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram, and Mangalore.

The deciding factor for Adani to bid for Air India would be the debt and losses.

The buyer will have to take on a fixed debt of Rs 23,286.5 crore along with certain identified current and non-current liabilities. The airline has been in losses during the last few years.

While the privatization bid document does not place any restriction on Adani from bidding for Air India, Airports Authority of India (AAI) restricts an airline or a group owning an airline to hold no more than 27 per cent in the airports.

A similar clause restricting airlines or group owning airlines from owning more than 10 per cent in Delhi airport recently resulted in the collapse of the Tata-GIC group's investment in GMR.

Air India and its subsidiary, Air India Express own about 120 aircraft at FY18-end and 126 aircraft till September last year.

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 artifacts - 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.)
Brent oil prices expected to average US$62/bbl in 2020

25 February 2020

Brent oil is forecast to average US$62/bbl in 2020 on the back of voluntary (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE) and involuntary (Iran, Venezuela) declines in OPEC supply, according to a Bank of America (BofA) Global Research report. OPEC supply is expected to decline 1.2mbpd from the 4Q19 into the 4Q20, however, a roughly stable output is then seen through to 2025.



The BofA report also projects Brent oil prices to average between US$50-70bbl from now until 2025. "As prices become more anchored around US$60, we believe volatility implied in oil options could trend lower in the medium term. In contrast to last year, we see more support to our price outlook on increased capital discipline across the US shale industry, despite coronavirus risks," states the report.



The banks projections assume OPEC+ will continue to lose its share in the global oil market, particularly if pandemic risks rise again. More broadly, oil as a share of the overall global energy market is also expected to decline as the petroleum mix moves away from gasoline and heavy ends to distillates and NGLs.

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In an alarming situation, 6 of the 34 Supreme Court judges are down with H1N1 virus (also known as swine flu), Justice DY Chandrachud said on Tuesday adding that he had requested Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde to issue necessary directions to tackle the emergency arising in the apex court.

Justice DY Chandrachud (in file pic) in Supreme Court today said, 6 judges are down with H1N1 virus & that he had asked and requested the Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde to issue necessary directions in this regard to take care of the emergency situations which has arisen. pic.twitter.com/gfG6z2qOC1 ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

Another 37 people have tested positive for the virus in Meerut. The number of H1N1 cases have risen since January, say district health officials. The health department has advised people to follow cleanliness and hygiene to contain the swine flu spread. The health department is also keeping a check on areas reporting more H1N1 cases.

Last Friday, the Indian arm of German software group SAP shut down all offices in the country for sanitisation. The decision was taken after two of its Bengaluru office employees tested positive for the H1N1 virus. The company has asked all its employees to work from home until further notice, SAP said in a statement.

Meanwhile, CJI held a meeting with Supreme Court Bar Association chief Dushyant Dave over the spread of H1N1 virus. Dave also proposed to release Rs 10 lakh to take required actions to contain the virus. CJI said a notification would soon be issued to arrange vaccination in one or two days. As per Dave, H1N1 vaccination will cost around Rs 1,200. In Court Room Number 2 of the Supreme Court today, Justice Sanjiv Khanna was also seen wearing a mask during a hearing, reported ANI.

H1N1 cases in India have been reported close on the heels of new coronavirus spread across the world, primarily China. Seventy-one new coronavirus deaths were reported from China on Monday, taking the total number of casualties to 2,663. As many as six people have tested positive for the deadly virus in India too.

Also read: SAP shuts India offices as 2 employees test positive for H1N1

Symptoms of H1N1 virus

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), H1N1 symptoms include fever, chills and sore throat and is similar to seasonal influenza but has been characterised by higher fatality rates among healthy young adults and higher incidence of viral pneumonia. It spreads from person to person, either by touching the affected person or inhaling.

What does WHO say

Since the first recorded cases in April 2009, the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus has spread rapidly across the globe resulting in sustained community transmission worldwide. As per the WHO, to minimise transmission during health care, it is crucial that health-care workers, other care-givers, including attendants, patients, and visitors, follow appropriate infection prevention and control) precautions.

Follow 'hand hygiene'

The WHO says "hand hygiene" is a major component of standard precautions and one of the most effective methods to prevent transmission of such pathogens. Hand hygiene must be performed before and after any contact with patients and after contact with contaminated items or surfaces. Hand hygiene includes either washing hands with soap and water or the use of an alcohol?based hand rub. Use of PPE does not eliminate the need for hand hygiene.

Also read: 6 SC judges down with H1N1 virus; CJI holds emergency meeting
By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 24, 2020 | 08:25 PM | MAYFIELD

A woman arrested last year after a vehicle pursuit in Graves County has pleaded guilty.

Sabrina Weeks pleaded guilty Monday in Graves Circuit Court to four counts of wanton endangerment, three counts of fleeing and evading police and one count of possession of methamphetamine. She'll be sentenced to eight years in prison.

Weeks led Graves County deputies on a vehicle pursuit last November. After crashing through a fence, Weeks jumped from the vehicle while it was still in motion and fled on foot, leaving three passengers in the moving vehicle, which continued forward for approximately 50 yards before coming to a stop.

A purse belonging to Weeks was found outside the vehicle containing several plastic baggies containing methamphetamine, digital scales, and syringes.

Weeks was found a few hours later and arrested.
New Delhi:

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday urged police to seal Delhis borders, directed sub-divisional magistrates to hold peace marches with security personnel and asked hospitals to arrange more doctors and beds to treat people as the riots in north-east Delhi spread to more areas on the third day.

After getting complaints that fire tenders were unable to reach the spots, Kejriwal directed the fire department to coordinate with police so that they can reach the affected areas on time.

In the evening, urging the perpetrators to stop the violence, the chief minister said no one is benefiting from the riots. Met with the victims of violence who are being treated at GTB and Max hospitals. Hindus, Muslims, policemen  none have escaped unhurt...this madness must end immediately, he said in a tweet.

In the morning, Kejriwal held a meeting with senior Delhi government officials and MLAs of the affected constituencies, which included Babarpur, Seelampur, Gokulpuri and Ghonda among others at his residence.

In the afternoon, he attended a meeting with the Union home minister Amit Shah, Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal, the Delhi Police Commissioner and leaders of all political parties.

After meeting Shah, Kejriwal, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, all other Delhi ministers and several AAP legislators went to Rajghat to pray for peace in Delhi. The chief minister then went to GTB and Max hospitals to meet riot victims after which he went to Burari to meet the family of head constable Ratan Lal, who was killed in violence over the amended citizenship act on Monday.

The MLAs of the border areas have noted that miscreants are entering the borders in huge numbers. The borders need to be sealed and preventive arrests need to be made. I have directed the SDMs to take out a peace march along with local police. I have asked the chief secretary to speak to the DCP to strengthen the police task force to control the situation of violence in Delhi, Kejriwal said after meeting MLAs and government officers.

The CM directed local revenue officials to urge peace committees to conduct meetings, inviting MLAs and members from all the religions and communities. The temples and mosques in affected areas must appeal to people to maintain peace and calm, Kejriwal said.

In the meeting with the Union home minister, Kejriwal appealed to Shah to deploy additional forces in Delhi and allowing the police to take necessary action. If needed, the army will also be deployed in the violence-affected areas. The authorities assured us they will strengthen the police force and deploy as many police personnel as needed. Everybody has decided to rise above party politics and work to reinstating peace, he said.

Kejriwal reached Rajghat with his cabinet colleagues and AAP legislators, drawing flak from several quarters, including political parties.

Sorry Arvind ji....this is the time to show true leadership and not theatrics! Show moral courage and wipe tears of the people who gave you unprecedented repeat mandate. No matter police is under you or not, what stops you from leading a peace and bhaichara (brotherhood) march in northeast Delhi? (sic) tweeted Manoj Mishra, an environmental activist and convenor of the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan.

The CM and other ministers later visited the injured in hospitals. I met the injured, including those who had bullet injuries. I have instructed special care for the injured, more beds and more doctors and all possible measures to save the lives of victims, Kejriwal said after his visit at GTB hospital.

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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has admitted Australia's policy of deporting Kiwi-born criminals could destroy the friendship between the two nations.

Ms Ardern, 39, is meeting her Australian counterpart Scott Morrison this week for their annual trans-Tasman meeting, and she has vowed to push even harder on the issue.

She has previously spoken out about the deportation of criminals - many of whom are drug dealers or child sex offenders - who were born in New Zealand back to the country from Australia.

Ms Ardern has insisted many of the criminals have 'almost no connection' to New Zealand.

Scott Morrison (pictured, left) and Jacina Ardern (right) will meet this week for the annual trans-Tasman talks. They are pictured at the same event in 2019

'In friendships there will sometimes be issues that can be corrosive,' she told Newshub.

'Deportation continues to be one of those issues.'

More than 1,000 New Zealanders have been deported from Australia since 2014 when changes were made to the Migration Act.

Drug offences, assault and child sex offences are the most common charges that result in deportation.

The law means even if an individual is an Australian permanent resident, and has lived and worked in the country for decades, they can still be deported.

New Zealander's prime minister Jacinda Ardern (pictured) is unhappy about the deportations

In the name of national security, they can be ejected on 'bad character' grounds if they are sentenced to 12 months or more in prison.

A shocking 40 per cent then go on to re-offend in New Zealand.

New Zealanders are thought to be the largest group to have had their visas cancels and be held in Australian immigration detention centres.

While the policy is intended to keep Australians safe from gangs, many of those deported have bought houses and raised children in the country.

'We have seen cases where there is also almost no connection of an individual to who have been deported,' Ms Ardern said after the same meeting last year.

'I consider that to be a corrosive part of that policy. And it's having a corrosive effect on our relationship.

'It continues to be a policy I fiercely disagree with. It's wrong and I will continue to raise that.'

Scott Morrison (pictured) is thought to be unlikely to make concessions on the issue of deporting New Zealand-born criminals from Australia

The same deportations are not undertaken for Australian-born criminals living in New Zealand.

Ms Ardern vowed to raise the issue with Mr Morrison yet again, but conceded she wouldn't raise climate change issues.

It is not expected that the Australian government will make concessions on the deportation issue.

She also explained she wouldn't be discussing human rights with Fiji's leader Frank Bainimarama.

Last year, three New Zealand journalists were arrested while working in Fiji.
Married At First Sight star Cyrell Paule and Love Island's Eden Dally have finally revealed their baby son's name: Boston Eden Dally.

The couple, who welcomed their child just over two weeks ago, have followed the celebrity trend of naming their offspring after a major U.S. city.

'Eden wanted the name Cruz at first. But my sister took it,' Cyrell, 30, told New Idea magazine on Tuesday.

'Daddy's little man': Married At First Sight star Cyrell Paule and Love Island's Eden Dally have finally revealed their baby son's name, Boston Eden Dally

Confusing: Earlier on Tuesday, Cyrell hinted she had named the child 'EJ', but it appears this was just a nickname. 'My handsome boys. Little EJ,' Cyrell commented below an Instagram post of Eden cuddling his newborn son

She added: 'We did a few Instagram posts asking people for help with the name and a lot of people recommended Cruz. So we didn't feel like it was that unique after all.'

Eden, 27, said that he liked Boston more because it 'sounds better'.

He also gave his son his own name as a middle name because it's a family tradition.

'He's got the middle name Eden so he's definitely going places! It's a tradition. I've got my father's name and my dad got his dad's name,' he said.

Baby makes three: The couple, who welcomed their first child on February 9, told New Idea on Tuesday they had initially considered Cruz before settling on Boston

'My handsome boys. Little EJ:' Earlier on Tuesday, Cyrell hinted she had named the child 'EJ', but it appears this was just a nickname

Earlier on Tuesday, Cyrell hinted she had named the child 'EJ', but it appears this was just a nickname.

'My handsome boys. Little EJ,' Cyrell commented below an Instagram post of Eden cuddling his newborn son.

Eden and Cyrell welcomed baby Boston on Sunday, February 9. They couldn't decide on a name at first and so were calling their child 'bub'.

'I'll never be going through that again': Announcing the child's arrival earlier this month, Cyrell told New Idea the birth had been a 'traumatic' experience

At the time, Cyrell told New Idea the birth had been a 'traumatic' experience after she was rushed to hospital two weeks before her due date.

'I probably took every drug you could take during labour,' she said.

Eden and Cyrell met in March 2019 after her 'marriage' to Nic Jovanovic on MAFS ended when they decided they were better off just being friends.

The pair began dating officially within a matter of weeks, and Cyrell later moved into Eden's $2.9million family home in Drummoyne, Sydney.

They announced they were expecting their first child together in August.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Akatsi North Constituency in the Volta region, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe is calling on government to amend the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) law to cease lawmakers and other well to do individuals from benefiting from the scholarship scheme.



I am not surprised . . . I blame all that has happened on the law which I have on several times asked that the law must be amended, because it has given too much room, he said in an interview with NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie.



A performance audit report has listed a number of high-ranking government officials including the Minister of State in Charge of Procurement, Sarah Adwoa Safo who applied and obtained $12,800 in allowances with $17,004 in tuition fees to study at the Harvard Kennedy School.



Another person captured in the list is the Executive Secretary of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), Prince Hamidu Armah also receiving 38,400 for living expense in addition to 33,000 for tuition fees, While Education Minister Mathew Opoku Prempeh, also received $12,800 for living expenses and $11,200 as tuition fees to study at Harvard University.



The Auditor-General intends to surcharge persons involved in scholarship awards and also disallow expenditure items of the GETFund Secretariat, in accordance with Article 187(7) (b) of its mandate.



This follows recommendations by the Auditor-General after faulting the GETFund for not being fair in the award of scholarships to those in need.



The Auditor-General has also accused the secretariat of not instituting a robust selection process, leading to the haphazard granting of scholarships to Ghanaians, to the detriment of those who really need them.





Listen to him in the video below







Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G. Kishan Reddy on Tuesday slammed the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) for giving provocative statements to incite people protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

"The AIMIM members, including President Asaduddin Owaisi, has been making irresponsible statements and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao is supporting the organisation," Reddy told reporters.

He also alleged that the stone-pelting incident in Maujpur was a conspiracy to defame India internationally.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government will not tolerate the violence done in the name of anti-CAA protests," Reddy added. Seven lives have been in incidents of violence in the capital on Monday after pro and anti CAA protestors clashed in several areas.

Earlier today, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi while condemning the violence in the capital, alleged that Delhi Police sided with "rioters" to pelt stones.

"I condemn the violence that broke out in Delhi in which a cop and civilians died. Delhi Police was pelting stones along with rioters. I condemn this. It is shameful that violence broke out when a foreign country's President is on a visit to India and coming to Delhi," Owaisi said at a public meeting here.

"It is really shameful to the country. Your (BJP) leader has said yesterday that he is giving three days time... I condemn the Delhi violence and request Amit Shah to maintain peace in Delhi," he said.

The AIMIM leader also said: "We want to tell the Prime Minister that the snakes you raised in your backyard will bite you.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The increasing complex nature of emergencies requires a much more sophisticated and agile approach to humanitarian action and assistance. It is around this theme that the most influential humanitarian actors will gather for the 2nd Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum. The event, held March 1-2, 2020 will bring together the most experienced and influential leaders in the humanitarian world to discuss the challenges facing humanitarian action, improve knowledge and issue recommendations for action.

The event is hosted under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Governor of Riyadh Region, will attend.

The Forum will review humanitarian initiatives to reflect the latest developments on the ground in order to improve the level of provided services and assistance to natural-disaster and conflict victims. It will tackle the humanitarian issues and global trends through five main panel discussions, two media sessions and one volunteer session.

"The Humanitarian-Development Nexus" high level panel discussion will address the importance of linking humanitarian and development work and activating the mechanisms for linking the two themes. "Large-scale Migration flows from Africa across the Seas to the Gulf States and Europe in Humanitarian Settings" will address poverty and crises that are caused by increasingly large-scale migration flows which bring longer-term migration challenges.

"Women, Children and People with Disabilities in Humanitarian Crisis and the Challenges of Humanitarian Action" will focus on urgent need for increasing support for young children living in crisis and displacement. The fourth panel discussion entitled "Evidence-Based professional practice in humanitarian intervention" will tackle using evidence-based professional practice research and bridging the gap between theory and practice. The last and fifth panel discussion, "Health in Humanitarian Context - focus on communicable diseases" will focus on the importance of joining efforts to prevent, detect, respond and recover from health emergencies.

On the margins of the RIHF, an exhibition will contain many pavilions where humanitarian NGOs, international and UN organizations will showcase their work.

A Humanitarian Art Exhibition will also highlight the concept of humanitarianism in all aspects of society. It includes several art areas including drawing or painting, sculpture, photography and digital art.

The recommendations of the Forum will be presented as a comprehensive report containing a summary of the findings. The report will provide the participants with principles to be adopted and used in the field. The report will be coordinated by specialists in Saudi Arabia and the United Nations.

For media registrations and more information about the sessions and speakers, please visit: https://rihf.ksrelief.org/Home

SOURCE King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre
Iran's coronavirus death toll is by far the highest outside China (Photo: AFP/ATTA KENARE)

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.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kehoe Law Firm, P.C. is investigating potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Tupperware Brands Corporation ("Tupperware" or the "Company") (NYSE: TUP) resulting from allegations that Tupperware may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

On February 24, 2020, post-market, Tupperware issued a press release announcing it will need an extension within which to timely file its annual report (Form 10-K) for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2019. Tupperware also announced it expects 2019 net earnings per share "in the range of breakeven to $0.34 versus $3.11 in the prior year[,]" and adjusted EPS of "$1.35-$1.70 versus $4.30 in the prior year."

Tupperware said results were affected by "financial reporting issues in Fuller Mexico" and that Tupperware is "conducting an investigation primarily into the accounting for accounts payable and accrued liabilities at its Fuller Mexico beauty business[.]" Additionally, "[Tupperware] is forecasting a need for relief concerning its existing leverage ratio covenant in its $650 million Credit Agreement dated March 29, 2019 . . . to avoid a potential acceleration of the debt, which could have a material adverse impact on the Company."

On this news, Tupperware's stock price dropped significantly, and on February 25, 2020, Tupperware's stock was down as much as 45%.

If you wish to discuss Kehoe Law Firm's Tupperware securities investigation or have questions about your potential legal rights, please contact either John Kehoe, Esq, (215) 792-6676, Ext. 801, [email protected], or Michael Yarnoff, Esq., (215) 792-6676, Ext. 804, [email protected], [email protected], to learn more about the investigation or potential legal claims.

Kehoe Law Firm, P.C., with offices in New York and Philadelphia, is a multidisciplinary, plaintiffside law firm dedicated to protecting investors from securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duties, and corporate misconduct. Combined, the partners at Kehoe Law Firm have served as Lead Counsel or Co-Lead Counsel in cases that have recovered more than $10 billion dollars on behalf of institutional and individual investors.

SOURCE Kehoe Law Firm, P.C.

Related Links

https://kehoelawfirm.com


In the last few months, India and Brazil have signed agreements in the field of clean and bio-energy during the visit of President Bolsanaro. In an interview with Business Standard, Luis Henrique Gulmaraes, President and CEO of Raizen, one of the biggest ethanol producer in Brazil said that the company is looking at partnerships with Indian firms for second-generation ethanol, produced from bagasse and sugarcane leaves.

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New Delhi, Feb 25 : After the death of 'innocent' Delhi Police Head Constable Ratan Lal, the senior officers have now swung into action. But on Saturday and Sunday, when the conspiracy was being hatched in the most sensitive area of northeast Delhi, these same officers were enjoying their weekend.

After the day-long violence and five deaths, which included the Head Constable, on Monday, the Home Minister called a meeting at night. Thereafter, the senior police officials tried to lead from the front on Tuesday morning.

Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik visited the violence affected areas late on Monday night.

On Tuesday morning, senior officers including Special Commissioner of Police Satish Golcha, Joint Commissioner Alok Kumar and the DCPs of all the districts deployed their forces in the violence hit areas to control the situation. However, before these officers swung into action, seven people had already died and around 90 had been injured.

But even after the Delhi Police deployed more than 30 companies, the situation could not be controlled.

At the Ghaziabad-Seemapuri border around 3,000 people clashed, with the paramilitary forces and policemen trying to control the situation.

According to an eyewitness: "The situation is still tense here till now (Tuesday 4 p.m.). Stone pelting and firing are taking place interminably. The maximum number of incidents of violence, arson and firing were reported from Maujpur, Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Kabir Nagar and nearby areas".

(Sanjeev Kumar Singh Chauhan can be reached at sanjeev.c@ians.in)
Foreign diplomats in London owe more than 116 million in congestion charge fines with the US the worst offender, Dominic Raab has revealed.

The Foreign Secretary regularly sets out the amount of congestion charge debt relating to envoys in the capital and his latest report puts the figure at 116.9m.

That is the total amount owed since the congestion charge was first introduced in February 2003.

The US diplomatic mission owes the most, clocking up fines and unpaid charges worth 12.4m, with the Japanese mission in second place on the list, owing 8.5m.

There are a total of 102,255 individual fines outstanding for US embassy staff and 69,690 for the Japanese embassy for the period between February 2003 and the end of 2018.

Meanwhile, Nigeria was third on the list of congestion charge debt, owing just over 7m from more than 58,000 fines.

The figures published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office were supplied by Transport for London which is in charge of keeping track of the charges.

Mr Raab said that the FCO sends reminders to diplomatic missions every year to urge them to settle their debts.

Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary pictured in Downing Street on February 14, has published the latest data for unpaid diplomatic congestion charge fines

The congestion charge applies to a zone in central London. It costs 11.50 and motorists who do not pay it can be fined. Diplomats owe more than 116 million in unpaid fines

'FCO officials write to diplomatic missions and international organisations with large congestion charge debts annually, to encourage payment,' the Foreign Secretary said.

The congestion charge is set at 11.50 a day and relates to a zone in central London.

Non-payment of the charge results in being issued with a penalty charge notice - effectively a fine - worth 160. The fine can then increase if the PCN is not paid.

Mr Raab also revealed in his latest written update to Parliament that two diplomats were expelled from the Saudi Arabian diplomatic mission in 2018 for three alleged offences involving driving under the influence of alcohol.

He said: 'We define serious offences as those which could, in certain circumstances, carry a penalty of 12 months' imprisonment or more.

'Around 23,000 people are entitled to diplomatic or international organisation-related immunity in the UK and the majority of diplomats and dependants abide by UK law.

'The number of alleged serious offences committed by members of the diplomatic community in the UK is proportionately low.

'We take all allegations of illegal activity seriously. When the police or other law enforcement agency bring instances of alleged criminal conduct to our attention, we ask the relevant foreign government or international organisation to waive immunity where appropriate.

'For the most serious offences, and when a relevant waiver has not been granted, we request the immediate withdrawal of the diplomat or dependant.'

As Foreign Secretary, Mr Raab is currently involved in the controversy over the case of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn who died in a collision with a car outside RAF Croughton on August 27, 2019.

The suspected driver, 42-year-old Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a US intelligence official working at the base, claimed diplomatic immunity following the crash and was able to return to America, sparking outrage from Mr Dunn's family.

An extradition request for Mrs Sacoolas was rejected by US secretary of state Mike Pompeo last month.
DES MOINES - Iowa's 327 school districts are getting a $13.1 million boost in state funding next fiscal year to cover transportation costs and to smooth out inequities in the formula used to disperse state aid and property tax proceeds that fund their yearly operations.

The agreed-to funding pieces were included in Senate File 2164, the first education measure of the 2020 that has garnered Gov. Kim Reynolds' signature.

"We live in a disruptive, technologically driven economy, and if we aren't preparing our students to succeed in the 21st century, then we are failing them," Reynolds said during a bill-signing ceremony in her formal office of the Iowa Capitol Building on Tuesday.

"This legislation will help Iowa's many rural school districts absorb transportation costs and put more money into the classroom," she added. "Education is always a top priority, and we will continue to look for ways to provide every school, educator, and student with the tools for success."

Transportation equity was first funded in fiscal 2019 to help absorb transportation costs associated with students traveling across rural communities. The legislation signed Tuesday provides more than $7.2 million in new funding for the 204 school districts with transportation costs above the statewide average of $347.65 per pupil and provides $5.9 million for per-pupil spending equity.

With many rural school districts spanning large geographical areas, the governor noted, "transportation costs can quickly eat away at the quality of education. By providing a shock absorber for those costs, the state is able to help those districts succeed which is so important for our rural quality of life," she noted.

On the equity piece, Reynolds said the $5.9 million will help narrow the gap in the amount of money districts are allowed to spend annually for each student, bringing it down from $165 per pupil to $155 - which will mean 177 school districts will have an additional $10 per student to spend next year in addition to whatever increase in supplemental state aid (SSA) the House and Senate can negotiate.

Another 132 school districts will see property taxes decrease by $10 and 18 school districts will see a combination of a state aid increase and property tax relief, the governor said.

In her Condition of the State address last month, Reynolds called for more than $103 million in new funding for Iowa schools, including an increase in per-pupil funding and transportation equity. With that investment, she said, the state of Iowa will have spent $13 billion on preK-12 since 2017.

Majority Republicans in the House and Senate are about $15 million apart on the K-12 state aid funding level that by law was to have been set by Feb. 13. GOP senators favor a 2.1 percent increase while the House and Reynolds favor a 2.5 percent increase in base supplemental state aid for the next school year. The governor has indicated she will settle for something close to the $100 million mark which would roughly split the difference between the two competing plans.

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When agents of the United States government violate fundamental rights of Mexican nationals and others within Mexicos jurisdiction, it is a priority to Mexico to see that the United States provides adequate means to hold the agents accountable and to compensate the victims, the brief said. The United States would expect no less if the situation were reversed and a Mexican government agent, standing in Mexico and shooting across the border, had killed an American child standing on U.S. soil.

Justice Alito also wrote that the issue here implicates an element of national security.

Unfortunately, there is also a large volume of illegal cross-border traffic, he wrote. During the last fiscal year, approximately 850,000 persons were apprehended attempting to enter the United States illegally from Mexico, and large quantities of drugs were smuggled across the border. In addition, powerful criminal organizations operating on both sides of the border present a serious law enforcement problem for both countries.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil M. Gorsuch and Brett M. Kavanaugh joined the majority opinion.

In a concurring opinion, Justice Thomas, joined by Justice Gorsuch, called on the court to overrule the Bivens decision entirely.

In dissent, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote that the parents lawsuit was authorized by the Bivens ruling. Indeed, she said, Mr. Mesas lawyer had acknowledged that the suit would have been proper had the shooting occurred in the United States.

The only salient difference here: the fortuity that the bullet happened to strike Hernandez on the Mexican side of the embankment, Justice Ginsburg wrote. But Hernandezs location at the precise moment the bullet landed should not matter one whit.

Justices Stephen G. Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan joined the dissent.

The justices also ruled, along the same divided lines, that an Arizona death row inmate, James McKinney, was not entitled to be resentenced by a jury after a federal appeals court ruled that the trial judge who had condemned him to death failed to take into account evidence of abuse Mr. McKinney had endured as a child.
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US President Donald Trump fired a fresh salvo at India on the high tariff regime on imported motorcycles in the country, citing the example of cult US cruiser maker Harley Davidson.

"India is probably the nation with the highest tariffs in the world. We have to stop that. I think we are understanding each other. Harley Davidson has to pay tremendous tariffs in India. When India sends its motorcycles to the US there are absolutely no tariffs. For the most part, there are absolutely no tariffs. I just said that is unfair and we are working it out," Trump said while addressing the press after his meeting with leading CEOs of India Inc.

India charges a customs duty of 50 percent on two wheelers that are brought into the country in completely built unit form. Harley imports four of its existing 17 bike portfolio in the country in this form. On top of this there is a 28 per cent GST when the bike is sold to the consumer and an additional cess of 3 percent taking the total tariff on these bikes to 81 percent. Hence, Trump wasn't far when he earlier claimed the bike attracted 100 pc tax as the import duty has been reduced by 10 pc. Bikes above 800 cc still attract 75 pc import duty, plus GST plus cess, adding up to 106 pc.

But look at the other side. Only 4 of Harley's 17 bikes sold in India are imported and sold as completely built units. These are Road King, Street Glide Special, Road Glide Special and CVO. They are priced between Rs 25.53 and 50.53 lakh and cumulatively their sales accounted for just about 50 units in 2019. At an average of Rs 35 lakh, the total import of Harley bikes last year of was barely worth Rs 17.5 crore. It's way too small to tilt the trade surplus in India's favour.

Despite such small numbers, Harley has clearly become the symbol of Trump's attacks against India for the US trade deficit with India.

Harley Davidson sold 2,252 units in India till January in this fiscal so far which was down 3.35 percent over the same period last year. The company has a 12,000 unit per annum assembly facility at Bawal in Haryana which was set up in 2011. At that time, it was only the second such facility for Harley outside of the US.

This is not the first time Trump has raked the issue of high tariffs with regards to India and specifically mentioned Harley's case. He had first made such a reference during his first address to the US Congress in March 2017. Then again in June 2018, Trump had taken a dig at Prime Minister Modi after India had reduced customs duty on imported motorcycles from high-end brands to 50 from 60 percent for less than 800cc engine capacity and 75 percent for the others.

"When Harley Davidson sends a motorcycle to India, as an example, they have to pay 100 percent tax," Trump had then said, adding, "Now, the Prime Minister, who I think is a fantastic man, called me the other day and he said we are lowering it to 50 percent. I said okay, but so far we're getting nothing. So we get nothing, he gets 50 [percent], and they think like they're doing us a favour. That's not a favour. You know what our tax is? Nothing. So I say we should have reciprocal taxes for a case like that."

At that time India had also revised duties on a range of components that are imported into the country. The import duty on engine, gearbox, or transmission mechanism as a completely knocked down (CKD) kit in pre-assembled form of motorcycles, not mounted on a body assembly, was reduced to 25 percent from 30 percent while the duty on import of engine, gearbox and transmission mechanism as a semi knocked-down (SKD) kit, which are not pre-assembled was hiked from 10 to 15 percent.

Trump has often railed against countries like India with whom the US has a negative trade balance but the pointed reference to Harley Davidson has repeatedly put the spotlight on the company. India enjoyed a $16.85 billion trade surplus with the US in fiscal 2019.

Globally the company sold about 228,424 units in 2019 registering its third straight annual decline in sales. India accounts for just about 1 percent of its global sales.
United May Still Lag Delta, American on Loyalty Revenue Even After New Credit Card Deal

When the first airlines launched loyalty programs almost 40 years ago, they intended to do what you would expect  to keep customers from defecting to the competition. But over the past two decades, many programs have become independent business segments that generate massive cash for the corporate parent through agreements with banks that market co-branded credit cards.

United Airlines, after its merger with Continental Airlines, may not have seen the trend coming as clearly as other U.S. carriers. Just before Scott Kirby, then president of American Airlines, negotiated one of most lucrative credit card contracts ever, with Barclays and Citibank in 2016, United signed a long-term agreement with J.P. Morgan Chase. Airlines and banks never release terms, but within a few years United admitted it had fallen behind on credit card revenue. Joseph DeNardi, an analyst with Stifel, called the old deal a well-below market contract, and when Kirby became Uniteds president in 2016, he complained about it.

Now, three months before Kirby becomes CEO, United is poised to catch up  but not fully. In a deal that surprised some analysts and industry watchers, United said Friday it agreed to a contract extension with Chase with better economics. In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, United said the new deal, which expires in 2029, will increase cash flow by about $400 million this year.

United will earn the extra money from three sources, according to the filing. First, United will grow revenue as the two companies work to grow the portfolio, or the number of customers who apply for co-branded credit cards. Second, United will continue to participate in Chases Ultimate Rewards program, allowing Chase customers to convert points from the companys popular Freedom, Sapphire, and Sapphire Reserve cards into United MileagePlus miles. And third, the two companies agreed on new commercial terms, which the filing did not define.

Story continues

Spokeswomen for United and Chase declined to comment further on the nature of the agreement.

Not the Best Terms

United never said when the last deal was to expire, but the 2015 agreement was believed to last for about a decade. While United wanted better terms sooner, it wasnt clear Chase would renegotiate so early.

In a research note, Joseph DeNardi said he expected United might wait until it could exert more leverage so it could earn a sweeter deal. Given CEO Kirbys success  at American and Uniteds success in improving core airline earnings, we thought Kirby would. get nasty with Chase, so were surprised by this announcement, DeNardi wrote.

Hunter Keay, an analyst with Wolfe Research, also said he expected United and Chase would wait, noting he had sensed bit of bad blood between the two companies and a limited sense of urgency before Fridays announcement. He said Chase had seemed more interested in growing its proprietary portfolio, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve, than hawking the co-branded United cards.

Weve been pretty adamant in our view that United and Chase would not get a deal done, he said. Regardless  we guessed wrong on this one.

Kirby, who became Uniteds president in 2016, is known as one of the airline industrys shrewdest negotiators, so he probably did the best with what he had. But even with the new deal, United likely still lags peer airlines, Keay and DeNardi said.

In earlier comments, United had said its subpar credit card deal represented a 1.5 to 2-point gap in overall profit margin compared to other large U.S airlines, and DeNardi said its unlikely United closed that chasm.

Bottom line, this deal is far worse than what we thought United would be able to get and far less than what is needed to close the gap with Delta/American, he said. We caveat this by noting that disclosures and transparency continue to make a truly apples-to-apples comparison a challenge.

Executives at United may be thrilled by the deal, but United downplayed the announcement, sending a press release with few details on a Friday afternoon. When Delta signed an 11-year extension with American Express, also expiring in 2029, the airline bragged about the economics, saying it expected to roughly double its credit card revenue, from $3.4 billion in 2018 to nearly $7 billion by 2023.

While its unlikely United matched Delta this time, Keay said the agreement bodes well for a more substantive deal later this decade.As for this deal he said, though this deal isnt earth shattering, its a positive for United, he said.

Win-Win?

In business press releases, the term win-win gets used more than it should. But under current market conditions, most credit card deals are beneficial for both sides, which is why theres so much money at stake.

For airlines, benefits are obvious. Most carriers create their own currencies, which they can produce for little cost and devalue when they want. They can sell that currency to banks, often between 1 and 1.5 cents per mile. (The exact price banks pay for miles is top secret, and varies by agreement.)

Carriers treat miles as a liability, and they have a cost. But most airlines assess strict capacity controls, at least for the cheapest awards, so airlines dont give away many of their most coveted seats. Most carriers only make a free ticket easy to obtain if they calculate they cant sell the seat for cash. Essentially, the card agreements allow them to make serious revenue from spoiled inventory.

Banks pay a fortune for miles because theyre an excellent incentive to promote credit card spending. Travel is aspirational, and many consumers like to spend money on an airline-branded credit card, so in the future they can redeem for a trip they might not have been able to take. Customers also appreciate perks like free checked bags, or lounge access, and are often willing to pay higher annual fees for a card with an airline element.

Still, a potential problem is market saturation. Given the scope of credit card marketing, many customers who want airline-branded credit cards already have one. If United wants to increase its applications, it may need to offer better perks.

In his note, Keay said he expected Chase and United to introduce new products, including possibly a new card card that allows customers to earn elite frequent flyer status through card spending.

Subscribe to Skift newsletters for essential news about the business of travel.
The Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Mr. Osei Assibey Antwi in the coming days will be under well-coordinated attacks to make him unpopular.

The murky agenda is the orchestration of certain personalities with political appointments who want to control affairs at the KMA but are not getting the chance because of the Mayors tough stands on how the assembly should operate.

A secret meeting to fashion out how the whole agenda would be rolled out was held at a location at Danyame in Kumasi last week Friday.

Some journalists and radio serial callers are expected to be part of the dirty game against the hardworking Mr. Antwi.

What is worrying about the whole grotty game is that certain private persons who are friends with the Kumasi Mayor would also be attacked because of their relations with him.

One such person is a daughter of a very prominent person at the Presidency, who is into private life and does not have anything to do with politics.

The plot is to attack her and by extension her parent because she has a cordial relationship with the Kumasi Mayor.

The whole agenda is to make the Kumasi Mayor unpopular as attempts to look for things to incriminate him of wrongdoings have all been fruitless.

Not too long ago, there were some skirmishes between the KMA boss and the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah over some Landfill Site at Atonsu Kuwait.

So tensed was the situation that some top New Patriotic Party (NPP) and government persons had to step in to resolve the issue.

Mr. Antwi is noted for his strong relationship with NPP persons and even persons not affiliated with his party.

The staff of KMA has been attesting to his strong human relations and readiness to work with them as a leader and a team player.
It was two years ago when two women decided to come forward and end the disgusting abuse they experienced at the hands of film industry giant, Harvey Weinstein. On Monday, the victims finally received justice after New York juries convicted the Hollywood movie producer guilty of two of the five charges pressed against him.

The 67-year-old film producer was found guilty of a criminal sex act in the first degree and rape in the third degree. He will face 25 years of jail time.

Weinstein was specifically found guilty of forcing former "Project Runway" production assistant Miriam Haley to perform oral sex on him in 2006.

However, the jury consisting of seven men and five women, acquitted Weinstein from three further charges, including first-degree rape and counts of predatory assault, which would have carried a possible life sentence.

After the guilty verdict was served, Weinstein remains in custody before receiving his final sentence on March 11, 2020. His lawyers requested for him to stay in a jail infirmary while waiting for the sentence day.

History of Abuse

In October 2017, The New York Times dropped a bombshell story detailing the years of sexual harassment allegations against Weinstein. Hollywood actresses Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd are the first two women to come forward to have the courage to end the producer's abuse.

The accusation includes forcing women in his workplace like actresses, production assistants, or writers to give him a massage or watch him naked. On several occasions, he also promised to help these women to get "career advancement" in exchange for sexual favors.

Although Weinstein issued an apology, he vehemently denied the allegations that he is harassing female employees for the past three decades.

After the Weinstein scandal broke, at least 13 more female victims came forward to back the accusation and top it off with a rape allegation, which the producer disputed.

Othe victims -- including actress Asia Argento, Mira Sorvino, office assistant Lisa Rose and more -- decided to speak against the producer. Some of the said Weinstein pressured them into a physical relationship, while others accused him of rape.

#MeToo Movement

More women came to light to narrate their horrific experience with Weinstein, which birth the #MeToo movement. it is a campaign for women to be heard and eventually unmask the system of abuse and power in different settings.

Joining the #MeToo campaigns are Hollywood A-listers Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow, who revealed that they also experienced harassment from Weinstein during the earlier days of their career. Model Cara Delevingne also shared her experience of getting unwanted advances from the film mogul.

British actress Lysette Anthony also accused Weinstein of raping her in London in the late 1980s. At the same time, "Game of Thrones" star Lena Headey took to Twitter to expose the sexual harassment she experienced with the producer.

The Weinstein Fall

This multiple sexual assault accusation has lead Weinstein to fall from his tower of success. He was thrown out of his own company and stripped off previous recognitions awarded to him for his contribution to the film industry.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: The ongoing protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) by a section of radical forces are aimed at creating an Islamic state by polarising society, former DGP TP Senkumar said here on Monday.

He was speaking after inaugurating the Jana Jagran Sadassu to explain CAA organised by Jana Jagran Samithi at Marine Drive on Monday. These protests are restricted to some streets of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Delhi. We are also witnessing political groups like CPM and Congress supporting these protests to convert it into their vote banks, he said.

He alleged that groups like Popular Front of India (PFI) have received crores of rupees as funds for instigating violence during CAA protests. Promising that no minority community members will lose their citizenship because of CAA if they possess necessary documents, Senkumar criticised the state for passing a resolution seeking withdrawal of CAA.
T he capital should prepare for a potential coronavirus outbreak and consider the possibility of having to impose restrictions on public transport, independent mayoral candidate Rory Stewart said today.

He called on UK public health chiefs to do more to reassure people that the country was well-placed to cope, saying the lack of information risked spreading conspiracy theories.

Mr Stewart, who was international development secretary at the time of the ebola outbreak in 2019, said Mayor Sadiq Khan should set up a gold command structure, bringing together the Met, TfL and London hospitals.

This would ensure the capital had enough protective equipment for medics and self-testing kits if people had to self-isolate, and that patients had access to repeat prescriptions.

It would also mean that emergency workers could conduct training exercises in preparation for an outbreak and consider whether to restrict bus and Tube travel, he said. Mr Stewart revealed that a patient being treated in a London hospital for coronavirus was on a ventilator.

This is thought to be the Chinese woman living in the capital who returned from China two weeks ago and was admitted to St Thomas Hospital after going to Lewisham hospital in an Uber with symptoms.

Former Tory Mr Stewart said the World Health Organisation had been unbelievably slow in declaring the virus a public health emergency.

This delayed the release of World Bank funds to poorer countries to fight the outbreak and risked coronavirus spreading to countries such as the UK, he told Radio 4s Today.

Last night, at a Christian Aid event in central London, Mr Stewart said: We need to get the preparations in place in case the situation gets worse.
Former MasterChef winner Diana Chan has urged people to throw their support behind Chinese restaurants in the wake of the coronavirus.

In an interview with Huffington Post on Tuesday, the 32-year-old cook argued that 'viruses are not discriminatory to a race'.

'If you were going to catch it, you could catch it anywhere,' she told the publication.

Keep going: Former MasterChef winner Diana Chan (pictured) has urged people to throw their support behind Chinese restaurants in the wake of the coronavirus

'It's not necessarily in a Chinese restaurant and confined spaces. It can happen anywhere. It shouldn't stop you going about your daily lives.'

Her statements come after it was revealed many Chinese restaurants are struggling following the spread of the coronavirus in recent months.

Many people have been afraid to eat at Chinese restaurants after the emergence of the coronavirus in a food market in China's Wuhan in December.

Speaking out: In an interview with Huffington Post on Tuesday, the 32-year-old cook argued that 'viruses are not discriminatory to a race'

Chinese restaurants in Australia have reported a sharp decline in patronage, while some have been forced to shutter their doors.

A social media campaign, #IWillEatWithYou, has even started trending online, encouraging people to visit their local Asian restaurants.

And Diana isn't the only prominent foodie getting behind the cause, with new MasterChef judge Melissa Leong penning an editorial for SBS.

'It's not necessarily in a Chinese restaurant and confined spaces. It can happen anywhere. It shouldn't stop you going about your daily lives,' she said

The 39-year-old spoke about the effect the coronavirus had had on local businesses, revealing: 'Eat streets that were once packed have become ghost towns.'

'The vibe is dire, with business owners and members of the public claiming customers are slowing to a trickle as some doors close, while others are simply putting their businesses on pause to wait out the current storm,' she wrote.

'In the long run, I can't help but wonder how this will impact our food culture at large.'
CAIRO  Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian leader who was the autocratic face of stability in the Middle East for nearly 30 years before being forced from power in an Arab Spring uprising, died Tuesday, state-run TV announced. He was 91.

Mubarak was a stalwart U.S. ally, a bulwark against Islamic militancy and guardian of Egypts peace with Israel. But to the hundreds of thousands of young Egyptians who rallied for 18 days of unprecedented street protests in Cairos Tahrir Square and elsewhere in 2011, Mubarak was a latter-day pharaoh and a symbol of autocratic misrule.

His overthrow, however, plunged the country into years of chaos and uncertainty, and set up a power struggle between the military and the Muslim Brotherhood group that he had long outlawed. Some two and a half years after Mubaraks ouster, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi led the military overthrow of Egypts first freely elected president and rolled back freedoms gained in the 2011 uprising.

State TV said Mubarak died at a Cairo hospital where he had undergone an unspecified surgery. The report said he had health complications but offered no other details. One of his sons, Alaa, announced over the weekend that the former president was in an intensive care after undergoing surgery.

El-Sissi offered condolences and praised Mubaraks service during the 1973 war with Israel but made no mention of Mubaraks almost three-decade rule as president of the most populous Arab state. He announced three days of national mourning beginning Wednesday.

The Presidency mourns with great sorrow the former President of the Republic, Mr. Mohammed Hosni Mubarak, he said in a statement. It referred to Mubarak as one of the leaders and heroes of the glorious October war, as he assumed command of the Air Force during the war that restored dignity and pride to the Arab nation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed deep sorrow over Mubaraks death. President Mubarak, a personal friend of mine, was a leader who guided his people to peace and security, to peace with Israel, Netanyahu said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Mubarak spent his life serving his homeland and the issues of righteousness and justice in the world, with the issue of our Palestinian people at the top of them.

Saudi Arabias King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the United Arab Emirates also released statements offering condolences and mourning Mubarak.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres sent condolences to the government and Mubaraks family, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Guterres said Mubarak played an important role in diplomatic efforts throughout the Middle East, including in promoting peace between Israelis and Palestinians and supporting the endeavors by the League of Arab States to end conflict in the region.

Born in May 1928, Mubarak was vice president on Oct. 6, 1981, when his mentor, President Anwar Sadat, was assassinated by Islamic extremists while reviewing a military parade. Seated next to Sadat, Mubarak escaped with a minor hand injury as gunmen sprayed the reviewing stand with bullets. Eight days later, the brawny former air force commander was sworn in as president, promising continuity and order.

Over the next three decades, as the region was convulsed by one crisis after another, Mubarak was seen as a steady hand and a reliable U.S. partner against Islamic extremism. He sent troops as part of the U.S.-led coalition in the 1990-1991 Gulf war and contributed to efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Within Egypt he presided over slow but steady economic growth and largely kept the country out of armed conflicts after decades of war with Israel. Unlike his predecessors, both Sadat and Egypts towering nationalist leader Gamal Abdel Nasser, Mubarak pursued no grand ideology beyond stability and economic development.

Over the years, Mubarak tinkered with reform but shunned major change, presenting himself as Egypts sole protection against Islamic militancy and sectarian division. The U.S., particularly under President George W. Bush, pressed for democratic reforms but was wary of alienating a key ally.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo extended condolences and said the U.S. will continue to work with the current government to develop a better partnership with Egypt.

Under Mubarak, the Muslim Brotherhood was banned but largely tolerated. All political power, however, was concentrated in the hands of Mubarak and his ruling party, and emergency laws imposed after Sadats assassination remained in place for decades. Criticism of the president or the military was forbidden, Islamist and secular dissidents were regularly jailed, and the police were notoriously brutal and corrupt.

Egyptian authorities  both then and now  argue that tough measures are needed to preserve stability in a volatile region. Islamic militants carried out several attacks on police, Christians and foreign tourists throughout Mubaraks rule, including an attempted assassination of the president himself during a visit to Ethiopia in 1995.

The failure to fulfill repeated promises of change steadily deepened public despair. Those seeking a democratic future were dismayed to see Mubarak making apparent moves to groom his businessman son, Gamal Mubarak, for a dynastic succession.

At multiple points during Mubaraks reign, he had the opportunity to reform the Egyptian state, H.A. Hellyer, a scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, tweeted. He didnt.

The Jan. 25 uprising didnt come out of nowhere  it was the result of many years of pent-up anger at how the state was failing the citizenry, save a tiny slice at the top, he added.

Inspired by the first Arab Spring revolt in Tunisia, protesters took to the streets in January 2011. They harnessed the power of social media to muster tumultuous throngs, unleashing popular anger over the graft and brutality that shadowed Mubaraks rule.

In the end, with millions massed in Tahrir Square and other city centers, and even marching to the doorstep of Mubaraks palace, his resignation was announced on Feb. 11, 2011. The generals took power, hoping to preserve what they could of the system he had led.

Though Tunisias president fell before him, the ouster of Mubarak was a watershed moment in the history of the region, and gave impetus to uprisings in Libya, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain.

Over the next two years Egypt held a referendum on an amended constitution, as well as parliamentary and presidential elections. Turnout was high as enthusiastic Egyptians got their first taste of democracy. But the Muslim Brotherhood emerged victorious again and again, raising fears among their opponents that the country would be transformed into an Islamic state.

The struggle came to a head in the summer of 2013, when the military removed President Mohammed Morsi, a senior Brotherhood figure, from power amid mass protests against his divisive rule. The military assumed power and launched an unprecedented crackdown on dissent. El-Sissi was elected president the following year. Rights groups and activists say his rule has proved far more oppressive than Mubaraks.

In a lot of ways, Mubaraks legacy will be mixed, said Steven A. Cook, a senior fellow in Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Egyptians are taking stock of their abilities to voice their views on the state of their lives, and realizing they were safer doing that in 2010 than in 2020.

Mubarak was jailed shortly after his overthrow and later relocated to a military hospital as he went on trial in an array of cases. The televised images of Mubarak on a stretcher in a defendants cage were in sharp contrast to the portraits of the leader that had hung from billboards during his long rule.

For the man who was long untouchable  even a word of criticism against him in the media was forbidden for much of his rule  prison was a shock. When he was flown from the court to Torah Prison in Cairo in 2011, he cried in protest and refused to get out of the helicopter.

In June 2012, Mubarak and his security chief were sentenced to life in prison for failing to prevent the killing of some 900 protesters during the 18-day uprising. Both appealed the verdict and a higher court later cleared them in 2014.

The following year, Mubarak and his two sons  wealthy businessman Alaa and Mubaraks one-time heir apparent Gamal  were sentenced to three years in prison on corruption charges during a retrial. The sons were released in 2015 for time served, while Mubarak walked free in 2017. Following his release, he was taken to an apartment in Cairos Heliopolis district, where he lived until his death.

Mubarak is survived by his wife, Suzanne, his two sons and four grandchildren.

___

Associated Press writers Isabel DeBre in Cairo and Joseph Krauss in Jerusalem contributed.
A couple who have been missing a collection of photographs taken during their wedding 35 years ago have been reunited with the snaps that were stolen by thieves during their reception.

Mick, 60, and Tracey Hepworth, 55, who married in Leeds, West Yorkshire on July 6, 1985, were left devastated when thieves stole a handbag containing a roll of film captured by a relative during their wedding.

The thieves were chased away by family members, discarding Tracey's cousin Karen Williams' handbag as they fled the scene.

Mick and Tracey believed that they would never see the sentimental photographs again, however, unbeknownst to them, passer-by Angie McHale had picked up the handbag that night and had the snaps developed.

Mick, 60, and Tracey Hepworth, 55, who married in Leeds in 1985, have been reunited with a collection of their wedding photos after they were stolen by thieves during their reception 35 years ago (pictured)

Mick and Tracey (pictured) had given up hope of being reunited with their sentimental photos, unaware that Angie McHale had found the stolen film

Angie, who had no way of tracing the people in the photographs, decided to store the snaps safely.

Despite moving house four times since, it wasn't until she was packing her stuff up for another move in January that Angie came across the photos again.

She posted them to Facebook to ask if anybody knew who they might belong to, and within hours she was put in touch with the rightful owners.

Karen Williams, 55, said her handbag was taken while she was up dancing at the evening reception of her cousin's wedding at a pub in Leeds.

Family members chased the thieves and tracked them down to a nearby pub, where a fight ensued which saw Karen's dad John Warren stabbed.

'We were all just up dancing and when we went to sit back down, my bag was missing,' explained Karen.

Tracey's cousin Karen Williams had her bag stolen by thieves during the wedding reception. Pictured, Angie with Karen

Angie spotted the disposed handbag while walking down the street and decided to take the film to be developed at the chemist. Pictured, a wedding photo from the stolen film

Angie posted the photos on Facebook after she stumbled upon them while packing her belongings up when she was due to move house. Pictured, Mick and Tracey at their 1985 wedding

'We saw the two men running out and my auntie ran after them shouting "it is them lads." 'A huge fight broke out and my dad got stabbed.

'The lads ran off and must have gone up and around the corner, we just lost sight of them. Some girls told my brother not to chase after them and they ended up getting away.

'The camera and film were in my handbag. As far as we were concerned, the pictures had gone, never to be seen again.'

But almost 35 years on, Angie was clearing out her home ready for another move when she came across the pictures and made the online appeal.

'I was walking down the street when I spotted the handles of a hand bag,' she explained. 'The bag was empty but on the floor, there was a roll of film.

'I decided to take the film to be developed at the chemist and discover what was on the photographs. The film must have just fallen out of the camera.'

Angie said she had no intentions of ever throwing the photos away, despite her doubt that she would find the owners. Pictured, Mick and Tracey in 1985, with their bridesmaids and a best man

Angie's post was widely circulated on Facebook and racked up over 500 comments as many joined the search for the owners of the photos. Pictured, Mick and Tracey with their family at their wedding in 1985

She continued: 'I thought I had got the wrong photographs before realising I had added the roll I found.

'There was no internet then, I just didn't know how I would find out who was in the pictures.

'I came across them again after having a clear out ready to move and thought I could try one last time to find the people involved. I vowed to find them.

'I would have never thrown the photographs away, I just never thought I would find them. To put faces to the old photographs is incredible.'

Karen's sister, Christine commented: 'Somebody I know messaged me and said, "I think I have spotted you on some old photographs."

'Everyone locally had shared it, there were 400 or 500 comments when I saw the post. I got asked: "Have you seen this?!'

'I couldn't believe it, the photographs posted on Facebook were the missing ones from 1985. Our family were absolutely amazed.'

Christine and Karen reached out to Angie, who told them to give her their address to reunite them with the photographs.

Angie was met by Karen and Marjorie Warren, Karen and Christine's mum, when she arranged to return the photographs. Pictured, the wedding snaps from 1985

Karen's sister Christine received a message from someone who recognised the photos being shared. Pictured, Angie with Karen

When Angie turned up at the family's house in Leeds, Karen and Marjorie Warren, Karen and Christine's mum, were waiting there with flowers.

'It was lovely to see such happy memories of a wonderful day despite the unfortunate incident with my uncle,' said Tracey. 'I remember it was such a happy and exciting day for us all as a family.'

'We will be celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary on 6th July 2020. It was a thoughtful gesture for what was a complete stranger, Angie Mac, to decide to track down the owner of the photos.

'We have sadly lost some family from these photos but its a lovely reminder of them and I'm sure it's brought a smile to their faces as it has done for us and all our family.

'It just shows Facebook can be used for good and I was completely surprised at how many comments there were wanted to know if we were still together.

'Happily we are so the story did have a happy ending.'
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Linkedin Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Semarang  Tue, February 25 2020

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.

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" " Plato's statute stands outside the Hellenic Academy in Greece. Jon Hicks/Getty Images

All of Western philosophy, wrote the British mathematician and philosopher Alfred North Whitehead, is "a series of footnotes to Plato." The ingenious Greek philosopher, who started as a young devotee of Socrates, laid the groundwork for more than two millennia of philosophical thought. Plato's "dialogues," including "Republic," are required reading for every serious student of philosophy, and his Academy in Athens set the model for the modern university.

So, who was this man?

Plato of Collytus was born around 428 B.C.E. in the waning days of the Golden Age of Athens. He met Socrates as a youth and was a close follower of the provocative street philosopher, who confounded politicians and prostitutes alike with his unrelenting questions, now known as the Socratic method.

Plato was around 20 when Athens lost the disastrous Peloponnesian War to rival Sparta (he served briefly in it). After considering a career in politics, Plato grew disenchanted by corrupt leaders and the tragic execution of Socrates, his hero and mentor. Plato came to believe that only "right philosophy" could end human suffering and ensure justice.

Plato turned his energies to education, studying under Pythagorean mathematicians and traveling through Sicily, Italy and Egypt. In his early 30s, he returned to Athens and founded his academy in an open-air grove. Open to men and women, it drew the best and brightest from the Greek-speaking world  including a young Aristotle  to learn mathematics and natural philosophy.

" " Raphael's painting "The School of Athens," shows several Greek philosophers, including Plato (center in red robe) and Aristotle (in blue next to Plato). The figure sitting on the steps apart in blue is thought to be Socrates. Leemage/Corbis via Getty Images

Plato never married or had any children. He died in his early 80s but lives on in his captivating prose and thought-provoking questions, recorded in 30 lively and challenging dialogues.

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What's Inside the Dialogues?

Reading one of Plato's dialogues is like eavesdropping on a fascinating and rambling conversation. The dialogues are constructed like intellectual dramas with Socrates often playing the main character. In them, Socrates teasingly interrogates and plies answers out of his fellow Athenians, revealing the elusiveness of simple truths.

Plato's early dialogues are heavily indebted to Socrates, who left no writing of his own, but Plato's own ideas emerge in middle and later works. Like Socrates, though, Plato doesn't beat the reader over the head with his philosophy, but prefers an indirect approach that tasks the reader with drawing his or her own conclusions.

"In his dialogues, Plato doesn't say, 'Here are the answers and here are the reasons  accept them on my authority,'" says Eric Brown, a philosophy professor at Washington University in St. Louis. "Plato wants to inspire people to do philosophy and think it through for themselves. The dialogues do that. They leave a lot of open questions. They don't settle everything. I think that's one of the reasons why Plato has found so many readers over the centuries. He leaves a lot of work for the reader to do, which maybe we find inspiring."

If Plato could be said to have a central doctrine, it's the concept of "forms," the idea that the world we perceive with our physical senses is flawed, but there also exists a separate world of perfect, eternal forms beyond our perception. Those perfect forms are abstract ideals like beauty, equality, goodness, being and knowledge.

This core philosophy is called Platonism, and philosophers who have ascribed to it over the millennia are known as Platonists.

"Platonism is the idea that there are truths, causes or principles that are abstract, not available to sense perception, but only to thought," says Brown. "And that when we access these, we're in a better position to understand the way the world is, and in a better position to live a good life."

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"Symposium" and "Republic"

There are so many excellent dialogues, including "Symposium" and "Phaedo." "Symposium" discusses love, including "Platonic love" (a term Plato never used by the way), which, is far more nuanced than simply a nonsexual relationship. Plato distinguishes between Divine Eros and Vulgar Eros. Divine Eros is a love that goes beyond physical attraction (Vulgar Eros) to Supreme Beauty or makes one think of spiritual things. Meanwhile, "Phaedo" explored the nature of the soul. However, the most-read of Plato's works is undoubtedly "Republic."

"It covers so much ground," says Brown. "You get a little of Plato's thinking about politics, a little bit about the soul, about what it is to live a good life, what it is to understand the world. How it is to teach and what teaching really is."

In "Republic," Plato puts forward a number of bold proposals, including the claim that the ideal city would be ruled by a class of virtuous male and female philosopher-kings. Brown thinks that Plato is clearly trying to push his readers' philosophical buttons.

"'Republic'was plainly written to be provocative," says Brown. The idea that no city is well-governed unless it's ruled by a philosopher  it's nutty."

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The Allegory of the Cave

One of the most vivid and enduring passages in "Republic" is Socrates' extended allegory of the cave. In the allegory, a group of captives are chained up inside a dark cave lit only by faint firelight. Their only knowledge of the outside world are the shadows that play on the cave walls and garbled bits of echoed conversation.

One of the captives manages to escape and discovers there's an entire reality outside of the cave. The brightness of the sun burns his eyes, but the pain is worth knowing the truth. When he returns to the cave and offers to free his fellow captives, they mock his interpretations of their beloved shadows and decide to kill him.

Here again, Plato is returning to his notion of truth existing outside of our limited perception. Brown believes that the cave allegory is specifically talking about the true nature and function of education.

"Real education is not being filled with information. It's a transformation of your soul, a reorientation of your values," says Brown. "For Plato, when you stop taking the world as it seems to you, and when you stop believing other people's opinions on what's valuable, and you start searching for what's beyond those mere appearances, that's when you're being educated."

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Plato's Legacy

Brown teaches Plato every semester at Washington University and says that students continue to have their minds opened by Plato's dialogues, which challenge readers to wrestle with some of the biggest questions  how to know and how to live.

"He asks questions that are still worth asking," says Brown. "And he asks them in an engaging and provocative way that's still one of the best literary representations of how to do philosophy or get into doing philosophy. For those two reasons, he will always matter."

Now That's Interesting Plato's Academy, named for a grove dedicated to the Greek hero Academus, was a magnet for promising young thinkers from across the Greek-speaking world. Aristotle came there when he was 17 and stayed on to teach. The academy continued for almost two centuries after Plato's death, closing in 70 B.C.E.
One of the most important aspects of Bernie Sanders appearance Sunday night on the CBS program 60 Minutes was a section of the interview that the network chose not to broadcast, but which was nonetheless available on its website and widely cited in the media afterwards.

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders speaks to supporters in Des Moines, Iowa, February 3, 2020 [Credit: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais]

This was a discussion between Sanders and interviewer Anderson Cooper over the question of US war-making, in which the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination gave his views on the circumstances in which he would order military action.

We have the best military in the world, was Sanders first response when Cooper raised the question of his past posture of opposing overseas American military interventions. Asked to spell out the circumstances in which he, as president, would send US forces into combat, Sanders replied: 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 Cooper asked whether he would order military action if China attacked Taiwanan island which the United States officially recognizes as Chinese territorySanders 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.

Given that nearly all of the American wars of aggression of the past 30 years were waged under such pretexts, Sanders response should raise the alarm among working people and young people who have rallied to his campaign thinking that he was a genuine opponent of war.

The administration of George H. W. Bush launched the 1991 Persian Gulf war on the pretext of opposing Iraqi President Saddam Husseins invasion of Kuwait. The administration of Bill Clinton bombed Serbian targets in Bosnia and later bombed Serbia itself, citing acts of aggression by Serbian forces against Bosnian Muslims and Kosovars as a pretext.

The administration of George W. Bush invaded Afghanistan claiming this was a necessary response to the September 11 terrorist attacks against the United States. It employed the same pretext, on an even more threadbare and dishonest basis, to justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks.

The Obama administration waged war for all its eight years in officein Afghanistan, Iraq, and through the use of drones and proxy forces in Syria, Yemen and many other countries. It should be recalled that during his first run for the presidency, when Sanders was asked whether he would use drones and special forces in the war on terror, he responded, All that and more.

As for threats against our allies, such a criterion could be used to justify US military intervention against Russia in the event of further border clashes with Ukraine or conflict between Moscow and the ferociously anti-Russian right-wing regimes in the Baltic states. Further clashes between Turkish and Syrian government forces could involve Russian forces, bringing them into a military conflict with Turkey, a NATO member.

In the event of naval conflicts between China and Japan or South Korea over disputed islets, or with any number of southeast Asian countries that contest Chinese claims to parts of the South China Sea, the US could go to war with yet another nuclear-armed rival on the basis of Sanders criteria.

Revealingly, in the 60 Minutes interview Sanders did not make a single criticism of the Trump administrations bellicose threats against Iran, Venezuela or other countries targeted for imperialist bullying by Washington. He criticized Trumps friendly overtures towards North Korea, although he said he would not rule out meeting with the countrys dictator Kim Jong-un.

These comments follow a response by the Sanders campaign to a New York Times survey of the Democratic candidates, in which Sanders said he would consider preemptive use of military force against an Iranian or North Korean nuclear or missile test.

Sanders sought to combine his generally mainstream approach to imperialist foreign policy with a bit of left posturing in relation to Cuba. He told Cooper, in response to a question about his past sympathy for the Sandinista regime in Nicaragua, and opposition to US sanctions against Cuba: Were very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba, but you know, its 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?

Anticipating the red-baiting response of the Republicans and Cuban exile groups in south Florida, Sanders staged his own pre-emptive red-baiting against Trump, suggesting that the president had no right to criticize him as soft on Castro given his own love letters to Kim Jong-un.

There is another incident that raises questions about Sanders claims to be a candidate opposed to the endless wars of American imperialism. When asked by reporters about the Washington Post s report Friday that he had been notified by US intelligence agencies about supposed Russian efforts to interfere in the US elections in his support, he said he had received a briefing about a month ago.

When asked why he had not disclosed the briefing or its subject, Sanders answered, Because I go to many intelligence briefings which I dont reveal to the public.
WASHINGTON  Emails show that a House committee investigating possible surveillance of the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine has struggled to obtain records from Connecticut congressional candidate Robert Hyde, although Hyde told press he handed over everything.

NBC News reported it obtained emails exchanged between the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Hyde indicating that Hyde failed to follow through on a commitment to turn over his electronics for the committee to search.

Hyde told Hearst Connecticut Media Tuesday that he sent the emails to NBC News. In an email exchange, he declined to share the emails with Hearst, but claimed he offered to show the committee his devices three times. He did not elaborate on following through on this offer, and called the reporter trash and shitbag in response to questions on the matter.

The House committee staff said Hyde had destroyed some records that could be relevant to their inquiry and failed to explain when and why he got rid of the copies, the emails said.

The committee staffers also said the records Hyde did provide contain significant gaps. It was clear some were missing because House investigators already published text messages exchanged between Hyde and Trump-associate Lev Parnas, the staffers suggested.

The published texts suggested that Hyde and Parnas were conducting surveillance of the ambassador Marie Yovanovitch in Kiev in March 2019. They exchanged messages about Yovanovitchs movements and security protection. Hyde and Parnas both deny any real surveillance occured.

In emails to the committee, Hyde accused the staff of trying to set me up with false or fake evidence.

Hydes connection to Parnas and President Trumps personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani was first reported by Hearst Connecticut Media. A former landscaper and Republican donor, Hyde is running for Congress in Connecticuts 5th District against Democrat U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes. Hyde has faced numerous calls from Republicans to end his campaign but has remained in the race.

The State Department and Ukrainian Police have also announced investigations into possible surveillance of Yovanovitch. The Federal Bureau of Investigations also has tried to make contact with Hyde.

emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson
The Prime Minister of Ukraine assures the country has enough medical units of infectious disease specialists, protection suits, masks, and respirators

Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Honcharuk Government Portal

Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Honcharuk stated about the readiness of over 2,000 hospitals to accept people infected with coronavirus in case, the virus enters the territory of the country, as Interfax-Ukraine reported.

A plan is developed in each region, submitted to the proper hospitals; specials hospitals are defined with infection boxes  over 2,000 in Ukraine. So wherever the region is in danger, there are people who will respond to it immediately, place a person to the infection box and provide a person with necessary help. The system is ready to respond to such a situation, Honcharuk assured.

He stated that there are enough medical units of infectious disease specialists, protection suits, masks, and respirators in the country. No deficit is observed. The PM is sure that if coronavirus is spotted in the territory of Ukraine, nothing serious will happen.

Earlier, Deputy Minister of Health Viktor Lyashko stated that not a single case of infection with the new pneumonia coronavirus was recorded in Ukraine, including among citizens evacuated from Wuhan

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government 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.
The UAE Armed Forces said that it has signed deals over Dh624 million ($170 million) since the opening of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition (UMEX) and the Simulation and Training Exhibition (SimTEX) 2020 in Abu Dhabi.



There were seven new deals signed on Monday with total value exceeding Dh468 million of local and external deals.



"The total value of external deals reached Dh25,821,190, whilst the total local contract deals amounted to Dh443,049,964 , representing 94 per cent of total deals signed in the second day, said Staff Brigadier Fahad Nasser Al Thehli, spokesman for the UMEX and SimTEX 2020 exhibitions.



He confirmed that contracts were signed with the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investments Company (ADASI) to purchase drone systems at a value of Dh180,426,908, in addition to a contract to supply the Armed Forces with new unmanned Helicopters Camcopter S-100 at a value of Dh234 million.



Al Thehli added that a contract was signed with Denel Dynamics from South Africa to purchase drones at the value of Dh25,821,190, and a contract with EARTH to purchase unmanned vehicles at a value of Dh22,573,056. Additionally, Al Awael Company was contracted to supply simulations and training system for firefighting on behalf of the Abu Dhabi Police at a value of Dh3.2 million.



Al Thehli also pointed out that the I ON Technology Company was contracted to purchase a simulation system to detect explosives for Abu Dhabi Police at a value of Dh2.3 million, and another contract with Power Drone Company to supply three drones for firefighting for the Abu Dhabi Police at a value of Dh550,000.  TradeArabia News Service
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.
" " Da Vinci painted "The Last Supper" with a method of his own devising, which involved painting in oil and tempera on a dry wall. The method was not entirely successful, resulting in flaking paint and a fresco that has not completely withstood the test of time. Wikimedia Commons

Located on the wall of Milan's Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie is a work of art that's considered by many to be one of the greatest artistic masterpieces of all time. But its creator, Leonardo da Vinci, wasn't exactly stoked about it when the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza, commissioned the piece in 1494.

"Leonardo did not want to paint 'The Last Supper,'" says Ross King, author of "Leonardo and The Last Supper." "Instead, he wanted to do a gigantic bronze equestrian moment  a monumental work that would certainly have made him famous. But the outbreak of war in 1494 meant he couldn't do his bronze horse, so as compensation he was given the task of painting a wall in a room where a band of friars ate their dinner every day. He had never painted on such a large scale. Having little experience in such a difficult task, it's not surprising that he complained bitterly about the commission, at which it was entirely possible that he would fail miserably. Happily, the story turned out otherwise."

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What resulted from da Vinci's hesitant participation is a mural that famously depicts the last supper of Jesus Christ with his apostles, on the day before his crucifixion. The scene is based on the description in the Gospel of John 13:21, and da Vinci intended to convey the reactions of Jesus' disciples the moment they learned that one of them would betray him.

King, who has also written several other books on Italian, French and Canadian art and history, including "Brunelleschi's Dome" and "Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling," says da Vinci's "The Last Supper" is particularly important for a variety of reasons, perhaps most of all for its elevation of the artist to celebrity status. "Its completion marks the moment when Leonardo, then in his mid-40s, finally created what he called a 'work of fame,'" he says. "It's amazing to think that, before 'The Last Supper,' Leonardo had achieved very little. Had he died in, say, 1492, when he was 40, he would be little more than a footnote in art history, known as someone who showed enormous promise but never delivered the goods. But with 'The Last Supper,' he delivered spectacularly. Without having created 'The Last Supper,' he probably would never have received his later commissions, including the 'Mona Lisa.' So, the work was absolutely crucial not only to the history of art but also to his own career."

One special feature of "The Last Supper" is its sheer size. "No one else in history had ever created such a large painting with such a great level of realistic detail, as well as with such believable emotions and dramatic expressions," King says of the piece, which measures approximately 15 feet by 29 feet (4.5 meters by 8.8 meters). "No one who painted a Last Supper in the centuries afterward could do so without an eye on Leonardo's masterpiece."

Da Vinci opted to portray one pivotal moment in his scene: the instant just before the birth of the Eucharist, when Jesus reaches for the bread (meant to symbolize his crucified body) and wine (a representation of his blood). According to Corinthians 11:23-26, the event went like this:

"...that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."

Who Are the Subjects?

The notebooks of da Vinci are a key to who the key players are in the painting, although experts still argue over some of the details. In one group, Bartholomew, James (son of Alpheus), and Andrew sit together, and look genuinely shocked at what Jesus has just revealed. In another group, there's Judas Iscariot, Peter and John. Judas, the known betrayer, has a lot going on: He's fading into the background a bit, he's holding a bag of money, and he's knocking over a salt shaker, which experts say is meant to symbolize the expression that "tipping over the salt" means betraying one's master. Jesus sits in the middle of the group, and on his other side, viewers see apostle Thomas, James the Greater and Philip. Rounding out the group are Matthew, Jude Thaddeus and Simon the Zealot. The symmetry of the figures is signature da Vinci  the artist favored balance in his work and made sure the horizontal painting featured equal numbers of people on either side of Jesus and a thoughtful use of eye-pleasing perspective.

But the content and composition of "The Last Supper" aren't the only reasons the painting remains legendary. "It has had a very sad history," King says. "The paint began flaking from the wall because of a perfect storm of bad climatic conditions in the refectory  mainly cold and damp. That might not have been such a problem had Leonardo worked in the true fresco technique, which makes for very durable paintings. But he devised a method of his own that involved painting in oil and tempera on a dry wall  something artists were discouraged from doing. His technique, unsurprisingly, did not prove successful."

Due to da Vinci's ill-advised choices and the poor custodianship in the centuries that followed the creation of the painting, "The Last Supper" started to look rough. And then things got worse. "The work was insensitively 'restored' by conservators who didn't know what they were doing, and caused more harm than good," King says. "In 1652, in a kind of act of vandalism, the friars from the convent knocked a hole in the wall (amputating Christ's feet) to create a doorway through the painting. The refectory flooded in the 19th century, and Napoleon used the building as a stable  which meant that it was filled with horses and manure. Then during World War II, it barely survived a bomb that destroyed much of the refectory. The fact that we still have it to enjoy is little short of miraculous."

Now That's Fishy There are tons of details in "The Last Supper" that art scholars continue to debate and dissect. Take the fish on the table for example: Is it herring or eel? In Italian, the word "eel" is "aringa," although when it is spelled "arringa" it means "indoctrination." The word "herring" in northern Italian is "renga," meaning he who denies religion.

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Originally Published: Feb 25, 2020
Portland Public Schools wants to pour millions into hiring mental health specialists, teachers and counselors next year.

District officials on Tuesday will present how they want to spend about $39 million in new state funding, their share of a $1 billion corporate business tax passed by the Oregon Legislature last year.

The Portland district plans on spending nearly one-quarter of its share, or around $9 million, to shrink and stabilize class sizes across every grade  around $5.2 million at its elementary schools, $2.9 million in the middle grades and just under $1 million across nine high schools.

Thats just the tip of the iceberg.

As the states largest district, Portland Public Schools will get the largest single cash infusion from the Student Success Act the Oregon Legislature passed during the 2019 session. The Salem-Keizer school board is set to vote on a $35 million package this week, according to The Salem Reporter.

In Beaverton, the district has outlined how itll spend about $31 million.

The Student Success Act was passed largely to help districts expand learning time, reduce class sizes, expand early literacy programs, hire mental health professionals or do a combination of those things.

The legislation levies a 0.57% tax on most business transactions made in Oregon by entities with in-state profits of more than $1 million per year. As districts across Oregon plot out how theyll use the windfall, some businesses owners are frustrated by a lack of details in how their tax bill is calculated as the first payment deadline approaches.

Half of the $1 billion the tax generates is held in a school improvement fund and doled out to the states roughly 200 school districts through non-competitive grants.

YOU CAN READ THE PORTLAND DISTRICTS FULL APPLICATION HERE

Although districts have wide latitude in how to spend that new money, applications must address a handful of criteria before the state Department of Education greenlights them. Theyre required to show they met with community stakeholders in shaping their application and provide a three-year roadmap for meeting their objectives.

In Portlands case, district officials want to drastically boost third-grade reading scores for black and Latino students, as well as fifth-grade math proficiency for the same student groups.

Portland Public Schools also conducted a series of feedback sessions where district officials collected comments from parents, students and community members. During one such session, parents told The Oregonian/OregonLive they wanted the district to boost reading proficiency and invest in mental health supports, among other things.

District documents show administrators plan on addressing those concerns and then some.

Portland Public Schools says it wants to pour millions into hiring mental health specialists for children in its elementary and middle schools. The district is proposing to spend about $4.8 million on at least 43 social workers.

A survey of 5,800 seventh and 10th graders the district showed students have a grim outlook on their sense of belonging. Each of the districts nine high schools would have a full-time social worker while the 34 others would split their time between middle and elementary schools.

Portland Public Schools officials also propose spending up to $3.4 million on contracts for mentorship, family engagement, wraparound services and enrichment activities for students of color. Organizations like the Latino Network, the Urban League and Self Enhancement, Inc., currently offer such services.

The district also proposes spending about $3.3 million on instructional specialists in schools the state has identified as high-need.

District officials also say theyll hire the full-time equivalent of 22.5 counselors for its middle schools. That will bring the counselor-to-student ratio at every school with middle grades to 250-to-one, the level recommended by the American Counseling Association.

That should cost about $2.8 million.

Portland Public Schools also wants to add an extra period to its middle schools. At $1.4 million, officials want to hire 13 teachers to pilot the program at four schools, which would add 15 minutes to the school day at Ockley Green, Harriet Tubman, George and Beaumont.

Another $1.2 million would fund an expansion in elective offerings for some students in middle grades.

The district also plans on hiring at least six people  five teachers on special assignment and one administrator  to completely overhaul its math curriculum to the tune of about $1.1 million. That sum also includes a budget for instructional material.

The Portland school board meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday at district headquarters, 501 N. Dixon St. The discussion over Student Success Act funds is scheduled to begin at 8:15 p.m.
New Jersey charter schools continue growing at a sluggish pace under Gov. Phil Murphys administration, despite calls for a moratorium from the states largest teachers union.

Ten of the 11 charter schools up for renewal this year were approved by the state and given five-year extensions, according to decisions obtained by NJ Advance Media. Another four charters were granted grade or enrollment expansions, according to the Feb. 3 decisions received via an open records request.

The states decisions reflect the small enrollment gains charter schools have made under the Murphy administration, which has remained mostly silent on the subject since launching a comprehensive review" of charter school law in 2018. That review continues, and the state has given no indication of when it will end.

The New Jersey Education Association, the states largest teachers union, called for a moratorium on charter school expansion when Murphy took office. But his administration has approved about 3,400 additional seats, almost exclusively through the expansion of existing charters, according to the state.

Generally, the administration has been fair and rational, said Harry Lee, president of the New Jersey Charter School Association. There has not been a hard moratorium on expansion, so we are grateful for that.

In its February decisions, the state Department of Education authorized about 1,400 new seats to be added over the next five years.

However, it also ordered the M.E.T.S. Charter School in Jersey City and Newark to close due to poor performance. The school was authorized for 960 seats and had an enrollment of about 670 students, according to state documents.

Eighty-eight charter schools are in operation in New Jersey, with approximately 66,000 seats authorized for the 2019-2020 school year.

Operated independently of local school districts, charters are public schools that receive pass-through funding from the districts that students leave, making them free for parents who cannot afford private academies.

But critics say charter schools lack oversight, drain resources from traditional public schools and too often fail students with inadequate teaching.

Here is the list of schools that were granted extensions or expansions this month:

Extensions

Hudson Arts and Science Charter School (Kearny): Approved for a five-year extension, but denied an expansion to grades 9-12.

John P. Holland (Paterson): Approved for a five-year extension and to expand enrollment from 400 to 726 students over the next five school years.

Millville Public Charter School: Approved for a five-year extension, but placed on probation over concerns of academic performance and organizational instability.

Passaic Arts and Science Charter School: Approved for a five-year extension and enrollment expansion from 1,712 students to 2,276 over the next five school years.

Peoples Prep Charter School (Newark): Approved for a five-year extension.

Philips Academy Charter School of Paterson: Approved for a five-year extension, expansion to grades 4-5 and an enrollment increase from 285 students to 450 over the next five school years.

Roseville Community Charter School (Newark): Approved for a five-year extension.

University Heights Charter School (Newark): Approved for a five-year extension, while remaining on probation for academic and financial concerns.

Cresthaven Academy Charter School (Plainfield): Approved for a five-year extension, an expansion to grades 4-5 and an enrollment increase from 300 students to 450 over the next two school years.

Dr. Lena Edwards Academy Charter School (Jersey City): Approved for a five-year extension, while on continued probation for financial and organizational concerns.

Expansions

Hope Community Charter School (Camden): Approved to expand to grades 6-8 over the next three years, while decreasing maximum enrollment from 330 to 275.

Pace Charter School of Hamilton: Approved to increase enrollment from 405 students to 486 by 2023.

Pride Academy Charter School (East Orange): Approved to increase enrollment from 288 students to 300 next school year.

Queen City Academy (Plainfield): Approved to add grades 9-12 over the next four years and expand enrollment from 324 students to 484.

Note: The Murphy administration rejected expansion requests from six other charter schools.

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Turkish shelling kills nine Syrian forces in Idlib: Monitor

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 25 February 2020 3:19 AM

A Turkish shelling has reportedly killed nine Syrian forces in the northwestern Idlib province, where the Syrian army is fighting Ankara-backed militants to retake the last stronghold of terrorists, a London-based monitoring group said.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said on Monday five Syrian forces lost their lives near the town of Saraqeb while the others died near the town of Nayrab.

It added that militants backed by Turkey also retook control of Nayrab and fired at Syrian government forces in the town of Sarmin.

Saraqeb, which lies at the intersection of the M4 and another important highway the M5, has been under the government's control since Feb. 8.

The fighting that raged on Monday killed almost 100 fighters on both sides around the militant-dominated bastion, the SOHR said.

Those included 41 forces allied to the Syrian army as well as 53 terrorists.

The clashes came after the Syrian Army and its allied forces regained control of eight more villages as they make further advances in the south of Idlib countryside.

The government forces also inflicted heavy losses on Nusra Front terrorists and their affiliates.

The army's advances were followed by the discovery of a vast network of tunnels, heavy weapons, and fortified dens belonging to the terrorists.

Idlib remains a flashpoint amid Turkey's increased military presence in the region. The latest gain marks another step in the government's advance against foreign-backed militants.

Syria has launched a major campaign to liberate Idlib which is considered to be the last stronghold of the militant groups.

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When people enter retirement, they have to decide what to do with their daily schedule. At first, they might just want to take it easy for a while, maybe taking a long-planned, exciting vacation. But many retirees, in addition to these types of goals, say they eventually want to become more productive.

People have different reasons for working after retirement. Some might want or need to work to bring in extra money. Its estimated that Social Security only replaces 40-50% of pre-retirement income. In general, people need around 80% of their pre-retirement income to get by, according to Teresa Ghilarducci, an economics professor at the New School for Social Research, and author of the book How to Retire with Enough Money.
Hong Kong-based publisher first vanished in 2015 while on holiday in Thailand and eventually surfaced in China.

A court in China has sentenced Chinese-born Swedish citizen Gui Minhai to 10 years in prison on charges of illegally providing intelligence abroad in a case that has rattled relations between Beijing and Stockholm.

The court in the eastern city of Ningbo said on Tuesday that the book publisher had been convicted on Monday and that he had had his Chinese citizenship reinstated in 2018, although it was not immediately clear if he had given up his Swedish nationality.

Gui, one of five Hong Kong-based booksellers known for publishing gossipy titles about Chinese political leaders, was snatched by Chinese authorities while on a train to Beijing in February 2018, the second time he disappeared into Chinese custody.

Gui first vanished in 2015 while on holiday in Thailand and eventually surfaced at an undisclosed location in China, confessing to involvement in a fatal traffic accident and smuggling illegal books.

He served two years in prison but three months after his October 2017 release, he was again arrested on a train to Beijing while travelling with Swedish diplomats.





His supporters and family have claimed his detention is part of political repression campaign by Chinese authorities.

The Ningbo court also sentenced Gui to five years of deprivation of political rights, which in practice means he cannot lead state-owned enterprises or hold positions in state organs.

China does not recognise dual citizenship and foreign nationals are required to renounce their other citizenships once they gain Chinese citizenship.

A video released by China three weeks after Guis disappearance showed him purportedly confessing wrongdoing and blaming Sweden for sensationalising his case and instigating law-breaking behaviour.

Guis friend, dissident poet Bei Ling, said at the time that Guis confession was likely made under coercion.

Chinese criminal suspects often appear in videotaped confessions that rights groups say sometimes bear the hallmarks of official arm-twisting.
Police officer helps save 11-year-old girl injured in drive-by shooting A Kansas City police officer helped save an 11-year-old girl who was injured in a drive-by shooting in her own home.

He properly applied a tourniquet and worked to stop a bleeding in the midst of a tense situation . . . Read more:
T he thrust of the complaint was that the civil service got in the way of bold, much-needed reforms and was bad at managing them anyway. The prime minister was a Tory firebrand with a cult-like following and a determination to ram through changes. Civil servants wondered if they dare tell a charismatic leader sitting on a healthy majority that they might have got something wrong, or be endeavouring to do too much at once... The aforementioned grumble was from Margaret Thatcher around 1987: she scolded her senior civil servants about the failure to deliver (and blamed a lot of her Cabinet).

That resonates down the decades, as rifts at the Home Office have boiled over into the open. Philip Rutnam, its top civil servant, is at war with Home Secretary Priti Patel, who is intent on sacking him. There are allegations of bullying and an atmosphere of fear across Whitehall. I bumped into one of the cheerier press officers having a large glass of wine in a pub. He joked that he had tried dry February but found events too stressful to stay totally sober.

It would make for a great nights viewing as a plot in Bodyguard, TVs sexiest potboiler about a home secretary, but it is less fun in everyday life. The department needs a mix of steel and subtlety to deliver a low-immigration, high-productivity reboot of UK plc. Put aside for a moment whether this plan is a good idea  it is the prospectus on which the Government was elected and it should have a chance to deliver this. If it is found wanting, sceptics like me can say I told you so and ask the Conservatives to open up to the world again.

But until then, government needs to function  despite the ruthless high drama of the early Dominic Cummings era, which saw Whitehall described as a blob that thwarts the drive of Number 10. Boris Johnson could reshuffle the civil service pack (which would be a better option than this dissatisfaction). Or he could try, like the hyper-flexible Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill, to represent the interests of his officials while also reprimanding them for leaking stories about Patel. But when all the fire and fury abates, Johnsons role at the head of government is to support a system which can deliver.

The alternative is a game of blame-shifting and the inevitable story of betrayal at the hands of officials. And though the civil service has an element of groupthink (which is why it over-reliably produces veterans to deliver told-you-so verdicts on Brexit), it also has officials who are keen to make their mark. These people are flexible enough to understand that politics in 2020 will not look like a rerun of the comfy old world we saw before the referendum.

Margaret Thatchers period in office is instructive, and not in the way mythologisers on the Right and caricature-purveyors on the Left imagine. In her most productive years, she understood the role of the civil service and had useful relations with her Cabinet secretaries Robert Armstrong and Robin Butler. Her signal was that policy, at which the civil service was skilled, did not amount to much without execution, at which it was traditionally deficient, concludes her finest biographer Charles Moore.

Anne McElvoy

Lest you be waiting for a rocking denouement to all this, the result of the Next Steps overhaul was the creation of the Vehicle Inspection Agency (which went fine) and the Child Support Agency (which didnt). In Thatchers later ruling years, she started to override her senior civil servants impatiently  a sign of the tetchy tiredness which marked the endgame of her government. But that was after many years of a radical project.

The early Boris Johnson period feels energetic  in the sense that it has an ideology focused on boosting northern England and a determination to refocus its foreign policy on a buccaneering Global Britain  but ill-focused on how to achieve this, other than in the form of costly infrastructure projects.

Immigration and the Home Office has become the flashpoint in part because it is headed by an outspoken minister. Patel is less globalist than Johnson, but is a fierce campaigner. Her demands raise questions about the limits of what politicians can ask their officials to do and on what terms. Now workplace culture is less tolerant of table-slamming, it is probably not a great idea to strike a tone with officials which seems disrespectful. It is less clear what happens when the Governments demands seem unrealistic to civil servants.

This would make for great viewing in Bodyguard, but it is less fun in everyday life at the Home Office

A technocratic overhaul undertaken by David Camerons government (lots of management training away days, grand projects, and international benchmarking) dwindled, too  in part because the thrills and spills of Brexit knocked the dull necessities of reform off course, but also because the kind of centrist politics it took for granted has changed, and the risks have sharpened.

So the solution is probably a shuffling of the pack in Whitehall, overseen by the Prime Minister. Yes, it means he gets his way and careers will be truncated, in many cases unfairly. But it lessens the chances for the Government to claim it was undermined by the Brahmin class. If the wrong person ends up in the wrong department, at least it will have been at the behest of the PM himself.

One of the more tenacious mandarins is David Frost, the chief Brexit negotiator whose pivot to enthusiasm for the project causes vapours at the Foreign Office. He approaches the role with gusto, to the point, says a former mentor, that he has convinced himself it is all going to be great, when his rational side must tell him its a vast gamble. But that is a negotiators skill. Antonia Romeo, the ebullient permanent secretary at the Department for International Trade, has a similar brio, and was unlucky to be edged out in a reshuffle which kept Sedwill in the top job.

The difficulty for Johnson will not lie in some devious plan by the Foreign Office to sabotage the Brexit trade deal. The trouble around Whitehall will crystallise on the home front, where those asked to implement policy need to know what matters most to a Prime Minister whose enthusiasms are various and at times temporary  and whose personal commitments remain harder to pin down. This game wont be won by simply taking Sir Humphrey down a peg or two.
Worried Democrats have intensified their assault against the partys presidential front-runner Bernie Sanders as the Vermont senator marched toward South Carolinas 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.

(PA Graphics)

And a new political group was spending big to undermine Mr 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 organisation trying to derail Mr Sanders candidacy.

Nominating Bernie means we reelect Trump. We cant afford Bernie Sanders.

Joe Biden speaks at a campaign event in Charleston, South Carolina on Monday. The former vice-presidents nomination campaign has taken a battering as Bernie Sanders continues to surge (Patrick Semansky/AP)

While uncoordinated, the multi-pronged broadside just five days before the first Southern primary represents the Democrats most aggressive attempt to knock Mr Sanders down.

It reflects growing concern within his party that the self-described democratic socialist is tightening his grip on the presidential nomination amid fears from some that he is too extreme to defeat President Donald Trump this autumn.

It also underscores the precarious state of Joe Bidens 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, Mr Sanders is also making a strong play in the state. If he can eat into Bidens base of support, that would raise fundamental questions about the future of Bidens candidacy.

Mr 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.

Theres an air of desperation about it, Mr Sanders senior adviser Jeff Weaver said of the fresh attacks.

Youve got candidates, youve got super PACs (political action committees), all piling on to stop Bernie Sanders. They know he has the momentum in the race.

Story continues

Mr Biden still predicted he would win by plenty in Saturdays contest, the first with a sizeable black population to weigh in.

Regardless of whether Mr Sanders scores an upset in South Carolina, polls suggest he will perform well when more than a dozen states vote in the March 3 Super Tuesday contests. Thats when critics fear Mr Sanders could build an insurmountable delegate lead.

Pete Buttigieg, who has launched attack advertising against Bernie Sanders, speaks in North Charleston on Monday (Matt Rourke/AP)

Reflecting his growing focus on Sanders in recent days, Mr Buttigieg released his first attack ad of the 2020 campaign, highlighting Mr Sanders call for a government-financed health care system as a example of the Democratic front-runners polarisation.

At the same time, Mr Biden released an online ad accusing Mr Sanders of trying to undermine President Barack Obamas 2012 reelection campaign with a possible primary challenge. Mr Sanders ultimately did not challenge Mr Obama from the left.

When it comes to building on President Obamas legacy, Bernie Sanders just cant be trusted, the Biden ad says.

And Mr Bloomberg released a new ad of his own assailing Mr Sanders record on gun control, citing Mr Sanders endorsement by the National Rifle Association when he first ran for Congress decades ago.

While he once had the NRAs backing, Mr Sanders proudly proclaims his F rating from the pro-gun organisation now. And just last week, several gun control advocates who survived the Parkland, Florida, school shooting endorsed him.

Still, Mr Bloomberg tweeted: The NRA paved the road to Washington for Bernie Sanders. We deserve a president who is not beholden to the gun lobby.

What Bernie says: Special interests are bad. What Bernie means: Special interests are bad  except that one time the NRA got me elected to Congress. pic.twitter.com/YczTQSGBGS  Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) February 24, 2020

Theyve begun running attack ads again him, but Mr Sanders may benefit most by 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  in trying to emerge as the strongest alternative to him.

There was no sign on Monday that any of the eight candidates still in the race was close to withdrawing.

Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar, who finished in a distant fifth or sixth place in Nevada over the weekend, actually announced plans to launch a $4.2 million ad buy across several Super Tuesday states that vote next week.

Billionaire activist Tom Steyer has yet to spend money on an anti-Sanders campaign, but he went after him by name on Monday before more than 100 voters at a breakfast in Hilton Head.

Steyer warned, We cant nominate someone who is going to divide us.
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 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 can't 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, 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.

"You've got candidates, you've got super PACs, all piling on to stop Bernie Sanders," Weaver said. "They know he has the momentum in the race."

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-runner's "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.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

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, she's been reluctant to tangle with him throughout the campaign.

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 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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 02:19:48|Editor: yan

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MOGADISHU, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. army confirmed on Tuesday that two senior al-Shabab terrorists who were killed in an airstrike in southern Somalia last Saturday were associated with the attack on its training base in coastal Kenya on Jan. 5.

The U.S. Africa Command (Africom) said the two terrorists were identified as a senior al-Shabab leader, who was in charge of planning and directing terrorist operations on the Kenya border region, including the attack on Manda Bay, and his wife, who also was a witting and active member of al-Shabab responsible for facilitating a wide range of terrorist activities.

"Post-strike assessments confirm the two terrorists killed in Feb. 22 precision airstrikes were an individual associated with the attack on Manda Bay and his wife, who was also a known al-Shabab member," Africom said in a statement.

The two terrorists were killed and another wounded in an airstrike conducted in Saakow region, the militants' stronghold located about 320kms west of Mogadishu.

"This strike demonstrates that we will continue to relentlessly pursue those responsible for Manda Bay and those wishing to do harm to Americans and our African partners," said Stephen Townsend, an Africom commander.

Six contractor-operated civilian aircraft suffered damage during the Jan. 5 attack in Kenya that left a U.S. service member and two civilian contractors working for the Defense Department dead. However, al-Shabab said its suicide bombers killed 17 American and nine Kenyan troops in its first attack against U.S. forces in Kenya.

Since 2017, the U.S. military has stepped up air raids against al-Shabab which is trying to overthrow the internationally-backed Somali government.
Wolf said after a bit of research, Naper Pride organizers realized that much of the data for Naperville was incorrect. A lot of it was unfair, said Wolf, who also serves as director of faith services for Naper Pride.
As the Democratic presidential campaigns turn their attention to Texas, they are doing everything they can to create momentum with Latino voters by holding rallies, picking up endorsements of prominent political figures and trying to build a presence in the Hispanic community.

Yet polling shows none of the remaining contenders has locked down the support of that critical demographic as a wide-open race in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary gives Texans a rare chance to play a meaningful role in picking the nominee on March 3.

A new poll by the University of Houstons Hobby School of Public Affairs shows U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has the support of 30 percent of Hispanic voters who are likely to vote Democratic. Former Vice President Joe Biden is next at 19 percent with U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren at 17 percent. Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg was the choice of 13 percent and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg was at 12 percent. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar was at 4 percent.

FOR SUBSCRIBERS: Texas can play a big role in this presidential primary, for a change

While Sanders leads, 70 percent of Latino voters are scattered among the other candidates.

Its never been like this, said Marc Campos, a longtime Democratic political strategist in Houston.

Campos said in past primary elections, one candidate seemed to have momentum within the Hispanic community. But this year, he said, as in Texas overall, no one has emerged as a clear favorite.

The shrinking field of candidates in the Democratic primary has had an impact on Latino voters. For many Hispanic leaders in public office, Julian Castro was a top choice in the presidential race until he dropped out at the start of January. And other candidates that had good support in the Latino community, notably Kamala Harris and Beto O'Rourke, dropped out late last year.

The stalemate in winning over Texas Latinos is not for a lack of trying among the top contenders.

KNOW THE CANDIDATES: Houston Chronicle 2020 primary election voter guide; San Antonio Express-News 2020 primary election voter guide

Sanders held rallies with predominantly Hispanic audiences in El Paso and San Antonio over the weekend and opened a Houston campaign office in Houstons East End  a gesture that has not gone unnoticed, Campos said. And Sanders has prominent Hispanics in leadership posts within his Texas campaign, led by his Texas state field director, Chris Chu de Leon.

Biden recently unrolled an endorsement from U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, the first Hispanic from Houston ever elected to Congress. He previously picked up an endorsement from former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros, who in the 1980s became San Antonios first Mexican-American mayor since Texas became a state in 1845.

Warren, who has deep ties to Texas, plans to campaign in San Antonio with Castro by her side on Thursday. And that comes just two weeks after she had surrogates hold a series of rallies with Hispanic women in South Texas as part of what her campaign called its Latino community engagement tour. On Friday, Warren won the endorsement of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo.

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Bloomberg, who has been most aggressive about visiting black voters in Houston, has tried to build inroads with Latino voters as well. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa held townhall meetings on Bloombergs behalf in Houston, including a focus on immigration at Talento Bilingue de Houston.

All the attention shows just how important Hispanic voters are to winning Texas in the primary. The Pew Research Center shows that Texas has 5.6 million eligible voters who are Latino  about 30 percent of the states eligible voters  a bigger share of the electorate than any of the earlier voting states including Nevada, where 20 percent of eligible voters are Latino.

Will Medicare For All pay off for Sanders?

State Rep. Armando Walle, a Houston Democrat, is one of those still reeling from candidates dropping out. He said Castro and Harris were his top choices. But now with both out, hes not sure who hes backing.

Im still undecided, he said, noting that Warren, Sanders and Bloombergs campaigns have all reached out to him looking for an endorsement.

Campos said a lot of Hispanic elected leaders are in the same position. He said by now those community leaders are usually backing someone.

Garcia, the Houston congresswoman who endorsed Biden just a week ago, has noticed it, too.

I think everybody was being cautious about when they were going to endorse and whether they were going to endorse, Garcia said.

FOR SUBSCRIBERS: Bernie Sanders ascension in Texas leaves moderate Democrats fighting for scraps

She said she thinks Biden has the potential to win over the Hispanic community because hes a proven candidate who comes from a working-class background and is a committed Catholic like a lot of Hispanics in Texas.

They know him, they trust him, Garcia said.

But when it comes to key issues in 2020, Sanders could have an advantage over Biden because of his focus on health care and more specifically Medicare For All, which would end private insurance in favor of a government health insurance system that covers everyone.

According to a poll released late last week by Univision and Cornell University, health care is the No. 1 issue on the minds of Latino voters. In that poll of 1,000 Hispanic voters nationwide, 25 percent said health care costs were the top issue in their community. That was 6 percentage points higher than any other issue.

Asked about Medicare For All, 83 percent of respondents said they supported the idea compared to just 17 percent who were opposed.

Let me be as clear as I can be, Sanders said at his rally in San Antonio on Saturday night. Health care is a human right, not a privilege.

At that same rally, Sanders stressed early in his speech that if he were elected president, on his first day he would rescind all of Trumps racist immigration policies and restore the legal status of all Dreamers, who were brought to the country illegally as children but have spent most of their lives in the United States.

Now Playing: Bernie Sanders Wins Nevada Caucuses According to AP, the Vermont Senator won a wide diversity of Nevada county delegates. Sanders has now solidified his lead as the Democrats national front-runner. He addressed a crowd of supporters, saying, "when we come together there is nothing we cant accomplish." Bernie Sanders, via 'The Washington Post' Bernie Sanders, via 'The Washington Post' The Nevada caucuses are the first of the Democratic contests to incorporate a significant minority population. Sanders was able to tap into the large Latino constituency in the state. As Sanders claimed a successful win in Nevada, a second-place candidate remained unclear. Video: Wibbitz

Warren has similarly been pitching a Medicare For All plan and has won over supporters in Texas with detailed plans and an emphasis on speaking out for Americans who have been marginalized.

She is the candidate that can unify the Democratic Party in a way we need to if we are going to beat Donald Trump, Castro said.

Texas looms large on Super Tuesday when 13 other states will also vote. With 228 pledged delegates up for grabs, the winner of the Texas primary could weigh heavily on who is going to win the Democratic nomination. Early voting is already underway and runs through Friday.

While Democrats are putting on a push to win Texas, President Donald Trump is making the case that Latino voters have prospered during his administration. The campaign has held numerous Latino outreach programs in Texas and has been quick to jab at Democrats campaigning in Texas.

2020 Democrats cant compete with the presidents record of success, said Trump Victory spokesperson Samantha Cotten. Voters in the Lone Star State know President Trump has delivered record low unemployment for the Latino community and increased job opportunities.
Asserting that the United States is working "productively" with Pakistan to confront terrorists who operate on its soil, President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that New Delhi and Washington are committed to protecting their citizens from radical Islamic terrorism.

Trump made these remarks during a joint press conference here following the India and US delegation-level talks.

"In our discussion, Prime Minister Modi and I affirmed our two countries' commitments to protecting our citizens from radical Islamic terrorism. In this effort, the United States is working productively with Pakistan to confront terrorists who operate on its soil," Trump said.

During his address, Prime Minister Modi said India and US have decided to further increase their cooperation to hold the perpetrators of terror responsible

"We are increasing cooperation for homeland security and tackling international crime. Today, due to the decision on homeland security, this will get a boost. To hold the perpetrators of terror responsible, we have decided to further increase our cooperation," said Modi.

India and the United States today signed several agreements including those on mental health and safety of medical products.

Modi again welcomed Trump and his delegation. "President Trump and his delegation are once again warmly welcomed in India. I am particularly happy that he has come with his family on this journey," he said.

Trump, who is on a two-day visit to India, 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, National 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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A mysterious lost kingdom dating to between 900  600BC has been discovered after a chance find by archaeologists in Turkey.

Hieroglyphs etched in stone suggest the rulers of the civilisation may have conquered the kingdom ruled by King Midas, the legendary ancient ruler said to have a golden touch.

An international team of researchers were working on a significant archaeological dig in Ankara, when they were tipped off by a local farmer who had come across a large and unusual piece of rock while dredging a drainage ditch on his land nearby.

The man described a large stone covered with strange inscriptions, immediately exciting the researchers.

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, said Assistant Professor of Anatolian Archaeology James Osborne of the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago.

Ancient palace found near Tigris river Show all 7 1 /7 Ancient palace found near Tigris river Ancient palace found near Tigris river A room in Kemune palace during excavations University of Tubingen Ancient palace found near Tigris river A terrace wall on the western side of Kemune palace University of Tubingen Ancient palace found near Tigris river Excavations on the shore of the reservoir. Murals were found in this room University of Tubingen Ancient palace found near Tigris river A mural fragment University of Tubingen Ancient palace found near Tigris river Dr Ivana Puljiz University of Tubingen Ancient palace found near Tigris river A view of the southern portion of the palace University of Tubingen Ancient palace found near Tigris river A room of the palace during excavations University of Tubingen

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.

Luwian is one of the oldest branches of the Indo-European languages and was written in hieroglyphic signs native to the Turkish area which are read alternating between right to left and left to right.

The survey team immediately identified a special hieroglyphic marking indicating the message came from a king.

The farmer then helped pull the massively heavy stone out of the irrigation ditch with a tractor.

It was then sent to a local Turkish museum where it was cleaned, photographed and readied for translation.

The nearby archaeological dig was at a site called Turkmen-Karahoyuk, a large Bronze and Iron Age mounded settlement that was occupied between about 3500 and 100 BC, and identified as a major archaeological site in 2017.

The researchers believe that at its height the city covered about 300 acres  which would make it one of the largest ancient cities of Bronze and Iron Age Turkey.

They do not yet know what the kingdom was called, but Dr Osborne said its discovery is revolutionary news in the field.

Once translated, the stone tablet revealed that the king was called Hartapu, and Turkmen-Karahoyuk was probably his capital city.

The stone tells the story of King Hartapus conquest of the nearby kingdom of Muska, better known as Phrygia  home to King Midas.

The storm gods delivered the [opposing] kings to his majesty, the stone read.

We had no idea about this kingdom. In a flash, we had profound new information on the Iron Age Middle East, said Dr Osborne, who specialises in examining the expression of political authority in Iron Age cities.

He said it was a marvellous, incredibly lucky find.

The Oriental Institutes linguistic analysis suggested the engravings was made in the late-eighth-century BC, which lines up with the time Midas ruled.

The stone also provides answers for a long-standing mystery: Less than 10 miles to the south of the ancient city is a volcano with a well-known inscription in hieroglyphics. It refers to a King Hartapu, but no one knew who he was  or what kingdom he ruled.
Patna: Bihar assembly on Tuesday passed a unanimous resolution holding that the National Population Register (NPR) in the state would be implemented in the old 2010 format, save the inclusion of an additional column for transgender, and also rejected the Centres bid to carry out the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Bihar is the first NDA-ruled state, which has demanded tweaking of the revised NPR form by dropping new columns such as mentioning the dates of birth of an individuals parents and their birth place in the soon-to-be launched nationwide survey of usual residents of the country. Those living in a particular place for six months are defined as usual residents.

Earlier, Kerala and West Bengal decided not to implement the NPR in their states. Congress-ruled Punjab announced that it would conduct the NPR in line with the 2010 format. Several opposition-ruled states such as Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal and Kerala have passed resolutions against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). While, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Goa and Himachal Pradesh have passed resolutions in favour of the CAA.

In Bihar assembly, the resolution was passed when leader of the opposition, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, brought an adjournment motion demanding a debate on the CAA, the NRC and the NPR seeking the governments clarification regarding their apprehensions about the contentious issues. A special debate was allowed by Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary after ruckus inside the house during the pre-lunch session.

The resolution was passed with full support of both the ruling and opposition parties and is also seen as a move by chief minister (CM), Nitish Kumar, to weaken the opposition Rashtriya Janala Dal (RJD)-Congresss ongoing campaign against him of not allaying the fears about the NPR and the NRC and ignoring the interests of the Mahadalits and minorities, who hold key to the assembly election to be held later this year.

I am not convinced about the inclusion of additional columns in the latest NPR form like the one seeking details of an individuals parents birth place and their dates of birth. I do not know the date of birth of my mother. Besides, the option of keeping the column blank in the modified NPR form could land an individual in trouble, in case, the NRC is introduced in the near future, said the CM while pushing for passing a resolution on modifying the NPR form and rejecting the NRC amid heated debate in the assembly.

Kumar said the state government had written to the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India on February 15, demanding that the additional columns of the new NPR form, except the column seeking details about transgender, be dropped and the new survey be carried in the old 2010 format.

He said his party, Janata Dal (United)s, alliance partner, the BJP, is also on the same page with him over holding the NPR in the old 2010 format.

On the NRC, Kumar quoted Prime Minister Narendra Modis clarification that there is no such proposal . The PM has made it clear, he said, while taking potshots at veteran opposition and Congress parliamentarians such as Lalu Prasad, former President Pranab Mukherjee, Kapil Sibal for supporting the 2003 Citizenship ( Amendment) bill as members of the standing committee.

Responding to Yadavs query, the CM cited a letter issued by the Census Commissioner on October 7, 2019, as the reason behind the state governments issuance of a gazette notification for the NPR exercise.

However, the notification for conducting the NPR as per the modified form has not been issued, he added.

Bihar finance minister, Sushil Kumar Modi, urged the opposition not to spread misinformation about the NPR and the NRC. In 2010, residents were not required to furnish any document. This time too the same procedure will be followed, said Modi, who belongs to the BJP.

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Frederick Joseph announced the launch of the website in a Tuesday Twitter thread

Frederick Joseph - the activist behind the viral #BlackPantherChallenge - has launched a website lambasting Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg for the 'myriad of ways he's negatively impacted America.'

Joseph announced the launching of the Dontvoteforbloomberg website in a Tuesday Twitter thread where he highlighted his own arrest at the age of 20 under New York City's stop and frisk policy as part of what motivated its creation.

'When I was 20 I became a victim of Mike Bloomberg's #StopAndFrisk,' he shared in the thread. 'Over a decade later, I'm appalled that people are supporting this racist, sexist, oligarch for President'.

In a separate thread made on February 14, Joseph detailed the 'traumatizing' incident, which he said took place late one night while he was headed home from class at Hunter College in Manhattan.

Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination.

'When I was 20 I became a victim of Mike Bloomberg's #StopAndFrisk,' he shared in the thread. 'Over a decade later, I'm appalled that people are supporting this racist, sexist, oligarch for President'

Joseph claims that NYPD officers broke his laptop while searching through his bag, and failed to provide their badge number when he asked for it after they determined he didn't have anything illicit on him.

On the website, Joseph writes a letter where he shares that the altercation with police impacted his 'mental and emotional health' but it also 'solidified' his distrust of 'American police'.

'Mike Bloombergs legacy is synonymous with shame and bigotry, at least for those who have been traumatized by him,' the activist shared on his website, in a letter 'to Mike from Fred'.

The scathing website has three subsections labeled: Mike's Racism, Mike's Sexism and Mike Buying Votes.

The scathing website has three subsections labeled: Mike's Racism, Mike's Sexism and Mike Buying Votes'

The website calls Bloomberg 'sexist,' noting that he has signed numerous non-disclosure agreements and has also made offensive remarks about lesbian women. Joseph goes as far to tell readers that they can learn more about 'Mike's Trump-like history with women'

The last tab slams Bloomberg for spending $400million on his campaign, noting that 'he is spending more than almost every other candidate combined' to 'buy him America - or the White House at least'

Each section contains numerous article links from various platforms that detail a plethora of allegations against Bloomberg.

The 'Mike Bloomberg is a racist' section shows the impact of stop and frisk and the mayor's flip flop on his position regarding the policy, which was struck down in the courts.

It specifically mentions Kalief Browder, an African-American man who was held without trial in Rikers Island for three years for allegedly stealing a backpack. Browder was detained as a result of stop and frisk, eventually killing himself just years after his release in 2013.

On the website, Joseph writes a letter where he shares that the altercation with police impacted his 'mental and emotional health' but it also 'solidified' his distrust of 'American police'

The website calls Bloomberg 'sexist,' noting that he has signed numerous non-disclosure agreements and has also made offensive remarks about lesbian women. Joseph goes as far to tell readers that they can learn more about 'Mike's Trump-like history with women' by reading the links he's provided.

The last tab slams Bloomberg for spending $400million to buy the election, noting that 'he is spending more than almost every other candidate combined' to 'buy him America - or the White House at least.'

'Hes using his personal wealth to manipulate voters,' Joseph stated in his letter condemning Bloomberg.

Joseph said on Twitter that he plans to continue updating the website until Bloomberg 'drops out of the election'

The author also purchased domain names StopandFrisk2020.com and DropOutMikeBloomberg.com, which both redirect to the main website

'My gift to you for the trauma and the countless Black and brown people you've impacted, @MikeBloomberg,' Joseph declared in his tweet

Joseph, who has been vocal about his support for Senator Elizabeth Warren for the Democratic nomination, slammed Bloomberg as being a 'slightly watered down version' of a wealthy bigoted egomaniac - referencing Trump.

'Mike Bloomberg has not bothered to take accountability for the myriad of ways hes negatively impacted America, because he knows he doesnt have to,' Joseph stated.

'His candidacy is the manifestation of Americas treatment of Black people, brown people, people living in poverty, women, and everyone on the margins. But not everyone understands this'.

Joseph said on Twitter that he plans to continue updating the website until Bloomberg 'drops out of the election'.

Joseph made international headlines in 2018 when he launched a GoFundMe to help 75,000 children see Black Panther for free

The author also purchased domain names StopandFrisk2020.com and DropOutMikeBloomberg.com, which both redirect to the main website.

'My gift to you for the trauma and the countless Black and brown people you've impacted, @MikeBloomberg,' Joseph declared in his tweet.

Joseph made international headlines in 2018 when he launched a GoFundMe to help children see Black Panther for free. His #BlackPantherChallenge generated more than $43million in earned advertising and media for Disney.

Some 75,000 children were able to see the movie for free because of the campaign.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : US President Donald Trump on Tuesday discussed business related issues with India's policy makers and industrialists.

On the second and final day of his state visit to India, the President discussed the potential of trade, investment, protection of intellectual property rights, H1B visas, along with India's energy security, with policy makers here.

Besides talks, India entered into agreements to purchase $3 billion worth defence equipment such as military choppers from the US.

Importantly, the discussions centred around trade-related issues, with both sides, showing optimism to reach a much-awaited trade deal.

"Another major focus of my discussions with Prime Minister Modi is forging bilateral economic relationship that is fair and reciprocal," Trump said at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Our teams have made tremendous progress on a comprehensive trade agreement and I'm optimistic we can reach a deal that will be of great importance to both countries." According to Trump, since he assumed office, US exports to India are up nearly 60 per cent and "exports of high-quality American energy have grown by 500 per cent".

At present, India has a trade surplus with the US, and it is understood that discussions were held to bring down this down.

The US President further said that as India grows, "so do its energy needs".

"Yesterday, ExxonMobil signed a deal to improve India's natural gas distribution network so that the US can export even more LNG to India," he noted.

Lately, the US has emerged as a large LNG exporter to India.

Besides, Trump announced that the US will establish a permanent presence of the US International Development Finance Corporation in India.

Moreover, the two sides discussed the importance of a secure 5G wireless network.

Later during the day, Trump invited India Inc to invest "billions" of dollars in the US to reap the benefit of tax and regulation cuts that his administration has implemented, and to create jobs in the US.

He extended the invitation during an interaction with top honchos of India Inc including RIL's Mukesh Ambani, Aditya Birla Group's Kumar Mangalam Birla and Tata Group's N. Chandrasekaran amongst others at the business round table event organised at the US Embassy.

Talking about an upcoming tax cut for the American middle class and the fact that unemployment in the US was at a record low, Trump said that the US economy was performing very well and that the consumers there have more disposable incomes due to growing numbers of jobs.

He said that governments can only help in employment generation, but it is the private industry which actually creates jobs.

Trump also said that the US might not sustain healthy economic performance, if he is not re-elected in the Presidential polls this year and the unemployment rates might soare.

He also contented that a re-election will swell the stock markets, while a defeat will lead to a massive crash.
A soldier is on tap to finish the Army's highly selective Special Forces Qualification Course and become the first-ever female Green Beret in the service's history, The New York Times is reporting.

The unidentified National Guard soldier is close to completing the grueling qualification course to become a Special Forces engineer sergeant, according to the Times. Citing unnamed officials, the Times reported the woman is "almost guaranteed" to complete the yearlong course, making it likely that she will finish, barring any injuries.

A spokesman for Army Special Operations Command would not provide information on the soldier's status or what week of training she has reached. He also declined to release information about the woman, such as rank or specialty, citing safety concerns.

Women have previously made it past the roughly three-week-long Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course since military combat roles opened to women in 2016. Kate Wilder previously passed Green Beret training known as the Qualification Course, or Q Course, in the 1980s, but wasnt allowed to graduate with the rest of the students. The Army then closed the course to women until combat jobs opened to them in 2016, according to the Times.

Related: First Woman Passes Army Special Forces Selection Process

Q Course is made up of six phases lasting about 53 weeks total. Phases include small-unit tactics, combat marksmanship, advanced Special Forces tactics, language training and unconventional warfare, among others.

The culminating field exercise, known as Robin Sage, drops soldiers into a fictional setting in North Carolina where they apply skills in guerrilla warfare, mission analysis and planning, rapport building, and supporting a resistance movement.

The training is some of the most intense in the Army. When candidates graduate, they receive the coveted green berets and become Special Forces soldiers.

To qualify, soldiers must be at least 20 years old, meet special fitness requirements, be able to earn a secret security clearance, and be airborne qualified or eligible for the training.

A woman completing Special Forces training would mark a major milestone for female troops since combat jobs that were previously open only to men became available to them in 2016. Hundreds of female soldiers have since moved into those roles, including several who've graduated from the elite Army Ranger School.

Some of the other services, including the Marine Corps, are still struggling to get women to volunteer for the jobs. That service's top general just last week announced a push to get more female Marines serving in infantry and other ground-combat military occupational specialties.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Editors note: This story has been updated to note that one woman completed Green Beret training as a captain in the 1980s.

Read more: Top Marine General Wants More Women Serving in Ground-Combat Jobs
In addition to checking out the latest vocational vehicles and equipment from more than 500 exhibitors, fleet managers can learn about clean vehicle solutions and test-drive or ride in the latest trucks at the popular Ride-and-Drive on Wednesday and Thursday. There will also be multiple networking opportunities, including the opening reception Tuesday evening at JW Marriott.

"The Work Truck Show provides fleet managers with the unique opportunity to see the industry's newest trucks and equipment, while also gathering innovative and practical ideas they can put into practice to improve fleet management and profitability," says Doyle Sumrall, NTEA managing director.

Spec'ing for Success

New this year is Spec'ing for Success, a special session on Tuesday where fleet managers can participate in an in-depth, interactive workshop geared toward identifying correct specification components for many popular commercial vehicle applications. Following an overview of common components (terrain, axles, suspension, frame and weight distribution), presenters will cover how selections influence performance.

Green Truck Summit

Sean Waters, vice president of product compliance and regulatory affairs for Daimler Trucks North America, will discuss the future of trucks powered by electricity, diesel fuel and hydrogen fuel cells as part of his keynote address at Green Truck Summit on Tuesday. After the keynote, attendees can participate in a variety of general sessions on clean energy trends and initiatives for commercial vehicles.

New products

More than 100 companies have already announced plans to introduce new work trucks and equipment at The Work Truck Show. New products on tap for the 20th anniversary event range from OEM chassis, vehicle components, technology and equipment to complete trucks. Seventeen commercial vehicle manufacturers will provide exclusive chassis update sessions offering insights into their future commercial vehicle plans.

While you're waiting for the main exhibit hall to open Wednesday and Thursday morning, check out the New Exhibitor Pavilion featuring 25 first-time Work Truck Show exhibitors. It's located across from the Hall I exhibit hall entrance and opens at 9 a.m., an hour before the main exhibit hall to give attendees extra time to discover something new.

For more information and to register, visit worktruckshow.com/fleets.

SOURCE NTEA - The Association for the Work Truck Industry
"ASEAN is at the heart of our free and open Indo-Pacific strategy, and these meetings will be an opportunity to reaffirm our enduring partnership and commitment to shared principles and to deepen our economic and security cooperation," said a State Department spokesperson.

Trump attended the annual gathering with ASEAN leaders and the accompanying East Asia Summit in 2017 but skipped the regular summits in 2018 and 2019, sending U.S. Vice President Mike Pence to attend in 2018, and White House National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien to attend in 2019. O'Brien relayed Trump's invitation to ASEAN leaders to come to the U.S. for a special summit last November.

"The most important aspect of the U.S.-ASEAN relationship is really high-level dialogue," said James Carafano, the Heritage Foundation's vice president for national security. "If American voices aren't there, particularly the senior voices  the president, cabinet secretaries -- we just can't be as effective. Both sides can't really benefit from the relationship."

The United States and 10 nations from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are eyeing a special summit in March to boost ties at a time when analysts say China continues to expand its influence in Southeast Asia, while driving a wedge between Washington and some of its traditional allies in the region. Washington is gearing up for the summit set for March 14 in Las Vegas. Bilateral meetings between U.S. President Donald Trump and ASEAN leaders are also being planned.

The Trump administration is under criticism for ignoring the Southeast Asian bloc, allowing some of Washington's traditional allies in the region to grow closer to China. "China is actively employing a whole-of-government approach to absorb Southeast Asian nations into its sphere of influence by sowing intra-ASEAN divisions, driving wedges between U.S. alliances, and using economic coercion," said Joshua Fitt from the Washington-based Center for a New American Security (CNAS).



Southeast Asian countries are "generally hostile" to the idea of needing to "pick a side," said Fitt, adding the best way forward is a "show, don't tell" approach of not forcing a choice, but rather advancing positive alternatives.

While a single summit is unlikely to fully address substantive policy concerns from nations of the regional bloc, analysts said a get-together like this is a positive step to repair ties.

"The special summit is a necessary effort by the U.S. government to repair hurt feelings in Southeast Asia after President Trump skipped two consecutive East Asia summits," said Anthony Nelson, director of the East Asia and Pacific practice at the Albright Stonebridge Group, a global business strategy firm. Nelson said there is "eagerness" from ASEAN leaders and American policymakers to "strengthen ties, as there has been great concern in the region over Washington's drifting interest."



A top U.S. official said Washington is increasing its efforts to advance the U.S.-ASEAN partnership. "President Trump knows how important the ASEAN [is], he's put a particular focus on it, and we've really doubled down," Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment Keith Krach told VOA in a recent interview.

The summit will likely address areas of shared concern, such as continued freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, cybersecurity, international terrorism and smuggling, and infrastructure development.



There will also be separate discussions on technology, women's empowerment, and the Mekong region development, said Nelson. A senior administration official told VOA the discussion on cybersecurity is not just about Huawei and 5G but "more on digital trust." "It all comes down to who do you trust?" said the official.



ASEAN and the U.S. launched the first Cyber Policy Dialogue in Singapore last October, promoting shared approaches to 5G network, cybersecurity, and digital trade. This is not the first time the U.S. will host a special summit with ASEAN leaders. In mid-February 2016, then-U.S. President Barack Obama hosted the U.S.-ASEAN leaders summit in Sunnylands, California, which was seen as raising Southeast Asia's profile in U.S. Asia policy.
Wellington, Feb 25 : Former New Zealand all-rounder Craig McMillan has taken a dig at the Indian team, saying they did not play like the No.1 ranked Test side in the first Test here and could not adjust to the conditions.

Hosts New Zealand thrashed India by 10 wickets at the Basin Reserve to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Indian batters failed to get runs in both innings as they had scores of 165 and 191.

"They didn't make any adjustments in the way they played, they threw their hands at the ball like they do in India," McMillan told Radio Sport.

"When the ball doesn't bounce above knee high you can get away with some of those shots -- in New Zealand you don't." McMillan said.

He also lauded New Zealand's ace pace bowling duo of Tim Southee and Trent Boult.

"When the ball's swinging, and it did for most of that Wellington Test, Boult and Southee are geniuses," he said.

He rated New Zealand's performance as 'terrific', adding he had never seen the World No.1 Test side dismantled over four days like in Wellington.

"I haven't seen India, the number one Test side in the world, dismantled like they were over those four days in Wellington," he said.

The two sides meet for the final Test in Christchurch from Saturday.
Yes, they get syringes there, Yazel said. But this is their access to healthcare. We give them all sorts of resources and education. Someone in a SSP is five times more likely to get into recovery. This is the means to get someone better. When someone comes into the ER and you get in their ear, they dont know me. But at the SSP, they build up a rapport [providers], and by the end, they trust them.
Members of the house of representatives have voted in favour of a bill seeking to provide immunity for presiding officers of the nat...

Members of the house of representatives have voted in favour of a bill seeking to provide immunity for presiding officers of the national assembly.





The lower legislative chamber passed the constitutional amendment bill for second reading at Tuesdays plenary session.





Some of the lawmakers argued that the bill is not necessary, while others said it is needed to protect the legislative arm from persecution.





Those against it said it will send a wrong signal to Nigerians at time when the country is facing numerous challenges.

The constitution currently provides for immunity for only the president, governors and their deputies.





The bill sponsored by Odebunmi Olusegun, however, seeks to extend the immunity to the president and deputy president of the senate as well as speaker and deputy speaker of the house of representatives.





Some of those who supported the bill including Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, majority leader, also said it will help the legislative chamber in carrying out their functions.





Ado-Doguwa said: It should be passed for the simple reason that it provides protection for leaders of the legislature considering the important work of the legislature.





Toby Okechukwu from Enugu state also spoke in favour of the bill, saying it will guard against the compromise of the legislative arm.





We are all witnesses to how the presiding officers were subjected to trial. We should avoid such from happening again, he said.





Nkem Abonta from Abia state said prosecution of any of the presiding officers could affect the performance of the lawmakers.





He said: The office of the speaker may be harassed in frivolous suit. My morale may be low because my speaker is being harassed.





When Saraki was taken to court, we felt demoralised. He was freed at last but calculate the embarrassment it caused the institution.





IMMUNITY FOR PRESIDING OFFICERS NOT NECESSARY





Sergius Ogun from Edo state said a lot of Nigerians are calling for the removal of immunity for the president and governors, wondering why the leaders of the national assembly need immunity.





Granted that the principal officers relate with the president from time to time, I dont know what they need immunity for. It is not necessary, he said.





Bob Solomon from Rivers state agreed with him, and cited the case of the United States where governors and the president are not shielded from trial.





I am already personally against immunity being enjoyed by the president and governors. In the US, we have seen presidents and governors being prosecuted. I oppose this bill totally, he said.





Ndudi Elumelu, minority leader, told the lawmakers their paramount interest should be that of their constituents.





According to him, outside here, our people are being killed and butchered. We are coming up with a bill on issue of immunity while some of us are saying that people should be held accountable for what they do.





I think it is wrong and it should not be allowed.




The family of Dante Taylor filed a lawsuit on Monday claiming the 22-year-old was brutally beaten by correctional officers at the Wende Correctional Facility outside of Buffalo in October 2017

A 22-year-old inmate was driven to commit suicide after he was brutally battered by correctional officers at a New York facility, according to a lawsuit filed by the man's family.

The 45-page suit, filed Monday in Buffalo Federal Court, alleges that Dante Taylor was pummeled with batons, fists and feet before he was hogtied and thrown down a flight of stairs on the night of October 6, 2017, at the Wende Correctional Facility outside of Buffalo.

Roughly 12 hours later, Taylor was found dead in his cell. He was found seated with a bedsheet wrapped around his neck.

Included in the suit are graphic photos showing the scope of Taylor's injuries, with his face so swollen that his eye is practically shut closed.

Filed by Taylor's mother and grandmother, Darlene and Temple McDay, the suit lists a series of individuals associated with the correctional and medical facilities that Taylor had frequented in the days and hours leading up to his suicide. The suit states that two sergeants and two corrections officers were involved in the attack.

'Plaintiffs commence suit against the correction officers who brutally beat Darlene's son beyond recognition on the evening of his death and the officials and practitioners who recklessly and callously failed to initiate appropriate suicide prevention measures and denied her son good and accepted treatment throughout his time in DOCCS custody,' the lawsuit reads.

Roughly 12 hours after the brutal attack, Taylor was found dead in his cell. He was found seated with a bedsheet wrapped around his neck

Taylor, a former Marine, was serving a life sentence for the murder of Sarah Goode - a 21-year-old Long Island mother whose raped, stabbed and beaten body was found in the woods in 2014. He had been pursuing legal appeals to his conviction, the lawsuit states.

Taylor, a former Marine, was serving a life sentence for the murder of Sarah Goode - a 21-year-old Long Island mother whose raped, stabbed and beaten body was found in the woods in 2014. He had been pursuing legal appeals to his conviction, the lawsuit states.

As a result of his death, a judge entered an order of abatement on the Goode murder case.

The 22-year-old is said to have 'checked the boxes for many chronic risk factors for suicide,' according to the suit.

As a result of Taylor's death, a judge entered an order of abatement on the Sarah Goode (pictured) murder case

As an adult, Taylor repeatedly shared his experience being physically and sexually abused as a child. He allegedly that his mother's former boyfriend was responsible for the abuse. The suit states that around 2009, Taylor tried to hang himself in his grandmother's home.

Taylor was hospitalized and spent some of his teen years in an in-patient facility for young people before graduating high school and joining the Marines in 2013.

While in the Marines, Taylor is said to have attempted suicide by hanging in April 2014. As a result, he was discharged from the Marines on medical grounds.

He was arrested for the murder of Goode just three months later. And just weeks before his July 2016 conviction, Taylor married his childhood friend Janine Conroy.

Taylor was evaluated during his intake into the DOCCS (New York State Department of Correction and Community Supervision) and it was determined that his suicide risk warning signs or triggers included 'his current incarceration, suicide attempts, lengths of prison term, severity of crime, substance abuse and medical issues.'

He was subsequently diagnosed 'on Axis 1: unspecified anxiety disorder, unspecified depressive disorder,' with moderate alcohol and cannabis use disorders as well. Doctors designated Taylor as having Mental Health Level 3 and determined that he 'does not have Serious Mental Illness (SMI) diagnosis.'

Taylor was repeatedly denied proper medical attention after expressing suicidal ideation on numerous occasions, the lawsuit states. He was placed in solitary confinement for using synthetic marijuana

Taylor was prescribed Celexa and Vistaril - an antidepressant and a sedative - and transferred to Wende, where he repeatedly expressed a desire to kill himself. During an assessment, Taylor reportedly said 'I can't take this, I've lost everything'.

During the assessment, Taylor noted that he had been harassed by an officer who declared that he was a 'snitch.' He attempted to request protective custody but was allegedly threatened by the officer and failed to go through with the request.

Taylor was put on overnight suicide watch for a day but his mental health level was not changed to reflect the nature of his suicidal tendencies. The former Marine was placed on an intense medical plan and had to attend regular therapy sessions but doctors marked 'no' when asked about serious, persistent mental illness.

By the start of the new year in 2017, Taylor was seeking help after learning that his wife was allegedly seeing another man. The couple filed for divorce just two weeks later.

The suit states the medical professionals were aware of the events leading up to the beating but failed to keep Taylor under supervision. A nurse noted that Taylor was in severe pain and unable to chew food due to the swelling on his face

Taylor reportedly abused synthetic marijuana (K2), 'molly' and other substances while at Wende. He had to be transferred to the Erie County Medical Center after experiencing effects from the drugs on June 22, 2017.

DOCCS disciplined Taylor for the substance abuse and sentenced him to 120 days in solitary confinement known as 'Keeplock'.

'Keeplock has been recognized as a tortuous experience that can exacerbate pre-existing mental illness and create new mental health challenges for any person," the lawsuit reads.

It also claims that Taylor communicated with his mother that numerous correctional officers were abusing his rights and would deprive him of shower use, among other things. Darlene McDay reportedly requested an investigation before her son's death but was never informed of what was happening with it, the suit reads

Taylor remained in isolation for roughly four months, which the suit claims contributed to his deteriorating mental state. He lost his visiting, phone and package privileges during that time. Taylor was eventually released from Keeplock in September.

The suit shares that Taylor attempted suicide by using a bedsheet in July 2017. It also states that health professionals contacted Darlene McDay and expressed worry over Taylor's mental health state. It was communicated by the two parties that Taylor's grandfather was not doing well with his health.

While these events transpired, medical staff failed to designate Taylor in another mental health category.

On October 5, two days before Taylor committed suicide, the inmate reportedly had a negative reaction to K2 and was taken to the infirmary. It was then that medical personnel learned that Taylor's grandfather had died.

A doctor noted that Taylor appeared to have 'vague suicidal ideation and some symptoms of psychosis. But medical personnel again failed to really acknowledge Taylor's mental history and moved him from facility to facility, the suit states.

Taylor was discharged to his cell on the morning of October 6, where he would be later beat while having a seizure related to K2 drug use.

The family is seeking an unspecified amount in damages for medical malpractice, excessive force and wrongful death of Taylor

The suit states that men in the adjoining cells could hear Taylor scream as 'the sound of sticks' hit his body. Taylor was reportedly beaten unconscious.

When at the Wende infirmary, doctors determined that Taylor suffered multiple blunt force injuries to his head, neck, torso and extremities. The suit claims that defendants tried to cover up the assault by suggesting that Taylor banged his head against his cell wall.

The suit states the medical professionals were aware of the events leading up to the beating but failed to keep Taylor under supervision. A nurse noted that Taylor was in severe pain and unable to chew food due to the swelling on his face. That same nurse denied Taylor access to his emergency contact in the hours leading up to his death, noting that he had 'thanked' her for 'helping' him.

It also claims that Taylor communicated with his mother that numerous correction officers were abusing his rights and would deprive him of shower use, among other things. McDay reportedly requested an investigation before her son's death but was never informed of what was happening with that, the suit reads.

The suit claims that 'all defendants should have been particularly vigilant in their treatment of Mr. Taylor given the prevalence of suicide in New York prisons generally and at Wende specifically.' It states that 50 New York state prisoners were said to have committed suicide in a five-year period until 2018.

The suit claims that the defendants were 'deliberately indifferent to Mr. Taylor's serious medical condition,' repeatedly failing to 'act on information that indicated that Mr. Taylor was in grave danger.'

The family is seeking an unspecified amount in damages for medical malpractice, excessive force and wrongful death.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister



Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday informed the legislative Assembly that the state is facing a debt burden of around Rs 58,000 crore.

In a written reply to a question raised by BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar, Baghel informed that the state has loans to the tune of Rs 57,848 crore, which were taken from various financial institutions.

From the time the Congress came to power in the state in December 2018, a loan of Rs 17,729 crore has been drawn till date.

"From December 1, 2018 to January 31 this year, the state has taken a loan of Rs 17,729 crore," Baghel said.

Market loans were drawn through the Reserve Bank of India and loans from NABARD's rural infrastructure development fund, Asian Development Bank/World Bank were taken for infrastructure and other development works in the state, the Chief Minister said.

During the aforementioned period, a market loan of Rs 16,400 crore was taken through the RBI, Rs 934.38 crore from NABARD and Rs 394.74 crore from ADB/World Bank, the reply stated.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Montreal, Feb 25, 2020 - CQDM and the Canadian Glycomics Network (GlycoNet) are pleased to announce they have formed a strategic partnership to identify and co-finance biopharmaceutical research projects in glycoscience across Canada. This partnership aims to support the development of novel technologies in drug discovery, accelerate scientific talents across Canada, and advance Canada's position as an international leader for healthcare innovation.

"We are delighted to work with GlycoNet," said Jesse Paterson, Senior Director of Business Development, CQDM. "As a national network with over 150 researchers across 34 institutions in Canada, GlycoNet brings world-leading expertise in glycomics to find life-saving solutions to some of the world's biggest health challenges. The CQDM/GlycoNet alliance is both a synergistic and exciting endeavor."

"The collaboration between CQDM and GlycoNet draws on the collective strengths of both entities, integrating research, clinical practice and education to pursue excellence in Canadian healthcare. We look forward to bringing these strengths together and help deliver tangible benefits to improve the quality of life of patients," said Dr. Elizabeth Nanak, GlycoNet's Executive Director.

###

About CQDM

CQDM is a biopharma-based research consortium created in 2008 with the mission to fund the development of innovative technologies to accelerate the drug discovery and development. Its business model is based on a collaborative approach bringing together world-leading pharmaceutical organizations, Canadian biotech companies as well as the Canadian and Quebec governments who share the costs of the research. CQDM uses this leverage to reduce the risks inherent to early-stage biopharmaceutical research. In doing so, CQDM bridges the funding gap needed to drive innovation across the academic and private sectors, especially where early-stage research is concerned. Over the last 10 years, CQDM has benefited from the contribution of 13 industrial members: that includes Merck, Pfizer, AstraZeneca as founding members as well as Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly Canada, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Novartis Pharma Canada, Roche, Sanofi Canada, Servier, Takeda and now Amgen. CQDM also received contributions from Quebec's Ministry of Economy and Innovation (MEI) and from the Government of Canada under the Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence Program (BL-NCE). Since 2008, CQDM has supported the development of 77 outstanding innovative technologies totaling $93M in funding. These R&D projects, carried out by 1,200 scientists from 83 different research institutions (40 public and 43 private) across Canada, have generated numerous economic benefits for all the stakeholders of the life science ecosystem. For more information: http://www.cqdm.org/en.

About GlycoNet

In 2015, the Canadian glycomics research community mobilized to form the Canadian Glycomics Network (GlycoNet), funded by the federal Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program and a range of partners. The network now comprises more than 150 researchers at 34 institutions across Canada, with support from more than 140 partners. Since its inception, GlycoNet has made great strides in understanding the roles that carbohydrates play in serious diseases and advancing new therapies to treat them. Learn more about GlycoNet at http://www.glyconet.ca .

For further information, please contact:

CQDM

Jesse Paterson

Senior Director, Business Development

+1 (514) 850-7088

jpaterson@cqdm.org

http://www.cqdm.org

GlycoNet

Ali Chou Communications Associate

+1 (780) 492-4355

ychou@glyconet.ca

http://www.glyconet.ca
Adults do not need tetanus or diphtheria booster shots if they've already completed their childhood vaccination series against these rare, but debilitating diseases, research published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases indicates.

The conclusion aligns with the World Health Organization's recent recommendations to only routinely give adults tetanus and diphtheria vaccines if they didn't receive a full series of shots as children. In the U.S., the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices still recommends all adults receive booster shots every 10 years.

Mark Slifka, Ph.D., and colleagues found no significant difference in disease rates between countries that require adults to receive tetanus and diphtheria booster shots and those that don't. The finding is the result of comparing data from millions of people from 31 North American and European countries between 2001 and 2016.

"To be clear, this study is pro-vaccine," says the study's lead researcher, Slifka, a professor at the Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine and the Oregon National Primate Research Center. "Everyone should get their series of tetanus and diphtheria shots when they're children. But once they have done that, our data indicates they should be protected for life."

Requiring fewer vaccinations for adults could save the U.S. about $1 billion annually in unnecessary medical costs, the researchers estimate.

The paper follows research Slifka and colleagues published in 2016, which concluded the vaccine produced at least 30 years of immunity for the 546 adults in that study. As a result, the researchers recommended at that time to vaccinate adults against these diseases only every 30 years.

"Based on our new data, it turns out we were probably overly conservative back in 2016," Slifka now says. "Even though it looked like immunity could be maintained for decades, we didn't have direct evidence back then that this would translate into true protection against disease in the real world.

"However, our new data provides the final piece to the puzzle. We now have evidence showing the childhood vaccination series can provide a lifetime of protection against both tetanus and diphtheria."

Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is a bacterial infection that causes jaw cramping, painful muscle spasms, trouble swallowing and breathing, seizures, convulsions and, in severe cases, death. It's spread by bacteria commonly found in dirt or feces, or on contaminated objects such as nails or needles. About 30 people in the U.S get tetanus annually, and one or two out of 10 cases can be fatal. Tetanus-associated deaths almost always occur among unvaccinated people, or those with incomplete or unknown vaccination history.

Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that causes a thick covering in the back of the throat, which can lead to difficulty breathing, heart failure, paralysis or death. It's spread by exposure to infected people or in rare cases, infected animals. In the past decade, less than five U.S. cases of diphtheria were reported to the CDC. In an unvaccinated population, about one in 10 cases can be fatal. But more than 99.8 percent of vaccinated people who are diagnosed with diphtheria and receive appropriate care survive.

In the pre-vaccine era, there were about 470 tetanus-associated deaths and 1,800 diphtheria-associated deaths in the U.S. each year. Tetanus- and diphtheria-related deaths have declined by more than 99% since vaccines became available to prevent them.

###

This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grant R01 AI132186) and the Oregon National Primate Research Center (grant 8P51 OD011092).

REFERENCE: Ariel M. Slifka, Byung Park, Liana Gao, and Mark K. Slifka, "Incidence of Tetanus and Diphtheria in Relation to Adult Vaccination Schedules," Clinical Infectious Diseases, Feb. 25, 2020, DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa017, https://academic.oup.com/cid/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/cid/ciaa017.

Related OHSU News story:

Study shows tetanus shots needed every 30 years, not every 10: https://news.ohsu.edu/2016/03/22/study-shows-tetanus-shots-needed-every-30-years-not-every-10 (March 22, 2016)

Other links:

CDC website on tetanus: https://www.cdc.gov/tetanus/index.html

CDC website on diphtheria: https://www.cdc.gov/diphtheria/index.html

WHO tetanus vaccines position paper, February 2017: https://www.who.int/immunization/policy/position_papers/tetanus/en/

WHO diphtheria vaccines position paper, August 2017: https://www.who.int/immunization/policy/position_papers/diphtheria/en/

Summary of WHO routine immunization recommendations: https://www.who.int/immunization/policy/Immunization_routine_table1.pdf?ua=1
Supporters cheer as they watch returns from the Nevada caucuses while waiting for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) to arrive for a campaign rally at Cowboys Dancehall in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday. With early voting underway in Texas, Sanders was holding four rallies in the delegate-rich state this weekend before traveling on to South Carolina. Read more

Like most journalists who write about national politics, I was multitasking Monday night  my right eye on the ever-flowing stream of bile, with the occasional floating pearl, known as Twitter, and my left eye on cable news. There, a stream of mostly Boomer-era commentators could only talk about one thing: Could any Democrat can find the mojo  for the love of God!  to stop the party from nominating Sen. Bernie Sanders in Milwaukee?

But on my laptop screen was something jarring  the kind of story that youd think might dent these news channels that have to fill up 24 hours of airtime  and yet somehow never does. In Charlotte, N.C.  the city where President Trump will be crowned by the GOP for a second term in August amid boasts of a booming economy  a downtown auto dealer has begun letting homeless people sleep in his unsold cars.

 READ MORE: Its the affordability, stupid. Can this one word put a Democrat back in the White House? | Will Bunch

Its hard to say what was more striking about the Charlotte Observer piece on Kiplin Automotive Group and its compassionate general manager James Charles  that about a dozen folks, some with children, have been allowed to sleep in their cars on his lot. Mst of them are off gone by 7:30 a.m. Why? Because most have jobs. These homeless people, including a number of young people starting their careers, simply cant afford the rent in a booming Sunbelt metropolis.

I dont know if any of these souls will be voting in North Carolinas upcoming Democratic primary, let alone whether theyd back the leading leftist choice in that race, Vermonts Sanders. But I do know this: The sense of fundamental unfairness in this country  epitomized not just by the unhoused sleeping on car seats in a supposed boomtown, but also by staggering college debt, medical bankruptcies, and a lack of child care  is fueling a political revolution that has put Sanders on a White House trajectory.

In three contests so far, Sanders got the most popular votes in the weirdly arcane Iowa caucus. He won huge victories in the New Hampshire primary and Saturdays Nevada caucus, where he showed that hes expanded his reach from his 2016 run to include more black and brown voters and others beyond his initial base of young white progressives. By Super Tuesday  just one week away as I write this  the 78-year-old with the wild white hair could be well on the way to the nomination. (Or, given the Democrats convoluted rules and the determination of $60-billion-man Mike Bloomberg to stop Bernie, toward mayhem in Milwaukee.)

Either way, Bernies rise  and the everyday people fueling it, from college students to first-time Latinx voters to fed-up warehouse workers and Uber drivers  is a hell of story. Its just not the story the elite mainstream media  the dominant cable outlets and national newspapers that are largely led by Baby Boomers (full disclosure: my own generation) and which employ the now aging veterans of their favorite campaigns as anchors and pundits  wants to tell.

 READ MORE: Bernie Sanders is on the Trump track to the White House. Heres why hes not a leftist Trump. | Will Bunch

To many of the TV talking heads  for whom the mere mention of any form of socialism makes them want to run underneath a desk and duck and cover from Khrushchevs incoming nukes  the notion of Sanders as Americas 46th president is a bridge too far. The worst offender, who made national headlines with his tirade, was Phillys own 74-year-old Chris Matthews, a child of the 50s who went all Joe McCarthy in his MSNBC reaction to Sanders Nevada victory.

I think its a little late to stop him, and I think thats the problem, Matthews opined on Saturday, the start of a fraught analogy that compared the rise of the Vermont senator to the Nazis overrunning France in 1940, rendered even more bizarre by the fact that Sanders would be Americas first Jewish president.

Matthews  facing calls for his resignation from viewers suggesting, understandably, that the pol-turned-pundit is out of touch  apologized on Monday. But the thing is, Matthews comments really werent that far out of step with a number of Democratic Party leaders and longtime commentators  veterans of past campaigns like Bill Clintons or Barack Obamas, or alleged Never Trumper Republicans who now say they might vote Trump over Sanders  having a meltdown over a possible November choice between Bernie and The Donald.

Nicolle Wallace, the former George W. Bush and Sarah Palin adviser who reinvented herself on MSNBC as a Never Trumper, called Sanders base a squeaky, angry minority, while a range of pundits from the recently reanimated Democrat James Carville to the once (and possibly future) conservative Jennifer Rubin of the Washington Post looked as if they might literally explode on live TV.

Personally, as I watch the nascent Never Bernie movement flailing over a possible November choice between Bernie and The Donald, I have just one thought:

Here we go again.

There are two things I remember well about the first funereal days after Trump was elected on Nov. 8, 2016. Beyond the shock of America now spearheading a global movement toward authoritarianism, there was also the endless hand-wringing from a news media that had been so overconfident that Hillary Clinton would win that night.

How, many journalists asked, did we not see the anger in so many Rust Belt communities in Wisconsin or Michigan or big chunks of Pennsylvania, with their barren factories and boarded-up Main Streets? Why, wondered people who spent so much time in TV green rooms that there was no time left to escape their coastal bubbles, do these aggrieved people hate us in the media even more than they love Trump?

Did Donald Trumps sheer unconventionality lead us and other news outlets to underestimate his support among American voters? New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. and executive editor Dean Baquet asked in a much-discussed note to readers. What forces and strains in America drove this divisive election and outcome? It was the memo that launched 1,000 trips  to Formica diner tables in southern Ohio or West Virginia, as the ensuing genre of Trump Lovers Still Love Trump articles became the thing of parody.

The weird thing about the lets-leave-the-green-room-and-visit-Trump-diners movement is it just meant that going into 2020, there were now two bubbles instead of one. Neither were that helpful. Not to dismiss some very insightful journalism Ive read in the last four years, the lets-quote-Trump-voters genre often barely scratched the surface of the deep roots  from deindustrialization to fear of a nonwhite majority  of right-wing populism.

At the same time, many political pundits of the center-left and center assumed the Trump movement would be crushed in 2020 by the people they talked to on the checkout line at Whole Foods  well-off whites who hated the crudeness and corruption of the Trump era and desperately wanted a return to civility and order. Incredibly  or perhaps predictably, some would argue  there was no effort to talk to the forgotten Americans in the other heartland.

Im talking about the big cities where there are lot of jobs if you can pay $2,000 a month for an apartment, the 20-somethings who may never get married because of college debt, the urban poor who get fired when their kid is sick because theres no child care, the gig workers and the baristas with bachelors degrees living paycheck to paycheck. The kind of people who squeeze out a couple hours to attend a packed, sweaty Bernie rally because finally here is a leader who says he will fight for them, and who cares if hes a 78-year-old dude with two stents?

The young and the marginalized (and their allies) who gave Bernie the most votes in Iowa and New Hampshire and Nevada dont really care about his temperate praise for some social programs under Cuban communism (and should they, given that both the current president and free-spending rival Mike Bloomberg love so many dictators and authoritarians?). Theyre not flustered by the math on Medicare for All. They take Bernie seriously, not literally.

These voters hear Bernie Sanders talking about how hell solve their real-world, 21st-century problems. Then they turn on their TV and hear the children of the Cold War screaming How can this man be stopped? It all makes you realize that the popular-for-15-minutes put-down  OK Boomer  was way too kind.

The elites who populate the highest levels of media punditry, run the Democratic Party, or get paid ridiculous sums to design nonworking apps or buy off Instagram meme-makers to pretend that Bloomberg is cool still dont have time to talk to everyday voters about why they are so angry. They are instead busy searching for a messiah that will let them go back to their Sunday morning mimosas without worrying about a president who might start a nuclear war with a tweet. They are missing the real revolution  again!

My own belief, as regular readers know, is that theres another candidate in the Democratic field whos addressing the same problems as Bernie, and who is maybe more electable against Trump and would be better as president at getting stuff done. But the medias erasure of Elizabeth Warren is a story for another day. The odds right now are that Sanders will be the nominee.

All the big-shots screaming for his movement to be squashed could have prevented Bernies nomination decades ago  if theyd channeled even a fraction of that energy into making sure that billionaires paid their share and dialed down Americas obscene war machine, and that the United States joined the rest of the civilized world in universal health care and higher ed, as well as child care, family leave, and living wages.

Its also quite possible  likely, really  that the Beltway 500 will wake up on Nov. 4 insisting that they dont recognize an America they never bothered to look for in the first place. A.G. Sulzberger and Dean Baquet will begin drafting another apology about how Bernies unconventionality caused them to miss his appeal. Then we can all sit down in 2022 to read the 500th dispatch from a Fishtown coffee joint: Bernie Voters Still Love Bernie.
NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Junior Achievement USA (JA) today announced that it will honor several of Junior Achievement of New York's corporate partners with Gold, Silver, and Bronze level 2018-2019 U.S. President's Volunteer Service Award for providing at least 15,000, 10,000, 5,000 volunteer hours respectively to local Junior Achievement offices during the 2018-2019 school year. The U.S. President's Volunteer Service Award will be presented to 49 organizations at an awards ceremony and celebration event the New York Academy of Sciences during the JA Volunteer Summit, supported by American Express, on March 17, 2020 in New York, NY.

In 2003, President George W. Bush established the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation (the Council) to recognize the valuable contributions volunteers make in communities and encourage more people to serve. The Council created the President's Volunteer Service Award program as a way to thank and honor individuals who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service. In 2006, Junior Achievement became an official certifying organization for this award, which recognizes corporations with a U.S. presence that provide volunteers to teach JA programs anywhere in the world.

"Junior Achievement volunteers are important mentors for young people, bringing our programs to life. JA volunteers share their experiences and skills with students while delivering our programs, teaching them how to manage their money, succeed in the workforce, or start a business that creates jobs and grows the economy. JA's volunteers are critical to our organization's success and are a vital part of our mission," said Joseph Peri, President & CEO of JA New York.

"Junior Achievement volunteers help build communities by empowering the next generation's success," said Keith Pinniger, JA New York Board Chair and Managing Director of Citigroup. "JA could not exist without the dedication of its volunteers. We are grateful for this opportunity to recognize their invaluable support."

Junior Achievement's kindergarten through high school programs are delivered across the country by a network of more than 247,000 volunteers, including 7,600 in the New York Metro area. JA programs provide innovative, hands-on work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy education to more than 102,000 students in the NYC, Long Island, and Lower Hudson Valley each year.

Partners of Junior Achievement of New York headquartered in New York City to be honored include: Accenture; American Express; Barclays; Citi; Deloitte; Ernst & Young LLP; Goldman Sachs; HSBC; JPMorgan Chase & Co.; KPMG LLP; Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.; MetLife; MUFG; PwC LLP. The complete list of recipients can be found here.

About Junior Achievement of New York

Junior Achievement of New York is the local affiliate of Junior Achievement USA, the nation's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. We recruit, train, and mobilize more than 7,600 corporate and community volunteers to provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. Today, JA New York delivers more than 102,000 student experiences per year to 330 NYC, Long Island and Lower Hudson Valley public schools. Visit www.jany.org for more information.

About Junior Achievement USA (JA)

Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches more than 4.7 million students per year in 107 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.2 million students served by operations in 100 other countries worldwide. Junior Achievement USA is a member of JA Worldwide. Visit www.ja.org for more information.

Contact:

Stephanie Zlotnick

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 212-907-0050 ext. 146

SOURCE Junior Achievement of New York

Related Links

http://www.jany.org


A man who pushed a blanket down the toilet of a garda station cell and spat on the floor of a garda van has been jailed for 22 months.

Piotr Milewski, 29, of 38 Capella Court, Langton Road, Newbridge, appeared before Naas District Court on February 20, charged with criminal damage on December 15 last. The court heard that he damaged a toilet in Newbridge garda station and a garda van.

The defendant had also been charged with being drunk in Main street, Newbridge, on November 11, 2018, when he appeared highly abusive to the public when speaking in Polish.

Garda Sergeant Brian Jacob said that on December 15, 2019, the defendant blocked a toilet in the cell in Newbridge garda station by pushing a blanket, intended for keeping him warm, down the toilet.

He then urinated all over the floor. Sgt Jacob said he spat on the floor of the garda van. It cost the gardai 400 to get a contract cleaner to clean each location.

Brian Larkin, solicitor, representing Mr Milewski, said he was absoultely mortified at his actions in Newbridge.

Mr Larkin said: He lost a business and took to drink. The solicitor said his client went to the garda station to apologise to the prosecuting gardai and other gardai in the station.

Mr Larkin said his client has been in Ireland for 12 years and could not recall the December 15 events. He had 500 with him in court which would cover some of the damage.

Mr Milewski had no previous convictions. Judge Zaidan said this was appalling behaviour. He jailed him for 11 months each for both the toilet and van damage and took the 2018 offence into account.
The legitimacy of NorthWestern Energys 20-year energy plan, heavy on gas-fired power plants, is being questioned by analysts who say the utility ignored cheaper options for its Montana customers.

Synapse Energy Economics reports that Montanas largest monopoly utility either undervalued or excluded energy sources that would have been more affordable for ratepayers.

Synapse said that by feeding preselected results into a computer program, NorthWestern made it a forgone conclusion that natural gas-fired Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine, or RICE, power plants were chosen as the utilitys best power source for the next 20 years.

Other energy sources such as solar and wind energy, along with power purchased on the open market, werent selected either because their reliability or cost wasnt correctly represented, or because they were left out of the analysis conducted by using PowerSimm software. The study by Synapse, a third-party consultant, was commissioned by the Montana Public Service Commission.

NorthWestern concluded in the final plan that the best way to meet its capacity deficit and ensure resource adequacy is to procure hundreds of (megawatts) of 'flexible' gas-fired generation in the form of RICE units. This is essentially a foregone conclusion given certain input assumptions and constraints present in the PowerSimm model that favor thermal resources over renewables and storage, Synapse economists concluded.

First, NorthWestern did not allow for market capacity purchases in its modeling runs, which leads PowerSimm to build 985 MW of gas-fired generation over the analysis period in the base portfolio. Inclusion of an option to purchase capacity from the market likely would have led to a smaller capacity build and lower revenue requirement in the resulting resource portfolio.

The report comes two months after Montanans concerned about high electric bills and climate change packed public meeting rooms to object to NorthWestern's 20-year supply procurement plan. In Helena, Missoula and Bozeman, no one spoke in support of NorthWestern, a South Dakota-based company with more than 370,000 Montana customers.

It wasn't until the Public Service Commission held a hearing in Billings that people spoke in favor of NorthWestern's proposal. Most of those in favor were from Colstrip, where NorthWestern plans to increase its ownership of Colstrip Unit 4, a coal-fired power plant.

The Synapse report suggested that energy options in the next eight years were not only likely to be available, but also cheaper for NorthWesterns customers than what the utility has planned.

NorthWestern on Friday reiterated its assertion that the region is six years away from an energy shortage as a result of retiring coal-fired power plants.

NorthWestern Energys main concern with the comments made by Synapse is that they do not adequately weigh the significant generation shortfall of both NorthWesterns Montana supply resources and the regions power supply, said NorthWestern spokeperson Jo Dee Black, in an email.

They also overlook NorthWesterns limited access to import energy. For example, Synapse points to PacifiCorps reliance on purchasing energy as an example that NorthWestern should follow. But Synapse overlooks the fact that NorthWestern already counts on the Mid-Columbia market to provide more energy to meet winter peaks than even PacifiCorp believes is reasonable. Given the shortfall in both NorthWesterns supply and the shortfall expected in the near term in the broader region, NorthWestern also believes that Synapse has an unreasonably high confidence that renewable resources will generate when NorthWestern needs them to (in other words, the capacity value for wind and solar that Synapse recommends is higher than what existing renewable resources have historically provided during NorthWesterns peak load periods).

Synapse cited three emerging events in northwestern states that could provide a cheaper, reliable power alternative to NorthWesterns plans.

First, the economists cited the emergence of the Western Energy Imbalance Market, which is supposed the improve energy reliability while also lowering costs in coming years. In 2018, NorthWestern announced it would join the EIM by April 2021. The market should address NorthWestern's concerns about the fluctuations in the availability of power from in-state wind and solar farms, Synapse said.

NorthWestern disagreed.

The short story is that to assume that the market can supply the significant capacity needs for NorthWestern Energys Montana customers during peak demand, which is what Synapse proposes, will compromise reliability significantly. Utilities and power planning agencies across the region are now working to address the growing capacity shortage in the region as coal plants retire, Black said in her email.

NorthWestern Energy is by far the most exposed to the market of utilities in this region because of its significant capacity shortage. Additionally, other utilities have better transmission connectivity than NorthWestern, which allows them greater access to buy power from others. The strategy of relying on the market also exposes customers to the markets price volatility when demand is high. 

Second, Synapse economists said buying surplus power from neighboring utilities, like Avista Corp., would be cheaper for NorthWesterns customers than the utility building gas-fired power plants. In the last year, NorthWestern has told investors that it could build as many as four 200-megawatt gas-fired power plants in the next five years, each one costing more than $200 million, for which customers would put on a multi-year payment plan.

Synapse also pointed to emerging regional energy sources as a cheaper alternative. The Bonneville Power Administration plans to begin selling carbon-free hydropower to regional utilities and other large buyers in 2028.

Not only were these alternatives not considered by NorthWestern in its analysis, they were also not used to prove the economic benefits of not only NorthWesterns gas-fired power plants, but also its purchase of an additional share of Colstrip Unit 4.

NorthWestern did not include a scenario in which the cost of natural gas was high when the utility needed the power most. NorthWesterns 20-year plan indicated that it had factored in a high gas price scenario, but Synapse could not find where the utility has actually run the numbers.

We believe that NorthWestern did not actually model a High Natural Gas Price scenario despite describing one in its plan, the economists reported.

Concerning Colstrip, economists say NorthWestern didnt allow its PowerSimm program to consider whether the power plant should be retired based on increased operating costs and repair expenses increasing because of age.

This is important with respect to the operation of the Colstrip units. They are the most expensive resource in NorthWesterns resource portfolio, inclusive of all costs collected in rates, economists include.

The cost of Colstrip power was based on a Montana Consumer Counsel report that identifies Colstrip power as the most expensive electricity NorthWestern customers pay for, once purchase debts and other expenses are factored in. In 2017, for example, Colstrip power cost NorthWestern customers more than $70 a megawatt hour, which spot market energy cost customers the least at $24.08.

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'Gibraltar for Yes' Upcoming Events

Gibraltar For Yes continues its campaign this week with two events which, it says, will aim to rally support for a Yes vote in the upcoming Referendum as well as challenge the rising tide of misinformation circulating in the public arena.

This Saturday will see the Rally for Yes being held with participation from international speakers and supporters who have travelled to Gibraltar, to 'support a change to Gibraltar archaic and unjust abortion legislation, at no cost to the Yes campaign.'

The March for Yes starts at 11.30am at John Mackintosh Square, and continues up Main Street to Casemates, where the Rally will start at 12 noon. Featured speakers will include Justine Picardo (Lawyer), Mara Clarke (Abortion Support Network), Dr Pam Lowe, (Aston University) and representatives from Alliance for Choice, Northern Ireland and Letrim Abortion Rights Campaign, Ireland.

Following on from this event, Dame Lesley Regan DBE, former President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and author of several renowned books on pregnancy and miscarriage, will be speaking at a public event The A word: Challenging Misinformation, next week. She will also be joined by Rachael Clarke from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS).

After speaking they will be engaging in a Q&A session. The event will take place on Wednesday 4th March at 7pm at Supernatural Cafe, at the World Trade Centre. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Members of Gibraltar for Yes have said they are honoured to have such high calibre medical professionals such as Dame Lesley Regan, offering support to the Yes campaign.
Tanaistes address to the Forty-Third Session of the Human Rights Council

News

Tanaistes address to the Forty-Third Session of the Human Rights Council

Geneva, 24 February 2020

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen

It is a privilege to be in Geneva again to address the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council.

In these turbulent and unpredictable times, we need a clear and independent voice speaking out in support of fundamental rights. Ireland stands with the High Commissioner, and commends her, and the Office that she leads.

Our commitment to human rights is a central pillar of Irish foreign policy, and it frames our approach to global engagement more generally.

It underpins all agendas: development, humanitarian action, peacekeeping, peacebuilding and disarmament and arms control.

This year, we will be a third of the way along the pathway for the Sustainable Development Goals. But we will not deliver on our commitments under the 2030 Agenda unless we recognise that the protection and promotion of human rights lies at its heart. This must involve prioritising a stronger emphasis on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, where so much work remains to be done.

Madame President,

By any objective measure, the global trends in relation to human rights violations are worrying:

 The use of the death penalty and torture continues;

 Safe and enabling environments for civil society actors are routinely threatened;

 Human rights defenders, their families and associates, endure reprehensible levels of attack. These violations and abuses can be particularly severe for women human rights defenders and those working in defence of LGBTI issues; and

 Acts of intimidation and reprisal against those seeking recourse through the UN system are on the increase.

Many of these trends are in evidence across all regions, including my own, but it is particularly troubling to note the impact of conflict in depriving the most vulnerable of their fundamental human rights.

Just consider the plight of families in Northern Syria. Children are being driven from their homes in sub zero temperatures. Innocent people are being bombed, even as they shelter in makeshift camps. The catastrophe in Idlib is a dark moment for humanity. History will judge all of us harshly for watching on and allowing it to happen, with a relatively muted response from the international community.

Tragically, while the fate of those in Idlib is particularly dire, it is not unique.

In Myanmar, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen and elsewhere, the devastating impacts of conflict, crisis and instability continue to be felt by a staggeringly high number of civilians, particularly women and children.

Irish people know from our own experience that the process of achieving and sustaining peace can often seem impossible. But it is precisely in these times that we need to persist, retain our focus and remember our obligation to our children and future generations.

Because we understand the benefits of peace, particularly in relation to the realisation and fulfilment of human rights, Ireland's commitment to the Middle East Peace Process remains steadfast.

The only realistic way to achieve a just and lasting peace for the Israeli and the Palestinian peoples is through a negotiated and agreed two-state solution with an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state, living side-by-side in peace and security with Israel.

Regrettably, the obstacles to this solution continue to grow, including the continuing construction of illegal settlements, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Most worrying of all are the threats of unilateral annexation. This is clearly prohibited under international law, and cannot and should not be accepted.

A just and durable peace for the Israeli and Palestinian people requires a peace process that supports parity of esteem for both parties, based on established parameters and international law, and we will remain committed to this.

Madame President,

This year, we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of our United Nations. This is an opportunity for us to ask sometimes difficult questions, both of ourselves and of the system that we have developed.

Frankly, is the multilateral architecture forged from the ashes of two world wars working as effectively as it needs to, on behalf of those it is designed to protect?

We recognise the huge progress made in lifting millions out of grinding poverty, and in fighting and eliminating new and previously deadly diseases. But we also must adapt our structures and working methods to recognise the scale of the challenges of the 21st Century, including the existential threat of climate change.



We believe that a properly resourced and dynamic United Nations, including the vital human rights pillar, continues to offer the best platform to unite us as a global community as we seek to provide a better future for all.

I am acutely conscious that there are many seeking to undermine the United Nations and the broader multilateral system. We need to join together to counter such short term approaches and to persevere with hope and determination in the pushback against the pushback.

We know that the multilateral system is imperfect. But it is our responsibility to better equip the system  our system - to address the myriad challenges of the 21st century.

Malala, the great champion of girls education, has commented that If people were silent, nothing would change. We must demonstrate that silence on fundamental human rights cannot be an option.

Here in Geneva, Ireland will continue to be a strong voice championing human rights issues of concern, defending the multilateral system and seeking to hold accountable perpetrators of violations and abuses.



And we hope that next year in New York, we will be given the opportunity by the Member States of the United Nations, to bring our perspective to bear as active members of the Security Council.

Thank you.

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The UK has been warned not to renege on its commitments in the Irish protocol in the Brexit withdrawal agreement as the EU gathered to discuss its position in the forthcoming trade talks.

Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney said the EU was making a "generous and fair" offer to the UK, but warned Prime Minister Boris Johnson not to renege on what has been agreed.

He said: "Michel Barnier and the Irish Government are at one on this: the Withdrawal Agreement involves significant commitments in the context of Northern Ireland through the Irish protocol that both the EU and the UK need to follow through on.

"If that doesn't happen, then I think it will damage significantly the prospects of being able to get even a bare-bones trade agreement along with a number of other things that need to be done in place by the end of the year."

His comments follow reports that the Prime Minister has ordered his Brexit team to find ways to "get around" the Northern Ireland protocol which aims to avoid the introduction of a hard border on the island of Ireland.

The UK's withdrawal agreement with the EU says that checks and controls will be required on goods travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland that go on to the Republic, effectively creating a border in the Irish Sea.

Downing Street has insisted it will honor the terms of the deal.

The EU General Affairs Council is meeting to approve the bloc's mandate for negotiations with the UK - which are set to start next week.

Boris Johnson is to chair a meeting of senior ministers on his Brexit committee ahead of the publication of the UK's negotiating position on Thursday.

The time pressure is immense, the interests are huge - it's a very complicated treaty - so it will be very hard work. A tough road ahead. Stef Blok

Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok, arriving at the meeting in Brussels, warned of the "immense" time pressure facing both sides as they attempt to agree a future trading relationship.

"The past has shown that we managed to do good work as a united European Union with regard to the Withdrawal Agreement, so that gives me hope for the negotiations to come," he told reporters.

"But the time pressure is immense, the interests are huge - it's a very complicated treaty - so it will be very hard work. A tough road ahead."

Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, wrote on Twitter: "We will keep a very close eye on the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement - this will be key for building a solid future partnership with the UK."

Croatia's European Affairs minister, Andreja Metelko-Zgombic, said the EU would be willing to offer a "substantial" and "ambitious" partnership in post-Brexit trade talks with the UK.

"Today's General Affairs Council will adopt a mandate for the future relationship with the UK - and from our side we are really willing to offer a substantial, ambitious, balanced and wide-ranging partnership," she said.

The EU's negotiating mandate will be published later on Tuesday.

 Ahead of the Council today, good to touch base with @simoncoveney, @HMcEntee and team. We will keep a very close eye on the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement - this will be key for building a solid future partnership with the #UK. pic.twitter.com/8zqaLbYHWI  Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) February 25, 2020

British ministers are expected to seek a Canada-style agreement with zero tariffs, a proposal Mr Johnson and his Europe adviser, David Frost, have set out in speeches in recent weeks.

But the push for a Canada-style deal could set up a clash with the EU after Mr Barnier ruled out such an agreement.

He has previously said the UK is too close in proximity to be permitted to compete with the other 27 member states on such terms.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman, asked about the trade talks on Monday, said: "The UK's primary objective in the negotiations is to ensure that we restore our economic and political independence on January 1 2021."

Mr Frost and his team will head to Brussels for the first round of negotiations on March 2.

One of the flashpoints expected with the forthcoming publication of the EU's negotiation mandate is on fishing, with leading member states speaking regularly about wanting continued access to UK waters.

Mr Johnson used a speech in Greenwich earlier this month to announce that, once free of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy, "British fishing grounds are first and foremost for British boats".

But French Europe minister Amelie de Montchalin signalled that fishing would be a hotly contested topic when the two negotiating teams come to spar in London and Brussels over the coming months.

"The fishermen have the right to be protected; they know very well that if we sign a bad deal they will lose enormously," she told TV station France 2.

A leaked draft of the EU negotiation mandate last week also included a stipulation that Britain should "return unlawfully removed cultural objects to their countries of origin".

The passage is thought to refer to the Elgin Marbles - ancient Greek sculptures brought to Britain more than 200 years ago and now on display in the British Museum.

Greece has been vocal about demanding the return of the marble sculptures, which once adorned the Greek Parthenon temple, to Athens.

Downing Street has insisted that the future of the marbles is "not up for discussion as part of our trade negotiations".

The PM is expected to meet Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz at Number 10 on Tuesday as part of his diplomatic efforts with EU leaders before talks commence.
SEOUL, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- South Korea confirmed 144 more cases of the COVID-19 on Tuesday, raising the total number of infections to 977, and the death toll rose to 10.

As of 4:00 p.m. local time (0700 GMT), the number of infected patients totaled 977, up 144 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 virus infections soared for the past week, with 802 new cases reported from Wednesday to Monday. The country raised its four-tier virus alert to the highest "red" level on Sunday.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in visited the country's southeastern city of Daegu, where about half of the virus infections were reported, saying the viral spread within and beyond the southeastern region must be prevented.

"What matters is time and speed. Within this week, a clear point of inflection must be created in the growing trend of confirmed patients," Moon said during a special meeting in Daegu with relevant ministers and the representatives of Daegu, according to the presidential Blue House.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun was scheduled to stay in Daegu from Tuesday night to spearhead the government's quarantine efforts in Daegu, about 300 km southeast of the capital Seoul, and its surrounding North Gyeongsang province.

Senior government and Blue House officials and the ruling Democratic Party leaders had an emergency meeting in Seoul, vowing to take "maximum" quarantine steps in the southeastern region and push for a supplementary budget to financially support small firms and microbusiness owners.

President Moon ordered officials Monday to draw up the extra budget. The Moon government's 2020 budget was a record 512.5 trillion won (422.8 billion U.S. dollars).
US forces detain tribal fighters leader affiliated to Hashd al-Sha'abi in western Iraq

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 February 2020 5:19 PM

US military forces have reportedly conducted an operation and arrested a leader of tribal fighters affiliated to the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), better known by the Arabic name Hashad al-Sha'abi, in the country's western province of Anbar.

An unnamed security source said US troops carried out an airdrop operation in al-Shuhada neighborhood of al-Baghdadi district, located west of the city of Hit, on Monday, and detained Sheikh Mu'di Karab al-Samarmad al-Ubaidi, the Arabic-language al-Forat television network reported.

The source added that Ubaidi is a prominent figure within the PMU, and that Americans have not provided any information about the reason for the arrest or the charges against him.

Back on December 19 last year, US military forces detained Naseer al-Ubaidi, a leader of tribal fighters linked to Hashd al-Sha'abi forces in the same Iraqi province.

Ubaidi was arrested for no reason in an area of Khan al-Baghdadi city, which lies close to the Ain al-Asad air base, where hundreds of American troops are stationed.

Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters have played a major role in the liberation of Daesh-held areas to the south, northeast and north of the Iraqi capital, ever since the terrorists launched an offensive in the country, overrunning vast swathes in lightning attacks.

In November 2016, the Iraqi parliament voted to integrate Hashd al-Sha'abi, which was formed shortly after the emergence of Daesh, into the military.

Daesh began a terror campaign in Iraq in 2014, overrunning vast swathes in lightning attacks.

Former Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi declared the end of military operations against Daesh in the Arab country on December 9, 2017.

On July 10 that year, he formally declared victory over Daesh in Mosul, which served as the terrorists' main urban stronghold in Iraq.

In the run-up to Mosul's liberation, Iraqi army soldiers and volunteer Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters had made sweeping gains against Daesh.

Iraqi forces took control of eastern Mosul in January 2017 after 100 days of fighting, and launched the battle in the west on February 19 last year.

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Pakistan on Tuesday raked up the Kashmir issue at the UNHRC here and demanded the immediate lifting of the communication restrictions and release of all the political leaders and activists in the Valley, saying any "inaction" by the international community will only "embolden" India.

Speaking at the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council which is being held here in Switzerland from February 24 to March 20, Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari alleged that India continues to violate the human rights of the Kashmiri people and demanded the immediate repeal of all actions by India on August 5 last year in Kashmir.

India abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 on August 5 and bifurcated it into two Union territories.

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.

She alleged that "over six thousand Kashmiri people, activists... were arrested without the due process of law" and demanded their immediate release.

The minister, known for her hardline anti-India stance, said any "inaction" by the international community and the Council will only "embolden" India to act with impunity.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


Minister of Foreign Relations, Skills Development, Employment and Labour Relations  Dinesh Gunawardena who leads the Sri Lanka delegation to the 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council arrived in Geneva a short while ago.

The Minister is scheduled to address the High Level Segment of the Human Rights Council (HRC) on Wed 26 February, where he will formally inform the Council Members of the decision of the Government of Sri Lanka to withdraw its co-sponsorship of Resolution 40/1 of March 2019 on Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka, which also incorporates and builds on preceding Resolutions 30/1 of October 2015 and 34/1 of March 2017.

Minister Gunawardena will also respond to the Oral Update on Sri Lanka by the High Commissioner on 27 February.

He will meet the High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Friday 28 February.

The Sri Lanka Delegation to the current Session includes State Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs Mahinda Samarasinghe, Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha, Additional Secretary to the President Admiral (Retd) Jayanath Colombage, Deputy Solicitor General Nerin Pulle, Director General of the UN and Human Rights Division of Ministry of Foreign Relations Mr. M.R.K. Lenagala, Senior State Counsel Kanishka Balapatabendi, Brigadier E.S. Jayasinghe from the Ministry of Defence and Coordinating Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Relations Subash Sri Wijethunga.

Acting Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva Dayani Mendis and relevant staff will join the delegation during the session and meetings.

During his stay in Geneva, Minister Gunawardena will also meet with the Director Generals of the United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Secretary- General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Sri Lanka Permanent Mission

Geneva

25 February 2020

Media Release in PDF
London: Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg met Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai at Britain's University of Oxford on Tuesday and posed for a photo together.

Yousafzai, widely known by her first name, Malala, is a student at the University of Oxford. The 22-year-old posted a photo on Instagram of herself and Thunberg sitting on a bench with their arms around each other, with a caption "Thank you, @gretathunberg" and a heart emoji.

Thunberg, 17, is in the United Kingdom to join a school strike in Bristol on Friday.

Both women shot to worldwide fame after standing up for major global issues: climate change and women's education.
Ex-president, recently acquitted for role in protester deaths during 2011 uprising, returns to his Cairo home.

Six years after his ouster, Egypts ex-President Hosni Mubarak has been released from detention after being cleared of inciting the killings of hundreds of protesters in 2011.

Mubarak, 88, on Friday left a military hospital in Cairos southern suburb of Maadi where he had been held in custody and went to his home in the upscale Heliopolis district under heavy security.

His lawyer, Farid el-Deeb, told the Egyptian newspaper al-Masry al-Youm that he celebrated his release with breakfast his wife Suzanne and their two sons, Alaa and Gamal.





Mubarak was cleared for release earlier this month after the countrys highest appeals court acquitted him of any involvement in the deaths of nearly 900 Egyptians during the 25 January  11 February 2011 uprising.

He had been sentenced to life in 2012 but an appeals court dismissed the charges two years later.

Timothy Kaldas, a non-resident fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, told Al Jazeera that it was unlikely both now or any time in the foreseeable future that anyone will be prosecuted for the murders.

Mubarak being in or out of prison doesnt change the fact that the military the took control in Egypt in 1952 continues to rule Egypt today.

[Mubaraks] role in Egyptian politics is of limited consequence today, [but] theres a real sense of injustice that while many revolutionaries are in prison  he has walked free.

PHOTOS: Egypt Revolution  18 days of people power

The ouster of Mubarak, who ruled Egypt for 29 years, led to the countrys first free election but the winner, Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Morsi, was overthrown in a military coup in 2013.

Army chief Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has since waged a fierce crackdown on Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood with human rights groups claiming as many as 60,000 political prisoners currently languish in Egypts jails.

In contrast, Mubarak-era figures are slowly being cleared of charges and a series of laws curtailing political freedoms have raised fears among activists that the old leadership is regaining influence.

As Hosni Mubarak goes free in Egypt, thousands of prisoners still languish in horrific prison conditions, Harriet McCulloch, a deputy director at human rights organisation Reprieve, told Al Jazeera.

Many face the death penalty on charges relating to protests, in mass trials that make a mockery of due process, McCulloch added.

Some were arrested as children  people like Irish citizen Ibrahim Halawa, who has suffered terrible abuses in jail. The Sisi government must now show that Egypts justice system is worthy of the name and release Ibrahim, and the hundreds like him.

A former air force chief and vice president, Mubarak became president after fighters who had infiltrated the army shot dead president Anwar Sadat during a military parade in 1981.

Mubarak, then vice president, was metres away from Sadat during the attack and was shot in the hand. He was sworn in as president eight days later.
The ruling Chinese Communist Party is cracking down on earlier signs of original news reporting coming out of Wuhan, the central Chinese city worst-hit by the coronavirus epidemic, replacing frontline video on social media with government-approved narratives about brave "heroes" on the front line.



As millions of people remain confined to their homes in central China, the party's powerful Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission has set up shop in Wuhan to take charge of the stories that emerge from that city, in spite of growing public anger over the lack of transparency in the early stages of the epidemic.



President Xi Jinping's right-hand man and party secretary of the commission Chen Yixin was dispatched to the city earlier this month. A directive detailing the sort of "propaganda work" Chen wants to see coming out of Wuhan followed soon after, dated Feb. 18.



With at least two prominent citizen journalists -- Chen Qiushi and Fang Bing -- 'disappeared' or otherwise silenced after they posted grim accounts and video clips of hospitals struggling to cope with the onrush of suspected coronavirus patients, the party is now taking charge of the story, ordering only "positive" coverage from state journalists already trained to sing its praises.



"[We must] step up strategic content planning and innovation ... promote positive energy and foster a climate of public opinion that is conducive to waging an all-out people's war on the epidemic," the directive said.



"We must project the positive image of the commission's police, grid operatives and other rank-and-file members of the mass surveillance team in the new era," it said.



"We get our orders and we move out, fearing no hardship, only selfless dedication," the directive said.



It requires all Communist Party political and legal affairs committees at regional and provincial level to implement the new propaganda requirements, as well as cracking down on "illegal and criminal acts that hinder epidemic prevention and control work."



'Singing and tears'

Propaganda work should include "moving stories about the noble deeds of ... staunch defenders against the epidemic," it said, calling for more human interest stories and emotional episodes to paint "a vivid picture of loyalty, selflessness, dedication, singing and tears."



Content should make targeted use of major social media platforms like Weibo and WeChat, it said, showing "vivid details, personal feelings and touching stories."



In tandem with Chen's arrival in Wuhan to take charge of stability maintenance, the party's central propaganda department has sent more than 300 journalists to Hubei, of which Wuhan is the provincial capital.



They have been tasked with producing propaganda illustrating the disease prevention and control effort from the front line, it said in a statement on Feb. 4.



A video was posted soon after to social media showing Health Times deputy editor Zhao Anping and reporter Zhang He setting off like heroes to report on the epidemic, as colleagues held up a red banner against a soundtrack of rousing music.



Zhang has since poured out a slew of positive stories including news about Wuhan's huge grain and oil reserves, more than 1,000 new beds in a hastily constructed cabin hospital for coronavirus patients, and stories about patients who have recovered from the COVID-19 coronavirus.



There was scant mention of flooding at the new hospital after the area was hit by high winds, however. Meanwhile, critical reports and commentary have been disappearing rapidly from China's tightly controlled internet.



Cutting edge opinion blog Dajia was deleted by social media giant Tencent on Feb. 19 and all of its archive removed from the internet after it criticized state media's coverage of the coronavirus epidemic, which it said was irresponsible and dangerously misleading.



The offending article, penned by veteran Chinese journalist Chen Jibing, had garnered hundreds of comments critical of the lack of press freedom under the Chinese Communist Party.



Vanishing freedom of speech

Dajia's editor-in-chief Jia Jia told RFA in a recent interview that he had taken the news calmly.



"I was cooking when people told me the news, and I remained very calm," Jia said. "I finished eating, washed the wok, and down. Then I started thinking about it."



"I can't really feel optimistic or pessimistic," he said. "I am an old man, and we journalists are used to this sort of thing."



He said that since President Xi took power in 2012 and starting an ever-widening crackdown on social media content, freedom of speech has disappeared in China.



"The biggest problem of all is the media," Jia said. "The epidemic is so serious, and the last Dajia article was titled 'Is there a link between freedom of speech and the public health of a country?"



"Wouldn't you say that was a huge problem?"



Jia said the government is also using existing censorship mechanisms to delete private groups on WeChat and to delete the accounts of anyone posting unapproved content about the coronavirus.



Wuhan-based journalist Ao Li said many of her friends on WeChat have had their accounts deleted.



"I had a lot of unanswered messages in the past few days, but when I came to reply to them one by one, I found that a lot of my old friends had had their accounts deleted," she said.



"Our country is sick, and I don't just mean the epidemic," she wrote via a messaging app.



"No news is being allowed to be reported at all out of Hubei and Wuhan," Ao said. "[Journalists] aren't allowed to do what [the authorities] call negative reporting."



"Caixin is still in business, but this whole [censorship] thing is beyond excessive," she said.



She said some journalists are still recording what they see and hear in Wuhan, but there is scant hope that it will ever appear in any publication in China.



"This is what it's like reporting in China. You can get it all on record, but when you can use it?" she said with a sigh.



A Beijing resident who gave only a nickname Sander said his Weibo account had been deleted after he retweeted a post calling on the government to apologize to late whistleblowing doctor Li Wenliang, who died of coronavirus on Feb. 6.



"My account was gone, with no warning," he said. "My friends told me to keep quiet."



Reported by Jane Tang for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Guwahati, Feb 25 : Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday along with his entire cabinet received the report of the high-level committee formed to review and suggest measures for implementation of Clause six of 1985 Assam accord.

Committee chairperson retired justice of Gauhati High Court B.K. Sharma handed a copy of the report to the chief minister in the presence of a majority of the panel members.

State finance and education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma later said Sonowal would forward the report to union home minister Amit Shah either Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.

However, three All Assam Students Union (AASU) leaders - general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi, president Dipanka Kumar Nath and Chief Advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya - skipped the programme.

Earlier, Gogoi said that the 14-member panel had handed over its report in a sealed cover to state Chief Secretary Sanjay Krishna through the Assam Accord Implementation Department.

Clause 6 of the 1985 Assam Accord pledges to provide constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social and linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.

The committee has proposed 1951 as the cut-off year for implementing the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state.

The ILP, a mechanism to control the entry of outsiders into the state, has been implemented in the states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. It was also introduced in Manipur in the wake of protests over the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act that was introduced recently.

According to sources, the high-level committee has recommended that those residing in Assam since 1951, and their descendants, are to be considered as the indigenous people of the state.

The Union Home Ministry set up the panel to examine the effectiveness of actions taken since 1985 to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, and suggest measures.

The Union Home Ministry had in January last year announced formation of the high-level committee headed by retired Union Secretary M.P. Bezbaruah, but the move came a cropper with six of the nine members refusing to take part.

The Centre then reconstituted the panel with 14 members in July last year, naming Sharma as the chairman.

According to ministry sources, apart from 67 per cent reservation for indigenous people of the state, the committee has also suggested reservation in terms of legislative and Lok Sabha seats for them.

The Assam Accord of 1985 was signed after the north-eastern state witnessed a six-year-long violent movement from 1979 to 1985 seeking detection and deportation of illegal Bangladeshis.

The movement finally led to the accord between the Centre and leaders of the agitation belonging to the All Assam Students Union and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad in the presence of then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
President Trump took to Twitter late on Monday and demanded that liberal Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor recuse themselves on Trump-related matters that come before the bench.

The president was reacting to a segment on Mondays Fox News program hosted by Laura Ingraham.

Ingraham devoted a portion of her show to discussing Justice Sonia Sotomayors scathing dissent last week after the high court ruled in favor of the Trump administration on its public charge policy.

The Supreme Court lifted an injunction allowing the administration to move ahead with plans to deny would-be immigrants green cards if they are thought likely to use public services like Medicaid, food stamps, and vouchers.

President Trump (seen above in New Delhi on Monday) lashed out at liberal Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Twitter

Trump slammed Sotomayor (left) and demanded that she and Ginsburg (right) recuse themselves 'on all Trump-related matters'

Trump hit out at Sotomayor for a dissent she wrote last week after the high court ruled in the administration's favor on the so-called 'public charge' policy involving would-be immigrants

'I only ask for fairness, especially when it comes to decisions made by the United States Supreme Court!' Trump tweeted on Monday

Sotomayor blasted her conservative colleagues, accusing them of showing favoritism toward the administration by granting its request to lift the injunction.

Trump late Monday tweeted the title of the segment: Sotomayor accuses GOP appointed Justices of being biased in favor of Trump.

He then wrote: This is a terrible thing to say. Trying to shame some into voting her way?

She never criticized Justice Ginsberg when she called me a faker.

Both should recuse themselves on all Trump, or Trump related, matters!

While elections have consequences, I only ask for fairness, especially when it comes to decisions made by the United States Supreme Court!

Trump was referring to the comment made by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in July 2016, when the current president was locking up the Republican nomination.

Ginsburg said of Trump at the time: He is a faker.

He has no consistency about him. He says whatever comes into his head at the moment.

He really has an ego. ... How has he gotten away with not turning over his tax returns?

The press seems to be very gentle with him on that.

The president was reacting to a Fox News segment from Laura Ingraham's nightly show during which she discussed Sotomayor's dissent from last week

Ginsburg was also quoted as saying of Trump: I can't imagine what this place would be - I can't imagine what the country would be - with Donald Trump as our president.

Days later, Ginsburg apologized, calling her comments ill-advised.

On reflection, my recent remarks in response to press inquiries were ill-advised and I regret making them, Ginsburg said in a statement.

Judges should avoid commenting on a candidate for public office. In the future I will be more circumspect.

Sotomayor generated headlines over the weekend when she blasted the Trump administration as well as her conservative colleagues in a harsh dissent.

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.

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

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.
Hundreds of tourists staying at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace Hotel have been instructed to stay in their rooms until further notice by the Tenerife health authorities.

A guest from Italy has tested positive for coronavirus and now all of his possible contacts should be checked, DW reported.

Authorities have not yet spoken about quarantine; analyzes of a tourist from Italy were sent to Madrid for a second check. The hotel has 467 rooms, four outdoor pools and two whirlpools.

Two confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in Spain, both among foreign tourists: a German on the Canary island of La Gomera and a British on Mallorca.

The coronavirus spreads more widely in Italy from all over Europe. Seven people has been died in Italy from coronavirus, while the number of infected has reached 283. Over 80 thousand people were diagnosed with COVID-19 coronavirus in the world, and over 2700 people died.
The science ministry has released the statement below saying a government agency saved Nigeria N280 billion.

The statement quoted the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mohammed Abdullahi, as commending the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) for saving close to N280 billion for the nation through its mandate.

Read the full statement below.

The Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mohammed Abdullahi, has commended the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) for saving close to N280 billion for the nation through its mandate.

Speaking when he paid a facility visit to the organisation on Tuesday, Mr Abdullahi appealed to NOTAP to strive to do more, adding the country need its services at this critical point in time.

He further charged NOTAP to handle its duties with much discretion and professional decorum, especially the business of registering contracts for the transfer of foreign technology.

The minister also charged the management to ensure that the country is not made a dumping ground of all sort of technologies, especially countries that have a trade mark of producing third rated products.

He called on NOTAP to help in transforming the countries technology as well as stimulate the economic activities of the country.

He further advised that NOTAP should use the patents generated by its services in order to improve the countrys economy so as to ensure gainfully employment for our teaming youths.

Mr Abdullahi also assured the management of the ministry of early completion of its building project.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Academy of Science elects first female president

The Permanent Secretary, Mohammed Umar, also said his coming to NOTAP was a eye opener given the efforts made by the agency in fortifying its current structure and also expressed satisfaction with what had been achieved with little resources.

He also assured NOTAP of the ministrys commitment in making sure they support them in completing the newly expanded structure.

Earlier, The Director General of NOTAP, Dan-Azumi Ibrahim, thanked the minister and the Permanent Secretary for the visit and assured them of renewed commitment in achieving the mandate of the organisation.

Source: Maryam Zakari

SIO
In the light of violence north east Delhi has been witnessing for over 48 hours now, Union Home Minister Amit Shah called for a third meeting with Delhi police and his ministry officials late on Tuesday evening. The meeting, according to the news agency ANI, lasted for almost three hours and was the third such within a span of 24 hours.

Newly appointed Special Commissioner of Police SN Srivastava was also present in the meeting, ANI reported.

Earlier, Shah had cancelled his visit to Thiruvananthapuram scheduled for Wednesday. Even though the MHA did not ascribe a reason behind the change in Shahs schedule for the day, the decision to cancel the visit comes against the backdrop of the continuing violence in north-east Delhi that has killed 13 people so far.

Parts of north-east Delhi, including Jafrabad, Maujpur and Baburpur have borne the brunt of clashes between two groups  one supporting the amended citizenship law and another protesting against its introduction.

The Central Board of Secondary Education has postponed the board exams for Class 10 and 12 scheduled on Wednesday in violence-affected northeast Delhi.

There are a total of 86 centres in northeast Delhi. While Class 10 students had English exam, Class 12 students had optional exams, including Web Application and Media.

The exam will be conducted in rest parts of Delhi as per earlier schedule. A fresh date for the exam in northeast Delhi will be announced shortly, a CBSE official said on Tuesday.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced that schools in the area would continue to be closed on Wednesday.
The Royal Women's Hospital has joined forces with 14 of the state's leading community health services in condemning the federal government's controversial proposed religious freedom bill, warning it threatens patient care by prioritising religious views.

Under the proposed bill, a pharmacist could refuse to dispense contraception, while a doctor could refuse to prescribe anti-HIV medication on the basis of religious beliefs opposed to homosexuality.

Under the proposed laws, health practitioners can conscientiously object to any procedure on religious grounds, as long as its a procedure and not a person they are objecting to. Credit:The Age

Leaders of the health organisations, which include the Victorian Healthcare Association and Cohealth one of the state's largest community health providers, say they have taken the unprecedented step of uniting to oppose the religious discrimination bill because it puts an "enormous rubber stamp" on a health practitioner's right to discriminate against a patient.
That contract expires on July 1, 2020, village administrator Eric Palm said. Although we could enter into a renewal for that, it is staffs recommendation we go back out to a request for proposals to look for a different vendor. We will be sending a letter to the current incumbent [saying] that we do not intend to renew.
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Linkedin Ni Komang Erviani and Asip Hasani (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar and Blitar  Tue, February 25, 2020 15:54 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206684a9d 1 National Diamond-Princess,Indonesia,Joko-Widodo,COVID-19,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,Japan Free

After working aboard the Diamond Princess throughout its 14-day quarantine in Yokohama, Japan, I Wayan Sudiarta was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief over the weekend when he found that he had tested negative for COVID-19.

The Feb. 24 records showed that 691 passengers and crew of the cruise ship had contracted the disease, which is caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that emerged in December 2019 in Wuhan, China.

Although the 24-year-old felt lucky that he was not among the nine Indonesian colleagues who had contracted the virus, the negative test result did not allay the worries of Sudiarta and the 68 Indonesian crewmen who remain on the ship.

"Although we have tested negative [for COVID-19], we are worried because we are still on the cruise ship. We have yet to breathe fresh air," said the father of two before continuing with a plea to the Indonesian government: "Please, evacuate us as soon as possible."

Masfud, who works as a chef de partie on the ship, said that morale was rapidly diminishing among all Indonesian crew that remained on the vessel, as they lived under the constant fear of contracting the virus as they waited for the government's decision.

The native of Surabaya, East Java, stressed that the vessel was "contaminated" with the coronavirus, which had been proven by the fact that the number of confirmed cases among the ship's passengers and crew had continued to increase throughout the quarantine period.

Masfud said that some of his colleagues had been healthy before, "but they were quarantined in the same cabin with a crew member who was showing certain symptoms, such as a high temperature". Later, everyone in the cabin had tested positive for the virus.

He said that the operator of the Diamond Princess was allowing its crew members to disembark, as long as their governments had made arrangements for their repatriation. He said that all passengers had left the ship by Tuesday, which left some 400 crew members on board.

He begged President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to rescue them, adding that the governments of the United States, Canada, South Korea and several European countries were planning to begin evacuating their nationals among the crew on Tuesday.

"What is the government waiting for? Are they waiting for the remaining 69 of us to become infected?" said Masfud.

On Feb. 5, Japanese authorities quarantined the Diamond Princess as well as its 3,711 passengers and crew for two weeks, docked in Yokohama, in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus. By the time the ship was released from quarantine on Feb. 19, however, 634 of all those aboard had tested positive for COVID-19.

The Indonesian government had recently floated a plan to evacuate the remaining healthy Indonesians onboard, with officials saying that it might either send an aircraft or the Indonesian Navy's Dr. Soeharso Hospital Ship on the humanitarian mission.

However, Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto said on Monday that Jakarta was negotiating with Tokyo on the evacuation options.

While acknowledging the increasing number of infected aboard the cruise ship, Terawan said the government did not want to "make a rash decision" as regards the evacuation, stressing that it wanted to ensure that the evacuation would not spread the virus to the archipelago.

Indonesia maintains that it has zero confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date, although a recent report about a Japanese man raised fear among the public that infections were going undetected.

The Indonesian crewmen expressed their hope that the government would airlift them from the Diamond Princess. Sudiarta noted that if Jakarta decided to send a ship, they would have to wait another 14 days or so until it arrived in Yokohama.

The crewmen's main concern is that the probability of their becoming infected would increase the longer they stayed aboard.

"We don't want to become infected after previously testing negative," Sudiarta emphasized.

Indonesian crewman I Ketut Januartika agreed with Sudiarta, and reiterated the group's hope that the government would send a plane to bring them home.

Anything could happen in the days we [have to] wait for a ship to get here, he said.

Januartika said he was willing to be quarantined again once they had arrived back in Indonesia.

If the government could come collect us by aircraft, I am ready for another quarantine. But please, dont come get us by ship. It would take too long while we wait here, he said.
More than two years after they were first busted on charges that their site, Backpage.com, profited from making sex trafficking easier, then illegally laundered their millions from the enterprise, founders Michael Lacey and James Larkin will finally face a jury in a federal courtroom in the case.

Though in the weeks after their April 2018 arrestand shutdown by the feds of the Backpage.com siteauthorities said that Lacey and Larkin would have to wait until January of 2020 to be tried on the charges, that time frame has now come and gone with no action taken.

Instead, according to a report by the Associated Press, the trial for the co-defendants will open on August 17 in federal court in Arizona, where the servers and bank accounts that kept the site running were reportedly located.

Lacey, along with Larkin and several others who were then students at Arizona State University founded the Phoenix New Times weekly newspaper in 1970. Over the next two decades, they grew the New Times into a nationwide chain, eventually purchasing Village Voice Mediaa competing chain of alternative weekliesto add more papers to their portfolio.

But in 2004, they founded Backpage, an online classified ad site specializing in ads for sexual services. Eight years later, Lacey and Larkin split from Village Voice Media, keeping the highly lucrative Backpage business for themselves.

Federal authorities say that the site has generated about $500 million in revenue from the sex ad business. They also say that the sites management maintained a policy of editing advertisements to conceal any illegal activities, including sex trafficking of minors, that were advertised on the site.

Backpage CEO Carl Ferrer pleaded guilty to the charges against him in 2018, and cooperated with authorities, telling them that he had conspired with other Backpage principals  to find ways to knowingly facilitate the state-law prostitution crimes being committed by Backpage's customers."

Dan Hyer, the sites sales and marketing director, also pleaded guilty, and admitted that he took part in a scheme to unfairly compete against other classified ad sites by offering free advertising to sex workers.

Photos by Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Sacramento County Sheriff's Office
Gautam Adani-led Adani Group may enter the race to buy state-owned Air India. Tata group, Hinduja group, Indigo and a New York-based fund, Interups, are already in line to buy the debt-ridden national carrier. Adani's energy and infrastructure conglomerate is planning on submitting an expression of interest (EoI) next month but the final decision will likely come after the EoI process gets over and bidders get to access the data online.

The Adani group plans to become the largest private airport operator in the country. It had bid successfully to run six airports last year. While Lucknow, Mangalore and Ahmedabad airports are operated by Adani, the company is waiting the government's nod to operate Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram.

However, as per the rules, if Adadni places bids for Air India, his company can't own over 27 per cent stake in these six airports. Meanwhile, 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.

Also read: Air India sale: Bidders can raise additional queries till March 6

Government had 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.

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:Air India employees need not worry about their jobs, at least not for a year

ALSO READ:Rajiv Bansal takes charge as Air India Chairman for second time
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A local radio station recently started broadcasting programs for women in the traditionally conservative eastern Afghanistan province of Khost. The goal is to reach out to more women in the region through radio.
India has said that multilateral institutions like the UN must undergo metamorphosis to remain credible, and tangible progress on reform of the Security Council is essential to better address challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador K Nagaraj Naidu, speaking at the Informal Consultations on the Declaration for the Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the UN, said that at a time when the world is grappling with increasingly complex challenges, "we need to reaffirm our collective commitment to multilateralism".

The United Nations is marking 75 years of its existence this year and India has led the call for speeding up the long-pending reform process, saying the landmark year is the most opportune one for undertaking decisive action on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reforms.

India has been calling for the reform of the UNSC along with Brazil, Germany and Japan for long, emphasising that it rightly deserves a place at the UN high table as a permanent member.

The G4 nations of Brazil, Germany, Japan and India support each other's bids for permanent seats on the UNSC.

Ambassador Naidu said: "While the centrality of multilateral institutions like the United Nations to international relations is recognised, if these institutions are to be relevant and credible, they must periodically undergo renewal and metamorphosis, so that they do not remain relics of an outdated geo-political construct of the 1940's".

He said that the section on 'Looking Ahead' in the Food for Thought paper circulated by the co-chairs is critical, as it asks what needs to be done to reinvigorate global governance.

"While we all may not agree on the specifics of reform, we can all agree that tangible progress on reform of the key organs of the UN, in particular the Security Council, is essential if we are to better address the many challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. Our declaration should reflect this," Naidu said, stressing that the declaration, whether concise or not, should be the one that makes all countries proud.

Other key areas that need greater focus and concerted action is closing the gender gap in incomes and wages, providing social protection to workers in informal sectors and creation of more jobs in formal sector, addressing negative impacts of trade and investment policies on workers in informal sector including women, Naidu said.

He further said that full and effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda will remain a priority in this decade for action and recognising and harnessing the agency of women and youth in development would be critical.

The ambassador also noted that while much is being said about how rapid technological change and automation can upend the labour market, the positive role of technology as a key driver for development is somewhat neglected.

"We must break the mistrust of technology. We need to harness the potential of emerging technologies to empower the poorest and most deprived," he said, adding that India envisions a catalytic role for the UN in its quest for harnessing the potential of technology for transformative changes.

"UN can and should play a vital role in global norm setting as well as providing operational support required to maximise the role of technology as an enabler and an equalizer," Naidu said.

India also called for a renewed focus on education for inclusive growth, underlining that access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education especially for girls and, above all, linking education with employment opportunities are some of the defining challenges of the times.

"A 21st century education system needs to focus on developing human skills such as compassion, creativity, empathy, critical thinking and communication. Apart from touch screens, we need the human touch more than ever," Naidu said.

The ambassador also stressed if the citizens of the planet are going to have a decent shot at surviving the Anthropocene, there is a need to cut down the per-capita consumption of this planet.

"The objective of growth, growth and more growth may have made sense in the 20th century, but it is no longer fit for purpose. It is time to evolve towards a different kind of economy, focused on achieving well-being for all within the limit of our planet's ecology," Naidu added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 21-year-old mother is believed to have become Britain's youngest grandmother after marrying a 56-year-old grandfather.

Becca Keeley met her husband Mark when she was 16 and he was 51 when he was performing with a band.

The couple, of Gravesend, Kent, married in August 2018 and welcomed their own daughter, Presley, into the world four months ago.

Becca is now a step-grandmother to Mark's seven-month-old granddaughter Mollie, reports The Sun.

The couple, of Gravesend, Kent, married in August 2018 and welcomed their own daughter, Presley (centre), into the world four months ago

They got married at a registry office in Maidstone with 300 guests supporting them

He also has four children: Aaron, 21, Jake, 21, Luke, 16, and Emma, 13, from a previous relationship.

Mrs Keeley, who used to work as an office manager, told the newspaper: 'Mark said I surely wouldn't want to be called nan but his family are my family.'

Her husband added: 'A lot of people thought it was wrong. I told her to find someone her own age but we made each other so happy we decided to try and conquer it.'

The couple got engaged when they were on holiday in Tenerife two years ago, with Mr Keeley getting down on on knee

The couple got engaged when they were on holiday in Tenerife two years ago, with Mr Keeley getting down on on knee.

They got married at a registry office in Maidstone with 300 guests supporting them.

Rifca Stanescu, from the village of Invest in Romania, was previously believed to be the world's youngest grandmother aged just 23.

Ms Hilton, a kickboxer from Bolton, gave birth to her own daughter at the age of 18

In the UK, Carrie Hilton, 36, was reported as being Britain's youngest birth grandmother after her 17-year-old daughter Clarice had a baby girl in 2018

She gave birth to her daughter, Maria, at the age of 12. Despite her mother's pleas to stay in school, Maria gave birth to a son at the age of 11 in 2012.

In the UK, Carrie Hilton, 36, was reported as being Britain's youngest birth grandmother after her 17-year-old daughter Clarice had a baby girl in 2018.

Ms Hilton, a kickboxer from Bolton, gave birth to her own daughter at the age of 18.
Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, left to right, David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, make an announcement regarding a Bill entitled "An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)" during a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Monday Feb. 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / FEBRUARY 25, 2020 / Three years ago, Dhany Aryantono opened a small shop selling Unilever and other consumer goods in Pamanukan, a rural village in West Java, Indonesia to support her family of six. Her husband worked as a day laborer in the nearby rice paddy farm, making about one million Indonesian Rupuah ($75) a week. An additional $85 a week income Dhany generated from her small shop helped to make the ends meet for a family of six with four children - three of whom were in school. But with such a meager income to pay her bills and support education for her children, Dhany often doesn't have the cash to stock up inventory for her shop. To save herself from the constant ordeal of not having enough cash, which would have otherwise generated more profit for her thriving business, Dhany and her husband approached few banks for loans but were roundly rejected because the couple had no collateral or credit history. With her back against the wall, Dhany opted for what most people do in rural Indonesia - she ended up with a cash loan from a loan shark at 10% interest per week (520% APR).Fairbanc founder Mir Haque in front of his startup's San Francisco office.Last year, Fairbanc, the Silicon Valley-based FinTech operating in Southeast Asia, lent Dhany, 37, $220 a week in revolving digital credit that can only be used every week to buy Unilever products, which are typically fast-moving and return higher margins than other consumer goods. With Fairbanc's digital credit, Dhany bought Unilever products some of which carried a margin as high as 30% a week and was able to increase her shop's sales by around $300 a month.Dhany Aryantono at her shop in rural IndonesiaFairbanc, founded in 2018 by Mir Haque, a former business strategist for many of the well-known tech companies in Silicon Valley, recently received funding from globally recognized investors, including from an Indonesian billionaire.Fairbanc initially tested its closed-loop credit and data analytics platform with Unilever in Bangladesh, and now primarily focuses on Southeast Asian markets. What's so Unique about Fairbanc is that the credit it offers the unbanked merchants to buy products from its large consumer brand partners is simply a one-time passcode sent via text messages to the merchant's cell phone - a deft solution for the unbanked segment of the market that lags behind in smartphone ownership and digital literacy. Fairbanc also heavily relies on data science and machine learning in automating its credit scoring and risk monitoring.Companies like Fairbanc are at the forefront of the race to deliver rudimentary financial services to the 1.7 billion people on the planet who lack even a bank account. According to a joint study published by IFC and McKinsey, the total unmet need for credit by all formal and informal micro, small and midsize enterprises (MSME) in emerging markets today is in the range of $2.1 trillion to $2.5 trillion. Providing them with the basics of credit is one of the great challenges and opportunities of the century.Fairbanc founder Mir was born in Bangladesh, the birthplace of microcredit pioneered by Nobel Laureate Mohammad Yunus. Mir, who came to the US all alone as a teenage foreign student, financed his undergraduate tuition by driving a night shift taxi in New York City. Mir has since earned his MBA in finance from the Wharton Business School and previously worked for companies like Mckinsey, Deutsche Bank, Adobe, and Google.Fairbanc's founding team includes many fintech veterans like the former CTO of Kiva, a San Francisco based microcredit platform that operates in 77 countries and disbursed $1.4B in microloans, and Thomas Schumacher who co-founded California based emerging market microloan giant Tala that recently closed a funding round at $800M valuation.Where banks saw risk, Fairbanc saw an opportunity. By partnering up with large consumer brand companies and only offering productive loans to purchase high margin products like Unilever, Fairbanc expects to reduce loan default risks significantly while scaling quickly by leveraging the consumer brand's large merchant network.With its new capital, Fairbanc plans to make a bigger push into Indonesia, a country that hosts the fourth largest unbanked population globally, with 95 million adults still lacking a formal account at a financial institution. However, with a growing middle class, an increasingly tech-savvy youth population and a regulatory environment encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, Indonesia is now home to the most billion-dollar tech start-ups in Southeast Asia (including Bukalapak, Go-Jek, Tokopedia, and OVO), boasting a range of e-commerce, ride-sharing, media distribution, and financial services.Mir is convinced that Indonesia offers Fairbanc the right backdrop to bring about a scalable solution that can be replicated in many other emerging countries to address one of the greatest challenges and opportunities of the century: providing the millions of merchants with the basics of credit to help fuel economic revitalizations in order to uplift millions of poor merchants like Dhany out of dire poverty.Contact DetailsCompany: FairbancName: Mir HaqueEmail: Mir@ fairbanc.app Website: https://fairbanc.app/ SOURCE: Fairbanc
A former gay porn star has told of how he was forced to try to have sex with his father's girlfriend at the age of 12, and was taunted by his father with homophobic insults when he failed.

Israeli Jonathan Agassi, whose real name is Yonatan Langer, burst on to the adult film scene in the late 2000s at the age of 23, after starring in 2009 landmark gay pornographic film 'Men of Israel'.

Filmmaker Tomer Heymann documented the life of the adult star for seven-years, detailing Agassis journey from prolific adult superstar to male escort, battling many demons, including drug addiction.

In BBC Four documentary 'The Rise and Fall of a Porn Star', Agassi insisted that the industry was the 'best thing that ever happened to him', however his drug habit soon spiralled out of control as the film crew are forced to intervene when he appears to overdose.

After a turbulent few years of drug taking and prostitution he was forced to return home, where he now works in a supermarket.

Israeli Jonathan Agassi (pictured), whose real name is Yonatan Langer, burst on to the adult film scene in the late 2000s at the age of 23, after starring in 2009 landmark gay pornographic film 'Men of Israel'

Filmmaker Tomer Heymann documented the life of the adult star for seven-years, detailing Agassis journey from prolific adult superstar to male escort, battling many demons. He is pictured reflecting on his career at the end of the film

While in his Berlin flat after a party, he told the harrowing story of how his father Raviv attempted to make his son to have sex with his adult girlfriend at the age of 12, and teased him with homophobic slurs when he couldn't.

He claimed: 'I was really hurt because Raviv had called me a homo. What kind of father does that, gets his son a woman to f***.

Showing pictures of his dad's girlfriend to the filmmaker, he went on: 'That's why he called me a "homo", because I couldnt'.

'She kissed me on the mouth, she was my dad's girlfriend. My dad orchestrated the whole thing for me to f*** her. Don't forget that I was 12.'

The documentary delved into the traumatic childhood of Agassi, growing up gay in the suburbs of Tel Aviv, with his mother detailing the horrendous bullying her son faced due to his sexuality.

While on a beach in their hometown, Anna told a disturbing tale of when Agassi was left with a broken arm after jumping out a window, urged on by his classmates.

'I can't describe what we went though during his childhood', said Anna, 'I got a call from school one day to tell me Jonathan is standing on the window sill. The kids shouting jump, jump and it was on the second floor.'

Agassi insists that the industry is the 'best thing that ever happened to him' however, after a turbulent few years, he was forced to return home. He is pictured on a visit to Mykonos where he shot a film

At many points in the film, Agassi spoke about his troubled relationship with his father, who had abandoned him as a child. Jonathan is pictured preparing for the HustlaBall ceremony in Berlin

Jonathan went on: 'They said, "Go through window" and I said "I don't want to do this", and I swear, I'm tearing up.'

He added: 'A ten-year-old breaks his arm you'd expect his classmates to come and visit. They threw s*** at me because I'm feminine. And it's always like I'm the one to blame.'

It soon emerged that Jonathan was not just a porn star, but had also been working as a male escort.

He revealed that his first time being paid for sex was accidental, and said that while he was left 'depressed and crying' - he would eventually weigh up the shame he felt , compared to the money he could make.

He said: 'The first time I escorted was in Israel, I wouldnt let him do what he did to me unless he paid me.

'He thought he could buy me and he did. "Do this, get another $300". I came home at 10am, wasted with $4,000 depressed, crying.

'I put the money away and then Mum got back from work and I said "I did something all night long, Im so sad, Ill never be a prostitute".

The film documented the gradually increasing drug use of Agassi, which began with adult star causally taking cocaine and methamphetamine before an award show. Jonathan is pictured after winning the Best Actor prize in HustlaBall ceremony in Berlin

The documentary delves into the traumatic childhood of Agassi, growing up gay in the suburbs of Tel Aviv. He is pictured with his friend Christo, during preparations to HustlaBall ceremony in Berlin

'I remember taking out all that money and Mum looked at it and asked, "How much do you have there? Weigh it against how it made you feel, is it worth it?".'

The film documented the gradually increasing drug use of Agassi, which began with adult star casually taking cocaine and methamphetamine.

He was shown taking the drugs in his Berlin flat, before going to adult award show, the HustlaBall ceremony, where he won Best Adult Male Performer in the US.

After permanently moving to Germany, Agassi's drug use appeared to be getting worse, with footage showing him smoking methamphetamine. He said: 'It's a hard drug.

'It gets you mile high, gives you loads of energy, it awakens you. It's not like a trip, like you get on ecstasy, it makes you very sexual'.

He was seen injecting himself with a 'painful' drug to maintain an erection for four hour prior to a shoot, before smoking more methamphetamine in a room full of other porn stars.

It was soon clear that the star was struggling to gain work, and revealed that he was missing chunks from his payments as he was unable to climax on set.

Jonathan is pictured preparing for the HustlaBall ceremony in Berlin

'This gift, this career is the best thing that ever happened to me', says Agassi, 'After all the bad, this is the best thing that ever happened to me, Im going to hold on to it forever.'

He was later seen talking on the phone to a man he would have sex with for money and insisted that while he was 'exhausted' and 'didn't know how he would do it', he was happy because 'at least he had work'.

At one point in the documentary, Agassi is seen confronting his dad for abandoning him as a child, and asked why his treatment of Jonathan was never equal to that of his siblings.

'In all honestly', said his dad, 'Shahaf (his sibling) was the only child that was planned. We moved to Canada, after only four months, your mum said she was pregnant.

'She wanted a girl. She was sure it was a girl and that's the only reason we kept the pregnancy. In the end it was a boy. For her, it was a shock she had postpartum depression. She was devastated.

'You were always alone , you were always clean and well fed, but you never got the hugs and attention babies need.

'That's why she left. I'm not trying to blame anyone, but your mother's depression, that was a big part of what came between us. I became cold and distant and I simply shut my heart.'

Towards the end of the film, Agassi was seen injecting drugs into his arm and later was seen nonsensically mumbling and passing out backwards on top of a car with Heymann stepping in to assist him.

The film ended with Agassi admitted he was 'addicted to a certain drug'. Jonathan is pictured during a Skype call to his mother Anna

Agassi is now living with his mother, having quit the adult film industry and moved back to Tel Aviv,. Jonathan is pictured after coming back to Israel to his mother Anna

Later, the filmmaker was forced to step in once again when he began to writhe around on the floor after losing control of his body, before passing, all while presumably high on drugs.

The film ended by showing a tearful Agassi sat outside smoking a cigarette, admitting that while he originally thought he was enjoying his life, he was 'on drugs for all of it'.

He confessed that he was 'addicted to a certain drug' and told that he was thinking of telling his friends he could 'see the end' of Jonathan Agassi.

'I'm having a rough time, said Aggasi, 'Sad tired and weak. I can't really sleep, my sex drive has gone, I can't perform sexually.

'I got addicted to a certain drug. I thought I was muscular, healthy, had a sex drive. I was on drugs the whole time.

'I was thinking about posting a Facebook status I can see the end of Jonathan Agassi.'

Today, Agassi is living with his mother in Tel Aviv, having quit the adult film industry and currently works in a supermarket while also publicly speaking on the dangers of drugs.

Storyville: The Rise and Fall of a Pornstar will air on BBC Four on Monday at 10pm.
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Roosters are seen as the ideal 'table potato'. Photo: Getty Images.

Roosters are continuing their dominance in the potato market, accounting for almost 60pc of sales in 2019.

But while new market research shows that potato consumption in Ireland has been steady over the past five years, the area of potatoes planted here in 2019 was the second lowest on record, after 2018.

There was also a further decrease in the plantings of traditional varieties such as Kerr's Pink and Golden Wonder.

As part of a drive to boost potato consumption, Bord Bia has launched a promotional campaign targeting younger consumers.

"This campaign will run for the next three years targeting the way potatoes are perceived and fit into the lifestyles and aspirations of millennials, and also communicating the health benefits of potatoes," said Bord Bia spokesperson Lorcan Bourke

The potato market has grown by 12.3pc this year in value terms, mainly due to average price increases. However, there have also been strong gains in frequency of purchase.

Smaller bags have increased their market share, with under-2.5kg bags now accounting for 41pc of volume sales

According to Bord Bia, shoppers are purchasing potatoes more often than ever before in the last 10 years - including them on 40 shopping trips a year.

However, IFA president Tim Cullinan said farmers continue to be the poor relation within the supply chain.

Retailers are taking the lion's share of the margin on potatoes, while farmers bear all of the risk, he maintained.

"Growers are coming under increased pressure due to rising input and storage costs and the continued decrease of phytosanitary products available.

Storage costs

"That situation cannot be sustained; the price the farmer gets has to rise, just to cover storage costs alone.

"Retailers and packers have to wake up to that and act now if they want to have a potato industry in the future."

Cullinan added that the IFA wants the Government to introduce a retail ombudsman who will have strong independent oversight and regulation of the sector.
SEOUL  Police manned checkpoints in quarantined towns, guests were confined to their rooms in a hotel in the Canary Islands, governments issued travel warnings and more flights were suspended Tuesday as officials desperately sought to stop the seemingly inevitable spread of a new virus.

Clusters of the illness continued to balloon outside mainland China, fueling apprehension across the globe that was reflected in sagging financial markets.

The crisis pushed into areas seen as among the worst-equipped to deal with an outbreak as well as some of the worlds richest nations, including South Korea and Italy. As it proliferates, the virus is bringing a sense of urgency for local officials determined to contain it but often unsure how.

Its a matter of speed and time: We must create a clear turning point within this week, said President Moon Jae-in of South Korea, where the caseload grew by 169, with a total of 1,146 people sickened.

Cases of people who could have infected many others spurred fears.

Korean Air said one of its crew members tested positive, but the airline didnt disclose the flights the employee had worked on. On a U.S. military base in Daegu, the center of infections in South Korea, officials said the spouse of a late service member had also been infected.

In Italys north, where more than 200 people were sickened, a dozen towns were sealed off and police wearing face masks patrolled. Two neighbors of Italy  Croatia and Austria  reported their first cases of the virus. And an Italian doctor staying at a hotel in the Canary Islands tested positive for the virus, prompting the quarantine of hundreds of guests.

Croatia, Hungary and Ireland advised against traveling to Italys affected area, one of a number of governmental moves seeking to limit further exposure.

A culture of long days at the office in Japan came to terms with the outbreak, with the government urging employers to allow workers to telecommute and have more flexible hours, simple moves Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed hope could help control the spread.

China reported 508 new cases and another 71 deaths, 68 of them in the central city of Wuhan, where the epidemic was first detected in December. The updates bring mainland Chinas totals to 77,658 cases and 2,663 deaths.

Kim Tong-Hyung and Matt Sedensky are Associated Press writers.
Paul Mulshines column regarding electrification in New Jersey (Murphy plan: Electrification for thee but not for me) states that getting people out of fossil-fueled cars and getting them into electric cars is fine in theory. Mulshines stated reality, though, is that he drove to New Hampshire in his station wagon on less than a tank of gas, and that an electric car would have required hours to recharge.

As a Tesla owner, I have made numerous trips without ever having experienced anxiety over range or state of charge. In fact, I could make a similar trip to New Hampshire from New Jersey, stop once for approximately 25 minutes (not hours) to recharge at a cost far less than the cost to fill a fossil-fueled car. My charging stop would provide just enough time to get a bite to eat, cup of coffee, or stay in the car and watch a Netflix movie. On that trip, I would have the pleasure of driving my zero-emission electric car, the best and most enjoyable car I have ever owned, while passing all the gas stations along the way. I just have to avoid getting behind one of those old exhaust-belching station wagons.

Daniel Irwin, Edison

Solar talk drives me crazy

Just think, if Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., teen climate activist Greta Thunberg, Democratic presidential candidate/climate activist Tom Steyer and the rest of the climate change hoaxers had their way, the Daytona 500 race would go solar. Wow! Halfway through the race the cars would go to the pits to recharge, and 45 minutes later the race would resume. What fun.

Walter Goldeski, East Brunswick

Honor suffragette Paul another way

Gen. Philip Kearnys statue has lodged in the U.S. Capitol for 132 years. The state Senate last week passed a bill to remove his statue and replace it with a fellow New Jerseyan, suffragette leader Alice Paul (Debate over statue pits general vs. suffragist).

We are carrying diversity too far. I applaud Paul. However, put a statue of her in Mount Laurel, where she was born. Kearny hated slavery and fought valiantly in the Civil War. He lost an arm in the conflict. We owe it to him and his men to keep his statue in the Capitol for all to see.

The money spent on the removal would be better spent in ways that would benefit taxpayers. The bills sponsors should do what the town of Kearny did for their favorite son and push for private funding and awareness to honor Paul.

Helen Mara, Oceanport

EPA cuts will hurt New Jersey

President Donald Trumps war on the environment continues with his latest proposed budget cuts. Once again, our water, air, climate and cleaning up toxic sites are under assault in Trumps budget. Not only has he rolled back 87 environmental regulations, now he is cutting the Environmental Protection Agencys budget by 26%.

Our environment and public health are even more at risk with this years EPA staff and budget cuts. The proposed budget will cut funding for Superfund sites by 10%. This is alarming in a state like New Jersey because we have 118 Superfund sites, more than any other state. There are already five sites in New Jersey that arent getting funding, and these budget cuts will mean even more sites will continue to not be cleaned up properly.

The Trump administration is trying to gut the EPA by eliminating the scientists and researchers and removing funding. Now more than ever we must work with the Murphy administration to stand up for clean air, clean water and action on climate change.

Jeff Tittel, director of New Jersey Sierra Club

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UW Board Plans Special Meeting Tuesday via Teleconference

The University of Wyoming Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting via teleconference at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25.

The meeting will be an executive session to discuss litigation and personnel. The issues are not related to the boards current presidential search.

The meeting will be conducted from the Old Main board room.
[February 25, 2020] Skift Announces Inaugural Skift Aviation Forum

NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Skift, the largest industry intelligence platform providing news, analysis, research, and marketing to key sectors of travel, today announced the inaugural Skift Aviation Forum, in association with Skift Airline Weekly. The highly anticipated event will take place November 1819, 2020, with Dallas Fort Worth International Airport as the premier host. Skift Aviation Forum will marry the unmatched news and analysis that Skift Airline Weekly offers with Skift's leadership in the larger travel industry. The next decade will see incredible shifts in the airline sector, how it operates, and how it evolves to meet the needs of consumers. As air travel rapidly expands and impacts our world, it will be crucial to continue to convene industry leaders to discuss what's next and how to adapt to these changes. Skift Aviation Forum will focus on the key global trends as well as the leaders creating and defining the future of air travel. The event will bring together airline CEOs, airport executives, and leadership from across the ecosystem  online travel agencies, travel tech, travel agents, original equipment manufacturers, lessors, and hospitality  to take a deep dive into the issues facing aviation. The content and speakers will inspire attendees about the business and global impact of the industry, inform them on the hottest topics of today, and drive discourse around what to expect in the years to come. More specifically, the forum will explore emerging business models, the world's leading growth markets, the challenge of addressing environmental responsibilities, game-changing new aircraft technology, and the latest ideas in distribution, alliances, ancillary revenues, in-flight service, cost control, and airline-airport partnerships. "I'm thrilled to launch Skift's first annual forum focused on the airline sector  an initiative at the intersection of our established leadership in aviation coverage and in innovative industry events," said Rafat Ali, founder and CEO of Skift. "We especially look forward to joining our friends at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, a world leader in airline operations and the ideal fit for this first-of-its-kind gathering of key industry professionals." "DFW Airport is proud to serve as host of the inaugural Skift Aviation Forum, and we look forward to welcoming industry leaders from across the world to North Texas," said Sean Donohue, CEO at DFW Airport. "We are an organization committed to exploring innovation and leading the evolving airport industry. Bringing together the thought leaders in aviation to discuss future opportunities and challenges is exciting." Skift has heavily covered the business of airlines since the company's inception, as seen through breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive interviews. In September 2018, Skift announced the deepening of its franchise in the airlines sector with the acquisition of the 5-year-old newsletter Airline Weekly . Skift Airline Weekly is a highly influential, subscription-only publication, consumed by CEOs and senior executives across the airline sector globally.



For more information, to register, or to become a sponsor, visit https://forum.skift.com/skift-aviation-forum/ or email [email protected] . About Skift

Since its inception in 2012, Skift has become the most influential brand in global travel. It has pioneered a new type of hybrid digital and in-person B2B media company  building a deep global impact with a small footprint enabled in large part by tech and data analysis. Skift identifies and synthesizes existing and emerging trends in its daily news coverage as well as through its robust collection of exclusive insights via its Skift Research subscription product. Skift produces Skift Global Forum , which brings together over 1,000 of the most influential professionals in the industry to discuss the future of travel. Skift also produces forums in Europe and Asia, as well as a wide variety of industry leading events focused on tour operators, luxury and wellness, aviation, short-term rentals, loyalty, and more. The SkiftX creative studio designs branded content and experiences that help to inform and shape the opinion of leaders across the travel ecosystem. In recent years, Skift acquired Airline Weekly and EventMB , adding their expertise in aviation and corporate events to its established leadership across all sectors of travel.

For press inquiries, please contact Rebecca Hochreiter, vice president of Marketing, at [email protected] . About Dallas Fort Worth International Airport:

Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport warmly welcomed more than 75 million customers in 2019, making DFW one of the most frequently visited superhub airports in the world. Customers can choose among 193 domestic and 67 international nonstop destinations. DFW elevates the customer experience with modernized facilities and updated amenities. Centered between owner cities Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, DFW Airport also serves as a major economic generator for the North Texas region, producing more than $37 billion in economic impact each year by connecting people through business and leisure travel. For more information, visit the DFW website or download the DFW Mobile App for iOS and Android devices. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/skift-announces-inaugural-skift-aviation-forum-301010698.html SOURCE Skift

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YELLOW BIRD

Oil, Murder, and a Womans Search for Justice in Indian Country

By Sierra Crane Murdoch

The Fort Berthold Reservation covers nearly a million acres of rolling hills and prairie in North Dakota and is home to the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara. The Missouri River, swollen by the presence of the Garrison Dam, transects the reservation from the northwest corner to the southeast. The tribes for whom Fort Berthold is home had for centuries been drawn to the Missouri River and its tributaries, where one could find the concentration of ecological wealth necessary to survive on the plains: wood, water, horses and game. In their early history the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara were numerous and widely dispersed, at times allied and at other times at odds. But as a result of pressure from both European settlers and more nomadic tribes on the plains, the three tribes were reduced and, eventually, clumped together  an affiliation of necessity, not always of choice.

The resources that initially drew the tribes to the river were stolen, and then stolen again, by the construction of the dam itself, which flooded a sixth of the reservation and destroyed many of the villages situated, for good reason, near the river. But there is wealth on the ground, and in some places there is wealth to be found in it. Since the 1950s, its been known that the Bakken Formation  a unique arrangement of rock spread over 200,000 miles underneath Montana, North Dakota, Saskatchewan and Manitoba  contained billions of barrels of oil. Until recently, extracting it was prohibitively expensive. But with the advent of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and horizontal drilling, the oil began to emerge. Oil companies started leasing tribal land at Fort Berthold, individual tribe members formed companies to truck and dispose of fracking waste, and the tribe itself got into the business.

In the old days, life on the plains had been a cycle of boom and bust; there is a rhythm to nature. It turns out theres also a rhythm to wealth. As money began flowing at Fort Berthold, old traumas resurfaced and new ones were inflicted. On Feb. 22, 2012, Kristopher Clarke, a young trucker who drove for Blackstone  a white-owned firm that operated out of the tribal chairman Tex Halls garage before moving off the reservation  disappeared after dropping off his company credit card at the Blackstone office. He is feared dead.
Brown, 40, is suspected in six slayings overall in Detroit, Highland Park and River Rouge, Craig said. The first was Jan. 8 in River Rouge, with the most recent occurring Saturday in Detroit "over a drug argument," he said. Brown also was accused of two carjackings in the city within 19 minutes of each other, Craig said.
Gamal and Alaa, the two sons of former president Hosni Mubarak were this week acquitted of corruption charges, reports Gamal Essam El-Din

After eight years of deliberations, a Cairo Criminal Court on 22 February ordered that Alaa and Gamal, the two sons of former president Hosni Mubarak, and others be acquitted in the case known as manipulation of the stock market.

The court said it would postpone its ruling on preventing nine defendants, including Gamal and Alaa, from disposing of their money and removing them from the travel ban list on 11 March.

Alaa and Gamal Mubarak were among eight defendants who were acquitted of the charge of profiteering from illicit share trading during the sale of Al-Watany Bank of Egypt to the National Bank of Kuwait in 2007. The ruling was issued by judge Khalil Omar Abdel-Aziz.

The other six defendants who were acquitted included former EFG Hermes co-CEOs Hassan Heikal and Yasser Al-Mallawani.

Although the prosecution has the right to appeal the ruling, sources said it is not expected to do so and that the court might even lift a travel ban on the defendants and on disposing of their money on 11 March.

Osama Ebeid, the lawyer of one of the defendants, said the acquittal comes after a report prepared by a panel of banking and stock market experts, upon the courts order to investigate the case, agreed that the sale of the bank was in line with the stock market law, and that neither financial wrongdoing nor profiteering practices were committed.

A report by the daily Al-Masry Al-Youm on Monday said that Hosni Mubarak smiled broadly when he heard that his two sons were acquitted of the profiteering charges.

Heikal, who returned to Egypt to stand trial in the case, said that he wished that his father, former journalist Mohamed Hassanein Heikal, was still alive to see that he was acquitted of the charges. Heikal died in February 2016.

The Mubaraks family lawyer Farid Al-Deeb said that the ruling came after the court had found no direct link between Gamal and Alaa and other defendants and the sale of Al-Watany Bank. El-Deeb indicated that the prosecution still has the right to appeal within 60 days.

Former prosecutor-general Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud referred the defendants to the Cairo Criminal Court in 2012, accusing them of illegally acquiring LE51 million from the sale of Al-Watany Bank in 2007.

The prosecution also charged Gamal Mubarak with participating in the crime of profiteering and illegally acquiring for himself and his companies more than LE493 million by agreeing to sell Al-Watany Bank to achieve financial gains for himself and others, and enabling him to acquire shares from the bank via a company in Cyprus.

In September 2018, a Cairo criminal court ordered the release on bail of the Mubarak brothers just five days after their arrest over charges in the same case.

The case began in 2012 but Mubaraks sons had been released on bail and banned from travelling. Since the 2011 ouster of Hosni Mubarak, a number of legal lawsuits have been filed against the former president and his relatives.

Bahaaeddin Abu Shoka, a lawyer who worked on the case, alleged in a TV interview that Al-Watany Bank case was forged. A document submitted to court back when the insider trading case first filed in 2012 was found to be forged as some people were deliberately pushing the case due to post-2011 anti-Mubarak public sentiment, Abu Shoka said.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 27 February, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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The Willis City Council has authorized taking a small section of land through eminent domain from a Valero corner store to complete a stretch of utility work on Texas 75 and Calvary Road.

The decision aims to avoid delays on the project,which the city officials claim is being held up by the 570-square foot utility easement, for which the city offered an appraised value of $1,400 to purchase.

To move forward with the project, City Attorney Larry Foerster and Bleyl and Associates officials said multiple attempts have been made over the past year to reach representatives with the company who they said has ignored every inquiry and attempt, including multiple letters to Diamond Limited Liability Co.

Now they plan to seize the property and compensate the lawyer through condemnation lawsuit.

I guess we need to proceed with it, said Councilman Thomas Belinoski, who read the motion to authorize the use of the power of eminent domain to acquire the easement for the purpose of construction and maintaining water and sewer lines.

The attempts stretched back to the former Public Works Director, Pat Riley, who Foerster said reached out for over a year before he left Willis in September 2019. Riley served the city for five years before he accepted the same position in the Houston area.

Foerster said that he understood that a store manager at Valero originally urged the city to provide water and sewer services and that Riley had the impression that Valero would pay its portion of the expense for $130,000.

In 2018, when Denmax Entergy Services began to eye Willis to build a new location at the former race track off Interstate 45 and Texas 75 near the convenience store, the now retired City Manager Hector Forestier said in a previous article that it was cost an estimated $1.5-2 million to provide water and sewer services along 75.

The city was in the process of negotiating with developers in the area to share the cost and move forward with the project, the previous article stated. The services were to be provided to multiple businesses in the area, including Denmax, who confirmed on Saturday that it did happily contribute to the utilities project.

City meeting minutes show city staff continued communication and negotiation efforts in 2019, including with CC FM 1488, L.P, Denmax, Valero, Kana Holdings, LLC, regarding the project. As time went by, Foerster said Riley received no response and the city reached a point late last year while the process went on that the officials gave up hope that the property owners would work with the city.

We can speculate as to why they are not responding, some might think it is because they are afraid that there will be another convenience store directly across the street from them at Calvary Road and (Texas 75), Foerster said. But that would be merely speculation on our part.

During a phone call with The Courier, the long-time store manager at Valero declined to comment due to the store being a corporate location, but denied having a conversation with city officials to request the utility services as an employee who is out of the decision-making process. The company did not respond to The Couriers request for comment by press time.

The store manager clarified that the Valero store transpired ownership to Circle K, which media reports stated is operated by a Canadian company called Couche-Tard. In 2016, media reports stated that Couche-Tard announced that it was buying the San Antonio-based Valero company for a reported $4.4 billion.

During Tuesdays meeting, Foerster said the city is pending a certified appraisal by Mathew Whitney, who the city used before. Within the month, he said the company could potentially agree to the final certified appraisal value.

Thats what we are hoping for, so we dont have to file for petition, Foerster said. Once we send the second letter and with your blessing and they dont respond to that then we can proceed with filing petition for condemnation.

In the meantime, Foerster said he can file a motion with the court to ask for special commissioners to be appointed. The commissioners are selected by a judge to consider the condemnation. He said there will be two things to consider, including if there is a public need and if the proposed value by the city, as determined by the certified appraiser, is a good value. He added that the value would not go below the citys offer, but could go higher if the property owner has evidence that the property is worth more.

After the special commissioners meet, Foerster will prepare a report for the judge for the figure and tender a check into the registry of the court, the city can proceed with completing the installation, including the easement for the project that has been under construction for about two years.

The council weighed two options during the meeting, to either pass the motion for the condemnation or to wait and see how it plays out up to the 14th day of the second letter expected to be sent at the end of February.

Its delaying everything over, Belinoske said.

Thats the problem, Foerster said. Youve got your contractors out there right now.

During a separate report, Wind said the city officials and engineer firm have open communication with the contractor who is working on the utility extension project on Texas 75.

We are pretty confident that contractor will be able to work with us with the condemnation as far as hopefully not having any delays, Wind said. We have open communication with them on that. Hopefully it gets scheduled and works out well, we will keep you updated on that.

mellsworth@hcnonline.com
Economic value currently is not one of the criteria, the Society considers, she said.

For preservations, we really look at it if its historic, Anderson said. We dont look at all about the finances. But again, its one of those issues, they have already been tearing it apart and havent put any money into it since the time theyve owned it. Its difficult for some of us who believe in taking care of buildings to always agree if you just let the building decline, and then make the argument its not worth putting money into it I wouldnt do that with my house.

Lyphout left the meeting, and was not available for additional comments.

Thoms seemed pleased with the vote afterward, as well as Modern Woodmens overall commitment.

If it happens on the outside deal, it could be an over $20 million investment there in the next couple of years, he said. That project calls for a high-end building, he added.

The council also agreed to an ordinance that allows for urban beekeeping in the city, but also sets standards in granting a $25 license. It also updated its 2016 ordinance allowing the raising of chickens in the city to allow for a resident to appeal if turned down and make the ordinance easier to understand, Miles Brainard, planning and redevelopment administrator, said.

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Linkedin Blake Schmidt and Natalie Lung (Bloomberg) Hong Kong  Tue, February 25, 2020 14:05 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206679afc 2 World China,publisher,Book,Chinese-citizens Free

Swedish publisher Gui Minhai was sentenced to 10 years in jail in China and will be stripped of his political rights for five years for illegally providing intelligence overseas, in a case that has triggered a diplomatic row between the two countries.

China said it detained Gui on suspicion of illegally providing state secrets and intelligence to overseas parties and endangering state security, according to a Feb. 10 report by the state-run Xinhua news agency that cited police.

Authorities in mainland Zhejiang province filed a case against Gui at a court in Ningbo this January. He pleaded guilty and will not appeal, according to a Monday statement on the courts website.

It added that Gui, who was born in the mainland and became a Swedish citizen in 1996, had applied to restore his Chinese nationality in 2018. That could make it tougher for him to get help from European diplomats, as China doesnt recognize dual citizenship.

Patrick Poon, China researcher for Amnesty International, said it was odd that Gui would want to resume his Chinese nationality at this time.

It seems to be the Chinese governments tactics to stop him from getting any more support from the Swedish government, Poon said Tuesday by WhatsApp message.

Diplomatic flare

The court said it guaranteed Guis rights according to the law, but human rights groups have long denounced his detention.

Gui went missing in Thailand in 2015, one of five Hong Kong booksellers who disappeared around the same time in a crackdown for helping sell books in China that were banned by the ruling Communist Party. He and four other booksellers later surfaced in mainland China.

Tensions over the case flared last year when Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven rejected Chinas threats that Sweden would suffer the consequences of awarding Gui a freedom of speech prize.

The booksellers sentencing comes the month after Chinas ambassador to Stockholm, Gui Congyou, caused a diplomatic uproar during an interview with Swedens public broadcaster SVT in which he said the Nordic countrys media had smeared China.

He also compared the relationship between Swedens media and China to one in which a 48 kilogram-weight boxer keeps challenging an 86 kilogram-weight boxer to a fight. His comments led three parties in Swedens parliament to call for his ouster.

Gui was initially released from Chinese custody in October 2017, but remained in the mainland under what global rights watchdog Amnesty International said was police surveillance and restrictions on his movement.

Months later, in January 2018, he was taken by plainclothes officers while traveling to Beijing by train in the company of two Swedish diplomats, according to Amnesty. Gui had been traveling to the Chinese capital to seek a diagnosis for what was feared to be Lou Gehrigs disease, or ALS, an illness of the nervous system.

At the time of his disappearance, Chinese state media said he had been jailed for a drunk-driving incident more than a decade earlier, in which a person was killed.
The mayor has talked about the fact that when she came into office, she made it a point to sit down with a variety of voices from Woodlawn, South Shore area, and her takeaway was the city really needed to step into a proactive role, Novara said. A lot of time has passed  there is some eagerness and impatience to ensure that theres a framework in place so that people dont get run over. And we have a history of that in this city, in certain neighborhoods, so its a valid concern.
Trade talks 1) EU meets to agree red lines

Ministers from the EU will meet later to approve their mandate for post-Brexit trade talks with the UK. The document approved by the EU General Affairs Council on Tuesday morning will be the basis for future negotiations, to be carried out by Michel Barnier. It will say that a trade deal should be based on EU rules in some areas as a reference point. Meanwhile, UK ministers will also meet at No 10 to discuss the governments opening stance for negotiations. The final agreement is due to be published online and presented in Parliament on Thursday.  BBC

Lawyers and architects could be losers  Financial Times

France will not be blackmailed into a bad deal  Daily Telegraph

Trade talks 2) UKs primary objective is independence

Britains main goal in trade talks with the EU will be to restore economic and political independence from 1 January, No 10 has said, as the government prepares to publish its negotiating aims on Thursday. Boris Johnsons official spokesman said the primary objective was ending the transition period by the end of the year, regardless of whether a deal had been struck. His comments suggest the UK will be prepared to walk away from talks rather than submit to the EUs requests for some oversight by the European court of justice (ECJ) and future alignment on regulation.  The Guardian

Britain has every right to play tough  Liam Halligan, Daily Telegraph

Emergency terror law approved by the Lords

Emergency legislation to block the automatic release of people convicted of terror offences is set to become law after being approved by the Lords. The Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill  which was passed by MPs earlier this month  was drawn up following an attack in south London. The attacker, Sudesh Amman, had recently been freed from prison. The government had wanted to pass the bill before 28 February when the next terror offender is due for release.  BBC

Whitehall 1) Sedwill pleads for an end to the briefing war

Mark Sedwill, head of the UK civil service, on Monday pleaded for an end to a Whitehall briefing war that has destabilised Boris Johnsons government and he claims besmirches this countrys hard-won reputation for good governance. Sir Marks letter to colleagues was an attempt to draw a line under tensions that came to a head after the Sunday Times reported the Security Service was withholding information from home secretary Priti Patel because it did not trust her. The letter was also a coded warning to Mr Johnsons political allies to stop attacks on senior civil servants after the Sunday Telegraph reported that Number 10 had drawn up a hit list of senior mandarins it wanted to fire either because of doubts about their competence or their commitment to reform.  Financial Times

Civil service recruits HR chief after concern over Cummings  The Times

>Today: ToryDiary: Johnsons sex problem

Whitehall 2) Another senior Home Office civil servant forced out

A second senior civil servant has been forced out of the home office after falling foul of Priti Patel. The official, who was in charge of the departments oversight of the police, is understood to have left in recent weeks. He is to take up a role in the Department for Transport while another official outside the Home Office has been drafted in to replace him. The officials departure follows that of a senior member of the home secretarys private office after clashes with Ms Patel. She also demanded the removal of the departments permanent secretary, Sir Philip Rutnam.  The Times

Whitehall 3) Defence Secretary investigates 300,000 payoff for official

The defence secretary has begun an investigation into a 300,000 tax-free payoff handed to an official in his department. The move by Ben Wallace comes as ministers face growing pressure to act on promises to ban six-figure payouts in the public sector, with politicians saying the extraordinary sums are a matter of public concern. The chairmen of two parliamentary select committees criticised the government for allowing hundreds of staff each year to leave with packages worth more than 95,000 despite pledging to cap them at this amount in 2015.  The Times

Golden parachutes  Leader, The Times

Whitehall 4) Hague: Downing Street cant run everything

There are several reasons why the centralisation of decision-making does not work well in government. One is that the centre, in the form of No 10 and the Cabinet Office, cannot possibly keep on top of what is happening across a couple of dozen departments trying to govern a complex, modern society. Revealingly, British military doctrine states that a commander in battle cannot cope with more than five subordinate units at one time, and only then with a high degree of mutual trust. Our generals have worked out something easily forgotten: too much centralisation can lead to many areas being neglected.  William Hague, Daily Telegraph

Yes, Sir Humphrey must be tamed. But I fear No 10s hostile approach may backfire  Ian Birrell, Daily Mail

How Camerons Cabinet went to war against itself  Kate Fall, Daily Mail

Sunak suggests IR35 changes will proceed

Rishi Sunak, the UKs chancellor of the exchequer, has promised that tax officials will not be heavy handed for the first year after changes to rules affecting tens of thousands of companies and 230,000 freelance contractors. Changes to the off-payroll working rules, known as IR35, are due to come into effect in April in spite of a furious lobbying campaign by freelancers and businesses to halt the reforms. The new law will require all companies  apart from those with fewer than 50 employees or less than 10.2m annual turnover  to assess the employment status of any person they hire, who works through a limited company. Companies and their recruitment agencies will be liable for unpaid tax if HM Revenue & Customs finds that a worker has been wrongly classified. But speaking at an event in Birmingham on Saturday night, Mr Sunak sought to reassure the business community by promising that the policy would have a soft landing. Ive spent time with HMRC to ensure they are not going to be at all heavy handed for the first year to give people time to adjust as well, which I think is an appropriate and fair thing to do, he said.  Financial Times

Yorkshire Tea faces online backlash  Daily Telegraph

The Chancellor will commit political suicide if he hikes fuel tax next month  Leader, The Sun

>Today: John Redwood on Comment: In this post-Brexit budget, Sunak should spend more, cut taxes and raise borrowing

Moore: If landlords cant evict tenants then the supply of homes will fall

The Government is toying with the idea of getting rid of Section 21 of the 1988 Housing Property Act. This section allows a landlord to ask a sitting tenant to quit at the end of an agreed period. If it is abolished, so that no notice to quit can ever be issued to a tenant, the incentive to let disappears. The value of the property thus encumbered drops, sometimes halves. Besides, sitting tenancies require rent controls to work, so the landlord will be stuck, not only with the tenant, but with every prospect of lower returns as time passesAn unmovable tenant creates, over time, an unworkable business. Some ministers may see this as levelling up. Actually, it is more like closing down.  Charles Moore, Daily Telegraph

>Today: Philip Booth on Comment: The planning system can be liberalised in a conservative way

UK well prepared for coronavirus

The UK is well prepared to deal with coronavirus cases and the risk to individuals remains low, the government has said. Downing Street said 99% of those tested in the UK had come back negative. The total number of cases in the UK has risen to 13 after four cruise ship passengers flown back to Britain on Saturday tested positive for the virus. It comes amid growing fears the outbreak could reach pandemic scale as more cases emerge around the world. A total of 6,536 coronavirus tests have been conducted in the UK as of 14:00 GMT on Monday, with 6,527 returning as negative, the Department of Health said.  BBC

Starmer faces early clash with Formby

Sir Keir Starmer, the frontrunner in the Labour leadership contest, faces an early battle with the partys general secretary for control even if he wins, according to party officials. The shadow Brexit secretary has built a commanding lead in support among Labour MPs and local parties as 500,000 members and registered supporters start to receive their ballot papers this week. His unity pitch will face an immediate test if he wins on April 4, however, as he has to construct a frontbench team that unites Labours warring factions while including defeated rivals. As big a challenge, say Labour officials, will be reining in Jennie Formby, the partys general secretary. Ms Formby, 59, formerly Unites political director and who was appointed by Jeremy Corbyn, is suspected of trying to use the leadership contest to entrench her power over the party machinery.  The Times

Long-Bailey pledges climate justice fund paid by oil companies  The Guardian

Starmer hints he would bring back EU free movement  The Sun

Public backlash against Starmer  Daily Express

Rayner: Corbyn did not command respect  The Guardian

Robertson denies plotting against Sturgeon

Former SNP deputy leader Angus Robertson has said he is standing in the forthcoming Holyrood seat battle with fellow Nationalist Joanna Cherry to support Nicola Sturgeons leadership. Mr Robertson even appeared to pour cold water on the prospect of Ms Cherry  or himself  replacing Ms Sturgeon as leader of the party, revealing that he will back one of the younger generation of talent at the Scottish Parliament for the role.  The Scotsman

Lewis declines to say there will be an amnesty to end veteran prosecutions

The new Secretary of State has said prosecutions of veterans who served in Northern Ireland are a matter for the Public Prosecution Service  which he declined to say could be trusted. On a visit to Londonderry, Brandon Lewis  who has replaced Julian Smith as Northern Ireland Secretary  also described as tragic the suicide last Thursday of former soldier Eddie Spud Murphy. He took his own life after he was questioned by the PSNI about his actions while on duty in Northern Ireland. Mr Murphys friends claimed the threat of prosecution had left him feeling anxious and stressed. Mr Lewis said he, like the Prime Minister, was determined to make sure there were no vexatious claims against former soldiers but declined to say whether or not this meant an amnesty.  Belfast Telegraph

Life expectancy has stalled

Life expectancy has stalled for the first time in more than 100 years and even reversed for the most deprived women in society, according to a landmark review which shows the gap in health inequalities is yawning even wider than it did a decade ago, in large part due to the impact of cuts linked to the governments austerity policies. Sir Michael Marmots review, 10 years after he warned that growing inequalities in society would lead to worse health, reveals a shocking picture across England, which he says is no different to the rest of the UK and could have been prevented.  The Guardian

Poor areas lose a decade due to deprivation  The Times

CDU rush to elect new leader

Angela Merkels party has brought forward the succession battle after one of its worst election results, with one leadership contender voicing fears that she might turn out to be the last Christian Democrat chancellor. The four putative rivals, who range from the veteran conservative Friedrich Merz to the relatively liberal Armin Laschet, now have two months to compete for the affections of Christian Democratic Union (CDU) members at a critical juncture in the partys history. The centre-right CDU is close to a record low in the polls and on Sunday night won scarcely 11 per cent of the vote in Hamburg, a city it once ruled over with an absolute majority.  The Times

Call to scrap gender neutral lavatories

Gender neutral lavatories introduced by woke local authorities and public bodies make women feel uncomfortable and should be replaced with single sex facilities, a Tory peer has said. Lord Lucas told a House of Lords debate that half of all lavatories and changing rooms in public buildings should be only for women, reversing a trend to let men and women share all public lavatories. Increasing numbers of publicly accessible lavatories are being converted into facilities that can be used by all. Last autumn the Old Vic theatre in London converted all of its male and female lavatories to be gender neutral.  Daily Telegraph

News in brief
A couple who tried to conceive for five years have spoken of their joy after their baby daughter was given the all-clear from cancer (SWNS)

A couple who spent five years trying to conceive have spoken of their joy that their baby daughter has been given the all-clear from the rare cancer she was diagnosed with aged just a few months old.

When little Maddison Holt was diagnosed with a myofibroblastic tumour just months after she was born it was a devastating blow for parents Rob, 31, and Natasha Holt, 30, who had spent five years trying to fall pregnant, eventually turning to in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Maddison is our first child and was a long time in the making, Rob, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, explains.

The IVF was a gruelling process and we must've gone through 10 pregnancy tests a day but we were beyond happy when we got pregnant.

Maddison was an unbelievable miracle.

Read more: Baby diagnosed with spina bifida undergoes surgery in his mum's womb

Maddison has now been given the all clear from cancer and is back home with her family (SWNS)

The couple were thrilled when their daughter was able to be with them at their wedding, just a month after she was born in August 2019.

It was amazing to have Maddison there - though no one cared about us, she stole the show in her little gorgeous white dress,

But the couples joy was short-lived when her grandmother spotted a lump in her stomach just a month after their wedding.

"We didnt expect it to be anything serious but we thought wed bring her to the hospital to check, Rob says.

Read more: Mum agrees to carry future grandchild following daughter's loss of reproductive organs

Maddison was rushed to Leeds General Infirmary where the family spent eight difficult weeks waiting for a diagnosis.

In November, following a bowel check-up, her parents were told that Maddison had a rare childhood cancer and would need to start a treatment of chemotherapy.

When they said cancer, I refused to believe it. It couldnt be true. Not after everything wed been through, Rob, a locksmith, says.

Wed been going through a five-year nightmare and just when we thought wed escaped it, our world was rocked again.

I kept thinking to myself: 'is my little girl going to die?'

Story continues

I felt broken, raw and lost. Whenever I left the hospital I would cry for hours on end.

Maddison began a treatment of chemotherapy to try and shrink the tumour in late November, but just weeks later she was rushed back into the hospital with a bad case of bronchitis.

She was placed into isolation, put on oxygen and ended up having three blood transfusions.

The family was told that Maddison could not go home until she was able to breathe for 24 hours on her own  and on Christmas Eve she finally managed it.

Maddison spent her first Christmas and new year at home with her family before going back to the consultants on 3 January.

Read more: Best friend becomes woman's surrogate after she spent 50k on IVF

Maddison had to have chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumour (SWNS)

But doctors werent able to give news they hoped for and the family were told that the chemotherapy had not shrunk the tumour and Maddison would need to have surgery.

I was so scared, Rob says. Shed just started to smile and had her first giggle. Selfishly, I couldnt bear the thought of not seeing that gorgeous giggle again.

Everyone handled the news much better than me, I just stared at her and cried and cried.

She was so brave and so was Natasha. I couldnt be prouder of my two girls  I was completely useless but they were both amazing.

I couldnt be prouder of my girls, says father Rob

Maddison underwent the six-hour surgery just days later on 8 January, but thankfully the worried parents were told the news that doctors had removed 100% of the tumour.

Rob is now sharing his familys story to raise awareness about childhood cancers and to encourage people to open up and talk about what they're going through.

One day I just opened the notes app on my phone and began writing and writing, he explains.

When I actually read back through what Id written it was really emotional. It was like Id finally grasped the enormity of what had happened instead of keeping it all bottled up inside.

I didnt want people to feel sorry for me, I just thought that if I could help one person recognise the signs of cancer or open up emotionally, then it was worth it.

Mental health is so important, he adds.

Little Maddison was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at just a few months old (SWNS)

Maddison is now six months old and finally home with her family and cancer free.

Looking back on their ordeal, Natasha, who also works as locksmith, added: Looking at her now you wouldnt even know what she had been through.

Shes really becoming her own person.

"Shes always giggling, is just so chilled and always chattering away. Shes amazing.

Rob and Natasha are now hoping to give back by supporting Leeds based children's cancer charity Candlelighters.
The United States on Monday granted political asylum to Guatemala's former anti-corruption prosecutor Thelma Aldana, who fled to the US last year after a warrant was issued for her arrest over graft.

Aldana was accused in March 2019 of the irregular purchase of a building for the public prosecutor and the creation of fake jobs during her 2014-18 tenure.

She denied the accusations and claims they were aimed at punishing her for fighting graft in the Central American country.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee announced Aldana's asylum on Twitter.

"Thelma is a champion for justice and this is a major victory in the international fight against corruption," committee chairman Eliot Engel said.

Aldana, 64, won the Swedish Rights Livelihood Prize in 2018 for her work against corruption and abuse of power.

Guatemala said last week it intended to ask the US to extradite her.

Aldana left Guatemala for El Salvador after the accusations, which also forced her to abandon a run for the presidency.

She subsequently traveled to the US.

In 2017, Aldana allegedly approved the purchase of a building for around 10 percent more than its true value, according to investigators.

Aldana says the accusations against her are retribution for her collaboration with the UN's International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG).

The UN body's 12-year mission came to an end in September when then-president Jimmy Morales closed it down after being angered by its calls for his immunity to be lifted so he could be investigated over alleged illegal campaign funding.

Following the extradition request, Aldana accused Attorney General Consuelo Porras of being "sent by the mafia for revenge.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Broadway Grand Rapids has finalized its slate of shows for the 2020-21 season, which includes the 2017 Tony Award winner for best musical.

The six-show series features Dear Evan Hansen, Wicked, Hairspray, Come From Away, Mean Girls and Aint Too Proud. Broadway Grand Rapids announced its lineup Monday.

Shows begin in October 2020 and run through June 2021, capped off by Dear Evan Hansen -- the winner of six 2017 Tony Awards including best musical, and the 2018 Grammy Award for best musical theater album.

The longest tour will be Wicked, which returns to DeVos Performance Hall for the first time since the 2017-18 season. The show will run March 31 through April 18, 2021.

Current season ticket holders have until March 20 to renew their five- or six-show packages. Season tickets for new subscribers will go on sale in April, and individual show tickets will be available at a later time, according to Broadway Grand Rapids.

Below are descriptions of the 2020-21 shows, as summarized by Broadway Grand Rapids:

Come From Away

Come From Away takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that put their lives on hold and opened their homes to this world of strangers. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships.

Grand Rapids show dates are Oct. 13-18, 2020.

Hairspray

Hairspray, Broadways Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon that inspired the blockbuster film and live television event, is back on tour. Join 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad in 1960s Baltimore as she sets out to dance her way onto TVs most popular show. Can a girl with big dreams (and even bigger hair) change the world?

This all-new touring production will reunite Broadways award-winning creative team led by Director Jack OBrien and Choreographer Jerry Mitchell to bring Hairspray to a new generation of theater audiences.

Grand Rapids show dates are Nov. 17-22, 2020.

Mean Girls

Direct from Broadway, Mean Girls is the hilarious hit musical from an award-winning creative team, including book writer Tina Fey, composer Jeff Richmond, lyricist Nell Benjamin and director Casey Nicholaw.

Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home  suburban Illinois. Soon, this naive newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Reginas reign, she learns the hard way that you cant cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.

Grand Rapids show dates are Feb. 9-14, 2021.

Wicked

Wicked, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz  but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman born with emerald-green skin  smart, fiery, misunderstood and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships  until the world decides to call one good, and the other one wicked.

Grand Rapids show dates are March 31 to April 18, 2021.

Aint Too Proud -- The Life and Times of The Temptations

Aint Too Proud is the electrifying new smash-hit Broadway musical that follows The Temptations extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The winner of the 2019 Tony Award for best choreography, its a thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty and betrayal during a decade of civil unrest in America. Set to the beat of the groups treasured hits, including My Girl, Just My Imagination, Get Ready and Papa Was a Rolling Stone, Aint Too Proud tells the unforgettable story of the legendary quintet that Billboard Magazine named the greatest R&B group of all time.

Grand Rapids show dates are May 18-23, 2021.

Dear Evan Hansen

A letter that was never meant to be seen, a lie that was never meant to be told, a life he never dreamed he could have. Evan Hansen is about to get the one thing hes always wanted: a chance to finally fit in. Dear Evan Hansen is the deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life and the way we live it.

Dear Evan Hansen features a book by Tony Award-winner Steven Levenson, a score by Grammy-, Tony- and Academy Award-winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and direction by four-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif.

Grand Rapids show dates are June 22-27, 2021.

All performances for the series will be presented at DeVos Performance Hall in downtown Grand Rapids.

Current season ticket holders have the option of renewing their subscription package for five shows -- excluding Wicked -- starting at $219. They also have access to a six-show package.

Current season ticket holders can renew their subscription at BroadwayGrandRapids.com, by calling 1-866-928-7469 or in person at 122 Lyon Street NW. Broadway Grand Rapids office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays.

Broadway Grand Rapids is in the midst of its 2019-20 season, which featured Hamilton and The Lion King.

New subscription packages will include all six shows for the 2020-21 season. For more information, visit BroadwayGrandRapids.com.

Read more:

Broadway Grand Rapids announced 2019-20 season, including Hamilton

Hamilton cast show up at Grand Rapids restaurant and kid seizes the moment

Disneys The Lion King prepares for its historic run in Grand Rapids
Aldi is one of the UK's fastest growing and favourite supermarkets (as voted for by readers in the Good Housekeeping Food Awards 2019).

With great value fresh produce and the legendary middle aisle, filled with amazing Specialbuys, theres a lot to like at Aldi.

But even if you're a regular customer, you might be surprised to learn about the supermarket's ethical credentials, its Fairtrade partnerships, its approach to discounts and its very clever shop floor secrets.

Want to know more? Here are just 10 things you didn't know about Aldi...

1. A fair price for everyone

Aldi's Super 6 deal enables customers to buy fruit and vegetables at bargain prices, without damaging the profits of it suppliers

Aldi believes that access to affordable fruit and vegetables is a right not a privilege.

And that's where the Super 6 offer comes in! This includes six fruits and vegetables at super low prices every week, ensuring ensuring Aldi customers can stay healthy for less.

But, what you may not know is that Aldi covers the cost of the discounts itself, so suppliers are able to benefit from the increased sales meaning they receive a fair price all year round

2. Meals for all

Aldi's Team GB ambassadors share the supermarket's passion for fresh, affordable food and a healthy active lifestyle

Working with the Neighbourly programme, Aldi has so far donated over 4 million meals to those in need. Aldi supports a wide range of local organisations needing healthy and nutritious food, like childrens clubs, homeless shelters and food banks.

And as official supermarket partner of Team GB, Aldi provides our British athletes with vouchers to spend on fresh and healthy food in store, helping to fuel their journeys to the Olympic Games.

3. Aldi helps support young people with cancer

Aldi is working with the Teenage Cancer Trust helping to ensure no young person has to face cancer alone

Since 2017, Aldi has partnered with Teenage Cancer Trust and pledged to raise 5 million over the next five years, to support their vital work.

The 4 million mark was reached in 2019 and Aldi are on course to hit the 5 million target nearly two years ahead of schedule. This is enough to support the funding of 30 nurses and 15 Youth Support Coordinators for for two years.

The charity partnership is going from strength to strength and is ensuring no young person has to face cancer alone.

If you want to help Aldi reach their target, look out for fundraising materials in store.

4. There's a secret to those super fast checkouts...

We've all been there.

Standing in line at the supermarket checkout can seem endless. But regular customers at Aldi will have noticed that they spend a lot less time at the tills. And there's a very simple, but brilliant, reason for this.

Instead of just one bar code on each item, the majority of products sold in Aldi have multiple bar codes printed around the packaging, making the swiping a much quicker process.

Genius!

5. Extra pennies for parents

Aldi's Mamia nappies are multi award-winning

Did you know that Aldi sells more own-brand nappies than any other supermarket?

This is because the nappies in its Mamia range are not only specially designed to make every stage of a babys growth easier to manage, they're incredible value too, so new parents don't need to sacrifice on quality to get affordable nappies. And let's face it, they're going to get through a lot!

Mamia nappies are dermatologically tested, hypoallergenic and accredited by the Skin Health Alliance. The Ultra Dry Air System technology provides fast absorption, distributes the liquid evenly and helps prevent sagging; ensuring your little ones are dry and comfortable for longer.

But don't just take our word for it. Mamia was voted Best Family Brand in 2019 by Loved by Parents, so you know you're onto a good thing...

6. Cruelty free credentials

Aldi is one of only four UK supermarkets to gain the Leaping Bunny certification for its cruelty free products

You'll be pleased to know that all of Aldi's own brand beauty and household cleaning products are not tested on animals, meaning you can shop in confidence and without checking every label.

In fact, Aldi is one of only four UK supermarkets to gain the Leaping Bunny certification for its cruelty free products, so is leading the way once again.

7. Everything's coming up roses

Aldi is now one of the largest retailers of Fairtrade roses in the UK

In 2014, working with supplier Herburg Roses, Aldi gained Fairtrade certification and has been sourcing Fairtrade roses ever since.

This means Aldi pays an additional 10 per cent on top of the suppliers cost price. This is paid as a Fairtrade Premium to benefit the workers and their families.

The Fairtrade Premium funds social initiatives that benefit the whole community like access to healthcare and subsidising food, so workers are able to buy produce at affordable prices, regardless of seasonal changes.

Plus, Aldi has pledged to invest 200,000 over four years in a programme to empower the women who grow their Fairtrade Roses, enabling them to learn skills like leadership and project management.

Aldi is one of the largest retailers of Fairtrade roses in the UK and the only British retailer to source Fairtrade Flowers from Ethiopia.

So next time you want to show someone you care, buy your roses at Aldi and you'll be spreading the love to Ethiopia too!

8. Kevin the Carrot is a cultural icon

Kevin the Carrot has become a star in his own right!

You'll recognise Kevin the Carrot as the adorable little star of Aldi's Christmas advertising campaigns.

And he's become so popular that the soft toy Kevins available in store and online each year, always sell out across the UK.

But even more more impressive is that in the run up to Christmas 2018, Kevin the Carrot was googled more times than Father Christmas!

9. Halloumi heaven

On average almost 20,000 packs of halloumi are sold each day, across Aldi's 874 UK stores

Everyone loves halloumi.

But British Aldi customers love it more than anyone else, as Aldi UK sells more halloumi than anyone else in the world.

On average almost 20,000 packs of halloumi are sold each day, across Aldi's 874 UK stores.

That's a lot of cheese!

10. Best of British

Aldi's core range of fresh meat, eggs, milk, butter and cream is 100 per cent British

Aldi has always championed the best of British and has a network of suppliers across the UK providing award-winning produce.

In fact, Aldi's core range of fresh meat, eggs, milk, butter and cream is 100 per cent British, so you'll always know exactly where your everyday groceries have come from.

It's also one of the only supermarkets to sell fresh British lamb all year round and sold more MSC-certified sustainable fish last year than any other supermarket.

If you like what you've read you might like Aldi! Head to your local Aldi store or aldi.co.uk to find more things you might like...
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion curated for you at this hour. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Tremendous honour, writes Prez Trump after paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi

US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat after being accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday. Read more

Amit Shah holds review meeting, prohibitory orders clamped in Northeast Delhi for a month

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday chaired a meeting to review the situation in the national capital, a day after seven people - including a head constable - were killed in violence in Jafrabad, Maujpur and other areas of Northeast Delhi. Read more

In plea to Supreme Court, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad blames BJPs Kapil Mishra for Delhi clashes

Seven people, including a Delhi Police head constable, were killed on Monday as people for and against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA clashed in Jafrabad and Maujpur in Northeast Delhi. Read more

US first lady Melania Trump attends Happiness Class in Delhi school

US first lady Melania Trump reached a Delhi government school on Tuesday morning to review the Happiness Class programme implemented by the government of the capital city. Read more

India vs New Zealand: Do not understand selection, new team in almost every match - Kapil Dev questions India after defeat in 1st Test

Former India captain Kapil Dev has questioned the Indian management for continuously chopping and changing the playing XI and for not giving players a long rope to feel settled in a particular role. Read more

Thappad movie review: Taapsee Pannu film is a scorching indictment of everything thats wrong with us

Taapsee Pannu and Anubhav Sinhas film will stay with you and make you question the status quo. One of the most powerful films to come out this year. Read more

Montrachet, Chablis,Mersault: if you want to know how a white wine should taste, stick to these Burgundies!

If you like wine or want to know more, heres my suggestion: start with white Burgundy. It will do things to your palate that you never thought were possible! Read more
On Monday, Shameless alum Emmy Rossum perched on a pink Corvette while on the set Los Angeles set of Peacock's limited four-part miniseries Angelyne about the Hollywood 'billboard queen.'

The biopic on the self-made blonde bombshell - who paved the way for Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian - is based on THR reporter Gary Baum's 2017 expose which uncovered her true identity.

The 33-year-old Golden Globe nominee was unrecognizable while in character as the Polish-born, West Hollywood-raised 69-year-old (born Ronia Goldberg), whose parents survived the Holocaust.

Action! On Monday, Shameless alum Emmy Rossum perched on a pink Corvette while on the set Los Angeles set of Peacock's limited four-part miniseries Angelyne about the Hollywood 'billboard queen'

Paved the way for Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian! The biopic on the self-made blonde bombshell (pictured 1983) is based on THR reporter Gary Baum's 2017 expose which uncovered her true identity

Emmy (born Emmanuelle) donned a massive platinum wig on her head and wore a Barbie-pink crop-top, matching mini-skirt, black belt, pantyhose, and pink cha-cha heels.

Rossum not only had prosthetic make-up on her nose, she transformed her slim 5ft8in figure thanks to a convincing prosthetic breast plate like the type drag performers wear onstage.

The brunette New Yorker also rocked retro red sunglasses like the kind the real-life pin-up donned in Earth Girls Are Easy (1988), The Disaster Artist (2017), and music videos for Moby, Motley Crue, and Neil Young.

Lucy Tcherniak is directing the series, which will stream on Peacock after it launches April 15 on Comcast/Xfinity and July 15 to the general public.

Quite a costume: The 33-year-old Golden Globe nominee was unrecognizable while in character as the Polish-born, West Hollywood-raised 69-year-old (born Ronia Goldberg), whose parents survived the Holocaust

Over the top: Emmy donned a massive platinum wig on her head and wore a Barbie-pink crop-top, matching mini-skirt, black belt, pantyhose, and pink cha-cha heels

Who's that girl? Rossum not only had prosthetic make-up on her nose, she transformed her slim 5ft8in figure thanks to a convincing prosthetic breast plate

Cameo queen: The brunette New Yorker also rocked retro red sunglasses like the kind the real-life pin-up donned in Earth Girls Are Easy (1988), The Disaster Artist (2017), and music videos for Moby, Motley Crue, and Neil Young

The Universal Content Productions series also reportedly stars Martin Freeman, Charlie Rowe, Lukas Gage, and Michael Angarano.

Emmy lamented to her 5.6M social media following on Monday that her special effects prosthetic transformation forced her to wake up at 3:10am, which prompted her to 'spill coffee all over my white shirt.'

Rossum is executive producing Angelyne with her second husband - Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail - whom she began dating in 2013 after he directed her in the alternate universe-hopping rom-com Comet.

Upcoming: Lucy Tcherniak is directing the series, which will stream on Peacock after it launches April 15 on Comcast/Xfinity and July 15 to the general public

Tongue out, clogs on: The Universal Content Productions series also reportedly stars Martin Freeman, Charlie Rowe, Lukas Gage, and Michael Angarano

'#sorryicantmakewordsatthistime': Emmy lamented to her 5.6M social media following on Monday that her special effects prosthetic transformation forced her to wake up at 3:10am, which prompted her to 'spill coffee all over my white shirt'

Collaborative couple: Rossum is executive producing Angelyne with her second husband, Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail (L, pictured September 17)

Last Wednesday, the Pete Buttigieg supporter announced that Angelyne - whom she called 'the embodiment of LA itself' and 'the queen of LA' - would also be executive producing the show.

In response, the 2003 California gubernatorial candidate called Emmy her 'Hollywood fairy' and wrote 'good luck!'

As for Angelyne, the eighties icon has been hard at work recording new music at EastWest Studios in LA.

'The embodiment of LA itself': Last Wednesday, the Pete Buttigieg supporter announced that Angelyne (R) would also be executive producing the show

'#Peacock': In response, the 2003 California gubernatorial candidate called Emmy her 'Hollywood fairy' and wrote 'good luck!'
Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy on Monday asked Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi to reveal identities of those behind the violence in Delhi in which four people including a police constable lost their lives.

The minister termed the violence as "conspiracy" to defame India at the international level as US President Donald is on a visit to India.

"Today anti-CAA protesters have pelted stones against police, vandalized and burned properties at many places. It is a conspiracy to defame India internationally. One police constable died during the riots. I ask Congress party and few other political parties as to who will take the responsibility and why this conspiracy," Reddy told ANI.

"Since the last two-months protesters at Shaheen Bagh have blocked a road and the Central Government did not take any action. If the protests are under the limits, it can be tolerated. But we will not tolerate any violence, we shall take strict action. No person responsible for this violence shall be spared," he said.

The minister continued: "Congress Party and Rahul Gandhi should reveal who is behind this Delhi violence to defame India particularly when United States President Donald Trump is on a visit to the country. We have brought all the necessary forces and Home Minister Amit Shah has given orders to Delhi Police. Each person involved in the violence shall be identified."

Earlier on Monday, four persons including three civilians and one head constable of the Delhi Police lost their lives in the clashes 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.)
You are the owner of this article.
BALTIMORE, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Versant Health, a leading national managed eye health and vision plan company, is proud to welcome Lula Richards as their new Chief Compliance Officer.

As the Chief Compliance Officer, Lula is responsible for ensuring Versant Health's compliance with federal laws, rules, regulations and internal standards, policies and procedures. She will also oversee all internal audit activities and assure that Versant Health has a comprehensive and systematic approach to identify, prioritize, and assess business risks across the organization. Additionally, Lula will develop strategy and lead the Special Investigations Unit within Versant Health in the prevention, detection, and referral for prosecution of fraud, waste, and abuse with respect to providers, members, and other third parties. She will also provide oversight for a comprehensive privacy program that will ensure that the privacy of and access to protected health information (PHI) is in compliance with applicable state and federal laws.

"Lula has deep roots in the health insurance space, particularly as it relates to risk management, in both the public and private sectors," says Kirk Rothrock, Chief Executive Officer at Versant Health. "She is a proven leader and I look forward to working with Lula to ensure that our compliance programs remain best in class and continue to set the standard for the managed eye health and vision industry."

Lula is a U.S. Army veteran with more than six years of service. She joins Versant Health from Bank of America, where she served as Senior Vice President of Business Control Manager. Lula has also served as Vice President of Enterprise Risk Management at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, as well as Managing Director of Program Assurance for Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, FEP Director's Office and Director of Enterprise Risk Management at NASCO.

Lula holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland as well as a Masters of Science in Information and Telecommunications Systems from the Johns Hopkins University.

Hayley Ellington-Buckles, who previously served as Chief Compliance Officer for Versant Health, moved into a new role, supporting business operations as Senior Vice President of Operations reporting to Maynard McAlpin, Chief Operating Officer at Versant Health. "Hayley brings a depth of experience to the team and helps us to further our ability to deliver operational excellence," says McAlpin.

About Versant Health

Versant Health is one of the nation's leading managed vision care companies serving more than 33 million members nationwide. Through our Davis Vision plans and Superior Vision plans, we help members enjoy the wonders of sight through healthy eyes and vision. Providing vision and eye health solutions that range from routine vision benefits to medical management, Versant Health has a unique visibility and scale across the total eye health value chain. As a result, members enjoy a seamless experience with access to one of the broadest provider networks in the industry and an exclusive frame collection. Commercial groups, individuals, third parties, and health plans that serve government-sponsored programs such as Medicaid and Medicare are among our valued customers.

For more information visit versanthealth.com .

SOURCE Versant Health

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Burma Myanmar-China Border Trade Drops US$200 M Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

The Myanmar-China border gate in Muse. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

YANGONBilateral border trade between Myanmar and China declined by US$209 million from Jan. 23 to Feb. 18 compared to the same period last year due to the spread of coronavirus, according to U Khin Maung Lwin, assistant permanent secretary for the Ministry of Commerce.

The value of border trade through the Muse, Chinshwehaw, Lweje and Kanpiketi border trade zones totaled over $270 milliona decline from $479 million in the same period last year.

It was mainly because of the COVID-19 outbreak and Chinese New Year holidays. The holidays started on January 23 and normally end in early February, U Khin Maung Lwin told The Irrawaddy.

Before the coronavirus outbreak, the value of daily trade through the border trade zones was between $10 million and $14 million. Since the outbreak, it has dropped to between $1 and $2 million per day, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Border trade has recovered slightly since trade resumed after February 13, but travel restrictions are still in force and watermelons are therefore not selling, said U Khin Maung Lwin. Around 40 trucks of honeydew melon have been exported to China as some Chinese supermarkets have bought them online. Also, only limited volumes of marine products are being exported as airlines have not yet resumed flights in the area.

As the virus outbreak has caused Myanmars exports of perishable goods to drop, the Ministry of Commerce is working with the Yangon Regional Government to enable growers and producers that normally export their products to instead sell them in Yangon as a short-term solution, according to Commerce Minister Dr. Than Myint.

The virus outbreak has negatively affected the income of manufacturers as well as the tax revenues of the government. Imports of raw materials have declined and manufacturers are concerned about the availability of raw materials as their stocks run out, he said as government officials met at the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry on Feb. 22.

The minister of commerce added that Myanmar is not alone in suffering due to the virus outbreak as the global economy has been affected. He called for collaborative efforts to overcome the challenges.

We cant predict if it will be over in one or two months or will go on longer. Therefore, it is important for the government, employers, employees and economists to work together to address this issue, said Dr. Than Myint.

Garment factories in Myanmar have cut their hours since early February, closing on weekends and eliminating weekday overtime. Some factories are now also closing on Mondays and running only a four-day work week.

The number of factories that close on Monday due to the shortage of raw materials has increased gradually, said U Aung Myo Hein, a member of the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association. Next month, around 50 percent of factories will reduce working hours.

The association members are set to meet with Commerce Ministry Permanent Secretary U Aung Soe this week to discuss the shortage of raw materials for garment factories.

The total value of overland trade with China from Sept. 1 2019 to Feb. 14 was $14.54 billion, according to the Commerce Ministry.

A large portion of overland trade with China goes through the border gate at Muse. In the 2019-20 fiscal year, Myanmar estimated it would export $3.5 billion in goods and import $1.5 billion through the border gate.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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He is back from the dead, once again. Less than a week before the March 2 elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has succeeded in edging past the opposition Blue and White party in the polls and is drawing closer to the coveted goal of a 61-seat Knesset majority for his Likud party. A mission deemed impossible just days ago.

Netanyahu succeeded with his comeback despite the fact that two weeks after the voting, on March 17, he is due to present himself at Jerusalem District Court to face an indictment on three severe charges, among them bribery. Despite the upcoming trial, and against all odds, Netanyahu now manages to control the public agenda, dictate the pace and generate new spins almost daily that boost his support and create a positive momentum. Everyone who eulogized Netanyahu should now take a deep breath. He will not be able to prevent the criminal trial (charges have already been filed in court), but the chances that he will form Israels next government and run the state as a defendant in a corruption trial no longer appear so imaginary.

Netanyahus Likud still lacks four or five seats to cross the 61-seat hurdle in a coalition together with its right-wing and ultra-Orthodox partners. Prospects of success are not high, but contrary to last week, it no longer appears to be a totally impossible feat. No mission is too impossible for Netanyahu.

Netanyahu is fighting for his political and personal life as never before. He is running against a group of gentlemen who are trying to maintain a dignified front and avoid disrespecting the prime minister so as not to anger moderate Likud supporters who might yet jump ship and vote for the opposition Blue and White party. But Netanyahu has no such qualms. He enjoys getting under everyones skin and stirring up daily storms. None of them appear to be causing him electoral damage. Not the indictment, not the renewed conflagration on the Gaza border that is forcing hundreds of thousands of Israelis to cower in shelters, not even the failed attempt to annex parts of the West Bank prior to the elections in order to please his right-wing constituency.

At the same time, there is nothing he will not do. He tries to tar the opposition with claims (strongly denied by Blue and White) that it will hook up with the party he has portrayed as a fifth column, the Arab Joint List, even as he is busy trying to campaign in Arab towns and villages in a bid to cull a few more crucial votes. On Feb. 23, he declared that he would expunge the criminal records of tens of thousands of Israelis convicted of cannabis use. Why? Because. Maybe some of them will be induced to vote for him.

In recent weeks, the prime minister has been orchestrating a mudslinging campaign against his rival, Blue and White Chair Benny Gantz, by creating a false impression that the decorated army general is suspected of corruption. Once again, against all odds, he did it. On Feb. 20, Acting State Prosecutor Dan Eldad instructed police to launch a criminal investigation into the dealings of the Fifth Dimension, a cyber firm which Gantz chaired in recent years. Although Gantz is not considered a suspect in the affair at this point, the move muddied the waters and created a sense, at least among Likud supporters, that everyone is crooked.

The Fifth Dimension was a promising firm that hired senior former intelligence and defense officials in an attempt to sell cutting-edge predictive policing and threat assessment technologies. It claimed to have technologies with artificial intelligence capabilities to analyze mega data of raw intelligence collected by various agencies and to turn it into pinpointed, precise information. The data was said to include text messages, phone conversations, communications data, video clips, emails, surveillance camera footage, websites, credit systems and social media. The company was established by a former senior Mossad official, Doron Cohen, and recruited such defense establishment glitterati as former deputy Mossad head Ram Ben-Barak (currently a Blue and White Knesset member) and the former head of a Mossad division, Haim Tomer. The jewel in the crown was Lt. Gen. (res.) Gantz, who had just ended his term as chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). His appointment as board chair was designed to help the company open doors to intelligence agencies, police forces and foreign states.

The company failed to sign up clients and sell its products, and went bankrupt in 2018. In its final months before going out of business, the Fifth Dimension conducted a 4 million shekel ($1.17 million) pilot project for the Israel Police, which is the focus of the police probe launched this week. Suspicions include that the company concealed information and failed to reveal to its police contacts that it did not have any other clients, while the police is suspected of improperly allowing the project without a public bidding process. Although Gantz himself, as mentioned, is not a suspect, the affair has resonated widely in the media and helped Netanyahu, once again, monopolize the public agenda and divert attention from his own corruption indictment to suggestions of impropriety on the part of his rival Gantz.

This is not simply a classic Netanyahu ploy. This is part of the aggressive campaign Netanyahu has been conducting for months in a bid to take control of the states law enforcement agencies, to place a Trojan horse in the Justice Ministry and to further erode the public standing of Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, the man who indicted him on three charges of egregious corruption.

It started when Netanyahu appointed a relatively junior Likud Knesset member, Amir Ohana, as justice minister after he fired Ayelet Shaked last year. Ohana, who is tight with the prime ministers son Yair Netanyahu, devotes most of his time to concerted attacks on Mandelblit and his people in the top echelons of the prosecution and judiciary. When State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan, who was depicted as Netanyahu enemy No. 1, completed his term in December, Ohana filled this crucial position with a veteran prosecutor perceived as loyal, overriding Mandelblits strong opposition.

Mandelblit was strenuously opposed to Ohana's choice for acting state prosecutor (interim governments cannot make permanent appointments), arguing that Dan Eldad was not cut out for the job. One of Eldads first moves upon taking office this month was the decision to investigate the Fifth Dimension, less than two weeks prior to the elections. Although the state prosecution has made clear that at this stage Gantz is not a suspect in the case, the very start of an investigation has made him out to be embroiled in criminal suspicion, forcing him to defend himself and to declare that should he be indicted, he would step down. Netanyahu sat watching on the sidelines, enjoying every minute. Mandelblit was furious but could not countermand Eldads order.

Thus, Netanyahu was once again the victor in the media-public awareness arena. Will that lead him to victory March 2? Probably not. However, he is willing to make do with a tie, which is what he is fighting for now. A tie, a dead end, an inability to form a government for the third time in the past year would enable him to continue serving as interim prime minister for at least six additional months, until a fourth round of elections is held.
[February 24, 2020] SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS FSCT, PTLA, QD, TCNNF INVESTORS of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuits

NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors of pending deadlines in the following securities class action lawsuits: Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (TCNNF)

Class Period: 9/25/2018 - 12/17/2019

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: February 28, 2020

SECURITIES FRAUD

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-trulieve-cannabis-corp-securities-litigation Forescout Technologies, Inc. (FSCT)

Class Period: 2/7/2019 - 10/9/2019

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: March 2, 2020

SECURITIES FRAUD

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-forescout-technologies-inc-securities-litigation



Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (PTLA)

Class Period: 5/8/2019 - 1/9/2020

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: March 16, 2020

SECURITIES FRAUD

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-portola-pharmaceuticals-inc-securities-litigation Qudian Inc. (QD)

Class Period: 12/13/2018 - 1/15/2020

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: March 23, 2020

SECURITIES FRAUD

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/new-york-se-qd





If you purchased shares of the above companies and would like to discuss your legal rights and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact us toll-free (844) 367-9658 or visit the case links above. If you wish to serve as a Lead Plaintiff in the class action, you must petition the Court on or before the Lead Plaintiff Motion deadline. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nasiru Danu, has written to the publisher of an online medium, Point Blank News, Jackson Ude, demanding for N4 billion over alleged defamation and publication of fake information which he said target to tarnish his image.

In a letter of demand by Mr Danus lawyers, the businessman asked the blogger to retract series of publications on his website and posts on his Twitter handle that Mr Danu said he found injurious to his reputation.

The letter, signed by Bode Olanipekun, a senior advocate of Nigeria, chronicled a number of social media posts allegedly done by Mr Ude which, according to the lawyer, heaped public ridicule on Mr Danu.

The letter listed out seven instances of publishing or sharing allegations against Mr Danu by the blogger, dating back to February 2018.

Derivable and deductible from your malicious publications under reference is the fact that for two straight years, you have deliberately propagated malicious and venomous seeds in the midst of the public against our client.

As you perpetuated these wicked and malevolent publications which are inherently bogus, you gave no thoughts as to their accuracy, authenticity or genuineness, the lawyer wrote.

Mr Danu, according to the lawyers, knew nothing about the allegations peddled against him by Mr Ude in his various posts and publications.

The latest of the allegation is a February 20, 2020 tweet. In the tweet, Mr Ude alleged that Mr Danu and Abba Kyari, President Buharis Chief of Staff, shared about $2 million from inflated contract for the supply of 15 Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat for the Nigerian Military. Kyari uses Dano who represents Paramount Nautical, a South African Defence Company. They supplied used one instead of new!

Mr Olanipekun, in the letter said Mr Danu never heard of Paramount Nautical, neither was he ever involved in nor participate, whether by proxy or otherwise, in any contract whatsoever for the supply of 15 Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat for the Nigerian military.

The lawyer said Mr Danus reputation has been seriously damaged, while he has also suffered considerable distress and embarrassment.

Apart from the N4 billion payment for damages, the letter of demand requested Mr Ude to retract the tweets via his Twitter handle, @johnsonpbn, and also issue apology to Mr Danu from the same handle for seven consecutive days.

The lawyer said Mr Udes failure to comply with demands of Mr Danu within seven days will lead to institution of legal proceedings against him.

Download the full letter below:
Home Search ICH The CIAs Complicity in Recent Global Atrocities Revealed By Robert Scheer February 24, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - In another astounding revelation about the extent of United States global surveillance operations, The Washington Post recently published a piece about a Swiss company, Crypto AG, that was actually owned by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and West Germanys intelligence agency. Crypto AG provided encryption services to over a hundred governments worldwide for decades. Unbeknownst to those governments, the CIA had access to the encryption tools and could therefore read high-level internal governmental correspondence from countries including France, Egypt, Venezuela and many others. On this weeks edition of Scheer Intelligence, Truthdig Editor in Chief Robert Scheer speaks with William Binney, a leading intelligence expert who worked at the National Security Agency for 30 years, about this shocking information that is only now being made public, roughly two years after the program ended in 2018. In the exchange, Scheer highlights why the revelation is not only incredibly worrying in terms of the power it allowed the U.S. to wield for decades, but because of its historical implications. What it means, as I understand it, is that people high up in the U.S. government, right up through the president, would have known of every assassination attempt, every terrorist attempt, every torture, everything done in any of these other societies  as I say, be it Saudi Arabia, be it Egypt, be it Venezuela, be it Guatemala, says an outraged Scheer. We had knowledge of what they were doing, what they were plotting, he goes on, arent we complicit in actually learning about what theyre doing  that theyre going to kill somebody or torture them  and not intervening, or deciding to ignore it? I certainly would agree with that, what youre saying there, Binney responds. They hold some responsibility for not taking action to stop events, yeah. When Scheer asks Binney to explain whats at the foundation of the Crypto AG operation, the former NSA agent bluntly gets to the heart of the matter. Its a standard operation to try to get other people to buy the crypto systems that youve built, Binney says, because that means you fundamentally own them. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter This form of ownership is one NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed to the global public with his leaks about the extent of American surveillance on its own people, as well as on the leaders of our allies, such as Angela Merkel. To Binney, whose long career in U.S. intelligence provides him with unique insight into American surveillance operations, the story points to a larger issue with the way the U.S. views itself. [This idea America has about itself] comes from cowboy movies, Binney says. We were the guys that wore the white hats. Were always right, and everybody else is wrong, and were doing right and theyre doing wrong. Its the hypocritical side of intelligence, he later says, looking at the Department of Justice and FBI and police enforcement, what spies are doing against us is bad, but what we do against everybody else is not, its good. Because we are the good guys. After all, well try to keep the peace in the world. And in fact, we end up giving more, starting, getting involved in more wars than we can shake a stick at, and they seem to be never ending. We have a double standard on how we think; we have no real value system thats governing everything, he concludes, in a stark condemnation of U.S. government operations. Listen to the full discussion between Binney and Scheer, as they touch upon issues of privacy, diplomacy, American innocence and the valiant efforts of Snowden to unveil Americas massive surveillance apparatus to the world. You can also read a transcript of the interview below the media player and find past episodes of Scheer Intelligence here. Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here Robert Scheer: Hi, this is Robert Scheer with another edition of Scheer Intelligence, where the intelligence comes from my guests. In this case its William Binney, who was a code-breaking expert for the U.S. military before he joined the National Security Agency, where for over 30 years he worked on intelligence matters and ended up being the technical leader for intelligence. And Ive spoken to Mr. Binney before, but Im particularly interested now because of a new story in The Washington Post, a great investigative story in which they joined with German sources, Swiss sources, and so forth. And its on an over 30-year-old program; it went until 2018, it goes back to 1970maybe a longer program, almost a half-century program, even going back to after World War II. And its about a company called Crypto, Crypto AG. And this company ended up being owned by the CIA and West German intelligence, back in the days before Germany was united. And what they did was basically provide encryption tools, going back to the earlier tools before there was an internet, but ending up with very sophisticated programs, to allow governments that paid for this serviceI believe it was about 123 governments of the world; that did not include China or the Soviet Union, because they were suspicious of the program. But this Swiss-based company provided encryption, meaning that governments could keep their correspondence with their embassies and their security agencies from foreign eyes. And it was governments as varied as Egypt and Greece and Italy and France and so forth. And theres a real question about whether this intelligence-gathering, which accounted for about half of the communications of all of these governmentsits really so far-reaching, it almost defies subscription. And it seems to be an accurateits based on a CIA report. So I thought, you know, who better to explain this to me than a veteran of the National Security Agency, which along with the CIA actually owned this company that was spying on every government, practically, in the world. So tell me what you know about it, William Binney. William Binney: Well, Bob, I think its just that its a standard operation to try to get other people to buy the crypto systems that youve built. [Laughs] Because that means you fundamentally own them. So the basic principle with any countrys intelligence service that knows anythingah, thats probably primarily why the Russians and Chinese didnt buy into this companyis that you never buy crypto material or crypto information from foreign countries. You invent it yourself and control all the knowledge of it within your country. Otherwise youre not secure. It simply means that if you buy something from overseas, youre exposing the basic communications that you have, and where you use it, to be read by the other countries that own thatin this case it was BND and the NSA, or CIA. So RS: Yeah, but they were lying about it. Wait a minute. This was ostensibly a private company which also was under contract with companies like Motorola in this country, and Siemens in Germany. And this was all deep secret stuff. And so these countries like Egypt, or anyone else in the world, didnt know that this equipment that was encrypting their information was actually being done by foreign governmentsby the CIA, the NSA on the U.S. side. And I bring it up because were making a big deal right now, the U.S. government, about the Chinese company Huawei being involved in the construction of the new 5G internet. And they say oh, well, the Chinese government gets access through themin fact the U.S., through the CIA and NSA, and people on the highest level, always knew about this, actually set the standard for this intrusion on the security of the rest of the world. WB: Thats correct. Yeah. And its been well known by countries who have smart intelligence agencies, that thats a standard practicethat other intelligence agencies set up front companies, and these front companiesthats why you have to be very careful where you get material information from. Because youre setting yourself up to be bringing in the tapping points from other countries. In other words, if you import material from them by switches, or you know, servers, any kind of crypto material or anything like that, youre embedding that in your system, making your system their system. And thats why they talk about the Huawei 5G stuff, because thats an embedding of the Chinese system in ours, and it then gives them that accesssame thing that weve been doing for decades, and in this program for more than 50 years. RS: Yeah. And in this program, though, as The Washington Post points out, it almost defies comprehension. Because what were talking about, in their descriptionand this is all based on an internal CIA report, as well as a German intelligence reportthe systems that they were put in were designed for the CIA, NSA, through this company Crypto to enterright?the system, to decode them, to read the materialthey were designed to be easily penetrated by U.S. intelligence. And this means that the U.S. government on the highest level had knowledge of every assassinationthey used that as examplesthat, say, Latin American dictators ordered. Things that were being done throughout the world to oppress people, to torture them, to kill them, to overthrow other governments. All of this was known in real time, at the highest level of the U.S. government. And youre kind of taking it to be less exciting or important than I am suggesting. I think this is WB: Oh, no. No, no, Bob, Im notIm not saying that. Im just saying that the practice of doing this, setting up front companies like that, by CIA and BNDthis is what theyyou should have changed the Crypto name to CIA/BND. Thats what they should havethat was really what they were buying material from, they were buying it from that joint effort of those two intelligence agencies. Thats a standard intelligence practice and has been, you know, since at least World War II. So you know, thats nothing new on the intelligence side. So you know, maybe its a surprise to a lot of reporters in The Washington Post, but in the intelligence community, thats standard practice. Theres another point that I dont think they emphasized enough, and its really much more important than any of the other ones, simply because any communications between the companies that realized you dont do thisyou dont buy crypto material from foreign countries, or companies in foreign countries; you control that process yourselfthose countries, like Russia and China, their thinking and their relationships are also compromised. Because anybody who was using these devices, communicating through their embassies with the Chinese or the Russians, and getting responses for them, we wouldnt be able to read, like, one-half of the communications between them, and therefore deduce the kinds of thinking and the processes that were going on in China and Russia also. So it had much greater impact in terms of that than anything else, I think. RS: No, but I meanall right, I want to getyoure making it sound routine, but you lived your life inside of the NSA and WB: Yeah, for us in the business, thats routine. RS: Yeah, but what Im saying is the average American does not know that for 50 years, our government was spying on allieson others, on virtually every government in the world. And you know, we were shocked when Edward Snowden revealed that Angela Merkel in Germany had her phone surveilled by the agency that you worked for. But this seems to me an admission of far more extensive spying on virtually every government in the worldexcept, ironically, China or Russia, who were so suspicious they had their own encryption means. But the fact is, you know, Bobby Ray Inman, you worked for him, didnt you, at the NSA? Or was that the CIA? WB: Yeah, he was the director there for a while while I was there, yeah. RS: Yeah. And he brags about it; he says this was the greatest coup of all. But what it means, as I understand it, is that people high up in the U.S. government, right up through the president, would have known of every assassination attempt, every terrorist attempt, every torture, everything done in any of these other societiesas I say, be it Saudi Arabia, be it Egypt, be it Venezuela, be it Guatemala. We had knowledge of what they were doing, what they were plotting. Arent we then complicit not only in creating a standard of surveillance of every country in the world, and their data and their activitiesthen we bemoan when others do it. But also, arent we complicit in actually learning about what theyre doingthat theyre going to kill somebody or torture themand not intervening, or deciding to ignore it? WB: I certainly would agree with that, what youre saying there, Bob, yeah. They hold some responsibility for not taking action to stop events, yeah. RS: But were talking about just about every major nefarious event that has happened in, as I say, almost a half-century. Just, you know, it petered out at the end, but it was still going at 2018. And WB: Yeah, I think youre right, they probably had knowledge of most of them. I dont know what percentage, you know; it would be dependent on the coverage of collection of data to be able to decrypt it and read what they were saying, you know. RS: Yeah. Well, the estimate in The Washington Post was, I think, as high as 50% of these communications, OK. So that meanswell, for one example, for instance, when Sadat and Jimmy Carter were negotiating a peace agreement, Jimmy Carter had all of the conversations that Sadat was having with his own government, with his own governments agenciesthat was all made available to Jimmy Carter. And Anwar Sadat, the head of Egypt, didnt know that. So he was negotiating with the American president, and the American president had all of this information, because they were able to tap inright?to all of their diplomatic and intelligence communications, or at least 50% of it. Doesnt this sort of mockI just want toyeah? WB: I agree with you, Bob. Yeah. RS: Well [Laughs] WB: Thats reallysee, what it gets down to is the intelligence community, what they wereIm sure what they were doing back then was, if they saidwell, like for example President Carter. If there was any knowledge of an assassination coming up, and if they told him, you know, he would, like, probably give ahe might have a high-percentage chance that he would compromise it openly in the public. Like, for example, I think President Reagan did make some comment at some time in his presidency where he fundamentally let the cat out of the bag. So they were probably arguing that we needed to make sure and emphasize that nobody says anything publicly, and that they needed to caution even the president if they had knowledge of that and told him about it. Sowhich Im sure they did. RS: Well, and this involved blowing up buildings and killing people, and arresting people and torturing, and going to war and lying about it, and everything else. Theres this tremendous amount of information. I wonder how much would people on the intelligence committees of the House or the Senatepeople like Dianne Feinstein or Adam Schiff, for instance, on the House side, for the democrats and the republicanshow much of this would they have known? Were they in the dark about this? Thats not made clear in The Washington Post report. WB: Ah, no, what it would do would be, it would be coming out under Gamma reporting. That would be the reports that we issued from NSA, and those wouldlike the case of Hillary Clinton, had some of that on her server and she took some of the extracts out of Gamma reports. Which didnt tell them, it doesnt tell the customerwhich they look at Congress as a customerit doesnt tell them exactly how they got the information. It just says this is sensitive information from sensitive programs that are in operation in the NSA or CIA, whichever it is. So they would at least know that it had a degree of reliability from that Gamma type reporting. RS: So they would know that we were tapping into, say, Anwar Sadats communication with his government, his own governmentwith his embassy, with his armed forces. But they wouldnt know the specifics of how that was gathered; they would be given the information. And as oversight agencies, who after all are branches of Congress who are supposed to be providing oversightcertainly after the seventies, the Church Committee report, thats what the Senate Intelligence Committee was supposed to be doing. They were the ones, then, that should have known that there was this spying on all of ourI want to make this clearon our allies. Not just supposed enemies, on our allies. And wouldnt they have thought that was a violation of norms of international law, of decency, of respect for others? Or was that just routine? WB: Ah, also most likely treaties in between the countries involved. So you know, its like if Im putting something here in your country, you dont spy on me, and if I put something in your country I dont spy on you. Thats kind ofin treaty agreements between countries, when they have relationships set up, yeah. I would also say that, you know, that compared to whats going on today, thatsyou know, thats a drop in the bucket. Theyre just spying on fundamentally every U.S. citizenyou, me, everybody. Theyre getting copies of this radio program youre broadcasting. So you know, this is just a mess were in. I mean, we have createdthese intelligence agencies fundamentally are not controllable by any government in the world. Their own agencies they cant control. I mean, look at how much control they have over at CIA, or FBI or DOJ or the NSA, when they try to run a soft coup against President Trump. Or you know, or any of the other countries around the worldthey have similar inadequacy in terms of oversight. I mean, their oversights a joke, really; worldwide, its just a joke. They just have absolutely no control over any of these intelligence agencies. Theyll go do whatever they want, once they close that secret door, youre out. And the only thing that Congress does, when they call it oversight, they send their staffers up to NSA or down to CIA or wherever, DIA, whatever agency they go to, and they get briefed by a set of briefers that have cleared their briefings through the liaison offices, with the congressional liaison offices, you know. And thats the story that that agency wants to tell Congress, and thats the story that Congress gets, and they dont have anything else to judge it by. And they wont tell them. RS: So let me just understand this. I hope youre not getting blase about all this. But WB: No, Im still rather pissed off about it, if you ask me. RS: But Iwell, I mean, you know, peoplethere hasnt been that much response to The Washington Post story. That was really what surprised me. You know, I thought this would be really huge. I mean, you have a sort ofI mean here we have, at the very same time theyre making a big dealI said it before, you know, can you trust a Chinese internet company to be constructingand in The Washington Post report they have Motorola and Siemens, the German company, which is one of the biggest in the world. And theyre just in there with this company called Crypto, refining their system. So they were in on, or had to be in on, the fact that they were surveilling governments like Italyyou know, governments all over the world, some of which we claim to be close allies of. I think it was 123 governments around the world. No one blew the whistle. And in The Washington Post story, its very interesting, they say that when Edward Snowden revealed the extent of NSA surveillance and spying and so forth, there was real shock at the dimension. But actually this story shows that Snowdens revelation only captured part of it. You know, he showed some of the surveillance of foreign governments and leaders; as I say, a case in Brazil, Germany, and what have you. But according to this Washington Post report, this was routine for most of a half century. Just routinely spying on every leader anywhere in the world, whether they were considered democrats or dictators or communists or fascists or what have you. All of their most private information was made available to the U.S. national security agencies, and presumably some of the people they briefed. And its far more extensive than what Snowden revealed. WB: Actually, I wouldnt say that, Bob. Because theres one side that showed the worldwide access points to the Five Eyes that Snowden put on the web, that showed in there, one of the entries at the bottom with the little dots designating where they were occurring all over the map. So it showed the different points that were embedded with implants. And in there, this computer network exploitation, CNE part of it, says that it had greater than 50,000 implants in the world. Now, one of these little implants for crypto recovery or crypto reading of anybodys communication could be one implant. So you can maybe have a dozen implants for a country, and you can cover, basically, its governmental communications. Something like that, depending on the size of the government, you know. RS: Yeah, but youre the expert. You were the head of technical expertI forgot the title, but you know WB: Technical director. [Laughs] RS: You were the technical director for intelligence worldwide at one point. But most of us looking at that chartmany people never looked at that chart; I looked at it. And I really didnt know what those dots were until I read The Washington Post report, I guess. And however they got that information, it showed up as one of those dots. But as I say, yes, you could not ignore Snowden, and The Washington Post report makes that very clear. But this shows that it was far more invasiveyou would have thought, well, theyre going into Egypt or Greece to find some bad actors or some terrorists, or you know, some people who are against that government. Nothey were going in to find what the heads of Italy, or any other country, were saying to their own ambassadors, to their own people, their own advisors, their own defense ministers. So its not just like looking for some bad actors, some terrorists. The U.S. government WB: No, and it also had the side benefit, BobIm just trying to point outof giving you one side of the access into Russia and China, with Russia and China responding to different countries around the world. You can at least see the one side of the conversation, so you can begin to understand what the Chinese were saying to them or the Russians were saying to them. So it gave themit basically was compromising that, too. So you actually could get in that way indirectly. You know, so youre not going directly at the Chinese encrypted communication or the Russians encrypted communication, but youre going at things that you can break. Ill give an example. In World War II, before the invasion of France, the Japanese ambassador to Germany was given a tour of the wall, the defensive wall from France all the way up to Norway. All the positions and all of that. He dutifully reported that back to the Japanese government, and he used the Japanese code system to do it, and that was one of the code systems we were reading. So when we read that, we got the entire layout of the defense positions of the German army in Europe. So that helped in the invasion, OK. Thats the kind of information you could get indirectly, having an access point like that. RS: OK, but just for people who didnt read The Washington Post storyand its not getting the publicity that I wantlet me just give one example. There was England at war over the Falklands with Argentina. Now, Argentina was not thought to be a terrorist adversary of the United States. It was an adversary with England over the Falklands, OK. And your agency that you worked for, the National Security Agency, and the CIA, were in control of a company that was able to get all of the details of what the Argentine military and government was doing, what they were saying, and then handed that over to the English. Thats in the report. Thats a degree of intrusion, you know, of surveillance, of even ostensibly friendly or neutral governments, that is absolutely startling. And as I say, with it comes some ownership or responsibility. If youre also plugging in to dictators and learning they are going to do nefarious things, but you dont warn the people who are going to be assassinated or tortured or what have you, because that will compromise your access, right? And so we have actually been complicit in many of these crimes. WB: Thats correct. If you have knowledge and dont take action, youre complicit. RS: So what Im saying isand again, youre a professional, and youre a cool customer here. And Im this guy whos read this report, and Im just thinking, why isnt this more shocking to people? Thats, I guess, my basic question. Are we so inured to this sort of thing that we say, well, if the U.S. government does it, its OK, it must make sense; but if anybody else does anything even the slightest bit like this, oh, we think its just terrible? Isnt that where we are? WB: Yes, it is, Bob. And it comes from the basic, you know, cowboy movies. We were the guys that wore the white hats. Yeah, were always right, and everybody else is wrong, and were doing right and theyre doing wrong. RS: So your agency that you were atand they say most of the people at the NSA didnt really know about this particular company, Crypto AG, right? WB: Thats correct. RS: That was a deeply held secret, right? And in fact, people who worked for that company, one of whom was arrested in Iran, they thought they were just innocent contractors selling good encryption material around the world. And then when Iranyeah, go ahead. WB: Yeah. You hit it right on the head, thats exactly right. What you do is you use people who dont know whats really happening, and let them be the ones to spread the word, so to speak, and spread the capability around. And thats exactly what they did with this program. And only a very few people, Im surethe ones they had to have were the ones in control of the ultimate technology that got produced and sold. Once you had control of that, and kept the knowledge of it to a very close few people, then the rest of them in the company wouldnt know. In fact, they wouldnt even know who owned the company, which obviously, Im sure most of them didntor any affiliated companies, they wouldnt even know who owned those companies either. RS: No, this was WB: You know, and theyIm sorry? RS: Yeah, this was a deeply held secret. So in other words, this was a Swiss company that was pretending to be privately owned and responsible to its shareholders or what have you, and in fact was owned by the NSA and CIA, and a West German, a German intelligence agency. And I just want to read from The Washington Post story, it said WB: But if I could insert something here, Bob, I would never call it a Swiss company. It was a CIA/BND front company located in Switzerland. RS: Yes. Well, thats fair. So it says here in The Washington Post, Even soyou know, because were not doing it now, and it ended in 2018, which is hardly ancient history. It says Even so, the Crypto operation is relevant to modern espionage. Its reach and duration help to explain how the United States developed an insatiable appetite for global surveillance that was exposed in 2013 by Edward Snowden. There are also echoes of Crypto in the suspicions swirling around modern companies with alleged links to foreign governments, including the Russian anti-virus firm Kaspersky, a texting app tied to the United Arab Emirates and the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei. So whats so odd here is we have blasted a Russian company, we blast a Chinese company, we say you cant trust their technology, they will build in ways of getting all that information. And yet the U.S. government, through the CIA/NSA, for half a century, set the gold standard for surveilling other governments and destroying their secrecy, right? WB: Yeah. RS: So its hypocrisy. I dont know WB: Yes it is, yeah. Well, and thats the spying business. RS: OK. Ill just say, The Washington Posts story says, quote, again, It is hard to overstate how extraordinary the CIA and BND histories are. The BND is the German history. I mean, thats a pretty strong statement, its hard to overestimate, right? It says here, you know, Sensitive intelligence files are periodically declassified and released to the public. But it is exceedingly rare, if not unprecedented, to glimpse authoritative internal historiesthis is the CIAof an entire covert operation. And it says, The Post was able to read all of the documents, but the source of the material insisted that only excerpts be published. But so this isagain, I want to be moderate and reasoned in my evaluationI dont know why this isnt being made into a bigger story. You knowhere, this is another thing they said: The papersbecause they were internal documents, you know, both written by the CIA and by German intelligence. It says, The papers largely avoid more unsettling questions, including what the United States knew  and what it did or didnt do  about countries that used Crypto machines while engaged in assassination plots, ethnic cleansing campaigns and human rights abuses. The revelations in the documents may provide reason to revisit whether the United States was in position to intervene in, or at least expose, international atrocities, and whether it opted against doing so at times to preserve its access to valuable streams of intelligence. So were talking about deep corruption in the deep state, deep immorality in the deep state. WB: I agree. Yeah. Like, my policy pretty much within intelligencelike for example, if I was thereI wasnt in a position to do this, but if I had been there and I saw some of the material coming through in NSA, that would have tipped off that the attack was coming, and that certain people were involved, like those that came into San Diego and later, coordinated with others throughout the country and then collectively moved to takeoff points for the offensive on 9/11, to the hotels and airports adjacent to the airports they took off from. Why, the first people I would have called would have been the FBI, and Id just call them on the encrypted phone and say, Ive got this knowledge, you need to do something about this. And tell them who it was, where it was, and how many there were, you know. And I would have just done that, if I couldnt get a report out. So, thats me, though. Im, you know, other people might not have done that. But I would. RS: But if the U.S. government didnt do anything about it, then theyre complicit. WB: Thats correct. I absolutely agree. RS: OK. So just, you know, before we wrap this up, I just want people to understand this is not Bill Binney and Robert Scheer fantasizing about something. This is, The Washington Post has obtained WB: No, its real, yeah. RS: Yeah, theyve attained the actual studies WB: Any intelligence agent, we would classify this as a black program, or a SAP, a special access program. Where only the, you know, the person is obligated only to go to at least the Gang of Eight, the ranking senior and ranking members of House and Senate, and also the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. Thats the Gang of Eight. And they didnt have to notify anybody else beyond that. RS: Yeah. And so it says here, again, quoting from The Washington Post analysis of this, From 1970 onthats a good chunk, OK?Thats the half-century. From 1970 on, the CIA and its code-breaking sibling, the National Security Agencywhere Bill Binney, who Im talking to, worked for 30 yearsthe CIA and the National Security Agency controlledthis is The Washington Post saying thiscontrolled nearly every aspect of Cryptos operations  presiding with their German partners over hiring decisions, designing its technology, sabotaging its algorithms and directing its sales targets. OK. So when we say you cant trust a Chinese company like Huawei, because they might have some ties with their government even though they are privately ownedwell, who are we kidding? We had made this the norm for almost every product sold about encryption to almost every country in the world. And then with a straight face, you say trust an American product but not a Chinese product in building the 5G network, because the Chinese sabotage their machinesand the U.S. government sabotaged every one of these encryption machines that they wanted to listen to? Hello? WB: Yeah. I mean, you know, hey, lets take the case of the Mueller report charging the GRU agents, you know, who were supposed to be spies. So he was charging spies for being spies. And I said well, you know, the reciprocal relationship could also occur; that means that thatswere going to do that; then the rest of the countries in the world should charge our spies and NSA and CIA, all of them for being spies, you know. In the same way, in the same vein, for the same reasons. RS: Yeah. So what is going on? Have we just gotten used, we accept as normal WB: Yeah, thisyeah, to me, Bob, this is whatthis is what countries get, what people get in the countries, once they say take care of me to their government. Once you say that, and you dont follow what your governments doingI mean, the reason we have a Second Amendment is to protect ourselves against our government, not a foreign one. So our founding fathers didnt trust our own government, so why should we? But instead, what are we doing? Were trusting them blindly, saying you know, save us, you know, take care of us. You know, dont make me think about things that are bad, you know; I just dont want to deal with it, you deal with it. You know, thats what it is, and were leaving that all up to our government without having any effective way of oversight or validation of anything that theyre telling us. I mean, look at how many times Clapper and Alexander and all the intelligence people were in front of Congress testifying under oath and lying! You know, and getting caught at it! So, you know, thats what we get for letting this happen. We as a country, and we as a people. RS: So lets have a final word, then, about Edward Snowden and his role. Because you know, again, if Edward Snowden had not shown the volumethe volume of the spying that your agency did, right? People alwayshuh? WB: I invented it for them, too. RS: Yeah. And WB: [Laughs] And Im not proud of that, Bob. Thats why I speak out against it. RS: Yeah. But I just want to cut to the chase here, because you know, right now we have a case where people, a lot of people on the liberal side dont like Donald Trump. And theres a lot, I would argue, not to like about Donald Trumpbut theres a Trumpwashing. You know, its as if everything bad started with this guy. And you know, and so if youre against him, that lets you off the hook. Youre a good liberal, youre a good civil libertarian, because you know, youre arguing that hes worse. And were talking about a program here that was conducted under democrats and republicans. And a programand again, I dont want to be lost in the weeds here. You know, because we deal a lot with this notion of American innocence: if we do it, it may be a mistake, it may be an error, but its in a good cause. And here is a case where every American president, certainly since 1970, knew or was informed on some levelis that a fair statement? Would they have had to know about this? Hello? WB: Yes, thats exactly right. RS: OK. So every American, go look it up who the presidents were, but every American president since 1970. And certainly Jimmy Carter, a guy I happen to like, and interviewed, and respect in many ways, certainly as an ex-president. But Jimmy Carter was one of them. Every one of those presidents, not just, you know, Richard NixonFord, right, go up through the whole list. Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, and of course the first President Bush and the second President Bush, and Bill Clinton. Go right through the whole list. All of them knew that when they were saying hello to the leader of almost any country in the world, that that leader did not know that their most private conversations had been made available to that American president. Talk about duplicitous. And I mean, again, Carter and Sadatthat Carter, sitting there, knew that the people briefing him from the CIA and the NSA had access to every bit of communicationor at least 50% of it, by this accountthat he was sending back to his own government, his own intelligence, his own military, his own negotiators, his own diplomats. And that was taken by every American president, democrat or republican, to be the norm. That you get to spy on every other governments most private, secret material. But if they do it to you, they become outlaw states. Isnt that the story here? WB: Yeah, its the hypocritical side of intelligence, yeah. And the flip side of it, looking at the Department of Justice and FBI and police enforcement, that what spies are doing against us is bad, but what we do against everybody else is not, its good. Because we are the good guys. After all, well try to keep the peace in the world. And in fact, we end up giving more, starting, getting involved in more wars than we can shake a stick at, and they seem to be never ending. I mean, thats the problem. Yep. We have a double standard on how we think; we have no real value system thats governing everything. RS: Well, thats what Bobby Ray Inman, who was deputy director of the CIA in the late 1970s and early eighties, and served as director of the NSA, your agencyhe was asked, do I have qualms? He said: zero. It was a very valuable source of communications, and that was it. You know, so it really goesand then you know, I have one last point to just throw in here. People doing this, selling this equipment, installing itwhen they got arrested, as in the case of this fellow in prison in Iran, our government said oh, you know, no, that has nothinghe wasnt a spy. This guy didnt know. He didnt know that he was working for the CIA. He didnt know. Yeah, he thought he wasor for the NSA. He thought he was working for a Swiss-based company that was selling encryption machines, material. And then, so when he got arrested, people all over the world said, well, thats a terrible government. They arrested this guy, he wasnt a spy. But he was unwittingly a spy. And we did that to hundreds and hundreds of people. The Washington Post points out, theres a lot of angry people who work for this company that the CIA owned. And they feel they were set up. They thought they were making machines that were good. And they didnt know they were selling a machine that had been sabotaged to do the opposite of what people were paying for, which was to make all of their protected information instantly available to the U.S. CIA and NSA. And when others do it to us, we cry foul, but we think we have a birthrighta birthright to do that. WB: Like I say, Bob, we wear the white hats. Thats the way people look at it. RS: We wear the white hats. But you know, as journalistsIm a journalist, and I really want to applaud The Washington Post. Im not one of those whos happy that billionaires are saving journalism, whether it be the L.A. Times or The Washington Post. Im critical of that as a model of a free press. However, I have to admit in this case, as with the Afghanistan papers, in this case the people working there, the journalists, are still doing some really, really important journalism. So my hats off to them. And, you know, let me just give a shout out, and I dont know if Ill ever do that anytime soon, to Jeff Bezos. Because he didnt stop this from being published. The sad fact is, however, that this report in The Washington Post, and internationally in different papers that are outlets that work with The Washington Post, really has not gotten the attention it deserves. And I would hope that people would now, after listening to this, check it out. So thank you again, William Binney, for being an independent source of information about a very secret world that you helped create, and now sound the alarm about. Take care. WB: Thanks, Bob. Robert Scheer, editor in chief of Truthdig, has built a reputation for strong social and political writing over his 30 years as a journalist. This article was published by "Truthdig" Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ====
Nimo Jire Kalinle, 42, pleaded not guilty Monday to a series of charges in connection with the January 19 attack

A black woman in Oregon faces hate crime charges after she allegedly punched a woman in her face because she hated 'white people'.

Nimo Jire Kalinle, 42, pleaded not guilty Monday to fourth-degree felony assault, first-degree bias crime, second-degree bias crime and two counts of interfering with public transportation.

On January 19, Kalinle was said to have gotten off a bus stop near North Fremont Street and North Gantenbein Avenue when she punched Janae Jordan.

Jordan was with her young child and husband at the time of the assault, KPTV reports.

Jordan's husband is said to have intervened and retrained Kalinle until authorities arrived.

Kalinle was said to have gotten off a bus stop near North Fremont Street and North Gantenbein Avenue when she punched Janae Jordan

According to court documents, the mother told police that when she asked Kalinle why she hit her, the suspect told her: 'It's because you're white and I hate white people'.

The victim explained to officers that she had never seen the woman before and did not know her.

Jordan was taken to a hospital and treated for her injuries.

Kalinle is scheduled to appear back in court on March 6.
The city of Miami will sponsor an Anti-Communist Concert in April after Senator Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) offered praise for Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

Sadly, even now, we see individuals defend and even promote communism and socialism, Mayor Francis Suarez, a Republican, said at a Monday press conference announcing the citys sponsorship. Just yesterday, presidential candidate Bernie Sanders glorified socialism in a 60 Minutes interview by defending elements of Castros regime.

What Senator Sanders conveniently omitted from his colorful characterization of communist Cuba was Castros forceful and violent imposition of power, attacking human rights and freedom of speech, thereby minimizing the sacrifice of those who fought to break free from his suffocating hand, Suarez said.

The concert is organized in part by Orlando Gutierrez-Boronat, co-founder of the nonprofit Cuban Democratic Directorate, which aids Cuban political prisoners and their families. City Commissioner Manolo Reyes said the concert would be a statement by Cuban musicians who are not permitted to perform in Cuba.

Sanderss 60 Minutes comments, including that its unfair to simply say everything is bad in Cuba, have riled Florida Democrats, who must vie with Republicans for votes from the states large population of Latin American refugees and exiles. Those refugees predominantly hail from Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, three countries whose authoritarian leaders Sanders has praised.

Donald Trump wins Florida if Bernie is our nominee, State Representative Javier Fernandez, a Democrat representing District 114 in Miami, said on Monday. If Bernie Sanders is atop the ticket, its going to make it tougher for all of us to win in Florida.

More from National Review
Truce implemented after Islamic Jihad armed group and Israeli army traded rocket fire and air raids since Sunday.

A ceasefire between the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group and Israel is holding in the Gaza Strip after two days of heavy fighting.

Following Egyptian and international mediation, the truce came into effect at 11:30pm (20:30 GMT) on Monday, Ihsan Ataya, a senior Islamic Jihad leader based in Lebanon, said in a press statement.

No projectiles were fired from the Gaza Strip overnight, a spokeswoman for the Israeli army confirmed.

During two days of fighting, Israeli aircraft pounded dozens of targets in the Gaza Strip while Islamic Jihad bombarded southern Israel with heavy rocket fire.

The latest escalation began after Israeli soldiers on Sunday shot dead Mohammed al-Naim, a member of the Islamic Jihads armed wing, who was allegedly planting an explosive device at the heavily secured Israeli fence east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.





In a graphic video that went viral, an Israeli bulldozer violently retrieved al-Naims body and it remains in the custody of Israeli forces.

Islamic Jihad responded by firing a barrage of rockets and mortar rounds at Israel, which prompted the military to strike Islamic Jihad targets in Syria, where some of the Iran-backed groups leaders are based. Two more Islamic Jihad members were killed in an overnight air attack.

On Monday evening, Islamic Jihad declared a unilateral ceasefire. But Israel continued to attack targets in Gaza, resulting in the injury of at least eight Palestinians, Gazas health ministry said.

Islamic Jihad accused Israel of continued aggression and resumed its rocket fire, drawing further Israeli air raids and an Israeli closure of Gazas key border crossings and a fishing zone.

The enemy did not commit itself into stopping its aggression, said Abu Hamza, another Islamic Jihad spokesman.

Just before midnight, the ceasefire finally appeared to take hold.

The al-Quds Brigades announces that it has ended its military response to the assassination crimes in Khan Younis and Damascus, and vows to continue its struggle against the occupation of our people and our land, a statement from Islamic Jihads armed wing said.

life is back to normal after 2 days of tension. Schools are open wish the students good return pic.twitter.com/nRNe31w3hV  suhair zakkout (@suhairzakkout) February 25, 2020

The Israeli army said Islamic Jihad launched 80 rockets by the time the ceasefire was announced, but more than 90 percent were intercepted.

Schools were closed in Israeli areas adjacent to Gaza, roads shut, and restrictions placed on outdoor public gatherings. The Israeli military said the restrictions would remain in effect on Tuesday.

Upcoming Israeli election

The latest escalation came a week before an unprecedented third parliamentary election in Israel. It was the heaviest round of fighting since November when Israel and Islamic Jihad engaged in a two-day battle after Israel killed one of the groups top commanders.





While the latest Israeli air attacks targeted only Islamic Jihad positions, Israel holds Gazas Hamas government responsible for all fire coming out of the coastal enclave.

Israel and Hamas have fought three wars and engaged in numerous skirmishes since Hamass takeover of the Gaza Strip in 2007, which resulted in Israel and Egypt imposing a crippling blockade on the coastal enclave. Yet in the past few months, Hamas has seemed more interested in easing the blockade and improving living conditions than fighting another war.

Islamic Jihad, meanwhile, has appeared relatively weak and disorganised in the past few months  acting more as a spoiler to diplomatic efforts than a serious military threat to Israel.

Still, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who in the final days of a divisive election campaign, appeared reluctant to pick a fight with Hamas so close to next Mondays election.

The election will be Israels third in less than a year after two inconclusive votes in 2019.

Netanyahu  locked in a tight race with former military commander and leader of the opposition Blue and White Party Benny Gantz  has tried to focus his campaign away from his upcoming trial on corruption charges by presenting himself as an experienced statesman who is best-suited to protect Israels security. Ongoing violence close to election day could disrupt the vote and embarrass Netanyahu.

Tamar Hermann, an expert on Israeli public opinion at the Israel Democracy Institute think-tank, said after so many previous rounds of fighting, she did not expect the latest violence to have an impact on voters.

Its expected and people are used to it, and resilience is not being eroded because of such normal events, she said.
A thug wielding a walking stick jumped on the bonnet of a taxi and tipped crisps on the roof before threatening the driver with a knife in shocking footage.

Police are hunting a brazen attacker after he charged towards the car waiting at London's Euston station before trying to lunge at the driver in a terrifying incident.

The taxi driver managed to fend off the knife-wielding man by grabbing his walking stick and using it to defend himself - but not before his wallet was stolen.

A thug wielding a walking stick jumped on the bonnet of a taxi and tipped crisps on the roof before threatening the driver with a knife

Now police have released dash cam footage in the hope of gathering more information on the bizarre incident which occurred on January 6 at 5.30am.

In the clip, the hooded man runs head-on towards the Mercedes Benz holding a walking stick and an open packet of crisps.

According to police, the driver fled the car in fear of his safety as the man jumped on the bonnet a second time and tipped crisps everywhere.

He then entered the passenger side of the car before pulling out a knife and making several attempts to attack the driver.

Police are hunting a brazen attacker after he charged towards the car waiting at London's Euston station before trying to lunge at the driver in a terrifying incident

The man then ran off, stealing the victim's wallet which he had swiped from the car.

British Transport Police said: 'Do you recognise this man?

'Officers believe the man in the dash-cam footage may have information which could help their investigation.

'If you recognise him or have any information please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 200002243.'
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

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 centred largely on just two women  its symbolism was sweeping. More than 90 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct, and the allegations against him set off the global #MeToo movement.

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.)

Moments after the jury announced its decision Monday, The New York Times asked some of Weinsteins accusers, other stakeholders in the #MeToo movement and legal experts to interpret the verdicts meaning.

Their responses have been edited and condensed.

______

Dawn Dunning is a former actress who served as one of several supporting witnesses at Weinsteins trial, testifying about what prosecutors said was a pattern of predation by the producer.

It was very nerve-racking to testify. I knew Id have to see him and talk about what happened to me.

I did it for all of us. I did it for the women who couldnt testify. I couldnt not do it.

My biggest fear was him being found not guilty. Im very relieved. But he wasnt found guilty on all of the counts, so I feel like it was a victory, but not a complete victory. This verdict made it real for people watching from afar that you will be held accountable for your actions. You cant take advantage of people just because you have power and money.

Either way, regardless of the verdict, it didnt change how hard it was to be face to face with him in the courtroom, and testifying in a room full of press. The cross-examination was really difficult.

It was definitely the most stressful thing Ive done in my life.

______

Tarana Burke is the activist who started the original #MeToo movement more than a decade ago.

Most of us will never see the inside of the courtroom, but these women got to take the stand, look him in the eye, and say, You did this to me.

He will forever be guilty. Thats a thing we have.

______

Ashley Judd was the first actress to publicly accuse Weinstein of sexual misconduct.

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. 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.

I would love for Harvey to have a restorative justice process in which he could come emotionally to terms with his wrongs. The criminal justice system is a distant second to a more humane kind of process. This is what he has created for himself: Prison, lack of remorse, lack of accountability. The man is going to prison for sex crimes.

______

Aya Gruber is a former defence lawyer and a law professor at the University of Colorado.

I have mixed reactions about the whole case. On the one hand, I am myself a sexual assault survivor and I believe that the #MeToo movement is good. On the other hand, as a former defence attorney, hinging the future of womens rights on a criminal conviction is a little troubling to me.

The thought that one case could be representative of the entire world of victims and defendants is just wrong. But thats what happened in this case. It became symbolic of not just the entire universe of sexual assault cases, but the entire womens movement.

When we bend rules to favour prosecutors, its not always the Harvey Weinsteins. When you look at the majority of sex offenders, especially as were broadening the definition of what counts as a sex offence, a lot of them are juveniles. People who are figuring out their sexuality. A lot of them are people of colour and from marginalised neighbourhoods. And theyre going to be caught up in a system that is extremely harsh, and possibly branded for life.

What is the fallout from a #MeToo movement that insists on incarceration as part of its justice goals?

Harvey Weinstein needed to be held accountable. But sex offenders have a horrible time in jail. It is going to be terrible, State-imposed suffering and torture. I have a hard time feeling happy about that. If accountability can only come through decades in horrific conditions in jail, I dont love that. Not for anyone.

______

Irwin Reiter worked as Weinsteins corporate accountant for 30 years. He provided information to The Times that allowed the paper to break the story of Weinsteins alleged misbehaviour in 2017.

The quotes were always the same coming out of his mouth. Everyone who worked for him heard it a thousand times: Im superman and youre not. Im a genius and youre all clerks. The guy thought he could do whatever he wanted.

When they said it was seven men on the jury, I said: Good. Because most men are just as appalled by his behaviour. Its time for men who witness bad behaviour to have the courage to step up and bear witness to it. Never ever forget that these abused women can be your daughter.

______

Fatima Goss Graves is the president of the National Womens Law Center.

What defence attorneys do is create a narrative that only one type of person could experience sexual violence, and that there is only one type of response. They discount behaviours that are actually really typical in an effort to blame victims. This moment we are in is an opportunity to disrupt the story of a typical survivor, and to disrupt the story of a typical response.

When I think about the last two years, weve seen important examples of individual accountability. I have great hope that individuals in this case have a measure of justice around them. But the last two years have been bigger than one individual. Theyve been about systems changing, creating new norms and laws that will propel us further in the future. Im hopeful about the future.

______

Erika Rosenbaum is a Canadian actress who has accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct. She told The Times her story in 2017.

It cost a lot of women something very personal to change this.

Im really grateful. Im really grateful to the women who took the stand, who dared to put themselves out there and endure that examination.

He was found guilty and will be labelled a sexual predator, rightfully so. Thats going to follow him for the rest of his life.

The white and wealthy and powerful actually paid a price today.

______

Chanel Miller wrote a memoir, Know My Name, about her experience as the victim in a high-profile sexual assault case.

Let it not be lost that every victim who walked through the courtroom doors has just added another layer to their trauma. Justice has come at the cost of their pain. May they unlearn any distorted ideas or character assaults that were fed to them during the trial. What happened was real. It was always wrong. I wish for their rest and well-being.

Today we locked one man in one cell. We made progress because survivors keep speaking. Still, this was a case where many others looked away for decades. It was not just power that made him untouchable, people did. We cannot be afforded the neatness of closure. We should confront the question on our collective conscience: The next time you are aware of violence, will you be silent or speak?

______

Isabelle Kirshner is a former Manhattan prosecutor turned criminal defence lawyer who has represented men accused of sexual assault.

This wasnt Believe all women, and certainly not Believe everything women are saying.

Had they believed all women, and what all the women said, he would have been convicted on all charges. It looks like they were fairly careful on what they decided.

______

Jane Manning is a former Queens prosecutor who is director of the Womens Equal Justice Project.

Its a historic day. A predator who was once untouchable has finally been held accountable. All of the women who spoke out about Harvey Weinstein are heroes: The ones who received a guilty verdict, and the many who didnt.

Annabella Sciorras case stretches farther back in time than the others; perhaps that was a challenge for the jury. But theres no doubt in my mind that her testimony mattered. It helped establish a pattern; it supported the accounts of Miriam Haleyi and Jessica Mann. She deserves admiration and gratitude for her courage; all the prosecution witnesses do.

The conviction of Harvey Weinstein is a stunning victory for every single woman who refused to remain silent any longer.

______

Rowena Chiu is a former assistant at Miramax, the production company founded by Harvey Weinstein and his brother, Bob. She accused Weinstein of assaulting her on the job in 1998.

I had said in an interview a few days ago, that this isnt just a story of one man. Even in the light of a conviction, it isnt just one person. Obviously it is a really important victory for the #MeToo movement. But the #MeToo movement is much, much bigger than what happens to Harvey. This is certainly a moment of great encouragement and a milestone for me personally and the movement as a whole.

In some ways, I feel that the life Ive built today, every day that I live and enjoy my life is a victory over Harvey. That is much more meaningful than going for a legal victory. Because we all know the legal system is flawed.

Many of us are doing incredible work that stems from surviving trauma. I think that is very much something I want to put out there. Many of us are doing these incredible things. The very fact that Im with my kids in a sand pit, is a victory over Harvey, whether he ends up in jail or not.

______

Debra Katz, a civil rights and employment lawyer, has represented several people who have spoken out about Weinstein.

There was a great deal of tension in the courtroom this morning, waiting for the jury. When we got to the first count of guilty, there was a feeling of extraordinary relief.

I felt some measure of justice had been done. He is now a convicted rapist. It was an extraordinary moment of social reckoning. Its no longer OK to say that this was transactional, that these women knew exactly what they were getting. Its no longer acceptable to blame women for the fact that they were targeted by a sexual predator. This was a true repudiation of the arguments that Donna Rotunno, his lawyer, made, that these women used Weinstein and that he was an unwitting victim.

When Rotunno exited the courthouse today, her response was extremely telling. She said Harvey Weinstein was completely shocked. For a man who has taken this kind of advantage and abused women for decades and taken this as his prerogative, I would say he is shocked.

______

Lucia Evans accusation of sexual assault against Weinstein was originally included, and then dropped, from the New York case.

I am so impressed by the women who participated in the criminal case up through the verdict. Witnessing firsthand many of the obstacles that stood in their way only deepens my appreciation of their courage. I truly wish I was given the opportunity to stand next to them, to see my case through to the end.

Hopefully this gives more women the strength to come forward.

It really took a village of women to do this.

______

Roger Canaff is a lawyer and former New York City sex crimes prosecutor.

Its a tremendous victory for the Manhattan DAs office  one of the most impressive and surprising convictions Ive seen in 25 years of doing this work.

I think that more offices will be encouraged to bring more difficult cases because of this verdict.

I really do think this verdict is going to be looked at as a very important milestone in how powerful men are going to be held accountable.

I think this is indicative of a change in how we are going to view acceptable male behaviour, how we may be able to hold offenders like Weinstein, powerful men, and powerful women, how we can hold those offenders accountable, not only in the court of public opinion, but courts of law as well.

______

Zelda Perkins is a former Miramax assistant who was the first woman to break a nondisclosure agreement with Weinstein.

Harvey going down for five years, 10 years, is not the end of this. This does not solve the problem. We cant all just turn our eyes back to normal life and think everything is OK.

The fight absolutely doesnt stop here. I think Harvey has become the ogre and the figurehead of this awful situation, but he is not the only one. And I think we have to remember that #MeToo was not about Harvey Weinstein. Tarana Burke did not start #MeToo because of Weinstein.

#MeToo has not been finished by him going to jail. And I hope this is the beginning of judges and juries understanding and taking the nuances of abuses of power more seriously.

Jodi Kantor, Megan Twohey, Grace Ashford, Catrin Einhorn and Ellen Gabler c.2020 The New York Times Company
 Flash

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's resignation has officially been accepted by the country's king, chief secretary to the government Mohd Zuki Ali said on Monday.



King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who served as the ceremonial Malaysian head of state, also appointed Mahathir to serve as the interim prime minister until a new one could be appointed to the position according to constitutional provisions, he said.

The Prime Minister's Office said earlier in the day that the 94-year-old has tendered his resignation.

"Mahathir Mohamad had sent a letter of resignation as Prime Minister of Malaysia today," the Office said in a statement.

Mahathir himself has neither spoken publicly since announcing his resignation nor provided any reason or explanation for doing so.

Earlier the president of Mahathir's Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), which was one of the four component parties of the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, said the party was leaving the coalition.

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.
Investors have rushed out of equities and into havens such as gold and US government bonds following a surge in coronavirus cases in Italy, South Korea and Iran over the weekend that intensified concerns over the global impact of the virus, Financial Times writes in the article Global stocks slide after Italys coronavirus lockdown. European equities opened sharply lower on Monday. The continent-wide Stoxx 600 tumbled 3 per cent in its heaviest sell-off since late 2018. Germanys Dax and Frances CAC 40 dropped 3.3 per cent, while the UKs FTSE 100 fell 2.7 per cent.

The drop echoed falls in several major Asian markets. Seouls Kospi sustained a particularly severe blow, falling 3.9 per cent  its worst day since late 2018  after South Korea raised its infectious disease alert to its highest level for the first time in a decade. S&P 500 futures, which track Wall Streets benchmark stock barometer, dropped 2.2 per cent with several hours to go before the opening bell in New York.

The sell-off came after Italy imposed a strict quarantine across at least 10 towns, as authorities battled to contain the biggest outbreak of the virus outside Asia. Officials said on Sunday that a third person in Italy had died from the virus as a sharp rise in the infection count to 152 fuelled fears over the diseases spread through Europe.

Robert Carnell, chief Asia-Pacific economist at ING, said: Markets [are] likely to show extreme caution in the face of [the] global spread of the coronavirus  this is no longer solely an Asia issue.

Assets that are considered to be shelters during times of rising market jitters rallied. The 10-year Treasury yield, which moves inversely to price, fell 9 basis points to 1.38 per cent, the lowest level since July 2016. Gold rallied 1.5 per cent to $1,667 a troy ounce  lifting the yellow metals price to the highest level in seven years.

Oil, one of the commodities that has been hit by concerns the coronavirus outbreak will stunt global economic growth, declined on Monday. Brent crude, the global marker, fell 2.8 per cent to $56.89 a barrel. The coronavirus outbreak is starting to rattle . . . asset markets and should keep weighing on commodities demand, said Aakash Doshi, head of commodities research in North America at Citigroup. If virus risks keep spreading outside of China, causing broader downturns in equities and [corporate bond] markets, commodities prices should face further short-term headwinds.

Chinese authorities reported that only 11 new cases had been discovered outside Hubei on Sunday, which would suggest the spread of the virus had slowed in the rest of the country. President Xi Jinpings administration has been racing to contain the epidemic outside Hubei province, where it originated, to bring the worlds second-largest economy back up to full speed as soon as possible.

But in an indication of just how difficult that will be, Mr Xi told thousands of Chinese government and Communist party officials on Sunday that the epidemic was the most difficult public health challenge the party had faced, and that it had also exposed obvious shortcomings in governance.
SCHALMONT  As State Police continue to investigate the fatal overdose of a local high school student, the head of a state mental health advocacy group says school districts across New York are adopting a more holistic response to such episodes.

The circumstances surrounding the death of the 18-year-old Princetown resident remain unclear. State Police responded to a residence  not the teen's home  at 6:48 a.m. Saturday; he was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Authorities have not released his name.

Schalmont Central school district Superintendent Carol Pallas shared the news with the community Sunday in a letter posted on the school's website that said the Rotterdam K-12 district would provide counseling and bereavement support services to students and staff.

Student death is a difficult and challenging situation that can generate a high level of anxiety and distress in some students," Pallas wrote. Although most adolescents have a mature understanding of death, they often view themselves as invincible and not subject to the 'rules' that govern others.

The letter urged parents to talk to their children to help them work through their grief or concerns and monitor their use of social media to further assess if they need more assistance. This is a difficult time for everyone, but I know our students and staff will be able to lean on each other as they remember their classmate, Pallas wrote in conclusion.

Averill Park Central School District Superintendent Jim Franchini said Monday that the district has a variety of programs in place to deal with the social and emotional welfare of students.

He said the county mental health clinic housed at the middle school was "part of the district's response to the ever-increasing needs of our students and their families."

There are also substance abuse counselors at the middle school and high school as part of the partnership with the county, Franchini said.

He also said the district provides opportunities during the school day for what he described as "student connection time with mental well-being in mind."

Averill Park High School students get a 20-minute period where teens can do everything from meet with counselors and tackle make-up work or go to the gym to just chill.

He said the goal is to connect youngsters to each other as well as to adults and the school  to make them part of a community.

A few years ago, this quiet suburb was rocked by the heroin overdose deaths of several former students.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The plans that we have in place are for any type of unfortunate crisis-type event  suicide, an overdose, car accident, said Franchini, who added that the district has a building-level crisis team as well as a district-wide one.

A spokeswoman for the Schenectady school district said that while they have not had any opioid-related student deaths, the crisis team  which includes clinicians  will respond to such incidents by identifying those who knew the student and his or her network of friends.

"We immediately work with and support these students and any student who might be affected by providing grief counseling and support within the school," Karen Corona said in an email.

Glenn Liebman, CEO of the Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc., said Monday that increasing numbers of youngsters who suffer from depression and anxiety often self-medicate.

When you self-medicate, unfortunately (and) sadly there are too many situations when somebody gets addicted to an opioid, and then from there it might move on to something like heroin, and you could have a tragic situation, said Liebman, whose group provides resources and support for schools across the state.

He faulted social media and cyberbullying for making socially awkward teens even more susceptible to feelings of isolation.

New York, he noted, was the first state in the nation to mandate teaching mental health in schools.

The law by itself, while very significant, become much more about, Lets look at the bigger picture here  lets look at school environment, lets look at school climate,' Liebman said. "But what else can we do?"
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Democrats unleashed a roaring assault against Bernie Sanders and seized on Mike Bloombergs past with women in the workplace during a contentious debate Tuesday night that tested the strength of the two men at the centre of the partys presidential nomination fight.

As the undeniable Democratic front-runner, Sanders faced the brunt of the attacks for much of the night, and for one of the few times, fellow progressive Elizabeth Warren was among the critics. The Massachusetts senator pressed the case that she could execute ideas that the Vermont senator could only talk about.

Bernie and I agree on a lot of things, she said. But I think I would make a better president than Bernie.

A group of moderates, meanwhile, fought to emerge as the chief Sanders alternative.

Former Vice-President Joe Biden, who is seeking a strong win in South Carolina to keep his campaign afloat, argued only he has the experience to lead in the world. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota repeatedly contended that she alone could win the votes of battleground state moderates. And Pete Buttigieg pointed to Sanders self-described democratic socialism and his recent comments expressing admiration for Cuban dictator Fidel Castros push for education.

I am not looking forward to a scenario where it comes down to Donald Trump with his nostalgia for the social order of the 1950s and Bernie Sanders with a nostalgia for the revolutionary politics of the 1960s, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, declared.

But the moderates did little to draw separation among themselves, a dynamic that has so far only benefited the Vermont senator. Sanders fought back throughout the night, pointing to polls that showed him beating the Republican president and noting all the recent attention hes gotten: Im hearing my name mentioned a little bit tonight. I wonder why?

The intensity of Tuesdays forum, with candidates repeatedly shouting over each other, reflected the reality that the Democrats establishment wing is quickly running out of time to stop Sanders rise. Even some critics, Bloomberg among them, conceded that Sanders could build an insurmountable delegate lead as soon as next week.

The 10th debate of the 2020 primary season, sponsored by CBS and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, was just four days before South Carolinas first-in-the-South primary and one week before more than a dozen states vote on Super Tuesday. The Democratic White House hopefuls will not stand side-by-side on the debate stage again until the middle of March. That made Tuesdays debate likely the last chance for some candidates to save themselves and alter the trajectory of the nomination fight.

Though Sanders was at the centre of the attacks, the night was actually something of a high point in his political career. After spending nearly three decades as an agitator who delighted in tearing into his partys establishment, that very party establishment was suddenly fighting to take him down, a clear sign of his rising status as the leading candidate for the nomination.

Bloomberg also faced sustained attacks that gave him an opportunity to redeem himself after a bad debate debut one week earlier. Warren cut hard at his record as a businessman, bringing up reports of one particular allegation that he told a pregnant employee to kill it, a reference to the womans unborn child. Bloomberg fiercely denied the allegation, but acknowledged he sometimes made comments that were inappropriate.

Bloomberg cannot earn the trust of the core of the Democratic Party, Warren said. He is the riskiest candidate standing on this stage.

But Bloomberg will likely remain a force in the contest even as other candidates may quickly face tough choices about the sustainability of their campaigns. Bloomberg has already spent more than $500 million on a national advertising campaign, and his fortune ensures he will remain a factor at least through Super Tuesday.

From the earliest moments of the debate, Bloomberg sought to portray a clear contrast with Sanders. He said Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agree that Sanders would be the best outcome for the Democrats.

Vladimir Putin thinks Donald Trump should be president of the United States and thats why Russia is helping you get elected so you lose to him, Bloomberg said.

Last week, Sanders acknowledged that hed be been briefed by intelligence officials who said that Russia is attempting to interfere in the elections to benefit him. He responded to Bloomberg on Tuesday with a direct statement for Putin: Hey, Mr. Putin, if Im president of the United States, trust me youre not going to interfere in any more American elections.

But the skepticism for Sanders was a constant.

Buttigieg raised concerns that a Sanders nomination would cost Democrats the House and make it harder to retake the Senate.

Were not going to win these critical, critical House and Senate races if people in those races have to explain why the nominee of the Democratic Party is telling people to look at the bright side of the Castro regime, Buttigieg said.

And Bloomberg said Sanders wouldnt be able to build a winning coalition that includes Republicans unhappy with Trumps performance in the White House.

Can anyone in this room imagine moderate Republican going over and voting for him, he said. You have to do that or you cant win.

Warren, who raised questions about Sanders electability earlier in the night, intercepted that criticism, arguing that a progressive agenda is popular.

The South Carolina contest offers the first real look at the influence African American voters play in the Democrats presidential nomination process. Biden is trying to make a big impression in in the state, where he was long viewed as the unquestioned front-runner because of his support from black voters. But heading into Saturdays primary after three consecutive underwhelming finishes, there were signs that the former vice-presidents African American support may be slipping.

One reason: Tom Steyer. The billionaire activist has been pouring money into African American outreach, which threatens to peel away some of the support Biden badly needs.

Steyer noted Tuesday that he was the only candidate on stage who supported reparations for descendants of slaves.

Bloomberg, who for years defended New York Citys stop-and-frisk policing policy that a federal court struck down, made an overt appeal to the nations black voters.

I know that if I were black, my success would have been a lot harder to achieve, he said. Thats a fact that weve got to do something about.

The attacks against Sanders did not slow as the night went on.

He was forced to defend his position on Israel, having condemned the American ally for its treatment of Palestinians.

Sadly, tragically in Israel, through Bibi Netanyahu, you have a reactionary racist, who is now running that country, said Sanders. who would be the countrys first Jewish president. He added: What you cannot ignore is the suffering of the Palestinian people.

And Biden slammed Sanders for his record on gun control, seizing on the Vermont senators support of the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, legislation that protects gun manufacturers and sellers from laws that attempt to hold them liable for dealing firearms that end up in the hand of criminals.

My friend to my right, and others, have in fact also given in to gun manufacturers absolute immunity, said Biden. Imagine if I stood here and said, We give immunity to drug companies. We give immunity to tobacco companies.

That has caused carnage on our streets. 

Sanders proudly highlighted his D minus rating from the pro-gun organization. And just last week, several gun control advocates who survived the Parkland, Florida, school shooting endorsed him.

Moving forward from the fiery debate, there are questions about the Democratic Partys ability to unify behind a nominee .

Klobuchar perhaps summed up her partys challenge best: If we spend the next 10 months tearing our party apart, Donald Trump is going to spend the next four years tearing this country apart.

___

Peoples and Madhani reported from Washington.

___

Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, Ground Game.
Walt Disney Co on Tuesday said Robert Iger will step down as chief executive officer, to be replaced by Bob Chapek, effective immediately. Chapek, who will be the seventh CEO in the company's nearly 100-year history, has most recently served as the chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. Iger will continue in the role of chairman through the end of his contract on Dec. 31, 2021, Disney said. Iger, who has been CEO since 2005, has led the company through the development and launch of its Disney+ streaming service, which launched in November to demand that ...
SYDNEY, February 24 (Peoples Daily Online/Quanjiao Wang, Yuting Ma) Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia, Australian leaders and Chinese communities have conveyed heart-warming messages of sympathy and support for Wuhan and other parts of China.

On February 19, Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews launched the Stronger Together campaign to tackle some of the challenges arising from the COVID-19 outbreak and to urge Victorians to come together in support.

As part of the push, some of Victorias most important buildings, including the Arts Centre, the NGV, the Melbourne Museum, Melbourne Town Hall and Flinders Street Station, have been illuminated in red and gold as a symbol of solidarity with Chinese Victorians on February 21.

China has been Western Australias largest trading partner for the past decade. In early February, Mark McGowan, Premier of WA, expressed his support for China and the Chinese People. He stated in a press conference, We need to maintain our strong relationship with China both now and into the future. Together, we need to support our local Chinese community in Western Australia. This is not a time for discrimination, this is a time for support.

In Queensland, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that It is very important that people do not discriminate against our Chinese community. They are so involved, they contribute so much to our community, and all of the communities are absolutely doing the right thing, especially families returning from China.

The city of Sydney adopted the agenda Solidarity with the People of Wuhan on February 17. Clover Moore, the Lord Mayor of Sydney, mentioned in the council, My concern is for the people of Wuhan, Hubei Province and other areas of China where people have become ill and have experienced severe disruption in their daily lives.

She also encouraged Australian manufacturers of protective medical equipment to contact Chinese local governments with offers of assistance, which the Lord Mayors office can facilitate.

Some local businesses conveyed their support through media interviews, newspaper articles, short videos and so on.

On February 12, FMG Chairman Andrew Forrest and CEO Elizabeth Gains published an article in the West Australian Lets Show Support to China, in which they called for strong support for China: We are confident the Chinese people will rebound with the resilience they have demonstrated time and again over thousands of years and FMG will continue to support China throughout this hardship and beyond.

As a result of the impact brought by the virus outbreak, the Geraldton Fishermen Co-operative has decided to suspend its operations, but all the fishermen are confident that there will be a quick and big rebound once the epidemic is over. They also sent messages of support to the Chinese people. Chinese people are famous for their strength and resilience. We know that this will pass and the Chinese people will prevail.

Many Australian Chinese communities and companies immediately responded by fully mobilizing to make donations or send much-needed medical supplies. On 11 February, leaders of over 30 Chinese Associations in Western Australia gathered together and expressed support for China and Wuhan.

In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, overseas Chinese students also made full efforts to raise funds and supplies in support of China.
Seeking an inquiry into the recent violence erupted between pro and anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in the capital, BJP's Sudhir Mungantiwar on Tuesday said that he is of the suspicion that Pakistan is behind the violence in Delhi.

"I seek an inquiry into the violence took place in Delhi. I wonder, is this all being done by Pakistan? I demand the central government to strongly quell the riots," Mungantiwar told ANI.

The senior BJP leader also alleged that some external forces which support Pakistan are behind the unrest in the country.

"I feel that some people can't take the way this government prospers and Pakistan is stooping down in various aspects. Riots like this happen out of that fear," Mungantiwar added.

This came after clashes between pro and anti-CAA protesters took place at various places in the North-East District of Delhi on Monday where five including four civilians and one police head constable lost their lives and over a 100 were injured.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Demonstrators and supporters who blocked one of the main rail lines in Hamilton and halted rush hour GO service on Monday evening suggest they arent going anywhere soon.

After the OPP dismantled the rail blockade in Tyendinaga on Monday that has garnered national attention in solidarity with the B.C. Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs, it didnt take long for new ones to appear  including the one in Hamilton and another in nearby Caledonia.

Theyve put out the comment that they are going to stay there indefinitely, supporter Sonia Hill said of the protesters blocking the track connecting Hamilton and Burlington near York Boulevard. They are standing with Wetsuweten.

A group on Facebook called Wetsuweten Strong: Hamilton in Solidarity says they are blocking trains in response to the OPPs action on the blockade near Belleville in eastern Ontario.

Our intention is to stay here indefinitely and we are calling on others to join us, a post to the Facebook group reads.

At 5:45 p.m., GO transit posted on Twitter that trains bound for Hamilton GO would be held at Aldershot due to a group of people near our tracks.

About 20 to 30 protesters were involved and stationed themselves in a CN rail yard near the Lakeshore West line that goes towards Niagara Falls, said Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins. The tracks dont belong to Go Transit but nonetheless are preventing their trains from running through both stations.

A Facebook post from the protest group suggests the blockade is located near York Boulevard on the section of land separating Hamilton and Burlington between Cootes Paradise and Hamilton Harbour.

We dont have access to those tracks so were going to be stopping trains at Aldershot to stay safe, she told the Star.

Hamilton police, CN Rail police and Metrolinx security are on scene monitoring the situation, she said.

Trains will not be running through the Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Hamilton, and West Harbour stations during the Tuesday morning rush hour as a result, Marie Aikins said. Shuttle buses will provide service in the meantime.

Because our trains got stopped, so they didnt get to go where theyre supposed to go, and so they are in the wrong position for the morning service, she said. They have settled in it looks like, there are chairs, and fires, and so forth.

Police were preventing anyone  both media and members of the public  from getting much closer than a half a kilometre from the blockade. What appeared to be two fires could be seen from the location where police are preventing access. Police were also walking along the tracks with flashlights.

Hill, a Mohawk woman from Six Nations, was leaving the demonstration with three other supporters voluntarily around 7:30 p.m. She would not say how many protesters remained at the site but said a good amount remained. More than 15 police officers were also on the tracks, she said.

Its ridiculous, she said of the police presence.

Her message to the public is that those gathered are protecting the land and standing in solidarity with Wetsuweten.

Until RCMP are actually cleared out of Wetsuweten land ... theyll continue to stand here in Hamilton, she said. Im coming back tomorrow.

The Hamilton in Solidarity Facebook group posted a video of a campfire, urging supporters to join them  but warning people to come in groups because there are cops! The posting suggests people slip through a guardrail fence, possibly using a rope to go down a steep embankment.

CP and CN rail police were on the tracks near the blockade, while Hamilton police were securing a perimeter.

Also ongoing Monday evening, demonstrators were blocking Highway 6, causing traffic delays in Caledonia, say Ontario Provincial Police.

Const. Rodney LeClair said the blockade began Monday afternoon. The Highway 6 bypass remained closed between Argyle Street South and Greens Road as of 8 p.m.

LeClair said he believes the demonstration is in solidarity with the Wetsuweten protests across the country.

We are monitoring and assisting with traffic control, he said of the polices role at the demonstration. Our primary goal is to preserve the peace and maintain a safe environment for everyone involved.

The nation-wide demonstrations stem from disputes over a TransCanada pipeline in British Columbia. The northern B.C. regions Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs are insistent that the Coastal GasLink pipeline project not go ahead on their traditional territory.

With files from Miriam Lafontaine

Katrina Clarke is a Hamilton-based reporter at the Spectator. Reach her via email: katrinaclarke@thespec.com

Read more about:
ROME, N.Y.  Anyone who ate at Cianfroccos Subs & Wings in Rome from Feb. 3  22 may have been exposed to Hepatitis A, according to the Oneida County Health Department (OCHD).

An employee has tested positive for Hep A and worked at the East Dominick Street restaurant while infected.

Photo courtesy of Cianfrocco's Facebook page Photo courtesy of Cianfrocco's Facebook page

The OCHD says people who dined in or ate out from Cianfroccos during this time frame must receive preventive treatment within 14 days. The health department says the vaccine will not be effective for anyone exposed prior to Feb. 12.

Signs of exposure include:

Yellow skin or eyes

Loss of appetite

Upset stomach

Stomach pain

Vomiting

Fever

Dark urine or light-colored stool

Joint pain

Diarrhea

Feeling tired

Symptoms typically show up within 28 days of exposure, but can take up to 50 days.

Hepatitis A is spread by using utensils or consuming food or drinks touched by an infected person.

Anyone who may be affected, or is showing symptoms, should call their health care provider or OCHD at 315-798-5747.

The restaurant has been notified and is cooperating with the health department.
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REXBURG, Idaho, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Home Care Pulse, a leading provider of data analytics and benchmarking solutions for home care agencies, has today announced a company merger with In the Know, an online caregiver training platform with a 20-year history of serving companies across the senior care market.

In recent years, Home Care Pulse has expanded its suite of data, analytics, and technology tools with a vision of providing detailed business insights to agencies and improved outcomes for both clients and caregivers. This merger will enhance Home Care Pulse's ability to execute that vision by empowering agencies with actionable solutions and critical data-driven insights.

"For years, Home Care Pulse has been the industry leader in collecting and analyzing data to help agencies understand how to improve their businesses," said Erik Madsen, CEO of Home Care Pulse. "Our vision is to build on that foundation by offering not just the insight on what needs to be done, but also the tools to help them do it. In the Know's mobile-friendly caregiver training platform offers a best-in-class curriculum and an easy-to-use experience that promotes better patient outcomes and higher caregiver engagement and retention."

Linda Leekley, CEO of In the Know, notes that "as regulatory oversight increases and caregiver retention continues to be a major challenge in the senior care industry, a robust training platform is no longer a 'nice-to-have'it's critical to business success." Leekley, an RN who founded In the Know, says that she "is thrilled to join the Home Care Pulse family because it creates an opportunity to amplify the impact of In the Know's training programs and better serve home care agencies, as well their caregivers and customers."

In the near term, both teams will focus on integrating each companies' platforms to ensure a seamless experience for administrators. Organizations can take advantage of combined product discounts starting today. Over time, that integration will include EMR integrations, advanced office staff training, and outcomes-based training recommendations based on real-time feedback from caregivers and clients.

According to Madsen, "Today's merger sets the stage for Home Care Pulse to become a platform for both insights and solutions in home care and across other senior care verticals. This is the first of several steps we're planning to solidify our vision of pairing 360-degree insights with a complete suite of tools to drive outcomes from those insights."

ABOUT HOME CARE PULSE:

Home Care Pulse leads the home care industry in quality assurance, performance benchmarking, and data solutions. On behalf of agencies across North America, Home Care Pulse surveys over 15,000 clients/caregivers monthly to gather satisfaction scores and feedback on how they can improve. Home Care Pulse also provides tools to monitor, analyze, and generate more online reviews; conducts the annual Home Care Benchmarking Study, the most comprehensive survey of North American home care providers; and administers the annual Best of Home Care awards to agencies that achieve best-in-class client and caregiver satisfaction scores.

ABOUT IN THE KNOW:

In the Know is a nationally recognized training provider that has spent over 20 years helping 6,000 healthcare organizations train, engage, and retain more caregivers. All In the Know training materials are written by registered nurses who have trained and supervised caregivers in environments ranging from the college classroom to the kitchen table. In addition, every course is developed by a skilled team of instructional designers focused on interactivity, immersive learning, and a mobile-friendly experience.

Related Links:

https://www.homecarepulse.com

https://www.knowingmore.com

Press Contact:

Todd Austin

Chief Operating Officer

[email protected]

208-656-6209

SOURCE Home Care Pulse
A court in Mumbai on Tuesday



sentenced four persons to seven years in jail for assaulting and robbing a building contractor in suburban Vile Parle in 2013.

Judge UM Padwad found main accused Kamlesh Saha and three others guilty under sections 394 (voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery), 397 (robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) of the Indian Penal Code.

Saha, a domestic help of building contractor Suketu Shah, on December 21, 2013 barged into the latter's house with three others, all armed with choppers, and tied him up.

While they were looting cash, jewellery and mobile phones, Shah managed to call the police, which arrived and entered the house after breaking a window and nabbed the four red-handed.

Saha had joined work at Shah's home two days prior to the incident, police said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
He says he hopes Ukraine may retake the eastern border by the end of the year.

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov says there is a 50% probability that local elections will be held in the Russia-occupied part of Donbas.

Read alsoUkraine's NSDC: Impossible to supply water to Crimea amid Russian occupation

Speaking in an interview for the media outlet Liga.net, he mentioned former U.S. special envoy Kurt Volker's words about doubts that such elections might happen.

"Another thing is that Volker does not believe that the elections will be held, and he says he is 100% sure. I can say I don't believe either but with a 50% probability," Danilov said.

The NSDC secretary says he hopes Ukraine may retake the eastern border by the end of the year and form joint patrols with members of local communities.

At the same time, Danilov said, such patrols might include persons from the occupied part of Donbas, but only those with a Ukrainian passport and registration.

"How the patrols will be formed is a matter of protocols and approvals. An international institution should definitely participate in this: let it be the OSCE or any other, there are many of them in the world," he said.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hopes that elections in Donbas will be held this autumn simultaneously with the local elections throughout the country.
Irans deputy health minister and a reformist politician have reported they have tested positive for the new coronavirus as the crisis over the outbreak continued to mount in the country.



Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi and Mahmud Sadeghi, a member of parliament, separately confirmed on February 25 that they have been stricken by the COVID-19 virus, which has already killed at least 16 people in Iran and infected dozens of others.



Harirchi, who has been vocal in attempting to reassure citizens amid the crisis, was seen coughing and wiping sweat from his face during a video news conference in Tehran.



I, too, have been infected with coronavirus," Harirchi said in the video that appeared shot by himself.



"I had a fever as of last night, and my preliminary test was positive around midnight," he said.



"I've isolated myself in a place since. A few minutes ago, I was told that my test was final, and now I am starting medication.



Meanwhile, Sadeghi, who represents Tehran in parliament, wrote on Twitter that "my corona test is positive...I don't have a lot of hope of continuing life in this world."



He also urged Iranian authorities to release the countrys political prisoners to allow them to stay with family during the outbreak to prevent them from becoming infected.



Sadeghi, who in the past has accused the government of not taking the crisis seriously, urged authorities to "gain public confidence by telling the truth."

Iran has said 16 people have died from the coronavirus and that 95 others have been infected, although many people have expressed concerns that Tehran is underreporting the figures.



U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on February 25 that "the United States was deeply concerned by information indicating the Iranian regime may have suppressed vital details about the outbreak in that country."



Harirchi, who has previously disputed allegations of underreporting, said in his video that "I wanted to tell you that...we will definitely be victorious against this virus in the next few weeks.".



Fears of a coronavirus pandemic grew this week after sharp rises in new cases in Iran, Italy, and South Korea. The virus has infected more than 80,000 people globally, causing around 2,700 deaths, mainly in China.

With reporting by RFE/RLs Radio Farda, Reuters, AFP, and Al-Arabiya
VMware Makes Comprehensive Workload and Network Security More Economical and Easier to Operate Inside Data Centers and Clouds

RSA (News - Alert) CONFERENCE -- VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW), a leading innovator in enterprise software, today announced new innovations to advance the company's strategy to make security intrinsic to the digital enterprise. Intrinsic security makes protecting critical applications and data more automated, proactive and pervasive across the entire distributed enterprise. Today's announcements, made at RSA Conference 2020, include:

New VMware Advanced Security for Cloud Foundation, which will enable customers to replace legacy security solutions and deliver unified protection across private and public clouds

Advancements to the VMware Carbon Black Cloud, which including automated correlation with the MITRE ATT&CK framework and upcoming prevention coverage for Linux machines

New VMware Secure State auto-remediation capabilities to automate actions across cloud environments and proactively reduce risk

On Wednesday, February 26 at 10:30 a.m. PT in Moscone West, VMware's Sanjay Poonen will deliver a keynote address: "Rethink the Way You Secure Your Organization with Intrinsic Security," which will discuss how making security intrinsic can unlock new advantages and make life easier for security practitioners.

"There has never been a more challenging and exciting time in security," said Sanjay Poonen, chief operating officer, customer operations, VMware. "Attacker sophistication, security threats, breaches, and exploits are becoming more prevalent with no end in sight. And with cloud, new applications, pervasive mobility, IoT, and data at the edge, the problem is only getting harder to solve. There must be a new approach to cybersecurity - one that is built-in, unified and context-centric. We believe the best strategy and approach is to make security intrinsic, enabling organizations to leverage their infrastructure and its unique capabilities across any app, any cloud and any device to better secure the world's digital infrastructure - from networks, to endpoints, to workloads, to identities, to clouds."

"Our members rely on us to deliver best-in-class financial services," said Mark Fournier, Systems Architect for the U.S. Senate Federal Credit Union. "VMware has put our team in a position to deliver consistent innovation, evolve our digital transformation and keep our data better secured amidst an attack landscape that's constantly evolving. VMware's ability to deliver and help secure our digital infrastructure gives us the confidence that we're staying ahead of the latest threats in an environment where cybersecurity is built into the fabric of our enterprise, not just bolted on."

New VMware Advanced Security for Cloud Foundation

Data breaches are increasingly devastating, often wiping out billions in market capitalization and costing public company CEOs their jobs. Damage rarely results from a single compromised server. It results from attackers moving laterally (East-West) through the datacenter from a single point of compromise, often for months, as they locate, harvest and exfiltrate sensitive data. Most security professional know this, but struggle to adequately protect their data centers. A survey commissioned by VMware and conducted by Forrester Consulting shows that 75 percent of respondents depend on perimeter firewalls, however East-West security controls need to be different than those for traditional perimeter (North-South) security as 73 percent of respondents believe their existing East-West traffic is not adequately protected (1) .

VMware is specifically addressing the internal data center security challenge with the new VMware Advanced Security for Cloud Foundation, which will include VMware Carbon Black technology, VMware NSX Advanced Load Balancer with Web Application Firewall capabilities and VMware NSX Distributed IDS/IPS. Each one is purpose-built for the data center and together deliver a unique and more comprehensive data center security solution. Also, all three will tightly integrate into VMware vSphere, the industry standard for data center workloads, enabling world-class security to follow orkloads wherever they go through their entire life.







World class data center security starts with a strong foundation-properly protecting data center workloads. VMware Carbon Black technology protects workloads with Real-time Workload Audit/Remediation, Next-Generation Antivirus (NGAV) and Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR). VMware Carbon Black will be tightly integrated with VMware vSphere to yield an "agentless" solution, eliminating the need to insert antivirus and other agents. Instead, endpoint telemetry will be managed and gathered via built-in sensors protected by the hypervisor. This also means, unlike agent-based solutions, the hypervisor will be able to detect if an attacker attempts to gain root access and tamper with the VMware Carbon Black technology - all from a separate trust domain.

The web server is the "front door" of the data center, and NSX Advanced Load Balancer / Web Application Firewall safeguards this frequent point of attack. Often customers using hardware-based solutions with fixed capacity will turn off security filtering under heavy loads, leaving critical servers vulnerable. The unique, scale-out software architecture of the NSX Web Application Firewall helps confirm web servers have enough computation capacity for maximum security filtering even under peak loads. The NSX Web Application Firewall uses rich understanding of applications, automated learning, and app-specific rules to provide strong security with lower false positives.

Behind the web tier, micro-segmentation and in-band East-West firewalling helps prevent lateral movement of attackers. The VMware NSX Distributed IDS/IPS, a new capability of the VMware NSX Service-defined Firewall, will provide intrusion detection on the many different services that make up an application making it easier to get deep visibility. The distributed architecture of NSX Distributed IDS/IPS will enable advanced filtering to be applied to every hop of the application, significantly reducing the blind spots created when using traditional perimeter security products. Policies will be automatically generated and enforced on an application-specific basis, thereby lowering false positives.

For more information on VMware Advanced Security for Cloud Foundation read this blog.

VMware Carbon Black Cloud Enhancements

VMware has introduced automated correlation with MITRE ATT&CK framework Technique IDs (TIDs)-a list of common tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs)-built into the VMware Carbon Black Cloud. Using MITRE's ATT&CK framework, customers can begin searching for specific TTPs based on MITRE ATT&CK techniques within the VMware Carbon Black Cloud to discover potential threats and identify areas of improvement in their security posture.

VMware Carbon Black has also integrated with the Microsoft (News - Alert) Windows Anti-Malware Scanning Interface (AMSI) to provide additional visibility by decoding obfuscated commands. Using the integration, customers will be able to seek visibility into the exact content executed by script interpreters, such as PowerShell. Customers will also be able to search across their continuously collected endpoint activity data and create custom detections based on AMSI-related script content.

Finally, VMware Carbon Black will be adding malware prevention capabilities for Linux machines. This innovation will empower customers to migrate away from other endpoint prevention solutions specific to Linux and consolidate their security programs. This addition to the VMware Carbon Black Cloud platform means customers will have the option for comprehensive security coverage across all major operating systems (Windows, Mac, and Linux).

For more information on the latest VMware Carbon Black Cloud enhancements read this blog.

VMware Secure State Counters Cloud Threats with a Flexible, In-Account Remediation Approach

With VMware Secure State's real-time detection and remediation capabilities, customers can now close the loop on cloud security and compliance to mitigate risks proactively. VMware Secure State is adding a new, flexible remediation framework to help customers automate actions across multicloud environments. Currently in Beta (2) , this solution is designed to help cloud security teams collaborate with DevOps teams and gain trust as they gradually scale best practices. The service provides pre-defined, out of the box actions or ability to create new, custom actions as code. All actions can be targeted to selectively remediate resources based on conditions such as cloud accounts, regions or resource tags.

Security teams will also get comprehensive capabilities for managing overall cloud risk. To address existing misconfigurations, they can either bulk remediate violations themselves or publish actions to delegate decisions to DevOps teams. In order to prevent new misconfigurations, they can build guardrails that auto-remediate violations at real-time speed. With an extensible, policy as code approach, users can programmatically execute all remediations as code using API and integrate them within the CI/CD pipeline. No matter how actions are triggered, customers maintain centralized visibility into remediation progress and changes to cloud resources.

For more information about VMware Secure State auto-remediation, read this blog.

VMware at RSA Conference 2020

The new portfolio offerings, product demos and more will be on display this week at the RSA Conference in the Moscone North Expo, booth #6145. VMware Carbon Black will be in Moscone Expo North, booth #5873. In addition to Poonen's keynote address on February 26, VMware will host two breakout sessions during the conference. On February 25 at 2:20 p.m. PT in Moscone South, VMware's SVP and GM of Network Security, Tom Gillis, will deliver "Unshackle Legacy Security Restrictions for 2020 and Beyond." On February 26 at 1:00 pm PT in Moscone South, VMware Carbon Black's Cybersecurity Strategist, Rick McElroy, and Senior Threat Researcher, Greg Foss, will deliver "2020 ATT&CK Vision: Correlating TTPs to Disrupt Advanced Cyber Attacks."

About VMware

VMware software powers the world's complex digital infrastructure. The company's cloud, networking and security, and digital workspace offerings provide a dynamic and efficient digital foundation to customers globally, aided by an extensive ecosystem of partners. Headquartered in Palo Alto (News - Alert), California, VMware is committed to being a force for good, from its breakthrough innovations to its global impact. For more information, please visit https://www.vmware.com/company.html

(1) 'To Enable Zero Trust, Rethink Your Firewall Strategy' - a Forrester (News - Alert) Consulting thought leadership paper commissioned by VMware, February 2020

(2) There is no commitment or obligation that beta features will become generally available

VMware, VMware Advanced Security, VMware Secure State, Carbon Black, NSX, and NSX Service-Defined Firewall are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other jurisdictions. This article may contain hyperlinks to non-VMware websites that are created and maintained by third parties who are solely responsible for the content on such websites.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005407/en/
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.
mCig's Online Sales Increase 400%



JACKSONVILLE, FL, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- mCig, Inc. (MCIG), an innovative biotech company focused on development and commercialization of over the counter, science-driven, botanical nutrigenetics targeting the endocannabinoid system, medical devices, and research & development today announced that its online sales (http://bareroots-rx.com) jumped considerably in the month of February. When comparing results to the month of January, recent sales results show growth in the range of over 425%.

The initial market response has been extremely gratifying to see, commented Paul Rosenberg, CEO of MCIG Inc. Following the official launch of our new online CBD sales portal, traffic has been strong and we anticipate robust sales growth ahead.

The company plans to further pursue the prevailing consolidation market opportunity by acquiring smaller companies. Multiple CBD Investment market analysts have forecasted a market wide consolidation as larger cannabis sector firms acquire smaller firms.

The management today indicated plans to strike a deal with a CBD SKIN CARE company in the next couple of weeks.

Consumer demand for CBD-infused beauty products has prompted major retailers such as Walgreens, Sephora and CVS. Additionally, major cosmetic brands like Estee Lauder and others plan to move into this emerging sector. CBD has a broad range of benefits in topical application, including antioxidants for anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, acne and more, said Dale Hipes, Chief Executive Officer of BareRoots Rx.

About MCIG Group

Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, mCig, Inc. (MCIG) is a diversified company servicing the legal cannabis, hemp and CBD markets via its lifestyle brands.

The Company has been featured in media nationwide, including CNBC, Bloomberg, TheStreet.com. For more information, visit www.mciggroup.com .

Visit us on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/mCigInc/

Follow us on Twitter @mcigInc

Story continues

About BareRoots Rx Inc.

The company focused on the development and commercialization of OTC, science-driven, botanical nutrigenetics, that target the endocannabinoid system. BareRoots Rx Inc. also delivers high-quality consumer and OTC THC-free CBD products that promote overall health and well being as well as state-of-the-art testing and analytics capabilities to our customers.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include predictions, estimates or other information that might be considered forward-looking within the meaning of applicable securities laws. While these forward-looking statements represent the Companys current judgments, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the Companys management only as of the date of this release. Please keep in mind that the Company is not obligating itself to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events. When used herein, words such as: potential, expect, look forward, believe, dedicated, building, or variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements made by the Company herein are often discussed in filings the Company makes with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at www.sec.gov and on the Companys website at www.mciggroup.com .

Contact:



mCig, Inc.



Paul Rosenberg



paul@mciggroup.org
Burma Myanmar Restaurant Owner Arrested After Child Employee Burned

The 13-year-old victim at Labutta Township Hospital. / Facebook

Pathein, Ayeyarwady Region  Police on Monday evening arrested a restaurant owner who allegedly set a child employee on fire at her business last week in Labutta Township, Ayeyarwady Region.

Daw Cho Cho San, 36, allegedly doused the 13-year-old boy with fuel and set him on fire on Feb. 19 over 80,000 kyats (US$52) that was missing from the till.

A childrens rights committee member U Myint Htay opened a case with police against the owner on Sunday.

We arrested restaurant owner Daw Cho Cho San yesterday [Monday]. We will interview witnesses, Lieutenant-Colonel Tun Shwe of Ayeyarwady Region police told The Irrawaddy.

Police have charged her under Section 326 of the Penal Code for causing grievous hurt. She will be remanded in custody until March 4, according to the police.

Police have talked to witnesses. I will make sure justice is served, said U Myint Htay, who filed the complaint.

The victim suffered from burns on his face, neck, shoulder and arms and was treated at the township hospital on Feb. 20. He was transferred to Yangon General Hospital on Monday.

We suggested it would be better for him to receive treatment in Yangon. We asked his family and they said they would go to Yangon. So we transferred him to Yangon General Hospital last night, said public relations officer U Aung Myo Khaing of Labutta Public Hospital.

He was injured on his arms and shoulders and is in pain. We had to be careful in the ambulance, said U Pyinnya Lawka, a Buddhist monk who leads the Garuna Myet Wun social organization in Labutta Township.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko

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Juul Labs, Inc is reportedly developing a new vaporizer that is designed to only unlock for users older than 21.

The e-cigarette maker says an app will lock the device and it will only unlock if users can verify that they are above the legal age to smoke in the US, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The San Francisco-based company plans to submit its proposal to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by May 12.

It comes as Juul is hit with more lawsuits that allege it targeted teens and misrepresented the possible health risks of using its products, but the company claims it's committed to fighting the vaping epidemic

Juul Labs, Inc is planning to submit a proposal to the US Food and Drug Administration by May 12 for a new device that will only unlock if users can verify that they are at least 21 years old (file image)

The Journal reports that Juul's FDA proposal will be more than 250,000 pages long and include more than 110 scientific studies, a new marketing campaign and plans for reducing youth vaping.

Also included will be research that reportedly shows Juul's products have lower levels of carcinogens and toxins compared to cigarette smoke.

There are also expected to be submissions over the next few years so Juul can legally market its vapes as less harmful than cigarettes.

Juul has already introduced e-cigarettes with an age-proof lock in the UK and in Canada, according to The Journal.

The mobile app that unlocks the device can also track nicotine consumption.

To use the device, one must submit a photo as well as a government ID when first logging onto the app.

'We are committing all necessary resources to submit a scientifically rigorous PMTA designed to provide FDA with the science and evidence needed to assess the role our products can play moving smokers away from cigarettes, while combatting underage use,' Juul said in a statement to DailyMail.com.

'We respect the PMTA process and look forward to sharing our comprehensive scientific research program.'

The San-Francisco company was widely implicated in the outbreak of vaping-linked lung illnesses that began last year, peaking in September 2019 and declining ever since.

New figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released on Tuesday show more than 2,800 people have been hospitalized and at least 68 people have died in 29 states and the District of Columbia.

States with deaths include:

Alabama

California (4)

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida (2)

Georgia (6)

Illinois (5)

Indiana (6)

Kansas (2)

Kentucky

Louisiana (2)

Massachusetts (5)

Michigan (3)

Minnesota (3) Mississippi

Missouri (2)

Montana

Nebraska

New Jersey

New York (4),

Oregon (2)

Pennsylvania,

Rhode Island,

South Carolina

Tennessee (2)

Texas (4)

Utah

Virginia

Washington (2)

Most of the victims who've fallen ill are male and under the age of 35, with the ages of those who died ranging from 17 to 75.

The majority of illnesses have resulted from people vaping a combination of THC, the main psychoactive component in marijuana, and nicotine

Although Juul's products contain nicotine, not THC, politicians have used the epidemic to try and regulate the e-cigarette maker.

Several states and school districts have sued Juul including California, New York and North Carolina, and DC, claiming the e-cigarette maker's ad campaigns targeted young people and did not warn them about the risks of nicotine.

It comes as 39 states - led by the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton - launch an investigation into Juul Labs, according to a news release.

The investigation will focus on the company's marketing techniques including whether it targeted under age users, claims made about the nicotine in products and statements made about whether Juul helped former smokers quite.

And, in a sign of Juul's struggling times, the company laid off its staff of 80 in Singapore and fired its two top executives in Europe and southern Asia, reported BuzzFeed News.

The move is expected to help Juul in its goal to cut back $1billion in spending in 2020.
Expert Advice with Brett Warren

The statistics say it all  around 80% of Australians who invest in property never make it past their first investment.

This is in spite of the fact that one property will never make you richit will never even make for a comfortable retirement when you consider that this stage of your life could represent around twenty to thirty years.

So why do so many investors never make it beyond that initial property?

Quite simply, many of them make the mistake of buying with their heart rather than their head.

They abandon the research required to purchase a property that has the capacity to generate strong long term capital growth, in favour of a very short term view.

However, to create a wealth building property portfolio you must take a long term perspective, plan to succeed and keep the big picture in mind.

Buying property without first understanding certain key elements of investing is like starting a journey to a new destination without a roadmap.

Property investment should always be approached with a sound strategy in place even before you start looking for the best buy.

Lets consider the key elements of property investing that you need to know inside and out and the type of investment strategy you should implement in order to ensure success.

Why are you investing?

Many people like the idea of investing in property to make money, but this really isnt a good enough reason to go out there and do it.

You need to consider your long-term goals; do you want to secure your retirement income? Leave a legacy for your children? Have the funds to enjoy a certain lifestyle?

Once you determine what your long-term goals are, it is then time to think about how property investment can help you to reach them.

You need to create a timeline for your goals and review your progress on a regular basis to make sure you are on the right track.

2. Buying right.

At Metropole, we always aim to secure property an investment grade property for our clients - one that will outperform the averages with regards to capital growth.

And we recognise that 80% of the heavy lifting of a propertys performance comes down to its location. And then we make sure we buy the right property for that location.

Yet many investors make their main focus on price.

Ive found many novice and even some experienced investors feel theyve nabbed a bargain when they negotiate a vendor down by $20,000 off the advertised sale price.

But do they really know the true value of the property?

Only extensive research and a sound knowledge of the area, as well as the type of property youre buying ensures you will buy right.

Sure, a $20,000 discount might seem like a great outcome, but what if the true value of the property is actually $40,000 less than the asking price?

3. The importance of capital growth.

The basis of a good investment strategy is to build a portfolio of properties that will generate good long-term capital growth above and beyond all else.

This is because as your property grows in value, you can then leverage into more property by using that growing equity.

In other words, you can build your portfolio much quicker and add more and more properties over the years.

Since your finance serviceability will only allow you to buy a certain number of properties, meaning you may only ever own three or four properties, its important to own the best properties you can  they all have to be working hard for you.

4. Can you add value?

If you can buy an investment that will allow you to manufacture some capital growth by buying right and buying something that needs a bit of a facelift  its an added bonus that could mean you can build your portfolio faster.

Being able to see the potential in a tired 1970s apartment where others only see bland and boring can give you the winning edge in two ways.

Firstly you can potentially secure the property below its intrinsic value and secondly, with a coat of paint, an update of the kitchen and bathroom and perhaps some new floor and window coverings, you can not only increase the value, but also the rental income.

The key is to avoid money pits that require a lot of structural repairs, as its the cosmetic work that adds value, rather than things you cant see, such as re-wiring and re-plumbing.



5. Your financial capacity.

Do you have enough cashflow and or equity to invest in the right type of property?

Its no good buying something you can afford if its in an area that wont make for a good long term investment and generate that critical capital growth.

Sure you may only be able to afford to buy in a regional town or outer suburb, but these types of locations are less favourable for property investing than inner city suburbs because they often lack the more desirable amenity, employment prospects and popularity with tenants that are found in inner city areas.

So you need to make sure you have the funds to match your ambitions. And you need some funds in a rainy day buffer account for all those unexpected expenses.

A good mortgage broker who understands property investing can be a great ally.

They can assess your borrowing capacity and help you to establish a lending strategy that will enable you to build your portfolio with the right type of loan structure in place.

This is important because structuring your borrowing properly in the first instance can save you a lot of money in the long run.

6. Structure to save.

Not only do you need to have the best financial structure in place to meet your property investment goals, you also need to understand how to structure your portfolio to get the most from it.

This is where advice from a good accountant who is experienced in property investment can be invaluable.

There are numerous structures in which you can purchase and hold property, but you should always seek legal and financial advice to make sure the structure you use is appropriate for what you want to achieve.

I have seen many investors just go and buy a property in their own name, when they could have saved thousands and enjoyed a variety of tax benefits from using a trust structure or purchasing it in joint names with their spouse.

It is critical to structure your portfolio correctly from the start as changing structures half way can be a costly exercise.

7. Ask for help.

All successful investors know that they cant do it alone. They recognise that if theyre the smartest person in their team theyre in trouble.

They understand the importance of seeking advice from properly qualified professionals and delegating.

Ticking all of the above boxes on your own can be a daunting prospect, but if you engage a buyers agent to find you the best property for your circumstances, a mortgage broker to organise your finance, an accountant to structure you portfolio and a property manager to tenant your investment and look after it, you will enjoy the journey more and get the most out of your portfolio.

Including all of these elements in your property investment strategy will greatly increase your chance of success, as well as the prospect of becoming one of the few investors who make it beyond the one house hump.

Property investment should be part of a long-term strategy which makes it a more predictable venture and removes the emotion that can lead to poor buying decisions.

Youre more likely to become wealthy by things you say no to, rather then the things you say yes to and having a strategy will make it easier to make those crucial decisions.

.....................................................

Brett Warren is a director of Metropole Properties in Brisbane and uses his 18 plus years property investment experience and economics education to advise clients how to build their portfolios.

He is a regular commentator for Michael Yardney's Property Update.







Disclaimer: while due care is taken, the viewpoints expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Your Investment Property.
MIDDLETOWN  Just past 100 days in office, Mayor Ben Florsheim is continuing to craft his first city budget, carefully reviewing expenditures and revenues line by line with department heads as the April 1 deadline looms.

A simultaneous priority is updating nearby residents and business owners about impending construction on the Arrigoni Bridge, which carries Route 66 over the Connecticut River into Portland. That work is slated to begin any day.

The $43 million bridge rehabilitation project includes adding more turn lanes for motorists coming from Route 9 and traveling left onto Main Street or right over the Connecticut River via Route 66 into Portland.

Construction on the 72-year-old structure is expected to take close to two years, during which motorists will experience lane closures, speed restrictions and travel disruptions.

Its been a little bit of a rocky road in terms of getting info from [the state Department of Transportation], and making sure the city and state are on the same page when it comes to time frames, nature of the construction and other things, said Florsheim, who has informal meetings with the state coming up soon.

There will be a single lane in each direction over the bridge while work is underway.

That is going to be very significant. Itll impact peoples commutes, their day-to-day lives. We also need to know the impact long-term when work is done, the mayor said.

More for you Middletown seeks proposals for waterfront development

The public will be able to weigh in on the issue March 10 at Macdonough Elementary School on Spring Street.

The big change in the St. John Square project is the DOT drew up a plan with the assumption Rapallo Avenue (the only city road in the intersection) would go from two-way travel to one, and traffic would travel the opposite one way from Green and Ferry streets.

Presently, Green and Ferry allow only one-way traffic coming from Main Street.

The spirit of that is a good thing, Florsheim said. The DOT wants to fix the intersection of Rapallo Avenue, Main (a state road) and Grand streets so the left-turn traffic signal on both Rapallo and Grand arent on the same cycle as they are now, potentially causing a dangerous situation.

It turns out, they drew this up without getting approval from the city for making that change, Florsheim said. Neither City Hall nor the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce was aware of the revision, he said, so it will be an educational meeting for all.

The project doesnt get up to Spring Street (where Macdonough is), but we are concerned, and its shared by residents, about the general impact of this on Macdonough, Florsheim said.

In many ways, the changes theyre trying to make ostensibly are to try and make it smoother to travel down Main Street, but we need make sure we have the infrastructure in place, and be in communication, so its handled in a safe way for residents and businesses, he added.

Conditions for pedestrians crossing from ORourkes Diner to other streets in the North End can be dangerous, especially during rush-hour traffic.

It cant just be a traffic flow question, it also has to be a neighborhood question. Its one thing to talk about that in terms of preparing for construction, and being ready to deal with lane closures and temporary things of that nature. Its very much a different thing to talk about what are the infrastructure changes going to look like, Florsheim said.

The budget

Meanwhile, the mayor has about a month to review spending proposals from department heads. He asked directors to come up with a relatively flat budget, and to draft another one imagining a 5 percent reduction.

Florsheim is not requiring spending cuts  but does want his managers to break down whats absolutely necessary, as well as create a wish list for future spending if there were more money. The latter would be long-term, proactive things, he said.

If its possible to do this based on priority, well try to make that happen, but I wanted to give people a sense of, Look, this is not necessarily going to happen this year, but we have to start thinking long-term about our departmental needs and budgeting citywide, based on what we know about how the department interact with each other, Florsheim said.

Smaller offices would need to take great effort to reduce spending by even 5 percent, Florsheim said, calling it like running out of ink, because so much of most these department budgets are salaries and staff, and run really quite lean for the most part.

The good news is Middletowns grand list is solid.

We need to think about what investments we can make without having too much of an impact on the rate taxpayers are paying, which is going to save money down the line, Florsheim said, pointing to favorable increases in the number of taxable properties.

There have been several new equipment and business property purchases made by some of the bigger employers in town. Eversource has added new infrastructure, and the FedEx hub on Middle Street (still enjoying a five-year, 80 percent tax abatement) has purchased many delivery trucks.

Real estate is still doing well, but its not a huge component in terms of year-over-year growth, but its been consistently strong compared to some of our neighbors, the mayor said.

Florsheim expects to release his spending proposal by the end of March. City charter requires him to present it to Common Council by April 1.
A YouTuber has reminded her followers not to believe everything they see on social media by pretending to go to Bali using Ikea as a backdrop.

Recently, Natalia Taylor shared a series of photos to her Instagram, where she has more than 332,000 followers, in which she appeared to be vacationing at the Indonesian destination.

However, as Taylor later revealed on YouTube, she was actually at Ikea.

I went on a luxury dream vacation to Bali, Taylor begins the video titled: I FAKED a vacation at Ikea. Only problem is I was actually at Ikea the entire time.

Explaining that it has become easy for people to fake it on social media, Taylor said that she wanted to see if her own followers would fall for the stunt.

To carry out the experiment, Taylor got dressed up and went to the Swedish furniture store with her photographer friend, where she posed in various room displays.

According to the influencer, she asked her friend to intentionally leave some of the Ikea tags in the pictures because she wanted to leave some Easter eggs in there for any of my followers who are a little too smart for this challenge.

After capturing the shots, Taylor began posting the content to Instagram - where she started with her Instagram Stories to make it believable.

I literally took pictures and videos from the internet for this, Taylor explained. I looked up #Bali and I found it and used it, adding: Now I know thats not right, but the point of this video is to show how easy it is to trick people into thinking youre someone youre not.

Taylor then shared a series of photos to Instagram with the caption: The queen has arrived #Bali.

In response to the photos, Taylors followers had mostly positive reactions, with many welcoming her to Bali and offering travel advice.

Recommended Instagram influencer jailed for climbing pyramids in Egypt

Ive been to Bali! Its amazing! Where are you staying? one follower asked the YouTuber.

Another said: She really out here living her best life.

However, others noticed the Ikea details and accused Taylor of faking the trip.

I know this is an Ikea!! one person wrote. I see the price tag. Ive seen this exact furniture there.

But despite the occasional questioning comments, Taylor said overall the experiment was a success.

Im not really in Indonesia, Im in Ikea and no one even knew, she said in the video. I got away with it. I officially fooled all of you into thinking I actually travelled to a different country altogether when really I just went down the road to my favourite Swedish furniture store.

Taylor concluded the video explaining that the lesson of the video is dont trust everything you see on the internet.

Sometimes people want to lie about who they are as a person and its not hard to do apparently, she said.
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha speaks during the United Nations Human Rights Council's high-level meeting at the organization's Geneva office, Feb. 24. Courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs



Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha has described Israel's recent entry ban on South Koreans over concerns of the new coronavirus as "excessive," noting Seoul's ongoing diplomacy to prevent such unwarranted restrictions.



Kang made the remarks as more than a dozen countries have imposed entry restrictions against visitors from South Korea that has so far reported 833 infections and eight fatalities despite its stepped-up containment efforts.



"My assessment is that it was an excessive response. ... Repatriating people who have already entered the country is different from just imposing entry restrictions," the minister said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency in Geneva on Monday.



"We are closely watching measures by each country, and our diplomatic missions are closely communicating with their host countries to prevent them from making excessive responses," she added.



Last Saturday, Israel abruptly barred nearly 180 foreigners, including 130 Koreans, aboard a Korean Air flight, from entering the country and turned them back  a move that led to the suspension of planes to South Korea and made it difficult for other Korean tourists to find flights back home.





An Israelite chartered flight with Korean tourists who were banned entry to Israel arrives at Incheon International Airport on Feb. 25. Yonhap




Police presence has been stepped up at the Gateway of India to thwart any attempt by people to gather at the venue to protest against the violence in Delhi

Mumbai: Police presence has been stepped up at the Gateway of India to thwart any attempt by people to gather at the venue to protest against the violence in Delhi, an official said on Monday night.

According to the official, police personnel have been deployed in large numbers around the iconic monument, located across the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in south Mumbai, and barricades put up at nearby roads to restrict movement of people and vehicles.

The police moved to step up vigil at the Gateway of India after circulation of messages on social media that called for people to gather at the spot for candlelight protest against the Delhi violence, he said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operation) Pranay Ashok said, "No gathering would be allowed at any location in the city except the designated place for protests, which is Azad Maidan. All those who indulge in any unlawful gathering shall be arrested and offences registered against them.

In early January, the Gateway of India was the site of a protest against the attack on JNU students by armed goons and also over the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the NRC-NPR project.

After a few days, the protesters called off their stir when they were shifted from the Gateway of India, a popular tourist attraction, to Azad Maidan, around three kilometres away.

However, many of these protesters are facing cases for unlawful assembly.

Clashes unfolded in northeast Delhi's Jaffrabad on Sunday and spiralled in nearby areas, including Bhajanpura, Chandbagh, Yamuna Vihar and Maujpur where pro-and-anti-CAA protests turned violent on Monday, leading to the death of four people, including a head constable, injuries to 50 others, according to officials.
Donald Trump India Visit: Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and his team of dignatories have reached Delhi on the second day of their maiden trip to India. Encapsulating key points of India US partnership, US President Donald Trump and Melania Trump have issued a joint press statement.

US President Donald Trump has reached Delhi on the second day of his maiden trip to India. In a joint press statement issued by the two leaders on February 25, 2020, Tuesday, they highlighted the various key points that found mention in US-India bilateral talks.

Donald Trump in his speech at Hyderabad House said that the two countries have made significant development on striking a trade agreement, which will prove beneficial for both the countries. He expressed that US exports and high-quality American energy to India have witnessed a rise of 60% and 500% respectively.

The two leaders also discussed the need for enhanced cooperation in building military and defence capabilities. Mr Trump also revealed that India has decided to invest $ 3 Billion in the defence sector by purchasing advanced military equipment like Apache and MH-60 Romeo Helicopters, which are considered as finest in the world.

Talks were also held on developing a secure 5G wireless network and combatting radical Islamic terrorism. Donald Trump also indirectly hit out at Pakistan by saying that the US is working with Pakistan to confront terrorists operating on their soil.

In his address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that strengthening defence ties found a special mention in US-India partnership, along wih many other aspects like security, energy strategic partnership, trade to ties between people. Furthermore, he said that talks are on to give legal shape to a big trade deal between both the countries.

#WATCH live from Delhi: US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi issue a joint press statement. https://t.co/bbX6ILzItV  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

The second day of Donald Trumps maiden visit in India started with a ceremonial reception of him, First Lady Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump at Rashtrapati Bhawan, where they received a warm welcome from PM Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Mr Trump also inspected the arms forces at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

This was followed by a quick visit by Donald Trump to Rajghat where they paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. In the visitors book of Raj Ghat, Donald Trump wrote that Americans stand by with sovereign and wonderful India, which is the vision of Mahatma Gandhi. The couple also planted a small tree at Rajghat.

Donald Trump and his team of officials then headed to Hyderabad House for an important meeting with PM Narendra Modi, where they spoke on various important aspects of US-India partnership. Meanwhile, First Lady Melania Trump visited Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School in Nanakpura. She was greeted by the school students, who had also put up a special dance performance for her.

#WATCH Delhi: First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump watches a dance performance by students at Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School in Nanakpura. pic.twitter.com/dBCuTzvymF  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

Delhi: Students of Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School in Nanakpura, gift Madhubani paintings made by them to First Lady of the United States Melania Trump. pic.twitter.com/f7yiQiwmaT  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

Addressing the student body, First Lady Melania Trump thanked them for a kind welcome on her first visit to India and talked about her Be Best initiative. Melania Trump said that she works with small children to promote ideas of well-being, which include dangers of drug abuse, online safety and overall well being of children.

First Lady of United States, Melania Trump in Delhi: In the US, I work with children like you to promote similar ideas of well-being through my 'BE BEST' initiative. 3 pillars of 'BE BEST' include dangers of drug abuse, importance of online safety&overall well-being of children. https://t.co/uyw7VnrE1n pic.twitter.com/yurjTDdnON  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

On Day 1, Donald Trump and PM Narendra Modi addressed a crowd of more than 1 Lakh at the Namaste Trump event in Ahemdabad. Mr Trump also paid a visit to Sabarmati Ashram along with Melania Trump. Towards the end of the day, Donald Trump and his delegation paved his way to Agra to visit Taj Mahal.

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(TNS)  When Los Angeles, Calif., County set out to build a new voting system from scratch more than a decade ago, election officials knew the challenges in serving an electorate larger than those found in any of 39 states.But what they didn't know was that their efforts were on a collision course with a series of statewide election changes and the most consequential presidential primary in modern California history. Should Angelenos not understand what to do or where to go, the effects could be felt both statewide and  in terms of the Democratic presidential race  across the country."There's a lot riding on this," said Rick Hasen, an election law professor at UC Irvine. "Any time you're making so many changes at once, people can lose confidence in the system."The list of changes is long: L.A. ballots have been fully redesigned; thousands of neighborhood polling places are gone, replaced by fewer regional voting centers; and once there, millions of Angelenos will use new touch-screen devices approved by state officials just weeks ago.Voters across the county had their first experiences with the new process over the weekend. In some cases, it was not what they had hoped for  sporadic reports about miscues that election officials promised would be resolved as election day approaches.Dean Logan, the registrar of voters in Los Angeles County and architect of the new $300-million voting system, said in an interview earlier this month that his staff is prepared to address any problems as they arise. "I don't ever go into an election anticipating that everything is going to go picture-perfect," he said. "I think doing that would be naive."Few counties have modernized their elections less frequently  the new system marks just the third major modernization of voting in Los Angeles since 1968. Local officials stubbornly held on to the "Votomatic" punch-card system for 35 years, scrapping it three years after similar hole-punching machines in Florida sparked the "hanging chads" furor of the 2000 presidential election.L.A. then switched to the "Ink-a-Vote" system, in which voters marked ballots with a pen, intended to be only a short-term fix while the county prepared to switch to electronic voting machines. But after a storm of criticism over security concerns scuttled that effort, Los Angeles County decided to build its own system from the ground up.The end result  known as "Voting Solutions for All People," or VSAP  has been in limited use ahead of the March 3 primary. Though Logan has said those who have used it so far reported a positive experience, a statewide primary in which most of the county's 5.5 million voters cast ballots could reveal issues not found during earlier tests."There's a learning curve associated with all changes in voting rules," Hasen said. "I always say, you don't premiere your brand-new play straight to Broadway."Logan, who has led the county's election team since 2008, said there was no other choice. He noted the Ink-a-Vote marked-ballot system was a poor fit for voters with physical disabilities or those who use any of Los Angeles County's 12 official languages other than English.But the final blow, he said, came when a number of L.A. communities switched away from odd-year elections to hold contests in tandem with California's statewide primary."With the consolidation of the cities and the districts onto the ballot, the Ink-a-Vote system literally did not have the physical capacity for the length of the ballot and the number of contests and measures," Logan said.Designed through years of community input, the county's VSAP system uses a touch-screen for in-person voting that marks choices on paper ballots for voters to review before they're cast. Voters who want a faster experience can make selections ahead of time online and transfer them with a smartphone and a QR code to the machine that prints them on a completed paper ballot.The system also required a redesign of absentee ballots, which will be counted using the same new devices that count the ones cast in person."I think the VSAP system does a good job at addressing a lot of problems we've seen in L.A.," said Kim Alexander, president of the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation.Those changes alone would be a lot for Los Angeles County voters to absorb. But the use of the new machines and ballots will take place under provisions of a 2016 state law that radically retools the election experience. It allows counties to swap traditional polling places for multipurpose "vote centers" and requires those facilities to open starting 11 days before election day.Five counties used the new procedures in 2018 and 10 more will adopt the changes for the March election. Fourteen of those counties are required to mail every registered voter a ballot in exchange for closing neighborhood polling places. But L.A. County received a special  and controversial  exemption from that rule.The result is that as many as 2 million voters will have neither a local polling place nor a ballot mailed to them  unless they request an absentee ballot by the statewide deadline on Tuesday.It's why some voting rights advocates will be watching the county's election operations closely."I think L.A. County is the real hot spot," said Jonathan Stein, voting rights manager for Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus. He said it's not far-fetched to envision "significant challenges" for local voters on election day.Marilu Guevara, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles, said she's heartened by the recent mailings to all households that explain the new system and vote centers. Yet she still worries that longtime voters won't be aware of the change and will go to their former polling place out of habit  causing them to dash through rush-hour traffic to find one of the new vote centers."I hope that now more people who didn't know about the changes coming to voting will start asking questions," Guevara said. "I just hope it's not too late for a large part of our electorate."Guevara's worries could be justified. Only 38% of Los Angeles County voters surveyed in a USC poll released last week knew there had been changes made to the way in which they'll vote in the upcoming election.When state lawmakers in Sacramento were drafting the new election law, known as the Voter's Choice Act, Los Angeles County lobbyists argued that the exemption was needed to "mitigate the bill's operational and fiscal impact on the county."In an interview with, Logan said that some voters want to cast a ballot in person and that the new system makes that easier. "I don't think they've lost access to a polling place," he said of those voters. "I think they've gained access to a place to vote over the course of 11 days."For those in-person voters, L.A. election officials will use 22,000 ballot-marking devices, to be set up in vote centers of various sizes beginning this weekend and lasting through election night. An additional 6,000 machines will be available as backups if needed.Though the machines have been tested by state officials and by voters  a mock election was held in September and the new devices were offered as an option in roughly 40 polling places during municipal elections last fall  there have been errors, many of them over the last two days as the first vote centers opened across the county.Complaints were lodged on social media that some of the ballot-marking devices and electronic "poll books," which verify a voter's registration, had failed to work. Some of the problems seemed to mirror acknowledgments by Logan in December, including that vote center staffers had been late in getting the machines working.On Sunday, Logan said on Twitter that the rollout was "not without hiccups," but noted that the "equipment performed well and voter feedback on usability was positive."In the soft debut of the machines last year, some of the ballot-marking devices experienced paper jams. In December, experts hired by the state raised concerns that inadequate security seals might not reveal if the ballot box attached to a device had been tampered with.The November mock election also exposed problems with the printing of ballots, causing delays in tallying about 1% of the votes. A similar delay in a major election could affect tens of thousands of ballots, adding more time pressures to a process already closely scrutinized for how long it takes. In a December report to Los Angeles County supervisors, Logan said his staff has recalibrated printers.Problems with the touch-screen machines  which electronically mark paper ballots  were also discovered during the mock elections, including what Logan informed supervisors was a "small number" of paper jams and incomplete error code messages that confused poll workers.In addition, the highly touted smartphone feature "did not operate properly" during the mock election, according to the December report to county supervisors. Election officials say the software has since been updated.On Jan. 24, Secretary of State Alex Padilla laid out a series of needed changes."I am insisting on some essential modifications to the system and requiring on-going reports from Los Angeles County so that we can continue to improve the voting experience for Angelenos," Padilla wrote in his letter certifying the various VSAP components.Logan told county supervisors that he would address Padilla's conditions."Based on the mock election and the pilot election, we did make improvements and refinements," Logan said during a board meeting on Jan. 28. "Every voting system certified in California has conditions. We are confident that we can meet those conditions."One of those conditions is that every Los Angeles vote center must ensure there's some way to cast a ballot if the new machines should fail.In the other California counties implementing the Voter's Choice Act, there are on-demand printers that can generate the correct ballot. But in sprawling L.A., where Logan points out there are some 62,000 different ballot configurations with municipal candidates and measures, there is no backup method to print ballots.Instead, the state's largest county will rely on the most rudimentary of backup plans: blank write-in ballots, forcing voters to write out a candidate's name in every race in which they want to participate."That's a fail-safe in the event that the entire system was down, a stopgap to make sure voting never stops," Logan said.Logan expects as many as 16,000 people will staff the vote centers, each person receiving an eight-hour instruction course. As in all elections, training is key: A social media posting that went viral this month wrongly said that all newly registered L.A. voters would have to show ID at vote centers  in fact, it only applies to a very small subset of voters whose initial registration material doesn't comply with an 18-year-old federal law. California has no broad-based ID requirements for voters who show up to cast ballots in person.Hasen, who has written extensively on how voting systems can be compromised by simple mistakes, said the early voting period  beginning this weekend and running through Monday, March 2  will be a crucial test."There's so much angst right now about voting systems," he said. "And a lot of people are going to be surprised by all of this."Alexander's nonpartisan group is urging L.A. voters to review voting information now and not be put off."A lot of time, voters wait until the night before the election to open that mailed packet," she said. "I think elections officials should be making contingency plans if there are really long lines."
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday promised to reduce more regulations in his country as he looked for overseas investment to boost American economy.

Speaking at a meeting with CEOs, he said a trade deal with India is in the works, but did not share any details.

"It has been an honour to be here," he said on visiting India. "We just did a lot of business with India where they will buy helicopters worth USD 3 billion."



On Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, "he is very tough man, but he is also very nice man."



"We create jobs here, he creates jobs there (in US)," he said.

The governments, he said can only aid in creating jobs and it's private industry that actually creates jobs.

On regulations in the US, he said some of the regulations have to go through statutory process, but his government is committed to reducing a "lot more regulations."



Stating that he is going to win the coming US presidential elections that will cause the markets to boom, he said his government has done a lot for the economy, healthcare and military.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Trump, who is scheduled to arrive in the capital on Monday night, will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including his family members.

New Delhi: Traffic in some parts of the national capital, mostly Central Delhi, will be affected on Tuesday due to security measures put in place for US President Donald Trumps 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.

The entry of local and foreign visitors to Rajghat was also 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.

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.
Jason Kenney stepped up to the podium in Edmonton loaded for bear.

As the Alberta premier turned his attention to the now-defunct Teck Frontier project during his Monday news conference, he fired shots at the federal government for what he called another disappointment for his provinces economy.

And he called for more autonomy so that Alberta could pursue its economic interests.

But what, exactly, does a more autonomous Alberta look like? Some experts say, a lot like Quebec.

And in a narrative familiar to past premiers of that province, Kenney will now have to walk a fine line between channelling the frustrations of Albertans  including separatists  and fanning the flames of a separatist movement he wants no part of.

After Teck Resources Ltd. announced Sunday it was withdrawing its application for the Teck Frontier Mine, a $20.6-billion oilsands project in northern Alberta scheduled for a federal decision this week, Kenney blamed the federal government for undermining investor confidence in Alberta. He also blamed the Trudeau government for weakening national unity in Canada and promised to work toward more autonomy for Alberta.

But experts say more autonomy doesnt necessarily mean separation.

I think interest in Alberta separation probably went up 10 points today, said Jack Mintz, of the University of Calgarys School of Public Policy.

Mintz said that while Kenney himself is not a separatist, what hes trying to do is channel what is a lot of anger in Alberta towards a fair deal.

That means finding ways to make Alberta more financially autonomous, such as turning toward a Quebec-like Alberta pension plan instead of the federal one.

Both Mintz and Daniel Beland, director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada, cite the pension plan as a likely example of what Alberta might do to become more autonomous.

Other options include gaining more control over personal income tax, said Mintz. These are examples of economic levers he said Kenney wants to gain control of to bring back the hope many people in Alberta are losing.

Its a way of helping grow a more independent financial community thats less dependent on central Canada, he said.

When it comes to autonomy, Kenney is not building without a blueprint, said Mintz.

Alberta is not asking for anything more than what Quebec has already.

An Alberta pension plan is one of several proposals being considered by the Fair Deal panel, a group that includes former politicians and businesspeople looking to find ways for Alberta to secure more autonomy.

However, Beland said Alberta creating its own pension plan wouldnt be quite as simple, since Quebec opted out from the beginning, in 1965.

The Fair Deal panel is also considering a number of other options including establishing a provincial police force, establishing a provincial revenue agency and establishing a formalized provincial constitution.

Beland said while Kenney is fighting for more autonomy for Alberta, a lot of his efforts seem to be about making Albertans feel they are being heard. He likened the fair deal town halls to a type of group therapy but said its hard to know just how many big, concrete changes will come out of them.

In the face of the Teck Frontier collapse, Kenney has been quick to point the finger at the federal government.

Kenneys initial reaction, in the form of a news release, called the surprising move a grave disappointment for Albertans, and blamed it on federal indecision in the wake of the ongoing Wetsuweten blockades related to a B.C. pipeline project as well as the regulatory approval process.

This news deepens our governments resolve to use every tool available to fight for greater control and autonomy for Alberta within Canada, he said in the release.

Beland says this is to be expected. The Teck announcement feels to many Albertans like another Trudeau failure, as the project had been waiting for federal approval.

In a statement, Tecks CEO blamed the decision to scuttle the project on tensions over climate and Indigenous rights.

Obviously, this is bad news for the energy industry and from an economic standpoint for Alberta, Beland said.

However, he said its probably better for national unity that Teck itself pulled the plug, because regardless of which decision the federal government would have made, it would have furthered tensions between supporters and opponents of the project.

He also said its important to point out that the tension between Ottawa and Alberta, not to mention Tecks decision, take place in a specific economic context, with the price of oil lagging well below its historical highs.

Its not just about politics and public policy, he said.

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A video of a futuristic fireworks display has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts that claim it was taken from a firework show in Beijing on New Year's Eve 2021. However, the claim is false; the video was a digital animation based on scenery from the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao. The video creator told AFP that the "fireworks" seen in the footage were computer generated."Yesterday the New Year firework show in Beijing," states the traditional-Chinese caption to the video shar
- Charles Matathia is the brain behind the award-winning play, Nairobi Half-life

- Seeing her condition, a heartbroken Lilian Muli pleaded with Kenyans to come to the aid of the talented scriptwriter

- Muli also advised creatives to find mentors who will be always there for them when cameras shift focus

- Matathia has been suffering from a psychotic depression which occurs as a result of severe depression

News anchor, Lilian Muli, has asked Kenyans to come to the aid of Kenya's renown scriptwriter Potash Charles Matathia.

Muli's plea comes days after a section of Kenyans online lobbied for the support the Nairobi Half-life scriptwriter.

READ ALSO: Chokoraa: Kenyans hilariously react to Phyllis Ngirita's cry over son's inability to speak German

READ ALSO: Kobe Farewell: Vanessa Bryant breaks down, regrets she will never witness Gigi's wedding

Posting on her Instagram account, the news anchor revealed how she enjoyed watching the movie and seeing Potash crying for help was heartbreaking.

"This broke my heart. This is Potash Charles Matathia, who wrote the script for Nairobi Half-life. I watched Nairobi Half-Life and it was fantastic. Please let us join hands as Kenyans and help this talented young man recover and write another award winning script. Charles Matathia it shall be well," she wrote.

READ ALSO: Uhuru akutana na jamaa mrefu katika Ikulu ya Nairobi, amfanya kuonekana kama mbilikimo

According to the video she shared, the famous writer has been suffering from psychotic depression which could have been as a result of severe depression.

In her post, Potash did not want to be famous realisation hitting her hard that fame came with a price.

"Listening to him here say "I didn't want to be famous," it occurred to me that for many creatives fame comes with a price," she wrote.

The heartbroken TV queen questioned on who mentors creatives and prepares them for life after fame.

"Who mentors the talent in this country; who prepares them for life in the limelight and how to transition from that fame and continue using their art in ways that continue to gratify them?" asked Muli.

The mother of two awent ahead to offer advice to creatives asking them to find someone who will be there to guide them even when the cameras attention is shifted away from them.

According to her, one needed to find someone who will always be there for them without tiring.

"If you are famous right now what's your plan when the cameras shift focus on you and you are no longer considered a celeb or relevant? You must find a mentor; someone who will never tire of guiding you on the right steps towards a fulfilling future even when the fame is gone," added the riveting anchor.

Matathia has been living in abject poverty in his home town Wangige, Kiambu county, just kilometres away from Kikuyu town, and could easily be confused for a mad man in the streets.

Many Kenyans were shocked to learn about Matathia's struggles, with some questioning how he ended up in that state.

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.

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Rioters set afire to shops and pelted stones in a fresh wave of violence on Tuesday evening in Chandbagh area of northeast Delhi.

The police used tear gas to disperse the crowd in the area but to no avail.

Paramilitary forces have also been deployed to bring the situation under control.

Rioters also set a bakery and several fruits carts on fire.

A total of 10 people have been killed in the violence reported in northeast Delhi, police said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
British facialist Sarah Chapman has looked after some of the most glowing women in the world - from model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley to Victoria Beckham and even the Duchess of Sussex.

And now the expert has shared some of her favourite beauty products - including her 'go-to' supplement from Australia.

Sarah told The Telegraph that she swears by The Beauty Chef's Glow powder.

The $65 supplement contains antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and probiotics, as well as amino acids and essential fatty acids including chia, green tea and sunflower seeds.

British facialist Sarah Chapman has looked after some of the most glowing women in the world - including model and actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (pictured)

The skin expert (pictured at work) has shared some of her favourite beauty products - including her 'go-to' supplement from Australia

Sarah said she swears by the $65 supplement, Glow, by The Beauty Chef (pictured) - which boasts a range of antioxidantsand vitamins and minerals

Glow powder claims to 'enhance the skin from the inside out'.

The producer says that taking it daily - either with water, smoothies, yoghurt or dessert - will aid skin health, as well as helping to boost the natural collagen in your complexion.

The product has hundreds of five-star reviews online.

As part of her 'glow toolkit', Sarah also recommended Skinesis Glow from her own skincare line, Olverum's The Body Oil, Environ's AVST Moisturiser and Delilah's Pure Light Liquid Radiance.

What are the benefits of Glow powder? * Rich in vitamins and minerals: Glow is a bio-fermented blend of easily absorbed Certified Organic superfoods, vitamin C and zinc, essential fatty acids and phytonutrients. * Supports healthy skin: Antioxidant-rich ingredients such as Dunaliella salina, maqui berry, queen garnet plum as well as vitamin C and zinc support healthy skin, helping to reduce inflammation, calm skin irritation and sensitivity. * Assists collagen production: Contains vitamin C which supports collagen synthesis, resulting in healthier skin. * Feeds your microbiome and supports gut health: Contains prebiotics to feed the beneficial bacteria in your gut. The exclusive Flora Culture fermentation process also creates a live, broad-spectrum probiotic to support digestive health. * Supports skin function: Zinc is important for supporting healthy skin, hair and nails. * Certified Organic: Glow is Certified Organic, which means the ingredients used in this formula are grown organically without any herbicides or pesticides. Advertisement

Sarah famously looked after the skin of Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle (pictured) ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry

Victoria Beckham (pictured) has even gone so far as to call her the 'best in London'

Previously, Sarah shared how you can give yourself at-home facial by incorporating facial massage and your favourite products.

'Make loose fists, and literally knead your knuckles into the muscles,' she told Harper's Bazaar.

'Then drum your fingertips on your face until you're flushed. You're getting the blood flow going, which helps oxygenate and bring nutrients to the cells.'

This technique also helps to 'drain away that tired look'.

Previously, Sarah (pictured) shared how you can do an at-home facial on your own skin by incorporating facial massage and your favourite products

Sarah has made a name for herself over the years, with Victoria Beckham reportedly describing her facials as 'the best in London'.

Other famous clients include actresses Naomi Watts and Uma Thurman, as well as supermodels Gigi Hadid and Jourdan Dunn.

The best thing Sarah believes you can do for your skin is facial massage.

'Massage is really powerful,' she said.

'It helps with drainage, stimulation, circulation and feeding the cells with nutrients.'
At the beginning of the year, as Harvey Weinsteins criminal trial got underway, Jodi Kantor and Megan Twoheythe New York Times journalists whose reporting on Weinstein helped spark the global #MeToo movement, in 2017warned, with their colleague Jan Ransom, that the trial might not live up to the cultural burden resting on it. While the outcome already is anticipated as a verdict on much more than one mans alleged wrongdoing, they wrote, the jurors will be hearing a narrow legal case, with an already-fraught back story and a highly unpredictable result. Yesterday, those jurors handed down a result: guilty. Weinstein was convicted of raping one woman and forcing oral sex on another. He was acquitted of three other charges, two of which, related to predatory sexual assault, were the most serious he faced; still, he faces up to 29 years in prison. (Hell be sentenced on March 11, and held in custody until then; his lawyers plan to appeal that, and the verdict as a whole.) The ruling, Kantor and Twohey wrote yesterday, suggests accountability does, indeed, stretch from the court of public opinion to the court of criminal law. Their piece was headlined, With Weinstein Conviction, Jury Delivers a Verdict on #MeToo. The trial, in a sense, saw its cultural burden, and met it.

As I wrote at the beginning of the trial, the involvement of an actual court didnt silence the court of public opinion. Before proceedings started, numerous Weinstein accusers who werent involved in them reminded the world of the stakes, including in a photo portfolio in New York magazine. Weinstein, for his part, sought to alter the pre-trial narrative via rare interviews, including one, with Page Six, in which he cast himself as a pioneer for women in Hollywood. When New Yorks Irin Carmon reached out to Weinsteins publicist for comment on the magazines package, she received back a 57-slide PowerPoint entitled, The Proper Narrative for Addressing the Harvey Weinstein Case.

ICYMI: Why COVID-19 is not the problem

As the trial progressed, Weinsteins representatives continued to strike out, casting the women in his case as liars and the broader #MeToo movement as puritanical, and an erosion of womens responsibility for their actions. Donna Rotunno, Weinsteins lawyer, spoke with Twohey on The Daily, the Timess podcast; when Twohey asked if shed ever been sexually assaulted, Rotunno said she had not, because I would never put myself in that position. After the episode aired, prosecutors said Rotunno had violated an order barring discussion of the witnesses in the media during the period of the trial. Rotunno said shed taped the interview a while ago, prior to the order, but the Times told Jeremy Barr, of the Hollywood Reporter, that it had been recorded on January 28several weeks after the trial began. Shortly before the jury began its deliberations, Rotunno published an op-ed in Newsweek that called on jurors to look past the headlines and reach a verdict solely on the facts, testimony and evidence presented to them in the courtroom. On that occasion, prosecutors accused Rotunno of jury tampering, and the judge ordered her team to control the tentacles of your public relations juggernaut. Rotunno also taped an interview with an Australian version of 60 Minutes, in which she again accused Weinsteins accusers of lying. It aired on Sunday.

Yesterdays verdict reverberated immediately through the court of public opinion and its media. When Whoopi Goldberg announced the news during The View, on ABC, loud whoops from the studio audience drowned out the end of her sentence. The reactions of many of Weinsteins alleged victims echoed through articles in multiple outlets. What I wanted to do was cause a massive cultural reset. We achieved that today with what happened, one of them, Rose McGowan, said during a telephone press conference. 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. On NPR, Rosanna Arquette, who also accused Weinstein of sexual abuse, teared up during an interview with Mary Louise Kelly. Arquette and many others thanked the journalistsKantor and Twohey, as well as Ronan Farrow, of the New Yorkerfor the journalism that made Weinsteins conviction possible. On Twitter, Farrow, in turn, paid tribute to the women whose testimony made the journalism possible. Please keep those women in your thoughts today, he wrote.

Legal and journalistic standards are different, of course. Journalism, rightly, cant put people in prison; likewise, if Weinstein had been acquitted on all counts yesterday, the measure of justice achieved in the work of Kantor, Twohey, Farrow, and others would not have been erased.

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Yesterday showed, however, that journalism can profoundly influence the legal systemby shining a public spotlight on the misdeeds of powerful people, but also, as importantly, by scrutinizing the iniquities and limitations of the system itself. As Kantor and Twohey wrote, the criminal case against Weinstein was a long shot. The evidence presentedwhich showed, among other things, that the victims had consensual sex with Weinstein after he abused themwas messy, and lacking in corroborating forensics or direct witness testimony; as such, the case was a step beyond typical prosecutorial boundaries. Its partial success, Kantor and Twohey wrote, could prove a symbolic turning point showing that sex crimes dont necessarily follow neat scripts and reshaping public beliefs about which victims deserve their day in court. Journalism didnt just fell Harvey Weinstein. Its had institutional impact, toohowever flawed our institutions may still look.

Below, more on Harvey Weinstein:



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: As Bernie Sanders wins in Nevada, pundits freak out

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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.
Irans deputy health minister confirmed on Tuesday that he has tested positive for the new coronavirus, amid a major outbreak in the Islamic republic.

Iraj Harirchi coughed occasionally and wiped sweat from his brow repeatedly during a news conference in Tehran on Monday with government spokesman Ali Rabiei.

At the time, he denied a lawmakers claim that 50 people had died from the virus in the Shiite shrine city of Qom, saying he would resign if the number proved accurate.

In a video broadcast on state television, the deputy minister put on a brave face as he admitted he was infected.

I too have been infected with coronavirus, Harirchi said in the video apparently shot by himself.

I had a fever as of last night and my preliminary test was positive around midnight, he said.

Ive isolated myself in a place since. A few minutes ago, I was told that my test was final, and now I am starting medication.

- Virus does not discriminate -

I wanted to tell you that... we will definitely be victorious against this virus in the next few weeks, Harirchi declared.

But he warned Iranians to be careful as the virus does not discriminate and infects anyone, regardless of their standing.

Following news of Harirchis infection, government spokesman Rabiei, who stood by his side on Monday, appeared at another news conference on Tuesday with the countrys industries minister and other officials.

A prominent Iranian reformist politician, Mahmoud Sadeghi, also announced he had tested positive for the virus.

My coronavirus test was positive. I send this message but I dont have much hope of staying alive, Sadeghi said in a tweet.

He used the occasion to call on the judiciary to provide prison leave time to those detained over political and security charges so that they can go through this epidemic with their families.

Iran confirmed three more deaths and 34 new infections on Tuesday, taking the countrys overall death toll to 15 and infection tally to 95.

The Islamic republic has been hit by the deadliest coronavirus outbreak by far outside China, the epidemics epicentre.

- Quarantine an old method -

According to the health ministry, most of the deaths and infections outside Qom are among people who have recently visited the holy city.

The ministrys spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said 16 of the new cases were confirmed in Qom, while nine were in Tehran, and two each in Alborz, Gilan and Mazandaran.

The virus appeared to be spreading to new parts of Iran, as one new case was also reported in the provinces of Fars and Khorasan Razavi, as well as Qeshm island.

Despite being the epicentre of the outbreak in Iran, Qom has yet to be quarantined.

Health Minister Saeed Namaki defended the decision on Tuesday and said that quarantine was an old method.

We still do not agree with quarantining cities since we believe the people are cultured enough to refrain from travelling from infected cities to other places, semi-official news agency ISNA quoted him as saying.
ANKARA, Turkey - Airstrikes on rebel-controlled northwest Syria killed at least 16 people Tuesday, including two students and two teachers, opposition activists said, as government forces captured a town considered a symbol of the uprising against President Bashar Assad.

The capture of Kafranbel was another blow to insurgents after government gains over the past three months. Kafranbel was a major opposition-held town that gained attention in the early years of the Syrian conflict because of weekly anti-government protests that included humorous English-language banners carried by protesters.

The banners were initiated by anti-government journalist Raed Fares who was shot dead in the town along with his friend Hammoud al-Juneid in November 2018. Fares was a harsh critic of Islamic militants who control much of Idlib.

The government controlled Syrian Central Military Media said Kafranbel was captured late Tuesday after fierce fighting with al-Qaida-linked militants. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said the town was taken by the government after punishing bombardment from the air and ground.

The violence came as Turkeys president announced that a Russian delegation would arrive the following day to resume talks aimed at easing tensions in the northwest Idlib region. The area is the countrys last rebel-controlled stronghold and the Syrian governments military campaign there, backed by Russia, has created a humanitarian catastrophe with nearly 1 million people displaced from their homes since Dec. 1.

Most of them are now crowding areas close to the border with Turkey, living in camps, shelters, abandoned homes and in open fields. It is the largest single displacement of Syrias war, now in its ninth year.

In response to the upsurge in violence, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the U.N. has launched a revised appeal for $500 million to assist at least 1.1 million people in need. He said discussions are under way with Turkey double the number of trucks crossing the border with humanitarian aid from 50 to 100.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said no consensus was reached for a four-way meeting next month between the leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Turkey meant to address the crisis. He added, however, that Russias Vladimir Putin may still come to Turkey next week for a bilateral meeting. Moscow has so far not confirmed a March 5 visit by the Russian president to Turkey.

Tensions have been running high between Turkey and Russia, which support opposing sides of the war in Syria. The Syrian government offensive has shattered a fragile cease-fire agreement that Turkey and Russia reached in 2018 and Turkey has threatened military action unless Syrian forces retreat to positions they held before the advance by the end of February.

Russia supports Syria at the highest level, Erdogan told reporters before departing for a visit to Azerbaijan. Even if they deny it, we have evidence. We are forced to be in this fight.

Turkish officials had reported small progress in two previous rounds of Turkey-Russia meetings but said the results were not satisfactory.

Turkey had set up a dozen observation posts as part of the 2018 agreement, many of which are now behind Syrian government lines. Ankara also sent thousands of additional troops into Idlib in recent weeks and has frequently engaged in military exchanges with Syrian troops.

At least 16 Turkish soldiers were killed in clashes this month during the Syrian governments push on the last rebel stronghold.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told a news conference at the State Department Tuesday that the Syrian governments offensive only heightens the risk of conflict with our NATO ally, Turkey, adding that the U.S. was working together with Turkey on seeing what we can do together.

He called for a permanent cease-fire, saying the regime will not be able to obtain military victory.

The fighting appeared to intensify, however, with dozens of airstrikes reported Tuesday.

Opposition activists and a war monitor said at least 16 people were killed in Idlib province Tuesday. They included two students and two teachers who were killed in Idlib city when a school was struck with a cluster bomb-filled rocket, and 10 civilians who were killed in airstrikes on the town of Maarat Misreen in Idlib province. The deaths were reported by the Observatory and Idlib-based opposition activist Hadi Abdullah.

The Observatory and Idlib-based opposition activist Taher al-Omar said insurgents captured the village of Nairab late Monday after intense fighting with government forces that had captured the village earlier this month. The village is close to the town of Saraqeb where two major highways in the country meet.

To the south of Nairab, Syrian troops captured two new villages raising to 10 the number of areas captured in the province since Monday, according to state media.

The capture of Maaret Tamater and Maaret Seen paved the way for government forces to storm Kafranbel.

In Damascus, one civilian was killed and two others were injured by bombs planted in two cars near Umayyad Square in the Syrian capital Damascus, state-run news agency SANA said. It was not immediately clear who the target was.

___

Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press writesr Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria; Matthew Lee in Washington and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.
Every city in India for which PM 2.5 (fine, respirable pollution particles) is available, recorded a reduction in concentrations except in Nagpur according a new report titled 2019 World Air Quality Report that was released on Tuesday morning. The average PM 2.5 concentrations in India reduced by 20% in 2019 as compared to 2018, the report said.

This improvement however may not be a result of air pollution control policies like the National Clean Air Programme launched last year but indicative of a slowing marketplace, the report by IQAir said.

Delhi is the most polluted city among 84 cities assessed globally for PM 2.5 levels by IQAir. Half of the 50 most polluted cities are in India which havent met the World Health Organisations annual guideline for PM 2.5 concentration (10 micrograms per cubic metres) as per the reports assessments. Delhis annual PM 2.5 concentration was 98.6 micrograms per cubic metres, 9.8 times the WHO recommendation, followed by Dhaka at 83.3 micrograms per cubic metres and Ulaanbatar in Mongolia at 62 micrograms per cubic metres.

The report uses PM 2.5 data made publicly available during 2019 from government and non-government air quality monitors. Regionally, South Asia, South-east Asia, and the Middle East carry the highest burden of PM 2.5 pollution with only 6 of 355 cities included meeting WHO annual guideline.

How are they saying that improvement is because of slowdown? We cannot comment on it unless we know what data they have analysed to arrive at this conclusion. Air pollution control action is being taken in 102 cities under NCAP. We will look into it. We are still analysing our data from 2019, said a senior Central Pollution Control Board official who declined to be quoted.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Every 100 meters on the routes to be taken by US President Donald Trump and his family members on Tuesday here, as he enters the official leg of his two day visit, is manned by one armed and another unarmed police personnel.

Trump is present in New Delhi on the second day of his two-day visit, and the central part of the city has been turned into fortress.

The flow of traffic are being stopped half an hour ago from where the US President to is to pass.

"Around 5,000 police personnel have been deployed in all central Delhi locations. All security apparatus are in place," said a senior police officer.

The US President would be visiting Raj Ghat and Hyderabad House later in the day.

The iconic Indian Gate that draws a huge footfall everyday of the year, is inaccessible for the visitors on Tuesday, with deployment of thousands of police personnel.

Roads and lanes leading to President House have been temporary closed with traffic on stand still for almost an hour as the US President and the First Lady Melania Trump were accorded a ceremonial welcome earlier in the day.

Trump, along with his wife Melania, arrived in Delhi on Monday night after completing their engagements in Ahmedabad and taking a family trip to the Taj Mahal in Agra.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Most of the Ukrainian citizens who are crewmembers of the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined in the Japanese port of Yokohama have not expressed the wish to return to their home country and intend to spend the quarantine period in Japan, a representative of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry told Interfax on Tuesday.

"The Ukrainian embassy to Japan asked fellow citizens whether they wanted to be repatriated to Ukraine. According to the embassy, 24 out of 25 interviewed Ukrainians (contact could not be established with one) said as of February 22, 2020 that they were not planning to return to Ukraine in the coming days but would stay under quarantine in Japan," the representative said.

Two Ukrainian citizens diagnosed with Covid-19 remain at a hospital in Tokyo, the representative said, noting that "their health is improving."

The Diamond Princess quarantine expired on February 19, and passengers began to disembark, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said earlier.

The ship was carrying 3,700 people from 56 countries, among them 2,700 passengers. There were 25 Ukrainian citizens in the ship's crew. As of February 24, about 1,000 crewmembers and 300 passengers remained on board the ship. Following a series of additional checks, the Japanese Health Ministry extended the quarantine of 100 persons in specialized facilities for 14 more days and urged the disembarked passengers to stay home for the next 14 days.

"According to the Ukrainian embassy to Japan, local doctors have carried out tests in order to decide whether the ship's crew could disembark. The results are so far unknown. Our compatriots who test positive will be taken to local hospitals, and those who test negative will stay under quarantine," the ministry said.
SPRINGFIELD  The redevelopment of the historic Elm Street block at Court Square was one step closer to reality on Monday as the City Council approved $4 million in city funds and a $16 million investment by MGM Springfield for a planned housing project.

The funds were the last financial pieces needed to allow a $51 million restoration to occur at the long-vacant former Court Square Hotel building at 13-31 Elm St., officials said.

The council vote was unanimous to approve the funds.

Councilor Michael Fenton, chairman of the councils Casino Oversight Committee, said the breakthrough culminates a public/private collaboration involving the city, state, MGM Springfield, and private developers. It occurs after multiple failed efforts over the years to restore and preserve the six-story building.

"This really is a historic night for the city of Springfield, Fenton said. Without the collaboration, perseverance and patience of all those parties, we would not be here today.

The Elm Street project includes 59 market rate upscale apartments, 15 workforce apartments restricted to tenants earning up to 80% of the area median income, and retail/restaurant space on the first floor.

Construction with union labor is anticipated in the fall after initial cleanup work, by the city, said Michael OBrien, executive vice-president of WinnCompanies, one of the developers. The development is expected to take two years to complete, he said.

The 13-31 Elm Street block, built in 1892, has been mostly vacant for the past 30 years, and has severe deterioration due to age, long-term weather exposure, and neglect, officials said.

The project includes the attached Byers Block at 3-7 Elm St.

The full project was previously estimated to cost $55 million, but has been reduced to $51 million, OBrien said.

MGMs investment of $16 million needed council approval because it serves to fulfill MGMs commitment to provide at least 54 units of market rate housing in the downtown area. The commitment is under MGMs host community agreement with Springfield for its $960 million casino project on Main Street.

Councilors said that rather than push MGM to develop the housing elsewhere, city and state officials, MGM, and others showed patience due to importance of restoring the Elm Street block.

The $16 million from MGM is being arranged as a loan but that amount includes at least $11 million in guaranteed grant funds, officials said. MGMs financing plan was unveiled Feb. 13, to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

The citys commitment of $4 million will be borrowed through the sale of bonds, and will be earmarked for some pre-development costs including the cleanup of hazardous materials, some internal demolition in selected areas, and some ancillary costs.

The developers are Opal Real Estate Group, led by Peter Picknelly, and WinnCompanies through its development arm, WinnDevelopment.

Councilor Sean Curran called the Elm Street project the Court Square comeback, and said it will bring energy and vibrancy to that area.

The property is owned by the Springfield Redevelopment Authority, but will be sold to the development group in conjunction with the redevelopment project.

City officials including Mayor Domenic J. Sarno have said that development of the long-vacant Elm Street block is critical to downtown revitalization. Sarno and councilors and other officials have urged MGM in recent years to help make the project the reality.

MGM Springfield, in addition to its investment of $16 million for the Elm Street housing project, will also turn over ownership of the former School Department headquarters at 195 State St., back to the city at no cost.

In April of 2016, MGM announced the purchase of school headquarters building, intending then to use if for market rate housing. The plans are no longer being pursued there by MGM, with the city able to pursue its own options for the vacant building.
Customers are vowing to boycott a cafe after the owner refused to let a disabled woman and her service dog sit indoors due to health hazards.

Lesley Frost, who suffers epilepsy and diabetes, claimed she and her Shih Tzu Lexi were ordered to sit outdoors on a hot day when they visited The Colony Coffee House of Midland, in Perth.

She posted a complaint on the business Facebook page, which was met with equally outraged responses - many of which said they, too, would no longer dine at the cafe.

'I reckon they've just lost a lot of customers by this move, including myself,' former customer Gwen left on the business page.

Lesley Frost, who suffers epilepsy and diabetes, claimed she and her Shih Tzu Lexi were ordered to sit outside on a hot day

The entire account has since been deleted amid the controversy.

Prior to deactivating the account, a woman claiming to be the owner of the business stood by the decision to offer Ms Frost outdoor seating, The West reported.

'I have fans circulating the air in the dining room,' she explained. 'What's to stop the air flow from blowing a dog hair into the next person's food?'

She said she never refused Ms Frost service, and doesn't discriminate against people with disabilities but personally believes animals don't ever belong in the dining room.

'I suppose it's like the next time a Muslim comes into my establishment I will tell them they have to eat bacon because it's on my menu and disrespect their beliefs... I don't think so,' she said.

A woman claiming to be the cafe owner has since stood by her decision and said dog hair posed a health risk

Customers at Colony Coffee House of Midland have vowed to boycott the cafe since they heard of the complaint

That belief, she said, is why she created 'ample outdoor seating' with a dog water bowl to begin with.

The owner went on to say other customers commended her for standing her ground after Ms Frost left, and admitted they weren't too keen on eating near a dog.

'So tell me... should I lose my regulars who love my establishment to follow a law I don't agree with?

Ms Frost said she'd never experienced the same treatment anywhere else in her travels.

Others agreed, saying the decision was rude.

'This is intolerable. Will not frequent this business ever again,' one woman wrote on the webpage.

The Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act of 1992 prohibits owners from refusing access for assistance dogs in most circumstances.

Animals are not permitted where they pose a public health risk.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the cafe for further comment.
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Linkedin Manas Mishra (Reuters)  Tue, February 25, 2020 11:27 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20666cb90 2 Business SoftBank-Group-Corp,start-up,US,united-states,health-care Free

SoftBank on Monday led a new funding round of US$165 million in California-based Karius and invested $100 million in New York-headquartered AI company Behavox, as the technology giant builds a portfolio under its second Vision Fund.

The two deals come at a time of intense investor scrutiny into SoftBanks investments.

The Japanese company earlier this month reported a second straight quarter of losses at its first Vision Fund, pushing Chief Executive Officer Masayoshi Son to scale back his second fund.

Karius, which markets a test that can quickly detect hard-to-diagnose infections through a simple taking of blood, said the funding would expand its commercial outreach and clinical research.

Although relatively small by the standards of Softbank, the funding marks the latest in a list of healthcare investments that include drugmaker Roivant Sciences and Vir Biotechnology Inc, an infectious-disease focused drug developer.

Karius test, which is already being used in more than 100 US hospitals, turns liquid biopsy technology previously used chiefly to measure the progress of cancers to the detection of over 1,000 pathogens, including bacteria and fungi.

The funding round values the company at over $700 million, according to a filing made by the company to the state of Delaware, a copy of which was seen by Reuters. Karius said it was not disclosing valuation details at this time.

Dr. Bill Muller at Lurie Childrens Hospital in Chicago said his hospital typically uses the test on patients who are at the most risk of infections that are difficult to diagnose using conventional methods. He estimates that his hospital typically averages five-10 orders of the test per month.

The company said the list price for the test was $2,000 for hospitals.

Softbanks healthcare team is very experienced and we actually learnt a lot through the diligence process through their questions, Karius CEO Mickey Kertesz told Reuters.

I anticipate they (Softbanks healthcare team) will add a lot of value beyond the financial resources we have secured.

Separately, Behavox said SoftBank first became a user of its platform before making the investment.

Behavoxs platform uses AI (artificial intelligence) to analyze internal company data such as employee emails and behavior to flag compliance issues. Its clients include banks and private-equity firms.

Behavox said CEO Erkin Adylov and other key employees would remain the biggest shareholders in the company.
The car said to have crashed into the parade

Thirty people - many of them children - were injured when a man drove his car into a carnival parade in Germany yesterday.

Police believe the incident in the small town of Volksmaren, near Kassel, was premeditated.

Seven of the victims were seriously injured, including children.

The driver is a 29-year-old German citizen who has not been named under the country's privacy laws.

He is understood to be from the local area, and has no history of political extremism.

"We don't think this was a terror attack. We're assuming it was an intentional crime," a police spokesman told reporters.

But the regional government said a terror attack "could not be ruled out", given the facts on the ground.

There were conflicting claims over the driver's condition last night. There were unconfirmed reports he had been taken to a psychiatric clinic.

Prosecutors denied reports he could not be questioned because he was seriously drunk.

"He was not drunk and cannot be questioned because of his injuries," said Alexander Badle, a spokesman for the prosecutors.

But a woman claiming to be a neighbour of the man told German television he appeared to be under the influence of drugs.

"I saw him drive away today. He looked like he was on drugs and said: 'I'll be in the newspaper soon'," she told RTL TV.

There were unconfirmed reports of a second arrest last night, but the details were unclear. The incident took place at around 2.30pm as families were taking part in a traditional Rose Monday carnival parade.

Witnesses described a silver Mercedes estate car racing into the crowd. It travelled some 30 yards before coming to a stop.

Witnesses claimed the driver appeared to target children deliberately, and swerved to avoid a barrier before ploughing into the crowd.

After the car came to a stop, bystanders attempted to attack the driver and he had to be protected by police.

"It was a beautiful procession and just as it ended I suddenly saw flashing lights and heard sirens," Reinhard Kubat, a local councillor, told 'Bild' newspaper.

"Crying people came towards me.

"There were mainly injured children on the street, but also older people."

"When I arrived there were 15 people on the floor, many of them small children," Elmar Schulten, a reporter for the local 'Waldeckische Landeszeitung' newspaper said.

"People were howling everywhere, including grown men. Fathers saw their children lying on the floor."

Volksmaren, a small town of 6,800 in the central state of Hesse, was in deep shock.

All access roads were sealed off, and police requested local people not to share any photographs they had of the scene on social media.

Police in the city of Mainz ordered drones to fly near large events in order to monitor suspicious car movements.

Police presence is already heightened across Germany in the wake of a series of attacks.

The latest incident comes just days after a far-right gunman killed nine people before turning his gun on his mother and himself in Hanau, which also lies in Hesse.

Carnival celebrations were cancelled across Hesse in respect for the victims of yesterday's incident.

"We hope they will all make a swift and full recovery," Heiko Maas, the German foreign minister, said on Twitter.

"I am shocked by this bad deed, which has injured so many innocent people, some of them seriously," said Volker Bouffier, the regional prime minister of Hesse.

 Daily Telegraph, London

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
ALBANY  Matthew Bender IV, the perennially bow-tied business publisher who for decades was a leader in the Capital Region's philanthropic and conservation communities, died Sunday at age 88.

Bender's legacy in the Albany area stretches into multiple arenas, ranging from education and the environment to culture and history. Along with Phoebe Bender, his wife of 61 years, he donated millions of dollars to various causes in the Capital Region and beyond, and for many years led the Bender Family Foundation, which offers grants to local organizations.

"He was a guy that was really proud of being from here," his son Chris Bender said. "He felt that the money that he was returning to the community, in a sense, was made here."

At the end of his life, Bender "felt like he accomplished everything he really wanted to," his son said.

And his father was in good spirits, joking with relatives visiting him at the Albany Medical Center Hospital days before his death. "I was born on the sixth floor of this hospital," he said, "and Im ready to die on the fifth."

Bender was born on Nov. 10, 1931, and attended Albany Academy  a school that later became one of the recipients of his charitable work. After graduating cum laude from Princeton in 1953, he came into fortune in the 1960s following the sale of Matthew Bender & Co., the law book publishing company founded by his great-grandfather in 1887. The publisher's Albany location closed in 2014.

Bender went on to found and operate Sage Hill Publishing and, later, Clark Boardman Co. in New York City.

He immersed himself in the local community, investing in historic preservation, the arts and conservation efforts in and around the Capital Region. In 1974, he founded the Historic Albany Foundation, which preserves buildings with "architectural, historic or civic value" the capital city.

At the time of his death, Bender still served as the head of the foundation's advisory board.

Bender "was very different in his giving," said Pamela Howard, the executive director of the Historic Albany Foundation. "He wasn't someone who would necessarily write you a check for a quick fix. ... He wanted to make sure that it was sustainable, and that it was doing the most good for the organization."

Bender's name was well-known in the nonprofit community: He held various leadership roles at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Capital Repertory Theatre, the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region, Albany Medical Center and the Preservation League of New York State, among other institutions.

"He really believed in the story of Albany and the importance of Albany in our nation's history, and as a place that really is worthy of attracting tourists from all over the world," Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said.

While he had a particular interest in state capitals  visiting all 50 during his lifetime  Bender had a passion for the one in his backyard. He was one of the first appointees to the 1979 State Commission on the Restoration of the Capitol, where he worked for decades to improve the appearance and structure of the state Capitol  a process that ultimately saw the clean-up of the Great Western Staircase, the reconstruction of its elaborate skylight and interior laylight, and similarly stunning work on the building's east side and roof.

In a January 2012 news release, Bender hailed the completion of the work on the building "for New York citizens to enjoy this year and in the future."

His Capitol work led Bender into many friendships with members of the state Legislature.

"He was just very positive, very outgoing," said Assemblyman John McDonald, D-Cohoes. "If he had a cause he was focused on, he was the authority. It was easy to work with him. You knew when you were talking to Matthew Bender he knew what he was talking about, and he was passionate about it."

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

His family noted that a recent accomplishment that brought him great pride was the third edition of "A Capitol Story," C.R. Roseberry's lushly illustrated history of the Capitol.

"He was passionate about where he lived," said Tammis Groft, the executive director of the Albany Institute of History & Art. "He put his money where his passion was, and he will be missed on so many different levels. He was a leader with a capital L in our community."

Bender was always keenly interested in the well-being of various charitable endeavors. Christine Miles, the former executive director of the Albany Institute of History & Art, recalled when both Bender and her husband were hospitalized at the same time. She would venture out of her husband's room to check on her friend, who asked her frequently for updates on parks and nonprofit organizations.

"Whenever I was down the hall ... hed say, 'Come on in'  I could see him waving at me," Miles said. "I remember the first time I walked in, he asked me, 'So, how are things going at the Albany Institute?'"

His family said that spirit of giving and kindness, even in tough times, is what Bender will most be remembered for  along with his quick wit and love of life.

"One thing Ive been thinking about all day since he died was: What was on his list for the rest of us to do here in the Capital Region?" said Marion Roach Smith, one of Bender's longtime friends and the wife of Times Union editor-at-large Rex Smith.

In addition to his wife, Bender is survived by his two sons, Chris and Jeffrey, and his daughter Jean, as well as eight grandchildren.

Calling hours will be 4-7 p.m. Thursday at the Fort Orange Club at 110 Washington Ave. in Albany, where Bender had been the last surviving "life" member. A memorial service will be held in the spring.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations could be made to the Historic Albany Foundation and/0r the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy.
Photo credit: Alexander Spatari - Getty Images

From House Beautiful

Copenhagen and Bern have been jointly crowned the best cities for Europeans living abroad, according to the Location Ratings report from ECA International.

Hailed for its high levels of clean air, good facilities, housing and low crime rate, these two cities offer the best quality of life for those living abroad.

In order to uncover where the best spots are for moving to, the report measured the quality of living conditions for Europeans abroad in over 490 locations to see how they adapted to somewhere new.

Taking the joint third spot is The Hague and Geneva, while Eindhoven and Stavanger came fifth. The study shows that the Netherlands and Switzerland really are some of best countries to live in for expats, as both had four cities in the top 20.



Closer to home, Dublin took the ninth spot, praised for its low crime rate and clean air quality. Edinburgh also made the list, but came in last. 'Dublin has become a popular hub for the expats from around the world thanks to having the benefits of a large city while also managing to avoid the negative aspects,' explains Neil Ashman, Senior Location Ratings Analyst at ECA International.

The research highlights once again that Scandinavian countries are the best for expat living. Thanks to excellent transport links, high standard of healthcare and long-term political stability, these European cities are brilliant for people looking to start a new life elsewhere.

Photo credit: ElOjoTorpe - Getty Images

'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,' says Neil.

'Europeans relocating for work or looking to move abroad can expect a good quality of life in many locations in Ireland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany or Norway; countries that dominate the top 20 of our rankings.'

Take a look at this year's winners below...

Top 20 most liveable locations

1. Copenhagen, Denmark & Bern, Switzerland (joint winners)

Story continues

3. The Hague, Netherlands & Geneva, Switzerland (joint)

5. Eindhoven, Netherlands & Stavanger, Norway (joint)

7. Amsterdam, Netherlands & Basel, Switzerland (joint)

9. Dublin, Irish Republic, Luxembourg City & Gothenburg, Sweden (joint)

Photo credit: Peter Unger - Getty Images

12. Aarhus, Denmark & Rotterdam, Netherlands (joint)

14. Zurich, Switzerland

15. Bonn & Munich, Germany (joint)

17. Vienna, Austria & Hamburg, Germany (joint)

19. Stockholm, Sweden & Edinburgh, United Kingdom (joint)

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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.
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia meet one of the 15 people injured during violent clashes between pro- and anti-CAA protesters in northeast Delhi; undergoing treatment at Max Hospital, Patpargan Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia meet one of the 15 people injured during violent clashes between pro- and anti-CAA protesters in northeast Delhi; undergoing treatment at Max Hospital, Patpargan Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Feb 25 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy, Manish Sisodia, visited the Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital, on Tuesday afternoon, to enquire about the condition of those injured in the violence that continues to rock different parts of North-East Delhi since Saturday.

Speaking to the media, Kejriwal said that he noticed quite a few people have suffered gunshot injuries. He expressed concern over the continuing violence that has been rocking various localities in the North Eastern district of Delhi.

The death toll in the violence, since Saturday night, has now touched nine. On Tuesday four people died, while five persons, including a police head constable had succumbed to their injuries on Monday.
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - Malian Prime Minister Boubou Cisse, heading a high-powered delegation, on 22-23 February visited several localities of the Malian central region of Mopti, shaken by an unprecedented security crisis, an official statement copied to PANA said here Monday
There are many reasons why people find themselves without financial margin and needing more money. You want to pay down your student loan debt but dont have the extra money to do so. You want to save for the future, but there is very little left over at the end of the month. Or maybe youre simply struggling to pay your monthly rent.

Sometimes, the answer to our financial stresses lies on the expense side of the money equationreduce debt and eliminate unnecessary spending to increase financial margin. But there are also times when theres little left to do on the expense side of the equation. Youre already living off a bare bones budget and cutting the budget is no longer cutting it. You need to focus on the income side of the money equation. You need to find more money.

Related: 50 Ideas for a Lucrative Side Hustle

Fortunately, there has never been a better time to make additional income outside of your regular, full-time job. Approximately 57 million Americans are a part of the gig economy. So, if you need to find more money, there is a good chance that you can increase your income by getting a side gig. Here are some top side gigs many are using to find more money.

1. Rideshare driving

Do you have a car and enjoy meeting different people? Rideshare driving may be a good side gig for you. Ridesharing offers an alternative to a service traditionally provided by taxis. Youre probably familiar with Uber and Lyft. These are the most popular ridesharing companies. To get started, simply go to either or both companies sites and fill out an application. Many are drivers for both Uber and Lyft to increase their chances of finding riders. You can do this side gig whenever your schedule allows. Once you become an approved driver, just get in your car, turn on the app and go make money.

2. Food and grocery delivery

Do you know your way around the grocery store or know where to grab a meal? You can make money by delivering food and groceries. Shipt and Instacart are two major players in grocery delivery. With both, you pick the items out at the store and then deliver the groceries to the customer. You can also apply to deliver food for a company like Grubhub, Seamless or UberEats. With these, customers place a food order, you pick it up at the restaurant and then deliver it to them. People who dont like driving people around might prefer to transport food instead.

Related: 50 Jobs, Gigs and Side Hustles You Can Do From Home

3. Home Repairs

Are people regularly asking you to help out with things around their homes? It might be time to start making money off that desired skill set using one of several companies that connect handymen and handywomen to potential customers. TaskRabbit, Takl and Thumbtack are some examples of companies like this. You can set your price and take as many or as few projects as you desire. Customers rate and review the people they hired, so the more and better reviews you receive, the more opportunities you will have to generate income.

4. Online tutoring

Do you enjoy teaching a particular subject? Online tutoring is a growing way for those who love to teach to make money outside of their full-time job.VIPKid, Tutor.com and Wyzant connect teachers with tutoring opportunities. Many of the companies offer English language tutoring to students in China and other countries, so you can work early mornings, late nights or whenever is convenient for you.

Related: Do the Side Hustle: 5 Better Ways to Earn Extra Cash

Understandably, not everyone is qualified to tutor students. To ensure quality teaching, many companies require prospective tutors to take a series of tests. But those who pass their examinations get an opportunity to make money while helping students perform well at school.

5. Buy low, sell high

Are you really skilled at finding good deals? If so, you may want to consider flipping. Flipping is when you purchase an item at a lower price and sell it for a higher price. Youve likely heard of flipping homes, but theyre not the only thing this applies to. Craigslist, eBay and Facebook Marketplace are great places to find a variety of items to flip. You may even run across some free items that just need a little TLC. Clean them up and put them back out on the market. But remember: Flipping does not guarantee income. In fact, if you do it poorly, you could lose money. Be smart about it.

Financial stress can hit anyone. If you are needing to find more money to pay bills, reduce debt or save for future expenses, there is good news for you. Never before have there been more opportunities for side gigs. Start searching for your side gig today.

Related: How to Turn Your Side Hustle Into a Full-Time Gig

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25 Feb 2020, 5:36 PM

Slowing credit growth critical challenge for bank: RBI Guv

Slowing credit growth is one of the most critical challenges for the banking industry and there is a need to focus on prudent lending by the banks, Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das said on Monday. So far this year, credit growth in the country has moderated to 7-7.5 per cent. The RBI would soon issue draft guidelines on corporate governance in public and private sector banks, he said

Trump India Visit Day 2: POTUS has a busy day ahead

After a busy Day 1, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have their task cut out for today's engagements. Trump and the First Lady will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhawan by President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife Savita Kovind around 10 am today. After this, the First Couple will pay their respects to the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, at the Raj Ghat. Around 11:30 am, the US President and the First Lady will reach the Hyderabad House where Trump and Modi will meet for a restricted dialogue after an initial photo op

5 dead as clashes erupt over CAA; many schools, metro stations shut

A total of five people, including a police constable, have died as violence over the citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) spiralled across northeast Delhi on Monday. Despite police efforts, frenzied protesters torched several houses, shops, vehicles and petrol pumps.

Washington pledges $1 billion for coronavirus vaccine as pandemic risks grow

U.S. President Donald Trump will seek $2.5 billion from Congress to fight the coronavirus epidemic and U.S. and South Korean militaries are considering scaling back joint training as the virus spreads in Europe and the Middle East. The White House said more than $1 billion of the requested virus budget would go toward developing a vaccine, while other funds would be used for therapeutics and the stockpiling of protective equipment such as masks.

Seventy-one new coronavirus deaths were reported from China, taking the total number of casualties to 2,663, even as reports suggested that the number of new cases has seen a sharp decline. doctors in Wuhan are for the first time reporting vacant beds in hospitals to accommodate new patients, he said, adding that earlier China had to build two makeshift hospitals with a capacity of 2,300 beds.

Also read: Five metro stations on Pink Line shut due to clashes over CAA in Northeast Delhi

Also read: Drug regulator offers to airlift raw materials from Coronovirus-hit China
After talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday stressed that the Indian leader wants people to have religious freedom and also steered clear of the row over the contentious CAA even as he said an over USD 3 billion defence deal was finalised for the supply of advanced American military equipment to India.

Trump also repeated his mediation offer to defuse tensions between India and Pakistan, noting Kashmir is a "big problem" and has been "thorn in lot of people's sides" for long time. He said there are two sides to every story, comments that came days ahead of the plans to sign a peace deal between the US and Taliban on February 29 for which Pakistan has been invited.

"If anything I can do to mediate, I will do," Trump said, adding Pakistan figured in his talks with Modi.

"I have good equation with Pakistan PM Imran Khan. They are working to control cross-border terrorism," Trump said after India flagged its concerns over terrorism emanating from across the border.

Trump went on to say that Modi is a very religious and calm man, but he is a very strong person. "He is very tough. He has got that foremost in his mind, terrorism and he will take care of it."



The President was effusive in his praise of Modi on multiple occasions, calling him a "terrific leader" and a "nice man who is doing a fantastic job".

At the meeting between Modi and Trump at the stately Hyderabad House hours after the President was accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the two leaders said there has been "tremendous progress" in negotiations between India and the US for a "big and comprehensive" trade deal which will be of great importance to both the countries.

But Trump's press conference at the ITC Maurya hotel where he stayed overnight came as a surprise and generated a lot of excitement in the media fraternity amid speculation he may touch upon controversial issues like the Citizenship Amendment Act(CAA) against the backdrop of the violence in Delhi over the new law that has left 10 dead.

"I'm gonna be not at all controversial...I don't want to blow the two days plus two days of travel on one answer, one little answer...So I will be very conservative in my answers if you don't mind," Trump said at the start of the 45-minute packed conference.

In reply to a question, Trump said issues involving the CAA are up to India and asserted that Prime Minister Modi wants people to have religious freedom.

"We did talk about religious freedom. Prime Minister Modi wants people to have religious freedom in India...If you look back India has worked hard for religious freedom," Trump said.

On CAA, he said, "I don't want to say anything on CAA. It is up to India. I hope it will take the right decision for its people."



Asked if he discussed the incidents of violence taking place during his visit, he said he didn't discuss individual attacks and "that is up to India"He also talked about his country's peace deal with the Taliban with Modi, and said India will like to see it happen.

At a conference, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the new citizenship law did not come up during Modi-Trump talks, noting the two leaders talked about religious harmony in a "positive way".

"The issue of CAA did not come up, but with regard to what you mentioned, the term religious freedom, there was appreciation from both sides that pluralism and diversity are a common binding factor of both the countries," he added.

He said India and the US held talks in five major categories - security, defence, energy, technology and people-to-people contact, with Trump assuring India highest consideration for collaboration in defence sector.

Trump said India and the US have expanded their defence cooperation with agreements for New Delhi to purchase more than USD 3 billion of advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo helicopters -- the finest in the world.

After extensive talks with Modi during which strategic issues, including trade ties, counter-terror and energy cooperation were discussed, Trump at his joint press meet said they affirmed the two countries' commitment to protect their citizens from radical Islamic terrorism.

"In this effort, the US is also working productively with Pakistan to confront terrorists who operate on its soil," Trump said.

The US president said,"earlier, today we expanded our defence cooperation with agreements for India to purchase more than USD 3 billion of advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo helicopters -- the finest in the world. These deals will enhance our joint defence capabilities as our militaries continue to train and operate side by side."



"Another major focus of my discussions with Prime Minister Modi was forging bilateral economic relationships that is fair and reciprocal."



Modi said as far as bilateral trade is concerned, there have been positive talks between the commerce ministers of the two countries.

"President Trump and I have agreed that our teams will give a legal shape to the understanding that our commerce ministers have reached. We have also agreed to start negotiations for a big trade deal. We hope that it will yield good results in mutual interest," the Prime Minister said.

Describing the Indo-US relations as "one of the most important partnerships of the 21st century", the prime minister said, "increasing defence and security cooperation between two countries is a very key aspect of the strategic partnership between India and the US. We also agreed on new mechanism to contain drug trafficking."



He also noted that he had met Trump five times in the last eight months.

After the ceremonial reception on the second and final day of his whirlwind visit, Trump and his wife Melania paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and planted a sapling at the memorial of the Father of the Nation.

"The American people stand strongly with a sovereign and wonderful India -The vision of the great Mahatma -- This is a tremendous honour!" Trump wrote in the visitors book at Rajghat.

Trump also attended a banquet hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Meanwhile, two more officials who were sent to the cruise ship to help with on-board efforts to contain the coronavirus have contracted the illness themselves, Japanese authorities said on Monday.

New Delhi: More bad news continues to come from Japan where two more Indian crew members on board Diamond Princess tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID19) on Monday. Indian Embassy in Tokyo while giving the news said total number of Indians who are receiving treatment for COVID19 so far is 14.

PCR test results announced on Monday, from the samples collected earlier, included 2 Indian crew members, onboard Diamond Princess, testing positive for COVID19. Total number of Indian crew members tested positive so far is 14  responding well to treatment. IndianEmbTokyo hopes that the last groups of results expected to be announced on Tuesday and day after will not have any more Indian nationals included in it, enabling the Embassy to further facilitate Indian nationals on board Diamond Princess, the embassy tweeted. (sic)

Meanwhile, two more officials who were sent to the cruise ship to help with on-board efforts to contain the coronavirus have contracted the illness themselves, Japanese authorities said on Monday. The announcement came as experts warned the next one to three weeks would be crucial to preventing widespread infections as fears deepen that the isolation of the virus-stricken Diamond Princess has been ineffective.

A quarantine officer in his 50s and a health ministry official in his 40s tested positive and are in hospital, Japans health ministry said.

The new infections come after Japan on Sunday reported a third death among people who spent time on the ship  a man in his 80s who died from pneumonia. Six officials linked to containment work on the boat have now tested positive, fuelling doubts about the effectiveness of the quarantine.

More than 690 ship passengers have so far fallen ill with the pathogen, and off the vessel Japan has confirmed over 140 cases across the country, including an elderly woman who died. At least 20 foreigners evacuated from the boat have tested positive after returning home.
British man, 70, rescued by Thai navy after three days adrift off Phuket

PHUKET: A 70-year-old British man adrift on his yacht for three days was rescued by the Royal Thai Navy last night and brought safely back to Phuket, making landfall at the navy base at Cape Panwa, on Phukets east coast, this morning (Feb 25).

marinetransportSafetymilitary

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 25 February 2020, 05:45PM

Vice Admiral Cherngchai Chomcherngpat, Commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command based in Phuket, told The Phuket News that the British man, Michael Turner, was alone on his sailboat Pollen Path when the engine failed.

Mr Turner was making his way from the west coast of Phuket to Chalong Pier when the boat suffered the mechanical failure, V/Adm Cherngchai explained.

The crew on board the supply vessel Miclyn Endurance, currently en route from Singapore to Myanmar, radioed the navy base yesterday evening, asking the navy to provide assistance to Mr Turner and gave the yachts last known position.

We send the patrol boat Tor 232 to find the sailboat at around 7:30pm. They rendezvoused with the Miclyn Endurance at around 10:30pm, V/Adm Cherngchai said.

The Navy crew asked the supply ship where the sailboat last was and finally found it at 10:50pm, he added.

By the time the navy boat came alongside the stricken yacht, it was some 40 nautical miles away southwest of Phuket, V/Adm Chergchai noted.

The navy crew started towing the yacht back to Phuket, and reached shore at 9:30am, he said.

Asked why Mr Turner was unable to use the sails to navigate his way safely back to Phuket, V/Adm Cherngchai said, The wind was so strong that he could not come back to the shore.

Even though he had been at sea for three days, he still had enough food and drink to stay in the boat for three more days, he added.

The Pollen Path, which is currently flagged as registered in Malaysia, currently remains at the navy base in Phuket.

Mr Turner has already left the base with a friend and will come to fix the boat later, V/Adm Cherngchai said.
Published on 2020/02/24 | Source

Actress Baek Ji-won's excellent performance in "Tell Me What You Saw" was exceptionally thrilling.

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In the latest episode of the OCN drama "Tell Me What You Saw", Baek Ji-won made a special appearance as a kidnapper named Kim Na-hee. At first she seemed like a gentle lawyer with her own beliefs, but there was a twist, as her character was gravely delusional.

Kim Na-hee had a young son who she lost to an accident 5 years ago, but she couldn't accept that he was gone. She was under the impression that Gil Hyeon-soo (Kim Tae-yool), who was kidnapped by Noh Sang-cheol (Jo Wan-ki) was her son, so she killed Noh Sang-cheol and kidnapped the child herself.

The twofold behavior by Kim Na-hee who refused to accept the truth was depicted by Baek Ji-won's seasoned experience. She appeared to be a gentle mom in front of the child, but if he resisted or interfered with her happiness, she reacted rashly.

From the sixth to the eighth episode, Baek Ji-won defined the fine line between good and evil until the end. The truth of her child's death hit her once she was arrested and she broke down crying so sorrowfully.

Baek Ji-won, who has become irreplaceable for her performances in "Encounter", "The Fiery Priest", "Be Melodramatic" and "Miss Lee", proved her name worthy once again in "Tell Me What You Saw".

Baek Ji-won returns with a new character in the new KBS 2TV drama "Once Again" in March.

___________

"Tell Me What You Saw" is directed by Kim Sang-hoon-I, written by Han Gi-hyun, Ko Yeong-jae, and features Jang Hyuk, Choi Soo-young, Jin Seo-yeon, Lee Si-won, Ha Sung-kwang, Eum Moon-suk. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2020/02/01~Now airing, Sat, Sun 22:30 on OCN.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) has blamed the BJP-RSS combine for the violence in northeast Delhi which has claimed seven lives.

The violence which has been underway for the past two days has left areas of northeast Delhi under virtual shutdown.

The National Secretariat of the CPI expressed "deep sorrow and concern" over the loss of lives and said that the anti-CAA protesters were holding peaceful protests in the Jaffrabad, Maujpur and Bhajanpura areas of northeast Delhi.

"RSS-BJP goons who wanted to scuttle the protest movement let loose violence and even tried to give it a communal colour by attacking the protesters and the minority community people in the areas. All these were happening when US President Donald Trump was then scheduled to land in Delhi," a statement from the party said.

Holding RSS-BJP leaders, including ministers, MPs and even chief ministers responsible, the party said the tense situation in the national capital was created by "heinous and provocative speeches".

"The anti-minority campaign which started on the eve of the Delhi polls is still continuing. Therefore, the party hold those RSS-BJP leaders solely responsible for the loss of lives following the abatement of hatred, intolerance and violence," the statement said.

"The party demands an impartial judicial probe into the episode and exemplary punishment for all those found guilty directly and indirectly," it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Commending Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani for transforming India's telecom sector and his strategic investment in the energy sector in the US, President Donald Trump on Tuesday invited him to invest in his tax-friendly country.

"Great job you have done. Thank you," Trump told Ambani who briefed him about the RIL investment in the US and India business at the CEO roundtable event organised at the US Embassy here.

"We are investors in the United States in the energy sector and have invested $7 billion towards that," Ambani told Trump who immediately replied: "$7 billion, yeah, big one." Trump then asked him: "You're doing 4G. Are you going to do 5G too?" Ambani said that Reliance Jio is the only network in the world that doesn't have a single Chinese equipment manufacturer for the 5G trials.

To this, Trump chuckled: "That's good! Put a bid in one?" India's leading telecom operator Reliance Jio has only partnered with non-Chinese equipment manufacturers like Samsung to date.

Ambani applauded Trump for low tax rates in the US that makes the country a business-friendly destination.

"All of us in the business community are really supportive. We do acquisitions in the US and they're getting approved fast and we hope that will continue for the Indian companies," said the RIL Chairman.

Trump said this would happen only till he is there as the US President.

"It will happen till I am there but if the wrong one gets elected, that won't happen at all. Everything will come to a halt, your unemployment rate will come to 8 or 9 or 10 (per cent) and a lot of bad things will happen," the US President told the gathering.

"I think we are the favourites to win," he added, saying that some say 65 per cent people want him to come back to power but the rest 35 per cent still don't.

"It would be devastating as the economy has never been as good as today," Trump told the packed room.
Indian equities closed in the red for a third straight session on Tuesday as the coronavirus spread outside China continued to hurt investors' risk appetite.

A day after taking a massive plunge due to concerns over Mauritius being added to the "grey list" of Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the market steadied in the opening deals on Tuesday, with regulator Sebi saying that foreign investors from the island nation will continue to be eligible for FPI registration.

Starting off higher in opening trade, the BSE benchmark Sensex went through bouts of volatility during the session, before settling at 82.03 points, or 0.20 per cent, lower at 40,281.20.

Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty declined 31.50 points or 0.27 per cent to end at 11,797.90.

On the Sensex chart, Sun Pharma was the top loser, shedding 2.37 per cent, followed by HCL Tech, Reliance Industries, IndusInd Bank and L&T.

On the other hand, TCS settled 1.98 per cent higher. Tata Steel, Bharti Airtel, SBI and HUL too featured among the gainers.

Sectorally, BSE energy, oil and gas, healthcare, consumer durables, industrials, auto and capital goods indices fell up to 1.64 per cent, while realty, telecom, teck and metal indices ended with gains.

In the broader market, BSE midcap and smallcap indices fell up to 0.45 per cent.

Investors across the globe are worried over the long-term impact of the deadly coronavirus on the global growth.

A viral outbreak that began in China has infected more than 80,000 people globally.

In the domestic market, investors also weighed the repercussions of Mauritius being added to the "grey list" of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) -- an inter-governmental policy making body that sets anti-money laundering standards.

A significant percentage of foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) investing in the Indian market is registered in Mauritius.

The island nation is the second largest source after the United States from which foreign portfolio investments come into the country.

Market regulator Sebi on Tuesday said foreign investors from Mauritius will continue to be eligible for FPI registration with increased monitoring as per international norms.

Market participants are also keenly assessing the outcomes from US President Donald Trump's India visit.

India and the US on Tuesday finalised defence deals worth USD 3 billion, and signed three MoUs, including one in energy sector, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the two countries have decided to take Indo-US ties to comprehensive global partnership level.

"Markets steadied after a steep sell-off yesterday as investors assessed the economic impact of coronavirus which has spread to other nations. Trump-Modi meet failed to provide any sentiment boost for the domestic market as there were no key deals. Virus concerns could remain in the limelight as any further supply disruption could hurt global economic growth in 2020," Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services, said.

On a net basis, FPIs sold equities worth Rs 1,160.90 crore on Monday, data available with stock exchanges showed.

Bourses in Shanghai and Tokyo ended in the red, while Seoul and Hong Kong settled with gains.

Stock exchanges in Europe were trading on a negative note in their morning sessions.

Brent crude oil futures slipped 0.16 per cent to USD 55.68 per barrel.

On the currency front, the Indian rupee appreciated by 9 paise to 71.86 per US dollar.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
China participates in largest joint military exercise in Southeast Asia

Global Times

Source:Global Times Published: 2020/2/24 22:18:03 Last Updated: 2020/2/25 1:45:38

The Chinese military has arrived in Thailand and will participate in the 2020 Cobra Gold multilateral joint military drills, the largest joint military exercise in Southeast Asia which will be led by Thailand and the US, starting Tuesday.

An elite team of 25 soldiers from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) 75th Group Army arrived in Thailand on Sunday via a transport aircraft of the PLA Air Force, the PLA Daily reported on Monday.

The annual Cobra Gold series joint drills has become the largest joint military exercise in Southeast Asia, and this year's edition will run from Tuesday to March 6 in Thailand, the report said.

Jointly hosted by Thailand and the US, the drills will feature high-level forums, amphibious landing exercises, humanitarian construction and disaster relief drills, China News Service reported on Sunday.

The Chinese team will participate in desktop maneuvers, actual combat exercises, humanitarian construction and high-level forums, said Sun Zhi, leader of the Chinese team, according to the report.

By participating in the 2020 Cobra Gold, China is eagerly participating in defense cooperation with neighboring regions, which will enhance communication with Southeast Asian countries including Thailand, providing Chinese solutions and power in humanitarian relief operations, Sun said.

More than 8,900 soldiers and officers from 29 countries will join the drills.

The US is expected to send 5,500 personnel and 64 fighter jets including the F-35 stealth fighter jet for the first time, as well as an amphibious assault ship and an amphibious landing dock, foreign media reports said.

China has been sending observers to the annual exercises since 2002 and participating in the drills since 2014.

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One of the four persons, who had kidnapped a doctor in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district and later released him for Rs 52 lakh ransom, was arrested on Tuesday, police said.

Nitesh alias Regal, nabbed by police at Bajna cut on Yamuna Expressway in Naujhil area, hails from Bhopal, said Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar Meena.

He said Rs 50,000 cash and a mobile phone were recovered from Nitesh who was on way to meet his associates.

The other three accused are Sunny Malik from Meerut and Mahesh Kumar and Anup Kumar from Kolahar village in district's Naujheel area, police said.

The doctor, Nirvikalp Agrawal, was kidnapped near Govardhan crossing on NH-2 while he was returning home from work on December 10 last year. He was released the same night after his wife paid a ransom of Rs 52 lakh to the kidnappers, they said.

The doctor had refused to approach the police and later a station house officer was suspended for not taking the case seriously.

The other three accused would be nabbed soon, the SP said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[February 25, 2020] Jumei Enters into a Definitive Agreement for Going-Private Transaction

BEIJING, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jumei International Holding Limited (NYSE: JMEI) (Jumei or the Company), a fashion and lifestyle solutions provider in China, today announced that it has entered into a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger Agreement) with Super ROI Global Holding Limited, a business company organized and existing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (Parent), and Jumei Investment Holding Limited, an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (Purchaser), pursuant to which Parent and Purchaser will acquire all the outstanding class A ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.00025 per share (each a Class A Ordinary Share) and American depositary share each representing ten Class A Ordinary Share (each an ADS), other than Class A Ordinary Shares and ADSs owned by Purchaser. Parent is ultimately wholly-owned by Mr. Leo Ou Chen (Mr. Chen), the founder, chairman of board of directors, chief executive officer and acting chief financial officer of the Company. Mr. Chen, Parent and Purchaser (collectively, the Buyer Group) currently beneficially holds 50,892,198 class B ordinary shares of the Company (the Class B Ordinary Shares, together with the Class A Ordinary Shares, the Shares), representing approximately 44.6% of the outstanding Shares and 88.9% of the total voting power represented by all outstanding Shares of the Company.

Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, Purchaser will promptly commence a tender offer (the Offer) to acquire all the outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares of the Company (including Class A Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) not owned by Purchaser at a price of $2.0 per Share or $20.0 per ADS in cash, without interest and less $0.05 per ADS cancellation fees, $0.02 per ADS depositary service fees and other related fees and withholding taxes (the Offer Price). The closing of the tender offer will be subject to several conditions, including (i) the tender by a number of Class A Ordinary Shares (including Class A Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) that, together with any other Shares owned by Purchaser, constitutes at least 90% of the total voting power represented by the outstanding Shares, (ii) Purchaser and Parent shall have sufficient funds, after taking into consideration the aggregate proceeds of a debt financing, cash on hand of Purchaser, Parent, the Company and its subsidiaries, available lines of credit and other sources of immediately available funds available to Purchaser and Parent, to pay the aggregate Offer Price (assuming all of the Class A Ordinary Shares and ADSs that are issued and outstanding and not owned by Purchaser are validly tendered and not properly withdrawn) and all fees and expenses expected to be incurred in connection with the Offer and (iii) other customary conditions. After completion of the tender offer, Parent will acquire all remaining Shares not held by Purchaser through a short-form merger (the Merger) of Purchaser and the Company in which the Company will be the surviving company and will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger (the Effective Time) each Class A Ordinary Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than the Excluded Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement), will be cancelled and cease to exist, in exchange for the right to receive $2.0 in cash without interest, and each outstanding ADS, other than the ADSs representing the Excluded Shares, will be cancelled in exchange for the right to receive $20.0 in cash without interest and less $0.05 per ADS cancellation fees, $0.02 per ADS depositary service fees and other related fees and withholding taxes (the Merger Consideration). At the Effective Time, each (i) outstanding and vested option (each, a Vested Option) to purchase Class A Ordinary Shares under the Companys share incentive plans will be cancelled, and each holder of a Vested Option will have the right to receive an amount in cash determined by multiplying (x) the excess, if any, of $2.0 over he applicable exercise price of such Vested Option by (y) the number of Class A Ordinary Shares underlying such Vested Option; (ii) each outstanding but unvested option to purchase Class A Ordinary Shares under the Companys share incentive plans will be cancelled for no consideration; (iii) each outstanding and vested restricted share unit (each a Vested RSU) under the Companys share incentive plans will be cancelled, and each holder of a Vested RSU will have the right to receive an amount in cash determined by multiplying (x) $2.0 by (y) the number of Class A Ordinary Shares underlying such Vested RSU; and (iv) each outstanding but unvested restricted share unit under the Companys share incentive plans will be cancelled for no consideration.



The Offer Price and the Merger Consideration represents a premium of 14.7% to the closing price of the Companys ADSs on January 10, 2020, the last trading day prior to the Companys announcement of its receipt of the going-private proposal, and a premium of 29.3% to the closing price of the Companys ADSs on February 24, 2020, the last trading day prior to the execution of the Merger Agreement. The Buyer Group intends to fund the Offer and the Merger with debt financing, cash on hand of Purchaser, Parent, the Company and its subsidiaries, available lines of credit and other funds available to Purchaser and Parent. The Buyer Group has delivered a copy of an executed debt commitment letter to the Company pursuant to which Tiga Investments Pte. Ltd. will provide, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, an amount sufficient to fund in full the consummation of the Offer, the Merger and the other transactions related thereto.

The Companys board of directors (the Board), acting upon the unanimous recommendation of a committee of independent and disinterested directors established by the Board (the Special Committee), approved the Merger Agreement, the Offer and the Merger. The Special Committee negotiated the terms of the Merger Agreement with the assistance of its financial and legal advisors. Because the Merger is a short-form merger in accordance with section 233(7) of the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands, with the Company being the company surviving the Merger, the Merger does not require a shareholder vote or approval by special resolution of the Companys shareholders if a copy of the Plan of Merger is given to every registered shareholder of the Company. The Merger is currently expected to close in the second quarter of 2020. If completed, the Merger will result in the Company becoming a privately-owned company wholly owned directly by Parent, its ADSs will no longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and the ADS program will be terminated. Houlihan Lokey (China) Limited is serving as financial advisor to the Special Committee; Hogan Lovells is serving as U.S. legal counsel to the Special Committee; certain legal matters of Cayman Islands law with respect to the Merger are advised upon for the Special Committee by Harneys. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as U.S. legal counsel to the Buyer Group; and Conyers Dill & Pearman is serving as Cayman legal counsel to the Buyer Group. IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT The Company will furnish to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) a current report on Form 6-K regarding the Merger, which will include as an exhibit thereto the Merger Agreement. All parties desiring details regarding the Merger are urged to review these documents, which will be available at the SECs website (http://www.sec.gov). The tender offer for the outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares and ADSs of the Company described above has not yet commenced. This communication is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell securities of the Company, nor is it a substitute for the tender offer materials that Parent and Purchaser will file with the SEC upon commencement of the tender offer. On the commencement date of the tender offer, a combined tender offer statement and Rule 13E-3 transaction statement under cover of Schedule TO, including an offer to purchase, letters of transmittal and related documents, will be filed with the SEC by Parent and Purchaser, a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 and a Schedule 13E-3 transaction statement will be filed with the SEC by the Company. The offer to purchase Class A Ordinary Shares and ADSs will only be made pursuant to the offer to purchase, the letters of transmittal and related documents filed as a part of the Schedule TO. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ THE TENDER OFFER STATEMENT, THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT REGARDING THE OFFER AND THE SCHEDULE 13E-3 TRANSACTION STATEMENT CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY, AS THEY MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders of the Company may obtain a free copy of these materials (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov or by directing such requests to the exchange agent for the tender offer which will be named in the tender offer statement. Copies of the Companys filings with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the Investor Relations section of the Companys website at http://ir.jumei.com/ or by directing a request to: Jumei International Holding Limited, 20th Floor, Tower B, Zhonghui Plaza, 11 Dongzhimen South Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100007, Peoples Republic of China, Attn: Investor Relations, +86 10-56766999 or [email protected] About Jumei Jumei (NYSE: JMEI) is a fashion and lifestyle solutions provider with a diversified portfolio of products on offer in China. Jumei sells branded beauty, baby, children and maternity products, light luxury products, as well as health supplements through its e-commerce platform. Jumei has invested in adjacent fashion and lifestyle businesses such as Jiedian, a mobile device power bank operating company, and TV drama series production, to expand its service offerings. These investments will further expand and strengthen Jumeis ecosystem as it seeks to benefit from Chinas transition into the new retail era. Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as will, expects, anticipates, future, intends, plans, believes, estimates and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Jumeis beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including the possibility that the Tender Offer or Merger will not occur as planned if events arise that result in the termination of the Merger Agreement, if the expected financing is not available for any reason, or if one or more of the various closing conditions to the Offer or the Merger are not satisfied or waived, and other risks and uncertainties regarding the Merger Agreement, the Offer and the Merger that will be discussed in the Schedule TO and Schedule 13E-3 to be filed with the SEC. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Jumei does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. For more information, please contact: Christensen

In China

Mr. Christian Arnell

Phone: +86-10-5900-1548

E-mail: [email protected] In United States

Ms. Linda Bergkamp

Phone: +1-480-614-3004

Email: [email protected]

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Forage is money! Putting up good quality feeds requires time, trained labor, maintained equipment and a good amount of management skills. All these resources have a dollar sign attached to them. However, without the investment the quality of feed decreases negatively, affecting the cow's health and productivity. which then ultimately hurts farm income.

Multiple materials and resources are available to provide guidelines and methods to improve the quality of feed in the field, or during harvest.

However, what happens when the feed is already stored and the feed out phase begins? What strategies can help you maintain quality, control cost feeding and maintain consistent rationing in front of your cows?

During the "Efficiency is a Work in Progress" program from the MSU Extension Dairy Team, we will present information and strategies to address some of these questions. One of the topics that we will discuss is strategies and benefits of monitoring forage dry matter.Dry matter (DM) is the anchor number for your forages, without accurate monitoring the variation in moisture cannot be tracked or accounted for during the feed mixing process. This variation can lead to inconsistencies that could derail the ratios of a balanced ration. If importance is not placed on monitoring, the inconsistencies will end up in the feed bunk and reflected in the milk tank or sick (hospital) pen. During the program we will share the results of a trial that tracked forage DM variation across multiple farms using multiple management strategies to manage their forage. Do you have an idea how much DM swings up and down, how this impacts the mixed ration? Let us show you!

DM is only one of multiple topics included in the MSU Extension Dairy Team winter program. The program will be presented in four live locations:

February 25th - McBain Community Library 107 E. Maple St. Mc Bain, MI

February 26th - Ottawa County MSU Extension 12220 Fillmore St., West Olive, MI

February 27th - Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizer 3055 M-21, St. Johns, MI

March 4th - Franklin Inn 1070 E Huron Ave., Bad Axe, MI

In this program, the MSU Extension Dairy team will discuss ways and strategies to improve the efficiency in multiple areas of the farm including managing labor, milking parlor procedures, animal treatments and managing manure. All program materials and lunch are included in the program registration, which can be accessed here.

Please, email carrasq1@msu.edu or paolabs@msu.edu for questions on the topic or additional information about this program.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).
The picturesque rocky coastline of Maine has long inspired the imagination of writers and artists. American painter Edward Hopper (1882-1967) was among the many prominent artists who sought the tranquility of the state's coastal towns during the summer. His painting "Sea at Ogunquit" (1914) captures the rugged beauty so characteristic of Maine and is being represented on the stamp, which art director Derry Noyes designed.

Background:
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its Pakistan affiliate Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) call for urgent government action to force Pakistans media companies to pay up to 11 months worth of unpaid salaries to journalists. This amids a crisis which has led to several media workers dying from stress or committing suicide.

The issues of unpaid salaries for Pakistans media were a key focus of a five-day mission to Pakistan by IFJ Deputy General Secretary, Jeremy Dear, organised by the PFUJ and its affiliated unions in Karachi, Punjab and Sheikhupura from February 18-22.

In meetings with provincial government ministers, regional governors, editors, media companies and journalists union representatives from more than 20 cities, the IFJ echoed PFUJ demands for urgent action to resolve the pay crisis and instigate urgent action to halt thousands of unlawful job cuts that are decimating the countrys media workforce. The IFJ also drew its attention to the shrinking space for independent media and the ongoing climate of impunity in the country during the mission.

Ministers in both Sindh and Punjab provinces, in response to IFJ and PFUJ lobbying during the mission, agreed to either table legislation or create a mechanism to force media employers to pay outstanding salaries and medical payments to thousands of affected journalists. In some companies, journalists have received no pay for up to 11 months, while the majority of journalists are owed between three to six months pay.

As a result of stress of not being able to meet bills, rent or pay school fees several journalists have died in the country in the past year. One journalist, Nafeez Ahmed, even called his employer from his hospital bed, and begged him for his salary and medical support payments.

The IFJ was told how journalists in Pakistan are facing widespread job cuts, many carried out unlawfully and with scarce few media workers receiving any compensation. Radio and TV stations and newspapers have closed on a whim. Thousands of journalists salaries have been cut, some by as much as 60%, with media heads claiming cuts in government advertising budgets and the economic crisis affecting the country have significantly reduced their revenues. As a result, an increasing number of media workers are being forced on to third party contracts and kept working without rights, a situation which the PFUJ claims to be unlawful under Pakistans labour laws.

In meetings with the delegation, Punjab Information Minister Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan pledged that government advertising (which accounts for up to 80% of revenues for some media) will, in future, only be available to those who have fully paid outstanding salaries and met their legal duty to employees. The Punjab provincial government also pledged to extend a subsidized housing scheme and provide health cards for journalists in the province to help alleviate poverty, a move welcomed by the Punjab Union of Journalists.

Sindh Government spokesperson, Murtaza Wahab, met with the delegation and agreed to table a new media law, enshrining the professional and economic rights of journalists and offered to work with PFUJ and other stakeholders to urgently draft legislation. He committed that government advertising would not be paid to media owing outstanding salaries.

Punjabs governor, Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, committed to raise the issue directly with Pakistani Prime Minister, Imran Khan, to resolve the issue for journalists across the country.

The IFJ-PFUJ delegation issued a strong call for action to address the crisis of media freedom in Pakistan where journalists have faced killings, arbitrary arrests, censorship, unlawful surveillance and where a number of journalists and their homes have been physically attacked by state and non-state actors. In meetings with senior police officials and politicians the delegation reinforced strong calls for concrete action to protect the lives of journalists and address impunity, including action on the killing of Aziz Memo n , who was brutally murdered before being dumped in an irrigation canal in February.

The delegation reinforced calls for the countrys new social media law to be withdrawn or amended. During the mission, Pakistans Federal Government announced a review of the law in response to the criticism and the PFUJ is designated to appear among stakeholders consulted on the proposals. In meetings with newspaper editors and in conferences with journalists unions in Karachi and Lahore, the IFJ criticised use of defamation, cyber-crime and anti-terror laws to target journalists, while journalists staged a demonstration outside the Lahore Press Club calling for an end to gagging of the media in the country.

PFUJ president, GM Jamali, and secretary general, Rana Muhammad Azeem, jointly said: "Working journalists are under immense stress due to job insecurity, irregular salaries and threats from different quarters just for their ethical job to bring truth before the common people. This has not only made the environment for journalism unsafe and difficult but is tantamount to a severe threat to liberty of speech and expression of the working journalists.

IFJ Deputy General Secretary Jeremy Dear said: It was an honour to stand alongside such brave and resolute journalists and express the solidarity of the international journalists community for their struggle for the most basic rights  pay, jobs and rights. In dozens of meetings we have reinforced the message and demanded action from provincial and national authorities to force media to pay up, to stop companies breaking the law and to stop the attacks on journalists and journalism.

We have made it clear that unless there is urgent action to address the crisis, we will put the case of Pakistani journalists before the UN and ILO and will mobilise affiliates across the world to demand justice for those killed, jailed, sacked, those denied their rights and those owed their wages.
The event sponsored by the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany drew the participation of dozens of associations, especially the attention of a large number of international visitors.

Speaking 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 highlighted Vietnams cultural identities, and friendliness as well as the 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 integrate well 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.
The African Development Bank urged development finance institutions, NGOs, farmer cooperatives, and the private sector to develop more effective financing solutions for Africas fertilizer value chains.

The Banks call to action came during the Argus Africa Fertilizer Conference held on 19 February. The conferences theme was Supporting the fertilizer value chain to improve agricultural productivity and economic growth in the region.

Appropriate investment and financing of the entire fertilizer value chain has become a precondition for achieving our continental objectives in the area of agricultural development, said Marie-Claire Kalihangabo, coordinator of the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism, during a forum on the side-lines of the Conference.

AFFM is a Fund managed by the African Development Bank to accelerate agriculture development in line with the Banks High-5 priority, Africa Food Security Vision, the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Unions Agenda 2063.

Bank and AFFM staff presented tools and strategies to remove pain points in the fertilizer value chains of African countries, including fertilizer guarantee instruments (http://bit.ly/2Vb3PGY), loans to support fertilizer production (http://bit.ly/32h1CLB) as well as access to inputs like seeds and crop protectants.

The success of Africas agriculture agenda requires a synergistic approach that will bring down barriers and silos that are still hampering the development of the fertilizer sector in Africa, said Mahamadou Nassirou Ba, Economic Affairs Officer at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

Participants also discussed the need for closer cooperation between development partners and commercial banks to create exclusive fertilizer financing opportunities throughout Africa and bolster small and medium enterprises in the fertilizer sector. SMEs are thought to represent the key to providing smallholder farmers with quality fertilizer.

Edward Mabaya, Manager of the Banks Agribusiness Development Division said digital solutions like the e-wallet in Nigeria could play a more significant role in revitalizing and connecting the fertilizer supply chain. The digital transformation can greatly help actors of the fertilizer value chain to streamline their processes and achieve better results. Mabaya said during the AFFMs forum.

The Forum provided an opportunity for Mali to showcase how effective public-private collaboration and better organization of value-chain actors helped raise the countrys fertilizer use to 50kg of nutrients per hectare. In achieving this, the country met a target set in the 2006 Abuja Declaration on Fertilizer for the African Green Revolution (http://bit.ly/2P9WHGU)

The success story of Malis fertilizer expansion is partly due to the presence of inter-professional committees per crop, said Oumar Guindo, General Manager of the Toguna Agro Industries, a fertilizer company based in Mali.

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Sources say, India has yielded ground and made known its willingness to give way on market access to US dairy products and a cap on medical device prices



It is such and other factors which have led to Dean Foods, Americas largest milk producer, filing for bankruptcy protection last November. Borden dairy, another big name has followed suit thereafter.



Indian milk cooperatives and private dairies have been opposing opening Indian markets to global milk producers at the cost of Indian farmers, even otherwise. They had even petitioned the government to keep the sector out of the Free trade Agreement (FTA) under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which India chose to keep out of last year.

Niti Aayog has projected Indias milk production to touch 330 mt by 2033 from the current 180 mt and the demand projection is around 292 mt which proves that the country does not require to import milk or milk products to take care of its population even over the next ten years.

According to available data US exports in dairy trade with a global export share of 4.9 per cent as against an import share of 2.8 per cent in 2018. India, on the other hand, is Lilliputian in comparison with a share of 0.3 per cent and 0.06 per cent in global dairy exports and imports respectively in 2018.

As per a report by the Agriculture Skill Council of India while crop production generates 90 to 120 days employment to the rural work force, the dairy sector provides alternative employment and income throughout the year and accounts for 20.6 per cent of the combined output of paddy, wheat and pulses.

Dairy industry sources state that US farmers are large dairy farmers who benefit from economies of scale but they get only 43 per cent of what the consumer pays which is 1:4 times lower than that of India. Notwithstanding the lower milk yield, India still remains comfortably placed to produce milk at a cheaper rate.

Opinion is strong that the US access in this sector is not only not in the interest of the dairy industry in India but is bad news for millions of poor and landless farmers, particularly women in the rural areas who are its mainstay. Moreover it will a setback to the Prime Ministers stated resolve of doubling farmers income by 2022.

---

*Senior Gujarat-based journalist. Blog: Wordsmiths & Newsplumbers Declining sales in a thin margin business is not a good recipe for success", Mark Stephenson, director of dairy policy analysis at the university of Wisconsin has been quoted by the magazine as saying in its January 20 issue. According to the report there were 605 fluid milk plants in America in 1990 of which only 450 were left by 2018.Indian milk cooperatives and private dairies have been opposing opening Indian markets to global milk producers at the cost of Indian farmers, even otherwise. They had even petitioned the government to keep the sector out of the Free trade Agreement (FTA) under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which India chose to keep out of last year.Niti Aayog has projected Indias milk production to touch 330 mt by 2033 from the current 180 mt and the demand projection is around 292 mt which proves that the country does not require to import milk or milk products to take care of its population even over the next ten years.According to available data US exports in dairy trade with a global export share of 4.9 per cent as against an import share of 2.8 per cent in 2018. India, on the other hand, is Lilliputian in comparison with a share of 0.3 per cent and 0.06 per cent in global dairy exports and imports respectively in 2018.As per a report by the Agriculture Skill Council of India while crop production generates 90 to 120 days employment to the rural work force, the dairy sector provides alternative employment and income throughout the year and accounts for 20.6 per cent of the combined output of paddy, wheat and pulses.Dairy industry sources state that US farmers are large dairy farmers who benefit from economies of scale but they get only 43 per cent of what the consumer pays which is 1:4 times lower than that of India. Notwithstanding the lower milk yield, India still remains comfortably placed to produce milk at a cheaper rate.Opinion is strong that the US access in this sector is not only not in the interest of the dairy industry in India but is bad news for millions of poor and landless farmers, particularly women in the rural areas who are its mainstay. Moreover it will a setback to the Prime Ministers stated resolve of doubling farmers income by 2022.--- That the US milk industry is in trouble is borne out by a very recent "Time" magazine report about falling milk consumption in Trumps country necessitating urgent bail-out measures. Americans each drank 146 lbs of fluid milk in 2018, according to the USDA's Economic Research Service, which is 26 per cent down since 2000.It is such and other factors which have led to Dean Foods, Americas largest milk producer, filing for bankruptcy protection last November. Borden dairy, another big name has followed suit thereafter.

There is an element of irony as India and Gujarat rolled out the red carpet to welcome US President Donald Trump. The Narendra Modi government move to give the US access to its dairy and poultry markets may help bail out the US milk industry but is set to hurt Gujarat and consequently India the most. According to a report in 2017 India contributed 21 per cent of the worlds milk production making it the largest milk producer in the world. This was made largely possible by 73 million marginal farmers and landless labourers working in the dairy sector and possessing an average of one or two milch animals.The World Dairy Situation Report, 2019 states that the US milk yield per cow is the highest in the world at 10,500 litres per cow as against 1,715 litres per cow in India which is the second lowest in the globe ,only after Pakistan.As a big-wig of the co-operative dairy sector in Gujarat put it on condition of anonymity, a trade deal with India may help Trump in his election year, but it will be detrimental to the Indian dairy industry and the livelihood of over 10 crore marginal farmers whose sustenance depends on it.Gujarat remains the nurturing cradle of the dairy cooperative industry in the country. Indian dairy cooperative company, Amul, a brand managed by the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) which has 3.6 million milk producers as its members enjoys a revenue of Rs 380 billion (2018-19,US$ 5.3 billion).The bulk of these are small and marginal farmers or landless labourers.Political chess moves are deceptive . The Howdy Modi event in Houston last September with the Indian Prime Minister exhorting "abki baar Trump sarkar" to expat Indians was great optics but trade talks between Washington and New Delhi slowed down to a crawl thereafter.And this despite a trade deal with New Delhi ensuring greater market access for the US would bolster Trumps position in an elections year. He has already signed a phase one agreement with China and a USMCA ( United States-Mexico-Canada) deal.India wants exemption from high duties imposed by the US on steel and aluminium products and export benefits to some domestic products under the generalised system of preferences among others . The US, on the other hand, wants greater market access for its dairy products, farm equipments , medical devices, and a host of others.Sources say, India has yielded ground and made known its willingness to give way on market access to US dairy products and a cap on medical device prices, even a cut in import duty on Harley-Davidson motor cycles. This does not bode well for the domestic milk sector.




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What does "Jurassic Park" have in common with the latest innovation at Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur? This line: "Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." The technology itself promises a new realm of detailed customization: Designers in Porsche's commissioning department created a direct printing method on painted parts with precision control down to the droplet. It's like photographic quality inkjet printing, except on sheetmetal instead of photo paper. The first application of the technology is a head scratcher: Printing a stylized image of a fingerprint on the hood of a 911.

Eventually, the possibilities will expand beyond the 911 and fancy dactylograms. For now, though, should a 911 buyer choose, he can work with a consultant at a Porsche Center to have his fingerprint scanned and sent to Exclusive Manufaktur in Zuffenhausen. The scanning software revises biometric data so the fingerprint can't be used for nefarious deeds, and the design on the car is based on the fingerprint, not a bit-for-bit representation. To apply the artwork, technicians remove the hood from the specific 911 after production, and take it to a technology cell in the Zuffenhausen plant paint shop where the design is printed on the hood. The paint shop then applies another layer of clear coat, the hood is polished to a high gloss, and it is replaced on the car.

Alexander Fabig, VP of Individualization and Classic, said, Individuality is very important for Porsche customers. And no design can be more personal than your own fingerprint."

The service will be available on request as of next month, for a price of 7,500 ($8,145 U.S.) in Germany, including VAT.

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- United Franchise Group (UFG), a powerhouse association of multiple award-winning companies, announced four of its brands were named to Entrepreneur's 2020 Franchise 500 List. Signarama (No. 117), Transworld Business Advisors (No. 119), Experimax (No. 485) and Fully Promoted (No. 488) all earned spots on the 41st-annual edition of the magazine's prestigious list.

"We have a tremendous amount of respect for Entrepreneur magazine, and to have four of our brands make this renowned list is an honor and very humbling," said Ray Titus, CEO of the United Franchise Group entities. "Our company is successful because of the care we provide our franchisees and their willingness to respond to their customers in a quick and appropriate manner. That kind of family culture is one we've inspired at each of our brands, and it's one that's resonating with more and more entrepreneurs across the world."

The 2020 Franchise 500 is an all-encompassing rankings list consisting of the most successful and well-performing franchise companies from July 31, 2018 to July 31, 2019.

In that timeframe, Transworld Business Advisors opened 20 franchise locations and experienced one of the largest year-to-year jumps of any Franchise 500 company. The business brokerage franchise moved from No. 257 in 2019 to No. 119 in 2020  a 138-spot improvement and No. 1 in category.

Signarama was the top-ranked UFG brand on the 2020 list, coming in at No. 117. The business-service sign company also improved markedly from year-to-year  sliding up 95 spots from a No. 212 ranking in 2019.

Additionally, Fully Promoted made the Franchise 500 as one of only two embroidery and screen-printing brands, coming in at No. 488, while the electronic repairs and sales franchise Experimax made a return on the list at No. 485.

A record-breaking 1,105 companies supplied the necessary information to be considered for this year's Franchise 500. Requirements for franchisors included: having a minimum of 10 open locations as of July 31, 2019; seeking new U.S. and/or Canadian franchisees; and having at least one unit in North America.

Rankings were determined by a detailed review of submissions from Entrepreneur's editorial team and by using over 150 data points to produce a cumulative score. Franchises were ranked No. 1 to No. 500 based on the score they generated.

Backed by the synergy created with its fellow brands, Fully Promoted, Experimax, Transworld Business Advisors and Signarama are affiliate members of the award-winning United Franchise Group family of companies. Each member has the support needed to grow exponentially, both stateside and abroad, in the coming months and years.

ABOUT UNITED FRANCHISE GROUP

Led by Founder and CEO Ray Titus, United Franchise Group is home to an affiliated family of brands, including Signarama, Fully Promoted, Experimax, Jon Smith Subs, SuperGreen Solutions, Transworld Business Advisors, Accurate Franchising, Venture X, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill and Network Lead Exchange. With over three decades in the franchising industry and more than 1,600 franchisees throughout the world, United Franchise Group offers unprecedented leadership and solid business opportunities for entrepreneurs.

ABOUT SIGNARAMA

Signarama, the world's largest sign franchise, offers branding and messaging solutions in addition to comprehensive sign and graphic services to consumers and commercial customers  from business signs, vehicle wraps, and digital signs, to advertising and marketing services. Signarama is part of a successful system of business-to-business franchise brands and development services under the United Franchise Group (UFG). As part of a $49-billion-plus worldwide sign market, Signarama has been at the forefront of the sign industry for over three decades. For more information, visit www.signarama.com. For more information on the Signarama franchise opportunity, visit https://signaramafranchise.com/

About Transworld Business Advisors

Transworld Business Advisors is part of United Franchise Group of brands. With 40 years of business brokerage experience, Transworld Business Advisors is in the business of helping buyers and sellers connect, conduct franchise consulting, and franchise development. The company represents acquisition-minded corporations or individuals interested in owning their own company or franchise. From business brokerage to mergers and acquisitions, Transworld Business Advisors are business sale specialists that represent numerous listings across multiple industries. For more information on owning a Transworld franchise, visit www.tworldfranchise.com.

About Fully Promoted

Fully Promoted has more than 300 retail and office locations across the globe. The brand operates a full-service branded products and marketing service business and is the place to attract customers. From promotional products and embroidery to expert printing services, Fully Promoted can help take businesses to the next level. Recently, Fully Promoted introduced a professional office-based location that will allow franchisees to operate their business using a developed network of resources. To find the Fully Promoted nearest you, visit http://www.FullyPromoted.com, and for franchising opportunities, visit http://www.FullyPromotedFranchise.com.

About Experimax

Experimax specializes in the sale of certified pre-owned devices. Your local Experimax store can also repair, upgrade or buy your current device, and no appointment is necessary. Stores offer warranty programs, which takes the risk out of buying pre-owned. Experimax was founded by Jim Muir in 2009 and began franchising as one of United Franchise Group's affiliated companies and brands in 2014. Today, there are more than 100 locations across the globe. Experimax stores can be found in Australia, Mexico, Columbia, Chile, South Africa, Canada, and Uruguay. For more information, visit www.experimax.com.

SOURCE Signarama
Israeli men come to Turkey to have hair transplant operations despite strained political relations between Israel and Turkey.

Nearly 200,000 Israelis visited Turkey in 2014 but the figure exceeded 500,000 in 2019, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute.

The majority of Israeli tourists come for good medical service, especially plastic surgery and hair transplants.

Health tourism is growing in daily in Turkey and advertisements related to hair transplantation in Turkey are seen everywhere in Israel, including on YouTube.

A lot of people who had a hair transplant might get attention from outgoing air passengers who go to Israel from Turkey.

There are many companies in Israel that organize hair transplantation tours to Turkey.

Entrepreneur Aviad Bitton, 34, has a tour company and said he takes approximately 100 people to Turkey for hair transplant operations every month.

He said his clients prefer Turkey because of its medical quality and inexpensive prices.

"Turkey is the one of the countries which has the best and experienced doctors and the hospitals and doctors work so professional, therefore, my clients choose Turkey," he said.

Social media expert Noam Goren, 43, who came to Turkey for a hair transplant operation, said the high efficiency procedure in Turkey it cheaper than in Israel.

"I was very glad when I went to Turkey for hair transplantation. People were very kind. They made me feel at home," he said.

Asked why Israelis prefer Turkey, he said Turkey is so close to Israel and Turkish people are very polite.

"Before coming to Istanbul I made a travel plan to see the city. It is a really beautiful city," he said.

Robin Elgad, 28, a doctor who prefers Turkey for hair transplant operations, said the medical quality is very high in Turkey.

Stressing the professionalism in Turkey, he said he suggests Turkey to everyone for good times and quality health service.

Igal Fridman, 32, a math teacher, said Turkey gives confidence, therefore, he has chosen it.

Turkey is a reliable and inexpensive country; therefore, I suggest this country to everyone who needs a hair transplant operation, he said.

Itamar Torris, 45, a lawyer who plans to go to Turkey for a hair transplant said it cost approximately 8,000 euros ($8,678) in Israel but just 2,500 euros ($2,711) in Turkey.

"You can combine hair transplantation with a touristic tour and you can have an opportunity to visit Istanbul. My hair transplantation operation will take about three days, but I want to stay 10 days to see the country," he said.

Image Credit:  AA
Now that Sen. Bernie Sanders has the inside track for the Democratic presidential nomination, his rivals are attacking him for being a democratic socialist  warning that he wouldnt just lose to President Trump, but could destroy Democrats campaigns up and down the ballot.

Pete Buttigieg and Mike Bloomberg, both running to the right of Sanders, have been especially vocal since the Vermont independents victory in the Nevada caucuses Saturday. Bloomberg likened Sanders views to communism, and Buttigieg said he could water down the Democratic Partys perceived stance against dictatorships.

There will be a lot of Democrats  from statehouse to Senate  who are on the ticket with him that would distance themselves from his ideology or some of his positions, Addisu Demissie, who managed New Jersey Sen. Cory Bookers presidential campaign, told The Chronicles Its All Political podcast. This biggest challenge with a Sanders nomination will be, how does the party come together?

Still, Demissie said, I think he can beat President Trump.

The power of the word socialist depends largely on the age of the listener. People younger than 30 feel equally positive about socialism and capitalism, according to a 2019 Pew Research survey. People older than 50  those who grew up during the Cold War  feel nearly twice as positive about capitalism as socialism.

While the attacks coming from the Democratic presidential field on Sanders may be new, more than 6 in 10 voters know that Sanders is a socialist, according to a survey this month by Yahoo News/YouGov.

But the survey found that many didnt know the difference between the socialism of Fidel Castros Cuba and Sanders version of democratic socialism, which he says is the modern extension of President Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal programs. The survey found that 38% of respondents said the two were the same and 38% said they were different. The rest werent sure.

The bigger challenge for Sanders: Only 35% of respondents said they would consider voting for a socialist.

The Cold War version of socialism in Castros Cuba is one of total government control over industry and the media. Sanders form of democratic socialism is more like that found in Scandinavian countries, where the government provides health care and free college.

Most proponents of social democracy see it as a way of smoothing capitalisms rough edges, according to Socialism: A Short Primer from the Brookings Institution, making it more humane, egalitarian, and protective, rather than replacing the market outright.

The important word in democratic socialism isnt socialism, its democratic, wrote 1988 presidential candidate and civil rights activist Jesse Jackson. Sanders isnt talking about making America into Cuba or Venezuela; hes talking about extending social guarantees like those offered in most other advanced industrial states, invoking Denmark or Sweden.

Sanders rivals describe democratic socialism as something more ominous. Bloomberg likened it to communism at last weeks Democratic debate in Las Vegas. Others say Sanders went too far for praising Castros literacy program during an interview Sunday on 60 Minutes.

Sanders added the caveat that he condemned Castro for imprisoning political dissidents. Unlike Donald Trump, he said. 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.

Still, Buttigieg said Sanders praise of Castros literacy campaign glossed over the late Cuban leaders atrocious record on human rights.

Why are we spotlighting the literacy programs of a brutal dictator, instead of being unambiguous in our condemnation about the way he treated his own people? the former South Bend, Ind., mayor said Monday on CNN. I dont want as a Democrat to be explaining why our nominee is encouraging people to look on the bright side of the Castro regime when we are going into the election of our lives.

At Tuesdays debate in South Carolina, Buttigieg said, Were not going to win these critical, critical House and Senate races if people in those races have to explain why the nominee of the Democratic Party is telling people to look at the bright side of the Castro regime.

Bloombergs campaign points to a survey of voters in 42 battleground House districts conducted for his campaign. It found that a plurality of voters (39%) say they will be less likely to vote for a Democrat for Congress if Sanders is the Democratic nominee for president and his socialist ideas are in the Democratic platform.

Rep. Harley Rouda, D-Laguna Beach, who won a Republican-held Orange County district in 2018, told The Chronicle on Tuesday that Im a little concerned that anybody that far left is going to help me in my district  unless we can overcome the votes lost by additional ones he can bring in.

Rouda, who has endorsed Bloomberg, said it was hard to say if Sanders could make up that difference in his district, where Republicans outnumber Democrats.

There are signs, however, that many Democrats dont think Sanders is out of bounds. In a national Washington Post/ABC News survey of Democratic-leaning adults, 62% found Sanders to be about right ideologically  roughly the same as Buttigieg and former Vice President Joe Biden.

Some top California Democrats say they arent worried that Sanders ideology will drag down the party in November.

As a strong supporter of Joe Biden, I have never bought that narrative, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said last week while campaigning with Biden in Las Vegas. Hes always matched up second best (against Trump), and in some of the key states he matches up almost as well as Joe.

When people say, We need a centrist, or We need a lefty person, this isnt about where in that narrow band of Democrats they are, Garcetti said. Its more about, Who gives a feeling of hope to people who feel left behind? Joe does that, absolutely. I think Bernie does that for a lot of people, too.

California Democratic Party chairman Rusty Hicks isnt concerned about losing down-ballot races should Sanders be the partys standard-bearer.

Im more focused on other things, Hicks told The Chronicle.

Four first-term Democratic House members are up for re-election in Orange County districts that they took from the GOP in 2018. But the countys Democratic chairwoman, Ada Briceno, said she didnt think Sanders would hurt their chances. The county party has not endorsed a presidential candidate.

Im not of that opinion, said Briceno, who is backing Sanders. There is a certain energy that his candidacy brings. Im seeing that among Latinos and among young people.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi steered clear of the controversy during a visit Monday to San Francisco. I wish everyone well in this presidential race, she said. Whoever wins will be heartily embraced.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
But last week, a spokesman for Chicago-based OrganicLife said in an email statement, "The alleged incident at Sunset Ridge School is very troubling and our thoughts are with everyone impacted. Since we have not seen the complaint yet and because this is now a matter of civil litigation, we cannot comment further.
A property tycoon convicted of rape 24 years ago is fighting to overturn a strict police sexual offence notification order imposed on him.

Formerly one of Britain's richest men, Simon Halabi, 61, was once worth 3 billion, owning a stake in the Shard as well as the City headquarters of JP Morgan, Aviva, and Old Mutual.

Syrian-born Halabi also boasted property in Mayfair and Buckinghamshire and a French chateaux.

However, the former billionaire tycoon's empire collapsed during the banking crisis and he was declared bankrupt in 2010.

Then, in 2018, it emerged that aged 37 he was convicted of raping a woman in her early twenties at his home in France in September 1995.

Though convicted in 1995 and put on the French sex offenders' register in 1998, British authorities didn't realise he had a rape conviction until 2018, when they gave him the sexual offence notification order.

Simon Halabi (pictured above) at Southwark Crown Court last year. He is appealing a sexual offence order against him

This was because Halabi was convicted in France under the name Mohammed instead of Simon, which meant he was able to continue his business affairs as Simon was the name he used on his passport from 2003.

For rape and possession of cocaine Halabi was sentenced to three years in jail, suspended for five years at the assizes court in Alpes-Maritimes, south-east France.

The conviction was disclosed to UK authorities in 2012 under data sharing protocols, but they were not told Simon and Mohammed Halabi were the same person until October 19, 2017.

Then, in September 2018, Halabi was made subject to a sexual offence notification order by District Judge Michael Snow at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Halabi is now appealing against the decision at the High Court following the dismissal of an appeal at Southwark Crown Court in April 2019.

He claims the strict sex offender notification requirements imposed on him disproportionately infringe on his right to private life, under Article 8 of the European Declaration of Human Rights.

Under the order, Halabi is required to notify police of a change of address, whether he is residing in a house with someone under 18, and the police also have the right to make 'spot checks' at his address.

Picture shows Simon Halabi and his ex wife Urte Halabi at Southwark Crown Court

Halabi is now appealing against the decision at the High Court after a previous appeal was rejected

His case is that the notification order was at the discretion of the Met Police Commissioner and that he should not have been given it due to the lapse of time between the rape and the making of the application, and because he does not pose a significant risk to the public.

Chris Daw QC, representing Halabi, said: 'There was conviction, there was sentence, the sentence was relatively modest, from an objective point of view, time served and suspended.

'Although not a lengthy term, it did technically meet the threshold to be considered in English law.

'The French monitored him for the entire period and the conviction was deleted, those are important matters and beyond dispute.

'There is an absence of evidence of risk from anywhere, not a single word this man has ever done anything sexual against anyone, since the offence.

Halabi had previously owned a stake in the Shard (pictured above) in London and was one of Britain's richest men

'There is a complete absence of evidence in risk assessment carried out, every single piece of evidence and documentation points away from the question of risk, as close to zero risk

'Except from someone who is paraplegic or has some other condition that makes them incapable of any sexual activity at all,' he added.

Mr Justice David Holgate asked: 'If there's force in these arguments doesn't it have application in historic sex cases?

'Offences committed many years ago, not convicted until decades later, where there's been an absence of time?

Mr Daw replied: 'There is a difference, in that he was convicted and subjected to an entire regime of another country.

'We know in this case there was a conviction abroad and entire monitoring.

'What the court shouldn't do is make orders that are disproportionate.

'The French authorities would say that has been deleted.

'I am asking the court rhetorically, what on earth is the justification for this when the conviction has been deleted?

'Given the complete lack of evidence of consideration of article 8, the crown court consultation was unlawful.

'This is a paradigm case where the order should never have been made, it was a gross affront to his children, his wife, it has caused him most grotesque interference in his private life.

'It has been played across the media, and the idea that he should be subjected into his 70s into the interference of police officers and all the other things could be said to be a gross affront to justice.'

Lord Justice Charles Haddon-Cave pointed out: 'It's the same for everyone, for example, convicted teenagers.

'Parliament has decided that there is to be this regime, advisedly so.'

Mr Daw replied: 'Parliament has decided also that proportionality should be given in consideration of Article 8.'

Regarding the difficulties the notification requirements pose, Mr Daw said: 'For someone of his extensive... business, he travels a lot it's almost impossible to find him sometimes... I shouldn't have said that.'

Documents from the French rape trial say Halabi slapped, punched and attempted to strangle the young woman before raping her.

She was unable to escape the gated property, after he threatened her with death if she reported the assault she scaled a gate onto the highway and was picked up by a bus driver.

According to the Commissioner of Police's chronology he admitted failing to disclose his French convictions to UK or United States authorities.

He also failed to disclose his French convictions in three firearms licence applications which he used for his shooting hobby.

The hearing continues.
Egypts former long-time president Hosni Mubarak died Tuesday at age 91 at Cairos Galaa military hospital.

Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian leader who was the autocratic face of stability in the Middle East for nearly 30 years before being forced from power in an Arab Spring uprising, died on Tuesday, state-run TV announced. He was 91.

Mubarak was a stalwart U.S. ally, a bulwark against Islamic militancy and guardian of Egypts peace with Israel. But to the hundreds of thousands of young Egyptians who rallied for 18 days of unprecedented street protests in Cairos Tahrir Square and elsewhere in 2011, Mubarak was a latter-day pharaoh and a symbol of autocratic misrule.

His overthrow, however, plunged the country into years of chaos and uncertainty, and set up a power struggle between the military and the Muslim Brotherhood group that he had long outlawed. Barely two years after his ouster, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi led the military overthrow of Egypts first freely elected president and rolled back freedoms gained in the 2011 uprising.

State TV said Mubarak died at a Cairo hospital where he had undergone an unspecified surgery. The report said he had health complications but offered no other details. One of his sons, Alaa, announced over the weekend that the former president was in an intensive care after undergoing surgery.

El-Sissi offered condolences and praised Mubaraks service during the 1973 war with Israel, when he commanded the air force, but made no mention of Mubaraks almost three-decade rule as president.

The Presidency mourns with great sorrow the former President of the Republic, Mr. Mohammed Hosni Mubarak, he said in a statement. It referred to Mubarak as one of the leaders and heroes of the glorious October war, as he assumed command of the Air Force during the war that restored dignity and pride to the Arab nation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed deep sorrow over Mubaraks death. President Mubarak, a personal friend of mine, was a leader who guided his people to peace and security, to peace with Israel, Netanyahu said.

Born in May 1928, Mubarak was vice president on Oct. 14, 1981, when his mentor, President Anwar Sadat, was assassinated by Islamic extremists while reviewing a military parade. Seated next to Sadat, Mubarak escaped with a minor hand injury as gunmen sprayed the reviewing stand with bullets. Eight days later, the brawny former air force commander was sworn in as president, promising continuity and order.

Over the next three decades, as the region was convulsed by one crisis after another, Mubarak was seen as a steady hand and a reliable U.S. partner against Islamic extremism. He sent troops as part of the U.S.-led coalition in the 1990-1991 Gulf war and contributed to efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Within Egypt he presided over slow but steady economic growth and largely kept the country out of armed conflicts after decades of war with Israel. Unlike his predecessors, both Sadat and Egypts first modern president, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Mubarak pursued no grand ideology beyond stability and economic development.

Over the years, Mubarak tinkered with reform but shunned major change, presenting himself as Egypts sole protection against Islamic militancy and sectarian division. The U.S., particularly under President George W. Bush, pressed for democratic reforms but was wary of alienating a key ally.

The failure to fulfill repeated promises of change steadily deepened public despair. Those seeking a democratic future were dismayed to see Mubarak making apparent moves to groom his businessman son, Gamal Mubarak, for a dynastic succession.

Inspired by the first Arab Spring revolt in Tunisia, protesters took to the streets in January 2011. They harnessed the power of social media to muster tumultuous throngs, unleashing popular anger over the graft and brutality that shadowed Mubaraks rule.

In the end, with millions massed in Tahrir Square and other city centers, and even marching to the doorstep of Mubaraks palace, the military announced his resignation on Feb. 11, 2011. The generals took power, hoping to preserve what they could of the system he had led.

Though Tunisias president fell before him, the ouster of Mubarak was a watershed moment in the history of the region, and gave impetus to uprisings in Libya, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain.

Over the next two years Egypt held a referendum on an amended constitution, as well as parliamentary and presidential elections. Turnout was high as enthusiastic Egyptians got their first taste of democracy. But the Muslim Brotherhood emerged victorious again and again, raising fears among their opponents that the country would be transformed into an Islamic state.

The struggle came to a head in the summer of 2013, when the military removed President Mohammed Morsi, a senior Brotherhood figure, from power amid mass protests against his divisive rule. The military assumed power and launched a massive crackdown on dissent. El-Sissi was elected president the following year. Rights groups and activists say his rule has proved far more oppressive than Mubaraks.

Mubarak was jailed shortly after his overthrow and later relocated to a military hospital as he went on trial in an array of cases. The televised images of Mubarak on a stretcher in a defendants cage were in sharp contrast to the portraits of the leader that had lined major public streets during his long rule.

For the man who was long untouchable  even a word of criticism against him in the media was forbidden for much of his rule  prison was a shock. When he was flown from the court to Torah Prison in Cairo in 2011, he cried in protest and refused to get out of the helicopter.

In June 2012, Mubarak and his security chief were sentenced to life in prison for failing to prevent the killing of some 900 protesters during the 18-day uprising. Both appealed the verdict and a higher court later cleared them in 2014.

The following year, Mubarak and his two sons  wealthy businessman Alaa and Mubaraks one-time heir apparent Gamal  were sentenced to three years in prison on corruption charges during a retrial. The sons were released in 2015 for time served, while Mubarak walked free in 2017. Following his release, he was taken to an apartment in Cairos Heliopolis district, where he lived until his death.

Mubarak is survived by his wife, Suzanne, his two sons and four grandchildren.

SOURCE: AP AND AGENCIES
Lucknow, Feb 25 : A dozen districts in Uttar Pradesh have been put on high alert in view of violence in Delhi.

Districts witnessing anti-CAA protests have been asked to impose prohibitory orders under Section 144 'wherever required' and ensure extra vigil at the protest sites.

The 'sensitive' districts, according to police sources, are Lucknow, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Meerut, Saharanpur, Aligarh and Varanasi among others.

"We have increased police presence in all districts on the Delhi-Haryana borders and the anti-CAA protest sites have also been put under scanner. We are keeping a close vigil on the situation and intelligence agencies have also been asked to give inputs on the developments. We will not allow miscreants to create trouble in UP," said a senior police official.

Extra forces have been deployed at the Clock Tower protest site which witnessed clashes on Sunday when an unidentified person opened fire.

The death of a girl at the protest site has also sent temperatures soaring. The girl died after she fell ill while sitting at the site during rains last week.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also asked top civil and police officials to remain alert about the situation in the state.
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A coding error in an app used to count vote totals in the Democratic caucuses in Iowa has delayed the release of final tallies, the states Democratic Party announced Tuesday.

Although the data collected by the app was sound, it was reporting only a portion of that data to party headquarters due a coding issue with its reporting system, the party explained in a statement.

After discovering inconsistencies caused by the flaw, party staff implemented manual backup measures that delayed release of final tallies.

Nevada was set to use the app for its caucuses Feb. 22, but has scrapped the idea after the Iowa debacle.

The problematic app was made by Shadow, a company that builds political tools and platforms. At its website, it touts work it has done for Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee.

The company sincerely regrets the delay in the reporting of the results of last nights Iowa caucuses and the uncertainty it has caused to the candidates, their campaigns and Democratic caucus-goers, CEO Gerard Niemira wrote in an online post.

We will apply the lessons learned in the future, and have already corrected the underlying technology issue, he added.

Shadow did not respond to our request to comment for this story.

Inadequate Testing

Although details about the app remain sketchy, it seems that it was rushed to market.

It was tested for two months. It should have been tested for far longer than that, said Bruce deGrazia, program chair for cybersecurity management and policy at the University of Maryland Global Campus in Adelphi, Maryland.

You dont bring something like this out in the middle of an election cycle, he told the E-Commerce Times. Thats just asking for trouble. And guess what? Thats what happened.

Organizations never should rely on brand new technology during the immediate lead-up to a critical event, said Jamil Jaffer, senior vice president at IronNet, a network security company in Fulton, Maryland.

You want to have vetted it and tested it and be relying on something youve had experience with, he told the E-Commerce Times.

At the minimum, there appears to be a failure to perform adequate functional and stress testing of the app and its back-end systems, noted Jack Mannino, CEO ofnVisium, a Herndon, Virginia-based application security provider.

Systems perform differently in preproduction and live environments due to a number of factors, including volume of usage, heavy loads and component failures, he explained.

This is why exhaustive and comprehensive testing must be done across the software development lifecycle  from prototype development through integration to preproduction or simulated environment  and especially before live deployment for such mission-critical applications, he told the E-Commerce Times.

Its so important that people have faith in the results of elections, so its extremely important to vet these applications with extensive load testing before theyre deployed, added Mark Graff, CEO of Tellagraff, a cybersecurity consultancy.

Testing at load is critical for all election applications, he told the E-Commerce Times.

Need for White Hats

It appears that Shadows developers did all their testing in-house, observed Michael Covington, vice president of product at Wandera, an enterprise mobile security and data management provider in San Francisco.

When producing an app with this much visibility, they really should have made an effort to collaborate with the White Hat hacker community in an effort to truly vet the security properties of the app and back-end supporting systems, he told the E-Commerce Times.

Any app used in the democratic process should be released as open source software  or at the very least, be submitted to an independent organization for a complete static and dynamic code analysis, suggested Richard Henderson, head of global threat intelligence at Lastline, a cloud-based provider of threat intelligence in Redwood City, California.

How was something so obvious as ensuring the transmission of an accurate count missed? Thats a pretty substantial flaw, he told the E-Commerce Times.

It was entirely irresponsible of the Iowa Democratic Party and the app developer to approve the use of this app without adequate testing, said Josh Bohls, CEO of Inkscreen, a maker of enterprise mobility security solutions in Austin, Texas.

The app was not dealing with much data or demand, he noted.

There were only 1,600 caucus sites, Bohls told the E-Commerce Times. That is an incredibly small number of endpoints connected to a centralized database that is only required to collect and process around 250 thousand records. In the app world, that is not much data.

Disinformation Fodder

While the voting technology used by the Iowa Democratic Party was flawed, there are some bigger questions that must be answered, noted Parham Eftekhari,executive director of the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology, a cybersecurity think tank in Chicago.

The real question is, How did we get here? Where did the decision-making process fail that led to the development of a piece of technology that wasnt properly tested and didnt work? After the paper ballots are counted, they need to do a major dissection of the entire process, he told the E-Commerce Times.

Whenever technology fails in a very public way, the consequences can be severe.

Unfortunately, a failure like the one in Iowa will have a lasting impact on the publics trust in using information technology to adequately and accurately support future elections, whether theyre held at state or national level, Mannino said.

I think many people will point to this debacle as an argument against technology in future elections, said Paul Bischoff, privacy advocate at Comparitech, a reviews, advice and information website for consumer security products.

The many conspiracy theories surrounding the app will fuel distrust, he told the E-Commerce Times.

Ideally, the problems in Iowa will help spur more rigorous future vetting and testing, not only of mobile apps but also of any digital aspect of the voting infrastructure, said Andrea Little Limbago, chief social scientist at Virtru, a data protection company inWashington, D.C.

However, the biggest impact of the Iowa snafu may not be technical, she added.

It will likely be used in disinformation campaigns that attempt to weaken the faith of Americans in free and fair elections, and will provide fodder for those who question election results, she told the E-Commerce Times.

In fact, it actually demonstrates the opposite  how a resilient system built on checks and balances and audit trails is foundational to election integrity, said Limbago. Hopefully that is the narrative that will prevail.
Metallica's frontman James Hetfield has issued an apology to the "Metallica Family", as he's cancelled two festival tour dates to focus on his mental health.

The band was scheduled to play at Sonic Temple and Louder Than Life festivals this weekend, but this morning Hetfield shared a post over social media explaining that the dates conflict with his recovery.

In the post, he says:

"Dear Metallica Family,

"It pains me to write this, but I have to let all of you know that I cannot make it to Sonic Temple in Columbus and Louder Than Life in Louisville this year. As part of my continuing effort to get and stay healthy, I have critical recovery events on those weekends that cannot be moved. I apologize to all of our fans who have bought tickets for these festivals. We are working with the festival promoters to provide for refunds or exchanges.

My intent with this statement is saying I apologize to each one of you. The reality is that I have not prioritized my health in the past year of touring and I now know that my mental health comes first. That might sound like a no-brainer for most of you but I didnt want to let the Metallica team/family down and, I alone completely compromised myself.

Looking on the brighter side, my therapy is going well. It was absolutely necessary for me to look after my mental, physical, and spiritual health.

I want to stress that the band will play all other announced 2020 shows.

I am looking forward to getting back to playing and seeing all our great South American fans in April. And, of course, playing the Epicenter in Charlotte, Welcome To Rockville, in Daytona and Aftershock Festival in Sacramento. We will still play two unique sets at each of these festivals.

Beyond 2020, I am optimistic about the blessings I have been given and what the future brings. I appreciate all the great prayers and support from everyone since I went into rehab last September. Like the moth into the flame, being human in this career has its huge challenges and can be difficult. Your understanding helps the healing.

- James"

Since this has been posted, the facebook status has been flooded with supportive messages from fans encouraging him to look after himself. Good on him for putting himself and his health first.
A partial, week-long truce between the Taliban, American and Afghan forces held tenuously for a fourth day Tuesday, despite several insurgent attacks and the US hitting Islamic State targets.

If the so-called reduction in violence continues, the United States and the Taliban are expected to sign a historic deal in Doha on Saturday that would see the Pentagon pull thousands of troops from Afghanistan after more than 18 years of war.

While the agreement doesnt amount to a full ceasefire -- the insurgents insist it only covers certain urban and military areas -- the number of Taliban attacks has fallen dramatically.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an Afghan security source said Taliban attacks had dropped from an average of 75 a day to about 15 since the truce began on February 22.

But underscoring the fragility of the situation, the interior ministry said five security personnel were killed in three attacks in rural areas Tuesday.

Meanwhile, US forces announced the death of four IS members in two airstrikes in Kunar province.

IS are not part of the reduction in violence and are being separately pursued by the US and the Taliban.

They first became active in Afghanistan in 2015 and for years held territory in the eastern province of Nangarhar, while claiming responsibility for a string of horrific bombings, including in Kabul.

The jihadists have complicated negotiations between the US and the Taliban.

While the Taliban want all American forces out, the Pentagon insists thousands must remain in Afghanistan to tackle IS and other jihadist groups.

We continue to eliminate ISIS terrorists wherever they hide to protect Afghanistan while honoring US-Afghan-Taliban agreement to reduce the violence, US Forces-Afghanistan spokesman Sonny Leggett said on Twitter.

The Afghan government said in November that its forces had largely defeated IS, but many of the groups members fled from Nangarhar to bordering Kunar in pursuit of safety.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 25

By Tamilla Mammadova  Trend:

Tourism is a promising area of cooperation between Georgia and Kyrgyzstan, said Ambassador of Georgia to Kyrgyzstan Zurab Abashidze, Trend reports citing the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic.

He made the remark at the meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Chingiz Aidarbekov in Bishkek.

According to the press service of the ministry, the parties discussed the current state of relations between the countries and prospects for further development of bilateral cooperation.

At the meeting, agreements on enhancing trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation were reached. The parties also discussed issues of holding joint events in 2020 as well as the organization of the official visit of Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani to Kyrgyzstan.

The parties also noted that tourism is a promising area of mutual cooperation. The Kyrgyz side expressed interest in gaining Georgias experience in this area, as well as attracting Georgian tourism companies to the market of Kyrgyzstan.

The parties exchanged views on pressing issues of the international and regional agenda, and also reaffirmed their mutual disposition towards the further development of multifaceted bilateral cooperation.

---

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Linkedin Hengky Ola Sura (The Jakarta Post) Maumere  Tue, February 25, 2020 19:50 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2066926ab 1 National child-abuse,Maumere,East-Nusa-Tenggara,school,junior-high-schools,punishment Free

Some 77 students of class VII of Bunda Segala Bangsa (BSB) seminary junior high school in Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), were reportedly punished by two senior students and forced to eat human feces last week.

One of the students who had been subjected to the abuse said the incident began when they came back to the schools dormitory to take an afternoon rest after lunch.

When they arrived at the dormitory, one of the senior students said he had found human feces in a bag inside a cupboard that was usually empty. The seniors called all of the junior students and asked them who put the feces inside the cupboard.

As no one admitted doing so, the student  who requested anonymity  said the seniors scooped the human feces with a spoon and force-fed it to each of the 77 junior students.

The junior students accepted the mistreatment as they were too frightened to fight back, the student said.

"It was very disgusting, but we could not fight back, the class VII student said.

He said after the incident, the senior students warned them not to report the incident to their parents.

Read also: Stronger efforts key to improving child protection

One of the victims, however, decided to run home and tell his parents about the incident, which was later made public after one of the students parents protested on a WhatsApp group handled by the schools public relations officer on Friday.

Maria Flora, one of the parents, said that she was disappointed, describing the incident as inhumane. She demanded the seniors involved in the abuse be exposed and punished for their actions.

This incident would not be accepted in any nation in any part of the world [...] Maybe the people who punish their juniors this way have mental issues, Maria said, as quoted from her statement in the WhatsApp group made available to The Jakarta Post.

Another parent, Hetty Hendriyani, also expressed her anger.

We send our children to the seminary school so that they can learn to be good people, not to be treated in this way. This is extremely disappointing, she said.

The SBS seminary declined to issue any official statement when contacted by journalists about the incident. However, kompas.com reported that the school would hold a meeting with the students parents to discuss the matter. (gis)
Technavio has been monitoring the global waste heat recovery market since 2014 and the market is poised to grow by USD 16.8 billion during the period 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of more than 6% during the forecast period. Request free sample pages

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005448/en/

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The market is driven by the increasing focus on reducing emissions and carbon footprint. In addition, the advent of new technologies for waste heat recovery is anticipated to boost the growth of the waste heat recovery market.

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Major Five Waste Heat Recovery Market Companies:

ABB

ABB operates its business through segments such as Electrification Products, Robotics and Motion, Industrial Automation, and Power Grids. ABB Waste Heat Recovery System (WHRS) is the key offering of the company.

Clean Energy Technologies, Inc

Clean Energy Technologies, Inc operates its business through segments such as Clean Energy HRS and Electronics Assembly. Clean Cycle II Organic Rankine Cycle is the key offering of the company.

John Wood Group PLC

John Wood Group PLC operates its business through segments such as Asset Solutions Americas, Asset Solutions Europe, Africa, Asia Australia, Specialist Technical Solutions, Environment Infrastructure Solutions, and Investment Services. The company offers waste recovery solutions from its subsidiary Amec Foster Wheeler.

MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.

MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD. operates its business through segments such as Power Systems, Industry and Infrastructure, and Aircraft, Defense, and Space. Eco TG System and STG System are the key offerings of the company.

Siemens

Siemens operates its business through segments such as Power and Gas, Energy Management, Building Technologies, Mobility, Digital Factory, Process Industries and Drives, Financial Services, Siemens Healthineers, and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. Siemens Organic Rankine Cycle is the key offering of the company.

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Technavio has segmented the waste heat recovery market based on the end-users and region.

Waste Heat Recovery End-Users Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2019 2023)

Chemical

Petroleum refining

Paper

Commercial and institutional

Food and beverages

Metal

Other end-users

Waste Heat Recovery Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2019 2023)

APAC

Europe

MEA

North America

South America

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Related Reports on Industrials are:

Global Industrial Heat Pumps Market Global industrial heat pumps market by end-users (paper and pulp, food and beverage, chemical, automotive, and others) and geography (Europe, APAC, North America, MEA, and South America).

Global Metal Heat Treatment Market Global metal heat treatment market by end-user (automotive, aerospace, industrial machinery, construction, and others) and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America).

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Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com

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UK: +44 203 893 3200

www.technavio.com
By Azernews





By Abdul Kerimkhanov

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has said that the recent killing of a border soldier by Armenian forces testifies to Armenias aggressive nature.

With this intentional assassination, Armenia once again proves that the country is the aggressor, and its attempts to hide behind the puppet regime that it created in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan are completely vain, the ministry said in a statement published in its official website on February 25.

On February 24, the Armenian Armed Forces violated the ceasefire on the border with Azerbaijan, as a result of which the Azerbaijani border guard Ibrahim Valiyev was killed.

"The murder of a soldier of the State Border Service guarding the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan is a crime, and the responsibility for this bloody act lies with the Armenian side," the ministry said.

As was stressed, Baku considers Yerevans actions on the border and on the contact line in the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict against Azerbaijani military and civilians as an indicator of aggressive politics.

"By these actions, we see the true revolutionary initiatives of the Armenian leadership," the Foreign Ministry emphasized, making a hint at Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyans recent suggestion in Munich Conference that a revolution must be made in the conflict resolution.

The MFA said that the murder of a soldier of the State Border Service guarding the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan is a crime, and the responsibility for this bloody act lies with the Armenian side.

This incident which happened on the eve of the commemoration of the Khojaly genocide [26 February] perpetrated by the Armenian armed forces is just another horrible and hypocritical attempt by Armenia to distract its dirty actions from the world community, the statement reads.

Azerbaijani border guard Ibrahim Veliyev was killed while thwarting Armenian sabotage attempt that was carried out from Armenias Noyemberyan region in the direction of the border post near the village of Gushchu Ayrim of Azerbaijans Gazakh region. Armenians used mortars and other types of large-caliber weapons.

As a result of the measures taken, one Armenian officer was killed, another soldier was injured at 07:00 on February 24.

Gazakh border point was not the only place where Armenia violated the cease-fire regime.

Armenian armed forces broke the truce along the line of contact between the troops throughout the day.
Recognition honors those companies that take the long view with a purpose-based strategy and strive to create positive change throughout their global communities

ROLLING MEADOWS, Illinois, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Gallagher, a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, has been recognized by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of the 2020 World's Most Ethical Companies.

Gallagher has been recognized for the ninth consecutive year and is the only honoree in the insurance brokerage industry. In 2020, 132 honorees were recognized spanning 21 countries and 51 industries.

"Since our founding in 1927, leading with integrity is a critical part of what has made Gallagher successful," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO. "We are honored to again be recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. This designation highlights Gallagher's purpose and values that put the needs of people, businesses and communities first."

"At Gallagher we follow a code of personal and professional conduct called The Gallagher Way. They are 25 tenets that help inform the decisions and actions of every Gallagher colleague across the globe, and The Gallagher Way continues to guide our culture of ethics," said Thomas J. Tropp, Global Chief Ethics Officer. "We are extremely proud to be recognized by the Ethisphere Institute for the ninth consecutive year."

"Congratulations to everyone at Gallagher for earning this recognition," said Ethisphere's Chief Executive Officer, Timothy Erblich. "This is a moment to acknowledge the leaders working to advance corporate cultures defined by integrity and affirm those companies contributing to broader societal imperatives and the greater good."

Methodology & Scoring

Grounded in Ethisphere's proprietary Ethics Quotient, the World's Most Ethical Companies assessment process includes more than 200 questions on culture, environmental and social practices, ethics and compliance activities, governance, diversity and initiatives to support a strong value chain. The process serves as an operating framework to capture and codify the leading practices of organizations across industries and around the globe. Best practices and insights from the 2020 honorees will be released in a report and webcast in March and April of this year.

All companies that participate in the assessment process receive an Analytical Scorecard providing them a holistic assessment of where their programs stand against the demanding standards of leading companies.

Honorees

The full list of the 2020 World's Most Ethical Companies can be found at https://worldsmostethicalcompanies.com/honorees.

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 the Ethisphere Institute

The Ethisphere Institute is the global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices that fuel corporate character, marketplace trust and business success. Ethisphere has deep expertise in measuring and defining core ethics standards using data-driven insights that help companies enhance corporate character and measure and improve culture. Ethisphere honors superior achievement through its World's Most Ethical Companies recognition program and provides a community of industry experts with the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA). More information about Ethisphere can be found at: https://ethisphere.com.

Media Contacts

Gallagher Media Contact

Kelli Murray

+1 (847) 273-3896

kelli_murray@ajg.com

Ethisphere Media Contact

Clea Nabozny

+1 (480) 397-2658

clea.nabozny@ethisphere.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/640603/Gallagher_Logo.jpg
AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) (the "Company"), a leading provider of high-quality single-family homes for rent, announced today that David Singelyn, Chief Executive Officer, will participate in a roundtable discussion at the Citi 2020 Global Property CEO Conference at the Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Florida on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 8:50 a.m. Eastern Time.

A live audio webcast of the presentation will be available on the Company's website at www.americanhomes4rent.com under the "For Investors" tab. A replay of the webcast will be available through March 18, 2020.

About American Homes 4 Rent

American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) is a leader in the single-family home rental industry and "American Homes 4 Rent" is fast becoming a nationally recognized brand for rental homes, known for high-quality, good value and tenant satisfaction. We are an internally managed Maryland real estate investment trust, or REIT, focused on acquiring, renovating, leasing, and operating attractive, single-family homes as rental properties. As of September 30, 2019, we owned approximately 52,537 single-family properties, in selected submarkets in 22 states.

Additional information about American Homes 4 Rent is available on our website at www.americanhomes4rent.com.

Contact:

American Homes 4 Rent

Investor Relations

Phone: (855)794-2447

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE American Homes 4 Rent

Related Links

https://www.americanhomes4rent.com


Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday expressed concern over the law and order situation in New Delhi and asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah to "act in the nation's interest and not in the interest of a few people."



In a series of tweets, the Congress leader slammed the police for its "inaction" and appealed to the people to maintain calm.

Nine people have been killed and around 150, including 48 police personnel, injured in violence over the CAA which has morphed into communal clashes in parts of north east Delhi since Monday.

"...HMOIndia @AmitShah should issue strict orders to police to act in Nation's interest& not in the interest of few people," Siddaramaiah tweeted.

He reminded Shah of Mahatma Gandhi's famous saying that an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.

Peace and harmony should be the motto, he added.

He cautioned people against "divisive forces."



"Distressing scenes in Delhi!! DelhiBurning as a result of ulterior motives of divisive forces within our Country. Police have completely failed in their responsibility.

People have to remain calm & promote peace in the area for their own benefit," Siddaramaiah said.

The former chief minister demanded that BJP leader Kapil Mishra should be arrested for allegedly inciting violence in northeast Delhi.

"Triggering point of the DelhiViolence seems to be the inciting speech of BJP4India leader KapilMishra.. This actually qualifies for a sedition case as it was aimed at disturbing National peace & security.

Police have to arrest him & bring normalcy in Delhi," Siddaramaiah said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Special award presentations will be given to the evening's honorees that include Outstanding Business Person of the Year Margarita Avila of Avila's El Ranchito and the Business Excellence Award to Western Dental the oldest established business in the city of Huntington Park. Andy Molina will also be honored for serving as Chamber of Commerce President for three years. Dignitaries on hand will include local, county, state and federal representatives.

"We are thrilled to present the Philanthropic Service award to Ali Sahabi for all his dedicated and supportive work in the Huntington Park community," says Leticia Martinez, Executive Director and CEO of the Greater Huntington Park Chamber of Commerce.

"I have known Ali Sahabi for many years, and he is very deserving of receiving the Philanthropic Award," says Jessica Maes Zepeda, Owner/Director of Public Relations and Community Affairs of El Aviso, who served as the first Latina Mayor of the City of Huntington Park. "His commitment to helping others and his service to the Huntington Park community has been truly outstanding."

"It is a great honor to receive this award for Philanthropic Service," says Sahabi. "We at Optimum Seismic, Inc. pride ourselves on making a positive impact on the Huntington Park community. We look forward to continuing our efforts to make this wonderful community an even better place to live and work."

Tickets for the event can be obtained at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/installation-dinner-and-awards-banquet-tickets-88961621605

About Optimum Seismic, Inc.

Optimum Seismic, Inc., is Southern California's leading earthquake retrofit company for seismic engineering and construction, and specializes in multifamily, and commercial, industrial buildings. Since 1984, the team at Optimum Seismic has completed more than 3,000 retrofits throughout the state of California. For information call (323)678-4684 or visit https://www.optimumseismic.com.

About the Greater Huntington Park Chamber of Commerce

The primary focus of the Greater Huntington Park Area Chamber of Commerce is dealing with matters related to the business and commercial life of the community. The Chamber works in partnership with city government to maintain the economic health and prosperity of the business community. For more than 110 years the organization has worked to create positive working relationships and partnerships with its members in order to promote economic growth and development in the community.

Contact: Andrea Aguilar

[email protected]

323.605.0312

SOURCE Optimum Seismic, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.optimumseismic.com


Beating the rush hour gridlock doesnt have to break the bank, and FLOAT is making aviation commuter service around Southern California both comfortable and cost-effective. FLOAT co-founder Arnel Guiang.

FLOAT (Fly Over All Traffic), an innovative and groundbreaking commuter flight service debuting in the Los Angeles market, has received Department of Transportation approval for its initial routes between La Verne-Hawthorne and Camarillo-Hawthorne, and it is celebrating the opening of ticket bookings with an introductory $62 round-trip fare.

Beating the rush hour gridlock doesnt have to break the bank, and FLOAT is making aviation commuter service around Southern California both comfortable and cost-effective, said FLOAT co-founder Arnel Guiang. We have been overwhelmed by frustrated drivers who are sick and tired of sitting in traffic, and people shouldnt be punished by our clogged Southern California freeway arteries with lengthy commutes between home and work.

FLOATs service is now accepting bookings between Brackett Field in La Verne and Hawthorne Municipal Airport as well as between Camarillo Airport and Hawthorne Municipal Airport.

Monthly Super Commuter Memberships offer daily service for either route for a low rate of $1,250 per month. Frequent commuters who may not travel daily can purchase ticket packages in increments of 10, 15, or 20 segments at a discounted rate from the full fare price.

Early adopters of FLOATs service can take advantage of a low introductory one-way price of $31.25 through March 14th.

For those of us who have spent any time commuting to and from work, up and down the 405, or east to west along the 10, 60 or 210, knows that rush hour is a myth, Guiang added. Our freeways load up around 5 am, and they generally remain clogged until 8 pm, or later, and commuting in this environment throws our work-life balance out of whack. FLOAT eases that congestion.

Flights will operate Monday-Friday. Reservations are now being accepted. Call (909) 375-3880 or 888-FLY-FLOAT! You can also book online! FLOAT will be announcing additional routes soon, as well as charter flights to popular recreation areas in Southern California.

To learn more about FLOAT, please visit FLOATs website: https://www.floatshuttle.com

==================================================================

About FLOAT:

FLOAT (Fly Over All Traffic) is the innovative commuting concept founded by partners Arnel Guiang, Tom Hsieh, and Rob McKinney. FLOAT aims to service hundreds of thousands of Super Commuters traveling at least 90 minutes between home and work daily. FLOAT wants to restore the imbalance of the work/life structure experienced by Southern Californians who face added commute hours on top of their traditional 8-hour workday. After launching in the Southern California market, FLOAT aims toward exploring operations in other high-traffic, Super-Commuting-dense markets in the future. To learn more about FLOAT, please visit https://floatshuttle.com

#######

Contact: Lisa Walker

Title: Marketing Advisor

Email: Lisa@FloatShuttle.com

Phone: 949-275-1830
To tackle the crime against



women, the Maharashtra government will introduce a bill on the lines of the 'Disha Act' of Andhra Pradesh in the ongoing Budget session, an official release said here on Tuesday.

The Disha Act of AP provides for speedy trial and awarding of death penalty for crimes against women and children.

The decision to introduce the bill in the ongoing session was taken at a meeting at Vidhan Bhavan here.

It was attended by Assembly Speaker Nana Patole, Chairman of the Legislative Council Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar, deputy chairperson of the Council Neelam Gorhe, School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad, Women and Child Welfare Minister Yashomati Thakur, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and Minister of State for Home Satej Patil.

Deshmukh, who recently visited Andhra Pradesh and held discussions over the legislation with Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Home Minister M Sucharita and others, said he had set up a committee to study it and prepare a draft bill.

"The draft would be approved by the cabinet and the bill would be tabled in the legislature," the home minister was quoted as saying in the release.

Existing laws for women would be integrated into the new bill, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Political scientists, including one of Indian-origin, have found empirical support for what they term the US President Donald Trump's "emboldening effect," of normalising expressions of prejudice, including racially inflammatory speech.

The researchers, including Karthick Ramakrishnan from the University of California Riverside in the US, said when 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."



He referred to the Mexican immigrants as rapists, and reiterated his intention to build a "beautiful wall" at the border.

In the years since the election, the researchers said, many have speculated his racially inflammatory speech empowered people with latent prejudices to finally act on them -- a phenomenon known as the "Trump effect."



The team's findings, published in the British Journal of Political Science, suggested that Trump's inflammatory remarks on the campaign trail emboldened particular members of the American public, giving them license to express deeply held prejudices.

In the study, the researchers surveyed a total of nearly 1,000 respondents in two online waves in spring 2016, during the presidential nomination season.

In the first wave, they said, respondents provided demographic information and their political orientations.

To measure the existing prejudice of the respondents, the political scientists 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 people of Latin American cultural or ethnic identity living in the US, the study noted.

During the second wave of the study, each respondent read one of five articles generated by the researchers, which drew on real election content related to either campaign finance reform or immigration, and discussed the positions of other presidential hopefuls at that time -- Hillary Clinton from the Democratic Party, and Jeb Bush or Donald Trump from the Republican Party.

The study noted that only some articles featured examples of Trump's racially inflammatory speech, and of those, certain articles also included text about other political elites condoning or condemning his remarks.

After reading one of the five articles, the scientists said, each respondent read a short description, and was asked to rate the acceptability of the behaviour depicted by a character in the vignette.

"The purpose of this vignette was to depict a mundane situation in which an individual a) harbors prejudice and b) engages in discriminatory behaviour," the scientists reported.

While most respondents described the behaviour featured in the vignette as completely unacceptable (49 per cent), or unacceptable (42 per cent), the remaining 9 per cent, they said, considered it normatively neutral or acceptable.

According to the scientists, this denoted tolerance of prejudiced behaviour.

They also found exposure to Trump's racially inflammatory speech did have an emboldening effect which made individuals seem to feel more comfortable expressing their prejudice, the study said.

When the respondents weren't exposed to the rhetoric, individuals appeared to suppress their prejudice by actively denouncing behaviour.

"However, we find that this 'suppression effect' slowly unravels and gives way to tolerance and acceptance of prejudiced behaviour following exposure to racially inflammatory speech by a prominent political elite," the scientists wrote in the study.

According to the political scientists, the emboldening effect of Trump's speech on the respondents was strongest when other political elites were presented as tacitly condoning his remarks.

They also found that this effect extended to behaviour toward people of Latin American cultural or ethnic identity in the US.

"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 said.

"Last, we find that condemnation by other elites does little to suppress prejudice once it is activated." the scientists added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 25)  The Commission on Elections First Division dismissed a case that sought to disqualify the registration of the Makabayan bloc and former senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares from last year's elections due to insufficient evidence.

In a resolution dated January 30, shared on Tuesday, Comelec said petitioner Angela Aguilar's argument calling for the disqualification had "no leg to stand on."

On April 26, 2019, Aguilar sought to disqualify the registration of Bayan Muna Party-List, Anak Pawis Party-List, Kabataan Party-List, Alliance of Concerned Teachers Party-List and General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms, Integrity, Equality, Leader and Action Party-List and Colmenares as candidates for the 2019 national and local elections due to alleged ties to communists. Colmenares ran under the opposition-led party Otso Diretso during the senatorial race.

Comelec said the petition claimed that the accused were connected with the New People's Army and had used their campaign to call for the President's ouster with tarpaulins bearing "OUST D30," "PATALSIKIN SI D30 ABUSADO" and "PATALSIKIN PASISTANG D30."

The Party-List System Act states that advocating violence or unlawful means and failing to comply with election-related laws, among other conditions warrant a cancellation of registration.

The Makabayan bloc and Colmenares denied links to the NPA and argued that the banners with the subversive statements were faked.

Comelec said Aguilar failed to provide independent proof to confirm the authenticity of the tarpaulins. She only submitted an affidavit that was already similar to her petition, Comelec said.

The agency added that there was also no evidence submitted to show that the Makabayan bloc or Colmenares were behind the posting of the said tarpaulins.

The commission also noted Aguilar's failure to appear in court hearings and even during the pre-marking of evidence, which the agency ruled as showing "lack of genuine interest" to pursue the case.

"It must be borne in mind that the burden of proof rests on Petitioner's shoulders. For, 'it is well-settled that he who alleges must prove'," the resolution stated.
Villa Healthcare Celebrates Dina Besirevic as McKnights Women of Distinction Rising Star Dina is recognized as a McKnights Women of Distinction as she truly is a rising star. Dina is focused on quality care and shes making everyone she comes into contact with better.

Villa Healthcare celebrates Dina Besirevic, Regional Clinical Reimbursement Consultant, on her win for McKnight's Women of Distinction Rising Star. McKnights Long-Term Care News created the Women of Distinction honors to recognize those who inspire others in the skilled nursing world through their powerful impact on residents and colleagues.

Dina Besirevics life started in Croatia and she grew up there during Balkan War. This shaped her understanding of suffering and loss. While she doesnt dwell on the struggles, she notes the impact of seeing people injured and experiencing loss as a child. Being a child during war often causes children to grow up faster, but Dina used that to shape her interest in reducing suffering that others experience. Dina Besirevic grew up knowing that she wanted to help others, to ease their pain, and provide care.

Dina shares that her motto is simple, to do right by others. She wants to decrease suffering, increase care, and inspire other nurses. Dina has many credentials, including Resident Assessment Coordinator Certified (RAC-CT), Certified Director of Nursing Administration (CDONA), Restorative Nursing Certification and a member of NADONA and AANC. At Villa, Dina has grown her leadership skills as a Steering Committee member of the Villa Womens Group, a graduate of the Nursing Leadership Academy, and just began the Advanced Management Group. Dina shares, If I could have the rest of my career in long-term care that would make me happy.

In 2019, Dina was recognized at Villa for her work to revamp the restorative program to best meet patients needs in accordance with PDPM. She studied the issue and found that care was being provided, but not documented. She created a new format in PCC, drafted guidelines, and produced a library to increase accuracy in getting tasks entered into PCC on care plans. This led to increased data for PDPM and improved accuracy for both documentation and billing. Rolling out these changes at a time when nursing staff was already absorbing the changes from PDPM was difficult, but she showed the nursing leaders in multiple training sessions how this was a time-savings measure - a way to get credit for the work that was already being completed.

Dina is driven by quality measures as she continually wants to improve her skills as a caregiver, but also in her current role to share what she knows with others, and to extend and improve care across the organization. Dina uses all the data and resources available to show her team the importance of accurate documentation and how it impacts giving quality care. Dina is the first to note that even in leadership, the most important part is the teamwork. Every member of the team needs to understand the importance of the work and play a part in achieving success.

Dina is recognized as a McKnights Women of Distinction as she truly is a rising star. Dina is focused on quality care and shes making everyone she comes into contact with better.

Were Villa, and we make people better. Of course, were focused on quality care and good outcomes. But were here to do so much more. Villas leadership has a vision of rising above the status quoof never settling, and of shattering the old image of this industry. Weve always wanted to be a part of something greater, and were making that a reality. Our commitment to our people, our environment and clinical programs will allow us to fulfill our mission of making people better. For more information, please visit http://www.VillaHC.com.


Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday addressed the first session of the 7th Legislative Assembly and outlined the Arvind Kejriwal government's priorities, including strengthening health and education services and making Delhi a world class city.

In his address to the newly elected MLAs, Baijal also appealed to the people to maintain peace, law and order, communal harmony and cooperate with security agencies in the wake of violence in parts of northeast Delhi during protests for and against the new citizenship law.

He highlighted Kejriwal government's 10 guarantees related to health, education, transport and environment among others.

The government is committed to continue supply of 200 units electricity and 20,000 litre water per month to the Delhi people, he said.

The government will focus on earlier works and try to make Delhi a world class city, added the Lt Governor.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- Guadentia Aura was a model global stature in her hay days and worked with various companies

- She was the only African model whose face appeared on Unilever beauty products

- Besides her modeling career, Aura also became the first Kenyan female pilot where she worked with various Scandinavian airlines

The family of former Miss Kenya Gaudentia Aura has confirmed her death.

According to her sister Celestine, Aura breathed her last on the night of Monday, February 24.

READ ALSO: Kipyegon Kenei: Late officer's alleged note does not match his handwriting

The late was the only African face on Unilever domestic products. Photo: Celestine Aura.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Museveni alichangamsha sana katika maziko ya hayati Mzee Moi, Kiswahili chake kilikuwa safi

In her hay days, the late woman was a model of global stature and worked for various products including Lux beauty soap.

She was actually selected by the domestic care products company Unilver to appear on the soap wrapper and on various billboards in Africa, the only African woman face on their product.

Besides her modeling career, Aura also excelled in other spheres and made a mark in the aviation industry where she became the first Kenyan female pilot.

"It's with deep sorrow, I mean sorrow upon sorrow that you went to be with the Lord this morning. Our hearts are hardened to this truth. Would it be a dream? The first African pilot woman, Miss Kenya, the model princess, the Lux girl, intelligent, the queen's English material," Celestine mourned.

Friends and family mourned her as intelligent woman who did not fear to pursue her heart desires and break the glass ceiling in whatever field.

"It is with a very heavy and inconsolable heart that the Wanga kingdom mourns the death of one of its precious daughters one Gaudentia Aura," posted Tobia Omono.

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
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 03:41:58|Editor: ZD

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Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi (C) meets with the heads of the Arab intelligence services in Cairo, Egypt, on Feb. 24, 2020. Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi discussed on Monday with heads of Arab intelligence services the ways to combat terrorism, extremist ideology and organized crime in the region. (MENA/Handout via Xinhua)

CAIRO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi discussed on Monday with heads of Arab intelligence services the ways to combat terrorism, extremist ideology and organized crime in the region.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Radi said Sisi met with the heads of the Arab intelligence services who had participated in the Arab Intelligence Forum held in Cairo on Feb. 22-23.

During the meeting, Sisi highlighted the intensified crises and the successive challenges facing the region, noting the repercussions are reflected on the security and stability of the Arab countries and the future of their peoples.

He also underlined Egypt's support for all initiatives that would enhance cooperation between Arab countries in various fields.

Among the most prominent topics addressed during both the meeting and the forum were combating terrorism, extremist ideology and organized crime, according to the spokesman.

The meeting also tackled the ways to effectively confront these threats in a comprehensive manner that takes into account the developmental, social and cultural dimensions of Arab countries.

Hosted by the Egyptian General Intelligence, the two-day Arab Intelligence Forum was attended by heads of Arab intelligence agencies.
The Times, They Are a-Changin', or something like that.

Over the last few days, a Bernie Sanders video has gone public. This is the one where he said this about Castro's Cuba:

Speaking to CBS News' "60 Minutes," Sanders, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, pointed to social welfare programs introduced under Castro's regime that he described as redeeming, despite the communist dictator's often repressive human-rights violations against Cubans. "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 told Anderson Cooper.

Let's not overlook some facts, such as that Cuba had a very high literacy rate before Castro. In fact, let's get specific:

Cuba ranked fifth in the hemisphere in per capita income, third in life expectancy, second in per capita ownership of automobiles and telephones, first in the number of television sets per inhabitant. The literacy rate, 76%, was the fourth highest in Latin America. Cuba ranked 11th in the world in the number of doctors per capita. Many private clinics and hospitals provided services for the poor. Cuba's income distribution compared favorably with that of other Latin American societies. A thriving middle class held the promise of prosperity and social mobility.

So Bernie does not know Cuba, and neither does Anderson Cooper.

Also, did you ever hear Sanders say anything about Castro's authoritarian rule before? I have not!

Nevertheless, this is really about the Democrats and how they got to this place.

We are four months away from nominating a man that most Democrats used to call a communist not too many years ago.

That's the story. How did the party end up like this? Maybe they will figure it out after Sanders drives over the cliff in about eight months.

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
Mayor's spokesman insisted it was 'free speech' and did not wish to harm anyone

Mayor of Aalst has defended its controversial carnival with Jewish caricatures

A Belgian city has defended its controversial carnival which depicts Jewish caricatures, saying it is 'just fun'.

A spokesperson for the Mayor of Aalst, Christoph D'Haese, insisted the event is 'just our humour... just fun.'

The annual parade made headlines when it became the first cultural tradition to be stripped of its UN heritage status late last year.

The float featured two men with sidelocks and crooked noses wearing streimels, a fur hat favoured by some orthodox Jews, while sitting atop piles of cash

The town of Alast, in Belgium, was blasted for 'Nazi-style' anti-Semitism after this float depicting hurtful Jewish stereotypes took part in its annual carnival

The annual Aalst carnival was taken off UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list during a 24-nation meeting in Colombia's capital city on December 13.

The mayor's spokesman Peter Van den Bossche has defended the carnival, telling the BBC: 'It's our parade, our humour, people can do whatever they want.'

'It's a weekend of freedom of speech,' he added.

Van den Bossche also insisted 'there isn't a movement behind it' and 'we don't wish harm to anyone'.

The annual Aalst carnival sparked international outrage when a float, dubbed 'Nazi-style', was paraded through Aalst in East Flanders last year.

The mayor's spokesman Peter Van den Bossche has defended the carnival, telling the BBC: 'It's our parade, our humour, people can do whatever they want'

Ernesto Ottone, UNESCO's assistant director-general for culture, said after the ruling that the festival can continue but without being associated with them as it is 'mockery of some communities'

The float featured two men with sidelocks and crooked noses wearing streimels, a fur hat favoured by some orthodox Jews, while sitting atop piles of cash. It was created by the Vismooil'n group, which regularly participates in the Aalst carnival.

Ernesto Ottone, UNESCO's assistant director-general for culture, said after the ruling that the festival can continue but without being associated with them as it is 'mockery of some communities'.

The float failed to take actions on warnings that would 'draw a line' on what floats and displays are acceptable, according to Mr Ottone.

Aalst Mayor Christoph D'Haese has previously hit back against the carnival's 'grotesque' criticism and claimed it was not his job to police humour.

He said: 'We are on a very dangerous slippery slope when people will be able to decide what can be laughed at.'

In a statement, defiant city hall chiefs were unapologetic about the depiction of Jews in the annual parade

Belgium's Forum of Jewish Organisations, who likened the parade's depiction of Jews to that seen in Nazi propaganda said: 'This means that any future anti-Semitic excesses will no longer be legitimized by this UN organization.'

In a statement, defiant city hall chiefs were unapologetic about the depiction of Jews in the annual parade.

'The people of Aalst have had it with the grotesque allegations,' the statement said.

'We are not anti-Semites or racists. Whoever says we are does so in bad faith. Aalst will always remain the capital of ridicule and satire. Come what may, we will stand by our humorists.

'The people of Aalst are the bravest. That is why we are taking the initiative and walking away from UNESCO recognition.'
3rd year Accounting student, Zintle Nonqayi speaking during the launch, whole Professor Jackie Arendse looks on

By Tanatswa Chivhere, fourth-year BJourn student

The Rhodes University Accounting Department hosted a welcome lunch to celebrate the launch of the 2020 Thuthuka and the Finance and Accounting Services Sector Education and Training Authority (FASSET) Bursary programmes. The launch took place at the Senior Common room and among the attendees was the Registrar, Dr Adele Moodly and a representative from Thuthuka, Ms Olwethu Ketse.

The Thuthuka and FASSET Bursary Funds are aimed at academically-strong students, excelling in Mathematics who wish to pursue a career in Chartered Accountancy (CA) in South Africa. This is the fifth year that the Rhodes University Department of Accounting has run the bursary programmes for dedicated students. According to the Head of Department, Professor Jackie Arendse, the Departments primary objective is to create access, through the provision of funding, for African students studying towards CA(SA) and similar accountancy professional designations. We believe that this is a critical aspect of bringing about the transformation of our profession, she said.

Since its inception, the programmes have funded 333 students at a value of more than R45 million. For the current year, there are 49 students registered with bursaries to the value of R8 million. The recipients have their fees paid, receive funds for accommodation, textbooks and a monthly stipend. The programmes also provides mentorship and soft skills to the bursary students. The investment has yielded positive results as more than 40 students on the bursary programmes completed their BCom degrees. In addition, 46 have passed the PDipAcc and 18 graduates have gone on to pass the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) Initial Test of Competence. These students are well on their way to complete the exams necessary to qualify as Chartered Accountants (SA).

Ms Ketse said she was touched when she saw the faces behind the numbers and was reminded of the splendid work the bursary is doing. She encouraged students to be aware of the current issues pertaining to the economy. She said when students were not aware of what was happening, their tests were negatively impacted. The departments programmes provided good opportunities for students to learn about the business environment.

The welcome lunch also gave students the opportunity to tell their stories about how the bursaries have changed their lives. William Phala, a PDipAcc student, took the opportunity to encourage the first-year students. He told them not to pay attention to words of discouragement but to focus on having CA(SA) after their names. The bursary programmes have done their part by providing academic support and it is up to the students to reach for the stars, he said. Another PDipAcc student, Zintle Nonqayi, spoke of how the soft skills programme run as part of the bursary programme in 2019, helped her to cope with the challenges of a difficult academic programme.

Professor Arendse thanked FASSET and Thuthuka for entrusting the Department with managing the bursaries. She said she hopes that the programmes will continue to grow and that the recipients go on to graduate and achieve their professional goals. She urged the students to invest back into other future students once they establish their careers.

Source: Communications

Please help us to raise funds so that we can give all our students a chance to access online teaching and learning. Covid-19 has disrupted our students' education. Don't let the digital divide put their future at risk. Visit www.ru.ac.za/rucoronavirusgateway to donate
A joint body of six Mizo organizations and a local civil society group in North Tripura district has called for an indefinite bandh in Kanchanpur subdivision from Wednesday to press for their three point charter of demands.

The demands include immediate resumption of relief to 93 displaced families in Anandabazar area under the sub- division.

The families are living in Anandabazar police station since December 10 last after being forced to flee their homes during violent agitation by anti-CAA protesters.

The other demands include rehabilitation package for Bengali families allegedly displaced from their households by the Brus' in north Tripura since 2000 and rehabilitation for Mizo families allegedly displaced in Jampui hills and its vicinity.

President of the civic society body 'Nagarik Suraksha Mancha' Ranjit Kumar Nath alleged that the victims staying in police station were evicted from their homes when anti-CAA protesters burnt shops and vandalised their homes at Anandabazaar village on December 10.

"Each victim was given Rs 6 as subsistence every day, but that was stopped since the last seven days. They are now facing an acute food crisis. We demand immediate relief and proper rehabilitation package for them," Nath said.

The Bengali families, who were allegedly displaced from their homes since 2000 till 2019 should be given rehabilitation package, he said.

The Mizo organizations also demanded similar package for ethnic Mizo families living in Sakhan Shermun village and Jampui Hills in North Tripura district.

The Mizo organizations that have teamed up with Nagarik Suraksha Mancha are Mizo Convention, Young Mizo Association, MCW, and Mizo Forum.

All these organisations are based in Jampui Hills range.

Mizo Convention general secretary Panchulla Sailo said, the Mizo bodies and the Nagarik Suraksha Mancha are now united because the organizations are agitating for the same cause.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Benchmark Sensex ended 82 points lower after a highly volatile session on Tuesday, extending losses for a third day, as investors continued to weigh the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the global economy.

A day after a steep fall due to concerns over Mauritius being added to the "grey list" of Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Indian equities steadied in the opening deals on Tuesday, with regulator Sebi saying that foreign investors from the island nation will continue to be eligible for FPI registration.

After oscillating over 300 points during the day, the 30-share BSE gauge finally settled 82.03 points, or 0.20 per cent, lower at 40,281.20.

Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty declined 31.50 points or 0.27 per cent to 11,797.90.

Sun Pharma was the top loser in the Sensex pack, shedding 2.37 per cent, followed by HCL Tech, Reliance Industries, IndusInd Bank and L&T.

On the other hand, TCS settled 1.98 per cent higher. Tata Steel, Bharti Airtel, SBI and HUL too finished with gains.

According to traders, global equity markets were still unnerved by the spread of coronavirus to countries beyond China.

Investors on Dalal Street also weighed the repercussions of Mauritius being added to the "grey list" of Financial Action Task Force (FATF), they said.

Market regulator Sebi on Tuesday said foreign investors from Mauritius will continue to be eligible for FPI registration with increased monitoring as per international norms.

On a net basis, FPIs sold equities worth Rs 1,160.90 crore on Monday, data available with stock exchanges showed.

Bourses in Shanghai and Tokyo ended in the red, while Seoul and Hong Kong settled with gains.

Stock exchanges in Europe were trading on a negative note in their morning sessions.

Brent crude oil futures slipped 0.16 per cent to USD 55.68 per barrel.

On the currency front, the Indian rupee appreciated 9 paise to 71.86 per US dollar (intra-day).

Experts said, the growing risk aversion is clearly visible in the sudden spike in safe heaven asset like gold prices seen lately. In addition, the expiry weak and the fiscal year-end pressure is adding to near-term volatility.

Market participants were also eyeing cues from US President Donald Trump's two-day visit to India, which will end later in the day.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Terri Woodard, new VP of Operations at e-TeleQuote

e-TeleQuote Insurance, Inc. (http://www.etelequote.com), the owner and operator of easyMedicare.com, is pleased to announce that Terri Woodard has been named Vice President of Operations for the company. Terri has led operations for the companys Fort Lauderdale location since 2018.

In her expanded role, Terri will collaborate with the companys executive leadership to define and meet operational goals across seven locations nationwide. Her responsibilities will include the implementation of the companys operations strategy and learning initiatives, as well as a daily focus on quality performance to ensure consistent delivery of best-in-class customer service. Terri will play a vital role in the mentoring and development of existing and new site leadership, including Site Directors and Team Leaders.

Terri has clearly demonstrated her ability to create a culture that promotes successes and encourages teamwork, says Anthony P. Solazzo, CEO of e-TeleQuote. Our Fort Lauderdale operations have been transformed under Terris skilled leadership. We anticipate similar efforts as she expands her efforts company wide. Her commitment to continuous improvement and creativity are undeniable, and we have every confidence Terri will set and achieve high standards across our entire organization.

Terri has more than 20 years of experience across a range of industries that include telecommunications, pharmaceutical, and healthcare. She has worked with teams to define new procedures and processes that have empowered them to more effectively meet company expectations. Terri is a graduate of Temple University.

About e-TeleQuote and easyMedicare.com

e-TeleQuote Insurance, Inc., the owner and operator of easyMedicare.com, is an independent digital insurance marketplace providing individuals the ability to purchase Medicare insurance from the comfort of their homes. The company diligently researches available plan options from multiple insurance carriers, helping people choose a plan that best suits their needs. e-TeleQuote provides personal consultation through experienced licensed Medicare advisors who suggest plan coverage options based on an individuals particular needs. The company has proudly served tens of thousands of people across the United States.
"Other viral respiratory diseases are seasonal, including influenza and therefore in many viral respiratory diseases we do see a decrease in disease in spring and summer," Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said on a conference call Tuesday. "And so we can certainly be optimistic that this disease will follow suit."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there is a hypothesis among mathematical modelers that the outbreak "could potentially be seasonal" and relent in warmer conditions.

U.S. health officials, preparing for a potential U.S. outbreak of the new coronavirus, said they hope COVID-19 will prove to be seasonal and subside in the summer, like the flu.

Last week, U.S. health officials started warning businesses, schools and parents to start preparing for the new coronavirus, which has infected more than 80,000 and killed at least 2,700, to become a global pandemic. The localized outbreaks overseas in Italy, Iran and South Korea are fueling concerns among infectious disease experts and scientists that the virus is spreading too quickly and may be past the point of containment.

Few conclusions have been drawn about the trajectory of the virus, Dr. Messonnier said, so the CDC is preparing for wide-scale community outbreaks in the U.S.

"As time keeps ticking forward, we're going to be, again, preparing as if this is going to continue, and preparing as if we're going to see community spread in the near term," she said. "But I'm always going to be hopeful that that disease will decline either for the summer or that we'll be over-prepared or that we won't see that kind of high-level transmission here in the U.S."

The CDC late Monday confirmed 53 cases in the U.S., a majority of which came from passengers repatriated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined off the coast of Japan. The data shows that 36 of the cases are attributed to the cruise ship, three patients were infected in Wuhan and later evacuated to the U.S. and the rest were largely infected while traveling overseas.

Just two cases were contracted through person-to-person contact in the U.S., the CDC said.

"I understand this whole situation may seem overwhelming and that disruption to everyday life may be severe. But these are things that people need to start thinking about now," Messionnier said on Tuesday. "You should think about what you would do for child care if schools or day cares closed."

WATCH: Moody's Zandi says coronavirus outbreak could cause global recession
More than VND4 million ($173) added to one ounce of gold price within one day

The Vietnamese gold market on February 24 taken by surprise by a tremendous rise of VND4 million ($173.91) rise to the ounce in a single day.

At 4.40 PM on the same day, the price of SJC gold reached VND47.8-49 million ($2,078.26-2,130.43) per ounce (buy-sell), DOJI also listed the price at VND47.7-49.15 million ($2,073.91-2,136.96). Bao Tin Minh Chau offered VND47.8-49.2 million ($2,078.26-2,139.13).

Previously, at 3 PM, the price at DOJI set a new record, VND49.95 million ($2,171.74), exceeding the VND49 million ($2,130.43) peak in 2011. Experts said that this is the greatest daily fluctuation experienced in local gold trading history.

On the other hand, the gold also leapt to $1,680 in the international markets, up 2.3 per cent or $37.7 against last Friday. Calculated by Vietcombanks exchange rate, the price is equivalent to VND47.5 million ($2,065.22), VND2 million ($87) less than the local price.

Explaining the reason behind the soar, banking economist Bui Quang Tin said that the fast spread of the coronavirus at big economies like South Korea and Japan has negatively impacted the global market, securities, and the performance of companies. This has elevated demand for safe investments like gold.

Tin also said that if the epidemic is not brought under control, the whole of 2020 will be a tough year for the global economy and the impacts may last weel into 2021.

DOJI also forecast the price of gold to reach $1,700 per ounce and will exceed $1,800 per ounce if the health crisis is prolonged.

Regarding the VND4 million ($173.91) increase in local prices, Tin said that demand exceeding supply is the main reason behind this. Currently, only the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) and a select few commercial banks are authorised to officially import gold.

Once the global price of gold rises, big investors with enormous capital like investment funds or commercial banks join the market and bid prices up. Thus, with the great demand but limited supply it is understandable that local prices went so high up, said Tin.
As part of HR Green's ongoing commitment to collaborate with communities on brownfields assessment and cleanup projects, the firm worked with City staff to secure a $400,000 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant to investigate potentially contaminated properties. The funds allowed the City to complete an environmental site assessment (ESA) on behalf of the Boys and Girls Club prior to acquisition.

During the demolition of the blighted structures, contractors uncovered a severely damaged underground storage tank and a 55-gallon drum that threatened the project's viability. HR Green's groundwater and soil sampling activities did not identify any contaminant levels above statewide standards and the project was able to proceed.

The Boys and Girls Club of the Cedar Valley hosted a grand opening for the Teen Center on January 16, 2020. The facility features space for tutoring, computer and digital graphics skills development, music creativity, college testing preparation, counseling, direct homework assistance, and supervised recreational space. The City welcomed officials from EPA Region 7 to speak during the ceremony.

"This project is a training ground for our future leaders and workforce and space to prepare our teens for life after high school," said James Lee III, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of the Cedar Valley. "We will have caring adults present to support and encourage our kids. It will be our Teen Staff's job to show our members the myriad of opportunities available to be successful. The center will produce caring and responsible citizens to advance our community for the future. We are preparing Waterloo teens to become the next community leaders. The center also provides another asset to be used not just for our youth but for our neighbors and the broader community."

This transformative project is only one of the numerous efforts currently underway that are revitalizing a once-declining central business district. Visit the City's highly interactive brownfields project website (www.thenewwaterloo.com) for more details.

"The new Boys and Girls Teen Center accomplishes many positives for the City of Waterloo," said Noel Anderson, Community Planning and Development Director for the City of Waterloo. "First, it works in partnership with the City of Waterloo, Walnut Historic Neighborhood Association, JSA Development, and Habitat for Humanity as another vital piece in the overall redevelopment and rehabilitation of the Walnut Neighborhood. Second, it shows the ongoing importance of the City's efforts to eliminate blight through the brownfield program and 657A State Code use. And last but not least, the overall impact of the Teen Center on the youth of the community."

About HR Green

Founded in 1913, the HR Green Family of Companies includes HR Green, Inc.; HR Green Pacific, Inc.; HR Green Development, LLC; HR Green Fiber and Broadband, LLC; HR Green California, Inc., and HR Green Michigan, LLC. HR Green has offices throughout the nation providing engineering, technical, and management solutions that build communities and improve lives in Transportation, Water, Governmental Services, Land Development, Environmental, Construction and Fiber and Broadband. For more information, visit www.hrgreen.com.

SOURCE HR Green

Related Links

http://www.hrgreen.com


P rince Harry has returned to the UK ahead of his final round of official engagements as a senior royal.

The Duke of Sussex was pictured arriving at Edinburgh's Waverley Station on Tuesday night for a summit focused on his sustainable tourism project.

Wednesdays conference marks the beginning of his last stretch of public events before he and his wife Meghan Markle officially give up their royal duties.

Harry's return to the UK came as William and Kate attended a West End theatre for a play about mental health.

Harry's return to the UK marks the first of his public events since he and his wife Meghan Markle announced their plans to step away from the royal family / SplashNews.com

The Sussexes, who have been living in Canada with their baby son Archie since the move, will attend the Endeavour Fund Awards on March 5 in London.

They also plan to attend the Mountbatten Music Festival at the Royal Albert Hall on March 7.

The duke and duchess's lives as working royals will end on March 31, when they stop representing the Queen and become financially independent.

Meghan and Harry will officially quit as working royals on March 31 / REUTERS

Harry, known as the Earl of Dumbarton in Scotland, will welcome delegates to the Travelyst event on Wednesday in the Scottish capital.

About 100 people from the tourism and travel industries have been invited to join the working summit.

The event will allow Harry and his Travalyst team to gain feedback from the travel industry on new ideas for sustainability.

He launched Travalyst Amsterdam last autumn. At the time, he and Meghan faced mounting criticism after reportedly taking four private jet journeys in 11 days during the summer.
Armenian News - NEWS.am presents a daily digest of Armenias top news as of 25.02.2020.

The first hearing on the criminal case against Armenias former president Serzh Sargsyan and others started in Yerevan.

The criminal case also involves former Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan, owner of Flash company Barsegh Beglaryan, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture Samvel Galstyan, and former head of the Ministry's Department of Crop Production Gevorg Harutyunyan.

Sargsyan was welcomed by his supporters near the court as he arrived for the first hearing on Tuesday. In a brief speech Sargsyan thanked the crowd saying they came to defend justice. Ex-president also mentioned the independence of Artsakh, which is above everything. He asked his supporters to return home, to engage in their daily work, but not forgetting about Armenia's security.

Ex-officials are charged with organizing, inciting and assisting large-scale appropriation or squander, whereas former Minister of Agriculture under the article on large-scale appropriation or squander.

The Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Italy urges citizens of Armenia to avoid visiting several communities of Lombardy and being in crowded places in northern areas.

Due to the sharp rise of the number of people infected with the coronavirus in Italy, we call on citizens of the Republic of Armenia who are currently in Italy or wish to travel to Italy to contact the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Italy and transfer information about the period of stay in Italy and contacts, the statement says.

The embassy recommended following the instructions of Armenian health ministry and the relevant authorities of Italy.

In another move to prevent coronavirus spread, Armenia Airways announced that the company has decided to partially limit its flights from Armenia to Iran.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to Facebook to invite citizens to a march on March 1, the day when ten people were killed during post-election clashes in Yerevan in 2008.

Dear compatriots, on Sunday, March 1, at 6 p.m., I invite all of you to a march dedicated to the memory of the victims of the events that took place on March 1, 2008, he wrote.

President of the Constitutional Court of Armenia Hrayr Tovmasyan has sued Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.

Tovmasyan has filed a claim to oblige Pashinyan to apologize for offensive remarks and refute his defamatory information.
Its Rodriguez vs. Rodriguez in the Democratic primary for the Bexar County Commissioners Precinct 2 seat.

And while the two candidates  incumbent Justin Rodriguez and Queta Rodriguez  may have the same last name (theyre not related), their backgrounds and what they say they have to bring to the table offer voters two distinct choices.

My track record is what differentiates me (from) my opponent, said Justin Rodriguez, 45, who has a lengthy political background.

Early voting continues through Friday. For more information, go to bexar.org/elections. There is no Republican running for the seat.

Previously, Justin Rodriguez served as a San Antonio city councilman from 2007 to 2011, and before that he sat on the San Antonio Independent School District board. He also was a juvenile court prosecutor in the Bexar County District Attorneys Office.

On ExpressNews.com: Two Rodriguezes set to clash in Commissioners Court primary

In order to get anything done you have to build a consensus among colleagues, the University of Incarnate Word graduate said, adding that over the years he has built political skills and made many connections between government entities.

Most recently, Justin Rodriguez served as a state representative for three terms. He left the Legislature in 2019 after he was appointed to replace veteran Bexar County Commissioner Paul Elizondo, who was 83 when he died unexpectedly at the end of 2018. This is the first time Justin Rodriguez is running for the office he now holds.

The former state legislator said he accepted the position because he saw an opportunity to focus on problem solving for our community. Austin can be a chess match if youre not the party in control.

Plus, Bexar County is where he calls home.

The father of three teenagers is a lifelong resident of San Antonios West Side. Since September, he said, he has been knocking on doors, connecting with residents  he must, he said, as he faces a well-known challenger in his efforts to earn a second term.

I never take any challenger lightly, Justin Rodriguez said. I always respect anyone who puts their name on the ballot.

Queta Rodriguez, 49, also grew up on San Antonios West Side, but she hasnt held elected office.

In 1991 she enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving two decades as an intelligence analyst and manpower officer, supporting forces in the Pacific and Middle East.

The University of Maryland graduate also has experience working in Bexar County. After retiring from the Marines, she took over Bexar Countys veterans office and won plaudits for improving the countys efforts at transitioning military veterans into civilian life.

Queta Rodriguez said she has spent her life advocating for groups in the community in various roles: as the regional director for a national nonprofit that provides a career readiness program for transitioning veterans, as co-chair of the San Antonio Regional Community Veterans Engagement Board, as a member of the TXServes San Antonio Advisory Board and in her neighborhood association.

I havent had a career in politics, she said. I have a career being among the people and advocating for the people.

The mother of four says not only will her background as a working parent and veteran help diversify the Commissioners Court, but being a woman will add another dimension to the currently all-male court.

Government should reflect the diversity of the people it represents, She said.

The five-member Commissioners Court, headed by a county judge, has been an all-male body since 2001. Only two women have ever served on the court.

You can have a really big impact as a county commissioner, Queta Rodriguez said. Five people represent two million. They decide how taxpayer dollars are going to be spent.

We need someone who has integrity and put ethics above all else, she said.

Queta Rodriguez made a run for the seat in 2018 against incumbent Elizondo, who had been in the seat for three decades.

It was the closest race Elizondo had faced, but Queta Rodriguez fell short in the Democratic runoff by 3.7 percentage points.

The biggest challenge is fundraising, the candidate said.

According to candidate campaign finance reports, filed with the Bexar County Elections Department, in 2019 through January 2020, Queta Rodriguez has raised more than $32,000 in political contributions.

During that same time frame, Justin Rodriguez has raised more than $315,000.

While this is the first time the two candidates will both have their names on the ballot for the county commissioner seat, this is not the first time they have vied for it at the same time.

On ExpressNews.com: State lawmaker expected to fill Elizondos seat

When Elizondo died, Queta Rodriguez was among those who sought the vacant seat. But County Judge Nelson Wolff chose Justin Rodriguez.

In a letter to Wolff, Queta Rodriguez decried what she saw as the lack of a thoughtful, deliberate and transparent process.

The appointment was made with zero community inputs, she said. I believe in democracy. The community didnt get a voice.

For his part, Justin Rodriguez said he views this election as a job evaluation.

This is a way for (residents) to say, Hey, you are doing good. Or Youre not, the incumbent said. They see what I can do. I dont have any fear of asking for their approval or disapproval at the ballot box. I embrace it.

sara.cline@express-news.net
Prominent Muslim body Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind on Tuesday appealed for peace and urged the government to take action against BJP leader Kapil Mishra for allegedly inciting violence in northeast Delhi.

Jamiat chief Maulana Arshad Madani also called on Muslims to be courageous in these difficult times and stay safe.

"I would like to appeal for peace. I would like to say to all Muslims that they should be courageous in these difficult times and stay safe. They should maintain peace and harmony in their areas," he said in a statement.

"They should behave well with non-Muslims in their areas. They should not feel dejected," he said.

Madani blamed Mishra for making provocative remarks and said violence was the result of such comments.

"It is sad that this is happening inside the country's capital and there is nobody to stop him (Mishra), and put him behind bars for his statement," he said.

"The government and the country's image is being spoiled. We would like to urge the government to take action against people like Mishra and put them in jail," the Jamiat chief said.

He also called on the police to act against perpetrators of violence and do their job with honesty.

Fresh violence tore through northeast Delhi on Tuesday, killing six more people and taking the toll in the communal clashes over the amended citizenship law to 11.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A joint protest was organised by the Maulana Azad Urdu University Students Union (MANUU) and University of Hyderabad Coordination Committee here on Monday against the violence in Delhi over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

This comes after clashes erupted at various places in North-East Delhi between pro and anti-CAA protestors.

During the clash, four people including a head constable of Delhi Police lost their lives.

CAA seeks to grant citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who entered India on or before 31, 2014.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In 2013, Vermont held the distinction of having the lowest student-teacher ratio in the nation (10:1). This might be a good thing  if it were affordable. This bloat in school administrators relative to student population is a national infection, but Vermont's intractable bureaucrats are particularly agile.

Recently, Vermont enacted sweeping consolidation (Act 46) of its public schools, closing many small rural schools under the pretense of saving money  yet costs instead increased substantially. In 2018, the Green Mountain State's schools' administration expenses were exceptionally expensive:

Vermont's relatively highest spending category per pupil was in school administration ($1,296; US average $651), which was second highest only to DC ($1,447). Vermont ranked sixth in teacher salaries ($6,743, US average $4,603 ...)

Vermont's anemic economy, struggling under high taxes and regulations, leads many regular wage-earners to leave (with their children). Yet declining student numbers do not translate into a decline in administrators, any more than declining taxpayer incomes restrain those state workers' incomes and benefits.

Vermont's 53 school superintendents receive an average $155,417 salary, or 2.59 times the state's median income of $60,076. Vermont spends $8,237,101 annually on superintendents, despite declining student enrollment (a 25.5% decrease from 1997 to 2016). Its school system is now 49th in the nation in size but #2 in costs as a percentage of median income ($18,290/$60,076, with New York at #1).

Five years ago a cogent criticism of this escalating failure was voiced:

... 80 percent of school budgets consist of compensation for teachers and staff, yet no serious public conversation has addressed how costs have reached these levels and whether taxpayers can continue supporting them[.] ... Labor costs per pupil increased in 2012 by 6.6 percent, double the national rate[.]

Worse, Vermont's pension system is one of many underfunded in the country, estimated to be some $4.5 billion in the red. The actual shortfall is most certainly much higher, because the state has employed extraordinarily optimistic projections for returns on invested funds to understate true liabilities.

Many small rural schools have been closed, leading to a high-profile lawsuit by thirty-three school districts challenging the Act 46 legislation: a decision by the state's highest court is pending. Whatever the outcome, teachers and other administrators will ultimately find themselves in open war with desperate taxpayers unable to foot the bill.

Vermonters truly value their teachers, who are asked to deal with ever greater problems in children due to anxiety, broken homes, drug abuse, and behavioral issues. Bloating bureaucracy is not so simple as blaming one side versus another: the problem is a modern one, caused by decaying community and rural values, and economic centralization:

The local schools no longer serve the local community; they serve the government's economy and the economy's government. Professionalism means more interest in salaries and less interest in what used to be known as disciplines. And so we arrive at the idea, endlessly reiterated in the news media, that education can be improved by bigger salaries for teachers  which may be true, but education cannot be improved by bigger salaries alone. Wendell Berry, "The Work of Local Culture," What Are People For?, 1990, p. 164

A dairy farmer with a shrinking herd of cows lacks the luxury of increasing his salary: economic limits constrain him  he cannot set the price of milk. A government that awards pay raises to teachers and superintendents even as the "herd" of students shrinks, while compressing the schools into a more centralized (and expensive) consolidation, is destroying its community at the source, consigning its children to CAFOs.

Schools close, bureaucracy grows. To avert a collapse of Vermont's school system and economy, this "progression" must be reversed.
Thich Quang Do, a Buddhist monk who became the public face of religious dissent in Vietnam while the Communist government kept him in prison or under house arrest for more than 20 years, has died at the age of 91.

Mr Do, who died Saturday in Ho Chi Minh City, was the highest leader of the banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, which has constantly tangled with the government over issues of religious freedom and human rights.

He suffered for many years from diabetes, a heart condition and high blood pressure, according to the International Buddhist Information Bureau in Paris.

Mr Do was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and received several awards for his activism, including the Rafto Prize for Human Rights and the Hellman/Hammett award, which the New York-based group Human Rights Watch gives to writers in recognition of their courage in the face of political persecution.

People are very afraid of the government  Only I dare to say what I want to say. That is why they are afraid of me, he told The Associated Press in a rare 2003 interview.

Even as Vietnam has embraced economic liberalisation and free markets, its political system remains firmly under the control of the Communist government.

Mr Do said that freedom, democracy and human rights are more important than economic development and without them we cannot make any progress in the real sense.

I pay tribute to the Venerable Thich Quang o, Patriarch of the Unified Buddhist Church. He has passed away on Saturday, Feb 22nd 2020 at Tu Hieu pagoda, #Saigon. He has sacrificed all his life for #Buddhism and human rights in #Vietnam.#ThichQuangDo pic.twitter.com/9zILMHk1VH  Tien Trung Nguyen (@ntientrung2014) February 24, 2020

He had been under near constant surveillance for years at his home in Ho Chi Minh City, the Thanh Minh Zen Monastery, where according to his supporters he organised micro-credit schemes and flood relief campaigns while coordinating provincial committees of his outlawed church.

Story continues

According to the International Buddhist Information Bureau, he had been deprived of all means of communicating independently for the past year after he moved to the citys Tu Hieu Pagoda, after being sent out of Thanh Minh Zen Monastery and briefly living in northern Vietnam.

Mr Do was born Dang Phuc Tue in northern Thai Binh province on November 27 1928. His defiance of repressive governments predates the 1975 Communist takeover of US-backed South Vietnam and the former Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City.

He was first imprisoned in 1963 under Catholic leader Ngo Dinh Diem, and after Vietnam was reunified he protested against its ruling Communists.

After his 1977 arrest on charges of undermining national solidarity and conducting anti-revolutionary activities, Mr Do endured nearly two years of solitary confinement in a roughly 3ft by 6ft prison cell, gazing through a window the size of his hand until international pressure forced his release.

In 1981, the government created the Communist Party-controlled Vietnam Buddhist Church and forced Mr Do into internal exile in northern Thai Binh province. Mr Do was later offered the leadership of the official church, but he refused and in 1992 fled to Ho Chi Minh City.

In 1995, he was sentenced to five years in prison on charges that included sending two faxes to overseas Buddhists accusing the government of obstructing a church-sponsored flood relief mission.

International pressure led to his early release in 1998, but he was again placed under house arrest in 2001.

Although Mr Do was officially freed two years later, a 2005 report by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention cited an unnamed source as saying restrictions on Mr Do were equivalent to detention.

Over the years Vietnam denied accusations that it placed Mr Do and a former leader of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, the late Thich Huyen Quang, under house arrest.

They lead normal lives at their respective monasteries, foreign ministry spokesman Le Dung said in 2005.
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - British drug major AstraZeneca (AZN, AZN.L) said Tuesday it has agreed to sublicense its global rights to Movantik, a peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist indicated for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation, to RedHill Biopharma. As part of the deal, which excludes Europe, Canada and Israel, AstraZeneca will continue to manufacture and supply Movantik to RedHill during a transition period. Earlier in 2015, AstraZeneca entered into a co-commercialisation deal with Daiichi Sankyo for Movantik in the US, which will be transferred to RedHill. With regards to financial terms of the deal, RedHill will make an upfront payment of $52.5 million to AstraZeneca, upon closing, and a further non-contingent payment of $15 million in 2021. Meanwhile, profit arising from the upfront payment, after taking a charge for derecognition of the associated intangible asset, and the future payment will be reported in AstraZeneca's financial statements. The divestment is expected to be complete in the first quarter of 2020, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory clearances. Upon completion, the deal will not impact the Company's financial guidance for 2020, Astrazenenca reported. 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.
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Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, February 26 2020

In February 2018, Indonesia and Russia signed a US$1.14 billion purchase contract for 11 Sukhoi jet fighters. It has been two years since the deal was made under then-defense minister Ryamizard Ryacudu and still no shipments have arrived from Moscow.

The billion-dollar deal is reportedly in limbo, with Moscow and analysts pointing to pressures from the United States as the primary reason why Jakarta is dragging its feet in finalizing the purchase.

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Algerian foreign ministry unilaterally postponed a planned visit by Spanish foreign minister Arancha Gonzalez in what appears as a reaction to Spains support for the Moroccan position on the Sahara issue.

Spain has recently taken stands that Morocco welcomed and has abstained from expressing support to the referendum option for the area, which the UN has failed to organize because of its unfeasibility in view of disagreements over who should vote.

Spain also agreed to negotiate maritime borders, including those off the Sahara, with Morocco in another indication of Spanish realism towards the Sahara issue. Moreover, Spain never recognized the Polisario self-proclaimed SADR republic as a state.

Just over the weekend, the Spanish government has rebuked its Podemos member Nacho Alvarex who, surfing against the tide of his government, committed the blunder of expressing support to the Polisario on his personal Twitter after he received a Polisario delegation.

The above are but a small part in a series of blows suffered by the Algerian pro-separatist diplomacy as it continues to stumble amid domestic unrest and dwindling influence on the back of a looming financial crisis triggered by rapidly shrinking oil revenues.

The Algerian foreign ministry gave a rude excuse for the postponement of the new Spanish foreign ministers visit, saying that foreign minister Sabri Boukaddoum will be busy on the day of her visit attending a presidential meeting.

EL Confidential and other Spanish papers interpreted the move as a reaction by Algiers to the close ties between Spain and Morocco. Spanish foreign minister said during her visit to Rabat last month that Morocco is a source of stability in the region.

As Morocco accumulates diplomatic gains on the Sahara issue with the increase in African states opening consulates in the southern provinces, the Algerian diplomacy protested as it sees itself left by the train of African states that come to terms to view the conflict as a relic of the cold-war and as an issue perpetuated by Algerian money to unsettle Morocco.

Cote dIvoire was the latest country to open a consulate in Laayoune bringing its support for Moroccos territorial integrity to a consular level. The move irked Algiers so bad that it recalled its ambassador to Abidjan for consultation.

The Comoros, Gabon, Central African Republic, and Sao Tome and Principe have also opened consulates in Laayoune in addition to Gambia and Guinea, which chose to open their consulates in Dakhla.
Leitrims commercial vacancy rate has increased by 0.3 percentage points to 16.6% according to the latest GeoView Commercial Vacancy Rates Report published by GeoDirectory today.

The report, prepared by EY-DKM Economic Advisory Services, found that the commercial vacancy rate increased in all four provinces in 2019. The national commercial vacancy rate stood at 13.3% in Q4 2019, 0.1pp higher than the same period in 2018.

In total, 16 counties recorded increases in their commercial vacancy rate, with a decrease occurring in only 6 counties.

Sligo, at 18.9%, was the county with the highest commercial vacancy rate. The five counties with the highest vacancy rates were all located in Connacht, a sign of the prominent east-west divide in terms of commercial activity.

At 10.1%, Meath recorded the lowest commercial vacancy rate in the country, followed by Kerry (10.7%), Wexford (10.9%), Westmeath (11.6%) and Cork (11.7%). The commercial vacancy rate in Dublin was 12%, 1.3pp lower than the national average.

Almost a quarter (23.5%) of all commercial properties in Ireland are located in Dublin, equating to 49,812 commercial address points. The three Ulster counties of Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan accounted for only 7.8% of the national total, while Munster and Connacht had 28.9% and 13.7% of the national total respectively.

Edenderry in Co. Offaly, at 29.1%, was the town with the highest commercial vacancy rate in the country. Ballybofey in Co. Donegal dropped to second place in the list after registering a 3pp drop in commercial vacancies in 2019. The rate in the town now stands at 27.7%.

In Leitrim, Carrick-on-Shannon had a commercial vacancy rate of 17.6%.

Leitrim accounts for 0.9% of commercial address points nationally.
Cats and dogs can remember events that happened years ago and respond to memory prompts just like humans, a study has concluded.

Researchers from Denmark surveyed cat and dog owners about the occasions on which their pets had shown signs of remembering a specific past event.

The team found that the majority of cats and dogs seem to have a so-called episodic memory  one often triggered by cues like locations, just like our memories are.

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Cats and dogs can remember events that happened years ago and respond to memory prompts just like humans, a study has concluded

In their studies, Psychologists Amy Lewis and Dorthe Berntsen of Aarhus University in Denmark surveyed a total of 375 cat and dog owners who had cared for their pet for more than six months.

They asked whether each owner felt that their pet had ever remembered a past event or events  what experts call 'episodic' memory.

If they did, the owners were asked to report on their pet's memory of this event  considering whether their were any similarities in the location of the remembered event and the animal's surroundings at the time of recollection.

Participants were asked to exclude those experiences that the pet had come to expect as occurring at a given time or place (like being fed at dinner time), as this could be explained by a different type of recollection, called 'semantic memory'.

Instead of covering specific events, semantic memory covers general knowledge about the world  in humans, for example, this might include knowing that the sky is blue or knowing how to use a telephone.

The researchers found that the majority of participants reported that their pets remembered past events  with similar proportions of cats and dogs showing signs of having an episodic memory.

In fact, only 20 per cent of owners did not feel that their pet had exhibited signs of recalling specific past events.

The team found that the majority of cats and dogs seem to have a so-called episodic memory  one often triggered by cues like locations, just like our memories are

The team report that more of the remembered events took place months before the recollection than over lesser spans of time  and nearly half of the events were recalled 'a few times' by the pets, the owners said.

Furthermore, the recollections seemed to be largely  in around 80 per cent of cases  triggered by the animal's surroundings, with location being the most frequent cue, while 'interaction with an animal or person' also common.

While cat and dog memories appeared similar in most respects, the team did note that dogs' memories tended to be rated more positively than cats' ones.

The researchers caution, however, that this could be a result of the owner's opinions, or alternatively the more nuanced ways in which cats display emotion.

Felines were also found to respond more often to sound-based triggers.

'The findings suggest that both cats and dogs have event memories,' the researchers wrote.

'More than half of event memories described events that occurred once, suggesting the recall of temporally specific events.'

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
HALIFAX  On a foggy Tuesday morning, Roy Fralicks boat, the Charlene A, ripples still water as it pulls in to Bouteliers Cove and up to its dock.

Fralick and his crew immediately off load the empty lobster pots stacked on the deck. Theyre in a hurry  they still have to bring in a second load.

Fralick is pulling the pots from the water for the time being. The waters cold and theyre not catching many lobster. And what they do catch may not be worth the cost.

Lobster fishermen, like Fralick, are facing a crunch. In the last month, the coronavirus epidemic in China has precipitated a drop in lobster prices.

It dropped from $10.50 all the way down to $6, and now its back up to $7, says Fralick. That takes all the profit out of it.

Quarantines and lack of restaurant traffic has slowed lobster demand from China. Customer orders have dried up. As a result, fewer cargo planes are making the trip.

Typically seven to 10 cargo flights would be transporting fresh seafood products into the Asian market on a weekly basis, said Tiffany Chase, spokesperson for Halifax Stanfield International Airport.

About a month ago, one of our cargo carriers advised theyd be temporarily suspending their shipments that go directly into China, as a result of the impact of coronavirus, and they would have had two to three of those weekly flights.

Canada exported 26.2 million kilograms of live lobster to China in 2019 excluding the month of December, according to Statistics Canada. That is the largest export by volume to any country, surpassing exports to the U.S. for the first time. Those Chinese exports were valued at $456 million.

Those are big numbers. To a small boat operator such as Fralick, the figures he deals with are more personal.

On a cold day in February, he might come back with 200 pounds of lobster. That catch is now worth $700 less than it was a month ago. On a good day, he might bring back 1,000 pounds, for which, if prices stayed at their current rate, hed get $3,500 less than hed expect.

Those differences are large for fishermen working on precarious margins.

Pulling the pots may be a saving grace for lobster fishermen. This drastic price drop comes at a generally slow time for the fishery. As the water warms, the fishery picks up mid-April and kicks into high gear through June and July. At that point, with luck, prices will return to near normal.

Geoff Irvine, executive director of the Canadian Lobster Council believes that this ebb in lobster prices is a good argument for continuing to diversify the market.

We are implementing a marketing strategy this year focused on Europe and also China to ensure we keep the market we have there, he said via email. We also are leading a trade mission to Vietnam, Indonesia and Taiwan later in 2020 as well as a return to the China Fisheries and Seafood Expo in Qingdao, China in October. The provinces are also focusing on continuing to diversify markets for both live and processed lobster products.

Such diversity would go a long way to even out fluctuations in lobster prices. But at the moment that is cold comfort for the crew of the Charlene A, as the lobster pots sit dry upon the dock.

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Thousands of people are thronging the streets of Rio de Janeiro for the second day of the city's world famous carnival which attracts more than 500,000 visitors to the City.

Overnight, the final six of the city's top 13 samba schools took to the Sambadrome.

Brazilian actor and comedian Marcelo Adnet starred in the Sao Clemente school's parade dressed up as President Jair Bolsonaro, mockingly doing push ups, saluting, and firing an imaginary gun with his fingers, all of which the ex-army captain has done in public during his presidency.

The Sao Clemente float also displayed placards with the words 'It's OK?!', a popular Bolsonaro phrase, and 'It was Leonardo di Caprio', a reference to Bolsonaro blaming the Hollywood actor for the Amazon rainforest fires last year.

Since Bolsonaro took office in January 2019, Brazilians have been sharply divided, with supporters crediting him for a rapid drop in violent crime and an improving economy, while critics have denounced his racism, sexism and stance on the environment.

The judges' verdicts are announced on national television on Ash Wednesday.

The 90,000-capacity Sambadrome was designed by revered architect Oscar Niemeyer and constructed in 1984.

Members of Rio's various samba schools have spent 12 months preparing their costumes for this week's epic celebration

Each year the performers take a different theme and design their costumes and routines to suit the idea

Each of the samba schools gets an hour at the Sambadrome to entertain the 90,000 spectators and impress the judges

Members of the samaba Acadeicos do Salgueiro samba school took past in day two of the festival in Rio de Janeiro

The city's top 13 samba schools have performed in the celebration with the final winner announced on Ash Wednesday

Many of the perfomers, such is this woman with the Unidos da Jijuca samba school wear elaborate costumes

Up to 500,000 people a year take to the streets in Rio de Janeiro for the city's carnival celebration which marks the beginning of the austere Lenten season

Most towns and cities in Brazil host similar festivals but Rio's are renowned across the globe as the most elaborate

The carnival schools make their way to the Sambadrome which has a 90,000 seat capacity

Each year the Sambadrome, which was designed by revered architect Oscar Niemeyer and constructed in 1984, is packed with carnival fans

The second day of the parade lasted well into the early hours of Tuesday morning and features performers from the samba Aacademicos do Salgueiro samba school

This woman appears to be dressed as some from of clock tower and is from the Unidos da Tijuca samba school

The men appearing during the parade appear to have been given safety equipment such as protective glasses and hard hats

The 13 Samba schools spend much of the previous 12 months getting ready for the festival where they get just an hour to entertain the public and wow judges

Many of the Samba schools are based in Rio's poorest districts and have some 70,000 volunteers working on the projects

However, officials in the city's government have slashed the amount of public money that is invested

The performances normally start around 9pm and carry on all night until dawn in front of packed crowds

Many of the performances criticised Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and his hard-line government

Many of the Samba schools are facing economic uncertainty after the city's government slashed their funding

Each of the samba schools takes a theme which they base their costumes on and spend months preparing their performances

The carnival winners will be announced during a special television show to be broadcast on Ash Wednesday

Each year, more than 500,000 people travel to Rio for the carnival which marks the start of Lent

The Rio festivities are probably only rivaled by those which take place in New Orleans for Mardi Gras

This float took on the theme of a circus, whichi was rather appropriate for a carnival

Thousands of men and women perform each year in the Rio carnival. Today, almost every district of the city will have a festival

These performers appear to be dressed in costumes showing large numbers of US dollar bills
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.
The UN Security Council on Tuesday renewed its sanctions regime on Yemen for another year, after tense negotiations between Britain and Russia, which threatened to veto any mention, even implicit, of Iran.

Thirteen countries eventually adopted the London-drafted resolution on the sanctions, which now are in effect through February 2021. Russia and China abstained.

The sanctions plan, which would have expired on Wednesday, includes the extension of the mandate of UN experts who monitor the arms embargo imposed in 2015.

The resolution also extends the measures that provide for the freezing of assets and travel bans on targeted officials.

Talks had been ongoing for a week with little apparent difficulty, but suddenly on Monday, Moscow said it could not support the text drafted by London.

It threatened to use its veto and offered a counterproposal, diplomats said.

Russia was up in arms over any mention of Iran, which backs the Huthi rebels in their battle with government forces supported by a Saudi-led military coalition.

A recent report from the UN experts who monitor the arms embargo said the Huthis had been in possession since 2019 of new weapons -- drones and cruise missiles -- with "technical characteristics similar to arms" produced in Iran.

The report did not say whether the weapons were delivered to the Huthis directly by the government in Tehran, which has repeatedly denied sending them arms.

During the Security Council negotiations, Britain initially abandoned any mention of Iran.

But then -- shortly before the vote and after France and Belgium stepped in to mediate -- London agreed to omit any reference to the arms possessed by the Huthis and their similarity to Iranian weapons.

Non-governmental organizations say the conflict in Yemen has claimed tens of thousands of lives, most of them civilians. The UN says the war has provoked the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The true number of coronavirus cases in Iran may be upwards of 18,000, according to a preliminary analysis by Canadian researchers, suggesting an epidemic there nearly 200 times larger than what the country has reported  and a situation with potentially grave global consequences.

A spokesperson for Irans health ministry said Tuesday that the country had 95 confirmed cases of COVID-19, as the disease caused by the novel coronavirus is called, and 15 deaths.

The true extent of the outbreak is not only concerning to people in Iran, but also to Canadians and everyone else on the planet, said Isaac Bogoch, a co-author of the analysis and an infectious disease specialist at Toronto General Hospital and the University of Toronto.

Were so interconnected that this is not just an Iranian problem.

Experts have expressed concern that the extent of the outbreak in Iran is under-reported, and that uncontrolled transmission in the country could have profound consequences for limiting the global spread of the disease. Iran shares borders with or has close ties to several countries  including Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria  that have little to no capacity to detect or contain infections.

The Canadian scientists, a group of infectious disease specialists and mathematical modellers, crunched numbers over the weekend to estimate the real size of the epidemic in Iran. The results were published Tuesday on medRxiv, a website that posts preliminary research that has not yet been peer-reviewed and published in a journal.

The team based its analysis in part on the number of international cases linked to Iran.

On Thursday, British Columbia reported a confirmed case of COVID-19 in a person who had recently travelled from Iran. At that time, Iran was reporting just five confirmed cases.

Red flags went up, said Bogoch.

If youre talking about five cases in Iran, what is the probability that one of those five cases in a population of 81 million would get on an airplane? Its pretty small, said Ashleigh Tuite, a co-author on the analysis and an adjunct faculty member at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at U of T.

When you start seeing imported cases of disease from another location, that usually means there is a fairly substantial amount of disease activity in the country of origin, said Tuite.

The team drew on flight and tourism data, as well as estimates about the disease itself, to mathematically model how big the outbreak in Iran is likely to be for those cases to appear.

Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates have also reported Iran-linked cases.

Neither Canada nor Lebanon receive large volumes of air travellers from Iran, the researchers noted. Canada ranked 31st for outbound air travel volume from the country during the same period last year.

Some of the 10 cities that receive the most travellers from Iran at this time of year are in countries  Iraq, Syria, and Azerbaijan  that have extremely limited abilities to detect an outbreak. The fact that none had reported a COVID-19 case at the time of the analysis  but that Canada and Lebanon had  would suggest that the disease is likely present in those vulnerable countries.

The researchers estimate that the true burden of disease in Iran is 18,300 cases, but that it could be as low as 3,770 or as high as 53,470. They said uncertainty in the data creates a wide margin of error  but that all of those numbers are much higher than has been officially reported, and any significant outbreak would be difficult for the country to handle.

Since they crunched the numbers Sunday, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq and Oman have all announced cases of the virus connected to travel from Iran. Bahrain said it had 17 confirmed cases of COVID-19, all in passengers who travelled through cities in United Arab Emirates, Irans neighbour across the Persian Gulf.

There are large populations living in regions with limited public health capacity in the neighbourhood, said Bogoch. The concern is they may already have cases that just arent going detected, and if they dont already have cases, they may very soon.

The situation in Iran threatened to spiral quickly out of control. On Monday, the head of the Iranian government task force on the coronavirus appeared on television to insist the situation in the country was stable, while he repeatedly coughed and wiped his brow. On Tuesday, the official announced he had tested positive for the coronavirus himself.

With files from the Associated Press

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A traffic stop led to the arrest of a Seymour man Monday for being a felon in possession of a weapon, among other charges.

Police Detective Richard Bango said that officers stopped a vehicle blew through a red light on Bridgeport Avenue. Upon stopping the vehicle, Police Officer John Kekac discovered the vehicle was not registered or insured and the operator, 35-year-old Ramon Capacete, did not possesses a drivers license.
In the midst of a punishing housing crisis and deepening concerns about displacement, a program to give free legal advice to those facing eviction helped nearly 730 people stay in their homes in a six-month span last year.

A new report released Monday from the Mayors Office of Housing and Community Development looked at how San Franciscos voter-approved tenant right-to-counsel program has been working.

Officials dissected the report at a hearing at the Board of Supervisors Land Use Committee Monday. Supervisor Dean Preston, who wrote the ballot measure that created the program, called for the hearing shortly after his November election.

San Francisco has long funded nonprofit groups that provide legal assistance to tenants. But Proposition F, which voters passed in June 2018, mandated the creation of a universal program that would provide full-scope legal representation to anyone facing eviction through those tenants-rights nonprofits.

Prop. Fs backers said it was critical for tenants to know their rights during eviction proceedings and have the legal backup to contest wrongful evictions. Providing access to comprehensive legal services, supporters said, would keep more people in their homes.

Data show that, so far, thats proving to be the case. Between July and December of last year, 1,634 households took advantage of city-funded legal help to fight an eviction. Of those, 1,088 received full-scope representation and the remaining 546 received more limited services because of a shortage of lawyers and other staffers needed to take on cases.

Preston and other tenants attorneys said the program needs additional funding to make full-scope representation for everyone a reality.

Data also show that unlawful detainers  lawsuits meant to evict a tenant  have decreased steadily in recent years. There were 4,192 unlawful detainers filed in 2011 and 2,638 submitted in 2019.

Of those who received the full spectrum of legal services, 67% were able to stay in their homes. The success rate was highest for black households, 80% of whom were able to remain in their homes if they obtained full-scope services. From July through December last year, 30.5% of those who sought legal counsel had to leave their homes, but often with more time and money than they would have had without representation, according to the report.

The story these numbers tell is clear: Providing tenants with a guaranteed attorney stops unfair displacement and gives San Francisco residents a fighting chance when facing eviction, said Preston, a longtime tenants attorney.

The report also indicated that the vast majority of those seeking city-funded legal services for evictions are extremely low-income, dispelling concerns Prop. Fs critics raised that the program would give city-funded legal services to those who can afford a private lawyer. In total, 71% of households who sought out legal services for an eviction were extremely low-income; another 16% were low-income and a combined 13% of clients were either moderate- or above-moderate income.

Before the June 2018 election, Prop. Fs critics, like the San Francisco Apartment Association, which represents the interests of landlords, argued that most evictions were done for justifiable reasons, like a failure to pay rent or when a tenant causes a nuisance in the building. Mondays report indicated that 56% of the full-service eviction cases were for fault evictions, in which a landlord claims a tenants actions warrant eviction.

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.

Prior to the programs adoption last July, San Francisco was spending around $4.4 million annually on eviction-related legal services. The citys budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year has $9.8 million set aside for eviction defense, an increase in keeping with the citys estimates prior to Prop. Fs passage.

The measure included no funding mechanism, only a mandate that the city create and maintain a universal eviction-defense program. Growing the program may prove difficult in light of Mayor London Breeds call for most city departments to shrink their budgets by 3.5% for the upcoming budget cycle.

It costs around $220,000 to hire each attorney and the legal support staff needed for full-scope representation. To date, the city has provided funding for nonprofit groups to hire 47 lawyers and staff. Preston estimates the city needs to hire between 17 and 22 additional attorneys to make the programs goal of universal access to full-scope services a reality.

When someone has an attorney, their ability to stay housed increases, and the only thing that prevents us from ensuring that to all tenants is a lack of (staff) capacity, said Martina Cucullu Lim, executive director of the Eviction Defense Collaborative.

The intent of Prop. F is working, she said, but the reality is we dont have capacity to serve everybody that walks through our door.

Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will stop using their "SussexRoyal" brand from spring 2020.



The couple had been in discussions with aides and senior royals about using the name following their decision this year to step back from royal duties, BBC reported.

Their website was updated to provide further details of the new agreement. "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," said a statement.

It was announced earlier that the couple will formally step down as senior royals from 31 March.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 24, 2020 | 05:26 PM | MAYFIELD

A Mayfield man facing multiple charges, including unlawful imprisonment, has pleaded guilty.

Aaron Svoboda pleaded guilty on Monday in Graves Circuit Court to wanton endangerment, two counts of 4th degree assault and five counts of unlawful imprisonment. He'll be sentenced to four years in prison.

Mayfield police officers responded to a home on East College Street last September, where Svoboda was allegedly threatening to kill himself and his family with a knife. A child had escaped from the home and fled down the street to call 911.

Svoboda attempted to flee on foot, but was apprehended after a brief chase.



Officers said they found a large kitchen knife outside the home. They also found Svoboda had been restricting the movement of family members, and had taken their phones to prevent them from calling for help.
THE DALAI LAMA

An Extraordinary Life

By Alexander Norman

Dalai Lama is a foreign title. Tibetans refer to him with names like Precious Protector, Wish-Fulfilling Jewel and the Presence. The divide between the Tibetan Buddhist world  which often has included China and Mongolia  and the world beyond has rarely been of particular consequence to the Dalai Lamas, until this one, the 14th, who is the first to spend most of his life in exile; he fled to India in 1959 and has not returned. His biographer, facing the usual problems of recounting the life of a figure still living (the Dalai Lama will be 85 this year), is also faced with the dilemma of describing his life on the world stage (which has been fairly well documented) and his life inside the world of Tibetan Buddhism (which has not). This is the challenge that Alexander Norman, a longtime associate of the Dalai Lama, takes up in his new biography.

Who is the Dalai Lama? Tibet is unique in the Buddhist world for its system of incarnate lamas, the idea being that advanced spiritual masters are able to choose the place for their next rebirth, returning to the world in lifetime after lifetime to teach the dharma. There were many such lineages of lamas in Tibet, and the Dalai Lama was just one of them until 1642. It was then that the fifth Dalai Lama was placed on the throne of Tibet by a Mongol khan, his successors becoming at least the titular head of state. The current incarnation took over the government in 1950 at age 15 when the Peoples Liberation Army crossed into eastern Tibet.

Like the authors of other biographies of the current Dalai Lama, Norman does not read or speak Tibetan. However, he has the advantage of being able to use histories published over the past two decades that draw on Tibetan and Chinese sources, none more important than the four volumes by Melvyn C. Goldstein, which provide 2,700 pages on the period from 1913 to 1959. Norman puts these to good use, as well as recently published books about the Dalai Lamas two tutors, making this biography the most detailed and accurate to date.
BJP MP from East Delhi, Gautam Gambhir, condemned the violence in the national capital over the CAA, saying that action should be taken against every member of the party who made inflammatory speeches, whether it is Kapil Mishra or someone else.

The MP also appealed to the people protesting against the amended Citizens Act (CAA) not to engage in violence and to talk to the government.

Gambhir told reporters, "Whatever be the case, irrespective of any party, whether Kapil Mishra or anyone else, action should be taken against anyone who makes inflammatory speeches."

Mishra had led CAA supporters at Maujpur Chowk in Zafarabad area on Sunday, following which violence erupted in pro-CAA and anti-group groups. Mishra contested the recently concluded assembly elections on a BJP ticket. Significantly, there was a clash between groups supporting and opposing the amended Citizenship Act (CAA) in Delhi's Zafarabad and Maujpur on Monday.

The protesters set fire to several houses, shops and vehicles and threw stones at each other.

Seven people including a police constable were killed in the violence. At least 150 people, including paramilitary forces and Delhi Police personnel, have been injured.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited some of those injured in the violence over the amended citizenship law in northeast Delhi at the GTB Hospital on Tuesday and appealed to people to 'stop this madness'.

He was accompanied by his deputy Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain.

Speaking to reporters after his visit to the hospital, Kejriwal said his biggest concern was to stop the violence.

"I have met the people who were injured, also met some people who sustained bullet injuries. Facilities and doctors are apt here.

"The biggest concern is to stop the violence. I appeal to everyone to stop the violence. This madness has to stop," he said.

As many as 10 people have been killed and scores of others injured in the violence between pro- and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act groups in the area since Monday.

Clashes were continuing for the third day on Tuesday.

On the issue of non-availability of adequate forces to tackle the situation, Kejriwal said he spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the issue.

"I have raised issue of having enough force. The home minister has assured that additional force will be given," he said.
A hotel in Tenerife is under lockdown after an Italian guest tested positive for coronavirus  and the infection is spreading across Europe, with its first confirmed cases in Austria, Croatia and Switzerland.

The H10 Adeje Palace hotel was put on lockdown on Tuesday morning, with Spanish media reporting that as many as 1,000 tourists staying at the complex are not being allowed to leave.

The doctor  who is reportedly from Lombardy in northern Italy  was on holiday when he was diagnosed with Covid-19. He is now being kept in isolation in hospital.

His diagnosis comes amid a battle by authorities in northern Italy to limit an outbreak of coronavirus, with 11 towns currently under quarantine.

More than 200 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Italy, while seven have died.

The first two cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Austria on Tuesday, with two people in the province of Tyrol  a province that borders northern Italy  diagnosed with the infection.

Covid-19 was also detected in Croatia and Switzerland for the first time, with each country documenting one case.

In the hotel in Tenerife, British guest Christopher Betts told the Reuters news agency that everyone staying at the H10 Adeje Palace had been asked to stay in their rooms.

We can see from the window there are security officers outside the hotel and about 50 hotel employees, Betts said.

We have received no information whatsoever, he added, saying he had not yet been tested for the virus.

Meanwhile 27-year-old Hannah Green, who is on holiday with her boyfriend and one-year-old son, described the communication from the hotel as non-existent.

We woke up to a note under our door this morning saying for health reasons not to leave our room, she told the PA news agency. I called downstairs to reception as soon as I saw it and they wouldnt tell us anything.

So I quickly got on my phone and googled and saw a man had tested positive for coronavirus, so I...

Continue reading on HuffPost
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion curated for you at this hour. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

UP legislator Kuldeep Sengar, convicted of rape, disqualified from state assembly

Kuldeep Sengar represented Bangarmau in the states Unnao district in the assembly. A four-term legislator, Sengar had won the assembly election from Bangarmau assembly seat on BJP ticket in March 2017. Read more

US markets will jump thousands of points if I win: Donald Trump to Indian CEOs

The Presidents quick trip may not though see any trade pact, but Trump said there will be a $3 billion dollar defence deal with India. Read more

Shah holds review meet, prohibitory orders clamped in Northeast Delhi for a month

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had earlier held an emergency meeting of MLAs and officials from the affected areas and appealed the protesters to maintain peace. Read more

No NRC in the state, resolves Bihar assembly; allows NPR with old questions

The proposed NPR will be carried out along with the house listing phase of the Census exercise from April 1 to September 30. Read more

Melania Trump attends happiness class, gets hugs and Madhubani paintings during school visit

US First Lady Melania Trump was welcomed by excited students dressed in traditional attire as she arrived at the Sarvodaya Co-Educational Senior Secondary School in Moti Bagh, which was decked up with floral garlands with a massive security ring thrown around. Read more

Thappad movie review: Taapsee Pannu film is a scorching indictment of everything thats wrong with us

Thappad movie review: Taapsee Pannu and Anubhav Sinhas film will stay with you and make you question the status quo. One of the most powerful films to come out this year. Read more

Anthony Burgess Birth Anniversary: Must read books and quotes by the author of A Clockwork Orange

Author of the dystopian satire A Clockwork Orange, John Anthony Burgess Wilson was born on February 25, 1917. Read more

IQoo 3 first impressions: A make-or-break situation

We spent some time with one of Indias first 5G smartphones, iQoo 3. Heres our initial thoughts on the smartphones features, pricing and competition. Read more

Turning into a sightseeing tour: Former Australia spinner takes dig at Virat Kohli & Co after loss in first Test against New Zealand

India were blanked 3-0 in three-match ODI series and after they were beaten in the first Test, Brad Hogg tweeted that it looks like the outing is turning into a sightseeing tour for Team India. Read more
The results of the 2019 Afghan presidential elections have further complicated the prospects for achieving intra-Afghan political reconciliation. They have pushed down the hope that the newly elected government would be able to form an inclusive team to talk to the Afghan Taliban. While the election authorities have declared the incumbent President Ashraf Ghani as the winner, runner-up Dr Abdullah Abdullah has not only rejected the results but also announced he will form his own parallel government.

The persisting political turmoil in Kabul has increased just a week before the announcement of a deal is expected between the US negotiation team and the Taliban. Many anticipate that the much-awaited deal will bring to the fore the crucial process of nation-building in a war-torn country, where all Afghan stakeholders will not only have to build consensus on a permanent, comprehensive ceasefire, but also reconstruct a new social contract for their country. However, the deepening political crisis in Afghanistan can slacken the peace process, causing a delay in the announcement of the deal. It will increase frustration among the external stakeholders and facilitators (mainly the US) who want to end the decades-old conflict, which is consuming their financial resources and political capital.

The Afghan Taliban deputy and Haqqani Network chief Sirajuddin Haqqani hinted at the Talibans internal difference over the peace process in an opinion piece published in the New York Times. However, their differences are not as severe as the trust deficit among their opponents including Afghan and international stakeholders. Political chaos in Kabul is an advantage for the Taliban, which they will use to bolster their bargaining position while dealing with the US and fellow Afghan stakeholders. It is not yet certain how Washington will respond to the simmering controversy over election results.

In the current environment, what are the options left for Pakistan? Complete detachment from the emerging situation in Afghanistan is one option. This can be interpreted as maintaining a neutral position before and during the complicated process of intra-Afghan talks. This would be an ideal but awkward position because of complications that could emerge during the withdrawal of foreign forces and the dialogue process. The US would have to rely on Pakistan to use its influence over the Taliban and a few other political actors in Afghanistan.

Secondly, there is no guarantee that Russia, Iran, and particularly India, would maintain a neutral position. India and Iran have their proxies and favourites in Afghanistan, whom they will not abandon. Pakistan will be an easy target of such favourites if the dialogue is deadlocked. Pakistan will have to maintain and further diversify its relations with Afghan stakeholders other than the Taliban.

If the exit process is caught in complications, the US can review its approach. But for the global community, the most critical aspect would be long-term economic assistance pledges to help Afghan power elites develop viable economic growth structures. This factor will also dominate the intra-Afghan dialogue. It remains to be seen how Afghan stakeholders, who have divergent interests, will deal with this challenge. It is expected they will build pressure on Pakistan regarding the transit trade agreement and could demand easy access to ports. If Pakistan-India relations remain tense, it would not be easy for Pakistan to make any concession.

The processes of withdrawal and dialogue will be lengthy with all their complexities, but their completion will see the real test for Pak-Afghan ties. Pakistan should have a blueprint for the future and prepare the ground for a long-term strategic and economic cooperation treaty with Afghanistan. This is important in order for both countries to emerge from the Indian-centric strategic hangover and develop their independent bilateral relationship.

By arrangement with Dawn
The claimant count is different to the official measure of unemployment

Figures from the Labour Force Survey last week showed that unemployment remains at historically low levels in Northern Ireland.

The seasonally adjusted rate of unemployment in Northern Ireland was recorded at 2.4% in the last quarter of 2019. While this is one of the lowest rates ever recorded, it is actually slightly up on the rate of 2.3% recorded in the three months that ended in November 2019.

Northern Ireland's unemployment rate is significantly below that of the UK average, which still stands at 3.8%.

However, of late, we tend to hear less about the claimant count. This is a measure of the percentage of the population in receipt of unemployment benefits. It is not the official measure of unemployment but it is an indicator of joblessness nonetheless.

The claimant count is different to the official measure of unemployment because not all people who are unemployed are actively claiming unemployment benefits.

Also, to qualify as unemployed under the official measure, a person has to have actively sought work in the last four weeks.

For these reasons, it is possible for the number of people claiming unemployment benefits to be above or below the official rate of unemployment.

While the number of people claiming unemployment benefit has, in the past, been higher than the number of people officially unemployed, it tends to be the exception to the rule. The claimant count is nearly always lower than the rate of unemployment.

For this reason, the claimant count was often the go-to statistic for government press releases about the Northern Ireland economy. Not only was the number itself lower than the rate of unemployment, but the claimant count fell at a steadier pace after the financial crisis.

So why have we heard so little about the claimant count over the last few months? If I were cynical, I might suggest that the absence of press releases regarding the claimant count is because the tide has turned. Or at the very least, the tide has stopped.

Both the claimant count and the unemployment rate were decreasing up until the last few months of 2018.

After that the unemployment rate continued to fall, but the claimant count stopped.

It has barely moved in over a year.

Despite record levels of unemployment in 2019, there has been no change in the claimant count.

There are now almost 30,000 people recorded as claiming unemployment benefits and only 20,000 recorded as officially unemployed.

This is the largest gap that has ever existed by some distance.

There has been no increase in the numbers of people classified as 'economically inactive' so the only explanation is that there are 10,000 people who are claiming unemployment benefits that we are no longer classifying as unemployed.

In order to understand what may be happening here we should examine a very important change in the benefits system which took place just as this trend emerged.

Universal Credit was introduced on a phased basis for new claimants in Northern Ireland from September 2017 up until December 2018.

The claimant count measures those claiming Job Seeker's Allowance but now also measures those receiving the unemployment element of Universal Credit.

Specifically, it now covers all people claiming Universal Credit who are in the 'searching for work' category, i.e. people actively looking for work.

This has led to a significant increase in the number of people brought into the claimant count.

The Office for National Statistics claims that any increase in the claimant count is therefore due to a definitional change rather than economic conditions.

In order to illustrate this, they have put together a new claimant count which retrospectively adjusts the figures to reflect what the claimant count would have been if Universal Credit had been in place since 2013.

This has the advantage of showing a more dramatic rate of decline in the claimant count since 2013, but a number of problems remain unresolved.

Firstly, looking at the new claimant count figures, in 2013 the claimant count would have been 83,500 as opposed to the 65,000 that was reported at the time. The official unemployment level at the time was 68,000. That is a significant gap.

Secondly, while the rate of decline in this new claimant count is greater than that of the regular claimant count, both series stop their decline in 2019.

If this new claimant count series measures all of those who would have been included in the claimant count under Universal credit up to now, then it should not have been affected by the actual rollout of Universal Credit.

The most obvious problem is that there are now a significant number of people that we are classifying as unemployed for the purposes of the benefits system but not recording them as unemployed for official statistics.

This is a discrepancy that should not be allowed to linger.

In next week's Economy Watch, we hear from Lisa Wilson of Neri.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida students will have an opportunity this week to talk with a NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station. The Earth-to-space call will air live at 12:40 p.m. EST Thursday, Feb. 27, on NASA television and the agency's website.

Andrew Morgan will answer questions from K-12 students from the School District of Lee County. Schools within the district have connected as part of a year-long program that celebrates 50 years since the Apollo 11 Moon landing and looks forward to NASA's return to the Moon through the Artemis program.

The event will take place at Fort Myers High School, 2635 Cortez Blvd., Fort Myers. Media interested in covering should contact Rob Spicker at [email protected] or 239-461-8420.

Linking students directly to astronauts aboard the space station provides unique, authentic experiences designed to enhance student learning, performance and interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Astronauts living in space on the orbiting laboratory communicate with NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through the Space Network's Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS).

For nearly 20 years, astronauts have continuously lived and work on the space station, testing technologies, performing science and developing the skills needed to explore farther from Earth. Through NASA's Artemis program, the agency will send astronauts to the Moon by 2024, with eventual human exploration of Mars. Inspiring the next generation of explorers  the Artemis Generation  ensures America will continue to lead in space exploration and discovery.

Follow America's Moon to Mars exploration initiative at:

https://www.nasa.gov/topics/moon-to-mars

Follow NASA astronauts on social media at:

https://www.twitter.com/NASA_astronauts

See videos and lesson plans highlighting research on the International Space Station at:

https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


BURTON, MI -- A 56-year-old man shot himself and died following a standoff Monday with police from four departments near a Burton subdivision.

Officers with the Burton Police Department were called out shortly before 4:30 p.m. Feb. 24 to the 6000 block of Crabtree Lane in the Burton Estates subdivision to check the welfare of a suicidal man.

Police found the man brandishing a pistol in the woods behind the subdivision off Belsay Road, south of Lippincott Boulevard.

Genesee County Sheriffs Office, Michigan State Police and Davison Township Police helped set up a perimeter to contain the man.

Burton police evacuated nearby residents from their homes.

A Burton police negotiator talked to the man during the approximately two-hour standoff.

The Michigan State Police Emergency Services Team also responded to the scene to assist Burton police.

Burton police Chief Brian Ross said the negotiator was vital for the safety of the community by preventing the man from leaving the area and possibly harming others.

The standoff ended around 7 p.m. Monday when the man shot himself, according to police.

Advanced lifesaving measures were performed by first-responders, police said.

The man was transported to Hurley Medical Center in Flint, where he was pronounced dead.

This was a very tragic situation for everyone involved," said Ross. "Thankfully, all the officers worked cohesively to contain the scene and prevent harm to residents and other officers.
BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan's Supreme Court has started to hear the appeal of ethnic Uzbek human rights activist Azimjan Askarov against a life sentence he was originally given in 2017.



Askarov's wife, Khadicha Askarova and their son Sherzod Askarov, as well as human rights defenders and representatives of foreign diplomatic missions attended the first day of the hearing on February 25.



Journalists were not allowed in the courtroom but Khadicha Askarova told RFE/RL that she expects "good news" from the appeal.



After prosecutors and Askarov's lawyers presented their arguments, they asked the court for more time to study case materials because of new details that have emerged.



The judge granted the motion, adjourning the hearing until April 6.

Askarov, who also contributed to independent news websites, has been jailed since 2010 on charges of creating a mass disturbance and involvement in the murder of a police officer during deadly ethnic clashes between local Uzbeks and Kyrgyz in June 2010. More than 450 people, mainly Uzbeks, were killed and tens of thousands more were displaced during the violence.

Askarov, 68, has insisted that his case is politically motivated. Rights groups, including the UN Human Rights Committee, have urged Kyrgyzstan to release the activist, saying that he was arbitrarily detained, tortured, and denied his right to a fair trial.

Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urged the Kyrgyz authorities not to contest Askarov's appeal and to release him immediately.

"If Kyrgyzstan wants to wash the terrible stain from its press-freedom and human rights record, it should finally release Azimjon Askarov," Gulnoza Said, CPJ's Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, said in a statement.

"Kyrgyz authorities should deliver long-overdue justice in Askarov's final appeal, and allow him to reunite with his loved ones and get adequate medical treatment," according to Said.

In July 2016, the Supreme Court voided Askarov's conviction and sent the case back to a lower court for review in light of "new circumstances that appeared in the case."

However, a court in Bishkek reinstated a life sentence for Askarov in January 2017.

And in July last year, a court in the northern Chui region upheld Askarov's sentence in a ruling described as a "triumph of injustice" by Amnesty International.
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: In a jolt to Uttar Pradesh Police, Allahabad High Court on Monday issued directives to UP Director General of Police (DGP) to identify and take action against the police personnel who were involved in damaging motorcycles and unnecessarily caning students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) during their protest against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in December, last year.



The court also directed the state government to adequately compensate six students who had sustained grievous injuries in the police action.

The two-judge High Court bench, comprising Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Samit Gopal, issued the directives on the basis of the recommendations made by a six-member team of National Human Rights Commission which probed the violence on AMU campus on December 15, 2019. The HC had given five weeks time to the NHRC team to complete the probe in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by one Mohammad Aman Khan alleging police brutality.

The petitioner had said that the AMU students were holding a peaceful protest against CAA since December 13, 2019. But the security forces indulged in cane charging, firing of tear gas shells and rubber pellets at the protesting students for no valid reason on December 15, 2019. While censoring the police, the NHRC has also recommended their sensitizing to inculcate professionalism in them to handle such situations. It also urged the court to direct UP DGP to get all the probes into such incidents of violence in a time-bound manner by the Special Investigating Team set up by his order on January 6, 2020.

The High Court also directed the UP government, UP DGP, DG (CRPF), AMU V-C and Registrar to adhere to the recommendations of the NHRC probe panel and produce a compliance report on March 25, 2020.



The flames over the alleged police crackdown on students campaigning against the contentious citizenship law outside the Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi spread to the AMU campus, with students rising in protest in a show of solidarity.

Directive followed NRHC recommendations



The courts observation followed the recommendations of an NHRC panel, which also called for sensitisation of UP Police personnel and need for professionalism to handle such situations.
The Senate on Tuesday rejected two Republican abortion bills, one that would outlaw abortions after 20 weeks and another that would attempt to raise the standard of care for newborns born alive after botched abortions.

Senators voted 53 to 44 against a motion to proceed to debate on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, failing to reach the 60 votes required to overcome the Democratic filibuster against the measure.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Lindsey Graham, would have made illegal all abortions performed after 20 weeks of pregnancy  the point at which pro-life advocates argue science determines a fetus can feel pain  with exceptions for when the life of the mother is in danger and for victims of rape and incest.

There are only seven countries that allow wholesale abortions at the 20-week period, including China and North Korea, Graham said in a tweet before the vote. The United States should NOT be in that club.

President Trump voiced his support for the legislation in his State of the Union address last month.

To defend the dignity of every person, I am asking Congress to pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in the mothers womb, Trump said. Let us work together to build a culture that cherishes innocent life.

Also on Tuesday, Senate Democrats blocked a request by Republicans to vote on a separate bill, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which would require abortion providers to attempt to preserve the life and health of a fetus born alive after a botched abortion. The upper chamber voted 56 to 41 against ending the filibuster.

I urge my colleagues to picture a baby thats already been born, thats outside the womb gasping for air, said the bills sponsor, Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska, arguing that nothing in this bill touches abortion access and it is solely about protecting babies that have already been born.

More from National Review
India and the US have moved to the next level of engagement having "almost closed" the final contours of limited trade package, and will come up with a comprehensive trade deal going forward, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday.

Goyal was participating in the 'US-India Forum: Partners for Growth' conference here.

"On the economic front, having almost closed the last contours of the limited trade deal and with the announcement of a much larger trade deal in the offing, we have moved to a new level of engagement," Goyal said.

The minister said the engagement will help both sides on different fronts. While India will benefit by engaging with new technology, the US will gain by India becoming a big source for talent.

Sharing the government's vision, the minister said our goal is that by 2022, every family should have own home with 24 hours electricity, clean cooking gas, access to internet, and good school and health care around the home.

To reach the goal of making India a USD 5 trillion economy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has had extensive consultations with 80 ministries, entire council of ministers and senior bureaucracy to bring in the interconnect between different thought processes, he said.

Referring to the proposed trade deal between India and the US, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Secretary Guruprasad Mohapatra said, "There are certain areas where you need the US to also open up the market to us, that is the discussion going on between the various ministries, between the US and India.

"Suffice to say that we need better understanding, something more akin to the kind of understanding we have at several other levels between the US and India. I am pretty sure that some kind of understanding will be reached," he said.

On the draft e-commerce policy on data storage which is presently under formulation, Mohapatra said every responsible country in the world wants to carve out its own space to decide what is good for the country and citizens.

"India hopes to make an FDI policy where it wants to protect its own interests, the citizens, the data interest, so that citizens can leverage on data where it is used commercially by others. At the same time trying to promote national security also," he said, adding that these are legitimate things which every other responsible country including the US does.

However, Mohapatra emphasised that the e-commerce policy will take care of both concerns, including how to carve out and protect the country's interests and at the same time how to align with the rest of the world so as to attract the best of the digital data companies which can invest in India.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Mohapatra said while the areas of concern are known, both sides have declared that they will continue to engage in formal and determined level of discussions.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sun Fuyou, Vice President of Huawei Enterprise BG, said: "Digital technologies are reshaping the world and benefiting all walks of life. As the external environment of an enterprise becomes increasingly complicated and unpredictable, business continuity management (BCM) should be part of the corporate strategy in every enterprise's long-term development plan. ICT systems of enterprises should be included in BCM, as they have become production tools and key assets. In addition to being a core contributor to global 5G standards and a leader in the global optical networking industry, Huawei is also ranked the No.1 contributor to Wi-Fi 6 standards and the industry's only vendor that can provide full-stack, full-scenario AI solutions for the cloud, edge, and device fields. We integrate core technologies across these domains, such as 5G plus IP, IP plus optical, and IP plus AI, to develop innovative solutions to reshape the technological layout of the business world. In 2020, Huawei launches two flagship solutions - HiCampus for campuses and HiDC for data centers - and four star products - new-generation AirEngine Wi-Fi 6 and OceanStor Dorado, along with OptiXtrans DC908 and SmartLi UPS. We aim to satisfy customer needs for high-speed networks, intelligence, and being environmentally friendly in the intelligent era, while creating unique business values for customers."

Huawei HiCampus solution builds next-generation campus networks

Enterprise campus networks are facing challenges such as poor access experience, high energy consumption, and slow service innovation. The Huawei HiCampus solution Sun Fuyou released today has three revolutionary features to address these challenges:

Huawei introduces 5G RF technologies, 5G algorithms such as multi-system co-scheduling, Smart Antenna and software-defined radio access network, and 5G networking concepts into the IP field. Powered by 5G and IP, Huawei's AirEngine Wi-Fi 6 provides the world's fastest, most stable and always-on 100 Mbit/s networking experience. The AirEngine Wi-Fi 6 features 10 Gbit/s peak throughput rate, 10ms latency, and a coverage radius that exceeds the industry standard by 20%. This high-quality, fully wireless campus network access solution is superior to the traditional wired plus wireless campus network access model. The Campus OptiX network solution enables fully optical campus network connections through an IP plus POL architecture. Not only does it share the advantages of flexible capacity, powerful service processing, service automation, and intelligent O&M with IP networking, but also integrates the favorable features of optical technology in energy-saving, simplicity, and high efficiency. This makes the solution particularly suitable for airports, educational institutions, hotels, offices, and other campus scenarios. According to the comprehensive network solution evaluation by Ovum, Huawei's IP plus POL solution massively outperforms the traditional layered switching campus solutions. The Huawei Horizon Digital Platform upgrades campus services from traditional single-scenario intelligence to overall campus intelligence. IMOC and NCE is an intelligent O&M solution for smart campuses. It is intelligent and open, and is capable of full-stack monitoring, which improves resource usage by 20%, enhances user experience by 15%, boosts O&M efficiency by 30%, and shortens the fault location time from hours to minutes.

Huawei HiDC solution features innovative architecture, technologies and medium

The global data volume will increase from 33 ZB in 2018 to 180 ZB in 2025. Against this backdrop, traditional data systems will face architectural bottlenecks for data collection, storage, computing, management, and usage. Wing Kin Leung, CTO of Huawei Enterprise BG, released the Huawei HiDC data center solution to help customers build intelligent, high-performance, and green data centers. The solution features innovative architecture, technologies, and medium, allowing faster and more effective data convergence and sharing.

Three-in-one architecture: The latest AI Fabric intelligent and lossless data center network solution uses the innovative iLossless algorithm to integrate the Ethernet, InfiniBand, and Fiber Channel networks to improve server computing power by 28% and storage IOPS by 30%. The data center interconnection (DCI) solution uses IP plus optical synergy to provide 40% higher capacity and 25% longer distance in transmission than other vendors in industry. This solution enables network traffic and management collaboration to shorten the service time-to-market (TTM) and reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) by more than 30%. Technologies that enable a smooth evolution to meet service requirements in the next 10 years: The CloudEngine 16800 data center switch leverages the industry's densest 400GE ports to provide ultra-high-speed signal transmission, super heat dissipation, and efficient power supply, while reducing the power consumption per bit by 50%. Huawei OptiXtrans DC908, a DCI product, supports per wavelength 800 Gbit/s per wavelength and as many as 220 wavelengths by leveraging the future-proof Super C+L band technology. It also features simpler deployment for IT technicians with an innovatively simplified hardware and software architecture, where they can start from scratch and quickly build ultra-broadband, ultra-simplified interconnected networks for enterprise data centers in the cloud era. The NetEngine 8000 series routers use SRv6 to enable route selection based on bandwidth and latency to meet SLA requirements of different services, reduce network protocols, and simplify O&M; they have more than 20 commercial cases around the world. Lead-to-lithium battery revolution: Data center power supply has entered the lithium era. Compared with traditional lead-acid batteries, Huawei SmartLi UPS integrates electronic, digital, and intelligent technologies unprecedentedly to improve the battery lifetime to 5000 charges, which are enough for 10-15 years of use. This vastly reduces customers' TCO and enables fully digital management of data center power systems. Huawei's next-generation OceanStor Dorado intelligent all-flash storage achieves an industry-leading IOPS of 20 million and keeps service latency stably below 0.1ms, unleashing the potential of data for enterprises.

Huawei Enterprise BG is committed to converging various new technologies and leveraging new connectivity, computing, platform, and ecosystem to build the foundation of an intelligent world, driving customer success in digital transformation. Currently, more than 700 cities around the world, and 228 of the Fortune Global 500 companies, including 58 of the top 100 companies, have selected Huawei as their partner for digital transformation.

For more information about the Huawei Industrial Digital Transformation Conference, visit https://e.huawei.com/topic/mwc2020/en/

SOURCE Huawei

Related Links

www.huawei.com/cn


US first lady Melania Trump reached a Delhi government school on Tuesday morning to review the Happiness Class programme implemented by the government of the capital city.

She was welcomed by students of Sarvodaya Senior Secondary School in Moti Bagh with dance performances and band; they also garlanded the US first lady.

A girl handed a bouquet to the US first lady and she wore a tilak on the forehead after being welcomed in a traditional manner with an aarti thali.

Melania Trump then attended a Happiness Class where she interacted with children.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deupty Manish Sisodia had welcomed Melania Trump on Twitter, saying its a great day for our teachers and students.

Kejriwal and 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.

After anguish from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the US Embassy clarified that it did not have any objection to the presence of Kejriwal and Sisodia during Melania Trumps school visit. But Sisodia, who is also Delhis education minister, said he respects the concerns raised by the embassy.

Melania and her husband, US President Donald Trump, are in India on a 36-hour visit. Trump will hold restricted and then delegation-level bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House. This will be followed by the signing of agreements between the two sides and press statement by both the leaders.

In the evening, the US President will hold a presser before he drives to Rashtrapati Bhavan again for meeting President Ram Nath Kovind. He will aslo attaend the state banquet hosted in his honour by President Kovind.

Trump is scheduled to depart at 10:00 pm tonight.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 18:32:37|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a test of Communist Party of China (CPC) officials. While most are fully devoted to the battle that concerns the people's life and health, a few have failed to pass the test.

Recently, a number of officials in Hubei, Yunnan, Shandong, Zhejiang and other provinces received disciplinary punishment. They have been found disobeying the unified command, favoring superfluous work styles, passing the buck and neglecting their responsibilities.

As a political party that stresses strict self-governance, the CPC will not tolerate these irresponsible actions. Besides punishing the officials directly involved, the accountability of the principal Party and government officials are also pursued in serious cases.

The epidemic situation remains grim and complex. It is time to test whether the CPC's political and organizational advantages and close contact with the people can be translated into advantages in curbing the epidemic.

The top leadership has made it clear that officials who are inactive or acting erratically, who neither engage themselves nor carry out in-depth work, and who are inept and incompetent, should be held accountable in a timely manner, and those with serious problems should be removed from their posts immediately.

At this critical time, it is the CPC members' duty to face up to challenges and take their leading roles as scientists, researchers, medical staff, officials, workers, farmers and more. What is needed now is not hollow slogans or personal grandstanding, but concrete actions to solve problems.

In some areas, departments at different levels created all kinds of forms, asking grassroots cadres to fill them out and submit them quickly, although the contents of these forms are almost the same. Such formalistic and bureaucratic methods have increased the burden of grassroots cadres and diverted their efforts from combating the epidemic. The CPC is guarding against such archenemies in the fight against the virus.

Being responsible for the people also means respecting the facts. Data about the epidemic must be tallied and released in a timely, accurate and comprehensive manner. In the hardest-hit province of Hubei, after a revision of diagnosing methodology last week, local authorities demanded that cases that have already been confirmed are not allowed to be cut. Whoever removed them would be held responsible, as any inaccuracies in data could cause public confusion, delay actions, and finally harm the interests of the people.

A sense of responsibility is also required on the economic battleground. As the COVID-19 epidemic has had an impact on China's economic and social development, the CPC is making all-out efforts to resume work and production, accelerate business and trade activities, ensure job stability and continue poverty alleviation work in order to realize the development goals and tasks for this year. There is no room for hesitancy or inaction.

As said in the report to the 19th National Congress of the CPC held in 2017, achieving national rejuvenation will be no walk in the park; it will take more than drum beating and gong clanging to get there. Realizing the dream demands a great struggle.

The war against COVID-19 is continuing. So is the test facing the more than 90 million members and 4.6 million primary-level organizations of the CPC. Overcoming these latest hardships, the CPC will safeguard and prove once again its advanced nature and purity.
A high alert has been sounded in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow following violent clashes over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in parts of Delhi, a police official said on Tuesday.

Lucknow Police Commissioner Sujeet Pandey said additional force has been deployed in Ghantaghar area where women and others have been staging a protest against the CAA for the past one month.

"Though there is no report of people from other parts of the state reaching the state capital, high alert has been sounded as a precautionary measure," Pandey said.

"We are in contact with intelligence agencies and policemen in plain clothes have been deployed in the sensitive areas," the commissioner said, adding that strict vigil was being maintained.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Aam Aadmi Partys Uttar Pradesh co-convener Murari Jain (61), was found dead under mysterious circumstances on a dry riverbed under a railway bridge on the Bhopal-Jhansi line in Sagar district Monday morning, police said on Tuesday.

The family members and the party suspect it could be murder and have demanded a high-level inquiry.

Deepak Jain, the nephew of Murari Jain, a resident of Lalitpur district in Uttar Pradesh, said the AAP leader was returning home in the Pushpak Express after attending a party programme in Lucknow.

He said his younger brother Vivek received a phone call from his uncle saying that he couldnt deboard at Lalitpur as he was asleep and that he would get down at Bina in Madhya Pradesh if the train halted there. Otherwise, his uncle said, he would get down at Bhopal, the next stop.

Deepak Jain said his uncle also told Vivek that the trains location was perhaps the bridge over Narayani river, the same spot where his body was found the next day. The place is 285 km east of Bhopal. When Vivek called up again his uncle after half an hour the latters mobile phone was switched off.

Bhangarh police station in-charge Sumit Sharma said, The dead body was lying on the river bed under the railway bridge in a forest area about 20 kilometres from Bhangarh. A small bag with clothes in it, his mobile phone and some documents were lying nearby. There were fractures in both the legs as if he had suffered injuries after falling from the bridge. There were injuries in the head and other parts of the body also.

The body was handed over to his family. We are still waiting for the post-mortem report to find out the cause of death. It doesnt appear to be a case of loot and murder but we are investigating to find out what caused Jains death and under what circumstances.

Jains nephew Deepak said, We want a high-level inquiry as the body has been found in mysterious circumstances. It could be a case of murder.

AAP Madhya Pradesh secretary (organization) Mukesh Jaiswal said, We have doubt that the AAP co-convener did not die in a mishap. There should be a high-level inquiry into it.

(With inputs from Anupam Pateriya in Sagar)
Whether you stream, buy or rent, heres a look at whats new or notable in home video. Movies are available on streaming sites such as iTunes, Amazon and Vudu unless otherwise noted.

Buy it now

Uncut Gems: While Martin Scorsese was depositing his best known collaborator, Robert DeNiro, into an old folks home in The Irishman, Josh and Benny Safdie were running New Yorks mean streets with Adam Sandler. In Uncut Gems, hes a jewelry dealer who makes a risky deal to pay off his gambling debts; he won an Independent Spirit Award for his performance. The Safdies wild, anxiety-inducing style earned them an endorsement from Scorsese, whos an executive producer of the movie.

Also: Bombshell

Rent it now

Color Out of Space: Horror movies such as Re-animator and From Beyond based on tales by H.P. Lovecraft arent really scary, but they are stupendous, what with the bodiless heads and the inter-dimensional monsters. Add Nicolas Cage to the mix and youve got Color Out of Space. Hes a farmer contending with mutating plants and animals after a meteor strikes nearby, bearing with it, in Lovecrafts words, a frightful messenger from unformed realms of infinity beyond all Nature as we know it.

Also: Frozen II, Knives Out

In theaters

The Night Clerk: Is it just a coincidence? The same week Knives Out is released on Blu-ray, Ana de Armas, that movies breakout star, pops up in another murder mystery. This one revolves around a hotel front desk clerk (Tye Sheridan of Ready Player One) with Aspergers syndrome who becomes a suspect in a guests death. Helen Hunt is his protective mom. John Leguizamo is the detective on the case.

jkiest@express-news.net
By Trend

The state visit of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Italy can be called historical both in nature and content, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev said in an interview on the state visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Italy, Trend reports.

Hikmet Hajiyev noted that Italy recognized the state independence of Azerbaijan on January 1, 1992, and diplomatic relations were established between the two countries on May 2 of the same year.

"Since that time, our ties have been continuously and positively developing. The first state visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Italy is of particular importance in terms of the status, quantity and quality of signed documents, bringing bilateral relations including trade, economic, military-technical, cultural relations, to the level of strategic partnership This was the first state visit of the head of Azerbaijan to Italy. In previous years, the Azerbaijani president visited Italy five times with three being official and two business visits," Hajiyev said.

"Italian President Sergio Mattarella made his first official visit to Azerbaijan in July 2018. A state visit is considered the highest in terms of status, and they are made to a limited number of countries during a year. The range of issues discussed during a state visit is broader, the essence is more profound. In addition, this was the first state visit made by the head of a foreign state to Italy in 2020, which is a manifestation of special respect for our country and its president," Hikmet Hajiyev noted.

"During the visit, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva were paid special respect and attention. This can be seen in every detail of the organizational and protocol aspects of the visit of the head of state, and in the richness of the visit's program. President Ilham Aliyev held meetings with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella in one-on-one and expanded formats, as well as with the President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic (Prime Minister) Giuseppe Conte, the presidents of the Italian Senate of the Republic and the Chamber of Deputies," Hikmet Hajiyev said.

"The state visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Italy has ensured a new level of relations between Azerbaijan and Italy. At present, relations between Azerbaijan and Italy are at the level of strategic partnership. Italy is the main political, economic and trade partner of Azerbaijan among the EU countries. We have high level political ties. Experience shows that the superiority of political relations between the two countries has created a comprehensive guarantee in other areas, including for the development of cooperation in the economic, commercial, cultural and other fields," Hikmet Hajiyev said.

"In addition to strategic partnership in a bilateral format, both countries also have close and multidisciplinary cooperation within international organizations. In particular, Italy actively supports the strengthening of Azerbaijan's cooperation with the EU and NATO. Italy, being the 7th economy of the world, a member of the G-7, as well as organizations such as the EU and NATO, has its weight and plays an important role in international relations," the assistant to the Azerbaijani president added.

"At the meetings, Italian side noted such important factors as the strategically favorable location of Azerbaijan, pursuing a successful policy, despite being in a difficult region, and close friendly relations with neighboring countries, as well as secular traditions," Hajiyev noted.

"Other events during the visit included a state reception in honor of President Ilham Aliyev at the Italian Presidential Palace, a concert program for the heads of state and delegations on the occasion of the launch of the "2020 - Year of Azerbaijani Culture in Italy" project, a working lunch with leaders of more than 10 world-famous leading Italian industrial and financial groups, an Azerbaijani-Italian business forum, and a visit to the Rome city hall. Consequently, this visit can be called historical in nature and content," Hikmat Hajiyev added.

The assistant to the Azerbaijani president emphasized that 28 documents were signed between the two states during the visit.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Trend

Iran is ready to put the communication satellite Nahid 1 into the orbit, said Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, Minister of Information and Communications Technology.

"Iranian Space Research Center has completed the design and construction of Nahid 1 communication satellite and now it is ready for launch. This is while the Nahid 2 satellite model has been engineered and is on the construction stage," Jahromi said, Trend reports citing Mehr News Agency.

He went on to add that the construction of Pars 2 Remote-Sensing satellite is also underway.

"Moreover, the testing of Arash complex space engine was a big achievement for the Space Research Center," he said.

"As for the space technology development, the Space Research Center has designed and made space batteries, solar panels and sensor that can be used in space projects," he said. "All these achievements were obtained despite the sanctions against the country's space field."

On February 9, Iran launched a communications satellite called Zafar 1 that failed to reach the orbit.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Feb. 24, 2020 | MCCRACKEN COUNTY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 24, 2020 | 05:49 PM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY

A McCracken County man was arrested Monday morning after deputies said he ran into traffic, created a disturbance and tried to assault several officers.



Officers with the Paducah Police Department said they were on their way to another call when they saw 43-year-old Michael Cursey walk into traffic and begin waving his arms and yelling at vehicles. When an officer stopped to check on him, Cursey charged the officer, swinging a bicycle chain and vise grips at him.



Cursey was ordered to get on the ground, but he refused. Cursey allegedly threatened the officer and his family, and said that a police officer was "going to die today."



Another officer arrived on the scene, and was able to get behind Cursey and take him to the ground.



Cursey was arrested on charges of second-degree disorderly conduct, third-degree terroristic threatening, and public intoxication of a controlled substance (excludes alcohol).



He was lodged in the McCracken County Jail.
The violence witnessed in parts of the capital on Monday were a conspiracy to defame India at a time when the United States President Donald Trump is visiting the country, said Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. Seven persons, including a police head constable, have lost their lives in these incidents.

"Surely this is a conspiracy as the US President is on a visit to India. This violence was a planned conspiracy," he said while addressing the media in Lucknow.

He added that "revelation regarding this will be made after investigations into the case are completed."

Seven people, including one police head constable, lost their lives and over 100 were injured in North-East Delhi on Monday after clashes between pro and anti CAA protestors.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The letter follows reports that a senior intelligence official briefed Congress that Russia is again interfering in the November election to help Trump.

Senate Democratic leaders will send a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Monday afternoon demanding they sanction Russia  and potentially Russian President Vladimir Putin himself  for attempting to influence the 2020 presidential election.

Read alsoReuters: Russia denies backing Trump re-election, critics express alarm

"Doing anything less would be an abdication of your responsibility to protect and defend the U.S. from this serious threat to our national security, and to the integrity of our electoral process," the letter reads, AXIOS wrote.

The letter follows reports that a senior intelligence official briefed Congress that Russia is again interfering in the November election to help Trump.
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A state appeals court granted a new trial Monday for a man accused of killing his roommate in his wheelchair in 2014 after the prosecution took the unusual step of running a background check on a prospective juror who was black.

The appellate court found that the trial judge failed to properly investigate whether implicit bias was at the root of the prosecutors decision, which ultimately resulted in the jurors arrest just outside the courtroom doors because he was the subject of a municipal warrant.

The issue of running background checks on a specific juror has never come before higher courts in New Jersey, the judges wrote in their decision.

In addition to criticizing the actions of both the judge and the prosecution, the appellate court noted that having jurors arrested in the middle of choosing a jury is a pretty good way to discourage people from responding to their jury duty summons.

The now-inmate granted a new trial, Edwin Andujar, 54, had been convicted on murder and weapons charges in 2017 for killing his roommate, Thomas Parent, 59. Superior Court Judge Michael Ravin sentenced him to 45 years in prison, acknowledging he would likely die in prison.

Andujars attorney appealed his conviction, arguing, among other things, that the assistant prosecutors background check which led to the jurors arrest was a way to get around the courts rules that a prosecutor cannot strike someone from the jury pool based on race.

During jury selection in 2017, the juror, identified in the decision only as F.G., was questioned about whether he knew people who had been accused or were victims of crimes. He explained in a private conference with the judge and lawyers that people he grew up with sold drugs and had been arrested for drug and gun charges. He also said two of his cousins had been murdered, 13 and 15 years prior.

The assistant prosecutor asked Ravin to exclude F.G. from the jury, arguing that his closeness to people involved in crime could affect his impartiality, and that he did not seem honest.

The defense argued the man should stay on the jury because requiring that a person not know anyone involved in crime in any way is untenable in the sense that it means no black man in Newark would be able to sit on this jury. The judge agreed and allowed F.G. to remain in the jury pool, the decision said.

The next day, Ravin announced in court that an assistant prosecutor told him in his chambers that a criminal background check had turned up past arrests and a municipal court warrant for F.G., and the state planned to arrest him in the courthouse.

The judge worked with the prosecution to develop a plan to have F.G. arrested away from the view of other jurors, by dismissing him from jury duty and then having him exit the courtroom into the grasp of your law enforcement officer, the decision said.

The defense argued that this unusual occurrence favored the prosecution and that Adujar should get an extra peremptory strike or some other remedy. The trial judge refused.

The appellate judges said Monday that the assistant prosecutors decision to run a background check on F.G. was suspect enough that the judge should have carefully considered whether race played a role in the matter, as the defense argued.

Disparate investigation of jurors of a certain race should be evaluated if a judge is considering whether race was a factor in striking a juror, the decision said.

F.G. was a member of a protected group, and no member of a non-protected group was subjected to a record check. It is not difficult to surmise that running criminal background checks only on minority jurors could result in a majority jury, the decision said.

The appeals judges also noted that state law doesnt bar people from juries just because they have been arrested, or have municipal warrants or convictions for traffic violations, juvenile offenses or other non-indictable offenses.

Before the decision to grant him a new trial, Andujars parole eligibility date was in 2052, state prison records show. Hes currently in New Jersey State Prison in Trenton.

Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is unhappy. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., met with Iran's foreign minister just as Pompeo prepared to meet with the Saudis to discuss confronting Iran. Pompeo fumed, "This is the foreign minister of a country . . . who is the largest world sponsor of terror. . . . I hope they were reinforcing America's foreign policy and not their own." Murphy promptly shot back on Twitter about congressional power: "We set foreign policy too."

Spats like this increasingly shake up America's bipartisan foreign policy consensus. In 2015, when Republican senators sent a letter to Iran's supreme leader in a naked attempt to undermine the Obama administration's nuclear negotiations, a former Clinton administration official tweeted that Republicans are "blazing new trails in politicization of foreign policy." Last summer, the Democratic-led House passed a bill to check President Donald Trump's belligerence with Iran. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., accused Democrats of playing politics, scolding, "America's national security is not a game."

Many leading commentators sound a similar alarm. Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, opined that a "polarized US will be less able to act" in the world. In a survey of foreign policy experts by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, political polarization was more likely to be named a "critical threat" to U.S. national security than Iran, North Korea, China or Russia. The notion that Americans should be unified on foreign affairs questions is, somehow, still sacrosanct.

But bipartisanship is no indicator of the wisdom of a particular policy. And plenty of terrible foreign policy decisions have escaped scrutiny in its slavish pursuit.

The dust-up between Pompeo and Murphy reflects an important partisan difference in how many view our relationships in the Middle East. In Washington, Democrats soften their outlook on Iran and harden it on Saudi Arabia, while Republicans do the opposite. This difference of opinion is real and legitimate and should be aired, because, as a new study by the Eurasia Group Foundation, where I am a senior fellow, shows, American foreign policy differences are rooted in public opinion. Republicans are 13 percent more likely than Democrats to believe that Iran presents a significant threat to peace in the Middle East. Democrats are roughly 10 percent more likely than Republicans to believe the same about Saudi Arabia. To be sure, Iran, a long-standing U.S. adversary, is the country most considered a threat to Middle East peace across party affiliation. Still, this slight but significant partisan variance leads to a lot of pearl-clutching among a foreign policy establishment that prizes consistency.

Bipartisanship is alive and well when it comes to pumping billions of additional dollars into America's bloated military budget. Chasing spending records set during the Korean and Vietnam wars, 188 House Democrats voted with Republicans in December to give the Pentagon an additional $22 billion in 2020 (for a grand total of $738 billion). House Democrats do a poor job of representing Democratic voters, 90 percent of whom want to decrease military spending or at least keep it level, according to our survey. This should be cause for regret, not praise. Elected officeholders should represent - or at least heed - the views of their constituents. (Democrats aren't the only voters getting short shrift in the name of foreign policy consensus. Most Republicans preferred to keep military spending level as well.)

Perhaps the toughest foreign policy challenge of the new decade is China's rapidly increasing international influence. How American political leaders define and address that challenge is crucial to how we, as a nation, negotiate our vital interests and understand our values. So it is - and must be - a matter of American politics, not only geopolitics.

Crucially, Americans don't all see that challenge the same way. Asked about their preferences for responding to a rising China, a slim majority of Republicans think the United States should move more troops onto bases in allied countries to check its regional influence. A significant majority of Democrats and independents believe that the United States should reduce its military presence in Asia while transitioning regional allies toward assuming greater responsibility for regional security. The Pew Research Center, too, found partisan divisions as well as generational ones: When it comes to limiting the influence of - or maintaining the U.S. military advantage over - other countries, younger generations are far less supportive than older ones. With so much at stake, this should be the start of a spirited debate.

But some experts disagree. Lamenting that foreign policy debates are "infused with and defined by partisan divisions," a new report by the bipartisan Center for a New American Security frets that "if policy toward China falls prey to similar dynamics, the United States will fail to rise to the China challenge." (That challenge "is going to require more cost and more risk than we anticipated," according to one of the report's lead authors.) Foreign policy pooh-bahs too often see principled political disagreements as a source of weakness rather than an example of the pluralism we try to uphold to the world.

To be sure, we need national security and foreign policy expertise more than ever, and our political leaders should be influenced in different ways by both expert and public opinion. We should not careen to the other extreme and conduct foreign policy by referendum. We saw what happened with Brexit. Voters elect their representatives for their reasoned judgment, not as mere conduits. This is in part so voters needn't be broadly informed about highly complicated or technical issues like the destabilizing effects of antisatellite missile systems or the pros and cons of a nuclear no-first-use policy. But too often, policymakers use that relative ignorance as an excuse to insulate themselves from the more general preferences of the public they're meant to serve.

Meanwhile, an ardent commitment to bipartisanship has given us: the vote to authorize the Iraq War, the stubborn and costly refusal to leave Afghanistan until it shares our values and form of government, and the diplomatic and political isolation of North Korea, which created the conditions for it to become a nuclear-armed country.

In 1948, after bowing out of a bid to defeat Democratic President Harry Truman, Sen. Arthur Vandenberg, R-Mich., declared, "We must stop politics at the water's edge." In other words, we should confine our disagreements to domestic policy and project unity to our foreign friends and foes. But that unity was merely a product of the geopolitical realities at the dawn of the Cold War. More often, an elite consensus feeds stale policy, allows bad ideas to go unchallenged and narrows the range of new proposals welcomed as legitimate. There's a word that describes a politically powerful person making a high-minded exhortation to "stop politics." That word is not "democracy."

There is no tradition of - nor enduring allegiance to - bipartisan consensus in America's international relations. Nor should there be.

_ _ _

Hannah is a senior fellow at the Eurasia Group Foundation and the host of its "None Of The Above" podcast.
Amid one of the worst public-health crises in history, a record number of Americans are without health insurance.

The annual income of older Americans could drop significantly from one year to the next for a variety of reasons. It might be retirement or the death of a spouse, perhaps, or the sale of a business.

Yet it might take Medicare  which charges higher earners more for premiums  a couple years to adjust when income falls below the threshold.

If you're paying more than the standard amounts for Medicare Part B (outpatient services) and Part D (prescription drugs) through so-called income-related monthly adjustment amounts, or IRMAAs, the difference can reach into the hundreds of dollars per month. And, the surcharge is often based on your tax return from two years prior  which may not accurately reflect your current financial situation.

"We see it all the time," said Danielle Roberts, co-founder of insurance firm Boomer Benefits in Fort Worth, Texas. "They end up having to contact Social Security and show they're not earning that amount anymore."

More from Personal Finance:

Tax scams are in full swing. Here's how to protect yourself

These high-income taxpayers are getting a visit from the IRS

44% of adults admit to keeping money secrets from a partner

Of Medicare's 62 million beneficiaries, about 7%  4.3 million people  pay those monthly surcharges, due to various legislative changes over the years that have required higher-earners to pay a greater share of the program's costs.

For individuals, IRMAAs kick in if your modified adjusted gross income is more than $87,000; for married couples filing joint tax returns, they start above $174,000.

The standard monthly premium for Part B this year is $144.60, which is what most Medicare beneficiaries pay. (Part A, which is for hospital coverage, typically comes with no premium.) The surcharge for higher earners is from $57.80 to $347, depending on income. That results in premiums ranging from $202.40 to $491.60.
As they battle rising floodwater, residents in Clonlara, Co Clare are frustrated a proposed flood defence in the area has so far been set back by 15 months after an environmentalist and planning activist lodged an objection to its construction.

Peter Sweetman, with an address in Dublin objected to the 1.2m development by Clare County Council on September 9, 2018.

The floodwater in the area rose again overnight on Sunday night, putting 10 local houses at increased risk of being flooded.

The proposed Flood Mitigation Scheme for Springfield, Clonlara was withdrawn by the council on November 1, 2018. It includes a pumping station and earthen flood protection embankment, provision of two sluices and culverts, as well as the widening and alteration to the existing surface water drainage network.

Pumps spurt out water from around a house in Clonlara yesterday.

According to the planning application file Mr Sweetman was the sole objector the plans.

Bridget Kinsella, a widowed mother of three whose home is surrounded by the floodwater said: Im feeling so bad, its just horrendous. I think the one person that objected, and that doesn't live in any route of any of this water, how (the Council) could take his opinion on board, and how they could take advice from one person, and stop all this, Im sorry, I really dont understand it.

He has no idea the impact he has had on our lives here. Its not good enough.

Pat Mason, whose home is also in the path of the deluge, said he was frustrated at the hold up to the Councils plans.

They tried for planning, but its held up and held up, and we are back trying to save our homes again, Mr Mason said. Theres people putting in objections against things here, environmental things, and theyre living hundreds of miles away from here and theyre being listened to, and they're holding up projects all over Ireland.

Think of the people that are living in here first and then well all mind the (local ecology).

In its planning application the Council said significant impacts on floating river vegetation, Atlantic salmon, sea lamprey and river lamprey, arising from construction works can be screened out.

It concluded in its Habitats Directive Screening Assessment Report that the proposed development will have neither positive nor negative effects in the Conservation Objectives for the various Qualifying Interests of SAC (Special Area of Conservation).

Mr Sweetman said he objected to the plans, claiming the permission did not comply with the habitats directive.

Senior Engineer Clare County Councillor, Sean Lenihan, said the objection related to the proximity of the proposed flood defence to the River Shannon and related aquatic interests.

It wasnt a planning or visual issue. People are entitled to make submissions as they see fit. It was environmental more than ecological. We went back to the drawing board to make sure we have met all those issues and we are happy that we have.

Mr Lenihan said he expects the Council will re-submit its plans for planning permission in the next three weeks.

Local families remained braced for the worst, with floodwater levels expected to rise again over the coming days.

Joe Quinlivan, outside his home in Springfield, Clonlara, hit by flooding.

Meanwhile, staff at Limerick City and County Council are continuing to monitor water levels along the River Shannon catchment as the threat of flooding continues.

Lands in Mountpelier, Castleconnell, Annacotty, and Mountshannon (Lisnagry) are already under water, with forecasters predicting higher water levels in the next few days.

Pumps and sandbags have been deployed in the areas by the Defence Forces and the road to the Worlds End and Castleconnell Boat Club closed due to flooding.

A cycleway/path from Irish Estates, Corbally, through to the Guinness Bridge and onto University of Limerick is also closed until further notice.
Yves here. We are a little heavy on the state of the DNC/Dems posts today, but both pieces look at the escalating fight over who owns the party through a class warfare/income inequality perspective.

Openly buying a party is Third World behavior (and reader in better run emerging economies will no doubt say that thats not a feature of their political landscape). But the US crossed that Rubicon with the intel-security state acting as if it has the authority to approve who sits in the White House.

By Thomas Neuburger. Originally published at DownWithTyranny!

Paradise lost. One misstep is all it takes to take the proud down low.

Whom the gods would destroy, they first make proud.

With apologies to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow



This is a small point that leads to a larger one. Consider what Mike Bloomberg is building within the Democratic Party, within the DNC. According to the following analysis hes turning the DNC into an anti-Sanders machine, a force loyal to himself, that will operate even after Sanders is nominated, even after Sanders is elected, if he so chooses.

With that he hopes to limit and control what Sanders and his rebellion can do. Its the ultimate billionaire counter-rebellion  own the Party machine that the president normally controls, then use it against him.

Our source for this thought is Glen Ford at Black Agenda Report. Ford is one of the more vitriolic defenders of radical change in America, but in this analysis I dont think hes wrong, at least in making the case that Bloomberg is giving himself that option. But do decide for yourself.

Heres his case:

Bloomberg Wants to Swallow the Democrats and Spit Out the Sandernistas If, somehow, Bernie Sanders is allowed to win the nomination, Michael Bloomberg and other plutocrats will have created a Democratic Party machinery purpose-built to defy Sanders  as nominee, and even as president.

The details of his argument are here (emphasis added):

Bloomberg has already laid the groundwork to directly seize the party machinery, the old fashioned way: by buying it and stacking it with his own, paid operatives, with a war-against-the-left budget far bigger than the existing Democratic operation. Bloombergs participation in Wednesdays debate, against all the rules, is proof-of-purchase. In addition to the nearly million dollar down payment to the party in November that sealed the deal for the debate rules change, Bloomberg has already pledged to pay the full salaries of 500 political staffers for the Democratic National Committee all the way through the November election, no matter who wins the nomination. Essentially, Bloomberg will be running the election for the corporate wing of the party, even if Sanders is the nominee. In an interview with PBSs Christiane Amanpour on Tuesday night, senior Bloomberg advisor Timothy OBrien made it clear that the DNC is in no condition to refuse being devoured by Bloomberg, even if they wanted to. Obrien predicted the Republicans will spend at least $900 million on the election, while the DNC has only about $8 million on hand. Even the oligarchs underlings are telegraphing the takeover game plan. Bloomberg is not so much running for president as making sure that the Democrats dont go rogue anti-corporate to accommodate the Sandernistas. He is ensuring that the Democratic Party will be an even more hostile environment for anti-austerity politics than in the past  not in spite of the phenomenal success of the Sanders project, but because of it.

Ford has not much love for Bernie Sanders, as he finds Sanders (and his supporters) weak for sticking with the Democrats. Ford thinks Sanders should go third party in his opposition to the corrupt duopoly that owns our politics. Thats a point on which we can disagree without disagreeing that the duopoly is indeed corrupt, or that Bloomberg is setting himself up for post-electoral mischief.

Ford also thinks the Party will split in the face of this anti-Sanders resistance, especially if the counter-resistance continues after a President Sanders is inaugurated.

Well see about all that. Ford may be right in his estimate of Bloombergs intentions. He may also be right in Bloombergs ability to carry through if his intentions are indeed as Machiavellian as he says.

On the other hand, Sanders may gather to himself enough control of the DNC and other Party machinery that he does indeed transform it, and with it, slowly, the Party itself. Thats certainly been his game plan, and if he does indeed have a movement behind him  a really big one  I wouldnt bet against him being right. I myself dont see a way for a third party to succeed in the U.S. unless its a virtual third party  but more on that at another time.

The Larger Point

So this is our smaller point, that Mike Bloomberg may be positioning himself to own the DNC, and with it enough of the Democratic Party, so that he can himself rein in a President Sanders. Is that his goal? It certainly seems possible. Mini-Mike is certainly Machiavellian.

Which leads to the larger point: How much rebellion, within the DNC and elsewhere, with or without Bloombergs interference, will someone like President Sanders encounter and how long will it last? If it lasts throughout his presidency, thats a horse of a different color  a much darker one.

In fact, the dark horse of todays American politics is the entrenched, corrupt (and frankly, pathological) uber-rich and their death grip on all of our governing institutions, including the press. Will that death grip tighten as the Sanders movement grows? And will they continue to squeeze the throats of the working class, even as the victims find their own throats and tighten in response?

Would you bet, in other words, that the rich who rule us wouldnt kill the country that feeds their wealth  wouldnt spark such a confused and violent rebellion that even they would be forced at last to flee  wont do all all this out of animus, pique and world-historical hubris?

That bet is even money all the way. They just might try it, just might be willing to strangle the body itself, the political body, just to see how far it they can get by doing it.

Whom the gods would destroy
The second wife of Britains best-known advertising tycoon Sir Martin Sorrell has revealed she is seeking a divorce after 12 years of marriage - almost three years after he was accused of visiting a 300 prostitute in a Mayfair brothel.

Sir Martin, who is worth an estimated 368million, married Cristiana Falcone, 45, in 2008 and the couple have a young daughter born in 2016.

Lady Sorrell, who is almost three decades Sir Martins junior, could now become one of Britains richest women after splitting from the 75-year-old, who said previously she made a 'significant contribution' to his success and wealth.

The couple lived together in a 25million central London mansion and Sir Martin also has an expensive apartment in central New York that could form part of the multi-million pound divorce.

Sir Martin's wealth has risen from around 148million to an estimated 368million during their 12 years of marriage with senior divorce lawyers telling MailOnline that Lady Cristiana's 'starting point' should be to claim half of that 220million increase.

A 110million payout would comfortably make it one of the top five biggest divorce settlements in British legal history.

In 2005 Sir Martin paid a then record divorce settlement of 29million to his first wife Lady Sandra after 33 years of marriage - three years later he married Italian economist Cristiana.

Sir Martin Sorrell, who is worth an estimated 368million, married his second wife Cristiana Falcone in 2008 (pictured together in 2009) but are divorcing after 12 years

The couple lived together at this central London mansion, which is worth at least 25million

Sir Martin also owns an apartment in this block in Manhattan close to New York's Empire State Building, which could also form part of any divorce deal

Their split comes two years after Sir Martin quit advertising giant WPP amid allegations of misconduct and bullying of staff as well as claims the firm had been investigating whether Sir Martin had spent 300 of company money on a Mayfair prostitute in June 2017.

Lady Sorrell could be in line for a 100million divorce settlement from her media mogul husband Leading divorce lawyers have said that Lady Cristiana will be fighting for 100million-plus. When they married Sir Martin was worth 148million according to the Sunday Times rich list, now it's an estimated 368million. Sebastian Burrows, managing partner at Stowe Family Law, told MailOnline: 'If he has made 200million during their marriage she should be focussing on getting half. 'If they have homes in London and New York she will also look for the money to pay for new properties in both cities - or have the ones they have'. Lois Rogers, a Director at divorce experts Vardags said: 'A couple will share equally in the assets built up during their relationship - in this case it is likely that Mr Sorrell had substantial wealth at the time of entering into the marriage'. She added: 'There may be a pre-nup agreement, which is not unusual in second marriage in high net worth cases - if so this could slash what she would get, limiting it, say, only to meeting her needs without any share of the wealth beyond that. 'It is highly unlikely that any bad behaviour would impact the finances however unpalatable it may be'. Advertisement

In the wake of the scandal Sir Martin rubbished any suggestion of marital problems but the couple are no longer together.

In a statement released late last night, Lady Sorrell said: My husband and I have separated and I am seeking a divorce to end our marriage'.

The Italian, who is on the board of media conglomerate Viacom and previously worked at the World Economic Forum, added: From here on, my priority will be the interests of my daughter, and I request that the media respect my and my familys privacy.

Sir Martin Sorrell's 30 years at advertising giant WPP came to a halt after two junior colleagues claimed to have witnessed their boss going into a Mayfair brothel in June 2017 - which Sir Martin strenuously denied.

In interviews after the red-light district scandal Mr Sorrell also rubbished claims he used company cash to pay for a prostitute - and dismissed any suggestion of marital problems.

He told the Mail on Sunday in December 2018, eight months after leaving WPP: Thats not a question Im going to dignify with an answer. Anybody who really knows me, knows the allegation and surrounding innuendo were fabricated.

15 years ago Sir Martin's divorce from his wife of 33 years, American-born Lady Sandra, was a British legal record.

The couple, who have three sons, split in 2003 and his first wife blamed Sir Martins obsession with work, claiming she felt marginalised and dehumanised.

She received a settlement worth 30million  then the biggest in British legal history. Court documents revealed that the deal included a 3.25million Georgian townhouse and two Harrods underground car parking spaces worth 200,000.

In 2005 he paid a then record divorce settlement of 29 million to his wife of 33 years, Lady Sandra (pictured). He went on to marry economist Cristiana Falcone in 2008

Sir Martin Sorrell, then WPP Group chief executive, arrives at an Idaho ad summit with his wife Cristiana Falcone Sorrell. It later emerged the company was paying her expenses, which caused a major row with investors

Sorrell denied both sleeping with a prostitute and misusing company funds - he also said the WPP scandal did not cause any marital problems with his second wife Lady Cristiana Sorrell (together left in 2009 and right in 2016) - but they are now divorcing

His first wife Lady Sandra blamed Sir Martins obsession with work for their split, claiming she felt marginalised and dehumanised

Sir Martin married his second wife Cristiana, an Italian economist, in 2008. He provoked rage among WPP investors a couple of years later when it emerged that the company was paying for her travel expenses.

The controversy led to one of many run-ins between him and WPPs shareholders, who he told: My wife has made and continues to make a significant contribution to what I do. What she does is extremely significant. But he later agreed to start paying her expenses personally'.

Before he left WPP Sir Martin was accused by two WPP employees of visiting a Mayfair brothel.

The colleagues were having a drink on June 7 2017 when they claim they saw the advertising mogul entering 50a Shepherd Market - then a den of iniquity in one of London's red light districts.

The friends, who haven't been named, are also said to have taken a photo of the building and this would later be used during the WPP misconduct probe, the Financial Times reported.

Sir Martin left WPP, the company he founded more than 30 years ago, in April 2018 following allegations of personal misconduct. WPP carried out an inquiry into allegations that he misused company funds, but the details of the investigation were never disclosed.

Sir Martin's former homes in Knightsbridge (pictured) is understood to have formed part of his divorce settlement with his first wife lady Sandra

Lady Sandra was also awarded her ex-husband's two spaces in the Harrods underground car park - worth 100,000 each

There were also claims of bullying at WPP.

His six executive assistants in the US and the UK said they were paid at least 80,000-a-year - but called it 'combat pay'.

One claimed: 'He was brutal and inhuman in how he dealt with his assistants, said one former executive. He would say "youre f****** idiots, whats f****** wrong with you?

Others said he regularly swore at junior staff, calling a worker approaching retirement a 'pudding' and others 'bozos'.

Sir Martin transformed WPP from a tiny manufacturer of shopping baskets into one of the worlds most powerful marketing agencies, worth more than 11billion. After quitting, he kept his entitlement to shares worth tens of millions of pounds  and his contract also allowed him to launch a rival immediately.

He revealed just six weeks after leaving WPP that he was setting up S4 Capital, later taking the job title of senior monk at MediaMonks after outbidding WPP for control of the digital production firm. S4 itself was valued at 949million last night.

Sir Martin could not be reached for comment

Two WPP staff drinking in central London claimed they saw Sir Martin Sorrell entering the white door of 50a Shepherd Market (pictured), which was then a brothel next to a bookies in Mayfair

The brothel in Mayfair, central London had the sign 'beautiful young lady, please knock' (left) on the door (right)

How workaholic Sir Martin Sorrell turned a wire shopping basket company into an advertising giant and took home up to 70MILLION-A-YEAR until he left under a cloud in 2018

Sir Martin Sorrell (pictured in 1990) transformed WPP from a small wire baskets company into the worlds largest advertising agency

Sir Martin Sorrell transformed WPP from a small wire baskets company into the worlds largest advertising agency  becoming the UKs highest-paid businessman along the way and one of the most influential men in Britain.

Brought up as an only child - a brother died in childbirth - in a Jewish household in North London, Sorrell attended Cambridge and Harvard universities before entering the world of commerce.

He flew beneath the radar in his early years, but rose to prominence after being made finance boss of advertising firm Saatchi & Saatchi.

As he helped build it into a global giant, Sorrell became known as the third Saatchi brother, after founders Maurice and Charles.

He then grabbed hold of WPP and was chief executive of WPP for more than three decades.

In those 30 years at the top of the worlds largest advertising agency he amassed a vast fortune.

But his years as one of Britains highest paid executives also gave him old little time  or inclination  to spend his cash, which over the years has been estimated at close to half a billion pounds.

A self-confessed workaholic, Sir Martin famously declared: I dont relax. I cant even spell the word hobby.

Sir Martin transformed WPP from a tiny manufacturer of shopping baskets into one of the worlds most powerful marketing agencies, worth more than 11billion

As WPP chief executive he created an advertising empire with 200,000 employees in 112 countries and a turnover of 15.3billion. Its success was reflected in his pay and bonuses, which totalled 70.4million in 2015  then believed to be the highest pay package in British corporate history.

In the eight years before he left he pocketed more than 230million in pay and bonuses, and a long-term incentive scheme means he will receive another 20million from WPP over the next five years  despite his resignation and the misconduct inquiry.

Sorrell stepped down on April 14 2018, walking away with 20million in share options and he set up a new advertising firm S4 Capital.

A passionate campaigner for Remain in the EU referendum, he is a regular commentator on business affairs, regularly appearing on the BBC and in national newspapers.
Demonstrators opposing a new citizenship law throw pieces of bricks toward riot police and those supporting the law, during a clash in New Delhi, India, on Feb. 24, 2020. (Danish Siddiqui/Reuters)

Trumps Delhi Visit Rocked by Deadly Protests: 7 Killed

Violent clashes and protests overshadowed President Donald Trumps visit to Delhi, as at least seven people were killed and around 150 were injured in clashes between opposing groups in the Indian capital on Feb. 24.

The fatalitiessix civilians and one policemanwere confirmed by police as the northeastern district of the city saw the deadliest riots since protests against a new citizenship law began over two months ago.

Seven persons, including one head constable of Delhi police, have died, Anil Mittal, a police officer, confirmed.

Tear gas and smoke grenades were used by police as they attempted to disperse and control the violence as thousands of people demonstrated for and against the new citizenship law. Demonstrators set vehicles and a petrol pump alight, threw stones, and tore down metal barricades.

Some of the people brought in had gunshot wounds, said Dr. Rajesh Kalra, additional medical superintendent at the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital in New Delhi.

The police officer died from a gunshot wound to the head, CNN reported.

Tensions in parts of the city remained high on Tuesday with schools remaining shut in some areas amid news reports of fresh clashes. At least five metro stations in the city were closed. A section 144 order, which prevents crowds of more than four people from gathering, was imposed on several areas in the region.

A man is beaten during a clash between people supporting a new citizenship law and those opposing the law in New Delhi, India, on Feb. 24, 2020. (Danish Siddiqui/Reuters)

Hindu nationalists and supporters of the Communist Party of India also clashed in parts of the country on Monday night as they held pro- and anti-U.S. street demonstrations in response to the presidents arrival.

The violence on Monday escalated as the president made his first official visit to India, with talks scheduled Tuesday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a venue just miles from where the clashes erupted.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called for an end to the violence at a press conference early on Tuesday.

Whatever problems people have can be resolved peacefully, he said. Violence will not help find a solution.

I am very worried about the prevailing situation in certain parts of Delhi, he wrote on Twitter. All of us together should make all efforts to restore peace in our city. I again urge everyone to shun violence.

Indias Home Minister Amit Shah met with Kejriwal, police officials, and local politicians on Tuesday to discuss the situation.

Indian Home Minister Amit Shah arrives at the Parliament in New Delhi, India, on Aug. 5, 2019. (Manish Swarup/AP Photo)

Indias capital has been a hotbed of protests against the new Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which eases the path of non-Muslims from three neighboring Muslim-dominated countries to gain Indian citizenship.

This has led to accusations that Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are undermining Indias secular traditions. The BJP denies any bias against Indias more than 180 million-strong Muslim minority, but objectors have been holding protests and camping out in parts of New Delhi for two months.

The violence erupted even as Trump was praising India as being a tolerant country.

India is a country that proudly embraces freedom, liberty, individual rights, the rule of law, and the dignity of every human being, Trump said while addressing a rally of more than 100,000 people in Modis home state of Gujarat. Your unity is an inspiration to the world.

The president is scheduled to hold a solo press conference in the Indian capital on Tuesday evening before he leaves the country.

Reuters contributed to this report.




Strong start for Norwegian seafood as exports post 15% increase in January

Norway exported 207,000 tonnes of seafood worth NOK9.8 billion (US$1.045 billion) in January. While volume was at the same level as last year, export value increased 15% or by NOK1.2 billion, compared with January 2019.

"The Norwegian seafood year starts with a historically high level of January exports", said Tom-Jrgen Gangs, director of market insight and market access at the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC).

He said higher prices of salmon and whitefish, as well as trout, herring and mackerel, along with a weak Norwegian kroner contributed to the growth in seafood export value.

Exports of salmon, which is Norway's largest species of fish exports, reached 88,000 tonnes in January, valued at NOK6.8 billion ($724.9 million). This is an increase of 3% in volume, while value increased 21% or by NOK1.2 billion compared with January 2018.

The average price for fresh whole salmon in January was NOK75.86 ($8.09) per kilogramme, considerably higher than January 2019's NOK62.44 ($6.65)/kg.

Poland, France and Denmark were the largest importers of Norwegian salmon.

Paul T. Aandahl, seafood analyst at the Norwegian Seafood Council, said there was a strong growth in export value for all regions, with a 22% increase recorded for the EU, 20% for Asia and 23% for North America.




Surveillance cameras are mounted on a post at Tiananmen Square as snow falls in Beijing, China, on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019. Qilai Shen | Bloomberg | Getty Images

China could use the coronavirus outbreak to boost its mass surveillance capabilities as it looks to technology to help contain the epidemic in the world's second-largest economy. The Communist Party has built a vast surveillance state through different methods with technology at its core. As artificial intelligence and the use of data becomes more advanced, Beijing has found increasingly effective ways to track the Chinese population, including facial recognition.

China is trying to control the spread of the spread of the virus, believed to have first emerged from Wuhan city in Hubei province, which has already killed at least 2,500 people in the mainland. With over 77,000 coronavirus cases confirmed in China alone, the government has mobilized its surveillance machine, a move experts said could continue even after the virus has been contained.

Drones and QR codes

Beyond using facial recognition to track people, China is also utilizing novel methods based on existing technology. For example, Chinese state-backed publication Global Times posted a video on Twitter showing a drone with a camera telling people to wear masks. TWEET The Chinese government has also enlisted the help of tech giants like Tencent, owner of popular messaging app WeChat and Alibaba subsidiary, Ant Financial, which runs payments app Alipay. On both WeChat and Alipay, users can put in their Chinese ID numbers and where they have travelled. Users will then be assigned a QR code based on a traffic light color system which instructs them about how long they need to be in quarantine, or whether they are free to travel. A QR code is a type of barcode which is widely used on digital platforms in China. These codes could be used to notify people in buildings about a person's recent movements, such as within office or apartment blocks.

Mobile networks in China have also released tracking features. China Unicom and China Telecom -- both stated-owned telco operators  are asking people to put in the last few digits of their ID or passport number, which will then be used to track a person's whereabouts. They will get messages outlining where they have been. Again, the feature could be used if a building has strict restriction on people entering who haven't been in quarantine for 14 days, which is the suggested amount of time by the government.

And China's artificial intelligence giants have put out some new products too. Earlier this month, Megvii announced that it had deployed a temperature checking tool in Beijing. It can detect an abnormal body temperature and alert authorities who can then do a second check on the person. Sensetime, another Chinese AI firm, said it has developed an algorithm that can detect people not wearing masks in public. Chinese authorities have encouraged everyone to wear masks.

'Catalyst' for mass surveillance

While the Chinese government has used the coronavirus to justify the increased use of surveillance technology, experts said it could continue even after the virus is contained.

I think there are signs that the coronavirus outbreak, like these events above, serve as a catalyst and a boost for China's development in mass surveillance systems. Maya Wang senior researcher on China at Human Rights Watch
In this project, Trump couldnt better serve Putins interests if he were a conscious Russian asset. Under Trump, the U.S. has abandoned the pretense of backing democracy and human rights, meaning there are no longer any great powers that even pretend to put morality at the center of foreign affairs. The horror of this era isnt just the emergence of an axis of authoritarianism, but the fact that there are so few allies to counter it.
EDWARDSVILLE  An autopsy is expected to be performed Tuesday afternoon in the death of a female inmate at the Madison County Jail Monday morning.

Authorities have yet to identify the woman, who was found unresponsive at about 7:30 a.m. and taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Democratic National Committee Spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa on Tuesday called on Senator Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) to visit Florida to speak with residents about what they went through while living in under Fidel Castros regime in Cuba.

Ill let Bernie Sanders speak for his comments, but we are very clear in the Democratic Party that we speak out against brutal dictatorships like those of [Fidel] Castro, and we support the people of Cuba, fleeing Cuba under that dictatorship, Hinojosa told Fox News when asked about Sanderss praise for Castros literacy program.

I encourage all of these candidates whether it be Bernie Sanders or anyone on that debate stage tonight to go to Floridatalk to people in Florida, listen to their stories, listen to what they went through, and I think any candidate would benefit from that, Hinojosa went on. And that is what is part of this primary: you need to go and appeal to a broad coalition of people.

A DNC spokesperson went on Fox News to throw Bernie Sanders under the bus. pic.twitter.com/c2DVdlDQXF  jordan (@JordanUhl) February 25, 2020

Hinojosas comments are the latest development in an ongoing controversy that began when Sanders argued during a 60 Minutes interview aired on Sunday that Castros commitment to social programs complicated his otherwise dishonorable legacy.

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?

The Vermont senators comments on Castro have drawn bipartisan condemnation from Florida politicians, whose base includes a large community of Cuban exiles and refugees.

Donald Trump wins Florida if Bernie is our nominee, warned State Representative Javier Fernandez, a Miami Democrat. If Bernie Sanders is atop the ticket, its going to make it tougher for all of us to win in Florida.

More from National Review
MANILA, Philippines  The number of Filipinos who contracted novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after staying aboard the M/V Diamond Princess in Japan has climbed to 80 on Tuesday, authorities said.

Per Tokyo PE, 80 Filipinos from the Diamond Princess cruise have so far tested positive for Covid-19, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Brigido Dulay said in a Twitter post.

10 have since been discharged w/ clean bill of health. Remaining Filipino crew for repatriation today have all tested negative, he added.

Per Tokyo PE, 80 Filipinos from the Diamond Princess cruise  have so far tested positive for Covid-19. 10 have since been discharged w/ clean bill of health. Remaining Filipino crew for repatriation today have all tested negative.  @teddyboylocsin #DFAinACTION  Dodo Dulay (@dododulay) February 25, 2020

In a separate media interview, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that most of the Filipinos found to be infected with the virus have been placed under isolation and treatment in Japanese hospitals.

Philippine authorities are set to repatriate Tuesday more than 400 Filipinos from the cruise ship.

Duque assured that they will be tested first to make sure that no one with an illness will come along the flight.

Those who will manifest symptoms will not be allowed to board the aircraft based on Japans quarantine laws.

Upon arrival in the Philippines, they will be brought to a facility at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier said that its personnel are now at the Yohohama Port for the disembarkation of the Filipino crew.

A total of 538 Filipinos  531 crew members and seven passengers  were aboard the cruise ship when it was placed on quarantine after one of its passengers tested positive for novel coronavirus disease earlier this month.

The DFA, however, said that not all Filipino crew members will be able to return home as some of them will be needed to stay behind to help in the ships continued operation and maintenance.

The post Filipinos infected with COVID-19 from Japan cruise ship rises to 80 appeared first on UNTV News.
A hardcore Maoist cadre from Chhattisgarh who was allegedly involved in several cases of arson and killing in Malkangiri district and carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head, on Tuesday surrendered himself before police.

Kamlu Beti, area committee secretary of Kangerghati Area Committee under Darva division of Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee surrendered before DIG (SW Range) Shafeeen Ahmed. Beti had joined the Maoists in 2007 in Darva division.

This is the third such surrender of Maoists in Malkangiri district in last two months. Last month, a hardcore woman Maoist carrying a cash reward of Rs 2 lakh on her head surrendered before police in Malkangiri. Last week, another Maoist with Rs 4 lakh reward on his head had surrendered too.

The surrender came on the day the body of a Bengali businessman was found in Swabhiman Anchala area of Malkangiri. Sadanand Bepari, the businessman of Jodambo panchayat was shot dead by suspected Maoists on Sunday noon near Panasput market over accusations that he was a police informer.

DIG Ahmed said Beti joined after being disappointed with the behavior of senior Maoist leader Sanju (DCM) of Kanger Ghati Area Committee and regional feelings among Telugu and other cadres.He got disillusioned with the party leaders after realizing that they are doing nothing for the development of the villagers of Tulsi Reserve Forest area. The Maoists are mostly led by Telugu speaking leaders like R.K, Uday, Krishna, Chalapati, Aruna etc. and their cadres are mostly from Chhattisgarh who are mostly innocent tribals who do not have any idea of what is happening around them. As a result, these Maoists do not have any sense of belongingness towards the people of Malkangiri nor Odisha, he said.

The DIG said Maoists want to make the villagers of Panasput-Jantri area to fight with the people from Jodambo, Janturayi area. They can only exploit the people. However, police will always stands with the people. We will give security to the people and the villages. Maoists will pay the price in near future for killing innocent villagers. We will continue with the anti-Maoists operations as well as keep on helping people, he said.
Skoda Auto India unveiled its new dealership facility in Ernakulam, in association with EVM Motors and Vehicles Pvt Ltd. Built-in line with the new Corporate Identity and Design (CICD) of the Czech marque, the state-of-the-art sales and service touchpoint was inaugurated by Zac Hollis, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India and Sabu Johny, Dealer Principal, EVM Motors and Vehicle. Under the 'India 2.0' project, Skoda Auto India will increase its dealer network to 200 touchpoints, across 150 cities, in India over the next three years. With the inauguration of its new dealership facility in Ernakulam, Skoda Auto aims to further strengthen its position in Kerala and push forward its campaign of establishing a strong foothold in the southern markets of our nation.

The showroom is located in Choornikkara, Aluva and sprawls over an area of 3,390 sq.ft. and accommodates seven cars on display. The new design is refreshing, younger and more dynamic, reflecting the brands Simply Clever philosophy. The dealership is manned by more than 50 trained personnel. A dedicated service outlet is located in South Kalamassery and is spread across 53,350 sq.ft area, with 24 mechanical and body shop bays. EVM Motors and Vehicles can service approx. 6,000 Skoda vehicles per annum.

Commenting on the inauguration of the new facility, Zac Hollis, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said: Skoda Auto India is fully focused to strengthen its presence in the southern markets of India. The new dealership promises to provide a world-class sales and service experience to our evolving customer base in the state of Kerala. Our focus on evolving markets like Kerala is going to play an important role in our future growth strategy under the India 2.0 Project. We are confident that our partnership with EVM Motors and Vehicles will play an important role, in scaling up the brand, by offering our patrons an utmost peace of mind.

Sabu Johny, Dealer Principal, EVM Motors and Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. said, We are delighted to partner with Skoda Auto India to introduce our newly designed dealership facility. The state-of-the-art sales infrastructure and optimized business processes will enable us to deliver an unmatched sales experience. The advancement of Skoda makes us more confident and committed to our valued customers.

Skoda Auto India has revamped its entire dealer network with the highest priority given to functionality, clear orientation, and transparency, as per the new Corporate Identity and Design (CICD). The Czech brand has invested over Rs 1,200 million, along with its dealer partners, in the largest rebranding campaign in its history in India.

In line with the INDIA 2.0 project, the corporate architecture, functional interiors, and rationalized business processes, it is an aim to enhance the overall customer experience. The new dealership design architectural concept reflects Skodas philosophy expressed in the slogan: Simply Clever.

Skoda Auto also launched the Skoda Shield Plus, a segment-first initiative, to ensure six years of the hassle-free ownership experience. The offering incorporates Motor Insurance, 24 x 7 Road Side Assistance, and an Extended Warranty, and is available across the Skoda Auto portfolio: Rapid, Octavia, Superb, and Kodiaq.

In the recently concluded Delhi Auto Expo 2020, Skoda Auto India unveiled the Skoda Vision IN concept, which will be built in India exclusively for Indian car buyers. The company also showcased the Rapid 1.0 lt TSI, Karoq, Superb FL and Kodiaq TSI to reiterate its commitment to the Indian market. Additionally, the much anticipated Octavia vRS was launched at the mega event with a price tag of Rs 36 lakh (ex-showroom).
The Australian government has activated its emergency response plan to an impending coronavirus pandemic, foreshadowing fever clinics, fast-tracked vaccines and severe pressure on hospitals, blood banks, medical supplies and mortuaries.

Dubbed "The COVID-19 plan", the blueprint outlines a strategy in the event of a large-scale coronavirus outbreak as world leaders and biosecurity experts warn a pandemic is almost inevitable.

The document flags a "precautionary approach", emergency pandemic legislation, and provisions for the Prime Minister to assume prime responsibility for efforts to contain the disease.

"The novel coronavirus outbreak represents a significant risk to Australia," the document reads. "It has the potential to cause high levels of morbidity and mortality and to disrupt our community socially and economically."
Mike Eastwood appointed CFO

TORONTO, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Thomson Reuters (TSX/NYSE: TRI) today announced that Steve Hasker has been appointed president and chief executive officer, succeeding Jim Smith, the current president and chief executive officer.

As part of his new role, Hasker has also been appointed to the Thomson Reuters Board of Directors, with Smith stepping down as a director.

The company also announced that Mike Eastwood, senior vice president and head of corporate finance, will succeed Stephane Bello as current chief financial officer.

These appointments and organizational changes will be effective March 15.

The announcement was made as the company reported it had met or exceeded its annual earnings guidance for the eighth consecutive year, achieving 4% organic revenue growth. The company also today announced its 27th consecutive year of dividend increases as part of its fourth-quarter and full-year 2019 results.

"This is the right time to pass the baton to the next generation of leadership, given the continued success of our business and the spin-off of our market data and trading operations," said Smith. "The organization is on its firmest footing in years. The foundation has been laid for continued success and Steve is the right leader to take us forward. His deep expertise in data, business information, technology and professional services is just what we need to capitalize on the many opportunities the future holds. I am confident handing over the reins and happy to welcome him."

Smith will become chairman of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, which focuses on media freedom, inclusive economies and access to justice around the world. He will also provide transitional support to the new CEO into 2021.

Hasker started his career with PwC, where he qualified as a chartered accountant. He then received an MBA and master's degree in international affairs from Columbia University before spending more than a decade with McKinsey as a partner in the global media, information and technology practice.

Hasker went on to serve as global president and chief operating officer of Nielsen before joining TPG - a global alternative asset firm - first as CEO of its portfolio company, CAA Global, and then as senior adviser to TPG Capital. He grew up in Australia and during his career he has lived and worked across North America, Europe and Asia. He has spent the last 25 years based in the United States.

"Thomson Reuters is an impressive company that I have respected for a long time, so I could not be more excited to join the team. Building on this excellent foundation  a world-class business and a culture of deep expertise and integrity  we have a great opportunity to lead with customers as technology transforms working life. Job one for me is to get on the ground and spend plenty of time with our customers and employees," said Hasker.

Current CFO Stephane Bello will become vice chairman of Thomson Reuters with responsibility for overseeing its investment in Refinitiv, which is expected to be sold to London Stock Exchange Group plc in the second half of the year. In his new role, Bello will oversee strategy, commercial excellence and business development and support the CFO transition into 2021.

Eastwood has worked at Thomson Reuters for more than two decades, operating as senior vice president and head of corporate finance since 2016. He has played an integral role in creating the "new" Thomson Reuters following the company's sale of a majority interest in Refinitiv in 2018. Eastwood was formerly chief operating officer of Thomson Reuters Latin America, CFO of the Intellectual Property & Science business (which was sold in 2016) and has also held several senior roles within the finance organization.

David Thomson, chairman of the Thomson Reuters board of directors said, "We are deeply grateful for Jim's service and long career with Thomson Reuters. Jim and Stephane have led the recent transformation which has positioned the company to realize its potential into the future. I am pleased they will continue to assist with the transition. The succession process has been both deliberate and collaborative. Steve Hasker is known for being innovative, with immense integrity, intellect and people skills. Mike is an operator with solid judgment and experience. Our future remains in fine hands under Steve, his seasoned executives and a group of dedicated professionals on the broader team."

Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters is a leading provider of business information services. Our products include highly specialized information-enabled software and tools for legal, tax, accounting and compliance professionals combined with the world's most global news service  Reuters. For more information on Thomson Reuters, visit tr.com and for the latest world news, reuters.com.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking, including Mr. Smith's, Mr. Hasker's and Mr. Thomson's comments. While the company believes that it has a reasonable basis for making forward-looking statements in this news release, they are not a guarantee of future performance or outcomes and there is no assurance that events described in any forward-looking statement will materialize. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, including other factors discussed in materials that Thomson Reuters from time to time files with, or furnishes to, the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Many of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions are beyond our company's control and the effects of them can be difficult to predict. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements which reflect expectations only as of the date of this news release. Except as may be required by applicable law, Thomson Reuters disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

CONTACTS



MEDIA INVESTORS David Crundwell Head of Corporate Affairs +44 79 0989 8605 [email protected] Frank J. Golden Head of Investor Relations +1 646 223 5288 [email protected]

SOURCE Thomson Reuters
Personal Genomics Pioneer George Church, PhD, to Keynote PEGS: The Essential Protein Engineering & Cell Therapy Summit

Cambridge Healthtech Institute (CHI) announces that George M. Church, PhD, whose innovations have been seminal to precision medicine, will serve as a Plenary Keynote at PEGS: The Essential Protein Engineering & Cell Therapy Summit, May 4-8, 2020 at the Seaport World Trade Center, Boston.

The conference will unite 2,800 experts from pharmaceutical and biotech organizations, government and academia focused on developing the next blockbuster biologics, including immunotherapies, gene and cell therapies, bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and more.

"We are thrilled that George Church, who has had a profound influence on biotherapeutics, will share his perspective on the transformations and opportunities ahead," said Christina (Tina) Lingham, Executive Director, Conferences and Fellow, CHI.

Dr. Church, Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, is known for pioneering personal genomics and synthetic biology, and developing the first methods for the first genome sequence.

His presentation, "From Energy to Machine Learning," will focus on new frontiers in protein design that deep learning and machine learning will make possible. He will be followed by Young Scientist Keynote Jamie Spangler, PhD, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, addressing "The Case for Intelligent Design in Protein Engineering."

Altogether, PEGS will feature more than 350 presenters on engineering, oncology, immunotherapy, cell-based immunotherapies, analytical, expression, immunogenicity & bioassays, bioconjugates, and emerging therapeutics and technologies. ther highlights include 170+ Exhibitors, a Women in Science panel, Breakout Discussions, Short Courses, Training Seminars, Poster Sessions and One-on-One Networking.







See PEGSummit.com.

About Cambridge Healthtech Institute

Cambridge Healthtech Institute (CHI), a division of Cambridge Innovation Institute, is the preeminent life science network for leading researchers and business experts from top pharmaceutical, biotech, CROs, academia, and niche service providers. CHI is renowned for its vast conference portfolio held worldwide including PepTalk, Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference, SCOPE Summit, Bio-IT World Conference & Expo, PEGS Summit, Drug Discovery Chemistry, World Pharma Week, The Bioprocessing Summit, Next Generation Dx Summit, Immuno-Oncology Summit, and Discovery on Target (News - Alert). CHI's portfolio of products includes Cambridge Healthtech Institute Conferences, Barnett International, Insight Pharma Reports, Bio-IT World, Clinical Research News and Diagnostics World.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005394/en/
The Ghana Police Service has announced the arrest of a notorious armed robber Mohammed Buzu from his hideout at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle.



The 29-year-old Buzu was arrested in connection with breaking into the residence of the IMF country Director, stealing from the residence of the Ambassador of Kuwait to Ghana and also from the residence of a Lebanese businessman in Ghana.



A news release issued by the Police said Buzu's accomplices, Kenneth Antwi and Baffour Adjei Gyimah were also arrested.



"Suspect Kenneth Antwi is a receiver and sponsor for Buzu's robbery escapade while suspect Baffour Adjei Gyimah is a receiver," the release said.



"All three suspects have today 24th February, 2020 been remanded into Police custody by the Circuit Court Accra, presided by H/H Rosemary Baah Torsu".



"Suspects Mohammed Buzu, Kenneth Antwi and Baffour Adjei Gyimah are believed to be connected to other crimes committed at residences at Cantonments and North Ridge, both at Accra and other similar areas".



The Police has also published pictures of the suspects to enable the victims of crimes committed by the suspects to call the investigative team.

Source: Daily Graphic









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A fluffy concoction of cherries in creamy goodness with a butter cracker crust was my favorite dessert made by my mother in the 1960s. That, and cherry pie, cherry crisp, cherries jubilee, and cherry cobbler are sweets I crave as soon as the calendar turns to February. The red desserts made lovely treats for Valentines Day, but in my mind cherry delicacies belong in February due to Washingtons birthday. Because it was once popular to teach a lesson on morality we learned about honesty from the story of George Washington and his fathers cherry tree. It may have been an erroneous Social Studies lesson, but it forever linked our countrys first president to everything cherry.

When I was in school we had class officers in order to plan activities and fundraisers. We also had a class called Student Congress where we were taught parliamentary procedure by the use of Roberts Rules of Order. One of the most important things I learned in Student Congress was that even though my passion was for a committee of which I was a chairman, it was important for me to be an active participant on other committees. This teamwork is what created a cohesive and productive group. I have used those lessons on formality, cohesiveness and productiveness many times since high school, probably more than I have used trigonometry. Important lessons I learned from our class president have served me well throughout life, as well. I try to make decisions based on what is good for everyone, not just for me or a select group of people. That thought goes with the idea that you cant please everyone, so aim for what pleases the most people. Yet, the most important thing I learned from our serious, yet jocular, president is that there is humor to be found in every situation no matter how serious.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday paid tributes at Rajghat, the memorial dedicated to India's founding father Mahatma Gandhi.

Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, laid a wreath at the memorial and also observed one minute of silence.

The US President, a short while ago, was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Later today, Trump will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On Monday, the US President had addressed the 'Namaste Trump' event at Ahmedabad's Motera Stadium along with Modi, where both the leaders had hailed the growing ties between the two countries.

The US President and his wife Melania Trump later visited the Taj Mahal in Agra.

Trump will depart for the US tonight.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[February 25, 2020] Seabury Capital Establishes New Financing Arm to Deliver Advanced Support for Global Aircraft Market

Seabury Capital Group LLC ("Seabury Capital") announced today the formation of Seabury Aircraft Capital LLC ("SAC") through a combination of its existing advisory practices and the acquisition of an investment banking firm Structured Finance International ("SFI") whose professionals have arranged over the past 20 years aircraft financings with an aggregated acquisition costs exceeding $18 billion (in 2020 dollars). By virtue of this combination, SAC will be one of the leading advisory and capital arranging firms for financing for new and used aircraft, using innovative tax and non-tax driven financing structures. With SAC, Seabury Capital professionals have a combined history of advising on over $300 billion of new aircraft agreements, $30 billion of aircraft financing structures and over $100 billion in corporate financing arrangements. Buttressed with SFI's investment banking capabilities, market knowledge, and expertise in the development and implementation of structured financing solutions for aerospace clients, SAC will assist carriers in sourcing and purchasing assets, as well as in arranging and executing the financings, specific to each airline fleet and balance sheet's requirements. In addition, the unit leadership's unique ability to analyze transactions from the perspective of all key participants, including airlines, manufacturers, and investors, as well as their long-standing relationships within the investment community, are strategically positioned to expand Seabury Capital's investor pool, making airlines and aircraft more appealing to a wider array of institutional and other investors. John E. Luth, Chairman, President & CEO of Seabury Capital Group, described the acquisition as the "further expansion of our current and related business lines, which have deep familiarity with and established presence in the global airline market. With the incorporation of SFI and its capabilities, we will deliver increasingly comprehensive, best-in-class support for airlines seeking to take full advantage of growth opportunities, and for manufacturers and investors vying to supply aircraft for these opportunities on favorable economic terms." SAC ill be led by SFI's founding members Stacey Wilson as Managing Director and Stephen Danner and Marty Dugan as Executive Directors - the team that boasts a two-decade-plus formidable track record in pioneering the first financing structures still in place today and financing more than 1,000 aircraft on behalf of airlines, manufacturers, and investors since SFI's beginnings in the 1990s.



Prior to SFI, Wilson was Director of Structured Finance Aerospace with CIT Group (formerly Newcourt Credit Group). Since 1996, he has served globally as lead advisor and financial arranger on behalf of manufacturers of commercial airliners, airlines, and institutional debt and equity investors. Danner has more than 27 years of capital finance experience in aerospace, rail, energy, real estate, and general asset-based finance. He was Senior Director in the Capital Markets group at CIT. Dugan has more than three decades of experience in asset finance, capital structuring, advisory services, and operations management. He has led the structuring and arranging of more than $10 billion in equipment and enterprise financing, with a large portion focused on aviation. "We are pleased to join forces with Seabury Capital to grow SAC, which is anchored in our high-volume, process-driven approach for financing aircraft," commented Seabury Aircraft Capital Managing Director Stacey Wilson. "When CFOs of client companies work with our team, they have confidence and trust that we will identify the right financing and deliver high quality financing solutions on schedule. Having consistently financed on average 30-50 aircraft per year, our team has the in-depth market knowledge, intelligence, and investor visibility required to ensure things get done."

Luth concluded: "The SFI team's success in financing some of the largest fleet orders in history will bolster SAC's execution capabilities, allowing for deeper market penetration and expansion of our client base. By scaling up our service offerings, we will further cement our reputation as the most efficient and reliable aircraft financing team in the business." ABOUT SEABURY CAPITAL GROUP Seabury Capital Group LLC ("Seabury Capital") operates a number of specialty finance, investment banking, technology, and software companies with a core focus anchored in aviation, aerospace & defense, maritime, and financial services & technology. Since its founding in 1995, Seabury Capital has taken ownership stakes in software and asset management businesses servicing the aviation and travel industries. Seabury Capital ended the year 2019 with close to $1 billion in assets and intends to leverage those resources to launch one or more specialized investment funds in aviation, travel, and technology in 2020, under a newly incorporated investment fund manager, Seabury Capital Management LLC. Within the last few years, Seabury Capital has expanded its portfolio by investing in early stage startup companies within the financial technology industry and structured investment products. In addition, Seabury Capital owns and operates FINRA, NFA and FCA regulated investment banking services firms in the U.S. and U.K., respectively, serving external clients as well as assisting the companies in which Seabury Capital has invested. Seabury Capital has operations in New York, Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Chicago, Cordoba, Dallas, Dublin, Durban, Edison (NJ), Guernsey, Hong Kong, Houston, Jersey City, London, Los Angeles, Manila, Minneapolis, Mumbai, Nairobi, Ottawa, Seoul, Shannon, Singapore, Summit (NJ), Stamford (CT), and Tokyo. Reference Seabury Capital at www.seaburycapital.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005758/en/

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When I think of a trail, I think of something that is on top of the earth, he said. And when I think of a pipeline that is 600 feet below the surface, that doesnt seem like a trail. So instead of having to draw this distinction between the trail and the land, why cant we just say that the trail is on the surface and something that happens 600 feet below the surface is not the trail?
People from the Indian diaspora on Monday gathered outside UN office in Holborn here to register their protest against the injustices done to Hindu minor girl Mehek Kumari.

A petition was delivered to the UN.

Mehak Kumari was recently forcibly converted and married to a Muslim man in Pakistan's Sindh province.

The protestors called Pakistan as 'abuser of human rights' and demanded justice for Mehak Kumari.

Mehak was abducted by a middle-aged man, Ali Raza, from the Jacobabad district of Sindh province on January 15.

The girl said that she was forced to accept Islam causing a widespread furore among the Islamic fanatics.

Some Pakistani clerics want the minor girl killed after she retracted her previous statement in the court, where she said that she had accepted Islam of her own free will.

The clerics blamed 14-year old Mehak of murtad, or an act of apostasy, and are demanding death punishment, accusing her of insulting Islam.

Meanwhile, the court which is yet to announce the verdict has sent Mehak Kumari to a local Dar-ul-Aman in Larkana district of Sindh for 11 days.

The abduction and forceful conversion of Hindu and Christian girls are widespread in Pakistan. Such incidents have sparked widespread criticism as many victim families are forced to migrate to foreign countries, including India.

In 1947, non-Muslims comprised 23 per cent of Pakistan's population. However, in 2011, the numbers came down to 3.7 per cent.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 25, 2020 08:37 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206657e80 1 Editorial soldiers,military,TNI Free

The governments plan to recruit 25,000 people between 18 and 25 years of age to join the military reserve unit seems to be based on valid reasons. There has been a yawning gap between the number of soldiers and the huge population and vast archipelago they have to protect, and the country sits in a region prone to conflicts among nations.

Persistent threats to regional peace include territorial claims over the South China Sea that not only pit China and a number of ASEAN member states against each other but have also dragged outside forces into the dispute. Although not a claimant, Indonesia has borne the brunt of the tension and will have to protect itself if the dispute turns into a war.

Transnational crime, such as terrorism, drug smuggling and human trafficking, poses another clear and present danger to the country. Our porous borders, thanks in part to the lack of military personnel, have made the country vulnerable to cross-border crimes.

Indonesias military force is the strongest in Southeast Asia, according to the latest Global Firepower Index, but with one serviceperson for every 264 citizens, the country has the lowest personnel ratio in the region. Singapore and Vietnam top the list with a ratio of 1:11 and 1:17, respectively.

Despite its deficit in numbers, the Indonesian Military (TNI) is given nonmilitary duties on top of its routine responsibilities, such as helping the police maintain security and order. The TNI has conducted various non-war operations, especially in the event of natural disasters.

Given its limited defense budget, Indonesia is hard-pressed to recruit more personnel, even as Vietnam and Singapore, where military service is compulsory for young people, have done. Indonesia has been increasing its defense budget over the past few years, but 40 percent of the amount is allocated for existing personnel.

Recruiting military reservists could help the country cope with budgetary constraints while fulfilling the need of defense force personnel, as they would be fully employed only if the country were at war or under an armed threat. After undergoing three months of military training, the reservists return to civilian life until the state needs them.

The State Secretariat is drafting a government regulation to implement the Management of National Resources for State Defense Law passed last year, which will stipulate details on the mechanism to recruit reservists. One thing is for sure; joining the reserve component of the military will be voluntary, unlike in some neighboring ASEAN countries.

Voluntary or not, the recruitment of military reservists is not without risks, especially given the government-sponsored fight against radicalism and communism that is feared to target government critics or those resisting government policies. Rights groups have warned of possible mobilization of the military reserve to deal with those domestic issues, reminiscent of the use of paramilitary youth groups to fight right-wing and left-wing groups during the New Order era.

The military reserve program must not create fertile ground for a militaristic mindset but simply be aimed at a love for the nation without reservation.

Topics : soldiers military TNI
In Cambodia, turbines at the Lower Stung Russei Chrum Hydroelectric Power Project, with an installed capacity of 338 MW, are spinning as usual even as workers here are taking precautionary measures against COVID-19. Thanks to the collaborative work of the Chinese workers and their Cambodian colleagues, the four generators in the upper and lower stations are running safely. Operating according to the country's power dispatch plan, the plant chalked up a total of 16.8921 million kilowatt hours for the operational year that ended on February 10, up 3.76 percent from the year before.

Within January, the Teninskaya Power Plant, a China Huadian-TGK-2 joint venture in Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, managed to produce 300 million kilowatt hours of electricity, or 101 percent of the projected output, even when one of the generators was put offline for seven days. Through the application of rigorous technical measures, engineers managed to maximize the efficiency of the units while optimizing the monthly output and all the other targets.

The Saudi Aramco Jazan 3,850-MW Power Plant, currently debugged and operated by China Huadian, is the world's largest combined-cycle facility to pull a successful grid connection. On February 5, workers connected 12 gas turbines with load and did it on their first try. At an average chamber temperature of 500 degree Centigrade and a dispersion rate of 5 degree Centigrade, better than up to par, the grid connection was declared a success. This integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plant, conducting the most advanced environmental technology, is set to be put into full operation by end of 2020. When complete, the IGCC project will effectively alleviate the situation of power shortage of the adjacent Jazan Economic City, and further deepen the Sino-Saudi Arabia energy cooperation.

Projects that are under construction are proceeding according to schedules, as well. In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, construction of 2x350-MW coal-fired power plants, billed to be the largest in the country, continues even as the workers are taking measures necessary against the virus outbreak. They kept working through the Chinese New Year and have finished 60,000 cubic meters of on-land backfilling, or 86 percent of the total backfill work for the main factory area. Meanwhile, they have finished 20 percent of the waterfront cleanup at the dock and all of the cleaning and leveling up of the camp site and the temporary production site.

At China Huadian Bukit Asam Power Plant in Indonesia, construction work continued even as precautions were taken against the virus. Workers here have started installing the fifth section of the steel structure of the boiler for Unit 1. They have completed the 6.85-meter pouring for the base of the steam turbine generator. The third section of the steel structure of the boiler for Unit 2 has been put in place. The project management office is doing everything to coordinate local resources to ensure safety and stability of the construction site.

The 2x660-MW Duyen Hai II supercritical coal-fired generation units currently under construction in Vietnam are set to be the largest overseas project ever built by China Huadian, and the construction work is now going forward full throttle. With the virus posing an on-going threat to business, the company is working closely with local authorities to find a safe way to bring Chinese employees back to work. The company is also working with the local construction safety team to make sure construction stays on schedule and the project targets are met.

As a major player in China's Belt and Road Initiative and a Chinese company in the context of globalization, China Huadian has a responsibility to make sure its facilities are running as normal so that the world can count on the stability of the industry chain and global capacity.

Since its Asahan I Hydroelectric Power Plant in Indonesia went online for commercial operation in November 2011, China Huadian has been pursuing an out-going strategy in its expansion and so far, this strategy is yielding good results. As of today, China Huadian is running a total installed capacity of 5,430 MW through its overseas facilities, both operational and under construction, in 34 countries and regions that have joined the Belt and Road Initiative, with another 6,200 MW under its operations. Plus, China Huadian is pursuing and initiating a decision-making process for projects of yet another 15,000 MW till date.

SOURCE China Huadian
CAIRO - Financial losses over a protracted blockade of Libyas vital oil fields and ports have rapidly swelled, surpassing $2 billion on Tuesday, the countrys National Oil Corporation said.

Oil supplies have become a major point of conflict between rival governments in the war-torn country. Powerful tribes loyal to Libyas eastern-based forces seized large export terminals and choked off major pipelines last month, aiming to starve the U.N.-backed government of crucial revenues.

The financial impact has been swift and staggering, as production dropped from the typical 1.2 million barrels a day to about 120,000 this week, the corporation said in a statement on its Facebook page.

Field Marshal Khalifa Hifters forces, which control most of southern and eastern Libya, including the countrys main oil facilities, have been laying siege to the capital, Tripoli, since last spring.

The Tripoli government controls just a shrinking corner of the countrys west, but maintains the highly-valued authority over Libyas central bank, which holds oil revenue.

The standoff over Libyas main source of income has threatened to cripple the already battered economy and deprive the country of fuel supplies. Libya has the largest proven oil reserves in Africa.

At the latest Human Rights Council session in Geneva on Monday, the Tripoli governments foreign minister urged the United States and other Western powers to intervene.

The international community must demand the opening of the ports and fields to feed the people, Mohamed Taher Siala told reporters.

Siala speculated that world powers are keen to stay silent over the contest because they dont want to see a flood of oil production drive down market prices.

If this is the reason, it is not human, he said.

So far, the shutdown has not caused major upheaval in the world oil market, according to Antoine Halff, a Columbia University researcher and chief analyst at Kayrros, an energy data analytics company.

This is mostly because Libyas light crude oil directly competes against U.S. shale oil production, he said, allowing major buyers, like Italy, Spain and China to access U.S. oil instead.
The situation in the national capital could not have been any different - on one side there is an unprecedented security deployment to welcome American President Donald Trump who is on a two-day visit to the country.

But less than 20 km away from the high-security zone of the national capital where Trump was given a red-carpet welcome, in Jafrabad there is also an unprecedented security clampdown, a day after the area witnessed clashes, arson and murders after violence broke out between pro and anti-CAA protesters.

REUTERS

On Tuesday morning, there is an uneasy calm in the area, a day after violent clashes broke out there.

Though no large scale violence has been reported from Jafrabad since Monday evening, several social media posts have claimed that there was stone-pelting and even gunshots were heard at night. On Tuesday morning, violence was reported in Brahampuri, Maujpur and Babarpur area.

AFP

There are also reports that a mob had set fire to a tyre market in Gokulpuri area on Monday night, following which 15 fire tenders were sent.



REUTERS

Many locals said that they are concerned about their safety and those indulging in violence are doing so with complete impunity. On Tuesday morning, despite a heavy police deployment, shops in Jafrabad and Seelampur are completely shut due to the fear of more violence.

AFP

Five of Delhi Metro's Pink Line remained closed for the second consecutive day on Tuesday in the wake of the violence in northeast Delhi areas. Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar remain closed and trains are being terminated at the Welcome Metro Station.



Meanwhile, Shahdara DCP Amit Sharma, who was injured during clashes between two groups in Gokulpuri on Monday has reportedly recovered in a Delhi hospital. Five people including a head constable were killed and several others injured as violence that broke out on Monday.

On the other side of Delhi, President Trump was given a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Tuesday morning.

REUTERS

Trump was accorded tri-services guard of honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan after he was welcomed by President Ram Nath Kovind and PM Narendra Modi.



REUTERS

After receiving a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, US President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.



REUTERS

PM Modi and Trump will hold delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House later in the day, which is likely to be dominated by trade talks, even though the much-discussed trade deal is unlikely.
Schools need to prepare for a nationwide surge in cases of the coronavirus thats currently wreaking global havoc and could disrupt daily life in some communities, federal officials warned Tuesday.

You should ask your childrens schools about their plans for school dismissals or school closures, Nancy Messonnier, a director at the Centers for Disease Control, said during a press briefing on Tuesday. Ask about plans for teleschool.

Messonnier warned at that time that her agency is confident an outbreak will occur in the United States and is now mulling exactly when this will happen and how many people in this country will have severe illness. A few hours later, federal officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, sought to downplay the urgency of the earlier warning from CDC officials.

Messonnier also said shed already contacted her local superintendent asking about the districts plans in the event of an outbreak.

See Also Are Schools Ready for Coronavirus? Trump Says They Should Be

The disease, which originated in China last month, has claimed more than 2,600 lives and affected more than 77,000 people worldwide. Fourteen people in the U.S., plus 40 passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, have confirmed cases of the illness, for which typical symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the CDC. In the last week, people in Italy, South Korea and Iran have died from the virus.

Tuesdays warning from the CDC marks an abrupt shift in tone from the agency, which has largely remained circumspect about the threat level for the U.S. The risk assessment on the CDC website still says the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low for the average American, though it warns that a global pandemic declaration could shift the forecast. The World Health Organization on Monday declined to declare a pandemic but cautioned that it may reverse that decision as more information arrives.

Hospitals have begun stockpiling resources in case the threat worsens, and K-12 schools in the U.S. are sending home letters to parents urging frequent hand-washing and keeping sick children home from school until theyre fever-free for 24 hours without medication. Several schools have also canceled field trips to China as well as Chinese exchange programs.

Steps Schools Can Take

During past outbreaks like the swine flu of 2009, the CDC asked AASA, the School Superintendents Association, to assist in spreading the word to school districts, according to Dan Domenech, the associations executive director. The association is preparing to answer that request from the CDC as soon as it comes in, Domenech said.

The first step schools should consider, Domenech said, is establishing a process for determining whether students are contracting the virus and a system for reporting updates to health officials.

If its serious enough to close schools, we have something today we didnt have back then: We have the technology that does allow students to be able to stay home and do work online, Domenech said.

Earlier this month, the heads of the two national teachers unions called on the Trump administration to provide more direct guidance to schools on how to respond to the virus growing threat.

Students in Rensselaer Central Schools in Indiana got an early preview of sorts for the districts response to a widespread infection. The week of Jan. 20, an outbreak of flu sent absentee rates in the districts middle and high schools soaring above 20 percent. Before health officials could formally request a shutdown, the district closed Thursday and Friday of that week, according to Curtis Craig, superintendent of schools.

The district had previously been deploying e-learning in the event of inclement weather. Craig said the biggest key to success in unexpected e-learning situations is to have adequately prepared students and teachers prior to the emergency.

If you can run the kids through some online practice while theyre here at school, its much much better. If online isnt completely different than what theyre doing in school, thats even better, Craig said. If the kids are used to going to a student management system to go online to submit their assignments, submitting their assignments online, then its not a completely different experience for them.

It wont be possible to pre-empt or even alleviate illness-related anxiety, Craig says. His team saw concerns about the local flu outbreak bubbling up on social media shortly before the decision to close for two days.

It very may well have caused our absence rate because people saw that and thought, since the schools sending this, it must be bad, Craig said.

In the longer term, we want people to look to the school sites for accuracy and information, he continued. I guess I would rather have that increase of people being cautious, and for them to know that the school is going to put out accurate information for them, and the parents can decide.
Texas Secretary of State Ruth Hughs addressed voting access concerns on Monday and announced an education campaign to explain the states voter ID law.

This initiative is aimed at ensuring voters are prepared and informed about the forms of identifications that are needed to cast their ballot, Hughs said.

The Republican-led Texas Legislature originally passed voter ID law in 2011 that were halted by courts, which found the law discriminated against black and Latino voters. The Legislature passed a law expanding the acceptable IDs and, in 2017, the 5th Circuit of Appeals decided Texas could reinstate the ID requirement starting in the 2018 mid-term elections.

Democrats have named the voter ID law as one of a handful of measures that are meant to suppress voter turnout. Republicans say the ID law provides a necessary safeguard against voting fraud.

Other controversial voting rules in Texas include a requirement that voters register a month before election day, and the states refusal to accept online voter registrations.

For subscribers: What you need to know before casting your ballot in Texas

The secretary of states office plans to take out radio ads, post billboards and send an educational booth to six cities prior to the November general election to explain the ID law. The rules are also posted at votetexas.gov, which features information on voter I.D. laws in English and Spanish.

The booth was in San Antonio on Saturday at Market Square and will be sent to Brownsville on February 29 for Sombrero Fest, and Hidalgo on March 7 for Borderfest.

The booth features stickers, information booklets and a game where people match coasters with one of the seven acceptable forms of I.D. on the backs: Texas Drivers License, U.S. Passport, Texas Election ID Certificate, Texas Personal ID Card, Texas Handgun License, U.S. Citizenship Certificate with a photo and U.S. Military ID Card with a photo. All of the materials are presented in English and Spanish.

We will be attending events where there will be large gatherings of people and we can get the word out, Hughs said.

Know the candidates: Houston Chronicle 2020 primary election voter guide; San Antonio Express-News 2020 primary election voter guide

Hughs urged eligible voters to contact their elections office to view a sample ballot, make sure they are registered to vote at their current address, and to locate their polling location.

Hughs also addressed concerns about temporary voting sites and worries about result delays in the primaries.

Last year, state lawmakers banned temporary polling locations, a move which is being challenged in court. Hughs encouraged voters to go online to check their polling locations, so theyre ready to go and have a seamless experience at the polls, she said.

After technical issues with an app in the Iowa Caucuses earlier this month led to delay in reporting election results, the Texas Democratic Party expressed concerns over whether Texas results will also be delayed. Hughs said the department is not expecting that issue.

We will continue to monitor all the election results closely and report things as soon as they come in, as we have in the past, Hughs said.
Photo credit: Apple

From Popular Mechanics

It's been nearly four years since Apple originally killed the iPhone audio jack. While we're glad that most smartphones have returned to embracing the port, Bluetooth earbuds are still completely irresistible. Wireless headphones of all varieties promise to function like the earbuds that came with your phone, just without the tangly mess of cords.



One problem: They still dont work as well as their wired brethren. If youve tried a pair of Bluetooth earbuds, youve probably noticed the connection cut out when you put the phone in your pocket, the audio lag behind a video youre trying to watch, or the battery draining far sooner than it should. Or, in the case of AirPods, one earbud may sync separately from the other, causing an echo effect.

I asked every manufacturer I could: "Why is it so hard to make a Bluetooth earbud?" Heres what they had to tell Popular Mechanics.

Theyre Tiny

Even a few years back, Bluetooth audio was a joke. Connections dropped all the time and the fidelity was barely passable. Now, over-the-ear noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones by Beats and Bose have made us forget these issues. The reason is that those headphonesunlike Bluetooth earbudshave the benefit of bigger circuit boards.

Size isnt everything. For Bluetooth, as with most radio signals, the size of the antenna corresponds to the wavelength, which means a bigger antenna doesnt correspond to a better connection. The real work is done by parts like the PCB, or printed circuit board. That component controls the antennas efficiency and runs the conductors connected to the drivers.

Whats really going on here is that a big pair of Bluetooth Beats, or wireless buds with a neck band, have more room for a bigger PCB and other parts that can make sure the connection is strong. With wireless earbuds youve got much less real estate for those components. Manufacturers have to consider every millimeter of glue thats used to keep them together, lest the extra material block the signal.

Story continues

Its a Crowded Signal

The FCC designates wavelengths for different devices. The Bluetooths wavelength, around 2.44 gigahertz, is really crowded especially in the city. Wi-Fi is on the same bandwidth, as are Fitbits, keychain trackers, microwaves, and wireless mice and keyboards. The signal carrying your Spotify stream from your phone to your Bluetooth headphones has to navigate that crowded airspace like a P-51 Mustang cutting through anti-aircraft artillery (sorry, been playing a lot of Call of Duty: WWII lately). The extra components in a pair of bigger headphones make a noticeable difference when overcoming all the traffic.

Your Body Blocks It

The Bluetooth problem that every user notices and every reviewer complains about is the signal dropping when you put your phone in your pocket. The reason this problem is so pernicious and unavoidable is that it arises from a basic fact of science. Bluetooth, like any radio signal, gets tripped up by human anatomy. The liquids and solids in your body offer more molecular resistance than air.

When it was alone, the antenna efficiency would be about 85 percent. But the minute wed bring it close to our mannequins head, it drops down to 60 or 65 percent, says Mari Muthuswamy. Shes the lead engineer for the Bose SoundSport Free, one of two wireless earbuds Ive tested that actually work as advertised (the other being Apples non-water-resistant AirPods). Boses solution: design the SoundSport Frees components to sit slightly away from your ear so they experience less interference with your body.

The Bose SoundSports use another trick thats common to some other models like the Jaybird Run. One earbud (the master) receives the signal and forwards it to the other bud (the puppet). That extra signal between buds could interfere with the original signal, so the Bose phones constantly switch between channels (smaller lanes of traffic within the 2.44Ghz bandwidth of Bluetooth) to find a signal with less resistance for wherever you are.

What Should You Buy?

Both the AirPods and the Bose SoundSports are incredible. They make you feel like youre living in the future where tiny, efficient computers make everyday life a bit more awesome. For some people, that might not be worth $160 or $250. But at least now you know what engineering goes into that price.

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Arabella Weir has opened up about her 'phenomenally dysfunctional' relationship with her late mother Alison on Tuesday's edition of Loose Women.

In promotion of her first-ever stand-up show Does My Mum Loom Big in This?, the comedian, 62, admitted her upcoming project was inspired by her parent's 'fixation on me needing to be thin.'

The Fast Show star said she now 'understands' her mum's tendencies as she was 'badly neglected as a child', which encouraged Arabella to undergo therapy before having kids of her own.

Candid: Arabella Weir has opened up about her 'phenomenally dysfunctional' relationship with her late mother Alison on Tuesday's edition of Loose Women

A daughter of a housewife and British diplomat Sir Michael Scott Weir, the actress grew up in Washington D.C. and Cairo due to her father's ambassador job.

Arabella temporarily lived in Bahrain with Michael as a young teen, before moving back to London with her younger sister and two older brothers following her parents' divorce.

The screenwriter reflected on her tumultuous relationship with Alison, revealing she was often compared to her siblings in regards to her weight.

She told panelists Andrea McLean, Coleen Nolan, Janet Street-Porter and Brenda Edwards: 'From about six and seven, she'd tell me ''don't eat that you're fat.'' While eating alongside my brother and a sister, she'd tell me: ''You can't eat what they're eating''.

'She couldn't conceive me doing well if I wasn't slim' The comedian, 62, admitted her new stand-up show was inspired by her parent's 'fixation on needing to be thin' (pictured as a child with her mum)

'She had no template of how to mother in a loving, supportive way': The Fast Show star said she now 'understands' her mum's tendencies as she was 'badly neglected as a child'

'It was all about humiliating you into losing weight. I don't think she could conceive me doing well in life if I wasn't slim and pretty.'

Insisting she eventually felt sympathetic towards her mother as she approached death, Arabella added: 'By the end of her life, I understood.

'She had been badly neglected as a child herself and she had no template of how to mother in a loving, supportive way.

'She was from that generation where if you didn't conform, you wouldn't get a husband.'

The TV star admitted her childhood experiences helped shape her own parenthood journey as she elaborated: 'I had a lot of therapy before I had children and I wanted to make absolutely sure that I did the exact opposite.

'One of my mother's saving graces was, when I had my kids, I said to her: "Whatever you say, I will do the exact opposite". My mother had a great sense of humour and she said: "Well then you probably won't put a foot wrong".'

The media personality previously recalled when her mother commented on her weight just two days before her death.

Arabella - who shares her two children, Archie, 20, and Isabella, 22, with husband Jeremy Norton - told The Guardian: '''I said: 'You're dying and you're worried about how fat I am?' She went: ''Oh God, look at you, though.''

An open book: The funnywoman spoke to panelists (L-R) Andrea McLean, Coleen Nolan, Janet Street-Porter and Brenda Edwards

'And I said: ''We're not doing this shit now.'' And she didn't back down, nor did she apologise.'

Teasing details about her string of one-woman shows, she shared on the lunchtime programme: 'Does My Mum Loom Big in This? came out of my mother's fixation on me needing to be thin.

'I wrote this solo show for last year's Edinburgh. I thought, why don't I do it about the thing which has dominated my life which is fitting in.

'In the show, I talk about how she didn't have a role model and I understand why she didn't manage to be a very good mother. The first part is about my phenomenally dysfunctional relationship with my mother and the second half is me as a mother.'

Arabella will take to stages across the nation from Thursday at West Yorkshire's Otley Courthouse.
President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in New Delhi on Feb. 25, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump Calls for Recusal of Sotomayor, Ginsburg in Cases Involving Him

President Donald Trump said Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg should recuse themselves from any cases that involve Trump-related matters, citing statements they have made about him or his administration.

I just dont know how they can not recuse themselves for anything having to do with Trump, he said at a Feb. 25 press availability during his trip to New Delhi.

Sotomayor Comments

Regarding Sotomayor, Trump was referring to her Feb. 21 dissenting opinion, in which she made a remark that at least some people interpreted as political.

She criticized the countrys highest court for recently overruling a number of lower-court decisions that blocked Trumps policies, which some interpreted as accusing her colleagues of having a bias in favor of the administration.

Perhaps most troublingly, the Courts recent behavior on stay applications has benefited one litigant over all others, she said (pdf).

Trump called the statement terrible and highly inappropriate.

The way I look at it, shes trying to shame people with perhaps a different view into voting her way, Trump said.

Ginsburg Comments

Ginsburg, Trump said, should have recused herself years ago for her disparaging comments about him when he ran for office in 2016.

She went wild during the campaign when I was running, Trump said, suggesting the justice may have supported his then-opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. I dont know who she was for or perhaps she was for Hillary Clinton if you can believe it.

In July 2016, shortly before the Republican National Convention, when Trump formally secured the nomination, Ginsburg gave three high-profile interviews in five days in which she made negative comments about Trump.

He has no consistency about him. He says whatever comes into his head at the moment. He really has an ego, she told CNN, calling Trump a faker.

She also told The Associated Press she didnt want to think about that possibility of Trump winning the presidency.

I cant imagine what this place would beI cant imagine what the country would bewith Donald Trump as our president, she told The New York Times. For the country, it could be four years. For the court, it could beI dont even want to contemplate that.

Trump said at the time that Ginsburg should resign.

Ginsburg later called her comments ill-advised.

Judges should avoid commenting on a candidate for public office. In the future, I will be more circumspect, she said in a statement.

Trump called it a minor form apology.

I wouldnt say it was an apology, he said. But she sort of apologized.

The president acknowledged that Supreme Court justices operate under a different standard, as they arent formally bound by the ethics rules of the judiciary. He said though its the right thing to do.

I think its a higher standard in a certain sense. So theyll have to decide what to do, he said.

Judiciary Overhaul

Because of the Republican majority in the U.S. Senate, Trump has been able to appoint a record-breaking number of federal judges. With his appointments of Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch, the nine-member Supreme Court now has five justices appointed by Republicans. Ginsburg and Sotomayor were appointed by Democratic Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, respectively.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Invesco Enhanced Income Ltd - Result of AGM

INVESCO ENHANCED INCOME LIMITED

RESULT OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Following the Annual General Meeting of Invesco Enhanced Income Limited held on 25 February 2020 at JTC Fund Solutions (Jersey) Limited, 28 Esplanade, St Helier, Jersey, JE2 3QA, the Board is pleased to announce that all the resolutions were duly passed.

Ordinary Business

1. To receive and consider the Annual Financial Report for the year ended 30 September 2019;

2. To elect Kate Bolsover as a Director of the Company'

3. To re-elect Peter Yates as a Director of the Company;

4. To elect Christine Johnson as a Director of the Company

5. To re-elect Michael Lombardi as a Director of the Company;

6. To re-elect Clive Spears as a Director of the Company;

7. To re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers CI LLP as auditor of the Company; and

8. To authorise the Audit Committee to determine the remuneration of the auditor.

Special Business

The following resolutions were passed as special resolutions.

9. To disapply pre-emption rights and authorise the issue of up to 34,158,971 shares representing 20% of the total shares in issue as at 16 December 2019;

10. To renew the Directors' authority to make market purchases of the Company's shares up to 25,602,149 shares representing 14.99% of the total shares in issue as at 16 December 2019. These shares may be held as treasury shares; and

11. That the period of notice for general meetings of the Company (other than AGMs) shall not be less than 14 days; and

All Resolutions were duly passed on a show of hands.

A breakdown of the proxy votes registered is shown below:

Resolution Votes in Favour (including votes at the Chairman's Discretion) %age Votes Against %age Votes Withheld 1 32,040,410 99.98 4,847 0.02 15,219 2 31,857,073 99.96 11,276 0.04 192,127 3 31,908,842 99.93 23,007 0.07 128,627 4 31,856,073 99.96 12,276 0.04 192,127 5 31,907,842 99.94 19,160 0.06 133,474 6 31,908,842 99.94 18,160 0.06 133,474 7 31,925,004 99.77 73,173 0.23 62,299 8 32,006,497 99.94 19,538 0.06 34,441 9 31,478,004 98.38 519,196 1.62 63,276 10 31,956,585 99.82 58,771 0.18 45,120 11 32,039,110 99.98 7,147 0.02 14,219

The Company has 173,619,855 ordinary shares of 5p each in issue. On a poll these carry one vote per share and accordingly the total voting rights are 173,619,855. The above tables represent the number of votes registered.

Details of the voting results will shortly be available on the Company's section of the Manager's website at

www.invesco.co.uk/enhancedincome

25 February 2020

All enquiries

Hilary Jones

JTC Fund Solutions (Jersey) Limited

Company Secretary

Tel: 01534 700000
A toddler who died after being left on a daycare centre bus in stifling heat was sitting in a child restraint just two seats away from the vehicle's front door.

The three-year-old boy was found dead in his car seat last Tuesday afternoon at Edmonton, near Cairns in Queensland, six hours after he was first loaded onto the minibus by Michael Glenn Lewis and his colleague Dionne Batrice Grills.

Bus driver and child care director Lewis, 45, and worker Grills, 34, both faced the Cairns Magistrates Court on Tuesday, charged with manslaughter.

Inside the courtroom shocking details of their alleged crimes were revealed, including a distressing Triple-0 call made by Lewis - the manager of the Goodstart Early Learning Centre at Edmonton.

Scroll down for video

Cairns bus driver and child care director Michael Lewis and his colleague are accused of leaving a three-year-old boy on a daycare centre bus in stifling heat for six hours

Lewis (left) 45, and worker Dionne Grills (right) 34, both faced the Cairns Magistrates Court on Tuesday, charged with manslaughter

The court heard the young boy had been put in a child restraint two seats away from the driver of the minibus (pictured) but child carers allegedly neglected to take him out when they exited the vehicle

Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Maynard Marcum told the court harrowing details about how the boy had allegedly been put in a child restraint just two seats away from the driver and front door.

Yet when the minibus being driven by Lewis arrived at the daycare centre, he and his colleague Grills allegedly left the vehicle - but did not take the boy with them.

I'm going to jail, this is all my fault... my life is over Michael Glenn Lewis

He allegedly spent the next six hours sweltering inside the bus as the mercury rose to 36C.

At 2.45pm, Lewis returned to the bus to begin the afternoon drop off run, but the court heard it wasn't until 3pm that he discovered the lifeless boy.

He then called Triple-0 and said: 'I've left a child on the bus... my life is over'.

'Oh my God, this kid is dead,' Mr Lewis could be heard saying on the recording.

'Oh my God, I'm the director of the childcare centre... the child was left on the bus all day.

'I've just opened up the bus and he's here, dead... I'm so sorry buddy.

'I'm going to jail, this is all my fault. Oh my God. My whole life is over.'

The shattered family (pictured) of the young boy was in Cairns Magistrates Court and heard the shocking details of their love one's final moments

Ms Grills (pictured) is charged with manslaughter over the tragic death of a three-year-old boy at Edmonton Goodstart Early Learning Centre on February 18

The grim discovery was made on Stokes Street, Edmonton, in Far North Queensland, at 3.15pm on Tuesday. Pictured: the scene where police are investigating

The court also heard allegations that Mr Lewis and Ms Grills had 'fraudulently' signed in the young boy more than two hours before the bus arrived at the daycare centre.

Police allege that the boy had been signed in by Mr Lewis at 7.35am last Tuesday on the Goodstart Early Learning Centre's electronic sign-in system.

However, the boy was not collected from his home by the bus until 9.15am, and CCTV footage showed the bus did not arrive at the daycare site until 9.33am.

THE TRAGIC TIMELINE OF THE BOY'S DEATH: 7.35am: Edmonton Goodstart Early Learning Centre manager Michael Glenn Lewis 'fraudulently' checks in the boy on the electric sign-in system. 8.30am: The boy's mother calls to ask if he can be picked up, as he was not collected on the initial morning run. 9.15am: Lewis and his colleague Dionne Batrice Grills collect the boy from his home on the minibus. 9.33am: The bus pulls into the daycare carpark, but the boy - who is strapped into a baby seat, two seats away from the front door - never gets off, despite being clearly visible. **During the day the temperature rises to 36C in the Cairns area. 2.45pm: The bus leaves for the afternoon run, with the boy still in his seat. 3pm: Lewis makes a desperate call to Triple-0, telling the operator: 'Oh my God, this kid is dead' Advertisement

'But the defendant and co-accused failed to remove the boy from the bus,' Police Prosecutor Senior Sergeant Maynard Marcum told the court, The Courier Mail reports.

'In a short trip it was forgotten that the three-and-a-half year old deceased child was strapped into a seat in the bus.

'There wasn't even a cursory glance.'

Police will allege that Mr Lewis - who was granted bail by the Magistrates Court - was obtaining taxpayer-funded benefits as part of the 'fraudulent' sign-in process.

Earlier on Tuesday his colleague Ms Grills - who had worked at the daycare centre for less than a month - also faced court.

Police allege Ms Grills was on the bus with Mr Lewis for the morning run, before the centre manager made the grim discovery when he returned to the vehicle later that afternoon.

The court heard that Ms Grills had been employed at the daycare centre for less than a month when the incident occurred.

Ms Grills was granted strict conditional bail and is forbidden from contacting her ex- colleagues, her co-accused or the dead child's family, except through her lawyers.

She was ordered to return to court on March 18.

The shattered family of the young boy was in court for the brief hearing.

The boy was found in a bus outside Hambledon State School, just 1.7km from his daycare, Goodstart Early Learning, in Edmonton (pictured)

A relative told the ABC they were 'distraught' about what had happened and called the young victim a 'cheerful little boy'.

He was just a cheerful little boy, that's what I remember of him Thomas Namok, a relative of the boy

'We're all distraught at the moment. We just can't believe this has happened. We just want answers,' Thomas Namok said.

'The last few days have just been terrible but everyone [in the family] will continue to support each other.

'He was just a cheerful little boy  we would always laugh every time he's around. That's what I remember of him. It's going to be sad he's not going to be around anymore.'

Queensland Police detective acting inspector Jason Smith said he hoped to provide some 'answers' for the family.

Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the child's death

'Her position as an employee of Goodstart Early Learning puts an element of responsibility upon her, and that forms part of the circumstances before the court,' Det Act Insp Smith said.

'The family are suitably distressed and very upset about this, and hopefully now that the matter is before the court they will get the answers that they need.'

A spokesman for Goodstart Early Learning, which operated the bus, previously told Daily Mail Australia the company was 'devastated' to learn of the child's death.

'We are working to support the entire centre team, our families and our children,' the spokesman said.

'The matter is now a police investigation and we will be working with the police, Department of Education (childhood education and care), and Workplace health and Safety.

'Our thoughts are very much with the family of the child at this time.'

The centre was closed on the day after the tragedy, with an ominous sign in its car park reading 'do not leave babies and children in parked cars'.
(CNN)  PepsiCo is buying a Chinese company that sells snacks online as it tries to corner more of the world's largest food and beverage market.

The American soda and snack company said Sunday that the deal to buy Be & Cheery  valued at $705 million  will help Pepsi become "China's leading consumer-centric food and beverage company."

The value of China's snack market increased by more than 400 percent between 2006 and 2016, according to a 2019 estimate from the country's Ministry of Commerce. The ministry said it expects the market to be worth nearly 3 trillion yuan ($427 billion) this year.

Pepsi's latest investment in China comes as companies struggle to get back to work after the coronavirus outbreak forced many to shut for weeks and depressed business activity. Chinese officials have been urging people to do more shopping online as one way of restricting the spread of the virus.

Be & Cheery, which is based in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, mostly sells nuts, dried fruits and other snacks online. It recorded 171 million yuan ($24.3 million) in net profit last year, a 32 percent jump from 2018.

The brand's current owner, Haoxiangni Health Food, bought Be & Cheery in August 2016 for 960 million yuan ($136.5 million). Sunday's sale price represents a valuation five times that amount.

Pepsi has been operating in China for decades, and has been making deals there. Last year, Pepsi took a stake in one of the country's largest natural food producers as it sought to capitalize on the global health food craze.

The company said earlier this month that it recorded "strong double-digit growth" in the country in 2019, though it did not break out that revenue.

"One of the critical opportunities for PepsiCo is to develop the international business," PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta told investors during an earnings presentation earlier this month. "And China, of course, is a huge market, where we have a good business. It's growing very well ... But the opportunity is much, much higher."

The Be & Cheery acquisition still needs approval from Haoxiangni shareholders and China's top market regulators.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Pepsi is buying a major Chinese snack retailer for $705 million."
After 11 seasons ABC's hit family comedy, Modern Family, will be coming to an end in April.

And new photos from the show's final day of filming Friday have given a big hint at a few of the character's last story lines.

Mitchell Pritchett (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cameron Tucker (Eric Stonestreet) were spotted filming with their on screen daughter Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons) and a possible new family member.

Last moments filmed: Modern Family characters Mitchell Pritchett (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cameron Tucker (Eric Stonestreet) were spotted filming with their on screen daughter Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons) and a possible new family member, on the show's last filming day on Friday

Mitch, Cam and Lily were spotted leaving one of the houses used for filming.

Cam, in a three piece grey suit white collard shirt and no tie carried a small suitcase.

While Mitch, in a black jean jacket and plaid shirt, carried a baby car seat with a baby inside.

It seems the on screen couple adopts a second baby in the show's final moments.

New member: While Mitch, in a black jean jacket and plaid shirt, carried a baby car seat with a baby inside. It seems the on screen couple adopts a second baby in the show's final moments

In the most recent episode of the show, Cam received word that the couple's form was chosen by an adoption agency as they decided on adopting again.

The couple adopted Lily from Vietnam in season one and since the baby in the carriage seemed to be of Asian decent, it seems they chose another baby from Asia again.

Modern Family's last day of filming was on Friday, and cast members including Sofia Vergara, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet and Sarah Hyland took to Instagram to share some amazing images marking the final time the Dunphys, Tucker-Pritchetts, and Pritchett-Delgados all got together in front of the camera.

Last story line: In the most recent episode of the show, Cam received word that the couple's form was chosen by an adoption agency as they decided on adopting again

This show started modestly in 2009, and has gone on to practically reinvent the family sitcom from the ground up, winning over 20 Primetime Emmys and a Golden Globe along the way.

Images of empty sets, final fittings and throwback moments to the series' pilot script all underscored the bittersweet feeling that the cast and crew seemed to share as they brought the Modern Family era in their careers to a close.

Ferguson, who played Mitchell Pritchett in all 250 episodes over the show's 11 seasons, took a selfie seated cross-legged in the empty set that stood in for one of the families' houses.

Empty:Ferguson, and the rest of the cast, posted photos on the show's last day of filming, Friday

Posting it on the eve of the show's last day of production, Ferguson shared an emotional J.M. Barrie quote as the beginning of his caption: '"Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting."

'Tomorrow is the last day of shooting @abcmodernfam,' Jesse continued.

'Thank you to all of our fans. Its been a great 11 years & 250 episodes.'

One day more: Jesse, Aubrey, and Eric posed for one last family snap together

Aww: He also posted a sweet snap in which he and his onscreen husband, played by Eric Stonestreet, flanked members of the show's crew and creative team along with their on-screen daughter played by Aubrey Anderson-Emmons

He also posted a sweet snap in which he and his onscreen husband, played by Stonestreet, flanked members of the show's crew and creative team along with their on-screen daughter played by Anderson-Emmons.

'With one of our bosses (and @abcmodernfam co-creator) Chris Lloyd and our Emmy Award winning director @gail_mancuso after our final shot at the Dunphy house,' Ferguson captioned the snap.

Stonestreet also posted a shot of the interior Jesse had posed in, this time with two empty chairs in the foreground.

Move out day: No doubt it was sad to see their television home cleared out

'Almost done. 1 more day of filming and just one more gbye video after this. #modernfamily #season11 #thefinalseason #imgonnamissthis' Eric captioned the snap.

Nolan 'Luke Dunphy' Gould took an interesting shot of the sound stage on the ABC Studios lot (part of Disney), Stage 5, where Modern Family has called home for the last 11 years  with previous 'tenants' including LA Law, The X-Files and many classic old films.

Modern Family's final season return for its conclusion in April.
NORMAL  Alan Beaman, who spent 13 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, has renewed his fight for a jury trial against the town of Normal and three former police officers.

Beaman, now 47, and living in his hometown of Rockford, was a student at Illinois Wesleyan University in 1993 when he was accused of strangling and stabbing Jennifer Lockmiller of Decatur, his former girlfriend, in a Normal apartment. Convicted in 1995, he was sentenced to 50 years in prison and served more than a dozen years before the Illinois Supreme Court reversed his conviction in 2008. He was granted a certificate of innocence by a judge and a pardon from Gov. Pat Quinn.

Last year, the Fourth District Appellate Court denied a second appeal of a 2016 lawsuit Beaman filed against former officers Tim Freesmeyer, Dave Warner, Frank Zayan and the town of Normal. Beaman argued the officers influenced prosecutors to identify Beaman as the only suspect, despite having proof he was in Rockford at the time of the murder. Other suspects were not considered, the filing said.

On Tuesday, Beaman appeared before the Supreme Court to ask for a jury trial on the matter, despite the denial, and filed a 78-page document in support of his request. A ruling is expected later this spring. An attorney for the town of Normal did not return a request for comment.

In essence, Beaman now is asking the Supreme Court to overrule an appellate decision that Beaman did not satisfy the legal requirements for a malicious prosecution case because there were no earlier findings of insufficient evidence.

His lawyers say the appellate ruling contradicts several federal decisions and would radically change state law by holding that a wrongfully convicted plaintiff automatically loses a malicious prosecution claim unless a trial court made a finding of insufficient evidence for conviction.

We are hopeful that the Illinois Supreme Court, which has twice ruled in Alans favor, will hear the case again and finally allow a jury trial to go forward, said David Shapiro, a Beaman lawyer who is MacArthur Justice Centers Supreme Court and Appellate director. Nothing can right the wrong that was done to him or remove the stain it has left on the history of our state, but the closest thing to it is a jury of Illinois citizens finally hearing his case.

In reversing the appellate court last December, the Supreme Court held that officers can be liable for malicious prosecution when their bad faith misconduct causes a wrongful conviction. Beaman, in his new filing, argues the appellate court disregarded the Supreme Court finding and ignored evidence of false testimony and concealment of evidence.

Ive spent my adult life fighting for justice and accountability. Im not stopping now, said Beaman in a statement released Tuesday. The idea that this lawsuit somehow threatens good cops is inherently flawed. Protecting malicious cops from accountability undermines public faith in the rule of law.

A college student at the time of his arrest, petitioner languished in prison for over a dozen years for a crime he manifestly did not commit, Beaman's lawyers argue in the documents filed Tuesday. "This court unanimously reversed the appellate court and threw out the conviction in 2008, and again unanimously reversed the appellate court in this civil case last year. Beaman deserves a day in court to seek justice from the men who robbed him of his youth through a bad faith investigation.

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NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Collective, the leading global co-living company based in New York, London and Berlin, today announced its U.S. base of operations' move to new office space in the duplex penthouse of the SoHo Building in the heart of Manhattan's vibrant SoHo neighborhood at 110 Greene Street. The move comes amid a period of rapid U.S. growth for the company, which in 2018, acquired its first New York ground-up development site at 555 Broadway in Brooklyn and started up its New York head office in order to go global with its mission: to build and activate space that fosters human connection and enables people to lead more fulfilling lives.

Comprised of 9,397-square-feet, The Collective's U.S. headquarters will occupy the top floor and penthouse level of 110 Greene Street. Completed in 1920 and recently upgraded by ownership, the SoHo Building features high ceilings, open floorplates, oversized windows, wood flooring and historic details including exposed brick and industrial design elements. The Class A building is LEED Gold certified. Alexander Golod and Neil King of CBRE represented The Collective.

"We're thrilled to be setting deeper roots in New York as a foundation for our further expansion both here in NYC and across the country" said Simon Koster, The Collective's Head of U.S. Development. "One of the core objectives of our work at The Collective is to create innovative and collaborative spaces within our co-living locations, and it was important to us to provide our team with workspace reflective of those values."

Since 2018, The Collective has been rapidly expanding its already deep bench of design, development, architecture, finance, community and hospitality experts in the United States. In 2019, Koster joined The Collective to lead this interdisciplinary team, which has grown to over 30 professionals, in the delivery across The Collective's growing U.S. pipeline of co-living projects.

In December, the company announced its latest ground-up development and sixth acquisition in the United States at 292 North 8th Street in central Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This, and The Collective's two previously announced Brooklyn projects, 555 Broadway and 1215 Fulton Street, are all projected for completion in 2022. Also in development by The Collective are 2825 NW Second Avenue in Miami, Florida's Wynwood District and 633 LaSalle in Chicago, Illinois.

In November of last year, the firm opened The Collective Paper Factory, establishing The Collective's first foothold in the United States. Paper Factory also marked the global debut of the company's short-stay model and the start of an explorative, collaborative cultural program dedicated to housing innovation and community-building in cities.

To date, The Collective has raised over $1 billion to fund its growing global network of co-living spaces, offering thoughtfully designed efficiencies in the private living space to create a surplus of square footage for unique shared amenities and experiences, bringing to life its vision of making co-living an option for people all over the world.

About The Collective

The Collective is a leading co-living pioneer building long and short stay communities across a growing, global network of cities. Its unique spaces combine thoughtfully designed private living solutions with communal and public amenities, to promote connection, growth and inspiration amongst members and benefit the surrounding neighborhood.

In the context of increasingly isolating urban environments, The Collective seeks to create a positive impact and foster human connection through dynamic cultural programs designed to bring people together.

Founded in London in 2010 by CEO Reza Merchant, The Collective has grown from offering small house shares to owning and operating the world's largest co-living project, with over 9,000 units operating or under development across the U.K., U.S. and continental Europe. The 350+ strong team headquartered across New York, London and Berlin has raised nearly $1bn to fund its international growth, bringing to life its vision of making co-living an option for people all over the world.

In joint partnership with DTZ Investors, a specialist European real estate fund manager, The Collective launched COLIV, the world's first institutional large-scale co-living fund, with the aim of raising up to 650 million ($840 million) in equity commitments to acquire or forward-fund between six and ten co-living assets in London.

The Collective Old Oak in London opened in 2016 with 546 rooms, which have since operated at 97 per cent occupancy. In 2019 The Collective opened new flexible stay co-living projects: Canary Wharf in London, and Paper Factory in Long Island City, New York.

For more information visit www.thecollective.com

SOURCE The Collective

Related Links

http://www.thecollective.com


An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team reviewed the economic policies of the new Sri Lankan government of President Gotabhaya Rajapakse government and issued a cautionary statement requiring compliance with its drastic austerity measures.

In the statement of February 7, the IMF mission head for Sri Lanka, Manuela Goretti, pointed to Sri Lankas repeated breaches of the prescribed fiscal deficit targets, risks associated with mounting foreign and domestic debts and, in veiled language, criticised the governments tax cuts.

Given the high level of public debt and refinancing needs in the country, ensuring macroeconomic stability called for fiscal consolidation, prudent monetary policy, and sustained efforts to build international reserves, Goretti stated. She called for the implementation of ambitious structural and institutional reforms including the privatization and commercialization of state-owned bodies.

The so-called prudent monetary policy means keeping to the IMFs fiscal target. The previous government of President Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe obtained a bailout loan amounting to $US1.5 billion in June 2016 and promised gradual reduction of the fiscal deficit to 3.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019. This was later extended to 2020.

The government adhered to the IMFs demands by slashing price subsidies and imposing taxes on essentials, driving up prices which severely affected the living conditions of workers and the poor. This triggered a wave of strikes and protests.

However, the fiscal deficit still shot up to 6.3 percent of GDP in 2019 and the projected rise in 2020 is 7.9 percent, more than double the IMF target. Goretti blamed this years increase on newly implemented tax cuts and exemptions, other accumulated expenditure and the low mobilization of revenue.

The IMF official also said the Net International Reserves fell short of the end-December target for 2019 by about $100 million amid market pressures after the presidential elections and announced tax cuts by the new government.

The Rajapakse government is desperately trying to patch up the ailing economy, which registered just 2.6 percent growth in 2019the lowest since 2002. Responding to a section of big business, the government declared the need for a stimulation program, by reducing the value added tax (VAT), and corporate and income tax. These taxes had been implemented under IMF-proposed amendments to the Inland Revenue Act. The revenue loss to the government due to tax cuts has been estimated at 500-800 billion rupees by the treasury.

Only big business was benefitted from the VAT reduction and other tax concessions. While it is usually not opposed to concessions to big business, the IMF wants to tighten the screws, as happened during the crisis in Greece, to squeeze the masses for the repayment of loans to international banks.

The IMF statement declared: Given risks to debt sustainability and large refinancing needs over the medium term, renewed efforts to advance fiscal consolidation will be essential. It called for greater efficiency in the public administration, which will mean job losses, and greater revenue mobilization, which means high tax collection.

According to the IMF, Sri Lankas estimated foreign debt will reach a staggering 64 percent of the GDP this year, while public debt will exceed 91 percent. According to the Central Bank, the government will have to pay $4.8 billion to service its external debt this year, and on average, $5 billion a year over the next four years. Repayments on private sector debt will be another $1.2 billion.

Significantly, the IMF did not mention the final installment of its existing loan amounting to $145 million. At the end of 2018, the IMF withheld the sixth installment of its loan when President Sirisena attempted to remove then-Prime Minister Wickremesinghe. The installment was only released in November last year. Though the final amount is small, the government depends on the approval of international institutions like the IMF to raise more loans on the global money market.

As the IMF team discussion concluded, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse told parliament on February 5 that the fiscal deficit would be reduced to four percent this year, indicating the government will bow to IMF demands.

Central Bank governor, W.D. Lakshman, told a conference of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on February 10 that there are difficult decisions that ought to be made by the political leadership. He declared that the IMF should not be treated as an enemy and called on the government to seek another IMF program.

The cash-strapped government is also looking for a delay in the repayment of foreign loans. During his visit to New Delhi early this month, Mahinda Rajapakse asked India for a three-year moratorium on loan repayments. He told the Hindu: If the Indian government takes this step, then other governments might agree to do the same thing, including China. Sri Lanka has loans amounting to $6 billion from China.

In line with IMF demands, the government has already called on the private sector to invest in the government-owned production facilities such as the graphite mine in Kahatagaha. Industry and Commerce Minister Wimal Weerawansa told the media on February 10, that inactive SOEs such as the Eastern Valaichchenai Paper Mills, North Saltern and Ceylon Ceramic Corporation factory at Oddusudan are being revived as Public Private Partnerships (PPP). Revival will mean savage cost-cutting.

Facing a desperate financial crisis, the government sought parliamentary approval last week to lift the debt ceiling from 721 to 1,088 billion rupees. It also requested a 367 billion rupees supplementary budget for urgent expenditure, blaming the previous government for its economic woes. However, it had to withdraw these requests last week at the last minute when the opposition United National Party rejected the proposals.

President Rajapakse is planning to dissolve parliament in the first week of March and hold a general election at the end of April. He is aiming at winning a two-thirds parliamentary majority to change the constitution and strengthen the presidents authoritarian powers. The extra money was in part to fund programs to win votes.

The IMF in its review predicted that Sri Lankas growth rate would rise this year and could reach 3.5 percent. However, economic commentators are pessimistic, warning of a deepening crisis amid the global downturn and geopolitical tensions. Sunday Times columnist Nimal Sanderatne warned on February 9: Once again the Sri Lankan economy is facing severe external shocks.

The IMF austerity program and worsening economic crisis will translate into major attacks on workers and the poor, setting the stage for a resumption and escalation of sharp class struggles in Sri Lanka as part of the growing global upsurge.
Were different because: We genuinely care, Santos said. We make sure that the food and supplies we use are actually things we would want and expect to receive when we eat out. Were always asking for customer feedback and we try to accommodate their requests. Being a start-up restaurant, its important to us that we connect with our customers; not just the new ones but also those whove been with us from the beginning.
[February 24, 2020] IT Market in Germany 2019-2023 | Increased Adoption of IT Solutions Among German SMEs to Boost Growth | Technavio

Technavio has been monitoring the IT market in Germany and it is poised to grow by USD 13.92 bn during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of 3% 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/20200224005737/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled IT Market in Germany 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire) Increased adoption of IT solutions among German SMEs has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Request a free sample report IT Market in Germany 2019-2023: Segmentation IT Market in Germany is segmented as below: End-User Manufacturing

Government

BFSI

ICT

Business Services

Other Sectors Category IT Services

Software

IT Hardware 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=IRTNTR31177



IT Market in Germany 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our IT market in Germany report covers the following areas:

IT Market in Germany size

IT Market in Germany trends

IT Market in Germany industry analysis This study identifies government support for IT solutions as one of the prime reasons driving the IT market in Germany growth during the next few years. IT Market in Germany 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the IT market in Germany, including some of the vendors such as Accenture, IBM (News - Alert), Microsoft, SAP SE and T-Systems International GmbH. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the IT market in Germany are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform IT Market in Germany 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist IT market in Germany growth during the next five years

Estimation of the IT market in Germany size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the IT market in Germany

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of IT market in Germany 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/20200224005737/en/

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She already learned the intricacies of of the social media TikTok from her oldest son.

Reese Witherspoon was back for seconds in a video posted Monday where her son Deacon Phillippe, 16, taught her how to dap.

The 43-year-old Big Little Lies actress had some trouble picking up on the handshake-like greeting, though by the end of the video she seemed like a natural.

Life lessons: Reese Witherspoon, 43, posted a video Monday of her son Deacon Phillipe, 16, teaching her how to dap

Reese assembled outside her home while wearing a thick charcoal sweater and high-waisted jeans.

She front-loaded her clip with some outtakes as she awkwardly tried to figure out the mechanics of dapping.

'Do you make a noise, or something?' she asked while breaking into a grin.

'No, you don't make a noise!' shouted a clearly embarrassed Deacon. 'That's weird.'

Casual figure: Reese assembled outside her home while wearing a thick charcoal sweater and high-waisted jeans

The basics: 'You said you were going to "dap somebody up." And what does that mean to "dap somebody up?" she asked. 'It's basically just a handshake that I do with my friends,' he replied

The American Psycho actress turned toward the video to start it properly.

'OK, I have another question. You said you were going to "dap somebody up." And what does that mean to "dap somebody up?"

'It's basically just a handshake that I do with my friends,' he replied.

Before they got to started, Deacon had to clear up the difference between 'dapping' and 'dabbing,' a celebratory gesture where one puts their arms up to the side at a diagonal angle while resting their head in the crook of their arm.

The move entered the popular culture through hip hop performers, and it was inspired by a common position from Japanese anime.

'That trend died, like, two years ago,' explained her son.

So close: Deacon cleared up the difference between 'dapping' and 'dabbing,' a celebratory gesture where one puts their arms up to the side at a diagonal angle while resting their head in the crook of their arm

Shocking: 'That trend died, like, two years ago,' explained her son

The Oscar winner had some difficulty moving her fingers around after coming together for a modified low-five, but her son helped move her fingers into the correct position.

After mastering the dap, they moved on to intermediate technique with finger guns, though that appeared to embarrass Deacon even more.

Though he was a master of the technique, the practice is believed to have originated among African American soldiers serving during the Vietnam War, and some find it racist or appropriative for white people to do it.

A little help: The Oscar winner had some difficulty moving her fingers around after coming together for a modified low-five, but her son helped move her fingers into the correct position

Stepping up: After mastering the dap, they moved on to intermediate technique with finger guns, though that appeared to embarrass Deacon even more

Reese share's Deacon and her eldest child Ava Phillippe, 20, with her ex-husband Ryan Phillippe, 45.

The former couple first met in 1997 at her 21st birthday party, and they quickly hit it off.

The two starred together in 1998's Cruel Intentions, and they tied the knot the following year while Reese was six-months pregnant with their first child.

The two announced a separation in October, 2006.

Old school: Reese share's Deacon and her eldest child Ava Phillippe, 20, with her ex-husband Ryan Phillippe, 45; pictured in 2001

New love: The Wild actress is currently married to talent agent Jim Toth, whom she tied the knot with in 2011. She welcome a third sone with him, Tennessee, in 2012; pictured February 9

The Wild actress began dating the talent agent Jim Toth in early 2010, and the two were engaged by December of that year.

They tied the knot in Ojai, California, in March 2011 at her country estate.

The couple later welcomed Tennessee, her third child and first with Jim, in 2012.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  Another effort to legalize recreational marijuana in Ohio through the ballot box is afoot, with backers of a proposed constitutional amendment now targeting the November 2020 ballot.

Tom Haren, a Cleveland attorney who also serves as an official with a trade group representing industrial hemp growers, declined to publicly discuss his groups plans.

We will have more to share when we file petitions with the Attorney Generals Office later this week, Haren said.

Mike Hartley, a Republican political consultant in Columbus working on the effort, declined to comment for this story, referring comment to Haren.

Submitting petitions is just the first step in the complex and expensive process through which the public can seek to amend the state constitution. If Attorney General Dave Yost and the Ohio Ballot Board approve the groups proposed language, the campaign then would have until July 1 to submit roughly 443,000 valid voter signatures collected from 44 of Ohios 88 counties if it wants to make the November ballot.

The first  and last  time Ohioans were asked to vote on marijuana was in 2015, when voters rejected State Issue 3 by 64%-36%.

Even though the issue failed badly, the threat of renewed attempts in part prompted the state legislature and then-Gov. John Kasich to pass a law legalizing medical marijuana the following year.

But it wasnt until January 2019 that medical marijuana was available for sale in Ohio. By the end of the year, 48 dispensaries had opened, and 55,617 Ohioans had purchased $60.6 million in flower, edibles, oil and other product.

Thomas Rosenberger, associate director of the Ohio Medical Cannabis Cultivators Association, an industry trade group, said his organization isnt backing the latest legalization effort.

The Ohio Medical Cannabis Association is focused squarely on bettering Ohios medical program, and we at this time are not backing an adult-use initiative," Rosenberger said.

Three other potential state constitutional amendments are in the mix for the November election. Organized labor groups are collecting signatures for a measure to raise the states minimum wage to $13 an hour, while campaigns backing two other proposed amendments  one that would expand early-voting and voter-registration laws, and another that would modify term limits for state lawmakers  are waiting for state approval before moving to the wider signature-collection phase.

Read other recent state news:

Gov. Mike DeWine signs new law legalizing earplug use for Ohio motorcyclists

Ohio BMV considering allowing online document submission in Real ID applications, following DHS ruling

Proposed ballot issue expanding Ohio voting access laws clears initial hurdle

Constitutional amendment targeting Ohio legislative term limits could appear on November ballot

Ohio senators hear testimony on bill that would eliminate statute of limitations on rape
Prominent Syrian activist Mazen Hamada has been the subject of a number of rumours, with some saying that he has settled with the regime reports Al-Modon.

Reports and reactions have been conflicting around the fate of Syrian activist Mazen Hamada after Syrian opposition pages published reports that hed been arrested at Damascus International Airport after returning to the embrace of the nation, in accordance with a settlement that he carried out with the Syrian regimes embassy in the German capital Berlin, which guaranteed his return in exchange for the release of prisoners from Deir ez-Zor province.

While the reports have not been confirmed, Syrian websites and social media activists published a voice recording attributed to Hamada, who became famous as one of the most prominent regime prisoners to survive and who revealed the torture methods carried out in Assads prisons. He spoke about his poor psychological condition, saying: Dont talk to me about the revolution. Im not in the mood. Im going back to my country. A wound can only be cured by ones brothers. Soon Ill go back to my family, and anyone affected by the war, well treat them.

The recording attributed to Hamada continued: Dont talk about psychological situations. Tomorrow Ill be well in my country. I didnt do anything. I want to go back to my country. What is there in the West? I want to listen to the muezzin and eat with my family and my people. The regime has nothing to do with me. I wont go near them. Everyone has played with the blood of our people.

The recording could not be confirmed nor the date it was made. The lack of information led to rumors spreading widely. The Syrian Revolution Network page on Facebook published a statement condemning regime authorities for kidnapping Hamada in Berlin and forcibly bringing him back to Damascus. Activists also discussed the possibility that Hamada would be forced to carry out an interview with regime media, that would be broadcast on official television, to disavow the Syrian revolution. Others warned that the regime could take revenge on him.

Hamada, 45, has been a refugee in the Netherlands for years. He worked at a French oil exploration company in Deir ez-Zor in a technical capacity and he had taken part in the preparations to try the Assad regime. He appeared in Syrian documentaries talking about torture in regime prisons.

The regime has arrested Hamada three times since the start of the revolution. He was first arrested on Apr. 24, 2011 by the State Security branch in Deir ez-Zor and held for a week. The second arrest was on Dec. 29, 2011, by the same branch, while he was coming back from Damascus, and was at one of the military checkpoints at the entrance to Deir ez-Zor city. This arrest lasted about two weeks. The third arrest was the longest and fiercest, when he was arrested by Air Force Intelligence in central Damascus in 2014.

Hamada gave accounts of torture in The Hague court, and spoke about the conditions of his arrest in the Air Force Intelligence branch: As soon as we entered, they started beating us with rods. They made us strip off our clothes and stand naked, and of course they tied up our hands. Then we were taken to the investigations building, and then to what they call the aircraft security, which is a dormitory 12 meters long and seven meters wide. We were 170 detainees standing in that space. We stayed there for three months and then they transferred us to the old investigations branch to find ourselves 12 people to a cell, which was no more than two meters long and two meters wide.

In his testimonies, Hamada said he was subjected to various types of torture, including striking genitals, using hot oil and boiling water, and extinguishing cigarettes on the bodies of detainees. Hamada also became prominent as a political activist, publishing videos in which he said he met Western officials to study cases related to the Syrian revolution. But recently he closed his accounts on social media.

While many Syrian activists sympathized with Hamada and his psychological state, others accused him of betraying the Syrian revolution, and called him things like drug addict. Others said that he had been a Syrian regime agent from the start, while others talked about him spreading hate speech and incitement against Syrias Kurds during his years of activism against the regime.

Amid the chaos, prominent activist and blogger Hussein Ghreir wrote a widely circulated Facebook post: Mazen Hamada was with me in Adra. A clean and pleasant young man. Mazen Hamada burned my heart when he was suffering alone in prison. Mazen Hamada burned my heart once again when he returned to Syria and the regime arrested him. Maybe I could have helped Mazen Hamada and I abandoned him. Mazen Hamada burned my heart to me a tenth and a hundred time when the regime dogs started devouring his flesh.

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.
Mayo Clinic reported today that 2019 was "a year of remarkable growth," with revenue swelling to $13.82 billion, up 9.7% from the previous year.

The clinic released the independently audited annual financial report this morning, along with a separate press release from Mayo Clinic leadership.

Net operating income topped $1 billion for the first time in the clinic's history. That's up from $617 million in 2018, according to this year's report.

{{tncms-inline alignment="right" content="<p><strong>Revenue</strong></p> <p>&bull; 2019 - $13.8 billion</p> <p>&bull; 2018 - $12.6 billion</p> <p>&bull; 2017 - $11.99 billion</p> <p>&bull; 2016 - $10.99 billion</p> <p>&bull; 2015 - $10.3 billion</p> <p><strong>Net operating income</strong></p> <p>&bull; 2019 - $1.06 billion</p> <p>&bull; 2018 - $617 million</p> <p>&bull; 2017 - $707 million</p> <p>&bull; 2016 - $475 million</p> <p>&bull; 2015 - $526.4 million</p> <p><strong>Charity care payments</strong></p> <p>&bull; 2019 - $96 million</p> <p>&bull; 2018 - $78 million</p> <p>&bull; 2017 - $72.2 million</p> <p>&bull; 2016 - $83.3 million</p> <p>&bull; 2015- $73 million</p>" id="d63cf593-1870-4f0d-8212-4519df7c0831" style-type="bio" title="Mayo Clinic financials" type="relcontent" width="half"}}

"2019 was a year of remarkable growth and reinvestment in Mayo Clinic's mission," President and CEO Dr. Gianrico Farrugia said in the press release.

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The introduction of a new accounting standard involving an $89 million "benefit credit" for pension-related expenses means some previously reported 2018 financials have been recalculated in this year's audited report. The $89 million was re-classified from operating income to non-operating, to allow comparability between years.

Of the total revenue, medical services led the way with $11.6 billion, a 9.3% increase over the previous year.

Medical revenue from contract or traditional insurance payments hit $6.9 billion, up from $6.25 billion.

Payments from Medicare grew to $2.8 billion, up 11.9% from $2.51 billion in 2018. Revenue from "Other, including self-pay" slightly declined to $1.46 billion in 2019 from $1.51 billion from the previous year.

Medicaid payments were $379 million, up from $326 million in 2018. Mayo Clinic reported that the payments from the government for "Medicaid and indigent care programs" did not cover $494 million of the cost for services.

The amount that Mayo Clinic spent on "charity care" grew by 23% to $96 million in 2019, up from $78 million in 2018.

Mayo Clinics cash flow from its "diversified sources of revenue," or for-profit operations, such as Mayo Clinic Labs and Mayo Clinic Ventures, was $1.29 billion, up 8.1% from the re-calculated 2018 financials.

In 2019, Mayo Clinic reported treating more than 1.2 million patients. Overall, the number of patients was up at the three campuses in Rochester, Arizona and Florida.

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"... At those destination sites, the number of transplant surgeries grew 12 percent, surgical cases increased 3.6 percent and hospital admissions grew 2.1 percent," Mayo Clinic Spokeswoman Ginger Plumbo said this morning. "Mayo Clinic Health System volumes are down overall. The installation of the Epic electronic medical record gives us a more accurate count for unique patients, eliminating some duplication of records. We're seeing more growth in the number of patients with complex medical needs and slower growth for those seeking less complex care."

Some of the rural Mayo Clinic Health System sites, such as Waukon, Iowa, and La Crescent, closed in 2019, while others, such as Albert Lea, cut back services. Mayo Clinic did invest $11 million to increase services in Austin to cover patients in the Albert Lea area.

Benefactors donated $549 million to the nonprofit Mayo Clinic in 2019, up from the previous year.

While Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit hospital, the financial report shows it did pay $28 million in "real property/business property taxes" and $24 million in income taxes for the taxable portions of its operations. It also paid $11 million in sales and use taxes.

"Our strong performance in 2019, financially and in patient care, research, and educating the next generation of health care providers, positions us well for the important work that lies ahead," said Jeff Bolton, Mayo Clinic's chief administrative officer.

Revenue

 2019 - $13.8 billion

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 2018 - $12.6 billion

 2017 - $11.99 billion

 2016 - $10.99 billion

 2015 - $10.3 billion

Net operating income

 2019 - $1.06 billion

 2018 - $617 million

 2017 - $707 million

 2016 - $475 million

 2015 - $526.4 million

Charity care payments

 2019 - $96 million

 2018 - $78 million

 2017 - $72.2 million

 2016 - $83.3 million

 2015- $73 million

Mayo Clinic's oil and gas wells are pumping out revenue as climate activists call for divestiture

Mayo Clinic reports total revenue of $12.6 billion in 2018
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As the nation's public librarians gather for the Public Library Association (PLA) Conference in Nashville, OverDrive announced its "Vision 2030." This multi-year initiative will build on the success librarians are experiencing using digital books and mobile apps to reach and provide access to all parts of the community including underserved segments to help bridge the digital divide. In the OverDrive Booth #823 at the PLA Conference, OverDrive will provide detail on Vision 2030 and the key components designed to target 100 million new readers. In addition, public librarians will present how their libraries are currently using digital books and OverDrive technologies to achieve these goals.

Why Vision 2030?

Books and reading improve lives, and our nation's libraries play a crucial role in supporting literacy and reading. Yet nearly half of all Americans do not possess a library card. According to Pew Research, 96% of US adults have a cell phone , which provides an immediate opportunity for libraries to introduce their services to tens of millions of new users to their online and other essential programs.

As part of OverDrive's social mission to create "a world enlightened by reading," the company has partnered with libraries to reach tens of millions of readers since Cleveland Public Library launched the first popular ebook lending service in 2003. As part of this mission, in partnership with the American Library Association, OverDrive has been the primary sponsor for the Libraries Transform initiative since 2015 and continues to advocate for library funding and equity issues as well as to educate publishers and authors on the benefits of fair and flexible content lending models.

"Our vision for this decade is to leverage the proven success of how libraries can be more relevant and meaningful in the lives of all citizens in every community," said Steve Potash, founder and CEO of OverDrive. "For 2020 and beyond we are prioritizing services that will enable libraries to attract, engage, and best serve the next 100 million readers who have yet to discover and embrace their library by 2030."

Vision 2030 campaigns include:

Onboard 40 million readers using their mobile phone number as their library card . Pew Research reports that in the US there are over 300 million mobile phones serving 96 percent of the population. OverDrive recently introduced Instant Digital Card , which has already enabled over 250,000 readers instant access to their local public library using their mobile number as their library card. The library sets its lending policies and can determine the level of access for these new patrons.



This service is being utilized in innovative ways to provide homeless citizens immediate access to the local library. In metropolitan Seattle , King County Library System librarians are reaching out to homeless and others that own a smartphone and welcome them to the KCLS community by instructing them how to gain instant access to the KCLS library of digital books, audiobooks and other content.



. Pew Research reports that in the US there are over 300 million mobile phones serving 96 percent of the population. OverDrive recently introduced , which has already enabled over 250,000 readers instant access to their local public library using their mobile number as their library card. The library sets its lending policies and can determine the level of access for these new patrons. This service is being utilized in innovative ways to provide homeless citizens immediate access to the local library. In metropolitan , librarians are reaching out to homeless and others that own a smartphone and welcome them to the KCLS community by instructing them how to gain instant access to the KCLS library of digital books, audiobooks and other content. Connect 50 million K-12 students to the library : OverDrive introduced Public Library Connect in 2019, in which schools and libraries collaborate to expand digital book access for students through the award-winning Sora app . This initiative will allow libraries to reach 50 million new student readers in the next decade. Libraries have already welcomed tens of thousands of new readers by providing 24/7 access to the public library's digital reading resources through Sora, named one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2019 .



: OverDrive introduced in 2019, in which schools and libraries collaborate to expand digital book access for students through the award-winning . This initiative will allow libraries to reach 50 million new student readers in the next decade. Libraries have already welcomed of thousands of new readers by providing 24/7 access to the public library's digital reading resources through Sora, named one of Reach 10 million readers through popular reading clubs. Digital book clubs around the world introduce millions of readers to the benefits and convenience of borrowing a digital book from the public library and joining a digital reading event. Successful reading events such as Big Library Read , and community reading programs held by St. Paul Public Library, San Diego County Public Library and Toronto Public Library unite readers through the shared experience of reading the same ebook during the same time period then discussing online. These programs can bring in 10 million or more new patrons in the next 10 years.

Develop innovative access models and sources of digital media. The evolution of digital content and lending models over the last 10 years has impacted the industry significantly. OverDrive is committed to working with libraries over the next decade to discover and implement new, more efficient ways to reach and serve communities. In addition to providing industry leadership and advocacy for more flexible and cost-effective lending models, OverDrive recently integrated hundreds of thousands of small publisher and self-published titles in OverDrive Marketplace which has streamlined catalog access and increased choice for libraries and patrons.

To learn more about Vision 2030 and these user acquisition initiatives, visit the OverDrive booth #823 at PLA Conference and company.overdrive.com/ . Presentations include "School-Library OverDrive Lending: A Collaborative Approach" (Jefferson County Library Cooperative, Alabama) and "Public Library and School Collaboration  Increasing Juvenile/YA Access Through Sharing" (San Antonio Public Library).

About OverDrive

OverDrive is the leading digital reading platform for libraries and schools worldwide. We strive to create "a world enlightened by reading" by delivering the industry's largest catalog of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines and other digital media to a growing network of 45,000 libraries and schools in 78 countries. Our popular reading apps provide best-in-class user experience and tools for staff management: the Libby app for libraries is one of PCMag's Best Free Software of 2019 and Popular Mechanics' 20 Best Apps of the 2010s, while the student reading app Sora is one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2019. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, Ohio USA and was named a Certified B Corp in 2017. www.overdrive.com

Contact:

David Burleigh

OverDrive

Director of Brand Marketing & Communication

[email protected]

SOURCE OverDrive

Related Links

http://www.overdrive.com


Sarah Byrd has five children, but shes still more than willing to seek out advice.

Byrd attended the annual Baby Blast event on Thursday at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital with two of her daughters: Paisley, 2, and Remi, who was born Jan. 2 at the hospital and was the first baby born in Lebanon in 2020.

Dads been out of town this week working. We decided to get out of the house and we saw it on Facebook, Byrd said.

This is the eighth year for the event and it has nearly outgrown its home in the conference room at the Lebanon hospital. New parents, experienced parents and expecting parents are all welcome.

Laurie Barajas, the maternal care coordinator for SLCH, said the idea behind the event was simple.

How do we get new parents and parents of young children all the resources in one place so they dont have to run around, and also introduce them to our hospital and the services we have, Barajas said.

Each year, the Baby Blast event does exactly that. It brings together organizations and agencies who provide services which might be useful for parents and families.

This year, the lineup included:

 Samaritan Health Services pediatric, OB/GYN and family practice providers.

 Linn-Benton Community College, Family Resource and Education Center.

 Pediatric dental health providers.

 Community libraries.

 Medical supply companies.

 Linn County public health services.

 Prenatal services and parental counseling.

 Early learning programs.

 Physical activities and recreation opportunities.

The Al Kader Linn County Shriners Club joined the event this year, offering information on child safety and answering questions about the services provided at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Portland.

More people want to be here, agencies want to be here. It continues to grow, Barajas said.

In addition to information about these services, the participating agencies and organizations also provided gifts for those who attended. There were door prizes and raffles at every booth.

Barajas said approximately 300 babies are born each year at the Lebanon hospital. She was asked what advice she would give to new parents.

Take a parenting class. Even though it seems like a natural thing to do, I think for all of us its a great way to meet other parents. It gives you information about the new things to do with your children and it gets you into the community, Barajas said.

Becca King, the nurse manager for the birth center, is part of the delivery team at the hospital. She understands the stress and anxiety that can follow the birth of a child. Her advice to new parents is to accept that not everything is always going to be perfect and thats OK.

Try and relax and enjoy their child. Sometimes its stressful and you lose sleep, but finding those times to really just slow down and enjoy and bond, King said.

Barajas also invited expecting parents to take a tour of the birthing center at the hospital to meet staff members such as King and become more familiar with the facility before the baby arrives.

Our goal is that parents know we are with them all the way, Barajas said. We have a collaboration with our OB doctors that are amazing, our pediatricians, our family practitioners to have this wrap-around care for our patients. For a small hospital, we have a lot going on.

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All Nippon Airways Co. said Tuesday it will suspend all remaining flights from Kansai airport in Osaka to China next month due to a drop in demand following a coronavirus outbreak in the neighboring country.

It will halt flights to Beijing and Shanghai for most of March and further reduce flights from Narita airport east of Tokyo to Shanghai.

The airline known as ANA said its seven round-trip flights from Kansai International Airport to Shanghai's Pudong International Airport will be halted from March 2 and its three weekly round-trip flights to Beijing Capital International Airport from March 3. The suspension for both routes is scheduled until March 28.

In total, the airline's flights connecting Japan and mainland China excluding Hong Kong will be reduced to 40 round trips a week from March 3, sharply down from over 150 before it the cutback.
Cuyahoga Countys Office of the Medical Examiner has one of the oldest forensic pathology training programs in the country, and several times a year it hosts death-investigation trainings for law enforcement officers, prosecutors and first responders. A few days before taking the training myself, I met Christopher Harris, the offices communications specialist, outside a warehouse of mock death scenes. A dummy dressed in a hoodie was sprawled under a picnic table on AstroTurf covered in blood, with a pistol near his rubber hand; another dummy in a house dress lay on the floor of a fake kitchen with the oven door open. These sets were built for the final test, in which students assess each scene and make an initial determination.

Youll do this on Tuesday, after you take the trainings, Harris said, guiding me through each room. The idea is that death can fool you if you dont know what youre looking at, and despite the garishness of the stiff-limbed dummies, the improbable redness of their blood, the point is made. I mistook a particularly gruesome-looking accident for a homicide and an overdose for a natural death.

On the morning of the first day of the death-investigation training, we received a quiz. The questions ran in this general direction:

Fill in the blank: A torn gunshot wound that can be put together again is ______________.

True or false: While processing a hanging scene, the ligature should always be removed from the decedent on scene.

One by one, the pathologists took the lectern. Mooney taught us how to quickly distinguish between a stab wound from a blunt weapon and one from a sharp tip. Another doctor covered drownings; a third, hangings. We learned to recognize the way bullets will stipple the skin while entering the body versus exiting and how the body looks after poisonings, deaths in custody, bludgeonings, car accidents, hypothermia, hyperthermia, fire. We learned to recognize the common forward-slumping position of people who die from opioid overdoses, which is sometimes referred to as prayer position. We learned to look at a corpse and its damage or rot as a story  the last story a person will ever tell, and one he or she needs help communicating.

This work is unpleasant to think about for most people. But Americans unwillingness to devote time and money to studying the dead  our supposition that the story, or the parts of it that matter, stop with the heartbeat  absolutely fails to imagine the intimacy with which the living and the dead remain connected. The dead tell us how were dying, how were living, who among us gets a better shot at a whole and healthy life and the ways in which we remain vulnerable to one another and to the vicissitudes of an unpredictable world. Our epidemics, the commonality of our despair, our continual mistakes, the progress we have yet to make, the wrongs we have yet to correct  all these are mirrored back to us by the dead.

In late 2019, news outlets began reporting on a study commissioned by the Congressional Black Caucus showing that the rate of suicide among black American teenagers was soaring. More than a year had passed since Gilson and I stood near the body of the 13-year-old in his morgue, so I called him to ask how he felt about his warning finally reaching the public consciousness.

He reiterated what he said then: that public-health studies tend to work with data gathered by offices like his a year or more earlier. He wondered whether the government had missed a time to intervene much sooner.
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida -- Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a former U.S. Army helicopter pilot, said recently that the Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force would have to wait their turn if they want their own version of the Army's futuristic helicopters being developed under the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) effort.

The Illinois Democrat and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee recently attended a high-profile flight demonstration of Sikorsky-Boeing's new SB-1 Defiant helicopter that was designed with the goal of replacing the UH-60 Black Hawk.

The Army awarded a team from Sikorsky, part of Lockheed Martin Corp., and Boeing Co. a 2014 contract to build Defiant as part of the Joint Multi Role Technology Demonstrator (JMRT-D) program.

A Textron Inc.-Bell team also received a contract under the effort and built the V-280 Valor, a tiltrotor-design helicopter that completed its first test flight in December 2017.

Related: Test Pilots Sound Off on Futuristic Helicopter Vying to Replace Army's Black Hawk

Both the Valor and the Defiant prototypes are promising designs, Army officials maintain, that are capable of flying at speeds of more than 200 knots and will result in a replacement for the venerable Black Hawk as the service's new Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA).

Duckworth, a former Army National Guard officer who lost both legs after enemy forces shot down the Black Hawk she was flying over Iraq in 2004, said she intends to keep the FVL program from morphing into an unwieldy, joint effort. That's a pitfall that has thrust many joint-service programs into program delays and cost-overruns because of overly broad requirements.

"This is an Army aircraft; we need to keep an Army mission," Duckworth told reporters at the Feb. 20 flight demo. "If the other services want to fall in behind it and develop something afterward and tweak it for what they need, that is fine, but we cannot build a Frankenaircraft ... that's going to meet the Marines' needs and the Navy's need and the Air Force's needs.

"We need to not let the requirements start to meander and creep around because otherwise we will never get to where we need to and get these things fielded as quickly as possible," she added.

In the past, the Pentagon has often tried to develop multiple versions of a major combat system, such as the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which has been designed to satisfy the requirements of the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. The acquisition program for the advanced, stealth fighter began in the mid-1990s and still suffers from testing setbacks that have delayed a full-rate production decision.

That Army-Marine Corps Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program, however, is considered a successful acquisition effort that began in 2006 after Humvees in Iraq could not withstand the destruction force of enemy homemade bombs attacks.

JLTV took almost a decade to become a reality but, in August 2015, Oshkosh Corp. was selected over Lockheed Martin Corp. and AM General LLC to build the vehicle for the Army and Marine Corps.

Meanwhile, for the second year in a row, the Army has reduced the number of JLTVs it will buy in fiscal 2021 to free up money to fund future modernization.

Related: Here's Why the Army Is Buying Fewer JLTVs Next Year

FVL is one of the Army's top modernization priorities under a new strategy the service launched in 2017, with the goal of replacing most of its major combat platforms beginning in 2028.

Leaders stood up Army Future Command, an organization designed to help the service's acquisition and requirements machines work more closely together in an effort to streamline what has traditionally been a slow-moving process to develop and field combat system.

So far, the strategy appears to be working, since the FLRAA and the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) efforts are ahead of schedule, Duckworth said.

Army officials are scheduled to down-select to two vendors to build final prototypes of the FARA next month. The service is also scheduled to begin a competitive demonstration and risk reduction phase for FLRAA, which is expected to last until 2022, the year the service plans to down-select to one vendor to build the Black Hawk replacement.

"This is rare for defense procurement to actually be ahead of timeline instead of pushing everything to the right," Duckworth said. "I am very pleased with how well the Army is handling this development."

The senator stressed, however, that she intends to continue strict oversight of the FVL to ensure it doesn't result in a waste of taxpayer dollars.

"We can't be spending upward of $60 million per airframe," Duckworth said. "If we do that, then we can't field the number of airframes that we need to be out there in the force."

Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, who also attended the flight demo, stressed that the service's leadership is committed to making necessary cuts to outdated programs to free up money for FVL and other modernization efforts.

"We don't have a choice. We are running out of letters to upgrade the existing platforms -- they are 40-year-old systems; the technology will not endure," he said.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Read More: Sikorsky-Boeing's SB-1 Defiant Helicopter Prototype Impresses Leaders in Flight Demo
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Midland College is looking to add its third bachelors degree: Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) Early Childhood Education.

College staff told the board at its monthly meeting last week that the need for the early childhood education degree is very, very real. Midland College reports a 151 percent increase in employment opportunities is expected in this field by 2026 and 350 annual pre-K openings on average in the Permian Basin.
Malaysias king, Al-Sultan Abdullah Riayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah, hands drinks to journalists waiting outside the gates of the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur as he takes a break from interviewing lawmakers on who should be the next prime minister, Feb. 25, 2020.

Updated at 5:26 p.m. ET on 2020-02-25

Malaysias king announced Tuesday he was holding individual interviews with every member of parliament before choosing the next prime minister, a day after Mahathir Mohamad stunned the nation by resigning from the post.

But opposition parties and a prominent activist group called on the king to dissolve parliament to make way for a fresh election. They rejected a potential unity government after Mahathir said he was meeting with leaders of all major political parties.

In an extraordinary move, King Al-Sultan Abdullah Riayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah appeared Tuesday at the gates of the National Palace, and handed out fast food to waiting journalists, asking them for patience with the unprecedented interview process, which could last into Thursday.

We are very concerned, yes, I know. Be patient. First of all, let me do my duty. I hope we will find the best solution for the country, he told the throng of reporters.

Just a small gesture for all of you, said the king, who doled out hamburgers, French fries and drinks from McDonalds.

On Monday, he accepted Mahathirs resignation and his recommendation to dissolve the cabinet, but then appointed the 94-year-old as interim PM.

Earlier on Tuesday, a spokesman for the king said the country remained in peace and order despite the tumult around Mahathirs sudden resignation and the collapse of the ruling Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) coalition, when three dozen MPs pulled out from the political alliance.

Article 42 and 43 states that the king will pick one of the members of parliament whom the Majesty thinks gets the highest majority in parliament as the prime minister, Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin told reporters

All MPs are invited for interview session with the king  three minutes have been allocated for each session, he said, adding that 90 would be interviewed Tuesday.

Bernama, the state news agency, confirmed that the king had concluded the first round of individual meetings with parliamentarians by 6 p.m.

Fadillah Yusof, a lawmaker from Petra Jaya in Sarawak state, said MPs were given a form to select their choice for prime minister during their meeting with the king.



I wrote Tun Dr. Mahathirs name as the prime minister. No discussion, just a form to select who to be the prime minister, he told reporters as he left the session.

Fadillah is a member of the United Traditional Bumiputera Party (PBB), which is aligned with Barisan Nasional.

Under normal circumstances, the prime minister is the candidate who has the support of at least 112 members of the 222-seat Malaysian parliament.

Mahathir was selected as prime minister after the Pakatan coalition swept to power in the 2018 general election. The bloc consisted of 50 MPs from the Peoples Justice Party (PKR), 42 from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), 26 from Bersatu and 21 from other parties aligned with the coalition.

The prime minister, who led Bersatu, quit the party on Monday after it withdrew from Pakatan.

The opposition Barisan Nasional coalition included 39 MPs from the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), 18 from the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) and 26 from parties aligned with Barisan or independents, according to figures from parliament.

Back to business

While the king met with MPs at the palace, the Prime Ministers Office released a photograph of Mahathir working at his desk in his new role as interim leader, in an apparent attempt to portray stability amid uncertainty.

"Just another day in the office," Mahathir said in a message posted on his Twitter feed.

It also said that Mahathir held meetings on Tuesday with leaders of virtually every political party.

Those included UMNO, the long-ruling party and anchor of the Barisan coalition, which Pakatan Harapan ousted in the historic 2018 election, and PAS, the conservative Muslim party.

Mahathir, a former UMNO member, defected to the Pakatan alliance to lead it in that election. The opposition bloc won it on a platform of ridding government of corruption.

Interim Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad works at his office in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Feb. 25, 2020. [Prime Ministers Office via AP]

Following those meetings, UMNO and PAS leaders, joined by officials of other opposition parties, called for new elections.

We are not going to join the unity government as we cannot work with DAP. Return the mandate to the people, dissolve the parliament and let the people decide, UMNO information chief Annuar Musa told reporters. Unity government is a hypocrisy.

Most of the members of the Democratic Action Party, a partner in the Pakatan alliance, are members of the ethnic Chinese minority and DAP advocates social justice and multi-racialism.

Mahathir led four parties and it collapsed, what would happen if he led a 12-party coalition, Annuar said. It is not fair to the people and we will not join a unity government.

Wee Ka Siong, an MP from Johor with the Malaysian Chinese Association party, also said the unity government would not work. MCA belongs to the Barisan coalition.

A democracy without opposition cannot flourish, he told reporters. There needs to be checks and balances.

Among the voices speaking out in favor of dissolving parliament to call fresh elections was the grassroots NGO Bersih 2.0  otherwise known as the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections.

It issued a statement expressing concern over whether Mahathir was considering forming a unity government where, as Bersih described it, all major parties would be represented.

Such a government goes against the spirit of democracy, Bersih said. Democracy is about allowing political parties with different ideologies to compete against each other for the right to govern and implement policies based on their ideologies.

A unity government would also mean there would be no opposition to the government of the day. There would be no parties to do effective check and balances, to hold the government accountable, Bersih added.

Defectors support Mahathir

Meanwhile, a group of 11 Peoples Justice Party defectors spoke out Tuesday in support of Mahathir maintaining power as prime minister. PKR is led by Anwar Ibrahim, who with Mahathir spearheaded the 2018 election upset and had been tagged to succeed him as prime minister before the end of the five-year term.

We would like to reiterate our undivided support to Mahathir Mohamad as the prime minister for the full term. We have stressed this during a closed-door party meeting and also openly, said the group led by former PKR Deputy President Mohamed Azmin Ali.

Our action is based on the peoples aspiration for a stable government, strong unity and a focus on efforts to restore and generate strong economic growth.

Also on Tuesday, leaders of what is left of Pakatan Harapan held a presidential council meeting.

Speaking afterward to journalists outside PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya, two leaders of the National Trust Party (Amanah) said there was no need for new elections.

No, we didnt discuss fresh polls, Amanah communications director Khalid Samad said about the meeting. Why should we waste money on fresh polls when we can get a clear [majority]?

The Pakatan council also reached an agreement on who to support to run the country.

We have made a decision, Amanah Deputy President Salahuddin Ayub said. The decision will be announced tomorrow.
NEW DELHI: At least seven people died and 76 people were injured in the violence that broke out following clashes between Citizenship Amendment Act and anti-CAA protesters in the national capital on Monday, news agency PTI said on Tuesday (February 25, 2020). In view of the situation, Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed at ten locations in North-East district of Delhi. Heavy police force has been deployed in most sensitive areas like Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar.

Officials of Delhi Police Special Cell and Economic Offence Wing (EoW) are keeping a close eye on the situtaion in the national capital in the aftermath of the violence. ''35 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in Northeast Delhi along with Special Cell, Crime Branch and Economic Offences Wing (EOW) officials. Local police from different districts of Delhi have also been called in,'' the Delhi Police said in a statement.

Several trains are being terminated at the Welcome metro station as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, the government sources on Tuesday (February 25, 2020) said that the violence appears to have been orchestrated to tarnish President Donald Trumps ongoing visit to the country.

Seven persons, including one Head Constable of Delhi Police, lost their lives in the clashes 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 other person is yet to be known. Furkan lost his life in clashes related to CAA in Bhajanpura. At least 10 cops were injured in the violence. 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 the police, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Amit Sharma also sustained injuries in the clashes, which rocked parts of Gokulpuri area.Delhi Police said that a man wearing a red T-shirt who opened fire at the police during violence in North-East Delhi has been identified as Shahrukh.

Later, 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 said.

According to top placed sources in the Home Ministry, the Home Minister himself took charge to control the situation in the capital and called for an urgent meeting late on Monday during which he instructed Home Secretary AK Bhalla, Delhi LG Anil Baijal and Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik ''to control the situation as soon as possible.

Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal 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.

Union Home Secretary informed that the agencies are keeping a close watch on the situation and the necessary arrangements have been done to restore peace in the area.

(With Agency inputs)
Cisco has unveiled a cloud-based security platform it says will go a long way in helping customers protect their far-flung networked resources.

Cisco describes the new SecureX service as offering an open, cloud-native system that will let customers detect and remediate threats across Cisco and third-party products from a single interface. IT security teams can then automate and orchestrate security management across enterprise cloud, network and applications and end points.

Until now, security has largely been piecemeal with companies introducing new point products into their environments to address every new threat category that arises, wrote Gee Rittenhouse senior vice president and general manager of Ciscos Security Business Group in a blog about SecureX.

As a result, security teams that are already stretched thin have found themselves managing massive security infrastructures and pivoting between dozens of products that dont work together and generate thousands of often conflicting alerts. In the absence of automation and staff, half of all legitimate alerts are not remediated.

Cisco pointed to its own 2020 CISO Benchmark Report, also released this week, as more evidence of the need for better, more tightly integrated security systems. The study's findings include:

86% of organizations use between one and 20 vendors. and 13% using over 20 vendors.

42% of respondents suffer from cybersecurity fatigue that working in a multivendor environment contributes to.

Top security challenges include private-cloud infrastructure, network infrastructure, and mobile devices.

46% of organizations (up from 30 percent in last years report) had an incident caused by an unpatched vulnerability.

Malware and malicious spam come in as the first- and second-most commonly cited causes of breach. Ransomware is responsible for causing the most destructive amount of downtime (more than 17 hours).

Many of those findings and others are behind the development of SecureX. For example, simplifying complex security environments is key, Cisco says. With SecureX, customers log into a single sign-on account and see the products they own and what other packages they might be integrated with. The service also offers an activity feed that includes new incidents and threat research that can initiate prebuilt or constructible playbooks that define and automate workflows such as threat investigation and remediation.

With our phishing playbook for example, end users can submit suspicious email to SecureX to get a recommendation of whether it is malicious or not, wrote Jeff Reed senior vice president of product for Ciscos Security Business in a blog.

If the submitted email is malicious, the end user will be notified of recommended next steps, and an event will be generated in SecureX alerting the security team. To deliver this capability, the playbook pre-processes email to extract observables, determines the verdict for observables, hunts for targets involved and takes mitigation and/or preventative actions such as isolating the targets involved, blocking the malicious domain as necessary.

The service also includes the latest security threat intelligence from Cisco Talos that will let customers hunt for new threats.

Multi-domain managed threat hunting detects threats by using a combination of intel and data techniques to surface activity that might have slipped past traditional threat, behavioral, and [machine-learnng]-based techniques, Reed stated. High fidelity threats confirmed by our Talos and security research teams are then communicated to customers through the SecureX activity panel as well as via emails with detail artifacts, targets involved, and remediation recommendations.

According to Cisco there is nothing new to buy, deploy or integrate to use SecureX which will be available in June  if customers already have a Cisco Connection Online Identification (CCO) they can login and add products to SecureX by providing API keys and adding on-prem devices. If they dont have a CCO account, they can create a SecureX account on the homepage and add products to SecureX by providing an API key.

If the name SecureX sounds familiar, it is. Thats because in 2011, it used the name for a narrow architecture across a few network security products which had the SecureX name associated with it. Unlike an abstract architecture, this platform is real with customers logging into it, and it'll realize the earlier promise, Cisco said

SecureX is yet another step Cisco is taking to utilize cloud services to address enterprise security issues. Analysts say its also part of an overarching move toward the notion of zero trust. Cisco s Threat Response platform is based on those principles and includes a number of core Cisco products, among them Umbrella, advanced malware protection for endpoints, and intrusion protection.

Experts predict Cisco will continue to fill out and improve integrations with its threat platform especially where it involves the cloud and access at the network edge.

Cisco remains one of the strongest top-tier competitors in enterprise security today, particularly on the network side, but often overlooked are the tremendous strides Cisco has made in cloud security, said Eric Parizo, a senior analyst at Omdia.

Its Umbrella cloud-delivered security solution is one of the most popular and fastest-growing offerings in Ciscos security division, thanks in large part to its ease of use and variety of flexible features. When paired with its other cloud-based offerings including Threat Grid, Stealthwatch Cloud, and Duo, all of which Cisco is integrating with its other security solutions like its firewalls and network access control solutions, Cisco will remain a force to be reckoned with in enterprise security for some time.
The Auschwitz museum has slammed Amazon's new television series "Hunters," saying that a fictionalised scene from the show starring Al Pacino was "dangerous" and would encourage "future deniers." "Auschwitz was full of horrible pain & suffering documented in the accounts of survivors," the Auschwitz Memorial, which preserves the site of the Nazi death camp in Poland, tweeted on its official account. "Inventing a fake game of human chess for @huntersonprime is not only dangerous foolishness & caricature," it said. "It also welcomes future deniers. We honor the victims by preserving factual accuracy." The tweet was accompanied by a photo of a scene from the series that showed humans used as chess pieces. The drama series, which stars Pacino as a Holocaust survivor, is set in 1977 and follows a group of Nazi hunters who discover hundreds of high-ranking Nazi officials living in the US and conspiring to create a Fourth Reich. The series, advertised on its website as being inspired by true events, premiered on Amazon's streaming service last Friday. Its creator, David Weil, hit back at the criticism on Monday, saying in a lengthy statement sent to AFP that he had visited the death camp, where his grandmother was imprisoned. "While 'Hunters' is a dramatic narrative series, with largely fictional characters, it is inspired by true events," he said. "But it is not documentary. And it was never purported to be. "In creating this series it was most important for me to consider what I believe to be the ultimate question and challenge of telling a story about the Holocaust: how do I do so without borrowing from a real person's specific life or experience?" Referring to the "chess match" scene, he said it was a "fictionalized event." "Why did I feel this scene was important to script and place in series?" he said. "To most powerfully counteract the revisionist narrative that whitewashes Nazi perpetration, by showcasing the most extreme -- and representationally truthful ? sadism 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?" he added. "After all, it is true that Nazis perpetrated widespread and extreme acts of sadism and torture -- and even incidents of cruel 'games' ?- against their victims. I simply did not want to depict those specific, real acts of trauma." Operated by Nazi Germany from 1940 until 1945 in then-occupied Poland, Auschwitz was part of a vast and brutal network of camps across Europe set up as part of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler's "Final Solution" of genocide against an estimated 10 million European Jews. Nazi Germany killed more than 1.1 million people at Auschwitz, most of them Jewish. The Auschwitz Memorial, which preserves the site of the Nazi death camp in Poland (main gate pictured), accused Amazon's new series "Hunters" of "dangerous foolishness & caricature" by inventing torture scenes
The lowest prices in grocery are coming to Castlecomer as Aldi today confirmed its plans to open a new store as part of its 160 million Irish store network investment programme.

Expected to open in 2022, the new store will be located in the centre of Castlecomer, on the site of the towns former Creamery. The site, vacant for several years, is being developed by Greenstripe Ltd., and will feature the Aldi store as the anchor tenant, along with additional retail, office and residential units. The Creamerys historic three-storey mill building, a protected structure, will also be preserved and fully refurbished. A planning application for the 52,500 square feet development on the eight acre site has been submitted to Kilkenny County Council.

The development of the new Aldi store will see a substantial investment into the local area, with up to 100 jobs being created during the construction period and 20 permanent positions to become available upon opening.

The 1,315 sqm store will be constructed in Aldis award-winning Project Fresh design and will be powered by 100% green electricity. There will be 229 car parking spaces available for customers within the overall development and a further four bicycle parking stations on site. Aldi will also invest in the future of Castlecomer through the provision of two free-to-use electric vehicle charging points outside the store.

Commenting, Adam Ward, Managing Director Aldi Mitchelstown Region said: We are very excited to be coming to Castlecomer. This is fantastic news for shoppers and employment in the town. Every new Aldi store that opens brings greater choice, quality and value to shoppers.

Aldi has a strong commitment to Kilkenny, operating five stores in the county. Our new Castlecomer store will bring great value to the doorsteps of locals who previously had to travel up to 30 minutes to their nearest Aldi.

Brian Dunlop of Brian Dunlop Architects notes that This new development will provide an extension of Castlecomers existing streetscape and revitalise this area intrinsically linked to the towns history. With Aldi as the anchor tenant along with the proposed office & residential accommodation we look forward to transforming the site into a modern mixed use development that fits the needs of Castlecomers residents.

Aldis five Kilkenny stores participate in its national partnership with FoodCloud, donating surplus food to local charities daily. The Kilkenny stores have donated over 33,000 meals to charity to date. Each store is also part of Aldis Community Grants network, with Down Syndrome Ireland Waterford and South Kilkenny Branch, Amber Kilkenny Womens Refuge, South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association and Fairy Footprints availing of a bursary grant in recent times.
- The 10 patients were forcefully discharged from the facility on Friday, February 21

- The country is currently facing a blood shortage in major public hospitals

- Cancer patient need blood transfer to compensate for what they loose during chemotherapy

Kenyatta National Hospital has sent away at least 10 cancer patients over blood shortage.

The patients who were waiting for the live-saving chemotherapy at the facility were discharged on Friday, February 21, after waiting for weeks to be attended to.

READ ALSO: Reggae will stop, we will stop it - William Ruto on BBI rallies

When contacted, the hospital communications officer said he was not aware of such a matter. Photo: Daily Nation

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Kipyegon Kenei: Over KSh 45K was sent from officer's phone to his wife, father before he died

The patients were asked to either look for donors or travel to their respective counties and request for blood, as reported by Daily Nation.

We were forcibly discharged on Thursday and most of the patients slept in the casualty corridor, before leaving on Friday morning, said Hellen Achieng, one of the patients who hails from Busia.

On Wednesday, February 19, Millie Kagonga of Symbol of Hope Warriors, a cancer support group in Kariobangi North, placed an advert on social media calling on Kenyans to donate blood for Achieng since her condition was deteriorating.

READ ALSO: Kenyan woman narrates how husband kicked her out, married their daughter

Every time I call her relatives, they promise to come to Nairobi to see her but they have never showed up. They dont have transport to come to Nairobi and getting a blood transfusion at KNH is almost impossible if you dont bring your donors, said Kagonga.

I dont even have money for my transport back home. I am in pain. What these people are telling me is to go die at home. Where do I get blood? posed Achieng, 32.

When contacted, the hospitals communications manager, Hezekiah Gikambi, said he was not aware of the issue.

READ ALSO: Photos of dead police officer who worked at William Ruto's office

Cancer patients need blood to compensate for the one they lose as side effects of chemotherapy and other drugs.

The drugs have the overall effect of affecting the normal functioning of the blood cells which eventually leads to patients' blood cell counts dropping hence necessitating a continuous supply of blood.

Kenya is facing a shortage of blood supplies, with relatives and friends of patients increasingly putting out calls for people to assist in donating blood.

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You have missed every workday since January 15, 2020 to present, assistant superintendent of human resources Lyle Neal wrote Vanderbilt on Feb. 7. In addition to failing to appear on the above-listed dates, you have failed to follow appropriate procedures required in order to report off of work and have otherwise been unreachable at any contact information on file with the Human Resources Office. Lastly, your failure to appear at the scheduled February 3, 2020 or to otherwise contact me regarding the same constitutes insubordination.
The US may have dealt Venezuela another blow by sanctioning Rosneft subsidiary Rosneft Trading last week, but as the company dealing the most oil from Venezuela is hamstrung, another Rosneft subsidiary has stepped up to the plate to fill the gaps, Bloomberg said on Monday.

Now, TNK Trading International SAa company controlled by oil giant Rosneftseems to be upping its loadings of Venezuelan crude oil, scheduled to load more than 14 million barrels of it in January and February this year. By comparison, 2019 saw TNK Trading load 5 million barrels total for the year.

Rosneft Trading hasnt loaded any Venezuelan oil since January 29, although it wasnt sanctioned until February 18.

The timing of Rosneft Tradings apparent drop off in Venezuelan loadings, uptick in TNK Tradings Venezuelan loadings, and the latest sanctions have unclear meaningsbut the US was mulling these sanctions on Rosneft back in September.

Last week was seen by many as a warning by the United States to parent Rosneft, the latter of which has extensive oil operations in sanctioned Venezuela. Still, the US has stopped short of sanctioning the Rosneft, who stands accused of propping up the socialist regime of Nicolas Maduro. But once that card is played, there is little else to ratchet up to should the need arise.

Trafigura responded last week to the new round of Rosneft Trading sanctions by saying it would wind down its dealings with Rosneft Trading by May. But it is unclear how effective the sanctions are, if another of Rosnefts companies picks up the slack.

Last weeks sanctions block all US assets of Rosneft Trading, and extend to anyone doing business with Rosneft Trading, but do allow for a 90-day wind down period for companies currently doing business with Rosneft Trading.

In addition to loading Venezuelan crude, which it sells to other buyers afraid of running afoul of US sanctions, Rosneft Trading did a fair bit of fuel deliveries to Venezuela as well.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Agitating farmers at a sit-in protest in the Amaravati region, against the Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy's decision of three state capitals in Andhra Pradesh, have sought US President Donald Trump's help.

The protesting farmers raised slogans like, 'Please Trump, Save Amaravati'.

They also held up placards stating 'Welcome Trump, President of America, Save Amaravati'; 'Mr. Trump, recommend Justice for Amaravati capital'; 'Mr. Trump America has one capital, Jagan proposal 3 capitals in Andhra Pradesh'.

Trump, who is on a two-day visit to India, is accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, his daughter Ivanka Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, besides other delegates.

On Saturday, the Amaravati Joint Action Committee (JAC) continued its agitation against the Andhra Pradesh government's three-capital decision.

The state Assembly had earlier passed the 'Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill 2020'. The Bill proposes to have a legislative capital at Amaravati, executive capital and Raj Bhavan at Visakhapatnam and judicial capital at Kurnool.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
What just happened? The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), the organization responsible for establishing standards for the USB interface, has announced that Samsung's Galaxy S20 family of smartphones are the first devices to achieve "Certified USB Fast Charger" status.

Certified USB Fast Charger status comes with a few requirements, which Samsung has fulfilled. To meet the certification, a given device must support the Programmable Power Supply (PPS) feature of the USB Power Delivery (USB PD) 3.0 specification. This technology enables smartphones to charge faster while "better" managing thermals.

In theory, this news should mean Samsung's devices will officially work with a much broader range of certified Fast Chargers. The USB-IF hopes the USB Fast Charger certification will increase the "reusability and sharing" of chargers across "all compliant devices," reducing electronic waste and paving the way for a more convenient user experience.

"Galaxy S20 series has been certified to be compliant to the USB standards which means Galaxy S20 has met the highest standards in the industry," Samsung VP of "Power Solution" Kisun Lee said in a statement. "We believe that a convenient user experience is the most important value and using a robust and inherently safe USB PD standard ensures interoperability and an optimized charging experience."

The standard Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus will reportedly boast fast charging speeds of up to 25W, with the S20 Ultra kicking it up a notch to 45W. The first S20 devices are expected to hit the market early next month, with price tags starting at $1,000.

Masthead credit: PCMag. Middle image credit: Cnet.
Business risks due to the coronavirus outbreak are rising globally as United Airlines shelved its financial forecast for 2020, Mastercard Inc warned of lower revenue and China shut down wildlife trade in the country.

Singapore Airlines also cut 10 percent of its capacity, froze recruitment for ground positions and deferred spending, grappling with lower travel demand as the number of coronavirus cases increased outside China.

In the United States on Monday, United Airlines withdrew its full-year financial guidance for 2020, citing heightened uncertainty over how the duration and spread of the coronavirus to other regions could hit overall air travel demand.

In a regulatory filing, the company stuck to its forecast for the first quarter thanks to cost savings including lower fuel costs and said it believes it will be able to deliver earnings growth in 2021.

United also said if the virus runs its course by mid-May, and normal travel patterns on trans-Pacific routes resume gradually over five months, it would expect to achieve its previous 2020 earnings forecast of between $11 and $13 per share.

Near-term demand to China has almost disappeared and demand to the rest of its trans-Pacific routes has dropped by 75 percent, United said.

Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines temporarily suspended more than 3,000 flights from February to the end of May, accounting for 9.9 percent of the groups scheduled capacity, according to a memo sent to staff.

We will continue to be nimble and flexible in adjusting our capacity to match the changing demand patterns in the market, Chief Executive Goh Choon Phong said in the memo, first reported by the Straits Times newspaper.

We have also proactively reached out to our suppliers and partners to discuss additional mitigating measures during this difficult time, he said.

The airline added on Tuesday that it was closely monitoring the situation and would adopt additional measures if needed.

Lost revenue

Payment systems providers are also being affected, as Mastercard said on Monday that its net revenue in the first quarter will take a hit of between 2 percent and 3 percent compared with its previous forecast if the coronavirus outbreak persists through the quarter.

The company now expects revenue growth between 9 percent and 10 percent in the current quarter as the virus impacts travel and e-commerce across borders.

The credit card issuer also expects that net revenue growth on a year-over-year basis in 2020 would be at the low end of the low-teens range if the impact of the virus is limited to the first quarter only.

The virus has killed 2,663 and infected 77,658 people so far in China, and slammed the brakes on the worlds second-largest economy.

In Vietnam, a close trading partner of China, garment makers warned of a severe shortage of materials starting in the second quarter because the coronavirus outbreak has disrupted supply chains, the chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association said on Tuesday.

Vietnams garment and textile exports totalled $32.85bn in 2019, according to government customs data [File: Kham/Reuters]

Domestic firms have sufficient materials for production until the end of the first quarter, but many of them will face severe shortage of materials from the second quarter because they have trouble importing materials from key suppliers in China, Japan and South Korea, Vu Duc Giang told Reuters.

Giang said more than 50 percent of materials for the countrys garment industry are shipped from China.

We dont know yet to what extent the coronavirus will impact Vietnams garment output this year, Giang said, in a phone conversation. But we expect garment output in the first quarter to stay flat from a year earlier.

Giang said several garment makers will have to cancel or delay deliveries of their products.

We are trying to diversify our sources of materials to mitigate the impacts of the virus, Giang said, adding that some companies are making more face masks and medical protective gear.

Wildlife ban

Meanwhile, Chinas top legislature said it will immediately ban the trade and consumption of wild animals, in a fast-track decision it says will allow the country to win the battle against the coronavirus outbreak.

The announcement, made late on Monday according to the official Xinhua News Agency, comes after an initial suspension of the trade and consumption of wildlife in January.

Scientists suspect, but have not proven, that the new coronavirus passed to humans from animals. The disease has now killed almost 2,700 people in China and spread to countries around the globe.

Some of the earliest infections were found in people who had exposure to a wildlife market in Hubeis provincial capital Wuhan, where bats, snakes, civets and other animals were sold.

There has been a growing concern among people over the consumption of wild animals and the hidden dangers it brings to public health security since the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, said Zang Tiewei, a spokesman for the top legislatures Legislative Affairs Commission.

Zang said it was both urgent and necessary for the decision to be made at the critical moment for the epidemic prevention and control.

The decision, made by the National Peoples Congress, stipulates the illegal consumption and trade of wildlife will be severely punished as will be hunting, trading or transporting wild animals for consumption.

The use of wild animals for non-edible purposes, including scientific research, medical use and display, will be subject to strict examination, approval and quarantine inspection.

Before the announcement, traders legally selling donkey, dog, deer, crocodile and other meat told Reuters they planned to get back to business as soon as the markets reopened.

Many academics, environmentalists and residents in China have joined international conservation groups in calling for a permanent ban. Online debate within China has also heavily favoured a permanent ban.
Shoppers in The Woodlands will get to enjoy a variety of sales, amenities and other treats at the Blogger Closet Sale, which returns to Market Street Feb. 29 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with six local fashion influencers selling their wares to eager attendees.

The event focuses on six local fashion influencers who will be selling gently worn adult and childrens clothing, home decor items and other personal accessories at discount prices. All sales will be conducted through Venmo, which is described as a, mobile payment service owned by PayPal. Venmo account holders can transfer funds to others via a mobile phone app. Any items not sold at the event will be donated to charity.

Noemi Gonzalez, the marketing director for Market Street The Woodlands, said the event is another opportunity for local residents to both meet fashion influencers they may recognize from online sites as well as to get high-quality, often very fashionable items, at lower prices. This years sale is the second that Market Street has hosted, as the 2019 event was so popular, Gonzalez said she and others at the premier shopping destination wanted to bring it back again in 2020.

This is our second time, (in 2019) it was a huge success. It was great and we learned a lot from it and were excited, Gonzalez added. One thing we recognized was last year we had 10 bloggers and it was a lot and we had space issues. This year we reduced it to six influencers so there is more room and also different styles.

The event will be hosted inside the currently empty space that is Suite No. 405, which is in between stores Tory Burch and Bluemercury, and starts at 10 a.m. with a Launch Party that will include free beverages, photographs, various free give-away items and also a dry bar where free braiding will be done. Market Street jewelry specialist store Kendra Scott is a co-sponsor of the event and will be providing free mimosa cocktails throughout the morning.

Gonzalez said she and others helped choose the six fashion influencer bloggers that will be on hand Saturday, opting for a mix of local influencers based in The Woodlands as well as others from around the Houston region. Each of the six woman has robust followings on social media channels numbering in the thousands. The six fashion influencers scheduled for the event are: Loren Hamilton, of the blog Wear and When; Ashley Lastovica, of the blog Fancy Ashley; Brittany Fullwood, of the blog Hello Honey; Margaret Rojas of the blog, Style the Girl; Nicole Villareal of the blog, Blonde in the Burbs; and well known fashion writer and blogger Dawn P. Darnell.

These people have thousands and thousands of followers, they are professional influencers and people follow what they do. They are experts in fashion, Gonzalez added. We asked them to bring out their own personal clothes and weve also asked them to bring childrens clothes or home goods. As influencers, they share their everyday lives with followers. They all have different styles.

Gonzalez described some of the items that will be on sale, noting that each blogger will have adult womens clothes as well as different childrens options. Hamilton will have young childrens clothing from age about 5 to 12; Lastovica  who is from The Woodlands  will bring contemporary styles and clothes for teenage children; Rojas will have infant clothing while Villareal will have maternity options. Darnell will have fashion that Gonzalez said is more, on trend and edgy.

The Blogger Closet Sale is free to attend, and kicks off at 10 a.m. Customers are reminded that vendors will only accept the Venmo style of online payment.

jeff.forward@chron.com
Eleven political leaders have been in a prison in Tajikistan for more than four years and, according to a UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, they should not have even been charged with crimes.

The men are all senior members of the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT), which was part of a coalition of groups that joined to fight the Tajik government during the 1992-97 Tajik civil war. The June 1997 peace accord that ended the war provided for the wartime opponents of the government -- including the IRPT -- to share power.

The U.S.-based NGO Freedom Now, which works to free individual prisoners of conscience through focused legal, political, and public relations advocacy efforts, released a statement noting that the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UN-WGAD) recently concluded, It is quite clear...that the basis for the arrest and subsequent detention of the [11] IRPT members was in fact their exercise of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.



Freedom Now and lawyers from the international law firm Hogan Lovells filed a legal petition with the UN-WGAD, which in turn conducted its own investigation of the legal process against the 11 IRPT members.

Freedom Now Director Maran Turner said in a statement that the Tajik government arrested and detained the IRPT leaders as part of a broader campaign to vilify peaceful political opposition parties.



To all appearances, the IRPT had become a peaceful political opposition party and the second-largest political party in Tajikistan after the ruling Democratic Peoples Party of Tajikistan, which is led by President Emomali Rahmon.

Tajikistans leader since late 1992, Rahmon's hold on power was rather tenuous during the 1990s, but he has since consolidated his position -- particularly in the last decade. This stabilization of his power coincided with his nine children becoming adults and, often along with their spouses, taking control of as many of Tajikistans lucrative businesses as possible.



That left no space in the political realm for the existence of a genuine opposition party with significant public support.



In March 2015, the IRPT failed to win any seats in elections to the Majlisi Namoyandagon, the lower house of parliament. It was the first time that had happened in the postwar era and heralded a steep decline in the IRPT's fortunes.

The Tajik Justice Ministry revoked the IRPTs registration in August 2015 and within one month the party was declared an extremist organization.

Authorities connected the IRPT to an alleged coup attempt by a deputy defense minister in early September 2015, though the alleged connections were extremely thin.

After the group was declared an extremist organization, IRPT leaders still in the country were taken into custody, accused of being part of the coup attempt, and put on trial behind closed doors.

That included the 11 men mentioned by the UN-WGAD and Freedom Now.



According to the UN working group, no trials should have taken place and, when the trials were still held, they were carried out in total disregard for the guarantees encapsulated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.



Karl Horberg of Freedom Now told RFE/RL's Tajik Service, known locally as Ozodi, that "the [UN] investigation showed that the charges were fabricated by Tajik authorities in order to sweep the IRPT from the political scene."



The Freedom Now statement said, The rising popularity of the IRPT threatened the ruling regime, and Tajikistan undertook efforts to discredit and dismantle the party.



The statement also noted during the trial of the IRPT leaders that at least two witnesses were coerced into giving testimony. One witness recanted his testimony, claiming government coercion.

The IRPT leaders were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 14 years to life.

The 11 members named in the UN report are Saidumar Husaini, Muhammadali Faizmuhammad, Rahmatulloi Rajab, Zubaidulloi Roziq, Vohidkhon Kosidinov, Kiyomiddin Avazov, Abduqahar Davlatov, Hikmatulloh Sayfulloza, Sadidin Rustamov, Sharif Nabiev, and Abdusamat Ghayratov.



Marc Gottridge, a partner in the Hogan Lovells law firm said, Our clients continue to suffer deplorable conditions in Tajik prisons, placing their lives in great risk of injury or death.



The Freedom Now statement recalled that, In May 2019, a deadly riot, instigated by imprisoned [Islamic State] members, broke out at a prison in the city of Vahdat, where many of the IRPT leaders are held," and that one of the IRPT leaders initially named in the UN petition -- Sattor Karimov -- was killed, reportedly by members of [Islamic State]. At least two other IRPT members were attacked and killed, and several more received serious injuries.

The UN-WGAD issued a separate opinion on IRPT Deputy Chairman Mahmadali Hayit, who was convicted with the other IRPT leaders and given a life sentence.

Hayits alarming situation was the topic of a previous Majlis podcast.

Steve Swerdlow, human rights lawyer and Central Asia expert, said: The UN working groups call for the immediate and unconditional release of the IRPT leaders provides yet another opportunity for the United States, the European Union, and other key international actors to make unequivocal calls for the defendants release.



He added that Tajikistans human rights situation has been spiraling downward at a rapid pace. Tajikistans international partners should publicly and unanimously condemn this mockery of justice.

Tajikistan is holding parliamentary elections on March 1 and, for the first time in 20 years, the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan will not participate.
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VANCOUVER BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 25, 2020 / Lincoln Gold Mining Inc. ("Lincoln" or the "Company") (TSXV:LMG) announces that it has entered into debt settlement agreements with certain arms' length and non-arms' length parties (the "Creditors") to settle or reorganize an aggregate C$1,355,720 in debt (the "Debt").The Creditors include, among others, Paul Saxton, President, CEO and a director of the Company (through his consulting company), Eugene Beukman, CFO (through his consulting company) and Jeffrey L. Wilson, Vice President Exploration and Executive Vice President of the Company. In partial settlement of the Debt, the Company will issue 500,000 common shares of the Company to Mr. Saxton, 410,000 common shares of the Company to Mr. Beukman and 660,000 common shares of the Company to Mr. Wilson for an aggregate of 1,570,000 common shares of the Company (the "Debt Shares") at a deemed price of C$0.10 per Debt Share (the "Debt Settlement"). An additional 630,000 Debt Shares will be issued to certain arms' length Creditors at a deemed price of $0.10 per Debt Share in partial satisfaction of the Debt.In addition to the Debt Settlement, the Company has negotiated agreements with certain of the Creditors to defer repayment of $1,135,720 short term debt for a period of up to three years from the date of the debt settlement agreements with each respective party (the "Debt Reorganization"). Certain short term debt owed to Mr. Saxton and Mr. Wilson has been deferred in the Debt Reorganization.Each of Messrs. Saxton, Beukman and Wilson are considered to be a "related party" of the Company within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") and each issuance of Debt Shares pursuant to the Debt Settlement is considered to be a "related party transaction" within the meaning of MI 61-101, but each is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to the exemptions contained in sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) in that the Company's shares are not listed on a specified market and the fair market value of the consideration for the securities of the Company to be issued to the related parties does not exceed 25% of its market capitalization.All securities issued in connection with the Debt Settlement will be subject to a hold period required by the TSX Venture Exchange and a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation. Closing of the Debt Settlement is subject to a number of conditions, including receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.The Debt Settlement has been unanimously approved by the Company's board of directors with the exception of Mr. Saxton, who disclosed his interest in the Debt Settlement and abstained from consideration or approval of matters relating to the Debt Settlement.The Company expects that the proposed Debt Settlement and Debt Reorganization will assist the Company in preserving its current cash for working capital and seeking new financing opportunities in order to maintain its operations and advance the permitting and development of the Company's Pine Grove project in Nevada.About LincolnLincoln Gold Mining Inc. is an advanced-stage gold mine exploration and development company holding a 100% interest in the Pine Grove Gold Project, in the Walker Lane structural zone of western Nevada. The Company has prepared a preliminary economic assessment of the Pine Grove Gold Project pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Lincoln is working with the USFS to secure the permits necessary to develop the Pine Grove Gold Project into a low-cost heap leach operation with a high-grade gravity circuit.Lincoln also owns an interest in a joint venture in respect of the Oro Cruz Gold Property in California. Lincoln's joint venture partner is advancing the Oro Cruz Gold Property towards further exploration, development and production.Lincoln holds its interests in these projects through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Lincoln Resource Group Corp. and Lincoln Gold US Corporation, both Nevada corporations.For more information, please contact Paul Saxton, President and CEO of the Company.On behalf of Lincoln Gold Mining Inc.Paul SaxtonPresident and CEO, Lincoln Gold Mining Inc.Tel: (604) 688-7377Email: saxton@ lincolnmining.com CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATIONNeither 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.All statements, trend analysis and other information contained in this press release relative to markets about anticipated future events or results constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, statements relating to the permitting process, future production of Pine Grove Gold Project, budget and timing estimates, the Company's working capital and financing opportunities, the Debt Settlement and Reorganization and statements regarding the exploration and mineralization potential of the Company's properties, are forward-looking statements. Forward- looking statements are subject to business and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results of operations to differ materially from those contained in the forward- looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Lincoln's expectations include fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; the need for cooperation of government agencies and native groups in the exploration and development of properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to develo
This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (orange)also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19isolated from a patient in the United States, emerging from the surface of cells (green) cultured in the lab. (NIAID-RML via AP)

Moderna Delivers First Experimental COVID-19 Vaccine for Human Testing

Moderna, a U.S.-based drugmaker, has sent the first batch of an experimental vaccine against the new coronavirus to federal researchers to test in humans.

Moderna sent the vaccine from its Norwood, Mass., manufacturing plant to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is based in Bethesda, Md., and part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The shipment came just 42 days after the company selected part of the genetic sequence of the virus.

The institute expects to start a clinical trial of around 45 people within six weeks, NIAID Director Anthony Fauci said at a press conference on Tuesday. He said that the gene had been expressed in the platform of messenger RNA and the material was produced and put into mice.

Initial results could be available as soon as July. But any vaccines will likely take until next year to become available on the commercial market because of the need to conduct additional studies and clear regulatory hurdles. A phase two trial would involve hundreds if not thousands of people to determine efficacy, Fauci said.

Men wearing protective face masks walk at the Shahr-i-Naw area in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Feb. 5, 2020. (Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images)

Fauci, speaking last month on a panel in Washington, said that phase one trials take about three months and focus on making make sure the vaccine is safe. A phase two trial would take at least six months but possibly over eight months, he said. If the vaccine passes the trials, it takes additional time to scale up for major distribution.

A vaccine may not solve the problems of the next couple of months, but it certainly would be an important tool that we would have, he said on Tuesday.

Modernas efforts are being funded by the Norway-based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, the company and group announced in late January. The coalition is also funding efforts by Inovio and the University of Queensland in Australia to develop vaccines against the new COVID-19 disease.

Through our partnership with Moderna and the NIH, we hope to speed the development of a vaccine against the coronavirus and help to alleviate the burden of disease, Richard Hatchett, the coalitions CEO, said in a statement.

Modernas vaccine uses or mRNA, or messenger RNA. The genetic molecules carry the information from the DNA in the nucleus of the cell to the cytoplasm where the proteins are made, according to NIH.

The approach of using mRNA carries potential advantages including the ability to mimic natural infection to stimulate a more potent immune response, combining multiple mRNAs into a single vaccine, and rapid discovery to respond to emerging pandemic threats, according to the company. Moderna has no approved vaccines but has nine being tested or developed, including one for the Zika virus.

A computer image of a model structurally representative of a betacoronavirus which is the type of virus linked to COVID-19, better known as the coronavirus linked to the Wuhan outbreak. (NEXU Science Communication/via Reuters)

Other companies are also working on vaccines. Johnson & Johnsons vaccine division, Janssen, is working with the Department of Health and Human Services Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to develop a vaccine.

Janssen is a proven partner with a flexible, rapid, vaccine platform which gives us an edge in the race to protect people in the U.S. and worldwide from the health security threat posed by this Novel Coronavirus, Rick Bright, director of the authority, said in a statement earlier this month announcing the partnership.

The department is also working with Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines global business unit of Sanofi, to develop a vaccine using Sanofis egg-free recombinant DNA platform.

The technology produces an exact genetic match to proteins of the virus. The proteins DNA will be combined with DNA from a virus harmless to humans, and used to rapidly produce large quantities of antigen which stimulate the immune system to protect against the virus, the department said in a press release. The antigens will be separated and collected from these cells and purified to create working stocks of vaccine for advanced development.

A man wearing a face mask rides a bike filled with food supplies in Wuhan, the epicenter of the Novel Coronavirus outbreak, Hubei province, China, on Feb. 24, 2020. (Stringer/Reuters)

Other researchers are working on testing existing drugs on coronavirus patients. Two clinical trials conducted through the World Health Organizations R&D Blueprint, a plan that allows the rapid activation of research and development activities during epidemics, are expected to produce preliminary results around mid-March.

One of the trials is using lopinavir and ritonavir, two drugs typically used to treat HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus infection. The other trial is testing an antiviral drug called remdesivir that was developed by Gilead Sciences.

Dr. Bruce Aylward, an expert from Canada who is leading an organization team in China looking at the outbreak there, told reporters on Monday that experts believe remdesivir might have real efficacy.

He called for diverting more resources into treatments that are promising, saying, We have got to start prioritizing enrollment into those things that may save lives and save them faster.
For several hours after, police negotiators and crisis intervention officials worked to verbally gain compliance and take the man into custody without injury. Tactical team members on scene made several entry points through upstairs windows of the residence, successfully entering one of them and apprehending the man around 4:15 p.m., Covelli said.
The extradition trial of Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange got underway at Woolwich Crown Court in London today. Assange, 48, is wanted by the U.S. government on 18 charges of hacking and breaches of the Espionage Act, specifically for the publication of evidence leaked by Pvt. Chelsea Manning that detailed evidence of American war crimes in the Middle East. If found guilty he faces up to 175 years in prison.

The prosecution, led by James Lewis, Q.C., began by reading out a damning statement from five leading media organizations, The Guardian, The New York Times, El Pais, Der Spiegel and Le Monde, all of whom had partnered with Wikileaks, gratefully publishing the groups revelations but now condemned them, helping his prosecution.

We deplore the decision of WikiLeaks to publish the unredacted state department cables, which may put sources at risk, they said. The prosecution is alleging that Assange recklessly published a huge trove of documents containing the names of American agents and informants, putting their lives in danger, and that he solicited information from Manning, encouraging her to break the law. That neither were in the United States when this took place, Lewis said, was irrelevant, as Manning was still a member of the U.S. armed forces. Therefore, he told the court, the case was one of straightforward criminality.

Many mainstream outlets like the BBC and The Guardian also framed Assange as having put lives at risk  echoing the attack from the prosecution in their headlines. Media were also strongly supportive of his arrest from the Ecuadorian embassy last year, celebrating that the delusional, childish narcissist poisoning America with his vile spite was finally about to face justice. Former Newsweek journalist Tareq Haddad noted that the press room was packed for the U.S. government prosecution teams statements but was half empty by the time the defense began.

Breaking: @khrafnsson leaves courtroom and asks "why aren't we here talking in court about the war crimes, the assassination of innocent civilians?" #assange@TheCanaryUK pic.twitter.com/zXCRjqq5db  John McEvoy (@jmcevoy_2) February 24, 2020

A crowd of supporters gathered outside the court, with only a few of those who showed up able to attend the events in person. Assanges father, John Shipton, told those assembled that, all of the bases for the prosecutions accusations fail on accuracy and fact and that sending his son to the United States would be a death sentence. The crowd kept up a constant stream of noise and chants were audible in the courtroom throughout the day. Eventually, the defense, including Assange himself, asked for them to keep quiet as it was interfering with proceedings.

The Trump administration's single most severe attack on press freedom (by far) is underway in London  the attempt to extradite & prosecute Julian Assange for working with his source to help her avoid detection, something all major media outlets do  and few US journalists care.  Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 24, 2020

The prosecution finished much earlier than expected and by the afternoon the defense was presenting its case. Assanges lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald, Q.C., stated that This is not about criminal justice, its about making an example of his client, adding that the charges were grossly inflated. Kristinn Hrafnsson, Icelandic investigative journalist and current editor-in-chief of Wikileaks, demanded to know why arent we here talking in court about the war crimes, the assassination of innocent civilians? The defense also argued that the defendant suffers from long term mental health problems, including clinical depression, which would no doubt be exacerbated by extradition. They noted that in 2013, U.K courts denied an American extradition request for British-Finnish hacker Lauri Love on mental health grounds.

The defense also revealed that they intend to call American linguist and political activist Professor Noam Chomsky as an expert witness and confirmed the story circulating that the Trump administration offered Assange a full pardon in exchange for a statement that Russia was not involved in hacking related to the 2016 elections. They did not accept the offer from former congressman Dana Rohrbacher as they felt it amounted to political extortion. Rohrbacher denies certain parts of the story.

Assange had been granted political asylum by the progressive Ecuadorian administration of Rafael Caldera, but could not leave the countrys embassy in London for almost seven years. However, after Caldera was replaced by the right-wing, pro-U.S. Lenin Moreno, his welcome ran out and he was dragged out the building last year. Since then, he has been held at Belmarsh Prison, London. The most infamous leak Wikileaks revealed was the Collateral Murder video, that showed American forces massacring civilians, including Reuters journalists, in cold blood.

The extradition hearing has been condemned by many international groups, including the Council of Europe and the United Nations. On Friday, Amnesty Internationals Deputy Europe Director Massimo Moratti said:

The US governments unrelenting pursuit of Julian Assange for having published disclosed documents that included possible war crimes committed by the US military is nothing short of a full-scale assault on the right to freedom of expressionThe potential chilling effect on journalists and others who expose official wrongdoing by publishing information disclosed to them by credible sources could have a profound impact on the publics right to know what their government is up to. All charges against Assange for such activities must be dropped.

The court finished at around 4 p.m. local time and will resume at 10 a.m. tomorrow. The hearing is expected to last several weeks.

Featured photo | Supporters hold placards and banners during a protest against the extradition of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange outside Belmarsh Magistrates Court in London, Feb. 24, 2020. Matt Dunham | AP

Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News. After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent. He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary.
Hayden Panettiere's ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko is reportedly 'very concerned' for her well-being.

The 43-year-old Ukrainian boxer's worries come in the wake of her boyfriend Brian Hickerson's recent domestic violence arrest, a source told Us Weekly.

On Valentine's Day, Brian was arrested in the middle of the night and booked for domestic battery and interfering with a police officer after he allegedly struck Hayden, 30.

Worried: Hayden Panettiere's ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko is reportedly 'very concerned' for her well-being in the wake of her boyfriend Brian Hickerson's recent domestic violence arrest, a source told Us Weekly (Klitschko pictured last week)

'Wlad is very concerned for Hayden,' an insider told Us. 'He still cares for her and truly wishes her the best.'

Hayden seems to still care for Klitschko as well and just a few days ago praised him on Twitter as the 'best father ever' to their five-year-old daughter Kaya.

The Nashville actress gushed in the caption of a photo of the boxer dancing with the child in front of a mirror-ball backdrop, decked out by balloons and confetti.

When a fan wrongly thought he was the one accused of domestic violence and she went on the defense.

'Wlad is very concerned for Hayden,' an insider told Us. 'He still cares for her and truly wishes her the best.' (Hayden and Wladimirin 2015)

'Before or after he beat you,' the user responded to the post of Wlad and Kaya.

'Wrong guy,' she replied.'Klitschko's R legends. That's my CHAMP'

The 'guy' that the user thought they were referring to was Panettiere's current boyfriend Brian who allegedly struck her 'with a closed fist on the right side of her face' less that two weeks ago, according to TMZ.

The Heroes 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.

Good relationship: Hayden seems to still care for Klitschko as well and just a few days ago praised him on Twitter as the 'best father ever' to their five-year-old daughter Kaya

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 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.

When cops arrived, police noted the actress had a 'red and swollen face' and Brian 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.

Following the alleged incident, she was asked by a fan on Twitter: 'how are you doing are you okay?'

Mugshot: On Valentine's Day, her boyfriend Brian Hickerson was arrested after police say he 'punched her in the face' during an argument at a Wyoming residence

Asked by a fan, 'how are you doing, are you okay?' Hayden replied: 'Always good' and added a smiley emoji.

Hayden replied: 'Always good' and added a smiley emoji.

This is not the first brush with the law for Hickerson who was previously arrested in May 2019, again for domestic violence, following a drunken argument with the actress.

And, last week a source close to the star expressed their concerns to Us Weekly saying that she was 'in danger with Brian' and has 'impairment issues from drinking too much.'

Adding that could lead to 'a tragic outcome' if she remains in the relationship.

Troubled past: This is not the first brush with the law for Hickerson who was previously arrested in May 2019, again for domestic violence, following a drunken argument with the actress; pictured December 1, 2018 in LA

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.

'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.'

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 that, Hayden had dated Wlad on and off starting in 2009, getting engaged in 2013 and calling it quits in 2018. Their daughter lives with Wladimir in his home country of Ukraine.
[February 25, 2020] HeadSpin Announces $60M Series C Round at a $1.16 Billion Valuation and Adds Nikesh Arora as Chairman of the Board

HeadSpin, the company that ensures flawless connected experiences enabled by web, mobile, IoT and 5G, today announced a $60 million Series C funding round led by Dell (News - Alert) Technologies Capital and ICONIQ Capital with participation from institutional investors Tiger Global Management, Kearny Jackson, and Alpha Square Group. The round brings the total amount raised since inception to $117 million. HeadSpin will use the funding to develop new product offerings, expand into new market segments, and deepen position within cloud ecosystems. HeadSpin also announced that Nikesh Arora, Chairman CEO of Palo Alto (News - Alert) Networks, has joined the company Board of Directors as Chairman of the Board. Arora is the former Chief Business Officer at Google who most recently served as President and COO of SoftBank prior to joining Palo Alto Networks. Also participating in the round are leading angel investors, including LinkedIn's Jeff Weiner, We's Shiva Rajaraman, Calm's Alex Will, Notion's Akshay Kothari, Bumble's Derek Callow, Caviar's Gokul Rajaram, Uber's Manik Gupta, Stripe's Amber Feng, Facebook's Kevin Weil and Andrea Moore, OpenDoor's Sheila Tran, AngelList's Sunil Pai, Supercast's Jason Sew Hoy, mParticle's Michael Katz, SVB's Cheryl Sew Hoy, Airbase's Thejo Kote, Spotify's (News - Alert) John Bonten, Twitter's Lisa Kleinsorge, and Pinterest's Ali Altaf. "HeadSpin's extraordinary technology has broken barriers and redefined the frontier of testing, monitoring, and analytics across devices, locations and networks to understand a customer's connected experience. This means business, development, devops, and product teams can finally be on the same page and focus on what matters most: delivering high quality, innovative digital experiences enabled by web, mobile, IoT, and 5G," said Nikesh Arora. Understanding that connected experiences enabled by web, mobile, IoT, and 5G technologies have become the primary point of interaction between companies and their customers, HeadSpin developed the world's first Connected Intelligence Platform to unify testing, monitoring and analytics across applications, devices, and networks. This enables companies to optimize the functionality and performance of connected experiences throughout the development lifecycle and across the increasingly complex ecosystem of software and infrastructure used to reach today's global audiences. "HeadSpin has achieved remarkable results in only four years," said Deepak Jeevankumar, Managing Director, Dell Technologies Capital. "Not only has the team managed exceptional sales execution, but it created a new solution category that is now the standard for how the best consumer and enterprise G2000 companies ensure top-notch connected experiences for their users and customers. HeadSpin today is one of the fastest-scaling software companies I've seen in my 10 years of investing and has truly excetional growth potential."



Since launching in 2015, HeadSpin has doubled its annual revenue year-over-year, earning the trust of over 1,000 enterprise customers and telco operators. New HeadSpin enterprise customers include Microsoft, Tik Tok, Bandai Namco Studios, Yahoo!, Uber, DeNA, AirBnB, Kohls, ByteDance, BYJUs, Optus, Australian Post, Telefonica, and Walmart. As part of their international expansion, the company also recently opened regional offices in London, Tel Aviv, Berlin, and Cape Town to address increasing customer demand in Europe, Middle East and Africa. "HeadSpin is well-positioned to take advantage of this huge market opportunity as enterprises transition to providing higher-quality digital and mobile experiences." said Manish Lachwani, CoFounder and CEO, HeadSpin. "We're privileged to be able to grow the company with our excellent team, partners and investors."

HeadSpin is headquartered in Palo Alto. For more information visit www.headspin.io or follow HeadSpin on Twitter (News - Alert) (@headspin_io) and LinkedIn. About HeadSpin HeadSpin is the world's first Connection Intelligence Platform that provides Web, Mobile, IoT, and 5G solutions to unify testing, monitoring, and analytics across applications, devices, and networks. HeadSpin empowers development, QA, operations, and product teams to optimize connected experiences and ensure digital business success. Find out why HeadSpin is trusted by some of the largest enterprises in the world at https://www.headspin.io, on Twitter @HeadSpin_IO, and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/headspin/ About Dell Technologies Capital Dell Technologies Capital is the global venture capital investment arm of Dell Technologies. The investment team backs passionate early stage founders who push the envelope on technology innovation for enterprises. Since inception in 2012, the team has sustained an investment pace of $150 million a year and has invested in more than 100 startups, 40 of which have been acquired and 5 have gone public. Portfolio companies also gain unique access to the go-to-market capabilities of Dell Technologies (Dell, Dell EMC, VMWare, Pivotal, RSA (News - Alert), Secureworks). Notable investments include Adallom, Arista Networks, Cylance, Docusign, Graphcore, JFrog, MongoDB, Netskope, Nutanix, RedLock, RiskRecon, TwistLock, Wavefront and Zscaler. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, Dell Technologies Capital has offices in Boston, Austin, and Israel. For more information visit www.delltechcapital.com. About ICONIQ Capital ICONIQ Capital is a privately-held financial advisory and investment firm, and a partner of choice for exceptional entrepreneurs, leaders and institutions around the world. The firm invests in technology growth equity and real estate asset classes and employs a distinctive ecosystem to build enduring businesses. ICONIQ is a trusted advisor fostering meaningful strategic relationships across industries to source powerful ideas, magnify global impact and support a new generation of entrepreneurs and companies. For a full list of investments made by ICONIQ Growth, an affiliate of ICONIQ Capital, please visit here. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005402/en/

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Former politician Eddie Obeid wanted to disguise his familys ownership of a rural property, claiming it was to protect their privacy, but the land's former owner said it was to hide their interest in coal, a Sydney court has heard.

Obeid, 76, his son Moses, 50, along with former NSW mining minister Ian Macdonald, 70, have pleaded not guilty over their involvement in an allegedly rigged government tender in 2008 and 2009 for a coal exploration licence which covered the Obeid property in the Bylong Valley, near Mudgee.

John Cherry, a former key adviser to Kerry Packer, sold his land to the Obeid family in late 2007. Credit:Kate Geraghty

John Cherry, who was a key adviser to the late media mogul Kerry Packer, told the NSW Supreme Court that he had no idea that there was coal under his land when he sold his rural property Cherrydale Park to the Obeid family in late 2007.

Mr Cherry said the entire Obeid family had come to inspect the property with the then politician referring to his five sons collectively as the "Boyz with a z".
The high-level committee on Clause 6 of Assam Accord formed by Union home ministry submitted its recommendations to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal here on Tuesday.

Chairman of the 13-member committee Justice (Retd) Biplab Kumar Sarma handed over the 170-page report in a sealed envelope to Sonowala fortnight after completing it and 10 days after its tenure ended.

We received nearly 1200 recommendations and suggestions from all over Assam. After going through all of them, the members of the committee have unanimously formulated this report, Justice Sarma said after submitting the report.

Significantly, none of the three All Assam Students Union (AASU) members in the committee were present at the event. They were reportedly upset that the recommendations were not handed directly to Union home ministry.

While speculations on the contents of the report  like 1951 as the cut-off date to determine who an Assamese is (those who themselves or their ancestors were living in the state in that year) or introduction of inner line permit (ILP) are doing the rounds, the committee members remained tight-lipped on it.

An upper house in the Assam assembly and reservation of around 67% of seats in the elected bodies to Assamese people (as defined in the committees report) are stated to be some other recommendations.

We have made some important recommendations in our report. Now the ball is in the Centres court, senior journalist and a member of the committee Wasbir Hussain told reporters.

During his visit to Assam earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured that the Centre wont delay implementation of the committees recommendations.

Since the report is in a sealed envelope, only the Centre would be able to see its contents. The Chief Minister accepted it on the Union Home Ministers behalf. It is for the Centre to examine the report and if required Assam government would give its suggestions on it, senior minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The Assam Accord was a tripartite agreement signed in 1985 between the Centre, the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP) that brought the six-year-long anti-foreigner movement in the state to an end.

Clause 6 of the accord states, Constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate, shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.

Implementation of Clause 6 remained in the backburner for over three decades till the BJP-government in Centre formed a committee in January last year asking it to suggest recommendations.

But due to widespread opposition in Assam to the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) 2016, which sought to grant citizenship to religious minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Assam, all members of the committee resigned.

A new committee with 13-members was constituted in July 15 last year after Narendra Modi returned to power at the Centre. It was given a months extension after its six-month tenure expired last month.

The Centre constituted the committee on Clause 6 of Assam Accord to provide constitutional safeguards to Assamese people. Therefore, the Centre should have accepted the report of the committee directly. We wont be present at Tuesdays event, AASU chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya had said on Monday.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Utpal Parashar Utpal is an assistant editor based in Guwahati. He covers all eight states of North-East and was previously based in Kathmandu, Dehradun and Delhi with Hindustan Times . ...view detail
Police discretion in enforcing the law is essential. However, police are caught between a rock and a hard place in dealing with current illegal rail blockades. Government inaction regarding the application of criminal law to radical rail protestors is crippling to the rule of law.

Railway lines and associated property are private property! Provincial and federal laws are being violated by persons conducting illegal rail blockades.

What would happen if a non-Indigenous related protest blocked highway 401 in Toronto or the main rail line between Toronto and Montreal. Would protestors be arrested?

Recently the media reported that such a group blocked access to BC Premier Horgans home. Reports indicate protesters were quickly arrested and removed. A double standard?

I am all for peaceful and legal protest by any group, but the use of illegal activities during protest actions should not be allowed. Government inaction not only hurts Canadians and the economy, it makes our country and leadership appear weak. Allowing rail blockades to continue will only encourage radical protestors to use this tactic in the future.

Police will be reluctant to enforce injunctions and enforcement orders related to rail blockades without support by the government, the courts and the department of justice.

Police attempt to ensure the safety of all persons at protest sites but in the current state of things, removal of railway blockade protestors and filing of charges will most likely not occur any time soon.

Gerry Fish, West Kelowna
Siemplify, the leading independent provider of security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR), today announced it has teamed up with McAfee to make the Siemplify Security Operations Platform available to McAfee customers directly from the highly acclaimed McAfee MVISION ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO), the companys SaaS-based flagship centralized management console.

McAfee customers will be able to experience the benefits of SOAR, breakout technology that enables security operations teams to work more effectively and efficiently by seamlessly automating and orchestrating the multitude of tools and processes required to triage, investigate and respond to cyber threats at scale.

The McAfee suite of products is designed to help enterprises speed up threat detection and remediation, and MVISION ePO in particular allows IT and security operations personnel to enforce unified security management across our endpoint, network, data and compliance solutions, as well as third-party solutions, said Javed Hasan, global head of enterprise products strategy and alliances at McAfee. SOAR technology from Siemplify is a natural complement and will help McAfee organizations with SOCs to maximize the value from their McAfee investment by reacting to threats faster, seamlessly expanding their security capabilities and delivering better results through their SOC.

Faced with a steady increase in the volume of security alerts, repetitive and tedious responsibilities, disparate detection tools not designed to work together, and a global cybersecurity talent shortage, security operations teams are constantly under pressure to do more with less. Gartner estimates that by year-end 2022, 30% of organizations with a security team larger than five people will leverage SOAR tools in their security operations, up from less than 5% today. (Gartner, Market Guide for Security Orchestration, Automation and Response Solutions, Claudio Neiva, et al, 27 June 2019).

Siemplify is a holistic workbench that allows SOCs to navigate the full scope of security operations and incident response, from initial alert through remediation, by automating workflows and orchestrating security tools from McAfee, as well as the broader security ecosystem. This includes the ability to:

 Leverage ready-to-run use cases developed and maintained by Siemplify experts and power users.

 Download integrations from the Siemplify Marketplace.

 Create playbooks that automate everything from enrichment to response.

 Manage and respond to alerts from SIEMs, as well as other detection tools.

 Track SOC performance via customizable dashboards.

Every day we see the extraordinary value that SOAR provides to security operations teams of all sizes, so we are incredibly excited to make our unique approach to the technology available to the McAfee user community, said Amos Stern, CEO and co-founder of Siemplify. We look forward to working closely with McAfee to help their customers take security operations to a new level.

McAfee and Siemplify are showcasing the joint offering at RSA Conference 2020 in San Francisco. To see the Siemplify Security Operations Platform in action, visit McAfee [#N-5745] or Siemplify [#S-561].

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 cyber threats 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.

Products, service names and company logos mentioned herein may be registered trademarks of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

Contact:

Dan Kaplan

Siemplify

(732) 687-2145

dkaplan@siemplify.co
Alice sighed wearily. I think you might do something better with the time, she said, than waste it in asking riddles that have no answers.

If you knew Time as well as I do, said the Hatter, you wouldnt talk about wasting it. Its him. ... Now, if you only kept on good terms with him, hed do almost anything you liked with the clock.

Lewis Carroll, Alices Adventures in Wonderland.

School leaders and teachers are constantly trying to extend time, wrangle time, squeeze more timebut all too often, the traditions and truisms about how schools should use time turn out to be as upside-down as a tea party in Wonderland.

In part because schools were originally designed on factory models of efficient time use, with academic credit measured in part through set seat time, education on the whole has equated more academic time with more learning.

This is true, but depends on how you measure it. The time students are engaged in learning tasks is associated with higher academic achievement, but its not endless; simply adding more and more can have small and diminishing returns over time.

Emerging research is highlighting some perhaps surprising ways that educators can rethink how they use time to support student learning.

Does a Double- or Triple-Dose Class Help Students Learn?

Intensive, double-dose math and reading blocks have become a popular intervention for struggling students, but the evidence on the intervention is somewhat limited.

Much of the research on doubled math and reading classes has centered on particular urban programs, such as those in Chicago and San Diego. One longitudinal study of Chicago students found a double-dose algebra class significantly improved students test scores , credits earned, and high school graduation rates, but the benefits partly depended on how differently teachers used the time than in a typical class. For example, the math block focused on verbally exploring math concepts, and the study found students with low reading skills saw the greatest benefits from the class.

But a Stanford University study of Miami middle schoolers found that short-term gains from participating in a double-block of math were halved a year later and completely gone by two; those researchers estimated that opportunity costs of missing other classes may outweigh students short-term math gains.

Grade level may matter, too. In San Diego, University of California researchers found a double-length literacy block and triple-length literacy core raised middle school students reading achievement significantly, but in high school, English- learners lost as much as 4.9 percentile points for every year they participated in the literacy blocks.

Breaking Better

Even if students do get recess, research suggests they can also benefit from shorter, frequent breaks during classtime to stretch, play, or just daydream.

One 2016 study found students in kindergarten through 4th grade showed better focus and time-on- task when teachers presented material in three 10-minute lessons, interspersed with brief calm breaks, than when they taught in a single 30-minute stretch.

This aligns with other studies that have found ratios of focus and rest of up to 15:5 minutes in elementary-age students and 30:5 minutes in secondary students.

Getting students heartbeat up during the breaks can improve their effectiveness, too. Other studies have found that active 10- or 20-minute exercise breaks improved students attention more than a quiet break or 5-minute wriggle time. And a large-scale international study found active, 30-minute breaks just before test periods were linked to average test scores 1.7 percent of a standard deviation higher than those of students who did not have a break.

How Much Does Morning Matter for Testing?

A lot can affect a students ability to remember what hes learned and demonstrate what she knows and can do on a test, and studies find timing can play a significant role in performance.

In self-contained classrooms that can move around their subjects, theres a case for moving tested subjects temporarily to the morning. A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences looked at the standardized test performance of every child in Denmark, ages 8 to 15, from 2009-2013. Researchers found that for every hour later in the day that students took tests, their average performance dropped by nearly 1 percent of a standard deviation, with even stronger declines for older students and those tested in math.

Should We Bring Back Naptime?

By early elementary school, students are expected to be well weaned off the afternoon nap, and as academic demands increase in kindergarten, naptime has come under threat in even the earliest years of school. But to improve students memory, attention, behavior, and mental well-being, research suggests schools may benefit from allowing little siestas in older grades, not cutting them off earlier.

Ten percent to 33 percent of 5 and 6 year olds still need to take daily naps of 60 to 90 minutes, and doing so helps both preschool and elementary students brains mature in ways linked to critical thinking and memory, according to developmental research . But studies have also found that naps can boost teenagers memory more than a cram session and improve their verbal skills . Napping even helped offset though not eliminatecognitive and attention declines for chronically sleep-deprived teenagers (meaning pretty much all of them.)

Maybe teachers should reconsider waking the students dozing in study hall.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Vu Tran's father fought for the South Vietnamese Air Force with the Americans so he had to flee the country when the South fell to the Communist North in April 1975, five months before Tran was born. He ended up in the US. Tran, his mother and his sister could not escape until 1980, fleeing by boat and were lucky enough to have his father sponsoring the family to the US. They arrived in Oklahoma in September 1980, where he met his father for the first time. Today, Tran, a University of Chicago don, also pens fiction, with his debut novel, "Dragonfish", being named a New York Times Notable Book.

"A lot of my fiction, while not necessarily autobiographical, ends up dealing with the experience of fleeing one's homeland and settling in an entirely alien world, something I and hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese-Americans have gone through," Tran, Assistant Professor of Practice in the Arts and Director of Undergraduate Studies in Creative Writing, told IANS in an email interview.

"Trauma - physical, emotional, psychic - is a major part of that experience. It can significantly distort one's idea of happiness, of love and desire, of obligation and family, of country and religion, of oneself. In my fiction, I try to explore the many ways that this trauma manifests itself, not only in those who experienced it first-hand, but in those who inherit it from their family, even if they themselves have no memory of it or did not experience it themselves.

"The trauma also seeps its way into the lives of the non-Vietnamese whose lives are intertwined with Vietnam, whether during the war or decades later in America, said Tran, whose short fiction has appeared in the O. Henry Prize Stories, the Best American Mystery Stories, A Best of Fence, and other publications.

His fiction workshops are designed to help students find their voice, cultivate their voice, and then challenge and expand their voice - all while carefully studying the work of peers and masters of the craft.

"A lot of people tend to believe that a writer's voice is some magical and unique point of view that lives somewhere deep inside them, and what they have to do is search within themselves for this voice and then conjure it onto the page. I try to think of this process in more practical terms.

"I believe voice comes from asking yourself, after every single sentence you write: Do I TRULY believe this? This is not always a moral or philosophical question. Oftentimes, the question is much less lofty yet still very important. Do I truly believe this tree looks like that in the twilight? Do I truly believe this character talks like that when he's angry? If the answer to these questions is anywhere close to 'no', then you have to go back and rewrite and rewrite the sentence until you truly believe in it, with a level of honesty that you and only you can provide for your work. And out of that - out of those decisions on prose, imagery, style, rhythm and philosophy - comes a writer's voice," Tran explained.

He said it was amazing how, even in his 30s, he was still writing sentences that were perfectly sound and pretty and even meaningful but did not entirely reflect his most honest self. What he tries to teach his students is that writing is a process of constant self-interrogation, even when you're not writing about yourself, and then using language to express the deepest parts of what we truly believe and what we still want and need to understand.

Thus, every winter, undergraduate and graduate students who are writing a creative thesis take a Thesis Workshop with their faculty advisor, where they discuss excerpts from their creative thesis.

"In my course, students are usually working on a story collection, a novella, or a novel, and in their workshops, the class and I try to give them feedback not only on the excerpt itself, but also on how they can think about the excerpt in the context of the larger work.

"So if it's a short story, for example, how can they go about improving it by thinking about the larger themes or forms or overall tone of the collection? This is ultimately about structure, and sometimes one of the best ways to fix the small problems in a work is to think about the larger structure of the project and the kinds of things we want from that project," Tran concluded.

(Vishnu Makhijani can be reached at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in)
JPMorgan

Markets across the world are trying to grapple with coronavirus hitting China's production capabilities. Some experts believe that the impact will be short-term as things should be under control sooner than later.

CNBC-TV18 spoke to Geoffrey Dennis, an emerging markets commentator, and James Glassman, senior economist at JPMorgan Chase to get an in-depth impact analysis.

James Glassman believes that there will be negligible long-term impact. This is going to be very transitory because China is already getting back to work. It is going to take a few more weeks before they get back to something more normal but this is a first-quarter phenomenon and for economists, when we think about the year as a whole, I see no change in views about the global economy compared with a couple of months ago. So it is not anything that makes sense to an economist. It is just purely based on fear and we know that it is going to be transitory.

Dennis agreed with Glassman and also said that the situation could become a buying opportunity eventually.

"I am not sure if it is a buying opportunity yet though it will be a buying opportunity ultimately. The problem is we dont know how much this thing is going to spread and as James Glassman said, the reason why the markets are very weak today is because of the clear evidence that it is spreading to other countries like Italy, Iran, South Korea and so there are increasing fears about the global nature of this virus. I think he is certainly right that ultimately the impact on the global economy will peter out, it will be reversed in time but I think the markets are well ahead of themselves. Anyways there was a lot of complacency about it," he said.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

The near-term impact seems tough though.

"It is going to be very disruptive in the near-term and the reason it is so disruptive economically is that China had to quarantine large communities and they were not able to get back to work after the Chinese New Year. It is slowly happening. We have actually lost more people from flu than we have from this virus. I think that the fears about this are exaggerated. I think it will be very disruptive for a few months and then when we get into the spring quarter, you are going to see a very strong rebound," Glassman stated.

Source: CNBC-TV18
Not long after CDC officials urged Americans to prepare for coronavirus outbreaks that will almost certainly begin to spread nationwide, Mayor London Breed declared a state of emergency for the city of San Francisco.

The global picture is changing rapidly, and we need to step-up preparedness, Breed said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.

While there are currently no cases of coronavirus in the city, the recent declaration will allow the city to secure funding, mobilize additional city resources and expedite the process of emergency planning.

"Given the high volume of travel between S.F. and mainland China, it is likely we will see one or more cases eventually. If a San Francisco case is confirmed, the Health Department will make an announcement," said Breed.

Earlier this month, a UC San Francisco hospital treated a husband and wife from San Benito County after the man had traveled to Wuhan, China and subsequently passed the virus to his wife.

Last Thursday, the San Francisco Department of Public Health confirmed another unnamed patient had tested positive for coronavirus and was being treated at a hospital in the city. They, too, had contracted the virus outside of the country on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Asia, which experienced an outbreak and was later evacuated.

"We see the virus spreading in new parts of the world every day, and we are taking the necessary steps to protect San Franciscans from harm, said Breed.

The risk of contracting coronavirus still remains very low for the public, on the condition that they have not recently traveled to countries with confirmed outbreaks or come in close contact with someone who has tested positive for the disease.

Santa Clara and San Diego counties have also issued similar declarations to ensure their cities are as prepared as possible for a potential outbreak.

Effective immediately, the declaration will last seven days, after which it will be voted on by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on March 3.

Amanda Bartlett is an associate digital reporter. Email: amanda.bartlett@sfgate.com | Twitter: @byabartlett
The foreign ministers of Russia and Armenia discussed international efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict when they met in Geneva on Tuesday.

According to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Sergey Lavrov and Zohrab Mnatsakanian touched upon a broad range of issues during the talks held on the sidelines of a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Those included the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, the ministry said in a statement.

A separate statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry said the two men discussed topical issues on the bilateral and regional agenda and exchanged views on the unresolved conflict.

The official press releases gave no details of the meeting held less than a month after fresh high-level Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations.

Mnatsakanian and his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov concluded in Geneva on January 30 two days of what they called intensive discussions mediated by the U.S., Russian and French co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. In a joint statement with the mediators, they said they focused on possible next steps to prepare the populations for peace; principles and elements forming the basis of a future settlement; and timing and agenda for advancing the settlement process.

Two weeks later, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev held a brief meeting before participating in a panel discussion on Karabakh held as part of an annual security conference in Munich. The two leaders publicly traded accusations during the discussion.

Mnatsakanian accused Baku on February 18 of hampering progress towards a Karabakh settlement with maximalist demands. Still, the chief Armenian diplomat said on Monday that the fact that Pashinian and Aliyev publicly debated the long-running conflict was very positive in itself.
NGOMANE  Four children of Ngomane area near Simunye are suffering because of their fathers debt.



The children are currently not schooling because they do not have birth certificates and personal identification numbers (PINs), which are key requirements for enrolment under the Free Primary Education (FPE) programme.



The father took a loan from a shylock sometime ago and then gave the micro lender his ID card as a guarantee to repay the loan.

However, he has been struggling to repay the loan and the exorbitant interest thus the ID card remains in the shylocks possession.

As such, the father is unable to apply for birth certificates at the Immigration department because he does not have documentation (ID) to prove that he is a native LiSwati.



Aged



The eldest child is aged nine, while the other children are twins and they are aged eight years.

The youngest is turning four this year.



The eldest child used to attend school at a local primary school but he later dropped out, reportedly because he did not have a PIN, hence he was ineligible to register for FPE.



Local Community Health Motivators (bagcugcuteli) are concerned about the welfare of the children and the unfavourable life they are currently living.

There is no future without education. If the children do not return to school, their future is ruined, said the community health motivator.



She mentioned that only the eldest child used to attend school and the other children, who are twins, have never been to school.

She appealed to the department of Social Welfare to intervene and assist the children.

She said the plight of the children had also been reported to the local police station.



Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said they were aware of the plight of the children and they were still contemplating on how they could help them.

Meanwhile, the father of the children confirmed that his off-spring were currently not schooling.



He said the children were ineligible to register for FPE because they did not have birth certificates which bore the PINs.

The father said he could not apply for birth certificates for his children because his ID was with a shylock.



The biggest challenge I have is that the shylock who took my ID has left the area. I dont know where she is, stated the father of the children.

However, he said when he got paid on Monday (yesterday), he would try to search for the shylock so that he could settle the remaining balance.

He explained that he took a loan of E2 700 from the shylock so that he could prepare for the burial of his lover, who was the mother of the children. He said he had struggled to repay the loan because he was not a full-time employee with a guaranteed monthly salary.



Provide



I work in the sugar cane fields on a part-time basis. Sometimes I stay home for close to five months without a job. Hence, I cant adequately provide for my family, he said.



However, community health motivators are unhappy with the manner the father has handled the matter.

They are of the view that he should have urgently dealt with the matter when the elder child dropped out of school.



We feel like there is no will to help the children go back to school hence we appeal for the intervention of other stakeholders, said the health motivator.

The mobile phone of Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku was switched off when called several times yesterday. He was reported to be in Parliament.

The department of Social Welfare falls under Masukus portfolio.
The last thing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs now, one week before the March 2 election, is a new barrage of rocket fire from Gaza, regardless of which Palestinian group is behind it. All it would do is tarnish his image as Mr. Security and ruin his efforts to reach an arrangement, just when Israel is doing everything it can to avoid an armed conflict with Hamas. This includes sending the head of the Mossad to Qatar to convince them to continue providing financial aid to Hamas. In fact, Israel has gone so far as to grant 7,000 permits to Palestinians from Gaza, allowing them to work in Israel. What it all boils down to is another haphazard decision by Defense Minister Naftali Bennett, which reshuffled the deck for Netanyahu and led to an escalation of tensions in the south.

It began Feb. 23 with Palestinians documenting an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) bulldozer dragging the body of a Palestinian allegedly with Islamic Jihad along the border of the Gaza Strip, near the town of Khan Yunis. The IDF claims he and another terrorist were trying to plant a bomb alongside the border fence. The photo, which enraged the people of Gaza, showed young Palestinians trying to prevent the bulldozer from collecting the body. All in all, it looked like an immoral act of abuse by the most moral army in the world. Bennett responded with arrogance to this criticism, adopting Netanyahus old trick of blaming the left: Im fed up with the hypocritical criticism of the left over the inhumanity of using a bulldozer to collect the body of a terrorist who tried to kill Israelis. To all you kind-hearted people out there, youre the ones who are being inhumane! Hamas still has the bodies of [IDF soldiers] Hadar [Goldin] and Oron [Shaul].

As criticism of the IDFs mistreatment of the body intensified, Bennetts partner in Yamina, Ayelet Shaked, spoke out in support of his decision: When the Minister of Defense of a sovereign country decides not to give in to a terrorist organization that holds the bodies of its fallen soldiers, you (meaning the left) lose your humanity by refusing to recognize that it is necessary in order to bring our boys home.

Both Bennett and Shaked are certainly aware that the bodies of terrorists, or for that matter, even live Palestinian prisoners arrested while trying to cross the border, are not real bargaining chips in negotiations with Hamas. Ever since Operation Protective Edge in 2014, Israel has been holding indirect talks with Hamas to get the bodies of Goldin and Shaul back, but to no avail. Hamas refuses to link the understandings reached in its arrangement with Israel with the return of the fallen soldiers bodies or the two civilians, Avera Mengistu and Hisham el-Sayed, that it is holding hostage. The defense establishment has already come to terms with the idea that a deal like that comes with a price tag, and that its implementation depends on Israels willingness to pay, i.e., to release hundreds of Hamas prisoners held by Israel in exchange for the bodies. As of now, there is no willingness on the Israeli side. Goldins brother Tzur said as much last December: My brother is not part of the arrangement. His name didnt come up [in the arrangement talks] in any way, at any stage.

Even assuming there was some logic in Bennetts decision to collect the bodies of dead terrorists, it was totally inappropriate to collect this body with a bulldozer and drag it away, not to mention that it put the drivers life in danger. It would be interesting to know what Bennett and Shaked would say if Hamas acted that way to an Israeli casualty.

In May 2004, six IDF troops were killed in an attack in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza. Israelis were horrified, and rightfully so, upon seeing photos of Hamas activists displaying the soldiers body parts. Animals! screamed the headlines in all the countrys newspapers. Then-Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz declared, We will lay hands on everyone who desecrated those soldiers bodies. We have a bitter and profound account to settle with them. In contrast, Defense Minister Bennett sees no problem with using a bulldozer to carry the terrorists body, even going so far as to say that it was all done for humane reasons. In an interview with Army Radio Feb. 23, he explained, From the moment I took over the office, I gave orders to collect the bodies of terrorists and, if possible, of live Hamas members too. There is nothing more humane than bringing our boys home.

That same day, the Adalah human rights organization sent a letter to the chief military advocate, Maj. Gen. Sharon Afek, demanding he open a criminal investigation into what was described as brutal behavior by the Israeli military and the desecration of the dead. It went on to note that this violated the Geneva Convention on torture, to which Israel is a signatory.

Minister Yuval Steinitz of the Likud was similarly critical of Bennett and the IDFs actions. We need to examine and investigate the way the IDF evacuated the terrorists corpse from the scene. It caused us unnecessary damage. It must also be said to Netanyahus credit that he acted with reason during his time as minister of defense. On more than one occasion, he pushed back against calls to occupy Gaza and bring down the Hamas regime. But this time, he didnt react at all. As a political figure close to him said anonymously as far back as October 2018, Netanyahu wants there to be a purpose behind any military operation in Gaza. While it is possible to conquer Gaza and replace Hamas, we have yet to find any volunteers to take Gaza from us after we do that. If there was someone to whom we could give Gaza, maybe we would have already conquered it again.

Fear that he might join up with Blue and Whites Benny Gantz is what ultimately caused Netanyahu to give Bennett the Defense Ministry, even though Bennett was battered and bruised politically in two successive election campaigns. As I noted in a previous article, Bennett has been trying ever since to rehabilitate his political career by making decisions that have come under fire from senior members of the defense establishment and by trying to take credit for things that never happened in order to impress his potential voters. In an interview Feb. 15, Bennett said, From the three months before to the three months after I entered [the position of defense minister], the number of rockets dropped by 80%. When Haaretz looked into this boastful interview, it found that the number of rockets fired at Israel actually doubled since Bennett took office. Of course, that does not include the dozens of rockets fired by Islamic Jihad over the last two days.

To what degree will the current round of violence hurt Mr. Security Netanyahu? Right now, it is hard to tell. In the September 2019 election, residents of the south voted for the Likud en masse, despite all their complaints that they had been neglected.

It is reasonable to assume that Netanyahu is well aware of how dangerous Bennett is in the Defense Ministry and that all of his arrogant moves and tweets are intended solely to improve his position politically. On the other hand, Netanyahu also has a tendency to appoint ministers and make decisions intended solely to extricate himself from the corruption scandals for which he has been indicted.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 13:49:56|Editor: Lu Hui

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by Xinhua writers Ma Yunfei and Wanyan Wenhao

TAIYUAN, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- For the first time in her 33 years of life, Li Yezi (pseudonym) felt her family's every move was the talk of the town.

Li and her mother became two of the only three confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection in her small home county with a population of 400,000 in north China's Shanxi Province since the epidemic broke out in the city of Wuhan.

And Li, who works in Wuhan and returned on the Spring Festival holiday, was "patient one" in their town.

"Our conditions were labeled as almost the top priority on the county authorities' agenda list," Li said.

Li came back to her home county from Wuhan on Jan. 19.

"There had been pneumonia cases of unknown cause at that time in Wuhan, signs of the epidemic," she recalled, adding that she did not take it so seriously, like most Wuhan citizens.

The whole county was immersed in a festive atmosphere when Li arrived. "Yet they had no idea that I had, unfortunately, brought the virus back," Li said, unaware at the time that she had been infected.

She began to show symptoms a couple of days later, starting with a slight fever. She got no better after taking some medicine, and decided to get an injection at a clinic.

Li put on a mask before going out since she remembered Zhong Nanshan, a renowned respiratory expert, had confirmed human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus.

"When I think about it now, my act at that time might have reduced the risk of spreading the virus to others," she said.

Li started to realize that things were getting serious on the morning of Jan. 23 when Wuhan shut down all public transport and outbound channels, suspecting herself of being infected and afraid that she had already infected her family.

She went to the county hospital, told the doctor about her travel history, and was diagnosed as a suspected case by experts in the province before tested positive the next day.

"Someone asked my classmates about my situation less than two hours after my infection was confirmed," said Li, who was then transferred to a designated hospital. Her mother was later diagnosed with coronavirus infection and placed in Li's ward.

Li's father was quarantined and had some problems with his chest radiography, but coronavirus infection was later ruled out. She received a WeChat message from her younger brother, saying all the family members she had contact with were quarantined and the community she lived in was sealed off.

It was a seismic shock for the county headquarters for epidemic prevention and control, which immediately took a series of strict measures including implementing traffic control, canceling gatherings and screening out those who came back from Wuhan.

"It seemed to me that the escalation of preventive measures had something to do with my family," Li said, never thinking that the fate of her and her home county would be so closely intertwined.

The mother and daughter received a lot of encouragement from doctors and friends. Li said she was also given pep talks on WeChat by her classmates she had not heard from in years.

After receiving treatment for about two weeks, Li recovered and was discharged from hospital. Her mother was discharged from hospital four days later.

Her father joked that he had almost become an "online celebrity." "He also realizes we have brought a lot of trouble to people in our county, and is thinking about doing something in return," Li said.
Russell Moore warns against downplaying 'awful' nature of Hell to non-believers

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Southern Baptist ethicist Russell Moore has stressed the horrific nature of Hell and cautioned Christians against downplaying the reality and severity of Hell to appear more loving to non-Christians.

In a recent video posted on his website, Moore said Hell has been trivialized in todays culture  or simply avoided altogether. He offered three reasons many professing believers refrain from thinking about or discussing the doctrine of Hell.

Sometimes that's because they're embarrassed about seeming to be hellfire and brimstone to the people in their communities, as though somehow we were more compassionate than God, he suggested.

For a lot of other people though, there's just a gravity of it all. We can think of people we know who don't know Christ, and there's a burden there when it comes to the doctrine of Hell, he continued.

And then for other people, there can be legitimate questions. They can say, Why would somebody who's rebelling against God in this short little period of time ... then endure Hell forever and ever and ever and ever with no end in sight?

However, throughout His earthly life and ministry, Jesus repeatedly talked about Hell and used a variety of different forms of imagery to describe the awfulness of Hell and judgment, Moore stressed.

Deep within their heart, every human understands the necessity of justice and judgment, he said, adding, We have a longing for love and we have a longing for justice. And that's present in everyone. That's why sometimes it's hard for people to forgive.

The first thing to understand about Hell is that sin is more serious than we think it is, Moore stressed.

A sin is not just about the consequences of the way that we relate to one another. Sin is a violation of the holiness of God, he said. And we don't understand that. Of course we don't because we're finite. But also because we're sinners. We're implicated in this cosmic rebellion against God, but also because of the nature of the punishment itself.

Those condemned to Hell will be completely cut off from God and handed over to who they truly are, apart from His grace, Moore posited.

We can't imagine that because we live in a universe where God's grace is hemming us all around, he said. That common grace that is all around us, that is removed. And so we're in a situation where the judgment of God comes at us full strength.

Instead of shying away from the topic of Hell or substituting human wisdom for biblical truth, Moore stressed the need for Christians to persuade people to be reconciled to God, citing 2nd Corinthians 5 and 6.

It ought to cause us to see our own complicity as sinners, which ought to cause us to see the goodness and the magnificence of grace, he explained.

Through the death of His son, God provided a way to escape Hell and remain with Him in perfect communion forever, Moore said.

The doctrine of Hell is a true doctrine, he concluded. God has warned us of this and we need to be the people who understand Hell is awful. Hell is unending, Hell is completely avoidable.

Hell is one of the most controversial doctrines within Christianity. A 2016 survey from LifeWay Research found that only 4 in 10 Americans believe Hell is where God sends all people who do not accept Christ as their Savior. In contrast, 6 in 10 Americans believe all people are reunited with loved ones in Heaven.

In an op-ed for The Gospel Coalition, pastor and author Joe Carter argues that one cannot believe in the Jesus of the Gospels and not believe in Hell.

Jesus doesnt give us that option, he writes. You can also not love your neighbor and be apathetic about their spending eternity in Hell. Jesus doesnt give us that option either. If we believe Jesus and love our neighbor we will bring the doctrine of Hell back into our churches.

Pastor and author J.D. Greear notes that while people often feel that Hell is some great blemish on Gods love, Hell actually shows us the extent of Gods love in saving us.

Why did Jesus speak about Hell more than anyone else in the Bible? Because He wanted us to see what He was going to endure on the cross on our behalf, Greear said.

Hell magnifies for us the love of God by showing us how far God went, and how much He went through, to save us.
During a radio appearance Monday Sen. Richard Blumenthal took a quiz on millennial words, terms young people use.

Spoiler: He didnt get any right.

Blumenthal who is 74 years old (74 is the new 55, he said on the radio), went on Chaz and AJs show on WPLR, and was asked to define some terminology, as shared by a young intern on the show.

For example, tea, or spilling the tea apparently means sharing secrets.

Ive just come from a classified briefing on the Russian intelligence threat but Im not spilling the tea, Blumenthal said after the meaning was explained.

When asked what slaps means, Blumenthal said Other than to physically slap someone I have no idea.

It was defined as something really good, as in this pizza slaps.

Im going to school here, Blumenthal said.

Finally, the senior senator from Connecticut was asked to define stan, which he was told means an obsession and comes from an Eminem song.

I have no songs in my iphone because it is a government-issue phone to be used only for official purposes, he said.

Blumenthal was also asked how he felt about the age of Sen. Bernie Sanders, currently the leading Democratic candidate in the 2020 presidential race.

Sanders is 78 years old.

Im not really concerned with his age because he is so vigorous, and people really age in different ways, he said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 25)  A total of 445 Filipinos from the coronavirus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan were brought home to the Philippines.

The first batch of Filipino evacuees arrived Tuesday via Philippine Airlines (PAL) chartered flight at the Haribon Hangar of the Clark Air Base in Pampanga at 10:10pm. There were 309 Filipinos onboard the first flight, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed.

Meanwhile, the second PAL flight carrying 136 evacuees landed at 12:12am, which brings the total number of evacuees to 445.

The Filipinos, composed mostly of crew members of Diamond Princess, disembarked the quarantined ship Tuesday afternoon. They were transported from the Yokohama Port, where the cruise ship has been docked for weeks, to the Haneda Airport.

The repatriation does not include 70 Filipinos who have fallen ill to the coronavirus disease officially known as COVID-19.

In total, 80 Filipinos who were on board the Diamond Princess tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to the Departments of Health and Foreign Affairs. Ten of them have recovered and given a clean bill of health, making them eligible for repatriation, the DFA said.

The evacuees will again be tested for flu-like syptoms before landing at Clark. Those who manifest signs of respiratory illness will be isolated in one area in the aircraft and will be taken to a government-identified hospital for treatment.

The remaining evacuees will all be placed under a 14-day quarantine at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, as part of government policy. The medical and response teams, crew members, and other personnel who accompanied the Filipinos from Japan will also be quarantined.

The new coronavirus has killed more than 2,700 people worldwide, mostly in China, since the outbreak began in Wuhan City, Hubei province on December 2019.

In the Philippines, three Chinese nationals -- all from Wuhan -- have been infected with the virus. One of them died, while the remaining two have since recovered and left the country.

In the search for people who have had contact with the three confirmed cases, a total of 516 individuals have tested negative for the virus, while the government awaits 44 more lab results.
A new ranking scale from the Pentagon shows that most U.S. states still have work to do when it comes to helping spouses with professional licenses continue their careers after a military move to a new state.

The scale, included in a report released Monday, measures how portable each state's military spouse licensing allowances laws are. The Defense Department's red to green scale is meant to help lawmakers see how their state licensing boards compare with others in terms of "portability," or ease of transferring a professional license across state lines.

''There were lots of circumstances where boards may have interpreted the broad law differently than we had anticipated and really did not make it much easier for military spouses,'' Marcus Beauregard, Defense-State Liaison Office (DSLO) director, said Monday. ''And we also found that implementation of those laws was not consistent throughout the states.''

Beauregard said one barrier to passing state legislation that truly helps spouses is a misunderstanding of the word "reciprocity." While working with states from 2011 to 2016, he found some lawmakers did not understand that "reciprocity" means "if I accept yours, you accept mine."

Related: New Law Will Make It Easier for Military Spouses to Keep Licenses During a PCS

Officials hope the new scale will provide a working definition of reciprocity.

The dark green part of the scale shows the supported amount of reciprocity, or interstate compacts. The red area indicates problems from no portability to weak language, using wording such as the noncommittal "may" instead of "shall."

Almost all states have passed some sort of spouse-focused licensing portability measure.

Arizona, Florida and Utah are currently just below the "optimum" dark green level. The first two require state boards to perform necessary verification, while the licensee just needs to pass a background check. Utah requires the employer to verify.

Jennifer Davis, National Military Family Association government relations deputy director, said Monday that she finds the new scale "encouraging" and is pleased the DoD is working with states to create a variety of occupation-specific interstate compacts to reduce the time and paperwork burden for fields such as physicians, nurses, physical therapists, emergency medical technicians, psychologists and audiologists/speech language pathologists.

Beauregard said the DoD is working with states to form an additional 10 to 15 occupation compacts, with the focus on allowing spouses to maintain their licenses in their home states while giving them the privilege to practice in all other member states without further licensing or registration.

"In most cases, interstate compacts provide the smoothest option in transferring an occupational license across state lines, but compacts take time to stand up," Davis said. "Clearly defining reciprocity and illustrating immediate and short-term ways to grant that reciprocity assists states seeking to provide more support to military families and provides smart and flexible ways to engage the issue of license reciprocity for military spouses."

Nearly 35% of military spouses have some kind of state license in teaching, nursing, accounting or other professions, Beauregard said. After a move across state lines, they have to get a new license -- a costly process that can take six to nine months as they must submit their old transcripts or licenses and possibly take new classes to qualify in their new state.

Military spouse unemployment rates can be difficult to track, with results depending on survey methodology. While the latest information from the Defense Department puts the rate at about 24%, other recent studies say it's closer to 16%. All measures, however, place the rate steadily higher than the civilian unemployment rate, which dropped to 3.6% in January from nearly 10% in 2010.

"For military spouses who have to transfer a license across state lines due to a government-directed move, maintaining employment can be daunting and frustrating, especially with a stagnant 24 percent unemployment rate," Davis said.

She said military spouses should be encouraged by the recent work by Congress and the DoD to address the problem.

"DSLO's providing each state with a 'performance report' of sorts allows states to understand where they are in the process of expediting license reciprocity and shows them where they can improve through best practices," Davis said.

Military spouses can track the progress of each state's reciprocal laws and review their requirements with the Labor Department's map here.

-- Dorothy Mills-Gregg can be reached at dorothy.mills-gregg@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @DMillsGregg.

Read more: Duckworth: Army's New Helicopters Should Not Be Designed for Anyone Else
One hotel in the Canary Islands was put on lockdown on Tuesday after a coronavirus case was identified there the day before, a guest at the hotel told Reuters.

Spanish media including Diario de Avisos and El Pais newspaper also reported the lockdown, saying there were around 1,000 guests at the hotel.

"We can see from the window there are security officers outside the hotel and about 50 hotel employees," Christopher Betts said over the phone from his room at the hotel, adding that all hotel guests were asked to remain in their rooms.

Betts, a British national, said they had been allowed to have breakfast in the hotel restaurant but added: "We have received no information whatsoever." He said he had not been tested for the virus yet.

Spanish health authorities could not immediately confirm the hotel lockdown but said they would test tourists and staff in the hotel, in which an Italian national infected with the coronavirus stayed.

The man, a doctor who came to Tenerife on holidays, was being kept in isolation in a hospital. He was the third case identified in Spain after a German tourist in La Gomera, another Canary Island, and a British man in Mallorca were tested positive.

"We are checking people who had contact with the patient including the people in the hotel," a spokeswoman for Canary Island's health department.

H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel will not comment, a receptionist at the Barcelona-based company managing the hotel said.

Tens of thousands are expected this week in the Canary Islands for carnival festivities.

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By ANI

NEW DELHI: An exquisite assortment of various Indian and western gourmet dishes were in the menu at a banquet dinner hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife Savita Kovind in the honour of US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

On the list of preparations "Smoked Orange Peel Panna Cotta' featured at the top as the Amuse-Bouche, while the soup on offer is "Lemon Grass and Coriander Shorba".

Delhi: Menu of the dinner banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan hosted in the honour of US President Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/qcnwzWkJDz  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

The entree for the non-veg menu is given an American twist with "Cajun Spiced Salmon", which is contrasted by Indian dishes such as "Raan Alishan in Rogani Gravy" and "Dum Ghosht Biryani".

HIGHLIGHTS: Donald Trump wraps up two-day India visit after banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan

When it comes to vegetarian dishes, the menu offers all-time favourite Indian dishes by the likes of "Aloo Tikki Chaat with Palak Papri", "Dum Gucchi Matar" and "Dal Raisina" with a side of Indian breads such as "Sheermal", "Missi Roti" and "Naan".

As the cherry on top, "Hazlenut Apple pie with Salty Caramel sauce" and "Malpua Rabri Roll" is being served as Dessert.

American President Trump who was on a two day trip to India arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhawan after addressing a press conference in the evening.

Earlier in the day, he had held both, restricted and delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
[February 25, 2020] Global Pharmaceutical Asset Management Software Market is Projected to Grow at a CAGR of 13.2% Over the Forecast Period (2019 - 2027), Says Absolute Markets Insights

Some of the players operating in the pharmaceutical asset management software market are ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd, Aspen Technology, Inc., AVEVA Group plc PUNE, India, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --The global healthcare market is getting progressively multifaceted due to a myriad of factors like growing and longer-living populations, incidence of more complex diseases and new developments in medical research and technology amongst others. Fundamentally, it remains closely allied to individual health, well-being and survival. This makes it a very sensitive field, and combines all the companies in it to an irrevocable liability of redeeming people's lives and taking care of their health and well-being. This is a huge concern and as such puts massive pressure on the companies to not commit errors, as the room for error is high and the consequences can be shocking. In order to diminish mistakes and rework the safety framework various rules, regulations, standards and practices should be enabled. Pharmaceutical companies and drug manufacturers too have regulations and standards. They have to strictly adhere to rules & standards that helps in achieving meticulous business practices. They have to ensure that there are no mistakes in the manufacturing process, all equipment is up-to-date and functioning well, and the entire manufacturing site is highly sanitized. Asset management software enable pharmaceutical companies and drug manufacturers to ensure that they are consistently compliant with the rules and regulations and to help them control any lapses. Request a [email protected] https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/request_sample.php?id=447 Pharmaceutical companies are navigating through a variety of complex regulations in order to withstand competitiveness in the global market. Most established companies are providing reliability-based maintenance application and software solutions that are compliant with standard regulations. In addition, new initiatives taken by the companies have wide application in pharmaceutical related enterprise asset management (EAM) system process. GenesisSolution (ABS Group) primarily help companies who are dealing in sectors such as biotech, medical device and pharmaceutical to acquire knowledge both in current and future state through the Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) assessment. The companies are also offering customized solutions that include gap assessment and business case development models, CMMS upgrades and support across multiple manufacturing sites, and a full suite of EAM service offerings to meet the pharmaceutical requirement. The major factor that drives the market is the awareness regarding asset health from organizations. Enquiry Before [email protected] https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/enquiry_before_buying.php?id=447



In terms of revenue, global pharmaceutical asset management software market was valued at US$ 380.72 Mn in 2018 and is expected to reach US$ 1153.51 Mn by 2027, growing at an estimated CAGR of 13.2% over the forecast period (2019  2027). The detailed research study provides qualitative and quantitative analysis of pharmaceutical asset management software market. The market has been analyzed from demand as well as supply side. The demand side analysis covers market revenue across regions and further across all the major countries. The supply side analysis covers the major market players and their regional and global presence and strategies. The geographical analysis done emphasizes majorly on the different geographical regions world wide Key suggestions from the report:

In terms of geographical locations, North America held highest Pharmaceutical Asset Management Software Market share in 2018 owing to the presence of established companies operating in the region. There are many players in the United States operating in pharmaceutical asset management sector. The availability of advanced technologies along with the cooperation of the asset management companies creates huge potential for software's in the market.

held highest Pharmaceutical Asset Management Software Market share in 2018 owing to the presence of established companies operating in the region. There are many players in operating in pharmaceutical asset management sector. The availability of advanced technologies along with the cooperation of the asset management companies creates huge potential for software's in the market. Cloud based deployment segment held the largest market share and is currently valued at US$ 214.05 Mn in 2018 among the deployment category owing to low maintenance cost and reduced time.

in 2018 among the deployment category owing to low maintenance cost and reduced time. Standalone/focused software segment held the largest market share and is currently valued at 262.83 Mn in 2018 among the function category owing to their unique ability in damage controlling.

Some of the players operating in the pharmaceutical asset management software market are ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd, Aspen Technology, Inc., AVEVA Group plc, Flowserve Corporation, Perigord Life Science Artwork Solutions, Emerson Electric Co., Schneider Electric SE, Yokogawa Electric Corporation, Siemens AG, Honeywell International Inc and other market participants. Request for [email protected] https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/request_for_customization.php?id=447 Global Pharmaceutical Asset Management Software Market : By Deployment Mode

Cloud Based



On-Premise

By Function

Integrated Asset Management Software Suite



Standalone/Focused Software



Asset Design





Asset Optimization and Analytics





Asset Maintenance

By End Users

Pharmaceutical Companies



Research Labs



Medical Device Manufacturers



Others

By Region

North America



U.S





Canada





Mexico



Europe



France





The UK





Spain





Germany





Italy





Nordic Countries





Benelux Union





Rest of Europe



Asia Pacific



China





Japan





India





New Zealand





Australia





South Korea





Southeast Asia





Rest of Asia Pacific



Middle East and Africa

and

Saudi Arabia





UAE





Egypt





Kuwait





South Africa





Rest of Middle East & Africa

&

Latin America



Brazil





Argentina





Rest of Latin America Get Full Information of this premium [email protected] https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/reports/Pharmaceutical-Asset-Management-Software-Market-2019-2027-447 About Us: Absolute Markets Insights assists in providing accurate and latest trends related to consumer demand, consumer behavior, sales, and growth opportunities, for the better understanding of the market, thus helping in product designing, featuring, and demanding forecasts. Our experts provide you the end-products that can provide transparency, actionable data, cross-channel deployment program, performance, accurate testing capabilities and the ability to promote ongoing optimization. From the in-depth analysis and segregation, we serve our clients to fulfill their immediate as well as ongoing research requirements. Minute analysis impact large decisions and thereby the source of business intelligence (BI) plays an important role, which keeps us upgraded with current and upcoming market scenarios. Contact Us:

Company: Absolute Markets Insights

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Authorities hunting for 'cult' mom Lori Vallow's missing children are preparing to search Yellowstone National Park as soon as the snow melts, sources say.

Lori's daughter Tylee Ryan, 17, was last seen at an entrance to the park on the border between Idaho and Wyoming in early September. Tylee's seven-year-old brother Joshua 'JJ' Vallow disappeared three weeks later from their home in Rexburg, Idaho.

The children were never reported missing by their mother, who was arrested in Hawaii last week on charges of child abandonment and desertion.

Sources familiar with the multi-state hunt for JJ and Tylee told CBS News that detectives are waiting for snow to melt in Yellowstone before they begin searching the 3,500-square-mile park for signs of the elder child.

Snow usually sticks on the park grounds until May, sometimes June. Park officials declined to comment due to the 'active investigation'.

Court documents released two days before Lori was arrested on Thursday revealed that phone records showed Tylee visited Yellowstone with her mother, her brother and their uncle, Alex Cox, on September 8.

Police also recovered a photo of Tylee in the park from Lori's iCloud account. They said there has been no sign of the 17-year-old since.

Authorities hunting for 'cult' mom Lori Vallow's missing children are preparing to search Yellowstone National Park (above in a file photo) as soon as the snow melts, sources say

Lori's 17-year-old daughter Tylee Ryan (pictured) was last seen at an entrance to the park on the border between Idaho and Wyoming on September 8

Tylee's seven-year-old brother Joshua 'JJ' Vallow (left) disappeared three weeks later from their home in Rexburg, Idaho. The children were never reported missing by their mother Lori (right), who was arrested in Hawaii last week on charges of child abandonment and desertion

JJ was last seen at his elementary school in Rexburg on September 23, a day before his mother withdrew him and told administrators she would be homeschooling him.

Doorbell camera footage recorded at a neighbor's house appeared to show JJ playing in his front yard on September 17.

Authorities began searching for the children in late November after performing a welfare check ordered by concerned relatives who said they hadn't spoken to JJ, who is autistic, in months.

When officers first went to Lori's home in Idaho on November 26, she told them that JJ was visiting relatives in Arizona - which investigators say was a lie.

Officers returned the following day and found that Lori and the man she married weeks earlier, Chad Daybell, had fled from the home.

Authorities say the couple have repeatedly lied about where JJ and Tylee are and refused to cooperate with the investigation.

It has since emerged they had told people Tylee was dead and that Lori has no minor children.

The last known footage of JJ, recorded on a neighbor's security camera, showed the seven-year-old playing outside his home in Rexburg on September 17

Police are seen frisking Lori before she was taken into custody outside her Kauai apartment

As officers prepared to take Lori away in a patrol car, her Doomsday author husband Chad Daybell (right) watched helplessly

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: Vallow moves children JJ and Tylee to Rexburg, Idaho September 8: The last time Tylee was seen on a day trip to Yellowstone park 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: Vallow and Daybell marry November 26: Out-of-state relatives ask Idaho police to perform a welfare check on JJ. Vallow and Daybell 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 Vallow and Daybell's home, discovering the couple have fled Idaho December 11: Tammy Daybell's body is exhumed from the Utah cemetery December 12: Vallow'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: Vallow 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 Vallow and Chad of lying to investigators and say they believe the couple know where the kids are or what happened to them January 26: Vallow and Chad are seen for the first time in months as police serve two search warrants in Kaua'i January 30 Vallow misses court deadline to produce the children to authorities Advertisement

Lori and Chad were named persons of interest in the children's disappearance after investigators said they believe the mother knows where her children are or what happened to them.

The couple issued a statement after they went on the run insisting that they'd done nothing wrong.

Police have said there is reason to believe the children are in danger.

The case captured nationwide attention with the revelations that police are also investigating three mysterious deaths linked to Lori and Chad, as well as family members' claims that the couple are members of a dangerous doomsday cult.

The first death is that of Lori's estranged husband Charles Vallow, who was shot dead by her brother Alex Cox in Arizona on July 10.

Charles and Lori had gotten into an argument when the father came to pick up JJ at the mother's home in Chandler.

Lori's brother intervened and fatally shot Charles.

Police initially determined that he acted in self defense - but the case was reopened amid the multi-state search for JJ and Tylee, who had moved to Idaho, where Chad lived, with their mother in August.

The second mysterious death was Tammy Daybell - Chad's previous wife - who was found dead at the couple's home in Salem, Idaho, on October 19.

An obituary stated that Tammy passed away in her sleep and her cause of death was ruled as natural after Chad reportedly declined an autopsy.

Investigators reopened the case after learning that JJ and Tylee were missing, as their mother had married Chad just two weeks after Tammy died. They believe the two cases could be linked.

Tammy's body was exhumed on December 11 and the autopsy results have not yet been released.

On December 12, Lori's brother, Alex Cox, was found dead in Gilbert, Arizona.

The 51-year-old's death is now under investigation as police wait for an autopsy to determine the cause.

Lori's estranged husband Charles Vallow (pictured together) was shot dead by her brother Alex Cox in Arizona on July 11

Chad's wife Tammy Daybell (pictured together) was found dead under mysterious circumstances in October, just two weeks before he married Lori

Lori's brother Alex Cox (pictured) died under mysterious circumstances on December 12

Police tracked Lori and Chad down in Princeville, Hawaii, late last month and served the mother with a court order requiring her to physically produce the children to authorities in Idaho by January 30.

Lori failed to meet the deadline and was arrested last Thursday in Kauai.

She is currently jailed in lieu of $5million bail as she awaits extradition to Idaho, which officials say could take up to 90 days.

She is due to appear in court on March 2 for the next step in the extradition process.
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- For the sixth consecutive year, Garage Gurus, the industry-leading training and support platform from DRiV, will award up to $30,000 in scholarships to future automotive technicians who are accepted or currently enrolled in accredited, U.S.-based automotive technical schools, colleges, and universities, or enrolled full-time at a U.S. high school. Applications are now available for the opportunity to receive one of 12 $2,500 Garage Gurus Automotive Technician Scholarships for the 2020-2021 school year (visit www.garagegurus.tech). All materials must be submitted by April 30, 2020; winners will be announced on or about June 1, 2020.

In addition to the application, students are also required to submit 2 letters of recommendation from non-family members as well as a typed essay or video indicating "Why I Want to Be a Top Technician." All applications and related materials will be reviewed by Garage Gurus' team of ASE Master-certified technicians and other team members.

"For us, everything begins with the service technician, so we remain committed to help provide them with the skills, training and knowledge they need to ensure quality repairs," said Dennis Sheran, director, channel engagement, DRiV. "Through our Garage Gurus platform, we will continue to address the skills gap and technician shortages facing the automotive service industry to make it stronger and more successful."

Offering onsite, online and on-demand instruction, Garage Gurus is a first-of-its-kind national training platform designed to help front-line automotive service professionals keep pace with the latest vehicle technologies. State-of-the-art Garage Gurus technical education centers are operational in 12 U.S. markets  Atlanta; Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; Dallas/Fort Worth; Houston; New Hyde Park, N.Y.; Rancho Dominguez, Calif.; South Florida; St. Louis; Suburban Detroit; and Van Nuys, Calif.

To learn more about the Automotive Technician Scholarship Program, to apply, and to read the full set of rules and eligibility requirements, visit www.garagegurus.tech.

About DRiV - the future Aftermarket and Ride Performance Company

Following Tenneco Inc.'s (NYSE: TEN) expected separation to form two independent companies, an Aftermarket and Ride Performance company (DRiV) as well as a new Powertrain Technology company, DRiV will be one of the largest global multi-line, multi-brand aftermarket companies, and one of the largest global OE ride performance and braking companies. DRiV's principal product brands will feature Monroe, Ohlins, Walker, Clevite Elastomers, MOOG, Fel-Pro, Wagner, Ferodo, Champion and others. DRiV would have 2019 revenues of $5.9 billion, with 53% of those revenues from aftermarket and 47% from original equipment customers.

Safe Harbor

This release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements relating to our strategies and plans to separate into two independent public companies. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to materially differ from those described in the forward-looking statements, including the possibility that Tenneco may not complete the separation of the Aftermarket & Ride Performance business from the Powertrain Technology business (or achieve some or all of the anticipated benefits of such a separation); the possibility the separation may have an adverse impact on existing arrangements with Tenneco, including those related to transition, manufacturing and supply services and tax matters; the ability to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers or other business partners; the risk that the benefits of the separation may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the risk that the separation may not advance Tenneco's business strategy; the potential diversion of Tenneco management's attention resulting from the separation; as well as the risk factors and cautionary statements included in Tenneco's periodic and current reports (Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K) filed from time to time with the SEC. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Unless otherwise indicated, the forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date of this communication, and, except as required by law, Tenneco does not undertake any obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to publicly disclose revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements. Additional information regarding these risk factors and uncertainties is detailed from time to time in the company's SEC filings, including but not limited to its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2019.

CONTACT:

Bill Dawson (DRiV)  847.482.5807

[email protected]

Karen Shulhan (DRiV)  248.354.4383

[email protected]

SOURCE DRiV
[February 25, 2020] Verizon Selects Fujitsu as Preferred Supplier for CPRI, eCPRI and Ethernet Multiplexing Fronthaul Technology

Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc. today announced that Verizon selected Fujitsu (News - Alert) as a preferred supplier of CPRI, eCPRI and Ethernet multiplexing fronthaul technology. In partnership with HFR Networks, Inc., the Fujitsu solution works across Verizon's existing network infrastructure to reduce deployment and operational costs while simultaneously supporting 4G LTE (News - Alert) and 5G services. The Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) solution provided by Fujitsu and HFR Networks facilitates a more efficient and lower cost centralized (CRAN) Hubbing of 4G/LTE CPRI traffic using standards-based RoE (Radio Over Ethernet) along with eCPRI and Ethernet services. "Fujitsu is a proven supplier of Smart xHaul transport solutions to Verizon, and we share a history of innovation and success," said Paul Havala, head of the optical business unit at Fujitsu Network Communications (News - Alert). "Our open Ethernet Fronthaul solution provides Verizon with a reduced total cost of ownership and contributes to a smooth evolution to 5G." About Fujitsu



Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company, offering a full range of technology products, solutions, and services. Approximately 132,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.0 trillion yen (US $36 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com. About Fujitsu Network Communications Inc.

Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc. is a leading provider of digital transformation solutions for network operators, service providers and content providers worldwide. We combine best-in-class hardware, software and services with multivendor expertise to enable cost savings, faster services delivery and improved network performance. Working closely with our customers and ecosystem partners, we design, build, operate and maintain better networks for the connected world. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com/us/products/network or connect with us on LinkedIn (News - Alert) at www.linkedin.com/company/Fujitsu-network-communications. Fujitsu, the Fujitsu logo, "shaping tomorrow with you" are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fujitsu Limited in the United States and other countries. All rights reserved. All other company or product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice. About HFR Networks, Inc. HFR is a leading provider of solutions for carriers and enterprises (KOSDAQ: 230240). As specialists in optical, packet and radio access, HFR has been innovating for over 20 years, including recent 5G deployments throughout Korea. HFR Networks serves as the North American subsidiary specializing in radio access transport networks across generations of wireless technologies and radio suppliers. Technological leadership helps customers to lower costs for 3G/ 4G operations while also accelerating 5G services. Our solutions enable an advanced mobile network with nanosecond timing connecting radios using CPRI and eCPRI, supporting both traditional and cloud-based NFV mobile architectures. For more information, please visit www.hfrnetworks.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005281/en/

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YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS. 65 Armenian nationals will be airlifted out of coronavirus-hit Iran on a special flight, foreign ministry official Arsen Avagyan told ARMENPRESS.

65 nationals of the Republic of Armenia have applied to the Embassy of Armenia in Iran. A special flight is planned for February 26 to repatriate the Armenian citizens, he said.

Earlier Armenia announced a partial shutdown of its border with Iran as the Islamic Republic reported novel coronavirus cases.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
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Linkedin Nedi Putra AW (The Jakarta Post) Malang, East Java  Wed, February 26 2020

Sky rider: Anisa Amalia Octavia poses in front of a Hercules aircraft.

A specific set of skills are required of Anisa because, if anything happens to the pilot, the copilot should be able to take over.

The biggest challenge here is endurance, said Anisa, who was born in Sleman, Yogyakarta, on Oct. 13, 1994.

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In the other paper, an editorial, Larry Davidson, a psychiatric researcher at Yale, pointed out that the results were not surprising. The researchers had intentionally left out a subset of R.A.S. queries that probably mattered most, involving how well respondents were managing their symptoms  statements like Coping with mental illness is no longer the main focus of my life and My symptoms interfere less and less with my life.

By taking out these questions, Dr. Davidson said, the study demonstrated only that, in the absence of mental distress, the everyday lives of people with a mental diagnosis are just like everyone elses. The authors, however, noted that those questions were excluded because, by definition, the comparison groups had no symptoms.

In effect, both parties agree: The R.A.S., and many similar scales, amount to little more than symptom checklists, in the end not much different from those used to track the short-term effects of a drug. The field could use different, and better, means of assessing how people shake off or learn to manage a mental-health diagnosis.

The scales originated decades ago with mental-health consumers, or survivors, who saw the usual clinical definitions of symptoms relief, like the Hamilton Depression Scale, as unable to capture the fullness of personal recovery.

The scale analyzed in the Dutch study, for instance, asks people to rate, on a scale of 1 to 5, how strongly they agree with various statements like, If people knew me, they would like me, If I keep trying, I will continue to get better and Its important to have healthy habits. Researchers rely on scales like this to gauge the longer-term, real-world effects of all variety of mental-health programs, like group therapy for rape victims in the Democratic Republic of Congo or community outreach for psychosis in Wisconsin.

But as the new study finds, questions like these are applicable to anyone, with a diagnosis or not; not to mention that responses can vary by the day, or even the hour, depending on what insults or encouragements hold sway in the moment.

People who find a way to move on with their lives after receiving a psychiatric diagnosis  depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia  generally must do so the hard way: gradually, by fine-tuning some combination of personal rituals, social connections, work demands, therapy and, when necessary, medications. And these idiosyncratic regimens of self-care are not easily captured by the measures currently available to researchers.
In June 1989, Bernie Mulcahy died in hospital of third-degree burns after a fall by the hearth of the fireplace at home in Helvic, Co Waterford. He was 96 years of age.

His son Michael, now 68, says he thought he'd "had enough of crucifixion by fire." An artist of some note internationally, Michael is talking metaphorically. Yet there is a very real pain at the heart of his words, spoken not at his home in Co Waterford but at a farmhouse in the wilds of the Wexford countryside.

On September 6 last year, Michael and his partner Vera Whelan could have been burned to death in a fire that engulfed their house in Helvic. "My father died because of a fire and I thought I was going to go the same way." Casting his mind back to that night, Michael says it is "a sense for me, as opposed to remembering clearly, as Vera does".

"A sense of an all-consuming, disempowering terror comes over me," he elaborates. "I can only recall snippets"

At 6pm, Michael woke in his outdoor studio to the smell of smoke. He has "a flash of running into my home with water; another of being outside and seeing an explosion of fire. Then I'm holding Vera, reassuring her that it's okay, I'm alive."

Six months on, Michael is still in disbelief that it happened. "I've always been so extra-careful about the prevention of fire in my home. I've seen first-hand how fire destroys life in a most horrific way," he says. The only relief in all this hardship, he says, "is that Vera and I are alive. I take great solace in that."

Michael says he can't look at the charred remains in Helvic of his labour of love of over 20 years. And the loss of all his paintings, plus a lifetime of sketchbooks with notes written inside and his giant collection of art books.

"That felt like a shotgun blast through my heart," he says. "Fire is violent."

Does Michael have a belief in a presence greater than himself that got him through the last few months? His answer has four words: "The power of nature."

He pauses then says: "I start my days listening to the dawn chorus. I love the bird song. When troubled, I have a need to be beside the sea. I was fortunate my dad sailed on his own boat, and we had a separate home by the sea. So it's a return to the familiar for me." The farmhouse is not far from Curracloe beach.

"It's the power of nature that gives me energy. Every second the light changes on its surface. I love observing that." After the fire, Michael was "exhausted with shock".

He "needed" to go to the Skelligs with Vera and get onto Skellig Michael. "It's hard for me to put into words the presence on this island."

On the boat trip back to the mainland, he began drawing the island, even though he hadn't picked up even a pencil to work since the fire. Skellig Michael, he says, "has been the main source of inspiration for a great deal of my work". As has been the woman sitting beside Michael tonight.

"September 6, 2019 is a time in space," she says. "I was at Michael's home. I was just about to go for an evening nap upstairs, before going out that night. Michael's neighbour Jennifer, who had become one of my best friends, rang. She had left something in my car the day before and needed it. So I decided to drop it to her as it was a few minutes' drive over. It was the phone call by chance that I know now saved my life."

Vera had barely finished her cup of tea at Jennifer's when the fateful phone call came.

"There was a fire at Michael's place," the caller said.

Vera says she "nearly lost my life with the fright", because she knew Michael was sleeping in the mezzanine over his outdoor studio. "That powerful instinct before thoughts or words that's in a woman to care for her loved ones, moved me. I didn't hear another word said. I was already out the front door." Half-way to Michael's place, a neighbour signalled Vera to pull in off the road, which had to be kept clear as the Fire Brigade were on their way. Vera got out and ran up the road.

She heard calls behind her to stay put. She didn't stop running. Vera believes that "hope speeded up my steps". That said, she didn't know "if Michael was dead or alive". She felt an unstoppable force within her - "moving me, the like of which was so strong, I'd never felt before. I turned the last corner, clouds of black smoke filled the sky.

"A lightning-bolt shock went through me, my knees buckled. I fell to the ground. Fear consumed and taunted me, that he was gone. The fire was worse than I thought. I could hear the fire engines' sirens in the distance on the way."

Then Vera heard Jennifer say, "He's alive, Vera. Look! He's standing at the statue on the far side."

Vera caught sight of Michael and ran towards him, through the danger, "and fell into his embrace". She believes that the "life and the energy of it flowing through us is more important than anything. It was the catalyst to start a total transformation within me, of how I would go on to live my life.

"The shoots of it, I'm only beginning to feel the strength of within me now."

It's 8pm on a blustery, cold night in Wexford. Two dogs, Molly and Suzy, are running around the yard outside. Inside, in the living room, Michael and Vera are drinking mugs of tea and reflecting on their trauma. This is the farmhouse that Vera grew up in, with three sisters (Mary, Anne and Jenny) and two brothers (Ger and Anthony.) After the fire, she and Michael have moved here, temporarily. Running in the back door, Suzy, a springer spaniel, who has just had pups. Seven of them. You can hear the pups in the kitchen, scratching at the door to be let out. Life has a sweet mystery to it, Vera smiles. This is particularly apt for Vera and Michael. When she was about seven, Vera and her mother Mary were up in Dublin for the day. After they had done their business in town, Mary had Vera by the hand, rushing to get the train home.

"On Grafton Street we were making our way through a crowd gathered around a street performer," she recalls.

Vera, only being hip high to adults, caught a glimpse of these bare blue feet and legs dancing. "Naturally like all children, I was filled with curiosity." Letting go of her mother's hand, Vera "made my way through the clothed legs, to see more of the blue feet dancing."

"Then to the glorious wonder of a child's eyes, before the fog of criticism and judgment blinds, danced a whole blue man," Vera in her poetic way remembers. "He was naked except for a loincloth also in blue."

"However," she smiles, "I had to go, and I didn't meet him again for 30 years."

Three decades later, Vera and the blue man in the loincloth met again at Michael's exhibition in the Pig Yard Gallery in Wexford town; then two years on again at the same venue. "A year later at his exhibition for Wexford Opera Festival, we began getting to know each other. That was 2012. We're together ever since"

What sustains and nourishes their love?

"We have similar depth," says Vera as Michael looks on smiling in near-beatific agreement. (Vera to Mick is, I suspect, like that Charles Bukowski line: "She's magic. There's no lie in her fire.")

"From deep inside we're both loving the same things. Like all before our eyes in nature, to behold in wonder, we both let the love of this fill us up. Love is not something to covet from another. Love we fill ourselves up with and then give out. So it's nature and the energy of nature, caring for us, that sustains our love." It is that love that has sustained Vera and Michael after the fire too. "It takes time to recover from such a huge blow," says Vera.

"We're doing well, though. The plans for the future are to triumph against the odds. We're living a quiet life really at the moment. Michael had our place so beautifully unique in Helvic, the local kids called it the magic house by the fairway grove."

Michael has a grown-up daughter, Fiona, from a previous relationship.

"My daughter's doing really well," he says. "She's 20 and in her third year of studying law in Paris. She's a lovely authentic young woman. I'm very proud of her."

Vera, who is an artist in stained glass and teaches yoga (she has being doing it for 26 years) and meditation (she's been practising for 34 years), is one of the most calming people to be around. When I got lost on the dark road near the farmhouse on the journey down from Dublin, she came out in her car - the one in which she will drive Michael to Frankfurt next month for his exhibition - and rescued me.

"Due to my work," she says, "of feeling the energy flow in people's bodies through my fingertips, I know artists have a faster-flowing energy stream running through them than others.

"This means that if they get bumped out of their creative flow, via a trauma, a sense of injustice going on, or even thinking of a past trauma - well it's a more extreme pain for them.

"Artist, writers, musicians have to stay focused in the here and now, for things not to go pear-shaped, more than any other profession. It's just the way it is.

"Keeping their faster creative energy stream, from fuelling anger, hurt or fear, is their challenge."

When Michael is totally present, listening to the birds singing, or the wind or the waves, as he paints, the speed at which he operates is fascinating to watch, Vera says, adding that Michael and his fellow students in the early 1970s in the National College of Art and Design "began a revolution in Irish art, from realistic to contemporary".

Michael, she says, paints moments from within his own mind. "I know that from a still mind, the light of a creative idea is received. This stirs emotions." After Michael's mother Elles died when he was 12, the Jesuits gave him, he says, "freedom from other subjects, to go to the art room to express all that I sense, via my passion, of painting." He adds, "They allowed me to sense my way through life."

In 2004, Michael's younger brother Frank took his own life in Helvic.

"It still cuts me to the bone. I'd done nothing wrong on Frank. Yet I've a propensity to turn everything in on myself," he says. "Some of us Irish have that conditioning. Other people have huge biases. They blame and judge the departed for being selfish. Blames, biases, judgments are of no value whatsoever. Only caring really genuinely for each other helps. Only valuing how fragile and precious life is helps.

"The reasons for suicide are so incredibly complex; sometimes we just have to be honest and say 'I don't know why'. Leave ourselves off the hook. Take away the shame perpetrated by biases and judgments. None of us know why someone kills themselves, really."

"Frank's death is still hard," he continues. "I hope he's in peace. I hope I find peace."

I ask Michael does he believe in God.

"In this culture there's Lord Jesus and Our Lady," he says. "I use the words Lord and Lady of the Universe when I'm calling for aid or thanking a presence for another day lived. I prefer this rather than the image of a crucifix."

Inspired by his travels in India over the years, Michael lights a candle every morning at a photo of "the Illuminate Buddha. It's the light that I like, as opposed to Buddha," he says. "The light represents peace, harmony and stillness. It's only from the stillness within that I find my creative ideas flow freely from. When the conditioned thought processes are still, there is a complete connection to what is in front of me as I paint, ideas that come in images in my mind... if images come fast, I paint with energetic brush strokes. Some paintings can have massive energy then. If images come slow, the paintings are more tranquil."

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Whatever about the presence of higher beings helping Michael and Vera in their darkest hours, their friends were physically there for them too

"We've had some great neighbours and friends, who have been so supportive," says Vera. "And some local artists have expressed their support by donating a painting each for auction at a dinner night out in Waterford in a few months.

"A friend in Dungarvan wants to rally solidarity from the good people there, who have expressed the desire to help us back to standing strong again."

"To the kind people who have helped and others wanting to stand in solidarity, we are truly grateful," says Michael.

I am curious about these two pleasingly eccentric people's daily lives in Wexford, not least after such a traumatic event. Michael is a very early riser, Vera says.

"He drinks vitamin juice, and herbal tea, as he listens to the birds' waking song."

Vera will hear Michael "gently talking" to the cat Kiddy and the dogs as she wakes. "I'm lucky to have him bring me tea in bed, then I meditate, then he brings me coffee in bed. Michael also makes great omelettes for breakfast. I know I'm fortunate to be with someone generous.

"Michael has a natural ability to uplift with humour. So in between the clouds of trauma passing through, we laugh a lot," Vera says, adding that the laughter is "always instigated by him", as Molly and Suzy and her seven puppies come racing into the living room.

"We haven't named the puppies yet!" laughs Vera.

There isn't a good enough name for two brave people like Michael Mulcahy and Vera Whelan.

Some of Michael's new paintings can be viewed in the Pig Yard Gallery in Wexford and Gourmet House in Dungarvan Instagram Michael_Mulcahy1952 vewheel@gmail.com





'With no insurance, our focus is all on working and getting the finance to rebuild...'

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"We would love it if it was as cut and dry that there was an answer as to what started the fire. But we don't know what it was..." says Vera.

"Four fire engines came. So much water was used to put the fire out that they couldn't determine what started it. There are no answers sometimes.

"Our home was a self-renovated labour of love by Michael over years. Then in the last few years, we renovated a library for art books, put a guest room over that, and self-built an extension, with help from very good friends. It was all a labour of love by everyone.

"ESB connection was next on the collecting for money list. After that insurance. With no insurance, our focus is on working now. There is a vision of building something again on the site - putting a roof on and renovating the stones of the cottage. There's no time-span.

"It'll be done when we've enough finance again. So the focus is on work."

before...

...and after
He also noted efforts to "attack" the district's annual deficit, which he said has been reduced by half of what it was at the time of the takeover.

I am proud of the fact that during my tenure we have cut our deficit in half while working to engage more community stakeholders in the work being done to improve our district, Morikis said in the release. Everything I do is for our children. Dr. McNulty feels the same way and will be a great asset to the team.

Robert Buggs, president of the Gary Community School Corp.'s nonvoting advisory board, said he was not informed of the change before the district's announcement Tuesday afternoon.

Buggs, who has long advocated for the interviewing and selection of Gary residents in positions of leadership, said the announcement left him speechless.

"This is brand new to me  it all came straight out of the blue," Buggs said. "They have, again, disrespected the school board."

GlenEva Dunham, president of the Gary Teachers Union, said she sat down with Eric Parish for nearly two hours Tuesday morning to discuss the change among other issues in Gary schools.
T he man who invented the much-loved Lego Minifigures has died aged 78.

Jens Nygaard Knudsen had been suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and was being cared for in a hospice when he died on Saturday.

Nygaard Knudsen was a designer at the Danish toy brick maker from 1968 to 2000.

He worked on developing the now iconic Minifigure with movable arms and legs in the 1970s, before it was first released in 1978.

Tributes have been paid to Jens Nygaard Knudsen who has died aged 78 / LEGO

According to Lego, it was decided when the figure was created that  besides having a yellow face with a neutral happy expression  it would have no gender or race as these would be "determined by the childs imagination and play".

A colleague of the former designer, fellow designer Niels Milan Pederson said: "His imagination was so fantastic. If we had a brainstorm it was more like a brain hurricane, because he had so many ideas."

LEGO paid tribute to the creator, writing: "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, Lego Group's chief marketing officer Julia Goldin added: "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."

She said that Knudsen "made an impact few can match."

Matthew Ashton, vice president of design at Lego, also expressed his condolences on Twitter, calling the toy creator "an amazing man."

"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," the tweet continued. "Without him, I would have never been inspired to do the things I do today, without him I wouldnt even have my job today! What an amazing man, and what an incredible legacy he leaves behind."

Following his death at the Anker Fjord Hospice outside the small town of Hvide Sande on the Danish west coast, his widow said: "He was a man of ideas. The figure was created so that there would be life in the houses. At the time Legos houses were empty, but then he drew this man."

Nygaard Knudsen also developed some of the Lego's classic sets, including Space and Pirates and had a hand in designing early versions of Legoland.

Lego was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Christiansen and began manufacturing the Lego bricks in 1940s.

It was launched in its modern form in 1958 and by 2018 the group employed over 17,000 people.
25.02.2020 LISTEN

In spite of the improvements in Ghanas economic fundamentals in recent years, and reports of economic growth, the countrys debt per capita continues to rise. Figures from the Bank of Ghana indicate that the countrys public debt reached GH 214.9 billion as of November 2019.

This equates to about GH7,163 each for every Ghanaian man, woman and child.

The debt per capital is calculated by dividing the countrys total debt by the population.

The amount indicates a slight increase from what pertained in September 2019; GH6,950.

Compared to GH 1,440 each citizen owed in 2012 where Ghanas public debt was about GH 36 billion, with a population of about 25 million people, the recent figure announced by the Bank of Ghana is up by nearly 500 percent.

Ghanas rising debt stock continues to be a source of concern for economic watchers who believe the situation makes the economy more vulnerable to shocks such as commodity price changes on the international market due to dependence on primary commodity exports.

The depreciation of the cedi has also not helped in fixing the issue especially as most of the debt is serviced in foreign currency.

The latest data by the Bank of Ghana represents 62.1 percent of the total value of all goods and services produced in the country.

How long will it take you to pay?

At a daily minimum wage of GH11.82, and GH366 on average per month, it will take 20 months full salary to pay each citizens share of the debt.

Who are the creditors?

Out of the GH 214.9 billion, the external debt component reached GH111.9 billion with the domestic part accounting for GH102.9 billion.

Due to regular instances of misuse of loans in a way that makes it difficult to pay back, there are fears of Ghana being pushed into a debt crisis.

It has often been the case that governments in an attempt to address the countrys economic challenges, tend to borrow more money, much of which would often be used to service debts and cater for recurring costs.

There are many other factors that continue to make Ghanas worrying debt situation cyclical.

These include overreliance on commodities, unfavourable conditions attached to loans that often widen the poverty gap by pushing for privatization of social services and assets and poor revenue mobilization.

World Bank Country Director Pierre Frank LaPorte earlier in February warned that Ghana could suffer debt crises if it is borrowing irresponsibly.

Countries especially developing countries have to borrow because most of us do not have adequate resources, we have to borrow to develop, but we have to borrow responsibly. At the moment, Ghana's debt situation according to World Bank description is a country at a moderate rate to high risk of debt distress; of course, yes, the country has to be careful, he said.

The country is at a stage where things are critical. I'm confident the Finance Minister and his team are fully aware of that, we discuss all the time and borrowing as I said is not always a bad thing but you must borrow at the right terms, as best and most favourable as possible and the right amount and the right way, Mr. LaPorte added.

The World Bank rates Ghana as a moderate to high-risk debt distressed country.

When we think about debt and borrowing, I want to talk about the fact that we don't only measure it with respect to GDP. An important metric that we look at and in the case of Ghana is a metric that is of concern, that is, debt service to revenue, said International Monetary Fund's Resident Representative, Dr. Albert Touna-Mama.

At a recently held public forum on Ghanas economy, he averred that the country was in a dire situation with its public debt.

We use debt service to revenue as a proxy of how sustainable the debt of Ghana is. At the moment, that ratio is close 30 percent. When we take that for countries of similar features, it should be below 18 percent. This is twice as much as what it should be. So, of course, we are concerned about the borrowing of Ghana, he stated.

Way forward

There has to be a new approach to tackling the countrys debt situation to enable her break free from the increasing dependence on loans.

Stricter fiscal discipline, prudent use of loans and tackling the lapses in the countrys revenue mobilization operations can help improve the situation.

Should this not be done, the next generation will be overburdened with huge debts that will make it highly impossible to commit to any meaningful social or physical development due to the lack of fiscal space.



The writer, Jonas Nyabor, is a journalist with Citi FM/Citi TV and citinewsroom.com
L-R: Motanga, Muto Tango and Kouontchou WhatsApp

After serving for 11 years as Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council, LCC, Motanga Andrew Monjimba was today Tuesday, February 25, 2020 elected City Mayor of the same institution under the Special Status dispensation enshrined in the law instituting the general code of regional and local authorities.

Also elected during the maiden session of the Limbe City Council under the special status dispensation were Karen Nora Muto Tango from the Limbe III Council and Emmanuel Kouontchou from the Limbe I Council as first and second Deputy City Mayors respectively.

Born on August 15, 1959 in Mokundange, Limbe II Subdivision, Motanga quickly acquired education and grew up the ranks of society to distinguish himself as a solid administrator and stoic politician.

Aside serving the public service in varied capacities, Motanga was elected President of the then Fako I Section of the Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement, CPDM, in 2002. In the same year, he was elected to the office of Chairman of the then Limbe Urban Council, a position he held until 2007 when Limbe was split into three sub-divisional councils.

After the 2007 twin municipal and legislative elections, Motanga was elected pioneer Mayor of the Limbe II Council. Following presidential decree no. 2009/058 of February 6, 2009, Motanga was appointed pioneer Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council, a post he held until February 25, 2020 when he was elected pioneer City Major.

The family man and father of several children is pioneer President of the Fako IA CPDM Section. The sagacity, so far, displayed by this CPDM apologist in the political terrain has left many people  from all walks of life  either in a pensive or cheerful mood.

Motangas political forward-march towards the sky- from a simple CPDM militant, to CPDM Fako I Section President from 2002, to Section President of Fako IA in 2015 following a split of Fako I (Limbe) into three CPDM Sections, to pioneer Mayor of the Limbe II Council, pioneer Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council in 2009 and today pioneer City Mayor leaves his critics speechless and confused.

There is no doubt that, his political leap forward is also attracting more admirers especially among the youth, who are tomorrows leaders.

It is no exaggeration to say that, Motanga is a household name in Cameroons political landscape. Like in the CPDM, members of other political parties [like the UPC President for South West and ex-Limbe SDF boss], across the national territory, see merit in his courage and sense of commitment.

Even in political circles, Motanga is seen as a man of few words but of very positive action.

Through his towering achievements  whether as a local party leader or Government Delegate, as well as his silent-achieving nature and power of persuasion, he has won the hearts of many.

He has succeeded to make Limbe a CPDM bastion, politically banishing the opposition through his open-door policy and community outreach. He is one political figure who attends to the needs of the entire locality.

Even after achieving so much, Motanga is quiet and does not filibuster about his exploits  forcing many who know him to celebrate his unpredictability, a quality that today gave him the requisite votes to transit from Government Delegate to City Mayor after eleven years.

This may well be part of the reason why the current socio-political crisis rocking the North West and South West Regions has had its effects mitigated in the town of friendship.

The shrewd political planner who abhors loquaciousness and boastfulness is said to have a fine mastery and control of the CPDM in Limbe. Though the Fako I Section he led was split into three and he now heads only one fraction, his influence and aura covers the other sections.

Many who see in him a fatherly figure also say he is a unifying factor and rallying force. He believes in victory, is determined and focused, most of the times, on goals, and not people, as his guiding principles.

It is apparently for this reason and more that he has earned several recognitions among them the titles of Ekoka Moto, Ndum Nneh Akaseng, and Tchamgal.

His efforts in building a better Limbe for all got him the Ekoka Moto title from the custodians of the Bakweri Culture and Tradition. Limbe Chiefs grouped under the banner of the Limbe Chiefs Conference on February 13, 2016 conferred on Motanga the most coveted Ekoka Moto title.

It was on May 12, 2018 that Manyu kingmakers and elements of the Manyu community in Limbe decorated Limbes go-getter with the Ndum Nneh Akaseng title. For, as they put it, he is a father who does not discriminate. While on a working visit to Ngaoundere in 2017, the Lamido of Ngaoundere, Hamadou Hayatou Issa raised Motanga to the class of notables when he decorated him with the Tchamgal title.

This career administrator-cum politician, who holds several certificates and professional diplomas, had before worked dutifully in several capacities.

But Motangas friends have testified that he developed such soft spot for party politics and fell for the ruling CPDM.

He remains a pace-setter, championing the Limbe Festival of Arts and Culture, Limbe FESTAC as well as his brain child, the multi-billion futuristic Limbe Left Bank Maritime Project among the ways he seeks to give back to a town that has done him well.
NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Biolubricants market worldwide is projected to grow by US$1.3 Billion, driven by a compounded growth of 6.1%. Vegetable Oils, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 6.7%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$1.7 Billion by the year 2025, Vegetable Oils will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05442600/?utm_source=PRN

- Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 5.2% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$46.9 Million to the region's size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over US$39.7 Million worth of projected demand in the region will come from Rest of Europe markets. In Japan, Vegetable Oils will reach a market size of US$81.3 Million by the close of the analysis period. As the world's second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 9.2% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$364 Million in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders. Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies.



- Competitors identified in this market include, among others,

BP Plc

Cargill, Incorporated

Chevron Corporation

Emery Oleochemicals Group

Eurol B.V.

ExxonMobil Corporation

FUCHS PETROLUB SE

HollyFrontier Corporation

Millers Oils Ltd.

NuPro Industries Corporation

Panolin AG

Renewable Lubricants, Inc.

Royal Dutch Shell plc

plc Total S.A.

Valvoline Inc.









Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05442600/?utm_source=PRN



I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE



II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



1. MARKET OVERVIEW



Biolubricants: A Cleaner and Sustainable Alternative to

Petroleum Based Lubes

Biolubricants Score over Petroleum Based and Synthetic Lubricants

Environmental Fears Drive Biolubricants

Recent Market Activity

Biodegradability - the USP of Biolubricants

Huge Installed Base of Legacy Systems a Hindering Factor for

Biolubricants

The Performance vs. Cost Conundrum

OEMs Stick to Tried and Tested Products

Market Success to Depend on Leveraging Complex Set of Factors

Improvement in Global GDP Performance Encourages Optimistic

Forecasts

Japan, Russia, and Brazil Turn to be the Laggards in Economic

Growth

Outlook

By Volume

By Value

Global Competitor Market Shares

Biolubricants Competitor Market Share Scenario Worldwide

(in %): 2020 & 2029





2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS



BP Plc (UK)

Cargill, Incorporated (USA)

Chevron Corporation (USA)

Emery Oleochemicals Group (Malaysia)

Eurol B.V. (The Netherlands)

ExxonMobil Corporation (USA)

FUCHS PETROLUB SE (Germany)

HollyFrontier Corporation (USA)

Millers Oils Ltd. (UK)

Falcon Lubricants Ltd. (UK)

NuPro Industries Corporation (USA)

Panolin AG (Switzerland)

Renewable Lubricants?, Inc. (USA)

Royal Dutch Shell plc (The Netherlands)

Total S.A. (France)

Valvoline Inc. (USA)





3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS



Increasing Focus on Biodegradable, Non-toxic, and Eco-Friendly

Products: A Strong Growth Driver

Stringent Environmental Regulations Stimulate the Market

Increasing Environmental Awareness Propels Biodegradable

Hydraulic Oils Demand

Stringent Emission Control Regulations Support Growth

LEV III and Tier 3 Standards - Game Changers for Emission Control

EU Tightens the Noose for Emissions

Statistical Overview of Emissions

Emissions Regulations Landscape in Major Country/Region

Projected Rise in Auto Sales & Vehicle Miles Boosts Market Demand

Opportunity Indicators

Global Vehicles in Operation - An Overview

Biolubricants to Replace Hydrocarbon based Oils in Passenger Cars

Excellent Lubricity: A Key Scoring Point in Engines Powered by

ULSD Fuel

Increased Importance of Lubricants in Automotive Servicing

Augurs Well for Market Growth

Surging Demand for Low Viscosity Fluids to Benefit Biolubricants

Favorable Trends in the Industrial Machinery Sector Strengthens

Market Prospects

Rising Concerns over Oil Related Water Pollution Bodes Well for

the Market

Agriculture and Forest Machinery Benefits from Bio-Based Oils

Biolubricants Gain Prominence in Construction Machinery

Expanding Machine Tools Sector Spurs Demand Growth

Untapped Market Potential for Biolubricants in Ports and Harbors

Biolubricants to Become the Preferred Choice in Hydraulic Systems

Mobile Hydraulics Open Up New Opportunities for Biolubricants

Developing Economies: Hotspots for Growth

Aluminum Rolling Operations Prefer Biolubricants

Rising Focus on Wind Energy to Benefit Biolubricants

Growing Market for Metalworking Fluids

Transformer Oils Expected to Witness Growth

Higher Performance and Cost Advantages Benefit Demand for Soy-

based Lubricants

Palm Oil Emerges as a New Source for Biolubricants

Sunflower Oil Offers Environment Friendly Biolubricants





4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE



Table 1: Biolubricants Global Market Estimates and Forecasts in

US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 2: Biolubricants Global Retrospective Market Scenario in

US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 3: Biolubricants Market Share Shift across Key

Geographies Worldwide: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 4: Vegetable Oils (Base Oil Type) World Market by

Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2018 to 2025

Table 5: Vegetable Oils (Base Oil Type) Historic Market

Analysis by Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2009 to 2017

Table 6: Vegetable Oils (Base Oil Type) Market Share Breakdown

of Worldwide Sales by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 7: Animal Fats (Base Oil Type) Potential Growth Markets

Worldwide in US$ Thousand: 2018 to 2025

Table 8: Animal Fats (Base Oil Type) Historic Market

Perspective by Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2009 to 2017

Table 9: Animal Fats (Base Oil Type) Market Sales Breakdown by

Region/Country in Percentage: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 10: Other Base Oil Types (Base Oil Type) Geographic

Market Spread Worldwide in US$ Thousand: 2018 to 2025

Table 11: Other Base Oil Types (Base Oil Type) Region Wise

Breakdown of Global Historic Demand in US$ Thousand: 2009 to

2017

Table 12: Other Base Oil Types (Base Oil Type) Market Share

Distribution in Percentage by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS

2025

Table 13: Hydraulic Fluids (Application) Demand Potential

Worldwide in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 14: Hydraulic Fluids (Application) Historic Sales

Analysis in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 15: Hydraulic Fluids (Application) Share Breakdown Review

by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 16: Greases (Application) Worldwide Latent Demand

Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 17: Greases (Application) Global Historic Analysis in US$

Thousand by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 18: Greases (Application) Distribution of Global Sales by

Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 19: Gear Oils (Application) Sales Estimates and Forecasts

in US$ Thousand by Region/Country for the Years 2018 through

2025

Table 20: Gear Oils (Application) Analysis of Historic Sales in

US$ Thousand by Region/Country for the Years 2009 to 2017

Table 21: Gear Oils (Application) Global Market Share

Distribution by Region/Country for 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 22: Chainsaw Oils (Application) Global Opportunity

Assessment in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 23: Chainsaw Oils (Application) Historic Sales Analysis

in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 24: Chainsaw Oils (Application) Percentage Share

Breakdown of Global Sales by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS

2025

Table 25: Two-Cycle Engine Oils (Application) Worldwide Sales

in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 26: Two-Cycle Engine Oils (Application) Historic Demand

Patterns in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 27: Two-Cycle Engine Oils (Application) Market Share

Shift across Key Geographies: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 28: Other Applications (Application) Global Market

Estimates & Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Region/Country:

2018-2025

Table 29: Other Applications (Application) Retrospective Demand

Analysis in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 30: Other Applications (Application) Market Share

Breakdown by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 31: Industrial (End-Use) Demand Potential Worldwide in

US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 32: Industrial (End-Use) Historic Sales Analysis in US$

Thousand by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 33: Industrial (End-Use) Share Breakdown Review by

Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 34: Consumer Automobile (End-Use) Worldwide Latent Demand

Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 35: Consumer Automobile (End-Use) Global Historic

Analysis in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 36: Consumer Automobile (End-Use) Distribution of Global

Sales by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 37: Commercial Transport (End-Use) Sales Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Region/Country for the Years 2018

through 2025

Table 38: Commercial Transport (End-Use) Analysis of Historic

Sales in US$ Thousand by Region/Country for the Years 2009 to

2017

Table 39: Commercial Transport (End-Use) Global Market Share

Distribution by Region/Country for 2009, 2019, and 2025





III. MARKET ANALYSIS



GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS

UNITED STATES

Market Facts & Figures

US Biolubricants Market Share (in %) by Company: 2020 & 2025

Market Analytics

Table 40: United States Biolubricants Market Estimates and

Projections in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type: 2018 to 2025

Table 41: Biolubricants Market in the United States by Base Oil

Type: A Historic Review in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 42: United States Biolubricants Market Share Breakdown by

Base Oil Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 43: United States Biolubricants Latent Demand Forecasts

in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 44: Biolubricants Historic Demand Patterns in the United

States by Application in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 45: Biolubricants Market Share Breakdown in the United

States by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 46: United States Biolubricants Latent Demand Forecasts

in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 47: Biolubricants Historic Demand Patterns in the United

States by End-Use in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 48: Biolubricants Market Share Breakdown in the United

States by End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

CANADA

Table 49: Canadian Biolubricants Market Estimates and Forecasts

in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type: 2018 to 2025

Table 50: Canadian Biolubricants Historic Market Review by Base

Oil Type in US$ Thousand: 2009-2017

Table 51: Biolubricants Market in Canada: Percentage Share

Breakdown of Sales by Base Oil Type for 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 52: Canadian Biolubricants Market Quantitative Demand

Analysis in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 53: Biolubricants Market in Canada: Summarization of

Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Thousand by Application for

2009-2017

Table 54: Canadian Biolubricants Market Share Analysis by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 55: Canadian Biolubricants Market Quantitative Demand

Analysis in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 56: Biolubricants Market in Canada: Summarization of

Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Thousand by End-Use for

2009-2017

Table 57: Canadian Biolubricants Market Share Analysis by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

JAPAN

Table 58: Japanese Market for Biolubricants: Annual Sales

Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type for

the Period 2018-2025

Table 59: Biolubricants Market in Japan: Historic Sales

Analysis in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type for the Period

2009-2017

Table 60: Japanese Biolubricants Market Share Analysis by Base

Oil Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 61: Japanese Demand Estimates and Forecasts for

Biolubricants in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 62: Japanese Biolubricants Market in US$ Thousand by

Application: 2009-2017

Table 63: Biolubricants Market Share Shift in Japan by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 64: Japanese Demand Estimates and Forecasts for

Biolubricants in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 65: Japanese Biolubricants Market in US$ Thousand by

End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 66: Biolubricants Market Share Shift in Japan by End-Use:

2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

CHINA

Table 67: Chinese Biolubricants Market Growth Prospects in US$

Thousand by Base Oil Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 68: Biolubricants Historic Market Analysis in China in

US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type: 2009-2017

Table 69: Chinese Biolubricants Market by Base Oil Type:

Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 70: Chinese Demand for Biolubricants in US$ Thousand by

Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 71: Biolubricants Market Review in China in US$ Thousand

by Application: 2009-2017

Table 72: Chinese Biolubricants Market Share Breakdown by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 73: Chinese Demand for Biolubricants in US$ Thousand by

End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 74: Biolubricants Market Review in China in US$ Thousand

by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 75: Chinese Biolubricants Market Share Breakdown by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

EUROPE

Market Facts & Figures

European Biolubricants Market: Competitor Market Share Scenario

(in %) for 2020 & 2025

Market Analytics

Table 76: European Biolubricants Market Demand Scenario in US$

Thousand by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 77: Biolubricants Market in Europe: A Historic Market

Perspective in US$ Thousand by Region/Country for the Period

2009-2017

Table 78: European Biolubricants Market Share Shift by

Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 79: European Biolubricants Market Estimates and Forecasts

in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type: 2018-2025

Table 80: Biolubricants Market in Europe in US$ Thousand by

Base Oil Type: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017

Table 81: European Biolubricants Market Share Breakdown by Base

Oil Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 82: European Biolubricants Addressable Market Opportunity

in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018-2025

Table 83: Biolubricants Market in Europe: Summarization of

Historic Demand in US$ Thousand by Application for the Period

2009-2017

Table 84: European Biolubricants Market Share Analysis by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 85: European Biolubricants Addressable Market Opportunity

in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018-2025

Table 86: Biolubricants Market in Europe: Summarization of

Historic Demand in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the Period

2009-2017

Table 87: European Biolubricants Market Share Analysis by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

FRANCE

Table 88: Biolubricants Market in France by Base Oil Type:

Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand for the Period

2018-2025

Table 89: French Biolubricants Historic Market Scenario in US$

Thousand by Base Oil Type: 2009-2017

Table 90: French Biolubricants Market Share Analysis by Base

Oil Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 91: Biolubricants Quantitative Demand Analysis in France

in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018-2025

Table 92: French Biolubricants Historic Market Review in US$

Thousand by Application: 2009-2017

Table 93: French Biolubricants Market Share Analysis: A 17-Year

Perspective by Application for 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 94: Biolubricants Quantitative Demand Analysis in France

in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018-2025

Table 95: French Biolubricants Historic Market Review in US$

Thousand by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 96: French Biolubricants Market Share Analysis: A 17-Year

Perspective by End-Use for 2009, 2019, and 2025

GERMANY

Table 97: Biolubricants Market in Germany: Recent Past, Current

and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 98: German Biolubricants Historic Market Analysis in US$

Thousand by Base Oil Type: 2009-2017

Table 99: German Biolubricants Market Share Breakdown by Base

Oil Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 100: Biolubricants Market in Germany: Annual Sales

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Application for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 101: German Biolubricants Market in Retrospect in US$

Thousand by Application: 2009-2017

Table 102: Biolubricants Market Share Distribution in Germany

by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 103: Biolubricants Market in Germany: Annual Sales

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 104: German Biolubricants Market in Retrospect in US$

Thousand by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 105: Biolubricants Market Share Distribution in Germany

by End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ITALY

Table 106: Italian Biolubricants Market Growth Prospects in US$

Thousand by Base Oil Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 107: Biolubricants Historic Market Analysis in Italy in

US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type: 2009-2017

Table 108: Italian Biolubricants Market by Base Oil Type:

Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 109: Italian Demand for Biolubricants in US$ Thousand by

Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 110: Biolubricants Market Review in Italy in US$ Thousand

by Application: 2009-2017

Table 111: Italian Biolubricants Market Share Breakdown by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 112: Italian Demand for Biolubricants in US$ Thousand by

End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 113: Biolubricants Market Review in Italy in US$ Thousand

by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 114: Italian Biolubricants Market Share Breakdown by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

UNITED KINGDOM

Table 115: United Kingdom Market for Biolubricants: Annual

Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Base Oil

Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 116: Biolubricants Market in the United Kingdom: Historic

Sales Analysis in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type for the Period

2009-2017

Table 117: United Kingdom Biolubricants Market Share Analysis

by Base Oil Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 118: United Kingdom Demand Estimates and Forecasts for

Biolubricants in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 119: United Kingdom Biolubricants Market in US$ Thousand

by Application: 2009-2017

Table 120: Biolubricants Market Share Shift in the United

Kingdom by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 121: United Kingdom Demand Estimates and Forecasts for

Biolubricants in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 122: United Kingdom Biolubricants Market in US$ Thousand

by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 123: Biolubricants Market Share Shift in the United

Kingdom by End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

SPAIN

Table 124: Spanish Biolubricants Market Estimates and Forecasts

in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type: 2018 to 2025

Table 125: Spanish Biolubricants Historic Market Review by Base

Oil Type in US$ Thousand: 2009-2017

Table 126: Biolubricants Market in Spain: Percentage Share

Breakdown of Sales by Base Oil Type for 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 127: Spanish Biolubricants Market Quantitative Demand

Analysis in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 128: Biolubricants Market in Spain: Summarization of

Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Thousand by Application for

2009-2017

Table 129: Spanish Biolubricants Market Share Analysis by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 130: Spanish Biolubricants Market Quantitative Demand

Analysis in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 131: Biolubricants Market in Spain: Summarization of

Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Thousand by End-Use for

2009-2017

Table 132: Spanish Biolubricants Market Share Analysis by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

RUSSIA

Table 133: Russian Biolubricants Market Estimates and

Projections in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type: 2018 to 2025

Table 134: Biolubricants Market in Russia by Base Oil Type:

A Historic Review in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 135: Russian Biolubricants Market Share Breakdown by Base

Oil Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 136: Russian Biolubricants Latent Demand Forecasts in US$

Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 137: Biolubricants Historic Demand Patterns in Russia by

Application in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 138: Biolubricants Market Share Breakdown in Russia by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 139: Russian Biolubricants Latent Demand Forecasts in US$

Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 140: Biolubricants Historic Demand Patterns in Russia by

End-Use in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 141: Biolubricants Market Share Breakdown in Russia by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF EUROPE

Table 142: Rest of Europe Biolubricants Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type: 2018-2025

Table 143: Biolubricants Market in Rest of Europe in US$

Thousand by Base Oil Type: A Historic Review for the Period

2009-2017

Table 144: Rest of Europe Biolubricants Market Share Breakdown

by Base Oil Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 145: Rest of Europe Biolubricants Addressable Market

Opportunity in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018-2025

Table 146: Biolubricants Market in Rest of Europe:

Summarization of Historic Demand in US$ Thousand by Application

for the Period 2009-2017

Table 147: Rest of Europe Biolubricants Market Share Analysis

by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 148: Rest of Europe Biolubricants Addressable Market

Opportunity in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018-2025

Table 149: Biolubricants Market in Rest of Europe:

Summarization of Historic Demand in US$ Thousand by End-Use for

the Period 2009-2017

Table 150: Rest of Europe Biolubricants Market Share Analysis

by End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 151: Asia-Pacific Biolubricants Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 152: Biolubricants Market in Asia-Pacific: Historic

Market Analysis in US$ Thousand by Region/Country for the

Period 2009-2017

Table 153: Asia-Pacific Biolubricants Market Share Analysis by

Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 154: Biolubricants Market in Asia-Pacific by Base Oil

Type: Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand for the Period

2018-2025

Table 155: Asia-Pacific Biolubricants Historic Market Scenario

in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type: 2009-2017

Table 156: Asia-Pacific Biolubricants Market Share Analysis by

Base Oil Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 157: Biolubricants Quantitative Demand Analysis in

Asia-Pacific in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018-2025

Table 158: Asia-Pacific Biolubricants Historic Market Review in

US$ Thousand by Application: 2009-2017

Table 159: Asia-Pacific Biolubricants Market Share Analysis:

A 17-Year Perspective by Application for 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 160: Biolubricants Quantitative Demand Analysis in

Asia-Pacific in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018-2025

Table 161: Asia-Pacific Biolubricants Historic Market Review in

US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 162: Asia-Pacific Biolubricants Market Share Analysis:

A 17-Year Perspective by End-Use for 2009, 2019, and 2025

AUSTRALIA

Table 163: Biolubricants Market in Australia: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type

for the Period 2018-2025

Table 164: Australian Biolubricants Historic Market Analysis in

US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type: 2009-2017

Table 165: Australian Biolubricants Market Share Breakdown by

Base Oil Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 166: Biolubricants Market in Australia: Annual Sales

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Application for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 167: Australian Biolubricants Market in Retrospect in US$

Thousand by Application: 2009-2017

Table 168: Biolubricants Market Share Distribution in Australia

by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 169: Biolubricants Market in Australia: Annual Sales

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 170: Australian Biolubricants Market in Retrospect in US$

Thousand by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 171: Biolubricants Market Share Distribution in Australia

by End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

INDIA

Table 172: Indian Biolubricants Market Estimates and Forecasts

in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type: 2018 to 2025

Table 173: Indian Biolubricants Historic Market Review by Base

Oil Type in US$ Thousand: 2009-2017

Table 174: Biolubricants Market in India: Percentage Share

Breakdown of Sales by Base Oil Type for 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 175: Indian Biolubricants Market Quantitative Demand

Analysis in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 176: Biolubricants Market in India: Summarization of

Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Thousand by Application for

2009-2017

Table 177: Indian Biolubricants Market Share Analysis by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 178: Indian Biolubricants Market Quantitative Demand

Analysis in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 179: Biolubricants Market in India: Summarization of

Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Thousand by End-Use for

2009-2017

Table 180: Indian Biolubricants Market Share Analysis by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

SOUTH KOREA

Table 181: Biolubricants Market in South Korea: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type

for the Period 2018-2025

Table 182: South Korean Biolubricants Historic Market Analysis

in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type: 2009-2017

Table 183: Biolubricants Market Share Distribution in South

Korea by Base Oil Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 184: Biolubricants Market in South Korea: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Application for

the Period 2018-2025

Table 185: South Korean Biolubricants Historic Market Analysis

in US$ Thousand by Application: 2009-2017

Table 186: Biolubricants Market Share Distribution in South

Korea by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 187: Biolubricants Market in South Korea: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 188: South Korean Biolubricants Historic Market Analysis

in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 189: Biolubricants Market Share Distribution in South

Korea by End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 190: Rest of Asia-Pacific Market for Biolubricants:

Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Base

Oil Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 191: Biolubricants Market in Rest of Asia-Pacific:

Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type for

the Period 2009-2017

Table 192: Rest of Asia-Pacific Biolubricants Market Share

Analysis by Base Oil Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 193: Rest of Asia-Pacific Demand Estimates and Forecasts

for Biolubricants in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 194: Rest of Asia-Pacific Biolubricants Market in US$

Thousand by Application: 2009-2017

Table 195: Biolubricants Market Share Shift in Rest of

Asia-Pacific by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 196: Rest of Asia-Pacific Demand Estimates and Forecasts

for Biolubricants in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 197: Rest of Asia-Pacific Biolubricants Market in US$

Thousand by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 198: Biolubricants Market Share Shift in Rest of

Asia-Pacific by End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

LATIN AMERICA

Table 199: Latin American Biolubricants Market Trends by

Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2018-2025

Table 200: Biolubricants Market in Latin America in US$

Thousand by Region/Country: A Historic Perspective for the

Period 2009-2017

Table 201: Latin American Biolubricants Market Percentage

Breakdown of Sales by Region/Country: 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 202: Latin American Biolubricants Market Growth Prospects

in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 203: Biolubricants Historic Market Analysis in Latin

America in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type: 2009-2017

Table 204: Latin American Biolubricants Market by Base Oil

Type: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 205: Latin American Demand for Biolubricants in US$

Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 206: Biolubricants Market Review in Latin America in US$

Thousand by Application: 2009-2017

Table 207: Latin American Biolubricants Market Share Breakdown

by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 208: Latin American Demand for Biolubricants in US$

Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 209: Biolubricants Market Review in Latin America in US$

Thousand by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 210: Latin American Biolubricants Market Share Breakdown

by End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ARGENTINA

Table 211: Argentinean Biolubricants Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type: 2018-2025

Table 212: Biolubricants Market in Argentina in US$ Thousand by

Base Oil Type: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017

Table 213: Argentinean Biolubricants Market Share Breakdown by

Base Oil Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 214: Argentinean Biolubricants Addressable Market

Opportunity in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018-2025

Table 215: Biolubricants Market in Argentina: Summarization of

Historic Demand in US$ Thousand by Application for the Period

2009-2017

Table 216: Argentinean Biolubricants Market Share Analysis by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 217: Argentinean Biolubricants Addressable Market

Opportunity in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018-2025

Table 218: Biolubricants Market in Argentina: Summarization of

Historic Demand in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the Period

2009-2017

Table 219: Argentinean Biolubricants Market Share Analysis by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

BRAZIL

Table 220: Biolubricants Market in Brazil by Base Oil Type:

Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand for the Period

2018-2025

Table 221: Brazilian Biolubricants Historic Market Scenario in

US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type: 2009-2017

Table 222: Brazilian Biolubricants Market Share Analysis by

Base Oil Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 223: Biolubricants Quantitative Demand Analysis in Brazil

in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018-2025

Table 224: Brazilian Biolubricants Historic Market Review in

US$ Thousand by Application: 2009-2017

Table 225: Brazilian Biolubricants Market Share Analysis: A

17-Year Perspective by Application for 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 226: Biolubricants Quantitative Demand Analysis in Brazil

in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018-2025

Table 227: Brazilian Biolubricants Historic Market Review in

US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 228: Brazilian Biolubricants Market Share Analysis:

A 17-Year Perspective by End-Use for 2009, 2019, and 2025

MEXICO

Table 229: Biolubricants Market in Mexico: Recent Past, Current

and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 230: Mexican Biolubricants Historic Market Analysis in

US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type: 2009-2017

Table 231: Mexican Biolubricants Market Share Breakdown by Base

Oil Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 232: Biolubricants Market in Mexico: Annual Sales

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Application for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 233: Mexican Biolubricants Market in Retrospect in US$

Thousand by Application: 2009-2017

Table 234: Biolubricants Market Share Distribution in Mexico by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 235: Biolubricants Market in Mexico: Annual Sales

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 236: Mexican Biolubricants Market in Retrospect in US$

Thousand by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 237: Biolubricants Market Share Distribution in Mexico by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF LATIN AMERICA

Table 238: Rest of Latin America Biolubricants Market Estimates

and Projections in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type: 2018 to 2025

Table 239: Biolubricants Market in Rest of Latin America by

Base Oil Type: A Historic Review in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 240: Rest of Latin America Biolubricants Market Share

Breakdown by Base Oil Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 241: Rest of Latin America Biolubricants Latent Demand

Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 242: Biolubricants Historic Demand Patterns in Rest of

Latin America by Application in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 243: Biolubricants Market Share Breakdown in Rest of

Latin America by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 244: Rest of Latin America Biolubricants Latent Demand

Forecasts in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 245: Biolubricants Historic Demand Patterns in Rest of

Latin America by End-Use in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 246: Biolubricants Market Share Breakdown in Rest of

Latin America by End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

MIDDLE EAST

Table 247: The Middle East Biolubricants Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 248: Biolubricants Market in the Middle East by

Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2009-2017

Table 249: The Middle East Biolubricants Market Share Breakdown

by Region/Country: 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 250: The Middle East Biolubricants Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type: 2018 to 2025

Table 251: The Middle East Biolubricants Historic Market by

Base Oil Type in US$ Thousand: 2009-2017

Table 252: Biolubricants Market in the Middle East: Percentage

Share Breakdown of Sales by Base Oil Type for 2009, 2019, and

2025

Table 253: The Middle East Biolubricants Market Quantitative

Demand Analysis in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 254: Biolubricants Market in the Middle East:

Summarization of Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Thousand by

Application for 2009-2017

Table 255: The Middle East Biolubricants Market Share Analysis

by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 256: The Middle East Biolubricants Market Quantitative

Demand Analysis in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 257: Biolubricants Market in the Middle East:

Summarization of Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Thousand by

End-Use for 2009-2017

Table 258: The Middle East Biolubricants Market Share Analysis

by End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

IRAN

Table 259: Iranian Market for Biolubricants: Annual Sales

Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type for

the Period 2018-2025

Table 260: Biolubricants Market in Iran: Historic Sales

Analysis in US$ Thousand by Base Oil Type for the Period

2009-2017

Table 261: Iranian Biolubricants Market Share Analysis by Base

Oil Type: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 262: Iranian Demand Estimates and Forecasts for

Biolubricants in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 263: Iranian Biolubricants Market in US$ Thousand by

Application: 2009-2017



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The HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that cause 9 out of 10 cervical cancers.

The vaccine also protects against most cases of vulval, anal and vaginal cancers and most cases of genital warts.

Each year in Ireland about 400 people will be diagnosed with a cancer caused by the HPV virus.

We are very encouraged by the uptake for the first dose of HPV vaccine for first year students since September 2019," said Dr Lucy Jessop, Director of the HSE National Immunisation Office.

"This is the first year boys have also been offered the HPV vaccine and school teams are reporting very busy clinics across the country.

Based on activity at our school clinics, our immunisation teams are confident that this year well regain the WHO target of 80% uptake for the HPV vaccine nationally.

The HSE also reported that uptake was up to 90% in the late HPV vaccine campaigner Laura Brennan's home county of Clare.

Dr Jessop said that this was "a wonderful testament" to Brennan's "selfless advocacy, and the continuing work of the Brennan family to promote the importance of the HPV vaccine in Ireland.

Kevin Brennan, Lauras brother said Our family are thrilled that the uptake of the HPV vaccine is set to reach target.

"Thank you to everyone who has helped us support the HPV vaccine over the last 12 months.

Were especially pleased that the parents of County Clare have heard Lauras message loud and clear and that more than 90% of first years will now be protected from the virus that caused her cancer.

Laura Brennan had previously campaigned extensively to promote the HPV vaccine and praised an increase in uptake from 50% of first-year secondary school students in 2017 to 70% in March 2019

Advocate @laura_jbrennan has exciting news about the new uptake figures for the HPV vaccine. Get the facts, get the vaccine. #ProtectOurFuture #ThankYouLaura pic.twitter.com/trxRRwY26b  HSE Ireland (@HSELive) March 11, 2019

HSE continues its campaign this week and will feature Eoin Roche, 42, from Co. Kildare who talks about his experience of undergoing treatment for a HPV-related cancer.

He hopes his story will encourage parents to get their daughters and sons vaccinated.

Last year I was diagnosed with HPV cancer in my neck," he said

"During treatment I decided I wanted to help in any way I could in the promotion of the HPV vaccine.

"I contacted Kevin Brennan, who is the brother of Laura. Lauras story inspired me, as did the work of her family in the promotion of the HPV vaccine."

In September 2019 first-year secondary school boys joined the HPV vaccination programme for the first time.

The MenACWY vaccine is also being introduced for all students in first year of secondary school.

It replaces the MenC booster that has normally been given to students and covers more meningococcal strains than previously.

Over the last couple of years there has been in increase in meningococcal disease in this age group," said Dr Jessop

"We are delighted to now be offering the MenACWY vaccine to all first year students in secondary school through the HSE school vaccination programme.

The HPV vaccine is endorsed by the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), the Irish Pharmacy Union and the Irish Cancer Societys HPV Alliance and by the World Health Organization.
Confirmed Coronavirus Cases Surpasse 200 in Italy

By Sabina Castelfranco February 24, 2020

The death toll in Italy from the coronavirus outbreak stands at seven with more than 200 cases confirmed. At least 10 towns in the north are in lockdown mode and the army is ensuring no one enters of leaves them during a quarantine period.

Italian authorities are working around the clock putting in place unprecedented measures in an effort to curb the surge in coronavirus cases. In at least six regions in Italy's industrial north, schools and universities are closed. People have been told to stay away from their offices and remain indoors as much as possible.

Theaters and museums have also been closed as have bars and discos. Venice carnival events have been cut short for the first time ever.

Authorities have banned all demonstrations and public gatherings, including sporting events and church services as Italy deals with the biggest outbreak in Europe. The head of Italy's civil defense department, Andrea Borrelli, said authorities were surprised by how fast the virus has spread. He said a plan is in place to house people who have contracted the virus and for those in quarantine.

Borrelli says thousands of beds are available throughout the national territory and that army barracks and hotels have been made available. He also says extra food and medical supplies will be taken to the towns in lockdown in northern Italy.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte says residents in affected towns could face weeks in lockdown.

In Milan over the weekend, many residents raided supermarkets, leaving empty shelves, fearing they would not be able to go to the shops. The Lombardy region is Italy's hardest hit region and streets are deserted. Many people have been told to stay home and work from there. Those who venture out have been wearing surgical masks. One vendor outside a Milan railway station said he was selling the masks for $11 each.

University students in affected areas were unable to sit for their exams.

This student says she had three exams this week and all of them have been canceled. The student says she does not know when she will be able to take them.

According to the student, the Milan mayor said for the moment, colleges will be closed for a week but that this closure could be extended to a fortnight or more.

Italians have been told to avoid traveling to affected areas. At the airports, passengers are being checked for symptoms of the virus with heat sensors. Some regional train lines have canceled service, but fast trains between the major cities are still operating normally.

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Three medical research baboons that briefly escaped captivity face a lifetime of invasive experiments, campaigners have claimed.

The male and two females escaped from their truck in a car park at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital where the male was due for a vasectomy Tuesday afternoon.

They were safely captured by their handlers after a 90-minute standoff that was filmed by shocked bystanders.

Three medical research baboons (pictured) that briefly escaped captivity face a lifetime of invasive experiments, campaigners have claimed

Officials have confirmed the baboons are being used for animal testing for research into ailments such as kidney disease and diabetes.

Around 300 primates, including baboons, marmosets and macaques, are tested on each year in Australia, according to Humane Research Australia.

In 2016, gruesome reports emerged of experiments being performed on primates.

Why do we test on animals? Animals are used in research when there is a need to find out what happens in the whole, living body, which is far more complex than the sum of its parts. It is difficult, and in most cases simply not yet possible, to replace the use of living animals in research with alternative methods. There are four main reasons why animals are used in research: To advance scientific understanding As models to study disease To develop and test potential forms of treatment To protect the safety of people, animals and the environment Source: AnimalResearch.Info Advertisement

One baboon named Conan died after having a kidney from a genetically modified pig transplanted into him in 2014, according to Humane Research Australia.

The campaign group said two macaques and two marmosets have also died in brutal fashion due to medical experiments in the past four years.

One macaque was found in a barrel in a pool of blood and the other was found unable to move in its cage, the group said.

One marmoset died from a bleeding in her bowel in and the other after vomiting up clear foamy liquid, according to the campaign group.

There is no suggestion those animals have the same owner as the escaped baboons.

When the story about Conan was reported by the Sydney Morning Herald in 2016, officials said using baboons in experiments was saving human lives.

A spokeswoman for the Sydney Local Health District said: 'The colony has helped medical researchers conduct important research which has contributed significantly to paving the way for new treatments of disorders such as pre-eclampsia, complicated diabetes, kidney disorders and vascular diseases.'

On Tuesday evening Humane Research Australia demanded an end to the 'cruel' practice.

Humane Research Australia CEO Helen Marston said: 'Sadly, the three baboons captured will now face a lifetime of imprisonment, being subjected to invasive experiments.

'While the industry is shrouded in secrecy, much of this research is funded by taxpayers through the National Health and Medical Research Council.'

Police at the scene where the baboons escaped in Camperdown in Western Sydney. Officers used a tarpaulin to contain the animals before experts from Taronga Zoo arrived

There were 272 baboons, marmosets and macaques used in experimental procedures in Australia in 2017, which are the latest statistics available.

The experimental baboons are bred at a facility in Wallacia in Western Sydney, while the marmosets and macaques are bred in Gippsland in Victoria.

The animals are subject to various trials including testing radioactive substances, pregnancy hypertension and preeclampsia, with varying levels of success.

It was reported the baboons escaped because the door lock on their truck was faulty.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard confirmed to The Daily Telegraph that the escaped baboons were bred in a colony to be used for medical research.

Mr Hazzard said the baboons are subject to various tests to pioneer treatments and further our knowledge of diseases.

'The research includes reproductive issues, kidney disease, gestational diabetes, a whole range of research areas and with the conclusion of the research they return to the colony in Western Sydney and they usually just live their lives out until old age.'

He said the 15-year-old male baboon was being accompanied by his two wives to keep him comfortable before his vasectomy operation.

The baboon will have his vasectomy after being recaptured, then live at the sanctuary until his death as his research days are over.
By 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.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
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.

Sanders wins Nevada caucuses, takes national Democratic lead

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.

Early voting begins in Michigans presidential primary

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).

Trump says new trade agreement is whole different ballgame during Warren visit

Impeachment fades for Slotkin as Democrats try to pivot away

Bernie Sanders 2016 movement now has political machine to push it
A gel made from the anti-impotence drug Viagra (sildenafil) could ease one of the main side-effects for cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.

Up to 85 per cent of those who have radiotherapy experience painful, red, or blistered skin around the area treated.

The longer the treatment lasts, the worse this can be, as the same area of skin is exposed to radiation every day for up to two months.

But now scientists have developed a water-based gel containing 5 per cent sildenafil, which, initial research suggests, helps to protect against and treat this damage.

A gel made from the anti-impotence drug Viagra (sildenafil) could ease one of the main side-effects for cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy

In animal tests, radiation wounds healed quicker with the gel than without it.

Scientists say the drug helps by triggering the release of nitric oxide, a chemical known to play a vital part in wound healing by stimulating the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the damaged area.

It does this in much the same way as it helps with impotence  by dilating tiny blood vessels so more blood can reach the affected region.

All wounds, burns and ulcers need a good supply of oxygen to heal.

About half of all cancer patients have some form of radiotherapy included in their treatment plan.

In some cases, it is given to shrink a tumour before surgery. In others, it is used afterwards to try to kill off any lingering cancer cells.

It is often effective, but can cause painful blistering of the skin, because radiotherapy, as well as destroying cancer cells, causes biochemical changes in healthy skin cells, leading to inflammation and breakdown.

Patients are advised to wash with unperfumed soap, pat skin dry instead of rubbing it, use moisturiser on the area and wear loose clothing to reduce irritation.

Up to 85 per cent of those who have radiotherapy experience painful, red, or blistered skin around the area treated

Dressings are sometimes used in between treatments to shield the area from everyday damage, and some patients are given steroid drugs to try to dampen down any inflammation.

But even with such measures, it is estimated that more than 100,000 people a year in England alone experience skin problems from radiotherapy.

A team of scientists at the Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences, in New Delhi, India, decided to develop a Viagra-like gel because previous studies had found that wounds in patients who had been given the drug for erectile dysfunction appeared to heal more rapidly.

The team devised a rub-on gel that was 95 per cent water and 5 per cent sildenafil.

In a study involving rats, scientists applied it daily for almost a month after radiotherapy treatment.

The results, published in December in the journal Burns, showed that skin damage was reduced by more than 80 per cent and wound contraction  the rate at which blisters and ulcers healed  increased by a similar amount.

Meanwhile, tensile strength  a measure of how strong the damaged skin is  was 45 per cent higher in the sildenafil group than in rats not treated with the new gel.

Dr Tom Roques, spokesman for the Royal College of Radiologists, said most NHS cancer patients experience only mild to moderate skin damage from radiotherapy.

He said: 'There is much more research needed before we know if this gel might be useful to any humans having radiotherapy.'

The active drug in Viagra, sildenafil, may boost fertility rates in older women who have had trouble conceiving with IVF. Doctors used it as a vaginal suppository in a small trial with 66 women aged 38 and over who had previously had two failed IVF attempts.

After another round of IVF, those who had received the sildenafil were twice as likely to conceive as those given a placebo. It is thought sildenafil helps by improving blood flow to the womb. The researchers, from Tehran University, recommended larger trials be carried out.

SECRETS OF AN A-LIST BODY

How to get the enviable physiques of the stars. This week: Salma Hayek's bottom

Salma was recently pictured wearing a golden gown that showed off her trim figure.

How to get the enviable physiques of the stars. This week: Salma Hayek's bottom

The actress, 53, has said: 'Some people have the discipline to exercise in the morning, but I didn't develop that.'

She prefers walks with her dogs and yoga. 'Even when you brush your teeth, you're working the muscles,' she has said.

WHAT TO TRY: The goblet squat targets your gluteal muscles and helps to shape your bottom.

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a kettlebell or weight at your chest.

Breathe in as you bend your knees and push your hips back, as if sitting, into a squat position.

Try to get your hips level with your knees (but don't force it), keeping the weight at your chest. Breathe out as you push into your heels to rise to standing.

Do 15 repetitions and three sets.

BREATH DOCTOR

What is your breath trying to tell you? This week: A fruity, sweet scent

One of the tell-tale signs of type 2 diabetes is a faint smell of pear drops on the breath, says Dr Dushyant Sharma, a consultant diabetologist at the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

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'This happens because of a lack of insulin  which means the body can't use sugar for energy and so it starts to break down fat instead,' he explains.

'Waste products called ketones build up, and the sweet, pear-drop smell comes from the chemicals in these ketones.'

According to the charity Diabetes UK, 3.8 million people in the UK are living with a diagnosis of diabetes, 90 per cent of whom have type 2.

'So, if you have any concerns about sweet-smelling breath, you should consult a doctor immediately,' says Dr Sharma.
Riot police were dispatched to the Greek islands of Lesbos and Chios on Monday as the government prepared to launch the construction of new controversial migrant camps.

In both islands, police deployed at the harbour to facilitate the landing of security force reinforcements from the mainland, state agency ANA said.

There are over 38,000 migrants crowded into camps on the Greek islands of Lesbos, Samos, Chios, Leros and Kos despite an official capacity of 6,200.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis over the weekend insisted that the plan would go ahead despite local opposition.

"The works will begin immediately and will be completed. There is no turning back," he told conservative party cadres on Sunday.

Work on the new camps on Lesbos and Chios, with a capacity of up to 7,000 each, is to begin this week.

Island officials and residents have told the Greek government that after five years on the front lines of the European migration crisis, they are no longer prepared to accept thousands of asylum-seekers.

Residents have threatened to block access to the new camp sites in order to hobble their construction.

The conservative government which came to power in July has announced that the camps on Lesbos, Samos and Chios will be shut down this year, to be replaced with new, smaller facilities that are to be operational by mid-2020.

But while the adminstration of Mitsotakis tries to alleviate the problem by relocating thousands of migrants to other parts of Greece, many communities on the mainland have also stonewalled the move.

The UN's refugee chief on Friday called for urgent action to address the "shocking and shameful" conditions migrants are forced to live in at reception centres on the Greek islands.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi said swift measures were needed to reduce overcrowding and improve living conditions on the islands prioritising water, sanitation and healthcare, as the winter weather was exacerbating the situation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A leading group of medical experts on Tuesday declined to endorse cognitive screening for older adults, fueling a debate that has simmered for years.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said it could neither recommend nor oppose cognitive screening, citing insufficient scientific evidence of the practice's benefits and harms and calling for further studies.

The task force's work informs policies set by Medicare and private insurers. Its recommendations, an accompanying scientific statement and two editorials were published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The task force's new position comes as concern mounts over a rising tide of older adults with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias and treatments remain elusive. Nearly 6 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease; that population is expected to swell to nearly 14 million by 2050.

Because seniors are at higher risk of cognitive impairment, proponents say screening - testing people without any symptoms  is an important strategy to identify people with unrecognized difficulties and potentially lead to better care.

"This can start a discussion with your doctor: 'You know, you're having problems with your cognition, let's follow this up,'" said Stephen Rao of Cleveland Clinic's Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.

Opponents say the benefits of screening are unproven and the potential for harm is worrisome. "Getting a positive result can make someone wary about their cognition and memory for the rest of their life," said Benjamin Bensadon, an associate professor of geriatric medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine.

The task force's stance is controversial, given how poorly the health care system serves seniors with memory and thinking problems. Physicians routinely overlook cognitive impairment and dementia in older patients, failing to recognize these conditions at least 50% of the time, according to several studies.

When the Alzheimer's Association surveyed 1,954 seniors in December 2018, 82% said they thought it was important to have their thinking or memory checked. But only 16% said physicians regularly checked their cognition.

What's more, Medicare policies appear to affirm the value of screening. Since 2011, Medicare has required that physicians assess a patient's cognition during an annual wellness visit. But only 19% of seniors took advantage of this voluntary benefit in 2016, the most recent year for which data is available.

Dr. Ronald Petersen, co-author of an editorial accompanying the recommendations, cautioned that they shouldn't discourage physicians from evaluating older patients' memory and thinking.

"There is increased awareness, both on the part of patients and physicians, of the importance of cognitive impairment," said Petersen, director of the Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. "It would be a mistake if physicians didn't pay more attention to cognition and consider screening on a case-by-case basis."

Similarly, seniors shouldn't avoid addressing worrisome symptoms.

"If someone has concerns or a family member has concerns about their memory or cognitive abilities, they should certainly discuss that with their clinician," said Dr. Douglas Owens, chair of the task force and a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine.

In more than a dozen interviews, experts teased out complexities surrounding this topic. Here's what they told me:

Screening basics. Cognitive screening involves administering short tests (usually five minutes or less) to people without any symptoms of cognitive decline. It's an effort to bring to light problems with thinking and memory that otherwise might escape attention.

Depending on the test, people may be asked to recall words, draw a clock face, name the date, spell a word backward, relate a recent news event or sort items into different categories, among other tasks. Common tests include the Mini-Cog, the Memory Impairment Screen, the General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition and the Mini-Mental Status Examination.

The task force's evaluation focuses on "universal screening": whether all adults age 65 and older without symptoms should be given tests to assess their cognition. It found a lack of high-quality scientific evidence that this practice would improve older adults' quality of life, ensure that they get better care or positively affect other outcomes such as caregivers' efficacy and well-being.

A disappointing study. High hopes had rested on a study by researchers at Indiana University, published in December. In that trial, 1,723 older adults were screened for cognitive impairment, while 1,693 were not.

A year later, seniors in the screening group were not more depressed or anxious  important evidence of the lack of harm from the assessment. But the study failed to find evidence that people screened had a better health-related quality of life or lower rates of hospitalizations or emergency department visits.

Two-thirds of seniors who tested positive for cognitive impairment in her study declined to undergo further evaluation. That's consistent with findings from other studies, and it testifies to "how many people are terrified of dementia," said Dr. Timothy Holden, an assistant professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

"What seems clear is that screening in and of itself doesn't yield benefits unless it's accompanied by appropriate diagnostic follow-up and care," said Nicole Fowler, associate director of the Center for Aging Research at Indiana University's Regenstrief Institute.

Selective screening. "Selective screening" for cognitive impairment is an alternative to universal screening and has gained support.

In a statement published last fall, the American Academy of Neurology recommended that all patients 65 and older seen by neurologists get yearly cognitive health assessments. Also, the American Diabetes Association recommends that all adults with diabetes age 65 and older be screened for cognitive impairment at an initial visit and annually thereafter "as appropriate." And the American College of Surgeons now recommends screening older adults for cognitive impairment before surgery.

Why test select groups? Many patients with diabetes or neurological conditions have overlapping cognitive symptoms and "it's important to know if a patient is having trouble remembering what the doctor said," said Dr. Norman Foster, chair of the workgroup that developed the neurology statement and a professor of neurology at the University of Utah.

Physicians may need to alter treatment regimens for older adults with cognitive impairment or work more closely with family members. "If someone needs to manage their own care, it's important to know if they can do that reliably," Foster said.

With surgery, older patients who have preexisting cognitive impairments are at higher risk of developing delirium, an acute, sudden-onset brain disorder. Identifying these patients can alert medical staff to this risk, which can be prevented or mitigated with appropriate medical attention.

Also, people who learn they have early-stage cognitive impairment can be connected with community resources and take steps to plan for their future, medically and financially. The hope is that, one day, medical treatments will be able to halt or slow the progression of dementia. But treatments currently available don't fulfill that promise.

Steps after screening. Screening shouldn't be confused with diagnosis: All these short tests can do is signal potential problems.

If results indicate reason for concern, a physician should ask knowledgeable family members or friends what's going on with an older patient. "Are they depressed? Having problems taking care of themselves? Asking the same question repeatedly?" said Dr. David Reuben, chief of geriatrics at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine and director of UCLA's Alzheimer's and Dementia Care program.

A comprehensive history and physical examination should then be undertaken to rule out potential reversible causes of cognitive difficulties, implicated in about 10% of cases. These include sleep apnea, depression, hearing or vision loss, vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiencies, alcohol abuse and side effects from anticholinergic drugs or other medications, among other conditions.

Once other causes are ruled out, neuropsychological tests can help establish a diagnosis.

"If I detect mild cognitive impairment, the first thing I'll do is tell a patient I don't have any drugs for that but I can help you compensate for deficits," Reuben said. The good news, he said: A substantial number of patients with MCI - about 50%  don't develop dementia within five years of being diagnosed.

The bottom line. "If you're concerned about your memory or thinking, ask your physician for an assessment," said Dr. David Knopman, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic. If that test indicates reason for concern, make sure you get appropriate follow-up.

That's easier said than done if you want to see a dementia specialist, noted Dr. Soo Borson, a professor emerita of psychiatry at the University of Washington. "Everyone I know who's doing clinical dementia care says they have wait lists of four to six months," she said.

With shortages of geriatric psychiatrists, geriatricians, neuropsychologists and neurologists, there aren't enough specialists to handle demands that would arise if universal screening for cognitive impairment were implemented, Borson warned.

If you're a family member of an older adult who's resisting getting tested, "reach out privately to your primary care physician and express your concerns," said Holden of Washington University. "And let your doctor know if the person isn't seeing these changes or is resistant to talk about it."

This happens frequently because people with cognitive impairments are often unaware of their problems. "But there are ways that we, as physicians, can work around that," Holden said. "If a physician handles the situation with sensitivity and takes things one step at a time, you can build trust and that can make things much easier."

We're eager to hear from readers about questions you'd like answered, problems you've been having with your care and advice you need in dealing with the health care system. Visit khn.org/columnists to submit your requests or tips.

[Correction: This story was updated at 11:30 a.m. ET to correct the spelling of a name. Nicole Fowler is the associate director of the Center for Aging Research at Indiana University's Regenstrief Institute.]
She revealed last month that she was expecting her first child.

And Chloe Sevigny was on the move Monday in Manhattan as she went shopping for some new maternity clothes to match her changing figure.

The 45-year-old actress and style icon made a stop at the maternity clothing store Seraphine in Soho with her boyfriend Sinisa Mackovic supporting her by her side.

Stocking up: Chloe Sevigny, 45, was on the move Monday in NYC as she went shopping for some new maternity clothes to match her changing figure with her boyfriend Sinisa Mackovic

Chloe kept her look casual yet chic with a black leather jacket over a thinner cyan coat and a blue and white striped shirt with a short pleated skirt.

She had on a pair of black bell-bottoms and an intriguing set of black platform loafers.

The 5ft8in beauty wore her blonde tresses in a messy bob and blocked out the sun with a pair of sleek black sunglasses while toting along a large brown and black handbag.

Sinisa was bundled up in a thick down jacket over a navy overcoat and a pair of oversize blue and white two-tone jeans.

No fuss: Chloe kept her look casual yet chic with a black leather jacket over a thinner cyan coat and a blue and white striped shirt with a short pleated skirt

Standing tall: She had on a pair of black bell-bottoms and an intriguing set of black platform loafers

The Zodiac actress seemed to be having a great time with her boyfriend as the strolled through New York City before making a stop at the maternity clothing store Seraphine, where Chloe appeared to make some purchases.

The actress and model hasn't revealed the sex of her baby yet, but there's a good chance that clothing will be on her mind after she welcomes her first child.

In a September 2018 interview with Who What Wear, she joked that she'd need to have a daughter in order to pass on all the items of clothing she's been holding on to, including the prom dress that both she and her mother wore.

'I still have the shirt I wore in the movie Kids. I have the bunny ears I made for Gummo. I have all kinds of weird articles from different characters Ive played, photo shoots, events. My Oscar dress. Its embarrassing,' she said.

'I better have a daughter soon or I dont know whats gonna happen.'

Style equals: Sinisa was bundled up in a thick down jacket over a navy overcoating and a pair of oversize blue and white two-tone jeans

Cute couple: Chloe seems to have met her style match in Sinisa, who has been the director of New York City's Kama Art Gallery since 2011

She seems to have met her style match in Sinisa, who has been the director of New York City's Kama Art Gallery since 2011.

He tends to be intensely private, though he revealed on Instagram that he was born in Croatia when he posted a shot of his childhood passport.

The couple are also fairly low key when they're together, though they've been dating for about a year.

Chloe, meanwhile, has been all over the place on film and television screens.

She was a series regular in the critically acclaimed Hulu crime drama The Act, and she also had a guest role on the popular Netflix series Russian Doll, while she was featured prominently in the crime romance Queen & Slim.

Loving her body: Chloe has been happy to flaunt her baby bump in recent Instagram snaps

Prolific: She's stayed busy in the past year, with roles on The Act and Queen & Slim, plus the zombie comedy The Dead Don't Die; with Adam Driver (L) and Bill Murray (R)

The Broken Flowers actress also got a chance to indulge her more out-there interests by reteaming with iconoclastic director Jim Jarmusch for the polarizing zombie film The Dead Don't Die, which also starred Bill Murray and Adam Driver.

Up next, she'll be featured in a recurring role on the limited TV series We Are What We Are, to be created, written, directed and produced by Call Me By Your Name director Luca Guadagnino.

The HBO show will follow a group of American teenagers living on an American military base in Guadagnino's home country of Italy.
As we head into a new decade, its a great time for fans of The Oprah Winfrey Show to revisit the joy, laughter and inspiration that kept us all tuning in daily for 25 years, OWN President Tina Perry told People. The Oprah Winfrey Show The Podcast is the perfect opportunity to look back and reflect, take stock of how weve grown and to be reminded that were all in this together.
Click here to read the full article.

SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not yet watched the ninth episode of Season 24 of The Bachelor

And then there were three.

More from Variety

Last week, titular bachelor Peter Weber survived a round-robin of meet the parents, and chose to continue his journey with three women: Madison Prewett, Hannah Ann Sluss and Victoria Fuller. After sending Kelsey Weier home, Weber was both upset by the elimination and excited about his final three. However, the moment was short lived because Prewett pulled him aside to confide that she was uncomfortable with the idea of him being intimate with the other contestants.

So what are you saying? If I were to spend the night with someone else, thats not something that you could do? Weber said.

Prewett stayed silent for an uncomfortable few seconds before Weber piped back up to say, So thats a no?

Weber verbalized that he didnt really understand what she was asking, and he acknowledged that all he didnt think what she was saying was fair to his other relationships, he didnt want it to get [her] down in any way or make [her] feel that I think any less of what [they] have.

Weber did ask Prewett to clarify if she wouldnt want to keep things going with him if he was intimate with one of the other women. To this she replied that she in no way wanted to give him an ultimatum, but for me actions speak louder than words, and Im just really big on that.

Reflecting on how the other two women have already told him they are falling in love with him, Weber questioned if Prewett was on the same page as him because she has not said as much to him thus far. This made the impending trip to Australia all the more dramatic  especially when it was revealed that, for the first time in recent Bachelor history, the final three contestants would spend the week living together. In the words of Fuller: So awkward.

Story continues

Weber wasted no time diving right into his first overnight date, though  with Sluss. First they rode jet skis and then they sat down in a restaurant (but didnt appear to actually order or eat anything), at which Sluss said she would rather walk away with her heart broken than with regret. Weber confided in her that her dad asked him not to say he was falling in love with her unless he was 100% sure  and he said he was: Im not going to hold that back, and I dont want you to worry about us.

The two retired to the penthouse suite together where it was certainly implied they slept together, while Fuller and Prewett discussed what could be happening between Weber and Sluss. Prewett admitted it was a weird thought that they might be spending the night together. She also confided in Fuller that lately, it the process of the show has felt like a lot.

Fuller added that it must be especially hard this week when Weber has overnight dates because one wouldnt normally be OK with their boyfriend staying the night with other women. But, she also said she thought it was so important for him to get to do that because youre waking up to this person every day for the rest of your life, you need to see if thats a good fit.

To draw out Prewetts tension further, she was left with Sluss, who stayed mostly tight-lipped about how far her date went while Fuller was the next one up for her date.

Fullers one-on-one time with Weber was front-loaded with a followup from their conversation in Virginia Beach during the hometown visits after his ex-girlfriend warned him to be careful around Fuller.

I want you to know that I trust you, and I have your back, I have your side, he said. And Im excited for us to have a clean slate now.

Where he took Sluss to see Gold Coast by sea, he took Fuller by air  in a helicopter tour over the city before touching down by a waterfall in the Gondwana Rainforest. There, they talked more about the hometown date and his disappointment that he didnt end up meeting her family. But, although he told the cameras that this has been his most-tested relationship, he wasnt mad about that because it has taught him a lot.

However, there was still more to learn. When they sat down to dinner, Fuller said they needed to talk more about their communication. She said her issues with it stem from a past relationship in which she was never asked about her feelings. So when you do, I get defensive, she said. Like, why is he asking me that? That must mean that theres something wrong. But really its just because you want to know. And that took me a minute to realize.

Fuller asked him to spell out what he needs from her, and he said that is 100% confidence in knowing that I can always count on you and always lean on you. Even if I tell you something, and I say it the wrong way, youre able to not have that piss you off in a way or its too much where you do need to get away. If I say something to you thats not in the right way, you need to tell me that, and Ill find a different way to get it across.

They, too, went back to a shared fantasy suite.

Meanwhile, Prewett told Sluss that she expressed to Weber her concerns over him sleeping with the other women, this time going so far as to say its such a big deal for her, its kind of a make or break for me.

Sluss didnt react to Prewett, but in her confessional interview she dismissed the issue, saying, We knew what we signed up for.  Its truly madness. Its just madness.

Prewett eventually got her time with Weber, and it included something that would only increase her stress level: climbing to the top of one of the tallest buildings in Gold Coast.

Back at the hotel, Sluss and Fuller discussed how Prewett had yet to tell Weber shes saving herself for marriage. Basically Madison told Peter her expectations for him as far as intimacy with her and probably us and thats going to affect her decision moving forward? Fuller summarized. Its kind of an ultimatum to question somebody, put him on the spot about other relationships that are private. I dont know, that doesnt really sit well with me.

Finally sitting down to dinner, though, Prewett finally shared with Weber her decision to remain a virgin until marriage. She also said that she didnt expect everybody to have made the same life decisions she has, but I do expect, at this point, for us to be honest about the expectations we do have.

She also admitted she wouldnt be able to accept a proposal if Weber had slept with the other women. I just cant wrap my mind around, in a week from now, if youre down on one knee and six days before that you slept with someone else, she said.

Weber then returned the honesty and told Prewett that he had been intimate with the other women.

I 100% can see you and I together at the end, he said. But I have to be honest with you, coming into this week I could see that with other people, too. I hate that I can say that to you, but thats the truth, too.

Feeling hurt that she had told him he could lose her if he made certain decisions and he made them anyway, Prewett walked away from the table. But Weber soon followed her and asked her not to walk away.

I know Im not perfect  Im not even close, he said, but he could still see them together forever.

He also said that he knew he hurt her and he was sorry for it. In the end, though, she walked off, leaving him standing, and eventually having to head back to his suite, alone.

The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Broadway Gold Mining Ltd. (Broadway or the Company) (TSXV:BRD) (OTC:BDWYF) today announced that the Supreme Court of British Columbia has issued a final order approving the previously announced plan of arrangement between Broadway, Madison Metals Inc., Broadway Delaware Subco Inc. and Mind Medicine Inc. (MindMed), pursuant to which the current shareholders of MindMed will complete a reverse take-over of Broadway by way of a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the Arrangement).

The Arrangement was previously announced by the Company in its press release dated October 15, 2019 and was approved by the holders of the common shares of Broadway (the Shareholders) at an annual and special meeting (the Meeting) of Shareholders held on February 19, 2020. The required shareholder approval thresholds were met, with the Arrangement being approved by approximately 96.6% of the votes cast by Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting.

At the Meeting, Shareholders also, among other things, elected the directors of Broadway and appointed the auditor of Broadway (both before and after completion of the Arrangement), approved the consolidation of the existing issued and outstanding securities of Broadway on an eight-for-one (8-1) basis (the Consolidation), approved the creation of a class of majority voting shares which are expected to be issued, if at all, to preserve Broadways status as a foreign private issuer under U.S. securities laws, approved the change of name of Broadways common shares to subordinate voting shares and approved the de-listing of Broadways common shares from the TSX Venture Exchange. Such de-listing is expected to occur on the Effective Date (as defined below). Broadway will be renamed Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc. on the Effective Date.

Broadway expects that the Arrangement will be completed on February 27, 2020 (the Effective Date) following the fulfillment of certain closing conditions customary in transactions of this nature and that the subordinate voting shares (as the Broadway common shares will be renamed) of the resulting issuer following the completion of the Arrangement (the Resulting Issuer), will be listed on the Neo Exchange Inc. (Neo Exchange) thereafter pursuant to the conditional listing approval received from the Neo Exchange. Final approval for listing is subject to the Resulting Issuer fulfilling all of the Neo Exchanges listing requirements.

Broadway will transfer the Madison mineral exploration project (the Madison Project) to its wholly-owned subsidiary, Madison Metals Inc. (Madison Metals). Exploration is currently being conducted on the Madison Project by Kennecott Exploration Limited under an Earn-In with Option to Joint Venture Agreement announced in Broadways news release dated April 30, 2019. Madison Metals will issue 49,860,204 common shares to Broadway as consideration for the Madison Project (the Madison Consideration Shares), which Madison Consideration Shares will be distributed to the holders of record of Broadways shares on a pro-rata basis. Broadway Shareholders of record on the Effective Date will retain their Broadway common shares (on a Consolidation basis) and will also be entitled to receive one Madison Consideration Share for each common share of Broadway (on a pre-Consolidation basis) held by such shareholder. The Madison Consideration Shares will not be listed or posted for trading on any stock exchange, therefore there will be reduced liquidity for Madison Metals shares. There is no guarantee or assurance that securities of Madison Metals will ever be listed for trading on any stock exchange or that any market for the Madison Consideration Shares will develop and as a result Madison Metals shareholders may not be able to re-sell their Madison Consideration Shares. For more information, see the Company's information circular dated December 29, 2019 filed under Broadways profile on SEDAR at www.SEDAR.com.

About MindMed

Mind Medicine, Inc. is a neuro-pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and deploys psychedelic inspired medicines to improve health, promote wellness and alleviate suffering. The companys immediate priority is to address the opioid crisis by developing a non-hallucinogenic version of the psychedelic ibogaine. The MindMed executive team brings extensive biopharmaceutical industry experience to this ground-breaking approach to the development of next-generation psychedelic medicines.

About Broadway

Until execution of the Arrangement agreement, Broadway was focused on the exploration and development of the Broadway and Madison mine and the delineation of the porphyry source of their mineralization; the Companys right, title and interest to the Broadway and Madison mine - 450 acres of land, a 192 acre ranch, buildings, mine equipment and fixtures, 6 patented, 35 unpatented mineral claims, and mineral rights to a four-square-mile property in the Butte-Anaconda region of Montana, a porphyry-based mining district - will be spun-out to Broadways current shareholders as a result of the Arrangement. Assuming completion of the Arrangement, Broadway will have acquired the business of MindMed, will be a developer and distributor of the 18-MC Program for treatment of opioid and other forms of substance addiction.

Information in this News Release

All information contained in this news release with respect to Broadway and MindMed was supplied by the parties respectively for inclusion herein, and each party and its respective directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning the other party. Broadway has not independently verified the information provided by MindMed and shall bear no liability for any misrepresentation contained therein.

For Further Information, Please Contact:

Duane Parnham

Executive Chairman President and CEO, Broadway Gold Mining Ltd.

+1 954.860.5664

IR@broadwaymining.com

www.broadwaymining.com

For more information on MindMed please contact:

Jamon JR Rahn

Mind Medicine Inc., Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director

jr@mindmed.co

Cautionary Statement on Forward-looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as expects, or does not expect, is expected, anticipates or does not anticipate, plans, budget, scheduled, forecasts, estimates, believes or intends or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results may or could, would, might or will be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: the current expectations of management of Broadway and MindMed regarding the Arrangement and its consummation, including whether conditions to the consummation of the Arrangement will be satisfied, timing for completing the Arrangement and the listing of the subordinate voting shares of the Resulting Issuer on the Neo Exchange Inc. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and the delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. In evaluating forward-looking statements and information, readers should carefully consider the various factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward looking statements and forward-looking information depending on, among other things, the risks that the Arrangement and/or other associated transactions will not be successfully completed for any reason (including the failure to obtain the required approvals or clearances from regulatory authorities).

Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Broadway and MindMed assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. Broadway undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of Broadway, MindMed, their respective securities, or their respective financial or operating results (as applicable).

The securities to be offered in the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. (the Exchange) nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. The Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the Arrangement or any associated transactions.
T hirty-five people, including 18 children, remain in hospital after a man drove his car into crowds at a carnival in central Germany, police have said.

Seventeen others have been treated and released as authorities continue to look for a motive behind the incident in Volkmarsen, near Kassel.

The driver, a 29-year-old German citizen who lived locally, was arrested at the scene and is being investigated on suspicion of attempted homicide.

Officials said they believe his actions were intentional.

Emergency services rushed to the scene after a car ploughed into a carnival parade in Germany / REUTERS

Bild newspaper reported that the driver sustained serious head injuries in the crash and police have not yet been able to fully question him.

Chancellor Angela Merkel sent her condolences to those injured and wished them a speedy and full recovery. She also thanked police and medical personnel involved.

Several injured as car deliberately hits crowd at German carnival

Emergency responders set up a makeshift clinic in a town pharmacy to treat casualties with minor injuries, the regional Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper reported.

Witnesses said the car drove around a barrier blocking off traffic from the parade, according to the paper.

Police and rescue workers stand next to the scene of the crash in Volkmarsen / AP

Video from the scene showed a silver Mercedes with local number plates on the pavement, its front windscreen badly smashed and bonnet dented, and its hazard lights blinking, while emergency crews walked by.

Forensic experts could be seen taking photos and measurements around the car, walking around fragments of carnival costumes that littered the ground.

The crash came during the height of nationwide celebrations / AP

The crash came during the height of nationwide celebrations, with the biggest parades in Cologne, Dusseldorf and Mainz.

All other carnival parades in the central state of Hesse were ended on Monday as a precaution.
Dave Samson

Dave Samson, general manager of public affairs at Chevron, will join Edelman as global corporate affairs vice-chair on May 1. It's a new post.

Based in San Francisco, he will report to Katie Burke, chief strategy officer & global head of practices and sectors.

At Chevron, Samson was responsible for digital communications, marketing, branding, research, analytics and social media.

He helped launch the oil giant's "The Power of Human Energy," "We Agree" and "Only Human" corporate marketing campaigns.

Before Chevron, Samson was VP-international corporate communications at Oracle, partner at Ketchum, VP-global communications at Levi Strauss and director of communications at IBM.
LONDON, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bitcoin Association has named Ella Qiang as the latest of its managers in Asia. Based in Singapore, Ella will advance growth of Bitcoin Satoshi Vision (BSV) through Southeast Asian countries. Her work will help grow the Bitcoin SV ecosystem among developers, enterprises, infrastructure service providers, venture investors, and Bitcoin users.

Ella's hire is another step in the global expansion of Bitcoin Association. She joins two other strong Asia region managers for the industry organization, all with considerable experience in both Bitcoin and business: Lise Li (China) and Jerry David Chan (Japan and South Korea).

Ella has been actively involved in the Bitcoin SV ecosystem from the beginning. She is a founding team member at RelayX, a Bitcoin SV based superwallet that enables payments between cryptocurrency and fiat platforms, and founding member at Float SV, a Bitcoin SV focused digital asset exchange. Ella is also the organizer of CambrianSV, a proof-of-work bootcamp accelerating application development on Bitcoin SV. Prior to Bitcoin SV, Ella worked for two years as Director of Partnerships at Stellar Development Foundation, leading enterprise adoption and ecosystem development in APAC. She also worked for almost 3 years as a Project Finance Manager for China Development in Hangzhou, China. Ella has a background in banking and corporate finance and holds an M.B.A. from UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Remarking on her appointment, Ella explains: "Stability, security and scalability are the core characteristics that enterprises and entrepreneurs seek in underlying infrastructure. Bitcoin SV is the only such protocol, and has the capacity to become the technical fabric of all global economic activity. I am delighted to join the Bitcoin Association to support the realization of Bitcoin's original purpose."

As the fastest growing blockchain ever, Bitcoin SV is catching the eye of developers and enterprises across the globe seeking a blockchain that delivers real utility. Increase in usage has led BSV's daily average block sizes and daily network transactions to now be consistently larger than BTC. Why? BSV is also the only project that adheres to the original design of Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto. In short, BSV is Bitcoin.

Jimmy Nguyen, Founding President of Bitcoin Association, commented: "Bitcoin SV is the blockchain for business. So we are building a global organization with true professionals who understand what enterprises, institutional users and developers need. Ella has a terrific combination of real financial world experience, Bitcoin knowledge, an extensive contact network, bilingual English & Mandarin skills, and passion for the Satoshi Vision. She is a great addition to the Bitcoin Association family, and I look forward to her contributions to grow BSV in Southeast Asia and around the world."

To carry out its work, Bitcoin Association has built a truly international team, including from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, China, Japan, and now Singapore. They are supported by Bitcoin Association Global Ambassadors in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Israel, Japan, Netherlands, Panama, Russia and CIS region, the Scandinavia region, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, and the United States.

About Bitcoin Association
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 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 can't 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, 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.

"You've got candidates, you've got super PACs, all piling on to stop Bernie Sanders," Weaver said. "They know he has the momentum in the race."

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-runner's "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.

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, she's been reluctant to tangle with him throughout the campaign.

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 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.
Lucknow, Feb 25 : Expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar has been disqualified from the membership of the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, following his conviction in the rape case by a Delhi sessions' court in December.

In a notification issued by the UP Vidhan Sabha, Sengar has been deemed disqualified with effect from December 20, 2019 and his Bangarmau seat in Unnao district has been declared vacant.

Kuldeep Sengar is a four term MLA who was accused of rape by a girl from his Makhi village. The girl attempted self-immolation outside the chief minister's residence in April 2017 when the police did not take action on her complaint.

The rape victim's father, who had been arrested by the police, died in custody two days later, after he was beaten up in the lock-up by Sengar's brother, Atul Sengar.

As public outrage erupted, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath handed over the case to the CBI and Kuldeep Sengar, his brother Atul and others were arrested.

In July 2019, the rape victim met with an serious accident in Rae Bareli. Her two female relatives died in the car crash while she and her lawyer were seriously injured.

Both were airlifted to Delhi for treatment and the family alleged that Kuldeep Sengar had masterminded the accident. However, the CBI did not find any evidence of Sengar's involvement in the accident.

Since the Supreme Court had ordered that all cases related to the rape case be heard in Delhi, where a sessions' court convicted Kuldeep Sengar in the rape case in December and awarded a life sentence.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
MONTREAL, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Resolute Forest Products Inc. (NYSE: RFP) (TSX: RFP) will hold its annual meeting of stockholders on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern), at the Delta Hotels Saguenay Conference Centre, located at 2675 Royaume Boulevard, Saguenay, Quebec.

Owners of Resolute common stock at the close of business on March 16, 2020, the record date for the annual meeting, will be entitled to vote their shares.

About Resolute Forest Products

Resolute Forest Products is a global leader in the forest products industry with a diverse range of products, including market pulp, tissue, wood products, newsprint and specialty papers, which are marketed in close to 70 countries. The company owns or operates some 40 facilities, as well as power generation assets, in the United States and Canada. Resolute has third-party certified 100% of its managed woodlands to internationally recognized sustainable forest management standards. The shares of Resolute Forest Products trade under the stock symbol RFP on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Resolute has received regional, North American and global recognition for its leadership in corporate social responsibility and sustainable development, as well as for its business practices. Visit www.resolutefp.com for more information.

SOURCE Resolute Forest Products Inc.

Related Links

www.resolutefp.com


The Koregaon Bhima Inquiry



Commission has decided to summon NCP chief Sharad Pawar for deposition in the case of caste violence near here in 2018.

The commission's chairman, retired Justice J N Patel, noted that Pawar has filed an affidavit before the panel and he would be summoned to depose, the judicial panel's lawyer Ashish Satpute told PTI on Tuesday.

"A summon to this effect will be issued," he said.

Pawar is likely to be summoned during the last phase of the hearing by the commission, the lawyer added.

Earlier this month, the Shiv Sena-led state government gave the "final" extension to the commission till April 8 this year and asked the panel to submit its report.

Last week, social group Vivek Vichar Manch member Sagar Shinde filed an application before the commission, seeking summoning of Pawar in view of certain statements made by him in the media about the 2018 caste violence.

In his plea, Shinde cited a press conference of Pawar held on February 18.

As per the application, at the press meet Pawar alleged that right-wing activists Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide had created a "different" atmosphere in Koregaon-Bhima, located on outskirts of Pune city, and its vicinity.

"In the same press conference, Mr Pawar also alleges that the role of Pune city police commissioner is doubtful and must be investigated. These statements are within the purview of the terms of reference of this commission and therefore, they are relevant," Shinde said the plea.

The applicant said he has reasons to believe Pawar has relevant and additional information, apart from what he has already shared in his earlier affidavit filed before the panel regarding the violence and other related matters.

Pawar filed the affidavit before the commission on October 8, 2018.

The commission is headed by former Bombay High Court Chief Justice J N Patel. Former Maharashtra chief secretary Sumit Mullick is the other member of the judicial panel.

The commission was set up when the BJP was in power in Maharashtra.

Pawar's party is now a key constituent in the Shiv Sena-led government in the state.

The former Union minister, in his affidavit, stated, "I would not be in a position to factually point out the chronology of the said events as that would be the domain of the existing law and order machinery."



He also stated that he would not be in a position to specifically make allegations against any particular organisation.

"However, it is unfortunate that the state government and law and enforcement authorities failed to protect the interest of the common man residing at Koregaon Bhima and its vicinity," he said.

Pawar further stated that the active role of "right- wing" forces behind the violence at Koregaon Bhima cannot be ruled out.

However, concrete evidence in this regard can be gathered only by law enforcement agencies of the state, he said in the affidavit.

Gathering of anti-social elements in large numbers at Koregaon Bhima indicated the failure of law enforcement agencies, he told the panel.

"Hence, the state of Maharashtra has to own the responsibility of a failed law and order situation on January 1, 2018," he stated.

Violence erupted in Koregaon Bhima and nearby areas on January 1, 2018, during the 200th-anniversary celebrations of the Koregaon-Bhima battle.

The Pune Police have alleged that "provocative" speeches at the 'Elgar Parishad conclave', held on December 31, 2017, triggered the violence.

According to the police, the Elgar Parishad conclave organisers had links with Maoists.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- The euro zones response to the sovereign debt crisis is usually associated with austerity. Yet some member nations have forged their own path: Spain and Portugal, for example, overhauled their labor and product markets, helping them return to growth.

Now, these structural reforms are under threat in Madrid, as a left-wing coalition of the Socialist Party and Podemos wants to take the countrys labor market back to the pre-crisis era. The minority government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is having to rely on a bunch of regional parties to pass legislation, so its possible it will lack the votes to make significant changes. Nonetheless, its worrying that Spain wants to row back on measures that have made it outperform the rest of the single-currency area.

Spain introduced big changes to its labor market regulations between 2012 and 2013, as part of a rescue program agreed with the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. This package gave priority to company-level agreements over sectoral collective bargaining; provided employers with the flexibility to change wages and working conditions unilaterally; and cut the cost of dismissing workers.

Sanchez and his allies have taken aim at some of these measures, saying they want to tilt the balance back in favor of employees. The government intends to switch back to industry-wide negotiations on pay and working conditions and to limit the use of subcontracting.

Yet its difficult to see how much theyd gain. While the crisis-era reforms have boosted employment, theres little evidence that theyve increased inequality. Two researchers at the IMF published a study last week looking at the distributional impact of the 2012-3 reforms. They found that between 2014 and 2018, employment growth averaged about 2.5% a year and that labor law changes played a significant part in that, including in reducing youth unemployment. The authors also found that the reforms helped reduce the countrys Gini coefficient  a measure of inequality  and had no detrimental effect on the overall risk of poverty.

Story continues

The labor market overhaul did have some negative side effects. It contributed to a reduction in the average number of hours worked; while more people found jobs, many dont work as much as theyd like. This has contributed to a rise in in-work poverty. So, while the reforms were successful, more needs to be done to foster job security, especially for the most vulnerable workers.

Theres plenty a left-wing administration could do, short of a damaging policy reversal. The priority should be to help those at the very bottom of the job ladder, for example by restricting short-term contracts, which are used excessively and sometimes fraudulently. Madrid is planning to make it harder for companies to sack workers who have to take sick leave repeatedly. That would be justified.

Its unclear, however, why bringing back rigid wage bargaining would help vulnerable workers. Such a move would only hand more power to trade unions and staff representatives, even when they dont represent the majority of companies and workers. There is a risk that reinstating the old regime will make businesses reluctant to invest in Spain. In the future workers are going to shift a lot between jobs, says Marcel Jansen, an economics professor at the Universidad Autonoma in Madrid. If we go back to the pre-crisis labor market, designed in the 1970s, future reforms to deal with this new world of flexibility will become less likely.

Nadia Calvino, deputy prime minister for the economy, said in a recent interview that the government will discuss its proposals with all stakeholders, including business. Even then, its far from certain that Sanchez will have the votes to pass his changes, especially the radical ones.

But Madrid needs to be mindful of the signal it sends to the world. The European Commission predicts the Spanish economy will expand by a mere 1.6% in 2020, down from a relatively impressive 2% in 2019. This is not the time to undo the good work.

To contact the author of this story: Ferdinando Giugliano at fgiugliano@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Boxell at jboxell@bloomberg.net

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Ferdinando Giugliano writes columns on European economics for Bloomberg Opinion. He is also an economics columnist for La Repubblica and was a member of the editorial board of the Financial Times.

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

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Flowers and tributes at the family home of Nadia Zofia Kalinowska in Newtownabbey

A five-year-old girl allegedly murdered by her parents suffered head and abdominal injuries similar to forces exerted in road traffic collisions, the High Court has been told.

Prosecutors said examinations carried out on Nadia Zofia Kalinowska after she was discovered at the family's home in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim revealed evidence of multiple fractures at various stages of healing.

Details emerged as the child's mother, Aleksandra Wahab (26) and stepfather Abdul Wahab (31), mounted applications for bail.

The couple are currently in custody jointly charged with her murder on December 15 last year.

They also face counts of causing or allowing the death of a child, and grievous bodily harm with intent to the little girl over a year-long period.

The husband and wife, originally from Pakistan and Poland respectively, emphatically deny all charges against them.

They claim Nadia sustained the fatal injuries when she fell down a flight of stairs at their Fernagh Drive address in the middle of the night.

Paramedics went to the house after receiving a 999 call that she was unconscious.

Nadia's mother reported hearing a bang, finding her at the bottom of the stairs and alerting her husband who then performed CPR, the court heard.

Crown lawyer Fiona O'Kane confirmed the cause of death was head and abdominal injuries.

She said X-rays and post-mortem examinations established severe fracturing to the skull and a bleed over the entire surface of the brain.

Other fractures were found on various parts of the body, some older than others, it was contended.

Based on medical opinion, Mrs O'Kane claimed the fatal injuries were beyond those caused by a fall down stairs.

"The head and abdominal (injuries), some of those would normally be exerted in road traffic-type forces," she said.

Mr Justice Horner was told the two accused had met online, with Aleksandra Wahab then converting to Islam from Catholicism to marry her husband under Sharia law.

The couple, who also have a two-year-old son, initially did not speak the same language and lived in the Republic of Ireland before moving to Newtownabbey.

It emerged during the hearing that Mrs Wahab is now pregnant again.

Her barrister, Gavyn Cairns, insisted there is no evidence Nadia suffered any non-accidental injuries.

The judge responded: "There was severe laceration to the liver consistent with being struck with a blunt instrument, and the brain shows old and new injuries consistent with being struck."

But Mr Cairns argued that school staff recalled her being a happy girl who was prone to falling over and bumping into things in the playground.

Disputing the prosecution allegations, counsel said: "The common thread running through all their evidence is this was a very clumsy child."

With a final pathologist report potentially up to a year away, the defendants are seeking release at this stage.

Adjourning their bail applications, however, Mr Justice Horner directed that all interim findings, scans and X-rays must be handed over first.
Over the next two weeks, 100 Alameda County schools will participate in a countywide contest to have as many students as possible use public and shared transit to commute to school, according to the Alameda County Transportation Commission.

The Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools Program's 10th annual Golden Sneaker Contest encourages students to walk, bike, carpool and take transit to their schools from Feb. 24 to March 6 in an effort to reduce the region's carbon footprint.
US President Donald Trump will have a packed schedule today in New Delhi, where he arrived on Monday evening on the last leg of his India visit.

The US President will get a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan at 10:00 am followed by a visit to Rajghat where he will pay tributes to India's Freedom Fighter Mahatma Gandhi.

The US President will lay the wreath at Rajghat and observe one-minute of silence. He will also be signing the Visitors' Book.

Trump will hold restricted and then delegation-level bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House. This will be followed by the signing of agreements between the two sides and press statement by both the leaders.

Among others, the two sides will sign deals worth USD 3 billion for the supply of choppers for the Indian Army and Navy. Trump had himself confirmed this during his address at the "Namaste Trump" event in Ahmedabad on Monday.

"I am pleased to announce that tomorrow our representatives will sign deals to sell over USD 3 Billion, in the absolute finest state of the art military helicopters and other equipment to the Indian armed forces," Trump had said.

Meanwhile, US First Lady Melania Trump will be visiting a Delhi government school in South Moti Bagh where she will review the "Happiness Class" programme implemented by the government of the capital city.

After meeting kids, she is expected to attend 'Happiness Classes' started by the Delhi government. As a part of the programme, students are taught various activities including meditation, street plays, basic obedience aimed at reducing anxiety and stress levels among children.

In the evening, the US President will hold a presser before he drives to Rashtrapati Bhavan again for meeting President Ram Nath Kovind.He will aslo attaend the state banquet hosted in his honour by President Kovind.

Later, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will also call on the visiting US President.

Trump is scheduled to depart at 10:00 pm tonight.

Donald Trump on Monday reflected India's concerns on cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan as he spoke expanding bilateral military partnership and asserted that America will always be "faithful and loyal friend" to the Indian people.

Trump, who spoke at 'Namaste Trump' event at the packed Motera Stadium here after his arrival in India, lavishly praised on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership and spoke effusively of India's rise as a plural, diverse democracy.

He announced that the two countries will sign deals to sell over USD $ 3 billion in for state-of-the-art helicopters and other equipment for Indian armed forces and said the US should be India's premier defence partner.

Trump, who was accompanied by his wife Melania, came to the stadium after a brief visit to Sabarmati Ashram where he spun charkha and garlanded the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi.

Trump's daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner are also accompanying him during the visit.

From Ahmedabad, the Trumps flew to Agra and visited Taj Mahal. They appreciated the grandeur of the Taj Mahal in the picturesque backdrop of setting sun before departing for Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who reigned the North African country for almost 30 years and stepped down from his post following a popular revolution in 2011, breathed his last on Tuesday. He was 91.

Mubarak served as Egypt's fourth President starting in 1981 until his ouster in what became to be known as the Arab Spring revolution, Al Jazeera reported.

The Arab Spring protests convulsed autocratic regimes across the Middle East. It was a series of anti-government protests, uprisings, and armed rebellions that spread across much of the Islamic in the early 2010s. It began in response to oppressive regimes and a low standard of living, starting with protests in Tunisia.

Post his resignation, the former leader was jailed for years after the uprising but was freed in 2017 after he was acquitted of corruption charges and abuse of power. The acquittal stunned many Egyptians, thousands of whom poured into central Cairo to show their anger against the court.

According to the state media, Mubarak died at a Cairo hospital where he had undergone an unspecified surgery.

The medical reports only stated that he was suffering from health complications without divulging further details. One of his sons, Alaa, announced over the weekend that the former President was in an intensive care after undergoing surgery.

Throughout his rule, Mubarak was a stalwart US ally, a bull-wark against armed groups, and guardian of Egypt's peace with Israel. But to the tens of thousands of young Egyptians who rallied for 18 days of unprecedented street protests in Cairo's central Tahrir Square and elsewhere in 2011, Mubarak was a relic, a latter-day pharaoh.

Born on May 4, 1928, Mubarak was vice president on October 14, 1981, when his mentor, president Anwar Sadat, was assassinated while reviewing a military parade.

Mubarak's harsh stance on security enabled him to maintain the peace treaty with Israel. Under his rule, Egypt remained a key United States ally in the region - receiving USD 1.3 billion a year in US military aid by 2011.

His overthrow led to Egypt's first free election, which brought in president Mohamed Morsi.

Morsi lasted only a year in office after mass protests in 2013 led to his overthrow by then defence chief General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who is now the ruling President of Egypt.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Its one thing to say, After this date such and such happens, but what are the realities of enforcement? asked Will Tarleton, founder of Canvast Supply Co., a Tennessee-based seed supplier and consulting group on hemp farming. Thats ultimately everyones concern. Am I going to jail or not? Am I going to lose my farm or not? Theres a lot riding on the farmer to do the right thing.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-26 00:42:32|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- African countries and people's various support for China's battle against the COVID-19 outbreak has vividly illustrated the brotherly friendship of sharing weal and woe and helping each other between China and Africa, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday in a phone talk with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

In the conversation, Xi noted that at a crucial moment in the Chinese people's fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic, the prime minister has twice sent messages to express sympathies and also made the telephone call, which has reflected the profound friendship and mutual support between China and Ethiopia, two comprehensive strategic cooperative partners.

Xi expressed appreciation for Ethiopia's confidence in China as the African country keeps normal contacts and exchanges with China in line with the World Health Organization's advice.

Fighting the COVID-19 epidemic is currently the top priority for the Chinese government, he said, adding that with a highly responsible attitude towards the lives and health of both the Chinese people and people around the world, China has made good use of its institutional strengths and put in place the most comprehensive, thorough and rigorous prevention and control measures, which have achieved positive results and caused the situation to change for the better.

The epidemic will not shake the solid foundation for China's long-term and stable development, Xi said, stressing that China has full confidence, capability and certainty not only to win the COVID-19 battle but to minimize its impact and achieve the set goals for economic and social development.

Xi recalled that in 2014, the Chinese government and people made positive contributions to African countries' victory over an Ebola outbreak by braving difficulties and dangers to take the lead in offering help.

This time round, he added, African countries and people have provided China with various forms of support in the COVID-19 battle, which has vividly illustrated the brotherly friendship of sharing weal and woe and helping each other between China and Africa.

Noting that African countries are also facing many challenges in epidemic prevention and control, Xi said China is willing to provide them with more medical supplies that are urgently needed, including test kits.

China, he added, also stands ready to accelerate the implementation of the health care initiative of the eight major initiatives unveiled during the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), promote the construction of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and strengthen China-Africa cooperation in public health and disease prevention and control.

Meanwhile, China will do its best to provide support for all foreign students studying in China, including those from Ethiopia, as it protects its own children, said the president.

Noting that the China-Ethiopia and China-Africa friendly and cooperative relations are enjoying good momentum of development, Xi said he is willing to work with Ahmed and other African leaders to push for new progress in the China-Ethiopia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and better implementation of the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, so as to bring more practical benefits to both Chinese and African people.

Ahmed, on behalf of the Ethiopian government and people, expressed sincere sympathies to the Chinese people over the COVID-19 epidemic, and high appreciation of China's effective response measures.

China adheres to a people-oriented principle, always puts people's lives and health in the first place, and has mobilized the whole nation against the disease, which has not only effectively curbed its spread in China, but made important contributions to preventing its spread across the world, Ahmed said.

Xi's strong leadership and China's power of action in dealing with the epidemic are obvious to all and the international community has in general expressed admiration and appreciation, Ahmed said, adding that his country is proud of China's performance.

Ethiopia firmly believes that under the wise and strong leadership of Xi, China will surely overcome the epidemic at an early date and minimize its impact on economic and social development, the prime minister said.

China is Ethiopia's close friend and brother, and has never been absent when Ethiopia needs it, Ahmed noted, adding that as China is facing difficulties, the Ethiopian people will stand with the Chinese people and go through the rough patch together.

The Ethiopian side attaches great importance to its comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China, and is willing to work with China to deepen cooperation in various fields and push for greater development of bilateral relations and Africa-China relations.
South Korea aims to test more than 200,000 members of a church at the center of a surge in coronavirus cases, as countries stepped up efforts to stop a pandemic of the virus that emerged in China and is now spreading in Europe and the Middle East.

Fast-spreading outbreaks in Iran, Italy, and South Korea, and first cases in several Middle East countries, have fed worries of a pandemic, or worldwide spread of the virus.

We are close to a pandemic, but there is still hope the epidemics in Iran, Italy, South Korea, etc. can be controlled, said Raina MacIntyre, head of the Biosecurity Program at the Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales.

South Korea has the most virus cases outside China and reported its tenth death and 144 new cases, for a total of 977. President Moon Jae-in said the situation was very grave.

In Europe, Italy has become a new front line, with 220 cases reported on Monday, up from just three on Friday. The death toll in Italy is seven.

Global stock markets stabilized on Tuesday after a wave of early selling petered out and Wall Street futures managed a solid bounce after a sharp selloff the previous day on fears about the spreading coronavirus.

If travel restrictions and supply chain disruptions spread, the impact on global growth could be more widespread and longer lasting, said Jonas Goltermann, senior economist at research consultancy Capital Economics in London.

Public Anxiety

About 68 percent of South Koreas cases are linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, where the outbreak is believed to have begun with a 61-year-old woman. It is not known how she became infected.

The church said it would provide authorities the names of all its members in South Korea, estimated by media at about 215,000 people. The government would test them all as soon as possible, the prime ministers office said.

It is essential to test all of the church members, it said in a statement. Authorities said they were testing up to 13,000 people a day.

The U.S. and South Korean militaries have said they may cut back joint training due to the virus, in one of the first concrete signs of its fallout on global U.S. military activities.

The disclosure came during a visit to the Pentagon on Monday by South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, who said 13 South Korean troops had the virus.

The U.S. military said a woman who tested positive for the virus had visited one of its bases in the hard-hit city of Daegu. It was the first infection connected to U.S. Forces Korea, which has about 28,500 American troops on the peninsula.

The U.S. military urged troops to use extreme caution off base, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Americans should avoid non-essential travel to South Korea.

Iran Isolation

Outside mainland China, the outbreak has spread to about 29 countries and territories, with a death toll of about three dozen, according to a Reuters tally.

Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, and Oman reported their first new coronavirus cases, all in people who had been to Iran where the toll was 14 dead, media said, and 61 infected.

The outbreak threatens to isolate Iran further. The United Arab Emirates, which has 13 virus cases, suspended all flights with Iran for at least a week, state media said.

Iraq extended an entry ban on travelers from China and Iran to those from five other countries over virus fears, its health ministry said.

In Japan, which has reported four deaths and 850 cases mostly linked to a cruise ship, Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said it was too early to talk about canceling the Tokyo Olympics due to start on July 24.

The United States pledged $2.5 billion to fight the disease, with more than $1 billion going toward developing a vaccine, with other funds earmarked for therapeutics and the stockpiling of personal protective equipment such as masks.

By Hyonhee Shin and Ryan Woo
President Moon Jae-in, second from left, and Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin pledge allegiance to the national flag at the Daegu City Office before an emergency meeting about the viral coronavirus in the country, Feb. 25. Yonhap





President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday set this week as a deadline for a "clear turning point" in desperate efforts to counter the COVID-19 outbreak on a visit to Daegu, the source of the recent rapid proliferation of the deadly virus in South Korea.







He described the situation as "very grave" and said it is not enough to declare the city, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, as a "special disaster zone."







His government earlier designated the city of 2.5 million people and Cheongdo, a nearby county, as a "special care zone" due to a sharp uptick in the number of confirmed cases there over the past several days. Hundreds of people, largely followers of the Sincheonji religious group, have been diagnosed with the virus. Their Daegu church is presumed to be the epicenter of the local outbreak.







Moon's remarks indicated that his administration is considering designating Daegu, probably along with some adjacent areas, as a special disaster zone eligible for speedy financial and other administrative support with minimized red tape.







"The government will muster pan-national capabilities and win the fight against the virus together with Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province," he said.







To that end, he added, there should be a "clear turning point this week in the upward trend of the number of confirmed patients."






The coronavirus outbreak is set to be worse for the Australian economy than the almost unprecedented summer bushfire crisis.

The blazes that destroyed millions of hectares in New South Wales and Victoria are forecast to wipe $100billion from Australia's gross domestic product.

Now, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg fears the coronavirus will be even more severe, as the contagion financially assaults China - Australia's biggest trading partner.

'The message is very clear, the impact will be more significant than the bushfires, and it plays out more broadly across the Australian economy,' he told reporters on Tuesday.

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The blazes that destroyed millions of hectares in New South Wales and Victoria are forecast to wipe $100billion from Australia's gross domestic product. Pictured is Finn Marion, 11, steering a boat as bushfires burnt the Victorian town of Mallacoota in early January

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (pictured) fears the coronavirus will be even worse for the economy than the summer bushfires

How coronavirus could infect the economy University exports to Chinese international students: $12billion Iron ore exports to China: $51billion Tourism would also suffer along with revenue for airlines The Australian Securities Exchange lost another $53billion on Tuesday The government's budget surplus promised for 2019-20 would also be in jeopardy Advertisement

University of Queensland professor of economics John Quiggin last month estimated the bushfires could cost the economy $100billion.

That was before China announced the first cases of coronavirus in the city of Wuhan.

The deadly respiratory illness is already threatening Australia's lucrative education exports to Chinese international students - an industry worth $12billion a year.

A slower world economy would also jeopardise Australia's $51billion worth of iron ore exports to China.

The tourism sector, already struggling since the bushfire crisis, is also set to suffer from the coronavirus, as fewer people travel worldwide.

Qantas has already suspended, until the end of May, direct flights from Sydney to Shanghai and on Tuesday, its share price tumbled by another 2 per cent .

The double-whammy of the bushfire crisis and a likely coronavirus pandemic is set to jeopardise the Coalition's election promise of a budget surplus in 2020 - which if delivered would be the first since 2007. Pictured are paramedics in Hong Kong wearing masks

The Australian Securities Exchange lost $53billion, at the worst point of Tuesday trade, before the benchmark S&P/ASX200 finished the day 1.8 per cent weaker.

Combined with Monday's losses, the ASX has shed more than $100billion in just two days.

CMC Markets chief strategist Michael McCarthy said new outbreaks of coronavirus in South Korea, Japan and Italy had panicked share markets, just five days after the ASX reached a record high.

'We've seen such a dramatic action over the last couple of days,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday.

'Investors certainly hit the panic button in trading.'

The double-whammy of the bushfire crisis and a likely coronavirus pandemic is set to jeopardise the Coalition's election promise of a budget surplus in 2020 - which if delivered would be the first since 2007.

The April budget forecast a surplus of $7.1billion for the 2019-20 financial year.

That shrunk by 30 per cent to a forecast surplus of $5billion in December, even before the bushfires intensified, as Treasury released its Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison defended his pre-election promise of a budget surplus - a key element of the Coalition winning a third consecutive term in May.

'Hands up those who thought there was going to be a coronavirus epidemic when the budget was released last May? Of course no one did,' he said in Canberra.

The Prime Minister described the virus as an 'unknown global shock'.

'This is not like a global financial crisis. This is a global health crisis,' he said.

ANZ head of economics David Plank said the bushfires and the coronavirus were likely to cause an economic contraction in the March quarter and threaten the government's promise of a surplus budget.

'The surplus may have disappeared for this year - in a way that's sort of appropriate,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday.

'The bushfire will have had some impact, but then the virus will as well.'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (left with Mr Frydenberg), who won a third consecutive term for the Coalition in May, defended the earlier promise of a budget surplus

Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has infected 80,000 worldwide since it originated in December at an animal market in Wuhan.

This includes 24 people now in Australia.

Then there are another 47 Australians who are among the 219 confirmed cases of the coronavirus contracted on board Diamond Princess cruise ship at Yokohama in Japan.

Coronavirus has killed more than 2,600 people globally and can cause severe lung damage and trigger multiple organ failure, particularly among the elderly or frail.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday urged everyone to refrain from indulging in violence and directed district magistrates to organise peace marches and meetings with people of all faiths.

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. Seven people were killed in violent clashes over the amended citizenship law.

Kejriwal called a meeting of all party MLAs of the violence-hit areas and senior officials from different departments.

"I appeal to everyone with folded hands to refrain from indulging in violence, all issues can be dealt with through dialogue," he added.

Kejriwal said he has asked district magistrates and SDMs to conduct peace march and peace meetings which will see participation of people from all religions. He said these meetings must see participation of MLAs.

"In the violence-affected areas, appeal must be made from temples and mosques to maintain peace. I have also requested Chief Secretary to ask police commissioner to increase the number of police officers and also give power to local police officials," Kejriwal said.

The chief minister also asked all hospital authorities to give best possible treatment to victims and asked them to stay on vigil.

"Fire department has also been asked to coordinate with police and reach the affected areas on time," he said.

He said there is a need to seal borders to prevent outsiders from coming and indulging in violence. He also said preventive arrests must be made in view of the situation.

"I have asked district magistrates and SDMs to conduct peace meetings where people from all religions participate. I have asked MLAs also to participate in them," Kejriwal said.

Soon after the meeting, Kejriwal met Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the law and order situation in Delhi.

Kejriwal said the meeting with Shah was positive and all parties have stressed on restoring peace in the national capital.

According to police sources, 48 police personnel and 98 civilians were injured in Monday's clashes between pro and anti CAA groups at Jaffra bad, Maujpur, Chandbagh, Khureji Khas and Bhajanpura. Three firemen also received injuries while dousing flames in the area.

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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
OKLAHOMA CITY, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Oklahoma Gas and Electric (OG&E), a subsidiary of Oklahoma City-based OGE Energy Corp. (NYSE: OGE), announced today that it will expand its renewable energy portfolio with the construction of two, 5-megawatt (MW) universal solar energy centers in southeast Oklahoma. The company-owned projects will help meet the renewable energy needs of the Chickasaw Nation and Choctaw Nation.

Both tribes will purchase approximately 50 percent of each farm's solar energy output through OG&E's solar tariff. The Chickasaw Nation  OG&E Solar Energy Center will be built in Davis, Oklahoma. The Choctaw Nation  OG&E Solar Energy Center will be built in Durant, Oklahoma. OG&E will construct, own and operate both centers, which are expected to come online in August.

In 2015, OG&E became the first utility in Oklahoma to offer universal solar energy to customers with the construction of its first solar installation at Mustang Energy Center located in Mustang, Oklahoma. Universal solar provides customers the opportunity to add solar energy to their personal energy portfolios without paying for expensive rooftop solar panels. In 2018, the company added approximately 10 MWs of universal solar energy from a solar energy center built near Covington, Oklahoma. With the addition of the two new solar facilities, OG&E's total solar energy capacity will be approximately 22.5 MWs, which is enough to power nearly 3,700 homes.

Quotes from Sean Trauschke, OGE Energy Corp. Chairman, President and CEO:

"We're pleased to collaborate with these two great tribes to meet their renewable energy needs while growing the availability of universal solar energy on our system," said OGE Energy Chairman, President and CEO Sean Trauschke. "In addition to serving tribal needs, these projects will offer the benefits of solar energy to all customers through our subscription-based program."

"OG&E is among utility industry leaders in reducing its environmental footprint," Trauschke said. "We've lowered Sulphur dioxide emissions by more than 90 percent. We've lowered nitrogen oxide emissions by more than 75 percent, and we've lowered carbon dioxide emissions by more than 40 percent; all while keeping rates essentially flat since 2011, which demonstrates our commitment to delivering safe, reliable and affordable energy in an environmentally responsible way."

QUOTE(S) FROM CHICKASAW NATION GOV. BILL ANOATUBBY

"We are pleased to work with OG&E on this innovative renewable energy project," said Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby. "This collaboration highlights the importance of working together to help sustain both a strong economy and a thriving natural environment for generations to come."

QUOTE(S) FROM CHOCTAW NATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RONALD ABNEY

"The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma takes pride in being good stewards of the resources we are blessed with in Southeastern Oklahoma. Our partnership with OG&E to utilize a renewable energy source such as Solar Energy furthers the Nation's commitment to responsibly use these resources while protecting our environment," stated Executive Director Ronald Abney. "We are proud to lead the way in bringing commercial solar energy to our facilities in Durant and to other accounts within the OG&E service area. With facilities located throughout the 10.5 counties in SE Oklahoma, the Choctaw Nation is committed to the efficient use of energy. Several teams within the CNO are committed to managing our energy consumption as well as our total energy cost. This solar farm partnership addresses both the environmentally responsible use of energy as well as provides an economic hedge to uncertain energy prices in the future."

About OG&E

Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of OGE Energy Corp. (NYSE: OGE), is Oklahoma's largest electric utility. For more than a century, we have provided customers in Oklahoma and western Arkansas the safe, reliable electricity needed to power their businesses and homes at rates below the national average. Our employees are committed to generating and delivering electricity, protecting the environment and providing excellent service to our 858,000 customers. OG&E has 6,976 MW of electric generation capacity fueled by low-sulfur coal, natural gas, wind and solar. OG&E employees live, work and volunteer in the communities we serve. For more information about OG&E, visit our website at http://www.oge.com or follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ogepower, Instagram: @ogepower, and Twitter: @OGandE

About Chickasaw Nation

With nearly 68,000 citizens, the Chickasaw Nation is the 12th-largest federally recognized Indian tribe in the United States. The Chickasaw Nation has an annual economic impact of $3.7 billion in Oklahoma. The tribe has more than 13,500 employees. A democratic republic with executive, legislative and judicial departments, the tribe's jurisdictional territory includes all or part of 13 counties in south-central Oklahoma.

About Choctaw Nation

The Choctaw Nation is the third-largest Indian Nation in the United States with close to 200,000 tribal members and more than 10,000 employees. The first tribe over the Trail of Tears, the historic boundaries are in the southeast corner of Oklahoma. The Choctaw Nation's vision, "Living out the Chahta Spirit of faith, family and culture," is evident as it continues to focus on providing opportunities for growth and prosperity. For more information about the Choctaw Nation, its culture, heritage and traditions, please go to www.choctawnation.com.

SOURCE OGE Energy Corp.

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Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, introduced a bill Monday that would clear the criminal records of certain people once they complete the terms of their sentence.

Assembly Bill 2978 would automatically clear the records of people with eligible convictions dating back to 1973 to make it easier for them to find a job, apply for housing or seek other potentially restricted opportunities. The bill is sponsored by Californians for Safety and Justice and has received the support of multiple district attorneys from around the state.

Currently, residents with a prior conviction can only clear their record by filing a legal petition, which can necessitate costly actions like hiring a lawyer and filing paperwork.

According to Ting, the bill is a companion to his AB 1076, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed last year and will offer the same record clearance to new cases beginning in 2021.

Both bills apply to most misdemeanor and felony convictions, save for major felonies like rape, murder and sexual misconduct with a minor.

"While I'm grateful my law from last year will help those arrested after Jan. 1, 2021, millions of Californians today are still living in a paper prison," Ting said in a statement. "Their records prevent them from getting jobs or housing. Let's give people with past convictions the same clean slate that individuals in the future will be entitled to."

According to Ting's office, some 8 million people in California have a prior conviction on their record that can lead to a litany of legal restrictions.

The state legislatures in Pennsylvania and Utah have enacted similar laws and Michigan is considering record clearance legislation. Ting's office expects the bill to head to committee this spring.

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After talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday stressed that the Indian leader wants people to have religious freedom and also steered clear of the row over the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act even as he said an over $3 billion defence deal was finalised for the supply of advanced American military helicopters to India.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in New Delhi. Photograph: Al Drago/Reuters

Trump also repeated his mediation offer to defuse tensions between India and Pakistan, noting Kashmir is a 'big problem' and has been 'thorn in lot of people's sides' for long time.

He said there are 'two sides to every story', comments that came days ahead of the plans to sign a peace deal between the US and Taliban on February 29 for which Pakistan has been invited.

"If anything I can do to mediate, I will do," Trump said, adding Pakistan figured in his talks with Modi.

"I have good equation with Pakistan PM Imran Khan. They are working to control cross-border terrorism," Trump said after India flagged its concerns over terrorism emanating from across the border.

Trump went on to say that Modi is a very religious and calm man, but he is a very strong person.

"He is very tough. He has got that foremost in his mind, terrorism and he will take care of it."

SEE: Trump reiterates offer to mediate on Kashmir

The President was effusive in his praise of Modi on multiple occasions, calling him a 'terrific leader' and a 'nice man who is doing a fantastic job'.

At their meeting at the stately Hyderabad House hours after the President was accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the two leaders said there has been 'tremendous progress' in negotiations between India and the US for a 'big and comprehensive' trade deal which will be of great importance to both the countries.

But Trump's press conference at the ITC Maurya hotel where he stayed overnight came as a surprise and generated a lot of excitement in the media fraternity amid speculation he may touch upon controversial issues like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) against the backdrop of the violence in Delhi over the new law that has left 10 dead.

"I'm gonna be not at all controversial...I don't want to blow the two days plus two days of travel on one answer, one little answer...So I will be very conservative in my answers if you don't mind," Trump said at the start of the 45-minute packed news conference.

In reply to a question, Trump said issues involving the CAA are up to India and asserted that Prime Minister Modi wants people to have religious freedom.

"We did talk about religious freedom. Prime Minister Modi wants people to have religious freedom in India...If you look back India has worked hard for religious freedom," Trump said.

On CAA, he said, "I don't want to say anything on CAA. It is up to India. I hope it will take the right decision for its people."

SEE: Trump spoke about religious freedom to Modi

Asked if he discussed the incidents of violence taking place during his visit, he said he didn't discuss individual attacks and 'that is up to India' to deal with it.

He also talked with Modi about his country's peace deal with the Taliban and said India will like to see it happen.

At a news conference, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the new citizenship law did not come up during Modi-Trump talks, noting the two leaders talked about religious harmony in a 'positive way'.

"The issue of CAA did not come up, but with regard to what you mentioned, the term religious freedom, there was appreciation from both sides that pluralism and diversity are a common binding factor of both the countries," he added.

IMAGE: In reply to a question, Trump said issues involving the CAA are up to India and asserted that Prime Minister Modi wants people to have religious freedom. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

He said India and the US held talks in five major categories--security, defence, energy, technology and people-to-people contact, with Trump assuring India highest consideration for collaboration in defence sector.

Trump said India and the US have expanded their defence cooperation with agreements for New Delhi to purchase more than $3 billion of advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo helicopters -- the finest in the world.

After extensive talks with Modi during which strategic issues, including trade ties, counter-terror and energy cooperation were discussed, Trump at his joint press meet said they affirmed the two countries' commitment to protect their citizens from radical Islamic terrorism.

"In this effort, the US is also working productively with Pakistan to confront terrorists who operate on its soil," Trump said.

The US president said, "Earlier, today we expanded our defence cooperation with agreements for India to purchase more than USD 3 billion of advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo helicopters -- the finest in the world. These deals will enhance our joint defence capabilities as our militaries continue to train and operate side by side."

"Another major focus of my discussions with Prime Minister Modi was forging bilateral economic relationships that is fair and reciprocal."

Modi said as far as bilateral trade is concerned, there have been positive talks between the commerce ministers of the two countries.

IMAGE: Members of the media raise theirs hands to ask questions as US President Donald Trump holds a news conference in New Delhi. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

"President Trump and I have agreed that our teams will give a legal shape to the understanding that our commerce ministers have reached. We have also agreed to start negotiations for a big trade deal. We hope that it will yield good results in mutual interest," the prime minister said.

Describing the Indo-US relations as 'one of the most important partnerships of the 21st century', the prime minister said, 'increasing defence and security cooperation between two countries is a very key aspect of the strategic partnership between India and the US. We also agreed on new mechanism to contain drug trafficking'.

Modi also noted that he had met Trump five times in the last eight months.

After the ceremonial reception on the second and final day of his whirlwind visit, Trump and his wife Melania paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and planted a sapling at the memorial of the Father of the Nation.

'The American people stand strongly with a sovereign and wonderful India -The vision of the great Mahatma -- This is a tremendous honour!' Trump wrote in the visitors book at Rajghat.

Trump also attended a banquet hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
US spies hatched a plot to kidnap or even poison Julian Assange using shady Spanish private detectives after he leaked 250,000 top secret documents online, his extradition hearing was told yesterday.

The WikiLeaks founder's human rights barrister Edward Fitzgerald, who has previously represented Moors Murderer Myra Hindley and hate preacher Abu Hamza, said an attack inside London's Ecuadorean embassy would have looked like an 'accident'.

The QC said private security from a Spanish company, acting on behalf of the US authorities, were involved in 'intrusive and sophisticated' surveillance of his client, but were outed by a mysterious Iberian whistleblower known only as 'witness two'.

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.

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.'

Julian Assange, who needed two pairs of glasses in the dock at Woolwich, was the focus of a plot by US spies to kidnap or murder him, his legal team has claimed

Spanish private eyes were said to be involved in planning to attack Assange inside Ecuador's London embassy, which was also under surveillance using laser microphones inside and out

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's father John Shipton talks to the media as he arrives at Woolwich Crown Court today where his son is in the dock again

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.'

'It's simply untrue' that Julian Assange put US sources' lives in danger, says his father 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.' Advertisement

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 extraordinary claims were made on the first day of Assange's extraordinary British legal face-off with Donald Trump's Government, which continues at Belmarsh Magistrates' Court today.

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 yesterday.

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.

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 taken 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.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's lawyers Barry Pollack, Jennifer Robinson and Baltasar Garzon (pictured today) are battling to prevent his extradition to the US on human rights grounds

Opening his extradition case for the US Government, 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

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 yesterday

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.

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), 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.

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'

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.

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

'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.'

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.

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.
Tension prevailed in North East Delhi for another day on Tuesday as fresh incidents of stone-pelting was report amid the toll in the violence over the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act rising to five.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the situation in the capital during a meeting he called late Monday night that ended on early Tuesday morning. Officials said Shah directed officials to restore normalcy at the earliest.

Those who attended the meeting held late Monday night included Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Intelligence Bureau Director Arvind Kumar and Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik among others.

Follow live updates of clashes among CAA protesters in Delhi here

Fresh incidents of stone-pelting were reported from Maujpur and Brahmpuri on Tuesday morning. Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) held a flag march in the troubled spots after two groups pelted stones at each other while two empty bullet shells were also recovered from the locality by security personnel.

The toll in the violence has risen to five, including a head constable while at least 105 others, including several paramilitary and Delhi Police personnel, were injured.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Amit Sharma, who suffered serious injuries during the clashes on Monday, underwent surgery on Monday night. Doctors said that he is safe and out of danger.

Police also arrested one Shahrukh, who was seen opening fire at police during violence on Monday.

Fearing violence, five stations on the Delhi Metro's Pink Line remained closed for the second consecutive day. "Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar remain closed. Trains are being terminated at the Welcome Metro Station," the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) tweeted.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said he was "very worried" about the prevailing situation in certain parts of the capital. "All of us together should make all efforts to restore peace in our city. I again urge everyone to shun violence," Kejriwal tweeted as he called a meeting of MLAs of all parties of affected areas along with senior officials.
By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 27 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on Feb. 25.

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
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Van Andel Institute for Education (VAI) is hosting Science on the Grand: A STEAM Conference for Inquiry-Based Instruction for the third year on July 13 and 14 in Grand Rapids, MI. This conference equips K12 educators with the skills, resources, confidence, and competence they need to create a classroom culture which supports STEAM integration, as well as specific STEAM content strategies and lessons.

In addition, all registered teachers can elect to participate in 'VAI's Pitch Tank' a fun competition intended to encourage creativity in the classroom where participants will have an opportunity to receive up to $5000 to transform their classroom.

VAI is proud to announce that this year's keynote addresses will feature Erin Gruwell and Dr. Matt Steensma:

Erin Gruwell is an award-winning educator and advocate best known for her work with The Freedom Writers Foundation, an organization dedicated to training educators and bringing hope to students around the globe. Gruwell's keynote will focus on how teachers can become catalysts for change by encouraging tolerance, cooperation, and respect within the classroom.

Dr. Matt Steensma received his M.D. from Wayne State University School of Medicine and joined Van Andel Institute in 2010 as an Associate Scientific Investigator in the Center for Skeletal Disease Research. In his keynote address, Dr. Steensma will share his insights on the scientific process and discuss how educators can influence and inspire the next generation of great thinkers.

Here's what attendees can expect at Science on the Grand 2020:

40+ sessions dedicated to research-based and classroom-tested STEAM content strategies.

A top-notch line up of practicing teachers and speakers covering topics such as project-based learning, critical thinking, student engagement, literacy and the science connection, classroom management, collaboration, social and emotional learning, and STEAM integration.

Exciting opportunities to network with other dedicated educators.

A chance to win up to $5,000 to supercharge your classroom!

"My hope is that teachers walk away from Science on the Grand with practical strategies they can actually use, and with a rekindled passion for science and teaching." says Terra Tarango, Director of Van Andel Institute for Education. "But mostly, I hope they feel honored and respected for the amazing job they do on a daily basis."

To learn more about Science on the Grand 2020 and VAI's Pitch Tank Competition, go to: https://vaei.vai.org/science2020/

ABOUT VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE

Van Andel Institute (VAI) is an agile biomedical research and education organization that unleashes innovation to multiply impact. Established in Grand Rapids, Michigan, by the Van Andel family, VAI collaborates around the world to advance bold ideas in biomedicine and education. With a staff of more than 400 and a growing network of partners, VAI studies the origins of cancer, Parkinson's and other diseases and translates its findings into breakthrough prevention and treatment strategies to improve human health. The Graduate School at VAI offers a Ph.D. in molecular and cellular biology through a research-intensive, interdisciplinary program that prepares students for successful careers as independent investigators. Van Andel Institute for Education is dedicated to creating classrooms where curiosity, creativity and critical thinking thrive, offering engaging programs for K12 students and transformative professional development and instructional tools for teachers. Find out more about Van Andel Institute for Education by visiting vaei.vai.org.

Media Contact:

Robin Dhaseleer

Van Andel Institute

(616) 234-5484

[email protected]

SOURCE Van Andel Institute

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The devastating bushfires that ravaged Australia over the last 12 months created an unprecedented amount of damage and destroyed a fifth of the continent's forests.

A series of studies and articles dedicated to the tragedy called the horrific fires 'a fiery wake-up call for climate science'.

Scientists say the fires were categorically linked to climate change and worsened by a year-long drought exacerbated by climate change.

The bushfires raged for months and set vast swathes of land ablaze, destroying homes, killing around half a billion animals and taking the lives of 33 people.

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Pictured, a composite image made using data from NASA 's satellites that shows where bushfires ravaged the nation between December 5 last year and January 5 2020. The devastating bushfires that ravaged Australia destroyed a fifth of the continent's forests

A shortwave infrared image from the end of December 2019 shows wildfires burning east of Orbost on the south east coast of Victoria. Scientists say the fires were categorically linked to climate change and worsened by a year-long drought linked to climate change

A comment piece from two researchers, from the CERFACS in France, speaks of a 'natural disaster of breathtaking scale'.

They claim the fires are unequivocally related to climate change, combating a belief held by many in Australia that climate change is either non-existent or exaggerated.

Conservative Australian politician Craig Kelly has previously said: 'Bushfires have nothing to do with 'climate change' and 'Beware of climate alarmists: Everything they tell you is a lie.'

The authors of the damning article in Nature fiercely combat such delusions.

Dr Benjamin Sanderson and Dr Rosie Fisher write: 'Mean warming levels are now sufficiently large that many high temperature extreme events would be impossible without anthropogenic influence.'

They continue: 'In the case of recent events in Australia, there is no doubt that the record temperatures of the past year would not be possible without anthropogenic influence, and that under a scenario where emissions continue to grow, such a year would be average by 2040 and exceptionally cool by 2060.'

A wildlife rescuer carrying a koala with burnt hands and feet near Cape Bouda on Kangaroo Island. Some scientists estimate between 500 million and a billion animals died from the fires

Fire crews in Victoria work west of Corryong in january. Australian researchers examined several other aspects of the blazes, including investigations into their extent and possible causes

Australian researchers examined several other aspects of the blazes, including investigations into their extent and possible causes.

One piece of research, published in a special edition of the journal Nature Climate Change, found that between September 2019 and January 2020 around 5.8 million hectares of broadleaf forest were burned in New South Wales and Victoria.

The 5.8 million hectares of charred land accounts for roughly 21 percent of the nation's forested area, making this fire season the most devastating on record.

Average annual forest loss in Australia due to fire is around two percent.

However, the scientists expect the real figure is even higher as the research did not include data from Tasmania.

'Halfway through Spring 2019 we realised that a very large part of the eastern Australian forest could be burned in this single season,' Matthias Boer, from the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment at Western Sydney University, Penrith, told AFP.

'The shock came from realising that this season was off the charts globally in terms of the percentage of the continental section of a forest biome that burned.'

A comment piece from two researchers, from the CERFACS in France, speaks of a 'natural disaster of breathtaking scale'. They claim the fires are unequivocally related to climate change, combating a belief held by many in Australia that climate change is non-existent

Pictured: the sky turned red from smoke of the Snowy Valley bushfire on the outskirts of Cooma on January 4. One piece of research, published in a special edition of the journal Nature Climate Change, found that between September 2019 and January 2020 around 5.8 million hectares of broadleaf forest were burned in New South Wales and Victoria

Fire and rescue personnel run to move their truck as a bushfire burns next to a major road on the outskirts of the town of Bilpin, New South Wales. a study found the fires were worsened and fuelled by a years-long dry spell in Australia's Murray-Darling Basin

Another study looked at the conditions that made the fires so damaging - a years-long dry spell in Australia's Murray-Darling Basin.

Droughts create more fuel for wildfires and make it harder for forests to recover after each blaze.

Andrew King, from the University of Melbourne, and colleagues looked at a phenomenon known as the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), which has a direct effect on rainfall levels in Australia and elsewhere.

A fire burns near Tomerong, New South Wales after it was lit intentionally in an effort to contain a larger fire nearby. Despite best efforts, more than a fifth of Australia's bushland was destroyed

A Rural Fire Service volunteer is given instructions by a colleague as he douses a fire near Kulnura, New South Wales

Since 2017 much of Australia has experienced widespread drought, something the study attributed to a relative lack of negative IOD events.

This sees warmer than normal sea surface temperatures in the east Indian Ocean with cooler waters in the west.

These events tend to shift weather patterns and typically bring greater rainfall to southeast Australia, and are made less frequent as global sea temperatures warm.

Dr King and the team examined rainfall statistics and found that the winter of 2016 saw extremely heavy precipitation and a corresponding negative IOD event.

Since then, the Murray-Darling Basin has experienced 12 consecutive seasons with below-average rainfall, the longest period on record since 1900.

'With climate change there have been projections that there will be more positive IOD events and fewer negative IOD events,' King told AFP.

'This would mean that we'd expect more dry seasons in Australia and possibly worse droughts.'
Mike Casper Appointed Group Applications Engineer at TAKAYA Published: 25 February 2020 by Chelsey Drysdale by Chelsey Drysdale

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA  Mike Casper has been appointed Group Applications Engineer for TAKAYA flying probe test systems by TEXMAC, the exclusive authorized distributor of TAKAYA flying probe test systems in North America. In his new position, Mike will be responsible for Pre-sales evaluations and Post-sales customer support including training, service, and applications. TAKAYA is the inventor and industry leader in flying-probe test technology for more than 25 years.

In making the announcement, Roy McKenzie, Takaya Group Manager for TEXMAC Inc., said, Mike is a great asset to our customers thanks to his extensive experience in our industry. He spent 15 years in a very similar position with another flying probe test company providing customer support for flying probe and functional test applications. Prior to that Mike spent 20 years developing functional test hardware and software for a number of different companies and product types. He brings tremendous talent and experience to his new position. Were pleased to welcome him to the TEXMAC team.

About TEXMAC

TEXMAC, the exclusive authorized distributor of TAKAYA flying probe test systems in North America, is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and offers a full range of sales and support services including test and programming services. Locations include facilities in the Boston, Denver, Chicago, Dallas, and Silicon Valley areas. For more information, contact Roy McKenzie, TEXMAC Inc., 2225 Martin Ave. Suite K, Santa Clara, CA 95050, tel. (408) 970-8500, email rmckenzie@texmacusa.com, and visit www.texmac.com.
Michelle Keegan and her husband Mark Wright enjoyed a romantic date night at Craig's in LA on Monday night.

The couple are out in America while Mark does some work for US show, Extra.

Actress Michelle, 32, was beaming from ear to ear as she left the eatery wearing jeans and a white T-shirt with an oversized blazer.

Love is in the air: Michelle Keegan beamed as she and husband Mark Wright enjoyed a romantic date night at LA hotspot Craig's on Monday night

She wore blue 940 Bottega Veneta mules and carried a white 1990 pouch bag by the same label.

Mark, 33, looked just as smart, wearing a pair of black skinny jeans and Balenciaga trainers and a monochrome sweater.

Michelle's last big outing was at the BRIT Awards in London's o2 arena last Tuesday.

Handsome chap: Mark, 33, looked just as smart, wearing a pair of black skinny jeans and Balenciaga trainers and a monochrome sweater

There, she looked incredible wearing a silver sequin gown which was short at the front and had a long train at the back.

The Galia Lahav gown costs 2384.63 and suited her perfectly.

Brimming with confidence, the star struck a series of sassy poses during a rare red carpet appearance without husband Mark.

On their way: Michelle jumped in the back of the car as their night came to a close

But while he was absent on the night, the golden tan acquired during their recent Valentine's Day trip to the Caribbean was still evident as she greeted onlookers.

The couple have been together since late 2012 when they met on a holiday to Dubai.

Former TOWIE star Mark popped the question nine months later and the pair married in a lavish ceremony at Hengrave Hall in Suffolk in May 2015.

In January Michelle announced she was leaving BBC drama Our Girl after four years.

The actress played British army medic Georgie Lane on the show for three seasons but plans to leave in order to spend more time in her home country.

The demanding filming schedule of the show has seen the Stockport-born star travel to South Africa, Nepal and Malaysia for several months of filming a year.
Qatar is bringing on two Republican ex-lawmakers for the express purpose of lobbying their former GOP colleagues amid persistent right-wing criticism of Doha as a friend of Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood.

The $35,000-per-month contract with Holland and Knight, obtained exclusively by Al-Monitor, is set to begin on March 1 and has no expiration date. It specifically names former Rep. Tom Davis, a Republican who represented Virginia, as being responsible for the delivery of services with this contract. Davis and Tom Reynolds, a Republican who represented New York, have both registered to work on the account.

The focus of our representation will be Republican members of the US House and Senate but will include other areas as assigned, reads the contract.

A Holland and Knight spokesman told Al-Monitor, Well be focusing on educating members of Congress on Qatars strategic importance to the US diplomatically, economically and militarily. This is Qatars first new lobbying hire of 2020. Holland and Knight will work as a subcontractor for Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, which has a $230,000-per-month contract with Qatar.

The two ex-congressmen are the only former Republicans currently registered to lobby for Qatar, joining Democrats Ron Klink of Pennsylvania, Jim Moran of Virginia and Bart Stupak of Michigan. With their addition, Qatar now has more former lawmakers lobbying for it than its Gulf rivals Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have used their multi-million-dollar lobbying operations to defend their three-year-old blockade against Qatar and press the United States to force Al Jazeera to register as a foreign agent of Doha.

The new hires notably come less than a month after the UAE brought on its first ex-lawmaker, former House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, to lobby on export controls and sanctions, trade policies, human rights, foreign and defense policies, foreign media registration and strengthening bilateral relations and regional security. Ros-Lehtinen, a Florida Republican, was a sharp critic of Qatar throughout her time in the House and has continued to publicly lambaste Doha since retiring in 2018.

Holland and Knight's $35,000-per-month contract with Qatar says that the firm's focus will be Republican lawmakers.

Davis and Reynolds both previously served as back-to-back chairmen of the influential National Republican Congressional Committee, tasked with helping elect Republicans to the House of Representatives. Davis also served as chairman of the investigative House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2003 to 2007.

Ben Freeman, the director of the Foreign Influence Transparency Initiative at the Center for International Policy, said former members of Congress are more likely to get their foot in the door on Capitol Hill.

If you hire a congressman to represent you, that congressman is much more likely to have their former colleagues open their doors, answer their phone calls and grant meetings, Freeman said. After that happens, he added, then its just easier for them to make their pitch on behalf of one of these foreign powers.

Jodi Richardson, a former aide to Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., is also registered to lobby on the Holland and Knight account alongside Davis and Reynolds. Her former boss notably signed a Republican letter last year asking the Justice Department why it had not asked Al Jazeera to register as a foreign agent for Qatar.

Richardson, Davis and Reynolds all also work on Holland and Knights $1 million contract with Pakistan, signed in July.
The Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), State Program Management Group-Uttarakhand (SPMG-UK) and Indorama Charitable Trust (ICT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the upgradation and development of Ghats and Crematoria in Uttarakhand's Badrinath.

The MoU was signed in presence of Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajenendra Singh Shekhawat. The total cost of the development project is Rs 26.64 crore.

Director-General of NMCG, Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, and other senior officials were also present at the event.

"Namami Gange has really gathered momentum and is successful in getting support and the attention of stakeholders. So, local people, students are joining and our projects are moving good speed now," said Director General of NMCG, Rajiv Ranjan Mishra.

"Several projects we have completed. So it keeps a lot of satisfaction to say that yes the program has moved ahead with much more momentum and gathering momentum, so we really see the good success in future," he added.

Ganga River holds a great significance the life of millions of people in the country as it passes through five states of India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Moderna, a U.S.-based drugmaker, has sent the first batch of an experimental vaccine against the new coronavirus to federal researchers to use with humans.

Moderna sent the vaccine from its Norwood, Mass., manufacturing plant to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is based in Bethesda, Md., and part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The shipment came just 42 days after the company selected part of the genetic sequence of the virus.

The institute expects to start a clinical trial of around 20 to 25 volunteers by the end of April, NIAID Director Anthony Fauci told The Wall Street Journal. Going into a phase one trial within three months of getting the sequence is unquestionably the world indoor record. Nothing has ever gone that fast, Fauci said.

Initial results could be available as soon as July. But any vaccines will likely take until next year to become available on the commercial market because of the need to conduct additional studies and clear regulatory hurdles.

Fauci, speaking last month on a panel in Washington, said that it takes about two-and-a-half months to start a phase one trial and the trial takes about three months to make sure the vaccine is safe. A phase two trial follows on a much larger group, hundreds or even thousands of people. That trial would take at least six months but possibly over eight months, he said. If the vaccine passes the trials, it takes additional time to scale up for major distribution.

Modernas efforts are being funded by the Norway-based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, the company and group announced in late January. The coalition is also funding efforts by Inovio and the University of Queensland in Australia to develop vaccines against the new COVID-19 disease.

Through our partnership with Moderna and the NIH, we hope to speed the development of a vaccine against the coronavirus and help to alleviate the burden of disease, Richard Hatchett, the coalitions CEO, said in a statement.

Modernas vaccine uses or mRNA, or Messenger RNA. The genetic molecules carry the information from the DNA in the nucleus of the cell to the cytoplasm where the proteins are made, according to NIH.

The approach of using mRNA carries potential advantages including the ability to mimic natural infection to stimulate a more potent immune response, combining multiple mRNAs into a single vaccine, and rapid discovery to respond to emerging pandemic threats, according to the company. Moderna has no approved vaccines but has nine being tested or developed, including one for the Zika virus.

Other companies are also working on vaccines. Johnson & Johnsons vaccine division, Janssen, is working with the Department of Health and Human Services Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to develop a vaccine.

Janssen is a proven partner with a flexible, rapid, vaccine platform which gives us an edge in the race to protect people in the U.S. and worldwide from the health security threat posed by this Novel Coronavirus, Rick Bright, director of the authority, said in a statement earlier this month announcing the partnership.

The department is also working with Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines global business unit of Sanofi, to develop a vaccine using Sanofis egg-free recombinant DNA platform.

The technology produces an exact genetic match to proteins of the virus. The proteins DNA will be combined with DNA from a virus harmless to humans, and used to rapidly produce large quantities of antigen which stimulate the immune system to protect against the virus, the department said in a press release. The antigens will be separated and collected from these cells and purified to create working stocks of vaccine for advanced development.

Other researchers are working on testing existing drugs on coronavirus patients. Two clinical trials conducted through the World Health Organizations R&D Blueprint, a plan that allows the rapid activation of research and development activities during epidemics, are expected to produce preliminary results around mid-March.

One of the trials is using lopinavir and ritonavir, two drugs typically used to treat HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus infection. The other trial is testing an antiviral drug called remdesivir that was developed by Gilead Sciences.

Dr. Bruce Aylward, an expert from Canada who is leading an organization team in China looking at the outbreak there, told reporters on Monday that experts believe remdesivir might have real efficacy.

He called for diverting more resources into treatments that are promising, saying, We have got to start prioritizing enrollment into those things that may save lives and save them faster.

From The Epoch Times
SPRINGFIELD  Presidential candidate and current Democratic front runner Bernie Sanders is planning to visit the city this week in anticipation of the March 3 primary election.

The rally with Bernie Sanders is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Friday, at the MassMutual Center on Main Street in downtown Springfield. Doors will open at 6 p.m., according to Sanders campaign website.

It is being hosted by Bernie Sanders for Massachusetts. Officials for the campaign organization could not be reached last night.

The Vermont senator is leading in the early Democratic primaries. The rally is scheduled or the home state of one of his rivals, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Massachusetts will be among 15 states and territories holding primary elections on March 3, so-called Super Tuesday. Early voting has already begun in communities across the state.

Readers looking to comment on this piece can find it on MassLives Facebook page here.
Six judges of the Supreme Court are suffering from swine flu, following which they did not attend court, an apex court judge said on Tuesday.

Justice DY Chandrachud, while conducting the court proceedings, announced that all apex court judges held a meeting with Chief Justice of India, SA Bobde, over the case of six of their colleagues infected by H1N1 virus.

An apex court judge, Sanjiv Khanna, came to the court wearing a mask.

Justice Chandrachud said that it was decided that the top court will make vaccines available for innoculation of lawyers.

The Chief Justice suggested during the meeting that lawyers as well as bar association chief should also take the initiative for preventive measures against the disease, Justice Chandrachud added.

Meanwhile, a meeting was held with Supreme Court Bar Association President Dushyant Dave to tackle the health emergency.

Dave told IANS that some foreign delegation members who participated in a judicial conference in the apex court complex recently were infected by the virus.

Two of the judges suffering from swine flu are on the nine-judge Constitution Bench hearing the Sabrimala verdict case, the hearing of which has been delayed as a result.
A Cambridge-based company has shipped vials of its novel coronavirus vaccine, which were manufactured at a plant in Norwood, to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease in Maryland for further research.

Moderna Inc. announced the news late Monday, saying its first batch of mRNA-1273 vaccine was funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and will be used by government researchers in what's known as a Phase 1 Study at the National Institutes of Health.

I want to thank the entire Moderna team for their extraordinary effort in responding to this global health emergency with record speed. The collaboration across Moderna, with NIAID, and with CEPI has allowed us to deliver a clinical batch in 42 days from sequence identification, Juan Andres, chief technical operations and quality officer at Moderna, said in a statement. This would not have been possible without our Norwood manufacturing site, which uses leading-edge technology to enable flexible operations and ensure high-quality standards are met for clinical-grade material.

To date, Moderna has manufactured and released more than 100 batches of vaccines and therapeutics from its Norwood site for human clinical trials. The company described mRNA-1273 as part of its "core prophylactic vaccines modality, which has had six positive Phase 1 clinical readouts across six different vaccines over the past four years."

A novel coronavirus was identified early this year in Wuhan, Hubei Province, in China. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control now says the virus has been detected in 32 locations internationally, including the United States. The complete clinical picture with regard to COVID-19, as this coronavirus is known, is "not fully understood," according to the CDC, with reported illnesses ranging from mild to severe, including illness resulting in death.

The World Health Organization on Monday estimated 2,595 deaths to date in China, and 23 COVID-19 deaths in 29 countries outside of China.

As of Feb. 24, there has been one confirmed case of this novel coronavirus in Massachusetts, and the Department of Public Health says the risk to residents of Massachusetts remains low. Mass. DPH has not issued an update on the single confirmed coronavirus patient in the state since announcing the confirmed case February 1.

"While person-to-person spread among close contacts has been detected with this virus, at this time this virus is NOT currently spreading in the community in the United States," according to the DPH.

Moderna currently has strategic alliances for development programs with AstraZeneca, Merck Inc. and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
MIAMI, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As a disruptor in the lingerie industry, GIAPENTA's intimates for real women are popping up all over the country as the brand's popularity continue to surge  not only in the closets of its loyal customers, but most recently on the Oprah Winfrey Network and Netflix. According to the founder, the grand opening of its very first pop-up shop presents the perfect opportunity to celebrate that success. And, like the garments themselves, the event promises to be memorable indeed.

Ashley Greene of Twilight and Bombshell to host Opening for Lingerie Industry Disruptor, GIAPENTA GIAPENTA Celebration to be held February 27 in Miami's Wynwood Arts District

On Thursday, February 27, from 6-7 p.m., actress Ashley Greene - of Twilight and Bombshell - will host a VIP Party for special guests and the media to celebrate the shop opening. That will be followed by a reservations-only open house for the general public from 7-10 p.m. The events will be held in the heart of Miami's Wynwood Arts District at 2300 NW 2nd Ave. Attendees will be able to shop a limited collection of GIAPENTA's bras, panties, body suits, camis and sleep masks made from temperature-balancing tech fabrics while enjoying champagne and light bites. Because the space is limited, RSVPS are required [email protected].

Guests are encouraged to arrive early for a chance for a free gift bag and GIAPENTA bra  reserved for the first 15 guests. Exclusive discounts, free tote with purchase, and other in-store surprises are promised.

"When we launched GIAPENTA last fall, we could never have imagined how quickly it would be embraced by women everywhere. We were also excited to see our lingerie being worn by the likes of Rachel Brosnahan and on OWN's Cherish the Day and Rashida Jones on Netflix's Black Excellence," said Kris Strouthopoulos, founder. "We couldn't be more grateful to Ashley Greene for hosting our VIP Party and we look forward to greeting our amazing customers."

"Before GIAPENTA, the lingerie market was dominated by companies led by men. That fact doesn't sit well with me and it is becoming increasingly clear that it doesn't sit right with our customers," she added. "Women know what women want in their intimates and GIAPENTA created breathable, beautiful, comfortable products for real women by women. Now it's time to celebrate this industry breakthrough!"

For more information on the grand opening events, e-mail [email protected].

Media contact:

Alicia Smith

857-995-6468

[email protected]

SOURCE GIAPENTA
Edible oil industry on Tuesday urged the government to stop issuing further licences for the import of palmolien, warning that it would further depress local prices ahead of the arrival of massive mustard seed crop.

In a representation to the Commerce Ministry, Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA) President Atul Chaturvedi noted that the government banned import of RBD Palmolein a month back to check excessive imports but media reports said that the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued licences for the import of 11 lakh tonnes of palmolien.

"We are dismayed at this action which has the potential of destroying palm refining industry in the country. This is contrary to our PM's vision of Make in India," he added.

The industry appealed to the Commerce Ministry to stop issuing further licences to safeguard the interest of domestic vegetable oil refining industry and mustard farmers.

Chaturvedia further said that there is no shortage of RBD Palmolein or edible oils in the country and also edible oil prices in international as well as domestic markets are showing downward trend in the last one-and-a-half months.

With a massive mustard crop ready for harvesting, import of palmolien will have a great dampening effect on prices of domestic oilseeds and oils, he said



He also expressed concern that it may result in mustard selling below minimum support price (MSP) and once again government's nodal agency NAFED getting saddled with huge stocks.

According to the SEA, Indonesia has great advantage to push RBD Palmoelin to India as it is cheaper than crude palm oil (CPO), at present, with higher levy on CPO at USD 50 per tonne and lower duty on RBD Palmoelin at USD 30 per tonne.

Further, India's duty difference between CPO and RBD Palmolein being only 7.5 per cent will open the flood gates for import of RBD Palmolein which was seen during last year from January to September 2019 when the duty difference was just 5 per cent for import from Malaysia, it said.

"This will also have serious impact on domestic refining industry and capacity utilizations will go down," SEA said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bihar Assembly passes resolution not to implement NRC in state

India

oi-Mousumi Dash

Patna, Feb 25: The Bihar assembly on Tuesday passed the resolution to not implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state.

The assembly also passed a resolution to implement the National Population Register (NPR) in its 2010 form, with an amendment.

On Sunday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reiterated that the NRC would not be implemented in the state and only the NPR would be updated the way it was done in 2010.

No NRC in Bihar says Nitish Kumar

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.

Earlier, Kumar said "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."

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 15:35 [IST]
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 22:24:19|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities Monday stressed precise and differentiated strategies in the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus epidemic.

Measures should be taken based on different conditions in each region to combat the epidemic, according to a meeting of the leading group of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus outbreak, which was chaired by Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the leading group.

The meeting stressed unremitting efforts in various prevention and control work and the orderly resumption of work and production.

Efforts should be made to achieve the goals and tasks for economic and social development this year, according to the meeting.

The meeting heard reports on Wuhan's epidemic prevention and control made by a central government team and Hubei province, learned about the needs on the frontline and made arrangements to step up support for the region.

The meeting urged Wuhan to increase its abilities to receive patients, lower infection rates, reduce mortalities and prevent mild cases from developing into severe ones.

It also stressed the protection of medical workers, timely release of information and better communication with the public.

Medical supplies to Hubei, Wuhan in particular, and daily necessities of the local people will be ensured, and financial support from the central fiscal will be increased, the meeting said.

Various localities should take precise measures to prevent and control the epidemic and coordinate the work with economic and social development, the meeting said, noting that the protection plans for key population groups, venues and units should be improved and thoroughly carried out.

Wang Huning, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy head of the leading group, attended the meeting.
Doug McMillan, P.E., President of zumBrunnen, Inc., is presenting an educational session at the LeadingAge Illinois Annual Meeting & Expo being held March 17-19, 2020 in Schaumburg, IL. McMillan will be available after the presentation to answer questions about reserve studies, facility condition assessments, capital replacement planning, construction monitoring, and other building-related services.

Strategic Capital Planning: Real Answers for Real Problems:

Tuesday, March 17 from 1:30-2:30 PM (Session 124B)

McMillan is presenting an educational session on strategic capital planning. Attendees will learn about the basics of facility assessments and capital budget planning, including the philosophies and methodologies of the process, and what to look for in consultants who perform this work. McMillan will also discuss new trends and technologies in building systems and equipment, including upgrades that facilities can implement for increased energy efficiency and utilization of green technology. The session will explain how facility assessments and establishment of a thorough capital repair and replacement budget position you to objectively model and validate a renovation, re-positioning, or replacement of a building or an entire facility

About Doug McMillan, P.E.:

Doug McMillan, P.E., is President of zumBrunnen, Inc. He began his engineering career in 1980, and he joined zumBrunnen in 1998. McMillan received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA. He is a former Resident Engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and he is a member of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). McMillan is a licensed professional Civil Engineer in the state of California.

We are proud to be active members of LeadingAge, said McMillan. For over 30 years, our firm has partnered with hundreds of senior living providers. We enjoy helping our senior living clients evaluate buildings, create accurate budgets, and successfully manage their facilities.

About LeadingAge:

LeadingAge is an association of over 6,000 not-for-profit organizations dedicated to expanding the world of possibilities for aging. LeadingAge strives to advance policies, promote practices, and conduct research that supports, enables, and empowers people to live fully as they age. LeadingAges members offer a continuum of aging services including, adult day services, home health, community services, senior housing, assisted living residences, continuing care retirement communities, and nursing homes. For more information, please visit http://www.LeadingAge.org.

About zumBrunnen, Inc.:

Founded in 1989, zumBrunnen, Inc. has offices in Atlanta, GA, Charlotte, NC, and Johnson City, TN. The firm specializes in long-range capital replacement planning, reserve studies, reserve study updates, property condition assessments, facility condition assessments, construction consulting, construction monitoring, and other building-related services for a diverse list of national and international clients.

The firm is also known for its proprietary FacilityForecast Software System, a unique facility condition assessment and budgeting tool designed to forecast and manage life-term capital replacement expenses and to provide custom reserve funding plans designed to their client's business model.

The firm has completed notable projects in a variety of market sectors, including senior living, educational, multi-family, student housing, healthcare, institutional, mixed-use, retail, office, warehouse, industrial, hospitality, and public assembly. The firm is involved with several professional trade associations, including LeadingAge (at a national level), LeadingAge North Carolina, and LeadingAge Georgia. For more information, please visit http://www.zumbrunnen.com.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Feb. 25

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

The Turkmen delegation took part in a regional workshop recently held in Kazakhstans Almaty city as part of the implementation of the EU's Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA-9), Trend reports referring to the Turkmen State Customs Service.

The issue of benefits of using the method of transferring the functions between customs and border services, which has been actively used in several European countries recently was considered at the event, the message said.

This method allows accelerating the movement of passengers and goods across the border and using the resources of border agencies more efficiently, the message said. The workshop participants reviewed this innovation and discussed its advantages and risks.

During the workshop, special attention was paid to the cooperation between customs and border services, its main goals and legal framework; synchronized control, functions and tasks of border and customs control at the checkpoints; cooperation in the field of information exchange and risk analysis, the message said.

The main strategy of the BOMCA Program is to promote the stability and security of the Central Asian countries through integrated border management and regional cooperation.

The program also assists the Central Asian countries in their quest for regional economic development and trade facilitation in Central Asia, with neighbouring countries and between Central Asian countries and EU member-states. The program launched its activity in Central Asia in 2003.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  The Ohio Democratic Party is calling for an investigation into a charity operated by supporters of President Donald Trump that is planning a second cash giveaway in Cleveland for this weekend.

Zach West, a Columbus attorney representing the ODP, sent a letter to Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael OMalley on Monday asking him to investigate the Urban Revitalization Coalition.

The letter accuses the URC, which gave away $25,000 at an event in Downtown Cleveland last December where some speakers praised Trump, of breaking a state bribery law by giving away money to potential voters. The URC is planning a similar event for this Saturday, at which organizers say they plan to give away $50,000 split among 140 people.

The conspirators are flouting Ohio law by offering cash for votes, and have announced they intend to continue their criminal conduct, West said in the letter.

(Scroll down to read the letter, first reported by WKYC, or click here for a PDF.)

A spokesman for OMalley, a Democrat, said his office got the office on Tuesday, and is reviewing it. Darrell Scott, a Cleveland pastor and prominent Trump adviser who founded the URC, called the letter a publicity stunt.

He compared his groups activities to those performed by the National Action Network, a liberal advocacy group founded by the Rev. Al Sharpton. He said the group has invited both Democrats and Republicans to its events, and doesnt tell anyone to vote for Trump or any other candidate.

Its kind of insulting to say somebody is buying votes, he said. Thats kind of saying someone is selling me votes for a couple hundred bucks. Thats insulting, man. Its insulting to someones intelligence, and it tells me the Democratic Party is afraid and doesnt want black people to be helped.

Ill tell you this much, had it turned into a Trump-bashing event, nobody would be saying a word, he said.

The URC was founded last year by Scott and Kareem Lanier, another prominent Trump political surrogate from Cleveland. While organizers have declined to discuss their donors, tax records first reported by the Center for Public Integrity show the charity received $238,000 from America First Policies, a nonprofit arm of a Super PAC founded by former Trump campaign aides.

Scott and Lanier have said their goal is to educate the black community about White House policies that can help them. At the December event in Cleveland, organizers gave awards to various people, including a White House official from Cleveland and Geraldo Rivera, a Trump-friendly media personality, during which some praised the Trump administrations policies.

They also awarded Democrats, including Cleveland Councilman Basheer Jones. The group invited Democratic Councilman Blaine Griffin, but the invitation fell through after Griffin raised questions about the groups mission.

Afterward, they raffled off the $25,000 in increments of a few hundred dollars to random people in attendance.

The group planned another event in Virginia in January on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day billed to feature Trump himself before it was canceled.

The Cleveland event and the URCs activities, first reported by cleveland.com, raised eyebrows nationally in January after it was reported on by Politico and other media outlets. Campaign finance law experts have said the groups activities could raise legal issues, depending on what was said at its events, in campaign-finance and charitable law.

In his letter to OMalley, West, the Ohio Democratic Party attorney, argued the groups giveaways themselves violate a state law that forbids giving something of value to try to induce someone to vote.

But Ryan Stubenrauch, an attorney and Republican political operative who worked on Gov. Mike DeWines 2018 campaign for governor, called the letter nothing more than a bunch of guesses and assumptions based on things like Twitter posts and reports.

Even if those guesses were true, Ohio law doesnt prohibit people or organizations from providing things of value to people who might later go on to support a certain political candidate, he said. If Ohio law were what ODP is suggesting, every candidate for township trustee, county commissioner, and state representative would be committing bribery when they hand out bottles of water, fans, or any of the political junk that gets handed out by both Republicans and Democrats at every county fair in Ohio.

Wests letter also includes a copy of a report published by the URC last year in which the charity describes its organizational goals.

Among the goals: increase the 8% African-American vote from 2016 by 25% in the 2020 presidential election.

The 8% number matches exit poll data estimating the percentage of black voters who voted for Trump in 2016, West said.

The only reasonable reading of the report is that the groups primary purpose is increasing Trumps support among African-American voters, West said.

Scott said he wasnt immediately familiar with what the 8% number was referring to. He said the URC hasnt even asked if people were registered to vote at its events.

Whatever is there is there, but that has not been an issue in any of our events, he said. We havent even said to people that yall need to get out to vote. Theyre nitpicking, trying to find something they can find.

Dan Tokaji, an elections law professor at Ohio State University, said its hard to tell whether the group has broken any laws without additional evidence. But he said the IRS has been reluctant to enforce laws forbidding charities from engaging in political activity since 2011, when the agency was accused of unfairly singling out Tea Party groups.

The IRS is not a particularly vigorous enforcer on political activity by nonprofit organizations, so I wouldnt especially expect anything to come of it, Tokaji said.

The URC is planning another giveaway this Saturday at the Galleria, at an event co-hosted by Scott, Lanier and Ray J, an entertainer.

Urban Revitalization Coalition

Lanier said the event will be similar to the previous one, just with more cash being given out. The groups website advertises events for later this year in Georgia, Alabama and Florida, but fliers dont reference any cash giveaway component.

Were celebrating urban leaders who have made tremendous impacts in our urban communities, he said. Were just going to be giving away twice the amount, keeping consistent, integrous and keeping our word.

Read other recent Ohio political news:

Ohio recreational marijuana legalization measure could appear on November 2020 ballot

Gov. Mike DeWine signs new law legalizing earplug use for Ohio motorcyclists

Ohio BMV considering allowing online document submission in Real ID applications, following DHS ruling

Proposed ballot issue expanding Ohio voting access laws clears initial hurdle

Constitutional amendment targeting Ohio legislative term limits could appear on November ballot
A Co. Meath woman, who fell on a bus as it moved off at almost zero miles an hour from a stop, has lost a 60,000 personal injuries claim for damages against Bus Eireann.

Judge John OConnor heard in the Circuit Civil Court today that guidance counsellor Jacqueline Howard, of Station Road, Duleek, had walked the full length of the bus to a favourite seat and had not been holding on to any safety rail at the time of her fall.

Barrister Kevin Callan, who appeared with Hayley Tarmey of Ennis Solicitors for Bus Eireann, pleaded in a full defence to Howards claim that she had been the author of her own misfortune on the basis of having failed to take any reasonable care for her own safety.

Howard, who will be 65 this Thursday, told the court she had joined the bus at Duleek on 8th February 2017 and had walked to a favourite seat at the back where she always sat. She claimed the bus had jerked suddenly on moving off, throwing her onto the floor.

I didnt have time to reach for a hand rail, it happened so suddenly, she told Judge OConnor.

I was thrown on the floor and my rib cage and back struck the edge of a plinth on the floor.

She told her counsel she had suffered severe pain following the incident and later had to have an injection into her back.

At times the pain had been such that she had been unable to do anything for herself and felt her fall had exacerbated issues she previously suffered from a back injury.

Judge OConnor said that while Ms Howard was a particularly nice and genuine person who had suffered a fall he had to look in detail at a Court of Appeal judgment that had been handed down by Mr Justice Michael Peart.

In that particular 12-year-old incident involving Dublin Bus the Court of Appeal had held that the defendant had a duty to take reasonable care for the safety of a passenger but stressed the need of passengers to avail of clearly visible hand rails.

Judge OConnor said a bus driver was entitled to assume, unless a passenger was impaired in some way  which could place upon him a greater duty of care than usual  that the average able-bodied adult would take reasonable care for their own safety by using safety rails.

He said that in the circumstances of the incident before his court, and in accordance with the ruling of the Court of Appeal, he had to dismiss Ms Howards claim.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 16:39:21|Editor: huaxia

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ZHENGZHOU, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese herbal medicine producers are speeding up production of moxa sticks made of mugwort to catch up with the flood of orders after the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic.

The herb, mainly used in moxibustion as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) technique for thousands of years in China, has obvious effects of fumigating, eliminating dampness, killing insects and bacteria.

Li Hui, a 44-year-old farmer in Nanyang, central China's Henan Province, has been working at a local herbal medicine firm packaging moxa sticks for nearly a month. Ten sticks are sealed into a plastic bag, and 106 bags are packed in a box.

She hoped her hard work can help victims of the novel coronavirus disease get over the hardship as soon as possible.

Nanyang is China's major planting and production base of mugwort with a plantation area of 24,000 hectares, contributing to 70 percent of the country's total amount of wild and artificially planted mugwort herbs.

"We are selling more than 8,000 boxes of moxa sticks to Wuhan, the center of the epidemic outbreak, every day through chain pharmacies," said Li Yanqing, chairman of Nanyang Huakang Mugwort Products Co., Ltd., where Li works.

TCM medine and therapies have participated in the treatment of over 60,000 COVID-19 patients in China, according to data from the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The anti-epidemic headquarters of Nanyang has designated mugwort products as epidemic control materials, asking medical firms to speed up production. Huakang has been in full production since Jan. 26.

Li said mugwort producers usually started to boost production ahead of the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, which falls in June this year, as on this day Chinese observe the traditional custom of burning mugwort leaves to ward off malaria and evil spirits.

However, requiring firms to drum up the production during the Lunar New Year holiday in January has made them unprepared and short of workers.

Li said with the coordination of the local government, farmers were mobilized to join the work at home, while villages were organized to collect semi-finished products door-to-door and send to the firm for packaging.

"The mass mobilization has helped solve the labor shortage, while giving local farmers' extra income in the fight against the epidemic," Li said.

The company is rushing to meet the first batch of orders of 380,000 boxes of the moxa sticks, which are equivalent to the supply volume in the first half of 2019.

"Currently, the company's products are all for the medical frontline in the hard-hit city of Wuhan," Li said.

TCM has shown positive effects in stopping mild cases developing into severe cases and has been included in the national diagnosis and treatment plan for COVID-19, said Xu Nanping, vice minister of science and technology, at a press conference Friday.

Burning mugwort smudge sticks can be applied in the moxibustion technique for heating the body to boost blood circulation, and the burning also fumigates with the effect of disinfecting the environment.

"The mugwort products are in short supply on the market, but we still sell the products to Wuhan at the previous prices. The costs of raw materials, labor wages and transportation are all surging, which has shrunk the company's profit from 10 percent to 3 percent," said Li.

He said moxa stick producers in Nanyang have spontaneously reached a "price alliance" promising to keep prices stable during the epidemic.

"In the face of a major epidemic, one can not forget moral principles at the sight of profits," Li said.
Chatham Lodging Announces Date of 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Chatham Lodging Trust (NYSE: CLDT), a hotel real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investing in upscale extended-stay hotels and premium-branded select-service hotels ("Chatham" or the "Company"), today announced that its Board of Trustees (the "Board") has set the date for the Company's 2020 annual meeting of shareholders for May 13, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. EST. The meeting will be held at the Company's corporate offices located at 222 Lakeview Avenue, 1st Floor, Palms Meeting Room, West Palm Beach, Fla., 33401.

The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting will be the close of business on March 13,2020.







About Chatham Lodging Trust

Chatham Lodging Trust is a self-advised, publicly-traded real estate investment trust focused primarily on investing in upscale, extended-stay hotels and premium-branded, select-service hotels. The company owns interests in 134 hotels totaling 18,442 rooms/suites, comprised of 40 properties it wholly owns with an aggregate of 6,092 rooms/suites in 15 states and the District of Columbia and a minority investment in two joint ventures that own 94 hotels with an aggregate of 12,350 rooms/suites. Additional information about Chatham may be found at chathamlodgingtrust.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200225005214/en/
The Akwa Ibom government has announced a delay in the commencement of a science and technology park in the state because of the outbreak of Coronavirus in China.

The park, regarded as one of the signature projects of the current administration in the state, is a public-private partnership project between the Akwa Ibom government and a Chinese company, Blue Sea International Holdings.

Governor Udom Emmanuel had said in December during the flag-off of construction that the project would help speed up his economic agenda for the state and provide hundreds of jobs for the youth.

The Chinese company is expected to invest 500 million euros into the project which, when completed, would have a technical university, vocational training centre, and a high tech building material plant.

The actual commencement of work on the project has been delayed following the outbreak of Coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei province of China last year, the Commissioner for Science and Technology in the state, Iniobong Essien, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Mr Essien said the Chinese workers who are to drive the project travelled to their country for New Year vacation and could not return to Nigeria because of the travel restrictions over Coronavirus. They were scheduled to be back in Akwa Ibom in February after the project flag-off in December.

We are in constant touch with the management of the Chinese firm and they have affirmed their readiness to commence work at the site as soon as COVID-19 has abated and travel restrictions lifted, the commissioner added.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised alarm over the spread of the virus from Asia to part of the Middle-East and Europe.

Irans deputy health minister and a member of the countrys parliament is said to have tested positive for the Coronavirus, according to a news report from Aljazeera.

The virus has now infected more than 80,000 globally, killing at least 2,700, Aljazeera reported on Tuesday.
China Postpones Annual Parliament As Coronavirus Spreads in Beijing

2020-02-24 -- The ruling Chinese Communist Party on Monday 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 March 5 in Beijing.

But the NPC standing committee said after a meeting on Monday 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 March 1-31," 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 Monday.

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.

Copyright  1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content February not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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BEIJING - A court in eastern China has sentenced a Swedish seller of books that took a skeptical look at the ruling Communist Party to 10 years in prison for illegally providing intelligence overseas," in a further sign of Beijings hard line toward its critics.

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 June 18, 2016, file photo, a picture of missing bookseller Gui Minhai is shown on a placard beside freed Hong Kong bookseller Lam Wing-kee, as the protesters are marching to the Chinese central government's liaison office in Hong Kong. A court in eastern China announced Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020, that it has sentenced Gui, a naturalized Swedish citizen, to 10 years in prison. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

BEIJING - A court in eastern China has sentenced a Swedish seller of books that took a skeptical look at the ruling Communist Party to 10 years in prison for illegally providing intelligence overseas," in a further sign of Beijings hard line toward its critics.

Gui Minhai first disappeared in 2015, when he was believed to have been abducted by Chinese agents from his seaside home in Thailand. He and four others who worked for the same Hong Kong publishing company all went missing at around the same time, only to turn up months later in police custody in mainland China.

The Ningbo Intermediate People's Court announced Tuesday that it gave Gui, a naturalized Swedish citizen, a 10-year prison sentence. Gui admitted to his crime, agreed with the sentence and will not appeal, the court said.

Human rights groups have repeatedly accused China of extracting forced confessions from individuals it perceives to be opponents of the Communist Party's rule.

For years, Gui sold gossipy books about Chinese leaders in the semi-autonomous Chinese city of Hong Kong. His was among a spate of high-profile disappearances that stirred unease over the central government's growing reach in Hong Kong, a former British colony that has been promised greater democratic rights than are afforded the mainland.

China maintains tight control over all information and brooks no criticism of its ruling Communist Party. It has detained scores of lawyers, writers and public intellectuals. In recent months, police have reprimanded medical workers who warned about the ongoing outbreak of a new virus that originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

The court claims that Gui, who was born in Ningbo, applied to reinstate his Chinese citizenship in 2018. That would mean renouncing his Swedish citizenship, as China does not officially allow dual citizenship.

He was initially released into house arrest in Ningbo, then police detained him once again while he and two Swedish diplomats were on a train together bound for Beijing.

We have noted the reports and are now seeking official confirmation about the case," the Swedish Foreign Ministry said in an email to The Associated Press. We have consistently made it clear that we demand Gui Minhai be released so that he can be reunited with his daughter and family."

The Foreign Ministry said Sweden was not given access to the trial, and that officials there were unable to review the indictment or offer Gui access to legal counsel.

We demand  once again  that we immediately be given consular access," the ministry said.

Gui's arrest has been a source of friction between Beijing and Stockholm as well as between China and the European Union, which said in a statement that it has raised the case with Chinese authorities on numerous occasions, both in private and publicly, including at the highest level, and will continue to do so."

We demand Gui Minhai's release," Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde told Swedens public broadcaster SVT.

She stressed that Sweden will use all diplomatic tools" to protest.

We have the right to gain access to Swedish citizens," Linde told SVT. We have demanded it, but didnt get it.

She later told a news conference in Berlin that the Chinese ambassador to Sweden had been summoned to the Foreign Ministry to reiterate our demand that Gui Minhai be immediately released and that we immediately are getting consular access and also the possibility for a Swedish doctor to see Gui Minhai."

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Repeating an assertion often made by Beijing when its judicial system faces scrutiny, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a daily briefing, China is a country ruled by law."

Gui Minhai's legal rights and interests have been fully protected," Zhao said, adding that China opposes outside interference into its internal affairs.

Amnesty Internationals China researcher Patrick Poon said the verdict demonstrated that the Chinese authorities are not letting the coronavirus crisis distract them from repressing dissidents."

Despite the authorities claim that Gui has somehow handed over intelligence while in their custody, the reason for his targeting almost certainly relates to his attempted trip to Beijing with two Swedish diplomats in 2018," Poon said in an emailed statement.

___

Olsen reported from Copenhagen, Denmark. Associated Press writer Kerstin Sopke in Berlin contributed to this report.
>Third-degree burglary, harassment, second-degree criminal trespass and second-degree criminal mischief were reported at 125 Lee Rd. 127, Opelika.

>Unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle and third-degree theft of property were reported in the 100 block of Lee Road 2201, Smiths.

>Haylee Marie Murphy, 21, was arrested and charged with first-degree criminal trespass.

>Dylan Michael Speed, 29, was arrested and charged with first-degree criminal trespass.

>Amberly Dianne Mezick, 31, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, giving false identification to law enforcement office and five counts of failure to appear.

>Jimmy Junior Santiago, Jr., 43, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and four counts of failure to appear.

>Brendon Leroy Haynes, 29, was arrested and charged with public intoxication.

>Larry Jarome Camp, 43, was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals.

>Santavis Demond Dowdell, 31, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence (alcohol).
Tram strikes scheduled to cruel the grand prix have been called off, after the Andrews government intervened to put an end to the industrial war between Yarra Trams and the public transport union.

Last week the Labor government sought to launch legal action to stop the Rail, Tram and Bus Union from halting trams six times over the first two weeks of March, including over the four days of the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park  the busiest period on Melbourne's tram network.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union members at a rally last year. Credit:Jason South

The government had for months resisted calls to intervene in the dispute, describing it as a negotiation involving the union and a private company.

But on Tuesday a government spokesman said Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne would intervene to broker a deal and the government would drop the legal action in exchange for the union calling off the March strikes.
These two buildings became available and we looked at them and said, Hey, listen, this is a great opportunity for us to form a cluster here in Calgary like we do in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver  and create an environment where early-stage companies and single-purpose entrepreneurs can mingle and work in a community with big and medium-size and enterprise-size businesses, he explained.

Calgarys budding technology sector is likely to reinvigorate the citys long-suffering economy, Allied Properties REIT CEO Michael Emory recently argued.

The tech sector is growing in the city of Calgary [] and it is a signal to the market that tech might be what helps Calgary emerge from this downturn, because I dont think the energy sector can do it, Emory said in an interview with BNN Bloomberg.

There is a lot of vacancy and there is an awful lot of commoditized office space in Calgary.  They accommodate the tech advertising media and information tenants, and they under our management have held up very well in this downturn.

Such flexible, multi-purpose offices will likely remain among the Canadian commercial property markets best performing segments this year, Avison Young predicted late last month in its 2020 Forecast.
A Belfast man was remanded into custody today accused of trying to meet a child following sexual communication.

Nigel Maxwell, 48, was arrested by police investigating alleged incidents on Sunday.

The defendant, of Sandown Road, appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court to face two charges.

He is accused of attempted sexual communication with a child, and attempting to meet a child he had contacted with the intention of committing a criminal act.

Wearing handcuffs and dressed in a grey tracksuit, Maxwell spoke quietly to confirm he understood the allegations against him.

Defence barrister Richard McConkey put no questions to a detective involved in the case.

Mr McConkey also confirmed his client was not seeking bail at this stage.

District Judge Fiona Bagnall remanded Maxwell in custody to appear again by video-link in four weeks time.
WINSTED - Last semester, Northwestern Connecticut Community College launched its new Data Science Degree and Certificate programs. Students in the Capstone Research Project Course are getting the opportunity to apply their newly acquired knowledge using a real-world problem that combines business marketing and data science statistics.

Data Science is an interdisciplinary field that uses scientific processes, algorithmic and systems methods to build knowledge and extract insights from big data. More succinctly, it discovers hidden patterns from vast amounts of data too complex for the brain to decipher, using mathematical tools, skills and techniques.

At NCCC, professors Stacey Williams and Crystal Wiggins, are using the Capstone Research Project platform to have students work with a start-up company, HealthLynxIQ to solve actual business problems that the company is facing. During the project, students will vet the companys business model, focused market segment and barriers to adoption by engaging their team, researching the area, and analyzing real data to produce a set of recommendations.

HealthLynxIQ is developing a health application designed to link patients to their health data, informing relevant use, and providing access at its time of need. This app, Removes barriers that we struggle with day to day and places a person at the core of their care in a way thats safe, simple and connected, said K. Marinka Natale, owner of HealthLynxIQ, who had signed a Collaborative Agreement prior to the start of the course, with NCCC President Dr. Michael Rooke to facilitate the Capstone Research Project.

Our vision is to create partnerships with Connecticut businesses and educational institutions like NCCC to create a healthcare solution for its citizens. So, we are thrilled to have Connecticuts talented future professionals applying their learned skills to a real-life problem, Rooke said.

Wiggins, faculty advisor for the Data Science portfolio at NCCC, said that this Capstone Research Project mimics an internship, where students learn to interact in a business setting, manage deadlines, produce technical documents, and think critically to find solutions. At the end of the course, students will produce a report with their solutions and present it to their client.

The Data Science associate degree program prepares students primarily to transfer to complete a B.S. degree in Data Science or Technology Management. Graduates will receive a background in mathematics, science, data literacy, programming, and general education courses for transfer into a four-year program. The Data Science Certificate provides exposure to key elements of data science including data structures and data sources, programming languages, statistical principles, computing and analytics, data management, machine learning tools, and data science applications.

Contact Professor Crystal Wiggins at 860-738- 6310, or by email: cwiggins@nwcc.edu, for more information about Northwestern Connecticut Community Colleges Data Science Programs.
Harvey Weinstein is facing 25 years in prison after being convicted of sex assault and rape in the third degree, in a New York court.

Time reports a jury found Weinstein, 67, guilty of raping Jessica Mann, a former aspiring actor, in 2013 and of sexually assaulting Mimi Haleyi, a former Project Runway production assistant, in 2006.

But in a victory for the defense, Weinstein was acquitted of predatory sexual assault and of first-degree rape involving Mann, the most serious charges he faced.

The disgraced Hollywood mogul, faces up to 25 years in prisonand a minimum of five yearson the criminal sex act conviction, which relates to Haleyis allegation that he forcibly performed oral sex on her. Rape in the third degree, related to the assault on Mann, is punishable by up to four years in prison.

The verdict by the jury of seven men and five women comes after weeks of emotional testimony by multiple accusers who helped paint Weinstein as a sexual predator.

He was screaming, You owe me. You owe me one more time, as he was dragging me into the bedroom, Mann said, weeping uncontrollably at times.

Mann said she begged Weinstein to stop, but he violently tore off her pants, leaving scratch marks down her legs. Mann said she crawled into the foetal position on the bed and sobbed but that Weinstein raped her anyway. Afterward, Mann said she crawled to the bathroom on her hands and knees. She said Weinstein later apologised, saying: I just find you so attractive. I couldnt resist.

While Mann claimed the relationship was abusive, Weinsteins defense team argued that was not true, showing the jury complimentary emails she often sent to him and calling to the stand Manns former friend who testified that Mann was in a willing, romantic relationship with Weinstein.

Mimi Haley said Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her in his apartment, ripping out her tampon during encounter on July 10, 2006. Haleyi said she repeatedly told Weinstein no when he first lunged at her and tried to kiss her, but she said he eventually led her to a room, pushed her down on a bed and held her down by her arms. She said she considered screaming and fleeing but decided the safest thing for her to do was to stop fighting.

While dozens of other women had accused Weinstein of sexual assault, many of those claims dated too far back to be prosecuted under statute of limitation laws.

The accusers said Weinstein used his clout as a powerful Hollywood film producer, dangling possible acting roles and jobs as bait to get them alone with him. Once in private, they said he masturbated in front of them, groped or sexually assaulted them.

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, president and CEO of the Times Up Foundation, which advocates for gender equity in the workplace.

Weinstein is the second major US celebrity conviction and victory for #MeToo since Bill Cosby was convicted of sexual assault in 2018. The disgraced comedian was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison and recently lost his appeal.

Sentencing is set for March 11, and Judge James Burke ordered Weinstein held in jail until then.

Weinstein still faces separate sexual assault charges in Los Angeles, which were announced the day his New York trial began.

The Weinstein Company was behind movie blockbusters including Pulp Fiction, Shakespeare in Love, The English Patient, Chicago, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and The Kings Speech plus TV titles including Project Runway, Scream, Marco Polo, War & Peace, Doctor Thorne, The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and Mob Wives.
For many travelers, packing a suitcase is a stressful endeavor; packing light, a perpetual fantasy. To help guests ditch excess baggage, hotels are partnering with fashion companies to deliver Instagram-worthy outfits directly to their guest rooms.

Dont pack it: rent it

Last December, W Hotels teamed up with the subscription fashion service Rent the Runway to launch a closet concierge amenity at select hotels, including W Aspen, W South Beach, W Washington D.C. and W Hollywood. Upon booking, guests at these hotels gain access to Rent the Runways more than 15,000 womens styles, as well as an edited selection of clothing and accessories based on each destination. For a one-time fee of $69, guests can rent four items for up to eight days; everything will be pressed and ready-to-wear upon arrival. When checking out, guests just return the rented items to the front desk.

Its great for single-use pieces like winter coats or going-out gear in Aspen that is heavy and bulky to pack, expensive to buy and something travelers wont likely reuse at home, said Anthony Ingham, global brand leader at W Hotels Worldwide. (W Aspen rooms start at $299.)

While the initial concept was geared toward a leisure traveler, the demand has been great among millennial professionals on corporate business trips. This type of guest rarely checks a bag and has the tendency to blend work and play, Mr. Ingham said.
Sellers Dorsey announced today three former senior Medicaid officials from the State of California will join its roster of staff and advisors serving the firms clients across the country. Sarah Brooks, Mari Cantwell, and Meredith Wurden offer critical expertise through their work in leading Californias Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), which is home to the largest state Medicaid program in the nation, Medi-Cal. These three experts are the most recent additions to Sellers Dorsey, which assists public, private, and nonprofit organizations across the country.

Sarah Brooks recently served as the Deputy Director of Health Care Delivery Systems with the State of Californias DHCS, a role in which she oversaw approximately 500 staff across three divisions: Managed Care Quality and Monitoring, Managed Care Operations, and Integrated Systems of Care. Ms. Brooks managed the entire Medi-Cal managed care delivery system, including six models of managed care and 24 health plans which serve 10.5 million beneficiaries. Prior to her work with DHCS, Sarah also served the California Association of Public Hospitals as Assistant Director of Policy, overseeing healthcare coverage issues with a specific emphasis on Medicaid and the uninsured. Sarah Brooks is joining the Sellers Dorsey staff as a Senior Consultant.

Mari Cantwell, a Senior Strategic Advisor for the firm, is the most recent former Medicaid Director from California DHCS, having served in that position for nearly five years. Previously, she was the Chief Deputy Director of Health Care Programs, where Ms. Cantwell was responsible for the overall management of Health Care Delivery Systems, Health Care Financing, and Health Care Benefits and Eligibility. Earlier in her career, Ms. Cantwell served as the Deputy Director, Health Care Financing, where she was responsible for the development, promotion, and implementation of health care delivery systems serving the beneficiaries of the States Medi-Cal program. Ms. Cantwell advises select Sellers Dorsey clients and engagement teams.

Meredith Wurden most recently worked with Partnership HealthPlan of California (PHC), where her responsibilities included policy development and fiscal strategy. Prior to her experience at PHC, Ms. Wurden worked for the State of California for nearly ten years. From 2013 to 2015 she served as Assistant Deputy Director of Health Care Financing at Californias DHCS, where she oversaw major financing, policy and ongoing rate development for Medi-Cal health plans, waiver programs, and other providers. Ms. Wurden is a Senior Strategic Advisor with Sellers Dorsey.

Ms. Brooks, Ms. Cantwell, and Ms. Wurden are the latest additions to the team of experts at Sellers Dorsey with experience leading state Medicaid programs. The firm has welcomed several subject matter experts with Medicaid executive experience, including Medicaid Directors from New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

We welcome Mari, Meredith, and Sarah with sense of excitement on how we can leverage their talents and experience on behalf of our clients and the Medicaid population they serve, said Martin Sellers, Founder and CEO of Sellers Dorsey. These three leaders each possess unique and valuable knowledge, and we are delighted and fortunate to attract such talented, experienced leaders who share our enthusiasm for serving people working on all sides of Medicaid across the country.

Sellers Dorsey believes the individual and collective expertise in Medi-Cal offered by Ms. Brooks, Ms. Cantwell, and Ms. Wurden will benefit our providers, payers, and public entity clients as the seek to achieve important objectives of value, quality, and sustainability in Medicaid across the country.

About Sellers Dorsey

Sellers Dorsey consists of an industry-leading team of consultants and thought leaders from the worlds of policy, government, business, and industry, allowing the firm to provide a fully integrated suite of services to clients. Sellers Dorsey has a deep understanding of Medicaid, having consulted in over 30 states on a range of financing, policy, and operational projects, as well as Medicare financing and policy. Its reputation is one of creativity and accomplishment. Learn more at sellersdorsey.com.
By PTI

KOLKATA: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address a BJP rally here on March 1 with Kolkata Police Tuesday saying it has granted permission for the event, days after the West Bengal unit of the party alleged delaying tactics by authorities.

"Permission has been granted for BJP's rally scheduled on March 1," a senior police officer said.

The BJP had submitted a letter to the Kolkata Police on February 20 seeking permission for the rally, party sources said.

The party had earlier alleged that there was "dilly-dally" by police over granting permission for the rally.

"We have got the permission on Monday. Now things will move as per schedule. It will be a mega event," BJP state general secretary Rathindra Bose said.

Shah is scheduled to address the rally at Shaheed Minar Ground where state BJP leaders will felicitate him for the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Parliament, party sources said.

This will be Shah's second visit to West Bengal after assuming the office of the Union home minister.

He had addressed a seminar on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 at Netaji Indoor Stadium on October 1 last year.

Reacting to the development, senior TMC leader and West Bengal Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Tapas Ray, said the BJP was "deliberately trying to make an issue out of a non-issue".

"They had applied (for the permission) on Thursday and expected that it would be given by Friday morning. This is absurd," he said.

Senior CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty claimed that had the Left parties applied for any programme, permission would not have been granted.

"Had we applied for any programme or seminar, it would have been cancelled right away. But as it is a BJP event, permission has been granted," he said.

West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh had last week accused the Kolkata Police and the district administration of dilly-dally over granting the permission by giving "lame excuses".

"The police is delaying the issue by citing board exams and said we will not be able to use loudspeakers during our programme," Ghosh had said.

Kolkata Police, however, had denied the allegations and said they had "just followed the rules".

The Madhyamik examinations began on February 18 and will end on February 27.

The class 12 examinations will be held from March 12 to March 27.

The use of loudspeakers has been restricted for the examinations.

The TMC government had earlier denied police permission for several rallies of Shah when he was the BJP president.
Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday (February 25) confirmed that social networking sites and virtual private networks (VPNs) will remain blocked in the Union Territory in order to prevent the anti-national elements and people across the border to "misuse" these platforms. The authorities added that 2G mobile Internet services were extended in Jammu and Kashmir till March 4.

Jammu and Kashmir administration said that it has been found that anti-national elements and their handlers sitting in Pakistan are still misusing the VPNs to create unrest in India. According to government officials, the anti-national forces are using VPNs to coordinate with their operatives within the UT and plan terror acts.

The order to continue the restrictions till March 4 was signed by Jammu and Kashmir Home Secretary Shaleen Kabra.

As per the order, all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have been asked to take steps aimed at ensuring that people in the Union Territory can access only 1,674 white-listed sites and not any social media applications and VPN applications.

It may be recalled that the 2G internet facility on mobile phones was restored in Jammu and Kashmir on January 25 after being suspended on August 5, 2019 when the Centre decided to abrogate Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Data services shall be available on the postpaid mobiles and on prepaid SIM cards of such holders whose credentials have been verified as per the norms applicable for postpaid connections; and the internet speed shall be restricted to 2G only," the order said.

"Internet connectivity shall be available only after mac-binding. It is further directed that all those who are provided access to the internet shall ensure that it is not misused for uploading the provocative material inimical to the interest of the state," it added.

The order, however, noted that the access or communication facilities made available by the government by way of e-terminals or internet kiosks would continue.
* 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)
By Ofeliya Afandiyeva

Clean environment is what modern civilization needs urgently. Conservation of natural resources, clean air and at the same time ensuring future generations energy security. How can one combine these factors? Azerbaijan is presently looking for answers to these questions. A formula is being developed that will not only help avoid putting energy security and ecology on conflicting positions but will also create conditions for using the opportunities bestowed upon our country by the nature.

We are talking about alternative energy sources - the Sun, the wind, which Azerbaijan is rich in.

Alternative energy is the future of mankind. It is no coincidence that one of the main topics of the 50th World Economic Forum in Davos was the ecological situation in the world and climate changes that have lead to global warming. One of the ways to solve the problem is the transition to the environmentally friendly alternative energy.

It should be noted that there is no problem with energy supply in Azerbaijan. Even more - in the report of the Davos Forum, our country ranks second in the world in terms of energy availability. Azerbaijan is open to innovative ideas. Today, it has chosen the course towards the implementation of alternative energy, and this process is supported at the highest level.

On December 5, 2019, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree Actions for implementing pilot projects on the use of renewable energy sources.

Early this year, two large companies signed relevant agreements with Azerbaijan on the construction in our country of new wind and solar power plants with a capacity of 440 megawatts. Work will begin this year and funds will be allocated for these purposes through the state. Thus, the generating capacities, power lines, transformers, substations, the entire electric network will fully meet international standards, President Ilham Aliyev said while addressing engineers at the opening ceremony of the Dubendi substation in Absheron.

The contracts that Aliyev mentioned were signed by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Energy on the implementation of pilot projects on alternative energy with ACWA Power (Saudi Arabia) and Masdar (UAE) companies - both have considerable reputation in the global energy sector. Thus, ACWA Power's renewable energy production portfolio is 8,000 megawatts, and the production capacities created by Masdar in this field are estimated at 4,000 megawatts.

Under the conditions of the contracts, ACWA Power will build a 240 megawatts wind farm, and Masdar will build a 200 megawatts solar power plant. These stations are expected to become the largest in the region of their kind and will produce a total of 1.400,000,000 kWh of electricity annually.

In 2018, a memorandum was signed between BP-Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan in order to jointly study the potential for the development of renewable energy. As part of the memorandum last year, a special team was set up in London and Baku to develop a relevant project. BP has already submitted a commercial proposal to the Azerbaijani government. By the way, analysts pay special attention to the fact that the implementation of projects related to alternative energy will contribute to the increase of investment attractiveness of the country.

In early February, at the conference on the results of the implementation of the State Program on Development of Regions, the head of state touched upon the issue of using renewable energy sources. Now in several countries, especially those not rich in natural resources, similar projects are being implemented. Our policy is as follows: despite the fact that we have both oil and gas, we should use renewable energy in order to use them economically and to direct them more to exporting. Especially when you consider that we have plenty of sun and wind, "President Ilham Aliyev stated.

Total economic potential of alternative energy sources in Azerbaijan is estimated at 26.900 megawatts, including solar energy  23,000 megawatts, wind energy  3,000 megawatt, hydropower - 520 megawatts, bioenergy - 380 megawatts. At the same time, the share of renewable energy sources, including hydropower resources, in the total primary energy consumption is still 18 percent. However, according to the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, Mukhtar Babayev, it is planned to raise this figure to 30 percent by 2030.

In general, Azerbaijan will implement more than 20 projects in the field of alternative and renewable energy with a total cost of about $7,6 million. This includes projects for the construction of wind, hydro and biofuel power plants with a total capacity of 4200 megawatts, which will be able to generate 11,937 kwH of electricity per year. The opening of these plants will save 2,986,000 cubic meters of gas per year, and significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.

Over the past 5 years, much has been done in Azerbaijan for the implementation of alternative electricity.

Soon, through the Azerenerji, the construction of a new wind farm should begin. Recently, a plant with a capacity of 50 megawatts was commissioned. The generating capacity of the second plant will be 84 megawatts.

In December 2015, a solar power station was opened in the Babek district of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Today, the Nakhchivan solar power plant annually generates more than 30 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and plays an important role in supplying the region with local resources.

In October 2018, the opening of the 50 megawatts Yeni Yashma Wind Power Park took place on the territory of the Yeni Yashma and Shurabad villages of the Khizi district. Yeni Yashma Wind Power Park was reconstructed by the German company Berlin Wind. There are 20 wind turbines installed, giving about 9 million kWh per month.

In 2019, small solar power plants appeared in the Shirvan and Gizilaghaj national parks. Solar panels were installed with the support of the Japanese corporation ITOCHU Corporation. As the director of the Department of Biological Diversity and Specially Protected Natural Areas of the Ministry Hikmet Alizadeh noted in an interview with reporters, in the future it is planned to transfer other specially protected natural territories to alternative energy sources. This decision is motivated by the fact that the use of alternative energy sources contributes to the protection of nature.

In general, Azerbaijan has great potential in terms of the development of alternative electric power. Particularly great potential is possessed by the sun and wind, which in the country, and especially in Absheron, exist almost all year round. Absheron peninsula is particularly favorable for wind farms. Also in this regard, the Ganja-Dashkesen zone and the Sharur-Julfa region of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic are favorable. Back in 1999, the Japanese company Tomen, together with Azerbaijani scientists, determined that the average annual wind speed on Absheron was 7.9-8.1 m / s, and a feasibility study was prepared for the installation of windmills with a total capacity of 30 megawatts in Gobustan region.

With regard to the potential of solar energy, according to experts, the number of sunshine hours in Azerbaijan is 2400-3200 hours during the year, which means that we have more sun rays falling on the territory of the country than in other countries. Surprisingly, Azerbaijan turned out to be the sunniest country in this regard. And therefore, we can with full certainty talk about the high potential of using solar energy to solve energy problems in the regions.

Biomess can be sited as another source of alternative electricity. This word is associated with the world of science fiction. But in reality, biomass is industrial waste - waste from forestry and the timber industry, crops, municipal solid waste, waste in areas contaminated with oil and oil products. According to experts, the available volumes of biomass can be successfully used to heat houses in large industrial centers of the country.

In Spring, Azerbaijan will host an auction on the implementation of projects in the field of renewable energy sources, the Chairman of the Management Board of the Energy Regulatory Agency revealed in October 2019. The auction is planned to be held in 8 pre-selected geographical areas. Five of them are intended for wind energy and three for solar energy.

The auction is intended for foreign investors and is likely to attract foreign companies in Azerbaijans alternative energy sector.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Prominent South Carolina pastor criticizes outreach of some Democratic candidates to black voters

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Joe Darby, a prominent South Carolina pastor who leads the Nichols Chapel AME Zion church in Charleston, recently criticized the outreach of some Democratic presidential candidates in the state where six in 10 Democratic primary voters are black.

The criticism came just days before voters go to the polls on Feb. 29 and a day before the candidates are expected to make their case to the nation in a Democratic presidential debate in South Carolina on Tuesday night.

Darby, in an interview with The Washington Post, said while candidates like former mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar D-Minn., who are both struggling to attract black voters might blame their struggles on things like a lack of money or name recognition, he believes the disconnect is due to a lack of their investment in the state as well as their understanding of the issues in the community.

I finally got a call from someone on behalf of Amy Klobuchar, who wanted to talk to me. But my first question is going to be where have you been? Darby told The Washington Post on Saturday.

He was also critical of their advertising in the state.

The basic message to me is Hello, Im Pete Buttigieg, and I like black people. Clearly, black people like me too because Im surrounded by them. Amy Klobuchars too, Darby said. Im waiting for dashikis and the Afro wigs to come out.

Darby noted that he has told voters seeking advice on the candidates to vote their conscience and measure how much each candidate has invested in the state.

They know whos been here and who hasnt been here, he said. They know whos alien and whos familiar. They know who fell in love with the state recently and who has history. And I think theyll respond accordingly.

Last summer, Darby also told CBS News that even though Buttigieg has presented himself as a progressive Christian, part of the disconnect with him and the black community stems from their Christian conservatism.

"Black church folks, particularly Southern black church folks, tend to be very progressive when it comes to issues of advocacy, equity, justice, that kind of thing, but tend to [be] socially conservative on issues of the flesh ... there's slight discomfort that I've learned, with someone simply being LGBT," Darby said. "It's unfortunate because he's got a good message ... and he does an excellent job in articulating his faith, so I think if folks look beyond the issue of [sexuality] and listened to what he said, they would probably be impressed [but] I don't know if a lot of folks are going to do that."

Darby, who is also a vice president at the NAACPs Charleston Branch, also told CBS News that faith should be a critical factor in choosing the next president and he believes most of the Democratic candidates have articulated their faith very well.

I think it should be critically important. I think its not a light decision to pick someone to lead the nation. You need someone who has the ability. You need someone who has the decency. You need someone who has the restraint and you need someone who has the foresight to do a good job. I think all of those are things that people of faith should pray about when they are thinking about who they want as president, he said.

A new Morning Consult survey, conducted after Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermonts victory in Nevada Saturday, shows a plurality of Democratic voters now believe he has the best chance of beating President Donald Trump in November.

Sanders has also overtaken former Vice President Joe Biden as the favored candidate among black voters nationally for the first time. The former vice president is still leading among African Americans in South Carolina, however, according to a new NBC News/Marist poll.
The British Steel sale faces fresh delays as sources insist a deal with Chinese buyer Jingye will not be sealed this week.

Ministers were hoping to agree the terms of a 50million rescue package.

But a source close to the deal told the Mail this is partly because the French government has not approved the deal, which also involves a profitable plant in France.

Rescue delayed: British Steel collapsed last May and has been propped up by taxpayers at a rate estimated at 1m a day since then

The source said: 'Thursday was touted as the deadline but there was never any 'drop dead' date, especially during the wait for a decision from the French.

'It's likely to be sometime in March.'

French finance minister Bruno Le Maire is opposed to selling strategically important assets to Chinese firms.

He can block Jingye's deal, which includes ploughing in 1.2billion, safeguarding many jobs and reopening a blast furnace to keep British Steel afloat.

British Steel collapsed last May and has been propped up by taxpayers at a rate estimated at 1million a day since then.
[February 25, 2020] Polavaram Project Progresses at a Brisk Pace

HYDERABAD, India, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As the work progresses at a fast pace, the Polavaram Project site has got a new life with nearly 5000 workers working day and night, under the guidance of experts and engineers using heavy sophisticated technology to complete 3.07 lakh cubic meters of concrete work in a record span of 7-8 months. Taking a cue from the determination of State Government, Megha Engineering Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) is placing all its resources and energy on this mega multipurpose project on the Godavari River. The construction site of this prestigious project has got a festive look with the bristling activity by workers, deployment of heavy machines and continuous movement of vehicles, setting aside all the lull over the last few years. Started more than a decade ago, the project work initially moved at a snail pace, unable to maintain the requisite speed for scheduled completion of the project. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy is very keen on completing this project at a much faster pace. The intention is to stop the drain of Godavari water and help the farmers to get more irrigation water in the shortest possible time. Accordingly, the Chief Minister is regularly monitoring the project work. He is planning to visit the project site on 27th February to personally observe the progress and provide needed guidance to bring further momentum to ongoing work. Mr. A. Sathish Babu, General Manager, MEIL said, "Project work has now reached a critical stage as it is intended to complete the work related to the main reservoir including the Spillway, Earth cum Rockfill Dam by 2021 Kharif season. MEIL has designed a work plan with specific milestones for these tasks as per the target given by the Chief Minister. If all goes on well as the plan, we would be able to complete the targeted work by June 2021. Tasks related to 53 blocks of Spillway are more critical among them; MEIL has placed sophisticated modern technology and required engineering manpower to complete the task at scheduled time. Required arrangements were also made to complete the earth and concrete work as per monthly targets." MEIL has awarded this project in reverse tendering process, enabling a saving of Rs. 628 crores to the State Government. hough the project was re-initiated in November last year, they could not gain expected momentum with unforeseen floods in Godavari River that lasted for many more days, resulting in the accumulation of nearly 4 TMCs of water at the construction site. Roads in the project site were heavily damaged as the whole area got submerged underwater. It took nearly 3 months for MEIL to de-water the area and re-construct the roads for creating the work area. The project had taken a new pace since February as all such obstacles have been addressed.



Once completed, the Polavaram Project would provide irrigation for 1.30 Lakh acres in East and West Godavari Districts and it would divert 80 TMCs of Krishna water and stabilize 13 Lakh acres of Ayacut in Delta Area during Rabi season, apart from providing irrigation to 1.60 Lakh acres through Left Canal. The project would also provide 23.44 TMCs of drinking water to Vishakhapatnam city. Concrete work on a fast pace

The critical spillway of the reservoir contained 53 blocks, each with a height of 55 meters and nearly 2.5 Lakhs cubic meters of total concrete work. It would take 4 days to construct one-meter height. Intensive work is underway to increase the height of 12 blocks every day. By the end of January 2020, MEIL completed 25000 cubic meters, overcoming all the obstacles due to the floods. The work gained further momentum to complete 40000 cubic meters by February. The company is planning to improve the pace to complete 50000 cubic meters of work in March. MEIL has set a deadline to complete 2.05 Lakh cubic meters work during April-June. Considering the complexity of the work when the height increases, the company has placed the required technology to address all the problems. Concrete work of Pears in Spillway Block is going on a brisk pace with a target of 1500 cubic meters of work per day. Basement work of Earth cum Rockfill Dam have been already initiated. The reservoir has 3 critical divisions consisting of Gap, Spillway, and Earth cum Rock-fill Dam. Gap-3 is a small concrete dam with a length of 150 meters. Gap-2 will have an Earth cum Rock-fill Dam with a length of 1.75 Kms. Gap -1 would also have an Earth cum Rock-fill Dam with a length of 450 meters. Lengthwise, this reservoir is the first of its kind in both the Telugu States; it requires a huge quantity of material for concrete and earthwork construction. Tests for Rock-fill Dam While preliminary technical estimates are already completed, Vibro compaction tests for evaluating hardness of sand deep in the river are being carried out. Coffer Dam work at the upper and lower end of the project are completed, which would enable diverting floodwater and avoid any interruptions for the project work with unforeseen floods. Preparations have been made to initiate Gap-1 work related to Diaphragm wall concrete. MEIL targets to complete the project by mid-2021 Mr. A. Sathish Babu explained about the MEIL targets to complete the project, "Spillway concrete work would be completed by June 2020. Bridge work of the spillway would be finished by the end of August, and channel bridge work would be over by May 2021. As the designs of these work are approved, they are being taken up at a fast pace. All the work related to Divide Wall, Training Wall and Guide Wall would be completed by May end this year. The entire project has a total concrete work of 3.07 Lakhs cubic meters. MEIL intended to complete this within the next 7 months, well before the onset of floods in the Godavari. Other tasks like project coating, surface dressing, and road finishing would be completed by August 2021." About MEIL

Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd. (MEIL) established in 1989, is one of the fastest growing infra companies in India. Over the years, MEIL has constructed numerous structures like large civil constructions, oil and gas pipelines, pump houses, large water treatment plants, dams, reservoirs, power transmission lines, power generation units, tunnels - and all of them have an important role to play in improving the quality of life of the common man for many years into the foreseeable future.

For more information, please visit: http://meil.in/ SV Rao

[email protected],

+91-9100136744

MEIL Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1094928/Ongoing_work_at_Polavaram_Site.jpg

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 01:17:44|Editor: ZD

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Protesters set vehicles on fire during a protest over controversial new citizenship law in New Delhi, India, Feb. 24, 2020. A policeman was killed Monday during violent clashes over controversial citizenship law in the Indian capital city Delhi, police said. (Xinhua/Str)

by Peerzada Arshad Hamid

NEW DELHI, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A policeman and a civilian were killed Monday during violent clashes over controversial citizenship law in the Indian capital New Delhi, local police said.

The killings took place in the clashes that broke out between pro- and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) groups in the northeastern part of the city.

According to police officials, the protesters threw stones, set vehicles and shops on fire during the clashes. Several policemen and civilians were also injured.

"One policeman was killed during the clashes today in Chand Bagh area of the city and we have also received a report about the killing of a civilian," a police official said. "We are investigating the matter and soon it would come out under what circumstances the two killings took place."

Authorities have deployed additional police force and paramilitary in the capital city to contain the violence and prevent it from spreading.

The violence came hours before visiting U.S. President Donald Trump was scheduled to reach Delhi. Trump Monday arrived in India on his two-day visit.

The disturbing videos of violence that emerged showed flames leaping from vehicles, shops and buildings. The protesters also tried to torch a petrol pump.

Police have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code (a government order which prohibits assembly of more than four persons in public places) at 10 locations in the northeast district of Delhi.

The police have urged people to maintain calm and not lend ear to rumors.

"Some incidents of violence and arson have been reported in the areas of northeast 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," reads a statement put out by police in Delhi.

"People should not believe in false rumors. It is also appealed to the media not to circulate any disturbing pictures which may further aggravate the situation."

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) closed the entry and exit gates of Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur stations following the violence. Trains will not be halting at these stations.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal have appealed for calm and urged the protesters to exercise restraint.

Protests against the controversial new citizenship law erupted on Dec. 11 last year, the day India's upper house of parliament passed the law. Since then there has been no let-up in the protests.

The law aims at granting citizenship to illegal immigrants belonging to six religions - Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, Parsi and Christianity - from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, it has kept out Muslim immigrants from applying for citizenship.

Opposition parties and civil society members in India criticize the law as contrary to secular principles enshrined in India's constitution as it excludes Muslims.

So far, the violence against the law has killed over 30 people across India.

Until now five Indian states and one federal territory have passed resolutions in their respective lawmaking bodies against the controversial law.

Over 140 petitions challenging the new citizenship law have been filed to the country's Supreme Court.
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The cast of Married At First Sight are making headlines for their antics both on and off camera.

And now the four rumoured couple swaps can be revealed.

From drunken kisses and full-blown affairs to Bali hook-ups, Daily Mail Australia takes a look at the scandals - including one that reportedly ended with a trip to hospital.

NATASHA SPENCER AND TASH HERZ

Married At First Sight's FOUR couple swaps exposed: How this year's season became a den of debauchery, with one person reportedly ending up in hospital. Pictured Tash Herz and Natasha Spencer kissing at Sydney Airport in early November

On Monday, New Idea published photographs of the two women passionately kissing on holiday in Bali, Indonesia, in early November.

They flew overseas together after leaving Nine's social experiment, which was filmed between September and December in Sydney.

Tash, 31, and Natasha, 26, were pictured kissing and cuddling at their resort, before partying at the Ku De Ta nightclub in Seminyak.

Pucker up! On Monday, New Idea published photographs of Tash Herz and Natasha Spencer passionately kissing on holiday in Bali, Indonesia, in early November

Drama: Their flirty friendship reportedly caused tensions between Tash and her 'wife', Amanda Micallef, who both voted to leave at Sunday night's commitment ceremony. Natasha, who identifies as straight, is still technically 'married' to Mikey Pembroke (right)

'They couldn't keep their hands off each other,' an onlooker said. 'And they were getting a lot of attention from others too.

'If you didn't know they were from that show, you would definitely think they were in love, the way they were with each other.'

The overseas trip took place when MAFS still had five weeks of production to go. They were pictured flying out of Sydney Airport on November 3.

Their flirty friendship reportedly caused tensions between Tash and her 'wife', Amanda Micallef, who both voted to leave at Sunday night's commitment ceremony.

Natasha, who identifies as straight, is still technically 'married' to Mikey Pembroke.

MIKEY PEMBROKE AND STACEY HAMPTON

Shocker! Meanwhile, explosive texts published in New Idea and Woman's Day on Monday expose a secret relationship between Mikey (pictured) and his co-star Stacey Hampton

He chose to 'leave' his marriage to Natasha Spencer during Sunday night's commitment ceremony.

And after Natasha forced him to stay, it appears Married At First Sight groom Mikey Pembroke went looking for a wife swap.

Explosive texts published in New Idea and Woman's Day on Monday expose a secret relationship between Mikey and his co-star Stacey Hampton.

The messages, which are time stamped from October, show a flirty exchange between the pair as Mikey suggests a partner swap.

Playing with fire? The messages, which are time stamped from October, show a flirty exchange between the pair as Mikey suggests a partner swap. Stacey is pictured here with her 'husband', Michael Goonan

'If they let you swap, would u do it?' Mikey asks Stacey, before saying he will ask the producers what the protocol is for couple swapping.

In other texts, Mikey tells Stacey how much he'd like to kiss her, and they appear to discuss spending the night together.

In one message, Stacey asks, 'Are you coming tonight?' They later discuss how Mikey left in the morning without saying goodbye.

'If Natasha knew she would die,' Stacey adds.

When approached for a comment, Stacey told Woman's Day that her relationship with Mikey never became sexual or intimate.

'Nothing happened between Mikey and I. No sexual relations. Nothing. I can guarantee that,' she said.

Stacey is 'married' to Michael Goonan on Nine's social experiment.

HAYLEY VERNON AND MICHAEL GOONAN

Scandalous! Michael has confirmed he's 'seeing someone from the show', after it was revealed he cheats on Stacey Hampton with Hayley Vernon (pictured) in upcoming episodes

Michael Goonan has confirmed he's 'seeing someone from the show', after it was revealed he cheats on Stacey Hampton with Hayley Vernon in upcoming episodes.

Appearing on Nova's Fitzy and Wippa on Tuesday, Michael refused to name names but said he has ended up in a relationship formed on MAFS.

But he seemed to rule out dating Hayley by saying he doesn't think she's attractive, leading fans to speculate if another bride is involved.

It comes after Woman's Day alleged on Monday that Michael had a 'secret girlfriend' known only as Rachel throughout filming.

Say what?! It comes after Woman's Day alleged on Monday that Michael had a 'secret girlfriend' known only as Rachel throughout filming

Michael addressed his fling with Hayley for the first time on Monday.

He told TV Week that he and Hayley shared a kiss inside 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.

'We were fully clothed, just being stupid, being loose, having fun, not really understanding the implications of what rumours can do to your life.'

Cheeky! Michael addressed his fling with Hayley (pictured) for the first time on Monday. He told TV Week magazine that they shared a kiss after a night of drinking and 'hanging out'

At the time of the incident, Stacey was reportedly in Adelaide with her two children.

Meanwhile, Hayley 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 New Idea.

'Everyone's had a 16-year-old party pash, haven't they?'

HAYLEY VERNON AND CHRIS NICHOLLS

Trouble in paradise? According to NW this week, Hayley 'got cosy' with Chris Nicholls (right) during filming - and their flirtation resulted in his 'wife', Vanessa Romito (left), going to hospital

According to NW this week, Hayley 'got cosy' with Chris during filming - and their flirtation resulted in his 'wife', Vanessa Romito, going to hospital.

Vanessa reportedly had a 'meltdown' after several cast members had drinks in her and Chris' apartment one night.

Chris gave Hayley a lap dance and, when they prepared to head out later, Vanessa told her 'husband' to stay home with her.

'Things were getting crazy': Chris reportedly gave Hayley (pictured) a lap dance and, when they prepared to head out later, Vanessa told her 'husband' to stay home with her

'She was hyperventilating and nobody could calm her,' a source claimed, adding that producers were 'concerned for her wellbeing'.

In another incident, Hayley was recently spotted kissing her co-star Poppy Jennings on a wild night out in Sydney.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 20:03:50|Editor: huaxia

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A pharmacist boils traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) at The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Feb. 24, 2020. The hospital took the responsibility for compounding, boiling and delivering traditional Chinese medicine to seven designated hospitals for treating COVID-19 patients in Hefei. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

TCM has been widely applied in treating infected patients as it has proved effective in improving the cure rate. Since the epidemic outbreak, the time-honored treatment has been applied in treating over 60,000 confirmed cases of the infection in China.



BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- More than 4,900 medical staff from some 600 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospitals across the country rushed to central China's Hubei Province to help combat the novel coronavirus epidemic.

Five national medical teams of 757 TCM specialists from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and other elite medical institutions had been dispatched to the city of Wuhan, capital of Hubei and epicenter of the outbreak.

TCM has been widely applied in treating infected patients as it has proved effective in improving the cure rate. Since the epidemic outbreak, the time-honored treatment has been applied in treating over 60,000 confirmed cases of the infection in China.

According to the National Administration of TCM, medical expert teams in 31 provincial-level regions all include TCM specialists, with most of the regions having made localized TCM treatment schemes for the novel coronavirus.

In north China's Shanxi Province, 84 TCM professionals from the provincial TCM hospital developed prescriptions for the disease in just eight days that would normally have taken three to six months. TCM practitioners raced against time to produce tens of thousands of doses of TCM decoctions which were sent to patients at designated hospitals free of charge.

According to local health authorities, 98.5 percent of infected patients in Shanxi have received TCM treatment, and 91.5 percent of those who have used TCM are getting results. 
Mercedes-Benz has had a camouflaged trio of the facelifted fifth-generation, 2021 E-Class sedans on tour around Las Vegas, releasing driblets of information before a reveal at the Geneva Motor Show next month. YouTuber Marc Christiansen spent time on a ride-along with the sedan's chief engineer, Michael Kelz, tooling around Vegas and gathering what information he could. We know there will be two engines offered, a brand new M254 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder will debut in the E-Class, and the 3.0-liter straight-six first introduced on the current CLS, both with 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance. The four-cylinder in the video featured a plug-in port on the right side of the rear bumper, but we don't know yet if or when the PHEV will make it here.

The four-cylinder has new features to help save more fuel, such as the new glide function in the Eco driving mode. Up to now, in vehicles like the C-Class and GLC, glide mode decouples the engine from the transmission. In the coming E-Class, glide mode will turn the engine off.

Engineers did a lot of work on cabin and driving-assistance technologies. There will be another iteration of the carmaker's MBUX system, new gesture controls for the infotainment system, and new touch control buttons with different technology behind them. The gesture control camera can tell the difference between driver and passenger inputs, and with dual microphones, voice-control operation can distinguish driver from passenger, too. The cameras controlling lank-keep assistance work different and utilize new programming, resulting in better navigation in general and especially in areas where construction affects the roadway. The automatic parking system graduates to Parking 5, with new sensors, faster processing and parking action, and better camera angles to give the driver a better view of what's happening. Kelz said it "may be quite breathtaking for some."

The E-Class in the video is fitted with an AMG-line steering wheel with six spokes sprouting from a small center; there's clear air between the three clusters of spokes. The wheel still has a bit of tape on it, but Kelz said, "New steering wheels will be the defining new feature of the interior of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class." The wheels also get a new system for detecting the driver's hands.

Story continues

This being a facelift, exterior revisions won't match what's happening under the skin. We can expect a wider grille, twin power domes on the hood, new-look headlights with a new high beam action, a redesigned lower bumper, and tweaks out back. Under the skin, undercarriage changes on the base Avantgarde model lower the sedan's coefficient of drag, while the optional Airmatic suspension has been re-valved to lower its energy use.

Explanations of all this and more are in the video. The banter's in German, but the subtitles are good.

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Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari appealed to all the party leaders on Tuesday to work towards establishing peace in the national capital and not to do anything that causes "confusion" and sends a "wrong message" to people.

Tiwari, who attended an all-party meeting convened by Union Home Minister Amit Shah earlier in the day, also said everyone should refrain from making "inflammatory" statements.

BJP leader Kapil Mishra, who led a pro-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) rally at the Maujpur Chowk on Sunday, has been accused of delivering a "provocative" speech at the event.

"Shri Tiwari appealed to all the BJP leaders to do everything possible to establish peace in Delhi. No leader should do such a thing that causes confusion and portrays a wrong message among the people. Everyone should refrain from making inflammatory statements. Intentionally some people are trying to mislead the common people of Delhi," a statement issued by the Delhi BJP said.

Strongly condemning the violence that has claimed 11 lives in the national capital since Monday, the statement said all political parties should rise above party to restore peace in Delhi as soon as possible.

"The violent incidents taking place during the protests are disturbing. All the people in the country have the right to speak and hold peaceful protests but not to disturb the public in the name of demonstration," it added.

Accompanied by Union minister Harsh Vardhan, Tiwari also met the family members of Delhi Police Head Constable Ratan Lal, who was killed in the violence on Monday.

He expressed grief over Lal's death, saying attacks on policemen and common people were extremely unfortunate.

Former Delhi Congress president Subhash Chopra, who also attended the all-party meeting called by Shah, said he recommended formation of peace committees and strict action against those making "provocative" statements.

Chopra hit out at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who offered prayers at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat along with other AAP MLAs on Tuesday, saying he should make "solid" efforts to restore peace in the city.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Not every home can be protected from flooding as climate change raises the risk of extreme weather, the head of the Environment Agency has warned.

The agencys chief executive Sir James Bevan said, that in a few places, the scale of coastal erosion or risk of river or sea flooding will become so great that communities may have to move.

But he said flood defences worked to protect many people, and would continue to be needed, alongside measures to help communities become more resilient to increased flooding.

The Welsh government confirmed that more than 1,000 homes and hundreds of businesses across the country were flooded in the recent storms.

Sir James said there is also a need for nature based solutions, such as restoring the bends in rivers, planting trees and creating wetland habitats to slow the flow of water down river and reduce flood risks.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 11 January 2022 A couple walk underneath an umbrella during wet weather on Westminster Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 10 January 2022 A jogger passes the Covid Memorial Wall in London AP UK news in pictures 9 January 2021 The sun rises over horses at Seaton Sluice in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 8 January 2022 Riders compete during the Veterans Men's race at the UK Cyclo-Cross National Championships 2022 in Ardingly, south of London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 7 January 2022 A dog looks out of a car window at the wintry conditions in Killeshin, Co. Laois PA UK news in pictures 6 January 2022 People walk through frost and mist alongside a frozen lake during sunrise in Bushy Park, London REUTERS UK news in pictures 5 January 2022 A skier jumps on the slopes at Allenheads in the Pennines to the north of Weardale in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 4 January 2022 Freshly-fallen snow covers houses in Corbridge, near Hexham in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 3 January 2022 Dean Morrison, 13, receives his Covid-19 vaccine from student nurse Anthony McLaughlin during a vaccination clinic at the Glasgow Central Mosque PA UK news in pictures 2 January 2022 Konastantinos Tsimikas of Liverpool with Chelseas Mason Mount during the Premier League match at Stamfrod Bridge Liverpool FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 January 2022 New Years Eve Lasers, drones and fireworks illuminate the sky in front of the Royal Naval College in Greenwich shortly after midnight in London EPA UK news in pictures 31 December 2021 Competitors in fancy dress run across the Pennine tops near Haworth, West Yorkshire, in the annual Auld Lang Syne Fell race which attracts hundreds of runners every year PA UK news in pictures 30 December 2021 Sunrise at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 29 December 2021 The Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, looks at Becket, a six month old red-billed chough as he visits Wildwood Wildlife Park in Kent on the anniversary of the murder of Thomas Becket PA UK news in pictures 28 December 2021 Troops of the Household Cavalry are seen reflected in a puddle during the changing of the Queens Life Guard, on Horse Guards Parade, in central London PA UK news in pictures 27 December 2021 A pedestrian walks past a winter sale sign outside a John Lewis store on Oxford street in London Getty UK news in pictures 26 December 2021 Riders take their bikes through the snow near Castleside, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 25 December 2021 Patrick Corkery wears a santa hat and beard as waves crash over him at Forty Foot near Dublin during a Christmas Day dip PA UK news in pictures 24 December 2021 People stand inside Kings Cross Station on Christmas Eve in London Reuters UK news in pictures 23 December 2021 Christmas shoppers fill the car park at Fosse Shopping Park in Leicester PA UK news in pictures 22 December 2021 The sun rises behind the stones as people gather for the winter solstice at Stonehenge. Getty UK news in pictures 21 December 2021 People take part in a winter solstice swim at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh to mark the solstice and to witness the dawn after the longest night of the year PA UK news in pictures 20 December 2021 An auction employee displays poultry to buyers and sellers attending the Christmas Poultry Sale at York Auction Centre in Murton PA UK news in pictures 19 December 2021 Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 December 2021 Freight lorries queuing at the port of Dover in Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 December 2021 Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan, bursts 'Boris' bubble' held by colleague Tim Farron, as she celebrates following her victory in the North Shropshire by-election PA UK news in pictures 16 December 2021 Brussels sprouts are harvested by workers as they prepare for the busy Christmas period near Boston in Lincolnshire PA UK news in pictures 15 December 2021 Lewis Hamilton is made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 14 December 2021 The Royal Liver Buildings surrounded by early morning fog in Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 13 December 2021 People queue outside a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centre at St Thomas's Hospital in Westminster Getty Images UK news in pictures 12 December 2021 People take part in the Big Leeds Santa Dash in Roundhay Park, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 11 December 2021 People arrive at a Covid-19 vaccination centre at Elland Road in Leeds, PA UK news in pictures 10 December 2021 Stella Moris speaks to the media after the US Government won its High Court bid to overturn a judges decision not to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange PA UK news in pictures 9 December 2021 Camels are lead around Salisbury Cathedral during a rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Service PA UK news in pictures 8 December 2021 Margaret Keenan and Nurse May Parsons, a year after Margaret was the first person in the UK to receive the Pfizer vaccine PA UK news in pictures 7 December 2021 Snowfall in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire as Storm Barra hits the UK with disruptive winds, heavy rain and snow PA UK news in pictures 6 December 2021 A person tries to avoid sea spray on New Brighton promenade in Wallasey as the UK readies for the arrival of Storm Barra Getty UK news in pictures 5 December 2021 People release balloons during a tribute to six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes outside Emma Tustin's former address in Solihull, West Midlands, where he was murdered by his stepmother PA UK news in pictures 4 December 2021 People walk through a Christmas market in Trafalgar Square Reuters UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 2 December 2021 Duchess of Cambridge inspects a Faberge egg at the Victoria and Albert Museum Getty UK news in pictures 1 December 2021 Meerkats at London Zoo with an advent calendar PA UK news in pictures 30 November 2021 Workers put the finishing touches to the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree ahead of the lighting ceremony later in the week PA UK news in pictures 29 November 2021 Home Secretary Priti Patel is greeted by a police dog at a special memorial service for Met Police Sergeant Matiu Ratana Getty UK news in pictures 28 November 2021 Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City battles for possession with Aaron Cresswell of West Ham United during a match at the Etihad during snow Manchester City/Getty UK news in pictures 27 November 2021 Residents clear branches from a fallen tree in Birkenhead, north west England as Storm Arwen triggered a rare red weather warning AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 An aerial picture shows a worker using a quad bike and trailer to transport freshly harvested trees at Pimms Christmas Tree farm in Matfield, southeast England AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 26 November 2021 A shopper browses Christmas trees for sale at Pines and Needles in Dulwich, London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 November 2021 A murmuration of hundreds of thousands of starlings fly over a field at dusk in Cumbria, close to the Scottish border PA UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty

He added it would be unrealistic to ban all development on floodplains, but it should only be done if there is no alternative, and any building that goes ahead should not increase the risk of flooding for other people.

And homes built on floodplains should be resilient to flooding; for example, with garages on the ground floor and people living higher up.

Sir Jamess comments were made in a speech at the World Water-Tech Innovation Summit in London on Wednesday. He warned a twin-track approach of defences and resilience to flooding is needed to defuse the weather bomb.

The Environment Agency says it is spending 2.6bn on new flood defences that will better protect 300,000 properties by 2021 and more than 1bn on maintaining existing defences in England.

Communities also need help to become more resilient so that, when floods happen, they pose less risk to people, do less damage and life can return to normal more quickly, he said.

 Storm Ciara causes flooding in north Yorkshire

Welsh government minister Lesley Griffiths described the damage caused across the region as absolutely devastating for those affected and for Wales as a nation.

A number of flood warnings remain across the country, including on the River Severn, with Ms Griffiths warning that the threat of flooding had not yet passed.

The assembly member for Wrexham told a briefing in Cardiff Bay that the cost of the damage was expected to run into tens of millions of pounds, which the Welsh government would not be able to fund.

Local authorities have confirmed that more than 1,000 homes were flooded, with unconfirmed reports of more than 300 businesses also affected, she said.

Recommended Snow forecast as temperatures plunge and flood warnings issued

Sir James said that the aftermath of Storms Ciara and Dennis was a stark reminder of just how devastating floods are.

They kill people, and tragically that happened again last week. They ruin homes and damage lives. And they destroy livelihoods: some small businesses will not survive this latest blow, he said. Every single flooded home or lost business is a personal tragedy, and my thoughts today are with all of those affected.

Scientists warn that climate change is raising the risk of flooding because winter storms will bring more heavy rainfall in a warming world.

Sir James told the conference that flood defences worked: while so far this winter around 4,000 properties have flooded, defences had protected another 85,000 homes from the flooding that they would have otherwise suffered.

We can never protect every single household against flooding. But we can and do protect most communities most of the time, he said.

But, in the face of the climate emergency, we now need a second, parallel, track: making our communities more resilient to flooding so that when it does happen it poses much less risk to people, does much less damage, and life can get back to normal much quicker.

The best way to defuse the weather bomb is better protection and stronger resilience. We need both.

With many rivers, much of England is a floodplain and it is where most towns and cities are situated  so, with a growing population, the number of properties in the floodplain is likely to almost double over the next 50 years.

England has received 141 per cent of its average February rainfall already this month, with some areas seeing a months worth of rain in 24 hours, and record water levels seen on many rivers.

Sir James said Britain may have to accept the hard truth that in a few places, the scale of coastal erosion and the risk of flooding from rivers or the sea will become so big that it may be better for communities to choose to relocate out of harms way.

Press Association
New Delhi: Three bilateral agreements in the health and energy sectors was made between the two countries during US President Donald Trump maiden visit to India.

President Trump also signed trade agreements with India and said, ''Our teams have made tremendous progress for a comprehensive trade agreement and I'm optimistic we can reach a deal of great importance to both countries. Since I took office, US exports to India are up nearly 60% and exports of high-quality American energy have grown by 500%.''

The US President also informed that both the countries expanded defence cooperation with agreements to purchase more than USD 3 billion of advanced American military equipment, including Apache & MH-60 Romeo Helicopters - finest in the world which will enhance joint defence capabilities of both the countries.

The three MoUs are as follows:

1. Memorandum of Understanding on Mental Health Department of Health and Family Welfare of the Government of the Republic of India and the Department of Health and Human Services of the Government of the United States of America.

2. Memorandum of Understanding on the Safety of Medical ProductsCentral Drugs Standard Control Organization within the Directorate General of Health Services of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Republic of India and Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States of America.

3. Letter of CooperationIndian Oil Corporation Limited and ExxonMobil India LNG Limited & Chart Industries Inc.

While addressing a press conference in Delhi Trump said that the work being done by both the countries towards the healthcare sector is phenomenal. He also spoke about the coronavirus emergency and said that China is working very hard he had spoken to President Xi, adding, ''we are fully prepared to tackle coronavirus.''

President Trump will depart from India on Tuesday evening after attending the grand dinner programme hosted by the President of India in Rashtrapati Bhawan.
By PTI

SRINAGAR: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti's daughter Iltija Mufti on Tuesday said the country has degenerated into a place where the majority's "zeal for bigotry" has dealt a body blow to its diversity.

Iltija, who uses her mother's Twitter handle to comment on developments and events, wondered if the Muslims in India were even wanted anymore.

"Since the last 7 months, India's degenerated into a place where majority's zeal for bigotry has dealt a body blow to its diversity. I wonder if we Muslims are wanted or even belong here anymore. Unimaginable despair," she tweeted.

Commenting on multiple social media posts on why a man who reportedly opened fire during Monday's violence in Delhi was not arrested, Iltija said because he was not a Kashmiri or Muslim.

Violent clashes have been reported in northeast Delhi's Jaffrabad and Maujpur, with protesters torching houses, shops and vehicles, and hurling stones at each other.

The clashes between groups supporting and opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) have also been reported in Chandbagh and Bhajanpura areas of the national capital.

The death toll in the clashes has climbed to nine, a senior police official said on Tuesday.
The head of an Iranian government task force on the coronavirus who had urged the public not to overreact about its spread has tested positive for the illness himself, authorities said Tuesday, as new cases emanating from the country rapidly emerged across the Middle East.

Only a day earlier, a coughing and heavily sweating Iraj Harirchi said at a televised news conference in Tehran that the situation is almost stable in the country."

The acknowledgment of Harirchis illness underscores a growing crisis of confidence felt by many in Iran after nationwide economic protests, a U.S. drone striking killing a top Iranian general and Iran accidentally shooting down a commercial jetliner and insisting for days that it hadnt.

Iran on Tuesday also saw a crucial air link cut to the United Arab Emirates, home to the world's busiest airport for international travel in Dubai, as Bahrain announced more confirmed cases of the virus from passengers who transited through the UAE. The number of cases also increased sharply elsewhere in the region.

Qatar Airways, one of the Mideast's biggest carriers, also said it was essentially halting operations to Iran and South Korea until further notice.

Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour confirmed Harirchi had the virus. Harirchi himself posted an online video saying he had it and that he had quarantined himself at home. He promised that authorities would bring the virus under control.

I wanted to tell you that, rest assured that with efforts of your servants at the Health Ministry ... and backed by you people, the government and all elements of the establishment, we will be victorious in our combat against this virus within the next few weeks, Harirchi said.

On Monday, however, he had offered a far different assessment while repeatedly wiping his brow while standing beside government spokesman Ali Rabiei.

Currently the situation is almost stable in the country and we could manage to minimize the problem," Harirchi said. He also said that "quarantines belong to the Stone Age."

That optimism, while no longer held by Harirchi, also appeared to be undercut by Jahanpour himself on Tuesday. The Health Ministry spokesman suggested it may take at least until Nowruz, the Persian New Year on March 20, for Iran to reach a point where the virus was contained. He added that a more pessimistic assessment suggested Iran would contain it by late April.

"We don't expect a miracle in the short term," Jahanpour said.

A prominent pro-reform lawmaker, Mamoud Sadeghi of Tehran, also said in a tweet that he tested positive for the virus.

The coronavirus has infected more than 80,000 people globally, causing about 2,700 deaths, mainly in China. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19.

Jahanpour on Tuesday said 15 people had died in Iran so far amid 95 confirmed cases. However, experts remain concerned Iran may be underreporting cases and deaths, given the rapid spread from Iran across the Persian Gulf.

A hard-line lawmaker in Iran alleged Monday there had been 50 deaths in the Iranian city of Qom alone, which was denied by authorities.

What do you have to say about those buried in Qom cemetery? tweeted lawmaker Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani. Practitioners in hospitals write respiratory problems as the cause of death. But you know that they are from those quarantined for corona.

While Farahani's politics make him eager to undercut moderate President Hassan Rouhani, his earlier warning that Qom's top doctor fighting the coronavirus also had been infected has proven to be true.

Rouhani said he opposed closing public and government offices.

This is one of the plots by the enemy to shut down the country through spreading fear," he said in a speech, although he also urged people to avoid crowds, including at major Shiite shrines.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. is deeply concerned that Iran may have suppressed vital details about the outbreak.

All nations, including Iran, should tell the truth about the coronavirus and cooperate with international aid organizations, he said.

The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority said it would halt all flights to and from Iran. The announcement came hours after busy Dubai International Airport said there would be restrictions on flights there.

The UAE, home to long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad, remains a key international transit route for Iran's 80 million people.

All passenger and cargo aircraft traveling to and from Iran will be suspended for a period of one week, and could be up for extension, the authority said.

Passengers on a Mahan Air flight from Tehran to Dubai on Tuesday said their flight was delayed some two hours, only to repeatedly circle the UAE city-state, then land and sit for another two hours before authorities agreed to let them off. The passengers, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution, said authorities let them walk off one at a time while being monitored with a thermal scanner.

Emirates, the government-owned carrier based in Dubai, flies daily to Tehran. Its low-cost partner airline, FlyDubai, serves several Iranian cities, as does the Sharjah-based low-cost carrier Air Arabia.

The announcement came after Bahrain said it would suspend all flights from Dubai and Sharjah, a neighboring UAE emirate home to Air Arabia, for 48 hours. The small island nation off Saudi Arabia announced its first cases of the virus on Monday. By Tuesday, Bahrain said it had 23 confirmed cases.

Dubai had been screening passengers on flights from China, where the outbreak began in December. Emirates and Etihad still fly to Beijing as the UAE works to maintain close ties with China.

Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq and Oman also announced their first cases of the virus Monday and connected them to travel with Iran. The UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula, has reported 13 cases of the virus. Most of those were connected to Chinese travel.

Also Tuesday, Kuwait raised the number of its infected cases from five to eight, according to the state-run KUNA news agency. It said the three latest cases involved Kuwaiti citizens just back from Iran. The five previously reported cases were passengers on a flight from the Iranian city of Mashhad, where Irans government has not yet announced a single case of the virus.

Iraqs Health Ministry said four new cases of coronavirus were diagnosed in the northern province of Kirkuk. It said the afflicted were members of an Iraqi family who had returned recently from Iran. Iraq announced its first case Monday in the Shiite Muslim holy city of Najaf: an Iranian student who has since returned to Iran.

The northern region, which shares a border with Iran, is a hub of economic activity and the primary gateway for the Kurdistan Regional Government to import Iranian goods and fuel, and Kurds in Erbil lined up for gas, fearing shortages. The KRG also suspended working hours across educational institutions for a month.

Harirchi, the ailing Iranian official, had the following advice for worried Iranians: Take care of yourselves. This virus is a democrat virus! It does not differentiate between the rich and the poor or official and nonofficial and anyone could get it.

___

Associated Press writers Aya Batrawy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Nasser Karimi, Saeed Sarmadi, Mohammad Nasiri and Mehdi Fattahi in Tehran, Iran; Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey; Munir Ahmed in Islamabad; and Samya Kullab in Baghdad contributed.
Deirdre Heenan is a woman of substance. A former pro-vice-chancellor - and current professor of social policy - at Ulster University, she has, among many other roles, worked as an adviser to the First and Deputy First Ministers, as well as serving for six years on the Irish President's council of state.

Over the weekend, Professor Heenan happened across a photograph of a smiling Home Secretary, Priti Patel, holding up one of the new blue UK passports, and chose to address her directly on Twitter: "'By returning to the iconic blue and gold design the British Passport will once again be entwined with our national identity' ... says the woman @patel4witham of Ugandan and Indian heritage pictured holding the passport made by a French-Dutch company in Poland."

What possibly possessed Professor Heenan, who is described on her university's website as "a distinguished researcher, author and broadcaster", to send Priti Patel such a message? For those who don't use Twitter, or know how it works, including the @ symbol means that your message goes directly to the person named.

It's unlikely that the Home Secretary took any notice of it when it popped up on her phone, because she probably gets hundreds of similarly sour messages every day, but in a week when people were using the hashtag #BeKind in hope of a less-nasty social media after the death of Caroline Flack, it just looked gratuitously confrontational, especially from a woman who is a governor of two schools. More worrying was what the tweet revealed about the Northern Ireland academic's attitude towards Priti Patel.

Professor Heenan's rebuke only makes sense if there is some contradiction between Patel's family origins and her expressing pride in "our national identity", as symbolised by the new passports.

Patel's grandparents may have been born in India, before emigrating to Uganda, whence her parents came to England in the 1960s, but what of it?

Patel has always been clear: "I'm British, first and foremost." Which bit of that is Professor Heenan struggling to understand?

Expand Close Priti Patel with the British passport PA / Facebook

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Priti Patel was born in London and was raised, educated and spent her whole working life in England, and has said on numerous occasions that she finds it "patronising and insulting" to be pigeon-holed as BAME (Black, Asian, or minority ethnic). Now, along comes a total stranger on Twitter to do just that. It's appalling to imply that people of other, or mixed, race are not entitled to have pride in Britain in exactly the same way as every British person. Professor Heenan would not dream of mocking Leo Varadkar's Irishness and was no doubt shocked and disgusted when Lord Kilcooney called him "the Indian". How is what she said about Priti Patel any better?

Interestingly, there was another picture doing the rounds at the weekend of Boris Johnson holding up a blue passport.

Had she chosen, Professor Heenan could have directed her remarks to the Prime Minister, a man with Turkish ancestry, who was born in the United States; but the uncomfortable truth is that no one would ever dream of implying there's any contradiction in Boris Johnson speaking about his Britishness, because everyone accepts that he's British.

So, what is it about Priti Patel that makes her critics reluctant to accept the same thing, even though she's campaigned for Britain to leave the EU since her early 20s, far longer than the PM himself?

However you twist it, it doesn't look good for those who think of themselves as very tolerant to constantly berate and belittle Priti Patel as if she's done something wrong, or needs to explain herself.

Patel already gets more than her fair share of abuse on social media, not least when she was alleged to have threatened Ireland with another famine in the event of a "no-deal" Brexit.

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She hadn't. It was fake news. But that didn't matter. On social media, all that matters is who can make the most noise.

These days, it seems that you can be whoever and whatever you want to be, until you dare do something that doesn't fit into some clever person's preconceptions of what "people like you" should be and do and then you're shamed into thinking that you've done something wrong. If you belong to a so-called "ethnic minority", you're supposed to think and vote in a certain way. If you're a woman, you're meant to hold certain opinions.

Identity should be something to celebrate in all its diversity. Instead, it's increasingly becoming a shoe horn to squeeze everyone into the footwear they were assigned at birth.

People in Northern Ireland ought to know where that leads better than anyone. Even now, Catholics and Protestants are placed under huge social pressure to stay within their tribe.

That an articulate, successful woman such as Priti Patel, who holds one of the highest offices of state, is subject to the same blinkered ignorance makes one wonder how unionists' sense of Britishness will really be cherished in any future united Ireland. Not very much, must be the fear.

Since the election in Dublin, the mood among Sinn Fein supporters has been triumphant. There's been no generosity of spirit, no reaching out. How many of them are waiting in the wings to gleefully tell unionists that they're not fully British, either?

This isn't the first time Professor Heenan has flirted with controversy on Twitter. When dissidents set off a car bomb outside the courthouse in Derry's Bishop Street a year ago, she also tweeted at then Prime Minister, Theresa May, to accuse her of "dereliction of duty" by letting Northern Ireland "bear the brunt of #Brexit", adding the hashtag #DerryBomb.

She was criticised at the time by politicians for appearing to show more anger towards the Tories than those behind the bomb and quickly went on record to "utterly condemn" the dissidents; but, clearly, she hasn't learned any lessons about the danger of instant, knee-jerk reactions on social media.

Sadly, Twitter is a bit like alcohol in many ways: it's addictive and it lowers users' inhibitions, making them say things they'd be better off keeping to themselves.

That makes it a risky medium for public figures to use casually, but they seem unable to avoid the temptation.

Professor Heenan, who's become something of a media darling in recent times, winning magazine awards as Northern Ireland's Most Glamorous Professional and being showered with profiles describing her as "smart, stylish, sexy", is evidently not immune to the fleeting lure of online popularity contests, either.

Is it really worth jeopardising your reputation as a serious academic just for a few likes and retweets?
Morgan Stanley turned bearish on online furniture retailer Wayfair Inc (NYSE: W) as any signs of a turnaround are "not in sight."

The Wayfair Analyst

Simeon Gutman downgraded Wayfair from Equal-Weight to Underweight with a price target lowered from $75 to $65.

The Wayfair Thesis

Investor sentiment is calling for Wayfair to show a stabilization of revenue trends in 2020 while also demonstrating a quick path to profitability than expected, Gutman wrote in the note. However, Morgan Stanley's first-hand checks point to an ongoing deceleration of revenue growth and rising macro headwinds.

Specifically, Wayfair started off 2019 with a 40% revenue growth rate but likely exited the year at less than 25% based on conversations with suppliers. The analyst said the slowdown in sales is broad-based and not exclusive to Chinese-made products impacted by tariffs.

Meanwhile, Gutman says Wayfair has among the biggest exposure to China and the coronavirus as around 80% of its cost of goods sold (COGS) are sourced from China. As such, the company could face "significant disruption" to its supply chain if the virus continues to impact manufacturing. Under a worst-case scenario, Wayfair could face "widespread out-of-stocks" at a time when the market is expected a re-acceleration of growth.

Finally, total advertising spending in the U.S. is expected to grow by 7% in 2020 as all companies look to take advantage of the Summer Olympics and U.S. Presidential election. In Wayfair's case, the company could end p with a return on investment short of expectations due to high ad costs.

W Price Action

Shares of Wayfair were trading lower by 6% to $75.40 at time of publication.

Related Links:

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Analyst: Amazon, Wayfair Big Winners From Impressive Online Holiday Sales Growth

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Feb 2020 Morgan Stanley Downgrades Equal-Weight Underweight Jan 2020 Loop Capital Downgrades Buy Hold Dec 2019 Morgan Stanley Maintains Equal-Weight

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While Barnabas has taken his talent for compassion to tragedies across the country from Newtown, Connecticut, to Parkland, Florida, many who came Monday for a slice of cake and ice cream shared a personal connection with the friendly retriever whose home base is at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hobart.
A shootout erupted in broad daylight in South Harrisburg Monday, leaving more than 70 shell casings in a neighborhood and a bullet lodged in the window of a magisterial district courthouse.

No one was reported hurt in the 2:42 p.m. fusillade that damaged two buildings and three vehicles in the 1200 block of Rolleston Street. One parked vehicle contained a family with a baby, said Magisterial District Judge Paul Zozos, whose courthouse was hit.

Zozos was working in his office at 1300 Rolleston Street when he heard rapid noises, but thought it was fireworks. He stepped out his office to investigate and saw his staff members hiding on the floor.

They told me it was gunshots, Zozos said. They heard something hit the office.

Zozos peered outside and it appeared the gunmen were gone. So he walked outside and saw where a bullet was lodged into the lower frame of a window facing Rolleston Street. A clerk had been seated on the other side of that window.

The same window was hit in a shooting in previous years, he said.

At the corner of Rolleston and Hanover streets, Zozos said there were dozens of shell casings littering the street and they looked like they came from different guns.

It was scary for my office staff, he said. Im concerned for the neighborhood and citizens, including school children and people who come to my office.

Police said they recovered shell casings from two locations along the block between the 1200 block of Rolleston Street and South 18th and Hanover streets. Police also plucked the crumpled bullet from the window frame of the courthouse.

A witness saw several young men running toward 19th Street after the gunfire.

Police said they believe some shooters arrived by vehicle and some by foot. Detectives are investigating whether the shootout was connected to gang activity or a series of recent shootings across the city.

Security cameras at the courthouse recorded at least part of the shootout. The footage immediately was turned over to police, Zozos said.

For Zozos, it brings up the issue again of lacking security for magisterial district courthouses. The Dauphin County courthouse downtown requires visitors to pass through security, including a metal detector, but magisterial district courthouses do not have those security measures.

Id like to have more security, Zozos said. I dont know if the county doesnt have the money, but my staff is very shaken up.

Less than three months ago, a man shot himself in the head in front of a waiting room at a Lower Paxton courthouse. He was in the waiting room of Magisterial District Judge Joseph Lindseys office in the 5900 block of Locust Lane when he pulled the gun around 2 p.m. Dec. 2. He was expected to survive.

The man did not threaten anyone else, police said, and no other injuries were reported.

After that shooting, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts released a statement about courthouse security.

While individual counties are responsible for funding of MDJ court facilities, the Judiciary works with them to support security efforts," the statement said. "In addition, as part of its focus on ensuring safety in Pennsylvanias courts, the Judiciary empaneled a task group led by a magisterial district judge to review security issues at magisterial district court offices statewide.

That work is ongoing, according to the AOPC, which said recommendations from the task group could include enhanced security and weapons screening, funding initiatives, additional training and specific standards and guidelines for offices.

Troy Petery, Dauphin Countys deputy district courthouse administrator, was not available for immediate comment Tuesday.

READ: Felon fired back after being shot at in Harrisburg. Then he was charged with attempted homicide
'You know the difference between being brought up by a mother and a step-mother?'

'As long as Amma was there we had nothing to fear. Now the step-mother is there and we are on the streets.'

Report and photograph: A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com

On a street off Chennai's main business area of Vannarapettai, also known as Washermanpet, a huge banner proclaiming itself as 'Chennai's Shaheen Bagh' welcomes you.

Like the protests that are currently on in New Delhi against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the Chennai protests against the legislation too are led predominantly by Muslim women.

The protestors, who have been on a sit-in protest for the 11th day (as on Monday), want the state government to pass a resolution against the CAA and scrap the National Population Register and National Register of Citizens, but the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government led by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre, has refused to relent.

On February 20, the protestors took out a massive rally to the state secretariat to hand over a memorandum of their demands.

The next day, when I visited the protest street, policemen lined both sides of the road. A young man was writing down the names of all the journalists who had come to report on the protest.

Inside the street, women were sitting in rows, some quiet while others were talking to their neighbours in a low voice. The average age of the women at the sit-in was well above 40.

A young school girl distributed water bottles while another young girl recited the slogans with her eyes closed.

With a loudspeaker showing the way the women chanted "No CAA! No NRC! No NPR!" and then went back to chatting among themselves.

Young men distributed food packets and water, a late lunch as it was already 3 pm.

They had laid a carpet on the street for the women to sit on. One or two chairs were visible for the ones who could not sit on the floor.

Many were sitting on the ledges of houses and shops on the street.

We spoke to a few of them to ask why they were protesting.

Malimi Bi, 75 years old

I am not inspired by the Delhi protests. I am here because I don't like any of these new laws. So many years have gone by and nobody asked me so many questions.

I don't have a birth certificate, nobody has asked me for a birth certificate till now. Those days nobody bothered about these certificates.

I used to roll bidis for a living and now I get Rs 500 pension from that work. I was living in peace, but these new rules and regulations have destroyed our peace.

Saleema, 38 years old

I have a birth certificate, I have an Aadhaar card and I have passed my tenth standard. One column asks where and when my father was born. How am I expected to know that?

Where do I have the time or money to find out details about my father? Even if I found out, how will I get a certificate for that?

You know how difficult it is to get any certificates here, particularly about something that happened a few decades ago.

I am a tailor. I have to work to support my family. I have three children.

(She was sewing a hook on a blouse even as she sat in protest).

Doulat Bi, 50 years old

I support myself by working as a house maid. I want them to take a normal census that they have been doing regularly every decade.

There are too many questions in this new one that they are planning to take. We don't have answers, it is just to trouble us.

I don't have a birth certificate. I was born at home. I never went to school. My parents were bidi workers. They were not educated, they didn't bother about getting a birth certificate for me.

All these years it did not matter, but suddenly it has become so important. I really don't know what to do.

Haseena Begum, 55 years old

I earn my living by packing biscuits. I heard they are building detention centres. What have we done to deserve this?

We don't like all three -- CAA,NRC, NPR.

At our age we have blood pressure and diabetes. Our hands and legs are paining and we are sitting here.

The Census happened every decade and nobody worried about it. During our time children in villages were all born at home. When you wanted to join school, they told you to hold your ear with your hand around your head, you were admitted in standard one only if you could reach your ear.

That was the measurement of age. Now they are torturing us with questions.

The children must have come back from school, I will go feed them and come back.

A middle-aged lady who did not give her name

If Amma (former chief minister J Jayalalithaa) was alive she would not have allowed the central government to dominate us like this.

Do you know the difference in being brought up by a mother and a step-mother? Now the step-mother is ruling.
Hotels in the Middle East reported mixed performance results in January, while hotels in Africa posted growth across the three key performance metrics, according to data from STR - a leading market research firm.



Occupancy levels in the Middle East moved up 8.1 per cent to 73.3 per cent in January but average daily rate (ADR) declined 2.6 per cent to $148.57. However, revenue per available room (RevPAR) jumped 5.3 per cent to $108.90.



In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, occupancy rates were recorded at 63.5 per cent in January, a 31.8 per cent jump compared to the same period in 2019. ADR was down 9.4 per cent to SR600.15 ($159.8) while RevPAR moved up 19.4 per cent to SR381.38 ($101.5).



The absolute occupancy level was the highest for a January in Jeddah since 2016, while the ADR level was the lowest for a January since 2008. STR analysts attribute the year-over-year spike in occupancy to the midyear school break (January 2-18), which was celebrated in December during the last academic year.



In Africa, occupancy rates climbed up 2.4 per cent to 54.7 per cent with ADR also jumping 3.2 per cent to $119.59. RevPAR was also up 5.7 per cent to $65.41.



In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, occupancy declined 16.4 per cent to 33.5 per cent, pushing ADR down 1.9 per cent to TZS246,861.40 ($106.4). RevPAR also dropped significantly by 18.1 per cent to TZS82,661.18 ($35.6).



The absolute occupancy level was the lowest for any month in STRs Dar Es Salaam database. STR analysts note the role of supply growth (up 9.7 per cent) in the low occupancy in addition to a drop in demand (down 8.3 per cent). - TradeArabia News Service
Consumer goods company Eureka Forbes Tuesday said it will nationally launch air conditioners under the brand name 'Forbes' by March-April this year, with patented technology to deliver air free of microbes and germs.

"We call it 'health conditioner' because it removes 99 per cent microbes and germs within two hours. It comes with 'Active Shield' technology for which we have applied patent," said Vikram Surendran, President, Eureka Forbes Limited.

The company has done test marketing for the last fifteen-odd months in Gujarat and Kerala, and based on research, it is going launch air conditioners nationally between March and April, he said.

The product, Surendran added, is present in 451 multi-brand outlets in Gujarat, where it has achieved 2.8 per cent market share.

"Since its pilot launch, the Forbes brand has achieved 2.8 per cent overall market share in Gujarat and 2.5 per cent in Kerala and sold over 45,000 units. It has now also introduced cassette and tower ACs," he said.

The "health conditioner" technology was developed in the company's R&D facility in Bengaluru around two years back.

The company achieved a turnover of Rs 2,300 crore in the 2019 financial year, with water purification remaining its largest segment, contributing about 70 per cent of turnover, he said.

Vacuum cleaners would be about 20 per cent, and balance would be security systems and air purifiers, he said, adding that the category of AC will take time to develop.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jazz at Lincoln Centers 33rd season will include appearances from a wide array of internationally renowned vocalists, tributes to the legends of jazz and premieres of new suites by members of its resident orchestra.

The season will kick off Sept. 25-26, with a program featuring new arrangements of classic Charlie Parker tunes for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and will end with a similar program featuring the music of John Coltrane (June 11-12). In both cases, younger saxophonists will be featured guests.

In between, the season will comprise more than two dozen different two-night engagements at Jazz at Lincoln Centers main stages, the Appel Room and the Rose Theater.

On Oct. 2-3, a quartet featuring Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride and Brian Blade will revisit MoodSwing, an album that these four jazz luminaries released in 1994 (as the Joshua Redman Quartet).
The Bombay high court (HC), while rejecting a plea by an insurance company challenging the order of the ombudsman to make an ex-gratia payment of 10.39 lakh to a Pune resident, held that as the firm had failed to verify if the litigant had put all the material facts on record at the time of issuing the policy, it could not refuse to pay him the amount on the grounds of non-disclosure of material facts later.

The company had challenged the ombudsmans order on the grounds that the man, who was being treated for acute ischemic heart disease (IHD), had concealed information regarding pre-existing diseases such as hypertension, at the time of buying the policy, and hence the company was not bound to pay compensation.

The bench of justice CV Bhadang was hearing the petition of National Insurance Company, challenging the March 20, 2015, order of the insurance ombudsman, in which the insurance firm was asked to pay a compensation of 10.39 lakh as ex-gratia payment to Virendra Joshi. The bench was informed that Joshi had failed to disclose in the data form that he was under medication for hypertension when the policy was being drawn up.

The company, through advocate Asim Vidyarthi, said the failure to answer a material question of a pre-existing disease in the proposal-cum-policy proved that Joshi had suppressed facts and hence the order of the ombudsman should be set aside.

The company further argued that the ombudsman could only grant a certain amount by way of token compensation but had granted the bill amount of the risk covered under the policy, and hence the order should be set aside so that the parties could resort to appropriate remedy.

Joshi had suffered from acute IHD during his travel in Australia and on his return had claimed the compensation for the expenses incurred for his treatment. However, as the company refused to pay, he approached the insurance ombudsman.

Joshis advocate Vijay Bhadkamkar submitted that the allegation by the company that his client had suppressed material fact was incorrect, as he had left the column blank. Bhadkamkar said that Joshi had not replied to the question in the policy, and hence it could not be construed against his client. He further submitted that the ombudsmans order was based on the fact that the pre-existing ailment had nothing to do with the episode of acute IHD which was corroborated by a certificate issued by Dr Shrirish Hirimath from Pune.

After hearing the submissions, the court held, It is necessary to note that if at all a particular question which was material before the petitioner [company] could have issued the medical policy was not answered either in the affirmative or in the negative, it was for the petitioner [company] to have verified the same.

In light of this observation and the fact that the pre-existing disease had no relation with IHD, the court said that it would not interfere with the ombudsmans order and allowed the payment of the 10.39 lakh to Joshi within six weeks.
US President Donald Trump is on his maiden visit to India. The excitement is not just limited to Indians as even American citizens are keeping track of the updates. What may come as a surprise is that Americans searched for what is India and where is India on Google.

Data from Google Trends show a significant spike for the search keyword where is India. Indiana and New Jersey topped the search trends. According to Google, the value of the search keyword in Indiana reached its peak value, 100, on February 24. New Jersey followed next with a search interest value of 92.

However, the most surprising search keyword was what is India. Yet again, New Jersey and Indiana were the top two states to have searched for the said keyword. This time around, however, New Jersey had the highest search interest, whereas Indiana came in second.

New Jersey had a search interest value of 100, which is the highest rating for keyword trends on Google. The state of Indiana had a search interest value of 90 on February 24.

Trumps two-day visit to India ends tonight. You can follow our Trump India visit live blog to get the latest news and updates.
Vanessa Bryant delivered a beautiful tribute to her late daughter and husband at todays public memorial service for Kobe and Gianna.

She began by speaking about Gigi, who she called "an amazingly sweet and gentle soul."

"She made a difference and was king to everyone she met in the 13 years she was here on Earth," Vanessa said, wiping the tears away from her face. "She was a beautiful, kind, happy, silly, thoughtful and loving daughter and sister. She was so full of life and had so much more to offer this world. I can't imagine life without her. We love you so much, Gigi."

Vanessa then moved on to Kobe, who she was with since she was 17.

He was my everything

Watch the full speech up top.
DENVER, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Denver Insurance agency is proud to announce an initiative designed to benefit the local community of Colorado, called " Insurance Quotes for Colorado ". The Denver based insurance company has begun a program where referrals for an insurance quote will result in a donation to the Rose Andom Center & Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute (RMMFI).

Unlike most corporate-sponsored charity drives, where the company tries to raise donations from its customers, "Insurance Quotes for Colorado" donates for you. The process for the Colorado Insurance Charity Program is simple and can be used by anyone. A client can refer a family member or friend to receive a free insurance quote from Denver Insurance. Once a referral has been made, the business will donate $10 to their charity partners.

This is a part of Denver Insurance's initiative to build a community-focused "Insurance Company with a Purpose"  an effort to help improve the lives of people in the local community by supporting local charities who actively help the local community.

Agency founder, Paul Schweger sums it up perfectly, "Denver Insurance already donates a portion of our profits to these two Colorado organizations, and have been for years, however, the new initiative is designed to help others support the cause in a way that won't cost them a penny, while also (hopefully) helping their friends and family save hundreds on insurance every year." Insurance Quotes for Colorado truly support multiple causes at once.

If you're looking to participate, the referral can be made through the Denver Insurance website . The process requires no more than 30 seconds and a minimum level of personal information. A customer simply needs to provide their name and email, and the referrals name and email. Denver then contacts the referral and provides them with a money-saving quote.

About Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute

The RMMFI is a non-profit organization that uses strategic investments to provide support to incubate start-ups for financially struggling people. The aim of the organization is wealth creation through business ownership, and helping individuals bring their dreams of owning a business to fruition.

About Rose Andom Center

The Rose Andom Center provides support to those who are victims of domestic violence. The organization aims to ensure that these vulnerable individuals are kept safe from harm while empowering them to achieve greater levels of self-sufficiency.

ABOUT DENVER INSURANCE LLC

Denver Insurance is Colorado's Insurance! Local to Denver, Colorado, Denver Insurance LLC is a top-rated local independent insurance broker. Denver Insurance agents shop between 33 major insurance carriers to find customers the best insurance policies that fit their needs at no extra cost, reducing their customer's money, time, and stress in the insurance buying process. Denver Insurance specializes in auto, home, business, life, pet, and other custom insurances.

Contact: David Baur-Ray

720-446-5566

[email protected]

SOURCE Denver Insurance LLC

Related Links

https://www.denverinsuranceteam.com


Indian-origin Suella Braverman, appointed the UK's new Attorney General in British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's reshuffled Cabinet earlier this month, was on Monday formally sworn in for the post at a ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

The 39-year-old minister, a barrister and Cambridge University law graduate who specialised in public law and judicial review, said her priority will be to restore confidence in the justice system.

"It is a privilege to be sworn in as attorney general and a moment I will cherish as the second woman to be appointed to this historic role, said Braverman after the ceremony.

"Restoring confidence in the criminal justice system is my top priority. I want to thank my predecessor for his work in this area and his distinguished service to government, she said, in reference to the previous Attorney General Geoffrey Cox.

Robert Buckland, the Lord Chancellor and UK Secretary of State for Justice, welcomed the new incumbent to the vital and historic role as the chief legal adviser for the government.

The relationship between the law officers and the lord chancellor is a crucial one. I look forward to working closely with the attorney on matters relating to the rule of law, which is the cornerstone of our democracy and a major factor in our success as a civilised and prosperous nation, said Buckland.

Braverman's role will involve overseeing the work of the law officers' departments, which include the independent prosecuting authorities, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Serious Fraud Office.

Braverman, MP for Fareham in south-east England since 2015, has been a vocal supporter of Brexit and previously served as a minister in the erstwhile Department for Exiting the European Union. As a former member of the Attorney General's panel of treasury counsel, she has defended the UK Home Office in immigration cases in the past.

Braverman, whose maiden name is Suella Fernandes, was born in London to migrant parents from Kenya and Mauritius with roots in Goa and South India. She studied law at Queen's College, University of Cambridge, and went on to complete a Master's in law from the University of Paris. She is the first female Attorney General to be appointed by a Conservative Party government.




(Newser)  President Trump is taking public aim at two liberal members of the Supreme CourtSonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. But the president says he's only responding to what he perceives as bias against him from the two of them. Coverage:

The tweet: Trump first unloaded in a Monday night tweet from India in which he called on the pair to recuse themselves from any cases related to him. "'Sotomayor accuses GOP appointed Justices of being biased in favor of Trump, he wrote, referencing Laura Ingraham of Fox News. This is a terrible thing to say. Trying to 'shame' some into voting her way? She never criticized Justice Ginsberg (sic) when she called me a faker. Both should recuse themselves on all Trump, or Trump related, matters!"

Trump first unloaded in a Monday night tweet from India in which he called on the pair to recuse themselves from any cases related to him. "'Sotomayor accuses GOP appointed Justices of being biased in favor of Trump, he wrote, referencing Laura Ingraham of Fox News. This is a terrible thing to say. Trying to 'shame' some into voting her way? She never criticized Justice Ginsberg (sic) when she called me a faker. Both should recuse themselves on all Trump, or Trump related, matters!" Unpacking that: As NPR reports, the criticism seems to have been triggered by this dissent, authored by Sotomayor, in an immigration ruling. In it, Sotomayor criticized the White House for turning to the Supreme Court repeatedly, "claiming one emergency after the other," and she said the court has been "too quick" to go along with the White House. "Perhaps most troublingly, the courts recent behavior on stay applications has benefited one litigant over all others," she wrote, referring to Trump.

As NPR reports, the criticism seems to have been triggered by this dissent, authored by Sotomayor, in an immigration ruling. In it, Sotomayor criticized the White House for turning to the Supreme Court repeatedly, "claiming one emergency after the other," and she said the court has been "too quick" to go along with the White House. "Perhaps most troublingly, the courts recent behavior on stay applications has benefited one litigant over all others," she wrote, referring to Trump. Ginsburg: Trump's reference to Ginsburg calling him a "faker" goes back to 2016, when she did indeed refer to candidate Trump by that word and said she could not imagine him as president, per the New York Times. Ginsburg later acknowledged that her words were "ill advised" for a Supreme Court justice.

story continues below

Doubling down: During a Tuesday morning news conference in India, Trump was asked about the tweet. I just thought it was so inappropriate, such a terrible statement for a Supreme Court justice, he said, per Fox News. Shes trying to shame people with perhaps a different view into voting her way, and thats so inappropriate." He added: "I just don't know how they can not recuse themselves from anything having to do with Trump or Trump-related."

During a Tuesday morning news conference in India, Trump was asked about the tweet. I just thought it was so inappropriate, such a terrible statement for a Supreme Court justice, he said, per Fox News. Shes trying to shame people with perhaps a different view into voting her way, and thats so inappropriate." He added: "I just don't know how they can not recuse themselves from anything having to do with Trump or Trump-related." Analysis of dissent: Vox digs into Sotomayor's dissent in more detail. "Until recently, it was extraordinarily unusual for the government to seek such a stay from the justices while a case was still winding its way through lower courts," writes Ian Millhiser. Sotomayor's complaint is that the White House is doing this too often. In an earlier dissent in September, she wrote, "Granting a stay pending appeal should be an extraordinary act. Unfortunately, it appears the Government has treated this exceptional mechanism as a new normal.

Vox digs into Sotomayor's dissent in more detail. "Until recently, it was extraordinarily unusual for the government to seek such a stay from the justices while a case was still winding its way through lower courts," writes Ian Millhiser. Sotomayor's complaint is that the White House is doing this too often. In an earlier dissent in September, she wrote, "Granting a stay pending appeal should be an extraordinary act. Unfortunately, it appears the Government has treated this exceptional mechanism as a new normal. Criticism: Trump is taking flak for his criticism. "This is outrageous," says Kristen Clarke of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, per Common Dreams. "Justice Sotomayor issued a reasoned dissent noting a pattern among the justices of allowing the Trump administration to ignore the appellate courts and skip to the SCOTUS to secure their desired outcome," she wrote. "The slight to Ginsburg and call for recusal are absurd."

Trump is taking flak for his criticism. "This is outrageous," says Kristen Clarke of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, per Common Dreams. "Justice Sotomayor issued a reasoned dissent noting a pattern among the justices of allowing the Trump administration to ignore the appellate courts and skip to the SCOTUS to secure their desired outcome," she wrote. "The slight to Ginsburg and call for recusal are absurd." From the right: The conservative Judicial Crisis Network criticized Sotomayor over the dissent. The group's president, Carrie Severino, appeared on Ingraham's show, and Fox News sums up her argument: She thinks "lower-court judges are repeatedly issuing nationwide injunctions at a quantity never before seenthat is, ruling that their decision affects the entire country rather than the jurisdiction wherein it was brought." Therefore, the White House is justified in turning to the Supreme Court so frequently, she said.

(Read more Sonia Sotomayor stories.)
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak has sparked fear and panic since it started to spread in late December 2019. Now, the number of infections has topped over 80,000, with more than 2,699 deaths reported in just two months. Though the number of cases dwindled in mainland China, this is not the case in other parts of the world.

Iran and Italy have reported a sharp rise in the number of infected people, with the death toll steadily increasing. Italy has a total of 229 cases, with seven deaths.

Iran reports 61 cases, but the death toll is high, with 12 deaths reported in just a couple of days.

Coronavirus disease COVID-19 infection 3D medical illustration. Image Credit: Shutterstock

Iran cover-up?

The Iranian government has denied trying to cover up the full extent of the coronavirus outbreak in the country. The countrys deputy health minister had denied the claim of a cover-up, but a parliamentarian for Qom, the epicenter of the outbreak in Iran, accused officials of lying about how severe the outbreak in the nation is.

Ahman Amirabadi-Fatahani reports that there had already been 50 deaths in Qom alone.

Authorities denied the allegation and insisted that they would be transparent about reporting deaths linked to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Meanwhile, in the Middle East, other countries have reported their first coronavirus cases, all involving individuals who came from Iran, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

Italy facing a major outbreak

In Italy, the case toll has increased to 229, up from just 155 in 24 hours. The epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy has been locked down, with restrictions imposed particularly on Lombardy and Veneto.

While Italy has reported most of the cases in the two regions, there were additional cases in Lazio, Emilia-Romagna, and Piedmont.

Amid the sudden spike of cases, the World Health Organization and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control assisted local authorities in the area. To prevent the spread of the virus, authorities have closed major tourist attractions, suspended classes, and postponed private meetings. Officials urged residents in the affected areas to stay indoors and avoid contact with other people.

Further, transport restrictions were imposed, and residents are barred from leaving the region without special permission. Precautionary measures to contain the virus include active surveillance and quarantine of potential close contacts of confirmed cases.

Currently, officials admit that they still do not know where the coronavirus started in Italy, making it hard to stem the outbreak. To contain the spread of the virus, the locked-down 12 towns, prompting residents to stockpile food.

Major streets, markets, shopping centers, and parks look deserted in the affected regions. Authorities and health officials urge for calm. Crowding supermarkets and grocery stores make the risk of contracting the virus higher. Instead of dashing to supermarkets to buy food, it would be better to look after the most vulnerable people who are at the highest risk, according to Beppe Sala, Milans mayor.

How to protect yourself

The World Health Organization (WHO) reminds everyone to stay cautious and vigilant as the cases of the novel coronavirus increases in other parts of the world. Though the number of cases has declined steadily in China, other countries have reported new cases.

It is vital to protect oneself from contracting the infection by limiting human-to-human transmissionthe WHO encourages everyone to wash hands regularly with soap and water. If there is no access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based sanitizer. Further, everyone should practice social distancing, by maintaining a 1 meter or 3 feet distance from others, especially those who are sick.

When you are sick, stay indoors and avoid contact with other people. Practice respiratory hygiene by sneezing or coughing on a piece of tissue and discard it immediately after. After touching common surfaces, such as doorknobs, grocery cars, telephones, and elevator buttons, among others, wash your hands immediately and refrain from touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

For people with close contact with infected people, and those who have a travel history to coronavirus-stricken areas, seek medical attention right away if symptoms emerge.
Seeds offer a level of resilience to the harmful effects of climate change in ecosystems across the globe. When seeds are dropped into the soil, often becoming dormant for many years until they are ready to grow into plants, they become part of the natural storage of seeds in "soil seed banks." These banks have been thought to better withstand extreme conditions than can the sprouted vegetation that exists above-ground.

A new study published in the Ecological Society of America's journal Ecological Applications examines how warming and increased precipitation (rain and snow) harms the seeds in the ground of the Tibetan Plateau and elsewhere.

"Soil seed banks are essentially the last resort of natural resilience in ecosystems," says Scott Collins, professor at New Mexico University and an author on the paper. "Too often we focus on what we see above ground and base management decisions just on the appearance of the plant community."

The Tibetan Plateau, a place that has been grazed for thousands of years, is an ideal place to study direct and indirect climate effects on vegetation in a fragile environment. The study states that as the highest plateau in the world, averaging over 12,000 feet (4000 meters) in elevation, it is regarded as the third pole of the Earth. The warming rate here is nearly 1.5 times that of global warming due to climate change and annual rainfall has increased in most areas of the plateau.

Because the growing season is relatively short on the plateau, the soil samples and the plant surveys were all collected in one year. Researchers from Lanzhou University in China visited 57 sample collection sites at different elevations and ecosystem types in the northeastern part of the plateau. They gathered 1026 soil samples and surveyed the aboveground plant community, which are composed of the grown plants that reflect the types of seeds dropped into the ground over time. Next, the researchers germinated the samples and grew them in experimental plots to study the growth and what different conditions affect the seed soil banks of Tibet.

While some plants appear to grow well under increasing precipitation and warming, these changes have different, harmful effects on the little seeds that lay dormant and resilient in the soil.

"Climate change effects the ability of seeds to germinate, grow and survive," says Collins. "Although climate change affects adult plants, seedlings are delicate and stress from climate -- drought, freezing, etc. -- can cause high mortality of seedlings."

The study states that temperature is a primary factor in controlling seed dormancy. With warmer temperatures, seeds may be triggered to sprout too early when conditions are not ideal for healthy growth. An abnormally warm spell of a few days -- which is becoming more common -- during an otherwise harsh winter can trigger those seeds to grow but ultimately make them fail. Many seeds might also be triggered to sprout too soon by higher moisture levels in the soil.

Increasing temperature and precipitation can also effect seeds indirectly, by changing the environment around them. Pathogens (microscopic disease-causing organisms) that are harmful to seeds can grow more prolific under warmer and wetter soil conditions. The acidity of the soil can also change, which strongly affects microbial communities and the abundance of those pathogens. Extra nitrogen in the soil, also brought on by changing conditions, allows some plant species to dominate others and leads to a decline in the overall species diversity, which translates to lower diversity of seeds in the ground.

Collins believes the study should compel ecosystem managers and scientists to pay attention to both the direct and indirect effects of global environmental change on belowground systems. "Even when the aboveground community seems badly degraded," he says, "the soil seed bank may still provide an important but underappreciated source of ecosystem resilience following prolonged disturbance."

With continued changing climate conditions, however, that resilience continues to be tested.
The folks at NJ Transit still havent figured out how to communicate accurate information about which trains go where and when.

So why are they wasting their riders money on advertorials?

Advertorial is a term that came to prominence with the rise of the internet. To quote one internet site, an advertorial is an amalgam of advertisement and editorial that appears to be editorial but is actually paid content that is written to promote a product or service.

I got interested in those advertorials after the latest screw-up by the people who run NJ Transit. That came last week after Record reporter Dustin Racioppi did a piece on hiring at the agency.

NJ Transit's chief financial officer, who once worked for Gov. Phil Murphy's inaugural committee, recommended to his brother-in-law that he apply for a job at the agency still struggling to get its trains and buses running on time, Racioppi wrote. He went on to say that the brother-in-law did not get that job but he did get another one, a newly created post that was not publicly advertised.

That story in itself might have gone down as just the latest in a long line of screw-ups at NJ Transit. But then a staffer at Transit sent out a tweet.

We are appalled that personal attacks would be levied against highly qualified employees who are changing NJ Transit for the better. Our customers benefit when people with their qualifications and commitment serve the public, the tweet said.

It would have been bad enough if the author of the tweet was a public-relations expert hired to advance the interests of the NJ Transit bureaucracy.

But the author, Stewart Mader, was hired last year as the agencys customer advocate.

Its hardly a secret that there is no one at NJ Transit who actually advocates on behalf of the customer, said a genuine rider advocate, David Peter Alan of the Lackawanna Coalition.

Everybody said Chris Christie was horrible, said Alan. But Christies people never did this.

Its true that Christie packed the agency with political hacks as well. But Murphy backed the NJ Transit reform package that called for a rider advocate to be appointed, not another p.r. hack.

When he began his successful campaign for governor almost three years ago, Murphy made NJ Transit reform a top priority

"I think commuters have had it up to their eyeballs," said Murphy as he gave a campaign speech on the steps of the Trenton Transit Center in May of 2017. He then promised "an immediate overhaul and long-term vision."

Theres been no overhaul and even less vision. What we saw instead was yet another example of Murphys policy of running the government of, by and for the public employees.

Some of the best such jobs are in public relations. Thats what led Alan to alert me to those advertorials appearing on some local online news sites. One such entry from last September offers the reader an essay by NJ Transit President and CEO Kevin Corbett in which he informs us that NJ Transit Is On Board with Climate Week

Thats lovely. But on the occasions that I use NJ Transit what I want to be on board with is a train that runs on schedule  as well as a clear statement of just what that schedule is. That remains a real challenge, said state Sen. Loretta Weinberg.

I said this to the people at NJ Transit personally, Weinberg told me. If they spent their time and resources on solving the scheduling problems and maintenance problems they wouldnt have to worry about public relations.

The Bergen County Democrat, who is the most outspoken critic of the agency in the Legislature, said the problem with the agencys board of directors is the tendency to circle the wagons.

Ive seen this so many times with boards of directors, she said. You become colleagues and have to be constantly reminded of why youre there. And its not to make the person across the table from you like you.

So much for the disease. What is the cure?

Weinberg has pushed for changes in how the board members are appointed. Id prefer to see the agency privatized. The government of Great Britain privatized its railways back in the 1990s, and on my visits there since I have encountered service much better than that available here.

So has my daughter Molly, who used to commute to New York on NJ Transit and has since moved to London. When I asked her about how the two systems compared, she replied, No comparison. The trains actually come on time. Our trains are a joke in comparison.

Yes, but what about the jobs? Ill bet the Brits cant afford to hire customer advocates who attack reporters.

So were ahead of them there.
Tom O'Carroll, a former PIE leader (Western Mail Archive/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images)

Shocking details about how a pro-paedophile group lobbied the government to legalise sex with children has resurfaced.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has released a scathing report about how the Westminster political establishment spent decades turning a blind eye to allegations of child sexual abuse, with high-profile politicians protected from police action as whips sought to avoid gossip and scandal which would damage the parties.

Part of the report focused on the Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE), which operated between 1974 and 1984 and ultimately campaigned to normalise sex between adults and children.

It was brazen about this. Keith Hose, one of its leaders, was once quoted as saying: I am a paedophile. I am attracted to boys from about 10, 11, and 12 years of age. I may have had sexual relations with children, but it would be unwise to say.

Protesters outside Conway Hall before PIE's first public meeting in September 1977 (Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Though the report found PIE had no funding links to the Home Office  as had previously been alleged  it detailed how the group managed to enter mainstream consciousness.

Here is a rundown of the key points raised in the report.

What did PIE campaign for?

It openly campaigned for the lowering of the age of consent, the report said, and made concerted efforts to normalise and justify sexual relationships between adults and children.

Among its activities was offering support to adults "in legal difficulties concerning sexual acts with consenting underage partners.

How many members did it have?

At its height in around 1978, the report said, it seems that PIE had some 300 members in total.

How did it gain traction?

Tory MP Geoffrey Dickens, campaigner Mary Whitehouse and Charles Oxley were among those who fought PIE (PA via Getty)

The report said PIEs message was accepted as a legitimate voice of an oppressed sexual minority by respected and well-established civil society organisations such as the National Council for Civil Liberties (now known as Liberty) and the Albany Trust (a specialist counselling and psychotherapy charity).

Story continues

Both organisations, in their 2020 forms, strongly distanced themselves from their past associations in evidence submitted to the report.

What sort of things did it say?

In 1975, PIE chair Hose made a speech at the annual Campaign for Homosexual Equality conference calling for a more sympathetic approach to people with paedophilic tendencies.

Protesters restrained by police ahead of PIE's first public meeting at Conway Hall in Red Lion Square, London, in 1977 (Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

The following year, it launched a magazine entitled Understanding Paedophilia, which was renamed Magpie in 1977. This was published until 1983 and, the report states, was brazen in its promotion of sexual activity with children. It included photographs or drawings of children in provocative poses alongside academic-style articles.

How did it lobby the government?

In 1975, PIE submitted a paper to the Home Offices criminal law revision committee proposing the abolition of the age of consent and removal of sexual activity between adults and children from criminal law.

In 1978, it published a booklet entitled Paedophilia  Some Questions and Answers. This was given to every MP and peer in Parliament, as well as media outlets and civil rights campaigners.

Did this have any impact?

The report said: The evidence we have seen suggests that PIE did not make much impact through these efforts, apart from briefly amongst certain civil libertarian organisations and some gay rights campaigners.

Why wasnt PIE banned?

The government discussed this in 1983, evidence suggested.

Then-home secretary Leon Britton decided not to, however, citing legal difficulties and questioning whether it was necessary given that by 1983 its influence had largely disappeared as a result of the criminal prosecutions [of three members, including secretary Tom OCarroll, in 1981].

There was no hint of sympathy on Brittons part, the reported added.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP)  A Roman Catholic priest in Pennsylvania has been sentenced for groping a 17-year-old parishioner and sending her lewd photos and a video.

The Rev. Kevin Lonergan was sentenced Monday to one to two years in prison for indecent assault, The Morning Call reported.

Authorities say Lonergan met the teen at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Allentown, where she and her family worshiped. Lonergan, 31, admitted to rubbing his body against hers in a sexual manner and sending her 20 sexually explicit images and one video.

Lehigh County Judge Maria Dantos revealed during the hearing that it was not the first allegation of this kind against Lonergan.

Matthew Kerr, spokesman for the Diocese of Allentown, said Lonergan was previously the assistant pastor at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Church in Palmer Township and was removed during an investigation into what was determined to be an unfounded "concern."

Chief Deputy District Attorney Matthew Falk says the investigation into the earlier allegation against Lonergan stalled when the family and girl refused to cooperate with law enforcement.

Lonergan was restored to ministry and appointed as assistant pastor at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena in Allentown.

Dantos compared Lonergan's reassignment to a practice condemned since the 1980s: relocating a troublesome priest.

"We are still transferring priests that molest children?" Dantos asked. "If he had been sanctioned and fired, this victim would not be a victim."

Dantos referenced a report during sentencing that described Lonergan's previous allegation as "hands-on molestation" of a 15-year-old girl.

The Allentown Diocese said in a statement that its inaccurate to say it transferred a priest who committed an offense.

The diocese said the statement Lonergan was reassigned after Northampton County Children and Youth  a state agency tasked with the protection of children and youth  decided the allegation was unfounded.

More from PennLive
Two Converse animal facilities are $500 richer today, benefactors of the Mission City Stewards Club.

The city-run Converse Animal Care Facility and the nonprofit Converse Animal Shelter Inc. each received a $500 check from Mission City club members last Wednesday.

Each year, when we have money left over, we donate it to various clubs and shelters, said Corky Taylor, Mission City Stewards Club president. This year, we asked for comment from the membership and two members were familiar with these organizations and here we are today.

Mission City Stewards Club is a San Antonio-based professional service club providing dog show ring steward services. Membership includes more than 60 trained professionals.

Were a dog show organization that stewards all of the dog shows, Taylor said, including San Antonios annual River City Cluster of Dogs Show, set for July 9-12 this year at the Exposition Hall on the grounds of Freeman Coliseum.

Its yearly donations typically go toward medical needs, which are most often the largest expense faced by shelters and facilities that take in strays and oversee dog and cat adoptions. We dont specify what it must go toward, but we just want to make sure the money is not wasted, Taylor added.

According to the Mission City Stewards Club website, a steward is a judges assistant who is tasked with coordinating the logistics of getting (dog show) exhibitors and their dogs into and out of the ring efficiently. Stewards are responsible for the smooth operation of their rings, and the comfort of the judges they are assigned to assist.

Chad Ensign, Converse Animal Care Facility manager, said its $500 will go toward medical needs of dogs destined for transport to another home.

It could be airway bills, it could be ground transport costs, and it involves the medical needs for dogs that are going to be leaving here bound for the northwest, Ensign said.

The Converse shelter has hooked up with a rescue agency in Seattle, Washington, which has a large facility there.

Mellow, a 2-year-old pit bull mix whose name describes her mood, shes always mellow, Ensign said, was one of two dogs that departed Converse Thursday night, bound for Seattle.

I think we have about 20, 25 dogs here right now. Weve sent a total of four by air already and are sending three more by ground this week, Ensign said.

jflinn@express-news.net
It was a dark Monday in Delhi yesterday. The national capital wasnt on its best behaviour and that cost us the lives of people who didnt deserve to die.



As fresh clashes broke out in parts of East Delhi between pro- and anti-CAA protestors early on Monday morning, police officers at the nearest Gokulpuri police station stepped up to calm the protestors and bring peace and order back into the streets of East Delhi.



 Twitter

Little did Delhi Police Head Constable Ratan Lal know that this would be his last time donning the uniform he cherished. As Ratan Lal stepped onto the streets and faced the enraged mob of protesters, pelting stones and showering bullets, he didnt know it would take his life for people to see the gravity of the situation.



Head Constable Ratan Lal was trying to bring the protestors under control when things went out of hand, and he was severely injured in the head while trying to perform his duty, and protect his boss from getting hurt while at it.



 Twitter

Here is what we know about the brave cop who laid down his life for the sake of peace, and duty towards people.



1. Head Constable Ratan Lal was 42-years-old and hailed from Tihawali Village in Fatehpur, Sikar in Rajasthan. Born into a middle-class family, he was the eldest amongst the four brothers and sister.



2. A true patriot, Ratan Lal always wanted to join the forces, don the uniform and serve his country. It was back in 1998 when he joined the Delhi police as a constable.



 Twitter

3. He was posted at the Gokulpuri Police Station and attached to the office of the ACP.



4. He married his wife Poonam in 2004 in Jaipur and the couple had three young children together.



5. Ratan Lals eldest daughter Siddhi is merely 13, while her younger siblings Kanak and Ram are just 10 and 8-years-old respectively.



6. Ratan Lal lived with his family in Amrit Vihar Colony in Burari, while the kids attended Delhi Police Public school in the area.



 Twitter

7. Friends and acquaintances say Ratan Lal was a calm, peace-loving man who hated conflicts and arguments.



8. Reportedly, Ratan Lal was killed near Dayalpur police station during the stone-pelting incident when it peaked during noon yesterday. However, word has it that he may have been shot in the head which resulted in his death.



9. While speaking to NDTV, Ratan Lals younger brother Dinesh said, "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."



10. According to TOI, Ratan Lal was known as a brave cop in his department and had led many raids conducted by Gokulpuri police over the last few years.



 Twitter

11. One of Ratan Lals colleagues told TOI that Lal would always sign up for difficult and dangerous assignments. He added, He was instrumental in nabbing the accused in a gruesome rape of two tribal women in 2013 and in an act of vandalism committed by a group of wrestlers at a restaurant in Seemapuri.



12. Back in his village in Sikar, people are demanding a martyr status for Ratan Lal and that he be put to rest with full state honours. They have also asked for the government school in their village to be named after Lal.



 Twitter

The braveheart and devoted officer has left behind a devastated family behind for no fault of his, and perhaps this should be our wake up alarm to see what we may have gotten wrong while trying to safeguard our rights while taking away anothers right to safe and long life by taking the law into our hands. Violent protests will never bring us the right answers.
A Chattanooga law firm said a law firm in Georgia is using its name and service mark to trick clients away.



The suit was filed by the firm of Warren & Griffin and attorneys C. Mark Warren and John Mark Griffin against Monge & Associates.

It says the Georgia firm "purchased the individual plaintiffs last nameswhich, combined, constitute the essence of Warren & Griffins name and service markas AdWords for use in Internet searches from a mobile telephone."

The suit, which asks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, was filed by attorney Steve Duggins.

Here is the lawsuit:

COMPLAINT FOR INJUNCTIVE AND

OTHER RELIEF FOR WRONGFUL MISAPPROPRIATION,

USE AND INFRINGEMENT OF NAMES AND MARK

Plaintiffs Warren & Griffin, P.C. (Warren & Griffin), C. Mark Warren, and John Mark Griffin state the following as their complaint against Defendant Monge & Associates, P.C. (Monge).



INTRODUCTION AND NATURE OF ACTION

1. This action arises out of a Georgia law firms attemptin Chattanoogato deceptively divert clients or potential clients from a Chattanooga law firm to the Georgia law firm. More specifically, the Georgia law firmMongehas misappropriated and used Plaintiffs names and Warren & Griffins service mark to trick potential clients into contacting and then retaining the Georgia law firm. Monge has perpetuated its trickery and deceit upon unsuspecting accident or injury victims while such victims were attempting and intending to contact or obtain information from Warren & Griffin, the Chattanooga law firm. Monges scheme involves diverting clients or potential clients to itself from Warren & Griffin by purchasing the individual plaintiffs last nameswhich, combined, constitute the essence of Warren & Griffins name and service markas AdWords for use in Internet searches from a mobile telephone.

2. As a result of Monges misappropriation and use of C. Mark Warrens name, of John Mark Griffins name, and Warren & Griffins name and service mark, when a potential client searches for Warren Griffin, Warren & Griffin, or Warren and Griffin on the Internet through his or her mobile telephone, the top result that appears on the mobile telephone screen presents a telephone number for Monge, but in a context in which the client or potential client can naturally assume that the telephone number is Warren & Griffins telephone number. A client or potential client wanting to call that number only may do so simply by clicking that number. And having specifically searched for Warren & Griffin, Warren and Griffin, or Warren Griffin, it is natural for the potential client to assume that the telephone number appearing on his or her mobile telephone screen in response to that search is indeed Warren & Griffins telephone number, but it isnt.

3. Furthermore, the Monge telephone number that appears on the mobile telephone screen in response to a search for Warren & Griffin, Warren and Griffin, or Warren Griffin has a 423 area code, thereby suggesting to the reader that the telephone is a local number when it really isnt.

4. Monges use of a telephone number with a 423 area codedespite not having an office within the geographical territory which has the 423 area codeis part of Monges deceptive scheme aimed at diverting Warren & Griffins clients or potential clients to Monge by causing them to call a Monge telephone number when they thought they were trying to call a Warren & Griffin number.

5. To make matters worse, if a Warren & Griffin client or potential client hangs up after calling the Monge number, Monge calls the client or potential client back from a number that both: (a) begins with a 423 area code, and (b) ends with the same last four digits of Warren & Griffins telephone number4878 (which can also spell hurt as featured in Warren & Griffins advertising).

6. Monges actions constitute (a) a violation of the Personal Rights Protection Act of 1984; (b) trademark infringement and unfair competition in violation of the Tennessee Trade Mark Act of 2000; (c) unfair and deceptive trade practices in violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act; and (d) intentional interference with prospective business relationships.

PARTIES, JURISDICTION AND VENUE

7. Plaintiff Warren & Griffin, P.C. is a Tennessee professional corporation with its principal office and place of business in Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee.

8. Plaintiff C. Mark Warren is an individual, a resident of Hamilton County, Tennessee, and a principal of Warren & Griffin, P.C.

9. Plaintiff John Mark Griffin is an individual, a resident of Hamilton County, Tennessee, and a principal of Warren & Griffin, P.C.

10. Defendant Monge & Associates, P.C. is a Georgia professional corporation with its principal office and place of business in Atlanta, Georgia.

11. Despite being a corporation that practices law in Tennessee, Monge has not qualified to do business in Tennessee.

12. Despite being a corporation that practices law in Tennessee, Monge has not established, reported or registered a registered agent for service of process in Tennessee.

13. Monge has reported for public record that it may be served through its registered agent, Corporate Creations Network Inc., 2985 Gordy Parkway, 1st Floor, Marietta, GA, 30066.

14. Upon information and belief, Monge does not maintain any office in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

15. Upon information and belief, Monge does not maintain any office in Tennessee.

16. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this case because it involves a claim for violation of the Personal Rights Protection Act of 1984, of the Tennessee Trade Mark Act of 2000, of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, and for intentional interference with prospective business relationships.

17. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendant Monge because this action arises out of Monges wrongful use and misappropriation of Plaintiffs names and of Warren & Griffins service mark in Hamilton County, Tennessee.

18. This Court further has personal jurisdiction over Monge because this action arises out of Monges wrongful diversion of Warren & Griffins potential clients who live in Hamilton County, Tennessee. More specifically, this action arises from Monge deceitfully misdirecting Hamilton County residents and other persons to Monge when such persons are attempting to contact or obtain information from Warren & Griffin in Hamilton County, Tennessee.

19. This Court also has personal jurisdiction over Monge because it conducts business in Hamilton County, Tennessee.

20. Venue is proper in this Court because this case arises out of Defendants actions in Hamilton County, Tennessee and because Plaintiffs cause of action arose in Hamilton County, Tennessee. Facts described in preceding paragraphs further establish that venue is proper in this Court.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

21. Warren & Griffin, P.C. was formally established as a professional corporation in the State of Tennessee in 2008 although the principals of the firmC. Mark Warren and John Mark Griffinpracticed together in a partnership known as Warren & Griffin many years before the formal founding of the professional corporation.

22. Warren & Griffin is one of the largest personal injury law firms in the region.

23. Warren & Griffins principal office is located in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, essentially across the street from Hamilton County Courthouse.

24. Since its founding in 2008, Warren & Griffin has continuously used the Warren & Griffin name and service mark in connection with the offering and provision of personal injury legal services.

25. Since the firms founding in 2008, the Warren & Griffin name and mark has been associated continuously with the legal services offered and provided by the Warren & Griffin law firm.

26. The Warren & Griffin name and mark consist primarily of the last names of the two principals of Warren & GriffinC. Mark Warren and John Mark Griffin.

27. C. Mark Warren and John Mark Griffin initially used their last names to identify and advertise their personal injury law practice that operated as a partnership for many years prior to February of 2008 when they converted their partnership into a professional corporation.

28. Upon converting their partnership into a professional corporation in 2008, C. Mark Warren and John Mark Griffin continued to use their last namescombinedas the primary identifier of their law practice and legal services.

29. Warren & Griffin has extensively advertised and promoted the Warren & Griffin name and mark in Hamilton County, Tennessee and the surrounding region.

30. The Warren & Griffin name and mark are inherently distinctive.

31. As a result of its long-standing, exclusive and continuing use of the Warren & Griffin mark, the Warren & Griffin law firm has achieved and obtained substantial goodwill in connection with the mark.

32. Warren & Griffin has an established and well-known presence in the community.

33. Warren & Griffin is one of the most well-known, respected and sought-after personal injury law firms in the region.

34. The Warren & Griffin name and service mark has come to represent the valuable reputation and goodwill of the Warren & Griffin law firm as a law firm focused on personal injury law and with extensive personal injury law experience.

35. The Warren & Griffin name and service mark has come to represent the valuable reputation and goodwill of the Warren & Griffin law firm as a law firm that provides high-quality legal representation to persons who have been injured.

36. The Warren & Griffin law firms use of the Warren & Griffin name and service mark has been continuous, open, well-publicized and well-known.

37. Monge is also a personal injury law firm but is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

38. Monge has no ownership rights in the Warren & Griffin mark and name.

39. Monge is familiar with Warren & Griffin.

40. Monge is a direct competitor of Warren & Griffin.

41. Monge is familiar with Warren & Griffins ownership and use of the Warren & Griffin mark and name.

42. Monge is familiar with the fact that the Warren & Griffin mark is associated with the personal injury legal services offered and provided by the Warren & Griffin law firm.

43. Monge is familiar with the fact that injured victims in the Chattanooga region may use the Warren and Griffin names and the Warren & Griffin name or mark when using their mobile telephones to seek legal representation.

44. Monge is familiar with the fact that Warren and Griffin are the last names of the two principals of Warren & Griffin.

45. Intending to use and trade off of the Warren and Griffin names and the Warren & Griffin name and mark as well as the reputation and goodwill associated with those names and mark, Monge has purchased Warren and Griffin as AdWords for searches on mobile devices.

46. As a result of Monges use of the Warren and Griffin names and Warren & Griffin name or mark (or close variations of that name and mark) in its advertising, persons searching for Warren Griffin, Warren and Griffin, or Warren & Griffin from their mobile telephone are first presented with a link to a Monge telephone number that deceptively appears to be a local number for Chattanooga and surrounding areas in Tennessee.

47. In other words, a search for Warren Griffin, Warren and Griffin, or Warren & Griffin initially directs the user and potential client to call Monge and thereby directs the user and potential client toward a competitor of Warren & Griffin.

48. Likewise, a search for Warren Griffin, Warren and Griffin, or Warren & Griffin initially directs the user and potential client to call Monge and thereby directs the user and potential client toward services that compete with the services offered by Warren & Griffin.

49. Monges use of the Warren and Griffin names and the Warren & Griffin name and mark for its advertising naturally tends to cause confusion and mistake in the marketplace for persons seeking legal representation for a personal injury.

50. Any further use of the Warren and Griffin names and the Warren & Griffin name and mark by Monge for its advertising is likely to continue to cause confusion or mistake.

51. Monges further use of the Warren and Griffin names and the Warren & Griffin name and mark for its advertising would be likely to deceive consumers as to the origin, sponsorship, affiliation or endorsement of Monges services.

52. Monges competitive services are targeted toward essentially the same potential client base as are Warren & Griffins services.

53. Mr. Warren, Mr. Griffin, and Warren & Griffin have not authorized Monge to use the Warren and Griffin names or the Warren & Griffin name or mark in any way, form or variation.

54. Clients or potential clients looking for Warren & Griffins servicesor for the services of Mr. Warren or Mr. Griffinwould likely believe, at least initially, that the search results they receive upon searching for Warren Griffin, Warren and Griffin, or Warren & Griffin will lead themupon clicking a telephone number produced in response to the searchto the Warren & Griffin law firm.

55. Monges offering of services in connection with the Warren and Griffin names or the Warren & Griffin name and mark improperly trade off of the goodwill that Mr. Warren, Mr. Griffin, and the Warren & Griffin law firm have established in the Warren and Griffin names and the Warren & Griffin name and mark.

56. Monge is trading off the Warren and Griffin names and the Warren & Griffin name and mark in order to improperly attract clients to Monges competitive services.

57. Once a client or potential client clicks or calls the Monge telephone number, the client or potential client may continue communicating with Monge representatives even if and when the client or potential client eventually discovers that he or she is dealing with Monge rather than Warren & Griffin as originally intended.

58. As a result, the client or potential client may also end up retaining Monges services rather than Warren & Griffins services as initially intended.

59. Consequently, the initial confusion and misdirection caused by Monges use of the Warren and Griffin names and the Warren & Griffin name and mark causes harm to Mr. Warren, Mr. Griffin and the Warren & Griffin law firm even if the consumer eventually discovers the misdirection.

60. Through these same acts of deceit and misdirection, Monge has also weakened the association of the Warren & Griffin mark with the Warren & Griffin law firm and the legal services they provide.

61. Despite having knowledge of Warren & Griffins mark, Monge has offered services through the use of the Warren & Griffin name and mark (or a very similar derivative) in direct, complete and willful disregard of Warren & Griffins rights and through direct attempts to mislead, deceive and misdirect the consuming public.

62. Monge has intentionally sought to deceive consumers and to cause confusion among consumers for the purpose of misappropriating and benefiting from the goodwill and public recognition associated with the Warren & Griffin name and mark.

63. Likewise, Monge has intentionally sought to deceive consumers and to cause confusion among consumers for the purpose of misappropriating and benefitting from the goodwill and public recognition associated with the Warren and Griffin names.

64. Monge has intentionally sought to deceive consumers and to cause confusion among consumers for the purpose of diverting consumers from Warren & Griffin to Monge.

65. Monge has intentionally sought to deceive consumers and to cause confusion among consumers for the purpose of diverting consumers from the legal services offered by Mr. Warren and Mr. Griffin.

66. Monges actions as described above have caused harm to Warren & Griffin, to Mr. Warren, and to Mr. Griffin.

67. Unless restrained and enjoined, Monge will continue to cause irreparable harm to Warren & Griffin, to Mr. Warren, and to Mr. Griffin.

COUNT 1  VIOLATION OF PERSONAL RIGHTS PROTECTION ACT

68. All preceding allegations are adopted and incorporated by reference as if fully restated herein.

69. Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann.  47-25-1103, Mr. Warren has a property right in the use of his name.

70. Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann.  47-25-1103, Mr. Griffin has a property right in the use of his name.

71. Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann.  47-25-1103, Mr. Warren and Mr. Griffin have a property right in their ability to use their names together to promote and publicize their legal services.

72. Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann.  47-25-1105, [a]ny person who knowingly uses or infringes upon the use of another individual's name . . . in any manner directed to any person other than such individual, as an item of commerce for purposes of advertising . . . services, or for purposes of . . . solicitation of . . . services, without such individual's prior consent, shall be liable to a civil action.

73. Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann.  47-25-1105, any person who commits unauthorized use of another individuals name in violation Tenn. Code Ann.  47-25-1105 commits a Class A misdemeanor.

74. Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann.  47-25-1102(4), a law firm can be considered a person for purposes of Tenn. Code Ann.  47-25-1105 and can therefore be liable for unauthorized use of another individuals name.

75. Monge is a person as that term is defined in Tenn. Code Ann.  47-25-1102(4).

76. Monge is a person as that term is used in Tenn. Code Ann.  47-25-1105.

77. Monge has knowingly used, and unless enjoined, will continue to use Mr. Warrens name in a manner directed to persons other than Mr. Warren and as an item of commerce for purposes of advertising or soliciting services without Mr. Warrens consent.

78. Monge has knowingly used, and unless enjoined, will continue to use Mr. Griffins name in a manner directed to persons other than Mr. Griffin and as an item of commerce for purposes of advertising or soliciting services without Mr. Griffins consent.

79. Monge has knowingly infringed, and unless enjoined, will continue to infringe upon the use of Mr. Warrens name in a manner directed to persons other than Mr. Warren and as an item of commerce for purposes of advertising or soliciting services without Mr. Warrens consent.

80. Monge has knowingly infringed, and unless enjoined, will continue to infringe upon the use of Mr. Griffins name in a manner directed to persons other than Mr. Griffin and as an item of commerce for purposes of advertising or soliciting services without Mr. Griffins consent.

81. Monge has knowingly used, and unless enjoined, will continue to use Mr. Warren and Mr. Griffins names together and in a manner directed to persons other than Mr. Warren and Mr. Griffin and as an item of commerce for purposes of advertising or soliciting services without Mr. Warrens and Mr. Griffins consent.

82. Monge has knowingly infringed, and unless enjoined, will continue to infringe upon the use of Mr. Warren and Mr. Griffins names together and in a manner directed to persons other than Mr. Warren and Mr. Griffin and as an item of commerce for purposes of advertising or soliciting services without Mr. Warrens and Mr. Griffins consent.

83. Tenn. Code Ann.  47-25-1106 expressly authorizes courts to grant injunctions on such terms as it may deem reasonable to prevent or restrain the unauthorized use of an individual's name.

84. Mr. Warren and Mr. Griffin are entitled to an injunction preventing and restraining Monge from using Mr. Warrens and Mr. Griffins names.

85. Tenn. Code Ann.  47-25-1106 further provides that an individual is entitled to recover the actual damages suffered as a result of the knowing use or infringement of such individual's rights and any profits that are attributable to such use or infringement which are not taken into account in computing the actual damages.

86. Mr. Warren and Mr. Griffin are entitled to recover damages from Monge pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann.  47-25-1106.

87. Mr. Warren and Mr. Griffin are entitled to recover any profits that are attributable to Monges use of and infringement upon Mr. Warrens and Mr. Griffins names.

COUNT 2  STATE SERVICE MARK AND TRADE NAME INFRINGEMENT

88. All preceding allegations are adopted and incorporated by reference as if fully restated herein.

89. Warren & Griffin has registered the Warren & Griffin service mark with the State of Tennessee.

90. Prior to formal registration of the mark, Warren & Griffin had common law service mark rights in the Warren & Griffin mark.

91. The Warren & Griffin mark is famous within the meaning of Tenn. Code Ann.  47-25-513.

92. Warren & Griffin is also the trade name by which Warren & Griffin identifies its business and services as well as the vocation of its attorneys.

93. Monges use of the Warren & Griffin service mark and trade name infringes upon Warren & Griffins rights under the Tennessee Trade Mark Act of 2000, Tenn. Code Ann.  47-25-501 et seq.

94. The conduct described above in Count 1 and the Introduction and Factual Background sections of this Complaint constitutes conduct in violation of Warren & Griffins rights under the Tennessee Trade Mark Act of 2000.

95. Monge has used Warren & Griffins mark and name in connection with the sale, offering for sale, and advertising of services in a manner likely to cause confusion, mistake or deception as to the source of origin of such goods and services.

96. Such use has been without Warren & Griffins consent.

97. Monge has reproduced, copied or imitated Warren & Griffins mark and applied it to advertisements intended to be used in connection with services in the State of Tennessee.

98. Monges actions have been and, unless enjoined, will continue to be a willful and bad faith intent to benefit and profit from the Warren & Griffin mark and name.

99. Monge has acted with intent to cause confusion, mistake or deception.

100. Monges infringement has damaged, and unless enjoined, will continue to damage Warren & Griffin.

101. Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann.  47-25-512 and  47-25-515, Monge is liable to Warren & Griffin for the damages Warren & Griffin has sustained.

102. Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann.  47-25-514, Warren & Griffin is entitled to an award of damages and of all profits derived from Monge through its use of Warren & Griffins mark.

103. Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann.  47-25-514, Warren & Griffin is entitled to an award of its reasonable attorneys fees.

104. .Monge committed its wrongful acts with knowledge and in bad faith as referenced in Tenn. Code Ann.  47-25-514.

105. Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann.  47-25-514, Warren & Griffin is entitled to a judgment three times the amount of Warren & Griffins damages, Monges profits, and Warren & Griffins reasonable attorneys fees.

106. Unless restrained and enjoined by this Court, Monge will continue to infringe upon Warren & Griffins rights.

107. Unless restrained and enjoined by this Court, Monge will continue to inflict irreparable harm upon Warren & Griffin for which Warren & Griffin may not have an adequate remedy at law.

108. Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann.  47-25-513 and  47-25-514, Warren & Griffin is entitled to temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief against Monges use of Warren & Griffins name and mark.

COUNT 3  VIOLATION OF TENNESSEE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT

109. All preceding allegations are adopted and incorporated by reference as if fully restated herein.

110. Monges actions as described above constitute a false and deceptive business practice in violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, Tenn. Code Ann.  47-18-101, et. seq.

111. By taking action to cause Monges telephone number to be the first or most prominent information displayed in response to a person searching on a mobile telephone for Warren and Griffin, Warren & Griffin, or Warren Griffin, Monges actions are causing a likelihood of confusion or of misunderstanding as to the source or sponsorship of services in violation of Tenn. Code Ann.  47-18-104(b)(2).

112. By taking action to cause Monges telephone number to be the first or most prominent information a person sees when searching for Warren and Griffin, Warren & Griffin, or Warren Griffin on a mobile telephone, Monges actions are causing a likelihood of confusion or misunderstanding as to affiliation, connection or association with another in violation of Tenn. Code Ann.  47-18-104(b)(3).

113. The above-referenced confusion and misunderstanding is exacerbated by Monges additional use of a telephone number that appears to be local despite Monge not having a local office.

114. The above-referenced confusion and misunderstanding is further exacerbated by Monges use of a telephone number that begins with the Chattanooga area code and ends with the same four digits with which Warren & Griffins number ends.

115. The above-referenced unfair and deceptive acts and practices are causing Warren & Griffin to suffer loss and damages.

116. Monge has also unjustly derived profits from the above-referenced unfair and deceptive acts and practices.

117. Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann.  47-18-109(a)(1), Monge is liable to Warren & Griffin for the losses and damages Warren & Griffin sustained.

118. Monges actions are willful and knowing.

119. Monge is liable to Warren & Griffin for treble damages pursuant to Tenn. Code. Ann.  47-18-109(a)(3).

120. Monge is liable to Warren & Griffin for its reasonable attorney fees pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann.  47-18-109(e)(1).

121. Unless restrained and enjoined by this Court, Monge will continue to engage in unfair and deceptive business practices which deceive the public and infringe upon Warren & Griffins rights.

122. Unless restrained and enjoined by this Court, Monge will continue to inflict irreparable harm upon Warren & Griffin for which Warren & Griffin may not have an adequate remedy at law.

COUNT 4  INTENTIONAL INTERFERENCE WITH

PROSPECTIVE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS

123. All preceding allegations are adopted and incorporated by reference as if fully restated herein.

124. Warren & Griffin has existing or prospective business relationships with injury victims who are seeking to contact the Warren & Griffin law firm by searching for Warren Griffin or Warren & Griffin on their mobile telephone.

125. Monge knows that people contacting Monge by calling or clicking on a telephone number prominently displayed because of searching for Warren Griffin or Warren & Griffin on a mobile telephone have an existing or prospective business relationship with Warren & Griffin.

126. Monge has intentionally interfered with and attempted to prevent those business relationships between Warren & Griffin and the persons who get misdirected to Monge after searching for Warren Griffin or Warren & Griffin.

127. Monge has used improper means to interfere with or preclude the business relationships between Warren & Griffin and persons who get misdirected to Monge after searching for Warren Griffin or Warren & Griffin.

128. Monges improper means included wrongfully using the Warren & Griffin name and service mark or a close variation of such mark.

129. Monges improper means also included wrongfully appropriating and using C. Mark Warrens last name and John Mark Griffins last name.

130. Monge has acted with improper motive.

131. Warren & Griffin has suffered damages as a result of the Defendants actions.

132. Monge is liable to Warren & Griffin for the damages it has sustained as a result of the Defendants interference with contract.

133. Monge is further liable to Warren & Griffin for punitive damages because of the intentional and malicious nature of the Defendants acts.

134. Unless restrained and enjoined by this Court, Monge will continue to interfere with Warren & Griffins existing and prospective business relationships.

135. Unless restrained and enjoined by this Court, Monge will continue to inflict irreparable harm upon Warren & Griffin for which Warren & Griffin may not have an adequate remedy at law.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff Warren & Griffin, P.C., C. Mark Warren, and John Mark Griffin pray as follows:

A. That process issue and that the Defendant be required to answer this complaint within the time provided by law;

B. That a temporary restraining order, temporary injunction and permanent injunction be entered, restraining and enjoining Monge and all of its agents from using Mr. Warrens name, Mr. Griffins name, the Warren & Griffin mark or any variation of that mark in advertising, including restraining and enjoining Monge and all of its agents from using the words Warren and Griffin as AdWords for Google or other Internet searches;

C. That Plaintiffs be awarded a judgment against Monge for compensatory damages and for a disgorging of profits in an amount to be proven at trial;

D. That Plaintiffs be awarded punitive damages in an amount to be proven at trial;

E. That Plaintiffs be awarded treble damages pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann.  47-50-109;

F. That Plaintiffs be awarded their reasonable attorney fees;

G. That Plaintiffs be awarded pre-judgment and post-judgment interest;

H. That all costs be taxed to the Defendant; and

I. That this Court provide the Plaintiffs with such other legal and equitable relief as it deems proper and appropriate.

This the ___ day of February, 2020.

Respectfully Submitted,

Law Office of Stephen S. Duggins

______________________________

(Stephen S. Duggins, #13222) 8052 Standifer Gap Road, Suite B

Chattanooga, TN 37421

423/635-7113 (t)

423/635-7114 (f)

Steve@sdugginslaw.com
Dreams do come true, right? Proving and that if 'agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaho, to puri kainaat usse tumse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai', Phoebe Waller-Bridge, known for her work in Fleabag, Killing Eve and Solo: A Star Wars Story, bagged the James Bond movie just months after she "dreamed" of writing it.

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Just when she was thinking about the opportunity, producer Barbara Broccoli called her, asking to meet for a coffee.

"I was in the edit for Fleabag. 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," she said on Chris Evan's Breakfast Show for Virgin Radio.



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The 34-year-old will be credited as a writer alongside Neal Purvis & Robert Wade, Scott Z Burns and Cary Joji Fukunaga, who has also directed the film. Waller-Bridge's 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.



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"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," she said.



No Time to Die will release in April this year.


Simon Delaney and Anna Daly on their new Weekend AM set, to coincide with the rebranding of TV3 as Virgin Media Television. Photo: Brian McEvoy

Pictured at the launch of the Naas Racecourse Ladies Day at Kildare Village is television personality Anna Daly who was announced as the style ambassador for Ladies Day

Virgin Media's Anna Daly has said she accepts that online negativity is part and parcel of her job as a TV presenter.

Speaking in the wake of the death of Caroline Flack, the Ireland AM anchor said it's human nature to remember the negative messages.

"Despite all the positive messages we get about the show, it's the one mean one that will stay with you," she said. "That's just human nature. Being on telly means that not everyone will like you, which is why I don't tend to read too many messages any more.

"But why send negative messages? You don't have to watch that person if you don't like them."

Anna said society needs to look at the effect of social media on mental health.

"It's a very useful tool but it also has a power and influence that can be very damaging," she said. "Hopefully, when my kids get into their teens, things will have changed or maybe it will have gone. But the pressure on young girls in particular to look and behave a certain way is terrible. I was really innocent at that age."

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Anna has three boys with husband Ben - James (8), Euan (6) and Rhys (3) - and said she knew from early on in their relationship that Ben was "the one".

The pair first met through a mutual friend and were smitten from the start.

"By the time he proposed, we had already bought a house - and taking out a joint mortgage can be a bigger commitment than marriage," Anna said.

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She also spoke to the RTE Guide about the double standard that exists in the media when it comes to certain aspects of her job as a presenter.

"When my Ireland AM co-host Simon Delaney and I are doing interviews, people will be very quick to ask me two questions that he never gets," Anna said.

Expand Close Simon Delaney and Anna Daly on their new Weekend AM set, to coincide with the rebranding of TV3 as Virgin Media Television. Photo: Brian McEvoy / Facebook

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"First, they ask me, 'How do you juggle work and looking after the kids?' Now, I have three children and Simon has four. The second question is about the baby weight and how did I lose it?

"Yet they never mention Simon's appearance or his children and how he juggles it all. Isn't that interesting?"

She has been with Ben for 13 years, and Anna - who works from Thursday to Sunday on the popular morning programme - said the couple still make sure they make time for each other at the end of a busy day.

"We've got better at spending time together, and that could simply be just kicking back and watching the TV," she said.
Washington

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday threw out rulings of the Puerto Rico courts that required the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Juan to pay nearly $5 million into a pension trust for employees of Catholic schools on the island.

After privately mulling an appeal by the archdiocese for nearly a year, the justices issued an unsigned ruling with no dissents that said a Puerto Rico trial court lacked jurisdiction when it ordered the pension payments based on a 2016 suit brought by active and retired employees of three Catholic academies in Puerto Rico.

The courts decision was a technical one, but it acknowledged some larger issues in the complex case, such as whether there was a single Catholic Church legal entity on the island responsible for the pension payments and whether the government had the authority to hold one religious entity responsible for the debts of other religious entities.

Beyond this lurk more difficult questions, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. wrote in a concurrence, including the degree to which the First Amendment permits civil authorities to question a religious bodys own understanding of its structure and the relationship between associated entities and whether the First Amendment places limits on rules on civil liability that seriously threaten the right of Americans to the free exercise of religion as members of a religious body.

Justice Clarence Thomas joined Alitos concurrence in Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Juan v. Feliciano (Case No. 18-921).

The case involves the Catholic Schools Employees Pension Trust, which was established in 1979 for teachers and other school employees in the San Juan Archdiocese, but was later expanded to Catholic school employees in some of the islands other Catholic dioceses as well as some Catholic schools that exist as their own legal entities.

With declining school enrollment, the number of schools and other Catholic entities participating in the plan fell from 83 to 43 over time, and the trust decided to terminate the plan. Some 183 teachers of three schools sued to enforce their pension rights.

They named the Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church of Puerto Rico as defendant, claiming it was an entity with legal authority over all Catholic institutions in the state. A state trial court found support for that in the Treaty of Paris of 1898, through which Spain ceded Puerto Rico to the United States, as well as a 1908 U.S. Supreme Court decision. The island court ordered the Catholic Church on the island to contribute $4.7 million to the pension trust.

An appellate court on the island held that there was no single legal Catholic Church entity, but that the Archdiocese of San Juan and one of the schools involved could be ordered to make pension payments. But the Puerto Rico Supreme Court reinstated the trial courts broad order, holding that separate entities are merely indivisible fragments of the legal personality that the Catholic Church has.

The San Juan Archdiocese appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that the island courts failed to defer to the churchs understanding of its own hierarchy and doctrine.



Last June, the justices asked the U.S. solicitor general to weigh in on the case. Solicitor General Noel J. Francisco said in a brief that the Puerto Rico high court wrongly presumed that all Catholic entities on Puerto Rico were fragments of the same church, which violated the churchs First Amendment free-exercise-of-religion right.

In its Feb. 24 per curiam decision, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to reach some of the broader arguments about the churchs rights because it concluded that the Puerto Rico trial court had lacked jurisdiction to issue various payment and property-seizure orders. The San Juan archdiocese had removed the case to federal court in Puerto Rico after the pension trust filed for bankruptcy in 2018.

A federal bankruptcy court soon dismissed the trusts bankruptcy proceeding, but the related case was under federal jurisdiction at the time and the Puerto Rico trial court should have held off on any orders, the U.S. Supreme Court said.

We think the preferable course at this point is to remand the case to the Puerto Rico courts to consider how to proceed in light of the jurisdictional defect we have identified, the per curiam ruling said.

Alito, in his concurrence, said the case raises a number of important issues that may eventually merit high court review.

The assets that may be reached by civil plaintiffs based on claims regarding conduct by entities and individuals affiliated in some way with the Catholic Church (or any other religious body) is a difficult and important issue, he wrote. The Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment at a minimum demands that all jurisdictions use neutral rules in determining whether particular entities that are associated in some way with a religious body may be held responsible for debts incurred by other associated entities.
A block on clinics in the federally funded Title X family planning program from referring patients to abortion providers will take effect as challenges play out in the lower courts, a federal appeals court ruled on Monday in a win for the Trump administration.

Lower courts have consistently opposed the Department of Health and Human Services' desire to block referrals, and reproductive rights groups have pushed back against the so-called 'gag rule,' arguing that it has already harmed low-income women. The rule was challenged in federal courts in California, Oregon and Washington state last year, all of which blocked it. But the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday that HHS is within its rights to modify the program.

'The Final Rule is not arbitrary and capricious because HHS properly examined the relevant considerations and gave reasonable explanations,' the court ruled.

But Circuit Judge Richard Paez wrote a fiery counterpoint to the ruling, citing the district judges' rulings in a dissent joined by three of the other 9th Circuit judges.

'In vacating the district courts' preliminary injunctions, the majority sanctions the agency's gross overreach and puts its own policy preferences before the law,' Paez wrote. 'Women and their families will suffer for it. I strongly dissent.'

The appeals court has repeatedly given the rule the green light, upholding it in June, July and August. Planned Parenthood, a key provider that covered 40% of the Title X program's participants, opted to withdraw from the program after the 9th Circuit ruled last August that the regulations could go into effect.

Under current law, Title X funds already may not be used to pay for abortions, but the new rule would require health care providers in the program not to refer their patients for abortions elsewhere. Some studies have found the impacts of the rule and Planned Parenthood's subsequent departure to have been stark.

About 900 clinics have dropped out of the program, according to a report by the reproductive rights group Power to Decide, citing instances of more limited and expensive services. Additionally, after HHS opted to reassign the relinquished Title X funds to remaining participants, a report by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation found gaps in the new coverage.

Reproductive rights supporters said Monday's ruling is an obstacle to patients seeking care and health care providers looking to do their jobs.

Alexis McGill Johnson, acting president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, slammed the rule as 'causing immense harm across the country' and creating 'egregious barriers for people with low incomes to get birth control and preventive care like STI testing, education, and cancer screenings.'

Dr. Patrice Harris, president of the American Medical Association, said in a statement that the group is 'disappointed by -- and strongly disagrees with -- the reasoning behind' the decision.

'This government overreach and interference demands that physicians violate their ethical obligations -- prohibiting open, frank conversations with patients about all their health care options -- if they want to continue treating patients under the Title X program,' she added. 'It is unconscionable that the government is telling physicians that they can treat this underserved population only if they promise not to discuss or make referrals for all treatment options.'

The White House on Tuesday applauded the decision, saying in a statement that the rule 'protects the unborn by ensuring Title X grants are allocated as Congress intended -- and not as abortion providers or abortion advocacy organizations would prefer.'

'By law, Title X prohibits grant funds from going to programs where abortion is considered a method of family planning,' the statement continues. 'This ruling upholds the Title X regulation that will ensure compliance with that law.'

Mia Palmieri Heck, director of external affairs at HHS' Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, told CNN that HHS does not comment on ongoing or pending litigation.

Justice Department spokesperson Mollie Timmons said in a statement Monday that 'we are pleased' by the court's decision.

'Congress has long prohibited the use of Title X funds in programs where abortion is a method of family planning and HHS's recent rule makes that longstanding prohibition a reality,' she added. 'We look forward to continuing to defend this vital rule against all challenges.'

This story has been updated to add a statement Tuesday from the White House.
ROME - Italy reported a 45% one-day increase in people infected with the coronavirus as other countries in Europe recorded their first cases Tuesday, producing evidence that travellers are carrying the virus from the European outbreaks current epicenter.

Italian officials reported 11 deaths and 322 confirmed cases of the virus, 100 more than a day earlier. While the majority were concentrated in northern Italy, some of the new cases registered outside the countrys two hard-hit regions, including three in Sicily, two in Tuscany and one in Liguria.

An Italian couple from the afflicted north tested positive in the Canary Islands off Africa, forcing the quarantine of their hotel in what one guest said felt like being monkeys in a cage. Austria, Croatia and Switzerland reported their first cases, all in people who recently travelled to Italy.

The four new deaths in Italy, like the seven reported earlier, were in patients who were elderly, suffering from other ailments or both, officials said.

Amid increasing cases and distribution problems with protective gear and test kits, Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte defended the measures Italy has taken to contain the outbreak and predicted a stabilizing of numbers soon. But he acknowledged that the rise in cases  the most outside Asia  was worrisome.

Obviously I cant say Im not worried because I dont want anyone to think were underestimating this emergency, he said before a meeting with a visiting World Health Organization mission. But we trust that with the measures weve implemented there will be a containing effect in the coming days.

Italy has closed schools, museums and theatres in the two regions where clusters have formed and troops are enforcing quarantines around 10 towns in Lombardy and the epicenter of the Veneto cluster, VoEuganeo.

The sponsors of one of the worlds largest furniture and design trade shows, held in Milan, announced late Tuesday that they decided to postpone the international event s due to concerns over the virus. Milan is the Lombardy regional capital.

In view of the ongoing public health emergency, the decision has been taken to postpone the upcoming edition of the Salone del Mobile.Milan to June 16th  21st, a statement from the organizers said. The show originally was scheduled for April 21-26.

Italian health officials havent yet identified the source of the outbreak. Angelo Borrelli, the head of the Italian civil protection department, said the case count grew from 222 to 322, representing a 45% increase, in a 24-hour period from Monday evening to Tuesday evening.

The southern island of Sicily reported its first three positive cases from a woman vacationing from Bergamo, in Lombardy and two others travelling with her. Two cases were also reported in Tuscany, south out of the epicenter.

Spain counted three active cases: a woman in Barcelona who had been in Lombardy in recent days, and a doctor from northern Italy and his partner who were vacationing in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands.

The hotel where the couple was staying, the H10 Adeje Palace was locked down after they tested positive for the virus and 1,000 tourists prevented from leaving the hotel grounds, though they were allowed to circulate outside their rooms and use the hotel facilities.

We feel a little bit like monkeys in a cage here as there are media representatives present near the hotel and police officers guarding the area are wearing masks, Harriet Strandvik, the mother in a family of four at the hotel, told Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat.

Hotel guests were informed of the quarantine via a flyer slipped under their doors late Monday: Kind guests, we inform you that the hotel is closed for health reasons.

Italians Paolo and Laura Martelli waited in their room Tuesday for a medical team to take their temperatures. Theres a beautiful view of the sea which we are watching right now. We dont feel like recluses, Martelli, 89, told The Associated Press by telephone.

The Canary Islands, an archipelago located around 100 kilometres (60 miles) west of the African coast, is a popular vacation destination that attracts Europeans year-round. Many Italians are vacationing this week as schools have a mid-winter break.

Conte shocked Lombardy officials by taking to task the hospital in Codogno, southeast of Milan, where Italys first positive patient went on Feb. 18 with flu-like symptoms. The man was sent home, only to return a short time later with worsening conditions, at which point he was tested for the virus.

Many of Lombardys 200-plus positive tests have a traceable connection to the Codogno hospital, including several doctors and nurses, patients and relatives who visited them.

Conte told reporters that the Lombardy cluster grew because of the hospital management that wasnt completely proper according to the protocols that are recommended for these cases.

This surely contributed to the spread, he said.

Lombardys chief health official, Giulio Gallera, expressed shock at Contes remarks and defended the regions handling of the crisis.

Its offensive. Its unacceptable, Gallera said, noting that the man presented none of the main risk factors for the virus  travel to China or contact with an infected person  when he first went to the emergency room.

The man was eventually tested after doctors ascertained from his wife that he had met with someone who had recently returned from China. But officials have excluded that contact as the source of the outbreak since that person tested negative.

As officials worked to get ahead of the spread nationally, the reality of a two-week quarantine was setting in for residents of Italys isolated red zones  the cluster of 10 towns in Lombardy and Venetos tiny VoEuganeo.

The concern is palpable, people are worried, partly because of what they hear on television, information, on social media, said Davide Passerini, the mayor of Fombio, one of the Lombardy towns under lockdown. Life is like it is in other isolated villages: Everything is shut, people go out just to do their shopping.

And they wait to see if they develop symptoms.

Italy initially tested anyone who came into contact with an infected person. But with the numbers growing and supply issues with test kits, masks and protective gear, Italys national health system revised its containment strategies.

People who live or have visited the quarantined areas, or who who have been in contact with positive cases, are advised to self-quarantine for two weeks. They are instructed to take their temperatures twice a day, and stay in touch with their doctors or the national health service via an overwhelmed toll-free number.

Only if they develop symptoms are they tested, most often by a team performing house calls to prevent hospitals and clinics being overly stressed, said Elia Delmiglio, mayor of Casalpusterlengo, another of the 10 towns in Lombardys red zone.

Local health structures are doing their best, but in some cases they were not ready to face such an emergency, Delmiglio said.

The town  with more than 15,000 inhabitants  doesnt have a working emergency room, only a hospital mainly specializing in cancer patients, who are particularly at risk for contracting the virus.

In another hotbed of the virus outbreak -- Venetos tiny town of VoEuganeo, which has most of Venetos 43 cases  local authorities were still planning to test all 3,300 residents and 600 acting hospital staff.

Im being optimistic and I feel well, said resident Andrea Casalis, as he waited to be tested. People continue to go out here and talk in the streets, but we try to keep some security distance.

___

Aritz Parra in Madrid, Giada Zampano and Frances DEmilo in Rome and Jovana Gec in Belgrade, Serbia, contributed to this report.

___

Full AP coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak here: https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak
A well-educated 'loner' who imported a child-like silicone sex doll, dressed it in underwear and used it to satisfy his sexual desires has been spared jail.

Laurence Tomlinson, 30, from Middlesbrough, was found with the 3ft doll - described as 'life-like' - on December 4, 2018 after police received a tip-off.

Teesside Crown Court heard the doll had the characteristics of a child's body of around the age of three and was kept in a cardboard box under his bed.

Tomlinson, who admitted the doll was for his own 'sexual gratification', was also found to have indecent and prohibited images of children on his electronic devices.

Laurence Tomlinson, 30, from Middlesbrough, was sentenced to a total 14 months imprisonment, suspended for two years at Teesside Crown Court yesterday (pictured outside court)

He had the doll shipped from Hong Kong after initially enquiring with an online company if purchasing the doll was illegal, in August 2018.

Judge Stephen Ashurst said it was not illegal to possess the doll but a criminal offence had been committed by importing it into the UK.

Tomlinson was aware of shipping methods which was proven through a string of emails.

When officers attended his home, Tomlinson claimed he 'didn't know anything about it', according to prosecutor Rachel Masters.

But officers found the doll in his bedroom, in a cardboard box, along with a sex toy.

Indecent images were also found on Tomlinson's electronic devices and he had searched for indecent images of children on the internet.

Tomlinson (pictured outside court) was also ordered to complete 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days and was made him subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years

Crown Prosecution Service offers guidance on childlike sex dolls Early last year it was revealed that a total of 230 suspected child sex dolls  usually purchased online  have been seized by the UK Border Force and referred to police, co-ordinated by the National Crime Agency, since September 2016. This has led childrens charities and the NCA to call for tough criminal enforcement against the obscene objects, which are manufactured in a way that enables sex acts to be performed on them. It is not considered illegal to possess a doll but people can face charges for importing them into the country. The CPS has published specific legal guidance on Childlike Sex Dolls: Importation offences, whereby prosecutors will have to decide whether a doll has sufficient childlike qualities to render it obscene

The Obscene Publications Act, where publication covers the sale and distribution of the dolls

Postal laws, which prohibit the sending of indecent or obscene articles. Advertisement

Tomlinson pleaded guilty to five charges including importing goods, possessing indecent images of children and prohibited images of children.

Andrew Turton, mitigating, described his client as a well educated young man, with a masters degree.

He also added that Tomlinson is registered as disabled, due to curvature of the spine, and also suffers with anxiety, depression and suspected autistic traits.

'A spell in prison would be devastating,' he added.

Prior to sentencing, Judge Ashurst referred to the case of Crewe man Andrew Dobson in 2017 who imported a child-like sex doll - which police said was the first case of its kind in the UK.

He described Tomlinson as a 'loner' who has 'no social life' with much of his life taken up online.

Judge Ashurst added that none of the indecent or prohibited images were moving images or video clips. He also said that there is no evidence of the images being shared or distributed.

He said: 'You have acknowledged a sexual interest in children of between six and eight years.

'But there is no evidence you have sought out contact with real children.'

He sentenced Tomlinson to a total 14 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He was given eight months sentence for the prohibited and indecent images and six month consecutive sentence for the importation of the child sex doll.

Judge Ashurst ordered Tomlinson to complete 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days and made him subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.
MARQUETTE, MICH. -- Much of the event was typical of a U.S. Coast Guard advancement ceremony, with everyone standing at attention as the honorees received their pins. But the brand-new petty officers third class at Station Marquette also got a special bonus: Plenty of dog treats.

Thor and Loki, a pair of two-year-old Vizsla-Lab pups adopted this past summer by the Marquette Coast Guard crew, were honored Monday in a special ceremony that advanced the dogs to a higher rank as a way of recognizing their contributions to the station as well as the community.

It was a fun little morale booster for the station, but at the same time it gave the dogs some kudos for all the public outreach that theyve done, said Petty Officer Terry Bailey, who helped orchestrate the ceremony.

RELATED: Meet Thor and Loki, Marquettes rising star Coast Guard dogs

The dogs were each given an advancement certificate as well as official Coast Guard pins to wear on their collars, denoting their new rank.

A pin denoting the rank of petty officer third class is affixed to the collar of Thor, one of the station dogs at the U.S. Coast Guard Station Marquette.

Thor and Loki came to Marquette by way of a shelter in Missouri, where the U.P.-based pet rescue agency UPAWS had rescued them just a day before they were scheduled to be euthanized. Now, the two pooches live full-time at the Coast Guard station, where the crew members pool their own money to pay for the dogs care.

The dogs are not trained in search and rescue, but they serve the community in other ways: As welcoming faces at station events, for example, and as the stars of a weekly feature called Safety Tip Tuesday on the stations Facebook page, for which they pose in costumes to help share seasonal safety lessons.

Bailey said its not uncommon for Coast Guard station dogs to rise through the ranks -- and that given what great dogs theyve been, Thor and Loki will certainly keep advancing.

They get to earn it and theyre definitely on track to earn it," Bailey said. "Theyve been really good.
Ejaz Kaiser By

Express News Service

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh forest department owing to its alleged poor handling failed to save an ailing subadult Himalayan Griffin vulture  endangered Schedule-1 species after keeping it in captivity for almost 18-odd days.



The wildlife activists cited the state forest departments callous handling of the wounded vulture, which was traced by youths never Geedam in Maoist-affected Dantewada.



The Himalayan Griffin vulture, a native to India, Pakistan and Nepal, has been listed as critically endangered since 2002.

ALSO READ: Ailing vulture suffers as people scramble to take pictures with endangered bird species in Chhattisgarh

The initial cruelty for the scavenging bird that faces threat of extinction and not usually sighted in Chhattisgarh was seen at the Geedam forest division premises where the department staff didnt stop the locals who were seen forcibly extending the avians feathers and posing next to it for photos.



Later the ailing vulture was transported for over 500 km from Dantewada to Kanan-Pendari mini-zoo at Bilaspur for its proper treatment and care. But it couldnt survive.



Earlier there were two expert veterinary doctors but owing to some unknown difference with the forest department both left. The vulture was attended by a fresh veterinary doctor. Ideally, such doctors should be initially suitably trained by the Wildlife Institute of India before their field placement.

"The forest department failed to take requisite measures and care, said Mansoor Khan, wildlife and environment activist.



Despite repeated attempts neither the divisional forest officer, Satyadeo Sharma, nor the conservator, who is the superintendent of the Kanan-Pendari mini-zoo, V K Chourasia, were available for their comments.

They also didnt respond to messages.

Wildlife enthusiasts suspect that the department officials might attempt to conceal the real reason behind the death after the post-mortem report is out.
Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Monday said even chief minister should be elected by the people directly.

Mumbai: Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare Monday targeted the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government over its move to scrap direct elections to the post of sarpanch.

Mr Hazare said that the government did not believe in transparency and therefore, wanted sarpanches to be elected by councilors.

He added that not only sarpanches but also the chief minister should be directly elected by the people. The former Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government had scrapped the procedure of electing sarpanches from among the elected gram panchayat committee members, and had started a new process whereby sarpanches would be elected by the people through election.

Recently, however, the MVA government reinstated the old process but did not get the governors nod on the decision which is why its implementation was pending. Mr Hazare is backing the direct election of sarpanches.

He expressed his apprehension saying, If the direct process is scrapped, there will be a direct threat to democracy and there are chances of increasing dictatorship in the state. It is not decentralization in the true sense. Powers should be in the hands of the people otherwise the importance of political parties will increase and it will affect democracy.

Mr Hazare did not stop there and said, I would suggest not only the sarpanch of the village but the chief minister of the state should also get selected through the election process. Then we can say democracy means for the people and by the people.

Commenting on the horse-trading during the selection of the CM, he said, If we adopt the new process of election of sarpanches and the CM, no one will have to take oath early morning and elected members will not have to be kept in private hotels.

Attacking the MVA government, Mr Hazare said, This government doesnt want decentralization and transparency. Therefore, people who want democracy should take to the streets and agitate.

He reminded that even during the BJP regime, he had agitated twice to bring the Lokayukta.

We will not tolerate if peoples interest is impacted due to dissent between the BJP and other opposition parties.
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Luxury Collection's Lori Lane, Senior Vice President of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties, was honored as a "2019 Woman in Power" by Modern Luxury's ATLANTAN.ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2020 / Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties' Senior Vice President, Lori Lane, leads award-winning Luxury Collection to over $1.3 billion in sales volume in just four years. Through innovative initiatives and hands-on leadership, Lane continues to raise the bar for her staff and associates, resulting in unprecedented success in the Atlanta luxury market.For more information, please visit: https://luxuryredefined.com "What our Luxury Collection has accomplished is a huge reflection of the dedication and leadership of Lori," said Dan Forsman, president and CEO Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties. "She is a visionary and brings a growth mindset to every project she works on. She continues to inspire her team by constantly modeling effective and creative leadership." Lori's creative vision and leadership have led to many Luxury Collection initiatives. One of these initiatives is the creation of "THE LUX LANE," an exclusive Luxury Collection video series. All videos are produced in-house and feature Senior Vice President Lori Lane, who discusses the latest news and happenings inside Luxury Collection. One of the ways Lori sets herself apart as a leader is by the mentorship of her growing staff. Despite a demanding schedule, she carves out weekly time to develop and challenge the ideas presented by her team, continually looking for new ways to evolve and improve. Luxury Collection Video Series: https://luxuryredefined.com/the-lux-lane.html "Lori is someone who not only motivates you but challenges you to be better," said Michelle Sanchez, Luxury Collection's lead Creative/Social Media Director. "She can see the potential in an individual and draw upon their talents, shaping them to be the best that they can. I am thankful to have the opportunity to learn from Lori and am grateful that she has played such a huge part in my professional development." The division has produced multiple marketing campaigns that further highlight the brand's image and tell the story of luxury living. Their avant-garde approach incorporates the use of iconic fashion to evoke an emotional response. These campaigns and initiatives, combined with Lori's leadership, have resulted in an impressive assortment of awards won by Luxury Collection. These awards include Best Print Marketing Campaign from Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate, Best of Atlanta Reader's Choice and Best Metro Atlanta REALTORS from Modern Luxury's ATLANTAN, Best Social Media Campaign and Best Marketing Campaign from Modern Luxury's INTERIORS. Luxury Collection also took home the coveted MAX Award, representing marketing excellence, and Luxury Collection is the first-ever real estate group ever to win this award, edging out Arby's, Coca-Cola, and other Fortune 500 companies. In addition to all the awards Luxury Collection has won, Lori Lane was honored as a "2019 Woman in Power" by Modern Luxury's ATLANTAN."I am fortunate to work with the most talented group of people in the industry and am humbled by the trust and confidence they place in me. They encourage me to bring the best version of myself every day," said Lori Lane. "Luxury Collection continues to emerge in the luxury market, and these awards are affirming what we at Berkshire Hathaway already believe. We truly are redefining luxury real estate in Metro Atlanta." About Luxury Collection Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia PropertiesLuxury Collection, the award-winning division of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties, year after year, continues to set the standard in the marketing and selling of luxury properties throughout the Metro Atlanta area. Through an extensive marketing strategy, Luxury Collection associates receive the most advanced marketing and technological resources available, along with access to the vast global and local Berkshire Hathaway network, leading to more leads and closings for Luxury Collection listings. Backed by the power of one of the most admired companies in the world, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties is globally recognized as redefining luxury real estate.Contact Info:Name: Lori LaneEmail: Send EmailOrganization: Luxury Collection - Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices GA Properties, Luxury RedefinedAddress: 3500 Lenox Rd NE #300, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, United StatesPhone: +1-404-671-4195Website: https://luxuryredefined.com SOURCE: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices GA
Trends exclusive interview with UK Prime Ministers Trade Envoy, Baroness Emma Nicholson

Question: One of the most successful spheres of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the UK is the energy sector, with oil major BP implementing huge projects in the country. How do you see the future of collaboration in this field?

Answer: I see great things in the future of Azerbaijan-UK energy co-operation, including the potential completion of the Southern Gas Corridor main pipeline, delivering Azerbaijani gas to Italy. This is an extraordinary milestone for the engineering project, which I have been involved with for some years. The partnership agreement between Azerbaijan and the UK, alongside our world-class operators SOCAR and BP, will ensure that Azerbaijan benefits from the latest oil and gas extraction technologies.

The energy market will transform over the next decade, generating new opportunities for investment in Azerbaijan. As the world pivots towards lower-carbon technologies, with the COP26 conference approaching in November, nations will make new commitments to reduce their emissions. Azerbaijan has made excellent strides forward in this area by commissioning wind and solar energy projects, and the UK is ready to invest in the sector to help maximise Azerbaijans solar, wind and hydro generation potential.

BP has just announced its commitment to be a net zero company in terms of its carbon emissions. That is a great step forward and a sign that the COP26 process is building momentum. I hope that SOCAR and all operators in Azerbaijan will make a similar commitment.

Q.: Which spheres have still untapped potential in terms of developing the bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and UK, alongside with the traditional sectors?

A.: There is great potential for investment and trade between our countries, and for Azerbaijan to diversity its economy and build out from its powerful oil and gas sector. I am happy to support this strategy and the reforms to the business environment which are taking place in Azerbaijan.

As the Prime Ministers Trade Envoy, it has been my pleasure to meet many Azerbaijani delegations visiting the UK helping businesses from across sectors from health and agriculture to education and space create excellent contacts with their British counterparts.

Away from the world of business, I have enjoyed leading an exceptional educational partnership between our countries. As well as the many partnerships between UK and Azerbaijani schools and universities, the British Government is investing in Learning Hubs to bring cutting edge English Language training to children from families internally displaced by conflict.

The growth of the British Councils Creative Spark programme, and the excitement it creates, show it is a perfect fit with Azerbaijans needs. I hope that partnerships within the creative industries continue to flourish. Music and performing arts exchanges are flourishing, such as the spectacular visit to Baku of the Candoco dance group, organised by the British Council. The British Councils Crafting Futures programme is also generating wonderful artisanal relationships, such as The Princes School of Traditional Arts engagement with Azerbaijan.

Q.: How do you assess the current level of trade relations between the two countries? Do you believe that this level is corresponding to the existing potential of Azerbaijan and the UK?

A.: The current level of trade is impressive, but I would like to see it increased in both directions to improve the prosperity of our partner nations. Azerbaijani agricultural produce, including wine, is delicious and I am sure it would be popular in the UK if it can be brought to market there. British exporters will continue to seek new ways to meet demand here. We are hoping, for example, to exhibit British products at the ADEX trade show in Baku later this year.

Q.: Which steps could help even more develop the trade relations between the two countries? Which challenges are still ahead?

A.: As the UK becomes an independent trading nation, we are more free to trade and develop partnerships with Azerbaijan. We hope very much to take advantage of this opportunity and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement in January, saying that it wished to see our economic relations improved, was a welcome reflection of the UKs own wishes.

We can always do more to bring our entrepreneurs together. The UKs Department for International Trade (DIT) ran a Roadshow at the end of January, which took experts in Azerbaijan to meet British firms and investors in London, Oxford, Manchester and Coventry. In February, DIT and the Embassy led a large Health delegation to London and Oxford and a joint team from the British Embassy in Baku and SOCAR presented at UK Subsea in Aberdeen. This is typical of our intensive efforts to increase trade and investment in both directions.

Q.: What should be the priorities of economic cooperation between the two counties in 2020? Which visits and events are planned this year in this regard?

A.: I am really looking forward to my own visit at the end of February at which I will be representing the Prime Minister at the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council. Later in the year we plan to hold a Ministerial Foreign Policy Dialogue  we have an important bilateral agenda to discuss including trade policy, as well as regional issues, where Azerbaijan has important insights. In the autumn our annual Joint Intergovernmental Commission talks will take place in Baku  another boost for our bilateral economic co-operation.

I also hope to return to Baku in the autumn for what will be my seventh visit in this role. My work as trade envoy is deeply satisfying because I can assist our two independent nations to develop in partnership, while getting to know this beautiful country.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Dallas police officer Andre Cloyd and his companion, Zigi, caused quite a stir on social media when their selfie went viral. (Photo: Andre Cloyd)

A Dallas police officer and his four-legged partner are adjusting to their sudden fame after becoming the subjects of a viral internet post.

Senior Corporal Andre Cloyd of the Dallas Police Departments Explosive Detection K-9 Unit was on duty at Dallas Love Field Airport with his partner Zigi on Feb. 15 when he decided to take a picture to send to his mother.

Gina Anzaldua Stevenson, who was at the airport that day, spotted the duo posing for their adorable selfie and decided to take a picture of their moment. Stevenson posted the picture to Dogspotting Society, a Facebook group for dog lovers to post and share photos of furry friends.

I just watched the cop at the airport take a series of selfies with his dog and then stop to show him each one, she wrote.

Stevenson, who did not immediately respond to Yahoo Lifestyles request for comment, then followed up to note that sweet [boy] was his partner not just a dog.

Stevensons post took off, racking up more than 1,000 comments and nearly 50,000 shares as of Tuesday afternoon.

Cloyd tells Yahoo Lifestyle that he was surprised at the positive reaction to the womans post.

Being a public servant, we are often photographed and recorded, he explained. I am grateful that Mrs. Stevenson was gracious enough to share the post, therefore allowing it to get back to me. I take several pictures with individuals, but rarely am I able to see where they end up!

Cloyd, who has been with the Dallas Police Department for 11 years, has worked with Zigi, who is a German shepherd, for three and a half years and considers the K-9 to be more than a partner, likening him to a son. The officer said that he takes selfies with Zigi often, which is just one of many perks of their work together.

The best part of being a K-9 officer is having a partner who is literally willing to do anything, as long as he is with you. The bond and focus we have both working and off-duty is priceless, Cloyd said.

Now that Cloyd and Zigis picture has made the rounds online, countless people have shown their love for the pair on social media. As a result, Cloyd created a Facebook page for Zigi fans. He hopes his viral fame could be a step forward in fostering better police and community relations.

Story continues

It is my hope that society is able to help bridge the gap between citizens and law enforcement, he said. There are many different personalities as well characteristics within this profession, not one incident or individual represents us all.

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Destiney McDermitt, a Michigan high school student, wanted to do her assignment on gay marriage in honor of her two moms, Angela McDermitt-Jackson and Chris Jackson, but was told it would be offensive by her teacher. (Photo: Destiney McDermitt)

A Michigan teen who has two moms claimed that her teacher would not allow her to discuss gay marriage for a school assignment.

Early this month, 17-year-old Destiney McDermitt, received an assignment from her teacher at Hill McCloy High School in Montrose, Mich. According to the Take A Stand assignment  which McDermitt has shared with Yahoo Lifestyle  students were tasked with choosing an issue about which you feel strongly and take a stand for or against. The bottom of the paper instructed students that they were not permitted to talk about things that were already discussed in another class and topics that were deemed awkward or inappropriate for a school audience for which the teacher only named abortion.

Destiney McDermitt shared a picture of the instructions for her paper, which is titled "Take A Stand." (Photo: Destiney McDermitt)

McDermitt wanted to discuss the topic of gay marriage, but her teacher, whose name has not been released, would not allow it. She then told me no it might offend someone in the class, McDermitt tells Yahoo Lifestyle. So I asked if she could do a vote to see if it offended anyone, she then said, No I dont want to hear about it, read, or see that and Im the one that has to grade it. Multiple people in the class heard what she said to me and I found it inappropriate, so I immediately got a hold of my mother.

The topic of gay marriage hit close to home for McDermitt.

The reason why I chose gay marriage is because I have two moms [who] I love. It was supposed to be a topic that I feel strongly for and it was personal in my life so I thought it would be perfect to do, she said.

McDermitts moms, Angela McDermitt-Jackson and Chris Jackson, have been married since January 2015. And it was no surprise that they were not happy to hear about what happened.

I was extremely upset to hear that [the teacher] was allowed to turn down that topic considering thats discrimination and theres such thing as freedom of speech, McDermitt-Jackson tells Yahoo Lifestyle. My daughter should have been allowed to write that paper...I was very upset. I was hurt for her, I was hurt for me and for anybody else like myself.

Story continues

McDermitt-Jackson said that the teachers unwillingness to ask the class about how they felt about gay marriage showed her own biased opinion, which could have had a negative effect on the students, queer students in particular.

My biggest thing too about the teacher is what if there had been a student in there who has been struggling...to find a way to come out and tell his [or her] parents... And to hear that come out of a teachers mouth, somebody in a leadership role, might [have] been the straw that broke the camels back. Whos to say that that child wouldnt [have] felt like, my teacher says thats unacceptable, I really cant tell anybody.

As of Monday, the teacher remains on the job, but McDermitt-Jackson said that she and her wife were planning on taking action, including calling for the firing of the teacher in question. More importantly, McDermitt-Jackson said she was proud of her daughter for taking a stand.

I think its brave in todays society...I think its wonderful that shes willing to say, Hey, listen, this is how I feel on gay marriage. You know, I have two moms. Im very proud of her, she says.

McDermitt gives a lot of credit to her moms for teaching her about love. The love my moms have for each other is unbreakable, she says. They do not care about what anyone has to say about their love for each other [and] their love taught me to never give up on something I believe in.

The Montrose Community Schools Superintendent Linden Moore released a statement to Yahoo Lifestyle regarding the incident, which reads, in part: Montrose Community Schools continues to work with our staff, students, and community to ensure it is an inclusive place where everyone can feel comfortable to learn. In this case, the teacher attempted to avoid disruption and controversy by limiting the topics that students could choose for a writing assignment. Unfortunately, although wellintentioned, the teacher was too restrictive.

Montrose says it remains committed to its responsibilities to safeguard, nurture and develop our students and that policies and procedures are in place to to investigate/address allegations of unlawful harassment, discrimination, or bullying.

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DUBLIN, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "RF Tunable Filter Market by Type (Band Pass and Band Reject), Tuning Mechanism (Mechanical and Electronic), Tuning Component (DTC, SAW, and SMD Variant), End-Use (SDR, RF Amplifiers, and Radar Systems), Application, Geography - Global Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The RF tunable filter market is estimated to grow from USD 89 million in 2020 to USD 148 million by 2025, at a CAGR of 10.6%.



Major factors fueling the growth include the growing use of smartphones, connected devices, and IoT devices, surging demand for radar systems by the worldwide military sector, increasing need for new and advanced planes for commercial and military applications, and escalating demand for software-defined radios to be deployed in military communication equipment.



Band reject filters to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period



The market for band-reject filter is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Band reject filters are used in communication devices to reduce static on radio devices and enable clear communication. These filters are also integrated in communication devices to weed out unwanted harmonics for clear communication. In the healthcare industry, band-reject filters are incorporated in the electrocardiogram (ECG) machine to ensure its hassle-free operation.



RF tunable filter for the smart cities application to grow at highest CAGR during the forecast period



Smart cities use information and communications technologies in road transport, including infrastructure and traffic management. Integrated communications systems for automated driver guidance offer a full range of services that supervise and control transportation systems via the operation control center. RF tunable filters will enable these ICT infrastructures to exchange data over wireless communications systems.



North America to be the largest market for RF tunable filter during the forecast period



North America presents a substantial market for RF tunable filters. Factors such as increased expenditure on defense-related equipment, rapid commercialization of 5G networks, upsurged demand for communication devices such as smartphones, tablets, and Voice over IP (VoIP) equipment, and expanding data center capacity are contributing to the growth of the RF tunable filter market in the region.



Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Premium Insights

4.1. Attractive opportunities in RF Tunable Filter market

4.2. market, by Type

4.3. market, by Tuning Mechanism

4.4. market, by Tuning Component

4.5. market, by End-Use

4.6. market, by Application

4.7. market, by Geography



5. Market Overview

5.1. Introduction

5.2. Market dynamics

5.2.1. Drivers

5.2.1.1. Growing use of smartphones, connected devices, and IoT devices

5.2.1.2. Surging demand for radar systems by worldwide military sector

5.2.1.3. Increasing need for new and advanced planes for commercial and military applications

5.2.1.4. Escalating demand for software-defined radios to be deployed in military communication equipment

5.2.2. Restraints

5.2.2.1. Requirement for high capital, coupled with short life cycle of RF tunable filters

5.2.3. Opportunities

5.2.3.1. Trial and deployment of 5G technology

5.2.3.2. High demand for telematics and infotainment equipment from automotive sector

5.2.4. Challenges

5.2.4.1. Rising complexity and shrinking size of electronic devices

5.3. Value chain analysis



6. RF Tunable Filter Market, By Type

6.1. Introduction

6.2. Band Pass Filters

6.3. Band Reject Filters



7. Market, By Tuning Mechanism

7.1. Introduction

7.2. Mechanical

7.3. Electronic

7.4. Magnetic



8. Market, By Tuning Component

8.1. Introduction

8.2. Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) Filters

8.3. Varactor Diodes

8.4. MEMS Capacitors

8.5. Oscillator Filters

8.6. Digitally Tunable Capacitors (DTCs)

8.7. Surface-mount Device (SMD) Variants



9. Market, By End Use

9.1. Introduction

9.2. Handheld & Pocket Radios

9.3. Radar Systems

9.4. RF Amplifiers

9.5. Software-defined Radios

9.6. Mobile Antennas

9.7. Avionic Communications Systems

9.8. Test & Measurement Instruments



10. Market, By Application

10.1. Introduction

10.2. Aerospace & Defense

10.3. Energy & Power

10.4. Mining

10.5. Transportation

10.6. Smart Cities

10.7. TV White Spaces

10.8. Healthcare



11. Geographic Analysis

11.1. Introduction

11.2. North America

11.2.1. US

11.2.2. Canada

11.2.3. Mexico

11.3. Europe

11.3.1. Germany

11.3.2. UK

11.3.3. France

11.3.4. Rest of Europe

11.4. Asia Pacific

11.4.1. China

11.4.2. India

11.4.3. Japan

11.4.4. South Korea

11.4.5. Rest of Asia Pacific

11.5. Rest of the world

11.5.1. South America

11.5.2. Middle East and Africa



12. Competitve Landscape

12.1. Introduction

12.2. Ranking of market players

12.3. Competitive Leadership Mapping

12.3.1. Visionary Leaders

12.3.2. Dynamic Differentiators

12.3.3. Innovators

12.3.4. Emerging Companies

12.4. Competitive Benchmarking

12.4.1. Strength of Product Portfolio (25 Companies)

12.4.2. Business Strategy Excellence (25 Companies)

12.5. Competitive Scenario

12.5.1. Contracts, collaborations, and partnerships

12.5.2. Expansions, and product launches and developments



13. Company Profiles

13.1. Key players

13.2. Analog Devices

13.3. Dover

13.4. EXFO

13.5. The LGL Group

13.6. Netcom, Inc.

13.7. Telonic Berkeley

13.8. DiCon Fiberoptics

13.9. RF Products Inc.

13.10. Coleman Microwave Company

13.11. Thorlabs

13.12. Smiths Interconnect

13.13. Other Companies

13.13.1. Wainwright Instruments Gmbh

13.13.2. Microwave Filter Company, Inc.

13.13.3. Filtronetics Inc.

13.13.4. Flann Microwave Ltd.

13.13.5. Temwell Corporation

13.14. Key Innovators

13.14.1. Newedge Signal Solutions Llc

13.14.2. EI Wave Digitech (I) Pvt Ltd.

13.14.3. Wispry Inc.

13.14.4. M.T. SRL

13.14.5. Vanlong Technology Co., Ltd.

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Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

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Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

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Technavio has been monitoring the railcar leasing market, and it is poised to grow by USD 3.29 bn during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of 7% 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.

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Delhi High Court agreed to hear on Wednesday a petition seeking an independent judicial inquiry into the violence that ensued in Maujpur, Jaffrabad and adjoining area in North-East Delhi during protests over Citizen Amendment Act (CAA).

Advocates Sneha, Nabila, Fazal Abdali on Tuesday mentioned the matter before a division bench of Justice GS Sistani and Justice AJ Bhambhani, which agreed to list the matter for hearing on Wednesday.

Activist Harsh Mander, through the plea, sought an independent judicial inquiry, compensation for the deceased persons among other things.

The plea sought the arrest of some prominent political personality alleging their hate speech inciting the public for violence, etc.

The petition also sought direction for the constitution of an SIT consisting of officers from outside Delhi and headed by an officer of integrity and repute, capable of acting in an independent manner.

It further demanded direction to the Union of India to request the army to maintain law and order in Delhi.

The petition claimed that the communal attacks that took place in Delhi in the northeast Delhi areas in which "at least 10 persons were killed in cold blood by the Delhi Police and members of organizations connected to the party in power at the Centre".

It claimed that after provocative hate speeches were given by three prominent politicians linked to the assailants, the assailants carried out multiple brutal assaults on the unarmed persons who were protesting against the CAA.

"Apart from the 10 persons killed, more than 160 were injured, many of them seriously. Houses, shops and properties were burnt by the assailants with the police standing by watching with unconcern. In many cases, the police were themselves the assailants," it added.

It further sought directions to Delhi Police to book BJP Leader Pravesh Verma and Anurag Thakur for their recent "hate speeches".

As many as seven persons were killed in the violence after clashes took place between pro and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protesters at various places in the capital yesterday, police said on Tuesday.

According to officials, several incidents of violence and arson were reported in the areas of the northeast district, particularly in the areas of Maujpur, Kardampuri, Chand Bagh and Dayalpur.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Police have arrested a 62-year-old Tasmanian man in relation to the killing of 89-year-old Hugo Benscher at his Gold Coast home almost 28 years ago, after a renewed push from cold case detectives last year.

The Launceston man, who previously lived on the Gold Coast and was interviewed as part of the original investigation, was extradited to Brisbane on Tuesday where police charged him with one count of murder.

Mr Benscher's son, Ron, told media at a press conference he had "given up all hope" his father's alleged murder would be solved.

"Over the 27 years from time to time I was tormented," he said. "I still remember when the police rang me and I came to Southport and I saw my father. It was just a sight that stays in my mind."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 14:16:00|Editor: ZD

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LONDON, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- A British writer and food critic on Sunday expressed his solidarity with the local Chinese community, dismissing racial discrimination linked to coronavirus.

Jay Rayner, a journalist, writer and restaurant critic, visited Chinese restaurant Four Seasons located in London's Chinatown and published a review in The Observer newspaper.

"This is a review with a simple message: go and support your local Chinese restaurant. Go show them that ethnicity is not a marker for disease," he said, adding that it was also "an act of solidarity with Britain's Chinese community which has suffered via misplaced racist fear over coronavirus."

The 53-year old writer noticed that Gerrard Street in Chinatown was "sparsely populated" and chairs and tables in the restaurants "sit forlorn and empty," as the fear over COVID-19 has impacted badly the business of the Chinese restaurants, although the "nasty virus has broken out in a city 5,500 miles (about 8,851 km) away from London."

"I've never seen it like this before," he wrote. "There are reports of abuse on the streets, of Asians being shunned on public transport. Across the Chinese restaurant sector, business is down. The mother of one Anglo-Chinese friend calls it 'health-linked racial discrimination.' It doesn't matter what excuse you choose for your racism. It's still racism."

As a regular customer, Rayner said he did not need to visit Four Seasons to write about it.

"But this is an act of solidarity that also gets me roast duck," he said.

"The opening up of China has brought us the country's thrilling variety from Sichuan to Shanghai, from Hunan to Xinjiang and back again," Rayner said at the end of his review, adding that he was staggered to see that the once mainly Cantonese Chinatown has grown from "a tiny cluster to a vast district apparently representing all the provinces."

"Britain's Chinese restaurant offering is more diverse and exciting than it's ever been. Please go and eat in one. Now," he concluded.

Responding to Rayner's review, one person wrote on Twitter: "I'm baffled people would avoid Chinese restaurants in London for the coronavirus ... you've definitely inspired me to go ASAP."

"Such an excellent and timely review. So shameful that some people are avoiding our wonderful Chinese restaurants for the silliest of reasons," another tweeted.
The Michigan House voted to affirm its support of the Second Amendment Tuesday, stopping short of naming Michigan a gun rights sanctuary but declaring its intent to protect the Constitutional right to bear arms.

House Resolution 227 states the Michigan legislature "will not pass laws that would infringe upon the ability of Michigan residents to own and keep firearms and will ensure that legislation in violation of our constitutional right to bear arms will not be imposed upon the citizens of Michigan by either the federal government or itself. Lawmakers voted 75-32 to approve the resolution.

Resolutions are non-binding and do not have a direct impact on existing laws, but can be used by government bodies as a statement of priorities or to declare intentions.

The vote comes as local governments around the state are adopting or considering Second Amendment sanctuary resolutions inspired by a national movement signaling opposition to gun control measures. As a sanctuary, local governments could signal they dont intend to enforce any gun laws they consider unconstitutional.

The House-passed resolution does not declare Michigan a Second Amendment sanctuary, although its lead sponsor initially introduced a separate resolution that contained the language.

During a committee hearing on the subject, State Rep. Gary Eisen, R-St. Clair Township, said the new resolution was meant to address concerns that the word sanctuary was hijacked by municipalities around the country declaring sanctuary for immigrants living in the U.S. illegally.

Its a good word, but it got kind of turned around with the illegal sanctuary cities and stuff, he told lawmakers.

After House Resolution 227 passed Tuesday, Eisen said in a statement the Second Amendment is constantly under attack by those who want to limit the right of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves, their families and their property.

We must stand strong against government overreach and ensure all law-abiding citizens continue to have the right to protect themselves in Michigan," he said in the statement.

Several House Democrats voted with Republicans on the matter, but all 32 no votes came from the Democratic caucus - some of whom said they support the Second Amendment, but also support proposals aimed at reducing gun violence.

Rep. Robert Wittenberg, D-Huntington Woods, said both aims shouldnt be mutually exclusive. By approving a resolution that doesnt make that clear, he said, "We are just saying that Michigan only cares about guns and not about preventing gun violence.

At least eight Michigan counties have passed Second Amendment sanctuary resolutions. Others, including St. Clair County, passed resolutions but stopped short of calling themselves sanctuaries, an MLive analysis found.

Related coverage:

Some lawmakers support making Michigan a Second Amendment sanctuary state

Bay County stops short of naming itself 2nd Amendment 'sanctuary

5 things to know about the Second Amendment Sanctuary movement in Michigan

Gun rights advocate to present Second Amendment Sanctuary proposal to West Michigan county

Gun rights resolution up for consideration in Berrien County

Lapeer County votes to become a Second Amendment Sanctuary

You cannot have our guns: Group urges Jackson to be 2nd Amendment sanctuary county

Gov. Whitmer, Democratic leaders push extreme risk gun bills after national shootings

Family, police could petition to take away guns from person posing extreme risk under Michigan bills
By PTI

NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday described the Kashmir issue as a "big problem" and a "thorn" for a long time, and offered to mediate in de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

However, he clarified that he is not offering to mediate on the Kashmir issue.

At a packed press conference, the US president also said ways to deal with terrorism figured prominently in his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi who, Trump stressed, is determined to check the menace.

"We talked a lot about Pakistan. I have a very good relationship with Prime Minister Khan. We talked about it today at length with Prime Minister Modi. No question it is a problem. It is a problem, they are working on it," Trump said.

HIGHLIGHTS | Donald Trump wraps up two-day India visit after banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan

He further added: "We just hope, and I just said I'll do whatever I have to do, if I can do that because my relationship with both gentlemen is so good. But there has been difficulty in Pakistan. We are seeing what we can do about it. Anything I can do to mediate, anything I can do to help I would do."

Later, asked about India's rejection of his earlier offer to mediate on Kashmir, the US president said he is not offering to mediate on the issue.

"Kashmir has been a thorn in a lot of people's sides for a long time. There are two sides to every story," said Trump.

Since withdrawal of Jammu and Kashmir's special status, Trump has made his offer to mediate on Kashmir at least four times India's position has been that Kashmir is a bilateral issue and there is no question of any mediation.

On terrorism, Trump said the issue was discussed "at great length", and that Modi has very strong views over it.

"Modi is a very religious man, he is a very calm man, but actually he is a very very strong person, and very tough, actually. I have seen him in action. He has got that foremost on his mind (to deal with) terrorism. He will take care of it," Trump said.

After talks with Trump, Modi, in his media statement, said both sides have taken a decision to further increase efforts to hold supporters of terrorism responsible.

On his part, Trump said both the countries affirmed their commitment to protect their citizens from radical Islamic terrorism.

In his media statement earlier, Trump said the United States is working productively with Pakistan to confront terrorists who operate on its soil.
Businesspeople have said they are aiming to ensure Northern Ireland's interests are not overlooked as the UK sets its sights on trade agreements with the EU and US.

It came after weekend reports that the UK was seeking ways of getting around the NI protocol in the EU Withdrawal Agreement.

Aodhan Connolly, director of the NI Retail Consortium, said he believed there was "a mixture of bluster and poker-playing" from the UK Government.

"The uncertainty doesn't help Northern Ireland business and it's the opposite of what we need."

The Sunday Times reported that officials were seeking to evade Irish Sea checks on goods passing from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. In response, a UK Government spokesman said the UK would comply with its obligations under the agreement.

During a visit to Northern Ireland yesterday, the new Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said: "We always said there will not be a border down the Irish Sea, there'll be unfettered access for business."

Mr Connolly said NI business needed to continue to speak up as the UK's focus moves in due course to negotiating trade deals with the EU and US.

"We in Northern Ireland are part of a bigger game. The UK's focus will now be on trading agreements with EU and US.

"The job of the business community is to make sure needs are not forgotten while the sooner we have government in (the Irish Republic) the better."

Seamus Leheny, regional manager of the Freight Transport Association in NI, said: "We can only deal in facts so when we read the Withdrawal Agreement, that is what we must work towards.

"This means we have to prepare for new formalities. In some aspect it's correct to say we won't have checks on Great Britain to Northern Ireland trade because checks are only the result of whatever formalities are required, which will all be dependent on the type of trade agreement the UK and EU agree on.

"Checks will only ever be required to enforce compliance, which we hope will not be necessary.

"Rather than try and open up the negotiated Withdrawal Agreement, we would hope that the UK and EU agree a close free-trade agreement that means we face minimum formalities and close alignment, thereby making the need for such checks and associated bureaucracy redundant."

Mr Leheny added: "The clock is against us on this, our members would prefer clarity and assurances so that we as an industry can prepare accordingly, something we can't fully do yet."

The House of Lords EU Committee visits Belfast today as part of its inquiry into the Protocol. It will hear from business leaders including Graham Keddie, managing director of Belfast International Airport, and Les Stracey of Stena Line.
Harvey Weinstein has been rushed to hospital after complaining of chest pains hours after being convicted of third-degree rape and sexual assault.

He was taken to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, according to his representative.

Weinstein was supposed to be transferred to the jail on Rikers Island, but was diverted to Bellevue.

Weinstein was remanded into custody on Monday morning after a jury convicted him on charges of sexual assault and third-degree rape.

Harvey Weinstein arrives at court for his sexual misconduct trial. Source: AP

Bellevue is known for its psychiatric facility, but it also serves as a hospital for jail inmates.

Weinstein had been free on $US2 million bond, but Justice James Burke ordered he be held in jail prior to sentencing on March 11.

His attorney, Donna Rotunno, urged the judge to allow him to remain free, saying that he recently had unsuccessful back surgery and requires shots in order to keep from going blind.

Weinstein appeared in court most days with a walker, which his attorneys said was a result of his lingering back issues.

An ambulance carrying Harvey Weinstein is escorted from a Manhattan courthouse. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

During a TV interview on Fox News with Martha MacCallum on Monday evening, Rotunno was asked if Weinstein would be getting medical care at whichever prison facility he ends up in, since he was remanded.

Rotunno said her client will be receiving medical care, and she mentioned that he was having heart palpitations on Monday, though she did not reveal that he was admitted to the hospital with chest pains.

Weinstein faces five to 29 years in prison.

With AAP

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Former New Zealand all-rounder Craig McMillan on Tuesday said Indian batsmen "throwing their hands at the ball like they do in India" will not work here.

Indian batsmen's inadequacies in adverse conditions were exposed as they crashed to an embarrassing 10-wicket defeat in just over three days in the opening Test here on Monday.

"They didn't make any adjustments in the way they played, they threw their hands at the ball like they do in India," he Radio Sport.

"When the ball doesn't bounce above knee high you can get away with some of those shots - in New Zealand you don't."



McMillan lauded the New Zealand's veteran seam-bowling duo of Tim Southee and Trent Boult.

"When the ball's swinging, and it did for most of that Wellington Test, Boult and Southee are geniuses," he said.

He rated it "a terrific performance" from the Black Caps.

"I haven't seen India, the number one Test side in the world, dismantled like they were over those four days in Wellington," he said.

New Zealand's drubbing of India was hailed as one of their best in Black Caps' history by the media here.

"Rare are the Tests in which the Black Caps beat the world's number one Test side," the New Zealand Herald wrote.

"To do so against a team who had won seven straight Tests, each by a massive margin, makes it even more impressive."



website Stuff.co.nz pointed out that New Zealand entered the match after a 3-0 humiliation in their last series in Australia, making the win against India even more significant.

The result means New Zealand head into their next match in Christchurch starting Saturday with the chance of claiming a rare Test series sweep over India.

The last time it happened was in 2002 when they swept a two-Test series at home.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Life can change in an instant and it does so frequently over the course of this decades-spanning narrative. It begins one night when Guida, the more impulsive and independent-minded of the two sisters, sneaks away from a family dinner to meet a boyfriend; she winds up running off with him to Greece, where he lives. The news comes as a shock to her family, and when Guida returns home to Rio several months later, single and pregnant, her sympathetic mother (Flavia Gusmao) wants to take her back. But her father, Manuel (Antonio Fonseca), a strict, easily shamed man, turns her away and even lies to her about her sister's whereabouts, telling her that Euridice has gone off to music school in Austria to become a pianist.
The Transport Security Administration (TSA) is the latest US government organization to ban the use of TikTok. The decision comes after New York Senator Chuck Schumer sent a letter to TSA administrator David Pekoske, in which he flagged a number of security concerns about China-owned app.

In a statement, Schumer said, "These videos sure do make you chuckle; they're creative. 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." On Sunday, the TSA said 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 move follows similar decisions by other government organizations concerned about security threats associated with the app. Back in October 2019, senators began questioning the use of the app in government capacities, stating that "TikTok is a potential counterintelligence threat we cannot ignore."

Since then, the US Army, Marines, Navy, and subsequently the Air Force and Coast Guard have all confirmed hard line restrictions on the app. TikTok's parent company ByteDance hasn't commented on any of these decisions individually, but maintains that "TikTok is committed to being a trusted and responsible corporate citizen in the US, which includes working with Congress and all relevant regulatory agencies."
A roundup of campaign news items of interest:

GRAHAM ENDORSES MILLER-MEEKS: U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., endorsed state legislator Mariannette Miller-Meeks in Iowas 2nd Congressional District Republican primary.

Mariannette Miller-Meeks track record during her time in the Iowa Senate proves that she is ready, willing, and able to fight for the conservative values that make America great, Graham said in a news release issue by the Miller-Meeks campaign. Under President (Donald) Trump, our economy is booming, terrorist organizations are being eliminated, our border is being secured, and our trade deals are being improved. Now, more than ever, it is important that we send leaders like Dr. Miller-Meeks to Congress to keep our country moving in the right direction.

The other Republican running in Iowas open-seat 2nd Congressional race is former Illinois Congressman Bobby Schilling.

UNION ENDORSES GREENFIELD: Iowas chapter of the American Federation of Government Employees endorsed Des Moines businesswoman Theresa Greenfield in Iowas U.S. Senate Democratic primary. The union represents more than 8,700 federal employees in Iowa, according to the Greenfield campaign.
Safety of children cannot be put at risk, the Delhi High Court said Tuesday and asked the CBSE to decide at the earliest on rescheduling Wednesday's board exam at one of the centres in the north-east Delhi where violence related to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act have claimed 10 lives.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher asked the CBSE to take the decision as soon as possible on the exam and convey it to all concerned.

The court will hear the matter again on Wednesday morning.

The court was hearing a plea by private school, Bhai Parmanand Vidya Mandir at Surya Niketan in East Delhi, and some of its class X and XII students saying the centre allotted to them by the CBSE was 16 km away their school and situated in Chandu Nagar-Karawal Nagar road, one of the violence hit areas.

They said it was hard for them to reach at the Centre due to violent clashes and riots in area which have claimed 10 lives so far.

They urged the court to direct the CBSE to change the examination centre from New Sandhya Public School to a centre located in east Delhi district with proper infrastructure and security.

Class X students are to appear for English exam on Wednesday, while class XII students have 'Web Application' and 'Media' paper.

The court said it was of a prima facie opinion that the exam cannot be held at the Chandu Nagar Centre in view of the inputs given by the senior police officials.

The Registrar General of the high court informed the judge that as per the inputs of police officials of the concerned area, the situation is tense.

The court said it was looking at the issue from the aspect of children's safety which cannot be put at risk.

The school, in the petition, said around 550 students in class X and XII are registered with it for taking the board examination.

The plea, filed through advocate Kamal Gupta, said the "violent clashes and riots have posed a serious threat and danger to the life of the students and their parents, in as much as they have no option but to reach the centre come what may be the situation of the area around the centre; reaching the centre not only involves mental agony, trauma and stress for the students and their parents, but also poses grave and palpable threat to the life and limb".

The plea said when the school had come to know about the Centre allotted to it, they had written to CBSE pointing out that the examination centre is 16 km away from the school and the time taken to reach there is more than 40 minutes.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India and the US on Tuesday further strengthened their defence cooperation with the two countries giving a nod to an agreement under which India will get USD 3 billion of advanced military equipment including Apache and MH-60 Romeo helicopters.

US President Donald Trump made the announcement after delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.

"Earlier today we expanded our defence cooperation with agreements for India to purchase more than USD $ 3 billion of advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo Helicopters - finest in the world. These will enhance our joint defence capabilities," he said.

The Prime Minister also spoke of growing defence cooperation between the two countries.

He said that increasing defence and security cooperation between India and the US was a very important part of the strategic partnership.

"India's defence capacity has increased through collaboration on state-of-the-art defence equipment and platforms. Our defence manufacturers are becoming part of each other's supply chains. Indian forces are doing most training exercises today with the forces of USA. In the last few years, there has been an unprecedented increase in interoperability between our forces," Modi said.

A day earlier, during his address at "Namaste Trump" event in Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad, the US President had announced that the two countries would sign agreement in defence sector.

"I am pleased to announce that tomorrow our representatives will sign deals to sell over USD 3 billion, in the absolute finest state of the art military helicopters and other equipment to the Indian armed forces," Trump had 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. But this includes advanced air defence systems and armed and unarmed aerial vehicles," the US President had told the gathering.

The last few years have seen the two countries concluding military agreements such as LEMOA, COMCASA to increase interoperability between militaries of two countries.

The Indian military has bought a significant chunk of its military hardware from the US in the last few years.

These include P-8I surveillance planes, Apache attack choppers and Chinook transport choppers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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DARIEN  After students entered the social studies and language arts offices at Darien High School and copied the answers to the 300 level exams, the district is taking steps to enhance security in staff areas, the superintendent of schools said.

The Board of Education discussed the question of security at its special meeting earlier this month to discuss the breach of exam answers. Dr. Alan Addley, superintendent of schools, told the board at that meeting the administration was taking a 360 review of the process and exams themselves.

He pointed out that the school is large and that students know they should not be in that area, regardless of supervision at the time.

Addley told The Darien Times Tuesday that security precautions for exams have been reviewed, discussed and some new practices have been implemented.

The accessibility and evening security at the high school remains an ongoing discussion as the facility is often used for student and community activities and events, he said.

Addley said he cannot talk specifically about any level of school security.

I think it is fair to say the actions taken are responsive and procedural, he said.

Addley, when asked about punishment for the students responsible, cited the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA, as why that information could not be revealed. FERPA is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds from the U.S. Department of Education.

On Tuesday, Addley reiterated that individual punishment details could not be revealed due to the law.

The family of one of the teens accused of cheating on Darien High Schools exams recently hired an attorney to investigate and possibly challenge the school districts handling of the penalties for his client.

Mark Sherman, the Stamford attorney hired to represent the 16-year-old boy implicated in the scheme, said the punishments imposed by the school ranged from retaking the exam to suspension.

While the district showed measured discretion and compassion in setting the punishment ceiling for the accused students, we are looking into the disparate treatment of these students, especially in the context of federally mandated due process accommodations that should be considered, Sherman said after he was hired.

Sherman said he will examine whether the punishment was appropriate and was fair and equitable in the context of penalties meted out to other similarly situated students received in this dumpster fire of a discipline process.

On Tuesday, Sherman said he had no update to the situation.
The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History will host the 2020 Walk of Remembrance honoring the lives of early Chinese-American settlers, on May 3, starting at the museum.



(TRAVPR.COM) CA - February 25th, 2020 - Pacific Grove, CA, February 25, 2020  The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History will host the 2020 Walk of Remembrance honoring the lives of early Chinese-American settlers, on May 3, starting at the museum.

The 2020 Walk of Remembrance, which will be held from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, May 3, 2020, will begin with introductions at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History at 165 Forest Ave., and will include light refreshments.

Museum Executive Director Jeanette Kihs and fifth-generation Chinese Fishing Village descendant Gerry Low-Sabado will be among those greeting visitors to the event. Low-Sabado will speak about her quest to tell her ancestors Chinese-American story.

There will be a facilitated discussion to discover connections about how our own experiences impacts and influences history. The Monterey Bay Lion Dance Team will lead the short walk to Lovers Point, then along the bike trail, to the site where the village once stood. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended for the half-mile trek.

For more information on Museum events, call (831) 648-5716, email admin@pgmuseum.org or go to the website at www.pgmuseum.org.

About the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

In 1883, our museum opened its doors among the first wave of natural history museums in America. Naturalists of this era, such as John Muir And Louis Aggasiz, began a national tradition of hands-on science education and nature preservation. The museum has continued this tradition for 135 years. The museums mission is to inspire discovery, wonder, and stewardship of our natural world. It envisions a community of curious minds, engaged in discovering the natural heritage and cultural legacy that exist today on the Central California Coast. The Museum is a catalyst for conservation and a valued learning resource in this region, facilitating active inquiry for all ages.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.pgmuseum.org

###
A woman who was heavily intoxicated was arrested on a Saturday flight from Frankfurt to Washington, D.C., after she tried to smoke a cigarette in the plane bathroom, and blurted out that her whole family was recently killed in a car accident, none of which was true, say federal prosecutors.

Dana Mustafa threatened to "stab everyone on the plane. Then kill myself," while handcuffed on the flight to from Germany to Dulles International Airport, authorities claim.

"What's the point of living?" she is recorded as saying.

A half-empty liter bottle of Absolut vodka was found in her purse.

Excerpt:

From the Washington Post:

She made her first appearance in Alexandria federal court Monday afternoon, charged with assaulting an officer. She does not yet have an attorney. Mustafa first attracted attention on the evening United Airlines flight when she set off the smoke detector in the lavatory, according to court records. Flight attendants told her she could not smoke on the plane and took her back to her seat. 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.

Read more:

Woman drunkenly threatened to 'stab everyone' on flight to D.C., falsely claimed family tragedy, prosecutors say

[washingtonpost.com]
A pair of hotly debated new California laws limiting which schoolchildren can skip vaccines appears stuck in bureaucratic limbo, the result of uncertainty over how to interpret last-minute changes made before the legislation was signed last year by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Meanwhile, the state Department of Public Health, which is tasked with offering key guidance on the new vaccine laws, has been silent on the confusion over the rules.

Senate Bill 276 calls for the public health department to create a standardized vaccine exemption form that doctors will electronically submit to the state for review beginning next January. Newsom insisted on a second piece of legislation  Senate Bill 714  to ensure the new rules would be implemented in an effective manner.

While aspects of SB 714 significantly weakened the overall impact of the new law, other changes increased scrutiny of vaccine exemptions written by doctors who were disciplined or are under investigation by the Medical Board of California and Osteopathic Medical Board of California.

However, its unclear when that oversight begins.

This should absolutely be happening now, said state Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), the author of the vaccine legislation.

But school nurses who review medical exemptions said that unless they receive guidance from the public health department telling them otherwise, exemptions granted by scrutinized doctors will not be reviewed until 2021.

I dont think most school nurses understand this law, said California School Nurses Assn. President Pamela Kahn. When reading the law, I can see why you would assume its happening now, but thats not happening now in the school community.

While the law allows the state to review medical exemptions written before Jan. 1 in cases in which the approving physician has been disciplined by the medical board, it does not specifically say when those reviews should begin. Most California statutes take effect on the first day of the year after approval by the governor. But several key provisions in the vaccine law specify that they should take effect in 2021, leading some to say that later date also applies to the new review process.

The statute also doesnt indicate whether the review of a disciplined doctors medical exemptions would be scrutinized automatically once punishment is finalized, or if decisions to investigate would be made on a case-by-case basis. Its also unclear if the disciplinary action that brings additional scrutiny must be related to immunizations.

Only one doctor has been disciplined for a vaccine-related case  Dr. Bob Sears, a well-known Orange County physician whose practice caters to parents who oppose some or all vaccinations. State public health officials declined to answer The Times questions on whether the law affects Sears previous medical exemptions.

The medical board put Sears on a 35-month probation in 2018 after charging him with committing gross negligence for failing to obtain the basic information necessary to determine whether a child should skip future vaccines. Last year, Sears faced a new complaint from the state medical board alleging that he wrote improper vaccination exemptions for children.

If a physician has been disciplined by the medical board for something related to inappropriate medical exemptions, as Dr. Bob Sears has been, then all of that doctors medical exemptions are now invalid, Pan said of the law. Schools should know that a child with a medical exemption written by Dr. Sears is now void.

But Kahn said shes waiting on guidance from the state public health department on how that part of the law should be implemented in schools. The laws were a primary concern at a recent school nurses association conference, she said.

Kahn said school officials can research which students have medical exemptions, but in most cases, determining which doctor wrote them would require pulling individual student files. If that is the expectation, Kahn said, school nurses will need significant notice to complete that work.

Thats a lot of legwork, she said.

Under SB 714, a doctor under investigation by the Medical Board of California in a case involving vaccinations cant write a new medical exemption unless the case is cleared in the doctors favor. There are four doctors with pending allegations related to immunizations before the medical board. They include Drs. Sears of Capistrano Beach, Ron Kennedy of Santa Rosa, Tara Zandvliet of San Diego and Kenneth Stoller of Santa Rosa.

Pan says that provision of the law is also effective now. But the language of SB 714 references a standardized form that has yet to be created by the public health department. Pan contends the intent of the law is still clear  doctors under investigation should not be writing new medical exemptions.

The public health department has until next January to create the form, which will be electronically transmitted to the states immunization registry for review  and possible rejection  by state public health officials. The public health department declined to comment on its timeline for crafting the new document.

Parents were promised that this fall, schools would be healthier and safer places, said Leah Russin, executive director of Vaccinate California, a key group that supported SB 276. The departments that the governor manages have not done anything to provide guidance for this year. At the end of the day, it seems what we have is a real challenge with the late changes made in SB 714.

The public health department said in a statement to The Times that the agency is aware of the many steps and the timelines for implementation.

The Department is moving quickly to finalize the forms and the systems required to receive those forms, the agency said. Next steps are being determined within the guidelines outlined in the laws.

Those decisions will be a key factor in determining how sweeping the new law will be. Meanwhile, critics of the legislation continue to protest in Sacramento, including Monday outside Newsoms private residence. California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, who opponents have lobbied as a potential ally, spoke to protesters outside the gate to her home on Monday, where she said, I think there needs to be more conversation around spreading out vaccines, around only giving children the vaccines that are most essential.

A short video of her comments was posted by protesters online, where she told them to trust the new law and that shes been trying to have dialogue internally. She then asked that protesters not post the video online. A spokesman for the governor said the laws signed by Newsom last year are the official position of the administration.

I feel confident [the public health department] will get this done, but I think it could come down to the wire, said Catherine Flores-Martin of the California Immunization Coalition.

Once officials have created the form and sent it to the immunization registry next year, the department will then monitor which physicians are submitting medical exemptions. The vaccine waivers are currently submitted directly to schools and local districts, making it difficult to determine how many medical exemptions a single doctor writes.

However, vaccine exemption data released by a handful of school districts in recent years showed a few doctors wrote the majority of them.

Zandvliet, a San Diego physician who is under investigation by the state medical board, estimated that shes written about 1,000 medical exemptions since 2015, according to the accusation filed against her. By comparison, doctors who spoke in support of the laws said they have written only a handful of medical exemptions over the course of their careers.

California has been strengthening its inoculation laws since 2015, when the state eliminated exemptions based on personal or religious beliefs. Instead, children must have a medical reason to skip some or all shots required for public and private school and daycare. Since that law was enacted, though, the number of children with medical exemptions has grown and some physicians have been accused of excusing children for questionable reasons.

There is no question that these vaccine laws will make our children and communities safer by ensuring public health officials are tracking when physicians issue an unusual number of medical exemptions from vaccines and halting the practice of unnecessary exemption, Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly, who oversees the public health department, said in a statement. Bottom line: These laws will make California kids and communities healthier.

Under the new law, the public health department can also make a determination that a doctor is contributing to a public health risk in one or more communities and bar that physician from writing new medical exemptions for up to two years.

How the department will determine a doctor is contributing to a public health risk is unclear. The department told The Times that it is developing criteria throughout this year. When those criteria are created, the department said guidelines would be posted on the agencys website. Whether a doctors past medical exemptions will be considered in making a case that she or he is a public health risk is also unclear.

Sears, a vocal opponent of the states vaccine laws, said public health officials were granted new witch hunt powers that will make it easy to target specific doctors.

Im not writing any more exemptions unless I see a patient who qualifies under the new law  a near-fatal allergic reaction or permanent brain injury after vaccines  so they wont really have any target to throw their darts at, Sears said.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
After holding a meeting with the Union Home Minister over the violence in the Northeast area of the capital, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that discussion with Amit Shah was "positive" and said all political parties have stressed upon restoring peace.

"It was decided in the meeting that all the political parties will take requisite steps to restore peace in Delhi. The meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah was positive," he said while addressing the media in New Delhi.

He further stated that "the police are doing their bit and Amit Shah ji has also assured that whatever force is needed, he will provide as per the requirement."

When enquired if he will ask for the deployment of the Indian armed forces, the Delhi Chief Minister said: "If it is needed then I hope... But right now the action is being taken by the police."

Earlier in the morning, CM Kejriwal had stressed upon sealing the Delhi borders stating, "MLAs of the border areas have said that people are coming from outside. There is a need to seal the borders and do preventive arrests."

Briefing media about what transpired in between him and the MLAs of the affected area, the Delhi Chief Minister had said he has given appropriate instructions to the Delhi Police, hospitals and Delhi Fire Service to bring back normalcy in the region. "I have told hospitals to treat the injured immediately. Delhi Fire Service will coordinate with the Delhi Police in those areas where they are finding it difficult to enter."

Seven people, including one police head constable, lost their lives and over 100 were injured in North-East Delhi on Monday after clashes between pro and anti CAA protestors.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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.
More than six years after a retired doctor of the Indian Army murdered his 61-year-old wife, chopped her body and packed them into tiffin boxes, a local court in Odishas Bhubaneswar sentenced him to life imprisonment on Tuesday.

Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Somnath Parida was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder and destroying evidence by the Khurda district and sessions judge.

The court also slapped the 78-year-old Parida with a Rs 50,000 fine.

Parida broke down after the punishment was pronounced, said public prosecutor Biren Kumar Panda.

Parida had killed his wife Ushasree Samal with a steel torch in a fit of rage in June 2013. He cut her body into 300 pieces and stashed them in small tiffin carriers.

He then hacked her body into six-inch pieces using a surgeons scalpel, scissor, saw and a kitchen knife and stashed the body parts in 22 small tiffin containers at his posh residence in Bhubaneswar. He poured phenyl on the body parts to kill the stench.

The murder came to light on June 22, 2013, after Ranjan Samal, his wifes brother, visited the house along with other relatives to inquire about his sister who did not respond to repeated phone calls from their children staying abroad.

As Parida did not open the door, the relatives attempted to open a window and peek inside when they realised that a foul smell was coming from the house.

Parida was arrested from his residence after Bhubaneswar Police found the body parts of his wife in an iron trunk and tiffins in the house.

The police were intrigued by the doctors calm demenour.

Even after murdering his wife, he continued to attend a clinic in a private hospital. During trial he kept on denying the killing, maintaining that his wife committed suicide and he had stored the body parts to carry them to Shirdi where the last rites would have been conducted, they said in the chargesheet.

Parida worked as a consultant with several organisations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), after his retirement in 1992.

After their children left home, the couple lived alone and is reported to have a long history of marital discord. A teetotaller, Parida went to bed at 6pm and woke up at 3am.

The judgement in the case was delayed as Parida changed several defence lawyers at regular intervals.
Wuhan revokes easing control

Global Times

By Zhang Han and Leng Shumei Source:Global Times Published: 2020/2/24 16:38:08

Withdrawal shows situation is still tense: expert

Authorities in Wuhan, Hubei Province, retracted an announcement only three hours after its publication that said it would ease the city's lockdown to allow certain residents to leave and those outside to enter, as the COVID-19 outbreak epicenter has been sealed off for 31 days.

Experts welcomed the decision to withdraw the easing of the policy, saying it shows the epidemic situation in Wuhan still doesn't allow for over-optimism.

The previous notice was released on Monday morning, stating that people stranded in Wuhan can leave the city if they are not under medical observation or required to undergo quarantine. Wuhan residents who need to leave for work involving epidemic control, industrial production and treatment of special diseases can also leave the city.

The notice prompted widespread discussions immediately after its release, with many wondering whether it would be too early to relax control on human activities amid the epidemic fight.

However, the city's epidemic prevention and control command center on Monday afternoon retracted the notice saying it was released without careful research or approval from senior officials.

According to Taoranbiji, a media account on WeChat, the retracted notice was issued by a deputy mayor of Wuhan.

Yang Zhanqiu, deputy director of the pathogen biology department at Wuhan University, said the withdrawal is a safe decision as the epidemic control situation in the city does not allow relaxation at this moment.

Partly lifting the travel ban would misguide the public, leading them to believe that the epidemic situation in Wuhan is already fine, Yang told the Global Times on Monday.

"There are still hundreds of new confirmed cases every day. The notice, if implemented, means that people can not only leave, but also get into Wuhan, which means control over infection sources is not guaranteed," Yang noted.

Ren Jianming, an associate director of the Research Center for anti-corruption and governance at Tsinghua University, agreed with Yang, criticizing the Wuhan government's eagerness and lack of awareness of the overall situation of the epidemic in issuing and retracting the notice within hours given the central government and epidemiologists' reiteration of the warning that it is still too early to relax in the battle against the epidemic.

The epidemic's social and economic effects are impacting the whole country and even the world, Ren told Global Times on Monday.

As for when a lift of the lockdown can be announced, the timing should be approved not only by the city government, but also the provincial and central authorities, given the epidemic's massive impact on the country, according to Ren.

Wuhan reported 348 new confirmed cases on Sunday, with 35,674 cases under treatment. Fifty new cases were reported in other cities in Hubei Province. The number of new infections in Wuhan stayed at a few hundred in the past five days in comparison with more than 1,000 a day previously.

Despite some positive signs, Chen Xi, assistant professor at Yale University's School of Public Health, said that it was too early to ease the lockdown.

The base number of confirmed and suspected cases is still large and there are 8,329 patients in critical condition in Wuhan, and if the virus is resurrected in and outside the epicenter, the situation will become very thorny, Chen said.

Ren noted that given the hundreds of new cases reported in the city every day, human-to-human transmission still exists.

There are possibly still people infected with the novel coronavirus who have not been found, he said.

Inside Wuhan city, it is difficult to say that everything is in order while returning to normal seems impossible at the moment.

Some Wuhan residents reached by the Global Times said that delivery of daily necessities has been problematic after all residential compounds were sealed off. "The vegetable package is quite expensive and sometimes we did not receive items we ordered, without explanation," a local resident surnamed Liu told the Global Times.

A local doctor who requested anonymity told the Global Times that some close contacts of patients and suspected cases were not cooperative in infection screening, which posed the danger of human-to-human transmissions on a small scale.

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BAKERS have increased the price of bread for the first time this year by about 17 percent from $18 to $21 for a standard loaf citing increased production costs and challenges in procurement of flour.





The increase came into effect over the weekend and by yesterday most shops had adjusted to the new price.





A snap survey by Business Chronicle in Bulawayo revealed that retailers  Greens, OK, TM Pick n Pay, Oceans, Choppies and Zapalala  had already switched to the new price. Brands such as Lobels, Bakers Inn, Proton and Oceans are being sold for between $20 and $21.

National Bakers Association of Zimbabwe president, Mr Dennis Wallah, attributed the increase in the price of bread to the challenges regarding the flour subsidy as well as escalating costs linked to foreign currency shortages.





The price of bread has been stable from November to date. We dont have subsidised flour available hence the market forces are now at play, he said.





prices. Mr Wallah said because most of the raw materials are imported, changes in the exchange rate also affect the production costs and this had forced bakers to adjustprices.





Consumer Rights Association spokesperson, Mr Effie Ncube, said the latest increase means that the price of bread which is a basic commodity, is now beyond the reach of many families.





We get concerned when families cannot afford basics such as bread as this means these families are now food insecure, said Mr Ncube.





He said it was important to stabilise the prices of basic commodities so that they remain affordable to many families.





Mr Ncube called for a stakeholder dialogue involving business, Government, labour and consumers to map the way forward.





He said it did not make business sense to produce bread whose price consumers cannot afford.





Mr Ncube said while consumers appreciated that businesses have to make a profit, it was unfair for busineses to charge extortionate prices.





When you look at the price of bread across bakers, it goes up almost at the same time and by the same margin, he said.





Mr Ncube said consumers were supposed to benefit from competing businesses charging different prices for the same commodity but this was not the case.





That is a violation of the laws of the country, the Competitions Act is very clear, you cannot collude to fix a price, he said.





Consumer Council of Zimbabwe regional manager for Matabeleland, Mr Comfort Muchekeza, said very few families could afford bread at the old price and the few who were still buying the bread will join the rest who had long stopped eating bread following the latest price increase.





Increasing the price of bread by $3 while many consumers are failing to buy it at $15 is a sad development.





The few that were still buying bread will join the rest that stopped buying bread a long time ago, said Mr Muchekeza.




Despite the fact that only 191 working state enterprises out of 2,205 were profitable, this winter, officials did not hesitate to increase their salaries and obtain bonuses

Open source

After a scandal with the December bonuses of the ministers, they, as well as MPs, employees of the Presidents Office, the National Security and Defense Council, the Accounts Chamber, the Constitutional Court, and the Office of the Prosecutor Generals Office cut their salaries. 3,500 USD would be their maximum monthly wages.

112.ua has analyzed data for the winter months. It turned out that despite only 191 working state enterprises out of 2,205 were profitable, this winter, officials did not hesitate to increase their salaries and obtain bonuses.

Andriy Kobolev, Naftogaz

Naftogaz

The average salary of a Naftogaz employee is high: managers receive more than 3,500 USD. But what about its CEO, Andriy Kobolev?

In addition to the millions of dollar premiums for winning the Stockholm arbitration, he previously earned at least 410,000 USD per month. When extending his contract, payments were cut. So, in January, he earned 85,000 USD. These are almost three salaries of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, five salaries of the President of France Emmanuel Macron and 120 salaries of Volodymyr Zelensky.

Although the company is state-owned, Kobolev explains his salary by market conditions. Another argument is the high profit of the enterprise. According to the latest report of the company, for 9 months of 2019, the company received almost 1 billion USD of net profit. This is 27% more than for the same period in 2018.

Igor Smelyansky, Ukrposhta

politeka.net

Back in 2016, Ukrposhta CEO Igor Smelyansky came to a salary of 13,000 USD, in 2018 he received 23,000 USD, and in January 2020, according to the financial plan of the enterprise, 74,000 USD. This is more than Donald Trump earns.

Of this money, the salary itself is less than half. In an interview with one of the TV channels, Smelyansky announced that he was receiving 34,000 USD. He also stressed that he pays fines for thousands of dollars when he does not manage to cope with his tasks. Smelyansky received 29,000 USD premium, and another 19,000 USD is additional payments provided by law. At the same time, the salaries of his deputies and top managers are tied to the salary of Smelyansky.

The head of Ukrposhta believes that he deserves obtaining his salary because he has three higher educations, 14 years of experience and works for 19 hours a day - almost without going to bed. He introduced competitive purchases into the company, online parcel monitoring, and increased employees' salaries.

Oleksandr Donets, Antonov

Liga.net

The salary of the director of the Antonov enterprise Oleksandr Donets is growing rapidly, although the company's profit is only declining. For 9 months of 2019, Antonov earned almost 20 million USD less than in the same period of 2018.

According to his declarations, in July, Donets received 5,300 USD, and since autumn - an average of 10,000 USD monthly.

Everything would be fine if in December he had not been issued a bonus of 49,000 USD. Together with the salary for December, Donets was credited with approximately 54,000 USD. This is 84.7 average salaries of Antonov employees (they receive about 650 USD per month).

Yevhen Kravtsov, Ukrzaliznytsia

Ukrainian Railways press service

Yevhen Kravtsov was dismissed from his post in late January. His duties are temporarily performed by Zeljko Marcek, who has been a member of the Ukrzaliznytsia board since 2016. In early February, he declared 10,500 USD. Most likely, he has not yet received salaries in his new position.

If we talk about Kravtsov's income for 2018, then he himself said that he received an average of 23,500 USD per month.

Although we do not know the salary of the head, its approximate amount can be calculated from the salaries of board members. In 2018, they earned half 20 million USD per year, in 2019, based on financial statements, 30,000 USD per month. It is unlikely that Kravtsov earns less than his direct subordinates. And journalists of Channel 5, referring to their sources in Ukrzaliznytsia, reported in December that in 2019, he already received about 51,500 USD per month.

The figure is close to the truth since, at the end of last year, the company paid its employees the 13th salary of half the salary for December 2018. Thus, in December, Kravtsov was supposed to receive at least 16,600 USD of bonuses and a total of more than 40,000 USD. And this is without allowances and bonuses. Kravtsov also faces decent compensation after his dismissal - his annual salary.

Oleksandr Degtyariov, Yuzhnoye Design Office

Ukrinform

Degtyariov receives less than other top officials but is still considered one of the highest-paid heads of state enterprises. In January, he reported on receiving 18,500 USD, and on February 2 he received an additional 7,000 USD. In December, he received together with the prize of 45,000 USD.

In 2016, Degtyariov was fired for violating financial legislation on the recommendation of the State Financial Inspection, but he recovered through the court. If we leave aside the very figure of the chapter and judge the results of its work, then on the company's website we find the financial report for 9 months of 2019.

Raivis Veckagans, Seaport Authority

GMK

Raivis Vetskagans for January declared 27,000 UDS along with bonuses. Moreover, last year his salaries were more modest: in December  10,000 USD, in November  11,300 USD. After large-scale reductions, the ratio of the director's salary to the average employee salary in January was 29 times.

Vetskagans receives such a high salary, despite the fact that according to the administrations reporting for 9 months, its profit decreased by 19%.

Pavlo Pavlyshyn, Energoatom

Open source

Acting Director Pavlo Pavlyshyn in February received 25,000 USD. This is the 23 rate of salaries of his employees. In January, Pavlyshyn received 21.000 USD, although in 2019 the amounts were much more modest: in December  7,000 USD, in November  5,200 USD.

The predecessor of Pavlyshyn, Yuriy Nedashkovsky, received more than 25,000 USD per month.

Yakiv Smoliy, National Bank (NBU)

Yakiv Smoliy, Acting Head of National Bank of Ukraine rian.com

Smoliy in January declared 24,000 USD. At the same time, in 2019, he earned about 15,500 USD, his deputies  13,200 USD each.

The salary of the NBU chairman is calculated based on the average size of the chairpersons of the boards of Ukrainian banks. Media writes that the head of the board of PrivatBank Petro Krumkhanzl earns 28,600 USD a month - almost 70 times more than the average employee of the bank. The heads of the board of Oschadbank, Ukrgasbank, and Ukreximbank seem to have lower wages. Despite media inquiries, this information was not disclosed to banks.

Vsevolod Kovalchuk, Ukrenergo

censor.net.ua

Vsevolod Kovalchuk still has not been declared his payments for January. In December, he received 494 20,000 USD, in November  21,000 USD, in October  17,100 USD. These are 24 salaries of the average employee and about the same amount as Angela Merkel receives.

In September 2019, he declared 168,000 USD. Most likely, he received this money in connection with the transfer to a new position. It is likely that Kovalchuk is waiting for another transfer: the company announced the start of a competition to replace him.

As for the results of his work as the head of Ukrenergo, so far there is only a financial report for 9 months of 2019. Net profit for the year increased by 2.4 times.

Pavlo Ryabikin, Boryspil

The director-general of the Boryspil international airport declared 20,000 USD in January. It is also more than the French leader gets.

If we talk about the effectiveness of Ryabikin, four years ago the company was unprofitable, and in the past, in 2019, Boryspil reported a net income of 102 million USD. But in 2018, profits were more than 1 million USD. This did not stop Ryabikin from raising his salary by 3,500 USD per month. Since payments to Ryabikin are growing faster than dividends, there are doubts about the justice of his salary.

Closer to reality: from the Agrarian Fund to Ukravtodor

After the salaries of the top ten top officials, the earnings of other heads of enterprises and departments seem more adequate. In the private sector, you can really find vacancies for managerial positions with payment from 8,000-10,000 USD per month. But they are practically unattainable - 1-2% of top managers get them.

New head of the Agrarian Fund Ivan Baryshev received in January 10,400 USD, in December  9,400 USD. Inspections in the Agrarian Fund showed speculation with the amounts of profit. The actual balance amounted to 118 million USD, although the amounts claimed were 2.5 times more.

The National AntiCorruption Bureau (NABU) responded to our request that in January its head Artem Sytnk received almost 8,100 USD (with surcharges for the length of service, for work related to access to state secrets, for rank, with business trips and vacation pay). At the same time, his deputies get more: Tetyana Varvarskaya received 13,000 USD, Anatoliy Novak  7,900 USD.

Head of the National Police Ihor Klymenko for December declared 6,700 USD, in January he was paid 3,200 USD. Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) head Nazar Kholodnitsky. Earlier earns 3,300 USD.

In January, Iryna Venedyktova, head of the State Security Bureau, was not paid the official salary, but she received a bonus of 1,000 USD. Her predecessor in office, Roman Truba, earned 2,700 USD in March. Venedyktova's deputies receive from 1,300 to 1,500 USD.

Most of all vacancies in the private sector amount to 1,000 to 1,700 USD. Such modest salaries are received by some top managers of state-owned companies.

Director of Ukravtodor Oleksandr Kubrakov, who was appointed on November 16, said he was receiving 1,000 USD with an average employee salary of 730 USD. The salary of his predecessor Slavomir Novak with bonuses was about 6,100 USD per month. Kubrakov says that he has enough money since he has a business. However, it cannot be said that his salary is too underestimated, since the head of Ukravtodor still has bonuses, and the losses of his company for only nine months of 2019 amounted to 737,000 USD.

And Aivaras Abromavicius, the head of Ukroboronprom, hasn't yet published his declaration from his new place of employment (the declaration expected in April), however, in a November interview said that he was earning 190 USD per month. This is a record low amount.
The pastors led 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, also focused 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 came following the Delaware State Senate's refusal to hear Reverend Al Sharpton the opportunity 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.

"They thought I wasn't going to come back," said Reverend Sharpton. "But I'm going to keep coming back until this is not an issue. To say I was disappointed the 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."

Contact: Chris Coffey, [email protected]

SOURCE Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware
Developers have welcomed the new dispatch guidance, but many business leaders are looking for even more, Photo Le Toan

Nguyen Manh Toan, a Hanoian who had bought a condotel in the central city of Danang, told VIR that he was at ease when his unit received an ownership grant from the local authorities. I bought this unit three years ago and since then it has been suffering from very low benefits. But with the new guidance, my unit will attain a steady legal status, Toan said.

On February 14, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) issued Official Dispatch No.703/BTNMT-TCQLDD, providing instructions about use of land and grant of certificates of ownership of construction works other than residential homes, including holiday hotel condos, or condotels.

According to the dispatch, if related projects meet regulatory requirements for transfer under the provisions of the Law on Real Estate Business, granting certificates of ownership of such construction works to transferees will be subject to regulations laid down in Article 32 in Decree No.43/2014/ND-CP regulating details about implementation of several articles of the Law on Land. It will also be subject to Clause 22 of Article 2 in the Decree No. 01/2017/ND-CP amending and supplementing several decrees elaborating on implementation of the Law on Land.

Tran Dao Duc, deputy general director of CEO Group, one of the largest developers of condotels, said that the guidance is a basic movement on the legal status of condotels in Vietnam. Its issuance has been awaited by developers for the last three years. Thousands of condotels are equivalent to tens of billions of US dollars. Everyone in this business will profit from the new guidance, from developers to buyers, he said.

Duc further emphasised that the dispatch also helps solve disputes on the legal status of condotels which has so far been unclear.

This helps the government to build a legal framework and impose tax on transaction and leasing activities. Also, it will create more jobs, attract more investors into the sector, and create more room for the tourism industry, he added.

Meanwhile, buyers and investors will have enough rights on asset ownership, mortgage, grant, and transfer. The legal status for condotels is now on track. The only remaining issue will be how local authorities implement it, Duc said.

Meanwhile, Huong Tran Kieu Dung, general director of FLC Group, told local media that the guidance is an effective tool to instruct local authorities to solve difficulties for investors and developers. He suggested that the government may allow foreigners to buy condotels.

Nguyen Tran Nam, chairman of the Vietnam Real Estate Association also highly appreciated the update. The guideline for granting ownership for condotels confirms that competent bodies have listened to developers and investors opinions, Nam said.

Furthermore, the dispatch was welcomed by local authorities. Mai Trung Hung, deputy director of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Construction Department said that local authorities will now be able to solve remaining issues in projects that have been frozen for a long time.

Standstills remain

Although the guideline is welcome by all sectors, some issues remain unsolved.

Le Hoang Chau, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association said the Ministry of Construction should clarify the concept of a condominium and a condotel so that local authorities can implement these in the right way. Moreover, Chau said that the current guideline does not mention townhouse condotels and shoptels which both occupy a significant part of many projects.

Kevin Hawkins, co-executive partner from Zico Law Vietnam, told VIR that despite the guideline being a good sign for the market, unfortunately, it provides little in the way of resolving the current situation, except to clarify the existing laws.

Accordingly, the MoNRE instructed local authorities to apply the current laws in a way that uniformly allows for land use right certificates to be issued for construction works on leased land. Condotel resort land is commonly leased as commercial land with a maximum duration of 50-70 years depending on the circumstances.

While this may provide some additional clarification for issuing a form of asset ownership and transfer for the resort developer, it should provide more comfort to prospective buyers as it does not bring these non-residential condotels under the governance of the residential housing laws, Hawkins analysed. This means that condotel resort owners would have little voice in the decisions regarding the common areas of the property, such as pools, gyms, and parking lots, which typically attract buyers to invest in the property in the first place.

He further added that unlike apartment complexes, which have management boards comprised of unit owners, there is no such mechanism under the land or tourism law that can be applied to construction works, considering that the condotels and villas are assets constructed and attached to leased land. How this will affect the rights of unit owners and developers remains to be seen. Similarly, the effect on the marketing and sale of such units remains vague, he added.

According to Hawkins, many issues still need to be addressed to unfreeze the condotel market. For instance, the issuance of a comprehensive decree or law for condotels, defining what a condotel is in contrast to other tourism properties. Further issues regard investments, payment guarantees of promised property returns, non-recourse mortgaging permissions, especially for properties with a contractual revenue stream, and legal reviews of the investment documents by qualified lawyers.

Positive expectations

Despite remaining at a standstill, thanks to the recent issued guideline, the condotel market is expected to be more active in 2020 and beyond.

Vietnam welcomed over 18 million international tourists in 2019, according to the General Statistics Office. The number showed an on-year rise of 16.2 per cent. Tourists from Asia made up 79.9 per cent of the total, up 19.1 per cent. Meanwhile, arrivals from Europe, the United States, and Africa went up by 6.4, 7.7, and 12.2 per cent, respectively.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism noted that the country served 85 million domestic holidaymakers in the year, an increase of over 6 per cent.

According to tourism experts, with an average growth of international arrivals to Vietnam from 9 to 11 per cent annually, the country would need around 700,000 rooms this year to host them. This figure could grow to up to 1.45 million in 2030.

Local condotels could not only be a way to increase the number of rooms but also offer high-quality accommodation above four stars for tourists, which many cities and provinces still lack.
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.
By Express News Service

VIZIANAGARAM: The State government is introducing revolutionary reforms in the field of education like nowhere else in the country, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy asserted on Monday while launching the Jagananna Vasathi Deevena in Vizianagaram. The scheme, aimed at reducing the number of dropouts, will ensure students from low-income households get Rs 20,000 per year for their hostel and mess fees.

The money will be credited to the students' mothers' accounts in two instalments each year. This will cost the government Rs 2,300 crore, and the scheme is expected to benefit 11,87,904 students.Addressing a public meeting, Jagan said only education can change the fate of those who have remained poor even several decades after Independence.

"To make that change happen, the poor must be free of debt, and children must pursue higher education to become engineers, doctors and civil servants, and share part of their earnings with their family. Unfortunately, this has not happened," he explained.

ALSO READ| Class VI student steals the show with speech on government's welfare schemes

The CM further pointed out that the States illiteracy rate is 33 per cent, compared to the national average of 27 per cent. Indias gross enrolment ratio (GER) in degree and PG colleges among people aged 18-23 years is way behind that of other BRICS nations, he added. Russia has an 81 per cent GER, while Brazil and China have around 50 per cent. Indias is just 23 per cent. This means 77 per cent are not pursuing higher education due to poverty and other factors. We must strive to change this and better Russias GER, he said.

Elaborating on the States reforms being implemented in the education sector, he said, Those earning up to Rs 2.5 lakh annually are eligible. The first instalment of the Jagananna Vasatjhi Deevena will be paid in January-February and the second in July-August.Vidya Deevena is being implemented at a cost of Rs 3,700 crore and the Amma Vodi scheme has benefited 42 lakh mothers and 82 lakh students. The government is spending a total of Rs 12,400 crore on these three schemes, Jagan said.

Jagan lambasts Opposition for hindering development

Jagan lambasted the Opposition for hindering the govt, which he said is committed to the development of the State, by trying to project it in a bad light. He said he prays to God for more strength as he needs to fight demons rather than the Opposition, which is acting like an unmadi
TEHRAN, Iran, Feb.25

Trend:

The Tehran-North freeway project was implemented during the sanctions, which means the sanctions had no effect on the will of Iranian engineers, the country's president, Hassan Rouhani said, Trend reports citing IRNA.

Rouhani made the remarks at the inauguration ceremony of the Tehran-North freeway.

The Tehran-North Freeway project consists of four sections spanning 121 km in total to connect the capital city Tehran to the northern Mazandaran Province.



Rouhani pointed out that the project was implemented by domestic engineers and managers, working in different sectors.

"Of course there may have been some delays in scheduling due to sanctions, but we've never overlooked important projects," Rouhani said.

Pointing to the project's benefits, Rouhani said the new route would save some 1,5 hours of traveling.

"The project was costly and time consuming, but at least it would help save the energy consumption by more than 80 million liters of fuel," Rouhani said.
English Chinese (Simplified)

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greenliant is a founding member of the new Micron Industrial Quotient (IQ) Partner Program, a collaboration of industry-leading companies to meet the need for high-quality, robust, rugged and long-lasting Industrial IoT (IIoT) products. Membership in the Micron IQ Partner Program further reinforces Greenliant's focus on the embedded systems market and commitment to addressing the rigorous requirements of the industrial segment.



The IIoT continues to transform the world of manufacturing at a rapid pace; it is therefore changing how industrial solutions are being designed, which now require more coordination and collaboration in technology and product development, said Kris Baxter, vice president of marketing, Embedded Business Unit, Micron. The IQ Partner Program allows us to work in partnership with a company like Greenliant to deliver high-quality, robust and long-lasting embedded systems for the industrial market.

"Combining Greenliant's SSD controller expertise with Micron's leading 3D NAND flash technology has been instrumental in developing next-generation ArmourDrive and NANDrive product lines," said Arthur Kroyan, vice president, business development and marketing, Greenliant. "As a proven supplier of high-reliability SSDs, Greenliant appreciates Microns long-term support and the advanced features of its NAND products.

The implementation of Microns 3D NAND and Greenliants controller technology has solved complex problems, such as data integrity and product reliability in harsh industrial environments, making it an ideal storage solution for many embedded designs.

For more information about the Micron IQ Partner Program, visit https://www.micron.com/IQ.

About Greenliant

By leveraging more than 25 years of solid state storage design expertise, Greenliant is dedicated to developing durable, reliable and secure storage solutions for embedded systems and enterprise datacenters. The company is headquartered in Silicon Valley with product development centers in Santa Clara, Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen and Hsinchu. https://www.greenliant.com

Greenliant, the Greenliant logo, ArmourDrive and NANDrive are trademarks of Greenliant. All other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e59d1c9a-6338-4f3b-9035-7c8d8fdfa410
An AAP leader was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Lalitpur on Monday.

Murari Lal Jain, co-in charge of Uttar Pradesh, was found dead under a bridge, about 15 kilometres from here. His bag was found lying beside him.

The police claimed that he had died due to an accident but could not say how the accident had taken place.

Jain had come to Lucknow to attend a meeting and had left for Lalitpur by Pushpak Express on Sunday night.

AAP spokesman Vaibhav Maheshwari said that Jain was travelling alone and had been raising his voice against corruption through Right To Information (RTI).

The body has been sent for post mortem.
YEREVAN -- Former Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian is on trial facing large-scale corruption charges he rejects as politically motivated.

The trial of the 65-year-old Sarkisian and four other defendants at the Yerevan Court of First Instance on February 25 comes nearly two years after he was ousted from power by mass protests following a decade in office.

Sarkisian was charged in December with coordinating an "embezzlement" scheme worth 489 million drams (more than $1 million) in government funds allocated in 2013 for the provision of subsidized diesel fuel to farmers.

If convicted, he could face up to eight years in prison.

Addressing a group of supporters who had gathered outside the court building, Sarkisian expressed confidence that "there are still judges in Armenia for whom justice is above everything."



Hours before the start of the court proceedings, Sarkisian's Republican Party (HHK) demanded a fair trial and dismissed the charges against him as "fabricated" and "absurd."

The Special Investigative Service alleges that Sarkisian rigged a government tender for the fuel supplier in favor of a company belonging to his longtime friend, businessman Barsegh Beglarian, rather than another fuel importer that offered a lower price.

It also indicted Barseghian, former Agriculture Minister Sergo Karapetian, his former deputy, Samvel Galstian, and another former government official.

All five suspects deny wrongdoing. None of them have been held in pretrial detention.

Sarkisian and his HHK say he is being prosecuted in retaliation for his public criticism of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.

Sarkisian, who ruled Armenia between 2008 and 2018, had kept a low profile since resigning in April 2018 amid mass protests against his continued rule led by Pashinian.

Pashinian has repeatedly accused Sarkisian, his family, and his political entourage of corruption both before and after coming to power in 2018.
All the news outlets from all over the world are talking about The Grand Egyptian Museum "GEM" that is shaping to become an actual gem showcasing the great construction abilities of the sons of daughters of the ancient Pharaohs. The GEM is expected to be the largest and most popular museum in the world at the moment and one of the main reasons:

The NEW York Times included Egypt as one of the top 52 places to visit in 2020. The entire country for the last four years has been working in the speed to light to complete it and was successful in the first quarter in 2020, even projected to the entire country and the world as one of the top priorities of the Egyptian state.

The grand opening of the GEM museum is in the last quarter of 2020 which is one of the main reasons why Cairo is a top place to visit this year. As one of Egypt Tours Portal tour consultants stated that a massive positive change is coming to Egypt's tourism map launching a new era in tourism across the land. The Egyptian government has stated that the GEM is more of a fourth pyramid filled with magical and heavenly treasures as Egypt's gift to the entire world and for the future of humanity. For all that the Independent has declared Egypt as the top travel recommendations list for 2020 especially the golden city of Cairo.

Egypt has also topped Forbes " Where to go Next" List of 2020 as one of the top 27 destinations for adventure travelers as the one billion dollars construction is set to be an archaeological and cultural new capital across 500,000 square meters which is way bigger than the Vatican City featuring epic architectural design offering a mesmerizing comprehensive view of the Pyramids and more importunately nearly 100,000 objects from ancient Egyptian times from prehistory more than 4000 years all the way to the early Roman Period (30 BCE - 642 AD) which includes 5000 artifacts belonging to King Tutankhamen and about 2000 of which are being showcased for the first time in history.

The new museum is built for the sole purpose of reflecting the grandiosity and glory of the ancient Egyptian civilization as from the moment you enter the museum, you will witness a colossal obelisk located on the main external gate on a unique display offering the chance for all visitors to explore it fully and witness the cartouche of Pharaoh Ramses II A.K.A the great engraved on its bottom plus on the main entrance within the building you will find a great statue of Ramses the great greeting all the incomers.

Besides all the incredible artifacts and monuments in the GEM, it is also able to provide a memorable cultural experience and a ton of fun locations such as 7,000 square meters of commercial area consisting of restaurants up to eight overlooking the Giza Pyramids complex, open-air theatre, book shops & retail shops up to 28, 500-seat cinema, traditional arts & crafts center and cafeterias, plus many leisure and recreational activities. Even all around the GEM, the streets were designed to be highlighted as the center of attention and to facilitate all the arrivals to the museums away from any heavy traffic.

The Gem Museum grand opening and inauguration ceremony are set at the last quarter of 2020 which will be truly unforgettable, the festival of the year which will have a positive impact on the economic landscape of the entire country as it is expected to left the tourism rates of Egypt to new heights.
Thousands of terrorists might have been airlifted out of Kabul: Trump slams Biden

Never in history has withdrawal from war been handled so badly: Trump

Donald Trump, Melania pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Feb 25: US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania on Tuesday paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the memorial of India's Father of the Nation at Rajghat.

The US president and the first lady laid a wreath and paid floral tributes at Rajghat. The Trumps reached Rajghat after a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Trump also signed the visitor's book at Rajghat, and the couple also planted a sapling at the memorial. Union minister Hardeep Puri accompanied the Trumps to Rajghat.

Watch: Donald Trump accorded ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Earlier, the entry of local and foreign visitors to Rajghat was prohibited on Monday ahead of the scheduled visit of U.S. President Donald Trump to the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, officials said.

Those turned away from the memorial included visitors from Canada, the U.S., France, El Salvador, the UK and a group of 18 tourists from Ireland, who arrived on a bus as part of a guided tour.